Concert: Duo Chinoiserie ‘Guitar & Guzheng’ At San Xavier del Bac Mission

Omni Foundation (April 23, 2023) – The Omni Foundation presents Duo Chinoiserie performing ‘Guitar & Guzheng’ at the San Xavier del Bac Mission in Tucson, Arizona.

Duo Chinoiserie: Bin Hu, guitar; Jing Xia, guzheng

PROGRAM:

  • Mulan: Sérgio Assad (dedicated to the Duo Chinoiserie)
  • La catedral: Agustín Barrios Mangoré
  • A Moonlit Night on the Spring River: Chinese classical work (arr. Jing Xia)
  • Danza ritual del fuego: Manuel de Falla (arr. Duo Chinoiserie)
Omni Video Series Premiere: Duo Chinoiserie!, Sun, Apr 23, 2023, 10:00 AM |  Meetup

“Duo Chinoiserie has found a unique voice, a new way of expressing music. Never before had I heard such a moving and impressive combination. They keep audiences in awe of their mastery and profound musicality. Their attractive phrasing of melodies is paired with an impressive level of technical difficulty. Their work demonstrates an instinctive understanding of the emotive and transformative power of a piece. They play with a strong finesse that produces a new, different sound to the conventional classical pieces.”

Studies: Alcohol Abuse Increases Chronic Pain

Scripps Research (April 21, 2023) – Chronic alcohol consumption may make people more sensitive to pain through two different molecular mechanisms—one driven by alcohol intake and one by alcohol withdrawal. That is one new conclusion by scientists at Scripps Research on the complex links between alcohol and pain.

The research, published in the British Journal of Pharmacology on April 12, 2023, also suggests potential new drug targets for treating alcohol-associated chronic pain and hypersensitivity.

“There is an urgent need to better understand the two-way street between chronic pain and alcohol dependence,” says senior author Marisa Roberto, PhD, the Schimmel Family Chair of Molecular Medicine, and a professor of neuroscience at Scripps Research. “Pain is both a widespread symptom in patients suffering from alcohol dependence, as well as a reason why people are driven to drink again.”

Alcohol use disorder (AUD), which encompasses the conditions commonly called alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence and alcohol addiction, affects 29.5 million people in the U.S. according to the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.  Over time, AUD can trigger the development of numerous chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, liver disease and some cancers.

READ MORE AT SCRIPPS RESEARCH

Review: How AI Is Now Disrupting Societies (DW)

DW News (April 23, 2023) – AI systems such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT are dominating headlines. There are concerns that their rise may lead to the displacement of millions of workers, blur the distinction between truth and falsehood, and amplify existing inequalities. Are the worries justified?

Walking Tours: The Tower Of London, England (4K)

London Walking Tours (Uploaded April 22, 2023) – Tower of London, byname the Tower, royal fortress and London landmark. Its buildings and grounds served historically as a royal palace, a political prison, a place of execution, an arsenal, a royal mint, a menagerie, and a public records office.

It is located on the north bank of the River Thames, in the extreme western portion of the borough of Tower Hamlets, on the border with the central City of London.

Design Exhibitions: A Tour Of Salone Del Mobile 2023

Archwalks (April 22, 2023) – A tour of Milano Design Week 2023. The pavilions Euroluce 2023, taking a look at Shigeru Ban Talk, Flos, Vibia, Davide Groppi and may other pavilions of lighting design. Then we will walk into the furniture and interior design pavilions of many famous brands.

Sunday Morning: Stories From Zürich And London

April 23, 2023: Monocle’s editorial director, Tyler Brûlé, discusses the weekend’s biggest talking points with Juliet Linley, Florian Egli and Chandra Kurt. We also speak to Monocle’s Nic Monisse about Salone del Mobile.

Island Views: Hvar Town In Dalmatia Region, Croatia

Massimo Nalli (April 23, 2023) – Hvar is a town and port on the island of Hvar in Dalmatia. The town of Hvar has a long and distinguished history as center for trade and culture in the Adriatic.

A commune, part of the Venetian Empire during the 13th to 18th centuries, it was an important naval base with a strong fortress above, encircling the town walls and protecting the port. Cultural life thrived as prosperity grew, and Hvar is the site of one of the oldest surviving theatres in Europe, opened in 1612. The seven-hundred-year-old walls still survive, as do many of the noble houses and public buildings from 15th – 17th centuries.

The port of Hvar, set in a picturesque natural bay, is a safe haven for boats year round. Hvar Town is encircled on its land-side by protective walls, and overlooked by two massive fortresses set on the hills above. The fortifications were commissioned by the Venetians in 1278, to create a haven for their fleet, and have been expanded in the centuries since.

Front Page: The New York Times — April 23, 2023

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E.P.A. to Propose First Controls on Greenhouse Gases From Power Plants

If the proposed regulation is implemented, coal and gas-fired power plants, like the Plant Bowen power station in Georgia, would have to cut their carbon dioxide emissions by 2040
CREDITKENDRICK BRINSON FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

If the regulation is implemented, it will be the first time the federal government has limited carbon emissions from existing power plants, which generate 25 percent of U.S. greenhouse gases.

As War Rages in Sudan, Countries Angle for Advantage

Smoke rises over Khartoum, Sudan’s capital, on Friday after almost a week of fighting between warring factions.
CREDITVIA REUTERS

Even before its two leading generals went to war last week, “everyone wanted a chunk of Sudan,” an expert said of the strategically located country rich in natural resources.

Western Weapons Supplies Fall Short of Ukraine’s Needs, Documents Show

Ukraine’s defense minister reported the first U.S.-made Patriot air-defense battery had arrived this week, but secret documents show Kyiv was still waiting for tanks and ammo for its coming counteroffensive.

Sacklers Gave Millions to Institution That Advises on Opioid Policy

Even as the nation’s drug crisis mounted, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine continued to accept funds from some members of the Sackler family, including those involved with Purdue Pharma.