Spirit Halloween Prepares For A Wicked Season

Spirit Halloween Top Costumes for 2016 (PRNewsFoto/Spirit Halloween)

Vampires: sharpen your fangs; witches: grab your broomsticks; ghosts: bring your boo – the magical season of make believe is finally upon us. Spirit Halloween is officially open for the season. 

The experts in one-stop-shopping for an enchanting Halloween bring the largest variety of one-of-a-kind costumes to shoppers, ranging from buzz-worthy looks such as Pokémon, Presidential Candidates and Wonder Woman to new cult-favorites like Deadpool, Shimmer and Shine and PJ Masks.

"Spirit Halloween offers the most comprehensive selection of Halloween costumes, décor and accessories in the world," said Steven Silverstein, President and CEO, Spirit Halloween. "This year, we're thrilled to bring together a fun, diverse collection found only at Spirit Halloween stores nationwide or online, inspired by both time-tested favorites and trending topics, to ensure a fun and creepy time.  From 2016's global phenomenon, Pokémon, to powerful women, to the presidential candidates, our costumes truly transform our customers into any character they can dream up this Halloween."

Deadpool costume

1000s of At-Risk Girls in Nigeria to Benefit From Technology Education Leveraging 3D Printing

Youth for Technology Foundation (YTF) is an international non-profit, citizen-sector organization inspiring the next generation of technology entrepreneurs and leaders who bring innovative solutions to their nations challenges. YTF announced at the 2016 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting a Commitment to Action to train 6,000 out-of-school girls in Nigeria who are at risk of, or have survived, human trafficking in cutting-edge, in-demand technology skills. This digital skills training in 3D printing will occur at YTF digital hubs in Nigeria. This training focuses on the growing demand for 3D printing skills using human-centered innovation principles, a problem-based approach to designing and creating products. Girls who take this training will earn a trade certification, gain employment-ready skills and benefit from mentorship in employment and entrepreneurial settings. (PRNewsFoto/Youth for Technology Foundation)

The Youth for Technology Foundation (YTF) announced at the 2016 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting a Commitment to Action to train 6,000 out-of-school girls in Nigeria who are at risk of, or have survived, human trafficking in cutting-edge, in-demand technology skills.

This digital skills training in 3D printing will occur at YTF digital hubs in Nigeria. Training by YTF master trainers will incorporate female STEM professionals, industry experts and entrepreneurs as mentors. 

It will also incorporate partnerships with grassroots organizations that will provide training on sexual and reproductive health rights education, and local businesses that will provide apprenticeships for the girls. 

On The 25th Of September, #PokemonGO Lures Will Be Shared At... Shared Space [#Westcliff]

Yes, you've read it right! Shared Space, the Christian charity shop in London Road, opposite the Palace Theatre (being, rather conveniently, a Pokéstop,) will host a Pokémon Go Lure Party for FOUR hours, giving a chance to the local Pokémon Go players to catch lots of Pokémons without having to walk all the way to Southend's High Street or Chalkwell Park to do the same, for once. 

(Obviously, Trainers who don't live in Westcliff are also very welcome to join us... The more, the merrier.)

It will start at 10:30 AM and finish at 14:30 PM, giving ample time for people to make the most of this opportunity. 

Not only they won't need to rush to the Pokéstop where the lure modules are released, but they will also be able to sit down while catching Pokémons (and restocking their devices with Pokéballs, potions, etc..), having a friendly chat with other Trainers and, if they want to, even have a drink (coffee, tea and orange squash will be available for a small charge.)

It might be a good idea to have some "lucky eggs" ready to use during that time, so that you can double the XPs you'll earn when you catch all those Pokemons... ;-)

And, of course, with two Pokégyms in five minutes walk from each side of the charity shop, there will be opportunities for the Trainers to use the potions they'll get from the Pokéstop if they are in full "Pokémood" ;-)

SOCAN Montréal Awards Gala Honours Eighty Music Creators and Publishers

Some of the 26th annual SOCAN Montreal Awards winners (from left to right, top row): Safia Nolin (Breakout Awards), Alain Chartrand (Special Achievement Award), Ariane Moffatt (Songwriter of the Year), Richard Séguin (Lifetime Achievement Award), Luc Fortin, Québec's Minister Culture & Communications, Stéphane Venne (Cultural Impact Award); (from left to right, second row) SOCAN’s Chief Executive Officer Eric Baptiste, Geneviève Côté, SOCAN's Chief Quebec Affairs Officer, Luc Plamondon (two SOCAN Classics) (Photo: Frédérique Ménard-Aubin-SOCAN) (CNW Group/SOCAN)

Cœur de Pirate, Grimes, Stéphane Venne, Ariane Moffatt, Alain Chartrand, Richard Séguin, Éric Lapointe, Les Colocs among winners

The 27th edition of SOCAN's Montréal Awards Gala was held last night (Sept. 12, 2016 )at the iconic Métropolis in Montréal as the who's-who of the music industry gathered to salute the careers and accomplishments of francophone songwriters, composers, and music publishers.

Sir Richard Branson Joins 'Kiters' To Boost Ocean Conservation

Sir Richard Branson delivering the keynote address at last year's inaugural Ocean Gala. Photo credit: Ruprecht Studios. (PRNewsFoto/The Ocean Gala)

Jackson Browne, Dr. Sylvia Earle, and Rob Stewart expected to walk the 'Blue Carpet' at The Ocean Gala

Luminaries Sir Richard Branson, Jackson Browne, Mission Blue heroine Dr. Sylvia Earle, and Sharkwater creator Rob Stewart will attend The Ocean Gala, a benefit for ocean conservation in San Francisco on December 3, 2016.

The second annual Ocean Gala (#TheOceanGala) organized by MaiTai Global and OceanElders brings together global leaders in business and kiteboarding communities for a fundraiser to raise awareness and support for ocean causes.

Psychology Behind The Unfunny Consequences Of Jokes That Denigrate

A joke isn’t just a joke. elycefeliz, CC BY-NC-ND

By Thomas E. Ford, Western Carolina University

Q: Why did the woman cross the road?
A: Who cares! What the hell is she doing out of the kitchen? 

Q: Why hasn’t NASA sent a woman to the moon?
A: It doesn’t need cleaning yet!

These two jokes represent disparagement humor – any attempt to amuse through the denigration of a social group or its representatives. You know it as sexist or racist jokes – basically anything that makes a punchline out of a marginalized group.

Disparagement humor is paradoxical: It simultaneously communicates two conflicting messages. One is an explicit hostile or prejudiced message. But delivered alongside is a second implicit message that “it doesn’t count as hostility or prejudice because I didn’t mean it — it’s just a joke.”

By disguising expressions of prejudice in a cloak of fun and frivolity, disparagement humor, like the jokes above, appears harmless and trivial. However, a large and growing body of psychology research suggests just the opposite – that disparagement humor can foster discrimination against targeted groups.