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baseball and hip-hop July 1, 2021
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Big Trip is the Colorado rapper connecting baseball and hip-hop

Baseball has been missing something for what feels like forever. Something that makes the game entertaining. It’s been missing something that puts people in seats and draws newcomers into the game. It’s missing swagger, it’s missing flair, it’s missing personality. Right now, baseball is boring in more ways than one. But one Colorado rapper is trying to change all that by mixing baseball with hip hop.

One of the biggest issues with baseball’s brand power is that there is a lack of All-star caliber players with electric personalities to become household names. This is a well-documented, not-so-well-kept secret that Major League Baseball, the media, and this Colorado rapper has become privy to.

What is making baseball boring for so many and how can it be fixed?

There are some players, such as Fernando Tatis Jr. of the Padres, that are quite popular because of their swag and passion.

However, when you look at the grand scheme of baseball, the star power is weak. Not because the stars aren’t incredibly gifted. But because their personalities are a fraction of past baseball generations, they can’t compete with the strong personalities of athletes in other sports or music like hip-hop.

Something has to change for baseball to regain popularity; baseball needs more exciting influences like those in hip-hop. But perhaps a strong outside influence like a talented Colorado rapper would be just as beneficial in generating hype for America’s pastime. An influence to promote baseball and hip-hop together.

colorado rapper big trip
Cred: https://www.listen-up.biz/

Big Trip, baseball and hip-hop’s savior?

Meet Big Trip. The Italian-American, New York-born, Colorado rapper who is a baseball fanatic. Trip has loved the game, played the game, and is now spreading his love of the game through his music. He may just be a beneficial outside influence that helps bring excitement back into baseball.

The Colorado rapper’s upcoming song “Baseball money rich” is an anthem tribute to the sport he knows and loves. It brings the confidence, the bravado, and swag to a sport that has had that depleted over the years, while simultaneously showcasing his rap skills.

The Colorado rapper’s upcoming album Going Postal is his first solo studio project. We were able to get a moment of his time to catch up with the Colorado rapper and talk about the album, his past experiences, and how he feels about baseball and hip-hop in 2021.

Trip’s inspiration

Kulture Hub: Alright Trip, first things first, what were your greatest inspirations for pursuing a music career?

Big Trip: Some of my biggest inspirations come from inside, and outside of music. I look up to a lot of authors that inspired me to think a different way. Alan Watts kind of taught me how to decode myself.

That taught me to come back to the most basic version of myself and from there I was able to build onto what I want. I grew up in Westchester, so Biggie’s influence had a big impact on me even though I only caught the tail end of his career. The impact that he had on the culture, and his vibe was just something I looked up to.

The Colorado rapper’s new album

KH: Your album Going Postal is dropping in the next few days. What has the process been like getting this album ready for release?

BT: For me, the easiest part is making the music. I have a tight group of producers in Dirty Harry and Stoney the antagonist, we make music every day. We record in Denver, we’ve recorder in Los Angeles, but most of it we recorded at my house in Denver. For us making music is nothing, we wake up and we make music.

KH: What can people expect from you in this project? What Kind of energy do you bring?

BT: It’s definitely something that’s not out right now man, it’s a new sound. With hip-hop evolving similar to rock in the 90s and 2000s, I’m kind of branching off and creating my own sound in hip-hop too. Like I said, I’m from New York so I have that kind of swag and influence. My main producer’s from San Francisco so he brings the California vibe.

I’m an old-school New York Italian dude, so there’s no one quite like me in the game with my experiences. Also what makes me different is my story, my story and experience make my music and sound different. I don’t gotta lie in my music because my experience does the talking. I got some stuff on the album for the club! You know I got some stuff for the ladies! I got some deep stuff, were I’m talking about my life. My music reflects the many different vibes in my life.

Future collaborations?

KH: Who are some artists that you would like to collaborate with in the future?

BT: Man, there’s a lot of people that I would like to work with. I think something for my New York people would be Benny the Butcher. That would go crazy. I know a lot of my people in New York rock with Benny and I love the whole movement they got going.

I’m gonna have to get my bars up man! Imma lock that one in for sure. Besides that, Isaiah Rashad makes real cool music I think it would be a lot of fun to collab with. Yeah, some west coast dudes that I mess with, I think YG would be crazy. G-Eazy would always be cool. He’s someone who I’m around a lot too, so it’s gonna be fun when I get one in with him. But there’s a lot of people, man.

Trip’s background

KH: Let’s talk about you for a minute. Born and raised in New York, but you’re based in Denver. With all due respect to Colorado, what caused you to relocate there of all places? Is there a music scene that you want people to know about?

BT: There’s definitely a music scene going on. There are a lot of guys in the city doing their thing. But honestly for me bro, it wasn’t really the music scene that brought me out here. I was at a point in my life where I just needed a change in scenery. The mountains really gave me a chance to open my mind. I took the risk to come out here and it helped me change my life and the music just came to me like a gift.

KH: I know your dad was a pro baseball player. Was he the main reason you developed a love for the game?

BT: Yeah, so he didn’t quite go pro, he was D-1 at Quinnipiac, he has a career-ending injury his senior year, but he was talking to some pro scouts. He was definitely the reason I got into it. I played every sport growing up, and since he was D-1 he gave me great guidance on how to go D-1 like him.

He sat me down in the 8th grade and asked me to decide “what sport do you want to pursue” and I told him baseball. Since my father was so good, you know we would go to the field after practice, we even built a batting cage. The work ethic came from that.

The story of baseball and hip-hop for the Colorado rapper

KH: You Played College Baseball at Elon, but I heard you had an accident while you were on scholarship, will you take me through what happened? Was it a humbling experience in any way?

BT: For sure, I committed to the school on a D-1 scholarship during my sophomore year of Highschool. At that time I hated school, and I didn’t know what I was doing with my life, so by the time I got there things became real. I was there even before I graduated, I had to fly back before my graduation. That whole time I was there I would be up at 6 am and wouldn’t get back to my room until 8 pm. It drove me crazy. I had to quit.

It was one of the biggest moments of my life where I called everyone I knew and told them “yo I can’t do this anymore.” Everyone I called told me not too let it go, but I just couldn’t go on playing anymore. I’m an all or nothing person, but at that point I didn’t know what I was gonna do next. But, I knew whatever I did, I would go 100%.

The only other thing for me at school and in the area was partying. so I decided to be the best partier I could be. Eventually I ended up in a coma in Myrtle Beach. I had a .62 BAC when I slipped into the coma (which is almost double what is required to fall into a coma), with weed, cocaine, xanax, and molly in my system.

They basically called my whole family in New York and told them to come say their goodbyes because they were sure I wouldn’t make it out alive. When I woke up my whole family was surrounding me and I felt fine. It gave me some perspective, I had to change. I have a bunch of homies from New York that passed away from opioids, so my situation kind of hit home.

It took a while for me to rebound, but that’s kind of what inspired me to get out to Colorado. I wear that experience on my back. I learned a lot about myself, and about the human mind, and I want to share these things, and my music reflects all of that.

Big Trip

Baseball and hip-hop’s convergence

baseball and hip-hop
Cred: https://www.listen-up.biz/

KH: What is your favorite MLB team? Are you a Yankee fan being that you’re from New York and have been spotted in pinstripes? Or, are you more just a fan of the sport and don’t really have a favorite team?

BT: Yankees bro! Growing up I would always go to the games, I don’t even know how many I went to. They were always my favorite, you know Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, that era was a real fun era to be a Yankee fan. Pinstripes hit home. You know, my dad was a Yankee fan so I didn’t really have much choice.

KH: Obviously the MLB All-Star game and Homerun derby are fast approaching, but some may not know that it’s gonna be at Coors Field in Denver this year. Are you planning on attending? Do you think the All-Star game will be good for Denver?

BT: It’s gonna be huge for Denver. It was a blessing to have that happen this year. It’s a beautiful thing that it’s coming the same time my tape is coming out. I’m definitely going to be in attendance! I’m so excited about it. A lot of people are going to be coming to get a taste of Denver and they’re gonna get to see what’s up with the city.

Not only are people gonna get a taste of the city, the food, and the people, they’re also gonna hear my music on the radio! I’m at Coors field all the time, I’m actually going tonight! It’s actually my Birthday and I got some box seats waiting for me tonight!

Baseball money rich

KH: The video for your song “Baseball money rich” is dropping along with the album in a few days. It includes some jerseys and player references in there. But there are also some more typical rap video aspects, money, women, and lavish clothes.

To me, the song and visual are sort of symbolic of a bridge between baseball and hip-hop culture. Was this your intended result? Would being the face of this connection be something you’d be interested in?

BT: Yeah, I mean, there’s a lot of sports that hip-hop talks about. You know, hip-hop and football and there are a whole bunch of references, but baseball is not really one that you hear.

To me, baseball is kind of missing that culture, they’ve got the class, but I feel like there’s some more swag that needs to be shown. I said “I wanna be the bridge. I wanna be the anthem of the MLB.”

I wanna be the representation of it too. I wanna make it cool, I think it’s losing a little bit of spice. I wanna bring some flavor back into it. Bridging music with it is the perfect way to do that. That’s the only thing I can do for it from off the field is try to influence it from a different perspective.

I think if I put some love and some music back into it, I can influence it in my own way.

Big Trip

Big Trip’s favorite players right now

KH: Finally, let’s just say money was no issue. You had to start a team with no restrictions. Who are the five guys in the league right now that you would want to start your team?

BT: Yeah, I gotta go with my guy Colin Moran on The Pirates because he’s a guy I grew up with. I watched him kind of pave the way for me. So I gotta go with my dude Colin Moran for sure. Aroldis Chapman on the Yankees, bro I just remember the day that they signed him I was so hyped for some reason.

Talk about flair, when he was throwing 106 mph coming up it was crazy bro. I love Gio Urshela on the Yankees right now. Then I feel like I gotta say Fernando Tatis Jr. He’s bringing back that swag.

Another person I think is bringing that swagger back is Shohei Ohtani bro. He’s like any MLB The Show create your own character. You know if you could make a player with all the best attributes it would be him.

KH: Is there anything else you want to say to the people that we didn’t talk about? Any last thoughts?

BT: Yeah, @iambigtrip on all social media platforms. The tape “Going postal” is coming out this Friday, July 2nd. We got Shoreline Mafia, Fenix Flexin on that, Mark E Bassey is also featured on that, and it’s a great tape.

Check out Trip’s Twitter, and Instagram. Look out for the Colorado rapper’s tape Going postal dropping this Friday, July 2nd on Spotify, and Apple Music. If you’re in the Denver area, be sure to tune into KS 107.5, where “Baseball money rich” will be making its debut.

Hip-hop is not what everyone thinks of when they think of baseball. But with Big Trip, look for the league to take a jump.

Instacart
Bruh June 18, 2021
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What is Instacart and why do some say it’s better than Uber?

For those who may be unfamiliar, Instacart is an app designed for quick and easy grocery delivery. People with the normal app order groceries. And then people with the “shoppers” app see their orders, shop for the items, and deliver them. As with the popular food delivery apps such as Doordash and Uber Eats, pretty much anyone can sign up, but many people see Instacart as far preferable.

You must pass a background check, and have your own car to get approved, but most people are approved to start delivering the same day they sign up.

Last year, Instacart’s popularity boomed

Instacart enjoyed a popularity explosion during the Covid-19 pandemic. The demand for grocery delivery apps skyrocketed, with many people afraid to leave their houses and be in public. Although fewer people are scared to go shopping now, Instacart has established itself as a forefront option in the rapidly expanding gig economy.

The gig economy refers to the wave of flexible, freelance jobs that are employing new people every day. Popular jobs that fall into this category are rideshare drivers, delivery drivers, and even renting rooms with Air B&B.

I deliver for Instacart, and it has been the perfect college job. The flexibility presented by Instacart is excellent, and it allows me to make money in a short period of time. It is the most laid-back, stress-free job I have ever had. Despite its increased popularity, I think it is still underappreciated within the vastness of the gig economy.

There are some things about Instacart that are more flexible than other gigs. There are some things that are more frustrating. I would like to share the benefits, and disadvantages of choosing Instacart for your side hustle. We will use Uber and Doordash as a reference since they are the most popular apps in their fields.

Advantages of Instacart

Schedule control

The level of control that Instacart drivers have over their work schedule is unmatched. This is because… there is no schedule. Anybody who works for Instacart can choose to work whenever they want, and for however long they want. This is due in part to the fact that Instacart drivers are paid based on deliveries completed, rather than hours worked.

This is a common theme in the car-based gig economy and is more or less the same for Uber and Doordash drivers. Uber drivers do have a 12 consecutive hour limit. But is unlikely that anyone would Instacart for that long anyway. As presently constituted, A driver could not deliver for Instacart for years, then log back in and start up again like they never left.

Autonomy

Instacart offers an incredibly high amount of driver autonomy. Instacart drivers have no bosses, operate under relaxed time restraints, and also rarely even have to deal with customers.

There are no bosses for all three of our companies. However, due to the nature and urgency of Doordash orders, drivers have stiffer time restraints to live by.

Also, Uber obviously has a lot of customer interaction. You may directly deal with unruly, offensive, or even dangerous customers as an Uber driver. This is never something you have to deal with delivering for Instacart, given that face-to-face customer interaction is uncommon.

The pay

It is difficult to predict how much you will make delivering for Instacart because you work by delivery instead of hours, and every delivery is a different amount of money.

However, The pay is mostly on par with other jobs in the Gig economy. It is estimated that Instacart driver makes 15 dollars an hour before tips. This is pretty good, and keep in mind it will vary dramatically based on what orders you accept, and how long they take to complete.

You could take deliveries (Batches as they call them) for as little as 5 dollars without a tip, but it can also be as much as someone is willing to tip. Although highly uncommon, you could earn over 100 dollars for a single delivery. However, a “good” batch would typically be anything over 20 dollars depending on how many items are in the order, and how far one must drive.

Doordash drivers are also difficult to slap an hourly average on. In 2019, it was reported that drivers earn an average of $18.54 per hour. This is comparable to Instacart drivers for the reason that the volume of deliveries you can make in an hour is much higher. On average, you can take more Doordash deliveries in an hour than you can take Instacart batches.

Before tips, Uber drivers make around 17 dollars an hour before tips, and about 19 dollars an hour after tips. Most Uber riders don’t tip, and when they do, the average tip is only 3 dollars. On the other hand, most Instacart customers tip relatively generously.

This is partially due to the fact that Instacart drivers know how much a customer tips, as it is part of the total pay for a batch. If an Instacart customer gives a bad tip, or doesn’t tip, its unlikely that their batch will be taken by a shopper. Uber riders tip after the ride, meaning drivers don’t get to decide if who they work for will tip them.

In short, you will likely make the same money, if not more using Instacart instead of other services.

Great weekend job

Instacarts demand is highest during weekend days. You will make more money, and have access to the most batches on the weekend. If you are looking for a job to do all day during your weekend, Instacart is a great option.

This is not too much different from the other two apps. Weekends are almost always the busiest times for gig economy jobs.

Disadvantages of Instacart

Instacart is not without its frustrations. There are some limitations that will get in your way that you must know about.

5pm crash

Any Instacart driver will tell you that the best time to deliver is in the morning and early afternoon. At around 4-5 o’clock pm on most days, there is a sometimes dramatic drop-off in the number of available batches. Most driver’s days are done by 6 o’clock pm.

For Doordash, demand is peeking at the same time that Instacart’s demand is falling off. Uber is in demand all day in some respect. If you want a side hustle after your 9-5, and aren’t interested in working weekends, you should look elsewhere.

Store hour limitations

Similar to the last segment, the hours you can work are limited to the hours that Instacart-enabled stores are open. This means that you basically can never Instacart late at night, or early in the morning. Also, since some stores are closed on certain holidays, you must obey those restrictions as well.

Doordash is somewhat limited by the majority of restaurants having a closing time, but there are restaurants open 24 hours that people can order from whenever. Uber is 24/7 regardless of all factors. Its greatest advantage is that it is always needed, and always available. If you are looking for a true “nightshift” job, Instacart is definitely not for you.

You decide which grocery app is your favorite

As the gig economy continues expanding, people pursuing grocery delivery app jobs will become even more common. At the end of the day, it is up to you what to pursue as a side hustle. Instacart is a great option if you fit the necessary criteria.

Let’s run through the benefits one last time. Extremely flexible hours, high amounts of autonomy, very good and comparable pay, and excellent for a weekend hustler. The only issues with Instacart are the limitations associated with the hours of store operation compared to the lack of limitations other options provide.

We encourage you to do some more research on Instacart, and other Gig-based jobs, then make a decision for yourself. If shopping for and delivering groceries sounds like your speed than other more intense options, we assure you that you will not be worse off.

Ahron R. Foster June 10, 2021
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5 NYC concert photographers looking to make a post-pandemic splash

Concert photography can be an under-appreciated art form. Some may see photography as a way to capture things that happen. However, great photographers have the ability to capture so much more than an event. They can capture vibes. They dictate perception. Photographers can make anyone who sees their portfolio feel like they were there. For NYC photographers specializing in concert photography, that is cardinal.

What could be more directly correlated to the art of photography than concerts? Concerts are all about vibes. A great concert can conjure indescribable emotions. Amazing photography is necessary in order to take us to the places we long for.

The best of the best NYC concert photographers

As everyone knows, we as a society are longing for a lot these days.

Longing for a sense of normalcy. We are longing for a sense of joy and happiness. We long to feel the way we did when life was simpler.

Before this horrible global pandemic. Our vibes were put on hold, as more pressing matters and concerns infiltrated our daily lives. Luckily for us, things are starting to come back a little at a time. Concerts are one of the things we have been missing out on. But fortunately, shows are back on the horizon.

All this being said, it is important that we take a moment to appreciate concert photographers, especially those in NYC, the hub of the culture in many respects. They, along with many other industries, are getting their businesses back of the ground and need our support.

So, here is a shoutout to local, NYC concert photographers who do incredible work and capture moments that make us feel alive.

Lauren Wohl

Mad Decent Block Party, Time out New York (Via Loren Wohl)

Loren Wohl is an impressive photographer. She has toured, she has taken great celebrity portraits, and she has captured some truly amazing live music photos. Her portfolio is full of natural beauty.

Wohl’s photos often feature soft, muted tones, even in very vividly colorful environments. These tones set her photos apart from the crowd and give her a unique style.

She has toured and photographed the Mad Decent Block Party Festival. She has also taken photos for Viceland and Time Out New York. Frank Ocean, Drake, Torey Lanez, and Danny Brown are among the many musicians she has photographed.

nyc concert photographers
Mad Decent Block Party (Via Loren Wohl)

Her photo of Torey Lanez crowd-surfing at Mad Decent Block party is awesome.

It shows a vast, seemingly never-ending crowd, with the source of the crowd’s attention square in the middle. It does an amazing job of keeping the focus on the star, while expanding the viewer’s perspective using the immense crowd. We strongly encourage you to check out her website.

Ahron R. Foster

nyc concert photographers
Via Ahron Foster

Ahron Foster is a talented, true New York photographer. He gracefully uses black and white filters that give excellent contrast and clarity.

These black and white photos also fit very well with the type of music he photographs, as well as the smaller indoor venues he frequents. His portfolio as a whole is full of versatility. If you scroll through his website, you will see many black and white photos, but you will also see photos with strikingly vivid colors.

Along with concerts, he also photographs very interesting portraits. Some colorful and light, and some city-based darker portraits that scream “New York Photography.”

Via Ahron Foster

His work has been published in Rolling Stone, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and over 15 other large, nationally known outlets.

He has also worked with, or photographed for countless local New York-based institutions, including the Village Voice, and The Atlantic Theater Company.

Setor Tsikudo

nyc concert photographers
Via Setor Tsikudo

We have already published an entire article about the unique talent, and drive of Setor Tsikudo. However, you don’t need to take our word for it, since his portfolio speaks volumes for itself.

If I had to use three words to describe his concert pictures, they would be vivid, vivid, and vivid. His concert pics are so incredibly eye-popping for two reasons. Bright, fully saturated colors, and crisp, striking clarity.

These distinguishing characteristics make his work look like it jumps right out of the picture, and into wherever you are.

Via Setor Tsikudo

However, as with most of the photographers on this list, versatility is the name of the game. His online portfolio features multiple categories, including concerts, celebrities, polaroids, portraits, fashion, and events. His polaroid pictures feature many talented individuals and have the grainy, nostalgic appeal you would expect from a polaroid camera.

Chris Owyoung

nyc concert photographers
Via Chris Owyoung

In the industry of music photography, few people have been as notable as Chris Owyoung.

Chris started photographing concerts back in 2006, and let his passion for music carry him to the success he enjoys today. He occasionally works with his brother Todd, creating the photography team that they call The BrOwyoungs.

His work has been featured in Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Billboard, and many other publications. He has also photographed for big companies like 7-Up, Red Bull, Spotify, and iHeartMedia.

concert photography
Via Chris Owyoung

There is a key element that differentiates Chris’ work from others. His work is not remarkable in that he has extreme saturation or takes intentionally blurry photos, or anything like that. What makes Chris’ portfolio special is his timing. He has a remarkable eye for timing and a knack for photographing things at the perfect time.

Drew Martin

Via Drew Martin

Drew Martin is another very versatile photographer. More than capable of effectively photographing subjects in color, and black and white. In fact, on his website he has just two sections for his portfolio, black and white, and color.

One of the things that makes Drew’s work special is his extraordinary contrast between crisp foreground and blurry background. It makes the artist in each picture look flawless, atop a podium of excellence, even in more intimate venues.

concert photography
Via Drew Martin

But as stated previously, Versatility is king. His intentionally blurred photos are extremely impressive. Blurry photos can be a powerful tool when it comes to concert photography for a few different reasons.

The most important reason is that a blurry, but legible photo makes you feel like you were there, captured in the intensity of the moment being photographed. Drew’s blurry photos do just that.

In NYC and elsewhere, we experience concerts vicariously through talented concert photographers

No matter what you choose to do this summer, first and foremost, be safe. If you’re able, try to get to a show or two.

It’s not just the artists that need your help, its also a residual effect felt by everything involved in the concert, including the photography. If you liked what you saw from any of the artists featured, we encourage you to check out their work and support them in any way you can.

al waddan hotel June 9, 2021
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You wouldn’t believe how old the world’s oldest hotels really are

Hotels are one of the oldest staples of the service industry. The origin of the world’s oldest hotels is not completely known, but it is known that hotels have been around in some capacity since before the Common Era.

A hotel that was operating at that point in time could hardly be able to still be operational today. But there are some hotels that have been serving customers for hundreds of years and are still offering people a place to stay.

For this list, we will be looking at the world’s oldest hotels. Since we are dealing with a whole planet, and hotels are commonplace across the world of the service industry, we will feature one hotel per heavily populated continent that has provided lodging for the longest time.

North America

world's oldest hotels
Seaside Inn (Via kennebunkbeachmaine.com/seasideinn/

On the coast of Southern Maine lies the oldest operating hotel in North America.

Seaside Inn in Kennebunkport Maine opened in 1667 and has been operated by the same family since it opened. It was founded by the region’s first settler and has been operated through his lineage to this day.

The hotel is open year-round, and features 22 rooms with great views and easy beach access. The nightly fee is 158 USD, which is relatively average for a beachfront hotel.

South America

hotels service industry
Gran Hotel Del Paraguay (Via tripadvisor.com)

Gran Hotel Del Paraguay is truly a sight to see. Located in Paraguay’s capital Asuncion, this marvelous hotel has been open and operating since 1873.

At one point in its storied history, the hotel actually featured a fully functioning theater. Though that hasn’t been the case in some time, this hotel is full of modern amenities.

It features a lounge, an on-sight restaurant, an outdoor pool, and beautiful bathrooms. A night’s stay here is quite affordable, with an average rate of 73 USD per night.

Europe

hotels service industry
Zum Roten Bären (Via maqnify.com)

Europe has many, many, many old hotels. In fact, 9 out of 10 of the oldest operating hotels in the entire world are in Europe. The oldest of the old belongs to the German hotel Zum Roten Bären in the town of Freiburg.

This hotel was built in 1120 and is quite literally older than the town it resides in. In 1744, it was nearly destroyed in a conflict with the French since it is close to the border of France.

The modern hotel is quaint and lovely, as is the city it’s in. It features a restaurant, and bar, as well as modern amenities such as free wifi and handicap accessibility. A night’s stay is a little on the pricier side. An average nightly rate is around 175 USD.

Africa

hotels service industry
Al Waddan Hotel (Via al-waddan-hotel-tripoli.booked.net/)

Located in Libya’s capital city of Tripoli, Al Waddan Hotel has been open for business since 1936. It was originally built so that European travelers would have a place to stay when they attended the Libyan Grand Prix.

The modern hotel has air conditioning, an outdoor pool, wifi, and is handicap accessible. Libya is still not a very safe destination, so you may want to think twice before booking a stay here.

There is lacking online transparency about nightly rates, but that most likely doesn’t matter because of the lack of international tourism.

Asia

Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan
Via booking.com

Nestled in a remote, mountainous region of Japan lies the oldest operating hotel in the world. Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan has been around since 705 A.D., making it not only the oldest operating hotels, but one of the oldest operating buildings in the world.

This hotel has been managed by the same family since its founding, and has been passed down through 52 generations of the original founder. The hotel is famous for its legendary natural hot springs, which has been their main attraction.

The hotel has 37 rooms, and a traditional Japanese multi-course restaurant called a kaiseki restaurant. Unless you are wealthy, this is more likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for you, as the rate at this legendary hotel can run between 350-600 USD for just one night’s stay.

Oceania

bush inn Tasmania
Via www.abc.net.au

Located on the Australian island of Tasmania, Bush Inn is Oceania’s oldest licensed hotel and pub. Although the argument could be made that at this time it is more of a pub than it is a hotel, there are still rooms to be rented at any given time.

The building was constructed in 1815 and became a licensed hotel in 1825. Since then, it has stayed open as a quaint, reasonably priced pub and inn.

Not much else is known about this place, and there are no online rates or booking options. But it is open year-round, so if your ever in Tasmania, check it out for the history, if nothing else.

The world’s oldest hotels share a rich history of the service industry

One need not only search for a museum to find historical culture. It is all around them, from city streets, to old farmhouses, to near-ancient old hotels.

If you ever find yourself near one of these hotels, take a peak in. You will likely learn a lot more about the country, continent, and world than you ever imagined before.

Research credited to Budget Direct at https://www.budgetdirect.com.au/blog/the-oldest-hotel-in-nearly-every-country.html

asap rocky June 2, 2021
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What does the new psychedelic revolution mean for creativity?

Psychedelic drugs have been a highly controversial topic among psychologists since the popularity of LSD in the 1960s. Before LSD became illegal, psychologists used it on college students in countless clinical studies in order to gain perspective on the effects psychedelics have on the human mind. Now, there has been somewhat of a psychedelic revolution due to the perceived benefits that certain psychedelics may have for psychiatric treatment and creativity.

In a summer where everyone is eager to get back outside, but also dealing with an abundance of mental health issues, psychedelic drugs could be the key to pushing creativity to its max. And more importantly, perhaps the psychedelic revolution will be forever known for helping people across the world.

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Psychedelic drugs and their effects on people’s minds

A recent New York Times article discussed two psychedelic drugs gaining popularity in the field of psychiatry.

One of the drugs is MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, or molly. Recent clinical studies from the science and health journal Nature Medicine suggest that responsible use of MDMA has shown great promise in the treatment of severe forms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

According to the esteemed New England Journal of Medicine, psilocybin, most commonly known as “magic mushrooms,” has also shown remarkable promise in the treatment of depression.

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After years of criminalization and negative stigma, psychologists everywhere are now turning to psychedelic research as a means of treating mental illnesses.

Over the past few years, millions have been raised in this field that had once been considered dead and buried. In as little as five years, MDMA and psilocybin may become FDA-approved treatments for various mental illnesses. As a result, investors are absolutely flocking towards these drugs.

How will these efforts impact creativity?

From influential authors like Ken Kesey to music icons like Hendrix and Lennon, creative legends have been experimenting with psychedelics for years.

Brilliant actors such as Jack Nicholson and Susan Sarandon have been forward about their use of psychedelics. Any modern hip-hop fan worth their salt is familiar with A$AP Rocky’s hit song “L$D.”

Even people like Steve Jobs, who aren’t considered artists, have used psychedelic drugs at one point.

Some artists say that psychedelic drugs help you open your mind to new possibilities. Others say they help you understand things you have known all along.

Whatever the case may be, one thing is for sure, there is a strong correlation between creativity and psychedelic use. So how exactly will legalization impact society’s most creative? It is hard to say for sure, But there are a few interesting possibilities about the psychedelic revolution.

What might the psychedelic revolution look like?

Psychedelic drugs may inspire some incredibly influential art. If psychedelics do have the creative influence that some artists claim, artists who indulge in psychedelics may also have more frequent access if they become FDA-approved. With more access, artists who choose to use psychedelics can unlock new ideas to then share with the world.

Many artists struggle with bipolar disorder and depression. Artists who struggle with mental health issues may greatly benefit from the use of appropriately prescribed psychedelics. Their mental health could improve greatly because of psychedelic use.

Artists from troubled backgrounds may also be able to cope with PTSD in a healthier way. Troubled, inner-city youth are a major source of modern art. It is well documented that these influential people are highly likely to have, or exhibit symptoms of PTSD.

Rapper G Herbo even released an album titled “PTSD,” where he details struggles he goes through as a result of the trauma he encountered growing up in South Chicago.

If artists that struggle with trauma had more legitimate ways to deal with issues, the world may thus lose fewer of them to addiction struggles.

The impacts and authorization of psychedelic drugs remains to be seen

Legalization and FDA authorization of psychedelics for the treatment of mental illness seems inevitable. Many people believe still that they are the future of psychological medicine.

Time will tell the impact psychedelic drugs will have on the public, and the impact they will our most influential people. However, this isn’t just an interesting opportunity for influential people.

This could be a great opportunity for anyone with mental illness. Psychedelics may lead to an increase in creativity on a grand scale. It will be interesting to see how psychedelics are stigmatized moving forward on the path to normalization.