The acclaimed Grand Design series continues next month! Writer and artist Jim Rugg will follow in the tradition of Ed Piskor and Tom Scioli by unfurling the full saga of THE INCREDIBLE HULK, from the very beginning to the present in HULK: GRAND DESIGN! Just in time for the iconic character’s 60th anniversary, witness the biggest moments in the Hulk‘s history through the eyes of a single visionary storyteller!
“I’m covering 40 years of this character’s history–in the comics and in our world,” Rugg told ComicBook.com. “I looked at this project as part comics and part history. So part of the theme or arc of this story is let’s look at one of the most popular characters to come out of 20th-century storytelling. Here are some of the notable moments in his story, here are some of the great artists and visuals, and here are some of his achievements as one of the best-known characters in the world!”
Experience the first chapter of HULK: GRAND DESIGN when HULK: GRAND DESIGN – MONSTER #1 arrives on March 30.
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
Rising singer-songwriter Kenny Foster has released his latest single, “Somewhere In Middle America,” available on all digital streaming platforms and digital download now. The warm-hearted track paints a picture of a rural landscape where small town folks live simple lives, learning life’s biggest lessons—a place somewhere in middle America. The title track off Kenny’s upcoming album, due out in early summer, builds a sense of community and sets the scene for the album’s other tracks to exist within.
“To help frame the record as a whole, this song is creating a sonic landscape that people can feel,” says Foster. “I wanted people that are never going to drive through Middle America to viscerally feel what it’s like to be there and for those that live there, I wanted to create something that resonated, sort of a nod, an ‘if-you-know-you-know’ situation.”
Taken from the pages of Kenny’s own story, “Somewhere In Middle America” explores the often overlooked and unpolished way of life in America’s heartland. The song illustrates the humble, yet wonderfully colorful, tapestry that is Middle America—eggs on the griddle, prom kings alongside Dairy Queens, sage wisdom from porch swing prophets, and a culture where having just enough was all you needed—for Kenny, this is home.
About Kenny Foster
Kenny Foster has shared the stage with artists including Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, Brothers Osborne, Old Dominion, Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller, Butch Walker, Lady A, and countless others. He was named one of the “Top 10 New Artists You Need to Know” by Rolling Stone and has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, and Forbes. He has appeared in two Super Bowl commercials with Sheryl Crow and Danica Patrick, respectively. Kenny is also honored to be included in the CMA Foundation “It Starts with M.E.” National Campaign for Music Education and performed as part of the CMA Songwriters Series, alongside songwriting legends Lori McKenna, Marcus Hummon, Lee Thomas Miller, and Tenille Townes. Kenny has performed at the highly-acclaimed C2C Festival in London, and was also invited to perform at the launch of C2C Berlin and at the famed Melkweg venue in Amsterdam as support for Hunter Hayes, as well as recent domestic festival appearances at the ACM Party for a Cause, Americanafest and CMA Fest, among others. Kenny headlined an Armed Forces tour to Asia, performing at bases in Guam, Singapore and Diego Garcia.
Kenny is a long-time partner with the non-profit organization CreatiVets who pair Nashville songwriters with veterans to create a song out of their experiences that tells their story and hopefully provides some catharsis and healing. They released an album of these songs on Big Machine Records called “Veteran Songs” on July 4th, 2020 which included “Light Like Mine” co-written and performed by Foster. Additionally, Kenny hosted 32 episodes of a weekly online series called “Kuarantine with Kenny” for Sound of Nashville, featuring guests like Cam, Drake White, Lindsay Ell, and many others. Over this last year, Kenny has also released a series of singles called “The Vintage Collection” which are a culmination of demos of songs that, to this point, have only been heard at live shows but have included some fan favorites, including a duet with Mae Estes “Love You Now” (Co-written with Kirsti Manna of Blake Shelton’s “Austin”), “Lonely Land” (Co-written with Mando Saenz and Chris Rafetto) and “It Don’t Work Like That” (Co-written with Melissa Fuller).
Detroit natives Queen Naija and GRAMMY-nominated, multi-Platinum artist Big Sean team up on the soulful new single “Hate Our Love.“ The deeply romantic track, which samples the classic 70s hit “Sounds Like A Love Song,“ celebrates the kind of love that thrives despite hard times and haters.
“What I‘d like for people to take away from ‘Hate Our Love‘ is don‘t let anybody come in between anything or anyone that you love,“ says Queen Naija. “I‘m so excited to finally collaborate with Big Sean on a record, it’s been a dream of mine for a while now. With both of us being from Detroit, it felt like the perfect match up and I hope everyone loves the song!“
Big Sean topped the Billboard 200 for the third time with his 2020 album DETROIT 2. His six-song EP with Hit-Boy, What You Expect, was released last fall. He will be performing at Coachella in April.
Queen has amassed over three billion combined global streams in her career to date. Her debut album, missunderstood, entered Billboard‘s Top R&B Albums chart at No. 1 and earned a place in the top 10 of the Billboard 200. Nominated for a 2021 American Music Award in the Favorite R&B Album category, it includes the No. 1 hit “Butterflies Pt. 2“ and the Gold-certified singles “Pack Lite“ and “Lie To Me“ ft. Lil Dirk. Views of the official video for the fan favorite “I‘m Her“ ft. Kiana Lede has surpassed 3.2 million and the track has racked up over 37 million combined streams worldwide. The deluxe edition of the album, missunderstood, still, includes five previously unreleased songs.
Flaunt said, “Equipped with a smooth and sultry voice and infectious energy, each one of her R&B ballads are real, honest, and relatable.“ Essence Girls United noted, “Queen Naija‘s album, missunderstood, touches the soul in a way that only Black music can.“ “Queen Naija is, without question, who R&B heads should be checking for,“ declared DJ Booth.
‘The NGLCC has long been a global network for the LGBT business community, creating opportunities for hard-to-hear voices. While 360 MAGAZINE, an award-winning international publication, has created a refuge for youth stories and under-represented artists to celebrate their uniqueness while promoting their efforts. It was therefore inevitable that the two entities would join forces to foster a just ecosystem.‘ – Vaughn Lowery – a newly inducted nglccNY member as well as 360’s President and founder.
360 received their accreditation from the NGLCC on February 3, hereby declaring 360 as an NGLCC accredited business and an official LGBT business, guaranteeing diversity and inclusion within the organization. This commission affirms the continued commitment of the magazine to serve the LGBT community through all efforts.
Acertified LGBT business organization, in accordance with NGLCC directives, is any company that meets the preceding criteria:
• Business is at least 51% owned, operated, managed and controlled by a LGBT person or persons who are US citizens or lawful permanent residents
• Work independently from any non-LGBT business corporation
• Headquarters based in the US and are a legal entity in the US
The NGLCC operates as a key advocate for the LGBT community in all business endeavors. The organization aims to grow available opportunities for LGBT persons in corporate settings and conditions. Co-founders Justin Nelson and Chance Mitchell began NGLCC in 2002 after they failed to see equal opportunities for those who identify as lesbian, gay, bi, trans, etc. They both observed that although the members of this community contribute a massive $1.7 trillion to the economy through being business owners, employers and taxpayers, these contributions had been historically overlooked.
Co-founder and President Justin Nelson stated, “Back in 2002 we realized that too few government leaders and corporate executives had considered the economic equality of LGBT people or the impact economics could have on the future of the equality movement. So with a few forward-thinking corporate partners and a small network of LGBT business owners willing to tell their story, NGLCC was born.”
Co-founder and CEO Chance Mitchell, too, sounds in on the beginnings of the organization, stating, “Word began to spread about NGLCC very quickly, thanks to outlets like the Washington Blade and Out magazine recognizing the previously underreported strength and promise of the LGBT business community. That proved what we, and our NGLCC corporate partners, always believed: economic and social visibility go hand-in-hand as we march toward equality and opportunity for all.”
Both Nelson and Mitchell saw that LGBT people were an integral piece of American business, and they built NGLCC to strengthen the community to its fullest potential.
NGLCC works to grow their list of Certified LGBTBE businesses to develop more employment possibilities for all LGBT people. Apart of their mission involves partnership with other companies that support the strengthening of the LGBT business community. Some of their top founding corporate partners include Wells Fargo, American Airlines, Travelport and Intel.
Bravo’s Project Runway announces Shantall Lacayo from Miami is the winner after a breathtaking fashion show in last night’s season finale. In addition to being crowned the top designer, Shantall took home the grand prize of $250,000 supplied by Pilot FriXion Erasable Pens, returning for its third season as the Official Pen of “Project Runway,” and a feature in ELLE magazine. Shantall will also participate in a career-changing mentorship with the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America), which will help give her all the tools and connections to create, grow, and sustain a business in fashion.
The remarkable season came to a historic conclusion with the first ever four women finalists presenting their collections during New York Fashion Week at Hudson Yards. The final designers, Chasity Sereal, Kristina Kharlashkina, Coral Castillo, and Shantall Lacayo presented collections of 10 looks, each hoping to impress their mentor, Christian Siriano, along with the judging panel: Nina Garcia, Brandon Maxwell, and guest judge Tommy Hilfiger. With a beautiful, eclectic “Heritage” collection inspired by her culture, Shantall captivated the judges and was crowned the winner at the end of the fashion show.
Tianguis Turistico De Mexico, the 45th edition of the most important tourist showcase in Mexico and Latin America, registered record figures, with the attendance of 1,635 buyers from more than 40 countries, which generated more than 57,200 business appointments.
The first post-COVID Tianguis Turistico confab kicked off in the Yucatán capital Mérida from November 16 to 19. Participation exceeded expectations with a record number of registrations, presenting an encouraging outlook for tourism in all of Mexico and sending a clear message: Mexico’s tourism industry is united and working towards the recovery of the sector nationwide.
The 45th edition of Tianguis Turístico is the most anticipated and important event in the industry because it represents the post-pandemic rebirth of tourism in Mexico. Yucatán will be the starting point in this new age of tourism. Yucatán welcomed almost 10,000 under strict biosecurity measures, generating ‘health bubbles’ to facilitate safe involvement.
With the participation of 3,825 exhibitors from 41 countries, 928 participating companies, and 1,390 buyers, this year’s Tianguis presented the opportunity to be part of the largest tourism business showcase in Latin America. “This Tianguis will be a sign that Mexico is ready for the recovery of its sector and that our country is also ready to carry out large events with the strictest and most innovative standards,” said Michelle Fridman Hirsch, Secretary of Tourism Development of Yucatán (Sefotur). “This will be a new edition of the Tianguis, with new needs, new behaviors, new circumstances — a renaissance of tourism.”
The Tianguis Turístico de México first emerged 45 years ago as a platform to promote Mexico as a unique and rich destination thanks to its remarkable culture, history, and natural beauty. It eventually became the most relevant event of its kind, in which industry experts meet in a professional, dynamic, and highly productive business forum over three days.
Before the conference, Fridman led a tour of the state’s 150 new tourism infrastructures with international investors, including Xibalbá Park, which will be a circuit of eight cenotes. Fridman reiterated her commitment to promoting the development of new tourism products from the perspective of sustainability. 360 MAGAZINE was invited to attend and explore the exhibits of participating hotels, airlines, fairgrounds, exhibition centers, and more. Before the conventions, we visited Yucatán’s best sites in El Cuyo, Valladolid, and Merida.
Upon arrival, the team checked into Hotel Hampton Inn to relax before the upcoming week of activities. The hotel is not too far from the airport, which makes it an ideal layover spot. As we arrived late that evening, we had a quick bite for dinner and drinks. The service matched the animated style of the restaurant, and the food was delicious. Their menu is simple: Caesar salad, street-style tacos, and an assortment of pizzas – options perfect when traveling with children. Our bedroom featured double beds, a Samsung TV, and a steam shower with doors. Very comfortable and affordable accommodation for business travelers. Additional features include a yard to smoke in and a fitness center to stretch out after a long flight. With a second wind, take a walk down the street to the shopping center, or get lucky at the 24-hour casino.
On the first full day, we transferred from the hotel to our first stop: the El Cuyo beach in the Puerto Maya region for an ATV tour in the San Manuel reserve. Following the day’s activities, we finished with a seafood experience at the Valerios. At night, we received a tour of the Ria Lagartos reserve, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve located at the eastern end of the coastal strip. We also viewed the pink tubular salt mines “Las Coloradas,” which also translates to ‘blush red’ in Spanish. The vibrant pink body of water gets its unique tint from red-colored algae, plankton, and brine shrimp that use the salty water as their habitat. Dinner at Casa Palma restaurant and enjoying a bonfire in the sand was the perfect evening before retiring to our hotel for the evening – LunArena.
LunArena Hotel is a 3-year-old establishment that works diligently to offer a whimsical environment. Located between the ocean, lagoon, and jungle, LunArena is the perfect place to disconnect from the world and reconnect with nature We had the opportunity to meet the CEO, who took great care of us, on top of a professional staff who made our stay extremely pleasant. With delicate decor coupled with pop design baubles, this hotel offers twelve rooms with couples in mind. Phenomenal experiences are accessible due to the hotel’s convenient location. The picturesque Pink Beach, home to flamingoes, is just 90 minutes by mountain bike, ATVs, or tactical FWD vehicle. The jungle and a plethora of outdoor adventures such as paddle boarding, biking, and hiking are at your fingertips. The compact lodge offers tons of gourmet Italian and Mexican delicacies. They provide breakfast, lunch, dinner on their private outdoor terrace featuring a swimming pool. Read our full review on LunArena here.
We started day two with breakfast at the hotel and hung out on the beaches of El Cuyo before transferring to Zazil Tunich in the magical town of Valladolid. This otherworldly experience connected us to nature in the Xeneba Maya village, home to 500 thousand years of stone formations dripping into crystal clear water. Zazil Tunich has been appointed one of the most spectacular cenotes in the region, with thousands of stalagmites and stalactites, and it was a pleasure to enjoy a private meal there. After, we visited the historic center of Valladolid for a tour and strolled the Calzada de los Frailes – a beautiful and charming cobbled street in Valladolid that runs diagonally from the center of the city to the Sisal neighborhood and the Convento de San Bernardino di Siena. It is lined with colorful buildings full of housing, boutique shops, restaurants, bars, and hotels. Filled with shopping, nightlife, food, tradition, and opportunities, Valladolid felt like a bustling baby New York in the southern region of Mexico. We got dinner at Los Frappes, situated in the heart of the town in front of the convent. A multi-level venue with live music and good food, Los Frappes is great for celebrations and craft cocktails, with an extremely hospitable team.
For our final stretch of the trip, 360’s team checked into a character hotel in a unique urban setting. Zenti’k Project is an eccentric immersive property featuring twelve Mayan-style staterooms. The upstairs accommodations have mosquito beds with lounge corners as well as small porches to enjoy the stunning constellations. Its main attraction though? An underground cave six meters below the hotel, containing an adapted heated saltwater pool. As if these healing properties were not enough, the day spa services are superb. At the hotel’s restaurant, décor lined with works of famous artists transforms the space into a sanctuary for the creative. During that captivation, take full advantage of their gourmet menu that includes vegan options. Bartenders are knowledgeable mixologists who excel in their optimal pairing recommendations. The concierge is warm and inviting – they can recommend an abundance of recreational activities. With the city center within a mile, shopping, restaurants, and nightlife are at guests’ fingertips.
The following day, we went on a bicycle tour with “Go Maya” through the center of Valladolid. We visited La Casona de Valladolid for a buffet-style lunch and chose from a fine selection of dishes with the best of traditional Yucatecan food including black turkey stew, Valladolid style pork loins, smoked pork sausage with eggs, and more.
When traveling through Yucatán, it is a must to see at least one cenote. We were lucky to visit Cenote Selva Maya after lunch and experience its water activities, perfect to cool down on a busy and hot day with a restaurant conveniently located. Located in a beautiful hacienda, Selva Maya, another cenote, is another unique treasure of Yucatán. It was a perfect final activity before transferring back to Mérida and checking in to the Hampton Inn Hotel for dinner.
On our very last day, we headed to the Xibalbá reserve experience after breakfast. Xibalbá in Mayan culture is the gate or path to the underworld; in our case it is the gate to the unknown underground world of Yucatán, just waiting to be discovered. Xibalba is a hidden natural reserve surrounded by the mystery and charm of nature. The activities encouraged us to explore the history and culture of Yucatán before returning to Merida for the “Welcome to Yucatán” reception.
In our free time, we visited Galería Mérida – The Mall of Mérida. There is an ice-skating rink in the middle with a total of 77 stores including H&M, Bershka, Pull&Bear , and Zara to shop at. A great mall to hang out, people watch and shop.
We managed to squeeze in a tattoo appointment at TATUAJES OVEJA NEGRA MÉRIDA – they say Rafiki is one of Merida’s greatest tattoo artists, so we could not miss this opportunity. With more than 20 years of experience, he paid special attention to detail, and it stood out in his technique. If you are looking for a nice work of art at an affordable price, this is the spot. Additionally, we also got a quick refresh at Wall’s Barbershop. As people in the fashion industry, we usually would never get our hair cut at a random salon without doing research. However, Wall’s Barbershop felt different. The interior looked like an elegant cigar salon, and it seemed the attention paid to the client was equal, if not greater. Asked if we wanted a bottom or top fade, the cut was fresh, thorough, professional, and hospitable.
Rescheduled four times because of the pandemic, the 45th Tianguis Turistico was an important part of positioning the state of Yucatán on the world tourism stage. Sefotur worked with local business owners to ensure all its tourism offerings were center stage for the event. In a culminating moment, the state’s cultural, gastronomic, and archaeological wealth were presented in an open-air food market. Here, sixteen restaurants offered endemic dishes such as cochinita pibil. Another feature was a Mayan Village where inhabitants from different regions showed their crafts and products. The adventure tourism expo rounded out the experience, where attendees learned about various activities Yucatán offers such as visits to cenotes, Mayan villages, caves, jungles, and archaeological sites. University tourism students and other participants were able to take part in an educational agenda with seminars and masterclasses on the state’s tourism infrastructure and planning.
The state of Yucatán’s pavilion was one of the fundamental elements in the promotion of tourism during the Tianguis Turistico. Divided into 6 regions designated as Ruta Puuc and Mayan Villages, Cenotes and Haciendas, Mundo Maya, Puerto Maya, Mérida Cultural and Gastronomic Capital of the South and Yucatán Riviera. Local tourism providers held over 6,000 meetings with buyers in effects that will be seen in both the short and long-term for this destination.
It should be noted that Yucatán was chosen to host this edition of the Tianguis thanks to its excellent hotel infrastructure and tourist services, its excellent air, maritime and land connectivity, and of course, the wide range of attractions for both leisure and business travelers. Mérida is one of just seven cities in Mexico with the necessary capacity to carry out large-scale events such as the Tianguis Turístico 2021. Yucatán’s beaches, magical towns, andworld-renownedd archaeological sites paired with an incomparable local and contemporary gastronomic scene make for an unforgettable experience.
Additionally, you can also find many groups of expats living in Merida and the population is ever growing.
The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is Launching the Celebration of its 25th Anniversary
The commemoration of the Anniversary will permeate all Museum activities throughout 2022
“Art Inspires Future” is the overarching concept of the celebratThey begin by talking about
The Museum Collection plays a prominent role in the Art programming
In October 2022, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, which was a enormous boost to the cultural, economic, social, and artistic life of the city and its surroundings, will celebrate its 25th anniversary. Over these years, the Museum has garnered success and a degree of international renown which have remained steady over time.
In a very different context than some years ago, and after the necessary reflection sparked by the pandemic, the Museum is enthusiastically tackling future challenges with realistic optimism. The uncertainty and limitations experienced because of the health crisis have served as an incentive to seize new opportunities which require flexibility, proactiveness, and the use of technology to continue disseminating art and serving as inspiration, and to continue being a driving force for the region, just as happened a quarter of a century ago during a severe economic crisis, when the Museum clearly saw that inspiring confidence and helping to reactivate its environs was part of its mission.
In this vein, the Museum has unveiled the overarching slogan of its anniversary: “Art Inspires Future,” as well as a special edition of its logo, which it will use throughout this year, in which the characteristic G’s of the Guggenheim brand move like gears to shape the number 25.
Rock dynamo Machine Gun Kelly (Bad Boy/Interscope Records) and WILLOW have teamed up to bring “emo girl,” the new single from MGK’s forthcoming album mainstream sellout. MGK previewed his rock-tinged single alongside WILLOW on his TikTok last weekend. The 15-second snippet quickly sparked conversation as the clip reeled in over 17 million total views and was the 3rd fastest growing TikTok in 24 hours from his account. At the top of week, MGK sat down with executive producer Travis Barker to comically unveil the new album title after the pair previously tattooed the former name born with horns six months ago. His sixth studio album mainstream sellout will arrive March 25. Pre-order the new album HERE.
MGK will headline the 2022 NHL All-Star Game in Las Vegas this weekend and deliver a scintillating halftime performance for hockey and rock enthusiasts. Leading up to this year’s Super Bowl week, MGK will team up with Halsey for a Bud Light sponsored show at the Crypto.com Arena.
As for WILLOW, the 20-something multi-hyphenate continues to achieve more wins. Last year, she released her fourth studio album, lately I feel EVERYTHING and emerged as a pop-punk star. After being named Billboard’s Greatest Pop Stars 2021: Comeback Artist of the Year, WILLOW looks to take her talents on the road this month and join Billie Eilish for the U.S. leg of her Happier Than Ever World Tour.
Machine Gun Kelly’s “emo girl” feat WILLOW eSingle is HERE.
Machine Gun Kelly’s mainstream sellout eAlbum is HERE.
2022 has proven to be nothing short of eventful with only one month under its belt. Below, we discuss and highlight the leading news stories for the month of love, February.
Rihanna pregnant with first baby
Esteemed musical artist, fashion and business icon Rihanna is expecting her first child with boyfriend A$AP Rocky. She debuted her baby bump for the first time while out in New York City – you’ve seen the photos; Rihanna looking effervescent in a long, pink jacket strolling through the streets of Harlem.
Whoopi Goldberg suspended from ‘The View’
The announcement of Whoopi Goldberg’s suspension from ‘The View’ came the evening of Tuesday February 1 following her stating that the Holocaust was “not about race.” She argued that both the Nazis and Jews were white on the programming, later apologizing for these comments.
Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, was invited to the show on Tuesday where he told Whoopi, “There’s no question that the Holocaust was about race. Literally, the first page of ‘Maus,’ the book you were talkingabout yesterday, Whoopi, opens with a quote from Hitler, and literally it says, ‘The Jews undoubtedly are a race, but they are not human.’ Hitler’s ideology was predicated on the idea that … the Jews were a subhuman race. It was a racialized anti-Semitism.”
Whoopi extended her apologies, stating, “So yesterday on our show, I misspoke… “I said that the Holocaust wasn’t about race, and it was instead about man’s inhumanity to man — but it is indeed about race, because Hitler and the Nazis considered Jews to be an inferior race.”
She continued, “Words matter, and mine are no exception. I regret my comments, and I stand corrected. I also stand with the Jewish people.”
US to deploy troops amidst Russia/Ukraine conflict
February 2, the Pentagon announced that United States President Joe Biden authorized the deployment of 3,000 US troops to Poland, Germany, and Romania. This repositioning of US military persons comes from the suspicion of a potential invasion of Ukraine initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
This skepticism comes from the growing presence of Russian military near the borders. Which has caught the attention of Ukraine and fellow NATO allies. A total of 3,000 troops will be moved, with 2,000 leaving directly from the US and 1,000 troops already in Germany planning to relocate to Romania.
Pamela has voiced her disapproval of Pam & Tommy, while Tommy has been in support of the new show. An insider communicated that the robbed home video devastates Pamela and is a topic she does not wish to be rehashed.
The insider stated, “It was a violation having this tape taken. This was a very traumatic time in her life. And it’s shocking that they are recreating it.” They continued, referencing Pamela when saying, “apparently doesn’t deserve privacy because she’s a sex symbol. It’s a sad reflection of how far we’ve not come as a society. Where are the apologies owed to Pam?“
Tommy talked about the portrayal of their history, stating, “I think a lot of people would think that it’s one thing, but it’s really about privacy and how things got crazy then and there’s different laws now.” He continued, “It’s a cool story and people need to know. It’s cool. I’m stoked.“
Satellite images depict increasing Russian military presence in Belarus
Amidst the growing suspicion of a potential Russian military invasion into Ukraine, new satellite images from February 5 show an increase in intensity in Russian military sites in locations like Belarus. The images are assumed to be connected to combined efforts with Russian and Belarusian exercises.
Although these images may add to the rising awareness of Ukraine and NATO allies, further imaging also depicts camps being set up closer to Ukraine’s borders, far away from where the Russian/Belarus practices are set up.
Euphoria renewed for season 3
As the dramatic second season of the blockbuster HBO series Euphoria continues to air throughout the course of February, the show has been confirmed for a third season. As one of the most encapsulating series airing modern day, there was no question as to if the series would come back for a third series, but nonetheless this announcement gives us that reassurance we all were anticipating!
Peloton enlists new CEO and removes 2,800 jobs
Popular fitness company Peloton announced the removal of their former CEO John Foley for his replacement Barry McCarthy. McCarthy has worked for the likes of Spotify and Netflix as the brands chief financial officers, now taking on the title of CEO and president of Peloton on Wednesday February 9.
Peloton, too, announced their elimination of around 2,800 employees amidst new brand operation plans. Further projects include the limitation of warehouses that the brand owns and making the switch to broadening delivery arrangements with more third-party sources. All these changes come to amass a whopping $800 million saving in annual expenses.
The company also announced that their official first factory in the United States is almost ready to open in Ohio. The production of the factory, like the other changes to the company, aims to lessen costs and save around $60 million for Peloton.
12-year-old Black swimmer almost excluded from swim meet after wearing a ‘Black Lives Matter’ swimsuit
A 12-year-old Black swimmer was nearly disqualified from a Wisconsin swim meet for wearing a ‘Black Lives Matter’ swimsuit. The Duluth Area Family YMCA, who was in sponsor of the February 6 meet, stated an independent volunteer official tried to ban the student from the meet, asserting that the suit went in opposition to a USA Swimming rule that bans political language.
Sarah Lyons, mother of Leidy, argued that her daughter wore the suit to show her unwavering support for the Black Lives Matter movement, as it is in an important cause to her. Lyons stated, “She is very passionate about social justice. She has been through a lot already at a young age. It’s a big part of her, which I think is wild at 12,” she told CNN affiliate KBJR.
The YMCA overrode the threat from the official to exclude Leidy from the swim meet. They further issued a statement that read, “The Duluth Area Family YMCA is committed to being an anti-racist organization and stands with BIPOC communities throughout the Northland and throughout our country. We know that Black Lives Matter and we will continue to work to educate ourselves, to stand against inequality, and to strive to be active allies in the ongoing fight for diversity, equity, and inclusion.”
Book bans swarm US school libraries
The United States has reportedly seen a rise in the number of book bans, increasing from the end of 2021 to mid-February. Differing book bans in various places across the nation have been argued due to the contents of such books. Often, the books under fire contain some type of content relating to topics including race, gender and sexuality.
Local school boards and librarians have faced scrutiny and potential criminal charges from concerned parents. Bills in states such as Oklahoma have been created to outlaw public school libraries from housing books that had subject matter surrounding sexual activity/identity or gender identity. Another instance that had the nation, and Whoopi Goldberg, talking followed the exclusion of the ‘Maus’ from an eighth-grade module as voted on by the McMinn County Board of Education. The removal of the crucial Holocaust novel came due to “nudity and curse words.”
These book bans have been rather controversial due to the US’ protection of free speech under the first amendment. While conservative activists have been pushing for the restriction of books that delve into the US’ history of slavery and racial oppression, liberal activists have urged against books that may contain racist or insensitive material.
NYFW captivates NYC
New York Fashion Week commenced on Friday February in New York, New York. The week full of fashion commenced on February 11 and closes on February 16. An array of designers showcased at the shows in February, all elevating the world of fashion as we know it.
Shooting following Justin Bieber concert in LA
Saturday February 12, a shooting broke out at an afterparty following a Justin Bieber concert apart of the “Homecoming Weekend.” The shooting occurred on the outside of Beverly Grove restaurant. Police are still searching for the gunman who put at least four men in the hospital. Rapper Kodak Black was reported to be among the injured from the shooting.
Super Bowl LVI
February 13 at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, CA, the hometown Los Angeles Rams triumphed over the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20. Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Dr. Dre, Eminem, and Kendrick Lamar all performed during the halftime show.
Bitcoin surpasses tech stocks by an average 12%
Though Bitcoin has suffering throughout the course of 2022, a substantial turnaround has been observed. Data in accordance with Finbold shows that as of February 13, Bitcoin outperformed leading tech stocks by an average return on investment (ROI) of 12.24%. Bitcoin surpassed six of the upper tech stocks, even including Amazon.
Sarah Palin x The New York Times defamation trial comes to an end
February 15 a Manhattan jury in the widespread Sarah Palin defamation trial against the Times ruled against the former Alaskan governor. This decision came following the judge’s decision to dismiss the suit on February 14. His reasoning stemmed from the fact that he believed that there was not enough suitable evidence to prove that the Times’ 2017 editorial in question defamed Palin.
Scientists may have a potential HIV cure
A New York woman may have been cured from HIV following an intensive stem cell treatment process. The treatment entails that patients must have a terminal cancer or condition that allows them to receive the full procedure.
While involving the use a radiation, the aim of the stem cell treatment is to replace the existing immune system with a new HIV resistant stem cells. This procedure has been proven effective in a total of three men, and a potential other two women.
Jasmine Kennedie Comes Out As Trans
Jasmine Kennedie, a contender on RuPaul’s Drag Race season 14, recently came out as trans on Untucked. Untucked is a companion show to Drag Race, where you get to see the competitors after they’ve received critiques from the judges and before the two queens to be eliminated are announced. The queens will discuss their performance, and whether or not they think they will stay within the competition, among other things.
During episode seven of the series, in a tear felt confession, Jasmine Kennedie says that she was going to begin hormones before entering the competition, and after seeing fellow trans contestant Kerri Colby, she felt the need to come out.
Russia-Ukraine Offensive
Russian leaders announced that they have approved a full-scale attack on Ukraine, after Putin announced that the neighboring country poses a threat to them. Putin believes there is aggression near the country’s border. Russia’s embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, has been cleared out. Putin delivered a fiery speech in which he declared that Ukraine had no right to exist, most likely based on the fact that the country gained its independence after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Russian troops are continuously added to the country’s border, and The Pentagon has stated that the attacks might occur at any time.
Ukraine President Volodomir Zelenskyy stated that Russia has no reason to believe Ukraine poses any threat to them, and asked for a call to Putin, which was denied. Ukraine has now issued a State of Emergency and is preparing for the invasion. Many national leaders are deeming invasion imminent. Sanctions have been placed on several Kremlin officials as a warning. Vice President Kamala Harris stated the US response to Russia would be “swift, severe, and united.”
New South Park Episode
South Park is releasing their newest episode, “BACK TO THE COLD WAR,” at 8 PM ET on March 2nd via Comedy Central. In the episode, a lot is riding on Butter’s ability to crush the competition in the all-important dressage championship.
All-New Season Episodes will be Available to Stream in HD HERE and HERE, and the Comedy Central App post-premiere. Comedy Central’s South Park the series launched on August 13, 1997, and is based on the VHS-shared, animated short entitled “The Spirit of Christmas.” Trey Parker and Matt Stone are the co-creators of South Park. Parker, Stone, Anne Garefino and Frank C. Agnone II are the Executive Producers of the Emmy® and Peabody® Award-winning show. Eric Stough, Adrien Beard, Bruce Howell and Vernon Chatman are Producers. Christopher Brion is the Creative Director of South Park Digital Studios.
Press Room Bar and Alamo Drafthouse
For movie lovers, an elegant theater is tucked away in Lower Manhattan. We went for a private preview held by Press Room Bar and Alamo Drafthouse for signature cocktails, hip treats and typographic activation. The highly anticipated Liberty Street is the third location of the New York metropolitan area.
With 36 locations throughout the country, it was established in 1997 by the contractor and producer Time League. The home to both blockbuster and classic films, featuring a dine-in American cinema with seat-side service.
Launching in April, Marvel’s biggest hitters will duke it out for their 60th anniversaries in “HULK VS THOR: BANNER OF WAR!” Donny Cates, the acclaimed writer behind both HULK and THOR, will team up with rising star artist Martin Coccolo in a story that will smash both character’s current sagas together in a glorious showdown! The five-part crossover will kick off in April’s “HULK VS. THOR: BANNER OF WAR ALPHA #1” before exploding in the pages of both Hulk and Thor’s hit solo titles throughout May and June.
In May’s “THOR #25”, part two of “Banner of War,” Banner’s newfound control of his rage is prolonging the fight more than Thor expected, and with Banner holding his own, Thor must get creative. Odin‘s breakthrough look into Banner’s psyche seems to slow the violence, but will it be enough?
Later that month in “HULK #7,” part three of “Banner of War,” Iron Man interrupts a pivotal moment of Hulk and Thor’s battle to settle a score. Equipped with new “Celestial Hulkbuster” armor of his own design, Tony is convinced that he can ensure Thor’s victory and Hulk’s capture. But sometimes what you don’t know really can hurt you…Check out some of May’s covers now, including a stunning connecting pair by artist Chrissie Zullo, and witness the fight that will smash the Marvel Universe at its core when “HULK VS. THOR: BANNER OF WAR ALPHA #1” arrives on April 27!
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
