Category Archives: Trance

The meditative rhythm of the paddle dipping into the water, right then left, and the warm sun poking in and out of white, puffy clouds put me in a hazy trance as the kayak slipped past the secluded marshlands of Berrys Brook in Rye.

I followed Brian Yurasits, a naturalist and our guide for the Wildlife Kayak Tour, hosted by the Seacoast Science Center at Odiorne State Park.

Providing experiences for both beginner and intermediate kayakers, these leisurely tours allow participants to explore Little Harbor and its estuarine waters where fresh water from rivers and streams mixes with salt water from the ocean.

Guide Brian Yurasits offers his wildlife knowledge to tour participants, with a few smiles along the way.

With the proper gear lying around and staff who are passionate about kayaking, the science center recognized a new program could educate kayakers about respecting and interacting with wildlife.

Kayakers are people who spend so much time out on the water, so they can act as our eyes out there, Yurasits said.

Proceeds from the tours support the centers Marine Mammal Rescue Team, which responds to sightings of seals, whales, dolphins and porpoises via their 24/7 hotline. Yurasits, who was brought onto the team a year ago to provide education and outreach, is one of two full-time employees.

We met Yurasits at the science center before being shuttled to the parks boat launch. There, we were provided with kayaks, paddles and life jackets. After a brief introduction to the equipment, Yurasits and tour volunteer Joe Miceli an assistant aquarist at SSC helped us into the water, where we paddled close to the shore, sharpening our technique.

A paddler on an earlier Wildlife Kayak Tour watches as a white-tailed deer swims by near New Castle.

Many of the 10 people in my group were Seacoast Science Center members, which is how they heard about the tour.

Im not a very experienced kayaker, said Noreen Polus, a local resident who often cycles near Odiorne, but being out on the water just gives you a whole different perspective. Its very refreshing.

Similarly, the Kindstedts, who live near Berrys Brook, will often hike along the sides of the watershed. For months, their youngest son, Hunter, has been begging his parents, Jason and Susan, to go kayaking. When they heard about the tour, they decided to explore the area from a new angle.

On the intermediate Wildlife Kayak Tour, paddlers are likely to spot a bald eagle, like the one seen here.

As we made our way into the freshwater marsh, we saw shorebirds that our guides were quick to identify. When we passed eider ducks bobbing above the water, Yurasits mentioned that this species was currently in breeding season, describing their babies as little floating puffballs.

He explained how the darting swallows overhead are considered day bats (and our good friends) because they eat mosquitos.

My favorite sighting was the majestic blue heron nesting high up in a tree. For several minutes we sat, a flotilla of kayaks, and observed the bird from a distance.

The tours coincide with high tide, ensuring easy access to the inlet. Because of Junes full strawberry moon (the first full moon of summer), we were able to venture farther up Berrys Brook than normal, making the heron nesting sight a potential discovery for the SSC.

On our way back out toward the ocean, Yurasits observed two slate-blue kingfishers zipping back and forth in the sky above us.

Glistening droplets of water fall from this kayakers paddle as he makes his way up Berrys Brook.

It seems like theyve been leading us down the river, he said to the group. Its their world and were just living in it. The constant buzz of wildlife around us underscored his point.

Rounding the point from the brook into Little Harbor, I noticed the shoreline transform as the tall marshland grasses gave way to barnacle-covered rocks. After maneuvering around thick kelp forests barely rising above the waters surface, we pulled our kayaks onto the shores of a secluded beach within the state park.

I admired the vast ocean in the distance, just past the Frosts Point breakwater at the mouth of Little Harbor, thinking about something Yurasits had mentioned earlier.

I was connected to the natural world from surfing and fishing, and I know kayaking can be that window for other people, he said.

NH Outside appears in the Union Leader on alternate Fridays. Contact Jill Armstrong at jaarmstr1@gmail.com.

Go here to read the rest:

NH Outside: Kayakers take a trip on the wild side - The Union Leader

The Around the World 2021 theme has been revealed

The Amicorum Spectaculum one of the most mystical themes in all of Tomorrowland history, debuted in 2017.

Just weeks out from the event, the festival shares an inside look at the magical world ofPpilinem. In addition, the digital events full timetable has been revealed, featuring dozens of performers across six mesmerizing virtual stages Mainstage, Atmosphere, Core, Cave, The Wall and Elixir.

The lineup boasts some of the biggest names in electronic/dance music Afrojack, Alan Walker, Amelie Lens, Armin van Buuren, Charlotte de Witte, Klsch, Lost Frequencies, Nicky Romero, Tale Of Us, Vintage Culture and many more. From trance to hardstyle, to house to techno and future bass, theres something for all the People of Tomorrow, Around the World.

For the best possible experience, Tomorrowland invites attendees to dress up in their festival bests, decorate how they see fit, put the show up on the big screen and invite friends to celebrate. this weekend is all about uniting through the power of music in a responsible and safe way.

Tomorrowland Around the World 2021 takes place Friday, July 16 and Saturday, July 17 between 19:00 01:00 and 18:00 02:00, respectively adapted to all time zones.

Tickets are available now viatomorrowland.com.

Follow this link:

Tomorrowland Reveals Theme & Timetable for Around the World 2021 - Your EDM

by: Zach SalafiaJul 1, 2021

Dancing Astronaut Supernova HALIENE is no stranger to the world of trance. In collaborations with some of the genres fixtures such as Markus Schulz, Dash Berlin, and Andrew Rayel, HALIENE has shown her signature vocal chops to be a synergistic fit for trance production, and shes even identified it as one of her electronic specialties. Given her long, rich history of trance involvement, its rather unsurprisingbut equally delightfulthat she is back in one of her wheelhouses for an original alongside Maratone that makes its way to streaming platforms via Abora Ascend.

HALIENE continues to prove that everything she touches is gold and that shes far more than just a featured singer. With a staggering run that tallies Make It To Tomorrow as her eighth release of 2021 alone, we can expect her status in the dance music community to continue to rise as she challenges what it means to be a singer-songwriter in a way all her own.

Featured image: Exchange Los Angeles

Tags: abora ascend, haliene, maratone

Categories: Music

See original here:

HALIENE returns to trance wheelhouse on 'Make It To Tomorrow' with Maratone - Dancing Astronaut - Dancing Astronaut

Nothing like the red, white and blue along a parade route on the Fourth. Photo by Chris Stone

Perhaps you have burgers, brews and booms on your mind? It is Independence Day weekend after all.

Well leave the grilling and the beers up to you, but the stuff to do? We can help you there.

If you want to rest up for the big day Sunday, two San Diego mainstays return this year the Big Bay Boom and the flashy finale to the scaled back San Diego County Fair:

In addition, locals from Coronado to Vista host parades and shows this year see our full list of San Diego County community events.

For a mellow, yet definitely all-American start to the holiday, look to Sweetwater Reservoir, where fishing opens up on Fridays for the summer. The reservoir will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. each weekend through September. Use the Bonita entry. Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for children, and $3 to park for non-fishermen. You might also choose Loveland Reservoir near Alpine, which is fee-free and opens at 6 a.m. Word is both are well stocked with bass, catfish, bullhead, bluegill, perch and rock bass.

Want to hit the streets? DJs and bands will help ring in the Fourth on the block.

Start things early at the Silent Revival in the Gaslamp Quarter from 6 p.m. to midnight Saturday, with a 10 p.m. laser show at Fifth and Island. DJs will queue up 80-90s hits, hiphop, house and trance. Tickets cost $20 in advance or $25 at the door.

In the Quartyard, meanwhile, the R&B Block Party returns at 5 p.m. Saturday for $5 in advance/$10 at the door while the venue hosts the free South Bay Independence Day Pop-Up Market at noon Sunday, with DJs and live bands.

For a different vibe, drop by Liberty Station at 1 p.m. Sunday for Beers n Bluegrass. Liberty Public Market hosts the free party, open to kids and pups, as Bottlecraft provides the brews and PLOW! the tunes.

Naturally, where the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages are concerned, the US must be featured on Independence Day. Stop by from noon to 4 p.m., with a program at 2 p.m. featuring music, crafts, nibbles and more. Of course, America is a melting pot. Check out some of the 31 other Balboa Park cottages, which each rep a different culture, too.

Show comments

See original here:

San Diego Weekend Guide: July 2-4 July 4th Edition - Times of San Diego

6 August 1604. There was a joyous gathering by the tank of Ramsar, in the town of Ramdaspur. Guru Arjan presided, beaming. It is a most blessed day. A great endeavour had been completed.

The poet, Santokh Singh, sets the scene.

His court the Guru presides aboveHis Sikhs joyous are drenched in love

In the midst, glorious the holy bookReverently Sikhs serve and look

Flowers garland the Gurus neckGorgeous blooms the court do deck

The choicest blooms the Guru tookLaid them before the holy book

Censers fragrant smell so goodSaffron showers, sandalwood

Devotion such the Sikhs do showLustily they conch shells blow

As one then all the faithful prayJubilant cries Oh Joyous day

Rababs, Sitars the faithful bringHymns and many melodies sing

It was a profoundly important moment in the history of the faith that Guru Nanak had founded just a hundred years earlier. The Sikhs now had their own scripture, The Guru Granth Sahib. The joyous celebration continued.

Guru Arjan had made an important decision. He had already built the Har Mandar Sahib, which had started to draw the faithful from far and near. The town of Ramdaspur, which would be known as Amritsar, was flourishing as more and more Sikhs decided to settle there, driven by a desire to be near the Guru and the Har Mandar Sahib.

The faith of Guru Nanak was flourishing. Communities of Sikhs were everywhere. Dharamsals, Sikh places of worship, abounded, and the bounty of the Langar, the community kitchen founded by Guru Nanak, was enjoyed by all.

Guru Arjans older brother, Prithi Chand continued to oppose him bitterly. He had never accepted Guru Arjans ascension and continued to harbour hopes that his son Mehrban would somehow become the next Guru. Frustrated by his failed attempts to wrest the Guruship from Guru Arjan, Prithi Chand had come up with a novel way to dupe the faithful. He started composing religious hymns of his own and tried to pass them off as the compositions of Guru Nanak and the other Gurus that followed.

It was important for the Sikhs to have an unimpeachable and genuine scripture that contained the real writings of the Gurus, for they were the pure manifestation of their philosophy and worldview. Not having such a scripture would open the door to Prithi Chand and other pretenders to follow in the future, to lead the faithful astray and dilute the noble message of the Gurus.

Guru Nanak had given all of his compositions to Guru Angad, who had carefully preserved them and passed them onto Guru Amar Das along with his own compositions. According to popular Sikh tradition, Guru Amar Das had directed one of his grandsons, Sans Ram to compile the compositions of his predecessors as well as his own into a book, which became to be known as the Goindwal Pothi or Tome.

We turn again to the noted writer Bhai Vir Singh, who describes what happened next in his work Jeevan Prasang Sri Guru Arjan Dev Sahib. The following is a translation from the original Punjabi.

The beginning was the acquisition of the Goindwal Pothis. Bhai Gurdas agreed to be drafted for the task and left for Goindwal as instructed by the Guru. He arrived there late in the afternoon and after bathing in the Baoli, the sacred tank of Goindwal, he arrived at Baba Mohans home. Seeing the door shut, he sat outside and addressed Baba Mohan, who was in a yogic trance. Bhai Gurdas sat there the entire night entreating Baba Mohan but the door did not open. Utterly disappointed, he returned to Ramdaspur and recounted what had transpired to the Guru.

Baba Buddha, the venerable old Sikh, who had been serving the Gurus since the time of Guru Nanak, volunteered to make an attempt to retrieve the composition. He traveled to Goindwal and after bathing in the Baoli, presented himself at Baba Mohans house. The door remained firmly shut. He too beseeched Baba Mohan to open the door and knocked on it vigorously but received no response. Being a man of action, Baba Buddha shook the door so hard that the fulcrum that it pivoted on, moved. He removed a few bricks and extracted the fulcrum, allowing him to open the door.

Bhai Vir Singh turns to the poet, Santokh Singh to describe what Baba Buddha saw:

In lotus form silently Mohan sitsOverpowers deep trance the sages wits

Like a log of wood his body seems to beUnmoving limbs like of a hardened tree

Baba Mohans brother, Baba Mohri, upon hearing the commotion, scolded Baba Buddha. Why do you bother him so? He is lost in his trance and he doesnt care about anyone, high or low! He refuses to look upon anyone. He doesnt talk to anyone. He chooses to remain like this. He barely emerges from his trance to eat.

Baba Buddha, upon hearing Baba Mohris words, decided that it would be unwise to disturb Baba Mohan while he was in his trance and quietly returned to Ramdaspur.

He bathed in the Baoli and sat contemplatively for a while. It is said that he had a vision of Guru Amar Das, who assured him that he would succeed in his endeavor, even if he had to endure some harsh words.

The Guru walked barefoot in the street leading to Baba Mohans home. In one hand he carried a Tambura, a musical instrument used to provide a drone, essential for vocal music. He sat down on the rough ground before Baba Mohans door, waving away the sheets and rugs offered by the faithful. He strummed the Tambura and began to sing.

Lofty is your temple MohanYour mansion unsurpassedBeautiful your portalsWorshipful saints are massed

Incomparable your house of worshipHis glory do they singThe holy saints there gatherReverence for you they bring

Oh lord be kind mercifulYour supplicants are meekThese thirsty eyes O NanakYour blessed vision seek

Baba Mohans trance, which had remained unbroken through the entreaties of Bhai Gurdas and the commotion created by Baba Buddha, was pierced by Guru Arjans melodious singing. He opened his eyes, looked out of a chink, and beheld Guru Arjan sitting in the street.

Harsh words poured out of his mouth. First you took what belonged to us, that which conferred honour and greatness upon our clan! He was of course referring to the passing of the Guruship from his father Guru Amar Das to Guru Ram Das, Guru Arjans father, rather than to him or his brother. But then his tone softened a little. He conceded that the Guruship had been won through humble service and acknowledged Guru Arjans greatness.

Unperturbed, Guru Arjan continued to sing, and the strings of his Tambura sounded as sweet as ever.

Mohan, your speech unrivalledWondrous are your ways tooMohan you seek none but the oneAll else is but dust to you

Mysterious lord you love save noneHis might sustains us allThrough holy worlds youve won his heartThe world is in his thrall

Unmoving you are and astirThe world is in your handsMy Lord with you my honour liesYour slave before you stands

The sweetness and beauty of the melody, the nobility of the Gurus sentiments, and the realisation of the respect that he was being accorded melted Baba Mohans heart. He left his chamber and walked downstairs to welcome Guru Arjan.

Excerpted with permission from The Story of the Sikhs: 1469-1708, Sarbpreet Singh, Penguin Viking.

Link:

A new history of the Sikhs charts the lives of the ten Gurus of the faith with curated stories - Scroll.in

A few weeks back, Mike Adams,self-proclaimed "Health Ranger and founder of Natural News,alleged that the US government launched a five-phase campaign to force COVID-19 shots on Americans. This effort, Adams said, would culminate in a false flag operation, a mass shooting specifically designed to discredit the opposition to mass vaccination.

With the shots still not mandated anywhere in the US, save for some hospitals and universities, Adams has moved on to a new hypothesis. At least some of the vaccines, he speculated in a recent blog post, may contain exotic technology that, once injected into the body, activates a self-assembly process to build a biocircuitry interface using elements from the victims own blood.

Who would engineer such a feature, and why would they do it? Adams didn't say, though presumablyit's pharma companies doing the bidding of their masters in the federal public health bureaucracy. Let's see what the Health Ranger has to offer in the way of evidence for this possibility.

the Moderna company openly describes their vaccine injections as installing an 'operating system,' which by definition means a platform to receive additional commands or instructions for execution What if some vaccines ... are designed to place people in a kind of 'trance' where elements of their neurology are controlled through external signals and commands?

Moderna does indeed use this language to describe the mRNA platform with which they develop drugs, their COVID-19 vaccine being the recent example. Recall that the shot contains the instructions (mRNA) for making the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The platform is designed so that it can plug and play interchangeably with different programs, the company explains on its website. In our case, the 'program' or 'app' is our mRNA drug - the unique mRNA sequence that codes for a protein. The vaccine doesn't install an operating system that can be remotely controlled. Adams just botched the analogy.

Parenthetically, the mRNA-based therapies in development are incredible; they includepersonalized cancer vaccines, treatments forcystic fibrosis and even universal flu shots, to name just a few.

Never forget this published research: Superparamagnetic nanoparticle delivery of DNA vaccine. (PubMed link).

It's hard to know what Adams was getting at here. The paper he linked to described a relatively new method of efficiently shuttling DNA-based vaccines, therapies, and diagnostics into cells, where they do their disease-fighting duties. A lot of papers have reported specific applications of this vectoring technology. Here's one that outlined how it can be used to better target melanoma tumors with therapeutic genes. Here's an overview of how the system works:

The current research on SPIONs [superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles] is opening up wide horizons for their use as diagnostic agents in magnetic resonance imaging as well as for drug delivery vehicles. Delivery of anticancer drugs by coupling with functionalized SPIONs to their targeted site is one of the most pursued areas of research in the development of cancer treatment strategies. SPIONs have also demonstrated their efficiency as nonviral gene vectors that facilitate the introduction of plasmids into the nucleus at rates multifold those of routinely available standard technologies.

Of course, this is very different than the remotely controlled mRNA operating system Adams described just a few paragraphs earlier.Using nanoparticlesto kill cancer cellsfalls a little short of controlling someone's moods and thoughts. The Health Ranger recognized and tried to deal withthis obstacle.Although this isnt the same as a self-assembling nanotech biocircuitry system, Adams conceded, it hints at the existence of exotic technologies that are exploring such approaches to controlling neurology via external influences (such as electromagnetic fields).

No, not really. To debunk one analogy with another, this is like saying horses bred to run faster hint at the existence of unicorns that sing Johnny Cash songs. That's stupid because everybody knows unicorns don't sing.

Back to Adams:

If such technology exists and is being deployed right now, it would explain the seeming hypnosis or trance under which millions of people now seem to suffer as they continue to demand more bioweapons injections into children and pregnant women.

I forgot to mention: Adams also raised the possibility that some vaccines are simple spike protein bioweapons injections, but other vaccines are designed to place people in a kind of 'trance.' If that's the case, some of us got the mind-control shot and are now demanding that others get the bioweapon vaccine that will actually kill them.

Perhaps there is a simpler explanation, however. Perhaps todays doctors are just brainwashed, gullible cowards who care nothing if they harm or kill billions of people as long as they dont lose their lucrative medical salaries.

This explanation is precluded by the fact that physicians aren't a monolith. For example, some doctors think children should be vaccinated against COVID-19; others want more safety data before the shots are approved for kids under 12. Some physicians say sugar made all of us fat and diabetic; others argue it's a necessary part of a healthy diet. The examples go on, but I'm sure you get the point. By the way, it's actually quite difficult to make a living in medicine these days.

Follow this link:

COVID Vaccines: A Plot to Control Your 'Moods and Thoughts'? - American Council on Science and Health

Rising from the ranks of the electronic music scene in Israel, the fast-rising record producer and DJ,Sam Halabi, has already announced himself in front of the whole electronic music industry by releasing some infectious tunes which have been critically acclaimed all across the globe. Having already earned the support of some top-notch artists including Calvin Harris, Martin Garrix, Skrillex, David Guetta, Oliver Heldens, and Firebeatz, the artists out and out dedication and hard work as a musician, from starting out at the age of 6, is finally paying off. We here at We Rave You, recently had a chat with Sam Halabi where he revealed a lot of interesting things about his origins, inspirations, and upcoming projects. Lets hear it all from the man himself

How long have you been a producer/DJ? Tell us about the origins of your music and what inspired you to pursue your career as an artist?

Actually, I came across music production at later age around 24, before then I was really focused on learning instruments and finishing my degrees in classical music as a composer, which is really the core of my music before oriental. When I came across music production, I was instantly hooked and since then its like a drug you cant stop, in a good way, I remember my brother playing me some old good Trance and Tech House music, I loved it and wanted to produce that sound and so I began my dive into the world of electronic music. I found myself falling in love with it more and more, inspired by great artists like David Guetta, Calvin Harris, Armin van Buuren, etc.

Who do you consider to have been your biggest influences throughout your career that have made an impact on your productions?

Beethoven I would say! Learning classical music when I was a kid, I was always attracted to the melodies he created and the simplicity of them, the biggest example is his 5th symphony; 3 notes yet so iconic. In the modern world its David Guetta being an influence on me, with his pop vibes in his earlier records, as well as Swedish House Mafia and Daft Punk,

Congratulations on your new record, Happy, with renowned Israeli singer/artist Ivri Lider. Whats the story behind thisrecording and what were the inspirations behind this collaboration?

Thank you, Im always excited to collaborate with artists all over the world. It inspires me to do things I normally wouldnt do, like in this record playing guitar in an oriental way. This collab happened so spontaneously; since the last Covid-19 lockdown my cousin suggested I talk to him and thats exactly how that happened.

As both an Israeli and an international artist, how has the Israeli scene impacted you or your productions and approach towards electronic dance music?

Growing up in an oriental family in general, had an impact on my music today. As I was a kid listening to all the oriental music my family used to play, it comes back in my music as second nature and I love mixing that into the EDM world.

Looking at the whole Covid-19 situation and its impacts, how did it affect Sam Halabi as an artist? Did quarantine encourage or damage your creativity?

I was producing the whole time, non stop! It helps me relax as well, with the pandemic I was producing even double the time, just to forget those crazy days.

Listening to your recent musical catalog with tracks like Robotica, East and West and Same Thing to name a few, its clear you have a very diverse sound. How do you produce such different sounding tracks while maintaining your signature sound?

Im not a big fan of doing the same thing over and over its boring and kills my momentum so I love to try different things each time. Regarding a signature sound I really have no clue, but Im glad to hear that I still maintain a sense of originality.

What does 2021 have in store? Any hints or clues that you could give us about future productions and collaborations?

New collab with a friend of mine from the Netherlands with an uplifting record. Cant wait to release it!

Be sure to catch up with Sam Halabi on his Instagram. Also, dont forget to check out his latest release Happy below

Image Credit: Sam Halabi Facebook

View post:

Sam Halabi talks about his origins and hints at future collabs: Interview - We Rave You

Actor Lisa Haydon broke the news of her third baby's birth in an unusual way. She didn't share a picture or make the announcment via a social media post, but seemingly confirmed the baby girl's birth in the comments section of a recent post, in response to a fan's query.

"Hey can you tell me please wheres your 3 tiny baby," one person had commented. Lisa Haydon replied, "In my arms." Lisa and her husband, Dino Lalvani, are parents to two sons - Zack and Leo.

Lisa's comment came four days ago. She announced her pregnancy earlier this year, in February. She enlisted her son Zack to reveal the child's gender.

In a recent interview, she revealed that her due date is June 22, adding that she can 'feel the contractions, so it might happen sooner'. Our third child-a daughter-is due to arrive on June 22, but I can already feel the contractions, so it might happen sooner. When Zack was born, Dino and I were like, Where did this angel come from? And when Leo was born, he was a force of nature, and we were like Thats our child, the other ones an angel'," she told Harpers Bazaar India.

In a recent Instagram post, Lisa expressed nervousness at the prospect of becoming a mother for the third time. Any other moms out there nervous about another baby coming along while you still have a baby in your arms? I worry about his little emotions, how will he feel and express himself while hes yet learning how to talk. Precious boy you are so loved and will be ever so even when your sister arrives in ten weeks, she wrote.

Also read: Lisa Haydon, pregnant with third child, says no more pregnancies: 'I look forward to life after childbirth'

Lisa is known for films such as Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Housefull 3, Queen and Aisha. She is also known for her songs such as Manali Trance, and Alcoholic from the film The Shaukeens.

Visit link:

Did Lisa Haydon announce birth of third baby in Instagram comments section? - Hindustan Times

When talking about the future of gaming, its common to hear about teraflops and other technical lingo. Well, hows this for the future? Now, you dont even need an Xbox to play Xbox games, thanks to recently beefed-up capacity for Xbox Cloud Gaming.

On Monday, Microsoft lifted the gate on who can and cannot access the Xbox cloud gaming program. Going forward, anyone who subscribes to Xbox Game Pass Ultimatethe premium tier of Microsofts games-on-demand servicecan stream dozens of games to a number of non-Xbox devices. And as of this week, those streamed games are based on Xbox Series X hardware. For the most part, it works relatively well, though you might get more or less mileage depending on how powerful your machine is, how stable your internet connection is, and what gameplay hiccups youre willing to tolerate.

I recently tested streaming games on a 13-inch MacBook Air from 2017 that overheats when I open two Google Docs spreadsheets at the same time and sounds like a jet engine when I boot up Steam. If this thing can run games, Im pretty sure whatever system youre reading this piece on can run them, too.

To be sure, I noticed some minimal input lag. For a low-intensity puzzle game like Carto, thats no big deal. You can play that game just fine without snap-second reflexes. While playing the far more demanding Forza Horizon 4, though, the lag was far more notable. I also heard some notable audio stutters, which messed with the games phenomenal trance-heavy soundtrack. In the near future, Ill likely stick to low-intensity fare.

G/O Media may get a commission

The short version: Practically anything. Apple devices with iOS 14.4 or higher can support Xbox cloud gaming. Windows devices, meanwhile, will need to be on the October 2020 update for Windows 10. As for internet connectivity, Microsoft recommends a streaming bandwidth of 10 Mbps for iPhone, and 20 Mbps for iPad or any device running Windows.

In any case, heres a full list of Microsoft-verified devices. Notably, the popular iPhone SE isnt included, though Ill note that, during last years beta phase for Apple devices, I got cloud gaming to (kind of) work on my SE.

The easiest way to do so is to open up a browser (Edge, Chrome, and Safari are supported) and go to xbox.com/play. Sign into the Xbox account associated with your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. You should see the whole library of games, which Microsoft says are streamed at 1080p and up to 60fps. Click on the one you want to play, wait a minute or two of loading, and voilayoure in. If youve previously played that game with your Xbox account, youll pick up exactly where you previously left off, all of your save data totally intact.

Touch screen controls are now available for dozens of games, including Dead Cells, Tell Me Why, and Hellblade: Senuas Sacrifice. For some devices, you might need a compatible controller. (Full list here.) On my MacBook, I found it easy enough to just plug in an Xbox Series X controller via USB.

To me, the most effective use case here for current Xbox owners. Yes, Xbox consoles sport a lot of storage space825 GB for your own use on the Xbox Series Xbut it fills up fast. Massive games like Destiny 2 and Halo: Master Chief Collection can occupy up to 20 percent of your storage space, easy.

For me, the bigger strain comes from a revolving door of sub-10 GB platformers, puzzle games, and other indie games. When I need to download a massive AAA game, Ill wipe, I dont know, half a dozen of these smaller ones. More often than not, Ill forget to redownload them later, which means Ill forget to pick them back up.

But the expanded capabilities of Xbox cloud gaming means that keeping a game on my console is no longer a prerequisite for playing. Are 4K graphics really necessary to get the most out of chiller fare like Spiritfarer or Carto? Not really! And since the save data carries over seamlessly, theres really no reason to sweat about kicking smaller games off your console. Youll still be able to play them. Its yet another way the latest generation of video games has managed to surprisenot in how the games look, but in how accessible some of them are to play.

Link:

Xbox Cloud Gaming Is The Future, But Its Not There Yet - Kotaku

MAYBE IM AMAZED: Its taken me several weeks to even begin to approach the magnificent new album by Nick Bradfield (White Rabbit Collective) named Unfinished Work. Although he released it under the name Dr. Trance, this body of worka truly incredible accomplishment of 16 tracks, many of which extend past the nine-minute markdeserves to have Bradfields proper name associated with it from the get-go. This is the second album, the first being The Chosen Ones (2017), in which Bradfield explores unrequited love, walking in faith and fearlessness and vanquishing hopelessness. Technically speaking, Bradfield works heavily with Ableton Live and synthesizers, multi-instrumentation and various human contributions. This method allows him to create albums that can vary quite significantly from each other, as this one does from the previously mentioned The Chosen Ones. Musically, this is quite akin to Icelands Sigur Rs and, similarly, breathes and exhales in deliberately wide spaces. Its themesholiness, devotion, hope, despair and resolutionare often explored immediately adjacent to each other. It cannot be absorbed in one listen nor broken into component parts, which is why, although there are specific tracks that I find to be stupendous, I wont advocate for any in particular. It commands and deserves uninterrupted listening but, upon doing so, requires no work other than a spirit of openness and acceptance. On a personal note, I have absolutely zero qualms about ranking this alongside Yoko Onos Season of Glass, John Coltranes A Love Supreme and George Harrisons All Things Must Pass. Find this on all streaming services as well as rabbitholestudios.org/dr-trance. Follow along at facebook.com/drtranceypants.

HOLA, CMO ESTS: Bilingual rockers Deaf Condors have a new five-song EP out now on Super Carnival Recordings named Sundown Radio. The Spanish-language immigrant declaration Vamos is a pretty killer representation of that weird era of hard rock that blended metal, hardcore and psychedelia, a style probably best represented previously by Faith No More. The very next track, Third World Blues, explores this style similarly but with more of a Meat Puppets tinge. The final track, Sundown Radio starts off with a full-on Ratt-style riff and continues this punchiness through the chorus. Its nearly six-minute running time makes it just way too long. Overall, though, this comes across as less than a polished release-ready collection and more like just a pretty solid demo. Listen for yourself over at deafcondors.bandcamp.com.

AND IT DONT STOP: This weeks Hip-Hop Pit Stop show at Live Wire is a showcase highlighting Volumes Hip Hop which has spent years establishing itself as an enthusiastic go-to source for all things related to Athens hip hop. Featured acts this night are DJ Bobfish laying down the vibes, as well as Followxforever, Boregard, DK, Unique, Paco Marquez (aka Ayo Paco), Elevxn and J.O. & Satch. This night is the next-to-last show of this residency, which is brought to you by ATHFactor-Liberty Entertainment. As mentioned before, these nights are structured as follows: Segment I (89 p.m.) is an open mic session with artists performing pre-submitted tracks, Segment II (99:30 p.m.) features guest DJs and Segment III (9:3011 p. m.) are the feature performances. For all other information, please see facebook.com/athfactor.

THAT WHICH YOU CANNOT HEAR: Author, experimental musician and visual artist Grant Evans just released a new album via Pennsylvanias Flag Day Recordings. Its available as a digital album as well as a cassette tape and is named Taciturn, Moribund. Across these five tracks, Evans works with recorded tapes that he describes as in various states of erasure. Thus, the listeners experience is put in the odd situation of being as influenced by the unknown (i.e., whats been erased) as he or she is impacted by what is clearly present. That said, I wish Id have heard this before I knew Evans process for this, as my reaction would have been more authentic and less an attempt to imagine these fragments as pieces of something else. The empty spaces are not blanked-out canvasses though, and there are moments of very calm beauty, such as the entirety of Beige. Overall, theperhaps unintentionalemotional work involved is amplified simply by knowing the sounds here have undergone some, or many, layers of degradation. As a thought experiment, it calls into question how an experience is murkily affected by unknown absence. As a listening experience, it is non-jarring and quite peaceful. Check it out at flagdayrecordings.bandcamp.com.

Like what you just read? Support Flagpole by making a donation today. Every dollar you give helps fund our ongoing mission to provide Athens with quality, independent journalism.

Here is the original post:

Dr. Trance's Unfinished Work, And More Music News and Gossip | Flagpole - Flagpole Magazine