It has been three years since a 17-year-old from Illinois shot dead two protesters during an anti-police riot in the Wisconsin town of Kenosha, said Jamelle Bouie in The New York Times. A court eventually decided that the gunman, Kyle Rittenhouse, had been acting in self-defence. But what troubled me at the time was the “jubilant reaction of conservative media” to the news that someone had taken the law into their own hands, and meted out “lethal violence against a perceived antagonist”. Now, we’re seeing that “bloodlust” all over again, in the case of Daniel Penny. A 24-year-old former US marine, Penny was on the New York subway earlier this month when a homeless man, Jordan Neely, began acting erratically. At some point, Penny placed Neely in a chokehold, which…

ChatGPT (fave.co/3AV5yUm) is all the tech world can talk about lately, and with good reason. The AI-powered tool is impressive, but there are plenty of worries too – copyright infringement, plagiarism, use in classrooms, even lost jobs, so it’s no wonder people who write for a living are stressing about AI that can seemingly write well. But there are also starry-eyed tech companies who see the future– the ability for computers to converse naturally and create content that businesses can actually use, at a scale, speed, and cost humans can’t possibly match. But ChatGPT, Google Bard (fave.co/3LEzVDC), and Microsoft’s Bing Chat (see page 34) are just one small part of the generative AI revolution. The art world has been buzzing about new generative AI art tools for the past year…

Photoshop has many types of layers and adjustment layers available, but there are six that you’ll find you need to use again and again. Learning how they should be used may seem a little daunting for beginners, but once you’ve got to grips with them, you’ll find they play a part in the creative process of almost every image you make. 01 LEVELS This should be the first layer you add to an image, because it fundamentally alters the tonal range of the entire image. Create a Levels Adjustment Layer, drag the Black point slider inwards until it touches the left-hand edge of the histogram, and drag the White point slider inwards to the right-hand edge. This remaps the tones of the image to make more of the available tonal range. 02 CURVES Curves…

Building a house on the cusp of the Arctic Circle presents numerous challenges. With a harsh climate and limited daylight for much of the year, the remote region proves a tough canvas for construction projects. In Boden, Sweden — located about 50 kilometres below the Land of the Midnight Sun — these factors play a role, but ask architect Mårten Claesson, cofounder of Claesson Koivisto Rune Architects, about the biggest constraints on his firm’s recently completed project there and he’ll admit that they were all imposed by humans. “For this house, two things stood out,” Claesson says. “The local regulations stipulated that, while there was an allowance for two-storey buildings, the maximum building height was only 4.2 metres. The house also required a red roof to match the other structures in…

We’ve all done it – bought a project that, in the pictures at least, looks to be a straightforward and quick build, but then turns into anything but. When chatting to Lee Masters, we both agreed it’s easy to look at pictures of a car advertised, and to build those images into something in our minds that isn’t really there. This pick-up is one of those stories, so let’s start at the beginning. Lee has been into VWs for a long time, but took a break for a few years to concentrate on other things, including his job as a commercial insurance broker. His clients include Andy ‘Spike’ Finch and John Brewster at JB’s Elite Fabrications. He also plays golf with Steve Thirkettle of 13 Stitches, so it was only…

Fungi have come out from the gloom and starting to get the credit for the amazing life forms that they are. Part of this is an increased desire to forage and eat them. A noble goal. But imagine you went to someone’s garden in an environment you were unfamiliar with, and didn’t recognize the plants. Every time you saw a new one, you asked: “Is this edible?” It would soon tire the host. Well, there are likely more fungi species in New Zealand than plant species. Just as edible plants are a minority, so are edible fungi. The good news is that in urban or highly-modified environments there are likely more opportunities for foraging for the beginner than in indigenous forests. Identification is very important, but one can start with…

01 Surfing Waikiki HAWAII The beauty of the Hawaiian Islands is beyond comparison; there is such a serene, relaxing energy there. I visit as often as I can to breathe the fresh air, recharge and reconnect. Hawaii really embodies the same spirit I try to evoke in my work—to make every day a getaway. 02 Bixby Bridge BIG SUR, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA The ultimate road trip along California’s Pacific Coast Highway must include a drive through Big Sur National Park. There is a celestial energy along the coastline near Bixby Bridge that is contagious and provides long-lasting memories for all who visit. 03 Charlevoix Channel Ferry MICHIGAN I grew up spending my summers on Lake Michigan and have a lifelong connection to the Midwest. The stunning teal water of the Great Lakes and the sweeping sand dunes are this area’s…

Apple TV+ has quietly but steadily emerged as a formidable competitor in the streaming race With a sharp focus on producing top-notch content and assembling a talented lineup of actors, directors, and creators, Apple TV+ is now the home of premium entertainment, setting itself apart from Disney+ and Netflix to set a new standard for at-home entertainment. REDEFINING QUALITY Apple TV+ has been relentless in its pursuit of excellence, emphasizing quality in content creation. From exceptional scripts to outstanding production values, the platform’s commitment to delivering topnotch entertainment experiences is evident. The roster of acclaimed shows and movies exemplifies Apple TV+’s dedication to offering high-quality storytelling and compelling narratives. Apple TV+’s original programming has garnered critical acclaim and enthusiastic viewer reception. The hit series “Ted Lasso” has captured hearts worldwide with its…

NOMADIX TOWELS Towels are essential on boats of any kind, but often they’re bulky and take up too much storage—and once those bulky ones are wet, good luck using them a second time. Nomadix towels are absorbent, quick-drying, odor-resistant, ultralight and easy to pack. A variety of sizes makes it easy to use some for drying off, others for cleanup, and hooded, poncho versions for changing clothes in privacy. $25 to $70; nomadix.co ACR BIVY STICK Extra safety is never a bad thing, especially when boating offshore and out of cellphone range. Combined with the Bivy app on your cellphone, the Bivy Stick allows connecting with a global satellite network so you communicate via two-way text messaging, SOS, location sharing, one-touch check-in, and detailed weather reports. $299.95 (not including data plan); acrartex.com WAKE FOAMIES MINI-MAL 5’4” WAKESURF…

Beyoncé and Jay-Z have spent a whopping $300 million on a new California home purchase, making it the most expensive house ever sold in the US state. According to reports, the power couple paid for the 2790-square-metre Malibu compound in cold, hard cash! The all-concrete home was previously owned by art collector William Bell, who commissioned the property design to Japanese master architect, Tadao Ando. Beyoncé, 41, and Jay-Z’s close pal Kanye West and his ex-wife Kim Kardashian also enlisted the renowned architect to design their former marital home. Meanwhile, the latest purchase rounds out the music stars’ already impressive property portfolio. The parents of three previously bought a home in Bel Air for $133 million in 2017, and in the same year dropped $39 million on a Hamptons mansion. According to Forbes, Beyoncé has a…

Whether you like it scrambled, fried, crispy, baked or sautéed, you can find a tofu recipe that is right for everyone - that is, if you know how to cook it. Often misunderstood for being bland, tofu is incredibly versatile in cooking since it has a mild, neutral taste which tends to take on the flavours of the food you cook it with. Cooking with tofu may be daunting for beginners, but the results can be exceptionally rewarding to your health and your taste buds. Tofu tales Tofu has been around for thousands of years. Originating in China, it is believed to date back to the Han dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE). It’s rumoured that more than 2000 years ago, the Chinese discovered it after accidentally combining soy milk with nigari. Nigari is…

“New photographers can get overwhelmed by all the new settings they have to employ to get a good exposure and get a little flustered and in some extreme cases, decide not to pick up a camera again.” Are you a new photographer? Have you just upgraded to a DSLR from your cameraphone and looking to take more inspired photos? We all have to start somewhere and chances are you’re not going to be creating sensational photographic works of art the moment you turn your new camera on. Despite professional photographers wanting us to believe it, they are not all born perfect master of their art. Mistakes happen, lessons have to be learned and experience has to be gained. It is also probably worth noting that you don’t have to be…

Many people say they value authenticity at work. They want to be themselves and express their real emotions. And they want all others to do likewise, particularly their boss and colleagues. The word “authentic” implies that one always gives a faithful, honest, and accurate account of personal beliefs, preferences, and desires. It means genuine, bona fide, and honest, while the antonym implies dodgy, dishonest, and insincere. We are told by the gurus that “authentic” leaders have all sorts of virtues: they tend to be more self-aware, more disciplined and inspiring, and more liked and trusted by all stakeholders. Thoroughly good egg; very desirable type. Being authentic with others always and everywhere seems like a good idea, even a fundamental right. But is this possible in business, particularly the service industry? What if you…

Earlier this month, Serbia experienced two separate mass shootings that killed more than a dozen people, including children. Serbia, a nation tied for the third highest rate of gun ownership in the world, was shaken by this violence: mass shootings are not a daily occurrence. It did not take long for the president, Aleksandar Vučić, to take action, announcing several measures to prevent further tragedy. These include a ban on new gun permits, tougher penalties for illegal weapons possession, psychological checks of gun owners and an amnesty for the surrender of illegal weapons. It only took two days for Serbia to act. Why, after more than 200 mass shootings in 2023 alone, has the United States failed to take similar sweeping action? Day after day, the US experiences senseless gun violence and yet…

What’s going on? As MoneyWeek went to press, the US federal government and Republicans in Congress remained locked in a stand-off over America’s self-imposed “debt ceiling” – the government’s borrowing limit (currently $31.4trn). The government actually hit the cap in January. Since then it has been using “extraordinary measures” to get round it (essentially fiscal accounting tools that curb certain government investments so that the bills continue to be paid). But now those measures have been exhausted and the point is close at which the US runs out of cash and can no longer issue new debt and pay its bills. The Biden administration wants the ceiling lifted; the Republicans (who have a majority in the House of Representatives) won’t agree unless they can extract political concessions and leverage over…

TO THE WEST OF OXFORD, NOT VERY FAR from the railway station and in the oddly-named Fridesewide Square, lies a fascinating building. Dating from the Edwardian era, its primary claim to fame is that it is where the peerless Frank Cooper’s Oxford marmalade was first produced. Subsequently, it has served as everything from an antiques market to its most recent incarnation as a bar, restaurant and arts space, bringing a touch of bohemian civilisation to a part of Oxford that often seems to have been neglected by the aesthetic. (Anyone who has shuddered and shivered through the station — a 1970s monstrosity that was revamped into a 1990s monstrosity that is now being rebuilt again — will know exactly what I mean.) The Jam Factory, as it was appropriately known,…

I'LL BE CELEBRATING my 53rd birthday this month, yet, as you saw at the Masters, I can still hang with the younger guys. My T2 at Augusta was helped by some solid short-game play, something I've always taken pride in. I got up-anddown 60 percent of the time during the Masters, even when I found the sand. And on Friday, I needed five fewer putts to complete my round compared to the field average. The things I typically do on short shots and putts are things any golfer can copy. If you're looking to save a few strokes here and there—and who isn't?—try the following four tips on for size. They've helped me since I first picked up a wedge more than four decades ago. I'm sure they'll help you too. Nail…

She was an indomitable force of nature, fierce, fearless and full of an energy that transformed raw talent into intoxicating performances for decades. But last week, after a long period of ill health, Tina Turner died of natural causes at her home in Switzerland, where she had lived with her second husband, Erwin Bach. She was 83. An inspiration to artists across the generations thanks to hits including What’s Love Got to Do With It and The Best, the “queen of rock’n’roll” was the subject of tributes from presidents, rock gods and fellow divas. ‘She paved the way for so many women in rock music, black and white’Gloria Gaynor Sir Elton John called her a “total legend on record and on stage”, while Sir Mick Jagger, who duetted with Tina at Live Aid in…

Index funds: Index funds are a popular option for long-term investors seeking exposure to a broad range of stocks or bonds. These funds track a market index, such as the S&P 500, and are typically low-cost and tax-efficient. An index fund in the USA is a type of investment fund that aims to replicate the performance of a specific stock market index, such as the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average. An index fund typically holds a portfolio of stocks that closely mirror the holdings and weighting of the index it is tracking. Index funds are passive investments, which means that they do not rely on active management by a portfolio manager or analyst. Instead, they are designed to provide broad market exposure and low-cost investing for individual investors. Index funds…

CHITOSE ABE, SACAI Karl used to say, “Fashion isn't art – it's business.” I've always thought about that as I've run Sacai. These days a designer's job isn't just about designing clothes, and that's something Karl saw way back when – he was like a fashion cyborg. He was a great designer from the start, but he was also good at fashioning his own image. When you think about Karl, it's the white shirt, a tie sometimes, and some hard-edged jewellery. I've tried to capture that – not to reproduce it, but to hybridise it in the Sacai style and turn it into an elegant dress. Worn by Amber Valletta. Junya Watanabe boots. GUCCI “My first Chanel show was the women's march show,” says Gigi Hadid, seen here in Gucci's tweed jacket embroidered with…

1 'THE MORE YOU TRAIN, THE BETTER THE RESULTS' Yes, you need to train hard and regularly, but doing too much too often is going to be counterproductive. If you’re new to working out, start with three sessions a week, to give your muscles time to recover - and grow - before training them again. Too little rest between sessions can result in overtraining, when you feel tired, fatigued and demotivated. You’re also more likely to suffer from injury. 2 'YOU CAN TURN FAT INTO MUSCLE' Fat and muscle are two totally different types of tissue, so it’s impossible for one to turn into the other. Muscle is active tissue that burns calories, while fat tissues store excess energy. When you train hard, it’s possible to burn fat and build muscle at the…

Session two... Since our first session together, I had thought a lot about Hazel. Her partner, Sarah*, had been diagnosed with a degenerative disease, their life together had changed, and they were both grieving the life they used to have. Hazel had left the last session fired up about doing some coaching exercises with her partner; I just hoped that Sarah had responded to this idea with enthusiasm. As soon as Hazel arrived, I suspected that things had not gone well. She looked tired and deflated. I asked her gently, ‘How are you arriving today?’ Hazel looked up at me briefly and then put her head in her hands and sobbed. I sat quietly, only moving to hand her a box of tissues. “Coaching whilst walking offers a lovely alternative to sitting in a…