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KEEP COOL × YOURS TRULY × ADIDAS ORIGINALS – SONGS FROM SCRATCH

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In 2019, Keep Cool partnered with creative agency Yours Truly and adidas Originals to bring 80+ vocalists, instrumentalists, producers, songwriters, and the one and only Babyface to a historic mansion in Los Angeles to write, record and build together. After a full week of sessions and 120 songs recorded, Keep Cool/RCA Records is gearing up to release the compilation EP, Songs From Scratch: Volume 1, on June 24^th.

“Glory” feat. Mez, VanJess, ICECOLDBISHOP, Ginette Claudette, Gwen Bunn is the first offering from the upcoming compilation EP. Listen here.

Songs From Scratch: Volume 1 is a continuation of the adidas Originals and Yours Truly’s long-running Songs from Scratch series that has produced songs from Chance the Rapper, Kelela, Brent Faiyaz, Kehlani, Ty Dolla $ign, Mura Masa, Danny Brown, and more.

Songs from Scratch curator, Will Abramson says: “Songs from Scratch Vol. 1, is a natural extension of our ambition to put artists into positions where they can make things that surprise them, and us. For 9 years we’ve curated smaller 1:1 pairings but we always wondered: what would happen if we put a whole bunch of artists and producers in one place, took really good care of them and let them run free? We’re grateful to Keep Cool and adidas Originals for helping make that dream a reality.”

Keep Cool co-founder and EVP of A&R at RCA Records, Tunji Balogun says: “We started Keep Cool with the goal of bringing people together in the name of creativity, inclusivity and great art. Partnering with adidas on Creator Camp was a magical opportunity to connect artists from all walks of life in an unfiltered, authentic environment that exemplified the power of music in creating bonds and bringing creatives together.”

The official camp documentary, produced by Yours Truly, is a kaleidoscopic vision of camp, featuring appearances from Babyface, Smino, Ant Clemons, Victoria Monet, Jozzy, Dijon, Umi, Ruel, D’Mile, Xavier Omär, and more. Watch here.

Songs From Scratch: Volume 1 Track List

1 “Glory” feat. Mez, VanJess, ICECOLDBISHOP, Ginette Claudette & Gwen Bunn

2 “Red Velvet Cake” feat. ICECOLDBISHOP, Shy Girls, VanJess, Jesse Boykins III, Tess Henley

3 “Warzone” feat. BiBi Bourelly

4 “Call It A Fix (So High)” feat. VanJess

5 “Thirsty” feat. Mez, ICECOLDBISHOP, Tone Stith, Kennedi

6 “Come Find Me (Mountains)” feat. Charlotte Day Wilson

About Keep Cool

Keep Cool, a Los Angeles-based record label is a creative safe haven for artists and creatives alike, run by a team of multi-talented people from broad walks of life. Founded in 2018 through a joint venture with RCA Records, Keep Cool grew from daydreams and sleepless nights, tireless work and friendships forged in the trenches of time and taste. They came together to build a new label, the dream of kids who listened to too much music, watched too many movies, read too many books, and believed in a world so much bigger than themselves.

About Yours Truly

Yours Truly Creative is a design and story studio based in Los Angeles. We tell stories and design communications for bands and brands we love.

About adidas Originals

Inspired by the rich sporting heritage of adidas – one of the world’s leading sports brands and a global designer and developer of athletic footwear and apparel – adidas Originals is a lifestyle brand founded in 2001. With the adidas archive at its foundation, adidas Originals continues to evolve the brand’s legacy through its commitment to product innovation and its ability to filter the creativity and courage found on courts and sporting arenas through the lens of contemporary youth culture. Marked by the iconic Trefoil logo that was first used in 1972 and championed by those that continue to shape and define creative culture, adidas Originals continues to lead the way as the pioneering sportswear brand for the street.

NEW STAR WARS COMIC SERIES

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Yesterday, StarWars.com announced Star Wars: The High Republic: Trail Of Shadows, a brand-new Marvel Comics series coming in October! The new limited series will be the latest story set in the exciting High Republic era, the publishing-led Star Wars storytelling initiative that began earlier this year. Written by New York Times Bestselling author Daniel José Older with art by David Wachter, Star Wars: The High Republic: Trail Of Shadows will mark Marvel’s second venture into The High Republic, following the hit ongoing series, Star Wars: The High Republic.

The noir-style mystery will unfold after the shocking events of the Republic Fair and introduce new key High Republic players such as Sian Holt and Jedi Emerick Caphtor, two detectives tasked with uncovering the source of a strange new threat that could bring darkness to the Jedi Order’s golden age. The story will directly tie into the events of other High Republic sagas, including the upcoming new Cavan Scott novel The Rising Storm.

“There are so many weird and terrifying threads to unravel here, and David Wachter’s excellent art fits the mood, urgency, and depth of this story perfectly,” Older told StarWars.com. “I am beyond excited to be working on this thrilling, creepy, delightful story.”

Check out a variant cover above by artist Ario Anindito and stay tuned for more information about this thrilling new High Republic adventure!

Find a comic shop near you.

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.

For more information visit Marvel.

AdventureWomen Partners with African Wildlife Foundation

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AdventureWomen, a by-women, for-women adventure travel company, has announced that they are partnering with the African Wildlife Foundation, an organization that supports the conservation of Africa’s wildlife and environment through community development, sustainability projects, education initiatives and more. As part of the collaboration, leaders from the two organizations will be hosting a special women’s safari to Zimbabwe in May of 2022.

Joining the trip will be AdventureWomen’s owner Judi Wineland, a longtime conservationist and adventure travel pioneer; and Carter Smith, AWF safari program manager and author of the children’s book African Tea. Joining Judi and Carter will be several other visionary women including Olivia Mufute, the first female Chief Ecologist at the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and the current Zimbabwe country director for AWF; and Sharon Stead, founder of the Mother Africa Trust, which supports female-focused projects throughout Zimbabwe.

Both AdventureWomen and the African Wildlife Foundation believe in empowering girls and women throughout the continent, and this shared mission will be weaved into many aspects of the trip. A highlight of the journey will be a dinner hosted by Aunt Flatter, a Zimbabwe local with decades of wisdom about the country.

“At African Wildlife Foundation, we believe that women in Africa have a critical role to play in conservation on the continent,” says Carter Smith. “That’s why I’m so excited about AWF’s budding partnership with AdventureWomen, and honored to participate in this beautifully crafted safari with Judi Wineland. The Zimbabwe safari will feature women ambassadors, travelers, and conservation heroes. We can’t wait for this inspiring adventure.”

The trip will include once-in-a-lifetime experiences, including a visit to the majestic Victoria Falls, a walking safari to try to spot incredibly rare white rhinos, and a sunset cruise along the Zambezi River. Participants will also have the opportunity to visit the Lupani Primary School in Kazungula, Zambia (across the country border, nearby Victoria Falls). The school was rebuilt as an initiative of the African Wildlife Foundation’s Classroom Africa program, providing a safe learning environment for children across seven grades.

“We are thrilled to partner with AWF,” says Judi Wineland, whose philanthropic work in Africa began with her founding a Tanzania-based non-profit 25 years ago. “By inviting participants to foster female-to-female connections, we hope this trip will continue to bolster AWF and bring awareness to their incredible work.”

For more information, please visit here.

ABOUT ADVENTUREWOMEN
AdventureWomen® has been a pioneer and a leader in adventure travel for women since 1982, custom-designing and leading some of the most unique adventure travel tours for active women, worldwide. Owners Judi Wineland, President of Wineland-Thomson Adventures Inc., and her daughters Erica Landerson and Nicole Wineland-Thomson, describe AdventureWomen as a “relationship company” where women create connections with other women while exploring new frontiers and active outdoor adventure. Offering adventure tours to over 20 countries each year, AdventureWomen invites women to physically and mentally challenge themselves while exploring the world at their own pace and on their own terms.

ABOUT AFRICAN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION
The African Wildlife Foundation (http://www.awf.org) is the primary advocate for the protection of wildlife and wild lands as an essential part of a modern and prosperous Africa. Founded in 1961 to focus on Africa’s conservation needs, we articulate a uniquely African vision, bridge science and public policy, and demonstrate the benefits of conservation to ensure the survival of the continent’s wildlife and wild lands.

Fresh N Lean Names David Belford Chief Financial Officer

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America’s leading organic Ready-to-Eat (RTE) prepared meal delivery company, Fresh N’ Lean today announces that David Belford has been named Chief Financial Officer at the growing, profitable family business that is disrupting the direct-to-consumer (DTC) meal delivery space.

“With his extensive financial expertise and network, David is a key executive to lead Fresh N’ Lean into the next phase of our growth,” said founder and co-CEO Laureen Asseo. Asseo, named to Forbes 30 under 30 in 2019, founded the company eleven years ago in her apartment making fresh, organic meals for family and friends. The company has since grown to become the largest independent organic meal delivery company in the U.S. and is leading the revolution in healthy eating.

As CFO, Belford will focus on capital markets initiatives to support the company’s continued growth trajectory and to transition from a family-owned business into the top player within the RTE space. The company has generated positive EBITDA for over five years and was named to the Inc. 500 list in 2019. In 2020, Fresh N’ Lean grew sales by over 200% as consumers continued to embrace healthier options and the convenience of direct delivery.

Prior to joining Fresh N’ Lean, Belford served as Chief Credit Officer and Head of Asset Management for Colony Credit Real Estate, Inc. (NYSE: CLNC), a $5.0 billion mortgage REIT, and as Deputy Portfolio Manager for Colony Capital, Inc.’s (NYSE: CLNY) private funds series with over $3.0 billion of assets under management. His previous roles at Colony Capital included the head of US co-investments and the co-head of the London office.

“Fresh N’ Lean is an incredibly compelling combination of DTC technology, marketing and manufacturing that is perfectly positioned to use tailwinds to grab market share away from incumbent grocers and CPGs” said Belford. “We’re in the midst of a food revolution in this country where the entire landscape is shifting under our feet. No one could have imagined the dramatic surge we’ve seen recently in the demand for organic ingredients, sustainability and convenience. I’m excited to be joining the company at this crucial juncture to help take the business to the next level.”

“David’s experience and network will be a critical factor in our company’s expansion,” added Thomas Asseo, Laureen’s brother who serves as co-CEO. “He has a deep understanding of our brand, the consumer and the marketplace which will play a valuable role in our future.”

Belford holds a bachelor’s degree from Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada, an MBA from the Wharton School and a Master of International Affairs from the Joseph H. Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania.

About Fresh N’ Lean

Fresh N’ Lean is the leading independent technology, marketing & manufacturing platform currently disrupting the Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) sector for healthy, Ready-to-Eat (RTE) meals. The company specializes in over 100 organic-sourced dishes covering keto, paleo, vegan, protein and vegetarian diets, all completely free of preservatives, gluten, hormones, and added sugars. Founded in 2010 and led by sister-brother duo Laureen and Thomas Asseo, Fresh N’ Lean continues to lead the revolution in human potential through healthy eating delivered fresh to your door.

THE ACADEMIC – “KIDS (DON’T END UP LIKE ME)”

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The Academic return today with the track “Kids (Don’t End Up Like Me)” and an accompanying video. In tandem with today’s release comes the announcement of the band’s new EP Community Spirit, which is slated to be released July 9 via Capitol Records. Listen to the single here. Watch the video here.

“Kids (Don’t End Up Like Me)” is the first taste of the upcoming EP, hinting at the new sonic direction the band is moving in. Streaming now, the song is a thumping return for a band absolutely straining at the leash to take their sky-scraping indie-pop anthems out on the road and into the ears of their ever-expanding fanbase.

Community Spirit was written, recorded and produced by the band throughout lockdown. The past 14 months put their touring plans on ice just as serious momentum started gaining outside of Ireland, but The Academic have dusted themselves down and are ready to go again.

Vocalist Craig Fitzgerald said, ““Kids (Don’t End Up Like Me)” is one of the first songs I remember writing back when I was a teenager. It was the first time that lyrics had come very easy to me. It’s written about the fear of not getting out of your hometown and amounting to anything. Thanks to the lockdown, I had plenty of time on my hands, but nothing to write about, so I started looking through all my old notebooks and found this song fully written. I had a gut feeling that it might come to life now with a few more years of living behind me since it was originally written.”

While Kaiser Chief’s Nick Hodgson produced last year’s Anything Could Happen EP, Craig himself swung behind the metaphorical glass to take control of production on the Community Spirit EP. “I’d spend a lot of time during lockdown working on my production chops, trying to get the most out of the little equipment I had. The band put their faith in me to take a stab at producing this. Whilst it’s definitely super DIY, it’s been a cool experience and helped us realize we can make music on our own,” he said.

It’s perhaps too early to suggest that a new band has a signature sound, but The Academic seem incapable of writing anything less than golden, infectious, guitar-fueled indie-pop. It’s bold, heart-thumping, cinematic disco music for indie kids, that instantly recalls some of the better guitar bands that lit up the early 2000s, but brings it sharply into focus with the energy of four young Irish lads bursting at the seams to introduce themselves properly to audiences across the globe. They’re already deemed hometown heroes, but as the new song suggests, while Mullinger and Ireland might have opened their arms to The Academic first, there are towns, cities, states and countries still eagerly awaiting that first embrace.

Folds of Honor Tennessee Celebrity Golf Tournament

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The Executive Board of Folds of Honor, Tennessee, is set to host their first annual celebrity golf tournament on Monday, June 21st, at the Governors Club in Brentwood, TN. Folds of Honor, is a 501C-3 national nonprofit dedicated to providing educational scholarships to the families of fallen and disabled American service members.

This world class event will bring together some of Nashville’s most recognizable celebrities, in a friendly exhibition for a great cause. Talent committed to participation includes Titan’s head coach Mike Vrabel and chart-topping country artists Lee Brice, Tyler Farr, Jamey Johnson, Chase Rice, Charles Esten, Randy Houser, Mitchell Tenpenny, Michael Ray, Jelly Roll, Dee Jay Silver amongst many, many others. Over two dozen celebrities from the worlds of sports and entertainment will be in attendance at the one day fundraiser. The event schedule is as follows:

9:30 Registration
11:30 Shotgun Start
4:00 Happy Hour with music by Dee Jay Silver
4:30 Auction/Awards/Special Guest/Dinner
5:30 Concert by the Steel Drivers

A few notable auction items include:

Two VIP passes to join Danica Patrick aboard the super yacht Ocean Pearl at The 2022 Monaco Grand Prix
A round of golf in Las Vegas with Lee Brice and LPGA pro-golfer Danielle Kang
A once-in-a-lifetime 4-day Dove Hunt in
7 day vacation in beautiful Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with a two bedroom suite at the oceanfront Diamond Resort.
Signed guitars and celebrity memorabilia

“We are excited to bring together our friends from the worlds of sports, entertainment, and corporate America for the common cause of helping military families who paid the ultimate price to preserve our freedom,” said Christopher King, President for Folds of Honor, Tennessee. “We can’t all serve in the military, but we can support the families of those who protect our country.”

If you or someone you know is interested in purchasing a foursome or becoming a sponsor of the Folds of Honor Celebrity Golf Tournament, please email jkreifels@foldsofhonor.org. Each partnership allows Folds of Honor to ensure that no family member of a fallen soldier goes without a scholarship this year. Folds of Honor is committed to maintaining and growing relationships within the community to support companies and individuals who value our military and our mission to educate the legacy of those who keep us free. Sign up link for teams and sponsorship here.

About Folds of Honor TN

Folds of Honor is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization, rated a four-star charity by Charity Navigator and platinum on GuideStar, that provides educational scholarships to the families of military men and women who have fallen or been disabled while on active duty in the United States armed forces. Our educational scholarships support private educational tuition and tutoring for children in grades K-12, as well as higher education tuition assistance for spouses and dependents. Founded in 2007 by Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, a PGA Professional and F-16 fighter pilot in the Air Force Reserves who served three tours of duty in Iraq, the Folds of Honor is proud to have awarded nearly 24,500 scholarships in all 50 states and some US territories, including approximately 4,500 in 2019 alone. For more information or to donate in support of a Folds of Honor scholarship, please visit here.

Research Shows Ridesharing Services Reduce Sexual Assault

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Contrary to portraits painted in popular media, new research involving ridesharing services shows they provide an additional level of protection for potential sexual assault victims, particularly in neighborhoods with inadequate public transportation or in circumstances that are more prone to sex crimes.

The study, “The Deterrent Effect of Ride-sharing on Sexual Assault and Investigation of Situational Contingencies,” published in the INFORMS journal Information Systems Research, found the entry of Uber into a city in the United States contributes to a 6.3% reduction in rape incidents.

“Even a 1% increase in Uber pickups in a neighborhood translates to a more than 3% decrease in the likelihood of sexual assaults,” said Jiyong Park of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

The study was conducted by Park alongside Min-Seok Pang of Temple University, Junetae Kim of the National Cancer Center Korea and Byungtae Lee of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.

This research investigates the relationship between ridesharing and sexual assault, which has been a controversial, but underexplored topic in public debates on the sharing economy and ridesharing. This study is the first to present systematic empirical evidence that a ridesharing platform can provide a viable means to prevent sexual crimes under certain circumstances.

“Ridesharing can reduce a passenger’s risk of being a target of sexual assault by providing a more reliable and timely transportation option for traveling to a safer place,” said Park. “Moreover, ridesharing contributes to a more significant reduction in the likelihood of rape occurrences in neighborhoods with limited transportation accessibility, such as the city’s outskirts and neighborhoods where a higher percentage of the population is non-Caucasian.”

The study also found that ridesharing is more effective in deterring sexual crime in riskier circumstances, such as around alcohol-serving establishments on weekend nights or when the probability of crime occurrences increases.

“Despite the common misconception due to popular media stories, our work proves that digital platforms can be leveraged to solve societal challenges by matching supply and demand closely for relevant services, which calls for spatiotemporal investigations of granular-level data in designing platform businesses and devising policy instruments,” concluded Park.

About INFORMS and Information Systems Research

Information Systems Research is a premier peer-reviewed scholarly journal that covers the latest theory, research and intellectual developments for information systems in institutions, organizations, the economy and society to advance knowledge about the effective and efficient utilization of information technology. It is published by INFORMS, the leading international association for operations research and analytics professionals. More information is available at www.informs.org or @informs.

TEAM SPEEDWAY WINS BIG

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Speedway Motors announced today, Team Speedway, won multiple autocross events this past weekend at Goodguys Salt Lake Nationals in Salt Lake City, UT.

Robby Unser doubled up winning both the PRO-X class and the PRO-X portion of the Fuel Curve Great Salt Shootout in the Speedway Motors sponsored ’70 Camaro. Unser is no stranger to racing, hailing from one of America’s most storied racing families. He boasts the 1987 World Hill Climb Champion and 1989 American Indy Car Series Champion titles and was named IRL Rookie of the Year in 1998. He has raced a wide range of classes at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, winning an unprecedented 9 times. Unser has also competed twice at the Indianapolis 500 and has been one of Team Speedways drivers for more than 7 years. Teammate Brian Martin also doubled-up in Salt Lake with wins in the PRO class in a ’86 Corvette.

Returning to its competitive racing roots Speedway Motors began sponsoring Team Speedway in 2014.

“Team Speedway drivers have pushed the ’70 Camaro, ‘67 Camaro and ’65 Nova cars to their limits, slamming through courses with 1.7g lateral loading and intense braking, plus acceleration that only a 750 hp engine can provide,” said Bill Schneider, Speedway Motors R&D Engineer and Team Speedway Manager. “If G-Comp components can handle this type of punishment, you can be sure they’ll be reliable for whatever automotive activity you have planned.”

Team Speedway regularly puts parts to the test and the ’70 Camaro was built with performance in mind. Sporting Speedway Motors G-Comp 1970-81 Camaro/Firebird Torque Arm Rear Suspension Kit Schneider said, “Measurements were taken, scans were made, and models created to figure out how to make a 50-year-old car handle like a new Corvette.” The car was also fitted with an Unser Edition Front Suspension Kit and sports a 427 LS7 on an RHS block and heads built by Speedway Motors Racing Engines.

The C4 ’86 Corvette sports a Tremec conversion kit and shock package from Speedway Motors.

This is the second win for Team Speedway this year. Unser also doubled up at the 11^th Fitech Spring Nationals in Scottsdale, Ariz. claiming the PRO-X class shootout victory in Goodguys CPP AutoCross Racing Series.

Team Speedway is scheduled to compete in a number of upcoming events including:

Goodguys Nashville Nationals May 28-30 in Nashville, Tenn.
Big Blue Mile Shootout June 4-5 in Seward, Neb.
Sturgis Camaro Rally June 24-27 in Black Hills, S.D.
Goodguys Speedway Motors Heartland Nationals July 2-4 in Des Moines, Iowa
Goodguys July 9-11 in Columbus, Ohio
Sandhills Open Road Challenge (SORC) Aug. 10-14 in Arnold, Neb.
King of the Mountain Aug. 26-28 in Clearfield, Pa.
LS Fest East Sept. 10-12 in Bowling Green, Ky.
Goodguys Lone Star Nationals Sept. 24-26 in Fort Worth, Texas
Optima Ultimate Street Car Challenge Oct. 9-10 in Bowling Green, KY
Drive Optima in Las Vegas, Nev.
Goodguys Speedway Motors Southwest Nationals Nov. 19-21 in Scottsdale, Ariz.

For more information about Speedway Motors G-Comp or Team Speedway test cars visit here. Check out the story on Speedway Motor’s website.

Speedway Motors Releases New Products

Speedway Motors recently released their Under Box EFI Ready Fuel Tanks for your Classic Truck. Both versions of the mentioned tanks are available for ’48-’60 Ford trucks, ’47-’53 Chevy trucks, ’55-’59 Chevy trucks, and ’63-’72 Chevy trucks. There’s also a new version in the works for ’73-’87 Square Body Chevy fans.

Another new product that was introduced at SEMA360 last year is the Speedway Chevy Engine to Chevy Transmission Steel Bellhousing. Read more about it here or watch this video.

About Speedway Motors Inc

Speedway Motors is a manufacturer, retailer and distributor of high-quality automotive parts and racing products. Since 1952, Speedway Motors has been committed to providing a broad selection of high-quality, affordable automotive parts—delivered quickly, efficiently and without any hassles. Their products and expert advice are available to customers by calling 1.800.979.0122, online or at retail stores in Lincoln, Neb. and Tolleson, Ariz.