The Beths – the New Zealand-based band composed of vocalist Elizabeth Stokes, guitarist Jonathan Pearce, bassist Benjamin Sinclair, and drummer Tristan Deck – have signed to ANTI-. Today’s announcement comes paired with a new single, ‘Metal’. Check out the video for it below, and scroll down for the quartet’s upcoming tour dates.
While writing ‘Metal’, Stokes was processing the effects of rigorous touring, mental health struggles, and several diagnoses. “In some ways ‘Metal’ is a song about being alive and existing in a human body,” she reflected. “That is something I have been acutely aware of in the last few years, where I have been on what one might call a ‘health journey’. For parts of the last few years, I kind of felt like my body was a vehicle that had carried me pretty well thus far but was breaking down, something I had little to no control over. All of the steps in the Rube Goldberg machine of life are so unlikely, and yet here we are in it. I have a hunger and a curiosity for learning about the world around me, and for learning about myself. And despite all the ways that my body feels like a broken machine, I still marvel at the complexity of such a machine.”
“I can hold that knowledge in one hand, and yet with the other hand I can point to my reflection and just be like ‘you are shit’. Or ‘ugly’,” Stokes added. “Or ‘worthless’. I can reliably respond to any suggestion that I might be able to achieve any small thing with ‘no’. And these are variations of the ‘short word’ referenced in the song.”
Musically, the song is driving and jangly. “There was a propulsion to the acoustic strumming pattern on the original demo,” Stokes explained. “Tristan’s drums meet that feeling so perfectly, the feeling of a train pushing up the tracks. Jonathan got to play his Burns 12 string guitar as sparkly as he wanted, and Ben as usual can’t be contained to the lower register. I think we ended up with an arrangement that embodies the frenetic intricacy of an engine in action. There’s a lot going on, until there isn’t.”
‘Metal’ marks the Beths’ first new music since the 2023 deluxe edition of their latest album, Expert in a Dying Field. Revisit our interview with the Beths.
The Beths 2025 Tour Dates:
Thu Sep 18 – Dublin, IE – Button Factory
Sat Sep 20 – Manchester, UK – Albert Hall
Sun Sep 21 – Glasgow, UK – SWG3 TV Studio
Mon Sep 22 – Leeds, UK – Project House
Wed Sep 24 – Bristol, UK – O2 Academy
Thu Sep 25 – Birmingham, UK – XOYO
Fri Sep 26 – London, UK – Roundhouse
Sat Sep 27 – Brighton, UK – CHALK
Mon Sep 29 – Tourcoing, FR – Le Grand Mix
Tue Sep 30 – Paris, FR – Le Trabendo
Wed Oct 1 – Brussels, BE – Botanique
Fri Oct 3 – Cologne, DE – Kantine
Sat Oct 4 – Amsterdam, NL – Paradiso
Sun Oct 5 – Hamburg, DE – Krust
Tue Oct 7 – Stockholm, SE – Slaktkyrkan
Wed Oct 8 Oslo, NO – Parkteatret Scene
Thu Oct 9 – Copenhagen, DK – Pumpehuset
Sat Oct 11 – Berlin, DE – Lido
Sun Oct 12 – Munich, DE – Strom
Mon Oct 13 – Zurich, CH – Plaza
Wed Oct 15 – Barcelona, ES – Razzmatazz 2
Thu Oct 16 – Madrid, ES – Nazca
Fri Oct 17 – Lisbon, PT – LAV
Thu Oct 30 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel*
Fri Oct 31 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse *
Sat Nov 1 – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl *
Mon Nov 3 – Dallas, TX – The Studio At The Bomb Factory *
Tue Nov 4 – Austin, TX – Emo’s *
Thu Nov 6 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren *
Fri Nov 7 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern * ^
Sat Nov 8 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore *
Wed Nov 12 – Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades *
Fri Nov 14 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom *
Sat Nov 15 – Seattle, WA – The Moore Theatre *
Sun Nov 16 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom *
Tue Nov 18 – Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall *
Wed Nov 19 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre *
Fri Nov 21 – Kansas City, MO – The Truman *
* with Phoebe Rings
^ with Bret McKenzie
+ with Squirrel Flower
# with illuminati hotties
Nilüfer Yanya has released a new single called ‘Cold Heart’. The singer-songwriter wrote it as part of a collection of tracks she revisited with creative partner Wilma Archer after touring her last album, My Method Actor. It pairs Yanya’s entrancing vocals with a wistful guitar line and booming drums, and you can hear how it grew from the original demo. “This one turned out pretty different to how I imagined it,” she shared. “The initial melody felt very spacious, like there’s room for anything to happen. It felt like a kind of experiment.” Take a listen below.
The term Automated essay grading (AEG) essentially means when Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) are used to evaluate and grade written essays. This technology uses algorithms that work to analyze the essay factors, including grammar, spelling, word choice, syntax, and others, to generate a grade or score for the essay content.
Since automated grading solutions have gained interest and their adoption has grown recently, education and assessments have moved increasingly to more online and digital formats. Advocates point to many potential pros, such as saving teachers’ time, getting rid of scoring bias, and offering an immediate response back to students. Critics argue that accuracy limitations, scoring integrity, and effects on students are cons, but they do not exist.
This article examines the key pros and cons of using essay AI grader today and projections for the future. We’ll analyze the capabilities and limitations of current solutions, present use cases and statistics on real-world implementation, review impacts on educators and students, and discuss the outlook for advancement as AI and NLP evolve.
The Rise of Automated Grading Solutions
Automated grading technology originated in the 1960s, but its capabilities remained extremely limited until recent breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and machine learning. In the past decade, major strides have occurred in NLP and neural networks that can analyze written text and language more accurately than ever before.
Several vendors now provide AI-based essay scoring solutions used by hundreds of universities, public school districts, and testing organizations worldwide. The largest provider, EdX, supports essay grading for tests like the SAT, GMAT, and TOEFL. Public schools in at least 21 U.S. states use automated scoring to handle growing numbers of written exams and asynchronous assignments.
Use continues to rise rapidly. Recent estimates project that the global automated essay scoring software market size was valued at approximately USD 0.25 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 0.75 billion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 12% from 2023 to 2032. This represents a major shift in automated grading adoption to keep pace with remote and digital learning trends.
Pros of Automated Essay Grading
Automated essay scoring delivers several potential benefits that explain its surging usage.
Saves Teachers’ Time
Grading written essays and assignments represents one of teachers’ most labor-intensive, time-consuming tasks. Automated solutions can significantly expedite the process and alleviate this burden.
For example, estimates show teachers may spend upwards of 10-15 minutes grading a single essay. For a class of 25 students, that equates to 4-6 hours spent. Automated scoring can evaluate essays in 1 minute or less per essay, saving teachers hours of manual work and freeing up more time for lesson planning, teaching, and providing student feedback.
Provides Rapid Student Feedback
Related to saving teachers’ time, automated grading also enables students to receive scores and feedback on written assignments much faster. Rather than waiting days or weeks for teachers to grade papers, automated systems can evaluate submissions within seconds and instantly provide students with their essay scores.
Immediate performance feedback allows students to pinpoint writing areas to improve sooner. And research shows faster feedback also leads to better long-term retention and skills development.
Eliminates Subjective Scoring Biases
Unlike human graders who inherently apply subjective biases and preferences to essay scoring, automated grading solutions utilize unbiased, objective AI algorithms. Most systems are trained on millions of essay examples to develop scoring rules that grade elements like semantics, vocabulary, and topical content accuracy without favoritism.
Through machine learning advancements, leading essay scoring engines have successfully minimized algorithmic biases as well. This results in impartial scores based strictly on essay quality versus grader biases that can negatively or positively influence human-graded scores.
Facilitates Large-Scale Assessments
Automated grading provides a scalable solution to accommodate high-volume essay and short-answer scoring needs for large testing organizations. For instance, one vendor’s AI grading tool reports an ability to score 400 billion short-answer questions a year – a volume practically impossible for human graders.
Such capacity enables more frequent, large-scale assessments to better gauge student learning and refine instruction programs systemwide. A few states now administer formative assessments every 2-3 weeks and credit AI scoring for making this feasible, where manpower cannot.
Cons of Automated Essay Grading
While automated essay scoring delivers noteworthy upside, legitimate downsides and limitations exist.
Cannot Match Human Grading Accuracy
The most significant disadvantage is that algorithmic grading cannot yet match human accuracy and perceptiveness. Although AI capabilities advance annually, fully mimicking human language comprehension and cognition remains complex and challenging.
Most automated engines still struggle to analyze semantics, inference, creativity, and other higher-order skills that human graders intuitively recognize in writing. Sophisticated arguments, original ideas, humor, irony, and other subjective language qualities pose accuracy issues as well.
Risks of Formulaic and Structured Writing
Critics argue that automated essay scoring, because algorithms analyze writing style and structures versus ideas, incentivizes formulaic, uninspired writing geared to please AI models versus demonstrate true skills. For instance, long essays using complex vocabulary may receive strong scores regardless of substance.
Additionally, well-trained models can usually recognize content with high plagiarism quite well. However, students may discover “tricks” to slightly manipulate copied text to avoid plagiarism detection. This could promote cheating if applied incorrectly to high-stakes assessments.
In both cases, the concern is that automated scoring’s limitations may distort writing instruction if teachers and students fixate solely on superficial styles and structures rewarded by AI. Without balancing human scoring, writing quality may shift toward template-based versus original, creative structures, which would set back skill development.
Lacks Qualitative Feedback
Most automated scoring systems can assign grades and provide basic quantitative feedback explaining score calculations. However, algorithms struggle to deliver meaningful qualitative analysis with constructive suggestions to improve, like human graders.
Rating scale criteria are also limited, often reducing essay quality to a 1-6 numeric score. Such simplified metrics fail to capture the nuances and growth opportunities that teachers’ individualized comments can provide. Students lose out on important coaching tailored to their needs that generic AI feedback lacks presently.
Perception of Impartiality
Finally, despite aiming for unbiased objectivity, studies show students often view automated scoring as less fair and trustworthy than teacher grading. Students believe human readers better understand concepts and contexts to judge work impartially versus bots.
Negative perception erodes student confidence in scoring integrity. Further, some observers believe overdependence on algorithms to evaluate writing risks dehumanizing instruction as an impersonal, numerical process versus nurturing talent.
Outlook for Advancements in Automated Grading
The above cons reveal real downsides to curbing the more ubiquitous implementation of automated essay evaluation technologies today. However, rapid evolution continues, suggesting AI capabilities will advance markedly in the coming years to address many current limitations.
Several developments show strong promise. First, scoring accuracy continues to progress as machine learning models receive more training data. For example, leading vendors now claim scoring parity with human graders, predicting models will exceed average teacher accuracy by 2025.
Natural language generation advancements also show potential for automated feedback. New models like GPT-4 demonstrate improving capabilities, summarizing key points, and generating specific qualitative feedback superior to current template comments.
Additionally, to counter risks of formulaic writing, adaptive scoring algorithms show promise in assessing higher-order analysis like critical thinking versus writing style alone. Models in development also aim to detect sophisticated cheating attempts better.
Finally, enhanced system validation and external audits on scoring fairness may further build user confidence and acceptance if applied properly to ease perception issues.
Conclusion
Advancing artificial intelligence has the potential to lead to an automated essay scoring application of great transformational value in education. Real benefits such as teacher time savings, fast, unbiased scores to improve writing assessments are already being delivered by leading systems.
However, as with any legitimate cons, the accuracy limitations and the impact on writing quality show that there is still some evolution to come. It is conceivable in the near term that automated grading solutions will become viable alternatives to low-stakes assessment, and in the long term, partners could continue to play a role in grading high-stakes tests alongside their counterparts.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced its latest class of inductees. During a Rock Hall-themed episode of American Idol, host Ryan Seacrest revealed that OutKast, Soundgarden, the White Stripes, Cyndi Lauper, Joe Cocker, Bad Company, and Chubby Checker will all be inducted during a ceremony held at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater on November 8.
Carol Kaye, Thom Bell, and Nicky Hopkins will be honored with the Musical Influence Award, while music industry executive Lenny Waronker is the recipient of the Ahmet Ertegun Award. This year’s inductees were voted in by a body of more than 1,200 artists, historians, and members of the music industry, as well as a fan vote. Phish – who won the fan vote by a wide margin – Oasis, Mariah Carey, Joy Division/New Order, Billy Idol, Maná, and the Black Crowes did not make the final cut.
In Path of Exile 2, mastering boss encounters is essential to progress throughout the campaign and getting many, valuable rewards, and Jamanra, The Abomination. It is the final boss of Act 2. It is a highly formidable challenge that challenges your preparation, mechanics, and adaptability. This guide gives you all the tips, steps, on how you can defeat Jamanra. It covers his attack patterns, strategies specific to certain phases, and tips so you can optimise your build.
With the right approach, you can easily defeat this lightning abomination, and collect all the loot he has to offer. This can include rare items, and all forms of POE 2 Currency. These rewards help you to boost and continue your journey throughout Wraeclast.
The Fight: Overview and Phases
Jamanra, The Abomination, is encountered by you at the end of the Dreadnought Vanguard after you progress through The Trail of Corruption Part 2. The fight breaks into two distinct phases, both with a combined health pool of about 140,000 (can get to 700,000 in the Cruel difficulty). Phase 1 takes place on the Dreadnought, which is like an arena, but highly confined. Phase 2 on the contrary, shifts into a desert setting. It also adds new mechanics. Sekhema Asala helps you out in Phase 1, but is absent during Phase 2.
Phase 1: Dreadnought Arena
In the first phase, Jamanra uses a combo of many lightning and physical attacks. The arena’s tight spaces compliment and amplify this challenge even further. Some of the most common, yet dangerous attacks are:
Lightning: A quick strike in front of Jamanra, dealing moderate damage. Dodge by circling behind him or staying close to bait this safer attack.
Roaming Pillars: Jamanra hurls pillars, hitting three times for mixed physical and lightning damage. Dodge rolls to the side when his arm thrusts forward. This is harder to avoid at range, so melee positioning is safer.
Sandstorm: Jamanra channels a 15 second sandstorm dealing increasing damage. Stand behind Asala’s shield, signaled by her raised torch, to avoid taking damage. Get rid of undead minions that spawn during this period.
Strategy
Your best bet is to stay close to Jamanra to minimise the damage you take by roaming pillar throws. This also helps you simply dodge, instead of manoeuvre. Save at least three life flasks charges for the next phase. The fight’s length requires you to be stacked up on resources. Use cold damage to exploit his weaknesses. Clear his minions quickly during the sandstorm to avoid explosions happening after the storm.
To speed up your game and make your performance even better, you should try getting resources to upgrade your gear and skills. You can easily buy POE 2 Currency to get orbs for crafting or trading for gear which resists lightning- making sure you’re well equipped for this fight.
Phase 2: Desert Arena
At about half health, Jamanra destroys the Dreadnought, transitioning to a desert arena with a larger but more chaotic battlefield. Asala is knocked unconscious, leaving you to fight alone. New attacks replace most of Phase 1’s, except for stationary lightning pylons that apply a shocked debuff. Key attacks include:
Tornadoes: Four tornadoes spawn and wander the arena, dealing damage over time and slowing you. Avoid them by moving circularly and staying aware of their paths.
Unblockable Horizontal Slash: Jamanra prepares a halbred and slashes it. This triggers an AoE explosion followed by a shockwave. You should dodge roll behind him or keep distance to avoid.
Projectile Gates: Massive gates shoot daggers when Jamanra is low on health. Avoid standing in their streams.
Strategy
Mobility is key in Phase 2 due to tornadoes and overlapping mechanics. Focus on Jamanra’s animations to anticipate sword or cleave attacks, which deal significant damage. Keep moving and dodge rolling to avoid spear rain and shard strikes. Ranged builds can work effectively, while melee builds should stick close to exploit Jamanra’s weak melee attacks, dodging only his vertical slam (signaled by “Our gift to you!” or “Take our hate!”). Preserve flasks for the final 25% of health, where the attack density increases.
Tips for Success
Practice Positioning: Multiple attempts help you learn Jamanra’s attacks, style, and safe zones. Record your fights to analyse your mistakes.
Build Efficiency: Optimize your passive tree for life regen, cold damage, or stun resistance. Respec your skills with the Hooded One if needed- it is costly though.
Flask Management: Save flasks for Phase 2’s intense final quarter. Use buffs to reduce Jamanra’s defenses.
Class Specific Tips:
Monk: Use Tempest Bell or Storm Wave for burst damage and mobility.
Witch: Employ minions as bait and Bonestorm for safe ranged damage.
Mercenary: Focus on single-target DPS and dodge rolls to counter low damage output.
Hardcore Mode: Prioritize lightning resistance and stun immunity. Use freeze skills to create attack windows.
Conclusion
Jamanra, The Abomination, is a strong test of your skills in Path of Exile 2. With the proper preparation and strategy, you can easily overcome the boss. Make sure you stack up on lightning resistance, gear, and you exploit his weakness to cold. With one of the most important things being recognising the attack patterns in both the phases. Make sure you have good movement, and leverage Asala in Phase 1. Victory in this battle gets you to Act 3, and gives you a lot of great, valuable loot so you can enhance your gear.
London’s spring sky is living up to the exhibition’s title—Partly Cloudy—this April, when Xianghan Wang’s latest creation is unveiled. Inside the M P Birla Millennium Art Gallery, a large contemporary space nestled within The Bhavan—London’s renowned institute of Indian art and culture—visitors wander through an atmosphere of quiet anticipation. Curated by Y Manifesto, the three-day exhibition Partly Cloudy uses meteorological phenomena as a poetic framework to explore the complexities of identity, perception, and existential ambiguity. The very phrase “partly cloudy” signals a liminal state—“neither entirely illuminated nor wholly obscured”—and the gallery brims with art that inhabits those in-between realms. Rather than offering any tidy resolution, Partly Cloudy challenges viewers to navigate the nuanced interplay of materiality and immateriality, presence and absence, finding meaning in the haze between knowing and unknowing.
In a dimly lit alcove, one installation glows with a peculiar allure. It is Xianghan Wang’s immersive VR piece The Rhythm of Tai Chi, fresh from winning a coveted Red Dot Design Award and now making its London debut. In an era defined by rapid technological shifts, Xianghan Wang is a rare visionary who grounds innovation in heritage. The Los Angeles–based XR and motion designer—currently at Apple—continues to captivate international audiences with her immersive creations that blend digital artistry, ancestral wisdom, and narrative depth. Her work redefines the possibilities of spatial computing and immersive media, offering a thoughtful, emotionally rich approach to storytelling through technology.
A Red Dot Award–winning project, The Rhythm of Tai Chi is distinguished by its ability to visualize Qi—the internal energy believed to flow through the body in Tai Chi philosophy. Traditionally, Qi is felt but never seen, described through metaphor and intuition rather than literal form. In her work, Xianghan reimagines this invisible force using motion tracking and real-time animation. As users move through the VR environment, their gestures are mirrored by trails of glowing energy—a visual metaphor for Qi that makes the concept tangible and emotionally resonant. This approach offers not just a virtual demonstration, but an embodied experience. By allowing users to see the rhythm of their movement and breath, the project bridges intuition and interaction in a way that is accessible to both beginners and experienced practitioners.
“It’s not just about showing Tai Chi—it’s about embodying it. We wanted people to feel the rhythm, the breath, the energy, even if they’ve never studied it before,” Xianghan explains. Her intent is clear: to use immersive technology not for spectacle, but for emotional and cultural resonance. The result is a peaceful, intuitive experience that connects body, mind, and digital space—an artwork that teaches as it inspires.
With over fifteen international design awards to her name—including Red Dot, IF Design Awards, AIXR XR Awards Finalist, and the DNA Paris Design Awards—Xianghan has firmly established herself at the intersection of art, innovation, and heritage. Her works have been exhibited from New York to Italy, and now London, consistently drawing attention for their poetic balance of technology and soul. Each new project reaffirms her commitment to honoring cultural memory while pushing the boundaries of digital design.
Her influence is also evident through her roles as a juror and guest speaker in the international creative community. Xianghan has served as a judge for various global design competitions and hackathons, where she brings a critical eye to projects that fuse innovation with cultural and emotional depth. She has also been invited as a guest speaker at institutions and organizations such as the School of Visual Arts (SVA), the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), and the VR/AR Association (VRARA), where she shares her insights on XR storytelling, motion design, and human-centered innovation. Through these contributions, she actively shapes conversations around the future of immersive media and inspires others to explore how technology can be a tool for both creativity and cultural continuity.
Xianghan has firmly planted herself at the intersection of art, innovation, and heritage, and her work is a living example of how ancient wisdom can dance with modern technology. In the Partly Cloudy exhibition, this sensibility offers a hopeful through-line: even amid uncertainty, there are experiences that ground us. As the last visitors drift out into the London night, they carry with them the memory of luminous shapes and quiet revelations. The impression is subtle yet indelible: Xianghan Wang is designing for presence in a way that makes the past feel vividly alive in the present, illuminating a path toward the future.
Choosing the right life insurance policy is one of the most important financial decisions you can make for yourself and your loved ones. With the uncertainty of the future and the rising costs of healthcare, securing financial protection can offer you peace of mind. In 2025, the landscape of life insurance is evolving with new options and considerations.
This guide will help you navigate the complexities of life insurance and find a policy that fits your budget without sacrificing the coverage you need.
Assessing Your Personal Needs
Understanding your unique situation is key when selecting life insurance, as your needs may change with major life events like marriage, children, or buying a home.
First, calculate how much coverage you need. A common guideline is 10 to 15 times your annual income, but consider factors like dependents, debts, and ongoing expenses such as mortgage payments and tuition fees.
Different life insurance policies serve various financial goals. If you’re focused on affordable financial protection, term life is ideal. However, if you want long-term savings or investment options, a whole life or universal life policy might be more suitable. Aligning your policy with your broader financial goals—such as retirement planning—can ensure it meets both your protection and wealth-building needs.
Factors That Impact Life Insurance Premiums in 2025
Several factors influence the cost of life insurance premiums. Understanding these factors can help you manage your expectations and possibly lower your premiums over time.
Age and Health
One of the most significant factors in determining your life insurance premiums is your age. The younger you are when you purchase life insurance, the lower your premiums will be. Insurance companies view younger individuals as less risky, as they are less likely to experience health problems in the near future.
Health is another crucial factor. If you are in excellent health, you’ll likely pay less for life insurance than someone with pre-existing conditions. Insurers may require a medical exam to assess your health before issuing a policy, so maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be beneficial when shopping for life insurance.
Gender and Occupation
Premiums can also vary based on gender and occupation. Statistically, women tend to live longer than men, which means they often pay lower premiums. In addition, some occupations may result in higher premiums because of the associated risk factors. For example, those working in dangerous fields such as construction or firefighting may face higher life insurance costs.
Policy Duration and Type
The type and duration of the policy you select also impact your premiums. Term life insurance, which offers coverage for a specific period, is typically much cheaper than permanent policies like whole or universal life insurance. If you’re looking to save money on premiums, a term policy may be the most cost-effective option.
Riders and Additional Coverage Options
Riders can add extra benefits to your policy but also increase your premiums. Common riders include accidental death benefits or coverage for critical illnesses. While these additional coverages can be valuable, it’s important to assess whether they fit within your budget and if they are necessary for your situation.
How to Shop for Life Insurance
Shopping for life insurance involves more than simply picking the cheapest policy. It’s important to compare quotes, understand policy features, and evaluate the reputation of the insurer.
Get Multiple Quotes
The best way to find a policy that fits your budget is by obtaining multiple quotes from different insurance providers. Numerous insurance providers offer online tools that enable you to compare quotes instantly. Make sure to compare premiums, coverage limits, and policy terms from various providers to ensure you find the best option that fits your requirements.
Work with an Independent Agent or Broker
An independent insurance agent or broker can help you navigate the complex world of life insurance. These professionals work with multiple insurers and can help you find the right policy at the best price. They can also explain the fine print and provide advice on which riders or features might be beneficial for your unique circumstances.
Evaluate Insurance Providers
When selecting an insurance provider, it’s important to consider more than just the cost. Look into the financial stability of the insurer by checking ratings from agencies like AM Best or Standard & Poor’s. It’s also essential to research customer satisfaction ratings and claims handling processes to ensure that the company will be reliable when it’s time to pay out a claim.
Cost Guide for Life Insurance in 2025
The cost of life insurance varies significantly based on a variety of factors, including age, health, coverage amount, and policy type. In 2025, life insurance premiums are expected to rise in some cases due to factors like inflation and medical advances. Understanding the typical cost ranges for different types of policies can help you budget effectively.
For example, a 30-year-old non-smoker may pay around £15 to £25 per month for a 20-year term life policy with a £500,000 death benefit. In contrast, a 50-year-old non-smoker could pay upwards of £100 to £150 per month for a similar policy. Permanent policies like whole life insurance can be much more expensive, with monthly premiums starting at £200 or more depending on the coverage amount and additional features.
For a more detailed breakdown of life insurance costs, consider checking out a UK life insurance cost guide [2025], which provides updated pricing data and insights into how market trends may affect premiums.
Conclusion
Finding the best life insurance policy for your budget in 2025 requires careful planning and research. By understanding the different types of policies, assessing your needs, and comparing providers, you can secure the right coverage for your family without breaking the bank. Be sure to factor in your long-term goals, as well as any potential add-ons or riders that could enhance your policy. By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to finding a life insurance policy that provides both protection and peace of mind.
Sun-shade sails function as essential outdoor sun protection elements that have become standard patio equipment. The multipurpose fabric structures extend their functionality past basic seating area coverage. Sun-shade sails offer many innovative installation possibilities that extend their application beyond traditional patio uses when properly designed. Homeowners, together with designers and business owners, choose sun-shade sails as their preferred solution because these structures deliver functional benefits alongside visual appeal. This sun shade sail serves multiple functions by transforming both outdoor and indoor areas.
Creating Cozy Garden Retreats
Backyard gardens become more welcoming through the addition of shaded relaxation areas. Homeowners who want a shaded retreat should consider putting up sun-shade sails between trees or posts or garden walls instead of building permanent structures or bulky gazebos. The shaded corner functions as either a reading area, meditation spot, or a spot to relax during hot afternoons. The UV-blocking fabric of the sail defends plants and people from direct sunlight yet enables airflow and natural environmental elements.
Shade Children’s Play Areas
Most parents face difficulties when they want their children to spend time outdoors. The main reason to worry is dangerous UV rays. Sun shade sails function excellently as protective covers for outdoor play areas, sandboxes, and areas with toys. The correct placement of these sails offers all-day protection, which minimizes both sunburns and heat exhaustion risks. Parents have multiple color options when selecting fabric for their outdoor spaces since it provides many cheerful color choices that fit well with playful settings.
Enhancing Poolside Comfort
Swimming pools serve as summer sanctuaries during hot days, yet their surrounding areas typically remain exposed and heat up excessively. Sun shade sails can provide creative coverage for poolside lounges, shallow tanning areas, and water surface sections to minimize surface temperatures and reduce glare. The shade sails resist fading, so they keep their attractive appearance even when exposed to months of strong sunlight. This application provides people who want extended water time a sleek and functional solution to avoid sunburn.
Adding Visual Drama to Outdoor Events
The functional value of temporary shade tents remains high, yet their visual design quality remains limited. Sun shade sails serve as contemporary outdoor decoration for weddings, garden parties, and other similar events. The elegant suspended arrangement or geometric placement of these elements creates architectural intrigue, which turns ordinary spaces into extraordinary areas. The UV protection feature of these structures keeps guests comfortable throughout the entire day. After the event concludes, the sails become simple to uninstall and reuse for upcoming occasions.
Offering Privacy in Urban Settings
Resident populations in dense urban areas face significant challenges when trying to achieve outdoor privacy. Sun shade sails serve as an innovative solution to block off balconies and rooftops together with small backyard areas while protecting against neighboring window views. These sails function as a breathable visual obstruction that protects areas when positioned vertically or at an angle. The sail structure provides an open and breathable atmosphere. This makes it an exceptional choice for urban residents who want privacy while preserving their aesthetic preferences.
Protecting Outdoor Kitchens and Dining Areas
Outdoor kitchens and dining setups gain more popularity, yet a lack of proper shade makes outdoor meal preparation and dining uncomfortable. The installation of a sunshade sail directly above grill stations or dining tables creates substantial improvements to their usability. The shade protects both those preparing food and those eating from dangerous sunlight while it keeps food looking fresh and prevents glare during night meals. Shade sails function as both design elements and functional sun protection for any outdoor kitchen design, whether the area follows rustic or modern aesthetics.
Creating Breezy Carports
Homeowners who lack garage access must worry about sun damage protection for their cars on a daily basis. A rectangular sunshade sail made to order functions as an improvised carport that shields vehicles from damaging UV rays that degrade paint and break down interior materials. Sun shade sails provide weather protection beyond shade since they are water-resistant and durable against abrasions, which prevents moisture, leaves, and debris from reaching the surface. Open sides on the structure enable airflow, which prevents heat accumulation that occurs in enclosed spaces. A simple carport design using sunshade sails works best when placed over driveways and open parking spots.
Covering Walkways and Garden Paths
Sun-shade sails serve an additional purpose by providing coverage for walkways and garden paths. The sails function either by spanning between two structures or by attaching to yard path posts. The sails improve both visual flow and comfort between spaces by blocking direct sunlight and lowering heat reflection from pavement surfaces. Sun-shade sails offer dual protection to stone and metal elements by providing shade, which helps maintain both the functional and aesthetic quality of paths.
Upgrading Outdoor Workspaces
The growing trend of remote work and creative hobbies has made outdoor workspaces increasingly popular among people. People who work outside need appropriate conditions to find their work environment enjoyable because otherwise the experience becomes unpleasant. A sunshade sail transforms a backyard corner into an operational open-air studio or office space. The UV-blocking features, along with mold-resistant construction, enable this product to provide both glare reduction and heat control and maintain a dry environment despite weather changes. Artists, together with gardeners and DIY enthusiasts, choose sun-shade sails to create comfortable working areas outside their homes.
Elevating Commercial Spaces
Sun-shade sails provide business owners with adaptable features that they can use to their advantage. Sun shade sails create an elegant appearance and provide comfortable shade for customers at both cafes with outdoor seating and open-air yoga studios. Modern design elements improve brand image and attract attention when these structures are installed with bold color schemes or patterns. Custom-designed sunshade sails adapt to different commercial applications, which results in welcoming settings that make customers stay longer.
Conclusion
Sun-shade sails serve multiple purposes beyond their role as patio sun protectors. The wide selection of shapes, together with different materials and installation methods, enables sun-shade sails to serve innovative purposes in various locations from urban to rural and residential to commercial landscapes. The sunshade sail continues to develop into a preferred design element for multifunctional spaces because people want outdoor comfort without sacrificing visual appeal. This adaptable fabric solution demonstrates that smart protection and visual appeal can exist together through its ability to provide shade.
In recent years, bail reform has garnered significant attention across the United States. Bail reform aims to address the inequalities within the criminal justice system, particularly how individuals are treated before their trial. For many defendants, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds, the bail system can be an insurmountable barrier to fair treatment.
This blog explores the impact of bail reform on Irving defendants, the potential benefits, and the challenges that remain.
Understanding Bail and Its Role
Bail is a payment or condition set by a judge to ensure that a defendant returns for their court appearance. Traditionally, those charged with crimes who cannot afford bail are detained while awaiting their trial. This system has been criticized for disproportionately affecting lower-income individuals and communities of color.
In Irving, as in many other jurisdictions, the amount of bail is often set without consideration for the defendant’s financial situation. This can lead to individuals staying in jail for extended periods simply because they cannot afford the set amount. This system also raises concerns about fairness, as rich defendants can afford bail and await trial outside jail.
The Shift Toward Bail Reform
Bail reform seeks to make changes to the way bail is set, to ensure that individuals are not kept in jail simply because of their inability to pay. The movement has gained momentum in recent years, with many jurisdictions, including Irving, beginning to implement reforms.
The most significant changes include the elimination or reduction of cash bail requirements for non-violent offenses, the introduction of risk assessments to determine whether an individual poses a flight risk or danger to the community, and the use of alternative pretrial services such as electronic monitoring or supervised release.
The Impact on Defendants in Irving
Bail reform has far-reaching implications for Irving defendants, both positive and negative. Below are some of the key effects:
1. Reducing the Burden on Low-Income Defendants
Perhaps the most immediate benefit of bail reform is the reduction in the financial burden on low-income defendants. With traditional cash bail systems, defendants from low-income backgrounds often find themselves stuck in jail simply because they cannot afford the required amount. Bail reform in Irving aims to address this by reducing or eliminating cash bail for non-violent offenders. This allows individuals to maintain their jobs, continue supporting their families, and avoid the emotional toll of pretrial detention.
2. Improved Access to Pretrial Services
One significant aspect of bail reform in Irving is the increased focus on risk assessments and alternative pretrial services. Defendants may be monitored with electronic devices, required to check in with a pretrial services officer, or even receive substance abuse treatment or mental health counseling if necessary. These services not only help reduce the burden on the jail system but also provide defendants with resources to address the root causes of their charges.
3. Encouraging Fairer Treatment Across the Board
With the focus on assessing individual risk rather than financial status, bail reform also seeks to eliminate biases that have historically existed within the criminal justice system. Ensuring that the bail amount is not set based solely on an individual’s ability to pay helps level the playing field for defendants. This approach encourages fairer treatment and ensures that people who pose minimal risk to society are not unfairly detained while awaiting trial.
Potential Challenges and Concerns
While bail reform in Irving has led to improvements, some challenges and concerns remain.
1. Ensuring Effective Risk Assessment
One of the central components of bail reform is the use of risk assessments to determine whether a defendant should be granted bail and what conditions should be placed on their release. However, these assessments are not foolproof. Critics argue that risk assessments can sometimes be biased, relying on factors that may unfairly target certain groups. For instance, an individual’s prior criminal record or socioeconomic status can influence the assessment, leading to decisions that may still disproportionately affect minority groups.
2. Increased Pressure on Pretrial Services
As more defendants are released without cash bail, there is an increased reliance on pretrial services to monitor and support these individuals. However, these services can be underfunded and stretched thin, especially in areas with a large number of defendants. For Irving defendants, this may mean less individual attention and fewer resources available to help them succeed in their pretrial period.
3. Risk of Reoffending
Some critics of bail reform argue that reducing or eliminating bail requirements may increase the risk of defendants reoffending or failing to appear for their trial. Although risk assessments and pretrial monitoring aim to address these concerns, there remains a fear that certain defendants may use their release as an opportunity to commit additional crimes. This concern emphasizes the need for a balanced approach to bail reform, where defendants who pose a risk to the community are still held accountable.
Last Note
Bail reform in Irving offers significant benefits for defendants, particularly those from lower income who have been disadvantaged by the traditional cash bail system. By reducing financial barriers, bail reform aims to create a fairer and more just criminal justice system. However, challenges such as ensuring effective risk assessments and reoffending need to be addressed as the reform continues.
For those affected by bail reform in Irving, working with an experienced criminal defense law firm in Irving can help with the legal process, ensure fair treatment, and protect their rights during the pretrial phase. By taking a more individualized approach, bail reform represents an important step toward a more equitable criminal justice system.
Thanya Iyer is a Montreal-based singer-songwriter and violinist who was born to Indian parents and grew up taking lessons in Indian music and dance. She went on to music and psychology at Montreal’s Vanier College, and by the time she graduated in 2017, she had already released her debut album, Do You Dream?, the year prior. It’s an immersive collage of spiritual jazz, experimental pop, and ambient folk that grew more fully-realized on 2020’s Polaris long-listed KIND, one that Iyer and her band continue to hone in on their latest LP, TIDE/TIED. Though they released an EP, rest, in 2022, the five-year gap between albums lends the new collection a different kind of gravity, and the group – including co-producers Pompey and Daniel Gélinas – deftly bear the weight. It is a stirring, swirling antidote to numbness, but it is also the rare kind of therapeutic, jazz-inflected, spiritually-minded music that doesn’t skip to mantras so much as circle the journey around them, paddling through uncertainty and pain. “What do we do when we can’t breathe?/ I forget how to be, how to feel like I’m free,” she sings on ‘Low Tides’. Riding with the feeling, with this group of people, brings her closer to a future far beyond our immediate line of vision.
We caught up with Thanya Iyer for the latest edition of our Artist Spotlight series to talk about healing through music, the journey to TIDE/TIED, her collaborative process, and more.
There is a line in ‘Where does that energy go?’ that felt like a good starting point, because it’s about how you used to travel light and how much you really took away from the world. Do you mind speaking to that past?
It’s kind of about waking up, on so many different levels. Internally with our own histories of trauma, and then outside in the world to systemic forces of oppression. I have chronic pain in my hip, and that impacts my mobility. I’ve done everything physically; last fall I was in a more therapy path to it. And I think when I was writing ‘Where Does That Energy Go?, I was just feeling that weight of that confusion, I was first starting to explore that pain on a therapeutic level, and where these things come from. And I’ve realized that things like immigration, colonialism, and racism cut lines of families throughout generations. All of a sudden, we see lots of mysterious pain or disease in lots of BIPOC generations, so exploring that pain was about realizing that, like, maybe it’s deeper than having some hip tension. I’m trying to feel that narrative and accept it, and also not let it be so heavy. But it’s really that internal and external weight that we start to awaken to, just starting to notice.
When did your relationship with music become something therapeutic?
Through everything, music was always this place to be present and heal and process, and I feel like it will continue to take that place in a way that I hope is more consistent, almost. I think sometimes I forget that when I’m in the thick of things, and I want to remember how powerful art is, and why it draws us all together, why it’s so important that it is being made. Before the release started, I had this feeling of, “How lucky are we”? I was talking to Pompey and Daniel [Gélinas], my band, and I was like, “We’re so lucky that we get to play shows and experience that energy in a room with people.” Just feeling that hopefulness and the power of art.
Were there periods of doubt or disconnect since the release of your previous album?
A hundred percent. A lot of this album was written through me writing a song every day for two months. And then, I don’t know if it was just not giving myself permission or feeling really stressed, but I kept pushing album launches and shows and tours. And I was just like, “I can’t push things anymore.” And then I applied for school, and I did the music therapy program. And no regrets at all – I’m so glad that I got to explore that part of myself, because I knew it was always something that I wanted to do, and I didn’t expect it to happen so early. But it was such a rigorous program on top of me trying to do my music, and then teach lessons, and then all of these other community things that I was doing. It was so much and I felt like my personal music practice – me connecting to creativity not within the band or in the world – fell aside a little bit. I only recently remembered that this album came from me committing to that creativity every day, and such special, powerful things can come out from that work. Releasing the album has definitely been helpful in consolidating some things for me.
Was there a point where you felt this collection of songs moving in a more collaborative direction?
It’s always been really collaborative with the band. Usually, I bring a skeleton of a song, and we shape it together. And then, I guess because of the pandemic, I had even more time to explore my vision of what the songs could be. I was just in my room arranging, playing six violin and viola tracks over the songs, playing around with those arrangements. So it was really fun to explore that other part of myself and my interests, and then bring these ideas to the band in a more fully fledged vision. It’s like learning how we’re always growing and changing and trying to adjust that into our very collaborative space.
When we produced the album, Pompey and Daniel and I spent two weeks recording bed tracks, and then another twelve days in this apartment just having fun with the songs – overdubbing, everyone on their own computer in their room working on things, then coming back out and sharing ideas. It was very collaborative.
Is there a detail or memory that stands out to you in seeing the songs come to life that way?
One thing I thought was fun, in ‘What can we grow that we can’t see from here?’, there are these little things that would happen. At one point, Pompey put a gate on my synth, and the gate was attached to Daniel’s drums, and then we took out the drums and just thought, “Wow, the Prophet sounds so cool in this vibe.” There were all kinds of little surprises when we were on our computers working on the music. I tend to be in the “more is more fun” camp when it comes to overdubs – put every idea on there – but that creates a lot of work after the fact to do a lot of shaping. ‘Low Tides’ was one of those songs where we had so much material and really had to craft it. There were lots of small fun things.
On ‘High Tides’, you sing, “I want to write words that are easy to read.” A lot of the lyrics strike me as having that directness, but the words aren’t necessarily easy to sing. There’s a nuanced beauty not just to your voice, but how you mix and bring other voices into the songs. How has your relationship to your voice developed over the years?
I started off playing piano and classical violin. I did South Indian classical singing when I was younger, but not in a formal way, or not in this style of music. I only started taking vocal lessons towards the end of taking lessons. I find my voice has changed so much. If I listen to our first album, it’s just so different hearing my voice. I really feel this: The more you sing, the more that muscle builds. This was also the first album where we spent so much time in the studio really crafting the vocal tracks. For my last EP, it was like, “Okay, great,” and we recorded it pretty fast in a day. But here, we spent many days on it, and I feel like it became easier to sing everything. I learned a lot about the prep it takes to show up vocally in the studio.
One of my favorite moments on the album is on ‘Wash it all away’, when this prayer leads the music to recede and flow outward. How do you feel in that wave of quiet?
As someone who likes to play a lot and have lots of things going on – as I’m sure you noticed in the album – the wave of quiet, even when we perform it, feels like a breath to stay with. When I feel on stage that I can take as long as I need in that space, and don’t have to rush to find something, it gives me so much energy and confidence. There’s a lot of power in those spaces of silence, whether live or in that place – just a moment to breathe.
What else helps you stay grounded when performing or making songs?
I’m still learning what helps me. Slowing down is definitely one, but also not pushing through and acknowledging that if I’m feeling pressure in the songwriting process, it usually means something isn’t being taken care of, so maybe I need to switch what I’m doing or try something else. Even at a show, if something isn’t working – because we improvise a lot on stage and arrangements tend to take different shapes – it’s nice to try something new. That can bring excitement to me and shift whatever arrangement there is in the band as well. I really like when it happens in the band organically – when we play together a lot on tour, we start to read the vibe, and magical things can happen when you let things go.
The final track, ‘Waves/Hold/Tied’, is naturally split into three parts. The first part feels like the most vulnerable moment on the album, like it could have been the opener, but you reframe it by tying it to the other two parts. Why was it important to connect these parts? Were they separate at first?
That whole piece feels like the album’s thesis statement. At the start of the pandemic, when I was writing a little song idea every day, those were three different days, maybe weeks apart – I’m not even sure how I decided they should all be one song, but I was like, “Oh my god, it’s a suite!” Those different parts of the story, they felt connected to me, like chapters in a story. And placing it last – it feels like the main story of the album.
It’s interesting you bring up the vulnerability, because it’s true. It’s a really sad part of the album. But the third movement, every time I remember that line – “Try to remember you are part of something” – I get chills. When the choir, my friends, sang it on the album, I got chills. It’s the feeling I always want to remember and be left with, so that’s how it found its way to the end.
How did that duality of the album title, TIDE/TIED, strike you as perfect for the record? Has its meaning grown for you since it came up?
The album title was coined by my friend Blanche, who was helping us apply for some funding. I told her what all the songs were about, and she came back with, “Oh, this is TIDE/TIED.” Over the past three years, processing that title – even talking about it at shows – it’s always been about the waves of life, us being thrown around through it all but trying to find grounding, but also how we’re all interconnected. Those themes have been so present in the album’s narrative. And it helps ground me, too, thinking about the waves of life, the people in my life, how we’re all going through similar struggles together. Even with people we don’t know – all those stories are interconnected, too.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.
