guys unfortunately ace trappola has to die I have to kill him

Nu’est - Baekho A-Z

“I knowww you’re in hiatus but would you consider a Baekho A-Z ??? Your last couple asks have me thinking fr”

----------

A - Aftercare

Boy gets so cuddly afterwards, he just wants to lay together until the end of time lmao, so it’ll probably take him a minute to even think about aftercare. But he’ll probably run a bath or shower for you

B - Body Part (their favourite body part of theirs and also their partner)

on himself he likes his arms, they’re big and strong, he loves that he can hold you close to him no matter what position yall are in. On his partner he likes their legs, esp when you wrap them around his waist when he’s on top of you...oof...nice.

C - Cum

Likes the intimacy of cumming inside you, but if that’s not an option, he likes to cum on either your stomach or your chest. He’ll glance at it for a second, looking super proud, then rush off all bashful and shy to go get a towel lmao

D - Dirty Secret (a dirty secret of theirs)

Sometimes he cries when he cums lol. Not bc he's like overly in his feelings or anything like that, like it's just a reflex that happens sometimes and he has no idea why. He won't be like full on bawling either but like you'll look over at him and just see his eyes all glossy with like a single tear drop on his cheek djdjd

E - Experience

It’s a tricky one lmao. I feel like he’s just got a natural way with people lol, he’s a pro at wooing anyone. However, he doesn’t strike me as much of a one night stand kinda guy. Idk, I’d say he’s got a fair amount of experience, but from relationships, so like...its moreso, he’s done it a lot, rather than he’s done a lot of different stuff...yknow??

F - Favourite Position

Anything where he can keep your face close to his and maintain close eye contact. He likes being able to whisper sweet nothing's in your ear and kiss you freely whenever he wants

G - Goofy (are they more serious in the moment, or are they humorous etc)

I wouldn't say he's humorous per se, but he's just smiley and sweet lol. He likes to keep the atmosphere warm and loving, the last thing he wants is for you to feel uncomfortable in his company

H - Hair (how well groomed are they)

He’s not like, immaculately clean shaven, but he’s not super wild either lol, he keeps it at a middle ground.

I - Intimacy (how are they during the moment, romantic aspect)

Mans a total romantic, even in times when yall are in a rush and it's just a question of chasing that climax, even then he's just got words of love flowing non stop out of his mouth

J - Jack Off (Masturbation)

Almost every day, if not every day lol. It’s something he just kinda does without thinking. Like, he’ll be in bed, winding down, relaxing...then without knowing it his hand is in his pants lmao

K - Kinks (one of more of their kinks)

Now, this is where it gets a lil controversial lmao. I dont think Baekho is a dom. Not at all. Just bc he’s a big guy doesn’t mean he’s dominant lol; Baekho is the truest of switches you could ever see. 100% switch lol. He literally just wants to please, he just wants to make you feel good. As for actual kinks, I dont think he has that many that are that out there. He likes some light marking (giving & receiving), edging (receiving), and maybe a tiny hint of a femdom kink.

L - Location (Favourite places to do the do)

Anywhere where y’all can move about freely, that's literally his only requirement lol. He doesn’t wanna be cramped up in a tiny spice, which also means no car sex lol sorry lads 

M - Motivation (What turns them on)

One of the easiest men to rile up on the planet lol. Three things that get Dongho all hot and flustered lol:

1. tell him how much you love his body. (bonus points if you tell him how hot he looks working out and that you appreciate how hard he works for his body lol)

2. Show the tiniest bit of skin, he loves it when you wear a shirt that sits a tiny bit higher than usual and he can see your lower stomach when you move.

3. Literally just hold his gaze for 0.5 seconds longer than usual lol

N - NO (something they won't do, turn offs)

I feel like literally the only thing he’s unwavering on is his stance on three(or more)somes. He’s really not a sharing kinda guy. He doesn't wanna bring someone else in and potentially mess up y’alls dynamic. It’s something he cant even bear thinking about.

O - Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc)

He can be a bit relentless when it come to giving lol, he'll hold your hips down with all his strength as he just totally feasts on your core. Deliberately makes the most lewd noises tryna get you to blush.

When receiving, boy he is LOUD, he'll be talking you through it like "fuuuuuuck yes baby, I know your throat can take all of me" "your pretty lips take me so well" he'll grab your hair and hold your head still as he cums, gets the fattest smirk on his face is he sees his load dripping out the sides of your mouth too,,,,,ooof. But then once again, he'll get all shy and bashful afterwards lol like he can't believe what he just said to you didjdjd

P - Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc)

I don't really think he has any set pace lol it can vary every time. I feel like it'd depend on the vibe of the day, like, if it's been a while and he's missed you beyond belief then it'd be much more slower and sensual. But if it's like,,,gotta chase that nut, then he can get pretty fast. I don't think he'd ever cross over into being rough, but his thrusts can get like, firm and...sharp lmao

Q - Quickies (Their opinions on quickies rather than proper sex, how often, etc)

Yes yes yes. Loves them. They usually tend to be a lot more giggly and fun than regular full sessions too lol

R - Risk (are they down to experiment, do they take risks?)

Eeeeeeh, a little bit. He's a bit of a baby in terms of pain so I feel like anything that could maybe hurt, even if it's something as simple as spanking or light restraints, could take a little convincing lol. He is definitely down...mans just needs reassuring he won't like die lol

S - Stamina (how many rounds can they go, how long do they last? etc)

I mean, he’s a healthy guy lol, he’s gonna have super good stamina. I feel like there’d be literally no stopping him, he can go for however long you need him too. You might wanna get as much as you can out of him though bc once he's done, he's done for the night lmao

T - Toy (do they own toys do they use them on a partner or on themselves?)

He doesn’t own any himself, but that’s not to say he’s not open to experimenting with any. He just wont do it of his own volition lol. Hes thought about getting some numerous times though but he just doesn't wanna be the one to bring it up

U - Unfair (how much they like to tease)

Not really a fan, he just doesn’t understand it lol. He’s not big on teasing or being teased; he's not good at holding back when he's the one *trying* to tease you, and he gets so so fidgety and antsy when being teased lol. He’d much rather just get to the main event lmao

V - Volume (how loud are they, what type of sounds they make)

Lots of loud sighs and choked out groans. He can get quite high pitched, which he’s honestly a little embarrassed of lol. He gets louder slowly the closer he gets to climax, he’ll attach his mouth to your neck as he starts to get louder; tryna muffle any sounds bc he doesn't wanna hear himself like that lmao

W - Wild Card (a random headcannon)

Okay. This is where this whole thing started lol. Baekho is not a dom, he’s also not a sub either. BUT, he get’s so unbelievably turned on by watching you take control. Like he just thinks you have this aura to you when you’re the one pinning him down and getting what you want from him. It’s literally the only time he ever enjoys edging too; he'd never do it to himself, nor does he do it to you, but for some reason having you edge him, having himself be totally at your mercy is just...omg

X - X-ray (what's going on inside those pants)

Average/maybe a tiiiny bit below average in terms of length, but pretty veiny and he’s got some nice girth lol

Y - Yearning (How high is their sex drive)

I feel like it’s either one extreme or the other lol. It’s either he can’t keep his hands off you at all for days on end, or he’s just busy occupied with other stuff and his mind doesnt even go in that direction...there’s no way of knowing sksks

Z - Zzz... (How quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

As long as he's happy that you're both fully satisfied, he'll be out like a light almost instantly lmao

♡♡♡♡♡

84 Questions

original: 

https://fuckyeahsurveys.tumblr.com/post/61049002526/84-questions

1. Put your music player of choice on shuffle and list the first 10 songs

Someone New (Hozier)

Cactus Tree (Joni Mitchell)

Budapest (George Ezra)

And Dream Of Sheep (Kate Bush)

Nancy Mulligan (Ed Sheeran)

And Then She Kissed Me (St. Vincent)

Level of Concern (Twenty One Pilots)

Lovefool (The Cardigans)

Best For Last (Adele)

Video Killed The Radio Star (The Buggles)

2. If you could spend a week anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? Would you take anyone with you?

Japan. I travel a lot and it’s been on my list for a while, I would really want to go to the Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli theme park, if it ever opens that is. I would bring my best friend, Layla. I also would love to go to Amsterdam again.

3. What is your preferred writing implement? (eg. Blue pen, pencil, green pen) 

My ink nib cartooning pen (similar to a quill, but without the feather)

4. Favourite month and why? 

October, not too hot, not too cold, and of course, Halloween!

5. Do you have connections to any celebrities (even minor)? List them.

Nope, met several, got to true connections though. 

6. Name 3 items you could pick up from where you are.

My iPad, my Leatherman Multitool, my collection of David Bowie postcards.

7. What brand logo is closest to you currently?

The Apple logo

8. Do you ever play board games or other non-computer games? Got any favourites?

Chess. Card games like Solitaire, Black-Jack, and Castle. A game that I can’t remember the name of but it’s essentially a board-game version of Capture The Flag. Mostly Chess.

9. A musical artist you love that isn’t well known

St. Vincent? I’m not sure if she’s well known or not.

10. A musical artist you love that is well known

David Bowie. 

11. What is your desktop background currently?

A picture of Apollo 11 accompanied by the words “It won’t fail because of me”

12. Last person you talked to, and through what you talked to them

My best friend Layla, through the iMessage app.

13. First colour name you can think of that isn’t in the rainbow

Salmon

14. What timekeeping devices are in the room you are currently in?

My iPad, my computer, my collection of vintage stopwatches

15. What kind of headphones do you use?

Sony, wireless, noise canceling, over-the ear 

16. What musical artists have you seen perform live?

Twenty One Pilots, Sylvan Esso

17. Does virginity matter to you?

I guess? I think it’s important, it’s certainly some kind of ‘milestone,’ but I don’t think it should be treated like the scale of a persons ‘purity.’ It’s important because it’s sex, and (hopefully) that means that you’re sharing a consensual, intimate experience that feels fucking great for both (or all, if it’s more then two) participants.

18. What gaming consoles do you or your family own?

Z e r o, although I’m hoping to buy a PS4 at some point so I can play Detroit Become Human.

19. What pets do you have? What are their names?

Juno is my cat, she is an adorable grey tiger-striped shorthair. She’s got little white mitten-paws and it’s absolutely ridiculous.

20. What’s the best job you’ve ever had?

Doing tech at a local theater

21. What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?

Teaching art to little kids (I like kids but it was just exhausting)

22. What magazines do you read, if any?

The New Yorker, and the National Geo if I’m like, waiting in my doctor’s office or something.

23. Inspiration behind your URL?

It’s just my initials and a year from the Edwardian era

24. Inspiration behind your blog title?

It’s just my initials 

25. Favourite item of clothing?

My reddish-brown knit sweater vest and my floral bow-tie (often paired together)

26. Are you friends with any exes?

I made a very conscious effort to cut my exe out of my life… we were not happy for a very long time to say the least

27. Name at least one book you loved as a child.

Strega Nona, it’s about an Italian witch that makes great pasta in a magic pasta pot. My dad would read it to me and my sibling in Italian.

28. What’s your native language? If that language has distinct regional variations, which variation? (eg. AU English, US English)

US English

29. What email service do you use?

Gmail

30. Is there anything hanging on the walls of the room you are currently in?

So many things. Here's the list:

A giant David Bowie poster, a plaque that says “David Bowie IS,” five David Bowie postcards, a giant Abbey Road poster, all of my patches from summer camp, polaroids of me, my friends, and my family (including my cat), ticket stubs from concerts and plays, two trail markers that I took off of fallen trees on two important cross-country backpacking trips I went on, playbills from a bunch of broadway shows I’ve seen, a poster that says “Stonewall was a riot,” a DC Comics poster, a Pink Floyd poster, a few paintings of mine, and a painting that I got for free from a street artist I befriended in Rome when I was twelve

31. What’s your favourite number, and why?

16, 24, 21, and 8, some numbers make me uncomfortable, but these are just very soft and light and nice 

32. Earliest moment in your life you can remember? 

A rocking chair with fruits painted on it sitting in a dark room and my great grandfathers brown leather loafers (I remember early early stuff in just images or stills, not full moments)

33. What did you have for dinner yesterday?

Pasta with shrimp

34. How often do you brush your teeth?

Usually twice a day, but I’ve been waking up later and later and sometimes forget in the mornings

35. What’s your favourite candy/chocolate?

I don’t know the name of it but it’s this chocolate bar that is stuffed with caramel, hot chili flakes, and crunchy bits of baked tortilla. It's one of the greatest things I’ve ever tasted.

36. Have you had other blogs on Tumblr? Do you have any other blogs currently?

I used to have one but I deleted it because I never used it

37. If you were suddenly really hungry, what would you choose to eat?

I would probably walk into the kitchen, realize that too eat something I would have to muster the effort to cook something instead, and then decide to just have a glass of milk instead.

38. What fandoms would you consider yourself a part of?

Downton Abbey (primarily Thommy)

Chernobyl HBO (as well as the Leonid Toptunov/Sasha Akimov subfandom)

Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit (books and movies)

CrankGamePlays

Buzzfeed Unsolved

Star Trek TOS

Philosophy Tube

The Dark Crystal and The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance

39. If you could study anything, what would it be?

If I had the energy to fully wrench my life in a completely different direction I would like to become a professional scuba diver and study the ocean. I already am a scuba diver, but it’s a hobby and not something I’m able to do very often at all.

40. Do you use anything on your lips? (eg. Chapstick, gloss, balm, lipstick)

I’ll wear chapstick if I have a cold

41. How would you describe your sense of humour?

Intellectual and dry

42. What things annoy you more than anything else?

People who think they’re better than everyone else and people who recognize a fault in themselves and then refuse to work to change it

43. What kind of position are you in at the moment?

I’m laying on my bed, hunched over my laptop

44. Do you wear much jewellery?

Occasionally I’ll wear a necklace or a few rings. I have a lot of non-traditional bracelets (I literally just have pieces of canvas and industrial tie-line wrapped around my wrist). I’m a gay guy and I like to sort-a walk the line between feminine and masculine (often leaning more towards the masc side), so it really depends on my mood.

45. Who is the leader of your country, currently? Any other levels of government with leaders? (State, region, province, county, district, municipality, etc)

A cheese-pizza flavored pringle is currently POTUS and every day the thought of that tears away at a piece of my soul. 

46. Last 3 blogs on your dashboard, not including any of your own

@shochmonster @velvet-of-the-night @panicsheerbloodypanic

47. What do you carry your money in?

My pocket, I have a wallet and I don’t use it

48. Do you enjoy driving? Why or why not?

It’s fine, don’t love it don’t hate it

49. Longest drive you have ever been on?

Three days

50. Furthest away from home you have ever been?

Went on a trip to Switzerland to visit family, I think that’s the farthest but I’m not entirely sure.

51. How many times have you moved house?

Twice

52. What is on the floor of the room you’re currently in, not including furniture?

Five paintings, stacks and stacks of books, boxes filled with stuff (mostly more books), plates, glasses, cutlery, clothes

53. How many devices do you own which can access the internet?

2, and iPad and a computer

54. Is there is anything that is guaranteed to always make you happy?

Listening to music

55. Is there anything that always makes you sad?

Thinking about my past for too long

56. What programs do you currently have open?

Google drive, I’m writing

57. What do you associate the colour red with?

Blood and fire

58. Last strong smell you can remember smelling?

Shrimp and butter

59. Last healthy thing you ate?

Three green olives and a handful of bean sprouts

60. Do you drink tea or coffee, and how much per day?

Used to drink coffee like it was life support (which it essentially was), now I’ll have the occasional cup of tea.

61. What do you associate the colour blue with?

Birds and rain

62. How long is the closest ruler you can find?

I don’t think I own one

63. What colour pants/skirt/etc are you currently wearing?

I am wearing olive green corduroy slacks

64. When was the last time you drank water?

30 minutes ago?

65. How often do you clear your browser history?

Never

66. Do you believe nude photos can be artistic, rather than erotic?

Nude anything can be artistic, it can also just be normal, eroticism is in the eye of the beholder.

67. Ever written fanfiction for anything?

Yes dear god so much fanfiction.

68. Last formal event you attended

I genuinely can’t remember, I am have extreme social anxiety and don’t go to events like that unless I absolutely have too

69. If you had to move your birthday to another date, which one would you choose and why?

I don’t care about birthdays

70. Would you prefer to be at a beach or in the countryside?

Beach, I love to swim, I’m also a surfer

71. Roughly how many people live in your town?

Uhm… eight times the number of people who live in the state of Montana and that doesn’t count daily commuters and tourists (New York City is essentially just a tin of sardines, except inside are 8.399 million sardines)

72. Do you know anyone with the same birthday as you?

No, but three of my friends were born on the day just after my birthday.

73. Favourite place to shop? Can be a certain store or a place where there are multiple stores

The Strand Bookstore, L Train Vintage, any antique shops in the town of Hudson, New York 

74. Do you have a smartphone? What kind? If you don’t, do you want one?

I used to have an iPhone 5SE but then it stopped working after a few weeks of quarantine and I haven’t gotten a new one (I’ve had it for about 5-6 years so it makes sense)

75. What is your least favourite colour, and why?

I don’t have a least favorite color, but my favorite color is prussian blue

76. How do you spell grey/gray?

Grey

77. Go to your dashboard and describe the image shown in the radar section (below the “Find blogs” link)

It’s anime fanart for a show I’ve never heard of

78. What difference is there between how many followers you have, and the number of blogs you follow?

3

79. How many posts do you have?

219

80. How many posts have you liked?

619

81. Do you post mainly reblogs, or your own content?

Mostly reblogs but I do my own content as well

82. Do you track any tags?

No, just blogs

83. What time is it currently?

10:39

84. Is there anything you should be doing right now?

writing

I’m not quite sure who to tag so it’s just open to anyone I guess?

Disneyland / Part 1...The Journey! - Newsies (Pride) Month . Day 9

( all ) + ( modern ) + ( hc story )

a/n: oh my do i love a good road trip // also sorry this is split up, i just ran out of time but i wanted to give y’all something

( this is part one but imma post the second part soon, so this is the journey and the next part is them actually at disneyland )

warnings: mentions of intimacy // minor cussing

background: Every year the newsies all get together and go on their annual Disneyland trip. They drive from Manhattan to Anaheim because it’s cheaper than buying 20+ plane tickets. They also have a collective jar in the lodging house that everyone puts money into to help pay. Davey plans the whole thing for months and somehow things still go wrong. It’s never not a wild ride with their family. But every year they still enjoy it.

——————————————————————————

it’s damn near impossible to squeeze everyone in one car unless they rented out a bus which didn’t fit into budget

but

they also couldn’t afford another car

so they just piled everyone into one van

that’s right

29 people in one van

davey bought a van a few years back that could fit everyone semi-comfortably before they had so many people

it was a big van, made for seating 18 people technically

but new people kept coming and they made a vow to never turn down someone in need

they also added partners and siblings and whoever else

so it was tough fitting 11 more people in an already packed van, but they did it

was it safe? no.

was it comfy? no.

did it work? sure.

they had curtains on the windows so police wouldn’t see in

and blankets and pillows on the floor for everyone sitting and laying and sleeping

they also put up a sheet across the back of the first 3 seats to create a wall between the adults and the children

also cause Jack is paranoid of the police finding out

but they keep it up high enough to slide snacks under the gap whenever people asked

Darcy drives most of the time since he is the best driver

Bill and Davey sit next to him in the two front seats and give directions

Jack sits on the floor between Davey’s legs and guards the snacks

they don’t stop at hotels

cause dear god that’d be a whole other budget they can’t deal with

so they just switch between the four people in the front driving and go continuously

occasionally stopping at rest stops, food places, etc.

the back is where it got crazy

the first row consisted of Crutchie against the window, Buttons in the isle seat, and Kenny on the floor next to them

behind them was Katherine against the window, Sarah in the isle, Smalls and Sniper in the gap, and Finch in the single seat on the other side

the third row was Specs against the window with Romeo in the isle, Henry in the gap on the floor, and Jojo and Tommy Boy sitting on each other’s lap sharing the single seat

behind them was Albert against the window and Elmer in the isle, with Bart and Myron in the gap, and Mush and Kid Blink sharing the single seat

then the back row

oh my the back row

Spot sat against the window behind the single seats with Race on his lap, Hotshot sat on the opposite side with Mike halfway on and halfway off his lap, and they stuck poor Ike in the middle

bless his soul

and Les just randomly found spots on the floor wherever he could fit himself

the ride was eventful, to say the least

there were a lot of games played

the people on the floor played uno, go fish, and other card games

while the people in the seats played i spy, the alphabet game, word association, would you rather, 21 questions, never have i ever, and the oh so popular “shut the fuck up, i’m trying to sleep”

they played punch-buggy for a bit but that had to stop on account of everyone getting hurt and Davey yelling at them

Davey also counted his lucky stars he set up that sheet because everyone’s favorite game is padiddle

everyone played—except for les cause he was too young, also if you were asleep you automatically didn’t count cause that’s only fair—and it was insanity

the people on the floor would fly up as soon as they had a chance to make sure they were safe

it was their only continuous game throughout the entire trip

the worst time of all was during hour 22 when everyone was going crazy and they all started singing

the look in Davey’s eyes was priceless

he didn’t even know how to react

he’s just glad he didn’t have to be back there

god bless his ability to drive

in the front—while Darcy was driving—Bill would rest his head on Darcy’s shoulder or place a soft hand on his leg

nothing too distracting

they couldn’t risk an accident

Jack could fit his whole body in front of Davey’s seat

for how packed it was, it was a pretty spacious van

but when Jack got tired of laying he would sit up and rest his head on Davey’s seat between his legs

and Davey would pet his hair and hold the side of his face

or he would sit upright, leaning his back against the seat and have Davey play with his hair or lean his head back far enough for Davey to place a kiss on his lips

none of them even wanted to think about what was happening in the back

Specs read almost the entire time

Romeo would cuddle up on his lap and beg for attention but Specs would just pet his hair and continue on

they exchanged kisses every time Specs finished a chapter

both Mush and Kid Blink as well as Jojo and Tommy Boy periodically switched who was on whose lap for comfortablilty

they also sometimes just sat on the floor or hovered above the tiny gap between the wall and the seat for extra space

every time Elmer slept he’d curled his legs up on the seat and place his head in Albert’s lap

Albert just rested his head against the window and put his arms around Elmer, holding him

at one point they forgot other people were around and during one of Elmer’s special dreams he starting rubbing up on Albert’s thighs until he woke up to do more and saw Myron’s disappointing glare

Sarah and Katherine held each other a lot

Mush and Kid Blink exchanged more than a few kisses but what’s new

Jojo and Tommy Boy were saints to be next to because they just wrapped their arms around each other and kept to themselves

everyone was pretty tame with their relationships in the van

except for the back row

that’s why they got put in the back, so no one had to look at them

Hotshot and Mike were actually the tame ones

only in comparison to Spot and Race

Mike sat mostly on top of Hotshot

they were always touching

most of the time they just held each other

but other times they wanted more

they would makeout and grab around but nothing too crazy

they kinda knew the time and place

whenever they started doing anything Ike would just slide down to the floor and play cards with Bart and Myron

but Spot and Race

oh god

Race sat on Spot’s lap pretty much the entire time, only adjusting to sit more comfortably or sleep

sometimes Race would drop down to the floor and wrap himself around Spot’s legs

there were certain times when everyone was asleep

with the exception of whoevers turn it was to drive

usually the entire van slept at night cause they didn’t want to ruin their sleep schedules that bad

though they did take naps throughout the day

but there was one time when everyone was asleep except for Spot and Race

so they did what any dumbasses would do

suck dick in the back seat

yup

race ‘dumbass’ higgins dropped himself on the floor and tested how quiet they could be

no one woke up and they didn’t dare tell anyone

when they finished, Race wrapped himself in Spot’s arms like nothing happened and went to sleep with the rest of them

they stopped at so many mcdonald’s, 7/11’s, diners, and random rest stops

the first stop—hour 4—they found a rest stop and a few people had to pee so some people got out and stretched while others slept inside

they got back on the van and left

it took 18 minutes for them to realize they left Crutchie

“Buttons! How could you not notice your seat partner was missing!”

“that is not my job, I was asleep”

they turned around and picked him up

after that Davey made an alphabetized list of everyone and took role before they left any stop after that

it also became a joke within the group

after what felt like the car ride of a lifetime, they finally made it

at 10 o’clock at night

and seeing the disneyland sign was like arriving at heaven’s gates

when they got out so many boys flipped and jumped and ran around

just because they were so happy and they finally didn’t have to sit in a car waiting anymore

they were like children

they are children, but still

they got to the hotel, checked in, got their rooms, and slept for the night

but the next day was when the real fun was going to happen

part two of them actually at disneyland coming soon

Breaking News:

.@AndradeCienWWE is your NEW #USChampion after defeating @reymysterio at #WWEMSG pic.twitter.com/0M2P36XPcj

— WWE (@WWE) December 27, 2019

Andrade wins the United States Championship Thursday night at Madison Square Garden in New York, beating Rey Mysterio, Jr. on the Holiday Tour! Sounds reminiscent of AJ Styles beating Kevin Owens at MSG in July of 2018. Makes a ton of sense now that Mysterio, Jr. will be joining forces with Samoa Joe against Seth Rollins and the Authors of Pain as we head towards the Royal Rumble and the Road to WrestleMania! Good chance for Andrade to shine for a while, I hope, with a title belt to boost him.

Since it was a holiday week, we get a pair of taped shows with RAW and NXT going the non-live road this week. Makes perfect sense as viewership is generally down with last minute shopping two days before Christmas for RAW and then NXT being on Christmas night. Ironically, while RAW saw a tick down in viewers, NXT saw a tick up as it ran unopposed by AEW, who took the Christmas holiday off.

Smackdown delivers an entertaining final show of the decade to set-up Daniel Bryan vs. The Fiend at Royal Rumble. The third time was the charm as Bryan took home the triple threat match in the main event after a pair of false starts to the match earlier in the night.

Star of the Week – In a week in which there really wasn’t a stand out, we’ll give it to the guy who won the match that we have yet to see yet – ANDRADE. Taking home his first major championship on the main roster is quite the feat. Maybe we’ll get some highlights this Monday Night on RAW.

RAW

RESULTS

Christmas Street Fight: Kevin Owens defeated Mojo Rawley

Bobby Lashley defeated Cedric Alexander

Drew McIntyre defeated Zack Ryder

Aleister Black defeated Deonn Rusman

Buddy Murphy defeated Joeasa

Ricochet defeated Tony Nese

Charlotte defeated Chelsea Green (Submission)

The OC defeated Randy Orton & The Viking Raiders

Erick Rowan defeated Travis Horn

Rusev defeated No Way Jose

US Title Match: Champion Rey Mysterio defeated Seth Rollins (DQ)

What we loved:

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL…#SantaClaus is your NEW #247Champion! #RAW pic.twitter.com/yAbK2tFwkp

— WWE (@WWE) December 24, 2019

Merry Christmas – With a taped edition of Monday Night RAW, we got to see lots of faces we don’t get to see on a weekly basis. Welcome back Mojo Rawley, No Way Jose, Zack Ryder and Cedric Alexander. Sure, they all lost, but it’s nice to see them get some air time before the end of the year.  Plus, we got Santa winning the 24/7 Championship before R-Truth won it again, for what seems like the 1,000th time (OK, it’s only 25 times!).

More Aleister vs. Buddy – All they deliver is action! Plus, we get a set-up for another match coming up this Monday night.

Welcome to RAW Chelsea Green – Not only do we get Zack Ryder, but we get his better half getting her debut on RAW. A nice outing against The Queen to boot.

Becky vs. Asuka – Yes, we’ve got this one to look forward to now at Royal Rumble. Short and sweet was the build-up as Asuka wants to join Becky as “Two-Belts” champion!

.@Akam_WWE & @Rezar_WWE just sent @SamoaJoe CRASHING through the #RAW announce table! pic.twitter.com/3FOha2n21M

— WWE (@WWE) December 24, 2019

Joe is gonna kill you – Adding Samoa Joe into the mix with Rey Mysterio Jr vs. Seth Rollins and the AOP could be magical. Joe’s done a fabulous job on RAW commentary and now it’s time for his return to the ring. What better way to take on the top heel faction to get him back over! If nothing else, it will be brutally physical as he gets revenge for his table crashing to end RAW.

Meh:

What’s up with all the short matches – Five matches that lasted less than 3 minutes? Seriously. I get wanting to get more people on TV, but that’s ridiculous. Quality over quantity.

NXT

RESULTS

NXT North American Title Match: Champion Roderick Strong defeated Austin Theory (Submission)

Swerve Scott defeated Jack Gallagher

Candice LeRae defeated Taynara

Dominik Dijakovic defeated Bronson Reed

Bianca Belair defeated Shotzi Blackheart

Keith Lee & Lio Rush defeated Tony Nese & Damian Priest

What we loved:

Today MUST be #Christmas because Santa Claus gave us the BIGGEST gift of all… The #WWENXT debut of @austintheory1!!!

pic.twitter.com/Qxfx8hMUWK

— WWE (@WWE) December 26, 2019

Welcome to Wednesday nights Austin Theory – The former EVOLVE champion makes his way to Full Sail for a Christmas night debut, answering Roderick Strong’s Open Challenge. Good showing and Strong gets the rub to remain “strong” as NXT North American Champion heading into the New Year.

Solid:

Came to collect (the victory) and spread some holiday cheer! Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight. #WWENXT @RealKeithLee @itsLioRush

pic.twitter.com/VSPBzPV8q4

— WWE (@WWE) December 26, 2019

Main event – nice pairing of the big boys of Lee and Priest in with the cruiserweights (Rush and Nese). Fun ending to a holiday show that sends everyone home happy to end a good night, albeit taped one, for NXT.

SMACKDOWN

RESULTS

New Day & Braun Strowman defeated Cesaro, Shinsuke Nakamura, & Sami Zayn

Carmella defeated Mandy Rose

#1 Contender’s Match: Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz went to a no-contest

Bayley & Sasha Banks defeated Lacey Evans & Dana Brooke (Submission)

#1 Contender’s Match: Daniel Bryan defeated The Miz & King Corbin (Submission)

What we loved:

SO. MUCH. HISTORY. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/VxTKX0H58h

— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) December 28, 2019

Finishes – Yes, we’re giving a thumbs up to the fact that there were actual winners and losers. On a night in which a triple threat match was, then wasn’t, became a one-on-one match and then a triple threat match again, I’m happy that that match actually finished. Plus, where it looked like the six-man match between The New Day & Braun Strowman vs. Cesaro, Shinsuke Nakamura and Sami Zayn was going towards a DQ, Strowman gets the pin. We deserve, and got, finishes!

More Otis and Mandy – Otis is pure gold my friends. Not only do we get a continuance of the Otis likes Mandy storyline, but it gets tentacles with Sonya Deville and Dolph Ziggler too. Looks like we might get that Sonya and Mandy, Fire and Desire split coming.

Meh:

Reigns vs. Corbin – Just when we thought Roman Reigns was done with King Corbin, they continue to get involved together as Reigns costs Corbin a shot at The Fiend’s title in the main event.

We're guessing these two teams didn't exchange Christmas cards over the holidays. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/rZvMcVBJh8

— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) December 28, 2019

A Moment of Bliss – We finally get a new moment of Bliss as Alexa Bliss, with Nikki Cross welcomed Lacey Evans to the show to give her kudos for sticking up for her six-year-old daughter against Sasha Banks and Bayley. Now, of course, we applaud Evans, but one question from Bliss doesn’t cut it as it was just used as a set-up to the tag team match as Banks and Bayley attack Dana Brooke while Evans is already in the ring. Fell a little flat for me. The match was better though. So, overall, a plus for the night I suppose.

What we hated:

Sheamus – Enough with the vignettes that go nowhere! We get it already! Sheamus is coming back to face a roster he thinks is awful. I’d rather see nothing than see the same stale promo each week. Move forward or move on and let him get in the ring already!

Parting shots:

We’ve got a Wedding coming Monday Night on RAW! I’m begging WWE for a surprise like we got when Triple H stunned the Stephanie – Test ceremony. Or maybe like when Eric Bischoff shocked Stephanie in the Billy and Chuck wedding by taking off the preacher disguise. There’s always excitement (and chaos) in a WWE wedding. I’m hoping Lana and Bobby Lashley don’t disappoint!

Thanks for letting us share our thoughts! Shoot me an email at [email protected]. We’d love to hear your comments and suggestions! You can also check out my blog, The Crowe’s Nest as we delve into more pro wrestling, sports entertainment and the World of Sports. My apologies ahead of time – I AM a Patriots and Red Sox fan! If you’re not down with that, I’ve got TWO WORDS for you… NEW ENGLAND!

Hey - Pat from StarterStory.com here with another interview.Today's interview is with James Rosone of Front Line Publishing Inc, a brand that makes military and espionage thrillersSome stats:Product: Military And Espionage ThrillersRevenue/mo: $19,000Started: December 2015Location: TampaFounders: 2Employees: 2Hello! Who are you and what business did you start?Hello. It’s great to virtually meet you all. My name is James Rosone and I are a thriller author and co-owner of Front Line Publishing Inc. I write military, political, and espionage thrillers, though I’m currently working on a military sci-fi series. My wife and I have published sixteen books, with another four more somewhere in the editing process, getting ready to be released over the next eight months.imageWhen I released my first book in December 2015, I was writing as a form of PTSD therapy. That month I earned $78 dollars. However, my most successful month as an author, December 2018, I earned $47,365 in a single month. Right now, if we include audibles, I believe we’re averaging somewhere around $19,000 a month, so we’ve done pretty well in the self-publishing space considering how long we’ve been writing.What's your backstory and how did you come up with the idea?Before I was a writer, I served ten years in the Army and Air Force, and then followed that up with another eight years as a contractor for the Department of Defense and the State Department. During that time, I lived for 3.5 years in Iraq and 3.5 years in Germany, and spent most of that time involved in hunting and capturing terrorists across the globe. Although the reality was quite different from Jack Bauer in 24, I held a unique job in the military as an interrogator. I’d spend twelve to sixteen hours a day interrogating Al Qaeda prisoners, and we’d use the information to capture or kill the rest of their terrorist cells throughout the country.It was an incredibly intense job. I’d go from huge emotional highs when we’d capture a top 10 high-value individual to immense lows when members of our capture teams would get injured or killed. It was a pure adrenaline junky job, right at the tip of the spear. I’ve interrogated a Saddam Hussein body double that I swore was really him. Other detainees I interviewed ranged from the top five members of the Al Qaeda organization in Iraq all the way down to a fourteen-year-old kid placing an improvised explosive device on the side of a road.Looking back on my time in Iraq, I have mixed emotions about it. I was honored to have served my country and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I’m also torn up at times with the guilt that I could have or should have done more. We lost twenty-six service members on missions derived from my interrogations, and more than a hundred were injured. I kept asking myself if I could have done something different, maybe asked another question or pushed a prisoner a little harder. Would it have changed the outcome? I struggled with that really hard when I left Iraq.imageWhen I stopped working for the government, I fell into a deep depression and my PTSD symptoms became so overwhelming it was hard for me to deal with them in a constructive way. I lost interest in the things that I once loved. However, one hobby I still enjoyed was reading. I became a prolific reader, often devouring one or two books a week. I enjoyed military thrillers, spy thrillers, and sci-fi the most. However, I found myself annoyed with some of the writing. To me, it lacked realism and authenticity. It’s not that the authors didn’t try—many of them did a decent job—but it seemed like they were just writing about stuff they’d never personally experienced. At best, they’d probably read about these topics.One day when I was talking with my VA counselor, he asked me a question: “Why don’t you try writing therapy?” It had never occurred to me that writing might help with my own PTSD symptoms. I kicked the idea around for a couple of years and wrote some things but never published them. Then, in February of 2015, I hit an emotional dead end. I suddenly found myself laid off just as my security clearance was in the process of being renewed.When my security clearance inevitably expired, all my chances of continuing to work in a classified environment also faded into the wind. For me, that had been my life, my purpose, my mission—and it was all suddenly taken from me. I fell into an even deeper depression and really struggled with thoughts of suicide at that point. I had a wife and two kids now, but I had no immediate means to support them. I sat there for one night in the dark thinking to myself, “Wow, I’m honestly worth more dead than alive.” Then I remembered what the counselor said to me a few years before, and the next day, I set off on a course to write the type of books that I liked to read.Take us through the process of designing, prototyping, and manufacturing your first product.Every author has their own style. Some people spend days or weeks prewriting a story. I would describe myself as more of a “Pantser,” meaning I tend to write by the seat of my pants. I’ll craft up an idea for a series with a start point and an endpoint. Now, how can I get from a to z is a constantly evolving process. When I outline a chapter, it’s usually only two or three bullet points.Once that basic outline is written, and it’s not much, I start to fill it in with the story. When I write my books, I tend to write to them with three perspectives in mind:1) The decision maker-level (all wars or operations are typically dictated by the policymakers so I show that part).2) The strategic level of how the military plans to implement the policy decision that’s been made.3) The operational level or the “grunt” that has to execute the decisions.My wife and I are a co-authoring team. We write and produce all of our books together, and at this point, we’ve become a pretty good team. I personally love it. We get to collaborate, and we work from home. We get to spend a lot of time with our kids, go to their school events, spend extra time with them or handle other appointments as needed all while working around our writing.Here’s how the process works for us. When I finish writing the book, I handed it off to my wife. She then goes in and adds some extra flair to the characters, makes sure the pacing of the books is good, completes a first-round edit and then coordinates and handles all of the editing changes from our professional editor and our beta reader team. While she’s working on book one, I’m already burning through book two, when I finish book two, I hand it off to my wife and then I start book three. At this point, book one is nearing completion with the editing process, which is when we put book one up for a 90-day pre-order.imageWe have essentially created a writing assembly line, with a book coming out every 90-days once we start the cycle. Then it’s just a matter of us keeping up with the pace we’ve set and working to ensure we maintain the quality of what we’re producing. We’d rather delay the launch of a pre-order than have to sacrifice on quality. We view writing as a business, and as such, we want to make sure the brand we’re building is known for producing good quality books, not rapidly published books riddled with errors and story plot holes because we didn’t take the time to do a couple of layers of quality proofs.Describe the process of launching the business.When I first started self-publishing, our start-up costs were relatively low. I found a book cover artist on Fiverr to produce a cover for under $100, and we were off to the races. As we’ve become more successful, our costs have grown. We now spend $300-$500 on the cover art. Initially, we spent very little on marketing, but now our average budget is between $2,000-$3,000 monthly. Once we could afford to move beyond our beta team for editing, we also started working with a professional editor, and each pass of a manuscript runs roughly $1,800. There are networking conferences that we now attend; for example, last year we went to Politicon for research. However, each of these expenses was added as we had the capital to do so.When I first started releasing books, I began to network with our readers on Facebook by creating a World War III series page. As I continued to post articles of interest about the military and emerging technologies, the followership grew, and I was eventually able to create ads using a lookalike audience for that group. I did make an error in naming the page after the series; had I known that Facebook does not allow renaming of pages, I would have originally created an author page. As it is, we are still trying to build our author page to the same level of followers as our series page.Back in 2016, Facebook ads were much more effective, but now, I do a lot more of my advertising on the Amazon Marketing Services platform. Then, this year, something changed on the algorithm with AMS, and many authors I’ve connected with say that this year’s costs on marketing have increased dramatically while sales have also decreased. We ended up financing the recording of some of our audibles with credit cards due to the declining sales, which is something I wish we could do-over. Each audible recording is around $4,000 for us unless it is worked out with a royalty sharing agreement, so a few of those can really eat away at our profits. On the other hand, the audible market is growing tremendously, and we didn’t want to lose out on that potential income.About a year ago, we discovered that although our works are copyrighted, there are a large number of websites on the dark web that attempt to sell our works illegally. There aren’t enough hours in the day to track down all of the piracy that happens out there, so I would highly recommend using a site like Blasty.com, which sends cease and desist letters to all of these scamming sites and works with search optimization algorithms to make sure that these results do not readily populate when someone searches for your book.Since launch, what has worked to attract and retain customers?The biggest strategy that we have used to capitalize on reader buy-through of our books is our 90-day rapid release strategy. Each time we release a book, we have the link for the pre-order of the next book in the back matter, ready to go. Now, this does require us to crank out books at a rapid clip, but we’ve managed to grow our followership substantially without investing as much in growing an email distribution list.imageAnother strategy we’ve implemented is asking readers for feedback. When we receive messages from readers who are critical or receive one-star reviews (these are inevitable), we have contacted that person and politely asked them how we could improve our work for the future. By not taking it personally and being willing to listen, we’ve even managed to turn some of our more critical readers into some very helpful beta readers.Finally, we’ve been very active in engaging our fans on social media. We’ve offered to allow fans to name characters and have at times, even asked for input in crafting our stories. This is vital in taking a group that might be casual observers into a collection of superfans.imageHow are you doing today and what does the future look like?Our business is still profitable and allows us to pay our bills without taking on a standard 9 to 5 job. As I mentioned above, there have been some challenges. Recent algorithm shifts for Facebook and AMS have made marketing less cost-effective. A popular advertising site, BookBub, which used to promote a wide range of books, now has shifted away from self-published authors and toward traditionally published authors as well. So we need to constantly change and adapt.We have spreadsheets for entering our books into contests, we’ve been looking into how to get our books into the library system, and we are trying to see if we can get our books into Army surplus stores. We will be trying something completely new and set up a table at one of the local gun shows as well. We are having to get creative and utilize a little guerilla marketing, but we are ready to meet this challenge head-on.In addition to these new avenues of marketing, we are trying to leverage our connections with other authors to cross-promote our books. Because there are so many readers out there who consume books so rapidly, we are not really in direct competition. None of us can produce stories of high quality fast enough to keep up with the readers, so it makes sense to partner together.We’ve put a significant amount of hours and financial investment into having our books turned into audibles this year. We are looking into different ways to promote audiobooks since listeners find their next books in different ways than readers do. This is a rapidly growing market, but the advertising industry hasn’t quite caught up with the demand in this field, so more work remains to be done on our end to capitalize on the expanding need for new audio content.Through starting the business, have you learned anything particularly helpful or advantageous?When I first started writing, I honestly didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t understand marketing, I didn’t understand the need for even a basic author website or the need to create an author mailing list. I didn’t actually start creating an author mailing list until I was two years into this business.When I began creating my mailing list, I used the conventional wisdom at the time and tried to give away snippets of my books for free. Many authors do this, and will even give away entire novels just to get people to sign up. However, I quickly learned that those who are seeking free items will usually unsubscribe once they receive their freebie, or will seldom open future emails.I was rather discouraged when I saw this happening, so I changed my strategy. I now grow my mailing list exclusively through the links in the backmatter of my books. I don’t list build like many other authors do. My current list is somewhat small, right around 2,500, but it’s highly active, with an open rate of 70% or higher. Each time I send an email out, which is usually around once a month, I can generate between $500 and $2,500 per email. So while my list is small, it generates me money. It does grow, just much slower than what some of my author friends’ lists do.One thing I’d like to stress to people is that although I’m being transparent and open with how well our sales have gone, you have to understand this didn’t happen overnight. This is the result of a lot of incredibly hard work and sacrifice. I write every day and every week like I’m going to be homeless at the end of every month if I don’t reach certain writing goals. I don’t watch TV, I seldom go to the movies, and aside from playing with my three kids who are all under the age of six, I have no personal life. I work like a beast. I write seven days a week with maybe two or three days off a month. I write on average five to twelve hours a day. When I’m not writing, I’m reading other books in my genre to learn from them, I’m watching MasterClass.com learn from other successful authors, or I’m listening to marketing and business podcasts or YouTube videos.I’m constantly learning or working. I’m not going to maintain this schedule forever, but I am going to maintain it until I’ve hit a certain level of financial freedom. I think a lot of authors would look at my numbers and think they could easily replicate it, but I want to be clear—I often put in eighty to one hundred hour work weeks to make it happen. I research my subjects, interview, and talk with people, and really study up on what I’m writing about. That requires a lot of effort and time. I do believe a lot of people could reproduce these results, but most aren’t willing to put this level of dedication into it.What platform/tools do you use for your business?I use a couple of platforms to market our books. I initially started out using Facebook. That has worked in the past but frankly, they’ve made so many changes to the platform that I’ve found it hard to really keep pace with it and make it profitable.At this point, 90% of my ad spend is done on Amazon’s AMS platform. I typically spend around $3,000 a month on marketing with the bulk of it on AMS. I do, however, use Facebook when I launch a book which is around every 90-days. Most of my Facebook campaigns will usually last around two weeks before I flip back to using Amazon exclusively again.What have been the most influential books, podcasts, or other resources?From the beginning, I began networking with fellow authors. I’ve heard mentors say that “fortune favors the bold,��� so I constantly approach people on social media and try to pick their brains about how they’ve become as successful as they have.Surprisingly, many authors have not only responded, but have been very helpful. This has led to some very good leads on book cover artists, editors, and other services, and introduced me to Mark Dawson’s Self-Publishing Formula group. Joining the SPF community has by far created the biggest impact in our publishing business and its profitability.imageIn addition to joining the SPF group, there are several books I’ve read that have been very influential. One to mention is Brian Meeks’ book on Amazon Marketing Services advertising. As you can see in the chart above, each of these events led to marked changes in profits.Advice for other entrepreneurs who want to get started or are just starting out?If you want to get into writing, then you need to sit down and ask yourself a couple of questions:Why do you want to get into writing?What do you hope to accomplish?How do you plan on making this happen?What are you willing to cut out of your life to reach your goals?There are two types of authors: hobbyists who write for fun and entertainment, and authors who view this as a business. There is no right or wrong author to be. It’s a personal decision you have to make. If your goal is to publish books for fun and making money isn’t the priority, then that is great. If, however, you want this to be your main source of income to support your family, then you have to take this very seriously. You have to develop a game plan and then execute it.I made a LOT of mistakes when I first started out. I didn’t know the first thing about building an email list, I didn’t have an author page and I had no clue how to write book descriptions, what made a good book cover or how to market my books. I spent hours and hours on YouTube trying to self-teaching myself these skills, but it wasn’t until I learned about Mark Dawson’s SPF program and then read Brian Meeks book on understanding Amazon Marketing Service or AMS ads that things really took off.The best advice I could give to any new author or someone wanting to become an author is to find a mentor. Find an author who produces good quality works and has a track record of success and then see if they will help you in your journey. I’ve done this with several new authors who wanted to get into the game. I share openly my failures, my successes, and what I wish someone would have told me when I first started getting into this business myself. You need to have someone else walk alongside you.Are you looking to hire for certain positions right now?This is a tough question. While we aren’t looking to hire a full-time employee currently, I certainly have areas I need business help in. A couple of areas I’m always looking for help in are beta readers. Our books tend to have a lot of technical details in them, so we have a large team that reads our books before they are released and helps us make sure we get those details right.Another job I desperately need help in is marketing and research. When I hire someone for a job, I tend to pay by the project. My last big project was creating 5,000 keywords for our AMS marketing plan. It wasn’t hard work, but it was tedious and time-consuming. Right now, I am certainly in need of someone who can help me with ways to increase our audiobook marketing or who is knowledgeable on getting books into the library system. It’s all telework, so if you have the internet, a laptop, and a cell phone, you would be able to accomplish the task. If you’re interested in a part-time job or a job that pays by project, make sure to look me up.Where can we go to learn more?WebsiteFacebookIf you have any questions or comments, drop a comment below!Liked this text interview? Check out the full interview with photos, tools, books, and other data.For more interviews, check out r/starter_story - I post new stories there daily.Interested in sharing your own story? Send me a PM

USA, New York, NY: Highlights In Jazz Presents “Remembering Erroll & Randy” Thursday, June 20, 2019, 8 P.M. @ BMCC TRIBECA Performing Arts Center

Tickets & Info

There are plenty of reasons that the annual Highlights In Jazz concert series has been a favorite among in-the-know jazz fans for almost a half century. For starters, producer Jack Kleinsinger can be counted on to deliver concerts that are certain to surprise and delight savvy listeners. The final event of the 2019 season is no exception, as it showcases the compositional genius and enduring legacy of two of the most beloved figures in modern jazz, pianists Erroll Garner and Randy Weston. A multi-generational lineup brings together established jazz masters with the best of today’s musical up-and-comers to fete these kings of the keyboard at the June 20 concert. On hand will be pianist Christian Sands, saxophonist TK Blue, trombonist Steve Turre, bassists Alex Blake and Luques Curtis, percussionist Neil Clarke, and drummer Ulysses Owens Jr. And, as  has been the tradition since the very first Highlights in Jazz event, listeners will be treated to a surprise appearance by a renowned special guest. The evening is dedicated to the memory of pianists Erroll Garner and Randy Weston. During his lifetime, Garner, who died in 1977, was among the world’s most celebrated jazz musicians, making regular TV appearances, and receiving numerous Grammy nominations. Not only did he write the beloved standard “Misty,” Garner also released an album that remains among the top-selling jazz recordings of all time: Concert by the Sea. The Garner mojo continues to this day. Pianist Geri Allen co-produced a three-CD release The Complete Concert by the Sea, which was nominated for a Best Historical Album Grammy. NEA Jazz Master Randy Weston was a giant in more ways than one. A tireless champion of African Rhythms-based music, he traveled extensively throughout the continent on State Department tours and later ran a nightclub in Tunisia. He made a practice of seeking out the eldest member of the communities he visited, learning about the musical and cultural traditions and sharing them with audiences around the globe. A remarkable player, composer and raconteur, Weston maintained his curiosity and musical sense of adventure beyond his 92nd birthday, until his passing in September 2018. Renowned as a mentor, he was deeply rooted in the jazz tradition, while always looking joyfully to the future. Harvard University acquired Randy’s extensive personal archive in 2016. The Erroll Garner Project includes: As the creative ambassador to the Erroll Garner Jazz Project and co-producer of archival Garner recordings, pianist Christian Sands is immersed in the maestro’s music. Counting Geri Allen among his mentors, Sands has performed with Oscar Peterson, Dr. Billy Taylor, Wynton Marsalis, and Jason Moran, plus scores of others. He has released six albums as a leader and appears on dozens more by the likes of Gregory Porter, Bobby Sanabria, Christian McBride, Ben Williams and Reggie Quinerly, receiving multiple Grammy nominations along the way. Sands is also the musical director of the Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour group. Bassist Luques Curtis is in demand for his amazing skills in straight-ahead jazz as well as the Afro-Caribbean genre, as evidenced by his performances on more than 75 albums, and his numerous Grammy nominations. Luques’ experience includes stints with Eddie Palmieri, Christian Scott, Orrin Evans, Gary Burton, Andy Gonzalez and others. The bassist has also released four well-received Curtis Brothers recordings as co-leader with his sib, pianist Zaccai Curtis. Drummer Ulysses Owens Jr.has made the Rising Star list in DownBeat’s Critics Poll for five straight years, thanks to his work with everyone from Christian McBride, Kurt Elling, Joey Alexander and others. With four albums under his own name, and another four as co-leader of the New Century Jazz Quintet, commissions from Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Museum of Modern Art and others, expect to be wowed by this gifted musician, composer, producer and educator for years to come. The Randy Weston Alumni Band consists of: Saxophonist TK Blue was a mainstay--and musical director--of Randy Weston’s African Rhythms ensemble for more than three decades. TK has well over a dozen releases as a leader, and scores of others with Weston, Sam Rivers, Abdullah Ibrahim, Benny Powell, Jayne Cortez and more. A celebrated composer, arranger and educator, TK has appeared with a pantheon of jazz greats including Dizzy Gillespie, Pharoah Sanders, Kenny Barron, Joanne Brackeen, Chico Hamilton, Arturo O’Farrill, James Moody, Billy Harper, Paquito D’Rivera, Regina Carter, Jimmy Scott, Mal Waldron and countless others. Once you’ve heard bassist Alex Blake, you’ll never mistake his sound for anyone else’s. His unique style combines strumming, slapping and singing. Often identified with Randy Weston, thanks to his long tenure with African Rhythms, Alex has also appeared with Sun Ra, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Sonny Rollins, Carlos Santana, Stan Getz, McCoy Tyner, Yusef Lateef, Betty Carter, Jimmy Buffett, and a genre-spanning roster of musical masters. In-demand percussionist Neil Clarke forms deep musical relationships that last for decades, including significant long-term collaborations with Randy Weston, Harry Belafonte, Miriam Makeba, Dianne Reeves, Dave Sanborn, Paul Winter, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and others. A lifelong advocate of preserving and sharing African cultural traditions, Neil has worked as a consultant and educator, serving as artist in residence and conducting master classes at Harvard, Duke University, the Museum of Natural History, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum and other renowned cultural institutions. Award-winning trombonist Steve Turre made his mark with Ray Charles, Woody Shaw, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Art Blakey, J.J. Johnson, Lester Bowie, Max Roach, Horace Silver, Van Morrison, Pharoah Sanders, and other legendary band leaders, as well as fronting his own ensembles. A mainstay of the Saturday Night Live Band, Turre is also accomplished at making music on seashells. It will be especially exciting to hear Turre apply his magic touch to charts written by long-time Weston collaborator Melba Liston; a respected trombonist herself, notably with Dizzy Gillespie’s big band, Liston’s known for simpatico arrangements for brass, and the bass clef in particular. Don’t miss the exciting wrap up to 2019’s Highlights In Jazz season, featuring a surprise special guest!  

Thursday, June 20, 2019 – 8 P.M. Remembering Erroll & Randy The Erroll Garner Project Pianist Christian Sands Drummer Ulysses Owens Bassist Luques Curtis A Randy Weston Tribute Saxophonist T.K. Blue and the Weston Alumni Band Bassist Alex Blake Percussionist Neil Clarke Special guest trombonist Steve Turre  and surprise special guest! All Shows At BMCC TRIBECA Performing Arts Center Borough of Manhattan Community College 199 Chambers Street, New York, NY 10007 http://tribecapac.org By car take FDR Drive south to end, through underpass onto West Street, north to Chambers. By Subway take 1, 2, 3, 9, A, C, E, J or M train to Chambers or N, R to City Hall stop. Walk west on Chambers. Box Office 212-220-1460 Ticket Prices $50.00 $45.00 (student rate with valid ID) or by mail order. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the box office. You are now able to use your credit card at the Tribeca PAC Box Office located on 199 Chambers Street, or by calling (212) 220-1460 and now online at Tickets.Tribecapac.org Please send a check made payable to: Highlights In Jazz Please mail orders to: Highlights In Jazz 7 Peter Cooper Road, Apt. 11E, New York, NY 10010 (Please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope) Visit The The UNF Jack Kleinsinger Highlights in Jazz Archive www.highlightsinjazz.org Highlights in Jazz Media Contact Jim Eigo Jazz Promo Services 272 State Route 94 South #1 Warwick, NY 10990-3363 Ph: 845-986-1677 / Fax: 845-986-1699 Cell / text: 917-755-8960 Skype: jazzpromo [email protected] www.jazzpromoservices.com

Photo Credits: Erroll Garner: Nico Van Der Stam Randy Weston: Carol Friedman Christian Sands: Ann Webber Luques Curtis: George Wirt Ulysses Owens Jr.: Artist Website TK Blue: Andrew Lepley Alex Blake: Artist Website Neil Clarke: Solwazi Afi Olusola Steve Turre: Artist Website  

via Blogger http://bit.ly/2MQeiF7

30 Best Gifts for 13 Year Old Boys: Your Ultimate List (2018)

Gift-giving is much easier for some than others; we all know someone who is harder to find the right gift for. And, typically speaking, it’s common for the dad of the family to be the toughest to buy for.

However, anyone with a boy between the ages of 12-15 years old knows that they are just as tough to buy presents for. When it comes to finding the best gifts for 13-year-old boys, it’s especially hard because they’re at the age where they want to be…cool.

That’s it, really — 13-year-olds just want people to think they’re cool. As newly minted teens, they’re still searching for what that “cool” really is. So, I’m here to help you point them in the right direction — towards the cool.

Whether you’re looking for their birthday, Christmas, or any other occasion, here are the top 30 best gifts for 13-year-old boys in 2018:

1. Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII 25-key USB Drum Pad

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The Akai MPK MIni MKII is a great starter musician’s tool that I keep recommending time and time again. This Midi Drum Pad and keyboard will allow them to create their very own music with their computer, and it’ll also present them with a brand new hobby: making music.

Don’t let its price tag fool you, though. While there are other much more expensive midi keyboards on the market, the Akai MPK MKII comes packed with features. It has 25-synth-action mini-keys, 8 touch-sensitive drum pads and eight controllable/assignable knobs that all work in conjunction with their computer and the included software (as well as other, more advanced software options like FL Studio or Ableton Live). It comes with Akai Pro MPC Essentials, SONiVOX Wobble 2, AIR Hybrid 3, and preset editor software.

The MPK Mini MKII is also highly portable, fitting in most 15″ backpacks with ease. See the video below to see exactly what it can do:

Price: $99

Buy the Akai Professional MPK Mini here.

2. HyperX Cloud Revolver S Gaming Headset

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Gaming without a headset should be considered a crime, especially if you’re playing a competitive video game like Overwatch, Call of Duty, Battlefield 1, or Halo. And, even if your teen doesn’t play those types of games, having a headset on while playing any game helps with immersion.

If they don’t already have a headset or they’re still using the one that came with their game console, the HyperX Cloud Revolver S headset is a great upgrade. It’s a versatile headset that works with virtually anything with a 3.5″ jack: the PC, PS4, Xbox One (although you may need an adapter), Mac, and even their smartphone and tablet. When it’s plugged into a PC, it has full Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound, which is pumped through its 50mm drivers for unrivaled quality in the price range.

The headset, itself, is extremely comfortable and stylish, and it’s made with a durable steel frame so that you don’t have to worry about them breaking it a week after you bought it for them. This is the gaming headset I use nightly, and the fact that it works with pretty much all of their game consoles is a HUGE plus.

Price: $149.99

Buy the HyperX Cloud Revolver X here.

3. Nintendo Switch

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The Nintendo Switch is Nintendo’s newest console, bringing a home console/handheld hybrid to your living room. It’s an impressive video game console that’s on pace to outsell the 3DS with ease, and its popularity is likely due to the fact that it can be played right in your hands OR on a big screen when connected to a TV.

There are already so many great games on the Nintendo Switch, including Game of the Year contender The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Splatoon 2. What’s more, one of the biggest video games of the year is releasing exclusively for the Switch later this year when Super Mario Odyssey hits retailers.

The console is appealing to parents because of its handheld capabilities, which means your kids won’t be hogging the living room TV with their gaming.

Price: $299

Buy the Nintendo Switch here.

4. Super Mario Odyssey

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The most anticipated game of the year happens to be a Nintendo Switch exclusive, and we’re expecting another GOTY contender with Super Mario Odyssey, which is set to release in late October. The game will revolve around Mario trying to (yet again) save Princess Peach from Bowser, but this time, he brings some new tricks and mechanics. He’ll travel across many worlds (in the style of Mario 64) on a hat-shaped ship named the “Odyssey”, and the hub world is set in New Donk City (which looks unlike anything we’ve seen in a Mario game before).

What’s more, Mario will have a sentient hat that gives him new abilities as he traverses these new worlds.

Price: $58.88

Buy Super Mario Odyssey here.

5. LIFX Wi-Fi Smart LED Bulb

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If your thirteen-year-old is into cool tech, check out the LIFX Smart LED Light Bulb. With this bulb, they’re able to illuminate their room in any color that they want (as long as it’s one of the 16 million colors this light is capable of). The light is controlled with their smartphone or tablet, and it works with a program called IFTTT (If This Than That) that will allow their light to react to different events from other apps (for example, when their weather app sends them a notification that it’s raining out or when they receive a new tweet).

It also works with Amazon’s Alexa, so they’re able to set it up to do things like dim the lights when they turn on Netflix.

What sets it apart from similar LED smart lights like the Philips Hue is that it doesn’t require a hub, so the price is drastically reduced.

Price: $49.99 (17 percent off MSRP)

Buy the Lifx Wi-Fi Smart LED Bulb here.

6. Create Your Own Comic Book Kit

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Is he an artist? Do you see him frequently holding DC or Marvel’s latest comic books? Check out the My Comic Book: Make Your Own Comic Book kit. This is a super interesting idea for his age group because it’ll harness their artistic ability and creativity.

With this kit, they’ll be able to make their own comic and have it professionally printed. They’ll simply design their comic with the provided pages, pens, and markers, and then they’ll send it out to the company with a pre-paid envelope. In just a few weeks, it’ll return professionally printed.

Price: $29.93

Buy the Create Your Own Comic Book Kit here.

7. Elgato Game Capture HD60 S

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If they want to stream their PS4 or Xbox One gameplay on Twitch or YouTube they’ll need a game capture card. The best option is the Elgato Game Capture HD60 S, which is incredibly easy to set up, thanks to its USB plug n’ play capabilities.

They’ll simply plug their game console into one of the ports, and an HDMI cable from the card to their PC monitor, and they’ll be able to stream and record their gameplay with ease.

Also, if they’re not into streaming, they’ll be able to record and edit their gameplay clips.

Price: $179.94

Buy the Elgato Game Capture HD60 S here.

8. Aftershokz Trekz Titanium Open Ear Bone Conduction Wireless Headphones

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Looking for something really “cool”? These Aftershokz Trekz Titanium headphones don’t actually cover the ear, but instead, they use bone conduction technology to create mini vibrations that send sound through their cheekbones directly to the inner ears.

That means that when he’s running or skateboarding in the street, he’ll still have open ears to hear what’s going on around them — whether it be a car driving by or someone trying to his attention.

Or if he’s in his room listening to music, he’ll still be able to hear you calling him down for dinner.

The technology is super cool and super useful, and it has a battery that lasts for 6 hours of playback. They’re available in bright green, blue, pink, and slate grey.

Price: $111.00 (15 percent off MSRP)

Buy the Aftershokz Trekz Titanium Headphones here.

9. Arrma Senton 6S BLX 4WD RC Super Duty Truck

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Don’t go to Toys R’ Us or Walmart for your RC needs, because frankly, they only carry toy RC cars that aren’t impressive at all, meant to be a cheap gift come Christmas time. Instead, get him an RC car that’s a bit more formidable and impressive, like the Arrma Senton 6S BLX 4WD RC Super Duty Truck. This baby has speed and control that will shock him, and he’ll be the envy of all of his friends.

This RC truck can really take a beating, thanks to its durable design that includes a tough roll cage and durable wheels. It comes ready to run, and thanks to its brushless 2050kv motor, it certainly CAN run.

This thing is lightning quick and can reach speeds over 40 MPH with ease.

What’s more, it’ll also potentially fuel his need to take things apart and put them back together, as it has a lot of potential repairs, upgrades, and tweaks. These types of RC cars are a tinkerer’s dream.

Price: $479.99

Buy the Arrma Senton here.

10. Fender Acoustic Guitar Bundle

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Looking to harness their love of music? You simply won’t find a better name brand than Fender, and that’s why we highly recommend this starter Fender Acoustic Guitar Bundle. It comes with a beautiful (albeit simple) 20-fret rosewood hardwood guitar that has a laminated spruce top and a full-size body for a full, rich sound. It comes with extra strings, some picks, a strap, a bag, and an instructional DVD that they’ll never use (because, let’s face it, who likes to be told how to do something at that age).

Price: $139.99

Buy the Fender Acoustic Guitar Bundle here.

11. Akaso EK700 4K Action Camera Waterproof

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Teenagers love for others to think they’re cool, and one way for them to get feedback from their friends is with an action camera. The Akaso EK700 4K Action Camera is your best option if you’re looking for quality that won’t break the bank. It records impressive Ultra HD 4K video footage, it’s entirely waterproof, and it comes with a wireless wrist remote control. It also has built-in Wi-Fi and HDMI output so that they’ll be able to share their footage with friends in just minutes.

It comes with two rechargeable batteries, with each battery lasting 90 minutes when recording. With this, they’ll be able to capture tons of awesome footage no matter what they’re into — skateboarding, surfing, mountain biking, hiking, etc.

Price: $74.99 (25 percent off MSRP)

Buy the Akaso EK700 4K Action Cam here.

12. AOMAIS Sport II Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (Waterproof)

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Give your 13-year-old the gift of sound on the go with a well-made wireless bluetooth speaker. Take the AOMAIS Sport II Portable Bluetooth Speaker, for instance, which is waterproof and has a stereo pairing. This thing is HIGHLY durable, thanks to a rugged and tough design. Of course, it also sounds great, pushing out 20W. It has a rechargeable battery that’s long-lasting.

Thanks to its rugged design, he’ll be able to take it with him outside without worrying about breaking it.

Price: $49.99 (71 percent off MSRP)

Buy the AOMAIS Sport II Portable Wireless Speaker here.

13. LEGO Architecture Studio Building Blocks Set

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LEGOs aren’t just for kids — there are some great LEGO Star Wars sets as well as some LEGO Architecture kits that are made for the older crowd. Take this LEGO Architecture Building Blocks set, for example, which comes with 1,210 pieces.

It’s not made for them to create some dinosaurs or cars or other types of typical LEGO creations — although they can make those with this kit too. Instead, this kit is intended to harness their interest in architecture, with 1210 white and transparent LEGO bricks and a 272-page guidebook for inspiration. If your thirteen year old has shown any interest in buildings and other architecture, this could make a really great and thoughtful gift.

Price: $146.97

Buy the LEGO Architecture Studio Building Blocks Set here.

14. Skateboard

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Of course, skateboards aren’t a novel idea, by any means, but it’s really worth mentioning the importance of getting them a quality skateboard instead of buying them a cheap one from Wal-mart or Toys R’ Us. At 13, they’re likely ready for a pro-worthy deck, like something from Toy Machine or Enjoi. More specifically, with all of the available deck designs and artwork, find them a deck that fits their personality. My universal pick of choice is this Toy Machine Mustachio board.

Price: $84.95

Buy a Toy Machine Skateboard here.

15. Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam

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With kids these days turning their backs on traditional careers in favor of internet fame, this is the time to help harness their interest. In fact, a recent study of a thousand children revealed that 3/4 of young people want a career in online videos.

So, if your 13 yr old has mentioned interest in streaming on Twitch or creating their own YouTube videos, check out the Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam. It comes in at under $85, and it’s a great, high-quality webcam that will allow them to create quality video content, even if they’re just sharing it with friends and family.

This webcam is capable of streaming full 1080p at 30fps or 720p at 60fps, and it’s specifically designed with social gaming and entertainment streaming on sites like Twitch and YouTube.

More importantly, though, is that it comes with unique background replacement technology that really works well. Instead of having to purchase a green screen, the Logitech C922x Pro Stream uses scanning technology to separate you (in your chair) from the background behind you, allowing you to replace the background with an image or video with ease. This type of technology makes video game streaming much easier for the streamer, which is why the Logitech C922x is our webcam of choice.

Price: $80.43

Buy the Logitech C922x Pro Stream here.

16. Nike Mens Pullover Hoodie

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At 13, they’re likely starting to develop their own fashion sense and style. But, also at 13, it’s super difficult to get quality clothes because, as Will Smith said best, “Parents Just Don’t Understand”.

Get him a quality Nike Mens Pullover Hoodie that both looks greats and will keep him warm on cooler days. These pullover hoodies are equal parts style and comfort.

Price: $29.99+

Buy the Nike Mens KO 3.0 Pullover Hoodie here.

17. Fire HD 8 Tablet

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Amazon’s all-new Fire HD 8 Tablet is an incredible Android-based tablet that won’t break the bank, and it has enough power to run every app and game I’ve thrown at it. Whether they want to play the recently released Albion Online or any of their streaming apps, the Fire HD 8 Tablet can handle it.

It also comes with Alexa, meaning they can control their Echo or Echo Dot (if they have one) with this tablet.

Price: $79.99

Buy the Fire HD 8 Tablet here.

18. Creative Motion Supernova Color Changing Sphere

Give them the power of having a cool light show right in their room with the Creative Motion Supernova Color Changing Sphere.

It has 9 LED bulbs within, and it has 6 modes of operation for different lighting effects. This little globe will change the vibe of their entire room thanks to the cool lighting.

Price: $28.25 (11 percent off MSRP)

Buy the Supernova Color Changing Sphere here.

19. Catan 5th Edition

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Thirteen is the right age to get them started (and hooked-on) Settlers of Catan. Check out the 5th edition of this popular board game, which has new graphics, board design, and cards, as well as an expanded rulebook. It’s a game that’s competitive and fun, with players gathering resources and trading with other traders. It works best with 3-4 players, and each game will vary in length (typically takes about an hour or so to find a victor). There are also plenty of expansions that add new wrinkles after they’ve played enough of the original.

Price: $28.99

Buy Catan 5th Edition here.

20. Parrot BeBop 2 Drone

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While the Parrot BeBop 2 drone isn’t as advanced as some of the year’s best new drones (like the DJI Mavic or Spark, for example), it comes in at the right price and is one of the easiest drones to fly. This makes it the perfect option for novices to the hobby.

The BeBop 2 can shoot full HD 1080p videos and 14MP stills, and it has 3-axis digital stabilization for smoothness. It also has 25 minutes of battery life per charge, thanks to its high capacity battery. I’ve found that the BeBop 2 is equally fun to fly as it is recording footage.

Price: $499 (29 percent off MSRP)

Buy the Parrot BeBop 2 Drone here.

Check out more of the best gifts for 13 year old boys here.

21. Nerf N-Strike Elite AccuStrike Series AlphaHawk

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One of Nerf’s hottest new toys is the AccuStrike Series AlphaHawk, a ridiculously cool shooter with the look of a futuristic shotgun. It has a pop-out barrel, and it’s a bolt-action blaster that shoots darts that are specifically designed for greater accuracy. It comes with 10 darts.

Price: $39.99

Buy the Nerf N-Strike Elite AccuStrike Series AlphaHawk here.

22. Kanjam Ultimate Disc Game

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Kanjam is a great new game to play with friends or family at the beach or in the yard. It comes with two goals (small cans) and a Kanjam frisbee. It’s played in two teams of two (like cornhole), and there are many ways to score points. You can get 3 points for a slam dunk, 2 points if you hit the can, 1 point if it’s deflected and it hits the can, and then an instant win if you happen to throw your disc into the little slot in the front. Games are played to 21, and it’s incredibly fun. Your 13-year-old will love the competitive game, and he’ll love having something to play with his friends.

Price: $39.99

Buy the Kanjam Ultimate Disc Game here.

23. Destiny 2

One of 2017’s most anticipated games is Destiny 2 for the Xbox One, PS4, and PC. It’s an action shooter that highly suggests playing with friends. It’s heavy on the sci-fi, complete with laser rifles, spaceships, and alien races. And, trust me when I tell you, all of his friends are going to be playing it.

Price: $59.99

Buy Destiny 2 here.

24. Overwatch Figure

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Overwatch has become much more than just a video game; it’s now a cultural phenomenon. What better way to celebrate their love for this incredibly popular game than to get them an Overwatch figure. There are many different types available, with some of the lower tier ones (Funko Pops) starting at $9.50.

Price: Starting at $9.50

Buy an Overwatch Figure here.

25. Laser X Gaming Set

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Laser tag is always incredibly fun for young teens, and that’s why the new Laser X Gaming Set makes a great gift for 13 yr olds. This two-player starter pack comes with two laser guns and two targets, and they have a 60-meter range on them. With the Laser X kit, they’re able to play an intense game of laser tag right in the yard.

Price: $49.99

Buy the Laser X Gaming Set here.

26. Acer Aspire VX 15 Gaming Laptop

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Dropping $1,000 on a gift might not be ideal for some, but for others, getting them a high-quality gaming laptop is a great option. The Acer Aspire VX 15 gaming laptop is a great deal for $1,000, as it comes with everything they’ll need to run the hottest new games. It has an i7 Intel Core CPU, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, 16GB DDR4 RAM, and a 256GB SSD. While it might be considered a mid-tier gaming laptop, it has more than enough oomph to run the latest games in glorious Full HD.

Price: $999.99 (5 percent off MSRP)

Buy the Acer Aspire VX 15 Gaming Laptop here.

27. Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 3 Wireless Speaker

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Harman Kardon is an audio company well-known for its super high quality, and their Onyx Studio 3 Wireless Speaker makes for a great gift for teens. It isn’t intended to be a portable speaker like the AOMAIS speaker above, as this one focuses on delivering high-quality sound. It connects via Bluetooth to virtually any device, and it has a charge that lasts for 5 hours. Each speaker has its own woofer and tweeter, and it pushes out impressive lows and highs.

Price: $131.99 (71 percent off MSRP)

Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 3 Wireless Speaker here.

28. Xbox One S 1TB Madden NFL 17 Bundle

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Whether they already have the original Xbox One or they have yet to dip their toes into the water, the Xbox One S 1TB Madden NFL 17 Bundle is a great option. The Xbox One S looks better, is smaller, and is more powerful than its predecessor, and the upgrades don’t go unnoticed when jumping from the original to the Xbox One S.

This Xbox One S 1TB Madden NFL 17 Bundle comes with the most anticipated sports game of the year, and it comes with seven Madden Ultimate Team Pro Packs.

Price: $302.98 (13 percent off MSRP)

Buy the Xbox One S 1TB Madden Bundle here.

29. LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon

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If he’s a lover of all things Star Wars, one of the best LEGO Star Wars sets for sale is the LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon. It’s aimed at ages 9-14, and it comes with 1,329 pieces. With those pieces, they’ll be able to build a replica Millennium Falcon, the most popular ship in the galaxy. It also includes 6 mini-figures and a BB-8 figure.

Price: $115.99

Buy the LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon here.

30. GameStop Gift Card

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While I typically like to avoid giving gift cards as much as possible, picking out video games for someone else can be a nightmare. Kids are very particular about the types of games they want to play, so getting them something like Call of Duty when they’re a Battlefield 1 player won’t go over well. So, why not let them pick? Get them a GameStop Gift Card and put whatever value you want on it. It’ll save you the headache of trying to determine their most wanted games, and it’ll save them the disappointment.

Price: $5.00-75.00+

Buy a GameStop Gift Card here.

See Also:

100 Cool Toys for Boys

100 Cool Gifts for Boys

Heavy, Inc. is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon. Our product recommendations are guided solely by our editors. We have no relationship with manufacturers.

source https://heavy.com/gifts/2018/10/gifts-for-13-year-old-boys/

Android Phones

That really is a upgraded Total collection of most of the readily available android portable apparatus now  accessible Nigeria together with their existing rates.  In the same way, the highend users anticipating a smartphone that supplies a potent chip endorsed by way of a more impressive RAM can go for your Lyf Earth inch This has a 13-megapixel shooter, 3-G RAM, 4G service, 3500 mAh battery powered, as well as many more advanced level capabilities.  If we all are throw contrary to the ruling 8 really is a glass frame which can possibly be more delicate than mobiles, a slightly fingerprint scanner as well as a costly price tag, we all find it worthy of our Tech Advisor proposed badge.   And in the price tag, although not becoming as sexy since the samsung-galaxy S-8, it really is really  worth a glance.  It may attract a wider market, and is really a more  smart-phone than the G4 and G5 - even though its attributes are not the exact exact same worldwide.  Every thing that's generated Samsung mobiles amazing throughout the past couple of years continues to be packaged with this 5.8-inch apparatus - which is nearly bezeless overly - also comes equipped with high of this scope hardware along with some easyto utilize Android applications.  There's just another reasons that it's in your best interest to go to get Android.   The Galaxy A-branded telephones published across the duration of the season are typical speculated to obtain the upcoming big OS update, since will be the Galaxy a-8 (20-16) along with Galaxy A-9 Guru (20-16).  However, this app isn't ready to accept people, or so the pool of developers attempting to come across bugs is badly minimal (only "a couple dozen" encouraged investigators, in accordance with Apple ).  It is well worth noting that businesses provide insect management applications for Apple apparatus, which means that might help to cancel this issue.  Shop on the web from leading makes like much more as well as Apple, Samsung Moto Honor Micro Max, Mi at Amazon India by an outstanding scope of smart phones.   The Korean producer most up-to-date flagship was fulfilled with near-universal acclaim by reviewers, also as the most recent iteration at a set that's seen a few of their bestselling Android mobiles, the LG g 6 includes a stable cult following out of followers who possessed earlier LG apparatus and were entirely happy.  Click on every one one of the top-10 that is suggested tablets to browse their reviews, and also get information.  Learn what's top and the very best and learn what're the Android Telephones with our information ranked Android smart-phones that you are able to buy.   In MWC celebration longer Nokia 2017 18 tablets have been found.  It is often catchy wracking down this list but the Android handsets are all also in our view that the Android mobiles money.  While this year autumn releases are through, we've got a fantastic idea of that the listing will be made by generation mobiles so on.  Speaking regarding the need for cellular phones.  One of the absolute most stand out feature in the g 6 is its own 5.7-inch Quad H D LCD exhibit, having its exciting aspect-ratio of 18:9 and curved corners additionally, it will come with a Snapdragon 821 chip, 4 GB of RAM, loads of on-board storage, also an IP68 rating for dust and dirt resistance along with double 1-3 MP rear cameras.  https://drasticds-emulatorapk.com/ For a additional #ninety, you could possibly receive the Galaxy S-7 Edge, that's exactly the exact same mobile, however somewhat larger and using an extra couple of displays down the borders of the gadget.  Bing can be pushing to become on additional Verizon Android mobiles via an program it published just lately -- a Bing program simply for Verizon and not different carriers This leaves me ponder when active Android apparatus at Verizon already marketed to users are certain to find an improve" into Bing the very next period an application upgrade is pushed outside.  Smartphones have been designed with most of the current features that we had dreamed of.   The PRIV has been BlackBerry's very first Android mobile, however they will have since absent all-in over the Android eco-system using just two additional mid-range phones at the DTEK50 along with DTEK60.  S-8 + and also even the samsung-galaxy S-8 are all intended to improve the method that you watch and catch your own life.  You can find a lot more than 60 Android phones with greater than a hundred anticipated from the end of 2010, in accordance with carriers, vendors and analysts.  It's Possible for You to access titles such as Sony, and Nokia, Apple, Samsung, HTC Oppo Q Mobile to List a Couple.   "listing of mobiles Obtaining Android 7.0 Nougat upgrade", inch out of 5 depending on 127 evaluations.  They can be utilized for example, Android apparatus provided by Tracfone, together with mobiles, and also the BYOP app was offered as a result of by all of mobiles.  At launching three mobile may be launched by nokia tow devices specs specs, wth variety and also yet one having an specs.  With trouser pockets bulging, phones and screens becoming larger phones are inclined to become always a relic of their history, however, perhaps not right here.  This just affects ordinary air time cards (60, 120, 200 etc.).  In certain instances, the Smartphone air-time cards really are much better deal to get info and texts.   The Infinix very hot 3 stones a enormous 5.5-inch exhibit, in contrast to this  5inch unit entirely  over the Infinix very hot two, the resolution of this full-laminate screen continues to be at H D (720 x 1280 pixels), so that this apparatus may possibly offer marginally  less crisp pictures in comparison to its predecessor.  Even the Galaxy S and Galaxy be aware set of tablets have been regarded as the optimal/optimally Android telephones from the superphone and also phablet types (respectively).  But the LG g-4 can be your own mobile phone if you on the lookout to get a flagship using a detachable battery.   - centric using licensed mobiles Handy in case you would like to understand on your nfc processor producer or in the event that you want to know more about contactless repayments.  You can find some businesses which are managing to sell mobiles for prices compared to their values require.  To-use Android Vehicle in your own mobile phone display screen, you are going to require a Android mobile jogging 5.0 (lolli-pop) or high and also the Android car program.  Mate 8 per mobile that is bezel-less, excels in most department RAM, digicam, layout, battery or display and its CPU life.   The Alcatel One-touch ICON Pop gets got the Most Significant display, the LG Optimus Gasoline, Moto E, LG Greatest two and also Alcatel One-touch ICON Pop will possess the Newest Version of Android (4.4), and also the LG Optimus Dynamic will be your cheapest.  Industry for mobiles with a computer keyboard may possibly perhaps not be too big as it once had been, however, industry has been reinvigorated by the KEYone of BlackBerry Mobile.  The V30 hangs onto a headset jack at the top to user annoyance along with much controversy.   The OnePlus two has been most likely among one of the absolute most hyped Android mobiles that this season.  One drawback to its particular own bundled Google solutions and Android may be the fact which  A D tracking can not be really limited by you just like it is possible to about the iPhone.  Notice how these smartphones all have 5 inch displays?  Whilst the very first Android smart-phone using UltraMotion technological innovation, the mobile includes a 120Hz refresh speed to the Quad H D 5.7-inch (1440 x 2560) exhibit.  Both the i-phone and also Android end users may down load the program and utilize its characteristics like an operating sobriety calculator, even each of of "The Big Book" text, also lets end users to share and send messages that are inspirational, as well as integrates the usage of social networking.   It's not as eyecatching whilst the LG g 6 or even samsung-galaxy S-8, nevertheless also the BoomSound speakers and also fantastic sound experience assist place aside it.  Which exactly are Android mobiles and how are they different from Tracfone apparatus ?  This really is an Total collection together with their rates of most  of the android that is readily available portable devices in Nigeria.  Discover lowest deals in India and solution requirements, capabilities that are vital, movies, much more and much evaluations.  Industry users can love our SIM smart-phones, that so are ideal for a lifetime on the move and allow you to maintain home and work life different.  Gamers will desire you of our screen mobile phones.   A lot of those most useful Blackfriday deals can be found on the web, and we now have the optimal/optimally set of cellular telephones and Tracfone associated objects available.  Give you a collection of their phones and we wished to develop a useful resource for users who looked at getting an Android phone.  You start using the companies in India, let us speak about exactly where their own go shopping has been put up by them in earning phones.  It claims the 1 st Nokia Android smart-phone will probably take entrance in 20 17 along with the launching will take place in MWC each of the rumored parade versions of Nokia mobile is going to be established, Nokia D1C along with other never disclosed nonetheless, according to new news original version will approximately Rs10K approximately (K$a hundred and fifty) to get 2GB RAM and R S 20K approximately (£ 200) to get 3GB Ram version.   The digicam to your Google Pixel two XL is still perhaps one among the absolute most - maybe perhaps not the very - striking snappers we have utilized over a telephone.  This record is being started by me from your telephone I utilize on a regular basis, which can be, samsung-galaxy S-7 and have.  This really is.  Networks have never been left out and also certainly will offer air-time packages.  The Pixel does not wipe out data after unsuccessful log ins, which renders the apparatus vunerable into PIN assault or a password.  

USA: Highlights In Jazz Presents “Remembering Erroll & Randy” Thursday, June 20, 2019, 8 P.M. @ BMCC TRIBECA Performing Arts Center

Jack Kleinsinger’s Highlights In Jazz  New York’s Longest Running Jazz Concert Series Jazz stars align on stage for “Remembering Erroll & Randy” All-star ensembles celebrate the legacy of keyboard giants Erroll Garner and Randy Weston at the grand finale of the 47th season of this classic concert series. The Erroll Garner Project and the Randy Weston Alumni Band present music of the masters Thursday, June 20, 2019, 8 P.M., BMCC TRIBECA Performing Arts Center, Borough of Manhattan Community College Tickets & Info

There are plenty of reasons that the annual Highlights In Jazz concert series has been a favorite among in-the-know jazz fans for almost a half century. For starters, producer Jack Kleinsinger can be counted on to deliver concerts that are certain to surprise and delight savvy listeners. The final event of the 2019 season is no exception, as it showcases the compositional genius and enduring legacy of two of the most beloved figures in modern jazz, pianists Erroll Garner and Randy Weston. A multi-generational lineup brings together established jazz masters with the best of today’s musical up-and-comers to fete these kings of the keyboard at the June 20 concert. On hand will be pianist Christian Sands, saxophonist TK Blue, trombonist Steve Turre, bassists Alex Blake and Luques Curtis, percussionist Neil Clarke, and drummer Ulysses Owens Jr. And, as  has been the tradition since the very first Highlights in Jazz event, listeners will be treated to a surprise appearance by a renowned special guest. The evening is dedicated to the memory of pianists Erroll Garner and Randy Weston. During his lifetime, Garner, who died in 1977, was among the world’s most celebrated jazz musicians, making regular TV appearances, and receiving numerous Grammy nominations. Not only did he write the beloved standard “Misty,” Garner also released an album that remains among the top-selling jazz recordings of all time: Concert by the Sea. The Garner mojo continues to this day. Pianist Geri Allen co-produced a three-CD release The Complete Concert by the Sea, which was nominated for a Best Historical Album Grammy. NEA Jazz Master Randy Weston was a giant in more ways than one. A tireless champion of African Rhythms-based music, he traveled extensively throughout the continent on State Department tours and later ran a nightclub in Tunisia. He made a practice of seeking out the eldest member of the communities he visited, learning about the musical and cultural traditions and sharing them with audiences around the globe. A remarkable player, composer and raconteur, Weston maintained his curiosity and musical sense of adventure beyond his 92nd birthday, until his passing in September 2018. Renowned as a mentor, he was deeply rooted in the jazz tradition, while always looking joyfully to the future. Harvard University acquired Randy’s extensive personal archive in 2016. The Erroll Garner Project includes: As the creative ambassador to the Erroll Garner Jazz Project and co-producer of archival Garner recordings, pianist Christian Sands is immersed in the maestro’s music. Counting Geri Allen among his mentors, Sands has performed with Oscar Peterson, Dr. Billy Taylor, Wynton Marsalis, and Jason Moran, plus scores of others. He has released six albums as a leader and appears on dozens more by the likes of Gregory Porter, Bobby Sanabria, Christian McBride, Ben Williams and Reggie Quinerly, receiving multiple Grammy nominations along the way. Sands is also the musical director of the Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour group. Bassist Luques Curtis is in demand for his amazing skills in straight-ahead jazz as well as the Afro-Caribbean genre, as evidenced by his performances on more than 75 albums, and his numerous Grammy nominations. Luques’ experience includes stints with Eddie Palmieri, Christian Scott, Orrin Evans, Gary Burton, Andy Gonzalez and others. The bassist has also released four well-received Curtis Brothers recordings as co-leader with his sib, pianist Zaccai Curtis. Drummer Ulysses Owens Jr.has made the Rising Star list in DownBeat’s Critics Poll for five straight years, thanks to his work with everyone from Christian McBride, Kurt Elling, Joey Alexander and others. With four albums under his own name, and another four as co-leader of the New Century Jazz Quintet, commissions from Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Museum of Modern Art and others, expect to be wowed by this gifted musician, composer, producer and educator for years to come. The Randy Weston Alumni Band consists of: Saxophonist TK Blue was a mainstay--and musical director--of Randy Weston’s African Rhythms ensemble for more than three decades. TK has well over a dozen releases as a leader, and scores of others with Weston, Sam Rivers, Abdullah Ibrahim, Benny Powell, Jayne Cortez and more. A celebrated composer, arranger and educator, TK has appeared with a pantheon of jazz greats including Dizzy Gillespie, Pharoah Sanders, Kenny Barron, Joanne Brackeen, Chico Hamilton, Arturo O’Farrill, James Moody, Billy Harper, Paquito D’Rivera, Regina Carter, Jimmy Scott, Mal Waldron and countless others. Once you’ve heard bassist Alex Blake, you’ll never mistake his sound for anyone else’s. His unique style combines strumming, slapping and singing. Often identified with Randy Weston, thanks to his long tenure with African Rhythms, Alex has also appeared with Sun Ra, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Sonny Rollins, Carlos Santana, Stan Getz, McCoy Tyner, Yusef Lateef, Betty Carter, Jimmy Buffett, and a genre-spanning roster of musical masters. In-demand percussionist Neil Clarke forms deep musical relationships that last for decades, including significant long-term collaborations with Randy Weston, Harry Belafonte, Miriam Makeba, Dianne Reeves, Dave Sanborn, Paul Winter, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and others. A lifelong advocate of preserving and sharing African cultural traditions, Neil has worked as a consultant and educator, serving as artist in residence and conducting master classes at Harvard, Duke University, the Museum of Natural History, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum and other renowned cultural institutions. Award-winning trombonist Steve Turre made his mark with Ray Charles, Woody Shaw, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Art Blakey, J.J. Johnson, Lester Bowie, Max Roach, Horace Silver, Van Morrison, Pharoah Sanders, and other legendary band leaders, as well as fronting his own ensembles. A mainstay of the Saturday Night Live Band, Turre is also accomplished at making music on seashells. It will be especially exciting to hear Turre apply his magic touch to charts written by long-time Weston collaborator Melba Liston; a respected trombonist herself, notably with Dizzy Gillespie’s big band, Liston’s known for simpatico arrangements for brass, and the bass clef in particular. Don’t miss the exciting wrap up to 2019’s Highlights In Jazz season, featuring a surprise special guest!  

Thursday, June 20, 2019 – 8 P.M. Remembering Erroll & Randy The Erroll Garner Project Pianist Christian Sands Drummer Ulysses Owens Bassist Luques Curtis A Randy Weston Tribute Saxophonist T.K. Blue and the Weston Alumni Band Bassist Alex Blake Percussionist Neil Clarke Special guest trombonist Steve Turre  and surprise special guest! All Shows At BMCC TRIBECA Performing Arts Center Borough of Manhattan Community College 199 Chambers Street, New York, NY 10007 http://tribecapac.org By car take FDR Drive south to end, through underpass onto West Street, north to Chambers. By Subway take 1, 2, 3, 9, A, C, E, J or M train to Chambers or N, R to City Hall stop. Walk west on Chambers. Box Office 212-220-1460 Ticket Prices $50.00 $45.00 (student rate with valid ID) or by mail order. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the box office. You are now able to use your credit card at the Tribeca PAC Box Office located on 199 Chambers Street, or by calling (212) 220-1460 and now online at Tickets.Tribecapac.org Please send a check made payable to: Highlights In Jazz Please mail orders to: Highlights In Jazz 7 Peter Cooper Road, Apt. 11E, New York, NY 10010 (Please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope) Visit The The UNF Jack Kleinsinger Highlights in Jazz Archive www.highlightsinjazz.org Highlights in Jazz Media Contact Jim Eigo Jazz Promo Services 272 State Route 94 South #1 Warwick, NY 10990-3363 Ph: 845-986-1677 / Fax: 845-986-1699 Cell / text: 917-755-8960 Skype: jazzpromo [email protected] www.jazzpromoservices.com

Photo Credits: Erroll Garner: Nico Van Der Stam Randy Weston: Carol Friedman Christian Sands: Ann Webber Luques Curtis: George Wirt Ulysses Owens Jr.: Artist Website TK Blue: Andrew Lepley Alex Blake: Artist Website Neil Clarke: Solwazi Afi Olusola Steve Turre: Artist Website  

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