Monthly Archives: February 2022

Island Hopping in the Seychelles – AFAR Media

Posted: February 15, 2022 at 5:34 am

Come for the pristine turquoise beaches. Stay for the granite boulders, bold curries, wild hiking, and warm-hearted people.

I had my eye on the Seychelles for some timethe archipelago of 115 sun-soaked islands in the Indian Ocean, 1,200 miles off the coast of East Africa. From my native New York, its a journey to get there, but from my adopted home in Nairobi, its only a three-hour direct flight. And during the pandemic, it ended up being exactly what we needed from a family vacation.

My husband, 1.5-year-old daughter, and I spent almost two weeks exploring the Seychelles three main islands. We explored the beaches with their signature granite boulders and clear warm water. We snorkeled alongside neon tropical fish, a stingray, and a needlefish. We hiked through dense jungles, feeling sweaty and serene. The flavorful curries had me eager to buy fresh spices so I could recreate them at home. We met some of the most generous and relaxed people on the planet.

And I will always think of Seychelles as the place that unlocked my daughters voice: She sat on the shoreline and started confidently telling stories in toddler babble.

The islands physical beauty is undeniable; even if you dont identify as a beach bum, the Seychelles will turn you into one, by showcasing how diverse this biome can be. Beyond the natural attractions, the country exuded a sense of casual peacefulness, which felt like a salve during this time. I could see why most of our fellow touristsusually from Europewere visiting the Seychelles for the 3rd, 7th, or even 12th time.

The country was closed to international visitors for nearly a year, until March 2021; in the meantime, many people lost their jobs and relied on COVID relief from the government. But now, with about 80 percent of the country fully vaccinated and no required quarantine period for visitors, tourism seems to be getting back on its feet. David Germain, regional director of the Seychelles Tourism Board, says the country saw 185,000 visitors in 2021, including 6,000 who visited directly from the United States. (For comparison, the Seychelles had 384,000 visitors in 2019.)

We flew from Nairobi to the biggest island, Mah, home to the international airport. (Qatar, Emirates, and Etihad all fly from New York to Mah, usually via Dubai or another Middle Eastern stopover.) The archipelago has three main islands: Mah, Praslin, and La Digue; many of the others are uninhabited, home to a single resort, or serve as bases for fishing expeditions.

Our trip lasted 12 glorious days, during which we stayed in three guesthouses. We started our trip on the north side of Mah, in the town of Beau Vallon. After a few days, we took the ferry to La Diguevia a pit stop in Praslinand spent five days on this three-mile strip of boulder-studded beaches, shallows, and lush hills. We concluded our trip on the south side of Mah. It was the perfect amount of time to get a taste of the country, while leaving me a wish list of places to explore on my next visit.

Given how vital tourism is for the economy, Seychelles is full of hotels, all-inclusive resorts, and self-catering holiday homes. We opted for the self-catering option throughout our stay: our favorite, Domaine Les Rochers in La Digue, was a family-run garden oasis minutes from the town center. The bungalow we rented felt cozy in the best sense: The bedding was comfortable and stylish, the wraparound porch was perfect for reading when it rained, and the well-appointed kitchen included some ingredients like oil, spices, and fresh fruit. My daughter spent the early mornings chasing the resident cats and chickens. We felt right at home.

For a more upscale stay in La Digue, Domaine lOrangeraie has dozens of rooms at various price points, an infinity pool, two restaurants, and a full-service spa on a hilltop. In Mah and Praslin, the Constance Hotels (Ephelia and Lemuria, respectively) offer similar amenities, and on the north side of Mah, in Beau Vallon, the Savoy and Story resorts are popular hotel options.

Mah is home to about 90 percent of the Seychelles approximately 100,000 residents. Its the largest island in the archipelago4 miles wide and 16 miles longand the most developed. Over the coming days, Id come to appreciate the shift from Nairobis urban craze to Mahs island speed, the lilting Creole Seychellois accent, and of course, the tropical weather (most days were in the 80s and sunny, though there were a few rainstorms). We spent our days exploring beaches, hiking, and learning about Seychelles culture and history. We ate well. We drank rum. And we made friends along the way.

Seychelles beaches have the seemingly requisite pristine white sand and turquoise water, but even more striking are the large granite boulders and secret cove-like settings. All of the countrys beaches are public, even ones accessed through hotels, which made our wish list all the more extensive.

Barrier reefs protect many of Seychelles shorelines, which means calm water by the shoreperfect for our beach babyand ample snorkeling. Our last few days in Mah were dedicated to beach-hopping, armed with our trusty paper map, the thorough website Snorkel Report, and a book, Seychelles 20 Most Beautiful Beaches.

Mahs larger beaches offer a unique charm. Fun beach bars and restaurants flank Beau Vallon Beach, likely Mahs most famous beach; from here, I witnessed one of the most colorful sunsets of my life, with views of the majestic Silhouette Island. On the other side of the island, the wide expanse of Anse Intendance features large crashing cerulean waves and a mountain backdrop. Great for surfers, less ideal for toddlers.

We enjoyed Port Launay, a half-moon beach close to the five-star resort Constance Ephelia and located within a Marine National Park. Though most of the coral is sadly bleached, the bay is still home to colorful tropical fish and sea turtles. The beach offers silky sand and plenty of shade from indigenous takamaka trees. Anse Soleil is a small, picturesque cove beach on the other side of the island near the Four Seasons Resort (that was harboring a multimillion-dollar yacht when we visited). Anse Gouvernment, Sunset Beach, and Anse Forbans were other favoritesbut above all, Anse Major was the star.

On our first full day in Mah, we did a short, moderately difficult hike to Anse Major. The path alternated between climbing exposed rockface, with views of the azure ocean below, and trekking through a jungle. The trail spat us out onto a tiny beach rimmed by palm trees and boulders. The water was warm, someone had hung up a rope from a palm tree to swing on, and a tiny jungle bar sold fresh coconut water. I felt like I was in a movie. We later learned that the trail continued to two other beaches, that people sometimes grill seafood on the third beach, and that you could also arrive at the beach by boat taxi. But we were so enamored by the secret cove beach that we didnt venture further. (Tip: Drive on the paved road past the official trailhead to where the trail actually begins, close to the hotel Calm Sorento. That will save you about 20 minutes of walking on pavement each way.)

The winding, mountainous San Souci Road is dotted with trailhead markers. We opted to trek Morne Blanc, a steep out-and-back trail to a great viewpoint, from where we could see half the island, neon blue water, and white paradise flycatchers soaring in the sky. Copolia Trail is another popular, and less intense, trail in this area. The website AllTrails is an exhaustive resource for walking enthusiasts.(Note: I wore normal sneakers and didnt see a need for hiking shoes. We carried our daughter in a baby carrier for most of these hikes. Bring ample water.)

Many people visit the Seychelles, stay in a resort, and leave having only had European-style food. In doing so, travelers will miss the complex, rich flavors of Creole cooking, the casual fun of takeaway barbecue joints, and the coconut-forward desserts.

My most memorable meal was at Le Jardin du Roi spice garden, on a hilltop in the center of the island. The set lunch menumuch of which was sourced from the gardenincluded a few appetizers, such as star fruit marinated in olive oil and breadfruit braised in coconut milk. The main course featured fresh fish, flavorful curries, and tenderly cooked lentils. (You can buy packets of its curry powder before leaving.) Entry to the garden comes with a map, which can serve as a guide around the verdant, untamed property. I saw my first coco de mer tree, a highly protected tree that grows a nut that can weigh over 40 pounds and is shaped like a womans bottom, as well as my first aldabra giant tortoise.

We had another indulgent meal at Del Place, close to Port Launay Marine Park. It features local artwork on the walls and a seafront view (complete with an island to admire!). We loved the melt-in-your-mouth red snapper, fried eggplant, and sweet potato mash. We further treated ourselves to the dessert degustation, a tasting menu of six cakes, tarts, and mousses.

Other restaurants I would recommend on Mah include Le Perle Noir and La Scala, both upscale Italian restaurants in Beau Vallon; Marie Antoinette, a family-run Creole restaurant; Baobab Pizzeria, a casual pizza eatery with a fabulous view of Beau Vallon Beach; and Kafe Kreol, which offers a mix of cuisines and creative cocktails.

Finally, we had a lovely time at the Takamaka Rum Distillery, a family-run distillery making rum for about 20 years. We toured the medicinal gardens, learned about how rum was produced, and tasted six productsincluding white, brown, and spiced rums. It was 11 a.m., but the tour guides clearly knew how to start a party anytime. As we sipped the spirits, they gave us recipes for pina coladas, rum raisin ice cream, and mojitos.

My travel style is to see fewer places for a longer time, and use that time to get a sense of what it would be like to live there. For example, I checked outSir Selwyn Clarke Market, a covered food market in the heart of the countrys capital, Victoria. Built in 1840, the market showcases vendors selling produce, specialty foods like giant cinnamon sticks and vanilla essence, and Seychelles souvenirs.

I did feel a bit of culture shock in the market as I watched vendors wrap all the produce in plastic bags (Kenya banned plastic bags in 2020). There was far more single-use plastic throughout the country than I anticipated, particularly bags and water bottles, especially considering that the Seychelles are in the middle of the ocean and boast some of the cleanest beaches in the world. According to Germain from the tourism board, the importation of single-use plastics has been banned as of February 2021, and vendors are using up their supplies. There will be a gradual shift to paper bags and glass bottles over the coming years.

Part of the reason the country has such a small population is that humans didnt settle on the islands until the late 18th century, when French traders realized that the archipelago occupied a strategic location between Mauritius and India. Though the French formally ceded control of the islands to Britain in 1814, the French influence has remained strong until today, in the Creole language and the cuisine. In 1835, slavery was abolished throughout the British empire, and liberated people were able to get jobs on plantations in exchange for food and wages.

The Seychelles didnt shy away from discussing its complicated pastin fact, places like Mission Lodge have a statue honoring the children of formerly enslaved people who attended school there. Germain says the country will soon be restarting a program called A day in the life of a Seychellois, in which you visit the market and cook a meal together with a locala chance to better understand Creole identity and history.

What La Digue lacks in sizethe island is three miles long and two miles wideit more than compensates for with relaxed vibes, jungle hikes, and the most breathtaking beaches Ive ever seen. Its home to only 3,000 full-time residents and a handful of motorized vehicles, making it somehow feel larger.

We spent almost a week on this spit of land, and I would seriously consider renting a house and staying for a month or two. (Luckily, the island has a small hospital, and the more developed island of Praslin is only 15 minutes away by ferry, in case anything were to go wrong.) I have happy memories of cooking fresh eggs for breakfast, setting out on our bicycles with a loose plan, our daughter giggling when we went fast, and discovering something beautiful every day.

La Digue has what is believed to be the most photographed beach in the world, Anse Source dArgent, accessed most easily through LUnion Estate. It was the busiest beach we visited on our whole trip, but we were able to find a quiet spot for reading and napping. The atmosphere is surreal, with massive boulders that look golden at sunset. The water was so clear that you could see giant fish swimming by your ankles. We spent several hours here, and I cant wait to return and admire this beach again.

We also enjoyed Anse Severe, particularly around sunsetthough beware of sea urchins! I wish I had brought water shoes with me. Anse Patates has some of the bluest water I have ever seen, and lots of hidden spots between rocks to lay out a beach towel and read a book. One day, we rode our bicycles to Grand Anse, where the waves were even bigger than the boulders. There are trails from there to sister beaches, but a huge rainstorm had us cycling back to our guesthouse.

We trekked to the highest point on La Digue, Nid dAigle, which I would rate as moderate to difficult, as it was steep and slippery in parts. The views made up for the unsure footing: between the viewpoints, we had a 360-degree view of the area, including Praslin and the tiny islets surrounding La Digue. Next time, Id plan to hike to the beaches Anse Marron and Anse Cocos, though due to the unmarked trails, they are best visited with a guide.

My two favorite spots to eat on La Digue were among the more casual: Rey & Josh Cafe Takeaway and Chez Jules. Thinking about Rey & Josh makes me smile: the owners were warm, the chef was clearly passionate about good food, and though the atmosphere was simple, it made people feel comfortable. If youre lucky, you may even learn about secret menu items based on what ingredients the chef was able to find. We enjoyed it so much that we returned for a second meal.

Chez Jules is a classic Creole restaurant, an open-air straw hut located opposite Anse Banane on the northeast part of the island. It had an extensive menu, bold flavors, chile sauce that turned my ears hot, and friendly service.

Other favorites include Mimis Caf, famous for its coconut cheesecake (though I preferred the coconut ice cream); Belle Vue, which offers a set menu paired with a sunset view halfway up the mountain; and Le Repaire for a more upscale Italian experience.

We didnt stay overnight in Praslin, but took advantage of the few hours we spent here. We visited the Valle de Mai, named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. The nature park is home to over 1,400 endangered coco de mer trees, called as such because sailors first thought they grew in undersea forests, as well as the rare black parrot. At Pirogue Restaurant and Bar, we enjoyed grilled fishand Creole-style pasta.

Next time, I hope to spend some time at Praslins famous beaches, including Anse Lazio, which has been called the most beautiful beach in the world, and Anse Georgette.

There are two main ways to travel between islands: ferry and airplane. The Cat Cocos Ferry links Mah, Praslin, and La Digue. It takes about an hour to travel from Mah to Praslin, and another 15 minutes to La Digue. Alternatively, Air Seychelles offers flights between the islands, as well as to smaller islands across the archipelago (the flight from Mah to Praslin takes 20 minutes).

To get a real sense of Mah and Praslin, Id recommend renting a car and packing a folding paper map (I know, so retro); Google Maps will work just fine, though. We put stars next to all the beaches and hiking trails we wanted to check out, along with notes from people we met along the way. We cherished the freedom of driving around Mahs windy roads and spontaneously stopping at farmers markets, beachside cafs, and art galleries. However, if you dont feel comfortable driving, taxis and public buses are available.

Commuting around La Digue is more fun: The tiny island has few cars, and the best way to get around is by bicycle, which you can rent from a few shops near the ferry. Our daughter loved sitting in the baby seat and zooming down the islands handful of roads. Alternatively, you can walk or hire a motorized buggy.

Im already planning my second visit to this unique archipelago. I would spend more time on La Digue. Between the relaxed lifestyle and the wild beaches, the tiny island has a special place in my heart.

I would plan for a few days in Praslin, which feels somewhere in between Mah and La Digue in terms of development. Id explore the Valle de Mai more thoroughly, snorkel at Anse Lazio, and discover hiking trails. Meanwhile, my husband would certainly go scuba diving, either on Praslin or Mah.

I didnt get to check out one of the country's resort islands, such as Denis Island, whichaccording to every person I met who has beenis otherworldly. Id also spend some time on Seychelles less inhabited tracts, such as Silhouette Island and the islets surrounding La Digue.

And I would return to spend time with the warm-hearted people I met. Perhaps I would assist in a beachside barbecue, learn a few steps of the traditional moutya dance (now recognized by UNESCO as intangible heritage), and make daiquiris for everyonewith local Takamaka rum, of course.

Our trip did have a rocky start. International travel is complicated these days, and Seychelles is no exception. Long story short: We didnt have the required PCR test for our daughter and ended up having to turn around and rebook a flight for two days later. (If youve ever been to the airport with a baby, you can appreciate how stressful this was.)

Learn from our experience and have a smoother trip by following these steps:

>>Next:The Best Underwater Cameras, According to Divers

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Island Hopping in the Seychelles - AFAR Media

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Your Boat Club partners with Navigare Yachting, goes international – Boating Industry

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In its effort to expand boating access, options and experiences for families, Your Boat Club (YBC) announced it is now partnering with Navigare Yachting, which has locations in 12 different countries and fleet of more than 300 yachts in the Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Croatia, Greece, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Sweden, Seychelles and the USA. Guests board a sailboat charter, catamaran charter or luxury crew charter equip with a preferred level of staff dedicated to excellence in ensuring guests feel at home while enjoying exotic locations from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean and everywhere in between.

The partnership with Navigare will give YBC members access to exclusive trip discounts, expanded benefits and concierge booking services. Whether its a trip to one of our regional lake destinations, or a sea adventure halfway around the world, were all about making boating experiences accessible, enjoyable and easy, says Luke Kujawa, Co-Founder of Your Boat Club. This is really just the beginning in terms of expanded locations, experiences and benefits our members will receive as a result of our exciting new partnership with Beneteau.

In July, YBC announced a partnership with Groupe Beneteau, a worldwide market leader in boat manufacturing. The company took a minority stake in YBC to accelerate the partners strategic national and international growth plan.

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Launching of the national survey report on people who use drugs by the Prime Minister of Mauritius in the presence of UN Resident Coordinator and WHO…

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P. Louis. Honourable Prime Minister of Mauritius,Pravind Kumar Jugnauth launched the national population-based survey report among people who use drugs on 10 February 2022 at the Sir H. Vaghjee Hall in Port Louis. Her Excellency Mrs Christine Umutoni, UN Resident Coordinator for Mauritius and Seychelles; WHO Representative, Dr Laurent Musango; Dr S. Appadoo, Coordinator, National Drug Secretariat and other personalities attended the official ceremony.

The World Health Organization and the UNRC office collaborated with the national authorities in addressing the lack of evidence-based information on drug use at the national level through the recruitment of an international expert to conduct the survey as well as several Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance Surveys among drug users from December 2020 to May 2021.

The Prime Minister said that the Government alone cannot fight the drug war and the magnitude of the drug problem requires all stakeholders to engage in collaborative platforms to ensure that policies and strategies are implemented based on evidence-based information.

The findings and recommendation of the survey report will provide policy-makers, programme managers, and practitioners, with information that will improve understanding of the causes of drug abuse for target actions to delay or prevent initiation of substance use and reduce harms related to drugs, said Hon. P. K. Jugnauth.

Evidenced-based information will help to shed light on changing patterns of drug use and set the pace for stronger monitoring of programmes and policies, said the Prime Minister. The latter acknowledged the contribution of the UN Resident Coordinator Office and the World Health Organization and the International Consultant, Dr Lisa Johnson in this initiative.

The national survey report complements further the existing materials and documents such as the National Drug Control Master Plan 2019-2023 elaborated by the Government of Mauritius with UNODC support. The four pillars of the Plan being drug Supply Reduction, embracing law enforcement and financial crimes; drug Demand Reduction, comprising drug use prevention, drug use disorders treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration; harm Reduction, such as methadone maintenance therapy and the needle Exchange programme; and finally a coordination mechanism relating to legislation, implementation framework, monitoring and evaluation and strategic information.

Her Excellency Mrs C. Umutoni advocated for concerted effort to address this global problem and emphasized that it is in this spirit that the UN forged a partnership in Mauritius. She expressed satisfaction as regards the people-centered and participatory approach put in place by the Government to address the drug problem in the country .

The UN Resident Coordinator underlined the importance of engaging in measuring and surveillance to efficiently tackle the drug issue. Evidenced-based information available in the report will help to save lives and enable targeted interventions at the policy-making level.

Dr L. Musango, the WHO Representative, in his address stated that the launching of the survey report on drug use in Mauritius is a milestone in terms of the availability of evidence-based information on drug use. The survey report is filling a gap that was often highlighted in the past, he said.

The situation in Mauritius regarding the drug phenomenon is constantly evolving, especially with the rise in the trafficking and use of synthetic drugs during the past recent years, highlighted Dr L. Musango. He added, the availability of evidence-based information is crucial for timely mobilization of resources and upstream actions to reduce and eliminate the health damages caused by drug use such as overdose and loss of life.

Dr Musango underlined the vulnerability of young people to start using drug very early at the young ages, that is less than 24 years old, and how they are targeted by the market. He stressed the emotional, health, and social impact of the drug problem among youth in society.

WHO Representative extended his support in implementing the recommendations of the report especially in the national efforts to reduce stigma and discrimination of people with drug user disorders as this can be a barrier to access services; to promote access to appropriate, affordable, and friendly treatments so that drug users can successfully come out of this problem and lead a healthy and safe life; promote a multisectoral, integrated approach and support to address drug use among the population; and to monitor changes in drug use behaviors and evaluate the impact of interventions so that we know where to best direct our efforts.

Dr L. Musango expressed on my behalf and on behalf of the Regional Director of the African Region, Dr Moeti and the Director-General of WHO Dr. Tedros, his appreciation to the Prime Minister of Mauritius for his leadership and commitment and the efforts of the Government in addressing the drug problem in Mauritius. The leading role of the Prime Minister in chairing the COVID-19 High-Level Committee and leading actions to fight the pandemic as well as in promoting physical activity; in the prevention and control of Noncommunicable Diseases, and in improving the health infrastructure and equipment in Mauritius, among others, was highly appreciated by WHO. Dr Musango reiterated the commitment of WHO in supporting the country at the three levels of the organization, that is the country level, regional, and Head Quarters level to protect the population from the drug scourge and promote a healthier population.

Mauritius has set have set out a series of policies and actions to address the proliferation of drugs including law enforcement to combat trafficking under the National Drug Control Masterplan in 2019-2023, developed in collaboration with the United Nations. The authorities have set up a dedicated centre for the rehabilitation of youngsters with substance use problems in 2018 and five Addiction Units are operational in the different regions to facilitate access to health services. A Drug Offenders Administrative Panel will be set up by the country, an initiative based on a human rights approach in the treatment of people having substance use disorders, to improve treatment and rehabilitation. The national response to the drug issue is overseen and led by the High-Level Drugs And HIV Council since January 2019.

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Launching of the national survey report on people who use drugs by the Prime Minister of Mauritius in the presence of UN Resident Coordinator and WHO...

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Five romantic islands to escape to with Emirates this Valentine’s Day – East Lothian Courier

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Valentines Day is nearly here and if youre looking for an extravagant way to show your love, then how about a romantic getaway to a sunny island.

In time for Valentines Day, Emirates has launched special fares to five paradise islands so you can take in the day in luxury.

And, if youre a Skywards member you can get an additional 10% off! Log in or join Emirates Skywards and book using the code ISLANDS by February 14 2022 to save an extra 10% off.

Prices start from 499 and include locations such as Maldives, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and many more.

Emirates passengers can take advantage of the special fares by booking a return trip here from February 7 to February 14 2022, with fares available in both Economy and Business Class.

Valentine's holidays (Emirates/Shutterstock)

Whether youre seeking a beach getaway, a relaxing retreat or simply soaking up the sun, its the best time to take a romantic island holiday.

Emirates currently operates high-frequency flights to the Seychelles, Mauritius, Sri-Lanka, Maldives and Phuket island in Thailand, from its hub, Dubai International Airport.

Emirates advises customers to check their latest government travel guidelines and ensure they meet the travel requirements of their final destination.

For more information and how to book, visit the Emirates website.

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How to Disable Uploading HD Photos/Videos to Facebook from iPhone and Android – BollyInside

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This tutorial is about the How to Disable Uploading HD Photos/Videos to Facebook from iPhone and Android. We will try our best so that you understand this guide. I hope you like this blog How to Disable Uploading HD Photos/Videos to Facebook from iPhone and Android. If your answer is yes then please do share after reading this.

In this tutorial, we will show you how to disable uploading of HD videos and photos in the Facebook app. Addiction to social networks is something that is difficult to let go of. Were not just talking about browsing through feeds, but uploading and sharing moments with your circle of friends is something that many of us get into the habit of doing. Well, I have no complaints about that unless you have a limited data plan. There is still a large user base that hasnt been able to take advantage of the benefits of an unlimited data plan, and thats completely understandable.

However, if you use the Facebook app and often load a limited data package, there is one important thing to keep in mind. Unbeknownst to you, all of these uploads could be in Full HD quality. This can lead to some disadvantages for you. The first and most obvious is excessive Internet consumption (even more so in the case of video uploads). Next is also unnecessary battery drain. Although there is not much difference, the battery power will drain more when loading HD content compared to normal ones.

Fortunately, the social media giant has taken notice. Facebook has incorporated the feature to disable uploading of HD videos and photos through its app. In this tutorial, well show you how to do exactly that on Android and iOS platforms.

The steps to do so are nearly identical on Facebooks iOS and Android apps.

I hope you understand this article How to Disable Uploading HD Photos/Videos to Facebook from iPhone and Android, if your answer is no then you can ask anything via contact forum section related to this article. And if your answer is yes then please share this article with your family and friends.

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Soundwalk Collective become the machine on LOVOTIC – The FADER

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Soundwalk Collective is the core duo of sound art specialists Stephan Crasneanscki and Simone Merli, plus a seemingly infinite constellation of singers, players, actors, directors, poets, philosophers, and photographers. Founded in 2000 by Crasneanscki with Merli joining in 2008, they've worked with Patti Smith, Jean-Luc Godard, Nan Goldin, and many, many others. Today, they shared details of their next project, LOVOTIC, a double LP due out April 1 on Analogue Foundation, and released its title track and lead single. The new song features Charlotte Gainsbourg and Willem Dafoe, who starred together in Lars Von Trier's Antichrist many moons ago. The record will also include collaborations with Atom, Lyra Pramuk, and philosopher Paul B. Preciado.

LOVOTIC, like most of Soundwalk's previous work, is more a conceptual suite than a traditional album. Its focus is the future of sex and sexuality: how our progressing reliance on artificial intelligence will someday subplant our current notions of gender, intimacy, and arousal. "Where does the impulse of preference come from?" they ask as a single, amorphous entity in a press release. "What sets of words from our vocabulary can be communicated to the AI mind to generate a new identity for desire? Could the machine be another technology that brings us closer together?

"LOVOTIC," the single, finds Gainsbourg and Dafoe uploading to the mainframe in a disturbingly convincing performance of machine love. A hypnotic, mechanical beat pulses beneath them, and a robotic voice emits a steady ooze of zeroes and ones in the background.

Listen below.

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Soundwalk Collective become the machine on LOVOTIC - The FADER

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Sell your NFTs: 5 tips to promote NFTs easily – The Indian Express

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Non-fungible-token or NFTs have transformed the digital art world, making it possible for anyone to sell their work for substantial amounts of money. You dont necessarily have to be an artist to sell NFTs. Anything can be sold as an NFT including music, drawing, GIF, tweets and even a selfie can be sold for millions of dollars.

Demand for crypto art is only increasing, and users are flooding the market to bid on unique crypto tokens. In this weeks Crypto Knight column we explain how you can sell NFTs easily. But keep in mind you have tokenise your work and list it on marketplaces such as Opensea, Superrare, Rarible, etc., first. (Check our article on how you can convert your digital art and list it on marketplaces and circle back.)

Do not take social media for granted. When it comes to selling your digital art, all social media platforms play their part. Start showcasing your artwork on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and even on Reddit NFT groups.

Instagram is an important space to showcase your portfolio, if you have multiple NFTs, upload all of them. This will help collectors exhibit not only your current projects but also show your past work.

Twitter is the most underrated platform to sell NFTs. While the art world didnt consider Twitter to be a very visual platform, recent incidents have shown that NFT collectors have made millions by simply posting their NFTs on the platform. Twitter has become the go-to platform for spreading the word about crypto art sales. Twitters new NFT profile picture feature will also help you increase your visibility.

Adding hashtags or other phrases is important in your post caption. These tags are helpful on both Twitter as well as Instagram. Use hashtags: #crypto,#cryptoNFTs,#NFTsale #art on Twitter and Instagram.

Reddit is a community discussion platform which has the potential to make your work go-viral in a few minutes. Open a new thread, start discussing your NFT portfolio, and if the post receives a lot of upvotes, it goes up in the Reddit rankings, and consequently, more people can see it.

Join groups like reddit.com/r/CryptoArt, which has nearly 8 million users. Get involved in other discussions, the idea is the more often your name appears across various channels, the sooner people will remember it.

Discord hosts hundreds of NFT servers. These channels/servers are a popular place for discussing new NFTs. The chat platform now offers more professional features such as crypto galleries where you can showcase your NFTs and even ask users to bid on it.

The NFT Calendar platform showcases the best NFT drops from various marketplaces gathered in one place. This is a great source for NFT collectors who do not need to rush from one marketplace to another to discover the greatest releases.

It takes just a few minutes to add your drop to the NFT Calendar. Once you submit your drop, it appears in the list after a quick review from our team. The submission is free. In addition, some drops are also featured on the companys Instagram and Twitter social handles.

One way to weave into the NFT community is to share the story behind your digital art. If youre an artist, explain the backstory of the art, provide written introductions whenever and wherever you show your work. Explanations or descriptions dont have to be long- more like a paragraph or two, or even a sentence or two if you can be that concise.

Talk about how your NFT came into being, what its significance is, and where youre going as a collector. From an aesthetic perspective, you can call peoples attention to various physical aspects or characteristics of your work, their relative importance, your creative process as a whole, and so on.

For instance, Ross Ulbricht, 37, the alleged founder of dark web marketplace Silk Road, sold his first NFT, which is pencil sketch drawing titled Perspective, for $6.2 million (Rs 47 crore). The NFT collection that he put for sale came with a backstory. The Ross Ulbricht Genesis Collection is a collection of writings and ten artworks by Ulbricht, from early childhood to teen to prisoner. It also includes an original animation created by an audiovisual artist Levitate, with voice over by Ross, inspired by his experience in prison.

Heres what the back story said: This NFT collection is Rosss creative journey of expression; it is his living and evolving story. Through drawings and video, we see glimpses of a mans unfolding existence. This is his way to reach outside the walls of prison, as we continue the campaign for his freedom.

Do not stick to a single NFT marketplace, make sure to upload your NFTs on multiple marketplaces to increase the chance of selling them. SuperRare is one NFT marketplace for single-edition digital artworks, while Foundation is a marketplace for trading any blockchain assets.

Here are some of the largest marketplaces for NFT:

OpenSea For art collectibles, rare digital items, cryptokitties, etc.

Rarible For all forms of crypto assets.

SuperRare For authentic and unique digital artworks.

Foundation For trading digital collectibles.

Just uploading your NFT portfolio on social media platforms wont suffice. You will have to ask your friends and followers to share your NFT Project on social media. Try generating more buzz around your NFTs and make them possible to be seen by more people.

Start collaborating with NFT artists and collectors. The first reason why you collaborate is to enhance your artworks with the aid of other professionals. The second reason is that to expand each others fan base. Its not strictly about monetisation when we speak about the collaboration but its definitely about recognition and reaching as many people as you can.

For more information related to cryptocurrency, NFTs, etc., check out our Crypto Knight column every Saturday.

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Porsche Wants To Allow Drivers To Record A Road And Play It Again In A Racing Simulator – CarScoops

Posted: at 5:34 am

Manys the time Ive watched a YouTuber drive a beautiful road and thought, I wish I could drive there but for whatever reason (too great a distance, too tiny a budget, too little time) I havent been able to. Porsche wants to allow me, you, and everyone to drive beautiful roads around the world with a new project called Virtual Roads.

Being made in collaboration with a Swiss start-up called Way Ahead Technologies, the program will someday exist as an app with which user can mount their phone on their dashboard and record a road. At first, users will then be able to drive the roads on their phone but eventually, Porsche wants users to be able to upload that data to a racing sim. Porsche specifically namechecks Assetto Corsa but says others will be compatible, allowing users to drive public roads over and over again.

The app will record a whole 3D environment with trees, crash barriers, and other landmarks, though it is sure not to record any people or parked vehicles. The process takes less than one percent of the time required by big studios to digitalize the race tracks that are now common in racing games because there are no lasers measuring the exact height of the tarmac. Naturally, that will mean a slightly less realistic representation of the road but Porsche says that bumps and topography will be incorporated into the resulting track.

Read Also:Gran Turismo 7 Signals A Return To Form On The 25th Ann. Of The Franchise

If you ask people what they think is the most beautiful road, everyone has their own, very personal route in mind. The characteristics of the topography are what make a route particularly attractive, regardless of whether it is a unique Alpine pass or a legendary coastal road, says Robert Ader, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). We want to trigger these great memories with a much simpler digitalization process that allows anyone to drive their favorite route virtually.

The app will use special technology, including AI to record the roads, and uploading them to racing sims wont take a ridiculous amount of time. Roger Rueegg, from Way Ahead Technologies, thinks that the app could even use data from Porsches chassis control system and G meters in the future to make roads more realistic.

After several years of development work, our software is now so advanced that it can digitalize routes for virtual roads of up to eight kilometers (4.9 miles) long in less than an hour, depending on how complex the route is, says Roger Rueegg from Way Ahead Technologies. Were also looking at other options and functions at the moment.

Unfortunately, Porsche hasnt revealed exactly when it plans to roll the app out but well be watching this project closely.

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Porsche Wants To Allow Drivers To Record A Road And Play It Again In A Racing Simulator - CarScoops

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This Valentine fever!, by Lilian Mabeek – – The Eagle Online

Posted: at 5:34 am

Every jingle is about Valentine now. It ranges from sales slash to promotion and exhibitions of luxury goods for Valentine. The social media has spread its drones nationwide waiting for the news that will trend on Valentines Day. The social media influencers like they are called are on red alert waiting to flash their Paparazzi on anyone that performs lower than expected, especially Nigerian celebrities. The titans are also ready to set ablaze the comment section with emoji expressing their likes and dislikes for a trending topic.

Valentines Day, also called Saint Valentines Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14.

Every jingle is about Valentines Day now: adverts on print media, electronic, ranges from sales slash to promotion and exhibitions of luxury goods for Valentines Day gifts.

Valentines Day got its name when Emperor Claudius II ordered Saint Valentine, a priest who helped Christian couples in getting married, to be executed. Emperor Claudius II was against the marriage of single men and ordered that Saint Valentine should be beheaded. The execution happened on February 14.

Valentines Day is a day the world feels comfortable to renew their affirmation of love to anyone they feel comfortable with. It is also a day when lovers express their affection with greetings and gifts. It is also called St. Valentines Day.

The celebration has expanded to express affection between relatives and friends.

February 14 is a day people also know their positions among numerous relationships. It is a truism that men and women have the tendency to nurture heterosexual affairs. It is on February 14 the real colour of such relationships are known because neither of the parties can be among those relationships at a time that day. A fallout of this reality usually causes breaks and quarrels, leading to disappointments. Whoever among these numerous men and women gets lucky to get the attention of the day is the main guy or chic.

Valentines Day is really overrated. Reason for this assertion is for other kind of relationships that have made everyday a day of love, respect, outings and gifting a lifestyle. It is in their DNA to be romantic. They know how to put words together and show affection to their spouses and intimate partners. For these type of lovers, everyday is wrapped with affection and attention for their loved ones. They do not wait for Valentines Day to buy anything special, rather they buy and spoil their intimate partners with luxury items, always at the dawn of a new day. It is a continuation of a peaceful relationship where there is an atmosphere of Love.

For spouses who have had rough marriages, unromantic love partners, take this Valentines Day to treat your wife or husband to a solemn moment of love by rekindling and celebrating yourselves.

Write a poem for your lover and place it in a strategic place in your home. Desist from being a husband or wife that cannot laugh or play. Change those weakness and strengthen your relationship everyday. There are a lot of recreation centres, fun clubs, eateries, hotels. Surprise your partner, wife or girlfriend according to your financial ability, but simply make it a day void of fight.

For my young persons, it is a day for unhealthy experiments. Celebrate love with your friends and do not be carried away with the fallacy of the day that it is for lovers. I am not expecting young teenagers to celebrate Valentines Day but they should have a free mind and take instructions from their parents.

For slay queens, kindly look your best doing what you know how best to do, taking pictures of unique places and uploading same on your favourite social media stage.

To the men and guys, endeavour to spend wisely for that special person.

For the women, do not forget to appreciate whatever gift your husband or boyfriend presents to you and remain grateful because there will always be numerous Valentines. It will only get better by the year.

Valentines Day is not the end of the world if you do not find a Valentine or a gift.

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This Valentine fever!, by Lilian Mabeek - - The Eagle Online

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Examining Our Relationship With Social-Media Algorithms – The Cut

Posted: at 5:34 am

Photo-Illustration: by the Cut; Photos Getty Images

Emely Betancourt would rather show you her Notes app before handing over access to her TikTok For You Page. Its too eerily accurate a virtual mirror, she tells me, one that took hours of scrolling to create. The For You Page is TikToks primary feed. At first, it shows you its most palatable offerings: videos with millions of likes, celebrities, Charli DAmelio milquetoast, likable content. As you start watching and liking posts, you go deeper into a niche youve co-created with the platforms famous algorithm. Betancourt knows it sounds intense, but she feels like her FYP truly understands her inside and out: I feel like its really a reflection of my subconscious thoughts; even things I never say out loud, it will know.

Like 100 million other Americans under lockdown, Betancourt started using TikTok during the early-2020 days of the pandemic if the now-20-year-old couldnt be in school and with friends, she could at least go on TikTok to interact with people outside her immediate family. Today, Betancourt spends anywhere between one to three hours a day on TikTok, her most-used app. My For You Page is literally a culmination of everything that I am, she says: a perfect reflection of her liberal politics and satirical sense of humor, but also of more personal things like her attachment style and trauma. Its not perfect, of course. No matter the platform, algorithms will never have the full picture of who we are they didnt watch us grow up and they dont know how we act around friends and family offline. She knows that an app shes only used for about a year and a half couldnt possibly fully know her, but I feel so seen! Betancourt said. She added that sometimes, its hard to say that it doesnt know me all the way because sometimes it does know me all the way.

So much of our lives from online dating, to search engines, to social-media feeds is mediated by algorithms. And we talk about them like we actually know much about them. We complain about the Facebook algorithm and we gush (Betancourt isnt alone) over TikToks. As I write this, some YouTube alpha male is out there uploading videos promising straight men advice on how to hack the Tinder algorithm to date like kings, and if you watch any of these videos, the sites algorithm will use that query to offer you more unsolicited dating advice the next time you log in.

In reality, we dont know nearly enough.

When we talk about the algorithm of any given platform, were sometimes talking about multiple algorithms that use artificial intelligence to metabolize the data that consumers (thats us) provide through our interactions with the platform. These algorithms use that information to then curate that platforms offering to its users (again, us). In other words: Our likes, swipes, comments, play time, and clicks provide these platforms up-to-the-minute updates on our needs and preferences and the algorithms use this information to determine what we see and when.

Exactly what that data counts for and how its used to offer us everything from TikToks to dating prospects is proprietary information thats kept secret from us. And it doesnt help that were only just becoming aware of the algorithms that shape and mold our digital worlds. Congress and the relevant regulating bodies, like the FTC, have recently begun honing in on commercial algorithms, which theyve deemed as having too great an impact to go totally unregulated.

By the way, what little we do learn can quickly become obsolete since these algorithms are updated, refined, and tinkered with almost endlessly in ways that sometimes make headlines like when Instagram phased out (and reintroduced) the chronological feed but are usually unannounced.

So we mythologize.

When we decide that an algorithm can understand us and it matches us with songs, people, and TikToks that align with our needs and desires, we slip into a sort of weird devotion. When we match with the same person over and over on dating apps, we wonder if its a sign. We say things like TikToks algorithm knew I was bi before I did and are so impressed with its perceived ability to know us that we often worry if more sinister surveillance practices are at play. Our algorithmically orchestrated encounters with people on dating apps or psychology buzzwords on social media start to feel preordained, as if the fact that the algorithm put something on our path Means Something.

Of course, that once-accurate mirror can easily and often does start to stretch and distort your reflection, and you begin to question if you even know what you look like. I get a lot of TikToks about high-functioning autism and ADHD, Betancourt tells me, and while she does have anxiety, the fact that the algorithm would think those videos applied to her made her think, Do I have ADHD? Do I have high-functioning autism? The habit of relating to things on her FYP made it easier to trust some of the algorithms more out-there suggestions: It kind of plants that seed. She says she has no reason to seek out a diagnosis for any of these conditions, but the fact that she even considered it made her realize how much credibility she gave her FYP. Although there are gems and really valuable stuff on TikTok, she explains, not all of it is necessarily applicable to you, and you kind of have to draw the line and say, This is relatable, but Im not necessarily autistic.

Algorithmically curated feeds like TikToks and even ones like Spotifys and Tinders can connect us with people and ideas that expand our worlds and minds while also making us feel more seen and less alone. But they can also make us feel really alienated, misunderstood, and commodified when they use our own data to show a warped version of ourselves.

Natasha Dow Schll is an anthropologist and an associate professor at New York Universitys Department of Media, Culture, and Communication, whose work focuses on the psychic life of technology and the relationship between data and the self. You can say all the smart reasons why youre against these things, but if you look at peoples behaviors, even my own, Schll says, at the end of the day, people like being recognized. Along with all the value we get from engaging with these algorithms, we also get what Schll describes as this sense of ambivalence that comes from being subtly aware of this risky tendency that sort of looks like a spiral that you get caught in, where youre at the bottom of this vortex or well and these forces are limiting your growth as a person and sort of pinning you and fixing you.

Both in research and in public discussions about the power of these commercial algorithms, we often run into that question of addiction by design. Just like a slot machine, every swipe, every date, every pull of the handle changes who you are in some way and further compels you and engages you, Schll says. Its this very dynamic flow of investment in both directions and we do not have any specific regulation that takes that into account. We give these algorithms our time, our personal information, our likes and make ourselves vulnerable in exchange for that connection and understanding. We are, to varying degrees, okay with being surveilled as long as we get to feel seen.

The stakes are even higher for the algorithms on dating apps. When those algorithms determine whom you see and whom youre shown to, they can easily start to feel like an authority on whom we should be attracted to and who should be attracted to us.

The way Tinder collects data, for example, is skewed: Users can choose from over a dozen gender-identity labels and select multiple sexual-orientation labels from a list of nine, but are asked to indicate if theyre looking to date men, women, or everyone. How can Tinders algorithm be expected to understand queer culture? In Hannah Sullivan Facknitzs experience as a nonbinary bisexual, it cant.

To Sullivan Facknitz, a 30-year-old grad student based out of Vancouver, being perceived by the algorithm felt the same as being perceived by any institution with power like, for instance, a university. The way I could be perceived by reading my rsum or my college transcripts, you see all the classes I took and the grades I got in them. They tell you something about me. But theres a huge gap in their transcript where I flunked out and then came back. A person reading a transcript with a gap might have to hear an explanation and learn more before making a decision. Any deviance from the norm could be counted against someone, even if they do get a chance to explain themselves. In the case of a dating-app algorithm (and even a hiring algorithm), we get sorted before we get a chance to explain ourselves.

On top of that, Sullivan Facknitz says, Tinder encourages quick-reaction swipes, and they tend to match with what they call their impulse type, the dating-app equivalent to the checkout counters candy selection: the familiar type theyve already dated, and it didnt work out, which is why theyre using Tinder in the first place. Instead of meeting someone new, theyre stuck in an unsatisfying, harmful even, swipe-right loop.

Interfacing with algorithmically curated apps like Tinder, for Sullivan Facknitz, worsened a feeling of being trapped in their worst pattern: I would match with people who were like the men who victimized me and I was very confused and I dug into myself, emotionally and in a really destructive way, to try to excavate what the hell the algorithm was seeing in me that made me bad enough to deserve these men. They felt like the algorithm saw something obvious they didnt and kept coming back to figure out what it was. It took time and some personal growth for them to realize, The algorithm was not smarter than me, it could [not] somehow see me clearer than I could see myself.

That clarity has helped Sullivan Facknitz establish better relationships with the algorithms of their life one that allowed them to wrestle back a bit of control. In fact, TikTok helped them realize they have ADHD, rather than convincing them. It helped me ask that initial question, they explain, adding that they then turned to members of their community who had been diagnosed for further guidance and then to medical professionals. And it was a question Id had my entire life. It wasnt something the algorithm figured out for me, this was just another piece of information that helped me put the question together.

Itd be totally nave to trust that the companies behind these algorithms have our best interests at heart. TikToks main source of revenue is ad sales, and we learned from a recent New York Times column headlined How TikTok Reads Your Mind that the app wants to keep you there as long as possible. Tinder, on the other hand, makes most of its money from subscriptions, so it makes sense that the algorithm is only good enough to hook you onto the product, to keep you coming back for new prospects rather than make good on its promise of actually helping you connect. Something that can be polar opposite in experience, in terms of healthy and harmful, Schll says, are equally productive in terms of capitalism.

The conversation sways between two extremes. Some people would say that the answer to all of this is that you need a better algorithm, Schll says. Maybe smarter algorithms (that use even more data) can do a better job of understanding us changes, ambivalences, inconsistencies, and all rather than boxing us into a fixed version of ourselves. This is the technological answer, Schll notes. But then there are those whod say more technology will jeopardize some unquantifiable human quality maybe our souls? and that we should just put down our phones. Thats an extreme humanist answer, Schll adds. And I dont go that way, either, because I feel like were all technological beings.

She doesnt have a clean-cut answer, but concludes that I find it just as ridiculous to say that there is something anti-human about algorithms that contaminates our experience. Weve had enough meaningful experiences with algorithms and technology to think its that black-and-white.

If youve ever read a horoscope that made you feel a wave of dread (or made you annoyed at the idea of having your fate handed to you), then you can see how our relationship to these algorithms and astrology are similar. In a blog post, astrologer Alice Sparkly Kat offers some useful insights on how algorithms see us: The predictable person that the algorithm imagines you to be is a corporate fiction. Sparkly Kat writes that, somewhat similarly, astrology is a language that can help people describe themselves, but it is also a technology that can try to tell you who you are. Once upon a time, astrology was invoked to reduce the whole of a person to what the stars said they were. We are not our sun signs, nor are we who our algorithms say we are. Weve learned to use astrology as a tool for interpretation, as a language to work through things were trying to understand. Maybe we can turn algorithms into better tools. For Schll, step one is obviously regulation (at the moment, its what we have to work with).

In the end, these algorithms are just human creations. Like the front-facing camera on your phone, they distort what we see. There is no such thing as a perfectly accurate reflection, and maybe, with more awareness of how algorithms distort what we see, we can harness their power for ourselves.

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Examining Our Relationship With Social-Media Algorithms - The Cut

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