#Electrifying Innovation

[electrabay]

Electrabay Electrifying Innovation

Here at Electrabay, we aim to transform the electronics sales experience. Our dedication to quality motivates us to constantly explore the latest technologies and cultivate partnerships with top manufacturers globally.

Website: https://electrabay.co/

[idigitizellp21]

Electrifying Innovations: The Role of Electrical Engineering in Advancing Electric Vehicles

The world of transportation is undergoing a paradigm shift, and electrical engineering is at the top of this revolution. Electric vehicles (EVs) have emerged as the sustainable and technologically advanced alternative to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. As the demand for EVs continues to grow multifold, electrical engineers are playing a vital role in not only the design and development but also in the advancement of these electrifying innovations.

The elevation of electric vehicles is a response to the pressing need for more sustainable and ECO friendly transportation options globally. Climate change, air pollution, and the exhaustive nature of fossil fuels have spurred a global push for green transportation solutions. EVs have gained prominence not only due to their reduced carbon emissions but also because of their efficiency, quiet operation, and potential to revolutionize the way we commute.

How MEC leverages Electrical Engineering in EV Designing Project

At the heart of every electric vehicle is a complex electrical system that includes power electronics, control systems, and energy storage systems. Electrical engineers are none other than architects behind these critical components, ensuring that EVs operate efficiently, safely, as well as reliably.

Elements that need expert engineering supervision

Power Electronics: Power electronics is the key to managing the flow of electricity in an EV. Electrical engineers are responsible for designing and optimizing converters, inverters, and motor controllers to productively transfer power between the battery, motor, and other critical vehicle systems. This is crucial for not only maximizing range but also boosting EV performance.

Batteries: EV batteries are perhaps the most imperative component, and electrical engineers ensure the smooth development of battery management systems (BMS) that monitor and control the battery’s state of charge, temperature, and overall battery health. They also display some unique expertise in battery chemistry and manufacturing techniques to increase energy density and reduce overall costs.

Control Systems: Electric vehicles require sophisticated control systems to manage power distribution, regenerative braking, and vehicle stability. Electrical engineers design these systems to provide a seamless and safe driving experience.

Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

The success of electric vehicles relies not only on the vehicle itself and its sustainable environmental benefits but also on the availability of charging infrastructure. Additionally, electrical engineers are accountable for designing, deploying, and improving charging stations. Furthermore, electrical engineers design charging stations to deliver power safely and efficiently. They consider factors like voltage, current, and connectivity options to accommodate various EV models ensuring safety measures. A new trending method is the Smart charging infrastructure that allows for grid integration and load management. Electrical engineers work on systems that enable optimized charging based on grid conditions and user preferences. Adding to the marvels of EVs Ultra-fast chargers are capable of delivering hundreds of kilowatts of power. Electrical engineers are pioneering this technology to reduce charging times and make long-distance EV travel a reality.

Electric engineer’s pathway to Sustainability

Electric vehicles are celebrated for their positive environmental impact, but their sustainability journey involves more than just net zero emission. Electrical engineers are addressing other important aspects as well like Manufacturing and Materials, Energy Sources and handling future challenges in this industry. The most common challenges an electrical engineer faces whilst developing and designing an EV model are affordability and infrastructural growth.

Wrapping up

Electric vehicles represent a transformative force in the automotive industry, and electrical engineers are the driving force behind this revolution. Through their expertise in power electronics, battery technology, and control systems, electrical engineers are making electric vehicles more accessible, efficient, and sustainable. As technology continues to advance, the role of electrical engineering in shaping the electric vehicle landscape is more critical than ever.

In the pursuit of a greener and more sustainable future, MEC, a profound engineering consultant not only delivers professional but also result-driven Environmental Studies and sustainability-related services. worldwide. They have you covered from assisting you in environmental impact assessment to environmental audits for due diligence. Additonallly, they also facilitate corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects for various engineering sectors.

[seo-widersinfotech]

digital marketing indore

[kleopatra45]

Uranus in the Signs [Solar Return]

Aries

Expect a year filled with bold moves and spontaneous decisions that reflect your desire for independence. You may feel an urge to break free from constraints and assert your individuality. If Uranus is retrograde, this energy turns inward, leading to potential inner conflicts about taking risks and fears of stepping outside your comfort zone. You might grapple with doubts about your assertiveness and reconsider how you express your unique identity.

Taurus

This placement emphasizes innovative approaches to financial matters and personal values. You might feel inspired to explore new ways to create security, whether through unconventional investments or alternative income sources. If retrograde, this energy encourages you to reassess what truly matters to you. You may find yourself questioning established values and feeling a pull to align your financial practices with your evolving sense of self-worth.

Gemini

Expect sudden insights and shifts in communication this year. Your mind may feel electrified, leading to new ideas and connections. You might also explore unconventional forms of learning or engage in stimulating conversations. If retrograde, you may face delays or frustrations in communication, causing you to reflect on how you express yourself. This introspection can lead to deeper understanding and refinement of your thoughts.

Cancer

Transformations in home and family dynamics are highlighted. You may feel a desire to break free from traditional family roles or create a living environment that reflects your authentic self. If retrograde, you may experience emotional introspection, leading to a reevaluation of your roots and the comfort you seek in your personal life. This period could prompt you to confront unresolved family issues and seek new ways to nurture yourself and others.

Leo

This year emphasizes creative expression and self-identity. You might feel a surge of inspiration, leading you to pursue artistic projects or embrace your uniqueness. However, if retrograde, you may struggle with self-doubt or feel pressured to conform, hindering your ability to shine. Use this time to explore what truly brings you joy and to reconnect with your authentic self, allowing your creativity to flow freely.

Virgo

Innovations in health and daily routines come to the forefront. You may feel inspired to adopt new wellness practices or rethink your approach to work. If retrograde, this period may bring restlessness and overthinking, prompting you to reconsider how you manage your daily life. Use this introspection to identify what practices truly serve you and let go of those that no longer align with your goals.

Libra

Shifts in relationships and partnerships are likely this year. You may feel drawn to unconventional connections or reassess the dynamics within existing relationships. If retrograde, this energy encourages you to reflect on what you truly value in partnerships. You might find yourself evaluating the balance of give-and-take in your relationships, leading to significant changes in how you connect with others.

Scorpio

Deep transformations and power dynamics in personal and shared resources are highlighted. You may feel compelled to explore your emotional depths and confront issues surrounding intimacy and trust. If retrograde, this can prompt you to reflect on your relationship with vulnerability and shared resources. Use this time for introspection, addressing any fears or insecurities that may be hindering your connections.

Sagittarius

Expect a year of exploration and growth in beliefs and philosophies. You may feel a strong desire to seek out new experiences or challenge your worldview. If retrograde, this period may lead you to question previously held beliefs, prompting a deeper understanding of your personal truths. Embrace this introspective phase as an opportunity to refine your philosophy of life and discover new perspectives.

Capricorn

Changes in career and public image take center stage. You might feel inspired to pursue unconventional career paths or redefine your professional goals. If retrograde, you may face challenges aligning your ambitions with your true self. This period encourages you to reflect on your career choices and consider how to incorporate authenticity into your professional life, potentially leading to significant shifts.

Aquarius

This placement emphasizes community and innovation. You may feel inspired to engage in social causes or explore unconventional ideas within group settings. If retrograde, you might experience feelings of isolation or a desire to redefine your role in social dynamics. Use this time to reflect on the connections you value most and to align your community involvement with your personal beliefs.

Pisces

Spiritual awakenings and artistic inspiration are highlighted. You may feel drawn to explore your intuition and creative expression in new ways. If retrograde, this energy can create confusion or a sense of being lost. Embrace this introspective phase as an opportunity to dive deeper into your subconscious and confront any fears that may be holding you back from fully embracing your creativity and spiritual path.

[thisapplepielife]

Written for @corrodedcoffinfest & @steddie-spooktober.

My Own Version of You

CCF Prompt: Pride & Spooktober Prompt: Frankenstein Friday | Word Count: 1313 | Rating: M | POV: Eddie | Pairing: Steddie | CW: Mild Gore, Body Parts, Consent/Ethics (it is a take on Frankenstein) | Tags: Monster AU, Mad Scientist Eddie, His Henchmen, Reanimation, Steve Was Dead and Now This?, Crack Taken Seriously, Spooky Season Fun

Eddie leaves another morgue, another monastery, his bag full of perfect body parts growing fuller every stop. He's going to do this. He can do it. He knows it. 

Eddie hands his spoils off to his assistant.

"Carry this, Igor," Eddie says, slinging the heavy bag over his hunchback.

"Gareth," Igor says, and Eddie sighs.

"Igor Gareth," Eddie says. Yes, yes, always with the full name, but Eddie's not really paying attention to him. He never is. Eddie's too blinded by his own brilliance. Only his own thoughts matter. Not whatever Igor thinks. If he can think. 

This is going to be an innovation unlike any other ever known to mankind. And it has come from his own outstanding brain. Some may call him a freak for even trying, but they'd be wrong.

Because he's a genius, mastering this. 

Well, to be honest, he's never done anything like it before. But he's still certain he's more than capable. He knows his brilliant mind has been stifled by the lack of advancement of technology. That's the only reason he's had an inability to bring things to fruition.

Well, he'll just have to force the world to get up to speed with his brain. He's been working on his contraption for years. Eddie's Ladder. The staff of the castle, working to meet his every whim.

Jefferson and The Freak. Igor Gareth. He's gathered a band of henchmen, and they're there to follow his orders, to bend to his every whim.

If they'll only follow his instructions, precisely and perfectly, Eddie can bring someone to life. Someone that feels as he feels.

They've had so many dry runs that haven't met Eddie's standards. Dead animals, brought back feral. A heart kept beating for weeks. And they've produced at least a dozen inarticulate, snarling monsters that Jefferson, Freak and Igor Gareth have had to put down and bury on the grounds. It's quite unfortunate that their failings have snuffed out Eddie's dreams before they've become a reality.

He's certain he can create a full-fledged reanimated human. Not just an electrified corpse.

Eddie pets the hair of the head he's chosen as his, hopefully, final subject. He's handsome, this one. A rich kid that died of dysentery. Or something. Eddie doesn't know, or particularly care. But Eddie was careful this time. He didn't just grab any old corpse from the boneyard as he'd done before. No, he selected the best parts from all over the countryside. Because this time, it'll be perfect. 

Eddie will be perfect.

He threads the large needle, and slides it through the skin, carefully stitching together his creation, his monster, his masterpiece. 

He looks perfect. This one, a man.

"Igor, the cap," Eddie demands, holding out his hand.

"Gareth," is the response, and Eddie rolls his eyes, snatching the metal contraption.

"Igor Gareth, yes," Eddie replies. Jesus Christ. Eddie doesn't understand why this kid always needs to be referred to by his full name.

Eddie attaches the electrodes, the cap, and stands back, ready to pull the lever that will control all the electricity that he's certain will be able to jumpstart his, hopefully final, creation to life.

Freak has installed a lightning rod on the tower, and now Eddie must wait for the storm to roll in, reach a crescendo, and then he'll get to finish his life's work this time.

The storm is finally blowing in, and Igor Gareth is stationed in the tower, waiting near the bell. He's to be the final alarm. The go ahead.

Then, it's finally happening. 

Eddie hears the thunder. The rain. The lightning cracking across the sky. 

And then the bell rings out, the loud clanging from the tower his notification to pull, and Eddie yanks down the lever, sending the current through the wires, creating the arc, the spark, to jumpstart his creation, his invention, his monster.

The body jolts, and shakes, and shimmies against its leather restraints. Bucking wildly as Eddie watches, eyes wide, enthralled. 

Finally his eyes open. Golden flecks over brown, and Eddie wonders if he's all there. If he's been able to finally bring back actual consciousness, or if this one's just another in a long line of reanimated corpses destined to exist in a zombie-like state until they're dealt with.

Eddie snaps his fingers in front of its face, and its eyes dart towards Eddie's hand, then Eddie's face. An improvement from the last one at least, for sure.

"What the fuck?! Ow!" his creation yells, and Eddie claps his hands in delight. He's done it. He's really done it. It's alive! It's a real man. 

Of course, he had no doubt he could do it.

His henchmen gather, and look at the naked, strapped down man, who seems very rudely ungrateful. 

"What shall I name him?" Eddie ponders aloud, stroking his chin.

"I'm Steve," his creation says.

"What does he look like to you, Igor?" Eddie asks.

"Gareth," he answers.

"I'm not naming it after you, Igor Gareth," Eddie answers, and Igor raises his hands to his head, pulling at his curls. He's an odd boy. 

"Hmm, other thoughts? Jefferson? Freak?" Eddie asks.

"Jeff," Jefferson says.

"Goodie," Freak replies.

And Eddie shakes his head. It's like these fools only know one word each.

"Perhaps Wayne. I always adored my uncle," Eddie says.

"I'm Steve. You're not naming me anything else, you asshole," his creation snaps, and Eddie just laughs.

"You're a bossy one," Eddie declares with delight, then concedes, "Fine. Steve."

"Great. Now untie me."

Eddie really doesn't want to do that until he can run more tests. Make sure he hasn't made something homicidal. That has happened a time or two. Maybe three.

Four, tops.

"Well, Steve, let's just put a pin in that," Eddie says, and Steve clearly doesn't like that, as he lunges, rattling the restraints. He's a strong one. This one is not feeble of body, or mind.

Or cock, from the looks of it. 

Eddie could work with this, as long as he can tame this pissy creature he's formed with his own two ultra-talented hands. 

"If I release you, are you gonna run?"

"From the mad scientist that's chained me up? Um, yes," Steve snaps, and Eddie laughs. He picked a good brain this time. Feisty.

"Then, I guess you'll stay tied up," Eddie insists, and if looks could kill, Eddie'd be dead. Luckily they cannot, and Steve can't move.

Too bad for him.

Eddie keeps watch for days, feeding him, taking care of him. Talking to him. Getting to know him. Trying to convince him to stay. To be Eddie's. His companion. His second. His lover.

Finally, after days, Steve agrees.

So, Eddie undoes the buckles, one at a time, the straps falling loose, and once the last one around Steve's ankle comes loose, he does just as he'd promised days ago. He runs. 

And Eddie watches in disbelief.

His henchmen will capture him.

They don't. He was too fast, too athletic, for those nincompoops, and now he's gone. 

Eddie rages. He cannot believe his own masterpiece would be so ungrateful. He was dead. And now he's not, because of Eddie. 

What an asshole he made.

He'll just have to try again. Tomorrow. 

When he leaves the castle, his body part collection bag slung over his shoulder, he sees Steve sitting against the gate.

He's relieved. He doesn't want another, he wants Steve. 

"You're still here."

"Where else was I gonna go? I'm naked."

Eddie laughs, he likes this creation. He likes Steve.

"Where're you going?" Steve asks.

"Nowhere," Eddie says, tossing the bag aside, sitting down next to Steve. He shrugs off his cloak, handing it over. "Here. Now you're not naked. You can leave, if you want."

Steve looks at him. Then says, "I think I might stay."

Eddie smiles. He made a masterpiece, the perfect man. 

The perfect Steve.

If you want to write your own, or see more entries, check out @corrodedcoffinfest to read takes on all the Seven Deadly Sins, or to offer up your own!

For more Spooktober, pop on over to @steddie-spooktober to follow along with the fun!

Notes: The title and inspo come from the Bob Dylan song of the same name, My Own Version of You.

Eddie's Ladder is a play on Jacob's Ladder. If you've seen old horror/sci-fi flicks, you know what this is. It's that arc of electricity we've all seen a billions times on screen. It wouldn't reanimate anyone, but it sure looks like it could.

The Poor Corroded Coffin boys. Eddie didn't know any of their names, lol.

[nasa]

Soaring into Aerospace: NASA Interns Take Flight at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh

Sustainable Aviation Ambassadors Alex Kehler, Bianca Legeza-Narvaez, Evan Gotchel, and Janki Patel pose in front of the NASA Pavilion at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.

It’s that time of year again–EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is underway!

Boasting more than 650,000 visitors annually, EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, or “Oshkosh” for short, is an airshow and fly-in held by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). Each year, flight enthusiasts and professionals from around the world converge on Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to engage with industry-leading organizations and businesses and celebrate past, present, and future innovation in aviation.

This year, four NASA interns with the Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration (EPFD) project count themselves among those 650,000+ visitors, having the unique opportunity to get firsthand experience with all things aerospace at Oshkosh.

Alex Kehler, Bianca Legeza-Narvaez, Evan Gotchel, and Janki Patel are Sustainable Aviation Ambassadors supporting the EPFD project, which conducts tests of hybrid electric aircraft that use electric aircraft propulsion technologies to enable a new generation of electric-powered aircraft. The focus of Alex, Bianca, Evan, and Janki’s internships cover everything from strategic communications to engineering, and they typically do their work using a laptop. But at Oshkosh, they have a special, more hands-on task: data collection.

“At Oshkosh, I am doing some data collection to better estimate how we can be prepared in the future,” said Janki, an Aerospace Engineering major from the University of Michigan. “Coming to Oshkosh has been an amazing experience… I can walk around and see people passionate about the work they do.”

The NASA Pavilion at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is full of interactive exhibits and activities for visitors to engage with. NASA Interns Alex, Bianca, Evan, and Janki are collecting data in the pavilion to help improve future exhibits at Oshkosh.

In addition to gathering data to help inform future NASA exhibits and activities at Oshkosh, the interns also have the opportunity to engage with visitors and share their passion for aviation with other aero enthusiasts. For Evan, who is receiving his Master's in Aerospace Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, “being able to be here and talk with people who are both young and old who are interested in what the future of flight could be has been so incredible.”

Alex, Evan, Bianca, and Janki pose in front of NASA’s Super Guppy, a specialized aircraft used to transport oversized cargo.

At Oshkosh, one memory in particular stands out for Alex, Bianca, Evan, and Janki: seeing NASA’s famous Super Guppy in person. With a unique hinged nose and a cargo area that's 25 feet in diameter and 111 feet long, the Super Guppy can carry oversized cargo that is impossible to transport with other cargo aircraft. 

“We had a very lucky experience… We were able to not only see the Super Guppy, we got to get up close when it landed,” said Bianca, who is receiving her Master's in Business Administration with a specialization in Strategic Communications from Bowling Green State University. “From a learning experience, it gave me a way better basis on cargo aircraft and how they operate.” 

For Alex, who is receiving his Master's in Aeronautical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, it was exciting to see the Super Guppy’s older technology integrated with newer technologies up close. “There have been a lot of good memories, but I think the best one was the Super Guppy. It was cool to see this combination of 60’s and 70’s technology with this upgraded plane.”

Evan and Janki pose for a photo while walking around EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.

With Oshkosh coming to a close this Sunday, July 30, Alex, Bianca, Evan, and Janki also reflected on advice they have for future NASA interns on how they can get the most out of their internship: be curious and explore, connect with people who work in the field you’re interested in, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Alex advises potential NASA interns to “dream big and shoot for your goals, and divide that up into steps… In the end it will work out.” For Bianca, being open and exploring is key: “take opportunities, even if it’s the complete opposite thing that you were intending to do.”

“Ask questions all the time,” said Evan. “Even outside the internship, always continue asking people about what they are knowledgeable on.” And Janki encourages future interns to “Follow your own path. Get the help of mentors, but still do your own thing.”

Visiting Oshkosh and want to see NASA science in action? Stop by the NASA Pavilion, located at Aviation Gateway Park, and see everything from interactive exhibits on sustainable aviation, Advanced Air Mobility, Quesst, and Artemis to STEM activities–and you may even meet NASA pilots, engineers, and astronauts! At Oshkosh, the sky’s the limit.

Interested in interning with NASA? Head over to NASA’s internship website to learn more about internship opportunities with NASA and find your place in (aero)space.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space!

[rainydetectiveglitter]

Astrology Observations - Moon & Aspects

The Moon holds the delicate strings of our emotions, instincts, and innermost desires. When intertwined with other celestial players through aspects, the Moon's melody takes on unique harmonies and rhythms. Let's dive into the rich tapestry of Moon aspects, exploring how they color our emotional landscape.

Moon Square Mars - The Fiery Tempest: A Moon square Mars aspect ignites a passionate storm within. Emotions can surge like a roaring wildfire, often accompanied by a fierce determination. These individuals are unafraid to confront challenges head-on. However, this fiery intensity can also lead to impulsive reactions and occasional emotional clashes, akin to a tempestuous tango.

Moon Square Venus - The Dance of Sensuality: Moon square Venus creates a captivating dance of sensuality and emotional yearning. These souls crave deep, passionate connections, and their emotions are colored with a romantic brush. Yet, they may find themselves entangled in complex love affairs, where desires clash with emotional needs. This aspect weaves a tale of love's sweet agony.

Moon Trine Chiron - The Wounded Healer's Grace: In the Moon trine Chiron aspect, there's a profound understanding of emotional wounds and the gentle art of healing. These individuals possess a natural gift for offering solace to others, as their own emotional scars have nurtured empathy. The Moon's nurturing essence combines harmoniously with Chiron's healing touch, creating a soothing balm for their own and others' pain.

Moon Sextile Neptune - The Dreamer's Serenity: A Moon sextile Neptune aspect paints a dreamscape of serene emotions and boundless imagination. These individuals find solace in the ethereal realm of art, music, and creative expression. Their intuitive insights often lead to moments of tranquil clarity. However, they may need to ground their dreams in reality to avoid drifting too far into the realm of fantasy.

Moon Opposition Saturn - The Inner Struggle: Moon opposition Saturn sets the stage for an inner struggle between emotional needs and responsibilities. These individuals feel a profound sense of duty and may grapple with their own desires versus societal expectations. It's a cosmic tug-of-war between vulnerability and stoicism, where emotional growth often emerges from the tension.

Moon Conjunct Uranus - The Electrifying Heart: A Moon conjunct Uranus aspect electrifies the emotional landscape, infusing it with innovation and unpredictability. These individuals possess a unique, avant-garde approach to feelings, and they embrace change with open arms. Yet, this electrifying energy can also lead to emotional surprises and sudden shifts, akin to a lightning strike of insight.

Moon Trine Jupiter - The Heart's Abundance: In a Moon trine Jupiter aspect, the heart revels in a sense of abundance and optimism. These individuals possess a deep well of emotional generosity, often extending their warmth to others. Life's challenges are met with a buoyant spirit, and their emotional landscape blooms with gratitude and growth.

Moon Square Pluto - The Depths of Transformation: Moon square Pluto delves into the depths of emotional transformation. These individuals navigate intense emotional terrain, akin to a phoenix rising from its ashes. Their emotions are a crucible for change, but this intensity can also lead to power struggles and a relentless quest for emotional rebirth.

In the Moon aspects, each harmony and dissonance contributes to the symphony of our emotional lives. These observations offer but a glimpse into the complex interplay of planetary energies that shape our emotional landscape, reminding us that our astrological tapestry is as intricate as it is unique.

[holdoncallfailed]

i like that the author of this velvet underground book started out talking about the 1964 world's fair and how so many of the examples of technological innovation on display were either electrical or electronic because i think electricity is one of the main currents (har har) through the band's history......the idea that electricity alone has the power to augment or alter any human urge which of course is the principle behind the electroconvulsive therapy that lou reed was subjected to as a kid and the trauma that caused him...and john cale also being institutionalized around the same time.......and sterling morrison talking about how during white light/white heat their engineer kept saying they couldn't play at that volume because they had literally exceeded their own technology's capacity for sound but their goal was to "fry the tracks" on a literal level anyway, to physically alter the recording equipment and the space and the listeners with electrically-enhanced sound which is in some ways a similar concept as ECT......and the velvets performing at the new york society for clinical psychiatry gala where they were purposefully trying to make their music as unbearable as possible to the point that a lot of the people got up and left and john recognized that that was lou's (and his own) way of getting revenge for having been traumatized by the institution of psychiatry..... the fact that what made their music so physically uncomfortable and loud was the electric element specifically the droning electrified viola…who wields the power now, who controls the electrical current now, who gets to pull the plug and say it's over, that's enough now.......not only getting revenge on the institution but doing so with the same basic PHYSICS of what they originally used to hurt you.......

[harmoonix]

Mars square Uranus

🔥~ The electrifying fire ~ 🔥

🔥°🔥°🔥🔥🔥°🔥°🔥🔥🔥°🔥°🔥🔥🔥°🔥°🔥

🔥 - When Mars is sqaure to Uranus in your birth chart, you will experience an inner tension between the desire for freedom and the need for security. 🔥

🔥 - The native feels like an lightning striking in others people lives, they're full of energy and emotions, competitive and innovative 🔥

🔥 - They have an powerful motivation. So when they have something in their minds, they'll make sure to end it in time, they're also very hardworking on themselves 🔥

🔥 - The native might come with the brightest ideas, they can also be very creative and talented. They're good at taking the lead in projects, make the teamwork better, they really like to win 🔥

🔥 - The native may have multiple desires, sometimes they have moments when they don't know what life/universe might give them and in other moments they feel full of life and full of desires 🔥

🔥 - Something about them that stands up is their personality, they know how to impress people and how to take others people's hearts, imagine this aspect as "the heart who burns for infinite" 🔥

🔥 - The natives with these aspects in their chart can make someone great at dancing, they can be good dancers and often people with such aspects can end up to dance in competitions/shows etc🔥

🔥 - The native has a very sensual nature that they often tend to hide, or to not show it that much, they're pretty naughty in bed aswell, this aspect is usually underatted when it comes to sex placements 🔥

🔥°🔥°🔥🔥🔥°🔥°🔥🔥🔥°🔥°🔥🔥🔥°🔥°🔥

Channeled Song for this aspect:

Galway Girl by Ed Sheeran is a very good example

- H a r m o o n i x 🔥

[carsthatnevermadeitetc]

Nissan Hyper Punk Concept, 2023. The 4th in a series of electric prototype vehicles set to make their debut at the Japan Mobility Show on October 25. The Hyper Punk is an all-electric compact crossover “tailored for content creators, influencers, artists, and those who embrace style and innovation.” The concept vehicles will become available on the online game Fortnite under the name “Electrify the World.”

[moonastrogirl]

Rahu and Ketu

Credit @moonastrogirl

Rahu and Ketu come both from the same body. Rahu is the dragon’s head and Ketu is the dragon’s body (especially the tail). They are both shadow planets so they BOTH have negative effects no matter the narrative on Rahu being more harmful than Ketu.

If they are in negative houses such as 6th house, 8th house (this house gives mix results, check out comment’s section for more on this house) and 12th house, their energy can be quite useful. Especially if Rahu is in 6th house and Ketu is in 12th house and vice-versa. Those placements give more excellent results than bad ones.

Rahu is about action, Rahu is about heaven, bringing awareness and fighting for what’s right. Rahu has an unstoppable energy. But it has a crazy hunger. It wants more and more each time. And brings changes for the sake of it sometimes. 6th house is daily tasks, daily life, work and enemies. It gives Rahu the perfect playground to make things happen and win against enemies and opponents. Rahu works well also in 1st, 3rd, 10th and 12th house.

Ketu is down to earth, unsatisfied with material things and wants to attain spiritual enlightenment. Ketu is also blind so it cannot see but thanks to its spiritual work and gifts it can see thinks everyone cannot. That’s why 12th house is perfect for it, Ketu gets spiritual enlightenment there and gets strength. Ketu works well too in 3rd, 6th and 9th house.

Ketu ruled people are calm, detached and collected. They have a natural charisma that bring people to them thanks to their calm nature. They have easy access to money and possessions but they are unsatisfied with what they have. They do things with the purpose to get something but they don’t know what. They usually have little energy but they have great business skills and can get wealth easily. They are even like bored with people most of the time. They want what it’s not seen. Been enlightened through spirituality.

Those people make also excellent politicians (Barack Obama, Donald Trump) well known public figures (for humanitarian organisations) or gurus/religious leaders because they are easily loved by the masses. But the negative effect is those people are more than likely overly religious or so worried with spiritual matters to the point it can enslave them and their followers/voters. So even if their intentions can be good they can end up creating issues making people not trust them at the end. They can also feel so numb that they will do anything to feel something : excessive sexual activities, drugs, manipulative tendencies to see how far someone can actually be their follower or puppet. This is the low vibrational energy of Ketu.

Rahu ruled people are the activists (Martin Luther King), innovators (Elon Musk) influencers (Keith Lee) celebrities (Saweetie, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande) cause Rahu rules technology, internet and fame. The head of the dragon see things. It can see what is happening on earth. It has also an endless hunger. Rahu’s energy is electrifying. These people can gather masses and crowds like no one. They can become internet famous overnight or they often go viral for almost anything. Most of the time their vision is so peculiar and they are really innovative people no matter the field they are in.

Most innovators and activists want change for the greater good but they are met with many opposition. It’s not easy for Rahu’s ruled people to have a solid following except if they are entertainers only then yes they will receive plenty of followers fast and easily. The solution for activists/innovators is to only work for the greater good and have pure intentions only. (Keith Lee is the perfect example of this). Plus they can also become the activists/innovators turning their energy into bad deeds. Becoming a criminal or too greedy that their actions don’t align no more with the greater good. (Aka Elon Musk). This is the low vibrational energy of Rahu.

They both need to mature and evolve to tap into their true potential.

Both Rahu and Ketu can have high qualities and very low tendencies. But their energy is nothing more than pure karma in action. They are the yin and the yang. They both need each other.

Rahu is the crown chakra and Ketu is the root chakra. So if you are Rahu ruled, work on your root chakra, it’s probably weak. And if you are Ketu ruled, work on your crown chakra, it’s probably weak too.

2023 is a Ketu ruled year. It’s a 7 year in numerology which is the number of Ketu so it’s best for each and everyone to work on their spirituality and their belief system. But without falling in the low vibrational energy of Ketu. This year also started with a death sort of energy in astrology and now it’s the rebirth period. So it’s time for everybody to grow into the best version of themselves while having faith in what is meant and waiting for them.

Thank you for reading me and if you enjoyed my post, like it, leave a comment or reblog it. It will mean a lot for me and show me what I do it’s actually helpful to you 💜

Credit @moonastrogirl

[tailschannel]

Sonic to get "several new mobile titles" in the future, according to SEGA management meeting document

The Sonic the Hedgehog series is expected to receive "several new titles" for mobile platforms, SEGA's parent company confirmed in a management meeting early Wednesday.

Apple and Google were both named as "key players" in the mobile sector for SEGA, as the publisher detailed an encompassing transmedia scheme for the blue blur, which will include licencing and collaborations with other third-party properties.

"Several new" mobile games under development

With an established presence thanks to the likes of free apps like Sonic Dash and Sonic Forces Speed Battle, the franchise looks set to dive in the world of mobile gaming, as part of SEGA's future plans.

The publisher did not rule out exclusivity clauses with subscription-based mobile gaming services. In recent days, the publisher signed a contract with Apple to produce Sonic Dream Team, and Netflix announced a mobile port of Sonic Mania Plus for their game subscription service.

No word of a specific timeframe for the aforementioned mobile games, currently in development.

Future Sonic mobile games to adopt Rovio's Beacon toolkit

As part of the mobile expansion, the upcoming slate is expected to adopt "Beacon", an internal development and marketing toolkit powered by machine learning, frequently utilized by Rovio, the Finnish studio behind Angry Birds that SEGA acquired over the summer.

The studio described Beacon as a platform to "build games and get games to market, models to profitably grow and monetize the game and live operations tools to maximize our players’ fun."

The toolkit has been criticized in a number of fan-run Angry Birds forums for incentivizing revenue at the expense of gameplay quality.

SEGA did not disclose if the Beacon platform will extend beyond the present suite of HARDlight mobile games.

More details on SEGA's resurrection of classic hits

SEGA also unveiled these new images and descriptions for the five new games announced at The Game Awards, described as a "power surge" to re-electrify their classic hits, like Crazy Taxi and Jet Set Radio.

Crazy Taxi: Innovative & Fresh Style Driving Action! Cheerful feeling of freedom and fusion of nature and city. Peel out the new stage of Crazy City!

Jet Set Radio: "Counter-Culture" - Tokyo Street Open World! Experience the "rebellion" movement that feels free in a suffocating society. Make friends, increase your fans, and create a movement!

Shinobi: Slay the enemies in the silence of the moment. Run through the world of Shinobi, full of monsters and ninja actions. Grab Oberozuki, the legendary sword and slay evil once more. Your clan and the world are counting on you.

Golden Axe: Warriors arise to subdue the demons! Defeat your enemies with a variety of attacks with swords and magic! The legendary story about the battle axe, Golden Axe is about to begin!

Streets of Rage Revolution: Beloved side-scrolling beat 'em up action series! Take control of one of the ex-officers and make the city a place where people no longer have to walk the "Streets of Rage."

The announcement coincided with SEGA's plans to strengthen their flagship video game brands like Persona and Like a Dragon, and to expand with legacy properties.

(Edit 2:00 pm ET - post updated with new details)

[whencyclopedia]

Interview: Pre-Raphaelites: Modern Renaissance

Pre-Raphaelites: Modern Renaissance marks the first multidisciplinary exhibition in Italy to examine the profound impact of Italian Renaissance art on the Pre-Raphaelite movement, which flourished in Victorian and Edwardian Britain (c. 1840-1920).

Displayed throughout the hallowed halls of the San Domenico Museum, a restored 13th-century Dominican convent in Forlì, Italy, are over 300 works of art, which juxtapose and highlight the revolutionary creativity and intensity of two important artistic eras. In this exclusive interview, James Blake Wiener speaks to Mr. Peter Trippi, a co-curator of the exhibition and an expert of Victorian art, about the exhibition.

JBW: Peter, thanks so much for speaking to me and introducing us to a most gorgeous exhibition.

I have always seen the Pre-Raphaelite artists as rebels and innovators. Their rejection of Victorian complacency and industrial materialism, as reflected in their works, shocked segments of the British public. Looking to the distant past to find a more natural vision, Pre-Raphaelite artists embraced that which was ordinary while still applying innovation to technique and treatment of form in novel ways.

What was it that made the revolt of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood so enduring and yet so profound in its immediate impact?

PT: The earliest paintings exhibited by members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood electrified their contemporaries in the late 1840s and early 1850s for several reasons. Visually, they were completely out of step with everything around them at London's crowded major exhibitions: their brilliant coloring stood out from the drab browns and greys used by most artists at the time; their draftsmanship and paint handling was precise rather than "sloshy" (the term they used to criticize their older colleagues); their compositions were willfully naïve and sometimes even jarring, ignoring the polite post-Raphaelite conventions that the Royal Academy promoted; and they were depicting narratives that were unexpectedly high-minded (such as the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary) or gruesomely passionate (such as the run-up and aftermath of Lorenzo's murder in John Keats's Romantic poem Isabella and the Pot of Basil). Viewers could see these were young men with talent and something fresh to say, but they were not quite sure what to do with it. It was not until 1851, when the prestigious critic John Ruskin came to their defense, that the British public began to accept these innovations.

The continuing power of those innovations was demonstrated in 1986 when I was sitting in an art history lecture hall at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. As an American exchange student, I had never even heard of the Pre-Raphaelites (who were little known in the U.S. then). But I sat up straight in my chair as their brilliantly colored, oddly composed, and often erotic images came up on the screen. 175 years after its launch, the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood's power to fascinate is still evident. Once they start, people cannot stop looking.

JBW: Highlights on display within the exhibition include celebrated paintings and drawings by the great Italian masters, including Botticelli, Lippi, Verrocchio, Michelangelo, Veronese, Titian, and even Guido Reni. These are juxtaposed with major works by British artists including Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Everett Millais, William Holman Hunt, John Ruskin, and J. W. Waterhouse, among others. The pairing of Renaissance Italian antecedents with Pre-Raphaelite masterpieces affords visitors a rare opportunity to compare and contrast across time and space.

What new perspectives can the visitor learn with regard to Pre-Raphaelites as a result of this exciting pairing?

PT: The exhibition at Forlí has a light touch; it is almost poetic in the way it allows the Italian Old Masters and their British admirers to converse with each other in the same rooms, without striving to show direct influences or replications. A great example is the large room of Dante Gabriel Rossetti's mature paintings, most of which show women in bust-length portrait formats, as if sitting at a window. These images (of such sitters as Jane Morris and Fanny Cornforth) have become famous around the world, but never before have we seen them hanging side by side, literally interspersed, with the Madonnas, Florentine noblewomen, and Venetian courtesans to which Rossetti was responding. It is only in an art-rich country like Italy that a museum can make this case so visibly. In the UK, for example, there simply are not enough of the Italian prototypes available to lend them to a show about 19th-century British art. My co-curator Liz Prettejohn and I knew that this opportunity might never come again and so we pounced on it. Once visitors leave that Rossetti room, they will never see his famous woman-at-the-window the same way; suddenly her backstory has become clear.

JBW: Aside from paintings and drawings, sculptures, prints and photographs, to furniture, ceramics, glass, metalwork, tapestries, wallpaper, illustrated books, and jewelry are also displayed within Pre-Raphaelites: Modern Renaissance.

Many Pre-Raphaelites artists believed that the way art was produced could shape wider cultural values. Is this reflected within the exhibition, and if so, how?

PT: Our curatorial team was eager to show how the Pre-Raphaelites' innovative ideas about the power and romance of Italian Renaissance art were transmitted not only through "fine art" (paintings, sculptures, drawings, and prints) but also through the applied (decorative) arts. We invited Dr. Charlotte Gere, the London-based scholar of decorative arts, to join the team, and she selected most of those artworks, primarily from the Victoria and Albert Museum, Fitzwilliam Museum, and British Museum, but also from other UK collections. One of her aims was to show that the "second generation" of Pre-Raphaelites – especially Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris – were determined to bring their aesthetic into immersive environments ranging from churches to the dining rooms at the Victoria and Albert Museum. They also made objects in every possible medium that individuals could buy and live with, often on the expensive side, but not always. By 1870, their worldview had morphed into the Aesthetic Movement (the so-called Cult of Beauty), which impacted every aspect of visual culture in the UK and, by extension, its empire and the United States. The most dramatic examples of immersive decoration in our show are the huge Holy Grail tapestries designed in the 1890s by Edward Burne-Jones and hand-woven by William Morris's team for a wealthy collector's baronial hall near London.

JBW: Pre-Raphaelites: Modern Renaissance additionally explores the important and often overlooked contributions made by accomplished female artists to the Pre-Raphaelite movement.

What can you tell us about these Victorian talents, and how are they differentiated from their male colleagues within the show?

PT: We are pleased to have 15 women artists represented in our exhibition through 26 different works. In order of appearance, they are Elizabeth Siddal, Christina Rossetti, Maria Rossetti, Eliza Jameson Strutt, Evelyn De Morgan, Christiana Jane Herringham, Constance Phillott, Maria Cassavetti Zambaco, Marie Spartali Stillman, Julia Margaret Cameron, Beatrice Parsons, Marianne Stokes, Phoebe Anna Traquair, Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale, and May Cooksey. Over the past quarter-century, scholars have proven that women were fully involved in the Pre-Raphaelite movement as it evolved over time, but usually, their stories have been ignored or even erased by subsequent generations. That injustice is certainly not unique to art history, but it is time to rectify it, and we were delighted that so many relevant loans were approved.

Some of these women have been thoroughly studied (such as Dante Gabriel Rossetti's wife and collaborator, Elizabeth Siddal) while others still need to be investigated (such as the enigmatic May Cooksey). We have scattered them throughout the show rather than placing them in a female "ghetto," and we are especially proud to have six major examples of mature work by Evelyn De Morgan. Her parents wanted her to marry a rich man and start a family, but with the help of her artist-uncle J. R. Spencer Stanhope (also in our show), she pursued formal artistic training and ultimately exhibited her large symbolist canvases at London's prestigious Grosvenor Gallery right alongside starry male colleagues like Edward Burne-Jones. I would argue that she surpassed her uncle in quality and ambition.

JBW: I was intrigued to learn that over time, the Pre-Raphaelites and their admirers shifted their attention to other periods in Italian art, including 16th-century Venetian art.

Could you tell us more about this transfer in focus, and how that is revealed within the exhibition?

PT: Because the period we are studying is so long (1840s through 1920s), it is inevitable that the British artists would shift in their predilections for Italian art. In the beginning, the Pre-Raphaelite Brothers had little original Italian art to study in person in London, so they consulted prints and illustrated books. One of their heroes was Fra Angelico, not only for his seemingly naïve compositions and handling (naïve as compared with Raphael) but also because he was a monk – a man of faith who expressed his devotion through art, something the Brothers felt was lacking in British art of the 1840s. Our co-curator Cristina Acidini (former head of the Museums of Florence) selected a superb Angelico, which is now displayed at one end of the huge church that serves as our exhibition's first gallery. At the other end, she has placed Botticelli's famous Pallas and the Centaur so that they face each other. This is a brilliant and quite poetic juxtaposition; back in 1848, when the Brotherhood launched, no one was talking about Botticelli at all. By the 1870s – thanks in large measure to British scholars and collectors getting interested in him – Botticelli was all the rage and was particularly influential on Edward Burne-Jones, whose Holy Grail tapestries are shown just beyond Pallas and the Centaur.

We have many moments of transition like this throughout the show. The gallery devoted to Frederic Leighton is a key example, with its insertion of Lotto, Veronese, and Reni – a disparate trio of heroes! Again, such a loan list could only happen in an art-rich country like Italy. No British or American museum could deliver these prototypes in such quantity or quality.

JBW: One can say that the convent, itself, is another star of the show.

How was it chosen as the venue for Pre-Raphaelites: Modern Renaissance, and why is it the perfect venue to showcase Pre-Raphaelite and Renaissance masterpieces?

PT: It was only in 2021 that director Dr. Gianfranco Brunelli conceived this theme as a logical extension of the series of superb loan exhibitions he has been mounting at the Museo San Domenico. (Most of them have focused on Italian and Continental art, including specific masters and themes such as Mary Magdalene. This is the first one to encompass British art.) He brought in Cristina Acidini (see above) and Francesco Parisi (an independent scholar based in Rome) and then Liz Prettejohn and me. In 2022, we began requesting loans from museums and individuals around the world, and by February 2024, we were opening the show! That is a comparatively quick development process, and I think one reason it worked so well is that many lenders were intrigued by the idea of their British-made, Italian-inspired artworks being shown in Italy to modern Italian audiences.

This theme has previously been tackled in a few exhibitions (e.g., London, San Francisco), but with only a few Renaissance prototypes on view – never so many as we have now. Moreover, the fact that the Museo San Domenico is a renovated medieval monastery adds visual power and meaning to the visitor experience; this is especially notable in the former refectory now devoted to Edward Burne-Jones. In many of his paintings we see scrolling foliage that he borrowed from Renaissance art, and painted on the ceiling above in the Middle Ages are those same scrolling forms. The outer walls are lined with Burne-Jones's art, while the middle of the room features major prototypes by such forerunners as Bellini, Mantegna, and Michelangelo.

JBW: Many readers may agree with me that the Pre-Raphaelite artists remain so compelling because of the exuberance, naturalism, and luminosity found in their works. The Pre-Raphaelites' love affair with the art of the Italian Renaissance allowed them to drive innovation within artistic creation.

What then is the legacy of the Pre-Raphaelites? Moreover, why do you believe visitors come to see this exhibition?

PT: I think that many museums today underestimate the ability of visitors to connect the visual dots for themselves. We are often "spoon-fed" curatorial arguments because our own grasp of art history is slim, and that is OK because it is better to do this than appear exclusive or intimidating. In Italy, however, all young children in public and private elementary schools are taught art history and studio art (and this continues right through high school). And, of course, they are literally surrounded by Italian Renaissance art, which they see not only inside churches and museums but also in public spaces such as piazzas. This means that the visitors in Forlí (95% of whom are Italian) are already familiar with the Italian Renaissance art on view, and therefore eager to learn about the British artists who revered it and adapted it to their own ends.

The response we are getting (through the Italian media and conversations occurring inside the exhibition galleries) is one of surprise (e.g., "How did we not know about these terrific British artists before?") and also of mutual respect: this show is about a profound love and admiration that British artists felt for Italy, and in the final room we even show examples of how late 19th-century Italian artists integrated British approaches into their own work.

We hope that all our visitors will choose to learn more (perhaps by visiting major collections of Pre-Raphaelite art at venues like Tate Britain and the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery), and ultimately see how imagery and ideas travel across eras and places that are seemingly disparate. Artists play a special role in society by transcending superficial boundaries and looking – really looking – at their colleagues' creations with respect and insight.

Art made by Italians at the end of the nineteenth century

JBW: Peter, on behalf of World History Encyclopedia, I thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us! I thank you so much for your time, consideration, and expertise. PT: Thank you for taking the time to ask these important questions!

Pre-Raphaelites: Modern Renaissance remains on display, at the San Domenico Museum Piazza Guido da Montefeltro, in Forlì, Italy, until June 30, 2024.

Peter Trippi is editor-in-chief of Fine Art Connoisseur, the national magazine that serves collectors of contemporary and historical realist art, and president of Projects in 19th-Century Art, a firm he established to pursue research, writing, and curating opportunities. Based in New York City, Peter recently completed a six-year term as president of the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation, which supports and raises awareness of the American Institute for Conservation, the country's leading society of conservation and preservation professionals. Peter previously directed the Dahesh Museum of Art (New York City), headed development teams at the Brooklyn Museum and Baltimore Museum of Art, and has created (with Prof. Liz Prettejohn, University of York) international touring exhibitions and publications devoted to the 19th-century British painters J.W. Waterhouse and Lawrence Alma-Tadema. Their latest curatorial project, the exhibition Pre-Raphaelites: Modern Renaissance, is on view in Forlí (near Bologna, Italy) through June 30. It is accompanied by a 600-page catalogue in Italian.

Continue reading...

[thiziri]

The Princess Royal visits the United Arab Emirates.

The Princess Royal has visited Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, as President of The Mission to Seafarers (MtS).

The Mission to Seafarers (MtS) provides help and support to the 1.89 million men and women who face danger every day to keep the global economy afloat. MtS works in over 200 ports in 50 countries caring for seafarers of all ranks, nationalities and beliefs. 

Through its global network of chaplains, staff and volunteers, MtS offers practical, emotional and spiritual support to seafarers through ship visits, drop-in seafarers' centres and a range of welfare and emergency support services.

On arrival in Dubai, Her Royal Highness visited DP World’s Jebel Ali Port, the busiest port in the Middle East. Here, Her Royal Highness heard about the innovative technology being used at the port which includes electrified and automated high bay storage stacker cranes. 

The Princess Royal also saw a demonstration of container transfer from ship to shore before meeting the port’s Operations team, frontline workers and the MtS welfare team.

Following this, The Princess Royal attended a Women in Shipping and Trading Conference Panel Discussion to hear more about the importance of seafarers’ welfare with an emphasis on women in shipping and trade. 

During the visit, Her Royal Highness also opened the new Donnelly Lines facilities at Al-Minhad Air Base. 

The new HQ, welfare and accommodation facilities are named after Sergeant William ‘Billy’ Donnelly, an RAF navigator who died in UAE on 14th February 1943 after his aircraft suffered an oil leak. The facilities will support British service personnel at the Airbase. 

As President of the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), The Princess Royal toured Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, the region’s largest RYA training centre, and met dedicated volunteers who have promoted sailing and other competitive non-motorised water sports to communities in the United Arab Emirates since the Club was established in 1974.

Her Royal Highness ended the day in Dubai with a dinner hosted by representatives from MtS.

© Royal UK

[thesims4blogger]

“Urban Homage” and “Party Essentials” Kits Announced

After a small leak yesterday, The Sims 4 officially announced its next two kits: Urban Homage and Party Essentials.

The first one comes in collaboration with @Ebonix, and is said to bring inspiration on 90s and 2000s fashion from London, UK. The other one, as its name suggests, focuses on party decoration, including a disco ball and a fog machine.

Both kits are coming out next Thursday, April 18th, so we can expect a patch on the 16th. Read the full blog announcement below.

On Point Looks and New Party Vibes

The Sims 4 Urban Homage and Party Essentials Kits Are Coming to The Sims 4

The party is just getting started! Step onto the scene in the trendiest threads and set the stage for unforgettable celebrations this season in The Sims 4.

With The Sims 4 Urban Homage and Party Essentials Kits, players can style their Sims in Simmer and gaming content creator, Ebonix’s favorite London city-inspired fashion and deck out party venues with festive decor for electrifying celebrations that will get Sims buzzing.

90s Vibes and Vibrant Motifs

Dress to impress with The Sims 4 Urban Homage Kit, created in collaboration with multi-award-winning gaming content creator and DE&I advocate, Danielle “Ebonix” Udogaranya.

Turn heads and make your Sim stand out as the ultimate virtual style icon with looks that offer a fresh take on nostalgic London city-inspired 90s and Noughties (a UK expression for the years between 2000 to 2009) fashion trends, with lively patterns, vibrant graffiti motifs and eye-catching accessories. These modern looks are bold and unapologetic, inspired by a time and place near and dear to Ebonix.

With striking ensembles and statement pieces such as iconic overalls, butterfly tops, eye-catching layered jewelry and glamorous new nails, Sims can confidently strut in style and express their individuality in more ways than ever before. Advertisement

“When I came up with Urban Homage, the pitch [to Maxis] was paying homage to the 80s, 90s, and 00s,” says Ebonix. “[The Kit] is inspired by the urban chic culture which highlights the innovation, diversity and vibrancy that city life fosters which I very much embrace as part of my day to day wears. So with that said, I wanted to bring to life some timeless pieces that tap into eras that we draw inspiration from and are still the blueprint of fashion innovation to this day, with a variety of outfits that are dynamic and vibrant, traditional and contemporary, and rich with cultural trends!

Fun fact: The numbers on the basketball shorts are actually the birthdays of Ebonix’s mom (24), dad (18), best friend (16), goddaughter (14) and her own (10)! She felt this would be such a beautiful, personal touch to commemorate and pay homage to the people who mean the absolute world to me.”

Celebrate with Flair

Amp up your festivities and make your epic parties unforgettable with The Sims 4 Party Essentials Kit!

Whether your Sim is hosting a lavish Landgraab luncheon or a raving rager for the Roomies, The Sims 4 Party Essentials Kit has everything you need to make your next celebration the talk of the town. Advertisement

Dazzle and delight with playful party props, including eye-catching streamers, an entrancing fog machine and a versatile bar that can stick around after the party. Add some drama to everyday decor with lively and unique new items like a mesmerizing disco ball. Set the perfect vibe with coordinated party decorations or mix and match to set the mood and make memorable Simstagram posts pop.

Form your group and let the good times roll in style. Shpansa!

The Sims 4 Urban Homage and Party Essentials Kits will be available on April 18, 2024 on PC via EA app™, Mac® via Origin, Epic Games Store and Steam®, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One systems.

The Sims 4 Urban Homage and Party Essentials Kits require The Sims 4 base game, available free to download with all game updates. See minimum system requirements for the pack.

[black-arcana]

SPIRITBOX Reunites With MEGAN THEE STALLION For 'Tyg' Song

In an electrifying and unexpected new collaboration, Grammy-nominated heavy music trailblazers SPIRITBOX have joined forces once again with global hip-hop powerhouse Megan Thee Stallion for her latest project, "Megan: Act II". Produced by Bankroll Got It, Dan Braunstein, Mike Stringer (SPIRITBOX) and Shawn "Source" Jarrett, "TYG" showcases Megan's hard-hitting verses fused with SPIRITBOX's signature dynamic production and explosive riffs.

This marks the band's second team-up with the Houston icon, following the successful rock remix of Megan's hit single "Cobra", which made waves earlier this year. The collaboration was hailed as adding a "booming, reverb-drenched cascade of arena rock attitude" by Billboard, and "an extra layer of edge to the vulnerable track" by BET.

Joining Megan's highly anticipated project are other exciting features, including Flo Milli, RM of BTS and TWICE, further solidifying "Megan: Act II" as a groundbreaking moment in music. Fans of both SPIRITBOX and Megan can look forward to an unforgettable mix of heavy and hip-hop sounds on "TYG", which pushes boundaries and proves that the most unexpected partnerships can yield the most exhilarating results.

Most recently, SPIRITBOX released their newest single "Soft Spine", a standout track showcasing their evolving sound. The band is currently thrilling fans nationwide as part of KORN's 30th-anniversary tour, further cementing their reputation as one of metal's most dynamic and innovative forces.

For many artists, a meteoric rise can often mean a sudden plateau. However, for Grammy-nominated progressive heavy metal mainstays SPIRITBOX, there appears to be no end in sight on their near-constant ascent to the top. Formed in 2017 in the picturesque yet isolated region of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada by vocalist Courtney Laplante and guitarist Mike Stringer, SPIRITBOX would fully cement themselves as a household name in the summer of 2020 with the release of their blistering breakout single "Holy Roller", along with a host of other captivating singles shortly after, resulting in a media firestorm of hype.

With new and existing fans eagerly watching their next move, SPIRITBOX exceeded every expectation imaginable in 2021 with the release of their genre-defining debut studio album "Eternal Blue" via Pale Chord/Rise Records. "Eternal Blue", which debuted at #13 on the Billboard 200, kicked open the doors of the heavy metal scene and rewrote the genre's playbook with 12 stunning tracks that incorporated everything from djent and post-metal to infectious synth-laden pop sensibilities and cinematic arrangements, brought fully to life by the inimitable Laplante's ethereal and commanding vocal performances.

The album cycle for "Eternal Blue" saw SPIRITBOX not only grace the covers of esteemed music publications such as Revolver, Alternative Press, Rock Sound and Kerrang!, among many others but would also solidify the band as one of the most in-demand groups in live music today with their one-hundred percent sold out, first-ever headlining tour in support of the album which saw ticket sales over 40,000. The band would also share the stage with seasoned metal veterans such as LIMP BIZKIT and GHOST and win "Best International Breakthrough Band" at the 2021 Heavy Music Awards.

In 2022, SPIRITBOX secured highly-coveted spots at numerous major U.S. rock and metal festivals and were nominated for two JUNO Awards, respectively. SPIRITBOX would also round out their current lineup with the inclusion of drummer Zev Rose and bassist Josh Gilbert in addition to releasing their sonically experimental EP "Rotoscope" in June of that year as well as a cross-genre collaboration with dubstep artist Illenium for the track "Shivering".

During another whirlwind year for the band, including a U.S. tour with SHINEDOWN and PAPA ROACH, SPIRITBOX wrote and recorded their critically acclaimed EP, "The Fear Of Fear", released in November 2023. The EP features the single "Jaded", which was nominated for "Best Metal Performance" at the 66th annual Grammy Awards. In the same month, the band would make another genre-bending splash with a high-profile collaboration with rapper Megan Thee Stallion for a remix of her song "Cobra".

Photo credit: Jonathan Weiner