Monthly Archives: September 2021

Attendees of a Chinese entertainment industry symposium have been told to ensure they act with morality in both public and private, amid an intensive government crackdown on cultural sectors.

The meeting on Tuesday in Beijing, with the theme of Love the party, love the country, advocate morality and art, was attended by senior Communist party officials, who laid out new regulations on industry practice and the behaviour of celebrities, state media reported.

The symposium included an address by the head of Chinas broadcast regulator, the National Radio and Television Administration, and gathered members of the television, radio, and online entertainment sector, who were told they must abide by social ethics, personal morality and family virtues.

According to state media reports, attendees heard they must ensure they consciously abandon vulgar and kitsch inferior tastes, and consciously oppose the decadent ideas of money worship, hedonism, and extreme individualism.

In recent weeks, the authorities have banned some reality shows, restricted social media fan culture, and ordered broadcasters to resist abnormal aesthetics such as sissy men. They have also targeted what they deem to be vulgar influencers, stars inflated pay and performers with lapsed morals.

The symposium heard from actors, directors and playwrights who spoke in support of the regulations.

As a Chinese in the new era, a Chinese actor, and a Chinese literary and art worker, it is very necessary to understand ones own direction, determine the meaning of ones responsibilities, manage well ones words and deeds, and improve ones personal morality, said the actor Zhang Tong, according to state media.

It is our creators duty to do every work simply and unadornedly, and to pass positive energy silently to the audience, said Zhang Yongxin, a director.

The entertainment sector is the latest to be targeted by Chinas government. The tech industry, including leading business people such as Jack Ma, has faced waves of regulatory changes and investigations. Online gaming has been strictly curtailed, in the name of protecting children, and social media companies have been ordered to rectify chaos in celebrity fandom including banning lists that rank people or productions by popularity.

Several high-profile celebrities have been targeted in recent weeks. The actor Zheng Shuang was fined $46m for tax evasion last month, about the same time that the actor and Fendi brand ambassador Zhao Wei had her name removed from all works on major entertainment platforms. Zhang Zhehan was similarly punished and de-platformed after old photos of the actor resurfaced showing him visiting the Yasukuni war shrine in Japan, sparking online nationalist rhetoric.

Additional reporting by Xiaoqian Zhu

The rest is here:

Chinese celebrities warned over morality in cultural crackdown - The Guardian

There are a handful of deeply ingrained rituals to mark the passage of time. Among those sacraments, nothing heralds the end of summer more sentimentally than sitting waterside to watch the sunset, cocktail in hand. There are a few spots that manifest serenity the sound of the ocean lapping at the shore but Howard Wharf is all about the bustle. The Reef monopolizes the dock, with room for people who have front row seats to take in both a dramatic skyline and a bevy of extravagant boats in for the evening. Potted palm trees mark the edges of the patio as onlookers to the Earths rotation sit entranced, tequila on standby.

Cool as a Cucumber Cocktail. Photography by Angel Tucker.

Nights at the Reef begin like a Caribbean vacation: sun is high in the sky, toddlers subdued with sippy cups and everyone shows up in shorts or casual kaftans. The staff has walked right out from a Below Deck episode, wearing khaki short-shorts and navy polo shirts, embroidered with liquor logos on the sleeve. Everyone is young and radiantly sun-kissed, hair pulled back as a sign to someone that theyre on duty. This is a party for all ages and, while the seasonally changing menu is leaning toward an international approach, the mood is entirely American. Hedonism filters through in myriad ways but five oclock somewhere is the unspoken mantra, with tequila coolers and frozen mudslides parading out in technicolor and chocolate swirls ($12). So pronounced is the philosophy that, when one seemingly health-conscious woman asks what drinks are available without alcohol, a stumped server stares skyward before saying, I think weve got one non-alcoholic beer. (Restraint is not a familiar refrain.)

Big kid mac and cheese with elbow pasta, four cheese blend, cream, garlic and bread crumbs. Photography by Angel Tucker.

Eventually, people get around to eating and the Reef is intent on diners losing all sense of place and time. Flags from around the world hang at the front door and the kitchen draws from a variety of inspirations Italy, Greece, Japan in an effort to prove that deck-dwelling is a universal pastime. Some dishes focus on light summer fare (chilled shellfish with cocktail sauce or Old Bay mayo) but the goal is to recreate a day at the beach and, accordingly, many small plates come out of the fryer with a mission to manifest summer in its primary form. Chickpea fries ($14) and empanadas ($14), served with dipping sauce, bear more than a passing resemblance to fries from the snack shack. Plates of crunchy calamari, New England style ($16) or in tamari vinaigrette, suddenly taste less imported and more like the sun beating down on your face on a tropical island far from social media and everything it stands for. True, youre in the center of Newport; but this is a getaway as long as you keep your back to Thames Street.

Connecticut-style lobster roll with warm garlic butter and a toasted brioche bun. Photography by Angel Tucker.

Entrees are more ambitious in their approach, but the kitchen never veers too far from a clambake or a seafood boil. Lobster sandwiches ($28) are served cold or hot and drenched in butter, the embodiment of summers best. Salmon is seared in Moroccan spices ($30), sitting on top of quinoa and cool tzatziki, while scallops are paired with chilled cauliflower puree and smoky chorizo ($34). The equation is similar: mild fish punctuated by aggressive herbs compelling but not too far off the familiar course. Not surprisingly, steaks ($34) make an appearance for the masses as do sticky ribs ($17) for those who double down on heat. Tack on some skewers of chicken satay in rum-laced peanut sauce ($16) and youll come to realize that the Reef is handling an upscale barbecue for 200 people, spread across a dining room and two patios.

Polenta fries. Photography by Angel Tucker.

But the restaurant is not out to re-envision al fresco dining. In fact, the adult mac and cheese ($18) is a testament to their commitment to revisiting memories of years past. Even at 80 degrees, diners hover over small steaming cauldrons of molten cheese that pulls out in theatrical strings. Reactions lean toward the overdramatic, as if a dish that fell out of your childhood couldnt possibly live in the same realm as the exalted view. But its all an exercise in equally distributed privilege, and the prismatic horizon belongs to everyone who manages to get a table.

Photography by Angel Tucker.

The Reef has struggled with the same staffing predicament of most restaurants post-pandemic, but the setting sun is an intoxicant that keeps most complaints at bay. Even guests waiting for a check stare absent-mindedly at the mural unfolding in the distance. Remind me to bring my kids next time, says an exuberant mom on a night off. Its too beautiful for anyone to notice them running around.

As the hours wear on into nightfall, the restaurant does assume the air of an outdoor wedding winding down. Staff takes on a second shift, shuffling tables to accommodate larger groups in search of a nightcap. Those still seated gravitate toward dessert, which doesnt aspire to anything other than old school sweets to close out the evening. They do just as much to reassure the crowd that the Reef is trying to recreate a stellar memory and not introduce a new experience. Theres a reason that Rhode Island takes pride in its coastline its a prized possession that gets better with each Adirondack chair, each lobster roll and each spiked lemonade served at twilight. If youre lucky enough to get a seat on a clear night, grab it for as long as you can. Summer is finite and these are hours that we store away to extricate and embrace long after the warm weather has left us.

10 Howard Wharf, Newport, 324-5852, thereefnewport.com.Open Wed.Sun. for lunch, Tues.Sun. for dinner. Wheelchair accessible. Lot parking.Cuisine An elevated day at the beach.Capacity About 300 indoors, 300 outdoors.Vibe Surfer boy meets Lilly Pulitzer.Prices Appetizers $9$18; entrees $13$38; dessert $12.Karens picks Rhody basics: calamari, lobster roll, scallops, cocktails and refills.

Originally posted here:

At the Reef in Newport, Summer's Always on the Menu - Rhode Island Monthly

Lorde performs at the iHeartRadio Beach Ball in 2017. Andrew Chin/Getty Images

Lorde recently told Vogue her albums can be distinguished by drugs she was using at the time.

She said "Pure Heroine" is alcohol, "Melodrama" is MDMA, and "Solar Power" is cannabis.

Lorde previously said "Solar Power" started as a "big acid record," but then she had a bad trip.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Lorde recently discussed her reclusive creative process in her October cover story for Vogue, including the influences she's been under during each era.

As paraphrased by Vogue's Rob Haskell, the 24-year-old pop star revealed "her albums can be distinguished by the drugs she was using when making them."

Her 2013 debut "Pure Heroine," which deals with themes of teen angst and suburban isolation, was shaped by Lorde's early experiences with alcohol. Several songs seem to take place at drunken house parties, including the fan-favorite track "Ribs," which begins, "The drink you spilt all over me."

Perhaps most interestingly, Lorde said her 2017 second album "Melodrama" is associated with MDMA, an abbreviation for the drug commonly known as ecstasy. It's also known as "Molly" in some circles, particularly for those who use it as a party stimulant.

In her filmed "73 Questions" interview with Vogue, published in July, Lorde said the emotion that's most central to "Melodrama" is "ecstasy." The tracklist was designed to mirror a kaleidoscopic evening of post-heartbreak hedonism.

According to a 2019 study at the University of Exeter, people who take ecstasy report feeling "significantly greater emotional empathy" and are better at identifying others' emotions, compared with those who use other popular drugs like cocaine and ketamine.

Finally, Lorde's most recent release, "Solar Power," is linked to cannabis - "not bong hits in the bedroom so much as gummies on a bluff at sunset," Haskell wrote.

Story continues

Lorde previously told The New York Times' Joe Coscarelli that she originally set out to make a "big acid record."

"I had, like, one bad acid experience with this album, and I was like, 'Meh, it's a weed album.' It's one of my great weed albums," she said.

Lorde alludes to cannabis in the album's third single, "Mood Ring," which she has described as a satire of wellness culture ("We can get high but only if the wind blows just right").

You can read Insider's review of "Solar Power" here and our breakdown of all the details you may have missed here.

Read the original article on Insider

Excerpt from:

Lorde reveals she was on MDMA while making 'Melodrama' and says each of her albums can be distinguished by drugs she was using at the time - Yahoo...

Welcome to the weekend! Last chance for Fun Um Glacis, get your grape on in Grevenmacher, join commune festivals or get your kids to a reading corner. The choice is yours.

1. Have Fun um Glacis

What:funfair, rides, food, all the good stuffWhere:Glacis, 1628LuxembourgWhen:until Sunday 12.09.21, infohere

While this isdefinitely notanewattraction, residents might be convinced to go this yearsSchueberfouerstand-in as it draws to a close.With a decentselection of rides this writer did NOT expect to be shook by the 80m carousel but shook she was as well as food and restaurants, the smaller Fun Um Glacis still gives offSchueberfouervibes, without the extreme crowding, which isactually quitenice.However, if you are going for a meal, I would recommend either booking a table or going outside busy hours as waiting times can get quite long.

What:Wine Festival Where:Place dumarch, 6755Grevenmacher When:Friday 10.09.21 Sunday 12.09.21, infohere

Although this might sound like a not safe for kids event, theGrevenmacherDrauwen- anWinfest promises much more than justoozyboozy hedonism. The town on the banks of the Moselle also boasts music, a processiondipped in folklore, andlast but not least,their very own Wine Queen, who will be joined by both princesses and Bacchus himself. Go for the wine, stay for the scenery,the atmosphere, the traditionalflairand the people. AndperhapstheCrmant.

3. Consumethe culinary traditions of China visually

What:Art Exhibition Where:Concept-store Jacques Schneider, Centre commercial Cloche dOr When:09.09.21 30.09.21, infohere

Okay, sowhileI agree it would be amazing to have a free feast at our disposal, this is unfortunately not possible(at leastat this point in time). In the absence thereof,we have the next best thing:Luxembourg Universitys Confucius Institute has organised a visual journey through the rich culinary traditions of Chinas many and multifarious regions. Througha combination ofcolours,cartoonsand spices,3 artiststickle the senses,illustratelocal delicacies and unearth the cultural meaning of food.

4. Watch Julia play

What:Theatre Performance Where:1Rond-point Schuman, 2525 Luxembourg When:10.09.21 at 8pm (75 minutes)

Brazilianauhor, theatre directorand film makerChristianeJatahypartners up with PassagesTransfestivals2021in a play that revolves around the interplay betweenpolitics, love,powerand domination in modern-day Brazil. In the spirit of the festival,Jatahyputs together a piece that spans artistic disciplines, combining theatre and cinema in a personal interpretation of Swedish author August Strindbergs 1888 textMiss Julia.

5. Explorecommune festivals across the Grand Duchy

What:Music, art,theatreand street performances Where:Ettelbrck, Strassen orPtange When:11.09.21 from2pm onwards, seehereorhere

Ever wondered what Brooklyn andEttelbrckhave in common? Turns out its not just a tenuous portmanteau (just kidding, I love it) but also a passion for arts, crafts, and performance. Immerse yourself in food, fun,toysand trinkets, and be transported to citiesfar beyond the reaches of the Grand Duchy.(Although I have never been to Brooklyn and thus cannot confirm the similarity between thesetwo in particular, Iam convincedthe resemblance is uncanny!)

Another American themed event will be happening inPtangeacross 3 days, with Swing, Rockabilly and Country & Blues music and other festivities. Infohere.

For something a little closer to the city centre, try theStroossefestival!Inits10thedition, you can check it outhereor on Facebook.

Whoever says Luxembourg has little to offer is sorely mistaken.

What:Reading corner for kids Where:CourdelancienneBibliothqueNationale,9 Rue Notre Dame,2240 Luxembourg When:11.09.21 from 11am 12pm

Right next to Notre Dame Cathedral, theCitBibliothquehas set up anopen-airreading corner, complete with books, sofas, and atmospheric lights (it looks cosy as hell).A series of authors both Luxembourgish and from abroad are scheduled to read on a number of topics, including travel, comics, diversity and food, to the younger generations of the Bourg. This week Luxembourgish national Christiane Kremerwill be doing the honours. You need to email to book, and more information on how to do sohere.

7. Sports and Games festival

What:Family friendly festival organised by local clubs Where:old football field,Hosingen When:11.09.21 12.09.21 from 11am to 6pm- infohere

If youre looking for games, face painting, and sporting eventsfor all the family, look no further (cough cough) thanHosingen. Local clubs have organised the event and will be providing food and drinkfor freeee.

Have we missed anything? Let us know contenttoday@rtl.lu

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What's On September 10 - September 13 : 7 things to do in and around Luxembourg this weekend - RTL Today