Latest news with #Blackout
Scotsman
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
A new nightmare is coming to Edinburgh: Terror at Conifox Scream Park launches this autumn
Edinburgh's shadows are hiding something new — and it's not waiting for Halloween. Terror Scream Park, Edinburgh's most intense 18+ horror event, launches for the very first time this autumn. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Just 15 minutes outside the city, this brand-new horror event is built for adults who want more than cheap jump scares and for those who think they've seen it all — and dare to prove it. Featuring multiple scare mazes, including Redneck Rampage, Blackout, and Sadistic Circus, the event blends live actors, immersive sets, and psychological horror into a one-way descent into chaos. This isn't a haunted house. Terror at Conifox Scream Park this October 2025 It's a full-scale nightmare. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We didn't want to create just another scare event — we wanted to build something that leaves a mark,' said Nicole Murdoch, Events Manager at Conifox. 'Terror is gritty, relentless, and totally immersive. It's not about watching horror… it's about living it.' The last release of 'First to Fear' tickets — offering 20% off — drops Friday, July 25th. This is the final chance to get early access before standard pricing kicks in. General release will follow on Monday, July 28. Terror will run for four nights only (18th, 24th, 25th and 31st). No map. No mercy. Just pure Terror. Will you survive? Between the screams, the horror doesn't stop. On-site, visitors can grab a bite from a selection of street food vendors or steady their nerves with something stronger from the fully stocked bar. For those who dare, Taylors Fun Fair returns with classic fairground rides turned sinister, all available at an additional cost. And for the bravest guests? Scare Cams will capture your worst moments, with the chance to take your terror home as a twisted little trophy. 🎟️ Tickets & full event info: 🔞 Strictly 18+. You've been warned.
Daily Mirror
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'David Bowie was my best friend - he gave me a priceless gift''
Geoff MacCormack, 78, who knew the iconic Space Oddity singer like no other, talks through some of 90,000 items relating to David Bowie's life and work which will go on display at the V&A museum in September He was the man who fell to Earth - and inspired generations of future shape-shifting music stars, from Madonna to Lady Gaga. But David Bowie 's other-worldly creativity, and ability to constantly reinvent his image, style and music, left just as indelible an imprint on the world of fashion, art and culture, too. It's the reason why the singer, who died in 2016 aged 69, is being honoured with a permanent gallery at London's V&A (Victoria and Albert Museum), which opens in September. The new David Bowie Centre, at the museum's V&A East Storehouse location, will house over 90,000 items relating to Bowie's life and works, including his costumes, sketches, paintings, writings and set lists. We got a sneak peak at some of the exhibits, offering fans fascinating insights into the mind of rock's enduring enigma. They include Bowie's paint palette covered in the last colours he used, the asymmetric knitted catsuit he wore as Ziggy Stardust and the lyrics he cut up and mixed up to write his 1977 song 'Blackout' Bowie's lifelong friend Geoff MacCormack says the new permanent gallery shows just how much of a legacy the Space Oddity star left. In an exclusive interview, Geoff, who was also Bowie's backing singer and percussionist, says: 'David became a fashion icon. His whole show was about what he was wearing and his different personas. He was very clever at constantly changing himself.' And he said that during the years he spent touring the world with Bowie gave him something that allowed him to emulate his success - bravery. He says: "David made people braver. He encouraged people to do their thing without fear, including me. He instilled his bravery into others, and today we see what a incredible legacy he left.' But Geoff, who went to Burnt Ash Primary School in Bromley, Kent, with Bowie says it wasn't immediately obvious that he would leave such an impression on the world. He recalls: 'Our friendship was based on the appreciation of music and humour. We used to listen to Radio Luxembourg together, but he'd also get a lot of the latest records because his dad worked for the Dr Barnardo's charity organising fundraising shows. 'David's dad bought him a little record player, and he was the only kid I knew who had one. I remember listening to rock'n'roll, and seeing his eyes open wide. We were born just after the war, we still had ration books and there were bomb sites all over the place, so it was a pretty grey world until that music hit us. 'He was fascinated by the stuff coming over from America, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Screaming' Jay Hawkins, it was just like alien music, slightly disturbing but in a cool way. We were at the birth of rock'n'roll and it felt like a whole new world.' 'He was definitely different. He was into reading some really quirky stuff, especially American magazines. I remember one time him telling me a story he was reading, about two wrestlers who had fought to the death, really gory stuff with eyes being gouged out and stuff. 'I remember the more wide-eyed I was the more he got into performing this recital for me. We were only about eight or nine.' At that stage, Geoff says, his friend's quirkiness didn't extend to his dress sense. 'David went to a different school to me. I was a Mod, so I was more into fashion, but David was more of a studious type,' he says. 'I think it was once he started doing well and had a personal tailor, Freddie Burretti, that he started experimenting with his clothes. Freddie lived in the basement of 89 Oakley St, where David also rented a flat, and he used to just walk down and try on his new creations. 'The same way David pushed boundaries and challenged conventions in music, he did with his costumes, performances, stage sets, everything.' Geoff, whose book, David Bowie: Rock 'n' Roll with Me, charts their friendship through candid photographs, recognises many of the items that will be displayed at the V&A. He contributed backing vocals to a number of Bowie's albums and spent three years touring the world with him. During their time together in America, when Bowie was filming The Man Who Fell to Earth, the star took up painting. One of the works on show at the V&A will be a self-portrait of the singer. Geoff says: 'We lived in a ranch in Santa Fe, and that's the first time I saw him paint. The style was very similar to the self-portrait. But he didn't always like what he did. David was very confident about his music, but not particularly so about his paintings. But he still kept them, whether or not he liked them.' Another fascinating item at the V&A is an example of Bowie's 'cut up' technique in his songwriting, inspired by his contemporary William Burroughs. He took existing text, cut it into pieces and rearranged them to create new lyrics and meaning. Geoff recalls: 'The first time I saw him do it was for Diamond Dogs, at the Olympic Studios in Barnes, London. William Burroughs actually turned up in the studio while he was doing it. 'It was incredible to see. He was able to give what he was writing about a slight swerve. A cut up sentence becomes more interesting, taking you somewhere else, by chance, rather than by choice.' Geoff was also with Bowie when he departed from his glam rock style and recorded the soul album Young Americans - with backing vocals from Ava Cherry and the then-unknown singer Luther Vandross. He remembers: 'We were in the middle of the Diamond Dogs tour in 1974, and I was one of the Diamond Dogs, who'd mime and dance. It was a brilliant show, with a huge set built to look like a city, and loads of moving parts including a moving bridge. 'We both loved soul music, and David decided to do a soul album. But he wasn't very patient. If he was into something he'd get on with it, even at the expense of ditching an amazing and very expensive theatrical show. So that's what he did.' Bowie abandoned Diamond Dogs, took the month of August 1974 off to record the new album, then re-branded the tour 'The Soul Tour'. Geoff's fondest memory of his time with Bowie is an adventure of a lifetime when he joined him on a world tour, following the release of Ziggy Stardust. Because of Bowie's phobia of flying, that meant sailing from the US to Japan and taking the Trans-Siberian Express train across China and Russia back to the UK. He recalls: 'It was great for me, I was travelling with him and hanging out with him on their long journeys. 'At the time, his management wanted him to look like a star, before he was a star, so he would do stuff on a grand scale. So we'd stay in grand hotels, go first class on the ships, he was living beyond his means but it was an incredible time.' After finishing his US tour, Bowie and his entourage needed to reach Japan for the next leg. Geoff says: 'The only way was to get a boat from LA. We stopped off at San Fransisco and went out with Bet Midler. Then onto Vancouver and Hawaii. 'When we got to Japan, we hung out with Kansai Yamamoto, the designer who David had found years before and was already using his clothes. He had some new costumes for him, which he wore on the Japanese tour, and then the British tour later that year.' One of the designs was the famous one-legged, zig-zagged jumpsuit which visitors will be able to see at the new exhibition. Geoff says their spell in Japan, and the long train journey back, inspired Bowie's future creations. He says: 'Everything we saw and listened to crept into his music at some stage. 'Japan in 1973 was a very alien society, really weird. Coming from there, getting a boat to Siberia, another completely alien experience, then the Trans Siberian through Siberia, China, Russia. 'Then East Germany, which was really unfriendly because the guards boarded the train and they were kicking in doors. What we saw on those trips definitely gave him ideas.' Geoff was also on stage with Bowie when he dramatically announced Ziggy Stardust's 'retirement' at London's Hammersmith Odeon in July 1973. Bowie went on to achieve his first US No1 with Fame, then won new fans in the 80s with hits like Let's Dance and Under Pressure, with Queen. Geoff, now 78, went on to set up his own hugly successful advertising production company, which he says was also inspired by David Bowie. He says: 'I'd never done it before, but David was always saying just do stuff. He threw me in the deep end. I wouldn't have done it if it were not for him. Like with so many other people, he made me braver."
Daily Mail
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I went to the world's biggest water park - here's the terrifying ride I couldn't face
Floating 300 metres high in a tethered balloon, I had an unobstructed view of Dubai's sparkling skyline, the iconic Palm Jumeirah, and the vast Atlantis resort sprawling beneath me. It was serene, almost surreal – hard to believe that just minutes earlier, I'd been screaming my way down some of the wildest waterslides on the planet. Welcome to Aquaventure World, officially the world's largest waterpark, and one of the most thrilling ways you can spend a day – or several – in Dubai. Located at five-star Atlantis, The Palm resort, Aquaventure isn't just big - it's record-breaking. In 2022, it snagged the Guinness World Record for the most waterslides in a single waterpark – and it's only grown since. After a major expansion, it now boasts 105 slides, rides and attractions across 55 acres. Tempted by the promise of sun, sea, and world-class water thrills? You'll want some comfy swimwear, a generous layer of sunscreen – and probably more than one day to do it all. But if you love that stomach-drop feeling, this place is paradise. The park is split into three main towers: Neptune, Poseidon, and the newest and most extreme - Trident Tower. Trident Tower is where you'll find Blackout, home to the tallest vertical drop in the Middle East at 157 feet that's basically a free-fall slide. I had to climb what felt like a hundred flights of stairs, brace myself in the drop zone, before journeying down a winding stream of calm for what seemed like a minute. I had to climb what felt like a hundred flights of stairs. I braced myself in the drop zone before I drifted down a deceptively calm, winding stream - for about a minute. Then: boom. Gravity all of a sudden ceased to exist, and I was hurtling down a pitch-black tunnel before splashing into the pool below. It's terrifying, but in the best possible way. Next, my friend Louisa and I made our way to Shockwave, where parkgoers ride as a group in a raft, climbing up and swooping down a huge wall like a water coaster. And let's not forget Aquaconda, in the Tower of Poseidon - perfect for groups and full of fast turns, dark tunnels, and unexpected drops. Over in Neptune Tower, I chickened out of the infamous Leap of Faith (those ear-piercing screams from panicked pre-teens were enough warning), where 'daring riders plummet down an almost-vertical drop that delivers high velocities'. No, thanks. But Shark Attack was more my vibe. It starts in total darkness before cruising through a glass tunnel surrounded by - you guessed it - actual sharks. The view of fins and tails circling me as I zoomed down to the finishing point is something I won't forget any time soon. Trident Tower is where you'll find Blackout, home to the tallest vertical drop in the Middle East - basically a free-fall slide Not everything at Aquaventure is heart-pounding. One of the best ways to relax is by floating along the mile-long River Rapids - a lazy river that winds through the park with occasional waves, jets, and water features to keep things interesting. It takes about 45 minutes to do the full loop, and it's an awesome way to explore the park while staying cool in Dubai's heat. Families with children will love the multiple Splashers zones, designed for kids under 1.2 metres. They're packed with mini slides, water cannons, and fun features to keep the little ones entertained while grown-ups take a breather - or gear up for the next big ride. There are also plenty of pools, sun decks, and even a private beach where you can dip your toes in the sea, hop in a kayak or paddleboard. Heading down Aquaventure Beach, a short (walkable) distance away from the park, we geared up for a sensational ride in a double-seater kayak in the sea. We took in everything as we paddled at leisure along the water: the slides, Atlantis' pink palace, the beach and Dubai balloon, which hovered only metres above our heads. Back at the waterpark, one of my personal highlights was a slightly disastrous but hilarious attempt at bodyboarding on Surf's Up, the wave rider attraction at Wavehouse. I gave it my best shot, but ended up flailing around more than surfing. The instructors were super patient - and very obviously amused - when I got wiped out over and over again. After all that effort, my friend and I rewarded ourselves with a refreshing coconut cocktail and a sizeable portion of fresh fruit salad at Wavehouse restaurant. There are plenty of free water stations peppered across key areas of the park, providing a cool thirst-quencher especially during 40-degree summer heat. If you want to see it all from above, Dubai Balloon is a must. It's a tethered helium balloon that lifts you 300 metres into the sky, offering phenomenal 360-degree views of the whole Palm Jumeirah – you can even the Burj Al Arab, one of the tallest hotels in the world, in the distance. Our pilot, Dennis, was informative and reassuring; he cracked jokes the whole time – he claimed it was 'only his second flight,' but we all knew better. You could even hear the distant echoes of people laughing and screaming their way down the slides. It's serene, scenic, and the perfect 10-minute breather between rides. Before retreating back to a glorious palm-view Queen room at the Atlantis, we took a detour into The Lost Chambers Aquarium, and it was jaw-dropping. Think massive tanks, ancient ruins vibes, and over 65,000 marine animals swimming past you - including rays, sharks, and jellyfish. The aquarium also features the Ambassador Lagoon, an open-air exhibit where visitors – even beginners - can dive among the ruins. The best part? You don't have to stay at Atlantis to enjoy any of this. Guests can pay for the day to enjoy either Aquaventure Waterpark or The Lost Chambers Aquarium - or both – with prices starting from AED 299 (around £59); children aged 0-2 go free. To skip the queues, Aquaexpress prices start from AED 155 (£30) per person. In 2022, the park also became an IBCCES Certified Autism Center with all colleagues trained and equipped to support guests with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Opening times for Aquaventure Waterpark and Atlas Village are 10am until sunset daily, while the Lost Chambers are open 10pm until 9pm. Whether you're a thrill-seeker, a water-lover, or just looking to make unforgettable memories, Aquaventure World really does have it all – waves, slides, sharks, sunsets, and even sky-high views. It's fun, chaotic, and completely worth the six-hour flight.
Business Wire
24-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Blackout Redaction Now Live on Reveal Enterprise Platform
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Reveal, the global provider of the leading eDiscovery and investigations suite of technologies driven by the most powerful AI engine in the industry, announced today that Milyli's Blackout, the world's premier automated redaction technology in the legal tech industry, is now fully integrated and immediately available to all Reveal Enterprise customers who request it. The full deployment to interested Reveal Enterprise customers follows the company's strategic acquisition of the Blackout source code late last year. The result is a seamless, intelligent redaction experience—dramatically improving the speed, accuracy, and efficiency of sensitive data protection during legal review. 'By bringing Blackout into the Reveal ecosystem, we're giving legal teams more choice and control in how they manage redactions at scale,' said Wendell Jisa, Founder & CEO of Reveal. 'It's a powerful tool that the industry is familiar with and eliminates bottlenecks, reduces risk, and enhances outcomes across the discovery process.' With Blackout now available on the Reveal Enterprise platform, customers can natively redact personally identifiable information, privileged content, and other sensitive materials in spreadsheets with precision—while maintaining full control over review workflows. This builds on Reveal's already robust set of fully integrated image-based redaction capabilities, which are available globally through its strategic partners. Trusted across the legal industry with over six billion redactions placed to date, Blackout further strengthens Reveal's commitment to delivering practical, scalable, and secure solutions for modern legal teams. Reveal Enterprise customers can access Blackout today at no additional cost. Global rollout will continue through 2025, including a Q1 launch on Reveal's Logikcull platform Q1 2026. Reveal is transforming the legal industry with a scalable AI-powered ecosystem built on two industry-leading platforms. Reveal Enterprise offers end-to-end solutions—from data governance to trial presentation—designed for the most complex legal needs, while Reveal's Logikcull platform delivers self-service eDiscovery for firms of all sizes. Together, they empower legal teams across Fortune 500 companies, law firms, and government agencies to streamline discovery with speed, precision, and confidence. Learn more at About Reveal Reveal is a leading AI-powered platform for eDiscovery, document review, legal hold and investigations. The company has a deep history in driving the adoption of legal automation, which is underpinned by its leading processing technology, visual analytics, and artificial intelligence capabilities. Reveal's software combines technology and human guidance to transform structured and unstructured data into actionable insight. We help organizations, including law firms, corporations, government agencies, and intelligence services, uncover more useful information faster by providing a world-class user experience and AI technology that is embedded within every phase of the eDiscovery process.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Blackout Redaction Now Live on Reveal Enterprise Platform
Following Reveal's Acquisition of Blackout Source Code, the Redaction Technology is Now Fully Integrated onto Reveal's Platform; Coming to Reveal Logikcull early 2026. CHICAGO, June 24, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Reveal, the global provider of the leading eDiscovery and investigations suite of technologies driven by the most powerful AI engine in the industry, announced today that Milyli's Blackout, the world's premier automated redaction technology in the legal tech industry, is now fully integrated and immediately available to all Reveal Enterprise customers who request it. The full deployment to interested Reveal Enterprise customers follows the company's strategic acquisition of the Blackout source code late last year. The result is a seamless, intelligent redaction experience—dramatically improving the speed, accuracy, and efficiency of sensitive data protection during legal review. "By bringing Blackout into the Reveal ecosystem, we're giving legal teams more choice and control in how they manage redactions at scale," said Wendell Jisa, Founder & CEO of Reveal. "It's a powerful tool that the industry is familiar with and eliminates bottlenecks, reduces risk, and enhances outcomes across the discovery process." With Blackout now available on the Reveal Enterprise platform, customers can natively redact personally identifiable information, privileged content, and other sensitive materials in spreadsheets with precision—while maintaining full control over review workflows. This builds on Reveal's already robust set of fully integrated image-based redaction capabilities, which are available globally through its strategic partners. Trusted across the legal industry with over six billion redactions placed to date, Blackout further strengthens Reveal's commitment to delivering practical, scalable, and secure solutions for modern legal teams. Reveal Enterprise customers can access Blackout today at no additional cost. Global rollout will continue through 2025, including a Q1 launch on Reveal's Logikcull platform Q1 2026. Reveal is transforming the legal industry with a scalable AI-powered ecosystem built on two industry-leading platforms. Reveal Enterprise offers end-to-end solutions—from data governance to trial presentation—designed for the most complex legal needs, while Reveal's Logikcull platform delivers self-service eDiscovery for firms of all sizes. Together, they empower legal teams across Fortune 500 companies, law firms, and government agencies to streamline discovery with speed, precision, and confidence. Learn more at About Reveal Reveal is a leading AI-powered platform for eDiscovery, document review, legal hold and investigations. The company has a deep history in driving the adoption of legal automation, which is underpinned by its leading processing technology, visual analytics, and artificial intelligence capabilities. Reveal's software combines technology and human guidance to transform structured and unstructured data into actionable insight. We help organizations, including law firms, corporations, government agencies, and intelligence services, uncover more useful information faster by providing a world-class user experience and AI technology that is embedded within every phase of the eDiscovery process. View source version on Contacts Media Contact: Liz Whelan312.315.0160lwhelan@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
