At the moment online gambling and betting in the United States is extremely complicated when it comes to laws. Some states allow it in minimal form, others don’t allow it completely and some are working on legalization.

Being able to tell when online gambling is going to become legal in the United States generally is impossible.

But experts from NonGamStopSlots who review USA online casinos for UK players prepared a set of states that are working on this right now hence you can deduce that more will follow hence in time, online gambling will become 100% legal.

Here we will have to cover a few states that are working on legalization.

Illinois

Believe it or not, online gambling will probably become legal any time soon in the state. This is possible due to one major reason.

See, any time soon many land-based casinos are going to start development in the state. According to Sen. Dave Syverson, they should and need to be regulated which is obvious.

This brings one major question. If a land-based casino has an app, it will offer online gambling which is not legal now. But it is mandatory for the gain and reputability of the casino.

The lack of a better word, online gambling will be legal after land-based casinos are legalized and available to people. All of this is not going to happen any time soon like in 2022. However, we can see that there is hope for 2023 and the future. 

Indiana

There is just one reason to say this. Indiana is going to legalize online gambling.

We say that republicans Ethan Manning and also Doug Gutwein filed the so-called HB1356 which should apply tax to gaming revenues of 18%. We can also see that Alan Morrison filed a similar request last year.

All of this means that they are working on creating the laws, rules, and other requirements needed for the state to legalize online gambling.

It is the first state of the bunch that will do this and as such, we can inform you that if you live in Indiana, soon you will be able to gamble online as much as you like.

Maryland

Maryland is working on legalization as well. Already we can see a few sports betting providers working with the people and offering their services.

We can also see that mobile sports betting is present but in limited form and there are not a lot of possibilities. But, we can expect the obvious. 

In late 2022 the state will start introducing and working on legalizing online gambling and sports betting completely. This means that there are great odds for gamblers in the state and it also sagest that soon we will be able to see a lot of well-known names from the industry here. 

Connecticut

Connecticut state was working on legalizing online gambling for a few months. Sadly, there were a lot of complaints and lawsuits that stopped this progress. But, it is not over.

The state is still working on making these laws available and allowing people to gamble online. It is unclear to tell when some major progress will happen but we do know it is going to happen. We believe it will happen in the next year or even sooner.

New York

Yes, online gambling and betting in New York have great odds of being legalized and becoming available to its residents.

We also know that the rules and laws are different here than in other states but these are actually all good things.

Sadly, we are unable to tell when this is going to happen but massive progress will probably be visible in late 2022 or in 2023. 

The other States Are Working On Legalization As Well

Don’t think that only these states are working on making online gambling and sports betting legal in the United States.

As a matter of fact, we can see Georgia, Kansas, Wyoming, and a few other states working on the same thing.

These are farther away from the legalization of online casinos and they will need a couple of years or a bit less. 

It is important to add that online gambling and sports betting are going to become available and legal in the United States over time.

As you were able to see more and more states are going to approve this. This is a chain reaction so once a few states have approved, many more will follow.

For lack of a better word, we can see that the whole country is going to do the same thing eventually. 

When we can expect this? Well, according to experts we can see the first major changes and approvals in 2023.

This is probably going to happen in the aforementioned states. However, we can see that others will do the same thing, but a few months later. So additional changes will be visible in 2024-2025.  

The Final Word

Yes, online gambling is going to become legal and regulated in the United States. For the lack of a better word, this is not something that will happen overnight but rather something that will happen in the next 2-3 years.

Such games like bingo, and poker are trending around the world and the US is not an exception. After all, online gambling is extremely popular hence more and more people want to enjoy it.

All states should allow this due to obvious advantages and the ability to do what you want when you want and especially where you want. 

Pet ownership can bring so much joy and benefits into someone’s life. It can be a big responsibility to care for an animal, but the benefits can offer so much.

Over 67 percent of US households own a furry (or scaled or feathered) friend. Animal companions make great company, make people laugh and smile, and bring the love of a living connection. 

Some people may think that the responsibility is off-putting, but animal friends can change your life for the better. Let’s take a closer look at some of the ways owning a pet can improve your life. 

Company and Companionship

Pets are a great addition to any household but can be particularly beneficial to those who live alone or spend a lot of time without a partner. Single people, the elderly, or couples who end up separated for work such as military families can all see a huge boost to mental health and overall comfort with a pet.

These little companions help ensure you always have someone waiting for you at home. Animal snuggles go a long way to fighting loneliness. 

People Love a Pet Owner

Few things can break the ice better than when someone meets your dog or cat. If you find yourself struggling to find common ground with people, loving a pet is a great place to start.

There are also many communal spaces such as dog parks where it is almost guaranteed you can start a conversation with people coming up to meet your furry friend. Who knows, the romance story of 101 Dalmatians could be yours!

Health and Immunity Benefits of Pet Ownership

This may not be something thought about very often, but owning pets in your household can actually aid your immune system. Let’s face it, our animal companions aren’t always the cleanest roommates.

They attract germs and dirt into the home, but this can actually be helpful. The result of having pets at home is that your immune system will adapt to the added germs and microbes.

There have been studies that suggest that pet ownership can correlate to better immune system response. There is even evidence to suggest that owning a pet in homes with babies can reduce the chance of developing certain allergies. 

Pet Ownership Teaches Responsibility

Yes, pet ownership can demand a lot, but learning to provide for an animal can be very rewarding, especially for helping children learn responsibility and care. Having a pet can teach a lot of important skills, both to adults and to children. Learning to maintain a routine, provide for needs, grooming and training, can all build empathy and nurturing skills. 

Security and Safety

Animals can provide protection and comfort. There are many dog breeds greatly suited to guard duties, and burglars can be deterred just by the knowledge of a dog being present. Again, those living alone can feel a lot safer with an animal by their side. 

Emotional Support is a Benefit of Pet Ownership

In our modern world, anxiety is not a rare occurrence. Few things can relax someone quite like the company of an animal. Pet ownership can even lower blood pressure and reduce cortisol levels. Unwinding with a loving pet can be incredibly therapeutic and beneficial to your mental health. 

Staying Active

Pet ownership is an excellent reason to get out of the house and stay active daily. If you have a dog that needs to go for a decent walk every day to stay healthy, this can be just the reason you need to go outdoors. This can be especially beneficial to people who work from home.

Animals can have a lot of energy, and a good amount of activity can be required for them to stay happy and healthy. The thing is, a good amount of activity is required for you to stay happy and healthy, too! This is why pets make the perfect exercise buddies.

Pets can do so much for our wellbeing, and they bring so much joy to our lives, that it’s only fair that pet owners do everything possible to take care of them and give them the best life.

Having a good pet insurance plan can provide much-needed security and preparation to make sure your animal friends are well taken care of. It is important to make sure you are prepared for any event and that you can provide all that is needed for your furry companion to be with you for as long as possible.

One lasting benefit of pet ownership — When you love them, they love you back!

In today’s time, technology has become a great power and changed the way people play video games incredibly. With lifelike graphics, video games make it tricky for human brains to differentiate the virtual world from the real world.

The high-definition yet thrilling visuals have changed people’s perspective on seeking the world. Nowadays, motion sickness has become a major concern for people across the world.

Since video games have a huge drawback in today’s world, people generally find it tough how to deal with motion sickness. 

Whatever game you hop on at Battlelog.co, you will find it tricky to deal with motion sickness which is the most common side effect of video games these days.

Of course, it has become a major problem that you should never fail to notice at any cost. Motion sickness also gives rise to other health issues such as headache, excessive production of saliva, nausea, and dizziness. 

Well, if it is something that concerns you, then this guide is just what you need to know about the sickness and what you can do about it. Without any further delay, let’s get started. 

Why Do Video Games Make Us Feel Sick? 

Headaches or nausea would not be common if you are a frequent gamer. You are not alone in experiencing these symptoms. But, have you ever thought about why we experience these symptoms?

Well, doctors are still not sure what causes motion sickness. However, some professionals are there that believe it happens when our brain receives conflicting signals. Our eyes and ears have to go through a lot.

With the fast-paced motion, our eye feels discomfort and our inner ears are the delicate parts of our body. This will create unpleasant symptoms and disturb a person’s sense of balance. 

Is It Normal? 

Even though it has become common, it is not at all normal. The motion sickness will not just become a source of embarrassment but also questions the legitimacy of your claim to be a veteran gamer.

And you can easily deal with the embarrassment at your convenience. There are some useful ways that you can consider to deal with the issue and enhance your enjoyment during gaming. So, read the entire article to figure out how you can easily deal with the issues. 

How to Combat Motion Sickness While Gaming? 

Well, you don’t have to feel panic. Actually, there are ways through which you can effectively deal with the problems and reduce the risks of motion sickness. Let’s have a quick glance at some rewarding tips that bring a change in your life for sure: 

1. Take Frequent Breaks 

 It is always good to take frequent breaks instead of letting the situation out of control. If you are experiencing motion sickness, it is not always appreciated to stare at a screen for hours. Taking frequent breaks will help.

You should stop playing at regular intervals and it will help your brain to respond to the surroundings in a more productive manner and combat the mixed signals that often look confusing. 

2. Consider Customizable Settings of the Game 

Most games come with customizable options. In order to make your experience of gaming more personalized, it is better to consider customizable settings to deal with motion sickness in an effortless manner.

For instance, you can turn off motion blur and head bobbing or adjust the sensitivity of movement. You can also consider other settings that may make you feel unwell and customize them according to your preferences. 

3. Experiment with Different Games 

If you experience motion sickness while playing certain games, this tip will surely make sense. Your problems will easily be resolved if you make a switch to different games. For a change, you can opt for games with less intense action or easy movements. 

4. Lighting Will Make a Difference 

To give your eyes a soothing experience, make sure to play in the bright lights. Turning on more lights will make sense. Avoid playing in dark rooms because it will not be good for the health of your eyes. 

Final Words

With the above-listed tricks, you can easily reduce the chances of motion sickness to an extent. If you actually want to try your luck at online gaming, it is important to take care of your health.

Whenever you feel sick, don’t forget to include all the points into your gaming strategies and you are good to go.

Casino culture and gambling are popular pursuits all over the world. But for people in areas like Asia, there are severe limitations on placing bets, with many countries having strict anti-gambling legislation. 

But gambling laws may be slowly changing on the world’s largest continent given the large public demand and potentially huge taxation revenues to be reaped by governments. Still, there are some key cultural and legal differences when it comes to gambling in the west and in Asia.

This doesn’t mean that gambling is completely absent from Asia – Macau is a renowned world casino destination to rival Las Vegas and Monaco – but casinos are far from prevalent. Let’s take a look at those legal and cultural differences. 

Casino culture and gambling in the west

United States

Casinos are an iconic part of popular culture in the United States. The grand casinos of Las Vegas and Atlantic City immediately spring to mind, but online casino games are now wildly popular across the nation, and “Indian” casinos on Native American reservations – not regulated by state or federal law – are also popular options.

That’s not to say there aren’t restrictions – individual states regulate casinos in different ways, although only two states – Hawaii and Utah – have total bans on all forms of gambling. 

Europe

Europe is home to some exotic and classic casino locations, none more so than Monaco, the playground of the rich and famous.

Though the principality is home to the iconic Monte Carlo Casino, residents of Monaco are not allowed to set foot in it – only foreign visitors – this is because the casino was intended to bring money into the city rather than encourage gambling among the populace. 

Across the European continent, states are allowed to regulate gambling as they see fit. The UK, for example, is home to many legal casinos, and online casinos are immensely popular, as they are across most of Europe. 

The island nation of Malta, for example, is home to four major casinos for tourists to enjoy. They also regulate the majority of online casino licenses in the world – and online casinos are legal in most European nations. 

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Casion Culture differences in Asia

Conversely, casinos are widely banned in most of Asia, although many people do find ways to gamble.

Extremely conservative views in some parts of the continent mean that casino gambling doesn’t exist, and is, in any case, illegal, but there are traditional non-casino games such as Mahjong and Pai Gow that are regularly played for a stake but at a local, unregulated level. 

That isn’t to say that casino gaming isn’t popular at all – even in a country like China where the government actively tries to stop all forms of gambling apart from the state lottery, the traditional ideas about fate, luck, and destiny in some ways lend themselves to placing bets. 

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Casino gambling in Asia

China / Macau 

Casinos are illegal in mainland China, with heavy penalties for illegal operators. Online casino gambling is also illegal, and the government attempts to restrict it via the “Great Firewall of China”. However, many in the country play online with the use of VPNs to get around the ban. 

The rare place in China with legal casino gambling is the island of Macau, sixty kilometers west of Hong Kong. Macau is a global casino destination, with all the glamour, glitz, and atmosphere of Las Vegas, which aims to attract high-rolling professional gamblers rather than tourists and thrill-seekers who flock to Vegas and Atlantic City.

Despite its status, online casinos are actually banned in Macau, like in the rest of China, so visitors should be aware of the regulations – more information and advice about casinos is available in local languages on sites like Casino Tops Online

India

As a federal state, India allows gambling regulation to be handled on a regional level by local governments. Goa is the state most recognized for its casinos – four of them housed on boats. 

These floating casinos, situated on the Mandovi river, have been patronized for many years and offer a wide range of casino classics such as baccarat, blackjack, and roulette, as well as traditional Indian games. The other states with legal casinos are Daman and Sikkim. 

Online casino gambling is in its infancy in India, and falls into a legal gray area. However, while it isn’t technically legal, many Indians play casino games online without fear of prosecution. 

Other areas

Casinos are illegal in many other Asian countries. In much of Southeast, Asia casino culture are illegal, although there are moves to open up casinos for visitors rather than residents in Thailand and Vietnam. 

Stringent regulations exist in South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia, and of course North Korea, where anyone found gambling will be imprisoned, often with the rest of their family. 

There are some major differences both culturally and legally between Asia and the west when it comes to gambling. Visitors from the US and Europe should make sure they’re well-informed about regulations and customs before traveling. 

Japan’s Princess Mako has found love in a commoner and become the first member of Japan’s royal family to marry someone who is not part of it. She married her college sweetheart, Kei Komuro, on Tuesday, breaking with a centuries-old tradition that dictates princesses must wed royalty.

Japan’s imperial law forbids female members from marrying outside the royal family unless they lose their royal status by becoming engaged to a commoner. This controversial union delayed the marriage by 3 years, leading to the pair skipping any formal ceremonies.

While not everyone is thrilled about this happening, it shows a true testament to Mako wanting to live a life outside of royalty with a person she truly loves. And I’m sure as we continue to look under the hood, we’ll understand why she chose to take the path less traveled by.

Princess Mako’s departure means that Japan’s royal family is down to 17 members, which is 50 fewer people than the family had in 1945. The most worrisome part about it all is that this only leaves three heirs to the throne.

Unfortunately, Japan is still one of the few monarchies where women are not allowed to inherit the throne, even though they have had eight female rulers throughout its history.

There have been proposals to change the allow and allow women to take the throne, but they have been opposed by conservatives and positions of the Liberal Democratic Party.

While the emperor’s role is a symbolic one, Portland State’s Ken Ruoff notes, it’s a symbol that matters. “I think, unfortunately, it says a lot about the stickiness of patriarchy in Japan that the national symbol is still limited to males.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s departure from the royal family has resulted in comparisons to “Megxit.” Ruoff says one similarity is that many royals who are not in line to the throne may increasingly see royalty as an unattractive deal.

“It just doesn’t seem worth it to some of the lesser royals,” he says, “to put up with the strict restraints on their lives, considering how little return they get for it.”

Many are upset with the royal family’s decision to skip any formal ceremony. “It’s really sad, isn’t it?” said Saki Fujimoto, one of Mako’s school friends.

Others say that royalty in modern-day Japan no longer has the same place in society. Prince Akishino has spoken about the need for “reform” when discussing issues like his niece’s marriage.

Japan’s Princess Mako and her fiancé Kei Komuro got married Tuesday in a low-key ceremony that was registered at a government office and they plan on moving to New York City.

The world’s first-ever craft beer NFTs are about to be released. Trace Network Labs, the company behind the NFT marketplace Bling, is releasing just 99 digitized craft NFT bottles, courtesy of Vietnamese brewer 7 Bridges Brewing Company, in this first-ever launch. 

The NFTs are specifically designed to be used within any metaverse. That means any avatar in any virtual world built on the blockchain can have a luxury brand beer to show off to other users.

The Partnership Is an Example of the Blockchain World and the Real World Merging Once Again

Metaverses, NFTs, and blockchain-based play-to-earn games collectively represent an entirely new and unique on-ramp for getting involved with the world of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. Each of these aspects of the blockchain world is driven by a sense of community and loyalty rather than pure price action. 

As the metaverse expands, brands will look to tie themselves to it in ways that make their products top of mind for users.

Trace Network Labs and its online platform are not just looking to earn money off of purchases and sales users make. It’s looking to allow those users to create a sense of their personal preference and lifestyle within a virtual world.

That philosophy is sure to help brands like 7 Bridges Brewing Company become embedded in the lives of the characters living on the blockchain that are controlled by real humans sitting behind a computer screen or decentralized applications.

Why the Collaboration Is a Win for Both Partners, the World of NFTs, and the Environment

Much of the success and failure of new projects in the blockchain world comes down to having a first-mover advantage and offering users the best balance of the Impossible Triangle possible. Users want to jump onto whatever’s hot. They also want to know that the three facets of the Impossible Triangle, speed, scalability, and decentralization are as optimal as possible.

But naturally, as is the case with many different technologies, the blockchain world is seeing its share of criticism over the fact that the industry has a great impact on the environment. 

Bitcoin mining for example uses more electricity than many large countries. By the same token creating digital art is not only rare, it can also be very harmful to the environment.

That’s why this partnership between Trace Lab Networks and 7 Bridges Brewing Company is a huge win for both companies. 

The craft brewer is recognized as the first-ever beer company in Asia to achieve zero waste inside of its facilities. That’s not easy to do.

The Story Behind the Limited Edition 99 NFTs

The beer immortalized in these first 99 NFTs is called Grand Cru. To ensure that only 99 bottles of these beers will ever be made, the recipe for this specially brewed beer is going to be burned, never to be seen again.

The NFTs will be auctioned off to the highest bidders on Bling. While the auction takes place and the winning bidders get their hands on the NFTs, the beers themselves will be stored in cellars to ensure that they remain in optimal conditions.

Winning bidders have until February 29, 2024, to claim their physical beer.

Perhaps the main selling point though is the fact that the NFTs can be shown off within any landscape that exists in blockchain’s ever-growing metaverse. 

Trace Network Labs’ Bigger Vision

Buying luxury goods is all about being able to wear, show off, and collect nice things. That’s why somebody can spend millions of dollars to buy an NFT of the first-ever tweet posted on Twitter when most people might argue that taking a screenshot gives you the same thing and doesn’t cost a single Satoshi.

Trace Network Labs aims to be the leader in “wearable” and “consumable” luxury goods in the NFT space. As larger and more recognizable luxury brands join forces with the organization, the value of the Bling NFT platform will inevitably go up as well.

Where luxury brands in the physical world like Louis Vuitton like to sell consumers on the unique properties of their brands and sell them all through their distribution own channels (standalone brick-and-mortar retail stores and company websites), Bling aims to be a one-stop-shop for users looking to be tied to luxurious lifestyle brands without having to go through separate distribution channels.

What Trace Network Labs is doing is convenient and builds the value of its partnerships and the Bling platform.

Here’s to “drinking” beers (or at least showing them off) in whatever virtual, blockchain-based, crypto-friendly world you want to.

AGENT 33 has just launched their first-ever NFT digital wearable glasses thanks to its partnership with Aria Labs, a subsidiary of Arianee which helps fashion brands create digital passport NFTs for their products.

AGENT 33 on the other hand is a fast-growing footwear brand in the fashion industry boasting over 60,000 highly engaged followers across its social media platforms.

Now venturing into digital wearables, AGENT 33 has named its newly released sunglasses MIGA Limited Edition Sunglasses. Those who buy the physical sunglasses will also get an NFT version of the same to be used on Decetraland (a multiplayer blockchain game with NFTs and virtual reality).

NFTs are not just making a buzz in finance but the fashion industry as well. Fashion, like art, is a form of expression and NFTs are the perfect tool for giving fashion enthusiasts ownership of what they want to express both in the physical and digital world. 

Arianee’s Contribution

One platform that is certainly bringing this vision to reality is Arianee’s Aria Labs. Founded in 2017, Arianee is an NFT marketplace with a focus on luxury and fashion items. Their platform allows users to unlock the full features of the digital world by offering the gateway to a world of new digital ownership experiences. 

Simply put, through Aria Labs, Arianee’s architecture and protocol can be put to the test thus highlighting the protocol’s capacity to change the way the world is consuming luxury and fashion items.

With Arianee, digital life is given to physical products in the fashion industry, and trusted brands in the fashion and luxury industry can access ready-made blockchain technological solutions that translate physical ownership to digital ownership using NFTs. 

What are NFTs?

NFTs are non-fungible tokens that are similar to cryptocurrencies however they feature a unique difference. 

While cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin can be exchanged for any other Bitcoin or cryptocurrency while being divided into smaller parts, and NFT cannot be exchanged or broken down into smaller divisions.

Thanks to the blockchain and smart contracts, each NFT can be programmed with unique features and characteristics which is more than you can get from a regular token or cryptocurrency.

This gives NFTs a sense of ownership in the digital world that is quite similar to owning a collection of art pieces or other unique items in the physical world. 

How can NFTs be used in Fashion?

NFTs are proving to be a significant tool for the fashion business especially in an era of Gen-Z consumers who have digital in their DNA and expect brands to offer digital native products as well as physical ones. 

The Fashion industry can benefit from this emerging technology by giving their fashion and luxury items digital representation that cannot be duplicated, copy-pasted, or stolen. 

What’s more, brands could have an easier time onboarding new users to their brand as digital-savvy consumers could easily interact with the creative vision of entry-level products in a digital world before they try it in the physical. 

As NFTs are built to exist in an online world, they take up much less space thus fashion houses can provide the same experience to consumers without having to first invest in inventory space in stores and warehouses.

How is Arianee doing its work in the space? 

Arianee is using blockchain technology to provide fashion brands with a new paradigm in the luxury and fashion business. Using their platform, various brands can deliver NFT-based fashion items to their customers.

Aria Labs latest partnership with AGENT 33 is proof of the impact NFTs can have in the fashion industry. 

In pursuing its founding ethos of a forward-thinking innovative company, AGENT 33 is venturing into the NFT world with the launch of MIGA Limited Edition Sunglasses, their first digital wearable sunglasses.

Thanks to Arianee’s Aria Labs, those digital wearables will also be available as NFTs on Decentraland (a blockchain-based virtual world pushing the idea of a Metaverse). Users will also be able to access a physical version of the sunglasses, therefore, bridging the gap between a user’s digital avatar in the Decentraland metaverse and the physical world. 

The concept of the metaverse is popular on online video gaming platforms and is used to refer to a virtual world where multiple users can interact with one another as well as with the virtual environment simultaneously.

While announcing the partnership between AGENT 33 and Arianee’s Aria Labs, Nils Escurate, CEO of AGENT 33 said,

“In creating AGENT 33, we focused on meeting the desires of those who embrace the unique underground spirit which we use to create sneakers out of the ordinary. Now, we are going one step further with the use of NFTs, allowing us to bring forth new forms of expression at the intersection of fashion and technology.”

In response to the excitement shared by AGENT 33’s CEO, Luc Jodet, co-founder of Arianee and Executive Director of Aria Labs which was instrumental in the development of the products said,

“This partnership with AGENT 33 is a natural progression in expanding the use of NFTs by Arianee. We spent four years developing a tangible solution using NFTs deployed on a public blockchain to enable brands to strengthen customer relationships and meet their needs.”

Bridging the physical to the digital

The NFT boom especially in the collectible space is evidence that the young generation is the pillar to technological adoption. 

These consumers are eager to establish an identity online and brands are starting to pay attention by creating products that cater to the needs of the user both in the physical and the digital world. 

Already, companies like Facebook are launching sunglasses that allow the user to stay connected and have a shared digital experience as well as a physical one.

AGENT 33’s sunglasses however take that innovation a step further by offering users true ownership both in the physical as well as in the digital realm.

Michigan-born artist Elephante (Tim Wu) decided to take the leap towards music when his corporate lifestyle led to sleepless nights of writing songs more than anything else.

“Making music resonated so deeply with me and it’s just what I loved doing on my own time.”

Elephante for Kulture Hub

Ever since, he’s released two EPs, I Am The Elephante, followed by Glass Mirror, that saw tracks top the global dance charts. Selling out venues like the Wynn in Las Vegas or playing Lollapalooza, Elephante is elaborating his musical voice.

Following his last single “High Water,” today he releases the nostalgic yet uplifting track “Holy Ghosts.”

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Elephante is a musician at heart

Although he graduated from Harvard, music was always a part of Elephante’s life. An accomplished musician through and through, the Michigan-born artist was classically trained on the piano as a child, but only later discovered his true passion for music.

Born to Taiwanese parents, the path was clear cut for him since the start, and finding success as a musician strayed far from it.

But during his teen years, he taught himself guitar, learning John Mayer riffs all night long, and despite the societal norms he was surrounded by growing up, he continued to fall more deeply in love with the craft.

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The elephant in the room

“I didn’t grow up seeing anyone who looked like me doing what I wanted to do.”

Elephante for Kulture Hub

Still considering it a hobby at the time, he performed at open mics however “shitty,” and spent all his free time writing, learning, and practicing.

Unaware of it then, Elephante had yet to overcome a mental block: that for someone with his origins, being an artist could be more than just a pipe dream.

While his journey could easily have him typecast into a space the industry had yet to see filled, the Michigan-born artist admirably chose against the easier way in when deciding to commit to music full-time.

He chose music above all, and his courage in diving headfirst is all the more inspiring because of it. He embraced feeling like the odd one out, like the “elephant in the room,” and “Elephante” was born.

“I think regardless what happened as a result, it was inevitable… I wouldn’t forgive myself if I didn’t try. Taking that leap without any sort of backup plan was really important.”

Elephante, on deciding to commit to making music

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Where EDM meets acoustic, and reality meets the subconscious

When it comes to creating, Elephante’s singer-songwriter instincts always take the wheel to begin with.

Whether at the piano or on guitar, “It always starts with a song for me,” he explained about his creative process. He then shifts what he’s written into the digital realm (Ableton) to fill out the track’s production.

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A post shared by Elephante (@iamtheelephante)

This process seems to nurture the organic blend of live and electronic sounds we hear in his music. From starting point to final product, his projects are nestled in EDM but keep the raw feeling behind them burning. And the pandemic only further propelled him in that direction.

Lockdown allowed Elephante to reconnect with the music he first played as a teen, and find his voice again as a singer-songwriter. This allowed for his singing and guitar playing to somewhat take center stage again after many projects where his focus resided mainly in writing and production.

Indeed, his recent “High Water” video, a collaborative project with director Alex Goyette, makes the electric guitar a crucial element.

It was one of the first bigger production videos Elephante ever shot, and he did not hold back one bit. Executing all stunts himself, however demanding, the challenges were not vain. The visuals are poignant and come hand in hand with the emotion that lies behind the song.

Struggling with opioids in the past, unfortunately lockdown revealed itself particularly challenging for the artist. Though far from it now, the feelings that surfaced while being stuck at home somewhat plunged him back into a resembling sensation.

The conceptual video was filmed half underwater and half in mid-air, evocative of those emotions; from loss of control and absent-mindedness to loneliness.

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Holy Ghosts

It was a few months before he finally put pen to paper again, after the pandemic hit. That’s when “Holy Ghosts” was born.

Out today, the song is an ode to the empty streets of LA and the overwhelming feeling of being haunted by the memories we found ourselves longing for during these times. While it is certain to get you on your feet, the track also screams nostalgia and is sustained by an invigorating electric guitar riff.

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A post shared by Elephante (@iamtheelephante)

Like in “High Water,” “Holy Ghosts” features Elephante’s deep and comforting voice.

Revisiting his beginnings as a singer-songwriter and taking a beat encouraged the Michigan-born artist to bring his voice back to the foreground. And his warm tone is something we are excited to hear more of, especially as we return to live performances.

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Elephante’s journey is just beginning

A show not only for the ears but for the soul, Elephante isn’t scared to multitask. Bringing his instrumental skills to his audience as well, he seeks to create the most unique live experience.

A bit of a shot in the dark the first time he attempted it, taking out his electric guitar while he DJs his set has become a signature move that reflects the nature of his music.

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With an album in the works, although it’s been quite a journey already, it’s far from over for Elephante.

“Holy Ghosts” is out today. Stream it on all platforms, and let yourself float, feel, and dance away.

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.

There are very few words to capture the ongoing conflict happening in Gaza, the photos don’t even encapsulate the sheer horror. Still, what the photographers on the ground there enable is for the world to see the human rights atrocities taking place. They spread awareness of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict so that hopefully a resolution can be reached and humanitarian aid can be given.

The conflict is far more complex than one article can explain. Essays, books, and entire series have been written on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Still, we can all admit that what we are seeing is truly horrific and demoralizing on a human level.

The pictures and videos we see are due to the bravery of the photographers on the ground covering the conflict in Gaza. Without them, much more of the world would be silent. We pray for the people in this war-torn area. And we highlighted the photographers risking it all below.

Trigger Warning: Some of the images below are extremely distressing. Still, these instances are still occurring today. Who are we as members of the human race to turn away?

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Mohammed Abed

Mohammed Abed is a Palestinian photojournalist. He studied journalism at the Islamic University in Gaza, worked for Reuters from 1991-2001, and has been associated with AFP since 2003.

Photos from Gaza shot by @AFP photographers @mohmdabed @MahmudHams @saidkhatib. Our latest story is here: https://t.co/f0mnjdfcAK pic.twitter.com/T2LQSgb7dO

— Sara Hussein (@sarahussein) May 17, 2021

Being a Palestinian photojournalist, Abed has innate ties to the area. And he captures his photos of the Gaza conflict with poise and purpose.

Family mourning, children injured, homes destroyed and people crying out for help. Once again, these photos in Gaza are extremely distressing, but the world needs to see them.

And for Abed and all other photojournalists at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, they won’t seek praise, but we must commend their work in exposing the world to these brutal human rights violations.

بين أخبار غير مؤكدة عن وقوع وسائل إعلام ضحية "تلاعب" لإيهامها بدخول قوات إسرائيلية إلى #غزة وقصف مقار إعلامية داخل القطاع، يذكر التصعيد بين #إسرائيل وحركة #حماس بأن الحقيقة يمكن أن تكون "أولى ضحايا" الحرب.https://t.co/DPZ0ED0Kdf #فرانس_برس

✍️@LavalleeGL
📸@mohmdabed @MahmudHams pic.twitter.com/VFZBss98wZ

— فرانس برس بالعربية (@AFPar) May 17, 2021

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Khalil Hamra

Khalil Hamra is an Arab photojournalist and AP photographer. He won the Pulitzer Prize and was recognized by the Overseas Press Club of America with its Robert Capa Gold Medal for the series covering the war in Gaza 2009.

Given his extensive time covering the area, Hamra has an intrinsic feel for taking photos of the Gaza conflict.

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A post shared by Khalil Hamra (@khalilhamra)

Still, from what I can gather, Hamra does not make his personal feelings known. He just reports.

While impartiality is always strived for in journalism, of course that does not make that feat easy or always feasible. But Hamra showcasing the horror in Gaza without personal comment allows viewers to draw their own conclusions, which possibly has the chance to affect even greater change.

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Mahmud Hams

Hams is an AFP photographer stationed in Gaza. He has been showcasing the irreversible destruction the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has wrecked in Gaza.

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A post shared by Mahmud Hams (@mahmud_hams)

As are most photos in this harrowing chapter, many of Hams’ photographs are hard to stomach. Wounded children, parents praying and crying. Pure humanity on display in the most dire of times.

Though as a photographer, it is his job to capture the truth, and then viewers’ jobs to make judgements from there. Many of the photos have done just that for people, recognizing that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not so much a battle between two equal sides, but a conflict emerging from increasing apartheid tendencies by the Israeli government for over half a century.

But Hams does more than just capture destruction; he captures resolve. And by capturing the entirety of situations and keeping his eyes and mind ready to learn more, he fulfills his role as an essential photojournalist.

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Anas Baba

Anas Baba is another prominent AFP photographer. Like her peers, she has taken photographs at the heart of the Gaza conflict.

One of her photos of Israel’s defense system in action against Hamas’ rockets went viral, and for good reason. It showed a scale to the entire conflict that many people internationally did not yet know.

Remarkable photo from AFP's Anas Baba.

Israel's 'Iron Dome' defence system about to counter rockets fired from Gaza. pic.twitter.com/BSj7MGektL

— Barry Malone (@malonebarry) May 14, 2021

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Belal Khaled

Khaled is a Palestinian photographer and works as a senior videographer for TRT Arabi, an Arabic language channel for Turkey and the Middle East.

He captions one of his collection of posts on Twitter as:

In Gaza , we creat [sic] art from the middle of the death.

Belal Khaled

Ahmed and Nana fled the bombing as their homes were destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, but they're happy that they managed to save their fish.

📹: @BelalKhaled pic.twitter.com/EyYA8NNGZy

— • (@Alhamdhulillaah) May 17, 2021

Kahled has an artistic eye, and an innate understanding of how to authentically capture a moment. His photos teem with honesty. They scream the culture that they present.

الأمن اليوناني يُعذب اللاجئين ويعيدهم عراة إلى الأراضي التركية
تصوير : بلال خالد
Greek security forces force the refugees who crossed the border to return naked into Turkish territory
Photo : Belal Khaled pic.twitter.com/HglrdfEprd

— Belal Khaled (@BelalKhaled) March 6, 2020

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Use photos and historical text to educate yourself on the conflict in Gaza

Ultimately, we can only all draw our own conclusions. We must educate ourselves beyond what we see on social media. We must read historical texts, smart, honest current news articles, and analyze photographs like those captured by the aforementioned photographers.

What everyone should be able to agree on is that Palestinians are in danger, even if a ceasefire has been reached. The world needs to send humanitarian aid and work towards a long-term solution, because the situation is dire right now and has been for quite some time.

Sometimes prose is not enough to explain the horror and sadness on display. Poetry often has a greater chance at speaking to people. With that said, follow below for an honest reflection of how the youth feels.

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Poem by Chloé Sautereau

the youth will only ever be young once
to grow up and pursue what they dream to do
they are not responsible for precedent
and yet they are the ones to live through what ensues

wanting to help,
they are those made helpless
hoping to grow,
today, for them, the sun won’t glow
obscured by the fire, the pain, the hatred,
by the things we were taught were not to be perpetuated

while they are the richest
when it comes to perspective and depth
while they are the wisest
in knowing/drawing the line between love and theft
it is in smoke that they must witness their future dissolving
though it is these children that should be reaching for the stars, dreaming