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TOUCHDOWN BEZOS: Amazon CEO is reportedly interested in buying the Seattle Seahawks

written by Ruben Jay

Amazon’s Billionaire CEO, Jeff Bezos, is reportedly looking into buying the Seattle Seahawks, according to The Washington Post. Bezos is the founder of Amazon and also the world riches man, which means that at $105 Billion net-worth, Bezos could buy the team cash.

The NFL requires owners to put a 30% deposit/downpayment toward the purchase of a team. The Seahawks are located less than 2 miles from the Amazon HQ, which would make Bezo’s commute to work very short. The previous owner of the Seahawks, tech billionaire and co-founder of Microsoft, Paul Allen, passed away last year.

Panelist of ABC’s Shark Tank, NBA owner, and billionaire, Mark Cuban says that Bezos would make a great NFL owner.

“The NFL could probably use him,” Cuban said. “He’s smart. He’s successful. He’s got a lot of money. Those would be the requirements.

15 November, 2019 0 comment
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FeaturedLifestyleTelevision

Youtuber James Charles to host a ‘Project Runway’ style make-up competition show

written by Ruben Jay

Youtube is partnering with James Charles on a new show called Instant Influencer, where Charles will select 6 finalist who will compete for a $50,000 cash prize. According to the report from Yahoo News, the show will take a Project Runway styled format for make-up artists.

The four part series will take place in Los Angeles and see 6 finalist competing for a chance at $50,000. Charles will host, direct, and executive producer the series that is being funded by Youtube.

“Ever since I entered the beauty space three years ago, I’ve dreamed of producing my own beauty competition show,” Charles told Variety. “It’s a dream come true… It’s such an amazing opportunity for [YouTube] to take it above and beyond what we expected.”

Applications for the Youtube series opens on November 15 (today).

15 November, 2019 0 comment
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Apple TVFeaturedRumorsStreamingTelevision

Apple TV Plus launches. Here are my thoughts on ‘The Morning Show’ starring Jennifer Aniston & Steve Carrell

written by Ruben Jay

Apple has launched their streaming service, Apple TV+. I signed up for a free year for buying the new iPhone 11 Pro and immediately when to watched Steve Carrell and Jennifer Aniston’s The Morning Show.

I only watched episode one so far, and WOW this is an incredible show so far. Everything from the filming and editing to the acting itself: one incredible show.

The premise of the show seems to be inspired from the Matt Lauer firing over at NBC’s Today. Carrell plays the character loosely based on Lauer named Mitch Kessler. Aniston plays the role loosely based off Savannah Guthrie named Alex Levy.

The show begins with the executive producer, Chip Black (played by Mark Duplass), getting the results of an investigation into the allegations of misconduct by Kessler. The first episode sets a few story into motion.

The story of an aging news anchor holding the ship after her long time partner is ousted from the seat next to her. That same anchor is possibly going to be replaced as well for some new blood. The story of a man who believes he’s been falsely accused of misconduct fighting for his life. And the young hot reporter looking to take the place of the aging anchor.

The Morning Show is setting the bar high for Apple TV+ subscribers. If all their originals are this good, Apple will have no problem growing their base.

1 November, 2019 0 comment
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MusicUncategorized

WALK THE SKY REVIEW: Alter Bridge’s Most Progressive Album To Date

written by Ruben Jay

Walk The Sky is the 6th studio album for the hard rock band Alter Bridge. Made up of Myles Kennedy (Slash, Mayfield Four) on vocals and guitar, Mark Tremonti (Creed, Tremonti) on lead guitar and backing vocals, Brian Marshall (Creed) on bass, and Scott Philips (Creed, Projected) on drums, Alter Bridge has put forward their most progressive album to date.

This album is an incredible listen from start to finish. I hope you take the time to read this track by track review and decide to buy the record!

Now, let’s jump into it.

One Life

The opening track on Walk The Sky serves as more of an intro or teaser track. I believe this is the shortest track to ever be on an Alter Bridge record. At 1:23, this song really sets the mood for the rest of the album.

Kennedy’s voice is so soothing and calm with the mellow music track in the background. I love the breathiness of Kennedy’s voice on this track. The track fades out and kicks right into “Wouldn’t You Rather.”

Wouldn’t You Rather

This is a hard rock track if there ever was one. The opening riff really gets you pumped to rock out. The kick drum comes in at the right time, and then the full band begins to play. Kennedy’s voice kicks in and all is right with the world.

“Wouldn’t You Rather” was also the lead single off the record, so I’ve had a while to sit with the song. It is a great first single and a great second track for the album. The song structure is great as well.

I love the message this song sends with the lyrics, “Wouldn’t you rather, live from the heart”. Amazing song. The bridge really takes this song to the next level! We get the epic and classic Tremonti guitar solo on this record.

In The Deep

“In The Deep” was one of 5 songs that the band released in advance to the record releasing. Great opening guitar work from the guys. The drums and bass kick in giving the song a nice kick start in the beginning.

The song slows down as Kennedy begins to sing. He brings a clean, raspy sound to the song. The chorus is a fun sound from the band.

I feel like the AB crew is pushing a little more mainstream with this record.

In verse two, Kennedy brings back the raspy vocals. Absolutely great storytelling from Kennedy on these lyrics. I encourage you to listen to the lyrics.

The bridge brings a bit of speed metal into the song. You can hear the Tremonti riffs kick in with the classic drumming style of Flip.

Godspeed

This song has to be one of my favorites of the entire record. It gave me the vibe of “Ghost of Days Gone By.” I feel like this could have been a single.

The opening of the song had some keys on it, something new to the Alter Bridge world. Everything about this says that it could be a mainstream hit for them if they push it properly.

The chorus is fun and high energetic. I love it! It sounds like the keys follow throughout the entire song, but I am not sure.

The mix on this song is incredible. You can hear Tremonti’s backing vocals clearly mixed in with Kennedy’s lead vocals. The guitar solo on this is mixed extremely well with Flip’s drumming.

Kennedy’s vocals on the chorus after the bridge will cause a bit of an eargasm.

Native Son

“Native Son” kicks off with a synth opening. The hard rock that follows the opening is high energy. This song is everything you want from the Kennedy/Tremonti duo in songwriting. Kennedy’s vocals on this track are impeccable.

I love the chorus on this. I am surprised that this wasn’t one of the songs that the band released as a preview to the album. It sounds like there are some strings or something in the background of the record. Maybe keys.

This is classic Alter Bridge.

Take The Crown

The opening of this song is deceiving for the mood of the entire song. I like the melody of this song. It’s a new style for Kennedy to sing.

The chorus is a great anthem for the band. I feel like this is a throwback to when the band had their backs against the wall to survive in 2007/08.

They feature keys on this song as well, which is a nice new element for the band.

Indoctrination

Kick drum intro with some high hat. The sexy guitar riff in the intro compliments the opening lines of Kennedy. Kennedy’s lower register has always been a secret weapon for him. The first 60 seconds of this song will be full-on eargasm for you.

The build of this song is so incredible. The ensemble builds the song beat by beat, with he chorus paying off as the build smoothly transitions into the chorus. Kennedy goes into his vintage high register and belts it in. .

The band brings it down a bit, and then kicks into a new gear for the second verse. Kennedy goes up and down his scale and it’s insane. .

The Bitter End

Thank goodness this wasn’t the end! This song’s intro reminds a lot of the Blackbird era AB. The vocals have some effects on them that I am not a huge fan of, but overall this song is great.

I feel like though this is called ‘The Bitter End’, it brings a message of hope. “It’s never too late to learn how to start living right” is a great message to send.

The bitter end will come in time.

(Aftersong thoughts: this song has a great balance of the original Alter Bridge sound — from One Day Remains — and then balances the sound from Blackbird and ABIII very well. This could be a song that I show to friends who want to know more about the band.)

Pay No Mind

Oh, this song got SO many fans upset. The intro of this song is a nice guitar rift over the sound of keys. I absolutely love it. Kennedy’s vocals on this are in your face.

The structure in the chorus is great. Tremonti’s guitar riff is just as kick ass as anything on this record. I love the line “The millions you stand to hurt, still willing to stand right by your side.”

The belief that this song is politically motivated is currently surfacing. Much like The Last Hero, (I asked Myles about the song’s content – a political leader), this album has been said to be influenced by the political climate.

Kennedy’s last note of the song is just jaw droppingly perfect.

Forever Falling

Much like almost every Alter Bridge album, there needs to be a song that has some acoustic guitar. But this song takes you to a new level. Right after the opening acoustic line, you hear Tremonti’s heavy metal influences kick in.

SURPRISE! Tremonti is taking the lead vocals on this. WOW! He’s gotten so good as a singer. I love this song. Mark’s voice on here just makes me so happy. The chorus is a nice change of pace for the record. As the chorus ends, the speed metal kicks back in.

Kennedy is taking the backing vocals on this track, and it compliments Mark’s voice really well. This song will be a sleeper for most. However: do not overlook this song. Between the guitar work, the vocals from Tremonti, and Kennedy doing backing vocals, you will truly enjoy this musical ride. .

I found myself full on moshing in the chorus. It’s a grade-A song. The song ends on a great note with a guitar solo and just a straight up jam to close out the song!

Clear Horizon

Kennedy brings back his low register. This song starts out extremely mellow, with most of the first verse in Kennedy’s lower register, and it ends up taking you by surprise.
I know I said that Forever Falling can be the sleeper on this record, but this song is slowly becoming my favorite on this track. Kennedy does an incredible job on the vocals. The drums are very much Tool inspired, in my opinion.

Walking On The Sky

More keys to open this track! This is a different sound overall for the band. It sounds like the band is experimenting a bit with this song. It’s good, just…different. Very Tremonti-feeling.

Elvis Baskette, the producer on the record, did an incredible job mixing Kennedy and Tremonti’s voice together. The entire song has the two harmonizing.

Tear Us Apart

The intro on this song is jaw-dropping. Kennedy is using his upper register to kick this song off — another possible commercial song for the band. Not sure if Napalm is wanting them to go more commercial, or if they just want some more commercial success.

This is inspiring. The chorus begs the listener: don’t let the world tear us apart. I feel like this might be a love letter of sorts. . It seems like this is Kennedy, theoretically writing to someone he loves, to put work into this relationship.

“If there is somethnin worth saving, let it show. If there is something, worth changing, let it go.” What a powerful lyric.

Dying Light

This was the final of 5 songs that the band used to promote the record. I hated the video they put out for it, but the song itself is incredible!

The song starts off with a kickass rift and then transitions into some guitar picking for the verse.

Dying Light is an incredible song to end the record on.

My Final Thoughts On The Record

I was a bit worried to listen to this record, as so many people had been complaining about the singles. However, after listening for a week straight, it’s safe to say that I am excited for the band moving forward!

Walk The Sky did an incredible job paying tribute to the 5 previous records while also allowing the band to grow creatively and add to their sound. Yes, some songs sound more mainstream and commercial. Yes, some songs have added keys to the band’s sound. Yes, this album is a continued evolution for a band that has spent 15 years evolving.

Myles Kennedy’s vocals have never sounded better. Mark Tremonti’s guitar work is on full display on this record. Over all, this might be one of their most progressive albums to date.

ABIII was transformative for the band and a great follow up for Blackbird. Walk The Sky will easily be able to stand on its own against the rest of the Alter Bridge discography in time.

17 October, 2019 0 comment
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BusinessFeaturedTech

The New Era Of Microsoft Office

written by Mario Toscano

Now that Office 2010 support now reaching its final year of the 10-year lifecycle, customers are being urged to migrate to its newer Office 365 ProPlus bundle. 

Microsoft announced this week that extended support for Office 2010 will end on October 13, 2020. And as with Windows 7, which also reaches end of life in January 2020, that means no more tech support, bug fixes or security patches. 

Customers do have the option of upgrading to the on-premise Office 2019 for a one-time cost, but Microsoft really wants customers to move to Office 365 ProPlus per-user subscription. 

The main difference between the two is that Office 365 ProPlus is updated regularly with new features, while Office 2019 has the same features it had since October 2018.  

Office 365 ProPlus, which comes with most enterprise plans, includes the “full versions of Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, Access, and Skype for Business installed on your client computers”. It also allows people to install Office on up to five devices, be they PCs, Macs, or mobile.  

“With built-in, cloud-powered security to protect your data, Office 365 ProPlus also provides the peace of mind that comes with knowing your business will not only be productive, but safe.”

Some of the main features Microsoft has added to Office 365 since releasing Office 2010 include Excel’s XLOOKUP, the successor to the VLOOKUP formula; Excel real-time collaboration across PCs, laptops and mobile; Word’s Resume assistant; dictation in Word and the ability to upload audio for auto transcription.

In addition, there’s also an AI-powered feature in PowerPoint that offers suggested slide designs and PowerPoint inking, voice and 3D capabilities. You’ll have from now until to October 13, 2020 take care of business so-to-speak.

15 October, 2019 0 comment
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FeaturedMusic

ALBUM PREVIEW: Walk The Sky by Alter Bridge

written by Ruben Jay

Walk The Sky is the sixth studio album from rock band, Alter Bridge, and is out on Friday October 28, 2019. I have been given a press copy to review and preview the album. This is my Walk The Sky preview. 

The Singles

Before I jump into the record from start to finish, I want to address the singles. Yes, Alter Bridge has a new sound on this record. Personally, I think it sounds like their old sound has developed. Despite this growth, some have reported to hate the new sound. However, at the end of the day, I still love the music. 

The band released 5 songs before the launch of the album and with each new song, I got more excited. Now that I’ve had a chance to listen to the record, I am too stoked to actually own the record. 

The Backlash

To the fans who have bashed this record based off the singles and the new sound…you’re totally wrong. This album is not bad in any way. The criticism from some fans about the new Alter Bridge songs is not warranted. I am not blindly supporting the band, I am passionately supporting this band as they continue to grow into the rock musicians they are. 

Now, The Album…

Walk The Sky is a great record from start to finish. While I can’t get into the intimate details why (you’ll have to listen for yourself!), I will tell you that you will not regret checking out this record. And please, do go buy the record! 

From track one to track twelve this album will have you on the edge of your seat. The first track, “One Life” will surprise you. It is a simple tune that will set the mood for the record. From there, you are on a journey and will find excitement and peace from this record. 

Myles Kennedy, lead singer of Alter Bridge, has gone on the record to say that this is a direct answer to the ABIII record they put out in 2010. In that record, Kennedy was asking questions about his faith and what he believed. He has said on a few interviews now that Walk The Sky is a record that showcases where he is now, and his journey to find spirituality that works. 

One song that surprised me as a personal favorite was ‘Godspeed’. It was more mainstream than the rest of the record and made me think of ‘Ghosts of Days Gone By’. I loved it and it is stuck in my head as we speak. 

The record is full of songs that, at first glance, you might not know how you feel. Once the song plays for 15 seconds, you will fall in love with it. 

There is not one song on this record that has disappointed me. I think you are going to love this record. Make sure you get it.

 

15 October, 2019 0 comment
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ABCFeaturedTelevision

Craig Ferguson To Host Games Show For ABC

written by Ruben Jay

Former late-night host and comedian, Craig Ferguson, is returning to television! Ferguson is not new to games shows as he hosted the David Arquette and Courtney Cox produced game, Celebrity Name Game.

The new game show called The Hustler is a unique take on the game show concept.  The Hustler takes 5 contestants who have to work as a team. One of the 5 contestants know the answers to all the questions. 2 Contestants will be eliminated. The remaining contestants need to find out which of them is the Hustler.

If they are able to identify the Hustler, they will split the prize. If the Hustler is not known, the hustler keeps all the money.

“It’s rare and exciting to have a mystery-based game show that employs viewers and contestants to tap into their sleuth skills,” said Rob Mills, senior vp alternative series, specials and late nigh at ABC. “This fun, new format is the perfect addition to our dynamic game-show lineup, and Craig’s unmatched wit and humor make him the ideal host. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome him back to ABC.”

 

14 October, 2019 0 comment
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TechUncategorized

Rich Kids and Their Tech Toys. What?

written by Mario Toscano

You’ll be surprised to hear that for some kids these days it must be tiring managing all the things they have and buying all the things they still want (sarcasm of course). It’s painful trying to decide what to do next, or what to buy next, right? At least this seems to be a challenge for a certain sector in the more affluent communities.

And then there are kids everywhere else. They are encouraged to stay in school, study hard, get good grades, and after all that, get them to interact at home and try get them to feel good about who they are. Could it be, though, that these rich kids’ minds are the ones being most warped by all the technology they allow into their lives?

A recent talk at the Parent Zone Digital Families Conference in the UK conducted by Professor Tanya Byron, a psychologist who was, until recently, Chancellor of the University, offered some findings from a study showing that kids of wealthier families are the ones who end up disappearing into the virtual world more than most others that are less fortunate.

The result is that their risk-taking is performed online, rather than in the real world. Up-close and personal, social interaction is a lost art nowadays. That’s not the worst part. In addition, more of these rich kids seem to be in search of clinical assistance as well. It seems they’ve discovered that having all the gadgets in the world, doesn’t necessarily make you happier or more productive. Absolutely ground-breaking right?

Professor Byron said that many of these children end up living inside those gadgets rather than going out into the real world and socializing with what the “old-timers” call, their mouths and using actual audible words. Sorry, that was my take at the end. I couldn’t help myself.

According to findings, parents are so keen on being their kids’ friends that they find it hard to encourage them to step back from their technology; many parents frustrated that they can’t get their kids off their phones to even listen to them anymore.

Of course, there are much more important and even mental implications arising from the notion that the rich have the most tech toys. What happens when mad-scientists make the chips available to be inserted into one’s head — chips that do the thinking for you and help you appear a lot smarter than you are?

It’ll probably be the rich who will likely get them first, and then we can only use our imagination as to what nightmares that will bring as a result. If you think kids are out of control now, just wait awhile; it’ll be the magic that dreams are made from (sarcasm of course).

10 October, 2019 0 comment
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