#dance stores melbourne

[ravers8fantasy]

🧃Soda popinski headcanons🫧

I just gotta say some of these head canons are inspired by things i've witness my kinds crazy kinda wild old crush do and uh Soda reminds me of him so uh if your wondering why some of it is oddly specific thats why....

CW: implied segsual content😱😱 (just threats chat THREATS OKAY HE IS THREATENING THE W.B.V.A-)

when he was younger he shaved off all his hair to be some sort of 'skinhead' but because of his drinking problem and scientific testing his hair never grew back so he's bald forever

Has a fear of horses. Idk he just looks like he would

Doesnt really care about what people think, if he wants to do something oh he will.

When he remembered he had free will, he started walking around barefoot like everywhere, bear hugger was the one who told him to stop before he hurt himself and eventually after alot of begging for the sake of his feet he stopped

Listens to hard bass/techno, as I mentioned in my world circuit locker room headcanons he puts that shit on blast and sings

Well not really sings he kinda just shout's every word to his own beat

Carried his juice around in a glass teapot for a while because the W.B.V.A didnt like him carrying bottles around

Got his teapot taken off him when in the middle of a match he started drinking from it and it got punched out of his hands (it went all over the referee)

Can shuffle. Hes a really good shuffler ask him to do the melbourne shuffle and he will get down

Used to go to a dance school before persuing boxing, when like suuuper drunk wait intoxicated wait no uh effected by his juice he might randomly dance when there is music playing

Cosplayed sailor moon and followed Hondo everywhere, Hondo tried running away after telling him to go away wasnt working but Soda just started chasing him

Doesnt like Aran, Aran once head butted him so he head butted back and ended up breaking Aran's nose with his pointy head

No he didnt feel bad, he did visit Aran only to tell him he needed to calm down and to stop acting like a gremlin on a sugar rush

Has gotten into heated arguments with the officials of the W.B.V.A, they are his biggest opp's fr he hates being told what to do and what not to do

Is very quiet, when he speaks its either something normal or demands to debate a random topic that doesnt entirely make sense... Peep example

"bonjour Soda"

"you are president America, I am a young rich adult - is the uh, that singing thing, coachalla? Is coachalla good for environment. I am Yes, you are no. Speak."

"...huh?"

Bro has a thousand yard stare and just doesnt smile, unless of course you are someone he is close which is is well not many (bald bull... Mabye bear hugger cus he is pretty chill...not Aran hes an opp...)

Loves fish zalivnoe/zalivnoye (fish in gelatine with vegtables, always talks about his mum's

Is way too tall for door frames, once got a pretty bad concussion from running into one

Aside from hard bass he knows some linkin park (I think Aran would listen to a bit of Linkin okay😭) and rap from hearing some of the boxers music faintly playing when walking past in the gym

Gave out hair shaving services for $15 on the street outside the grocery store when his juice stash was low and needed funds to buy more

Also collected funds by selling merchandise of the boxers for lower prices to audience members whilst they were leaving

He got shouted at by the W.B.V.A and was told to stop doing it because he was effecting sales

Kept doing it anyway because he hates the W.B.V.A, he only stay's because 1) he likes annoying them 2) he really likes the showers in the locker rooms he thinks they are fancy af

Yes he does have an apartment. But inside the main pieces of furniture Is a matress and blanket, a fancy ass TV and a fridge to store his juice and a pull up bar

After his match with Mac, Mac came up to him and asked what "cyka blyat" meant, Soda just stared at him and straight up told him "your accent is shit. Dont talk russian or another slavic language again."

He is very straight foreward and might come across as intense or rude to people when meeting them at first but he genuinly doesnt mean it

well sometimes he means it, some times he doesnt it all kinda depends on the the first impression, Mac beat his ass so he just automatically has a vendetta against him

Mac pronounced it "seeyuka blayat" now imagine that with an American accent

Randomly did a cartwheel once in the middle of a match, it threw his opponent off so much he managed to get a T.K.O

Of course the W.B.V.A said it didnt count but he didnt care and told them all to suck a horse you know what

Ok so boom THANK YOU IF YOU READ THIS FAR BYEBYE (~˘▾˘)~♫•*¨*•.¸¸♪

[firstprincewrites]

This Magnetic Force Of A Man

Henry is captivated by Alex Claremont-Diaz, there's no other way to describe the heat in his belly or the instant infatuation. For a long time, Henry is hopeless, dreaming a dream that seems so far away. When a media disaster strikes and things change for the better, Henry is left overwhelmed by the intensity of Alex - the man himself is a force to be reckoned with. In their heavier moments, Henry leans into the soft grip of dark curls, leans into the feeling of being grounded by another. Read to find out how Henry navigates all the big moments in their relationship, one hair pull at a time.

Caught Beneath the Landslide

What if Henry hadn't been emotionally unavailable leading to him being rude to Alex upon first meeting him in Melbourne? What if, instead of hating each other, their relationship starts right then and there? Come find out what happens when Henry and Alex find themselves growing up together, nursing a connection, and navigating hurdles in life without the fear of being alone in the fight. What could our boys possibly get up to now?

When Everything's Made To Be Broken

Henry is happy to be back at Etton College for his senior year but that's thrown off course by the president's son untimely arrival. A personal catastrophe brings Alex to England to rain on Henry's parade - at least, that's what the Prince thinks when the First Son arrives. Soon, Henry finds that there's a lot more to Alex and the relationship meant to exist between them.

Keep Breaking Me In

After a long night, Henry isn't expecting Shaan to knock on his door to bring bad news. Yet, his equerry stands there with a sheepish look on his face, nonetheless. Henry is quick to find out that Phillip got his hands on a damning video and plans to use it as a way to dishonorably discharge Henry from military service. Too bad Phillip doesn't recognize the other man in the video - Alex Claremont-Diaz is a high caliber Civil Rights lawyer just waiting to defend instances just like this.

Try To Document This Light

Buying the brownstone is both the start of Henry's path away from the crown and a concrete future for himself and Alex. It's a place he can call home with the man that he loves, a place where they can grow, change, and shift into the men they're going to be for the world to come. After a lifetime of not really belonging anywhere, Henry finds a space that's truly his. Read to catch little peaks into his life with Alex and what the future has in store for them between the walls of that simple little brownstone.

Just the Thought Of You (Gets Me So High)

"Amy helped me plan it."What went into Henry's ocean crossing surprise? What were his thoughts going to the DNC where he'd finally see Alex on the stage, doing what he loves & looking amazing while doing it? Read to find out Henry's side of things as the night of the DNC unfolds.

I Like That Thing You Do

Ever since the first polo match Alex attended, his obsession with Henry on a horse has only grew. Years into their relationship, Alex is still hanging onto the pitch's fence, watching with rapt fascination. Read to find out what happens when Phillip asks a question that creates a lust monster Alex can't control. No one ever said those white pants Henry wears aren't meant to be destroyed.

With the View In the Morning (You Won't Ever Go Back)

Despite being together just shy of a year, the night of the election is a first for both Alex and Henry. After sneaking away to linger in their victory, Henry is surprised by Alex's initiative. They're on his home court so Henry is expecting the usual but Alex has something different in mind. The shift is enough to knock Henry's world off kilter in the best of ways. Read to find out how Henry survives his first time topping.

Can We Dance In the Dark?

"Who would you be?""Be a writer. Live in Paris."Inspired by this beautiful quote, this fic follows Henry Fox, a writer who's famous for crafting stories about a fictional prince - The Royal Blue series follows James through the trials and tribulations of being young, royal, and gay as a maypole. He loves what he does but inspiration is dry. He can't find the words and is severely stuck in a bout of writer's block. To try and abate it, Henry takes David for a walk - fate, the dear she is, finds a way to intervene. After a collision, Henry comes face to face with Alex Claremont-Diaz, law student and first son of the United States. Read to find out how their relationship develops into something worth writing about.

This Happily Ever After

For such a natural, easy sort of relationship like Alex and Henry's, there is a lot of weight on their shoulders. Despite themselves, they're making history with each new step they take in their relationship. It's a good thing, then, that neither man is a stranger to the limelight. When Alex teases about them making history, Henry doesn't know how deep that comment will run or how true it actually is. Read to catch a few pieces of Alex & Henry's relationship where they make their own history. Sometimes, two people are meant to shape the world, no matter the circumstance.Or - 5 times Alex jokes about making history and 1 time Henry reciprocates.

I Get Lost, I Get Washed Away

Law school is stressful from the start but it reaches a fever pitch during Alex's last semester. He decides Henry's birthday is the perfect excuse to get away from it all so he hatches a plan to not only be there for Henry's birthday but surprise him with his presence, too. They're on the cusp of something in their relationship and Alex is ready to help whatever it is along. Everything works out perfectly, down to the moonlit car ride they take at the end of the night. Read to find out how an overstimulated Alex pampers the birthday boy - in the end, they both take care of each other.

I Got A Girl Crush

Alex Claremont-Diaz has been the object of Henry's affection for longer than the prince cares to admit. He's usually pretty sane about it but his brother's wedding has put everything on high alert. After reading a particularly upsetting gossip rag, Henry is distraught by the idea of seeing Alex with her - Nora Holleran - everything that Henry is not. He decides he wants what she has as the night goes on and her closeness with Alex becomes apparent. Though, Henry is quick to learn that not all things are what they appear. Sometimes, it takes a little frosting on the cheek to realize how wrong one can truly be.

Then Wiggle With It

What if, instead of balking at the request, Henry takes Alex up on his offer to dance during 'Get Low'? Alex has been wondering why he feels a little funny whenever Henry is around but an errant touch while their bodies are close causes him to reevaluate everything he's come to know about himself. Can the simple bump and grind of a raucous club song really change everything for Alex? And does their relationship shift now that Alex comes to a groundbreaking realization much quicker than ever imaginable? Read to find out!

The Perfect Genius Of Our Hands and Mouths

The first time they make love, that soft press of Henry's hand to the small of Alex's back is a guiding light. He's not a fumbling boy learning how to walk - he's a man with someone showing him the ropes. It's a wonderful thing that Alex never forgets. In fact, he comes to rely on that hand on the small of his back leading him through the ups and downs of life. Read to see a few slices of Alex and Henry's time together where making love and feeling that touch play starring roles in the biggest instances of their relationship.

A Solid Embrace

Despite the not so good nature of the holiday, Thanksgiving has always been special to Alex. Throughout the years, he learns things, eats good food, and grows into the man he is today. This year, Henry gets the freedom to spend the holiday with Alex and his family out at the lake house in Texas. Determined to make it the best yet, Alex goes through all the motions, perfecting them along the way. Somewhere throughout the day, his priority changes, however - Henry in a striped rugby shirt is suddenly the object of his fixation, food and tradition forgotten. Read to find out how a little football makes Alex realize his family is finally complete.

[randomvarious]

Today's mix:

Wetmusik - Mix Up Volume 1 - Live @ Storey Hall by Simon Digby & Will E Tell 2000 Techno / Tribal Techno

Big advantage of being producers and record label owners who also happen to be DJs is that you can lace your own sets with all the stuff that you and your roster have been working on and then gauge a crowd's reaction to it all before officially releasing any of it to the public. That whole tedious process of having to send your music to *other* DJs in hopes that they themselves like it enough to play it is completely eliminated, because you're your own DJ in this situation. No middle man, no waiting on the whims of someone else's taste; you have full control from start to finish! 😎

And such was the case with this live recorded set from February of 2000 by Simon Digby & Will E Tell, a pair of techno dudes from Melbourne, Australia who were running a label at the time called Wetmusik, and were plying their appreciative crowd on the campus of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology with a blend of a bunch of  ground-pounding heaters of their own that they hadn't released, along with some great stuff from people who weren't on Wetmusik as well.

But be forewarned: this mix really isn't for the faint of heart. It may have some comedown moments that break the tension and serve as a bit of a brief cleanse—only for things to ramp up again—but for the better part of 70+ minutes, this is relentlessly percussive techno that you better have a couple Advil on hand to take once the set's over. Rattlingly primal shit with some touches of dystopian futurism, all soaked in a constant thooming that simultaneously beats against your chest and vibrates the soles of your feet.

And honestly, this type of hyper-intense techno isn't necessarily always my favorite in the world, but if you can handle all this pummeling percussion, you'll find that this is a style that can really end up yielding all kinds of novelly nutty, thick slabs of rhythm, and Simon and Will have a whole lot of it in store here, which ultimately makes this mix worth a listen, even if there's a good chance that you might be seeing stars afterwards 🫨. 

So the best rhythmically unique selections here come courtesy of Will E Tell himself, with his tribally thumping "Teu Teu Haka" as well as "Strange Behaviour," which has manic claps, lots of wood block reverb, and a respirating bit of noise that's hard to describe, but manages to hold it all  together.

Favorite track on here of all, though, is one that's not a Wetmusik original and, therefore, is also far less likely to make you feel like eggs being beaten and whisked around in a bowl: the y2k-era techno standard and masterpiece that is Andrew McLauchlan's "Love Story." Around a quarter-century ago, this Scotsman, who's not really known for much else other than this total bop, managed to catch lightning in a bottle with it. A dusty and obscure 1970s rendition of a Brazilian song gets set to some modern dancefloor techno, and out of that combination comes pure fuckin' magic—a wholly unbeatable tune with a delightfully catchy Portuguese-language chorus that'll linger in your head long after the song itself is over. If you've heard your fair share of early 2000s techno sets, then you're already likely to be familiar with this track, but if that whole era ended up passing you by, you absolutely must listen to this song. One of the greatest pieces of dance music ever made, as far as I'm concerned.

But, yeah, the vast majority of this set from this enterprising Aussie pair still more or less teeters on the edge of my own techno sanity, because of how hard and heavy it tends to be, but the experience can still be a gratifying one if the way I've described it here doesn't actually feel too dissuading to you. Plenty of well-crafted and rhythmically inventive techno to be heard here, but only if you really think you've got the stomach for it.

Listen to the full mix here.

Highlights:

Will E Tell - "Taha Ua Tolu Fa" Ben Long & Umek - "Audio 16" Simon Digby & Will E Tell - "Unfinished Business" Ben Long - "Syndrome" Thomas Schumacher - "Shelford Rd (Devilfish Remix)" Will E Tell - "Teu Teu Haka" Umek - "Lanicor" Simon Digby & Will E Tell - "Moving Wallz" Umek - "Mamomit" Will E Tell - "Strange Behaviour"* Alpharisc - "From Hell" Will E Tell - "Dipped in Pitch" Alpharisc - "Playing With Words" Joel Mull - "The Mole (Ben Sims Remix)" Oliver Ho - "Awakening the Sentient" Andrew McLauchlan - "Love Story"

[anthonymandarano]

New Single Out 14/06/2024 all Major online Music stores! #anthonymandarano #singer #singing #singles #records #lp #collection #songwriter #pop #dance #electronic #house #entertainment #entertainer #music #love #passion #artist #artistic #celebration #track #clubbing #eletro #radio #dj #charts #australia #melbourne #party #fresh #love #spotify

[blurredblonde]

BUCKET LIST, including the strange, the wild, the weird, and the borderline undoable

Go to a nude beach

spread eagle naked towards the sun

use Pinterest business to do brand links and get any amount of $$ from that alone

go to a pole dancing class

try hot yoga

do a burlesque show in Melbourne

post an animation to youtube

start a webtoon

learn to sew

get an apartment by myself

get an apartment with friends

post a shitty homemade music video in a lana del rey way with the help of friends

get a perm

visit coney island

be 125 pounds

get a the dachshund tattoo

post a vlog like im famous

be a extra in a movie

act in a gay indie movie like norman reedus

go to a gorillaz concert

get a snake

get a record player

meet a sugar mommy

go to a jazz bar alone

get a dressed up like a old hollywood star and go have a night on the town

get my license

own a mustang

ride a motorcycle

go to a mosh pit

go to a rave

get black out drunk

go skinny dipping

publish a art book

own a beach house

get a red gingham bikini

take a slutty picture in a american flag bikini and post it to instagram

go diving with whale sharks

be a art director on a project

do a mural on a wall

complete a painting on an obnoxiously large canvas

make a pop song with no knowledge of music or mixing

work on a big animated film

Do a boudoir photoshoot

party in paris

do a full cosplay

pet a pigeon

get a scuba diving license

explore an abandoned building

kiss a stranger

get in a fist fight

flash my boobs at something

attend a figure drawing class

be the nude model at a figure drawing class

receive fanart of my own characters

create a reel showing school doodles

be the cinematographer for a project

take a history class

be a dive instructor

post a animation meme to a jack stauber song

go on vacation all by myself

have sex

be in a youtube video

go on the video side of omegle

visit japan

go to a film festival

jump off a pier

do a pin-up photoshoot

go to an acting interview

heh

open an online store

do artist alley at a convention

cross country roadtrip with friends

stargaze on top of a car

invest in stocks and real estate

go on a cruise to thailand and thrift there

go to the new york library

visit bora bora

learn to play guitar

draw on the sidewalk with chalk

nurture and take care of a plant

grow my own food

get chickens

join a club in uni

take a pottery class

work out in a gym

surf a barrel

buy a surfboard

meditate for 50 days in a row

travel in a van

fly first class

go on a blind date

buy and fill a photo album book

kiss in the rain

do a thirty-day photography challenge and post the whole thing

explore the woods by my house

go to a ball/masquerade party

host a dinner party

say yes to everything for a day

grow my hair past my ass

become mildly fluent in french

attend golbeins animation workshop

buy an obnoxiously large rug

smell the tomford cherry perfume

get a Brazilian wax

get henna done

go to Brisbane museum by myself

get my i.d

go wine tasting

visit Miami

Meet my online best friend

dine at the ritz

go on a gameshow

do tent camping

win a sweepstake

create a artist porfolio/website

be featured in a gallery

go to okinawa

learn to ballroom dance

ride a horse on a beach/ and or backwards

go to a country club

bake a pie

buy a tourist t-shirt

do a escape room

live in Santa Barbara

stay in cape cod

belly dancing class

get my art viral on tiktok

do a commision

buy a fancy wardrobe

have a room with a slanted roof

sleep in a pool in an inflatable pool

snuggle with nurse sharks

bayonetta mui mui glasses.

go out in a pair of high heels

do a show at a convention

stay at the madonna inn

do lesbian handkerchief flagging in public

do a 'nude' photoshoot

own every sims 4 pack

complete a sims4 generations challenge

play subnautica

swim a motel pool at night

pick a girl from a bar

get a drinks bought for me

smoke a ciggrette

try mixology

get a hickey

have a friend or myself sew vintage patterns

wear a tailored suit

buy real cowgirl boots

bathe in a heart shaped tub

take a rose petal bath

stick a polaroid of myself somewhere public

use spray paint

do a vintage glamour competition

own a house with stain glass windows

go to a cathedral

get pink lace curtains

paint a room

milk a cow

replay Detriot become human

do a live stream

do a lesbian event like a cruise or smth

go to a pride parade

participate on a float in a parade

be a scare actor

act in a play

see a broadway show

shoot a gun

drive a convertible

see lana del rey in concert

do modelling work

do a commercial

buy a sewing machine

drive the road without directions

write a screenplay

submit a film for a competition

pitch an animated show

take a opportunity that scares me

do public karaoke

buy a shitty 2000s camera

get a boat license

buy a boat

go to a random diner

sell clothes on depop

play a drinking game with mates

stay in a hotel with mates

do a draw my life

do a drawing for each section of my Pinterest board

get my fortune told/ future read

buy some mega flare jeans

post a picture of myself to Pinterest/ start a 'me' board

buy some colorful tights

get blue streaks through my blonde hair like aquamarine

drop in on a skateboard

buy a castle

party at Hearst castle

post another fanfic to ao3

dress up in a slutty Halloween costume,its a rite of passage

bake and decorate a fancy cake for someone

[mindfulcuppa]

Dipped in Foreign Lands; An Exercise in Image Storytelling

The beginning of an offering of consolidated thoughts, photos, slices of life in between rocks, more photos, and general going.

Preface.

With an elongated farewell, a month passed before I departed the country. This time wasn’t spent finding accomodation, or sorting bank cards as it probably should have been. No, instead there was lots of relaxing, music, surfing, watching the NBA playoffs and organising of the hoards gathering dust in my parents cupboards. It wasn't until the final 2 days that the urgency of packing life into a bag for the foreseeable future became a priority. 

It was done though, thanks to my loving housemates who provided a ‘jacpac’ for its potential to be filled. 2 jackets, 6 t-shirts, 2 brother-made garments, 2 shirts, 2.5 pairs of shoes, 2 cameras, a recording kit (regrettable now…), synthesiser (also marginal…), 400 leaves of paper, and a whole lot of other possessions that I probably didn’t need to pack. I felt sad to think of time apart from some things, but their absence will drift like the main themes of Toy Story (1998). 

I write this now sitting at a glass dining table enclosed in a small house-in-progress situated on a piece of land in Almagreira. There are dogs barking next door, and many flies darting around the area. It has been 2 weeks since leaving Aotearoa, so I would like to tell you how I have been, and how it’s being seen. Through the lens of a digital camera (and the occasional iPhone pic).

1 Melbourne

As early birds get worms, I had an early flight to Naarm on 01/06/2023. Melbourne waited a bounty of friends, sandwiches, musical sharing, long walks, and pizza. A social extension on a Friday saw our Mouthfull ‘Live at Capers’ residence with a jovial group of deejays providing a space for listening, dancing - and a great meeting point for people to come together over some Mastika & Moussaka worthy of a trophy made of pure 1 million carat gold.

Tyler and I would also have so much fun playing songs on the radio for breakfast over 2 days (links below for listening). For breakfast we ate toast with avocado and tomato, and for breakfast radio we listened to a mixture of jazz, folk, new wave, ambient, worldly music with a sprinkling of a few classic ballads of course.

Sleeping on the sofa was comfortable after some cushion amendments and some wine. We would spend our days walking and talking in Carlton North, relaxing and imagining. Our best meal together was from the Sri Lankan spot, Citrus, where you can find a banquet of vegan smorgasbord for $15.

Once the event was said and done, a recovery in the mornings light was aided with a walk to the felafel shop to meet again with Olive. Hearing of her news in between bites brought great happiness and love.

The following day, I met with Poppy. We were to find a place in Brunswick for a coffee; opting for some breakfast too at Kines. While we were there, I would think of Denzel for his obsession with the cafe. His voice would riddle through echoes from the past. After our breakfast, we walked up and down, crossing Sydney road 3 times, turning corners, and entering discount food stores to browse the obscure flavours of pringles and chocolate. The day was hot and the walk long. Navigating our bodies to Ceres we rummaged through bike parts and found entertainment in a cat in the chicken coup. It was a pleasant walk, except the moderate panic when I left my jacket on a park bench with all money and devices embezzled in the pockets.

After all the catching up, walking, wandering; I caught a train down to Torquay to visit an old friend, Isabelle. It was strange down there considering last time was around 5 years ago staying in a resort not dissimilar to vaudeville. However, we would go for a long walk to discover an amazing mosaic sundial (designed by artist Claire Gittings - whom I have no known lineage to - but am probably related somehow). 

With conversations over a cafe breakfast of my conviction against mining, we would enjoy each others' company in a true taurus manner. I would stay in her house near Marshall and meet her love, and we would have a Spanish soup next to a brazen colour changing fire in a brazier. A casket of red wine was ordered for $10 and delivered promptly, while it wasn't exactly even middle of the road it was a fine drink.

Finally, a pizza evening at Leonado's with Harrison & Andre. Some of the best pizza you will try, the Italian community in Carlton is a reliable source. Twas a welcome carbohydrate to carry forward into the nights digestion on what was to be my last night in Naarm. I bought Tyler a Toblerone to thank him for my stay, and the constant trickling of happy travel wishes would soon be finished with a final embrace.

And so it was, as it was, an extended layover in a city being taken over by sandwich shops and wine bars. It was to be the takeoff point to the north, an expansion to signify the changing of place from previous programming. The world outside was luminous and the air filled with a freshness known to mother nature so much more well than ceiling fans.

o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

[micro961]

Gisella Cozzo - Il singolo “I’m Living”

Il nuovo singolo dell’artista su tutti gli stores digitali e nelle radio

Milano, venerdì 12 maggio 2023 esce su tutte le piattaforme digitali e in radio I’m Living il nuovo attesissimo singolo di Gisella Cozzo cantautrice e producer italo-australiana, autrice del testo e della musica scritta insieme a Fausto Cogliati etichetta e edizioni Mamigi Publishing, distribuzione The Orchard, Sony Music. I’m Living è un brano radiofonico dalla melodia ballabile che non rinuncia, tuttavia, a veicolare un messaggio importante indirizzato a tutti: ognuno ha dentro di sé qualcosa da far valere, qualcosa che ci rende unici e speciali e che non dobbiamo dimenticare mai.

Il video clip, realizzato in una delle location più affascinanti della città di Lecco, Villa Sormani Marzorati Uva, con la sua architettura barocca e il suo giardino all'italiana, mette in evidenza un forte contrasto tra il moderno e l'antico, tema centrale del video. La regia di Simone Forti D-Video Production con il suo team, ha saputo mettere in risalto ogni particolare della splendida Villa dove vede Gisella elegantissima negli outfit di Alexander McQueen e Piccione, con la sua voce potente e coinvolgente, ci trascina in un’atmosfera suggestiva e magica dove musica, arte e moda si fondono regalando emozioni.

Gisella Cozzo con la sua grinta da show girl, in I’m Living sottolinea come sia fondamentale saper stare in equilibrio anche da soli per guardarci dentro e credere nelle nostre potenzialità e dichiara:

“Bisogna imparare a stare da soli, se si vuole stare anche con gli altri nel modo giusto. I momenti di riflessione sono la nostra risorsa per capire le nostre debolezze, saperle accettare e lavorarci per migliorarle, altrimenti nel mondo, saremo sempre fragili e perdenti. Ho imparato nel corso della mia lunga carriera - aggiunge Gisella - come sia fondamentale lavorare su sé stessi per raggiungere gli obiettivi prefissati, perché dopo i giorni bui, c’è sempre luce. Io non ho ancora smesso di guardarmi dentro, per crescere e migliorarmi ancora e mi piace essere così, come nel video, molto elegante, come se fosse l’ultimo giorno, ma anche mostrarmi al naturale. Credo di essere una donna forte, che non ha paura di niente, ma che, nonostante tutto, ha le sue fragilità, che conosce e accetta. Questo è l’augurio che voglio fare a tutti, uomini e donne perché ognuno di noi merita di “brillare” della propria luce e gridare al mondo…I’m Living, sto vivendo!”.

Gisella, che ha pubblicato i primi dischi in inglese per il mondo pop/dance con alcuni brani prodotti dai Fratelli La Bionda e Silvio Amato, è conosciuta soprattutto per gli innumerevoli spot ai quali ha dato la voce e che spesso ha scritto lei stessa. Spot come Ciobar, Chante Clair, Rio Casa Mia, Poste Italiane, Coca Cola, Levi’s (Dockers) che l’hanno consacrata “Regina degli Spot.” Tra tutte, la più celebre, è il suo intramontabile tormentone estivo, Joy, I Feel Good I Feel Fine, colonna sonora della Coppa del Nonno e di tante estati italiane, andato in onda per oltre venticinque anni.

L’ artista, ancora una volta, non delude i suoi tanti fans e con I’m Living, ci trascina su una melodia ritmata a riflettere su quanta bellezza ci sia dentro di noi e in ciò che ci circonda. Immagini delicate che la vedono protagonista, tra saloni, scalinate e meravigliosi viali, che si alternano a scorci di vita per raccontare l’Amore in ogni sua declinazione e con tutta la sua forza.

 Gisella Cozzo nasce da genitori italiani, in Australia, nella città cosmopolita di Melbourne. Studia canto e recitazione dall'età di nove anni e si diploma alla St Aloysius College, in Arte Drammatica.

AUSTRALIA: DEBUTTO ARTISTICO IN TV

A 16 anni Gisella vince il talent show più importante in Australia “Young Talent Time” con “The greatest love of all” di Whitney Houston.

IN TOUR a 17 anni-19 anni

Gira l’Australia ed apre i concerti come “support artist” di Eros Ramazzotti, Pupo, Marcella Bella, I Ricchi e Poveri, Toto Cutugno, Mario Merola, Fiordaliso e tanti altri ancora.

INIZI

A Milano, la sua carriera artistica decolla: nel 1988, vince il premio Rino Gaetano ed è premiata dalla rivista Cioè ‘New Generation’ con il brano “Get Up”. Nel 1990 Gisella pubblica il suo primo album in Inglese “Gisa” prodotto dai Fratelli La Bionda e Silvio Amato. Nel 93’ Gisella è finalista a Castrocaro e nello stesso anno partecipa a diversi Festival Europei della canzone Internazionale. In questi festival condivide palchi prestigiosi insieme ad artisti del calibro di Jerry Lee Lewis, Dione Warwick & Kylie Minogue. Interpreta, scrive e pubblica singoli nel mondo della pop/dance per la Time, Emi, Warner e Sony Music. Scrive e interpreta colonne sonore per la TV, cinema italiano ed Internazionale con grandi musicisti e compositori. Collabora con diversi artisti quali Jovanotti, Anna Oxa, Laura Pausini, Al Bano, Fred Bongusto, Sabrina Salerno, Jo Squillo, Albano, Gianluca Grignani e tanti altri ancora. Vince una borsa di studio come compositrice al C.E.T. la scuola di Mogol. Nel 94’ partecipa al Festival Italiano su Retequattro assieme a Gianni Bella.

“REGINA DEGLI SPOT”

Carmelo La Bionda scopre Gisella e fa cantare i suoi primi spot Internazionali come Nescafè, Coca Cola (sensazione Unica) e da allora l’artista è stata consacrata come la ‘regina degli spot’. Gisella diventa l’interprete e creatrice degli spot TV più significativi in Italia ed all’estero. Milioni di Italiani ricordano gli spot cantati da Gisella e negli anni sono diventati evergreen, iconici, come la Coppa del Nonno (‘I feel good, I feel fine’) Nescafé, Levi’s, Rio casa mia, il gallo del pulito di Chante Claire, Ciobar, Chiquita Banana e tanti, tanti altri ancora. Nel 2010 Yoko Ono scelse la voce di Gisella per cantare la cover “Power to the people” di John Lennon. Guardate gli spot qui: https://gisellacozzo.com/media/tv-commercials/

DISCOGRAFIA

Gisella nella sua carriera ha pubblicato dieci album, due EP, ventinove singoli ed inoltre, i suoi brani, sono state inseriti in ventiquattro compilation. La cantautrice ha scritto canzoni per diversi artisti ed è coautrice con Laura Pausini e Cheope del brano Good Morning Happiness per I Neri Per Caso. Lo stesso brano è anche contenuto in una veste insolita, bilingue, nell'album di Gisella, intitolato Double.

SOCIALE

Gisella è spesso ideatrice di progetti musicali per il sociale e associazioni benefiche. Ha collaborato con Hope Onlus, Fondazione Rava, Comunità di San Patrignano, Paolo Zorzi Ass. Attualmente è testimonial per l’associazione “Scarpetta rossa Aps” contro la violenza sulle donne. Il 24 marzo 2023 esce in tutte le piattaforme streaming “GISA - 2023 Remaster” l’album debutto del 1990 di GISELLA COZZO. Il 12 maggio 2023 esce ‘I’ m Living’ il nuovo singolo di Gisella Cozzo in tutte le piattaforme streaming, distribuito da The Orchard, Sony Music. Scritto da Gisella Cozzo e Fausto Cogliati.

 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gisellacozzoofficial/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gisellacozzoofficialpage/?locale=it_IT

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gisellacozzo

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw2F6JWvzesPjoSU3MLspQQ

Twitter: https://twitter.com/gisellacozzo?lang=en

Sito web: https://gisellacozzo.com/

 l’altoparlante - comunicazione musicale

www.laltoparlante.it

info@laltoparlante.it

[datascraping001]

Australia Night Clubs Scraping

Australia Night Clubs Scraping

Exploring the Benefits of Australia Night Clubs Scraping by DataScrapingServices.com. As the nightlife industry thrives across Australia, businesses and marketers aiming to tap into this vibrant sector need access to accurate and updated data on nightclubs. DataScrapingServices.com offers a tailored solution for Australia Night Clubs Scraping, helping clients extract essential information that can drive strategic marketing campaigns, promote events, or build partnerships. With insights into the Australian nightlife scene, businesses can stay informed, target audiences effectively, and strengthen connections with local establishments. Here’s a closer look at the benefits of this service, the data fields available, and the advantages of using nightclub data scraping for various industries.

List of Data Fields

The Australia Night Clubs Scraping Service provides in-depth access to data fields that enable businesses to develop a clear profile of nightclubs across cities and regions. Some essential data points include:

- Club Name: Recognizing the establishment by its unique brand.

- Location: Address details for mapping, accessibility, and region-based targeting.

- Contact Information: Email addresses and phone numbers for direct marketing outreach.

- Operating Hours: Details on opening and closing times for event planning.

- Reviews and Ratings: Insights into customer experiences for reputation analysis.

- Social Media Links: Access to official social pages for current updates and promotions.

- Special Features: Information on amenities such as live music, dance floors, or VIP sections.

With these data points, businesses can access a goldmine of information to tailor services, promote products, and create memorable customer experiences.

Benefits of Australia Night Clubs Scraping

Australia Night Clubs Scraping is beneficial for a range of business objectives, such as:

1. Enhanced Marketing and Advertising: With contact information and social media profiles, businesses can run targeted campaigns, promote events, and reach audiences interested in nightlife. Marketing companies can use this data to connect with nightclubs for advertising partnerships or to offer customized promotional solutions.

2. Competitive Analysis: Reviews, ratings, and service offerings allow for easy benchmarking against competitors. By analyzing customer feedback, businesses can improve service delivery, enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty.

3. Event Management and Partnerships: Event organizers can utilize location, operating hours, and contact information to book venues, collaborate on events, or run seasonal promotions. This is especially useful for brands looking to engage audiences during peak times or holidays.

4. Data-Driven Decision Making: Data extraction provides a reliable basis for identifying trends in the nightlife industry, making it easier for businesses to make informed decisions and stay ahead of market shifts.

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Australia Night Clubs Scraping Services:

Adelaide, Wollongong, Logan City, Bunbury, Bundaberg, Townsville, Cairns, Brisbane, Perth, Gold Coast, Hobart, Launceston, Darwin, Ballarat, Bendigo, Toowoomba, Newcastle, Hervey Bay, Rockhampton, Geelong, Sydney, Mackay, Albury, Coffs Harbour, Wagga Wagga, Melbourne, Canberra, Mildura, Shepparton and Gladstone.

Conclusion

DataScrapingServices.com’s Australia Night Clubs Scraping service empowers businesses with valuable data to leverage the growing nightlife scene. With comprehensive and accurate nightclub data, businesses can better connect with target audiences, refine marketing strategies, and expand their market presence. From event planning to strategic partnerships, the insights gained through data scraping are instrumental in maximizing business impact in the nightlife sector.

For more details, visit: DataScrapingServices.com

[beatdisc]

Another stack of fresh new releases came in on Friday we need to catch ya'll up on, plus a few sneaky ones from last week which never made the grid!

We've been loving the new LP from Melbourne post-punks Gut Health which has been on high rotation in-store, plus we're excited about new records from Porridge Radio (a staff pick!) and Thelma Plum (along with a long overdue re-press of Better In Blak). There's also a brand new Karate album, their first in 20 years (!) and a new Tucker Zimmerman LP produced by Big Thief and featuring the amazing Adrianne Lenker on backing vocals. See below for all the info and get in touch to make an order.

- Gut Health - Stiletto - $50 (Marble LP) - Porridge Radio - Clouds In The Sky Will Always Be There For Me - $55 (White LP) - JAPANDROIDS - Fate & Alcohol - $60 (Silver LP) - Thelma Plum - I'm Sorry, Now Say It Back - $65 / Better In Blak - $65 (Red & Blak LP)

- The Offspring - Supercharged - $70 (Blue Marble LP) - Oranssi Pazuzu - Muuntautuja - $55 (Orange LP) - Karate - Make It Fit - $55 (Clear LP) - Tucker Zimmerman - Dance Of Love - $50 (Recycled Colour LP)

[brodydalle-archive]

INTERVIEW: MUSICIAN BRODY DALLE, FORMERLY OF THE DISTILLERS AND SPINNERETTE

The newly-solo artist talks Cyndi Lauper, Swedish pancakes and coffee

The newly-solo artist talks Cyndi Lauper, Swedish pancakes and coffee

First record you ever bought Cyndi Lauper’s She’s So Unusual.

Last extravagant purchase you made My ‘Stand and Deliver’ studded leather jacket.

First film you saw that really moved you Betty Blue changed my life. I saw the uncut three-hour director’s cut when I was 17. It blew my mind. I saw The Exorcist at my babysitter’s when I was five and then every horror movie in the video store by the time I was eight, which led to seances with Scrabble pieces and a glass upside down.

Last lie you told I told my son Ryder that the Easter bunny hops around and hides chocolate eggs for kids to find and maybe a toy firetruck too.

First movie you ever went on a date to Bowling for Columbine with Joshua [Homme, her husband and lead singer of Queens of the Stone Age]. The whole experience was extremely intense.

Last time you cried On tour in Australia a couple of times – I was overwhelmed and exhausted.

First thing you do when you’ve got time off work Spend time with my kids and my husband, or if I’m on tour, go for a run.

Last great meal you cooked I made my kids Swedish pancakes this morning. It’s my momma-in-law’s recipe but I got ’em down pretty good. They’re freaking delicious. Served with strawberries, bacon and maple syrup.

First crush Bill Murray in Ghostbusters.

Last book you read Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer.

First great piece of advice you were given My grandmother told me she doesn’t believe the saying ‘You make your bed, you lie in it’. She told me you get out and make it again. I loved that.

Last time you were star struck I don’t.

First thing you’d do if you ran the country Delete Monsanto.

Last meal on earth – what would it be? My dad’s spaghetti bolognese. My mum’s salad, chicken wings and sticky date cake. My nanna’s custard.

First song you’ll sing at karaoke Madonna – ‘Holiday’.

Last time you exploited your position to get something I’m not that famous.

First time you realised you were famous When paparazzi took photos of me in London when The Distillers were at the peak of our career.

Last time someone criticised your work Who cares?

First three words your friends would use to describe you My husband said ‘Sexy, badass and stubborn’.

Last time you made an impulse buy and regretted it Yesterday, Ralph Lauren wedges for Coachella, toe crushers.

First concert you ever attended Cyndi Lauper at the Melbourne tennis center. My dad took me – it was incredible.

Last time you bought someone flowers My girlfriend Amaryllis – she had had a bad day and I wanted to cheer her up.

First object you’d save from your burning home Photos.

Last funny thing you saw online Mark Gormley – ‘Without You’.

First job McDonald’s – you can’t wash that smell off your skin.

Last person you fantasised about My husband.

First word you spoke Mum.

Last crime you committed I stole a bunch of chocolate bars from a milk bar in Melbourne years ago.

First song at your (potential) wedding ‘Let’s Dance’ – David Bowie.

Last song at your funeral ‘Sleepwalk’ by Santo and Johnny.

First person you’d thank in an award acceptance speech Brandy Blake.

Last thing you recommended to someone Psychiatric evaluation.

First thing you think of when you wake up in the morning My French press coffee maker.

Last thing you think of before you go to sleep My French press coffee maker.

SOURCE

[qnewsau]

Why go to Rio when you can see The Boy from Oz in Melbourne?

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/why-go-to-rio-when-you-can-see-the-boy-from-oz-in-melbourne/

Why go to Rio when you can see The Boy from Oz in Melbourne?

The biographical musical tribute to the late great Peter Allen The Boy from Oz is coming to Melbourne. Mathew Hadgraft, in the titular role, can’t wait for you to experience what independent musical theatre company Theatrical has in store.

“I really think it’s one of the best Australian musicals that ever there has been and maybe ever will be,” Mathew told us.

“Even though it takes place around the world, there’s something very Australian about the way it’s written.”

Featuring a total of 46 songs, The Boy from Oz jumps throughout the story of Peter Allen’s life like one of his energy-packed concerts.

Although this isn’t the first time Mathew is playing Allen, his own energy and vivaciousness makes him a natural fit for the role.

“Director and choreographer Rhylee Nowell gave me the part because I forgot the words to I Go to Rio in the audition,” Mathew recalled.

“But she said the way I handled it reminded her more of Peter Allen than anyone who sang the songs perfectly. So that’s how I ended up getting the role of the first place.”

Mathew’s natural authenticity onstage is one you can’t emulate. He first played the role in 2010 on a Queensland stage. Over the years, his and Rhylee’s working relationship and friendship continued to grow. They’ve collaborated on other Peter Allen-inspired cabarets as well as a variety of shows around Australia.

But even with all that history and experience, it isn’t something he takes for granted.

“It’s a lot to live up to. I feel like I’ve got a lot of people’s expectations pinned on this. Peter Allen is a very unique performer,” Mathew said.

“And while it’s great having all this support behind me, it’s also terrifying in equal part. Because it turns out that our dancers are young!”

“We were rehearsing the other day. I’m a middle-aged man kind of fumbling through, while all these 20-something experts are just pissing on me from a great height. It can be a bit demoralizing!” Mathew laughed.

“I’m very determined to hold my own. They were born into this dancing stuff. But when they got to hear me sing is when I got to really shine.”

‘The most special thing I’d ever heard’

The Boy from Oz is just one of the crowd-pleasing musicals in the National Theatre’s 2024 season. Mathew Hadgraft joins a cast of 29 talented dancers and ensemble members in bringing the musical to life.

“I’m much older than a lot of people in the cast. I have a completely different perspective on the show. I knew personally the kind of people alive in that era when Peter Allen was popular,” Mathew said.

“The uncle who the family didn’t keep in touch with, who never married and had the Judy Garland or Liza Minelli records.

“I think about those people, and those who we lost, and what it would be like for them, seeing these iconic performances for the very first time, and how special that is.

“When I first heard Liza singing Arthur’s theme, a little bit of wee came out! It was the most special thing I’d ever heard. It hit all these wonderful old gay touch points. That’s exactly the kind of experience I want our audience to feel as well.”

“When you sing a Peter Allen number, I just find it resonates on a different level and audiences love them. You don’t need anything else.

“Luckily, we are blessed with amazing sets as well as dancing and costumes. It’s going to be magnificent.”

The Boy from Oz plays National Theatre (Melbourne) from 6-21 July, 2024. Get your tickets here.

For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Check out our latest magazines or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

[lifenmaggie]

Taylor Swift Mania - Sunday 18th February 2024

Taylor Swift the biggest super star of my time came to Melbourne to perform the biggest concert 3 times for 96,000 each night. I was very lucky to be able to be one of many to witness this amazing concert. It's ones of those concerts that will be remembered in history. A few days before the concert I had to rush to the merchise store to get my t shirt and jumper. I also managed to get t shirts for Dom and Trang who were also super fan of Tay Tay. By the time I got there I only had 5 minutes before it closed. My size extra small was sold out in everything but I managed to get a small in a small t shirt and medium in my sweater jumper. The t shirt was an over size fit. I could wear it like a mini dress.

On the actual concert day, I met up with Kat, Joey and Jenny I managed to get us all tickets by lining up at the box office the old fashion way. We met up at Public House pub for drinks and snacks. We all dressed up Lover Theme. I wore a lilac dress with puffy sleeves.

We took the tram on Swan Street, Richmond to MCG. There were so many people there all dressed and excited what was yet to come. The 4 of us eventually had to split up I couldn't get 4 tickets all in a row. I sat with Katherine.

We made in time to see the pre act, Sabrina Carpenter, she was very good. After a few songs the led screen changed to a timer and we saw the infamous cleaning trolley which is what transport Taylor Swift to the stage there was uproar as it passed. The specular concert started out with a blast!

I filmed through out the concert but not all because I wanted to enjoy the whole concert! Singing and dancing while she was performing. I never been anywhere with so many happy people just with peace and love. I truly felt why can't we all be like this.

[firstprincewrites]

This Magnetic Force Of A Man

Henry is captivated by Alex Claremont-Diaz, there's no other way to describe the heat in his belly or the instant infatuation. For a long time, Henry is hopeless, dreaming a dream that seems so far away. When a media disaster strikes and things change for the better, Henry is left overwhelmed by the intensity of Alex - the man himself is a force to be reckoned with. In their heavier moments, Henry leans into the soft grip of dark curls, leans into the feeling of being grounded by another. Read to find out how Henry navigates all the big moments in their relationship, one hair pull at a time.

Caught Beneath the Landslide

What if Henry hadn't been emotionally unavailable leading to him being rude to Alex upon first meeting him in Melbourne? What if, instead of hating each other, their relationship starts right then and there? Come find out what happens when Henry and Alex find themselves growing up together, nursing a connection, and navigating hurdles in life without the fear of being alone in the fight. What could our boys possibly get up to now?

When Everything's Made To Be Broken

Henry is happy to be back at Etton College for his senior year but that's thrown off course by the president's son untimely arrival. A personal catastrophe brings Alex to England to rain on Henry's parade - at least, that's what the Prince thinks when the First Son arrives. Soon, Henry finds that there's a lot more to Alex and the relationship meant to exist between them.

Keep Breaking Me In

After a long night, Henry isn't expecting Shaan to knock on his door to bring bad news. Yet, his equerry stands there with a sheepish look on his face, nonetheless. Henry is quick to find out that Phillip got his hands on a damning video and plans to use it as a way to dishonorably discharge Henry from military service. Too bad Phillip doesn't recognize the other man in the video - Alex Claremont-Diaz is a high caliber Civil Rights lawyer just waiting to defend instances just like this.

Try To Document This Light

Buying the brownstone is both the start of Henry's path away from the crown and a concrete future for himself and Alex. It's a place he can call home with the man that he loves, a place where they can grow, change, and shift into the men they're going to be for the world to come. After a lifetime of not really belonging anywhere, Henry finds a space that's truly his. Read to catch little peaks into his life with Alex and what the future has in store for them between the walls of that simple little brownstone.

Just the Thought Of You (Gets Me So High)

"Amy helped me plan it." What went into Henry's ocean crossing surprise? What were his thoughts going to the DNC where he'd finally see Alex on the stage, doing what he loves & looking amazing while doing it? Read to find out Henry's side of things as the night of the DNC unfolds.

I Like That Thing You Do

Ever since the first polo match Alex attended, his obsession with Henry on a horse has only grew. Years into their relationship, Alex is still hanging onto the pitch's fence, watching with rapt fascination. Read to find out what happens when Phillip asks a question that creates a lust monster Alex can't control. No one ever said those white pants Henry wears aren't meant to be destroyed.

With the View In the Morning (You Won't Ever Go Back)

Despite being together just shy of a year, the night of the election is a first for both Alex and Henry. After sneaking away to linger in their victory, Henry is surprised by Alex's initiative. They're on his home court so Henry is expecting the usual but Alex has something different in mind. The shift is enough to knock Henry's world off kilter in the best of ways. Read to find out how Henry survives his first time topping.

Can We Dance In the Dark?

"Who would you be?" "Be a writer. Live in Paris." Inspired by this beautiful quote, this fic follows Henry Fox, a writer who's famous for crafting stories about a fictional prince - The Royal Blue series follows James through the trials and tribulations of being young, royal, and gay as a maypole. He loves what he does but inspiration is dry. He can't find the words and is severely stuck in a bout of writer's block. To try and abate it, Henry takes David for a walk - fate, the dear she is, finds a way to intervene. After a collision, Henry comes face to face with Alex Claremont-Diaz, law student and first son of the United States. Read to find out how their relationship develops into something worth writing about.

This Happily Ever After

For such a natural, easy sort of relationship like Alex and Henry's, there is a lot of weight on their shoulders. Despite themselves, they're making history with each new step they take in their relationship. It's a good thing, then, that neither man is a stranger to the limelight. When Alex teases about them making history, Henry doesn't know how deep that comment will run or how true it actually is. Read to catch a few pieces of Alex & Henry's relationship where they make their own history. Sometimes, two people are meant to shape the world, no matter the circumstance. Or - 5 times Alex jokes about making history and 1 time Henry reciprocates.

[xtruss]

All About Cholesterol! The Latest Science on How Blood Levels of HDL, LDL and More Relate to Cardiovascular Health

— By Amber Dance | February 14, 2024

When C. Michael Gibson of Boston saw his doctor in the spring of 2023, the blood test results were confusing. His cholesterol levels were decent — he was already taking statins to keep the “bad” cholesterol low — but the arteries delivering blood to his heart were nonetheless crammed with dangerous plaque. “It didn’t make sense,” says Gibson, himself a cardiologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

So Gibson asked his physician to check his blood for a specific kind of cholesterol called lipoprotein(a). And there was the explanation: He had more than double the normal amount of that cholesterol. Gibson turned out to be one of the unlucky people who has inherited a predisposition toward high lipoprotein(a) levels; he suspects that his grandfather, who died of a heart attack at age 45, had it too.

About one in five people have this unfortunate heritage, and there’s nothing they can do to combat it — but soon that might change. Scientists are researching medications that can lower lipoprotein(a), as well as other approaches that could slash the risk of cardiovascular disease more than drugs like statins can.

Statins, approved in the late 1980s to lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, have been a lifesaving tool: They cut risk of heart attack and stroke by up to 50 percent for the more than 200 million people globally who take the medications. Yet even statin takers still get heart disease, and some still die. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States and across the world. Clearly, something’s been missing from the cholesterol picture.

The picture coming into focus today incorporates not just bad, LDL cholesterol and good, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, but also lipoprotein(a) and a poorly understood substance called “remnant cholesterol.” Medical researchers aim to minimize all of these except HDL. And HDL cholesterol itself, though it’s still understood to be beneficial, has turned out to be more complex than anticipated. Various attempts to raise HDL levels haven’t improved people’s health beyond what statins already achieve.

Yet despite this and other disappointments in which medicines haven’t panned out as expected, many researchers feel optimistic about treatments currently in clinical trials. “It’s really an exciting time,” says Stephen Nicholls, a cardiologist at Monash Health in Melbourne, Australia.

The list of drugs used to address high LDL cholesterol is growing.

LDL Cholesterol

Though it gets a bad rap among the health-conscious, cholesterol plays important roles in our body: It helps to control the stability and fluidity of cell membranes and is an important starting ingredient for making hormones such as testosterone and estrogen. What matters for our health is the company that the cholesterol molecule keeps when it travels.

Its waxy nature means it can’t mix well with water, so it can’t pass through the bloodstream on its own: Lone cholesterol molecules would separate out, like oil does in water. Cholesterol’s solution is to join up with complexes of proteins and fats, called lipoproteins, that carry it around. These lipoprotein carriers include LDL, HDL and other types. Cholesterol, in addition to being cargo, is a structural part of these carriers, too.

Lipoproteins are made in the gut and liver, and they deliver cholesterol and fat to body tissues. Fat goes to muscles, to be used for energy, or to fat tissue for storage. Cholesterol is dropped off in tissues to be incorporated into cell membranes or made into hormones. Cholesterol can also be returned to the liver where it can be stored, incorporated into new lipoproteins, turned into bile acids used by the digestive system to break down fats, or sent to be excreted.

When the delivery particles from the liver have dropped off most of their fats, they become LDL particles, which are still jam-packed with cholesterol. The problem happens when these LDL particles, instead of returning to the liver to be recycled, squeeze into blood vessel walls and get chemically modified. There, they incite or exacerbate an immune reaction called inflammation. In response, immune cells come in to eat LDL particles — but if they eat too much, they can get stuck in the blood vessel wall. This forms the beginnings of an atherosclerotic plaque.

Over time, that plaque accumulates more cholesterol, more fat and more immune cells, reducing the space through which blood can flow and deliver oxygen to tissues. If a plaque limits blood supply to the heart, it might cause chest pain called angina. A plaque might also lead to formation of a blood clot, which may break off and clog vessels elsewhere. The clot might cause a stroke in the brain, for example, or a heart attack.

Today, it’s clear that the less LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream, the better. Statins are good at achieving this, cutting LDL cholesterol levels by up to about half. And for those who need a bigger effect, or who can’t tolerate statins (muscle pain or weakness is an occasional side effect), there are newer medicines. “We now have the ability to get almost anyone’s LDL cholesterol down into the range that we would consider appropriate,” says Steven Nissen, a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

As cholesterol moves around the body within various protein- and fat-containing particles, it aids in important functions but also has the potential to create health risks.

Lipoprotein(a)

But these LDL-cholesterol treatments generally don’t do much against levels of lipoprotein(a), pronounced “lipoprotein-little-a.” This substance, composed of LDL cholesterol particles plus an extra protein, apolipoprotein(a), is mysterious: Scientists don’t know what its natural job is, though since apolipoprotein(a) has some similarity to a protein involved in blood clotting, it might have a role in wound healing. But it can’t be all that important to animal survival: Weirdly, the gene that carries instructions for making apolipoprotein(a) is found only in certain primates. (A similar gene evolved in hedgehogs.)

It’s also unclear why lipoprotein(a) is such a bad version of cholesterol, but it’s clearly up to no good much of the time. It delivers cholesterol to the blood vessel walls like LDL does, promotes blood clotting that blocks arteries and can cause inflammation and increase the risk of clots. And if your lipoprotein(a) is high — too bad. “Statins won’t get it down,” laments Gibson. “Exercise doesn’t get it down. Diet doesn’t get it down.”

Some of the newer LDL cholesterol-lowering drugs can reduce lipoprotein(a) cholesterol a bit, but probably not enough to significantly reduce cardiovascular risk, says Anand Rohatgi, a cardiologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. The only thing physicians can do, in extreme cases, is to regularly administer a blood-cleaning procedure called apheresis to remove lipoprotein(a).

Lipoprotein particles are made up of a core containing fat in the form of triglycerides and cholesterol in the form of cholesteryl esters, surrounded by phospholipids, free cholesterol molecules and apolipoprotein.

For a long time, doctors ignored lipoprotein(a). “Nobody measured it, because you could not do anything about it,” says Prakriti Gaba, a cardiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. That may be about to change now that several groups are testing medicines that target the substance. (Gaba got her own levels checked at a cardiology conference, where booths offering free tests have sprung up recently.)

Many of these experimental medications use genetic technology to silence the apolipoprotein(a) gene. In a handful of small studies, involving dozens to a few hundred subjects each, different apolipoprotein(a)-silencing therapies cut lipoprotein(a) levels by varying levels, from no change up to 92 percent. But it isn’t yet known whether cutting lipoprotein(a) will actually reduce cardiovascular problems. “We won’t know for a while,” says Leslie Cho, a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic who’s coleading one of the trials.

Cho’s HORIZON study, the farthest along, is testing a lipoprotein(a)-gene-silencing treatment compared to a placebo in more than 8,300 people with high lipoprotein(a) and a history of heart problems such as heart attack or stroke. The hope is that reducing lipoprotein(a) will decrease the rate of heart attacks, strokes, need for a medical procedure to improve blood flow, and death, but HORIZON isn’t expected to have results until 2025. Another trial that Gaba is involved in, called OCEAN(a)-Outcomes, is testing a similar approach in about 6,000 people, but is not expected to be completed until the end of 2026.

HDL Cholesterol

Just as lipoprotein(a) and LDL cholesterol are known as the baddies, HDL cholesterol has long been considered a good guy. HDL particles are thought to help by sucking cholesterol out of plaques. The HDL then takes this cholesterol to the liver for recycling or disposal. It’s the cardiovascular system’s cholesterol “garbage truck,” says Bob Eckel, a retired cardiometabolic physician and professor emeritus at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

If high levels of HDL cholesterol are good, scientists reasoned, then more of this cleanup crew should be even better. Exercising and weight loss can both raise HDL cholesterol. Scientists have tried to do the same with medications — but with disappointing results. The drugs did raise HDL cholesterol levels, yes, but they didn’t save lives in people already on statins, and they were weaker than statins at stopping heart attacks and strokes. “To sum it up very simplistically, approaches to raise HDL failed. Nothing really worked,” says Anatol Kontush, a lipid biochemist at the Sorbonne University in Paris.

Lifestyle changes can help to reduce the risk of heart disease.

It’s not entirely clear why raising HDL cholesterol in statin-takers bombed. It might be that the idea of boosting HDL cholesterol was simply wrong. High HDL cholesterol might be a marker for good cardiovascular health, rather than a direct cause of it, says Rohatgi. If so, artificially amplifying its levels wouldn’t help.

But the problem also might have been an overly simplistic understanding of HDL cholesterol. Scientists now know that HDL comes in many types and can do many jobs. In addition to hoovering up cholesterol from plaques, it can fight inflammation — that’s good. But sometimes, HDL can turn bad and promote inflammation instead, Cho says, though it’s not clear how. And, she adds, people who are genetically wired to make too much HDL cholesterol can have an enhanced risk for heart disease.

The problem, then, may be that various drugs meant to amplify HDL cholesterol focused on quantity over quality, and increased the wrong kind of HDL. For example, one promising category of drugs raised HDL levels by inhibiting an enzyme that transfers cholesterol away from HDL particles, giving it to LDL particles. Several studies found these inhibitors failed to improve heart health. It might be that stopping the transfer of cholesterol away from HDL particles means the particles had less capacity to pick up new cholesterol from plaques, leaving the cholesterol to languish there. In other words, these garbage trucks were already full.

So the new plan, a last-ditch effort to save lives with HDL, is to help HDL do its cholesterol-removal job better, rather than to just make more of it. Gibson, for example, is chairing a clinical trial of a medicine called CSL112. It’s made of the key protein component of HDL particles — that is, it’s the starting material for HDL particles but still empty of cholesterol. These CSL112 molecules seem to work by creating new HDL molecules primed to pack in as much cholesterol as they can possibly hold. In a preliminary study of more than 1,200 people, two-thirds of whom received CSL112 infusions, the treatment was safe. And when the scientists took blood samples for lab tests, they found that the higher the dose of CSL112 participants received, the more their blood was able to suck up cholesterol.

Depending on their composition, lipoprotein particles can be of different sizes and densities, from small and dense like HDL to large and less dense like chylomicrons and VLDL.

In another study called AEGIS-II, the researchers tested CSL112 infusions in a larger group of people who had just suffered a heart attack and could be most likely to benefit from treatment. Following 18,200 people for a year, it asked whether CSL112 prevents second heart attacks, strokes and death in this population. “That’s a really big, definitive study, and if that doesn’t work, then I suspect the field will completely abandon HDL,” said Nicholls some months back.

In mid-February, CSL of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania — CSL112’s makers — announced that the study did not achieve its main goal of reducing major cardiac events such as stroke, heart attack or death. The researchers are still analyzing the data and will present results in more depth at the American College of Cardiology conference in April.

Triglycerides

If the HDL waters seem murky, the situation with triglycerides, the fatty component of blood that’s carried around in lipoprotein particles, is muddier still. The amount a person has depends on lifestyle: diet, exercise and so on. High triglycerides are linked to a greater risk for cardiovascular disease, and very high levels can lead to inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis. Thus, it made sense to posit that getting rid of triglycerides would be a healthy thing to do, and many studies have attempted just that — with boggling results.

Lipoproteins are made up of protein, fat in the form of triglycerides, and cholesterol — both free cholesterol and a chemically modified, cholesteryl ester, form. The proportion of each varies with lipoprotein type.

One top candidate to reduce triglycerides is based on fish oil, which is high in the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Diets rich in fatty fish or omega-3s have long been linked to lower rates of cardiovascular problems. The fish or fish oil supplements are thought to work by cutting down on fat production by the liver.

So, in a study called REDUCE-IT, researchers tested a highly purified derivative of EPA in more than 4,000 people with cardiovascular disease or diabetes. They compared these patients to a similar number of people who received inert mineral oil as a placebo.

At first glance, the results reported in 2019 looked “really spectacular,” says Nicholls, who wasn’t involved in the trial. In the group that had taken the EPA for about five years, risk of major cardiovascular problems or death dropped by 25 percent or more compared to those getting a placebo. But oddly, this benefit came without a big reduction in the triglycerides themselves.

In other words, “if EPA is working, it’s doing something other than lowering triglycerides,” says Kenneth Feingold, an endocrinologist and emeritus professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. EPA might counter inflammation, for example, or stabilize the membranes of heart cells.

Based on the REDUCE-IT results, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the purified EPA derivative in 2019 as a medicine for people with high triglycerides and other cardiovascular risk factors. But things got more confusing in 2020, when Nicholls, Nissen and colleagues published another trial, called STRENGTH. This study also aimed to lower triglycerides in high-risk patients, about 6,500 of them, using EPA plus DHA. The researchers compared these patients to people who received a corn oil placebo. But the team halted their study early because, although triglyceride levels did fall, EPA plus DHA didn’t seem to have any beneficial effect on the rate of heart attack, stroke, hospitalization for heart problems, or death.

Researchers are still debating why REDUCE-IT hit paydirt but STRENGTH faltered. Looking back at REDUCE-IT, some experts see a problem with the mineral oil placebo that was used. LDL cholesterol levels and signs of inflammation went up in that group — and if the control participants were worse off than if they’d received nothing at all, then their data would make the experimental treatment look better than it really is.

But Gibson, who was part of the REDUCE-IT team, argues for a different explanation: that pure EPA is better than the EPA/DHA combo. And supporting REDUCE-IT’s conclusions, he points to an older, 1990s study that compared people taking EPA plus statins with people taking statins alone and also found fewer major coronary events in the EPA group.

Then, in 2022, came the latest blow to the once-promising idea of lowering triglycerides: the PROMINENT trial, in which Eckel and colleagues tested a drug called pemafibrate that reduces blood triglycerides. The 10,000-plus study participants had type 2 diabetes, high triglycerides and low HDL, and were at risk for cardiovascular events. But even though triglyceride levels fell by about 26 percent, on average, in the group receiving the drug, this made no difference to the rate of cardiovascular events.

Taken together, the results suggest that triglycerides indicate poor cardiovascular health without being the reason behind the problem. “Triglycerides were just innocent bystanders,” concludes Eckel. The exception, he adds, might be people with very high triglycerides who are at risk of pancreatitis and might still benefit from triglyceride-lowering treatment.

Remnant Cholesterol

This is a loosely used term, with science still to be settled. In the doctor’s office, physicians assume that any cholesterol that isn’t HDL or LDL is a leftover or “remnant” fraction. From a molecular point of view, remnant cholesterol is a fat-delivering lipoprotein in an intermediate state: It left the liver, loaded with fat and cholesterol, and has dropped off some of its triglycerides in the body’s tissues, but not so much of its cargo that it’s become an LDL lipoprotein. Chylomicrons from the gut, once depleted of fats, also become remnant particles.

In people with healthy metabolisms, the body quickly disposes of remnant particles. But if a person has a problem such as diabetes or obesity, these fatty remnants might stick around. Remnant cholesterol may accumulate in atherosclerotic plaques, potentially making it as dangerous as the classic bad LDL cholesterol. Indeed, high levels of remnant cholesterol have been linked to cardiovascular disease in some studies, quite independently of patients’ LDL cholesterol measurements. That suggests that getting rid of those remnants could be beneficial.

The substances remain a bit of a black box, though. “We still don’t know precisely how to define them, we don’t know precisely how to measure them, so it’s kind of difficult to be precise about remnants,” says Feingold. Nonetheless, some researchers are interested in treatments that might target remnants in addition to, or instead of, triglycerides. For example, Nicholas Marston, a cardiologist at Brigham and Women’s, and colleagues are testing a medication called olezarsen that, he says, appears to promote clearance of the cholesterol-carrying particles. But it will take more study to learn if that translates into fewer cardiovascular problems.

Remnant cholesterol is “probably important,” says Nissen — so even though the science is still nascent, he says he feels hopeful about the potential of treatments targeting it.

In sum, the emerging picture is one in which certain forms of HDL cholesterol are good and all the other lipoproteins are bad. The best approach, experts suggest, may be to reduce all the non-HDL cholesterol — whether by diet and exercise or some of these new medicines, should they prove effective.

“If it’s not HDL, we should minimize it,” says Feingold. “The lower, the better.”

— Editor’s Note: This article was amended February 15, 2024, to add the preliminary results of the AEGIS-II trial aimed at raising levels of HDL and to remove a speculative quote about the ramifications of a positive result from the trial.

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Buying Ballet Shoes: Put Your Best Foot Forward

If you are a seasoned dancer, finding the perfect pair of ballet shoes is essential for comfort and performance. The process might seem overwhelming with the multitude of fabrics, colors, and styles available. This guide simplifies the journey, particularly focusing on choosing the ideal ballet shoes for beginners. 

Split Sole vs Full Sole: Understanding the differences between split sole and full sole ballet shoes is crucial. Split soles offer flexibility and fluid movement but provide less arch support for beginners. Full soles offer more resistance, aiding in building stronger foot muscles but can be criticized for hiding poor technique. 

Fun with Fabrics: Ballet shoes come in three common fabrics - leather, canvas, and satin. Leather is durable and aids in building foot strength. Canvas is easily cleaned and quick to break in, providing comfort after a few classes. Satin shoes, often used in performances and exams, fit well, complement competition wear, and are dyeable to match dancewear. 

Ballet Shoe Sizing Tips: Choosing the right size is critical for comfort and proper movement. Your ballet shoes should be tight but comfortable. 

Embark on your ballet journey with confidence, putting your best foot forward in the perfect pair of ballet shoes. 

Find the perfect fit ballet shoes and dance accessories at the best online store at https://www.openingnightsupplies.com/collections/ or call us on 03 5941 5713 for a wide range of dance supplies in Melbourne.

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Taking a Lighthearted Look at the World of Public Platforms while Standing Tall atop Soap Boxes

The soap box is a little but powerful prop that has been used in many speeches, tirades, and impassioned pronouncements in the context of daily life. This simple wooden platform may not be as elegant as a podium, but for people with a lot to say and a small audience, it has shown to be a reliable ally when it comes to self-expression.

The Soap Box's Ascent

Once upon a time, in the busy streets of bygone days, custom soap boxes served a purpose beyond just holding detergent; they were a pass to the tradition known as soapbox oratory, which provided a voice to anybody with an opinion and a strong set of vocal chords. Imagine the following scene: a busy marketplace with people bargaining over prices, and in the middle of it all, someone perched on a soap boxes Brisbane, ready to share their opinions like a hyperbolic pint-pourer.

Dishes to Conversations

Have you ever pondered why these spontaneous monologues started to happen on Soap boxes Canberra? As it happens, these wooden marvels were the hidden heroes of the grocery store—sturdy, easily accessible, and great for promoting not only the benefits of soap but also the vocal prowess of the average person.

Thus, bear in mind that the next time you're doing the dishes and contemplating that empty soap boxes Hobart, you're cradling a possible platform for your very own stand-up performance, not simply a piece of packaging.

The Soap Box Speech: An Art Form

Writing a speech for a soap box is an art form in and of itself. A certain amount of humor, passion, and verbosity must be balanced in order to keep the listener interested. Similar to a verbal tap dance, the artist must watch out for stepping on audience members' toes and hope they don't hurl tomatoes.

Imagine it like a TED Talk, only on a more accessible and affordable platform, and with a greater likelihood of running into a pigeon audience criticism.

Soap Boxes in the Modern Era

In today's digital age, where everyone has a smartphone and a platform to voice their opinions, the physical soap box Melbourne might seem like a relic of the past. However, don't be too quick to dismiss its charm. The virtual soap box is alive and well, with social media platforms serving as the new-age equivalent.

Scroll through your Twitter feed, and you'll find virtual soap boxes Adelaide aplenty, where people passionately discuss everything from the meaning of life to the proper way to eat a taco. Who knew 280 characters could hold so much wisdom (or chaos)?

Soap Box Chronicles: Tales from the Streets

Let's take a moment to appreciate the unsung heroes who elevated the soap box from a mere packaging accessory to a symbol of free speech. In the annals of soap box history, there are legends of impassioned rants, heartfelt declarations, and, of course, a fair share of comedic blunders.

Imagine a passionate speaker making a grand point, only to have their soap box collapse beneath them, turning their eloquent speech into an unintentional pratfall.

Soap Boxes Come Together: The Social Aspect

The power of the soap box to unite communities as well as elevate a single voice is what makes it so beautiful. Street corners became impromptu debate clubs, and soap box speakers were the unsolicited philosophers of the people.

It's like a town hall meeting, but with less bureaucracy and more chance of someone selling artisanal honey on the side.

DIY Soap Box: Crafting Your Soapbox Legacy

Feeling inspired to join the ranks of soap box orators? Fear not, for crafting your very own soap box is as easy as convincing your cat to take a bath (and we all know how simple that is).

Step 1: Acquire a Box

Find a sturdy box – preferably one that held something interesting, like a shipment of exotic fruits or a collection of rubber duckies. Keep in mind that the box already tells a tale before you do.

Step 2: Reinforce the Structure

No one wants a soap box collapse mid-sentence. Reinforce the corners with tape or, if you're feeling particularly handy, duct tape. Because nothing says "I'm serious about my opinions" like the universal fix-all.

Step 3: Add Personality

This is your soap box, not just a soap box. Decorate it with stickers, paint, or glitter – whatever screams "you." After all, if you're going to stand on a soap box, you might as well do it in style.

The Soap Box Legacy Continues

As we bask in the glory of the soap box legacy, let's appreciate the simplicity of this unassuming stage. These platforms—from the virtual soap boxes Perth of today to the streets of the past—remain a monument to the human desire for connection, expression, and the odd laugh.

So, the next time you find yourself on a verbal tangent about the merits of pineapple on pizza or the proper way to fold socks, just remember – you're not alone. You're simply carrying on the time-honored tradition of standing tall on a soap box, making the world laugh, think, and maybe reconsider their sock-folding technique.