-
Taito’s DariusBurst Another Chronicle EX+ (PS4/Switch) Boxed/Digital - Out Today - New Trailer
TAITO and ININ Games are pleased to announce the release of DariusBurst Another Chronicle EX+. The new, revised Darius experience is now available physically and digitally on Nintendo Switch and Sony PlayStation 4 for Europe and North America. DariusBurst Another Chronicle EX+ is a new revision of DariusBurst AC and comes with gorgeous 3D graphics in the most compelling and challengingly awesome adventure yet, with this update to the arcade classic. The evolution of this top notch brand continues and it is now 10 years since the original version and the original team, which is focused and highly motivated, has ensured this offers something really special. Features: Local co-op for up to 4 players Ghostship function 4 game modes and all new and exclusive events High replayability with branching stages Modern HD graphics and a great atmospheric soundtrack Face off against more than 40 gigantic battleships Make strategic use of the versatile Burst Beam to destroy the evil Belsar Forces For the first time, take flight in the Silver-Hawk Murakumo in all modes In DariusBurst Another Chronicle EX+, within the unique oceanic-themed designed setting, players need to learn how to make use of the ship's cannons’ multifunctional utility, which opens up whole new tactical combat possibilities! Not only is the Burst Beam a weapon that dramatically alters the tide in combat, it also doubles up as a shield against enemy fire when under attack. Explosive action, fantastic and detailed subterranean settings, inventive combat challenges and mesmerizing boss attacks are presented. Utilising an ultra-broad aspect ratio, the sea-life panorama is a visual feast that features classical style Sci-Fi spaceships and enemies, but also sees players encounter deep-sea creatures re-imagined as mechanical battleships which is a great mix of Sci-Fi and deep-sea creatures. The panorama settings are enhanced by a great soundtrack from TAITO’s in-house sound team Zuntata that amplifies the adrenaline-filled atmosphere with powerful beats and emotional tunes infused with Japanese instruments and underwater sampling.
-
Gibson Gives Raises Over $2.5 Million Dollars Worldwide
In July-2019, Gibson re-launched its philanthropic arm Gibson Gives--and upon its two-year anniversary, Gibson Gives is proud to announce it has raised over $2.5 million dollars worldwide through its mission of creating, developing, and supporting non-profit organizations in their efforts to advance musicians, as well as youth-focused education and wellness initiatives. Leveraging the success of Gibson Gives, the brand followed with KRK Kares, and has announced today the launch of Epiphone Empowered, Kramer Kares, and Mesa Mission. Under the umbrella of Gibson Gives--a 501(c)(3) organization--the above programs will follow the same success path and bring awareness to the charitable spirit of all the brands of Gibson. 100% of all donations to and from Gibson Gives go towards giving the gift of music. Gibson Gives has created two new groups which include an Influencers and an Artist Advisory Council to help drive the culture of giving back across Gibson’s brands, employees, artists, partners, events, and communities worldwide. The Gibson Gives Influencers and Artist Advisory Council will provide thought leadership, foundation, and funding strategy, as well as present philanthropic opportunities they are passionate about that fulfill the foundation’s mission to amplify the reach, message, and awareness of all program initiatives and non-profit partners. The Gibson Gives Artist Advisory Council members include Lzzy Hale, Celisse, Alex Lifeson, Matt Heafy, Joe Bonamassa, Billy F. Gibbons, Slash, Captain Kirk Douglas, and more. The Gibson Gives Influencers group is comprised of a community of leaders across the Music and Entertainment Business, Sports, Youth, Education, Legacy, International, the Nashville “Music City” Community and our partner advisors. Gibson Gives Influencers include the following appointments: Music Education: Jeff Smith/Music Makes Us (Director of Arts, Metro Nashville Public Schools), Sports: Ken Adams (Co-Owner, Tennessee Titans), Matt Crews (CEO, Music City Grand Prix), Ian Ayers (CEO, Nashville Soccer Club), Music City Community: Ben Hall (Senior Director of Development, Country Music Hall of Fame), International: Lee Bartram, (Head of Marketing and Cultural Influence, Gibson Brands Europe), Youth: Toby Lee (musician), Legacy: Nina Miller (Executive Director of Miranda Lambert’s Mutt Nation/Former Executive Director, Gibson Foundation), Music Industry: Reid Shippen (Song Farm/GRAMMY® award-winning producer/engineer/mixer), Music Industry (Non-Profit): Melinda Colaizzi (Founder, Women Who Rock), Partner Influencer: Erica Krusen (Managing Director of Mental Health, MusiCares). Gibson Gives recently announced the launch of TEMPO, Training and Empowering Musicians to Prevent Overdose--a collaborative program with MusiCares, Harbor Path and 7 non-profits--to save musicians lives in response to continued and elevated opioid overdoses from over a year of confinement and Covid 19 closures. TEMPO empowers participating non-profits and venues by providing the life-saving training necessary for using the drug naloxone (Narcan, Naloxone Auto-Injector) to prevent opioid overdose. Watch the new TEMPO PSA with Forest Blakk to raise awareness in the musician community, and learn more about TEMPO: https://www.tempomission.org/ During the July-2019 re-launch of Gibson Gives, the foundation immediately committed to donating 1,000 guitars in 1000 days to non-profits including music education, music wellness programs and musicians in need worldwide and has climbed above and beyond that initial milestone by donating over 2800+ guitars in 700 days. “When we announced we would donate 1000 guitars in 1000 days, I thought it was a lofty goal,” explains Dendy Jarrett, Executive Director of Gibson Gives. “We could have never predicted all the hurdles this past year presented in the music community and beyond. It’s been a humbling experience and an honor to work with so many worthy music and health programs in need, directly supporting and impacting individual people, as well as non-profits.” Gibson Gives is committed to making the world a better place and helping those in need in the following ways: Introduce, inspire, and amplify the power of music by working with major musician-oriented charities such as MusiCares, Keeping the Blues Alive, NIVA, NITO, Apollo Theater, the Save the Music Foundation, and more to help struggling musicians worldwide. The Play It Forward program, established to move quickly and offer fast support to individual musicians, groups, as well as charitable organizations with immediate needs including the recent Nashville Tornado, Nashville bombing that displaced many creators. Amplify programs for music students that have been disrupted by budget cuts in local community schools, music programs, and educational foundations worldwide, including Playing for Change, Manos Escuela de Guitarra in Aguascalientes, Mexico, Maplewood High School in Nashville, TN, Gallatin High School in Bozeman, MT, as well as schools across Europe, Africa, Spain, South America, Canada, and more. Develop offerings with established programs focused on physical wellness and mental health including Teenage Cancer Trust (U.K.), Guitars For Vets, Ryan Seacrest Foundation, JoyRXMusic, Notes for Notes, Women Who Rock, Keep-A-Breast, Give a Note, and more. Gibson Gives and KRK Kares work extensively with other charities in a 360 degree way, raising the funds they need the most right now including MusiCares, The Recording Academy (GRAMMY’s), Guitars For Vets (helping U.S. military veterans with PTSD), Let’s Stay (In) Together Apollo Theater Benefit, Women Who Rock (raised over $45,000 in October for breast cancer research at Magee Women’s Research Institute) Ryan Seacrest Foundation (placed Gibson instruments and KRK studio gear in all of their U.S. hospitals for recovering children and offering them music-making lessons to cope with illness and PTSD), JoyRxMusic® Children’s Cancer Association (arranged music lessons for hospitalized kids and teens facing cancer and coping with serious illness) and the Do it for the Love’ Foundation (a wish-granting nonprofit organization for people living with life-threatening illnesses). Gibson Gives became the exclusive stringed instrument provider for the Nashville based non-profit Musicians On Call (who arrange in-room and virtual performances by superstar artists with hospital patients) and donated high-value guitars for auction to support the Teenage Cancer Trust (London, U.K.). Gibson Gives partnered with the NAMM Foundation for their Believe In Music 2021 program--NAMM attendees both donated and selected the non-profit they wanted to receive their donation—raising $20,000 in three days. As key music programs in schools continue to be cut in the U.S. and worldwide, Gibson Gives accelerated its expansion and global footprint this year. The Covid 19 pandemic school closures made the need for access to music education and instruments even greater in our communities. Gibson Gives will continue to supply schools with music learning resources and instruments including Manos Escuela de Guitarra in Aguascalientes, Mexico, in partnership with Sergio Vallin of Maná, Gibson sent 50 guitars to the school to support the teachers and students in Mexico. Gibson Gives placed instruments in schools in South Africa and Armenia, and when the entire Kingdom of Tonga--170+ Polynesian islands in the South Pacific--was locked down to outsiders due to the pandemic, Gibson stepped in to provide guitars and ukuleles for a youth music-learning program at the local library. Gibson Gives partnered with Universal Music Publishing Group in China to identify schools in need of music education assistance and partnered with the following programs and schools to gift guitars and music accessories including Playing For Change Foundation (placed 200 new acoustic guitars for their school programs in underserved communities across the globe), Notes for Notes, Life by Music, Samanlego School (Vitoria, Spain), Gallatin High School (Bozeman, MT), Maplewood High School (Nashville, TN), Give A Note, Music Heals Foundation (Vancouver, B.C.), and arranged music business workshops with the Save the Music Foundation for students to learn about jobs in the music industry. Gibson Gives launched the Play it Forward program when Gibson helped local and national musicians in need by replacing guitars--regardless of the brand--lost in the devastating Nashville tornados of February 2020. Play It Forward allows Gibson Gives to act fast for events like COVID 19, natural disasters, and those times Gibson learns of someone who is truly worthy of a gifted guitar. On December 25, 2020, a bomb in an RV parked on in downtown Nashville destroyed residences and buildings. Nationally known local musician and session player Buck McCoy was able to evacuate but lost most of his personal belongings in the blast including 12 guitars and his home studio equipment. Gibson Gives’ Play It Forward was able to immediately replace Buck’s instruments (a Gibson Acoustic and a Gibson Les Paul electric guitar and KRK Kares provided him with a pair of ROKIT monitors and KRK headphones). As a result, Buck was able to start working again on his weekly radio show. Earlier this year, Gibson Gives worked with renowned Parisian visual pop artist Benjamin Pietri to create a special installation at the upscale Le Bon Marché store in Paris, France. Pietri’s Gibson Flying Les Paul art installation sold for $10,000 USD. Pietri’s vintage figurines and musical instruments are all “Proust's madeleines” which are sublimated in glass boxes by the colors and the poetry of butterflies from all over the world (photos below). Gibson Gives is planning more collaborations with Pietri and other visual artists this year. Watch and share the interview with James “JC” Curleigh, President and CEO of Gibson Brands on the worldwide mission of Gibson Gives: Gibson Gives believes that getting instruments into the hands of those with a desire to make music is a truly life-changing event and investing in music education will yield better people, better leaders, and a better world for all. https://www.gibsonfoundation.org/home
-
Harbour City joins hands with Disney and Pixar to host Hong Kong’s first Pixar Fest
In celebration of Pixar’s 35th anniversary, Harbour City is joining hands with Disney and Pixar once again to bring to the city the first-ever Pixar Fest from now through 15 August. Leveraging the horizontal and spacious mall layout, Harbour City adopts a new format to organize a large-scale event with installations and check-in points throughout the mall to diversify foot traffic and minimize close physical contacts. In addition, Harbour City creates a series of interactive activities, including augmented reality (AR) check-ins and an online game, connecting the real and virtual world across offline and online platforms, offering guests multidimensional experiences. Memorable scenes featuring 12 Pixar movies are brought to life at different parts of the mall. In addition, the iconic Pixar Ball and Lamp installation, 5.2 meters in height, matching the size as that in its headquarters in California, marks its first appearance in Hong Kong at Harbour City’s observatory deck, “Ocean Terminal Deck” under the backdrop of the stunning Victoria Harbour views. - Event Highlight 1: Photo Spots Inspired by Classic Scenes Throughout the Mall to Embark on a Magical Movie Journey Pixar Ball and Lamp’s First Appearance in Hong Kong Win Surprise Gifts by Social Media Check-Ins on Designated Dates and Scenes Harbour City will take you on an eventful movie journey of Pixar through mesmerizing photo spots featuring 12 of Pixar’s animations across the mall. Instant professional shooting service will be provided on-site at Ocean Terminal Deck, as well as at the Soul and Toy Story 4 check points for you to capture the joyful moments! Entering Ocean Terminal Forecourt, you will discover a 3.4 meters high Pixar logo and a 7 meters high Pixar Fest arch in layering design, painted in the iconic red, yellow and blue colors from Pixar Ball, with images of Pixar’s characters. The iconic Pixar Ball and Lamp installation, 5.2 meters in height, matching the size as that in its headquarters in California, will make its first appearance in Hong Kong at Ocean Terminal Deck, against the 270-degree panorama of Victoria Harbour as the backdrop. Inside the mall, you will also find Toy Story 4’s Woody and Buzz Lightyear, over 4 meters and 3 meters high respectively, ready to soar “to infinity and beyond”! In addition, simply by checking in on social media at designated photos spots on specified dates, you may stand a chance to win themed gifts of respective movies! Gifts are available on a first-come-first-served basis. Make sure to keep up with the flash announcements on our official social media! - Event Highlight 2: Immerse in the Movie World at 5 Classic Scene Check Points Incorporated with AR Photo Check-Ins Apart from taking pictures on-site with the movie characters’ statues, you can also capture the hidden characters through augmented reality (AR) at 5 check points, including Finding Dory, Incredibles 2, Monsters University, Toy Story 4 and Up. Immerse in the world of Pixar’s animations by downloading the mobile app “Harbour Cityzen” for free, turning on the “AR Fun” camera, and scanning the movie logos to trigger the characters to show up! Then you can take pictures with them just as you are in the movies! The adventurous Dory and Nemo have made their way to Ocean Terminal Deck. While they are enjoying the serenity of the sea view, their friends' Destiny, Bailey, Hank, and sea otters join the crowds to make their presence at the Deck. Check out their funny moves with the AR camera now! Duplicates of Jack-Jack are found in the seaview balcony! Come babysit the naughty Jack-Jack while looking up Mr. & Mrs. Incredible and the family to help get a hold of Jack-Jack! Mike and Sulley have acquired the “scarer” skills from Monsters University. Are you ready to be frightened by the squad behind the doors? Don’t forget to discover Art with the AR camera! Woody and Buzz Lightyear are ready to soar. Here come their new acquaintances Forky, Ducky and Bunny, who try to steal their thunder! Snap the lovely scenes with the AR camera to capture the precious moments with your friends! Carl is about to embark on his journey up in the air at the lawn. Let’s search for the trace of scout Russel, Dug, and Kevin with the AR camera! - Event Highlight 3: Revisit Pixar’s Movies and Shorts and Reminisce about the Memorable Moments Besides physical photo spots, Pixar Fest is also bringing you the screenings of selected movie clips! Harbour City has hand-picked the iconic scenes from Ratatouille and WALL•E complementing the 3D decorations, putting you in the middle of the movie scenes. Outside the window at the zone of Ratatouille is the beautiful landscape of Paris. And there is a 3D kitchen for your “secret cooking lesson” to become the best chef in town! The zone of WALL•E is decorated in the theme of dumpsite on Earth and the space. Come and embark on a mission to bring lives back onto the Earth with WALL•E and Eve! Grab the time to take snaps at the intervals! In addition to the feature films, Pixar has also created numerous Pixar Shorts which are very familiar to the fans. Come and enjoy these creative theatrical shorts! For the mall to implement crowd controls and monitor numbers, visitors will be required to pre-register online at KLOOK, and will be required to have their body temperature checked and hands sanitized before entering the check point. [Details] Time: 11am – 8pm (30 minutes per session) Location: Shop 2131-2, Level 2, Gateway Arcade Registration Website: https://www.klook.com/en-US/activity/58622 - Event Highlight 4: Online and Offline Interactive Activities 1. Discover Your Soul and Take Pictures On-Site Together In Soul, Joe accidentally discovers that new souls need to undergo training at The Great Before and search for its spark. Within the campaign period, you can create your own little Soul and share it on social media platforms. Your Soul will appear on the big screen on-site along with others as well! Scan the QR code and find your Soul back! Professional shooting has been arranged for your picture time together! [Details] Operating Hours of the Screen: 11am – 8pm Location: Shop 2125, Level 2, Gateway Arcade Game Site: http://event.harbourcity.com.hk 2. Express Your Mood at the Emotion Headquarters While adults tend to share their moods with others on social media, kids can share how they feel at the check point of Inside Out! Just as each character represents a specific mood in the movie, you can pick the respective character’s sticker and put it on the wall! Time: 11am – 8pm Location: Atrium I, Gateway Arcade 3. Race with McQueen at Harbour City Cup The legendary Lightning McQueen is back on track. Come and practice the twists and turns with McQueen at the track! Enjoy the Remote Control “Cars 3” Lightning McQueen Turbo Racer test drive*. Besides the race, kids can get on the McQueen toy cars for photos and be the new legendary racer on track!Details Time: 11am – 8pm Location: Atrium, G/F, Ocean Terminal Fee*: HK$20 Remarks: The game is for kids aged 12 or under. Sessions will be set up while quota will be arranged on a first-come, first-served basis. 4. Go Across the Land of the Dead with Miguel An aspiring young musician, Miguel, is accidentally transported to the Land of the Dead and comes across his skeletal ancestors. Bring your family members to capture the family portrait with Miguel in this magical land, and surprises may appear behind you! Time: 10am – 10pm Location: Ocean Terminal Main Concourse - Event Highlight 5: Two Routes to Make the Movie Journey Even More Memorable Discover the Pixar Character in You and Emboss Your Own Stamps on Thematic Postcards To complete your movie journey with a perfect touch, Harbour City has two routes planned for you. Each Pixar character has its own traits. Have you ever thought of being or feel connected to one of them? You can join the "Which Pixar Character Are You?" Personality Test to discover the Pixar character in you! In addition, you can get a Pixar Fest Postcards Set (total of 12 Postcards), travel around the mall to all Embossing Stamp Station Hotspots to emboss and collect commemorative stamps on different postcards for memories. Upon completion of the route(s), you can redeem extra Pixar premiums! - Event Highlight 6: A Wide Variety of Merchandise Available 1. Pixar Fest Pop-Up Store Selling Over a Thousand Pixar Movies-Themed Merchandise Pixar Fest Pop-Up Store will be selling over a thousand Pixar Movies-Themed Merchandise, including figures, tableware, tote bags, T-shirts and a series of Hot Toys Toy Story Cosbaby And CosRider, along with sweets made by Kingsley Desserts & Gourmandises to keep you cool for the summer. Moreover, there are various photo taking spots including a Jumbo Size Lotso CosRider! (Please refer to the appendixes for detailed product catalogues) In addition, customers with spending of HK$200 or above at Pixar Fest Pop-Up Store can present the original same-day receipt to redeem a pack of Toy Story Cosbaby Stickers at Hot Toys Rebel (Shop 4017, Level 4, Gateway Arcade) and enjoy 5% discount for the Cosbaby series. First-come-first-served, while stock lasts. Don’t miss it! [Details] Time: 12nn – 9pm Location: Ocean Terminal Main Concourse 2. Crossover Merchandise Created with Brands at Harbour City and Exclusive Shopping Privileges Within the campaign period, several brands at Harbour City will offer time-limited thematic merchandise and exclusive shopping privileges. Please visit Harbour City website (https://bit.ly/3qGGI4Q), or ask corresponding shop staff for more details.
-
LINE FRIENDS collaborates with Maison Kitsuné to globally debut the “MAISON KITSUNÉ X LINE FRIENDS” collection
LINE FRIENDS, a global creative studio, collaborated with Maison Kitsuné, a leading Paris-meets-Tokyo lifestyle brand, to globally debut the limited-edition MAISON KITSUNÉ X LINE FRIENDS collection on July 8th in countries including France, the U.S., Korea and Japan. “Maison” is the French word for "house" and "Kitsuné" is the Japanese word for "fox”. Inspired by the fox, a symbol of versatility, Kitsuné offers a unique, inspirational Art de Vivre, blending a fashion brand (Maison Kitsuné), music label (Kitsuné Musique) and cafés, roasteries, bars and restaurants (Café Kitsuné), and has continued to influence the culture of Millennials and Generation Z across the globe. Featuring its signature Fox logo, the Paris-meets-Tokyo lifestyle brand has captured the hearts of the younger generations and fashion people for its exquisite interpretation of the “French Ivy”, a perfect balance of casual comfort and timeless sophistication. With its unrivaled creative design capabilities, LINE FRIENDS has reinterpreted the brand essence of Maison Kitsuné’s Parisian lifestyle for this newest collection, which encompasses 62 types of clothing including sweatshirts and patterned T-shirts, and 11 types of accessories including phone cases, AirPods cases, tote bags, plush toys and stationery essentials. The collection items are embedded with adorable images visualizing the story of how BROWN, travelling around the world, coincidentally meets KITSUNÉ at a record shop in Paris and listens to music together, and ultimately becomes friends. Through this collaboration, KITSUNÉ, the signature Fox logo, is reimagined into a more adorable and animated character by meeting BROWN, who is usually reserved and laid-back but a reliable friend – bringing global fans of both LINE FRIENDS and Maison Kitsuné more fun and excitement. MAISON KITSUNÉ X LINE FRIENDS collaboration is an epic one because of the similarities in the two brands’ DNA – LINE FRIENDS, originally created for use as stickers for leading mobile messenger app LINE, has expanded into game, fashion, and entertainment sectors and now leads the global character IP industry, while Kitsuné, a music and fashion label-turned- leading lifestyle brand, has also broadened its business into F&B sectors. The unique backstories of the two brands are anticipated to spark viral sensation among global Millennials and Generation Z. Launched as part of the 10th anniversary of BROWN & FRIENDS, the MAISON KITSUNÉ X LINE FRIENDS collection will be available for purchase on the official on- and offline stores of LINE FRIENDS and Maison Kitsuné from July 8th. LINE FRIENDS will also be dropping digital contents including MAISON KITSUNÉ X LINE FRIENDS collaborative videos with Maison Kitsuné x LINE FRIENDS playlist curated by Kitsuné Musique embedded in the background, as well as LINE stickers, and Instagram GIFs of the story on how BROWN meets KITSUNÉ. The collaborative videos can be found on LINE FRIENDS’ official Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/linefriends/). Meanwhile, LINE FRIENDS has been winning the hearts of Millennials and Generation Z worldwide by collaborating with a number of renowned fashion and tech brands, including Bang & Olufsen, Converse, LAMY, and Leica, to bring value to everyday life with trendy yet quality products.
-
Ground-Breaking Hydrogen-Powered MissionH24 Endurance Racer to Make UK Debut at the 2021 Goodwood Festival of Speed
MissionH24’s ground-breaking hydrogen-powered endurance race car – LMPH2G – will make its UK debut at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. The racer will take on the world-famous hillclimb and it will be showcased on the Michelin Supercar Paddock stage every day of the four-day event. LMPH2G represents a significant technological development, backed by partners Michelin and hydrogen fuel cell maker Symbio – a joint venture between Michelin and Faurecia. The H24 has its sights set on the world's premier endurance racing competitions, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Its four-stack hydrogen fuel cell powers four electric motors, creating a combined output of 653hp. This power, coupled with the car's lightweight chassis and aerodynamic features, give it a top speed in excess of 185mph (300 km/h), while allowing it to maintain the durability and handling performance expected of a high-level endurance racing vehicle. Alongside the GreenGT H24, Michelin will be unveiling its revolutionary race tyre made up of 46 per cent sustainable raw materials, including recycled carbon black from end of life tyres, orange and lemon peel, sunflower oil, pine resin and recycled steel from packaging. Michelin has pledged to make all its tyres with 100 per cent sustainable materials by 2050 – and by 2030, 40 percent of all materials used in tyres across the group will be sustainable. Now Michelin will use endurance racing as a laboratory to accelerate the development of sustainable, high-performance tyres. Peyman Sabet, vice president of business development at Michelin Europe North, said: “The partnership with GreenGT H24 highlights Michelin’s drive to innovation and it is the perfect vehicle to feature Michelin’s 46 per cent sustainable tyres. Both pioneering developments honour the company’s commitment to sustainability, without compromising on performance. We are delighted to bring MissionH24 to the Goodwood Festival of Speed and really excited that fans will be able to watch it take on the hill.” In combination with batteries, hydrogen fuel cells will be used to increase range and enable the development of green long-distance and urban travel. Symbio has targeted production of 200,000 fuel cells a year by 2030. In 2018, Le Mans organiser Automobile Club de l’Ouest and electric-hydrogen specialist GreenGT announced that they would launch a hydrogen class of vehicles in 2024; an initiative collectively known as MissionH24. The Michelin Supercar Paddock will also feature dozens of the world’s fastest, rarest and highest-performance cars. TV star Vicki Butler-Henderson and legendary racer Tim Harvey will host the action, talking all things supercar on the interactive Supercar Paddock stage.
-
Ed-tech startup memoryOS already raised over $460,000 on Kickstarter to help people “Sherlock” their memory
memoryOS, US ed-tech startup developing a gamified memory improvement app, which is co-founded by the 2X World Memory Champion, has already raised over $460,000 on Kickstarter, exceeding their initial goal by 35 times within the first week. memoryOS combines interactive micro-lessons with an immersive 3D game that teaches users memorization skills by transferring them to virtual Memory Palaces. The effectiveness of the Mind Palace technique has been proven by memory masters since the days of Ancient Greece and is also demonstrated by the protagonist of the "Sherlock" BBC TV series. “We have combined proven memory techniques with the latest advances in e-learning and an immersive 3D game to create the most enjoyable and effective tool for learning memorization skills and keeping your brain alive” - stated in the Kickstarter description. memoryOS is an edtech startup developing an innovative gamified e-learning app to help people significantly improve their memory. The bite-sized lessons of the app's e-learning component are compiled and taught by The 2X World Memory Champion, Jonas von Essen. The patent-pending game component of the same app provides the user with pre-made virtual environments (i.e., Mind Palaces) for encoding and storing the necessary information in the long-term memory. Co-founder of memoryOS, Jonas von Essen, has recently memorized the first 100,000 digits of Pi and has proven how a person with ordinary memory can “rewire” their brain and turn it into a “memory machine”. At this point, Jonas is well-known for his accomplishments, including getting a rare golden buzzer at Sweden Got Talent, winning against the national Сhinese team at the Super Brain TV Show 2 years in a row, and winning the “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” along with “The Wall” Quiz TV Show earlier this year. Jonas was also featured in BBC, The New York Times, Independent, The Telegraph, and The Times. In all these contexts, however, Jonas tries to keep himself in the background. "What is terrific about these memorization skills is that anyone can learn them, at least to a substantial degree. Without the need of having any sort of mythical photographic memory." - Jonas von Essen. Memory Grandmaster and Co-founder of memoryOS. That is why, together with the memoryOS team, Jonas is putting a lot of effort into making the world remember by creating mind-changing memory software available to people all around the world. This ongoing mission brought memoryOS into a friendly relationship with The Stephen Hawking Foundation and recently let them begin the hugely exclusive process to implement OpenAI’s GTP-3 and Dall-E into their learning platform to help create high-value text and image content for lessons, exercises, and practical use. Becoming more than just an app. - Effectiveness and Results Prior to Kickstarter, memoryOS had 33,000 people in their Early Adopters community. For those that have tried the memoryOS demo, the average improvement in recall increased by 70%, with an average increase in recall speed by 60% just after one relatively short demo session. Detailed information on the test method of the study, results breakdown, and user testimonials can be found on the crowdfunding campaign’s page. - Memorable Mission To Improve Education The more memoryOS develops, the better comes the ability to offer the product at very little to no cost for young learners worldwide. This is an important goal - to make memoryOS available to all. This project began from one of the co-founder's personal pains when he realized how unnecessarily stressful his life was during the test and exam periods at school and university. Even though having a Mind Palace significantly boosted his grades and free time, Alex Ruzh saw that existing methods of obtaining memorization skills have significant limitations that stop almost everyone from acquiring it as a lifelong skill. Continuing to feel the unnecessary pain of scholars, students, and people in general, he decided to find a solution and build a team to implement it. The memoryOS team believes that memorization is as important as reading and writing and should be taught as our basic skills. Unfortunately, because the current educational system fails to do so – this leads to lots of student stress and normally progresses into various forms of what’s called “having a bad memory.” “Thanks so much for letting me know at an early stage about your App. The uptake on pledges is amazing and just proves what I have believed all along: that the marriage of memory techniques and software is the future of learning.” - Dominic O’Brien. Eight-time World Memory Champion and Best-Selling author of 13 books on memory. Memorization is a skill that has become lost in our ongoing reliance on computers due to our overly multiply focused world where there is too much info to integrate. The general "if you don't use it, you lose it" principle applies to our memory just as well. That is why the memoryOS team has made it their mission for the memorization skills to become a new norm, and they invite you to become a part of this memorable journey!
-
Nashville Singer-Songwriter-Guitarist Jared James Nichols Releases Official Video for ‘Skin ‘N Bone’
Nashville-based, singer-songwriter-guitarist JARED JAMES NICHOLS returns today with the official music video for his new single, “SKIN ‘N BONE,” Jared James Nichols - Skin 'n Bone (Official Music Video) - YouTube. The new song is a preview of his forthcoming EP titled SHADOW DANCER which is confirmed for release September 17 on Black Hill Records, HERE. NICHOLS will head back out on the road for a U.S. tour starting August 10 in Iowa City, IA and running through September 2 in Memphis, TN. JARED and his band will also join the KISS KRUISE alongside KISS, Nightranger, Queensrӱche, and more. This fall, the KISS KRUISE will head to Miami, Belize, and Honduras from October 29--November 3. Armed with one guitar--his battered-and-bruised, heavily-customized Gibson Les Paul, aka “Old Glory” -- a gritty, soul-stirring voice, and an unshakable spirit, JARED JAMES NICHOLS reaffirms the power and glory of good ol’ hot-wired, blues-drenched rock ‘n’ roll. Since the beginning, NICHOLS has carved out his own singular path in the music world and his new songs reveal newfangled sides and a different level of depth to the JJN experience. On “SKIN N’ BONE,” NICHOLS takes an introspective look at what divides us as people, but also, what should unite us. Due to this past year, the timely lyrics and message came first, NICHOLS says. “The idea stems from making sure our eyes our open and coming together instead of breaking apart, and I express it all through this energetic trio. I may not be great at sitting down and having a conversation with you about my feelings, but I can play a song like ‘Skin N’ Bone’ that shows you how I'm feeling and support it with sound and with guitar and with all the bombastic craziness that I put on it.”
-
Noel Gallagher Gibson J-150, Noel’s Go-To Acoustic Guitar For Over 20 Years, Available Worldwide Now on Gibson.com
For 127 years, Gibson has shaped sound across generations and genres and has emerged as the most relevant, played, and loved guitar brand around the world. Gibson is proud to announce it has teamed with world renowned singer, songwriter and guitarist, Noel Gallagher to re-create his beloved Gibson J-150 acoustic guitar. The Noel Gallagher Gibson J-150 has been Noel’s go-to acoustic guitar for over 20 years and is available worldwide now at: www.gibson.com. “When Gibson brought the prototype down and I saw it there on the floor I was like ‘It looks the bollocks man,’ but then it sounded exactly like mine,” says Noel Gallagher. “I was blown away!” “Noel Gallagher’s music not only defined a generation, but it also became the foundation to a way of life for many around the world,” says Lee Bartram, EU Head of Marketing at Gibson Brands. “Truly great music has the capability to transport you to a moment in your life…a snapshot in time, one of life’s reference points. Noel’s music does that for millions who listen to his songs and travel to somewhere else, somewhere they believe they can be a rock n’ roll star… even if it’s for that briefest of moments. It’s been an honor to work with such an iconic artist and bringing this project to life is a small token of thanks for that music… and the belief that comes with it.” Since first making an appearance in the promo video for the classic Oasis song “Little By Little,” the Gibson J-150 has not left Noel’s side and has been seen and heard by audiences around the globe. Gibson is proud to launch a limited run of 200 pieces of Noel’s go-to acoustic guitar with features including an AA maple back and sides and a premium Sitka spruce top all complemented by a hand-rubbed Historic Thin finish. Along with a custom case, signed label, and reproduced hand-written lyric sheet, the Noel Gallagher Gibson J-150 guitar will also include an authorized adidas Trefoil Decal resulting in a guitar that is truly Familiar to Millions.
-
Jared James Nichols Releases New Song ‘Skin ‘N Bone’; Shadow Dancer’ EP, Due Out Sept. 17; Jared Joins Gibson As Brand Ambassador
Nashville-based, singer-songwriter-guitarist JARED JAMES NICHOLS returns today with a brand-new track, “SKIN ‘N BONE,” which is available now on Black Hill Records. The new song is a preview of his highly-anticipated EP titled SHADOW DANCER which is now confirmed for September 17. Armed with one guitar--his battered-and-bruised, heavily-customized Gibson Les Paul, aka “Old Glory”--a gritty, soul-stirring voice, and an unshakable spirit, JARED JAMES NICHOLS reaffirms the power and glory of good ol’ hot-wired, blues-drenched rock ‘n’ roll. Since the beginning, NICHOLS has carved out his own singular path in the music world and his new songs reveal newfangled sides and a different level of depth to the JJN experience. On “SKIN 'N’BONE,” NICHOLS takes an introspective look at what divides us as people, but also, what should unite us. Due to this past year, the timely lyrics and message came first, NICHOLS says. “The idea stems from making sure our eyes our open and coming together instead of breaking apart, and I express it all through this energetic trio. I may not be great at sitting down and having a conversation with you about my feelings, but I can play a song like ‘Skin N’ Bone’ that shows you how I'm feeling and support it with sound and with guitar and with all the bombastic craziness that I put on it.” Watch JARED JAMES NICHOLS perform with Joe Bonamassa, Tonight, June 9 during the global concert "Gibson Live: A Celebration of Artists to Benefit Gibson Gives" airing at 6:30p CT/7:30p ET on Gibson TV. While NICHOLS is only beginning his career, he has already picked up plenty of rabid acolytes along the way, and he partnered with Epiphone luthiers twice in the past two years to re-create his favorite legendary Gibson models, the “Old Glory” a Les Paul Custom in Ebony and the “Gold Glory” Les Paul Custom in Double-Gold Aged Finish both of which quickly became best-sellers. Today, June 9, JARED was officially welcomed into the Gibson family as a brand ambassador onstage by Cesar Gueikian, Brand President of Gibson at the grand opening of the new Gibson Garage in downtown Nashville, TN. "I get to release new music and become a Gibson brand ambassador on the same day, this is a dream come true,” says singer-songwriter-guitarist, Jared James Nichols. “So much more than just 6 strings and a piece of wood, Gibson Guitars embody who I am and have been the soundtrack and inspiration of my life. I am honored and grateful to be recognized as an ambassador for the most iconic guitar maker in the world. From being born in Waukesha, Wisconsin, the same town as Les Paul, to now being a Nashville-based and part of the vibrant music scene here, I feel like this a testament to Les, and the legacy, as well as the future of this iconic brand. So here is my cheers to every 15 year-old-kid with a dream to someday join a band, play some gigs, and hopefully get a Gibson guitar…keep on pickin’ and play from your heart!" “Welcoming Jared, aka the Blues Power man, as our official Gibson ambassador is a confirmation of the symbiotic partnership we already have with Jared and a recognition of his success as a guitarist, modern riff-lord, musician, band leader and overall ambassador of rock n’ roll,” says Cesar Gueikian, Brand President of Gibson. "Since the age of 15, Jared has made Gibson his own DNA, celebrating Gibson’s influence in his music by naming his guitars – starting with ‘Old Glory’ and most recently, ‘Gold Glory’. Jared is not only a virtuoso guitarist and soulful songwriter, he’s also one of the hardest working young musicians of his generation. Today, we celebrate Jared, his passion for Gibson and for music and we get to enjoy his new single ‘Skin ‘N Bones’. The future is bright for Jared.” Known for his high-energy, pick-less guitar-playing from his electrifying riff-‘n’-roll from records like his 2015 debut Old Glory & the Wild Revival, and the 2018 follow up Black Magic, JARED has performed over 400 live dates traveling around the world with his band and performed onstage with giants like Slash, Billy Gibbons, Joe Bonamassa, Zakk Wylde, and the late, great Leslie West, among others. NICHOLS is now ready to head back out on the road and has announced a handful of U.S. tour dates (see full itinerary below).
-
Calm before the storm: AccuWeather TV network's prime time hurricane special
For the second year in a row, the Atlantic basin will experience an active hurricane season amid a global pandemic, and AccuWeather is here to help residents along the coasts prepare. The AccuWeather TV network's 2021 Hurricane Season Special debuted at 8 p.m. Tuesday, and it was hosted by AccuWeather Broadcast Meteorologist Geoff Cornish and addressed safety and preparedness concerns residents of hurricane-susceptible areas may have surrounding the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. In case you missed it, the event is set to air again at 10 p.m. EDT on June 4, 9 a.m. on June 5, and 8 p.m. on June 6. Clips from the town hall can also be found https://youtu.be/X2wQScEuBTQ or the special can be viewed in its entirety at the top of this article. The one-hour television event featured discussion with experts on a wide range of topics, including AccuWeather forecasters, emergency management officials, high-profile government leaders and health officials. “The well-rounded slate of experts from varying disciplines joining us help illustrate the far-reaching impacts of dangerous tropical weather and will provide practical, useful information to keep our audience hurricane-ready as the season approaches," AccuWeather Network Executive Producer Jim Proeller said. AccuWeather's lead hurricane forecaster Dan Kottlowski appeared on the town hall to discuss the forecast for the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season and how it will compare to the year prior. According to Kottlowski, the current forecast calls for three to five direct impacts to U.S. land this season, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. "This again is going to be a very active season. All the variables that were in place last year are very close this year as well," Kottlowski said, referring to last year's record-breaking hurricane season. He also recommended that people begin preparation for hurricane season now, saying, "Now's the time to get your plan in order." Kottlowski added, "Don't wait until July or August. * Full Story https://www.accuweather.com/en/hurricane/accuweather-tv-network-prime-time-hurricane-season-special/951547
-
346mph in a Bonneville Streamliner: John MacKichan and Tim Schulz | Episode 11
900 hours of machining. Crashing at 200mph. The fastest small block Chevy in the world. John MacKichan and Tim Schulz knew they weren’t taking on a “normal” project. But in 1988, driving back to Nebraska from Utah, they realized they could build a better streamliner. 9 months later, they set a record in D/Gas Streamliner. In this episode of What Moves You, A Speedway Motors Podcast, we talk with John & Tim about all the highs and lows of chasing landspeed records on the Bonneville Salt Flats, as well as all the fascinating car people who come out of the woodwork when you build a project this awesome. John & Tim chased records at Bonneville for 21 years while also working full time. These guys know a thing or two! John and Tim would like to thank their crew: Jason Ankerson, Dean Barney, Bill Bernstrauch, Robert Braden, Dan Gilmore, JR Heinz, John Menard, Dave Owens, Don Schulz, Ron Thompson, Jerry Topil, and MacKichan family: Barb, Jason, Johnny, Jessica, and Jennifer. And for tech/engineering help: Steve Bechtold, Greg Nicol, Andy Predoehl, and Carson Smith.
-
Hiking gear fabric has cooling effect that may make your next smartwatch more comfortable
As smartwatches become more powerful, they will generate more heat. To prevent burns or rashes, what if a material touching the skin could feel as cool as metal, but also be flexible enough to be worn on the wrist? A team of Purdue University engineers has discovered that a type of fabric typically used for hiking gear has remarkable heat-conducting properties on par with stainless steel, potentially leading to wearable electronics that successfully cool both the device and the wearer’s skin. The material is made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers, which are sold commercially under the brand name Dyneema. These polymer-based fabrics are marketed for their high strength, durability and abrasion resistance, and are often used to create body armor, specialty sports gear, ropes and nets. Purdue heat transfer researchers recently investigated other uses for the fabric, namely as a cooling interface between human skin and wearable electronics (see a video about this research on YouTube). Their research is published in Scientific Reports. “This fabric has great flexibility and thermal properties. If you stitch it differently, weave it differently or start blending the polymers with different materials, you could tailor the fabric’s properties to different applications,” said Justin Weibel, a research associate professor in Purdue’s School of Mechanical Engineering. If a material has a high thermal conductivity, that means heat dissipates through the material more easily. There are many heat-dissipation methods for fabrics, from the simple (moisture-wicking); to the intricate (conventional fabrics with heat-conducting strands woven in); to the very complex (liquid-cooled garments worn by astronauts). “Your next smartwatch or virtual reality headset could be more powerful than your current smartphone, so we need to dissipate heat away from the electronic components to keep the wearer comfortable,” said Aaditya Candadai, who recently completed his Ph.D. at Purdue doing research on this project. “These polymer fabrics have amazing thermal properties that can keep these devices cooler and avoid low-degree skin burns.” The team discovered these properties by benchmarking Dyneema against conventional cotton fabrics, as well as polyethylene sheets in rigid non-woven form. They obtained several different commercially manufactured fabric samples and even wove their own samples from raw Dyneema fibers. The researchers tested the fabric samples at the Birck Nanotechnology Center in Purdue’s Discovery Park. The samples went into a small vacuum chamber, with a metal wire laid across the surface as a heat source. Using an infrared microscope, they could generate detailed data about how much heat was being conducted through the fabric’s surface, and in which direction. They found that the Dyneema fabric has 20-30 times higher thermal conductivity than other fabrics, comparable with steel. The team also tested the fabric’s flexibility, which is important for wearable electronics. “There’s a balance; we don’t want to make thermally conductive materials that are so stiff, people won’t be comfortable wearing them,” Candadai said. “These polymer fabrics are in that sweet spot of having good conductivity and good flexibility.” The fabric naturally has these properties with no additional circuity or other equipment, but the researchers also have plans to test how weaving in different materials affects the fabric. “We could integrate other types of fibers – carbon fibers, metal fibers – to achieve different combinations of properties,” said Amy Marconnet, an associate professor of mechanical engineering. As part of his work investigating the heat-conducting properties of fabrics, Candadai won an Art-In-Science award in 2019 for an infrared camera image showing how the fabrics transfer heat. The team’s research was performed within Purdue’s Cooling Technologies Research Center, a graduated National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center with support from industry leaders in thermal materials and electronics.
