AUTHOR Rebekah Brandes Fly above the white peaks of one sprawling French ski resort during winter, and you may catch a glimpse of Simon Beck’s mystical alpine masterpieces: enormous geometric patterns the English artist creates in the snow using a compass and his snowshoes. When he’s not traveling the world to stamp out his complex designs — he’s done so in the United States, Canada, Japan, Chile, and Argentina — Beck, 65, lives at France’s Les Arcs resort. There, on the snow-covered frozen lakes, he makes the majority of his artwork, or drawings, as he calls them. A former cartographer who earned his living designing orienteering maps, he ventured into his current occupation on a whim back in 2004. “It was just a bit of fun,” Beck told Nice News. “One day, I just wanted to do something after skiing, and I saw this nice little lake outside the building where I live, and it’s about half the size of a soccer field. I just thought, ‘Let’s go and draw a pattern on the lake.’” When he realized how impressive the pattern looked, something he wasn’t expecting, Beck was encouraged to continue. Fast forward nearly two decades, and he’s coming up on 400 completed snow drawings, each of which typically take somewhere between seven and 30 hours. He’s been commissioned to make snow art for big brands like Corona beer, and multiple apparel companies have featured his designs on items of clothing. He’s even forayed into sand art, making 180 different drawings over the years on one beach in southwest England during the summertime. So how does he manage to conceive of and execute such impressive, intricate designs? When he started, he drew them on paper before taking the art to the snow. These days, though, he tends to make things up as he goes. To hear him talk about it, it’s clear the process comes rather naturally to Beck, who graduated with a degree in engineering from the University of Oxford before turning to mapmaking. For example, he casually described the steps he recently took to complete a “very simple drawing.” “I just walked straight across the location, decided where the middle of it should be, and did 10 radii on 45 double paces in length to get the 10 points of a 10-pointed star,” he explained. Next, he paced along each radius, leaving a marker at certain points. “And then I sort of joined up the dots with straight lights, and then drew some triangles around the edge of it in Von Koch’s Snowflake style.” The design element is far from the most challenging part of the process. “You need a lot of stamina,” Beck said. “I mean, after a big drawing you’re really tired.” In addition to that stamina (fueled by soup and Coca-Cola), and the simple tools he uses, Beck requires one other element to create his snow art. “I really like listening to music when I’m working in the snow,” he shared, adding: “Indeed, it would be so terribly boring without these personal stereos.” When asked what tunes he has loaded up on his own stereo, he responded: “Oh, it’s classical music. There’s a little bit of Pink Floyd on it, too.” Click here to follow Beck on Facebook and see many more of his incredible designs. Source: Nice News The Pudding calculated what place someone is most likely referring to, depending on where they are. The Pudding is a digital publication that explains ideas debated in culture with visual essays.
In the 1950s, less than 10% of families with children were single-parent. In 2022, among families with children, 31% were single-parent — more than three times as common.
Using AI to detect students' smiles in geotagged photos, Resume.io ranked America's twenty happiest colleges.
There are a few ways to find out which colleges offer students the best experience. You could read each college's reviews and testimonials. You could search a college's name on Twitter for students' brutally honest opinions on studying there. Or, you could do what Resume.io did: use an AI facial recognition tool to detect smiles in Instagram selfies geotagged at different universities, and rank colleges according to the highest proportion of happy-looking faces. After assessing a photo, the AI tool gives a percentage between zero and 100 to indicate how confident it is that the analyzed face is expressing happiness. Resume.io considered faces scoring 75 percent or higher to be genuinely happy ones. Key Findings:
Pork roll, hoagies and farm roads vs Taylor Ham, subs, and eight-lane highways… North and South Jersey are completely different worlds. Here are a few of the biggest differences between the two parts of New Jersey. 1. Pork Roll vs. Taylor Ham For some reason, this is the true dividing issue for most New Jerseyans. In the south, it's Pork Roll. Up north, it's Taylor Ham. Everyone has an opinion, even if they don't eat it. 2. Completely different landscapes... The flat farmlands of south Jersey are a stark contrast to the rocky and mountainous terrain of the northern part of the state 3. ...and completely different traffic patterns. The traffic in north Jersey never seems to cease. Down south, slow country roads generally don't get backed up, but you might be stuck behind a tractor or a combine if you're unlucky. 4. Hoagies...or Subs? This is another terminology debate. Anyone from the Philadelphia metro area calls sandwiches hoagies, but elsewhere, they're known as subs. 5. Each part of the state roots for a different city's sports teams... Philadelphia-area fans are probably the most loyal fans in all of sports, but much of north Jersey roots for the New York teams. No matter who they root for, though, New Jerseyans will always remind you that The Meadowlands is in the Garden State. 6. ... and considered a different city "the City". If your friends are trying to plan a day in "the city", you might want to ask for clarification. 7. Beach vibes vary from the northern towns of Monmouth County to the sleepy towns of Cape May County. Northern New Jersey's shore towns are more residential and lively all year long. Down in the southern parts of Ocean or Cape May county, the population is largely seasonal, and the towns are much quieter. 8. The difference between north and south Jersey is so great that we can't even agree on the "correct" borders.
The "line" between North and South Jersey is determined by where you grew up, and if you consider Central Jersey to be a real thing. There's no true border that we can all agree on. Source: Only in your state "5 Ways Climate Change Is Amplifying Allergies: Why You'll Be Sneezing (and Itching) More"11/7/2023
As the world grapples with the consequences of climate change, scientists have been delving into the potential impact on allergies. Jeffrey Demain, a distinguished professor at the University of Washington and Director of the Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Center of Alaska, warns that if global warming continues, we can anticipate more frequent and severe allergies. Recently, he shared his insights at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Delaware. Here's an overview of the reasons why rising temperatures are poised to make allergy sufferers more miserable than ever.
While most of the available evidence highlights the worsening of allergies, it's important to note that many studies have been primarily correlational. Demain is the first to acknowledge that seasonal variations will still occur, as exemplified by harsh winters like this year's. However, he asserts that the overall trends are unmistakable, even if your nose might not readily agree.
Seen as a sign of success and financial comfort, a six-figure salary has long been an important milestone for American workers.
$100,000 isn’t quite what it used to be, especially as rampant inflation continues to sap the purchasing power of money and push the cost of living higher. In fact, 51% of people who earn more than $100,000 reported living paycheck to paycheck in December 2022 – 9 percentage points higher than a year earlier – according to a recent survey from PYMNTS and LendingClub. To see how much $100,000 is actually worth in different parts of the country, SmartAsset compared the after-tax income in 76 of the largest U.S. cities and then adjusted those figures for the cost of living in each place. For more information on our data or how we compiled our findings, read the Data and Methodology section below. Key Findings
1. Memphis, TN A person earning $100,000 per year in Memphis takes home $74,515 after federal and local taxes (the state of Tennessee doesn’t tax earned income). Considering the city has a cost of living that’s almost 14% lower than the national average, those after-tax earnings are actually worth $86,444 when adjusting for the cost of living. 2. El Paso, TX A $100,000 salary in El Paso is worth $84,966 after subtracting taxes and adjusting for the local cost of living. A person who makes $100,000 a year in this West Texas city of over 678,000 residents takes home $74,515 after taxes. El Paso’s cost of living is just 87.7% of the national average. 3. Oklahoma City, OK Someone making $100,000 in Oklahoma City will take home $70,302 after taxes. But thanks to the lowest cost of living in our study, those after-tax earnings are worth considerably more: $84,498. 4. Corpus Christi, TX A $100,000 annual salary is worth $83,443 in Corpus Christi after deducting taxes and adjusting for the local cost of living. Located on the Gulf Coast of Texas, Corpus Christi’s cost of living is 10.7% lower than the national average. 5. Lubbock, TX A person who earns $100,000 per year in Lubbock can expect to take home $74,515 after taxes are deducted from their paychecks. Since the cost of living in Lubbock is just 89.4% of the national average, that person’s take-home pay is actually worth $83,350 after adjusting for the cost of living. 6. Houston, TX Like the other Texas cities in the top 10, a $100,000 salary in Houston is reduced to $74,515 after taxes. Those earnings, however, are worth $81,350 when adjusting for Houston’s cost of living, which is 91.8% of the national average. 7 (tie). San Antonio, Fort Worth and Arlington, TX A $100,000 salary is worth the same amount of money in three Texas cities: San Antonio, Fort Worth and Arlington. Thanks to identical tax treatment and no state income tax, a person earning $100,000 takes home $74,515 in each city. That money is worth $80,124 when you adjust for the cost of living in all three cities, which is 7% lower than the national average. 10. St. Louis, MO St. Louis rounds out the top 10. While taxes reduce a $100,000 salary to $69,531, the city’s low cost of living (87% of the national average) makes those after-tax dollars go even further. As a result, a $100,000 salary in St. Louis is worth $79,921 after subtracting taxes and adjusting for the cost of living.
Tax Tips for Six-Figure Earners
Source: smartasset Its nickname, Gateway to New York, is just as accurate not only in terms of its locations but also its promise of recreation all year round. It resides within the west of the Hudson River and was once notable for being a stop for immigrants hoping to achieve the American Dream by passing through Ellis Island. Created in 1840, this county in the North Jersey region got its name after Henry Hudson, who was a sea explorer in the 1600s. So, it's safe to say that this county shines more because of its stunning waterfront vistas and bayside attractions. I am here to tell you that this is not all there is to Hudson County, and I'm ready to prove this. Because in this article, I'll be sharing some of the county's best well-kept secrets and more! Here are the 15 best things to do in Hudson County, New Jersey, for your worthwhile trip ahead. Bask in the Scenic Riverfront Spot at the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway Nothing quite takes you for a front-seat view of the Hudson River than the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway. This linear pathway passes through 9 communities and 2 counties, one of which is Hudson County. At 18 miles, this route was a relaxing destination for me. Helping me remain comfortable and stress-free was the stunning skyline of Manhattan across the river. I also got impressive photos of the views all around during my long walk there. What made the spot a memorable one for me was its convenient location to many restaurants and shops nearby. I reached the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway in Hoboken via Sinatra Drive. But there are multiple access points to this walkway from various neighborhoods, including Bayonne and Jersey City.
Play with Friends and Loved Ones at Bowl-Rite Lanes In Union City, Bowl-Rite Lanes is the ultimate family destination for many visitors and residents within Hudson County. Opened in 1965, this bowling alley offers a ten-pin 24-lane center with a variety of amenities on the side. What I loved most about this entertainment facility was its calm and friendly atmosphere. It also brought about a nostalgic touch to my experience with its arcade section and snack counter. Come by with your friends for an ideal hangout session. You can head over to Summit Avenue from 8th Street to reach Bowl-Rite Lanes. Enjoy the Outdoors with a Visit to Liberty State Park For an all-around adventure of Hudson County's natural areas, I highly recommend coming by Liberty State Park if you've got the time. Dramatic and inclusive, this park is just what you might expect from Jersey City's waterfront oasis. It sits opposite Ellis Island and Liberty Island and is the only spot within the county that provides seafaring access to the former island. Opened in 1976, this park spans over 1,000 acres. It is home to the Liberty Science Center, which I enjoyed exploring. Its exhibits and galleries made me rediscover my love for science. Also within the park are the Empty Sky 9/11 Memorial and the Richard J. Sullivan Natural Area; both of which are a delight for me to visit. Other activities that this state park promotes include boat and kayak launching, hiking, fishing, and even picnicking. Liberty State Park is on Audrey Zapp Drive. Take Photos of the Picturesque Views from the Castle Point Lookout Open throughout the year, the Castle Point Lookout is one scenic attraction that I will never get tired of recommending. This Hoboken spot is the highest point of the city at an elevation of 100 feet. Complete with a simplistic observation deck and multiple trails, this point has been a great source of stress relief for me. It features not only the Manhattan skyline up ahead but also the waterfront vistas of Hoboken. I liked the touch of history within the site through the presence of a historical cannon artifact that has been the trademark of the Castle Point Lookout. This point is a feature of Stevens Institute of Technology campus. And you can get to this spot on Frank Sinatra Drive. Weehawken's Hamilton Park offers a blend of natural beauty and history within an unassuming setting. This park sits next to the historic dueling grounds of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. To commemorate this historic moment in time, the park features the original rock where Hamilton's head rested after he got shot. Though the park is mostly abundant with only benches, the picturesque expanse of the lawn makes up for it. I loved the collection of plaques and monuments lining up the park—certainly added to the historic appeal of the spot. The floral gardens were also a lovely feature, as were the cliffs and the Manhattan skyline in the distance. Hamilton Park sits along Boulevard East should you care for a visit. Art comes together in various forms at Mana Contemporary. This Jersey City attraction is a cultural arts center featuring both visual and performing arts. It resides in what was once a tobacco warehouse back in the day. Now, the walls are vibrant with the display of contemporary art and the sounds of top-notch shows. I loved exploring the halls and exhibition spaces of the gallery because of its warm surroundings and creative inspiration. I got to witness art-making sessions for myself, and I wasn't disappointed at all. So, come by if you need a sprinkle of artistic inspiration. Mana Contemporary is accessible along Newark Avenue. Learn More about Astronomy at Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium Whether you're a fan of space and astronomy or not, Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium is a must-visit. This planetarium takes pride in being the biggest of its kind in the whole country. A part of Liberty Science Center's facilities, this planetarium offers a vibrant and informative approach to your trip across the planets and all over the galaxy. One of the shows I got to watch was the Beyoncé Laser Show, which felt like a concert. While jamming to the iconic diva's songs, I was awestruck by the array of lasers and lights. There are also space talks and telescope shows at different showtimes, so better check with the planetarium ahead for any of your planned visits. Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium—and its greatness—sits along Jersey City Boulevard in Jersey City. Start a Mural-Spotting Journey along Jersey City Jersey City's public art scene is nothing short of impressive. And let me tell you, I had the time of my life spotting murals all over this wondrous city. With about 200 murals created by over 100 artists, there's always an art piece that resonates with everyone. One of the murals that resonated with me is Shauquethqueat's Eutrochium, featuring the very same flower it's named after blooming beautifully against a dark building on Cottage Street. Another one of my favorites is the Beloved Mural by Ben Keller on 12th Street. This 2021 masterpiece is a tribute to Michelangelo's famous Greek-inspired art culture. There are other murals and graffiti works for you, so don't worry! I hope you find one that inspires you. Browse through the Archives Section at the Hoboken Historical Museum History and heritage connect at the local Hoboken Historical Museum. This museum has the most reliable collection for everything related to Hoboken's past. From artifacts and relics to photographs and documents, the interesting message of history is abundant. The Sinatra tributes were one of my favorites. The staff was kind and informative on my visit too, which added to my wonderful experience there. It was to my utter delight that its upper gallery offers rotating exhibits, so the next time I'm due for a visit, I know I'll be in for a pleasant surprise.The Hoboken Historical Museum sits along Hudson Street in Hoboken. Go on a Hiking Spree along Laurel Hill Park Hudson County's Meadowlands is the highlight of Laurel Hill Park. Located along Laurel Hill Road, this large expanse of open grassy vegetation shines with historical significance. In fact, this park got its nickname "Snake Hill" after its large feature of igneous rock resulting from a volcanic eruption. Though you can no longer see this rock as a whole, there is bedrock forming the southern section of the park that serves as its remains. I had a grand time making use of the park's sports facilities, including soccer fields and a cricket field. But perhaps my favorite part of this park is its collection of hiking trails, where I got to enjoy nature at its original beauty. Laurel Hill Park is within the quaint town of Secaucus. Explore the Landscaped Gardens at Stephen R. Gregg Park Hudson County has a wide array of parks that are worth visiting at least once in your lifetime. One of these is Stephen R. Gregg Park. This 100-acre passive and active park offers the best of waterfront sceneries within the county. Established in 1916, some of its eye-catching features are its park bridges and walkways. It also has a multitude of sports amenities that I particularly enjoyed during my visit. But nothing can top the ornamental gardens. The Cherie LaPelusa Gardens are the centerpiece of the park, and I had a fun time walking through the colorful spots of flowers and blossoms native to the community. Stephen R. Gregg Park is in the city of Bayonne, specifically along John F. Kennedy Boulevard. Go on a Car Match with Your Group at RPM Raceway It's time for a bit of indoor fun! RPM Raceway in Jersey City is one of Hudson County's indoor entertainment facilities that I will continue to recommend time and time again. Its state-of-the-art facility and equipment, including its dizzying ramps, are part of the reason why I loved this center. Another reason is the thrill it gave me as I went down to its cars and raced with other riders down the track. The facility also has an arcade section and a bowling alley. If you've got time on your schedule for an adventure within closed doors, this spot is for you. RPM Raceway is on Caven Point Road. Spot Waterfowl and Other Birds at Mill Creek Marsh Secaucus' Mill Creek Marsh has been a community staple since its establishment in 1996. At 209 acres, this marsh took me on a magical outdoor experience full of birdwatching opportunities. The trails remain well-paved, which I consider a win. I was also glad the place was as tranquil as I expected, and I got to relax without worrying about a huge crowd. Mill Creek Marsh is also most notable for its diversity in open-water habitats, including marshlands and lowland shrubs. So, experience the beauty of nature for yourself by stopping by. You can reach this nature preserve on Mill Creek Marsh Trail. The Hoboken Fire Department Museum houses a variety of memorabilia and fire gear used in Hoboken's battle against fires across history.
Informative and fun, this center boasts all-around entertainment for both adults and kids. The kids can have the time of their life riding the museum's accompanying fire engine. As for the adults, I highly recommend looking for the Marty Sinatra photo featuring Frank who was at the peak of his career at the time. There's much to see and discover within the walls of this museum, so keep your eyes peeled! Located along Bloomfield Street, the Hoboken Fire Department Museum is an interesting stop worth checking out. Final Thoughts Part of what makes Hudson County a county worth exploring is its diversity of indoor and outdoor attractions. From museums and tranquil parks to art galleries and landmarks, I am so glad to have visited this county and its treasures. I think I might even visit the next time I'm in New Jersey if the opportunity allows. Did you enjoy the list above of the best things to do in Hudson County, New Jersey? Source: Travel Lens |
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