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  • My Husband Doesn’t Think It’s Worth Paying for a Good Gym Membership

    My Husband Doesn’t Think It’s Worth Paying for a Good Gym Membership

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    • For Love & Money is a biweekly column from Insider answering your relationship and money questions.
    • This week, a reader’s husband doesn’t think the cost of a gym membership is a good use of money.
    • Our columnist gives a path the couple can take toward meeting both of their priorities.
    • Got a question for our columnist? Write to For Love & Money using this Google form.

    Dear For Love & Money,

    My husband is really controlling with money. He sees anything I spend outside of the bare essentials as frivolous. We aren’t wealthy, and we do have a lot of credit card debt, but we have a decent income, and we should be able to afford some extras. The main extra we are fighting about right now is a gym membership. I am “allowed” my $10 a month membership to a cheap fitness club, but I would really like us both to go to one of the nice ones with a smoothie bar, sauna, and a pool. In a perfect world, I would also have a personal trainer.

    I see it as an investment in our health, which is the most important thing. My husband doesn’t want a membership at all, and if I’m being honest, it shows. I get that our finances are important to him, and our credit card debt stresses him out, but I care about both of us looking and feeling our best. He is out of shape and always complaining about aches and pains. How do I get him to understand the importance of putting our health first?

    Sincerely,

    Gym Rat

    Dear Gym Rat,

    Couples who share a life also share financial responsibilities. Even couples who divide their bills equally and don’t use a joint bank account are investing their time and money into the same life. This shared responsibility often means shared debt, shared costs, shared sacrifice, and shared indulgences. But what shared finances don’t necessitate are shared financial priorities — even if it might be easier when they align. I say this because the root of your dilemma is a stark difference in priorities.

    You say your husband is controlling with finances, but later in your letter, you ask me how to get him to put both of your health needs first. And I wonder: Is he controlling? Or does he simply prioritize financial fitness while you prioritize physical fitness?

    What I find interesting about your difference in priorities is that, taken separately, both of your financial priorities would usually serve as trump cards. There is a mindset around health that you espoused in your letter yourself when you say that health “is the most important thing.” But people hold the same mentality around financial health — after all, If you don’t have money, you can’t afford security of any kind. And what’s more important than that?

    I think you are both right. Both physical health and financial health are worthy priorities. If you can’t get around due to aches and pains, what is the point of having money? If you spend all your money on expensive gyms, luxury meal plans, and personal trainers, then how do you plan to pay for all of those years you’ve tacked onto your life?

    In situations like yours, where two people hold different but equally important money values, the solution isn’t for one of you to persuade the other into your way of thinking. It’s to find a solution that asks each of you to sacrifice a little so that both of you can prioritize your values.

    But compromise is difficult, because it requires us to analyze our motivations with brutal honesty. In your case, that might mean asking yourself if a membership to a luxe gym is actually necessary for your health, or if it’s just something that sounds really nice. For his part, your husband may need to ask himself if his aversion to spending money on his physical fitness is really about saving a buck or if he’s actually disinterested in being physically active.

    Being honest with ourselves about why we have our priorities isn’t only an exercise in self-denial, however. Your husband doesn’t have to go to the gym if he doesn’t want to. And you don’t have to stay at a budget gym if your desire for saunas and smoothies is solely self-indulgent. But an honest analysis is the first step towards the hard business of differentiating between our wants and our needs and ultimately coming to a mutually acceptable compromise.

    Beyond analyzing your own priorities, however, you will also need to stop analyzing your husband’s. He isn’t wrong. Financial fitness is important, and if he is stressed out by credit card debt, helping him eliminate it isn’t something you ought to be arguing anymore than he ought to be calling your desire to get in shape “frivolous.” You both need to respect each other’s priorities. Remember, our priorities are based on our ingrained values, and I can’t think of anything more futile than trying to reason someone out of theirs.

    But the good news is that you don’t have to change one another’s mind. Because ultimately, you both want the same thing. He wants to stress less about money, and you want to pursue physical health in a way that is going to require some expendable income. The best way for both of you two get your way is for you to get rid of your credit card debt.

    Reaching a compromise will mean making a plan together for paying it off, and in the meantime, you should probably continue working out at the affordable gym you’ve been going to. Your husband’s part of this compromise will mean making the commitment now to celebrate your last credit card payment by purchasing a gym membership for you at a nicer gym. And if he is feeling so inspired, he may even join you.

    You asked me how to get him to understand the importance of putting health first, and I’m afraid I didn’t give you the answer you wanted. But I guess what I’m trying to say is that while health and finances rank high on the list of important considerations in life, in a marriage, at the very top sits you and your spouse’s relationship. Because when you share a life, you share outcomes. You share happiness. And that’s something you both want.

    Rooting for you both,

    For Love & Money

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  • Magic | AKANKSHA REDHU

    Magic | AKANKSHA REDHU

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    I didn’t realise when I set out the intention of receiving life changing experiences which would be perfectly aligned for me, that I’d ACTUALLY be getting bombed by them faster than I could blink my eyes. The most gorgeous shit just kept on coming and lining up perfectly – like a game of Tetris that you FINALLY manage to finish.
    My journey of healing didn’t have the prettiest start (as most healing journeys go I suppose). Infact it started with me having to row against the flow I was taught and conditioned to believe was the only flow for me based on nothing more than a faint gut feeling. All on me, because I never once sat down with my self and questioned it. I was letting life do me instead of building a version of life that was best suited for me.
    It led to a beautiful rock bottom, a year of dragging whatever sense of self I had out of that pit with the support of a few close folks I consider myself to be extremely lucky to have in my life and my own sheer will to get out of bed every morning – that’s atleast one good thing that came out of being that person that ‘goes with the flow’ – you learn to compartmentalize and manage your shit so that you can continue to function on a basic level. Survive, not thrive.
    Relief didn’t come anytime soon. I had more self sabotage on my mind because I had never truly learnt or had practice in how to be kind to myself and figured I needed to punish myself for choosing me in the course of which I had to let some people down. It seemed it still was not the right time for me to start gathering my fragments and begin the process of integration. I wanted to throw them all up in the air to see what landed where. It wasn’t pretty.
    But somewhere along the way, something did crack open. And it allowed my intuition to gain a stronger voice – loud enough that I could, for the first time in a very long time, actually hear her speak properly. As if miraculously, things that weren’t meant for me started dropping out of my life even though I didn’t yet have the courage to eliminate them myself. Life kicked me hard on my ass and finally opened my eyes to the art of ‘editing’ my life. Turns out, you CAN just not entertain whatever it is you think does not serve you in your life. Just drop it, like a fly.
    My people-pleasing ass practiced it, with much feelings of horror and dread that I’d be cursed forever if I caused another person to dislike me (all in my own mind, running like a movie). Nothing happened. I didn’t die. Mama Earth kept moving, the sun rose and then so did the moon. Additionally, I also gained something new from this practice, something that I had not experienced in a very long time – mental space.
    The more I edited and let go of, the more space I created. Think of it as my cup – full – but of shit that wasn’t serving any purpose. So now, my cup was finally being emptied – blank space.
    By this point I had started taking better care of myself – consciously – continuously asking my self, everyday – is this aligned for me? Would my highest version take this decision? Do I really need this in my life? Does this habit, place, person, project enhance my being in any goddamn way? No? Put it in the fuckitbucket. Yes? Invite it further into my life. I had started looking into healing modalities. Building a routine that was based on my needs with an almost feral love towards my personal development. For the first time, yet again, in a very long time, I started investing in myself again.
    This invited more magic in my life – My healing journey really put the pedal to the metal at this junction – I discovered my calling, something that has truly taught me what having passion towards something feels like – an almost familiar feeling – the magic you used to play with when you were a child but slowly forgot on the way. I discovered breathwork – which not only healed some early traumas that ran deep and overlooked for over three decades, but also showed me just how simple, profound and abundant growth can feel like and how rewarding spreading this vibration of healing can feel. I ofcourse, straight up dove into the practice of conscious breathing, signed up to train to be a facilitator, immersed myself into whatever knowledge I could find about breathwork, the mind-body connection, trauma, emotions & energy, worked with mentors and connected with my breath daily since. In many ways it feels like just the beginning because I know I have far to go but at the same time it feels like I have already come SUCH a long way.
    After this it was like a rolling stone – only this was was rolling uphill, towards higher, better vibrations, jumping hills too and collecting just pure fucking magic on the way.
    I also kept getting more and more used to the practice of editing my life. I was changing, evolving, growing and I was and am in no mood to stop till the day it’s time for my breath to leave me.
    Here’s the thing about getting better – it keeps stacking up, getting better and better, each step being just the beginning. It’s what you allow to be stacked up. That is the secret I feel.
    You learn to look at the shitty stacks as lessons and simply let them fall off after integrating with the lesson at hand.
    When you consciously take steps everyday to move closer to what feels aligned in your body and saying no to the things that don’t, it feels just like walking and the path simply appearing in front of you as if by magic.
    More magical things, experiences, places, people started stacking up in my human experience, my connection with my intuition started getting stronger, I had space in my life and mind – to just breathe – no clutter.
    I released so much that it could now be my middle name.
    I kept going back to my breath and consulting my body instead of my mind and received wisdom I didn’t even know I had within me. I learnt magic. I realised I live in sheer abundance every day.
    And as a closing to this vague share (since I didn’t want to dole out personal details but still keep it as close to my heart as I could) I wanted to share my most recent experience that came my way.
    In October last year, just a month after having my mind, body and soul blown out of the concept of this 3D existence by the simple work of breath, in a moment of fearless and inspired action, I booked myself a trip to The Shaka Surf Club, to learn how to surf – as a birthday gift to myself in March this year.
    I had always been very fascinated by surfing, wondered if I could pick it up and figured I’d have the sea and the sand still even if surfing was not meant for me.
    5 months after booking I showed up, lived in a tent for 6 days between the backwaters on one side, the sea on the other and a handful of people I really fucking liked in the middle.
    It was – no prizes for guessing here – magic.
    Not only did I literally receive the permission to open my eyes and recognise the fact that my cup has been, what seems like for the first time in my life, full for a while now (I was just resisting admitting it to myself), and this time brimming and overflowing with things consciously curated by me, for myself, all serving me. Which meant that I could now start pouring from it – something that I have always enjoyed doing – just that when you’re pouring from an empty cup or a cup full of trash, you feel depleted and start feeling like shit yourself more often than not.
    And just like magic, the very next day after I had this download, a few of the folks I was enjoying sharing space with (with breaks of alone time no doubt coz that shit fuels me at this point) asked me if I would do a breathwork workshop for them. For a flash second – nerves – but when you know, in the deepest of your layers that you are meant to do something, nerves also melt away as quick as they appear. I heard this somewhere and it stuck with me – fear is excitement without the breath. All you have to remember to do is breathe. And that is what I did. I breathed, I reminded myself this was not about me, this was about the breath, being introduced to humans in the exact moment it was meant to be discovered by them, for them.
    We breathed under the stars and palms swaying in the wind that reminded you spirit is everywhere, laying on the grass – our energies coming together in the midst of nature, sea, salt and sand, creating a container that will forever be special to me. We connected with our breaths and human experiences and came out on the other side feeling just a little bit lighter and in light.
    This is it. This is me. Pouring. Because now I know how to keep my cup overflowing.
    Thriving, not surviving.
    Oh and I did manage to stand and surf a few waves but I busted my knee and stepped on a sea urchin on 2 separate occasions before I could learn how to surf without the assistance of an instructor. But I still had the sea and the sand and the people 🙂
    This is just the beginning ❤️

    I felt inspired and wrote this post at the Mangalore airport while waiting to board my flight to Delhi 🙂
    Sharing a few pics below from my time at Shaka.


    I used to pour drinks. Now I pour magic 😉
    What a life. What a life. What a life.



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  • 14 Tips to Help a Leash Reactive Dog – Dogster

    14 Tips to Help a Leash Reactive Dog – Dogster

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    What is a leash-reactive dog? Your usually friendly dog starts barking and lunging when he sees or hears another dog or when a jogger or loud truck passes by. And you wonder what happened. After all, off a leash, he’s calm.

    Many dogs can ignore these sights and sounds and take them in stride. But a leash-reactive dog responds to certain stimuli at a higher-than-normal level of intensity. His reactivity is a result of the stress that he’s experiencing. Here are tips to help manage your dog’s leash reactive behavior:

    First, determine what he’s reactive to (for example, cars, people or other dogs) and why. Reasons behind leash-reactive behavior can include genetics, the behavior was successful for the dog in the past and barrier frustration, similar to being stuck behind a fence. Then, decide how to manage and develop a program for modifying the behavior.

    14 tips to manage a leash-reactive dog

    You can take many actions to help manage your dog’s reactivity while he’s on leash.

    1. Remain calm and don’t yank on or tighten the leash.

    Your dog can read your voice, body language and scent. If you’re stressed, he becomes more anxious, too. A tight leash can lead to reactivity.

    1. Keep your dog under threshold.

    Make sure that he isn’t overstimulated by things, animals or people that would otherwise cause him to be reactive. Often this means keeping him at a sufficient distance from the stimulus. So, for example, if he becomes overstimulated by dogs who are 29 feet away but not when they are 30 feet away, stay at least 30 feet away while you’re working with the issue.

    1. Ensure safety with the proper equipment.

    Use equipment that your dog can’t escape from, such as a correctly fitted harness, a Martingale-type collar or a combination of both. Don’t use aversive equipment, such as a prong or shock collar.

    1. Socialize your dog at his own pace.

    While you’re working with the cause of his reactivity, slowly expose him to everyday sights, sounds, people and animals that he can handle and to which he isn’t reactive. Always use positive reinforcement of treats, praise and play.

    1. Train your dog to perform certain behavior cues.

    Teach certain behavior cues first without distractions so that your dog can focus.

    The two most important cues to teach when modifying leash-reactive behavior are “look” and “turn.”

    Teach a “look” cue. And also teach your dog to pay attention to you by default. Train him to walk on a loose leash. These skills help him to focus on you rather than the environment. You can also teach your dog to nose-target to your hand, as long as he doesn’t redirect his frustration onto you.

    Teach an emergency U-turn when you say the cue “turn.” Lure your dog to turn 180-degrees with you in the other direction away from the stimulus, praising and rewarding immediately after the turn.

    Add distractions after he understands and performs the cue. Eventually, you can use the cues when you’re out-and-about with your pup.

    An added bonus of this training is that your pup is more confident because he knows what’s expected of him.

    1. Don’t have him greet other dogs while on leash.

    A leash interferes with the natural ways dogs greet each other in which they sniff, display body language that each understands and can advance and retreat. On lead, a dog can’t retreat when he feels threatened or if he isn’t in the mood to engage. Also, leashes can become tangled, even leading to a fight.

    1. Don’t reward leash-reactive behavior.

    If your dog’s frustrated by the leash, is reactive and wants to greet other people or dogs, don’t allow him to greet them even if he’s friendly when off lead. If he’s pulling and barking to reach them and you allow him to, you reward the behavior. He will continue to be reactive the next time he sees people or canines, believing that he will be allowed to greet them. And he would probably be over threshold and not react appropriately if he were allowed to greet.

    1. Exercise your dog physically and mentally prior to your walk.

    Exercise helps him de-stress and take the edge off. Help your dog to succeed.

    1. Take your dog for walks at “off” times.

    If he’s reactive to traffic, for example, try not to walk him at rush hour or on very busy streets. If he’s reactive to dogs or people, take routes at times where there aren’t likely to be any.

    1. Classically condition your dog’s response to the stimulus.

    You’re changing your dog’s association to — that is, emotional response to — the stimulus. You want to change the way your dog feels. This is a conditioned emotional response. Any change in behavior, such as a lack of reactivity, is a bonus result of your dog’s new, positive association with the stimulus.

    Here’s an example: If the stressor is a person, as soon as your dog sees the person, give a steady stream of yummy treats, such as small pieces of deboned chicken. Do this for about 20 second to a minute, depending on how reactive your dog is. The goal is for your dog to realize that the appearance of the stressor makes great things happen.

    If your dog goes over threshold, keep giving chicken, but move away at a distance beyond his threshold distance where your dog isn’t reactive. Then start again.

    1. Add counter-conditioning and desensitization (CC&D) of your dog to the stimulus.

    Once your dog gives you the conditioned emotional response you desire — happily enjoying the presence of the stimulus — you can counter-condition and desensitize your dog to the stimulus.

    Here’s how: Do training setups where the stimulus is beyond your dog’s threshold distance. If your dog’s reactive on lead to other dogs, for example, use a handler with a nonreactive test dog who will ignore your dog. Stay at a distance where your dog is under threshold.

    Instruct the handler to go in-sight, then out-of-sight. When the duo is in-sight and your dog is calm, give him a series of treats until the duo goes out-of-sight. The presence of the stimulus makes the yummy chicken appear.

    Keep this exercise short and positive. Don’t over-do it and stress your dog. Eventually, your dog should look to you when he sees the other dog, expecting you to provide the chicken pieces. This demonstrates that he understands that the appearance of the other dog makes chicken appear, and he performs a default behavior of looking to you.

    Alternatively, you can have the duo in place and you and your dog go in-sight, out-of-sight a few times. 

    Of course, you give a stream of treats when the other dog is in-sight and give no treats when the other dog’s not in view. End the session on a positive note.

    Once your dog understands that he gets treats when a dog appears and he doesn’t become reactive, add a cue. Say in a happy tone “Where’s the dog?” when the dog appears. In subsequent training sessions, your pup will become happy when the dog appears, looking for his yummy treats from you.

    If your dog becomes reactive, move away to a distance at which he was successful.

    Over your next training sessions — as your dog can handle it — move very slowly closer to the other dog to desensitize him to other canines. Don’t rush the process. It may take weeks or months — or longer — for your dog to move forward. Each dog’s an individual and moves at his own pace. But, if you’re properly doing the CC&D, you should see progress. Keep your dog under threshold.

    Also, over time, have him generalize this with many other dogs as test subjects, as well as new settings. This takes time and many training sessions.

    1. Redirect your dog to another activity.

    Carry a favorite toy that you toss immediately in front of your dog and tell him to get it. Or have about five small, yummy treats in your hand and toss them down (with him watching). Tell him to “find it.” This also has the bonus of classically conditioning your dog that something positive occurs when the stimulus, such as a dog or person to which he’s reactive, appears.

    1. Use holistic aids if your vet approves.

    Many types of products can help reduce a dog’s stress while on a leash. These include CBD oil, calming tabs, ThunderShirt, Adaptil and Rescue Remedy.

    1. Get professional help if needed

    If your dog’s reactivity is severe, engage the services of a veterinary behaviorist or other qualified behavior specialist.

    What not to do with a leash reactive dog

    Don’t punish your dog for his reactivity. Doing so inevitably makes things worse because he’s already stressed and will probably become more reactive. And you’ll lose his trust.

    Also, don’t let others interfere with your behavior modification of your pup. For example, if your dog’s afraid of new people, don’t let people rush up to him.

    In order to make your canine best friend’s life less stressful, determine why he’s being reactive on leash. Then you can manage the situation and successfully work through his issue. And you can both live a less stressed, happier, more fulfilling life.

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  • Eight homes with beautiful and practical bookshelves

    Eight homes with beautiful and practical bookshelves

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    For our latest lookbook, we’ve collected eight homes where stylish wall-mounted and built-in bookshelves add storage and visual interest.

    For book lovers, storage can quickly become a problem. But well-designed shelves can solve this issue and simultaneously function as a decorative detail.

    This lookbook showcases practical bookshelves from across the globe, including custom-made steel shelving in Chicago and a floor-to-ceiling wooden bookcase in Shanghai.

    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring bathrooms with sunken baths, bedrooms with regal four-poster beds and interiors with natural materials and timeless accents.

    Book shelf in living room of Residence for Two Collectors by Wheeler Kearns Architects
    Photo by Tom Rossiter Photography

    Residence for Two Collectors, US, by Wheeler Kearns Architects

    Local studio Wheeler Kearns Architects designed this Chicago home for two art collectors to have enough space for their extensive collection.

    In the penthouse’s living room, a custom-made shelf in patinated steel with its own circular staircase takes up almost an entire wall. This is filled not just with books but also with various artworks in wood and clay.

    Find out more about Residence for Two Collectors ›

    6House by Zooco Estudio
    Photo by Imagen Subliminal

    House 6, Spain, by Zooco Estudio

    Bookshelves span two levels of this flat in Mallorca, designed by Spanish studio Zooco Estudio. Colourful book covers contrast against the white shelving unit, which rises up from the ground floor.

    “As a unifying element, a shelf rises colonising both living and lobby spaces,” the studio said. “This way we integrate aesthetic and functionality in one single element.”

    Find out more about House 6 ›

    Pedro Reyes House, Mexico

    Pedro Reyes House, Mexico, by Pedro Reyes

    The Mexico City home of sculptor Pedro Reyes and fashion designer Carla Fernandez is filled with sculptural details including a double-height staircase and a library made from coarse concrete.

    The concrete is left exposed both here and throughout the rest of the house, which takes cues from the city’s modernist and brutalist buildings, including examples by Luis Barragán.

    Find out more about Pedro Reyes House ›

    The Library Home, Shanghai, by Atelier TAO+C
    Photo by Santiago Barrio and Shen Zhong Hai

    Library Home, China, by Atelier Tao+C

    This Shanghai apartment, located in the ISS Normandy Apartments designed by Hungarian-Slovak architect László Hudec in 1924, is almost completely lined with bookshelves.

    The wooden storage matches the flat’s parquet flooring and contrasts with the white marble staircase in the living area, where a wine fridge adds to the relaxed feel of the room.

    Find out more about Library Home ›

    Turner Architects Cloistered House
    Photo by Adam Scott

    A Cloistered House, UK, by Turner Architects

    When Turner Architects renovated this Georgian terraced house in south London, the British studio was careful to restore the building’s original features while still keeping it modern.

    Built-in shelves filled with books add a splash of sage green to the living room, where a cosy mustard-yellow sofa creates an inviting reading spot.

    Find out more about A Cloistered House ›

    Staircase and bookshelves in Farleigh Road renovation and extension by Paolo Cossu Architects
    Photo by Lorenzo Zandri

    Farleigh Road House, UK, by Paolo Cossu Architects

    A smooth wooden bookshelf lines the wall and connects to a chunky wooden staircase inside Farleigh Road House in east London, designed by local studio Paolo Cossu Architects.

    Its deep shelves provide space for books as well as magazines, plants, vases and lamps.

    Find out more about Farleigh Road House ›

    Cuernavaca House by Tapia Mcmahon
    Photo by Rafael Gamo

    Cuernavaca House, Mexico, by Tapia McMahon

    Inside this family home in Mexico City, a huge timber bookcase adds a warm feel to the concrete walls.

    “Large timber bookshelves and a kitchen assembly mimic furniture installations and help to break up the use of fair-faced concrete walls and slabs throughout,” architecture studio Tapia McMahon said.

    Find out more about Cuernavaca House ›

    Charlotte Road by Emil Eve Architects

    Charlotte Road warehouse, UK, by Emil Eve Architects

    The living room inside this apartment in a former warehouse in Shoreditch, east London, features a built-in wooden bookcase that complements the exposed wooden beams in the ceiling.

    Reaching all the way up to the ceiling, the oak shelving was designed to add to the warm material palette of the brick-and-timber building.

    Find out more about Charlotte Road warehouse ›

    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring bathrooms with sunken baths, bedrooms with regal four-poster beds and interiors with natural materials and timeless accents.

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  • Humanity Has Decided It Can Say ‘No’ to AI

    Humanity Has Decided It Can Say ‘No’ to AI

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    Hello, readers. Hallam Bullock here, coming to you from London on April Fools’ Day. My advice for you today would be to not believe everything you hear, but that’s my mantra most days.

    We’ve spoken about college majors here before. If you want to make a lot of money in your first job, we broke down the best and the worst degrees. 

    However, there are people who make boatloads of money without a degree altogether. One underground miner we spoke to makes as much as $160,000 a year. We’ve also written about new AI “prompt engineer” jobs that can pay up to $335,000 a year — and many don’t even require a background in tech 

    Now, before you start mulling a career change, let’s take a look at the week’s top tech stories.

    If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Insider’s app here.

    artificial intelligence ai chatgpt


    KATERYNA KON/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images



    1. The latest development in AI: humanity has decided it can say “no.” 

    Elon Musk was one of more than 1,000 people to sign an open letter calling for a six-month pause on advanced AI development. 

    Why, I hear you ask? Simply put, experts are worried AI could become too powerful. The letter cited several potential risks to humanity and society, including the spread of misinformation and automation of jobs.

    Meanwhile, ChatGPT has been banned in Italy over privacy concerns. Italy’s national data-protection agency said the restriction was temporary, but also announced it was starting an investigation into the AI’s creator, OpenAI. 

    Read more on the tech experts trying to pause AI’s development here. 

    Top tech stories of the week:

    An illustration of two hands reaching towards each other in the style of the "Creation of Adam". Each hand shows a suit sleeve, and one shows the other a thumbs up.


    Robyn Phelps/Insider



    2. Bosses have forgotten how to say “good job” — and it’s driving employees to quit. For a lot of employees, positive feedback can matter more than a big paycheck. A study found the top-two reasons people quit their jobs are because they don’t feel valued by their company or manager. Read more. 

    3. Big Tech’s big downgrade. Google, Amazon, Meta, and other big tech companies have chased short-term fads in a desperate attempt to win the favor of Wall Street investors — and it’s making the online experience worse, Ed Zitron writes for Insider. Read the full story.

    4. The good news: Only old office buildings are doomed. The bad news: That’s 70% of them. To battle remote work, companies are moving into fancy offices with “wow factor” to draw employees back in. Meanwhile, older buildings are fighting for survival. More here. 

    5. Elon Musk concedes Twitter is now worth less than half what he paid, per reports. According to Zoë Schiffer, the managing editor of Platformer, Musk also said Twitter had been “about 4 months away from running out of money.” Read more. 

    6. A laid-off Indeed.com employee went on a final pantry run. On his way out, he filled a black bag with chips, instant noodles, and an assortment of other snacks — and yes, he filmed the whole thing. 

    7. An Amazon driver went viral on TikTok after delivering a package during an active police standoff. Viewers were both awed and horrified by the driver’s dedication to getting the package delivered with one user commenting: “More scared of Jeff Bezos than getting taken out.” Read more. 

    8. A principal in Florida has resigned after writing a $100,000 check of the school’s money to a scammer pretending to be Elon Musk. Jan McGee said she believed the tech billionaire would invest millions of dollars in the school in exchange for the money upfront, according to a local news station. More here. 

    From our tech analysis team:

    Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Meta logos among a pile of trash on a blue background


    Tech companies have chased short-term fads in a desperate attempt to win the favor of Wall Street investors — and it’s making the online experience worse.

    iStock; Marianne Ayala/Insider



    9. We analyzed revenue per employee to show why Amazon, Meta, and others are axing workers with brutality and speed. More than 300,000 workers in the tech industry have been laid off since the beginning of 2022. We crunched the numbers to analyze why it’s happening. View the charts here.

    10. Apple’s own execs are split on whether the company should make smart goggles. Apple is reportedly introducing its Reality Pro smart goggles in June. But NYT reported on a rare wave of dissent internally at Apple, raising doubts about the product. Here’s what we know so far. 

    Today’s team: Hallam Bullock in London, Lisa Ryan in New York, and Dave Smith in Toronto.

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  • How to Massage Gas Out of a Dog – Dogster

    How to Massage Gas Out of a Dog – Dogster

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    Claire Primo, CVT, ACMT, FFCP

    Claire Primo, CVT, ACMT, FFP, is a veterinary nurse and certified animal massage therapist residing in Lyons, Colo. She specializes in senior pet care, holistic veterinary nurse care, and empowering guardians with the tools and guidance needed for a healthy and nurturing relationship with their pets through her veterinary nurse practice, Peak Animal Wellness & Massage. Follow her Facebook page here and her Instagram page here.



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  • How to Mix Metal Finishes for Modern Kitchen Aesthetics

    How to Mix Metal Finishes for Modern Kitchen Aesthetics

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    Mixing metal finishes in the kitchen requires a balance between harmony and contrast. There are practical tips for achieving a cohesive look in a kitchen design. Mixing various metal finishes defines your style.

    How to Mix Metal Finishes for Modern Kitchen Aesthetics

    Homeowners blend different metal finishes using lighting fixtures, appliances, faucets, cabinet hardware, and more.

    The Perks of Mixing Metals in Kitchen Decor

    Mixing different metal finishes has more perks than sticking to a single type of metal.

    Adds Visual Interest and Depth

    Mixing metal finishes in kitchen decor adds visual interest and depth. Introducing a variety of finishes breaks up the monotony and creates a more dynamic space. The contrast between different metals makes your kitchen feel more inviting.

    It complements your kitchen’s color scheme while creating distinct focal points. For instance, pairing a copper range hood with stainless steel appliances creates an attractive centerpiece. Combining warm-toned metals like brass with cool-toned metals like chrome also achieves an appealing design.

    Showcasing Personal Style and Creativity

    Customizing your kitchen allows you to showcase your style and creativity. You can experiment with different metal textures and combinations to create a unique aesthetic. You could blend brass hardware on your cabinets with stainless steel appliances for an eclectic look.

    Common Kitchen Metal Finishes

    Common Kitchen Metal Finishes

    Standard metal finishes for modern kitchen aesthetics include stainless steel, copper, polished brass, brushed nickel, and more.

    Stainless Steel

    Stainless steel is durable, corrosion-resistant, and easy to clean. It’s often used for appliances, sinks, and countertops. Stainless steel’s sleek, modern appearance complements various kitchen styles.

    Contemporary kitchen designs feature stainless steel appliances, fixtures, and matte black cabinet hardware and faucets. Stainless steel is also a primary metal for industrial kitchens due to its durability and ease of maintenance.

    Brushed Nickel

    Brushed nickel has a matte finish, which hides fingerprints and smudges. Its subdued shine works well with stainless steel appliances, making it popular in modern kitchens.

    Brushed nickel complements warm color schemes like red, yellow, or orange. The major downside to this finish is that it’s difficult to clean. Its textured surface makes it challenging to get the dirt off.

    Polished Brass

    Polished brass adds a touch of warmth and elegance to a modern kitchen. It’s ideal for homeowners who want a gold finish without overpowering other metals in the kitchen. Brass complements natural, earthy tones.

    You can also balance the warmth of polished brass kitchen hardware with stainless steel appliances. Most modern homes feature a white kitchen with brass hardware.

    Oil-Rubbed Bronze

    Oil-rubbed bronze fixtures fit traditional and contemporary kitchen designs. The metal’s rich color contrasts white backgrounds and hides smudges and fingerprints.

    Oil-rubbed faucets and light fixtures pair well with stainless steel hardware. Mix matte black and oil-rubbed bronze cabinet pulls and pot fillers.

    Matte Black

    Create a bold contrast by mixing stainless steel with matte black metal. Combine with a matte black faucet and gold hardware. Matte black and gold are contrasting accents to the primary metal, stainless steel.

    Matte black is a popular finish for cabinet pulls on white or gray cabinets. Matte black adds modernity to the design, exuding elegance and refinement in the kitchen.

    Copper

    Copper is a reddish metal. It works for most designs, including industrial and farmhouse kitchens. Over time, copper develops a natural patina. It adds a unique, aged appearance, enhancing the charm of rustic or farmhouse kitchens.

    Polished copper finishes look stunning in a sleek and minimalist contemporary kitchen. For instance, you can add a polished copper faucet and pendant lights to warm an all-white space.

    Key Tips for Mixing Metal Finishes in the Kitchen

    It’s crucial to understand the basics of mixing metals in the kitchen. It ensures a cohesive and unique aesthetic.

    Establish a Dominant Metal and Secondary Accents

    Select a primary metal for fixtures and appliances. Add a secondary metal for contrast and visual appeal. The secondary metal is ideal for smaller accents like cabinet hardware, light fixtures, or faucets.

    Pair Warm and Cool Tones for Balance

    Pairing warm and cool metals creates visual balance. Warm metals include copper, gold, oil-rubbed bronze, and brass. Nickel, stainless steel, iron, and chrome are cool metals. For instance, mixing brass and nickel finishes create an appealing contrast, which results in a harmonious look.

    Create a Visual Hierarchy With Metal Finishes

    Mixing metal finishes in the kitchen highlights specific elements and creates a focal point. Use statement pieces, such as a chandelier, a faucet, or eye-catching cabinet handles.

    For instance, mixing gold hardware with stainless steel appliances creates a striking contrast that draws attention to the space.

    Limit the Number of Different Metals for a Cohesive Look

    Mix two or three metal finishes for a cohesive look in your kitchen. Consider other materials and colors in your kitchen design when choosing metal finishes. Warm-toned metals like copper, brass, and gold pair well in black kitchens. Cool metals like chrome and stainless steel complement bright kitchen interiors.

    Mixing Metals in Various Kitchen Elements

    Mixing Metals in Various Kitchen Elements

    Kitchen elements with metal finishes include kitchen appliances, hardware, kitchenware, and decor.

    • Faucets and Sink Fixtures: Mixing metal faucets and sink fixtures allows you to add personality to your kitchen. Mix brass or gold faucets with stainless steel or matte black sinks for a bold contrast.

    You could also mix complementary metals, such as brushed nickel faucets, with a chrome sink. Blending a copper faucet with an oil-rubbed bronze sink also adds visual interest to your kitchen.

    • Cabinet Hardware and Pulls: Similar metal finishes in upper and lower cabinet hardware create a cohesive look. Alternating between the two also adds a sense of balance.

    For example, match brass pulls on the top cabinets with matte black handles on the lower cabinets. Consider using one metal for knobs and another for pulls to enhance the visual texture.

    • Lighting Fixtures and Pendant Lights: Lighting fixtures and pendant lights create a focal point to a kitchen’s design. Consider mixing two or more metals within the same accessory.

    For instance, you could install a brass and black pendant light. For a harmonious blend, use several lighting fixtures with different metals.

    • Appliances and Range Hoods: Most kitchen appliances are available in standard finishes like stainless steel. You could add a range hood with a contrasting metal finish, such as copper or brass. To avoid overwhelming the space, choose a limited palette of metals.
    • Kitchen Furniture and Seating: Metal-framed bar stools or chairs complement the kitchen design. You could also opt for a dining table with metallic accents like copper or brass legs.
    • Decorative Accents and Backsplashes: Use a metallic backsplash tile that blends two or more metals. Stainless steel lintels, brass, or a mosaic of copper create a notable visual impact.

    You could also use a single-metal backsplash to contrast with other kitchen design elements. Another option is incorporating mixed metals using wall art, utensil holders, or decorative bowls.

    Mixing Metals in Different Kitchen Design Styles

    Mixing Metals in Different Kitchen Design Styles

    When choosing metal finishes, consider your kitchen’s style and color palette to ensure they complement each other.

    Modern and Minimalist

    Modern and minimalist kitchens feature a cohesive layout and shiny, dramatic elements. Stainless steel is popular as the primary metal, with brass or matte black as the accent metal. Distributing metals throughout the space creates a cohesive look. Avoid concentrating one metal in a single area, creating visual imbalance.

    For instance, you could use stainless steel for the sink, faucet, and large appliances. Add brass or gold drawer pulls, cabinet handles, and light fixtures.

    Rustic and Farmhouse

    Copper’s warm, rich tones suit rustic and farmhouse kitchens. Use copper in light fixtures, range hoods, sinks, or kitchenware. You can also accessorize using items made from wrought iron for a vintage touch.

    Traditional and Classic

    Brass, bronze, and brushed nickel are standard in traditional kitchen designs. Pairing warm-toned brass with cool-toned nickel creates an appealing contrast. Chrome fixtures are also popular for classic kitchens. Chrome is an alternative for homeowners who prefer a shiny finish to the matte appearance of nickel.

    Mix the deep, rich tones of bronze with the shiny, reflective surface of chrome for a balanced design. Incorporate bronze in light fixtures, cabinet handles, and chrome for faucets and appliances.

    Eclectic and Bohemian

    Boho styles mix a lot of brass with other metals, including copper, chrome, and nickel. Create an eclectic look using many metals and different textures. Combine the warmth of brass with the rich tones of copper for a cohesive blend.

    Use brass for cabinet hardware and light fixtures and copper for pots and decor. Wooden utensils and antique dishware fit in as well.

    Inspiration Ideas for Mixing Metals in Your Kitchen Design

    Combining different metallic elements adds a unique flair to the kitchen space.

    • White cabinets with black stainless steel kitchen appliances: To achieve a modern look, contrast your cabinets with bold black stainless steel. The combination is best for both contemporary and traditional kitchen designs.
    • Silver sink with black faucet: Installing a silver sink with a sleek black faucet creates a sense of contrast. The idea works best in an industrial, minimalist, or contemporary kitchen.
    • Brushed nickel appliances: Brushed nickel appliances create a more subtle style when mixing metal finishes. They have a soft, matte finish, adding warmth to a kitchen space. Consider pairing brushed nickel appliances with metal finishes like gold or brass faucets.
    • Gold hardware on white cabinets: Mixing these two evokes a sense of luxury and elegance. Gold accents add warmth and richness to the white cabinetry. Use gold cabinet pulls, hinges, and knobs to achieve this luxurious look.
    • White and brass appliances: Combining white and brass creates a more eclectic design. The blend makes the kitchen space bold and striking. Pair these appliances with brass elements, such as cabinet hardware or light fixtures.

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  • 10 Best Laptops for Music Production in 2023 [Updated]

    10 Best Laptops for Music Production in 2023 [Updated]

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    Gone are the days when people were using different instruments for music production. In this world of advanced technology, to make a song, the most important thing you need is a laptop. You can’t use any laptop though, but you need the best laptop for music production with the right software to create the right music for your listeners.

    Music production requires a lot of applications and software to edit and design the music. To fulfill these kinds of requirements you need a laptop with a fast processor, HD graphics, high RAM, high memory, and HD display.

    Searching for the best laptops for music production is not an easy task as you have to perform immense research while considering all options. To reduce your time and effort, here we have compiled a brief list of the top 10 laptops for music production.

    Things to consider before buying a good laptop for music production

    When you are looking for a laptop for music production and the recording price tag is not enough. There are many things you should consider. There are many budget-friendly laptops are available on the market, but they give a limited performance with minimum specifications. Before jumping out and spending your money on a system, we recommend you look for a laptop that covers the basic “must-have” specifications. Here are some things you should consider before buying a music production laptop:

    Processor

    As the CPU is the heart of a computer. The performance of your system’s CPU really matters. For audio and music production, get the fastest processor that you can afford. For most recording software, you’ll need a laptop with multi-dual or quad-core processors.

    Operating System

    You can use both Windows or macOS for music production but going with MacOS is probably be the best option. Many people in this industry prefer a Mac over a PC because they are more stable for this kind of work. If you’re confused between both then we recommend you to read this guide by MacWorld which describes the comparison of macOS High Sierra and Windows 10.

    RAM

    For music production and recording purpose, you need more RAM. This is important for handling your software. So, we recommend you go for a minimum of 8GB or more. If you are going to buy a laptop for audio recording make sure that you’re able to add more RAM in the future if required.

    Hard Drive

    For music recording, make sure that you get the right type of hard drives. Always choose your hard drive wisely. Give preference to SSD storage instead of the hard disk drive so that it can handle the demands of transferring audio data.

    So, without any further ado, here we go…

    Top 10 Best Laptops for Music Production

    1. Apple 16″ MacBook Pro, 512GB SSD – Best Mac for Music Production

    Apple MacBook Pro 16

    Apple has been known for its high-quality products. When it comes to content creation, Apple MacBook Pro is the first preference for all professionals including music production. It offers high-end technology and features that make it one of the best laptops for music production.

    It is a 16-inch thin and lightweight laptop that truly redefines the word portable. With a retina display, it gives you more vibrant colors and brightness that doesn’t strain your eyes as compared to other laptops. The laptop is sported a 2.6 GHz Intel Core i7 Six-Core processor paired with the 16GB of RAM and a 4GB dedicated AMD Radeon Pro 5300M graphics card that makes it good enough for music production and recording.

    For storage, the MacBook Pro 16 comes with 512GB of SSD storage which is good for storing large media files or audio software. It offers 11 hours of battery life for long usage without needing to be plugged in. If you have a large budget and like the usability of OSX then MacBook Pro is the best ultrabook for music production you can get.

    Hardware Specifications of Apple 16″ MacBook Pro, 512GB SSD
    Processor 9th-Generation Intel Core i7 6-core Processor 2.6GHz
    RAM 16GB 2133MHz LPDDR3
    Storage 512GB SSD
    Display 16″ FHD LED-backlit Retina (3072×1920) Display
    Graphics AMD Radeon Pro 5300M with 4GB of GDDR6 memory
    Operating System macOS BigSur
    Battery Life Up to 11-hours
    Weight 4.3 pounds

    2. ASUS TUF FX505DU Gaming Laptop

    ASUS TUF Gaming Laptop

    The ASUS TUF FX505DU comes in various different models based on screen size and hardware specifications. This ASUS model is a high-end and powerful laptop that can be pretty handy for music-making. This is a 15.6-inch laptop with a full HD display having a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It is not only good for music production you can even use it for things like streaming, video editing, etc. It is also one of the best laptops for video production.

    The laptop is powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H processor clocked at a 2.2GHz processor. It is also sported 16GB DDR4 RAM making it very snappy for demanding music projects. It comes with the combination of a 1TB hard disk drive and 256GB of SSD which make it one of the most powerful laptops. It also has an Nvidia GTX 1660Ti GPU with 6GB of dedicated memory.

    It weighs only 4.8 pounds so, you can easily fit it into your backpack if are a traveling gig musician. Overall, it is very difficult to beat this laptop in terms of hardware specifications and performance as it is one of the best 15-inch laptops for music production you can buy right now.

    Hardware Specifications of ASUS TUF FX505DU Gaming Laptop
    Processor AMD Ryzen 7 3750H Quad-core Processor (up to 3.9GHz)
    RAM 16GB DDR4
    Storage 256GB PCIe SSD + 1TB HDD
    Display 15.6″ FHD LED-backlit (1920 x 1080) Display
    Graphics NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti 6GB GDDR5
    Operating System Windows 10 Home x64
    Battery Life Up to 10-hours
    Weight 4.85 lbs

    3. HP Spectre x360 15t 2-in-1 Laptop

    HP Spectre x360No list of laptops would be complete without mentioning at least one HP model. This HP Spectre x360 is a pretty popular pick if you’re not going to buy Mac. This is a 15-inch 2-in-1 laptop with a beautiful and sleek design that allows you to use it as a normal laptop or as a tablet.

    It sports the latest 10th Generation Intel Core i7 processor making it ideal to record & produce music. The Spectre also comes with 16GB of DDR4 RAM which is powerful enough to handle multitasking. For storage, the laptop comes with 1TB of fast SSD to store all your applications and software locally on the laptop. The graphics on this laptop is equipped with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti graphics with Q-Max design which is good for music recording, video editing, or photoshop.

    The only down part of this laptop is, it has limited USB ports and you might need to get a USB hub. But, it might not be deal-breaking for everyone as there are all other ports and slots available. The Spectre truly shines in terms of battery life. Offering 13 hours of battery life, it is the perfect laptop for users who are looking for a  music production laptop.

    Hardware Specifications of HP Spectre x360 15t 2-in-1 Laptop
    Processor 10th Generation Intel Quad-Core i7-10750H Processor (Up to 5GHz)
    RAM 16GB DDR4
    Storage 1TB PCI NVMe M.2 SSD
    Display 15.6″ FHD 4K UHD WLED-backlit (3840 x 2160) Touchscreen Display
    Graphics NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Graphics 4GB GDDR6
    Operating System Windows 10 Pro
    Battery Life Up to 13-hours
    Weight 4.24 lbs

    4. Asus ZenBook 14 Ultra-Slim Laptop

    Asus ZenBook 14 UX433FA

    This is another high-performing ASUS ultrabook on our list of best laptops for music production. Based on performance, this laptop gives an excellent performance as of the previously mentioned ASUS laptop. As we’ve already discussed that the Asus ZenBook comes in various different models based on their hardware specifications. Although, all the models are capable and are perfect for audio creation.

    The Asus ZenBook 14 UX435EG is a 14” ultra-slim laptop that is packed with an 11th-generation i7 processor which is great for the price. Though featuring 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD, this model offers 2 times less storage than the previously mentioned ASUS laptop. But we can’t ignore its powerful features that give us a reason to include it on our list of top laptops for music production.

    Apart from NVIDIA’s latest GeForce MX450 2GB graphics card, it comes with a bunch of other special features like a backlit keyboard with ambient light control that also makes this laptop a gaming monster along with a pro-choice for music production and recording.

    Hardware Specifications of Asus ZenBook 14 UX435EG
    Processor 10th-generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 Processor, Up to 4.9GHz
    RAM 16GB DDR4
    Storage 512GB SSD
    Display 14″ FHD Anti-Glare IPS 4-way NanoEdge bezel Display
    Graphics NVIDIA GeForce MX450 2GB graphics
    Operating System Windows 10 Pro
    Battery Life Up to 16-hours
    Weight 2.62 lbs

    You may like to read: Best Gaming Laptops Under $1000

    5. Razer Blade 15

    Razer Blade 15

    If you are looking for a portable and powerful machine, no problem. Because Razer Blade 15 is the best lightweight and budget laptop for music production as well as it seems more suited for a gamer. This Razer Blade laptop comes with a 15.6-inch full HD display with a 10th generation Intel Core i7 processor making it a serious gaming machine. It has a 1080p IPS display to get the audio recording work done.

    It sports NVidia GeForce RTX 2070 with a Max-Q design and 8GB of memory. The laptop has 16GB of RAM which is a really fast type of RAM. For storage, the laptop is backed by 512GB of SSD to provide speed and capacity. The laptop comes with a single-zone backlit keyboard giving it a solid gaming look. The laptop also offers fast USB Type-C and USB 3.0 ports for transferring applications and other data between your external drive and laptop quickly.

    With a battery that offers you up to 8 hours of usage, the Razer Blade 15 is an ideal budget laptop for music production as well as for gaming purposes.

    Hardware Specifications of Razer Blade 15 Laptop
    Processor 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10875H 8-Core Processor (Up to 5.1GHz)
    RAM 16GB DDR4
    Storage 512GB SSD
    Display 15.6″ FHD LED-backlit (1920 x 1080) IPS Display
    Graphics NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q Design VR Ready 8GB GDDR6
    Operating System Windows 10 Home
    Battery Life Up to 8-hours
    Weight 4.48 lbs

    6. Lenovo Legion 5

    Lenovo Legion 5 Gaming Laptop

    Lenovo Legion 5 is an extremely powerful laptop for music production under $1500. It sports a 15.6-inch full HD display with an anti-glare coating for a better viewing experience. It comes with rugged construction with a black color body and white-backlit keyboard giving it a perfect look for a music production laptop.

    The laptop is powered by the 10th Generation Intel Core i7 processor paired with a massive 32GB of RAM to smoothly run your games and photo and video-editing applications. For storage, this laptop comes with 1TB of PCIe solid-state drive which is great enough memory for the most crucial software packages.

    It comes with 6GB of powerful NVidia GeForce GTX 1660Ti graphics card making it perfect for handling multiple applications for music production as well as for gaming.

    Hardware Specifications of Lenovo Legion 5 Laptop
    Processor 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H 2.60GHz Processor (up to 4.80 GHz)
    RAM 32GB DDR4
    Storage 1TB PCIe SSD
    Display 15.6″ FHD LED-backlit (1920 x 1080) IPS Display
    Graphics NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti 6GB GDDR6
    Operating System Windows 10 Home
    Battery Life Up to 7-hours
    Weight 5.1 lbs

    7. Dell XPS 7390 13-Inch

    Dell XPS 13 7390 Laptop

    Dell XPS series is a famous laptop series for music production and video editing laptops. This newest Dell XPS 13-Inch model is a thin and lightweight ultrabook packed with a high-performance processor and graphics making it one of the best music production laptops you can buy.

    It comes with a 10th Generation Intel Core i7 processor and the latest Intel UHD graphics making it a perfect machine for gaming and music production. This is a perfect music production ultrabook for those people who have to travel more often. This Dell laptop comes with 16GB of RAM and a massive 512GB of SSD storage which would be good enough for music production.

    Based on its overall specifications including good battery life and lightweight the Dell XPS 7390 is one of the best laptops for music production of 2023.

    Hardware Specifications of Dell XPS7390 13-Inch Laptop
    Processor 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10710u Processor (Up to 4.6GHz)
    RAM 16GB 2133MHz LPDDR3
    Storage 512GB PCIe SSD
    Display 13.3″ 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) InfinityEdge anti-glare touch display
    Graphics Intel UHD Graphics
    Operating System Windows 10 Home
    Battery Life Up to 8-hours
    Weight 2.8 lbs

    8. Microsoft Surface Laptop 3, Newest Version

    Microsoft Surface Laptop 3If you’re a professional music composer and prefer a Windows-based laptop over MacBook then this ultraportable notebook is best for you. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 is specially designed with high-end features so you can effectively use it for music or audio creation. Here is a variance of Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 available with 512GB of SSD.

    It is powered by the latest 10th generation Intel Core i7 processor clocked at 1.8GHz. It sports 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage which is more than enough for seamless multitasking with reliable storage.

    For the graphics, the laptop comes with Intel Iris Plus 640 graphics, which boosts up the graphics handling performance of this laptop. If you have a large budget then this would be the best ultrabook for music production you can buy.

    Hardware Specifications of Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
    Processor 10th Generation Intel Core i7 Processor, 1.8GHz
    RAM 16GB 2133MHz LPDDR3
    Storage 512GB SSD
    Display 13.5″ PixelSense (2256×1504) Display
    Graphics Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640
    Operating System Windows 10 Home
    Battery Life Up to 11.5-hours
    Weight 2.79 pounds

    9. Lenovo IdeaPad L340

    Lenovo Ideapad L340

    The Lenovo IdeaPad L340 is a powerful and pocket-friendly music production laptop that offers many high-end specifications. The laptop is powered by the latest 9th Generation Intel Core i7 clocked at 2.6GHz.  With 8GB of RAM, the IdeaPad L340 delivers all the processing power needed for effortless multitasking. It comes with a 15-Inch full HD display having a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and a 45% Color gamut.

    It has Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 dedicated graphics which is great for gaming as well as for other high-end applications. It comes with powerful Dolby ATMOS speakers that deliver the loudest, clearest audio possible from a thin and lightweight device making it a complete package for music production.

    Overall, the Lenovo IdeaPad L340 a perfect budget all-rounder laptop to get anyone started with music production.

    Hardware Specifications of Lenovo IdeaPad L340
    Processor 9th Generation IntelCore i7-9750h Processor (Up to 4.5GHz)
    RAM 8GB DDR4
    Storage 1TB HDD + 256GB NVMe SSD12GB SSD
    Display 15.6-inch (1920 x 1080) full HD IPS Display
    Graphics NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 4GB GDDR5
    Operating System Windows 10 Home
    Battery Life Up to 9-hours
    Weight 4.85 lbs

    RELATED: Top 10 Best Gaming Laptops Under $800 – Also Good for Video Editing

    10. Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Ultra-Slim Laptop for Music Production

    Microsoft Surface Pro 7If you are looking for a powerful and portable machine for audio creation and recording then this Microsoft Surface Pro 7 would be a perfect choice for you. It is one of the best-in-class laptops to use in various different modes so you can type, draw, and work more naturally.

    Powered by a 10th generation Intel Core i7 processor, clocked up to 1.8GHz, this laptop on the list can rightly be titled as a “Best Budget Music Production Laptop”. The Surface Pro 7 comes with a 12.3-inch PixelSense display with a resolution of 2736×1824. The laptop comes with Intel Iris Plus 640 graphics that make it good for editing 4K videos.

    For connectivity, it is equipped with USB-C and USB-A ports that give you more reliability for connecting to displays, and docking stations as well as charging. Although it is a budget-friendly laptop it offers a long-lasting battery of 10.5 hours making it one of the best laptops for music production you can buy under $1500.

    Hardware Specifications of Microsoft Surface Pro 7
    Processor 10th Generation Intel Core i7 Processor, 1.8GHz
    RAM 16GB 2133MHz LPDDR3
    Storage 256GB SSD
    Display 12.3″ PixelSense (2736 x 1824) Touchscreen Display
    Graphics Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640
    Operating System Windows 10 Home
    Battery Life Up to 11.5-hours
    Weight 2.79 pounds

    Picking the one ‘best laptop for music production’ would be unviable. It all depends upon your own experience and usage whether a machine is the best fit for you or not. With a premium display, HD graphics, and fast processor, it perfectly sums up what the best laptops for music productions should offer.

    We think our short review of music production laptops will help you to find the best machine. If you still need any suggestions or guidance related to the laptops, feel free to ask and leave a comment below.

    Also Read:

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  • Gua Sha For Puffy Eyes: How To Depuff Eyes

    Gua Sha For Puffy Eyes: How To Depuff Eyes

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    Do you notice yourself waking up with puffy and tired eyes even after a good night’s sleep? We know the feeling, and we’re here to help. The gua sha tool is a natural remedy that helps depuff the eye area to leave you looking refreshed. This ancient technique has been used for centuries to improve circulation and promote lymphatic drainage, resulting in a brighter, more youthful-looking appearance. Read on to find out how a gua sha tool can help reduce the look of puffiness under your eyes and watch a demonstration video below. 

    Why Do I Have Puffy Eyes? | Gua Sha For Puffy Eyes: Does It Work? | How To Depuff Eyes: A Step-By-Step

    Why Do I Have Puffy Eyes? Symptoms & Causes

    Puffy eyes are a common issue for many people, regardless of age or skin type. This condition occurs when excess fluid accumulates in the tissues around the eye area, causing eyes to look puffy, baggy and worn out. While undereye puffiness is not normally associated with a serious medical issue, it can make you feel self-conscious. The only time undereye puffiness is a reason for concern is if you have any:

    • Vision changes
    • Pain around the eyes
    • Severe swelling around the eyes

    If you experience any of these symptoms, you should seek medical attention right away. 

    There are several factors that can contribute to the development of puffy undereyes. Here are some of the most common causes. 

    Lack Of Sleep

    One of the most common causes of undereye puffiness is not getting enough shuteye. When you’re tired, your body produces more of the stress hormone cortisol, which can cause fluid retention and inflammation. 

    Allergies

    Eye puffiness may be a symptom of an allergic reaction or seasonal allergies. Exposure to dust, pet dander and pollen might trigger histamine reactions like watery eyes, itchiness and puffiness. 

    Natural Aging

    As we age, our skin matures and thins out, losing its elasticity due to a drop in collagen production. Our skin becomes more prone to sagging and developing fine lines and wrinkles, as well as creating a baggy or puffy look under the eye area. 

    Genetics

    Genetics might cause your undereye area to naturally develop fat pads in the undereye area. Gravity is also a factor, helping fat slide to the lower eyelid and create an appearance of puffiness.

    Lifestyle Factors

    For some, a high salt intake or drinking alcohol can cause fluid retention around the area. If you’re a smoker, this can also lead to premature aging, causing sagginess in the skin including the eye area.

    Now that you’ve identified what might be the cause of your puffy eyes, let’s find out how using a gua sha tool may reduce puffiness.

    Gua Sha For Puffy Eyes: Does It Work?

    Gua sha, a Chinese therapeutic method, includes scraping the skin with a gua sha tool. This smooth, multi-edged stone tool can be made from jade, rose quartz or other semi-precious materials. Using gentle pressure, gua sha tools can be used to massage the face and body to reduce muscle tension while improving relaxation and lymphatic flow throughout the body (moving fluids away from a tense area). Most importantly, you can use a gua sha tool on your undereye area to reduce puffiness and encourage a more youthful-looking appearance.

    Most importantly, you can use a gua sha tool on your undereye area to reduce puffiness and encourage a more youthful-looking appearance.

    So, how does the gua sha tool work to reduce undereye puffiness? 

    Encourages Lymphatic Drainage

    Using a gua sha tool encourages your lymphatic system to do what it does best: eliminate waste from the body. The gentle scraping of the tool encourages movement of lymphatic fluid away from your undereye, decreasing puffiness.

    Improves Circulation 

    When you use the gua sha tool, you’re also increasing blood flow to the skin. Increased blood flow helps to provide the skin with oxygen and nutrients, while also reducing inflammation and swelling.

    Relaxes Facial Muscles

    Tension in the facial muscles can contribute to undereye puffiness. The muscles around the eyes are interconnected with the muscles in the rest of the face. When facial muscles are tense, they affect the blood flow and lymphatic drainage in the area around the eyes. This can lead to a buildup of fluid and swelling, causing the appearance of undereye puffiness. By using the gua sha tool to gently massage the skin, you can help to relax these facial muscles and reduce the look of fatigue and puffiness. 

    How To Depuff Eyes: A Step-By-Step

    Here’s how to depuff tired-looking eyes with a gua sha tool:

    Step 1

    Wash your face, then apply a serum or facial oil to prepare your skin. This will minimize the pulling or tugging that can leave skin saggy and let the gua sha instrument pass smoothly over your skin.

    Step 2

    Slowly move the gua sha tool from the inner corner of your eye towards the temple, starting at the inner corner of your eye. Make sure not to press too firmly and to use gentle pressure.

    Step 3

    Repeat on the area under your eyes by moving the gua sha tool from the inner to the outer corner 5-10 times. This repeated movement will encourage lymphatic drainage and lessen puffiness.

    Step 4

    To further reduce puffiness after using the gua sha instrument, apply a cold compress or a cooled spoon to the region around your eyes.

    You can also watch Lead Skin-Care Trainer Natalie Pergar as she walks you through a gua sha tutorial for undereye puffiness and provides product recommendations.

    Best Products For Puffy Eyes

    Hibiscus Ultra Lift Eye Cream

    The Hibiscus Ultra Lift Eye Cream is designed to depuff tired-looking eyes, improve the look of dark circles and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Hibiscus increases the appearance of elasticity in the skin while maintaining its moisture to keep the area looking supple. The inclusion of an ice wine active helps to tighten the look of the skin so it appears lifted and smooth. 

    Lavender Night Eye Cream

    This rich, nourishing eye cream contains lavender and evening primrose to provide soothing, aromatherapy benefits. A unique Argan Stem Cell Complex fights the appearance of crow’s feet and leaves skin looking radiant.

    5 Other Tips To Depuff Eyes

    In addition to gua sha, there are a few other strategies you can also use to lessen puffiness around your eyes:

    Get enough rest: Sleep deprivation can result in fluid accumulation around the eyes, which can make them appear puffy.

    Hydrate: Getting adequate water can aid in the removal of pollutants and the reduction of inflammation.

    Apply a cold compress: A compress pressed to the region around your eyes will help reduce swelling and the look of puffiness.

    Less salty food: Consuming salty food can make you puffy because too much salt can promote water retention.

    You can view our other gua sha guides including:

    Leave a comment telling us about your experience or learn about your skin concerns by visiting a licensed esthetician at an Eminence Organics Spa Partner near you. 

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  • What’s in a Dog First-Aid Kit? – Dogster

    What’s in a Dog First-Aid Kit? – Dogster

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    As any pet parent knows, the unexpected can happen anytime. Whether at home or on an adventure together, having a well-stocked dog first-aid kit tailored to your dog’s age, health and lifestyle is essential and can make a difference in an emergency. Working dogs and dogs who accompany hikers, campers, and hunters will especially need more targeted first-aid kits as it may not be easy to access a veterinarian.

    A basic canine first-aid kit includes:

    • Documentation: Your dog’s medical information, your vet’s phone number and numbers for a local emergency vet and pet poison helpline.
    • Bandages: Gauze dressing, elastic bandages, first-aid tape
    • Tools: Tweezers and blunt scissors
    • Antiseptics and antibiotics: Saline solution and vet-approved and dog-safe medications
    • Nonalcoholic wet wipes and sterile gloves

    First-aid kits tailored to a specific activity, such as hiking or camping, will not only contain the basics, but additional supplies you might need for an extended time outside. Traci Bisson, owner and founder of Golden Dog Adventure Co., advises dog owners to pack based on the hike, conditions, trail and their dog’s, as well as their own, experience with hiking.

    When building a dog first-aid kit for an outdoor activity like hiking or camping, include:

    • ointment for insect bites
    • water to rinse out cuts and bites and for dehydration
    • cold compress or ice pack
    • anti-inflammatory
    • bandage wraps and splints for sprains and breaks
    • sunscreen
    • paw booties
    • sling backpack to carry your dog out of the woods if necessary
    • Benadryl to treat allergic reactions

    Alice Whitelaw, Founder & Director of Programs at Working Dogs for Conservation, advises that no matter the activity or location make sure you’ve identified the closest vet with emergency services. She also highly recommends Dr. Randy Acker’s Field Guide To Do First Aid book. It’s been around since 1999, so only available in Kindle version on Amazon.

    Preparation can be the key to preventing an emergency from turning into a crisis. Keep well-stocked dog first-aid kits in easy-to-grab locations and regularly check them to replace expired supplies.

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