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Protecting your family heirlooms

Heirlooms are a part of a family’s legacy and for some they’re the last remaining connection to the past. Taking a look at your great-grandfather’s watch or an old collection of photos can bring you closer to your dearly departed and family history.

Heirlooms can be easily damaged through light, handling or heat, though, so it’s important to take the necessary steps to keep your family treasures safe and secure. Use our top tips to protect your legacy today so future generations can enjoy it as much as you.

Insure them

Some of our heirlooms need a bit more protection than others. Especially with items that have a greater monetary value such as jewellery, there is the danger that they could be stolen, lost or damaged after excessive handling.

You will want your inherited antiques to last for as long as possible, so you could look into jewellery insurance for some extra peace of mind.

Research them

Heirlooms come in many forms and likely have different maintenance requirements. Doing some of your own research can help you better understand your item’s needs and learn more about the way your ancestor lived.

There are some easy steps you can take to discover the story of your family heirloom, such as asking your relatives or looking for a patent number. After your detective work, remember to record the keepsake’s history.

Store them properly

While some family heirlooms such as furniture or silverware might be used every day, others might be saved for special occasions or not used at all. Creating a secure space to store these keepsakes is crucial for keeping them in pristine condition and safe from anyone who shouldn’t access them.

There are very specific storing requirements for some heirlooms to do with light, heat and humidity. Safes are great for protecting your family treasures from the elements and anyone who shouldn’t be handling them.

Get an assessment

If you’re struggling to find out information about your keepsake, don’t hesitate to contact the experts. Having your heirloom appraised can provide you with important dates, history and prices. It also means you have the right information to give future generations and ensure it continues to be cared for properly.

You can visit antique dealers or keep an eye out for antique fairs in your area to get some advice. You could pick up some handy storage tips or get a range of opinions on what your heirloom could be worth.

Christine and the Queens Releases New Redcar Song ‘rien dire’

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Christine and the Queens has released a new song under the Redcar alias. It’s called ‘rien dire’, and it follows the previously shared track ‘Je the vois enfin’. The song, whose title means “say nothing,” is sung entirely in French. Check it out below.

‘rien dire’ will appear on the forthcoming album Redcar les adorables étoiles, which is set to arrive on November 11 via Because Music.

Album Review: Beth Orton, ‘Weather Alive’

There is a song on Beth Orton’s new album called ‘Arms Around a Memory’. Its title hints at the way Weather Alive treats all sorts of fragments of self: an embrace, a spiral, a knot waiting to be unraveled. Towards the end of ‘Lonely’, Orton takes a word so familiar and evocative and twists it over and over until it becomes something both strange and all-encompassing, slowly loosening her grip as she allows its weight to roll down the body. In its current form, her music isn’t about chasing a feeling so much as tracing its shape and extending it: “It’s an enquiry that keeps happening and keeps developing, until eventually it becomes its own entity,” she said in a recent interview. The British singer-songwriter’s first full-length in six years and Partisan Records debut is as moving as it is enveloping, soothing yet downcast. Whether you’re listening to it alone in the dark or with a circle of people in broad daylight, it’s an astonishing, boundless body of work that transports you to a different plane.

For years, Orton had been struggling with cognitive problems that were initially misdiagnosed as panic attacks. Following her move to the US in 2013, she began suffering seizures so severe that they impeded her ability to function, an experience that fed into her disorienting 2016 album Kidsticks. By the time she and her family moved back to London, she was able to keep the seizures at bay with medication and retreated back to music, filling her time while her kids were at school with old piano she found on sale in Camden Market. Each of the album’s eight meditations, then, carry the resonance of falling into and bending yourself in a powerful silence: “I got the air that a storm was stealing,” she sings on ‘Haunted Satellite, “Coming in as the children sleeping.” Like much of Weather Alive, you can really hear the bones of the song, which treads the space between inner and outer worlds; but it’s the communal spirit of the music that immerses us in this ethereal dance, from Shahzad Ismaily’s “ghost piano” to Alabaster DePlume’s swirling, trembling saxophone.

Despite its occasionally ominous sentiments and dark themes, the album feels like a gentle outpouring of emotion. “It almost makes me wanna cry/ The weather’s so beautiful outside,” she intones on the opening title track, having already evoked the scene with her vivid poetry and instrumental flourishes. Joined by a group of musicians also including drummer Tom Skinner and bassist Tom Herbert, Orton self-produced the album, which opens with the poignant image of her attempting to reach out to an outside world whose richness seems impossible to grasp; every song that follows makes some effort to gather and hold it closer. While ‘Weather Alive’ rises from “the stillness of the day,” the next song, the reflective ‘Friday Night’, contemplates on “a stillness left after you leave/ It’ll speak of what has been.” It journeys to a past that seems distant, giving form to a memory of collectively numbing pain and sorrow, washing it over once more. “Forgot that we had bones/ Forgot that we could feel/ Forgot that we’d wake up/ And it’d all be real,” she sings, the music haunting the edges of her voice as much as it illuminates her.

There’s always something interesting happening beneath the surface of these songs. The album’s busiest and most upbeat track, ‘Fractals’, is also its most lyrically nuanced, yet the vocal line that best distills its atmosphere is a recurring whisper in the background: “Who do you cry to?” The song pushes Weather Alive into the dreamlike realm that later songs like ‘Forever Young’, with its hypnotic backing vocals and disarming metaphors, inhabit. But no matter how elusive or direct Orton’s lyrics turn out to be, she remains attracted to beauty and driven by desire. “All of those colours bleed between/ There’s always a beautiful sky,” she remarks on ‘Arms Around a Memory’, as if the thought of a beautiful life lands a bit too heavy. Orton clearly considers the space in these arrangements, but also the weight they hold. The longest track, ‘Unwritten’, draws the album to a close through a process of erasure, pondering on a promise left unfulfilled until it almost feels weightless, as Orton puts it earlier, like “the sound of snow.” Yet it still hangs around for more than two minutes after Orton’s last words – in the world of dreams, an eternity.

Buying Art Online: The Ultimate Guide to Become an Art Collector

Navigating the art world may be challenging, not just for people with limited art knowledge but also for those with little experience buying art. Here are our best tips on how to quickly explore and buy art online from artists and various platforms, so you can make a choice you’ll be happy with for a long time.

1. Set Your Budget

The bane and boon of buying art online is that there are countless alternatives, far more than in a physical gallery. And while having so many options is great, it can also be overwhelming. A budget limits your options and prevents you from falling in love with artwork you cannot afford. If you are a first-time art buyer, it is prudent not to overspend, as you may regret it in the future.

2. Explore and Research

When people think of buying art, they usually think of paintings. However, other options exist, including photography, prints, installations, and several classic art forms. Maintain an open mind and educate yourself on the many art forms. For instance, if you have a limited budget but appreciate the work of a prominent artist, investing in a signed, limited-edition print would be a wise choice because the artwork would function as an investment and a masterpiece.

3. Listen to Your Heart and Intuition

Unlike other home purchases, art demands a great deal of emotion. If you adore a painting so much that you can’t live without seeing it every day, buy it! Do not feel compelled to purchase a major brand. Remember that you will have to live with the artwork every day, and if you dislike it, you will definitely regret your decision.

4. Know Your Space

A well-selected art collection should reflect your preferred style and tone, whether depth, passion, or brilliant, eye-catching hues. That said, works from different periods of art history, such as oil paintings and mixed media assemblage pieces, can live in the same space as long as they meet the owner’s aesthetic vision.

5. Verify the Legitimacy of the Artwork

Be careful of art reproductions and other forgeries on the market. Thick paint is sometimes reapplied to artworks to make them appear original. Research the artwork, the artist, and the location. Compare the artist’s previous works, the number on the print, their signatures, and so on. Take extra precautions and check to see whether the prints are numbered.

6. Confirm the Delivery Medium

As shipping is frequently included in the final price, ensure that the seller chooses a trustworthy shipper so that you can be assured that your item will arrive in a secure and appropriate condition.

Conclusion

Only invest in artwork that speaks to you on a personal level. Before making a purchase:

  • Set a price range.
  • Research your options.
  • Determine the best placement for the artwork.
  • Verify the artwork’s authenticity.
  • Double-check the delivery medium with the seller.

Here’s 8 Winter Workout Gear Every Man Should Own

Winter is coming! 

But that doesn’t mean you can’t keep up with your daily workout.

Winter workout gear is all the rage to keep you mobile and moving amidst the cold.

Check out these great workout items like mens athletic tights and running gloves which you will definitely need so that the cold won’t bother you while you get jacked up.

1. Men’s Workout Leggings

Men’s athletic leggings or compression workout pants are a workout essential. Wearing Men’s athletic leggings, whether in the cold or not, can aid in blood circulation and can help prevent fatigue. In layman’s terms–you can run, walk, or exercise your legs longer with the help of the compression from a men’s compression pants.

Wearing men’s compression pants in the cold or during winter can help in keeping your legs warm so that you can run or work out longer. However, not all compression workout pants work the same. If you’re going to be exercising in lower than usual temperatures, men’s warm up pants or mens fleece leggings would be great warm leggings for men to wear as mens workout tights are thicker which suits better in a cold weather.

You can also opt to use performance leggings as warm leggings for men in the winter. It should be able to help you fight off the cold as well and other possible dangers like frostbite aside from helping you keep your blood circulation going. 

Mens fleece leggings worn under warm up pants would be a great combo too to keep your lower body warm so you are able to move amidst the cold. Just make sure that when you are buying performance leggings for the winter season, see to it that they are actually designed for cold temperatures and are not too thin. 

2. Fitted Long Sleeve Shirt

Just like with mens athletic tights, a fitted long sleeve shirt or compression shirt will help you fight off the cold and keep the circulation going for your upper body. Compression clothing will be your best friend when you are working out in the cold. They will help your body retain heat by trapping your body heat close to your skin.

A compression shirt will also help in wicking away sweat from your body so that you would not feel too cold or uncomfortable when you are working out.

When buying compression clothing like a compression shirt, make sure that they are not too tight as this can restrict your movement. They should be just snug enough that they will not fall off when you are moving around.

3. Wind-Resistant Jacket

If you plan to run a trail during the winter, make sure that you have a jacket that is wind-resistant. The winter winds are sharper and can give you harsh frostbite and, for some, it can freeze your joints and turn you immobile. 

Make sure the jacket that you wear to run can repel wind so that you will not get too cold while you are out running. A good winter jacket should also be breathable so that you would not sweat too much and feel uncomfortable inside your own jacket.

4. Water-Resistant Sweatshirt

You might not think of it, but a water-resistant sweatshirt is a great piece to have when you’re working out in the winter. Water-resistant means that the fabric will not soak up sweat and water so you can stay dry even when you are sweating it out.

Whether you are working indoors or outdoors during the winter, having a water-resistant sweatshirt will help you not feel heavy as you sweat while exercising. Now, if you were to work out in a warmer temperature, you would opt for a dry-fit shirt. In this case, since you’re working out in the cold, you will need to wear something warm.

5. Vest or Thermal Hoodie

Outerwear will be your best friend if you plan to work out in the winter. A vest or a thermal hoodie is designed to keep your body warm while still allowing you to move freely. A lot of people tend to wear a heavy coat when they work out in the cold, but this can actually be counterproductive as it can weigh you down.

A vest or a thermal hoodie will still keep you just as warm but will not weigh you down as much. Thermal wear is made to keep you warm amidst the cold, while a vest can be an extra layer to keep your upper body warm and agile as you work out in colder temperatures.  This will help you move more freely and, in turn, help you burn more calories.

One of the most common thermal hoodies or vests is the puffer jacket or vest. These have insulation inside them that form the iconic puffer design. However, they might not be the best to workout in because they are heavier than your usual thermal wear. 

Instead, go for thermal wear that is light and made out of merino wool. These materials trap body heat and help you retain and regulate your body temperature. 

6. Reusable Hand Warmers

Your hands are the fastest to get cold when working out in the winter. Likewise, you will need your hands to do a variety of exercises. Reusable hand warmers are a great thing to have in your gym bag. You can warm up your hands in between sets of lifting weights, doing push-ups, and doing other exercises that need your hands. 

These are usually little bags that have beads or a gel-like substance inside them that retains heat. Make sure that you buy the reusable kind so that you can use them while working out or while you’re just out in the cold of the night. 

7. Running Gloves

Running gloves are another great option to keep your hands and fingers warm while your work out or run during winter. Reusable hand warmers may be hard to find or can be a bit pricy. But just like with compression clothing, these gloves will help circulate blood and keep your hands and fingers warm. 

8. Smart Watch

Exercising without measuring your goals, current weight, and progress is like driving without a GPS—it can be done, but it’s so much easier with technology. A smartwatch is an excellent piece of workout gear to have that can help you in measuring your calories lost, heart rate, and other health-related parameters.

Some of the more high-tech smartwatches have the capacity to alert officials like the police, firemen, and other safety-related personnel if you’re in trouble. This is a great feature to have, especially if you’re running out in the mountains during winter or in a remote location.

Happy Running!

As you gear up for the winter, don’t forget to bring a pair of men’s warm up pants or wear some men’s workout tights underneath your pants to keep your legs warm. Wearing some sort of outerwear is essential to working out in the winter, whether it be a vest, jacket, or men’s running gloves. And of course, while this is already a given, you’ll also want to make sure you have a good pair of men’s running shoes that will grip the ground and provide traction in snowy or icy conditions.

But as you start with your winter workout, remember that the most important thing is to have fun! Wintertime is a great time to get active and enjoy the outdoors. But it’s also important to be prepared so that you can stay safe and warm while working out in the cold weather.

Best Video Games for Playing Roulette as a Side Activity

Roulette is one of the most popular casino games — physical and digital. Starting with roulette might be a good idea if you want to get into this vast universe of games of chance. In land-based casinos, roulette has specific chips. The player must exchange the money/bets for chips with the dealer at the table. Only eight players can participate in this modality, each receiving chips of different colors. After the ball’s launch, it is not allowed to place new bets. 

However, if you’d like to play roulette with video game themes instead of in the actual video game, we advise looking for it at businesses that primarily promote esports. A good example would be Thunderpick which is a safe way to play roulette with bitcoin, check it out.

1. Grand Theft Auto V

Rockstar Games’ flagship franchise is a pioneer in the video game business in many ways, and the inclusion of a casino in GTA V Online was a brilliant move. One of the best locations to play roulette in any video game is the Diamond Casino & Resort, included in the game in 2019.

As there was a great emphasis on recreating a realistic casino experience, it’s possible that Rockstar Games did this on purpose to appeal to players from the online gambling sector. Players are welcome to visit the opulent casino and participate in various games with prizes recorded between them. Players can even buy luxurious automobiles and new clothes in-game with their earnings. The roulette games include an actual wheel and croupier interaction.

Given its popularity, roulette is frequently included as a fun side activity in video games. Various exciting elements provide a change of pace from the primary story mode. Grand Theft Auto V Online will be good for you if you like to play roulette and would prefer to do so in a different game.

2. Yakuza Kiwami

Yakuza Kiwami is the remake of the great classic from 2005, which improves everything the original had left to be desired, from its gameplay to the updated graphics. The story has maintained its pattern and is faithful to what was presented in the first game. Yakuza had a success restricted to the East. However, the video game came to life in the West thanks to the wave of remakes of the classics.

Yakuza brings a very complete casino that guarantees hours o. Several games can be played, namely: roulette, Chō-Han (a Japanese game of chance that uses dice), Poker, blackjack (or 21), baccarat, Cee-Lo, Koi-Koi (a card game), and Oicho-Kabu (similar to baccarat). It looks pretty, and it is. When winning, it is possible to exchange the chips for prizes and some items that can only be obtained through the casino.

3. Cyberpunk 2077

A new version of Cyberpunk 2077 will be available online in 2021  to improve fighting by incorporating a fresh mechanic. The gameplay system introduced by the Weapon Roulette mod switches weaponry with each adversary encountered. Players can select the weapon rarity, stats, and categories using the mod’s customization options.

The mod aims to increase the excitement and unpredictability of warfare. Changing your weapons frequently will keep you alert and force you to approach every encounter uniquely. To make the gaming more exciting and challenging, alter the timer settings and fine-tune the stats for the weapons that will spawn.

See also: Cyberpunk 2077 Cinematic Trailer.

4. Fallout: New Vegas

The events of Fallout: New Vegas take place in and around the area of the historic city of Las Vegas (now known as “New Vegas”) in the year 2281, roughly four years after the events of Fallout 3 and approximately 204 years after the Great War of 2077.

By visiting the city’s casinos, you can participate in several mini-games modeled after the old New Vegas casinos. You may play slot machines, roulette, and a card game called Caravan, which was created mainly for Fallout. You can travel to Las Vegas casinos and participate in miniature games like roulette, where you can win or lose money.

5. Shenmue 3

Shenmue 3’s Mini-Games feature enables players to complete various tasks to receive rewards. Mini-Games are available everywhere and offer the player entertaining and engaging activities to enjoy.

Players can spin a roulette in this minigame to earn prizes. Each attempt will come with two spins. You must observe the force bar move in the bottom right corner of the screen to spin the wheel. To find out what prize you received, press the action button and wait for the wheel to stop. You will receive the compensation indicated in the center of the wheel if you land on a Bonus.

Play Casino in Video Games

The entertainment industry has experienced rapid expansion, opening numerous prospects for financial gain. You are probably already familiar with video games and how they have improved the lives of gambling fans. If not, you must have extensive knowledge of the video game genres that are popular with gamblers and featured in casinos.

If you enjoy gambling, you have probably seen movies with a casino theme. The video gaming industry has benefited from the same technical developments, and these days, video games are a crucial component of online casinos.

Bill Callahan Shares New Single ‘Natural Information’

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Bill Callahan has unveiled a new song, ‘Natural Information’, lifted from his upcoming album YTILAER. Along with guitarist Matt Kinsey, bassist Emmett Kelly, pianist Sarah Ann Phillips, and drummer Jim White – who also play throughout the record – the new track features horns from Carl Smith. Check it out below, where you can also find a slowed-down, six-hour version of the song.

YTILAER is due for release on October 14 via Drag City. It includes the previously released song ‘Coyotes’.

Webbed Wing Release New Song ‘I’m Feelin Alive’

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Webbed Wing, the Philadelphia outfit featuring former Superheaven members Taylor Madison and Jake Clarke, have released a new song called ‘I’m Feelin Alive’. Arriving ahead of the group’s headlining tour, the song follows their 2021 record What’s So Fucking Funny?. Check it out below.

“In the past year or so, I have felt the best I’ve ever felt in my life. Everything is going great, for the most part,” Madison said in a statement about the new track. “Despite that, I consantly have this feeling that something is about to go wrong, and it’s back to misery. I know that isn’t true, but I still kind of obsess over it.”

The Go! Team Announce New Album, Release New Song ‘Divebomb’

The Go! Team have announced their next album, Get Up Sequences Part Two, which arrives on February 3, 2023 via Memphis Industries. The follow-up to last year’s Get Up Sequences Part One is led by the new single ‘Divebomb’, which you can check out below.

“Protest songs have always been a balancing act,” the group’s Ian Parton said of ‘Divebomb’ in a statement. “If you’re too sledgehammer it’s cringey – like the Scorpions’ ‘Winds of Change’ or something – but at the same time given the stuff they’re trying to pull with abortion rights it feels weird to ignore it.”

Get Up Sequences Part One features guest spots from Apples In Stereo’s Hilarie Bratset, Lucie Too’s Kokubo Chisato, Neha Hatwar, the Star Feminine Band, Nitty Scott, IndigoYaj, and more. Parton calls it “an international patchwork. A global fruit salad. A United Nations of Sound.”

Get Up Sequences Part Two Cover Artwork:

Get Up Sequences Part Two Tracklist:

1. Look Away, Look Away
2. Divebomb
3. Getting To Know (All The Ways We’re Wrong For Each Other)
4. Stay and Ask Me In a Different Way
5. The Me Frequency
6. Whammy-O
7. But We Keep On Trying
8. Sock It To Me
9. Going Nowhere
10. Gemini
11. Train Song
12. Baby

Palm Share Video for New Single ‘On the Sly’

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Palm have shared ‘On the Sly’, the latest single from their forthcoming album, alongside an accompanying video. It follows previous cuts ‘Feathers’ and ‘Parable Lickers’. “The words turned out a little sadder than intended but when we play this song I smile,” guitarist/vocalist Eve Alpert said in a statement. Check out the Rich Smith-directed visual below.

Palm’s Nicks and Grazes is set to drop on October 14 on Saddle Creek.