Back in the day as much as now in the day‚ Ian Anderson had the propensity and capacity to write a lot of music. One stroll though the Tull catalog‚ including the retrospectives and box sets‚ and it’s easy to surmise there’s a wealth of material beyond the group’s formal catalog. Most notable is the aborted double album recorded at the Château d’Hérouville studio near Paris‚ France. Coming off the success of 1972’s Thick As A Brick‚ Tull ambitiously tackled the epic project at the famous studio where Pink Floyd and Elton John had recorded‚ only to become victim to equipment failures‚ bed bugs and food poisoning. No wonder the sessions earned the nickname “Château d’Isaster.” Determined to turn things around‚ the band decamped back to England‚ where they began a whole new album that would become 1973’s A Passion Play. Over time‚ songs from the Château d’Herouville sessions have come to light and released in various forms — on the 1988 20 Years Of Jethro Tull box set‚ 1993’s Nightcap compilation‚ and the 2014 A Passion Play: An Extended Performance box set. All the pieces have been rounded up for a double vinyl set remixed by Steven Wilson called The Château d’Herouville Sessions. Tracking through the first three sides of the set‚ which is about as far as Tull got with the project before abandoning ship‚ it’s easy to get caught up in the growing pains Anderson and company were experiencing as they became more adventurous and progressive. The Château d’Herouville Sessions begins with “The Big Top‚” its arch adapted by A Passion Play before everything shifts into a more astute piece with Anderson strumming his acoustic and outlining the tale while the rest of the band find their suitable ports of entry. The material is certainly more streamline when compared to A Passion Play‚ which would explain why both “Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day” and “Only Solitare” were later refined for 1974’s more song-oriented WarChild. That‚ of course‚ leaves a lot of potent tape to linger in the vaults. It seems almost criminal that a song as powerful and alluring as “Sailor” was left for dead for over four decades. “Critique Oblique (Part I)” and “Critique Oblique (Part II)” were folded into the more compact and feral “Critique Oblique” that appears on A Passion Play. Anderson and company weren’t about to let that riff and refrain fade into the background. Hearing the group vamp out on the tune in two parts is proof enough that even the bed bugs and bad food weren’t about to usurp the embedded chemistry of Jethro Tull in 1972. Keyboardist John Evan dominates “Animelle (1st Dance)” and “Animelle (2nd Dance)” with equal turns at piano and organ. Meanwhile‚ a quirky predilection for studying the co-existence of man and animal — more fully realized on A Passion Play and WarChild — surfaces in the two-part “Law Of The Bungle‚” which features a short monologue from guitarist Martin Barre‚ as well as a short acoustic interlude called “Tiger Toon.” The fourth side reigns “The Chateau D’isaster Tapes” and its three parts — “Scenario‚” “Audition‚” and “No Rehearsal” into an 11-minute highlight reel of the sessions. To fill out the rest‚ WarChild versions of “Only Solitaire” and “Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day” sandwich A Passion Play’s “The Story Of The Hare Who Lost His Spectacles‚” a beloved departure that bassist Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond received a rare co-writing credit with Anderson‚ due to his colorful narration. Altogether‚ The Château d’Herouville Sessions stands up well on its own merit‚ even as certain sections were utilized elsewhere. Maybe that’s why it’s an essential part of the Jethro Tull puzzle any curious-minded fan should seek out and add to their collection. ~ Shawn Perry The post Jethro Tull | The Château d’Herouville Sessions – Compilation Release Review first appeared on VintageRock.com.

Creative polymath Patti Smith is one of music's most unique voices – here we go through her back catalogue in order of greatness

A new study has found that damaged or diseased coral reefs can be rejuvenated with recordings of healthy reef systems.  Coral reefs are abundant ecosystems filled with plants and aquatic life that bumble with sound when they are thriving. And the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution at MIT recently learned that those sounds help coral larvae decide where to grow.  “So a lot of us think about reefs as these really tranquil‚ calm places‚” Nadège Aoki‚ a doctoral candidate at WHOI‚ said in a YouTube video. “But they’re actually bursting with sound. And all of that sound produces a really distinct acoustic signature for a healthy reef.”  As adults‚ coral is immobile. But as larvae‚ they swim or drift and select their habitat. Once they choose a system to settle in‚ they will attach themselves to the seafloor and grow. Previously‚ scientists knew that the larvae would make their selection based on chemical and light cues. But it wasn’t until now that they understood the importance of sound.  In 2022‚ WHOI scientists conducted two studies on separate three reef systems. A paper published in Royal Society Open Science explained that after those studies‚ they learned that “you can actively induce coral settlement by playing sounds.”  “You can go to a reef that is degraded in some way and add in the sounds of biological activity from a healthy reef‚ potentially helping this really important step in the coral life cycle‚” Nadège wrote in a press release.  Sound is a Tool That Could “Potentially” Rebuild Dying Coral Reefs For the study‚ WHOI collected Porites astreoides larvae and left them in cups near three reefs along the coast of St John Island. One reef called Tektite was relatively healthy while the others‚ Salt Pond and Cocoloba‚ were degraded.  The researchers left underwater speakers next to Salt Pond and played the sounds of a healthy coral reef system. They left cups one‚ five‚ 10‚ and 30 meters from the speakers and let the sounds play for three nights. They left the same number of cups the same distances away from the other two reefs. But did not play the sounds.  When they returned‚ they saw that the coral larvae settled in Salt Pond at rates up to 1.7 times higher than Tektite or Cocoloba. The highest settlement was five meters from the speakers. But even the cups sitting 30 meters away had more settlement than any spot near the other two reefs.  The second study‚ done two months later‚ had the same results.  “The fact that settlement is consistently decreasing with distance from the speaker‚ when all else is kept constant‚ is particularly important because it shows that these changes are due to the added sound and not other factors‚” marine biologist Aran Mooney wrote in the release.  Aran said that the information gives scientists an easily accessible tool that could “potentially” rebuild important reef systems.  “It appears to be one of the most scalable tools that can be applied to rebuild reefs‚” added microbial ecologist Amy Apprill. “So we’re really excited about that potential.” You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.  The post New Discovery Could Help Save Coral Reefs Across The Globe appeared first on InspireMore.

In the enormous expanse of social media‚ figures such as Andrew Tate have gained prominence for propagating what some refer to as “toxic masculinity.” According to Jago Sherman‚ Head of Strategy at Goat Agency‚ these influencers frequently make broad‚ sweeping promises‚ promising instant fixes to difficult challenges. He goes on to say‚ “Sometimes this ‘shock factor’ content can outperform lengthier‚ thought-provoking‚ neutral content.” A countermovement emerges Contrary to the sensationalism of toxic influencers‚ there is a quieter countermovement led by influencers that focus on mental health‚ fitness‚ well-being‚ parenting‚ self-love‚ and anti-knife crime. Sherman argues that while these influencers may not make news‚ they are actively influencing the narrative surrounding masculinity. Labour’s initiative to promote positive masculinity Responding to the need for a more positive approach in the UK‚ Labour has suggested a plan to train mentors in schools. These mentors‚ recruited from the student body‚ seek to oppose the misogynistic perspective promoted by influences such as Andrew Tate. The approach also includes teaching students critical analysis skills so they may better navigate the media ecosystem. Positive masculinity in the spotlight Positive male role models have broken through to become household names. Figures such as fitness guru Joe Wicks‚ often known as The Body Coach‚ have created large followings by providing straightforward advice in an approachable manner. Russ Cook‚ Instagram’s “hardest geezer‚” exemplifies a positive attitude by organizing charity stunts that raise revenue and exposure for charities while engaging a large audience. Russ Cook’s mission: run the length of Africa Russ Cook‚ known as Instagram’s “hardest geezer‚” has embarked on an extraordinary endeavor that extends far beyond social media bravado. His year-long attempt to run the length of Africa from tip to toe is more than just a physical marvel; it also demonstrates his commitment to good change. Cook is set to finish in April‚ having raised nearly £200‚000 (about $255‚000) for the Running Charity and Sandblast‚ demonstrating the transformative power of social media impact for a humanitarian cause. Cook’s journey has captivated the interest of nearly a million followers across his numerous social networks‚ demonstrating that meaningful content can go beyond spectacular shows of bravado. His project not only questions traditional ideals of masculinity but also inspires a new generation to participate in humanitarian work and self-improvement. Overlooking the impact on boys Saul Parker‚ CEO of The Good Side‚ advises against focusing primarily on misogyny in conversations about toxic influencers. He observes that‚ although young women are encouraged to seek positive role models for their own benefit‚ young males are frequently pushed to do so in order to improve their treatment of women. This overlooks the potential harm that toxic influencers might cause to boys and young men themselves. Moving beyond casual misogyny The danger lies in focusing entirely on misogyny‚ which may allow a new generation of toxic influencers to go undiscovered. Parker highlights influencers such as David Goggins‚ who emphasizes self-discipline and motivation without mentioning women or sex. Parker said‚ “Taking women out of the equation doesn’t make it any less problematic; it just means that it’s hard to find a sharp point because he doesn’t say anything hateful.” Nudging toward a positive vision Developing a more favorable view of masculinity necessitates deliberate efforts. Boys‚ shaped by a challenging discourse about patriarchy‚ frequently struggle and feel the need for assistance. Parker emphasizes the necessity of recognizing young men’s issues and diverting their attention to more positive role models. Building a brighter future for masculinity While toxic influencers make news‚ a rising group of influencers is actively changing the narrative about masculinity. A better future can be achieved by highlighting positive role models‚ improving mental health‚ and encouraging critical thinking. It is critical to understand young men’s challenges and provide them with the assistance they require to embrace a healthier masculinity.The post Redefining masculinity: influencers lead the charge against toxic narratives first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

In the wonderful world of bumblebees‚ a stunning discovery calls into question the idea that intelligence is entirely determined by brain size. These tiny insects‚ with brains the size of a seed‚ have astounded scientists by exhibiting a degree of collective intelligence previously thought to be unique to humans. According to the study’s authors‚ “This finding challenges a common opinion in the field: that the capacity to socially learn behaviors that cannot be innovated through individual trial and error is unique to humans.” Breaking human-centric boundaries: bees and the evolution of intelligence The long-held idea that humans have a monopoly on certain characteristics of intellect is constantly shifting. From cultural customs to precise tool use‚ animal communities‚ including bumblebees‚ are rewriting the storyline. Even with their little minds‚ bumblebees‚ like chimps‚ call into question the concept of human exceptionalism. According to Alex Thornton‚ an ecologist at the University of Exeter‚ “Bumblebees join chimpanzees in ‘casting serious doubt on this supposed human exceptionalism.'” Bumblebees: a journey from underestimation to scientific marvels Bumblebees‚ which are commonly underestimated due to their size‚ are emerging as scientific marvels. Recent laboratory trials demonstrate their ability to learn‚ utilize tools‚ count‚ and solve simple mathematical equations. Their hive mind’s collective intellect demonstrates the complexity lurking beneath these buzzing beauties. As behavioral scientist Alice Bridges states‚ “The collective intelligence of their hive mind is also not to be dismissed.” To determine the level of bumblebee intelligence‚ researchers provided them with a two-step challenge. The bees‚ which were of the Bombus terrestris species‚ struggled to solve it on their own‚ despite having up to a third of their lifetime foraging time available. However‚ once one bee cracked the code‚ it was able to efficiently teach others‚ demonstrating a novel type of collaborative learning. According to the study‘s authors‚ “To teach the ‘demonstrator’ bees the non-intuitive solution in the first place‚ researchers had to show them what to do and offer them a reward after the first step to keep them motivated.” Bumblebee culture: passing knowledge across generations While the observed behavior necessitated initial instruction‚ it opened the door to the intriguing prospect of a shared bee culture. Similar to the honey waggle dance‚ which was once thought to be instinctive‚ these discoveries point to the potential for rare innovators in bee society‚ whose ideas could alter future generations’ collective knowledge. Bumblebee learning capabilities Previous tests‚ such as training bumblebees to roll balls for incentives‚ demonstrated their ability to learn and repair mistakes. These hardworking insects have demonstrated that they are not only driven by instinct but also can adapt and learn from shared experiences. Alex Thornton goes on to say‚ “The newest experiment suggests that the ability to learn from others what cannot be learned alone should now join tool use‚ episodic memory‚ and intentional communication in the scrap heap of explanations for human cognition and culture.” Source study: Nature—Bumblebees socially learn behaviour too complex to innovate aloneThe post The surprising human-like intelligence of the humble bee first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

The discussion over who killed Jesus may at first seem like a simplistic question. However‚ this question has been asked by many people throughout church history.

Today‚ I invite you to join with me in praying together to intentionally reflect in three areas. Our sin‚ His greatness‚ and His Spirit’s leading.

Today‚ I invite you to join with me in praying together to intentionally reflect in three areas. Our sin‚ His greatness‚ and His Spirit’s leading.