Cassie

3 Amazing Westerns Available on Netflix

August 26, 2016 // by Cassie// Leave a Comment

Netflix is home to some of the best western films available; unfortunately, not all of them are licensed in the US. In fact, the American Netflix Westerns category is pretty pathetic. But there’s no reason you have to be limited by your location. Below are three amazing westerns available on Netflix and how you can access them.

No Country for Old Men

If you haven’t seen it yet, No Country for Old Men revolves around how greed and money can corrupt people. When a man finds a suitcase full of money that, unbeknownst to him, was associated with drug dealers, a cat and mouse game quickly ensues. If you’ve already seen it, its unbelievable pacing, outstanding characters and heart-pounding thrills are worth watching it again. Although not available on American Netflix, this film is accessible in 18 other countries.

Back to the Future Part III

In this installment of the Back to the Future series, Marty has to go back to 1885 to rescue Doc. During their adventure, they have to deal once again with a ruthless member of the Tannen family: Mad Dog. However, another issue presents itself as Doc falls in love with a woman from 1885. If you haven’t seen it, it’s a necessary addition to your watch list. Despite not having access in the US, you can watch this movie on Netflix in 22 other countries.

The Book of Eli

While The Book of Eli is not a traditional western, its post-apocalyptic setting and plot line are reminiscent of the genre. Eli, who is blind, survives every day in the hopes of taking his special book to its proper destination, but a ruthless leader and his cronies have been looking for Eli’s book forever and set out to steal it. Throughout the movie, the book’s identity is evaded, so don’t miss the ending for an amazing and inspiring surprise. Like No Country for Old Men, this film is available on Netflix in 18 countries other than the US.

If you don’t live in the countries where these films are available and don’t plan to visit anytime soon, don’t worry. You can still watch them by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to get around geo-restrictions.

Which of these movies do you like the most? Do you have any other great suggestions for westerns? Please leave a comment below, and let us know your thoughts!

Why It’s Not Time to Give Up on a Career in the Arts Yet

August 12, 2016 // by Cassie// Leave a Comment

As a lifelong thespian, a career in the arts has always been blinkered for me by the endless warnings of the dog-eat-dog world of the entertainment industry. Anecdotes of struggling artists putting on shows and exhibitions in cramped basement studios for a few close friends and the odd passersby are numerous. Time spent waiting tables is nearly inevitable.
So, in this world of diminishing big breaks and one-shot opportunities, it’s easy to ask why we’ve not yet given up. Is a career in the arts worth it anymore, and if it is, how on earth can it be possible? Well, fellow artists, read on.

The Sad State of the Arts

It’s fair to say that the arts have been a penalized medium for a very long time. I imagine I wasn’t the only one who was warned away from my controversial career choices and advised to take a more “sensible” option such as math or science.

Art education all over the world is rapidly declining at an alarming rate, and what once was seen as a prestigious area of learning is now cast aside as a mere hobby. Pure arts funding for graduates has practically vanished, and those lucky enough to get a grant will find venues hesitant to work with new and unknown talent.

Finding a job in the arts also has an age-old catch-22. Every position requires experience, but to have experience you need to be offered a position.

Overall, it’s not looking good, and so I believed as I set out as a fresh-faced graduate, waitressing job already secured, to follow my dreams. Yet when I went looking, what I found shocked me.

Internet Artists

It’s true that if you look for a job in the arts in your local area, you probably won’t find one. Arts communities are long established, and getting a foot in the door usually requires committing an unsustainable amount of volunteer hours to the cause. However, when a friend pointed me online, I found the exact opposite.

Scrolling through Upwork (formerly Odesk), one of the many freelance websites, I could not believe my eyes. There were jobs for artists of every kind: filmmakers, designers, photographers, videographers, musicians, illustrators and even wordsmiths. They were paid, they were contracted, and there was something for everyone.

The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Working online allows you to share your art all over the world, and you don’t have to worry about the expenses of renting a physical space or becoming a part of the local prestigious arts community.

Finding Work

Aside from Upwork, there are endless websites that allow you to link up with employers and find work, but this isn’t the only way to become a successful internet artist.

There are countless platforms, such as YouTube, Flickr and Instagram, which offer a free way to showcase your work. Think about it: you may not be able to fill a gallery, but you can easily share your work online. Many modern celebrities and professionals have risen to fame through social media, so the potential for success is out there.

Alongside this, the great thing about working online is that you don’t have to be famous to be successful. The variety of work out there is limited only by the imagination. You could secure an ongoing design contract for someone’s business, make music for indie film projects, create your own video series or even just simply start your own blog or site. The potential for earning is there and ready to be taken!

The Digital Artists Toolkit

You might think it difficult to set yourself properly up as a functioning online professional, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. As more people move away from location dependence and into working online, more tools are being released to aid this pursuit.

Staying secure is an essential factor of any online career as contracting a virus could result in lost work, unmet deadlines and extremely unhappy clients. Fortunately, there are plenty of installable apps to help, including anti-virus and firewall software and a solid VPN to encrypt your data so you can work on the go.

There are countless programs available for artists so you can transform work done by hand into digital formats. There are also plenty of free versions of photo and video editing software for those who can’t afford to make big investments just yet.

The Future of Art

Justin Bieber was spotted via YouTube. Kerby Rosanes began sharing his doodles on Facebook, and his “Sketchy Stories” brand is now known worldwide. There are countless singers, dancers, songwriters and animators who are skipping out the middleman and promoting and distributing their work straight through the internet.

It seems as if the days of major labels, production companies and pitiful royalties are coming to an end. Young creatives everywhere are turning their back on the exclusivity of the traditional arts world and taking their careers online. It’s an exciting time for aspiring artists anywhere, and it is bound to change the face of the arts as we know it.

So if you’re feeling disheartened about the lack of support, funding and constant warnings about your career choice, do not fear! You haven’t reached the end of the road yet. The age of digital content is just beginning and now is the perfect time to get involved!

Tips for Staying Up to Date on the Latest Fashion Trends

July 15, 2016 // by Cassie// 1 Comment

Fashion trends shift quickly, so you’ll have to keep up if you want to stay fashionable. There’s always something new and happening in the fashion industry and trends change by the season. So how do you keep up with the latest fashion trends?

Whether you’re looking for men’s or women’s fashion trends, here are some tried and true tips for staying up to date both online and off!

Subscribe

There are a ton of fashion magazines available, some of which you’re likely to find at your local bookstore or supermarket. Most are already aware of Vogue, which primarily focuses on celebrities and women’s fashion, but did you know there are also fashion magazines geared toward men?

VMAN is just one example of such magazine. Basically a men’s version of V Magazine, VMAN is delivered quarterly and offers some great visuals of some of the latest trends. Alternatively, you can check out Mens Fashion Magazine if you’re looking for something that provides more frequent updates. Mens Fashion Magazine is entirely online and also offers some great how-to articles and other tips.

Magazines, however, are typically sent out monthly at the most, so it may be wise to keep an eye on websites as well, even if you do decide on a magazine subscription or two.

Socialize

Social media websites can be great for following and staying in the know about some of your favorite fashion icons and events. Models, designers and celebrities aren’t the only ones who typically have pages you can follow to stay up to date with the latest fashion trends; regular everyday people do as well!

You may be able to find some bloggers on social media that not only post photos of themselves wearing some of the latest fashion, but also news and information you might not have found elsewhere as of yet. When it comes to fashion, it’s often a good idea to stick to social media sites that are more visual—such as Pinterest or Instagram. Twitter can be great as well since it seems to be the go-to social media website for many celebs and models.

Attend

Depending on where you live, there may be some small fashion shows you can attend to get an idea of what’s in season. Even if you don’t live in a big city, consider traveling to a show or two or checking the internet for streams of them. There’s often photos posted online afterwards too, mainly on social media, so be sure to keep an eye out.

Attending big shows, such as New York’s Fashion Week for example, is generally out of the question if you have no ties to the industry. But there’re bound to be plenty of updates online if you absolutely cannot attend, and if you’re lucky, you might be able to snag a volunteer opportunity to get a glimpse of the action in person.

Shop

Whether you have the cash to regularly shop for designer clothing or not, there’s no harm in window shopping! Check out the stores, as many of them will have the some examples of the latest fashion trends in stock. Your local mall is bound to have at least one designer clothing store you can visit.

If you happen to live in a small town, no need to worry. You can still check online and might actually prefer to, as online stores tend to have a larger variety in stock due to limited shelf space in the actual storefront. If you’re looking for something especially unique and trendy, check out custom designers on Etsy or other similar pages for a chance to really stand out from the crowd.

Just be sure to protect yourself before you begin checking out any new websites. Not all of them are trustworthy, and the last thing you need is to have your identity stolen from putting your credit card information into a malicious site.

You don’t have to be stuck in something that’s “so last season.” Whether you choose to subscribe, socialize, attend or shop—or even a combination of the four—you’re sure to find the latest styles gracing the runway and the red carpet this year. If you have other tips for maintaining a pulse on the fashion scene, be sure to comment below.

Top 6 Apps for the Ultimate Sports Fan

July 1, 2016 // by Cassie// Leave a Comment

For some people, sports don’t really mean anything. For some others, sports are a small part of their lives, but they’re mostly just about entertainment. Then there are those who love sports, who eat, breathe and live for sports. For them, it isn’t enough to just catch a game or two on the TV; they have to follow all their favorite leagues, be on top of fixtures and schedules, analyze the details of the matches that transpire.

If you’re one of these sports super fans, one of the best ways for you to keep up with all the happenings in the sports world is through apps. Here are the top 6 apps that’ll please even the biggest sports fans amongst you:

ESPN

If there is one app that can cover almost all you might want from a sports app, it probably is ESPN. You can catch up with any sports news right on your phone, access live streams of sports events and shows (across various sports such as football, basketball, tennis, golf, soccer, softball and much more), get score updates or watch video highlights. With just one click, you can listen to the live ESPN radio, ESPN podcasts or live commentary. You can also personalize the app per your interests.

Team Stream

As a sports enthusiast, you probably get frustrated when you have to wait for websites and media outlets to release news. You want all the latest updates to be delivered to you, without having to search actively for the freshest information.

The Team Stream app from Bleacher Report will remove the need to go hunting for news. All you need to do is select your favorite teams, and then the app will show you the freshly curated news, rumors, highlights and scores you want. If you play fantasy sports, you can get the most recent stats and information about the players on your fantasy team.

THUUZ Sports

Couldn’t see a game because of work obligations? Returned from the bathroom to find out you missed a hat trick from your favorite player? Or did you skip a match and go early to bed only to hear your friends raving the next day about how amazing it had been? Don’t you worry, the Thuuz Sports app has you covered.

Customize the app’s service according to your sports tastes and preferences, and it will give you alerts about events on the TV or on your mobile. The app lets you watch highlights, so you never miss a big moment. Thuuz also rates all ongoing or upcoming games on a rating scale from 1-100, so you know what’s worth your time and what’s not. For fantasy football or baseball players, Thuuz will give you real-time updates on your players’ status and performances.

CBS Sports

Another excellent app that you can use to follow multiple sports is the CBS Sports app. It gives you super fast access to scores and statistics with instant alert notifications about breaking news and new scores. You can even live stream all CBS sports events (SEC football games, NCAA basketball, NBA basketball, the Masters Golf Tournament, PGA Tour and more) and radio or TV shows (Jim Rome, Boomer and Carton, Fantasy Baseball Today, Fantasy Football Today and more).

Aside from that, you can get scores and personalized push notifications for all major sports, including hockey, tennis, golf and auto racing. You can also get standings of each team across all the leagues, including the college leagues, and easily find team schedules.

StubHub

StubHub is not an app exclusively dedicated to sports. But it stands apart from other sports app for one wonderful reason: tickets! For many sports fans, watching sports right in the stadium or field is the most enjoyable experience. But they often can’t purchase tickets because they’re too costly or because they’ve missed their chance.

With StubHub, you won’t have to sweat it. It provides an opportunity for people to buy and sell sports tickets (or music and theater tickets) from the day they go on sale right up to the time of the event. You can get amazing seats, and often snatch a ticket for a way lower price than from anyone else. You don’t have to worry about scammers because the app backs every single order for your protection.

These apps make it easy for you update yourself about your favorite sports and sports teams. With just a few clicks of a button on your smartphone, you will have access to tons of information. When something new or exciting takes place, you will be one of the firsts to know about it. When you need instant stats, you won’t need to do complicated web searches. Everything you need to know will be contained within your phone on these apps. They will take you beyond the ordinary experience of a regular sports fan, and allow you to look into the sporting world from closer than ever before.

What other apps do you use to keep up with your favorite sports teams? Share in the comments below.

Nintendo’s Greatest Multiplayer Video Games of All Time

June 10, 2016 // by Cassie// Leave a Comment

When playing video games, it always seems to be more enjoyable when playing with other people. Whether it’s playing online or with a friend close by, playing multiplayer video games is simply awesome. Combine multiplayer with Nintendo, home of the most brilliant video game masterminds of all time, and there is a recipe for success. Over the years, Nintendo has produced some of the greatest multiplayer video games known to man.

The following are, undoubtedly, the best of the best.

Mario Kart Wii – Wii

Outside of the Super Mario video games, there is no better Mario franchise than Mario Kart. In 2008, Nintendo released the most innovative Mario Kart game ever: Mario Kart Wii. While the game brought back much of what fans were used to, kart racing, items and beloved characters, it also added motion control. However, the motion control is certainly an acquired taste and driving with either the Wii Classic Controller or Gamecube Controller is definitely the preferred option.

This was also one of the few Mario Kart games to have online play, but sadly Nintendo killed it. This is extremely unfortunate because online play for Mario Kart Wii was a blast. Even without this functionality though, the new courses are brilliant, the implementation of bikes make it better than ever to control and the game never gets boring.

Kirby’s Return to Dreamland – Wii

Kirby has long had the notion that it’s a kid’s franchise due to numerous games lacking in difficulty. While the series has seen its fair share of pathetically easy games, Kirby 64 for sure, Kirby has never been about the difficulty. On the contrary, the series has been popular due to its fun factor. This is where Kirby’s Return to Dreamland comes into play because of the multiplayer fun it provides.

At any point in the game, four people can be playing simultaneously as either Kirby, required, Meta Knight, King Dedede or Waddle Dee. Each character has their own unique move-set, and of course, Kirby’s abilities depend on what Copy Ability he has. Although the level design in the game can leave a lot to be desired, the game manages to remain fun due to the insane amount of chaos.

Super Mario 3D World – Wii U

Nintendo took a risk when they decided to make a 3D Super Mario platformer a multiplayer experience, but it’s safe to say they made the right decision. Throughout the entire game, the level design never got old, and Nintendo proved that when they want to make elite games, they can. Super Mario 3D World takes the characters from Super Mario Bros. 2, Mario, Luigi, Toad and Peach and morphs it with the multiplayer experience of New Super Mario Bros. However, the gameplay is much better executed in Super Mario 3D World than it was in New Super Mario Bros.

About the only aspect that this game is missing is online play, but that was explained by Nintendo. The explanation makes a lot of sense, but it still would have been amazing to see what kind of online experience Nintendo could have made for Super Mario 3D World.

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest – SNES

This is the only game on this list that doesn’t allow for simultaneous gameplay. Instead, one player controls Diddy Kong while the other waits for their chance to control Dixie Kong. Basically, during each level the players can switch back and forth between their characters at any time. Now that that’s understood, it’s time to talk about the brilliance of Donkey Kong Country 2.

In each level, there are many bonuses to complete and a DK coin to collect. Due to a number of collectibles to find in each level, the game never loses its appeal. Also, this game features an entirely breathtaking soundtrack that any music fan could enjoy. This game is proof that gamers in the 1990s were living through the greatest era of video gaming.

Nintendo definitely knows how to be the life of the party with the amount of amazing multiplayer video games they have produced. The games listed here were just a hint at the greatness that is Nintendo. If you think that I missed any major games, then leave a comment below and continue to spread the greatness of Nintendo!

5 Scariest Movies to Stream on Friday the 13th

May 13, 2016 // by Cassie// Leave a Comment

Friday the 13th—an ominous date that has long be associated with bad luck and cheesy horror films. It may be a superstitious holdover from the old days…or perhaps there really is something to it.

Either way, a good number of us tend to gather around the TV on Friday the 13th. Maybe it’s comforting to know the people being mutilated by Jason or tormented by Pennywise aren’t us. Maybe the suspension of belief helps us escape the real terrors that are everyday life. More than likely we’re just overthinking this whole thing.

Rather than ponder the peculiarities of society, why not sit down for a good scream this Friday the 13th? If that’s your thing, here are a few good choices this year (and in some cases any year) that you can stream:

Hush

Best for:

People with friends
People afraid of home invasions

We’ll begin the list with Hush not only because it’s a relatively recent film (2016), but because it’s also legitimately terrifying. What truly separates this film from its competition is the premise of the plot. Our protagonist is deaf, which means she can’t hear creepy noises, heavy breathing or the usual tactics that frighten our “heroes.”

It’s refreshing to see a horror film that continues to capture the moments that scare the audience without relying exclusively on the poor decisions of the characters to direct the plot. If you’re tired of the usual suspects, this one’s definitely worth a watch.

Insidious: Chapter 3

Best for:

Anyone who’s seen Insidious 1 and 2
Residents of the further

For those of you who haven’t yet seen Insidious 1 or 2, it may be better to start there. But it isn’t entirely necessary, as this movie is a prequel rather than a sequel, so knowledge of the previous installments isn’t a requirement.

The whole premise of the Insidious series is predicated on psychics whom are able to contact the dead to help deal with hauntings. But, being horror movies, things get wildly out of hand and quickly go from strange to “I’ll sleep with the lights on tonight.” It’s a good watch, and I’m always a fan of movies with extra films to follow up with.

The Witch

Best for:

Fans of ambiance
People who hate jump scares

Most horror movies focus on scaring you out of your seat, but The Witch manages to be creepy predominantly through the use of music, lighting and, astonishingly enough, acting. It’s set in 1630 in the New England area, so it harkens to a very different period. Most horror movies take place in modern or very nearly modern settings.

This one was good for being targeted at a very different audience. If crazy camera movements and jump scares aren’t your cup of tea, this should hit the spot.

Stephen King’s It

Best for:

People scared of clowns
Stephen King fans

Based on Stephen King’s 1986 best-selling novel, “It’s” difficult to describe exactly what “It” is. No matter how many times I watch this movie, no matter how old I get, it’s always somewhere between bizarre and terrifying.

The basic premise of the movie occurs in two parts: the first half of the film focuses on the childhood experiences of a group known affectionately as the “Loser’s Club” and their dealings with the pseudo-supernatural entity, Pennywise.

The second half of the film depicts them as adults that must finally face the fears of childhood that they repressed for so many years. Beyond that, you’ll need to see for yourself. Just be sure to strap in because, as with any Stephen King movie, it’s a long one. It originally aired as two separate films.

Friday the 13th

Best for:

Fans of classic horror movies
Hockey Fans

If you thought you’d escape a Friday the 13th movie listing without seeing…well…Friday the 13th…sorry to disappoint. Jason Voorhees debuts as a psychopathic undead murderer with a machete and a mission to kill everyone at Camp Crystal Lake in this 1980 classic.

As one of the first true slasher movies, Friday the 13th set the stage for countless predecessors to follow with its relatively bad humor and overly violent deaths. In true horror film style, nothing ever goes right for our protagonists, and you can expect lots of predictable but satisfying deaths.

Perhaps the best part about Friday the 13th is the continuance of the saga of Jason Voorhees. After watching this movie, there are countless sequels to delve into that could easily eat up your whole week, never mind just your Friday.

As a final point, bring friends to your Friday the 13th movie binge and start early. There’s nothing worse than watching one of these films immediately before bed—unless of course, that’s your thing.

7 Most Underrated Movies To Watch On Netflix

April 29, 2016 // by Cassie// 2 Comments

Netflix may be the star of the TV series world right about now—Orange Is The New Black and House of Cards can be thanked for that—but the company’s ever-dwindling movie titles (no you’re not dreaming, it’s true) still leave some classics for all the viewers and extroverted introverts to cash in on.

So whether you’re planning to ditch the gang this weekend and just stay in or you’re stuck on a brutal commute that mercifully has great service bars, it’s time to activate your account and pull up your online streaming player. Netflix & Chill, anyone?

Hotel Rwanda

This heavy title may not be perfect for date night (well, actually it depends on your date) but this award winning film is definitely one that needs to be seen (and rewatched). Starring Don Cheadle and Sophie Okonedo, it’s the tale of the Rwandan genocide that devastated the country while the rest of the world did little to help.

While the Hutu-majority armed forces sought to cleanse the country of the smaller population, it’s one hotel manager’s tale of an unfolding catastrophe and his part to make a difference in the escalating violence. A sobering film to be sure, and certainly one to spawn conversation of crossover in our current Syrian crisis, this flick was given a 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and 4/4 by Roger Ebert—making it an instant, if not heavy, classic.

Pride & Prejudice

Joe Wright’s rendition may not be the universal favorite (BBC fans of the original are a hard-won crowd unwilling to budge), but it’s one of the most beautiful films around and stars such excellent talent as Donald Sutherland, Brenda Blethyn, Rosamund Pike, Matthew MacFadyen and Keira Knightley in the title role of Elizabeth Bennet.

With sweeping, never-ending, uncut scenes that give life to Jane Austen’s famous words and a reputation to Wright for incredible cinematography, this modern remake is certainly a classic for it’s generation. Winner of BAFTA and an Evening Standard Award, this movie is one to park it on the coach and order Chinese takeout for.

Groundhog Day

Does anyone hear the word Groundhog Day and not immediately picture Bill Murray reliving the same day over and over again in an array of antics that go from normal to crazy pretty quickly? For those of you who missed the first sweep of this film’s extensive infiltration in pop culture, here’s your chance to get a closer look at one weather man’s attempt to escape the icy winds of fate. Joined by Andie McDowell, watch Murray relive the “worst day of his life” over and over and over again—until he gets it right.

Galaxy Quest

Fans of Star Wars, but especially Star Trek, should definitely add this film to their regularly viewed collection. Its thinly veiled comedic rip off of Star Trek’s Shatner, Nimoy and the whole Enterprise crew is universe-winning comedic gold.

But the great thing about Galaxy Quest is that you don’t have to be one of the die-hard fans to enjoy the laughs of stellar cast Sigourney Weaver, Tim Allen, Sam Rockwell, Alan Rickman and more. All you have to do is tune into this screwball comedy as it’s main characters go from re-run TV shows and science conventions to being zapped aboard a bona fide UFO.

The Homesman

Directed and starring Tommy Lee Jones, this film is one of the most star-packed movies to ever fly under the radar—if you call being part of the Cannes Film Official Selection flying under the radar. With Meryl Streep, Hilary Swank, John Lithgow, Miranda Otto and more filling out Jones’ feature, it’s hard to understand how a movie this good got away from the cinemas without being, at the very least, a cinephile hit.

Following the story of one woman out in the Wild Wild West and the man she saves from getting hanged, their mission is to take three women across the country, and it’s not a mission for the faint of heart. For people who have a love for good old Westerns and adventure alike, this is definitely your next must-see.

His Girl Friday

Never was there a better idea than Cary Grant and black and white films, and lucky for film lovers, this excellent title has both. Centered around Grant as a newspaper editor and his whip smart reporter Hildy, it’s a time machine back to 1940 for one last assignment on a convicted murderer for the soon-to-be-married reporter. With Grant playing both her boss and her ex-husband, Hildy (played by Rosalind Russell) has her hands full. Between the pair’s chemistry and back and forth charming report, you’ll be on the edge of your seat the whole film, dying to know the truth—will she take him back or won’t she?

Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

This Robert Zemeckis classic may be new to the current generation, but it’s cult status still rings true for many. Starring Bob Hoskins as a private detective mired in a world somewhere between film noir reality and animated creativity, the case of a murdered file executive takes viewers through a journey of crazy happenstance and ultimate cartoon mastery. Between the Looney Tunes gang and a special appearance by Jessica Rabbit, this Zemeckis piece is more than just a journey down the rabbit hole; it’s a viewing adventure that has cemented itself not just in the entertainment realm, but in the esteemed halls of art film. So grab the popcorn, and enjoy!

With a list of seven, it’s easy to make this week your own film festival. Just grab the remote and your Netflix login, and get into your film critic mindset. Or better yet, just enjoy these heartfelt, sometimes historical, sometimes wacky movie choices.

How To Fill Out A Killer March Madness Bracket

March 4, 2016 // by Cassie// Leave a Comment

The time of the year has rolled around again where sports fans everywhere begin to prepare themselves for the annual excitement of March Madness. The NBAA Tournament is one of the great basketball highlights of the year and creating the perfect March Madness Bracket is a highly debated task by game lovers all over the country. This year, the bracket was leaked only 20 minutes into the Sunday Selection show, so fans have had more time than ever to scrutinize and narrow down their selection. We’ve compiled a few tips to help sport lovers everywhere fill out a killer bracket and make the most of this year’s tournament.

Avoid Bias

You might always have a special place for your own college team in your heart or there may be a certain player that you have a bit of a soft spot for. Unfortunately, relying on your own personal biases when crafting your bracket will not take you very far. Relying on loyalty and naively placing your personal favorites as champions is sure to lose your win in the office pool or the bet between you and your friends. You know your team best out of anyone, so it’s down to you to make a rational and logical choice when placing them.

Work Backward

More often that not, the easiest way to create a well thought-out bracket is to work from the overall winner. Consider all factors, how the teams have competed this season, and then select a final four. From here, you can make decisions on each previous match, basing the scores on the result that will lead your winning teams into their spots of victory. The biggest choices always come with the final rounds so getting them out of the way first avoids difficult decisions down where there are far more outcomes to decide on.

Don’t Just Back No.1 Seeds

Many people rely on the fact that the No. 1 seeds have already been decided as the best of their pods. Just because statistically they’ve come out top of the bunch, doesn’t necessarily mean that will translate into results. Although there’s been a No.1 final score clean sweep once before, in 2008, the odds of it happening again are an extremely underwhelming 57:1. Particularly as this shapes up to be one of the most unpredictable seasons ever, it’s highly likely that some of the best teams might slip up and a few underdogs will pull through.

Consider Outside Factors

Team rankings and statistics may seem like a solid way to lay your bet, but plenty more goes into these games than just what has been put down on paper. Knowing your geography is an important factor when deciding on winners as long journeys and unfamiliar climates all play a bit part in each players performance. It’s easy to be off your game after long-haul flights and time zone changes. Similarly, recent injuries and media scandals also have a big affect, so it’s worth doing the research and identifying any potential factors that could influence the game play. This may be time consuming, but there are plenty of resources to help you scour the whole of the internet for clues!

Keep Controversial Decisions Early On

Everyone wants to have predicted a controversial result. Picking a No.16 seed team to triumph over a No.1 seed team may be a terrible idea, unless it actually happens! Then you become king of the bracket and get to lord your victory over everyone who went for the more predictable option.

However, if you are going to take the chance and aim to guess right on one of these surprise results, it’s best to do so early on in the bracket. In the beginning stages, teams are being knocked out all over the place, so the chances are you’re going to get one wrong anyway—might as well go fro broke! However, once you get into the final 16, the importance of each match increases and throwing away an important win could ruin your entire chance at coming out on top.

We’re all waiting in anticipation for this year’s March Madness to kick off, and once we’ve designed our killer bracket, all that’s left is to wait for the games to begin! If you have any more tips on making predications or have your own tried and tested system to fill out your bracket, be sure to leave a comment below and share you ideas with other NBAA fans.

Rush for Adele Tickets Leave Many Fans Empty Handed

December 18, 2015 // by Cassie// Leave a Comment

Whenever a musician releases a new album, a music tour in support of that album won’t be far behind. With the release of her number one selling album 25, Adele has created an unprecedented demand for tickets to her upcoming American tour. Unfortunately, the timing of the release of those tickets and the seemingly unstoppable robotic ordering from huge ticket brokers left many fans stranded without tickets. It also didn’t help that Ticketmaster’s website was overwhelmed by the volume of traffic once those tickets were released. Does this mean the future for the average concertgoer will be left in the hands of expensive ticket brokers?

The Mad Rush for Tickets

Before buying concert tickets online became popular, fans would have to line up outside of venues to score seats for a concert. Dedicated fans had no problem camping out the sidewalk in anticipation of seeing their favorite bands and performers. These sidewalk campouts became a kind of fan club meeting, and despite inclement weather, a good time was had by all.

That all changed with the advent of online ticket purchases. Now concertgoers are given a specific date and time when tickets will be made “available.” That puts them locked to their computer ready to hit the “refresh button” as many times as needed to land those coveted tickets.

For Adele’s concert tour, tickets were made available in a surprise announcement in the early part of December. This was the height of the holiday shopping season, which required many fans to adjust their schedules in order to compete for the tickets. Once the clock struck 10 a.m., there was a virtual mad rush on the Ticketmaster website. This led to many fans being shut out. They poured their frustrations out all across social media. This did not make for a very Merry Christmas!

A Limited Number of Seats

Breaking down the number of show dates plus available seats for Adele’s concert tour, and you’re left with around 750,000 possible tickets. When you consider that by its fourth week of sales Adele’s newest album sold over 6 million copies, then it’s clear that there would be many fans left empty-handed.

In addition to the number of seats, there were other issues that hampered the average fan with their online ticket purchase. There were pre-sales for registered VIP users to Adele’s website. Right out of the gate that took around two thirds of the available tickets off the markets even before the general public got their chance to make a purchase. It’s no wonder the Ticketmaster website was swamped and stalled. Even though Ticketmaster officially stated, “They performed very well,” there were several hundred Adele fans who begged to differ.

The Bot Factor

Another issue that contributed to the limited availability of concert tickets was the sophisticated use of automatic ticket buying by ticket brokers. It was estimated by Ticketmaster that around half a million potential “botted” ticket purchases were blocked. However, with all that blocking action going on, it further slows things down even more. Despite the efforts to prevent these kinds of automated purchases, you can find evidence of their success when several online ticket brokers begin promoting Adele tickets just moments after they went on sale. Of course, these tickets are often double and triple in price because of the “handling charge.”

A Concert Alternative

Although seeing a performer like Adele live would be a memorable event, there are still many ways to enjoy her music. Obviously, downloading her albums and making them top of your playlist is the best option. However, there could be issues with your privacy when downloading music. One way to ensure that your private information will be protected is to download your music through a Virtual Private Network (VPN). This will get you the music you want to listen to and provide peace of mind knowing your identity and credit card information to be secure.

As for going to see Adele in concert, if you didn’t land a ticket and aren’t willing to pay hundreds over face value to a ticket broker, you might just have to wait for the next concert tour or try to catch the TV version of her concert. Either way you don’t have to go without Adele!

Adele vs. Spotify

December 4, 2015 // by Cassie// Leave a Comment

Following the footsteps of another global phenomenon, Adele takes her album off the availability list for Spotify. What does this mean for the industry that is trying to put a stop to illegal downloading?

The chart topping songstress took the Taylor Swift route, according to sources at Spotify, to make her album unavailable as part of the music streaming service. With two leading ladies taking a stand against the streaming service—plus a new outlet, Apple Music—the online music business may be in fear of losing listeners to illegal downloading.

With Adele’s first album in 4 years, 25 is expected to sell over 2.5 million copies its first week; the album’s single “Hello” has already been downloaded 1.1 million times, and it’s video, produced by French Canadian director Xavier Dolan, has been viewed on YouTube 400 million times.

Adele, and her company, Sony Corporation, mutually made the decision based on Adele’s wide demographic. Unlike most pop music artists, Adele caters to a very wide fan base, not just teenagers watching YouTube, but also adults who are likely to go out and buy an album rather than stream online. With music purchases producing more money for the artist than streaming plays, it’s hard to tell Adele that she’s making a bad decision.

And this isn’t the first time the singer has come up against Spotify. In 2011 with the release of 21, Adele pulled her album due to the fact that subscribers weren’t limited to the number of plays allowed. Swift’s position against the company was similar. That American fans be limited to their number of plays is another argument to add to the fire with Spotify, but with Adele, downloading a Virtual Private Network wouldn’t help you listen to her album. She’s all about cutting down on plays across the board.

Adele’s not all restriction however. Unlike Spotify and Apple Music, Pandora Internet Radio, which follows different licensing rules than it’s rivals, will be streaming the album on its website a few days after its worldwide release. The singer also has a deal with Target, where customers who buy the album from the chain, selling at $13.99 on Target.com, will get 3 bonus songs over the $10.99 purchase on iTunes.

While it’s a huge uptick for the music industry—fondly called “the Adele Effect”—that albums be sold rather than accessed through streaming sites or repeated plays on an online playlist, there is revenue to be lost for the streaming services, who otherwise are a strong contender in the failing music industry. With the continued rise of illegal downloading, online streaming sites have managed to grow to be 10 percent of music industry revenue, attempting to bring back listeners from the land of piracy.

Big artists such as Adele and Beyonce are earning less per play than by album buy, but the growth of online streaming hasn’t put a stop to album sales as much, and artists can always make their music available to stream at a later date, after the initial release of their new album when record sales have dwindled.

According to research conducted by Rolling Stone, the actual numbers and money figures that come from music plays is a difficult equation. With most streaming services like Spotify, musicians earn $.09 cents for every 60 listens, for Pandora it’s around $.001 per song. For every $1.29 purchase on iTunes, around $.20 cents goes back to the artist, with $.09 cents for the songwriter. Record labels can also bank on an artist’s YouTube plays—$1 for every thousand plays, even if it’s not an official music video, but a fan made video that went viral—which can really bring in the revenue. And for straight album sales, an album that’s almost $18 can have as little as less than $2 go back to the artist. But don’t feel sorry for the artist’s yet, that’s just in music. Most mainstream pop musicians benefit much more from concert tickets, merchandise and sponsorships.

The jury may still be out on whether it’s a tactic that will benefit or hurt an artist, since no one has ever made the claim that online streaming has caused a decline of album sales. It’s almost guaranteed that for a top-charted artist like Adele, it doesn’t matter where the music comes from, the fans are going to find it.

Spotify commented saying: “We love and respect Adele, as do her 24m fans on Spotify. We hope that she will give those fans the opportunity to enjoy 25 on Spotify alongside 19 and 21 very soon.” But will it be enough to get the music up for listeners? It’s a time-tested fact that anytime Adele hits the public with a new set of songs from her one of a kind pipes, we all rush to listen, and this time is likely to be no different.

Only time, and the success of album sales, will tell.