Sunday, December 29, 2019

The History and Decline of Album Liner Notes

The History and Decline of Album Liner NotesThe History and Decline of Album Liner NotesLiner notes, the written accounts accompanying a record, cassette or CD, have been an important element in the presentation of commercial music. Changes in the way music is delivered to listeners, however, haschanged the function and utility of liner notes, which have also been affected by social and political trends. Record Industry Background The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which certifies gold andplatinumalbum sales, has been keeping records of annual album sales only since 1973. Using the available 1970s and 1980s data, we can look back a few years with some accuracy and see that beginning in the early 1950s with the introduction of long-playing vinyl records (LPs), something very significant happened. The LP turned a relatively small segment of the entertainment industry in 1950 into what was, by 1973, a behemoth with a little under half-billion units sold. The growt h trend continued through the 1970s, peaking in 1999 with total sales of about 1 billion units. But something else happened during the seventies, which was that sales of the LP, the dominant delivery medium in 1971, consistently declined through the following two decades until by 1990 it was basically a niche product, replaced by cassettes and, increasingly, CDs. The Heyday of Liner Notes in the 1970s This matters, because the LP came in a 12-inch square package, providing a minimum of 144 square inches of editorial space on the back deckblatt alone for whatever the artist and record company agreed belonged there. As often as not, editorial narratives continued on the albums liner- the protective cover that slipped inside the LP cover. Eventually, the practice adopted as liner notes grew longerso that eventually most of the written comments appeared not on the back cover but on the albums liner, hence liner notes. These notes containinformation about the record- credits for ever yone involved in the recording, information about the record label putting out the record,copyright information, and sometimes, song lyrics- as well as growing editorial content peripherally related to the music. Social and Political Influences on Liner Note Content This expansion of the liner notes function coincided with another trend that increased its importance. The 1960s social revolution transformed music from a relatively innocuous vehicle for romantic yearnings in 1950 into a potent socio-political force by the late 1960s. The biggest artists of the late sixties and early seventies were, like much of their audience, convinced that part of their mission was to change the world. Huge hits like Come On People, All Together Now, recorded by The YoungBloods, typified pop record content of the era. Most of Bob Dylans biggest hits in the late 1960s and early 1970s were, along with being artistically important, stringent social messages, as were many of Motowns biggest hits. Du ring this era of political and social discontent, social critics and music critics alike found the liner notes to be a great place to sound off. Fantasy Records Ralph Gleason typified the trend. Gleason, who combined the roles of social critic, music critic, and record industry exec, wrote acute, well-written liner notes not only to express his opinion about the albums musicbut also to ruminate on its social/political significance. The Demise of the Liner Note For reasons directly related to the circumstances that brought liner notes to prominence, they have declined in importance and use throughout the 1980s and continue that decline in the 21st century, where liner notes, including not just notes on the liner but in any other place, have become increasingly terse and are often absent altogether. By 1980, the era of the LP was substantially over. Vinyl records exist today but as a niche product. In 1980, the dominant vehicles for delivering music to buyers were the new smaller cassettes (not the larger, original 8-track product) and CDs. Both of these are much smaller objects. Even the larger CD has only about 25 sq. inches of available space for narrative comments, comfortable for a sonnet. Although extensive commentaries occasionally continue in CD booklets, put inside the CD package, the era of the socio-politically important liner note was essentially over Decreased space wasnt the only reason. By the 1980s, the recording industry had become an integrated part of a trillion-dollar entertainment industry. None of the dominant companies - among themEMI, theWarners Group,Sony, and BMG- were run, no surprise, by social/political radicals with an interest in a political comment. Artists, too, followed the depoliticizing trend. Rappers continued to be politically involved more than other musicians, but their comments were there for all to hear in the raps of NWA and countless others. They didnt need liner notes. Although some musicianswebsitescontinue to offer digital downloads of commentary on their music, in general, the significance of liner notes diminished even further a little later in the 21st century as the industry shifted more and more toward digital downloads and streaming.

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

The Robot Walk

The Robot Walk The Robot Walk The Robot Walk Jonathan Hurst, associate professor in the school of mechanical, industrial and manufacturing engineering at Oregon State University, has been involved in locomotion for as long as he can remember. Legos, the robotics club growing up, Carnegie Mellon, he says. Ive always been obsessed with the subject. Hed have to be. Trying to make robots walk like people takes time, and an acceptance of repeated failure. By Hursts assessment, the one hes working on now, ATRIAS, is the first machine to reproduce the basic physics of human walking. ATRIAS is a bipedal robot that I think is on its way to showing us the future, says Hurst, who previously worked on a bipedal robot named MABEL at Carnegie Mellon University. Were not trying to build a product to go in peoples homes with this. ATRIAS is both a vorfhrung in the real worldsomething that only existed in theorybut more importantly a learning platform.The coordinate configuration of the robot. Image Oregon State DRL Testing has had its share of positives and negatives. It would take a couple of steps and fall, he says. But its improved over time. Its been able to do well in stepping up and stepping down. I will also say that we didnt originally think about the turning, but that was one of the reasons it falls, because the orientation of the robot and the direction its going dont match. Inspired by the motion of animals, the key is for the roughly 160-pound robot, which has six motors, to be able to keep its balance. Distributed around the robot are the microcontroller boards they made. Each one of them locally picks up and interfaces with local sensors such as the encoders on the motors, he says. The amplifiers are Elmo motion control, with two motors on each leg, and theres a harmonic drive transmission on each of those. Motors are at the hip, with both motors cooperating to extend the legs.The ATRIAS robot and graphical user interface. Image Oregon State DRL Leg design is ana logous in many ways to a Pick and Place machine, he says. Were trying to match a theoretical model which is a spring mass model, he says. To do that when it impacts the ground you need low mass and low inertia. It has a safety tether on it because, if the robot falls, it breaks badly and the team doesnt want to constantly repair it. Some of the future applications from this work could be limbs for those who are physically challenged or robotically delivering packages to your front door. Robots can assist us far more than they do now, he says. Its exciting to landsee where the technology is heading. But Hurst again reminds that ATRIAS, powered by a lithium polymer battery, is still about exploration. Its not an application-oriented machine. ATRIAS is both a demonstration of something that once only existed in theory but, more importantly, a platform for further investigation. Eric Butterman is an independent writer.ATRIAS is both a demonstration in the real world- something that only existed in theory- but more importantly a learning platform.Prof. Jonathan Hurst, Orgeon State University

Friday, December 20, 2019

Working as a Virtual Assistant From Your Home Office

Working as a Virtual Assistant From Your Home OfficeWorking as a Virtual Assistant From Your Home OfficeHave you considered working as a virtual assistant? This work-at-home job offers a lot of flexibility and can be fairly lucrative as you advance. However, its not for everyone See if you have what it takes and then departure your search for virtual assistant positions. Virtual Assistant Duties and Qualifications As the name implies, a virtual assistant (VA) provides assistance to individuals from a remote location. The types of things that a virtual assistant might do for clients include Social media managementTravel arrangementsManaging voicemail and emailResearch for professional projects or personal needsScheduling and calendar managementTrack expensesPrepare reports or presentationsSend giftsPlan events Considering the variety of tasks virtual assistants take on, its no surprise that resourcefulness is perhaps the most important quality in a virtual assistant. Also, VAs nee d to be extremely computer literate, have a pleasant phone manner and be well organized. What Virtual Assistants Dont Do Virtual assistants dont usually do tasks that require specialized skills, like bookkeeping, editing, design work, etc. However, they may provide some support in those tasks, such as tracking expenses or light proofreading. And sometimes the same companies that hire virtual assistants hire for these positions as well. While virtual assistants may work for corporations rather than individuals, they do not usually perform customer service or sales tasks. This is virtual call center work. Though some less-than-honest companies might position call center jobs as virtual assistant positions, they are not the same. How Are Virtual Assistants Paid? As you browse the list of companies that hire virtual assistants below, you will seehow much variety there is in the work arrangements and pay structures used by virtual assistant companies. While most virtual assistant s are independent contractors, there are a few companies that hire them as full or part-time employees. VAs can have their own business but since the work is remote finding clients can be difficult if you dont work with a company that will connect you with clients. Typically virtual assistants, even those who are contractors, are paid an hourly wage. Pay might start as low as $11-12 an hour, but there is a wide range in potential pay, depending on your experience and the kind of work that is required. What You Need to Be a Virtual Assistant Generally virtual assistants, even those that are employees of a firm, need to have a home office with a reliable computer and high speed internet. The office should be a quiet distraction-free place. Usually a cell phone is sufficient, but some companies might require a dedicated landline. Also a webcam usually required. 7 Places to Get Started as a Virtual Assistant AssistantMatchmakes a platform available for virtual assistants to conn ect to clients. It charges clients a match fee, and the hourly rate for assistants varies by their duties. It offers training for virtual assistants, but this is not required to register as a VA on the site. Belay Solutionshires virtual assistants but also hires more specialized positions like virtual bookkeepers, content creators and webmasters. Its model is to hire independent contractors for these positions. Equivityhires its VAs as part-time employees paid a starting salary of $15 hour. In addition to its virtual executive assistant positions it hires specialized assistance in marketing or law. Bachelors degree is required. kollektiv Delegatecontracts with freelancers to work with its corporate clients. At least two years experience as an executive or administrative assistant is required. Timeecthires independent contractors in the United States and United Kingdom with experience working as a virtual assistant, personal assistant, executive assistant, secretary or admin assistan t. The work includes administrative tasks, form filling, schedule management, travel arrangements and possibly social media, writing or blogging. Pay starts at $11 an hour. Upworkis a freelance exchange site where you can offer your services as a freelancer. It has a fairly robust section dedicated to virtual assistants. It takes a percentage of your earnings from clients that you connect with through its platform. Zirtualhires U.s.-based virtual assistants as employees (and offers benefits). The application process includes an extensive questionnaire and uploading video of yourself.

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Why We Let Employers Hire You Without a Fee

Why We Let Employers Hire You Without a FeeWhy We Let Employers Hire You Without a FeeWhy do the top hiring professionals in the country choose to work with Ladders? Thats easy1. Its free. Its always free to post your jobs and search the resume database here at Ladders.2. Were a membership-based community. And that means were much better behaved than the average internet hangout. No spammail invitations or weird requests to get in the way of their hiring you.3. Its divided by pay-grade. Applicants cant apply to jobs inappropriately, so theres no big pile of spam applications for hiring managers or recruiters to go through. In fact, the typical job at Ladders gets just 14 well-focused applicants.And thats why the best corporate recruitment professionals and executive recruiters in the country use Ladders for their hiring needs.Have a great week in the searchIm rooting for you.

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Facts, Fiction and Sample Resumes Templates

Facts, Fiction and Sample Resumes Templates What to Expect From Sample Resumes Templates? The Illustrator file makes the the majority of colour to assist its simplicity. Afterwards, you may download your resume free of charge, so that youre able to edit it in MS Word or Google Docs. It is possible to download the resume schablone at no cost and can readily edit the template using Microsoft word. Our creative templates enable you to stick out from the crowd. The initial one is about outlining your abilities and your availability in a certain job position. Attempt to keep the resume no longer than 1 page, especially if youre asking for an entry-level job. If you wish to get a nice job, you require a good resume. If you want more help, to make the most of my Gold-Premium free-resume-formats consulting services. Lines under the home section headings are suggested. As you might think that visual appeal is not too critical in regards to resume writing, think again. Also make ce rtain that you tailor the document to the job youre applying for. So far as resumes are involved, modeling isnt any different than every other career path. You wish to pick a resume template which will help you make a fantastic first impression, even before people start reading. Also, use keywords for your resume. To beat the robots and get to an individual, youve got to use the perfect keyword phrases. Depending on the sort of application process youre addressing, it could be appropriate to include samples of your work in your CV. You receive a great number of alternatives. Additionally, it is a lot simpler to work with a whole document. When you find a couple of days in black and white, you can better understand what youre doing. The New Fuss About Sample Resumes Templates Getting the most of a resource that wont only help save you time, but is shown to elevate your odds of scoring a work simply is reasonable. If you dont have a concept of how or where to begin, resume samples are available which will work as a guide toward achieving a perfect resume. One particular tiny typo error and your odds of finding the job might just slip. The procedure for requesting a job is stressful and time consuming. A basic resume is also simpler to read. Lets see how simple it is to start In that perhaps you understand how certain absolutely free resumes to complete and print. Figure out why Resume-Now is a top alternative for job seekers. You might be the ideal candidate for the job, but when your resume isnt written correctly, your probability of showing your expertise are extremely slim. First you have to discover the job which you like and then tischset about portraying yourself in an appealing way so the employer will not have any choice but they give you the very best job As your main advertising and marketing piece, your resume says a good deal about you. A resume maker can assist you by offering tips on the professional resume structure in additio n to provide a variety of resume examples to select from. The form of resume you choose is also important and ought to be customizable to your requirements. WELCOME TO INKNOWVATION Over the last few weeks, Ive been searching around the net, searching for some excellent resources for finding work. Simple doesnt need to mean uninspired and boring. The net has affected peoples reading behavior through the years. Writing a fantastic self-appraisal demands self-awareness and, often, some moment. Resume Templates is a huge approach to take away the stress from writing and presenting a resume so you can concentrate on what you have to do when youre given the interview. Theres so many to pick from in his package that theres no use in describing a number of the features, since youll certainly be able to get what you need within. Also will give thoughts and strategies to come up with your own resume. Once you have decided on your perfect resume template from our selection, follow o ur completely free expert guidance about ways to craft the ideal modern resume. In order to produce the task a bit less daunting, people frequently choose resume templates. As a member your info will be saved in the system to make it possible for you to access it from any place in the world. Sometimes all you will need is a traditional style template thats clean, clear and right to the point. DO make certain that the remainder of your resume is completely machine readable.

Thursday, December 5, 2019

The 5-Minute Rule for Resume Header

The 5-Minute Rule for Resume Header Nevertheless, theres a difference and its helpful to understand when to compose a CV vs resume. At precisely the same time yur qualifications cant be strong without a proper resume. UPenns Career Services department supplies a huge assortment of CV samples as well as the resume samples listed above. Your resume must make them obvious. Resume Header - What Is It? You should allow it to be quick and easy for the reader to get the things that they want. You might be thinking, Yeah, I already knew that, but what you might not know is that a resume written to submit an application for an internal position is somewhat different from the resume you would write if you were searching for a work elsewhere. How to compose a simple resume isnt a question people ought to be asking. Instead, write down a number of parts of information that youre keen on mentioning and attempt to fit them in as the interview progresses. Our resume builder is the quicke st approach to create a resume that can help you get your fantasy job. Furthermore, your profile is an excellent distribution policy to mention that youre proficient with any essential software and systems that the business uses. The work objective should incorporate a one to two sentence statement that list exactly what it is that youre looking for with the resume. On the flip side, some jobs demand a URL to an on-line portfolio or other examples of prior work, or an industry-related blog or website. What to Expect From Resume Header? Make your header stick out. When youre formatting your cover letter, dont forget you have to incorporate a header, an introduction, the body, and a closing. The headers have a little bit more wiggle space, but its not essential to vary from the standard accepted fonts. Worse, a bad header can befuddle the hiring software used by a number of managers. You may use the identical graphic on your cover letter to provide your application a polished , pulled-together appearance. In many cases, the expert summary is easily the most skimmable section of a resume. The solution isnt to use the wordprocessor header and footer except to create your own within the webpage. Whether you complete an official application given by the employer or youre requested to send in a resume, we recommend taking the opportunity to compose a cover letter. All About Resume Header You can take a look at our post on how best to incorporate a LinkedIn URL on a resume. Creative Resume Content Whichever creative resume design you pick, the content has to be no problem to find and logically organized. Ladders best resume templates are sure to offer you an advantage in your job search. The response is yes in the event that you wish to. What Everybody Dislikes About Resume Header and Why Theres no need to acquire fancy with a font. Picking the most suitable font can look to be an impossible endeavor, especially since there are dozens and dozens of c hoices out there. One of the absolute most important design choices you can create on your resume is your font. Instead, youve got two options. The New Fuss About Resume Header Research the business and the job that youre applying for and use the information to present your resume a small boost. If youre asking for a slew of jobs but you dont see results in your present job search, it could be time for you to accept that your resume could use some work. In the present economy you need all of the help that you are able to get. Your resume heading is the first thing which employers will see, you wish to make sure its informative, professional, and visually appealing. Your resume needs to fix an issue for employers (which is the reason why theyre hiring). As long as the hiring manager can read your resume readily, youve completed a very good job. A great deal of recruiters now utilize LinkedIn to employ potential job seekers. When it has to do with targeting your resume for a certain job, understanding the work description is a must. To be sure you get noticed by means of an employer, be certain to stick to some basic rules. Employers know your goal is to find the job. When an employer would like to contact you, make it simple on them. Generally speaking, you ought to use your current, permanent address. The header also has basic contact information and links to other relevant on-line profiles. Ensure that your contact information is clear, prominent, and simple to read. When its just generic info, you might want to leave it out. The absolute most important information ought to be put on the top of the resume to find the interest of the possible employer. Make certain that all of your contact information is current and correct.