Some Psychological Benefits of Writing

A former board of governors member at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, Marc David Broidy, also takes great interest in the performing arts. A holder of a BA in theater from Pitzer College in Claremont, California, and having pursued an MFA in theater management from Yale University, Marc Broidy is a keen classical music and opera enthusiast. He also enjoys reading and writing.

Besides being one of the basic types of communication, writing has proven itself as a valuable thinking, expression, and creativity tool. Whether done on a professional level, as a hobby, or simply by jotting things down daily, writing affords various psychological benefits, including the following three:

Refines Communication

Writing urges people to search for more sophisticated words and better-phrased sentences to describe their thoughts. It helps them to clearly give structure to an idea, which in turn enables them to express what they have in mind and communicate even complex and abstract ideas much more effectively.

Increases Productivity and Focus

Writing down tasks in the morning can serve as a mental warm-up, as it activates neurons in the brain and primes it for performing the work of the day. Furthermore, concisely formulating tasks facilitates their proper execution. And by consistently writing about their thoughts, people stay focused on the goals and dreams they want to realize.

Reduces Mental Stress

Expressive writing, or when people write about their thoughts and feelings concerning a stressful life event, has established itself among the best ways to achieve mental clarity and relieve stress. Research has demonstrated that expressive writing boosts self-awareness, eventually alleviating depressive symptoms and anxious thoughts.

What Makes a Wine Collectable?

Marc David Broidy pursued a master of fine arts in theater management and has worked as a senior administrator with serval leading corporations and institutions. Outside of the professional arena, Marc Broidy is an avid wine collector.

From using their collection as a financial investment to treasuring it as a delicious accomplishment, people collect wine for a variety of reasons. Like any other type of collectible item, bottles of wine are more desirable to collectors when they are rare or expensive.

A number of things can make a bottle of wine collectable. In particular, there are three elements that go a long way toward determining just how rare and valuable a particular bottle of wine is. These elements are production volume (the number of bottles made), producer desirability (the reputation of the winemaker), and provenance (how well and where the wine has been stored).

Other characteristics that affect a wine’s collectability are its vintage (time of production) and appellation (region of production). It may also be considered more collectable if it is a limited or special edition.

Lighting Positions on the Theatrical Stage

Marc David Broidy is an established Los Angeles financial professional who also has experience in aspects of the performing arts, such as theater production. Marc Broidy pursued an MFA in theater management from Yale University, and one of his areas of focus is lighting design.

One critical element of presenting action on the stage effectively involves lighting positions. This begins with the front lights, which point directly toward the actors and serve as a primary lighting source throughout the performance. While effective in presenting the entirety of the action on the stage, used alone, they make everything appear flat. Adding dimensionality requires the use of downlighting and backlighting, with the latter involving lights positioned behind the actors, at the back end of the stage. The lights can be positioned from a number of vertical angles, with color and intensity modulated for effect. Downlighting either involves lights positioned on the stage that cast light upward, or lights rigged above the stage that shine downward.

A final touch often involves the use of side lighting, which is set up at the stage’s horizontal edges. When the lighting is positioned at a level where it shines directly onto the shoulders and heads of the performers, this is known as high side lighting. These lights help the audience to clearly make out the facial expressions of the actors.

Over the years, improvements in technology has made this process, originally credited to Stanley Russell McCandless, even more dynamic and given lighting designers even more flexibility to practice the art.

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Exploring Wines of the Loire Valley in France

Based in Southern California, Marc David Broidy pursues investment strategies across a variety of asset classes. Conversant in French language and culture, Marc Broidy has a particular interest in wine regions of the country and possesses a diverse wine collection.

Stretching 600 miles from Nantes on the coast to the Massif Centra foothills, the Loire Valley is a varied region encompassing a diversity of vintages, from Sancerre to Muscadet. One of the most versatile grapes is Chenin blanc, which has a crisp minerality and acidity that pairs well with virtually any food. Produced in sweet, dry, and sparkling vintages, its defining aroma is of baked golden apples, but it also has undertones of beeswax, quince, and wet wool.

Just as common throughout the Loire Valley is Cabernet Franc, which features refreshing acidity and is also savory. It ranges from light to medium-bodied and is known for bracing cedar and red fruit notes. Also known as Breton (for its geographical range), Cabernet Franc is grown in Bordeaux and the Basque country of Spain. These regions pair soils rich in limestone with consistently cool temperatures.

A third Loire staple is sauvignon blanc, which thrives in the central parts of the valley and offers a smoky, flinty minerality. Predominant flavors of this white wine include mirabelle plum and green apple, with complexity added through floral and herbal undertones.

Finally, one of the most unique Loire Valley wines is the maritime vineyard varietal Melon de Bourgogne. This wine has a citrus minerality that is briny in quality and reminds one of the sea.

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