Search
SUBSCRIBE
Home Blog Page 72

Balancing Looks and Drive: A Car Enthusiast’s Guide

Our Culture Mag & Partners
-
0
Balancing Looks and Drive: A Car Enthusiast’s Guide

For car lovers, it’s all about blending style with substance. Industry trends show customization is skyrocketing as drivers hunt for ways to boost both curb appeal and road prowess. A sharp-looking ride that still handles like a dream is the goal. Nailing this combo takes some smart choices in upgrades.

Boosting the Wow Factor

A car’s exterior sets the tone before it even moves. Lots of owners tweak their vehicles to turn heads. Adding a 2016 Chevy Malibu spoiler black part brings a slick, sporty vibe that ties the whole look together. It’s a standout move that screams attitude while syncing with the car’s lines. Beyond looks, spoilers tweak airflow for better stability. Pair that with fresh paint, sharp rims, or dark-tinted windows, and you’ve got a ride that reflects your personality without sacrificing purpose.

Why Aerodynamics Matter

How a car cuts through the air isn’t just technical jargon—it’s a performance game-changer. Sleek shapes shrug off drag, keeping things smooth at speed. Spoilers and body kits aren’t just eye candy; they steer airflow to steady the ride. Hit the gas, and that stability shines. High-end cars often roll out with these tricks built in, proving they’re not just for show. They sharpen handling and even squeeze out a bit more fuel efficiency.

Picking Performance Boosts That Fit

Upgrades should match how you drive. Tweaking the engine, exhaust, or suspension can kick up speed and control. Think turbo kits or air intakes for extra oomph, or grippy tires for tighter turns. But flashy add-ons shouldn’t mess with the core mechanics. The trick is keeping the car stunning and solid at the same time. Dig into the details before you commit—research pays off.

Shedding Pounds for Power

Lightening the load can wake up a car’s performance. Swapping in carbon fiber parts or ditching extra weight speeds things up and saves gas. Serious gearheads might even strip out back seats or spare tires. It’s a trade-off, though—go too far, and the ride gets bumpy or bare. Finding that sweet spot keeps it fun and functional, blending speed with style.

Tuning Suspension for Control

A car’s suspension is the unsung hero of the drive. Swapping shocks or springs can sharpen corners and glue the tires to the road. Dropping the height a bit gives it that low, mean stance. Overdo it, though, and every pothole becomes a punishment. A setup that keeps things comfy while hugging the curves ties performance to that aggressive look.

Lights That Shine and Save

Good lighting isn’t just a style flex—it’s a safety must. Bright LEDs up front cut through the dark, while custom taillights add flair out back. Glow from underbody kits grabs attention after sunset. Just don’t let the dazzle break the law—function trumps fashion here. Done right, lights make the car pop and keep the road clear.

Inside the Ride: Comfort Meets Cool

A car’s interior deserves as much love as its shell. Plush seats, slick materials, and tech upgrades turn drives into treats. Leather or sporty fabrics class up the vibe, and a tricked-out dash looks sharp. Swap the wheel or shifter for a racier feel. Toss in better climate controls or a quieter cabin, and long trips feel shorter. It’s about crafting a space that’s plush yet practical.

Tech That Ties It All Together

Today’s cars thrive on cutting-edge gear. Screens that run everything, real-time stats on power and mileage, or GPS that doesn’t make you fumble—tech delivers. Safety stuff like lane alerts or auto-parking keeps risks low without cluttering the look. It’s the kind of smart upgrade that fuses style with everyday ease.

Hitting the Sweet Spot

The magic happens when looks and performance click. Go for upgrades that lift both, not one or the other. A sweet exterior can’t drag down safety or handling. Every tweak should pull its weight—think beyond the mirror. Marrying design with guts creates a car that’s a blast to drive and a beauty to behold.

Wrapping It Up

Getting aesthetics and performance in sync takes some planning. The right tweaks—like airflow hacks or lighter parts—make a car handle better while looking fierce. Suspension tweaks and tire upgrades keep it tight on the road. Lights add flair and safety, while interior and tech boosts bring comfort and brains. Enthusiasts win by picking mods that fit their style and their drive. Nail that balance, and the road feels like yours.

Book Review: Sophie Gilbert, “Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves”

Vida Hasson
-
0
Book Review: Sophie Gilbert, “Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves”

Andrea Dworkin, in my third wave feminist education, represented a reductive version of feminism. I had a snobbish attitude towards her. Her “anti-sex” and “anti-porn” radical feminist theories were unsexy and unattractive, all the things women are expected to be. At the very least, she was an unliberated figure who once publicly shamed Kathleen Hanna, de-facto leader of the Riot Grrrl Movement (and shining moment of women’s liberation in the nineties), for her time as a stripper. So I was somewhat startled to see, in the epigraph to the introduction of “Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves,” an Andrea Dworkin quote.

The quote, “woman is not born: she is made,” does not allude to Dworkin’s anti-sex/anti-porn ideologies that made her so notorious. Instead, the quote nods to social constructionism. The theory that gender, like sexuality and sexual orientation, is not fixed at birth, but taught and practiced, as hardwired as a sense of style might be. “Girl on Girl” is a massive project. In it, Sophie Gilbert, finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Criticism and staff writer for The Atlantic, reappraises the pop culture zeitgeist at the turn of the century to analyze how it affected girls staring down the new millennium, girls who are now grown millennial women.

The word “reappraise” is not without intention. For decades pop culture has valued women based on their ability to conform to a narrow standard of womanhood – the plastic ladies of reality TV, nearly nude heroin-chic models, and provocative virginal teenage girls. In “Girl on Girl,” Gilbert argues that young women were not born to see themselves as objects, trapped in these constructions, but informed of their worth by a booming pop culture industry imbued with the misogynist tropes, images, and aesthetics of pornography.

In her research, Gilbert found that porn was everywhere in the 1990s. Part of this surge, as she explains, was created by the aftermath of the AIDS crisis. The AIDS crisis brought sex, who is having it and with whom, into mainstream discourse. In pop culture, Madonna released her coffee table book, “Sex,” and everyone watched Anita Hill testify in the Senate about sexual harassment by then Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas. History set the tone for a decade of show-all sex that sold, sold, sold.

“Girl On Girl” hovers around the term “post feminism,” an idea coined in the early eighties that feminism was no longer necessary. Gilbert begins with a look at the music industry. Influential for its easy dissemination of messaging to the masses, the music industry transformed feminism from a political movement, into post feminist blow out sale. Beginning in the early 90s as a response to a hyper masculinist punk scene, three Olympia, WA punk bands, Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, and Heavens to Betsy, created the Riot Grrrl movement. In the first Bikini Kill zine, an anti-establishment method of sharing information, Tobi Vail, Bikini Kill’s drummer, coined the term Girl Power. For Riot Grrrl, Girl Power was a slogan intent on seeing girls support each other. It made demands. It had real power. Within a few years, the male-managed Spice Girls made the phrase globally renowned. Not for its political potency as Riot Grrrl intended, but for its ability to sell teen girls ephemeral toys. Lipsticks, hairbrushes, and Polaroid cameras adorned with the label “empowerment,” branded with Spice Girls pictures, became the brave new world of post feminism: convincing girls and women that independence and equality came through spending money.

The shift from a collective women’s movement to an era of regression repeated relentlessly in the nineties. This pattern of progress, to varied degrees of effectiveness, followed by a swift and often brutal backlash, Gilbert explains, should help us understand why we are currently in a period of cultural regression. A moment in which the manosphere led Donald Trump back into the white house, only a few years after the #MeToo Movement plucked habitual sexual offenders from their corner offices.

The music industry, in addition to selling out feminism, adopted the profitable imagery of pornography. The early nineties were incredibly full of women artists singing about oppression and desire, but they were replaced by the more controllable teenage girls. By 1999, women had been sidelined entirely. The 99’ Woodstock music festival ended with massive reports of sexual assault, some of which took place in mosh pits. A cover of Q magazine even pictured PJ Harvey, Bjork, and Tori Amos with the title: “Hips. Lips. Tits. Power.” Snoop Dogg’s brief and mysterious stint on the L-Word cannot erase the fact that he walked into the MTV Video Awards in 2003 with two women on leashes by his side. Gilbert goes on to list an abundance of pornographic music videos, videos that devolved into real physical violence against women.

As soon as the music industry started profiting off porn, in all its brazen shaven manifestations, the fashion, film, and television industries wanted a piece. Reality television debuted on MTV in 1992 with the show The Real World. The success of which created huge demand for more, cheaper shows that would lure audiences in with no regard for quality. The result was a downward spiral for more degrading reality television, which is how we got shows like Who Wants To Marry A Millionaire?, The Housewives franchise, and eventually, The Bachelor. All of which depict women in a nineteenth century frame, where success equals catering to male desire. Reality television also cultivates a singular, highly stylized, white, middle class, thin, feminine, and sexy caricature of women. A blueprint set by pornography.

Gilbert makes plenty of room for relief in pop culture’s representation of women in the aughts. Artists like MC-Lyte, Janet Jackson, and Queen Latifa’s song “U.N.I.T.Y” deserve a revisist, as do movies like The Breakfast Club and 16 Candles. But they were heavily outnumbered by a male dominated rap scene and movies obsessed with teenage girls’ virginities: Lolita, American Pie, Wild Things, and Kids. Film in particular, Gilbert argues, created an entire generation who internalized toxic ideologies about men and women’s sexuality. Girls were gatekeepers of sex who needed to be convinced, rather than enticed, into having it. In other words, girls were the enemy of male desire. The result? Young murderous white young men who kill girls who refuse to sleep with them, as if sex is something they are entitled to. An idea plainly perpetuated in nineties films.

In Chapter six, at the book’s peak, Gilbert’s investigation into pornography seems like a sado-masochist endeavor itself. The chapter is stuff of nightmares. It is also the reality of pornography. In a post 9/11 world obsessed with revenge, Gilbert eloquently says porn “tested the limits of what men could do to women as entertainment while cameras rolled.” Porn emerges as a mirror to society’s view of women as loathsome leaky sex objects who should do their best to conform, from shaving their bodies, pits to toes, to becoming unrecognizable via plastic surgeries, as to render their own degradation more pleasurable to watch.

After the turn of the century, it became clear that the world had deeply internalized porn as an art form. It peaked with the release of the school-girl porn trope in Brittany Spears’ “Baby One More Time” music video. And fell down a very dark hole with the photos of the Abu Ghraib torture of Iraqi prisoners by members of the US military.

The latter half of the book examines the consequences of a culture dominated by pornography and over exposure. “Every single cultural message Americans absorbed during the decades leading to the [2016 Presidential Election] was enshrining the idea that women fundamentally lacked the qualities required to gain and exercise authority: intelligence, morality, dignity.” For Hilary Clinton, that meant losing the election to Donald Trump. For celebrities, that means Lindsay Lohan goes to rehab, Anna Nicole Smith dies of an overdose (leaving behind a fridge full of Slim Fasts), Britney Spears shaves her head in front of paparazzi, Amy Winehouse and Whitney Houston die from overdose too. The celebrities left seemingly unscathed are the ones who Gilbert labels “walking billboards”: The Kardashians and their ringleader, Kim Kardashian, made famous her sex-tape and trendy body modification. For the rest of us, this means navigating a world entrenched in misogyny, influenced heavily by what we have watched, read, and seen.

Gilbert says she is not as “anti-porn” to the militancy Dworkin was. She does not even mention Dworkin beyond the introduction, but the depth in which porn entrenched itself into our pop culture, and the consequences it has held, suggests perhaps we all should be. Misogyny is as rampant as ever. Roe v. Wade is gone and the White House is enmeshed with the cast of reality television flops with porn stars on the fringes.

Western pop culture has been waging a war against women, reinforcing their silence, since the age of The Odyssey, when, as Gilbert alludes to in the conclusion, Telemachus tells his mother to shut up and go to her room. What’s a girl to do? Well, there is reason for hope. Bikini Kill plays sold out 30th anniversary concerts, screaming their anthem “Rebel Girl” on the Stephen Colbert Show, and movies and TV shows like Babygirl, The Last Summer, and Insecure give female sexuality the complex depictions it deserves. Gilbert offers a solution too. Stories, new stories, have the potential to liberate pop culture from patriarchy and misogyny. In return, women can rewrite their concepts of sexuality, pleasure, and place beyond what the aughts tried to teach them. To quote the turn of the century musical RENT about a queer friend group navigating AIDS and poverty: “The opposite of war isn’t peace, it’s creation.” In a world where AI spits our own biases back at us, who will heed Sophie Gilbert’s call and create a new story for women?

The Beths Sign to ANTI-, Drop New Song ‘Metal’

Konstantinos Pappis
-
0
The Beths Sign to ANTI-, Drop New Song ‘Metal’

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 Shares New Song ‘Cold Heart’

Konstantinos Pappis
-
0
Nilüfer Yanya Shares New Song ‘Cold Heart’

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 Pros and Cons of Automated Essay Grading

Our Culture Mag & Partners
-
0
The Pros and Cons of Automated Essay Grading

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.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 2025 Class: OutKast, The White Stripes, Soundgarden, and More

Konstantinos Pappis
-
0
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 2025 Class: OutKast, The White Stripes, Soundgarden, and More

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.

Path Of Exile 2 Guide to Jamanra, The Abomination Boss

Our Culture Mag & Partners
-
0
Path Of Exile 2 Guide to Jamanra, The Abomination Boss

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.

Bridging Worlds: Xianghan Wang’s The Rhythm of Tai Chi Exhibits in London

Abbie Wilson
-
0
Bridging Worlds: Xianghan Wang’s The Rhythm of Tai Chi Exhibits in London

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.

How to Find the Best Life Insurance Policy for Your Budget in 2025

Our Culture Mag & Partners
-
0
How to Find the Best Life Insurance Policy for Your Budget in 2025

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.

10 Creative Ways to Use Sun Shade Sails Beyond the Patio

Our Culture Mag & Partners
-
0
10 Creative Ways to Use Sun Shade Sails Beyond the Patio

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.

1...717273...1,679Page 72 of 1,679

Quick Access

Our Culture

Helpful

© 2025 Our Culture Mag Limited. All rights reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 2/1/2025) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated 2/1/2025). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Our Culture Mag Limited.