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Most Common Kitchen Accessories Everyone Should Have

The plastic storage boxes kitchen is the core of any home, and having the right instruments and embellishments can make preparing and dinner readiness a breeze. From the plastic water jugs to the more specific contraptions, there are a couple houseware items that each home cook ought to have in their stockpile.

It is entirely reasonable for a carefully prepared culinary specialist or simply beginning in the kitchen; having the right gear can save you time and exertion and make your feasts taste far better. In this blog entry, we’ll investigate the most well-known web-based kitchen extras everybody ought to have in their kitchen, so you can be ready to make a truckload of amazing food at whatever point hunger strikes.

Bistro Box

The Bistro Box is a flexible and helpful capacity compartment that actions 22 × 14 × 4 cm in aspect. It’s intended to keep food and other little things coordinated and secure, whether you’re preparing a lunch or putting away extras. The Bistro Box comes in four lively varieties: Blue, Green, Red, and Yellow, making it simple to distinguish your box in a packed ice chest or storeroom.

Its solid development and snap-lock top guarantee that your food remains new and safeguarded. The minimized size of the Bistro Box makes it ideal for taking in a hurry or putting away in a little space. Be that as it may, perusing the maker’s guidelines for explicit cleaning suggestions before kitchen frill web based shopping is significant.

Bread Box

A bread box is a conventional kitchen holder intended to store bread and other prepared merchandise. It assists with keeping bread new for longer by shielding it from air and dampness, and it likewise assists with forestalling mold and other decay. Bread boxes arrive in various sizes, shapes, and materials, however they are regularly made of wood or metal. Some bread boxes highlight an air vent or ventilation openings to permit air course and forestall buildup.

Others have a pivoted cover or a sliding top for simple access. Bread boxes serve a reasonable capability as well as be an in vogue expansion to your kitchen stylistic layout. Whether you incline toward a work of art, classic plan or a cutting edge, moderate style, a bread box is an unquestionable necessity for any home pastry specialist or bread sweetheart.

LEIDO Plate Rack

The LEIDO Plate Rack is a smooth and practical stockpiling answer for your kitchen. Its moderate plan is created from excellent treated steel, making it strong and durable. The plate rack can oblige up to eight plates, with a skewed plan that takes into consideration simple access and perceivability. The LEIDO Plate Rack is likewise furnished with a seepage plate, which assists with keeping your plates dry and forestalls water stains from framing.

The rack’s conservative size makes it ideal for little kitchens or those with restricted counter space. It’s basic and present day plan supplements any kitchen stylistic layout and the rack is not difficult to clean and keep up with. By and large, the LEIDO Plate Rack is a jazzy and useful expansion to any kitchen, offering a helpful and practical method for sorting out and store your plates.

Correcting Errors of Principle in Accounting

Accounting mistakes occur. It’s just the way things are and how businesses operate. Reconciliations on a regular basis are an important part of the solution. You can learn a lot about best aat accounting training accounting errors that affect account balances by using a trial balance. It is more difficult to identify errors that sneak in without affecting ledger balances. They might not be discovered for weeks, months, or even after an audit, in some cases.

Employing a qualified and experienced bookkeeper is the most effective method for avoiding accounting errors. An experienced bookkeeper is aware of all the sources of errors and employs tried-and-true methods to avoid making mistakes in their work.

Likewise called an information blunder, this mistake happens when the genuine worth of the section isn’t presented on the right record. A $700 purchase of office chairs, for instance, is deducted from the office expense account rather than the purchase account.

Accounting Error Correction

A financial transaction that is not recorded in the company’s accounting records is an accounting error. There are two common subtypes of this kind of error:

a complete oversight, as the bookkeeper did not record the transaction at all.
A partial omission: only one side of the ledger has been used to record the transaction. When goods were sold on credit, an accounts receivable account that was not debited is partially omitted in the illustration below.

Correcting Commission Errors Commission errors are also known as clerical errors. It occurs when the ledger contains an incorrect value. For instance, the bookkeeper entered a product sale for $300 rather than the actual value of $3,000 into the system.

You must first reverse the incorrect amount before entering the correct amount to correct a commission error. The commission error can be seen in the first two rows of the illustration below. The reversing entries and then the correct entries appear in the subsequent two rows.

Correcting Compensating Errors Compensating errors occur when two errors in separate accounts come to a balance. For instance, your company paid $500 to George for a product and $800 to Tom for raw materials. However, your bookkeeper recorded the purchase to George’s account and the sale to Tom’s account. The ledgers remained in balance at the conclusion of the day, but the values were credited and debited to the wrong accounts.

How do you spot errors of this kind? George will most likely send you an email asking you to send him a receipt for $800 when he hasn’t sold you anything. What’s more, you’ll most certainly get a call from Tom inquiring as to why you sent him a bill for $500 when he hadn’t purchased a single thing from you.

Correcting Original Entry Errors In an original entry error, the bookkeeper mistyped the entry’s value, such as reversing two numbers.

To address a blunder of unique section, turn around the wrong exchange and afterward record the exchange with the right worth.

Correcting Complete Entry Reversals When a credit is entered as a debit and a debit as a credit, an error of reversal occurs. For example, a $400 receipt shipped off a client is input in creditor liabilities rather than money due.

Furnishings suitable for luxury conservatories

Centers with its furniture assortments, can deal with both the plan of the colder time of year nursery and inside decorations by putting a great many components available to the client.

For instance, Samuele Mazza’s “Outdoor Light Collection” gives the room a classically elegant glow thanks to technological and decorative creations in which light and matter blend and complement one another.

Suspensions, wall fixtures, floor and arc lamps, and lampposts: everything is intended to finish the furniture proposition in a planned manner and make amicable contemporary extravagance, for an uncommon complete outside look.

The scenic floor lamp Sun, which is made of iron treated for outdoor use and produced and distributed, has a lot of scenic value and can add a touch of class and originality to its environment in terms of lighting.

As with any other piece of furniture from the outdoor collection, the suggested lamp solutions are all meticulously handcrafted, ensuring an extremely elegant decorative effect and serving as a symbol of undisputed excellence.

Among the radiant components, notwithstanding the lights, there is likewise a pot grower segment that offers objects of extraordinary appeal that permit you to have plants and enlighten the climate simultaneously.

However, when it comes to the furniture, a table made of varnished iron rods with special metal finishes and surrounded by chairs with velvet-covered cushions is a luxurious idea that goes perfectly with a luxurious conservatory. Yucca is the name of the set that will be discussed. It is a part of one of the options that Samuele Mazza’s “Demetra” collection offers to customers looking for a dining room with a great personality.

This group of open air furniture comprises of tables and seats, as well as easy chairs, couches and tables, with proportioned lines and uncommon completions.

In Samuele Mazza’s “Siderale” collection, in addition to iron components, numerous synthetic rattan products give life to lavish and elegant accessories. In addition to the standard pieces of furniture like chairs, armchairs, and so on, The bioethanol fireplace is one of the special items in the product range. If this item is placed inside a high-end Birmingham Timber windows conservatory, it will create a warm and inviting atmosphere as well as an extremely refined and sophisticated setting that will be noticed.

No matter which model is selected or where the installation takes place, every component of the Samuele Mazza collection provides unparalleled comfort. Furthermore, the collection’s components can be customized in terms of size and feature thanks to the craftsmanship.

Lastly, the Samuele Mazza Outdoor Collection’s “Orangerie” collection is the best option for customers who prefer natural materials. The manual interweaving of materials like rattan and wicker is the result of patient and meticulous work.

The entire selection is characterized by a keen attention to detail, with antique materials like rattan and wicker giving objects an elegant appearance and spectacular, one-of-a-kind pieces like the sophisticated Shaula armchair and the majestic Aldebaran armchair providing a glamorous and timeless style for a true luxury conservatory.

Start planning a peaceful haven for your clients

At this time, a luxury conservatory can really meet any request and serve any purpose. It lets in a lot of natural light, connects you to nature, and has all the benefits of an indoor space.

You can begin construction of the luxurious conservatory that your clients have always desired, enhancing their outdoor space, with the provided individualized design service.

Not just in light of the fact that they will get an additional liveable and agreeable climate lasting through the year, yet additionally for the appeal of these designs, imagined comparable to the climate, the current development and their requirements, complete with everything about solace.

The proposed “La casa dei limoni” collection offers a brand-new perspective on the winter garden theme. The charming iron and glass work will be brought to life by a play of chromatic colors, styles, lines, decorations, shadows, and lights that the client will experience.

The customer can create their own unique solution by combining the characteristics of each style with those of the models in the collection.

You should simply choose, with the client, how to utilize the space and afterward outfit the climate in like manner.

With the infinite possibilities provided by personalization, the three collections that Samuele Mazza has proposed can make it simpler for you to select interior accessories, resulting in a refined and timeless environment.

WordPress automatic blogging with Midjourney – CyberSEO Pro



Users of CyberSEO Pro and RSS Retriever plugins have justifiably expressed dissatisfaction with the image quality generated by AI services like DALL-E and Stable Diffusion, pointing out that Midjourney currently leads the field in this area. This consensus makes it exciting to introduce a new feature available from CyberSEO Pro 11.000 and RSS Retriever 1.050 that now allows users to generate images for autoblogs using the Midjourney service!

It’s important to note that Midjourney does not offer a public API for integrating its AI image generator with third-party applications. Therefore, the only method available for its use is through external services. After exploring various options, we have chosen to partner with GoAPI.ai, which offers access to Midjourney through a functional API at very attractive rates.

GoAPI.ai offers two usage plans:

  • Bring-Your-Own-Account (BYOA): If you already have an active Discord account with access to Midjourney, you can use it for automatic image generation via GoAPI.ai’s API for a fixed monthly subscription fee of just $10.
  • Pay-Per-Use (PPU): If you don’t have a Midjourney account on Discord, you can use GoAPI.ai’s API in the same way as any other AI service, paying for each generated image at the following rates:
    • Mixed Mode: $0.015 per image task
    • Fast Mode: $0.045 per image task
    • Turbo Mode: $0.1 per image task

It’s important to understand that the process of generating each image involves two distinct stages:

  1. Imagine: This step generates a preview consisting of four images.
  2. Upscale: The next step creates a full-size image based on one of the four previews, randomly selected. This is because the plugins operate in a non-interactive, automatic mode.

As a result, the final cost of generating each image will exceed the imagine task price listed on the GoAPI.ai website.
We have evaluated other services, such as MyMidjourney.ai, which offer significantly higher rates. Consequently, they have not been supported at this stage. However, this does not mean they will not be integrated into CyberSEO Pro and RSS Retriever in the future as alternative Midjourney API providers. This openness to incorporating other services promises more flexibility and options for users in their content generation efforts.

Image generation via the Midjourney service is seamlessly supported by plugins through both standard methods: the “Media Enrichment” settings panel and a specialized shortcode for post templates, which is formatted as follows:

[midjourney prompt="your Midjourney prompt" provider="API service provider" process_mode="image generation mode" aspect_ratio="aspect ratio" name="alt image name in the post" class="desired CSS class"]

he only mandatory parameter is prompt, with all other parameters being optional and can be omitted. Here is a detailed description of each:

  • prompt: A text description of the image to be generated.
  • provider: The name of the API service provider. Currently, as Midjourney is only accessible via GoAPI.ai, this parameter can only take the value “goapi” or be omitted.
  • process_mode: This parameter can be set to “lazy”, “fast” (the default), or “turbo”.
  • aspect_ratio: Sets the aspect ratio for the generated image, with the default being “16:9”.
  • name: The text to be used as the alt attribute for the generated image in your post. The default value is “%post_title%”.
  • class: The CSS class name for the image in your post, with the default being “center”.

Examples of using the [midjourney] shortcode in a post template:

[midjourney prompt="gangster outside the corner store, Grand Theft Auto GTA5 style art"]
[midjourney prompt="an image for a blog post on the topic '%post_title%'" aspect_ratio="1:1"]

These functionalities offer a flexible way to enrich your posts with high-quality, AI-generated images, allowing for a wide range of creative expressions tailored to your content’s specific needs.
There’s probably no need to include examples of images created with Midjourney in this article. Midjourney has become the top-recommended service for generating images for your newly created or modified articles. It’s worth noting that in the latest versions of the CyberSEO Pro and RSS Retriever plugins, within the Media Enrichment settings menu, there’s an option to “replace the first image.” This feature allows the replacement of the first image in an imported article with one created by AI. This functionality is particularly beneficial for those importing articles from external content sources.

After providing a brief overview of this new feature, it seems appropriate to offer a practical guide on obtaining a Discord token for use in the BYOA (Bring-Your-Own-Account) plan settings to access the GoAPI API.

How to get your Discord token

You should understand that by providing your Discord token (as well as tokens for other social networks like Instagram, Facebook, etc.) to third-party services like GoAPI.ai, you are granting them access to your account. In doing so, you assume full responsibility for any consequences. Therefore, it is advisable not to use your primary account for these purposes and instead create a special dedicated account for this. If you do not trust a given third-party service, the best option for you would be to use the Pay-Per-Use (PPU) plan, which does not expose your personal Discord account to any potential risks.

A Discord token serves as a cryptographic identifier for your Discord account, created at the time of account setup. It’s a unique alphanumeric string that functions as an authorization code, facilitating access to Discord’s servers and validating the actions you perform on the platform. This token is vital for various integrations, including with GoAPI.ai, providing a secure method to authenticate and communicate with Discord’s API.

  1. Navigate to Discord in a web browser. Use the direct link provided to open Discord and select “Open Discord in your browser” to proceed.
  2. Enter your Discord credentials to log in. Ensure the login process is completed through a web browser.
  3. Once logged in, activate the Developer Tools by pressing “Ctrl” + “Shift” + “I” on your keyboard. Mac users should use Option+Cmd+I. Refresh the page (F5) after the developer tools appear.
  4. Within the Developer Tools, find and click on the “Network” tab. Refresh Discord by pressing “F5”.
  5. In the Network tab’s filter box, type “/api” to filter for Discord APIs. Select “Library” from the filtered results.
  6. In the header section of the selected “Library“, find the “Authorization” line which contains your Discord token. Copy this token for your use.

ChromeGetting Discord token in Chrome

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Getting Discord token in Firefox



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Crunch the Numbers:New Data on Student Wellbeing, the Skills Gap Crisis, and Tech Usage in Utah


The Social Institute, whose mission is to empower millions of students to navigate their social world — including social media and technology — in positive, healthy, and high-character ways, released its 2024 Student Insights Report: How Social Media, Tech, and Current Events Impact Student Well-Being. This report reflects insights shared by more than 29,000 students in TSI’s Annual Student Survey and more than one million responses from its K-12 collaborative learning platform, #WinAtSocial — making it the largest data set of its kind, spanning grades 3 – 12 in schools across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico.

Each year, The Social Institute asks students nationwide to share insights into trending apps, positive ways to navigate common but complex social situations, everyday challenges faced online and off, and what adults should know about well-being, social media, and technology. Educators can use the insights to gain a deeper understanding of their students, helping them to improve school culture and community well-being.

Among this year’s key findings:

  • The majority of students are getting their first smartphone at 11 years old
  • 73% of students say social media is the most popular way to get news
  • 87% of 9th – 12th graders say social media helps them explore hobbies and interests
  • 60% of 6th – 8th graders say that social media helps them learn social skills
  • 61% of 3rd – 5th graders say social media helps them do well in school

“These insights are invaluable for educators, because the better you understand students, the more effectively you can empower them to navigate their social world — including social media and technology — to fuel their health, happiness, and future success,” said Laura Tierney, Founder and CEO of The Social Institute. “As a team of digital natives and educators, we have seen first-hand how this ever-changing, complex world of technology impacts students.”

Other key student findings include:

  • 48 percent of 6th-grade students said they would speak up if a family member is using their phone while driving
  • 49 percent of 7th-grade students say they feel the need to respond to a text within 10 minutes of receiving it, or even sooner
  • 64 percent of 10th-grade students say their social media profile genuinely reflects who they are

The survey also asked students how they would respond to certain situations on social media, such as dealing with explicit content and navigating mean behavior in group chats. To learn more and view the full 2024 Report, including more insights, visit https://app.hubspot.com/documents/7235441/view/723211956?accessId=cf7165.


YouScience®, the leading technology provider dedicated to solving the skills gap crisis for students and employers, and Black Girls Do STEM, a 501c3 nonprofit organization empowering Black girls to achieve equitable Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) representation, today announced the release of the 2024 Black Students and STEM Report. This new report reveals that Black students across the nation possess the aptitudes for in-demand STEM careers, but lack interest in pursuing them. This indicates that a significant career exposure gap exists, likely due to underrepresentation in STEM careers. 

The career exposure gap is measured by the difference between a student’s aptitudes and interests, and identifies which careers a student hasn’t been exposed to and which ones might be a good fit. Most notably, the 2024 Black Students and STEM Report found:

  • A 75% exposure gap in Advanced Manufacturing
  • A 57% exposure gap in Health Science
  • A 56% exposure gap in Finance
  • A 53% exposure gap in Architecture & Construction
  • A 51% exposure gap in Computers & Technology

The 2024 Black Students and STEM Report combines data from YouScience and Black Girls Do STEM to highlight Black student career exposure gaps for in-demand STEM careers and the importance of programs that address the gaps. The report analyzed anonymized data from 328,000 Black U.S. middle and high school students who took YouScience’s Aptitude and Career Discovery tool from 2019 to 2023. This is the only scientifically-backed tool to apply computerized performance measures of aptitudes, interests, and AI-powered algorithms to activities that help identify best-fit career matches of all students, regardless of race or gender.

Historically, there has been limited Black representation in STEM-related fields. As of 2021, 9% of the STEM workforce was Black, which was an increase from 7% in 2011. While this growth is positive, new solutions are needed to help Black students explore STEM-related education and careers earlier.

“As a Black woman in STEM, I have seen first-hand the lack of representation for women, especially Black women, in these in-demand career fields.  However, I have long felt that the solution to this lies within redefining education for Black students through access to identity affirming informal learning environments; so they understand the full scope of their aptitudes, and also the full scope of what careers are possible.” said Cynthia Chapple, Founder and CEO of Black Girls Do STEM. “Working with YouScience has confirmed that notion by truly showcasing the possibilities for our students based on their unique, individual aptitudes.”

While both Black male and female students have aptitude for STEM careers, the report found that significant exposure gaps exist for female students in particular:

  • 88% more Black female students have an aptitude for careers in Advanced Manufacturing than interest
  • 73% more Black female students have more aptitude for careers in Computers & Technology than interest
  • 72% more Black female students have an aptitude for careers in Architecture & Construction than interest

“For decades, Black students have encountered inequities that have impacted their pathways in education and then career. It’s imperative to recognize that Black students possess the aptitude for all STEM careers, but the glaring exposure gap remains a formidable challenge due to resource deficiencies and lack of representation. By bridging the exposure gaps and doing so earlier in education, society can help Black students understand all of the opportunities available to them and connect them with education and career pathways and programs that can foster even more skills and understanding,” said Edson Barton, Founder and CEO of YouScience. “One of the most notable programs helping to bridge the gap for students is Black Girls Do STEM. This organization and Cynthia Chapple are working diligently to provide female students with the opportunity to learn, create and build confidence in their abilities to pursue STEM careers.”

To access the complete findings from the 2024 Black Students and STEM Report as well as recommendations from YouScience and Black Girls Do STEM on how to address the career exposure gaps in STEM, click here.


Connected Nation (CN) has partnered with Utah Education Network (UEN) to release the fifth iteration of the Utah School Technology Inventory, a statewide report that compiles critical data about technology usage and gaps in UEN schools. The national nonprofit has collaborated with UEN for nearly a decade to track how technology is used in Utah’s school districts and charter schools, and the access teachers and students have to digital materials, devices and platforms. The inventory once again had a 100% participation rate.

“Starting in 2015 through 2023, UEN’s partnership with Connected Nation has conducted these inventories in the fall every other year,” said UEN Senior Project Manager Cory Stokes. “Completing these inventories helps leaders at the state, district and school levels make better decisions based on data to improve, enhance and support technology in education.”

UEN chose the nonprofit to develop the data collection portal and lead the inventory effort. They collected more than 82,600 data points, representing 1,034 schools across Utah. The final report provides a comprehensive summary of the Utah school system and an overview page for every school district and charter school in the state.

“School districts use these reports to determine how they are currently using technology funds to support their students and teachers,” said Stokes. “The data provides and accounts for how technology is supporting and helping to meet the needs of students and teachers in public education.”

The inventory found that, statewide, 7 out of 10 schools (70%) report that they deploy mobile learning devices such as laptop or tablet computers to students on a 1:1 basis. 

Other key findings include:

  • Device-to-student ratio increased since 2015 but remain the same between the 2021 and 2023.
  • Google Chromebooks remain the most popular computing device for students, with schools reporting that more than 594,000 Chromebooks are made available to students statewide.
  • Nearly 2 out of 5 Utah schools (38%) offer mobile learning devices on a 1:1 basis and allow students to take those devices home, maintaining a similar rate from 2021 (39%).

“UEN’s focus has always been to provide equitable network services and resources to all students in Utah, regardless of where they live, how they participate in school and how they most effectively learn,” said Stokes. “This was all made possible through the School Technology Inventory report.” 

Read the 2023 Utah School Technology Inventory Report.

About the Utah Education Network: UEN is part of the Utah Education and Telehealth Network (UETN), which connects all Utah school districts, schools, and higher education institutions to a robust network and quality educational resources. UEN is one of the nation’s premier education networks.

About Connected Nation: The national nonprofit’s mission is to improve lives by providing innovative solutions that expand access, adoption and use of high-speed internet and its related technology to all people. They work with consumers, local community leaders, states, technology providers and foundations to develop and implement technology expansion programs with core competencies centered on a mission to improve digital inclusion for people and places previously underserved or overlooked. For more information, please visit connectednation.org.

Kevin Hogan
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Capri Denies Search for Michael Kors Successor Underway


Capri Holdings chairman and chief executive officer John Idol on Wednesday firmly denied a WWD report that a search for a successor to Michael Kors is being considered.

In a statement, Idol said, “Michael Kors is and will remain the chief creative officer of his namesake company. His vision is essential to our success. Any information to the contrary is incorrect.”

In a separate statement to Capri staff, obtained by WWD, Idol added, “This morning WWD published an article that suggested we are seeking a successor for Michael Kors. This information is not true and we have issued the below press statement to address and correct any misconceptions the article may have created. Michael continues to lead the creative vision of our company with great enthusiasm.”

The article was focused around the planned retirement of Dries Van Noten and how brands are beginning to think of succession strategies for designers in the longer term rather than immediately replacing them or waiting them to suddenly depart. Van Noten’s company was acquired by Puig in 2018 and at that time he had informed the Spanish group that he would stay for another five years. His last show for the brand he founded in Antwerp will be the men’s spring 2025 collection, which will be shown in Paris in June. The women’s spring 2025 collection will be designed by his studio team.



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Where to get images for an autoblog? – CyberSEO Pro


In our tutorial articles, we’ve thoroughly explored the process of creating high-quality articles for your autoblog using CyberSEO Pro and RSS Retriever plugins. These tools offer the ability to generate informative and engaging WordPress posts of virtually any size, using advanced technologies like OpenAI GPT-4, Google Gemini Pro, and Anthropic Claude. However, beyond compelling textual content with rich HTML formatting, no article is complete without graphic images. This time, we’ll delve into this aspect.

To enrich AI-generated posts with images, there are four main methods: importing full-size images from Pixabay, sourcing them through Google Images search results (Creative Commons license), creating them with AI models like Stable Diffusion and DALL-E, and using images from a pre-prepared collection of graphic files. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the nuances of using shortcodes for each specific method.

Pixabay

When you plan to incorporate images from Pixabay.com into your articles, it’s important to ensure the search phrase used by the plugin is as informative and accurate as possible. A WordPress post title, especially something as specific as “Python performance optimization,” will not serve well as this phrase. Pixabay’s search engine simply won’t find relevant images for such a specific article title.

Therefore, you should manually select a list of key phrases that closely match the category of posts you’re generating. To allow the plugin to import random images for several options at once, incorporate Spintax in your shortcode. For instance, if your posts revolve around Python programming tutorials, your Pixabay image import shortcode could look like this:

[pixabay q="{python|programming|computer code}" orientation="horizontal"]

Pay attention to the orientation parameter to specify the desired orientation of the images. Moreover, if you prefer to import exclusively illustrations or photographs, you can refine your search by adding the image_type parameter to your [pixabay] shortcode, clearly indicating the type of images you need. Such a shortcode can bring a wealth of relevant, free images to your Python programming article. Here are a few examples of the types of images that can be imported from Pixabay using “{python|programming|computer code}”:

computer code

python

Google Image Search

Using images from Google Image Search results provides an opportunity to diversify the key phrases you use. Often, the title of a post (placeholder %post_title%) can be sufficient for finding a relevant image for your article. For instance, Google Images will likely yield results for a key phrase like “Python performance optimization”. However, the relevance of the found images might not always meet your expectations. It’s important to note that the CyberSEO Pro and RSS Retriever plugins do not permit the import of all images found via Google Image Search due to potential copyright restrictions. Only images available under the Creative Commons license can be used, and their availability on the internet is quite limited.

In the context of Google Image Search, entrusting the selection of key phrases to artificial intelligence proves to be the most efficient strategy. This can be achieved by using special placeholders %gpt_keywords% (%gpt_keywords_en% for searches in English) and %gpt_keyphrase% (%gpt_keyphrase_en% for searches in English). When these placeholders are detected in your post template, the plugin employs OpenAI’s GPT to analyze the content of your article and identify the most relevant keywords and phrases for describing an image that matches the article’s theme. Here’s an example of how to combine the placeholders %random_image[]% (the plugin will replace it with the URL of the found image) and %gpt_keyphrase_en% to insert a relevant image from Google Image Search results into your article:

<img class="aligncenter" src="https://www.cyberseo.net/blog/where-to-get-images-for-autoblog/%random_image[%gpt_keyphrase_en%]%" alt="%post_title%" />

This approach ensures a more targeted and effective integration of images into your content, enhancing the visual appeal and relevance of your articles.

Stable Diffusion

While the previously mentioned methods focus on importing existing, non-unique images, using the AI model Stable Diffusion ensures complete originality and uniqueness of the generated images. The CyberSEO Pro and RSS Retriever plugins integrate with the Stable Diffusion API from Stability AI, offering access to their server computational power for a modest fee. This enables the generation of high-quality images using the advanced Stable Diffusion XL model.

This approach allows for the creation of graphic images from scratch, in any style and on virtually any given topic. All that is required is a clear description of what you want to achieve and in which style. Thus, Stable Diffusion is suitable for generating unique images based on specific prompts and Spintax, similar to the process for importing Pixabay images, as well as using AI-selected keyphrase titles derived from article text analysis. For example:

[stable_diffusion text="{orbital space station|spaceship launch|astronauts exploring an unknown planet}"]

and

[stable_diffusion text="%gpt_keyphrase_en%"]

Furthermore, the Stable Diffusion prompt interpreter is intelligent enough to generate realistic images for articles describing tangible objects. Therefore, if your blog is about cooking, pets, or travel, generating quality images for your articles based on their titles alone can be easily accomplished with a simple shortcode like:

[stable_diffusion text="%post_title%"]

An image generated for the post title “The role of omega-3 fatty acids in dogs’ diets”:

The role of omega-3 fatty acids in dogs' diets

Another one for the post title “Greek yogurt marinated grilled chicken”:

Greek yogurt marinated grilled chicken

This method not only enhances the visual appeal of your content with unique and relevant imagery but also supports a wide range of themes and subjects, making it a versatile tool for content creators seeking to enrich their articles with visually compelling graphics. Don’t forget that with Stable Diffusion XL you can set different drawing styles using the style_preset parameter.

DALL-E

OpenAI’s DALL-E 3 AI model is a pricier yet more versatile alternative to Stable Diffusion. OpenAI markets DALL-E 3 as a model with unparalleled precision in prompt interpretation, leveraging the GPT-4 language model for analyzing prompts. DALL-E 3 is designed to generate high-quality images based on article titles, supplemented with clarifying text instructions. Here’s an example of a shortcode using the article title.

[dalle model="dall-e-3" prompt="Create a symbolic representation inspired by the central theme of an article on the topic of '%post_title%', focusing on universal symbols associated with the subject matter. For instance, for a legal decision, an image of a balanced scale or a gavel; for a culinary piece, an illustration related to the dish being discussed; and for articles on nature or animals, an abstract or stylized depiction of the relevant flora or fauna." size="1792x1024"]

For the post title “100 best health tips to help you live well,” the result might be as follows:

100 best health tips to help you live well

Additionally, your prompt can utilize DALL-E 3’s ability to depict textual inscriptions.

[dalle model="dall-e-3" prompt="Draw a painted billboard on a building in a modern city that says '%post_title%'" size="1792x1024"]

Here’s an example of the output for the post title “City Cave Float & Wellness Center ventures into US market”:

City Cave Float & Wellness Center ventures into US market

However, these features are often overshadowed by the reality diverging from OpenAI’s marketing promises. The DALL-E 3 API is more than ten times more expensive than the Stable Diffusion XL API (when using the API from Stability.AI), with its most significant issue being a paranoid level of censorship. As a result, even prompts designed to avoid potential issues on “sensitive” topics can lead to errors, indicating a violation of OpenAI’s internal policy if the article title contains stop phrases like “war,” “Trump,” “Elon Musk,” etc. This highlights the challenges in balancing innovative image generation capabilities with the constraints imposed by censorship policies.

Pre-created random images

The last method we’re exploring today is a simple yet highly effective approach based on using random files from a pre-created set of images. With services like Midjourney, Leonardo, etc., available today, you can create libraries of several hundred quality, unique images in just a couple of hours. This quantity should suffice to supply your autoblog with quality illustrations for its articles.

You might wonder if having a thousand posts on your site and only a hundred or so unique images for them would lead to repetition. And yes, the same images will indeed appear in different articles periodically.

But ask yourself this: is that really a significant issue? Most site visitors arrive from search engine links, landing on specific articles. It’s unlikely a visitor who opens an article will decide to read every single piece on your site. And if they do, will they notice or even care about occasionally repeated images?

The primary criterion will, of course, be the article’s text quality and informativeness. However, the quality of the images can also influence visitor behavior. It goes without saying that many web surfers will close an article without reading its content if they see a poorly AI-generated image with a person having three arms and another head protruding from their back. Such articles will have a high bounce rate, which Google will certainly not overlook.

Only by creating and manually selecting your image set can you avoid such pitfalls. If you want your autoblog to achieve good SERP positions, don’t underestimate the importance of image quality in your articles.

After creating what you consider a sufficient number of eye-catching images, upload them to a folder on your server. For example, in a subdirectory within /wp-content/images/ of your WordPress site, and use the absolute server path to it as an argument in the %random_file[]% placeholder. To do this, you only need to insert one line into your post template, looking something like this:

<img class="aligncenter" src="https://www.cyberseo.net/blog/where-to-get-images-for-autoblog/%random_file[/var/web/data/www/mysite.com/wp-content/images]%" alt="%post_title%" />

The above is just an example; your server path will differ. To find the exact path, open the “General Settings” page of CyberSEO Pro and look for the “WordPress root directory” text field. That is the absolute path to your WordPress site’s main subdirectory on the server.

Imagine each article you generate in the feed belongs to a specific category, such as oceans, rivers, and lakes. Accordingly, you have a subdirectory on the server for each of these categories with relevant images:

/var/web/data/www/mysite.com/wp-content/images/oceans/
/var/web/data/www/mysite.com/wp-content/images/rivers/
/var/web/data/www/mysite.com/wp-content/images/lakes/

In this case, you can use the %categories% placeholder as part of the argument string for the %random_file[]% placeholder. Then your tag for inserting a random image could look like this:

<img class="aligncenter" src="https://www.cyberseo.net/blog/where-to-get-images-for-autoblog/%random_file[/var/web/data/www/mysite.com/wp-content/images/%categories%/]%" alt="%post_title%" />

The quality of images in your articles should not be underestimated. It’s the first thing your reader sees and could be the reason a page is closed before they even read the first sentence. Surely, a high bounce rate is not what you’re aiming for?

WordPress Autoblogging: OpenAI GPT-4 vs Google Gemini Pro vs Anthropic Claude



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U.S. Senate and White House Honor ‘National Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Week’ with Bipartisan Resolution, Presidential Letter


CHICAGO – This week, the U.S. Senate introduced a bipartisan resolution designating March 4-8, 2024 as ‘‘National Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Week’’ to recognize the critical role SEL plays in supporting the academic success and overall well-being of students, educators, and families. The resolution was introduced by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) and Susan Collins (R-ME). 

President Joe Biden also recognized “National SEL Week” in a letter this week underscoring the importance of SEL to support the academic, social, emotional, and mental well-being of students that were a critical part of the Biden Administration’s two signature legislative achievements—the American Rescue Plan Act and the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. 

This second annual “National SEL Week” comes at a critical time for students’ academic recovery and social and emotional development. With COVID-relief funds ending, education leaders are increasingly seeking sound, evidence-based investments in students’ learning and development. 

A robust body of evidence demonstrates the effectiveness of SEL on academic outcomes. A 2023 meta-analysis led by Yale University reviewed more than 400 studies and found that students participating in SEL at school had higher “school functioning,” including grades, test scores, attendance, homework completion, and engagement. The research further demonstrates that SEL creates better conditions for learning as it found students saw decreases in aggression and bullying, anxiety, stress, depression, suicidality;  felt safer at schools, and reported higher levels of inclusion, connectedness and healthy relationships.

Statement from U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) 

“In America, we are facing a national youth mental health crisis, with children facing trauma and significant stress at home, in the community, and in school settings. We must focus on social and emotional learning to help students succeed both inside and outside the classroom. That begins with providing teachers with the tools needed to help students develop life skills. I’m introducing this resolution to designate this week as National Social and Emotional Learning Week and raise awareness around the need to support students’ social and emotional well-being.”

Statement from U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME)

“Every child deserves a learning environment that is welcoming and enriching. By showing students how to develop their empathy skills, express themselves, and respect others, social and emotional learning can help students achieve academic success, build strong relationships, and prepare for a lifetime of success.”

Statement from CASEL President & CEO Dr. Aaliyah A. Samuel

​​“We find ourselves in the aftermath of a global pandemic, in the wake of a youth mental health crisis and ongoing academic recovery. Social and emotional learning has never been more important to help address the challenges facing our students, and this bipartisan resolution demonstrates our nation’s shared commitment to the learning and well-being of all students. I want to thank Senators Durbin and Collins for their leadership, and call on leaders across the country to follow the evidence and support students’ academic, social and emotional needs.”

Celebrating National SEL Week 2024

Across the country, there is overwhelming support and demand for social and emotional learning (SEL). Young people, educators, families, business leaders, and others are focused on the critical skills and environments needed for academic success, healthy relationships, and brighter futures. National SEL Week is a time to come together in support of our nation’s students and showcase the powerful combination of support and evidence for SEL, culminating with International SEL Day on March 8. 

This year’s celebrations for National SEL Week and International SEL Day focused on Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s Leaders. To see how some districts are celebrating, check out this video from North Carolina and this story from New Jersey. 

CASEL is a nonpartisan, nonprofit that founded the field of social and emotional learning. Today, we collaborate with leading experts and districts, schools, and states nationwide to drive research, guide practice, and inform policy. https://casel.org/

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Cult Gaia Opens Fifth Store in the Miami Design District


Last year, Cult Gaia opened its first store, settling on Melrose Place in West Hollywood, Calif.

Now, following several months of major retail expansion, the contemporary brand is launching its fifth location with its newest boutique in the Miami Design District.

Los Angeles designer Jasmin Larian Hekmat, who launched the resort-influenced womenswear label in 2012, did a test run in the Miami shopping area with a pop-up store. “That pop-up store in the Miami Design District did very well. I mean, the sun is always shining in Miami,” the designer and entrepreneur said. “My soul lies under eternal sunshine, and there’s nowhere better for that than Miami.”

The sun plays a large part in the new store’s 1,500-square-foot interior. Two of the three rooms have domes and within each dome are 7-foot-wide frameless oculi that allow light to flood in. Under one oculus stands a 12-foot-tall concrete sculpture of an elongated Giacometti-like female nude created by Hekmat’s mother, artist Angela Larian. Underneath the second oculus is a 14-foot-tall Banyan tree surrounded by a serpentine sofa designed by Brandi Howe.

The Banyan tree is a reflection of an outside mural dominated by a Tree of Life of blue-and-white handmade tiles created by South African artist Michael Chandler. The mural with 1,800 pieces portrays the Garden of Eden and images of nine goddesses. “I feel this mural is something where you could just sit outside forever and continue to see something,” Hekmat said. “It brings us full circle with the name Gaia, the goddess of Mother Earth and the daughter of chaos.”

The Banyon tree in the Cult Gaia store in Miami. Photo by Kris Tamburello.

Kris Tamburello

Walk through the store’s arched entrance and you will be greeted by a saying that wishes good fortune upon all those who enter: “May all the doors of the world always be open to you.” It is a phrase that Hekmat heard often from her Persian grandmother when she was growing up.

The A-frame outpost opened Monday with Cult Gaia’s spring collection of blazers, trenchcoats, cutout details in tops and dresses and mini and maxidresses with plenty of earth tones. There are also handbags, shoes and jewelry.

Hekmat said she strives to create beautiful heirloom pieces that will live in closets forever. “When I’m designing, I wonder what it will look like when it’s secondhand. That really informs my principles,” said the designer who wants to incorporate longevity into her creations. “I always wonder what it’s going to look like at the bottom of a box or in its worst state. It has to look beautiful.”

Beauty has always been the driving force. As a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, she started making goddess-inspired flower crowns for friends as a hobby. Those flower crowns morphed into the Ark bag, an airy half-moon-shaped bamboo handbag that grew to become a must-have among Instagram influencers.

Creativity is a tradition in Hekmat’s family. Her father, Isaac Larian, immigrated from Iran in the early 1970s at 17 with $750 in his pocket. He put himself through school at California State University — Long Beach, using his dishwasher wages to pay his expenses to get a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He went on to found MGA Entertainment, the company behind the popular Bratz dolls and other toys that have made him a billionaire.

His business sense was passed down to his daughter, who s opened her first store on L.A.’s Melrose Avenue.

Soon after, a second store was unveiled in the Soho area of Manhattan, and then a seasonal outpost in the Hamptons. Late last year, a quickly installed shop appeared in St. Barth in the French West Indies in time for the busy holiday season. And a sixth store will be opening this spring at the upscale Palisades Village shopping venue developed by L.A. billionaire Rick Caruso in the elite Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles.

“Retail is important because I love controlling my product, the distribution of my product and the experience that people have with my product,” said Hekmat, whose brand is also sold at Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s. “I feel like our retail locations really set a precedent and a standard for how we want to be seen.”



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New Mistral Large AI model for autoblogging – CyberSEO Pro


On February 26, 2024, Mistral Large was released to the public. This advanced language model is a big step forward for text generation. CyberSEO Pro and RSS Retriever plugin users can now use Mistral Large through OpenRouter.ai, offering new opportunities for autoblogging.

What really sets Mistral Large apart, beyond its advanced features, is its approach to content creation without censorship. This feature is a breath of fresh air for autobloggers who have struggled to create or rewrite articles on sensitive topics. Unlike models from OpenAI (GPT), Anthropic (Claude), and Google (Gemini), which are known for their restrictive content filters, Mistral Large offers a level of freedom in content generation that is hard to find elsewhere. This makes it an ideal choice for those who want to modify or create articles on a wider range of topics without fear of being silenced by the model’s limitations.

Comparison of GPT-4, Mistral Large (pre-trained), Claude 2, Gemini Pro 1.0, GPT 3.5 and LLaMA 2 70B on MMLU

Comparison of GPT-4, Mistral Large (pre-trained), Claude 2, Gemini Pro 1.0, GPT 3.5 and LLaMA 2 70B on MMLU. Image source: mistral.ai

Mistral Large represents the pinnacle of language model development. It has been designed to excel at a wide range of tasks, from text understanding and transformation to new content creation. What sets it apart is its exceptional reasoning power, which has made it the world’s second most API-available model, just behind GPT-4. This achievement is a testament to its robust performance on various benchmarks.

Performance on widespread common sense, reasoning and knowledge benchmarks of the top-leading LLM models on the market: MMLU (Measuring massive multitask language in understanding), HellaSwag (10-shot), Wino Grande (5-shot), Arc Challenge (5-shot), Arc Challenge (25-shot), TriviaQA (5-shot) and TruthfulQA.

Performance on widespread common sense, reasoning and knowledge benchmarks of the top-leading LLM models on the market: MMLU (Measuring massive multitask language in understanding), HellaSwag (10-shot), Wino Grande (5-shot), Arc Challenge (5-shot), Arc Challenge (25-shot), TriviaQA (5-shot) and TruthfulQA. Image source: mistral.ai

For autobloggers, the integration of Mistral Large with CyberSEO Pro and RSS Retriever means you can now create more nuanced, contextually accurate content in English, French, Spanish, German and Italian. Thanks to its advanced understanding of grammar and cultural nuances, content generated with Mistral Large feels authentic and engaging.

Comparison of Mistral Large, Mixtral 8x7B and LLaMA 2 70B on HellaSwag, Arc Challenge and MMLU in French, German, Spanish and Italian.

Comparison of Mistral Large, Mixtral 8x7B and LLaMA 2 70B on HellaSwag, Arc Challenge and MMLU in French, German, Spanish and Italian. Image source: mistral.ai

One of the most exciting features for content creators is the model’s 32K tokens context window. This capability allows for precise information recall from extensive documents, making your blog posts richer and more informative. Moreover, its adherence to specific instructions empowers developers to craft tailored moderation policies, ensuring that the generated content aligns with your site’s guidelines and values.

Using Mistral Large in your autoblogging process is straightforward. HTML templates for posts can now include shortcodes like [or_text model="mistralai/mistral-large" prompt="..."] and [gpt_article engine="mistralai/mistral-large" topic="..."], making it easy to incorporate this technology into your content creation workflow. This integration is not just about improving the efficiency of content generation; it’s about enhancing the quality.

The release of Mistral Large is a milestone for autobloggers using CyberSEO Pro and RSS Retriever. Its multilingual capabilities, coupled with superior reasoning and a deep understanding of cultural contexts, make it an invaluable resource for creating high-quality, diverse content. The added benefit of censorship-free content creation opens up new ways to discuss and share ideas on a wide range of topics, making Mistral Large an unparalleled tool in the field of autoblogging.

WordPress Autoblogging: OpenAI GPT-4 vs Google Gemini Pro vs Anthropic Claude



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CASE Once Again Endorses Classworks® Special Education Platform


The Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE) has re-endorsed Classworks® for an additional three years. The CASE Executive Committee designated the award-winning platform as a CASE-endorsed product that delivers high-quality assessment and instructional resources to special education teachers and students.

CASE has recognized Classworks as a tool that “successfully addresses the inherent challenges of special education,” since 2010. This month, CASE re-endorsed Classworks as a top-tier special education resource through 2027. Every three years, the platform undergoes a rigorous evaluation by the CASE Executive Committee. As part of the review process, CASE considers the impact on achievement for special education students as well as any new enhancements. In addition to the tremendous impact Classworks has on special education students, two significant product changes were made:

  • Classworks released a new student experience focused on student ownership over their learning and growth
  • Dyslexia and Dyscalculia indicators were added to the screener assessments

These and several other  new Classworks enhancements answer the imminent need in the marketplace for comprehensive, valid and reliable programs that simplify processes for special education teachers, and provide a more engaging and motivating experience for students. 

“Our special education teachers are dedicated to creating high-quality IEPs customized to each student’s areas of need. However, that process can be cumbersome without the right data and tools. Classworks data is easy to understand and gives us exactly what we need to create meaningful goals,” states Katrina Jackson, director of special education, Montgomery Public Schools, Alabama. “Teachers are thrilled that they have reliable data and documentation. Classworks has cut their IEP writing time in half!”

With Classworks, educators have access to assessments to identify present levels of performance and develop ambitious annual goals, progress monitoring to measure and document progress toward goals, and evidence-based, individualized, Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) to help students achieve their IEP goals. Classworks screener and progress monitoring assessments are validated by the National Center on Intensive Intervention (NCII).  Learn more. 

‍About Classworks

Classworks leverages technology and evidence-based learning practices to transform how school districts support students’ academic, social-emotional, and behavioral needs. Our CASE-endorsed, comprehensive Special Education and Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) solution includes academic screeners, math and reading interventions, specially designed instruction, progress monitoring, and powerful data. Classworks Universal Screener and Progress Monitoring Assessments are validated by the National Center on Intensive Intervention (NCII).

About The Council Of Administrators Of Special Education

The Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE) is an international professional educational organization affiliated with the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). Members are dedicated to enhancing the worth, dignity, potential, and uniqueness of each individual in society. The mission of CASE is to provide leadership and support to members by shaping policies and practices that impact the quality of education. For more information, visit  www.casecec.org.

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All The Beauty and Wellness Retail Expansions of 2024


February

Naked Sundays

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Australian sun care brand Naked Sundays has made its U.S. retail launch, landing at more than 900 Target doors with its hero glow mist and mineral priming lotion as well as two new Target-exclusive products. The 2021-founded brand purports to have grown 800 percent in the U.S. in 2023, propelled by TikTok virality.

Dieux

Dieux

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Charlotte Palermino’s Dieux is taking on brick-and-mortar retail. The direct-to-consumer darling, best known for its silicone gel eye masks, will enter 714 Sephora locations on March 13 following its online debut at the retailer last month.

Good Molecules

Good Molecules

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Good Molecules is now available nationwide at Target. Seven of the Gen-Z skin care brand’s bestselling products, including its tranexamic acid Discoloration Correcting Serum and Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel have launched at the retailer.

Dolce Glow

Dolce Glow

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Self-tanning brand Dolce Glow — which received an investment from Miley Cyrus in 2023 — has entered an estimated 273 Ulta Beauty doors. Founded by celebrity tanning artist Isabel Vita, the brand offers tanning mists, mousses and lotions, and also sells at Nordstrom.

Hairitage

Hairitage

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Maesa-backed Hairitage, which debuted in 2020 at Walmart, has added CVS Pharmacy, Kroger and supermarket chain HEB to its retail roster, entering a cumulative 6,000-plus new doors. Founded by YouTuber Mindy McKnight, the brand’s assortment features a range of hair and body care offerings.

Dr. Lara Devgan

Dr. Lara Devgan Scientific Beauty

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New York-based plastic surgeon Dr. Lara Devgan’s eponymous skin care range is launching online at Nordstrom U.S. this month, and will land at Mecca Beauty in Australia this spring. The line’s existing retailers include Violet Grey, Net-a-porter and Moda Operandi.

January

Eva NYC

Eva NYC

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Bansk Group-owned hair care brand Eva NYC has landed in more than 6,000 Walgreens doors nationwide. Brand president Annie Kolemainen said the brand, known for its frizz-reducing hair primer, has seen nearly 200 percent growth during the last five years.

Halsey's Af94

Halsey’s Af94

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Halsey’s $10-or-less cosmetics brand Af94 is following in the footsteps of its sister brand, About-face, with an Ulta Beauty expansion. Four of the brand’s products, including its lip stains, bronze and highlight duos and liquid eye shadows, are available online and in-store at the retailer.

Ross J. Bar Patch Pack

Ross J. Barr Patch Pack

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Acupuncturist and fertility specialist Ross J. Barr’s eponymous wellness patch brand has launched at Violet Grey. The brand offers a range of healing, calming and sleep patches infused with natural ingredients such as safflower, red peony root and coix seed.

Ole Henriksen

Ole Henriksen

Courtesy Image

Olehenriksen, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2023, is now available at Ulta. The Scandinavian beauty brand’s brightening eye cream, vitamin C serum, dark spot toner and peptide moisturizer and lip treatment have launched at the retailer.

Dime

Dime

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Also at Ulta, aesthetician-founded Dime is rolling out to more than 500 doors. Launched in 2018 by husband-wife duo Baylee and Ryan Relf, the vegan skin care brand’s best-sellers include its Dewy Day Cream and witch hazel toner.

Charlotte Tilbury

Charlotte Tilbury

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In February, Ulta will inaugurate buzzy makeup brand Charlotte Tilbury’s assortment online and into 600 stores. Chief merchandising officer Monica Arnaudo told WWD Charlotte Tilbury received more than 1 million searches on ulta.com in a 12-month period.

PDL Cosmetics Hypnotic Eyeshadow

PDL Cosmetics Exotic Hypnotic Cream Eyeshadow

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Latinx-founded makeup brand PDL Cosmetics has entered Thirteen Lune. Four of the brand’s stock keeping units, including bullet and liquid lipsticks, lip gloss and cream eyeshadows are now available online and will roll out to stores in February.



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Exploring Types of Audio Mixing and Mastering Techniques

Audio mixing and mastering encompass various types and techniques to enhance the overall quality of music productions. Let’s delve into some of the  key types:

Types of Audio Mixing and Mastering:

1. Traditional Analog Mixing:

  • Description: This method involves using physical mixing consoles, analog outboard gear (compressors, EQs, etc.), and analog tape machines for mixing and mastering. It provides a hands-on, tactile experience.
  • Characteristics:
    • Warmth: Analog equipment is known for imparting a warm and often vintage character to the sound.
    • Sonic Coloration: Analog gear can add a unique coloration and harmonics to the audio.
    • Limited Automation: Analog mixing relies more on manual adjustments, offering limited automation compared to digital.

2. Digital Mixing and Mastering:

  • Description: Digital mixing and mastering use software-based solutions such as Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) and plugins. It allows for precise control, extensive automation, and a wide range of digital processing tools.
  • Characteristics:
    • Precision: Digital processes offer accurate and repeatable results, making it easier to achieve a polished and modern sound.
    • Flexibility: DAWs provide unlimited tracks, plugins, and editing possibilities, allowing for intricate adjustments.
    • Automation: Extensive automation capabilities for precise control over various parameters.

3. Hybrid Mixing and Mastering:

  • Description: Hybrid methods combine elements of both analog and digital processing. It often involves using analog outboard gear alongside digital plugins within a DAW.
  • Characteristics:
    • Versatility: Allows for leveraging the best of both analog warmth and digital precision.
    • Analog Front-End, Digital Back-End: Some engineers prefer to capture the sound using analog equipment in the early stages and then shift to digital processing for flexibility.
    • Unique Sonic Palette: Offers a unique sonic palette that blends the character of analog equipment with the convenience of digital tools.

The choice between these methods depends on factors like the engineer’s preferences, the type of music being produced, and the desired sonic characteristics. Some engineers prefer the hands-on feel and warmth of analog, while others appreciate the precision and flexibility of digital. Hybrid approaches attempt to strike a balance, providing a nuanced and versatile sonic outcome.

Variety in Mixing and Mastering Techniques:

The choice of mixing and mastering techniques varies based on the desired sonic outcome. Engineers and artists may opt for:

  • Analog and Digital Combination: Achieving a warm, vintage sound by blending analog warmth with digital precision.
  • Digital-Only Techniques: Pursuing a modern and polished sound through exclusive use of digital tools.

Ultimately, the decision on techniques rests with the creative preferences of the engineer and artist involved.

Selecting Equipment for Mixing and Mastering:

  1. Starting Simple: For beginners, a basic setup with a computer, a compatible Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), and a fundamental audio interface is recommended. This simple setup provides a foundation for learning and experimentation.
  2. Progressing with Experience: As experience in audio production grows, considerations may shift towards upgrading equipment. This could include investing in higher quality preamps, compressors, equalizers, studio monitors, and other essential gear.
  3. Tailoring Equipment to Music Genre: The type of music being produced influences equipment choices. For electronic music, synthesizers or drum machines might be essential, while acoustic music production may require quality microphones and acoustic instruments.
  4. Studio Size and Space Consideration: The size of the studio and available space influence equipment choices. Compact setups may require efficient and space-saving equipment solutions.

By carefully selecting equipment based on individual needs, musical genre, and available space, audio engineers and producers can create a tailored setup that complements their production style and goals.