Karl Towns didn't possess the background that suggested he would help drive basketball toward a new era. An undersized 6'6" forward, he had been a clear-the-lane-by-the elbows brute who patrolled the paint at Monmouth University in the 1980s to become the school's leading rebounder.

When he became coach at Piscataway Vo-Tech High School, his son, Karl-Anthony, often tagged along and performed drills with the junior varsity team while his wife, Jacqueline Cruz, worked as a nurse. By the time Karl-Anthony Towns neared high school age, he stretched to nearly 6'10". In another time and another era, that would have made him a natural successor to his father's game, putting his sizable frame in the paint for unbothered rebounds and putbacks.

But Karl and his son had other plans. They involved academics more than athletics. "Being a parent who came from the inner city, we had other kids, we just wanted to give him the opportunity to showcase more of a game and get more interest from colleges, so he could get a free education," Karl said. "The dream was never to go to the NBA, but the dream was to make sure that he got a chance at a great education, become the kinesiologist he always dreamed of."

A routine developed. Karl-Anthony would shoot until he made a thousand jumpers every day but Sunday, stretching farther and farther from the rim until his jumper flicked off his hand like the ease of a layup for others. Mom and Dad would station themselves at both free-throw lines while Karl-Anthony ran and weaved through cones in agility drills. "It's amazing to say that everything I taught him is now the way the game is played today, and I think that's helped him in his evolution to become such a complete player," Karl said.

It took a while for the game to catch up. Parents at the courts where the Towns played in Piscataway, New Jersey, would gawk at the pair, wondering why Karl-Anthony wasn't practicing his post moves and thinking all that size would be underdeveloped. And when Karl-Anthony went on to Kentucky, John Calipari essentially banned him from taking threes during his lone season there. Now, those parents who ridiculed the pair occasionally approach Karl and apologize. "Now the game evolved around being able to shoot the three, handle the ball," Karl said. "Size doesn't matter, because at 7-feet, he's playing up there like a guard."

In an era dominated by the search for basketball unicorns, Karl-Anthony Towns may be the NBA's preeminent example of the form. He leads all centers this season in scoring and three-point shooting while ranking among the top five in assists and steals, the top 10 in rebounds and the top 15 in blocks.

"In my mind, he's the big of this generation," said Gersson Rosas, Minnesota's president of basketball operations. "What he does offensively is he allows us to play a modern NBA game, but with a twist that other teams can't replicate, which is we can play him on the inside on the post, where he's dominant, or we can lift him and put him on the perimeter, where he impacts the defense on a very high level. So, if you're going to guard him with a big, he has the ability to shoot over you or drive by you. If you put a small or a guard on him, then we can put him in the post and he can be very dominant and score.

"There's really nothing he can't do. He can shoot from three, can shoot from inside. He can attack the basket. He can draw fouls. He can pass. When you have a player like that in your system, it changes the way you are. That's why I think he's the prototypical big for the NBA."

For all Towns can do, his ability to stretch the floor like a guard has made him all but indefensible. Among the nearly 40 7-footers who have attempted at least100 threes in their career, no one has shot them at a more prolific rate than Towns. This season, he has nearly doubled his three-point attempts (8.5 per game) from last year (4.6 per game) while sinking them at a 41.8 percent clip.

With a slight uptick in his numbers, he could join Steph Curry as the only players to make at least 3.5 three-pointers while shooting at least 43 percent over a full season.

"Everything just feels like if I flick it, it's in," Towns said of getting into a shooting rhythm. "When I'm in that zone, especially shooting wise, I feel like any time I touch the ball, it's like I'm a painter and I'm just waiting to make some great art. I just feel like Picasso up there, when I'm feeling that zone, and if I'm in that zone, ain't nothing going to stop me from putting the ball in the bucket."

It's a Friday afternoon, and the Minnesota Timberwolves are practicing the day before they host the Phoenix Suns. Towns steals the ball during a defensive drill and dribbles toward the opposite rim. Coach Ryan Saunders races to get in his path, feinting like he's a defender, before smiling and quickly sidestepping Towns.

The team advances onto offensive sets. "If you come off, you have a jump shot, great," Saunders instructs Towns at one point. "You come off, you have a drive to the basket, great."

Saunders, who took over the team in the wake of Tom Thibodeau's firing in the middle of last season, overhauled and modernized Minnesota's priorities. Stickers showcasing expectant point valuesthe difference between a good shot like a corner three and an unfavorable one like a long twodot the court as visual aids. Everything, Saunders said, is in a "youthful phase." That includes the roster. Minnesota entered this season with the league's fourth youngest roster with an average age of 24.91.

Practice concludes. The team celebrates at midcourt.

"We're not asking them to have fun here, but we're demanding that they have fun here," Towns said.

The statement seems to stem from a conscious effort to let past seasons stay in the past and empower Towns as the team's leader.

Before the 2016-17 NBA season,48.3 percent of the league's general managers selected Towns as the first player they would want to build a franchise around. Kevin Durant landed second at 20.7 percent. Towns topped the list again the following season, when GMs picked him with29 percent of the vote over Giannis Antetokounmpo (21 percent), LeBron James (18 percent) and Kawhi Leonard (14 percent).

But Towns did not appear among the six players named for the survey before the start of the 2018-19 season. The arrival of Jimmy Butler in a draft day trade in June 2017 had helped the Wolves reach the playoffs for the first time in more than a decade, but it had also brought turmoil. A Chicago Sun-Times report in the summer of 2018 noted Butler was "all but fed up with the nonchalant attitude" of some of his teammates. The air became even more polluted in training camp when Butler asked for a trade and refused to report.

With Butler alongside him, Towns became increasingly relegated to the fringes of the offensethe team's best three-point shooter often situated in the post with defenses collapsing on him.

The Wolves began last season 4-9 before trading Butler to Philadelphia for Robert Covington and Dario Saric. Thibodeau, whose relationship with Towns was also reported to be strained, couldn't turn the team around and was fired while it limped to a 36-46 season. With Saunders, however, Towns appeared to rediscover his game, averaging 28.1 points and 13.4 rebounds following the 2019 All-Star break.

"This organization has gone through a lot," Rosas said. "We've turned that page and it's been a clean start for everybody that we're building off of. The reality of who we are and what we're about is something that guys really embrace."

Rosas, hired over the summer from Houston, opted to retain Saunders, a decision that clearly pleased Towns. "I've known Ryan for so long, so it was kind of different," Towns said. "It was more not even a coach, it was just like one of your good friends got a dope job. ... It's just like when you were in class, and you were with your boys, and you were like, 'Yo, what class you got in your schedule?' And you both were in the same class at the same time. You both were hella excited. That's how I was, and he was as well."

At 33, Saunders is the NBA's youngest coach, but he's no novice. The son of the late Flip Saunders, he assumed the job on an interim basis almost a year ago. Saunders had joined Minnesota's staff in 2014 after spending five seasons in Washington with the Wizards. Towns arrived the following summer when he was drafted first overall. A big shouldn't be able to move like that, Saunders thought when watching Towns play. Occasionally, Towns broke out a step-back three in practice, a move that is fast becoming a staple today.

"For a big to be able to do that, at first as a coach, you kind of cringe because you haven't seen a big do that," Saunders said. "So you might think it's just an off-balance shot, but the fact that he works on it and then it's something that he's been able to do in games, as a coach, you love it."

Where once trade rumors floated around Towns, Rosas is clear that the opportunity to build around the 24-year-old is a large reason he chose Minnesota. "I've never had it, until this year, where you have an organization that's really behind you and has confidence in you," Towns said.

On offense, Towns is at the fulcrum of everything. "A lot of our offense initiates through him at the top of the key," Saunders said. "It depends on where he takes the ball, whether it is a dribble handoff, whether it's on the swing with a pass, and then where he ends up going. Does he pan away? Does he go into a pick-and-roll? He's a 40 percent three-point shooter at 7-feet, so if you can force some switches, too, having him shoot over a guy who's smaller, or having the option to roll down in the post is a big deal."

"I'm analyzing and dissecting a lot of things in real quick time, and the way the game goes, the flow of the game, the personnel out there, whatever the case may be, foul situations that's going to judge more if I'm going to try to mix it up more inside than outside," Towns said. "Outside, is obviously always an option, but there's great times when someone's in foul trouble, or personnel is shorter, and they're playing a shorter line-up, I could go inside and really punish them. Or at least open the game up for my teammates at the three-point line as well."

Jersey boys. That's what crossed Towns' mind when he saw Kyrie Irving and his new team, the Brooklyn Nets, before the Wolves' first game of the season.

"I saw Kyrie and we grew up together, working out with each other and practicing with each other," Towns said of his fellow New Jersey native. "Me and Kyrie just looked at each other, like, the two Jersey boys going up against each other and who is better and we put on a show for our families."

While Irving dropped 50 points, Towns collected 36 points, including seven threes, 14 rebounds and an overtime win. Just as important, Saunders and Rosas believe the game helped Towns set a franchise tone.

He followed that up with 37 points and 15 rebounds against Charlotte before helping nudge Minnesota to a 3-0 start with a win over Miami. A matchup with Philadelphia saw Minnesota lose both its first game and Towns, who was suspended for two games after getting into a scrap with Philadelphia's Joel Embiid.

"Without getting into detail, it was a physical game and he wanted to make sure that he wasn't going to beI don't know if you want to use the word, butpushed around," Saunders said. "He was going to stand his ground. And we support Karl and we want him for every game. We don't want him to sit out games, but he's coming back and he's playing with a little more of an edge, too."

Saunders receives analytical reports every game, including notes that specifically highlight Townswhere his points are coming from, where he is most efficient, where advantages can be most highly utilized.

"When you can try to help a guy like Karl, who you learned can do something new every day, and then you're able to have analytics and statistics back that up and actually challenge him to do other things, like, 'Hey, let's see how you are in a pick-and-roll,'" Saunders said "We ran it once two games ago. Let's try it out and see if the efficiency ... as we get a higher sample size, let's see how that works.

"We've done that some, where ... our point guard sets the ball screen and Karl's the guy handling [the ball]. Bigs love to play like guards, and guards love to play like bigs sometimes."

The result has been an offense that tries to find the efficient play in the inefficiencies of opposing defenses.

"When we're having our greatest offensive games is when we're doing not even the hardest things, but we're doing the most simple things, allowing the defense to make the mistake and then we capitalize off of it," Towns said. "Everyone thinks about the shooter. Shooting comes off a mistake. Obviously sometimes, I'm going to get away with talent shots. The very contested, hard, difficult shots that only certain people could make, but most of the time it's about being patient and accepting whatever the defense gives you, and wherever the hole in their game plan is."

At 10-15, it's clear there are still plenty of issues to sort throughpasses not made, openings not exploited, likethis interaction between Towns and point guard Jeff Teague.

"He's doing a better job," Teague said of Towns. "He's trying to be a leader. He's still the young guy. What is he 23, 24, whatever? He's just really becoming himself, starting to get a little more comfortable with everybody and him playing hard on both ends."

No matter the growing pains, Towns' teammates knows what he's capable of, even if they don't always see it.

Covington remembers the first time he worked out with Towns a couple years ago.

"I've never seen someone go through a full workout that didn't drink an ounce of water," Covington said. "But it just shows that if he wants to push himself to his limit, he wants to be great, and he wants to go the extra edge, he wants that extra give. Before I came to the team, [Karl-Anthony and I] talked about the potential, what if he had a guy like me on his team, what it could do. ... We've been a year together now, and I've seen growth within him, just as far as like how he's carried himself and everything he does on the court, that's what you want your superstar to do."

Covington said he's challenged Towns to be a force on both ends of the court. "Because it's not on one side of the ball and he's accepted that," he added. "So he's become a much better defender. He was already a good defender, but having a guy like me on his side that's going to always stay on his ass about pick-and-rolls, guarding the ball ... I always talk to him about various aspects of the game about certain things just to keep him more mindful and not to get into bad habits. So he's done a lot, he's grown a lot."

Towns insists he has only brushed against his potential.

"There's still so much [Saunders] has left to get out of me, and my talents," Towns said. "And he's everyday learning for ways to utilize me. There's some things that he knows that we could do, and he's just waiting to pull it out. So, we've had great times. In training camp, we've exposed some secrets, and it's worked out tremendously well. So, I guess he's just saving it for the right moment."

Meanwhile, a father who just wanted to position his son for a scholarship to become a kinesiologist looks on, having molded today's ideal big. "After all the years, I finally get a chance to see all the hard work we put in in the gym throughout the years, that I was teaching him," Karl Towns said. "It's good to see that he could finally use other aspects of his game. I'm very proud of him, that he's taking his game to the level that I thought he could."

Jonathan Abrams is a senior writer forB/R Mag. A former staff writer at Grantland and sports reporter at theNew York TimesandLos Angeles Times, Abrams is also the best-selling author ofAll the Pieces Matter: The Inside Story of The Wireavailableright here, right now. Follow him on Twitter,@jpdabrams.

Originally posted here:
'There's Really Nothing' Karl-Anthony Towns Can't Do - Bleacher Report

(Courtesy of Kill Cliff CBD)

This article is brought to you by Kill Cliff, making all-natural CBD beverages for athletes and fitness enthusiasts.

When evolution is the name of the game, brands creating innovative products have to make sure they are jam-packed with differentiators that prompt consumers to select something new.Kill Cliff CBD beveragesare the result of the companys efforts to provide customers with something new, while achieving an effect that feels good to even the cleanest eaters or biggest gym buffs.

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With consumers buying out their products in the southeast US, Kill Cliff wants to spread the word about their commitment to creating quality products for consumers in all 50 states.

The vast majority of the CBD beverages on the market today do nothing more than deliver CBD to consumers in a simple format like water, tea, coffee, and cola. By contrast, weve drawn from a decade of experience to create a product that helps the body perform and recover, says COO and Navy SEAL veteran, John Timar. We were a beverage company first and are now extending our portfolio with drinks that include CBD. Thats the exact opposite of most beverage companies in the CBD industry.

Theres no chicken or the egg dilemma here. These drinks were Kill Cliffs destiny.

To develop a full line of beverages and convince the masses what they could do, Kill Cliff had to identify their must-have ingredients for performance and flavor. First, hemp-derived cannabidiol.

Putting hemp in a product such as ours adds a layer of complexity that we take head-on. Kill Cliff CBD utilizes CO2 extraction, which is widely recognized as a clean and highly effective method for hemp extraction while offering longer-term survivability of the hemp emulsion put into our Kill Cliff CBD product, says VP of Ops & Innovation and former collegiate athlete, Jerry Barker.

Once the CBD is taken care of, they focused on the rest of the drink, which still needs to taste good and appeal to a health-conscious audience.Kill Cliff aspires to create natural drinks that taste as good as popular soft drink flavors, while utilizing all-natural ingredients.

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When we formulate our products, we know that CBD isnt the only important ingredient. We focus on using plant extracts and vitamins that your body needs, and we obtain them from sources that consumers would feel good about in naturally-derived flavors and colors. While it makes it more challenging and limits us in our ability to create flavors, it makes us who we are and solidifies our commitment to giving our consumers natural products, says Barker. Additionally, we do not use sugar in any of our products and focus on utilization of natural sweeteners like stevia and monk fruit.

For an energetic kick, Kill Cliff infuses their broad-spectrum beverages with an impactful dose of B vitamins, providing anyone who uses it with a non-caffeinated boost. The creation of these formulas wasnt for anyone specific, but the company was definitely inspired by their past.

Amidst their efforts to branch out to new audiences, Kill Cliff will never forget their origins. A huge factor of brand validation that Kill Cliff has experienced is the warm reception by a group of Americas most athletic service members, the Navy SEALs. The positive reactions were meaningful to the founders, who are SEALs themselves.

The burdens of combat are huge, and suicides are at a record high among veterans right now, says John. Whether it is through inspirationalcontentor products to help people live healthier, we seek to support those who support us. Weve had an overwhelmingly positive response to our CBD products by both military veterans and police departments across the country.

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Supporting the bodies of those with the worlds most arduous jobs is a task that Kill Cliff takes seriously. Proceeds from every sale go to the Navy SEAL Foundation, totaling nearly one million dollars todate. Once they saw the differences their products made for members of the military, it was a no-brainer that Kill Cliff CBD beverages could cater to all types of athletes if they just got the word out.

CBD has a place now and in the future in optimizing human performance. We are already sending monthly shipments to top-tier pro athletes because our products are in high demand with people that train and workout regularly, he says. Whether youre a football player, professional athlete, in the military, or love to hit the slopes with your family, we endeavor to innovate purposeful products to support health and wellness in different usage occasions throughout the day.

With a community-based foundation and formulas theyre willing to bet on, Kill Cliff is enlisting distributors and rapidly growing in new local and regional markets, proving you dont have to be a SEAL to feel like one.

Their broad-spectrum CBD products may have already spiked in popularity with one group of people, but theyre made to be enjoyed by anyone that wants to experience the impact of CBD on their body including gym members, league athletes, and bodybuilders. With less caffeine than a soda and 25mg of CBD derived from 125mg of broad-spectrum hemp extract, Kill Cliff is letting any newcomers know precisely what they are putting in their bodies.

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As a national brand embracing this ingredient, we seek to validate CBD and its efficacy for the general population, including those who need more than a product for good vibes during social occasions. One of our objectives in entering the CBD industry is to help create legitimacy in the eyes of the skeptic. We pride ourselves in our transparency at every level. From product packaging and labeling to lab tests of our products, all of our information is straightforward and immediately accessible for the consumer, says John.

We are educating our consumers, and we intend to continue to push the envelope in driving general acceptance for CBD in professional sports and the military.CBD is a powerful ingredient, and were committed to making reputable products for the communities we serve.

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By veterans, for veterans: the rise of Kill Cliff CBD beverages - Leafly

Evolving from an experimental theatrical concept developed in an Icelandic lighthouse into an arena conquering audio-visual feast, Bjrks Cornucopia tour continues to test the boundaries of live performance. Daniel Gumble spoke to FOH engineer John Gale, Southby Productions director Chris Jones and d&b audiotechniks Steve Jones about the d&b Soundscape system at the heart of the show and how this project has tested them like no other

As birdsong swoops and flutters around Londons cavernous O2 Arena there is a sense even before the lights go down that tonights show (November 19) is going to provide far from standard arena show fare. The d&b audiotechnik Soundscape system employed by the Icelandic pioneer is already making its presence felt, with many in attendance surveying the scene as if in hope of catching sight of what feels like birds flying overhead and brushing past their ears.

Having been in a state of perpetual evolution for the past 12 months, Bjrks Cornucopia tour has finally arrived in the capital, and by the time she takes to the stage, she has transformed the often grey, characterless hall into a living, breathing space. The stage explodes with vivid splashes of colour, while visual designer Tobias Gremmlers high definition projections evoke images of nature and reproduction, from fibrous fauna to what looks like bacteria and foetuses. A harp is plucked while flautists dance around the stage. At one point, Bjrk enters a reverb chamber for a solo vocal session, while later singing to a drummer thumping away at drums submerged to alternating depths in a water tank. It all makes for a breathtaking spectacle. Complementing the hypnotic visuals and the ever enigmatic nature of Bjrks performance is the Soundscape system that sits at the shows core. In many ways, it is the thread that binds each of the shows components together, creating a truly immersive experience that plays out around, rather than before, its audience.

Unsurprisingly, Cornucopia has been a long time in the making, and continues to evolve to this day, with tweaks being made and notes being left by Bjrk for the production team on a near daily basis. To find out about how it was conceived and its ongoing development, PSNEurope managed to pin down Bjrks FOH engineer John Gale, director and co-owner of production company Southby Productions, Chris Jones, and education and application support team chief for d&b audiotechnik Great Britain, Steve Jones

Origins: From lighthouse to arenaEarlier this year, several months before Cornucopia landed in London, Bjrk and members of the production team found themselves sealed inside a lighthouse off the coast of Iceland, accessible only during low tide. Once inside, there was no escape for several hours, allowing them to experiment with the Soundscape system without distraction. Bjrk likes working with windows so she can see and connect with the world around her, Steve Jones tells us. She doesnt like being in rooms that are closed off, and there are some really big windows in that place with some beautiful views.

The decision to incorporate such an unconventional location as part of the shows evolution came after initial sessions were held in London. Following the release of her 2017 Utopia album, Bjrk embarked on a largely conventional tour at least from an audio standpoint in support of the record. But after attending a production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in London, she felt compelled to add greater theatrical elements, shedding the trappings of a standard pop/rock concert. The decision to explore new creative avenues for the tour resulted in a lengthy spell of experimentation via numerous venues and locations across the globe.

When we were touring Utopia she said shed like to do it in surround sound, or at least have some speakers at the back so she could put some effects in, Gale explains. She then saw the Harry Potter show and wanted to reconceive what we were doing as a more theatrical show. So we started talking with the director John Tiffany and some sound designers to discuss different directions, but there was no clear path she wanted to achieve at that point.

The theatrical concept started to fall by the wayside, but she still wanted a lot of immersive theatrics in the show. I was aware that I needed a sound system that could do 360o, something that would allow me to move objects around the room that wouldnt just be spot effects, that could actually move from one position to another. I was looking at all the products out there and it just made sense to go with Soundscape because it can deal with time delay properly and could handle everything we wanted to do.

As for how the initial groundwork was laid for what became Cornucopia, Chris Jones picks up the story.

11 months ago (December 2018), John got in touch saying Bjrk was looking at an immersive concept, so hed been tasked with looking at the options for immersive audio. We hired a venue in central London and set up a mini 360o Soundscape system for John to play with for three days. He brought his multi-tracks along and a show profile. In February 2019, we air freighted a 360o system for her to experiment with in the lighthouse, which could only be reached twice a day for an hour. She fell in love with the system, so it then went into rehearsals at a studio in Iceland called Syrland Studios, and it scaled up again from there to the Backstage Centre in Purfleet, where we put in a 360o system and the show went into full technical production rehearsals. From the Backstage Centre it scaled again to The Shed culture centre in New York, and after a residency there for a month went to Mexico for a month-long residency at a larger venue. And from Mexico it went on to arenas like the O2 in London.

Evolution theoryWhile the show may appear to have settled on a final form following its intercontinental development, Gale details that Cornucopia is, and continues to be, subject to change. Its actually still evolving, he states. It always is with Bjrk. She likes to experiment. When she was in the lighthouse thats mainly what she was doing, experimenting with playback tracks to see what could be done. She had a clear idea for some of the tracks, but with these things it can be like a kid in a toy shop at the beginning because you can put everything everywhere. Over the next few months, we refined it and worked out a way we could incorporate all of the live elements of the show.

One of the key changes to the show since its opening night at The Shed in New York is the adaption from 360o audio to 180o, dependent on the venue.

When we did New York and Mexico the whole show was 360o, but when we went to the larger arenas for various reasons we used a 180 system, so I had to adapt the show from 360 to 180 for this particular run, Gale continues. Itll probably go back to 360 for future runs, but that was a surprisingly rewarding process. Its surprising what you can achieve with 180. You can still get a real feeling of depth and sound surrounding you.

The 180 d&b system used at the O2 was comprised of five main hangs of 12 KSL8/12, two extension hangs of 14 V8/12, two outfill hangs of 16 V8/12. One hang of eight SL-Subs was flown, while the ground sub array featured 20 SL-Subs. Frontfills consisted of 12 Y10Ps and four V7Ps, while the delays consisted of four hangs of six V8s. 68 D80/D20 amplifiers were deployed, along with a processing network of two DS100s and seven DS10s.

According to Steve Jones, the shows immersive qualities are just as potent in 180 or 360 configurations. Immersive is a buzz word at the moment across every area of entertainment, he says. Ive been involved in various Soundscape systems in various segments theatre, rock n roll, etc. and I remember going to one of the first 180o theatre shows we did and being absolutely immersed in the show. Immersive doesnt necessarily mean sound coming at you from every angle. I see it more as am I immersed in a show, am I in the midst of it, or am I an external person looking in on someone else performing?

With the Bjrk show, 360 is great because you do have sound coming at you from every angle she pokes and prods you. But with the 180o show, youre still totally immersed. My connection is not to a loudspeaker, my connection is to an audio performance happening in front of me. Im so connected to the performance on every sensory level that Im completely immersed.

Gale adds: She goes into a reverb chamber onstage and closes the door as part of the show. I wanted to take the audience with her, so we have mics in the walls, and with the 180o show Im putting the object on stage where the chamber is, so it sounds like the sound is coming from the chamber. I read a review that said that moment was totally unamplified, which of course isnt the case. But its interesting that the audience member didnt realise it was an amplified moment just because technology allows you to place things specifically in the right zone.

Can you make the subs sound more optimistic?As one would expect from an artist of such creative ambition, Bjrks fingerprints can be found on each and every detail of the show.

Shes very hands-on, says Gale. She spends a lot of time thinking and coming up with ideas. Occasionally, shed leave us alone for a few days and wed make some changes, then shed come and listen and approve them or say she preferred it the way it was. Shes very receptive when we present her with our approach, but shes also very clear about what she wants to do.

And the way she hears the show isnt necessarily how I would initially approach it. Sometimes she wants me to bury her lead vocal amongst lots of backing vocals and its hard to know what the lead line is. You sometimes get looks from people thinking maybe she isnt loud enough, but thats the way shes designed it. Im working to a very clear concept from her. Although I helped design the show, its definitely a co- designed thing.

I remember being at FOH when Bjrk was there and its interesting to hear the conversations they would have, Steve Jones elaborates. Youd think the conversation between an artist and a sound engineer might be along the lines of my vocal sounds a bit muddy or the guitar needs more bite, but some of the conversations at FOH were much more creative.

She would say things like, the two flutes are in a battle here, how do we represent that from an audio perspective? Or, I need these seven flutes to sound more like a rave. Its a totally different type of creative story-telling that immersive audio gives, compared to the traditional engineering of a sound system.

My favourite is still can you make the subs sound more optimistic?, Gale smiles.

Equal to the extraordinary artistry on display within Cornucopia are the practicalities and infrastructure that underpin a show of this kind. From load-in times to the relationship between audio and visual, every facet of the tour is distinct.

Weve all worked on arena shows, but purely from a practical point of view, this is quite unique, says Chris Jones.Getting in 10 hangs of PA in one day, theres a lot of unique infrastructure that has to be built. The amount of kit, in terms of speaker cabling, amplifiers, speakers, is about 30 per cent more than a typical show. Ensuring that that is prepped and packaged in a way that can go in very quickly is absolutely essential.

The audio team has been fantastic and there has been a lot of stuff built just for this tour to make sure everything goes in fast. Weve had to invest in a lot of dispersion boxes to look after these immersive shows. And we also have to give John, Bjrk and the creative teams the space to be able to experiment with the system.

Theres a lot of inter-department coordination as well between the video and sound departments, so were sharing cable trusses and things and making sure were on the same page, Gale elaborates. We work really closely together daily. The show isnt entirely Timecode but it relies heavily on it for all departments.

Bjrk came to us very early on and said I want all the visuals and the lighting and the sound to marry together, so if the sound was to come from a rear speaker she wanted to explore ways of potentially being able to have lights come from the same vicinity. We had to come up with a concept where we could share the details of the decisions I had made so that the lighting department could take that OSC data and use it in a meaningful way. Were constantly chatting.

When asked about the challenges the team has faced, there is a collective laugh at the suggestion of just identifying one. Given Bjrks persistent pursuit of ever more experimental avenues, the tasks faced can be vast and varied.

As the show developed, we had to go from the DiGiCo SD7 to the Quantum just because everything was expanding, says Gale. We suddenly went into 56 channels of playback because I needed discreet objects I could move around, and before you know it youve used all the local I/O. So Chris asked me if Id be happy to move up to a Quantum and it was the right move. It gave us so much more capacity.

Were in a world where its not about a single speaker, its about how does an object of sound work through a multitude of speakers and how much headroom do I need, says Steve Jones. And were at the creative mercy of John and Bjrks ideas. Sizing the system and figuring out what size speakers and what dispersion needs to be where, its almost not a system engineering job, its about trying to understand the creative part of the story thats being told. Putting the two together in a multitude of differently sized and shaped spaces is fun and games.

Clearly though, everyone involved relishes the challenge.

You can never sit back and think thats done, Gale adds. Theres always some curveball that keeps us on our toes, which is good. There was one moment when she said I want this song to be one BPM faster. When everything is Timecoded youre not working to bars and beats, youre working to Timecode snapshots, and that can mean every department having to make 1,000 edits. And then shell listen to it and say it was better as it was before. Its one of those things you have to go through, and its a good thing.

From my point of view, looking in from the outside, the thing I dont think the audience recognises is that shes not doing back to back shows, its usually one show every three days, Steve Jones continues. She doesnt hold back from pushing the creative ideas in her head. All of these things come at a major cost, and the interesting bit from our side is trying to keep up with putting the technology in place that allows her ideas to come to the fore.

But its not a high budget show, and I would guess the audience probably thinks it is, because it is amazing what we pull off on a fairly small budget compared to a lot of other shows. Within that you can pull your hair out one minute thinking about how were going to do something she wants to do creatively when there isnt that much money to pull it off. Somehow everybody manages it.

With regards to the future of immersive, object-based audio, all three are convinced that technologies such as Soundscape are set to become an increasingly in-demand commodity. Not just in the field of live music and theatre, but also in corporate and domestic applications. As the trio prepare to dash off for a load-in, they share their parting thoughts.

Weve noticed not only some artists putting in quote requests for Soundscape production, but also corporate clients wanting to do something different, says Chris Jones. Also, were doing quite a large d&b install around January where were putting in traditional left right hangs and ground subs, but they are conscious of this object-based mixing thing they are hearing about so they want us to put in the required infrastructure so they can have it as a bolt-on when artists request it. Its gradually getting out there that theres this exciting option for artists and bands to play with.

Artists are constantly looking at how they can get one over on everybody else; how does their show stand out over others, Steve Jones concludes. Weve seen that with the size of video screens, pixel densities, how bright your lights can be and crazy sets.

To a large extent, the way people view sound hasnt changed that much over the last 10-15 years, so the introduction of spatial audio does mark a growing trend. It does fundamentally changes the way you put on a show. Some people may be a little bit scared to make the jump, so well probably see slow growth that will pick up pace as more people run with it.

Artists are starting to realise the sound system can become a canvas on which they can be more creative. Its not just an engineering tool to make things loud, its a fundamental part of the creative process.

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Bjrk's Cornucopia: From a lighthouse in Iceland to the O2 Arena - PSNEurope

YOU may think that the switch from work as an emergency room surgeon to a perch at the helm of fund giant BlackRock's Asia Pacific operations is a dramatic one. Geraldine Buckingham, the firm's senior managing director and chair of Asia Pacific, says it was the culmination of "a series of small decisions''.

Ms Buckingham obtained her medical degrees - Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery - from Monash University in Australia. The fork in the road came when shortly after qualifying as a doctor, she completed a Master of Philosophy degree at Oxford University as a Rhodes scholar. She gave herself two years to explore areas other than medicine.

"It wasn't that one day I woke up and said I wanted to be in asset management. I'm quite intellectually curious The deal I struck with myself is that I would do something else for two years. It was long enough for me to try something, but short enough to be able to go back to medicine.

"What do you qualify for if you have a medical degree but don't want to be a doctor? I was fortunate that consulting firms were open-minded in terms of background.''

A stint at McKinsey in New Yaork was an opportunity to get her feet wet in asset management. She rose to become a partner at the firm's financial services practice, helping institutions navigate the post-crisis world. The transition from doctor to financial services consultant was challenging, she recalls. "I remember sitting with one of the senior persons I worked with on my first asset management assignment at McKinsey. I asked what a mutual fund was. I really didn't know anything. It was a learning curve.

"But I was keen to learn. I found it interesting and wanted to do more. Ultimately I enjoyed the transition and felt it gave me a broader set of options and possibilities for the future.''

She found she enjoyed asset management work. "I liked the clients, the content. I found that the core of asset management is helping people prepare for retirement which is very motivating, very much aligned with my interests and public policy. BlackRock was a client so it was the classic consultant-to-client move.''

Ms Buckingham joined BlackRock in 2014 as head of Americas, and in just about a year became global head of strategy before taking on the Asia Pacific role earlier this year. In 2017, she was named among Fortune's "40 under 40'' as a rising star at BlackRock.

She sees parallels between her former medical career and asset management, and credits her medical experience with her ability to stay calm under pressure. "I jokingly say nobody's dying Our clients have challenges; patients have illnesses. As a doctor we think about differential diagnoses. For clients, it's solutions. Ultimately (asset management) is a deeply people-engaged business, trying to help institutions or individuals with critical issues for the future. We talk about the value of diversity in teams. For an individual to have a broad range of experience in different organisations, different parts of the world, there is value in that. I feel very grateful for the opportunity.''

Expanding presence in Asia

On Ms Buckingham's shoulders today sits the challenge of expanding BlackRock's Asia Pacific business, with China as a major linchpin. The nearly-US$7 trillion group manages some US$487.2 billion in assets in the Asia Pacific, accounting for 7 per cent of total assets under management at end-September 2019. Her task, as chairman Larry Fink has said, is to build a "truly local'' presence in Asia. Thanks to liberalisation moves, China has raised the limit for foreign ownership of asset management firms from 49 to 51 per cent, and is set to allow 100 per cent foreign ownership in 2020.

At the same time, China equities are becoming part of MSCI indices in larger proportions. The weighting of China A shares in the MSCI Emerging Markets index recently rose from 2.55 to 4 per cent. Its weighting is set to rise to 20 per cent in three increments of 5 per cent each, in May, August and November 2020.

China bonds also debuted on the Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Index this year.

Said Mr Fink in his 2018 letter to shareholders: "Asia is expected to drive 50 per cent of the organic AUM growth in the asset management industry over the next five years, largely driven by China, where there is increasing demand for more diversified and long term investment solutions. Our goal is to become one of the country's leading global asset managers.''

This is occurring at a time of an ongoing trade war and tensions between China and the US. Says Ms Buckingham: "I was really excited to be given the opportunity to come to Asia for three reasons. I spent a lot of time looking at and thinking about Asia in my (previous) strategy role. For BlackRock, Asia will become strategically more important overall. There is obviously enormous economic growth, savings and wealth, and we help people to move from savings into investments. There is also a real retirement crisis in many countries in Asia. I think BlackRock should play a role to address that.

"Secondly, many investors around the world are under-allocated to Asia. One of the things we can do is to educate and ultimately make available to them the opportunity to invest in some of the fastest growing economies in the world. Creating that global connection is important.

"Thirdly, Asia is a place of extraordinary innovation particularly in technology. There are many countries in Asia where retail financial services are not becoming digital; they are digital. As we learn more and think about how that impacts asset management, that's exciting not just for the business here but also for the wisdom and learning we can take to other parts of the world. To be near that innovation, to be able to deeply understand it, engage it in our business, and to export it to other parts of the world - I found that very compelling.''

She confesses that she herself didn't grow up a digital native. "I remember when my parents bought a CD player. I remember my first cell phone and my dad's first cell phone was like a brick. I'm not on social media at all, but I'm anxious when my cell phone isn't in reach."

Still, technology will have an "extraordinary'' impact on asset management, she says, even if the industry may be something of a laggard at the moment. Distribution is an obvious area of change with the rise of robo advisers. Another area is the use of big data for investment insight. "The impact on investing is already very significant. Operations and the cost of a trade are dramatically impacted already.

"I think all elements of the asset management value chain will be changed by technology. Sometimes when incumbent managers feel change coming, they want to resist it and protect what they have. One of the things I admire about BlackRock - and we need to keep pushing ourselves on this - is the willingness to lean into change. Ultimately we need to serve our clients and help them reach their financial goals. If technology can help us and them, the obligation is on us to think of how to evolve the business to serve them better.''

Retirement challenge

One common theme in Asia is the need for more retirement savings. "The fundamental problem is people don't have enough to fund a retirement where they can live in dignity. Part of the problem is demographic, and (ageing) is playing out dramatically in this part of the world... We've also lived through a decade of very low interest rates, which may be further extended. In the traditional ways, people invest for retirement, the math doesn't work right now. And there doesn't seem to be any indication this will materially change in the next few years.''

The retirement challenge, she says, will need the efforts of multiple parties including governments, employers and asset managers. "We need to stop thinking about retirement as accumulating to 65 and then decumulation. We need to really think about income generation. The traditional ways of doing that via a 60/40 portfolio doesn't work in this environment. We need to help people invest through retirement... This is an area where technology can be incredibly helpful... how we can use technology to provide advice to people so they can make good decisions.''

Market volatility and geopolitical tensions can be intimidating to individuals. Ms Buckingham urges a long-term view. "When you invest for the long term, the day-to-day noise of the trade war isn't as relevant to the portfolio as it feels like from day to day. It's very clear that you will do better by keeping money in the market, through the compounding effect of time.''

US-China tensions, however, are deep-seated and strategic, she says. "It may be a geopolitical reality for 10 or 20 years... There is no doubt there has been an evolution or shift. We see very high cash allocations around the world, something in the order of US$75 trillion, earning nothing. Money in the mattress is not a good strategy for individuals or institutions.''

She notes that discussions in Asia about ESG (environment, social and governance) have gone up in volume and frequency. "Focus and interaction on ESG are very much heightened in Asia but we're not seeing the money move in proportion to the conversations. Japan and Australia are exceptions.''

The challenge in ESG investing lies in the definitions and comparability of data. "What are we actually talking about and how do we measure it? Are we sure about the quality of information? I think a lot of work needs to be done to align the data and definitions with what we mean.'' She recalls that she was in a recent panel discussion where BlackRock was given a very good ESG rating compared to another firm, based on the fact that BlackRock had fewer offices and employees.

"It was a very crude metric and example, but that's the thing about data - measuring things in a basic way.''

Impact of ESG on investment

Another aspect is to help investors understand how ESG impacts their portfolio. "Even if we set aside the moral issues around the environment, ESG is about the potential risk in a portfolio. If someone buys a large amount of assets that over time may become stranded because of their carbon, you want to understand that purely as a risk, not even as a judgement. Our analysis shows that companies that are more carbon-conscious and carbon-light (perform better) over time.''

BlackRock has launched a suite of core sustainable ETFs and an ESG money fund in Asia. "So even with something as simple as cash, you're able to put it into a money fund with strong ESG credentials.''

The environment is something she is deeply concerned about, particularly now that she has a one-year old baby. "I worry about the environment. I do think we're at an inflection point. While I have faith in humanity and its ability to innovate its way out of many problems, I worry that the environment is an issue where we need a global response. The ability of the world to form a global response to anything right now feels really diminished.''

"I look at my one-year old who has every chance of living to 100. I worry about the world not just in terms of natural disasters but the social implications of what climate change does. We'll have an extraordinary number of refugees. The wealthy can afford to insulate themselves, but others can't. It will be a wonder if governments can be more focused on educating people, providing healthcare, helping the environment rather than screaming at each other across party lines.

"Business is an incredible stakeholder in society. We need to take that responsibility seriously; people are looking to the business world to be leaders in the community, to have a voice and ultimately benefit society as a whole... I'm hopeful for humanity, but we need to do better.''

GERALDINE BUCKINGHAM

Chair and Head of Asia Pacific BlackRock

Born in 1977 in Canberra, Australia

Education

2002 Earned Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degrees from Monash University

2006 Earned a Master of Philosophy degree in Comparative Social Policy from Oxford University

Career

2007 Joined McKinsey & Company

2014 Joined BlackRock as head of Americas

2016 Senior managing director, global head of corporate strategy, BlackRock

2019 Senior managing director and chair of Asia Pacific, BlackRock "

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The doctor is in - The Business Times

Thailand is a country rich in culture, history and experiences. From sleeping with elephants underneath a starlit sky to attending the magical Yee Peng lantern festival to eating your way through the culinary wonders of Bangkok, here are seven extreme experiences to enjoy in Thailand. Photo Credit: Anantara Golden Triangle

If theres anything more awe-inspiring then walking side by side with a 6-ton elephant, we havent experienced it. Thats the kind of experience youll have at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, a stunning, 160-acre, five-star property tucked into the jungles of Chiang Rai. When staying here, soak up every minute by booking the Discovery package, which will provide a 360-experiential luxury escapade and all the affluent amenities you can imagine. Guests who choose this adventure who receivereturn transfers by luxury limousine to Chiang Rai Airport (or a four-house drive by private Mercedes-Benz from Chiang Maiwith its own Wi-Fi, of course), a VIP Regal Elephant Arrival, which includes collection from the airport and a traditional longtail boat on the Mekong River, before venturing down the Ruak River to dock at Anantaras private jetty, concluding with an elephant trek along jungle paths right up to the hotel lobby.

And thats just the beginning. For each night stayed, guests who book this package can choose one activity from four categories, though should you wish to fully embrace the nature of Chiang Rai, we recommend dedicating all to the elephant camp. These ventures include the Elephant Learning Experience, where youll learn about elephant composition and biology, as well as get to feed, play with and even wash the gorgeous beats, and Walking with Giants, where guests join the elephants free roaming stroll with their mahouts (caretakers) and a resident vet or biologist, as well as enjoy shower time.

The second all-inclusive signature experience category offers luxury pampering at Anantara Spa, with a choice of two 90 minute rituals such as scrubs, wraps, massages, facials, manicure and pedicure treatments.Anantaras Spice Spoons Thai cooking school offers the third all-inclusive activity option. The experience begins in the former Lanna Kingdom capital of nearby Chiang Saen, with a chef-guided market tour and coffee with the locals, followed by a temple offering and breakfast picnic in the temple grounds. Back at the resort, students tour the resorts on-site herb garden before donning aprons for the step-by-step cooking class, learning how to recreate Thai cuisines unique four flavor balance with a master chef. Well get into the fourth excursion a little later.

The newest addition as of November isin our opinionthe most majestic. From dusk until dawn, youll sleep in a bubble in the jungle as elephants roam freely around you. Guests will be completely safe and protected, though be able to see some of the most breathtaking, unbelievable views in the world. Located in the jungle on the banks of the Ruak river, the two air conditioned Jungle Bubbles will be perched on raised wooden decks. Each will feature a bedroom and living space with bespoke furnishings under the transparent bubble roof, and an enclosed, nontransparent en suite bathroom.The Jungle Bubbles were conceived and custom designed by Eye In The Sky and are constructed with high tech polyester fabric using exclusive Precontraint Serge Ferrari technology to create an milieu in which guests can enjoy an immersive, close-to-nature experience.

If sleeping in a jungle bubble isnt your bag, needless to say, this luxury resort has every creature comfort you could expect, and then some. There are 40 rooms and 15 suites, including 6 family suites, all perched on a hilltop and designed inroyal Thai Lanna style. All rooms and suites feature a spacious balcony with a built-in sofa overlooking the misty hills of Thailand, Myanmar and Laosthe famed Golden Triangle, as it were. Interiors showcase the elegance of Thai culture with silks, textiles and teakwood furniture complemented by a host of modern amenities, such as a terrazzo bathtub for two featuring retractable doors that can be opened for a soak with a view of the breath taking surrounds; a lounging area; a balcony with a daybed; a walk-in rain shower; international satellite TV, DVD and bluetooth; a Nespresso; and a complimentary daily minibar. Plus, who doesnt love walking into a room with towels shaped like elephants with a spread of homemade elephant-shaped shortbread cookies?

229 Moo 1, Wiang, Chiang Saen District, Chiang Rai 57150

Photo Credit: Dusadeephan Phajee/Shutterstock.com

The fourth part of the discovery package at Golden Triangle, Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, is also one of its most distinctive. The area in which its located, the Golden Triangle, is named as such because it overlooks the fabled convergence of three countries: Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. And when it comes to an experience youll remember, Anantara delivers with the ultimate private excursion, an exploration of theunique character and traditions of Thailand and Myanmar, with the option of adding a Laos experience. The cultural trip incorporates market, temple and ancient Lanna experiences, travel by private car, tuk tuk and longtail boat, with an experienced guide easing immigration, providing language assistance and regaling insightful facts and stories.

In Myanmar, youll hop in a tuk-tuk and immediately head to a food market, where youll meet locals, uncover age old traditions at the Shwedagon Pagoda, find out about the animal corresponding to your birthday and learn how to make merit with a temple offering, photograph the mountain scenery and find spirituality (if you seek it) at the Jade Temple. In Chiang Saen, Thailand, youll tour the scattered ruins of defensive walls and sacred temples before boarding a traditional longtail boat to cruise the Mekong. Passing the impressive Golden Buddha statue and the point where three countries converge to mark the Golden Triangle, youll saunter off down the Ruak River to reach the resorts private pier. By adding the optonal experience of Laos, you can opt to continue your longtail boat journey along the Mekong River to Don Sao Island (which, thanks to a loophole in immigration laws, you can visit without a visa). As our final stop of the day, you might also be tempted to try a Beer Laos, and if youre feeling braver, the potent rice whisky.

Theres a plethora of options for further experiences back at the resort, if you still have energy and time.Early risers can revitalize with a bike ride to Sai Thung reservoir or an al fresco yoga class. Those who simply want to relax can do so in the infinity pool and Jacuzzi while taking in the stunning Mekong, Myanmar and Laos views.Nature lovers can go bird watching, walk or jog along beautiful trails and contribute to Anantaras conservation work with a native tree planting activity. Those with energy to burn can enjoy the gym, squash and tennis courts. And if youre reallyhardcore, personal trainers offer up personal Muay Thai lessons in an epic, professional-grade training court.

Photo Credit: asiandelight/Shutterstock.com

Youve all seen the magical pictures of hundreds, sometimes thousands,oflanterns floating in the air. This happens for a very specific reason: Every year, the country celebrates its Yee Peng Festival on the full moon of the twelfth lunar month, which typically happens every November. This is when the moon is meant to be the brightest, and wishes for good fortune are allegedly the most likely to come true. For a country steeped in superstition, this is everything. And the very best placethe most fabled place, in factto enjoy the Yee Peng/Loy Krathong Festival is in Chiang Mai.

Lanterns and floating kratong (flower offerings) are sold everywhere, and cheaply. You can celebrate literally anywhere in Chiang Mai. But the most VIP event is held at Lanna Dhutanka in Mae Cho in the San Sai district of Chiang Mai. Not only will you take the blessed circular walk around monks, but youll enjoy the ultimate VIP seating with important figures from Thailands government, a specially crafted inner box and Lanna and Thai cultural performances before letting your own lantern float sky high. Yee Peng is so beautiful it takes your breath away.

During this popular, mystical time period, hotels book up fast and needless to say, Anantara Chiang Mai Resort will be one of the first to go (so book this well in advance!). Reason being: it offers a self-contained, supremely serene oasis smack dab in the middle of the city, just 15 minutes from Chiang Mai International Airport, but most importantly, a two-minute walk from the riverside. The river view, in fact, will beyourview during breakfast, as well as during your stay. And this means youll be in a prime position for double wishesyou can release your kratong even after attending the VIP Yee Peng Festivalandhit up the nearby Night Bazaar. Winning!

Location aside, the resort is a stunner.84 sleekly designed rooms and suites are housed in an elegant modern building of wood and expansive glass. Private balconies and terraces feature a double daybed overlooking manicured grounds, the colonial house or river. Inside, sunlight streams through floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating contemporary dcor, stylish furnishings and local artifacts. The 32 Kasara Suites (our preference) boast 1130 square feet of space, including a lounge and dining area, a large open-plan bathroom and amenities such as Bose entertainment, an iPod dock and JURA Swiss brand coffee machine. Those in the Kasara suites get all the extras: A private check-in and check-out service, a complimentary laundry service (seven pieces per day), a private indoor/outdoor lounge with a dedicated concierge, WiFi and a laptop computer, as well as evolving culinary temptations.

Chiang Mai is an ideal destination for travelers eager to explore. There almost too much to do. After long days of exploring the citys quirky caf, art and boutique scene, to countless temples, Lanna Kingdom ruins and bustling markets, verdant mountains and rice paddies, lakes, waterfalls and national parks, elephant experiences, bamboo river rafting, the nearby Hill tribes and handicraft village, jungle zip lining, a sunset river cruise and golf by the Himalayan foothill, youll definitely need an oasis of relaxation, and Anantara Chiang Mai is the very place to kick back. Guests can sunbathe in quiet seclusion and swim in the 366-square foot riverside pool. Energy is renewed with a workout in the river view gym, restorative yoga or tai chi, or with a Muay Thai boxing class. Culture and wellness go hand in hand at Anantara Spa, where holistic pampering includes unique northern Thai rituals, such as the Lanna ritual: a full-body massagecombining healing plai massage oil with Thai, Burmese and Chinese techniques to enhance energy flow and overall wellbeing, ending with a mini pressure point facial, complete with a singing bowl, a clearing of energy and wish-making with a golden heart Bodhi leaf.

123 123/1 Charoen Prathet Rd, Muang Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50100

Photo Credit: Antantara Chiang Mai One of the coolest dining experiences youll have anywhere in the world is located in the heart of Chiang Mai, and with the 25th James Bond film, No Time to Die, set for an April release, we dare say that its the perfect time to spy-themed The Service 1921. What once served as the British Consulate now serves as Anantara Chiang Mais heritage, serving up contemporary cocktails and Thai, Sichuanese and Vietnamese cuisines, all with a British intelligence service twist.What now serves as the restaurants private dining room was actually a secret spy/war room for British forces thats accessible through a secret bookshelf door.

The Service 1921 has been respectful of the venues storied past, keeping portraits of former British intelligence offers on the walls, and vintage artifacts scattered throughout the restaurant. It also plays up its theme in a fun way: The menus come in top secret envelopes stamped with For your eyes only. Though it might sound like a concept restaurant, the restaurant has been recognized by the Michelin Guide, and its interiors are posh, not kitschy, with an elegant bar and lounge, al fresco seating on the wrap-around lower and upper verandas, a wine cellar, a cigar area featuring hand-picked Cubans and an exclusive whisky room.

Menu highlights here include the Mala seafood hot pot with mussels, squid, prawns, fresh ginger, scallion, sesame and dry chili; Szechuan black-bone chicken marinated with draught beer, then stir-fried with fresh chili, ginger, garlic, red onion and mushroom; and Bashu long spareribsSzechuan pork spare rib stir-fried with dry chili, sesame and garlic. Now more than ever, we recommend trying at least one if not all of the cocktails on the Bond-themed Secret Services menu: a classic Vesper martini; Diamonds are Foreversecret cold-infused vodka with fresh pineapple juice, vanilla syrup, grenadine, and lime juice; and You Only Live Twicesecret cold-infused vodka, apricot brandy, fresh lime and honey caviarare the standouts.

123, 1 Charoen Prathet Rd, Mueang Chiang Mai District, 50100

Photo Credit: Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok

Moving on, head to Bangkok, which offers one of the most elegant afternoon teas youll likely ever have in the storiedAuthors Lounge of the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok. The hotel exudes old world charm reminiscent of the early 1900s, with turn-of-the-century-style wicker furniture and hand-painted fabrics, which perfectly accompany framed photographs of many of the famous writers who have stayed at the hotel since the late nineteenth century.

Although the rest of the hotel completed a massive renovation, the 143-year-old Authors Wing retains its character and whimsical charm unique through itsJoseph Conrad Terrace and the Somerset Maugham, Nol Coward and James Michener Lounges. In these newly created salons, images of these literary greats are juxtaposed with scenes at The Oriental during those eras, as well as quotations from their books.

Its the perfect, quietly-elegant setting for afternoon tea, a traditional affair of delicate finger sandwiches, pastries, freshly-baked scones and home-made jams frequented by fashionably clad ladies who lunch. There is a rotating teaearlier this year, the hotel crafted an afternoon tea with Parisian fragrance house diptyque, and currently a festive, holiday-themed tea is on the menu. Its Oriental Afternoon Tea Set is the one to beat, with a menu full of locally-inspired, regional treats such as Jasmine Queen Tea and coconut sorbet,crispy perch with tamarind sauce wrapped in lotus leaf, steamed butterfly pea dumplings filled with peppery crabmeat, papaya salad wrapped in a rice sheet, chicken green curry puff pastry, water chestnut rubies in coconut milk and coconut mango sticky rice, in addition to some rare Chinese teas.

As a side note, another cool experience the hotel offers is at its riverside Terrace Rim Naam, which is accessible only by private boat!

48 Oriental Ave, Khwaeng Bang Rak, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500

Photo Credit: lebua

For the absolutely most decadent culinary experiences in Thailand, check yourself into lebua at State Tower. The worlds first vertical destinationfirst made famous by The Hangover 2is a one-stop shop for gourmands, oenophiles and hedonists, offering one-of-a-kind culinary experiences in the ultimate glamorous setting. In fact, the hotel features so prominently in the film that it not only has its own suitethis three-bedroom, 2, 863-square foot behemoth with four city-view balconies, welcome Hangovertinis and a fully-stocked mini-bar actually hosted the cast when they filmed therebut too of its own craft cocktails as well. These include the aforementioned HangovertiniChivas 18 year, Manchino Chinato and sage maple syrupas well as the Hangover TooChivas Regal 18 year and Aperol, Dows port as well as maple, rosemary and black pepper syrups at the hotels Sky Bar.

This vertical destination prides itself on being a one-stop shop for a culinarybachanalia, and with good reason.Ten beautiful bars and restaurants fight for dominance at The Dome at lebua, including Sky Bar, which is suspended on a precipice over the city 820 feet in the air, making it one of the highest rooftop bars in the world with some of the best, most breathtaking views of Bangkok (as well as some of the worlds best cocktails); Mezzaluna, one of Thailands only 2-Michelin star restaurants; the nations first interactive French cuisine eatery, Chefs Table, which just earned its first Michelin star under the skillful guidance of the wonderfully charismatic and incredibleChef Vincent Thierry;Flte, A Perrier-Jout bar; and the lauded lebua No. 3, which provides one of the most unique caviar experiences in the world (including cocktails made of caviar air).

Last but not least, make sure to visit the supremely elegant millennial pink champagne hot spot Pink Bar. Thisdouble-height champagne cellar and grand bronze and gold champagne table are stocked with some of Frances finest and rarest boutique brands: Le Brun de Neuville, Rare Champagne, Champagne J. de Telemont, Dosnon Champagne and the extraordinary but obscure Champagne Comtes de Dampierrethe latter personally sourced by lebuas CEO, Mr. Deepak Ohrias well asthe barspice de rsistancea partnership with multi-awarded Rare Champagne; Pink Bar is the only place in the world you can get Rare Champagne by the glass. Hows that for exclusive?

State Tower Bangkok, 1055 Si Lom, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand

Photo Credit: Shangri-la Bangkok

If youre seeking unusual/traditional experiences in Bangkok, then dinner at Salathip is a must. Not only does this restaurant have a killer viewits located on the Chao Phraya Riverthe River of Kingsat the Shangri-La, Bangkok, but it also offers up an exotic Thai dance performance inside its Thai-style teak pavilions every evening from 7:45 p.m. which needs to be seen to be believed. The dancers flit by every table as youre indulging in dishes likePhad Phak Boong Kra Tieam Thonesauted morning glory with garlic, chili and bean pasteandGoong Hom Sabai Moo Subcrispy prawns stuffed with minced pork in a Chinese pancakeembracing each diner with the infectious spirit of Bangkok.

The hotel also offers another unique dining experience in its Horizon II River Cruise. Indulge in a buffet of Thai, Japanese and western dishes as youmore importantlycruise past historic buildings and famous landmarks that line the river, including The Grand Palace, Temple of Dawn (a Khmer-styled pagoda), Wat Pho, Holy Rosary Catholic Church (The Kalawar Church), Santa Cruz Church, Kiang Au Keng and the Guan Yu Shrine.

Because this hotel is so traditional, that means youre in store for the traditional Thai massage, performed on floor mat fully clothed without oil, and combining pressure point work with stretching to reawaken your bodys energy flow.

89 Wat Suan Phlu Alley, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500

Elephants at play at Anantara Golden Triangle

Sleep out in the wild at Anantara Golden Triangle

Elephants and sidecars at Anantara Golden Triangle

Anantara Golden Triangle's majestic lobby

Jungle views from your own personal daybed and balcony at Anantara Golden Triangle

A suite at Anantara Golden Triangle

Pool views at Anantara Golden Triangle

Pool views at Anantara Chiang Mai

Pool Lotus Pond at Anantara Chiang Mai

Spa Relaxation area at Anantara Chiang Mai

The Restaurant at Anantara Chiang Mai

Kasara River View Suite at Anantara Chiang Mai

The Service 1921

The Service 1921 private room

Afternoon Tea at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok

The terrace at Sala Rim Naan Bangkok

The Presidential Suite at Sala Rim Naam at Shangri-La Bangkok

Shangri-La Bangkok swimming pool

Shangri-La Bangkok Krungthep Presidential Suite

Shangri-La Bangkok Krungthep Presidential Suite bathroom

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7 Extreme Experiences To Enjoy In Thailand - Haute Living

Congratulations to 16-year-old Korean drone pilot Changhyeon Kang: the new FAI World Drone Racing Champion!

The talented young drone ace fought off stiff competition at the FAI World Drone Racing Championship Grand Final 2019 to climb to the top of the podium in Xiangshan Ningbo, China, alongside Australias Thomas Bitmatta, 20, in second place and French pilot Killian Rousseau, 15, in third.

Kang also scooped the Junior title and led his national team to victory in the Team category, in which last years winners Australia finished in silver medal position just ahead of host nation China.

In the Womens classification, the winner was once again 12-year-old Wanraya Milk Wannapong of Thailand. She successfully defended her title to finish ahead of Korean Siyun Park, 15, and Teng Ma, 34, of the USA.

And in the Junior category, 12-year-old JaeJong Kim of Korea and Australian Sam Heeps, 17, joined Kang on the podium to claim second and third place respectively.

Speaking at the event, Acting Secretary General of the FAI Markus Haggeney said: Congratulations to all the medallists, particularly the Korean team on claiming gold medals in a total of three categories, and the impressive young Thai pilot Wanraya Wannapong, who is now an FAI World Champion for the second time at just 12years old.

And thanks to everyone who has played a part in making this FAI World Drone Racing Championship Grand Final such an excellent competition. There has been a fantastic atmosphere throughout and the Aero Sports Federation of China (ASFC), the organiser Starmach, the city of Ningbo and all the officials and volunteers have done a great job.

The 2019 FAI World Drone Racing Championship Grand Final was held at a dedicated drone-racing track, built especially for the competition in Xiangshan Ningbo, a coastal city in the south east of China about 300km from Shanghai.

The competition took place over four days:

Among the 112 participating pilots,103 drone pilots, including 40 juniors and nine women, competed as part of31 national teams. The other nine pilots competed as individuals.

They tested their skills on athree-level championship racetrack that was 4m wide and 6m high, with a total length of 630m. Called Bi-Fish, it was inspired by the traditional Chinese Tai Chi symbol, and the maritime culture of Xiangshan, Ningbo a former fishing village and included lots of sharp turns, 16 air gates, and a tunnel.

The live scoring was done byFAI Global Technical PartnerNoosphere.

Overall

Women

Juniors

National teams

Photo credits: FAI

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Korea flies to victory at the FAI World Drone Racing Championship Grand Final 2019 - World Air Sports Federation

Congratulations to 16-year-old Korean drone pilot Changhyeon Kang: the new FAI World Drone Racing Champion!

The talented young drone ace fought off stiff competition to climb to the top of the podium in Xiangshan Ningbo, China, alongside Australias Thomas Bitmatta, 20, in second place and French pilot Killian Rousseau, 15, in third.

Kang also scooped the Junior title and led his national team to victory in the Team category, in which last years winners Australia finished in silver medal position just ahead of host nation China.

In the Womens classification, the winner was once again Wanraya Milk Wannapong of Thailand who is just 12 years old.

She successfully defended her title to finish ahead of Korean Siyun Park, 15, and Teng Ma, 34, of the USA.

And in the Junior category, 12-year-old JaeJong Kim of Korea and Australian Sam Heeps, 17, joined Kang on the podium to claim the second and third places.

Speaking at the event, Acting Secretary-General of the FAI Markus Haggeney said: Congratulations to all the medallists, particularly the Korean team on claiming gold medals in a total of three categories, and the impressive young Thai pilot Wanraya Wannapong, who is now an FAI World Champion for the second time at just 12 years of age.

And thanks to everyone who has played a part in making this FAI World Drone Racing Championship Grand Final such an excellent competition.

There has been a fantastic atmosphere throughout and the Aero Sports Federation of China (ASFC), the organiser Starmach, the city of Ningbo and all the officials and volunteers have done a great job.

Results

Overall

1. KANG Changhyeon (KOR) 2. BITMATTA Thomas (AUS) 3. ROUSSEAU Killian (FRA)

Women1. WANNAPONG Wanraya (THA) 2. PARK Siyun (KOR) 3. MA Teng (USA)

Juniors1. KANG Changhyeon (KOR) 2. KIM JaeJong (KOR) 3. HEEPS Sam (AUS)

National teams1. Korea 2. Australia 3. China

About the 2019 FAI World Drone Racing Championship Grand Final

The 2019 FAI World Drone Racing Championship Grand Final (11-14 December 2019) was held at a dedicated drone-racing track, built especially for the competition in Xiangshan Ningbo, a coastal city in the south east of China about 300km from Shanghai.

Among the 112 participating pilots,103 drone pilots, including 40 juniors and nine women, competed as part of31 national teams. The other nine pilots competed as individuals.

They tested their skills on a three-level championship racetrack that was 4m wide and 6m high, with a total length of 630m.

Called Bi-Fish, it was inspired by the traditional Chinese Tai Chi symbol, and the maritime culture of Xiangshan, Ningbo a former fishing village and included lots of sharp turns, 16 air gates, and a tunnel.

Read more:

Korea flies to victory at the 2019 FAI World Drone Racing Championship Grand Final - sUAS News

Celebrated American author and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar once said,You dont build a business you build people and then people build the business. This snippet of wisdom applies to every organization, irrespective of its size or geography. Great employers across the globe believe that people they hire are what make or break their business. And a similar trend was reflected in 2019s Top-Rated Workplaces In India recently announced by job site Indeed.

As per the report, SAPhas secured the highest rank in the top-rated technology workplaces list in India this year, followed by Adobe, VMware andMicrosoftas the leading technology organizations to work for in India. Surprisingly, the only public sector company that featured in the list is Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), which secured a fifth position. Some of the other companies that were featured in the list of top-rated workplaces include, Paytm, Flipkart, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Cisco, IBM, Apple, among others.

One common observation about these companies is that each one stands out as the epitome of people-centric corporations. And thats what makes them the best places to work. From various research reports, online reviews and expert opinions, we find out some of the common attributes of these companies and the culture they create that make people excited about their jobs.

Offer Challenging and Meaningful Work

All these organizations understand the importance of keeping employees work interesting, exciting, challenging and meaningful, because consistently, top performers say that challenging and meaningful work is the number one attribute they seek in a job.

Take the example of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) which has secured the fifth position on Indeeds chart, moving up from tenth spot last year. According to a junior scientist at ISRO, self-competitiveness plays a big part in ISROs culture. The employees aim to continually improve themselves and strive for self-development. Their independent drive to succeed, as opposed to feeling in competition with one another, could be a key factor positively influencing employee satisfaction.

Hire and Retain top performers

Great workplaces are made up of great people. Within these workplaces, top performers work alongside other top performers who are positive, hardworking, committed and loyal, believe in the organizations vision. For example, TCS believes that they are better placed than their peers in retaining the contextual knowledge gained over time, and use that to build differentiated solutions tailored to each customers unique requirements.

For the quarter endingJune 30, 2019, Milind Lakkad, Global Head, Human Resources, TCS said, The vibrant, enriching workplace and best-In-class retention rates at TCS are a key competitive differentiator. Customers value the lower attrition because it results in greater stability and fewer disruptions in our service delivery.

Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma said in an interview that the company makes a special effort to understandthe skills of the employees who led Paytm to success. He also believes that Paytm employees are a bunch of hard-working people, so hard work is the one word that defines Paytm culture and we have always nurtured that, he said.

Value and Reward Employee Contributions

The best workplaces show they appreciate and value employees and their contributions. They celebrate success often, and praise, recognize, and reward employees in a variety of formal and informal ways. They never miss an opportunity to say thanks for employees hard work. According to a Glassdoor report, Apple employees get an annual 25% discount when they purchase an iPod, computer, or iPad. Apple software is 50% off for its employees. The company also offers other discounts for family and friends, depending on the product.

Each of these top-rated organizations offer competitive and fair compensation, above-average pay increases, and opportunities to earn more pay based on performance, such as bonuses, profit sharing, and other incentives to keep and reward top performing talent as well as attract new talent.

Invest in Training and Development

Great workplaces invest in training and development for their workforce to grow their talents and capabilities. They make time for learning and support it by paying for employees to participate in various opportunities and offering a variety of training and career development programs.

Through performance management practices that help guide, support, and develop exceptional performance, the best employers provide clarity on how to be a top performer, help other employees become top performers, and assist existing top performers in sustaining top performance. As a senior manager at Cisco said, Reaching for excellence each and every day is what makes great workplaces successful.

Invest in Employees Health and Wellness

The best of workplaces genuinely care about their employees well-being. They offer wellness options that help employees develop healthy lifestyle behaviors as well as provide an array of benefits which support their employees health and personal welfare. For example, Microsoft CARES employee assistance program also offers free personal and family counseling, stress management, and referrals for child and elder care. The cafs come stocked with healthy dining options, including a new Real Easy Wellness labeling system to help employees easily identify healthy food options.

Intuits Fit for Life program offers meditation and mindfulness classes as reimbursable expenses as well as incentives for employees engaging in stress-reduction habits, like taking a walk, practicing breathing exercises, or listening to calming music. Not only the companys website that offers mindfulness resources, but employees can also find mindful moment tips on the whiteboards in the conference rooms.

Top workplaces are flexible to employees work/life needs and encourage work/life balance by offering flexible schedules, providing generous paid time off, accommodating individual requests and needs, and creating a supportive work environment that understands of personal and family obligations.

Involve and Empower Employees

People-centric workplaces involve and empower employees by listening to their input, involving them in moving the organization forward, and giving them opportunities to lead initiatives, collaborate with one another, participate in decision-making, and make a meaningful difference at work. At some of the best workplaces, employees believe that their opinions matter and that they can positively impact their organizations. SAP encourages free expression, collaboration, individuality, and diversity. Its core strength as an employer, vests in the empowerment of its employees.

SAP Labs, Microsoft and IBM for example, boasts of an environment which motivates people to perform their best. Apart from employee benefits, facilities, training, employee engagement etc., it empowers employees through mentoring sessions which occur between a single mentor and mentee. The process called speed mentoring allows a single mentee to meet different mentors. Each mentoring session is based on a theme and is a series of short, focused conversations about specific questions.

Create and Sustain a Unique Culture

The best of workplaces create and sustain a unique culture. They are often described as fun, congenial, collaborative, positive, passionate, and creative. Their work environments, people, and workplace practices all help create a vibrant, positive and infectious culture. On the key ingredients to a vibrant corporate culture, renowned leadership coach and author of several management-related books, Marshall Goldsmith said in an interview, It is about leadership from the top. Leaders should make sure they are great role models and that they embody the company culture day to day. If they dont do this, leaders will have a difficult time establishing credibility.

Great workplaces are led by exceptional and inspiring leaders. Leaders set the example from the top and lead the organization well. They genuinely care about and value employees. Relationships between leaders and employees are characterized by mutual respect, trust, honesty, and support.

According to Goldsmith, Great leaders are more concerned about the growth of their employees and the organization rather than their own development. They have the courage to get feedback and to look in the mirror and ask whether their behavior aligns with what theyre teaching; they have the ability to improve and do the hard work to make those changes.

As we see Microsoft CEO Satya Nadellas effort in turning the behemoth to a people-centric company from that of a product company is a befitting example. WithNadella atMicrosofts helm, theres an emphasis on teamwork and collaboration, rather than competition. As one employee observed, Microsoft values its employees. The culture also shifted in recent years from super individual competitor to making others successful and teamwork, which reduced thestress level at work to low.

Driving openness and accountability is another key function in a people-centric organization, where leaders frequently share information about the organizations performance, its financials, the vision and direction of the organization, and other critical information. In addition, leaders regularly interact with and communicate with employees one-on-one, in small groups, and as an entire staff.

Encourage Innovation and Growth

Great workplaces are successful, growing, and innovative. They hold themselves to high standards, are focused on delivering exceptional customer service and quality, and strive to innovate and continuously improve their organizations. They are always raising the bar in their businesses and in their workplaces.

Sindhu Gangadharan, Senior Vice President and Head ofSAPLabs Indiasaid, The company has created a non-hierarchical, diverse and inclusive culture which speeds up our innovation and helps our customers to run at their best.

Adobe makes no secret of the fact they have a very creative outlook when it comes to work. Adobe knows thatfostering their employees creativityand giving room for experimentation is the key to an innovative workforce. There are multiple reasons why creativity is important for a company. Firstly, it boosts productivity. It allows employees to work faster, and provide solutions in new and interesting ways. It also boosts employee morale being creative at work is fun, and theres nothing better than truly enjoying your job.

CSR first leads to employee first.

And last but not least, best of employers make an impact on and give back to their local community. Not only do they generously donate their company resources to the community, but they also serve their communities by helping others in need and offering their staffs time and talents.

Studies have found that having a comprehensiveemployee engagementstrategy is more important to achieving higher CSR program participation than having just a CSR strategy. CSR and employee engagement strategies can help each other. Susan Hunt Stevens, CEO of Wespire, explained in an article in CSR Matters, why people friendly organizations do CSR programs better. Higher participation rates in CSR programs come from having a broad employee engagement strategyrather than a just a CSR strategy. It is the inclusive focus on the employee first and their relationship with the company. It is not just communicating about the CSR efforts, but creating comprehensive initiatives that drive employee activation, learning, and participation, she said.

To sum up, while there is no magic formula for achieving a great workplace, people-first workplaces clearly lead the way in 2019. Many more companies are catching on to the importance of investing in their people. They are increasingly realizing the power of creating people-centric organizations that value the happiness of employees as much as the bottom line.Those who still havent, its time you need to wake up.

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People-First Workplaces Lead the Way In 2019 - CXOToday.com

What are the traits of a good salesperson? Grab a pen and some paper, and write down a list of all the desirable mental and physical attributes a top-notch seller has. Now, take that list; crumple it into a ball, and throw it in the bin. In my experience, the No. 1 trait you need to think like a salesperson is to be yourself. Dont try to be somebody you are not or somebody you would like to be. I believe in this idea so much that I named my company after the concept BYS Coaching stands for Be YourSelf Coaching.

If you want to sell your services, grow your business and enjoy the adventure, you need to be yourself. Show the world who you are. Dont try to imitate what you think a good salesperson looks like and says. Failing to talk the way you talk, act the way you act and look the way you look will not serve you well. In the long run, you'll likely lose clients. Here's how to get clients authentically.

Dont compare yourself to others. It's easy to allow insecurities to fill your mind. You may not have the same services, expertise, personality or experience as other consultants or coaches, but that is a good thing! Be yourself, and play to your strengths. I was born and brought up in Scotland and therefore have a strong Scottish accent. I feared clients in London and other countries would not take me seriously, as I did not have a "posh" southern English accent. So, I practiced talking with an English accent and even considered taking elocution lessons. I must say it turned out horribly. In my naive attempts to be more like them, clients thought that I was making fun of their accent.

Be confident in your abilities. A lot of coaches and consultants forget they are service professionals and, therefore, they work in the service industry. In this industry, it is difficult to be a successful coach or consultant if you are not confident. Clients can smell nervousness a mile away. Being a little shy and a little nervous might be endearing if you are a child, or even perhaps if you are on a first date. However, it has no place in the world of consulting or coaching. It is a high-trust profession. Your clients need your guidance and look to you for the answers. Be the steady, confident expert providing the support they need.

Think positively. Visualize what you want, and work hard to get it. Positive thinking will not make you a superhero or someone who can do anything. However, it will serve you better than negative thinking would. Your outlook on life, clients and family everything, in fact is controlled by what goes on in your mind. In his book, Secrets of Closing the Sale, Zig Ziglar writes, Your business is never really good or bad out there, your business is either good or bad right between your ears. Perception is key.

Remember that you are there to sell. When I was first sent out to sell consulting services, I wouldnt know what to say. I would jabber so there were no awkward gaps and continue to speak throughout the meeting. The sales meetings would invariably wind down early and drift off without me making a concerted effort to win some work. Both the client and I would go our separate ways after the meeting, thinking that it was nice to catch up with each other, but ultimately, it was a waste of each others time.To get the business, you need to ask for it. There is, however, no point in asking for the work if you have the wrong attitude toward the client. Be honest, and before each meeting, ask yourself, "How do I view the client?" Are they somebody you can overcharge, make money from and quickly disappear, or are they someone with a set of challenges and ambitions that you can genuinely help? Is your priority to make the sale and be the primary beneficiary, or is it to make the client the main recipient of the benefits?

Salespeople who focus on themselves tend to have short careers. Those who focus on helping the customer tend to get repeat business, a strong reputation and longevity. You are a service professional in the service industry, and your profession is to serve others and not yourself.

If you make this clear, the client will likely regard you as a person who is genuinely driven to help them while promoting their service. Adopting a balanced approach encourages the client to open up and talk more freely. This, in turn, can lead to a mutually beneficial relationship, founded on authenticity.

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The Secret To Selling Consulting And Coaching Services - Forbes

Googles Sycamore quantum processor. Erik Lucero, Research Scientist and Lead Production Quantum Hardware

Multiply 1,048,589 by 1,048,601, and youll get 1,099,551,473,989. Does this blow your mind? It should, maybe! That 13-digit prime number is the largest-ever prime number to be factored by a quantum computer, one of a series of quantum computing-related breakthroughs (or at least claimed breakthroughs) achieved over the last few months of the decade.

An IBM computer factored this very large prime number about two months after Google announcedthat it had achieved quantum supremacya clunky term for the claim, disputed by its rivals including IBM as well as others, that Google has a quantum machine that performed some math normal computers simply cannot.

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An arcane field still existing mostly in the theoretical, quantum computers have done enough recently and are commanding enough very real public and private resources to be deserving of your attentionnot the least of which is because if and when the Chinese government becomes master of all your personal data, sometime in the next decade, it will be because a quantum computer cracked the encryption.

Building the quantum computer, it is said, breathlessly, is a race to be won, as important as being the first in space (though, ask the Soviet Union how that worked out) or fielding the first workable atomic weapon (seems to be going OK for the U.S.).

And so here is a postwritten in terms as clear and simple as this human could mustersumming up these recent advances and repeating other experts predictions that the 2020s appear to be the decade when quantum computers begin to contribute to your life, by both making slight improvements to your map app, and powering artificial intelligence robust and savvy enough to be a real-life Skynet.

First, the requisite introduction to the concept. Normal computers, such as the device you are using to access and display this content, process information in a binary. Everything is either a one, or a zero, or a series of ones and zeroes. On, or off. But what if the zero was simultaneously also a one? (Please exit here for your requisite digression into quantum physics and mechanics.)

The idea that a value can be a zero, or a one, or both at the same time is the quantum principle of superposition. Each superposition is a quantum bit, or qubit. The ability to process qubits is what allows a quantum computer to perform functions a binary computer simply cannot, like computations involving 500-digit numbers. To do so quickly and on demand might allow for highly efficient traffic flow. It could also render current encryption keys mere speedbumps for a computer able to replicate them in an instant.

An artists rendition of Googles Sycamore quantum processor mounted in a cryostat. Forest Stearns, Google AI Quantum Artist in Residence

Why hasnt this been mastered already, whats holding quantum computers back? Particles like photons only exist in quantum states if they are either compressed very, very small or made very, very coldwith analog engineering techniques. What quantum computers do exist are thus resource-intensive. Googles, for example, involves metals cooled (the verb is inadequate) to 460 degrees below zero, to a state in which particles behave in an erratic and random fashion akin to a quantum state.

And as Subhash Kak, the regents professor of electrical and computer engineering at Oklahoma State University and an expert in the field,recently wrote, the power of a quantum computer can be gauged by how many quantum bits, or qubits, it can process. The machines built by Google, Microsoft, Intel, IBM and possibly the Chinese all have less than 100 qubits,he wrote. (In Googles case, the company claims to have created a quantum state of 53 qubits.)

To achieve useful computational performance,according to Kak, you probably need machines with hundreds of thousands of qubits. And what qubits a quantum computer can offer are notoriously unstable and prone to error. They need many of the hard-won fixes and advancements that saw binary computers morph from room-sized monstrosities spitting out punch cards to iPhones.

How fast will that happencan it happen?

Skeptics, doubters, and haters might note that Google first pledged to achieve quantum supremacy (defined as the point in time at which quantum computers are outperforming binary computers) by the end of 2017meaning its achievement was almost two full years behind schedule, and meaning other quantum claims, like Dario Gil of IBMs pledge that quantum computers will be useful for commercial and scientific advantage sometime next year, may also be dismissed or at least subject to deserved skepticism.

Dario Gil, director of IBM Research, stands in front of IBMs Q System One quantum computer on October 18, 2019. Misha Friedman/Getty Images

And those of us who can think only in binary may also find confusion in the dispute between quantum rivals. The calculation performed by Googles Sycamore quantum computer in 200 seconds, the company claimed, would take a normal binary supercomputer 10,000 years to solve. Not so, according to IBM, which asserted that the calculation could be done by a binary computer in two and a half days. Either way, as The New York Times wrote, quantum supremacy is still a very arcane experiment that cant necessarily be applied to other things. Googles breakthrough might be the last achievement for a while.

But everybody is tryingincluding the U.S. government, which is using your money to do it. Commercial spending on quantum computing research is estimated to reach hundreds of millions of dollars sometime in the next decade. A year ago, spooked and shamed by what appeared to be an unanswered flurry of quantum progress in China, Congress dedicated $1.2 billion to the National Quantum Initiative Act, money specifically intended to boost American-based quantum computing projects. According to Bloomberg, China may have already spent 10 times that.

If you walk away with nothing else, know that quantum computer spending is very real, even if the potential is theoretical.

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The Quantum Computing Decade Is ComingHeres Why You Should Care - Observer