Category Archives: Trance

Hes better known for stepping out on stage and providing some of the most memorable British pop moments in recent memory, but now Robbie Williams is swapping the microphone and the spotlight for an easel as he presents his first ever exhibition.

Williams and his creative partner, Ed Godrich, are presenting an exhibition of their black-and-white paintings and curating a sale at Sothebys that will feature some of their favourite artists, including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Grayson Perry and Damien Hirst.

The pairs love of street art, which created their bond and inspired their paintings, is the thread that runs through their exhibition and the sale.

Godrich and Williamss Black and White Paintings exhibition will be on show at Sothebys New Bond Street galleries from 13-25 May, while their Contemporary Curated sale runs from 22-28 April and includes works by graffiti writer turned art world star Basquiat, and street artist Richard Hambleton.

The pair describe the Canadian-born New York-based Hambleton who uses brushes and black paint in pots to create immense human shadows as the daddy of them all and a huge influence on their work. He was at the forefront of a revolution that has continued to this day. To own a Richard Hambleton, acknowledges your deep understanding of street art, they said.

Williams and Godrich, who co-founded the interior architecture studio Godrich Interiors, said they went into a meditative trance-like state when they created their own work, and that it was not uncommon for them to forget painting certain parts of the canvas.

There are references to so many things buried in the layers of each work, some private, some not. On closer inspection each viewer will perceive the content in a totally different way, they said.

In total, 14 of the duos works will be on display at the exhibition, with Williams and Godrich creating the paintings while listening to music (often Annie Macs DJ sets) in their Los Angeles studio that they share.

Other work in their curated sale includes the spot painting, 2- Hydroxypyridine by Damien Hirst, whom they describe as a mischievous scamp, and Grayson Perrys self-portrait ceramics piece Him and Her. The intriguing thing about this piece is it covers so many areas of Graysons creativity. We all need a ceramic of Grayson and a pink creature in our lives, they said. Without Grayson, it all feels a fraction normal.

Williams, an early investor in Banksy, has dabbled in the art market before. In January he put up three works by Banksy from his private collection for a combined estimate of 10m. At the time he said the aim of selling Girl with Balloon, Vandalised Oils (Choppers) and Kissing Coppers was to free up space to be able to buy new art from new people and help fund his own work.

The former Take That singer first told fans about his love for art in 2011. In a blog post on his official website, he said that he was inspired by Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol and had taken up the practice during the groups down time.

Williams reportedly created 40 large works during the Covid-19 lockdowns, and recently sold greetings card-sized artworks to help promote his new gallery, which doubles as a nightclub that he described as the opposite of Studio 54, which was exclusive and pretentious.

Godrich and Williams said: We are proud of what we have created and it is time to share what has been coming out of our brains for the last few years. Doing an exhibition gives the work a chance to breathe outside of the studio.

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Robbie Williams to exhibit his paintings for first time - The Guardian

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Today we are debuting a mesmerising new remix of Bleu Noir the lead single from Amine Mesnaoui and Labelles forthcoming debut album African Prayers, by Hong Kong-based trio Blood Wine or Honey. Listen below.

The duo display a thrilling dexterity and adventurousness with cut-up rhythms, inventive percussion that jags from Latin flavoured to organic techno, jazzy pianos and radiant melody, Bleu Noir is a refreshingly remixed by Blood Wine or Honey. They create distinctive hypno-tropicalia sound in the industrial warehouses and hidden rural settlements of Hong Kong, surrounded by the low-end throb of heavy machinery, the lingering scent of hand sanitiser and the humidity of the South China Sea.

Amine Mesnaoui and Labelles debut Long player African Prayers is a collection of seven new compositions that aims to bring a contemporary and fresh interpretation to the Lila Ritual of the Moroccan Gnawa masters also known as the Ritual of the Seven Colors.

With a firm belief they can deliver a sound that finds its anchor in heritage and yet escape folkloric clichs and stereotypes, the two musicians have strived to make something that is rich in meanings, minimal but complex, simple but deep. This is a record that is universal and invites the listener to the depth of meditation, to the dance, even to the spiritual state of trance.

Mesnaoui plays a prepared piano that is modified by different objects, which are inserted into its strings while Labelle simultaneously plays electronic instruments and further processes the piano sound. These instruments are not native to the traditional context and their choice allows for a new perspective on the Lila Ritual. By pushing the boundaries of what those tools usually offer, the sound explores yet untapped territories. Each piece on the record refers to a specific colour and its associated symbolic realm in the ritual.

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EXCLUSIVE: Amine Mesnaoui & Labelle 'Bleu Noir' (Blood Wine Or Honey Remix) - God Is In The TV

Zo Modiga

@john.baloy/@zoemodiga/Instagram

After having been postponed due to the pandemic,the North Sea Fest Jazz Festival returns thisJuly 2022 in the Netherlands with South African Jazz musicianZo Modiga in the lineup.

Born and raised in Kwa-Zulu Natal, Zo describes herself as the quintessential artist who represents the present and future of South African music.

She says her music is inspired by her Creator and spirit guides, being an observer of people and experiences, having a deep love for African stories and the power of music to touch peoples core, she tells us.

READ MORE |DBN Gogo to play at Coachella here are 5 things to know about her

The KZN-born artist spoke to TRUELOVE about her upcoming gig that will take place in Rotterdam, Netherlands and what impact she wants her music to have.

The North Sea Jazz Festival gig came about around the release of my sophomore album, Inganekwane in 2020. However, due to the pandemic, there were delays. Being able to see it materialise once more has been an emotional and exciting journey. The mission has always been to make music and tell a story that is to be heard and sung with people all over the world. Seeing that come to pass is a full-circle moment, she says.

On how her preparations are going for her performance at the jazz festival, Zo says, I have been preparing for my work and calling my entire life and so I receive all the opportunities that come along with that. To me the important thing is to channel the essence of what it is that I do already and welcoming people to walk into that trance with me.

She tells us that her audience can expect a celebration, a story and a peek into the modern African story, told from her perspective.

My shows are about us all collectively creating a world that is entirely our own and allowing music to help us channel what we require for that given moment. Whether that is dancing, singing, laughing, crying, healing, celebrating and so nothing will change in that, the musician says.

READ MORE | Black Coffee becomes first African DJ to win Grammy award - plus other big winners

Described as a Pan African activist, Zo thought it important to share her mostly afro-centric and spiritual music with the world and as a Black woman because her music speaks more to the soul than ones flesh or skin colour.

She says, Speaking to people of African descent is something that has felt like a calling to me for a while, part of heeding that call is knowing that I myself walk in that body and therefore there is a valuable perspective I have in that. I relate to people being spirit first so I think acknowledging that is honouring the next person. I also think, even if you dont look like me, or have my set of experiences, the music and the message is one that still welcomes you in and wants to resonate with you on a soul level. All of this is important to me.

Previously, the multi-award winner and songwriter has described her album Inganekwane as a love letter to Black bodies, especially in light of the femicide rates in our country, among other important matters. She cites the music she listened to, growing up, as being one of the reasons why she uses her music to talk about these issues.

Music to me, at least that which I grew up to and loved and continue to be moved by, reflects what is of the times. The past two years have been a reclaiming of space for people of colour and that should be documented. Whether through poems, articles, debates, artwork and especially song, she says.

When asked what she would like to be remembered for, by her fans, the musician says she would like to be remembered as a human being, a singer, songwriter, performer and storyteller that reflected the human experience and the times while being the soundtrack to people of all walks of live.

Id like to have been impactful and evoked and helped awaken the essence of people to themselves, she concludes.

Nduduzo Makhathini and Malcolm Jiyane will also be performing alongsideZo at the North Sea Jazz Festival. Alicia Keys, Erykah Badu and John Legend also feature on the line, among other notable artists.

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Zo Modiga ahead of the North Sea Jazz Festival - 'The mission has always been to make music and tell a story' - News24

AEW president Tony Khan is a big fan of how Robert Pattinson portrayed Bruce Wayne in The Batman, which officially arrived on HBO Max on Monday. During some interactions with fans, AEW color commentator Tony Schiavone was asked to give his thoughts on the movie. While he admitted to being lukewarm about certain aspects, Khan jumped in to explain why he enjoyed it so much. Regarding the ending, which sees Batman saving citizens after Riddler's followers have flooded the city, Khan wrote, "I loved it. I thought that made sense because this film is early in his crusade, and I think that him helping the victims during that catastrophe represented the big step where the city realized he actually cared about the people + that he's not just some mindless violent monster."

He also touched on the subject of Pattinson portraying Bruce as a "goth," something that has been a popular talking point among fans and critics. Schiavone tweeted, "To me, he Came across as a goth Bruce Wayne who was in a trance most of the time."

Khan responded with, "Yes, he's goth because he's still mourning the death of his parents + seems like he's in a hazy trance because he's worked all night every night for years, so whenever you see him as daytime Bruce it means he's on no sleep + being a recluse goth guy is a great cover story for him."

Director Matt Reeves recently sat down with KCRW and talked about how Pattinson's physical awkwardness helped him land the role as Batman. He explained, "Not only is it a facet, obviously, of who he is, because obviously that's partly him, but it's something he's in control of as well. One of the things I found so fascinating about working with him is he works in a way that feels almost like a method actor. And yet, you can see that he has great access to his emotions, and he puts himself into a state. But he's also in incredible control of his instrument, the way he moves. It's all very technical, and it's very intentional. So I could say to him, I need this to be hotter, and he could access that very easily. [And I could say] but I also, because of this cowl and the way the light is hitting your eye, I need you to lean a little bit more to your left, because otherwise I won't see your eye. And he could do both those things at once."

"He had a tremendous ability to access his emotions, but also be in control of his movement, so all of that stuff is coming from a very internal place. But he has a tremendous facility with himself physically. He's just very able to access all of that stuff, but also weirdly at the same time, while he can be out of control, he can also be incredibly in control in terms of how to calibrate his voice, the way he's leaning, where he's standing. And so all of those choices I think he's making are on some level, very conscious, too, even though I know some of it has to be unconscious because it is coming from a very instinctual place," he added.

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AEW's Tony Khan Explains Why He Loves Robert Pattinson's Performance in The Batman - ComicBook.com

BERLIN For anyone who has ever left Strausss Ariadne auf Naxos wishing for more operas in its mode, or craved works that embrace both modernism and melodic wit (with stylish storytelling to boot), there is a show waiting for you: Jaromir Weinbergers Schwanda the Bagpiper.

Alongside revivals of Monteverdis LOrfeo and Mozarts Don Giovanni, a new production of that musical comedy was the highlight of a sterling recent weekend at the Komische Oper here with a strong, occasionally risky staging by Andreas Homoki and a romping orchestral performance led by Ainars Rubikis, the companys general music director.

Composed in 1927, with a libretto by Milos Kares, Schwanda is a good time but also slyly thoughtful. (Most often, it is performed in Max Brods German translation, as at the Komische Oper.) The story in which a talented artist chases fame, cheats on his wife and then goes to hell and back swipes elements from many other works: a musician protagonist; a woman whose long-suffering status begins almost immediately after nuptials; a bro-y partner in crime; a vexed queen; the actual Devil.

And although theres no bagpipe in the orchestra, the overtures rippling counterpoint is ignited by wind figures suggestive of the instrument. Later, those motifs also provide a folkloric backdrop for the miming done onstage by the baritone in the title role.

Some of the music has proved enduringly popular in the concert hall. The Polka, a tune-within-the-tale that gives the character of Schwanda a hit with his royal audience (and subsequently, in its fugal adaptation, a bop well-suited to hell) was a midcentury staple conducted by Herbert von Karajan and Dimitri Mitropoulos.

Yet Schwanda is a rarity onstage especially in the United States, despite the works well-received Metropolitan Opera debut in 1931. Reviewing that premiere in The New York Times, Olin Downes cited Smetana, Puccini, Rimsky-Korsakov and Strauss in assessing the score, which he deemed to be written with much swing and esprit and brilliant technique even if it wasnt quite a work of the first order.

At the Komische Oper, a haven for long-lost theater treasures, Homokis staging makes a compelling case for the works return to the repertory. (If I could snap my fingers and bring it to New York, like the companys production of The Magic Flute at the Mostly Mozart Festival in 2019, I wouldnt hesitate.) The first act flies by in an 80-minute rush, during which Schwanda, a locally renowned bagpiper, is tempted by Babinsky a self-styled Robin Hood but more of a scamplike thief to seek fame in a neighboring kingdom and receives a little more attention than he expected.

Schwandas new admirer is the Queen (a role once sung by the great mezzo-soprano Christa Ludwig), who is otherwise under the spell of the Magician. But his music seems to set her free, and the public is glad to have an artist as a potential king. What, though, about his wife, Dorotka? When she shows up, Schwanda swears on his eternal soul that nothing untoward has taken place and promptly drops into hell. Spoiler alert: He makes it back alive, unharmed.

Homokis production, while sparely designed by Paul Zoller, uses quickly changing stage pictures to create a visual state of intoxication. A pastoral tree is the setting for domestic bliss; a rotating staircase provides a public platform for citizens in transit, as well as redoubts for royals creeping about. Klaus Brunss costumes such as Babinskys tattered shirt cuffs and the Magicians gaudily sparkling purple evening jacket are precise or dreamlike, as needed.

As Babinsky, the tenor Tilmann Unger stole some early scenes. But over the course of the first act, Daniel Schmutzhards direct, bright baritone sound found a suppleness that lent his Schwanda a smooth melodic line. The soprano Kiandra Howarth, as Dorotka, had the measure of the operas nods to folk song along with spark in her tone and comfortably ringing top notes.

The bass Jens Larsen a member of the Komische Opers ensemble, who was a memorable Cadmus during a 2019 staging of The Bassarids brought booming malevolence to the Magician and had an excellent scene partner in the mezzo-soprano Ursula Hesse von den Steinen. As the Queen, she joined milky declamations with trance-like gestures as she glided over Weinbergers chromatic, noir-ready string harmonies.

In Act II, the staging takes a gamble in its journey to hell. Homoki practically begs the audience to accuse him of clichs as he depicts both Hitler and Stalin as members of the Devils retinue. None of this seems motivated by didacticism. Instead, the choice registers as an index of the banality of a damned afterlife, and of a Devil bored beyond belief. (He simply shoots the dictators over and over like a Grindhouse filmmaker who has lost the plot.)

That gag tires quickly. But Weinbergers music rarely stalls, balancing delight with invention throughout. At one moment, after the Devil tries to take Schwandas bagpipe, he cant manage to play the Polka. Downes described the music here as hideous atonal parody; later, the discordant effect was played down in Heinz Wallbergs CBS recording, as if not to offend listeners. Thankfully, that was not the case at the Komische Oper. Rubikis thrillingly goes all-in on cacophony, proposing the moment as a madcap yet finely wrought precursor to contemporary works like John Adamss Chamber Symphony.

If any interpretation of Schwanda should be set on record, its this one. After all, the company did the same for Weinberger once before when it rescued another of his works from obscurity: Spring Storms, which the houses leader, Barrie Kosky, directed from a new arrangement of the nearly lost score in early 2020.

That production is available on Blu-ray and DVD from Naxos. Next should come Schwanda. That way, instead of just in July, when the show returns for the Komische Oper Festival, it could be seen by audiences far and wide.

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An Opera Rarity Reclaims Its Spot in the Repertory - The New York Times

Beloved trance legends Above & Beyond finally give us their long-awaited collaboration with anam, Gratitude featuring Marty Longstaff. This collaboration marks so many milestones. Whether it is the debut of anam: a new alias from Swedish hitmaker Marcus Schssow and production partner Thomas Sagstad or the return of Sunderland singer-songwriter Marty Longstaff to Anjunabeats. Marty Longstaff might be know to most people as the voice of Above & Beyonds Tightrope and Flying By Candlelight.

Debuted during Above & Beyonds sold-out London festival at The Drumsheds in 2021, Gratitude is both a jubilant vocal ballad and a tough, dance floor filler. During Above & Beyonds winter tour, which sold nearly 70,000 tickets across the USA, the significance of this record to the groups dedicated fan community was immediately apparent. It has cemented itself as a future classic for Jono, Tony, and Paavo, standing alongside some of their best-loved anthems like You Got To Go and Thing Called Love.

Above & Beyond On Tour

Above & Beyond has announced a string of major festival events for 2022 in London, Los Angeles and at The Gorge Amphitheatre, WA. anam will join Above & Beyond at Group Therapy Weekender London and Anjunabeats Europe in Poland. For tickets visit aboveandbeyond.nu.

May 19 Tao Beach Dayclub Las Vegas, NV

May 21 Daer Dayclub Hollywood, FL

May 26 1902 San Antonio, TX

May 27 Stereo Live Dallas, TX

May 28 OMNIA Las Vegas, NV

June 03 Big Night Live Boston, MA

June 04 Hakkasan Nightclub Las Vegas, NV

June 10 Marquee Las Vegas, NV

June 12 Cle Dayclub Houston, TX

July 1 New City Gas Montreal, QC

July 3 Hakkasan Nightclub Las Vegas, NV

August 11- FWD Cleveland, OH

August 12 Metropolitan Nightclub New Orleans, LA

August 14 Wet Republic Las Vegas, NV

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Above & Beyond Releases Long-Awaited Collaboration with anam, "Gratitude" (ft. Marty Longstaff) - The Nocturnal Times

SAN FRANCISCO, April 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global e-bikes market size is anticipated to reach USD 52.37 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 13.5% over the forecast period, according to a new report published by Grand View Research, Inc. Electric bikes are considered an eco-friendly and flexible mode of transportation. They are an ideal substitute for public transport, scooters, and smart cars as they help avoid traffic jams and achieve high speed with minimal effort. Moreover, they enable riders to maintain a healthy lifestyle through increased physical activity. These factors are contributing to the growth of the global market.

Key Insights & Findings from the report:

Read 120-page market research report, "E-bikes Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Propulsion Type (Pedal-assisted, Throttle-assisted), By Battery Type, By Power, By Application, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030", published by Grand View Research.

E-bikes Market Growth & Trends

The declining consumer inclination toward cars owing to increased traffic on streets and growing urbanization is expected to offer lucrative growth opportunities for the market across the globe. Additionally, governments of several countries, including India, U.K., and Canada, are focused on developing infrastructures for bicycles owing to the growing consumer preferences for electric bikes. For instance, in 2017, Bikeep, a commercial bike parking systems and bike racks manufacturer, introduced a smart bicycle rack solution that offers electric bicycle charging. The solution is designed to cater to various popular electric bicycles.

Key players in the market are focused on strategies such as new product launch and geographic expansion to enhance their business operations and product offerings. For instance, in October 2020, Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd. announced the launch of a full-composite trail bike, Trance X Advanced Pro 29. The bike is equipped with an updated Maestro rear suspension and flip-chip feature that permits riders to modify the frame geometry. Similarly, in October 2020, Pedego Electric Bikes opened a new store in Boca Raton, Florida. The store offers a full range of electric bikes for rental and sale, along with related accessories and services.

E-bikes Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global e-bikes market based on propulsion type, battery type, power, application, and region:

E-bikes Propulsion Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

E-bikes Battery Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

E-bikes Power Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

E-bikes Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Self-injection Devices Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

List of Key Players in the E-bikes Market

Check out more related studies published by Grand View Research:

Browse through Grand View Research's Automotive & Transportation Industry Research Reports.

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research Helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

Contact:Sherry JamesCorporate Sales Specialist, USAGrand View Research, Inc.Phone: 1-415-349-0058Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519Email: [emailprotected]Web: https://www.grandviewresearch.comGrand View Compass | Grand View PipelineFollow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter

SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc.

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E-bikes Market to be Worth $52.37 Billion by 2030 at CAGR of 13.5%: Grand View Research, Inc. - PR Newswire

Old saying: Russia without Ukraine is a country; Russia with Ukraine is an empire.

I follow the news. That Putin is a killer is no revelation as we recall the 2020 poisoning of his political foe Alexei Navalny, Navalny recovered in Germany before returning to Russia. He was then imprisoned on trumped-up charges, where he remains.

Putins latest outrage is the rape of Ukraine. To have loser president Trump pour genius praise on this KGB/SOB confirms any and all doubts as to whose side he and his Foxy traitors are on.

The truly blind are those who wont see. I have no illusions that brave Ukraine, despite early victories, will be able to resist a military thats eight times larger. Russia is willing to expend its endless source of recruits as mere, cannon meat.

Any wars outcome is uncertain. WWI English poet Wilfred Owens Strange Meeting described a scene in no mans land:

Lifting distressful hands, as if to bless.

And by his smile, I knew that sullen hall,-

By his dead smile I knew we stood in Hell.

Americas president, Joe Biden, upset his enemies when he spoke truth in Poland. Biden was on his late March mission to buck up the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Russias dictator deems NATO a continuing threat to Russia. Joe Biden pegged Putin a butcher. Mariupols mayor estimates 21,000 dead; thats not a typo, and its likely far worse.

Putin created an excuse to invade. WWII buffs know that Hitler put men in Polish unforms to fake a border attack. Germanys blitzkrieg began September 1, 1939, starting a world war that killed millions.

When battle begins for land, body, or soul the first casualty is truth. Empires go as far back as you can look. Putin demands Ukraine surrender to his pipe dream of restoring the failed Soviet Union.

In between are millions of suffering people that look like us, or near enough. Lincolns Civil War general, William Tecumseh Sherman, scourge of a rebellious South, brother warring against brother, said War is hell!

Hear grave cries for lives lost minutes before a cease-fire or armistice!

Poet Doug Anderson was a medic in Vietnam, an experience that became his book, Bamboo Bridge. A wondering lives in his words when, from above, he espied, like King David, a young woman bathing:

If I can live another month its over,

And so we think a single thought

And then she turns and sees us there,

sinks in the water, eyes full of hate;

the trance broken.

In Ukraine, from the outset, Russian tankers are dying in growing numbers as the outgunned Ukrainian forces take the fight to invaders. American-made Javelin anti-tank weapons are shredding enemy armor, evaporating soldiers within.

Russian soldiers disgrace their patrimony by murdering and raping innocent civilians in the town of Bucha, near Kyiv. In their bloody wake came Ukrainian warriors reporters and photographers in tow to show the world. Their horrors are sanitized with soft-focus lens and TV anchors warnings: What youre about to see may be disturbing?

If merciless murder of men, women and children isnt unnerving, then what the hell is? Russia destroyed Syria with scorched-earth tactics.

Many patriots, soldiers and diplomats, testified at Trumps first impeachment trial. Who can forget White House presidential adviser Fiona Hill, Ukrainian-born Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, and unfairly recalled Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch? Dont Google Rudy Giuliani.

Each of these heroes risked their careers in speaking truth to power. Lt. Col. Vindmans book, Here, Right Matters, tells an American story of determination. In 1979, Alexander and his twin brother, Eugene, were brought to America as children by their widowed father.

Alexander applied himself, rising through the U.S. Army to a post as the White Houses director for European Affairs for the National Security Council. Vindman was on the call when Trump tried to blackmail the Ukrainian president. Trump asked President Zelensky the political favor of sliming our former vice president, Joe Biden. Trump, illegally, held on to $400 million in military aid authorized by Congress.

Vindman realized that President Trumps demand was beyond improper. Bravely, he dutifully reported it up the chain of command.

I, Alexander S. Vindman, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic

Lt. Col. Vindmans adherence to his oath made him a key witness during President Trumps first impeachment. In no time, Vindman was fired from his White House position.

Outside Baghdad, April 3rd, 2003 My found war poems title feels ironic this April. Today, democracies castigate Russia for invading Ukraine. Nineteen years ago, America was the Shock and Awe bully invading Iraq. President George W. Bush and his henchmen sold the United Nations, and the American public, a costly bill of goods. I wrote this stanza for a friend in tears over a young soldier:

It is, I know from the news

A time for dying. Good men,

Brave women, innocents young,

Innocents old leave us behind

To strive without their love.

Sing along: Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.

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Columnist Jim Cahillane: Submit to poetry in wartime - GazetteNET

Thor: Love and Thunder is coming out July 8, and everyone in the universe is going to be in it! Thor will go up against Gorr the God Butcher and Zeus. Korg, Miek, and Valkyrie will be playing their parts. Even Loki will be back, albeit played by Matt Damon in another Asgardian play. Now, the teaser trailer has given us our first glimpse at a crossover everyones been excited about: the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Thor first met the Guardians in Avengers: Infinity War, when Thanos destroyed the Asgardian refugee ship escaping Ragnarok. The Guardians received the Asgardians call for help and picked up Thor from the wreckage. After that, Thor and the Guardians teamed up to prevent Thanos from getting more Infinity Stones and forge a new weapon that Thor could use to kill him.

At the end of Avengers: Endgame, Thor abdicated the throne of New Asgard and decided to continue traveling across the universe with the Guardians, which is why the movie will most likely open with Thor aboard the Guardians ship, following them on their adventures. Sure enough, we get a small taste of what theyll all be up to in the teaser. We see Thor and the Guardians going into battle against a race of blue-skinned people, implying that well get at least a few scenes of Thor and the Guardians together.

However, dont expect the Guardians to have a huge role in Love and Thunder. The teaser also shows the ship leaving a planet through a jump point, with Thor staying behind to find and reinvent himself. The Guardians involvement in the movie will most likely be a cameo, with the rest of their story continuing in Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3, due out in May 2023.

Here are all the Guardians who are confirmed to appear in Thor: Love and Thunder!

Peter got blipped along with half the universe at the end of Infinity War, but he and the other Guardians are back! As captain of the Benetar and self-proclaimed leader of the Guardians, Peter has a bit of an ego on him (rare in superhero movies, I know), and he and Thor had quite the turf war in Infinity War. Thor helped himself to the Guardians rations and shuttle while Peter lowered his voice to sound manlier and tried to maintain control of his ship and crew.

The two were at it again at the end of Endgame, and it looks like theyll keep up the ribbing in Love and Thunder. We see Peter seemingly rolling his eyes at Thor (although it could be a misleading camera cut), but it also looks like the two have bonded over their adventures. Peter also gives Thor some lovely advice: You ever feel lost? Just look into the eyes of the people you love. Peters looking at the rest of his team when he says it, but then Thor then tries to catch Peters eye. Are they flirting? Its probably just platonic, but the dynamic between them is still great.

We havent seen much of Drax since Infinity War, when he got blipped. Drax was obsessed with getting revenge for the murder of his family (I mean, who wouldnt be?), and even after Ronan was killed in the first Guardians of the Galaxy, Draxs focus just shifted to Thanos. Now that Thanos is dead, too, itll be interesting to see where Drax goes from here. Love and Thunder probably wont get into that, though, since Draxs appearance will likely just be a cameo.

Groots still looking like a teenager in the teaser, although he does seem to have grown. This implies that a bit of time has probably passed since Thor first joined the Guardians. Groot, youll recall, supplied the wood for the handle of Thors axe Stormbreaker when Eitri the Dwarf couldnt find the handle hed already made.

We also see Mantis standing with the Guardians, although like the rest of the team, she probably wont play a big role in the movie. The Guardians met Mantis on Ego, the Living Planet, who was also Peters father, and now shes an official Guardian herself. Mantis is an empath with the power to read peoples emotions and even put them into a trance.

Nebulas redemption arc was a slow burn in Phase 3, with her and Gamoras reconciliation in Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2, and her ill-fated effort in Endgame to convince her past self that she could break free of Thanoss grip. She seemed to bond with Rocket in Endgame, traveling with him during the five years of the Blip when the rest of the Guardians were gone, and its nice to see that shes still kicking around with them even though the universe is back to normal. If anyone in the universe needed a friend, its Nebula.

The Guardians of the Galaxy just wouldnt be the Guardians of the Galaxy without Rocket Raccoon, and sure enough, we see him standing alongside the others. I hope he gets a little screen time in Love and Thunder. I love that alarmingly violent little rascal.

Also, who is Gamora? Why is Gamora? Sorry, couldnt resist.

Endgame was a huge reset button for all the characters who died in Infinity War, and Gamora was one of the characters who came back to life through alternate timeline shenanigans. The problem, though, was that this new Gamora, having hopped forward almost ten years from the past, never joined the Guardians or fell in love with Peter, so she doesnt have the same relationships with them all as her other self did. As a result, shes conspicuously absent during Tonys funeral scene. Its no surprise that she isnt pictured with the rest of the team in the Love and Thunder teaser. Its likely that her whereabouts, and whatever new relationship shell have with Peter and the rest of the team, will be fleshed out in Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3. Unfortunately, though, that means its highly unlikely that shell make an appearance in Love and Thunder.

Which Guardian are you looking forward to seeing in Love and Thunder? Let us know in the comments!

(image: Marvel)

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Every Confirmed Guardians of the Galaxy Character in Thor 4 - The Mary Sue

A hysteric mob of devotees led by oracles in red clothes thronged the Sree Kurumba Bhagavathy temple at Kodungalloor for the Kavutheendal ritual in connection with the annual Bharani festival on Sunday.

The temple premises turned into a sea of red as men and women, in red robes, from across the State thronged the temple. Brandishing traditional swords adorned with tiny bells, the flurry of oracles in a trance stormed the temple creating a delirious ambiance. They smote their heads with their swords, proclaiming their devotion to the Goddess. Blood could be seen dripping from their foreheads smeared with sandalwood and turmeric paste.

While the oracles ran around the temple in the depths of trance, devotees struck the temple rafters with sticks and threw offerings over the roof.

The largest congregation of oracles in the world, the Bharani festival of the Sree Kurumba Bhagavathy temple, Kodungalloor, breaks all rules and taboos of temple rituals. It is a celebration of raw energy and rustic devotion. This mystic ritual is enacted at the temple every year between March and April.

Dedicated to Goddess Bhadrakali, the slayer of demon king Daruka, the Sree Kurumba Bhagavathy temple is one of the oldest temples in the State. The idol of Bhadrakali, made of jackfruit tree wood, has eight hands and one of them carries the severed head of Daruka. Another popular lore says, the temple was built by the then ruler Cheran Chenguttavan dedicated to Kannaki, the heroine of Tamil epic Silappadikaram.

Historians say that the festival could be an example of Dalit assertion. Long before Dalits were allowed entry into temples in the State through the enactment of the Temple Entry Proclamation, they were allowed to enter the Sree Kurumba Bhagavathy temple during the Bharani festival. Though rooster sacrifice was part of the rituals here earlier, it has been banned now.

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A heady concoction of devotion and frenzy at Kodungalloor - The Hindu