JOHANNESBURG (AP) — From Zimbabwe, where many must work at night because it’s the only time there is power, to…
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — From Zimbabwe, where many must work at night because it’s the only time there is power, to Nigeria where collapses of the grid are frequent, the reliable supply of electricity remains elusive across Africa.
The electricity shortages that plague many of Africa’s 54 countries are a serious drain on the continent’s economic growth, energy experts warn.
In recent years South Africa’s power generation has become so inadequate that the continent’s most developed economy must cope with rolling power blackouts of eight to 10 hours per day.
Africa’s sprawling cities have erratic supplies of electricity but large swaths of the continent’s rural areas have no power at all. In 2021, 43% of Africans — about 600 million people — lacked access to electricity with 590 million of them in sub‐Saharan Africa, according to the International Energy Agency.
Investments of nearly $20 billion are required annually to achieve universal electrification across sub-Saharan Africa, according to World Bank estimates. Of that figure nearly $10 billion is needed annually bring power and keep it on in West and Central Africa.
There are many reasons for Africa’s dire delivery of electricity including ageing infrastructure, lack of government oversight and a shortage of skills to maintain the national grids, according to Andrew Lawrence, an energy expert at the Witwatersrand University Business School in Johannesburg.
A historical problem is that many colonial regimes built electrical systems largely reserved for the minority white population and which excluded large parts of the Black population.
Today many African countries rely on state-owned power utilities.
Much attention has focused in the past two years on the Western-funded “Just Energy Transition,” in which France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union are offering funds to help poorer countries move from highly polluting coal-fired power generation to renewable, environmentally-friendly sources of power. Africa as a region should be among the major beneficiaries in order to expand electricity access on the continent and improve the struggling power grids, said Lawrence.
“The transition should target rural access and place at the forefront the electrification of the continent as a whole. This is something that is technically possible,” he said.
The Western powers vowed to make $8.5 billion available to help South Africa move away from its coal-fired power plants, which produce 80% of the country’s power.
As a result of its dependence upon coal, South Africa is among the top 20 highest emitters of planet-warming greenhouse gases in the world and accounts for nearly a third of all of Africa’s emissions, according to experts.
South Africa’s plan to move away from coal, however, is hampered by its pressing need to produce as much power as possible each day.
The East African nation of Uganda for years has also grappled with power cuts despite massive investment in electricity generation.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has grappled with an inadequate power supply for many years, generating just 4,000 megawatts though the population of more than 210 million people needs 30,000 megawatts, say experts. The oil-rich but energy-poor West African nation has ramped up investments in the power sector but endemic corruption and mismanagement have resulted in little gains.
In Zimbabwe, electricity shortages that have plagued the country for years have worsened as the state authority that manages Kariba, the country’s biggest dam, has limited power generation due to low water levels.
Successive droughts have reduced Lake Kariba’s level so much that the Kariba South Hydro Power Station, which provides Zimbabwe with about 70% of its electricity, is currently producing just 300 megawatts, far less than its capacity of 1,050 megawatts.
Zimbabwe’s coal-fired power stations that also provide some electricity have become unreliable due to aging infrastructure marked by frequent breakdowns. The country’s solar potential is yet to be fully developed to meaningfully augment supply.
This means that Harare barber Omar Chienda never knows when he’ll have the power needed to run his electric clippers.
“What can we do? We just have to wait until electricity is back but most of the time it comes back at night,” said Chienda, a 39-year-old father of three. “That means I can’t work, my family goes hungry.”
In Nigeria’s capital city of Abuja, restaurant owner Favour Ben, 29, said she spends a large part of her monthly budget on electricity bills and on petrol for her generator, but adds that she gets only an average of 7 hours of power daily.
“It has been very difficult, especially after paying your electricity bill and they don’t give you light.” said Ben. “Most times, I prepare customers’ orders but if there is no light (power for a refrigerator), it turns bad the next day (and) I have lost money for that.”
Businesses in Nigeria suffer an annual loss of $29 billion as a result of unreliable electricity, the World Bank said, with providers of essential services often struggling to keep their operations afloat on generators.
As delegates gathered in Cape Town this month to discuss Africa’s energy challenges, there was a resounding sentiment that drawn-out power shortages on the continent had to be addressed urgently. There was some hope that the Western-funded “Just Energy Transition” would create some opportunities, but many remained skeptical.
Among the biggest critics of efforts to have countries like South Africa to transition quickly from the use of coal to cleaner energy is South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe.
He is among those advocating that Africa use all sources available to it to produce adequate power for the continent, including natural gas, solar, wind, hydropower and especially coal.
“Coal will be with us for many years to come. Those who see it as corruption or a road to whatever, they are going to be disappointed for many, many years,” said Mantashe. “Coal is going to outlive many of us.”
___
AP journalists Chinedu Asadu in Abuja, Nigeria; Farai Mutsaka in Harare, Zimbabwe; and Rodney Muhumuza in Kampala, Uganda, contributed.
NEW YORK (AP) — A powdery substance was found Friday with a threatening letter in a mailroom at the offices…
NEW YORK (AP) — A powdery substance was found Friday with a threatening letter in a mailroom at the offices of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, the latest security scare as the prosecutor weighs a potential historic indictment of former President Donald Trump, authorities said.
New York City police and environmental protection officials isolated and removed the suspicious letter, and testing “determined there was no dangerous substance,” Bragg spokesperson Danielle Filson said. The substance was sent to a lab for further testing, police said.
“Alvin, I am going to kill you,” the letter said, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person was not authorized to speak publicly about an ongoing investigation and did so on condition of anonymity.
The discovery, in the same building where a grand jury is expected to resume work Monday, came amid increasingly hostile rhetoric from Trump, who is holding the first rally of his 2024 presidential campaign Saturday in Waco, Texas.
Hours earlier, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that any criminal charge against him could lead to “potential death & destruction.”
Trump also posted a photo of himself holding a baseball bat next to a picture of Bragg, a Democrat. On Thursday, Trump referred to Bragg, Manhattan’s first Black district attorney, as an “animal.”
The building where the letter was found wasn’t evacuated and business mostly went on as usual, with prosecutors coming and going and bicycle delivery workers dropping off lunch orders. The building houses various government offices, including the city’s marriage bureau.
Security has been heavy around the court buildings and district attorney’s office in recent days as the grand jury investigates hush money paid on Trump’s behalf during his 2016 campaign
Additional police officers are on patrol, metal barricades have been installed along the sidewalks and bomb sniffing dogs have been making regular sweeps of the buildings, which have also faced unfounded bomb threats in recent days.
After Trump called on people to protest his possible arrest, Bragg sent a memo telling his staff: “We do not tolerate attempts to intimidate our office or threaten the rule of law in New York.”
The grand jury, convened by Bragg in January, has been investigating Trump’s involvement in a $130,000 payment made in 2016 to porn actor Stormy Daniels to keep her from going public about a sexual encounter she said she had with Trump years earlier. Trump has denied the claim.
Signature Theatre’s impeccably staged production of Stephen Sondheim’s Pacific Overtures grapples not only with the genre conventions of musical theater, but also with the expectations of a musical theatergoing audience. This revival of Sondheim’s inventive work confronts a legacy of Western imperialism in Japan with a structure that both draws from and critiques the confines of the American musical.
The musical opens on Jason Ma as the Reciter. Director Ethan Heard, Signature’s associate artistic director, explains in the show’s press release that his Reciter is “a contemporary Asian American man, who acts as a bridge to 1850s Japan and directs the 9-person ensemble in bringing the story to life.” A bit of a narrator figure, the Reciter repeatedly glances at a generic textbook: something vaguely titled along the lines of “A Brief History of Japan.” Pacific Overtures proceeds to recount Japan’s 19th-century encounters with a Western presence, after many centuries of isolated stability. As these early encounters escalate to a violent imperial reality, the musical’s pace begins to quicken and the logic of linear time (like the logic of imperialism) begins to feel meaningless. Sondheim’s experimental narrative lays the groundwork for Heard’s many other stylistic experiments and innovations. The production is a complex reimagining of what might otherwise be known as “East meets West.”
The audience soon meets a rotating cast of figures, led by the samurai Kayama, a complicated role dreamily embodied by Daniel May. Alongside Kayama is Manjiro (Jonny Lee Jr.), a Japanese fisherman and recent transplant from Boston. Lee’s performance is impressively zealous, but equally warm. While this pairing is unexpected, the two men form a camaraderie in difference that grows throughout this musical in complicated and fascinating ways. The cast also features Eymard Meneses Cabling, Andrew Cristi, Quynh-My Luu, Christopher Mueller, Chani Wereley, Albert Hsueh, and Nicholas Yenson. Yenson was quite memorable as an Uncle Sam-inspired Commodore Matthew Perry, a grotesque personification of the unwelcome westerner. Each ensemble member brings nuance and dedication to their many overlapping roles and demonstrates immense musical talent.
However, this production’s Kabuki-inspired concept further complicates the typical draws of musical theater. Originating centuries before the American musical, Kabuki is a heavily stylized form of performance that (while still musical) intends to emotionally distance its audiences. American musical theater, on the other hand, is deeply and emphatically emotional and wants audiences to “get lost in” the moment. Signature’s production proves by example that if one were to combine these styles it would be rife with contradictions—some more unpleasant than others.
Nevertheless, the combination of styles works incredibly well here. This choice is one that many other productions would likely avoid at risk of irreparably ostracizing the audience or overcomplicating the concept. By ignoring—or embracing—this risk, Pacific Overtures dares the audience to accept that such contradictions exist, much as a history book never provides the full perspective. In doing so, audiences must embrace the unfamiliar; reconsider their expectations for musical theater; and finally, augment a more critical stance toward the events taking place on stage.
Oliver Wason and Eric Norris’respective work on light and sound design further achieve such contradictions. These two elements intermittently delight and ignite the senses. Chika Shimizu’sscenic design includes a revolving stage with the audience on all four sides. Adapted from a Kabuki tradition, the use of a rotating stage generated exquisite images on a decidedly minimal set. Behind each section of the audience, watercolor backdrops illuminated the entire theater. Helen Q. Huang’scostumes were exceeded only by the virtuosity of her puppet designs.
While Pacific Overtures does not fully adhere to the narrative tendencies of musical theater, the story is by no means lost on its audience. Heard’s direction ensures this. Plus, Sondheim is, per usual, sure to include more than one showstopper. Alexander Tom’smusical direction heavily features a form of Japanese percussion called taiko, and his interpretation of Sondheim’s score thoughtfully ruminates on several different styles. While the satirical “Please, Hello” is certainly a crowd-pleaser, it is “Someone in a Tree” that best conveys the undeserved treatment of the characters and the people they represent. A turning point in the musical, this enchanting number showcases the “minor” characters who lived this history, but were nevertheless excluded from it.
Lest we forget, the history of musical theater is steeped in colonialism and appropriation. Consider even the many imperial terms used to describe the so-called great musicals of our time: triumph, masterpiece, tour de force. While Pacific Overtures is certainly enthralling at all the right moments, the musical more importantly wants us to think critically and carefully about the culture we consume and how we consume it. This production succeeds in part through its attempts to disrupt the expectation that musical theater exists for the pleasure of its (mostly White) audiences. Insightful, moving, and truly innovative, Pacific Overtures is not just a musical to be reckoned with. This production is a reckoning within musical theater itself.
Pacific Overtures, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by John Weidman, and directed by Ethan Heard, runs through April 9 at Signature Theatre. sigtheatre.org. $40–$115.
Being happy and healthy can be a broad term that imbibes various terms like physical, mental, psychological, emotional, social, and sexual wellness. But when it comes to the last part, it is often overwhelmed with taboo and behind-the-door talks.
One aspect of sexual wellness that we all tend to overlook is that it closely works with how we deal with social relationships. It also plays a significant role in self-esteem and the way we present ourselves as individuals.
So, instead of knocking behind doors and searching for remedies in your ancestor’s traditional medicines, you can take the help of a sexual health supplement called Red Boost. Red Boost is also said to improve your sexual desire by boosting hormones with the help of ingredients like horny goat weed. You can easily treat your sexual dysfunction and enlarged prostate with the help of Red Boost.
We have mentioned all you want to know about Red Boost, along with customer Red Boost reviews, in this post. Before proceeding to Red Boost reviews, we would like to give you an overview of the supplement.
Product Overview
Product Name
Red Boost
Product Retailer
Red Boost
Product Category
Sexual health Supplement
Product Form
tablets
Servings Per Red Boost Container
60
Serving Size
2 tablets
Intake Guideline
Two tablets daily: one tablet in the morning and second can be consumed either at lunch or dinner
Product Description
It is a sexual health supplement that promotes overall sexual wellness and helps maintain better blood circulation.
Key Ingredients Used In Red Boost
Icariin Tongkat Ali Fenugreek Citrulline Nettle Root
Key Benefits Of Using Red Boost
It helps to increase sex drive and provide youthful stamina Supports healthy blood pressure It helps to make your immune system healthy and help to maintain blood sugar levels.
Red Boost Pricing
Buy 1 container at $59 + free shipping charges Buy 3 containers at $49 per bottle + free U.S. shipping Buy 6 containers at $39 per bottle + free U.S. shipping
Red Boost is a supplement to improve male sexual health and orgasm intensity naturally. Red Boost incorporates a unique blend of clinically proven as well as tested ingredients that boost the healthy flow of blood to the penile region by strengthening smooth muscles.
Red Boost purports to give you youthful stamina and helps to improve sexual performance. It contains ingredients that third-party labs test, and it is manufactured in an FDA-approved facility. This supplement not only helps boost good blood flow but also helps to support a healthy prostate. Horny goat weed, a part of Red Boost formulations, helps deal with sexual dysfunction by helping to widen blood vessels to increase blood flow.
Horny goat weed has been used in traditional medicine to help men deal with libido functioning by enhancing their sexual performance.
How Does The Supplement Red Boost Support Your Health?
Smooth muscle is responsible for healthy sexual function in the human body. These muscles are directly responsible for penile erection and healthy blood flow to the penis. Individual sexual health, sex drive, and sexual performance are all directly linked to the proper functioning of smooth muscles.
Red Boost targets these muscles with the help of its natural ingredients and improves sexual performance as well as enhances sexual health. As the smooth muscles become stronger, it leads to an increase in the duration of your sexual intercourse. This supplement also helps to raise nitric oxide levels, which helps to widen blood vessels that boost blood flow and normalize blood pressure.
This widening of vessels boosts blood supply which can in turn imply that you get to feel better orgasm. Red Boost also helps target oxidative stress, which is responsible for the defective quality of male hormones.
Red Boost contains ingredients like horny goat weed, which helps to improve blood flow and sexual wellness in males. The ingredient is also used to treat symptoms of erectile dysfunction.
There are numerous sexual health supplements out there for men, so what makes Red Boost special? Red boost contains a combination of ingredients that are scientifically tested.
These ingredients help in boosting sex hormones and increase blood flow in the penile region. It also helps an individual to have better sex life by trapping blood inside the penile region so that individuals can have a better sex drive and numerous other health benefits.
When males are sexually stimulated, nitric oxide is released which enhances the smooth muscle function which then leads to an erection. Erectile dysfunction stops the proper functioning of nitric oxide, which reduces smooth muscle function; thus, males with ED cannot hold an erection, and their sexual performance is reduced.
One of the ingredients in the Red Boost list is horny goat weed which has been used for ages as traditional medicine. According to studies, horny goat weed is said to treat erectile dysfunction by targeting smooth muscles and male sex hormones.
Another important ingredient of Red Boost is Fenugreek which tends to boost sex drive by reducing oxidative stress and enhancing blood flow. This potent ingredient mainly affects hormone levels and oxidative stress in males, which affects sexual function, blood pressure, energy levels, etc.
L-Citrulline, another ingredient of Red Boost, helps to ease the symptoms of mild erectile dysfunction and enhances the ability of males to maintain an erection.
Along with helping to maintain an erection, it also works on T-levels in the body and helps to boost the blood flow as well as levels of nitric oxide.
For ages, Tongkat Ali which is an ingredient of Red Boost has been utilized for sexual performance. In a 2013 study, researchers discovered that Tongkat Ali had beneficial effects on stress hormones and mood in people who were just mildly stressed.
Stress causes erectile dysfunction and other problems with sexual health in many people; This is where Tongkat Ali may be helpful. Other research on Tongkat Ali has linked it to increased testosterone levels, enhanced libido, decreased weariness, and improved general well-being. The term “Malaysian ginseng” also applies to Tongkat Ali.
What Are The Natural Plant-Based Ingredients Used In Red Boost?
Nettle root has long been used as an aphrodisiac in Europe. The herb contains chemicals called saponins which stimulate libido. Saponins are found in other herbs like ginseng and Yohimbe bark. They work by increasing testosterone production. Nettle root may help men who suffer from low libido while providing several other health benefits.
The chemical compounds in nettle root act on the pituitary gland in the brain. This gland produces hormones that control the release of sex hormones. By stimulating the pituitary gland, nettle root increases the level of these hormones. These hormones then increase the level of testosterone in your body. Testosterone is the hormone that stimulates male sexual arousal.
There are several benefits to taking nettle root in Red Boost. First, it will improve your overall health. Second, it will boost your energy levels. Third, it will help you sleep better at night. Fourth, it will reduce stress. And finally, it will improve your mood.
Horny Goat Weed
Horny goat weed (epimedium) is another herbal supplement that has been used for centuries to treat E.D. Horny goat weed is native to China and Japan. In Chinese medicine, horny goat weed is known as “Yin Yang Huo”. It was originally used to treat female infertility. Today, horny goat weed is often taken to enhance sexual performance.
In traditional Chinese medicine, horny goat weed is considered to be a tonic herb. It is believed to strengthen the kidneys and liver. It is also thought to promote longevity. It is said to relieve pain and inflammation.
Horny goat weed is also rich in flavonoids. Flavonoids are plant pigments that give plants their color. They are also responsible for giving fruits and vegetables their bright colors.
Flavonoids are antioxidants. Antioxidants protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage cell membranes. Over time, they can even contribute to cancer.
Antioxidant nutrients can neutralize free radicals before they do any harm.
Citrulline
Citrullinemia is a condition where there is not enough citrulline in the body. Citrulline is an amino acid that is essential for proper muscle function. Without adequate amounts of citrulline, muscles cannot contract properly. As a result, people with this condition experience fatigue and weakness.
When you take citrulline supplements, you get more citrulline into your system. Your body uses this extra citrulline to make arginine. Arginine is an amino acid needed for normal growth and development. It is also necessary for making nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a gas that relaxes smooth muscle tissue. Smooth muscle tissue surrounds the walls of blood vessels. Relaxing these tissues allows blood flow to increase.
Nitric oxide helps to dilate blood vessels. This makes them larger so that more blood flows through them. Nitric oxide also causes blood vessels to become less rigid. This reduces the risk of stroke or heart attack.
Arginine is also important for sperm production. It is a precursor to the hormone luteinizing hormone. Luteinizing hormone triggers ovulation. If you have trouble getting pregnant, you may want to consider taking citrulline supplements such as Red Boost.
Fenugreek
Fenugreek is one of the oldest herbs used in Ayurveda medicine. It is commonly found growing wild throughout India and Pakistan. Fenugreek seeds contain high concentrations of saponins. Saponins are natural surfactants. They lower cholesterol levels and prevent the clogging of arteries.
It is also known to improve sexual performance. They work by increasing testosterone levels. Testosterone is a male sex hormone that promotes libido (sexual desire).
Testosterone also enhances erections. An erection occurs when blood rushes into the penis. During an erection, the veins around the penis constrict. This prevents blood from flowing back out again. As a result, the penis becomes engorged with blood.
Tongkat Ali
Tongkat ali has been studied extensively. The results suggest it improves sexual function. Tongkat ali is a type of tree grown in Indonesia. It contains alkaloids called gelsemium alkaloids. Gelsemium alkaloid extracts have been shown to enhance sexual function.
Gelsemium alkaloidal extracts are similar to ephedrine. Ephedrine is another stimulant that increases blood pressure and heart rate. These effects cause increased arousal. Increased arousal leads to better sexual functioning.
The active ingredient in tongkat ali is gelsemine. Gelsemine stimulates alpha-adrenergic receptors. Alpha-adrenergic receptors are located on nerve endings. When stimulated, they send signals to the brain.
One of the major issues of sexual wellness is the inability to maintain erections and sexual dysfunctions. Red Boost’s main benefit is to help individuals achieve longer-lasting erections with the help of natural ingredients.
The various ingredients in the Red Boost formulation help to boost sex hormones functions that in turn enhances nitric oxide production. So, Red Boost mainly helps to provide sexual benefits and boost sexual desire in individuals.
L-Citrulline which is a potent ingredient of Red Boost helps to maintain healthy blood vessels that, in turn, improves blood flow by dilating vessels. Constricted blood vessels may be responsible for poor blood flow. Red Boost also contains Tongkat Ali and horny goat weed that mainly concerns smooth muscle and nitric oxide levels.
Better Prostate Health
Sexual performance is highly affected by an enlarged prostate and prostate cancer that affects sexual wellness in males. Healthy prostate helps to boost orgasm intensity and levels of nitric oxide as well as nitric oxide production.
Red Boost which is a male sexual health supplement contains ingredients like nettle leaf. Nettle leaf extracts are a part of many sexual health supplements because they support prostate health and urinary health that helps to deal with erectile dysfunction and testosterone levels.
Helps In Maintaining Blood Circulation
Healthy blood pressure levels and maintenance of good blood circulation help to reduce oxidative stress and support blood flow to maintain an erection. Promoting healthy blood flow inside your body is not possible without nitric oxide levels.
Red boost ingredients like horny goat weed extract and Tongkat Ali help to trap the blood inside the erection. Whereas ingredients like L-Citrulline help reduce high blood pressure and maintain normal blood pressure levels.
Healthy Immune System And Energy Levels
The functioning of the immune system and individual energy levels also play an important part in the sexual wellness of an individual. Red Boost ingredients ensure that nutrient-rich blood reaches every part of the body.
The supplement’s ingredients help to improve blood flow by maintaining healthy blood vessels. One such ingredient is horny goat weed extract that contains a component called icariin which is a powerful antioxidant that helps to support blood flow.
Improved blood flow gives various health benefits like a decrease in high blood pressure and a boost in the functioning of male sex hormones that may lead to improved orgasm intensity.
Helps In Managing Healthy Weight And Blood Glucose Levels
Normal blood pressure and good blood flow are important parts of maintaining a healthy weight and good blood glucose levels.
Antioxidant-rich horny goat weed is an important part of the natural supplement Red Boost and it helps in supporting blood flow. This ingredient can also be used to treat weak back, knees, joint pain, osteoporosis, and physical fatigue apart from helping to support blood circulation and increasing the amount of blood. Red boost aims to build the overall health of an individual along with promoting sexual wellness.
What Do Red Boost Reviews Say About The Supplement?
There are loads of positive customer reviews online that support claims made by Red Boost that it helps to boost sexual performance, and testosterone levels, reduce the symptoms of sexual dysfunction and support sexual health benefits.
Many customers have so far seen improved overall sexual performance as it tends to provide individuals with nutrient-rich blood flow. It also helps to deal with sex-related issues like problems related to prostate health as well as the inability to maintain erections.
What Is the Recommended Dosage of Red Boost?
Red Boost is a natural supplement that promotes male sexual health and is recommended that you can consume two tablets daily. You can consume these tablets along with milk, juice, water, or any other liquid. When consumed daily this supplement can support healthy blood flow and better sexual function
Are There Any Side Effects Of Red Boost?
Although Red Boost is said to boost sex hormones, support healthy blood flow and enhance male sexual health, there are still a few things that should be kept in mind while using Red Boost:
Do not consume without consulting with your physician.
Keep the supplement out of reach of children and infants.
Even though Red Boost claims to be 100% safe, it is important to check the ingredient list carefully for any previous allergies.
What Is the Pricing Of Red Boost?
You can buy Red Boost on the official website of the supplement only. This male sexual health supplement which is said to boost sexual function can be brought in three packages.
You can buy one bottle at $59 + Shipping. This can be counted as your one-month supply.
Another way is to buy three Bottles at $147 + shipping, which implies that one bottle comes at $49.
And the best value package which contains 6 Bottles, can be bought at $234 + Free US shipping. In this package, the cost of one bottle is $39.
Does Red Boost Guarantee A Refund?
Red Boost manufacturers do guarantee a refund if it doesn’t help to boost your sex drive, cure erectile dysfunction, boost your sexual performance, and promote healthy sex life.
You can get a 180-day refund if you are not satisfied with the results in the first 180 days of your purchase. You can simply contact the manufacturer and return the bottles to get your money back.
Final Verdict: Does Red Boost Promote Good Health?
To conclude, Red Boost is said to enhance your sex drive by helping you achieve optimum sexual pleasure. It achieves this with the help of an amalgamation of ingredients that boost male sexual health, support blood flow, promote youthful stamina, overcome poor sexual performance, reduce the symptoms of erectile dysfunction as well as help support prostate health.
Dozens of people filled Honfleur Gallery in Anacostia on the night of March 4 for the opening reception of the Shaolin Jazz’s SOUND PATTERNS No. 8. Martial arts weapons hung from the windows at the front of the gallery to the back wall, and hardly any empty space remained as people perused the exhibition to the sound of hip-hop beats. The art comes in a variety of forms—photography, paintings, and movie posters—and were provided by seven different local visionaries. Each work is inspired by, and focused on, depicting martial arts in a Black aesthetic.
Walking into the gallery, Maurice James Jr.’s intricate graphic artwork immediately catches your eye. Lester Wallace, co-founder of creative brand Shaolin Jazz, watched as people gravitated towards James’ work throughout the night, and James quickly became the main subject of conversations.
“He’s the first artist you see when you come in,” Wallace says. “We definitely had people ask about the work and other pieces he may have. His contribution really helped make the event.”
SOUND PATTERNS No. 8 is one of two exhibits featuring James’ work. Down the street from Honfleur Gallery, some of his pieces are on display inside the Anacostia Arts Center as part of his solo exhibit, the Black Utopia Museum. The 40-year-old revolutionary artist has spent the past two years displaying his work at galleries throughout the District in an effort to showcase a reality in which Black people and Black culture represent a new pop culture.
“The objective is to inspire and start a creative conversation with Black people to understand and dig into their power,” James says. “It’s really about creating a new Black mythology.”
But how exactly is a Black mythology made? James goes about the process through his graphic art, taking various images he collects during his travels—old books, posters, or comics—and editing them together on his computer to create a new image with a new meaning. One of his pieces combines an old Trans World Airlines poster with a “Chocolate City” graphic. The new image says “FLY TWA” with the Chocolate City graphic below.
“‘Chocolate City’ as a place never had a poster saying it was a direction to go to,” James says. “You always have a poster about going to Washington, D.C., but Black people are trying to go to Chocolate City, not D.C.”
Shaolin Jazz co-founder Wallace, a DJ whose stage name is DJ 2-Tone Jones, compared James’ art to mixing music. “From a DJ standpoint, if you’re putting together the acapella and the instrumentals, it’s one thing to just match the tempos, and it’s another to make it sound like the artist rapped or sung over that beat originally,” he says. One piece of James’ art that continues to capture Wallace’s attention (he even has the print on a sweatshirt) is a fictional polo advertisement featuring a “brother of color” on a horse. “To me, that’s kind of what his work does. It’s like a perfect, seamless blend where you don’t see the rough edges,” he says.
“It’s like a past tense form of Afrofuturism,” Wallace continues. “Afrofuturism is about seeing ourselves in the future in a way that is very empowering, and his work does the same thing but more so using elements from the past.”
James has always been driven to create, but only during the past couple of years has he shared his work publicly. During the pandemic, James spent most of his time making art and “running wild” with new designs, he says. It wasn’t until a friend suggested he find an art gallery to display his work that he finally considered the idea. He held his first show at 11:Eleven gallery in February 2021. “I wasn’t thinking I was an artist to the point where I should be in art galleries and have art shows,” James says. “I wasn’t thinking about it. I was just creating.”
Since his first exhibit, James has continued to impress people in the arts world, and now venues and organizers reach out to him about showcasing his work. Jess Randolph, Anacostia Arts Center’s associate creative director, met James at the Eaton Workshop in the summer of 2021. She recalls pointing at him when they were introduced and saying, “You’re coming to Anacostia next.”
“Sometimes we depend on Black History Month to remind us how integral the Black American experience is to this country’s existence,” Randolph says. “His work does such a great job of flipping traditionally White symbols and brand expressions into his point of view.”
It was a piece depicting one of the founders of modern jazz, Thelonious Monk, with Japanese writing beside him, that caught Randolph’s eye. The piece was inspired by a poster for a Japanese summer jazz festival, and for Randolph, who has studied Japanese culture, seeing such a prominent Black creative in a Japanese aesthetic excited her. The two have worked together since to bring the Black Utopia Museum exhibit to the Anacostia Arts Center; it opened February 10 and will be on display until March 31.
The exhibit is aptly named. Much of the artwork featured consists of made-up war propaganda, movie posters, and advertisements set in the past and depicting Black people. Although Black people would have never been portrayed on such images in real life, James is retelling American history in order to show a world where Black people were allowed to be seen. He calls it a utopia because he’s changing a dark past to inspire a brighter future. “It’s time travel,” he says.
“What I’m trying to say to people is that you’ve already fought these battles, won these wars, and you’ve had success within these realms,” James adds. “It just hasn’t really been visualized in a certain way. I’m trying to visualize Black beauty and power to reignite that feeling in people to believe in themselves.”
James wants the exhibit to start a discussion about what a Black utopia could look like. His own vision is a feeling of having no fears of discrimination or a lack of representation. It’s the knowledge that your entertainment, food, and everything else around you comes from a “beautiful, Black place” and is made for “the betterment of your Black consciousness.”
In a way, according to James, the Anacostia Arts Center itself represents his idea of a Black utopia: It’s a space where people can shop at a Black-owned bookstore, eat at a Black-owned restaurant, shop for Black fashion made by Black designers, and attend events that promote, acknowledge, and support the Black community, such as the Feb. 18 Afro House Spirit Fest.
“People talk about wanting to shop at Black businesses and do all kinds of Black stuff because they want this feeling of just living in this Black world that belongs to them,” he says. “That’s what [my art] is about.”
Similarly, James is happy that both exhibits currently featuring his work are taking place in Anacostia. He believes the predominantly Black neighborhood is exactly where his art needs to be shown, and he wants to give local residents something truly special. “The people who want to see it and need to see it are right here, and that makes me extremely happy,” he says.
The art James has provided for SOUND PATTERNS No. 8 serves the same purpose asthe Black Utopia Museum but does so in a different style. In order to fulfill the exhibit’s mission to show martial arts within the Black aesthetic, James made movie posters and other graphic art of Black action heroes to speak to Shaolin Jazz’s audience. All of his pieces feature the words “Black Power” translated into Mandarin.
“Black people who like martial arts films are hardcore fans of them,” James says. “They study it, and they love it, and they mimic it. With my art, I want to show those fans what it looks like if it was made just for them.”
The artist expressed both excitement and curiosity before the exhibit’s March 4 opening since he was making art for a whole new crowd—he didn’t know how exactly kung fu fans would react to his work. To Wallace, James surpassed Shaolin Jazz’s expectations. Wallace says James’ work at Honfleur Gallery and the Anacostia Arts Center achieve the same goal of depicting a perfect world for Black people.
A visitor considers Maurice James Jr.’s reimagining of The Goonies at Honfleur Gallery’s SOUND PATTERNS No. 8; Credit: Dorvall Bedford
“His art is about seeing ourselves the way we would fantasize about,” Wallace says. “We want to see ourselves with superpowers or with regalness, and what he shows us is beyond what we conceive as Black beauty.”
And James’ SOUND PATTERNS contribution speaks to more than just martial arts fans. Delma Grey-Coker, who had never heard of James before he came to SOUND PATTERNS No. 8 at a friend’s suggestion, was drawn in most by a piece that reimagines The Goonies as a Black street gang. The 1985 film was one of Grey-Coker’s favorites growing up, and he was fascinated by how James managed to transform the story into something else.
“All his stuff should be talked about in books and newsletters and word of mouth,” Grey-Coker tells City Paper. “People should know about it, and I appreciate him for making it.”
With the two exhibits running simultaneously, James anticipates the rest of March to be busy for him as he goes back-and-forth between the shows to make himself available for any visitors. He isn’t planning on stopping either and looks forward to showing his art at yet another exhibit. James just recently finished new pieces that’ll be a part of an Afrofuturism-themed gallery show called All Black Errything at Mason Exhibitions Arlington, which will run from March 24 to May 20.
James encourages people who haven’t seen his art yet to visit both Anacostia shows to get a full understanding of his work. He also asks for feedback from the Black community regarding the stories he’s creating: “Tell me how the art makes you feel,” he says.
“This is a beautiful responsibility because once you say you’re an artist, people start looking at you to do something they’ve never seen before,” James continues. “I work in a cool pocket where some of these things don’t exist, and I get to create them so they can exist in real time for the first time. It’s dope.”
Black Utopia Museum runs through March 31 at Anacostia Arts Center. mauricejamesjr.com. Free.
SOUND PATTERNS No. 8 runs through April 8 at Honfleur Gallery. honfleurgallerydc.com. Free.
All Black Errything: Pop Culture and Nostalgia from AfroFuturist Perspectives, featuring Maurice James Jr., opens March 24 with a reception and artist talk from 6 to 8 p.m. The exhibit runs through May 20 at Mason Exhibitions Arlington. masonexhibitions.org. Free.
Julian Strawther hit a 3-pointer with 7.2 seconds left to answer a 3-pointer by UCLA’s Amari Bailey, lifting Gonzaga to a wild 79-76 win over UCLA Thursday night in the Sweet 16.
NCAA Gonzaga UCLA Basketball Gonzaga players celebrate during the final seconds in the second half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game against UCLA in the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
AP Photo/John Locher
APTOPIX NCAA Gonzaga UCLA Basketball Gonzaga’s Malachi Smith (13) celebrates in the second half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game against UCLA in the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
AP Photo/David Becker
NCAA Gonzaga UCLA Basketball UCLA’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. (24) shoots while defended by Gonzaga’s Rasir Bolton (45) in the first half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game in the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
AP Photo/David Becker
NCAA Gonzaga UCLA Basketball Gonzaga’s Drew Timme (2) loses controls of the ball while defended by UCLA’s Kenneth Nwuba, left, in the first half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game in the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
AP Photo/John Locher
NCAA Gonzaga UCLA Basketball Gonzaga head coach Mark Few reacts in the first half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game against UCLA in the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
AP Photo/David Becker
NCAA Gonzaga UCLA Basketball Gonzaga’s Nolan Hickman (11) dribbles down the court in the first half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game against UCLA in the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
AP Photo/John Locher
NCAA Gonzaga UCLA Basketball Gonzaga’s Anton Watson goes up for a shot while defended by UCLA’s Kenneth Nwuba in the first half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game in the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
AP Photo/John Locher
NCAA Gonzaga UCLA Basketball Gonzaga’s Drew Timme goes up for a shot while defended by UCLA’s David Singleton (34) in the first half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game in the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
AP Photo/John Locher
NCAA Gonzaga UCLA Basketball UCLA’s David Singleton celebrates as the first half comes to an end of a Sweet 16 college basketball game against Gonzaga in the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
AP Photo/John Locher
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Gonzaga and UCLA played one NCAA Tournament game that left the Zags’ star player bawling, and another game that stunned the Bruins.
Add another to the list. Maybe the maddest one in March yet.
Julian Strawther hit a 3-pointer with 7.2 seconds left to answer a 3-pointer by UCLA’s Amari Bailey, lifting Gonzaga to a wild 79-76 win over UCLA Thursday night in the Sweet 16.
“It’s moments like that you can’t make up,” said Strawther, a Las Vegas native. “Those are literally the moments you dream of. To even make a shot like that in March Madness and just to be back home in Vegas is like the cherry on top.”
The Bruins (31-6), the West Region’s No. 2 seed, stormed back from an eight-point deficit in the final 1:05 and took a 76-75 lead on Bailey’s 3-pointer with 12.2 seconds left.
The Zags (31-5) brought the ball up the floor and Strawther stepped into a 3-pointer after a drop pass from Hunter Sallis, sending Gonzaga fans to their feet.
“As soon as it came off, it looked like it was on line,” Strawther said.
The Zags still had to sweat it out.
Gonzaga’s Malachi Smith stole the ball from UCLA’s Tyger Campbell, but Strawther only hit 1 of 2 free throws at the other end, giving the Bruins a chance.
Campbell’s 3-pointer at the buzzer hit the back of the rim, sending the Zags rushing off the bench and into the Elite Eight against UConn on Saturday while leaving the Bruins disappointed again.
“Every game, try not to get too high, try not to get too low,” said UCLA’s Jaime Jaquez, who had 29 points and 11 rebounds. “He hit a big shot and we lost.”
Strawther’s shot was reminiscent of the one Villanova’s Kris Jenkins made off a drop pass to clinch the 2016 national championship — a shot that came after North Carolina’s Marcus Paige hit an off-balance 3-pointer with 4.7 seconds left.
There’s a reason it looked familiar.
“That’s Jay Wright’s play that he used in Villanova-Carolina, the championship,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. “That’s what we call it. He makes it all the time.”
It also is the latest chapter in what’s become the best West Coast rivalry in college basketball.
UCLA got the better of the teams’ first NCAA Tournament go-around, rallying from 17 points down to send the Zags out of the 2006 bracket and star Adam Morrison to the floor crying.
Jalen Suggs crushed the Bruins the last time, hitting a running 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the Zags to the 2021 national championship game.
“I can’t even describe what he did. It’s crazy,” Gonzaga’s Drew Timme said of Strawther’s game-winner. “It’s just like that Jalen shot, man.”
Timme had 36 points for his record 10th NCAA Tournament game with 20 points.
The flurry of a finish started off more like a prize fight, each team taking its turn landing blows in a game of wild swings.
UCLA led by 13 at the half, but went on an 11-minute field goal drought as Gonzaga went up by 10 with 2:40 left. The Bruins took their rally turn and retook the lead, but left Gonzaga with too much time on the clock.
“We should have been tighter on Strawther,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said. “We were the whole game. We just weren’t on that play. If we were tighter then he couldn’t have looped behind.”
Timme kept Gonzaga in it during UCLA’s torrid first half and Gonzaga’s porous first-half defense tightened in the second, giving them a seven-point lead with 53 seconds left.
Jaquez brought the Bruins back in his final college game.
The Pac-12 player of the year scored on a three-point play and a layup to cut it 74-71 with 45 seconds left. Timme then missed two free throws, setting up Bailey’s shot.
Thankfully for the Zags, Strawther was on the mark with his long 3-pointer and Campbell was off the mark on his, sending Gonzaga to the Elite Eight for the fifth time under Few.
___
AP March Madness coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness and bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
