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Ice brick right ahead! LEGO unveils largest-ever set: Titanic

October 8, 2021 by WDNY Radio

If you’re a LEGO fan, the Danish company has just dropped the gauntlet: a 9,090-piece, four-and-a-half-foot long, 1:200 scale model of the HMS Titanic.

Available in November, it’s the largest set the company has ever assembled, and for $630, you get your money’s worth.

The massive ship is hyper-detailed: once assembled, it can be separated into segments safely — not like that iceberg did — so that its inner workings, and Titanic‘s famous features like its grand staircase, can be revealed.

Once built, the ship splits into three parts, giving builders a cross-section view of the ship, including the various travel class compartments, Titanic‘s massive boiler room, and more. The model features working cargo cranes and piston-driven engines, as well as tensioners that tighten the lines between its massive masts.

Other features include lifeboats — gonna need those — as well as swimming pools, a working anchor, and a stand and nameplate to display in front of your magnum opus.

Not included, however, are any LEGO Minifigures of Jack and Rose from James Cameron‘s Titanic — or any figures, for that matter, as the scale of the traditional LEGO people wouldn’t sync with the size of the ship.

By the numbers, the 9,090-piece HMS Titanic model edges out LEGO’s previous record holder, its 9,036-piece Roman Coliseum set.

Mom dies after sharing her battle with ovarian cancer on social media

October 8, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(MONTREAL) — A mom who went viral while sharing her battle with ovarian cancer on social media has died.

Dr. Nadia Chaudhri, 43, died on Oct. 5, according to Concordia University, where she worked as a neuroscientist and professor.

“Nadia was a force of nature,” Concordia president Graham Carr said in a statement. “She was an incredibly talented researcher with a passion for teaching and student success matched only by her commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.”

Chaudhri, of Montreal, Canada, battled stage 3 ovarian cancer for the past year, undergoing a hysterectomy and several rounds of chemotherapy.

She gained more than 148,000 followers on Twitter during her cancer battle, which she bravely shared publicly.

@DrNadiaChaudhri passed away yesterday evening, having reached the end of her road with ovarian cancer. She leaves behind her Sun and Moon, a loving extended family, colleagues and students, friends around the world, and so many others who have been touched by her & her story 1/n pic.twitter.com/qf1q0Bfbj1

— Dr. Krista Byers-Heinlein (@Krista_BH) October 6, 2021

In May, when Chaudhri learned the cancer had returned, she shared on social media what it was like to tell her 6-year-old son that she was dying. On social media, she called her husband and son her Moon and Sun.

“My husband and I made the decision that we needed to tell our son what is going on because all the treatments are failing me,” she told “Good Morning America” at the time. “He already knew that I had cancer. He knew that I was still taking chemotherapy medication and trying to get better, but I don’t think he had a sense of how bad it is.”

Our hearts broke. We cried a lot. And then the healing began. My son is brave. He is bright. He will be okay. And I will watch him grow from wherever I am. Today was the hardest day of my life. Thank you for all for your love. pic.twitter.com/sCZFW9d8T5

— Dr. Nadia Chaudhri (@DrNadiaChaudhri) May 11, 2021

Several months later, in September, Chaudhri went viral again with a series of tweets detailing the many months it took for her to get a diagnosis of ovarian cancer and what she wanted other women to know.

“Know your bodies,” Chaudhri urged women. “Pay attention to fatigue and changes in bowel/urinary tract movements. Make sure you understand all the words on a medical report. Do not dismiss your pain or malaise. Find the expert doctors.”

As Chaudhri gained followers on social media, she used her platform to educate people on ovarian cancer and the work and causes near to her heart.

Chaudhri, who moved from Pakistan to the U.S. at age 17 to attend college, raised money to allow young scientists to be able to continue the research she was doing on drug addiction.

She also turned her frustration with not being able to work into an opportunity to raise money for underrepresented scholars in her field.

Her efforts raised more than $600,000 and became the Nadia Chaudhri Wingspan Award at Concordia University, an annual scholarship to “support the training of neuroscientists from underrepresented backgrounds and honor Nadia Chaudhri’s legacy of academic achievement and mentorship,” according to the university.

Luke Bryan celebrates Bill Dance’s birthday with a music video paying tribute to the fishing legend

October 8, 2021 by WDNY Radio

In one of the songs on his Born Here Live Here Die Here album, Luke Bryan pays homage to world-renowned angler and TV show host Bill Dance.

Now, in honor of the legendary fisherman’s 81st birthday, Luke has dropped a music video to further share Bill’s influence on his life and love of fishing.

The clip for “Bill Dance,” which was shot on Luke’s own Tennessee farm, makes clear that fishing is a family affair. The singer’s sons Bo and Tate even make an appearance. At the beginning of the clip, the two boys are sitting on a couch watching Bill fish on TV when Bill himself walks through the door and takes them out on the water for a real fishing trip.

The video marks Luke’s first time co-directing one of his music videos. Also sitting in the director’s chair was Michael Monaco, who directed and executive produced the singer’s new docuseries, Luke Bryan: My Dirt Road Diary.

Aaliyah’s posthumous compilation albums, ‘I Care 4 U’ and ‘Ultimate Aaliyah’, now streaming for the first time

October 8, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Two Aaliyah albums that were released after her death became available on digital platforms for the first time on Friday.

I Care 4 U, from December, 2002, features 14 tracks, including Aaliyah’s hits “Back & Forth,” “Are You That Somebody?,” “One in a Million” and “Try Again.” It also has songs that were previously unreleased, including “Miss You,” “I Care 4 U” and “Come Over.” The compilation debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 chart.

Ultimate Aaliyah originally arrived in May 2005 as a posthumous box set. The first disc is a greatest hits collection. The second, titled Are You Feelin’ Me?, has songs from the Romeo Must Die soundtrack and additional tracks produced by Timbaland. The third disc is a DVD documentary titled The Aaliyah Story.

Aaliyah’s third album, which was self-titled, was released on streaming services September 10. That weekend, a special two-day pop-up event was held in New York city. Dubbed “More Than a Woman: The Aaliyah Experience,” it honored the three-time American Music Award winner’s iconic career and her influence on music, fashion and pop culture.

Aaliyah’s second album, One In a Million, made its debut on streaming services on August 20.

August 25 marked the 20th anniversary of Aaliyah’s death at the age of 22. She died in 2001 with eight other people in a plane crash after shooting the “Rock the Boat” video in the Bahamas.

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It’s that time of year: ‘The Simpsons’ “Treehouse of Horror” returns Sunday

October 8, 2021 by WDNY Radio

If you needed any other hint that Halloween is close upon us, consider that The Simpsons is airing its latest “Treehouse of Horror” anthology on Sunday.

The annual event spins several spooky stand-alone stories from Springfield’s favorite family, but for the latest installment, there will be five segments instead of the traditional three.

“Treehouse of Horror XXXII” will feature one segment inspired by Edward Gorey‘s creepy animation, called “The Telltale Bart.” Voiced by a Vincent Prince sound-alike, the segment will chronicle Bart’s “evil deeds each month of the year.”

The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror XXXII airs Sunday at 8 p.m. Eastern on Fox.

Darren Criss announces Christmas tour in support of new holiday album ‘A Very Darren Crissmas’

October 8, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Emmy-winning actor and singer Darren Criss is hitting the road for a holiday tour in support of his new album, A Very Darren Crissmas, which is out today.

The album features guest appearances by Adam Lambert, actress Evan Rachel Wood and country singer Lainey Wilson. It’s a collection of classics like “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” off-kilter holiday tunes like “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas,” and one original, “Drunk on Christmas.”

Meanwhile, his A Very Darren Crissmas Tour kicks off December 3 in Indianapolis, IN and is set to wrap up December 22 in Hershey, PA. Tickets go on sale October 15th at DarrenCriss.me/avdctour.

On Instagram, Criss writes, “Who wants to live on a tour bus during the coldest time of year? THIS GUY. Wanna know why? Cuz I wanna take A Very Darren Crissmas on the road and play these tunes for you live and in person! The real question is- will you join me?“

The former Glee star also already has plans for 2022: He’ll be starring in the Broadway revival of David Mamet‘s classic 1975 drama American Buffalo, along with Sam Rockwell and Laurence Fishburne. Performances begin March 22, 2022, with the opening set for April 14, 2022.

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Nandi Bushell releases new song featuring Tom Morello & son to raise climate change awareness

October 8, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Viral kid music sensation Nandi Bushell has released a new song in collaboration with Tom Morello and his son, Roman.

The track, which is titled “The Children Will Rise Up,” is a protest anthem about the dangers of climate change. It’s accompanied by a video starring Bushell and both Morellos, as well as Jack Black and teenage environmental activist Greta Thunberg.

“I am so proud of myself and Roman Morello for writing our EPIC song with Tom Morello!” Bushell says. “We hope you love it and we really hope our song helps raise awareness for climate change!”

You can download “The Children Will Rise Up” now via digital outlets, and watch its video streaming now on YouTube.

Proceeds from the song will be donated to the environmental initiatives The SOS Pantanal Institute and Help Pantanal.

“We need to act now!” Bushell says. “Rise Up! Protest! Be Loving, Be Peaceful, Be Respectful, Be Sensible but BE POWERFUL!!!”

Justin Bieber and Diane Keaton mourn the loss of a loved one in “Ghost” video

October 8, 2021 by WDNY Radio

On the same day his concert doc Justin Bieber: Our World is released on Amazon, Justin also drops the new music video for “Ghost.”

As previously reported, the visual features Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton, who plays Justin’s grandmother or mother — it’s not entirely clear. The video opens with the two mourning the loss of the family’s patriarch. It then jumps to two years later, as we see them try to move past their grief while keeping the memory of their loved one alive.

Earlier this week, Keaton shared her excitement about being involved in the project, writing on Instagram, “AM I DREAMING??? WHAT AN HONOR IT WAS TO WORK WITH JUSTIN BIEBER AND HIS INCREDIBLE TEAM!!!”

Today, Justin also adds three new songs to Justice: The Complete Edition: “Red Eye,” “Angels Speak” and “Hailey.”

Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi inspires name of newly discovered fossil

October 8, 2021 by WDNY Radio

In addition to inspiring countless metal musicians the world over, Black Sabbath‘s Tony Iommi has now inspired the name of a newly discovered fossil.

The fossil, uncovered by a team of scientists in Russia, is named Drepanoistodus iommii. It’s part of the conodont species, an “extinct clade of marine vertebrates” from the Middle Ordovician geological period.

In the etymology section of the research paper, which was published via the European Journal of Taxonomy, the scientists write, “Named in honor of legendary guitarist Tony Iommi, founding member of heavy metal band Black Sabbath.”

Last month, another team of scientists announced that they’d named three newly discovered fossils after the band Gojira. Meanwhile, Metallica previously inspired the name of a deep-sea crustacean, and a venomous snake species was named after frontman James Hetfield.

Virtual John Lennon tribute concert, featuring Peter Frampton, Matt Sorum and more, taking place Saturday

October 8, 2021 by WDNY Radio

This Saturday, October 9, marks what would’ve been John Lennon‘s 81st birthday, and to commemorate the special day, the third annual “Dear John” charity tribute concert will be held virtually at Veeps.com starting at 3 p.m. ET.

The star-studded event, which is organized by U.K. rock band Blurred Vision, will feature performances or appearances by Peter Frampton, ex-Guns N’ Roses drummer Matt Sorum, Lennon’s pre-Beatles group The Quarrymen, former David Bowie guitarist Earl Slick, actors Martin Freeman and Matt Lucas, and many others.

In addition to paying homage to Lennon, the show raises funds for the War Child UK charity, which seeks to help children affected by war around the world.

Tickets for the virtual concert can be purchased at BlurredVision.Veeps.com. The event will be available to watch on demand until October 17.

To raise additional money for War Child, a new song called “Dear John” that Blurred Vision recorded with Frampton and Mollie Marriott — the daughter of late Small Faces/Humble Pie frontman Steve Marriott — has been released and is available now digitally and via streaming at OpenEyesRecords.com.

You also can check out a music video for the tune at Blurred Vision’s official YouTube channel.

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