After teaming up with Sting, Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso have enlisted Jack Black for their latest single, ‘Goo Goo Ga Ga’. It’s taken from their forthcoming album Free Spirits, which is out in a week, and it’s pretty odd. The accompanying Ferina-directed video doesn’t make it any less so. Check it out for yourself below.
Lykke Li Shares New Single ‘Knife in the Heart’
Lykke Li has released a new single, ‘Knife in the Heart’, from her forthcoming album The Afterparty. In a press release, she described it as “my brutalist nursery rhyme anthem – the emo girl in me, fully unleashed.” Check it out below.
“I had my son and his friend sing the choruses because the juxtaposition of their voices against the EBow just created such a powerful sonic landscape, somewhere I’ve never really been before,” Li added. “A world totally collapsing in front of us and all we really have left is our humanity. My dream is to hear a whole football stadium chanting: ‘This Life This Life is a Knife in the Heart.’ To me, a pretty accurate description of what it feels like to be alive right now.”
Billed as her final album, The Afterparty is set for release on May 8. It follows 2022’s EYEYE.
Album Review: Kim Gordon, ‘PLAY ME’
As ‘BUSY BEE’ a weaves in a sample of Kim Gordon and her Free Kitten bandmate Julia Cafritz co-hosting MTV’s Beach House, a sentence reverberates through its clattering noise: “The pressure to relax, it was just too much for her.” Sure enough, Dave Grohl’s drums thunder back in, resuming PLAY ME‘s gnarly flow. ‘BYE BYE’, a highlight from the Sonic Youth co-founder’s previous solo album The Collective, spawned TikTok videos of teens going through their own packing list, as Gordon chaotically did on that track – can you imagine going on vacation these days, she now seems to say, let alone enjoying it? The pressure to make music for “chillin’ after work,” as she puts it on the opening track, is too much for Gordon – so she soundtracks the doomscrolling, the brain fog, the post-Everything. Shorter and more spontaneous than its predecessor, PLAY ME‘s restlessness is nearly just as fruitful.
1. PLAY ME
The album slithers into view with a cavernous bassline that prevents it from being slotted into the same playlists it lampoons: “Rich Popular Girl,” “Villain Mode,” “Jazz in the Background,” “Ready for Spring.” With its March 11 release and horn samples, the opening title track flirts with assimilation – might as well succumb to it – but Gordon is too funny for her curated sensuality to be interpreted as anything but a joke. You can chill to this music, maybe, but you can’t chill the fuck out of it.
2. GIRL WITH A LOOK
A drifting synth against a motorik beat plays out a gendered dynamic: a girl with a look, a boy with a look. Now that the vibes have been algorhythmically augmented, all that’s left is a human desperation: “Swingin’ me around/ Dance with me.” The blearier the record sounds, the more earnest it feels.
3. NO HANDS
Gordon stirs things up again, returning to a clanging rhythm she easily commands. She also ups the abstraction, though it’s not hard to guess who those with “No hands on the wheel, it’s a steal” might be. Neither her vocals nor Raisen’s production veers off course, though, remaining brisk and pointed.
4. BLACK OUT
‘BLACK OUT’ precedes the similarly themed early single ‘DIRTY TECH’, a kind of lurching prologue that finds her intoning, “I’m the queen of your heart/ Ace of your spade/ You don’t trump me/ I trump you.” More than just apocalyptically timely, it feels present-day urgent, which might have something to do with why it cuts itself short.
5. DIRTY TECH
Armed with the most infectious beat on the album, ‘DIRTY TECH’ highlights the impossibility of truly uplifting technology. What could flatten its allure more than hearing the words “Talk dirty tech to me”? I worry for those who might not hear the smirk, or read between the lines – “the subplot,” as she puts it.
6. NOT TODAY
After ‘GIRL WITH A LOOK’, the second most offline song on PLAY ME is also its most affecting, as Gordon repeats the line, “There’s a hole in my heart.” In place of an ethereal synth are thickly coated guitars, a new-wave haze cluttering the necessary forward propulsion. On ‘NOT TODAY’, Gordon is aching, distracted, euphoric, and blurring the line between them all. “Never mind the mess,” she sings, the kind you don’t even notice amidst a burning chaos.
7. BUSY BEE
The downright best song on the album fittingly busies itself with a thunderous rhythm section – featuring none other than Dave Grohl on drums — a sample of an interview with her Free Kitten bandmate Julia Cafritz; and a hook absurd enough to offset some of the record’s more straightforward ones.
8. SQUARE JAW
As if energized by ‘BUSY BEE’, Gordon is more abrasive in her vocals, itching for new tricks instead of falling into sprechgesang cliche. Having weaponized her mastery of the senses, she flat-out threatens to “sucker punch” Elon Musk with emasculating precision. It lands pretty hard.
9. SUBCON
Gordon’s satire is more scattered on ‘SUBCON’, name-dropping everything from 3D printing to Substack. It’s definitely the most online song on the record, the sonic equivalent of subtweeting Musk while scrolling through the Everything app.
10. POST EMPIRE
Like ‘NO HANDS’, ‘POST EMPIRE’ could use a bit more subtlety, especially as it keeps up the illusion of cryptic messaging. “Love what you’ve done with the empire” is a memorable line, but as a whole the song doesn’t add much to the record.
11. NAIL BITER
Raisen somehow boosts the rattling bass even more, showing that he’s been tempering it for a while. Gordon, meanwhile, zooms out a little, trading her latest tech takes for a more classic anti-consumerist angle. But the same horror, accented by Raisen’s nightmarish synths and sampled distortion, pervades: itching for more might briefly feel like an out-of-body experience, but it will always bring you down.
12. BYEBYE25!
As a standalone track or bonus cut, ‘BYEBYE25!’ would be fine, but as the closer of PLAY ME, this reworking of The Collective’s standout strangely frames the new record as a more politically charged update – when it’s actually a distinct, if a bit slighter, body of work. Repurposing a list of words banned from federal websites by the Trump administration, therein rendering it less weirdly personal than the original, also leads to a clumsier song. But it becomes impossible to ignore that the two records were born from the same restless frame of mind, and as a pair, Gordon and Raisen certainly aren’t running out of ideas. They just keep absorbing more of what’s in front of them.
8 Albums Out Today to Listen To: Kim Gordon, James Blake, Anjimile, and More
In this segment, we showcase the most notable albums out each week. Here are the albums out on March 13, 2026:
Kim Gordon, PLAY ME
The Sonic Youth co-founder is back with a new solo album, PLAY ME. Continuing her collaboration with producer Justin Raisen, she spreads her absurdist commentary across a wider sonic canvas, though the rage-rap-adjacent abrasion of 2024’s The Collective remains prominent. “He has a real anti-establishment attitude, and I’ve always felt pretty anti-corporate,” Gordon said of working with Raisen. “We both enjoy the freedom that we feel when we’re working.” The record was preceded by the singles ‘DIRTY TECH’, ‘NOT TODAY’, and the title track.
James Blake, Trying Times
Trying Times is the first album James Blake has self-released, arriving today on Good Boy Records after the singer-songwriter parted ways with Republic. Featuring contributions from UK rapper Dave and Los Angeles-based vocalist Monica Martin, the record addresses the restlessness of modern society while maintaining a delicately ethereal atmosphere. “I haven’t searched outwardly on this album – I’ve stood firm and been confident in what I am already,” he explained. “The inspiration behind this record, in terms of some of the musical references or inspirations, they weren’t the great albums of the past. They were some of my own music.”
Anjimile, You’re Free to Go
Anjimile eases into a warmly intimate atmosphere on You’re Free to Go, the follow-up to 2023’s headier The King. “The past two years have been a deeply transitional point in my life,” the North Carolina singer-songwriter explained, as the record explores both a blossoming relationship and familial estrangement. In addition to producer Brad Cook (Waxahatchee, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Mavis Staples), the record features contributions from Nathan Stocker (Hippo Campus), Matt McCaughan (Bon Iver), and guest vocalist Sam Beam (Iron & Wine). “This record feels very authentic to my life experiences,” Anjimile added. “It’s about as close to getting to know me as you could ever get with a record.”
Alexis Taylor, Paris in the Spring
Hot Chip’s Alexis Taylor has returned with a new solo album, Paris in the Spring, his seventh under his own name. Trading in wistfully upbeat disco with its fair share of ballads, the record boasts collaborations with the Avalanches, Air’s Nicolas Godin, Lola Kirke, Étienne de Crécy, Pierre Rousseau of Paradis, Ewan Pearson, Elizabeth White of Pale Blue, and Green Gartside of Scritti Politti. In a press release, Taylor said the album is ultimately about “freedom – from constraints, from preconceptions, and from genre.” He added, “Sometimes an audience wants to be told, what is this? And I’m refusing to do that. You can find great things in music when you open up to real listening. No one needs to be told ‘what something is’, otherwise why would we be making something so straightforward?”
Sweet Pill, Still There’s a Glow
Sweet Pill have unleashed a new LP, Still There’s a Glow. Sounding at times fiery, slow-burning, or caught in a blistering haze, the album was written and recorded in the wake of a tumultuous three years following their 2022 debut Where the Heart Is. “I went through some depression last spring, and then I went into therapy. It was also a big turning point in my life as I was about to turn 30, while I’d written our first record when I was graduating from college–that’s a big change,” Zayna Youssef reflected. “I could’ve kept making bad choices because they’re easy, but I had to come clean to myself. Half the album was written before and the other half after, so the songs are kind of hard on myself but some are also hopeful, with a light at the end of the tunnel. You put out a fire, there’s still an ember that’s still glowing–that’s the record. It’s about being at a low and climbing out of it.”
Crack Cloud, Peace and Purpose
Crack Cloud have followed up 2024’s Red Mile with a new double album called Peace and Purpose. The LP was written and recorded within the span of a year in Zach Choy’s basement. “One microphone was used (an SM57), with a variety of junk instruments and speakers,” the frontman/drummer shared. “The music was borne from a winter of prolonged grief. My approach to the engineering was a return to hardline principles of DIY; utilizing only what was within possession, and favouring intuition over convention. Like an ayahuasca trip, the sessions were visceral and inspired. Afterward, a sense of relief, and gratitude. The intensity that marked the beginning of this process, and the resolve that came from its conclusion — to me represents the spirit of the record, and the story I wanted to tell.”
Morgan Nagler, I’ve Got Nothing to Lose, and I’m Losing It
Morgan Nagler has been writing hits for artists like HAIM, Margo Price, and Phoebe Bridgers for years. Now, she’s stepping out on her own with the release of her first solo album, I’ve Got Nothing to Lose, and I’m Losing It – though it’s a largely collaborative affair, with contributions from Allison Crutchfield, Courtney Barnett, Madi Diaz, and Bethany Cosentino. “Mine is the story of somebody who decided to never stop,” Nagler said in press matrials. “Recently there have been more signs from the universe to keep going. But the ultimate sign has really just been within myself, realizing that I have a lifetime of experiences and my own unique perspective, and that is the gift I have to offer.”
Cat Clyde, Mud Blood Bone
Cat Clyde has released a new album, Mud Blood Bone, via Concord Records. The follow-up to 2023’s Down Rounder was produced with Drew Vandenberg (Toro Y Moi, Faye Webster, S.G. Goodman) and includes a co-write with Courtney Marie Andrews. “Constantly being on the move, having to navigate new environments, it forces me to be present, and to confront my own feelings,” Clyde reflected in press materials. “You can’t hide behind comforts. You have to know exactly who you are, and what you want.”
Other albums out today:
ELUCID and Sebb Bash, I Guess U Had to Be There; Simo Cell & Abdullah Miniawy, Dying Is the Internet; Cut Worms, Transmitter; Tenderness, Blue; Tinariwen, Hoggar; The Orielles, Only You Left; The Notwist, News From Planet Zombie; The Sophs, GOLDSTAR; Jack Harlow, Monica; Ora Cogan, Hard Hearted Woman; Fotocrime, Security; Haute & Freddy, Big Disgrace; The Fray, A Light That Waits; Brigitte Calls Me Baby, Irreversible; Sella, Well I Mean; Votive, An Infinite Capacity for Joy; Laurel Halo, Midnight Zone (Original Soundtrack to the Film by Julian Charrière); Mary Ocher, Weimar; Lia Pappas-Kemps, Winged; Bill Orcutt, Music in Continuous Motion.
If You Look Closely at Marine Serre, You’ll Spot the Mona Lisa
Fashion week doesn’t come cheap. More and more brands are vanishing from the schedule like socks in a dryer, testing new ways to sneak their collections into our eyeballs. Take it from Sacai, busy indulging its love for PDFs. Marine Serre decided to follow the trend, only she added a little Da Vinci cameo. Why settle for a simple lookbook when you can make it Louvre-collab casual?
“The Louvre has always been a source of inspiration for Marine Serre, a universe of forms, a matrix of symbols and myths, a parade of icons that imprint, like afterimages, the contemporary silhouettes she creates for her fashion House. It is this relationship with the Musée, the archive, the collections, and history that illuminates this collaboration, at the convergence of two creative worlds: the Musée and the workshop, the painter’s gesture and the couturier’s hand,” the label noted. Very fitting for this year’s Met Gala theme, if you ask me.
The Louvre inspiration found its way into five pieces out of thirty in total. The mini La Joconde dress, of course, is the one to make you realize you actually want, maybe even need, to give the garments a second glance. When you do, you’ll notice it’s a molded puzzle that took 420 hours to make, which, frankly, shows. Then came an embroidered mesh maxi covered in almost 500 brushes, which in an alternate reality could easily double as a mermaid’s very hairy tail. Next in line was a mini bustier dress made of recycled paint tubes, and if you think that’s an unexpected material, wait until you hear about the one made entirely out of watch faces. Last came the “Flemish Painter’s Dress,” crafted from the waist down out of literal painter’s shirts. Fashion, after all, has always had a soft spot for the art world.
The rest of the collection, titled “The Grace of Time,” stayed firmly in Marine Serre territory, drawing from that very specific space between past and present. Upcycled T-shirts, silk scarves, regenerated canvas and sculpted jersey formed the backbone, proving once again that the house’s recycling habit isn’t going anywhere. The brand’s signature moon print sneaked up on a big part of the collection, while body-hugging fabrics clung, stretched and occasionally revealed how the garments were put together in the first place, before our eyes landed on volumes. For a moment at least, a museum and a wardrobe end up speaking the same language.
The crypto investor’s survival guide: How to protect your portfolio in a bear market
Bear markets are a natural part of every financial cycle, and crypto is no exception. They can feel brutal, especially if it’s your first time experiencing one, but they can also be a time to cultivate resilience, sharpen your strategy, and prepare for the next opportunity.
Surviving a bear market is about protecting your portfolio, but it’s also about protecting your mindset. If bitcoin price is negative in the short term, you may start to panic and make decisions that cause more damage than the market downturn itself. Volatility is temporary, but fear-based selling can lead to devastating losses. This is why it’s important to ignore the noise, reframe the situation, and stick to the plan. If you can make it through the cold of the bear market, you can build a resilient portfolio that grows in time, regardless of market conditions. But we know you’re not here for the motivational speech: you want the strategies that will actually help you survive a bear market ( and hopefully thrive). So, without further ado, let’s dive into them.
Manage your emotions before your portfolio
The reality is that your brain isn’t wired for 80% drawdowns in the market, so it will naturally want to sell the bottom and FOMO the next pump. Obviously, doing that will only hurt your portfolio (and your mental health), so what you should do is fight that instinct. There are several things that can help to this end, including deleting the chart apps, setting screen time limits, and touch grass (no, really, that will help more than you think).
Vitalik Buterin once said that your portfolio might recover after a bear market, but that’s not the case for your mental health if you don’t take steps to protect it. So, worry about your emotions before you worry about your portfolio, and remember that bear markets punish hyperactivity and reward patience. This is the time to zoom out, extend your time horizon, and focus on quality above all else.
Use stablecoins
You don’t have to be 100% in crypto always. Holding stablecoins is a great way to protect your portfolio, and it also gives you peace of mind. They are, in fact, indispensable in a disciplined bear market playbook, acting as dry powder that you can deploy when profitable opportunities arise.
Fortunately, in today’s market, there are plenty of stablecoins to choose from, which offer a unique alternative solution to traditional digital assets. So, pick your flavor (USDT, USDC, DAI, and so on), but be sure to spread your risk rather than relying on a single stablecoin.
Make the most of dollar-cost averaging
The concept of dollar-cost averaging first appeared in the book “The Intelligent Investor”, written by Benjamin Graham, who defines it as a strategy in which “ the practitioner invests in common stocks the same number of dollars each month or quarter”. The purpose of using this strategy is to reduce risk (and emotional stress) by investing a fixed amount at regular intervals, which builds discipline and eliminates the need to guess the perfect time to buy.
In a bear market, DCA is your friend and will help take emotions out of investing. To get started with it, decide first how much you want to invest, select the assets you want to accumulate, and make small purchases regularly based on a schedule. If that makes sense for you, consider activating the “recurring buy” feature in your favorite exchange app, because it’s easy and quick.
Focus on education
Bear markets are ideal for learning and sharpening your research skills. During this time, you should take the time to evaluate the fundamentals of a project, including tokenomics, team strength, use cases, and liquidity, as well as community support. If you dedicate this time to research, you will be better equipped to spot real opportunities when the market recovers.
It may be tempting to act during a bear market, but just think about what you’d do if you encountered a grizzly bear in the woods that’s ready to attack. Fighting back and running away can both be life-threatening. Still, you get one chance at survival if you play dead, because the bear could lose interest and move on. It’s the same in the market. There’s no need to trade back your losses, as it will be as futile as fighting a bear (and your portfolio will be mercilessly eaten by it as well). Instead, stay calm, and shift your mindset to learning: understand technical analysis, use educational platforms for updated content, and consider even exploring courses about crypto to deepen your knowledge. Sharpening your skills always pays off.
Keep showing up
A lot of people enter the crypto space chasing something dramatic. A life-changing breakout. A perfect entry that proves they “get it”. A spectacular win that makes all the pain worth it in the end. But in reality, those who last in this market aren’t powered by boldness or brilliance, but rather by something which is more boring: consistency. In a space where chaos is the norm, such as crypto, consistency is your superpower. It beats intensity and sets you for success in the long run. It may not feel like progress or momentum a lot of the time, but more like restraint; however, it’s exactly what you need so you won’t mess things up.
Grinding 24/7 is unnecessary and can, in fact, be harmful. All you have to do is keep showing up, and staying engaged, as it will put you ahead of most individuals who tap out.
The bottom line
Bear markets in crypto are painful; there’s no doubt about it. But they’re also temporary, and if you survive them, you’re ready to capitalize on the opportunities that will come ( because they will eventually). So, do your best to keep your head clear and your portfolio safe. Be patient, be disciplined, and keep learning. That’s the only way to make it to the other side gracefully and enjoy the sunshine when it returns.
How to Find and Buy Your Dream Car from the Movie You Love
The engine hums. Sunlight glints off bright red paint. For a fleeting second, you’re not in your driveway – you’re in Ferris Bueller’s Chicago adventure, racing down streets with the city at your fingertips. That’s the magic of movie cars – they don’t just move, they transport you. They carry the nostalgia of the scenes that made you laugh, cheer, or dream a little bigger.
And yes, with a little planning, you can bring that magic home.
Owning a car made famous on the big screen might sound like a fantasy reserved for Hollywood collectors, but for many enthusiasts, it’s surprisingly achievable. Whether you’re drawn to a sleek sports car, a rugged action-movie vehicle, or a quirky cult-classic ride, tracking down your cinematic dream car can be part treasure hunt, part passion project.
Start With the Car of Your Dreams
Every cinematic car has a personality. Maybe it’s the sleek Ferrari from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, or the quirky, time-traveling DeLorean from Back to the Future. Your first job is to pick one. For others, it might be the dusty muscle cars from classic action films or the elegant vintage vehicles that glide through historical dramas.
Your first job is to get specific. Many movie cars are custom builds or rare models, so identifying the exact year, make, and edition matters. Sometimes filmmakers modify cars with special paint jobs, props, or interior details to create the on-screen look.
Fan forums, social media groups, and collector communities can be incredibly helpful at this stage. Enthusiasts often document the original vehicles used in film and share information about replicas or surviving models. Think of these communities as treasure maps – they help you separate reality from Hollywood magic and point you toward the vehicles that are actually available.
Budget Like a Pro (Without Losing the Fun)
Owning a movie car feels like stepping into a fantasy, but your wallet still matters. The good news is that there’s a surprisingly wide range of prices in the collector car world.
In 2025, nearly 28,000 collectible cars sold for under $50,000 in the first half alone. That means many enthusiasts are entering the market without spending a fortune.
Of course, prices vary dramatically, depending on rarity, condition, and whether the vehicle is a genuine screen-used model. Authentic movie cars can command huge prices at auction, while replicas or standard production models from the same era are often more affordable.
Setting a budget early helps you enjoy the search instead of feeling overwhelmed by it. The process should feel exciting – like following clues in a story, rather than stressful.
Hunt in the Right Places
You probably won’t stumble across a movie car in the local classifieds. Instead, the search often leads to classic car auctions, specialist websites, and enthusiast networks.
Online marketplaces dedicated to vintage and collector vehicles are often the best place to start. Auction houses occasionally feature famous film cars, while private collectors list replicas or restored versions of iconic models.
Patience is key. The right car might not appear immediately, but part of the thrill is watching the listings and seeing what surfaces. Many collectors say the hunt itself becomes just as enjoyable as finally owning the vehicle.
Check Authenticity (or Quality Replicas)
Before handing over a single dollar, it’s worth confirming the car is legitimate – or at least a high-quality replica.
If a seller claims the car appeared in a film, ask for documentation. Production records, ownership history, and authentication from film studios or collectors can help verify those claims. For replicas, pay attention to the build quality and how closely the car matches the on-screen version.
Online communities are invaluable here. Experienced collectors can often spot inconsistencies quickly and offer guidance about whether a vehicle is worth pursuing.
Get It Home Safely
Transporting a movie car is a story in itself. In 2025, the US vehicle shipping industry, including services for collectors’ prized vehicles, generated $10.5 billion in revenue.
That reflects just how many enthusiasts rely on professional transport to move their cars safely across states or even continents. Comparing affordable car shipping quotes helps buyers understand costs and choose a reliable service.
For rare or valuable vehicles, enclosed carriers are usually the safest option. These protect the car from weather, road debris, and long-distance wear during transit. Proper insurance coverage is also essential for peace of mind.
Love It Like It’s Part of the Family
Once the car arrives, the relationship really begins.
Classic and collectible cars thrive on attention. Climate-controlled storage, regular maintenance, and occasional specialist servicing help keep them in top condition. Many owners also enjoy joining car clubs or attending enthusiast events where they can share their vehicles and meet others who appreciate the same films and designs.
There’s something special about watching people recognize the car from a favorite movie scene. It becomes more than a vehicle – it becomes a conversation starter and shared piece of pop culture.
The Joy of the Drive
At the end of the day, owning a movie car is about joy.
You’re not just buying metal and rubber – you’re claiming a piece of imagination. The car that once lived only on screen suddenly exists in the real world, ready for weekend drives, car shows, or simply sitting proudly in your driveway.
With a little research and the right timing, the car that once lived only on screen can become part of everyday life – a small piece of cinematic magic parked right outside.
6 simple exercise activities that don’t cost a cent
There are increasing occasions when a person is single or bringing up a family, and they look at their bank accounts once their salary has gone in and wonder where the cash goes. It might be utility bills, shopping, subscriptions, or the cost at the fuel pumps that goes up that causes a shortfall, which means that there is a little less to spend on the more enjoyable things in life.
In such cases, it can be a wise idea to start to look at where savings might be made. Quality adult toys offer excellent value for money and many hours of fun, which is important not to be neglected. However, there are other ways to help the bank balance and feel healthier too, such as preparing meals at home so that the ingredients can be controlled, leading to increased health, while the following exercises can also be taken without costing any cash, which might otherwise go on a gym membership.
- Walking is one of the easiest and most accessible forms of exercise, with all that’s required being a park, the beach, or a quiet street. It helps improve heart health, strengthens muscles in the legs, and boosts endurance, leading to greater levels of productivity. It is gentle on the joints, beginning with a short walk, gradually increasing the time as fitness begins to improve.
- Jogging or running is a natural progression for some from walking, requiring no equipment and can be done almost anywhere. Jogging helps burn calories, strengthen the heart, and improve stamina, while many people enjoy running because it also helps reduce stress and clear the mind. Starting with a slow jog and taking breaks when needed is recommended for beginners.
- Some exercises improve the condition of the torso without the need to use equipment. It includes push-ups, squats, lunges, and planks. Push-ups strengthen the arms and chest, while squats and lunges help build stronger legs. Planks help improve core strength and posture, and can be done at home, even in confined spaces, so that they are convenient and free.
- Stretching maintains flexibility and prevents injuries by loosening tight muscles and improving mobility. Anyone can stretch their arms, legs, back, and neck after waking up or before going to bed, which is as simple as it sounds, yet is often neglected.
- A home workout circuit is easy to put together and combines several exercises performed one after another with short breaks in between. It might include 10 push-ups, 15 squats, 20 jumps, and a 30-second plank, with the cycle being repeated.
- Anyone with access to stairs at home, school, or in a public area will find that stair climbing can be a great workout. Walking or running up and down stairs strengthens the legs and improves cardiovascular fitness, and it is also a good way to improve health in a short amount of time.
Exercising does not have to cost money, with simple activities like walking, jogging, bodyweight exercises, stretching, workout circuits, and stair climbing providing effective workouts.
AI isn’t replacing jobs in 2026
Every few weeks, a new AI headline drops that makes it seem like robots are about to walk into every office and factory on earth. “Millions of jobs will be eliminated due to AI.” “Your career will be at risk because of AI.” This is sensational, this gets clicks, and I have to say – it’s also not the full story.
The truth is much less cinematic than that. AI is indeed a powerful tool, it does indeed change the way we work according to this AI consultant. However, the notion that it is going to replace entire professions tomorrow morning? That’s a long shot, and here’s why.
The Chasm Between a Demo and Reality
I think many of us have seen an AI demo where we’re thinking “Wow, accountants, bye-bye.” We’ve all been there. These demos are created to amaze. They showcase the very best case scenario in a perfectly controlled environment using cherry picked examples. What they never showed you is the messiness of deploying that exact same application within the walls of an actual business.
Real-world workplaces are chaotic. Systems never communicate with one another. Data is either missing, inconsistent or trapped in a poorly maintained 2014 Excel sheet that nobody wants to touch. To deploy AI as reliably as possible in such an environment, takes time, money, integration effort, and lots of patience. Most organizations are still trying to get their act together.
Humans Are Not Plug-and-Play Either
Many people assume that most jobs are simply repetitive tasks that can be easily automated with machines. While this may be true for some aspects of certain jobs, the vast majority of jobs involve so much more complexity than that.
A nurse does not simply take vitals and give medication. She is reading the room, calming a nervous patient, identifying non-verbal cues indicating that the patient is getting anxious or uncomfortable, and making decisions in real-time.
A project manager does not simply update his/her Gantt charts. He/she is navigating office politics, motivating a team during a difficult sprint, determining whether or not to push back against unrealistic deadlines, etc.
These human aspects (empathy, intuition, creativity, relationship-building) are not something that AI systems handle particularly well. Moreover, they are built-in to virtually every job in ways that are easy to overlook until you attempt to automate them.
This Panic Cycle Has Been Around Before
We’ve gone through this panic cycle before. People said that ATM’s would replace bank tellers. People said spreadsheets would replace accountants. People said the Internet would replace retail clerks, travel agents, and journalists.
What ultimately happened? Those industries changed. Yes, some jobs disappeared, but others appeared. Because of ATM’s, it became cheaper to open bank branches and hire more employees in an advisory role. Because of spreadsheets, accountants were no longer required to spend their days performing routine accounting functions, thus freeing them up to focus on high level analytical activities. E-commerce did not eliminate retail, it caused retail to evolve.
Likewise, AI is likely to follow the same course. AI will not replace millions of jobs. Instead, it will transform those jobs, automate the mundane portions of the job, and create a need for skills that we have not even considered yet.
Adoption Takes Longer Than You Think
Even after the technology is available, adoption of that technology does not occur immediately. There are numerous barriers to adoption including regulatory issues, budgetary constraints, organizational resistance, and the general caution of most decision makers. No one wants to be the organization that bets the farm on an AI tool that creates a fictionalized version of its quarterly report.
Enterprise organizations move slowly. Small organizations lack the financial resources to implement large-scale AI technologies. Finally, there is a gap of trust that must be overcome before AI can become an integral part of the day-to-day operations of most organizations.
What Is Currently Happening?
What we are currently witnessing is not replacement — it is enhancement. AI is beginning to emerge as a tool that enables humans to perform their jobs faster and better. Writers are using AI to generate ideas. Designers are using AI to generate initial design concepts. Developers are using AI to test code. Customer Service Teams are using AI to generate drafts of customer responses that a human then reviews and sends.
Ultimately, the human is still in the loop. The job is still there. The job is simply being performed differently.
Some Thoughts
AI is impressive. AI is useful. AI is here to stay. That’s what AI expert Moddy states. However, the dire predictions regarding mass unemployment are vastly ahead of the reality on the ground. The technology still has significant limitations, and the rate of adoption is gradual. In addition, human judgment is irreplaceable in virtually every professional context.
Therefore, if you are concerned about robots replacing your job next Tuesday – take a deep breath. You have more time than the headlines would lead you to believe. The smartest thing to do is not to panic. It is to remain curious, learn how these tools work, and determine how you can utilize them to your advantage.
Inspiration in Boston’s Master Series Showcase
As the world looks ahead to a new year of possibilities, the music community found inspiration in a year-end celebration of excellence in Boston. On December 20, 2025, the historic St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts resonated with world-class music as violinist Peiwen Su took the stage at the 3rd Australia International Music Festival (North American Division). This prestigious festival – an event that unites eminent musicians and educators from top institutions worldwide in a shared dedication to musical excellence – offered a fitting finale to the year and a forward-looking beacon for 2026. In a program rich with talent, Su’s featured appearance in the festival’s Master Series set a tone of inspiration for musicians and audiences alike, encouraging all to strive for new heights in the coming year.
The Australia International Music Festival (North American Division), held in the Boston area for its third iteration, is no ordinary competition. Spanning multiple countries and regions, the festival’s North America program is renowned for its Master Series Concert, an internationally curated showcase reserved for distinguished performers. Participation in this Master Series is by invitation only – a hallmark that underscores the event’s elite caliber. In fact, Peiwen Su was formally invited to appear as a featured artist in the Master Series, reflecting the festival’s recognition of her distinguished reputation as a violinist and cultural leader. This honor placed Su among a select group of artists handpicked to present their work alongside internationally active composers and performers, truly exemplifying the festival’s ethos of artistic innovation.
Peiwen Su’s performance in Boston was marked by both virtuosity and vision. Taking on a leadership role, she served as concertmaster of the ensemble and guided the musical narrative with poise. In a highlight of the evening, she collaborated with Tianci Lu – a composer and pianist – to bring one of Lu’s original compositions to life. The piece, featured prominently in the Master Series program, added a contemporary spark to the concert and showcased the fruitful synergy between performer and composer. Su’s violin sang with a glowing tone, weaving seamlessly with Lu’s piano and compositional voice. Audience members were treated to a world premiere spirit, experiencing new music imbued with tradition and personal expression. The collaboration not only exemplified Su’s commitment to innovative repertoire, but also illustrated the festival’s support for living composers. It was a moment where leadership on stage met creative partnership, encapsulating what the Master Series is about: celebrating artistry at the highest level.
For Peiwen Su, being invited into this Master Series was a milestone that built upon years of dedication and achievement. A laureate of the Oberlin Conservatory Concerto Competition (2020), she holds advanced degrees in violin performance from the Oberlin Conservatory and the USC Thornton School of Music. Her academic pedigree under renowned mentors laid a strong foundation for her artistry. Yet Su’s impact extends far beyond her own studies. She emerged as a young cultural entrepreneur, founding and directing the Ascend.CYMC International Music Festival and the California Youth Music Competition, where she connects the next generation of musicians with top-tier mentors on a global stage. Under her leadership, these programs feature world-class juries and have built a “global-caliber platform” for musical youth. In the professional realm, Su has graced some of America’s most iconic venues – from the Richard Nixon Presidential Library to Hollywood’s famed scoring stages. She even bridged classical and pop culture as a featured violinist in a 2023 Hollywood crossover production alongside Grammy-winner Zedd and cast members of Stranger Things. Her multifaceted career, which blends performance, production, education, and artistic direction, has not gone unnoticed: her work has been spotlighted in publications like Musictimes, New York Weekly, and TimesLA, underscoring her growing influence in the arts. This rich background culminated in Boston, where all facets of her talent and leadership converged in the Master Series spotlight. Festival organizers’ decision to feature Su – without audition and on an international stage – speaks to how highly regarded she has become as a “modern and complete musician”.
The concert setting itself added to the magic of the occasion. St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Cambridge, with its stained-glass warmth and resonant acoustics, provided an intimate yet majestic backdrop for the festival’s closing concerts. The pews were filled with an audience spanning local music lovers and international festival participants, all brought together by a holiday-season celebration of music. Many in attendance noted the special energy in the air – a mix of year-end reflection and hopeful anticipation for the future. As the final notes of the Master Series concert drifted upward into the church’s vaulted ceilings, there was a palpable sense that this was more than just a performance; it was a symbol of cross-cultural musical fellowship at the dawn of a new year.
In an era when the arts continue to bridge communities across the globe, Peiwen Su’s featured appearance at the Australia International Music Festival’s North American Master Series stood out as a great inspiration. It demonstrated how a dedicated artist’s journey — from rigorous training to entrepreneurial leadership — can lead to singular moments on the world stage. For readers and fellow musicians, Su’s story is a stirring reminder of what can be achieved through passion and perseverance. As the New Year unfolds, the echoes of that Cambridge concert invite aspiring artists everywhere to dream bigger, work harder, and embrace opportunities to share their art. In the glowing example set by Peiwen Su and her peers at this festival, we find encouragement to make 2026 a year filled with creativity, collaboration, and the relentless pursuit of musical brilliance.
