Home Blog Page 761

Lana Del Rey Releases New Song ‘The Grants’

Lana Del Rey has released ‘The Grants’, the opening track on her forthcoming album Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd. The song, whose title references Del Rey’s real family name, features backing vocals from Melodye Perry, Pattie Howard, and Shikena Jones. Listen to it below.

Del Rey’s new album, the follow-up to October 2021’s Blue Banisters, arrives on March 24. It includes the previously shared singles ‘Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd’ and ‘A&W’, the latter of which we named one of our Songs of the Week.

4 Clever Hacks for Managing Cat Litter Odor

If you’re a cat owner, you know how unpleasant litter box odor can be. It’s not just an inconvenience for you but can also make your guests uncomfortable. Fortunately, some clever hacks can help manage the scent and keep your home smelling fresh and clean.

In this blog post, we’ll share five of our favorite tricks to eliminate cat litter odor without breaking the bank or spending hours cleaning up. Get ready to say goodbye to those funky smells once and for all!

The Best Type of Cat Litter

Many types of cat litter are on the market such as clay clumping litter and it can be hard to decide which is best for your feline friend. However, there are a few things to consider when making your decision.

First, you’ll want to consider what material you want your cat’s litter to be made of. Clay is a popular option because it’s good at absorbing urine and feces, but some cats don’t like the feel of it. Alternatively, try a natural litter made from pine or cedar chips. These litters are biodegradable and absorb urine well but may not control odor or clay.

Second, you must decide how much you will spend on cat litter. Clay litters are usually the cheapest option, while natural litter can be more expensive. However, remember that cheaper litter may only last for a short time as more expensive ones.

Finally, consider whether you have any special needs regarding your cat’s litter. For example, if you have a kitten or an elderly cat, you may want to choose a waste with smaller grains so that they don’t have trouble using the restroom.

No matter which type of litter you choose, clean the box regularly and scoop out waste daily to help control odor.

How to Change Your Cat Litter

If you’ve ever dealt with a stinky cat litter box, you know how important it is to keep it clean and odor-free. You can do a few simple things to ensure your cat’s litter box stays fresh and smells great.

Here are a few tips for changing your cat litter:

  • Use scoopable litter. Scoopable litter is easier to clean and helps control odors better than non-scoopable litter.
  • Change the litter regularly. Depending on the size of your cat’s litter box, you’ll need to change the trash every one to two weeks. Be sure to scoop out the old litter before adding fresh litter.
  • Add an odor control agent. Various products on the market help control smell in cat litter, such as crystals or powders that absorb odors. Try using baking soda or vinegar to help prevent odors naturally.
  • Keep the litter box clean. In addition to scooping out waste regularly, give the entire package an excellent weekly cleaning with mild soap and water. This will help remove any built-up smells that may be causing odor problems.

The Right Way to Scoop Cat Litter

If you’ve ever scooped cat litter, you know that it can be a smelly task. The good news is that there are some things you can do to minimize the odor.

The first step is to ensure you’re using the correct type of litter. We recommend clay-based litter because it does a better job of absorbing odor than other types of litter.

Once you’ve chosen the correct type of litter, it’s essential to scoop it regularly. The more often you scoop, the less chance for odors to build up.

When you do scoop, be sure to dispose of the waste properly. An excellent way to do this is to seal it in a plastic bag before throwing it away.

Finally, keep your cat’s litter box clean. A dirty box can be a breeding ground for bacteria, which can cause bad smells. Clean the container at least once a week with soap and water.

What to Do If Your Cat Misses the Litter Box

If your cat misses the litter box, don’t panic. You can do a few things to clean up the mess and prevent it from happening again.

First, remove all of the soiled litter from the area. Then, thoroughly clean the area with hot water and soap. You may also want to use a disinfectant to kill any bacteria that may be present.

Once the area is clean, you’ll need to figure out why your cat missed the litter box in the first place. If something is wrong with the litter box, such as a dirty or cramped space, you’ll need to fix those issues. If your cat is sick or stressed, that may also be a factor. Talk to your veterinarian to rule out any medical problems.

Once you’ve determined the cause of the problem, take steps to prevent it from happening again. This may mean changing the type of litter you use, providing more litter boxes, or reducing stress in your cat’s environment.

Conclusion

Whether you’re a seasoned cat owner or a newbie, managing litter box odor is an ongoing challenge. Incorporating some of these clever hacks into your routine can make the process easier and more effective, ensuring a happier and healthier living environment for everyone in your household.

EA and Premier League celebrates the new ePL Invitational 2023

The English Premier League (EPL) is not the only major talking point among football fans in England. Arsenal’s quest to win their first EPL title in over two decades is certainly grabbing many headlines. The Gunners are now 5/6 favourites to lift the trophy with Paddy Power, who are listed as one of three highly-recommended sites by oddschecker based on the strength of their welcome campaigns and general user experience. However, FIFA enthusiasts also had their appetite whetted for this month’s ePremier League Grand Finals with a new tournament led by the EPL in partnership with Electronic Arts (EA).

The eFL Invitational 2023 was staged on February 7th, bringing together all the elite FIFA players representing the 20 top-flight clubs in March’s ePremier League Grand Finals. The event was led by social media personalities Chunkz and Elz the Witch, both of whom were named team captains for the event, with each personality given ten clubs a piece.

What was included in the eFL Invitational 2023?

The players in Team Chunkz and Team Elz the Witch then faced-off in a string of hilarious challenges inspired by FIFA 23. Some of the ten challenges included a FIFA 23 Crossbar Challenge, in which players were tasked with hitting each goal post as well as the crossbar with the virtual ball. The first team to hit all three posts was the winner. There was also a Pro-Am game, with the team captains partnering with one of the Club Pros in a 2-on-2 contest.

Teams entered the ‘Fun House’, competing in FUT friendlies against one another while wearing goggles to distort the players’ vision. Will Brass, chief commercial officer at the EPL, said the ePL Invitational was the ideal chance “to get to know our finalists” ahead of the ePremier League Grand Finals. Brass said that the ePL has “gone from strength to strength” since the competition’s inauguration in 2018. Brass confirmed the Premier League was always “looking at new ways” to enhance the ePL brand.

You can catch the stream of the ePL Invitational 2023 at any time via the EPL’s official YouTube channel, which broadcast all three hours of action live to viewers.

The ePremier League Grand Finals promises to be an adrenaline-fuelled event for FIFA fans. Staged at Here East within the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, London, players representing all 20 EPL clubs will battle it out for a share of the £100,000 prize pool.

The format of the competition sees the four players representing the top two clubs in the Grand Finals securing places in the EA Sports FIFA 23 Global Series Playoffs and Play-Ins. In the US, the best FIFA 23 players stateside have also recently done battle in the eMLS Cup, in search of places in the Global Series Playoffs and Play-Ins too.

Tinariwen Announce New Album ‘Amatssou’, Release New Song

The Tuareg band Tinariwen have announced their new album, Amatssou, which will be released on May 19 via Wedge. They’ve also shared its lead single, ‘Tenere Den’, which is accompanied by an Alexis Jamet-directed visual. Check it out below.

Marking the band’s ninth studio LP, Amatssou was produced by Daniel Lanois and recorded in Djanet, an oasis in the desert of southern Algeria located in Tassili N’Ajjer National Park. It features contributions from Jack White collaborator Fats Kaplin, Wes Corbett, and Kabyle percussionist Amar Chaoui.

Amatssou Cover Artwork:

Amatssou Tracklist:

1. Kek Algham
2. Tenere Den
3. Arajghiyine
4. Imzad (Interlude)
5. Tidjit
6. Jayche Atarak
7. Imidiwan Mahitinam
8. Ezlan
9. Anemouhagh
10. Iket Adjen
11. Nak Idnizdjam
12. Tinde (Outro)

Album Review: Miley Cyrus, ‘Endless Summer Vacation’

I wasn’t a huge fan of ‘Flowers’ when it first came out. Musically, it seemed to signal a shift from the broad new wave/classic rock revivalism of 2020’s Plastic Hearts to something more distinctly disco-indebted, a stylistic pivot that would make sense but wasn’t particularly exciting. Emotionally, the song cycles through heartbreak with such familiar ease that it seems disinterested in selling its own message of self-care. On repeated listens, and as the single became an inescapable hit, this unmarred composure felt like part of the point: if there’s any kind of acceptance here, it’s growingly wearied and distant, a tentative step in the journey of self-discovery rather than a point of arrival. On streaming services, Endless Summer Vacation is bookended by a demo (or rather “demoified”) version of the track, which does a much better job of evoking the very real and lonely sense of regret that simmers at the heart of the song. It’s a fitting conclusion that also sounds just like the start.

All this to say that, refreshingly, you can talk about Endless Summer Vacation as more than a disco-inspired or breakup album. It’s about more than which persona Cyrus has decided to embrace at this particular stage in her career. That doesn’t mean it’s not overall messy or underwhelming in execution, but its conflicted yet generally relaxed mood makes for an intriguing listen, showing a willingness to mess with the nuances of big emotions rather than merely their presentation. Cyrus has said that Endless Summer Vacation is vaguely divided into two parts, ‘AM’ and ‘PM’, but they don’t form a neat or cohesive narrative. Across both sides, there’s more of a split between songs that lean toward the bruised, breezy melancholy of ‘Flowers’ and those more closely aligned with its quiet rendition, earnest and direct in their yearning. There are hits and misses on both ends of the spectrum, though the album’s shakiness has less to do with Cyrus’ presence than whether the music is able to match it.

For the most part, the endless part of Endless Summer Vacation feels ironic, or at least a false promise. But for a brief moment on ‘Rose Colored Lenses’, Cyrus relishes the possibilities: “Let’s stay like this forever,” she offers, caught under the daze of production (courtesy of Harry Styles collaborators Kid Harpoon and Tyler Johnson) that’s inviting if not entirely convincing, before it naturally dissipates. ‘You’, a more straightforward R&B ballad, puts the singer’s personality front and center as she craves “That late-night sweet magic, that forever-lasting love” – perhaps a different kind of forever. By the time we reach ‘Violet Chemistry’, a synth-infused track with an assist from James Blake, Cyrus brings togeher those different shades of desire, admitting that this connection “may not be eternal but nocturnal, nothin’ more” while colourfully stretching out the song. There’s a rather rich interplay between feeling and sound, but elsewhere, the meeting of ideas feels incongruous. Songs like ‘Thousand Miles’ or ‘Handstand’ come across as lackluster and directionless, either sticking too closely to the script, or, in the case of ‘Handstand’ (a Harmony Korine co-write), veering so far out of bounds that it becomes a bewildering centerpiece.

The second side offers more stylistic variation, but the results are once again mixed. There’s something funny about the fact that a song called ‘Wildcard’ is followed by one of the tamest and most laidback songs on the album, ‘Island’, in which Cyrus asks, “Am I stranded on an island/ Or have I landed in paradise?” Like ‘Flowers’, both of these songs have a weird way of undercutting their own weight, but they at least feel like they belong on the same album. Second single ‘River’ should have been the first: a fierce, sultry banger that actually delivers the sort of maximalism much of Endless Summer Vacation has been hinting at, while the closing piano ballad ‘Wonder Woman’ benefits from its universal simplicity and a striking vocal performance (“She makes sure that no one’s ’round to see her fall apart/ She wants to be the one that never does,” she sings, her delivery subtly landing closer to the existential dies). Cyrus proves these different sides can peacefully co-exist; it’s just a shame she rarely commits to any particular direction, coasting on a strange middle ground that sounds like fun until you’re desperate to move on and get back to work.

Sofia Kourtesis Shares New Single ‘Madres’

Sofia Kourtesis has released a new single, ‘Madres’. It marks the Berlin-based artist’s first new music since last year’s Manu Chao-featuring track ‘Estación Esperanza’. Check it out below.

Speaking about ‘Madres’, Kourtesis said in a statement:

This song is about my mother, her mother, my sisters who are mothers, my brothers who are mothers, and all the LGBTQIA+ members who are mothers to their communities.
Madres has no gender. Madres loves to protect the ones you love.
If you get lost, follow your mother’s voice, they will always bring you back.
I also want to dedicate this song to Peter Vajkoczy, a brain surgeon who has become the hope of my own mother! He gives people hope by daring the most complicated surgeries in the world; he believes in miracles, love, and the strength to protect loved ones.
Life goes by quickly. Life is fragile.

Kourtesis shared her latest EP, Fresia Magdalena, in 2021.

Midwife and Vyva Melinkolya Announce New Album ‘Orbweaving’, Release New Song

Midwife (aka Madeline Johnston) and Angel Diaz (Vyva Melinkolya) have announced a new collaborative album. The 5-song project is titled Orbweaving, and it arrives May 12 via the Flenser. Its first single, ‘NMP’, is out today, and you can check it out below.

Orbweaving was recorded in the Chihuahuan Desert during the summer of 2021. According to a press release, “the record explores themes hopelessness, calling on a higher power, being alone, and the sublime horror of the natural world” and “seeks to thematically and sonically create a web like structure – a gauze of sorrow and visceral connective thread.”

Last year, Midwife released the song ‘Sickworld’. Her latest album, Luminol, came out in 2021. Revisit our Artist Spotlight Q&A with Midwife.

Orbweaving Cover Artwork:

Orbweaving Tracklist:

1. Miss America
2. Hounds of Heaven
3. NMP
4. Plague X
5. Orbweaving

Hurray for the Riff Raff Joins Esther Rose on New Song ‘Safe to Run’

Esther Rose has released the title track from her forthcoming album, Safe to Run, which is out April 21 on New West Records. A duet with Alynda Segarra of Hurray for the Riff Raff, the track follows the record’s lead single ‘Chet Baker’. Check it out via the Rett Rogers-directed video below.

Safe to Run, the follow-up to 2021’s How Many Times, was produced by Ross Farbe. “Sonically, Ross and I threw every idea we had on this song and it absorbed everything as if it were just this mega-powerful container,” Rose said of ‘Safe to Run’ in a statement. “We built so many layers into the outro. I love Ross’s counter-melody on the Mellotron and the high-pitched 1-note synth drone which he refers to as ‘the angels.’ Nick Cohon, of Bay Area death metal band Cormorant, brought the doom by arranging the ascending guitar outro. It was so meaningful to collaborate with Alynda Segarra and to hear the song start to fly. Alynda’s voice is this expertly tuned muscle; when they sing, you feel everything.”

Live casino vs. online casino: What’s the difference?

Have you ever thought, what’s the difference between live and online casino? Well, this article will hopefully answer all of your questions. It can be confusing to differentiate between the two, but luckily, we are here to help.

Whichever you decide to enjoy, you can play Griffon casino live games anytime, anywhere – as long as you have a stable internet connection.

Keep reading to find out more…

Authentic or electronic?

A live casino game offers the chance to play with a live dealer, who will deal the cards in front of you, so you can see the action taking place in real-time, from the comfort of your own home. Or, if you are playing Roulette, you can see the wheel spinning on screen. Whereas online casino games, which aren’t live, use a Random Number Generator (RNG) to deal the cards, or to select a number/colour the wheel will land on.

Communication

In a live casino game, you will be playing against other players from across the world, where you can message them in the live chat box. Online casino games typically don’t allow you to communicate with other players, but in the live casino environment, you’re able to interact with the rest of your table.   

Game selection

Both variations of game play offer a range of games, however online casinos do usually offer more than live casino games. This is because they can have a large amount of versions of one particular game; for example Blackjack could have up to ten different variations. Live casinos tend to have less games, this is mainly due to the fact that they require a live dealer who has had professional training to host the game.

Game experience

Both variations of casinos have a lot of games for you to consider, but they offer a different kind of gaming experience. So typically, online casinos have games that offer a solitary experience. This means the games will focus on a singular player. On the other hand, you have live casino games which offer a multiplayer experience, this is because a single game can cater to multiple players all at once. Plus, you don’t have to wait for a space at the table like you would in a land-based venue!

Relaxed gaming style

Despite the differences, both of these game types do offer one similarity –they both offer a more relaxed approach to gaming. If you attend a land-based casino you would most likely dress to impress, whereas when you play online you don’t have to worry about a dress code!

Do remember, whichever way you prefer to play, you should always set budget limits and make sure you are betting with money that you can afford to lose.

So, which type of gaming style do you prefer?

Do you like to play online casino games, with a RNG, or are you someone who likes to virtually sit at the casino table? Or, if you are new to both gaming types, is there one you prefer the sound of and will likely try first?

Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly.

Click HERE for more info.

What Outsourcing Services are Good for Business?

Whether you have recently started a business or you are looking for ways to make an existing one more efficient, you could benefit from outsourcing services. Choosing to outsource aspects of your business you don’t have expertise in is an efficient way to grow a business successfully. Read on to find out more about the most common services you can outsource in your business.

Customer Services

When it comes to building a successful brand, nothing could be more important than customer service. The point of contact between customers and the company is a chance to develop a relationship and build brand loyalty, but only if you resolve queries efficiently and successfully. 

Some companies use in-house customer service solutions, which is fine if you operate a smaller business and have the right staff available, but as the business grows, you will find that outsourcing customer services is a good way to manage large volumes and maintain standards.  

Marketing Services 

Every business needs a marketing solution to get its products in front of the right customers, but not every business has the best personnel in place. Outsourcing your marketing department is an excellent way to develop marketing practices that work for your business and your industry. 

Digital marketing is an excellent example. Digital marketing includes digital advertising, content marketing, SEO, and social media marketing. Of course, anyone can learn these technologies and strategies, but it is sometimes better to partner with a professional for faster overall results.   

HR Services 

Human resources are necessary for hiring and firing employees, managing timekeeping, and ensuring that business regulations are updated. Traditionally, HR services were kept in-house; businesses hired HR employees with degrees and relevant industry experience for their staff. 

Nowadays, hr support can be outsourced, allowing you to save on staff costs such as training. Outsourced HR support is an excellent way for SML businesses to save money and build more efficiency into their business model. Outsourced HR services are comprehensive and reliable.  

IT Services 

In the past, businesses needed an in-house IT team to service the network and reduce downtime associated with technical issues. IT teams were an essential element of any office. Without an effective IT team, a business could lose significant sums of money and its reputation. 

The world has moved on from the days of IT teams in the direction of managed service providers. MSPs are cloud-based services with several advantages. An MSP gives business access to a larger pool of IT professionals, available 24/7 to keep your system operational.   

Admin Services 

A business requires a wide range of skills and attributes to be successful, but while some of your employees are bound to have administration skills, it can be beneficial to outsource and automate some of the more mundane tasks and utilize the full skillset of your paid employees

Admin services you might consider outsourcing include financing, contractor management, recruitment, regulations, and marketing operations. Don’t be afraid to partner with an admin support service to make your business resilient and successful until you find an admin team.