Today gambling platforms offer users a variety of options, from blockchain casinos to virtual reality games. Also, among the main trends in online gambling are live casinos with real dealers. Live casino games with live dealers are an online casino movement. This was one of the last developments in 2010 and has developed quickly ever since. This sector is more advanced than many other casino sports, and the presence of a live dealer casino and real physical casino gives the player special advantages. Live casino UK and in other countries has become quite popular, especially in the last 12 months as people have looked for alternatives to visiting physical casinos due to the pandemic, and so it is important to lay out the advantages that such casinos offer which makes them so attractive for gambling fans.

Undeniably, Real-Time Gaming (RTG) is probably one of the most significant benefits of live dealer casinos. Unlike regular land-based casinos that require your physical presence to play, live casinos allow you to experience almost the same fun and action from the comforts of your home. What’s more? You get to watch every move in real-time on your computer or mobile device. You also have the opportunity to observe and follow the game without any restrictions whatsoever, another huge positive.

Live casinos have never been any better thanks to advanced technology. Live streaming has improved the performance of the whole gaming process. Additionally, players are allowed to keep track of events during the gameplay. This means, after placing your bets, you can easily trace the ball on the roulette table or the card during a live blackjack game. This technology ensures a more transparent gaming process devoid of any doubts. There is nothing artificial about a live casino experience and by being able to see the action unfolding in front of your very own eyes, you can be sure that you can trust the cards you are being dealt. The fact that you can see the faces of the professional dealers will also aid in the overall feeling of security when playing online. Gone are the days when you question whether or not the odds are stacked against you.

Although live game studios have emerged quite recently, broadcast-quality has improved dramatically over the years. The operators use the equipment for shooting with the highest resolution. Different cameras provide different viewing angles: focus on the table, on the dealer’s face or hands, on the information fields. Not so long ago, games with elements of slow motion and replays appeared: a separate camera in slow motion shows how the live dealer roulette wheel or the wheel of fortune stops, how the dealer’s hands open the cards. This maximum detail gives great immersion in the game.

Players also have the opportunity to chat and discuss with the dealer and fellow participants in the game. By doing so, players can establish personal bonds and connections during a live casino game. It is rare to be able to talk with the dealers, but it is still helpful to speak with other staff.

“Back to the Future”

Marty’s Pick-up Truck/Back to the Future II Hoverboard Chase

Playmobil

Our Score 4 out of 5 stars

Playmobil expand on their “Back to the Future” line with the addition of two brand new pieces. “Marty’s Pick-up Truck” and the “Hoverboard Chase” playset are the latest elements from the film franchise to receive the Playmobil treatment allowing both toy and film fans to further recreate classic scenes from the iconic movie franchise right in their very own home.

First up is “Marty’s Pick-up Truck”. If you remember this was the truck featured briefly at the end of Part I that Marty receives from his parents after returned to 1985 thanks to the help of Doc and the lighting strike which struck the Hill Valley Clock in 1955. Included with the all black pick-up truck which features four rubber, oversized tires, light bar and tow hitch are three new figures which coincide with the film scene. You get Marty, Jennifer Parker outfitted as they are in the final scene of the first film along with Biff Tannen who is dressed in a green track suite and comes complete with window spray and a buffing towel. This figure really made us laugh and was certainly a favorite. Just like the previously released DeLorean and Clocktower Advent Calendar pieces no details were spared as Marty’s truck features its own “McFly85” vanity plates and all three figures feature detailed, screen accurate costuming which from a collector standpoint is really nice to see.

Next up we checked out the first entry from the futuristic “Back to the Future Part II”. The “Hoverboard Chase” playset features one of the films most popular scenes as we see Marty get a custom to what skateboarding is like in 2015 when he is chased by Griff Tannen through a futuristic Hill Valley. Included in the set are four screen accurate figures (Marty, Griff, Dr. Brown and Police Officer) along with two hover boards and a police motorcycle which transforms to a hover cycle. Also included is the pond/town square area where this epic scene takes place. Again, no detail was missed as the pond and walk area feature multicolored flowers, signage featuring Mayor Goldie Wilson and the comedic “Jaws 19” movie sign. Playmobil doesn’t stop there! For those who purchased the previously DeLorean you get a couple upgrades in the way of the Mr. Fusion attachment and a replacement cover for the hook holder. My son really enjoyed these additions as not only did it put a fresh spin on an older toy, but it now looked just like the one in the film and, best of all he didn’t have to worry about how he was going his next batch of plutonium.

Playmobil continues to make great products that are enjoyable for children and adults of all ages and these two additions to the “Back to the Future” line is no exception. Both products offer tons of features and details which translate into hours of imagination and play. Though the updated Marty and Doc figures are great, we have already seen a couple versions of these characters be released. I think it would have been better to have provided the updated wardrobe to use on characters you may already own allowing for the inclusion of other figures from the film like Marty’s parents, Mayor Goldie or Principal Strickland however that aside we still had lots of fun with these toys and we can’t wait to see what Playmobil has lined up for “Back to the Future III”.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is an online game that creates a Wild West aura. The players here lead a life full of crime to climb their way up and in the process kill anyone that comes in their way. The online game gives the players a plethora of options to customize their appearance. They can also interact with people from the real world. The players can team up with their friends and go on a mission to collect weapons or money. The game is set in the fictional Southern United States and Midwestern. Read through these Red Dead Redemption 2 hacks to play the online game.

The cores

There are three core things to always keep in mind – your stamina, health, and the dead eye. The HUD represented by a circle with a white outline shows the amount of each core that you have left. See a drop in the health meter when you get shot. Your stamina falls when you hoof up on a mountain. See your dead eye depleting when you slow down for a long period. When the core is low the meter shows a red. So pay attention because your core affects the stat regeneration and an empty core slows down regeneration.

Using the dead eye

The dead eye is the mechanic to slow down the time and let you mark your enemies and kill them in succession. Use this core strategically. You may wish to tag various targets for shorts or aim and shoot your rivals manually. The dead eye also works when you are on horseback. Many missions have chasing scenes and riding and aiming both at the same time can be a task. This is where the dead eye can come to aid.

Caring and bonding with your horse

Your horse stands true to you through the game. Early on in the game, you go on a mission where you buy your new horse. Give it a cute name. In Red Dead Redemption 2, it matters how you treat your animal friend. Your horse also has a healthy and stamina core. If you let your horse take a lot of shots or damage then it can die. Revivers work here, which though pricey comes to your rescue.

Making money and XP

Money is important and to earn money all that you need to do is to use the D-pad to select the story mission on call. It opens up the menu Free roam. You get paired with a random player. The rewards are small in the beginning but grow when you level up.

The players need to complete the mission to work their way up. Doing the same mission over and over again does not earn anything so always try out something new to earn money. Your performance in the mission is vital. The better you perform the more you earn. The missions are random. Story mission help to earn the XP, unlock future mission and new weapons and also earn high rewards. The mission can also be played along with friends so it pays to get a friend group and work on the mission together.

Be prepared with your firefights

You cannot afford to take a lot of damage when you play this game. Stay behind the cover and be planned about where you should head next. Stay still when you pull the shots especially when you are shooting at a long range. Do not fire aimlessly as it will just make you miss and waste your ammunition. Shoot only with intent.

It takes time to loot but do not avoid it

You can kill a lawman, a bandit, or an innocent and can loot from them. People may not have a lot of cash but you definitely may be able to find some tonics or other things to boost stamina and health. Looting lets you save trips to the general store. Looting takes time and this is also when you are highly vulnerable. So stay cautious when you loot but do not forget to loot.

Learn the settings and controls

If you can personalize the settings, then half the task is done. You can get into the settings to turn off the aim assist and alter its sensitivity. Red Dead Redemption 2 also does not want you to sprint. You can also choose to play in the first person when you are on foot and in the third person when you are riding. This is possible too. The setting will automatically switch you into the third person mode when you jump on the horse. Work on the settings and change them to your liking before you are prepared to take over the mission.

Conclusion

With inspiring storylines and the state of the art graphics, Red Dead Redemption 2 does not fail to engross the players for long. You may be tempted to cut through the mission as soon as possible. However, take time, go slow and let everything sink in before you get aggressive. There is enough time and room for every player to grow and play the game.

Many people these days turn to CBD products for a wide range of reasons, and there are lots of different products that they can choose from. There are also different types of CBD products such as broad-spectrum and full-spectrum options. With so many choices available, it has become easy to find the perfect product to enjoy the maximum benefit and get help with everything from sleep quality to reducing anxiety and improving mood.

A lot of people decide to choose products such as full spectrum CBD oil, and this is because it offers a host of benefits when you purchase from a reputable provider. As the name suggests, full spectrum CBD products contain the full spectrum of active ingredients from the plant, which means you benefit from a more effective product and an enhanced experience. In this article, we will look at some of the top reasons to choose full spectrum CBD.

Some of the Key Reasons to Choose Full Spectrum

There are many reasons why people decide to choose full spectrum CBD products, and they have become hugely popular over recent years. Some of the reasons to go for this option are:

More Active Ingredients

One of the things you need to remember with full spectrum products is that they contain all the active ingredients from the plant, and this is one of the reasons why people choose these products. When all active ingredients are contained in the product, you can look forward to greater benefits and a more effective product.

Enhanced Effects and Benefits

Another of the benefits of using full spectrum products is the fact that the full spectrum of active ingredients means enhanced effects and greater benefits. This is something that many people are keen to enjoy, and this is why they decide to choose full spectrum rather than broad spectrum CBD products.

Thoroughly Tested for Compliance

It is also worth noting that when you purchase from a reputable supplier, full spectrum CBD products are thoroughly tested for compliance and safety. So, although they contain THC for enhanced benefits and effects, third-party testing ensures that the levels are in line with legal regulations and that the products are safe, effective, and compliant.

Purchase from a Reputable Provider

In order to enjoy the full benefits of these CBD products, you should ensure you do your research and purchase from a reputable provider. This means greater peace of mind for you, and it means you can look forward to the benefits of higher-quality products that have been properly tested. You can look at consumer reviews from other people to get a better idea of the provider as well as the product you are considering purchasing. This will make it easier for you to make the right decision. Finding the right provider also means you get to benefit from competitive pricing and plenty of choices.

Once you have found the ideal full spectrum product for your needs, you can look forward to a host of benefits. 

Living in a Washington DC home that has a crawl space can be a challenge for many people, as they do not have the time, energy, or inclination to spend a lot of time looking after this space beneath the home. However, if this space is not looked after, it can cause all manner of problems around your main home, and this can take up even more of your time and energy not to mention your money.

This is why it is important that you treat the condition and protection of your crawl space as a priority, and that you get repairs carried out swiftly by a crawl space repair expert in Washington DC. By making sure your crawl space is looked after and properly maintained, there are many issues and problems you can avoid in your main home. In this article, we will look at why crawl space repairs are such a priority.

Some Reasons Behind the Importance of These Repairs

There are many reasons why these repairs are so important, and this is why you need to ensure you get a professional out to take a look. Some of the reasons you need to prioritize on crawl space issues are:

Avoiding Huge Problems at Your Home

One of the things you can do by getting this sort of repair work carried out is to avoid huge problems arising at home. When your crawl space is in bad shape and in a state of disrepair, it can result in many stressful, costly, and even hazardous problems around your home. Some of these includes problems with pests taking over your home where they can cause damage and spread disease. It can also lead to dampness and mold around your home as well as damage to the wooden supports of your property.

Keeping Costs Down

Another of the things you can do when you have crawl space repairs carried out is to keep costs down when it comes to maintaining your property. Dealing with problems such as damp, mold, pests, and related issues can cost you a huge amount of money, and this could come to far more than the cost of getting your crawl space protected and repaired so that you can prevent the problem. So, if you want to ensure your finances are more protected and that you do not have to spend a fortune on repairs that could have been avoided, prioritizing crawl space repairs is vital.

Maintaining Good Health and Living Conditions

By making sure you get crawl space repairs carried out, you can help to maintain good health and living conditions at your home. The problems that can arise from crawl space problems can have a serious impact on your living conditions, and this can then have a negative effect on health. By getting crawl space issues sorted out, you can more easily look after your health and living conditions at your home.

These are some of the reasons you need to prioritize these types of repairs. 

If you are into gaming and love movies, you must enjoy watching casinos on the silver screen. In this article, we have curated a list of films that have the best gambling moves. Most games such as poker and blackjack, among other card games, have been depicted in these films in an entertaining fashion.

Casino (1995)

“In Vegas, everybody’s gotta watch everybody else.” – Ace Rothstein.

This Martin Scorsese film is the most famous casino movie of all time. It’s exemplary of the mob-controlled casino gaming of Vegas. It stars Robert De Niro as Ace and Sharon Stone as a charming singer. It shows Sin City’s ties to the mafia back in the ‘70s. Ace is portrayed as a super-intelligent gangster guy running a casino. In the seedy world of 70’s Vegas, he prefers doing things the right way. It’s an intricate tale of greed and deception that gradually transforms Sin City into today’s Vegas.

Casino Royale (2006)

This one is for the Ian Fleming fans! Starring Daniel Craig as James Bond and Judi Dench as “M” the boss of MI6, Casino Royale is about a poker game. M sends Bond to Monte Carlo to win a poker game against Le Chiffre, who funds terrorists. It’s amazing to watch the scene when Bond takes down Le Chiffre in the all-or-nothing match.

The Sting (1973)

“If I didn’t know you better, I’d swear you had some class!” Louise Coleman.

If you love card games and horse racing, you can’t miss out on this award-winning fun film by George Roy Hill. In the movie, two grifters played by Robert Redford and Paul Newman con a crime lord. The famous train scene involving the main characters in a classic poker game, is a delight to watch. Paul Newman and Robert Shaw are seen cheating their way through the game in a hilarious way. It’s a lightweight comedy film loved by poker fans everywhere.

The Cincinnati Kid (1965)  

“Making the wrong move at the right time.” – Lancey Howard.

The Cincinnati Kid by Norman Jewison is about a high-stakes poker match between the protagonist, who’s an amateur, and a legendary champion. The Kid who’s learning the ropes wins a few games and begins to get cocky. When pitted against the master player, he realizes that he’s not as great as he thinks. But who wins in the finale? Watch the film to find out more.

California Split (1974)

“Everybody’s named Barbara.” – Bill Denny.

It is a comedy-drama film about a casual pro gambler who befriends an experienced one. Together, both of the friends delve deeper into the shady world of gambling. The stakes keep getting higher, and they need to devise strategies to keep winning; else, they risk losing a lot. The film sheds light on people in this industry and some oddballs.

Rounders (1998)

“Listen, here’s the thing. If you can’t spot the sucker in your first half-hour at the table, then you ARE the sucker.” – Mike McDermott.

Directed by John Dahl, this film has garnered a bit of a cult status among poker fans. This film is a must-watch if you’re a fan of the Cadillac of Poker, also known as no-limit Texas Hold ‘Em. Matt Damon plays the role of a young gambler who wants to reform his life and start as a lawyer. But to help his friend pay off a massive debt, he gets involved in a high-stakes No-Limit Texas Hold ‘Em game, much like the ones you can find at your favourite casino website.

The Hustler (1961)

“They called him “Fast Eddie“… He was a winner… He was a loser… He was a hustler.”

This film is about The Fast Eddie, who’s a small-time pool player and hustler. He plays against a champion, “Minnesota Fats”, in a high-stakes game. When Eddie loses in the game, it knocks his confidence. He then joins the ruthless manager Gordon to learn the ropes and enters into a re-match with the Fats.

21 (2008)

This film is based on the real-life story of MIT students. Their professor trains them to count blackjack cards. Ben, a brilliant student, joins four other students led by their unorthodox Math professor. Ben needs money to pay his tuition fees, and thus, he goes to Vegas on weekend trips with his group. They make thousands of dollars, which leads to Ben getting greedy to earn more. Ben’s corruption and his changed behavior ultimately put the group on the security’s radar. The entire flick leading the climax is entertaining.

The Gambler (1974)

“Forty-four thousand dollars, Axel. It ain’t just numbers.” – Hips.

This film is about a professor who’s addicted to gambling. He loses all of his money in gambling but doesn’t give up. He borrows money from his girlfriend and mother and plunges deep into gaming, which affects his mental health. He even borrows from loan sharks. Due to his addiction, his mother and his girlfriend quit on him, and the gang chases him. That’s when he decides to win big in the game to pay off the debt and restore his lost dignity. What happens next is worth watching!

Ocean’s Eleven (2001)

“Because the house always wins. Play long enough, you never change the stakes, the house takes you. Unless, when that perfect hand comes along, you bet big, and then you take the house.” – Danny Ocean.

 This film is about the robbery of three Las Vegas casinos. Danny Ocean, played by George Clooney, wants to pull the greatest heist in history. To accomplish that, he makes a group of eleven people, each with a particular skill to assist in the mission. Their target is to get in and steal $150 million without getting caught.

Honourable Mentions

We hope you enjoyed this list of movies. Some other gaming movies worth checking out are High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story (2003), The Cooler (2003), Maverick (1994), Lucky You (2007), among many others.

Any movie fanatic that has a taste for the casino and gambling life will find that some of the greatest cinematic moments are found in this list.

If we look at the history of gaming, we can always trace some of the generation’s most popular games to a few breakthrough titles. In the case of the RPG-shooter genre, we obviously have the Fallout series kicking things off, but years later in 2009, we would get Borderlands. The now-classic series from Gearbox Software and 2K Games mixed the foundations from Fallout, added in the frantic, fast-paced gameplay from Doom, and Duke Nukem(from whom it got its over-the-top humor) threw it in a blender and gifted gamers Borderlands.

Over a decade has passed since the beginning of the series, and in September 2019 we received the series latest entry with Borderlands 3. This poses the question, did ten years of craft, improvement, and hard work create the best Borderlands game to date? Critical reception was generally positive, while fans were divided about what they received, both sides have fair points, so let’s talk about them a little.

Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger?

Borderlands 3 is the most ambitious project we’ve seen from Gearbox Software yet, it is the longest entry on the series, and it has a very large variety of guns and environments. For comparison, its main campaign is longer than the original title by thirteen hours and longer than Borderlands 2 by five hours, which is already more bang-for-your-buck without counting side-quests, extra-content, and DLC.

Technically speaking Borderlands 3 is superior to its former titles, in gameplay, visuals, creativity, and level design. There’s certainly an argument to be made that some effects were better looking on Borderlands 2, but overall Borderlands 3 looks, and more importantly, feels superior. Characters look sharp and more detailed, gunfights are smoothers, guns themselves are outlandish and creative, and finally, the latest entry has multiple planets, which puts level-design on a category of its own, giving players new places to explore keeps the novelty of the game alive for longer.

Feeling entertained is surely one of the game’s strongest suits, with all that was mentioned above, in addition to unique boss fights, multiple characters, diverse action skills, and a fairly balanced AI, Borderlands 3 would be a straight-forward choice for the best game of the series, and yet it is unclear where fandom lies on the debate. One thing is certain shooting and looting is at their best in Borderlands 3, there’s no debate about it. So are we ready to declare it the best of the series? Not quite yet.

Same, But Different, But Still The Same

For all its technical prowess, creativity, unique missions, variety of quests, and generally speaking ability to create enjoyment, Borderlands 3 becomes a victim of its own success and the aging of its own fans. To summarize the arguments for why it isn’t the best derive from the fact that the game is stuck in time, while its fans aged and grew older. Borderlands found success by looking, feeling, and playing in a unique manner, its adventurous, funny, and fast-paced style helped pave the way for titles like Destiny, and The Division.

Borderlands 3 still boasts the same features it always did, it feels like more of the same, which might please some fans but dissuade others from seeing it as the best in the series. Naturally, a game that doesn’t offer much in the ways of new mechanics, and instead focuses on perfecting the good parts, might seem lazy and uninspired, but here we see a good balance between originality and improvements.

Change has been a divisive subject in the gaming community, games have been criticized for straying too far from the original content and mechanics countless times. The opposite is true as well, games like Borderlands 3, are criticized for their complacency and not evolving, there is a very fine line between progress and abandoning what makes your game unique.

Here we face the first dividing question, is an improved version of an older title, a better game, or not? Personally, I agree that games must evolve while delivering new mechanics, quests, fights, and combat to keep returning players, nonetheless perfecting tried and true fan favorite core concepts of your game is also a step towards a better title. Borderlands 3 delivers more of the same, yes, but it’s the best version of itself, and it also provides enough original content and concepts to appease older fans.

When We Were Young

The second argument to be made against Borderlands 3, is that the storyline and campaign, in general, is worse than earlier titles. This comes mainly from the fact that characters still retain their childish teenager charm, quirkiness, over-sexualized jokes, and over-the-top humor. There really isn’t much to be said about this, except for the fact that it is still the same type of story, characters, and humor that we fell in love decades ago. It’s painfully obvious that your late 20’s, self, won’t find sex jokes as amusing as yourself in your late teens, the game didn’t change you did.

Looking at your favorite things and outgrowing them can be painful, but we need to be able to see that maybe that’s not the game’s fault, they still have the same target demographic as they always did. In the spirit of a fair analysis, even taking into consideration that original fans are older and expected the game to grow with them, I can safely say that Borderlands 3, is NOT, the best written out of the series. A very safe bet would be to say that Borderlands 2, was the most enjoyable story-wise, but honestly, the best Borderlands story came from Telltale Games, in the form of Tales from the Borderlands.

Final Answer

Borderlands 3, is the best and worst entry of the series. It perfects everything that built its success, provides endless hours of fun, great performance, amazing character designs, beautiful and extremely big level designs, and superb gunfights. What is arguably the best shooting experience of all the RPG-shooters out there, is a fact that can’t be understated, this game excels on delivering on its core mechanics: shooting and looting. Ultimately, it falls short on story-telling, making it the least creative and safest game of the series.

A game that has over eighty hours of content, the largest map from any of the Borderlands games, an insane number of quests, and countless guns can seem daunting to tackle and experience at its fullest. We all know that the grind can be very tedious and boring sometimes if you need help getting the best unlockable, we’ve got you covered right here.

Cooking tools are to a chef what guitar accessories are to every guitarist. Ted’s List believes you just can’t not have them if you want to become a successful guitar player.

So, after securing that must-have amplifier that puts life into your practice sessions, what else do you need to get? Not much, really. Since once you get this step out of the way, there is pretty much nothing stopping you from getting started.

That said, you wouldn’t want to get started in a less-than-ideal state. That means learning about the items that every beginner needs and the ones they might need somewhere along the way.

Seven Things You Should Have as a Guitarist

Here are a few tools that should get you through your guitar-learning journey relatively challenge-free.

Tuner

Tuning your guitar can be a bit tricky when you first start out. That’s because you might not have the “feel” required to tune it accurately, which could result in sounds your audience wasn’t meant to hear.

A surefire way to avoid this disaster is by using a tuner. This little device not only helps tune with precision but also guides you towards the process of manual tuning—something all guitar players must master.

Guitar Strap

Guitars are the prized possession of almost every guitarist. That means you want to exhaust all the ways to protect it as best you can. One of those ways happens to be placing a guitar strap on your instrument. In this way, you can go all out playing on stage without worrying about your guitar falling off.

Aside from providing stability, straps also keep your arms and shoulders from straining after playing for long periods. They are made up of different materials and come in different designs, but this shouldn’t be something beginners focus on. You just want to make sure you get a strap that allows you to practice long-term, period.

Guitar Picks

Picks vary in design, shape, and thickness. As a beginner, you want to secure a couple on the thinner variety, as they make strumming a lot easier. The thinner the pick is, the more it helps you get a feel for the chords and your instrument in general.

Although somewhere down the road, you might want to purchase medium-thickness picks for hitting individual notes. At the end of the day, your choice of picks depends on your specific playstyle.

Strings

Your guitar might already have strings, but for how long? The fact is, there really is no telling how long a set of strings can last when handled by a beginner. Hence, you want to keep at least two sets of extra strings on hand so that you won’t have to run to the store in case you break them.

If not because of your lack of attunement with your guitar, string breakage could be caused by wear and tear, tension, or age. So, beginner or not, it helps to have several sets of strings hanging around.

Of course, what would you even know to do with the strings if you have them? This calls for learning string installment through video tutorials and other online sources. You’ll realize it is worth going through this learning process, as it helps prevent delays in your practice sessions.

Guitar Bag or Case

We’ve previously mentioned protecting our guitars, right? Well, getting a high-quality guitar case or bag is another way to do it. Not only does this keep your guitar dirt- and smudge-free, but it also eases your instrument’s transport process.

If you aren’t looking for anything expensive, a soft bag should be good enough to protect your guitar and carry it to your gigs. Of course, the pricier bags allow you to brave through the elements with your guitar.

Capo

Your learning doesn’t end with basic chords, which is why you want to keep a capo on hand for playing more complex songs in a variety of keys. With this accessory, you can keep things from going beyond beginner-level technically when executing notes. You just place the capo on the fret and let it guide you through an advanced piece using positions you’re already familiar with.

Guitar Cable

Playing through an amp is the best, but it also calls for not prematurely beaming the tone through the speakers. For this, you need to call on a moderate-length guitar cable with reinforced ends to ensure a reliable connection.

Now, You Can Show Them What You’ve Got

Even with all these tools, it might still take time before you can show your audience what you got. However, the good thing about having these accessories is that your progress becomes a lot smoother. It also paves the way for learning different kinds of genres and coming up with a unique sound, which is really what being a guitar musician is all about.

There are billions of fascinating planets in the galaxy far, far away, but which one would make the best home?

The Star Wars universe is home to an incredible collection of planets. From the desert of Tatooine to the metropolis city of Coruscant, there are countless ways to live a life in the galaxy far, far away.

Of all the planets, though, which would provide the best place to live?

According to to research from Betway casino, we have complied a list of the planets and some pros and cons of living in each one.

BESPIN

Bespin is basically a giant ball of gas. The only thing keeping it hospitable is Cloud City. If you are wondering why it would be a good place to live is due to that fact that Lando Calrissian, the administrator, is the boss there and that dude definitely knows how to throw a party.

CORUSCANT

Coruscant is a bit more hoping that Bespin planet. Coruscant is entirely covered by a giant metropolis. It is also the home to the Jedi Council and the political centre of the galaxy. This is city life for sure 100%. If you are looking for the typical city life that this planet is where it is at.

There is a clear class system here on this planet though with over 1000 levels. So if your loaded with money it might be better for you than just the average worker, since the further down you go its like descending deeper and deeper into the pits of Hell.

ENDOR

Endor is the forest planet, which is also home to the Ewoks. Living here would be a nature lovers dream come true. It is blush with forest ands and trails. As long as you can get along with the little Ewoks, you will be happy here.

HOTH

I don’t know who would want to come to Hoth to be honest, which is a planet covered by snow and ice. Maybe if you were into winter sports, it would be nice otherwise outside of skiing, there is not much here to do. You also especially need to avoid the Wampas, who are very territorial.

NABOO

Naboo is likely one of the best planets in the Star Wars universe. It is the home of Queen Amidala, as well as Jar Jar Binks and the Gungans (which could be considered a problem if you hate Jar Jar like myself). The planet itself is full of culture and beautiful scenery. Honestly if Naboo is good enough for the Queen it is good enough for me to live.

As long as the Gungans don’t bother you too much, fun fact, Naboo was also the birthplace of the Emperor. As long as you can deal with those two facts, this planet might be the place to be if you can afford it that is.

TATOOINE

Tatooine is known best as being the home of Anakin and Luke Skywalker. When you think of Star Wars, this desert planet with two suns, is the first place that I think of. I think of the land as a farming community but everyone seems to earn their own way and I appreciate that.

Tatooine also has the cantinas, which can be a bit deadly if you don’t know how to work the crowds, but if you do it is the coolest of places to be.

ALDERAAN

Alderaan seems to be one of the most beautiful and desirable planets in the entire galaxy. It was also home of Princess Leia and the Organa family…that is until it was destroyed by the Death Star. Like Naboo, it was known for rolling hills, mountains, waterfalls. It was the planet that everyone wanted to live at, at least until it was blown up due to also being the unofficial home of the Rebel Alliance.

MUSTAFAR

Mustafar is a planet that no one wants to visit. It is comprised almost entirely of lava. It is also known as the planet where Anakin Skywaler was struck down by Obi-Wan Kenobi, setting up his new fate as Darth Vader. What is cool as hell is Darth Vader castle, which is located there but otherwise I couldn’t see a reason for visiting here.

DAGOBAH

Dagobah is a remote swamp planet where Yoda trained Luke Skywalker in the ways of the Force. Since it is a remote planet, there isn’t much population of places to live but if you are crafty like Yoda, you can make a hut and make it work in a very minimalist fashion.

There is no shortage of species though on Dagobah, some small and some big, so you got to pick your battles carefully. If you are looking for a smooth meditative place to get your force together and trained up this might be the place to go.

KASHYYYK

Last but not least is Kashyyyk, which is home to the Wookies. Kashyyyk is a jungle planet covered in giant trees. There are some beautiful beaches and treehouses for living it up and to relax at but there are some strange species here including giant slugs and spiders out there as well, so you better get some Wookies on your side to help keep you safe.

Frequently, I visit the casinos here in Tampa, FL for some retreat from the everyday hustle. Speaking of the hustle, you don’t need to even leave the house to get your casino fix. I am talking about “Willy Wonka Slots”, which is your lucky ticket to FREE authentic, casino-style slot machine games and the iconic cast of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory! The game can be downloaded to your phones or smart devices right at home. You spin to win amazing prizes in this scrumptious free slot game! You can create your very own garden of crazy Wonka creations in Sweet Candy Crops, the newest mini game.

Speaking of the new mini game, you are able to get a chance to earn seed packs, sugar boosts, and big rewards. You then carefully have choose which scrumptious crops will go into your customized garden. You sprinkle your crops with a sprinkle of sugar to give them an extra boost and then choose the perfect moment to harvest the crops and get your credits! It is addictive blast!

If you are a fan of the this 1971 musical film, then look no further. There are free slot machines with your favorite characters and settings from the film. You are able to take a tour of Wonka’s factory and with each level takes you further into the Chocolate Factory and your favorite characters’ stories!

There is also a ton of bonus slots and free spin opportunities. This slot machine game gives you the chance to win BIG with the Daily Bonus, Streak Bonus and VIP Bonus. You are able to bet big with millions of FREE CREDITS and dozens of bonuses, as well as being able to double down with free spins and sweet JACKPOT payouts.

Of course there are other great sites online as well that work to assist from the working hustle. Since many players these days, don’t want to make a big deposit before getting to know the casinos that is why $/€5 casinos like, 5 deposit casinos, are becoming very popular. A $/€5 deposit casino gives the players a chance to enjoy the most fun without tapping into those savings or overstretching their budget.

If all that isn’t enough to convince you there is also the ability to play both online or offline, wherever you go. You can send and receive Wonka Bar gifts between you and your friends when you connect through Facebook. And my personal favorite that you can sync your level of play across all your devices. So don’t wait get it now and start enjoying!

A car accident can be a devastating event, both mentally and psychologically. After getting involved in an accident, you may start to wonder how you will recover damages caused by the other person’s negligence. There are many car accident attorneys in the United States and you will need to be extra vigilant to select the best attorney. Your chances of getting a good settlement lie with a strong representation

Accidents in the United States happen quite frequently, and if you happen to be in one, you might need an attorney to represent you. Choosing a car accident attorney is very important. You want an attorney that will represent your best interests as you focus on getting better. There are many qualities of a good car accident lawyers, and during your initial contact, you can easily identify them:

Excellent Communication Skills

An attorney-client relationship is one that needs constant communication for it to prosper. If your attorney barely answers your calls or replies to your message, then there will be a break in communication. 

You want an attorney that will call you with updates about your claim. Attorneys are usually busy, but they always try to return calls they missed. 

Experience

When in the first meeting with the attorney, ask them about their experience. Before you leave their office, make sure you have confirmed they have worked on numerous car accident cases. They should also have experience in litigation because your case might have to go to trial. Some attorneys have websites with their track record; you can visit their website and see for yourself if they have an excellent winning record. 

Legal Fees

Many people believe attorneys are very expensive and will only visit them when they have nowhere else to go. Most attorneys are affordable, and many of them work on a contingency when it comes to car accident cases. 

Contingency means that your attorney will get paid if you get the compensation by deducting legal costs, including their fees. Do not worry about paying out of pocket before the attorney accepts your case, but make sure you discuss legal fees before you agree to hire them for your case. 

Good Negotiator

Insurance companies have a notoriety of offering meager compensations and playing hardball until the claimant accepts it. A good attorney will spot the low offer from a mile away and demand a better settlement. 

There will be some back and forth between your attorney and the insurance company; hence, having good negotiation skills will increase the chances of receiving the insurance company’s best settlement offers. 

Use Referrals

When looking for an attorney to represent you, one of the first things you may consider doing is asking your friends or relatives if they know an attorney who can help you. At times, a family member or friends might have had a car accident a few years back, and a good attorney helped them get good compensation. Visit all the recommended attorneys and select the attorney you think will best serve your interests. Personal recommendations are good because you get to hear their experience instead of reading a client’s testimonial on the attorney’s website. 

You can also check their personality; see how they interact with other people in the office. Your attorney should be a person you can get along with without any friction. You will spend a lot of time interacting with them, therefore do not choose someone with a horrible personality.

Online gambling has seen exponential growth all over the world. Ever since the imposition of physical lockdowns and social distancing, the online gambling sector has become very popular even among people living in Japan, where most gambling forms are prohibited.

According to the country’s law, a person caught gambling shall be subjected to a fine or a petty fine of not more than 500,000 Yen. There are blanket laws in place that ban almost all types of physical gambling. 

Even though gambling is illegal and there are no legal casinos in Japan, gambling is still a popular entertainment form. It is legal in Japan to place bets on sports such as Horse racing, bicycle racing, motorbike racing, soccer, and powerboat racing. It is legal to place bets on National lotteries too. 

However, as far as online gambling is concerned, there are no laws in place legalizing online gambling sites. Hence online gambling in Japan falls into the legal grey area.

Currently, there are no major cases or records available to the public regarding people being prosecuted for betting or playing games on online casinos in Japan. Online gambling and online casinos in Japan are not covered under the Casino Acts, and as a result, there are no clear-cut regulations imposed on them. 

However, claims of online gambling being legalized in Japan have been dismissed by the government, stating that online gambling is illegal and there will be crackdowns and punishment on such activities. 

Japan has been witnessing an increase in its usage of offshore gaming portals ever since the pandemic. The Japanese have always been familiar with gambling despite their restrictive laws. Pachinko, a mix between a slot machine and a pinball machine, is a form of gambling that is very popular in Japan. A Pachinko player’s main aim is to try and control the pinball machine and try to save their steel ball for the longest time. 

A pachinko machine can process up to 100 balls per minute, and the game ends when the player loses all their steel balls or decides to end the game and exchange the steel balls for a prize. There are many Pachinko parlors all across Japan and are extremely eye-catching, inviting, and easy to access. You can exchange your winnings at the Pachinko parlors to get items such as cigarettes, electronic gadgets, groceries, silver, and gold. You could also win money indirectly as you could always choose to sell the prizes that you have won.

The Popularity Of Vera And John In Japan

Vera and John is an online casino company that is extremely popular in Japan. According to a study, it was the most popular casino platform in Japan, also because of easy Vera and John withdrawal. The casino site recorded a 119-fold jump in its monthly visits from Japan from 6,48,000 visits in 2018 to an astonishing number of 77.51 million in the year 2019

Some say that Vera and John was the reason for the growth of the online gaming community in Japan. The online casino platform was one of the first companies to enter the Japanese market who has managed to gain the attention of the Japanese players and their loyalty. 

One of the many reasons Vera and John became such a hit among Japanese players is its top-class language support, quality graphics, easy navigation, and diverse and wide range of online casino games. Vera and John have hundreds of online slot games, live casino games, and table games which are easily accessible on PCs, tablets, and mobile phones.

Are you wondering how to withdraw at Vera and John? The online casino platform offers its users easy transaction facilities where players can easily and quickly withdraw their winnings. They offer a wide range of withdrawal and deposit methods such as credit card and debit card payments, e-wallets, cheques, international wire transfers, and bank transfers. Apart from this, the company frequently runs several campaigns which specifically target Japanese players. This has helped them create a strong following of players from Japan. One could say that Vera and John have paved the way for other online gambling platforms to start and flourish in Japan.

Online Gambling In Japan

Since most forms of gambling are illegal, there are no physical casinos available to people residing in Japan. Everyone can’t travel to gambling destinations such as Macau to gamble. Hence, Japan’s online gambling sector has continuously managed to attract many players by providing them with a host of online games to bet on. 

Various online betting platforms now use marketing tricks such as displaying messages in Japanese to attract customers from Japan. Betting sites such as Bet365, Vegas Casino, Sloto’cash Casino, LeoVegas, and Bitstars casino encourage and welcome Japan’s players to use their betting platforms. The widespread advertisements of online gaming websites, ease of registration, and transactions have made it extremely easy for overseas players to register and play on online gaming portals.

Even though online gambling and most forms of gambling are illegal in Japan, awareness regarding the illegality of gambling is extremely low among people. According to a survey conducted on 1000 Japanese people by a group from Tokyo called the International Casino Institute, in December 2020, only 41% of the participants knew that online gambling was illegal and betting online was a criminal offense. 18% thought it was legal to gamble online, whereas the other 41 percent said it fell into the gray zone. 

Restrictions may be in place to stop people from most forms of gambling. However, the Japanese have always indulged in different forms of games similar to gambling to keep themselves entertained. Pachinko, Mahjong, Toto, and the lotteries are extremely famous and popular in Japan. They are classified as amusements and are regulated under separate laws. Betting on Horse racing, Bicycle racing, and various other motorsports are legal in Japan so even if online gambling and physical casinos are not available for you, you always have plenty of other legal options to place your bets on if you are from Japan.

Well, thank God that’s over. The final film award ceremony of 2021 is over, and not a minute too soon.

Viewers who tuned in to the 93rd Academy Awards ceremony (guilty, but I have a website. What’s your excuse?) were treated to un-enthusiastic presenters, amazingly long speeches (I’m guessing Questlove wasn’t told he could play people off) and an “In Memoriam” segment that looks like it was thrown together at the last minute. And can someone tell me how a show with no host, opening monologue and zero musical numbers – unless you count the embarrassing “Oscar Music Trivia” game that featured Glenn Close shaking her ass to E.U.’s “Da Butt” – ran almost 3 1/2 hours??

On a positive note, there were some great achievements rewarded. A woman of color (Chloe Zhao) was named Best Director, only the second time a woman has won that Award. Think about that. Out of 465 nominees only SEVEN women have been nominated: Lina Wertmuller, Jane Campion, Sophia Coppola, Kathryn Bigelow (who won), Greta Gerwig, Ms. Zhao and Emerald Fennell, who with Ms. Zhao was nominated this year. Which means such female directors, like Penny Marshall and Barbra Streisand, have been totally ignored, even though in the past they had directed films nominated for Best Picture!

Daniel Kaluuya and Youn Yuh-jing took home the Best Supporting Actor and Actress awards, respectively, putting a slight dent into the #OscarSoWhite reputation.

Frances McDormand became the second actress to receive (3) Best Actress awards when her name was announced last night, putting her right behind the immortal Katherine Hepburn, who won (4). Meryl Streep does have (3) Oscars, but one was for Best Supporting Actress. Ms. McDormand picked up a 4th Oscar as one of the producers of the evening’s Best Picture, “Nomadland.” And whose idea was it to give the Best Picture award out early? Normally it’s the last award of the night, but on this night it was awarded before Best Actress and Actor were named. My hunch is that the producers assumed the late Chadwick Boseman, who was nominated for his final performance in the film “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” would win, which would have made for a nice emotional way to end the evening. Instead, Joaquin Phoenix sheepishly announced Anthony Hopkins as the winner of the Best Actor award, and that was a wrap!

My beef with the “In Memoriam” segment was that, for some reason, the Academy figured if you were watching you knew who everyone was and what they did. An introduction that took u 1/3 of the segment, no film clips and, while known talents like Christopher Plummer, George Segal and Wilford Brimley got a few seconds of screen time each, others – among them Marge Champion (a great dancer), Shirley Knight (a fine actress), Kelly Preston (same) and Michael Chapman (an amazing cinematographer whose credits include “Taxi Driver,” “Raging Bull,” “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid” and “The Fugitive”) whizzed by in a blink.

The fact that only nominees and presenters were allowed to be in the venue also made for dull television. Smatterings of applause signaled that the guests in the theatre were apparently as bored as the ones at my house.

Blame it on COVID. Blame it on the fact that none of the films nominated were “NAME” films – no “Titanic,” “Avatar” or “Lord of the Rings” in the bunch. Blame it on bad television. There’s plenty of blame to go around.

For those of you who went to bed early, here is a list of the winners:

Best Picture – Nomadland 

Best Actor in a Leading Role– Anthony Hopkins (The Father)

Best Actress in a Leading Role – Frances McDormand (Nomadland)

Best Director – Chloé Zhao (Nomadland)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Youn Yuh-jung (Minari)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Daniel Kaluuya (Judas and the Black Messiah)

Best Adapted Screenplay – The Father, Christopher Hampton, Florian Zeller

Best Original Screenplay – Promising Young Woman, Emerald Fennell

Best Animated Feature Film – Soul 

Best International Feature Film – Another Round (Denmark)

Best Sound – Sound of Metal, Phillip Bladh, Nicolas Becker, Jaime Baksht, Michelle Couttolenc, Carlos Cortés, Carolina Santana

Best Costume Design – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Ann Roth

Best Makeup and Hairstyling – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Matiki Anoff, Mia Neal, Larry M. Cherry

Best Live Action Short Film – Two Distant Strangers

Best Animated Short Film – If Anything Happens I Love You 

Best Documentary Feature – My Octopus Teacher 

Best Documentary Short Subject – Colette 

Best Original Song – ‘Fight for You,’ (Judas and the Black Messiah)

Best Visual Effects – Tenet, Andrew Jackson, Andrew Lockley, Scott R. Fisher, Mike Chambers

Best Cinematography – Mank, Erik Messerschmidt

Best Production Design – Mank, Donald Graham Burt, Jan Pascale

Best Film Editing – Sound of Metal, Mikkel E.G. Nielsen

Best Original Score – Mank, Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross

THIS COULD BE THE STRANGEST OSCAR CEREMONY EVER

In its 93 years the Academy Awards have seen some strange occurrences.

In 1973, Marlon Brando, who was announced as the winner of the Best Actor Award, sent an actress pretending to be a Native American up to the podium to refuse the award, citing the way Native American’s were portrayed in films.

The next year, David Niven was startled when freelance photographer Robert Opel decided to “streak” across the stage behind them.  I always thought that this was a set-up.  The camera angle was such that none of Mr. Opel’s nether-region was shown and Mr. Niven was awful quick and his quip: “The only laugh that man will ever get in his life is from stripping off and showing his shortcomings!” 

And, of course, who could forget the 1989 ceremonies when Rob Lowe and Snow White engaged in a musical number?  Only months before a sex-tape with Lowe and two women (one underage) had been released, which I’m sure upset the folks at Disney, who were already upset because they hadn’t given their permission for the character to appear.

But this year could be the strangest and most unpredictable ceremony ever.

Tonight, for really the first time since last year’s Oscars, nominees have been encouraged to be in attendance.  In the past year, shows like the Emmys have had a minimal crowd (usually first responders) and the awards have been “delivered” to the winner via Zoom.  Tonight we could actually see people walk across the stage to give their acceptance speeches.

Tonight also notes the first time that a streaming service has received more total nominations than any of the established studios.  NETFLIX leads the way with 35 total nominations, followed by Amazon with 12.  The highest number of studio nominations is 8, shared by Warner Bros. and the Walt Disney Company.

Streaming has been the thing this year.  Though theatres are now open again, very few people are going.  The one closest to me, and 18 screen mega-plex, is showing films that range from current (GODZILLA vs KONG, MORTAL KOMBAT) to titles that are months old.  They are even trying to fill their screens with Bollywood features.

In the past year, I have seen three films in a movie theatre.  The aforementioned GODZILLA vs KONG and MORTAL KOMBAT, both in the last 2 months.  Before that, the last film I saw on the big screen was TENET.  And I LOVE going to the movies.

With the exception of TENET, every other Oscar nominated film or performance I have seen this year has been either on a streaming platform or a DVD screener.  A nice way for a critic to binge on what they need to see but also a way that takes the fun out of the movies. 

I enjoy going to the theatre.  Getting my popcorn and sitting in a room with 250 strangers who are about to share an experience with me.  I like hearing others laugh along with me and I like sitting in the silence and hearing if anyone else is crying at the incredibly sad scene I just witnessed.  And I like talking to people as we exit the auditorium, discussing what we saw and whether or not we liked it. 

I should note that there were no more than four other people in attendance at the three films I have seen in a theatre.  Which makes for a lonely exit conversation.

Hopefully after the awards some of the winners will be released to theatres.  That is how Hollywood makes a little more money off of their films – re-releasing them to theatres after the awards to get a post-Oscar push at the box office.  I, for one, would love to see MANK on the big screen.  It’s impeccable recreation of 1940s filmmaking would be glorious to take in on a screen 40 feet high.

However, there are also good reasons to watch the Awards this year.  Many of the nominees are a “pick-em” – there are no such things as “Titanic” nominated tonight.  But my fingers are crossed for two awards and the reaction they will receive. 

The late Chadwick Boseman is nominated as Best Actor for his amazing performance in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”  It is his last film performance and it is brilliant.  A victory here would not only honor a talent gone much too soon but will surely bring the house to it’s feet.

Secondly, tonight Glenn Close is nominated (for the eighth time) for her Supporting turn in “Hillbilly Elegy.”  Not only is she the best thing in the film, she is so overdue for a win.  Should she not win tonight, she will tie the late Peter O’Toole as having the most acting nominations without a win.  O’Toole did receive an Honorary Oscar in 2002.  A win by Close would surely trigger and emotional standing ovation.  It certainly will at my house.

To our community— 

As I write this, I’m filled with hope and excitement for the year ahead. There’s much in the works at ReedPop that we’ll announce in the coming months, but today I’m bringing you an update on the return of our physical events and the first look at our plans to promote health and safety.

To give you a peek behind the curtain, events folks have to plan six to nine months down the road. We must put ourselves forward from where we are today into where we think we may be tomorrow, and continue making the next best decisions.

Today, I share what we’re planning with this assurance: ReedPop’s number one priority is the wellbeing of the people that come to our shows. 

Right now, we see a path forward for safe, amazing events that are going to look a bit different than usual, so that’s where we’re heading. Keep in mind what we communicate is subject to change as state and local guidelines are adjusted. I encourage you to stay connected with us via our newsletters, social channels, and websites to keep on top of the latest information right up to the shows.

ICYMI, our schedule for 2021 is:

• Florida Supercon, Miami Beach Convention Center: September 10-12
• New York Comic Con, Javits Center: October 7-10
• Emerald City Comic Con, Washington State Convention Center: December 2-5
• C2E2, McCormick Place: December 10-12

With the return of physical events comes so much we were missing this past year. Supporting small businesses and indie creators more directly, old friends reconnecting, the energy of a panel room when a cast first takes the stage… 

I can’t even believe I’m saying this, but I almost miss the awkward camaraderie of the women’s restroom line. Almost. 

Speaking of lines, let’s talk capacity and a few other key safety measures we’ll be taking…

1. We will be running all our shows with reduced capacity. With our new safety precautions in place, attendance and badges will be very limited so that we can ensure physical distancing. We’re working closely with each convention center to determine how many people are permitted in the building every day and at a given time. 

2.  We are requiring approved face coverings for all individuals attending our events, including our exhibitors and staff. They must be worn at all times within our venues. For more information, you can visit the FAQ pages on each of our show websites. 

3. Temperature screening upon entry will be required to enter our events. Anyone with an elevated temperature will not be permitted to enter the event. 

4. We will have increased sanitization and cleaning with enforced physical distancing throughout the event.

5. We have also adopted a firm no handshakes, no high-fives, no hugs policy. We’re all going to have to get very smooth and cool-looking at either the elbow bump or air high-fives. Please start practicing now.

I know there are a lot more questions than what I’ve shared here. You’re probably wondering what the heck a photo op may look like and how panel seating will work. We’ll be sharing more information in the months leading up to our shows, and we are committed to being as transparent as possible. 

Our goal remains the same: bring together our fan communities to celebrate the best pop culture has to offer. Alongside all of our physical events, we’ll be running a virtual event companion through FindtheMetaverse.com. So whether or not you join us in person, you can attend each of our shows and have a pretty excellent time. Save the date for the next Metaverse event — June 7-13 — and follow our newly launched social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

More announcements are coming soon with on-sale dates, guests, panels, and so much more. We promise it will be worth the wait.

Finally, thank you for your continued support in what has been a difficult time for our entire community. Thank you for your patience with us at every turn, and for your understanding as we continue to navigate the future of pop culture events together.  

Higher, further, faster,

Kristina Rogers (she/her)

US Comic Portfolio Director

ReedPop