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Inside Marlins Parks visiting clubhouse on the evening of August 15, Neil Rampe looked for a Dodger who needed treatment before the teams flight to Atlanta. The head athletic trainers search led him into the restroom, where several players were toweling off from postgame showers.

Among them was Walker Buehler, the days losing pitcher. In a four-hour slog, baseballs most miserable offense had torched him for five runs over four innings. He sensed the opportunity to crack a joke about the expansive training room and his corresponding confidence.

Hey, Neil, Buehler began. You got anything for my fucking ego in there?

The Dodgers are familiar with Buehlers cracks by now. After he pitched them to a division title in last years Game 163, Kik Hernndez said the team had zero problem with Walker being the cocky motherfucker that he is. Because he is good and because he knows how to counteract the cockiness with an occasional...

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Understanding Walker Buehler's words of weapon and his 'very laughable' confidence - The Athletic

Social media, reflecting growing distrust and polarisation of public opinion, has contributed to a shift toward corporate honesty and brave campaigns as PR embraces equality, purpose and sustainability.

'You probably couldn't get away with that now' - Neil Hedges on PR in the 2000s

When Dominos Pizza admitted that its product was crap in a campaign at the beginning of the 2010s it was, perhaps, the start of a different approach to PR and communications in this case, brutal honesty in an age when the public increasingly distrusts companies, politicians and even the institutions on which society is based.

For Nik Govier, founder and chief executive of corpsumer agency Blurred, this honesty, coupled with the rise and rise of purpose-driven campaigning, is one of the trends that will come to define this decade.

Iceland (twice), Missing Type, #LikeAGirl, KFC's 'FCK'... 10 best PR campaigns of the 2010s

Before launching Blurred in 2018, Govier was co-founder of multi-award-winning firm Unity, with her then-business partner, Gerry Hopkinson; she stayed for 12 years.

Unity was the agency behind Marks & Spencers ground-breaking, big-budget 2014 Christmas campaign Follow the fairies the epitome of a modern integrated campaign, led by PR.

Were in an airy, plant-filled room on the top floor of the latest, Mayfair-based incarnation of women-only members club The AllBright.

The club and its members are themselves a reminder of the decade we are living in; a departure from the stuffy establishments of another age.

Govier, an early investor in the enterprise and a firm supporter of its ethos, is unapologetic about the relentless rise of purpose in PR and comms.

She says: "It massively makes people roll their eyes, but theyre going to have to just suck it up, because its not going anywhere and it will continue to be a huge thing for decades to come."

There are strong drivers for this purpose-driven atmosphere, not least of which is the environment and a new generation of consumers who understand the power they wield.

"Were on the cusp of climate disaster and everyones waking up to that, not just consumers," says Govier. "Pressure is coming from markets, and shareholders everyone wants to know how [businesses] are contributing from a sustainability perspective."

But back to that crap pizza, and Govier is recounting some of her favourite PR and communications campaigns of the decade to date.

"Dominos had a huge market share but its product was quite shit," she says. "It put out a series of campaign films in which the CEO said: Weve let you down, our pizza is crap and we should do better. It turned that business around, absolutely revolutionised it and nobody really knows about it."

For Govier, this was the start of something new, and its influence continues to reverberate in campaigns at this end of the decade one being last years KFC FCK crisis comms exemplar after its chicken distribution failed, another being Carlsbergs campaign quoting consumers insulting its standard lager for example, saying that it tasted like "cat piss" earlier this year.

"Its that notion of honesty in an age of distrust thats the age were in now," says Govier.

By 2010, platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn were already established but, as a comms tool, social media was still in its relative infancy. Govier has enjoyed watching the evolution in its use by the industry, in particular the shift away from a fear of giving offence.

"A few years ago, brands would have thought: We dont want to offend people, but in a world where theres such division now, globally, I love it when people know who they are and theyre brave enough to say that on social."

Govier cites campaigns by Nike, featuring the American footballer Colin Kaepernick, Adidas There Will be Haters and Are You Beach Body Ready? by Protein World, which was banned from poster sites on the London Underground after a public backlash.

"[The campaign was] used as an example of how not to do it then lo and behold, six months later, [Protein World] released its figures and theyd gone through the roof. It realised its not for everyone and didnt care about offending some people My point is, know who you are and dont be afraid to say it."

The polarisation of public opinion is not just a characteristic of social media, of course; it is, for Govier, a defining aspect of the 2010s.

"We have never been more divided," she says. "We have Trump versus The Squad in America, Brexit here and just this notion that were trying to break ourselves up into little pieces."

Reassuringly, Govier thinks we are on the cusp of a backlash against this sense of division, anger and polarisation, and raises HSBCs campaign in the UK, We are not an island, as an example of brands responding to this sentiment.

"Of course, [HSBC] tried to claim it didnt have an underlying political message, but I loved the bravery of that campaign," she says.

For Govier, equality is another thread running through the decades public discourse, as well as the industrys work.

"Were seeing that run through all sorts of marketing and, while none of this is new, I think weve arrived at a tipping point," she says.

Equality has also had a hand in the evolution of the agency model, with the rise of virtual agencies such as The Difference Collective, headed by Angie Wiles, as well as others set up by and specifically targeting members of ethnic minorities, such as Asad Dhunnas The Unmistakeables.

"Angie would have been laughed out of the room a decade ago, but now people realise its a great way to tap into a talent pool of smart women who have to juggle work and childcare," says Govier. "Its a way of tapping into social situations that the world has led us to. Likewise, I think what Asad is doing is brilliant creating an agency around something thats crying out to be addressed."

Govier predicts that in the 2020s brands will place an even sharper focus on purpose and the global issue of sustainability, and that it will be not just conscious consumers who demand it, but every type of audience.

Another trend for the industry will be a talent flight from the capital to regional agencies and outfits that are a better fit for their work-life balance.

This decentralisation is unlikely to prove as much of a problem as one might imagine, however: Govier doesnt believe clients will care, because they dont want to pay exorbitant fees in order for agencies to have a Covent Garden office and beautiful flowers in reception "as long as they can get access to smart people who can change on a dime".

What will we think was quaint about this decade in PR in the years to come?

Govier says: "Well laugh at the fact that we thought that the channel or the type of marketing was the idea."

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'We're at a tipping point for equality' - Nik Govier on PR in the 2010s - PRWeek

Particularly symptomatic was the attitude of the Polish liberals towards Jrg Haider, leader of the Austrian Freedom Party (FP) who in the year 2000 won significant electoral support on a nationalist, anti-immigration, and anti-EU platform. One of the prominent Polish liberal politicians said that Haider was neither left- nor right-wing; he was entirely outside the political spectrum, and propagated views running entirely counter to the European heritage. It was indeed a novel contribution to the history of Nazism. Did not the Nazi ideology, to which Jrg Haider subscribed, originate on the European continent after all? Another Polish champion of freedom appealed to the Europeans not to go to the Austrian skiing resorts; he reasoned that if Europeans refused en masse to go to Austria, its economy would collapse which would have a salutary effect on Austrian society. So much for the liberal faith in philosophical rationalism and a sense of political responsibility, not to mention the curious liberal dogma of the need to separate the economy from politics. Populism continues to spread across Europe unabated and most likely will do so for the foreseeable future

Although in the first decade of the twenty-first century Haider and other European populists suffered electoral defeats, nationalism and populism has not been wiped out from European politics, on the contrary. The star of Gerhard Frey in Germany was soon overshadowed by the successes of the previously excluded PDS and subsequently by the Alternative fr Deutschland; the Belgian Vlaams Blok, after an order to disband, underwent reorganization and consistently gains increasing political support. After the assassination of Pim Fortuyn in the Netherlands on 6 May 2002, his nationalist party received an additional boost. Vladimir Zhirinovsky in Russia and Andrzej Lepper in Poland were soon joined by Istvan Csurka in Hungary, Jan Slota and Vladimir Meciar in Slovakia, and Miroslav Sladek in the Czech Republic.

Current European politics is now coping with xenophobic movements not only in those countries, but also in Germany, Hungary which is in the grip of the Victor Orbans illiberal democracy, and Italy which is being dragged to the right by Matteo Salvini. It is impossible to overestimate the role played by Michnik himself and his newspaper in the struggle for democracy. But some of his opinions aptly illustrate a dangerous liberal complacency in dealing with the early stages of populism which paved the way in Poland to the rise of the radically anti-liberal forms of government. These have succeeded in driving liberalism onto the periphery of public life, branding it with an ugly label, and transforming the formerly honourable term liberalism into an insulting epithet. At that time an irresponsible populism throughout Central Europe was only beginning its slow but systematic work of undermining the position of moderate and liberal parties.

In the elections of 2005, the nominally leftist post-communist Democratic Left Alliance suffered a defeat. In the run-up to the elections, the Alliance was relentlessly presented by nationalist and conservative groupings not only as a descendant of traitors from the past but also as greedy and corrupt. The liberal party was only happy to join in this propaganda. It soon turned out that in its arrogance, the right-wing government turned out not only greedier and more corrupt than the post-communists, but also much less competent in running the state.

In the aftermath of the defeat of the Democratic Left Alliance, a liberal commentator dared to voice a timid opinion that some sort of political equilibrium is salutary for democracy and for this reason Polish politics did need a leftist party. In response to this innocuous remark his right-wing opponent responded: But whatever for!? The conservative and nationalist movements, having arrogated for themselves the image of the true victor of the strife against communism, are driven by a belief that the glory of the communism slayers gives them complete immunity from any public scrutiny and criticism. The Polish nationalist conservative movement does not need any leftist parties indeed; having eliminated them from the public sphere, they had both hands free to destroy what is left of the liberal party and to snatch the entire public space for itself. It found it all the easier to achieve this because in its doctrinal fundamentalism and political doggedness it arrogantly ignores and disregards any critical opinions. In fact, any unfavourable opinion about itself, especially voiced from the liberal standpoint, it regards as additional confirmation that it had rightly chosen its anti-liberal way, which only strengthens its relentlessness.

Many bad things might be said of the post-communist party members of that period, but at least their political arrogance was moderated by the awareness of the sin of their illegitimate communist ancestry. The arrogance of the post-communist Democratic Left Alliance was also moderated by its desire to be recognised as a legitimate political actor not only in the country, but also by the international community of established democracies. It desperately failed on both counts. It is true that the post-communist leader Leszek Miller promised that he could make pigs fly with his decree, this was not so much an expression of his faith in the power of his post-communist party as an act of impudence for the benefits of the media and his electorate. Although he led the Democratic Left Alliance to take over thousands of state jobs for his party members, he at least never talked about it openly as his right-wing opponent shamelessly did. Although a supporter of the leftist party indeed attempted to extort from Michnik a multimillion bribe, he was immediately put in prison even though no money passed any hands. However, when large sums of the public money were actually appropriated by the right-wing party leadership, no one was sent to prison or even charged. Petty corrupt social democratic politicians meekly went to prison to serve long terms, in marked contrast to the right-wing party offenders who successfully ran away from justice. Memorably, one of them escaped from the country on the last day of his parliamentary immunity like a thief, which he allegedly was, and found shelter in a Catholic cloister in Slovakia. He sought impunity under the cover of the priestly robe which in Poland all too often serves as an inviolable immunity for many dishonest and dissolute people.

Ivan Krastev has listed several characteristics of contemporary populist movements: genuine anger; dislike of elites; vagueness of proposed politico-economic solutions; economic egalitarianism; cultural conservatism; nationalism; xenophobia, Euroscepticism; anti-capitalism; and anti-corruption rhetoric.[11] Populism, in Poland and elsewhere, broke away from its roots in the leftist ideologies and movements which was its traditional hotbed, and moved entirely to the nationalist and conservative parties. Although some movements in Poland were regarded as specimen of leftist populism, they never won any substantial leverage. Populism in Krastevs sense has become a major problem for Polish, European and indeed global politics, but it is overwhelmingly a nationalist-conservative phenomenon.

In todays Poland the populist ideology is indeed anti-elitist, aiming to overturn the table at which politicians, businessmen, former secret service members, and corrupt journalists are playing their game. It promotes socialist policies, but only as a means of winning popular support for their most fundamentalist religious and nationalist agenda. The anarchism, the inseparable element of the former, left-wing populism, has been replaced by the right-wing repressive ideology of law and order, accompanied by grotesque attempts to militarize the public space, justified by the appeal to the alleged eternal enmity of Polish neighbours Germany and Russia.

The only serious alternative to the contemporary nationalist populist rhetoric is something which already deserves the name of neoliberal populism. It appeals to neoliberal values, invariably substantiated with compelling, logical and irrefutably rational arguments. These values include the idea of sanctity of private property, economic freedom and especially freedom from state intervention: in other words, a trimmed down version of social neo-Darwinism, free-market populism pure and simple, ornamented for populist purposes with the ideas of inalienable human rights, inviolability of individual autonomy and the rule of law protected by the minimal state. This ideology appeals predominantly to the young enterprising employees of western corporations and to freshers in political science departments, both prone to this simplistic conglomerate of libertarian ideas. They usually give up on it as soon as they face the challenge of finding a secure and well-paid job. The ideology is also known in its more elegant form from the economic journalism propagated, among others, by the journalists writing for Michniks Gazeta Wyborcza. The problem is that even if the ideology seems logical, rational and thus irrefutable, it does not appeal to those who cannot afford to buy this paper every day. When I told that to Michnik, he admitted that sometimes he also has an argument with his neoliberal writers. But he also added, rather disingenuously: But you must admit: they are superb columnists!

There cannot be any room for agreement between these two kinds of populisms: they talk at cross-purposes. The present-day clash of these two forms of politics, supported by well-defined political ideas, appears to be a modern form of class struggle. In other words, what we are dealing with is an instance of the return of the repressed. The present fundamentalism, populism, irrationalism, and the religion-cum-nation-based tribal instincts, the phenomena liberals once regarded as incompatible with liberal values, having been driven out from the public space, reappear with a vengeance. Unable to find its place in the present regime of the political discourse dominated by the liberal rhetoric, which describes them exclusively in terms of an outright denial, patronizing condescension or utter condemnation, they return with redoubled force, marginalizing and repressing liberalism itself in revenge.

The return of the repressed is also the return of the political. In this confrontation, however, liberals who understand politics as a procedural, strictly regulated law-making activity, are losing their political steam. Trying to curb the awoken and now raging force by means of a powerless web of laws, they present a spectacle of powerlessness.

Liberalism is a diverse doctrine, or rather a vast family of doctrines and values, linked by a common reference to the variously understood idea of freedom. The variety of liberalisms has its origin in the fact that its emancipatory potential was informed through social struggles against various forms of iniquities, mainly in the economic sphere, but also in the moral, private and intimate spheres. Thus, despite its variety, liberalism was and is being perceived as a comprehensive vision of a free and just society that offers the widest range of opportunities for implementing individual life projects open to all members of a society, though guaranteeing no success in the process.

Despite the above, John Rawls devoted some space to the discussion of the idea of the comprehensiveness of a political doctrine. He insisted that his own theory of justice as fairness[12] was not such a comprehensive doctrine and argued against transforming it into an overall Weltanschauung. He presented his theory of justice not as an all-embracing worldview, capable of offering answers to all possible questions to its followers but as an independent, free-standing module, containing a specific political solution. In this respect, his political liberalism differs from moral and religious conceptions striving towards such a generality. It differs also, significantly, from the ideology of Marxism which was designed as a comprehensive doctrine in the above sense. Yet Rawlss shunning of comprehensiveness, understandable in the case of his theory, may be read as a symptom of a more general liberal attitude. The problem is that in its political practice it tends to degenerate into an exclusive elite liberalism, belying its universalist message.

In this way it tends to become the ideology of the well-to-do middle and uppers classes who all too often pursue their noble aims only to the point when their interests are secured, resting their case as soon they are satisfied. Despite the universalism of their doctrine, they have no qualms in leaving the plight of other classes outside the scope of their interest. This degenerative tendency, however, has its consequences. Since, as a rule, only the upper social strata benefit from the implementation of liberal policies, the partial realization of liberal postulates in the past has often provoked other social groups to undertake emancipatory ideas which liberalism formulated but has not pursued in a comprehensive manner. Several examples will illustrate the point.

First of all, by elevating the concept of property to the status of liberal dogma, liberals have been unable properly to understand and appreciate the role of the working classes in the process of the creation of wealth, and, even less so, to recognise their property rights to created wealth. Thus, the working classes, far from being amongst the beneficiaries of liberal political aspirations and transformations have become their chief victims. That is why nineteenth century socialists demanded that all people are to be emancipated from their material misery, believing that this would bring about their emancipation in other spheres, superstructured on the economic base. Most versions of liberalism focus on the economy; for Karl Marx, similarly, human emancipation was achievable through a focus on the economic sphere. In this sense Marxist social philosophy closely resembles the liberal one: Marxism was, just like liberalism, an emancipatory doctrine, and had a similar structure; the difference being that is was far more ambitious, because egalitarian. In other words, socialist and communist movements were the unwanted children of liberalism which did not pursue its agenda far enough. Leftist thought took over the emancipatory potential disregarded by liberalism and radicalized it by attempting to restore it to its originally declared universality.

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Perception and politics the case of Poland: coping with political apparitions - Open Democracy

A top scientist is planning to develop self-conscious robots that will pave the way for a "Blade Runner future".

Osaka University professor Hiroshi Ishiguro says the hit film is on the cusp of becoming a reality thanks to groundbreaking strides in technology.

In the 1982 Ridley Scott epic later featuring Ryan Gosling in a 2017 version robots live alongside humans in a stunning dystopian world.

They are indistinguishable from one another as the films provoke viewers into questioning the very nature of consciousness itself.

But Prof Ishiguro believes this is what our future will look like, and is planning to develop robots to put this theory to the test.

He told the Japan Times: "I dont know when a 'Blade Runner' future will happen, but I believe it will.

"Every year were developing new technology like deep learning, which has improved the performance of pattern recognition.

"Now were focusing on intention and desire, and if we implement them into robots whether they become more humanlike.

As a scientist, I hope to develop self-conscious robots like you see in Blade Runner to help me understand what it is to be human. Thats my motivation."

But luckily, Mr Ishiguro believes any risk to humanity will be without our control.

He continued: We dont need to fear AI or robots, the risk is controllable. My basic idea is that there is no difference between humans and robots.

"Hopefully remote-control technology will develop to allow our alter egos to lead regular lives"

He continued: "Already computers are more powerful than humans in some cases.

"Technology is just another means of evolution. We are changing the definition of what it is to be human.

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Scientist developing 'self-conscious' robot that will spark 'Blade Runner world' - Daily Star

IANS

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, an essential persona, a revered leader and the father of the nation, drew such fine admiration worldwide for his teachings of non-violence that his date of beginning is noticed as the World Day of Non-Violence.

The moderns philosophy and Satyagraha is now extra relevant than ever, given the atmosphere of intolerance thats evidently prevalent.

On the event of Gandhis 150thbeginning anniversary, enable us to retract a watch at one of the most most necessary events that fashioned him to be the leader we all know him as.

Mahatma Gandhis 150th beginning anniversary: Key events of the moderns existence

1893: Gandhis bolt to South Africa

Two years after strolling back from London, Gandhi travelled to South Africa to retract a plan as an even advisor for an Indian trading and transport firm.

His time there became as soon as a truly worthy as the depraved inequality and discrimination of the colonial society helped his political evolution and him extra politically conscious.

Gandhi became as soon as thrown off a prepare in South Africa for refusing to pass from a first-class seat to third class, even supposing he held a legitimate first class price. This trip gave Gandhi the unravel to fight racial discrimination.

He then labored with other Indian Indian-rights activists in South Africa in 1894, to make the Natal Indian Congress, a firm dedicated to giving Indians a collective affirm in South African politics.

1906: Gandhi organised his first Satyagraha

A accrued boom became as soon as organised by the father of the nation to boom the Transvaal Asiatic Amendments Act a legislation that required the registration and fingerprinting of all Indians residing in the Transvaal.

Gandhi persisted to boom till 1911, when this act, recognized as the Shadowy Act became as soon as repealed.

Gandhi on the strategy to search the Viceroy, Simla, September 5, 1939.IANS

1914: Gandhi decides to reach abet to India

When Gandhi returned to India, sailing into Bombay, he became as soon as welcomed as a hero. The experiences of his fight for Indian equality had unfold thru the country.

Looking out to familiarise himself with the considerations of Indian society, Gandhi spent most of his time travelling for the interval of the country by prepare. He became as soon as satisfied that the country wanted social and political reform after he noticed the frequent poverty and famine that became as soon as prevailing.

He established the Satyagraha Ashram at Kochrab, Gujarat Provinces Ahmedabad. The ashram became as soon as a non secular retreat for his followers, even the untouchables. This pass insecure loads of the Hindu neighborhood.

IANS

1930: The Dandi march

In boom of the Salt Act (1882), which forbade Indians from making their very have salt, Gandhi led a 200-mile march from his ashram in Ahmedabad to the coastal city of Dandi.

After arriving at Dandi, Gandhi picked up a portion of natural, unprocessed salt from the shore, thereby violating British legislation.

This march impressed Indians sooner or later of the country to organise accrued and non-violent protests/disobedience actions.

British authorities arrested bigger than a hundred thousand protesters, along with Gandhi, nonetheless were compelled to liberate him and other Indian leaders to negotiate an quit to the protests.

1942: Stop India movement, nationwide Satyagraha

The Indian National Congress handed a decision known as the Stop India, anxious that the British acknowledge Indian independence.

In crimson meat up of the decision, Gandhi launched his closing nationwide satyagraha campaign. Along with other Indian leaders, Gandhi became as soon as arrested and imprisoned till 1944.

He started a starvation strike in 1973.

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Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary: Key events of the revolutionary's life - Headlinez Pro

Apex Legends has its third season around the corner, and there are plenty of things to be excited about, but also a few things that fans should be cautious about. The third season is called Meltdown, and, on top of introducing a new legend, it will come with a brand-new battle pass, hopefully full of really cool unlockable rewards.

When it comes to almost anything in life, it's important to never get too high or too low on things to protect yourself. That being said, let's look at 5 reasons to be excited for Apex Legends Season 3: Meltdown, and 5 things that could worry you.

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Many people think that Apex Legends was a flash in the pan, as its numbers on Twitch and other gaming-centric sites dropped since launch. The truth is that there are very few things that can compete with League of Legends or Fortnite, so comparing numbers to those titans is unfair.

The game still has very healthy numbers and offers a great free-to-play alternative for people. Will that base stick around once all of the major Fall video game releases start hitting shelves? Well, we'll have to wait and see.

The second season of Apex Legends offered something many fans didn't even know was going to be a part of it, which was new limited-time modes for players to experience. The most popular of these modes was a single-player version of the base 3 vs. 3 mode, and also one that only spawned snipers and shotguns on the map.

It seems that Respawn is open to providing their players with new experiences, so don't be surprised if new modes pop up or they bring back some favorites from previous seasons.

RELATED: Apex Legends: 10 Facts About The Adrenaline Freak, Octane

Now, Respawn up until this point has done a good job at not being too overbearing when it comes to balancing, but, at the same time, they've made sure no weapon is supremely powerful.

The worry here isn't that they would all of a sudden stop caring, but rather that, if the game's player base falls off, they would quickly abandon ship. Respawn has been known to support their multiplayer games long after they should, so it isn't a real concern based on their track record, but it's always something to be conscious about.

Respawn has done a good job at spacing out the addition of new weapons and in exchange have added mods that make previously horrible or low-tier guns somewhat usable. Adding new guns changes the game in major ways, as it can change the learning curve of the game as players have one more gun to become familiar with.

A new mod, however, allows players to go back and explore weapons they previously would ignore or try out and ditch immediately. Look for more mods to be added throughout the third season.

The battle pass for the second season in Apex Legends did a lot to fix how terrible it was for the first season. They added better rewards and made it feel like you were earning things at a reasonable pace. Fans still felt that many of the skins in the battle pass didn't feel special enough at later levels and hope that, with the new season, they work even more towards making it worthwhile. It will all depend on how the battle pass for the second season sold and how vocal the feedback was from players.

RELATED: Apex Legends: 10 Unknown Things About The Mad Scientist, Caustic

Earlier, the addition of new mods for weapons was discussed and how those can benefit the game in ways that adding a whole new weapon can't. Well, adding a brand-new weapon can also be exciting, and it's already been announced that a charge rifle will be entering the ranks in the third season.

It will use energy ammunition and hopefully add another solid go-to choice for players looking to dominate the Apex Games. Don't be surprised if another weapon enters the fold by season's end.

There was a recent issue where developers and fans got into a bit of a disagreement regarding the microtransactions in the game. Many players thought that the price attached to some of the special event cosmetics were extremely expensive, and a select few voiced it very poorly. This led to a developer becoming frustrated and calling those select few some choice words. Respawn is a developer who's great at listening and correcting their mistakes, but don't hold your breath if a new event skin costs an arm and a leg.

The map in Apex Legends has only seen one major evolution throughout its lifetime, and that came once the second season began. These giant lumbering dinosaur-like creatures took up residence in King's Canyon, and their footsteps caused the landscape to change. Other than that, the map saw the addition of an Octane-inspired area and a lab portal, which was introduced after the premiere of Wraith's animated short. Here's hoping small and large changes come to King's Canyon and make familiar territory brand spanking new.

RELATED: Apex Legends: 10 Things You Didn't Know About The Healer, Lifeline

The main thing that Fortnite has over Apex Legends is that its map is constantly evolving every few weeks, whereas Respawn has taken a different approach to updates. Since launch, the map has only seen one major evolution, and their updates overall come at intervals of a couple of weeks for the most part.

It may not be the consumer's job to think about working conditions, but the current conversation around overworking employees makes it tough to demand what Epic Games does from Respawn.

Every season brings with it a new competitor to the Apex Games, and the upcoming third season is no different. Crypto will be making his entrance, and, though not much is known in regards to his in-game abilities, Respawn did release an animated short giving a glimpse into Crypto's life before his evolution.

It turns out that rummaging through things you shouldn't online could cause you to lose everything and everyone you love. He was hunted by powerful men, and, in turn, became something and someone his previous self wouldn't recognize.

NEXT: Apex Legends: 10 Facts About The Mystery, Bloodhound

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Apex Legends: 5 Reasons To Be Excited For Season 3 (& 5 Things To Be Worried About) - TheGamer

Each month,Billboard Pridecelebrates an LGBTQ act as its Artist of the Month. Our September selection:Mika.

Its early afternoon on a Thursday in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and despite his cool manner, Michael Holbrook Penniman Jr. is feeling nervous. Not because of this interview --hes been speaking to members of the press for over a decade at this point --but because in just a few hours, he will be donning his stage name, Mika, and returning to perform in the States for the first time in over three years.

I dont know what youre going to see tonight, he says with a laugh as he takes a sip of his San Pellegrino. His performance will be the first stop on a5-city tiny tour, reintroducing himself at intimatevenues to an audience he hasnt seen since touringhis last full-length album, No Place in Heaven, in early 2016.

But the moment he steps out onto the stage at Brooklyn Steel on Sept.12, it's clear that Mika's nerves have washed away. The crowd of nearly 2,000 attendees screams along to every song, as Mika dances around the stage, reveling in his return. "God, it feels good to be back on the stage," he says, grinning.

U.S. stages aren't the only thing he's returning to this fall after a four year hiatus from the music industry, Mika is officially back with his fifth studio albumMy Name Is Michael Holbrook(due out Oct. 4 via Republic). It'san expectedly ecclectic mix of pop tracks, spiritually harkening back to the days of his debut withLife in Cartoon Motion;if his debut was about moving on from childhood, his newest album is about growing into adulthood.

Mika says the album was written over the course of the last two and a halfyears in "real time," as he continued to learn what it really means to be a grown-up. "I really wanted to address the idea of growing up without losing your colors," he says."Becoming an adult, but without losing your human warmth, or your sense of color and whimsy ... those things are seen as things that you leave behind. If anything, I think they're things that you have to claim even more."

It shows throughout the album --whether he's battling his own inner envy with "Dear Jealousy," finding joy in the little things on "Platform Ballerinas," or lusting after a boy on "Ice Cream," Mika goes outof his way to create as many different representations of his own emotional state as he possibly can.

But Mika had a long road to get to his new album. Back in 2016, after releasingHeaventhe year prior, and touring near-constantly afterward, the singer decided it was time for him to step away from music. As he describes it, he long felt a general disdain towards the way business was done in the music industry, and that disdain eventually "contaminated" his love of making music."It took a little while for me to disassociate one from the other, and so I kind of just had to do a bit of internal housekeeping," he says.

Specifically, Mika says that he found himself constantly feeling "gross" about the commercial side of artistry. "I get knots in my stomach thinking about the process of trying to sell music," he says."Which a lot of people won't say because now it's so good to be commercial, it's so good to be brazen and to get out there! But I don't care!"

So, during his hiatus from the music business, Mika worked on creating a sound that was purely authentic to him, and untouched by his perceptions about what is current and trendy in pop music --My Name Is Michael Holbrookis that vision realized. "I have completely abandoned any kind of worry about what people may or may not think about my music. I have absolutely refused to mimic the sonics of anything that is mainstream," he says, adding,"While still remaining within a pop context, of course."

That refusal also extended to his Tiny Love Tiny Tour, starting with his kick-off show in Brooklyn. While past tours of his included incredible theatrics, props, dance numbers and more, his latesttour simply featured Mikaand his band playing through some of his favorite songs across all five of his albums. And itall took place in the weeks ahead of thealbum'srelease, a facthe says caused trepadation amongst his team"[My agent] wasjust like, 'You know, we're selling these shows you haven't played the U.S. in three and a half years, and you haven't put any music out,'" he recalls. "She ultimately trusted me."

His strategy payed off the star sold out each of the intimate venues almost immediately, in some cases having to add additional shows that also immediately sold out. "We sold 4,000 tickets in New York already," he says, with a cheeky laugh."2,000 more and we'd be at Radio City Music Hall. For someone who's never been played on radio in this country, that's pretty good."

Mika wasn't surprised that his team trusted him with the decision, though despite his aforementioned contempt for the music business, he contends that his record label, Republic, has always endorsed his "weird" vision, despite any questions regarding popularity or sales numbers. "They kind of see me as this completely atypical artist," he says. "There's this sense of pride from them ... and so they're quite supportive of me."

The singer's frustration with the music industry traces all the way back to the start of his career, when the star had spent years writing and sending out songs to labels, only to find them roundly rejected by music labels. His first official single came in 2006with Universal Music Group's new label Casablanca, titled "Relax, Take It Easy." The song went on to have some tempered European success, but ultimately didn't achieve the success they were looking for.

Thus, Mika's magnum opus "Grace Kelly" was born. Upon its release, the song hit No. 1 in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Italy and Belgium, while marking the singer's first entryonto the Hot 100 in the U.S., and saw Mika offering a rebuke the systems in place that would try to label and reject him."After a certain while, the 'no's just provoke this kind of outburst, and this outburst manifested itself in this explosion of colors," he says."So it became, 'I'll try to be like Grace Kelly. Oh, so sorry, is that too feminine for you?' It's like, I can be every single color of the fucking rainbow --but in the end, I don't think it's going to work for you, so I might as well just be myself."

And yet with his success on that single, quite literally written about how trying to compare himself to others simply doesn't work, he was heralded by many as the new Freddie Mercury (which Mika still calls "absolutely ridiculous"). Even with a song about individuality, the star felt his talent was being reduced to a need by those in the industry to identify him. "Therein started thistension between me and the idea of the music industry," he says."Again, it just shows you how there's different frustrations and negatives in this business."

Another label that Mika was regularly faced with early in his career was one surrounding his sexuality --in almost every interview, the star would be asked about how he identified. And for years, he would respond by saying that he didn't want to label himself. It's something that he says, looking back, he wouldn't change. "Itwas a conscious decision, and it was a part of my process," he says. "Real life and personal life and career all kind of evolve and develop along different timelines. It's just one thing at a time, where I wasnot obsessed with this idea of pigeonholing me."

But the evolution did occur, leading to the singer's "official" public coming out in 2012, when he revealed that he identified as gay in an interview withInstinct.Today, the star says he saw an opportunity to lead by example and took it. "If I was a 14 year old, I think it would be really good for me to hear about someone like this, and to hear that story," he says. "But everything takes time. Everything is a different type of journey, and every journey, when it comes to sexuality, is a different one, is atypical."

One assertion that he does fundementally disagree with is the notion that life is easier today for LGBTQ artists the world over. Mika acknowledges that "from a media point of view, we're certainly not givenas much shit as before," but adds that it doesn't diminishthe constant struggle queer people everywhere still face on a daily basis. "But this question of, 'is it a simpler journey?' My ass, it is!" he exclaims, specifically turning to address industry executives. "Stop thinking that --because you all suddenly realize there's this market out there --that it's somehow a simpler journey. It is still difficult, and every person's journey is difficult, and it's so important to respect that."

Relegating a queer artist to a mere descriptor of their sexuality, he says, only lead to further marginalization. Instead, he points to trailblazers like Elton John and Rufus Wainwright, saying that their work broke through into the mainstream because it was well-crafted,andbecause they decided to be honest with their audiences. "The one thing that breaks walls is the joy and the emotion that can be provoked by a piece of work that is excellent," he says."Because that lasts."

Mika hopes that his fans find that excellence inMy Name IsMichael Holbrook,a work he says is his proudest acheivement. "I just feel kind of like, 'Wow, it's starting to come together, and it's taken me 14 years,'" he says. "I've got a long way to go, I've got a lot of challenges. It's not an easy career, I don't have an easy time. And at the same time, I wouldn't change a single part of it."

Read more:
Mika Returns: How the Glam-Pop Star Rejected Industry Standards to Make His Boldest Record Yet - Billboard

Halloween has always been a time where comics creators flex their horror muscles. By Halloween, I mean the whole month of October, not just the 31st. Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore debuted The Walking Dead #1 in October 2003. Eleven years later, it was Scott Snyders and Jocks Wytches, a series that has figured into most Best horror comics lists since its debut.

This years Halloween season has the potential to be one for the history books, with acclaimed horror writer Joe Hill getting his own POP UP horror imprint under DC Comics with Mike Carey, Peter Gross, Joe Kelly, and Laura Marks among its contributing creators.

Storm King Comics will be celebrating the fifth anniversary of its horror anthology Tales for a HalloweeNight while Charlie Adlards post-Walking Dead horror comic Vampire State Building will be hitting shelves in the hopes of becoming the next big thing in horror. And this is just the beginning.

Here are 42 horror comics and graphic novels that will be haunting comic stores this Halloween season.

Writers: John Carpenter & Sandy KingArtists: VariousCover Artist: Tim BradstreetPublisher: Storm King ComicsRelease Date: Sept. 25List Price: $24.99

Fromthe mind of John Carpenter, the man who brought you the cult classic horror film Halloween and all of the scares beyond, and the heart of writer, editor, producer Sandy King comes 12 more twisted tales of terror, tricks, and treats. In volume 5 of the award-winning graphic novel series, they bring together another stellar ensemble of storytellers from the worlds of movies, novels, and comics for another spine-tingling collection of stories that will haunt you. Each story is a standalone surprise that captures the essence of fright night. We dare you to read it all the way to the end. If you get too scared, remember, its only a comic. Its only a comic or is it? Happy Halloween.

Writer: Don AvenellArtist: Carlos CruzPublisher: Rebellion Graphic NovelsRelease Date: Oct. 2List Price: $15.91

Hammer Horror meetsDoomlordin this 1970s supernatural comics gem! After several artefacts are stolen from his home, the mysterious Egyptologist Dr. Mesmer resurrects a five-thousand-year-old mummy called Angor, a Pharaoh possessed with great mystical power. Together they set out to retrieve the missing items, bringing terror and destruction in their wake! Featuring the work of legends of British comics Donne Avenell (The Spider,The Phantom) and illustrated by Carlos Cruz(M.A.S.K,The Phantom).

Writers: Tom Peyer, Mark Russell, VariousArtists: Peter Snejbjerg, Hunt Emerson, VariousCover Artist: Richard WilliamsPublisher: Ahoy! ComicsRelease Date: Oct. 2List Price: $19.99

A comedic collection of classic tales and brand new stories, adapted by comics snarkiest talents, in this cross betweenDrunk HistoryandTales from the Crypt, all introduced by Edgar Allan Poe at his drunkest. Collecting all of the comics from the 6-issue AHOY Comics series, plus terrifying prose and poetry features.

Writer: Jeff LovenessArtist: Lisandro EstherrenCover Artist: Evan CaglePublisher: BOOM! StudiosRelease Date: Oct. 2List Price: $3.99

MANKIND MADE IT TO SPACE. AND NOW SPACE HAS FOLLOWED THEM BACK.Herring is a disillusioned American spy stationed on the eastern side of the Berlin Wall, struggling with his role in a Cold War that seems to have no end. But when hes sent on a mission behind enemy lines to infiltrate East German intelligence, he soon learns the Soviets have a secret weapon that could change the tides of the conflict: an alien monster that they dont understand, and cant control.

The Soviets are about to learn that they re not in charge of the monster its already in their minds and has twisted them to their will. Now Herring must find a way to understand the impossible before it transforms him into a monster unlike any other.

Writer Jeff Loveness (Judas) and Lisandro Estherren (Redneck) team up for a story in the spirit of Cold War classics, for fans of period piece science fiction as well as alien action such as Barrier.

Writer: Cullen BunnArtist: Juan DoePublisher: AftershockRelease Date: Oct. 2List Price: $3.99

THE EPIC SERIES RETURNS!

Two arks were built to survive the Flood. One was filled with the creatures of the natural world. The other was populated byeverything else.

Now that the denizens of the DARK ARK have beaten Noahs Ark to land, a new so-cietal order must be created one based on the rule of monsters. Khalee, a new sorceress, ventures to maintain order amidst the chaos, but her otherworldly mas-ters have a different task in mind. She must devise a way to bring Noahs Ark to the monstersbecause the beasts must feed.

From writer Cullen Bunn (UNHOLY GRAIL, BROTHERS DRACUL, WITCH HAMMER, Deadpool, Venom) and artist Juan Doe (ANIMOSITY: THE RISE, AMERICAN MONSTER, WORLD READER) comes an even more sinister tale of biblical proportions!

Writers: More, Marv Wolfman, Gerry ConwayArtist :Gil Kane, Ross Andru, MoreCover artist: John Romita Sr.Publisher:MarvelRelease date:Oct. 2List price:$39.99

When J. Jonah Jamesons astronaut son, John Jameson, brings a strange red gemstone back from the moon, he finds himself transformed into the macabre Man-Wolf! Becoming a lycanthropic creature on the loose, the Man-Wolf battles Spider-Man, Morbius, Kraven the Hunter and more while investigator Simon Stroud comes ever closer to the Man-Wolfs true identity! Jameson soon discovers the truth behind the gem but does his destiny lie in Other Realm wielding the sword of the Stargod? Or will the parasitic stone mean his destruction? Man-Wolf takes on Frankensteins monster, She-Hulk and more but can Spider-Man save him from a fate worse than death? Collecting AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1963) #124-125 and #189-190; GIANT-SIZE SUPER-HEROES #1; CREATURES ON THE LOOSE #30-37; MARVEL PREMIERE #45-46; MARVEL TEAM-UP (1972) #36-37; SAVAGE SHE-HULK #13-14 and material from PETER PARKER, THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #3.

Vengeance of Vampirella #1

Writer: TomSniegoskiArtist: Michael Sta. MariaCover artist:Lucio ParrilloPublisher:Dynamite ComicsRelease date: Oct. 2List price:$3.99

Originally debuting in 1994, Vengeance of Vampirella portrayed a more savage and feral look at the Daughter of Drakulon. Now, for the 50th Anniversary of Vampirella, original series writer Tom Sniegoski (joined by the incredible art of Michael Sta. Maria) is back and issue #1 features a host of incredible cover artists.

Set 25 years after the initial series, Vampirella is Dead!? Long Live Vampirella!Humanity holds on, but barely, the playthings and slaves of a multitude of supernatural monstrosities that have made the earth their own.Mistress Nyx continues to rule the planet, her Chaos Lords reigning over the various regions of the world, but she is getting bored Theres no one to challenge her! That is, until a small, but determined rebellion finds what could be their savior or seal their doom!

This new series and anniversary event is not to be missed!THOMAS E. SNIEGOSKI is the author of more than two dozen novels for adults, teens, and children. His teen fantasy YA series Fallen was adapted into a trilogy of monstrously successful TV movies by ABC Family Channel. His other books for teens include Sleeper Code, Sleeper Agenda, Legacy, and Force Majeure, as well as the series The Brimstone Network. The authors first adult novel, A Kiss Before the Apocalypse, developed into a series of novels about the character Remy Chandler.

Writer: David Avallone, Erica SchultzArtists:Roy Allen Martinez, Fernando RuizCover artist: John RoylePublisher: Dynamite ComicsRelease date: Oct. 2List price: $4.99

Something evil is lurking in the dark woods of Upstate New York, and hunting the student bodies at exclusive and isolated Annandale College. Model Agent Bettie Page investigates the Annandale Horrorand finds herself enrolled in Werewolf 101, for extra creditplus, Bettie and Lyssa go to the drive-in with a bunch of intergalactic gate crashers!

Writer: Ange, Patrick RenaultArtist: Charlie AdlardCover artist: InHyuk LeePublisher:AblazeRelease date: Oct. 2List price: $3.99

The newest horror series from the artist of The Walking Dead, Charlie Adlard! Just in time for Halloween, get ready to be bitten from the first full color page. Terry Fisher is a young soldier on the verge of being sent away for active military duty, and is going to meet his friends at the top of the Empire State Building for a farewell party. But suddenly a legion of vampires attacks the skyscraper and massacres its occupants. Hounded in the 102 floors that have become a deadly trap, Terry must take decisive action to save himself and his friends and the city of New York before the army of abominations, and the terrible vampire god within, walled in the building since its construction, spill into the city!

Writer: Tom TaylorArtist: Trevor Hairsine, Stefano GaudianoCover artist: Yasmin PutriPublisher: DC ComicsRelease date:Oct. 2List price: $3.99

The world is dying at the hands of the infected, and the very survival of humanity is at stake. Facing extinction, Superman and the heroes will make a decision that will fundamentally alter Earths presentand future!

Writer: Chris DingessArtist: Matthew Roberts, Owen GieniPublisher:Image ComicsRelease date:Oct. 2List price: $3.99

NEW STORY ARC

Spring has sprung and the Corps of Discovery is closing in on the Pacific! But new beginnings mean new horrors for Lewis and Clark, and out on the American plains a sleeping beast has awoken!

Writer: Al EwingArtist: Joe BennettCover artist: Alex RossPublisher:MarvelRelease date: Oct. 2List price:$3.99

As the war with Shadow Base comes to a brutal, bloody end, Bruce Banner has a choice to make. And the repercussions of that choice will have an effect on every single life on this planetincluding the IMMORTAL HULK.

Writers:Jordie Bellaire, Jeremy LambertArtist: Eleonora CarliniCover artist:Kyle LambertPublisher:Boom StudiosRelease date: Oct. 9List price:$3.99

THE FIRST EVENT OF THE ALL-NEW BUFFY UNIVERSE STARTS HERE!* Buffy Summers, the Slayer, has one job keep the forces of hell from coming to Earth through, uh, Hellmouth. Heres the bad news.she might have failed.* The Mistress Drusilla and her ally, Spike, have found a weapon to open the Hellmouth and unleash unspeakable evil across the town and the world.* With time running out, Buffy must team up with a new ally that she doesn t fully trust.the vampire.vigilante known as Angel! Can these two find a way to work together before the Hellmouth opens or these two decide they might be each others greatest enemy?* From Eisner Award-nominated writer Jordie Bellaire and rising star Jeremy Lambert ( Doom Patrol ) and Eleonora Carlini ( Saban s Go Go Power Rangers ) comes the first massive event of the Buffyverse.one that threatens to shake the entire fabric of reality. This is an absolute must read from the mind of creator Joss Whedon!

Writer:Steven T. SeagleArtist/Cover artist:Jason Adam KatzensteinPublisher:Image ComicsRelease Date: Oct. 9List price:$16.99

After a long year among normals, Skye is eager to return to Camp Midnight as an older, more seasoned camper. But her parents have other ideas. Theyre putting her on a bus to the camp she was supposed to go to last summer-Camp Daybright! With a sinking feeling of dj vu, Skye sets out for a summer of new friends in a new camp, complete with a creepily familiar new arch-frenemy. It all adds up to big adventures and even bigger scares at the camp with a happy name-and a monstrous secret just beyond its fences!

Writer: Dean R. Motter, Hunt EmersonArtists: Dean R. Motter, Alex Ogle, Hunt EmersonCover artist: Richard WilliamsPublisher:Ahoy! ComicsRelease date:Oct. 9List price:$3.99

AHOY Comics snarky anthology/desecration of Edgar Allan Poe returns for a new season-beginning with the ultimate Poe mashup! In Dean Motters The Tell-Tale Black Cask of Usher, the drink-addled writer falls prey to his own horrific imagination. Hunt Emerson offers another slapstick Poe and the Black Cat. A selection of horrific prose and pictures rounds out the issue. Painted cover by Richard Williams (MAD).

Artists:Alex Toth, Jon Blummer, Sid Check, Lin Streeter, Ross Andru, Lou Cameron, King WardCover Artist: Al AvisonPublisher:IDW PublishingRelease date:Oct. 9List price:$24.99

From the horror team that curdled your blood with Haunted Horror, Zombies, Return of the Zombies, Haunted Love, Swamp Monsters, and Mummies, Ghosts is the latest and ghastly greatest in the Classic Monsters of Pre-Code Horror comics collections. Over 128 pages of appalling apparitions, formidable phantoms, shuddery seances, shivery spooks n specters, and evil wraiths with much more than just revenge on their murdered minds!

Writer:Tim SeeleyArtist: Rapha Lobosco, CelorCover artist: Tim SelleyPublisher:Dynamite ComicsRelease date:Oct. 9List price:$19.99

Cassie Hack, Slasher Hunter Supreme, thought shed gotten rid of those teenager-perforating undead menaces. But now theyre suddenly springing back to life! Cassie and Vlad are going to have to team up with megadeath dispenser Evil Ernie to stop the slaughter, putting them on a path that appears to lead through Chastity, the Chosen, and Purgatori!

Tim Seeley returns to his beloved creations to pit them against the worlds greatest horror universe and brings back some of the series most beloved slashers!

Writer: John Carpenter, AnthonyBurchArtist/Cover artist: Philip Tan, Marc DeeringPublisher:DC ComicsRelease date:Oct. 9List price:$4.99

In the Year of the Villain, whats a Clown Prince of Crime to do when the world has started to accept doing bad as the only way to live? Out-bad everyone else, of course! The Joker is on a mission to get his mojo back and prove to the world that there is no greater villainy than the kind that leaves you laughing.

This special one-shot is co-written by legendary film auteur John Carpenter (The Thing, Halloween) and Anthony Burch (the Borderlands video games), making for a Joker comic thats twisted in ways you never imagined!

Writers:Paul Dini, Rafael Albuquerque, Rafael Scavone, Bryan Hill, Dan Watters, OthersArtists:Rafael Albuquerque, Cian Tormey, Jorge Fornes, OthersCover artists:John RomitaJr, Bill SienkiewiczPublisher:DC ComicsRelease date:Oct. 9List price:$9.99

Witness what hides within the Sinister House-the DCUs most horrific secrets and mysteries! Travel alongside Harley Quinn, John Constantine, Detective Chimp, Zatanna, the Atom and others as they face this macabre devastation firsthand! And in the bowels of this dark mansionwe return to the world of the legendary Red Rain to meet once again with the dreaded vampire Batman. Dont miss this years DC Halloween special-because if you do, itll haunt you!

Writer:Kek-WArtist/Cover artist:Dave KendallPublisher:RebellionRelease date: Oct. 16List price:$24.99

Deadworld was once a planet similar to Earth, until Judge Death and his brothers Fear, Fire and Mortis deemed that as only the living could break the law, life itself should be a crime. As the Dark Judges set out to bring extinction to this parallel world, Judge Fairfax and a family of farmers attempt to escape the chaos. Is it possible for the living to evade to cold, icy grasp of Death? This chilling collection also features theDreams of Deadworldstrips, giving an extraordinary insight into the undead psyches of the internationally famous super-fiends. Includes the untold origins of The Dark Judges, including Judge Dredd arch-nemesis Judge Death.

Writers:Al Feldstein, Bill GainesArtists:Jack Kamen, Graham Ingels, Al Williamson, Joe Orlando, George EvansCover artist:Jack DavisPublisher:EC ComicsRelease date:Oct. 16List price:$49.95

Originally published in 1952 and 1953, this volume of Gemstones EC Archives series reprints issues #13-18 of Tales from the Crypt! Creators include writers Bill Gaines and Al Feldstein, and artists Jack Davis, Jack Kamen, Graham Ingels, Al Williamson, Joe Orlando, and George Evans.

Writer: Jeff LemireArtists:Andrea Sorrentino, Dave StewartCover artist:Andrea SorrentinoPublisher:Image ComicsRelease date:Oct. 16List price:$16.99

The hot horror series that WIRED magazine named one of the best books of 2018 returns from the creative team that BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS said will go down as one of the greatest comic teams of all time!

After the mind-blowing events of the second arc, our story heads right through the looking glass. Father Burke tracks a vicious killer named Norton Sinclair? And when that killer can travel through time (and space!), readers are in for a wild ride.

Collects GIDEON FALLS #12-16

Publisher: Dark HorseRelease date:Oct. 16List price: $24.99

Two of cinemas greatest monsters clash in a battle that spans the galaxy and extends across one womans lifetime!Collected in one volume for the first time is the complete Machiko Noguchi/Aliens Versus Predator trilogy-over 400 pages of extraterrestrial action! Collects the original AvP series, AvP: War, and AvP: Three World War.

Writer: Cynthia von BuhlerArtist: Cynthia von BuhlerPublisher:Titan ComicsRelease Date:Oct. 16List price:$29.99

Acclaimed author and visual artist Cynthia von Buhler (Minky Woodcock: TheGirl Who Handcuffed Houdini) brings her hit immersive theater production TheIlluminati Ball to the page in an all-new graphic novel! A secret organization ofthe rich and powerful control the world, yet on the eve of a fabulous party for itsmembers, the human-animal hybrids trapped in its experimental lab stage abreak-out! The Illuminati Ball merges myth and mystery to tell an unforgettablestory about power, cruelty, deceit, betrayal, and insatiable hunger for freedom.

Writer: James TynionIVArtist/Cover artist: Werther DellEderaPublisher: Boom StudiosRelease date:Oct. 16List price:$3.99

Children are dying in the town of Archers Peak and the ones who survive bring back terrible stories. A strange woman named Erica Slaughter has appeared and says she fights these monsters behind the murders, but that cant possibly be true. Monsters arent real are they?

Writers:Mike Mignola, Chris RobersonArtist:Ben StenbeckCover artist:Julian Totino TedescoPublisher:Dark Horse ComicsRelease date:Oct. 16List price:$3.99

Flesheating corpses and an ancient temple discovered beneath London lead authorities to call upon Edward Grey, Queen Victorias official occult investigator. But the sinister Heliopic Brotherhood of Ra also has interests in the underground ruins. When they ask for Greys help, he has to wonder if the threat is great enough to team up with a secret society hes sworn to destroy. CollectsWitchfinder: City of the Dead#1-#5.

Writer:David DastmalchainArtist/Cover artist:Lukas KetnerPublisher:Dark Horse ComicsRelease Date:Oct. 23List price:$3.99

Aspiring reporter Jerri Bartman is furious when shes demoted to hosting the nightly Creature Feature at her small-town TV station. But Jerri quickly learns that there is more to horror hosting than just introducing bad B-movies. Her first night in the costume of her missing predecessor, Count Crowley, finds her face to face with a living, breathing . . . werewolf. Or was she just that drunk?

Featuring the dynamic creative team of David Dastmalchian and Lukas Ketner!The perfect comic for the Halloween season!

Elvira: Mistress of Dark, Vol. 2

Writer:David AvalloneArtist:Dave AcostaCover artist:John RoylePublisher:Dynamite ComicsRelease date:Oct. 23List price:$17.99

Elviras temporal adventures land her in hot water so hot one more time, and it may be the last. Her new nemesis sends her to the worst place in the universe, and were not talking about Encino! See it all go to Hell in the fifth exciting chapter of ELVIRA: TIMESCREAM, brought to you in Elvirascope (no special glasses required) by artist Dave Acosta (TWELVE DEVILS DANCING) and written in Elviravision by David Avallone (BETTIE PAGE), the team who brought you DOC SAVAGE: RING OF FIRE and TWILIGHT ZONE: THE SHADOW.

Go here to see the original:
42 horror comics & graphic novels coming for your blood this Halloween - Comics Beat

The Museum of Modern Art in New York used to function like holy writ. The things it chose to show were not just examples of modern art and design. They were claims staked, standards set, guiding lights. Together, they sent a clear message to the world about modernism: This was important. This counted. The rest did not.

Because MoMA had the biggest collection with the best examples of the most important modern artists and designers, the edicts it broadcast had unrivaled authority. MoMA not only had a story to tell, the people telling that story were confident and powerful.

If this era at MoMA has been drawing to a close for a while, it is now officially over.

Closed to the public throughout this summer and early fall, MoMA is about to reopen after a costly expansion. Ten years in the planning, it comes 15 years after the last addition, which was designed by the Japanese architect Yoshio Taniguchi.

Architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro, working with Gensler, have rearranged the museum's internal structure. On the museum's west side, they have added a new wing that allows for more than 30,000 square feet of new gallery space. But the extra space, according to the museum's chief curators, is not really the point.

"Everything we're doing is actually almost independent of an expansion," says Ann Temkin, MoMA's chief curator of painting and sculpture. "The way this expansion differs so much from any prior expansion - and we've done plenty - is that it is simultaneously a physical expansion and an absolute rethink of the curatorial approach."

This rethink is also a kind of reversion, according to the museum's longtime director, Glenn Lowry. It brings the museum back in line with founding director Alfred Barr's original vision of the museum as a laboratory, a space for experiment.

In the broadest terms, MoMA wants to step back from the embarrassing business of telling big, confident stories about art and culture. It wants instead, says Temkin, to tell "short stories" - propositions that are provisional but fruitfully interconnected.

"The basic fact," says Stuart Comer, MoMA's chief curator of media and performance, "is that I don't think any of us believes any longer that there is a singular history. There are a lot of different histories, and how you weave those together is an evolution, an ongoing process. So we're approaching the collection less like a canon and more like a conversation."

"When we added in 2004 and 1984," says Temkin, "it was just more room to do exactly what we did, the same way we did it." This expansion, by contrast, is about rethinking MoMA's great strength: its permanent collection - the almost 200,000 works on which it lavishes tens of millions of dollars every year, acquiring, cataloguing, storing, studying and conserving, even though most of it is never displayed.

Tapping into this unrivaled resource means embracing a state of continuous flux - not the easiest thing for an art museum. The collection galleries will be rotated every six to nine months, so that more works will be put on display.

Just as significantly - and with huge implications for its administration - the museum has been working hard to integrate curatorial departments that once acted like separate fiefdoms, and at times almost like separate museums.

Rethinking how the staff collaborate has been a challenge, according to Martino Stierli, chief curator of architecture and design. "Before, each department had its respective galleries. ... Now, there's a constant conversation between all the departments. That's new and it's different. But it's also been extremely productive and an enormous learning experience for all of us."

The ground floor of the new MoMA will be free. Even those who remain outside can get a taste of MoMA's art, because a big, street-facing window will allow them to see into a large gallery.

There will be multiple routes leading from the ticketing desk to the galleries, so that audiences will be able to take different paths through the museum from the outset. The galleries themselves are now less regular in size and height than they were. More windows and openings will offer glimpses into spaces on different levels.

At the heart of the collection galleries will be a double-height space called the Studio for live performances and programming, so that dance, sound works, film and performance will be at the core of the museum's display, not cordoned off. A second-floor space, called Platform, will focus on education - but with a playful, interactive approach.

"The museum is not the place where we're going to give a lesson," says Christophe Cherix, chief curator of drawings and prints. "It's a place where you can experiment, understand and make your own opinion. We're totally committed to scholarship, as we've always been. But it's just a different way to share this collection. It's not about telling you 'this is important, this is less,' or 'that was made because of that.' "

When MoMA reopens, it will feature three temporary exhibitions. One, devoted to Betye Saar, will feature works on paper relating to Saar's autobiographical sculpture, "Black Girl's Window." Made in 1969, "Black Girl's Window" is part of the permanent collection, so the show exemplifies the new approach of blurring the lines between temporary shows and collection displays.

A second show will feature another African American, Pope.L. His sculpture, performance, video, photography and installation art will be the subject of a trio of presentations this fall at MoMA, the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Public Art Fund.

The third - and by far the biggest - exhibition will be a display of abstract art in different media by leading Latin American modernists, including Lygia Clark, Hlio Oiticica and Jess Rafael Soto. "Sur moderno: journeys of abstraction" will highlight works given to MoMA over many years by Patricia Phelps de Cisneros. Scattered among the Latin American art will be a handful of works from Europe and Russia, including Piet Mondrian's "Broadway Boogie Woogie."

Tremendous power used to be invested in the individuals heading each curatorial department at MoMA. Those chief curators are now at pains to stress that their displays are a team effort - the result of contributions by curators from many backgrounds, at all levels, in all departments.

"We want," says Cherix, "to show contradictory perspectives."

Some who remember the old MoMA resent all the changes it has undergone in recent decades. They long for the days when the museum presented its canon of modernist masterpieces (which were also, of course, overwhelmingly by white male artists) in galleries that felt almost like hallowed spaces.

Temkin and her colleagues are expecting complaints. "I enlarged my mailbox for October," she laughs.

First-time visitors make up more than half of the total audience at MoMA. Conscious that many come expecting to see certain masterpieces (for instance, Van Gogh's "The Starry Night," Picasso's "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon," Mondrian's "Broadway Boogie Woogie" or Matisse's "The Red Studio"), the chief curators drew up a list of the works that, as Cherix put it, "people really want to see if they've traveled the world to come to MoMA."

"We got it down," says Temkin, "to fewer than we would have thought" - about 15 works. Those iconic works will stay on display.

But if everything else is more or less replaceable, says Cherix, "why not change everything around? Why not allow people not to think about those works just as postcards? Because when we always show the same works the same way, people don't feel the need to come back, and those works are not really alive."

In the new setup, continues Cherix, "every work has a chance of finding its way to the galleries. That's an important change."

Temkin recognizes the relativity of aesthetic judgment and welcomes the evolution of the limited curatorial viewpoint. She stresses that her idea of what art is best is not the same as her assistant curator's idea; it's just her perspective.

"The polyphony among the curators' perspectives now is aligned with the polyphony of what we're thinking about art history," she says.

Public reaction to the new MoMA will no doubt combine a bit of polyphony with some cacophony.

- - -

The new Museum of Modern Art opens Oct. 21; 11 W. 53rd St., New York; moma.org.

Link:
A new way to look at MoMA, the mecca of modern art - theday.com

Theres a lot of innovation going on in China these days, but perhaps not all of it is good. Chinese fertility centers are going well beyond American practices, using genetic diagnosis to influence how children conceived through in vitro fertilization will turn out. On one hand, the potential for improving human health is enormous. On the other hand, I am uneasy at the prospect of the power this gives parents. I dont trust people to take so much control over the future of human nature.

Sometimes you hear it argued that the complex nature of genes will prevent major feats of genetic engineering. That may be selling short future advances in Big Data and biomedicine, but even minor changes in genetic diagnosis and selection could have significant effects. Maybe you cant choose to have a child who will be happy, but you might be able to lower the chance of your kid having depression or social anxiety by some small amount. Over the course of generations, that will exert great influence over the nature of the human experience.

QuickTake Gene Editing

One risk, of course, is that parents will opt for some apparently desirable qualities in their children, and then the experiment will backfire, due to unforeseen genetic connections. Maybe well get happier kids, but they will be less creative, or less driven, or they might care less about others. Those are valid concerns, especially in these early days of genetic engineering. But I have a deeper worry, namely that things can go badly even when parents get exactly what they want.

If you could directly alter your kids genetic profile, what would you want? Its hard to know how the social debate would turn out after years of back and forth, but I was dismayed to read one recent research paper by psychologists Rachel M. Latham and Sophie von Stumm. The descriptive title of that work, based on survey evidence, is Mothers want extraversion over conscientiousness or intelligence for their children. Upon reflection, maybe that isnt so surprising, because parents presumably want children who are fun to spend time with.

Would a more extroverted human race be desirable, all things considered? I genuinely dont know, but at the very least I am concerned. The current mix of human personalities and institutions is a delicate balance which, for all of its flaws, has allowed society to survive and progress. Im not looking to make a big roll of the dice on this one.

Its also not difficult to imagine parents wanting children who are relatively well-behaved. The same research paper found that mothers, after extroversion, preferred the trait of agreeableness in their children, again over both intelligence and conscientiousness.

I was struck by a recent Chinese report that some parents are asking for children who are able to drink socially, for business purposes, and thus trying to avoid some genes that make it difficult to process alcohol. Caveat emptor.

Another risk is that parents may be too risk-averse. Especially if a family has only one or two kids, there may be a strong tendency to try to play it safe in terms of personality traits and cognitive abilities. Yet a greater diversity of human types may serve the greater good and perhaps offer intrinsic value too, by making the world an aesthetically richer and more diverse place. Unfortunately, its not hard to imagine a world where many parents opt against prospective children labeled, if only statistically, as too nerdy, too temperamental or too hard-working.

Parents choices, and their eventual public unveiling, may have harmful effects on social norms. What if it becomes known that a high percentage of parents opted for children with paler skin or straighter hair or a greater chance of being heterosexual? That knowledge could boost stigmas and social divisions, even with stringent anti-discrimination legislation. The parental choices could end up being seen as, in essence, the final court of public opinion.

We might expect that the regulators will say no to the most dangerous applications of genetic engineering, but can we be so sure? The techniques will be available in many different countries, and over time the more lax standards will have greater influence, if only through genetic engineering tourism. Parents are also a potent voting bloc, and if they really desire such choices, they may end up getting their way.

In China, these techniques are already about one-third as cheap as in the U.S., interest in them is growing rapidly, and there is talk of having them covered by national health insurance programs.

There is plenty of justified worry about greater discrimination these days, but were hardly talking about the biggest threats.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

To contact the author of this story: Tyler Cowen at tcowen2@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Stacey Shick at sshick@bloomberg.net

See the rest here:
The Drive for Perfect Children Gets a Little Scary - Bloomberg