Latest news with #Valenzuela
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Jovita Lozano Jovita Lozano, age 93, a resident of Socorro,
Jun. 25—Jovita Lozano Jovita Lozano, age 93, a resident of Socorro, New Mexico, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on June 9, 2025. Jovita is preceded in death by her parents, Apolinar & Natividad (Gutierrez) Valenzuela; brothers, Juan, Apolinar and Florencio Valenzuela; sisters, Jacinta, Ascension, Guadalupe, and two infant sisters; her husband, Guadalupe M Lozano; sons, Christopher M. Lozano, and Rodrigo Lozano; daughter, Jennie Peringer; grandson, Tyrone Rivera; granddaughter, Kimberly Tellez; and great-grandson, Eddie Gonzales III. She is survived by her children, Jose Lozano (Lena), Virginia Vivian (Sammy), Mary Frances Martinez (Lloyd) and Don Lozano (Brian); grandchildren, Eddie Gonzales Jr., Miguel Lozano (Amanda), JR Lozano, Samantha Vivian-Gonzales (Ruben), Joshua Martinez (Julie), Jordan Martinez, Samuel Vivian Jr., Thomas Rivera, Bethany Gonzales (Kevin), and Gina Thompson (Cody); great-grandkids, Audrey (Sam), Abby (Carlos), Joseph (Tonysha), Braylon, Mickaela, Mia, Kadence, Alexis (Dominic), Iziah, Ruben Jr., Alyssa, Christian, Ally (Vic), Joshua, Jacob, Paige and Josie; great-great-grandkids, Karla, Eddie IV, Malanah, Santiago, Tristen, Luna, Addison & Braydon. Services for Jovita were held on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at the San Miguel Church. A visitation took place at 9:00 am followed by the rosary at 9:30 am. Mass was held at 10:00 am. Interment took place immediately following the services at the San Miguel Cemetery. Pallbearers were Eddie Gonzales Jr., Miguel Lozano, JR Lozano, Joshua Martinez, Jordan Martinez, Samuel Vivian Jr., and Iziah Montoya. Honorary pallbearers were Thomas Rivera, Jamie Valenzuela, Cathy Rojas, Ruben Gonzales Sr., and Kevin Gonzales. Arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Belen Chapel, where an online guest register is available at
Time of India
4 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Study reveals the shocking way ancient Romans procured 'luxury' meat
Image credits: Canva (Representative image) While meat may have been a staple in the diet during the good old days, not every kind of meat was accessible to all. It seems the difference between the diet of the ones with a luxurious lifestyle and those with the ordinary existed back then as well. Thus, in order to indulge once in a while, ordinary people had to procure the 'luxury meat' in unique ways. In a recently published research entitled "Urban Consumption of Thrushes in the Early Roman City of Pollentia, Mallorca," Alejandro Valenzuela, a researcher at the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies in Mallorca, discovered some previously unknown information on how Romans consumed thrushes, a type of small bird. Until now, it was assumed that in the ancient Roman era, thrushes were a delicacy and were only reserved for the rich. However, Valenzuela found that these birds were also consumed by the masses through a peculiar source. The source was found in a first-century cesspit in Mallorca, Spain where the bones of multiple species of animals were discovered. The pit was once connected to a fast-food shop called a taberna. Thus, just like the modern day where we head to restaurants to eat lavishly prepared luxurious delicacies, the ordinary ancient Romans headed to the tabernae, which were essentially local fast food shops. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 누르기만 해도 이득! 꽝없는 모발이식 할인 찬스 모발이식센터 더 읽기 Undo 'The key takeaway is that thrushes, once considered a luxury delicacy reserved for the Roman elite, were actually part of the everyday foodscape in cities like Pollentia,' said Valenzuela in his conversation with Fox News Digital. These establishments like tabernae and popinae primarily served the working-class urban populations offering quick and affordable meals, he said. He added how the discovery changed the perspectives and assumptions and how archaeological evidence especially from refuse contexts like cesspits can provide direct insights into the daily life, food habits and economic strategies of the ordinary people of the ancient world. The ancient Roman diet Image credits: Getty Images Along with the discovery of the taberna, the cesspit consisted of remains of other animals such as pigs, sheep, goats, fish and shellfish, revealing the range of variation in the Roman diet. 'These spaces likely served stews, small fried or grilled meats, legumes and wine – meals convenient for those without kitchens at home,' Valenzuela said. In terms of cooking methods, he revealed that thrushes were most likely pan-fried instead of grilled as per the evidence at the site. Additionally, speed and simplicity of taste also mattered in service. 'Frying in oil was a common Roman technique for small birds, especially in urban food settings where speed and simplicity were key,' he said. How did Romans cook and sell 'luxury' meat? Archaeologists found that the thrushes' skeletons were missing large, meatier bones like femurs and humeri. 'The presence of fragmented sterna supports the idea that the birds were flattened to allow for quick cooking,' posited the researcher. He also added that the people likely enjoyed these meats with vinegar, herbs, spices and a fermented fish sauce called garum. 'Small birds could be served on skewers or simple ceramic plates,' he said. T he expert added, 'The fact that thrushes were sold in bundles of 10, as per Diocletian's Price Edict, also suggests they were prepared in quantity, likely for immediate consumption by hand or on simple serving ware.' The researcher also compared Roman cooking to American fast food adding that the Romans served most parts of the animal. 'In Pollentia, pig remains dominate the assemblage, and the presence of cranial and foot bones suggests that less-valued parts were also processed and consumed, likely as broths or stews,' Valenzuela said. After reading of thrushes as the luxury meat from Roman times one would at least wonder how they tasted. Well, according to Valenzuela their taste is more similar to small game birds like quail or woodcock- lean, slightly gamey and rich, especially when pan-fried or roasted. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
New York Post
5 days ago
- Science
- New York Post
Ordinary ancient Romans ate ‘luxury' meat at ‘fast-food shops,' new research reveals
Newly published research is providing a fascinating glimpse into how ancient Romans enjoyed their fast food — shedding more light on life in antiquity. In a recent journal article entitled 'Urban Consumption of Thrushes in the Early Roman City of Pollentia, Mallorca,' researcher Alejandro Valenzuela discovered previously unknown information about how Romans consumed thrushes, a type of small bird. Until now, it was assumed that thrushes were a delicacy, reserved only for the rich. But Valenzuela found that these birds were actually consumed by the masses. The proof, Valenzuela said, was found in a first-century cesspit in Mallorca, Spain, where the bones of multiple species of animals were found. The pit was once connected to a fast-food shop called a taberna. Valenzuela, a researcher at the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies in Mallorca, spoke with Fox News Digital about his findings. 'The key takeaway is that thrushes, once considered a luxury delicacy reserved for the Roman elite, were actually part of the everyday foodscape in cities like Pollentia,' the antiquity expert revealed. 'This challenges long-held assumptions and highlights how archaeological evidence – especially from refuse contexts like cesspits – can give us direct insight into daily life, food habits and economic strategies of ordinary people in the ancient world.' 3 Until now, it was assumed that thrushes were a delicacy, reserved only for the rich. Luigi Spina/Electa/Mondadori Portfolio At the Pollentia site, archaeologists also found the remains of pigs, sheep, goat, fish and shellfish – showing how varied the Roman diet was. 'Frying in oil was a common Roman technique for small birds, especially in urban food settings where speed and simplicity were key.' 'These spaces likely served stews, small fried or grilled meats, legumes and wine – meals convenient for those without kitchens at home,' Valenzuela said. In terms of cooking methods used, Valenzuela said thrushes were likely pan-fried instead of grilled, according to the evidence at the site. 'Frying in oil was a common Roman technique for small birds, especially in urban food settings where speed and simplicity were key,' he said. 3 At the Pollentia site, archaeologists also found the remains of pigs, sheep, goat, fish and shellfish – showing how varied the Roman diet was. Getty Images Archaeologists also found that thrushes' skeletons were missing large, meatier bones like femurs and humeri. 'The presence of fragmented sterna supports the idea that the birds were flattened to allow for quick cooking,' he posited. Ancient Romans likely enjoyed these meats with vinegar, herbs, spices and a fermented fish sauce called garum, according to Valenzuela. 'Small birds could be served on skewers or simple ceramic plates,' he said. The expert added, 'The fact that thrushes were sold in bundles of 10, as per Diocletian's Price Edict, also suggests they were prepared in quantity, likely for immediate consumption by hand or on simple serving ware.' He said establishments like tabernae and popinaeprimarily served working-class urban populations, offering quick and affordable meals. The flavor isn't exactly like chicken, the researcher said. The classicist also stressed that Roman cooking was highly resourceful and, unlike American fast food today, urban vendors served most parts of the animal. 'In Pollentia, pig remains dominate the assemblage, and the presence of cranial and foot bones suggests that less-valued parts were also processed and consumed, likely as broths or stews,' Valenzuela said. 3 Ancient Romans likely enjoyed these meats with vinegar, herbs, spices and a fermented fish sauce called garum, according to Valenzuela. Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images 'That said, prime cuts were always more valuable and may have been sold separately or used in specific dishes.' What did these small thrushes taste like? Valenzuela said the flavor isn't exactly like chicken. 'Their taste is more comparable to other small game birds like quail or woodcock,' he said. 'Lean, slightly gamey and rich, especially when pan-fried or roasted.' Though archaeologists only discovered animal bones at the Pollentia site, some excavators have been lucky enough to find preserved Roman food.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Film festival showcases what AI can do on the big screen
Artificial intelligence's use in movie-making is exploding. And a young film festival, now in its junior year, is showcasing what this technology can do on screen today. The annual AI Film Festival, organized by Runway, a company that specializes in AI-generated video, kicked off in New York Thursday night with ten short films from around the world making their debut on the big screen. 'Three years ago, this was such a crazy idea,' Runway CEO Cristóbal Valenzuela told the crowd. 'Today, millions of people are making billions of videos using tools we only dreamed of.' The film festival itself has grown significantly since its 2023 debut. About 300 people submitted films when it first began, Valenzuela said, compared to about 6,000 submissions received this year. The one-and-a-half-hour lineup stretched across a range of creative styles and ambitious themes, with Jacob Alder's ' Total Pixel Space ' taking home the festival's top prize. The 9-minute and 28-second film questions how many possible images — real or not — exist in the digital space, and uses math to calculate a colossal number. A stunning series of images, ranging from the familiar life moments to those that completely bend reality, gives viewers a glimpse of what's out there. Meanwhile, Andrew Salter's 'Jailbird,' which snagged second place, chronicles a chicken's journey — from the bird's perspective — to a human prison in the United Kingdom to take part in a joint-rehabilitation program. And 'One,' a futuristic story by Ricardo Villavicencio and Edward Saatchi about interplanetary travel, followed in third place. The 10 films shown were finalists selected from thousands submitted to Runway's AI Film Festival this year. The shorts will also be shown at screenings held in Los Angeles and Paris next week. How AI is used and executed is a factor judges evaluate when determining festival winners. But not every film entered was made entirely using AI. While submission criteria require each movie to include the use of AI-generated video, there's no set threshold, meaning some films can take a more 'mixed media' approach, such as combining live shots of actors or real-life images and sounds with AI-generated elements. 'We're trying to encourage people to explore and experiment with it,' Valenzuela said in an interview prior to Thursday's screening. Creating a coherent film using generative AI is no easy feat. It can take a long list of directions and numerous, detailed prompts to get even a short scene to make sense and look consistent. Still, the scope of what this kind of technology can do has grown significantly since Runway's first AI Film Festival in 2023 — and Valenzuela says that's reflected in today's submissions. While there are still limits, AI-generated video is becoming more and more life-like and realistic. Runway encourages the use of its own AI tools for films entered into its festival, but creators are also allowed to turn to other resources and tools as they put together the films — and across the industry, tools that use AI to create videos spanning from text, image and/or audio prompts have rapidly improved over recent years, while becoming increasingly available. 'The way (this technology) has lived within film and media culture, and pop culture, has really accelerated,' said Joshua Glick, an associate professor of film and electronic arts at Bard College. He adds that Runway's film fest, which is among a handful of showcases aimed at spotlighting AI's creative capabilities, arrives as companies in this space are searching for heightened 'legitimacy and recognition' for the tools they are creating, with the aim of cementing partnerships in Hollywood as a result. AI's presence in Hollywood is already far-reaching, and perhaps more expansive than many moviegoers realize. Beyond 'headline-grabbing' (and at times controversial) applications that big-budget films have done to 'de-age' actors or create eye-catching stunts, Glick notes, this technology is often incorporated in an array of post-production editing, digital touch-ups, and additional behind-the-scenes work like sorting footage. Industry executives repeatedly point to how AI can improve efficiency in the movie-making process, allowing creatives to perform a task that once took hours, for example, in a matter of minutes, and foster further innovation. Still, AI's rapid growth and adoption have also heightened anxieties around the burgeoning technology, notably its implications for workers. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees — which represents behind-the-scenes entertainment workers in the U.S. and Canada — has 'long embraced new technologies that enhance storytelling,' Vanessa Holtgrewe, IATSE's international vice president, said in an emailed statement. 'But we've also been clear: AI must not be used to undermine workers' rights or livelihoods.' IATSE and other unions have continued to meet with major studios and establish provisions in efforts to provide guardrails around the use of AI. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists has also been vocal about AI protections for its members, a key sticking point in recent labor actions. For Runway's AI Film Festival, Valenzuela hopes screening films that incorporate AI-generated video can showcase what's possible — and how he says this technology can help, not hurt, creatives in the work they do today. 'It's natural to fear change … (But) it's important to understand what you can do with it,' Valenzuela said. Even filmmaking, he adds, was born 'because of scientific breakthroughs that at the time were very uncomfortable for many people.'
Arab Times
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab Times
Film festival showcases what AI can do on the big screen
NEW YORK, June 9, (AP): Artificial intelligence's use in movie making is exploding. And a young film festival, now in its junior year, is showcasing what this technology can do on screen today. The annual AI Film Festival organized by Runway, a company that specializes in AI-generated video, kicked off in New York Thursday night with ten short films from around the world making their debut on the big screen. "Three years ago, this was such a crazy idea,' Runway CEO Cristóbal Valenzuela told the crowd. "Today, millions of people are making billions of videos using tools we only dreamed of.' The film festival itself has grown significantly since its 2023 debut. About 300 people submitted films when it first began, Valenzuela said, compared to about 6,000 submissions received this year. The one and half-hour lineup stretched across a range of creative styles and ambitious themes - with Jacob Adler's " Total Pixel Space " taking home the festival's top prize. The 9-minute and 28-second film questions how many possible images - real or not - exist in the digital space, and uses math to calculate a colossal number. A stunning series of images, ranging from the familiar life moments to those that completely bend reality, gives viewers a glimpse of what's out there. Meanwhile, Andrew Salter's "Jailbird," which snagged second place, chronicles a chicken's journey - from the bird's perspective - to a human prison in the United Kingdom to take part in a joint-rehabilitation program. And "One,' a futuristic story by Ricardo Villavicencio and Edward Saatchi about interplanetary travel followed in third place. The 10 films shown were finalists selected from thousands submitted to Runway's AI Film Festival this year. The shorts will also be shown at screenings held in Los Angeles and Paris next week. How AI is used and executed is a factor judges evaluate when determining festival winners. But not every film entered was made entirely using AI. While submission criteria requires each movie include the use of AI-generated video, there's no set threshold, meaning some films can take a more "mixed media' approach - such as combining live shots of actors or real-life images and sounds with AI-generated elements. "We're trying to encourage people to explore and experiment with it,' Valenzuela said in an interview prior to Thursday's screening. Creating a coherent film using generative AI is no easy feat. It can take a long list of directions and numerous, detailed prompts to get even a short scene to make sense and look consistent. Still, the scope of what this kind of technology can do has grown significantly since Runway's first AI Film Festival in 2023 - and Valenzuela says that's reflected in today's submissions. While there are still limits, AI-generated video is becoming more and more life-like and realistic. Runway encourages the use of its own AI tools for films entered into its festival, but creators are also allowed to turn to other resources and tools as they put together the films - and across the industry, tools that use AI to create videos spanning from text, image and/or audio prompts have rapidly improved over recent years, while becoming increasingly available. "The way (this technology) has lived within film and media culture, and pop culture, has really accelerated,' said Joshua Glick, an associate professor of film and electronic arts at Bard College. He adds that Runway's film fest, which is among a handful of showcases aimed at spotlighting AI's creative capabilities, arrives as companies in this space are searching for heightened "legitimacy and recognition' for the tools they are creating - with aims to cement partnerships in Hollywood as a result. AI's presence in Hollywood is already far-reaching, and perhaps more expansive than many moviegoers realize. Beyond "headline-grabbing' (and at times controversial) applications that big-budget films have done to "de-age' actors or create eye-catching stunts, Glick notes, this technology is often incorporated in an array of post-production editing, digital touch-ups and additional behind-the-scenes work like sorting footage. Industry executives repeatedly point to how AI can improve efficiency in the movie making process - allowing creatives to perform a task that once took hours, for example, in a matter of minutes - and foster further innovation. Still, AI's rapid growth and adoption has also heightened anxieties around the burgeoning technology - notably its implications for workers. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees - which represents behind-the-scenes entertainment workers in the U.S. and Canada - has "long embraced new technologies that enhance storytelling,' Vanessa Holtgrewe, IATSE's international vice president, said in an emailed statement. "But we've also been clear: AI must not be used to undermine workers' rights or livelihoods.' IATSE and other unions have continued to meet with major studios and establish provisions in efforts to provide guardrails around the use of AI. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists has also been vocal about AI protections for its members, a key sticking point in recent labor actions. For Runway's AI Film Festival, Valenzuela hopes screening films that incorporate AI-generated video can showcase what's possible - and how he says this technology can help, not hurt, creatives in the work they do today. "It's natural to fear change ... (But) it's important to understand what you can do with it," Valenzuela said. Even filmmaking, he adds, was born "because of scientific breakthroughs that at the time were very uncomfortable for many people."
