Latest news with #Orange County
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Can Jamming Remotely Truly Match a Live Experience For Bands?
During the pandemic, we all got a hall pass to do remote work, mostly using Zoom to connect with coworkers, clients, friends, and even family members. But if you were a musician in a band, being remote created a particularly unique set of challenges. There were online music collaboration platforms and hacks out there at the time, yet most of them had quirks such as network latency delays, poor audio, and internet instability. The Virtual Jam Revolution Is Here Today, there is something that actually works: an advanced streaming solution that allows you to play with other musicians without the usual audio hiccups, workarounds, and lag time of previously released products. Think of the new online music collaboration platform, Lutefish, as a highly effective Zoom for musicians. It uses a dedicated hardware device that allows musicians to play in real-time jam sessions with players streaming in from as many as five different locations. The company advertises that musicians can be up to 500 miles apart, but some users report on social media that they can be 1,000+ miles away and still practice seamlessly. That creates a lot of new possibilities. More from Spin: The 10 Best Collective Soul Songs X and Los Lobos: Celebrating '99 Years of Rock n' Roll' Together 5 Things Everyone in the Music Industry Should Know But how big of an impact does Lutefish have for musicians? Orange County thrash metal band Trip To The Morgue has been experiencing a resurgence in popularity, leading to a very hectic schedule. They just signed to a new record label and are releasing an album, alongside maintaining a relentless national touring schedule. Recently, they needed to audition for a new backup guitarist, and found one who lived in Las Vegas, Nevada, while they remain in Orange County, California – a state away. Lead guitarist, James Patrick McCosar, explains that Lutefish was essential for helping the band adapt to their crazy scheduling, auditioning new faraway guitarists, finding one, then practicing together from different locations. 'So it was just in the nick of time that Lutefish came within our possession to be able to say this is going to work out perfectly… It's been super easy for us to not only collaborate on working with a new guitar player, but also with being able to write new music and being able to practice and get things up to speed for everything that's happening so quickly.' In fact, the band went from practicing online with their new guitarist on Lutefish straight into a live show in Las Vegas. They had never once had a face-to-face practice session. 'It was seamless,' adds McCosar. Check out the band's full online jamming experience on the Lutefish blog. Where Remote Rehearsals Meet Real Connections In addition to real-time collaboration, the Lutefish platform (sign up is free) connects users to a music community where they can meet like-minded musicians, find people to jam with, and even find new band members. Musicians and artists can also find gigs in their area and promote projects and shows. There are other musician-focused social platforms, but the difference is Lutefish users can start playing together right away, provided they've purchased the hardware. The platform allows people to share their music with the community, discover and play with strangers who have similar musical abilities, form a new band, or simply jam with new and old friends who live far away. Lutefish's technology also eliminates the time-suck of packing up and moving musical equipment and setup for band practice in yet another physical location. That's a lot of benefits. The platform also has a great track record with frequent updates and new features. The following features are all slated to arrive within the year: Stem Recording (aka multi-tracking) allows groups to record their individual audio streams separately, enabling more capacity for post-processing sessions. Live Streaming, musicians can livestream their performance to an audience. In-platform audio and video performance recording allows musicians to record audio and video from a performance, then adjust the start and end time of the media – all within Lutefish. Here's Why This Hardware Wins Lutefish's plug-n-play platform outperforms streaming platforms released in the past that relied on Wi-Fi and additional computer software to connect with remote players. If chat rooms are to be trusted, especially on Reddit, these other platforms exhibit a lot of issues with reliability, loss of live audio quality, time delays, and lack the ability to record with clarity and edit effectively. Lutefish's hardware, the Lutefish Stream, connects directly to your router using an Ethernet cable to deliver ultra-low latency and clear audio through high-quality preamps as if you're standing 30 feet away from other players. If you want to get really technical, that means devices can stream 48k audio with less than 30 milliseconds of latency. This helps reduce connectivity issues and lag times, allowing musicians to rehearse and record together via the Internet while being in sync. Having dedicated hardware is a big part of what sets Lutefish apart, as it provides the platform with key technical benefits: The operating system is optimized solely for real-time audio processing Third-party products and software like audio interfaces DAWs are not needed. Audio paths are tightly managed to prevent unpredictable slowdowns. These technical advantages are really what make Lutefish feel more like an in-person playing experience. Based in Minnesota, not Silicon Valley, Lutefish says it was founded 'by musicians for musicians' who created the technology to enable players of all abilities to share in the joy of making music together. And if you're looking for Minnesota's music cred, the star of the north state lays claim to Lizzo, Prince, Bob Dylan, The Replacements, and Babes in Toyland, just to name a few. Lutefish founders explain, 'We built Lutefish as a dedicated hardware unit to eliminate as many sources of latency and variability as possible, while providing an easy plug-and-play platform.' Skip the Tech Headaches—Here's How It Works 1. Purchase the Lutefish unit ($299 USD). 2. Activate your subscription ($12.99 USD/month, including 2 free months). 3. Plug in your gear and start jamming instantly. Once you have the hardware, simply plug it into power, connect it to your router via Ethernet, and then plug in your instrument and mic. Connect to the Internet through the Ethernet cable and fire up the app to connect face-to-face with five other performers in five different locations. Lutefish offers all the positives for a remote band experience in one product. Once you and your bandmates are on Lutefish, you won't need to leave your house or studio to make and play quality music. Unless, of course, you get signed to a major tour. Then rock on! To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.
CNET
23-07-2025
- Health
- CNET
This Is What Your Poop Is Trying to Tell You About Your Gut Health
While you may not regularly discuss your bowel movements with friends, it is still important to pay attention to them. After all, how often you poop, what your poop looks like and how long it takes you to poop can tell you a lot about your gut health, according to experts. To help you figure out what is normal versus unhealthy, we reached out to three gastroenterologists about everything you've ever wanted to know about your bowel movements. How often should you poop? You probably have someone in your family (if you're honest, maybe it's you) who's convinced they need to poop every morning. However, a healthy pooping schedule isn't the same for every person. You don't need to panic if you're not one of those people who goes to the bathroom like clockwork after your morning coffee. Dr. Lance Uradomo, an interventional gastroenterologist at City of Hope Orange County, explains, "The term 'regular' generally means that a person's bowel movement frequency is continuing without any change." In fact, the number of times you poop every week could vary dramatically from other people in your household with no cause for concern. Dr. Michael Schopis, gastroenterologist and attending physician at Manhattan Gastroenterology, says, "Normal poop frequency can range quite dramatically depending on the person. Pooping anywhere from every other day up to three to four times per day can be considered regular." As a general rule, Uradomo advises, "Three times a day to three times a week is considered a healthy range." However, the doctor warns, "It's important to recognize your own regular routine so that if the frequency suddenly changes, you can alert your doctor." Is it healthier to poop less or more often? Dr. Natasha Chhabra, a gastroenterologist at Gastroenterology Associates of New Jersey, says how often you poop may be less important than whether you're pooping enough. She explains, "Having adequate BMs [bowel movements] with complete evacuation is a great goal, as having a BM is one way our body rids itself of toxins and waste. Some can have a daily BM and still not feel that they have emptied." In other words, having less frequent but complete bowel movements may be healthier than having frequent small bowel movements. How often you should be pooping may also depend on how difficult it is for you to go number two. According to Schopis, "If it requires lots of straining and pushing to have a bowel movement or it requires you to spend 30 minutes on the toilet, then it's probably better for you to try and poop more often." He says you should introduce lifestyle changes to help induce pooping in this situation. The Mayo Clinic recommends eating high-fiber foods, staying hydrated and exercising as natural ways to prevent constipation. On the other hand, it's possible to poop too often. Schopis says, "If someone is going four to five times per day, it's watery and with significant urgency, then this person is probably pooping too much." The Mayo Clinic notes that everything from stomach viruses and bacterial infections to lactose intolerance may cause you to poop frequently. Antibiotics may also lead to temporary does healthy poop look like? Many doctors use the Bristol stool chart to help evaluate the health of bowel movements. The chart is a form scale, meaning that it rates stool based on factors like size and consistency. Bowel movements are rated from 1 to 7, with 1 being the most firm and 7 being entirely liquid. Bristol stool type 1-2: Rabbit or grape-like droppings that are quite hard and may be difficult to pass. Bristol stool type 3-4: Corn on the cob or sausage bowel movements that are soft and easy to pass. Bristol stool type 5-7: Mushy to liquid bowel movements that may or may not include some solid pieces. As Chhabra explains, "The middle of the chart (Bristol 3-4) describes a healthy BM, which is generally described as sausage or snake-like." Poop in these categories is also solid, while it may be either smooth or have some cracks on the surface. A healthy poop in the Bristol 3-4 categories indicates that someone is getting both enough water and enough fiber in their diet, according to Schopis. He notes that this type of stool is often easiest to pass, while "Bristol stool types 1-2 are often hard, pebbly and hard to pass, indicating constipation." If your poop floats, you could have excessive gas, be eating a diet with high-fat content or have a gastrointestinal tract issue. Your poop should sink more often than not. Color You also want to consider the color of your bowel movements. Uradomo reports that "healthy poop can be brown or even greenish but should never be black or contain blood. This could indicate the presence of cancer or other health problems." If your stool is particularly pale, you may want to talk to your doctor about your liver, pancreas and gallbladder health. Smell According to Mount Sinai Hospital, smell also matters. While poop is never meant to smell pleasant, if it suddenly has a new or particularly foul odor, you could be experiencing a condition like chronic pancreatitis or ulcerative colitis. The good news is that changes to your diet can also produce really stinky stool. So if you just have one seriously bad-smelling BM, it could be from eating or drinking something fermented or consuming a lot of garlic. How long should it take you to poop? It shouldn't take you more than a few minutes to poop. Schopis says, "Ideally, someone should spend 5 minutes or less without any pushing or straining to have a bowel movement." Chhabra agrees, explaining, "Spending more than a few minutes having a BM should raise concern for constipation, particularly if you are straining." Uradomo offers a little more leeway, saying, "It should take a person between 5 and 15 minutes on the toilet to have a bowel movement." He warns that sitting on the toilet for longer than that can "lead to problems such as hemorrhoids, reduced circulation or pelvic floor dysfunction." Dusanpetkovic/Getty Images What are the signs of an unhealthy bowel? There are several key signs that you may have an unhealthy bowel. These include: Pain: Frequent pain while pooping may be a cause for concern. This could mean your stool is too hard or there is a larger GI issue. Blood: Blood in the bowl after you poop may also signal an unhealthy bowel. Uradomo warns, "Blood in the stool can be caused by a relatively minor problem like hemorrhoids, but it may also be an indicator of cancer, bowel disease or major internal bleeding." You should monitor bleeding closely and consult your doctor. Loss of bowel control: If you experience bowel (fecal) incontinence, you may be experiencing weakened rectal or anal muscles. Muscle and nerve damage resulting from childbirth may also affect your ability to control bowel movements. Black stool: Uradomo warns that black or tarry-looking stools can indicate bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract. This includes your esophagus, stomach and small intestine. Chronic diarrhea: If you often have diarrhea lasting more than a few days, you may be dealing with irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn's disease. Celiac disease can also cause frequent, pale diarrhea. When to talk to your doctor about your poop Any time you're experiencing painful pooping or the inability to have a bowel movement, it's worth talking to your doctor. The NHS warns that chronic constipation can lead to dangerous fecal impaction, and Healthline recommends seeking medical attention if it's been a full week without a bowel movement. Schopis says, "If you're finding that bowel movements control your life, either due to lack of frequency or going too much," it's a great idea to see a doctor. Black or bloody poop also signals that it's time for a medical evaluation. How to keep your poop healthy Sometimes lifestyle changes are all it takes to create healthier poop habits. For instance, make sure you drink enough water. Dehydration may lead to constipation or make your stool harder to pass. Chhabra also recommends eating fiber daily through whole fruits and vegetables. She says this "helps keep your bowel movements fuller and easier to pass." More specifically, Schopis advises people to aim for 2 to 3 liters of water per day and 25 to 30 grams of fiber per day to achieve healthy, normal bowel movements. Aside from this advice, you may want to consider exercising more to help your bowel run smoothly. The bottom line You don't need to poop every day, but you should track your habits and notice when there is a dramatic change. Symptoms like straining to poop or experiencing chronic diarrhea are signs that it's time to make an appointment with your doctor. In the meantime, eating fiber and drinking a lot of water are easy ways to help yourself to poop regularly.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Orange County home listings asked for more money in June – see the current median price here
The median home in Orange County listed for $530,725 in June, up 1.1% from the previous month's $525,000, an analysis of data from shows. Compared to June 2024, the median home list price slightly increased from $539,950. The statistics in this article only pertain to houses listed for sale in Orange County, not houses that were sold. Information on your local housing market, along with other useful community data, is available at Orange County's median home was 2,002 square feet, listed at $265 per square foot. The price per square foot of homes for sale is up 5.6% from June 2024. Listings in Orange County moved steadily, at a median 45 days listed compared to the June national median of 53 days on the market. In the previous month, homes had a median of 44 days on the market. Around 460 homes were newly listed on the market in June, a 16.2% increase from 396 new listings in June 2024. The median home prices issued by may exclude many, or even most, of a market's homes. The price and volume represent only single-family homes, condominiums or townhomes. They include existing homes, but exclude most new construction as well as pending and contingent sales. Across the New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area, median home prices fell to $786,500, slightly lower than a month earlier. The median home had 1,528 square feet, at a list price of $520 per square foot. In New York, median home prices were $692,450, a slight decrease from May. The median New York home listed for sale had 1,600 square feet, with a price of $419 per square foot. Throughout the United States, the median home price was $440,950, a slight increase from the month prior. The median American home for sale was listed at 1,852 square feet, with a price of $233 per square foot. The median home list price used in this report represents the midway point of all the houses or units listed over the given period of time. Experts say the median offers a more accurate view of what's happening in a market than the average list price, which would mean taking the sum of all listing prices then dividing by the number of homes sold. The average can be skewed by one particularly low or high price. The USA TODAY Network is publishing localized versions of this story on its news sites across the country, generated with data from Please leave any feedback or corrections for this story here. This story was written by Ozge Terzioglu. Our News Automation and AI team would like to hear from you. Take this survey and share your thoughts with us. This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Orange County home listings asked for more money in June – see the current median price here Solve the daily Crossword
