Thirty years ago, the iconic rap artist 2Pac Shakur released what to this day is one of the most powerful heartfelt gut-wrenching music videos titled “Brenda’s Got A Baby.” The storyline is about a 12-year-old girl named Brenda who lives in a ghetto and has a baby she can’t support. The song explores the issue of teen pregnancy, molestation, and its effect on young mothers and their families. It draws from the plight of the impoverished. The lyrics written by Tupac sent chills through the spines of its listeners, but what pushed this music video to the forefront and made it impactful was the actress who played Brenda. Her portrayal of the character depicted what it’s like for teen mothers to deal with traumatic issues with little to no support.
Now 30 years later, I caught up with the actress who is now a business owner, life coach, and mentor, Ms. “Ethel Love“. Love was born and raised in Richmond, California, her upbringing was in a Pentecostal household. When asked how she met Tupac she stated, “I met 2Pac through my older brothers and Godbrothers. They use to hang around in the community.” I wanted to know how 2Pac was as a person back then. Ethel stated “2Pac was quiet, he stayed to himself at times. He was doing a lot of observing to capture things that inspired him to write.” When asked how she got the role of Brenda, she talked about how Pac saw that she liked the arts and that she was a teen mother. Tupac asked Ethel’s brother to see if she would act in the video. Ethel wondered why he didn’t ask her personally, but she felt he didn’t out of respect for her brothers.
Brenda’s got a baby was a phenomenal piece of art. I asked Ethel Love did she know what made him write the song? While on a flight from New York, Shakur wrote the song after reading a story in the newspaper about a 12-year-old girl getting pregnant by her cousin and trying to dispose of the baby in a trash can. Love stated, “He was upset about the article and wanted to make it a reality in the music video.” Even though Ethel had done music videos before, this was her biggest moment. Love stated everyone was professional on set and they treated her with the utmost respect. She was the star. Love was the focus and they made sure she was comfortable. I asked her how she tapped into the role and got into character. “When I arrived on set, I never heard the song or read a script. They were giving me cues as I went along.” Ethel had to bring a lot of emotion out. “It was a lot of work. Being a teen mom myself, they asked me to bring my baby on set that day, but I was glad I didn’t because I had a lot to do that day.”
When asked about how she prepared her mind to perform the epic bathroom scene where she was giving a painful birth, she took herself back to her own experiences. Ethel went through it firsthand by having her own child and was right there in the room when cousins and family members were delivering their own children. “I was helping them by telling them to push, so I understood what it took.” “I had to pull a lot of energy out of me to make it seem like I was having a baby.”
After the video was released, she received so much love from the community. People at school would recognize her and say, “why didn’t you tell me you were in a video with Tupac?” and would always ask to speak to him. Even when going outside, people would scream her name yelling “Brenda’s got a baby.” I asked her now that it’s 30 years later and the video and song are still being played to this day and are still revered as one of the top videos, how does she feel? “It’s still iconic. My heart is so swole because it had always been a dream of mine since I was a kid. It’s still relevant. to this day teachers ask me to come out and speak and it still humbles me when I sign autographs.”
These days Ethel is still at it. She has been celebrating Juneteenth since the 80s before everyone else started recognizing it. Ethel was surprised when she moved to Atlanta and there was no Juneteenth. “Back in Richmond, there were parades, different functions, camera people, the local news. big barbecues, and performers.”
Her greatest challenge she faces is to put herself out there more to the public. Ethel has been hesitant but is opening up more. Her greatest accomplishment is raising her three girls. Love says “I’m iconic. You don’t have to be in the limelight to be that. You can be iconic to your children. There is nothing greater than knowing yourself.”
Ethel is flourishing in her many businesses, she is a mobile stylist and travels to do elderly people’s hair. Love also wants to continue acting but not in big roles, she would prefer to be a background actress because she understands the time and commitment that must go into it, and at this time, her number one priority is raising her children and being there for them. She says being a life coach and a mentor is an everyday thing for her. Her advice to the youth is “Always encourage yourself, pat yourself on the back cause you are your own worst critic. Keep pushing regardless of what people say around you. Know your purpose, be obedient and understand how to sacrifice. Don’t be a ‘shoulda woulda coulda’ person. Turn everything into a positive for yourself. Nike said just do it, I say ‘just done’ because it’s not a challenge to me because I know it’s already done.”
I asked Ethel Love when it’s all said and done and you are long gone from the earth, what is it that you want people to know about you? “I want people to know that I did my best to keep my word; because my word is my bond, and I tried to be true to myself so that I could be true to you.”
UK-born Amber Spencer, DAMON’s Global VP of Marketing takes no prisoners.That is, in business or on the track. I met Amber about 5 years ago.We knew the day would come where I would write about her and DAMON.Spencer leads and oversees all aspects of brand, digital marketing, public relations, customer relations, and experience. During her tenure, the company has gained tremendous market recognition in brand, customer acquisition, and awards.Spencer is a motorcycle enthusiast experienced at riding various bikes, including cafe racers, dirt bikes, and cruisers. She is a member of the WMRC Westwood Motorcycle Racing Club and placed third in her first ever race. Spencer is also an award-winning fitness competitor and advocate for health and wellness.
But what is DAMON, you say? Damon Motors’ claim to fame is that it developed the world’s safest, smartest, fully connected electric motorcycles. The electric superbikes, including HyperSport and HyperFighter, offer unparalleled safety, comfort, and performance with groundbreaking technology and zero tailpipe emissions. Proprietary features include the CoPilot™ advanced warning system, Shift™, which transforms the riding position between sport and commuter modes while in motion, and HyperDrive™, the world’s first monocoque constructed, 100 percent electric, multi-variant powertrain platform.My fav is definitely the HyperSport and I’m still waiting for my first experience on it—Hint hint!
Damon Motors is a global technology leader disrupting the motorcycle market. With offices in San Rafael, California, and headquarters and manufacturing in Vancouver, Canada, Damon is on a mission to cause a paradigm shift for safer, smarter motorcycling. The company is delivering on its promise with award-winning innovation and unprecedented technologies. Anchored by its proprietary electric powertrain, HyperDrive™, Damon has captivated the motorcycling world by delivering earth-scorching speed, ferocious design, and epic new features, including the above-mentioned CoPilot™ and Shift™, that are attracting an entirely new generation of riders. With rapid market adoption from eager buyers in the US and abroad, Damon is setting a new standard for motorcycle safety and sustainability worldwide.I am not sure if it’s right to even compare, but I guess you could say Damon is the Tesla version of motorcycles.
Besides the 200HP, 0 to 60 in 3 seconds with a top speed of 200mph, what else is Damon’s VP of Marketing’s vision? Well, the motorcycling landscape is changing. Women riders make up 20 percent in the US alone, with 22 percent of Gen X riders and 26 percent of Gen Y riders being female. Yet, products and services have been slow to respond to this growth with motorcycles still built specifically for the biggest market: men. Additionally, according to Spencer, the global auto industry continues to have a major gender gap. A Catalyst study shows females in 2018 holding just eight percent of executive roles in the top 20 motor vehicles and parts companies in the Global Fortune 500.
“We believe not enough women are represented in motorcycling and we are here to change that—by living it ourselves inside and out,” said Spencer. “Women make up motorcycling’s fastest growing segment and Damon’s world-class team of top female talent is representative of this. A company with more women will not only lead to greater equality, but will also bridge the divide of men and women’s motorcycling needs. This forward way of thinking is at the core of Damon’s DNA.”
So, if you are a professional in the industry who happens to identify as a female, take a look at the job openings! It’s worth the look. And if you identify as male with good credentials, well, don’t let that deter you from applying because I’m pretty certain the company is more about merit and qualifications than genders.
Damon Motors has recently surpassed a $50M milestone in preorders for its flagship HyperSport motorcycle, the world’s smartest, safest, all-electric sportbike. The company has also won numerous awards and recognition for its innovation including a 2022 Edison Best New Product Award, a Best in Innovation CES Innovation Award, a 2021 GOOD DESIGN® Award, a Digital Trends Top Tech 2020 CES Award, a 2020 Red Herring Top 100 North America finalist award for CleanTech, a 2020 Popular Science Best of What’s New Award, and a Robb Report “Best of the Best” award for motorcycle innovation.
So, when all is said and done… pay attention! I don’t think with Spencer as copilot in this cockpit that she is going to leave any space for chance. She is determined! She learned that from her dad as he frequently drove the family car at high speeds to jump the car off the bridged peaks of river crossings. Before she was legally allowed to race adult go karts, her dad told the organizers she was a professional racer in order to let her into races, where she frequently beat all the adults to the podium. On the flip side, her Mother was all about safety but the need for speed and safety eventually met.
By adulthood, she wanted to ride motorbikes but was dissuaded by her mother, who had been struck by a motorcycle at a young age. Amber’s passion, however, continued to grow and at the age of 21 she took her first ride on the back of her father’s Harley. After that ride, she was committed to getting a motorcycle, bought a Suzuki Boulevard S40, and has never looked back.
I said it before and I will say it again till the day I expire; follow your dreams!
Psychic mediums can connect the physical and spiritual worlds by delivering messages from spirits on the other side. Matt Fraser is “America’s Top Psychic Medium” and best-selling author. From the age of 3 years old, Matt knew he was different. Following is his amazing story, incredible journey, and inspirational message of hope and healing for the living.
NSAEN: Thank you for this opportunity, Matt. Please start by telling us what a psychic medium is?
Matt: A psychic medium is someone who can connect with people that have passed on. There are psychics, and there are mediums, and they are actually two different things. Basically, every medium is psychic, but not every psychic is a medium. Let me explain why. A psychic is someone who picks up on energy. They can tell where that person is going in their life; they can tell who that person is going to marry and what opportunities will come to them in the future. A psychic is almost like the word “fortune teller.” They can tell you what’s going to happen in the future; they can predict things. They get things in the sense of feelings and omens and things like that. I like to call psychics “lifestyle psychics” because that’s basically what they are or “life psychics;” they predict life events where mediums can connect with the other side. A medium will tell you whose with you, who’s watching over you, and can deliver a message if a soul comes through to deliver that message.
A lot of people ask me, as a medium, can you predict the future? I don’t do that; I don’t predict future events, but what makes me a psychic medium is that there are times when souls will come through from the other side and tell me what’s going to happen in the future. For example, a grandmother might come through that passed away and say, “I see that my daughter is going to have two children,” or “I see that my daughter is going to get married next year.” So that’s what makes me a psychic medium.
Every medium is different. For example, my grandmother, my mom, and I all have psychic abilities, but each of our gifts and abilities is different. No medium is the same. There are some medical mediums that are only able to read medical events that will happen in a person’s life; there are pet psychics and mediums who strictly connect with pets that have passed on. There are past life psychics who talk about a person’s past lives, and then there are life psychics who talk about future life events, which is what my mom does.
NSAEN: Would your Mom tell you not to go somewhere because it wouldn’t be safe, or not to be friends with a particular person?
Matt: If things came to her like that, absolutely! A lot of it had to do with relationships, too; I remember when I was in high school, she would say, “this person’s really not there for you, that person really doesn’t like you, you think this person is your friend, but they’re not.” That’s just how her ability was.
NSAEN: Your gift must be hereditary since your grandmother was a psychic medium and your mom is psychic?
Matt: A little bit.My grandmother had this gift, and my mom does but what’s weird is my sister doesn’t. It skipped over her and came to me. I like to think of being a psychic or a medium; it’s in your genes. It’s like having red hair for some people; it’s something that comes out; it’s the same thing with ability.
NSAEN: Say you are in a restaurant, and you’re sitting next to somebody, would you be able to tell, for example, if they had something wrong like a thyroid problem? So that’s a psychic that’s not a medium?
Matt: It depends on what type of medium you are. I would say that would be more of a medical medium. But it depends on if there is a soul that comes over and tells me. That’s the only way I get my information. I can’t just pull it out of thin air. Say someone asks me, “Who will my husband be?” That information has to come from somewhere. That information never comes from a psychic or a medium; it has to come from a higher source. For example, for me to know the information that I do, I don’t. I tell people firsthand that I don’t know your life; I don’t know anything about you, but when I connect with your loved ones in spirit, they will tell me certain things about you, certain things that are going to happen, certain things that they see. Because when you think about it, your loved ones are with you every day. Your loved ones walk with you; they know what’s going to happen and the challenges and struggles you’ve been through.
NSAEN: They really are with you every day because I don’t remember any of my loved ones wishing me a Happy Birthday!
Matt: They are with us every day, but even me as a medium, this is the biggest misconception; I don’t talk to my loved ones every day. I talk to them, but do they answer; no, not at all! This is where it really gets misconstrued. Some psychics and mediums tell you, “I can read anybody; anyone that you want,” and that’s not how it works. You can’t pull someone down from Heaven and make them deliver a message. What I have learned is that souls only come through when there is a message they have to deliver. So your dad, your sister, or your brother aren’t going to come down from Heaven and say, “Hey, I just want to let you know I’m fine, have a Happy Birthday. I’m in Heaven sipping martinis, and everything is great up here.” But they will come through if there is really something they need to tell you. Maybe you’re going through a divorce, and you’re at the end of your rope. You’re really having a tough time, you are drained mentally and physically, and you feel like you can’t move ahead. Maybe it’s that your mom is sick, and you’ve been the one who has been taking care of her, watching over her, and you feel completely depleted, so your dad comes through with a sign or a message. Perhaps something is going on with your kids, there’s a health scare, or they’re having issues in school or whatever it may be, and your husband, who has passed, will come through and give you a sign. That’s when the signs come. Signs are messages. So for our loved ones to come through, there has to be a message that’s there that they have to deliver. So to your point, when I’m in a restaurant, I’m not being pulled all around the restaurant; I would never be able to go out, but there are occasions when I go out to a restaurant, and maybe I’ll be sitting down and the bartender from across the room — and this just happened recently — and her fiancé took his life, and while I was there, the moment I sat down, he was there talking to me saying he had to talk to her because she was so distressed because she felt like she caused his passing. I had to stop eating dinner and deliver that message to her. Those are what I call urgent messages that come through when your loved ones in spirit have to come through and tell you something that they would not be able to get to you on their own.
NASEN: Does this happen to you all the time, wherever you go? Is someone always coming in wanting you to deliver a message?
Matt: Sometimes, absolutely, especially if someone passes tragically — absolutely!
NSAEN: That is so kind of you not to get upset when that happens.
Matt: It’s like if you were a doctor and you saw someone on the ground who was choking, would you stop eating dinner to help, or would you get mad at them. You can’t. It’s part of the life I chose; it’s part of the job I chose.
NSAEN:You hear all the time how upset celebrities get when they are out and about or at a restaurant having dinner and someone wants a picture or an autograph; they get upset about being disturbed. I think it’s wonderful that you always try to help.
Matt: To be honest, thishappens to me all the time. People come up to me and ask to take a picture with me, and I never get annoyed with that. I think that as long as you are open with how you approach the situation, is how the situation will go. For example, for me, when that happens, I am very honored that people ask me and think that highly of me that they would like to take a picture with me. I never get upset.
NSAEN: Are the voices from the spirit world talking to you constantly? Are you able to think clearly? How do you deal with that?
Matt: I don’t know how I deal with it, to be honest with you (laughs). Yes, it is a constant thing. I’m always picking up on information. It’s almost like an alertness, but I like to think of it this way; if you break it down into an analogy, it might be easier to understand. You get text messages on your phone, little text messages that pop in throughout the day. You’re still able to do your work, you’re still able to concentrate on your shopping, and you’re still able to drive in a car, but once in a while, you get those little notifications that come up with messages. It’s the same thing for me. I don’t realize that it kind of takes over my life or that it is as big in my life as it is, but there are situations where family members come up to me and say, “What are you getting? I know you’re reading something.” It’s just a part of me. For example, when we were at a 4th of July cookout, my wife’s aunt came over to me, tapped me on the shoulder, and said, “who are you reading right now? You’ve got that glaze on your face; who are you reading?” I was picking up on something. It’s so funny because other people can see, and I don’t even realize I’m doing it.
NSAEN: When did you first realize you were psychic or had this ability. Were you young?
Matt: Yes, when I was 3 years old, I heard and saw the departed but didn’t know it was an ability. I tell people that my grandmother did this and my mom, and right away, people think they do this as their profession, and they absolutely did not. My grandmother was a medium, but she only used her gift for a few small close friends and family members because back in those days, you couldn’t talk about it. She kept it so secret that not even her husband knew that she did this. He had no idea. My mom only knew because my mom grew up that same way. They both kept it a secret and didn’t really talk about it; they kept it so hidden and so secret. Then when I was growing up, I too was sensing and feeling the same thing. I could sense and feel those who had passed away, but it was a scary thing for me. It was like living that movie, The Sixth Sense – “I see dead people” because every time I was alone, the spirit world saw that as an opportunity to come through and to speak to me. It was so scary; it was petrifying for me.
NSAEN: Did you think that was normal, or did you think you were different?
Matt: In the beginning, I thought it was normal. I was convinced that the house was haunted. I used to ask my mom to make us change houses because that’s where I thought it was coming from, and I would tell my friends about it at school and on the playground. I remember being in the first grade and telling some kids around me what I was seeing and experiencing. I was freaking them out to the point that they told their parents, and their parents had conversations with my mom. They asked if everything was okay with me and if I was watching scary movies. So when that all came to light, that’s when I realized I was different, and I had to hide it away. I just wanted to be normal.
NSAEN: You basically answered my next question. I was going to ask if you embraced your gift or did it scare you so much that you tried to push it away.
Matt: So the crazy part is that I pushed it away for years and years, but as I grew up, I always felt a connection to people, like really strong. I felt like I could feel people on a different level, and one of the things is that I always felt a need to help others. So I started my career as an EMT, and I worked at the World Trade Center in Boston for the Security Operations Department, and then; from there, it was around that time that I had just graduated high school, I became an EMT, and I went to see a medium for myself because I wanted to see somebody who was actually using their gift since all my family did was run from it. So I went to see a medium for the first time, and that was when I realized I could do this too. I don’t have to be afraid of it. I can use my gift to deliver messages from those on the other side.
NSAEN: To help and heal people.
Matt: Yes, exactly!
NSAEN: When you hear these messages, is a spirit literally speaking to you, or is it a telepathic form of communication? Do you hear somebody speaking to you in English, or how does it come through exactly?
Matt: What’s important to know is that when souls transition to the other side, they are transitioning into a different world, an energy world. Their world is an energy world. Just like we have two versions of us, we have a physical version which you’re seeing right now, and I’m seeing in you, and then deep within us, we have our soul. So when we pass on, our bodies are left behind, and our soul transitions to the other side. Once that happens, the souls communicate differently, which is why they send us signs, why we get dreams of our loved ones, and why we sense and feel them. To a psychic medium, your loved ones don’t come through and speak full sentences to me. They don’t say to me, “Oh Matt, I’m this person’s mother, and I lived on this street, and I grew up with one; rather, it’s quick bits of information. For example, a lot of times when I’m communicating with the souls, I’ll ask them questions such as how did you pass, and I’ll hear “heart attack.” Then I’ll say what happened to you, and I will feel some of the things that went on. For example, if it was a heart attack, I might feel a sensation in my chest. Or, if somebody passed as a result of circulation issues, I might feel a sensation or tingling in my legs. And then I’ll also see what’s known as visions which are like daydreams. It’s like little glimpses into that person’s life and what happened to that person before they died. If I see a glimpse of an ambulance, I’ll know that person was rushed to the hospital right before they died. If I see a glimpse of hand-holding, I know that person came to say goodbye to the person that I’m reading for, so they use all these symbols, much like signs, to communicate with me, and that’s why I’m able to communicate with people who lived all over the world. I have clients as far away as China and clients as far away as the Philippines; there’s been people from South Africa; all over. People find it so amazing when I am able to communicate with their loved ones when they didn’t speak English in their life. They speak to me in a different way.
NSAEN: So when people come through, say it was a loved one of mine, do you speak English to them like you are speaking to me?
Matt: Absolutely the same way, just in my head.
NSAEN: I understand that you used yourpsychic gift to reconnect friends and families with the spirits of their loved ones in group meetings through Zoom, and you created these online readings during the Pandemic. Are you still doing that?
Matt: Absolutely!
NSAEN: How do people reach you to schedule these Zoom calls?
Matt: Right now, we are all booked up through summer, and I think the next Zoom calls are scheduled for October. So during Covid, and this is how it started, which is really cool. When I am doing a reading, when I’m at a live event, the way that my gift works and every medium is different; when I look out into the audience, I feel like it’s almost as if the audience disappears, and I start to see souls standing behind people in the audience. So what’s really cool is that one minute I’ll be talking to somebody in the front row who lost their mom, and the next thing you know, I have to go way up in the balcony because somebody else lost their son. So I have to leave the stage and track down the souls. So what was crazy is that I had my whole tour set up in 2020, and then obviously Covid hit, and that got wiped out. We saw all these cool things happening; these creative things happening, for example, you saw CBS and NBC, and all these television shows that used to be live in studio are all of a sudden broadcasting from home. So my team said, “Matt, what if you could do a reading online, like a live event online.” Mind you, I’ve done private readings by phone and private readings by Zoom, so I wasn’t sure what that meant. They said we just do the same event but online. I asked how that would work, and they said, “We don’t know; how would that work with your gift?” I wasn’t sure, so we decided to give it a try.
So my team came up with the idea to do a Zoom call. Everybody interested signs up. When I looked on my computer screen, people would see me. I had all of these boxes with everyone at home in different parts of the world. We did the first event, and what was really crazy was when I saw someone on the screen, I would also see their loved ones in spirit standing behind them. One minute I could be talking to a family in California that had lost their dad, and the next thing you know, I’m in New Mexico with people who had lost their son. So we started doing this on Zoom, and it’s amazing because literally over a thousand people have gotten readings just through these Zoom events during Covid. These are people I would have never been able to meet without the technology of Zoom. It has been absolutely incredible, so we decided to keep going with the Zoom events in between my tour stops.
NSAEN: On these Zoom calls, say you have 25 people from all over, can I see and hear all of these people?
Matt: It used to be that way, but we changed itbecause people would get confused over who was coming through, so now we have it where I can see all the people, but the people at home will only be able to see the person that I’m reading for. I can see everybody, but it splits screens. Let’s say I start with “Donna,” Donna would come up on the screen, then I have to move to “Janet” because she has a loved one coming through, then Janet would switch out.
NSAEN: Do you do one-on-one readings on Zoom?
Matt: I do a good majority by phone because a lot of my clients are out of the state and out of the country.
NSAEN: How long is your wait list for private readings?
Matt: I’m booked out for three years; that’s why we do these Zoom readings in between because there were so many people saying they couldn’t get to a show because I wasn’t coming to their area. I have been trying to arrange these Zoom calls so people can attend the group event.
NSAEN: I wanted to ask you about yourreality show “Meet the Frasers,” are you going to have another season?
Matt: So when Covid happened,we got screwed (laughs). As you know, television shut down. So we are not coming back on E! Entertainment, but we are coming back on a different network.
NSAEN:We are very excited that you are coming to the Venetian in Las Vegas on July 15 and 16, so people can buy tickets to see you live. Tell me about the show, what kind of format is it?
Matt: It’s exactly like you see me give readings on television, but let me tell you this secret, and I say this all the time, but nobody wants to believe me. The secret is that it does not matter where you sit. Because if you’re there, your loved ones are there. It amazes me every single time; it goes from being an empty room when I’m doing a sound check to being a room filled with souls the moment that people start to enter the room. Because when you’re there, you bring your loved ones with you. What’s so crazy is that, during that event, I try to do as many readings as possible, but I never know whose will come through. For example, I just got back from Texas; there were three back-to-back shows – Houston, Dallas, and Ft. Worth – but every night was different. One night might be super sad because there are a lot of tragedies that have happened; a lot of young children that passed, another night could be uplifting because you have souls that come through who lived amazing lives, and the next night could be humorous because you have souls coming through who have a lot of personality. So it’s really cool because I never know what to expect, and that’s why I get just as excited as the person I’m reading for; I’m getting to hear the message for the first time while that person is.
NSAEN: Do people really think if they sit in the front row, they have a better chance of their loved one coming through? I guess I can see how they might think that, but after you explained it, it makes sense why it wouldn’t make a difference.
Matt: I think the saddest thing is when someone says to me, and this has happened so many times, “Matt, I didn’t get tickets to your Detroit event because the seats were up in the balcony, and there’s no way in Hell my loved one is going to come through; there’s no way he’s going to come up there.” Then I hear, “my friend got a reading, and I was supposed to be there that night. She offered me the seat next to her, and I didn’t take it.” I told her she should have come, and she said, “I thought you needed a front row seat.” I tell people, remember, spirit never checks your Visa card statements. This happens all the time. Somebody might want to come to the show because they want to hear from their dad, so they buy a whole row of tickets and their friends come with them, but instead, their friend’s dad or daughter comes through with a message. Now the person who bought the tickets says, “Hey, wait a minute, I don’t understand; I’m the one who bought the ticket. This should be my reading.” I tell them your loved one doesn’t care; nobody checked your Mastercard or Visa Card to see who bought the tickets.
NSAEN: How many people do you think you read each year.
Matt: I would say 700 – 1,000 people.
NSAEN: Are you exhausted after the readings; it must take a lot out of you emotionally? It must be so draining.
Matt: It is so draining. What people don’t see is that after these events, I am done. It feels like being hit by a car. I have a crazy headache. It takes all of your body to deliver these messages. I know I had a really good show; I know I had a really good event the worse that I feel at the end of it. Because at the end of the show, you want to leave your energy on stage. So when I’m out there, I use every bit of energy I have to ensure I reach as many people as possible and deliver as many messages as possible. That is what is so important.
NSAEN: What should people expect from a reading with you?
Matt: You have to be open because you never know who will come through.
NSAEN: So my friend bought me your book, When Heaven Calls – Life lessons from America’s Top Psychic Medium, and it’s wonderful! When is your new book, We Never Die, Secrets of the Afterlife – can you tell us what that is about and when it will be released.
Matt: It will be out on August 22. So all through Covid, people were coming to me as I’ve never seen. I mean, people were scared! They were petrified! Think about it; nobody really thinks about death and dying. Even people my age because you don’t think about death and dying until you lose somebody your age. When you lose somebody your age, and people start passing around your age, or you lose somebody significant in your life, that’s the only time you really think about it. But then, when the Pandemic happened, with so many people passing and so many people leaving this world, no one was off-limits to Covid. Anybody could have died at any time. That’s when so many people came to me, and they were in fear. The questions were from “Matt, what happens when you die,” and “Matt, my loved one just passed, and I didn’t get to say goodbye to “Matt, what happens if I didn’t believe in God? What happens if someone passed of suicide?” We saw it all through the Pandemic; people passed of suicide, and people passed of overdoses. There were people we didn’t get to say goodbye to, people that we got into a fight with, and we never got to resolve things. All these questions were coming in, and there were so many people that needed healing and needed to know the answer. So as these questions came in, I started writing back to all these people. I realized this would help so many people to talk about these questions. These are things that other psychics and mediums won’t talk about. So I sat down and took all the questions that everybody asked me throughout the Pandemic, and I wrote this book called We Never Die, Secrets of the Afterlife.
So in this book, there are all these questions, for example, miscarried babies, what happens to them on the other side? Who are my spirit guides? What is the official religion in Heaven? What about our loved ones? Do they worry about us in Heaven? What does Heaven look like? Is there psychic ability, is it hereditary? Can I train to be a medium? They also talk about what happens if you’ve been married multiple times; who do you end up with in Heaven when you pass on? What if you pass before meeting your soulmate, then what? So I took all of these questions and more, and I wrote this book about it, and what I like about it is that if you don’t like a section or it doesn’t pertain to you, you can skip over it. But there are all of these questions with all of the answers. I wanted this to be a book like no other. What I tell people about this book is, take what you want and leave the rest. If you don’t agree with something, if it doesn’t sit true to you or your religion, don’t read it; move on to the next section.
Everything I wrote here, because I’ve never died, I don’t know what it’s like to die; I just know what the spirits tell me, but everything in here is what I have learned from the conversations I’ve had with the spirit world. When souls have passed on, they’ve told me so much about death and dying and leaving this world.
What’s really cool about this book, too, is that Jenny McCarthy and Gloria Estefan endorsed it. One year after my reality television series, Jenny McCarthy had me on her radio show, and we immediately clicked. Since then, I have given readings to her and her husband, Donny Wahlberg, and then from there, Hollywood is just a small place. People started hearing about me. Gloria Estefan had me over to her house in Miami, and I read for her and her family. Then, Karamo Brown, I read for as well. When I was coming out with this new book, I sent them a copy and asked what they thought about it, and they loved it, so I asked if they would mind giving me an endorsement for it, and they said absolutely.
NSAEN: What is the most exciting part of this journey for you so far?
Matt: It’s meeting the people that I meet every day. It’s amazing to me because the people I’ve met on this journey, and I’m not talking about the people in the industry; I’m talking about the fans and followers to me aren’t fans and followers; they are family. It’s absolutely incredible because when I meet them, they become such a part of me and my wife’s life, to the point now we’re expecting our first child, and every day there are — and I don’t even know how to describe it, because I don’t feel like I deserve any this — but every day there are gifts at the door from people who have made us homemade pillows, Afghans, and blankets, saying I thought about you and the baby and I wanted to send this. From all over the world, Australia, from Canada, all over, and it’s unbelievable.
Then what’s so amazing is that I always remember everything; they send a card, I keep it. I keep everything that people send me. And then what is amazing is that a couple of months might go by, and the next thing you know, I meet them face-to-face at an event. I won’t know who they are, but at the end, they’ll come up to me and say I sent you such and such, or “you have no idea, but you connected me with my mom, and I just wanted to let you know that after all these years I’ve been thinking about you and here’s something for the baby.” It’s making those connections; it’s just so amazing. My fans and followers are the ones that keep me going; they keep me thriving. If you look at my Facebook page, people in the industry and the celebrities that I read for always want to know how come the people on my Facebook page are so positive — right now, I have over one million followers — they say you have no negativity, you don’t have any trolls, you have no negative people — and that’s just not true, there are definitely trolls and negative people, you can’t escape them, but I will tell you 99% of the people who are on there are amazing, they’re all people that believe in what I believe in and that is, that we truly never die. We truly just transition on. So, it’s been an amazing place, and I love that my Facebook has become that because when my grandmother was alive, you couldn’t talk about this. You couldn’t talk about being psychic, being a medium, and connecting with the other side. You couldn’t talk about receiving signs. And being so young, being a young child, the one thing that I wish, because people say to me, “Matt, what would you do differently?” There’s nothing I could do differently, but there’s one thing I wish; the one thing is I wish that I knew somebody psychic when I was a little kid. I wish there had been another child like me that I could have learned about my gift with so I did not feel so afraid and so alone.
NSAEN: So how did you learn how to understand it and not feel so afraid?
Matt: It wasn’t until later on; it was years until I was 20 years old.
NSAEN: All those years? From 3 years old until you were 20, you pushed it away.
Matt: Yes, all those years I pushed it away. I mean, it never truly went away. But it wasn’t until I saw that medium that changed my life. Going back, I just wish that I had more people like me. I wish my grandmother had that too. Today, thank God, it is a different day and age. We have television shows like mine. We have other reality shows with other mediums, we have other TV shows and daytime talk shows where they talk about the afterlife, and they validate the things that other people experience and see, and that’s why I love my Facebook page so much because I feel like it’s a safe place for everybody to go and talk about what they have experienced. And I think that the more we talk about this, the more we talk about what we experienced in our own lives; we all understand Heaven in a different way.
NSAEN: How do you deal with skeptics and critics, or do you?
Matt: I love the skeptical ones; I absolutely love them. They may not like me, but I like them. And the thing is that I think that everybody walks into an event a skeptic, and I don’t blame them. Everyone wants to know if this is real. I think you would be crazy to take someone’s advice, to take someone’s word that they speak to the dead; I really do. So, the thing is that I know that people are skeptical of this, and not everybody believes, and that’s the fun part. The fun part is meeting someone for the first time who doesn’t believe, who doesn’t want to believe in Heaven and the afterlife and delivering a message that completely changes their life.
NSAEN: That must blow them away.
Matt: It does, and it’s an experience for all of us. There was a reading that I did a couple of years back; it’s on my YouTube page. It was a reading for Michael Clayton. He used to be in the NFL, and he had a TV talk show in Tampa, and they invited me on. It’s actually funny because, in the beginning, he did not want me on. He kept saying he didn’t want a medium; I don’t want someone like that on this program; I don’t believe in it. I still went on the show, and I gave him a reading on live television which completely blew him away. The video got posted to YouTube, and all of a sudden, it started climbing — one million, two million, three million views. It was crazy because that one reading changed the lives of so many people. People still talk about it today with me. They say, “Matt, I didn’t believe, and then I saw this person and related with them, and you gave them that reading, and it led me on my own journey to discover if there was Heaven in the afterlife.” That’s what I love; I love when one person can walk in a skeptic and leave a believer.
Many people walk in knowing that their loved ones are with them. For example, you said you get pissed when you don’t get signs from your loved ones, but then again, you might get pissed, but you know they’re there. You know there’s another side, that there is an afterlife.
NSAEN: Yes, I totally believe in that.
Matt: I do too. Let me tell you this; I could not do what I do; I could not live my life here in this world if I did not know there was an afterlife. I’m telling you that right now because every day I’m in a good mood. Why? Because I know that the people I love are right here with me. I know that my grandmother is with me, I know that my grandfather is with me, and I know that my pets that have passed are right here with me. Still, the saddest thing in the world, and this is the reason why I have a special place in my heart for skeptics and non-believers, is I can’t believe; I can’t even fathom in my head what it would be like thinking that your loved ones aren’t there.
NSAEN: Thank you so much, Matt, for taking the time out of your busy schedule to do this interview. It has been such a pleasure, and I can’t wait to have this published for our readers.
Wanting to travel to Africa and see animals in their natural habitat, or go on a rocket ship and walk on the moon? Can’t afford the time or money? A new exhibit in Las Vegas, Illuminarium at the famous Area 15 will allow you to do that in less than a couple of hours, and for 1/100 of the money. Beautiful artwork created by Georgia O’Keeffe gives you the chance.
I toured Illuminarium this week just after they opened at 11 a.m. with the group sales manager, Susan Thomason. She let me wander through the adventures before it opened to the public. This brand new $30 million dollar building next to Area 15, when it comes to parking, is a great new venue and adventure to see if you are in Las Vegas. It offers the latest in technology, presenting an immersive 360-degree cinematic entertainment experience. The attraction has larger-than-life projections, which integrates a sensory space of sight and sound. Their video is shown in a 10,000 square-foot room, letting guests see through the use of 4K laser projection, 3D audio, in-floor vibration, and even scent.
The CEO Alan Greenberg describes Illuminarium as “a place that can take you any place. It’s a combination of design, technology, content, and partners that all come together to do that, and it’s a combination of sight, sound, and sense of scale. Those things come together with extraordinary content.”
The room is 220-feet long. There is limited seating, but it is best to walk around the room from end to end as the video is playing. Every few feet gives a whole new angle. You can see the sights and sound of a beautiful landscape, no matter which of the experiences you are viewing. There are no 3D glasses with this experience, simply the giant screens. Guests may take their time as they wander inside the attraction, which will last approximately 45 to 60 minutes.
The attraction opened in late April and offers four unique experiences: SPACE: A Journey to the Moon and Beyond, WILD: A Safari Experience, O’KEEFFE: One Hundred Flowers, and Illuminarium After Dark.
In WILD: A Safari Experience you come right up close with the world’s most exotic animals in their natural habitats. Majestic landscapes such as a Savanna sunrise and a Kenyan sky lit up by stars. The animals are featured in their native environments across Tanzania, South Africa, Kenya, and Rwanda along with rare silverback mountain gorillas, elephants, giraffes, lions, hippos, and gazelles.
SPACE: A Journey to the Moon and Beyond is a trip across the galaxy. Guests fly through a technicolor nebula, see Saturn’s rings up close and shoot through an asteroid belt.
Illuminarium After Dark is a nightly nightlife experience for those over 21, and is in the next room. Visitors can time their own experience going to either of the rooms. In the After Dark space different locations are recreated, including the night markets of Tokyo, the floral gardens of France, and deep underground crystal caverns. A full bar serves a selection of specialty cocktails and small bites from Lumin Café and Kitchen.
O’KEEFFE: One Hundred Flowers is an explosion of color recreating one of the best-selling art books of all time by the same artist. A series of evolving visual landscapes shows many of her art works.
James Beard Award-nominated husband-wife business partners Elizabeth Blau and Chef Kim Canteenwalla of Blau + Associates created Lumin Café and Kitchen.
The menu offers breakfast items such as a breakfast sandwich, Greek yogurt parfait, and berry smoothie; fish and chips and Korean fried chicken; Lumin burgers; dark chocolate chip cookies, s’mores nachos and milkshakes; and late-night items such as hot chicken sliders and crispy arancini.
General admission tickets for the shows are $40. After Dark tickets, which include a show and one cocktail, are $60. Plan a visit to the Illuminarium Las Vegas to experience an out-of-this-world trip.
Mayor Carolyn Goodman officiated her first-ever celebrity LGBTQ ceremony on June 14 honoring Queen of the Las Vegas Strip, Frank Marino, and his partner Shannon “Alex” Schechter
Mayor Carolyn Goodman officiated her first celebrity LGBTQ honoring Frank Marino and his partner Shannon “Alex” Schechter.
The Little Vegas Chapel, a wedding chapel since 2013 located within downtown Las Vegas near the famed Arts District, celebrated the expansion and grand opening of its new ceremony venue, the Imperial Chapel. The newly constructed ceremony venue adds 800 square-feet of space to the existing chapel, and can host up to 24 guests seated and another 24 standing. I was one of the lucky ones to get a seat right up front and had a great vantage point. Starting off the ceremony were three gorgeous men accompanying three beautiful showgirls.
The Little Vegas Chapel ribbon-cutting with Michael Kelly and Mayor Carolyn Goodman.
Mayor Carolyn Goodman officiated her first-ever celebrity LGBTQ ceremony – a commitment ceremony between iconic Las Vegas entertainer, Frank Marino (star of La Cage, Divas Las Vegas, and Legends in Concert), and his longtime domestic partner, Las Vegas Entertainment Taskmaster Shannon “Alex” Schechter over 29 long years.
After over 35 years of headlining on the Las Vegas Strip and performing over 25,000 shows to over 10 million people, Marino is never at a loss for words. Frank Marino is an accomplished author, newscaster, columnist, spokesperson, and America’s favorite male actress. His first book “His Majesty, the Queen” was an immediate bestseller and has just recently been re-released in paperback. Marino’s venture into reality TV landed him with a number 1-rated reality show in Great Britain called “Last Laugh in Vegas;” he has recently launched a new brunch show on the weekends at the Westgate. He did three weekends in April and the show will return in the fall.
Mayor Goodman proclaimed February 1, to be “Frank Marino Day.” Marino also received a Key to the City as well as a key to the Las Vegas Strip, has a street (Frank Marino Drive) named after him, and is forever immortalized in the sidewalks of the neon jungle as the only entertainer with two stars that bear his name on the Las Vegas Walk of Fame.
A veteran of the Las Vegas entertainment industry, Alex Schechter has more than 15 years experience in live entertainment, stage production, and marketing. As VP Associate Producer for SPI Entertainment, Schechter directs the day-to-day operations of more than six Las Vegas resident shows, along with another three that are on the road.
He oversees show concepts, lighting, music, costumes, advertising, financial modeling and ticketing systems for SPI Entertainment’s numerous live entertainment productions. Prior to his executive position at SPI Entertainment, Schechter served as Company Manager for Greg Thompson Productions where he directed show operations for several live productions on the Las Vegas Strip.
The Little Vegas Chapel offers full-service marriage ceremonies, themed weddings, vow renewals, friendship, and pretend ceremonies. Couples can plan an Elvis ceremony, something more traditional and elegant, or a full-fledged party event. The Little Vegas Chapel has an in-house staff that includes coordinators, officiants, and photographers. Live streaming services are available for guests who are unable to attend in person.
If you’re a dog owner, there’s a good chance you’ve been looking for high-quality treats for them. But instead of going to fancy pet supply stores, why not try and make the treats yourself?
The next time you head to the grocery store, you might want to consider buying some turkey—but not for yourself. No, this turkey will be for your dog.
It may come as a surprise, but turkey has tons of nutrients that are great for dogs! On top of that, it is relatively affordable and easy to prepare. And if you’re still on the fence about adding this to Fido’s diet, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we’ll explain why turkey meat is a good treat for dogs, the risks of feeding your dog turkey, and even the best way to serve it to your pooch. If you want, you can visit Spot and Tango website to learn more about why turkey is such a delight for dogs.
Is Turkey Safe for Dogs?
Turkey is a very safe meat for dogs. Since chicken is one of dogs’ most common food allergies, according to the BMC Veterinary Research, turkey could be the best alternative. This is because turkey shares many of the same qualities as chicken, offering a lot of protein and other nutrients.
For many pet owners, a natural diet is the way to go. And if you’re transitioning your dog from commercialized dog kibble, one thing you can’t skip out on is meat.
Remember, dogs are natural carnivores; so they require a diet that contains a lot of meat. In fact, most dogs have a hard time digesting plant materials, which is why most natural diets will require you to prepare meat for your dogs.
And depending on where you live, turkey can be extremely cost-effective. On top of that, turkey has a lot of white meat, which is what can benefit your dog the most. You can give turkey as a small treat every now and then or incorporate it into their regular diet.
What Makes Turkey a Good Dog Treat
The first reason we recommend giving your dog turkey treats is the taste. Dogs love the taste of turkey meat as it’s something that naturally appeals to them. It’s important to find treats and food your dog enjoys eating to encourage them to eat every single bite.
You can use the tasty turkey meat as a treat during training, to reward good behavior, or just as the main protein for your dog’s dinner. But these aren’t the only benefits that turkey offers dogs.
Here are three more reasons you might want to consider giving your dog turkey.
Phosphorous
To start, turkey contains a bit of phosphorous. This is great because phosphorous can combine with calcium to help your dog develop strong and healthy bones. Dogs don’t require a lot of phosphorous in their diet and turkey can provide them with the right amounts for their body.
On top of that, turkey prompts muscle health and canine growth. So, giving them turkey can offer them many benefits, just from one element. There are a couple of other components in turkey that are great for your dog, which we’ll get to in this section.
Protein
Protein needs to be a staple of your dog’s diet. A proper dog’s diet should contain at least 20% protein. While this can vary depending on the size and breed of your dog, the 20% estimate is a good benchmark to follow. And while you can get protein from other sources, nothing will be able to beat out meat for your dog.
If you want your dog to get high-quality and healthy protein for their body, they need to eat meat. And luckily, turkey contains a whole lot of protein that’s good for dogs. Protein is essential for a dog’s muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
Magnesium
This is a lesser-known benefit of turkey for dogs. However, turkey contains a fair amount of magnesium and zinc. These are great for your dog’s coat and skin.
Are There Any Risks That Come With Feeding Turkey to a Dog?
Like any other food, there are some risks to giving your dog turkey. This includes choking. Your dog might accidentally end up choking on turkey bones and skin. Ligaments and fat can also be choking hazards, which is why you may want to consider cooking the turkey before giving it to your dog.
Or, if you wish to feed your dog raw turkey (which is safe), you have to get fillets without bones and skin. This way, you lessen the chances of them choking on their dinner.
With that said, make sure to feed your dog only white meat. This is because the red meat of the turkey has a lot of fat. A high-fat diet can lead to pancreatitis and other issues in your dog that can bring about serious consequences.
What scares many of us more than monster sharks, demonic clowns, and masked killers? Creepy little kids. Damien’s wrath in The Omen, the children of Weymouth infecting harm in the minds of adults in These Are The Damned, that awful little pigtailed blonde that was The Bad Seed, have all been effectively creepy, but none may surpass IFC Midnight’s Norwegian supernatural thriller, The Innocents. Do you dare see why?
Writer/director Eskil Vogt proves once again the power of his writing and directing capabilities after having written the internationally praised The Worst Person in the World (Oscar nominated International Feature) and the much lauded supernatural thriller Thelma. His first feature as a writer/director, Blind, was a thought-provoking drama about a frail blind woman coming to terms with her condition. The film captured the attention of the judges at Sundance rewarding him with Best Screenplay along with critics declaring an auspicious directorial debut.
Vogt’s latest film is anything but innocent, focusing on four children discovering their dark secret powers when the adults are not around. It sounds familiar, but this slow-burn of unrelenting horror will be far too much for the average viewer. Vogt does not deliver his brand of evil for shock value. His cold, calculating tale slowly unfolds to reveal the darkness that resides in some children and what they are capable of – killing insects, harming animals, and causing emotional and physical pain to friends.
It all begins with innocent playtime. Young Ida, her autistic sister Anna, and their parents, recently move into a new neighborhood during the Nordic summer. Ida is jealous of her sister due to the attention she gets. She even goes as far as pinching Anna very hard, knowing that her sister will not react and does not have the capability of telling on her.
Already we are privy to Ida’s mean streak, a very possible bad seed until she meets Ben who proves to be far more sadistic. But, I’m getting ahead of myself. It starts off as little kids getting to know one another, then the whole meet and greet takes a mysterious turn as Ben guides Ida into the forest and displays some kind of psychokinesis. At first, it’s fun and games, and Ben invites Ida to discover what powers she may have.
Then there is the introduction of Aisha, a very sweet child that somehow has a sort of telekinesis and is able to communicate with Ida’s sister. Once Anna is welcomed into the fold, she proves to be nearly as powerful as Ben. This causes a rift between Ben and the others. After all, he introduced the kids’ powers to one another and he becomes meaner and deadlier.
What transpires feels all too real. As hard as it is to watch, I could not take my eyes off the screen. Vogt’s film is emotionally exhausting, near poetic, a dark fable on the fantastic side that grips your heart and may also make you dizzy from the sheer power and simplistic brutality that we are subjected to.
The Innocents toys with our emotions and packs a helluva wallop that will leave a bad taste for some. Others will consider Vogt’s film a modern day classic thriller that will bring to mind the very worst of children portrayed in horror movies: the child in the basement in Night of the Living Dead, the creepy twins, Holland and Niles form the 1972 shocker The Other, and the other set of terrible twins from The Shining. Vogt’s tale of these special children is not blatant horror. It is one of self-discovery, redemption and the line that can be drawn, even by children, between good and evil, which makes his film all the more compelling.
LAS VEGAS’ FIRST PERMANENT DIGITAL ART MUSEUM, PERCEPTION
New Space for Immersive and High-Tech Installations Debuts with World Premiere of Leonardo: The Universal Man
Las Vegas Strip’s first permanent digital art museum – PERCEPTION Las Vegas – The new space for immersive and high-tech installations is debuting with the world premiere of Leonardo: The Universal Man, chronicling the life and works of Leonardo da Vinci. This is an hour-long, three-gallery journey which will transport guests on a mind-bending exploration into the remarkable world of Leonardo da Vinci. Hopefully I will be visiting this museum in the next week.
Robert Frey, PERCEPTION CEO, said, “Perception is a 360-degree, fully immersive, multi-sensory museum that will continually introduce fresh content celebrating the world’s greatest artists. We’re proud to be home to the world premiere of Leonardo: The Universal Man and to invite our guests to witness the genius of da Vinci in a truly special way, where we will push the limits of how art can be portrayed in a museum.”
Three unique, 360-degree gallery exhibits transport visitors into da Vinci’s works, studies and findings as an architect, engineer, alchemist, artist, philosopher, and sculptor:
· Grand Salon: Chapters of the Genius’ Life – Guests enter a 28-foot-tall, four-wall theater where they voyage to Renaissance-era Italy through da Vinci’s eyes, as chapters of his life unfold during this 35-minute film. Each wall of the theater portrays a different visual perspective of the same story as the narrative progresses. Using advanced laser projection and transportive audio, patrons learn about da Vinci’s engineering and architectural feats as they take flight in his Flying Machine, stand in cathedrals digitally constructed through geometry, and float through Tuscany on a parachute originally designed by the master himself.
· Painting with Light: The Last Supper – During their visual expedition, guests are introduced to this fresh take on one of da Vinci’s most legendary paintings during the Italian High Renaissance: The Last Supper. In a gallery with floor-to-ceiling, surround-sound LED walls, one of the world’s most famous works of art comes to life through an explosion of light, color, shape and sound.
· The Gallery: Mona Lisa’s Perception – In this gallery, guests are greeted by six versions of Lisa del Giocondo – better known to the world as Mona Lisa. Accompanied by an original musical score, Mona Lisa primes guests to experience da Vinci in the digital age as they each take on intriguing and entertaining forms of the best-known, most-visited, sung- and written-about image in the art world.
PERCEPTION was created by nightlife pioneer Robert Frey and entrepreneur Ned Collett. The team engaged Dutch multidisciplinary creative agency, TWOFIFTYK, to bring Leonardo: The Universal Man to life. TWOFIFTYK has created digital entertainment for music giants and festivals including Electric Daisy Carnival, Martin Garrix, and Armin Van Buuren.
PERCEPTION is located at 2780 South Las Vegas Boulevard. The museum is open daily from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. and welcomes guests of all ages. Tickets can be purchased via www.perceptionlasvegas.com or by calling 702-476-9069.
Thank you for all the information that Kirvin Doak has provided.
Ticket Prices:
Locals: $29.50
General Admission: $34.50; $32.50 for military members with valid ID
VIP Experience: $49.50; includes anytime entry and a beverage
Children: $18.50 for children ages 5-12; under 5 are free
The minibus has become a common site on UK roads as more families see the advantages that a minibus affords over a large SUV. In general, minibuses can seat from 9 to 12 passengers in comfort. No special licence is required, details here. True luggage space will be limited if all passenger seats are used up.
Initial Purchase Price
If you wish to save, why not opt for a nearly new minibus and take advantage of the depreciation factor. If a minibus is well-maintained, it will have a long life and this is not reflected in how quickly prices drop in the UK for most second-hand vehicles, especially luxury vehicles. This is a UK phenomenon. In other countries cars do drop in value, but not at the same levels in the UK.
Insurance
The insurance will depend on a number of factors, but having a good driving history is important. If you have not driven a minibus before, it is possible to transfer your car’s no claims history to a minibus. When buying a minibus, look at the insurance category that it belongs to, as this will also be an important factor in the price you pay.
Who you get your policy from
The insurance provider you get your policy from will, of course, affect how much your coverage costs. The good news is that it’s very easy to get minibus insurance quotes now thanks to sites such as Multi Quote Time minibus insurance or Go Compare Minibus coverage options.
Maintenance
Like all vehicles, taking preventative actions will always work out cheaper than letting things slide. Get your 9-seater car or minibus serviced on a regular basis and carry out your own checks, especially before a long journey.
Black box
If you are a safe driver, why not prove it to the insurance company and agree to the installation of a lockbox and get rewarded for safe driving. Installing this type of device is extra important and effective for young drivers who are seen as high risk.
Security
Two approaches can be looked into to lower your insurance premiums. First, can you provide safe off-road parking when not in use? Secondly, have you installed an immobiliser and a tracking device? Both of these should be industry approved, but doing so will help reduce further tour insurance overheads.
Minibus Sharing
Similar to carpooling, minibus pooling has gained in popularity within the UK. If the term is new, it basically means you can have the use of a shared minibus when required. This means you will only pay for what you use. Perfect for families or clubs that only require a minibus for the occasional outing or a family holiday. Another option is to simply hire a minibus when you need that extra space or comfort. If hiring, you will need to hire with a specialised minibus hire company as these are scarce on regular rental fleets.
This is by far the most incredible show I’ve seen in Las Vegas – or anywhere across the country. Particle Ink is completely original and totally mesmerizing. It’s hard to compare it to anything you might have seen elsewhere, as it is a show, a play, a light experience, and a concert all rolled into one. The story is deeply moving and the music is outstanding as the show goes on; there is a huge amount of visual and narrative texture throughout.
Definitely NOT your typical Vegas show! It is an innovative (in the U.S. anyway), immersive, and interactive experience that takes you into the 2.5th dimension that combines digital art and animation with splashes of dance, B-Boy, Krumping, and artistic dance styles. You can take pictures but no videos.
Located in the Arts District in DTLV directly across from The English Hotel, showtimes are at 7 and 9 pm Wednesday through Sunday. You must be there 15 minutes before your start time. It is scheduled to be there through September, but hopefully will stay longer.
You can either follow them on IG to get familiar with the characters and storyline, or even go in with no expectations. The use of multiple rooms in the same space is genius! The video is standing room only, but not long enough to tire you out. Please visit all the rooms and get the total experience. Parking is free on the street. Right next to the Neon Desert brewery if you should want to stop for a drink and burgers before or after. Don’t let the building fool you, it is all black and has a Moon over the door. Yes, you are in the right place.
Presented by Kaleidoco, an entertainment technology company, the “Particle Ink: Speed of Dark” portal at The LightHouse in the 18b Las Vegas Arts District located at 918 S. Main. Brought to life by a team whose resumes include Sleep No More, Cirque du Soleil, Disney Imagineering and myriad other creative endeavors, the Particle Ink Metaverse blends the virtual world into the physical world through mixed reality and innovative technologies. Particle Ink encompasses thought-provoking creativity, imaginative interactive installations and mind-bending, dynamic digital and physical portals designed to enlighten and inspire audiences.
I’ve heard it said that these crimes were a freakish occurrence that could never happen again. I am not so sure. The Manson Murders embody revolutionary and utopian obsessions past and present.
