Category Archives: Futurism

The more we learn about whether Elon Musk lives in either a shack or a palace, the more confusing the story becomes.

After a damning Wall Street Journal report suggested the worlds richest man may actually be living in his buddys multi-million-dollar Austin mansion instead of a prefabricated hovel like he claims, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO denied the claim outright when speaking toBusiness Insider but his friends denial isnt as clear.

Elon does not live at my home, he lives in South Texas, PayPal co-founder Ken Howery, allegedly known as Kenny to his maybe-tenant Musk, toldBI. He stayed at the house as my guest occasionally when traveling to Austin.

That final clause that Musk has occasionally been a guest to Howery is remarkably ambiguous. It could mean that the worlds richest man actually is living in a little shack by SpaceXs campus near the US-Mexico border. But it could also mean that he stays there all the time.

Musks denial of WSJs report, which he simply called false, was much less equivocating.

I dont live there and am not looking to buy a house anywhere, he said, noting the chunk of theWSJs anonymously-sourced article claiming that the billionaire troll is actively house hunting in Austin, to the point where hes employed lawyers to handle real estate brokers.

Because he is a troll, however, Musk apparently couldnt resist the urge to mock the report that, in all reality, would make far more sense than a man worth more money than the GDP of North Korea living in a rented shack.

There was no doubt that Musk was going to deny theWSJs claim which, lets be honest, isnt exactly Pentagon Papers material. Its worth pointing out, by the way, that the people familiar with the matter who spoke to the WSJ on background about this alleged secret real estate hunt said that Musk is trying to keep it quiet on purpose. If they conjectured about what purpose that could be, the newspaper chose not to print it.

So now, were stuck in the fuzzy grey area of an incredibly goofy story, even by Musk standards.

Does Elon Musk actually live way, way, way below his means for some sort of minimalist reason? Or is it all a play to make him seem more relatable? The world may never know.

READ MORE: Elon Musk denies report that hes been staying in a $12 million lavish waterfront Austin estate owned by a PayPal Mafia member [Business Insider]

More on Muskbrags: Elon Musk Brags That Hes Paying More Taxes Than Anyone Else in History

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video made by the YouTube channel with the logo in the videos upper left hand corner. OaklandNewsNow.com is the original blog post for this type of video-blog content.

Cathy Hackl, Metaverse expert, Tech Futurist, and CEO & Chief Metaverse Officer at The Futures Intelligence Group, joins

via IFTTT

Note from Zennie62Media and OaklandNewsNow.com : this video-blog post demonstrates the full and live operation of the latest updated version of an experimental Zennie62Media , Inc. mobile media video-blogging system network that was launched June 2018. This is a major part of Zennie62Media , Inc.s new and innovative approach to the production of news media. What we call The Third Wave of Media. The uploaded video is from a YouTube channel. When the YouTube video channel for CNBC News uploads a video it is automatically uploaded to and formatted automatically at the Oakland News Now site and Zennie62-created and owned social media pages. The overall objective here, on top of our is smartphone-enabled, real-time, on the scene reporting of news, interviews, observations, and happenings anywhere in the World and within seconds and not hours is the use of the existing YouTube social graph on any subject in the World. Now, news is reported with a smartphone and also by promoting current content on YouTube: no heavy and expensive cameras or even a laptop are necessary, or having a camera crew to shoot what is already on YouTube. The secondary objective is faster, and very inexpensive media content news production and distribution. We have found there is a disconnect between post length and time to product and revenue generated. With this, the problem is far less, though by no means solved. Zennie62Media is constantly working to improve the system network coding and seeks interested content and media technology partners.

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The Battery Conservancy and NYC Parks has installed The Great Debate a monumental sculpture by Hebru Brantley that will be on display for the next year. The 16-foot, painted fiberglass structure depicts Brantleys Flyboy signature character.

A Chicago native, Brantley is best known for his Afro-Futurism approach to anime and graffiti. His paintings and sculptures often depict fictional versions of his younger self, as well as pop culture or art historical figures such as Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat. He named this one for the positive side of public discourse.

No matter if we agree or disagree, what is important is that we have the freedom to do so. My hope is that Flyboy at The Battery will serve as a consistent reminder to hold your head high, stand firm in what you believe in, and keep pushing forward with confidence. The Flyboy character that I have created has become a pillar of hope and optimism for people around the world. He challenges people to transcend their circumstances and believe they are worthy of their dreams, no matter the color of their skin or the neighborhood they grew up in.

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Art in (a bit south of) Tribeca: Flyboy at The Battery - Tribeca Citizen

For nearly two decades, the name GoPro has been synonymous with action and adventure. So much so that people often refer to any action camera as simply a GoPro. When looking for the best GoPro cameras, keep in mind that the current GoPro lineup continues that legacy, thanks to premium video features like class-leading resolutions and frame rates up to 5.3K at 60 frames per second and arguably the most sophisticated image stabilization ever put into an action camera: HyperSmooth.

With the notable exception of the GoPro Max, the current roster of available GoPro cameras are all part of the HERO Black series. That series starts with the beginner-friendly HERO7 Black and ends with the current king of all action cams, the HERO10 Black. Each generation of HERO camera offers something new, something more advanced than its predecessor, though those upgrades dont automatically mean the newer generations of HERO cameras are better than the older theyre just more powerful.

In this guide, well discuss who might need the extra power newer models provide, as well as those who would be better served with a less expensive though fully capable model. Well also go over what to look for when shopping GoPro cameras on your own, including which features to prioritize and which to disregard.

Best Overall: GoPro HERO10 BlackBest for Beginners: GoPro HERO7 BlackBest for Vlogging: GoPro HERO9 BlackBest for 360 video: GoPro MAXBest Value: GoPro HERO8 Black

Normally, when we review action cameras, we prioritize features like video quality and stabilization to separate the good cameras from the not-so-good. However, because every current GoPro camera offers both high-quality video quality and highly effective digital stabilization, we refined our review process to consider how important those features were to specific use-cases and popular applications (e.g., what is the best GoPro for vlogging). Here are the features we looked at and how we judged them.

Video Quality: Because every current GoPro camera delivers high-quality, digitally stabilized video, we judged their video quality by how relevant it was to a particular category or use. For example, when we were looking for the best GoPro overall, we went with the model that has the very best video quality, the HERO10 Black. Our thinking was that the best GoPro should be the one with the best video footage. For categories where having the very best video quality wasnt as relevant to the use (e.g., the best beginner GoPro,), we didnt rank video quality quite so high.

Rugged Design: Like any good action camera, a GoPro needs to be tough and reliable. It needs to stand up to the elements, to survive the impact from a steep fall, and to withstand a reasonable level of water and/or dust immersion. We reviewed each GoPro camera using this criterion; we also judged the vulnerability of their more sensitive components, such as the camera lens and display.

Battery: Having enough battery to support recording high-quality video for at least an hour is critical. Bonus points if the battery is removable, so you can swap it out for a fresh one when necessary.

Live Streaming: Although its relevance changes from use-case to use-case, the ability to effectively transmit live footage is something we looked at when reviewing the GoPro lineup. Specifically, we considered how well a particular GoPro could stream live video when judging its potential as a vlogging camera or webcam. Learn more about the best GoPro accessories.

Related: The Best Digital Cameras of 2022.

Why It Made the Cut: Featuring best-in-class resolution, frame rates, and image stabilization, the HERO10 Black is the most advanced GoPro camera you can buy and our pick for the best GoPro camera overall.

Specs:Video Resolution: Up to 5.3K at 60fpsPhoto Resolution: 23MPImage Stabilization: DigitalBattery Capacity: 1720mAh

Pros:5.3K60/4K120/2.7K240 VideoNew GP2 ProcessorHyperSmooth 4.0 Image StabilizationWaterproof to 33 feet without HousingWi-Fi and Bluetooth Connectivity

Cons:Premium features mean a premium price

Though it bears a striking resemblance to its predecessor, the GoPro HERO10 Black is a far superior device. The secret to its superiority is the HERO10 Blacks powerful new processor, the GP2, which allows it to shoot 5.3K video at up to 60 fps thats double the frame rate of its predecessor. Along with its upgraded CPU, the HERO10 Black also features a new 23MP image sensor and the latest version of GoPros signature stabilization tech, HyperSmooth 4.0. Both of these features are notable improvements over the previous gen.

Sheer power alone isnt the only reason the HERO10 Black is the best GoPro overall. It also boasts the most features and is the most accessible, meaning it has the widest appeal. For example, not only is the GoPro HERO10 Black a world-class action camera, its also a great webcam solution thanks to its 1080p Live Streaming feature. The ability to live-stream in Full HD, coupled with the HERO10 Blacks new front-facing display, also make it a great camera for vloggers.

Though it features several new hardware elements, the HERO10 Black uses a near-identical design, which means many of the accessory mods that worked with its predecessor are also supported by the HERO10 Black. Not only that, but all of the fan-favorite features and popular video modes of earlier models are built into the HERO10 Blacks softwaremany of which have been updated to utilize the new processor and stabilization tech.

That extensive list of new and upgraded features, combined with the enhanced processor, image sensor, and video quality, make the HERO10 Black the most sophisticated action camera on the market, and the best GoPro overall.

Why It Made the Cut: The GoPro HERO7 Black pairs a low price point and easy-to-use interface with high-quality 4K video, making it a great entry point for action cam users, and the best camera for beginners.

Specs:Video Resolution: Up to 4K at 60fpsPhoto Resolution: 12MPImage Stabilization: DigitalBattery Capacity: 1220mAh

Pros:Video Resolution: Up to 4K at 60fpsPhoto Resolution: 12MPImage Stabilization: DigitalBattery Capacity: 1220mAh

Cons:Far less features than newer models

While its no longer part of the current GoPro lineup, the GoPro HERO7 Black still packs a ton of great features that make it especially suitable for beginners. Among those highlights is the ability to shoot stabilized 4K60 video, which is generally considered the standard of high-quality video for action cameras.

While it lacks many of the advanced features of the newer HERO models, the HERO7 Blacks clean and easy-to-access interface make it a breeze to navigate and use. Beginners will no doubt appreciate how streamlined the menus and operations are, especially those that just want to get out and start shooting.

Although it doesnt have all the software bells and whistles of the later models, the HERO7 Black is every bit as rugged. Featuring a compact design that is waterproof down to 33 feet and every bit as tough as the future models, the HERO7 Black offers the signature ruggedness the GoPro brand is known for a trait that beginners, especially young ones prone to dropping things, will appreciate. Read a full review of the GoPro HERO7 Black.

Why It Made the Cut: Thanks to a new front-facing color display and across-the-board upgrades, the HERO9 Black is one of the best GoPro cameras for vloggers.

Specs:Video Resolution: Up to 5.3K at 30fpsPhoto Resolution: 20MPImage Stabilization: DigitalBattery Capacity: 1720mAh

Pros:5.3K30/4K60/2.7K120 Video1080p Live Streaming & Webcam ModeHyperSmooth 3.0 Image StabilizationWaterproof to 33 feet without HousingWi-Fi and Bluetooth Connectivity

Cons:Bulkier than predecessor

The GoPro HERO9 Black introduced several enhancements to the HERO lineup, including a new front-facing 1.4-inch color display that allows users to frame shots using its live-view feature, making the HERO9 a great option for vloggers.

In addition to the upgraded display, the HERO9 Black also features a new 23.6MP image sensor capable of shooting video up to 5K at 30 fps a notable step up from its predecessor, which maxes out at 4K60 (the HERO9 can also shoot 4K60). Supporting the HERO9 Blacks new sensor and 5K video capability is HyperSmooth version 3.0, which adds gimbal-like stabilization to all your video, regardless of resolution or frame rate.

Top those features off with a powerful new battery that promises 30 percent more life than its predecessor and youre looking at an action cam that lasts longer, shoots better footage, and features a handy front display thats perfect for framing your next shot or live stream.

Now, although the GoPro HERO9 Black isnt as powerful as the current flagship model, the HERO10 Black, it is significantly less expensive. On top of that, the HERO10 Blacks powerful hardware is likely overkill for conventional vlogging, making the HERO9 Black the best GoPro for vloggers.

Why It Made the Cut: Though it is only one of two 360 cameras ever produced by GoPro, the GoPro Max outranks and outperforms its predecessor in every single category, making it the best 360 camera you can buy.

Specs:Video Resolution: 5.6K at 30fps (Spherical); 1440p60 (Standard)Photo Resolution: 16.6MP (Spherical); 5.5MP (Standard)Image Stabilization: DigitalBattery Capacity: 1600mAh

Pros:5.6K30 Spherical VideoCaptures Spherical and Standard (Wide-Angle) Video and StillsMax HyperSmooth Image StabilizationWaterproof to 16 feet without HousingWi-Fi and Bluetooth Connectivity

Cons:No 4K video in HERO mode

As the only current GoPro camera that can shoot spherical video, the GoPro MAX is the obvious choice if youre looking for the best 360 GoPro. However, just because the GoPro MAX is the only spherical shooter GoPro currently offers, that doesnt mean its light on features.

The GoPro MAX outputs 360-degree video at a resolution of 5.6K30 and standard HERO-style video at 1440p60. Stabilized with GoPros proprietary Max HyperSmooth software, the MAXs video footage ranks among the very best in the 360 camera category. A third video option is using the GoPro MAX for live streaming. Capable of transmitting live video in 1080p, the GoPro MAX is great for vloggers or anyone who wants to live broadcast to social media.

In addition to excellent video and versatility, the GoPro MAX offers almost everything you could want in a 360 cam. Its rugged build is designed to withstand the rigors of even the most harrowing adventures, including being submerged in water down to 16 feet deep. Its companion editing software gives you full creative control over all your footage, allowing you to cut together dynamic clips and action-packed scenes.

While its true that the GoPro MAX is the only 360 camera GoPro currently offers, its important to know that the MAX can stand toe-to-toe with any 360 camera out there, and likely come out on top. Excellent video quality, best-in-class stabilization, sturdy design, and versatility help make the MAX the best 360 GoPro you can buy, and one of the very best 360 cameras in the world.

Why It Made the Cut: With its relatively modest price tag and long list of advanced features, including 4K60 video and HyperSmooth 2.0, the GoPro HERO8 Black is the best GoPro for the money.

Specs:Video Resolution: Up to 4K at 60fpsPhoto Resolution: 12MPImage Stabilization: DigitalBattery Capacity: 1220mAh

Pros:4K60/2.7K120 Video12MP SuperPhoto with HDR SupportHyperSmooth 2.0 Image StabilizationWaterproof to 33 Feet without HousingWi-Fi and Bluetooth Connectivity

Cons:No front-facing display

With the ability to shoot professional-grade video in resolutions up to 4K at 60 fps and 1080p at 240 fps, the GoPro HERO8 Black offers flagship-worthy performance at mid-tier price, making it our pick for the GoPro that offers the best value.

In looking for the best GoPro cameras, we compared the video quality of the HERO8 Black against its successor, the HERO9 Black. On paper, the HERO8 Blacks 4K video cant keep up with the 5K footage of the HERO9 Black.

In practice, however, the difference between the two cameras max resolution video is hardly striking, and in some cases, mostly undetectable. Similarly, the HERO8 Blacks HyperSmooth 2.0 isnt as sophisticated as the HERO9 Blacks HyperSmooth 3.0 stabilization, but the difference isnt as noticeable as the difference in price would lead you to believe.

The extra difference in cost, then, seems the result of the HERO9 Blacks new front-facing display and larger battery, which can last up to 30 percent longer than the HERO8 Black. For vloggers, the new display adds some serious supplemental value to the HERO9, but because its more of a niche use case, its quite enough to tip the scales.

Improved battery life, on the other hand, is something that every GoPro owner wants and values. And although 30 percent is a major boost in runtime, we still didnt see it as enough of an increase to warrant changing our pick. In terms of what you get for what you pay, the HERO8 remains our top choice.

When shopping for a new GoPro, its tempting to just go with the latest and greatest. After all, the undisputed king of the GoPro cameras, the HERO10 Black, can do just about everything better and faster than any other GoPro. However, its important to remember that the best GoPro overall isnt necessarily the best GoPro for you. Before purchasing your new GoPro, take some time to consider what you plan to do with your camera, as well as these important factors:

Video Resolution and Speed: Regardless of how you plan on using your GoPro, you no doubt want the video quality to look smooth, sharp, and vibrant. Two factors responsible for determining the video quality are the resolution (measured in pixels) and the speed (measured in frames per second). The current GoPro HERO roster is great because every model supports at least 4K video at 60 fps, which is your baseline for high-quality video. Certain GoPro models offer even higher resolutions and frame rates up to 5.3K at 60 fps enabling the highest video quality possible.

Stabilization: Of course, high video resolution and fast frame rates wont mean a thing if the camera shakes without any kind of image stabilization. Luckily, GoPro pioneered one of the most effective digital stabilization platforms ever used in an action camera: HyperSmooth. What you need to know about HyperSmooth is that the original version was an effective digital stabilizer that helped fix shaky footage. Were now on version 4, and its gotten better. When shopping GoPros, consider how turbulent your adventures might be, and choose the appropriate level of stabilization.

Ruggedness: When it comes to action cameras, one word marketers love to use is rugged (ruggedness, ruggedized, etc.) to the extent its lost some the original meaning. However, even though overuse has diluted what it means to be rugged, you should always consider the build quality of the device youre shopping for to ensure that it can withstand whatever adventures you have in mind. Ruggedness might not be a quantifiable measurement, but rugged characteristics are. Check to see if the device has an IP rating, whether its waterproof, dustproof, and/or shockproof. Consider the form factor as well: Is it designed to withstand some abuse or are there obvious points of structural weakness and vulnerability? Accurately considering a devices ruggedness will prevent you from having to consider it again when it doesnt survive your next extreme endeavor.

Live-Streaming: Though it doesnt determine how well a GoPro can capture video, the ability to livestream footage is an important feature to consider for anyone interested in vlogging or using the GoPro as a webcam or teleconferencing device.

Q: Which GoPro is easiest to use?The HERO7 Black is the easiest GoPro to use if for no other reason than it doesnt have as many features or the extensive settings options of the other GoPro cameras.

Q: Which GoPro is best for water?All current GoPro HERO Black models are waterproof down to 33 feet (10 meters), meaning each can be considered the best GoPro for water.

Q: Which GoPro has the best battery life?The GoPro HERO9 Black has the best battery life. Both the GoPro HERO10 and HERO9 Black feature a rechargeable 1720mAh battery. However, because the HERO10 Black has more powerful hardware and stabilization tech, it draws more battery power, making its battery life shorter in some instances. The difference isnt major, but its enough to give the HERO9 Black a slight edge in the battery life category.

Q: How many hours can a GoPro camera record?The amount of hours a GoPro camera can record depends on several factors, including the model of camera, battery life, video resolution, etc. Generally speaking, any of the current GoPro cameras can record between 1 and 2 hours on a full battery.

Q: How much does a GoPro cost?The cost of a GoPro varies depending on the model. Beginner models, like GoPro HERO7 Black typically cost in the $250 range, while the current GoPro flagship, the HERO10 Black, costs upward of $500.

Q: How can I recycle my old camera?GoPro no longer offers any kind of trade-in or recycling program. However, several companies will take certain GoPro models off your hands if you want to sell or donate them. Selling old GoPro cameras on websites such as eBay is also a viable option.

Thanks to its powerful new image sensor and GP2 processor, the HERO10 Black outperforms every other GoPro model. It records 5.3K video at double the frame rates of its predecessor, the HERO9 Black, and its HyperSmooth 4.0 is arguably the most sophisticated digital stabilization ever put in an action cam. Simply put: the HERO10 Black is the best GoPro camera you can buy.

Related: The Best Inkjet Printers of 2022

This post was created by a non-news editorial team at Recurrent Media, Futurisms owner. Futurism may receive a portion of sales on products linked within this post.

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Capture All the Action with the Best GoPro Cameras - Futurism

You have two choices. As trends change, you can adapt your farm and capitalize on the opportunities, or you can stay the course and watch your business decline. Today is the slowest rate of change we will experience, says Jack Uldrich, a futurist and former naval intelligence officer. Our world is not slowing down; the pandemic unexpectedly accelerated the future by five to 10 years. What trends will shape the next year or five? Watch these areas.

In somewhat simple terms, Uldrich says, blockchain technology is a distributed digital ledger. What it allows businesses to do is have a secure, trustworthy and transparent view of the supply chain, he says. With blockchain in the not-too-distant future, both consumers and businesses are going to know exactly where their crops came from, how they were grown, how they were shipped, how they were stored, etc.

On the farm level, Uldrich says blockchain technology allows companies such as Cargill, PepsiCo and General Mills to hold farmers accountable for their production practices and resource usage.

I know this will not sit well with all farmers, he says. What Im saying is customers will work with producers who they think are doing the best in limiting their water use, reducing methane or reducing CO2 emissions, and blockchain will give them the technology to do that.

Big food companies are betting on regenerative agriculture to thwart climate change, Uldrich says. That is translating into paying farmers to sequester carbon and adopt conservation practices.

Were seeing European governments be more aggressive on requiring agribusinesses and farmers to get more se-rious about regenerative agriculture, and the Biden administration will likely provide financial incentives for farmers to store carbon in their land. This is a huge opportunity for farmers; its not too soon for every farmer to begin getting up to speed on this issue.

By 2025, electric vehicles could total $330 billion, according to consulting firm AlixPartners. Electric vehicles now represent 2% of total global vehicle sales and could be about 24% of total sales by 2030.

How many people are buying electric cars? Is battery technology improving?

Pay attention to those trends because I think electric vehicles are going to take off faster than most farmers are currently estimating, he says. If so, demand for gasoline goes down, which means demand for ethanol goes down. If ethanol demand goes down, the demand for corn goes down. My point is not to say that will happen, but corn farmers should be prepared for that possibility.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, plant-based meat sales soared to high levels.

That had a lot of folks worried, says Jayson Lusk, Purdue

University agricultural economist. But, that sales growth seems to have leveled off a bit in the past few months.

While the growth in sales has slowed, keep an eye on plant-based proteins (meat and eggs) and milk, Uldrich says: Plant-based protein is going to begin eroding some sales of traditional meat, milk and eggs. It is not going to become 100% of the market, but I think that its going to grow faster than other food segments.

As a business owner, take time to think about the future, advises futurist Jack Uldrich. He offers these three ways to have an AHA moment about the future.Awareness: Be aware of how fast the world is changing and what trends will affect us.Humility: What served us well yesterday in our jobs or our industry might not be sufficient in the world of tomorrow.Action: If your action solves the wrong problem, your efforts are worthless. Instead, ponder this question: What is the tomorrow problem you must begin solving today? That will help lead you to the best action.

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Foresight for 2022: Watch These 4 Megatrends - Agweb Powered by Farm Journal

Erika Alexander was once told that science fiction isn't for Black people.

This exchange took place in a meeting with a major Hollywood studio president, where Alexander an actor known for the likes of Get Out and Wu-Tang: An American Saga along with ex-husband and collaborator Tony Puryear, was pitching a science-fiction series starring Black actors. The response by the white studio executive startled and angered her.

"[He said] Black people didn't like science fiction because they didn't see themselves in the future," Alexander tells Mashable.

The evidence against that theory is vast. Black voices have soared through the spaces of science fiction and futurism for decades just look at afrofuturism as a prominent cultural movement in itself. Black sci-fi writers like Octavia E. Butler, N. K. Jemisin, Nnedi Okorafor, Justina Ireland, and Troy L Wiggins to name a few have long penned evocative tales in the genre across novels and comics, championing sci-fi despite some experiencing racism in the industry, as Alexander did.

Representation and perception matter, and mainstream science fiction is rooted in Eurocentric tropes and myths. Sci-fi writing has a long way to go to address its tangible lack of diversity and inclusion. In 2016, a study found that less than two percent of published speculative and science fiction stories were written by Black authors.

But fantasy, magic, and speculative storytelling can be reclaimed and reenvisioned.

"The fact that he didn't understand that science fiction or the idea of science fiction, or futurism, was something that was uniquely built into the DNA of African Americans because their past had been taken away from them, was absurd," says Alexander. "They had no name. We have no name. We have the name of our oppressors and our kidnappers. We definitely have everything around us recreated in of the form of what could happen in future because the present was so painful."

Alexander and Puryear were fueled not only by the bigotry they experienced, but by those Black writers who have paved the way in science fiction, moving to release their own passion project: the sci-fi graphic novel series, Concrete Park.

Credit: Dark Horse

Credit: Dark Horse

Launched in 2014, the comic series' story is one of exile, struggle, and perseverance. Published by Dark Horse Comics, the superpower behind Sin City, Concrete Park follows a young outcast from Earth who finds himself on a far-off desert planet plagued by violence. Themes of darkness and light, good and evil, and the path to redemption are the backbone of the tale, which has accumulated awards and acclaim.

"We thought we should create a multiracial, non-homogenous, grassroots movement and satisfy the demand for change. That is Concrete Park," says Alexander. She emphasizes the worlds of science fiction and its facets comic books, cosplay are spaces that Black people belong in.

Come 2021, Concrete Park has found new ground. Alexander looked towards the future once again, finding it to be in blockchain. The creators of the graphic novel partnered with Curio, an NFT platform focused on entertainment collaborations. Alexander and Puryear released "Concrete Park Bangers", a collection of thousands of unique non-fungible tokens that represent the characters (or "Bangers") from the comics. Ten percent of the profits from the drop will go towards Black Girls Code, a group devoted to teaching Black girls computer programming and coding in order to establish equal representation in the tech sector.

Credit: Curio / Concrete Park.

The first drop in the Concrete Park collection, in April of this year, sold out within minutes of its release. "I keep saying the power of the pixel is fascinating," Alexander laughs. The collection of works in the Curio drop were drawn by Puryear, in his distinctive, provocative, vibrant style. The characters are the "heart and soul" of their series, representing the values of sacrifice and transformation that Concrete Park holds close.

"It's revolutionary. But ultimately, it comes down for us to art and life and storytelling," she says. "And [with NFTs], you get to be a person who has a piece of it and say I was there and here's my piece of it. And it means something and it has value."

But even within the NFT market, there are issues of diversity and inclusion.

Curio COO Rikin Mantri tells Mashable that collaborating with creators like Alexander and Puryear, ones that carve space for diverse voices, aligns with the company's own ethos. "In the blockchain community, theres a lot of underrepresentation," he says. "[That's why] we want to look at creators and artists who are pushing the edge."

In the blockchain space, stories of discrimination and inequality have indeed emerged in the past few years. The New York Times unveiled the case of Black workers leaving cryptocurrency startups like Coinbase, explaining that they'd been tokenized, bullied, and faced lack of support within the tech institution. Meanwhile, CryptoPunk NFTs have been flagged for price imbalances within the collection depending on race and gender CryptoPunks that skew white and male, Bloomberg reports, are selling for far more than their counterparts.

Aside from the environmental concerns and brand bandwagon-jumping apparent in the NFT space, there are some benefits especially for creators. Though Mantri found that the NFT space began with a sort of "bro culture," the market could further expand by diversifying its artist base, for one. NFTs has been a golden ticket of sorts to the art world, bringing back contemporary art sales, sprouting entire museums, and revitalising the industry worldwide. When Mantri first heard of NFTs, back in 2017, he said he couldn't sleep at night. "I was just like, this is gonna change the world," he says.

In such a booming, lucrative space, inclusivity for marginalized creators must be forged. When asked how this representation can be facilitated, Mantri turns to the example of the Concrete Park collection, and how it evolved from comic book to collectible. "We think to ourselves: let's create a new environment and use this technology," he says. "What does it enable, in terms of storytelling? What can we do that's new and different?"

As for Concrete Park, the creators appear to just be getting started. A television show is in the works, and plenty more NFT drops are on their way, too the last drop in December was a one-off collaboration with Queen Latifah.

The future is bright.

Related Video: A beginner's guide to NFTs, the crypto potentially worth millions

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How 'Concrete Park' creator Erika Alexander pushed for representation in sci-fi and NFTs - Mashable

REPLACED looks set to be one of the most aesthetically pleasing platforming titles to be released on Xbox and PC during this generation, but what is the release date of the game?

The 2.5D sci-fi retro-futuristic action platformer has been drawing admirers since the reveal of the title at E3, with many putting it among their most anticipated upcoming releases.

Sad Cat Studios, the team behind REPLACED, appear to have perfectly captured the Blade Runner/Cyberpunk aesthetic alongside the gameplay styling of Another World, and the hype is only building ahead of the games launch.

Heres everything you need to know about the potential release date of REPLACED on Xbox Series X|S and Microsoft PC.

Read More: REPLACED Game: Release Date, Platforms, Gameplay and Everything You Need to Know

REPLACED is set to be released in 2022 on Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Xbox Game Pass.

Unfortunately, the developers have not given a more specific date for the game beyond that, and there doesnt appear to be any indication that we will get an official date in the near future.

What is known is that the game will be released as an Xbox Game Pass Day One release, which means that players who are subscribed to the service will be able to play REPLACED on launch day at no extra cost.

Xbox Game Pass has a huge amount to offer gamers at a cost of 10.99 per month, including:

Microsoft has also recently implemented the Cloud Gaming version of Xbox Game Pass, meaning that players are also able to play titles on the likes of the Xbox Series S without having to download the game and use up storage space.

Were hoping that Sad Cat Studios will confirm a more concrete date of release at some point in early 2022, with players eager to get their hands on the stylish 2.5D platformer with some great nostalgic nods to Paul Verhoeven-esque futurism and Blade Runner-styled visuals.

We will update this page as and when Sad Cat Studios confirms the official release date for REPLACED on Xbox Series X|S and Microsoft PC!

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And you can mint a breadstick NFT for free, of course.Blockchain Casual

Because 2021 couldnt get much dumber, someone has begun minting Olive Garden NFTs even though they admittedly do not have any affiliation with any actual brick-and-mortar Olive Gardens.

Taking the generalized meme surrounding the fast-casual Italian chain to the next level, the person or people behind these Non-Fungible Olive Gardens admit on their site that, for now, purchasing one of the NFTS or becoming a franchisee, per the sites lexicon grants owners no rights or privileges in meatspace Olive Gardens.

In a list that blurs the line between satire and seriousness, however, the anonymous creator or creators known only as mossy list off the ways they plan to eventually merge the Non-Fungible Olive Garden Metaverse with the real world: the minting of 880 Olive Garden NFTs and unlimited breadstick NFTs, launching the worlds first Neverending Pasta Bowl on the blockchain, attracting celebrity influencers, creating an open-world Olive Garden RPG, releasing Scampi Sneakers and, finally, using the money from the NFTs to buy out Darden Restaurants, the infamous chains parent company.

While its pretty impossible to deduce from nonfungibleolivergardens.com whether or not mossy is for real or trolling, the site is nevertheless full of hilarious references and Easter eggs, including but very much not limited to the acronym-ized Olive Garden tagline WYHYF, short for the chains cheesy slogan, When Youre Here, Youre Family.

If youre interested in buying a newly-minted and randomly-selected NFT Olive Garden, youre out of luck: theyre all sold out, though you can buy one on resale markets, the website announcing the project noted. You can also mint a breadstick NFT for free, although mossy notes on the site that you will have to pay gas fees to miners, which is cryptospeak for the computers that make the NFT machine go brrrr.

Obviously, the concept of spending any money at all to own a fake Olive Garden franchise thats based on a meatspace Olive Garden (or a fake breadstick, for that matter) is farcical but then again, people pay millions for NFTs of pixel art headshots, Bored Apes, and pissed-off-looking lions, so who are we to judge?

More NFT idiocy: Guy Accidentally Sells $300,000 Bored Ape NFT for 1% of Its Value

And on the flip side:Someone Made a Doom Mod Where Instead of Shooting Demons, You Take Screenshots of NFTs

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Someone Is Selling NFTs of Olive Garden Locations That They Do Not Own - Futurism

At least 132 SpaceX employees have tested positive for COVD-19 at the companys factory in Hawthorne, California, the Los Angeles Times reports the biggest outbreak at a workplace in the area.

According to data provided by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, there is an active outbreak at the space company, but we arent entirely sure how many active case of COVID there are as of right now. The data includes cases reported since the beginning of the current active outbreak and may include some cases that have since recovered.

Nevertheless, SpaceX accounts for almost a third of workplace COVID cases in the county, according to the countys public health department, where its a major employer in the area, with 6,000 people staffed at its headquarters in Hawthorne.

The news comes as the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus is sending cases of COVID skyrocketing across much of the globe including California. The US is getting close to hitting records when it comes to new cases of COVID, with officials reporting almost 300,000 new cases on Monday.

Omicron is officially dominant in the country, making up more than 73 percent as of late last week.

SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has had a strained relationship with the coronavirus. In May 2020, Musk forced workers at Teslas car plant in Fremont, California to keep working despite county restrictions.

Then in March, news emerged that Musks defiance at the time led to hundreds of COVID-19 cases at the plant.

Fortunately, a lot has changed since then, with vaccinations being widely available for many months, giving workers significant protection against severe illness.

But the situation is nonetheless precarious. Officials are warning that knock-on effects of everybody becoming ill at the same time could be devastating.

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There's a Huge "Active Outbreak" of COVID-19 at SpaceX HQ - Futurism