News related to
Edge

The Phoenix Phamily CD3 cover, insides & back – On the cover, clockwise from top left, that’s Tom & Jan Staebell, Gene & JoAnn Fioretti, Dolores & Don Brown and Jimi & Nancy Hopewell

CD3 Disc with an AI Generated Graphic of a Rock Band of Mythical Flaming Phoenix Birds

Wall O’Pix in our Chicago Studio – The Phoenix band members, Tom, Don, Jimi & Gene + their mates, bottom right, Jan, Dolores, Nancy & JoAnn – also pictured with the Phoenix Phamily, is Rich Bauer, left middle and Ed Chabot, right middle

Never Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll

LAS VEGAS, NV, UNITED STATES, September 8, 2023/EINPresswire.com/ — These days we have plenty of great older Rockers to remind us that we’re never too old to Rock & Roll; Mick Jagger & Paul McCartney jump to mind. But sadly, there are also stark reminders that even those very young, or with youthful spirits, can leave us too soon; Hendrix, Morrison, Joplin, Jones & Cobain, all gone @ 27.

During an interview with The Phoenix, they spoke of a surreal feeling they had while recording their cover tribute to The Traveling Wilburys’ End of The Line, “realizing Roy, George & Tom were there.” The Phoenix knows, all too well, how fragile the life of a band and it’s members can be. They lost their original drummer (Jim), had a guitarist (Rich) forced to quit due to health issues and recently the spouse (Dolores) of their guitarist and sound engineer (Don) passed away, leaving a palpable void in what they now refer to as their Phoenix Phamily.

The guys just completed their 3rd CD of tribute cover recordings and decided to dedicate this one, CD3, to Dolores. She’s featured on the inside cover and the last 3 tunes were planned, recorded and dedicated to honor and memorialize her sweetly joyful spirit.

Listening to them talk about their recording process, it’s apparent they’ve been at this a long time and they clearly enjoy doing it together. The guys are mostly retired from professional careers as business executives, engineers and even a MD cardiologist. They live all over, Chicago, Phoenix, Las Vegas and BC Canada, and yet, they manage to stay close and current through regular Zoom sessions. The band is not a money making endeavor for them, indeed they told me it’s about constantly spending money and, more importantly, time doing what they love, making music together.

The fine print around the edge of their new CD3 disc says it well: “The Phoenix is a not-for-profit Rock & Roll Band established in Winona, Minnesota in 1968 and still recording their classic tribute performances for their own enjoyment and to share with Family, Friends & Fans…”

Btw, about the crazy graphic on the CD3 disc; it’s an AI generated image of a rock band consisting of actual mythical flaming Phoenix birds. Apparently the guy that did it (Jimi) likes it, Don tolerates it, Tom doesn’t care and Gene is embarrassed by “whatever it is.” “A healthy consensus & resolution process,” said Jimi, “that’s a key element to keeping such a group of humans together for so long.”

Having listened to all 3 of their CD’s and after watching their videos on their Facebook Fan Page and YouTube Channel, it’s fair to say these guys are good. Some of the tunes they’ve covered are very demanding, especially the Moody Blues orchestrated pieces that they’ve meticulously reproduced, always with a spin of their own. It’s impressive how they’ve been able to produce a recorded sound & feeling as though they were all in the studio together playing live. Their performances can be checked out on Facebook and YouTube.

From the beginning in 1968: Don (guitar), Gene (keys, guitar), Tom (bass), Rich (guitar) and Jim (drums), friends from Saint Mary’s College, in Winona, Minnesota, formed The Phoenix rock band in the Fall of 1967. These were booming years for (what we now call) Classic Rock and these guys were in the thick of it; playing covers of their favorite band’s hits for enthusiastic college crowds.

After graduation, as often happens, everyone went their separate ways across the US & Canada; embarking on their careers, getting married and starting families. Through it all, they kept playing with a string of other bands. As fate would have it, some of those bands were in Chicago where Don & Jimi (current drummer) met and played together for years.

2014: The unfortunate passing of The Phoenix original drummer, Jim Rauer, was a tragic catalyst bringing the guys back together and igniting the idea for a reunion. Don tracked Jimi down in Vegas and they set a date for a week long reunion filled with catching up and a whole lot of playing & recording.

Since then annual reunions followed in 2017, 2018 & 2019 (2020 was canceled. You know why). Each year the band recorded some of their old covers as well as some new work, including an original written by a friend from St. Mary’s, Ed Chabot.

In order to keep the music going between reunions, the guys developed a process for recording remotely. They Zoom for about an hour a couple times a month to discuss all the tunes in process and what they’re going to cover next. They strive for a holistic sound as though they were playing live together. It was a bit of a learning curve, but each contributor has equipment and ability to digitally record their performance then send tracks to the Master Mixer/Producer Extraordinaire – Don Brown who tirelessly works to keep things on track while building their mixes. Friends of The Phoenix have contributed their talents to their recordings as well – Ed Chabot, vocals and slide; Dan Nelson, vocals; Michael Sullivan, pedal steel; Richard Schoen, Jim Gilbert, Lisa Lombardy & Hunter Hopewell on vocals, to name a few. The guys always enjoy & appreciate having these talented performers on board.

To date The Phoenix has 60+ tunes in the can and 15+ music videos, which you can see on their Facebook Fan Page and YouTube Channel, with many more to come…

It’s cool realizing these guys have been playing together for 55+ years; they definitely have a strong brotherly bond centered around music which lifts their spirits and keeps them young at heart – Rock On!

Hunter James
Cre8ive Network, llc
702-575-5717
email us here
Visit us on social media:
Facebook
YouTube

By K Raveendran Barring platitudes, the joint statement between India and the US in the wake of President Joe Biden’s talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi ahead of the G20 summit is heavily loaded in favour of the United States rather than the other way around. Biden has done an aggressive sales pitch […]

The post Biden Makes An Aggressive Sales Pitch, May Be Taking A Few Orders Home first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

By Girish Linganna The 19-ton statue of the revered Hindu god Shiva, standing as a symbol of India’s determination to influence the global order, will undoubtedly catch the attention of world leaders attending the Group of 20  Summit  in  New Delhi on September 9 and 10.. The Nataraja dancing figure, an impressive 28-foot (8.5 meters) […]

The post Indian Prime Minister Has A Challenging Task Of Balancing At G20 Summit first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

An immersive phygital experience in IMDA PIXEL by Smobler,
The Sandbox, Unstoppable Domains and Ledger in collaboration with Clay Nation

SINGAPORE, September 8, 2023/EINPresswire.com/ — Smobler, a leading metaverse architect headquartered in Singapore, has announced the debut of its phygital experience, NOVA. The event will take place at IMDA Pixel Innovation Center on September 12, ahead of TOKEN2049 and Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix 2023.

NOVA is a celebration of the communities that are created by and connected with the Smobler ecosystem. It is an in-real-life (IRL) experience hosted in sync with large-scale crypto & web3 events to allow community members around the world to come together to meet, interact and foster collaborations in the burgeoning open metaverse.

The inaugural edition of NOVA is presented by Smobler together with The Sandbox, a leading decentralized gaming virtual world and a subsidiary of Animoca Brands; Unstoppable Domains, the largest web3 domain name provider and digital identity platform; and Ledger, the most trusted hardware wallet provider, in collaboration with Clay Nation, a multi-dimensional clay animation and digital collectible project.

“The metaverse is not a replacement of the real world but an augmentation of the varied identities we already inhabit. As we create more immersive, interoperable and pandemic proof experiences in the digital space, we still believe in the transformative power of human capital. We should never underestimate the value of a firm handshake and a genuine smile across the room. The best ideas in the world begin with a simple hello,” says Loretta Chen, Co-Founder and CEO of Smobler.

“It is important to show how the metaverse is an extension of our physical world where anyone can be creative and make connections in an inclusive virtual space to learn new skills and prepare themselves for future jobs in the digital economy. The NOVA phygital experience organized by Smobler in the heart of IMDA’s PIXEL demonstrates how Singapore is participating in this digitization movement and creating a blueprint for others to follow,” says Sebastien Borget, COO and Co-Founder of The Sandbox.

Smobler, a portfolio company of The Sandbox, has been onboarded into IMDA Pixel since June. The hub is 28,000 square feet of innovation space for ideation, experimentation and is one of the top ten launchpads in Southeast Asia.

NOVA will commence with a performance led by Andy Benjamin Cai, a veteran dancer who was chosen as the Chief Choreographer for the Singapore National Day Parade 2017 and 2022. He says, “Loretta gave me my first big break into professional theater fifteen years ago. She is known for exploring new artistic expressions, pushing the boundaries of creativity with intention, imagination and fun! I am ecstatic to pay it forward with budding creators and experimental technology!”

There will be a panel discussion moderated by Chen on “Trust Matters: Building in a Broken World”, joined by Borget, Alexandre Lemarchand, Vice President of Global Sales of Ledger, Lenna Onto, Founder and CEO of Clay Nation and Sandy Carter, COO of Unstoppable Domains.

Carter, who recently launched her book “The Tiger and The Rabbit: Harnessing the Power of the Metaverse, Web3, and AI for Business Success, A Business Fable” will share valuable lessons on digital identity, community, and data ownership as well as conduct a book signing.

“This event is powerful as it brings together the ecosystem. The power of digital identity in Web3 is a transformative force when embraced collectively by partners and users. It is the cornerstone that builds trust, enables secure interactions and empowers individuals to take control of their online presence.” Adds Sandy Carter, COO of Unstoppable Domains, “Together, we are not just navigating the digital frontier; we are shaping it, forging a path towards a more decentralized, secure, and user-centric online world.”

Another highlight of the event is the exhibition of Light and Brilliance (光宗耀祖) by Singaporean artist y/x and the launch of its digital equivalent in The Sandbox. y/x whose real name is Chua Koon Beng is also CEO of Spa Esprit Group, one of Singapore’s best known lifestyle companies,

“This is the first time that I am planning and presenting a phygital exhibition. I am heartened to be able to bring to the audience a series of works paying tribute to the late Mr. Lee Kuan Yew. This will be a deep and rich experience through a The Sandbox game that will reach out to a younger demographic across geographies alongside a physical exhibition at the Four Seasons.”

There will also be attractive giveaways and performances by Singaporean entertainers Leland and Inch Chua who will be announcing her Music For Good partnership with Smobler and The Sandbox.

NOVA is on for one day only from 10am to 2pm.

To reserve your spot, log on to https://nova2023.peatix.com/

Gianna Bui
Smobler
email us here
Visit us on social media:
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Instagram
YouTube
Other

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (Secular) have agreed form an alliance in Karnataka for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP will have an understanding on four to five seats with JD(S) for the Parliamentary election, former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said on Friday. “HD Deve Gowda traveled to Delhi this […]

The post BJP, JDS form alliance in Karnataka for Lok Sabha polls first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

The best AI driven content creator

Unleash the Power of AI-Driven Content Creation.

CRéTEIL, ILE DE FRANCE, FRANCE, September 8, 2023/EINPresswire.com/ — Today marks the launch of AIrticle-flow, a state-of-the-art SaaS product set to transform the content marketing landscape. Designed for businesses and individuals seeking efficient, high-quality content production, AIrticle-flow is poised to become a game-changer for digital marketers, bloggers, and content creators worldwide.

From Simple Themes to Rich, Comprehensive Articles

With AIrticle-flow, users can produce hundreds of blog articles with just a simple thematic description. No longer do content creators need to spend hours or even days brainstorming, researching, and drafting content. AIrticle-flow handles the heavy lifting, providing robust, well-researched articles at the click of a button.

High-Quality Images & Links to Boost Engagement and Credibility

One of the standout features of AIrticle-flow is its ability to source and integrate high-quality images relevant to the article’s theme. In addition to images, the software curates and includes links to authority websites, ensuring articles are both visually engaging and informative.

Customizable Links for Personalized Content Strategy

Understanding the importance of backlinks and SEO optimization, AIrticle-flow offers a unique feature: the insertion of custom links with associated keywords. This allows businesses and marketers to seamlessly integrate their strategic link-building efforts within the content.

Key Features of AIrticle-flow Include:

– Automatic generation of comprehensive blog articles from simple thematic descriptions.
– Integration of high-quality, relevant images within articles.
– Curation of links from authority websites to enhance article credibility.
– Custom link insertion with associated keywords to align with personal or business SEO strategies.

About AIrticle-flow

AIrticle-flow is developed with a vision to democratize content creation, making it accessible, efficient, and top-notch in quality. With a focus on user-friendliness and the integration of cutting-edge AI technology, AIrticle-flow is committed to driving the future of digital content production.

“We believe in the power of content and understand the challenges that come with producing consistent, high-quality content. With AIrticle-flow, we’re excited to provide a solution that not only addresses these challenges but also elevates the standard of content available online,” says Roman STEC, CEO of AIrticle-flow.

For more information or to start your AI-powered content journey, visit https://airticle-flow.com.

Roman STEC
AIrticle-flow
[email protected]
Visit us on social media:
LinkedIn

Creta

Screenshot of Creta Multiverse Dayroot

Screenshot of actual Creta Multiverse FPS game play

DUBAI, UAE, September 7, 2023/EINPresswire.com/ — The Next World Forum, a gaming event held in Riyadh on August 30th and 31st, gathered influential figures from the global gaming and esports industry. Organized by the Saudi Esports Federation, it served as a platform for industry discussions, emphasizing the esports economy’s rapid growth and the presence of key industry players.

The Next World Forum (NWF) not only provides an innovative opportunity to accelerate sector growth through investment and collaboration but also serves as a platform for intellectual exchange, discourse, and discussions to design the future and highlight potential. NWF serves as a meeting point for gaming and esports stakeholders to collaborate and share knowledge. It covers themes such as the esports economy, AI development, and the world’s fastest-growing games.

Prominent figures from global gaming companies, including Epic Games, Ubisoft, Roblox, Bandai Namco, Tencent, and Atari, participated in the event, alongside H.R.H Prince Faisal bin Bandar Al Saud, Chairman of Board of Directors of Saudi Esports Federation. Alexander Harutyunyan, Co-Founder and Chief Publishing Officer at Creta, also joined as a speaker, introducing Creta, a high-performance public blockchain Web3-based multiverse platform, which received significant interest from the audience. Creta’s presentation at the global event, NWF, signifies its entrance into the Middle Eastern gaming market and reflects its commitment to making strides in this region.

Creta, headquartered in Dubai, UAE, is a Web3-based metaverse gaming platform company. It comprises developers, publishers, and blockchain experts renowned in the global gaming industry. Notable figures include producer Ray Nakazato, Alexander Harutyunyan (former CEO of European game publisher INNOVA), and Seok-ho Yoon, CEO of CCR, known for developing Korea’s National Game Fortress. Yoshiki Okamoto, known for games like Street Fighter 2 and Monster Strike, is a key partner in the project, making Creta a contender in the competitive Web3 metaverse platform ecosystem.

With such prominent individuals involved, Creta is expected to lead the way in creating the most competitive Web3 metaverse platform ecosystem.

Creta’s platform development is led by Diverse, a Korean company with strong expertise in high-performance game engine technology and outstanding graphic capabilities. The Web3-based platform utilizes the high-performance public blockchain, Locus Chain, to create a massive multiverse that differs from existing metaverses. This multiverse is capable of combining and expanding numerous metaverses while maintaining photorealistic visual quality.

Creta offers four main components in its comprehensive Web3 platform service: Creta Multiverse (an endlessly expandable multiverse), Creta Game Platform (servicing Web2 and Web3 games), Creta Studio (enabling high-quality game and content creation), and Creta SuperClub (a Web3 community platform connecting the entire Creta platform).

The ability to provide such an extensive Web3 platform service is largely attributed to the use of Locus GameChain, which dramatically reduces server costs and addresses scalability issues through the utilization of the high-performance Locus Chain blockchain.

Alexander Harutyunyan, Co-Founder the Chief Publishing Officer of Creta, expressed his aspirations by stating, “During this event, we saw how interested the government is and how big the gaming and metaverse scene is in the Middle East. With Creta, we’re looking to show what the future holds for Web3 metaverse platforms and create a whole new gaming market in the Middle East.”

Creta is currently preparing for the early access service of SuperClub, a Web3 community platform, scheduled for October. Additionally, they plan to conduct a Closed Beta Test (CBT) of their first metaverse world by the end of the year.

For more information on Creta, see below:
Global Website: https://CRETA.world/
Official Japanese Website: https://creta.co.jp
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CRETA_WORLD

David Wang
Creta
+90 5365506816
email us here

By Girish Linganna Home to around 520,000 people and famous for its sun-kissed atolls, the Maldives is said to be dizzyingly beautiful with underwater marine life that has complex kingdoms of corals scattered across its thousand-odd isles. The tourism website of this archipelagic country in South Asia proudly announces: ‘Swim with Whale Sharks During Your […]

The post Maldives’s Presidential Poll On September 9 Has Geo-Political Consequence first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

Richard Wray, Chief Product Officer at CLOWD9

CLOWD9 Logo

B Corp Logo

CLOWD9 Logo 2

Senior Payments Executive joins the senior management team of payment cloud specialists that are revolutionising issuer processing

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, September 7, 2023/EINPresswire.com/ — CLOWD9, a pioneering force in the payments technology sector, is pleased to announce the appointment of Richard Wray as its new Chief Product Officer (CPO). Richard, formerly the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Carta Worldwide, brings a wealth of experience and innovation to CLOWD9, further strengthening the company’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge financial solutions.

As COO at Carta Worldwide, Richard Wray played a pivotal role in propelling the payments company to new heights in the fintech industry, as well as being instrumental in supporting and launching Mastercard’s Digital Enablement Services (MDES). Now, as CPO at CLOWD9, Richard will continue to drive and enhance the company’s innovative payment technology service offerings.

Founded by Suresh Vaghjiani, Cosmo Spens, Artur Grabowski, Robert Hampel, and Peter Selman, CLOWD9 was created to transform the technology that underpins the global payments system. To date, innovation in payments technology has predominantly focused on front-end systems, leaving back-end systems fragmented and lacking truly global solutions. Built entirely in the cloud, CLOWD9 has removed the need for physical hardware. Its decentralised model allows virtual access to the platform around the world, via multiple ‘instances’ allowing the transactions to be processed locally in each region or country with unrivalled reliability.

Suresh Vaghjiani, CLOWD9 founder and CEO said: “We are delighted to welcome Richard to the senior management team at CLOWD9. His exceptional track record in payment innovation with in-depth knowledge from his time at other processors and Mastercard strengthens the team to lead our product development pipeline and drive our innovation agenda as we continue to expand globally.”

Richard Wray, CPO of CLOWD9, said: “I am excited to join CLOWD9 and contribute to its mission of transforming the payments sector. The combination of talent and innovative payment technology services driving CLOWD9 is truly exciting. I am eager to lead CLOWD9’s efforts in creating groundbreaking products that meet the evolving needs of our customers.”

Headquartered in London, CLOWD9’s investor base includes an array of senior financial executives and family offices. It has over 40 full-time employees and is the first payments-processor to be B-Corp certified.

– ENDS –

Notes to editors
CLOWD9 is a firm of payments experts supported and advised by experienced finance executives and entrepreneurs. The senior team is comprised of:
– Suresh Vaghjiani, CEO and Founder. Former President of Thredd and CEO of Tribe Payments
– Peter Selman, Chairman and Founder. Former Partner of Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank
– Robert Hampel, Board and Founder. Chairman, Vantage Capital Markets. CEO Sunrise Asset Management
– Cosmo Spens, Founder. Ginx TV, Boldmind Flow City, Beam.tv, Twixis, Fintech Circle, Content Film
– Artur Grabowski, CTO and Founder. Formerly of Camelot, Hailo, Essence, Bauer, Haymarket, Time

About CLOWD9
CLOWD9 Ltd. is the world’s first cloud native, B Corp Certified, decentralized payments processing platform. Born in the cloud, the platform delivers uncompromising, limitless payments technology around the globe. Founded in the UK by payments experts and advised by finance executives and entrepreneurs, CLOWD9 processes payments for traditional banks, neo banks and fintechs. Its platform architecture is global by design, allowing it to scale at speed, quickly establish in new markets and service regional payment preferences across traditional card, bank transfers, QR codes, biometrics or cryptocurrency.

Cosmo Spens
CLOWD9
[email protected]
Visit us on social media:
Twitter
LinkedIn
Instagram
YouTube
Other