Source: Rockstar Games / Red Dead Online Beta Rockstar Games right now is basking in the success of Red Dead Redemption 2 and the steady but cautious rollout of Red Dead Online beta. Listening to feedback from gamers, the studio is rolling out a massive update that aims to tackle some of the online component’s most significant issues. While it did not stumble out the gate like Grand Theft Auto Online , Red Dead Online had a much smoother introduction but has suffered from some in-game issues since its November launch . Players were quick to point out the lack of missions, problems with the in-game economy and players hell bent on just being destructive trolls in the game or as some describe it “grieving.” To combat those issues, Rockstar announced a massive update coming February 26 that will hopefully improve Red Dead Online . New features and more coming to the Red Dead Online Beta on Feb 26th with new improvements and enhancements to the game’s open world, including a new Law and Bounty system, weapons balancing, changes to player blips on the mini-map and more. https://t.co/MOSaXStj7m pic.twitter.com/huXgpk4Dcd — Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) February 12, 2019 First, we will focus on “grieving” and how that main issue alone took the fun out of Red Dead Online . Being a Black gamer, of course, my character in the game reflects that. The minute my created character stepped foot in the digital Wild West I was greeted with racial slurs and regularly killed and chased down by white players. Now don’t get me wrong I’ve experienced racism while gaming before but when you play Red Dead Online it just feels too real,. In speaking with The Verge’s Patricia Hernandez who wrote a piece about Black players enduring racist nonsense myself others detailed our experiences within the game. “I remember a player actually saying ‘get that nigger’ with a Western twang to his voice,” Smalls says. “It was like they felt they have the perfect game to do so.” I would dread playing the game alone opting to only hop on with friends in hopes to deter trolls from aggressively targeting me. Now the game does allow you to initiate a parlay with that person who is hellbent on killing you, but Rockstar will take things even further. The upcoming update will now reduce your visibility or blip over long distances only revealing your location on the map to players within 150 meters of you. Your position will only be shown if you’re firing your weapon. This new feature aims to stop people from continually targeting you from long distances. Now if you are one of those players who like to cause trouble on the regular the new system will highlight your over-aggressive play by darkening your dot on the map. The only way to make your visibility fade is by good behavior but if you keep killing innocent players and horses a bounty will be placed on your head, and NPC bounty hunters will track you down this also another new feature coming with the update. Another much-needed improvement is the ability to parlay with an entire posse because of course trolls run in gangs. Last but not least there some bug fixes and minor improvements as well as the introduction of daily challenges such as foraging for herbs, selling items at a Fence, hunting, and skinning animals, clearing hideouts, winning feuds and so much more that will reward players with gold nuggets and XP. Rockstar says it will continue to expand and evolve the challenges over time. This sounds like a step in the right direction, and I personally applaud Rockstar for listening and taking some sort of action to make Red Dead Online fun for EVERYONE. — Photo: Rockstar Games/Red Dead Redemption 2
N ew Jersey Senator Cory Booker has announced his candidacy for president, joining what was expected to be a crowded field of people challenging Donald Trump for the White House. Booker, 43, made his announcement Friday morning, NBC News reported . “I believe that we can build a country where no one is forgotten, no one is left behind; where parents can put food on the table; where there are good paying jobs with good benefits in every neighborhood; where our criminal justice system keeps us safe, instead of shuffling more children into cages and coffins; where we see the faces of our leaders on television and feel pride, not shame,” he said. “It is not a matter of can we, it’s a matter of do we have the collective will, the American will? I believe we do. Together, we will channel our common pain back into our common purpose. Together, America, we will rise.” Booker’s announcement came about a week after California Sen. Kamala Harris threw her presidential hat in the ring and said she would be running for the White House. Trump and Booker have been taking shots at each other for years now. But it was perhaps Booker’s role on the Senate Judiciary Committee that may have compelled him most to run for president after he saw firsthand the types of judges Trump has been pushing to be confirmed. While he has always been a prominent voice in the Senate, Booker raised his political profile significantly during the Senate confirmation hearing for Brett Kavanaugh , who was nominated by Trump and ultimately confirmed as a Supreme Court Justice despite a damning sexual abuse scandal that resurfaced from his past. Booker was also behind the introduction and Senate passing of the landmark legislation last year to finally outlaw lynching. Booker, Harris and Republican Sen. Tim Scott introduced the Justice for Victims of Lynching Act of 2018 in June. The bill called for a life sentence for those found guilty on federal anti-lynching charges. After helping to draft the legislation in June, Booker criticized Congress for taking so long—even after the civil rights movement—to pass anti-lynching legislation. “It’s a travesty that despite repeated attempts to do so, Congress still hasn’t put anti-lynching legislation on the books. This bill will right historical wrongs by acknowledging our country’s stained past and codifying into law our commitment to abolishing this shameful practice,” he said in a statement. SEE ALSO: Cory Booker Speaks Out On Gay Rumors Cory Booker Releases More Brett Kavanaugh Documents [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3844029″ overlay=”true”]
Source: Xilla Valentine / GlobalGrind Time’s Up just released a new PSA, and it’s narrated by Donald Glover and directed by Rashida Jones . The 3-minute animated video was created from Blue Seat Studios’ 2015 “Tea Consent” film, which demonstrates everything you need to know about sexual consent. Blue Seat animated the PSA, while founder Rachel Brian wrote it. During the short, Glover discusses what is and isn’t suitable in a work environment. “Has the current wave of sexual allegations left you scared, confused? Maybe even a little angry? Is the culture shifting under your feet so fast, you can’t make sense of it? Or do you simply not know how to behave at work anymore?” he questions during the introduction, before later outlining four frequently asked questions about harassment. The video is literally overflowing with dry humor, and the punchline at the end takes the cake. Donald quips, “If you’re still confused, please check out our website: http://www.dontpullyourd ***outatwork.obviously,” before then offering the actual website link, http://www.timesupnow.com . Check the PSA out on Buzzfeed here.
The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families produced an animated video designed to show children how to talk about mental health issues. That's a wonderful resource for many children. Kate Middleton, who is a patron of the organization, provides the introduction, lending her voice and celebrity status to a worthy cause. We have the short video for you below, and it's really worth watching. We would expect nothing less from the Duchess of Cambridge. This isn't just because Kate Middleton is already a mother of two, with a third on the way . Though, obviously, this kind of topic is going to be near and dear to her heart as a mother. By marrying into the British Royal Family, Kate Middleton did more than just become an implied villain on Grimm . (Don't ask) She inherited a lot of responsibilities — one of which being that she'll very probably be queen in the not-so-distant future . Overall, she has an obligation to the British people — whose tax dollars include millions specifically for the royals — to use her influence and celebrity status for positive effect. One of the ways that she's doing this is by introducing this video, aimed at children, that talks about mental and emotional health. Mental health is very complicated. Until very recently, the subject was almost taboo among most people. It's been pointed out that Millennials, stereotypically, are willing to bluntly discuss things like depression and anxiety. Part of that is being the first generation to grow up with evolving technology, from the internet to social media. This provided not only access to mental health resources that aren't hidden behind a paywall (as actually seeing a therapist is), but has allowed Millennials to engage with each other and share their own experiences. There's where you get conversations where people say “oh, I've always done that … I never knew that it was called executive dysfunction!” or “wait, my life doesn't feel like it looks like on those commercials, but it sounds like I'm depressed.” Knowing the names for ways that you're feeling puts you one step closer to finding helpful coping mechanisms. This video is for younger children, though, and doesn't use diagnostic terminology or talk about “coping mechanisms” in a formal way. Rather it talks about feelings. Some of us don't live on emotional roller coasters now that we're adults, and under normal circumstances are feelings are more or less limited to feelings like contentment , hungry , and drunk . For children, however (and for many adults), there's a whole spectrum of feelings that their tiny little bodies and still-developing brains cannot contain. Magnifying that is the general powerlessness of children and the fact that a lot of parents don't have a clue on how to listen to a child and know what's normal for children and what could be a sign of mental illness. So a lot of what the video talks about is how children can start conversations with their parents, teachers, and even their peers about how they've been feeling lately and what symptoms they've been experienced. But it's all handled so informally that they avoid medical jargon at all costs. It's important to note (though the video does not) that, in many cases, symptoms of mental health problems in young children can be signs of abuse of various types. This is a great way to talk about this without making abused children reflexively defensive about what's been happening to them. A child might be afraid to tell an adult what's happened to them at home, but they might not associate their trouble sleeping and stomach aches and acting out with the trauma that they are enduring. Adorably, the video even deals with how to show good listening skills if a friend comes up to talk to them about mental health. Always with the suggestion that an adult might be better equipped to help out with the problem. It's wonderful that Kate Middleton provided the introduction for this video. By lending her voice, she gives it more weight and more reach. There are too many people who still see mental health as a personal failing in which they do not see purely physical ailments. That's sad, and only education can change that. Even if you don't have kids, this video is cute: Kate We would expect nothing less from the Duchess of Cambridge. By marrying into the British Royal Family, Kate Middleton did more than just become an implied villain on Grimm . (Don't ask) She inherited a lot of responsibilities — one of which being that she'll very probably be queen in the not-so-distant future. Overall, she has an obligation to the British people — whose tax dollars include millions specifically for the royals — to use her influence and celebrity status for positive effect. One of the ways that she's doing this is by introducing this video, aimed at children, that talks about mental and emotional health. Mental health is very complicated. Until very recently, the subject was almost taboo among most people. It's been pointed out that Millennials, stereotypically, are willing to bluntly discuss things like depression and anxiety. Part of that is being the first generation to grow up with evolving technology, from the internet to social media. This provided not only access to mental health resources that aren't hidden behind a paywall (as actually seeing a therapist is), but has allowed Millennials to engage with each other and share their own experiences. There's where you get conversations where people say “oh, I've always done that … I never knew that it was called executive dysfunction!” or “wait, my life doesn't feel like it looks like on those commercials, but it sounds like I'm depressed.” Knowing the names for ways that you're feeling puts you one step closer to finding helpful coping mechanisms. This video is for younger children, though, and doesn't use diagnostic terminology or talk about “coping mechanisms” in a formal way. Rather it talks about feelings. Some of us don't live on emotional roller coasters now that we're adults, and under normal circumstances are feelings are more or less limited to feelings like contentment , hungry , and drunk . For children, however (and for many adults), there's a whole spectrum of feelings that their tiny little bodies and still-developing brains cannot contain. Magnifying that is the general powerlessness of children and the fact that a lot of parents don't have a clue on how to listen to a child and know what's normal for children and what could be a sign of mental illness. So a lot of what the video talks about is how children can start conversations with their parents, teachers, and even their peers about how they've been feeling lately and what symptoms they've been experienced. But it's all handled so informally that they avoid medical jargon at all costs. It's important to note (though the video does not) that, in many cases, symptoms of mental health problems in young children can be signs of abuse of various types. This is a great way to talk about this without making abused children reflexively defensive about what's been happening to them. A child might be afraid to tell an adult what's happened to them at home, but they might not associate their trouble sleeping and stomach aches and acting out with the trauma that they are enduring. Adorably, the video even deals with how to show good listening skills if a friend comes up to talk to them about mental health. Always with the suggestion that an adult might be better equipped to help out with the problem. It's wonderful that Kate Middleton provided the introduction for this video. By lending her voice, she gives it more weight and more reach. There are too many people who still see mental health as a personal failing in which they do not see purely physical ailments. That's sad, and only education can change that. Even if you don't have kids, this video is cute:
Donald Trump has been campaigning to receive the he Black vote, he has convinced black boxer Don King to co-sign for him recently at an appearance at a church in Cleveland, Ohio. Sign Up For Our Newsletter! King has the spotlight for “accidentally” saying the N-Word in his introduction speech for the Republican Presidential candidate, […]
Mimi’s back on the prowl… Is Mimi Faust Dating Tamera Young? Rumors are currently swirling that after her breakup with Chris… Mimi Faust has yet another girlfriend. Mimi recently posted and deleted a photo of herself and WNBA player Tamera Young looking very cozy. Fans are now wondering if the Chicago Sky player is Mimi’s new lady. What do YOU think??? More Tamera on the flip.
A lil positivity… Lunella Lafayette Named The Smartest Superhero In The Marvel Universe During San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel made an exciting announcement about the introduction of Moon Girl a.k.a. Lunella Lafayette who’s the smartest superhero in the Marvel universe. Teen VOGUE reports: Lunella is the main character in the Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur comics, which is a remake of Devil Dinosaur, a classic graphic novel that follows a T-Rex that is magically transported to modern day NYC. In the new version, Lunella replaces the original hero, Moon Boy, and she eventually teams up with the monstrous dino. Part of what makes Lunella so smart is the fact that she carries an “inhuman gene,” and she also is a skillful engineer. Just announced: Moon Girl, smartest person in the Marvel Universe?! pic.twitter.com/7MOhaqqWid — Amy Reeder (@amyreeder) July 24, 2016 BuzzFeed spoke to Marvel senior editor Mark Paniccia about what’s in store for Lunella in the upcoming issues of the series. Mark said that, “In the third arc of Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Lunella faces an impossible half-dozen science-challenges that might not only prove her smarts, but also save the world.” Just announced at SDCC: Who's the smartest in the Marvel Universe? Nope, not Reed Richards. It's Lunella Lafayette! pic.twitter.com/s3rRBKLtgm — Brandon Montclare (@bmontclare) July 24, 2016 This is awesome news, representation matters!
Remember when we told you Amber Rose would have the honor of breaking the internet for Paper Magazine this year? Well the moment has arrived, although we’re gonna leave it up to y’all to decide whether or not the internet has been broken or nah. Paper Mag just released the images along with a pretty great story on why Amber went all feminist on us this year. Here’s a shot of Amber as Rosie the Riveter: In the accompanying article she explains that she made the decision to cease being a “slut shamer, promote sex positivity and identify as a feminist following her split from Wiz: “I would look on [Wiz’s] Instagram and he would have pictures of all these women all over him… and then I would post a picture of me and my son. And people would be like, ‘Does your son know that his mother’s a whore?’” she says. “People are like, ‘Wiz is out f***ing mad bad b***hes and you’re at home crying over him because he’s the best thing that f***ing ever happened to you and now you’re just a fat, bald-headed single mother and no one will ever love you.’ So yeah, I guess months of seeing s**t like that, I was just like, ‘I can’t live like this. There’s something wrong.’” Yeah we could see how a double standard like that might make you change your views a bit…. Here’s Amber as Gloria Steinem and Dorothy Pitman Hughes Amber also tells PAPER that the first time she was called a “slut” was in the eighth grade at a party where she was playing Seven Minutes in Heaven with a group of classmates, and one of them took her in the closet and told her to get down on her knees. “That young, I didn’t know what [that] meant,” Rose pauses a second. “It just didn’t register. But he’s like, ‘No, no, I’m telling you, get down on your knees. I’ll show you something.’…And then he just opens the door, right?…And I look over at him and he has his p***s in my face, I’m on my knees — and still, girl, I swear to God, I swear on my son’s life, it still didn’t register to me why they were all gasping.” Rose says she was still a virgin and “had never even thought of giving head at that time,” she says of her introduction to slut-shaming and the lack of control women have over their own sexuality in our society. “I was so young. I fell into a depression. Everyone hated me. I was the school slut.” Poor Amber… You can read the rest about what Amber had to say about how she wishes women would stick together and taking the racism out of feminism HERE . But while you’re at it, let’s have a look at some more of the photos from the spread. Photo Credit: Paper Magazine /Charlotte Rutherford
Funkmaster Flex threw a stinging shot at Drake while spinning Meek Mill’s “Dreams and Nightmares,” the introduction track to the Philly rapper’s debut album, during…
As the Game of Thrones universe expands more and more with each season, new characters are introduced at a breakneck rate. While many shows would struggle with the task of juggling so many unique identities, GoT’s writing staff and casting department take the pains necessary to develop the denizens of Westeros into living, breathing, feeling men and women who make the unique struggles of their outlandish world relatable by revealing their humanity to the audience. Then, of course, they get their heads crushed by eight-foot human killing machines. Yes, sadly, many of the characters we fall in love with each season won’t make it to the finale, but that just makes our connection to them that much stronger. Most shows wouldn’t bother developing a fully-realized character who serves as the story’s moral compass only to chop his head off in season one , but George R.R. Martin is a sadistic SOB, and now he’s got two equally depraved showrunners to do his bidding. Here now, are the new characters that will be introduced in Game of Thrones Season 5 (premiering Sunday night) Enjoy them while you can: View Slideshow: Game of Thrones Season 5: New Cast Photos We’re excited about the introduction of Doran Martell, but then, we were jazzed about Oberyn Martell last season, and look how that turned out. Of course, we can’t complain about the characters’ uncertain futures, as it’s the writers’ willingness to lop off a beloved head at the most unexpected time that makes GoT such white-knuckle viewing. Even so, we’ll never forgive those SOBs for the Red Wedding. If you still need to get caught up in time for season 5, or if you just want to relive some of GoT’s most shocking deaths, watch Game of Thrones online at TV Fanatic.
