Category Archives: Culture

Kim Cattrall stars in Nintendo’s new Super Mario 3D Land TV campaign

Posted on by

A fun new TV campaign highlights how women like to game in their ‘me time’

Iconic screen and stage actress Kim Cattrall will add some Hollywood glamour to Nintendo’s latest TV campaign for Super Mario 3D Land, as she reveals her secret passion for gaming.

The brand new adverts, which launch on 11th June, show Kim in her bedroom reaching over to her bedside table and opening her Ice White Nintendo 3DS as she indulges in a bit of ‘me time’.

Kim shares how Mario is one man she can always rely on to have some fun and adds, with a twinkle in her eye, that their shared love of dressing up has kept things interesting over the years.

Nintendo first approached Kim after hearing how much she enjoys playing video games whether with friends or on her own. The campaign aims to show how the rich and colourful world of Mario provides the perfect escape for women for five minutes or five hours*.

Kim understands that women need to keep challenging themselves in all areas of life, and that it is important to make time to play, at every age. Through the campaign, Kim helps to show that gaming can be a form of escapism for all women, in their busy everyday lives.

Vanisha Kavia, Junior Product Manager at Nintendo UK, said: “The new campaign is all about women having fun. Kim Cattrall is an inspiration for women of all ages; she’s attractive, successful, intelligent and knows how to have fun. Plus, she is a genuine fan of Nintendo! We are really excited to have her involved in our new campaign.”

Kim Cattrall said: “It has been fabulous to work with Nintendo. I have been playing Nintendo games for years, have often gifted them to my family and have fallen in love with the new Nintendo 3DS and Super Mario 3D Land. I think it’s really important for women to take time out to play and Mario games are so much fun. An added bonus is that my nephew thinks I am the coolest aunty.”

Super Mario 3D Land is the first-ever true 3D Mario adventure game and sees the return of the Tanooki suit. It launched exclusively on Nintendo 3DS in November 2012, has remained in the top 25 games chart since launch and, like all Mario titles, is particularly popular with women.

Yeasayer announce UK shows | Music News

Posted on by

 

Brooklyn psychedelic pop band Yeasayer have announced a special fan show at London’s Lexington on 11th July, ahead of their show at Suffolk’s Latitude Festival the following weekend. Continuing their special fan  appreciation after their personal touch with first track ‘Henrietta’ (sent out by post to 200 fans), the show was first announced via Yeasayer’s mailing list this morning, before any tickets go on sale to the general public.

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo4rbhR_vsk&w=560&h=315]

 

September’s UK Tour Dates:

Thu 27 Sep London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire / www.o2shepherdsbushempire.co.uk
Fri 28 Sep Glasgow Arches / www.thearches.co.uk
Sat 29 Sep Manchester The Ritz / www.hmvritz.com
Yeasayer will release their anticipated new album ‘Fragrant World’ on 20th August on Mute, the follow up to 2010’s ‘Odd Blood’.

Dan Deacon reveals America album cover + European tour info | Music News

Posted on by

 

Having recently announced his forthcoming album, ‘America’, out 27th August via Domino, Dan Deacon is set to head out on a Europeantour this autumn, performing with his streamlined ensemble of two drummers – Jeremy Hyman of Boredoms, Ponytail; Kevin O’Meara of Videohippos – with America producer Chester Endersby Gwazda joining Dan on electronics.

Deacon is also running a competition here to use fan photos of the record on a forthcoming single. Details here:  http://dominorecordco.com/dandeaconamericaflagcontest

Deacon has also announced a European tour. Dates are as follows:

19 September –  Prague, CZ  – Meet Factory

20 September –  Berlin, DE – Festsall Kreuzberg

21 September –  Hamburg, DE – Reepers

22 September –  Eindehoven, NL – Area 51

23 September –  Amsterdam, NL – Bitterzoet

24 September –  Brussels, BE – Botanique

25 September –  Paris, FR – Le Trebando

26 September –  London, UK – Scala

28 September –  Manchester, UK – Islington Mill

29 September –  Brighton, UK – The Haunt

 

External Links:

Official Site – http://dandeacon.com/

Twitter – http://twitter.com/ebaynetflix     

Tumblr – http://dandeacon.tumblr.com/

Instagram – @dandeaconofficial http://web.stagram.com/n/dandeaconofficial/

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/dandeacon

Label – http://www.dominorecordco.us/ 

Is China Buying The World? | Book Review

Posted on by

This short book is more than food for the brain, it is fascinating, a snapshot of history. Touching on a popular subject and often asked question by the global media; Is china buying the world?

Peter Nolan’s well researched short book is full of facts and weighty political and financial debate. Nolan certainly knows his stuff, as well he should; he is Professor of Chinese Development at the University of Cambridge and is one of the leading international experts on China and the global economy.

Did you know?: China accounts for 26 percent of the total foreign holding of US debt. However Britain and Japan hold more US public debt than China. China only holds 12 per cent of total US public debt.

Everyone in business should read this book. It also has lots of fun, fascinating graphs and tables. This book gives a stunning insight into business in China, the UK, US and beyond.

Another point I got from the book is a certain racism against China. I know China has a dodgy history of human rights, but it would seem that the western world is finding it hard for anyone else to take over it’s dominance: perceived or otherwise. A point that Nolan point out is not good for peace or international relations. The book also touches on another subject “Who are We?” and are there any business which are British, or American left?

China is the world’s second biggest economy and its largest exporter. It possesses the world’s largest foreign exchange reserves and has 29 firms in the FT 500 list of the world’s largest companies. ‘China’s Rise’ preoccupies the global media, which carry regular articles suggesting that it is using its financial resources to ‘buy the world’.

Is there any truth to this idea? Or is this just scaremongering by Western commentators who have little interest in a balanced presentation of China’s role in the global political economy?

This book is a must-read. A lot of people are worrying about the ‘awakening giant’ of China, let Peter Nolan allay your fears.

You can buy Is China Buying the World? here.

Bailterspace return after 13 years in the wilderness | Music News

Posted on by

 

New Zealand/New York City legends Bailterspace have returned with their first new recordings in 13 years. The band were once described by Pitchfork as“simultaneously beautiful, jagged, atonal, and supremely melodic” and their album ‘Strobosphere’ will be released on 20th August via Fire Records.
Have a listen and download their track  ‘No Sense’, for free, below:
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/48939030″ iframe=”true” /]
Originally a member of The Gordons, Alister Parker formed Nelsh Bailter Space with former Clean drummer Hamish Kilgour in year 1987. Shortening the name to Bailterspace, they eventually incorporated his former band mates from The Gordons, including Brent MacLachlan who has remained integral to the band since 1989.  They won praise as “the Sonic Youth of the Southern Hemisphere” with several Melody Maker singles of the week. Relocating to New York brought about greater harmonic exploration whilst their Flying Nun and Matador releases established them as a distortion-led tour de force.
After announcing a hiatus, the band never truly stopped working together, occasionally sneaking out to play an unusual show and building a stockpile of ideas, they way they always done. However, finding the urge to record too great, they dove back into the studio and produced a record of power and beauty that could only come from Bailterspace.

Nada Surf unveil video for ‘Waiting For Something’ | Music News

Posted on by

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10oh5Knqixo&w=560&h=315]

 

Alt rock kings Nada Surf have unveiled the video for their single, ‘Waiting For Something,’ off their recently released seventh album The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy. The video was directed by Violetta D’Agata and is described as “a personal journey through interlocking time in the lives of several interconnected characters, all of whom share the mystique and beauty of their Spanish island – Ibiza.”

Usher Performs at Xbox 360 Conference.

Posted on by

Usher performed his latest song ‘Scream’ at the Xbox 360 press conference at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles. The star demonstrated the moves that players and his fans will be able to learn and perform in the new forthcoming game, Dance Central 3, exclusively on Kinect for Xbox 360.

Usher has choreographed two of his songs for the best-selling dancing game, out later this year.

Government proposes measures to protect people from cowboy builders.

Posted on by

The government has proposed new assessment measures to protect people from cowboy builders. Kevin Byrne, Managing Director of Checkatrade, which vets and monitors trades companies and services to help people avoid rogues, comments:

“Unannounced spot checking is essential to any assessment worth its salt, so the government’s measures are a step in the right direction. However, in my experience what really separates the wheat from the chaff is independent feedback from real customers. By monitoring it, people can be sure of appointing a reputable trader and avoid those who perform substandard work.

“Customer protection is the lifeblood of my industry so, frankly, I am at a loss to understand why the government is not talking to us about this. There is much more that could be done to protect the public from cowboys and we stand ready to assist or advise in any capacity.”

For background on this story you can read an article about the government’s proposed measures by visiting the Guardian’s website.