It’s 2020, and the female of the species are hot on the heels of the hero’s of gaming. Yes fella’s don’t think for one minute that gaming is a male domain, pardon the pun! The gap is closing fast, and equality is the name of THE game.
Whilst you may assume that the trendy girl sitting opposite you on the train is simply pumping up her Insta page, or sharing a photo of kittens, it's now more likely than ever that she is actually sharpening her gaming skills during her daily commute.
Of course it’s understandable that many still see gaming as a male pastime, but today, it’s just as popular amongst women as men. In the UK figures show that 60% of girls in the 10-15 age group, play games on their Smartphones, whilst for boys of the same age the figure is 55%.
But women have been in on the act for over 35 years, when Ms Pac -Man was created as a female heroine in answer to the popularity amongst female players of Pac-Man.
However, the industry became more male dominated for a while in the late 80’s and the 90’s. Female characters in the games that were being created at the time were badly designed, and marketing was unflattering to women. It clearly had a negative effect on female players and their interest declined.
But now the girls are back on board, stronger than ever before, and the industry needs to up their own game to appeal not only to the boys, but to keep the girl power interested too.
What’s the deal with equipment
So whilst some females might be asking, is a red lippy better than a pink lippy, the gaming girls might be asking, is a pc better than a console.
The answer seems to be that a pc is more costly than a console, it provides clearer visuals, and the games are less expensive. It’s the reverse for the console, they are cheaper to buy, but the games are less affordable.
But depending on your lifestyle, a PC can be used for work, browsing the web, photo and video editing, and anything else you can think of that you would normally need a PC for.
A console on the other hand, will tick the Netflix, and YouTube boxes, and a gaming PC also needs to be equipped with the right hardware to play games.
Who Prefers What
Over both platforms, the console v the PC, it seems that men prefer to play strategy games, and get more involved with sports, action and adventure titles. Women on the other hand, are more drawn to puzzles, female orientated simulation games and the good old favourites, arcade titles such as Candy Crush.
It seems we’ve moved on from that age old dolls for the girls, and trains for the boys cliche from back in the day. Equality is all around us, and even more so when it comes to gaming.
Paranormal investigators Jack Osbourne and Katrina Weidman descend into all-new eerie encounters in season two of Travel Channel’s hit series “Portals to Hell.”
Descend into all-new eerie encounters when Travel Channel's hit series, "Portals to Hell," returns for Season Two on Friday, March 13, with a special two-hour episode beginning at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
Avid paranormal investigators Jack Osbourne and Katrina Weidman resume their chilling journey to historically haunted locations in the United States, confronting sinister stories of the supernatural as they seek concrete evidence that a spirit world exists.
Eight additional hour-long episodes will move to their regular 10 p.m. ET/PT timeslot beginning Friday, March 20.
"This season is intense," said Weidman. "Jack and I purposefully explore locations that embody the darker side of the paranormal, as we try to understand why certain places evoke more sinister activity than others. It's exciting to see what new discoveries we can make in the paranormal field. Yet as we explore the unexplained, we can only presume to know what we're working with. At the end of the day we really don't – and that's the scary part."
The undaunted duo will face their most fearsome cases yet, as they uncover disturbing tales from bygone pasts and unnerving paranormal activity. Osbourne and Weidman filter through extensive research, utilize advanced scientific equipment and enlist a network of specialists, including psychic mediums, to try and exhume answers behind these terrifying hauntings.
"Katrina and I are breaking down walls – literally," said Osbourne. "We have unprecedented access to a number of locations and are also the first team to ever investigate some of them for TV. They're incredibly active sites for the paranormal, and we're going all in to try and capture substantial evidence."
Paranormal investigators and “Portals to Hell” hosts Jack Osbourne and Katrina Weidman.
In the special two-hour season premiere, Jack Osbourne and Katrina Weidman head to Paulding, Ohio, to investigate the Old Paulding Jail – an almost 150-year-old site rumored to be haunted by the spirits of former inmates, sheriffs and even the victim of a horrific, 60-year-old cold case crime. The pair find it hard to uncover the truth in a sea of rumors, cover-ups and theories of what happened to the young woman who was murdered. They call in a trusted psychic in their search for answers. Determined to find out more, Osbourne and Weidman break down the last remaining sealed jail cell in the basement … and are shocked to discover large bone fragments scattered within. Now, the possibility of not only contacting spirits, but also solving a town's most infamous murder is on the line. As the investigation deepens, Osbourne has a paranormal experience that will forever change him as an investigator and truth seeker.
Upcoming Episodes:
“Thomas House Hotel” Location: Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee
Katrina Weidman and Jack Osbourne travel to Tennessee to investigate a once-thriving natural springs resort where guests fell victim to the deadly waters. A recent flare-up of paranormal activity has them asking if a dark force has checked into the century-old hotel.
“Fort William Henry” Location: Lake George, New York
Jack Osbourne and Katrina Weidman investigate the site of one of the bloodiest massacres in Colonial America. The team embarks on a mission to find out if the paranormal activity is the echo of dead soldiers or something more sinister.
“Iron Island” Location: Buffalo, New York
In snowy Buffalo, New York, Jack Osbourne and Katrina Weidman investigate the Iron Island Museum, a century-old building that has undergone several evolutions as a church and funeral home, and is rumored to house not one, but two, portals.
“The Ohio State Reformatory” Location: Mansfield, Ohio
Jack Osbourne and Katrina Weidman travel to the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio, an abandoned maximum-security prison notorious for its barbaric treatment of inmates and malevolent spirits haunting it, where they obtain exclusive access to paranormal hotspots never investigated before for television.
“Haunted Hill House” Location: Mineral Wells, Texas
Jack Osbourne and Katrina Weidman travel to Mineral Wells, Texas, to investigate for the first time for television, the Haunted Hill House, an infamous location that’s plagued by rumors of murder, prostitution and devil worship. The team uncovers the truth of this hellish home and discovers that the claims of demonic activity may not be that far-fetched.
“The Croke-Patterson Mansion” Location: Denver, Colorado
The 130-year-old Croke-Patterson Mansion has haunted its previous owners with a string of bad luck and untimely deaths. In a TV exclusive, Jack Osbourne and Katrina Weidman encounter a mirrored portal and discover why this mansion holds the title, “The King of Haunted Houses.”
“The Shanghai Tunnels” Location: Portland, Oregon
Katrina Weidman and Jack Osbourne gain unprecedented access to the infamous Shanghai Tunnels of Portland, Oregon. They've been called on to determine if two newly restored tunnels are safe for public tours after a recent spike in violent paranormal activity.
Video: Sneak Peek - Season Two Premiere
"Portals to Hell" is produced by Osbourne Media and Critical Content for Travel Channel. For Osbourne Media, the executive producers are Jack Osbourne and Peter Glowski. For Critical Content, the executive producers are Jenny Daly and Tom Forman. Elaine White executive produces the series for Osbourne Media and Critical Content. For Travel Channel, the executive producer is Vaibhav Bhatt, Julie Meisner Eagle is vice president of production and development, Matthew Butler is general manager and Henry Schleiff is group president of Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, American Heroes Channel and Destination America.
Jack Osbourne inside Ohio’s haunted Old Paulding Jail.
About Jack Osbourne:
Jack Osbourne is the president of Osbourne Media and is best known for MTV's reality show "The Osbournes," SyFy's "Haunted Highway," and A+E Network's "Ozzy & Jack's World Detour."
He has not only starred in multiple series but also developed and produced original unscripted content, including NatGeo's Wild's "Alpha Dogs" and "Surviving the Apocalypse," along with various pilots and development projects for Bravo, CBS, A&E, MTV, WeTV and TRVL.
Osbourne appears in and serves as Executive Producer of "Biography: The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne," which will premiere at this year's SXSW festival. Osbourne is also an adventurer and paranormal investigator who has documented harrowing face-to-face encounters with the unexplainable in some of America's darkest and most remote regions. Most recently, he was featured on United Kingdom's live "Celebrity Haunted Mansion" alongside Jason Hawes ("Ghost Hunters," "Ghost Nation") and is currently filming season two of "Portals to Hell."
Katrina Weidman at Ohio’s haunted Old Paulding Jail.
About Katrina Weidman:
Katrina Weidman is a paranormal researcher and investigator, host and producer.
She rose to national recognition in her role on A+E's "Paranormal State," working on hundreds of cases of unexplained supernatural phenomena and interviewing thousands of witnesses alongside world-renowned paranormal researchers.
Weidman also served as co-host and producer of "Paranormal Lockdown" on TLC and Destination America, as well as Chiller's "Real Fear: The Truth Behind the Movies" (2012) and "The Truth Behind More Movies" (2013).
She frequently gives talks and lectures at paranormal conferences and conventions around the world.
Finding calm in your life is important because having that zen in your life can be really helpful to your health both in mind and body. Wherever you go or whatever you do in life, it’s important to look for that calm in places where it might get a little crazy. Here are some tips for creating more calm in your life.
Don’t Rush, Slow Down
When it comes to life, try to take it slowly. Don’t feel like you need to rush your life because of what you see on social media or comparing yourself to others. We all operate differently, and our life experiences will vary to each other, so stop comparing yourself and stop rushing. Take time to enjoy the moments in life that are truly magical. Remember that you only get the one life, so be sure to live it to the full and to relish all the times where you can be at peace with yourself. Those opportunities don’t always come along so often, so when they do, make the most of them. When you feel yourself rushing, make a conscious effort to slow down, and to not panic so much about having to do everything and anything.
Have A Morning Ritual
A morning ritual is a great way to start off the day in the right way. Not only that, but it brings that calmness that you need right away when you’ve just got out of bed. It’s important to be aware of how your body is feeling and what you’re thinking. By setting yourself up with a morning routine, you can focus on getting yourself in the right state of mind and mood for the day. It might be taking a warm shower every morning, or a cold one depending on your preference. You may wish to do some light exercise or perhaps go out for a jog to get some fresh air. Find what suits you and make it something that you enjoy. Prem Rawat talks about finding inner peace, and this is a good way to do so.
Be Grateful
It’s important to be grateful for the things you get given in your life because not everyone gets the same opportunities as you might get. So try to find that gratefulness in everything you get given throughout your life, no matter how small or big it may be. It’s important to do this so that you remain grounded. So whatever happens to you in life, it helps you come back to reality and to appreciate everything you have in life. That also brings about that calm feeling that you’re after.
Find A Career That’s Enjoyable
Being able to have a successful career that’s enjoyable can be difficult sometimes. Everyone goes through life doing things they don’t enjoy, but it’s important you find a job that you love and find happiness in. Otherwise, different parts of your life outside of work will be affected.
Use these tips in order to bring more calm in your life.
In his MasterClass, RuPaul shares powerful lessons on the importance of knowing your value and being true to yourself (image courtesy of MasterClass)
MasterClass, the platform that makes it possible for anyone to learn from the best, today announced that RuPaul will teach a class on self-expression and authenticity.
As one of the world's most recognized personalities, RuPaul is a cultural icon. In his MasterClass, he shares an intimate look into his journey to self-love and stardom. Through a series of candid lessons, RuPaul speaks his fearless truth and shares his experiences — teaching members how to identify strengths, cultivate a tribe, and tune into inner frequency to live their best, most authentic and powerful life.
"RuPaul is fearless — defying norms and breaking rules," said David Rogier, co-founder and CEO of MasterClass. "Ru's MasterClass teaches every single one of us how to celebrate who we are, how to persevere, how to take risks and how to own our fears. This class will change how you live your life."
Being credited for bringing drag into the spotlight and named "the world's most famous drag queen" by Fortune Magazine in 2019, RuPaul has taken the world by storm since becoming a popular fixture in New York City nightlife and releasing his debut single, "Supermodel (You Better Work)," in 1993.
The actor, model, singer, songwriter and TV personality has paved his way into global superstardom using his mantra "love yourself." Throughout his 35-year career, RuPaul has released 14 studio albums and three books, hosted his own talk show, The RuPaul Show on VH1 for over 100 episodes and has made countless appearances in TV and films including To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything!, Julie Newmar and more.
Since 2009, RuPaul has produced and hosted critically acclaimed RuPaul's Drag Race, winning six Primetime Emmy Awards and inspiring several spin-off series, including RuPaul's Drag U and RuPaul's Drag Race All-Stars. In 2017, RuPaul was named one of TIME's most influential people in the world.
In his MasterClass, RuPaul shares powerful lessons on the importance of knowing your value and being true to yourself (image courtesy of MasterClass)
"How can you love, if you can't love yourself?" said RuPaul. "My MasterClass will show you how to find the deepest level of yourself, own who you are and have the confidence to work the runway of life."
Delivered with his signature humor and larger-than-life personality, RuPaul's MasterClass is an intimate and candid look into his journey to self-love and self-betterment.
As a prominent figure and supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, RuPaul has fought for equality and promotes the message of embracing and accepting one's uniqueness. He will show students of all ages, races, genders, and sexualities, how to tune into inner frequency by incorporating stillness, meditation and personal inventory. He'll also share personal secrets on owning a room and cultivating a tribe, and why it's important to identify mentors and pay it forward. In a deeply personal lesson, RuPaul shares past trauma in his own life and how it relates to his process of self-betterment, offering advice on how to deal with shame, trauma, and hard emotions.
In his MasterClass, RuPaul shares powerful lessons on the importance of knowing your value and being true to yourself (image courtesy of MasterClass)
RuPaul will also sit down with long-time costume collaborator, Zaldy, to deconstruct previous runway looks the duo has created. In bonus lessons, RuPaul's makeup artist David Petruschin transforms into drag alter-ego Raven, and RuPaul shares insights and makeup lessons for all, from painting dramatic eyes to contouring.
RuPaul's MasterClass - The Trailer:
RuPaul's MasterClass joins the 75+ classes taught by world-renowned instructors on culinary arts, photography, writing, performance, and much more. Each MasterClass has digestible video lessons sized to fit into any part of your day and cinematic visuals with close-up, hands-on demonstrations that make you feel one-on-one with the instructor.
MasterClass's current roster of courses includes:
Business:Howard Schultz (business leadership), Anna Wintour (creativity and leadership), Sara Blakely (self-made entrepreneurship), Bob Iger (strategy and leadership), Chris Voss (art of negotiation), Goodby and Silverstein (advertising and creativity)
Culinary Arts:Gordon Ramsay (cooking), Alice Waters (home cooking), Thomas Keller (cooking techniques), Wolfgang Puck (cooking), Dominique Ansel (French pastry), James Suckling (wine appreciation), Aaron Franklin (Texas BBQ), Massimo Bottura (Italian cooking), Gabriela Cámara (Mexican cooking)
Film and Television:Werner Herzog (filmmaking), Martin Scorsese (filmmaking), Ron Howard (directing), Spike Lee (filmmaking), Mira Nair (independent filmmaking), Jodie Foster (filmmaking), Ken Burns (documentary filmmaking), Helen Mirren (acting), Samuel L. Jackson (acting), Judd Apatow (comedy), Aaron Sorkin (screenwriting), Shonda Rhimes (writing for television), Natalie Portman (acting), David Lynch (creativity and filmmaking)
Lifestyle:Bobbi Brown (makeup and beauty), RuPaul (self-expression and authenticity)
Music and Entertainment:Steve Martin (comedy), Christina Aguilera (singing), Usher (performance), Reba McEntire (country music), Herbie Hancock (jazz), Deadmau5 (music production), Armin van Buuren (dance music), Hans Zimmer (film scoring), Tom Morello (electric guitar), Carlos Santana (art and soul of guitar), Timbaland (producing and beatmaking), Penn & Teller (magic), Itzhak Perlman (violin), Danny Elfman (music for film)
Writing: James Patterson (writing), David Mamet (dramatic writing), Judy Blume (writing), Malcolm Gladwell (writing), R.L. Stine (writing for young audiences), Margaret Atwood (creative writing), Dan Brown (writing thrillers), Neil Gaiman (storytelling), Billy Collins (poetry), David Baldacci (writing thrillers), Joyce Carol Oates (short story writing), David Sedaris (storytelling and humor)
Photography:Annie Leibovitz (photography), Jimmy Chin (adventure photography)
Design and Fashion:Frank Gehry (architecture), Diane von Furstenberg (how to build a fashion brand), Marc Jacobs (fashion design)
Sports and Games:Serena Williams (tennis), Stephen Curry (shooting, ball-handling, and scoring), Garry Kasparov (chess), Daniel Negreanu (poker), Phil Ivey (poker strategy), Simone Biles (gymnastics), Misty Copeland (ballet)
Politics and Society:Jane Goodall (conservation), Bob Woodward (investigative journalism), Karl Rove and David Axelrod (political campaign strategy), Paul Krugman (economics and society), Doris Kearns Goodwin (U.S. presidential history and leadership)
Science and Technology:Chris Hadfield (space exploration), Will Wright (game design), Neil deGrasse Tyson (scientific thinking and communication)
The Northrop Grumman Antares rocket, with Cygnus resupply spacecraft onboard, launches from Pad-0A, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020 at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. (image via nasa.gov/northropgrumman)
A Northrop Grumman Cygnus resupply spacecraft is on its way to the International Space Station with about 7,500 pounds of science investigations and cargo after launching at 3:21 p.m. EST Saturday from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
The spacecraft launched on an Antares 230+ rocket from the Virginia Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport's Pad 0A at Wallops and is scheduled to arrive at the space station at about 4:05 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18. Coverage of the spacecraft's approach and arrival will begin at 2:30 a.m. on NASA Television and the agency's website.
Expedition 62 astronaut Andrew Morgan of NASA will use the space station's robotic arm to capture Cygnus, and NASA's Jessica Meir will monitor telemetry during rendezvous, capture, and installation on the Unity module's Earth-facing port. The spacecraft is scheduled to stay at the space station until May.
This delivery, Northrop Grumman's 13th cargo flight to the space station, the second under its Commercial Resupply Services 2 contract with NASA and designated NG-13, will support dozens of new and existing investigations.
Included in the scientific investigations Cygnus is delivering to the space station are:
Better Tissue and Cell Culturing in Space
Mobile SpaceLab, a tissue and cell-culturing facility, offers investigators a quick-turnaround platform to perform sophisticated microgravity biology experiments. Such experiments are critical for determining how microgravity affects human physiology and identifying ways to mitigate negative effects.
A Close-up View
The Mochii investigation provides an initial demonstration of a new miniature scanning electron microscope with spectroscopy. Mochii will demonstrate real-time, on-site imaging and measurements of micro- and nanostructures aboard the space station. This capability could accelerate answers to many scientific inquiries and mission decisions and serve the public as a powerful and unique microgravity research platform.
Examining Bone Loss in Microgravity
Astronauts experience bone loss in orbit, stemming from the lack of gravity acting on their bones. OsteoOmics investigates the molecular mechanisms that dictate this bone loss by examining osteoblasts, cells in the body that form bone, and osteoclasts, which dissolve bone. A better understanding of these mechanisms could lead to more effective prevention of astronaut bone loss during space missions.
Fighting Bacteria with Phages
Phage Evolution examines the effects of microgravity and radiation exposure on phage, viruses that destroy bacteria without harming human cells, and bacterial host interactions, including phage specificity for a bacterial host and host resistance to specific phages. A better understanding of the effects of microgravity and cosmic radiation on bacteriophages and hosts could result in significant developments for phage technology, ultimately helping protect the health of astronauts on future missions.
(Do Not) Light My Fire
The Spacecraft Fire Experiment-IV (Saffire-IV) investigation examines fire development and growth in different materials and environmental conditions, fire detection and monitoring, and post-fire cleanup capabilities. Saffire-IV contributes to fire safety efforts in similar environments on Earth, from submarines to mines, and helps improve general understanding and modeling of fire phenomena.
These are just a few of the hundreds of investigations currently being conducted aboard the orbiting laboratory in the areas of biology and biotechnology, physical sciences, and Earth and space science. Advances in these areas will help to keep astronauts healthy during long-duration space travel and demonstrate technologies for future human and robotic exploration beyond low-Earth orbit to the Moon and Mars through NASA's Artemis program.
This is the second time two Cygnus spacecraft will be in flight at the same time, as the NG-12 vehicle remains in orbit after departing from the station on Jan. 31. The Cygnus spacecraft will remain at the space station until May before it disposes of several thousand pounds of trash through its fiery reentry into Earth's atmosphere.
The Cygnus NG-13 spacecraft for this space station resupply mission is named in honor of U.S. Air Force Maj. Robert Lawrence, the first African American astronaut selected by any program, specifically chosen for the Air Force's Manned Orbital Laboratory Program in June 1967. Lawrence died in an F-104 Starfighter aircraft accident at Edwards Air Force Base, California six months later at the age of 32.
Why Spicing Up Your Relationship Is Key (image via Pixabay)
Finding love for the first time or the second or third, is a difficult task. A wonderful feeling but a scary one also where we feel sucked into a whirlwind of emotions and unsure how we feel about our path and if we are making the right decisions. If you have experienced a breakup recently or in the past, you can be sure that things can get easy again for you and once you do find love again, you can find exciting ways to spice up your relationship!
“But I have been divorced and now I don’t think I can give myself to another person again completely?”
It may be difficult to find love again, especially after divorce and you have probably dealt with divorce solicitors and the paperwork that comes along with it but it doesn't mean that life has to end once this is completed. Start to embrace the relationship again and spice it up!
Hug and kiss more!
Physical contact is key and even something as simple as a 30-second hug is one of the warmest things you can do which extends a regular hug that and releases endorphins and allows you to appreciate the love that you have together. The attachment hormone will trigger and both men and women enjoy a human touch; it’s a natural thing to do. Indulge in a longer embrace every day and learn how much more passionate and happy you feel together as well as feeling more grateful for each other’s company.
Start to say nice things to each other!
As women, we can have a negative outlook on relationships and be less trustworthy and a little more judging. Compliment instead! Start looking at what you like and love about your partner and every day start to commit to noticing five good things about your partner and why you like what they do! Tell them the five good things also, let them feel good about themselves and ensure that they are feeling happy in the relationship as well. It could be how they look, what they say to you, how well they cook, or something nice that they did for you.
Ask the right questions
Sometimes after we’ve been in a relationship for a long time, we think we know everything about our partners but that isn’t always the case and sometimes we can assume things that aren't fair. They may have secrets, or issues they don't want to share and therefore it’s vital to be good at communicating and being sensitive with what you ask and how you ask it.
Have a date night, but do something a little different and change it up. Go to a new place or a new activity! Doing something new is always fun and try and plan it in advance. Think about where you’d like to go and make little bucket lists.Think about where you’d like to go to and what activities float your boat, it will bring new memories!
Little Steven Marks 30th Anniversary Of Nelson Mandela's Historic Release From Prison By Announcing Remastered Vinyl Edition Of Landmark Protest Album 'Sun City' (image via Wikipedia)
Little Steven, aka Steven Van Zandt, is commemorating today's 30th anniversary of Nelson Mandela's historic release from a South African prison after 27 years in captivity with the announcement that his 1985 landmark protest album, Sun City, by Artists United Against Apartheid, the extraordinary supergroup brought together by Van Zandt, producer Arthur Baker and journalist Danny Schechter to fight racial injustice in South Africa, will be released on vinyl for the first time since its initial release 35 years ago.
The long-out-of-print LP joins five additional classic albums from Van Zandt making all of Little Steven's records from his early career once again available on vinyl.
The upcoming releases, previously only available in last year's limited edition box set, RockNRoll Rebel – The Early Work, and now available individually, have all been remastered and include all of the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer's solo records between 1982 and 1999: Men Without Women (1982), Voice Of America (1983), Sun City (1985) Freedom – No Compromise (1987), Revolution (1989) and Born Again Savage (1999).
Releasing March 13 via Wicked Cool/UMe, all albums will be available on both 180-gram black vinyl and as a special, limited edition version on 180-gram color swirl vinyl mirroring the psychedelic platters released in the box set.
The color vinyl variants can be purchased exclusive at uDiscover.
Notably, Revolution will be making its individual US vinyl debut, having previously only seen vinyl release in Europe, while the 2LP Born Again Savage will be available individually on vinyl for the first time ever.
Little Steven announced the rerelease of his 1985 landmark protest album, 'Sun City,' by Artists United Against Apartheid, on vinyl on the 30th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s historic release from a South African prison after 27 years in captivity.
Hailed by Rolling Stone as "one of the most fervent and forceful political statements to emerge from Eighties pop music," Sun City, celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, remains an undisputed milestone in music and cultural history. The project began with "Sun City," a song Van Zandt wrote to expose and oppose South Africa's apartheid system which included the forced relocation of its black population who were also stripped of their right to vote. The song, featuring the memorable chorus of "I ain't gonna play Sun City," was a declaration and boycott from a stunningly diverse group of artists that they would refuse to perform at Sun City, a resort located within the Bantustan of Bophuthatswana, one of many internationally unrecognized states created by the South African government to forcibly relocate its black population.
To record the track, Van Zandt, co-producer Arthur Baker and journalist Danny Schechter brought together Artists United Against Apartheid – a still breathtaking cadre of international superstars that included Bruce Springsteen, Miles Davis, Pete Townshend, Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, Ringo Starr, Zak Starkey, Darlene Love, Run DMC, U2, George Clinton, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Rubén Blades, Peter Gabriel, David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Bobby Womack, Afrika Bambaataa, Kurtis Blow, DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Melle Mel, The Fat Boys, Herbie Hancock, Jackson Browne, Peter Wolf, Bonnie Raitt, Hall & Oates, Jimmy Cliff, Big Youth, Peter Garrett, Ron Carter, Ray Barretto, Gil Scott-Heron, Nona Hendryx, Pat Benatar, Clarence Clemons, Stiv Bators, Doug Wimbish, and Joey Ramone, to name but a few.
Named as the top single of 1985 by The Village Voice's prestigious "Pazz & Jop" critics poll, "Sun City" was followed that same year by a full-length album that saw many of those same artists joining together for a number of additional exclusive tracks, including "Silver and Gold" (performed by Bono with Keith Richards and Ron Wood), "The Struggle Continues" (featuring Miles Davis, Stanley Jordan, Herbie Hancock, Sonny Okosuns, Ron Carter, Tony Williams, and Richard Scher), and "Let Me See Your I.D." (featuring Gil Scott-Heron, Miles Davis, Grandmaster Melle Mel, Peter Wolf, Sonny Okosuns, Malopoets, Duke Bootee, Ray Barretto, and Peter Garrett).
Sun City proved a critically acclaimed and globally important work for both its powerful social message – allowing Van Zandt, Baker, and others involved in the project to donate more than a half million dollars to causes supporting the anti-apartheid struggle – as well as its innovative, world-spanning musical approach, ultimately earning inclusion in Rolling Stone's "100 Best Albums of the Eighties," which noted "Sun City threw an effective political punch: Not only did it discourage musicians from playing the South African resort city, but it also helped spread the word about new sounds like rap." Van Zandt is donating all artist and publishing royalties from Sun City to the Rock and Roll Forever Foundation for the TeachRock.org music history curriculum.
"It took courage for artists to make the leap from social concerns to political action for a cause that was virtually unknown at the time," said Van Zandt. "Victories that clear cut are rare in the sphere of international liberation politics. Once in a lifetime if you're lucky."
The release of Little Steven's early catalog comes on the heels of the expansive box set, RockNRoll Rebel – The Early Work, released in December. Limited to just 1,000 copies, the comprehensive collection includes all six aforementioned albums across seven colored vinyl LPs housed in a bespoke slipcase. The multi-format set also boasts four CDs of rarities culled from Van Zandt's personal vault, allowing an in-depth look at his early solo career with 51 tracks spanning previously unreleased demos, B-sides, rehearsals, outtakes, radio spots, non-album singles, classic concert performances, and a number of never-before-heard studio gems, complete with corresponding liner notes from Van Zandt about each of the bonus tracks.
"It's been a blast going through the archives and finding all these hidden gems," says Van Zandt. "In addition to demos in various stages of completion, there are entire songs I'd completely forgotten about, and we found some really early things pre-Jukes like Southside Johnny and the Kid (The Kid being me!). I'm excited to have my stuff back on vinyl for the first time in decades!"
All six albums included in RockNRoll Rebel – The Early Work are also now available digitally as individual Deluxe Editions, expanded with the same rare and unreleased material from the era that make up the four discs of rarities in the physical collection.
The Early Work, a special digital-only collection compiling 10 previously unreleased tracks of early rehearsals and live performances with Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes spanning 1973-77 and capped off with a 1995 live performance of The Temptations' "I Wish It Would Rain," is also now available.
Also now available digitally is the rare 1985 three-song 12" EP, Let Me See Your I.D., featuring the Extended Mix, Street Mix and Beat and Scratch Mix of the landmark "Sun City" single.
In addition, a limited edition standalone 144-page, 12" x 12" companion book is in the works featuring Van Zandt's in-depth liner notes for RockNRoll Rebel, alongside memories and stories about the making of each album, lyrics to every song, and hundreds of never-before-seen photos.
Chinese Lunar New Year is celebrated in Manhattan’s Chinatown
The Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade and Festival were held in Manhattan, New York on Sunday, February 9 in honor of Chinese Lunar New Year. The festivities featured a parade, lion dances, and cultural performances.
The first float was sponsored by Moutai Group. A giant bottle of Moutai and colorful balloons on the float sparkled with the flashes of the parade-watchers' cameras. On the float, a banner reading "Stay Strong, Wuhan" sent well wishes to the people of Wuhan, China, which is currently battling a novel coronavirus epidemic. The banner represented the wishes of Chinese people all over the world.
In featuring this message on their float, Moutai Group expressed the sincerity of their feelings for the people of Wuhan, as well as their dedication to help. As the first thing anyone would see in the parade, this float's important message could not be missed.
Chinese Lunar New Year is celebrated in Manhattan’s Chinatown
The Year of the Rat officially kicked off last month. However, this year's lunar new year was more challenging than usual. The outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia is being addressed by the efforts of all of China.
"Actually, I am not that scared of Coronavirus. It is just one of many things we deal with globally," a woman in the parade said.
A young girl in the parade expressed her wishes to Chinese people: "I'm sorry that people are going through that. Stay strong, it'll pass. Be strong Wuhan. Be strong China!"
Chinese Lunar New Year is celebrated in Manhattan’s Chinatown (screengrab)
Chinese Consul General in New York Huang Ping, Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, State Senator Brian Kavanagh, Mayor of New York City Bill de Blasio, Lieutenant Governor of New York Kathy Hochul, and others attended the event, where they extended their best wishes to the public.
The Doors' iconic album, Morrison Hotel, was released exactly 50 years ago, today, on February 9th, 1970.
On the eve of the album's half-centennial anniversary, rock stars collided at West Hollywood's Sunset Marquis where music lovers and legends fêted the 50th anniversary of Morrison Hotel.
Hosted by industry trailblazers John Varvatos and Timothy White at the Sunset Marquis Hotel in West Hollywood and sponsored by Jack Daniels, the homecoming celebration paid homage to the record's release 50 years ago with a poolside performance helmed by The Doors' guitarist and co-founder, Robby Krieger.
Robby Krieger and Tangiers Blues Band – (a NYC group who have shared the stage with artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Vedder, Brandi Carlisle, and many more) – along with an impressive roster of acclaimed musicians lent their respective talents to some of The Doors' time-honored greatest hits.
Miley Cyrus and producer Andrew Watt covered "Back Door Man", The Struts' chilling take on "Riders on The Storm" and Dennis Quaid brought the house down with his version of "L.A. Woman".
Other performers included, Big Machine Records/John Varvatos Records artist Badflower, Gary Clark, Jr., Nicole Atkins, Chris Voss (The Record Company), Slim Jim Phantom (The Stray Cats), The Eagles of Death Metal, guitarist Jimmy Vavino, Michael Bolton and Alex Greenwald (Phantom Planet). Morrison Hotel Gallery also celebrated its 20-year anniversary with the opening of a new photography exhibit in the gallery located inside the hotel's lobby. On public view through February 23rd, the exhibition leans heavily on rare outtakes from photographer and co-founder of the gallery, Henry Diltz's impromptu Morrison Hotel session… that almost didn't happen.
The exhibit also features another 20+ fine art prints - a monumental glimpse inside The Doors' sensational career, spanning the gamut from iconic to never-before-seen.
As the story goes, photographer Henry Diltz arrived at the transient Morrison Hotel with The Doors only to be denied photographic permission by an unwitting desk clerk who, in stepping away for a few minutes, missed out on mischief that created one of the most prolific portraits in music history.
A half-century after the release of Morrison Hotel, phenomenal music remains the great unifier; transcending age, genre, race and language, fans were – and still are - delighted to witness the legendary and durational legacy of The Doors' Morrison Hotel.
About Morrison Hotel Gallery
With locations in NYC, Los Angeles and Maui, MHG is the world's leading brand in fine art music photography, representing over 125 of the world's finest music photographers and their archives. Their vast catalog of photography encompasses jazz, blues, and rock imagery spanning several generations through to today's contemporary music artists, and now includes iconic photographs in the world of celebrity and sports as well. MHG has a robust online presence, featuring over 100,000 images searchable by photographer, music artist, band or concert.
UTPlus Interactive Announced the Launch for the Global Service of "Cosmic Wars - The Galactic Battle"
On Feb. 7 (North America Time), UTPlus Interactive Inc. announced the launch for the global service of "Cosmic Wars - The Galactic Battle".
Global service is now available in over 150 countries in North America, Europe, and Asia. The Global One-Build supports nine languages (English, German, French, Japanese, Thai, Russian, Thai, Portuguese, Korean) and support for Spanish will be added in the future
UTPlus Interactive Announced the Launch for the Global Service of "Cosmic Wars - The Galactic Battle"
The game, which was soft launched earlier, features unique artwork and an original scenario. The game system allows users to build their own strategic vessel by assembling ship parts to the user's preference and pioneer in post-apocalyptic space while battling various forces, space monsters, and other players.
The global version will feature more user customizable content by increasing communication with users through various social media channels and analyzing user feedback and game play data.
Ted Taeyeun Yoo (CEO) said, "Levering the experience we gained from successfully servicing Talion and Shadowblood, we will continue to listen to the user's opinions and service the game successfully with a long-term plan."
UTPlus Interactive Announced the Launch for the Global Service of "Cosmic Wars - The Galactic Battle"
"Cosmic Wars - The Galactic Battle" was selected as a Top 3 game in the 2018 Google Indie Game Festival and awarded as the Indie Game of the Year. The developer is offering various events to celebrate the launch of its global service.
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