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Fantastic Fest Review: NAIL IN THE COFFIN: THE FALL AND RISE OF VAMPIRO Is Ready To Fight – Birth.Movies.Death.

Posted: September 23, 2019 at 5:47 pm


The biggest feud of every wrestler's career is the one with their physical limitations.

By Amelia Emberwing Sep. 21, 2019

Wrestling documentaries are typically pretty grim. Breaking into the industry is relatively easy, all things considered. Getting out of it? Generally speaking, that's a different story. A lot of folks hear the phrase its scripted and assume that these men and women arent putting their bodies on the line just like every other athlete. Enter men like Ian Hodgkinson or, as most know him, Vampiro.

The amount of injuries Hodkinson has experienced isnt what makes him unique. All of your favorites have destroyed their bodies time and time again for the sake of the industry they so love. Its not the drugs, either. So many wrestlers find themselves wrapped up in substance abuse, whether it be because of the chronic pain from their injuries, or the crushing depression that can come with being on the road and away from your family the majority of the year.

What makes him unique is his origin, and the understanding that he was never meant to be a wrestler. Hodkinson outright admits that he could never do many of the classic wrestling moves early on in the film. His rise to stardom was never about his technical ability. It was about his charisma and his willingness to do the most insane shit possible. Not being hard to look at certainly worked to his advantage as well. That level of self-awareness isnt necessarily common in the wrestling world.

Nail in the Coffin: The Fall and Rise of Vampiro, while a documentary focused on the wrestler, starts off as a love letter to Mexican wrestling. Hodkinson repeats several times throughout the doc that he hates wrestling. Though the statements probably not untrue, its also made evident just how deeply he loves it. The films focus evolves shortly after to include the love for his daughter, Dasha, and continues on to illustrate his complicated relationship with an even more complicated industry.

Its Dasha that makes this heartfelt documentary a little less grim than the others of its kind. All of the devastating factors are present. Vampiros broken his neck, back, and most of the other bones in his body, as well as suffered from somewhere around twenty-seven concussions. He has the aforementioned history of substance abuse, and was recently diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers. But above all of that pain is his love for his daughter.

Michael Paszts documentary on the wrestler weaves all the pain and love of Vampiros history into something truly special. His vision combined with Hodkinsons dark humor and seemingly ever-present self-awareness make Nail in the Coffin: The Fall and Rise of Vampiro so much more than your standard wrestling documentary. Its heartbreaking while still being hopeful and refreshing. More documentaries focused on the industry could really benefit from following the model set up here.

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September 23rd, 2019 at 5:47 pm

Posted in Self-Awareness

Never-before-seen pictures of Meghan Markle in dressing gown and heels – Metro.co.uk

Posted: at 5:47 pm


Meghan played Mike Ross wife on the show (Picture: Usa Network/Netflix/Kobal/REX)

Its nearing the end of Suits, and Patrick J Adams is getting emotional just thinking about it.

The Suits star, who played Mike Ross as a regular from season 1 through 7, shared several carousels of photos from the shows set, which includes fantastic shots of The Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle before she quit her acting career to become a full-time royal.

Patrick captioned his first post: The best family you can ask for.

Aww, we all need a family like that.

The 38-year-old actor shared a total of 11 posts on Instagram that made us all feel like were part of the Suits family.

One post featured a snap of his former on-screen wife Meghan pretending to look away (at Harry?) with a transparent umbrella over her while filming in Toronto.

He shared several more gems of the Duchess and her co-stars behind-the-scenes of the long-running show.

One shot showed Meghan dressed in a bathrobe and stilettos, probably waiting to get back on set.

Captioning the first, Patrick wrote: This week the last episode of Suits will air and the nearly 10-year journey weve all been on together will finally be over.

So it seems right to post some photos the next couple of days from the early days.

Other photos included Patrick and Meghan with other cast members looking way more relaxed than they usually do on the show.

Meghan appeared on Suits for the last time in an episode that aired on April last year, which was just a month before she married Prince Harry.

Meghan invited her co-stars to her wedding at Windsor Castle last May, and some even made the special guest list at her lavish baby shower in New York.

Now that the former actress quit Hollywood life, she can be seen with Harry getting involved with multiple charities.

The latest adventure sees the couple arriving in South Africa for their first royal visit as a family.

Their official tour, which will be the first with baby Archie Harrison in tow, will start this afternoon in Cape Town.

Among their first stops will be a visit to an initiative that teaches children about their rights, self-awareness and safety, and also provides self-defence classes to young girls.

Meghan and Harry are said to have brought numerous gifts with them for the tour including several presents which were donated to them for four-month-old Archie.

All the gifts are expected to be presented to the charity mothers2mothers, who are dedicated to preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV through education and support services.

If you've got a story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk Entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page - we'd love to hear from you.

MORE: Meghan Markle ordered to remove Suits characters ring in public to prevent engagement rumours about Prince Harry

MORE: Victoria Beckham praises old pal Meghan Markle for keeping it cool to be kind

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September 23rd, 2019 at 5:47 pm

Posted in Self-Awareness

‘Ad Astra,’ A giant leap (of Faith) for Sci-Fi – Cornell University The Cornell Daily Sun

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Like a rocket inching its way across the vacuum of space, for stretches of time, Ad Astra is stagnant and lugubrious, its lumbering and turgid runtime being both a test of patience and harbinger of despair because more interesting things dont seem to be on the horizon. It is certainly beautifully shot (youll want to immediately stargaze by the time the credits roll) but thankfully, director James Gray did not seek out merely to entertain, and his work here revels in the journey of thematic exploration rather than trying to accelerate to a destination for the narrative. Truly, Ad Astra is more meditation than movie and its dialogue, more poetry than prose. Gray uses the environment of space in all of its uncertainties, dangers and wonders as a springboard to launch into a larger analysis on the human psyche, asking questions of whether meaning is found outside or inside of oneself while highlighting the dangers of compartmentalizing ones emotions. At once relevant and prophetic, his film is an emotionally resonant and introspective study of the examined human life that isnt afraid to ask more questions than give answers.

Set in the ominous near future and in a time of hope and progress, while Ad Astras world is not quite as technologically advanced as other sci-fi films, it is in this construction of acute normality that Gray layers salient commentary. He knows that the generation watching has the worlds of Gravity, Interstellar, The Martian, Arrival, Blade Runner 2049 and the like in their mental orbit and he opts for something more down-to-Earth. Major Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) accepts a mission to go to Neptune in order to locate his missing father H. Clifford (Tommy Lee Jones) who is suspected to be the progenitor of dangerous power surges that could threaten all life on Earth. For the first part of his journey, Roy takes a commercial flight to the moon (big airlines like Norwegian and Virgin Atlantic have nicely adjusted to the demand for space travel) and is horrified to see how humans have crafted the moon in their own image, making it a carbon copy of Earth. We are world-eaters he mutters in a voice-over, while the camera pans to a shot of people dining at the newly installed Applebees and Subway. Gray presents a future that is familiar to audiences but that is precisely why it is so terrifying; rather than thinking of new ways of living, humans only rinse and repeat their destructive tendencies. Elsewhere on the moon, pirates run about claiming any spot of uncharted territory as their own in a sort of galactic recapitulation of Manifest Destiny. It is haunting to see this primordial greed set against this majestic lunar backdrop and Gray frequently mixes awe and disgust in the same scenes.

Audiences are first and foremost supposed to relate with Roy himself, but rather than frame Roy as likable, Pitt does a brilliant job of presenting the major with weaknesses you can empathize with and vices you feel obligated to chastise. The relationality comes not from the personality traits but the tumultuous journey of self-discovery he undergoes. For Roy, he views space in its voidless, shapeless form, as his way of escape from all he experiences on Earth. His determination for solitude manifests in a veil of dutiful service, whether he is doing his psychological evaluation despite its repetitiveness or dispatching pirates a l Mad Max: Fury Road or Fast and the Furious style. He is distant from his friends and family, particularly his wife Eve (Liv Tyler) who he sees as a distraction from him achieving his own potential. Space is a frontier of hidden discovery and limitless possibilities and Roys well-deserved happily ever after.

Yet once Roy finally gets on his coveted rocket and blasts off to Neptune, he finds that his problems have not disappeared but have instead come back in full force. The pain of having to go through his adult life without a father figure resurfaces once he comes to grips with the fact that maybe his father had the chance to leave the space station on Neptune but refused to. As he goes to various checkpoints before finally landing on Neptune, he likewise realizes that he has the same detrimental and power-hungry vices his dad displayed with his own crew members. Ironically, as Roy moves farther and farther away from Earth (i.e. the source of all his anxiety) he finds he comes to grips with his own humanity and flaws. He discovers himself, more than he would like, and all the emotions that he has kept bottled up come out in torrents. Gray uses these scenes of waiting (it takes seventy-nine days to get to Neptune; the film mercifully bridges that time) to ruminate on what humans are supposed to do when we come to the end of ourselves. Do we keep running away in denial or do we stand to make a change?

While Gray stops short of giving definitive responses to the inquiries he raises, the picture of Roy at the end of the film perhaps best describe the films grandeur. Once Roy has his Damascus Road encounter, he returns to rectify the mistakes he made; in the beginning of the film, Roy recites that he is mission ready and that he is focused on the essential to the exclusion of all else. The camera then pans to Roy in the kitchen with his wife standing by the doorway but the focus is on Roy while she and everything else is the scene is blurred, highlighting her unessentiality. After Roys revelation and his return to Earth, he recites the same creed but this time with Eve in focus. It is a clever visual cue to signal Roys inner transformation. So while Ad Astra does not reinvent the rocket engine when it comes to space exploration in cinema, it deserves encomium for its commentary in that it challenges individuals not only to seek revelation for themselves but to then use that self-awareness to better their communities.

Zachary Lee is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences. He can be reached at zjl4@cornell.edu.

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'Ad Astra,' A giant leap (of Faith) for Sci-Fi - Cornell University The Cornell Daily Sun

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September 23rd, 2019 at 5:47 pm

Posted in Self-Awareness

Patriots up to 3-0 after 30-14 win over Jets – NBCSports.com

Posted: at 5:47 pm


Getty Images

The Patriots didnt cover the spread this week and they didnt pitch a shutout, but they are still 3-0 three weeks into the 2019 season.

New England built a 30-0 lead before mistakes by rookies on special teams and offense allowed the Jets to get into the end zone twice. That made the final score 30-14 at Gillette Stadium and gave the Patriots a couple of things to stress about after another comfortable victory.

Gunner Olszewski muffed a punt that Arthur Maulet recovered for the first Jets touchdown. The second came in the fourth quarter when Jarrett Stidham relieved Tom Brady and promptly threw an interception that Jamal Adams returned for a 60-yard score. That led Bill Belichick to put Brady back in the game to play out the string.

Brady was 28-of-42 for 306 yards and two touchdowns. Those touchdowns moved him into sole possession of second place on the NFLs all-time passing touchdown list and Drew Brees wont be able to catch up anytime soon.

Brady had a couple of sparkling hookups with Josh Gordon, who shook off a finger injury. Julian Edelman was not able to return to the game after hurting his chest, however, and linebacker Dont'a Hightower also picked up a shoulder injury that will be worth keeping an eye on as the week unfolds.

While the special teams and offense had those stumbles, the Patriots defense never wavered while allowing the Jets 101 yards of offense. They sacked Luke Falk five times and Devin McCourty picked off a pass for the only takeaway of the game for the unit.

The Jets are 0-3 and riddled with injuries of their own. Theyll have a bye in Week Four and hope to get quarterback Sam Darnold and others back for Week Five against the Eagles.

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September 23rd, 2019 at 5:47 pm

Posted in Self-Awareness

The Big Bang Theory is more like Friends than we realised – Metro.co.uk

Posted: at 5:47 pm


TBBT has come to an end after 12 years (Picture: Getty/NBC)

The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards are in the history books, and once again we cant help but feel The Big Bang Theory deserves far more recognition than it actually received.

Despite getting more than 45 nominations over its incredible 12 years run on the air, Chuck Lorres sitcom creation only won 10 times in total, with Jim Parsons being the only cast member to actually take home a prize at the prestigious ceremony.

Honestly, thats just not good enough!

This year, as the show came to an end after over a decade, it was noticeably conspicuous by its absence, with its nod coming from finale episode The Stockholm Syndrome with Mark Cendrowski at the helm category.

The Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series prize would go to the debut of Fleabag (directed by Harry Bradbeer), and while we cant begrudge Phoebe Waller-Bridges incredible sitcom getting the recognition it earned, it does mark yet another year where we cant help but feel The Big Bang Theory has been massively shortchanged at the Emmys.

Lets just take a moment to break down the 10 wins the show actually had over the years while Jims portrayal of Sheldon Cooper was undoubtedly a highlight and deserving every plaudit coming his way, it says a lot that hes responsible for four of the prizes, with another five being awarded for camerawork, editing and the like.

Rounding off the list is Bob Newhart as an outstanding guest actor which is absolutely right but come on now! There have been so many incredible guest spots in The Big Bang Theory over the years, from Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill to William Shatner and Adam West. Honestly, anyone of those and more could have earned that nod over the years.

Its also a shame that as incredible as Jim was in his role other cast members never got given their due at the ceremony. Were not saying every performance in the show was groundbreaking, but there are some definite standouts who at least should have been given some recognition for the great work they did.

Lets go off-brand for a second and admit Johnny Galeckis turn as Leonard didnt do enough to justify a win but can anyone explain why Mayim Bialik didnt take home the outstanding actress gong over the years for her wonderful portrayal as Amy? She was robbed and we wont hear any different.

Her chemistry with Jim is undeniable, but she would constantly elevate the show with her dry delivery, sarcastic remarks and incredible comic timing. Whether it was dealing with Sheldons most difficult moments and total lack of self-awareness or showing Amys more romantically-charged side, Mayim lifted the character behind a caricature into someone well-rounded, sympathetic and hilarious often all within the same scene.

From the quick wit of the Fun With Flags segments to her early attempts to get Sheldon into bed, there were a lot of sides to Amy in a show that doesnt always get the credit it deserves for character depth and growth.

Four nominations and no success is a real shame, especially when a great deal of Sheldons success in later series came down to his relationship with Amy and how they were able to bounce off each other.

And OK, it could be a stretch to suggest Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg or Kunal Nayyar did enough to get that level of recognition, as wonderful as they were in their roles. But surely Kevin Sussmans performance as the comically tragic Stuart Bloom could have at least got a nomination in a supporting category?

For such a popular programme with a wealth of nods on the shortlist, its actually surprising that The Big Bang Theory only took home the 10 prizes it did, and even more of a shock that it was only in the running four times in the outstanding comedy category the most recent of those coming five whole years ago.

Its a shame that the sitcom wasnt able to go out on a real high by adding another trophy to the collection but lets end this little rant on a more positive note. Take a look at Friends, one of the absolute greatest TV comedies of all time.

Looking at the Primetime Emmys, youd be forgiven for forgetting how beloved Friends actually was and is, with just four wins from a possible 28 and a sole victory in the outstanding comedy category in 2002.

If the organisation can overlook that show, maybe we shouldnt be surprised to see Big Bang Theory get shafted once again and it could simply show a bit of a divide between what viewers enjoy, and what the award ceremonies suggest we should be paying attention to.

Fans certainly paid attention at its peak, it was watched by an average of just over 20 million for season nine in the US, and looking from the first to last series it rose 10 million to an impressive 17.31 by the end. Great figures for a show still going strong when things finally came to an end.

Of course, The Big Bang Theory sadly did conclude earlier this year, and its legacy will become clear over the next decade as we look back. At least its in good company with the Emmy snub, and we have no doubt it will enjoy similarly enduring popularity as time rolls on.

MORE: Johnny Galecki pines over The Big Bang Theory as he throws it back to 100th episode

MORE: The Big Bang Theory finale voted shows best episode ever

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September 23rd, 2019 at 5:47 pm

Posted in Self-Awareness

The Heartbreaking Reason Prince Harry Was ‘Close to a Complete Breakdown on Numerous Occasions’ – Showbiz Cheat Sheet

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Prince Harrys world was forever changed when his mother, Princess Diana, died in 1997. He carried that traumatic experience with him through the years and finally got help with processing his grief, thanks in part to his brother Prince Williams suggestion. In a 2017 interview, Prince Harry admitted that he was close to a complete breakdown on numerous occasions.

Prince Harry opened up about his mental health struggles during a 2017 interview with The Telegraphs Bryony Gordon on the Mad World podcast, sharing that he was very close to having a complete breakdown in his late 20s, as he struggled with his mothers death.

He shared: I can safely say that losing my mum at the ageof 12, and therefore shutting down all of my emotions for the last 20 years,has had a quite serious effect on not only my personal life but my work as well.

Prince Harry continued: I have probably been very close toa complete breakdown on numerous occasions when all sorts of grief and sort oflies and misconceptions and everything are coming to you from every angle.

There were understandably some dark days for Prince Harryand he admitted he sank into a depression. He didnt take the time to grieve untilhe was 28.

Prince Harry explained: My way of dealing with it wassticking my head in the sand, refusing to ever think about my mom, because whywould that help? [I thought] its only going to make you sad, its not going tobring her back. So from an emotional side, I was like Right, dont ever letyour emotions be part of anything.

He continued: I was a typical 20-, 25-, 28-year-old runningaround going Life is great, or Life is fine and that was exactly it.Things changed, however, as he recalled: And then [I] started to have a fewconversations and actually all of a sudden, all of this grief that I have neverprocessed started to come to the forefront and I was like, there isactually a lot of stuff here that I need to deal with.

Prince Harry said it was two years of total chaos before he could manage his emotions and his brother, Prince William, was instrumental in helping him.

Harry shared: My brother, you know, bless him, he was ahuge support to me. He kept saying this is not right, this is not normal, youneed to talk to [someone] about stuff, its OK. The timing wasnt right. Youneed to feel it in yourself, you need to find the right person to talk to aswell.

He credits boxing with helping him work through his emotions, noting, that really saved me because I was on the verge of punching someone, so being able to punch someone who had pads was certainly easier.

Prince Harry faced tragedy at a young age and it took him avery long time to address his feelings, but the experience has certainlyinspired him to help others. During the interview, he remarked: What we aretrying to do is normalize the conversation to the point where anyone can sitdown and have a coffee and just go, You know what, Ive had a really s**t day,can I just tell about it? Because then you walk away and its done.

Prince Harry is now working with Oprah Winfrey on a documentary series and shared with Gordon how important their 2017 conversation was.

Harry explained: When I did your podcast two years ago the response made me realize what an impact sharing my story could have, and what an impact other stories can have for so many who are suffering silently. If the viewers can relate to the pain and perhaps the experience, then it could save lives, as we will focus on prevention and positive outcomes.

He shared: Im very much still on my own path. What I have learned and I continue to learn in the space of mental health, mental illness and self-awareness is that all roads lead back to our mental wellbeing, how we look after ourselves and each other.

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September 23rd, 2019 at 5:47 pm

Posted in Self-Awareness

Hip-Hop Is Americas Biggest Genre. What Happens When We Enter 2020? – DJBooth

Posted: at 5:47 pm


JAY-Z famously cemented the idea that numbers dont lie into hip-hops psyche. Numbers do lie, undoubtedly so, but they can also reveal the truth. Gangsta rap scored its first commercial victory over rock 'n' roll on June 22, 1991, when N.W.As second studio album, Niggaz4life, outsold R.E.M.s Out of Time to become the first hardcore hip-hop album to top the Billboard 200. Derek Thompson documents this historic moment in the 2015 essay,1991: The Most Important Year in Pop-Music History.

Within a few weeks, N.W.A. replaced R.E.M. on the charts. The swapping of acronymsout with soft rock, in with hip-hopwas a harbinger. In the early 1990s, the "hip-hop/rap" genre exploded to become, by far, the most common genre of music on the Billboard Hot 100 charts for two decades.Derek Thompson, The Atlantic

Another notable, by-the-numbers victory occurred seven years later in 1998. Based on data reported by Christopher John Farley in his "Hip-Hop Nation" essay for Time Magazine, hip-hop sold 81 million units that year, nine million more than country music. "For the first time ever, rap outsold what previously had been America's top-selling format, Farley wrote. A tremendous milestone for a genre that arose from Americas underground.

During its infancy stage, hip-hop was thought to be a temporary fad. That line of thinking, of course, ceased well before the new millennium. Somehow, the genreDJ Kool Herc created during a 1973 day party on Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx had managed to avoid the doom of disco and continued to rise as rock declined.

Gradually, the numbers revealed global interest, a new phenomenon that couldnt be contained by a ceiling. In their 2017 year-end report, Nielsen reported that for the first time, hip-hop and R&B surpassed rock as the most popular genre in the USpowered by a 72-percent increase in on-demand audio streaming.

Hip-hop moves into a new decade on a mountaintop. No genre is more prominent; no culture stands on equal ground, and everyone wants a piece. Is it possible to maintain a status this significant without sacrificing what makes the music and artists so engrossing?

No genre is more prominent; no culture stands on equal ground, and everyone wants a piece.

To answer that question, we have to think first about hip-hop's fluidity. We have to think about a genre born in a park. There were no commercial sponsors, or angel investors, or wealthy relatives. Just a man with a turntable, some records, speakers, and the people.As hip-hop enters 2020, the 47th year since its birth, even without data and statistics to support the enormity, the genre holds a sense of omnipresence.

Musically and culturally, the art form dominates streaming services and festival lineups; television commercials and feature films; social discourse and social media. This level of largeness isnt surprising, though. Rappers had the power to influence before the term influencer. Rappers were culture curators long before entering the bloodstream of pop culture.

Rappers are a branch of a larger cultural tree, but they incorporate many of hip-hops most appealing elements. At once, they are the voice of slang, the face of cool, the sound of rhyme, and the movement of dance. These qualities have made rap artist billboards of youth. Every new generation yearns for a way to speak, a life to admire, a style to mimic, and a form of music that is solely theirs to own.

At once, [rappers] are the voice of slang, the face of cool, the sound of rhyme, and the movement of dance.

In Nelson Georges excellent New York Times editorial How Hip-Hop Transformed New York, he explains hip-hops journey through New York City in the 1980s. One significant factor George touches upon is language. The culture had a coded slang; words that were foreign to the dated and unhip. Breakdancers represented hip-hops movement, while graffiti translated the visual wording.

Before radio introduced The Sugarhill Gangs Rappers Delight over the airwaves or Blondies Rapture airing on MTV, hip-hop traveledaform of virality that was physical. It was a wide-spread presence that could exist any and everywhere.

"So when Deborah Harry said, And you hip-hop, and you dont stop, the new-wave diva would be proved a prophet. Though the Funky 4 + 1 never made it back to the mainstream promised land, the voyage hip-hop took from uptown to downtown was the first of many steps it would take toward pop-culture domination."Nelson George

The physicality of rap moved the music through streets and cities, states and countries, but adapting to the internet allowed the wildfire to continue spreading without a halt. As far as genres go, raps transition to online platforms was the most seamless. For example, hip-hop had a message board on Okayplayer, a popular presence on Myspace, made the best of Facebook, changed industry infrastructure through the blogosphere, thrived on Twitter, and even carved a niche on Tumblr. Whoever houses black expression, hip-hop finds a home.

At present, no other genre or art form has found better promotional use of free applications like YouTube, Instagram, Vine, and the newly popular, TikTok. The record-breaking success of Lil Nas X and Old Town Road is inseparable from his internet savvy and masterful social media marketing. Although catchy, for a new artist, a popular song isnt enough to create a moment that captivates the world.

In 2019, to achieve a massive single, the song needs an entire campaign, a way of reaching the masses, and impressions across every modern channel. Progressively, these channels are on every smartphone; thanks to apps, music can move through portable means. In terms of communication and exchanging information, there is no tool more efficient.

At 20 years old, Lil Nas X has known the internet his entire life; its atool no different than what fire was to the cavemen. He understands memes better than Drake ever could. Lil Nas X comprehends virality as if he was born to go viral and has a level of self-awareness that goes well beyond his years on earth. His success is further proof of how youth culture isnt just shaping music, but the mediums that make music and artists accessible. Old Town Road embodies the importance of moving where the people will see you.

Thats what rap has always done correctly: remained in constant motion. Musically, sonically, and culturally, the art form has advanced with the times. When the entire music industry experienced declining CD sales, rappers gave away free mixtapes on Datpiff; after the blogosphere collapsed, rap transitioned toSoundCloud. Instead of aiming to fix problems existing in old models, new methods emerged.

As a form of black culture, hip-hop marries style and substance. There is no hip-hop without the spirit of black life, black angst, and black cool. At its genesis, the worldwide appeal wasnt foreseeable, but now, almost 50 years later, its impossible to imagine a world without hip-hop and rap music.

What would drive social media discourse? What would substitute the influence? Imagine Happy Days without The Fonz, Walt Disney without Mickey Mouse, or the body without a heart. Losing hip-hop means pop culture must replace its nucleus.

Becoming the nucleus isnt what Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa or any other hip-hop pioneers sought to accomplish. They were the young, capturing the spirit of their youth. But that didnt stop them from becoming old. Its that youthfulness, not aging, that people found contagious; what was fun, fresh, and fundamentally outside the mainstream. Things are different now. Rap is the mainstream. Selling out was once frowned upon, now everyone wants to buy-in.Black life, black angst, and black cool continue to be a currency that is continually being cashed in.

Selling out was once frowned upon, now everyone wants to buy-in.

Nas was wrong, hip-hop never died. It simply became wealthy. Rich in both impact and influence; wealth that continues to accumulate. But with wealth comes change. So what happens to an art form that sprouted from the soil and became worth billions? Once it becomes so big that society can not be divorced from its global takeover? Where and how does this progressive music continue to move?

As we move closer to 2020, thats the question. How will this wealth, influence, and impact shape hip-hops forthcoming decade? Is it possible for hip-hop to continue to reach the people, exist in communities, remember its origins, and continue to maintain a robust presence on and offline? Can hip-hop keep its soul? For every soul has a price, and where hip-hop is today, there are more bidders than ever willing to pay that number. Some might say its already been sold.

Well let tomorrow answer the questions of today.

By Yoh, aka Y2020h, aka Yoh31

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Hip-Hop Is Americas Biggest Genre. What Happens When We Enter 2020? - DJBooth

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September 23rd, 2019 at 5:47 pm

Posted in Self-Awareness

MacKenna On Monday: Haka Gives New Zealand An Unfair Advantage & Needs To Stop – Pundit Arena

Posted: at 5:47 pm


Given what would follow, it wasnt what David Campese was best remembered for that day.

However, it may have been his finest moment throughout the entire afternoon.

The date was 27 October 1991. The location was the old and haunting concrete sarcophagus of Lansdowne Road. New Zealand were just inside their own half doing the Haka in the moments leading up to that World Cup semi-final, but only 14 Australians were needlessly standing there watching them prance about. It was because the New South Wales wing was back near his own try-zone putting boot to ball in preparation for battle. Besides, by then hed already seen the jaded routine play out on 21 other occasions and didnt feel the need to observe yet again.

Going out for that match, his coach Bob Dwyer had suggested that his players do whatever warm-up worked best.

I was quite happy, then, to go and kick the ball, Campese would later explain of his choice. That was how I did it, and it worked.

Shortly after, he picked up possession in centre-field, slid across the defensive line and touched down in the corner, before next putting the All Blacks John Kirwan into a dizzy daze while allowing Tim Horan to take their lead out to double-digits.

Seven World Cups later though and we are back to pandering to the dance.

Thats unfortunate as New Zealand are justifiably big-headed enough without a massaging of their already massive egos. Yet even World Rugby have it in their rules that to not stand on your own 10-metre line and watch a bunch stick out their tongues and slap their thighs is worthy of a fine and a telling off. Thats some intrinsic planning from a governing body that had threatened to declare Ireland-Scotland a draw without a pass taking place in their premier competition if the local weather didnt improve.

We know this because, in 2011, the French federation were fined 10,000 for having the nerve to shuffle forward aggressively as a response.

We know this because our own authorities needed special dispensation to form the figure eight in memory of Anthony Foley when facing it in Chicago.

We know this because they fawned a diplomatic incident when Brian ODriscoll had the sheer temerity to hurl some blades of grass into the air.

Indeed if we are to engage in these cultural activities in rugby, perhaps Irelands opponents should have to spend a few minutes watching our players sitting around a table in midfield, sipping cups of tea and bemoaning everything from economic migrants to the latest bin charges.

Say what you will about the Welsh, but credit where its due for they not only called out the bullshit, they stood up to it and stood firm around it. A dozen years ago when New Zealand came to town, they asked that the Haka take place after the visiting anthem, allowing the glorious and beautiful Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau to ring out last and set their home scene. The All Blacks, however, threw a pathetic strop, flung their toys far from the pram, and ended up amusing themselves with it within the confines of their dressing room. Where it should stay.

Only it hasnt.

Instead, it returned, increasing in length from what used to be a mere 30 seconds long, which is hardly surprising as its been ruthlessly exploited and commercialised and ultimately cheapened. Thats not to say it doesnt have beauty and meaning to Maoris, but Irish dancing can having meaning to us and that doesnt change the fact that it was monetised by Michael Flatley turning to liquid plastic on stage.

By now we know well that rugby has a problem around always favouring the big boys.

We saw it first thing on Saturday when an assault by Reece Hodge against Fiji was deemed all well and good and that was merely the worst offence rather than a stand-alone incident. We saw it next thing Saturday when Angus Gardner made sure France got over the line against Argentina. But we also saw it last thing on Saturday before a true epic between two serious heavyweights.

Theres a practical reason why the Haka shouldnt happen as, while it provides a psychological edge through self-inspiration and via an attempt at opponent intimidation, it also provides a small physical edge as others are forced to stand still and go briefly cold. Theres another reason too though as there is a huge lack of self-awareness about this. Again there are those wholl say its native and it is to some, but the majority of New Zealand players havent been Maori. Instead, they descend from forefathers who were actually ruthless oppressors of natives.

The Haka was first seen by Europeans when James Cook made his voyage in 1769. Accompanied by Joseph Banks, the latter wrote that of it that the War Song and dance consist of various contortions of the limbs during which the tongue is frequently thrust out incredibly far and the orbits of the eyes enlarged so much that a circle of white is distinctly seen around the iris. In short, nothing is omitted which can render a human shape frightful and deformed which I suppose they think terrible. Thereafter a long line of missionaries spent an age trying to get rid of a song and dance that to this day is misunderstood as a physical challenge when in fact its meant as a celebration of life.

Soon they, as Joseph Banks put it, were having their possessions and their homes taken and were slaughtered across the 1800s. And even today there is controversy over government settlements with the delayed pay-off for what was theirs said to come in at between one and two-and-a-half cents on the dollar value of their confiscated land.

Anyway, its completely overdone. In rugby, and in life. A New Zealand graduation or homecoming, a wedding afters or merely a boozed-up night out, it seems, can barely pass by without a YouTube video emerging of a man leaping about with all the authenticity of a Blackrock College conversation detailing both tillage methodology and livestock vaccination.

What began in a non-official tour to Britain and Ireland in 188889 and made some sense given the name of that group was the New Zealand Native team is now cringeworthy. For years after that round-the-world trip, their union actually accommodated requests from the apartheid regime in South Africa asking that Maori players not be selected on the team because of their heritage and their race. On another occasion, a handful were given dispensation based on the horrific idea that the South African government would let them be honorary whites. It wasnt until 2010 that the NZRU actually apologised to players left out yet all along, while they were happy to engage in racism, they were also happy to use the Haka. Little wonder that Steve Jackson, a sports sociologist at the University of Otago, said it was an idealised version of racial unity.

Thus I have a dream.

Sure enough, its unlikely Ireland will make it far enough to face a New Zealand side that seem to have been jolted back towards their brilliant and very best by that Australian thrashing in the build-up to this competition. But should they, then how about they do as follows.

As the All Blacks start to perform the Haka, Ireland do not line up and admire. They dont even look. Instead, just like Campese did, they spend their time doing stretches and engaging in drills and practicing kicks. After all, they didnt go all the way to Japan to watch the performing arts. Afterwards, when the inevitable fine arrives, the IRFU then proceed to pay it off in bags of pennies delivered to 10 Lower Pembroke Street by a series of wheelbarrows. Then win or lose we really would have those oft-described Irish rugby heroes.

_____Check out our Heineken Match Centre for every match statistic from every game for the Rugby World Cup. Its a dream for all rugby fans.

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MacKenna On Monday: Haka Gives New Zealand An Unfair Advantage & Needs To Stop - Pundit Arena

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September 23rd, 2019 at 5:47 pm

Posted in Self-Awareness

Personal growth tips to build your career – The Standard

Posted: at 5:47 pm


Over time, most of our days become increasingly jam-packed with obligations at work. As we grow from amateurs to managers and business leaders, we tend to have back to back meetings, handling routine company duties or answering action driven emails as part of our daily work. It is easy to get consumed in all these responsibilities. However, to make it through your career sanely, you need to make room for personal development. Personal development is a lifelong journey.Continuously assess your skills and qualities to maximise your potential and ability to be outstanding at work. No matter how busy you may be, these techniques of continuous personal development are worth your time.1. Dedicate 30 minutes daily to learn something new

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Personal growth tips to build your career - The Standard

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September 23rd, 2019 at 5:47 pm

Posted in Self-Awareness

The 20 Fittest Cities in America – Men’s Health

Posted: at 5:45 pm


A CITY CANT get fit without two kinds of citizens. It needs loads of people like you filling up local parks and speeding along freshly paved bike lanes and generally having a blast outside or in rec centers. But it also needs elected officials actively responding to the needs of these constituents by setting health policy and creating new public spaces and making sure that pothole in the bike lane gets fixed pronto.

The 20 winners that follow have all figured out the right balance between their active citizens and their active leaders. But how exactly did we arrive at this list?

We analyzed 100 of Americas most populous cities and gave each an activity rating based on fitness guidelines, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and, on the flip side, the percentage of the population reporting inactivity. This rating contributed 50 percent of the weighted score.

Then we looked at general health, with our team determining the percent- age of the population reporting good, very good, or excellent overall health, according to the CDC and various state and county health records. We also pulled self-reported data about heart health and obesity. These three categories made up the other 50 percent of the weighted score, with obesity level carrying 25 percent, general health 15 percent, and cardiac health the remaining 10 percent.

After calculating all that, we found a clear correlation between raw data and fitness culture (how much a city creates opportunities for fitness and encourages connection). A citys culture of activity can play a large role in persuading people to exercise with others, says Dan Giordano, D.P.T., C.S.C.S., cofounder of Bespoke Treatments, a physical-therapy clinic.

These top cities engage people to be activewhether its biking, hiking, or walking, says Michael Fredericson, M.D., of Stanford Medicines Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Researchers now know that being in shape can involve more than working out in a gym.

It can involve simply stepping outside and joining the community of active people in your city, even ifespecially ifit didnt make this list.

California / Fitness Score: 98.2

City FitFest

Although San Fran doesnt have the highest good-health score (Madison took that one) or the lowest obesity percentage (Denver beat it out), it has the top activity score. Its the epicenter of fitness tech, with Apple, Fitbit, and Strava nearby. So maybe members of the tech community are stoking one anothers activity goals to crush it in the 3,413 acres of open space and more than 220 parks where residents can run, swim, bike, throw a Frisbee, or do any other kind of high-energy thing in a hilly city built between the ocean and the bay.

Wisconsin / Fitness Score: 92.7

Stephanie Hager - HagerPhotoGetty Images

Madisons five lakes provide residents with year-round fitness: ice skating and fishing in the winter; swimming, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding (and even SUP polo) in the summer. The city also has the second-highest activity score and the second-highest heart-health score.

Washington / Fitness Score: 92.5

Donald MiralleGetty Images

Seattle has a striking 485-plus parksand theyre not all open fields and blacktop loops. Gas Works Park weaves green space and trails through the remnants of a former industrial complex.

Colorado / Fitness Score: 90.8

Helen H. Richardson/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty ImagesGetty Images

According to ClassPass, a service connecting users to local fitness classes, Denvers top three are at High Ride Cycle, CorePower Yoga, and barre3. Combine that with a strong culture of mountain biking, hiking, and backcountry skiing and you can feel this city sweat.

California / Fitness Score: 87.8

Parks and nature preserves abound here, and one stretch of Solana Beach attracts a very high concentration of cyclists, reports Strava, an activity fitness tracker. The 1.2-kilometer path is wedged between the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve and Nature Center and Swamis State Marine Conservation Area.

California / Fitness Score: 87.3

Donald MiralleGetty Images

Runners light up Strava along the Rancho San Antonio County Park, Stanford Dish, and Guadalupe River trails. All that cardio explains this citys first-place heart-health score.

Utah / Fitness Score: 86.5

UniversalImagesGroupGetty Images

Along the base of the Wasatch Range resides rock-hard fitness. Downtown boasts Salt Lake City CrossFit, Ute CrossFit Sugarhouse, Brickwall CrossFit, Kirin CrossFit, and . . . you get the point.

Minnesota / Fitness Score: 86.4

Raymond BoydGetty Images

A high overall-health score and a low obesity percentage push this city upward despite its lower activity score. The Minneapolis area is home to the Mayo Clinic, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, the University of Minnesota Medical Center, and other ranked hospitals.

Vermont / Fitness Score: 84.2

Robert NickelsbergGetty Images

Within striking distance of ski resorts such as Stowe, Smugglers Notch, and Bolton Valley, Burlington is bustling come snow season. But nearby Lake Champlain also makes it a fishing, kayaking, and sailing destination.

Maine / Fitness Score: 83.3

Portland Press HeraldGetty Images

Leading the U. S., this city has 18 breweries per 50,000 residents. Luckily, theres no shortage of ways to work off carbs. Portland has 66 parks, 30 playgrounds, ten community gardens, and miles of walking and biking trails.

Colorado / Fitness Score: 82.1

Chris GraythenGetty Images

Going for a hike here means huffing and puffing through the towering Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, or Broadmoor Seven Falls. The city claims 9,000-plus acres of parkland and 500 acres of trails.

Connecticut / Fitness Score: 80.1

DenisTangneyJrGetty Images

Theyre yoga-crazed here, with four of Bridgeports top five ClassPass signups belonging to local studio Black Rock Yoga. Plus, the city has the sixth-lowest obesity percentage.

California / Fitness Score: 78.3

Courtesy of InstaPhysique

Theres plenty of yoga happening in Sacramento, too, reports ClassPass, but also hot Pilates, stationary-cycling classes, and InstaPhysique, which centers on the Megaformer, a fitness device.

Idaho / Fitness Score: 77.9

The Washington PostGetty Images

Credit this citys commitment to building a network for walkers, runners, and cyclists. Its Ridge to Rivers laces 190 miles of trails from the Boise Peak down to the Boise Foothills. Twenty-five miles of separate Greenbelt pathways slink along both sides of the Boise River.

Montana / Fitness Score: 77.4

Gary TognoniGetty Images

Find the top ClassPass classes at Black Orchid Yoga + Cycle and Billings Kettlebell Club. Strava reports heavy use of Swords Park for cyclists and Black Otter Trail for runners. Both routes take advantage of Billingss 47 parks, which total 1,183 acres.

California / Fitness Score: 76.1

LeoPatriziGetty Images

Along a three-block stretch of West Third Street in Beverly Hills, there are ten fitness studios alone. Three blocks. This concentration of cardiovascular activity is indicative of the larger commitment L. A. as a whole has to group activity.

NorthCarolina / Fitness Score: 74.6

bryanreganGetty Images

Although Durham has numerous other running and cycling paths, a standout is the American Tobacco Trail, which has a very high volume of runners and riders, per Strava. The trail stretches over 22 miles through the city of Durham while also connecting to Chatham and Wake counties.

Hawaii / Fitness Score: 73.7

Marco GarciaGetty Images

You may think that natives just sunbathe all day, but ClassPass shows a strong interest in yoga, barre, and Pilates. Strava runners hit Diamond Head Beach Park.

Nevada / Fitness Score: 72.9

Anacleto RappingGetty Images

Gamble by night, run by day? Strava reports that the Truckee River Walk, Idlewild Park, Ophir Peak, Mayberry Park, and the Flume Trail are popular running routes for its users in and around the city.

20. Virginia Beach

Virginia / Fitness Score: 72.5

ABEMOSGetty Images

A three-mile boardwalk along the Atlantic Ocean collects runners panting through the fresh salt air, and the many trails in First Landing State Park and Shore Drive also draw a high volume of Strava cyclists.

21. VIRGINIA BEACH, VA / Fitness Score 72.45 22. OAKLAND, CA (72.3) 23. ALBUQUERQUE, NM (72.05) 24. PORTLAND, OR (69.9) 25. FARGO, ND (69.8) 26. WASHINGTON, DC (69.45) 27. MANCHESTER, NH (69.15) 28. LINCOLN, NE (68.5) 29. BOSTON, MA (68.0) 30. TUCSON, AZ (64.8)

31. FRESNO, CA / Fitness Score 63.9 32. ST. PETERSBURG, FL (63.6) 33. Raleigh, NC (63.5) 34. STOCKTON, CA (61.8) 35. ANCHORAGE, AK (60.5) 36. ATLANTA, GA (60.15) 37. SIOUX FALLS, SD (59.7) 38. CHICAGO, IL (59.5) 39. CHEYENNE, WY (58.2) 40. GREENSBORO, NC (58.05)

41. ST. PAUL, MN / Fitness Score 58.05 42. PITTSBURGH, PA (56.95) 43. RIVERSIDE, CA (56.8) 44. NASHVILLE-DAVIDSON, TN (55.8) 45. NEW YORK, NY (55.45) 46. JERSEY CITY, NJ (54.65) 47. AUSTIN, TX (54.3) 48. PHOENIX, AZ (54.05) 49. BUFFALO, NY (52.9) 50. DES MOINES, IA (50.65)

51. CHARLOTTE, NC / Fitness Score 49.4 52. NORFOLK, VA (48.85) 53. MILKWAUKEE, WI (48.4) 54. KANSAS CITY, MO (47.45) 55. PLANO, TX (47.05) 56. NEWARK, NJ (45.7) 57. MIAMI, FL (45.6) 58. WINSTON-SALEM, NC (44.55) 59. OMAHA, NE (43.8) 60. TAMPA, FL (42.65)

61. CINCINNATI, OH / Fitness Score 39.15 62. CLEVELAND, OH (39.05) 63. PROVIDENCE, RI (39.05) 64. ORLANDO, FL (37.65) 65. NEW ORLEANS, LA (37.1) 66. LEXINGTON-FAYETTE, KY (36.45) 67. BALTIMORE, MD (36.35) 68. LAREDO, TX (35.85) 69. WILMINGTON, DE (35.75) 70. RICHMOND, VA (35.6)

71. COLUMBIA, SC / Fitness Score 34.95 72. COLUMBUS, OH (33.8) 73. EL PASO, TX (33.3) 74. CHESAPEAKE, VA (33.15) 75. LUBBOCK, TX (31.6) 76. LAS VEGAS, NV (30.65) 77. ST. LOUIS, MO (28.45) 78. DALLAS, TX (27.75) 79. PHILADELPHIA, PA (27.7) 80. HOUSTON, TX (27.6)

81. JACKSONVILLE, FL / Fitness Score 25.05 82. LOUISVILLE/JEFFERSON COUNTY, KY (23.7) 83. INDIANAPOLIS CITY, IN (23.6) 84. WICHITA, KS (20.7) 85. SAN ANTONIO, TX (20.5) 86. FORT WAYNE, IN (19.9) 87. BATON ROUGE, LA (18.35) 88. BAKERSFIELD, CA (18.15) 89. LITTLE ROCK, AR (17.9) 90. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (15)

91. JACKSON, MS / Fitness Score 13.65 92. DETROIT, MI (11.7) 93. BIRMINGHAM, AL (11) 94. MEMPHIS, TN (9.95) 95. TOLEDO, OH (9.4) 96. FORT WORTH, TX (9.05) 97. TULSA, OK (8.85) 98. CHARLESTON, WV (7.9) 99. CORPUS CHRISTI, TX (3.55)

KAUAI, HI (D)

DEREK KAWAKAMI

I make time for my own self-maintenance, both physically and spiritually, incorporating mindfulness.

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MIAMI, FL (R)

JACOB FREY

As far as go-to-healthy snacks are concerned, there is only one: a banana-and-peanut-butter sandwich.

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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (R)

DAVID HOLT

My favorite exercise is shooting hoops by myself. I could do this for hours if I had the time. It clears my head.

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HARTFORD, CT (D)

LUKE BRONIN

I try to be calm and steady even when things get tough and to respond to frustration and anger by listening in a serious way.

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN (D)

FRANCIS SUAREZ

Once or twice a day, I drink a protein shake with creatine and unsaturated fats.

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The 20 Fittest Cities in America - Men's Health

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September 23rd, 2019 at 5:45 pm

Posted in Health and Fitness


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