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December 27, 2024e-Paper
Updated – December 27, 2024 08:10 am IST – Bengaluru
Barbara Poplawska | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Barbara Poplawska, a 29-year-old conductor from the Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI), recently visited Bengaluru, bringing her passion for Western classical music to the city that has embraced diverse musical traditions. The group presented A Classical Christmas featuring many typical season’s delights including Corelli’s Christmas Concerto, Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite, Strauss’s iconic The Blue Danube, besides the traditional Christmas carols.
In an interview with The Hindu, Poplawska shared her unique journey from Kazakhstan to Poland and eventually to India, where she joined the SOI at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) as an assistant conductor before taking centrestage.  
“In places like Europe, the audience is not very responsive and needs more time. But in India, right from the first piece, you start feeling a connection.” | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Poplawska speaks fondly of the enthusiastic reception she has experienced from Indian audiences, noting their warmth and responsiveness compared to their European counterparts. She also highlighted the importance of nurturing young audiences’ connection to music.  
Despite challenges like acoustics and limited freedom to experiment, she praised the resilience and adaptability of orchestras, citing their survival through wars and pandemics. Looking to the future, Poplawska remains optimistic about the growth of Western classical music in India and across the world. She believes in the transformative magic of orchestras and the importance of preserving their rich legacy while embracing new artistic expressions. 
How did your journey with classical music and conducting start in India?  
It was an accident. I was in Poland with a master’s degree in music and a couple of projects, but I did not have a permanent job. One of the chiefs of NCPA is from Kazakhstan, and I was born there. Somehow I found him and got in touch with him. NCPA invited me here a couple of years ago, and I started off as an assistant conductor. It was more of a practice work when I joined, and as I started building connections within SOI, I started working as a conductor.   
How receptive are Indian audience to orchestras, Bengaluru in particular? 
Ever since my first concert here, I have experienced that in India, and cities like Bengaluru and Mumbai, the audience is very open. In places like Europe, the audience is not very responsive and needs more time. But in India, right from the first piece, you start feeling a connection and support from the audience, which is very helpful and gives us a lot of energy.  
You had a special session for children during your recent visit to Bengaluru. How receptive are Indian towards Western Classical music? 
I guess children across the world react the same way and at the end of the day they are all children. For them, it is always interesting. Most children get the opportunity to watch live orchestras very rarely, and when they do, they get a chance to look at the instruments live, hear how they sound, and learn to differentiate between each instrument. I really appreciate orchestras that perform for children, as it is very important for children to build a connection with music from a very young age.  
Do people in general across the world have patience for classical forms since they involve cultivating a taste with patience? 
The one thing I truly realised after a few years of being in the music industry is that music be it Western classical, popular, Indian classical or any form, is an expression of musicians. These expressions have to touch our hearts, and you will connect with them no matter what the genre is. But some may like it, and some may not. I am always surprised when I conduct modern classical because there are some people from the classical world who are still not open to it. Every music is an expression, and audiences have to be open to it.  
Are Indian auditoria suited for Western orchestra in terms of acoustics? 
To be honest, I realised that most of us, the younger generation of musicians, try not to categorise auditoria and we try to make the best of our music. When we give the right emotions, it will not really matter how good or bad the place of performance is. We take it as a challenge, to convey our work to the audience through whatever limitations or facilities we have. 
As someone who is expected to perform Western Classical music on a regular basis, do you have the freedom to create new music or experiment in your field?
When I was in Poland there always was a set of rules for orchestras, which made sure there was some percentage of classical and a little bit of modern music. In an orchestra, it really depends on how open the manager is to making changes. But of course, we play Western classical music not only because we are obligated to, but also because of the rich history and legacy that has been left behind. We love to keep the legacy going and leave it etched in peoples’ memories.   
Classical music faces unique challenges in contemporary times. How do you see the future of orchestras, especially in India? 
Orchestra or Western classical music has survived multiple wars, the pandemic and a lot more, it will continue to survive and thrive in the coming days too. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when it seemed like it was the end of everything, musicians across the world came together to find ways to perform. I believe that when a group of people come together to perform it will always survive no matter what. This is one of the reasons why I decided to become a conductor because I believe that the process of working with a group of different people, opinions, and artistes, is really magical. Contemporising art is a form of growth, but classical musical will continue to survive.
Published – December 27, 2024 08:00 am IST
music / classical music / Western Classical / music industry / Music Personalities
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MOLINE, Ill. — Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, and local colleges are stepping up to prepare students for this powerful technology.
At Black Hawk College’s Quad-Cities campus, Librarian Atticus Garrison compares AI tools to calculators in math class, emphasizing their role in enhancing learning while teaching responsible use. 
“When I go into classes, one of the things I’ll teach is how to use AI for a certain class,” Garrison said.
Western Illinois University (WIU) is taking things a step further with its new AI minor launching in fall of 2025. The program, led by Dennis DeVolder, WIU’s director of the School of Computer Science, includes courses on generative AI, machine learning and programming. Devolder believes students equipped with AI knowledge will stand out in their careers. 
“Students who are prepared and trained in how to use this technology will have a leg up,” he said. “I can’t imagine any career path that wouldn’t benefit at least to some degree from having this background,” DeVolder said.
VictoryXR, a training platform focused on AI, partners with over 50 schools worldwide to teach students the fundamentals of artificial intelligence. CEO Steve Grubbs stresses how rapidly AI is advancing and its potential to revolutionize industries. 
“It’s everywhere now, but it’s only a fraction of what it will be in two years,” Grubbs said. “We all have to be prepared and be changing now to get ready for that moment.”
Educators at both WIU and Black Hawk College agree that AI literacy is critical as it becomes an integral part of daily life and careers. Applications for WIU’s Fall 2025 semester are now open.
For more information, or to apply at WIU visit here.
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Star Stable codes help you redeem essential resources including free Star Rider memberships, Star Coins, cosmetics, and even seasonal items. These will help channel your inner Jockey as you start as a newbie and transform into a full-fledged veteran horse rider.
Throughout your journey, you’ll encounter several different quests to participate in as you explore this magical world. That’s where the different codes come into play, as they all enhance gameplay, from unlocking free items that can change your appearance and even modifying certain stats.
There are currently 29 available codes you can redeem in Star Stable, which we’ve confirmed ourselves by redeeming them with our own account to be working as of December 24, 2024:
Now that you know everything that’s currently available, before redeeming the above codes, make sure to remember the following points:
Redeeming codes is pretty simple, as it can be done right from the website itself – so you don’t even need to log into your game to get them:
If you don’t want to take the browser route, you can also redeem them directly from the game client as well, right before hopping into the server.
Sometimes when entering a code, you’ll get a “That code’s a no-go. Double-check?’ message appear. This means that you’ve either spelled it wrong or it’s no longer active, so we’d suggest copying and pasting codes from our active list to help avoid this. Codes aren’t case-sensitive, though, so you don’t need to worry about matching the case of those listed on our page.
As you can see from the tables above, most of the codes in Star Stable tend to reward you with various items like Star Coins, treats, Star Rider memberships, and even cosmetics.
Star Coins are the game’s premium currency, meaning that having more of them on hand means you can buy more cosmetics you want for your horses!
Treats are essential to keep your horse happy, so having more of those is always welcome, and you can even use codes to redeem some adorable little pets – like the one shown in the screenshot below:
Some codes offer free Star Rider membership for seven to 11 days, unlocking awesome content like new quests, clothes, horses, and the entire map of Jorvik. You can also create and own a Riding Club.
The items you buy during it, such as clothes, horses, and tack, will be permanently yours as long as your membership is active. However, once your membership expires, you’ll only be able to access the Moorland area.
If you’re on the fence about grabbing this membership, using these rewards when they’re available can be a great way to give you a sneak peek of what’s included and how you’ll use it.
Make sure to check back regularly, as the developers occasionally add new codes, and they can go a very long way in helping you take care of your stallions and become one of the best riders Star Stable has ever seen.
If you’re looking for more free redeemable items, make sure to check out our pages for the latest Infinity Nikki codes, Pokemon Go codes, Disney Dreamlight Valley codes, and Zenless Zero codes if you’re looking for mobile games on the go.
Ava is Dexerto’s Evergreen Manager, based in England. With a BA (Hons) in Media and Communications, and a passion for RPGs, The Sims, Pokemon, and Dead by Daylight, she primarily covers tips, guides, and reviews. You can contact Ava at: avathompsonpowell@dexerto.com.
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BALTIMORE – Who wants to be a billionaire?
Mega Millions, the national lottery known for its high-stakes jackpots, has reached $1.15 billion for the next drawing Friday – potentially the fifth-largest prize in the game’s history.
Mount Washington, Maryland, resident Paul Chrismer said he is feeling lucky and is looking to end the year as a wealthy man.
“Driving back from my in-laws in New Jersey and heading to my sister’s house in Maryland for Christmas dinner, I heard on the radio that the jackpot for this Friday’s drawing was going to be $1.1 billion,” Chrismer said. “So when I stopped for gas, I purchased four Mega Millions tickets, one each for my sister, nephew, niece and parents as last-minute stocking stuffers.
“Before handing them out, I reminded them that for any winning ticket, I would receive a 50% finders fee.”
The price of the ticket is still a relative bargain for now.
Mega Millions, which is sold in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands, is raising the price of its tickets in April from $2 to $5. It is the second “price adjustment” since it began selling tickets more than 20 years ago, and the first since 2017.
Carney, Maryland, resident Eric Blunt joked about the chances of winning the grand prize, which are estimated at one in 302,575,350.
“Don’t tell anyone,” he said about the $1.15 billion jackpot. “I don’t want my odds to get worse.”
The Maryland Lottery’s total sales of all tickets since Sept. 10 are approximately $750 million, and Mega Millions has accounted for about 4.7% of total sales since the last jackpot was hit on Sept. 10.
Seth Elkin, a spokesman for Maryland Lottery, said this $1.15 billion jackpot “is a win for Maryland Lottery players and retailers, as well as for the state.” There has been $35.1 million in Mega Millions ticket sales in Maryland since Sept. 10, when the last jackpot was for $810 million in Texas.
There have been $5.5 million in prizes won by Maryland Lottery players on Mega Millions tickets sold since Sept. 10, including two tickets each worth $1 million.
One of the $1 million tickets was sold in October in Brooklyn Park, and the prize was claimed by an Anne Arundel County resident. The other $1 million ticket is still unclaimed as of Thursday morning. It was sold Dec. 10 at a Wawa store in Bel Air and the winner has 182 days from the drawing date to claim.
“We tend to see an uptick in sales after a jackpot has been rolling for a while because it’s not just regular lottery players who are interested in high jackpots, it’s everybody,” Elkin said. “At one time or another almost everyone has done some daydreaming about what they might do if they won a large jackpot. We also see groups of co-workers, friends or relatives who join together to buy tickets when there’s a big jackpot, which increases participation and makes it a fun shared experience. … We encourage everyone to keep it fun and please play responsibly, within their budget and their means.”
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Watch CBS News
By Mike Sullivan
December 26, 2024 / 8:53 PM EST / CBS Boston
BOSTON – A Cape Cod, Massachusetts woman will honor her father’s lifelong obsession with outer space by sending his ashes into orbit around the earth this spring.
“His soul is already up there but let’s put his ashes up there too,” said Melanie Sharrow.
David Lavender was a news photographer and editor on Cape Cod who worked with NBC. Sharrow remembers her father fondly.
“He would let me press buttons and help him edit, I was his little apprentice,” said Sharrow.
She said ever since he was a child, he was obsessed with space, having grown up during the space race of the 1960s. He was also a huge fan of Star Trek, a love his daughter inherited.
“He bought me toys and we would launch little model rockets,” said Sharrow.
Lavender died by suicide in 2021.
“He had a lot of trauma and he tried his best,” said Sharrow. “I see him as the strongest person that I know.”
He’s now destined for the great beyond. In April, his ashes will launch into orbit from Cape Canaveral in Florida. It’s thanks to the company Celestis, which attaches people’s ashes to rockets and satellites heading into space. In the 90s, they got a NASA scientist buried on the moon. And this past January, they sent Star Trek actress Nichelle Nichols into deep space along with some of her colleagues, including Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry.
This will actually be the second attempt to launch Lavender’s ashes into space. Last year, the first satellite burned up prematurely.  
“They will orbit earth typically for five years and then returns like a meteorite, like a shooting star,” said Charles Chafer, the co-founder of Celestis. “The family can track his progress orbiting the earth on our website.”
“If he’s overhead, we’ll know it and we can be able to go out there and just wave up to the stars,” said Sharrow.
Mike Sullivan is a multimedia journalist for WBZ-TV.
© 2024 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.
©2024 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Fine-tune your humor with comedy classes with ArtsQuest this winter  Yahoo Life
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