Author: thevisionroom

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School in the Future

Written and transcribed by Jimmysodope

Imagine waking up early on a Monday morning and somehow you’re 7 years old. You brush you teeth, put on your favorite shirt, then you log onto to your 1st class of the day. Still sleepy. Some how your teacher managed to get you excited about, math? Both hands raised, she calls you solve a problem no-one else could figure out. As you open your mouth to give your answer, which is 100% correct by the way, and your WiFi fails. This is the reality of children everywhere experiencing school in the future. I asked 3rd grader Zamir Frazier what’s the biggest difference in his school experience…

Zamir Frazier – Well for instance we’re all on computers. Also now we need internet just to talk. Sometimes it’s bad, sometimes it’s good.

JSD – Although remote learning is impossible without WiFi, parents have more things to keep in mind for their scholars to be prosperous. Janel Rochez, the mother of a 1st grader shared her concerns

Janel Rochez – Remaining consistent, making sure the work gets done. It’s so easy to fall to behind. It’s not intentional but it can happen very easily. Making sure the space is quiet. Making sure the WiFi doesn’t go out. Making sure she remains engaged. You know she’s still a little kid and we’re asking them to do things we’ve never asked children to do before.

JSD – The school building, a once taken for granted resource is now missed by students teachers and parents alike. Director Tyree Barnes of Great Oaks Legacy Charter school gives insight to his observations.

Tyree Barnes – Some students have really struggled through the remote learning. Some students have also excelled in terms of having less distractions. It’s just me, my auntie, my grandma, my mom, or my dad or whomever. We’re just sitting at here at home in front of the computer and I’ve seen an increase in academic performance.

JSD – Evidence shows that peer learning creates greater confidence and independence in learning, deeper understanding and improved grades for both peer` leaders and theirs students.

Tyree Barnes – Social interaction is a key element of the learning. Right. Children learn best from other child. With that being kinda diminished at this time during the pandemic. That makes education a little more challenging.

JSD – School in the future has its obstacles but Director Barnes is confident that dedicated educators with a compassionate and optimistic approach can make a world of a difference.

Tyree Barnes – I know sometimes from the outside lookin in it seems like math and books and reading, yes those things are important but at the core of the work that we do, we build relationships. I think its largely been dependent on the facilitators energy. But to get our teachers and adults in the energy of being engaging and creative and fun loving and high spirited despite all the challenges that are happening. That is trickled down to, or impacting the scholar.

JSD – The team at Great Oaks Charter School is innovating the way educators interact with scholars to ensure togetherness in these times of physical separation.

Tyree Barnes – You know one of the things I’m really proud of my staff is that we’ve created spaces where students can kind of disengage from the academic so to speak. And just have community time with each other. Whether we’re watching cartoons and having breakfast together or having a discussion that’s less focused on the curriculum we need to get through for the year. But to build community with each other.

JSD – I got update from our 3rd grader Zamir and he ensured me that his wife is intact and game his predictions of what school will look like in the future…

Zamir Frazier – School would be space camp. And we would get to do things like be in zero gravity.

JSD – Students learning in space camp may be up for debate, but with dedicated instructors on the front lines, school in the future has well, a bright future. No matter how committed the educational system is to innovation, parents still should be as active as possible to give their child the maximum potential to succeed. For a list of resources such as tips to create a work f low for your scholar and free or low-cost wifi, visit www.projectreadynj.com

Hear the article via WBGO here! https://www.wbgo.org/show/wbgo-journal/2021-03-06/challenging-times-for-online-learning-in-newark

 

 

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Работа с нестандартными ситуациями в поздних стадиях турниров

Работа с нестандартными ситуациями в поздних стадиях турниров

При столкновении с неочевидной опцией, когда времени на раздумья минимум, сосредоточьтесь на ближайших действиях противника. В поздних стадиях турниров, где ставки растут, а каждый шаг имеет вес, ваша способность быстро оценивать текущую игру и намерения соперников становится решающим фактором. Игнорирование этих моментов приводит к упущенным возможностям и излишним потерям.

Не бойтесь принимать решения, выходящие за рамки стандартных стратегий, когда того требует ситуация. Часто именно такие моменты, когда вы отклоняетесь от проторенных дорог, определяют исход ключевых раздач. Изучение стандартных ситуаций – это только половина дела; истинное мастерство проявляется в умении адаптироваться.

Адаптация стратегии при изменении динамики игры с участием 3-5 игроков

Снижение агрессии и увеличение избирательности

Когда число оппонентов сокращается до 3-5, игра становится более “дорогой” из-за роста блайндов. В таких условиях следует пересмотреть свою постфлоп агрессию. Вместо того чтобы разыгрывать слишком много рук, сосредоточьтесь на сильных стартовых комбинациях и более осторожном подходе к флопу. Это поможет избежать дорогостоящих ошибок и сохранить стек. Изучите, как работают различные стратегии, например, на pppoker фриролл, чтобы понять основные принципы управления стеком.

Оценка позиции и эквити

Позиция становится еще более главенствующей. Старайтесь играть больше рук из поздних позиций, где вы можете видеть действия оппонентов до себя. Оценивайте свое эквити против диапазона рук соперника, а не только против конкретных карт. Это поможет принимать более обоснованные решения о продолжении борьбы в раздаче.

Использование слабостей оппонентов

На данной стадии турниров оппоненты часто демонстрируют более предсказуемые паттерны игры. Наблюдайте за их тенденциями: кто играет слишком тайтово, кто слишком агрессивно, кто склонен к блефу. Адаптируйте свою стратегию, чтобы эксплуатировать эти слабости. Если игрок часто сдается на флопе, используйте это, делая ставки для получения фолд-эквити. Если оппонент склонен к агрессивным действиям, будьте готовы к контр-игре.

Преодоление тильта и принятие решений в условиях высокой дисперсии

Сосредоточьтесь на управлении своими эмоциями, а не на результате раздачи. На поздних стадиях турниров, когда дисперсия возрастает, последствия каждого решения могут быть значительными. Тильт, вызванный неудачами или крупными проигрышами, – главный враг рационального мышления. Признайте, что неудачи – неотъемлемая часть игры, особенно в периоды высокой вариативности. Создайте ритуал перед каждым важным решением: глубокий вдох, короткая пауза, проверка карт и позиции.

Установите внутренние лимиты на эмоциональные реакции. Если вы чувствуете, что начинаете поддаваться тильту, сделайте сознательный шаг назад. Это может быть короткая разминка, просмотр статистики раздачи, а в крайнем случае – короткий перерыв от игры, если обстановка позволяет. Помните, что текущая ситуация – лишь один игрок, один турнир. Исторически, игроки, способные сохранять холодную голову в моменты высокой дисперсии, демонстрируют более стабильные результаты в долгосрочной перспективе. Повысьте свою способность принимать решения, основываясь на вероятностях и силе рук, а не на сиюминутных ощущениях.

Прежде чем совершить действие, задайте себе вопрос: “Какова самая рациональная линия действий, независимо от того, что произошло пять минут назад?”. Откажитесь от желания “отыграться” немедленно. Каждая рука – это новая возможность для прибыльной игры, а не возможность исправить прошлые ошибки. Оцените текущее положение стек, размеры ставок оппонентов и их возможные диапазоны. Эти факторы должны стать фундаментом вашего решения, отодвигая на второй план эмоциональное состояние.

Использование фолд-эквити и агрессии против тайтовых оппонентов на финальном столе

Когда стол сократился до 3-5 игроков, а оставшиеся оппоненты играют очень схваченно (тайтово), начинайте агрессивно использовать фолд-эквити.

Открытые рейзы с широким диапазоном с поздних позиций, особенно когда остался один или два оппонента, становятся выгоднее. Ваши оппоненты с меньшей вероятностью будут отвечать, часто сбрасывая руки средней силы, давая вам возможность забрать банк без шоудауна.

3-беты с маргинальными руками против опен-рейзов тайтовых игроков также приобретают силу. Ваши соперники, старающиеся избегать конфронтации, часто будут сбрасываться, даже если у них есть что-то стоящее. Это позволяет вам собирать дополнительные фишки, не показывая свои карты.

Контбеты на флопе, особенно на сухих досках, где ваш оппонент, скорее всего, не попал, часто будут успешными. Давление продолжит заставлять их сбрасывать, освобождая вас от необходимости иметь сильную руку.

Используйте возможность кражи блайндов и анте. У тайтовых игроков меньше стимулов защищаться, и они будут чаще фолдить, даже если у них есть руки, которые были бы прибыльны против более активных игроков.

Будьте готовы к тому, что оппоненты будут приспосабливаться. Если они начнут часто коллировать или 3-бетить ваши агрессивные действия, пересмотрите стратегию и играйте более избирательно.

Понимание специфики игры тайтовых оппонентов на финальном столе позволяет превратить их осторожность в ваше преимущество, используя агрессию и фолд-эквити для максимизации прибыли, когда банк стремится к завершению. Не бойтесь оказывать давление, когда оно наиболее эффективно.

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Women’s March Madness is Truly Mad

Written By: William Morales

Each year millions of basketball fans lust for March and the beauty it holds; and no, I’m not talking about Spring. The month that begins with 15 million brackets being created, and ends with the nets being cut down is debatably the most popular sports time of the year. March Madness is here in full swing, underdogs are continuing to upset the big boys, and Gonzaga is still undefeated. But what about the women’s tournament? What is happening over there? Of course, their games are running smoothly, but the NCAA has really caused a ruckus with the off-court facilities and amenities the women have been granted.

 

Take a look at the difference in these gyms. The top picture shows the gym the men use, while the bottom image is the equipment the women players were given. Besides the fact that this is almost laughable, it’s embarrassing to the NCAA and has since been a top trending topic on social media. Lynn Holzman, the NCAA vice president, said that this was due to “limited space inside a controlled environment.” (GlobalNews) If this was the case, why wouldn’t they create the space, rather than give different standard areas?

 

When this picture was posted, the internet took immediate notice, and millions of people were giving their opinions. Many WNBA and NCAA players shared their two cents as well. Sabrina Ionescu, the 2020 National Player of the Year, tweeted: “…Thought this was a joke. WTF is this?!?” (CBS) Both Will Abrams, Director of Player Development at Rutgers University, and Kendric Lindsey, a USC digital creator, were at the facilities and took videos of empty rooms in the complex and questioned the “limited space”.

 

Fortunately, after a week of internet mayhem, the NCAA restructured the gyms to give both the men and women an equal playing field. However, the NCAA then got beheaded again for what they called “swag bags”. The swag bags were simply huge goodie bags and baskets given to each player, except one tournament was gifted much more than the other. Surely, after the first gym incident, you could figure out which group got which merchandise. The difference is more than noticeable and Holzman did have her reasons: “The weather is different in San Antonio than it is in Indianapolis.” (CBS) Although the statement is true, it doesn’t account for why none of the women’s tournament merchandise was labeled with “March Madness” or “The Big Dance”.

 

To date, the NCAA hasn’t stated a plan of action to fix this issue. But it is making players and fans happy that the association did take action by the public’s insistence through social media. From an outside perspective, it is still nerve racking that the NCAA had plans as such from the start and it took thousands of complaints to make a change. Social media has played a huge part in overcoming obstacles and has truly helped in a situation like this. It’s important to remember that even if it isn’t affecting your life, you could always take part in pushing for change.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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LET’S TALK SKIN, SHALL WE?

Written by: Chisom Okoye 

 

(Park Street via Unsplash)

I don’t know about you, but the skincare industry has slowly seeped into every aspect of my social media experience. I see it when I’m swiping through stories on Instagram, when I’m trying to watch a YouTube video, when I’m researching just about anything on Google… In fact, I think the only place I do not see it is on my banking app…and thank God because that would be scary.

Anyway! My point is moving back to the US in the middle of the worst Winter I have ever experienced forced me to go back to the drawing board to figure out what my skin needed. So I have been researching endlessly about skin and the internet’s algorithm has obviously caught on!

Luckily for me, the pandemic has seen the online skin care community grow exponentially and become more accessible to normal people like me who just desire to have good skin and are willing to learn without having to earn a ten year medical school degree!

While the flood of information from various sources can be a good thing, it can also be an overwhelming place for those who are just dipping their feet into the water for the first time and seeking cost free guidance. The scariest part is when your first and last stop of research is the aggressive marketing strategies we see from companies selling you what they swear is the best product around or influencers with perfect skin sharing their not-so-secret secret skincare routines and threatening to die by the latest product their promoting. This is the crossroads that I found myself in, drowning in the information overload and not really knowing who and what to believe.

What I did walk away with during my research is that the beginning of any skin care journey should start with you knowing what your skin type is FIRST! It may seem obvious and simple, but many people fall into the trap of mistaking their skin type for another which then leads to them buying the wrong skincare products for their skin.

(Anastasiia Ostapovych on Unsplash)

The status of your skin is affected by various factors including but not limited to the oil and water content of your skin, seasonal changes, environmental factors including pollution and dust, medications and age. Depending on the status of your skin and the factors affecting it, your skin type may change and you have to be able to identify these changes when they happen so that you can buy the right products for YOU.

According to Eucerin, there are four skin types that you may fall under:

  1. Oily – The over production of sebum, also known as seborrhea.
  2. Dry – The under-production of sebum, lacking the lipids needed for moisture and protection against external influences.
  3. Combination – Mix of both oily and dry skin.
  4. Normal – well balanced skin.

Reputable skin brand, CeraVe shared two methods on their website on how to know what your skin type is right at home.

“Watching and Waiting”

This at-home test allows you to understand what kind of skin you have by just observing how your skin behaves after cleansing. To start, wash your face with a gentle cleanser then gently pat it dry. If after 30 minutes your skin appears shiny throughout, you probably have oily skin; if it feels tight and is flaky or scaly, you may have dry skin; if the shine is only in your T-Zone (forehead, nose and chin), you probably have combination skin; and if your skin feels hydrated and comfortable, but not oily, you likely have normal skin.

“Blotting Sheets”

When pressed to the skin, blotting sheets absorb oil—and you can use them to help you understand what type of skin you have. After washing your face with a gentle cleanser, patting it dry and allowing it to rest 30 minutes, press blotting sheets to various areas of your face, then hold the sheets up to the light to see the oil markings. If the sheets reveal an abundance of oil in all areas of the face, you have oily skin; if they absorb little to no oil, then you probably have dry skin; if the sheets show only a small amount of oil from your T-Zone, you have combination skin; and if you only see minimal oil from every area of your face, you most likely have normal skin.”

While I am new to this life of becoming my very own skin care guru, this made me feel like an expert! I cracked the code! My breakouts in the beginning of spring after struggling to get my skin to behave in winter suddenly made sense – I was using the wrong products for the status of my skin!

I have started using a different face wash to balance the oils on my face since I have observed my skin producing more sebum now than in winter. It’s only been a week but I am already seeing my skin clearing up and glowing so I hope this helps you as much as it has helped me!

 

(Karlos Skincare on Unsplash)

For more information I have plugged a few websites and videos you can watch:

https://www.cerave.com/skin-smarts/skincare-tips-advice/what-skin-type-do-i-have

https://int.eucerin.com/acne/sitecore/content/eucerin/home/about-skin/basic-skin-knowledge/skin-types

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RegJKcxgBgQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nplwQWCw6Ns

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vic-EMOivpA

 

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What’s Up Next: Non-Fungible Tokens

Written by: William Morales

 

Everydays: The First 5000 Days (Via Christie’s Images LTD/Beeple)

Ingenuity. The ability to create something new and inspire the world. It is the key to clinching yourself a spot in the upcoming future. In the past five years, thousands of new words have entered our everyday vocabulary that we’ve never heard before: cryptocurrency, zoom, artificial intelligence, to name a few. But now, with COVID still terrorizing the world, a new technological advancement joins the mix: Non-Fungible Tokens or NFTs.

NFTs are the future and will continue to breed a new way to make money and see the world. NFTs are a type of cryptocurrency that is unique and cannot be exchanged, only bought or sold. One of the real attention-grabbers is that this is not restricted only to the wealthiest or most talented, anyone can participate. However, the difference to the average person is that they aren’t used for purchases, they are the purchase. NFTs include digital art, shoes, trading cards and more; In simple words, they are online exclusive collectibles that will generate value over time.

The allure of selling an NFT is that literally anyone could create the piece. The current record-holder price for an NFT is $69 MILLION. The piece is known as The First 5000 Days and was created by Mike Winkelmann. Winkelmann began posting his images online once a day and eventually gained over 2 million Instagram followers. After researching NFTs he came up with an idea: “A collage of all the “everyday”‘ images he had produced over the years and called it: Everydays: The First 5000 Days.” (BBC.com) This scene above, which includes each of the  5000 digital creations, is simply an encrypted JPEG, all intangible. Art has become one of the most popular sales in this new cryptocurrency and everybody from casuals to experts are hopping on board.

Although art may be one of the most popular components, other industries are making a name for themselves. Sports card trading has become a hot commodity in the last year, but it has also spread to the world of NFTs. NBA Top Shot is an online company that sells digital collectibles of some of the greatest NBA moments of all time. 15-second clips on a PDF file that come in limited quantities could be the difference between a full or empty bank account. The attraction to this site is the luck involved: each different priced “pack” comes with different odds of pulling more notable moments. Recently, “A Lebron James Highlight sold for $200,000” (CNBC) after being pulled out of an online pack that cost $1,499. But who knows, in 20 years that Lebron James highlight might be worth $20 MILLION instead of two hundred thousand.

(via Sammy Yi)

You are probably curious about why this is considered a cryptocurrency. These products are usually bought with Ethereum, more commonly known as Ether. This currency isn’t tradable and can only be exchanged dollar for dollar. Currently, it’s the second most popular cryptocurrency behind Bitcoin. It gives people the ability to dabble in NFTs which is the main reason why it is the second most popular.

 

People are doubting the effects of NFTs because companies such as Gucci, (a world-wide known brand) has decided to sell their shoes as online NFTs for prices between $10-$15. Although this might appeal to certain markets, it is lowering the standards of the currency and making people doubt the idea of NFTs.

 

The truth about NFTs is the uncertainty aspect of it. There is a high possibility that they can become the future, or they may turn out to be a complete bust, however, it’s an intriguing idea that started out extremely strong and is finally gaining loads of momentum. NFTs are becoming a more popular buy in current times and will continue to find new ways to impress.

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Creativity Off the Grid

Written by Neha Seenarine

Location: Fairfield, Connecticut

Chris Carbone, 21, is an aspiring filmmaker and screenwriter from Fairfield, Connecticut whose path to becoming a filmmaker is almost exclusively behind closed doors. His phone does not buzz with dozens of notifications throughout his day. “I could care less about attracting attention through social media,” said Carbone. “I want my material to be seen and for people to take away something.”

During the past three years, he spent countless hours improving this craft. He said, “I always look at where I am in the present, and I look where I was a year before, then I look at how far I’ve come. Then I think about where I can be in a year from now. That’s what keeps me going.”

Carbone has his script-writing routine down to a tee. He starts his day at 6 a.m. with his morning workout. Then he drives to the local library, sits down, and gets to work. His drafts are created using a typewriter. When asked about this choice he replied, “It’s not a vanity thing, it really helps writing first drafts because you can’t go back and erase things as you would do on a laptop. The first draft is the vomit draft. You vomit all these despairing ideas.”

Once his first draft is finished, he ghosts it. He lets his drafts marinate for two weeks before doing a readthrough and making edits.  Carbone’s reasoning is, “You need some time away from it. There is no perspective when a draft is created for the time. It makes a shift in those two perceptions and it is mentally jarring.”

Carbone is very critical of his own work. If the final draft does not satisfy him, he will re-write scripts doing 10 to 20 drafts. “I will be okay with it for a while,” said Carbone. “Then, I’ll say it’s not a final draft. I’ll go back and I’ll work on it some more. Whether that helps or harms it, I don’t know however I believe every creative effort I make is an improvement. I look at drafts I’ve written a year ago. They seem hollow and flat, not something I would want to see on a screen. I have returned to those scripts and re-worked them. I can’t throw an entire script in drawer and not look at them. I am very selective with the kinds of the stories I want to tell and spend many hours creating.”

When the creative process ends, Carbone goes on a film agent hunt reaching out to them over email and the waiting game to hear feedback begins. “I generally feel excited,” said Carbone. “It’s very difficult to get a response. When interest is generated, hope rises inside of me. I know it is a cutthroat business, so I don’t let that hope soar too high.”

Carbone has produced three short films. He works with micro-budget using the resources he has available to him. For instance, local locations, friends for actors, and his iPhone to shoot scenes and every film he makes comes with a learning curve.

“When I look at the first two, I cringe at it,” said Carbone. “The redeeming qualities are the storylines. I feel better about my third film because I learned more about editing, sound, and music. I did the score myself, however I did not write it. I put it together later through GarageBand, a digital audio workstation, I’m not a musician.”

Carbone’s films are inspired by his personal environment. His knowledge of the film industry did not come from classes taught by professors. He learned by watching films, reading books and screenplays. His perspective became more diverse by watching films from different cultures.

“I look in all places for stories,” said Carbone. “It helps develop characters in aspects of where they come from for my stories.”

Although Carbone is in the beginning stages of creating art, promotion through social media is not an obstacle he faces. “I don’t know yet that I feel like I’ve made something good enough of promoting,” said Carbone. “When I do, I plan on submitting films to festivals and see what kind attention it would attract. I would consider making a social media page strictly for my films.”

You can check out Carbone’s short films found here.

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Burn Down the Mic Showcase: March 2021

Written by: Jimmysodope

 

Burn it Down  

There are a few things you can expect at Burn Down The Mic Showcases (BDTM), New York’s freshest DJs (DJ 3 Stacks, DJ Cassius Clay & DJ Fortune) playing Hip Hop classics & today’s hottest records, dope performances by emerging artists from coast to coast and some of the best marijuana that Earth has to offer. You’ll find Capo Lou making his rounds throughout the venue while the legendary DJ Don Demarco makes being a host look effortless. With Jamilah Rose & special guest Cooler Ruler Divine handling judging duties, Burn Down the Mic Showcase is here to make a real impact on the culture. 

I spoke to the winner of the latest installment of Burn Down the Mic, Tye Milano, and was surprised by his response to taking home the crown. “I didn’t know it was a competition till I got there. I wasn’t expecting to win or nothing. I just wanted the experience.” What shocked me most about this response was his demeanor on stage. He had poise, presence and two dancers on stage that brought enough excitement to potentially win the showcase on their own. “I was nervous, but I have great friends. Those are my brothers. They gave me energy and I fed off of it.” Two things that I must mention is that Mr. Milano is 18 years old and that was his first performance. The sky is far from the limit!

My personal favorite part of the night was when the reigning champion Luciano Baby stepped on stage and addressed the audience. He spoke positively and gave advice on simply being great. “We had a 17-year-old artist in there so hopefully my words could keep somebody in the studio and out of the streets.” With artists like Luciano Baby on the rise, East Coast Hip Hop will be in good hands. In a brief conversation with the 17-year-old artist/entrepreneur VBandzz, she expressed gratitude for all the love she received. “I was really nervous because I had never performed, and I didn’t know what to really expect. But being there and feeling everybody’s energy made me feel like damn, I could really do this for a living, as a lifestyle. Even though I didn’t win, the experience was just amazing” said the self-proclaimed “Princess of New York”. 

As the marijuana culture normalizes in New York and elsewhere, I expect BDTM to expand beyond being an underground experience to a worldwide movement. According to The Wall Street Journal, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has proposed legalizing marijuana as part of the new state budget due out next week.

Lots of showcases will promise record deals or marketing packages but often fall short when delivering actual benefits to the winners. Luchiano Baby is proof that BDTM keeps their word as he earned a management deal since his win in January. I’m eager to see how Tye Milano will capitalize off of his newfound success. 

Follow Burn Down the Mic Showcase on IG for information on the next event and check out the winner Tye Milano’s newest release “Find Me”. Links below. 

Burn Down the Mic Showcase

https://www.instagram.com/burndownthemicshowcase/

Tye Milano – Find Me

https://unitedmasters.com/m/603b3145833326126836504f

 

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Meyers Leonard and the Gaming Community: A Shared Responsibility

Written By: William Morales

Location: New Jersey


(Via Getty Images)

The impact of a simple word over someone’s life is astonishing, but is it always deserved? Meyers Leonard, a 29-year-old former player for the Miami Heat, is now sitting on a scalding hot seat. Not only is he a basketball player, he is an avid gamer and was also a member of the notable Faze Clan, the famous gaming team. On March 9th, both of his passions were taken away from him in a split second.

 

During a livestream of  Call of Duty Leonard became very frustrated and uttered a very derogatory, anti-sematic remark. In seconds, his foul language had flooded social media, and in the following days he was removed both from the Miami Heat and Faze Clan. He was recently traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder and the team stated, “Leonard will not be reporting to Oklahoma City and will not be an active member of the organization.” (The Washington Post) As we speak, Leonard is attending events with members of the Jewish community, Rabbis and Holocaust survivors, to gain a stronger understanding of the Jewish culture.

 

You may think: “He simply made a mistake and was just being stupid, all gamers do this!” This statement is very popular within the gaming community who, by the way, does a poor job of monitoring gamers’ use of language and terminology. 

 

Video games have been gaining momentum for more than 30 years, and wireless communication in gaming has been around since 2000! The threats on video game communications have been happening for as long as the former has. Companies such as Microsoft and Sony, the respective owners of Xbox and PlayStation, have made comments on monitoring the community, but no true action has taken place. According to Gamerant.com, “Voice chats can now be recorded by other users and are subject to moderation. Not only that, anyone who uses the PS4 Party Chat System has to agree to their voice being recorded.” This change had great intentions however it led to many complaints from the community. Gamerant.com also mentioned that “PS4 players now have to agree to their voices being recorded in order to use voice chat features, even if they just plan on using the party chat feature with friends.”  

 

It’s difficult to ignore this matter but honestly this is much bigger than just one gamer no matter how famous he is. The world of gaming is swamped with racial, anti-sematic, and prejudiced language that is being heard by younger gamers. These video game lobbies allow players of any age to interact together, with very little limitation on what could or should be said. Offensive words/language used will only be addressed by company support teams if the player is reported multiple times. 

Online gaming has brought much joy to the lives of its participants; however, it has also become a place where people are tearing apart their own futures, and the lives of others. In this community and this world, the last time might be one time too many.

 

Sony and Microsoft have found difficulties making changes due to interferences with the first amendment. Although these are difficult issues to resolve, these top two gaming companies have a responsibility to address it; this isn’t impossible.

(Via Getty Images)

While Leonard should be held to a different standard from others, it’s important to understand he was simply “just being dumb”. In a recent statement, Leonard said, “I acknowledge and own my mistake and there’s no running from something like this that is so hurtful to someone else. This is not a proper representation of who I am.” In a comment to The New York Times, his teammate Udonis Haslem, a member of the Heat for TWO DECADES, said the following in an interview, “We can’t tolerate that here. Right is right and wrong is wrong,” and follows up by saying, “I’ve never heard him use any language that made me uncomfortable at all.” Other players and coaches who have commented on the matter, mentioned similar statements. 

 

Censorship is a very sensitive issue regardless of the subject or method used. We must be aware of how we express ourselves while enjoying the freedom to do so, and those of us who are in the public eye need to be more aware of that fact.

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Arts Freshest Faces: Ritt Momney

 

Written by: Samantha Stemmer

 


(Daniel Prakopcyk)

The University of North Carolina Wilmington’s association for entertainment welcomed a special guest on March 17, Jack Rutter who is more commonly known by his stage name, Ritt Momney. The 21-year-old, Salt Lake City local recently signed with Columbia Records, and is the newest feature for “Arts Freshest Faces.” Originally, Ritt Momney started out as a band, but because his bandmates prioritized their Mormon lifestyle, the band became a solo act. Momney pointed out that the stage name started out as a spoof of well-known politician, Mitt Romney, and explained that “If I could go back and change it, I probably would.” Like many other artists on the rise since the COVID-19 pandemic, Ritt Momney’s journey to success is a story of being a TikTok sensation.

 

Momney released a cover of Corinne Bailey Rae’s “Put Your Records On” which quickly went viral. The song now has over two million videos on TikTok and was used as the theme song, somewhat, to a trending make-up challenge on the app. Within two-days of the song doing well Momney said, “I was on a bunch of label calls, and luckily since I had a career before this with a great manager, that I love, it is not a solo effort.” The young singer, songwriter, and producer is currently averaging about eight million monthly listeners on Spotify.

While in seventh/eighth grade Momney really delved into his passion for music. He jokingly remarked that it was his older brother that inspired him to get into music because “all the girls thought he [Momney’s older brother] was cute because he sang.” As Momney started learning to play the piano and guitar, he listened to James Blake’s first album and STRFKR over and over, which he said shaped who he is as an artist. He is “striving for that and I want to make music like them.” Excitingly, Momney hinted that he has been in communication with the lead member of STRFKR, Josh Hodges, and his dream collaboration just may be realized.

(James Kowalski)

While Ritt Momney is more than grateful for his career path, the young adult explained that it is not always all fun and games. Momney noted that distinguishing between “the balance of the fun side and the work side of [music] has been really hard.” When making his first album “Her and All of My Friends” he explained that the album took him two and a half years because he did not work when it was not fun for him. As a result, the album took longer than desired and he had to force himself to work towards the end, putting a strain on Momney’s relationship with music. Lesson learned and moving forward, the artist is now thinking of music as a commitment to his future and striving to set aside time every day to write, sing, and produce songs.

As more and more people receive the vaccine for COVID-19 and life slowly starts to return to normal, Momney hopes to be able to do a national tour in the beginning of 2022. Although the artist is appreciative of the time he has had at home to work on music, he is ready to get on stage. Keep your eyes and ears open so you don’t miss Ritt Momney’s next big hit.

 

 

 

 

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WOMEN ARE FUNNY TOO

Written by Samantha Stemmer

Location: TV Utopia

 

After a long and stressful day one of the best ways to wind down includes grabbing a warm cup of tea, glass of wine, or maybe the pint of Ben and Jerry’s sitting in the freezer and tuning in to your favorite television show. Now if that television show happens to be a comedy, a man either most likely stars in it, wrote it, or perhaps both. One would assume that considering the fact that, according to Nielson, women spend forty more minutes than men watching TV and, according to Statista, women are 9% more likely to watch and stream television shows, then female representation would be a priority. However, most television comedies that feature a female lead or are written by a woman tend to be cancelled before the creator’s intent.  The first focal point is Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer’s Comedy Central sitcom “Broad City.”  It starred two female leads, had a writer’s room full of women, with all these positives, wrapped upon the creator’s request. These women have been the exception to the mainstream success.  Why? What about all the other remarkably funny women led and written comedies? Let’s explore just how many there are. 

New Girl:

(Jennifer Clasen/Fox)

The next focal point is “New Girl” which premiered in 2011, a quirky sitcom set in Los Angeles following the lives of four roommates in their 30s created by Elizabeth Meriwether and starring Zooey Deschanel. The show, despite being cancelled in 2018, still has a large following of fans. Co-star Jake Johnson revealed that “We didn’t quit, they [Fox] fired us, that was a job that we all had and liked having. We got a call that we were fired at the end of season six and Zooey [Deschanel] and I wrote the president of Fox explaining that ‘just because the fan base isn’t tuning in at 8 p.m. doesn’t mean they’re not watching.’” As a result, the series was granted an eight-episode final seventh season. In its final season of “New Girl,” according to the Nielsen Live+7 ratings, the show received a 1.4 rating in adults from 18-49 and 2.96 million viewers. In the same year “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” received a rating of 0.7 in adults from 18-49 and 2.24 million viewers. “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” has since been greenlighted for an additional three seasons. So while “New Girl” had a long and successful television run, towards the later seasons the success was still prevalent compared to their competitors, and according to the showrunners, could have produced a few more seasons ending the series on Elizabeth Meriwether’s terms. 

The Mick:

(Patrick Mcelhenny/Fox)

Another focal point is the comedy series “The Mick,” that featured a female lead, a gritty comedy about a woman who becomes stuck raising her sister’s children. It was cancelled by Fox after two seasons. The show was created by Dave Chernin and John Chernin starring Kaitlyn Olsen as the lead. The three are famously attached to raunchy sitcom “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” which was recently renewed for up to 18 seasons, proving their talent for producing comedic content together. Around the same time Glenn Howerton, one of Olsen’s co-stars from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” began starring in comedy “A.P. Bio.” During its second and final season, “The Mick” received an average Nielsen rating of .73 in adults 18-49 and 2.1 million viewers which deemed low enough for cancellation, yet in season two of “A.P. Bio” they received an average Nielsen rating of .47 in adults 18-49 and 1.88 million viewers and are currently working on the fourth season. Both Olsen and Howerton are notable comedy actors yet when they ventured out to lead their own comedy shows one clearly did better. The one that produced better ratings with a female lead was cancelled and the show that yielded lower ratings with a male lead, even at its peak, compared to the other, continues to air. 

Suburgatory:

      (Adam Taylor/ABC)

The last focal point was created by Emily Kapnek, “Suburgatory” starred Jane Levy as the female lead in the comedy series that followed the life of a teenage daughter and her single father moving to live in the suburbs. The show was cancelled by ABC after the third season and creator Kapnek explained that “Ultimately, it’s a decision that Warner Bros. is in control of [and] is still a very, very sore spot.” In the third and last season, the show averaged a Nielsen rating of 1.6 in adults 18-49 which was lower than previous seasons, yet still higher than other ABC sitcom “Last Man Standing” that received an average Nielsen rating of 1.3 in adults 18-49 in the same year. “Last Man Standing,” stars Tim Allen, requiring a larger salary, and has continued to go on for nine seasons. 

Reasoning?

The list continues with shows like “The Mindy Project,” “Glow,” “I’m Sorry,” “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23,” and “Veep.” These shows have fan bases of all genders grieving their cancellations. And while many shows barely make it out of pilot season in Hollywood, women-run shows are getting slighted.  The ratings and viewership of these female led, and written sitcoms are on par if not higher than their rival comedies that have men as the lead character. These shows have large fanbases, receive adequate ratings, so there is no reason why they should be getting the short end of the stick. What is the reasoning behind the cancellation of these shows? Three words: Women in charge. As we are in full swing of Women’s History Month, I encourage you to check out some of these shows for a great laugh and form your own opinion. It’s 2021 and the impression that women are not funny is outdated, Hollywood, you must do better.