Posts made in July 2020

Roger Stone Commuted By Trump

Leave a reply

By Eamonn Burke

Last Friday, President Donald Trump shocked the political world by commuting the sentence of his long time friend and former consultant to the president Roger Stone.

Stone, convicted in 2019 of seven charges related to Roger Mueller’s investigation of the 2016 election, was scheduled to report to a Georgia prison today until Trump set him free. He was set to serve a 40 month term with two years probation and a $20,000 fine. Stone has requested to delay the start date earlier on Friday but was denied, a ruling which was overpowered by Trumps pardoning.

Prosecutors of Stone accused him of hiding evidence about tampering from Russia in the 2016 election and lying to Congress, but White House secretary Kayleigh McEnany insists that “Roger Stone is a victim of the Russia Hoax” and that “There was never any collusion between the Trump Campaign, or the Trump Administration, with Russia.” According to her, Trump reasons that Stone deserves fair treatment and a chance to clear his name.

This comes after months of pressure from Stone’s allies and even Stone himself to pardon his sentence. It also follows many tweets from Trump that hinted at this commutation, calling it a “Witch Hunt”. Many were outraged, however, inflicting many Democrats and some Republicans including Senator Mitt Romney, who reflected the feelings of many in a tweet:

“Unprecedented, historic corruption: an American president commutes the sentence of a person convicted by a jury of lying to shield that very president.”

Meanwhile, Stone’s attorney tells Fox News that Stone is “honored” by this “act of mercy”.

Orville – “No Glory In The West”

Leave a reply

COUNTRY ARTIST ORVILLE PECK ANNOUNCES NEW EP SHOW PONY FEATURING DUET WITH GLOBAL ICON SHANIA TWAIN

NEW VIDEO FOR TRACK “NO GLORY IN THE WEST” OUT NOW

SHOW PONY AVAILABLE GLOBALLY ON AUGUST 14th Columbia Records is proud to announce Show Pony, the eagerly awaited EP from country artist and songwriter Orville Peck. The self-produced 6 track EP is an evolution of Peck’s debut album Pony, which was released in March 2019, and features all new songs including a duet with reigning Queen of Country Pop and Global Icon Shania Twain, as well as a cover of Bobbie Gentry’s “Fancy”. Show Pony will be available globally on August 14th; pre-order HERE.

Says Peck, “I loved my experience with Pony. However, Show Pony is a more confident perspective and allows me to share even more both lyrically and musically. Like all country albums, Show Pony is a little collection of stories – some sad, some happy – and I am excited for people to hear it. Working with Shania was a dream come true, her music made me feel empowered as a kid and was a huge influence on me.”

Peck also released another track and video, “No Glory in the West”. Directed by Isaiah Seret with narrative and creative direction by Peck and his creative director Carlos Santolalla, the video finds Orville and his horse traversing across a darkened, frozen landscape. The miles are endless, the nights are longer than the days and the silence hangs heavy. Listen to the song HERE and watch the video HERE.

Prior to “No Glory in the West” Peck released the Show Pony track “Summertime”. Whereas “Summertime” explores hope and the belief of perseverance and patience, “No Glory in the West” examines how exhausting that can be. Listen to “Summertime” HERE and watch the video HERE.

Track list:

1 Summertime
2 No Glory in the West
3 Drive Me, Crazy
4 Kids
5 Legends Never Die (duet with Shania Twain)
6 Fancy

Purchase/Stream “No Glory in the West”:

Connect With Orville At:

Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Homeless Pets Benefit

Leave a reply

Numerous musicians and celebrities are set to appear in “Songs to Save Them All: A Benefit for Homeless Pets,” a three-hour benefit concert for Best Friends Animal Society streaming on July 22, 7PM ET/4PM PT.

The event will livestream on Tiltify, Twitch, YouTube and Facebook, as well as at bestfriends.org/concert, and viewers will have the opportunity to donate to Best Friends Animal Society, which has a mission to make America no-kill by 2025.

Recording artists including Sam Nelson Harris from X Ambassadors, Amythyst Kiah, gnash, ZZ Ward, Natalie Taylor, Mondo Cozmo, Elah Hale, Aaron Frazer from Durand Jones and The Indications, Katie Toupin and others are scheduled to perform.

Celebrities including Amanda Seyfried, Justin Theroux, Kat Dennings, Bob Odenkirk, Cecily Strong, Zosia Mamet, and Cameron Monaghan are also expected to make appearances.

For many, the COVID-19 crisis has really deepened the bond they have with their pets, as Best Friends Animal Society CEO Julie Castle noted. “Pets are our best friends and members of our family, especially during this time of uncertainty. Our goal for this concert is to bring people together with a diverse, cross-section of musical talent to celebrate the ways that music and our love for our pets unite us, despite any differences, and to highlight the ways we can support homeless pets and our communities during this crisis, ” Castle said.

“This is such an absolutely unprecedented time in human history, and Best Friends is enormously grateful to all of the musicians, singers and songwriters who are sharing their time and talent with us this evening, along with so many familiar faces from film and television who are here to support our work,” Castle continued. “We are humbled and grateful. And together, we will Save Them All.”

Funds raised will help the organization with its life saving programming across the country, including collaboration with thousands of shelters and animal welfare groups. For more information, visit www.bestfriends.org.

Follow Best Friends Lifesaving Center: Facebook | Twitter

360 X AOHSOA

Leave a reply

Pop culture and design shape the global perspective. The highly anticipated venture with 360 Magazine and Creative Director Armon Hayes birthed through a rebranding during the Lockdown. It is an embodiment of coming out not in the same way you went in.

A capsule leading with love and embodiment of hope, the media publication and special assignment editor collaborate on a gender-neutral 4 piece offering, which includes 26 color palettes in an inclusive size run. It is available in athletic and slim blocks, crafted from ultra cotton. Excellent quality prints add a statement to a casual elegant appearance. These products are a fashion statement to anyone’s workout or everyday routine. The ultimate item in every active person’s wardrobe, the #FML capsule, now available on styleoface.com, is a direct reflection of 360 X AOHSOA audience, true to each brand’s street fashion aesthetic for which they are celebrated.

360 Magazine presents new wave brands, entities, and trends to tastemakers within their respective global communities, while also representing a movement of social awareness and change. It is very relevant to this time in history for black businesses to unify and solidify their presence within the market and industry we lead.

Trevor Daniel × Selena Gomez

Leave a reply

After much teasing on social media, the year’s newest pop duo favorite Trevor Daniel and Selena Gomez have released the official music video for “Past Life.” The video was directed by GRAMMY-nominated pair Vania Heymann and Gal Muggia and produced by Iconoclast. Trevor and Selena recorded the footage themselves — under quarantine — and the incredibly production team built upon the photos using CGI to create a one of a kind surrealist experience for fans.

An outsider might perceive Trevor Daniel’s rise as an overnight catapult of stratospheric proportions, but the Houston,TX singer has been quietly carving a career in music since his teens. From learning to produce beats in his bedroom to attracting hit-making heavyweights with his artful bridge of electro-R&B and balladic pop, Daniel created his own wave to ride to the top. When Hurricane Harvey devastated the city, then 22-year-old Daniel was forced to evacuate his family home with just music equipment in tow — returning later to find the house flooded in chest-deep water. Within a week of the calamity, he had quit his day job at a men’s suits store, newly determined to pursue music full-time.

Almost a year after the release of his debut EP, Homesick, the 25-year-old reached number one on the US Viral 50 with the project’s first single “Falling” — a track that entered Top 40 in over 20 countries, peaking at #4 on U.S. Pop Radio and #18 on Billboard Hot 100. Trevor’s ethereal vocals over a trap-infused downbeat already primed listeners for the repeat button, but it was Daniel’s lyrical prowess that sparked their imagination. Soon, pop sensation Blackbear and R&B darling Summer Walker sought to remix the track. Trevor’s “Falling” went on to become RIAA Certified 2x Platinum. Now at the helm of a debut major release, Nicotine (Alamo/Interscope Records), the young artist is seeking to solidify his position as a mainstay music maker.

Follow Trevor Daniel: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

Follow Selena Gomez: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

Grandson of Elvis Dead By Suicide

Leave a reply

By Eamonn Burke

The body of Benjamin Keough, grandson of Elvis Presley, was found in Calabasas on Sunday and his death was ruled a suicide by gunshot. Keough, 27, bore a strong resemblance to his superstar grandfather, and is survived by his father Danny Keough (also a musician), three sisters, and his mother Lisa Marie Presley.

Presley, who had just recently posted a photo of her and her children, is “completely heartbroken, inconsolable and beyond devastated but trying to stay strong for her 11-year-old twins and her oldest daughter Riley,” according to Keough’s rep, Roger Widynowski.

Hotboii – “Anonymous”

Leave a reply

Hotboii PREMIERES new single & video “ANONYMOUS” with LPB Poody

Today, 19-year-old Orlando rapper Hotboii releases “Anonymous,” a high-powered collaboration with LPB Poody. Accompanied by a masterfully shot video, “Anonymous” is available now through all digital retailers HERE.

With its piano-driven beat, “Anonymous” is a triumphant showcase for Hotboii’s dynamic flow and high-impact delivery. Made by DrewFilmedIt, the “Anonymous” video gives an up-close look into Hotboii’s world, revealing his undeniable charisma as well as the raw emotion behind his music.

Check out the video for “Anonymous” by Hotboii with LPB Poody HERE.

Hailing from West Orlando, Hotboii is one of the most exciting new rappers to emerge from his hometown’s scene. After getting his start at age 15, he discovered a natural talent and soon began using music as an emotional outlet. As one of 17 siblings, Hotboii felt an incredible drive to establish himself as an industry heavyweight and lay the groundwork for a long-lasting career.

Earlier this year, he achieved breakout success with his full-length debut Kut da Fan On — a powerhouse 17-track album that accumulated millions of streams within the first month of its release. Arriving in May, Kut da Fan on features hit tracks like “Goat Talk” (now at over 4.2 million streams in the U.S.) and “Don’t Need Time” (now at over 6 million streams in the U.S.).

For more information on Hotboii, visit HERE.

Marvel Made Platform

Leave a reply

Today, Marvel Entertainment unveiled the launch of MARVEL MADE, a new online platform powered by ReedPOP that will offer an exclusive line of prestige Marvel products made to super-serve Marvel’s biggest fans. MARVEL MADE is live now, launching with a limited-edition enamel pin set and collector’s notebook bundle featuring art by Eisner Award-winning artist and comic book veteran Skottie Young!

“Going back to its roots with Stan Lee, Marvel has always had a direct connection with its fans,” said Dan Buckley, President of Marvel Entertainment. “Marvel Made continues that tradition by providing all True Believers with exciting and truly unique high-end collectibles that could only be created by the House of Ideas.”

Driven by demand from Marvel’s fan community, each new MARVEL MADE product will be released on a limited-time basis throughout the year. These products, all inspired by Marvel’s most iconic Super Heroes, will be made in collaboration with Marvel’s top industry partners and will be available for purchase through a mix of limited runs, flash sales, and minimum pre-orders.

“Over the years, Marvel fans have gotten more and more excited to collect the high-end exclusive merchandise we offer at conventions, festivals, and other special events, and we’ve received more requests than ever from our diehard fans for more ways to celebrate the Marvel Universe,” said Mike Pasciullo, VP, Marvel Marketing & Communications. “Marvel Made is the next step in the evolution of our convention merchandise, which will expand that sense of community and deepen our relationship with fans – all while offering the same level of quality and exclusivity our fans know and love. We can’t wait to unveil the rest of these items in the coming months.”

Special MARVEL MADE products will also be created in collaboration with some of Marvel’s most accomplished talent across the company, connecting Marvel fans even closer with their favorite Marvel creators. For its inaugural product, MARVEL MADE is releasing a limited run of 2,500 MARVEL MADE SKOTTIE YOUNG PREMIER BUNDLES, available until August 7 or until supplies last!

The MARVEL MADE SKOTTIE YOUNG PREMIER BUNDLE ($199 + tax and shipping, limit 2 per customer, production limited to 2,500) includes:

* A limited-edition brand-new base set of ten enamel pins, featuring Black Widow, Captain America, Iron Man, Captain Marvel, and more
* Five additional bundle-exclusive enamel pins, featuring debut designs for Carnage (from Marvel Comics’ Absolute Carnage), Jean Grey (from Marvel Comics’ House of X), Advanced Suit Spider-Man (from Marvel’s Spider-Man video game), and more
* An oversized hardcover notebook (8 ½” x 11”) with facsimile artboard sketch pages and a cover featuring an original illustration of the Advanced Suit Spider-Man, from Marvel’s Spider-Man video game
* An exclusive Marvel Made Skottie Young variant cover of Excalibur #1, written by Tini Howard

MARVEL MADE Blind Boxes will also be available at launch for $30, which includes two random limited-edition enamel pins from Skottie Young’s MARVEL MADE exclusive base set. Previously only available at select pop culture conventions, these Premier Bundles and Blind Boxes mark the first time these types of pins have been directly available to True Believers online. Fans can collect the entire brand-new base set by purchasing any number of MARVEL MADE Blind Boxes!

“Ever since we started the pin sets five years ago, it’s been so rewarding to see how excited fans get to see their Marvel Super Heroes come to life. I never expected these pins to take off like they did, and I’m floored each time they run out at a convention.” said Young. “As a comic book writer and artist, I love sharing my passion for comics anywhere I can, and I hope fans will feel the same when they get the chance to show off these new pins from Marvel Made!”

Building upon the legacy of Marvel Comics, every MARVEL MADE purchase will include an exclusive variant comic book tied to some of Marvel’s most popular comic books today. These variant comics – which can’t be found anywhere else – will feature stunning cover art from the most talented artists in the industry. And as a special reward, the first 1,000 fans to order a MARVEL MADE SKOTTIE YOUNG PREMIER BUNDLE will also receive an additional limited-edition Excalibur #1 sketch variant comic book by Skottie Young!

Marvel Mastercard cardholders will also be eligible for an exclusive X-Men/Fantastic Four #1 MARVEL MADE variant by Skottie Young with the purchase of a MARVEL MADE SKOTTIE YOUNG PREMIER BUNDLE.

To embed the first look at Marvel Made on your site, please watch HERE

About Marvel Entertainment

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.

About ReedPOP

Reedpop is a boutique group within Reed Exhibitions – the world’s leading events organizer. Launched in 2006, the group has become the number one producer of pop culture events across the globe as well as a full service digital content provider and media company. Delivering once-in-a-lifetime fan experiences curated specifically for localized
audiences, Reedpop currently features events in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, including: New York Comic Con (NYCC), Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), PAX West, East, South, and Unplugged, Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC), Star Wars Celebration, MCM Comic Con, Eurogamer Expo (EGX), Comic-Con Paris, BookCon, Comic-Con Seoul, Comic-Con Africa, Minecraft Festival, ComplexCon, and more. In addition to organizing and managing events, Reedpop also runs and operates the Gamer Network and its portfolio of leading gaming websites including Eurogamer, Rock Paper Shotgun, and GamesIndustry.Biz. The staff at Reedpop is a fan-based, globally focused group of professionals that are uniquely qualified to build and serve the communities with whom they share a common passion.

Brain Cancer Gene Identified

Leave a reply

Scientists have identified an oncogene (a cancer-causing gene) responsible for glioblastoma, the deadliest brain tumor. The discovery offers a promising new treatment target for a cancer that is always fatal.

The researchers say the oncogene is essential to the survival of the cancer cells. Without it, the cancer cells die. Scientists have already developed many targeted therapies for other cancers with a similar “oncogene addiction.”

“Glioblastoma is one of the most deadly cancers. Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment option for the disease. The current standard option, radiation plus temozolomide, which displayed a 2.5-month better survival rate, was hailed as a great success. Clearly, better understanding and new therapeutic targets are urgently needed,” said researcher Hui Li, PhD, of the University of Virginia School of Medicine. “The novel oncogene we discovered promises to be an Achilles’ heel of glioblastoma, with its specific targeting potentially an effective approach for the treatment of the disease.”

Targeting Glioblastoma

Oncogenes are naturally occurring genes that spiral out of control and cause cancer. The oncogene Li and his colleagues identified, AVIL, normally helps cells maintain their size and shape. But the gene can be shifted into overdrive by a variety of factors, the researchers found. This causes cancer cells to form and spread.

Blocking the gene’s activity completely destroyed glioblastoma cells in lab mice but had no effect on healthy cells. This suggests targeting the gene could be an effective treatment option.

“AVIL is overexpressed in 100% of glioblastoma cells and clinical samples, and is expressed at even higher level in so-called glioblastoma stem cells, but hardly expressed in normal cells and tissues,” said Li, of UVA’s Department of Pathology. “Silencing the gene wiped out glioblastoma cells in culture and prevented animal xenografts, while having no effect on normal control cells. Clinically, high AVIL expression correlates with worse patient outcome. These findings and classic transformation assays proved AVIL being a bona fide oncogene.”

Identifying Oncogenes

Identifying an oncogene, as Li and his colleagues have done, is an important step toward developing a treatment. But identifying oncogenes is very difficult. The environment inside cells is so complex that it’s hard to determine cause-and-effect.

Li and his team weren’t even working on glioblastoma when they first caught the scent that led to the discovery. Instead, they were studying a rare childhood cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma. (Childhood cancers typically are easier to understand and involve fewer mutations than adult cancers.)

During their research, the scientists discovered an abnormality in the AVIL gene. That prompted them to examine adult cancers to see if the gene could be contributing there. And it was. The researchers concluded the gene plays a “critical role” in glioblastoma, they report in a new scientific paper outlining their findings.

Li and his team believe their approach can be used to discover other oncogenes – hopefully leading to new treatments for a variety of cancers.

“In this day and age, many people thought that all the significant oncogenes have been discovered, Here we uncovered a novel, powerful oncogene and elucidated its signaling pathways, all starting from studying a structure variant in pediatric cancer. In the past, numerous significant discoveries in cancer also stemmed from studying pediatric tumors,” Li said. “We believe this is a strategy that can be applied to find novel players in other adult cancers.”

Glioblastoma Findings Published

The researchers have published their findings in the scientific journal Nature Communications. The research team consisted of Zhongqiu Xie, Pawel Ł. Janczyk, Ying Zhang, Aiqun Liu, Xinrui Shi, Sandeep Singh, Loryn Facemire, Kristopher Kubow, Zi Li, Yuemeng Jia, Dorothy Schafer, James W. Mandell, Roger Abounader and Li.

The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute, grant CA240601, and Stand Up To Cancer, grant SU2C-AACR-IRG0409.

To keep up with the latest medical research news from UVA, subscribe to the Making of Medicine blog.

Follow UVA School of Medicine: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Naya Rivera’s Sudden Death

Leave a reply

Former “Glee” actress Naya Rivera tragically died in a selfless act to save her four year old son.

By Gabriella Scerbo

Authorities reveal that Rivera’s body was found on Monday, July 13th on Lake Piru in Ventura County, California. The performer had been missing since Wednesday, July 8th.

Rivera’s son, Josey, told authorities that “he looked back and saw her disappear under the surface of the water”. The mother and son had been swimming, and although nothing is certain, there were many currents in the lake that particular morning.

A probable cause is that the unanchored boat started drifting, and Rivera managed to get her son on the boat, but lost energy to get herself back on the boat. No foul play or any suspicious activity was reported by local authorities. Lake Piru has had several drowning incidents in the past. Following her tragic death, many fans have made petitions to designate certain areas that are not safe for swimming, and to put up warning signs.

Rivera’s ex-husband, Ryan Dorsey and the “Glee” cast were seen gathering at Lake Piru in honor of Rivera and her talents both on and off the screen. Not only was she an incredible performer, actress and entertainer who touched the heart of many with her fearless attitude and overall spunk, she was an amazing mother and person to many.

‘In an emotional message, the creators of #Glee paid tribute to Naya Rivera and revealed their plan to create a college fund “for the beautiful son Naya loves most of all.”‘ – E!News Twitter