Is Humanity Stuck in a Downward Spiral of Hate and Polarization, Or Can We Find a Better Way Forward?

Buried Rivers - Cover

Although the Holocaust happened some 75 years ago, religion-based hate crimes and the audacious rise of white nationalists continue to roil the U.S. and the world, from the Tree of Life massacre of Jews in Pittsburgh to the senseless loss of Muslim lives in Christchurch, New Zealand.

As Israel and the world prepare to celebrate Yom HaShoah or Holocaust Remembrance Day marked by the period from April 28 through May 2, and the number of living Holocaust survivors continues to fall, second-generation Holocaust survivor Ellen Korman Mains maintains that this topic could not be more current.

Mains says, "It's important to commemorate these events, not only to remember the dead and overcome ignorance of the past, but to take stock of our personal and societal patterns in the present and how we can shift these so that genocides and mass violence don't continue into the future."

Mains adds, "Since the Holocaust could not have happened without the silent participation of bystanders − ordinary people not so different from ourselves − we need to look at the deeper roots of genocide and how we can prevent them from spreading."

In her No. 1 Amazon bestseller, Buried Rivers: A Spiritual Journey into the Holocaust (West Lake Books), Mains, whose mother survived Auschwitz, explores the question "How can you still believe in basic goodness?" while journeying through Poland and Germany, where she felt troubled spirits seeking answers to this question.

In an interview, Mains, who will be giving a Yom HaShoah talk based on her book at the Boulder JCC at noon on May 1, can answer such questions as:

• What do the roots of nationalism and of genocide have in common?
• The Politics of Us and Them: Can religious or spiritual practice help us come together or do these only serve to divide and polarize us more?
• The Cycle of Victim/Perpetrator: How do we shift from blaming others to creating positive action in the world?
• Why is it easier to believe in lies than to deal with the complexity of truth?

Praise for Buried Rivers

"A powerful testament to human resilience and courage, this book reflects the power of inquiry in a world riven with suffering, and the capacity to transform that suffering into wisdom." 
Rev. Joan Jiko Halifax, Abbot, Upaya Zen Center and author of Standing at the Edge

"A beautiful and important memoir that uplifts as much as it compels." 
Rabbi Tirzah Firestone, Ph.D., author of Wounds into Wisdom: Healing Intergenerational Jewish Trauma

"A compelling personal spiritual journey that crosses religious boundaries in order to tackle some of the deepest mysteries of life and death." 
Zvi Ish-Shalom, Ph.D., author of The Kedumah Experience: The Primordial Torah

"By shedding light on something so dark, she demonstrates that healing, opportunity, and magic can emerge from the densest suffering." 
Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel, author of The Power of an Open Question and The Logic of Faith

Ellen Mains

About the author

The daughter of Polish-born Jews who survived the Holocaust, Ellen Korman Mains has led meditation retreats internationally, and speaks about the cross-section of spirituality and social change. 

Trained in several body-mind disciplines, she also helps individuals deepen compassionate self-awareness. 

A citizen of Canada, the USA, and Poland, she lives in Boulder, Colo., but spends extended periods of time in Poland teaching, promoting dialog, and connecting with her heritage.

SOURCE: Ellen Mains

Paul David Pope Decries on National Television the Political Direction National Enquirer Has Taken Since His Father Made It America's Most Influential Newspaper

Paul David Pope (image via pauldavidpope.biz)

Paul David Pope was interviewed in a special "Headliners" report on tabloid journalism that aired nationally last night on MSNBC.

Citing the one-sided pro-Trump direction American Media Inc. has taken under Pecker's command, Pope said "My father would be turning over in his grave to see what his baby has become."

Pope said Pecker has "weaponized" the National Enquirer to go after Trump detractors and advance the President's political agenda, whereas once the newspaper had a blind eye and just went after compelling stories regardless whom they involved or who won or lost.

AMI's flagship publication, the National Enquirer "made its name by breaking the rules and being unconventional," said Pope.

"My father told reporters to do whatever you have to do to get the story" like once taking a picture of Elvis Presley in his coffin or publishing a photo of Senator Gary Hart with his alleged girlfriend Donna Rice that ended his Presidential campaign.

Pope said his father redefined the landscape of American journalism just as his grandfather Generoso Pope Jr's Il Progresso newspaper changed how Italian American Immigrants were viewed in New York and helped to bring them into the mainstream of American culture.

According to Pope, his father invented a different kind of hard-hitting journalism resorting to methods to get the story frowned upon by mainstream media.

Under his leadership, it would never become the promotional arm of any one political candidate or leader as Pecker has taken the once super dominant National Enquirer.

• Pope is planning a podcast on this and other subjects on behalf of a cause he is espousing called "Saving America," about which there will be more information forthcoming.

Pope recently retained the international public relations firm TransMedia Group to publicize the impact he and his family have had on journalism by creating the most influential publication in the history of the United States.

Pope cites the wealthiest man in America, Jeff Bezos, having to announce publicly "I am having an affair and I am being extorted" as evidence of how low the National Enquirer has sunk..

SOURCE: Paul David Pope

Nannion: Science & Fantasy On A Mysterious Greek Island

Nannion - Cover

Nannion is an amalgam of many elements (mystery, metaphysics, consciousness, biology), delivering an original, surprising, and informative read. 

The novel is jam-packed with hard science information, seamlessly weaved into the story of a small, secluded, and abandoned Greek island, once the site of a major international science experiment that was intended to study natural selection and, perhaps, evolution in a new aquatic ecosystem. 

Decades later, a photograph of the corpse of a large shark prompts a team of biologists to visit the island. They discover unique environments, including an underwater brine lake. The new ecosystem is dangerous. How to cope with it? The biologists will need some form of interspecies communication with the sea life and even with a cat that has been stranded on the island. It's simple in theory...

Nannion introduces us to many amazing, actual natural phenomena, such as underwater brine lakes and animals with extraordinary regenerative abilities. The author explains, in simple terms, biology concepts that science is only beginning to grasp, and uses them to create fantastical environments and lifeforms. 

The characters, including a small, stranded and hapless cat, are complex and determined to understand the mysteries of the island and overcome peril. In this strange and evolving world, they also change, and they must define their own identity, on the little island of the Aegean Sea.

• Order Nannion for kindle or on paperback from Amazon

Andreas Androutsellis-Theotokis

About the author: 

Andreas Androutsellis-Theotokis obsesses with a molecular mechanism of his own discovery, which controls fundamental functions of stem cells with profound consequences in degenerative disease, diabetes, and cancer. He is determined to see his work benefit patients through his Biotech startup, Innate Repair. 

• He is an experimental biologist and Biotech CEO (Imperial College London, Yale, National Institutes of Health, Technische Universitaet Dresden, Innate Repair) whose research on stem cell biology has been featured in many scientific journals and the media

SOURCE: Andreas Androutsellis-Theotokis

Students Put Energy Efficient Cars to the Test at Shell Eco-marathon Americas

NIU Supermileage team competing under Prototype – Internal Combustion category on the track at Make the Future Live California featuring Shell Eco-marathon Americas at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. (Scot Tucker/AP for Shell)

Make the Future Live California featuring Shell Eco-marathon Americas drew more than 1,000 students to Sonoma Raceway to compete for the title of most fuel-efficient vehicle.

Northern Illinois University of DeKalb, Illinois took home first place in the Internal Combustion Engine Prototype category with their gasoline-fueled vehicle achieving 1,524 miles per gallon. This was the college's first time winning the Shell Eco-marathon Americas Mileage Challenge competition.

"This award means everything to our team," said Josh Helsper, team leader of Northern Illinois University. "It validates all the engineering we've learned and the work we've done."

Mater Dei High School broke the United States UrbanConcept record in the Battery Electric category with a 68.2 miles per kilowatt-hour run. The high school has participated in every Mileage Challenge since the inaugural Americas competition in 2007.

This year, a total of 88 high school and college teams from across the Americas including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico and the United States, participated in the competition, in two vehicle classes: Prototype and UrbanConcept. The Prototype class is focused on ultra-efficient, lightweight designs, typically with 3 wheels. The UrbanConcept class focused on more "roadworthy" vehicles aimed at meeting some of the real-life needs of drivers. Entries were divided into three energy categories: Internal Combustion Engine (gasoline, diesel and ethanol), Hydrogen Fuel Cell and Battery Electric.

"These students have dedicated countless hours to developing solutions that support a cleaner, lower-carbon energy future," said Shanna Simmons, Global Technical Director Shell Eco-marathon. "The mileage challenge is a platform for students to test their theories on energy efficiency and receive hands-on experience before entering the workforce."

The Shell Eco-marathon Americas 2019 Winning Teams

Student teams worked intensively from Wednesday to Saturday to pass detailed technical and safety inspections before heading to the iconic Sonoma Raceway track for the Mileage Challenge. Each team's vehicle was required to make eight laps for a total distance of 6.12 miles within 24 minutes. 

The winners in each class follow, based on vehicle class and energy category:

• Prototype Internal Combustion Engine: "NIU Supermileage," Northern Illinois University, 1524.9 mpg
• Prototype Battery Electric: "Eco Illini Supermileage," University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 152.0 m/kWh
• Prototype Hydrogen Fuel Cell sponsored by Linde: "Ualberta EcoCar Prototype Team," University of Alberta, 159.8 m/m3
• UrbanConcept Internal Combustion Engine: "Wawasee Gold," Wawasee High School, 680.7 mpg
• UrbanConcept Battery Electric: "Mater Dei Supermileage 2," Mater Dei High School, 68.2 m/kWh

Student teams also won awards for their work off the track, in the following categories:

• Technical Innovation Award sponsored by Southwest Research Institute: BYU SMV, Brigham Young University implemented a system to quickly optimize the air-fuel ratio over a short engine burn time. The optimization is meant to achieve better fuel economy and reduce harmful emissions.
• Most Innovative H2 Award sponsored by Linde: Ualberta EcoCar Prototype Team, University of Alberta was awarded this off-track award for the customized controller built for their hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicle.
• Communications Award: LA Tech EcoCar, Louisiana Tech University submitted an integrated communication plan with clear objectives, audience and content strategy, multi-channel tactics and measurable analytics.
• Vehicle Design Award for Prototype: Pato a Jato, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná used an eco-friendly plant-based resin and biodegradable material made with a 3D printer. The car is painted yellow, which was chosen to reflect light better than dark colors, decreasing the internal temperature.
• Vehicle Design Award for UrbanConcept: LA Tech EcoCar, Louisiana Tech University pushed the envelope in design. They paid attention to detail including mounted LED lights inside the body of the car for a sleeker and more aerodynamic look.
• Safety Award: Texas A&M University had a high-quality submission and went into great detail on their processes to ensure their car and driver were safe. Ultimately, they chose driver safety over and above track performance and chose not to take an additional risk to complete a last attempt.
• Perseverance and Spirit of the Event Award: EEV at Sac State, California State University, Sacramento. This team was organized, funded and managed entirely by students with minimal support from the school. The team included students from diverse engineering disciplines with a clear delineation of roles, while still working collaboratively.
• Southwest Research Institute Scholarship Winners: $1,000 scholarships were awarded to three students from University of California, Berkeley; Rice University; and San Antonio College.
• Travel Safety Stipend: The LSU Capstone Team from Louisiana State University provided a very detailed journey management plan, which took into account rest times, driver changes and proper sleep times.

Drivers' World Championship Qualifier

The winning schools have earned themselves a place in the Drivers' World Championship to be held at the Make the Future Live event in London, UK, from July 1-5, 2019. 

They will face-off against teams from Asia and Europe for the chance to be crowned world champions and earn a once-in-a-lifetime experience at the home of Scuderia Ferrari in Italy. 

This is a global competition to match the proven energy efficiency of their cars, with the speed, skill and strategy of the driver to see who can cross the finish line first without running out of their limited allocation of energy.

Within the Drivers' World Championship Terms and Conditions, only one team from any school can be awarded an opportunity to compete in the Shell Eco-marathon Drivers' World Championship. As such, the team who finished fourth in the race, Alden-Conger High School's Knights 3 team, will also join the following teams in London:

• First Place: Wawasee Gold, Wawasee High School
• Second Place: Mater Dei Supermileage 2, Mater Dei High School
• Third Place: Mater Dei Supermileage, Mater Dei High School

Shell's Make the Future Live Partners, many of whom actively used the event as a recruitment ground, included: Agility, Altair, Dassault Systèmes, HP, Linde, Sonoma Raceway, Southwest Research Institute and Toyota.

To learn more about Make the Future Live California, please visit the website.

About Make the Future Live

Make the Future Live is one of Shell's global platforms that offers conversation, collaboration and innovation around the world's energy challenges. With events hosted in countries around the globe, they aim to provide an opportunity for multiple stakeholders: including students, entrepreneurs, businesses, governments and the public, to experience, test and contribute bright energy ideas.

About Shell Eco-marathon

Shell Eco-marathon is a global program built to offer students hands-on opportunities to develop ideas and technology, knowledge and skills, within an arena of competition.

Currently held in Asia, the Americas and Europe and made up of two key competitions: Mileage Challenge, and Drivers' World Championship, students from countries across their respective regions use innovative problem-solving skills to design and build their own cars. Looking at every aspect of design and technology, students then compete to prove that their bright ideas will produce the most energy-efficient vehicle when tested on the track.

The concept of Shell Eco-marathon began in 1939 at a Shell research laboratory in the United States as a friendly wager between scientists to see who could get the most miles per gallon from their vehicle. In 1985 in France, Shell Eco-marathon as we know it today was born. In April 2007, the Shell Eco-marathon Americas event was launched in the United States, and in 2010, the inaugural Shell Eco-marathon Asia was held in Malaysia, up until 2013. In 2019 Regional Shell Eco-marathon Mileage competitions will be held in Kuala Lumpur, California and London. London will also host the Drivers' World Championship, with qualifying events held in California and Kuala Lumpur..

Mater Dei Supermileage team competing under UrbanConcept – Battery Electric category on the track at Make the Future Live California featuring Shell Eco-marathon Americas at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. (Scot Tucker/AP for Shell)

SOURCE: Shell

Melbourne-Based Immersive Tech Studio Create AR Social Experience To Complement Netflix's New Series, 'Our Planet', Narrated By David Attenborough

REWILD Our Planet

Melbourne-based immersive technology studio, PHORIA, announced the launch of REWILD Our Planet, which uses persistent and social Augmented Reality (AR). In partnership with Netflix, WWF, ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands, Arup and Google, this innovative installation blends location-based AR technology and IMAX-style content into an immersive and interactive experience. 

The exhibition complements Our Planet, an eight-part documentary series narrated by Sir David Attenborough. 

Our Planet showcases the Earth's most fragile ecosystems through cutting edge multimedia storytelling and is available to stream worldwide on Netflix from April 5. 2019.

The Our Planet documentary series captures the impact of human life across Earth's diverse and interconnected biomes, including forest, grassland, ocean and frozen regional landscapes. 

REWILD Our Planet takes on a macro perspective of the same biomes to help users understand their role in restoring these ecosystems. The experience brings to life an unflinching account of how humanity has damaged the natural world and encourages humans to take back control and restore balance by rewilding these environments.

REWILD Our Planet combines 2D storytelling with AR gameplay, supported by sensory sights and sounds. The experience prompts users to physically collaborate with one another to restore damaged biomes, unlocking unique weather patterns and wild animal encounters. 

By rewilding realistic 3D landscapes together, users are able to realise their collective power to take action. Finally, users will leave their mark on the exhibition by placing ongoing AR pledges. 

• These are a commitment to the environment and connect to WWF's Voice for the Planet campaign.

This one-of-a-kind experience is achieved through PHORIA's software platform CAPTUR3D, whose unique digital twin system creates a virtual clone of each exhibition site. The digital twin system aligns digital information within the physical space, and as a result, it generates a new form of contextual storytelling. 

REWILD Our Planet is the first shared and ongoing AR experience to operate across three cities at the same time. This was achieved by leveraging Google's ARCore software - an Android SDK that brings AR to mobile devices and by partnering with Arup for the structural design of the physical elements of the exhibition that could be scaled internationally. 

To intensify the visitor experience, Arup's acoustics team also created an immersive, emotive soundscape: it adapted the series' master audio score (comprising original music by Steven Price - best known for his Academy Award-winning score for 'Gravity') and added sound effects from nature to enhance key moments in the video. Thanks to these partners, developers like PHORIA can bring these experiences to an even larger user base, helping launch REWILD Our Planet globally.

"REWILD Our Planet showcases how AR has the power to build bridges between people and the places they love," said Trent Clews-de Castella, CEO of PHORIA. "This evocative experience emphasises the connection between human beings and our environment. It generates a sense of presence and interactivity for every individual user. Building this exhibition with Netflix and Google and combining it with compassion-driven narrative from WWF demonstrates how emerging XR technologies will transform the social impact sector for good."

• Launching at three renowned venues across the globe, ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore (6 April, 2019 - June 2, 2019) Dolby Studio in New York City (6 April, 2019 - 22 April, 2019) and We The Curious in Bristol (UK) (12 April, 2019 - 2 June, 2019), REWILD Our Planet aims to augment the emotional connection users feel to each other and the planet.

"Together, these world first features will generate a shared understanding of our responsibility to protect nature through time. The global activation has been designed to remind users that we are all on the same team and that the effort to rewild the world needs everyone involved," continued Mr. Clews-de Castella.

'Our Planet'

About the series:

In the groundbreaking Netflix original documentary series Our Planet, viewers will witness stunning, never-before-seen footage of wildlife and their habitats - while also discovering why the natural world matters to us all and what steps must be taken to preserve it. 

All eight hour-long episodes of Our Planet will become available to Netflix members worldwide on April 5, 2019. The series is accompanied by Behind-the-Scenes content which will launch simultaneously on Netflix. Produced by Silverback Films, Ltd. and in partnership with WWF, the landmark series is narrated by renowned broadcaster and natural historian Sir David Attenborough. 

SOURCE: PHORIA

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'Avengers: Endgame' Stars and Disney 'Team of Heroes' Unite to Support $5 Million Donation to Benefit Children's Hospitals

Paul Rudd, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr., Bob Iger, Brie Larson, Chris Hemsworth and Jeremy Renner attend Avengers Universe Unites, a charity event to celebrate the donation of more than $5 million in cash and toys to nonprofits supporting children with critical illnesses, at Disney California Adventure Park on April 5, 2019 in Anaheim, California.

The stars of Avengers: Endgame today visited the Disneyland Resort to launch Avengers Universe Unites, a charity event that supports The Walt Disney Company's signature philanthropic commitment, Disney Team of Heroes, which delivers comfort and inspiration to seriously ill children around the world

Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Paul Rudd and Brie Larson were on hand at Disney California Adventure Park to celebrate the donation of more than $5 million to nonprofits supporting children with critical illnesses, including $1 million in cash from Disney to Starlight Children's Foundation. 

• The LEGO Group, Hasbro, Funko and Amazon together donated over $4 million in Avengers: Endgame toys and products which will be sent to hundreds of children's hospitals throughout the country, as well as Give Kids the World, a nonprofit resort in central Florida.

"The superheroes in Avengers personify traits like courage, perseverance, bravery and hope – the same traits countless kids and their families in children's hospitals exhibit every day," said Robert A. Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, who joined the kickoff celebration. "We are grateful to have the Avengers cast take time out of their day to be a part of this effort to lift spirits and bring comfort to children during a difficult time." 

The Avengers stars joined kids from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Anaheim and Garden Grove to play at a larger-than-life LEGO build at The LEGO Store in Downtown Disney and were treated to a visit by Amazon's Treasure Truck stocked with Avengers: Endgame toys., including Hasbro action figures, Iron Man MK50 robots by UBTECH and Funko POP! vinyl figures.

"Nobody understands magical experiences better than Disney, and we've been proud to partner with them in bringing those experiences to kids in children's hospitals for more than 20 years," says Adam Garone, CEO, Starlight Children's Foundation. "From delivering hospital care packages, to storytelling through Starlight Xperience virtual reality, to our recent Disney-themed Starlight Gowns, millions of seriously ill children have benefited from our amazing relationship together. And with this donation, even more kids will get to experience the magic of Disney."

Avengers: Endgame - Poster

About Avengers: Endgame

The grave course of events set in motion by Thanos that wiped out half the universe and fractured the Avengers ranks compels the remaining Avengers to take one final stand in Marvel Studios' grand conclusion to twenty-two films, "Avengers: Endgame."

Kevin Feige produces "Avengers: Endgame," and Anthony and Joe Russo are the directors. Louis D'Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Michael Grillo, Trinh Tran, Jon Favreau, James Gunn and Stan Lee are the executive producers, and Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely wrote the screenplay. "Avengers: Endgame" is in U.S. theaters on April 26, 2019.

SOURCE: Disney Parks, Experiences and Products

#SmokeyBear75: Smokey Bear Celebrates 75th Birthday with Celebrity Friends in Innovative New Animated Emoji Campaign

Smokey Bear | Love Thy Neighborhood

In honor of Smokey Bear's 75th birthday – August 9, 2019 – the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, the National Association of State Foresters and the Ad Council have teamed up to celebrate the nation's favorite bear.

To ensure that Smokey Bear's important message of wildfire prevention is heard throughout the nation, Stephen Colbert, Al Roker and Jeff Foxworthy have joined the historic campaign, lending their voices to help expand on Smokey's iconic "Only you can prevent wildfires" catchphrase through the use of facial recognition and voice technologies.

For years, through the voice of Academy-Award nominated actor Sam Elliott, Smokey Bear has only said five words: "Only you can prevent wildfires." Now, to complement this signature message, Smokey's friends are stepping up to say more about wildfire prevention on his behalf and help millions of Americans understand the importance of the issue. 

Utilizing cutting-edge facial recognition and mapping technology, coupled with instantly recognizable celebrity voices, the animated emoji campaign has enabled Smokey's famous friends to speak through him and further raise awareness of fire safety and wildfire prevention, in an effort to reduce the incidence of unplanned human-caused wildfires.

"I can't think of a better birthday gift for Smokey than to have his wildfire prevention message echoed through the use of advanced social media tools like animated emojis," said Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen. "In fact, since wildfire season is year-round, Smokey's message is even more important."

For 75 years, Smokey Bear has been recognized as a symbol of wildfire prevention. In fact, Smokey Bear is the longest-running PSA program in U.S. history, created in conjunction with advertising agency FCB, who has developed Smokey Bear campaign assets pro bono since his first introduction in 1944. 

Smokey Bear | For the Love of the Outdoors

While his campaign began three-quarters of a century ago, and great strides have been made in preventing human-caused wildfires, Smokey Bear's message continues to be as important as ever, as wildfires continue to be one of the most critical environmental issues affecting the U.S. On average, almost nine out of 10 wildfires nationwide are caused by people.

"Smokey Bear and his friends know that wildfire is not just a western issue or a summer phenomenon. It's always wildfire season somewhere in the United States," said Jay Farrell, Executive Director of the National Association of State Foresters. "This is why it is so important that Smokey's message resonate year-round and nationwide with all Americans. This year's Smokey Bear wildfire prevention campaign promises to do just that."

"Ensuring an icon like Smokey remains fresh and relevant for today's audiences is no simple task," said Lisa Sherman, President and CEO of the Ad Council. "With this new work, our volunteer agency FCB created a campaign that not only honors Smokey's past but celebrates his enduring legacy and message of wildfire prevention."

"75 years ago, FCB, in partnership with what would become the Ad Council, gave birth to Smokey Bear. All these years, he's been reminding us that 'Only You Can Prevent Wildfires.' In other words, there's a little Smokey Bear in all of us," said Susan Credle, FCB Global Chief Creative Officer. "This year, we are asking people to listen to their inner Smokey Bear. People sharing stories about why they love the outdoors and how they protect our country's beautiful wildlife — what a perfect gift to give Smokey Bear on his 75th birthday!"

Smokey Bear's 75th Birthday - Artwork by Joe Kulka

Smokey Bear first appeared on a forest fire prevention campaign poster in 1944. Two years later, he and his message were featured on a series of stamps, making his way into households nationwide. 

• Starting in the 1950s, Smokey Bear made his debut first in radio commercials and then on television, paired with a number of well-known actors and celebrities including B.B. King, Barbara Stanwyck, Betty White, Dolly Parton, Leonard Nimoy, Ray Charles, Ted Nugent and more. 

In the decades since first being introduced, the beloved icon has continued to be featured in TV, radio, print and on posters, stamps, billboards, memorabilia and other forms of media. 

First voiced by Washington radio personality Jackson Weaver, Smokey Bear's message has been brought to life for the past 12-plus years by Sam Elliott, and is now amplified through the voices of Stephen Colbert, Al Roker and Jeff Foxworthy.

• The new creative is being distributed to media outlets nationwide and will run in donated time and space, per the Ad Council's model. 

• To learn more about Smokey Bear and wildfire prevention, visit SmokeyBear.com and follow Smokey on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter with the hashtags #SmokeyBear75 and #OnlyYou.

SOURCE: The Ad Council

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Fly Like a Hero With The Brand New Tello Iron Man Edition

Tello Iron Man Edition

Drone start-up RYZE Tech has collaborated with Marvel and Disney to announce the Tello Iron Man Edition today in the United States, Canada and Europe. 

Building on the success of Tello and Tello EDU, Tello Iron Man Edition comes with a cool new look inspired by Iron Man's iconic armor in addition to a new flight control app featuring his AI assistant, FRIDAY.  

Tello Hero App

New Tello Hero App Features Iron Man's FRIDAY

The new Tello Hero App offers an immersive experience when flying Tello Iron Man Edition. Learn the fundamental skills of flying through training missions as a new recruit of Stark Industries' PILOT program with the help of FRIDAY, Iron Man's AI assistant. Providing guided voice instructions for each mission, FRIDAY helps teach basic flying, camera operation and how to use the intelligent flight modes by dodging incoming missiles and tracking potential suspects.

Heroes-in-training can operate the Iron Man Tello several ways including using a mobile device with the Tello Hero App, Tello App, Tello EDU App or Swift Playgrounds App, or by connecting it with a compatible third-party Bluetooth remote control. 

Tello Iron Man Edition

Aspiring pilots seeking a more in-depth experience can program the drone to fly custom flight paths and maneuvers with simple and popular coding languages such as Scratch, Swift and Python.

Fun and Safe to Fly Using DJI Technology

Tello Iron Man Edition is powered by DJI's leading flight control technology that enables stable flying and multiple interactive flight modes. 

Tello Iron Man Edition uses an HD camera capable of recording 5-megapixel photos and 720p video with real-time video transmission to a mobile device. Users can take advantage of "EZ shot" smart functions including 360° Video and Circle as well as pre-programmed flight modes like 8-Direction Flips and Throw & Go. 

• Additionally, Tello Iron Man comes with soft propellers, propeller guards, a collision detection system and low battery protection features which promote safe and responsible flight.

Tello Iron Man Edition

Price and Availability

Avengers: Endgame arrives in movie theaters around the world starting from April 24, 2019, but until then, join in on the action with the new Tello Iron Man edition, available at store.dji.com and official retail partners in United States, Canada and across Europe, at a retail price of $129/€139/£129.

Each Tello Iron Man Edition box comes with one Tello Iron Man Edition drone, two sets of spare propellers, one battery and a USB charging cable. 

For expanded control, Tello is also compatible with the GameSir T1d Bluetooth remote, which is sold separately and is available for purchase through store.dji.com.

• For detailed information on Tello Iron Man Edition, please visit: ryzerobotics.com/ironman

SOURCE: Ryze Tech

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The Hunger Games: The Exhibition, Reimagined for Las Vegas, to Open at MGM Grand in May

The Hunger Games: The Exhibition

The Hunger Games: The Exhibition is set to launch at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in May and features a new spectacular, fully-immersive archery training experience, as well as new interactives, set decoration and costumes.

• The previous tour of the exhibition included New York, San Francisco, Louisville and Sydney, Australia.

The Hunger Games attraction is based on the world-renowned films from Lionsgate, which grossed over $3 billion at the worldwide box office. It celebrates the epic journey of Katniss Everdeen from her humble beginnings in District 12 to her rise as the Mockingjay. 

The thrilling experience features several inspirational galleries including the Hall of Justice, President Snow's Office, the Tribute Train, District 13, and an archery training experience set within a 60-foot wide interactive digital training lab, which is a climactic highlight of the exhibition and the first of its kind on the The Strip.

A dynamic exploration of the world of Panem, The Hunger Games: The Exhibition highlights iconic costumes, genuine props, and set recreations from Lionsgate's record-setting cinematic series in a visually stunning environment. 

The exhibition includes multiple exclusively-designed experiences such as hands-on interactives that invite visitors to engage with behind-the-scenes content and explore the technology that brought the beloved books by Suzanne Collins to life.

Showcasing nearly 30 original costumes worn by the cast, the Costume Gallery will include the most memorable pieces from The Hunger Games films including the Girl on Fire dress, the Mockingjay gown, Katniss' Mockingjay armor and pin, Peacekeeper armor and rebellion tactical gear, as well as Katniss' bow and arrows. 

• The exhibit's retail shop, Capitol Couture, will offer exclusive clothing and collectible items that celebrate the films.

"Cityneon and Victory Hill Exhibitions are thrilled to be working with Lionsgate to expand our portfolio of experiences in Las Vegas," said Welby Altidor, Group Chief Creative Officer of Cityneon Holdings and Victory Hill Exhibitions. "Our partnership to present The Hunger Games: The Exhibition allows international visitors and the local community another opportunity to experience the immersive exhibits we are known for worldwide, and we look forward to revealing additional projects we plan to bring to the Las Vegas Strip in the near future."

"After touring around the world, we're excited to partner with Cityneon and Victory Hill Exhibitions to bring an enhanced version of The Hunger Games: The Exhibition to Las Vegas," said Kirsten Taylor-Hall, Lionsgate Vice President of Global Live and Location Based Entertainment. "The additions of several major new elements, including an innovative archery experience and costumes on display from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay -- Part 2, offer audiences an even more immersive opportunity to explore the world of the films."

Located at The District at MGM Grand, The Hunger Games: The Exhibition will be open daily. Entry to the exhibition includes a commemorative ticket and can be purchased at TheHungerGamesExhibition.com or at The Hunger Games: The Exhibition on site box office. Service fees are additional. Group rates will be available for parties of 10 or more.

SOURCE: Cityneon Holdings Limited

Game of Thrones Takes Over The Fountains of Bellagio [Video Included]

HBO, MGM Resorts and WET Design Debut Exclusive Game of Thrones Production on The Fountains of Bellagio, Running Twice Nightly at 8 and 9:30 p.m. Through April 13

With the world counting down to the final season premiere of the global blockbuster Game of Thrones, fans can experience the on-screen fantasy realm with a first-of-its-kind, immersive production in Las Vegas at the iconic Fountains of Bellagio.

HBO, MGM Resorts and WET Design last night debuted a show that brings to life the epic intrigue, unforgettable music and spectacular imagery of Game of Thrones with a new, limited-run event. 

The production runs twice nightly at 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. through April 13, priming fans for the series season finale premiere, April 14.

This is not any ordinary version of The Fountains show: blizzards rage, dragons fly, and for the first time the lake is set ablaze. 

Exclusive Game of Thrones Production on The Fountains of Bellagio - Dragon

The collaboration between major entertainment brands MGM Resorts and HBO is a spectacular visual symphony that showcases Game of Thrones and The Fountains of Bellagio as never before through incredible music, pyrotechnics and video projections on a wall of water. 

Game of Thrones Production on The Fountains of Bellagio

WET Design, the Fountain's original creators, worked with Game of Thrones' composer Ramin Djawadi to design a custom score that incorporates the show's iconic theme song, while developing a theatrical production that captures its drama and suspense to match.

Game of Thrones Production on The Fountains of Bellagio

The production design marries the precise choreography of nearly 800 fountains overlaid with advanced pyrotechnics and special effects, including motion picture theater-quality projections. 

Game of Thrones Production on The Fountains of Bellagio

From the green glow of Wildfire and falling snow, to the undead dragon soaring above Lake Bellagio breathing vibrant blue flames that set the waters ablaze, and the crashing fall of The Wall, The Fountains interpret some of the most memorable visuals of Game of Thrones in entirely new ways. 

Game of Thrones Production on The Fountains of Bellagio

Viewers can see the series' emblems come to life in water, including the crown, as illuminated water jets perfectly articulate the arches of a headpiece, and the throne, as intricate cannon sprays crisscross. 

Dynamic visuals interpreting HBO's awe-inspiring graphics include projections of Viserion and the Night King, whose silhouettes culminate the show and provide a dramatic tease to the final season.

The Video:

SOURCE: MGM Resorts

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Onwe Press Acquires Rights to "Daughters of Nri" - The Debut Nigerian Fantasy Written by Reni K Amayo

Daughters Of Nri  (Courtesy of Onwe Press)

Independent publishing house, Onwe Press, is thrilled to announce the acquisition of the rights to "Daughters of Nri" the debut young-adult fantasy book from Reni K Amayo, the first installment in "The Return of the Earth Mother" series. Daughters Of Nri will be released on August 27, 2019.

The novel is set in ancient Nigeria and follows twin sisters who, unbeknownst to them, descend from the lost gods. The book explores the discovery of their burgeoning powers and their fight against the corrupt king who seeks to destroy them.

Reni has created a rich and vibrant world, filled with incredible, descriptive detail and characters that very quickly melt into the reader's heart. She beautifully marries forgotten historical facts with a wide and expansive imagination, resulting in a powerful story that is sure to remain ingrained in the mind of its readers for years to come.

Reni's ultimate goal was to reimagine the Nigerian land untouched by the scars of colonialism, and instead enriched with its deep, old and powerful magic. In order to do this, she underwent extensive research on African history and mythology, using various resources such as books and conferences, but most importantly, an arsenal of family tales dictated to her by her parents, passed down through the ages.

Reni K Amayo (image via renikamayo.com)

About The Author:

(Via renikamayo.com)

"Reni K was born and raised in London to two Nigerian immigrant parents. Her father is a doctor and her mother, a midwife, both of whom had dreams about young Reni following in their medical footsteps. Reni K, however, had other plans.

After watching Legally Blonde she was certain that she would grow up to be an amazing lawyer. Those plans were thwarted when her love for mathematics led her to studying Aeronautical Engineering instead. After university, much to the disappointment of her seven year old self, Reni did not become an astronaut, instead she entered the world of finance.

Craving an outlet from the pressures of her job, Reni K did what she always did during stressful periods: she wrote. She wrote poems (that will never see the light of day), she wrote short stories, she wrote the beginnings of many novels. She wrote on the train, she wrote during her lunch breaks, she wrote after work, she wrote on the weekends.

Until one day Reni K wrote a story that she fell in love with. A story that she couldn’t wait to read. She wrote a story set in the ancient Nigerian Kingdom of Nri about two twin sisters who unbeknownst to them are descendants of the lost gods.

The concept of Daughters of Nri was born on a packed train five years ago, and now Reni K is ready to share it with the world."

SOURCE: Onwe Press