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ga-yuu · 3 years

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~Kurama~Main Story Chapter 5~Part 2

Part 1

------Part 4-----

Shigehira: "Yoshino-san!"

Pulling up the fabric of the tent, Shigehira-kun jumped inside with great energy.

Yoshino: "Shigehira-kun! ....Are you injured?"

Shigehira: "No."

The sight of the blood-stained figure was a bit of a shock, but it turned out to be someone else's blood.

Shigehira: "I'm here to inform you. Listen. A party of the enemy has set its course here. Take the wounded and move with the others."

(The enemy!?)

Yoshino: "Oh, okay, I'll get ready."

Shigehira: "I'll help you. I've already given instructions to my men."

I quickly put together my tools and left the tent with Shigehira-kun.

.............

Those who are lightly wounded are mounted, while those who cannot ride on their own are assisted by other soldiers.

They are placed in the middle of the squadron to avoid delays.

Yoshino: "Will you and your men join us? And what about Morinaga-san...."

Shigehira: "Morinaga-san cannot leave the front yet. For now, the Shogunate has the upper hand... I'll return to my post after I've escorted you."

Yoshino: "...Oh, okay. Take care of yourself."

(I'm worried, but I'll pray for your safety...)

Shigehira: "Same to you."

Shigehira-kun muttered seriously as he rode alongside me, his horse flying.

Shigehira: "Neither I nor Morinaga-san thought the war would get this bad. This battle is...."

..................

Kagetoki: "This war is clearly an aberration."

Yoritomo: ".................."

At the same time, in Kamakura, Yoritomo, who had received a report on the battle from Kagetoki, moved his eyebrows slightly.

Yoritomo: “You said that the information about the Shogunate and the rebels was leaked and mixed up at the same time.

Kagetoki: “Yes. It’s becoming a war of attrition, with both sides making a series of surprise attacks. Although the Shogunate had the advantage in numbers...We don’t like the fact that the damage has exceeded what we had envisaged as an outpost.”

Yoritomo: “Has there been an investigation into who is pulling the strings?”

Kagetoki: “I’ve got some nasty information about it.”

A glance alone signals ‘Go on’, and Kagetoki reels.

Kagetoki: “Private armies, secretly recruited by some noble families, are infiltrating the battlefield.”

Yoritomo: “Nobles?”

Kagetoki: “Yes. At least ostensibly, the families have no connection. It took a long time to get caught up in the network because they were hired separately in small numbers.”

Yoritomo looked over the report quickly, and his gaze sharpened.

Yoritomo: “I see. Even though it’s just a bunch of mooks, there’s still a good number of all together.”

Kagetoki: “It doesn’t look like an opponent who can use sophisticated tactics to manipulate the information of two armies to reduce each other’s strength... When you've assembled on a battlefield, you can’t be irrelevant.”

Yoritomo: “There is something fundamentally puzzling about the complicity of the nobles.”

Kagetoki: “Yes. The noble families mentioned in the report were probably just a bunch of birds clinging to a vanishing power. All I can see is that they are suddenly united. It feels contrived.”

Yoritomo: “If the rebels are on the back foot, there’s no way they’re working with the nobility.”

After a brief pause for thought, Yoritomo locked eyes with Kagetoki.

Yoritomo: “Find out if anyone high up in the court is involved. I will send word to Morinaga and Shigehira on the battlefield as soon as possible.”

Kagetoki: “Yes.”

................

(I’ve managed to resume treatment, but I’m not sure I’d feel comfortable with the idea of another surprise attack here.)

And yet, as I dealt with one wounded man after another, time goes by in a blink of an eye.

Injured soldier: “Did you get the latest news, Yoshino-san? It seems that the war will end soon.”

Yoshino: “Is that true!?”

A wounded soldier who was lying on the floor spoke happily and his voice became more lively.

Injured soldier: “The guy who just brought in the wounded said that the rebels are going to withdraw at last.”

(Thank god.....!)

Yoshino: “I hope as many soldiers as possible are safe....”

Injured soldier: “There are a number of soldiers who have been saved thanks to you, Yoshino-san. Like me.”

Yoshino: “Hehe, I’m honored.”

The faces of the other soldiers in the tent were brighter because they had seen a glimmer of hope.

When I sighed relief-----

???: “Excuse me.”

Yoshino: “.....? Yes.”

I heard someone calling from outside my tent and I went to look out, only to be greeted by----

Boy: “Hello, Yoshino.”

--------Part 5------

Boy: “Hello, Yoshino.”

Yoshino: “A kid?”

He greeted me in a rather mature voice and bowed gracefully.

(Why is a KID in such a place?)

(Maybe from the nearby town? But....)

But his high-quality clothes and beautiful face tell me a different story.

Yoshino: “Where are you from? and also how do you know my name?”

Boy: “I came from there.”

With a strangely calm smile, the boy points to the west.

Boy: “A very beautiful man told me your name too.”

I was a bit suspicious by his somewhat impersonal, age-inappropriate manner.

(But I can’t leave him alone like this.)

Yoshino: “Okay, this is a dangerous place, so stay close to my side. I’ll take you home later.”

(I have to tell everyone about this. I wonder where the guards have gone...)

Boy: “That’s very kind of you. I’ll be happy to stay with you. But sorry,....you’re coming with me.”

Yoshino: “Eh?”

----At that moment, I noticed a bracelet falling off from the little boy’s wrists.

And the next moment----

Man: “My name is Ibuki. Nice to meet you again, fox princess.”

(This person...)

His wavy golden hair and blue eyes showed that he was the same person as the child from earlier.

But more than that, I gasped at the two horns on his head.

Yoshino: “Oni....?”

Ibuki: “Correct.”

(Demon! What’s more, from what you just said you’re an enemy, aren’t you?)

As I stepped back, my thoughts wander.

(I can’t call for help from inside the tent. It would involve everyone.)

Yoshino: “What did you do to the guards?’

Ibuki: “It would be negligent of the watchman to let him fall after a little play.”

(I don’t know...how strong this demon, this Ibuki is.)

(Also he addressed me as fox princess, so he does know about my powers.)

Ibuki: “Now now, don’t think too much.”

(Ah)

He easily closes the distance between us by pulling me by the wrists.

Ibuki lightly supports my body, when I was about to fall out of balance.

Yoshino: “Let go! What’s your intention?”

Ibuki: “It’s a common story in folklore that a demon kidnaps a princess. I’d take you if I could, but I’m not really into that. So here’s the deal, if you resist, I will kill you and everyone else inside the tent.”

(........)

Ibuki: “What do you want? Decide for yourself.”

(You!)

Yoshino: “What’s your purpose....?”

Ibuki: “You’ll know it on the way. Now come. If someone gets suspicious that you’re not coming back and leaves the tent, then you’re out of options.”

(.....Looks like I’ve no other choice.)

Yoshino: “Fine. I’ll come with you.”

I killed my trembling voice as much as I could and stared at Ibuki.

Ibuki: “I like clever women. How about we flirt for a while...? But first, let’s get out of this bloody place.”

...........

Riding the horse that was tied to me, Ibuki carried me in front of him through the mountains of the battlefield.

Ibuki: “The Shogunate must be in full retreat by now, as the rebel army retreats. Are feeling lonely, fox princess, now that you’re left behind?”

Yoshino: “Nn....I’ll never tell you. Will you tell me where are we going?”

Ibuki: “You’ll know soon----Oh, look there he is.”

(Eh?)

Ibuki dismounted me and pointed to the full moon in the night sky.

No way----the next moment, something dark covers the moon.

(That’s!)

When I realized what was that dark thing was, I saw huge jet-black wings covering my vision.

Then something came down at a tremendous speed.

Kurama: “Why are you here? ---Shuten Doji, Ibuki.”

~~~~~~’I won’t call your name’ (Normal Story)~~~~~

Ibuki: “You’ll know soo----Oh, look there he is.”

(Eh?)

Ibuki dismounted me and pointed to the full moon in the night sky.

No way----the next moment, something dark covers the moon.

(That’s!)

When I realized what was that darkness, I saw huge jet-black wings covering my vision.

Then something came down at a tremendous speed.

Kurama: “Why are you here? ---Shuten Doji, Ibuki.”

(Kurama!?)

Ibuki: “What a coincidence, huh? Kurama.”

Kurama: “You’re the one who deliberately came close to me, releasing your spell so that I’d notice you.”

(They both know each other?....But...)

Ibuki: “Don’t be so angry. I’ve gone out my way to bring you a gift to mark our reunion.”

Kurama: “Gift?”

Ibuki holds me by the shoulders as if to show me. Then Kurama’s eyes turned to look at me.

Kurama: “For what reason do you have that little puss?”

Ibuki: “I seduced her politely and snatched her.”

(Even if he says this, Ibuki must have a reason to kidnap me.)

Kurama: “I have heard rumors that you have been in hiding for a long time....Why have you come to me now?”

Ibuki: “Because I want to play with you like I used to, of course. Have you forgotten how well I looked after you?”

Kurama: “.....I forgot.”

Kurama replies with a pause and clicks his tongue.

Ibuki: “Why are you so cold to me, Kurama? You were so much cuter when you were a kid. Do you remember that one time, when you lost to me in a match, I had you call me ‘Ibuki oni-sama’ all day?”

Kurama(menacing glare): “Die.”

Ibuki: “Whoa, rebellious, I see. It makes me smile and cry to see you pouting and clamoring.”

(Who the hell is Ibuki to treat that Kurama like a kid?)

Kurama: “I’m beginning to remember. It’s no use talking to you.”

(......!)

At the same time as Kurama’s voice crawls across the ground, a cloud of dust is instantly raised from the ground.

Ibuki: “Hahaha...”

(Ah)

There was an amused chuckle, and then a thump on my back.

Kurama: “..........!”

As I slumped to my knees on the ground, Kurama’s eye met mine.

Ibuki waved his hand to take advantage of this.

From somewhere a dense fog rolled in, obscuring his appearance.

Ibuki: “See you again, Kurama.”

Kurama: “Wait.”

(Nn....)

I can feel the sound of the tornado as it snatched me right in the face. My hair is curling up and I can’t keep my eyes open very well.

Kurama: “.........”

The noise and the wind stopped and I opened my eyes to find that the fog had lifted without a trace.

(Ibuki...disappeared.)

Yoshino: “......Kurama.”

Kurama, who stood silently in front of me, looked at me.

The stinging air was the same as before, and my instincts told me that the slightest movement would kill me.

Kurama: “Where did you meet Ibuki?”

Yoshino: “....just a while ago. And he kidnapped without any reason. But who is he? And how is he related to you...?”

Kurama: “Our relation, huh?”

(Ah.)

In an instant, the hilt of the sword touched my shoulder, and I was pushed backward.

When I looked up stunned, I saw an unusual rage simmering in the depths of his cold eyes.

Kurama: “Don’t ask me whatever you want.”

Yoshino: “Don’t treat me like that.”

I endured my fear and returned the words.

Kurama: “You let that guy kidnap you easily and now you got thrown away like a bone to a dog......How do you call that? In fact, Ibuki had been talking nonsense about you being a gift.”

(That’s...)

Kurama: “Well, since you failed to knock it back, I suppose it makes sense to break it. The ‘gifts’ he always gives me make me sick.”

Yoshino: “What are you going to do....?”

Kurama: “I couldn’t do it last time. Now that you’re on the battlefield, you should be ready to die. Or else----”

There was a gurgling sound and an unnatural gust of wind emerged.

Kurama: “Will you try taking me down? Little puss.”

(.....! He’s coming after me!)

Kurama raises one hand, unconcerned about his black hair being disturbed by the wind.

A number of transparent whirlpools were created and poured down from above the head.

Yoshino: “Ngh.”

(----I can fight! Lend me the power of the nine-tail fox!)

I opened my eyes and raised the palm of one hand boldly.

At the same time, with my other hand, I grabbed the hilt of the sword that was on my shoulder and jumped up while bouncing off.

Kurama(surprised): “......”

(.....I’m strong now. I can cancel his mystical powers.)

The wind is losing its momentum around the outstretched palm.

Feeling this, I carefully distance myself from Kurama.

Kurama: “Ohh. Did you manage to use your powers from that distance without shying away?”

Yoshino:” I did say I’ll get stronger, didn’t I?”

The memory of the last time we parted lights up in my heat like a beacon.

------FLASHBACK-----

Yoshino: "No, I mean.....the next time I meet Kurama on the battlefield, I will be stronger than I am now."

Kurama: "What?"

Yoshino: "I felt bad about what Kurama said about me. But I also thought he was right. Thank you for making me aware that I am weak."

Kurama(surprised): "...................."

------FLASHBACK ENDS------

Kurama: “Do you think we’re in the same league after you ran around Kamakura killing the petty little demons?”

Yoshino: “At least, I made an effort.” (This is the reason! This is why I love her. Even if it's not that great, she at least proved herself that she’s not entirely useless, unlike some other MCs who want the male leads to save them. I’m proud of you, Yoshino.)

(.....It was never the end of the crisis.)

Kurama could easily take my life without using his other powers.

(But still, as long as I have a life, I’ll continue to resist until the end!)

Kurama: “Don’t be so tough, your legs are shaking.”

Yoshino: “....Really? Might be from excitement.”

Kurama: “......Heh.”

(Eh?)

A faint laugh, leaks from his thin lips.

The heavy tension in the air suddenly relaxed.

Yoshino: “Kurama....?”

Kurama: “So the chicken has finally come out of its egg. Very well. I’ll see you as a living thing. Breathe freely in my presence, speak the same language, and I’ll also allow you to move as long as you live.”

(That’s.....)

Yoshino: “You won’t kill me anymore...?”

Kurama: “Not for now. Rejoice, Yoshino. You’ve made my day.”

(Ah....my name.)

I was struck by surprise before relief when he declared that he would not kill me immediately.

Kurama: “Hey, why are you not answering?”

Kurama, who has carelessly closed the distance between us, lightly touches my cheek.

Yoshino: “I was just surprised. That was the first time, you called me by my name.”

(Also I’ve never seen him laugh so softly like that.)

Kurama: “A name is just a symbol. Whatever you call it, it means nothing.”

Yoshino: “.....You’re right.”

(That’s how Kurama thinks.)

Kurama: “But I don’t call the names of things that don’t deserve to live.”

(.....!)

Yoshino: “Does that mean...you acknowledge me now?”

Kurama(glares cutely): “Don’t get too carried away.”

Yoshino: “Sorry.”

I reflexively shrug my shoulders when I’m told off....

Kurama: “....What are you smirking about?”

Yoshino: “Eh?”

(Oh no, maybe my cheeks were unconsciously loose.)

(But why?)

I was surprisingly happy to be recognized by the enemy Kurama.

Kurama: “You don’t seem to be taking me seriously, despite me telling you not to get carried away.”

Yoshino: “No, it’s nothing like that.”

Kurama: “So, what are you going to do now?”

His red ferocious eyes approached me but I unintentionally looked away.

But then he holds my cheeks and forced me to look at him, leaving me no chance to escape.

Kurama: “You’re not quite what I expected. Tell me what you want. Maybe you’ll miraculously succeed in filling my boredom again.”

(I don’t have the confidence to respond to such an unreasonable request!)

When I was wondering what to ask, I sighed a little.

Yoshino: “....I was happy when you called me by my name.”

Kurama: “...........Is that what you want?”

Yoshino: “Mm.”

Kurama: “......I don’t why you liked it, but let’s try.”

(What..?)

His neat face approached...and his lips were brought near my ears.

Kurama: “Yoshino.”

My cheeks get hotter as I listen to his honey-like voice slowly pouring into my ears.

Kurama: “Answer me. Why do you like to be called by your name?”

Yoshino(blushing): “I don’t know...

Kurama: “Are you kidding me?”

Yoshino(blushing): “Ah.”

I let out a small moan, as he kissed my ear. The impact led to heat spreading all over my body.

Yoshino(blushing): “No....wait....Mm...”

In a hurry, I pushed Kurama’s chest back.

Yoshino(blushing): “I don’t think that’s the right thing to do!”

Kurama: “Why?”

Yoshino(blushing): “What do you mean ‘why’? You should be doing these sort of things only with the person you love.”

Kurama: “Unfortunately, I have no connection with the vulgar feelings of love and affection.”

Yoshino(blushing): “But I do.”

Kurama: “I don’t know about you, but know one thing.”

He forcibly draws my waist and my heart races as it sensed a bad premonition.

Kurama: “Yoshino, from this day on, you are my prisoner. So what’s wrong in treating you however I like?”

(I should be annoyed at his arrogant attitude.)

But looking at the happy Kurama like this, for some reason I can’t fight back.

Chapter 6

#ikemen series #ikemen genjiden #ikemen genjiden kurama #ikemen mc #otome #cybird #cybird otome #cybird ikemen #main story translations

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rapuvdayear · 5 years

Video

youtube

2000: “Ghetto Qu’ran (Forgive Me)” 50 Cent (Trackmaster Ent./Columbia)

It’s been over a year since I teased the idea of doing a post about my favorite 50 Cent tracks, so I guess now is as good a time as ever to get around to it!

With the exception of maybe Kanye, I can’t think of another rapper with more raw talent whose career has been more disappointing. Obviously both Ye and Fiddy have been monstrously successful, but IMO they either burned brightly before descending into white supremacy apologia (Kanye) or never achieved their best possible trajectory (50). It’s not an accident to put them together in this way, either; just 12 years ago next month they faced off in what turned out to be a very underwhelming battle over whose album would sell better (this was back when album sales, not streaming numbers, still meant something). In many ways, it was a crossroads for each artist: Kanye dropped what I believe was his magnum opus, then followed it up with his fourth-best album, third-best album, and second-best album, before dropping off a cliff, while 50′s release basically removed him from the conversation about who was relevant in rap (“My Gun Go Off” and “I Get Money” are honorable mentions for the list below, but otherwise Curtis is entirely forgettable).

These days, 50 has gone the Ice Cube route and is probably more recognizable as an actor than as a rapper. So, it’s hard to remember that once upon a time he was the savior of gangsta rap and (co-)author of one of the 25 greatest albums of all time. He beat the odds to survive a shooting, link up with the two heaviest hitters (at the time) in the rap game, and even be included on some GOAT lists. He also essentially established the “flood the streets with mixtapes before your album drops” strategy of self-promotion that Gucci, Weezy, and even Drake would follow in the days before Soundcloud was the go-to resource for building a rep. He singlehandedly destroyed a rival’s career, launched a clothing line, video game, and music label, and made a halfway-decent biopic. And then... he just sort of petered out.

But! 50 is also responsible for some of my all-time favorite raps, which is why it’s so frustrating to me that he never lived up to the buzz surrounding him back in 2003. These are my five favorites, listed chronologically, with some commentary:

1) “Ghetto Qu’ran (Forgive Me)” (2000) Before the G-Unit days and before Eminem and Dre helped launch him to superstardom, Curtis Jackson was an up and coming rapper from Queens who had attracted the attention of another rap legend, Run-DMC’s Jam Master Jay. A mutual friend introduced 19 year-old 50 to Jay back in 1996, and the veteran producer/DJ gave him a crash course in how to write songs and signed him to his fledgling label. The business relationship didn’t work out, but it helped lead 50 to Columbia Records’ Trackmasters imprint where he recorded Power of the Dollar in 1999. However, this debut album would never see the light of day after 50 was shot nine times while sitting in a friend’s car and subsequently dropped by Columbia. In the wake of the shooting--and then later, after 50 blew the fuck up in 2003--it became a sort of “lost cult classic” among rap fans. “How To Rob” got the most attention at the time, a funny-yet-vicious song demonstrating 50′s hunger through fantasies about sticking up famous rappers and R&B stars (the song was also clearly an homage to Biggie’s unreleased “Dreams,” and provoked an oblique diss from Ghostface). But “Ghetto Qu’ran” has had a more lasting impact, primarily because of how it was rumored to be the source of 50′s shooting, Jam Master Jay’s murder, and the Ja Rule/Murder Inc. beef. While all of that intrigue is important to rap lore, it distracts from the fact that it’s a near perfect rap song from a technical perspective: a catchy hook, a fantastic beat and sample, an effortless flow, and a well-crafted story that is equal parts celebration of the Queens underworld and subtle shots at street legends. Seriously, this is akin to what traveling bards used to do in medieval Europe, what poets in Ancient Greece wrote, what west African griots did/do, and what narcocorrido artists do now. If you want to learn about the Supreme Team, Pappy Mason, the Corley Family, and the Rich Porter/Alpo crew in Harlem, then this is a good place to start; as 50 puts it, “consider this the first chapter of the ghetto’s Qu’ran.” The secondary title to this track--“Forgive Me”--has a double meaning now. It was initially a plea to forgive 50 for the pain he caused in his criminal life but in retrospect an appeal to the figures whose names he drops. Also, it’s interesting to listen to this first and then compare 50′s voice with the next four tracks: this was recorded before the shooting, which left a bullet fragment lodged in his tongue that affected his speech and gave him his now-distinctive flow.

2) “Heat” (2003) There are several standouts on Get Rich or Die Tryin’ (“Many Men,” “Back Down,” “What Up Gangsta,” “Patiently Waiting,” and “Poor Lil’ Rich” spring to mind, and I will always love “21 Questions” for the “I love you like a fat kid loves cake” line alone) but this one has always been my fave. It’s a perfect distillation of the image that 50 was trying to project when he burst onto the scene: a hood-hardened gangster who wouldn’t hesitate to do his enemies harm. And given his recent history, you could believe him, too! There’s really nothing about this song that should be praised in any way, but I’ve been thinking about the gravity of the following line a lot in the past month or so: “The summertime is a killing season/ It’s hot out this bitch, that’s a good enough reason.” Also, 50′s boast “the DA can play this motherfucking tape in court” *has* to be one of the inspirations behind this great Key & Peele sketch, right?

3) “A Baltimore Love Thing” (2005) The Massacre was incredibly disappointing on the whole. I can remember clearly sitting around with my friends in a dorm room at the Shoreland listening to it all the way through the day that it dropped, wanting to love it but slowly realizing that it wasn’t going to live up to our expectations. “Ski Mask Way” could be an honorable mention on this list, and “Piggy Bank” is kind of funny, but otherwise it’s a steaming pile of shit. “Baltimore Love Thing,” though, is a masterpiece. It’s incredibly dark, rapped from the perspective of heroin itself (sort of like what Nas’s “I Gave You Power” does for guns) in order to detail the destruction that addiction--and, by extension, drug trafficking--leaves in its wake. Even more fucked up, 50-as-heroin voices an abusive partner addressing a woman, threatening her should she ever try to leave him. For my money, “You broke my heart, you dirty bitch, I won’t forget what you did/ If you give birth, I’ll already be in love with your kids” is one of the coldest lines in the annals of rap, full stop. In the second verse, he switches to the flip side of an abuser’s mindset: “I never steer you wrong, if you hyper I make you calm/ I’ll be your incentive, your reason for you to move forward.” All in all, it’s a great concept song that shows off 50′s range as a rapper... and is a testament to what he could have been.

4) “Hustler’s Ambition” (2005) Goddamn, I fucking love everything about this song! The beat is fantastic (great sample, btw), prefiguring the sound on a future great mixtape from the G-Unit crew. 50′s flow here is flawless, arguably the best, smoothest he’s ever been. This was basically the “theme” for 2005′s Get Rich or Die Tryin’ film, and tells the story of his come up in the drug game (or, at least, 50′s version of his carefully constructed hagiography). The lyrics are the true gems here, so I’ll just let a few of the standouts speak for themselves:

“Check my logic: fiends don’t like seeds in they weed, shit/ Send me them seeds, I’ll grow ‘em what they need”

“I sell anything, I’m a hustler, I know how to grind/ Step on grapes, put it in water, and tell you it’s wine”

“I made plans to make it, a prisoner of the state/ Now I can invite your ass out to my estate”

“Pour Cristal in the blender, make a protein shake”

and finally

“The feds watch me, icy, they can’t stop me/ Racists pointing at me, ‘Look at *****race’: Hello!”

5) “Ghetto Like A Motherfucker” (2011) I remember first encountering this track on a Tumblr compilation (I think?) called Don’t Fuck This Up, Curtis! and allowing myself to get excited that the old 50 was back! As the compilation’s name implies, around that time 50 had been releasing a string of online-only singles that were better than anything he’d put out in five or so years, and so there was some hope that he’d soon be making a triumphant return to the rap game. Sadly, this was not to be. But I still bang this track every month or so. The idea here was that 50 had written something, set it to a very sparse, stripped-down beat, and posted it online as an invitation for DIY rap producers to play with it and layer their own compositions on top of it. In that sense, it represented a melange of rap’s earliest roots--dudes spitting over vinyl cuts in basements and parks, just fucking around and having fun--and the possibilities afforded by the digital age and rap’s embrace of online platforms for mixing and remixing material (on a side note, I like to think of this as part of 21st century rap’s “punk rock” aesthetic, and would argue that this genre has done it better than any other). As with “Hustler’s Ambition,” “Baltimore Love Thing,” and “Ghetto Qu’ran,” this track gives 50 a chance to really showcase his talents as a writer and a rapper. The lyrics are as grimy as the beat, painting a picture of urban poverty and pre-fame 50, and 50 switches up his flow at multiple points throughout. Here are some of my favorite lines:

“Slim chance I’ma go back to killing roaches/ Be quiet, you can hear the rats in the wall/ Make you wanna pump crack ‘til you stack racks”

“Dice game, shake ‘em up, praying’ for a 6/ The wolves out there hungry, they lookin’ for a lick”

“****** pissed on the staircase, in the elevator/ Now I’m pissed cuz I’m starting to smell like piss, player”

and

“All a ***** need is a block and a connect/ And a box of 9 MMs to load in the TEC.”

50′s last two studio albums--Before I Self Destruct and Animal Ambition--honestly weren’t half-bad; I would venture so far as to say that they were both better than The Massacre and Curtis. But for 50 it was too little, too late, really. Too many rappers had come along since then doing what he did, only better and fresher. This is a Migos world now; we’re just living in it. And so, I’m left to ponder what could have been.

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hethrewmyheartinthecut · 6 years

Text

Esme x Reader

@peakystitches said:

can you please ship me with someone omg?? i'll give you freedom to choose WHOEVER ok, i trust you <3 ok so; I'm a stubborn, humoristic 19-year-old with a passion for art and music. i LOVE nature aka i live on the countryside/seaside of norway so i have no choice, aand i am v talkative and i love discussing things like history, literature and politics

(Note: this is weirdly lopsided and disproportionate and I’m just so sorry tbh it’s 90% intro and 10% romance and I am a MESS forgive me)

You knew Esme since you both were tiny, though not particularly well. Perhaps it’s more accurate to say that you knew of her. Your family was among the 300 that lived in close-knit community of the Black Patch under the rule of Esau Smith, and Esme’s family was constantly traveling, but sometimes they’d settle temporarily in the Black Patch if they were down on their luck, or during the winter, when times were particularly hard. And besides that, there were always fairs, and weddings, and the massive unbroken chain of Romani gossip connecting vardos all over the country. So even if her curly hair and lovely face were mostly a blur in your memory, by fifteen you knew more or less everything about her, including that she’d beaten Ronnie Smits in a horserace, and that she was rumored to always have a knife in her pocket, and that she’d sworn she would never marry. That last fact was interesting, but not enough to make you seek her out.

After all, you were pretty busy in your early teenage years. You felt between the urge to ramble about, exploring the deeper corners of the park and paddling through the canals beyond. You got your dress torn up by black briars, your hair cut short to prevent it tangling in low-hanging branches, your mother worried almost all the time. But it was a good life.

At around thirteen, though, you happened across a copy of A Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, by pure chance, having traded it for a hair ribbon you know would be wasted on you. Which pretty much changed your entire existence. You became obsessed with the book, the way it let you into worlds you’d never been to before, the feeling of freedom that came with that. Before that book, you felt like there was nothing outside the Black Patch you much cared to know about--cities were ugly and dirty and full of gadjes that couldn’t cook to save their lives--but fuck, cities had books.

After that, it was only a matter of time and much pleading before Esau finally let you ride along with him to oversee the handling of Letty Smits’s court case. You behaved so well--suspiciously well, actually--that he let you come with him on other errands after that, legal arguments mostly, but sometimes dealing with other business, too. You were always so quiet and so grateful that he either didn’t notice or didn’t care about the two things that comprised your city education: books and rage.

Books, because you devoured every shelf in the library like it was your second job, faking a name and address easy to get your card, becoming friends with all the librarians. Rage, because the court cases were usually bullshit, and built on the kind of witnesses you wouldn’t trust to watch a good dog, much less trust with the five years in the life of a person getting locked up. Rage also because no matter how good Esau was as a horse dealer, he never got the respect he deserved from the toffs that bought the animals he’d taken such care with. And when Esau died in 1901, with you at the age of sixteen, those two things combined in one of the most potent events of your life: the summer election of his successor.

The camp swelled to almost twice its normal size with visitors, mostly there to mourn Esau’s passing, pay their respects, and attend the funeral, but also there to observe the rise to power of whoever would replace him. Esme’s family, the Lees, were among them.

Almost immediately, you clashed over who should get to vote on Esau’s successor. At first, it was just a cluster of you younger ones sitting around a fire, shooting the shit about who got married, who was going to get married, etc. But then the matter of the election came up, and it was mostly you arguing with Aishe that only permanent dwellers should get the vote, Esme sitting back and saying nothing. At the last minute, her aunt called her away, and she sauntered off, though not before giving a parting shot, exquisitely articulate, that made your ears burn. It settled the debate for the night.

The next morning, you got up ready to fight her. Not with fists, of course, but she was wrong. Why should someone who only came by the Patch once every two years get as much of a say in its future as someone who lived and died by its very existence? And why should she care? She’d said only last year that France was better, that we’d all be better off uprooting and crossing the Channel to a better life, that--

“Do you want Henty to win or not?” Esme demanded.

“What?” You had built up a rhythm. You had a speech all planned out. This was not in the speech.

“The first Queen of the Black Patch. You can’t deny she’d be good at it. Or are you one of those girls that think women aren’t suited?”

“How the fuck is that relevant?”

“Look around.” Esme gestured. “Those on the Black Patch have a loyalty to her, yes, but they’re also traditionalists.”

“Some of them.”

“Enough of them. And they may well vote for Tobar Mason. He’s kind enough, but he’s too fucking complacent. If there’s a snake in the grass, he’ll not notice until it’s too late. Is that what you want?”

“Visitors are hardly much different,” you manage to say.

“But three dozen of them are direct relations of Henty, and will vote on that alone.”

“The Irish ones.”

“Exactly.”

You both look over the camp, turning the numbers over in your head. Fuck, you didn’t want to say this, but.

“You’re right.”

“I am.” With a smirk, Esme flicked her braid over her shoulder and began to saunter away.

“Wait!” you called after her.

“What?”

“Is that it?”

“Is what it?”

You wanted a round two and that was all.

Later that night, you asked around, and found that Esme was still sticking to the oath that she’d never get married. That was a relief, for reasons you didn’t wish to examine too closely. It made sense that she’d need to warn men off, of course. Who wouldn’t want to marry her? Behind the sharp eyes and even sharper tongue, there was a mind, and of course beyond that, her dark hair seemed to have a life of its own and her body bloomed curves that made you, what was it, envious?

You found ways to be around her as time went on, even though you couldn’t find ways to talk to her properly. You were appalled to find that when you and she did talk, it was in snippets of politics, arguing back and forth like siblings, a tone you couldn’t seem to maneuver your way out of. She had a more agile tongue, but you had a broader base of knowledge. She’d seen more of the world, but you had studied more of it. She had the most luscious dark hair that refused to stay contained and you ran your hand through your own smooth mane if she ever looked at you for too long. And talked faster.

As the votes were announced and Henty made queen, she looked at you, cutting through the crowd, victorious but not smug, smiling like you were in on a joke, and. And you wished the funeral wasn’t already over, wished you had paid more attention to your gossipy aunt, wished you could figure out a way to hold onto her. Perhaps that was why you were the only one that seemed to notice when she slipped away from all the post-election revelry, climbing the shoulder of a high hill even as the drinks still flowed and the music went on. It wasn’t like her at all.

You followed her, of course. It was what you did, what you’d become used to. When you crested the hill, and found her sitting just slightly over the other side, you both had a decent enough view of the campground to the west and stark view of the moonlight getting cut to pieces by a thousand trees, turning the leaf-strewn forest floor into something like lace. The murmur of the river’s dark waters as it cut away to the south, where it would soon rejoin the canals, made the spot seem dangerous, delicious.

“Funny you should find this spot,” you said, and almost winced at yourself. Again, again, the slightly aggressive. For no reason at all. “This is one of my favorite spots, I mean. Just close enough, but nobody will ever think to look up and try to see me.”

“Us.”

“Yes.” You sat down next to her, imitating her hunched pose, hugging your knees. Neither of you were fragile twigs, but the night winds were nothing gentle, either. She moved a little closer to you. You checked yourself halfway to a pointed comment about her lack of a coat and stumbled on something slightly, slightly less prickly.

“What are you doing?”

Her dark eyes continued in their slow sweep across the landscape below. She didn’t speak, and for a moment, you thought she wouldn’t reply. “Remembering it.”

“Why?”

She turned and gave you a sharp look of suspicion. You allowed a gentle curiosity to show on your face, and she subsided. The way the leaves rustled...it was some kind of a softer night. Maybe you were lucky, maybe she was just tired. Her reply was an honest one.

“It’s the only place I’ve ever seen twice from the inside.”

“From the inside?”

“Owning it, having it, belonging to it. Like a home, even if it’s not legally ours.”

“It’s a home.”

She said nothing.

You added, “Yours, if you want it.”

Esme makes a soft sound in reply, and then the night wind sharpens. She shivers. “There was this house in Lichfield...I thought we could stay this time. Dad said he had it all sorted this time. It had a green front door, a stove in the kitchen, and space for horses...Now he says there's another place.”

“A river’s not the same as a stove,” you acknowledged, “but you can come back to it.”

“Yeah.” She seemed satisfied with being understood.

But you weren't satisfied. You picked at the long grass, braided it together with restless fingers, finally lay on your back with a bit of a flop and looked up at the stars. After a moment’s curious look, she followed suit, a stray curl of hair brushing against your shoulder.

“When is the next time I'm going to see you?” you said. Things felt right with her, for the first time, like your cracked the puzzle, and now she was going away. It seemed particularly cruel to have it on the last night, of all times.

“You know it's not up to me.”

“Still. You should come back soon.”

She turned her head to you, pale cheek pillowed on her dark hair. “Okay. Are you going to miss me, or are you going to miss arguing with me?”

“Do I have to choose?”

A smile broke out over her face that made the corners of her eyes crinkle up in real affection. “No.”

You took a long, slow breath. “I'm going to miss you.”

“Okay.” She reached out and tucked a strand of your hair behind your ear, but didn't draw her hand back, fingertips lingering on your jaw.

“Okay.”

When you kissed her, she smelled like wildflowers and the earth. Her glorious hair was so soft under your hands, and presently her dress was soft underneath you too.

#Esme x Reader #Esme Shelby #ask games #prompts #peakystitches #peaky blinders imagine #peaky blinders fanfiction #peaky blinders #peaky blinders fanfic #mine

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dmoshersad · 5 years

Text

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Annotated Bibliography English 1120

One of the biggest differences I noticed when moving to New Mexico for university was the sun every day. Coming from the Pacific North West I was and am accustomed to many grey rainy days. This being said, there are many people suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder and for them the sun and clouds can impact whether or not they have a good day or a bad day.

House, Lisa A., and Barry Walton. “The Effectiveness of Light Therapy for College Student Depression.” Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, vol. 32, no. 1, Jan. 2018, pp. 42-52. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AN=EJ116943&site=eds-live&scope=site.

The article written by Lisa House and Barry Walton, “Effectiveness of Light Therapy for College Student Depression” evaluates a research study done on college students in the Northeast. All of the students that participated had either depression or a form of depression called Seasonal Affective Disorder which is depression based on the season. The participants of the study were required to sit with in front of a 10 000-lux light box for 15-30 minutes every morning between 8am and 11am for four weeks. The authors explain that the light box therapy is most effective in the morning as symptoms of depression and anxiety are most commonly felt in the morning after waking up. After the four weeks of light box therapy there were very positive results; 98% were “highly satisfied with light box therapy.” (House;Walton) The “average pretreatment depression score for all students indicated severe depression and the average posttreatment depression score was in the minimal depression range.”(House; Walton) In fact, even with a struggling college budget, 35% of the participants in the study chose to purchase their own light box after the study was over.

Miller, Michael Craig. “Seasonal Affective Disorder: Bring on the Light.” Harvard Health Blog, 30 Oct. 2015, https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/seasonal-affective-disorder-bring-on-the-light-201212215663.

In the article “Seasonal Affective Disorder: bring on the light” the author explains what Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is and how the treatment of artificial light can improve the conditions. Miller discusses the fact that symptoms of seasonal depression worsen as the days get shorter and there is more time spent in the dark. Some symptoms and feelings associated with the shorter days for people with SAD include loneliness, worthlessness and fatigue along with long term issues of obesity, lack of exercise, and difficulties in relationships and employment. Miller then goes on to explain how light therapy works by hitting the retina in your eye and connecting to a particular part of the brain; regulating something called the circadian rhythm which essentially is your internal sleep schedule. The process of light therapy includes placing yourself in front of the “light box” as soon as you wake up for approximately half an hour. Light therapy is still being watched closely in terms of its use as an antidepressant but in the time being is helping many people boost their mood.

Taylor, Julie. “Does Weather Affect Your Mood?” WebMD, WebMD, https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/can-rainy-days-really-get-you-down#1.

The article “Does Weather Affect Your Mood?” the author addresses the rumor that many people believe; cloudy or rainy days can make people feel down or sad. Taylor explains that when people are often in dreary, dark and rainy climates it often tempts people to stay inside and feel down. Taylor had a few ways she suggests avoiding these feelings such as getting outdoors because while it may be rainy and cloudy you are still able to get exposure to UV rays outdoors which supposedly impact your circadian rhythm and can improve peoples mood. The circadian rhythm is affected by the UV rays because not getting UV rays tells your internal clock it may be time to sleep. There are many activities that people are still able to do inside to improve moods such as playing card games, board games or watching a funny television show. One very effective way Taylor advises to boost ones mood and release endorphins is exercising which may seem difficult in your house but it is still possible to move indoors.

“Unraveling the Sun's Role in Depression.” WebMD, WebMD, 5 Dec. 2002, https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20021205/unraveling-suns-role-in-depression.

The article “Unraveling the Sun’s Role in Depression” addresses the link of the chemical serotonin and depression. Serotonin is a chemical produced by your body and has been proven to be a mood-raising chemical. This article mentions a study that was performed on people with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in order to measure their serotonin levels throughout the year and observe the different factors involved. One thing that became very obvious was that sunny days, whether hot or cold, provided much higher levels of serotonin than did a cloudy or even overcast day. The article explains that an individual suffering from SAD is deficient in the chemical serotonin not in the fluid that circulates and surrounds the brain but in the blood vessels that lead directly to the brain. For individuals struggling with SAD sunlight is essential and a very good way to boost serotonin levels and therefore improve mood and other symptoms such as lack of concentration, fatigue or lack of interest in participating in daily activities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHLg3EIH1xY

Reflection

1. The purpose of this project was to go more in depth to my research topics by finding different sources and making sense of what they all have to say about my topic. Gathering information about my topic from different sources allows me to get a broader view and more perspective on my topic therefore becoming an expert in that area I am researching.

2. The intended audience for this project would be people or other researchers interested in my topic; therefore, in my case it could be individuals or loved ones of people suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder or people living in very gloomy climates that think this could be a possibility. This being said, I knew an online tumblr post could be a helpful medium because they are easy to share with others as well as comment and do not require much effort for a depressed person to find at all. I also decided having pictures as a visual aspect would be a helpful tool for readers to more easily comprehend the scientific pieces behind my research rather than just hearing the same concepts being repeated without them having any meaning to the readers.

3. My initial impression about Tumblr was that it was a very artsy way website where people posted neat craft ideas, home decor, makeup or diy. After spending more time on the platform I realized that there was much more to it than that because I found many blog scientific blog posts as well as political or just informational in general. I thought about simply using word with pictures but decided that there was more creative ways to do it so I began to look for websites where people post blog posts and found the most common one, Tumblr. To be completely honest the reason I chose Tumblr was because there were several other blog post makers but they all cost money and Tumblr was free!

4. One challenge I faced with technology would be formatting my project on the multimodal platform. It was difficult to transfer my work from a word document to a website blog. When I copy pasted my work from the word document on to Tumblr none of the paragraphs or pictures were aligned properly or in the right spot. In order to fix it I had to retype some parts out and copy paste little chunks of my work at a time. The easiest part about technology is definitely being able to find my sources online rather than going to the library and searching for where to find a book that has any relevance to my topic. I like being able to find many sources at the push of a button and incorporate whichever ideas stick with me when looking through all of the different sources and quickly move on to another one if the current one doesn’t fit.

5. Something I would like my instructor to know about my process and choices is that I originally started with the idea that weather alters peoples moods. This being said, I found my topic to be a little bit vague and I struggled to find concrete proof or scientific evidence that this was the case. This is when I switched to focus on Seasonal Affective Disorder because it is recognized in the medical field; therefore, having more studies, and was still within the main area I wanted to focus on. I did not know anything about Seasonal Affective Disorder so this project has made me a more well-rounded person.

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sheminecrafts · 4 years

Text

Resso, ByteDance’s music streaming app, officially launches in India, sans Tencent-backed Universal Music

TikTok, the hugely popular social media app, found a lot of early traction by giving users a way to create funny lip-synced versions of clips from well-known songs and then share them with friends (its predecessor in the West was even called Musically). Now at long last, TikTok’s owner, China’s ByteDance, is doubling down on the music connection with the release of its first standalone full music streaming app, starting first in India.

Today, the company is launching Resso, which describes itself as a “social music streaming app”: users are encouraged to share lyrics, comments and other user-generated content with each other, alongside full-length tracks of music that they can consume and also share with others. And the music begins to auto-play as soon as you open the app.

Resso is not disclosing how many tracks are on the service at launch, but it notes that it has secured licensing deals with Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, Merlin and Beggars Group, as well as big publishers specifically in the Indian market, including T-Series, Saregama, Zee Music, YRF Music, Times Music, Tips, Venus and Shemaroo, as well as Speed Records, Anand Audio, Lahiri Music, Divo and Muzik 247.

You might have clocked one notable holdout in that list: Universal Music, one of the “big three” global music publishers. Resso would not comment on why it has yet to ink a deal with Universal, but it’s notable that one of biggest investors in the music company is Tencent — an arch competitor to ByteDance in China that took a 10% stake in Universal at the end of last year that is valued at around $3.4 billion.

Unlike its sister app TikTok, which is free to use and is built on an ad-based model, Resso is following the freemium route that a number of other big music apps, such as Spotify, have taken. A free tier includes ads and limits streaming quality to 128 kbps; a premium, ad-free tier boosts streaming to 256 kbps, includes downloads and the ability to skip tracks and costs INR 99/month ($1.35/month) on Android and INR 119/month ($1.62) on iOS. Resso is not commenting on why the iOS price is higher.

The launch comes about two months after Resso opened up for testing in two markets, India and Indonesia (it remains in test mode in the latter). The choice to focus first on India was to tap into the country’s massive, youthful population of mobile users.

“India has the largest population of GenZ as compared to any other country globally,” Hari Nair, Head of Music Content & Partnership, Resso India, told TechCrunch. “With the core of Resso’s target audience being GenZ, it is only logical for Resso to make its debut in India. We will discuss additional markets when appropriate.”

Resso’s Nair at a briefing with media in New Delhi

India is music to ByteDance’s ears

TikTok is already huge in India — around 200 million users as of last October and expects to add another 100 million this year. But even without a clear TikTok connection — the app is published by “Moon Video” on Google Play, for example, and there are no obvious pushes to prioritise TikTok shares on the app — the test version has already seen some traction.

Resso has been installed by approximately 1 million App Store and Google Play users to date in India and Indonesia, research firm SensorTower told TechCrunch, with 600,000 of these installs in India, and 400,000 in Indonesia.

“All our marketing efforts are focused towards building a strong community of passionate music fans,” Nair said. “The idea is to have a digital first approach where in we identify the right set of audience groups and reach out to them.”

The market for music streaming is very competitive in India — where Resso will compete against not just Spotify, but Gaana, JioSaavn, Apple Music and YouTube Music, among others. Even so, partly because of the success of TikTok, Resso was highly anticipated. It comes after months of rumors stretching back almost a year, as well as a number of music licensing deals to expand the catalog — critical not just for Resso itself but for sister app TikTok, whose existing deals last year approached expiration.

While a lot of the currently streaming services in India offer near identical catalogs, Resso is banking on its ability to convince users to “express and engage.”

The app, by default, rolls somewhat relevant videos in the background whenever a song is playing. Users can comment and also read lyrics of songs. Resso’s user interface is designed to persuade users to share lyrics directly on other platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and of course, TikTok.

And alongside more social features wrapped around the music listening experience, Resso’s other differentiating feature is to push genre-based discovery more prominently, organising its music library by names that it says “address the tastes of today’s generation of music enthusiasts,” such as alternative, experimental, fusion, post rock and indie rock as well as more specific categories like popgaze, bow pop (I had to look this one up), indie psych pop and ambient.

As with services like Spotify aiming to build features also for artists in a two-sided marketplace, Resso is also dabbling in this area, noting that it “empowers artists to reinvent their catalog by providing a fresh way for fans to engage with their music and introduces them to new listeners.”

On the flip side, ByteDance may soon find out just how difficult it is to get Indians to pay for content. Resso’s pricing in India is in line with those of Apple Music, YouTube Music, Spotify, Times Internet-owned Gaana, and Reliance Jio’s JioSaavn.

Jayanth Kolla, chief analyst at research firm Convergence Catalyst, said there still is a big room for growth for music streaming services in India. “More than half of internet users in the country are yet to join this bandwagon,” he said.

But none of these services have made significant inroads in their search for paying subscribers. Bloomberg reported in December that YouTube Music / Premium, had amassed over 800,000 subscribers in India, more than any other music streaming service.

And on top of this, according to one estimate, there is not a ton of money to be made in India currently. According to research firm Statista, music streaming services in India will clock about $244 million in revenue this year, compared to the much mature U.S. market, where they are estimated to generate $4.5 billion this year

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technicalsolutions88 · 4 years

Link

Unlike its sister app TikTok, which is free to use and is built on an ad-based model, Resso is following the freemium route that a number of other big music apps, such as Spotify, have taken. A free tier includes ads and limits streaming quality to 128 Kbps; a premium, ad-free tier boosts streaming to 256 Kbps, includes downloads and the ability to skip tracks and costs INR 99/month ($1.35/month) on Android and INR 119/month ($1.62) on iOS. Resso is not commenting on why the iOS price is higher.

Resso’s Nair at a briefing with media in New Delhi

India is music to ByteDance’s ears

While a lot of the currently streaming services in India offer near identical catalogs, Resso is banking on its ability to convince users to “express and engage.”

from Social – TechCrunch https://ift.tt/2vtiN0D Original Content From: https://techcrunch.com

#Technical Solutions #SEO #Online Earning #Youtube Marketing #Android Developer

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computer-basics · 4 years

Link

You might have clocked one notable holdout in that list: Universal Music, one of the “big three” global music publishers. Resso would not comment on why it has yet to ink a deal with Universal, but it’s notable that one of biggest investors in the music company is Tencent — an arch competitor to ByteDance in China, which took a 10% stake in Universal at the end of last year that is valued at around $3.4 billion.

Unlike its sister app TikTok, which is free to use and is built on an ad-based model, Resso is following the freemium route that a number of other big music apps, such as Spotify, have taken. A free tier includes ads and limits streaming quality to 128 Kbps; a premium, ad-free tier boosts streaming to 256 Kbps, includes downloads and the ability to skip tracks and costs INR 99/month ($1.35/month) on Android and INR 119/month ($1.62) on iOS. Resso is not commenting on why the iOS price is higher.

TikTok is already huge in India — around 200 million users currently and expected to add another 100 million this year. But even without a clear TikTok connection — the app is published by “Moon Video” on Google Play, for example, and there are no obvious pushes to prioritise TikTok shares on the app — the test version has already seen some traction. Resso has been installed by approximately 1 million App Store and Google Play users to date in India and Indonesia, according to SensorTower, with 600,000 of these installs in India, and 400,000 in Indonesia.

The market for music streaming is very competitive in India — where Resso will compete against not just Spotify, but Gaana, JioSaavn, Apple Music and YouTube Music, among others. Even so, partly because of the success of TikTok, Resso was highly anticipated. It comes after months of rumors stretch back almost a year, as well as a number of music licensing deals to expand the catalog — critical not just for Resso itself but for sister app TikTok, whose existing deals last year approaching expiration.

While a lot of the currently streaming services in India offer near identical catalogs, Resso is banking on its ability to convince users to “express and engage.”

https://ift.tt/goU3rj from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/2vtiN0D via IFTTT

#IFTTT #Blogger

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gossipgirl2019-blog · 6 years

Text

The Peacock Patriarchy

New Post has been published on https://gr8gossip.xyz/the-peacock-patriarchy/

The Peacock Patriarchy

By David Usborne

Aug 5, 2018

It was a little before dawn on the last Wednesday in November, and the robin-egg blue of the slowly brightening sky heralded a fine day—good news for NBC as it prepared for the evening’s Christmas- tree-lighting special, hosted again by then- fifty-nine-year-old Today anchor Matt Lauer, at Rockefeller Center, the network’s home. Yet as the crews for that morning’s broadcast filed sleepily into Studio 1A, where Today is shot, rumors had begun circulating. Lauer hadn’t been to hair and makeup. He wasn’t in his dressing room. His car hadn’t shown. Where in the world was he?

Only a select few were in the know. Savannah Guthrie, who’d cohosted Today since 2012, received a call while en route to the studio. Hoda Kotb’s phone had rung earlier. She’d be cohosting with Guthrie from the top of the show that day instead of starting at her usual ten o’clock hour. The digital clocks around Studio 1A read 06:45—fifteen minutes until airtime—when executive producer Don Nash, whose youthful mien belied his almost three decades at the network, gathered everyone around. (Weeks later, in a post-Lauer purge, Nash would be ousted and replaced by Libby Leist, reportedly a favorite of Guthrie’s.) In shock himself, Nash simply read a statement that was to be released minutes later to the press in the name of Andy Lack, chairman of NBC News.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

NBC had received a complaint from a colleague about “inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace by Matt Lauer,” it began, going on to say that the network had “reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident.” Then the bomb drop: “We’ve decided to terminate his employment.”

Everyone behind Studio 1A’s glass windows was aghast. A few wept. Were they really cutting Lauer loose?

Getty Images

He had been the breakfast company of millions for two decades, a trusted public persona, and the marquee draw for a franchise that earned the network hundreds of millions per year. He was the face of the Olympics and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, “the hunk next door” with a reported salary of $20 million a year, an apartment on the Upper East Side, and three properties on Long Island (a $36.5 million compound in North Haven, a house in Sag Harbor, and a forty-acre horse farm in Water Mill)—not to mention access to chartered helicopters to whisk him from his various homes to 30 Rock and back. Last year, he purchased the lease on a sixteen-thousand- acre ranch in New Zealand. He attended all the right social events and knew all the right people. On top of that, he was widely seen as an entirely professional coworker, always ready with a kind word. And now he was out.

Barely thirty-six hours earlier, the colleague in question (who remains anonymous) had arrived at NBC headquarters to meet with the network’s human-resources and legal departments. She was accompanied by Ari Wilkenfeld, a famously determined civil- rights lawyer with Wilkenfeld, Herendeen & Atkinson in Washington, D. C. Lauer had drawn her into an improper sexual relationship, she alleged. The details were kept quiet, though they were relayed by necessity to the top brass who’d have to decide Lauer’s fate, including Lack.

It had already been a rough year for the network. The previous September, Lauer had received near-universal criticism for his interviews with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. (The New York Times called them a “farce.”) In early October 2016, a tape was discovered in the archives of Access Hollywood, part of the NBC family, that had then-candidate Trump boasting about using his celebrity to take advantage of women. Its existence was eventually reported not by NBC but by The Washington Post. Then in October 2017, MSNBC’s Mark Halperin, a fixture on the Sunday talk shows, was fired for sexual misconduct.

On Tuesday, November 28—his last day on the job—Lauer had been on set as usual. Among the topics discussed: the engagement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and preparations for the tree lighting. Later that day, HR and Legal confronted him: Were the allegations true? Lauer admitted that he’d had sexual relations with the complainant and nothing more. But that was enough. It fell to Lack, up to that point a close friend, to go to Lauer’s eleven-room Lenox Hill apartment that same evening to tell him not to come to work the next morning, or ever again. He would be denied the $30 million reportedly remaining on his contract.

NBC was constrained from divulging any confidential elements of the first complainant’s story in public. That put the network in a bind. How to justify its treatment of Lauer to staff members without offering evidence? In the end, Lack reportedly would offer one clarifying nugget as he briefed shocked senior Today staffers in the hours after Lauer’s firing: The liaison had begun at the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia in 2014.

“NBC has a duty to maintain confidentiality,” Wilkenfeld said in an interview on Today two weeks later, “and they have not done a good job of doing that. They know exactly what they’ve done, and they need to stop.”

Lauer retreated to his home in the Hamptons while his wife, Annette Roque, who is filing for divorce, left for Denmark. His exile was swift and stunning—another embarrassment for NBC.

One midsummer morning in 2000, Lauer used Today’s internal-messaging system to get the attention of a production assistant twenty years his junior named Addie Zinone. “I hope you won’t drag me to personnel for saying this,” he wrote. “But you look fantastic.”

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Zinone, who’d been a star athlete at Temple University in Philadelphia, was soon to leave Today to become a newsreader at a West Virginia affiliate. Her last gig for Today was to be the 2000 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, a few weeks away. Not long after getting the first message, she received a second. “OK . . . NOW YOU’RE KILLING ME,” it started, in capital letters. “YOU LOOK GREAT TODAY! A BIT TOUGH TO CONCENTRATE.”

The telegenic anchors of the post-Cronkite era were rock stars of the broadcast world, and many acted like it. When Nightline’s Ted Koppel gave a eulogy for former ABC News anchor Peter Jennings in 2005, he touched, albeit coyly, on his late colleague’s prowess in the “bedroom department.” “Peter was famously, at times notoriously, attractive to women,” Koppel told the twenty-two hundred mourners at Carnegie Hall. “Even so, he only married four of them.”

Roque and Lauer in the Hamptons in 2017.

Kevin Mazur

Lauer, who paid his dues on local TV before being tapped as a Today guest host in 1993, had also earned something of a reputation. “Women were throwing themselves at his feet,” notes a senior source at the network who counts himself among those still willing to defend him, although not publicly, as someone unfairly sacrificed on the altar of #MeToo. “He was Matt Lauer—he was a star.” Rumors of his extramarital affairs with other stars, among them NBC’s own Natalie Morales, would periodically appear in the gossip columns. (These rumors have been strenuously denied by both Lauer and Morales.)

And there were whispers about his marriage to Roque, a Dutch-born former model. After being set up on a blind date, the couple had married in Bridgehampton in 1998, ten years after Lauer’s first marriage, to Nancy Alspaugh, had ended in divorce. In 2006, Roque filed divorce papers accusing him of “extremely controlling” behavior and “cruel and inhumane treatment,” but subsequently withdrew them.

“This is Matt-freaking-Lauer. Right?” says Zinone, now a forty-two-year-old mother of two who lives in California. “At the height of his success. He can do no wrong.”

Lauer had booked a quiet table at Palio, a now-defunct Italian power-lunch spot in midtown Manhattan, in July 2000, and Zinone agreed to join him.

“You became such friends with everybody else but not with me,” she recalls him saying, referring to Today costars Ann Curry, Al Roker, and Katie Couric. “And it gets into ‘Oh, I’m such an old guy.’ He turned it on so that I would sort of be like, ‘Oh, Matt, come on, you know that’s not true.’

“I was like perfect prey,” Zinone says.

Within minutes of their return to company headquarters, Lauer messaged again, pleading with her to rendezvous in a room over Studio 1A. By then fully aware of what he was up to, Zinone hesitated. She replied, mentioning Lauer’s wife. But he insisted; a car would be arriving for him imminently. “A nervous wreck,” she assented, and the two began what would turn into a weeks-long affair.

On another occasion, he summoned her to his office, even though his assistant sat just outside. “He pushed the button to shut the door. And then I was like, ‘Matt, [she] is out there’. . . but it’s like it didn’t matter. I mean, nothing happened. He tried. But I was like, ‘Oh, no. No. No.’. . . Like, ‘Are you kidding? There are people right outside.’ ” (It is now well established that the button at his desk was a common feature in NBC’s offices enabling all executives and top talent to swing doors shut but not lock them, as some early news reports alleged. The devices were installed by GE when it owned NBC.)

NBC NewsWire

As planned, Zinone left for West Virginia and a career that would alternate between TV anchoring and military service, including two tours in Iraq.

Soon after the affair began, and again in 2006, just after Lauer had been served with divorce papers, tabloid reporters approached her with questions about the Today host. More than once, she says, she was offered money to speak. In 2006, Zinone asked if Lauer had a private email they could use to communicate rather than his NBCUniversal address.

“Nope, this is it,” Zinone remembers him saying. “What’s up?”

“I was like, ‘Wow.’ It just shows that over a period of time, from my perspective, he either felt entitled or never felt like he was going to be called out or face consequences for it.”

In 2009, she returned to her alma mater, Temple, to be inducted into its journalism hall of fame for her work in Iraq as part of the Army’s media unit. Lauer was there to receive a media-excellence award. They exchanged hellos and made awkward small talk.

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More straggly on top than he used to be, his famously luxuriant eyebrows now tinged with gray, Andy Lack was surely struggling with déjà vu when in March 2015 he found himself riding the elevators at 30 Rock once again. In 1993, he’d been hired as president of news to right the ship at Dateline following a scandal involving pickup trucks rigged with explosives for a segment about GM vehicles catching fire. Now, after a decade at Sony and Bloomberg, he was back—this time with the grander title of chairman of NBC News—to manage another crisis.

Andy Lack, Nicolle Wallace, Noah Oppenheim attend the 2018 White House Correspondents Dinner NBC News & MSNBC After-Party.

MSNBC

A month before Lack’s rehiring—and just three years after the bungled firing and tearful farewell of Curry, Meredith Vieira’s Today successor—Nightly News anchor Brian Williams was suspended for making up details about his reporting trips. Lack gave the anchor job to Lester Holt in June and parked Williams at MSNBC, with opportunities to return to the main network on special news days. Holt has proved to be a credit to the network, and Williams has attracted no further controversy. Lack’s next big move—spending $69 million to hire Megyn Kelly away from Fox News—did not pay off so well. After much initial fanfare, Kelly’s Sunday-night magazine show has nearly fizzled into oblivion, and ratings for the nine o’clock hour of Today, which she now presides over, haven’t been much better. Nothing, however, has tarnished Lack’s reputation, or that of NBC, more than the events of the past year. Most of us learned of Lauer’s fate from Guthrie and Kotb, who had no choice but to begin that Wednesday broadcast with an explanation of his absence. Among the first to react was President Donald Trump. “Wow, Matt Lauer was just fired from NBC for ‘inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace,’ ” he tweeted. “But when will the top executives at NBC & Comcast be fired for putting out so much Fake News. Check out Andy Lack’s past!” NBCNews.com dutifully reported the president’s tweet, but it excised those last five words. (Precisely what Trump was insinuating remains unclear.)

The scandal broke just under two months after Harvey Weinstein had been exposed, and many more heads would roll in the coming weeks. Damage control was everything. One of the first steps the company took was to sever all ties with Lauer and scrub from its websites any promotional materials featuring the former Today host. “That was all they cared about,” one source who’s still on the digital team recalls. “No one for one second thought to ask us how we were doing.”

In a new statement, NBC insisted “unequivocally” that “current NBC News management” had known nothing about Lauer’s violations until that Monday. In truth, sources at the network say they had been hearing rumors for more than a month. A few weeks earlier, three news outlets, including Variety, had begun looking into Lauer’s behavior. In one instance, an NBC employee found a Post-it note from a National Enquirer reporter on the front door of their home.

“Matt was confronted by several of us directly, on different occasions,” one senior NBC source confirms. “We sat down with him, looked him in the eye, and said, ‘Is there anything you can think of that even you don’t consider to be harassment that might fall into this category?’ And every one of those times he said there’s nothing. On a couple of those occasions, he said, ‘I’ve been racking my brain.’ Those were his words.”

NBC insisted “unequivocally” that “current NBC News management” had known nothing about Lauer’s violations until that Monday. In truth, sources at the network say they had been hearing rumors for more than a month.

So it seems they weren’t quite blindsided. But what about all the years prior? “People know,” says journalist and media critic Ken Auletta, who has covered the network for more than twenty-five years. “People [inside the network] know a lot more than people outside do and gossip a lot more and resent a lot more (a) because they think it’s wrong or (b) because they’re jealous or (c) because how the fuck is this guy getting away with it?” Zinone is also sure people at the network knew. Years ago, when she was still in Iraq, a colleague at Today proposed doing a segment on her. A producer, she says, not only nixed the idea but also bad-mouthed Zinone for no apparent reason. They “had to have known something,” she says. “Why not just say, ‘Nah, that’s not a story I’m interested in’?”

Many of the same NBC executives who’d professed shock at Lauer’s behavior were at a private Friars Club roast for the anchor at a Manhattan hotel in 2008. Also in attendance was Trump, then the host of Celebrity Apprentice. The proceedings were recorded by a reporter from The Village Voice. One after another, speakers delivered a fusillade of sexually charged innuendos. Couric rehearsed a David Letterman–style Top Ten list; number two referenced a sex act between Lauer and Curry. Jeff Zucker, then chief of NBCUniversal, spoke of Lauer’s nights on an office couch because of marital troubles at home. Joe Scarborough, cohost of Morning Joe on MSNBC, commented on the night’s events on-air not long after Lauer’s firing. “The whole theme was that he does the show and then he has sex with people, with employees,” Scarborough said. “So was this whispered behind closed doors? No. It was shouted from the mountaintops and everybody laughed about it.”

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What’s more, in a 2012 appearance on Andy Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live, Couric was asked about Lauer’s most annoying habit in the years she worked alongside him. “He pinches me on the ass a lot,” she replied. Days after his termination, a video snippet surfaced that apparently showed a moment during a Today commercial break in October 2006 when Lauer seemingly made a crude comment about Vieira. “Keep bending over like that. It’s a nice view,” he was heard to say.

Sources at the network say that NBC News had long operated as a kind of boys’ club in which such peccadilloes and intraoffice flings were swept under the rug. In recent years, however, that had started to change, prompted by the 2012 appointment of Patricia Fili-Krushel as the chair of NBCUniversal News Group. Fili-Krushel in turn appointed Deborah Turness as the first female news- division president. During their tenure—both left 30 Rock by early 2017—two senior male news employees were shown the door for bad behavior, an in-house mini-drama that has not been previously reported.

Courtesy

But it also seems true that Today operated within NBC News as a change-resistant clique that looked down on its less profitable division cousins, even Nightly News. “It is a staggeringly locked-in culture,” notes one former staff member. At its center was Lauer, who routinely dismissed suggested tweaks to the Today formula, even in the post-Curry years, when the show slipped to number two behind ABC’s Good Morning America. “It is a little bit of a Greek tragedy,” the same person comments. “He just became so powerful, everything got sucked into that vortex.”

But once the allegations against him emerged, suddenly it was no longer about him; it was about the network. “While the anchor is a godlike figure, the most important thing is keeping the good name of the network,” Auletta says. “When Andy Lack fired Matt Lauer, he didn’t just fire him because he was outraged by his behavior. He fired him to protect NBC.”

Two days after Lauer’s dismissal, it was reported that NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke had appointed the company’s own legal counsel, Kim Harris, to lead a review of what had happened, a decision that struck some observers as suspect. “Anyone who was afraid to talk before the investigation is not likely to speak up when attorneys from inside their company try to interview them,” the accuser’s lawyer, Wilkenfeld, told Esquire. “Almost always in scandals of this kind there’s not just one bad actor,” notes Mark Feldstein, a broadcast correspondent for twenty years (two of them at NBC) who now teaches journalism at the University of Maryland. “There is some systemic rot.”

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The felling of Halperin and then Lauer emboldened more women to step forward and share long-hidden secrets, including Zinone, who opened up to Megyn Kelly a week before Christmas. “I had no idea there were others,” she says. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I wasn’t the only one. I wasn’t the only one who caved. I wasn’t the only one who fell under that spell.’ ” Early this year, she cofounded a group called Press Forward; it aims both to encourage victims to tell their stories and to help draft new guidelines for protecting and nurturing women in the media workplace.

Jessica Steyers, who was at NBC Sports on and off from 2004 to 2010 as a researcher, writer, and producer and helped cover four Olympic Games, also spoke of constant harassment by coworkers that was never addressed. Steyers says she reported the behavior, but “the overall sense was that nobody wanted to do anything.” Then there was the lewd comment from a producer who saw her kneeling on the ground talking to someone at a national gymnastics championship in Houston: “When you’re finished on your knees, can you please come over to me next?” (NBC Sports is its own unit with its own management, separate from NBC News.)

Steyers’s story came via UltraViolet, a women’s-rights group that posted ads on LinkedIn and other online platforms asking NBC employees to volunteer personal stories of harassment or abuse. She and two other women I spoke to on the condition of anonymity said they were neither surprised by the Lauer scandal when it broke nor hopeful that actions taken since, including the internal review, would bring about meaningful change. Some also reflected on the network’s questionable handling of big stories about powerful men intimidating or abusing women. After NBC neglected to report on the Access Hollywood tape for four whole days, the story, arguably the most important of the election, leaked to The Washington Post, which turned it around in just five hours.

Lauer, Guthrie, and Bush on the set of Today.

NBC NewsWire

The delay may have had to do with shielding the other man on the tape, Billy Bush, who only shortly before had become a Today host. “NBC News had [the tape],” says the senior source at the network, who thought others at NBC found the tape “damaging to Billy” and “didn’t want to take down their own guy. They got hammered for that.” Bush was, in the event, fired. For its part, the network has said it took time to legally vet the story and decide where it should air. That’s plausible. But at the very least, this seems to say something about the network’s sense of urgency. “I felt that over the years the journalism was getting softer and softer,” notes a recently departed employee who worked at NBC News for more than a decade. “If you wanted something serious on-air, you were constantly embattled.”

In the minds of many, the Trump-tape fiasco later became conflated with the network’s handling, in 2017, of the Harvey Weinstein affair—in particular the decisions to allow the journalist Ronan Farrow to take his months-long investigation into Weinstein elsewhere, and then to ignore it in the first hours after the scandal broke in The New York Times.

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“I think it’s all of a piece,” Feldstein says. “All of this put together suggests a really troubling culture when it comes to truth, which is what a news organization values above all else. Truth in owning up to sexual misconduct. Truth in reporting what it knows about. All of this shakes the public credibility of NBC News as an independent journalistic institution.”

NBC still struggles to justify its decision last summer to take a pass on the material Farrow had on Weinstein by suggesting it fell short journalistically. “We reached a point where he believed his story was ready for broadcast. At that time, he did not have a single victim or witness to misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that was willing to be identified, not one,” a senior source at NBC says. NBC News president Noah Oppenheim, who’d returned to NBC from Hollywood—he wrote the screenplay for Jackie, the 2016 biopic about Jacqueline Kennedy—reportedly made the same case at a staff meeting a day after Farrow implied on MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show that the network had caved to outside pressure.

Even if Farrow did have more work to do, as NBC maintains, why abandon all the investment already made and allow a competing news organization to benefit? Although he was a contractor, Farrow was working with full-time NBC employees and had spent eight months on the story. “I still don’t understand why they didn’t run it,” says Auletta, who helped connect him with The New Yorker. (Farrow won a Pulitzer prize for the story.)

Harvey Weinstein leaves court on July 9, 2018 in New York City.

Raymond Hall

“This story has revealed so much about the evil of men,” Farrow said while accepting a 2017 Vital Voices Solidarity Award in December. “The crimes, the abuse of power, the men who preyed upon the vulnerable, the men who maintained a veil of silence around that predation.” Now he has a book in the works, provisionally titled Catch and Kill, a phrase previously associated with David Pecker’s National Enquirer. It promises to offer a starkly different version of Farrow’s experiences at the network, including a dismissal of the notion that their parting of ways was amicable, an idea that NBC still clings to. “Nobody here thought that there was any bad blood,” the senior source at NBC says. “And when he broke the story, we were all proud of him.”

Farrow is likely to challenge NBC’s assertions regarding the progress he had or hadn’t made—for example, he had audio of Weinstein admitting to sexual assault on a tape recorded by the NYPD. A source involved at the time says the network canceled interviews out from under Farrow—one with a Weinstein victim ready to talk for the first time—and ordered the producers working with him not to take any more calls on the story.

On October 5, the day The New York Times published its first bombshell scoop on Weinstein, naming Ashley Judd as a victim in the lead, NBC was the only network not to even mention it on its evening news broadcast. Even the next day, while its rival morning shows pored over the fast-breaking scandal, Today referred to it only briefly in the run of the news digest. A segment was planned for that morning, according to the senior source at the network, but it never aired.

Producers of both Nightly News and Today strongly deny that the network actively interfered in their decisions. “It is patently false to say we were ordered to kill or ignore the story,” says Janelle Rodriguez, senior vice-president of editorial in charge of Nightly News. Similarly adamant were Libby Leist and her coexecutive producer at Today, Tom Mazzarelli. “We were never told how to cover the Weinstein story. Any suggestion otherwise is totally false,” they say in a joint statement NBCUniversal provided to Esquire. “NBC News has run 158 stories on or mentions of Weinstein since the news first broke,” Rodriguez says, adding that “NBC News pursued, booked, and aired the first television interview with a Weinstein victim within three (business) days of the Weinstein story breaking in the Times.” Yet none of that explains why the network, unlike its competitors, failed to fully cover the scandal in the hours after it broke.

The NBCUniversal review was finally released in May. The seven-page report noted that “within two weeks” of Lauer’s firing, the company received information about “three additional women” who’d been inappropriately approached by him dating back to 2000, 2001, and 2007, respectively. Yet it exonerated management, insisting no one in NBC News leadership had received “any complaints about Lauer’s workplace behavior prior to November 27.” (The report did note that Lauer “could be flirtatious . . . and would openly engage in sexually oriented banter in the workplace,” which “may have contributed to an atmosphere where some employees who may have had concerns assumed nothing would be done to address them.”) Lack simultaneously sent a “Dear colleagues” memo to employees, lamenting that the “last few months have been extraordinarily difficult.” Once again, the network’s explanation was met with skepticism.

“What Matt Lauer was able to do does not happen as a one-off; this happens as the result of a culture and a pattern of protecting stars and making them untouchable,” says Karin Roland, UltraViolet’s campaigns chief. “An internal investigation of NBC investigating themselves, their own management, and work culture is a sham, a classic case of a fox guarding a henhouse. It needs an external, not internal, investigation. They need to investigate not just Lauer but the management and the culture that allowed that to continue.” Days before the report was released, Tom Brokaw found himself accused by a former NBC correspondent, Linda Vester, of making unwanted advances on her in the 1990s. Though different in degree, the allegations, published by The Washington Post and Variety, nevertheless threatened the reputation of the network’s mascot of journalistic gravitas. In an email to friends that became public, Brokaw suggested that Vester had had a mediocre career, was being “melodramatic,” and “had trouble with the truth.” He’d been the victim of a “drive-by shooting” and implied that he had been used by Vester to advance her career. (He said he’d helped her land a job at Fox.)

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A letter in defense of Brokaw quickly surfaced, signed by more than one hundred women, both formerly and currently at NBC. It did not originate inside the network, but it did circulate on the newsroom floor. NBC reporters who might have had reason to cover the Brokaw story were required to make reference to the letter.

When advertisers gathered at Radio City Music Hall this past spring for a preview of NBC’s fall season, the network’s own Seth Meyers told the crowd, “It’s not surprising for NBC to be dramatic—we are home to the number-one drama on television. A show that each week gives us twists and turns, heartbreaking reveals, and this season the departure of a once-beloved character. I’m talking, of course, of ‘This is the Today show.’”

After being rehired by NBC News to reclaim some of its luster, Lack has achieved something close to the opposite. He has presided over one public-relations disaster after another while ABC News has continued to nip at the heels of both Today and Nightly News, frequently overtaking them in the ratings. Whether Lack and his team, including Oppenheim, can persuade Comcast CEO Brian Roberts to give them more time to set things right remains one of the most closely watched decisions in the industry. The tabloids periodically fizz with speculation of a Lauer comeback, if not at NBC, then somewhere else, possibly a cable-news channel. But that is unlikely, at least for now. “Could he come back in three years?” Auletta asks. “Maybe. America’s a surpris- ingly forgiving country and loves comeback stories.”

Lauer remains secluded at the beach. He has been negotiating with his soon-to-be ex-wife’s divorce lawyers and attempting to offload properties—his Sag Harbor home has been listed for $12.75 million, and his Upper East Side pad sold for a reported $7 million in April. (He was also spotted driving a Land Rover with a “For Sale” sign in the window.)

Lauer has broken his silence on only three occasions, each time conceding that he’d erred but simultaneously downplaying his misdeeds. “I fully acknowledge that I acted inappropriately as a husband, father, and principal at NBC,” he said in a statement in April, before adding that “any allegations or reports of coercive, aggressive, or abusive actions on my part, at any time, are absolutely false.” After NBC released the results of its review in May, he put out another statement, saying, “There are aspects of the NBC report with which I clearly disagree.”

Every now and again, he gets snapped by the paparazzi, carrying pizza to his car or sitting astride a brand-new Harley-Davidson. In those pictures, he looks much like the old Matt Lauer we all used to know so well. Or rather the Matt Lauer we didn’t.

This article appears in the September ’18 issue of Esquire. Subscribe Today

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flauntpage · 6 years

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Your Thursday Morning Roundup

Show me the money. Robert Covington has plenty of it now as the Sixers’ sharp shooter from beyond the arc got the rumored big contract extension, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. According to the Woj bomb, RoCo’s deal is four years, $62 million and will keep him under contract in Philly through the 2021-22 season.

Derek Bodner of The Athletic gave a breakdown of the yearly money:

Rough numbers for the Covington extension: 2017-18: $16,698,103 2018-19: $10,018,862 2019-20: $10,820,371 2020-21: $11,621,880 2021-22: $12,423,389

— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) November 16, 2017

Covington’s salary increases this year as he was slated to make just $1.57 million in 2017. The fifth-year player averaged just under 17 points per game and was shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc heading into last night’s contest against the Los Angeles Lakers.

That game against the Lakers? Details after the jump.

The Roundup:

If you didn’t stay up for this one, you missed out. The Sixers earned a 115-109 win and Joel Embiid had himself a night. Embiid dropped a career high 46 points and matched it with 15 rebounds for a double-double. His 46 is a career high and the most markers by any Sixer in 11 years (!!). Also, he is the first player in the NBA to record at least 40 points, at least seven assists, and at least seven blocks in a single game since Dr. J back in 1982.

Post game, he had a tremendous interview with Molly Sullivan, featuring a Kevin Hart cameo.

Speaking of Hart, he sat courtside and T.J. McConnell found him:

TJ McConnell nails three, daps Kevin Hart on the way back http://pic.twitter.com/h2Kk4Jh5DL

— CJ Fogler (@cjzero) November 16, 2017

After such a tremendous night for The Process, you know Embiid couldn’t leave without mentioning Hassan Whiteside:

Sixers’ Joel Embiid on his 46P/15R/7A/7B effort: “I wish I could have had the quadruple-double with blocks. Shout out Hassan Whiteside.” http://pic.twitter.com/9mOzxnoNZJ

— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) November 16, 2017

The best part of this all is that it happened on national television, ESPN. The Worldwide Leader’s Ramona Shelburne is buying in:

But after the way they’ve played on this West Coast trip, particularly in Joel Embiid’s historic 46-point, 15-rebound, seven-assist, seven-rebound game Wednesday night in a 115-109 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, how can you question Brown’s goals for this season and beyond. Whatever stage of the process this is, the Sixers look ready to win — now.

Chris Broussard is feeling it too:

As for the Sixers, I haven’t been this excited about a young duo since Shaq & Penny. Both Simmons & Embiid can be all-time greats (yeah, I said it!) & their games complement one another’s perfectly.

— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) November 16, 2017

J.P. Crawford took in the game, too.

Philly returns home to face the Warriors on Saturday night at 7:30 pm.

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This seems like the PERFECT time to snatch up this tremendous Joel Embiid Christmas sweater:

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While all of this is success is happening, Nerlens Noel is riding the bench in Dallas.

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Thankfully the Flyers were not in action last night to bring our spirits down as the Fly guys have gone 120 minutes of game action without scoring. Our Flyers writer, Anthony SanFilippo, tried to answer the question of why the team is shooting blanks:

Seriously, the real problem at hand that needs to be addressed is the state of the Flyers in general.

How is it that the team has a (cough) .500 record (cough) and is in worse shape than it was at this time last season? How is it that the offense is completely non-existent? How is it that questionable coaching decisions continue to get shrugged aside?

If this isn’t an organizational epidemic, it’s getting darn close and somebody needs to come in and fix it soon, or this will be a lost season before we reach Thanksgiving.

Heck, if my historical analysis is correct, it’s almost at that point now.

The Flyers face the Winnipeg Jets tonight at 8.

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The RADIO WARS revved up again with the announcement of Jon Marks moving to drive time for WIP. Our Kevin Kinkead shares his thoughts on the move:

But does a Marks/Reese pairing move the needle during afternoon drive? I don’t know. I don’t know if anybody competes with Mikey Miss in that time period, but Mike has seemed a little tired and disinterested lately, so maybe you just wait it out here. Play the attrition game and win the other slots. WIP also has to consider Angelo Cataldi’s eventual retirement.

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Roy Halladay’s Celebration of Life was earlier this week and this video of Chooch crying is unbearable.

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The latest Crossing Broadcast talking proper ice and better ball came out yesterday.

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The Eagles are back at it on Sunday, the day that was made for them:

Buy it. You know you need it.

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Another turn in the Jerry Jones-NFL saga developed yesterday with the NFL sending a letter to Jones:

The Associated Press has obtained a letter sent by the NFL to Jerry Jones’ attorney accusing the Dallas Cowboys owner of ”conduct detrimental to the league’s best interests” over his objection to a contract extension for Commissioner Roger Goodell.

The letter accusing Jones of sabotaging the negotiations was sent to David Boies on Wednesday. Jones hired Boies and threatened to sue the NFL if Goodell’s contract extension was approved by the compensation committee, made up of six owners. All 32 owners voted unanimously in May to let the committee finalize a deal with Goodell.

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Jon Gruden didn’t exactly rule out a return to coaching in his future, while on Mike & Mike:

I haven’t talked to anybody. All I really have in my life is my family and football. That’s about it. I’m real sensitive to the coaches that are out there coaching, so I don’t speculate. I just love football. I’m trying to hang onto the job I have. I’m very fortunate to be with the people I’m with. I don’t know what’s gonna happen in the future. I just know this: I’m gonna continue to give my best effort to the game, stay prepared, and I love Monday Night Football and don’t plan on leaving but, as you know in life, you never say never to nothing.

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Our Kevin Kinkead asks if anyone in Philly cares about esports? My guess is probably not.

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In non-sports news…

The House is voting on its tax reform bill today.

Google Maps is all new and fancy.

There’s a manhunt in Jersey for a murder suspect.

Your Thursday Morning Roundup published first on http://ift.tt/2pLTmlv

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newstfionline · 7 years

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Stories from Irma: Feeling powerless as the storm finally arrives

By Patricia Sullivan, Leonard Shapiro, Perry Stein and Joel Achenbach, Washington Post, September 10, 2017

ESTERO, Fla.--The forecasters had fiddled with the storm track for days, nudging it to the east and then pulling it back to the west, but when Hurricane Irma finally blew in Sunday, it reminded everyone that when a tropical cyclone reaches a certain size, it simply can’t miss.

This storm was nearly as big as the state of Florida, which is why everything but the Panhandle was under a hurricane warning. Irma’s broad wind field also meant that when the winds picked up, they stayed up as the storm howled northward.

Even cities far outside the eye of the storm found themselves caught in an atmospheric blender that had no off switch. Patience suddenly became as important as a sturdy roof and reliable drainage.

“Anyone think we overreacted with the evacuation order?” Michael Hernández, spokesman for Miami-Dade County, asked late Sunday morning at the county Emergency Operations Center.

As he spoke, one TV monitor showed a huge, collapsed construction crane downtown, draped on a building as though it had melted in the rain, and another showed a wide river of floodwater racing down Brickell Avenue, Miami’s financial district and once the neighborhood of pop star Madonna.

The storm’s westward shift was good news for South Florida’s Gold Coast but very bad news for Key West, as well as Naples, Fort Myers, Port Charlotte, Sarasota, St. Petersburg and Tampa--table-flat waterfront communities that have boomed in recent decades with millions of new residents but haven’t gained more high ground.

In Estero, Dianne and Riley Abshire, who moved to Florida six years ago from Ottawa, Ohio, waited for Irma in a home darkened by hurricane shutters. Winds at the time gusted to 45 miles per hour. Hibiscus trees bent to the ground. Tornado watches and warnings flashed across their television screens. They chose to stay in their home because they worried about traffic getting out of the state and because Riley Abshire is recovering from surgery.

“I feel like I’m in a sardine can, and I don’t like it,” said Dianne Abshire, 62. “My husband said he’ll duct-tape me to a chair if I try to open the front door.”

In Bonita Springs--between Naples and Fort Myers--on Sunday morning, streets that were empty but for a few emergency vehicles started filling with runoff that was not running off. Officials announced they would pull everyone off the roads at 11 a.m.

More than 30,000 people flocked to Collier County’s shelters, including about 4,000 in the massive Germain Arena, which was still accepting people at 10 a.m. But a wild rumor spread on social media that the arena was unsafe, and that set off “mass hysteria,” according to a Lee County spokesman. Tim Engstrom, communications specialist, said officials were trying to reassure residents that the venue was hardened against hurricanes. “We don’t have much information, but this is absolutely false,” Engstrom said as the hurricane approached steadily.

In Pasco County, north of Tampa, sheriff’s officers warned citizens not to shoot guns into the air after a Facebook page that suggested shooting Irma out of the sky went viral.

The lower half of the nation’s third-most-populous state went into lockdown as residents rode out the big blow and wondered when it would end. The storm took its time rolling in from the Caribbean. When it arrived, there was no mistaking what this was--not an ordinary line of storms but a true-blue hurricane, the powerful winds interrupted by even more powerful gusts and rain coming down in blinding quantities.

Everyone watched the slow-moving, ominous green blob that represented Irma on more than a dozen computer screens at the National Hurricane Center overnight Saturday. A handful of journalists, federal government workers, hurricane specialists: Everyone monitored the radar maps of the monstrous storm’s snail-paced path as it prepared to batter Florida.

Figuring out what the outskirts of the storm were doing right outside the building in Miami, however, was harder to determine.

“You hear the rain on the roof?” a videographer inside asked on Friday evening.

“I think that’s the AC,” someone responded.

“No, it’s the rain,” he said, this time pointing to the ceiling so everyone would listen more carefully.

“Yeah, it’s the AC,” the room decided.

The steel-clad National Hurricane Center was the best place to track the storm on a digital radar system but the worst to actually see and hear the storm in real life.

As soon as tropical storm-force winds kicked in Saturday evening, steel shutters closed over the building’s doors. No one was allowed in or out. Total lockdown.

Reporters slept on the floor as National Hurricane Center employees worked through the night, delivering updates on the top of every hour and answering the same questions over and over from television and radio hosts on the phone.

“How big will the storm surge be on the southwest coast of Florida?” the journalists would ask multiple times each hour.

“Ten to 15 feet,” Ed Rappaport, the acting director of the National Hurricane Center, would calmly respond, stressing again and again that this was a life-threatening hurricane.

As Rappaport addressed the nation, he said he had no firsthand knowledge of what the weather was doing outside his office.

“There are no windows here. I rely on the media to know what’s going on,” he said with a smile as he pointed to a local TV newscast playing above him.

The lights began flickering on and off at about 8 a.m. Sunday morning in the Pompano Beach High School cafeteria, which was serving as an evacuation shelter for about 225 people. An hour later, the building plunged into darkness, causing many people to gasp. But then the lights came on again, thanks to a generator that performed the way it was designed to.

Laurie and Steve Trinkle, their 12-year-old twin sons and Laurie’s 85-year-old mother, Mildred, went to the shelter shortly after noon Saturday but decided to vacate the crowded premises about 12 hours later. “I think we’ll be more comfortable at home as long as the power stays on,” Laurie Trinkle said.

It did not, at least at the shelter, and according to one of eight police officers on duty 24/7 in the building, it was lights out all around Pompano Beach and nearby towns.

The school generator was designed to keep the lights going, but that was all. The two big-screen televisions keeping evacuees informed about the storm went black. The scores of electrical outlets around the room were no longer working, nor were the microwave ovens and the refrigerators storing food. Perhaps most significantly, the air conditioning was out of service, as well.

Despite a sign on the front door warning everyone to stay inside, several people wandered into the wind, protected from the rain by an overhang, just to watch the palm trees swaying and palm fronds littering the lawn out front. Some just wanted to sneak a smoke, forbidden inside.

In much of South Florida, residents had been furiously preparing for the hurricane since Tuesday, if not earlier. The virtue of improved five-day hurricane-track forecasts is that people have more time to get ready. The downside is that a city could effectively shut down for the better part of a week.

Saturday was so off-and-on stormy, with such long patches of calm weather, that a person could easily have been lulled into thinking that Sunday would be easy. That illusion was punctured by raging weather before dawn.

A return to normalcy could take a while given that the storm knocked out power to nearly 2 million Florida Power & Light customers in South Florida alone.

A reconnaissance of the area by car Sunday morning revealed an eerily empty city, with stop signs flattened, palm fronds littering the streets, tree debris blowing around like tumbleweed.

The front doors were locked at the Aloft Hotel, which had a full house, including stranded international travelers.

But the hotel still had power: Breakfast was served; the coffee was fresh. The hotel has large windows, for excellent viewing of the storm.

“No fear, no pain,” said Sergio Pallette, 58, of Argentina. He and his wife were supposed to fly out Friday, but their flight was canceled because of the weather.

When will he go home?

“When they finish the hurricane,” he said.

Also up and about: storm-chasing journalists.

“I’ll be back in Guam by next week,” said Caroline Graham, a Los Angeles-based reporter for the United Kingdom’s Mail on Sunday, who had been covering the tension between the United States and North Korea before winding up at the Aloft to cover Irma.

She noted the dizzying pace of crises hitting the United States.

“Nobody’s talking about Harvey now. America’s crazy right now. Between Trump, Mother Nature and North Korea, I haven’t stopped.”

#Hurricane Irma #Florida #National Hurricane Center

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movietvtechgeeks · 7 years

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Latest story from https://movietvtechgeeks.com/taylor-swift-grope-action-begins-robert-pattinson-katy-perry-time/

Taylor Swift grope action begins while Robert Pattinson has Katy Perry time

About a week ago, it became unclear whether or not former Twilight star Robert Pattison was still with his fiancée FKA Twigs. While doing a guest spot on The Howard Stern Show, the actor said that he was “kind of” engaged to the songstress. Over the weekend, Robert was seen cozying up and dining with another female star, further fueling the rumors that he is no longer in a relationship with FKA Twigs. On Saturday, Robert was spotted having dinner with “Feels” singer Katy Perry. The two stars enjoyed a late meal at the Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood, where eyewitnesses claim that the two were sitting very close to one another. This isn’t the first time that Katy and Robert have found themselves the subject of romance rumors. In fact, when Robert first broke up with his longtime girlfriend Kristen Stewart, people speculated that he had rebounded with Katy. However, Katy later clarified to a media publication that she and Robert were merely friends and she was not looking to “disrespect” Kristen by going after her ex so soon after their break up. In addressing the romance rumors, the “Fireworks” singer previously noted, “I sent [Kristen] a text message saying: ‘I know you’ve seen all this stuff but you know I would never disrespect you. I’m not that person.’” Nonetheless, it seems as though Katy and Robert keep finding their way back to one another. We will just have to wait and see if a romance actually finally blossoms between the two stars this time around… With Taylor Swift looking on, potential jurors in her lawsuit against an ex-Denver radio host were asked Monday if they had ever been inappropriately touched or wrongly accused of groping someone - the issues at the center of the case. A 15-page questionnaire released as jury selection began in the dueling lawsuits also asked candidates if they had seen any pictures related to the case - a possible reference to a photo that shows DJ David Mueller with his right hand behind the pop superstar, just below her waist, before a 2013 concert in Denver. The photo was obtained by TMZ then sealed by a judge earlier in the case. Swift claims Mueller grabbed her on the buttock during a meet-and-greet photo session at the show. Her lawyers have called the photo "damning" proof that Mueller groped her. Mueller, who also attended jury selection, denies the allegation and says the photo only shows him trying to jump into the frame. Swift and Mueller are both smiling in the picture. However, they weren't even looking at each other in court on Monday. Mueller, wearing a dark suit, sat at the plaintiff's table with his back turned to Swift, who sat at a nearby table with her mother, Andrea Swift, and their attorneys. [pdf-embedder url="https://movietvtechgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/taylor-swift-jury-selection-questionnaire.pdf" title="taylor swift jury selection questionnaire"] Mueller often appeared to be reading documents while Swift watched the proceedings closely, occasionally conferring with her counsel. In his lawsuit, Mueller claims he was fired from his job at a country music station after Taylor's team wrongfully told his boss that Mueller had groped her. He is seeking at least $3 million in damages. Swift's countersuit against Mueller claims sexual assault. Swift appeared in court in a white dress and black jacket, even though she and Mueller were not required to attend until the actual trial begins. Potential jurors were asked whether they are fans of either Mueller or Swift, including if they had ever seen Swift in concert, downloaded or purchased her music, or attended the 2013 concert. The jury questionnaire also said anyone who is uncomfortable with discussing any instances of inappropriate touching can speak to the judge in private. The eight-member jury will be chosen from a pool of 60 candidates, court spokesman Jeff Colwell said. There will be no alternates. The selection process could last through Tuesday, with opening statements to follow. One juror was dismissed over his answer to the question, "In a lawsuit between David Mueller and Taylor Swift would you have bias for or against either Taylor Swift or David Mueller?" The potential juror answered, "She seems petty and spiteful." The case is being heard in federal court because Swift and Mueller live in different states - Swift in Nashville, Tennessee, Mueller in Colorado - and damages at stake exceed $75,000. The trial is expected to last about two weeks. Court documents say it is unlikely that either side will settle. Swift is seeking a verdict that awards her $1, while holding Mueller responsible and "serving as an example to other women who may resist publicly reliving similar outrageous and humiliating acts," her lawsuit says. Swift and Mueller are both expected to testify, along with Mueller's former boss and members of Swift's entourage. Mueller, then 51, was a morning host at a country music station when he was assigned to attend Swift's concert at the Pepsi Center in Denver. Mueller was backstage with his girlfriend when they met with Swift, then 23, in a curtained enclosure. They posed for a photo and left. Later, Swift's bodyguard confronted Mueller with the allegation that the DJ had reached under the singer's dress and grabbed her. Mueller denied the allegation and says he asked that they call the police. He and his girlfriend were escorted out of the arena and a member of Swift's team called his boss. Swift never went to the police. She tried to keep the situation "discreet and quiet and confidential" and was upset by Mueller's claim that "for some reason she might have some incentive to actually fabricate this story," her attorney, Douglas Baldridge, has argued in court. Mueller's attorney, Gabriel McFarland, argues that Mueller may have been misidentified after someone else touched Swift. In addition to Swift, Mueller named her mother and a member of her team as defendants in the lawsuit. In other celebrity romance news, actress Amber Heard and business mogul Elon Musk have reportedly split. The two have been dating for about a year, as they went public with their relationship just a few short months after Amber filed for divorce from her ex Johnny Depp. Back in April of this year, Amber made her relationship with Elon Musk social media-official, as she took to her Instagram page to share a picture of her and Elon enjoying a romantic dinner date. In the flirty photo, Amber is seen wearing a bold dark lipstick, while Elon dons a noticeable kiss mark on his right cheek. Amber Heard, Instagram post: During the duration of their relationship, the duo spent a lot of time together overseas. In fact, on numerous occasions they were seen enjoying each other’s company down in Australia, where Amber has been busy on the set of Aquaman. One source close to the former celebrity couple spoke to media publication US Weekly about Amber and Elon’s unexpected split. They explained, “The timing wasn’t good for them. He’s super busy and works all the time. Amber is filming [Aquaman] in Australia until October. She’s in no position to settle with him. She feels her career is just starting.” When you are a star like Beyoncé, even your casual nights out with friends and family make the media and tabloid headlines. This is precisely what happened on Friday night, when the Lemonade artist joined her husband and a group of friends for a fun night at World On Wheels - which is a retro roller skating rink in Los Angeles. Once Beyoncé unexpectedly popped up at the venue, fellow roller rink-goers went into a full frenzy, as many could not believe that the singer would just show up at such a public venue. Many witnesses took videos and pictures of the beauty, subsequently posting them to their various social media platforms. An insider, who was also at World on Wheels on Friday gushed to, “[Beyoncé] was laughing and enjoying herself. [She and her friends] came really casual. If you didn’t know who they were they could’ve just fit in the crowd.” According to media outlet TMZ, Beyoncé and her crew arrived to the venue just before midnight. It did not take long for fellow roller skaters to take notice of the celebrities (Jay Z and Beyoncé), which inevitably led to the venue being shut down by 12:30 so that Beyoncé and her crew could have some private skating time. Before the latest US Presidential Election was held, reality star Caitlyn Jenner repeatedly offered her support to Republican candidate Donald Trump over fellow Democratic candidate Hilary Clinton. While most Americans within the transgender community agreed that Hilary would be much better for them and their efforts, Caitlyn insisted that Donald would be a great President for the transgender people, if elected (which he inevitably was). Since coming into office, Donald has turned his back on the transgender community in many regards. In fact, just recently he announced that transgender men and women would no longer be able to serve in the US military. Caitlyn, as well as many other transgender activists and supporters, spoke out against this decision and reprimanded Trump for his disappointing actions. Despite recently speaking out against the current US President, Caitlyn was spotted wearing one of his infamous “Make America Great Again” hats last weekend. Inevitably, this raised a lot of eyebrows, as many could not understand how she would continue to support Trump through all of his destructive antics. After realizing that people were criticizing her choice in headwear, Caitlyn made an official statement to TMZ in attempt to save face. The former I Am Cait star told the outlet, “I apologize to all of the trans community. I made a mistake [wearing the “Make America Great Again”] hat. I will never do it again and I’m getting rid of the hat.” According to TMZ, the star claims that she completely forgot that she had the infamous hat in her hand and therefore, did not think twice when she put it on her head. Sources close to Caitlyn report that the former Olympian is thinking about autographing the controversial hat and auctioning it off to raise money for a transgender cause. Padma Lakshmi, the host of the "Top Chef" reality TV show, testified Monday that she was "petrified" when a Teamster confronted her while union members were picketing outside a Boston-area restaurant where the series filmed in 2014. Lakshmi, who is also an author and model, said she was a passenger in a vehicle outside the Steel & Rye restaurant in Milton, just south of Boston, where a group of men had formed a line so vehicles could not move forward. She said one man leaned his arm on her door and said: " 'Oh, lookie here, what a pretty face' or 'What a shame about that pretty face.' " "I felt he was bullying me," Lakshmi said. "I felt he was saying, 'I might hit you.' " Lakshmi's testimony came during the federal trial of four members of Teamsters Local 25. The men have pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to extort, and aiding and abetting. Prosecutors allege they threatened and harassed the crew of the Bravo show's non-union production company. They claim the Teamsters were trying to shut down the filming of "Top Chef" if the show did not hire Teamsters to drive production vehicles. The show had already hired its own drivers. Lakshmi said the man who spoke to her also shouted something "derogatory" to her driver. "I could hear a lot of yelling, exchanges," she said. "They all seemed heated up." Lakshmi said she does not have any role in hiring for the production company. Gail Simmons, a judge on "Top Chef," also testified Monday, saying she was "incredibly afraid" as she arrived at the restaurant and saw the men block the vehicle's path. "One of the men put his head into the van and started yelling at us," Simmons said. Lawyers for the teamsters have said the men were merely exercising their right to picket for driving jobs. They've said "Top Chef" crew members escalated the incident in Milton. The estate of Michael Jackson says a 3-D version of the late singer's iconic "Thriller" video is set to debut at the Venice Film Festival more than 30 years after its original premiere. The estate says the "latest available technology" was used to convert the 14-minute short film from an original 35mm negative to 3-D. Although the film wasn't reedited or recut in any way, director John Landis says he was able to "use the 3-D creatively" and promises "a rather shocking surprise." "Michael Jackson's Thriller" debuted in theaters and on television in 1983. An hour-long documentary detailing the making of the video will also screen at the Venice festival, which runs from Aug. 30 to Sept. 9. Jackson died in 2009 at the age of 50. Ed Sheeran, Miley Cyrus, the Weeknd and host Katy Perry will perform at the MTV Video Music Awards later this month. MTV announced Monday that Lorde, Shawn Mendes, Fifth Harmony and Thirty Seconds to Mars will also hit the stage Aug. 27 at the Forum in Inglewood, California. More performers will be announced at a later date. Kendrick Lamar is the top VMA contender with eight nominations. His hit, "Humble," will compete for video of the year with Bruno Mars' "24K Magic," DJ Khaled and Rihanna's "Wild Thoughts," the Weeknd's "Reminder" and Alessia Cara's "Scars to Your Beautiful." Sheeran is nominated for artist of the year along with Lamar, Mars, Ariana Grande, Lorde and the Weeknd.

Movie TV Tech Geeks News

#Amber Heard #Beyonce #Caitlyn Jenner #Elon Musk #Featured #Katy Perry #Robert Pattinson #Taylor Swift

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apsbicepstraining · 7 years

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The biggest esports business moves of 2015

It seems like every year returns new and exciting developings for esports. But 2015 identified a number of large-hearted moves. Major media companionships like ESPN, BBC and Turner took the plunge into into the industry, while major international investors demonstrated footholds in some of the industry’s most built brands.

Across the board in 2015, business was up. Viewer multitudes, both at live happenings and online, break-dance registers. More than 100,000 followers watched IEM Katowice in person, and 36 million watched the League of Legends World Championship final online. The esports ecosystem is substantiating more activities than ever. And more and more shoulder industriesjournalism, legal services, analysis, merchandisingare becoming sustainable and profitable. If the business moves highlighted here, and others which are not, all prove to move the industry in the right direction, 2016 will be a massive time on a world scale.

This list spotlights some of the biggest moves made by the biggest participates in esportsboth established and brand-new.

MTG acquires majority stake in ESL

The biggest business story of the year was readily Swedish media monstrous MTG effectively acquiring a monopoly of the majority of members of the Western world’s major esports events. MTG had tried its own esports speculations in the past, propelling Twitch-alternative Viagame and leading three Hearthstone Viagame House Cups that testified favourite with the community. This time, nonetheless, the company disappeared all-in. Its first move was for contributing esports event organiser and broadcaster ESL, acquiring a 74 percentage stake and majority self-control ESL’s parent company for an unknown cost.

MTG buys DreamHack

Next on MTG’s shopping list was Swedish gaming celebration and esports powerhouse DreamHack. This time, MTG purchased full domination for about $28 million. The fellowships had worked together in the past, building an esports studio infinite in Stockholm in 2013. With both DreamHack and ESL under its domination, MTG now views sway a huge swathe of the biggest esports events: the DreamHack, ESL, and IEM event series, of course, but also some publisher-sponsored phenomena like Valve’s Counter-Strike and Dota 2 majors and the esports back of Blizzcon. It is now arguably the stronger corporate entity in all esports.

WME-IMG picks up Global Esports Management

WME-IMG, the aptitude busines more used to representing people like Snoop Dogg and Lady Gaga, was another launched media entity that realized its first foray into esports this year, purchasing esports talent control firm Global Esports Management on Jan. 21. The corporation now represents three of “the worlds largest” recognisable firebrands in esportsDignitas, SK Gaming and Cloud9 as well as broadcasters, squad owners and other personalities like Christopher MonteCristo Mykles and Carlos Ocelote Rodriguez.

DraftKings gets into squad sponsorships

Esports ultimately got a slice of what has become one of the most lucrative sponsorship markets in plays this falldaily fantasize. DraftKings, one of the industry’s large-hearted two, inked sponsorships with six of the most difficult franchises in esports in what was rumored at the time to be a multi-million dollar transaction. The company now sponsored Cloud9 , Team SoloMid, Counter Logic Gaming, SK Gaming, CompLexity Gaming, and Mousesports. Though daily fiction has been thrown into controversy in recent months with federal investigations into the legalities of the areas in the United States, DraftKings continues to offer dozens of League of Legends markets for all major tournaments.

FanDuel acquires AlphaDraft

Just one day after DraftKings’ sponsorship announcement, competitive FanDuel announced an esports move “of ones own”, acquiring extending esports fantasy place AlphaDraft. That locate continues to operate as before, but is now incorporated inside the much-larger FanDueland has access to its far greater aids. While daily imagination sites are facing increasing scrutiny, fantasy esports as whole gazes strongaccording to a report by Legal Sports Report, esports fans gambled over $250 million in 2015, so it’s no amaze the two companies fell over themselves to get involved.

Twitch gets the rights to Bob Ross

In what you might call a happy little accident, Twitch established perhaps the most unlikely streaming adept in its own history of the scaffold. Bob Ross may have passed away years ago, but his Joy of Painting serial lives on, and the picture was given a brand new rental of life this year. To celebrate the launching of Twitch Creative, which stands artists to broadcast on the stage, Twitch ranged a marathon of the full series in November. Bob Ross was an inexplicable smash hit. The KappaRoss emote becomes one of the more popular on the area instantaneously. To time, the Boss Ross Twitch path has nearly 4.5 million views and has attracted widespread media attention. Not bad for a 30 year-old depict show.

Everyone gets a circuit of majors

In 2015, three different esports announced moves from one singular annual premiere contest to a tour of majors. The veer was started by Counter-Strike in 2014, and Dota 2 soon followed suit. Keen to address criticism that the Dota esports situation was so skewed towards The International every year, Valve announced three additional important events to sit alongside The Internationaleach with a multi-million dollar award pond. Hearthstone and Heroes of the Storm will also have their own publisher-backed majors routes this year. The total trophies on offer for those two games from Blizzard will rush from $750,000 in 2015 to as much as$ 4 million next year.

BBC broadcasts the League of Legends World Championships

Esports found one of its biggest television broadcast spouses to date this year. The UK’s national broadcaster, the BBC, pictured the quarterfinals of the League of Legends World Championships equals live from Wembley in October. The parallels were available in 20 million homesaround 80 percent of the country. By bringing in industry veterans like Leigh “Deman” Smith, the broadcast had the good will of the hardcore followers, but likewise added an avenue for propagandizing casual British devotees. BBC Three, the canal that handled radio broadcasting, is moving altogether online next year and esports could be a perfect fit for the network going forward.

Heroes of the Dorm is a hit on ESPN

Heroes of the Dorm was a collegiate happening boasting units from around the United States playing Blizzard’s brand-new MOBA Heroes of the Storm . Not exclusively was it one of the most difficult collegiate esports events seen in the West, the final was providing information on ESPN2. Not simply was it the first televised Blizzard tournament, it peculiarity a game that wasn’t even officially released yet. This was a watershed moment for esports. While the players may have been unfamiliar, favourite casters Dan “Artosis” Stemkoski, Nick “Tasteless” Plott and Sean “Day9” Plott were on hand to try and contribute casual esports fans a reason to tune in. While there has been no indication of a follow Heroes of the Dorm occasion or more esports on ESPN, Heroes of the Dorm was a pioneering phenomenon that did a lot of good for Blizzard and the entire industry.

Deep-pocketed investors draw large-hearted moves in League of Legends

The offseason ahead of the 2016 League of Legends Championship Series has been perhaps the unpredictable ever. A number of crews have appeared to up sticks and sell their smudge altogether. Unit 8, Gambit Gaming, Dignitas EU and Team Coast have all changed hands, with some of those team sales heralding a new generation of investors into esports.Immortals, whopurchasedTeam 8’s plaza in the tournament, boast investors like Nerdist founder Peter Levin, Allen Debevoise of Machinima, and Linkin Park. Yes, the actual Linkin Park. NRG’s( formerly Team Coast) new ownedsare former Apple Executive Andy Miller and 24 Hour Fitness founder Mark Mastrovboth of whom own posts in the Sacramento Kings NBA team.

Turner announces broadcasted Counter-Strike tournament

Sure, the league won’t actually launch until 2016, but its notice alone was one of the biggest esports narrations in 2015. With $1.2 million on the line each season for the WME-IMG run league, Turner is gambling big on esports. But it will have to walk a tightrope in the coming months as it is making an effort to match the desires of hardcore, installed devotees even as it molds the game for a mass market request. If it can do that, and achieve good ratings while taking the existing fan base with them, then this could be a significant breakthrough for esports.

Photo via Riot Games / Flickr

Need more esports? Check out Dot Esports on Youtube !

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goodifitgoes · 7 years

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Short and Long Term Moves/Goals for EVERY NBA Team (3/18/17)

Atlanta Hawks:

Short term: The Hawks are not a contender, and they should look to play younger guys like Taurean Prince and DeAndre Bembry down the stretch to determine the value of their prospects.

Long term: Paul Millsap will soon be 33 years old, not exactly in his prime any longer. They should to find a “replacement” for Millsap as the franchise player, as he will be an UFA in ‘18.

Boston Celtics:

Short term: The goal for the Celtics should be to most importantly keep the #2 seed in the East, and shoot for an ECF matchup, likely with the Cavs. They don’t need to necessarily beat the Cavs and make it to the Finals this season, but being one step away would be a huge milestone for a team that’s still considered to be rebuilding.

Long term: Despite being involved in nearly every trade rumor around the league, don’t buy into the hype that the Celtics “need another star” in order to win it all. The real (and realistic) move they need to make is to trade one of the Brooklyn picks for a quality starting power forward who can defend the post and get a rebound.Guys like Taj Gibson, Kenneth Faried, and Larry Nance Jr. come to mind.

Brooklyn Nets:

Short term: Obviously, the Nets are in one of the worst positons in the league with the worst record across both conferences as well as being without their 1st round draft pick for the next 2 seasons. However, it isn’t all bad in Brooklyn. They have prospects they need to be playing (Caris LeVert and Isiah Whitehead) to see if they can become quality starters for the team over these next few years.

Long term: The idea may be a bit extreme, but it may be time to trade Brook Lopez. At 28 years old, he likely won’t be a major contributor by the time this team becomes a legitimate playoff team. A center that plays at his level is becoming more and more rare in this league, and Lopez would likely bring back a lot of value if the Nets make the right move. If they can acquire a high pick or a budding prospect, they should be alright. They also must make sure they don’t overpay for FA this offseason and lock themselves into deals that they’ll end up regretting.

Charlotte Hornets:

Short term: At this point in the season, the Hornets are not going to make the playoffs. That being said, they must look forward to the draft, and try to get the best pick in the draft that they possibly can. They should look to find a guy at the PF spot, as Marvin Williams isn’t exactly having the season he was last year. They’re currently looking at a pick towards the back of the lottery, so a guy like Harry Giles or Ivan Rabb might be worth taking a chance on if they’re available when Michael Jordan makes his selection.

Long term: After earning his first all-star appearance, it is clear Kemba is the guy in Charlotte. At 26, you might even say that with him, the ceiling is the roof. All jokes aside, they need to add depth at PF, whether it’s in FA or the draft, as well as adding some shooters in order to space the floor. Guys like Redick and Korver will likely resign with their respective squads this summer, but with the way the league is evolving, it shouldn’t be too hard to find someone to knock down some 3s.

Chicago Bulls:

Short term: In order to not completely fall apart and lose D Wade and/or Jimmy Butler, they need to make a playoff push this year in order to keep their guys at least somewhat happy. They aren’t going for a title this year, but a solid playoff run could entice upcoming FA to team up with the duo next season.

Long term: With 5 PG’s on roster, they need to trade ATLEAST 1 for a veteran big man. Maybe a guy like David West, Marcin Gortat, or even Brook Lopez in order to win now.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Short term: Despite losing Bogut for the season after just 58 seconds with the team, the Cavs will be just fine. All they need to do to prepare for a second title is get healthy and maintain the 1 seed in the East. Once Love gets back, the Cavs will show why they not only won it all last year, but that they are poised to do it again.

Long term: Regardless of what happens this year come playoff time, there is one area that Cleveland will need to address. That is to get depth down low, whether it means retaining Bogut or adding a guy like Roy Hibbert or even David West, if he’s available.

Dallas Mavericks:

Short term: With so many other teams pushing for the 8th seed out West, it seems likely that the Mavs will not be in the playoffs. That means they need to prepare for the offseason by evaluating the talent of Yogi Ferrell and see if he can be the starter moving forward.

Long term: Dirk, after scoring his 30,000th point, has proven that he still has enough in the tank to make one last run at a title. They aren’t quite there yet, as they will need to address the guard depth on the team. Luckily for them, it is a wing heavy draft this year, and looking forward, they should look for a guy that will pair up well with Nerlens. With where they’re currently slated to pick, they should be intensely scouting guys like Justin Jackson, Malik Monk, and even Lonzo Ball if they want to make a trade come draft night to select the future star.

Denver Nuggets:

Short term: The most important objective for Denver right now is doing everything they can to maintain the 8 seed to give Jokic, Mudiay, and all their young pieces playoff experience moving forward.

Long term: The Nuggets have no significant holes on their roster, so a small shakeup of the roster may be able to push them over the top. Trade Gallinari or Chandler in order to get slightly younger and build a roster around Jokic that will be a contender for years to come.

Detroit Pistons:

Short term: After being swept in the first round last season, the Pistons should look to atleast win a few games in the playoffs and show hope for future. They don’t have a good shot at beating any of the Celtics, Raptors or Wizards.

Long term: Heading into next season, the Pistons need to find their answer at PF whether it be in the draft with a guy like Hartenstein or Ivan Rabb, or in a trade, which would likely mean having to move either Tobias Harris or Stanley Johnson.

Golden State Warriors:

Short term: With the best record in the league for the 2nd straight year, the only thing the Warriors need to do for the rest of the regular season is stay healthy and not allow the Spurs to catch them in the standings. This won’t be easy, as they will go head-to-head one more time before the playoffs begin.

Long term: Find an inexpensive option for a rim protector. Fill Bogut’s role by drafting a Thon Maker-esque prospect) Plan for long term development in order to have a plan for aging assets such as Andre Iguodala.

Houston Rockets:

After defeating the Cavs, the Rockets have shown that they are a legitimate threat to the Warriors in their pursuit of a second title in 3 years. If Houston can keep healthy throughout the playoffs, it seems more and more likely that they will reach the WCF.

While the 3PT shooting is working wonders for the Rockets, they will need to get better defensively if they want to have a good shot at a title. Adding a guy like Andre Roberson or Sefolosha would help out an aging Trevor Ariza on the wing, while someone like Wilson Chandler could help down low, if the Rockets can come up with the cap space.

Indiana Pacers:

Short term: Indiana should look to at least win one playoff series this season not only for confidence, but also to prove to soon-to-be free agent Paul George that he should stay with the Pacers.

Long term: This past ofseason, the Pacers signed the most talented players they could. However, they failed to realize that these players do not play well together. Al Jefferson clogging up the middle along with few shooters to spread the floor has made it difficult for Indiana to score. Adding scorers like Allen Crabbe, Gary Harris, or Josh Richardson could solve that problem.

Los Angeles Clippers:

Short term: The Clippers need to stay healthy in order to make a playoff run, which they have been unable to do over the past few years. With all the talent out West, it is unlikely they advance past the second round regardless of injury.

Long term: For years, the gaping hole at SF has held the “Other LA Team” from taking the next step and becoming true contenders. Signing anybody who’s a decent SF will get the job done, but their best option appears to be Wilson Chandler.

Los Angeles Lakers:

Short term: The Lakers have been a mess this season, even more so than most people predicted. We know D.Loading is legit, but the verdict is still out for Ingram. Give him time to develop and the Lakers should be just fine. (eventually...)

Long term: While Tarik Black’s hustle is applaudable, LAL needs a young, starting caliber center to continue the rebuild. Maybe they can pry Alex Len away from the Suns.

Memphis Grizzlies:

Short term: With the seeding in the West just about set, the Grizzlies should give more playing time to Wade Baldwin and Deyonta Davis and give them a chance to prove themselves, as Marc Gasol, Tony Allen, and Zach Randolph aren’t getting any younger.

Long term: With the Memphis roster beginning to age, they should look to add younger players down low, or just give Davis more PT if he proves he can play. Other than that, despite being a great defender, Tony Allen does not fill the role of creating his own shot, which Memphis desperately needs.

Miami Heat:

Short term: After a rough start to the season, the Heat have played their way into the 7th seed in the East and are one of the hottest teams heading into the playoffs. Depending on who they get matched up with, they could give a top team a run in the first round. They shouldn’t be expecting much more than that, though.

Long term: The biggest question mark for Miami this Summer will be what to do with Chris Bosh. If he can no longer play, avoiding his monster contract will help the Heat add someone new to play alongside Hassan down low. However, if Bosh is able to come back full force, then the Heat are better off sticking with their current roster. This is a team that has just 6 losses in the last 2 months, and they have been playing without both Bosh and Justise Winslow.

Milwaukee Bucks:

Short term: Milwaukee is still fighting for a 7 or 8 seed right now, but assuming they make the playoffs, their only goal should be to give their young core playoff experience for the future. As incredible of a player as the Greek Freak is, he likely will not carry the Bucks past a team like the Cavs, Celtics, Wizards, or Raptors.

Long term: Outside of getting Jabari Parker healthy, the Bucks biggest need is to find a back court mate for Brogdon, regardless of whether he plays the point or or if they decide to slide him over to the 2. Josh Richardson seems like the perfect fit, but the real question will be is Milwaukee willing to part with a few pieces in order to solidify their starting lineup. One guy that needs to be moved, however, is Greg Monroe. Despite being a talented center, he clearly does not fit in with the fast paced style the team now identifies with.

Minnesota Timberwolves:

Short term: Expectations for this Minnesota team may have been set a little high for this season, as many saw these young T-Wolves as a playoff team heading into the year. While that is now far out of the picture, there are definetely bright times ahead for this team, with one of the most promising young cores in the league. Thibodeau needs to use the rest of the season to find lineups that play well together, despite being without Lavine

Long term: If the market shows enough interest, it may be smart to trade Rubio in order to get a quality big man to give Dieng and Towns some help off the bench. It would be preferable if this player was a veteran that would have a strong locker room presence, similar to what KG did a few years back.

New Orleans Pelicans:

Short term: In order to show upcoming free agents that Davis and Cousins can play for a title with a little help, they’ll need to start winning some games THIS season. Even if that means they won’t make the playoffs OR get a good draft pick, it won’t matter, because the Pelicans gave up their pick to Sacramento to get Cousins.

Long term: Going into next year, all the Pelicans need to do is add as much talent as possible at the wing spots. Luckily for them, it is a wing-heavy draft this year. Unluckily for them, they traded their currently-6th overall pick to the Kings in order to acquire Boogie. However, they can still look to add some free agents, such as Otto Porter or Tim Hardaway Jr., assuming they don’t get resigned, to help with scoring.This will help with Holiday’s lack of shooting that has hurt them all season long.

New York Knicks:

Short term: The Knicks are in the worst position a franchise can be in: not good enough to make the playoffs, but not bad enough to hope for a top pick. They need to just finish the season without any more internal issues, and begin the rebuild starting with draft night.

Long term: It will be no surprise if New York dumps as much salary as possible this offseason, and after Derrick Rose and his “super team” weren’t able to get it done, his time in the Big Apple has likely come to an end. On the opposite end of things, one guy that definitely will be sticking around in NYC is Porzingis, and the best thing the Knicks can do to build around him is to draft an all around guard with potential, which is why Malik Monk is the perfect fit if he ends up sliding down towards the middle of the lottery, which is a very possible scenario. In terms of free agents, Trey Burke and Darren Collison could be a few cheap options at the PG spot, and adding a guy like Mirotic to pair up with Kristaps would sure up their frontcourt relatively quickly.

Oklahoma City Thunder:

Short term: After a few nice wins, the Thunder could potentially steal the 4th seed in the West over the Jazz and Clippers. If that is the case, they have a good chance to advance into the 2nd round where they would likely play the Warriors, which we would all love to see.

No player outside of LeBron could have filled the hole that KD left after abandoning Westbrook, but OKC needs to do a good job this offseason of replacing the impact that Durant had at SF. The front office shouldn’t rely on the far-fetched rumors of Paul George teaming up with Westbrook in 2018, so a more realistic option would be Gallinari.

Orlando Magic:

Short term: Now that Orlando has cut their losses by moving Ibaka, they can finally look forward to the future. With a young core of Gordon, Payton, and Vucevic, they should continue to develop their guys for the rest of the year.

Long term: After a rough start to the season, Elfrid Payton has come alive as of late, posting back to back triple doubles, silencing those who have said Orlando needs a new answer at PG. What the Magic need now is a difference maker at the wing spot, and the draft could take care of that problem with a selection of Lonzo Ball or Jayson Tatum. They should also look for some inexpensive options to help bolster their second unit, and a few guys that come to mind are Shaun Livingston, Patty Mills, and JJ Redick, should he become available this Summer.

Philadelphia 76ers:

With Embiid done for the year, his teammate Saric is the likely candidate for ROTY. The only other goal this team needs to achieve is to stay healthy.

Philly is probably going to be a contender once Embiid, Simmons, and co. reach their prime. Before that can happen, however, they need to decide whether or not they want to keep Okafor. He’s a very good post player, but he might not fit in with the rest of the team once Simmons inserts himself into the starting lineup moving forward.

Phoenix Suns:

Short term: Phoenix is another team with exciting prospects but is not a team that will make the playoffs this year. Giving Ulis, Booker, and Marquese Chriss the most amount of minutes possible is essential to developing their abundance of talent that they possess.

As unhappy as Suns fans may be, trading Eric Bledsoe is a must. He’s currently 27, so by the time they are a legitimate playoff team, he will be on the wrong side of 30. Phoenix needs to trade him while his value is still high so that they can acquire a difference maker at either big man spot.

Portland Trailblazers:

Only a game behind the Grizzlies, Portland still has hopes of playing in the post season. Outside of that, they have seemingly no chance against either the Warriors or Spurs, although they could potentially win a game or two in the series should they get that far.

The Blazers are not rebuilding, they simply need to retool in order to push themselves back to being a top team. However, with virtually no cap space, that will prove to be difficult. If they can trade away one of their expensive players (Crabbe or Ezeli) that would free up room to add a starting caliber PF, they should be just fine.

Sacramento Kings:

Short term: Now that the Kings are officially rebuilding, all they should have on their to-do list for this season is getting Hield acclimated to playing in SacTown.

Long term: With two high draft picks in this upcoming draft, Sacramento should have their eyes on a guy like Dennis Smith to be the PG of the future. Also, they have to give up either Rudy Gay or Tyreke Evans and get back a center that will be a part of the long term future.

San Antonio Spurs:

Short term: With Durant out, the Spurs all of a sudden look like the favorites to win the West, which could be huge assuming they will face the Warriors in the WCF’s. If that is the case, having home-court advantage gives them a great chance to advance to their 6 Finals in 13 seasons.

Long term: Just keep being the Spurs. No franchise is better at being a consistent winner than San Antonio. The only offseason plans they should have are to prep Dejounte Murray to become the starting PG once Parker regresses, as well as upgrade defensively in the paint, which they can do by drafting Cameron Oliver, who’s averaging 2.6 blk/gm at Oregon.

Toronto Raptors:

Short term: Ensure Lowry is healthy come playoff time while still earning the 3 seed to avoid having to play the Cavs until the ECF. Assuming they get that far, hoping for a Finals appearance this season may not be too far fetched.

Long term: All this team really needs to do is keep their guys together. Resigning Lowry is the biggest part of that. The Raptors don’t need to make too many moves outside of keeping the roster together.

Utah Jazz:

Short term: Despite being a very respectable ( and underrated) team over the past few seasons, Utah is still not contending. They should look to at least win one playoff series this year, then look forward to next season.

Long term: Not allowing Hayward to walk this Summer has to be the top priority for the Jazz. After that, they may need more depth at center, and giving up a guy like Alec Burks for Jahlil Okafor might give Utah the scoring down low that Gobert doesn’t quite have.

Washington Wizards:

Short term: Being in a similar position as the Raptors, the Wizards need to earn the 3 seed to also avoid the Cavs until the ECF’s. Otherwise, they look sure to be a second round exit.

Long term: Washington has a very talented starting backcourt, but behind them, improvements are needed. A few options for them could be Ben McLemore or Jonathan Simmons. They might also considering adding more talented depth down low, looking for a guy like Amir Johnson, Thomas Robinson, or Mason Plumlee, if any of these guys are available this offseason.

0 notes

apsbicepstraining · 7 years

Text

The biggest esports business moves of 2015

This list spotlights some of the biggest moves made by the biggest participates in esportsboth established and brand-new.

MTG acquires majority stake in ESL

MTG buys DreamHack

WME-IMG picks up Global Esports Management

DraftKings gets into squad sponsorships

FanDuel acquires AlphaDraft

Twitch gets the rights to Bob Ross

Everyone gets a circuit of majors

BBC broadcasts the League of Legends World Championships

Heroes of the Dorm is a hit on ESPN

Deep-pocketed investors draw large-hearted moves in League of Legends

Turner announces broadcasted Counter-Strike tournament

Photo via Riot Games / Flickr

Need more esports? Check out Dot Esports on Youtube !

The post The biggest esports business moves of 2015 appeared first on apsbicepstraining.com.

from WordPress http://ift.tt/2tGOoK5 via IFTTT

#IFTTT #WordPress

0 notes

apsbicepstraining · 7 years

Text

The biggest esports business moves of 2015

This list spotlights some of the biggest moves made by the biggest participates in esportsboth established and brand-new.

MTG acquires majority stake in ESL

MTG buys DreamHack

WME-IMG picks up Global Esports Management

DraftKings gets into squad sponsorships

FanDuel acquires AlphaDraft

Twitch gets the rights to Bob Ross

Everyone gets a circuit of majors

BBC broadcasts the League of Legends World Championships

Heroes of the Dorm is a hit on ESPN

Deep-pocketed investors draw large-hearted moves in League of Legends

Turner announces broadcasted Counter-Strike tournament

Photo via Riot Games / Flickr

Need more esports? Check out Dot Esports on Youtube !

The post The biggest esports business moves of 2015 appeared first on apsbicepstraining.com.

from WordPress http://ift.tt/2tGOoK5 via IFTTT

#IFTTT #WordPress

0 notes