#Pierre Jean Gonzalez

[to-know-how-it-ends]

Hey fellow theater kids!

So, recently, as a tremendously generous birthday gift, my mom got us tickets to see the Phillip tour of Hamilton.

It was one of the most exhilarating moments of my life.

I had seen the Disney+ version, but watching it live is so different and so awe-inspiringly wonderful.

I could feel the music in my chest

Every pound of the drums, every sound of the violin

When the stairs came out, my jaw fell down

Nonstop was kind of insane. There are no words to describe the feeling it filled me with except extreme euphoria and ecstasy.

After act 1, I looked at my mom and asked her “Did you just see what I just saw?!”

I cried after every number, whether it was emotional or not. (of course, the emotional/sad ones had longer tears, but nevertheless)

The cast was wonderful, their voices superb.

Nikisha Williams as Eliza had such a wonderfully soothing and beautiful voice, like an angel on earth, her gasp at the end of the show was not as I expected but it may have been better - she looks out at us the audience, then up to the sky, her hand raised in the air. My holy goodness gracious G-d she was good.

Ta’rea Campbell as Angelica absolutely nailed Satisfied (and literally everything else she sang). Also her part in the Reynolds pamphlet sounded so raw, so powerful, you really really believe her.

Elijah Malcomb as John Laurens and Phillip Hamilton was truly something else. This guy. This tremendously talented guy. He has such a heartbreakingly beautiful and sweet voice. Both of his deaths absolutely punched me in the gut, he was so SO good. 

I know for a fact the exact beat and note and number that Phillip got shot on. 

That did not do anything to change my absolute and utter shock when it happened. I felt like I had no air. 

The true star of the show, however, was Kameron Richardson (understudy)  as Aaron Burr. Oh my gosh. He was incredible. His voice is a powerhouse. He put the most amazing riffs in Wait For It that truly showed off his insanely talented vocals, and his Room Where it Happened absolutely blew the roof off. I don’t know if I’ve ever been more impressed with an Aaron Burr than I have of him.

All the other actors were of course fantastic but these truly blew us all away. (pun intended)

I have looked everywhere for slime tutorials or videos of this cast. I have found nothing. I so wish I could listen to their voices again, because that was one of the most breathtaking experiences of my entire life. If by any chance you know of a recording of these talented people and cast please let me know, I beg you. Thank you.

(sorry this is so disorganized, this is just how my brain feels right now)

[somosorigen]

Trailer Oficial: Barrio Boy

Esta película se desprende del cortometraje (C) que lleva el mismo nombre, el cual narra la vida de un peluquero latino que se enamora discretamente de un apuesto extraño durante el verano en un barrio más “machos” (risas) de Brooklyn. Continue reading Trailer Oficial: Barrio Boy

[diioonysus]

art + hair pieces

[la-femme-au-collier-vert]

IWTV Season 2 Sources & References

Season 1 here (these lists are updated regularly)

Season 3 here

Cited by the Writer’s Room/Cast:

The Ethnic Avante-Garde: Minority Cultures and World Revolution by Steven S. Lee

Paris Journal 1944-1955 by Janet Flanner (Genet)

The Vampire: A Casebook by Alan Dundes

Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles: An Alphabettery

The Fly cited by Jacob Anderson

King Lear by Shakespeare cited by Rolin Jones

The Third Man (1949) cited by Levan Akin

An American in Paris by George Gershwin (1928) cited by Daniel Hart

Giovanni’s Room cited by Jacob Anderson

References:

Melmoth the Wanderer by Charles Maturin

Sebastien Melmoth by Oscar Wilde

Ode to a Nightingale by Keats

Amadeus (1984)

The Lost Boys (1987)

Gaslight (1944)

Batman

Casablanca (1942)

Now, Voyager (1942)

Moulin Rouge (2001)

The Phantom of the Opera

Les Vampires (1915)

Dracula (1931) credit to @vampchronicles_ on twt

Le Triomphe de L’amour by Pierre de Marivaux

Existentialism is a Humanism by Jean Paul Sartre

Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Vampire’s Kiss (1988) credit to @talesfromthecrypts

Les Morts ont tous le Meme Peau by Boris Vian credit to @greedandenby

The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell

Waiting for Godot by Samuel Barclay Beckett credit to @rorscachisgay on twt

An Enemy of the People by Ibsen

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Vie de Voltaire by Marquis Condorcet

Simone de Beauvoir: A Critical Introduction by Edward Fullbrook and Kate Fullbrook credit to @iwtvfanevents

Nightwood by Djuna Barnes credit to @iwtvfanevents

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Artists, Art, and Salons:

R-26

Palma Vecchio

Andre Fougeron

Elsa Triollet

Fred Stein

Lisette Model

Gordon Parks

Miguel Barcelo

Taxidermied Javelina by Chris Roberts-Antieau

Ai WeiWei (wallpaper)

David Hockney (Lemons)

Wols 

The Kiss of Judas by Jakob Smits

Salome by Louis Icart

Ophelia by John Everett Millais

Shelter by Peter Macon

The Kiss by Edvard Munch

The Vampire or Love and Pain by Edvard Munch credit @iwtvasart

Ruiter on Horse by Reiger Stolk credit @ iwtvasart

Portrait of Frank Burty Haviland by Modigliani credit @iwtvasart

Self-Seers II (Death and Man) by Egon Schiele credit to @90sgreggaraki

The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters by Goya

Aicha by Felix Vallotton

Cariatide by Modigliani

Nature Morte Au Pain Et Au Cocteau by Louis Marcoussis

Untitled by Julio Gonzalez

Embrace by Mikulas Galanda

Trees on a Mountain Slope by Ernst Kirchner

Landscape Paris by Henry Lyman Sayen

Tabac 56 by Oscar Garcia

Spirituals by Lillian Richter Reynolds

Movie & Play Posters on set (in chronological order by year):

Tarzan and his Mate (1934)

Avec le Sourire (1936)

Les Deux Gosses (1936)

Le Jour Se Leve (1939) about a man who commits murder as a result of a love triangle and locks himself in his apartment recounting the details as the police attempt to arrest him. Credit to @laisofhyccara

Nuit de Décembre (1940)

Mademoiselle Swing (1942) about a girl who follows a troupe of swing musicians to Paris.

Les Enfents du Paradis (1945) about a woman with many suitors including an actor and an aristocrat.

Fantomas (1946) about a sadistic criminal mastermind. This version includes a hideout in the catacombs where he traps people.

Quai des Orfevres (1947) watch here

Monsieur Vincent (1947)

Le Cafe du Cadran (1947) about a wife’s affair with a violinist.

La Kermesse Rouge (1947) film about a jealous artist who locks up his younger wife and a fire breaks out while she’s trapped.

Morts Sans Sepulture by Jean-Paul Sartre (play) also published in English translations as “The Victors” or “Men Without Shadows” about resistance fighters captured by Vichy soldiers struggling not to give up information.

Mon Faust by Paul Valery (play)

Musical Influences:: @greedandenby collected all music used in Season 2 here.

Henry Cowell

Meredith Monk

Howling’ Wolf

Shirley Temple

Jason Lindner Big Band

The Teeth

Carlos Salzedo

Alice Coltrane

Thelonius Monk

David Lang

Caroline Shaw

Gadfly by Shostakovich (for Raglan James)

musical career of Martha Argerich

[thisisyourdriverspeaking]

Summer break and I'm kinda sorta missing F1 so here are the UK number one songs when drivers got their first Grand Prix win. Enjoy 😊

Giuseppe Farina (1950 British GP - 13th May), Juan Manuel Fangio (1950 Monaco GP - 21st May) & Johnnie Parsons (1950 Indy 500 - 30th May) - Billy Eckstine - My Foolish Heart

Lee Wallard (1951 Indy 500 - 30th May) - Les Paul & Mary Ford - Mockin' Bird Hill

Luigi Fagioli (1951 French GP - 1st July) & Jose Froilan Gonzalez (1951 British GP - 14th July) - Nelson Eddy & Jo Stafford - With These Hands

Alberto Ascari (1951 German GP - 29th July) - Hoagy Carmichael - My Resistance Is Low

Piero Taruffi (1952 Swiss GP - 18th May) - Nat 'King' Cole - Unforgettable

Troy Ruttman (1952 Indy 500 - 30th May) - Jo Stafford - Ay-Round The Corner

Bill Vukovich (1953 Indy 500 - 30th May) & Mike Hawthorn (1953 French GP - 5th July) - Frankie Laine - I Believe

Maurice Trintignant (1955 Monaco GP - 22nd May) - Tony Bennett - Stranger In Paradise

Bob Sweikert (1955 Indy 500 - 30th May) - Eddie Calvert - Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White

Stirling Moss (1955 British GP - 16th July) - Alma Cogan - Dreamboat

Luigi Musso (1956 Argentine GP - 22nd January) - Tennessee Ernie Ford - Sixteen Tons

Pat Flaherty (1956 Indy 500 - 30th May) & Peter Collins (1956 Belgian GP - 3rd June) - Ronnie Hilton - No Other Love

Sam Hanks (1957 Indy 500 - 30th May) - Andy Williams - Butterfly

Tony Brooks (1957 British GP - 20th July) - Elvis Presley - All Shook Up

Jimmy Bryan (1958 Indy 500 - 30th May) - Connie Francis - Who's Sorry Now

Jack Brabham (1959 Monaco GP - 10th May) - Buddy Holly - It Doesn't Matter Anymore

Rodger Ward (1959 Indy 500 - 30th May) & Jo Bonnier (1959 Dutch GP - 31st May) - Elvis Presley - A Fool Such As I

Bruce McLaren (1959 US GP - 12th December) - Adam Faith - What Do You Want?

Jim Rathmann (1960 Indy 500 - 30th May) - The Everly Brothers - Cathy's Clown

Phil Hill (1960 Italian GP - 4th September) - The Shadows - Apache

Wolfgang Von Trips (1961 Dutch GP - 22nd May) - Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound

Giancarlo Baghetti (1961 French GP - 2nd July) - Del Shannon - Runaway

Innes Ireland (1961 US GP - 8th October) - The Shadows - Kon-Tiki

Graham Hill (1962 Dutch GP - 20th May) - B Bumble & The Stingers - Nut Rocker

Jim Clark (1962 Belgian GP - 17th June) - Elvis Presley - Good Luck Charm

Dan Gurney (1962 French GP - 8th July) - Mike Sarne & Wendy Richard - Come Outside

John Surtees (1963 German GP - 4th August) - Elvis Presley - Devil In Disguise

Lorenzo Bandini (1964 Austrian GP - 23rd August) - Manfred Man - Do Wah Diddy Diddy

Jackie Stewart (1965 Italian GP - 12th September) - The Rolling Stones - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

Richie Ginther (1965 Mexican GP - 24th October) - Ken Dodd - Tears

Ludovico Scarfiotti (1966 Italian GP - 4th September) - The Beatles - Yellow Submarine

Pedro Rodriguez (1967 South African GP - 2nd January) - Tom Jones - Green Green Grass Of Home

Denny Hulme (1967 Monaco GP - 7th May) - Sandie Shaw - Puppet On A String

Jacky Ickx (1968 French GP - 7th July) & Jo Siffert (1968 British GP - 20th July) - Equals - Baby Come Back

Jochen Rindt (1969 US GP - 5th October) - Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg - Je T'aime... Mon Non Plus

Clay Regazzoni (1970 Italian GP - 6th September) - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Tears Of A Clown

Emerson Fittipaldi (1970 US GP - 4th October) - Freda Payne - Band Of Gold

Mario Andretti (1971 South African GP - 6th March) - Mungo Jerry - Baby Jump

Peter Gethin (1971 Italian GP - 5th September) - Diana Ross - I'm Still Waiting

Francois Cevert (1971 US GP - 3rd October) - Rod Stewart - Maggie May

Jean-Pierre Beltoise (1972 Monaco GP - 14th May) - T-Rex - Metal Guru

Ronnie Peterson (1973 French GP - 1st July) - Donny Osmond - Young Love

Peter Revson (1973 British GP - 14th July) - Slade - Skweeze Me Pleeze Me

Carlos Reutemann (1974 South African GP - 30th March) - Paper Lace - Billy Don't Be A Hero

Niki Lauda (1974 Spanish GP - 28th April) - Abba - Waterloo

Jody Scheckter (1974 Swedish GP - 9th June) - Ray Stevens - The Streak

Jose Carlos Pace (1975 Brazilian GP - 26th January) - Pilot - January

Jochen Mass - (1975 Spanish GP - 27th April) - Mud - Oh Boy

James Hunt (1975 Dutch GP - 22nd June) - 10CC - I'm Not In Love

Vittorio Brambilla (1975 Austrian GP - 17th August) - The Stylistics - I Can't Give You Anything (But My Love)

John Watson (1976 Austrian GP - 15th August) - Elton John & Kiki Dee - Don't Go Breaking My Heart

Gunnar Nilsson (1977 Belgian GP - 5th June) - Rod Stewart - I Don't Want To Talk About It

Jacques Laffite (1977 Swedish GP - 19th June) - The Jacksons - Show You The Way To Go

Alan Jones (1977 Austrian GP - 14th August) - Brotherhood Of Man - Angelo

Patrick Depailler (1978 Monaco GP - 7th May) - Boney M - Rivers Of Babylon

Gilles Villeneuve (1978 Canadian GP - 8th October) - John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John - Summer Nights

Jean-Pierre Jabouille (1979 French GP - 1st July) - Tubeway Army - Are 'Friends' Electric?

Rene Arnoux (1980 Brazilian GP - 27th January) - The Specials - Too Much Too Young

Nelson Piquet (1980 US GP - March 30) - The Jam - Going Underground

Didier Pironi (1980 Belgian GP - 4th May) - Dexy's Midnight Runners - Geno

Alain Prost (1981 French GP - 5th July) - The Specials - Ghost Town

Riccardo Patrese (1982 Monaco GP - 23rd May) - Madness - House Of Fun

Patrick Tambay (1982 German GP - 8th August) & Elio De Angelis (1982 Austrian GP) - Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen

Keke Rosberg (1982 Swiss GP - 29th August) & Michele Alboreto (1982 Caesers Palace GP) - Survivor - Eye Of The Tiger

Ayrton Senna (1985 Portuguese GP - 21st April) - USA For Africa - We Are The World

Nigel Mansell (1985 European GP - 6th October) - Jennifer Rush - The Power Of Love

Gerhard Berger (1986 Mexican GP - 12th October) - Nick Berry - Every Loser Wins

Thierry Boutsen (1989 Canadian GP - 18th June) - Soul II Soul - Back To Life (However Do You Want Me)

Alessandro Nannini (1989 Japanese GP - 22nd October) - Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers - That's What I Like

Michael Schumacher (1992 Belgian GP - 30th August) - Snap! - Rhythm Is A Dancer

Damon Hill (1993 Hungarian GP - 15th August) - Freddie Mercury - Living On My Own

Jean Alesi (1995 Canadian GP - 11th June) - Robson & Jerome - Unchained Melody

Johnny Herbert (1995 British GP - 16th July) - Outhere Brothers - Boom Boom Boom

David Coulthard (1995 Portuguese GP - 24th September) - Simply Red - Fairground

Olivier Panis (1996 Monaco GP - 19th May) - Gina G - Ooh Ahh... Just A Little Bit

Jacques Villeneuve (1996 European GP - 28th April) - George Michael - Fastlove

Heinz-Harald Frentzen (1997 San Marino GP) - Michael Jackson - Blood On The Dance Floor

Mika Hakkinen (1997 European GP - 26th October) - Aqua - Barbie Girl

Eddie Irvine (1999 Australian GP - 7th March) - Boyzone - When The Going Gets Tough

Ruben Barrichello (2000 German GP - 30th July) - Craig David - 7 Days

Ralf Schumacher (2001 San Marino GP - 15th April) - Emma Bunton - What Took You So Long?

Juan Pablo Montoya (2001 Italian GP - 16th September) - DJ Otzi - Hey Baby

Kimi Raikkonen (2003 Malaysian GP - 23rd March) - Gareth Gates ft The Kumars - Spirit In The Sky

Giancarlo Fisichella (2003 Brazilian GP - 6th April) - Room 5 ft Oliver Cheatham - Make Luv

Fernando Alonso (2003 Hungarian GP - 24th August) - Blu Cantrell ft Sean Paul - Breathe

Jarno Trulli (2004 Monaco GP - 23rd May) - Frankee - F.U.R.B (F U Right Back

Jenson Button (2006 Hungarian GP - 6th August) - Shakira ft Wyclef Jean - Hips Don't Lie

Felipe Massa (2006 Turkish GP - 27th August) - Beyonce ft Jay-Z - Deja Vu

Lewis Hamilton (2007 Canadian GP - 10th June) - Rihanna ft Jay-Z - Umbrella

Robert Kubica (2008 Canadian GP - 8th June) - Mint Royale - Singin' In The Rain

Heikki Kovalainen (2008 Hungarian GP - 3rd August) - Dizzee Rascal ft Calvin Harris & Chrome - Dance Wiv Me

Sebastian Vettel (2008 Italian GP - 14th September) - Kings Of Leon - Sex On Fire

Mark Webber (2009 German GP - 12th July) - Cascada - Evacuate The Dancefloor

Nico Rosberg (2012 Chinese GP - 15th April) - Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe

Pastor Maldonado (2012 Spanish GP - 13th May) - Rita Ora ft Tinie Tempah - R.I.P.

Daniel Ricciardo (2014 Canadian GP - 8th June) - Ed Sheeran - Sing

Max Verstappen (2016 Spanish GP - 15th May) - Drake ft Wizkid & Kyla - One Dance

Valtteri Bottas (2017 Russian GP - 30th April) - Clean Bandit ft Zara Larsson - Symphony

Charles Leclerc (2019 Belgian GP - 1st September) - Ed Sheeran ft Stormzy - Take Me Back To London

Pierre Gasly (2020 Italian GP - 6th September) - Cardi B ft Megan Thee Stallion - WAP

Sergio Perez (2020 Sakhir GP - 6th December) - Ariana Grande - Positions

Esteban Ocon (2021 Hungarian GP - 1st August) - Ed Sheeran - Bad Habits

Carlos Sainz Jr (2022 British GP - 3rd July) - Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill

George Russell (2022 Brazilian GP - 13th November) - Taylor Swift - Anti-Hero

Lando Norris (2024 Miami GP - 5th May) & Oscar Piastri (2024 Hungarian GP - 21st July) - Sabrina Carpenter - Espresso

And yes, I've created a Spotify playlist for these tunes 😊😊

[biggestwilliamfinnfan]

Hamilton Review!!!

so i just saw hamilton in boston and thought i’d give a review!

first off, i really enjoyed it!!! the cast was AMAZING (i wanna say better than the original but i feel i’ll make someone mad, so i’ll keep that to myself). there was tons of potential and it was met!!! beyond expectations!!! i cant just lump everyone together so i wanna give reviews on each character 

before i start that i just wanna say THE CAST WAS SO ATTRACTIVE? LIKE I USUALLY DONT NOTICE STUFF LIKE THAT BUT EVEN MY GRANDMA WAS LIKE “i feel like this cast was so much better looking than the original, especially aaron burr” AND. I HAVE TO AGREE WITH HER. but moving on…

Hamilton: Pierre Jean Gonzalez

yes. i loved him. at first i wasn’t a HUGE fan bc he was different compared to lin, BUT THEN IT GOT PROMISING. he was HANDSOME AS HELL and he had a strong voice. it was very husky which i wasn’t a huge fan of, but then again, it got promising as the show went on. 

Eliza: Nikisha Williams

she was beautiful, she had a very easy voice to listen to… but i WILL say that it didn’t carry the emotion and control i wish it did. her voice was relatively… flat (i’m sorry i feel so bad) and her voice was almost too strong on some occasions. but i really liked her. i do wish that toward the end she could’ve been more heart-shattering, but maybe i’m just used to phillipa being an ICON in act two. 

Burr: Jared Dixon

OH. MY. FUCKING. GOD. first, HANDSOME. LIKE REALLY HANDSOME. AND TALL?! but honestly, i fucking loved this guy. his voice was relatively more higher compared to leslie, but it wasn’t annoying like i’d thought it would be. he was AMAZING at vocal control, but he didn’t have to strongest voice (not a negative thing tbh). he had a very soft voice and loud one when needed and i loved it. especially in “the room where it happens”. he wasn’t as energetic as leslie but near the end (apparently, i didn’t notice) he and the ensemble did choreo related to magic mike? but anyway I LOVED HIM.

Angelica: Ta’rea Campbell

i love this girl. just as a person. but as angelica… i wasn’t completely thrown away or swept off my feet. she has a nice strong voice and is a great actor, but it wasn’t tremendous (GOD I FEEL LIKE A BITCH)

Washington: Marcus Choi

i. was. fucking. blown. away. this guy was amazing. and again, HANDSOME AS HELL. GOD I WAS MELTING IN MY SEAT. he was just stunning. and his skills did not disappoint. no matter what, whether singing solo or in a group, you can hear this man. his voice just stands out. his acting was relatively great, but i wasn’t focusing on that tbh. but i truly loved him as washington. my grandma thought it was hilarious that they casted an asian man as washington. (i mean the majority, if not ALL of the cast were pocs)

Lafayette/Jefferson: Jared Howelton

don’t get me fucking started. my favorite fucking character regardless of who plays it, but this guy made it all the better. i needed to take a breather at intermission bc of how excited i was getting to see him as jefferson. he was just so ICONIC as lafayette. he was definitely meant to be the comedic relief, and it was amazing to compare his to daveed’s portrayal. he was more funny, and like even the way he walked (as jefferson he had this “i’m great and everyone loves me and i’m swagger” walk going on. i fucking adored it.) and talked was on point and HILARIOUS. he had a very deep and tantalizing voice (is that the right word?) and he was also very handsome. do i prefer his over the original? maaaybe. they were both iconic in their own ways. so i’m not sure. but like I LOVE THIS GUY. 

Mulligan/Madison: Desmond Sean Ellington

didn’t really stand out. i honestly don’t think he was as iconic as the original portrayal. but he was relatively great.

Laurens/Philip: Elijah Malcomb 

he was SO DIFFERENT compared to anthony’s portrayal. it’s so hard to put it into words. more energy, but less homoeroticism (unfortunately). his voice was naturally really high so when he came in as philip i was like “??? is there a child onstage?” but i think he added to the effect on purpose. his death was HEARTBREAKING. i loved him tho.

Peggy/Maria: Jen Sese 

now this is gonna sound bitchy, but i was not impressed. maybe jasmine was just so iconic that she outshines everyone, but i’m not sure. it’s not like i didn’t like her, she’s just fine, but her portrayal was just kinda… boring. she just lacked something (zazz? idk man). her portrayal as maria lacked the confidence and sexual tension. her vocals were okay, same with the acting. (please don’t take this personally 😭) 

King George: Neil Haskell

i loved him. like a lot. compared to jon, his king was more… energetic and… god it’s hard to find words. but jon’s king was very poised and on point and stiff, but neil’s king wasn’t. (i’m not hating on either, i loved both portrayal sm) but this king was also a lot funnier and the way he moved and carried himself was great. but he sounded congested??? the entire show??? like idk he just sounded funky but it made it funnier. his accent was kinda horrible but it was great. and the way he said “jOHN aDAMS” was great. amazing king 

Charles Lee: Tristan Hill

i wasn’t gonna include this character but i just wanted to say, he was probably the most attractive person in the cast. and his voice matched. sorry for being a bastard, i’ll go now.

Ensemble

I CANNOT EXPRESS HOW MUCH I LOVE THE CHOREO IN THIS. obvi it wasn’t the exact same IT WAS EVEN BETTer. like everyone was just perfect and on point. and everyone was hot as hell. and muscly. really amazing honestly.

just wanted to say i loved this show a lot. the stage looked really good and they did a lot more with lights and i love it. very pleasing to watch. also, THERE WERE ASL INTERPRETERS THERE. IT WAS SO AMAZING. I WAS SO HAPPY THEY DID THAT (i don’t need an interpreter in any way, but i just loved them being there) it was very fun to see how they interpreted the show. and there were only FOUR OF THEM? and they did great??? very often during the show i would compare there acting to the actors on stage. it was great

sorry this is so long, but i just needed to do this. 

[mdiastreet]

Ponzis, Pyramids and Schemes

Direct Selling in the Digital Age

The direct selling network is thriving and predicted to continue its growth at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of five percent between 2024 and 2032, to reach a value of USD 385.17 billion by 2032. Entrepreneurs have more opportunities than ever to be personally empowered to earn money selling a product that they endorse. However, the channel’s early days of door-to-door sales have evolved tremendously over the years as technology has advanced.

Over a decade ago, the Journal of Personal Selling and Sales Management began to acknowledge that the industry had been forever impacted by the progress of a digital age. In their article “An Assessment of the Use of Technology in the Direct Selling Industry,” Ferrell, Gonzalez-Padron and Ferrell stated, “The traditional notion of direct selling is of an industry that is face-to-face and people-oriented, with a focus on building strong personal relationships with consumers. While technology can improve productivity, it challenges the customary ‘high touch’ tradition in the industry.” Today technology has eliminated much of the human-centric nature of direct selling. It has undoubtedly allowed entrepreneurs to reach more potential clients much faster and led to the development of interactive tools to benefit consumers, but that same technology allows for decreased accountability. Unfortunately, when accountability is lost, the direct selling channel becomes a magnet for nameless, faceless bad actors. The Plague of Pyramid and Ponzi Schemes

It’s been over 100 years since Carlo Pietro Giovanni Guglielmo Tebaldo Ponzi was arrested for mail fraud. The scheme which bears his name now recognizes any fraudulent business wherein money taken in from new investors is used to pay debt to earlier investors. In a Ponzi scheme, returns are promised at a future date, and they are paid off by those who “buy in” later. In much the same way, a pyramid scheme relies on the recruitment of new members and usually requires purchasing products or services to pay those higher in the pyramid. The difference between the scheme and a legitimate multi-level marketing business (MLM) at first glance may be hard to distinguish. In a pyramid scheme, the investment is usually fraudulent from the outset. The investment “opportunities” may change, but the bottom line is that eventually there isn’t enough cash from new investors to sustain the growth.

Direct selling is prone to corruption within a pyramid scheme because the number of MLMs, or businesses that operate with a multi-level component, make it easy to “hide” the fraudulent element of the business long enough for those at the top to take significant profit before it collapses. When Digital Product Sales Go Wrong The gold standard in determining the validity of direct selling businesses is if they offer a legitimate product or service a consumer wants to buy. When it comes to digital products, however, it’s harder to gauge legitimacy and sometimes even to determine what product (if any) is being sold.

Kevin Thompson, an attorney specializing in MLM and a founding partner of Thompson Burton, believes the most important legal case that helped determine specific guidelines for legitimacy was the BurnLounge case. This early digital product and its misguided structure established a precedent upon which companies can be compared to this day. In 2007 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) got wind of concerns with the company BurnLounge. The company proposed to offer consumers the opportunity to set up an online store where they could sell music and related merchandise. What the FTC learned was that retailers were mostly earning “credits” that could be converted to cash for an extra monthly fee that could only be earned by recruiting new members and selling music store packages. "The promise of easy money is but a wolf’s trap laid out for sheep seeking taller grass." - ― James Jean-Pierre

There was actually very little merchandise being sold—Thompson suggested as little as three percent of revenue was from product sales—and a “significant number” of investors were losing money. Eventually, proprietor Scott Eliot settled with the FTC for nearly $118,000 in 2008. And in 2012, the California Central District Court ruled that the remaining defendants listed in the BurnLounge complaint owed $16.2 million in redress.

Among other legal standards, the BurnLounge verdict established the importance of real product being sold. And when payments and commissions driven by recruitment are the primary revenue source as opposed to sales to ultimate users, it will undoubtedly flag those companies as pyramid schemes.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) warned that potential MLM marketing programs may be pyramid schemes when there is an “emphasis on recruiting” and specifically to be skeptical if more compensation is earned for recruiting others than for product sales. A red flag is when the recruiter builds hope solely focused on opportunity—they’re usually misrepresenting what’s possible. Crypto and MLMs

Social media platforms and messaging apps are fertile breeding ground for fraudulent investment “opportunities” involving cryptocurrency or foreign currency trading (forex). They often begin with an unsolicited pitch or an invitation to join an unfamiliar trading website.

When it comes to cryptocurrency and its promise of passive income based on recruiting and investment in a digital “product” as part of an MLM, the offering was almost destined to draw in business owners with fraudulent motives. As the cryptocurrency and forex markets exploded in the last decade (at one point Forbes suggested there were almost 23,000 cryptocurrencies), the nature of the digital currency itself makes it a prime target for a Ponzi scheme.

Investing in a digital product with a short-term rate of remarkably high returns with representatives that may have little to no education in finance or banking soliciting new investors are all signs of “bad apples.” Thompson said in a recent post, “It’s time to state the obvious: Crypto + MLM = Legally Impossible.”

It’s a sentiment shared by many in the industry. As a general rule, cryptocurrency and other digital financial product companies are not legitimate network marketing opportunities. Thousands of cryptocurrencies have failed—whether because they were a scam from the beginning or because of poor management.

One of the biggest scams was OneCoin, which, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, generated over four billion Euros in sales revenue between fourth quarter 2014 and fourth quarter 2016 operating as an MLM through which members received commissions for recruiting others to purchase cryptocurrency packages.

In reality, there was no mining of coins. Founder Karl Greenwood, a citizen of Sweden and the United Kingdom, was finally arrested in July 2018; extradited to the US; and pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; one count of wire fraud; and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. His business partner Ruja Ignatova has been missing since 2017 and remains on the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted List. Masking the Investment in Digital Products

When there is no tangible physical product being transferred from seller to consumer, it is much easier for the company to use its own structure to mask how investors can actually earn money. One of the latest scams was OmegaPro. Founded in 2019 by Dilawar Singh, the company did not offer any physical product, rather it offered online trading services.

For a $29 investment, members could purchase different levels of licenses. The commission structure got confusing from there, which is yet another hallmark of a pyramid scheme according to warnings from the SEC. Affiliates needed to earn different rank volumes to maintain their ranks with stronger and weaker legs with downline requirements. There were three levels of leadership pools. And 30 percent of earned commission automatically went to an e-wallet; the remaining 70 percent was added to the passive wallet. Confused yet?

The main problem was that there was never any indication OmegaPro held any license as a broker or was authorized by any authority. Spain, Peru, Chile and France all issued warnings about the organization. When OmegaPro collapsed in December 2022, it issued a statement that it had sold its investor database to BrokerGroup, which has questionable roots itself. It came as no surprise that OmegaPro was run from Dubai.

Why Dubai?

A huge number of digital and cryptocurrency companies are headquartered in Dubai. In 2021 they expected to have at least 1,000 cryptocurrencies in the country by 2022, but that may now be impacted somewhat by regulatory and licensing requirements implemented earlier in 2023. Why so many in one city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)? One reason may be because they have no extradition treaty, but they can actually claim to have oversight.

According to the International Trade Administration, “The Department of Economic Development (DED) consented to the formation of the Direct Selling Association in UAE (DSA), an official member of the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA), in order to promote transparency and to regulate the sector.”

The DSA was established in 2009 representing 14 direct selling companies operating in the region. Although network marketing in Saudi Arabia is expressly prohibited, in Dubai it is almost encouraged even though technically, according to the Dubai-based Fotis International law firm, “…only 14 companies are legally certified to work as direct sellers in the UAE.”

Fotis International stated, “The DSA UAE’s mission is to promote the direct selling industry in the UAE and the Middle East and safeguard consumers’ rights by adhering to the peak level of business integrity” and that “legitimate direct selling companies play a vital role in the socio-economic development of the UAE and the Middle East.”

The DSA outlines specifics regarding registration requirements, trade licenses and consumer’s rights for direct sellers. However, these are expressly spelled out for UAE citizens with little mention of the responsibilities of the company to consumers outside of the region. It appears that if they don’t target UAE residents, companies can operate without fear of regulation. Behind MLM’s anonymous author says, “Within Dubai, so long as they don’t target UAE locals, scammers are free to scam anyone from anywhere.”

Global Legal Insights points out in their analysis of bribery and corruption charges that “as a civil law jurisdiction, UAE judicial judgments are not available publicly,” making it difficult to determine if any of these direct sellers are being prosecuted within Dubai for any reason. But chances are that any hint of corruption in foreign countries is likely evidence of concern for US investors, sellers and consumers. As Thompson posed, “When you see smoke overseas is there a fire domestically?”

Getting Caught

It is difficult to keep up with the lawsuits, name changes and faces affiliated with one company that shows up again with a new endeavor. Global Wealth Trade Corporation became Opulence Global. Melius rebranded to BE. Dubli, Inc. is now Ominto, Inc.—just to name a few.

The fact that they are changing names is not necessarily a cause for concern, but it does raise questions about the reasons behind the rebranding. Sometimes the name change is because they’re setting up a parent company to buy other companies. But in other instances, the companies could be trying to “juice” recruiting and hope the new name will reach new investors. Thompson said that usually the impetus to change names is because there is negativity associated with the previous brand but reminds investors the name change “helps zero with regulatory activity” if there is any.

Regulators are, however, catching up to those who are not doing right by the direct selling channel. iX Global claimed to be the “fastest-growing self-betterment platform” as a fintech company that taught investors how to earn passive money through cryptocurrencies as well as other AI trading self-managed accounts.

In July 2023 the SEC named 18 defendants including CEO Joe Martinez in suing the company for securities fraud. According to Behind MLM, prior to launching iX Global, Martinez was a promoter of Investview’s fraudulent Kuvera Global investment scheme. iX Global’s top promoters and earners are also former Kuvera Global promoters. In response to the lawsuit, ix Global reminded investors, “We do not offer any guarantees of ROI (return on investment).”

The concerns about MLMs and digital products extend beyond cryptocurrency, forex and other derivatives. Social networks, NFTs, discount shopping, legal services and all sorts of education platforms (such as the ones claiming to educate investors in crypto) are prime targets for pyramid and Ponzi schemes—and frequently linked to cryptocurrency companies.

Onyx Lifestyle reported to have in the first month of business in 2019 over 4,200 “members” (aka investors), and the company claimed earnings of over $10 million. The company offered “global banking through your personal account” in addition to membership tiers that provided a “premier membership card” that was “a key to luxury” along with exclusive access to events.

A class action lawsuit was filed in 2021. Travis Bott and Clif Braun were both affiliated with the organization and according to Behind MLM, “Travis Bott is a serial securities fraud offender. Behind MLM has attached him to multiple Ponzi schemes over the years. Travis Bott first appeared on Behind MLM’s radar in mid 2017. We tied Bott to Divvee’s illegal securities fraud offering, through Ryze AI. Bott reemerged in late 2017 with Westmyn, a shell company used to commit securities fraud through Investview’s Wealth Generators. Investview was subpoenaed and subsequently fined $150,000 by the CFTC in 2018. A year later Travis Bott went solo with Onyx Lifestyle. In mid 2021 what was left of Onyx Lifestyle was rolled into Digital Profit. Digital Profit imploded with a ‘bad trades’ exit-scam in August 2021. Investors lost hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

Behind MLM also recently reported on the bankruptcy filing of Lyoness in Europe. Stated reasons for the bankruptcy include the lingering effects of the pandemic, the ongoing energy crisis and inflation. But Beyond MLM remains skeptical of both the filing and Lyoness. As stated in their article, “Lyoness is a Ponzi scheme….Over the years, Lyoness has gone through many iterations, name changes and associated shell company registrations.”

Lyoness was declared to be a pyramid scheme and fined 3.2 million Euros in 2019 in Italy. The company ignored the ban and was fined an additional 3 million Euros in 2021. The company has been outlawed in Norway, Poland, Russia and Lichtenstein. It was revealed through the bankruptcy proceedings, the company is $110 million in debt in November 2023.

The adage “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is” couldn’t be more applicable than when examining these schemes. “It’s amazing the BS consumers fall for,” Thompson shared.

The Threat to Legitimate Direct Sellers

Direct selling’s reputation suffers because of the actions of those who don’t play by the rules of the channel. Direct selling companies are becoming much more cognizant of how cryptocurrency schemes masquerading as MLMs threaten the identity and reputation of the direct selling channel.

Conventional wisdom calls for more self-regulation to protect sellers and consumers. The very real risk is that unethical, unsustainable cryptocurrency and forex schemes become synonymous with legitimate direct selling opportunities in the minds of consumers and entrepreneurs alike. Vigilance, oversight and transparency are all key and must be a priority for all direct selling companies and affiliated trade associations.

It’s also important that prospects exploring these opportunities exercise extreme due diligence. Fortunately, investors live in a world where they have more access to information than at any time in history. Every industry has bad actors, and every investor must do their homework and seek expert guidance to avoid fraudulent opportunities. But legitimate direct selling companies operate much differently than the bad actors discussed here.

The important differentiator for direct selling is the relationships upon which the industry is built. The channel’s uniqueness rests on the fact that there is a team of real people with real relationships driving the business.

And that collaboration is key. Maybe some of those lessons from those early door-to-door days are still applicable today. The distribution channel must be the priority, and the business is all about repeat sales and loyal customers. And if the industry continues to build on that foundation, direct selling’s future is limitless.

[terrrpsichore]

ONE DUET by Urtė Groblytė & Jean Pierre Bure Gonzalez

New Baltic Dance, Vilnius

2021

[thenoticeblog]

Help Us Launch Our Afrofuturist TV Show!

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT EVERYONE! We’re raising $30k to shoot Episode 1 of “Willow: House of Griots” this Fall. Give whatever you can and share this video!  

*Make a tax-deductible contribution today at https://thenoticeblog.com/willow 

⁠"Willow: House of Griots" is an Afrofuturist multiverse TV show that follows an elected alt-world observer, as she ascends to power in an Afrocentric vampiric world on the verge of collapse. ⁠

Written & Directed by  Paul A. Notice II

Produced by Suwana Chowdhury Pierre Jean Gonzalez Paul A. Notice II

Production Manager Tina Hill

Associate Producer Sultan Ali

Assistant to the Showrunner Daniel J. Notice

Episode 1 Starring 

Ashley Noel Jones Suzanne Darrell Kirrin Tubo Cameisha Cotton

TNF Board of Directors Elliot Guilbe Glenn Quentin Paul A. Notice II

Special Thanks to our latest donors:

Will Duggan James Reilly Kirrin Tubo Paul Notice Sr. Marco Rodriguez Nyle  Emerson Doreen Notice Jade Notice Sharon Richardson  Nichole Villafane Sita Sakar Kiera Williams Paul VanDeCarr Jeannette Colyvas Daniel Notice Jasmine Byrd

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*Every contribution is tax-deductible thanks to fiscal sponsorship from The Notice Foundation, a 501(c)3 that develops and supports media from BIPOC, Queer, Immigrant, and Formerly-Incarcerated narratives.

**This project is made possible, in part, with funds from the Media Arts Assistance Fund, a regrant partnership of NYSCA and Wave Farm, with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

#fundraiser #crowdfunding #afrofuturism #thefutureisblack #scifi #fundraiservideo #thenoticeblog #blackartmatters #nonprofit #donate #trendingreels #viralvideo #videos #donatetoday #angelinvestors #taxdeductible #fundraising #happyfriday #willowhorror #reels #crowdfundingcampaign #melanin  #blackisthefuture 

[kevintumbles]

News: GALA Hispanic Theatre presents Noche de Estrellas 2023

Celebrating Exemplary Commitment to the Arts and Community Washington D.C. – GALA Hispanic Theatre will host its annual Noche de Estrellas benefit event honoring three extraordinary leaders at St. Francis Hall on Monday, May 8th at 6:30 pm. The 2023 honorees are Pierre Jean Gonzalez, starring in the national tour of Hamilton and Co-Founder of […] See original article at: https://mdtheatreguide.com/2023/04/news-gala-hispanic-theatre-presents-noche-de-estrellas-2023/

[the-active-news]

Wine Balloon Net Worth 2023: The Frenchman Climbed Down With Wine From A Balloon

Wine Balloon Net Worth: The Wine Balloon, often called The Air Cork, is a fantastic instrument for preserving the flavor of an opened bottle of wine. The air is pushed into the bottle using a flat balloon that has been placed inside of it, and the container is then pressurized using a bunch of grapes. After the balloon is expanded to the point that it rests on the lip of the bottle, a tiny air bubble remains inside of it.

Wine Balloon Net Worth 2023

Wine Balloon Net Worth Even after being opened, a bottle of wine may be preserved with the help of a Wine Balloon, currently called The Air Cork. Projections put the wine bottle manufacturer’s worth at $7 million in 2023. You also like it:- - Elian Gonzalez Net Worth 2023: Announces He Set To Become A Dad - Margaret Atwood Net Worth 2023: Immerse Yourself In 10 Unique Books By Her

How The Frenchman Climbed Down With Wine From A Balloon?

While attempting to bring back samples of “the atmospheric air in which  was floating,” Blanchard accidentally spilled the contents of six bottles containing “different liquors” that a friend had placed in the balloon. Along the way, he drank many bottles of wine. https://twitter.com/brainpicker/status/1347204721237483522 The crowd at the Philadelphia prison yard of Walnut Street Prison could hardly contain their enthusiasm as they took in the event. At 10 a.m. on January 9, 1793, they would witness a momentous event. In celebration of the occasion, President George Washington came to see the Frenchman as he finished packing his belongings into his hot-air balloon. It would be the first such balloon voyage in the United States, but the feat’s achiever, Jean-Pierre Blanchard, had already completed 44 similar flights in Europe and become one of the era’s most famous aeronauts. Today was going to be his 45th time going up.

Try These Most Distinctive Experiences On Your Upcoming Vacation To Europe

The quality of your vacation in Europe can be greatly enhanced by venturing beyond the usual tourist traps and engaging in some of the more offbeat activities available. From visiting ancient Greek ruins to floating over the Swiss Alps in a hot air balloon, Europe is full with out-of-the-ordinary opportunities. Europe is, and rightfully so, one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. Europe’s cultural history, stunning natural scenery, and exciting modern cities make it a must-see for travellers from all over the globe. There are many well-known sights to see in Europe, but your vacation will be made all the more special by participating in one of the numerous off-the-beaten-path activities available around the continent. Discover some of Europe’s most out-of-the-ordinary activities, from seeing ancient Greek ruins to floating over the Swiss Alps in a hot air balloon.

Consider Hot Air Ballooning Over The Swiss Alps

If you’re looking for a really unforgettable adventure while in Europe, a hot air balloon ride over the Swiss Alps is a must. This amazing journey will take you high above the Swiss Alps, where you may look down on the beautiful landscape below from a bird’s eye view of the snowy peaks. You can see the mountains, the lakes, and even the ski resorts from up here. The journey will be all the more spectacular if you time it for sunrise or sunset when the sky is bathed in brilliant colors.

Here’s What Happened To The Wine Balloon After Shark Tank

Have you ever wished to preserve the rest of a bottle of wine to drink later? You attempt to store it, but eventually, you realize the wine has gone bad and you have to throw it away, despite the fact that it was a superb bottle to begin with. https://twitter.com/HarmoneyNZ/status/1046921965292965888 To be fair, businessman Eric Corti and his spouse had the same issue. According to Air Cork, Corti grew weary of wasting good wine because they couldn’t find a means to keep it fresh once it had been opened. According to Just Wine, Corti solved his difficulty by fusing a tiny balloon with the tube and pump of a blood pressure cuff. He dubbed his invention The Wine Balloon. The Wine Balloon is activated by deflating the balloon and placing it into the wine bottle. Then, inflate the balloon by squeezing the pump until it makes contact with the inside of the wine bottle; this should result in an airtight seal that extends inward for approximately an inch and a half. Corti spent months putting his prototype through its paces, and after hearing nothing but praise from everyone who used it, he dove headfirst into research and development to perfect every aspect of his creation (via Air Cork).

The Wine Balloon is a hit on ‘Shark Tank’

The Wine Balloon was the product that Eric Corti presented to “Shark Tank” to pitch to Kevin O’Leary, Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Daymond John, and Robert Herjavec, as reported on the Shark Tank Blog. According to ABC, a huge number of American company owners have been on “Shark Tank” in the hopes that one of the investors will make a deal with them and help take their concept to the next level. Corti proposed a deal in which he would give the Sharks $40,000 in exchange for 30% ownership of his company. Afterward, he gave a demonstration of his invention to the group of investors, who were visibly impressed. For more information visit theactivenews.com Read the full article

[tiernanne]

Hamilton | 2NT | October 12, 2022 | Jisel’s Eliza debut

please don't share outside of tumblr

[antheminmyheart]

Did I tell y’all that I saw Hamilton?

Cannot believe it’s been a week already.

Pierre Jean Gonzalez… better than LMM. I said it.

[nealspaper]

Hamilton -- National Tour, Academy of Music

Hamilton — National Tour, Academy of Music

  Sweep on several levels accounts for the achievement and excitement of “Hamilton.” It’s no wonder it’s earned both critical acclaim and popular support since the Lin-Manuel Miranda burst of the theatrical scene in 2015.        Miranda manages to ace a feat that has daunted and defeated many. He has taken a person from history, to my mind the second most important figure in all of American…

[whatwouldbeenough]

Hamilton - 02/19/2019 - Second National Tour - Tampa, FL - ja-gaciak’s master - Pierre Jean Gonzalez (s/b Alexander Hamilton), Emily Jenda (s/b Eliza Hamilton), Nik Walker (Aaron Burr), Ta’Rea Campbell (Angelica Schuyler), Marcus Choi (George Washington), Kyle Scatliffe (Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson), Fergie L. Philippe (Hercules Mulligan/James Madison), Elijah Malcomb (John Laurens/Philip Hamilton), Nyla Sostre (Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds), Jon Patrick Walker (King George), Eean S. Cochran (u/s Philip Schuyler/James Reynolds), Stephen Hernandez (George Eacker), Daniel Gaymon (Charles Lee), Aaron J. Albino (Samuel Seabury), Tia Altinay, Conroe Brooks, Kristen Hoagland, Abby Jaros, Carina-Kay Louchiey, Tyler McKenzie, Nikisha Williams. Notes: Kyle’s microphone cuts out for a line but the rest of the show is fine. NFT until 03/19/2019

[thediaryofatheatrekid]

Another Round: A. Ham & A. Burr in Hamilton

*= Couldn’t find a picture of them in this role

1. Edred Utomi- 1st US Tour (s/b)/1st US Tour (s/b) 2. Ryan Vasquez- Broadway (u/s), 1st US Tour (u/s)/Broadway (u/s), 1st US Tour 3. Alexander Ferguson- 1st US Tour (u/s)/1st US Tour (u/s) 4. Michael Luwoye- Broadway, 1st US Tour/Broadway (u/s) 5. Jimmie “JJ” Jeter- Chicago (s/b)/Chicago (s/b)* 6. Pierre Jean Gonzalez- 2nd US Tour (s/b)/2nd US Tour (s/b)* 7. Ryan Alvarado- 1st US Tour (alt)/1st US Tour (s/b) 8. Jin Ha- Chicago (u/s)/Chicago 9. Julius Thomas III- 2nd US Tour (alt)/2nd US Tour (s/b) 10. Colby Lewis- Chicago (s/b)/Chicago (s/b) 11. Sifiso Mazibuko- West End (s/b)/West End (s/b)