Posts made in June 2020

“The Chadwick Journals” QxA

Leave a reply

“The Chadwick Journals” is a 3-season series featured on Amazon Prime that deals with psychological and sexual journeys of men of color while they lead double lives and explore their identities. Deondray Gossett, a Los Angeles native, has been writing and producing this series since 2011. Married to Deondray, Quincy Le Near is also a producer and director of this series. Below, both masterminds share their experiences and insights related to creating the series:

1. How did your past directing experiences prepare you for directing “The Chadwick Journals?”

DEONDRAY:

Our whole franchise The DL Chronicles and The Chadwick Journals has always been produced the same: no money, guerilla-style, last-minute shooting. Chadwick Journals was just business as usual for us: no money and last-minute. We greenlit it 1 week before shooting and was still casting the project all the way up until 17 hours before call time on the first day.

QUINCY:

If I think about it, from the scope of my earliest experiences, this is literally how I began as a child. I created short films as a child, casting my younger cousins and friends in roles, and shooting in and about our homes. It’s pretty comical to recognize that directing the Chadwick Journals is basically the same process, albeit with real SAG actors and much more expensive equipment but with the same Indie spirit and approach.

2. What have been some of the biggest challenges with directing this series?

DEONDRAY:

Money… (laughs). With our limited budget, we often don’t have a lot of money to finesse our scenes. We get a max of three takes from each very limited angle on our very short shot list. It’s very intense and fast-paced. We shoot 10 pages a day on average, so casting is crucial; we have to get actors who are well-trained, come to set extremely prepared, and can nail the material in the limited amount of takes we give them. The cast and crew are completely exhausted after our typical 12-hour workdays and 5 consecutive days of shooting, so as I directed, I have to find creative ways to help them keep up with the pace. We keep a very Zen and fun atmosphere so that the exhaustion never compromises their performances, but instead enhances them.

QUINCY:

In the beginning, season I, it was basically a two-man operation; cinematography, lighting, wardrobe, sound, direction, editing, etc. Not having money means you have to juggle all of the plates and it’s much more difficult to give 100% focus on perfecting one aspect of production. Luckily, we both have very versatile skill sets and experiences so we can perform those roles, but a director should only have one important job to focus on. A cinematographer has one job to focus on. A sound engineer, gaff, grip, etc. all only have to do their jobs when there is a full paid crew and you create a better-quality project because of it.

Trying to do it all yourself, out of necessity, leaves a lot to be desired in the end. We managed to spend a little more and afford more crew each season, but it’s been an uphill battle. Luckily the fans are captivated by the great story and the strong performances but the perfectionist in me wishes we could remake the first season the way it deserves to be seen. Who knows? Maybe if we strike a deal to bring this show to cable or streaming networks like Amazon, Hulu, or Netflix, we can remake and expand upon them. That would be amazing.

3. What have been some of the most rewarding experiences of working with the actors?

DEONDRAY:

Watching them have breakthroughs as artists. Particularly from the latest season of The Chadwick Journals, Damian Toofeek Raven, Jemar Michael, and Skyh Black all had breakthroughs right before my eyes on set. There was no time for a pre-table read, so a lot of my direction was on-the-fly. I was amazed at how quickly they adjusted to the slightest nudge from me. They would go from zero to a hundred with emotion with just a simple, “Dig deeper.” It was at these moments, even in the midst of all the exhaustion and all of the fires that were burning that I thought to myself, “I made some damn good casting choices.” They made my job so much easier, and Damian’s breakthrough garnered him a 2020 Daytime Emmy® nomination for “Outstanding Principal Performance in a Daytime Program” for his leading role in this season of The Chadwick Journals.

QUINCY:

Damian Toofeek Raven who plays Chadwick has been with us for 15 years since the DL Chronicles series was created in 2005. He is our brother and working with him is like playtime for us. He’s always very concerned about connecting to the backstory and inner world of Chadwick. He cares about how Chadwick is portrayed as much as we do. Just to be able to create with someone we’ve grown to love is a plus and with someone who cares for your creation the same or even more than you do is priceless.

4. How have the LGBTQ+ and African-American communities responded to the series?

DEONDRAY:

Honestly, though we’re critically acclaimed in the larger LGBTQ+ community, we’re really only known by the film connoisseurs and the gay Hollywood Elite. To the average white viewing audience, we still remain largely unknown even after 15 years of making this show. Conversely, gay and lesbian African-American, LatinX, Asian, and other people of color hang our posters on the wall. Two very different worlds that still remain separated by cultural and racial lines. We also surprisingly have a large straight African-American female audience who watches the show. They are some of our most vocal viewers who astonishingly aren’t always harping on the DL phenomenon, but actually are engaged in the characters and the plots. To have them as part of our fanbase is SUPER flattering for us.

QUINCY:

I second that.

5. What kind of audience(s) would you advise or want to watch the series, and why?

DEONDRAY:

Though we obviously are a series that’s trying to give a voice to the gay black community, we feel like our stories are universal. I think most people can identify with identity and self-love issues, which is ultimately the theme of both of our shows. Love is the undercurrent of every single episode, and I feel like you possess any amount of empathy, you will resonate with the characters whether you’re straight, gay, black, or white.

QUINCY:

Anyone who has ever felt like they had to pretend to be someone they weren’t to be accepted. Anyone who has felt forced to make decisions that were not in their best interest or desires out of fear. Anyone who has felt they would be unloved for being their authentic selves or voicing their dissent. That’s who these stories are about. Regardless of gender, race, or sexuality, we hope that anyone watching who might share those experiences can identify with these characters.

6. How has the series evolved over the 3 seasons and why are the seasons spread out in the way they are over the past decade?

DEONDRAY:

The Chadwick Journals literally began as a fundraiser for the, then upcoming, re-launch of the The DL Chronicles back in 2011. It was meant to be a hybrid prequel/sequel that was going to energize the fanbase and raise funds. Fans always wanted to know who Chadwick Williams (the narrator of the The DL Chronicles) was and how he was tied to the characters, so this spinoff web series idea done much like HBO’s In Treatment seemed like a perfect vehicle. The first season, “Donovan” (co-starring Nic Few) took the festival circuit by storm and added more than 10,000 subscribers to our YouTube channel in just a month. We knew we had something, and we knew we needed to make more episodes, but just didn’t have the funding. We still self-finance the series to this day. Our second season, “Niquarterli” (co-starring Thomas Hobson) didn’t happen until 2016, and the current season, “Oren” (co-starring Jemar Michael) in 2019. The gaps are simply due to financing. We’re making moves now to up our content volume so that our &SEEN Network streaming platforms can provide more programming to our viewers, which will create a stable and consistent subscriber population.

7. What does it feel like to be nominated for an Emmy and how will you use this accomplishment to move forward with your careers?

DEONDRAY:

This honestly feels like a dream. We’ve been creating this content for the past 15 years. We’ve gone from being independent, to being on the air, then back to independent again. We’ve sat on the front seats at award shows and won, and then years later not even able to get into the afterparty. Hollywood can be very mean and two-faced. We kept our chins up and continued to believe in the work we were doing thanks to our very loyal and loving fanbase. This current season of The Chadwick Journals almost died after having been passed around to several would-be investors who ultimately weren’t interested. Something told me not to let this die, so I took out a personal business loan and once again financed it ourselves. Looks like it was the best decision I could have ever made.

QUINCY:

I’m honored and still pretty flabbergasted. We’ve had a good campfire once before and when that died down there was no more heat. We managed to keep the ember smoldering, waiting for that gust of wind that will ignite it again. This industry is all about the heat, whose bringing it, whose flame is brighter, whose sending up the visible smoke signals this week. Who can I make s’mores with? LOL. One minute you’re hot, the next minute you’re not, so you have to be ready to jump on the opportunity when the opportunity comes back around. This nomination feels like that gust of wind. If we win, it will open the doors again to “be in the room where happens.”

So, I feel just like Alexander Hamilton, “I’m not gonna miss my shot.”

8. What is the overall message that you both want to convey through the series?

DEONDRAY:

It sounds cliché now, but the message simply is, it gets better. DL and closeted men are often seeking approval from the folks that ultimately don’t matter. Everybody you want to love you, won’t, but you can find your own tribe. Stop seeking out the things and people that can’t see your beauty. Pay attention to the ones that can.

QUINCY:

To find a way to heal yourself and be authentic. I want people to feel free and unafraid. I want people to know that they may only have this one life to live and to not waste it on conformity. Live in your truth and not in a lie that someone else, society, culture, or religion, coercers you to accept. There is joy to be had if you let it lead you.

9. How has the past decade’s pop culture and history informed the series’s direction over the course of the 3 seasons?

DEONDRAY:

Pop culture has had very little impact on the show really, as we are still dealing with an age-old and unfortunately timeless issue. This question has been posed to us before: “How does The DL Chronicles and The Chadwick Journals fit in with the current state and condition of LGBTQ+ people? Is it still relevant? Is it dated?” And my answer to those questions is always yes, it still has a place, yes, it’s still relevant, and no, it’s not dated. While the larger white LGBTQ+ community is becoming more and more emancipated, the subsets (LGBTQ+ African Americans and people of color) have largely been stagnant. I’m not talking about life for the Black Gay Elite (myself included), which is drastically different in terms of acceptance and access than it was 10 years ago; I’m talking about the average gay, lesbian, trans-Black and LatinX folks who still live in the hoods and barrios of America. It’s still unsafe for them to walk the streets in their truth and to be out and open in their churches. This series is speaking to and for them.

QUINCY:

I’m not sure that Pop Culture itself has had a direct influence, but I can say that some modern social issues have had an influence, specifically with episode Oren which deals with an HIV serodiscordant relationship and the use of PrEP for prevention. Even season 2 Niiquartelai touched on sex-positive sex work and polyamorous relationships which were once pretty taboo subject matters. Those weren’t topics of conversation that were openly discussed 10 years ago or even existed. If I think about season II it did include a sex tape that was found on a smartphone. Does that count as Pop Culture since everyone seems to have them?

10. Are you both planning on directing more seasons, and in any case, how do you both want “The Chadwick Journals” legacy to live on?

DEONDRAY:

TV and Film directing is our passion, so yes, we will definitely continue to direct on the shows; however, we don’t have to do all of them. It has always been our plan to nurture new talent to be able to pass the torch and allow them to add their creative spin on our shows and possibly help them to produce their own original ideas.

We hope that the Emmy® nomination will help get the much-needed eyes on the show to enable us to not only continue to make this two needle-moving and groundbreaking series to be there as moral support for the community, but to also be able to create new original content that graduates our community from a place of self-acceptance to a place of full unapologetic existence and expression.

QUINCY: We have created a franchise and this character, and these stories can live in so many ways; TV, film, podcasts, novels, interactive books, chapter books, graphic novels, web shorts, etc. So, the sky’s the limit and I look forward to exploring it.

Detention Centers Must Release Children

Leave a reply

On Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Dolly Gee ruled that the Trump administration must release 124 children who have been held for more than 20 days in family detention facilities. Judge Gee’s ruling cited the threat of COVID-19 and insufficient protections in the crowded facilities, writing that “family residential centers are on fire and there is no more time for half measures.”

While the ruling is a positive development, it also sets up the possibility that the Trump administration will, as Families Belong Together noted, “use this court victory as grounds for a new family separation policy.” Judge Gee confined her ruling to children because of her role in adjudicating child safety issues related to the Flores Settlement Agreement.

Instead of replaying the systematic separation of children from their parents – one of the darkest chapters of this or any other presidency – it’s time for the administration to allow all the families held in detention to be released.

According to Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice: We call on the administration to do the right thing, and to do it right now. In fact, there has never been a reason for family detention in the first place. Now that the virus is sweeping through these facilities, the urgent imperatives are to save lives and keep families together.

Don’t force families to choose between forced separation and forced exposure to COVID-19. Release families to proven alternatives that are effective, humane and that keep families together. These case management programs lead to almost universal compliance by those seeking asylum with all appointments and decisions.

In the summer 2018, a huge public backlash forced the Trump administration to publicly walk back their family separation practices. Given the administration’s immigration cruelty and the Trump campaign’s relentless xenophobia, we shouldn’t be surprised if President Trump uses this moment to again embark on a policy of family separation.

America faces yet another moment of truth. Are we going to rip children away from their parents again, or are we going to keep families together and safe?

Follow Frank Sharry, Douglas Rivlin Twitter: @FrankSharry and @douglasrivlin

Follow America’s Voice : Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Bob Dylan – “Rough and Rowdy Ways”

Leave a reply

Bob Dylan’s new album, Rough and Rowdy Ways has debuted in the Top Ten in 13 countries, including #1 chart entries in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Germany and Switzerland, #2 positions in The United States, Australia and Belgium, #3 in Sweden, and #4 in France and Italy. The album’s #2 entry in the U.S. on Billboard’s Top 200 is Dylan’s highest chart debut in this country since 2009 and marks the artist’s 18th studio album to debut in the U.S. Top 10. Rough And Rowdy Ways has also debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales Chart.

The 10-track Rough and Rowdy Ways is Bob Dylan’s first album of new songs since becoming the only songwriter to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2016; an award bestowed upon him by the Swedish Academy “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.” Critical response to Rough and Rowdy Ways has been rapturous, with many calling the album a masterpiece and one of the strongest works in Dylan’s canon.

Bob Dylan has released seven studio albums within the past 23-years; a creative span that also included the recording of an Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning composition, “Things Have Changed,” from the film Wonder Boys, in 2001; a worldwide best-selling memoir, Chronicles Vol. 1, which spent 19 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller List, in 2004 and was recently named the greatest rock memoir of all time by Rolling Stone. He is the recipient of the Officier de la Legion d’honneur in 2013, Sweden’s Polar Music Award in 2000, a Doctorate from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and numerous other honors.

Bob Dylan has sold more than 125 million records around the world. Rough and Rowdy Ways is the artist’s 39th studio album.

Stream Rough and Rowdy Ways: Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube

The Critics Have Listened:

“A testament to his eternal greatness…. Rough and Rowdy Ways might well be Bob Dylan’s most consistently brilliant set of songs in years: the die-hards can spend months unravelling the knottier lyrics, but you don’t need a PhD in Dylanology to appreciate its singular quality and power.” — Alexis Petridis, The Guardian

“True to form, Dylan surprises yet again by delivering a late-career masterpiece with Rough and Rowdy Ways. It’s a moody, reflective, meditative, befuddling, funny and awe-inspiring turn for the Nobel Prize winner. Rich with biblical and pop culture references, at its core Rough and Rowdy Ways is a record on the borderline of this world and the next, wherever or whatever that may be….The wait was worth it.” — Scott Bauer, AP

“It’s not merely the novelty of new Bob songs that offers comfort in this black swan moment, it’s a set of songs that provides inspiration when it’s in short supply. Call it a vaccine against culture’s shrinking expectations and the subsequent sapping of spirit. or just call it great music….Contradiction has always lived comfortably in Bob Dylan’s work – more evidence of the vast scope of his artistic vision. What’s extraordinary is how it continues to expand, containing multitudes no one else thought of.” — Michael Simmons, Mojo

“A savage pulp-noir masterpiece….A word of advice: Don’t mess with Bob Dylan, who, at 79, rips, snorts and cackles through his new album like a man with something — or absolutely nothing — to prove….Rough and Rowdy Ways rolls out one marvel after another.” — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times

“When Dylan embarked on his musical journey as a young man in the Sixties, he forged an almost completely new type of song, open and multifarious, that became a new kind of standard…songs that defiantly inhabit his own myth, shifting perspective between his idiosyncratic views on the world and the world’s views on him. Almost 60 years since we first heard from him, the old protest singer is still composing extraordinary anthems for our changing times.” — Neil McCormick, The Telegraph

“Rough and Rowdy Ways is his first batch of new songs in 8 years, and it’s an absolute classic—it has the bleak majesty of latter-day Dylan albums like Modern Times and Tempest, yet it goes beyond them, tapping even deeper into cosmic American mysteries….his creative vitality remains startling—and a little frightening….But he refuses to rest on his legend. While the world keeps trying to celebrate him as an institution, pin him down, cast him in the Nobel Prize canon, embalm his past, this drifter always keeps on making his next escape. On Rough and Rowdy Ways, Dylan is exploring terrain nobody else has reached before—yet he just keeps pushing on into the future.” — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone

“With Rough and Rowdy Ways, he’s produced arguably his grandest poetic statement yet, a sweeping panorama of culture, history and philosophy peering back through assassinations, world wars, the births of nations, crusades and Biblical myths in order to plot his place in the great eternal scheme…. It would be foolish indeed to assume that Rough and Rowdy Ways is Dylan’s last word, but it’s certainly a historic address.” — Mark Beaumont, NME

“Truth is the talisman, tell it like it is. And that is what Dylan does….Rough and Rowdy Ways is exceptional. If it were a painting, I’d call it a masterpiece.” — Will Gompertz, BBC

“Rough and Rowdy Ways, an album that somehow manages to sound like nothing [Dylan] has ever done before, and that looks back across a long and hard-fought life while still insisting on always looking forward….The songs reveal an astonishing intensity and hunger, and a consistency that marks the album as one of Dylan’s major works….What leaps off of Rough and Rowdy Ways is Dylan’s blazing sense of purpose and focus. The man is not bullshitting. It comes through, full of humor and rage and heartbreak, in every word as they are written and sung.” — Alan Light, Esquire

“Rough and Rowdy Ways hits hard. [It’s] a gruesome, crowded, marauding album that feels unusually attuned to its moment….Dylan’s vast and intersectional understanding of the American mythos feels so plainly and uniquely relevant to the grimness and magnitude of these past few months. As the country attempts to metabolize the murder of George Floyd, it is also attempting to reckon with every crooked, brutal, odious, or unjust murder of a black person—to understand a cycle that began centuries ago and somehow continues apace. What is American racism? It’s everything, Dylan insists. Indiana Jones and J.F.K. and Elvis Presley and Jimmy Reed—nothing exists without the rest of it. None of us are absolved, and none of us are spared. Amanda Petrusich – New Yorker Bob Dylan is a heavyweight champion. Five stars aren’t enough for his new album, Rough and Rowdy Ways. The album is a masterpiece, and a masterclass in lyric-writing in league with Dylan’s – and therefore anyone’s – best….Dylan is on fire lyrically throughout Rough and Rowdy Ways, offering up ten songs as dense in imagery and flawless in craftsmanship and quality as any of his long career….Perhaps the lesson in Rough and Rowdy Ways is that inestimable light can come from the dark places, once again making Dylan the voice we need to hear, just when we need it most.” — Jeff Slate, The Daily Beast

Follow Bob Dylan: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Youtube

JAJA TEQUILA

Leave a reply

With Summer upon us, there is nothing better than soaking up the sun with a drink in hand. That’s why JAJA Tequila, co-owned by The Chainsmokers, developed four easy AND delicious cocktail recipes for you to enjoy whether you’re barbequing or hanging poolside.

The Cosmonaut

Adapted from the classic Sasha Petraske cocktail by Liquor Lab NY

1.5 oz JAJA Blanco

.75 oz Lemon Juice

1 bar spoonful Raspberry Jam

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until chilled, about 15 seconds. Strain into coupe glass. Garnish with an orange.

Cucumber Basil Margarita

By Liquor Lab NY

1.5 oz JAJA Blanco

.5 oz Lime

.5 oz Cucumber Juice

.75 oz Opal Basil syrup

Shake JAJA Blanco with Lime Juice, Cucumber Juice (or muddled cucumber) with ice to chill. Pour over ice or serve neat.

Grapefruit Tequila Spritzer

1.5 oz JAJA Reposado Tequila

1.5 oz Grapefruit Juice

Top with lime soda

Sparkling water

Cucumber slices and rosemary to garnish

JAJA Mule

1.5 oz JAJA Añejo

.75 oz Lime Juice

.25 oz Simple Syrup

Top with Ginger Beer

Candied Ginger

Serve over ice. Garnish with candied ginger and lime!

Go Dash Dot – Bags & Booze

Leave a reply

Go Dash Dot has been serving up the most fashionable and functional bags for the woman-on-the-go, but a girl wants a drink every now and then, too right? Especially this year. To cool off during what is likely to be a scorching summer, the boutique brand has created artisanal cocktails that perfectly complement three of its most popular styles.

“After this winter and spring, we all need a cocktail!” says Go Dash Dot founder Hannah Fastov, with a laugh. “People have shown enormous patience, resolve and courage, so we wanted to add to that an element of fun. These cocktails are creative, whimsical and best of all delicious, and the perfect way to celebrate the summer.”

Fastov and her team looked to their bags as inspiration for ingredients and color and went to work creating exciting elixirs that bring cool to the hot season.

For its White Easy Tote, the team envisioned something fruity and refreshing: the “Skinny Bitch.” Made with 1 ounce of pineapple juice, two 1-ounce shot of vodka, ice, soda water and a pineapple wedge for garnish, it’s the perfect antidote for a steamy afternoon or evening.

Create your own Margaritaville with the “Minty Marg,” a creative twist on the classic inspired by Go Dash Dot’s popular Mint Chip Maya Backpack. Start with 2 cups of white grape juice, ¼ cup of tequila, ¼ triple sec, dash of lime juice, 2 cops of spinach, 4 cups of ice and fresh mint garnish and voila — a drink even Jimmy Buffett would savor.

Finally, it might look blue, but you won’t feel blue after imbibing the “Woman Warrior,” modeled after Go Dash Dot’s blue Denim Puffle. Hear her roar with 1 and 1/3 oz of vodka, 1/3 oz of Blue Curacao and 1/3 oz of lime juice

Go Dash Dot was founded in 2016 by Fastov, a fashion entrepreneur who has previously worked in product development and merchandising with Brooks Brothers and Rag and Bone. She sought to create a stylish line of bags for women that could serve multiple purposes: work, social engagements, gym, travel and other activities in a busy woman’s life. “It had to be fashionable, function and timeless” was the mission, Fastov said. She and her small team went to work creating several styles, including totes, backpacks, crossbodies and the signature “puffle,” which she imagined as a re-imagined duffel worn as a hand or shoulder bag or crossbody. The bags are thoroughly unique, featuring a separate compartment for footwear, padded laptop section, a snap in snap out pouch that can be worn as a crossbody or belt bag, laundry pouch, cell phone pocket, tons of additional pockets and compartments, and completely machine washable. They also come in a variety of colors. “The Go Dash Dot woman is active, ambitious, and fun loving. One adventure leads to the next and she needs a bag that can keep up with her,” Fastov says.

Rice University × VotingWorks

Leave a reply

Rice University researchers are teaming with nonprofit VotingWorks to validate and improve open-source technology for voting by mail, work that will give local elections officials an important option if they’re flooded with applications from voters asking to cast mail ballots in November due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The project is funded by a National Science Foundation Rapid Research Response (RAPID) grant that will allow Rice’s team to collect thousands of hand-marked ballots through the mail to field test VotingWorks’ Vote-by-Mail. VotingWorks, the only nonprofit supplier of voting machines and systems, is developing its system as a turnkey offering that local elections officials can quickly adopt to carry out all aspects of voting by mail, including ballot preparation and mailing, collection, signature verification and tabulation.

Rice’s team includes Claudia Ziegler Acemyan, Michael Byrne, Philip Kortum, Robert Stein, Elizabeth Vann and Dan Wallach. The same group was awarded one of the first grants from Rice’s COVID-19 Research Fund in April to survey Harris County voters and poll workers about how likely they are to cast ballots or volunteer for work at polling locations during the pandemic. Harris County elections officials are using the group’s results as they design and evaluate changes to in-person voting for November.

“We want to kick the tires really hard on VotingWorks’ vote-by-mail system to make sure we find any problems well before November,” said Wallach, a professor of computer science, e-voting expert and co-principal investigator on the RAPID grant.

Wallach is on sabbatical from Rice and spending a year working with VotingWorks. Acemyan, Byrne and Kortum are faculty members in Rice’s Department of Psychological Sciences. Stein is Rice’s Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science, and Vann is the director of programs and partnerships at Rice’s Center for Civic Leadership.

Wallach said the federally funded research will help protect the safety of voters while ensuring a good turnout in November. And because VotingWorks uses off-the-shelf printers, scanners and other equipment, Wallach said it also has the potential to significantly reduce costs for conducting vote-by-mail elections, which could be important given the tight budgets of local elections administrators.

“Many jurisdictions around the country don’t have the infrastructure they will need to respond to unprecedented demand for vote-by-mail,” said Ben Adida, executive director of VotingWorks and co-principal investigator on the grant. “Rice’s team has an incredible depth of expertise in areas ranging from voter attitudes and behaviors to voting security and voter interactions with technology, the human factors side of technology research. Rice’s help will be invaluable in making sure Vote-by-Mail is ready for the fall.”

Wallach said the project will enroll thousands of volunteers, and Rice undergraduates from the Center for Civic Leadership will play an instrumental role in administering and managing study volunteers. Volunteers will print their own test ballots, fill them out and mail them in. Returned ballots will be used to test VotingWorks ballot-reading hardware and software, and they’ll be useful in other ways as well.

“Having ballots that have been generated and handled by real voters, making their own unique marks, and then returned through the U.S. Postal Service will yield important data that can improve the design of the overall system,” Wallach said.

The ballots will allow the team to probe a range of questions to evaluate the overall system and see how it compares to other voting technologies. Questions they hope to explore include: Did voters fill out the ballot according to the instructions? Were voters able to accurately vote the slate they were given? Did voters leave some options blank? Did voters accurately follow instructions to sign and return ballots within the specified time period?

Wallach said the federal grant will allow the team to collect enough test ballots to identify potential problems that smaller scale tests might miss.

“Scale is important because you need a large number of sample ballots to identify low-probability problems, like ballots getting damaged in the mail,” he said. “That probably won’t happen very often, but if millions of ballots are collected by mail, we want to do a large enough test to see how often it happens and how to best address it.”

Follow Rice University: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

DON’T PLAY W/ FIRE

Leave a reply

By Gabriella Scerbo

Fireworks: Usually an item associated with July 4th or any sort of celebration. Every year around the major cities hundreds of people gather to watch fireworks, and are in awe of their multicolors, and unique pulsating sounds. Another thing that many love about fireworks, is the excuse to sip a cold beer (maybe a little too much) but overall spend quality time with family. This time of celebration and positive correlation seems to be out the window when discussing fireworks in the political climate of 2020.

Fireworks are illegal in many states without a permit, and police departments across the country are cracking down on the abundant use. Law enforcement is once again restating the ordinances regarding these fireworks. In Illinois, the Police Department posted a Facebook update, once again reminding residents of the policy. In June, New York City firework complaints have more than tripled within the past year. This influx in fireworks is due to the fact that large gatherings are cancelled, such as concerts, sporting events and many other celebrations due to the spread of COVID-19.

Another theory regarding the influx of fireworks, are the protests following the death of George Floyd. In New York City and major cities around the country, thousands protest police brutality and years of systemic racism, and racial injustice faced by the Black Community. The Black Lives Matter movement have also been involved in directly using fireworks in addition to peaceful protests, and a larger national conversation about the system injustices.

Pasadena, California has seen a 400% increase of fireworks related complaints. Around 40% (2 in 5) of Americans plan on buying their own fireworks this year, due to the cancellations of many celebrations due to COVID-19. In the Big Apple, Firework complaints have rose to 13,109 compared to just 32 last year.

Not only are these fireworks having a large affect on humans, they also affect everyone’s favorite member of their families: pets.

Although the fireworks seem to glisten in the sky, used for either boredom or to reiterate an important movement, they can also cause serious physical injuries. These effects include loss of fingers, hands, and even tissue damage on the face. Fireworks should be left to people that know how to properly use them.

Not only are the fireworks causing physical injuries to many, they are also causing light pollution and air pollution, which has a direct negative effect on the environment. These fireworks put harmful chemicals and smoke in the air, these chemicals have negative implications such as coughing, shortness of breath, and even heart attacks.

The loud noises are causing concern to frontline workers during the pandemic, looking to get a good night’s rest from another stressful day in the hospital. As well as officer workers, eager to get back to some sense of normalcy during Phase 2 of reopening following COVID-19.

Not only are these fireworks having a large negative on humans, they also affect everyone’s favorite member of their families: pets. Similar to humans, the loud noise is not the most pleasing one, and can cause mental problems. Dogs specifically, when hearing these noises tend to self mutilate, due to anxiety. Smaller dogs, such as border collies, Australian Shepherds and chihuahua’s can be especially sensitive.

Unfortunately, the amount of pets that are entered in the shelters post July 4th are around 80% higher than normal. Imagine the potential increase in shelters with the fireworks in 2020.

These astronomical numbers will be steadily increasing if this firework predicament is not properly taken care of. Many amazing pets lives will be destroyed, as well as there loving families.

In the grand schemes of things, fireworks are a very small issue in the sea of large issues. However, right now they have been brought into the spotlight as yet another concern for the safety of major cities around the country.

The Neon Museum

Leave a reply

By Jeff Langlois

The four-hour drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas consists mostly of the pristine and sprawling landscape of the Mojave. Travelers who make the trip after work and into the night know they’ve crossed into Nevada when the subtle glow on the horizon becomes increasingly stronger. This glow shines from Vegas’ unique neon signs. The iconic Vegas neon signs are more than glowing advertisements, they are pieces of history, and a nonprofit institution called The Neon Museum celebrates them.

Many of these historic works of art have been donated to The Neon Museum. One of these donations is the eighty-two foot tall Gibson Les Paul known as the Hard Rock. Another shining relic that can be found at the museum is the Andy Anderson sign of the neon milkman. Anderson Dairy was a staple in Las Vegas ever since its establishment in 1907 and the deliverymen were the source of fresh milk, since citizens of Las Vegas didn’t yet have refrigeration. Some signs ironically look like modern art sculptures, like the pool player made of sheets of metal, welded together to advertise Doc & Eddys pool hall. These monumental pieces of history transport visitors to a vintage version of the Las Vegas strip.

The Nevada Arts Council, National Endowment for the Humanities, and Nevada Humanities are among the various organizations supporting the space; which also can hold weddings, photo/video shoots, and events in general. For all ages, The Neon Museum has proven to be an unmissable intersection of Vegas history, rugged Americana, and creativity. Stroll through the museum for a uniquely retro stroll that will be sure to brighten your evening!

neon museum, 360 magazine, vaughn lowery

The First Take × Stray Kids

Leave a reply

“The First Take,” an original series from The First Take YouTube channel dedicated to filming performances by musicians and singers in a single take, has made a special comeback to present a performance by the popular K-pop group Stray Kids for their 43rd episode.

Stray Kids, who made their Japanese debut this year, filmed and recorded this episode remotely in Korea, a very first for “The First Take.” The song performed by Stray Kids, “SLUMP – Japanese ver. – ,” is the ending theme to the animated television series Kami No Tou – Tower Of God. It touches upon the theme of trials and tribulations, inspired by vocalist Han’s personal experiences.

Bang Chan of Stray Kids commented “We’re very honored to have been selected to perform on the comeback special. I was initially a little nervous when I heard we were to be filmed singing live in one take from start to finish but I really started to enjoy myself as I got into the song. I feel as though this new experience has helped us take another positive step forward. It’s also made us want to work harder than ever at our art and we hope to show our strengths to a great number of people in the future to come. We hope our live performance video on The First Take will give people encouragement and the motivation to uplift themselves.”

360 Magazine reached out to The First Take’s team to learn more about the channel.

In a nutshell, what is The First Take about?

A YouTube channel that began in November 2019. With the concept, “What is ‘Music’? — approaching music with just one take,” the artists record their songs in one take, with high-quality sound and image. Right now, due to the COVID-19 situation, the artists are recording at home and private studios under the title “The Home Take.” Even in a limited environment, the quality of the contents is maintained.

What inspired the creation of The First Take?

It took a long time for us to decide what kind of image we wanted, the direction that we have now. But along the line, we came across the idea of “having pressure like a fashion show.” This became our keywords. In a really simple setting, not only the performance but from the appearance to some talk after the show… We thought this was really cool. We knew from there that the setting had to be all white, being extremely minimal.

What kind of artists do you hope to have on The First Take?

A professional, who could do one-take performance in high-quality sound and visual. This is the key to differentiate us from all other YouTube channels.

Who do you hope to have on the show in the future?

We know that 30% of our viewers are from overseas, so we are hoping to book more diverse and international artists to appear on our channel. We hope to develop more globally in the coming days.

How can fans access the show?

We wanted to create content that cannot be done on terrestrial channels; music and visual contents that are unique to YouTube. There are various platforms on the web, but YouTube is really active at this moment. Hereon, streaming music will be the mainstream of music business. We wanted to create a YouTube channel that can reach out directly to the audience, where we can introduce great songs and artists, in a way that’s different from a TV music program.

When we recorded “Neko” by Takumi Kitamura of the DISH//, we had this feeling that it was going to work. In fact, we had a lot of great responses, and even though the song was released back in 2018, the TFT version was soon distributed online (from April). I think this is a little bit like how ‘MTV Unplugged’ worked. TFT takes time to create precise planning for the recording with the artist team. As a result, many artists decided to do a specially arranged performance for TFT. Thus the recorded music will have a new value; the video is a documentary of the recording… and the music fans love it. We were unsure about this recording style for a long time, but we can say that we were successful because we decided to do a precise and proper recording.

Since then we started to release digitally in music.

What can fans expect from The First Take?

We try not to give any specific direction. We just tell the artist to “perform like a show.” When the shooting starts, all the staff leave, and it’s just the artist in the white studio. No rules; it’s a completely free one-shot take, so naturally, there’s quite a tension.

For the recording, all we say is “please perform as usual,” and we also don’t tell them what to say to the camera. We ask them to say whatever they feel, in their own words, so some people get really nervous.

It’s not good to say this, but I feel really lucky when something happens like the artist misses the lyrics (laugh). Because it’s a result of doing it with the soul. The artist puts in all of his/her energy and heart, to give the best performance. The pressure takes the artist beyond the limit and even during the song and after the performance, the artist, the staff, everyone there is always moved by it.

We try to keep that special feel of a live performance, even though it’s a recording.

By building such experiences, we can vividly define the overwhelming power of expression that an artist has. We want the viewers to feel, not think, when they are hearing this music. That way, we think they can sense music in higher resolution. We want our viewers to get goosebumps as they watch our YouTube channel.

Watch Stray Kids’ exclusive performance for The First Take here.

STRAY KIDS JAPAN SOCIALS: Official Site | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube

STRAY KIDS KIDS KOREAN SOCIALS: Official Site | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

THE FIRST TAKE SOCIALS: Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube | Twitter

New Luxury Rado Watch

Leave a reply

Rado’s new True Thinline Anima watch exemplifies Rado’s mission to create beautiful and technologically interesting watches. Anima in Latin means air, breath, soul, and the lightweight, ultra-thin, and complex design exemplifies this meaning. In addition, True Thinline is crafted from an olive green high-tech ceramic and an open core. This open core design provides insight into the watch’s mechanical inner workings. All in all, this limited edition timepiece of 2020 gives the zeitgeist a new face. Look into the True Thinline Anima on the Rado website here and inquire about their other beautiful collections.