Derik Kauffman insists it's not a joke. He's actually planning to hold a March for Billionaires in San Francisco this weekend. And he says he's doing so because he's opposed to a proposed state tax on billionaires and, more simply, because he feels as if the billionaire class has been unfairly vilified. [...]

The point of the event is to "change the sentiment on this to recognize that billionaires have done a lot for us and communicate that we're glad they're here," Kauffman said. [...]

He told The Examiner he's neither a billionaire defending his own interests, nor just acting as a front for the ultrarich. Last year, Kauffman founded an artificial-intelligence startup called RunRL that took part in Y Combinator's accelerator program.

Kauffman said he's not in contact with any billionaires or getting any funding from them, nor are there any other groups involved with the event. Instead, he's footing the cost of the March for Billionaires website himself and is the principal organizer of and publicist for it, he said.

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John from Brisbane has added a photo to the pool:

We're back on the River walk at the New Farm reach of the Brisbane River looking over the northern parts of the Central Business District (CBD) of the city. Almost everything in this image has changed dramatically, not just since I was a kid but even in half that time. The only constant is the southern end of the Story Bridge as it reaches the suburb of Kangaroo Point on the left with Main Street which was once the primary route to southern, south eastern and western suburbs.

Up until the late 1970's when it was finally demolished all of the buildings and trees around and below the cars on the bridge were Evans Deakin's massive shipyard with its mass of fascinating (for me) tower cranes. The tide of redevelopment and the terrible 1974 floods put paid to much of the old Brisbane along both sides of the riverbank.

The flip side and part of the new Brisbane is "Bingo" the "red" City Dog Rivercat ferry heading downstream and paying a wonderful tribute to the Bluey TV series which is produced and set in Brisbane.

I have often spoken about how the river twists through the city, if we could take a vertical drone ride here and look towards the further most towers, we would see the river three times as it swings tightly left and right again as it heads upstream.

BertvB posted a photo:

Thomas Hawk posted a photo:

handwritten on back of photograph, “Calypso Band Aboard Freeport, March 18, 1973"

Thomas Hawk posted a photo:

great gatsby: vodka, cocchi bianco, grapefruit

Thomas Hawk posted a photo:

Thomas Hawk posted a photo:

Carey was the big draw at Milan’s San Siro, but she was outweighed by pop-classical artists – and a sizeable dollop of kitsch

The Winter Oympics opening ceremony arrived shrouded in mystery. There wasn’t a lot of advance publicity about what might happen, beyond a list of musical performers, heavier on popular classical names including Andrea Bocelli and Lang Lang than pop stars – and a quote from the event’s creative lead and executive producer, Marco Balich, that it would eschew “hi-tech and bling”.

Anyone desperate for intel might alight on a tabloid live stream that proffered the news that “it could last THREE hours” – it wasn’t entirely clear whether this was meant as enticement or warning – and a news report suggesting the International Olympic Committee were concerned that Team America might be booed, the legendary charm of the Trump administration having done so much to spread goodwill towards the US over the last 12 months. In fact, what the president of the IOC said was: “I hope that the opening ceremony is seen by everyone as an opportunity to be respectful of each other” – so there was always the chance she was concerned the crowd might take against Denmark, but it didn’t seem likely.

The showpiece to kick off the Games happened across multiple venues but politics and protests were also present

The most striking thing about the opening ceremony isn’t a single prop, celebrity cameo or piece of choreography: it’s the geography. For the first time, an Olympic opening ceremony in effect happened across multiple live venues all at once, with Milan, Cortina, Livigno and Predazzo linked into one narrative structure. It felt less like a show in a stadium and more like watching a country perform itself in real time. The organising concept – “Armonia”, the idea that different elements can move together without losing their identity – isn’t just branding. It shapes how the ceremony actually functioned. Sitting in San Siro, you’re constantly aware that somewhere else, at that exact moment, another piece of the story is unfolding. It created a strange sense of scale: intimate and enormous at once. In an era when global attention is fragmented across screens and platforms, Italy staged the opposite – a ceremony built on simultaneity, connection and shared rhythm.

Head coach says champions were ‘outplayed for large parts’ in 3-0 reverse last November, but are now more dangerous

The test for Liverpool against Manchester City on Sunday is not of their title credentials. That ship has sailed. Instead it is of how far Arne Slot’s side have truly progressed since their title defence was holed.

Slot feels Liverpool’s displays have warranted defeat only occasionally this season – late lapses, set-piece failures and wasted chances have been more common explanations than the overall performance – and the 3-0 reverse at the Etihad Stadium in November was certainly one of them. The controversy over Virgil van Dijk’s disallowed header at 1-0 still lingers for the Dutchman but does not prevent him holding his hands up.

• Chelsea head coach has been a target for ridicule

• Rosenior hails positive change in culture at Chelsea

Liam Rosenior says life is too short to worry about people laughing at him. The 41-year-old has quickly become a figure of fun since his appointment as Chelsea’s head coach and was ridiculed after miscontrolling a dropping ball during his side’s defeat at Arsenal on Tuesday.

It was the latest example of Rosenior facing online mockery because of his quotes and mannerisms. He has been referred to as “LinkedIn Liam” because of some of his comments in press conferences and compared to David Brent. One meme had him mocked up as Will McKenzie, the nerdy lead character from The Inbetweeners.

Podcaster claimed former prime minister not English because he is ‘brown-skinned Hindu’

Rishi Sunak has described himself as being “British, English and British Asian” in a riposte to increasing racially charged language used by figures on the right.

The UK’s first British Asian prime minister was speaking after his identity was questioned in recent debate sparked by a claim by the podcaster Konstantin Kisin that Sunak was not English because he was a “brown-skinned Hindu”.

The post Rescue and Refine Your Videos: A Practical Look at Aiarty Video Enhancer for Photographers appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Sime.

Rescue and Refine Your Videos: A Practical Look at Aiarty Video Enhancer for Photographers

As photographers, we’re used to chasing the perfect still image. But video can be a different story. Low light, handheld shots, or older clips often fall short of the standards we expect. What looks fine on a phone screen can reveal noise, blur, or softness on a larger display.

Thankfully, there are tools that help photographers rescue and refine imperfect footage—and Aiarty Video Enhancer is one such tool. Designed for simplicity and quality, it makes video enhancement accessible even if you’re not a professional video editor.

In this guide, we’ll explore where such tools are useful, how they fit into a creator’s workflow, and practical ways to enhance your footage—without overcomplicating your process.

Why Aiarty Video Enhancer Matters for Photographers

Aiarty Video Enhancer focuses on improving footage rather than creative editing. It’s a desktop application that processes videos locally, using GPU acceleration and optimized AI models to speed up processing while maintaining high-quality results. This approach has several practical advantages for photographers:

• Privacy: Your clips stay on your computer.
• Speed: No uploading or waiting for cloud processing.
• Simplicity: You don’t need advanced video skills to get started.

It’s particularly useful for challenges many photographers face:

• Low-light noise: Reduces luminance and color noise while preserving natural texture.
• Older footage: Refreshes 1080p DSLR or mirrorless clips for modern displays.
• Batch processing: Enhance multiple clips at once—perfect for events, travel, or documentaries.

Even with careful shooting, some footage can’t be perfectly captured. Tools like Aiarty make it easier to get the most out of what you have.

Aiarty’s Price (and a limited-time offer!)

Professional video enhancement software can be expensive, but Aiarty offers simple and affordable options:

• 1-Year License – $79 
  • Install on 1 PC or Mac
  • Receive all updates during the license period
• Lifetime License – $165 (30% off)
  • Install on up to 3 devices
  • Unlimited free updates, including future features

For photographers exploring video enhancement, this is a low-risk way to test the software and see how it fits into real projects.

Key Features and When They Help

Rather than replacing professional editing software, Aiarty works best as a pre-processing or rescue tool. Here’s how its main features can help photographers:

• AI Denoise & Deblur: Cleans up noisy or slightly soft footage, especially from high-ISO shoots.
• Texture Enhancement: Optimize fine details (like fabric, foliage, or skin texture) without aggressive sharpening.
• Video Upscaling (HD ? 4K): Make older footage look better on modern 4K displays.
• Basic Edit and Color Controls: Quick cut, crop, rotate, and simple exposure and contrast tweaks. 
• Strength Slider: Control how far the enhancement goes to avoid an over-processed look.
• Frame Interpolation: Allows higher frame rates or smoother slow motion from standard clips.
• Audio Denoising: Reduces background hiss or wind noise alongside video processing. 

These features address common video problems, making it practical for photographers who want results without a steep learning curve.

How to Improve Video Quality: A Practical 4-Step Workflow

Aiarty Video Enhancer makes improving video quality straightforward—even for photographers and creators without advanced editing skills.

Step 1: Import Your Footage

Drag and drop your video file into Aiarty’s main window. Batch processing is available, saving time for multiple clips from events, travel, or documentaries.

Step 2: Choose an AI Model for Video Enhancement

Aiarty offers three specialized AI models for different scenarios:

• MoDetail-HQ: Best for portraits, pets, and landscapes, reconstructing fine textures.
• Smooth-HQ: Keeps interviews or lifestyle b-roll natural while maintaining accurate colors.
• superVideo vHQ: Ideal for heavy noise in low-light or high-ISO situations — perfect for rescue enhancement.

Step 3: Adjust Video Enhancement Settings

Select your desired resolution (e.g., 4K). Use the Strength Slider to balance sharpness and natural texture. Enable SDR-to-HDR conversion for richer shadows and highlights.

Step 4: Preview and Export Enhanced Video

Preview footage side-by-side with the original. Once satisfied, click Run to export your enhanced video, ready for modern displays with smoother motion and improved clarity.

Tips for Integrating Aiarty Into Your Workflow

• Turbo Mode: Speeds up processing by 3x with minimal quality loss — great for tight deadlines.
• Step Mode: Ensures stable rendering on laptops or lower-VRAM machines.
• Batch and Offline Processing: Enhance multiple videos at once while fully utilizing your GPU for maximum speed, with all processing done locally on your computer.

These workflow features make AI video enhancement a practical addition, rather than a time-consuming task, for creators who want to rescue and refine footage quickly.

Real-World Results with Aiarty Video Enhancer

Below are a few practical examples showing how Aiarty’s different AI models perform in real scenarios:

Enhanced a portrait video with moDetail-HQ v3 model

Upscale a Vintage footageusingSmooth-HQ v3 Model

Denoise a night video with superVideo vHQ model.

Upscale a video and adjust the level of enhancement using a strength slider.

Some creators have shared their experiences using Aiarty in real projects:

“Footage recorded in 4k and slowed down by 50% using Aiarty Video Enhancer.” — A Red Dot Explorer, Videographer (@reddotexplorer)

Final Verdict

Aiarty Video Enhancer isn’t a magic fix, and it won’t replace careful shooting or professional video editing software. However, for photographers who occasionally work with video, it’s a practical way to rescue clips that might otherwise go unused.

Its strength lies in simplicity: reducing noise, improving clarity, and preparing footage for modern displays without a steep learning curve. Used thoughtfully, it works well as a pre-processing step or last-resort fix when conditions weren’t ideal.

Even if your main focus remains still photography, having a straightforward tool to refine video can make hybrid shooting far more manageable.

Explore Aiarty Video Enhancer and see how it can improve your footage!

The post Rescue and Refine Your Videos: A Practical Look at Aiarty Video Enhancer for Photographers appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Sime.

MILAAN (ANP) - De Italiaanse president Sergio Mattarella heeft de 25e editie van de Winterspelen officieel geopend. Dat deed hij vanuit de presidentiële box in stadion San Siro in Milaan in aanwezigheid van onder anderen koning Willem-Alexander, koningin Máxima en prinses Amalia.

Kort daarvoor heetten Giovanni Malagò, de voorzitter van het organisatiecomité, en voorzitter Kirsty Coventry van het Internationaal Olympisch Comité (IOC) de atleten officieel welkom. Voor de 42-jarige Zimbabwaanse tweevoudig olympisch zwemkampioene zijn het de eerste Olympische Spelen als voorzitter, sinds zij in maart vorig jaar werd gekozen als opvolger van Thomas Bach.

Na het afleggen van de olympische eed werd de olympische vlam ontstoken. In Milaan gebeurde dat in de stad bij triomfboog Arco della Pace door skiërs Alberto Tomba en Deborah Compagnoni en in Cortina d'Ampezzo op Piazza Dibona door skiester Sofia Goggia.

De vlam begon eind november aan een rondreis die in Griekenland begon en op 4 december in Rome arriveerde. Daarna bezocht de vlam, aan de hand van 10.001 estafettelopers, meer dan driehonderd steden in Italië.

De Olympische Spelen duren tot en met zondag 22 februari.