Hunter’s Home, Oklahoma’s only remaining pre–Civil War plantation, is offering visitors a glimpse into 1800s holiday customs through its “Winter at Hunter’s Home: An 1850s Christmas Traditions” program. The event began this week and continues through Dec. 13, showcasing how the holidays were celebrated in a simpler time. “Christmas was the one day the workers here got the day off, and it was a big celebration,” said Jody Stamper, the historical interpreter at Hunter’s Home. “It was a moment of joy and connection, even amidst a challenging time.” The program features live demonstrations, authentic decorations, and hands-on activities, encouraging visitors to immerse themselves in the past. Staff dressed in period attire recreate scenes from the 1800s, offering insight into the lives of the plantation’s residents, from the family who lived there to the enslaved workers who maintained its operations. Built in 1845, Hunter’s Home is a rare relic of Oklahoma’s antebellum period. Known through recent years as the George M. Murrell Home, it was constructed by George and Minerva Murrell, who moved from Tennessee during the Cherokee Removal. The Christmas program allows visitors to learn about traditional 19th-century Southern holiday customs. Decorations of the time included evergreen boughs, handmade garlands, and paper ornaments, simple yet elegant designs that reflect the resourcefulness of the time. “I love working here; there’s something new to learn every day,” said Alaina Spencer, an employee at Hunter’s Home. “It’s incredible to see visitors connect with the past, especially during the holidays, when traditions feel so personal.” For many attendees, the program’s focus on simplicity resonates with contemporary trends. Social media platforms like TikTok have popularized the idea of “slow holidays,” emphasizing homemade ornaments, baked goods, and DIY gifts. The trend mirrors a growing desire to escape the commercialization of the season and embrace meaningful, sustainable traditions. “It’s fascinating to see how people today are rediscovering things our ancestors did out of necessity,” Stamper said. “Homemade decorations, like dried oranges and hand-sewn stockings, weren’t just beautiful; they were practical and affordable.” The program also delves into the complexities of life at Hunter’s Home, particularly the experiences of the enslaved people who worked on the plantation. Employees aim to provide a full picture of the home’s history, emphasizing the resilience of those who found joy and community even in challenging circumstances. “Understanding the full story of this home is crucial,” Stamper said. “It’s a reminder that history is nuanced, and the holidays meant different things to different people here.” Visitors can participate in activities such as making ornaments and paper garlands, which help bring history to life. The interactive elements create a festive, engaging atmosphere for all ages. As the event continues, staff at Hunter’s Home hope visitors leave with a deeper appreciation for the past and a renewed sense of the season’s spirit. “We want people to leave with a deeper understanding of the past and how it can inform our present,” Spencer said. “These traditions remind us that you don’t need a lot to make the holidays magical.” This holiday season, as families across the country bake from scratch and craft their own decorations, they may find themselves connected to the simpler traditions of yesteryear, traditions preserved and celebrated at Hunter’s Home. Check it out Hunter’s Home is open year-round, offering various programs exploring 19th-century life. For more information, visit the Oklahoma Historical Society’s website at okhistory.org .Voice cloning is an emerging technology powered by artificial intelligence and it's raising alarms about its potential misuse. Earlier this year, New Hampshire voters experienced this firsthand when a deepfake mimicking President Joe Biden’s voice urged them to skip the polls ahead of the primary. The deepfake likely needed only several seconds of the president's voice to create the clone. According to multiple AI voice cloning models, about 10 seconds of an actual voice is all that is needed to recreate it. And that can easily come from a phone call or a video from social media. "A person's voice is really probably not that information-dense. It's not as unique as you may think," James Betker, a technical staff member at OpenAI, told Scripps News. Betker developed TortoiseTTS, an open-source voice cloning model. "It's actually very easy to model, very easy to learn, the distribution of all human voices from a fairly small amount of data," Betker added. How AI voice cloning works AI models have been trained on vast amounts of data, learning to recognize human speech. Programs analyze the data and train repeatedly, learning characteristics such as rhythm, stress, pitch and tone. "It can look at 10 seconds of someone speaking and it has stored enough information about how humans speak with that kind of prosody and pitch. Enough information about how people speak with their processing pitch and its weights that it can just continue on," Betker said. Imagine a trained AI model as a teacher, and the person cloning the voice to be a student. When a student asks to create a cloned voice, it starts off as white noise. The teacher scores how close the student is to sounding correct. The student tries again and again based on these scores until the student produces something close to what the teacher wants. While this explanation is extremely simplified, the concept of generating a cloned voice is based on bit-by-bit, based on probability distributions. "I think, at its core, it's pretty simple," Betker said. "I think the analogy of just continuing with what you're given will take you pretty far here." There are currently some AI models that claim to only need two seconds of samples. While the results are not convincing yet, Betker says future models will need even fewer voice samples to create a convincing clone.betfred tote 。

ONCO Stock Hits 52-Week Low at $0.6 Amid Market Challenges

Opening a window is not just about letting the outside world in; it is also about allowing ourselves to connect with nature and take a moment to breathe. The sensation of a gentle breeze on our face, the sounds of birds chirping in the distance, and the sight of sunlight streaming through the glass can all work wonders for our well-being.

On December 19th, the highly publicized case of Yu Hua and Ying, who were convicted of child trafficking, was revisited in a second trial. This case has garnered widespread attention due to its shocking nature and the implications it has for child welfare and trafficking laws in China.The woman, identified as Ms. Smith, recounted her experience of feeling uneasy and observed the suspicious behavior of the man sitting across from her on the subway. Smith noticed the man aiming his phone towards her repeatedly, leading her to believe that he was taking photos of her without her knowledge. Feeling violated and angry, Smith confronted the man, demanding to see his phone to check for any unauthorized images.

How to start investing in cryptocurrency: A guide for beginnersNone

In recent months, the rental housing market in various regions has seen a gradual recovery, thanks to the implementation of supportive policies by local governments. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the housing sector has been significant, with many tenants facing financial challenges and landlords experiencing difficulties in securing rental income. However, with the introduction of new measures and incentives, the market is showing signs of improvement.

Developers of Baltimore flex-lab space hope to create more than 100 jobs

IN A recent episode of the Mark To Market podcast, BT senior correspondent Ben Paul delves into a hot topic that has stirred the market: DBS’ S$3 billion share buyback and the subsequent sale of shares by its CEO, Piyush Gupta. This episode has valuable insights into share buybacks, executive compensation, and capital management strategies that investors and corporate watchers must know. Here are the key points discussed during the podcast. Controversy explained DBS reported robust third-quarter earnings last month and unveiled a remarkable S$3 billion share buyback program. This announcement propelled DBS’ already high share price even higher, capturing the market’s attention. However, controversy soon followed when it was revealed that DBS’ CEO, Piyush Gupta, sold S$12.6 million worth of shares as their market price soared, benefiting from the rally spurred - at least in part - by the share buyback announcement. The incident has raised several questions about capital management and executive compensation practices, driving a multifaceted discussion around the topic. Providing context Ben Paul provides context by noting that DBS was not the only bank experiencing a share price surge. Its local peers OCBC and UOB also saw upticks following their financial results and strategic announcements. Market sentiment buoyed by macroeconomic trends, including the election of Donald Trump and expectations of his inflation-stoking policies, further encouraged this positive movement in banking stocks. Hence, the backdrop for DBS’ strong performance was a generally bullish market. A crucial point made in the podcast addresses why CEOs might sell shares. Selling shares doesn’t necessarily reflect the CEO’s outlook on the company’s future but more about converting their earnings into liquid assets. However, the timing of these sales can cause market stir and reputation implications, as seen with Gupta’s transactions. Buybacks vs dividends Paul further delves into the broader implications of share buybacks versus dividends. Unlike dividends that benefit all shareholders proportionately, share buybacks only benefit those who choose to sell their shares back to the company. This raises questions about whether continuing shareholders genuinely gain from such buybacks, especially when companies seldom disclose their rationale behind the repurchase prices relative to the intrinsic value of their shares. The podcast also examines the timing of buybacks, stressing that companies often engage in such activities following periods of strong performance when share prices are likely already high. Paul suggests that regulatory frameworks might help address these issues by implementing rules around share buyback timings and disclosures. Moreover, companies seeking share buyback mandates could be required to estimate their shares’ intrinsic value and justify their buyback price, thus enhancing transparency and accountability. The episode does not only dwell on problems but also offers alternatives. Re-evaluation needed? Paul concludes by urging a re-evaluation of how companies use their capital and structure executive compensation, especially against changing economic backdrops. Continuous improvement in these areas could ultimately lead to more robust corporate governance and better alignment of interests between executives and shareholders. For a detailed exploration of these points, tune into the full episode of the Mark To Market podcast now. Paul and other BT Correspondents will continue to analyse and provide insights into pivotal issues shaping the market, offering valuable perspectives for investors, corporate managers, and policy-makers alike. For any thoughts or questions, reach out to the podcast team at btpodcasts@sph.com.sg . Follow BT Correspondents for the latest updates and episodes. Written and hosted by: Ben Paul (benpaul@sph.com.sg) Edited by: Howie Lim & Claressa Monteiro Produced by: Ben Paul & Howie Lim Engineered by: Chai Pei Chieh A podcast by BT Podcasts, The Business Times , SPH Media --- Follow BT Correspondents: Channel: bt.sg/btcobt Amazon: bt.sg/btcoam Apple Podcasts: bt.sg/btcoap Spotify: bt.sg/btcosp YouTube Music: bt.sg/btcoyt Website: bt.sg/btcorresp Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. --- Discover more BT podcast series: BT Money Hacks: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks BT Podcasts: bt.sg/pcOM BT Market Focus: bt.sg/btmktfocus BT Branded Podcasts: bt.sg/brpod BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

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In addition to their visual appeal, these emojis also serve as a tribute to the hard work and dedication of all the developers, designers, and creators in the gaming industry. By incorporating the iconic TGA trophy into a genderbent design, TGA recognizes the importance of celebrating and supporting diversity in gaming, highlighting the talents and contributions of individuals from all backgrounds and identities.

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