Category Archives: Hedonism

Reverse 1999 is a story-driven game that offers an exciting narrative. Players play as Vertin, a Timekeeper and sole entity unaffected by the Storm. This is a phenomenon that occurs on the last day of 1999 that reverses time. Vertin time-travels back in the timeline to unravel the mystery behind the mysterious phenomenon.

The turn-based gacha offers over 40 characters, of which players choose four to build their squad. This article lists some of the best characters, in no particular order, to use and develop in Reverse 1999.

Note: This article is subjective and reflects the opinions of the author.

Pickles first appeared in The Theft of the Rimet Cup event story as a featured Arcanist in the Reverse 1999 banner, Thus Spoke the Border Collie. He can deal massive damage, which is amplified by the Clarified Status effect that activates upon upgrading him to Insight I and unlocking the Inheritance, Proposition. The effect heightens his Nihilism Abuses damage up to 125%, grants a 25% Penetration rate to Hedonism Implement, and extends the Ultimates 30% damage buff to one round.

Additionally, his Hedonism Implement dispels all enemies Status Up, Pos Status, and Counter with two and three-star cards. Pickles' kit makes him a versatile character who is capable of dealing significant damage as a DPS and buff or debuff as a supporter.

Medicine Pocket is one of the best healers in Reverse 1999. They can heal all their teammates (with HP equivalent to up to 200% of allies attacks) with Alchemy Ware. Additionally, it grants the Sturdiness effect, which reduces damage taken, protecting their allies. Their defensive ability is showcased with Inherent Habit, which increases the damage taken by an enemy by 20% and deals up to 450% Mental damage.

Their Ultimate inflicts 450% damage and Daze, producing one Moxie for herself. The Daze effect immobilizes enemies, rendering them unable to use their moves. Equipping Medicine Pocket with That Inquisitive Dear Psychube allows them to heal every time they cast Inherent Habit. Additionally, upgrading Medicine Pocket to Insight I triggers the healing ability after they launch their Ultimate.

Timekeepers get Sonetto when they begin their time-traveling journey. She can debuff enemies, buff her allies, and deal substantial damage. Her Commandment V has a beneficial skill, Disarm, which cancels any number of enemy attacks. This status effect becomes helpful while encountering foes with high attack stats. On the other hand, her Exhortation IV buffs all allies damage-dealing and damage-taken abilities.

Sonetto can fit in most teams with a main DPS and a healer, acting as a crowd controller. The DPS units, such as Centurion and Regulus, and supporters, Medicine Pocket and Dikke, are a perfect combo for your squad with Sonneto. While the DPS deals damage, she can buff their attacking stats and make them take less damage.

A Knight can not only deal severe damage but also generate Moxie. It produces up to three Moxie with Justice and two with Glory. The Moxie generation ability helps spam its Ultimate After AD 778. This Ultimate deals 400% Reality damage, inflicting the Rousing Morale status effect, which grants all its allies a 50% damage bonus.

A Knight is a versatile Reverse 1999 Arcanist who can work well with almost all others. The only downside is that it does not enjoy the extra 30% damage as other Arcanists because one does not encounter Spirit Afflatus often in the storys chapters. However, it can prove more useful in farming stages, where Spirit and Intellect Afflatus enemies are frequent.

Eternity has a rather unique kit that inflicts self-damage. However, the damage can be compensated by Leech Rate, which triggers after casting her Ultimate, Odd Story In Exeter. She can deal up to 500% Reality damage with Vigor Handbag and inflicts a Nasty Wound status effect on one enemy. The effect reduces the capacity to take healing by 50%. Additionally, players can wreak up to 400% Reality damage with Vintage Handfan.

She gains an instrumental passive skill from her Inheritance, 100-Year Solitude, which unlocks after upgrading her to Insight I. The passive makes her immune to Bleed, Corrode, and Poison Statuses. Eternitys kit helps her deal significant damage and prolongs her survival on the battlefield.

Melania debuted in the version 1.1 update with The Theft of the Rimet Cup event. She is a DPS unit capable of dealing burst damage to enemies. Her Silent Takedown can deal up to 400% Mental damage and up to 300% with Clockwork Rats. Additionally, Silent Takedown steals up to three Moxie from enemies while in the Thief Master Status effect.

The effect triggers when Melania casts her Ultimate, Ridiculous Eyewitness Testimony, which also deals a massive 650% Mental damage. Melania also enjoys a 30% Leech Rate to recover her HP with Clockwork Rats. She is the best fit for end-game content and overpowers enemies with her Moxie stealing ability.

Centurion is one of the best Reverse 1999 DPS units that deal burst damage. She also can gain up to two Moxie for herself with Outdoor Superstar incantation while dealing 225% Reality damage. Victorious General, her other incantation skill, deals up to 450% damage, with an additional 20% of her Moxie Reality damage, to one enemy.

Her Inheritance, Hot Sauce Expert, at Insight III, helps recover HP whenever she loses Moxie. At Insight, it grants a 6% damage bonus for one Moxie she owns, amounting to 30%. Her kit helps her to finish a battle in fewer rounds.

An-an Lees kit focuses on buffing and supporting teammates, further amplified with her unlocked Inheritance, Time to Work. She gains Break Time and Exorcism Time statuses from her Inheritance. The former reduces damage taken, while the latter boosts damage and Penetration rate. Additionally, in Exorcism Time status, the rightmost card gets one star.

After casting her Ultimate Scientific Ghost Buster, she enters Empower Incantation I status, which causes a random incantation to get one star. The Ultimate deals 400% damage, which amplifies when upgrading her to Insight I due to Exorcism Time status. The Lily Nectar provides a damage boost and reduces all allies' damage. An-an Lee is AP generous because her skills upgrade the cards level, and she is the perfect choice to pair with AP greedy Arcanists.

Reverse 1999 Arcanist Dikke can mass heal her allies and deal damage to the enemy. Since her healing capability depends on the attacks she delivers, its best to build as DPS. Dikkes Ultimate, Maverick Judge, purifies Stats Down, Neg Status, and Control, making her immune to them for one round while dealing significant damage.

Dikkes healing skill, Justice, heals all allies equivalent to 150% of her attack with a three-star card. Additionally, it increases by 75% if Dikkes HP goes below 50%. Timekeepers can also spam her incantation skill, Maverick Judge, dealing up to 300% damage.

Bkornblume is one of the best supporters and can also deal severe damage. She can debuff all enemies, reducing their Reality defense and increasing damage taken simultaneously with Prying Ear.

The Arcanists who deal Reality damage can benefit from her basic incantation skill. This 5-star Arcanist can deal damage with her Watch Your Sleeves incantation, and it boosts up to 75% if enemies are in Stats Down, Neg Status, or Counter.

Her Ultimate wreaks 550% damage, inflicting Seal status, refraining enemies from attacking with their Ultimate for two rounds. She can also reduce two Moxie if they are immune to the Seal. Bkornblumes attacking and debuffing skills increase with their cards star. This 5-star can act as a main and sub-DPS or Support.

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10 best Reverse 1999 Arcanists to use and build - Sportskeeda

WashUs Performing Arts Department in Arts & Sciences will present Cabaret in Edison Theatre Oct. 27 to Nov. 5. (Photo: Jack Rushen/Performing Arts Department)

Leave your troubles outside So life is disappointing? Forget it! In here life is beautiful From Cabaret

Inflation is high. Democracy is faltering. Political gangs brawl in the street. But inside the raucous Kit Kat Klub, the troubles of Weimar Germany can be left behind.

For a while, at least.

Cabaret is a phantasmagoria, a surreal vision, of life in Berlin in the late 1920s and early 1930s, said Jeffery Matthews, a professor of practice in drama in the Performing Arts Department in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis.

Its the story of Cliff and Sally, and of Fraulein Schneider and Herr Schultz, and how they find one another, continued Matthews, who will direct the Tony- Drama Desk- and Academy Award-winning show Oct. 27 to Nov. 5 in WashUs Edison Theatre. Its the story of a particular time and a particular place, in all its hedonism and chaos.

And its the story of the environment that enabled Hitler to come to power, Matthews added. Its the story of how their worlds fall apart.

Cabaret debuted on Broadway in 1966, but in many ways it dates back to 1939, when British writer Christopher Isherwood released Goodbye to Berlin, a semi-autobiographical account of expatriate life amidst the rise of national socialism.

British playwright John Van Druten adapted Isherwoods tales into I Am a Camera, which debuted on Broadway in 1951 and as a feature film in 1955. Building on Van Druten, Cabaret added music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, and additional book by Joe Masteroff. Bob Fosses iconic film version premiered in 1972. The musical is regularly revived on Broadway and in Londons West End.

Matthews was particularly inspired by Sam Mendes 1993 revival. That was a very dark, apocalyptic vision, but also the shortest and tightest of them, he explains. I wanted to take that version while also honoring the whole life and history of Cabaret.

There will be a time for darkness, Matthews added. But I couldnt ask the cast to live there.

Cabaret opens with a blast of celebratory transgression. Outside it is winter, declares the Kit Kat Klub emcee. But in here it is so hot! The plot centers on Cliff, Isherwoods stand-in, and his relationship with star performer Sally Bowles. But cheerful libertinism soon fades to creeping dread, as Cliff and Sally watch patrons and then old friends join the fascist cause.

During Weimar, people didnt think they were going to live very long, Matthews said. And they had reason to think that. Theyd been deeply traumatized. The sense of nihilism, of hedonism, of just living for today, was very real.

They were looking for order, Matthews continued. Get the economy on track. Get inflation in check. Put people to work. But with the scapegoating of the Jewish people, all those virtues became horrific vices.

In many ways, I think this relates to our current moment, Matthews added. Cabaret is a warning about complacency. And given the rise, in recent years, of antisemitic violence, that can be very disturbing to think about.

We dont want to shy away from whats tough about this show, Matthews said. But in the process, we dont want to wound our audience. Thats the challenge. Its a tightrope walk.

Were always trying to get Cabaret right, Matthews concluded. Its been done and redone, but we keep coming back, we keep working on it, because its always so compelling.

The cast of 17 is led by Matthew Kalmans as the emcee, Danielle Bryden as Sally and John Speas as Cliff. Heather Anderson is Fraulein Schneider, Cliff and Sallys landlady. Maxwell Spinner is Herr Schultz, Fraulein Schneiders Jewish suitor.

Also starring are Tristan Dumas as Ernst, a smuggler who befriends Cliff; and Marielle Hinrichs as Fraulein Kost, a prostitute who lives in Fraulein Schneiders boarding house. Josie Kopff, Jo Palisoc, Paige Samz, Ella Sherlock, Tina Yu and Anna Zimmerman are the Kit Kat Klub performers: Frenchie, Helga, Texas, Rosie, Lulu and Fritzie. Martin Ibarra, Aaron Kopelnik and Taylor Miller are fellow performers Bobby, Hans and Victor. Rounding out the cast is Cade Edney as club owner Max.

Scenic design is by Robert Mogan, with assistance from Obike Anwisye. Costumes are by Nikki Green, who also served as intimacy coordinator. Musical director is Todd Decker, with assistance from Matthew Sullivan. Vocal coach is Kelly Daniel-Decker. Choreography is by Erin Morris.

Lighting is by Seth Kleinberg with assistance from Nick Cochran and lighting shadow Corin Riahi. Sound is by Beef Gratz. Projection designer is Sean Savoie, with assistance from Zach Cohn. Props are by Emily Frei. Stage manager is John Noonan, with assistance from Juan Cortez. Isabelle Scheibe is stage management supervisor. Jack Rushen is technical director. Catherine Adams is production electrician.

Tickets

Performances of Cabaret will take place in WashUs Edison Theatre beginning at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 27 and 28; and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29. Performances will continue the following weekend, at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 3 and 4; and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5.

Edison Theatre is located in the Mallinckrodt Student Center, 6465 Forsyth Blvd. Tickets are $20, or $15 for seniors, students and WashU faculty and staff; and free for WashU students. Tickets are available through the Edison Theatre Box Office. For information, call 314-935-6543 or visit pad.wustl.edu.

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The tightrope of 'Cabaret' - The Source - Washington University in St ... - Washington University in St. Louis

October 23, 2023

When Peter Schlesinger stepped into Lhtel de Maisons last week for the opening of Design Miami Paris, his memory of visiting the htel particulier 45 years ago for Paloma Picassos wedding immediately flashed back. I suddenly remembered all the guests climbing up the grand escalier and myself photographing them from the bottom of the staircase, he tells AnOther. It was quite strange returning to the same place.

A photograph from that matrimonial bash currently hangs on the other side of the Seine, at the artists new solo exhibitionPeter Schlesinger: France 1969-1979 at the freshly opened Mariposa Gallery in Le Marais. The show features 11 images that the New York-based artist took during his holidays in France between 1969 and 1979, a period that coincides with his time in London, where Schlesinger moved from the US west coast in 1966 as David Hockneys lover and muse.

Surrounded by Europes bohemian elite, the then 18-year-old Schlesinger found himself immersed in a world of style and influence. The creative rush soon led him to reach for his camera; immortalising the fleeting moments of monumental figures, the resulting photographs embody an anarchic hedonism and breezy ease. Andy Warhol reads the daily paper in the backseat of a car in Monaco; Robert Mapplethorpe casually leaves a camera shop in Saint-Germain; David Hockney sits in a bubble-filled tub in Vichy; Ossie Clark lights a cigarette solo at a bistro; or Eric Boman and Grace Coddington take a stroll in Rue de Rivoli.

Below, Peter Schlesinger whose oeuvre in photography has been subject to two volumes, A Checkered Past(2003) and Peter Schlesinger: A Photographic Memory 19681989 (2015) shares his memories of the time period.

Paris has changed, like many metropolises, since those days the city is just so much more busy. We tried to see some shows and museums this week but you cant just go in anywhere unless you book or stand in line. Before, you could just walk into Sainte-Chapelle or any museum. I was very nervous when I was here at age 18: everything was fresh and new. There wasnt this much imagery running around, so everything felt more adventurous. Everything was a discovery in a way because there wasnt really mass tourism, either. People werent taking photographs everywhere you go.

In the moment, you just take things happening to you for granted. Paloma [Picasso], for example, was a close friend, but I didnt know Karl [Lagerfeld] really. When I went there for the first time, he had an apartment on the hotels ground floor but when I went back for the wedding, he also had an apartment upstairs above the grand staircase. I had known Andy [Warhol] a little bit, and he wasnt really a world-famous person at the time. Then, no one minded having their picture taken because they didnt have to worry about those pictures being published anywhere.

My father liked photography. I did some photography classes in high school, and then my aunt who was in Japan brought me a camera back for my twentieth birthday. Some people say they see a parallel between my photography and ceramics which I dont see as much. I can imagine they notice a similar sense of composition and attention to form. Also, some think they have a similar sense of humour. When I used to take pictures, I was thinking about the composition all the time. When you look through a hole with a camera, the lens forces you to frame a picture differently. This is not so much the case anymore with phone cameras.

I didnt have a lot of money then to buy films, and processing was quite expensive. I was quite economical with how many pictures I took and I got them printed at drug stores around the corner rather than a professional print shop. I had a roll with 36 pictures each time, so I had to be careful about what I photographed.

[Robert] Mapplethorpe didnt know me and he didnt know I was taking his picture. With some [subjects], I was friends with them and found myself in the situations you see in the images. In most cases, you just grab a moment, whatever you can. The situations may just be very quick. If I could take one frame or two frames at most, that would be lucky. The Mapplethorpe image in the show, for example, was the only one I was able to take there werent many to choose from. I however have a few different shots from La Piscine Deligny, and for the show, I chose the one I liked the best. I remember there was the main pool and an upper level where I took the picture from.

Peter Schlesinger: France 1969 - 1979 is on show at Mariposa Gallery in Paris until 25 November 2023.

Continued here:

Peter Schlesinger's Hedonistic Photos of Artists in 1970s Paris - AnOther Magazine

Jonathan Bailey as Tim Laughlin and Matt Bomer as Hawkins Fuller in Fellow Travelers

Jonathan Bailey as Tim Laughlin and Matt Bomer as Hawkins Fuller in Fellow Travelers

Later this month, Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey is set to return to the small-screen in a new queer adaptation of Fellow Travelers.

The eight-hour mini-series will see Jonathan and his co-star Matt Bomber dive into an epic, but volatile love-story set after World War II that documents one of the darkest periods in LGBTQ+ history.

Its based on Thomas Mallons novel of the same name and is swiftly becoming one of the most anticipated shows of the year, especially after it debuted to a 100% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Heres everything you need to know about Fellow Travelers...

The synopsis for Fellow Travelers describes the series as an epic love story and political thriller, chronicling the volatile romance of two very different men who meet in the shadow of McCarthy-era Washington.

The two men from different worlds Tim Laughlin (Bailey) and Hawkins Fuller (Bomer) begin a romance just as Joseph McCarthy and Roy Cohn declare war on subversives and sexual deviants as the drama dives headfirst into this bleak time in American LGBTQ+ history.

It continues: Over the course of four decades, we follow our five main characters Hawk, Tim, Marcus Lucy, and Frankie as they cross paths through the Vietnam War protests of the 1960s, the drug-fuelled disco hedonism of the 1970s and the AIDS crisis of the 1980s, while facing obstacles in the world and in themselves.

Jonathan takes on the role of Tim, a young man brimming with idealism and religious faith even after the war, while Matt stars as Hawkins a man who maintains a financially rewarding, behind-the-scenes career in politics.

Alongside the lead actors, the ensemble features Get Outs Allison Williams as Lucy Smith, The Walking Deads Jelani Alladin as Marcus Hooks, My Policemans Linus Roache as senator Wesley Smith, Will Brill as Roy Cohn, Chris Bauer as senator Joseph R. McCarthy, Noah J. Ricketts as Frankie andChristine Horne as Jean Kerr.

Story continues

(L-R): Matt Bomer as Hawkins "Hawk" Fuller, Jonathan Bailey as Tim, Allison Williams as Lucy, Jelani Alladin as Marcus and Noah J. Ricketts as Frankie

After the press screenings, there has been a wave of positive reviews for Fellow Travellers ahead of its release.

Variety wrote: The inherent heaviness of Fellow Travelers is alleviated by Bomer and Baileys electric chemistry. Hawk and Tims relationship shifts over the decades, but their erotic intimacy and attraction reverberate off the screen, showcasing a euphoric and profoundly moving connection despite its flaws.

The series has 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes

Entertainment Weekly added: This somewhat didactic detour dilutes the emotional strength of Travelers back half, but the bittersweet allure of Hawk and Tims ill-fated connection sustains until the end. Lessons aside, its the lovers personal history and the painful truths they learn about themselves that linger.

Time said: Nested within a case study of gay political life in the second half of the 20th century are eight episodes of gorgeous romantic drama in a medium that rarely seems suited to the genre.

The Standard wrote: Fellow Travelers is possibly the glossiest gay series weve yet been given, and it takes time to crack that shiny carapace. The story is told with traditional Hollywood plotting, lighting and pristine glamour.

The first episode of the eight-part mini series will be available to stream on Paramount+ on Saturday 28 October in the UK a day after it debuts in the US.

Yes, watch below!

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Jonathan Baileys Long-Awaited New Drama Is Almost Upon Us Here's The Lowdown On Fellow Travelers - Yahoo Sport Australia

Melbourne-born, London-based DJ and producer Surusinghe emerged last year with debut EP GOOD GIRLS // BAD GIRLS, a grab-bag of dance music which drew from breakbeat, techno, bass and more for an eclectic and exciting introduction. Cutting her teeth with varied and lauded DJ sets across the world, the debut EP brought all this and more into her own productions and showed that experimentation and the cross-pollination of genres is in her DNA.

After the release of Get Flutey earlier this year, which subtly pushed her sound forward, third effort Brake Fluid sees the wheels in motion, the hinges greased, and Surusinghe going even harder towards pure dancefloor euphoria. Heavyweight opener Bop centres around a squiggly melody, while mountainous bass crashes in and out at regular intervals. Its a pummelling five minutes which belies its title this is less a bop and more a total hammerblow.

Im first and foremost a clubgoer, the NME 100 graduate who also co-founded the Phenomena label told Crack recently, and the variance of sounds and genres that float in and out of the EP make sense to have come from a student of the dancefloor. For nearly a decade before emerging with GOOD GIRLS // BAD GIRLS, she was working behind-the-scenes and soaking up sounds, ideas and energies to pour into her own music when it finally arrived.

Thats probably why every second of Brake Fluid hits as hard as a hurricane. Bet possesses gut-trembling bass while a loose, glitchy melody sits on top. Boka, meanwhile, feels like a relative of the hyper-pop scene and descended from the glitchy sonic world of SOPHIE. While rubbery bass hammers down throughout, all manner of fragmented sounds drift in and out of the frame.

Its only closing track Brain that feels like it has any space to breathe, with softer and more introspective beats giving respite after the thunderous, claustrophobic chaos of the rest of the EP. These are four songs that thrive in the darker, weirder corners of the dancefloor and cross boundaries with ease, carrying with them all the energy and hedonism of a perfect night out.

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Surusinghe 'Brake Fluid' EP review: every second hits as hard as a ... - NME

Reformation has captured the sartorial style of French-American model and actress Camille Rowe with a new capsule collection.

Inspired by decadence, richness and hedonism, the line of winter essentials includes slip dresses, mens wear-inspired separates, T-shirts, sequined skirts and gowns and regeneratively-grown cotton denim.

The 15-piece line, which comes in a variety of color ways including black, nude, Barbie pink and forest green, ranges in price from $48 to $378.

A longtime fan of the Los Angeles womens wear brand, Rowe released a summer line of 70s-inspired staples with Reformation in 2014.

Rowe was an early consumer of the brands vintage pieces when she moved to New York in 2010, including the Laurien and Beyla dresses, which served as inspirations for the new silhouettes.

A paragon of chic and effortless French girl style, Rowes styling across the campaign is simple and understated.

In keeping with Reformations commitment to sourcing more eco-conscious materials, the line includes deadstock fabrics, Bluesign Certified eco-silk, Regenerative Nativa Wool and its 90-percent recycled cashmere blend.

The line also features denim styles made in Turkey with regenerative organic cotton.

Earlier this spring, the brand announced plans to become fully circular by 2030, based on the Ellen MacArthur Foundations guiding principles for a circular economy.

Reformation said it plans to transition to renewable and regenerative versions of virgin inputs, which make up 13 percent of its material profile today.

The collaboration with Rowe is the third in a string of Reformation collabs this fall, including a two-piece sneaker drop with Paris-founded footwear brand Veja.

The brand also released a collaboration with theNew York City Balleton a 19-piece line of balletcore-inspired fashion.

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Reformation Taps Model and Actress Camille Rowe for Holiday ... - Sourcing Journal

Heres a look at some recent offerings in the scary movie genre. Submitted photo

Lovers of the fantastic and horrific often find theres no better time of year than the month of October to embrace all things terrifying.

This is when homeowners adorn their homes with gruesome decor to prepare for Halloween. The weeks leading up to Halloween also are times when horror movies both classic and newly released take centre stage.

Plenty of films will have viewers hiding behind their buckets of popcorn in the theatre or gripping the sofa pillows at home. Heres a look at some recent offerings in the scary movie genre.

Five Nights at Freddys This film is a terror-filled adaptation of a popular video game. It centres around a nighttime security guard at Freddy Fazbears Pizza who quickly learns that the animatronic mascots of the establishment are alive and filled with malice. The movie is poised to have a PG-13 rating, so it may prove a bit too scary for younger children even if they play the video game.

Knock at the Cabin M. Night Shyamalans newest thriller follows a small family whose vacation in the woods is interrupted by strangers who say the apocalypse is upon them unless one of the family members kills another. Dave Bautista has a standout role.

Talk to Me A group of friends discover how to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand. They quickly get hooked on the thrill of discovery, and one goes wild releasing terrifying supernatural forces.

Evil Dead Rise A young aunt is stuck in an apartment complex while her sister becomes a Deadite who is determined to kill her own children. Gory scenes abound in this installment in the Evil Dead series.

Infinity Pool A psychological horror, this movie follows a couple on a vacation as they venture outside the resort. They meet a mysterious woman who introduces the couple to a culture of hedonism, horror and violence.

M3EGAN Viewers looking for a film that mixes something a little scary, a little silly and a little heartfelt may find it when watching M3EGAN. The titular character is a life-like doll programmed to be a childs companion and a parents ally. But as horror movie fans know, you cant always trust dolls.

Scream VI This long-running slasher series gives fans another installment. The main characters have moved to New York City only to find they are pursued by another Ghostface. Some great fight scenes keep viewers engaged.

The Nun II Sister Irene once again comes face-to-face with Valak, the demon nun who is responsible for murder and the spread of evil.

Horror fans can enjoy a new crop of thrilling and scary films this Halloween.

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Latest additions to the Halloween horror movie canon - Two Row Times

Towa Bird has shared her new single Drain Me!, a wildly ecstatic expression of all-consuming lust. The latest offering from her highly anticipated debut album (due out soon via Interscope Records), Drain Me! finds the Hong Kong-born artist working with Mikky Ekko (an artist/songwriter/producer known for co-writing and featuring on Rihannas nine-times-platinum single Stay).

Co-written by Towa, Mikky, and Luke Niccoli (Carly Rae Jepsen, Gwen Stefani), Drain Me! centers on a bold but delicate vocal performance from Towa, who perfectly conveys the mind-bending exhilaration of surrendering to desire. Check out the video for track below.

Drain Me! is about love! And sex! And pleasure! And pain! says Towa. Its a song about being young and having fun, being impulsive and f_____g and saying, f__k you. Drain Me! is about hedonism in its purest form.

As Towa reveals, Drain Me! came to life in a breakneck burst of inspiration, beginning with a spontaneously composed guitar part echoing her infinitely imaginative musicality. Produced by Niccoli and featuring backing vocals from Mikky, the result is a two-minute head rush that fully channels the dizzy energy of its creation, unfolding in woozy synth lines and pogo-ready rhythms.

Working on these lyrics made me feel like a schoolgirlI felt giddy, says Towa. The writing process mirrored the song itself: fast, fun, and gratifying. When I listened back to the first demo from Luke and Mikky, I was overwhelmed by a feeling of control. I knew that this piece was the (sticky!) glue that would bring the whole project together.

The video for Drain Me! offers an up-close look at Towas ability to immediately captivate the crowda rare and powerful feat for an opening artist as she captivates audiences while touring With Rene Rapp. With its whirlwind collage of live footage and real-life scenes captured on a hand-held camera, the hyper-saturated visual ultimately gives fans a fascinating glimpse into Towas world.

Buy or stream Drain Me!

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Towa Bird Shares New Single And Video 'Drain Me!' - uDiscover Music

By now, 99.9% of music fans know (and love) the 1977 song, Hotel California, by the Los Angeles-born band, the Eagles. Its haunting mood, lyrical depth, its warning, and its topic: dangerous hedonism. But what if we took a step back and considered the song to be more of a template and less of an individual song?

What does that mean? Well, to find out we reached out to ChatGPT to see what the artificial intelligence system would create when prompted to rewrite Hotel California about the state of Texas. Both states are large and important. But while one is known for sunshine and celebrity, the other is known for cowboys. Below you will find the beloved classic in Lone Star style.

[RELATED: Every Song on the Eagles Classic Rock Album Hotel California Ranked]

Hotel Texas

(Verse 1) On a dusty highway, in the Lone Star State, Warm winds in my hair, and a cowboys fate, Up ahead in the distance, I saw a neon sign, It read, Welcome to Texas, the land of the pines.

(Pre-Chorus) I thought I heard a fiddle playing sweet melodies, And I knew I had to stop, and feel that Texas breeze.

(Chorus) Welcome to Texas, such a dusty place, Such a big space, with a rugged grace, Plenty of barbecue, and a Lone Star embrace, You can check in anytime, but you can never leave.

(Verse 2) In the heart of Austin, or the streets of Big D, Theres a feeling in the air, its wild and free, And Im chasing the sunset, down the Gulf Coast shore, Where the Gulf meets the desert, I cant take no more.

(Pre-Chorus) I thought I heard some twang, guitars and rolling plains, I knew I had to stay, in the Lone Star domain.

(Chorus) Welcome to Texas, such a wild place, Such a vast space, with a cowboys grace, Plenty of rodeos, and a Lone Star embrace, You can check in anytime, but you can never leave.

(Bridge) Mirrors on the ceiling, the stars in the sky, One last tequila shot, and I knew I couldnt fly, And the barkeep said, Weve been living it up here, With our boots on the ground, and a Texas cheer.

(Verse 3) They gathered in the courtyard, in the warm summer air, The cowboys and the dreamers, they were all there, They said, We are all just prisoners here, of our own device, And in the masters chamber, they gathered for a Texas slice.

(Pre-Chorus) They strummed guitars in the night, and sang the songs so well, I knew I had to stay, in this Texas spell.

(Chorus) Welcome to Texas, such a vibrant place, Such a big space, with a friendly face, Plenty of wide-open skies, and a Lone Star embrace, You can check in anytime, but you can never leave.

(Outro) So live it up in Texas, with the sun on your face, In this Lone Star state, where theres no better place, Plenty of memories, and a Lone Star embrace, You can check in anytime, but you can never leave.

To any Texans reading this, how did the AI bot do? Does it feel authentic, does it feel true to the spurs-wearing state? Does Hotel Texas do justice to the Lone Star state? While the Eagles are hard to channel perfectlyespecially when it comes to this famous songits at least a good start to the idea of writing songs for every region in the U.S. using Hotel California as a template.

Photo by RB/Redferns

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We Asked AI to Rewrite the Eagles Hit "Hotel California" about ... - American Songwriter

Stigma is a word we often use to explain why people who struggle with anxiety or depression dont seek treatment. The stigmas around mental health take many different forms, from a fear of being judged to feelings of personal responsibility. These stigmas mean that sometimes individuals with mental health issues refrain from seeking any treatment. People continue to suffer because of a misunderstanding over what a mental illness is and how the condition can be improved.

In this article, I will try to support the conversation around mental health stigmas by shedding light on the ideas of normal mental health.

I am not here to tell you what is normal, because the person that is the most normal is a statistical outlier themself. People vary; they see the gold and white dress as blue and black, hear Yanny or Laurel, and vividly remember different events and facts that matter to them and never to others. We are all inherently very different, psychologically speaking.

Nonetheless, there seems to be an ideal state of mind when it comes to being happy, not stressed out, or philanthropic and sociable. Where these notions come from, I do not know. Maybe they originate in everyones head, or maybe they are propagated by large corporations that get you to buy products because they sell the idea that their product will make you a happy or moral individual.

But there is no ideal state of mind. There are only different states of mind that are all equally valid. In my view, the key to destigmatizing mental health is to acknowledge that we are allowed to be stressed out, to hate working on labs, to just want to huddle under blankets as it gets cold and dark. Its okay to feel bad emotionsthey are real as well.

Mental health stigmas derive from the idea to feel depressed, anxious, or lonely is to be an outsider. But considering that it is estimated that 20 per cent of all Canadians will have some form of mental illness in any given yearand I havent even touched on culturally dependent stigmas regarding LGBTQ2+ issues, culture differences in mental health acceptance and awareness, and so forthI daresay it is just as normal to be mentally unwell than it is to be well.

So why are we so vigilant about wanting to be healthy and well? Well, that is difficult to answer. Maybe it is our genetic drive to survive. Maybe it lies in our nature as humans to want to feel well and submit to hedonism, which requires the absence of illness. Maybe we want to be like the people we see on social media: perfectly healthy and doing well. Or maybe it is something else entirely. Regardless, despite our instinct to want to feel good, it is just as common for any human to struggle with feelings of pain, sadness, anger, fear, stress, and loneliness.

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There's no such thing as normal mental health - The Medium - The Medium