MIAMI, Aug. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Miami-based Bitcoin startup TMRW  announced it raised $1.3 million in a pre-seed funding round, led by Maple VC , with participation from prominent Bitcoin angel investors, including Brad Mills. They're calling this Peer-2-Anywhere payments, leveraging Universal Money Addresses (UMA), an open payment standard built on the Lightning Network. UMA allows anyone to send and receive money 24/7 using their favorite UMA-enabled wallet, exchange, or bank. It's like an email address but for money. TMRW is partnering with Lightspark  to support cross-border USD payments over the Lightning Network for US customers.

Traditional cross-border remittances are a second-class experience compared sending payments via apps like Venmo or CashApp. TMRW allows users to add text, or images to payments, react, and share their Bitcoin purchases with friends. The startup aims to help newcomers by helping them peek into the lives of their Bitcoin-using friends via the timeline and sending to anyone in the world.

"One of the few things that bitcoiners agree on is we need more bitcoiners in the world," said Alexandra Lutchman, co-founder of TMRW. The biggest hurdle was showing how Bitcoin worked and why it was beneficial to anyone. TMRW shows what bitcoin has already done for me and what possibilities are unlocked for my global friends and families."

The founders, Ari Ramdial and Alexandra Lutchman, previously co-founded Knox Custody in 2017, the first fully-insured Bitcoin company, raising $7M in a seed round co-led by Initialized Capital and iNovia, with participation from Fidelity.

"The ambition to help people who live in dual currency regimes, like the Caribbean (where my family is originally from), have an alternative way to instantly access cash (ie. USD) in real-life, really captured my imagination. The founders' insight of connecting cash to the internet by using bitcoin as rails for global money is revolutionary. Having founders with first hand experience who grew up in this target market and have the skills to bring this idea to fruition is very special." - Andre Charoo , MapleVC

TMRW aims to use the funding to expand into the US market, as well as make both bitcoin and fiat features available internationally. The team is currently running pilots in the Caribbean, the mobile app is now available in beta for iOS users.

SOURCE TMRW App

JoBlo Upcoming Movies is a YouTube channel that features the latest in big blockbuster original content including exclusive interviews, reviews, movie previews, behind-the-scenes looks at the latest and greatest new movies and much more. We’re always proud and happy to see the number of subscribers climbing on our YouTube channels, and over the weekend the JoBlo Upcoming Movies officially surpassed the 100,000 subscriber mark! We’re sending a sincere thank you out to every one of you who has subscribed to the channel, and to show our gratitude we will continue to fill the channel with the best, most interesting content possible.

If you’re not a subscriber yet, we’d be glad to add you as one. Just head over to the YouTube channel, then hit the subscribe button and the little bell so you’ll be notified whenever we upload a new video.

Content released through the JoBlo Upcoming Movies channel includes trailers and teasers for movies and TV shows, movie clips, interviews, and movie previews that also serve as companion pieces to the “Everything We Know” articles we posted here on JoBlo.com. Some of the most popular videos on the channel include the trailers for The Equalizer 3, Sisu, Fingernails, Boudica: Queen of War, Hijack, Expend4bles, and The Retirement Plan, a compilation of clips from Despicable Me 4, the Battle of Austerlitz clip from Napoleon, the Yellowstone season 5 teaser trailer, and movie previews that go along with our Everything We Know articles on 28 Years Later and the adaptation of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot that has been sitting on a shelf at Warner Bros. for a while now.

Some of the popular videos from JoBlo Upcoming Movies have been embedded in this article. To see more, head over to the channel and go down the rabbit hole!

About the Author

Cody is a news editor and film critic, focused on the horror arm of JoBlo.com, and writes scripts for videos that are released through the JoBlo Originals and JoBlo Horror Originals YouTube channels. In his spare time, he's a globe-trotting digital nomad, runs a personal blog called Life Between Frames, and writes novels and screenplays.

WILMINGTON, Del., Aug. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FTX Trading Ltd. (d.b.a. FTX.com) and its affiliated debtors ("FTX" or the "Debtors") today announced that the amended Plan of Reorganization (the "Plan") that was filed with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District Court of Delaware has received overwhelming preliminary support from all classes of creditors entitled to vote, including the FTX U.S. and FTX Dotcom customer classes. Unofficial voting reports indicate that over 95% of creditors who submitted votes voted in favor of the Plan, which represents 99% of voted claims by value. Over 2/3 of all solicited claims by voting value participated in the Debtors' solicitation process. With these results, the Plan is expected to exceed the required thresholds for acceptance under the Bankruptcy Code.

John J. Ray III, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Restructuring Officer of FTX, said: "The robust voting participation and corresponding results highlight the strong support and consensus for FTX's Plan of Reorganization. Importantly, the Plan's innovative structure provides for the return of 100% of bankruptcy claim amounts plus interest for non-governmental creditors and resolves complex disputes with dozens of governmental and private stakeholders. We are grateful for the collaboration with our stakeholders and creditors to date, and we will continue to work constructively with our creditors and the Court over the coming weeks leading up to the confirmation hearing. We are pleased to be moving closer to distributing cash to customers and completing the Chapter 11 process."

FTX will file the final voting results with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District Court of Delaware prior to the Confirmation Hearing, which is scheduled to commence on October 7, 2024.

Bankruptcy Court filings, including the Plan, and other documents related to the Court proceedings are available at https://cases.ra.kroll.com/FTX/.

Advisors

The FTX Debtors are represented by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP and Landis Rath & Cobb LLP as legal counsel and are assisted by Alvarez & Marsal North America, LLC as financial advisor and Perella Weinberg Partners LP as investment banker, among other advisors.

SOURCE FTX

Last Updated on August 31, 2024

Get ready for another go-around with the Guy Ritchie series, The Gentlemen. Variety has reported that the Netflix series has been renewed for season 2. In his review for season one, our own Alex Maidy said, “The Gentlemen series feels like a reimagining of the film. The story hits some vaguely similar notes but the vast majority is completely different. […] This is a unique reimagining of a successful story that takes it in a different direction and sets up future seasons.”

Netflix U.K.’s VP spoke ecstatically about the show’s successful first season, “With its gun-toting chickens and drug-dealing Dukes, The Gentlemen was a huge hit with audiences in 2024. Not really a surprise as Guy Ritchie remains one of the industry’s most iconic creators telling authentically British stories with his signature swagger, grit and wit. We are thrilled the series will be returning to Netflix for a second season, and cannot wait to see what happens when the worlds of old money and drug money collide once more.”

The official logline from Netflix reads,
“THE GENTLEMEN sees Eddie Horniman (Theo James) unexpectedly inherit his father’s sizable country estate – only to discover it’s part of a clandestine cannabis empire. Moreover, many unsavory characters from Britain’s criminal underworld want a piece of the operation. Determined to extricate his family from their clutches, Eddie tries to play the gangsters at their own game. However, as he gets sucked into the world of criminality, he begins to find a taste for it.”

Ray Winstone joins a host of on-screen talent, led by Emmy-nominated The White Lotus season 2 star Theo James as The Duke of Halstead, Eddie Horniman, who finds himself embroiled in criminality after inheriting his father’s estate, and Kaya Scodelario (Crawl, The Pale Horse) who plays Susie Glass, Bobby’s effortlessly stylish and steely daughter who runs the day-to-day business of the empire.

The series also stars Daniel Ings (I Hate Suzie), Joely Richardson (Lady Chatterley’s Lover), Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels actor Vinnie Jones, Giancarlo Esposito (Better Call Saul), Chanel Cresswell (This is England), Michael Vu, Max Beesley (Hijack), Jasmine Blackborow (Marie Antoinette), Harry Goodwins (In His Hands: The Emergence), Dar Salim (The Covenant), Pearce Quigley (Detectorists), Ruby Sear and Peter Serafinowicz (The Tick).

Writers on The Gentlemen include Guy Ritchie and Matthew Read, with Haleema Mirza, Billy and Theo Mason Wood, Stuart Carolan and John Jackson. Directing episodes along with Ritchie will be Nima Nourizadeh, Eran Creevy and David Caffrey. Executive producers on the show include Guy Ritchie, Will Gould, Matthew Read, Frith Tiplady, Marc Helwig, Bill Block, Ivan Atkinson and Marn Davies. The Gentlemen is a co-production from Netflix, Moonage Pictures, and Miramax TV.

Are you glad to hear The Gentlemen season 2 is a go? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

TOKYO, Aug. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Yay!, a leader in the future of SocialFi, today announced the launch of the "Yay! Staking Campaign" on August 28 at 9 a.m. ET, designed to fortify the foundation of the Yay! Web3 ecosystem.

Since its launch in January 2020, Yay! has connected over 9 million people through shared interests. Yay! now plans to expand its token economy both within and beyond the platform using new web3 features. The upcoming features will introduce four tokens: "YAY" (governance token), "EMPL" (utility token), "Yay! Genesis" (NFT for creators of Pals), and "Yay! Pal" (NFT for play-to-earn). Genesis holders will play a crucial role in the ecosystem by supplying Pals in Yay!

Yay! is planning multiple airdrop campaigns to engage and reward its community. Today, an overview website for Staking Campaign and Airdrop has been published. Through the campaigns, Yay! aims to gather dedicated supporters to help build and strengthen the Yay! ecosystem.

Staking Campaign Website: https://portal.yay.space/stake Airdrop Website: https://portal.yay.space/airdrop

Staking Campaign OverviewThe Yay! Staking Campaign allows participants to earn various rewards, including protocol points, yields, Yay! Gold, and ???? points, based on the amount and duration of their staking. By inviting acquaintances, both the referrer and the invitee can earn additional rewards. Referral links are tied to wallets to connect to Yay! user accounts as future options. More vaults will be added gradually with different points and rewards.

Start Date: Start Date: August 28, 2024, at 9 a.m. ET

Participation Method:

• Participants can start staking on the Yay! Dashboard (to be open on the Campaign website)
• By inviting acquaintances through a referral link, both the referrer and the invitee can earn additional rewards.

Rewards:

• Based on the staking amount and duration, participants can earn:
  • Yay! Gold
  • ???? points (details to be revealed later)
  • Protocol (Vault Partners) points
• Additional rewards are available for referrals.

Campaign Remarks:

• The total staking amount limit has been set for the initial phase. However,  the total amount could be changed depending on the staking situation.
• Unstaking will reset ???? points to zero, but Yay! Gold. Unstaking will stop Yay! Gold but already earned Yay! Gold will remain unaffected.
• Lock-up conditions and the impact on points upon unlocking may vary depending on the protocol, thus please check each protocol's regulations before unstaking.
• As for StakeStone, the stakers will be able to earn Yay! Gold, ???? points, StakeStone points, EigenLayer points, Symbiotic points, and Mellow points. Stakers will receive 2x STONE-W1 points by staking ETH to StakeStone through Yay! Dashboard.
• As for StakeStone, unstaking may take up to about 7 - 10 days to be reflected on Yay! dashboard.

Future Plans:

• More staking vaults will be added gradually.
• Different vaults will offer varying points and rewards.

Yay! Vault Partner: StakeStone

Yay! will be able to successfully launch the Staking Campaign in collaboration with our vault partners. The Yay! Staking Campaign allows stakers to select vault partners directly from the Yay! Dashboard, with these trusted partners managing the assets.

About StakeStoneStakeStone is an omnichain liquidity asset protocol building an adaptive staking network for liquid ETH/BTC. Through its yield-bearing asset, STONE/STONEBTC, it allows for asset staking beyond the traditional consensus layer. It is fully decentralized, has multi-underlying asset compatibility, automatic yield optimization, and maximizes capital efficiency for the crypto space. StakeStone is dedicated to establishing new standards for liquid assets and enhancing liquidity distribution to earn widespread user trust and adoption.

Website: https://linktr.ee/stakestone Official X : @Stake_Stone

About Yay!With the mission of "Building Community with Science," nanameue operates Yay!, the virtual world of interconnected interests. Since January 2020, Yay! has been providing a place everyone can belong to more than 9 million users. Its users connect based on shared interests, manage their smaller communities, and enjoy chatting on group calls while playing their favorite video games. With the circle feature, currently over 100K community groups are created. Next, Yay! aims to realize the future of SocialFi by creating a token-based economy.

Yay! Official Website (web version): https://portal.yay.space/en Download: https://yay.onelink.me/jqva/press X Official Account Yay! Global (@Yay_Global) https://x.com/Yay_Global

SOURCE nanameue

As part of its US expansion strategy, WSPN will focus on integrating WUSD into major payment networks and e-commerce platforms to bridge traditional finance with the growing decentralized finance (DeFi) sector. The company will actively pursue strategic partnerships with leading financial institutions to ensure the seamless integration of WUSD into existing payment infrastructures, aiming to establish a strong presence in the US digital payments landscape.

Bringing over two decades of experience in the fintech industry to his role on the WSPN Board of Directors, Mr. Partridge is most recognized as President of Visa Inc. from 2009 to 2013. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in Visa's historic $19 billion IPO in 2008, which was the largest U.S. IPO at that time. Additionally, he led efforts to expand Visa's global footprint, significantly increasing the number of transactions processed through Visa's network and overseeing the implementation of Visa's V.me, an ambitious project that aimed to position Visa at the forefront of digital payments. Mr. Partridge currently also serves as the Chairman of Velo Payments, a global fintech company providing an innovative platform for businesses to optimize global payment operations. He also served as a Board member of Cigna and Global Payments, further demonstrating his expertise and influence in the financial sector.

With his deep understanding of the US financial market, Mr. Partridge will play a crucial role in tailoring WSPN's offerings to meet the specific needs of American businesses and consumers. His guidance will be instrumental in developing innovative digital payment solutions that address the evolving demands of the global market, fostering greater financial inclusion and efficiency.

"I am incredibly excited to join WSPN at this transformative moment in the evolution of digital payments," said Mr. Partridge. "We aim to build the Web3 equivalent of Visa's trusted and widely accessible payment network, revolutionizing the way businesses and consumers transact. I am confident that our team's deep experience in financial services and technology will enable us to deliver innovative and secure solutions tailored to the needs of the global market."

"John is an exceptional leader with deep expertise in payments. His appointment is a significant milestone in our mission to bring the benefits of WUSD and next-generation payment solutions to the US," said Raymond Yuan, Founder and CEO of WSPN. "I am confident that with John's guidance, WSPN will become a trusted force in the digital payments sector."

About WSPN

WSPN is a leading provider of next-generation stablecoin infrastructure, committed to building a more secure, efficient, and transparent payment solution for the global economy. Their flagship product, WUSD stablecoin, is pegged 1:1 to the U.S. Dollar and aims to optimize secure and licensed digital payments for Web3 users. WSPN 's Stablecoin 2.0 approach prioritizes user-centricity, community governance, and accessibility, paving the way for widespread stablecoin adoption.

Learn more: www.wspn.io | X | LinkedIn

SOURCE WSPN

Zombies and demons aren’t the only things that were considered for Deadpool & Wolverine battle sequences but didn’t make it into the finished film. While the movie features some awesome cameos, there were more cameos discussed that didn’t pan out. Deadpool himself, Ryan Reynolds, recently admitted that a potential cameo appearance by Nicolas Cage’s Ghost Rider fell through – and now concept art has dropped online to give us a glimpse of a battle with the Deadpool Corps that would have involved Deadpool, Wolverine, some of the characters who did make it into the movie – plus Ghost Rider, Ben Affleck’s Daredevil, and a dinosaur! You can take a look at this concept art, which was shared by artist Rodney Fuentebella, in the Instagram embed below.

Fuentebella wrote, “Here is an early concept illustration I did for the Marvel Studios Deadpool & Wolverine film. This was in the beginning stages of the making of the film so a lot changed but I wanted to show the how epic and awesome this film could be at the time. I had a blast creating all the interactions between our heroes and the Deadpool variants. Thank you to @andyparkart for leading this project on the vis dev side and to all the Marvel Studios peps. Check out @ryan_meinerding_art Wolverine concept if you haven’t already. And enjoy!!! This piece will also be included in the upcoming The Art of Deadpool & Wolverine.“

Directed by Shawn Levy from a screenplay that was crafted by Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Reynolds, Zeb Wells, and Levy himself, Deadpool & Wolverine has the following synopsis: Marvel Studios presents their most significant mistake to date – Deadpool & Wolverine. A listless Wade Wilson toils away in civilian life. His days as the morally flexible mercenary, Deadpool, behind him. When his homeworld faces an existential threat, Wade must reluctantly suit-up again with an even more reluctantlier… reluctanter? Reluctantest? He must convince a reluctant Wolverine to – F–k. Synopses are so f–king stupid. Well, the movie has made over a billion dollars at the box office, so you probably know what it’s about.

Would you have liked to see Ben Affleck’s Daredevil and Nicolas Cage’s Ghost Rider make cameos in Deadpool & Wolverine? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

About the Author

Cody is a news editor and film critic, focused on the horror arm of JoBlo.com, and writes scripts for videos that are released through the JoBlo Originals and JoBlo Horror Originals YouTube channels. In his spare time, he's a globe-trotting digital nomad, runs a personal blog called Life Between Frames, and writes novels and screenplays.

Zhou, a veteran in the industry, recounted his entry into the blockchain space during the 2017 ICO boom. "When I first joined the industry, it was a whirlwind of decentralized innovations," Zhou remarked. "We saw proposals for everything from decentralized KYC to cell phones. It was chaotic, yet it laid the foundation for a vision of a decentralized future."

Reflecting on Bybit's early days, Zhou highlighted the challenges of building a platform amid the rapid changes in the market. "Starting an exchange in 2018 was like navigating a storm. Our goal was to build a robust infrastructure that could handle the market's volatility," Zhou explained. "The real breakthrough came when we expanded our offerings and evolved into a super app. This pivot allowed us to meet the diverse needs of our clients."

Zhou emphasized Bybit's commitment to remaining at the forefront of industry innovation. "Our philosophy is to act as the backbone of the industry," he stated. "We are dedicated to predicting and adapting to new trends, whether integrating decentralized exchanges or advanced options trading. We want to be the first to offer solutions that our clients need."

On regulatory landscapes, Zhou shared Bybit's approach to compliance. "We aim to be transparent and legally compliant. Our work with local regulators is crucial to ensure that we build a sustainable and responsible platform," Zhou noted. "For instance, with our new offices in the Netherlands, we've navigated a complex regulatory environment to ensure that we meet local requirements while maintaining global standards."

Looking ahead, Zhou expressed optimism about the future of Bybit and the broader crypto ecosystem. "Our mission is to empower our users with the tools they need to succeed in the evolving world of crypto," he said. "Whether through advanced trading or new accessible features, we are committed to paving the way for a more inclusive and innovative future."

The Asia Blockchain Summit, known for fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing, was ideal for Zhou's discussion. As Bybit continues to grow and adapt, Zhou's insights underscore the company's dedication to shaping the future of blockchain technology.

#Bybit / #TheCryptoArk

About Bybit

Bybit is the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving over 40 million users. Established in 2018, Bybit provides a professional platform where crypto investors and traders can find an ultra-fast matching engine, 24/7 customer service, and multilingual community support. Bybit is a proud partner of Formula One's reigning Constructors' and Drivers' champions: the Oracle Red Bull Racing team.

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press.
For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected]For more information, please visit: https://www.bybit.comFor updates, please follow: Bybit's Communities and Social MediaDiscord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube

SOURCE Bybit

Each company’s Memorandum of Understanding establishes the framework for the U.S. AI Safety Institute to receive access to major new models from each company prior to and following their public release. The agreements will enable collaborative research on how to evaluate capabilities and safety risks, as well as methods to mitigate those risks. 

“Safety is essential to fueling breakthrough technological innovation. With these agreements in place, we look forward to beginning our technical collaborations with Anthropic and OpenAI to advance the science of AI safety,” said Elizabeth Kelly, director of the U.S. AI Safety Institute. “These agreements are just the start, but they are an important milestone as we work to help responsibly steward the future of AI.”

Additionally, the U.S. AI Safety Institute plans to provide feedback to Anthropic and OpenAI on potential safety improvements to their models, in close collaboration with its partners at the U.K. AI Safety Institute. 

The U.S. AI Safety Institute builds on NIST’s more than 120-year legacy of advancing measurement science, technology, standards and related tools. Evaluations under these agreements will further NIST’s work on AI by facilitating deep collaboration and exploratory research on advanced AI systems across a range of risk areas.

Evaluations conducted pursuant to these agreements will help advance the safe, secure and trustworthy development and use of AI by building on the Biden-Harris administration’s Executive Order on AI and the voluntary commitments made to the administration by leading AI model developers.

About the U.S. AI Safety Institute

The U.S. AI Safety Institute, located within the Department of Commerce at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), was established following the Biden-Harris administration’s 2023 Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence to advance the science of AI safety and address the risks posed by advanced AI systems. It is tasked with developing the testing, evaluations and guidelines that will help accelerate safe AI innovation here in the United States and around the world. 

Nine years years ago, we heard that Ant-Man co-writers Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari had joined a writers room that was put together to develop an animated Transformers project called Transformers One, which “would take place on the Autobots and Decepticon’s home planet of Cybertron.” Eventually, Toy Story 4 director Josh Cooley signed on to take the helm of the film. Now that movie is set to make its way out into the world, with Paramount Pictures scheduling a September 20th theatrical release – and the Motion Picture Association ratings board has revealed that they’ve given the movie a PG rating for sci-fi violence and animated action throughout, and language.

Cooley directed the film from a screenplay written by Barrer, Ferrari, and Eric Pearson, whose credits include Thor: Ragnarok and Godzilla vs. Kong. The animated movie tells the “long-awaited origin story of how the most iconic characters in the Transformers universe, Orion Pax and D-16, went from brothers-in-arms to become sworn enemies, Optimus Prime and Megatron.”

Chris Hemsworth (Thor) and Brian Tyree Henry (Eternals) are providing the voices of Optimus Prime and Megatron, respectively, and they’re joined in the voice cast by Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow) as Elita, Keegan-Michael Key (The Predator) as Bumblebee, Jon Hamm (Mad Men) as Sentinel Prime, and Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix) as Alpha Trion. Hemsworth recently explained that he was drawn to the project because it’s an origin story. “It isn’t a remake; it’s not a reimagining. It shows the early years of these characters, whom we only knew later in their lives.This film delves into friendships and relationships you have with people when you’re vulnerable and afraid. It talks about what bravery really means and how good and evil aren’t as simplistic as they might first appear. We make mistakes, and we learn from them. But ultimately, we are defined by the decisions that we make.“

Are you a Transformers fan, and are you looking forward to Transformers One? What do you think of it getting a PG rating for sci-fi violence and animated action throughout, and language? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

About the Author

Cody is a news editor and film critic, focused on the horror arm of JoBlo.com, and writes scripts for videos that are released through the JoBlo Originals and JoBlo Horror Originals YouTube channels. In his spare time, he's a globe-trotting digital nomad, runs a personal blog called Life Between Frames, and writes novels and screenplays.

Almost two years have gone by since A24 announced that production was underway on the psychological horror film The Front Room, with Brandy Norwood (Queens, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer) taking on the lead role and Max and Sam Eggers – the younger brothers of The Witch, The Lighthouse, and The Northman director Robert Eggers – at the helm. Now we’re just weeks away from the film’s theatrical release date of September 6th (a date that puts it in direct competition with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice), and a new trailer has dropped online. You can check it out in the embed above.

Based on a short story by Susan Hill, The Front Room has the following synopsis: Everything goes to hell for newly-pregnant Belinda (Brandy) after her mother-in-law (Kathryn Hunter) moves in. As the diabolical guest tries to get her claws on the child, Belinda must draw the line somewhere… If you would like to read the short story source material, it can be found in Hill’s collection The Travelling Bag and Other Ghostly Stories. Copies can be purchased at THIS LINK.

Norwood is joined in the cast by Kathryn Hunter (The Tragedy of Macbeth), Andrew Burnap (WeCrashed), and Neal Huff (Spotlight).

The Front Room is being produced by A24, along with Lucan Toh, Babak Anvari, and Bryan Sonderman of Two & Two Pictures, as well as Julia Oh and David Hinojosa of 2AM. A24 is financing the project and will be handling the worldwide theatrical release. The film has received an R rating from the Motion Picture Association ratings board for language, some violent/disturbing content, brief sexuality and nudity.

Max Eggers co-wrote The Lighthouse with his brother Robert and was a production assistant on Robert’s 2008 short film adaptation of the Edgar Allan Poe story The Tell-Tale Heart. Sam Eggers was also a production assistant on that short film, and on The Witch. Sam also co-wrote and co-edited the 2018 documentary Olympia, about actress Olympia Dukakis.

Will you be catching The Front Room during its theatrical run? Take a look at the new trailer, then let us know by leaving a comment below.

The Peacock streaming service recently announced that the first two episodes of the James Wan-produced series Teacup, which is an adaptation of the 1988 bestseller Stinger, written by Robert R. McCammon (pick up a copy HERE), are set to premiere on October 10th – and today, a new teaser trailer has arrived online to give us a preview of what this show has in store for us. You can check it out in the embed above. Along with the new teaser comes the unveiling of promo art and episode images, and those can be found at the bottom of this article.

Peacock will be releasing two episodes of Teacup weekly through Halloween.

McCammon’s novel has the following description: The story takes place during a single twenty-four hour period in Inferno, Texas. Inferno is a town in trouble, driven to the brink by racial tension, gang violence, and a collapsing economy. But things can always get worse, and they do so with astonishing speed when an unidentified spacecraft crash lands in the desert outside of town, followed by a second craft bearing the alien being who will soon be known as Stinger. Stinger is a kind of interstellar hunter on a mission he intends to complete, whatever the cost. He brings with him an endless array of technological marvels and an infinite capacity for destruction that threaten the existence of Inferno, its inhabitants, and the larger world beyond.

Teacup will follow a disparate group of people in rural Georgia who must come together in the face of a mysterious threat to survive.

James Wan is executive producing Teacup through his company Atomic Monster, alongside Michael Clear and Rob Hackett. Yellowstone consulting producer Ian McCulloch is a writer and executive producer on the show. Other executive producers include McCammon, Francisca X. Hu, Kevin Tancharoen, and E.L. Katz, who directed the first two episodes. Danielle Bozzone is overseeing the project for Atomic Monster. The show is coming our way from UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group.

McCulloch provided the following statement: “When Atomic Monster first approached me about creating a series adaptation of Robert McCammon’s Stinger—a no-holds-barred, gargantuan spectacle of a novel along the lines of The Stand, Independence Day and Mars Attacks—to be honest, I didn’t want to throw my hat in the ring. I’m not a spectacle writer. I’m a less-is-more writer. I gravitate more toward what are known as keyhole epics. Large stories told through small lenses. Think Signs, The Thing, A Quiet Place. But here’s the thing. I read Stinger and it stayed with me. Wouldn’t leave me alone. I just couldn’t stop thinking about its razor-sharp premise, how it unfolds over the course of a single harrowing day, and about the relatable and real family McCammon puts center stage. That’s when the flash bang-light bulb idea hit… What if I adapted Stinger in a way that honors the book and stays true to the kinds of stories I like to tell? Keep the conceit. Keep Stinger’s most effective elements. Take away the large ensemble. Take away the giant set pieces. Even take away the book’s crowded town setting. The adaptation would be like an acoustic guitar version of, say, a Radiohead song. It won’t have the production value, electronic instruments, loops, or synthesized bells and whistles but it will still have the melody, the structure, the lyrics, the real magic at the core, all the stuff that makes a great song agreatsong. All of which is to say I could suddenly see exactly what to do and how to do it. Two weeks later, Atomic Monster had the script for the first episode. Soon after that, Peacock bought it. Not so long after that, both my creative and career dreams actually started coming true as more scripts were written, hires made, actors cast, sets built, and production began… Of course, during production the series changed and evolved. Just as it should. Even the title’s different. Stinger is now Teacup. The reasons for this are too spoilery to share but watch the first few episodes and all will be revealed. Point being, the series is now very much its own thing: a puzzle-box mystery, an edge-of-your-seat thriller, a can’t-but-must look horror story, a family drama, a science fiction epic—of the keyhole variety, of course. But as singular, strange, and surprising as I hope Teacup is, all you need to do is peel away the layers, characters, situations, and mythology and look behind the thrills, chills, hairpin turns and make-you gaspreveals. Do all that and you’ll see, at its heart, Teacup is still very much standing on the shoulders of Stinger. Just as it should.“

Wan added: “After reading Robert McCammon’s book Stinger, the entire team at Atomic Monster felt a spark. The story had all the ingredients for a captivating series and Ian McCulloch had a vision to bring it to life in a fresh way that was both startling and darkly atmospheric, but filled with a rich sense of humanity — often lacking in edgy narratives. Add in our incredibly talented cast led by Yvonne Strahovski, Scott Speedman and Chaske Spencer and fans are in for a true edge-of-your-seat experience. Teacup defies easy labels. It’s a genre-bending blend of horror, mystery, and drama, with layers that unfold like a captivating puzzle. It goes beyond chills and thrills and holds up a mirror to humanity, exploring the darkness that resides within us all. We hope you enjoy this wild ride as much as we’ve loved creating it!“

Are you looking forward to Teacup? Watch the new teaser and check out the images, then let us know by leaving a comment below.

Director Andy Muschietti and his producer / sister Barbara Muschietti, the filmmaking team behind Mama and the $1 billion grossing adaptations of Stephen King’s It, recently teamed up with Skydance to form a new horror label called Nocturna, and the first project to come out of the Nocturna partnership is the horror thriller They Will Kill You, which has New Line Cinema on board to co-finance and distribute. Last week, we heard that Patricia Arquette (True Romance) and Tom Felton of the Harry Potter franchise had signed on to star in the film alongside Zazie Beetz, whose credits include Joker, Bullet Train, and Deadpool 2. Now The Hollywood Reporter has broken the news that Heather Graham of Boogie Nights and Suitable Flesh will also be in the film, and Deadline reports that Myha’la of Industry and Bodies Bodies Bodies is in the cast as well.

Details on the characters Graham and Myha’la are playing have not been revealed. We know that Beetz is playing a woman who answers a help wanted ad to be a housekeeper in a mysterious high-rise in New York City, not realizing she is entering a community that has seen a number of disappearances over the years and may be under the grip of a Satanic cult. Arquette’s character is one of the leads, the head of the co-op. Felton is a member of the cult.

They Will Kill You is described as being “a tonal mix of Ready or Not and The Raid.” Kirill Sokolov – who is said to be known for his dark sense of humor – will be directing the film from a screenplay he wrote with Alex Litvak. Sokolov previously directed the action comedy No Looking Back and the comedic thriller Why Don’t You Just Die!, both of which were Russian productions. Litvak is best known for writing the 2010 Predator sequel Predators with Michael Finch. He went on to co-write Paul W.S. Anderson’s version of The Three Musketeers and the TV movie Secret Society of Second Born Royals.

The Muschiettis are producing They Will Kill You alongside David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, and Dan Kagan. Nocturna Co-Heads of Film, Russell Ackerman and John Schoenfelder, serve as executive producers with Sokolov, Litvak, and Carl Hampe.

Are you interested in They Will Kill You? What do you think of Heather Graham and Myha’la joining Zazie Beetz, Patricia Arquette, and Tom Felton in the cast? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

While audiences have Peter Jackson‘s new incarnation of Lord of the Rings to look forward to, Amazon has just released the epic new trailer for The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power season 2. This trailer drops just before the premiere of the second season, which debuts on Prime Video on August 9.

The description for season 2 reads,
“Sauron has returned. Cast out by Galadriel, without army or ally, the rising Dark Lord must now rely on his own cunning to rebuild his strength and oversee the creation of the Rings of Power, which will allow him to bind all the peoples of Middle-earth to his sinister will. Building on Season 1’s epic scope and ambition, Season 2 of Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power plunges even its most beloved and vulnerable characters into a rising tide of darkness, challenging each to find their place in a world that is increasingly on the brink of calamity. Elves and dwarves, orcs and men, wizards and Harfoots… as friendships are strained and kingdoms begin to fracture, the forces of good will struggle ever more valiantly to hold on to what matters to them most of all… each other.”

The show had recently given fans a look at this new season with their activation at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con. Two big details were revealed about this season at Comic-Con. One notable thing that fans will have to look forward to is that this season will be all about Sauron, and another big reveal is that an epic three-episode battle will take place.

During Comic-Con, actor Kevin Eldon, who will be playing one of this season’s Dwarf characters, talked about what fans will be able to see from these upcoming episodes, “Season 2 will introduce us to one of the most famous [dwarves]: Narvi (played by Eldon). Cited in J.R.R. Tolkien’s appendices to The Lord of the Rings as the dwarf who built the Doors of Durin (“Speak ‘friend’ and enter”), Narvi is set to play a significant role in the dwarven politics.” Eldon had spoken about his character, “He’s weaving in and out of the action throughout the season. He’s only mentioned in Tolkien’s appendices, and he’s described as a great craftsman. [Showrunners] J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay had little to go on, but I think we have successfully turned this footnote into a flesh-and-blood character. As well as being this fantastic architect, we see in season 2 that he’s an adviser as well. He’s a right-hand man of King Durin.”

About the Author

E.J. is a News Editor at JoBlo, as well as a Video Editor, Writer, and Narrator for some of the movie retrospectives on our JoBlo Originals YouTube channel, including Reel Action, Revisited and some of the Top 10 lists. He is a graduate of the film program at Missouri Western State University with concentrations in performance, writing, editing and directing.

I don’t often consider myself a fan of racing movies as they can feel a bit samey. Every now and then something comes along that shows a little uniqueness, but they feel few and far between. While One Fast Move certainly isn’t breaking any new story ground, I was surprised at how much its focus is on the people and their relationships with each other versus simply racing. Don’t get me wrong, the racing is great when they actually show it. But the primary focus being the relationships formed versus simply the race itself helps to make the stakes feel more grounded. A lot easier to relate to estranged family members reconnecting than someone just being really competitive and wanting to win.

I was able to talk to stars KJ Apa, Eric Dane, Edward James Olmos and Maia Reficco about the film and all of the stuntwork it entailed. Maia was fortunate enough to avoid the bikework but KJ spent a decent amount of time training, so it was great to pick his brain. Obviously, the actors weren’t able to perform any of the high-speed stuntwork, but it’s still impressive to see. What One Fast Move misses in extravagant set pieces, it gains in its more grounded emotional work. So it was great to be able to pick the actor’s brains about getting into that headspace. Plus, I got to tell Olmos about how important Battlestar Galactica is to me, so that’s a bucket list moment.

One Fast Movie plot:

Wes Neal (K.J. APA), a young man with a passion for speed, is kicked out of the military for motorcycle drag racing. With nowhere left to go, and a desire to go pro in racing, he tracks down his estranged father, Dean Miller (ERIC DANE), a former motorcycle racing champion, to be his coach. Wes gets a job at the motorcycle shop owned by Dean’s old mentor, Abel (EDWARD JAMES OLMOS), and meets a local waitress (MAIA REFICCO) who he falls for. As he begins training with his father, fresh wounds are created on old scars as Dean puts intense pressure on his son to be the best, putting a strain on all other relationships in Wes’ life. Wes must decide for himself now what he wants for his future, and ultimately what is worth losing in order to win big on the track.

ONE FAST MOVE IS STREAMING ON PRIME VIDEO ON AUGUST 8TH, 2024.

About the Author

Tyler Nichols is a horror fanatic who resides in Michigan and is always on the hunt for the next great film. When not scouring the internet for movie news, he is usually off watching something dark, writing nonsensical musings, or playing in some fantastical video game world. While horror takes up most of his time, he still makes time for films of all types, with a certain affinity for the strange and unusual. He’s also an expert on all things Comic Book Cinema. In addition to reviews and interviews here on JoBlo.com, Tyler also helps with JoBlo Horror Originals where he’s constantly trying to convince viewers to give lesser-known horror films a chance.

PLOT: In the near future, a ‘Grand Lottery’ has been newly established in California – the catch: kill the winner before sundown to legally claim their multi-billion dollar jackpot. When Katie Kim moves to Los Angeles, she mistakenly finds herself with the winning ticket. Desperate to survive the hordes of jackpot hunters, she reluctantly joins forces with amateur lottery protection agent Noel Cassidy who will do everything in his power to get her to sundown in exchange for a piece of her prize. However, Noel must face off with his slick rival Louis Lewis, who also seeks to collect Katie’s commission at all costs. 

REVIEW: For years, August was the dumping ground for the summer movie season. As kids prepare to go back to school, the weakest summer releases would hit the big screen to offer counter-programming to the blockbuster hits from July. With Deadpool & Wolverine still dominating multiplexes and Alien: Romulus and The Crow coming our way, the big screen is home to mainly action and genre fare, with It Ends With Us thrown in for the romance crowd. That means if you want to see something funny, you must turn to streaming. The new Paul Feig movie Jackpot! is a comedic twist on The Purge, chock full of over-the-top violence and genuine laughs, even if the overall movie is pretty formulaic and familiar. Jackpot! is far from marquee entertainment, but it benefits from the charisma and chemistry of leads Awkwafina and John Cena.

Jackpot! opens with a quick synopsis that very shortly, the State of California legalized a monthly lottery where the winner is hunted down and murdered for their winnings. The only rule in place is that no guns can be used. The film then picks up in 2030 as Katie Kim (Awkwafina) returns home from caring for her mother to try her luck as an actress. Renting an awful AirBNB from fellow aspiring actress Shadi (Ayden Mayeri), Katie accidentally enrolls in the Grand Lottery and wins. She is then forced to face off with every Californian she crosses paths with as they try every method of murdering her that does not involve bullets. Enter Noel Cassidy (John Cena), a private Lottery bodyguard who Katie hires to protect her life in exchange for ten percent of the multi-billion dollar jackpot. What follows is fight scene after fight scene as the pair get to know one another while evading martial artists, costumed mascots, soccer moms, lunch ladies, and countless other people who are essentially the cinematic equivalent of NPCs.

As the film moves along at a brisk pace, Jackpot! focuses more on the chemistry between Awkwafina and John Cena as their characters begin to trust one another. Both have trust issues stemming from their pasts, Noel’s involving a more famous bodyguard whom he worked with years prior. Simu Liu plays Louis Lewis, Noel’s nemesis, who steps in to protect Katie when she and Noel back themselves into a literal corner. Liu plays a solid villain, and it is fun to see him and Awkwafina share a very different dynamic than they did in Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, but this movie is reliant on Katie and Noel joining forces. Awkwafina often plays characters like Katie, while John Cena is very likable and lovable as the charmingly dorky Noel. Both actors look to have a lot of fun on screen, with the physical comedy bordering on cartoonish as Cena frequently gets to kick, throw, and drop people, including Katie. The fact that the film relies on every action scene featuring zero guns gives the fights a different feel than you would in a more serious film.

While there are some fun cameo roles from Seann William Scott, Triangle of Sadness’ Dolly de Leon, The Office‘s Leslie David Baker, and Colson Baker (aka Machine Gun Kelly), this movie relies mainly on Awkwafina and John Cena giving their all to the physical comedy. Jackpot! is chock full of profanity and violence but relatively little blood and gore. Because of how silly the movie can get, it often feels like it could have dropped the f-bombs and aimed at a teen audience. But, thanks to the R-rating, the profanity leads to some pretty funny moments. Aside from the swearing, Jackpot! relies on heavily choreographed fight sequences that feel like what we would get if the stunt team behind John Wick directed a live-action Looney Tunes project. At no point does this movie feel any semblance of realism and allows the movie to mine the stupidity of the concept for entertaining action.

The fact that Jackpot! feels like a movie version of games like Double Dragon or Final Fight may be due to screenwriter Rob Yescombe’s experience writing video games, including Farpoint, Rime, and Crysis 3. Yescombe has a sole feature film credit as screenwriter in 2021’s Outside the Wire starring Anthony Mackie, but Jackpot! may show his comfort zone is in comedy more than serious fare. While the blooper reel in the film’s credits heavily leans towards John Cena and Awkwafina leading the cast in improvising twists on the script, Yescombe’s concept is rooted in platform fighting games of the past. Like those games, the plot is very thin and reliant on succeeding in various stages riddled with faceless people to beat the crap out of. Director Paul Feig brings the same balance of comedy and action that he brought to The Heat and Spy with far fewer special effects than his 2016 version of Ghostbusters and The School for Good and Evil. Because Jackpot! is not reliant on guns or massive CGI spectacles, the stuntwork helps elevate the action.

Jackpot! works well as a distraction and timewaster for when you like low-stakes movies that will make you laugh while watching people get their asses kicked creatively. Had this movie been on the big screen, it probably would not have been worth the price of admission, but it is a far better streaming option than many other recent premieres. While the action almost feels repetitive in places, and the ending is a bit wobbly, the charm of John Cena saves this project. Awkwafina has mastered playing her brand of wrong-place-wrong-time characters as she and Cena work very well opposite one another. Is Jackpot! a good movie? Not really, but it is a fun little romp that will make you laugh far more than it will make you groan.

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Viewer Ratings (0 reviews)

Are you tired of hearing artificial voices when opening TikTok? Do robots freak you out? What if the vampires of marketing could combine the voices of your favorite celebrities with technology to sell you stuff? Would that help you feel better about surrendering your hard-earned dollars for products bought online or elsewhere? We’re about to find out. SAG-AFTRA announced a deal with artificial intelligence company Narrativ to permit members to license their digital voice replica for use in audio ads. Soon, voice actors won’t need to enter a recording booth to hock products. Narrativ will do the “heavy lifting,” while members collect on the opportunity. Can you feel yourself hollowing inside? It’s like we’re one step closer to Demolition Man.

I joke, but it’s not all doom and gloom. Thankfully, the deal introduces meaningful steps in establishing informed consent, compensation requirements, and other protections for SAG-AFTRA members. These mandates are a step in the right direction, though where this leads is anyone’s guess.

“Not all members will be interested in taking advantage of the opportunities that licensing their digital voice replicas might offer, and that’s understandable. But for those who do, you now have a safe option,” SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said in a statement. “Narrativ has agreed to our terms, and its platform is an excellent example of how A.I. can be ethically used, by putting compensation, informed consent and control in the hands of individual performers.”

To be clear, Narrativ does not have free reign to use members’ voices willy-nilly. Those who agree to Narrativ’s terms get to choose which ads they appear in; that way, they don’t end up selling something they don’t want to be associated with, among other reasons. Additionally, a portion of the revenue from SAG-AFTRA member ads goes to the union’s health and retirement plans. Payments help members qualify for benefits, with their efforts essentially paying it forward for themselves and others.

“This is a new frontier for digital advertising. A.I. makes the dream of every marketer possible — it gives them the tools to deliver the right message, using a voice that will resonate with the right person, at the right place and time,” Narrativ co-founder Ben Gottdiener said in a statement of his own. “Ethical A.I. use doesn’t invalidate that vision. It strengthens it. By ensuring that every person involved in the creation of that message is informed about what it contains, consents to its use and is compensated fairly, we make that vision sustainable, repeatable and real.”

What do you think about SAG-AFTRA inking a deal for members to include their digital voices in audio ads? Let us know in the comments section below.

About the Author

Born and raised in New York, then immigrated to Canada, Steve Seigh has been a JoBlo.com editor, columnist, and critic since 2012. He started with Ink & Pixel, a column celebrating the magic and evolution of animation, before launching the companion YouTube series Animation Movies Revisited. He's also the host of the Talking Comics Podcast, a personality-driven audio show focusing on comic books, film, music, and more. You'll rarely catch him without headphones on his head and pancakes on his breath.

Founded by Racing League and powered by Zilliqa, The Winners Circle is set to redefine fan engagement in horse racing, offering meaningful and engaging experiences to members across the world using the power of blockchain technology.

Racing Club is a racehorse ownership syndicate that offers unrivalled opportunities to own and race racehorses at the highest level. Through Racing Club, buyers can purchase shares of racehorses and enjoy exclusive benefits along with a share of the total prize winnings.

This partnership has already begun to provide new reward opportunities for racing fans. The Winners Circle hosted a "spin the wheel" engagement opportunity at the Racing League fixture on Thursday, July 25th in Great Yarmouth, UK, giving fans at the racetrack the chance to win racehorse syndicate shares in partnership with Racing Club. Fans will also be able to purchase syndicate shares through The Winners Circle App.

Through its partnership with Racing Club, The Winners Circle will grow the range of benefits available to the holders of its $HRSE fan utility token to include discounts on shares in Racing Club horses, as well as the opportunity to win shares in real-world horses through their performance in its prediction game.

This announcement exemplifies the innovative approach to fan engagement taken by The Winners Circle, which combines the physical and digital worlds to incentivise virtual engagement with real-world rewards and vice versa. The Winners Circle sets itself apart as a Web3-enabled platform that not only gives racing fans unprecedented opportunities for rewards but also lets them tap directly into the excitement and thrills of the racetrack.

The $HRSE token is the passport to The Winners Circle ecosystem, unlocking innovative rewards and experiences for horse racing fans. These include the ability to earn $HRSE tokens in The Winners Circle prediction game, discounts on merchandise, exclusive access to events, and more. Members of The Winners Circle can also use their $HRSE tokens to vote on the real-world decisions taken by their favourite team in the Racing League 2024 season.

The Winners Circle and Racing Club will continue to build on their partnership going forward, exploring new initiatives that combine the tokenisation of real-world assets with the racehorse ownership syndicate model.

Commenting on the announcement, Tom Fleetham, the director of The Winners Circle, said:

"We are excited to partner with Racing Club to bring a new dimension to the rewards available to our members. By offering discounts on real-world horse ownership opportunities through the $HRSE token, we are creating a unique blend of digital and physical engagement that will enhance the fan experience like never before."

Also speaking on the announcement, Racing Club Director Richard Jaques, said:

"Our partnership with The Winners Circle is a fantastic opportunity to bring the thrill of horse ownership to a wider audience. Our philosophy of making racehorse ownership accessible to all aligns strongly with the fan-first approach of The Winners Circle, and we can't wait to see where this collaboration takes us in the future."

About The Winners Circle

The Winners Circle is an inclusive fan-based community with racing at its core. It intertwines the thrill of horse racing with the potential of the Zilliqa blockchain. The project was founded by Racing League - the horse racing team-based competition that features some of the world's most recognizable jockeys and trainers.

About Racing Club

Racing Club runs racehorse syndicates  dedicated to providing a top-class racehorse ownership experience that allows anyone to experience the excitement and rewards without the high costs and complexities. Members enjoy exclusive access to their racehorses and benefits including personalised updates on their horses' progress and the ability to earn a share of their horse's winnings.

SOURCE The Winners Circle

Back in 1939, a 12-year-old named Donn Fendler was separated from his family during a storm near the summit of Mount Katahdin in Maine. Fendler was lost on that mountain for nine days, without food or proper clothing. When he came stumbling into a hunting camp that was 35 miles from the point where he had gone missing, he credited the Boy Scouts with giving him the knowledge he needed to survive. Fendler then told his story to writer Joseph B. Egan, resulting in a novel called Lost on a Mountain in Maine (you can pick up a copy HERE), which is considered to be a children’s book classic. Now Lost on a Mountain in Maine has been given the film adaptation treatment, with Sylvester Stallone producing through his company Balboa Productions. Blue Fox Entertainment has picked up the distribution rights and is planning to give the film a theatrical release on November 1st – and today we have a trailer to share. You can check it out in the embed above.

Directed by Andrew Boodhoo Kightlinger (Tater Tot & Patton) from a screenplay by Luke Paradise (Sympathy for the Devil), the film shows us what happens when 12-year-old Donn Fendler becomes separated from his family by a fast-moving storm atop a treacherous mountain. For nine days, Donn fights to stay alive as he attempts to survive the unforgiving wilderness of northern Maine without food, proper clothing, or the knowledge of how bad his situation really is. His disappearance sparks a massive search effort that captures national headlines and attracts hundreds of volunteers, including his own father, who fears he may never see his son again.

Luke David Blumm (The King of Staten Island), Paul Sparks (House of Cards), Caitlin FitzGerald (Masters of Sex), and Ethan Slater (Wicked) star.

Boodhoo Kightlinger told Variety, “Here’s a classic American movie you don’t see anymore — an emotional epic grounded by a tour-de-force performance from a 12-year-old star. We filmed in ACTUAL wilderness — up to our neck in rivers, hiking mountains — everyday on set, the cast and crew hoisted the banner for Stallone’s underdog ethos. In championing a theatrical release, Blue Fox is giving audiences something they’re hungry for — an incredible (and TRUE) tale of hope, grit, and family, chiseled with a modern edge.“

Stallone produced Lost on a Mountain in Maine with Braden Aftergood, Dick Boyce, and Ryan B. Cook.

Are you interested in Lost on a Mountain in Maine? Take a look at the trailer, then let us know by leaving a comment below.

NEW YORK, July 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Blackbird Labs, the hospitality-tech company founded by Resy and Eater co-founder Ben Leventhal, today announced the launch of Blackbird Pay, an all new payments product designed to improve economics for restaurants, while providing guests with a transformative dining experience.

Powered by Blackbird's new blockchain, the Blackbird Flynet, Blackbird Pay gives restaurants a fresh way to address the ever growing problem of shrinking margins and eroding cash reserves by providing them with their very own end-to-end payments and check settlement network for the first time. Restaurants on the Blackbird Pay network pay on average 2% per transaction, a huge cost savings as compared to the fees typical in legacy processing fee structures. At the same time, Blackbird Pay enhances diners' end of meal experience, leveraging the Blackbird platform to allow for automatic settlement, and the hospitality magic of not having to wait for the check. In addition, Blackbird Pay gives diners the added benefit of being able to pay in $FLY, Blackbird's native rewards points.

"In the last decade, we've seen great advances in restaurant technology, but we have made virtually no progress with payments, which tend to be expensive, cumbersome, and technologically opaque for most restaurants," said Ben Leventhal, Founder and CEO of Blackbird. "Blackbird Pay changes all of that and we're excited to partner with the restaurant industry to forge a new path forward."

When a diner checks-in at a Blackbird (member) restaurant, they simply tap on a proprietary Blackbird puck, with an NFC chip at the host stand, or register when they arrive and a check opens within the Blackbird app. Diners can then indicate if they want to split the bill with their tablemates, pay for their meal with their accumulated Blackbird $FLY points, use their credit or debit card within the app to pay, or choose to use a combination of $FLY and a card. They can also tip with it, too. If a diner doesn't have enough $FLY points to cover their meal, they are able to purchase points in-app using traditional payment methods or USDC.

At the same time the customer opens the check, the restaurant is notified that the diner is a Blackbird guest. The customer's dining profile includes a proprietary Guest Value Score, as well as key information, such as their dining history with the restaurant and VIP status.  This empowers restaurants to offer perks, benefits, points, access and other fine-tuned hospitality to entice and reward their guests. 

"Blackbird Pay has the power to revolutionize the entire restaurant business," said Roni Mazumdar, co-owner of Unapologetic Foods. "Being able to save thousands of dollars a month in processing fees alone is incredible, but being able to now have one place where we can strengthen ongoing relationships with our customers, is a total game changer in this challenging environment."

Alongside Blackbird Pay, Blackbird has also shipped new messaging and discovery functionality, signaling the company's vision for a future of frictionless, fun, and mutually beneficial connectivity between guests and restaurants. This past spring, Gjelina New York turned to Blackbird to sell house accounts, raising close to $500,000 to open a new location, and Sra. Martinez, a new restaurant by James Beard Award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein, recently created a founding members program for the opening of her new restaurant in Miami, where members are able to gain access to tables one week ahead of reservations opening, receive free cocktails and amuse bouche while dining, and directly message the restaurant in-app with questions, needs or with any special and unique requests.

With popular programs like Blackbird Breakfast Club and Bar Blackbird helping to drive traffic to restaurants during slower periods of time when venues need support in bringing in new customers, Blackbird's approach to diner loyalty is actively addressing today's restaurant industry pain points.

Current restaurants on Blackbird include: Anton's, Bangkok Supper Club, Barbuto, Crown Shy, Ensenada, Ernesto's, K'Far, Laser Wolf, L'Appartement 4F, Margot, Momofuku, Moody Tongue Sushi, Nami Nori, Nom Wah, PDT, Parcelle Wine Bar, Raf's, Razza, Romeo's, Saga, Semma, Sunday in Brooklyn, Temple Bar, and Upside Pizza in NY; Leon's, Renzo, Kwei Fei, and Rancho Lewis in Charleston; Sato Omakase, Osito, SPQR, and Birdsong in San Francisco, with new establishments joining daily.

For more information about Blackbird Pay, please visit: www.blackbird.xyz

About Blackbird LabsBlackbird is a hospitality technology company, focused on leveraging the power of direct connectivity between restaurants and their guests. Blackbird offers a loyalty and payments platform for restaurants and a consumer app designed to make every guest feel like a regular no matter where they dine.

Blackbird was founded in 2022 by Ben Leventhal, co-founder of Eater and Resy, two companies that have transformed the restaurant industry (Eater was acquired by Vox in 2013; Resy by American Express in 2019). Blackbird's investors and partners include a16z, Union Square Ventures, Amex Ventures, Shine Capital, Variant Fund, Multicoin Capital, IAC, Vayner Fund, Circle Ventures, Mischief, and Tribute Labs, plus leading restaurant groups: Quality Branded, Rustic Canyon Family, Souvla and Brooks Reitz.

The Blackbird app acts as a user's wallet where they can manage their memberships, monitor their $FLY balance, Pay with Blackbird and message restaurants in one place. The app is free and available for download on iOS and Android.

Media Contact:Vanessa Leitman917-929-3304[email protected]

SOURCE Blackbird

Being all things to all people is impossible. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try to live up to people’s expectations, your efforts find a way of sabotaging your best intentions from the inside out. The pressure to perform regardless of your mental well-being often follows athletes like a relentless ghost. All it takes is one slip-up to send you on a downward spiral. In the case of Aaron Hernandez, the gridiron warrior learns the hard way that football dreams and crime don’t mix. FX’s American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez trailer digs deep into the athlete’s downfall for a cautionary tale about expectations, drugs, and throwing it all away.

The first installment of American Sports Story is based on the podcast Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc. from The Boston Globe and Wondery. The limited series charts the rise and fall of NFL superstar Aaron Hernandez and explores the disparate strands of his identity, his family, his career, his suicide, and their legacy in sports and American culture.

FX‘s American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez trailer takes us inside the mind of one of the NFL’s most tragic and controversial players. When he was little, Aaron had big dreams of becoming a champion of the football field. He worked hard for his shot at the big time and achieved his goal alongside winning the admiration of others invested in his future. However, life has a way of catching up with you, and when others who don’t have your best interests in mind stir the pot, the consequences can be deadly. As Aaron’s life spirals out of control, he finds himself on the business end of a crime wave with alarming consequences.

Josh Rivera stars as Aaron Hernandez, the University of Florida player who becomes a three-season stand-out for the New England Patriots. The series also stars Jaylen Barron (Shayanna Jenkins), Lindsay Mendez (Tanya Singleton), Ean Castellanos (DJ Hernandez), Tammy Blanchard (Terri Hernandez), Tony Yazbeck (Urban Meyer), Patrick Schwarzenegger (Tim Tebow), Thomas Sadoski (Brian Murphy), Jake Cannavale (“Chris”) and Norbert Leo Butz (Bill Belichick).

Ryan Murphy executive produces American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez alongside Stuart Zicherman, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Alexis Martin Woodall, Eric Kovtun, Scott Robertson, and Carl Franklin.

American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez debuts on FX on September 17. Are you familiar with Hernandez’s story? Are you interested in checking this out? Let us know in the comments section below.

About the Author

Born and raised in New York, then immigrated to Canada, Steve Seigh has been a JoBlo.com editor, columnist, and critic since 2012. He started with Ink & Pixel, a column celebrating the magic and evolution of animation, before launching the companion YouTube series Animation Movies Revisited. He's also the host of the Talking Comics Podcast, a personality-driven audio show focusing on comic books, film, music, and more. You'll rarely catch him without headphones on his head and pancakes on his breath.

OKX to List USDT-Margined Pre-Market Futures for Hamster Kombat's HMSTR Token

OKX is thrilled to announce the listing of USDT-margined Pre-Market Futures for the Telegram mini-app game Hamster Kombat's HMSTR token. This new addition will be available from 10:00 AM (UTC) on August 1, 2024.

OKX's Pre-Market Futures allows eligible customers* to trade futures contracts with up to 2x leverage for upcoming tokens before a Token Generation Event (TGE), token public sale or Initial Coin/Exchange Offering (ICO/IEO).

Key Features of the HMSTR Pre-Market Futures Contract:

• Underlying Index: HMSTR/USDT index
• Settlement Crypto: USDT
• Face Value: 10 HMSTR
• Price Quotation: Based on the USDT price of 1 HMSTR
• Tick Size: 0.0001
• Leverage: 0.01 - 2x
• Trading Hours: 24/7 trading
• Contract Type: Expiry futures
• Delivery Time: To be announced separately

Further details can be found here.

*Not all products offered in all regions. Trading in pre-market futures is highly risky due to such factors as lower liquidity, higher price volatility, and there is increased liquidation risk. Not all tokens underlying pre-market futures will ultimately be listed on OKX. Users will not receive underlying tokens. OKX retains sole discretion to adjust any listing, extend or terminate the futures contract and/or settlement date for the futures contract, or suspend trading in pre-market futures. For more details, please refer to the OKX Terms of Service and Risk & Compliance Disclosure.

To learn more, visit OKX's Support Center.

For further information, please contact:[email protected]

About OKX

OKX is a leading global crypto exchange and innovative Web3 company. Trusted by more than 50 million global users, OKX offers a secure and trustworthy platform that provides responsible crypto traders with innovative tools to access the world of crypto.

As a global brand and top partner of Manchester City FC and McLaren Racing, OKX uses Web3 technology to redefine how fans connect with their favorite teams. Recent examples include its Unseen City Shirts and Race Rewind digital collectible campaigns, which offer fans real-world benefits like exclusive match-day and trackside experiences. As the Presenting Partner of Tribeca Festival, OKX also empowers artists and creators through Web3.

In line with its "on-chain, any chain" philosophy, OKX contributes to the growth of the Web3 ecosystem via its secure, interoperable and self-custody enabled OKX Wallet. OKX Wallet is a user-friendly gateway to the on-chain world, connecting to over 100 blockchains, 10,000 dApps, 170+ DeFi protocols, 300,000 tokens and 490+ decentralized exchanges (DEXs).

OKX is committed to transparency and security, and publishes its Proof of Reserves monthly to build trust. It is also dedicated to expanding its educational resources through OKX Learn, making digital assets accessible and understandable for a broader audience.

To learn more about OKX, download our app or visit: okx.com

Disclaimer

This announcement is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide any investment, tax, or legal advice, nor should it be considered an offer to purchase, sell, hold or offer any services relating to digital assets. Digital assets, including stablecoins, involve a high degree of risk, can fluctuate greatly, and can even become worthless.

SOURCE OKX

After outsmarting a smoke monster, tolerating Sawyer’s shenanigans, and appearing in a handful of films and TV series since Lost left the air, Matthew Fox will return to screens for The Assassin, a drama series from writer-producer John Glenn (SEAL Team). The project, in development at Max, finds Fox leading the charge.

John Glenn wrote The Assassin script based on the book series by British novelist Tom Wood. The Assassin focuses on a cunning assassin known only as Victor (Fox), who, after being betrayed by an anonymous client, finds himself relentlessly hunted by CIA operatives and a contract killer who’s as good at making people disappear as he is. Victor must look inside himself to find his humanity in an impossible situation. Only then can he hope to identify his pursuer and confront the dangers ahead.

Victor appears in eleven novels and two short stories written by Wood. The books have sold millions, making Victor a character on par with figures like Jason Bourne, Jack Reacher, and other iconic badasses on the page. Glenn is the project’s showrunner and executive producer alongside Fox and Wood.

While Fox made his name while playing Charlie Salinger on Fox’s Party of Five, his Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated role as Dr. Jack Shephard on J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof’s Lost made him a household name. From 2004 to 2010, scores of fans tuned in for every episode of the ensemble mystery’s twists and turns. Lost quickly became a cultural phenomenon, with Matthew Fox’s Dr. Jack Shepard at the center. While Lost had something of a Game of Thrones-style decline toward the series’ end, no one can deny that, at the height of its popularity, Lost was the watercooler show of the aughts.

Do you think Matthew Fox has what it takes to lead John Glenn’s The Assassin? Who should play the killer searching for Fox’s character throughout the series? Have you read any books in John Glenn’s novel series featuring Victor? If all goes well, Fox could return significantly to the TV series fold, and we’d love to see it. Let us know if you want to check Matthew Fox in The Assassin in the comments below.

About the Author

Born and raised in New York, then immigrated to Canada, Steve Seigh has been a JoBlo.com editor, columnist, and critic since 2012. He started with Ink & Pixel, a column celebrating the magic and evolution of animation, before launching the companion YouTube series Animation Movies Revisited. He's also the host of the Talking Comics Podcast, a personality-driven audio show focusing on comic books, film, music, and more. You'll rarely catch him without headphones on his head and pancakes on his breath.

Jason Timothy, the spokesperson for CryptoRecoverySquad, shared his thoughts on the launch, "We are glad to present CryptoRecoverySquad at a time when people need reliable assistance in recovering lost assets more than ever. Our main goal is to help our clients navigate through the complex process of getting their money back. With our experienced team and innovative tools, we are ready to solve even the most challenging cases and provide our clients with the results they need."

Reclaim Your Lost Funds with CryptoRecoverySquad

CryptoRecoverySquad empowers its clients with several services aimed at meeting their needs and requirements. The firm's team comprises experienced lawyers who specialize in recovering funds from many scams, like credit card frauds, stock trading and forex scams, Ponzi schemes, and cryptocurrency frauds. All cases are treated individually to guarantee that the clients receive the support and guidance they need throughout the process. The company also values quick action and employs effective measures to reduce delays and offer swift solutions.

"Everyone knows how frustrating it can be to lose money, both financially and emotionally," Timothy added, "That is why we strive to provide our customers with an effective service while understanding their unique situations. Our 'no win no fee' policy ensures that clients only pay when the funds are returned, which makes it a risk-free service for anyone seeking assistance. We believe in our ability to get results and are here to support everyone from start to finish."

About CryptoRecoverySquad

CryptoRecoverySquad has grown quickly into a leading fund recovery firm with a global reach. With offices on four continents, the company has built strong connections with over 800 banks, successfully recovering millions of dollars in disputed claims. The brand utilizes sophisticated technology to perform blockchain investigations and analyze cyber intelligence reports accredited by courts and police forces internationally. Ultimately, CryptoRecoverySquad's commitment to constant development and client satisfaction has established it as a valuable ally in the quest to reclaim lost funds.

https://www.cryptorecoverysquad.com/

SOURCE CryptoRecoverySquad

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Long Phan and Marc Levitan, research structural engineers specializing in windstorm impact reduction at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), have won the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal in the category of Science, Technology and Environment.

Every year, the Partnership for Public Service awards medals in seven categories to candidates selected from across the federal government to recognize their innovative efforts to save lives and deliver critical services to the public. These awards are commonly known as the “Sammies” and are thought of as “the Oscars of public service.”

The award recognizes Phan and Levitan’s decades-long effort to develop standards and building codes to make structures resistant to tornadoes. Communities across the U.S. have already started adopting these standards and codes to protect critical facilities like schools, hospitals and emergency response facilities from the vast majority of tornadoes.

“We are extremely proud of Long and Marc’s accomplishments, and this award is very well deserved,” said NIST Director Laurie E. Locascio. “The standards and building codes they helped develop and advocate for will have lasting effects long into the future, making our communities safer and saving countless lives.”

When Phan first joined NIST more than 40 years ago, the common belief was that tornadoes were too powerful to design buildings to resist. “Engineers thought tornado windspeeds were so high, there’s no way we can economically design structures to withstand them,” he said. 

But that thinking started to change around 1997. After investigating damage from a devastating tornado in Jarrell, Texas, Phan and his NIST colleagues suspected that the way tornado severity was measured, the Fujita Scale, overestimated the strength of tornadoes. He was instrumental in the effort to create a more accurate scale for measuring tornado severity, the Enhanced Fujita Scale. This new scale showed that most tornadoes have windspeeds below 135 miles per hour — a windspeed that buildings can readily be built to withstand — paving the way for the first standards and building codes for tornadoes.

Tornadoes 101 with Marc Levitan

Levitan joined Phan at NIST in 2011, just months before the deadliest tornado on official records touched down in Joplin, Missouri. He, Phan, and a team from NIST conducted a long-term investigation into the disaster. After their investigation, they came up with a plan to reduce the impacts of future windstorms. They worked with local communities, industry and researchers to develop new standards that would protect buildings from tornadoes.

Thanks in large part to their efforts, the 2024 edition of the International Building Code (IBC), for the first time, contains requirements for tornado resistance. The IBC is the blueprint most jurisdictions use to create local building regulations. As communities adopt the new model code, Levitan and Phan’s work will make its way into critical infrastructure across the U.S., securing those buildings against the dangers of the tornadoes they are likely to encounter.

This award also recognizes the significant contributions of the “Tornado Wind Loads Team,” which includes the scores of engineers, scientists and support staff from NIST, other federal government agencies, academia, and the private sector who participated in this effort. This work included the technical investigation of the 2011 Joplin tornado and study of the 2013 Moore, Oklahoma, tornado; research to better understand tornado hazards and their effects on buildings; and collaboration with codes and standards committees to translate the research into building code provisions. 

This work is part of NIST’s long history of improving the quality of life and increasing the resilience of U.S. communities prone to natural disasters. NIST leads federal efforts in this area through the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program (NWIRP) and the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP). These programs facilitate collaboration among industry, academia and government agencies to meet critical national needs.

The in-person awards ceremony will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

Samuel J. Heyman Service to America medalists are chosen by a selection committee composed of leaders from government, business, charitable organizations, academia, entertainment and media. For further information, visit the Service to America website.

DUBAI, UAE, Aug. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Binance, the leading blockchain ecosystem behind the world's largest crypto exchange by trading volume, is pleased to announce that from January to July 2024, it prevented over $2.4 billion in losses from potential scams and fraudulent activities that could have impacted more than 1.2 million users. This achievement is the result of Binance's comprehensive risk management measures, which help to effectively detect and flag suspicious transactions across the platform.

Binance employs a sophisticated internal risk engine that conducts real-time monitoring on a 24/7 basis, leveraging a hybrid of artificial intelligence (AI)-based and manual review. This allows the Binance team to dynamically and precisely detect suspicious transactions and take action to protect users quickly. The risk engine operates across all verticals of the Binance ecosystem, safeguarding users in various domains, including P2P trading, payments, crypto network withdrawals, and more. Multiple layers of controls are integrated within the system to ensure that risk exposure is mitigated and the overall risk level remains within an acceptable range.

The stage at which suspicious transactions are flagged most often is the crypto withdrawal stage. Out of the $2.4 billion in prevented losses recorded so far this year, withdrawals linked to suspected crypto scams make up over $1.1 billion, or approximately 45% of the total amount.

"Being user-focused has always been a key priority for us at Binance, which underlies our emphasis on building and maintaining industry-leading technological tools and processes that enable us to protect our users and their assets around the clock," shared Rohit Wad, Chief Technology Officer at Binance. "Preventing over $2.4 billion in potential losses over just seven months is testament to our hard work and dedication over the years. We are glad that our efforts are helping to create a safer ecosystem for users, and we will continue to embrace our responsibility as an industry leader by regularly improving our systems and capabilities to stay ahead of potential threats."

Beyond monitoring and detection, Binance also employs a wide array of tools and measures to protect users from crypto scams. The organization's risk control measures are divided into eight levels according to the severity of the risk, ensuring a balance between user experience and security. These measures range from customized pop-up notifications to cooldown features and wake-up calls. Additionally, Binance offers various appeal handling channels, from fully automated to manual processes, to assist users who have been flagged as potentially at risk and are looking to resolve their issues.

While Binance continues to go above and beyond to protect and secure users' assets, the company also emphasizes the importance of user vigilance.

"We also urge our users to remain vigilant and take responsibility for their own security," added Rohit. "While our team has implemented extensive measures to protect your funds, ultimately, users themselves play the largest role in safeguarding their assets. Stay informed, use strong security practices, and be cautious of potential scams."

Today's announcement closely follows another recent report that Binance has secured over $73 million in misplaced or lost funds for external parties as of July 31 this year. The company will continue to innovate and enhance its security measures to ensure a safe and secure environment for all crypto users, both within its platform and beyond.

About BinanceBinance is a leading global blockchain ecosystem behind the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume and registered users. Binance is trusted by more than 200 million people in 100+ countries for its industry-leading security, transparency, trading engine speed, protections for investors, and unmatched portfolio of digital asset products and offerings from trading and finance to education, research, social good, payments, institutional services, and Web3 features. Binance is devoted to building an inclusive crypto ecosystem to increase the freedom of money and financial access for people around the world with crypto as the fundamental means.

For more information, visit: https://www.binance.com

SOURCE Binance

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“We remain committed to taking the necessary investigative steps to ensure that we have as sound an understanding of the collapse as is technically feasible and to develop strong and actionable recommendations for improvements to building codes, standards, and practices that incorporate the lessons from the Champlain Tower South tragedy,”said investigative lead Judith Mitrani-Reiser. “Unfortunately, we have faced technical and programmatic delays that have caused us to adjust our timeline. We will issue our report for public comment as soon as the science permits, and we will continue keeping communities in Surfside and Miami-Dade County informed of our progress.”

In a virtual public meeting, Mitrani-Reiser and investigation associate lead Glenn Bell reported that the team has completed over 1,000 tests and examinations of concrete and reinforcing bar (rebar) samples taken from the collapse site. The results of the tests are enhancing the NCST team’s computer simulations that characterize the building’s ability to resist forces experienced prior to the partial collapse.

With completion of that work, Mitrani-Reiser said that NIST has initiated the process to return custody of the evidence specimens to the Miami-Dade Police Department.

The revised timeline will see the technical work completed by the end of May 2025, with the draft report expected to be released in the spring of 2026. 

NCST Insider | feat. Fahim Sadek

The technical work still underway includes reviewing records, assessing the material properties of various parts of the building, analyzing concrete durability and aging, characterizing reinforcing steel corrosion, assessing any potential geotechnical contributors to the failure, completing computational models that account for soil-structure interaction, conducting the remaining structural tests, incorporating as-built data into existing models and running simulations of computer collapse models. The team has also resumed interviewing eyewitnesses and those familiar with the building, following a pause this summer around the anniversary of the collapse. 

One major project still underway, and now with a later completion date, is the testing of large-scale slab-beam-column connections (i.e., pool deck and lobby level partial structural subassemblies) and the construction and testing of slab-column connections (i.e., pool deck structural subassemblies). These components are being built with materials and specifications similar to those used in the original construction of Champlain Towers South, based on information collected from the testing and evaluation of the physical evidence. Before the slab-column connections are tested to failure, some of them will undergo a process to corrode the reinforcing steel bars, to reflect the level of corrosion that was observed in some of the physical evidence obtained from the collapse site. These tests will inform the understanding of the strength of various components and how they would have performed in the building. 

“This is one of the most complex building failure investigations ever undertaken,” said Bell. “We will continue to work just as hard as we can to ensure that we are being thorough and that our results are sound, so that we can provide accurate and complete answers to what caused this tragedy, and to develop appropriate recommendations that will make other buildings safer.”

Mechanical Testing of Physical Evidence Complete

The Champlain Towers South building was primarily made of steel-reinforced concrete, one of the most versatile and widely used construction materials in the world. The combination is effective because the two materials mitigate each other's weaknesses. Reinforcing steel helps concrete resist tension, or getting pulled apart, and concrete provides superior strength in compression, or being pushed, and protects the steel from environmental factors that could cause it to rust.  

B-Roll Reel #7: Champlain Tower South NIST Investigation | Rebar Testing

The testing recently completed by the National Construction Safety Team is providing a detailed understanding of the strength and deformability of the concrete and reinforcing steel materials collected from different parts of the building. The properties of the materials can vary due to differences in the material constituents and manufacturing processes, and variations in construction methods. They can also vary due to how different parts of the building experienced environmental exposure that can cause material aging or deterioration. Concrete properties, in particular, can vary widely. The team tested a large number of samples to ensure accuracy in the measurements and their variation and in the computer models they support.  

The testing involved several different types of methods, described below.  

Compression Testing 

NCST researchers drilled out concrete cylinders from the building debris, and from them, prepared test samples about the size of an oatmeal can. They then put the samples into a hydraulic press that squeezes down on the sample under large pressures until it breaks. The pressure it takes to break the concrete, the “failure point,” is an important property that is used in the computer models.  

Tension Tests  

Tension tests on concrete measure how well a material resists splitting or getting pulled apart. The test itself is a bit counterintuitive: A hydraulic press slowly squeezes the cylindrical sample (on its curved side instead of the flat face) to create stresses inside the concrete that cause it to split. Engineers record the maximum load at failure, watch how the sample changes shape, and evaluate what it looks like after the test is complete.  

For tension tests of reinforcing steel, the ends of a sample are gripped with clamps and slowly pulled apart until the reinforcing bar breaks. In addition to traditional sensors that record the force and deformation during the test, a high-resolution camera tracks the movement of flecks of paint that are applied before the test to track differences in how the steel deforms at different locations along the sample. The test measures how far the reinforcing bar stretches before breaking and its breaking strength.  

Petrography  

Pieces of concrete evidence from the Champlain Towers South building were examined under a high-power microscope in a process called petrography. NCST experts used this method to study the condition of the cement paste and aggregate that make up the concrete. Petrography looks for evidence of damage, such as that caused by exposure to seawater, which can weaken the concrete, or carbonation, a chemical reaction between carbon dioxide in the air and elements in the concrete, which can diminish the ability of the concrete to protect the reinforcing steel from corrosion.

Transport Tests 

While concrete does a good job of protecting steel rebar from the elements, concrete has tiny holes that cause it to act like a sponge and absorb water. If the concrete absorbs water quickly or never has a chance to dry, the steel embedded within it could get wet and start to corrode. If that water contains chemical ions such as chlorides, it can cause the steel reinforcement to rust even faster. Buildings built near the ocean like Champlain Towers South are often exposed to sea spray containing sodium chloride, introducing corrosive chloride ions into the concrete.    

Laboratory transport tests reveal how fast water and the chemicals it carries could get to the steel reinforcement within concrete. For this test, hockey-puck-sized samples of concrete from the building were immersed in water to a standardized water content, and the team measured how fast they dried. The researchers then immersed the samples in water again to measure how long it would take for the water to absorb completely into the concrete. The samples were then left to dry to see how quickly the water leaves the concrete. It takes about two weeks to measure the water absorption rate and two weeks to measure the drying rate, so even though some samples could be tested simultaneously, each absorption and drying test lasts about a month, including specimen conditioning.

Electrical Conductivity  

Rust is an electrochemical reaction, just like the reaction that happens in a battery. In the same way that a battery only runs when both ends are connected, rust only starts when electrons can move from one part of the metal to another. Rust forms faster when electrons move more easily through the material. To test the conductivity of the Champlain Towers South concrete samples, researchers wet the concrete and then applied an electrical current through it. The more conductive the wet concrete is, the easier it is for electrons to move in the material, which allows rust to form faster.

Corrosion on Fast Forward

The researchers also sought to determine how much reinforcing steel samples from Champlain Towers South had degraded over the life of the building. Because rust eats away at steel, a rusted piece of rebar is lighter than a pristine piece. By comparing the weight of rusted reinforcing bar samples from the building with pristine samples of the same size, researchers were able to measure how much steel was removed by rust.

To understand how rust forming on reinforcing bars could have reduced the strength of the structure, the team induced rapid corrosion in structural test elements to attempt to generate conditions that could have occurred in Champlain Towers South. Team members embedded reinforcing bars in concrete, soaked the concrete in salt water, and ran electricity through it, causing the reinforcement to begin to rust rapidly, replicating decades of corrosion in weeks. 

Updates on the investigation and preliminary findings can be found on the NIST website, including recordings of the public meetings. Slides from today’s advisory committee meeting can be accessed on the NIST website, in the meeting’s agenda.

NIST encourages members of the public to submit any information, including video, photos or other documentation, that might help the investigation via the NIST Disaster Data Portal.

We found out last month that Silver Linings Playbook Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence and The Batman star Robert Pattinson have the lead roles in the thriller Die, My Love, which is coming our way from We Need to Talk About Kevin and You Were Never Really Here director Lynne Ramsay. Now Deadline reports that LaKeith Stanfield – whose credits include The Book of Clarence, Atlanta, Sorry to Bother You, Judas and the Black Messiah, The Harder They Fall, Haunted Mansion, Short Term 12, Knives Out, Selma, Uncut Gems, Death Note, The Girl in the Spider’s Web, The Changeling, War Machine, Straight Outta Compton, and Get Out (pictured above) – is in final negotiations to join Lawrence and Pattinson in the cast.

Scripted by Ramsay and Enda Walsh, Die, My Love is said to be “set in a remote forgotten rural area,” with the story centering on a mother who struggles to maintain her sanity as she battles with psychosis. We assume Lawrence will be playing the mother, but it hasn’t been revealed who Pattinson and Stanfield might be playing.

Jennifer Lawrence and Justine Ciarrocchi are producing the film through their Excellent Cadaver banner, alongside Martin Scorsese, Andrea Calderwood, and Black Label Media. Black Label Media is also financing the project.

Deadline notes that other upcoming projects for Stanfield, who earned an Oscar nomination for his supporting role in Judas and the Black Messiah, include sharing the screen with Mark Wahlberg, Dermot Mulroney, Tony Shalhoub, and Rosa Salazar in the Shane Black crime thriller Play Dirty, starring in an adaptation of the vampire hunter video game El Paso, Elsewhere, and lending his voice to the documentary Ernest Cole: Lost and Found. Meanwhile, Pattinson has Bong Joon-ho’s Mickey 17, Parker Finn’s remake of Andrzej Żuławski’s Possession, and a sequel to The Batman coming our way, and Lawrence is working with A24 on a murder mystery called The Wives and an adaptation of the graphic novel Why Don’t You Love Me?

With Ramsay at the helm, Scorsese producing, and a strong cast being assembled, Die, My Love is shaping up to be quite promising.

Are you interested in Die, My Love? What do you think of LaKeith Stanfield joining Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson in the cast? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Corn has recently completed a $6.7 million seed financing round, led by Polychain Capital. Founded by a team of long-term DeFi builders that started projects like Badger, Code4rena, Slingshot and 0xBow, Corn aims to foster an ecosystem that aligns users, applications, and token holders within a unified, mutually beneficial framework, offering a wealth of applications while unlocking stagnant Bitcoin through BTCN.

By enabling BTCN as a gas token via 1:1 backing with Bitcoin, the Corn Layer 2 Network effectively scales Bitcoin via the EVM. BTCN is the first tokenized Bitcoin backed 1:1 by native Bitcoin that is not confined to a single centralized custodian or bridging solution. Instead, it extends its minting rights to include multiple custodians, smart contracts, and bridging protocols. Corn advocates for a hybrid approach to DeFi's Bitcoin, emphasizing solvency and scalability, allowing Bitcoin holders the flexibility to choose how their Bitcoin is custodied while using it in various ways.

"Corn is led by a team of highly experienced DeFi builders," said Edward, Managing Partner at HTX Ventures. "It integrates proven DeFi-oriented tokenomic frameworks to attract users and enable native protocols and asset issuers to drive sustainable demand. By aligning interests between users, applications, and token holders through Super Yield Farming, it ensures sustainable liquidity, token utility, and keeps builders engaged within the ecosystem. HTX Ventures is excited to be part of this venture."

"We're excited to have HTX ventures support Corn from the earliest stage and help bring our vision of making it easy for anyone to finally use their Bitcorn", said Chris Spadafora, the founder of Corn.

Corn is pioneering a unique tokenomic design, being the first Layer 2 to extend proven veCRV token to the chain level. Taking inspiration from the veTokenomics pioneered by Curve, Corn incentivizes users and developers by emitting CORN, which can then be directed to any app on the chain. Users that engage with that app receive those incentives while stakers of CORN, known as popCORN, get to decide what percentage of CORN incentives go to which app.

Within this thriving ecosystem, Corn presents significant opportunities for Bitcoin holders to finally put their Bitcoin to work. HTX Ventures, having strategically invested in Corn and several top BTC ecosystem projects, is committed to supporting the growth and development of the Bitcoin ecosystem.

About Corn

Corn is the first Super Yield Network built around Bitcoin.

About HTX Ventures

HTX Ventures, the global investment division of HTX, integrates investment, incubation, and research to identify the best and brightest teams worldwide. With more than decade-long history as an industry pioneer, HTX Ventures excels at identifying cutting-edge technologies and emerging business models within the sector. To foster growth within the blockchain ecosystem, we provide comprehensive support to projects, including financing, resources, and strategic advice.

HTX Ventures currently backs over 300 projects spanning multiple blockchain sectors, with select high-quality initiatives already trading on the HTX exchange. Furthermore, as one of the most active FOF (Fund of Funds) funds, HTX Ventures invests in 30 top global funds and collaborates with leading blockchain funds such as Polychain, Dragonfly, Bankless, Gitcoin, Figment, Nomad, Animoca, and Hack VC to jointly build a blockchain ecosystem. Visit us here.

Feel free to contact us for investment and collaboration at [email protected]

SOURCE HTX Ventures

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At a certain point in your life — hopefully sooner rather than later — you realize working with (or for) needlessly angry people just isn’t worth it. Life is short. That’s something George Clooney is all too aware of after he famously clashed with director David O. Russell on the set of Three Kings. In a recent GQ cover story, Clooney said he isn’t going to repeat that experience anytime soon.

“The older you get, time allotment is very different. Five months out of your life is a lot,” Clooney said. “And so it’s not just like, ‘Oh, I’m going to go do a really good film, like Three Kings, and I’m going to have a miserable f**k like David O Russell making my life hell. Making every person in the crew’s life hell.’ It’s not worth it. Not at this point in my life. Just to have a good product.“

Russell frequently had angry outbursts on the set of Three Kings, and Clooney regularly defended the extras and crew members. Russell reportedly even ignored an extra who was having an epileptic seizure. Clooney and Russell eventually came to blows after Clooney saw Russell allegedly getting physical with an extra. Clooney later called the production the “worst experience of my life.” This wasn’t the end of Russell’s abuse of his cast and crew, as he verbally berated Lily Tomlin on the set of I Heart Huckabees, made Amy Adams’ life a “living hell” during the production of American Hustle, and even apparently attacked Christopher Nolan at a Hollywood party.

In the same interview, Clooney also had a few words for Quentin Tarantino, who reportedly criticized the actor’s career. “Quentin said some shit about me recently, so I’m a little irritated by him,” Clooney said. “He did some interview where he was naming movie stars, and he was talking about you, and somebody else, and then this guy goes, ‘Well, what about George?’ He goes, he’s not a movie star. And then he literally said something like, ”Name me a movie since the millennium.” And I was like, “Since the millennium? That’s kind of my whole fucking career.’“

GEORGETOWN, Cayman Islands, Aug. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sonic Labs, the team supporting the development of the upcoming Sonic network, today unveiled a new bounty program, "Sonic Boom", to fuel growth on Sonic day one by fostering the development of essential Apps across exchanges, lending, tooling, payments, stablecoins, yield, gaming, and NFTs. The nearly 13-week program concludes on November 4th, 2024, and rewards up to 30 winning projects with Sonic Gems, based on carefully curated criteria to reward the most influential applications. Sonic Boom is one of the largest bounty programs of Sonic's previously announced airdrop program of up to 190,500,000 $S for users.

The Sonic Boom program introduces the airdrop's first major mechanic called Sonic Gems, a meritocratic method to enable Apps to distribute points to their users, of which up to 37.5% of the airdrop will be allocated toward. This program provides Sonic users access to a range of applications across various blockchain verticals at the launch of the network, enabling those users to take advantage of boosted rewards and the methods apps use to distribute them.

Applications will be evaluated using a point system based on innovation, usability, strategy, and potential impact on the Sonic network ecosystem. Based on these scores, which take into account category weight, incentive weight, and other bonus opportunities, winners will be separated into three tiers — Emerald, Sapphire, and Ruby — all of which will receive a significant share of Gems that can be used on the Sonic network once live on Mainnet.

As part of the program, Sonic Boom boasts a series of additional opportunities to earn bonuses. In support of the Bounty Program, SAFE, the highly secure, multi-signature crypto wallet designed for managing digital assets and facilitating decentralized finance (DeFi) operations, has partnered with Sonic Labs to offer security and versatility to individual and organizational funds at the launch of the Sonic network. Builders that employ one of SAFE's technologies, such as  multi-signature security, backup and recovery protocols, and other DeFi compatibility features, will be eligible to receive additional Gems. Other bonuses will be offered to applications and developer teams that leverage Sonic's updated GasM program, enabling apps to earn up to 90% of transaction fees they generate, creating another substantial earning stream for developers.

Michael Kong, CEO of Sonic Labs, commented on the initiative, "Our community has been patiently waiting as the anticipation for Sonic has grown over the past few months. Now, it's time for the developers to take the reins and begin building the innovative applications that will be at the foundation of the Sonic network. We're adamant about providing our ecosystem of developers with the rewards they deserve, both in the short and long term, and we're thrilled to roll out Sonic Boom to accomplish just that. I can't wait to see our builder's creative solutions as we prepare for Sonic's mainnet launch later this year."

Project proposals must be submitted through the Sonic Boom submission portal. Winning projects must deploy on Sonic testnet with a live and interactive frontend, and launch on Sonic within seven days of its mainnet launch. Winners will receive part one of their allocation on the first day of network deployment and receive the second allocation 60 days after mainnet deployment, carrying additional weight based on continued performance and contribution to the network.

For more information about how the competition is judged and other qualifications, please click here

About SonicLaunched by the team behind the Fantom Foundation, Sonic is a high-throughput layer-1 platform with a secure gateway to Ethereum, providing the fastest settlement layer for digital assets capable of over 10,000 TPS and complete, one second confirmation times. Sonic is operated by Sonic Labs and supported by a massive incentive program.

For more information on the new Sonic network and Sonic Labs read the latest blog post outlining this new era of blockchain innovation.

Media contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Sonic Labs

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This success follows earlier achievements at ETHDenver and ETHTaipei, where KryptoGO introduced a seamless Web2-to-Web3 transition with email-based wallet authentication through "Email2Ether", simplifying user access while maintaining high security. Additionally, their research into Account Abstraction (AA) has streamlined DeFi interactions, maximizing idle fund profitability without requiring complex user actions in their project "Kage".

Read more: KryptoGO's Award-Winning Innovations at ZK Hack Montreal, ETHDenver, and ETHTaipei

Building on this momentum, KryptoGO is set to make an impact at two major events in Tokyo, Japan. The team will first participate in ETH Tokyo, further expanding their influence in the Asian market and showcasing their latest blockchain innovations.

Following ETH Tokyo, KryptoGO will attend WEBX 2024 in Tokyo from August 28-29, one of Asia's most influential Web3 technology conferences. During this event, KryptoGO will co-host two exciting side events: AI Nexus Night and Tokyo Crypto Confidential.

AI Nexus Night: Exploring the Convergence of Web3, AI, and Security

Set against the iconic backdrop of Tokyo Tower, AI Nexus Night will bring together thought leaders in the Web3, AI, and security domains. Organized in collaboration with partners KEKKAI and Terp Layer, this event will feature meaningful discussions on the convergence of Web3 and AI, potential collaborations, and insights into the latest trends at the intersection of blockchain, AI, and cybersecurity. The event will begin at 18:00 with networking, followed by partner introductions and discussions on the critical role of security and user experience in these emerging technologies.

Kordan Ou, CEO of KryptoGO, shared his excitement: "Our ongoing global success highlights KryptoGO's vital role in the Web3 ecosystem. We're eager to bring our innovations to ETH Tokyo and WEBX 2024, particularly through hosting AI Nexus Night. This event is a fantastic opportunity for industry leaders to explore the transformative potential of combining Web3, AI, and advanced security measures."

Tokyo Crypto Confidential: Deepening Blockchain Partnerships in the Japan Market

In addition to AI Nexus Night, KryptoGO is co-hosting "Tokyo Crypto Confidential" with NERO Chain, BSOS, Isle Finance, L2IV, and O-DE Capital. This invite-only event, limited to 50 participants, will be held at the renowned Tokyo Confidential bar in Azabu Juban. Focused on "Making it meaningful with Blockchain & Partnerships," the evening will provide an intimate setting for high-level networking, knowledge sharing, and discussions on the future of blockchain collaborations. This event also represents KryptoGO's strong desire to expand into the Japan market, inviting local partners to connect and explore potential collaborations. The event will start at 18:00 with a welcome session, followed by multiple talk sessions and networking opportunities that extend into the night.

Kordan added, "These Tokyo events mark a significant step in KryptoGO's global expansion strategy, particularly in the Japan market. By uniting diverse minds across blockchain and AI, we're not just showcasing our innovations – we're fostering the collaborations that will drive the future of Web3 and solidifying our presence in Japan."

For more information about KryptoGO, or to register for AI Nexus Night and Tokyo Crypto Confidential, please visit https://www.kryptogo.com/events. Join us in Tokyo as we continue to push the boundaries of Web3 innovation and explore the exciting possibilities at the confluence of blockchain, AI, security, and the Japan market.

About KryptoGO

KryptoGO is a leading Web3 infrastructure platform backed by National Development Fund and certified with ISO 27001/27701, emphasizing compliance and security. We provide compliant DeFi wallet solutions for global financial institutions and businesses looking to offer cryptocurrency services, with a strong focus on safety, user experience, and regulatory adherence.

Media Contact: [email protected]

Learn more: www.kryptogo.com | X | LinkedIn

SOURCE KryptoGO

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“This was a warning, the next time… you aren’t going to see it coming.” It’s been two years since we last saw former CIA agent Dan Chase (Jeff Bridges), but FX has released the new trailer for The Old Man season 2.

The second season of The Old Man sets Dan Chase and former FBI Assistant Director Harold Harper (John Lithgow) off on their most important mission to date — to recover Emily Chase (Alia Shawkat) after she is kidnapped by Faraz Hamzad (Navid Negahban), a powerful Afghan tribal leader. With all three men claiming her as their daughter, Emily finds herself in an identity crisis that has dire implications.

The synopsis continues: “As Chase and Harper fight their way to get to Emily, Hamzad is forced to make decisions that could endanger his family and the village he has led faithfully for a lifetime. “Khadija” (Jacqueline Antaramian), Hamzad’s sister and trusted advisor, is concerned about the path her brother has taken and what it will cost them. As the stakes get higher and more secrets are uncovered, “Zoe McDonald” (Amy Brenneman) makes surprising moves after having been drawn into a new world by Chase. Meanwhile, “Julian Carson” (Gbenga Akinnagbe) is disillusioned by his former role and finds himself at a crossroads with a path he hadn’t imagined for himself.” The Old Man is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Thomas Perry, with Jonathan E. Steinberg and Robert Levine serving as creators of the series.

The first season of the series was met with several delays. Production was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and when production resumed months later, they had to halt soon after when Bridges was diagnosed with lymphoma and contracted COVID-19 while in treatment. Nearly a year later, Bridges announced he was in remission and work on the first season was completed. Production on the second season was also halted due to the 2023 Hollywood strikes.

The first two episodes of The Old Man season 2 will premiere on September 12th at 10pm ET/PT on FX, followed by a streaming debut the next day on Hulu.

This free-to-play casual game offers users the opportunity to earn cryptocurrency by competing in leaderboard battles and completing various tasks within the game. BC.GAME becomes the first major iGaming platform to introduce a Telegram mini-app, entering a market where Telegram's vast 900 million user base has popularized tap-to-earn games.

Gameplay and Player Rewards

Coco Rush features an intuitive design, requiring players to tap on digital Cocos to accumulate Coco Coins. Players can also collect Coco Coins by completing daily check-ins, onboarding activities, social media tasks, and through daily free spins. Additionally, players can earn referral points, which can be exchanged to boost their in-game progress.

The game also provides opportunities to participate in free spins, where players can win rewards such as USDT and extra Coco Coins. Perhaps most exciting is the forthcoming $BC token airdrop, giving players the chance to convert their in-game coins into real cryptocurrency. During the airdrop event, players can turn their virtual earnings into tradable tokens, adding real-world value to their gameplay.

Commenting on the launch, Jack Dorset, CEO of BC.GAME, said, "Telegram's mini-app ecosystem is quickly becoming a go-to space for the Crypto community. At BC.GAME, we prioritize creating user-friendly, interconnected platforms that foster community engagement, encourage participation, and, above all, offer an enjoyable experience. With Coco Rush, our first mini-app for Telegram, we're excited to see how players respond."

The Growing Popularity of Tap-to-Earn Games on Telegram

The launch of Coco Rush aligns with the increasing popularity of tap-to-earn games on Telegram, including titles like Hamster Kombat, Notcoin, and Yescoin. These games allow players to potentially earn cryptocurrency via the TON blockchain. Similarly, Coco Rush offers its players the possibility of receiving airdrops of Coco Coins. For instance, Notcoin previously distributed over 80 billion TON-based tokens to its players earlier this year.

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov recently shared plans to expand the platform's blockchain presence, including the development of a mini-app store and an integrated web3 browser. Durov highlighted this future direction in a post on his channel, stating, "2024 will mark the year when blockchain becomes part of everyday life for millions of people worldwide. We are proud that Telegram is at the heart of this major shift."

Coco Rush launched on August 19, 2024. Players can join via the official telegram link.

About BC.GAMEBC.GAME is a leading crypto iGaming platform, known for its community-driven approach and cutting-edge technology. Established in 2017, BC.GAME offers more than 8,000 games, including sports betting, slots, and live table games. The platform is also recognized for its partnerships with top-tier brands such as Leicester City FC, the Argentina National Football Team, and Cloud9.

Learn more at https://bc.game.

SOURCE BC.GAME

PLOT: Seeking to escape their grim fate as indentured workers for Weyland-Yutani on a lifeless rock, a group of young colonists scavenge an abandoned space station, only to discover a terrifying secret that threatens to pick them off one by one – or worse.

REVIEW: As far as this critic is concerned, there are two perfect Alien movies: the first and the badass James Cameron sequel. I tend to flip-flop between which one I prefer (it usually depends on the one I saw most recently), but both films are among the most perfectly conceived and executed blockbusters of all time—the sequels, though- well, are a mixed bag at best. There have been interesting ones (Alien 3), terrible ones (Alien: Resurrection and the AVP movies) and frustrating ones (the Ridley Scott prequels), but until now, there have been no outstanding ones. As such, the fact that director Fede Alvarez was able to make a slam-bang Alien sequel that trumps every other film in the franchise, save the first two, is cause for celebration. Yet, it does suffer from the fact that its director was perhaps hampered in his effort to make a lean and mean Alien movie with an ill-advised directive to connect the film to Ridley Scott’s Prometheus and Alien: Covenant. This leaves the film feeling like it’s 75% kick-ass, and 25% space bio-engineering nonsense. 

However, the good outweighs the bad by a large margin. One thing Alvarez does that none of the other films have so far is it effectively conveys how hopeless life in the future Alien world has become (something which the upcoming TV series may elaborate on). Our young crew is shown to be comprised of orphans whose parents expired due to terrible working conditions and have left their offspring little more than indentured servants. Our heroine, Cailee Spaeny’s Rain, is one such victim of the heartless “company,” with only her malfunctioning synthetic brother, David Jonsson’s Andy, left to keep her company.

In the movie, she falls in with a crew of scavengers led by an old flame, Archie Renaux’s Tyler, who wants to provide a better life for his younger sister, Isabela Merced’s Kay. He thinks he’s stumbled upon a can’t-lose scheme where they can salvage life pods from a derelict station, but he needs Andy’s tech to get the job done, leading to an alliance with Rain. Of course, it doesn’t take long for them to arrive at the space station and find themselves at the mercy of face huggers and xenomorphs.

This action is brutal, with Fede Alvarez making it one of the gorier Alien movies. You’ve never seen a chestburster depicted in such an agonizing, painful way. The cast is terrific, with Spaeny’s Rain far from the Ripley clone you might expect. She’s just a kid out of her element but rises to the occasion without becoming a superhero or losing her vulnerability. Likewise, Renaux’s Tyler, who could have been depicted as a slimy crook, has pure intentions and also sports a heroic streak, making him a believable partner for Rain. Poor Isabela Merced also makes a huge impression, with her being put through the physical wringer more than anyone else in the film, with many of the movie’s most significant scare moments involving her.

But, of the cast, the one who nearly walks away with the movie is David Jonsson as Andy. Initially simple and sweet, he gets an upgrade on the space station and has to wrestle with two battling sets of programming, with him kind of a cross between Ian Holm’s cold-blooded Ash and Lance Henriksen’s kindly Bishop. It’s a heck of a performance, and he and Spaeny deliver what should go down as iconic franchise performances that also work as their own.

The movie also benefits from superb cinematography by Galo Olivares, which is very much in the vein of the original Alien. Benjamin Wallfisch’s score is the best in the series since James Horner’s take on Aliens. 

Alas, with Alien: Romulus being packed with so much awesomeness, it’s a drag when clunkier elements that seem lifted from another movie get worked in. There’s one additional character that hasn’t been revealed in the ads or early footage, who’s a callback to the earlier films, but the CGI depicting this character is poorly realized. That’s a shame, as the FX work is impeccable otherwise, and part of me wonders whether it was an eleventh-hour addition. As soon as you see the character introduced, you’ll immediately know what I’m referring to, and I bet this will be the one element of the movie it will get attacked for. 

There’s also far more continuity with Prometheus and Alien: Covenant than expected, with it feeling like producer Ridley Scott still has a lot of say over how the franchise proceeds (for better or worse). It feels like a distraction from an otherwise excellent Alien movie, and the downside is that towards the end, the xenomorphs we all love watching feel secondary in favour of another threat which seems lifted out of one of the prequels. 

These added-on elements make Alien: Romulus more of a mixed bag than you’d think, but I hesitate to put any of the blame on Fede Alvarez. When he’s allowed to do his own thing, which seems to be the case for about three-quarters of the movie, it’s one of the best Alien movies ever. But, when he’s shoehorned in a bunch of tacked-on mythology, it starts to suffer. At any rate, it’s probably still the third-best movie of the franchise, and hopefully, it will lead to more films set in this world by Alvarez, who seems like a natural successor to Ridley Scott and James Cameron as far as this series goes. 

7

7

Viewer Ratings (1 review)

Kit Harington joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Dane Whitman in Eternals. While it certainly wasn’t the biggest role in the movie, the character was set up to become the Black Knight in a future MCU appearance. Harington was featured in the movie’s post-credit scene with Whitman opening a chest containing the Ebony Blade, but before he could touch it, he was interrupted by an unseen Blade (Mahershala Ali).

With the Eternals sequel supposedly shelved, it remains to be seen when (or if) we’ll see Dane Whitman again, but Harington did mention his time in the MCU while speaking with GQ. “I’m not gonna pretend I took that [role] because it was different and interesting,” Harington said. “If Marvel calls, you gotta do it.” There have been many actors who took on small Marvel roles with the promise that the character would grow into something bigger, but that hasn’t happened for Harington yet. The actor did add that he liked his character and would be interested in returning to the franchise down the road.

Given Whitman’s appearance alongside Blade in the post-credit scene, some assumed that Harington would be joining Mahershala Ali in the as-yet-unmade Blade movie, but he explained last year that it was never in the cards. “I was never…I think there was some misunderstanding about whether he was going to be in the Blade movie,” Harington said. “He was never meant to be in the Blade movie.”

In the same interview, Harington also reflected on the divisive final season of Game of Thrones, which he admits was rushed and that mistakes were made. The actor was once slated to reprise his role as Jon Snow in a spin-off series, but he revealed earlier this year that the project had been shelved for the time being. “Currently, it’s off the table, because we all couldn’t find the right story to tell that we were all excited about enough,” Harington said. “So, we decided to lay down tools with it for the time being. There may be a time in the future where we return to it, but at the moment, no. It’s firmly on the shelf.“

Time will tell if Kit Harington will return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (or Game of Thrones), but in the meantime, the actor can currently be seen in the third season of HBO’s Industry, which recently premiered.

At present, HTX has made the publication of its Security Monthly Report a regular practice, detailing security data across key areas such as account security, transaction security, and asset security. This report provides users with a clear view of the concrete measures HTX has implemented and its strong capabilities in maintaining overall platform security.

HTX released itsSecurity Monthly Reports for May 2024 andJune 2024 earlier. Below is HTX's Security Monthly Report for July 2024, featuring detailed data on platform security.

In July, HTX issued over 290,000 security reminders to its users, maintaining the same level as in June. Regarding transaction security, the platform intercepted 4 fund transfers to scam addresses, recovering 103,190 USDT, which marks a 656.0% month-over-month increase. Furthermore, HTX blocked 35 deposits from blacklisted addresses amounting to 646,923 USDT, representing a 542.7% rise from the previous month.

Looking ahead, HTX is poised to release its Security Monthly Report every month, implementing more precise data and rigorous financial standards to secure user assets in the long run.

Contact: [email protected]  

SOURCE HTX

PLOT: Nothing is what it seems when a twisted one-night stand spirals into a serial killer’s vicious murder spree.

REVIEW: I feel like I often say: stay away from spoilers for this movie for the most pure experience. And that’s very true with films like Cuckoo and Longlegs relying on the mystery for their narrative to succeed. Yet I’d say there’s no film more deserving of this “going in blind” approach than Strange Darling. I question what I’ll even be able to talk about but it would be a disservice to any potential viewer to not let them go on the same journey that I did. Because Strange Darling is one of the most unique and riveting films of the year. And it deserves to be experienced completely fresh.

Presented in six chapters and out of sequential order, the narrative is delivered in a very unique way. A one-night stand at a motel turns into a fight for survival. There’s a serial killer and multiple people in their path of destruction. Going out of order immediately adds such intrigue to the story, because it signals to the viewer that they need to be paying close attention. It results in one of the most unique cat-and-mouse thrillers in existence, propped up by incredible performances and some truly stunning cinematography. In terms of the plot, that’s about all I’m comfortable with saying.

Kyle Gallner is among my favorite actors and his role as The Demon proves why. His performance is so layered and his attention to detail is rewarded with subsequent viewings. There’s a reason that Gallner has become a Scream King in recent years and it’s because he picks such interesting roles. His name being attached to any film is a quality seal of approval.  Just as incredible is Willa Fitzgerald, who absolutely shines as The Lady. She makes every moment she’s on-screen can’t miss. Pairing these two together was a stroke of genius that is expertly paid off in Strange Darling. I could watch these two read a newspaper together and be entertained.

But the great casting exists outside of the two leads, with some truly fantastic side characters making this world feel living and breathing. Ed Begley Jr. and Barbara Hershey are great as two mountain hippies a little off their rocker. And I’m not sure there’s a better actor to establish a trustworthy cop than Steven Michael Quezada. He gives the film a ray of hope in a very cynical and mean story.

From The Lady running through the woods with a cover of Love Hurts blaring in the background, to the red lights of the motel room, the visuals are out of this world. Writer/Director JT Mollner formulated this story with the simple visual of that bloodied girl running through the woods, but what he was able to springboard that idea into is nothing short of remarkable. I love how much it plays with expectations throughout the whole runtime, never truly knowing what something or someone represents. This out-of-order narrative helps lean into this and adds a mystery to elements that would have been known had it been told sequentially. And it doesn’t just feel like a gimmick either, with it being expertly worked out from one scene to the next. This wasn’t a random shuffle of the deck.

The cinematography is consistently breathtaking, with actor Giovanni Ribisi getting behind the camera as the Director of Photography. I had no idea he had such an eye but he makes Strange Darling one of the best-looking horror films in recent memory. I was constantly stunned by the use of color, with bright red clothing used against the forest greenery. The visuals combine perfectly with the intimate sound design to really put the viewer right in the middle of this cat-and-mouse pursuit.

Strange Darling is the most daring film of the year. I wonder how it will hold up to those who are subsequently spoiled by the change in direction. I’d still argue it holds up incredibly well; I will just always be a proponent of maintaining the mystery. But I’m no fool and know that this absurdly positive review will cause some to have sky-high expectations. I hope the film manages to deliver in the same way that it did for me as this hit nearly every element of cinema that I love: wonderful performances, stellar visuals, and a narrative that makes me want to start the film over right as the credits roll. And there’s nothing better than that.

STRANGE DARLING OPENS IN THEATERS ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 23RD!

9

-

Viewer Ratings (0 reviews)

Base Summer Campaign: A Hotspot for Community-Favored Projects on the Base Chain

The three-week-long Lootex Base Summer event offers NFT enthusiasts the opportunity to earn up to $25,000 in rewards from buying and selling community-favored projects. Participants can receive cash back and extra bonuses by purchasing NFTs and inviting friends to join the event. Lootex has curated a selection of featured collections on Base Chain, including well-known projects like BasedNouns, NFToshis, SoMon OwOG, MissToshi, and Phenoms, all available for trading on the Lootex platform.

By inviting friends to participate and complete NFT transactions, both parties can earn additional rewards. Whether you are a seasoned NFT collector or new to the scene, this event offers a wealth of opportunities to maximize your returns.

Supporting the Base Chain and Lootex's Vision

Lootex is committed to advancing blockchain and NFT technology and sees immense potential in the Base Chain. Recent market data shows that Base Chain's transaction volume has surged by over 150% in the past six months, attracting numerous influential projects to its ecosystem.

Lootex CEO Justin stated, "Launching the Base Chain-themed NFT trading event and the new GP points system is a significant step in our efforts to support the growth of the ecosystem and respond to the community's interest in recent Meme trends. We believe that as the Base Chain continues to expand and market demand increases, it will play an increasingly important role in the future digital economy. Our goal with these new features is to provide users with a more convenient and efficient trading experience, driving further growth and prosperity for our platform and the broader ecosystem."

Introducing the GP Points System: Enhancing User Experience

To further elevate the user experience, Lootex has introduced the GP points system, as outlined in the $LOOT white paper. GP is designed to help users reduce the burden of Gas fees, making transactions smoother. Through Lootex's innovative Smart Account (ERC-4337) and Gas Fee subsidy mechanism, users can purchase GP, load it into their Smart Account wallet, and use it to pay Gas fees across multiple chains, eliminating the need to buy extra tokens.

In addition, Lootex has launched the GP Center, offering daily check-ins, referral bonuses, and transaction missions, allowing users to easily earn more GP. Whether checking in daily, inviting friends, or completing transactions, participants have numerous opportunities to earn GP rewards, further lowering transaction costs and enhancing the overall experience.

NFT Aggregator Beta: Now Live

Simultaneously, Lootex proudly unveils the Beta version of its NFT Aggregator, enabling users to purchase NFTs directly from OpenSea listings via the Lootex platform. This innovative feature integrates popular NFT projects from ETH, BASE, Polygon, and Arbitrum networks, providing users with a seamless shopping experience. While using the Lootex Aggregator, users can also participate in seasonal or event-specific rewards, enjoying multiple benefits in one place.

For further information about Lootex and its innovative offerings, visit lootex.io.

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https://lootexio.medium.com/

About Lootex

Lootex is an innovative NFT marketplace designed for gamers and NFT lovers. Our mission is to make web3, blockchain, and new technologies more understandable and accessible. We aim to bring virtual assets to life and empower gamers and traders with the best experience they need.

SOURCE Lootex Technology Co., Ltd

Last Updated on August 31, 2024

While Deadpool & Wolverine is the only MCU movie that will be hitting theaters this year, Sony’s Spider-verse still has two of its villain-centric films dropping this year with Venom: The Last Dance and Kraven The Hunter. These films will be released after another Spider-verse movie, Madame Web, made its impression earlier this year. It’s time to hit the game trail as Sony has now released the trailer for Kraven The Hunter.

The film opens December 13 after a couple of delays, in which producer Matt Tolmach explains, “Kraven moved to Christmas because we’re excited about it and Christmas is the best release period there is, when you get people with time to go back to the movies over and over again,” Tolmach said. “That was a real reflection of how the studio felt about the movie. We’re really excited. But that’s a great move that reflects just the feeling about the movie.“

J.C. Chandor (A Most Violent Year, Triple Frontier) directs from a script by Matt Holloway (Iron Man, Transformers: The Last Knight, Uncharted). Russell Crowe, Ariana DeBose, Christopher Abbott, Alessandro Nivola, Fred Hechinger, and Levi Miller join Taylor-Johnson as cast members.

Chandor says that his superhero film differentiates itself from the others as Kraven‘s story plays more like a tragedy. “Sony probably doesn’t want me to lead with this. but the story is a tragedy. When the final credits roll on this film, if you’ve been paying attention, you won’t have the feeling that this is all going to end great.”

Taylor-Johnson mentions that it was important to him to flesh out Kraven as a person, especially since he’s a hunter. “When you say stuff like ‘I’m the greatest hunter of all time,’ you’ve got to know deep within your being that it’s coming from a place of reality and depth, and feels like it’s possible and plausible.” The actor studied people who have that complicated relationship with animals, “You just grab little things. and they rub off, in ways, and they come in handy.” It was reported that he got into the mindset by stalking deer to feel “the emotional turmoil and the sense of guilt” that came with the hunt.

You can also get a look at the new poster below, which proudly displays its R-rating in red.

A New Era of Leadership and Vision

Unitronix is positioning itself at the forefront of the digital revolution, offering investors a unique opportunity to engage in pioneering investments that promise to redefine the future of finance. This includes opportunities in blockchain technology, digital currencies, DeFi, payment solutions, data analytics, and other innovative business models within the crypto space.

Our objective is to leverage the tremendous growth potential of this dynamic industry, paving the way for new avenues of value creation and expansion. As we continuously seek out new investments, our primary focus remains on enhancing shareholder value and ensuring sustainable long-term growth. By staying at the cutting edge of technological advancements and industry trends, Unitronix is committed to realizing its strategic vision and solidifying its position in this transformative space.

The company has made a strategic pivot toward the cryptocurrency ecosystem and other cutting-edge sectors within the digital economy. "UTRX is poised to capitalize on the exponential growth opportunities within the cryptocurrency sector," said CEO Kenneth Williams. "Our strategy is to build a robust portfolio that spans key areas such as blockchain technology, DeFi solutions, payment systems, and data analytics. We are dedicated to driving shareholder value through investments that capture the transformative potential of these emerging technologies."

New Horizon for Investors

Unitronix's strategy is rooted in the belief that the cryptocurrency and blockchain industries represent one of the most significant opportunities for growth and innovation in the 21st century. By staying at the forefront of these advancements, UTRX is not only securing its future but also offering investors a unique chance to be part of a transformative movement.

"We are excited about the road ahead," said CEO Kenneth Williams. "UTRX is ready to lead in the crypto revolution, and we believe our strategic vision will deliver unparalleled value to our shareholders, positioning us as a key player in this rapidly growing industry."

Looking Ahead: An Exciting Future for Unitronix and Its Shareholders

As Unitronix embarks on this thrilling journey into the cryptocurrency space, we are poised for a series of groundbreaking announcements that will reveal the full scope of our strategic initiatives. With our unwavering commitment to innovation and growth, we are on the brink of unveiling new ventures and opportunities that will not only enhance our portfolio but also redefine what is possible in the digital economy.

Our shareholders can anticipate the next chapter in our story, where we will share more details on upcoming investments, partnerships, the launch of our website, and more. Each step we take will demonstrate our dedication to driving unparalleled value and leading the way in the crypto revolution.

Stay tuned for our next press release, where we will announce the next wave of strategic moves designed to accelerate our growth and solidify our position in the cryptocurrency and blockchain sectors. The future is bright, and we invite our shareholders to join us on this exhilarating path toward unprecedented success.

About Unitronix Corporation

Unitronix Corp. (OTC: UTRX) is a forward-thinking organization dedicated on creating value through strategic investments in the rapidly evolving cryptocurrency ecosystem by actively exploring opportunities across blockchain technology, digital currencies, decentralized finance (DeFi), payment solutions, data analytics, and other innovative business models that are shaping the future of this sector. The company aims to create long-term value for its shareholders by staying at the forefront of technological and market developments.

Contact Information
525 Route 73 North STE 104Marlton, NJ 08053+1 848-202-4899[email protected]https://www.unitronix.aihttps://x.com/utrxcorp

Forward-Looking Statements

Safe Harbour Statement - In addition to historical information, this press release may contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include the intent, belief, or expectations of the Company and members of its management team with respect to the Company's future business operations and the assumptions upon which such statements are based. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to, failure to complete anticipated sales under negotiations, lack of revenue growth, client discontinuances, failure to realize improvements in performance, efficiency and profitability, and adverse developments with respect to litigation or increased litigation costs, the operation or performance of the Company's business units or the market price of its common stock. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated within this press release can also be found on the Company's website. The Company disclaims any responsibility to update any forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Unitronix Corp.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the long-awaited sequel to director Tim Burton’s 1988 classic Beetlejuice (watch it HERE), is set to reach theatres on September 6th – and Michael Keaton, who reprises the role of the Ghost with the Most named in the title, has told Total Film that he feels this sequel has a stronger story than its predecessor!

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was in development hell for decades before it finally got made. In 1990, Jonathan Gems was hired to write a sequel that was going to be titled Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian. Burton considered having Daniel Waters rewrite that script, Pamela Norris did rewrite it, and Warner Bros. offered Kevin Smith the chance to do another rewrite. He turned it down. Seth Grahame-Smith was hired to write and produce a new version of a sequel in 2011. Mike Vukadinovich was brought on to rewrite his script in 2017.

Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, co-creators and co-showrunners of Wednesday, have written the screenplay for Beetlejuice 2 that was actually filmed. Brad Pitt’s Plan B is producing the sequel, which filmed in London before moving to Vermont and Massachusetts.

Here’s the official synopsis: Beetlejuice is back! After an unexpected family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened. With trouble brewing in both realms, it’s only a matter of time until someone says Beetlejuice’s name three times and the mischievous demon returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.

As mentioned, Michael Keaton is back as Beetlejuice and is joined in the cast by Winona Ryder, reprising the role of Lydia Deetz (now the host of a TV series called Ghost House with Lydia Deetz); Catherine O’Hara, back as Lydia’s stepmother Delia; Jenna Ortega as Lydia’s daughter Astrid, Justin Theroux as Lydia’s fiancé Rory,  Monica Bellucci as Beetlejuice’s wife, and Willem Dafoe as a law enforcement officer in the afterlife. Arthur Conti is also in there, in an unspecified role. 

Keaton told Total Film that Beetlejuice Beetlejuice has a stronger story than the first movie had and “there’s more of a connection for the audience in terms of the other characters. There’s things in here that I wasn’t ready for, that are beyond delightful. Instead of saying, ‘I can’t wait until this thing shows up,’ or, ‘I just want this thing called Beetlejuice to go nuts.’“

Ryder added, “I feel very confident that it will match and exceed expectations. It certainly did mine, and mine are way up there. I literally think every generation can find something in it that they’ll really appreciate.“

Comparing Beetlejuice Beetlejuice to Willy Wonka’s psychedelic boat ride (in the 1971 film, not Burton’s Wonka movie), Theroux said, “This movie takes some very big swings. There’s the phantasmagoria and it feels slightly out of control and unhinged. It has that vibe to it. It’s clear this movie was not made by taking polls from audiences, and studio notes, and executives going, ‘Well, what’s the most satisfying act three?’ This is 100% like someone opening the front of Tim Burton’s head, and letting it dump out onto the screen. It’s a fabulous ride for exactly that reason.“

Are you looking forward to Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, and are you glad to hear Michael Keaton hyping the story? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

GENEVA, Aug. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Copper.co, a leader in digital asset custody, collateral management and prime services, has added custody and staking support for MINA, the native currency of Mina Protocol, a next-gen zero knowledge (ZK) blockchain.

This integration expands options for institutional clientele to participate in the Mina community. Institutional users of Copper's infrastructure benefit from a secure solution for managing their digital assets and a reliable staking service to accrue rewards, encouraging broader adoption of zero knowledge technology.

Kurt Hemecker, CEO of the Mina Foundation, said, "This strategic collaboration is aimed at accelerating the growth of zero knowledge technology with increased liquidity from institutions to help secure the Mina network. The addition of Copper's custody solution gives professional and institutional entities more options to diversify their crypto participation with MINA. We hope that it will also raise awareness of institutional use cases for ZK technology, such as zk-KYC credentials that help address compliance without sacrificing user privacy." 

Mina Protocol uses advanced cryptography and recursive zero knowledge proofs to design a succinct blockchain that is scalable, secure and accessible from any device. This year Mina became the first ZK Layer 1 blockchain to enable the development and deployment of zero knowledge applications (zkApps) on mainnet.

With a focus on custody and collateral management, Copper has built the standard for institutional digital asset infrastructure. Central to Copper's multi-award-winning technology is ClearLoop, which enables clients to manage collateral and settle trades in near real-time across multiple exchanges, while mitigating counterparty risk and increasing capital efficiency.

Dmitry Tokarev, CEO and Co-Founder of Copper, added, "Now is a pivotal moment for institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies. Following the Ethereum ETF approval this year, we are witnessing increased interest for reliable tools to gain exposure in this space. The integration with Mina Protocol represents another step forward in advancing opportunities for institutional adoption."

Interested parties can find more information about this collaboration at https://copper.co/products/digital-asset-custody.

About Mina Protocol

Mina Protocol is a next-gen zero knowledge (ZK) blockchain. Rather than apply brute computing force, Mina uses advanced cryptography and recursivezk-SNARKs to design an entire blockchain that is fixed at a few kilobytes, the size of a couple tweets. Lightweight and accessible, Mina enables efficient implementation and easy programmability of zero knowledge applications (zkApps). With Mina's enhanced privacy features and off-chain execution model, developers can build novel applications that bridge the real world and crypto— bringing us closer to the secure, democratic future we all deserve.

For more information, please visit: https://minaprotocol.com

About Mina Foundation

Mina Foundation supports the Mina Protocol and its ecosystem. The Foundation aims to advance the goal of creating a secure web3 with zero knowledge proofs— ushering in a new era of private and scalable applications— by issuing grants, fostering community growth, and championing Mina in the wider world.

For more information, please visit: https://www.minafoundation.com

About Copper

Since being founded in 2018, Copper has been building the standard for institutional digital asset infrastructure with a focus on custody and collateral management.

Underpinned by multi-award-winning technology, Copper has built a comprehensive and secure suite of products and services required to safely custody and trade digital assets. At the core of Copper's infrastructure is ClearLoop, which enables clients to manage collateral and settle trades across multiple exchanges, while mitigating counterparty risk and increasing capital efficiency. 

For more information, please visit: www.copper.co
LinkedIn: Copper.co Twitter: @CopperHQ 

SOURCE Mina Foundation

Accompanied by compellingshort-form videos and themessage, "Tell your friends, they're still early! Web3 is still in the year 2001," the campaign draws a parallel between the number of crypto users today and the number of internet users back in 2001, roughly 560 million.

Backed by the powerful insight, "Did you know there are the same number of crypto users today as there were internet users in 2001?", Trust Wallet emphasizes that, just as the internet (Web1 and Web2) transformed the world, Web3 is poised for a similar evolution, offering vast opportunities for those who get involved now.

Web2 describes the second stage of the Internet, where user-generated content, social media and usability for end-users peaked, compared to its first incarnation, Web1 - which was dominated by static websites. Web3 describes the next iteration of the internet, one that is built on blockchain technology and controlled by its users. In summary, Web3 is the idea of a new, decentralized internet built on the blockchain.

"The Year 2001 campaign is about empowering users to recognize the immense potential of Web3 and encouraging them to take part in this revolution," said Sami Waittinen, Head of Marketing at Trust Wallet. "We want to demystify the technology and show that there's still time to be early adopters."

"In this awareness campaign, our goal is to highlight the current state of Web3, emphasizing its growth and dispelling the myth that people are late to the game. In reality, Web3 is still in its infancy." he added.

The social education campaign which consists of five short-form videos, targets all audiences who are curious about crypto and blockchain technology, with a core focus on the 18-35 demographic. As a result, the videos will be amplified on Trust Wallet's TikTok account - with four more videos, ranging fromcomedic skits to street interviews being launched over the next few days.

For more information and to watch the campaign videos, visit Trust Wallet's official channels:

Tiktok:https://www.tiktok.com/@trustwalletweb3
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/trustwallet Instagram:https://instagram.com/trustwallet Facebook:https://facebook.com/trustwalletapp

About Trust Wallet

Trust Wallet is the secure, self-custody Web3 wallet and gateway for people who want to fully own, control, and leverage the power of their digital assets. From beginners to experienced users, Trust Wallet makes it easier, safer, and convenient for millions of people around the world to experience Web3, access dApps securely, store and manage their crypto and NFTs, as well as buy, sell, and stake crypto to earn rewards — all in one place and without limits.

With support for 10+ million digital assets across 120+ blockchains, more than 1 million supported swap pairs, and native staking options on 20+ chains, Trust Wallet is a true multi-chain wallet, enabling users to access the Web3 world safely and conveniently.

Since 2017, Trust Wallet's mission has been to simplify and democratize crypto, ensuring accessibility for everyone. By building the foundations for the future of the free web, Trust Wallet aims to give everyone the freedom to truly own their digital assets.

SOURCE Trust Wallet

Paul Walter Hauser is one of the busiest actors in Hollywood, and one of his many (and I mean many) upcoming projects is a Chris Farley biopic. Stepping into the shoes of the iconic comedian is no small task, but Hauser told Variety that he’s been “practicing to play Chris Farley my entire life.“

Hauser has played a handful of real-life people throughout his career, including Shawn Eckhardt in I, Tonya, Richard Jewell in Richard Jewell, and Larry Hall in Black Bird, but Farley is by far the most well-known, which makes Hauser’s task more difficult.

“Everybody’s going to judge the crap out of the movie and have very passionate, hard-line opinions. I’m not worried about playing Chris because I know I’m going to approach it with a lot of love and effort,” Hauser said. “At the end of the day, all you can do is work hard and try your best to love the character and the project as much as possible. To me, that doesn’t seem like much of a hurdle with Chris. I adore him. I want to honor him. I want people to leave the theater, having laughed and cried together.“

Josh Gad will direct the Chris Farley biopic, which is based on the New York Times best-selling biography The Chris Farley Show: A Biography in Three Acts by Tom Farley Jr. and Tanner Colby. The script is by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber.

Now, about those many projects Hauser is involved in. The actor can currently be heard voicing Embarrassment in Pixar’s Inside Out 2 and will next be seen starring alongside Matt Damon, Casey Affleck, and Hong Chau in The Instigators, a heist thriller directed by Doug Liman. The film will hit theaters on August 2nd before streaming on Apple TV+ on August 9th. He’s also set to appear in The Naked Gun reboot with Liam Neeson and will star in Press Your Luck, which depicts the ’84 cheating scandal orchestrated by Michael Larson. He will also star alongside Mark Wahlberg in Peter Farrelly’s action comedy Balls Up and will appear in Marvel’s long-awaited Fantastic Four movie.