Posts made in April 2021

MDEEC Recieves Recognition from Silicon Valley

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MDEEC excels at their services, granting the company recognition from Silicon Valley.

There are very few companies that can boast of quality customized training and solution-based videos for their clients–not only in India, but also in Asia and the US. These two crucial and special services are provided eloquently by one company: Mehul Darooka Engagement and Entertainment Corporation, which is headquartered in Pune, India. Recently, the company was recognized with a letter of recognition for their services by several companies that MDEEC were serving in Silicon Valley, California.

The company is helmed by Mehul Darooka, who has the distinction holding an MMS (Master of Management Science) from Pune University–one of the prestigious universities in the world.

Mehul himself is an accomplished corporate trainer, internationally published author, and short filmmaker. He has trained 20,000+ people from various corporatations, institutes, and companies around the globe. He is also the founder of the Global Connaissance Exchange Festival, an online festival between countries and continents in which knowledge is exchanged amongst world leaders.

Mehul has authored three books on entrepreneurship, with his second book released in three editions. Two of his books are written in English and the other is composed in in Marathi. His Hindi edition, as well as other language editions, will be released soon.

In August 2019, Mehul also had the privilege and rare feat of releasing his third book in Silicon Valley amidst an esteemed panel and well-known entrepreneurs.

MDEEC has also been instrumental in contributing to some of the most prolific mega-events, corporate films, stage shows, radio shows, and plays. One of the most notable performances was the mega singing and dancing competition for 250 colleges in association with the reputed Shiamak Davar Institute of Performing Arts. MDEEC has scripted almost 200 stage shows, corporate seminars, workshops, public gatherings, and 500 plus poems. Mehul also represented one of his clients on a radio channel based out of California in a show called “Saturday Swag,” which has a listenership totaling half a million viewers.

MDEEC’s recognition comes in the wake of serving clients from multiple industries. The most challenging industry was serving the Criminal Justice System of California for 15 counties as a training specialist.

“We are happy that we could cater to such a unique and different line of work, and supported [our clients during] such a tough and difficult area of work” says founder Mehul Darooka with a proud smile.

They have also been phenomenally successful at providing customized video and filmmaking solutions. Some of their global and esteemed clients include Suzlon Energy, Trimble INC, Loreal Cosmetics, Solix Tech, Emagia, Draexlmaier, Fujitsu, S&N, Schaeffler India, Cummins India, Symbiosis Institute, Indira, and many more.

Mehul and his company have also been applauded and decorated with awards. They have won the certificate of excellence from the reputed National Film Development Corporation in Mumbai. The company has also been granted recognition from reputed universities and colleges based out of India and US.

Mehul Darooka has also had the extraordinary and amazing opportunity to interview great industry leaders and stalwarts from all walks of life. Some of the dignitaries interviewed by him are Dr. Ganesh Natarajan: former CEO of Zensar, Mr. Girish Chitale: owner of Chitale foods, Mr. Sidharth Jain: CEO of the biggest book to screen company in India, Mr. Vishal Furia: well known Indian film director, Mr. Kailash Katkar: CEO of Quick Heal, Ms. Shubhra Chaddha: CEO of Chumbak, and many more.

With a team of passionate and experienced trainers, facilitators, and consultants, MDEEC is for sure to grow and reach even greater heights. They also boast of an enthusiastic and experienced team of technicians like cinematographers, actors, editors, and more to support the creation of the perfect corporate film for your product, process, or company. You name it, and MDEEC will offer you the best service at the most competitive prices, leaving their customers delighted.

DEMI LOVATO – “DANCING WITH THE DEVIL” MUSIC VIDEO EASTER EGGS

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DEMI LOVATO GOES BEHIND THE SCENES OF “DANCING WITH THE DEVIL” MUSIC VIDEO EXCLUSIVELY FOR VEVO FOOTNOTES

“It’s a really important reminder of everything that I’ve overcome, and that I’m stronger and more in control of my life than ever.”

– Demi Lovato

23 HIDDEN EASTER EGGS WITHIN THE MUSIC VIDEO REVEALED

Global superstar Demi Lovato and her team of collaborators behind the new “Dancing With The Devil” music video have partnered with Vevo to reveal hidden messages and everything you didn’t know about the video’s creation process exclusively for Vevo Footnotes.

WATCH THE MAKING OF “DANCING WITH THE DEVIL” VEVO FOOTNOTES

“Dancing With The Devil” appears on Lovato’s newest album, Dancing With The Devil… The Art Of Starting Over.

The music video’s co-director, Michael D. Ratner, details their commitment to ensuring each frame has meaning and matches Lovato’s reality, and that production runs smoothly so she wouldn’t have to relive each scene multiple times.

A digital XR stage was used to take viewers through Lovato’s experience, which also created a sense of photographic memory to convey her re-telling of the moments before her overdose. Everything from the cast members t-shirts to hairstyles and color are accurate in this artistic reenactment of Lovato’s most trying times.

Below is a complete outline of “The Making of “Dancing With The Devil’ | Vevo Footnotes, including key insight from the music video’s executive director and more from Lovato herself.

FOOTNOTES OUTLINE:

0:16 Narration: ”Dancing With The Devil” is the second video from Demi Lovato’s seventh studio album, Dancing With The Devil…The Art Of Starting Over. Both the video and doc directly address Demi’s near-fatal overdose in July 2018 as well as her road to recovery.

0:31 Demi co-directed the video with Michael D. Ratner, who also helmed the documentary. Miranda Sherman was the video’s Executive Producer.

0:39 Miranda Sherman: ”The documentary was really important preparation for this project. We had time to really understand and unpack the story – get the full scope of it. In the actual creation of the music video, we’re telling the literal story but also communicating visually the feeling of that night.”

0:59 Demi Lovato: ”There’s something really cathartic and healing about being able to address trauma through art for me.”

1:09 Narration: The video took two days to film but the preparation took six months.

1:13 Michael D. Ratner: ”Our commitment to telling this story with care really started with the process. At every stage of pre-production–from overall concept to shot-listing to storyboarding to blocking camera movements–we checked in with Demi and her team stayed honest and created a space of autonomy and empowerment.”

1:36 Narration: Demi wore this “Legalize Marijuana’ t-shirt because it’s similar to the one she actually wore on the night of her overdose. The bedroom scene was the last shot of the day, and the toughest scene for Demi to film. The camera movement required a techno-crane. The team rehearsed endlessly so that Demi didn’t have to go through the scene multiple times.

2:00 Michael D. Ratner: ”There are no accidents in this video. From where people are facing to what they bring into frame, or where they are in frame, everything is thought through and has meaning. Demi has 23 tattoos and there are 23 easter eggs in the video.”

2:20 Michael D. Ratner: ”The video is in no way glorifying drinking or drug use. Quite the opposite, and that’s why there’s that constant chilling reminder of the hospital bed, which is symbolic of the scary possibility that the danger of addiction is very real and very present.”

2:38 Narration: In order to cover so many locations and emotions, they used a digital XR stage to take the viewer through Demi’s experience, which also created a sense of photographic memory to convey Demi’s re-telling of the night before and morning of her overdose.

2:53 Many of Demi’s friends and family appear in the documentary, but for this video, actors were used to represent them. Their faces are deliberately hidden.

2:59 Demi Lovato: ”When recreating the night before my overdose some of the actors are wearing clothing to match some of my friends who were there, including Dani Vitale’s white tank top, which is seen in the documentary’s archival footage. In the scene where I’m surrounded by family in the hospital, one of the actresses has hair the same color as my sister Dallas in 2018.”

3:20 Narration: Ratner and his team made specific technical choices with the goal of helping viewers understand the feeling of falling into addiction, drug abuse, overdose, and recovery. Demi’s case manager was on set during the filming of the video. Before filming began, Ratner worked with him to ensure the shoot was a safe space for her and she was as comfortable as possible.

3:50 Demi Lovato: ”At the beginning of the video, the diffused effect of the kaleidoscopic light on the glass mirrors mimic the blurry feeling of using drugs and indicated the start of this dangerous journey. The last shot of the video reveals the disco ball spinning over the hospital bed and serves as an eerie reminder that the challenge of addiction is persistent and recovery is an ongoing process.”

4:09 Narration: Demi got this “survivor’ tattoo in 2019. It covers the scar from where her dialysis port was.

4:15 Demi Lovato: ”It’s a really important reminder of everything that I’ve overcome, and that I’m stronger and more in control of my life than ever.”

ABOUT VEVO:

Vevo is the world’s leading music video network, connecting an ever-growing global audience to high quality music video content for more than a decade. Founded by Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment in 2009, Vevo offers fans worldwide a vast array of premium content to choose from, showcasing official music videos alongside a constantly developing lineup of live performances and innovative original programming. From top superstars to rising new talents, Vevo brings incomparable cross-promotional support to artists across the musical spectrum, at every stage of their careers.

Vevo has consistently evolved over the past decade to lead within today’s ever-changing media landscape, embracing partnerships with a number of leading distribution platforms to deliver extraordinary content within ad-supported environments. With more than 26B views across television, desktop and mobile devices each month, Vevo brings music videos to the world when, where, and how fans want them.

Vevo is available on YouTube, Samsung, Samsung TV Plus, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Echo Show, PlutoTV, Apple TV, Roku, Comcast (Xfinity X1 and Xfinity Flex), VIZIO, Sky (NowTV and SkyQ), Foxxum, XITE, NetRange, Redbox, T-Mobile Play, Virgin Media, Xumo, Telstra and Vewd.

Elle Decoration Canada

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ELLE Decoration Canada: Discover the first exciting issue from KO Média

KO Média is proud to unveil the inaugural issue of ELLE Decoration Canada.

The world leader in interior design publishing, ELLE Decoration’s most recent addition showcases inspiring interiors, avant-garde trends, design hotspots and pro tips from creators, both Canadian and international – including a cover story about the ultra-luxurious penthouse of a Montreal fashion entrepreneur, whose Little Italy triplex is bringing nature inside. Inspired by the Italian renaissance – think loggias and colonnades – the hidden oasis includes a 200-square-foot inner courtyard featuring burnt wood, tons of plants and a Japanese bath.

In another lush feature, a Manhattan-based, Canada-born designer offers a fresh take on old-school luxury with a redesign of an urban glass home, complete with rooftop English garden. “Walls provide a certain privacy, just like a garden,” says Garrow Kedigian, whose clients include members of the royal family and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

In decor trends, green is taking centre stage, so the debut edition features absinthe, teal and fern designs for your outdoor oasis; gardening tips and “Perfection” fennel; ultra-stylish transportable grills for everything from Neopolitan-style pizza to s’mores; and even handmade Vietnamese bowls made with food-grade varnishes and cashew apple resin.

Looking back while looking forward, it also covers the history of cane and rattan furniture as well as modern interpretations worth getting excited about, from panel lighting to cocoon loungers.

Like its 26 international siblings with their more than 10 million total readers, the Canadian edition of ELLE Decoration extends beyond the home, in this case digging into the story of a top Canadian chef who goes from painstakingly assembling culinary art on handcrafted ceramic plates to ladling it into takeout containers in a story that covers everything from restaurant design to the ethics of dinnerware).

Plus, moon-inspired decor; rebellious interpretations of everyday objects; and getting cozy with Danish hygge via simplicity, functionality… and plenty of light.

The edition even features a new Champagne bottle design, just in time to celebrate the magazine’s launch!

The first issue of ELLE Decoration Canada will hit stands on April 19th, 2021.

KO Média also publishes ELLE Canada, ELLE Décoration Québec, ELLE Québec, Magazine VÉRO, di Stasio, and K pour Katrine magazines.

iHeartMedia × Collab – Your Soul Sucking Job in 90 Seconds

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iHeartMedia & Collab Present:

STORYTIME ON CLUBHOUSE–“Your Soul Sucking Job in 90 Seconds”

WHO:

Hosts and moderators include: Collab’s Will McFadden, Leah Lamarr, Nicole Behnam.

Featuring guests: Rembrandt, Eric Artell, Lonnie Marts, JCyrus, The McFarlands and Natalie Friedman.

WHAT: iHeartMedia and Collab Present: Storytime on Clubhouse: Your Soul Sucking Job in 90 Seconds.

WHEN: Listen and join on Thursday, April 15 at 7PM PST

WHERE: Clubhouse-iHeartMedia Club

Host of the STORYTIME podcast and Collab CCO Will McFadden will be joined by Power Mods, Leah Lamarr and Nicole Behnam, as they invite the Clubhouse community on stage to share stories and laughs about their crappiest jobs. The person with the best worst story will win a prize–including the chance to be featured on a future episode of “Storytime with Will McFadden!” This Storytime event will be sure to have audiences reflecting on their own wild experiences and laughing along with the tales told by McFadden, Lemarr, and Behnam. Whether you have a difficult boss or disfunctional work environment, hearing other’s stories will take a load off your shoulders and allows for listeners to laugh at the absurdity of it all. Make sure to tune in so you can tune out of the workplace drama and share a few laughs with these hilarious hosts.

About Storytime With Will McFadden

Welcome to the Storytime podcast! The Internet is a dumpster full of stories, and our host Will McFadden is the most fearless and skilled dumpster diver in the game. Storytime showcases the best stories from YouTube, Reddit, weird message boards you’ve never heard of, and everywhere in between. Will hopscotches the globe, visiting storied places like spooky motels, the finest Italian eateries, and even his middle school cafeteria to dive into the spirit of the stories he curates. Storytime features the top YouTube creators, TikTok stars, Reddit masters, and everyday folks who all share a love of great storytelling! “Storytime with Will McFadden” is distributed by the iHeartPodcast Network and is available on iHeartRadio and all major podcast platforms.

Julia Michaels

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GRAMMY NOMINATED SINGER AND SONGWRITER JULIA MICHAELS REVEALS NEW DETAILS FOR HIGHLY ANTICIPATED DEBUT ALBUM

NOT IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER ARRIVING APRIL 30

NEW SONG “LOVE IS WEIRD” DROPS WITH ALBUM PRE-ORDER LAUNCH TODAY

COVERS EUPHORIA MAGAZINE

LISTEN TO “LOVE IS WEIRD” HERE
WATCH “LOVE IS WEIRD” LYRIC VIDEO HERE
PRE-ORDER NOT IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER HERE

Grammy Award-nominated multiplatinum singer and songwriter JULIA MICHAELS reveals the title and track listing to her long-awaited debut album, Not In Chronological Order, which arrives April 30th. To accompany the announce, she shared a new song from the album, “Love Is Weird,” with the launch of the album pre-order via Republic Records.

Listen to “Love Is Weird”—HERE.
Pre-order Not In Chronological Order — HERE

In support of the release, JULIA spoke with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1 Radio’s New Music Daily Show.

Offering another glimpse into what fans can expect from the upcoming album, “Love Is Weird,” weaves together airy production and soft acoustic guitar, while she delicately likens relationships to “Playing Operation trying to put me back together,” before candidly admitting, “Love is weird. Don’t know how I wound up here…It shows up and disappears.” This honest and hypnotic melody highlights her uncanny ability to tune into raw emotion and unfiltered lyricism, with her signature vocal tone and delivery.

The new song sets the stage for the release of her anxiously awaited full-length debut album, Not In Chronological Order, out on April 30, 2021. Presenting a full 360-degree perspective on the critically acclaimed songstress, it examines every facet of her life emotionally and spiritually in a 10-song body of work that finds Julia piecing together the chapters of her life in one place work – pre-order Not In Chronological Order HERE.

“When I was looking at the tracklisting, it literally was not in chronological order of the events that it took place in my life,” she says. “The way that I saw the tracklisting in my head, a lot of the heartbreak came in the middle, and finding new love came at the end. That’s the arc of this album: I’m not bitter about love anymore. I know what functional love is like and being in love and being hesitant about that love because it feels so perfect.”

JULIA’S current single “All Your Exes” arrived at critical acclaim upon its release. Co-written with Grammy nominated singer and songwriter JP Saxe, “All Your Exes,” Entertainment Weekly hailed it “a deliciously wicked delight,” with The New York Times praising it as “harsh, funny, sad and relatably petty.” FLOOD Magazine called it “a prime example of a vulnerable pop-punk banger,” while Billboard noted “Michaels has a tendency to throttle her listeners with her pen — and on the muscular, virtuosic “All Your Exes,” she makes sure that your attention is focused entirely on her seething jealousy.” Meanwhile, V Magazine summarized, “There’s something to ditching fairytale notions of love that Julia Michaels fully gets as she returns to the front of the stage once again.”

JULIA currently features on the cover of Euphoria Magazine where she talks more about the album HERE.

Watch the video for the new single “ALL YOUR EXES” HERE

Get ready to experience Julia Michaels Not In Chronological Order…

Not In Chronological Order Tracklist:

All Your Exes
Love Is Weird
Pessimist
Little Did I Know
Orange Magic
Lie Like This
Wrap Around
History
Undertone
That’s The Kind Of Woman

ABOUT JULIA MICHAELS
Over the past few years, no songwriter has had more of an impact on reshaping pop music than Grammy nominated and multi-platinum selling artist Julia Michaels, whose razor-sharp perspective on love, loss, and the wide spectrum of the human experience has deservedly catapulted her to the forefront of her industry. Lauded for her work on hit singles by artists like Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Niall Horan, Dua Lipa, Janelle Monáe, Shawn Mendes, P!NK, Ed Sheeran, Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani, Hailee Steinfeld, The Chicks, Keith Urban, Jessie Ware, and more, Julia has spent the last decade honing her craft and delivering fans some of the most evocative music of a generation.

In 2017, Julia embarked on a solo career separate from her work synthesizing the stories of the stars around her with “Issues,” her 5x-platinum selling debut single. A year later, her peers recognized her stunning work with Grammy nominations for “Best New Artist” and “Song of the Year.” Committing to her solo work, Julia released a series of critically acclaimed EPs, including 2017’s fan-favorite Nervous System and 2019’s critically acclaimed Inner Monologue Part 1 and Inner Monologue Part 2. She also embarked on The Inner Monologue Tour, which marked her first-ever headline tour throughout the U.S. following an enviable run touring the world with an incredible array of artists including Maroon 5, Keith Urban, Shawn Mendes, Niall Horan, and P!NK.

In 2020, she received her third Grammy nomination, and second in the prestigious “Song Of The Year” category, for her collaboration with JP Saxe on “If The World Was Ending,” in addition to earning her second #1 as a songwriter on the Billboard Hot 100 for Selena Gomez’ “Lose You To Love Me.”

SOCIALS: OFFICIAL // FACEBOOK // TWITTER // INSTAGRAM

ABOUT REPUBLIC RECORDS
A division of Universal Music Group, the world’s leading music company, Republic Records is home to an all-star roster of multi-platinum, award-winning legends and superstar artists such as Ariana Grande, Black Thought, Drake, Florence + the Machine, Greta Van Fleet, Hailee Steinfeld, Jack Johnson, James Blake, James Bay, Jessie J, John Mellencamp, Jonas Brothers, Julia Michaels, Kid Cudi, Lil Wayne, Lorde, Metro Boomin, NAV, Nicki Minaj, Of Monsters and Men, Pearl Jam, Post Malone, Seth MacFarlane, Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd and more. Founded by brothers and chief executives Monte and Avery Lipman, it is also comprised of innovative business ventures, including American Recordings, Boominati Worldwide, Brushfire, Casablanca Records, Cash Money, Lava Records, XO, Young Money, among others. Republic also maintains a long-standing strategic alliance with Universal Music Latin Entertainment (J Balvin and Karol G). In addition, Republic has expanded to release high-profile soundtracks for Universal Pictures (Fifty Shades of Grey), Sony Pictures (Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse) and NBC TV (The Voice), as well as other notable film and television franchises. Extending further into the worlds of film, television, and content, Republic launched Federal Films in order to produce movies and series powered by the label’s catalog and artists. Its first production was the Jonas Brothers documentary Chasing Happiness for Amazon Prime Video.

Julia Michaels
Photo owner: Danielle Gonzalez — Photo owner: Danielle Gonzalez

The Africa Channel Programming Expansion

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The Africa Channel is Now Available to Millions More Xfinity TV Customers

Expansion Furthers Ongoing Commitment from Comcast to Increase Access to Best-in-Class Black Programming

The Africa Channel (TAC), the longest running Independent, minority owned, media company focused on presenting pan-African content to global audiences, announced today that its programming, which includes scripted and unscripted series, films, documentaries, news and information programs, is now available to millions more Xfinity TV customers, in 60 new markets on Channel 1629, and also via the Xfinity Stream app. Xfinity customers with X1 can also say “The Africa Channel” into their Xfinity Voice Remote to access the channel. Sample content from The Africa Channel will also be featured, at no additional cost, on the newly-launched Black Experience on Xfinity Channel.

Launched in 2005, The Africa Channel’s mission is to introduce contemporary stories of Africa and the African diaspora to American audiences while presenting a more inclusive perspective on Black entertainment. The channel is a showcase for outstanding English language television series, feature films, documentaries and news about Africa and the global African Diaspora. It aspires to build bridges between cultures while reinforcing positive narratives of Africa through diverse content and programming.

“We have enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Comcast and are delighted to renew and expand our partnership with Comcast by reaching even more key markets across the US,” said Narendra Reddy, Executive Vice President and General Manager of The Africa Channel. “We feel that showcasing diverse content through the prism of contemporary Africa plays a seminal role in building cultural bridges, while connecting Black Americans to their heritage. We are particularly excited to partner with Comcast in their commitment to diversity through their Black Experience on Xfinity initiative.”

Through the programming and partnership with Comcast The Africa Channel aims to educate and connect all Black Americans to their heritage, and to specifically serve a fast-growing Black immigrant population who currently represent over 20% of the Black population in the US. The majority of TAC’s content has never been seen in North America. Now, with the network’s expanded distribution on Xfinity, millions of new viewers will be able to access this vast catalog of culturally relevant content.

“We’re thrilled to bring The Africa Channel’s unique, informative, and high-quality programming about African culture to an even larger audience than ever before,” added Keesha Boyd, Executive Director, Multicultural Video & Entertainment, Xfinity Consumer Services. “Our mission is to continue to amplify Black voices and stories by providing a platform for the next generation of Black storytellers. Comcast currently offers its customers access to more than 100 independent networks targeted to deliver content that centers culturally diverse audiences, and The Africa Channel is an integral part of this content offering.”
More viewers than ever before will be able to catch TAC’s newest slate of programming including:

World Wide Nate – This destination adventure series follows larger-than-life Chicago native Nate Fluellen, who fears nothing as he explores Africa’s abundance of death-defying thrills. Nate proves to be an excellent example for other intrepid African Americans seeking adventure and a connection to the continent that created today’s African American population’s robust ancestors. Airs weeknights at 9:00pm Eastern.
Amah Knows Best – This show is driven by platinum-selling South African rapper; iFani, who travels to China to learn how to cook from Chinese grandmothers. The adventure is also a cultural learning experience, not just for iFani but also for the Chinese people who unquestioningly embrace their unique visitor. Airs weeknights at 9:30pm Eastern.
Lockdown – Viewers experience a different kind of “lockdown” in this new prison drama. Set in a fictional high security female prison, the stories of these inmates reveal the paths which landed them behind bars. The gritty prison drama features an all-female cast with African American actress Tichina Arnold (Everybody Hates Chris) joining the line-up in Season 3. Airs Wednesdays at 10:00pm Eastern.

Xfinity delivers the best entertainment to customers, including thousands of hours of diverse programming from more than 100 networks and streaming services, via its X1platform. X1 delivers delivers the most comprehensive library of entertainment on one voice-controlled platform–aggregating live TV, On Demand, and popular streaming apps from a growing collection of networks and streaming services. The expansion of The Africa Channel is part of an ongoing commitment from Comcast to increase access to best-in-class Black programming by providing a platform for the next generation of Black storytellers.

Please visit The Africa Channel’s website for more information on how to watch TAC and follow TAC on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About The Africa Channel

The Africa Channel and its production arm, TAC Studios, is a showcase for the African continent’s most outstanding English-language television series, specials, documentaries, feature films, music, biographies and cultural and historical content. The channel’s mission is to open a daily window into modern African life, and in the process, help demystify Africa for viewers globally. The Africa Channel with offices in Los Angeles and Johannesburg, South Africa is available in North America and the Caribbean on cable systems such as Comcast, Charter/Spectrum, Rogers Ignite and Bell Fibe (Canada), and the Caribbean Cable Cooperative.

About Comcast Corporation

Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, aggregation, and streaming with over 56 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit Comcast’s website for more information.

Eric Leland × Inhuman

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A Gripping Military Horror with Shocking Supernatural Twists

Q&A WITH ERIC LELAND:

AUTHOR OF Inhuman MILITARY THRILLER DEBUT

Question: What inspired you to write Inhuman?

Eric Leland: During a class for my MA I wrote a 25-page short story titled Recon Team: Mercury. That story was shortened to five pages and is now the prologue to Inhuman. For a NaNoWriMo idea I thought it would be interesting to see what happened when the rescuers came looking for the team that disappeared in my original short story. Inhuman is the result.

Q: What sets Inhuman apart from other military and horror books?

EL: The bravado one comes to expect when reading military fiction is quickly ripped away to expose and pick at the delicate flesh of fear and self-doubt we are ashamed to admit exists.

Q: What do you hope readers will take away from the book?

EL: It was never my intent for Inhuman to be didactic. Primarily I hope readers are entertained. I hope readers will remember the experience of Inhuman rather than any particular lesson.

Q: Inhuman features a diverse cast of characters. How did your military friendships, and experiences with “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” inform this inclusivity?

EL: A diverse cast adds verisimilitude to military fiction simply because any U.S. military unit features a diverse roster. In my first combat experience I found myself fighting shoulder to shoulder with Mexican Americans, an African American, and a gay woman. Unfortunately, DADT was still a thing for most of my military career and I would only find out after DADT was repealed that some of my greatest friends were gay. I think truth in fiction is important, and if I did not write a diverse cast I would by lying. Readers can spot a lie from a mile out.

Q: How did you develop your characters? And which of them do you have the strongest connection to?

EL: The character Jaran is heavily based on my wife’s experiences who was born in Vietnam. At an early age, she and her family fled to a refugee camp after the war. The chaos of displacement during war time seemed terrifying. I can’t really say which character I have the strongest connection to—John’s sense of duty; Chris’s refusal to take anything seriously; and Brandon’s severe depression and self-doubt—they’re all variations of me.

Eric Leland grew up in Massena, NY and entered Army basic training upon high school graduation. He was an MP in the Army for six years and reclassified to a Special Agent with the Army Criminal Investigation Division. Eric deployed to Honduras in 2002, and Iraq in 2003 and 2009 where he was awarded an Army Commendation Medal with “V” device for valor. He completed his MA in Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University and has happily traded in his gun for a pen. Eric lives in Seattle with his wife. Connect with Eric Leland on Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads.

Inhuman is available on Amazon in both print and digital.

Audiobook forthcoming in Summer 2021.

Cavit Wine’s Frozen Cocktail Recipes

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As the warm weather is quickly approaching, Cavit Wines’ frozen cocktail recipes are the perfect sip for the spring and summer months! Instead of soaking up the sun with a regular “Frosé,” Cavit wanted to create refreshing recipes that took their Rosé to the next level. Below are three simple and delicious cocktails to quickly whip up in your blender to keep you cool now through the summer.

Rosjito

Cavit Rosé is blended with ice, white rum, and fresh mint for a fun and cool play on the classic mojito.

Prep time: 5 minutes

Total time: 5 minutes

Makes: 1 cocktail

· 4 large mint leaves

· 1.5 oz white rum

· 5 oz Cavit Rosé

· 1 cup ice cubes

Combine mint, rum, Cavit Rosé, and ice in a blender. Purée until very smooth. Pour into a tall chilled glass. Serve immediately. 

Garnish options: Mint sprig, lime wedge, sugar-rimmed glass.

Tip: Include more elements of a classic mojito by adding fresh lime juice and simple syrup to the blender with the other ingredients.

Pucker Up

Tart grapefruit and cranberry juices are blended with ice and Cavit Rosé for a pale, ruby-hued cocktail that will pucker and refresh all at the same time.

Prep time: 5 minutes

Total time: 5 minutes

Makes: 1 cocktail

· 5 oz Cavit Rosé

· 3 oz pink grapefruit juice

· 2 oz cranberry juice

· 1 cup ice cubes

Combine Cavit Rosé, grapefruit juice, cranberry juice, and ice in a blender. Purée until very smooth. Pour in a tall chilled glass. Serve immediately. 

Garnish options: Fresh grapefruit wedge, fresh cranberries.

Tip: Thread cranberries onto a cocktail pick or skewer and place in the glass and/or add a thin, long wedge of pink grapefruit to the side of the glass before serving.

Rosénade

Tart and sweet lemonade is puréed with Cavit Rosé and vodka for a refreshing cocktail perfect for any occasion.

Prep time: 5 minutes

Total time: 5 minutes

Makes: 1 cocktail

· 4 oz lemonade

· 4 oz Cavit Rosé

· 1 oz vodka

· 1 cup ice cubes

Combine lemonade, Cavit Rosé, vodka, and ice in a blender. Purée until very smooth. Pour into a tall chilled glass. Serve immediately. 

Garnish options: Lemon twist, fresh strawberries, sugar-rimmed glass.

Tip: Change up the flavor by using vanilla vodka or intensify the citrus with lemon vodka.

LAURA PIERI – GRENADES

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LAURA PIERI’S NEW SINGLE “GRENADES” EXPLODES ONTO THE MUSIC SCENE

It has been almost a year since Laura Pieri released her last hit single, “All I Need,” which premiered just before the pandemic struck and the world locked down. Like so many artists, Pieri was eager to continue creating music, performing, and advancing her musical journey. But often patience can pay off and throughout a year of introspection and personal growth, Pieri is set to debut what is already being coined as her best song yet, “Grenades”!

When Laura walked into the recording session that day, she and her producer, Josh, had planned to put the final touches on a track that they were ready to green light as her next release. She was distracted and angry over a toxic relationship she was in, unable to focus and completely distraught over a situation that blew up. It was almost impossible to block it out, so she took a detour and started working out a new song entirely. The energy flowed from frustration to creativity. Enter “Grenades.” Everyone knew this had to be the next release and they immediately put this in front of everything else.

For Laura, “Grenades” would represent a cathartic relief for something so intense that someone could be dealing with, that makes you so infuriated and outraged–but it’s completely out of your control and there’s nothing you can do. All you can do is acknowledge it, accept it and let it go!

Pieri explains “I was so mad it that day, it was like I got so caught up in somebody else and I forgot it’s not about them, it’s about me. If I could unmeet somebody, I would, but that’s not reality and now sitting here in all of this uncomfortableness was a new thing for me.”

Creating the song was the healthiest way she could express what she was dealing with at the time. Laura goes on to explain “It’s like you know you’re gonna be angry AF and go through that and feel it… but then let it go, let that rage literally blow up! Grenades became a metaphor for blowing something up in a figurative way and shattering all that negative energy and moving on from there.”

While Laura has been writing music for some time now, “Grenades” was a writing experience where she felt the power of her voice behind the collaboration. While not a self-proclaimed natural songwriter, Pieri loves poetry and languages. With the emotional content around “Grenades,” she was able to pour out how she was feeling, and those feelings slowly turned into melodies that turned into words. “It just felt very easy to be there and I feel like I’m slowly exploring my songwriting skills, and ‘Grenades’ really feels like just the tip of the iceberg for me.”

Supplementing the single is a music video that exemplifies all the emotions from “Grenades” into a finely tuned visual journey. While Laura and her team had to get creative to circumvent the challenges of a video shoot in 2020, the end product came out perfectly and almost better then could have been expected. They worked with a skeletal crew, prioritized open spaces, and shot mainly between Malibu and downtown LA. They shot the rooftop shots downtown and narrowly pulled off their one chance at getting a fireworks explosion exactly right. The beach scenes were shot at sundown, into which created this dreary effect, capturing a cool tone that fell between sundown and nightfall. Laura adds “It was moody – it ended up being the perfect backdrop for the song.”

This music video was a perfect collaboration of creative minds coming together through all of the difficulties and obstacles they had to experience while shooting a video during a pandemic. Laura explains “I honestly really enjoyed having such a small crew because everyone has to contribute, and we were all packing up and unloading cars. We all had this break in Malibu, eating tacos and listening to music on the beach while we were waiting for the sun to go down. It was just such a cool moment in time to share with each other.”

Pieri, now 23, feels like she is in just the right place musically. She is moving forward trying new things but is taking her time in getting there. Of what the future holds for Laura Pieri, she concludes “I am savoring the journey and whatever road I take next, or whatever music is on that path. I can only hope that people resonate with it as well. “

“Grenades” is produced by Joshua “YXSH” Thomas, and the music video was shot and produced by Living Records & Ace Monkey Productions and executively produced by Cory Rooney Music Group.

Smart Money Moves

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11 Smart Money Moves You Can Try Today

It would be great if money truly did grow on trees and we were to discover the massive forest of money trees just waiting to fix all of our money issues. However, that is unlikely. The good news is that there’s plenty you can do to make your financial situation better.

Here are 11 ways you can give your finances a boost.

Get paid for shopping and save $180 in fees

Cost: It’s free. You just need to open an account to shop and earn.
Return: It varies depending on your spending behaviors.

The bottom line is that if you aren’t getting paid for using your checking account, you’re leaving money on the table. Compare checking accounts; not sure which option is right for you? Compare rates and user reviews.

BBVA Online Checking, for example, offers cash back rewards based on your spending behaviors, so you earn cash on the things you want the most. To top it off, there’s no monthly service charge, which will save you $180 in fees a year when compared to the average monthly service fee charged by checking accounts. There are no ATM fees at BBVA’s nationwide network of 64,000 locations, and you only need $25 to open an account.

Let that sink in.

No monthly fees, no minimum balance, AND free money for paying for stuff you would have bought anyway.

Find out how much you could save with a BBVA Online Checking account here.

Give your family a $1.5 million gift

Cost: Varies by coverage, age, and health condition but can be as low as $1 a day
Return: Up to $1.5 million in coverage for your loved ones.

Maybe you aren’t a millionaire, but that doesn’t mean you can’t leave your loved ones a $1.5 million gift.

Online life insurance providers, such as Bestow use data to remove the doctor visits and paperwork of traditional life. They use fancy math to give you insanely low rates in record time. Even if you think you can’t afford another bill, take a minute to answer these five questions and find out how much it would cost to purchase a term life insurance.

Rates vary by person, but a healthy 32-year-old woman who is a non-smoker could get up to $1 million in coverage for just $32. Compare life insurance options; not sure which option is right for you? Compare rates and user reviews.

Cut your credit card debt interest in half

Cost: Checking your rate is free
Return: It depends on your credit card rates and balances, but you could save thousands.

If you are overwhelmed by credit card debt, stop the madness and do this right now.

SuperMoney can help you get pre-approved for a low-interest loan you can use to pay off every credit card debt. This leaves you with just one bill to pay every month, at a lower rate, so you can get out of debt faster.

Try SuperMoney’s debt consolidation loan offer engine. It only takes two minutes to get competing offers from leading lenders.

There are no strings attached. You only need to answer a handful of questions to discover what rates and loan amounts you qualify for. It won’t hurt your credit score, and you could save thousands of dollars by switching your credit card debt for a low-interest consolidation loan.

Boost your credit score by up to 200 points

Cost: Free
Return: Don’t let your credit score cramp your lifestyle. Just checking your credit reports for errors and fraudulent entries can improve your score, which will lower your rates on loans and improve your chances of getting approved for leases and loans.

What you don’t know about your credit can hurt you. According to the Federal Trade Commission, 20% of people have an error on at least one of their credit reports. You could improve your credit score by hundreds of points just by removing a couple of negative items that shouldn’t be on your credit report.

Compare credit monitoring tools; not sure which option is right for you? Compare rates and user reviews. If you plan on buying a home or care someday, you need to get your credit right, or you’ll end up paying thousands more in interest than you need to.

Register for free with Credit Sesame now and get instant access to your credit report. It’s free and only takes about 90 seconds to sign up.

Lower your student loans by $5,500+

Cost: Discovering what terms and rates you qualify for is free.
Return: Save thousands of dollars over the life of the loan.

Does it feel like you can’t make a dent in your student debt?

The average college graduate has around $30K in student debt. If you went on to get a professional degree, your total debt might be in the six figures.

Interest rates are much lower now. You could save $5,500 in interest if you have $30K in student debt and drop your rate from 8% to 5%.

Many borrowers are eligible for much lower rates but don’t know where to begin. Find out what you qualify for by trying the SuperMoney student loan refinance engine. It only takes two minutes to apply. Compare student loan refinancing options; not sure which option is right for you? Compare rates and user reviews.

Save $93,000 on your mortgage

Cost: Checking your rates and terms is free.
Return: Save thousands of dollars over the life of the loan.

If you’re planning to buy a house, make sure you compare multiple lenders. A single call can save you $1,500, according to research by Freddie Mac. Borrowers who get ONE additional quote save $1,500, while those who compare five quotes save an average of $3,000 over the life of the loan. Compare home purchase mortgages; not sure which option is right for you? Compare rates and user reviews.

If you already own a home and you’re loving the American Dream but hating your mortgage, how does lowering the cost of your mortgage by $93K sound?

That is what a mortgage refinance could do for you if you have a $500K balance and lower your interest rate by just 1%. That is assuming you have a 30-year mortgage, and your current rate is 5.125% APR.

Even if you have a smaller balance, refinancing can help you save thousands of dollars in interest, pay off your mortgage sooner, and even reduce your monthly payment. Use the comparison table below to find the best mortgage refinance company for you.

Save 80% on renters insurance

Cost: The average renters’ insurance premium is around $16 a month.
Return: Save up to 80% when you choose low-cost options like Lemonade.

You are often required to have renters’ insurance. But that doesn’t mean you need to overpay for it.

If just thinking about renters’ insurance has you breaking out in a rash, you’re not alone. But shopping for insurance doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Compare renter’s insurance options; not sure which option is right for you? Compare rates and user reviews.

Ditch your car loan

Cost: Discovering what terms and rates you qualify for is free.
Return: It varies by case. To illustrate, you will save $8,590 in interest and pay the loan off a year earlier if you refinance a $25k auto loan with a 60-month term and a 10% APR for a 48-month loan with a 6% APR.

You don’t need me to tell you that buying a new car is a terrible investment.

The typical car loses 20 to 30 percent of its value within 12 months. And to make things worse, most of us borrow money to buy that car.

One of the best ways to build financial security is to spend as little as possible on a safe and reliable car. Preferably with cash.

All this is not much help if you already have a car loan. In such a case, you can still save money with an auto loan refinance. Compare auto loan refinancing options; not sure which option is right for you? Compare rates and user reviews.

Give yourself a $13K raise

Cost: You can start a side-hustle for free. The only fixed expense is your time.
Return: The sky’s the limit. Many are earning six figures a year as freelancers.

Thanks to the gig economy, earning a few extra bucks doesn’t have to be a struggle.

Nearly half of Americans have a side job, and they make an average of $1,120 a month to complement their primary job.

Consider registering for a freelancer platform, such as Fiverr, and see how much you can earn a month by doing what you love. Compare side jobs; not sure which option is right for you? Compare rates and user reviews.

Embrace the power of automated savings

Cost: Opening an account is free.
Return: It depends on the account. Savings accounts typically have low returns, but they are a great place to park your money while you decide where to invest (or spend) it.

Saving money is hard. Remembering every month to transfer a set amount to a savings account is next to impossible for many of us.

That is why you shouldn’t even try.

Instead, set up an automatic savings plan and forget about it.

You see, the key to saving money is automation. I advise people to set up a separate account and try to put some friction between that account and their main checking account. By friction, I mean you should make it slightly inconvenient to access your savings account or stop the automatic contributions.

Choose an account like CIT Bank Savings Builder, that pays a relatively high APY and doesn’t charge a monthly fee. Compare savings accounts; not sure which option is right for you? Compare rates and user reviews.

The best way to set up your savings plan is to transfer money directly from your paycheck. That way, you don’t even see the money. Out of sight. Out of mind.

In other words, you are less likely to dip into your savings.

If transferring money directly from your paycheck isn’t an option, open a checking account like BBVA Online Checking that offers automatic savings tools.

Put your savings to work

Cost: Free to open, but you will need some savings to get started, and there is a 0.25% charge once the introductory period ends.
Return: It varies, but Betterment has an average return of around 8%. Compare that to the average return of a savings accounts, which is around 0.20$ APY.

Whether it’s starting a business, saving for retirement, an adoption, a new car, or your child’s education, we all have goals that cost money. Opening an investment account with a financial advisory company like Betterment that offers low-cost robo-advising services is the first step to making those dreams come true. Compare investment advisors; not sure which option is right for you? Compare rates and user reviews.

Another option is to open a brokerage account and make your own investment choices. Ameritrade offers free trades and allows you to test-drive your trading skills without risking a penny with a paperMoney account.

Andrew Latham

Andrew is the managing editor for SuperMoney and a certified personal finance counselor. He loves to geek out on financial data and translate it into actionable insights everyone can understand. His work is often cited by major publications and institutions, such as Forbes, U.S. News, Fox Business, SFGate, Realtor, Deloitte, and Business Insider.