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  • US Army Says Games like Fortnite Will Change How They Recruit

    US Army Says Games like Fortnite Will Change How They Recruit

    15 years after launching first-person shooter game “American Army” used to enlist recruits, the US Army has taken its strategy up a notch by asking its active troops to participate in Esports as it seeks to revamp its recruitment strategy. As reported by Stars and Stripes, the US Army is making use of gaming competitions as a means to engage recruits.

    They have found this strategy to be more effective than having to speak with potential recruits over the phone—a method proven to be less attractive to potential recruits over the years.

    Stars and Stripes quoted Army Recruiting Command spokeswoman Kelli Bland, who stated:

    “They will be in a support role to help young people see soldiers in a different light and understand the many different roles people can have in the Army (and) help the Army address the growing disconnect with society.”

    The report states that gaming competitions for the likes of “Fortnite” and “Madden NFL,” which have massive followings, are some of the competitions which the Army has participated in to reach their target audience.

    There are also plans to create a “functional fitness” team that will serve as a viable alternative to the classic “Army Strong” program and also compete in a wide array of CrossFit athletic events.

    They are also reportedly looking to hold tryouts across various esports gaming platforms. The members of those teams will be able to travel to multiple esports events nationwide. They will also have a first-hand view of high-end Army apps and training simulation software.

    This new resolution came after the Army fell short of its recruitment goal for the first time in 13 years, according to the New York Post.

    The shortage was reportedly as much as 6,500 soldiers, and this is despite the extra bonuses, totaling up to $200 million as well as waivers for “bad conduct” and health issues.

    Featured image from ithothit.blogspot.com.

  • To Infinity and Beyond! Toy Story 4 to Be Released in June 2019

    To Infinity and Beyond! Toy Story 4 to Be Released in June 2019

    Toy Story 4 is finally going to happen, almost 20-years after the original Toy Story hit the screens and wowed big and small kids alike. Everyone remembers Woody, Jesse, Buzz, the wimpy dinosaur and that potato thing with the bushy mustache. It looks like we’re about to hook up with old friends for one last adventure.

    Toy Story 4 will be released across movie theaters in the US in June 2019. Those who watched the original back in 1995 and the late-90s when they were 12 years old are now well over 30 and probably have kids of their own.

    New Toy Story 4 Teaser

    When you think about the list of names who did the voices for Toy Story back in the day, they were big names at the time. We had Tom Hanks doing Woody’s voice, Tim Allen bringing Buzz Lightyear alive and Joan Cusack as Jessie.

    The animation movie’s original creators, Pixar, with Disney are set to bring you Toy Story 4, which has been a long time coming.

    Do you remember the last time we saw the toys? They were passed on by their former owner Andy to a young girl playing in the yard called Bonnie. Although she inherited the toys, there are new additions to the team.

    New Characters for Toy Story 4

    There will be a new character for the fourth installment of Toy Story who is called Forky. He is set to cause chaos for the team as expected. Forky, whose voice is played by Tony Hale of Arrested Development fame, doesn’t see himself as a toy and is hellbent on causing trouble for the other toys.

    Tony Hale’s performances as Buster Bluth in Arrested Development are hilarious. Anyone who knows Hale’s style will tell you he’s a perfect fit for a quirky animation character.

    Obviously, at this stage, we’ve just received a small teaser from Pixar, but what we do know is that Toy Story 4 will be directed by Josh Cooley, who previously worked in a storyboard and screenwriter capacity for another Pixar classic, Inside Out.

    Toy Story 4 will be released in theaters in June 2019. It will be interesting to see if the franchise can keep it’s now more mature audience with a younger generation of kids who have pretty much seen it all when it comes to animation movies.

    Featured image from Pixabay.

  • Leonardo DiCaprio Launches Vegan Clothing Range to Save Primates

    Leonardo DiCaprio Launches Vegan Clothing Range to Save Primates

    As well as celebrating his 44th birthday this last weekend, actor and millionaire Leonardo DiCaprio has also just launched a range of vegan T-shirts and sweatshirts.

    DiCaprio is well known for his environmental philanthropy and backing of social projects and startups focused on improving our planet. His latest partnership to create the vegan clothing range is with vegan primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall.

    Titled “Don’t Let Them Disappear,” the line of clothing is a collaboration between the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation and the Jane Goodall Institute.

    The Jane Goodall Institute’s primary goal is to protect chimpanzees and other primates. DiCaprio, via his Instagram announcement, says the clothing range has been launched:

    “To raise awareness for ape conservation and support teams on the ground working to save this incredible species.”

    The T-shirts and sweatshirts are organic and eco-friendly and include the “Don’t Let Them Disappear,” slogan. They will only be available for a two-week flash sale.

    The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation

    Goodall also joined DiCaprio earlier this year for the 20th anniversary of his Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, which raised $7 million with a celebrity auction and gala for the event.

    DiCaprio is known to have invested in a vegan snack company, Hippeas, as well as Beyond Meat, a startup that produces plant-based meat alternatives. In 2017 he received the World Economic Forum Crystal Award for his environmental work, and in 2018 was awarded the “Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Prize,” again for his work protecting the planet.

    The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation has funded over 70 projects, in 40 countries with over $80 million since 2008.

    The much-loved actor celebrated his 44th birthday on November 11 at a private membership club in L.A with famous pals including Jay-Z, Beyonce, Jennifer Aniston, and Gwyneth Paltrow. He’s set to star next in Quentin Tarantino’s ninth film “Once Upon a Time In Hollywood,” alongside Brad Pitt.

    DiCaprio’s generosity doesn’t stop at his work to save the planet. He’s recently put back up for sale a near-$2 million Silverlake home he originally purchased two-decades ago for a family member when he first shot to fame with “Titanic.” The star himself is worth an estimated $245 million.

    Alongside his other environmental causes, DiCaprio is one of a number of sea-loving millionaires and billionaires who channel their efforts into protecting the world’s oceans.

    Featured image from Shutterstock.

  • Chinese City Xi’an Is Set to Build an Esports Cluster

    Chinese City Xi’an Is Set to Build an Esports Cluster

    Megacity and capital of Shaanxi Province Xi’an has announced plans to build an Esports cluster dedicated to developing the industry, per reports in a local news outlet. The framework was signed between the Dalian Morningstar Network Technology and the Xi’an Economic and Technological Development Zone.

    Based on the report, the new location will be used to facilitate esports training for games, as well as a major source for investments into the industry. The local Xi’an development commission will supply the workforce and the real estate needed to build the esports cluster.

    It will be contracting Shaanxi Hanyun Real Estate as the general contractor to build it, while mobile hardware gaming company Morningstar Network Technology through its subsidiary Halcyon Network, will run the project and the installation of gaming hardware in the facility.

    While the news outlet didn’t offer specifics, we can expect a much bigger space, more substantial than the new arena built in Denver, featuring hundreds of custom-made gaming hardware connected to super-fast internet fiber connections.

    Xi’an as an Esports Center

    Known for its rich heritage, Xi’an has quickened its pace in the esports industry. In September, it signed an MOU with the World Cyber Games (WCG) to hold the WCG 2019 finals in the city of Xi’an.

    China is seen as one of the largest markets for the global esports industry. According to recent data from Newzoo, China currently has 619.5 million players, who are expected to spend $37.9 billion in 2018 alone.

    The WCG finals have been held previously in China in 2009, 2012, and 2013. This is the first time they will be held in Xi’an.

    At the WCG finals announcement, an official of the Xi’an municipal government stated:

    “I am very pleased to announce that Xi’an will partner with WCG to host one of the most successful global esports festivals next year. Xi’an will spare no effort for the success of WCG 2019 finals.”

    The popularity of Esports has continued to grow globally. Last year, ESPN signed a multi-year deal to broadcast the Overwatch Esports League on its network of channels including ABC and Disney XD. League of Legends championships were also viewed by a global audience of over 60 million people, way more than the 2017 NBA Finals.

    Featured image from Shutterstock.

  • Is Star Rapper Jaden Smith Officially Out of the Closet?

    Is Star Rapper Jaden Smith Officially Out of the Closet?

    The latest celebrity to come out of the closet is Jaden Smith, son of Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith–although his fans were left somewhat confused by the announcement. At a performance at the Camp Flog Gnaw music festival on Sunday night, hampered with wildfire smoke, the controversial rapper made the announcement. But the audience wasn’t sure whether it was just the latest in a long line of off-the-wall publicity stunts, or whether the rapper officially has a boyfriend.

    Jaden Smith Is Known for His Bizarre Commentary

    What leaves his followers undecided is the fact that Smith likes to make jokes, and is known for his eccentric style, wearing flowers in his hair and even dresses. The 20-year-old rapper has a net worth of approximately $8 million and has previously made the headlines for holding locks of his own hair on the red carpet and other unusual accessories including his gold-certified album, as well as other unpredictable stunts.

    During his performance, the star started to give thanks and praised his lifelong friend and festival organizer Tyler, the Creator. He started out by calling him his “best friend,” but then was captured on video by fans going on to say:

    “Tyler doesn’t wanna say, but Tyler is my motherf—ing boyfriend… And he’s been my motherf—ing boyfriend my whole f—ing life!”

    Is Jaden Smith Out of the Closet?

    Watching the video, the words are certainly spoken with sincerity and Smith almost appears as if his voice is about to break with emotion as he says the words. However, Tyler in the audience with a smoke mask on starts shaking his head and waving his finger. He then takes off the mask and starts laughing, as if Jaden was making a joke. But Smith carried on insisting and repeated his words.

    Examine the situation a little more deeply and some of Smith’s behavior certainly explains his preference for men, as well as that of Tyler. Moreover, Smith later took to Twitter saying that the news was indeed official.

    “Yup @tylerthecreator,” he wrote. “I Told Everyone You Can’t Deny It Now.”

    Tyler responded without actually denying the tweet but simply saying:

    “haha you a crazy n—a man.”

     

     

    Fans remain divided over whether the news is true or whether they can chalk it up to another one of Smith’s publicity stunts. Some feel that Smith was being honest about their relationship and was letting people know in a lighthearted and fun way.

    Others are more skeptical and even point out the fact that being gay is not something to joke about if the announcement is untrue. Whatever the outcome of the shock announcement, Smith got want he wanted once again: fans will be following his every move for the unforeseeable future.

    Featured image from Genius.com.

  • Should Conor McGregor Sign with DAZN for Hundreds of Millions?

    Should Conor McGregor Sign with DAZN for Hundreds of Millions?

    Former boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya believes that UFC superstar Conor McGregor should seek out a new deal worth hundreds of millions with streaming service DAZN.

    De La Hoya’s boxing promotion company, Golden Boy, manages the career of Mexican boxing star Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, who recently signed a ground-breaking five-year deal with DAZN worth a reported $365 million.

    De La Hoya has hinted that Conor McGregor is in a similar position and should make the most of his fame and brand in the twilight years of his career.

    Will Conor McGregor Leave the UFC?

    Although UFC fans far and wide will probably get their panties in a twist at the thought of McGregor leaving the octagon-based MMA fighting franchise, the world of televised sports is rapidly evolving.

    When both Canelo Alvarez and British boxing superstar and heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua signed with the streaming service DAZN, it immediately changed the landscape of televised boxing in the US markets.

    Since then, HBO has opted out of boxing for the first time in over 40 years. Some might say that DAZN’s deep pockets are responsible for that.

    Oscar believes that Conor McGregor can easily command “Canelo-like money” as a free-agent and hinted that UFC contracts with their fighters are quite restrictive. Which is true. Boxers are not forced to fight who their networks want them to fight. The boxers generally make those choices.

    Fighters Taking Control of Their Own Careers

    UFC owner Dana White can pretty much force any of his fighters to fight whoever he wants. This might be great for the UFC head-honcho and the fans, but doesn’t necessarily have the fighter’s best interests at heart. And let’s face it, it’s the fighters who put their lives on the line, not us.

    When talking about the issue with Luke Thomas on The MMA Boxing Hour, De La Hoya said:

    “Imagine if Conor McGregor was an independent contractor. He can easily get a deal like that on a DAZN or an ESPN+. But obviously they’re with UFC and UFC just works differently.”

    Oscar went on to say that a new streaming platform such as DAZN is great for massive household names such as Canelo Alvarez and Conor McGregor because their profiles are already at megastar levels.

    He also cited that until the likes of DAZN gain more traction and viewers, it could be a dangerous move for lesser-known fighters.

    Featured image from CBS Sports.

  • Has Meghan Markle Fallen from Grace with the Royals Already?

    Has Meghan Markle Fallen from Grace with the Royals Already?

    Everyone loves a good bit of gossip and the latest addition to the British Royal Family certainly provides us with enough of it. From failing to cross her legs correctly to closing her own door and having an opinion on abortion, it seems like Meghan Markle is doing her best to rub the Queen the wrong way. And the latest pictures to come out of Remembrance Sunday to honor the fallen soldiers from World War I speak volumes.

    The Queen’s Club of Three–Without Meghan Markle

    As the royal family posed for photos on the balcony, the first thing crowds noticed was that Meghan Markle was standing away from the other royal females–on a separate balcony, in fact.

    She must have wound Queen Elizabeth up the wrong way one too many times with her sleeveless dresses, bare legs, and outspoken opinions (all strictly against the unspoken Royal code of conduct) to be isolated to a different balcony.

    However, according to sources, the event was not quite as it looked and Markle was not in fact snubbed by the Queen and her favorite royal females–even though she stood on a separate balcony from Kate Middleton, Camilla Duchess of Cornwall, and the Queen. How come?

    The Balconies Could Not Fit More than Three

    Ahem. The official explanation given was that the balconies opposite the Cenotaph war memorial in London were small and could not fit more than three women comfortably. Which makes Meghan the fourth most important royal female in the house.

    She wasn’t standing next to an unknown either simply added for the shot. The woman pictured aside Markle is the German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s wife, Elke Budenbender.

    Pecking Order

    Like it or not Meghan, you’re pretty far down in the Royal “pecking order.” In fact, you’re right at the bottom despite your celebrity status, beauty, and marriage to the young prince. So, get ready for more photo ops with your head cut out, a taller member placed in front of you or being moved to a separate balcony altogether.

    Featured image from Fox News.

  • Super-Powered Spiderman Creator Stan Lee Dies at 95

    Super-Powered Spiderman Creator Stan Lee Dies at 95

    After a long fight with declining health, and some rough personal circumstances, Stan Lee who had a net worth of $50 million has died at age 95. He recently told The Daily Beast that he wished:

    “That I leave everyone happy when I leave.”

    Now that he has passed on, let’s look at all the things he left behind that still create joy for people all over the world.

    Stan Lee’s Amazing Spiderman

    Spiderman has become a cultural institution and major Hollywood movie franchise. Stan Lee and co-creator Jack Kirby came up with the character back in the early 1960’s and developed the now famous web-slinger over the following decades at Marvel Comics.

    Peter Parker grew from a geeky teenager, into the role he has today. Stan Lee gave a generation of young people a new kind of hero that didn’t fit into the comic book hero model that was popular at the time.

    Unlike heroes from the DC universe, Peter Parker was young, unsure of himself, and very much at the mercy of the world. This approach to comic book storytelling proved very popular. Spiderman became popular with readers and emerged into his own series.

    The character and plot line was adapted into numerous formats beginning in the 1970s. Spiderman was featured on US television, and even adapted for the Japanese market in a serial referred to as, “Supaidā-Man”.

    In modern times Spiderman is still wildly popular. Numerous movies have been produced over the last 20 years, with the most recent one starring Tom Holland as Spider-Man.

    The X-Men

    While they might be better labeled “The X-People” in today’s politically correct climate, the X-Men were a revolutionary idea at the time Stan Lee helped create them. Jack Kirby is credited with co-creating the X-Men as well.

    Like Spiderman, the origins of the X-Men stretch back a half-century.

    At the time they were created, the X-Men were a serious anomaly in the comic book scene. For one thing, the whole team was from all over the world. Cyclops was from the USA, but the other members were from Europe, Africa and other far-flung places, including the Soviet Union.

    Stan Lee was a major proponent of tolerance and acceptance, and a bitter opponent of racism.

    These ideals were written into many of his works, and play a role in how the plot line from the X-Men developed. Today racial equality is taken for granted in most places, but it took people like Stan Lee to stand up for ideas that needed to enter the public mind.

    The Incredible Hulk

    Dr. Robert Bruce Banner was another unlikely superhero that is just dripping in ethical nuances. Changed by gamma radiation into a creature that is giant, green, and has a strange way of doing the right thing, the Hulk was a major media success for Stan Lee.

    Unlike some of the other characters that Stan Lee helped to create, the Hulk jumped off the page and onto TV screens as early as the 1970s. The concept has was also made into popular motion pictures recently, with Edward Norton playing the Hulk in the 2008 version.

    Other Adventures

    Stan Lee was also instrumental in creating The Fantastic Four, The Avengers and a host of heroes and villains that still command the respect of media producers.

    His narratives have traveled around the world for decades, and will probably be reimagined for a long time to come. While he will surely be missed, Stan Lee wanted us to be happy. Let’s all do our best to honor his wishes!

    Featured image by Luigi Novi.

  • LG’s New Boss Koo Kwang-mo Owes 50% in Inheritance Tax on $1.5 Billion

    LG’s New Boss Koo Kwang-mo Owes 50% in Inheritance Tax on $1.5 Billion

    Koo Kwang-mo is LG Group’s new Chairman, after inheriting an 8.8% stake in the company, following the death of his adopted father and former Chairman Koo Boon-moo in May 2018.

    Inheriting so much wealth would have made him a billionaire, except for one little snag—taxes. A whopping 50% is due to the authorities as the death tax, which the family plans to pay in full over a period of five years.

    LG Corp. is South Korea’s largest conglomerate with investments in the electronics, car battery, and phone display business. The company is one of South Korea’s most powerful family-run multinationals.

    Death taxes in South Korea vary but they can be as high as 50% when inheritance exceeds $2.7 million. There is an additional 20% in situations where the shares passed down are owned by the firm’s largest shareholder.

    At the current rate, Koo Kwang-mo could be looking at a tax bill of more than $630 million alone for his new status. But he’s not alone–his sisters also got a 2.5% stake in the LG Group which could see the Kwang-mo family cough up over $790 million (or more than 900 billion won).

    Koo Kwang-mo Has Payment Options Available

    While it remains unclear how Koo will afford the payment, a spokesman for the company told Bloomberg that the Korean tax authorities would decide the final figure to be remitted as taxes.

    Financing medium expected to be used by the Chairman of LG Corp. includes loan financing using his stake in the business as collateral, raising dividends, and selling some of the group’s principal subsidiaries.

    Evading tax laws by the elites is common in South Korea, which makes the Kwang-mo family’s acceptance to pay the tax bill in full a rarity. LG’s hefty tax bill is the latest in what could be a rain of inheritance bills to be paid by South Korea’s conglomerates planning succession for their heirs.

    Samsung Electronics Co. Chairman Lee Kun-hee, whose holdings at the company are worth around $16 billion would probably not be thrilled to see a massive chunk of that money going to the tax man when he passes his holdings to his son. But, according to local law, that’s precisely what could happen.

    Featured image from Nikkei Asian Review.

  • Gerard Butler & Miley Cyrus Lost Their Homes in Malibu Wildfire

    Gerard Butler & Miley Cyrus Lost Their Homes in Malibu Wildfire

    The Malibu wildfire, which broke out on November 8, has destroyed more than 176 buildings including the homes of Gerard Butler, Miley Cyrus, Robin Thicke, Neil Young, and Tracey Bregman. Meanwhile, Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian, Jessica Simpson, and Khloe Kardashian, along with 250,000 other people, have evacuated their homes.

    Gerard Butler

    Gerard Butler posted a picture of his half-burned house on Twitter yesterday. He was seen wearing a mask while standing in front of a scorched vehicle, presumably parked near the house.

    Butler bought this house, located in Point Dume, in 2016 for $6.45 million. Despite the devastating situation, he thanked the firefighters in his caption, “Inspired as ever by the courage, spirit, and sacrifice of firefighters.”

    Miley Cyrus

    Miley Cyrus also lost her $2.5 million Malibu beach bungalow in the Malibu fire. She tweeted that her boyfriend Liam Hemsworth and her pets had been safely evacuated.

    Robin Thicke

    Robin Thicke took to Instagram to thank firefighters for trying to save his $2.4-million house. His wife, April Love Geary, also posted a picture of the ruined structure on her Instagram Story.

    Source: Cosmopolitan

    Neil Young

    Neil Young’s $3.6-million house was destroyed in the recent fire. He posted on his official website that this was the second house he had lost in a wildfire.

    Neil Young
    Source: Fox News

    Tracey Bregman

    Tracey Bregman listed her Malibu property in 2013 for $5.5 million in 2013. Yesterday, she posted a picture of the same house being destroyed in the fire.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BqAvxC-F7kS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Liam Payne

    Liam Payne tweeted his support to the people who lost their houses and added that he might lose his $11.03-million mansion as well. He wrote:

    ‘Please stay safe and don’t take unnecessary risks. I think I’m about to lose my house and its memories.

    Meanwhile, the Woolsey fire reached the Bachelor mansion and the Westworld set. Thankfully, no one was currently filming at these locations.

    Celebrities Await Safe Return to Their Homes

    Lady Gaga and her family evacuated her house on Friday. She said:

    “I’m sitting here with many of you wondering if my home will burst into flames.”

    Kim Kardashian West and her sister Khloe Kardashian were also forced to leave their homes. Later, West dedicated her People’s Choice Award to the California firefighters.

    Jessica Simpson posted a picture of her house and added that they had evacuated around two days ago. Melissa Etheridge also clarified that she still hadn’t moved back to her house.

    Orlando Bloom uploaded a picture which showed that the fires were close to his house. However, it appears that he hasn’t been requested to evacuate yet. Mark Hamill also assured fans that even though the flames were visible from his house, he was safe.

    The wildfire began in the town of Paradise and moved to Southern California on Thursday. So far, 31 people have died and 200 have been declared missing.