Skip to content Skip to footer
american football September 2, 2021
35Views 0Comments

What can Philadelphia Eagles fans expect from the NFL this season?

Philadelphia Eagles fans might be in for one hell of an NFL season…

Football teams’ fortunes constantly wax and wane – it’s just the nature of the sport. However, even by NFL standards, the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2020 season was a real surprise. Tipped as Playoff certainties at the start of the year, they ended up getting nowhere near the postseason.  

The first game set the tone for a dire campaign, with the Eagles crashing to a 17-27 defeat to Washington. The following week things got even worse when they were battered 37-19 by the LA Rams. There was some brief hope when Philly rallied to win three of their next six, as well as tying with the Cincinnati Bengals. 

The Eagles came crashing back down to Earth in Week 10, though, losing to the New York Giants. This started a rut that continued for the rest of the season with Philadelphia winning just one of their remaining eight games. 

This meant they finished with a dire 4-11-1 record. Unsurprisingly this condemned them to the last place in the NFC East. 

Now the dust has settled on this torrid year, the Eagles front and back-office have started preparations for the 2021 season. Can the team return to their best and become favorites of NFL betting fans again? Or, are they destined to struggle? Here is what we think Eagles fans can expect this year. 

Philadelphia Eagles 2021 roster changes

The Eagles have wasted little time gutting their underperforming roster. It has not just been fringe players that have been moved on, several franchise favorites have also gone. 

End of the Carson Wentz era

By far and away the most significant change to the Eagles’ 2021 roster is the departure of star quarterback Carson Wentz. Wentz has been the lynchpin of the franchise ever since he was taken as the second overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft. 

During his maiden season in Philadelphia, he set a string of records. Wentz attempted and completed the most passes of any rookie in NFL history and scooped a string of Eagles’ records as well. 

One year later he got even better. In fact, he was one of the contenders to win the 2017 MVP before injury ruled him out. Tragically, this also meant he missed the Eagles’ run to the Super Bowl, with backup Nick Foles deputising and helping his team to victory over the New England Patriots. 

He came back from injury strong and had his best-ever season in 2019, throwing a franchise-record 4,039 yards during the 2019 season. Since then, things have gone downhill and towards the end of the last season, he was even benched for rookie Jalen Hurts. 

In March 2021 Wentz was traded to the Indianapolis Colts, marking a definitive changing of the guard in Philadelphia. The pressure is on Hurts now to come up with the goods. Of course, he is still developing, but he does not appear to be anywhere near Wentz’s level yet.

During his rookie season, he recorded a pass completion rate of just 52% – one of the worst in the league. It is likely that Hurts will improve if the offense is built around him and he does at least have more experienced QBs to learn from. 

Joe Flacco and Nick Mullens have both been signed on one-year deals, with the latter even a contender to take the starting spot if Hurts proves himself not up for the task. 

Other key deals 

Although the departure of Wentz has stolen most of the headlines it is not the only piece of business Philly has conducted. Backup defensive lineman, Malik Jackson has joined the Cleveland Browns, while experienced wide receiver DeSean Jackson has also gone, signing for the LA Rams.

These departees have, for the most part, already been replaced either via free agency or the Draft. Two safeties – Adrian Kallis and Andrew Adams – have arrived, as well as a spate of linebackers. 

Philadelphia appears to have picked up a few promising prospects in the Draft as well. Their first selection was a wide receiver, DeVonta Smith. During his final year at Alabama, he recorded more than 1,800 yards and also registered 23 touchdowns. 

For his incredible exploits, he won the 2020 Heisman Trophy, awarded to the outstanding college player in the country every year. The Eagles were not expected to get Smith and his addition is a significant boost. 

Later picks Landon Dickerson and Milton Williams, a center and defensive tackle respectively, could also turn out to be inspired pickups. 

What can Philadelphia Eagles fans expect? 

Put it this way, Philadelphia Eagles fans should not expect to end the 2021 season as NFL champions. Saying that their talented young squad should have enough to at least match if not better their poor record from last season.

The impact that Wentz’s departure could have on the group cannot be overstated, but there are plenty of prospects to get excited about. 

What is likely to give Eagles fans a boost is their return to their home stadium in significant numbers. Spectators were restricted at the Lincoln Financial Field last year, leading to a sterile atmosphere. 

For 2021, though, the stands will be full once again with Philadelphia mayor Jim Kenney removing capacity restrictions in May. 

Therefore, although the on-field action will not be perfect, spectators will at least be allowed inside the stadium this year.  

Bruh August 19, 2021
29Views 0Comments

Inbetweeners Star Blake Harrison Swaps Acting for a Career in Cage Fighting

Over a decade has passed since the Inbetweeners took the world by storm. From starring in movies to continuing their British television adventure, the show’s stars have all since moved on. Perhaps the most fascinating of them all is Blake Harrison, as he recently announced his latest project.

Blake Harrison, aka Neil Sutherland

blak harrison inbetweeners

The Inbetweeners star Blake Harrison has announced that he will be trading in his acting career for a new job in cage fighting. Before you get too excited, this funny man won’t be the one getting down and dirty. Blake’s role will be that of a podcast host for a new MMA podcast, the MMA Fan Podcast.

Listen here…

The 6ft actor will meet and interview some of the industry’s biggest stars and will provide fans with an insight into the world of UFC. 

Blake, 35, used to be a pro wrestler fan before discovering MMA and has always had a deep appreciation for the athletes involved in the sport. 

Blake has already expressed his excitement about giving fighters a voice, a chance to tell their stories – from talking about their mental toughness to the sacrifices to train and win against the odds. 

Aside from his new venture, Blake is set to reunite with his castmates from the hit television series later this year in Liverpool. Simon Bird (36), James Buckley (33), and Joe Thomas (37) will meet up and appear together again for one of their few appearances in almost 3 years. 

At the Comic-Con event, the stars will discuss all things Inbetweeners, the two spin-off movies, and their current projects. Here’s what to expect from Blake’s co-stars at the event.

podcasting mi

Simon Bird, aka Will

After filming The Inbetweeners, Simon became the creator of a hit comedy show on BBC three called The King Is Dead. He also appeared on Channel 4’s show Chickens and Friday Night Dinner, and the West End production of The Philanthropist. 

In his private life, he married publicist Kerry Anne Lynch, and the pair have two children. 

James Buckley, aka Jay 

The well-known awkward Jay, otherwise known as James Buckley, is also known for featuring in a few other notable British TV shows, including The Bill, Holby City, and Skins.

After the Inbetweeners, James went on to appear on several hit shows. Since the Inbetweeners, he has been on Zapped, White Gold, and will appear in the latest Doctor Who series. 

He made a surprising appearance on the Celebrity Great British Bake Off Stand Up To Cancer, where he smashed the competition in aid to raise funds for vital cancer research.

the inbetweeners

Joe Thomas, aka Simon 

Joe and Simon met at university and stayed mates throughout filming for The Inbetweeners. The two went on to write Chickens which was a proposed series of the Comedy Showcase. Joe has also appeared on the shows Fresh Meat, Threesome, and White Gold (alongside James). 

His latest project is Tom, Dick & Harry, the movie where he stars in the role of Mike Hunt. 

Joe is currently engaged to his former co-star from the show, Hannah Tointon (aka Tara Brown). 

Many rumors are circulating that the four funnymen will reunite as ‘The Inbetweeners’, but all four have said in interviews that they doubt that there will be more from the series. Fans will be sad to hear that this BAFTA-winning TV series-turned-movie doesn’t look like returning anytime soon, or at least not with the same iconic cast. 

The Inbetweeners Honorable Mentions

Greg Davies, aka Mr. Gilbert, recently announced that he is to host the new reboot series, Nevermind The Buzzcocks. 

The legendary quiz show is making a return to television without Simon Amstell. The music-themed comedy series will move from BBC to Sky, seven years since it was last seen on British TV. 

Greg will be accompanied by Great British Bake Off host Noel Fielding, remaining in his captain role, along with ‘This Country’ writer, Daisy May Cooper. 

Ten years later and the cast of The Inbetweeners have all moved on while the fans haven’t. The guys have all got very respectable careers in the entertainment industry, and are still just as funny to watch. We can’t wait to see these four reunite later on this year. 

If you want to learn more about Blake, you can follow him on Twitter, where he has the tagline ‘Most of what you spend time worrying about will never happen.’

Or check out Blake’s podcast, the MMA Fan Podcast, to learn a bit more about his hidden passion for the world of MMA, where he recently appeared with Ben Shepherd. 

hip hop July 26, 2021
33Views 0Comments

Mafia B links up with On Smash to drop visuals for ‘What You Came For’

New York artist and producer Mafia B has had a busy 2021 so far.

After releasing his 5-track EP ‘What The F**K‘ in May, he’s following up by dropping the visuals for his single ‘What You Came For’ with help from On Smash.

The up-tempo banger is a new sound for Mafia B, who started out as a techno and house producer and shows his range for creating and collaborating across different genres.

We had the chance to speak to Mafia B a couple of months ago and asked him about how he linked up with On Smash. He said:

“WHAT YOU CAME FOR, FEATURING ON SMASH, WAS 100% SPONTANEOUS. I JUST SO HAPPENED TO BE IN THE STUDIO HANGING OUT WITH J.LEON, WHO IS AN ENGINEER BASED IN NYC, AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW, ON SMASH STOPPED BY TO HANG. I SHOWED HIM A FEW OF MY TRACKS TO SEE IF HE WANTED TO TAKE A SHOT AT FREESTYLING. HE LIKED THE INSTRUMENTALS OF ONE OF THE TRACKS, WE HAD J.LOEN RECORD HIM, THEN I TOOK THE VOCALS HOME TO PROCESS THEM. THE REST WAS HISTORY. SOMETIMES THE THINGS THAT ARE UNPLANNED HAVE THE BEST OUTCOME.”

– Mafia B

As for the music video directed by Andy-Lincoln Estonia, the vibes are reminiscent of Mafia B’s underground music background as the intensity from On Smash brings the track to life.

Check out the video and stream Mafia B’s full EP ‘What The F**K’ here.

10K80 July 14, 2021
32Views 0Comments

CJ Wallace has inspired the cannabis community to THINK BIG

CJ Wallace, son of The Notorious B.I.G., is already using lessons he learned from his father’s life to set himself and his community up for success. His brand, THINK BIG, leads a social movement “fighting for global cannabis legalization​, police and criminal justice reform, and economic reinvestment into communities most harmed by cannabis prohibition.”

For many creative individuals who tend to think in non-linear patterns, cannabis is a catalyst. For some artists, writer’s block does not exist and cannabis elevates their efforts to heights unparalleled. Such is the case for Christopher Wallace, better known as The Notorious B.I.G. from Brooklyn, New York, and his son, CJ Wallace.

CJ Wallace and THINK BIG

Although Biggie’s life was tragically cut short due to senseless violence, his hymns and street gospel will live on eternally. The most fascinating part about his cannabis consumption is that it did not slow his role whatsoever, only enhanced his ability to tell a vivid story.

That is a major reason why his son, CJ, has become an outspoken advocate for cannabis and started his own brand by the name of, Think BIG, after his late, great father.

CJ Wallace is the son of emcee Biggie Smalls and R&B artist Faith Evans. Unfortunately, he was only graced with his father’s presence for five months, but continually utilizes his influence and grandiose legacy to effectuate positive change. CJ’s cannabis brand is rooted in three core pillars: creativity, curiosity, and collaboration.

Certainly, Biggie excelled in all three of those categories, and sparking up only amplified his superb abilities. One of the best-selling products for his brand is the Frank White creative blend. Frank White was one of Biggie’s aliases and pays utmost homage to Christopher Walken’s legendary performance in, “King of New York.” 

THINK BIG and Frank White

The Frank White package contains vapes, gummies, apparel, stationery and pens. The strain itself is a diverse blend of orange sherbet, banjo, rattlesnake, and sour diesel.

It hit shelves in April of 2019 and has many flavors and variations. To pair alongside, THINK BIG created the eclectic, “Frank White Ultimate Ghostrider Vol. 1” playlist comprised of Jazz, Country, Rock and Roll and 90’s Hip-Hop to flow in conjunction with the creative individual.

The brand even has itself a dope clothing line.

Reshaping the framework around cannabis prohibition

Throughout CJ’s young life, he has noticed a trend in the cannabis industry that has negatively affected people of color. Prohibition around cannabis has been far more prevalent in communities of color than against white people.

The pointless war on drugs that was manufactured by the government has only stunted the growth of his people and those who are minorities. CJ grew up around incredibly talented individuals such as Missy Elliott and Pharrell.

And he witnessed firsthand how cannabis served as an amplification element for reaching new plateaus within musical artistry. Thus, the prohibition surrounding cannabis was really only to hold Black people down.

“We can no longer stand idly by while our people struggle in the face of unjust marijuana laws and environmental policies that disproportionately target people of color.”

CJ Wallace’s brand THINK BIG

Growing up, he was not taught any of the negative stigmas surrounding cannabis only shown the way that it boosted creativity in an incredible way. The positive aspects of the medicinal plant were evident throughout his life as a way to tap into an abundant source of knowledge and creativity.

By having multiple conversations with his mother and Biggie’s mother, Voletta he was able to learn about his father’s gargantuan impact and decided it would be proper to honor him with his own cannabis business.

think big cannabis stopping cannabis prohibition
Cannabis brand THINK BIG founders (via Marina Thompson)

Partnering with Willie Mack and Todd Russaw of the Lowell Herb Company significantly advanced the strides made for CJ’s cannabis brand. Todd Russaw encouraged Wallace to believe in his brand and to be unafraid to represent his ideals.

Together, they aim to use their ethos and vision to unlock a new world perspective. Their cannabis strain focuses on a crossover between cannabis, creativity, and healing. By offering a product that is omnipresent and omnipotent, connoisseurs are able to lock into a calm, focused headspace that induces heightened creativity. 

CJ Wallace is giving back

Another major reason CJ jumped headfirst into the cannabis industry is because of the direct beneficial results he witnessed the drug had on members of his family.

It has significantly assisted in his grandmother’s fight against breast cancer and allowed her to prolong her time here on Earth. Also, CBD treatments have greatly improved his brother Ryder’s quality of life.

When CJ was in high school, he became familiar with the benefits of cannabis and CBD to assist in the well-being and increased faculty function that became evident for his brother.

Jayden’s Juice CBD products have greatly relieved Ryder’s epileptic episodes and his struggles with non-verbal autism. CBD (pain-relieving agent of cannabis) has allowed Ryder to become less frustrated, calm himself down easier and express his thoughts and feelings in a very valuable manner.

Although reigning from NY, much of the Frank White Creative Blend products are available on the West Coast. Some stockists include Rose Collective in Venice, Sweet Flower in Studio City/Melrose and Urban Pharm in San Francisco.

Ten percent of all proceeds directly benefit California’s Prison Arts Project to give a hand to inmates who wish to partake in visual arts, writing, poetry, music and theater. 

It is clear that cannabis contains many beneficial properties that should be celebrated not stigmatized and CJ learned that directly from reading entries from his father’s journal. His organization is a part of the Marijuana Policy Project, NORML, Minority Cannabis Business Association, Autism Speaks, and the American Breast Cancer Foundation.

CJ continues to advance himself within influential circles of the entrepreneur sector. Catch him on VH1 playing the role of Amir in the latest series Scream and has been featured in films such as Kicks and alongside Will Ferrell in Everything Must Go.

Clearly, cannabis is something to be celebrated for its ability to effectuate brilliance rather than stigmatized for its alleged illicit connotation.

art July 9, 2021
30Views 0Comments

MiraQle’s pop-up NFT gallery attracts Randi Zuckerberg to VIP show

NFTs are undoubtedly the new hottest trend in the crypto world. They’ve become so popular that industry leaders from across the globe including Jack Dorsey and Elon Musk have pledged for them.

Now, in a recent development, Randi Zuckerberg, Facebook’s former CMO, attended a VIP NFT Gallery hosted by MiraQle Project.

MiraQle Project, the issuer of MQL coin, recently held a VIP NFT showcase for the launch of 15 entertainment NFT content pieces. This invite-only event was held at Itaewon BOHYEMIAHN gallery and displayed several limited edition art pieces.

Randi Zuckerberg was one of the prime invites and she attended the event as the non-executive director of the KOSDAQ-listed company isMedia, following its recent partnership with MiraQle for an NFT marketplace. 

Being a tech enthusiast, Zuckerberg seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed the NFT showcase.

Speaking at the event she said, “MiraQle’s NFT artworks are in a different level of artistry from other existing NFT contents, and the technology to implement vibrant visuals, sounds, and dynamic movements are great. I’ve never seen such content. It is the best.”

She also explained that she was extremely excited to launch “an SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) focused on the future of what live entertainment would look like in this hybrid world where new technologies such as blockchain, NFTs, and “cryptocurrencies” will ameliorate the experience for fans and consumers.”

The MiraQle project team honored Ms. Zuckerberg for her visit by gifting her with specially curated NFT artworks. She then took to her social media to announce that she was thrilled to be meeting “forward-thinking” Korean entrepreneurs who were working on blockchain technology. 

This NFT showcase is a part of MiraQle’s larger picture of decentralizing the entertainment sphere by bringing fans and artists on a level playing field. Several NFTs for music enthusiasts around the world were displayed in the event and images of top global artists were featured. 

Decentralizing the Music and Entertainment Industry  

The entertainment industry ever since its inception was almost always opaque. Industry tycoons have had full control over funding, distributing, and licensing content.

Fans had no choice but to accept the content churned out by these tycoons. But, with the rise of the internet came platforms like YouTube, Tiktok, and Instagram that allowed everyone to enjoy diversified content. 

Now, with the advent of blockchain technology, we’re finally at a stage where fans and creators can be on level playing fields. Fans can choose their stars and stars can be one step closer to actively interacting with their fans. Working towards this very goal is the MiraQle Project. 

MiraQle Project envisions the decentralization of the entertainment sphere, especially the music industry to create a fan-centric ecosystem.

It claims to consist of a collection of innovative platforms dubbed FanPick, DreamX, MusicQ, and EnterPlus that handle the planning, production, distribution, and consumption of content. 

Fans can participate directly in the planning stage such as the album concept and collaboration artists by voting on FanPick.

Once selected, their results will be produced into an album through the DreamX project. MiraQle has partnered with global partners like Tencent Music Entertainment and 7SIX9 Entertainment to produce groundbreaking music collaborations.

Fans will not only realize their dream album but also will have the opportunity to purchase their favorite artists’ NFT (Non-Fungible Token) artworks and merchandise.

These celebrity goods along with concert tickets will be purchasable through the EnterPlus app. Lastly, a social music service app called ‘MusicQ’ is a mixture of music streaming and social networking app. It encourages playlist sharing and the active engagement of artists and fans.

Through these four platforms of the MiraQle project ecosystem, fans can change the market dynamics of the entertainment sphere and become the center of the industry.

Why the NFT Showcase? 

Featuring various NFTs from across the globe, MiraQle’s recent NFT showcase was a good point of departure to introduce this project to a wider population out there.

Through showcasing some amazing limited-edition artworks and bringing in industry leaders like Randi Zuckerberg, MiraQle might have managed to garner just the right kind of attention to propel its further growth. 

rachel nichols July 8, 2021
30Views 0Comments

Rachel Nichols and ESPN are in the spotlight, but why?

In 2021, it seems opportunity has begun to take a turn in an equal direction. Many companies have started to admit their prior wrongdoings and topsy-turvy their actions in favor of those who have been slighted in the past i.e. minorities. There is none that should be more conducive to equality and fair chance than the worldwide leader in sports – ESPN. With Rachel Nichols and ESPN under the microscope, it’s important to remember what got them there.

So why are Rachel Nichols and ESPN taking heat?

Diversity, inclusion, and privilege are extremely relevant buzzwords. All the drama at ESPN recently has stemmed from an incident that took place on July 13, 2020.

At the time, Rachel Nichols had just settled into the NBA playoff bubble and was ruminating in her hotel room due to a mandatory 7-day quarantine. 

rachel nichols espn
There is a huge difference between affinity and appreciation (via Pinterest)

After she had finished her recording for “The Jump,” she made a phone call to a revered role model, Adam Mendelsohn. She expressed sentiments that were in confidence and intended to stay between her and the advisor.

Her relationship with Mendelsohn stems from him acting as a go-between from her to prominent athletes and their representatives, such as LeBron James and Rich Paul.

The only problem with their conversation was, Nichols forgot to kill the power on a newly approved piece of recording equipment ushered in during the pandemic. 

A classic hot mic scenario

From there, the device streamed footage of Nichols’ conversation into the workflow stations of several different ESPN employees. Rather than inform Rachel of the fact that she forgot to disable the new piece of technology – an individual secretly recorded and disseminated the conversation throughout the company. 

“I wish Maria Taylor all the success in the world — she covers football, she covers basketball. If you need to give her more things to do because you are feeling pressure about your crappy longtime record on diversity — which, by the way, I know personally from the female side of it — like, go for it. Just find it somewhere else. You are not going to find it from me or taking my thing away.”

Rachel Nichols on the call, via Deadline

Now, all the talk surrounding race has led to finger-pointing, assignment replacements, and public apologies. Much of the negative impetus is being placed on Rachel Nichols and while she partially deserves it – she is not the only one at fault here.

ESPN does not exactly have a clean record in terms of equality and accountability. And Mendelsohn and his comments have elicited scorn as well.

adam mendelsohn
Adam Mendelsohn – advisor to LeBron James (via More Than a Vote)

Rachel Nichols remains in hot water and some may argue this is by design. Overall, the part that really makes her guilty is the laugh after Mendelsohn’s comment. The type of laugh is particularly cringe-worthy and naturally demoralizing.

“I’m exhausted. Between Me Too and Black Lives Matter, I got nothing left.”

(Mendelsohn comment that commanded laughter from Nichols)

This entire debacle could be a strong-armed move by ESPN

Clearly, Rachel is in the wrong as are many parties throughout this whole scenario.

The reason some might argue this entire saga is by design is because it is a classic zero-sum game. Pitting successful women against each other as one poses as the backstabber is a wonderful way to drive public condemnation.

Of course, ESPN claims that these incidents have no bearing on the company’s actions or reactions. Maria Taylor and Malika Andrews have replaced Nichols at the NBA Finals, while Nichols will still host “The Jump.”

rachel nichols espn equality
Rachel Nichols earned her spot in the industry (via ESPN)

Nichols has been criticized, rightfully, for seemingly being an ally to BIPOC communities when it is convenient, but not doing so when it is inconvenient, like when she feels it is affecting her career.

ESPN has taken criticism because the company has shown a glaring lack of equality over the years. Black people at ESPN have complained for years about the lack of equality with their white counterparts and facing discrimination.

And of course, Mendelsohn has taken heat too. His comments show a truth many of us know but refuse to admit: Comments by so-called “allies” behind closed doors are much different than comments in public.

“Equality” is easy to strive for in the public eye, but what about in public spheres, where the real decisions are made?

ESPN, Rachel Nichols, and many more “allies” have a lot to learn

While many different viewpoints were offered throughout this piece: let this final statement ring clear. Beware of the outwardly supportive white people who tell a different tale when they believe no one is listening.

Their face-value existence has shrouded our country since the times when police officers threw on KKK hoods to destroy the Greenwood District (Tulsa) of Black Wall Street.

Not everyone is like you – and certainly, money is the motivating factor for the majority. Seek the friendship of those who can express true sentiments without fear of recourse. Because the ones that put on a front to appease you may truly feel the complete opposite behind the scenes.

Kulture July 7, 2021
28Views 0Comments

Melody Yang’s unique skills are taking the mobile app world by storm

Within the first minute of talking to her, one can easily tell that Melody Yang is fierce, and is quite the unstoppable force.

Melody Yang is a modern trailblazer that young adults, especially women, can gain inspiration from. She went from being an F1 visa holder, to a software engineer at Apple soon after graduating college during the height of the pandemic.

This was all done while experiencing anxiety over her application for post-graduation work authorization potentially being denied if she didn’t land a job on time.

But there is much more to Yang than the timing and landing of her role with one of the world’s largest technology companies—she has also founded and developed six apps: Nukon, Recogmize, PopTag, Relate, ShareRecipe, and WePick.

It didn’t take long for Yang to become known as an authority in the development of products that sit in the intersection of mobile engineering and machine learning—a rare combo considering the deep expertise needed in both to excel.

Intersecting mobile engineering and machine learning

Yang insists that both mobile engineering and machine learning require deep expertise in their respective areas because they are very different technically.

The mastery of mobile development comes with the skills of software engineering and product development. “Since mobile apps are customer-facing products, extensive understanding in user experience design is also needed,” says Yang.

On the contrary, machine learning is research-based and focuses heavily on cloud computing. While developing models via mathematical theories, utilizing cloud computing is crucial in accelerating the training process.

Melody Yang

However, Yang claims that since there’s only a little overlap between skill sets for mobile development and machine learning, most people opt to pick one route and stick with it. If one is heavily interested in consumer-facing products, they may find doing research tedious and vice versa.

Yang believes that instead of learning too many things and being a master of none, being really good at one makes candidates that much more employable. “When I look at positions in the job market, each of them are designed for candidates who are masters in one specific area. It’s rare to come across a job posting that asks for skills in two distinct domains.

It was a little different in Yang’s case. By mastering both mobile engineering and machine development, she became invaluable because she was able to prove that she can turn all that she studied into real-world applications that solve actual problems and bridge a series of gaps. It takes time, effort, and motivation to become such an individual.

Learning smart to work smart

Yang is not one to waste a single moment as she balances six projects. Through it all, she still finds time to nurture her creativity. She states that she combats this by learning new things every single week.

“Creativity gets lost under the pressure of getting things done. Therefore, I like to allocate a fixed time for learning new things every week. This can include exploring new technologies, attending business and tech conferences, and reading tech journals,” she shared. 

Once she found her groove, Yang became a very fast learner. She claims that the ability to learn quickly is not innate; it can be cultivated. The first step is identifying your learning style.

Yang thrives in intense learning environments, where there’s a lot going on, forcing her to multi-task. “Focusing on one thing at a time bores me,” says Yang. “For instance, I like to take one online class for two hours, then switch to another one for three hours. Understanding your personality and learning environment will take you a long way.”

Efficiency also plays a key role in Yang’s thought process, and using OKR’s help her stay on track, allocate resources, and measure outcomes. On the leadership front, Yang is big on trust and communication.

Experience taught her that when a team doesn’t communicate, people unknowingly step on each other’s toes, which plants the seeds of friction. Communicating well during problem-solving can lead to collaboration, innovation, and great results.

When it comes to offering pearls of wisdom for today’s graduating college students to get on a similar path to success, Yang insists that they need to develop a passion for problem-solving. After all, no matter the field, problems would need to be solved every day.

Unlike the types of problems seen in exams, problems in the professional world tend to be ambiguous and have many constraints, such as limited resources, short timeframes, and other people getting in the way.

It is also important to consistently stay on top of trends taking place in one’s respective industry, which will arm anyone with the insights needed to stay sharp and fiercely determined to keep pushing forward like Melody Yang.

Sports June 26, 2021
45Views 0Comments

The absence of feedback always leads to losses

Australians love a wager. That might sound like a statement of the obvious – after all, we’ve all heard the old saw about two flies crawling up a wall. But it obscures the fact that Australians really like a wager. According to market research, the annual spend per adult per year on gambling is around $1,200. That’s way higher than any other nation on the planet. 

The fact that is getting lawmakers, regulators and welfare groups hot under the collar is that this number is on an upward trajectory. The advent of online casinos made gambling more accessible, and attempts to block them by the regulator are an exercise in futility.

hen there are the specific circumstances of recent months. With lockdowns caused by Covid-19, the popularity of real money gambling that allow players to win and lose money anywhere has only intensified.

Playing in the dark

The more people gamble the more they lose. It’s a simple, mathematical fact, but one that gamblers everywhere, not just in Australia, find it very difficult to grasp. That’s partly because humans are notoriously bad at assessing risk in terms of probability.

Let’s look at a simple example – the question of our own mortality. Consider the following four ways a young, fit and healthy person might suddenly die:

  • Plane crash
  • Contracting Covid-19
  • Abducted and murdered by a psychopath
  • Car crash

The car crash option is exponentially more likely than the other three, and is by far the most common cause of people dying young. Yet the average person is far more fearful about the other three. 

When it comes to gambling, we have a similarly poor grasp of the probabilities. Partly, that’s down to a natural tendency to remember one big win better than 10 small losses. But it is also due to us failing to face the commercial reality of what a casino is and what it does.

RTP and the house edge

A casino is a business, just like a shop or a hairdressing salon or a restaurant. Any business has one primary objective – it needs to make money. In the case of a casino, that means taking enough money in wagers to cover operating expenses such as wages and overheads, plus winnings that it pays out to customers. Then it must have enough left over as a net profit to satisfy the board members and shareholders.

When you look at it that way, it is obvious that a casino has to take more money in bets than it pays out in winnings. Yes, there will be some gamers on any given night who make a profit and others who make a loss, but the latter will outweigh the former, or the casino will soon go bankrupt.

Likewise, and even more crucially, a player might be a winner on some nights and a loser on others, but over time, once again, the latter will outweigh the former. 

We can even calculate how much a player will lose. Every game pays out rewards that are stacked to incorporate a house edge. The easiest way to understand this is to envisage a game that involves the toss of a coin. It’s an even-money bet, but a casino might offer a 95 cent payout on a dollar bet for either heads or tails. This equates to a five percent house edge, sometimes expressed as a Return to Player (RTP) of 95 percent.

Every game has its own house edge / RTP. For European roulette, the house edge is 2.7 percent. Slots vary from around 95 percent RTP to 99 percent. It is all programmed into the machines and the figures are available online if you just search for them.

Let’s assume you wager $20 on roulette every night. One night you might walk away with a few dollars profit, another day with a loss. But the more nights you play, the closer you will come to an overall loss of 2.7 percent. It is a mathematical certainty and there is no way around it. 

Casting some light on gambling 

Most gamblers understand this. They treat casino gaming as a leisure pursuit that has a cost attached and see any occasional win as an unlooked-for bonus. However, those are not the people about whom bodies like the Department of Social Services are concerned. 

Problem gamblers are those who either expect or need to beat the odds. And for them, shining a light on the mathematical realities could be hugely valuable. That’s why they have conducted lab trials on apps that show a gambler how much he is really winning or losing over time, using basic charts. 

The next step is to trial the technology in the real world. It won’t create an overnight change and solve all ills, but anything that leaves gamblers better informed about what they are doing can only be a good thing. 

art June 21, 2021
32Views 0Comments

DIGITALAX launches new Minecraft-focused NFT esports tournament

DIGITALAX recently announced the launch of Minecraft Bed Wars ESPA Casual Esports tournaments and the new Minecraft Digital Fashion Skins that are setting the temperatures high for gamers.

In only a few months, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have come to the forefront of the cryptocurrency space. In addition to building immense hype for digital art collectibles in the form of blockchain-based tokens, they have contributed enormously to the adoption of crypto assets in general.

Today, gamers, celebrities, artists, sports stars, and influencers are all excited to get into the NFT space and buy new tokens or create their own to sell across NFT marketplaces.

Amid this, gaming is one of the most largely impacted sectors by the proliferation of NFTs’ demand. Many projects are currently working to integrate NFTs into games and implement new use cases. The digital fashion engine DIGITALAX has utilized this opportunity all too well.

DIGITALAX empowers gamers to have “skin in the game”

The Minecraft skins launched for the ESPA tournament are a class apart from the usual NFTs like the CryptoPunk and CryptoKitties. DIGITALAX has created a 3D animated render of multiple Minecraft-like characters that users can buy on the layer-2 blockchain network Polygon. 

Each of the 3D Minecraft characters is embedded with contrasting colors to represent unique themes and fashion. These avatars range from an Ethereum Unicorn that is more colorful than a rainbow to The Chairman that looks all dressed, tidy, and ready to rock the day at the office. 

There are 12 types of skins with three degrees of rarity, each designed by DIGITALAX in collaboration with the popular Minecraft skin designer Cleora.

To participate in the ESPA tournaments by DIGITALAX, players need to go to the official ESPA website and sign up using their MetaMask or Arkane wallet. Upon successful signup, players can register their Minecraft username and be eligible to participate in the tournaments to win $MONA as a reward.

The digital fashion skins as 3D Minecraft avatars will act as the official in-game authentication and identity markers for the players in the game. According to DIGITALAX, the skin will also act as proof for the users’ involvement in the game and help them earn $MONA.

Creating a unique gaming ecosystem

Through the combination of fashion, gaming, blockchain, and cryptocurrencies, DIGITALAX is shaping an entirely new gaming ecosystem. Apart from creating the first casual esports for indie and modded games in the form of ESPA, DIGITALAX has much more to offer.

As a Web3-only metaverse, it not only focuses on the experience of gamers but also the developers, modders, and designers who add life to these games.

The platform offers a fashion toolkit for designers to create and deploy digital clothing that they can easily deploy across gaming platforms. The developers can then use these exclusive fashion apparels for the games they develop games.

Lastly, of course, the players get to experience what the designers and developers have collaboratively created.

art May 20, 2021
33Views 0Comments

Art rising from the ashes? Setting art on fire for NFT rebirth

The NFT craze is going on and strong as it expands beyond crypto circles and onto mainstream pop culture.

Gone are the days of original paintings being stored under watchful eyes in climate-controlled spaces for delicate preservation. It has been announced that today from 5PM-8PM EST, decentralized film financing company, Mogul Productions will host a live-streamed event in which an original painting will be burnt to prove that the future of art, and Wall Street, is meant to be on the blockchain.

The painting, created by world-renowned Marvel and DC Comics Artist Rob Prior, will be set on fire, following a panel of distinguished speakers from both the blockchain and film industries.

The panelists, which include Dan Crothers, the Co-Founder of ECOMI (VeVe Digital Collectibles), Jon Karas, the Co-Founder and President of Akoin, and Ted Farnsworth, the Co-Founder of ZASH Global Media and Entertainment and former Chairman of Moviepass will speak of the sudden rise and popularity of NFTs in the entertainment industry.

The new way for the arts to appreciate in value

Non-fungible tokens have made their way into the entertainment and media industry for a variety of reasons. The most prominent of reasons include the fact that the creative work of artists are protected by minimizing the issues of piracy, copyright infringement, and plagiarism.

NFTs have been seen in many applications in recent months. The NBA, for instance, is selling NFT highlights. The Kings of Leon was the first band to use the technology to sell an entire album, and the singer Halsey is holding an NFT auction to sell her art.

In the film world, the Claude Lanzmann Documentary was the first Oscar nominee to be released as an NFT. The power and potential of NFTs are still being explored, and the impact is yet to be seen.

In the Mogul Productions event, Prior’s painting, which is inspired by The Wolf of Wall Street, will only live on as a digitized ERC1155 NFT after it is burned, and will be auctioned exclusively on the Mogul platform.

The Mogul platform was launched earlier this year and has already raked in nearly 50,000 users. Prior chose to burn that particular painting, to further symbolize the addition of art and Wall Street into the blockchain realm.

During the event, Prior will also unveil his next two NFT drops, including a Marvel-inspired Deadpool rendition and a Star Wars painting of Luke Skywalker.

Anyone interested in attending the Proof of Origin Livestream Event can register here via Eventbrite.

The future of NFTs in the post-pandemic world

So what does the future hold for the intersection of blockchain, NFTs, entertainment, and Wall Street? The online event will offer insights on that, but for now, it is safe to say that in this increasingly digital world, claiming ownership over the digital arts provides (at the very least) next-level bragging rights. It’s intriguing to be able to possess original ownership of pieces that have even been copied millions of times before. 

Of course, as with any other new transformative technology, there are naysayers. In this case, they believe destroying original works of art is wasteful.

However, if there is one thing that we as a cohort have collectively learned through the course of the pandemic, it is that everything is bound to change.

As such, burning original pieces in the name of art is now a further expression of art itself—and one that breaks serious bank for the original creators who have chosen to embrace NFTs.

Thanks to blockchain technology, art ownership can now take on many forms. Like the arts themselves, ownership can now be physical, digital, and abstract.

All signs are pointing to NFTs serving as the future of digital art collection, and due to the accessibility and low barriers to entry, it won’t take long for NFTs to become mainstream.