SATURDAY, JULY 30

SUNSET JAZZ FEST

Come out and enjoy the Prince of Sophisticated Soul. Will Downings on Saturday, July 30, from 2 to 8 p.m. with special guest host, Pat Prescott of 94.7 THE WAVE at 23575 Civic Center Way.

Visit sunsetjazzfest.com/booking to purchase tickets.

(The Planning CommissionThis event is being held)

SUNDAY, JULY 31

FIELD TRIP TO 69 BRAVO HELISTOP

The Topanga Historical Society is hosting a Feild Trip on Sunday, July 31 at 10 a.m. to 69 Bravo Helistop which is located atop Saddle Peak with 360 views of the surrounding area. Water-dropping helicopters can quickly refill from self-replenishing tanks that hold 10,000 gallons, providing Topanga and our neighbors with the worlds top firefighting supply station.

Email info@topangahistoricalsociety.org for ticket information.

SUNDAY, JULY 31

BOB HERTZBERG AND LINDSEY HORVATH TO SPEAK AT MALIBUS FORUM FOR THE LA COUNTY SUPERVISOR (DISTRICT 3)

On Sunday, July 31, join the Malibu Democratic Club from 2 to 4 p.m. for a Q&A between Bob Hertzberg and Lindsey Horvath, both of who are running for the open seat on the five-person board, which covers West Los Angeles and much of the San Fernando Valley. Located at 23519 Civic Center Way, in the Malibu Public Library Conference Room, doors open at 1:30 p.m. seating will be limited; RSVP to Info@MalibuDemocraticClub.org. Those who have RSVPd will be assured a seat. Walk-ins will be accommodated to the extent space is available.

FRIDAY, AUG 5

MALIBU BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE

Join us on the first Friday of each month to discuss local issues with city and government officials. The next meeting is on Friday, Aug. 5, from 8:30 to 10 a.m.

All meetings are currently held virtually by Zoom. This meeting is open to the public; to add your name to the notification list, email office@malibutimes.com to receive meeting updates, agenda, minutes, and log-in information.

Wednesday, AUG 10

SUMMER JUBILATIONS POETRY IN THE PARK

Hosted by Malibu Poet Laureate Ann Buxie in partnership with the Malibu Arts Commission on Wednesday, Aug 10, from 5 to 6 p.m. at 23500 Civic Center Way across from the Malibu Library.

Summer Jubilations is a Plein air poetry event at dusk featuring readers who celebrate the joys and miracles of life on Earth. Featuring Timesweep by Carl Sandberg and featured readers include Barbara Burke, Nathan Hassall, Susie Duff, Peter Jones, and student poets. Following the featured readers, there will be an open mic session.

SATURDAY, AUG 13

WATER TASTING SERIES: PURE GELATO

Enjoy a scoop of Gelato made with purified water from the Pure Water Project Demonstration Facility from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Las Virgenes-Triunfo Joint Powers Authority (JPA) has come together to deliver the Pure Water Project, a sustainable solution that improves the health of the Malibu Creek and offers greater water security for its people. The Pure Water Project will use a state-of-the-art water purification process to transform recycled water into drinking water. Bring the whole family on August 13th for an afternoon filled with games, community, and Gelato! Las Virgenes Municipal Water District 4232 Las Virgenes Road Calabasas, CA 91302. The free event featured Gelato and sorbet from Tifa Chocolate and Gelato.

Wednesday, Aug 10

CONNECTIONS BREAKFAST AT PARADISE COVE BEACH CAFE

Meet new members and other business people, talk about your business and enjoy a truly delicious old-fashioned breakfast while you hear a presentation by one of our members at Paradise Cove Beach Cafe, 28128 Pacific Coast Highway, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. for more information, visit malibu.org.

Tuesday, Aug 16

SUNSET MIXER

Join the Malibu Chamber of Commerce Sunset Mixer. Network with local business professionals, enjoy appetizers, and more. Join in and have fun networking with us. You must register by visiting malibu.org.

Chamber Members & Palisades residents: $10

Non-Member Guests: $20

ONGOING

AUTOBIOGRAPHY

This class helps older adults review and integrate the experiences that have shaped their lives, share memories with peers, and create a record of events for themselves and their families. Fridays from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Older adults will achieve a sense of pride in their accomplishments, improve their writing abilities, and express themselves in writing that can be shared with friends and family. Instructed by Tracy Weirick.

AQUA AEROBICS

Jump into aqua aerobics to build cardiovascular fitness and strength. Aqua Aerobics is held from June 14 to Aug. 11 at the Malibu Community Pool on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12 to 12:45 p.m. There will be no class on July 5 or 7.

BALLET

Develop better posture and improve balance, flexibility, and circulation during this one-hour class. Class is Thursdays from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Senior Center at Malibu City Hall. The instructor will also focus on body awareness, coordination, and stretching techniques. Please wear workout clothes and ballet shoes. No experience is necessary. The class is instructed by Ann Monahan. Sign up at MalibuCity.org/Register; register for the month or pay a $5 drop-in rate, space permitting.

BRIDGE

Bridge is a card game of luck, skill, and diverse strategies. This is a relaxed bridge group that is open to all levels. Join fun and friendly games on Wednesday afternoons at the Malibu Senior Center from 2:15 to 4 p.m. This is an ongoing, drop-in program.

CHAIR YOGA

Yoga is a wonderful way to stretch the body and calm the mind. This class helps you develop a strong and flexible spine, feel ease in your joints, and be steady in your balance. Get fit while you sit! Join this peaceful hour of exercise. Instructed by Daya Chrans. Class is organized on Mondays at the Senior Center at Malibu City Hall from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

COLORING PROGRAM

Did you know that coloring helps relieve stress? Join a free coloring program led by Judy Merrick at the Senior Center at Malibu City Hall on Wednesdays from 1 to 2 p.m. RSVP by calling the Malibu Senior Center at (310) 456-2489, Ext. 357.

CHOIR

Join an upbeat choir group and learn the fundamentals of singing and performing different styles of music. At Malibu City Hall Senior Center on Tuesdays from 10 to 11 a.m. This is a great opportunity for socialization, self-expression, and learning through music. All levels are welcome. Instructed by Laura DeMierie Fercano. $5 per class.

KNITTING

Knit with Sheila Rosenthal is organized every Monday and Friday at the Senior Center at Malibu City Hall from 9 to 10:30 a.m. This is an ongoing drop-in complimentary program. No experience is required.

MALIBU CARS AND COFFEE

The City of Malibu, in conjunction with Armando Petretti Classic Cars, is pleased to invite you to the Official Malibu Cars and Coffee. On the second and fourth Sundays of every month from 7 to 9 a.m. Southern Californias top enthusiasts can enjoy a beautiful drive down the coast to meet at Malibu Bluffs Park and enjoy a coffee while admiring some of the worlds finest automobiles at an unbeatable location.

PILATES

Relax, refresh, and build core strength. Sessions are Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Senior Center at Malibu City Hall. Please bring a yoga mat and wear comfortable clothes. Class is instructed by Ann Monahan. Sign up at MalibuCity.org/Register; register for the month or pay a $5 drop-in rate, space permitting.

SENIOR STRETCH AND STRENGTH

Class is organized on Mondays from 1 to 2 p.m. and Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Participants will focus on flexibility, balance, circulation, muscle tone, and breathing techniques. Class will be held outdoors at Malibu Bluffs Park. Register for the month or pay a $5 drop-in rate. For additional information contact (310) 456-2489, Ext. 357, or visit Malibucity.org/seniorcenter.

TECH HELP

The Malibu Senior Center will be providing tech help on Tuesdays from 10 to 11 a.m. The next event is on Aug. 9. Bring technology questions and receive one-on-one instruction for laptops, tablets, cellphones, or smartphones. RSVP is required by calling the Malibu Senior Center at (310) 456-2489 ext. 357.

TAI CHI

This class will provide instruction in a series of sequential tai chi yang style movements designed to enhance balance, strength, and flexibility while relieving stress and muscle tension. Wednesdays from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., at the Malibu Senior Center beginning July 6. Instructed by Martine Jozan Work. $5 per class.

TAP DANCE

Explore the beginning steps and nuances of tap dancing. Build strength and experience great aerobic exercise. Class is Thursdays from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Senior Center at Malibu City Hall. Tap shoes are required, and beginner students are welcome. No experience is necessary. Class is instructed by Ann Monahan. Sign up at MalibuCity.org/Register; Register for the month or pay a $5 drop-in rate, space permitting.

FARMERS MARKET

Shop for fresh fruits and veggies, prepared food, and more at the weekly Malibu Farmers Market on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Market located at 23555 Civic Center Way.

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Calendar of events for the week of July 28 to August 4 - Malibu Times

Revealing the diet and fitness secrets of Ananya Panday

Jul 29, 2022, 07:10 pm 2 min read

Ananya Panday began her acting career in Bollywood in 2019 with the teen romantic comedy Student of the Year 2, and since then there was no looking back. You might be surprised to know that the 23-year-old actor, known for her ultra-slim body, is a big foodie! How does she maintain her figure, you ask? By following a strict workout routine.

Panday loves doing pilates and yoga

Being very particular about her fitness routine, Pandey works out at the gym regularly to maintain that stellar bod! The Gehraiyaan star does a lot of weight training and cardio exercises. She also practices yoga, first thing in the morning. Her favorite workout, however, is Pilates as it stretches and relaxes her body. Panday is also a fan of swimming and dancing.

Panday often challenges herself with new workouts

Panday practices Hatha or Vinyasa yoga regularly at home, at least five times a week. However, she also likes to challenge herself with cool new workouts and therefore incorporates aerial yoga in her regular workout routine. She also does Zumba and aerobics for some cardio. Pandey is known to practice a lot of free-hand exercises along with some basic forms of calisthenics.

Panday eats healthy regularly, by starting her day with green juice. For breakfast, she prefers omelet and toast with butter and black coffee. For lunch, she usually has a chicken sandwich with fresh veggies. She drinks another cup of black coffee and munches on nuts in the evening. For dinner, she usually has some grilled fish or chicken with a light soup.

The 'Liger' star has her cheat meals every Sunday

Panday drinks lots of water, natural fresh juices, and coconut water every two hours, throughout the day. She loves seasonal fruits like grapes and mangoes and doesn't shy away from enjoying them from time to time. When hungry post-dinner, she loves binging on dark chocolates. She also prefers having a cheat meal on Sundays when she gorges on some delicious burgers.

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Revealing the diet and fitness secrets of Ananya Panday - NewsBytes

Arion McNicoll andThe Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days.

You can subscribe to The Week Unwrapped wherever you get your podcasts:

In this weeks episode, we discuss:

As Europe prepares for a winter without Russian gas, the EU is investigating whether Nigeria could help to fill the gap. The largest oil producer in Africa is planning to re-open a long-distance pipeline next month which could make that possible. But safety and security in the Niger Delta are likely to remain a major obstacle to reliable gas exports.

Saudi Arabia has announced ambitious plans to build a brand new city in the desert. The unique settlement, intended to house nine million people, will consist of a single, mirror-clad building more than 100 miles long and taller than the Empire State Building, yet only 220 yards wide. It will also run entirely on solar energy. Is this a bold new approach to sustainability from the oil giant? Or a mere PR exercise?

This week marked the release of a survey commissioned by the gym chain Nuffield Health which found that almost half of women in the UK have done no vigorous exercise such as running, swimming, aerobics or gymnastics in the past 12 months, compared with just over a third of men. What roles have both the pandemic and the patriarchy played in creating this so-called gender fitness gap and what can be done to encourage more women to get moving?

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Nigerian gas, female exercise and a new Saudi city - The Week UK

Rachel Wardle, co-owner of Athletix, shows off the Columbiana facilitys Field House which includes volleyball and basketball courts as well as a turf field and pickleball courts. The 45,000 square-foot sports training and competition facility will open to the public soon. (Photo by Westley Dorton)

COLUMBIANA A new, state-of-the-art sports facility is coming soon to Columbiana.

The Wardle family of North Lima is slowly brining Athletix to life at 613 State Route 7.

A perfect storm of realization and opportunity allowed the family to construct and open the new multi-purpose facility. The family noticed a need for a quality sports facility in the area, and was able to purchase the land necessary for the 45,000-square foot project.

Theres definitely a community need, as we came to find out through talking with people that we know out in the sporting world, co-owner Rachel Wardle said. Then, we were looking for a great plot of land off of a main street, but we were also just looking at Columbiana its just a beautiful place to be, wonderful people, great attitude and a lot of other family businesses popping up nearby.

Not only is Athletix owned by a local family, but it is dedicated to providing athletes with every opportunity possible to see improvements in their respective sports. The facility boasts an exciting merge of quality equipment with cutting edge technology. The hope is that combining the two aspects will allow Athletix trainers to get the highest quality performance out of each athlete.

The biggest thing for our machines is the Perch Technology because it gives the athlete young athlete, college athlete, or general person a visual thing, said manager of the Strength and Fitness Center Evan Schneider. It gives them something in front of them, rather than a mirror, that they can see the result, their speed and their form. Its really going to put a value on that.

Schneider went on to clarify that the Perch Technology a program using real-time statistics to enhance the quality of a workout is being used frequently in professional leagues and has seen a more steady presence in Div. 1 in college athletics as well.

Aside from the benefits to athletes, Athletix is looking to provide Columbiana with more job opportunities as well. A member of the ownership family Sean Wardle said that he and Athletix are looking at hiring four to six salaried positions. A little closer to their opening day, which has yet to be determined, he is hoping to have one to two dozen hourly positions available as well.

FACILITY BREAKDOWN

The property is two buildings connected by a central tunnel. The front building houses the Training and Fitness Center, The Cage, two Topgolf Swing Suites, the Studio and an on-site concession stand, Home Plate. The second building is the Field House and it contains an indoor turf field and basketball/volleyball courts.

FRONT BUILDING

The Training and Fitness Center occupies a total of 3,000 square feet of the front building. As noticeable as its total size is, the facility offers a wide variety of equipment. Its top of the line equipment Nautilus equipment, Schneider said. You can get a workout in for anybodyany type of athlete, general fitness enthusiast, bodybuilding, all of it.

The Strength and Fitness Center also houses treadmills, ellipticals, rowing machines, assault bikes and Olympic lift stations.

The Cage is the center of training for softball and baseball, and, in addition, it also is used for speed and agility training for soccer and football.

These cages are specifically designed for baseball and softball players that want to work on their hitting and pitching, manager of the Cage Kevin Davis said.

The main technologies involved in The Cage are the Rapsodo and Hit Trax systems.

According to Athletix posted signage, Rapsodo allows athletes to track [their] performance with each visit to the cage. Rapsodo produces metrics and measurables for hitting and pitching, for baseball and softball.

The Hit Trax system allows hitters to virtually play ball in all 32 Major League Baseball parks while tracking the hitters metrics.

The two Topgolf Swing Suites are capable of housing eight members in each suite. The suites allow golfers and non-golfers to enjoy the space with a wide selection of mini-games involving a number of different sports, including football and dodgeball. The bays also have 80 professional golf courses that can be played during the rental. This section is intended to be both used for both recreation and training, depending on the rental. The bays will provide detailed swing metrics for each golfer.

Athletix said The Studio is a multipurpose space for small group fitness classes, trainings, certifications, special events, and sports psychology training. The space will hold yoga, aerobics, Mommy and Me classes, cheernastics (for children) and cheer classes.

The on-site concession stand Home Plate has ample seating inside.

FIELD HOUSE

By far the larger of the two buildings, the Field House comprises a massive 34,000 feet of the total square footage of Athletix. The Field House has enough hardwood space to run four volleyball games at the same time and it can also play host to two basketball games simultaneously. It also has the ability to host six pickleball games at a time.

On the far side of the Field House is a large turf field. The field can host softball, baseball, flag football, soccer and lacrosse matches. Athletix management said the space will host tournaments, leagues, camps, practices, scrimmages and training.

WHEN DOES IT OPEN?

Rachel Wardle said area athletes will have to wait a bit for opening day, but it is coming soon.

We dont have an exact opening day yet, Rachel Wardle said. Were looking forward to opening sometime soon probably within the next month to two months. We are probably going to do a soft opening. Look forward to the Strength and Fitness Center opening up soon, with memberships there.

More information can be obtained at athletixtraining.com, on Facebook at Athletix.Sports and on Instagram at athletix.training.

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Massive indoor facility will offer many opportunities to get better within county - The Review

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 10,000 Baby Boomers will turn 65 every day between now and 2030. As the population continues to age, by 2034, the 65+ population will outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history. By 2060, nearly one in every four people in the U.S. will be 65 years old or older. This all indicates a high demand for senior living communities through this decade and then a rapid acceleration over the next 20 years.

Life expectancies have been increasing, acuity levels have been rising, and the wellness and health care needs of seniors will have to be satisfied outside of traditional healthcare settings with an emerging new breed of senior living options expected to play an increasingly vital role.

So how will this major influx of seniors impact how and where we age? Unsurprisingly, unless a change is dictated by health issues, some seniors do not relish the idea of downsizing and leaving familiar and comforting surroundings to move into a senior living facility. At the same time, many others are taking a more progressive approach and jumping at the opportunity to give up the burdens of owning a big home, along with the upkeep and expenses required to maintain it.

Todays seniors are very perceptive and have figured out that based on the sheer number of them, they are a force to be reckoned with. They can demand and drive changes in todays senior living based on the lifestyles they want to enjoy. Additionally, a much savvier group than say seniors of 20 or 30 years ago, the majority doesnt see retirement as the end of something, but more as a time of a transition into new beginnings, turning their attention attentions to the joys of life, family, friends, hobbies, and adventures. Increasingly, seniors want an enriching lifestyle that gives them the services and amenities to enjoy an engaging, entertaining life full of new experiences.

Because of the growing number of retirees up for grabs, the senior living industry has been watching and listening very closely to what this ever-growing number of seniors desire for their retirement years. Developers have also realized that senior living communities are no longer just about bricks and mortar, its about creating upscale, spacious living quarters in communities where people feel safe, pampered, supported, connected, and engaged. It also includes selecting strategic locations that enable retirees to engage in the surrounding community and experience amenities outside their walls.

Yesterdays old folks homes are slowly becoming a thing of the past. New communities are trading in their rocking chairs for treadmills and their bingo games for yoga classes. Instead of focusing on nurses, private duty aids, and hospital beds, communities are now focused on gourmet chefs, activities directors, and fitness instructors. Now, dont get me wrong: The nurses and private duty aides are still available to those who want or need them, but they are no longer front and center as a selling tool, but more of a service offered. The result of all this transition is a new high-quality, amenity-driven independent living resort community catering to every need.

The newest and most progressive communities are offering a variety of total wellness programs to promote overall health, including education and lifelong learning programs, with daily classes ranging from meditation and gentle yoga to aerobics and circuit training. Combine that with spacious, penthouse-like apartments, gourmet farm-to-table food, fine wine selections, full-service salons, movie theaters, greenhouses, community physicians and pharmacists, housekeeping and linen services, dry cleaning, emergency alert systems, animal therapy, extensive walking trails, and a 24-hour concierge to cater to your every need, and you have truly found a lifestyle with no age limits.

Technology is also helping to shape the future of how senior living communities engage residents, as well as how they monitor, respond, and prevent care emergencies. For instance, communities are adding Amazon Echo (aka Alexa) and Google Home to help you remember your daily schedules, such as when to take medicine or visit the doctor.

The most cutting-edge communities are utilizing artificial intelligence to predict patterns in seniors behavior and sense changes before they happen. In addition, Virtual Reality is helping residents travel the world from the comfort of their own couch, reenact their favorite hobbies, like fishing, or just experience a peaceful, calming experience.

Innovation matters to the future of senior living. As senior living communities continue to adjust and adapt to meet the needs of todays seniors, the choices are endless. Whether youre just plain simple folk and like the simplicities of a woodsy quiet setting or if youre more sophisticated and enjoy the penthouse-type setting, you can now find a community that suits your every need.

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How Boomers Are Blazing Their Own Retirement Paths - TravelAwaits

Entrepreneurship and product innovation are the true drivers of change within the vision of a more sustainable future. Theres always room for more people to work on solutions, small and large, that can change our way of life for the better. Combined efforts toward change within industries and individuals will pave the way to a brighter future for people and the planet.

At Brightly, we love to showcase new products, ideas, and entrepreneurs that make it easier for individuals to live more eco-conscious lives. In this weeks episode of Good Together, Julia Collins, founder of Planet FWD and Moonshot, shares insight into and excitement around innovation within the sustainability sectorall born of a longtime love of food.

When building her first company, Zume Pizza, Collins turned her focus toward the production process and its environmental impact. Crucial to all of her companies is a start-to-finish attention to detail. Collins notes that considering ways to shorten the supply chain, as well as employing automation to make work safer and more sustainable for those preparing the food, are the sorts of innovation that create sustainable outcomes in every area of the food production industry.

Collins approach to leadership and entrepreneurship may appear a bit different from a typical CEOs style, but thats part of what makes her work so successful. Using internal rather than external metrics to gauge success and focusing on sustainability before expedited business growth are two ways that, in Collins opinion, businesses can remain truly sustainable and regenerative. As a first-time founder I just felt no allegiance to the status quo, she says. Rather, Collins opted to turn her focus toward the impact of processes without worrying too much about statistical success, the better to balance her companys evolution.

From bags, sacks, and wraps, to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles or jars, to high-density polyethylene (HDPE) containers, plastic is undeniably prevalent in the kitchen. In 2018, 14.5 million tons of this kitchen plastic ended up in U.S. landfills.

For Collins, there have been moments when the sheer quantity of plastic products felt overwhelming and insurmountableand from that distress came the dream of a climate-friendly offering. Its not enough to have a product, you really need to have a brand, says Collins. And that brand needs to work hard to ask the right questions: What produce can we use that supports regenerative agriculture?; Which ingredients have the least significant environmental impact?; What can make the production process safer and more reliable?

Farmers have so much power and so much wisdom, Collins shared. What we try to do at Moonshot is to approach all of this with a bit of humility. Through this approach andgenuine curiosity, Collins has been able to find ingredients and systems that work with the environments needs while developing an intimate understanding of the agriculture system that delivers productslike Moonshots delicious crackersinto our pantries.

Collins has some key takeaways and developments that any company can apply to their work:

There are exciting steps being taken in every portion of the food industry, from older generations teaching children to reuse household products, to up-and-coming food brands that are operating through a climate-conscious lens.

It takes a village to make a sustainable future, and fortunately leaders like Collins and eco-minded consumers (like you!) are working to make our shared dreams a delicious reality.

Hey there! Want to help us change the world every day through easy, achievable, eco-friendly tips and tricks? Sign up for the Brightly Spot and join our movement of over a million changemakers.

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The Ins and Outs of Building a Climate-Friendly Business from Scratch - Brightly

Theres a lot of different labels we can attempt to stamp on Figgy Baby, an emerging rap artist based in Los Angeles. We can call them Mexican American, mixed-race, gender-bending, queer, non-binary, rap star, music maker any of them would technically apply.

However, as youll soon learn, Figgy cares infinitely more about what they bring to the table than how they are labeled.

My message matters more to me what Im wearing or my style; thats all superficial anyway, they begin. Take the earrings off, take the chain off, take the nail polish and the skirts off, and my practice is still my practice. I dont want to complicate it too much for my audience.

In fact, although they do use they/them pronouns, even those are fluid, and the reason behind that choice is nuanced and transcends gender.

Figgy, who grew up in what they call a mixed-Mexican household with a Mexican father and an English mother, shares that non-binary is also the way in which they view the world.

Thats how I engage to think about knowledge, information, truth, relationships there isnt right and wrong or black and white. Instead, we exist in this infinite purple, they shared.

mit chatted with Figgy about all the things that matter to them, and to us, bridging the gap between understanding and acceptance and identity and expression, all while making the commitment to sit in shameless joy.

My parents met in Mexico City, where my dad is from. My mom is actually from England. So, I grew up in Orange County in a mixed-Mexican household. My mom grew up in Long Beach, moved to Mexico City, lived there for 15 years, met my father, had my brother and then the same year they moved back to the states, I was born.

Luckily, I grew up with both parents speaking Spanish fluently. I feel like the dominant culture in the household was definitely Mexican, and for all four of us, there was no doubt that we were Mexican. I grew up watching my parents dance cumbia, them teaching me to dance, movement was always present. We were very proud, and that pride was instilled in us at an early age. We were privileged enough to go to Mexico once a year pretty much my entire childhood.

Unfortunately, the majority of my family lived in Mexico, and I had a really deep connection with them. My identity growing up was ambiguous, and I think that was one of my biggest insecurities but now its one of my greatest superpowers.

The first thing that comes to mind is a tapping into ancestral knowledge. I am a big believer that its in my DNA, in my genes, running through my blood, in my skin, in my language and my family and its not just science, but its also spirit and culture and learning. I was featured in a BBC article, which was about not being able to speak Spanish as confidently as Id like to, and that is a commitment to the culture, me being vulnerable about that.

This interview right now, our connection, tapping in, wanting to build, this is our commitment to our culture. Again, we want to tap back into the actions: how am I practicing my human and who am I practicing it with? It just goes back to commitment. I can learn Spanish, anyone can learn Spanish, but its about the why Im learning because I want to communicate with my family because I love them. Also, our history is colonization and understanding how this world has been built and broken a thousand times over informs me about our entire human experience. And I want it to inform my work, and not just for Latinos but for humans, and our progression and our evolution to really to tap into empathy and knowledge and indigenous practices and not being a taker but being a leaver which is a quote from Ishmael.

I see the shamelessness in so much of our community and how theyre continuing to evolve and break down things even in their own household, even in one generation, the revolution and evolution thats happening in a singular lifetime, and seeing that in the context of being Latinx is empowering.

Bottom line, they support me. At this point, they want me to shine and thrive pretty unquestionably. I dont think my parents, especially my father, always get me, but I dont really care about that, because they love me and we sit in joy presently together. When I came out to my father, we were sitting outside of a coffee shop and I just started ranting about my philosophies and being non-binary and fluidity and my own eternal evolution and all that, and I finally took a breath, and asked, Well, what do you think? And he said, I dont understand a lot of what youre saying but I believe that you believe it.

And Ive told that story to people, and theyve been like, Well, thats kind of a crappy response. But its not. These are things that Im just learning about now that my fathers generation had no access to, really. So, Im like, Yeah, of course you dont get a lot of this, but I think theres so much value in him just affirming that, Thats your truth, and Im not going to take that away from you.

At the end of the day, my parents like me they enjoy my humor, my charm, they like that Im so invested in my culture, my dance, the way I engage with my family in Mexico, my volunteerism, the work I do with youth, and they see the value in my human practice and so I feel like thats more important than necessarily understanding me.

I dont think my parents, especially my father, always get me, but I dont really care about that, because they love me and we sit in joy presently together.

Mr. Baron, Spice Boi, Tongue Troubles, Seams and Watermelon Earrings.

I actually have a story about Watermelon Earrings. Someone sent me a message from Copenhagen, and they were like, I found you on TikTok and I just want to tell you about something that happened to me. I was wearing a dress for the first time and I was riding my bike over to my friends across town, and then halfway, I got really hot and I wanted to take off my jacket, but I got really nervous and self-conscious, and then I put my earphones in and I played Watermelon Earrings and it gave me strength and it made me feel brave and I got back on my bike and kept going. I couldnt believe that it was so crazy. It ruined me.

Figgy Baby just released Spice Boi, an EP of summer bops, and will be touring the Detroit and Chicago area this coming August.You can find them anywhere @figgybaby.

Notice any corrections needed? Please email us at corrections@wearemitu.com

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Figgy Baby Is the Non-Binary, Mixed Mexican Artist Breaking Every Mold: 'My Message Matters More to Me Than What I'm Wearing' - mit

So, Jordan Peeles Nope has confused the hell out of a lot of people, for understandable reasons. Few filmmakers would inspire an angry, frustrated tweetstorm from Logan Paul, wondering what the hell is going on in this movie. However, his confusion shouldnt be read as a stand-in for what the average moviegoers after all, how many of us have taken shots in the face from Floyd Mayweather? But its not the kind of film that makes things dramatically clear, though Id argue its still plenty entertaining even without delving down into the subtext. Its a movie that spends much of its time relying on subtle suggestions for the audience to piece together its grander meanings. It continues the descent into subtext that Peele began in Us, which now feels like a conscious reaction to how well put-together Get Out was. In the week or so since I saw the film, Ive been having fun conversations with friends (online and otherwise, you know who you are, and thank you for talking with me about this), and honing a working theory of what exactly Nope is all about, at least in my own view. Yes, I know some of you are saying, this is every movie ever and you are a critic and this is your job, and youre right. This silly prologue is a roundabout way to suggest that those who havent gone to check it out yet might want to double back and read my original review and, more forthrightly, say that there will be spoilers in this article.

**

The most obvious reading of Nope is that its about mans tenuous relationship to non-human intelligences and, fitting well into the tradition of the giant-monster movie, what one does when the assumption that man is master of his domain is challenged by either his hubris (witting or unwitting) or by the limits of his physiology. In contrast to some takes Ive seen online about how Peele, in essence, demands the natural world bend to his dominance (which are genuinely brain-breaking in their inability to parse subtext), its key to remember that his leads arent poachers or big game hunters or slaughterhouse barons: they are horse trainers, stressing through action a humble attitude towards the animals they care for. Theyre cognizant that an animal can kill you quick, wittingly or unwittingly, and as such, they maintain careful respect along with their curiosity, even when it comes to Jean Jacket. Its when their advice is ignored (as the cast and crew do on the set of the movie Kaluuya is providing horses for at the start) or the animal nature of the creature is totally obscured by a false sense of security thats aided by fictions (the Gordy debacle, though one could apply that to the film set as well horses are cute, right?) that the worst strikes: The horse nearly punts an actress through the uprights, and the cast of a popular sitcom is maimed and mauled by both a chimp and SNL writers. Its also important to remember that their aim isnt to kill the creature, a la Jaws, but rather to capture it on film, to prove the impossible. Though its masked with a veneer of finance getting this money will save the ranch its also about proving to themselves and the world that they arent crazy and engaging in minor experiments and other acts of discovery to work out a thesis, a curiosity-centric impulse from a similar wellspring as Muybridges when he did those experiments. Jean Jackets accidental death is a fun play on the ending of Jaws, with the shot that ignites the gaseous insides of the creatures maw coming from the souvenir camera inside the well, but the meaning would be the same even if it didnt die.

Its not the same as someone off camera plugging poor Gordy after his rampage, putting a creature out of its misery as a way of reasserting mans control of its environment (ensuring safety, above all else). Still, theyre united in their effects on Jupe. Yuens storyline is one of the most outright bizarre to some folks, given that it only suggests the comparisons between the two rather than dragging them out. For all of his perceived personal failings, Jupe is a tragic figure: A product of Hollywood scraping at relevance and nostalgia after the Gordy incident upended his career. His office is both figuratively (in the case of the ever-present memorabilia of the other show he was in as a child being littered around his office) and literally (the Gordy room) a museum, and the only suggestions of him having any real success after his youth is a poster for a reality show about the Western-themed park hes running with his family. His survival was pure luck, but I dont think it gave him a main character complex any more than being a child actor would have. I see the pivotal fist bump as a genuinely sad reminder of Gordys essential natures: Terrified animal and emotional primate all at once. Simply because one took over at a moment doesnt mean the other stopped existing. The experience of that day, of course, had psychological effects on him. Still, hes not wholly defined by trauma, as one might be: he was famous, wishes to be famous again, and when he encounters Jean Jacket after it stole one of OJs horses, he figured hed become famous once again Oprah famous. But, as Peele would probably point out, the Gordy incident has been well-scarred over and replaced by a spectacle: A representation of reality through media that has superseded the actuality of the days events in Jupes mind. This is why he focuses so heavily on the minutiae of the SNL sketch in telling the Heywoods about it what might have been a coping mechanism brought on by both the shock of that level of public exposure (and cruelty) and the emotional wounds of the experience.*

So, when he attempts to create an outdoor show at his tourist trap, its a reflection of how far hes come from that terrible time on set, under the bloodstained table: Hes attempting to master the uncertain, to create an emotional experience for his audience that will wow and move them, while hoping that they manage to stop by the gift shops on their way out (his truly fucked-up choice is to involve his kids in the promotion of said event, by making them dress up as chimp-like aliens). This is foolhardy but understandable: Hes attempting to reclaim his place in the universe and impress folks once again, having lost the things that made him marketable when he was successful. His Achilles heel is his lack of experience with animal life and the fact that he doesnt know that Jean Jacket isnt a ship full of wandering E.T.s that he might be able to shake hands with and feed Reeses Pieces to or that the circumstances of the phenomenon mean that putting on a show in which everyone has their eyes trained on it as it descends from the sky is like putting an audience of Beggin Strips in a little Lego coliseum for your beagle. Beyond all of that, though, Jupe is a manifestation of Peeles nightmares, and not just in the now-viral tweet where he mentioned he once dreamed of a baby chimp attacking folks the nightmares he has about being an artist in general. Jupe is an actor past his prime and has moved on to being a showman, a creator of spectacles, and his failures ultimately kill him (and his audiences) because of his ignorance and lack of experience. When clothed in that context, the films resolution becomes even funnier: An effigy of Jupe (so as to not distract from the horror of his death) meets Jean Jacket, and explodes inside of him: a metaphorical fist-bump that annihilates both.

So if Jupe represents Peeles greatest nightmare as an artist going from failed TV actor to desperate and involuntarily dangerous showman the story of the Heywoods operates, in a way, as a hopeful counterpart. The Heywoods practically have cinema in their DNA, with their great-great-grandfather being the subject of Muybridges experiments: in essence, the first screen actor, up there with the workers leaving the factory in the Lumiere Brothers first works in the medium. Their transition to behind-the-scenes work is a less-perfect comparison to Peeles autobiography, but I tend to see it, as well as the allusions to films like Buck and the Preacher and other Black westerns, as representing the lineage of Hollywood, Black and otherwise, and OJs nervousness at filling his fathers shoes mirroring an artists own self-conscious doubt that theyll be able to continue making meaningful contributions to an art form that they love. When Jean Jacket reveals itself, the quest to capture it on camera becomes a mirror of the filmmaking process and the various technological methods in which they try to reflect forms of electronic distraction: Handy tools, obviously, but ones that are easy and obscure the truth of the process. Digital cameras dont work (either by electronic failure or by ill-timed praying mantis), modern film cameras are ultimately too fragile, hand-cranked inventions, like the one that Holst develops, are also limited by their weaknesses, and it takes Emerald, in Hail Mary stroke of genius, and the well-bound camera to finally achieve the impossible and capture the spectacle on film. She, in essence, has become Muybridge, with the sequential stills slowly documenting Jean Jackets moves towards the balloon: back to basics in the most fundamental way, a step forward in both human knowledge of the cosmos done in the most elemental way.

When OJ, presumed dead, reappears at the end of the film, triumphant, on horseback, the shot works on three levels. First, it reveals immediate narrative relief thank God hes OK! and provides the natural resolution to the story. Second, it fulfills his arc: Hes framed in a way mirroring how we are introduced to Otis Senior at the beginning of the film, and his evolution into the kind of man his father was is confirmed for us through this suggestion. But on a broader thematic level, he represents Peeles transformation into the man behind the camera: a black filmmaker replacing Muybridge, filming a black man on a horse, but questions about the horses movement do not define the image: It is squarely focused on OJ as subject, with his personhood as the emotional locus. This is when Nope becomes transcendental and becomes Peeles most interesting film, as well as his most, though obscured through fiction, autobiographical, and Id also wager his most outright meaningful.

* This, of course, might explain the moment involving the suspended sneaker, which feels like a combo of high strangeness and the flashbulb-like nature of memory during traumatic events: Jupe sees the shoe and focuses on it, with its inherent impossibility adding an ephemeral terror to a violent moment. And the very fact that its a detail that only he would know, and take care to recreate in his showroom, reflects that it remains a fact that he cant quite codify through fact or language, being a reminder of the event as it was.

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So, what the hell is 'Nope' all about anyway? - Vanyaland

Food Tanks Summer 2022 Reading List is here! You will find topics ranging from sustainability and agroecology to food history and social justice. These 20 books about food highlight the perspectives of award-winning chefs, acclaimed authors, and food fanatics alike as they educate their audiences on the ever-evolving food system.

Here are 20 books that offer insight into foods captivating past, complex present, and promising future.

1. An Inconvenient Apocalypse: Environmental Collapse, Climate Crisis, and the Fate of Humanity by Wes Jackson and Robert Jensen (Forthcoming, September 2022)

According to Wes Jackson, co-founder of the Land Institute, and Professor Robert Jensen, the root of our ecological turmoil lies in consumption patterns. In this analysis, they trace todays systemic shortcomings back to their origins. In understanding our past, Jackson and Jensen believe humanity can follow a more practical path to the future.

2. Agroecology and Regenerative Agriculture: Sustainable Solutions for Hunger, Poverty, and Climate Change by Vandana Shiva

With a foreword by World Food Prize and Right Livelihood Award laureate Dr. Hans Herren, Dr. Vandana Shiva provides a detailed account of pragmatic and proven methods of building a more sustainable food system. Drawing from decades worth of research and practice, Dr. Shiva endorses practical solutions to our growing ecological, health, and agricultural crises. Among these solutions are regenerative farming, water conservation, climate change resilience, and increasing food security.

3.Brewing Sustainability in the Coffee and Tea Industries by Alissa Bilfield

Alissa Bilfield provides an optimistic outlook on sustainable coffee and tea production in Brewing Sustainability. In her new book, author Alissa Bilfield explores coffee and tea farmers promoting environmentally friendly practices and what it takes to democratize value chains. Case studies from fair trade cooperatives reveal the mechanics of a more socially conscious and environmentally sustainable brewing future.

4.Chop Suey, USA: The Story of Chinese Food in America byYong Chen

In Chop Suey, Professor Yong Chen, Ph.D., chronicles the rise of Chinese food in America during the 20th century. Chop Suey considers racist immigration policies, the importance of home delivery, and the economic opportunities provided by the restaurant industry. Through his analysis, Chen shows how, over time, disenfranchised immigrants transformed their dishes into the popular cuisine it is today.

5. Cook, Taste, and Learn: How the Evolution of Science Transformed the Art of Cooking by Guy Crosby

Science and technology have elevated food from a mere matter of survival to a work of art. From the birth of agriculture to modern technology, author and food scientist Guy Crosby surveys the history of cooking. Cook, Taste, and Learn emphasizes cooking in a way that promotes health and includes recipes that speak to this mission.

6.Eating While Black: Food Shaming and Race in America by Psyche A. Williams-Forson

Psyche A. Williams-Forson explores the relationship between food, culture, and race in the U.S. in her latest book, Eating While Black. The discourse analyzes how mass media, policy, nutrition, and economics converge to create false narratives of eating habits among Black Americans. Williams-Forson shows how culture including food is central to the fight for Black peoples to obtain access and equity.

7.Food Security: From Excess to Enough by Ralph C. Martin

Agriculture professor and sustainable food advocate Ralph C. Martin illuminates the toll modern industrial agriculture takes on our health and our environment. Some of the most pressing problems include soil depletion, diet-related chronic illness, and food waste. In order to build a more food conscious culture, Martin prescribes a shift in mentality from that of excess to that of enough.

8.Frontline Farmers: How the National Farmers Union Resists Agribusiness and Creates Our New Food Future edited by Annette Aurlie Desmarais

The National Farmers Union represents the voices of farmers, fishers, and ranchers across the United States. Frontline Farmers focuses the spotlight on Canadas National Farmers Union (NFU) and their movement. The book gives NFU members a platform to share their decades-long fight for a more progressive and sustainable farming system.

9.Gastronativism: Food, Identity, Politics by Fabio Parasecoli

In his forthcoming book, Professor of Food Studies Fabio Parasecoli unpacks foods place in identity and political ideology. Parasecolis career, which has taken him around the world, informs his concept of gastronativism: how food is wielded as a political tool to ostracize people and their cuisine when it threatens native identity. He also identifies ways that people can use their pride in culinary traditions to uplift their communities.

10.Growing Gardens, Building Power: Food Justice and Urban Agriculture in Brooklyn by Justin Sean Myers

In Growing Gardens, Building Power, Professor Justin Sean Myers delves into the origins of food inequity and the politics of food justice. To do so, he follows East New York Farms! (ENYF!) as they fight to deliver food justice to marginalized communities in Brooklyn, New York. Myers touches on the inequalities residents face, the potential of community gardens, and the challenges ENYF! has overcome.

11.How the Other Half Eats: The Untold Story of Food and Inequality in America by Priya Fielding-Singh, PhD

Following the lives of four families from different demographics, Priya Fielding-Singh, PhD, depicts how dietary choices and their ensuing health effects vary vastly across racial and socioeconomic strata. Coupling these intimate accounts with insightful research, How the Other Half Eats renders a compelling portrait of how inequality manifests in food.

12.How to Sell a Poison: The Rise, Fall, and Toxic Return of DDT by Elena Conis

As the first modern synthetic insecticide, DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) was notorious for its effects on human and environmental health. Historian Elena Conis follows this controversial chemical compounds history from corporate interests and disinformation campaigns to the environmental movement that led to this toxic substances ban in 1972.

13.Koshersoul by Michael Twitty

Historian, chef, and award-winning author Michael Twitty examines the culinary crossroads of African American and Jewish traditions. Using his experience converting to Judaism and his familys legacy of enslavement, Twitty navigates his own sense of belonging through the food that feeds both his body and soul. The book also includes around 50 recipes that celebrate his cultural diversity.

14.Slaves for Peanuts: A Story of Conquest, Liberation, and a Crop that Changed History by Jori Lewis

In her debut book, award-winning journalist Jori Lewis unearths the peanuts unsavory history. Drawing from scrupulous research of West African and European archives, Lewis demonstrates how peanut cultivation and the demand for peanut oil perpetuated forced labor in Africa into the 20th century. Readers will meet missionaries, peanut growers, slave traders, and other characters who played an integral role in shaping the history of the peanut crop.

15.Slow Cooked: An Unexpected Life in Food Politics by Marion Nestle (Forthcoming, October 2022)

Food politics champion and public health advocate Marion Nestle, Ph.D., recounts her careers trajectory in her forthcoming memoir, Slow Cooked. Reflecting on her journey from lab technician to stay-at-home mom to award winning academic, Nestle opens up about how she overcame obstacles to become one of the leading voices in food politics.

16.Sustainable Food Production: An Earth Institute Sustainability Primer by Shahid Naeem, Suzanne Lipton, and Tiff van Huysen

Sustainable Food Production introduces readers to the central issues created by industrial agriculture. The authors approach is guided by principles of environmental sustainability and social justice. This book lays an accessible foundation for those who wish to learn more about farming and food systems.

17.The Cookbook in Support of the United Nations compiled under the direction of Earlene Cruz

The Cookbook in Support of the United Nations enlists a variety of voices to bring international, planet-friendly meals to anyones table. The book features 75 accessible recipes from chefs, farmers, and activists, and more. Each recipe also includes details about the dishs nutrition profile and carbon footprint, helping consumers cook and eat with human and planetary health in mind.

18.The Restaurant: a 2,000 Year History of Dining Out by William Sitwell

Food critic and writer William Sitwell follows the evolution of restaurant dining in this entertaining book. From Ancient Roman inns to Medieval taverns to modern day innovations, this survey provides readers with a new perspective on the history of the restaurant and dining industry. Sitwell also digs into the trends and dining establishments that have shaped eaters relationship with food and society at large.

19.The Terroir of Whiskey: A Distillers Journey Into the Flavor of Place by Rob Arnold

While terroir is a concept more familiar to the wine world, master distiller Rob Arnold argues that terroir can be found in whiskey. In visiting innovative distilleries in the U.S. and abroad, Arnold demonstrates how microclimate, soil, and topography can indeed influence the taste of whiskey.

20.Translating Food Sovereignty: Cultivating Justice in an Age of Transnational Governance by Matthew C. Canfield

Cultural anthropologist Matthew C. Canfield explores the world of food sovereignty as claimed by transnational activists in his new ethnography. Translating Food Sovereignty tells the nuanced story of how social movements are using networked forms of governance to expand their agenda.

Articles like the one you just read are made possible through the generosity of Food Tank members. Can we please count on you to be part of our growing movement? Become a member today by clicking here.

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20 Books About Food to Carry You Through Summer 2022 Food Tank - Food Tank

As the new smart home standard Matter gets closer to launch, connected devices built on Thread a technology thats integral to Matter are starting to roll out. In the last year, Eve, Nanoleaf, Schlage, and Wemo have released smart home gadgets such as motion sensors, light bulbs, door locks, smart plugs, and motorized blinds that run on Thread. But just what is Thread, and why does it matter to Matter?

I sat down with three Thread Group board members to find out how this new protocol (its actually been around since 2015) promises to fix many of the smart homes biggest issues: reliability, speed, connectivity, and scale. I spoke with Vividh Siddha, president of the Thread Group and director of software engineering at Apple, Jonathan Hui, vice president of technology for Thread and principal software engineer at Google, and Sujata Neidig, vice president of marketing for Thread and director of marketing at NXP.

As you may have spotted in those bios, Thread like Matter is being developed by a consortium of competing companies in the smart home industry. Only Thread started much earlier than Matter. In 2015, several companies got together and identified a problem in the industry and that we can work together to bring a solution to the market, says Neidig.

That problem was how to securely and simply connect all the various devices in the consumer smart home. The solution they came up with was Thread, an IPv6-based wireless protocol that could create a secure, robust, reliable, and simple-to-use network. Today, Thread is run by a board of directors that includes representatives from Google, Apple, Amazon, Samsung SmartThings, Qualcomm, NXP, Assa Abloy (owners of Yale and August), Lutron, and more.

What is Thread, and why is it important to Matter and the smart home?

Thread is a wireless protocol specifically built for IoT devices. Its designed to make them work faster, have fewer points of failure, use less power, and communicate with each other more seamlessly.

A low-power, low-bandwidth mesh networking protocol that uses the 802.15.4 radio technology, Thread is similar to existing smart home protocols Zigbee and Z-Wave. But unlike them, it doesnt need a central hub or bridge. Instead, Thread devices can talk directly to each other. By cutting out the middle man, Thread can be faster, especially over large networks.

Also, unlike the other low-powered smart home protocols, Thread is internet protocol (IP)-based, meaning it can directly connect to any other IP-based device, such as smartphones, tablets, computers, and Wi-Fi routers. What makes it unique is that it was built on IP, says Neidig. We are bringing the same protocol that the internet runs on to run on small devices.

Matter is an application layer that runs on Thread. Matter supports both Wi-Fi and Thread for connecting devices, and Thread provides that reliable mesh capability so there is no single point of failure, explains Neidig.

When Matter arrives later this year, Thread will be the protocol it uses for low-bandwidth devices, such as door locks and motion sensors, and Wi-Fi and Ethernet will be used for high-bandwidth needs, such as streaming video from a security camera. Finally, Bluetooth LE will be used for onboarding devices to a Matter network.

Why is Thread a better smart home protocol than those we already have?

Thread was designed from the ground up to be an IoT low-power protocol that supports low latency. Thats its purpose, says Hui. A lot of the other technologies [used in the smart home] were designed to optimize other applications. For example, Bluetooth was originally designed as a wire replacement. Thread was designed for devices that just want to sleep for a long time, wake up, send a single packet, and then go back to sleep and preserve battery for as long as possible.

Threads direct communication capability, combined with its ability to handle scale (over 250 devices), means lower latency. Benchmarking tests run by Silicon Labs show Thread thrashing Zigbee and Bluetooth in latency tests, especially in large networks with many devices.

Also, a Thread mesh [can work] as a routed mesh, which means the devices are proactively looking for the best route to every other device in the network, says Hui. This efficiency translates directly into reduced power consumption as well as reduced latency. As a mesh network, Thread is self-healing; if a router (see sidebar) drops offline, another one can pick up the slack so your network doesnt go down.

Does Thread really replace the need for any kind of hub or bridge?

Yes, although it does require a border router to bridge the Thread network to the internet. But it avoids you having a different bridge for [multiple] devices, says Siddha. Instead, any Thread device can connect to any Thread border router regardless of manufacturer. Additionally, unlike a bridge or hub, a Thread border router cant see the traffic it routes, as all communications in a Thread network are encrypted.

A Thread border router is not a dedicated device like a bridge or a hub. A border router is a feature that can be integrated into any device thats powered all the time, like Nanoleaf light panels, the Apple TV, or [a] HomePod Mini, says Neidig.

Do you have to have a border router to use a Thread device?

No, you dont need a border router for Thread devices to talk to each other. But you need a border router if you want them to talk to other networks in the home or the internet, says Hui.

Will Thread work when the internet is down?

Yes, Thread devices will. A Thread network will not go down if the internet goes down because its not doing anything in the cloud, says Hui. The network is self-configuring, self-healing, self-managing even. And its all done locally.

Which specific products benefit from Thread? Its not designed for every product in the smart home, is it?

No, its not. And looking at the current [smart home] use cases, the biggest elephant in the room in terms of bandwidth are cameras, says Siddha. Thread can be used for all sensors but not for high bandwidth use cases like cameras. Cameras are among the few IoT devices that require high bandwidth. Every other use case for a sensor or IoT accessory can be satisfied by Thread.

Thread is specifically designed for small, low-powered devices leak detectors, CO detectors, and motion sensors. These may be left untouched and unused for months or more but need to reliably spring into action when required and crucially need to not have run out of battery. In addition to sensors, its designed for actuators as well things like door locks, window shades, light bulbs, wall plugs, water valves, thermostats, thermostatic radiator valves, alarm sirens, etc., says Siddha.

Why are there so many versions of Thread? Theres Matter over Thread, HomeKit over Thread, Google / Weave over Thread, Open Thread, and so on.

Those are all the same Thread; theyre just different application layers running over Thread, says Hui. Thats actually one of the key highlights of the importance of IP [in Thread]. Its the same network technology; it can support multiple different application layers simultaneously. Matter over Thread is just another example of an application layer over Thread.

The latest release of Thread 1.3.0 addresses a significant problem around these different versions, allowing them to interact with each other. Previously, different ecosystems didnt have a good way for sharing this Thread network credentials with each other, says Hui. Thats changing.

Combined with APIs announced by Apple and Google for sharing Thread credentials between different mobile apps, the latest release of Thread Thread 1.3.0 will allow users to have one unified Thread network in their homes.

With 1.3.0, if a home network has an Apple HomePod Mini, a Google Nest Hub, and an Eero Wi-Fi router, they can all act as border routers in a single Thread network. Thats not how it is today, and likely, we wont see all devices update to Thread 1.3.0 until closer to when Matter arrives this fall, says Hui.

The origins of Thread go back to 2011 and the first Nest Thermostat. Why has it taken so long for it to be adopted in the smart home? And why are there so few Thread products available?

Thread had an inflection point probably two or three years ago when both Google and Apple came up with border routers, says Siddha. Then we were able to finally see Thread devices in action. Turning on a [smart] light switch was literally as good as turning on a physical light switch. That was not the experience people had before.

With border routers beginning to enter the wild, companies like Eve and Wemo, who had previously used Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, started to look at shifting. They saw the issues with [the other protocols] and now, seeing the maturity of Thread, are adopting Thread into their products and making a conscious switch from a different technology to Thread, for the benefits of the reliable, secure, instant control experiences, says Neidig.

However, there are still very few Thread devices available (see sidebar), and some that are such as the Nanoleaf Essentials A19 bulbs wont be compatible with Matter when the standard arrives. Similarly, a number of Google products with Thread such as the Nest x Yale door lock are based on earlier implementations of Thread and dont support the features required for Matter.

Amazon has announced its Echo smart speaker (fourth gen) will be updated to become a Thread border router.

What about backward compatibility? If Thread was built on Zigbee, cant all Zigbee devices be upgraded to Thread?

Technically, Zigbee runs on 802.15.4 radio just like Thread. So, current Zigbee products could be upgradeable to Thread, says Neidig. But because its IP-based, Thread has different resource requirements like memory. If a product isnt built with the right resource structure, it wont be upgradeable.

Can products that use hubs or bridges today, such as Philips Hue light bulbs, be upgraded to Thread through the hub or bridge? Or would you have to upgrade the individual bulbs?

One constraint is: do the accessories not the hub have sufficient memory to support Matter over Thread, says Siddha. If the accessories dont, then the product cant be upgraded to Thread via the hub (but it could work with Matter over Wi-Fi). Those are considerations that product manufacturers will have to make, he says. As a general principle, if something is not broken, people dont want to fix it.

Philips Hue already works with almost every ecosystem, and the company has said it will support Matter through its existing bridge but that it doesnt plan to replace its existing Zigbee-powered bulbs with Thread bulbs.

In the longer term, I think products will undergo a natural evolution to [Thread], says Siddha. But he hopes every company will look at bringing Thread into their existing devices, Because it just gets us to this IP backbone [for the smart home] quicker.

How will Thread and Matter work with Apple HomeKit?

HomeKit will be this application that works on the Apple ecosystem. But uses Matter underneath, says Siddha. So, you will have HomeKit on our products, supporting Matter and Thread accessories. Then we have our own kind of user experience for HomeKit, just as Google will have their own. We expect the innovation to happen at that higher layer.

How will Matter and Thread ultimately benefit the smart home?

For years, companies in the consumer smart home were trying to differentiate based on the connectivity they have [which platforms the device worked with], says Hui. Thats not what consumers care about. They care about the cool, fun features. Standardizing all these connectivity technologies gets the hard stuff around reliability and power out of the way. It lets the product companies focus on the new and exciting features consumers really care about.

The smart home today is like the early days of the internet, says Siddha. There are legacy technologies that werent coming together to make everything just work. Instead, there are all these multiple bridges and other devices you need. Thread, with its all IP-backbone, allows seamless access to the home network, essentially making home automation complete.

Ultimately, Thread and Matter are a reset for the smart home. They are an attempt to rebuild a broken system and make it capable of fulfilling its initial promise; the intelligent technological evolution of our homes. Now they just have to actually arrive.

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What is Thread and how will it help your smart home? - The Verge