“With ‘Loveology,’ I wrote it and then played it once or twice live,” Spektor explained in a press release. “Sometimes I’ll have a song that I’m really glad exists, but I can’t record it because every time I try, it just doesn’t feel right coming out of my mouth. But for whatever reason both ‘Loveology’ and ‘Raindrops’ felt so right this time and I’m so glad I was finally able to put them on a record.”
Home, before and after, Spektor’s 8th studio LP, is slated for release on June 24 via Warner Records.
Shygirl has shared new song called ‘Come for Me’, which was produced by Arca. It’s taken from her upcoming debut record, Nymph, which includes the previously released track ‘Firefly’. Take a listen below.
Nymph is set for release on September 30 via Because Music. It features collaborations with Mura Masa, Danny L Harle, Sega Bodega, Karma Kid, Vegyn, and more.
Angel Olsen was the musical guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! last night (June 6), where she performed ‘Big Time’, the title track off her new album. Watch it below.
Big Time came out earlier this month via Jagjaguwar. Olsen will tour in support of the LP as a part of the Wild Hearts Tour with Sharon Van Etten and Julien Baker, which kicks off July 21 in Vienna, Virginia and concludes on August 21 in New York City, before Olsen embarks on a tour of Europe and the UK.
Although this cannot be said of our distinguished readers, for many people in 2022, art is something which has been secluded to dusty and tired old museums. Of course, to understand the essence of many famous paintings and modern art, an explanation is needed of what the artist is trying to convey. Unfortunately, many people are not interested in such explanations so they remain out in the cold. This is a travesty which continues to grow, to the detriment of us all. On the other hand, many are simply ignorant to the fact that art continues to inspire popular culture, albeit many are not aware of it. In this article, Our Culture Magazine will take a specific look into one of the largest drivers of popular culture in 2022 – video games – and the ways in which art has been a profound influence on individual games and the industry as a whole.
Video Game Designers are Artists
The artist stereotype is perhaps a dishevelled, slightly crazy man with a paintbrush in one hand and his pallet in another. Whilst this is a rather comical view of an artist, it remains a view nonetheless. A modern day artist takes many forms, one of them being a designer of video games. The modern day artist is in front of his/her computer using a variety of web applications and tools to help design and bring together a world in which potentially millions of people from all over the world will see.
However, the question is, does such art offer any depth and meaning? I would like to say yes. Video games, when they are played in a balanced and stable way, can offer fun and a pleasant alternative to the often hardities of life. Millions of people enjoy video games, which we can define as modern art. Video games are designed to take people to the edge of imagination and to give a cure to our inherent human desire for adventure. Video games are very carefully calibrated to keep players on the edge of exploration, they give players meaning.
In Elden Ring (released in 2022), the designers even implemented puzzles based on paintings in the aptly named, Artist’s shack. Around the world, there are several paintings for players to find which were painted by artists. If the player finds the paintings and then takes them back to the artists, they will be rewarded. The paintings seem to be based on real art works with several landscape paintings as well as rather distinct portraits.
Learning from Old Masters to Create more Varied and Emotionally Meaningful Gaming Experiences
According to an article from GameDeveloper.com, video games rely on the same design principles which classical artists employed to create the illusion that the canvas is a screen into an imagined world. These elements being perspective, form and value. The explanation is that a better understanding of such artistic techniques will lead to richer gaming experiences. Composition, dynamic composition and the psychological effects of these are also present in both classical painting and game design.
The GameDeveloper article is an extremely well-written and researched piece that really showcases how video game art has taken inspiration from both modern and classical standpoints on aesthetics using examples from the likes of Vermeer, Reubens and Kandinsky. There is also a fantastic quote from the French artist Eugene Delacroix:
“There may be ten different people in one [person], and sometimes all ten appear within a single hour.”
Delecroix’s remarks extend to narratives and the fact that characters never start and finish in the same state. The journey of the protagonist in a video game often conveys a huge change in the character as he actively goes through his/her adventure. The hero’s journey is a constant theme in video games and video game designers use art in order to showcase the journey to players in a way which is both meaningful and inspiring.
Are Video Games the New Modern Art?
Video games are certainly a form of modern art and certainly take elements from classical art. 90% of the time, video game designers use these elements in order to make their art form better and more representative of real people and their emotions and adventures.
The most famous artists are still used by video game artists in many different ways. From learning from the composition of The Baptism of Christ by Piero della Francesca to simply using Leonardo Da Vinci as a title character within different online slots, artworks could certainly be deemed as the precursor to video games.
Addiction has become a hot-button topic in recent years. Compulsion has a grappling effect on the human mind.
It inhibits personal growth, and thinking capabilities causes depression and health concerns, and induces anti-social behaviors. Ask any group of people whether streaming or gaming is more addictive and hazardous to one’s health, and you will likely get a variety of answers.
However, what’s more undisputed is that excessive use of either medium can be detrimental. It’s no secret that the digital age has steered into a new era of addiction.
We can now become hooked on things that never existed before, like gaming and streaming services.
There’s no doubt that both of these activities can be enjoyable and provide a sense of satisfaction. But can also be harmful if taken to an extreme.
So, which addiction is more hazardous: streaming or gaming? Let’s take a look!
What is Streaming Addiction?
Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime have conditioned us to expect instant gratification. We can now watch entire seasons of our favorite TV shows in a matter of days or even hours.
Also, www.howtowatch.com.au makes it incredibly effortless to watch the content of any country. Now geographical boundaries do not matter much — technology has surpassed them.
We have so much content rolling out each week; if one show was a disappointing watch, there’s always another waiting for us right around the corner.
It’s no wonder that so many of us struggle with streaming addiction. We’re constantly rewarded with new content, and our brains are also rewired to crave it. An average person now spends more than two hours a day streaming videos, and that number will only go up.
Streaming is now one of the most widespread forms of entertainment. And there’s no sign of it slowing down. But with that increased popularity comes an increased risk of addiction.
Many people find themselves unable to stop watching even when they know they should.
What is Gaming Addiction?
Gaming addiction is a real problem that is starting to get more attention. But unfortunately, many people seem to think that it isn’t a real addiction.
People mostly addicted to gaming may also spend excessive time playing games. It is often detrimental to their relationships and work or school life. They may also feel an intense need to continue even when they are aware of the consequences on their life.
While video games are essentially not bad, too much of anything can be harmful. When a person develops an addiction to gaming, they can lose touch with the real world and become alienated.
Comparing and Contrasting Streaming and Gaming Addictions
There is no doubt that gaming and streaming can be addictive activities. Both can provide hours of entertainment and blissful escapism from the real world.
But some differences between the two can make one or the other more addictive for certain people:
With gaming addiction, the motivator is usually the thrill of the game. And the sense of achievement of completing levels or unlocking new content. On the other hand, streaming addiction may be more about wanting to be part of a community and feel connected with other people.
Between these addictions, gaming ones are more solitary. But streaming addiction leads people to form social circles around their shared love of streaming. It is likely because streaming is a more communal experience than gaming.
Gaming addiction can also lead to players losing sleep and even dropping out of school or work. Likewise, streaming addiction, while similar in that case. But it can also lead to sleep deprivation and missed obligations.
Gaming addiction can often be more hazardous as it can involve spending excessive amounts of money on games. On the other hand, while still harmful, streaming addiction is not usually as costly compared to gaming.
Gaming can be addictive in a way that streaming cannot, as it often involves an element of competition with other players. It can make it harder to break the habit than streaming, which can often be done in isolation.
Which Addiction is More Hazardous?
Sadly there is no straightforward answer to this question — it depends on the person’s circumstances.
For example, some people may find that gaming addiction is more hazardous. At the same time, others may find that streaming addiction has substantial repercussions.
Hence, it is important to consider the following factors when determining which addiction is more hazardous:
The number of hours spent in a day on particular activity?
What are the consequences of excessive involvement in the activity?
How does the activity make the person feel?
What are the spoils and risks associated with the activity?
Is the activity causing problems in other areas of the person’s life?
Summing up, there is indeed no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Yet, the truth is that gaming and streaming can both be addictive and hazardous to health – depending on time spent on each.
Conclusion
With technology becoming more advanced, people have turned to different types of entertainment to relax.
Some argue that gaming is more hazardous than streaming. Because when gaming, one is entirely absorbed in the game.
They may not be mindful of their surroundings and could get injured. Yet, people who stream argue that they are still connected to the real world because they are streaming. Therefore, they are alert and responsive to their surroundings.
Both gaming and streaming can be addictive, but which addiction is more hazardous? The answer is both.
When we look at nature, everything is in equilibrium, maintaining a healthy balance. Similarly, one can enjoy their pursuits in moderation. The key is to maintain a healthy routine. If one keeps the time consumed to limited hours, no hobby can be a harm.
On a good day, slot machines can make you a lot of money. Despite their popularity in casinos, few people know how to win big money from slot machines. After a string of losses, you may have cursed the machines. It’s an understandable resort, given the ruined fun and, more importantly, the agony of losing hard-earned money.
This does not have to be the case all of the time. While luck is not something that you can count on every day, you can court it occasionally and win large sums of money when playing slot machines. Over the years, expert gamblers have learned and tested numerous strategies for beating the money-making machines at their own game. The following is a hand-picked list of the best slots tips and tricks for 2022.
1. Learn and Understand the Slot Machines
Slots, or pokies as they are called in Australia, is a game of outwitting the machine or succumbing to its programming. In most cases, winning is as simple as understanding the machine and applying what you’ve learned to make the right moves. However, it would be beneficial if you learned how to use the machines. Punters with undeniable expertise advise against selecting any theory within reach because it may have been specifically doctored to defraud players. Internalizing the inner workings of the random number generator on which it is based is the best way to understand a slot machine. When operating the pokies machine, your understanding and intuition will guide your instincts, prompting constructive actions.
2. Learn about the game developers as well as their payout percentages
Understanding the machine is essential, as is knowing who created it. Knowing the manufacturer provides you with various complementary tidbits that will increase your chances of winning even more. It is especially important to familiarize yourself with the marked RTP percentages for the games of your choice, as well as how they compare to other manufacturers’. The data will assist you in making potentially profitable decisions based on your current slots preferences and reasons for playing individual games. Fortunately, you are only a Google search away from credible sources, including experienced players with extensive histories.
3. Examine the pay tables thoroughly
Pay tables display various winning combinations, bonuses, and operating instructions. Studying them before choosing one to play on can help maximize winning odds and amounts won.
4. Make use of free spins
Free spins are part of the casino’s marketing campaigns and allow you to play for free and keep what you win. You can expect to find offers of free spins on all of the most popular online slot games. Free spins are considered growth opportunities by players. They provide an excellent opportunity to put your skills to the test and learn about slot machines that have accumulated losses. It is best to use free spins before putting your money at risk.
5. Begin with small sums of money
Suffering from losses should be part of the overall strategy. Expert gamblers advise against chasing large amounts early in the game. Players who begin with small bets typically play for a longer period of time. By playing more games, they protect their wallets from large losses and increase their chances of winning multiple times.
6. Keep an eye out for special bonuses
If you take advantage of special offers, you can significantly increase the size of your wallet. However, if you are not attentive to the offers that appear on the screen, you may miss out on special opportunities to increase your winnings. Players who win big keep an eye out for free spins, bonuses, reloads, and other promotions that slot machines offer to keep players engrossed. By subscribing to special offer notifications, online users have a good chance of taking advantage of these opportunities.
7. Cap Betting Limits
Playing pokies can be addictive and lead to mindless behavior. Creating and sticking to a budget and betting limits, on the other hand, can protect you from regrettable human tendencies. Pokies can be a lot of fun if you play them responsibly.
8. Only play at licensed casinos
The risk of losing money to scammers remains high, particularly in this day and age of mushrooming online casinos. Some unscrupulous casino operators conceal their stings behind ostentatious requirements, such as mandatory deposits. However, while not foolproof, scrutinizing the casino’s fine print reduces the likelihood of a rip-off.
9. Avoid Suspicious Transactions
Beyond the fine print, successful players remain wary of being duped. They are aware that they could lose money with a single click. Avoiding shady deals can save you a lot of grief, especially when playing online.
10. Seek Reviews
Online slot reviews provide trustworthy tips and advice from knowledgeable individuals. Reading online slot reviews can provide you with potentially useful information, such as triggering bonuses, utilizing new game features, and determining the best games to play at a given time. It is strongly advised to conduct such research on a regular basis.
Slot machines, when used properly, can provide hours of entertainment and fun. If you follow these dos and don’ts religiously, you will be entertained and earn a lot of money.
Gambling has a particular economic definition, which is the wagering of money or other material values on a specific event with an uncertain conclusion with the primary goal of gaining extra money or material goods. After a short length of time, the ultimate result is usually known.
The origins of gambling are unknown. Although the Chinese claim to have been the first to record gambling in 2300 BC, it is thought that the activity has been performed in all human communities from the dawn of time. History is filled with tales of amusement including gambling, from the ancient Greeks and Romans through Napoleon’s France and Elizabethan England. There are firms that (legally) provide gambling as a public activity that can be controlled by one or more regulatory agencies, and the name gambling is not dissociated from legality. The Gambling Commission, for example, is the gambling regulator in the United Kingdom. Gambling is a significant international business activity.
The well-known game of Poker
Poker is a card game and the most popular game of chance, in which each player with a partial or final number of cards bids for a pot. The game is won by the person with the best combination of cards or the player who remains in the game after the others have quit. In the last couple of years online poker generated a lot of hype, states like New Jersey legalizing online gambling.
The initial round of betting in most modern poker games begins with some players placing forced bets (antes). In traditional poker, each player wagers on becoming the highest-ranked player. The action goes around the table clockwise, and each player must either add the previous maximum bet (sec) to the pot or fold and lose the amount staked thus far.
When a player raises a straight, he or she might also raise the bet. The betting round concludes when all players have either matched or folded their last wager.
If everyone but one player has folded, the pot is collected and the surviving player has the option to show or fold. If there is more than one player left in the game after the last betting round, the hands are revealed, and the player with the best hand wins the pot.
Casino gambling
Most of authorities across the world limit gambling to those who have reached the age of majority (between 16 and 21 in most countries that allow the operation of casinos). Craps, roulette, baccarat, blackjack, and video poker are examples of games of chance that can be impacted to some extent by a player’s ability.
Most games have predetermined winning probability that can be calculated analytically, making sure that the house has an overall edge over the players at all times.
The concept of anticipated value, which is consistently negative (from the player’s perspective), can be used to explain this more clearly. The house edge refers to this advantage. In other games, such as poker, where players compete against one another, the house takes a cut. Casinos occasionally provide players with complimentary items.
The payout is the amount gained by the players in terms of a percentage. In American casinos, a player who has earned money from the casino is considered to be playing with casino money.
One of the most common kinds of casino gaming is video lottery machines (also known as slot machines or slot machines). Since 2011, investigative investigations have begun to raise concerns about the addictiveness of today’s slot machines.
Slot machines
A slot machine, often known as a poker machine or a fruit machine, is a casino game; A mechanical or electrical device that provides a game in which the outcome is determined by chance and/or the players’ actions.
Three or four reels spin when a side lever is pulled on traditional coin-operated devices. A money detector is included in the machines (the vending machine is sometimes known as a “cash machine”). Due to its resemblance and propensity to leave the player without a penny in his pocket, it is also known as the one-armed bandit.) When the reels stop spinning, the machine normally pays out based on specified combinations of symbols shown on the front of the machine. Slot machines can be found at arcades, restaurants, and other unique venues. However, the term has a broader definition and can refer to:
– conventional, mechanical-arm slot machines, which may be found in casinos and can be used to win money.
– amusement devices that do not pay out money, such as pinball machines, arcade machines, and mechanical machines
– a combination of mechanical and vending games.
The desire to win may be found in both entertainment and gaming. Commercial benefits of the machines are mainly the operators and the state, which receive a significant percentage of the wins acquired as amusement through taxes when they are lawfully run.
What about Blackjack?
One of the most popular card games in the world is blackjack, often known as 21. Blackjack’s success arises from the combination of chance and skill, as well as the notoriety surrounding the concept of card counting (memorizing cards played).
21 (“twenty-one”), which originated in French casinos about 1700 but did not give the 3:2 bonus for two 21 cards, was the predecessor to blackjack. When blackjack was initially launched in the United States, game was not very popular, so casinos sought to entice players by offering various incentives.
When seated at the table, the player’s purpose is to construct a hand that is 21 or greater than the dealer’s, as long as the total does not exceed 21. With the exception of “faces” (jacks, queens, and kings), which all have a value of 10, and aces (A), which have a value of either 11 or 1, each card has a face value. You can also win with a hand that is lower than the dealer’s, as long as the dealer does not finish a hand with a total higher than 21, in which case the game is “BUST.”
Conclusion
There is a wide variety of games in the casinos that can bring you moments of fun and sometimes a considerable sum of money. We hope you got your attention with the above games and that you`ll continue doing your research. After all, it is about luck, but knowledge can make a huge impact.
There are many great reasons to switch from a physical casino to an online casino, but we do understand why some people find the process difficult.
For some games, there is not much difference between playing online and playing in person, but if you are a poker player then the online world can be very different.
Poker is a card game that was inspired by the Chinese tile game, Dominos. There are hundreds of different types of poker played around the world. In casinos and professional circuits, Texas Hold ‘Em is the most common.
For many poker players, being able to read the people you are playing with is one of the most important elements of the game. This is why many Poker players are nervous about playing online.
Today, we are going to share 5 tips with you that will help you to switch to online poker.
#1 – Play Video Poker
When you move to online Poker, you will just have to accept that not everything is going to be the same – but that some things will be better.
When you play poker online, you get a huge choice over where you play, who you play with, and how much you are going to pay to play. This amount of choice is not possible at a physical casino.
When you are looking for a way to play poker online, if you want the closest experience to playing in a physical casino, you should opt for live video poker.
This will allow you to see the other people playing around you as well as the dealer. This will help you to feel more involved in the game and you can still use your people reading skills to your advantage.
#2 – Practice
When people move online they get frustrated because they don’t win as often as they used to when they played in person. There is a very good reason for this and a simple solution.
Playing poker online is a similar but different skill to playing poker in person. So, you need to treat it like you are learning something new from scratch.
You would never play poker for the first time at a high buy-in table – everyone would be better than you and you would lose money.
So, when you start playing online poker for the first time, you want to practice on free games or start off at the very lowest buy-in tables. This will give you a chance to get to grips with the new style of playing without losing too much money.
#3 – Take Lots of Breaks
When you are trying to learn something new, you will be surprised by how tired it makes you.
When we are learning a new skill, our brains have to physically forge new neural pathways, this uses up a lot of energy. This is one of the main reasons why college and high school students are so tired all the time.
We experience the same thing when we start something new for the first time, like playing poker online. Our brain needs to make new memories and pathways, this is something that will tire us out.
So, make sure that you are taking lots of breaks – this will keep you at the top of your game and help you to learn more quickly.
#4 – Pick Your Casino Carefully
When you start playing poker online, you will have hundreds if not thousands of online casinos to choose from.
All of these choices mean that as a customer, the casinos need to fight for your custom and money. This results in online casinos offering deals and welcome bonuses that a physical casino would never allow.
For example, some online casinos offer to double or triple your first deposit. While others will offer you free spins for the rest of your life. Others have loyalty schemes that reward you for coming back day after day.
Be on the lookout for an online casino that can offer you a good bonus.
You should also make sure that you pick an online casino that has a good range of video poker tables at a range of buy-ins.
Some days you might be playing well and want to play at a competitive table. But on other days you might want to take the pressure off and play at a more low-key table.
#5 – Stop When You Stop Having Fun
When people start playing poker online, they forget some of the key rules of playing at a casino:
Take breaks
Have a budget
Don’t bet more than you can afford to lose
Stop when it stops being fun or when you are losing too much
Adding money to your account is so much easier when you play online, so is staying up all night to play.
You need to make sure that you are sticking to the same rules that you would have set yourself if you were playing in a physical casino.
Playing poker is meant to be fun, you do not want to get yourself in financial trouble over it.
Boris have dropped a new song titled ‘Question 1’. It’s set to appear on their forthcoming album Heavy Rocks (2022), the third installment in their Heavy Rocks series, which also includes the previously unveiled track ‘She Is Burning’. Take a listen below.
Heavy Rocks (2022) will follow Boris’ latest LP W, which came out earlier this year.
Rosie Thorne, the project of Mannequin Pussy members Marisa “Missy” Dabice and Max Steen, have released their new single ‘You’re My Future’ (via Epitaph). The track arrives with an accompanying video directed by Dabice that stars “a real life nonbinary trans couple who are also part of the Deaf and CODA (Child of a Deaf Adult) communities,” according to a press release. Watch and listen below.
“I’m so deeply interested in human connection and the ways in which we express ourselves through love,” Dabice commented in a statement. “How we show our devotion and our interest and our intent. There are so many different ways that we use language to demonstrate our love for another person. ‘You’re My Future’ attempts to capture how it feels to realize that the person you are falling in love with may be by your side forever.”
Elaborating on the video, Dabice said:
I wanted to cast and showcase love between two people who are not often represented in media. Early in 2020, when so much of life went fully online – the Deaf community had to continually petition major corporations such as Zoom, Google, Tik Tok, You Tube, Twitch etc to include closed captioning for those in the Deaf community who were not able to participate in so many of our new virtual modes of communication. I imagined how this also related to art, music and visual storytelling and how at a time where many of us were so desperate for human connection, many people were being left out of conversations simply out of an ableist mindset of what it means to make something accessible.
Through friends in Philadelphia I was introduced to Michelle Goodwin, who came on as an editor and producer of this music video. Michelle is a CODA who, along with Blake and D, were consultants on this video. Blake is a Deaf adult and D a CODA. The video was filmed over 3 sunrises and 2 sunsets in Philadelphia, in July 2021. We wanted to make a sweet, romantic, slightly cheesy portrayal of two young people falling in love who we see expressing that love for each other in a language that many people in the world do not speak and have yet to learn. ASL (American Sign Language) has even been described as painting through air and we sought to capture the beauty of both the language and the people who speak it. Happy Pride!
