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14 Classic Games Worth Revisiting

There’s no shortage of games to play. Indeed, it’s estimated that around 10,000 new titles are released each year, which is another way of saying that when you want a new game to play, you won’t have to look very far.

However, while it’s always nice to play the latest releases, it’s worth keeping in mind that there are plenty of titles from yesteryear that are worth revisiting, too. Many games disappear from our collective minds within months of release, but some stand the test of time. In this post, we’ll run through some classic games that are worth playing due to their historical significance (and their fun factor!). And the best part? Many of these games are available online.

Street Fighter

The original Street Fighter is 35 years old and still packs a powerful punch. The game’s graphics aren’t up to the standards of modern times, of course, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not hugely enjoyable to play. It was a groundbreaking game upon release, and even now you can see how influential it has been. You’ll travel around the world combating a range of colorful characters before finally meeting the big boss. 

It seems simple to play at first (just hitting random buttons seems to work sometimes) but it’s best to spend some time really learning the moves — it’ll make your journey to the top much more straightforward.

Goldeneye

Speak to people of a certain age about what was the best game of their youth, and they’ll invariably say Goldeneye. This game was a game changer when it was released on the

There’s no shortage of games to play. Indeed, it’s estimated that around 10,000 new titles are released each year, which is another way of saying that when you want a new game to play, you won’t have to look very far.

However, while it’s always nice to play the latest releases, it’s worth keeping in mind that there are plenty of titles from yesteryear that are worth revisiting, too. Many games disappear from our collective minds within months of release, but some stand the test of time. In this post, we’ll run through some classic games that are worth playing due to their historical significance (and their fun factor!). And the best part? Many of these games are available online.

Street Fighter

The original Street Fighter is 35 years old and still packs a powerful punch. The game’s graphics aren’t up to the standards of modern times, of course, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not hugely enjoyable to play. It was a groundbreaking game upon release, and even now you can see how influential it has been. You’ll travel around the world combating a range of colorful characters before finally meeting the big boss. 

It seems simple to play at first (just hitting random buttons seems to work sometimes) but it’s best to spend some time really learning the moves — it’ll make your journey to the top much more straightforward.

Goldeneye

Speak to people of a certain age about what was the best game of their youth, and they’ll invariably say Goldeneye. This game was a game changer when it was released on the Nintendo 64 following the release of the successful James Bond movie. What’s to love? Well, it’s generally true to the movie, which was one of the best Bond movies of all time, and it also presents a huge challenge without being impossible. The graphics look pretty clunky now, but they were mind-blowing at the time. If you’ve never played the game, then you owe it to yourself to give it a try. And if you played the game as a youth, then it’ll give you a chance to take a wonderful trip down memory lane.

Pac Man

Pac Man is an old, old game — it was released in 1980 — that has very much stood the test of time. You’ll likely have played the game before, but if you haven’t, the basic premise is that you have to eat as many pellets as possible before getting hit by a ghost. The beauty of the game lies in its simplicity. You can learn how to play in a matter of seconds. The success of the game spawned an entire empire, but to many, the original is still the best. 

Want to play straight away? Head to Google’s homepage and search for Pac Man — the game will appear within the search results. 

Grand Theft Auto III

In truth, we could have named plenty of Grand Theft Auto games. But given how influential Grand Theft Auto III was — and continues to be — we feel we have to include this one. It set the bar for the franchise, and if you don’t believe us, go back and play the first GTA games. It was in this game that the entire universe was brought to life. It’s not as fluid as the games that arrived later, but it’s still a whole bunch of fun to play. Plus, listening to that old soundtrack will take you back in time like nothing else.

Chess

Thought we were only going to include video games on this list. Think again! Chess is one of the oldest games on the planet, and that’s a pretty impressive feat — will people still be playing Fortnite in thousands of years? Chess isn’t just surviving in the digital age, it’s thriving. It’s trickier than most games to learn, and even more difficult to master, but once you’ve got the hang of it, you’ll unleash a lifelong passion. There’s nothing better than sitting outside on a beautiful summer’s evening, engaged in a long chess game. Live in a city? See if there are any chess groups operating — in all likelihood, there will be. 

Solitaire

Don’t have the patience to become a chess grandmaster? Or you’re looking for a classic single-player game? Then try playing solitaire, the skill/chance game that you’ll probably remember from the earliest versions of Windows, which had the game pre-installed. It’s not quite as old as chess, having been invented at some point in the early 1800s, but it’s arguably more fun. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as completing a game of solitaire. Plus, it’s a game that you can play online or offline, and games are so short that they’re perfect for playing when you’re on the train to work or waiting for a flight. 

Tetris

And talking of short, satisfying games, what about Tetris? This game, like all the best ones, is almost comically simple — all you’re trying to do is fit the blocks into one another to prevent the wall from reaching the top. But boy, is it addictive. You can see the influence it had on the mobile games that we see today. It’s easy to get started, making it suitable for people who have never played any type of video game before, but it takes a lot to master. There’s an oddly competitive Tetris world out there, with big tournaments taking place to see who’s the best in the world. 

Sonic the Hedgehog

Does anyone not love Sonic the Hedgehog? There’s a lot to love about this game; it’s cute, it’s energetic, and it’s challenging. As you’ll be aware, there are plenty of different Sonic games out there, but in our book, the best one is Sonic the Hedgehog 2, which was released back in 1992 on the Sega Genesis. It still stands the test of time now, in part because it was always designed to be fun rather than anything overly serious, and graphics aren’t really important for games like this. If you have kids, then it’s worthwhile introducing them to this lovable game. 

Gran Turismo

The original — and some would say the best — retro driving game. It helped to push the racing genre forward like nothing else could, and it still very much stands the test of time. Grab your friends and you’re unlikely to regret doing battle on the famous tracks around the world in your fast and furious vehicles. 

Snake

If you had a Nokia phone in the early days of mobile phones, then you’ll know all about Snake, which came preinstalled on the devices. Is it the greatest game you’ll ever play? Absolutely not — but it was a seminal release that helped to popularize the idea of playing games on your mobile phone, which is now a huge industry. It’s a fun game to play, and as with Pac Man, you can play it directly within Google, though if you were expecting the classic Nokia look you’ll be disappointed; the Google version has some fancy graphics.

Streets of Rage

This classic brawler game has a lot going for it — great characters, the mean streets, fun weapons, and some fantastic outfits. The first Streets of Rage is a lot of fun to play, but they really hit their stride with Streets of Rage 2

Tomb Raider

You know a game is a hit when it launches an entire universe, and that’s just what happened with Tomb Raider. The original game was released back in 1996 and boy, was it good. Dive back in and enjoy the adventures of Lara Croft on her archaeological quests. 

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater

You know a game is good when it has a significant impact on an entire culture. People were into skateboarding before Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater came out, but it’s undeniable that it had a huge impact on its increasing popularity. The first game set the tone, but for the true experience, look at playing Pro Skater 2 — that’s when the game really came into its own and became a global hit. The soundtrack is amazing, too. 

Space Invaders

Finally, there’s Space Invaders. This game has well and truly stood the test of time. Released back in 1978, it was the arcade game and was hugely influential. People have been playing it for decades and in all likelihood will still be playing it many decades into the future. There are plenty of websites that’ll allow you to play the game within your browser, but for the best experience, try to find a bar that has arcade games. 

Conclusion

And there we have it! There are plenty of other games we could have included on this list, that’s for sure. But we think the above selection is a good starting point for people who want to dive into the classic games of yesteryear. These titles aren’t just fun to play, but they often have historical value, too — the games that you play today just wouldn’t have been possible without the titles we’ve included above.

Gaming Entertainment Pulse: Are Free Spins Still the Hottest iGaming Trend

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It is no stretch to say that the online gambling market has exceeded all expectations. According to the numbers, online casinos now generate billions of dollars annually, and may just rival land-based casinos in terms of revenue. Impressively, many experts believe that online casinos may even overtake their land-based predecessors in the near future. But, the question is, why are online casinos so popular?

The Reasons for Popularity?

Online casinos have a lot of benefits that make them stand out. The most obvious one is convenience. You can open an online casino anywhere you want, as long as you have an electronic device and access to the internet.

However, while the convenience is certainly appreciated, what draws people to online casinos most are the variety of bonuses that you can expect to get upon registering. Of these bonuses, the most popular ones are free spins.

What are Free Spins?

As the name suggests, a free spin bonus is a promotional offer that lets punters wager without making a deposit. In other words, you get a “free spin” on a slot machine, which gives you the opportunity to earn extra cash without risking your finance.

Free spins come in different packages. What most gamblers want are no deposit free spins bonuses. The way that works is simple. You sign up for a website, grab no wagering free spins bonuses, and get to work playing. However, not all websites offer no deposit bonuses.

The next best thing is a Welcome Bonus. Basically, upon making your first deposit on a website, the casino will issue a certain bonus to your account. Usually, this is free spins. However, sometimes it is something else entirely.

Which brings us to our next point: are free spins still the hottest commodity in iGaming? As online gambling changes and develops, operators are including new bonuses. Have any of these new offers surpassed the popularity of free spins?

New Offers!

Free spins are no longer the only game in two. There are a wide variety of different offers that online casinos use to promote their product. However, the question is, are any of them as good or maybe even better than free spins? Let’s find out.

  •         Cashback Bonus

A cashback bonus is somewhat of a refund. Some casinos will offer returns on losses over a specific period of time. While good in theory, cashback bonuses often come with very tight deadlines that you need to pay close attention to.

  •         Reload Bonus

A reload bonus is an offer that rewards players for making continuous deposits. While they are usually not as generous as welcome bonuses, they can serve very well in a pinch.

  •         Match Deposit Bonus

Finally, we have the match deposit bonuses. As the name suggests, Match Deposit Bonuses refund an initial deposit, as long as it is up to a certain sum.

Player Incentive Evolution

With the continuous evolution of the digital gambling landscape, casinos are persistently brainstorming innovative ways to attract and retain their clientele. Some establishments are venturing into exclusive tournaments where participants can engage in competitive gaming, with leaderboards showcasing the top players.

These tournaments not only satiate players’ competitive spirits but also offer substantial rewards for those who rank at the top. Additionally, loyalty programs have gained traction. Through these programs, the more you play, the more points you accumulate, which can later be converted into in-game currency, exclusive bonuses, or even tangible gifts.

Emerging Technologies and Player Experience

Another facet making waves in the online casino domain is the integration of augmented and virtual reality. With VR headsets, players can experience a 360-degree immersive casino world, navigating virtual casino floors, interacting with other players, or even enjoying live concerts after a game. AR, on the other hand, is reshaping mobile gaming by blending the real and virtual worlds, enhancing engagement levels.

While these technological advances might not be a direct ‘bonus’ like free spins, they significantly elevate the gaming experience, making the platform more enticing. Ultimately, as the lines between gaming and reality blur, online casinos are set to offer an experience that’s unparalleled in its depth and immersion.

Final Thoughts

While online casinos are certainly growing and developing, free spins remain the kings of online casino bonuses. It is absolutely true that other bonuses can be just as useful. However, as far as most gamblers are concerned, free spins are still the best choice.

What are the most demanded casino games?

Since the emergence of games of chance, until our modern world, we have seen a fascinating evolution and transformation, which has allowed games that are true classics to establish themselves among the favorites of today’s players, adapting amazingly to new trends and game modalities, these are more than an entertaining alternative to pass the time, which challenges our mind, but also an excellent opportunity to profit from them.

Throughout this renovation process, players have become an integral part of this evolution, adapting to the gaming habits and the advances achieved through technology, allowing these games to transcend from generation to generation.

The adrenaline of participating in poker games full of strategy or spinning the roulette wheel to hit the winning number provides an undeniable attraction to these games, regardless of whether it is in a physical or digital casino.

If you are a fan of casino games, you probably have a clear idea of which games are most in demand. However, if you still have doubts, we will review them and why they are so popular.

Let’s start with one of the most emblematic and oldest games of chance, the roulette, which is one of the players’ favorites nowadays. Although this game has undergone important changes throughout history, it has maintained its essence. With the arrival of the digitalization of games such as roulette, it has been possible to include innovative elements and styles that highlight the visual appeal of this game, which does not allow it to go unnoticed among the options.

We continue this selection of the most popular games with blackjack, which has undoubtedly maintained its popularity over time, even in its adaptation to online gambling. One of the reasons for its popularity is its simplicity at the time of playing, which provides accessibility to all types of players of all ages and levels of experience who achieve an exciting and competitive experience in this game.

If we were to close our eyes and imagine a sound that transports us to the atmosphere of a casino, the typical sound of slot machines would surely come to mind. These are the undisputed stars of casinos, which is why we have seen them featured in movies, physical casinos, and virtual ones in a truly versatile manner. Their operation is quick and simple: pull the lever and see if luck is on your side. That is why slots are one of the most loved games in casinos. In addition, you can resort to bonuses such as free spins, which allow this kind of promotion. It is better to check which online casinos offer the best games and bonuses and see the different payouts provided.

Poker has also remained a favorite in land-based and online casinos. Poker has an undisputed popularity, combining skill and strategy, making it an entertaining and exciting way to play, captivating all players, from novices to professionals. Online poker also can offer various game modes and tournaments, which add some adrenaline to the experience and have become a great way to improve skills and even compete against opponents from all over the world without the need to be physically present in a casino, which makes this an accessible and exciting alternative, and of course one of the most requested in casinos.

From the ancient games where seeds were used to mark the cards to the present day, Bingo has adapted to each stage of its history, maintaining a loyal fan base that has allowed it to maintain its popularity over the years. It is a game enjoyed by lovers of social games and, of course, a classic in traditional bingo halls. However, its online version has also gained ground in the gaming industry. Although it may not seem to have the same notoriety as other casino games, Bingo still occupies a privileged place for those looking for fun and social connections in the gaming world, accessible to all ages.

The world of casinos is one of the most fascinating and versatile entertainment alternatives we find today, allowing its popularity to grow steadily and adapt to an increasingly digitalized world.

The different options we have today in casino games are not only an indisputable attraction for the regular players of gambling halls, but it has become a key element that has managed to conquer new gambling fans, breaking even geographical borders.

With the advent of new technologies, this industry has been stimulated in a simple way that can be accessed at the touch of a button, from anywhere, and also have the opportunity to choose from an exciting variety of gaming options, from the classics to new trends, making the gaming experience truly rewarding. Which game do you prefer?

Albums Out Today: Taylor Swift, DJ Shadow, the Mountain Goats, Sofia Kourtesis, and More

In this segment, we showcase the most notable albums out each week. Here are the albums out on October 27, 2023:


Taylor Swift, 1989 (Taylor’s Version)

1989 (Taylor’s Version), the fourth release in Swift’s series of re-recorded albums, has arrived. “The 1989 album changed my life in countless ways, and it fills me with such excitement to announce that my version of it will be out October 27th,” Swift wrote in a social media post announcing the album. “To be perfectly honest, this is my most FAVORITE re-record I’ve ever done because the 5 From The Vault tracks are so insane. I can’t believe they were ever left behind.” The album features five vault tracks: ”Slut!’’, which was written by Swift, Jack Antonoff, and Patrik Berger, ‘Say Don’t Go’ (written with Dianne Warren), as well as ‘Now That We Don’t Talk’, ‘Suburban Legends’, and ‘Is It Over Now?’, which are Swift and Antonoff co-writes.


DJ Shadow, Action Adventure

DJ Shadow has released a new album, Action Adventure, via Mass Appeal/Liquid Amber. The follow-up to 2019’s Our Pathetic Age is a largely instrumental LP and features the early single ‘Ozone Scraper’. “This is about my relationship to music,” Joshua Paul Davis said of the album. “My life as a collector and curator. All my records and tapes, and no one else’s.” He added, “I didn’t want to write music that was formatted for vocalists,” he added. “I wanted to write music that flexed different energies.”


The Mountain Goats, Jenny from Thebes

The Mountain Goats are back with a new album, Jenny from Thebes, a sequel to their 2002 LP All Hail West Texas. Out now via Merge Records, the record was produced by Trina Shoemaker and features guitar by Bully’s Alicia Bognanno (who produced 2021’s Bleed Out), horn and string arrangements by Matt Douglas, and backing vocals from Kathy Valentine of the Go-Go’s and Matt Nathanson. “If we’re going to do a sequel to a record that was recorded almost entirely on a boombox,” John Darnielle remarked, “why not do the opposite and make it as big as possible?”


Sofia Kourtesis, Madres

Sofia Kourtesis has unveiled her debut album, Madres, today via Ninja Tune. Ahead of its release, the Berlin-based, Peruvian producer and singer-songwriter previewed the LP with the singles ‘Estación Esperanza’, ‘Si Te Portas Bonito’, and title track. The album is dedicated to Peter Vajkoczy, a renowned neurosurgeon who helped save her mother’s life after a cancer diagnosis. In a statement about the title track, Kourtesis said: “Madres has no gender. Madres loves to protect the ones you love. If you get lost, follow your mother’s voice, they will always bring you back.”


Angie McMahon, Light, Dark, Light Again

Angie McMahon has issued a new LP, Light, Dark, Light Again, via AWAL. The follow-up to 2019’s Salt includes the advance tracks ‘Saturn Returning’‘Letting Go’, ‘Fireball Whiskey’, and ‘Exploding’. It was co-produced by Brad Cook and recorded across a year between McMahon’s home city of Naarm/Melbourne, Australia, regional Victoria, and the North Carolina town of Durham, with a studio band that included Bon Iver drummer Matt McCaughan, Canadian singer-songwriter Leif Vollebekk, and Phil Cook.


King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, The Silver Cord

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard have put out their second album of 2023, The Silver Cord, which is available in two versions. “The first version’s really condensed, trimming all the fat,” Stu Mackenzie explained in a press release. “And on the second version, that first song, ‘Theia,’ is 20 minutes long. It’s the ‘everything’ version – those seven songs you’ve already heard on the first version, but with a whole lot of other shit we record while making it. It’s for the Gizz-heads.” He continued, “I love Donna Summer’s records with Giorgio Moroder, and I’d never listen to the short versions now – I’m one of those people who wants to hear the whole thing. We’re testing the boundaries of people’s attention spans when it comes to listening to music, perhaps – but I’m heavily interested in destroying such concepts.”


The Gaslight Anthem, History Books

The Gaslight Anthem have returned with their first LP in nine years, History Books, out now via Thirty Tigers. Ahead of its release, the band shared the title track – a collaboration with Bruce Springsteen – as well as ‘Little Fires’ featuring PUP frontman Stefan Babcoc. “None of us wanted to make a very somber or serious record showing how much we’ve matured,” frontman Brian Fallon said in a press release. “We’ve all changed and grown and learned so much, but the overall mood was a feeling of excitement to be back together and making music that means something to us.”


Wild Nothing, Hold

Wild Nothing are back with their first new album in five years, Hold, out now via Captured Tracks. The Indigo follow-up marks Jack Tatum’s first self-produced album since his 2010 debut Gemin features contributions from Hatchie, Molly Burch, Becca Mancari, and Tatum’s wife, Dana. “I’ve sat with this record for a very long time now, so naturally I’m both excited and apprehensive to let it see the light,” he said in a statement. “It’s my first record as a father. My first self-produced record since my debut. It’s a record that deals in existential themes but doesn’t always take itself too seriously. It’s not afraid of pop but it’s hopefully not afraid to be strange either. It has fun, gets sad, dwells in the quiet moments and embraces the loud ones. It’s me doing what I love and feeling grateful for it.”


The Kills, God Games

The Kills have drooped a new album, God Games, their first since 2016’s Ash & Ice. Out now via Domino, the record features the previously shared singles ‘New York’, ‘LA Hex’, ‘103’, and ‘Wasterpiece’. Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince composed its 12 songs primarily on piano, but recorded them in an old church with Grammy-winning producer Paul Epworth, who happened to be their first soundman back in 2002.


Ragana, Desolation’s Flower

Ragana – the heavy music duo of Maria and Coley – have come out with a new album titled  Desolation’s Flower via The Flenser. Now based in Olympia and Oakland, the band came together in 2011 in the DIY punk scene of Olympia. Their new LP was engineered by Nicholas Wilbur at the Unknown Studio in Anacortes, Washington, and follows 2017’s You Take Nothing, a 2018 split with Thou called Let Our Names Be Forgotten, and the 2019 EP We Know That the Heavens Are Empty.


Other albums out today:

katie dey, never falter hero girl; Shabazz Palaces, Robed in Rareness; Duran Duran, Danse Macabre; Marina Herlop, Nekkuja; Poppy, Zig; American Analog Set, For Forever; Black Pumas, Chronicles of a Diamond; Mariah the Scientist, To Be Eaten Alive; OMD, Bauhaus Staircase; Video Age, Away From the Castle; Jessi Colter, Edge of Forever; Robert Finley, Black Bayou; The Serfs, Half Eaten by DogsMike Reed, The Separatist PartyMr Eazi, The Evil Genius; Taking Back Sunday, 152; Mario Diaz de Leon, Spark and Earth.

Listen to Taylor Swift’s ‘1989 (Taylor’s Version)’ Featuring Five Vault Tracks

Taylor Swift has released 1989 (Taylor’s Version), a re-recorded version of her fifth studio album, 1989. The singer announced it during her concert at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on August 9 (aka 8/9) – eight years, nine months, and 13 days since the album’s original release. Stream it below.

“The 1989 album changed my life in countless ways, and it fills me with such excitement to announce that my version of it will be out October 27th,” Swift wrote in a social media post announcing the album. “To be perfectly honest, this is my most FAVORITE re-record I’ve ever done because the 5 From The Vault tracks are so insane. I can’t believe they were ever left behind.” She then revealed the ‘From the Vault’ song titles: ”Slut!’’ (written by Swift, Jack Antonoff, and Patrik Berger), ‘Say Don’t Go’ (written with Dianne Warren), ‘Now That We Don’t Talk’, ‘Suburban Legends’, and ‘Is It Over Now?’ (all three of which are Swift and Antonoff co-writes).

1989 (Taylor’s Version) follows Red (Taylor’s Version) and Fearless (Taylor’s Version), which came out in 2021, and Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), which arrived earlier this year.

Films on MUBI in November, 2023

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This November, MUBI, the renowned film streaming platform, is set to captivate cinephiles with an exceptional lineup titled Master Thieves: Heist Films. Featuring enigmatic personas, inventive plots, heart-pounding action, and ingenious plots, this curated collection embodies the quintessential heist experience. It will also include cinema classics such as Sidney Lumet’s Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead and David Fincher’s Fight Club.

List of Films on MUBI in November, 2023

1/11/2023 Bone Tomahawk S. Craig Zahler Neo-westerns: A New Frontier
1/11/2023 Yuki’s Sun Hayao Miyazaki Short Films Big Names
1/11/2023 Good Thanks, You? Molly Manning Walker
3/11/2023 Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead Sidney Lumet Master Thieves: Heist Films
3/11/2023 Widows Steve McQueen Master Thieves: Heist Films
3/11/2023 The Innocent Louis Garrel MUBI Spotlight
10/11/2023 Assault on Precinct 13 John Carpenter
15/11/2023 The Edge of Heaven Fatih Akın Soul Cinema: Films by Fatih Akin
15/11/2023 Soul Kitchen Fatih Akın Soul Cinema: Films by Fatih Akin
15/11/2023 Polluting Paradise Fatih Akın Soul Cinema: Films by Fatih Akin
15/11/2023 The Golden Glove Fatih Akın Soul Cinema: Films by Fatih Akin
15/11/2023 Werewolf Ashley McKenzie
15/11/2023 Queens of the Qing Dynasty Ashley McKenzie
17/11/2023 Fight Club David Fincher Bruised Egos: Fight Club and American Psycho
17/11/2023 American Psycho Mary Harron Bruised Egos: Fight Club and American Psycho
24/11/2023 Dune David Lynch
29/11/2023 Jill, Uncredited Anthony Ing Brief Encounters

Adventure Awaits – Unleashing the Full Potential of Your Travels

Travel is an important aspect of many people’s lives. They allow you to expand your horizons, and learn new cultures, traditions, history, and geography of the world. Travel also promotes personal development, improves health, and increases happiness. They can become a source of inspiration and creativity, help relieve stress, and escape from everyday worries. 

Travel can promote cultural exchange because it allows us to experience other cultures first-hand. Being in another country, we find ourselves in completely different conditions: nature, life, and society. We see other people, we absorb all the features of the place where we are. Whether it’s a seaside resort where we enjoy the sea and relaxation, or an excursion trip that enriches our cultural level, where we get to know the city and its sights. Any trip gives us unforgettable memories and sensations that will “recharge” us for a long time after arrival.

Historical Exploration – Uncover the Past

Visiting historical monuments gives us a glimpse into the life and culture of our ancestors. We have the opportunity, as if for a short time, to move into the past and feel the atmosphere of those eras that have long been left behind. In addition, after such places, you can better understand the history and significance of the cultural heritage of different countries and civilizations. 

Each historical place has its unique history, architecture, and atmosphere. Some of them are witnesses of great historical events, others are architectural masterpieces, and others simply inspire a sense of awe with their beauty and grandeur. Cultural diversity is reflected in many aspects of life, including architecture, art, music, dance, cuisine, and religious practices. 

Visiting local holidays and festivals will allow you to immerse yourself in local culture and get unique experiences. Many interesting places offer the opportunity to learn about crafts that have existed for centuries. You will be able to visit workshops and see the process of creating traditional products such as carpets, ceramics, wood carvings, national clothing, and jewelry. Historical and cultural sites such as castles, museums, and ancient cities emotionally transport the guest back in time, revealing the grandeur and glory of an era.

Arts and Entertainment – Attend Performances and Exhibitions

The opinion of some people that art exhibitions are uninteresting is wrong. The purpose of any exhibition is to demonstrate certain material. There are practically no boundaries in theme, boldness, beauty, and unusualness. Those who, for example, find it difficult to perceive low-color, strict graphics will happily find a place in their hearts for bright, rich paintings. Those who are tired of looking at classic paintings will be happy to gaze at fresh and non-standard works of contemporary art.

Thus, almost every person, regardless of social status, age, or level of culture, can enjoy visiting an exhibition or gallery if they find a suitable option for themselves. After visiting an unusual exhibition, you will experience a renewal within yourself. Also after such a kind of relaxation, you will find a solution to an old problem or be able to look at the situation from a different angle.

By attending such cultural events, you can establish social contacts with people who are interested in or professionally involved in art. You can learn more from them about some details or points related to their work and the world of art in general.

Adventure Sports – Thrills and Adrenaline

Extreme tourism is very multifaceted, yet there is no single and unambiguous definition of this phenomenon. In general, extreme tourism can be characterized as traveling to hard-to-reach, remote places (mountains, caves, jungles, deserts, etc.) and engaging in sports that involve difficulties for the human body and danger.

If earlier extreme sports were in demand only among certain groups of people, now there are an increasing number of clients who want to find themselves in extreme natural conditions, engage in life-threatening sports during their holidays, and visit places of natural and man-made disasters.

Let’s look at some of the popular extreme activities:

  • For those who like to test themselves, improve their physical fitness, and learn to control their body, rock climbing is a great option.
  • Go-karting will allow you to surrender to speed and test your reaction. Small racing cars can reach speeds of up to 85 km per hour, and their design allows them to enter dangerous corners without slowing down much.
  • You can jump from a height with a dynamic (stretching) rope. This type of extreme sport is called rope jumping and it is for absolute adrenaline junkies. Emotions and experiences are comparable only to a parachute jump.
  • Another option to get an adrenaline rush is to fly in a wind tunnel, where the airflow, hitting with force from below, makes you feel like a parachutist in free fall.

Whatever entertainment you choose, in any case, delight and unforgettable impressions are guaranteed.

Relaxation and Wellness – Unwind Amidst Tranquility

The choice between passive and active recreation can greatly affect our mood and overall impression of the trip. Passive holidays offer the opportunity to relax, enjoy tranquility, and simply pamper yourself, while active holidays energize us, allow us to experience adrenaline, and create unforgettable experiences. By selecting holidays according to our mood, we can create the perfect combination of both options for ourselves. After an active holiday, you want to relax a little and lie down on the beach, read a book, do yoga, or play at casumo сasino nz. States of complete relaxation are also a necessity for our bodies. You can enjoy endless views of the ocean, lie on the sunny sand, and try local exotic cocktails. This way you will forget about everyday worries and can enjoy peace and tranquility, restoring your strength.

Photography and Documenting Memories

They say that travel is a small life, the memories of which should be represented in original photographs. To capture the mood and atmosphere of a place or event, take photos of action. Photos in diary format will tell you about the highlights of your trip and interesting events in your life.

You can ask someone passing by to take a photo of you with a camera while shooting. As a result, you will have both a photograph taken yourself and an “outside view.” Such photographs will tell not only about the places you visited but also about what happened and how.

Travel is about creating memories, and high-quality photos allow us to make these precious moments last longer in our memories.

Artist Spotlight: ME REX

Based between London and Brighton, ME REX started out the solo project of songwriter Myles McCabe and has since expanded into a trio with the addition of Phoebe Cross (drums/vocals) and Rich Mandell (bass/keys/vocals). As a full band, the band released the double EP Triceratops/Stegosaurus via the UK label Big Scary Monsters in late 2020, and followed it up a year later with Megabear, a uniquely ambitious and immersive 52-track collection meant to be played in shuffle mode. Another compelling pair of EPs, Plesiosaur and Plesiosaur, came out in 2022, when ME REX were prepping what’s billed as their debut album proper, Giant Elk. Despite being recorded at four different studios, with the band having limited time to practice the material before laying it down, the songs cohere into a cathartic, fully-realized work whose cyclical structure mirrors the narrative that unfolds – one of growth through loss, loneliness and unity. Bound up in metaphor, the details may be hard to pin down and are open to interpretation, but the story resonates more than it confounds, and the music reaches new peaks of sweeping catharsis. The backdrop may always be one of impending collapse, but as ME REX put it on the closer, ‘Summer Brevis’,  there’s still “a little bliss and ecstasy yet to squeeze out of the days we have left.”

We caught up with ME REX’s Myles McCabe and Phoebe Cross for the latest edition of our Artist Spotlight series to talk about the journey behind Giant Elk, the mythology around the album, and more.


You put out two doubles EPs and the Megabear project before Giant Elk. When did you realize this collection was shaping up to be a full-length record, and what did that affect the way you approached it?

Myles McCabe: It was a real journey with this one. There were times when we were like, “Oh god, it’s taking so long, we’re not gonna have time to finish it.” It kind of put itself together in a way, in the sense that, we have a concept for what the next record is going to be, but it’s a bit of an ambitious one, so we knew that we would have to put something out in the meantime. We looked at re-recording the EPs that I made before Rich and Phoebe were in the band and reinterpreting those songs. I was like, I’ll write something else that fits in with the context of those songs and very much sits within the themes of those records. So ‘Python’ came – I believe that was the first one. But then writing from that position, a couple of more songs came, and then another one and another one, and at that point made more sense for it to be a full-length record. The songs kept on coming, and it got to the point where they were actually pushing the older ones out as well because I was writing songs, bringing them to the band, and we were completing them together. The new songs that were coming were very much in that world, and for me, it began to take the shape of this sort of narrative – but even then, that in my mind is this very amorphous, loose, shifting thing. I don’t know if you could call it a story, exactly, but a narrative certainly.

How much do you still see that narrative as an extension of the mythology of your previous work, and how much do you feel like it’s moving forward from it? Does mythology feel like the right word for it?

MM: I think of it very much as sitting in the same world. I like to think of it in comparison to Discworld, if you’re familiar with Terry Pratchett – the way that you’ve got all these different stories but they take place in the same universe and there’s crossover between them and there are different throughlines as well. I think mythology is a good way of putting it, because you have these perspectives that maybe shift around, or you have characters who appear as one thing and then somewhere else may occupy the same sort of space but arrive in a very different way, and are communicating, in a sort of transrational sense, something outside of that. Someone actually compared Megabear to Finnegans Wake, this book that’s pretty much incomprehensible, but you have, from what I could glean from the introduction, the same few stories that are told over and over again in different ways, using language very differently, using characters that represent the same things each time the story is told, but the characters change, the language changes, the perspective changes, the meaning changes. That’s in a sense how I approach interpreting something like Giant Elk.

Phoebe Cross: Is that what you were reading on tour once?

MM: I definitely brought it with me on one of the shows or festivals or something.

PC: You’re so mysterious, because I’ve never seen you read, but I feel like you read a lot.

MM: [laughs] I certainly like to give that impression.

Is that narrative framework something you discuss as a band?

MM: We actually had a bit of a moment when I tried to discuss what the album was about, and everyone was like, “What are you talking about?”

PC: I was like, “What are you talking about, worms? I’ve interpreted the whole thing wrong!” [laughs]

MM: The way that I like to approach this kind of thing is that everyone’s interpretation is just as valid as anyone else’s, including myself. So I don’t like to be too prescriptive about meaning or interpretation, but when it came to preparing the release, we got a question: So what is the album about? I wrote out this long thing, saying, well, it’s about the worm who’s split in half, but that happens cyclically and infinitely – but they’re not worms, but they’re people, but it’s me, but it’s not me. It was this long explanation of this thing that is very abstract in my own understanding and is really, to me, just an interpretation of what is on the record. It’s something I struggle a little bit with when it comes to this thing of having to define and nail down a meaning, because then I feel like you’re cutting away at all of the other possible interpretations. By saying it means this, you’re saying doesn’t mean that. Also, I have the belief as well that you can write things that you don’t know are in there, so to say it’s about this, I am potentially selling short my own understanding of the piece.

PC: I posted on one of our stories today that it’s not our album anymore, it’s yours. It’s like, “There you go, world, what do you make of this?”

MM: As soon as the vibration leaves the speaker, it’s yours to do with what you will.

Phoebe, how did your own vision or understanding of the record develop over time?

PC: This is the most collaborative we’ve probably ever written together, so it was lovely getting in the rehearsal studio, and depending on what mood I was in, the songs became different. I think the drums speak a lot and give a lot of energy or less energy depending on you know how it’s going that day, so some some of the drumming ideas I had really stuck. Just because the other two were like, “Keep going like that,” it was quite nice to be like, “Alright, I’ll do this drum pattern,” and it can completely change how a song feels. It’s just been lovely watching it grow that way. It really felt like quite an emotional album to be a part of for me.

The opener, ‘Slow Worm’, provides a kind of thesis for the album: “Everything that comes together will eventually divide.” What drew you to that idea, especially as a starting point for Giant Elk?

MM: I think central to it for me is a grief metaphor. A lot of the stuff that I’ve written in the last couple of years has been touched by the fact that I lost my dad in 2020, and coming to an understanding of what grief is. To me, that metaphor of the worm being cut, losing a part of itself but growing into a new creature – everything that comes together will eventually divide, and then divide and divide and divide again, and in that way, multiply and continue and become whole.

PC: I have such an image of cells. I don’t know if it’s because I did a biology degree, but I just realize how much I have that in my head when you’re singing it: the beginning of life, but I suppose also things like cancer, things dividing wrong. It’s life and death, innit?

MM: [referencing a lyric from the song ‘Python’] It’s not life and/or death anymore. But yeah, exactly, that is an image as well that has occurred to me. The idea of evolution as well and dividing out down through generations, splitting and changing and diversifying and becoming this huge breadth of living things.

This idea of a huge mass of living things serving as the narrator was part of what drew me to Giant Elk, and it’s what made ‘Spiders’ stand out as being quite personal, because it doesn’t center around a “we” the way most of the songs here do.

MM: Interestingly, that’s the first song that I ever wrote as ME REX. That one’s really old, and it set the tone, certainly for those early EPs, and by extension for all the recent songs. So in a way, it’s all building into the world of that song.

Do you see it differently now it exists as part of that world?

Yeah, absolutely. If you’re the same person that you were a decade-ish ago, you’re doing something wrong. [laughs] So I almost see that person as a character within this world, and I look at that person with more compassion now and a little bit more understanding than I would have looked at myself at the time when I wrote. I suppose in a way it’s sort of a dialogue with that person, the newer songs.

Do you have any favorite memories of recording the album?

MM: There were definitely times in rehearsal, particularly as it was getting to the crunch where I had not finished writing my part for the songs and we had the dates in and we had to record – I don’t particularly write well under pressure, but playing, for example, ‘Summer Brevis’ together, they both really changed that up. Phoebe, for example, was like, “Let’s just slow it down.”

PC: We slowed it down, did we?

MM: Yeah, we massively slowed it down.

PC: I’ve been having such a Big Thief moment for years now, but I’d watched a lot of [James Krivchenia] lately, and that drum part I really wanted to do.

MM: It just completely landed, and the song took on a completely different character from that point. It makes much more sense as an ending song.

Could you share one thing that inspires you about each other, as musicians or just friends?

MM: I’ve got quite a lot that inspires me about about Phoebe and Rich.

PV: Aw, go ahead. [laughs]

MM: With Phoebe, it’s a very specific kind of optimism and a very genuine positivity, very much seeing the best in people. Rich is kind of the rock of the band. He very much holds us together, and he has such an eye and ear for detail and quality, for things that work and things that could be adjusted. I could go on all night about them.

PC: That’s so sweet. Obviously, Myles, I love your lyrics and musicianship. I was listening to Miles before I was even in a band with him. Whenever a ME REX gig was happening in London, I’d try and get down to it, so I was already a big fan of Myles, and I’m glad he let me be in his band and do all these things for the last – it feels like we’ve been doing this for quite a while now as a full band. But Myles has got this quiet determination about him as well – nothing seems to faze him. Me and Rich are hard-wired to be a bit more nervous and anxious, but Myles is quite a solid – a rock in a different way, you know. I think you need that in a band.


This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.

ME REX’s Giant Elk is out now via Big Scary Monsters.

The Beatles Announce Final Song ‘Now and Then’, Out Next Week

The Beatles’ final song is coming out next week. ‘Now and Then’ is set to arrive on November 2 at 10am ET (via Apple Corps Ltd./Capitol/UMe) and will be available digitally and as a double A-side single. A 12-minute documentary telling the story behind the track, written and directed by Oliver Murray, will premiere on November 1 at 3:30pm EDT. Watch a trailer for it below.

‘Now and Then’ originated as a demo that John Lennon recorded at his home in New York’s Dakota Building in 1978, featuring just Lennon’s voice and piano. In 1994, Yoko Ono gave the recording to McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, along with Lennon’s demos for ‘Free as a Bird’ and ‘Real Love’. The remaining Beatles members attempted to finish ‘Now and Then’ with producer Jeff Lynne for The Beatles Anthology, but at that time, technological limitations prevented them from properly isolating Lennon’s vocals from the piano. In 2022, McCartney and Starr set out to complete the song after working with director Peter Jackson on his Get Back documentary. Jackson and his sound team, led by Emile de la Rey, were able to isolate Lennon’s vocals from the original home demo with the help of artificial intelligence.

In addition to Lennon’s vocal, the song features electric and acoustic guitar recorded in 1995 by Harrison, Starr’s new drum part, and bass, guitar, and piano from McCartney, who also added a slide guitar solo inspired by Harrison. The track comes with original cover art by Ed Ruscha.

“There it was, John’s voice, crystal clear,” McCartney said in a press release. “It’s quite emotional. And we all play on it, it’s a genuine Beatles recording. In 2023 to still be working on Beatles music, and about to release a new song the public haven’t heard, I think it’s an exciting thing.”

Starr added: “It was the closest we’ll ever come to having him back in the room, so it was very emotional for all of us. It was like John was there, you know. It’s far out.”

George Harrison’s widow, Olivia, wrote: “Back in 1995, after several days in the studio working on the track, George felt the technical issues with the demo were insurmountable and concluded that it was not possible to finish the track to a high enough standard. If he were here today, Dhani and I know he would have whole-heartedly joined Paul and Ringo in completing the recording of ‘Now and Then’.”

And John Lennon’s son Sean Ono Lennon commented: “It was incredibly touching to hear them working together after all the years that Dad had been gone. It’s the last song my dad, Paul, George and Ringo got to make together. It’s like a time capsule and all feels very meant to be.”

In addition to the release of ‘Now and Then’, expanded reissues of 1962-1966 (The Red Album) and 1967-1970 (The Blue Album) will be released November 10 with expanded tracklists. All the songs have been mixed in stereo and Dolby Atmos.

bar italia Share Video for New Single ‘worlds greatest emoter’

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bar italia have shared a new single, ‘worlds greatest emoter’, taken from their upcoming second LP of 2023, The Twits. The track follows previous entries ‘my little tony’ and ‘Jelsy’ and comes with an accompanying video, which you can check out below.

The Twits, the follow-up to May’s Tracey Denim, is set to arrive on November 3 via Matador.