Welcome to MTVChallenge's Daily Discussion Thread. ☀️
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Spoilers from the set of the World Championship season can be seen 💣right here🌋; spoilers from the set of All Stars 4 can be seen 💣right here🌋; spoilers from the set of USA 2 can be seen 💣right here🌋. Spoilers from all seasons can be discussed on the TMI Tea-sday threads and Spoiled episode threads, there are no holds barred in 💣🌋 comment sections.

• Do you have a favorite mission but can't remember the episode number?
  
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• How cool was it when TJ rode his BMX alongside the finalists on Cutthroat?!
  
• Who are the best follows on social media?
  

• Any shows or movies you are dying to talk about?
  
• Can you believe what happened to [insert public figure]?!
  
• What new music are you listening to?
  
• Which sports teams are you rooting for?
  

This is your space for free chat. It can be whatever you want it to be.

Hello, everyone. The following archive is my attempt to collect the incredible work of Saga Journal, the first online academic journal created by fans to illuminate and analyze the six films of the Star Wars saga in greater depth. It really was something incredible, and reading it again now, it still is. As such, I've decided to share it here, and hopefully preserve it on the internet for all to see once more.
Created in late 2004, Saga Journal consistently published academic essays over the course of the next 4 years, and then one final time, coming to a close in 2010. Drawing on works of literature, psychoanalysis, history, and comparative media, Saga Journal featured essays written by fans with a keen eye for the layers within the films, while keeping to a submission standard of quality and style, as each essay contained a bibliography of works cited. From historical analogues to Jungian analysis, the essays often offer worthwhile insights and observations, with pieces of brilliance appearing with some regularity. The incredible effort put into creating and maintaining this journal, as well as the essays themselves, deserve to be preserved on the internet and read.
I encourage everyone to peruse the essays at your interest, and even to share or repost essays that bring you insight, here and elsewhere. I myself discovered Saga Journal through reading one fantastic essay (The Perils of Padmé by lazypadawan) and was richly rewarded by checking out the rest Saga Journal had to offer. The impressive effort of the journal was the combined work of men and women, but it should be noted it was largely the initiative of the women within the Star Wars fandom to make Saga Journal a reality. In the course of Star Wars history, such a detail is worth highlighting, as the films have always resonated a variety of audiences who themselves had much to contribute back to the saga. Without further ado, enjoy reading!

Saga Journal

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Volume 1

• Inaugural Issue ^{December 2004}
  • I Don't Think the System Works: The Politics of Anakin Skywalker by ami-padme
    • A look at the development of Anakin's political beliefs, and at how those beliefs impacted the character's journey throughout the saga.
  • But It's A Whole Nother Year! Star Wars as A Seasonal Nature Myth by FernWithy
    • Discussion of how the seasonal patterns of the saga reflect the condition of the galaxy and the characters at various points of the story.
  • The Journey As Applied To The Adventures of Luke Skywalker: Special Edition by lazypadawan
    • How the Campbellian hero's journey applies to Luke Skywalker throughout the original trilogy.
  • The Way of the Jedi: a Comparison of the Jedi Order to the Japanese Samurai by Reihla
    • Investigates the similarities and differences between the Jedi Order and the Samurai of the middle ages.

​

• Issue #1 ^{January 2005}
  • I Don't Want Things to Change: Anakin Skywalker as Trickster by Lady Aeryn
    • Examines the ways that Anakin fulfills the classic archetype of the Trickster.
  • The Two Sides of "I Killed Them" by Sarah
    • Studies the moral issues of Anakin's Tusken massacre in Attack of the Clones.
  • Midi-Chlorians and Mitochondria, a Comparison by Sgmsky
    • A look at the scientific parallels between these critical cell organelles.

​

• Issue #2 ^{February 2005}
  • Triumph Over Technology by ami-padme
    • An exploration of the Star Wars theme of humanity's struggle with technology.
  • Angels and Demons: Love and the Hero in Star Wars Episodes I & II and Spider-Man & Spider-Man 2 by Scott J. Epstein
    • Compares the approach to romance in the Star Wars prequels and the Spider-Man films.

​

• Issue #3 ^{March 2005}
  • Always Three There Are by Lady Aeryn
    • Compares the dynamics of the classic Arthurian triangle to those found within the prequel trilogy trio.
  • Counter-Insurgency and the Rise of the Empire by Sean Dineen
    • A discussion of counter-revolutionary tactics in the real world vs. the Galaxy Far, Far Away.

​

• Issue #4 ^{April 2005}
  • Princess Leia and the Woman Warrior by lazypadawan
    • An exploration of the original trilogy's archetypal heroine.
  • Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know, The Case for Anakin Skywalker as a Byronic Hero by Reihla
    • Tracks the gradual development of Anakin Skywalker as a contemporary Byronic hero.

​

• Issue #5 ^{May 2005}
  • What if Dreams Came True? by rhonderoo
    • A look at the importance of dreams in Star Wars, particularly to the character of Anakin Skywalker.
  • New Hopes: Mothers in the Star Wars Saga by Sarah
    • Discusses the place that mothers hold in the Star Wars story.

​

• Issue #6 ^{June 2005}
  • Not Another Pathetic Life Form: Jar Jar as the Holy Fool by ami-padme
    • A character study of Jar Jar Binks' role in The Phantom Menace.
  • Chosen One: the Hero Myth of Anakin Skywalker by Lady Kenobi
    • Explores how Anakin Skywalker fulfills the Hero's Journey, as described by Joseph Campbell.

​

• Issue #7 ^{July 2005}
  • Brothers and Sons: Lack of Communication in the Relationship Between Anakin Skwalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi by FernWithy
    • An in-depth look at traditional familial miscommunication between these two primary figures in the prequel trilogy.

​

• Issue #8 ^{August 2005}
  • The Perils of Padmé: The Short Life and Fast Times of a Tragic Heroine by lazypadawan
    • A study of Padmé's important and symbolic place in the prequel trilogy.
  • Perinatal Imagery in the Star Wars Trilogy by Ron Newbold
    • Explores how the original trilogy evokes the psychology of birth.

​

• Issue #9 ^{September 2005}
  • The Making of a Galactic Prince: Palpatine as a student of Machiavelli by Reihla
    • A discussion of Emperor Palpatine's rise to power, comparing and contrasting it with various aspects of Machiavelli's works and philosophies.

​

• Issue #10 ^{October 2005}
  • The Return of a Jedi: Christian Themes in Anakin Skywalker's Redemption by ami-padme
    • Examines parallels between Christian teachings on forgiveness/salvation and Anakin's return to the Light in the last chapter of the Star Wars saga.
  • The Names of Star Wars by Sarah
    • A look at the meanings behind the characters' appellations.

​

• Issue #11 ^{November 2005}
  • Star Wars: A Myth for Our Time by Andrew Gordon
    • A study of the Campbellian Hero's Journey myth, as presented in A New Hope.
  • Anakin and the Sin of Despair by Krista M. Sprecher (jedi-scholar)
    • Examines Anakin's melancholy nature and how his disbelief in his own salvation impacted him.

​

• Issue #12 ^{December 2005}
  • Birth, Death, and Rebirth in Revenge of the Sith by lazypadawan
    • A look at the cycles of life and death in the third chapter of the saga.
  • Tall, Dark and Ruthless: the Allure of Darth Vader by Reihla
    • Studies the unusual romantic appeal of the Dark Lord of the Sith.

PDF digital publication of the entire first volume of Saga Journal.

Volume 2

• Issue #1 ^{January 2006}
  • The Empire Strikes Back: Monsters from the Id by Andrew Gordon
    • Studies the darker nature of the hero myth found in the fifth episode of the saga.
  • Costumes in the Star Wars Saga by Sarah
    • An examination of the way Star Wars costumes, particularly in the prequels, reflect the characters and settings of the films.

​

• Issue #2 ^{February 2006}
  • The Romance of Anakin and Padmé by Krista M. Sprecher (jedi-scholar)
    • Explores the connections between medieval romance and the relationship between Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala.

​

• Issue #3 ^{March 2006}
  • The Queen of Naboo and The Lion of Judah: An Historical Parallel by lazypadawan
    • A comparison between Queen Amidala's tactics in The Phantom Menace and Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie's actions during the 1930s and 1940s.

​

• Issue #4 ^{April 2006}
  • “For what shall it profit a man?” -- The Conflict between the Physical and the Spiritual in Star Wars by Matril
    • Studies the tension between the physical and spiritual life as it pertains to Anakin and Luke Skywalker.

​

• Issue #5 ^{May 2006}
  • Hamlet=Star Wars: Exploring the Amalgam-Protagonist by Frank Clarke
    • An examination of the different interpretations Shakespeare's play and the Star Wars saga offer on the Campbellian hero.
  • "Handbook? What Handbook?": Mentoring the Chosen One in Star Wars and Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Lady Aeryn
    • A discussion and comparison of the relationships between mentors and their students in Star Wars and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

​

• Issue #6 ^{June 2006}
  • Following the Will of the Force: Qui-Gon Jinn as Maverick by ami-padme
    • Examines Qui-Gon's role as a unique Jedi from the prequel era.
  • “Help me take this mask off” -- Power and Redemption through Unmasking by Matril
    • A look at the symbolism of masks as it applies to different characters throughout the saga.

​

• Issue #7 ^{July 2006}
  • The Women in Anakin's Life by lazypadawan
    • Examines the role that Anakin's mother and wife play in his journey.
  • "That Boy Is Our Last Hope": Andrew, Star Wars and the Figure of the Jedi in Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Sophia van Gameren
    • Explores how falls and redemptions affect Star Wars and the Buffy television series.

​

• Issue #8 ^{August 2006}
  • “The Chosen One”: Prophecy, Destiny and Free Will in Star Wars and Harry Potter by Matril
    • A study of the meaning of prophecies in both fantasy series, and how they affect Anakin Skywalker and Harry Potter.
  • “Sins of the Father": the Slaughter of Innocents theme in Star Wars by Reihla
    • An analytical look at the slaughter of the Jedi children from a mythological and historical perspective.

​

• Issue #9 ^{September 2006}
  • The Tragedy of Star Wars by Christine Anderson
    • The prequel trilogy is analyzed as a modern example of classical Greek Tragedy. Anakin Skywalker's role as a Tragic Hero is discussed.

​

• Issue #10 ^{October 2006}
  • Sidious the Serpent by ami-padme
    • Palpatine's character as the devil figure in the Star Wars saga.
  • Thwarted by the Dark Side: Poor Leadership and Vader’s Legacy by Michelle Drumm
    • A critique of Darth Vader's managerial and leadership styles, based on the original trilogy films.

​

• Issue #11 ^{November 2006}
  • Distressing Damsel: Padmé Amidala as Fairy Tale Heroine by Lady Aeryn
    • Explores Padmé's character as an interpretation of the classic fairy tale heroine.
  • Star Wars is a Fantasy: A Critical Review by Matthew Recker
    • A look at the genre the saga falls under.

​

• Issue #12 ^{December 2006}
  • Obi-Wan Kenobi: The Crazy Old Wizard by lazypadawan
    • Explores how Obi-Wan fills the archetype of wizard during Episodes IV-VI.
  • Buddhism and Star Wars by Eli Williamson-Jones
    • Examines the connections between Star Wars and the tenets of Buddhist belief.

Volume 3

• Issue #1 ^{January 2007}
  • You'll Never Get Out of Bedford Falls: The Inescapable Family in American Science Fiction and Fantasy Films by Andrew Gordon
    • A comparison of how home and family stay with the protagonists of The Wizard of Oz, It's a Wonderful Life, the Star Wars trilogy, and the Back to the Future trilogy.
  • Dark Father: Masculinity and the Violent Cycle of Father-Son Abuse by Matril
    • Explores the inheritance of masculinity through examining the duels between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader.

​

• Issue #2 ^{February 2007}
  • Saving a Scoundrel: Han Solo and the Anti-hero's Journey by Reihla
    • Discusses the way Han Solo fits the role of the anti-hero and the path he takes to redemption in the original trilogy.
  • The Role of the Idealized Image in Anakin Skywalker’s Transition to the Dark Side by Scott Miller
    • Explores the way Anakin Skywalker seeks to fulfill his own intense need for security and how this contributes to his gradual evolution into Darth Vader.

​

• Issue #3 ^{March 2007}
  • Star Wars, Lensman, and Superheroes by Keith Palmer
    • A comparison of Star Wars with the "Lensman" series of E.E. "Doc" Smith, science fiction novels suggested as an inspiration for the saga.

​

• Issue #4 ^{April 2007}
  • Palpatine on Parliament Square: Francis Urquhart and the Star Wars Saga by Sean Dineen
    • A comparison of the political skills of Palpatine and Francis Urquhart, a fictional British Prime Minister in Michael Dobbs' House of Cards novel trilogy.

​

• Issue #5 ^{May 2007}
  • Where Loyalties Lie by ami-padme
    • Explores the nature of Anakin Skywalker's loyalty and how it affects his fall and redemption.

​

• Issue #6 ^{June 2007}
  • It Takes Two: Luke, Leia and the Mythology of Twins by ami-padme
    • A study of the significance of twins in ancient stories, and how that history is reflected in the Skywalker children.

​

• Issue #7 ^{July 2007}
  • Kind Enough To Offer Us Shelter: Hospitality In The Star Wars Saga by lazypadawan
    • An exploration of the symbolic significance of the various hospitality/meal-sharing scenes throughout the saga.

​

• Issue #8 ^{August 2007}
  • "A Failure to Listen:" Lucas's Fable of the Fall of Democracy by Matril
    • This essay analyzes how a lack of communication in government can be destructive by discussing the ways in which it contributed to the downfall of the Galactic Republic.

​

• Issue #9 ^{September 2007}
  • Star Wars: A Cinematic Phenomenon by Rebecca Thomas
    • The author explores many of the factors surrounding the production of Star Wars, from mythology to effects to music, that led to its transformation from a dark horse project into one of the most influential movies and memorable fairy tales of all-time.

​

• Issue #10 ^{October 2007}
  • The Orphan Strikes Back: The Significance Of Luke Skywalker’s Origins by Reihla
    • This paper offers a look at the mythological hero who begins life as an orphan and explores possible reasons for George Lucas's use of that plot device in relationship to Star Wars hero Luke Skywalker.

​

• Issue #11 ^{November 2007}
  • From Traveler to Journeying Hero by Keith Palmer
    • Some comparisons between the Campbellian hero's journey and travelling in the Star Wars saga.

​

• Issue #12 ^{December 2007}
  • The Heart of the Matter: Padmé, Luke, and the Role of Compassion in Star Wars by ami-padme
    • Looks at the role Padmé and Luke's compassion for Anakin (and for others) plays in the films.

Volume 4

• Issue #1 ^{January 2008}
  • "I Can't Live Without Her": The destruction and re-emergence of the sacred feminine in the Star Wars saga by Lady Aeryn
    • Examines the symbolism of the feminine within the Star Wars saga, charting the imagery of its destruction and rebirth.

​

• Issue #2 ^{February 2008}
  • Fire and Water: Anakin and Padmé by lazypadawan
    • A look at the archetypes Anakin and Padmé fulfill as individuals and as a couple.

​

• Issue #3 ^{March 2008}
  • Caring Too Much: the Hero's Conundrum by Matril
    • The author explores the challenge of what a hero should do when faced with the choice between saving people he loves or serving the greater good.

​

• Issue #4 ^{April 2008}
  • The Shame of a Galaxy: One Perspective on Slavery in the Star Wars Saga by Reihla
    • Examines slavery in the Star Wars universe, considering its purpose as a plot device and explores its crucial role in the rise and fall of Anakin Skywalker.
  • Between Reality and Mythos by Sean Dineen
    • Compares many aspects of the Star Wars saga to the autobiographical journey of a disabled girl in The Broken Hoof.

​

• Issue #5 ^{May 2008}
  • THX 1138: The First Draft of Star Wars by Keith Palmer
    • Explores the elements of Lucas' first film in terms of its similarities with, and influence upon, the Star Wars saga.

Volume 5

• Issue #1 ^{January 2010}
  • Once Upon a Galaxy Far, Far Away: Star Wars as Fairy Tale by Matril ^{(no link})
    • A look at the fairy tale elements of the saga.

Other Features

The Star Wars Saga Discovering Star Wars: Fan Stories Other Academic Star Wars Essays
Reviews (documentaries, books, & more) Links of Note
Editorial Team Submission Guidelines/Call for Papers About Saga Journal

Advice needed, it's quite a spicy case (and long): Three days ago i met a woman. I already knew that she also has bipolar diagnosis and is a writer, that's why we met. So, we met in the park beside a beautiful pavilion next to a lake. Birds were singing, beautiful late May summer weather, i brought a blanket and we sat down. We immediately started talking about our bipolar experiences and couldn't stop for 5 hours. We agreed and related on so many things. Although our stories are different, there were so many points that were strikingly similar, we almost couldn't believe it. Both of us expressed how relieving and safe it felt talking to each other. We were laughing so much, it started hurting when evening came. We agreed to meet the day after again and did the same thing for a second time. We both were nervous and excited to meet again, but all the anxiety was blown away and replaced by the same feeling of connectedness and safety once we saw each other again. I brought her an unpublished book i wrote during my last mania and she brought me hers. She's a published author and kind of a prodigy, published a very successful book with 19 years old already. This time we started cuddling a little and hugging intimately in the end. She told me that she feels no fear or anxiety when she's with me and i told her the same. I also told her about my fear of falling in love and thus triggering an episode. She told me about her traumatic experience with sexual abuse, we agreed on being super careful with everything that might happen in the future between us. Needless to say, she is beautiful, tender, funny, witty, highly intelligent. The experience really blew me away a bit. I fantasized about having a bipolar girlfriend before, but always thought it to be a bad idea. I've met many other people with bipolar before, but never had such a feeling (nobody so far i was romantically interested in..). I already started noticing that the experience with her is so intense that i had a hard time thinking about anything different. My eating behavior changed, i felt a slight high after meeting her. Alarm alarm. I slept 7 and 6 hours the last two nights, which still is almost ok-ish. Then i read her book yesterday. It's about classical music, my greatest passion.. But not only that, it's about creativity, intuition, love, resistance, the will to change politics and institutions, about pride and anger, mourning and fear. It's a really good book. It touched me so much how sensitive she could write about music, a couple of sentences went right into the heart. I cried reading the last twenty pages. I started dreaming about what could be possible if we two really fell in love with each other. We could do so many things together, we would complement each other so freaking well, it's almost bewildering. All the time i was fully aware of my feelings and reactions, tried not to let go too much, be realistic, be calm, be collected. It works, almost. But, here comes the evil twist: When we met i knew that she was the half-hidden affair of my best friend and roommate for about a year. I knew he wanted to end it for a long time as he is raising a child with his girlfriend, also my roommate. He told me and her that the affair has ended a couple of months ago (the two have a non-monogamous relationship, but his girlfriend asked him to end the affair as she didn't feel comfortable with it anymore). The second day i met the woman she told me that their affair hadn't ended at all. It was ongoing secretly and she said that she still is heavily emotionally invested in it, even though she is very unhappy about him making her an affair. She also told me that she feels no fear with me, but does so with him. We tried to avoid the conversation about him as far as possible, as i don't want to get into some strange middle-position within their affair / relationship. But yeah, i doesn't feel good at all. She is very unhappy, almost heartbroken and from what I know my friend does not really treat her well. At least she doesn't feel it. She feels kind of degraded by remarks of him and also when he talks to me about her i sometimes notice that it's not entirely respectful. To me it feels as if the two have a all but healthy affair, which in some way even interacts with the dynamic of the abuse she told me about. (The latter is my interpretation.)
Soooooooooo, what do I do here?? It's so fucked up, falling in love alone would be a challenge enough, falling in love with a bipolar partner even more so - but: falling in love with a bipolar woman that is the secret affair of my roommate?? I start to feel anger towards him (i asked if he read her book - he said: she writes me so many letters, that's already enough prose i read from her..). He sleeps with this beautiful woman and writer for a year and doesn't even bother to read her novel? Obviously, there is now competition between us and I'm very afraid of what this constellation could turn into in the future. Living with them has provided me with a lot of stability after a horrendous crash-mania that ended one year ago. I was thinking about moving out before, so maybe that's really the best option now. But i didn't want to push it, for concerns about my stability. It's really quite fucked up. I'm in therapy weekly and was to supposed to see my psychiatrist in a couple of days, but today he canceled because he's sick. I'm still far from loosing stability, I'm very calm right now, I even don't feel any pressure or unsurmountable desire to meet her again soon, but I'm shaken by the beautiful experience with her.
I told her about my feelings yesterday and also about my cluelessness as how to proceed. Told her that her and my stability has priority and that i don't want to interfere with what's going on between them. She answered that she doesn't know how to react, but my message made her happy.
Did anybody here ever fall in love with another bipolar person? Is it possible without triggering a mutual (hypo-)manic episode? Should i better run? Go for it? Something in between? Can someone relate to the feeling of mutual understanding, safety and empathy? Bonus question: How do i navigate this opera-like constellation with my friend? He knows about my feelings as well as my concerns, so far no conflict broke out between us, but i can already clearly see how this will turn out if i became manic now. The potential of the situation feels highly volatile.

Ladies and gentlemen, I dare say we've witnessed one of the greatest tributes to the late Kobe Bryant that basketball has ever seen. The Boston Celtics - yes, you heard right, the Boston Celtics - orchestrated an unforgettable Game 7 loss to the Miami Heat that would have made the Mamba himself shed a tear of appreciation.
First, let us discuss the man of the hour, Jaylen Brown. Kobe was an artist with the ball, and Brown sought to honor him in the most unconventional way. He thought, "Why not let the ball free?" Thus, he generously gave the ball to the Heat, not once, not twice, but eight times! The elegance of his turnovers was only matched by his uncanny tribute to Kobe's 6 for 24 shooting performance in the 2010 Game 7 NBA Finals, with his own impressive 1 for 7 from the three-point line. Round of applause for Jaylen, the Picasso of turnovers【13†source】【23†source】【26†source】.
Moving on to our second star, Jayson Tatum. Last year, Tatum had texted Kobe's old number, promising "I got you today". Fast forward to today, and boy did he deliver! Playing through an injured ankle (Kobe would be proud), he went for a 5-13 shooting spree from the field. Tatum, your dedication to performance art does not go unnoticed.
Of course, the entire Celtics roster deserves a standing ovation. They truly embodied the Mamba Mentality - daring to fail and not being afraid to take risks. A total of 15 turnovers and a 39.8% field goal percentage are proof of their daring spirit. And let's not forget the pièce de résistance - they managed to trail by a record 33 points at one point in the game. A subtle nod to Kobe's jersey number? I think so.
So, to the untrained eye, it might seem like the Celtics lost Game 7. But to those who truly appreciate the intricacies of the sport, it's clear that they won. They won our admiration for their unparalleled dedication to honoring one of the greatest players in the history of basketball.
I mean, who wouldn't want to honor Kobe by preventing the Celtics from adding another ring to their collection? And for those who think this theory is too far-fetched, well, perhaps you just don't understand the depth of the game.
Here's to the Celtics, for showing us what it truly means to honor the great Kobe Bryant. Next season can't come soon enough. We're all waiting to see what genius tribute they'll come up with next.

Hello, I have been tasked with organising a Staff Christmas party, so I am looking for venue ideas.

1. Our office is located in the Docklands area, so anywhere at walking distance.
   
2. No budget per se, but we need some entertainment and must include alcohol. Also 3-4 course meal with welcome drinks, that kind of stuff. Live music would be great.
   
3. We are a small group of 13 people, so looking for a shared space.
   
4. On a Thursday.
   

​
Thank you

1) Binance
Binance NFT marketplace is a platform to create, buy, and sell NFTs (Non-fungible tokens). It was launched in June 2021.
These NFT assets include music, digital items, videos, website domains, and real-world objects. It also allows users to transfer NFTs between 2 blockchains.
​
2) Crypto.com
Crypto.com is a leading NFT marketplace that offers users a safe, secure, and reliable way to buy, sell, and trade their digital assets. Over 150,000 items have been traded on Crypto.com’s marketplace. It supports PEG, JPG, PNG, GIF, WEBP. MP4 formats. Enables creators to earn royalties on resales.
​
3) OpenSea
OpenSea is one of the famous marketplaces for NFT art and collectibles. In this NFT platform, you will find rare forms of art like virtual land or pets. OpenSea also allows you to buy NFTs using several virtual currencies, like ETH and DAI.
​
4) Nifty Gateway
Nifty Gateway is an NFT marketplace that releases collections from top artists using drops. These collections are accessible only for a limited period.
On this NFT website, you can view the timer showing when the next drop will take place. Artists can decide the royalty fee they will take on secondary sales. This NFT platform takes a 20% fee plus 30 Cents from each secondary sale.
​
5)GGtoro
GGtoro is a Gaming Exchange , where traders can import their web2 assets to web3. Trade, Lend, Borrow & Stake their game assets and receive crypto to phone numbeemail address.
​
6) Foundation
Foundation is a platform for uniting artists, curators, and collectors. This NFT platform helps content creators to view the list of current bids made by investors in Ethereum. This NFT marketplace also has a list of Featured Artworks.
All the auctions on this NFT online platform have an automatic timer attached to them. Moreover, artists can check out popular creators. They will receive details about their joining period, number of creations, followers, social media profile links, website URL, etc. You can only make payments using Ethereum on this platform.
​
​
7) SuperRare
SuperRare is an NFT site that mainly focuses on being a marketplace for people to buy and sell unique and single-edition digital artworks. An artist authentically creates each artwork in the network, which is tokenized as a crypto-collectible digital item.
​
8) Solanart
Solanart is an NFT site that allows you to browse the collection and buy the NFT you want. It also allows you to easily sell the NFTs of the collections listed on Solanart. This NFT platform charges a 3% marketplace fee on the selling price of every transaction.
​
9) Decentraland
Decentraland is a fully decentralized virtual world where you can create and make money on the things you make and own.
This NFT marketplace offers a range of digital assets, like wearables, estates, names, etc. You can buy and sell virtual lands in Decentraland, personalize your properties, and store them in a smart contract based on Ethereum.
​
10) NBA Top Shot
NBA Top Shot is a widely popular marketplace owned by the NBA, launched in 2020. It allows you to buy their special NBA highlights, and you can own them as a digital collectible. This NFT marketplace also provides a certification that gives the buyer authenticity and ownership rights of that exclusive moment.

Hi ! I recently started streaming because I'm stuck at home. I have pretty extreme social anxiety that has caused me to stay in my house for the last 9 months or so, as well as being physically disabled (knee injury that has made every day extremely painful, chronic illness, etc) as well as other physical health issues, and I've found streaming as a way to feel a little more out there. I stream many different games, mostly Tekken 7, Taiko no Tatsujin, Fortnite, and Overwatch, as well as a bunch of smaller titles. I don't really use social media, so I don't advertise myself and figured I'd give it a shot and post something here. I don't play super serious, and I love to chat with people that stop by to view my stream :) Please, come check me out! twitch.tv/ablayerrr74

LPL 2023 SUMMER

Official page Leaguepedia Liquipedia Eventvods.com New to LoL

LGD Gaming 0-2 Invictus Gaming

LGD Leaguepedia Liquipedia Website Twitter Facebook IG Leaguepedia Liquipedia Website Twitter Facebook Subreddit

MATCH 1: LGD vs. IG

Winner: Invictus Gaming in 31m MVP: Cryin (1) Match History Game Breakdown

	Bans 1	Bans 2	G	K	T	D/B
LGD	lucian vi neeko	gwen jinx	55.1k	12	1	H2 I3 H4 B7 B9
IG	ksante zeri maokai	gragas fiora	62.6k	28	7	HT1 O5 O6 O8

LGD	12-28-25	vs	28-12-80	IG
fearness malphite 3	2-5-5	TOP	6-5-9	4 sylas YSKM
Meteor graves 3	4-5-4	JNG	3-3-14	2 rengar Tianzhen
haichao annie 2	2-6-6	MID	12-2-13	1 ahri Cryin
Envyy aphelios 1	4-5-4	BOT	6-1-20	3 xayah Ahn
Jinjiao nautilus 2	0-7-6	SUP	1-1-24	1 milio Wink

MATCH 2: IG vs. LGD

Winner: Invictus Gaming in 43m Match History

	Bans 1	Bans 2	G	K	T	D/B
IG	ksante gragas zeri	malphite fiora	83.5k	20	11	I2 CT4 C8 C11
LGD	milio vi jayce	lucian xayah	84.2k	17	5	H1 H3 B5 C6 B7 C9 B10

IG	20-17-38	vs	17-20-26	LGD
YSKM jax 2	6-4-7	TOP	7-6-2	3 kennen fearness
Tianzhen maokai 1	2-4-7	JNG	4-2-7	4 wukong Meteor
Cryin tristana 2	10-4-5	MID	3-6-7	1 annie haichao
Ahn jinx 3	2-3-8	BOT	3-3-3	1 aphelios Envyy
Wink braum 3	0-2-11	SUP	0-3-7	2 nautilus Jinjiao

This thread was created by the Post-Match Team.

So I'm still watching with my family and after a long 2 week hiatus we finally made it to the season 1 finale, because we had another holiday.
I think by now everyone is pretty deep into in the story, so the wild theories and the chatter has quieted down (most importantly: everyone is finally shutting up for Stiles scenes. Sometimes.), but there were some highlights, like

• this time even my sister was fooled when Derek got shot "dead" by Kate, but my brother confidently said "nah, he doesn't die, his amazing pecs heal faster"
  
• my mom, after 12 episodes of swooning, asking "Which one was Derek again?" The hot one, mom. The one we have as our group chat picture.
  
• She was utterly disappointed when he became the Alpha. "Great. Now he is bad", she said grumpily. There was a big discussion if all Alphas are automatically bad (my brother said they just get bad because the power gets to their head), but my mom was sure that Derek was lost to the dark side now.
  
• by episode 11 everyone hated Kate to the point were someone said "I've never looked forward to someone being killed so much" (I forgot who it was)
  
• the discussions around what Deaton is: A fairy. A powerful alien being. A vampire. An evil scientist who does evil research on dogs.
  
• How did Peter even get into the winter ball?
  
• my brother thinks Peter is so Gen X for not knowing about tracking someones phone
  
• there was much confusion when Scott told Derek that Peter killed Laura on purpose showing him the picture of the deer as proof and I couldn't really clear that up either. What did the deer have to do with it?
  
• All in all it's just very funny to listen to everyone being super emotionally captivated while at the same time painfully aware of the teen show cliches. When Allison and Scott in his wolf form embraced in the end, my aunt was shedding a tear, my sister half sarcastically half almost crying said "aww, now she is falling in love with this side of him too" while my brother just laughed his ass off about Scott still looking like a goblin.
  

My mom thinks we will be done with the show by christmas, so I'll keep you posted.

I am nearly finished season 1.
I like the world building and narration and everything, but so far haven't found anything remotely scary. Episode 7 was the only one with mildly creepy vibes.
I will still keep listening but I am just wondering if it ever becomes a straight up horror with genuinely scary episodes?
I still haven't really found anything that scratches the MAG itch, but this is often mentioned.
Again, it's a good quality podcast but I'm not scared yet.

What are your top 10 d12 songs ? Still obsessed with the d12 era. My top 10 are: 1. Revelation 2. Rap Game 3. How Come 4. Quitter 5. Fight Music 6. When The Music Stops 7. Purple Pills 8. My Band 9. Under The Influence 10. No Ones Iller

25 years old, 67 kilos.
I recently found out about the existence of this combo to replicate MDMA with this combo that claimed to have less after-effects and no emotional downside so I decided to give it a try.
00:00 I took a whole pill.
00:20 I start to feel tingling in my body, I think it's a placebo because I don't usually get high that fast.
00:35 definitely not placebo anymore, I feel a tingling and pleasure in my body, my skin is very sensitive to everything, typing on my computer I feel that the keys are massaging my fingers, I take advantage of this sensitivity to take a shower while the peak is coming. Feeling the water on my body was awesome.
01:00 I start to feel a great euphoria and I see the colors very vibrant, the sky is spectacular, I feel like sharing with my friends how I feel and I write to them, I am very open to talk to people, here comes my first appreciation of difference with respect to MDMA: I feel my euphoria more controlled, I am not a slave of that euphoria, I feel it more "clean" as if I was more in control. I feel very hot suddenly, my forehead is hot, I pour cold water on my face.
​
1:30 All the effects are intensified, I am reaching the peak and it is spectacular, lots of positive feelings, introspection, I decide to walk my dog and go for a walk around the neighborhood, before leaving I took half a pill more because I read that it was not good to redose too late.
​
3:00 the effects are maintained, it is being spectacular, I definitely feel like I have more control than with MDMA, it starts to get dark so I go back home to listen to music until the night comes, I took it too late stuck at bedtime, but nothing happens for being a bad boy one night.
​
5:00 I'm still feeling the intense effects, not as intense as 2 hours ago but I'm still definitely high, the effect is longer, I start listening to music, I have interesting visuals when I let my eyes stay still, not as intense as LSD of course but as if it was a low dose of it.
​
7:00 I start to be very tired, it was hard for me to fall asleep, probably because of taking it late obviously and the effect of the 2-FMA. In the end I fell asleep around 3:00 a.m. (my first dose was exactly at 18:00).
​
The next day I only feel a little tired, the normal thing of going to bed late, I don't feel down at all, I don't feel that the drug is "still" in me, with MDMA if I feel it the next day as if it was lowering my mood, it has been a very cool experience and from now on I prefer it to MDMA in my personal opinion, in a few months I will try it again in a more social environment and see how it goes! But it has exceeded my expectations.

This Christmas I got noise canceling headphones and when I take them off I find I’m overstimulated.
I sleep with them and rarely take them off unless necessary for bathing, driving, work.
The second I can I have them on, I do. Even when I’m sleeping. I don’t know how I got through it before that.
Same thing with my heat pack. I use it whenever I can. Even during the 100°+ summer. I used to have a microwave one. I had a microwave in my room specifically for it and would heat it up a dozen times a night. Now I have an electric one which I’ll turn on multiple times in the middle of the night when it turns off automatically.
I use it when I eat, sleep, anything. I’ll stay in bed all day to use it. I bought a fan just to keep from overheating. It just feels necessary
I also have the same problem with my fan now. 24/7 also during the winter. it’s all caused a lot of issues. It feels wrong and uncomfortable when it’s not there.

Example: Football, 1 national title, 3 SEC championships, 7 sec east championships, 11-1 or 12-0 regular season

Outdoor decorations are very common in Christmas season. All of them very like to decorate their outdoor with decorations. When you are decorating your outdoor, lightning is also very important. Specially the power connection should be considered. Choosing the nearest power connection will be very easy for you. Using the nearest outlet also will help to lightning outdoor decorations. you can prevent electrical shock and protect your home's electrical system , if you the decorations into nearest outdoor connection. Also to decorate outdoors the extension cords can be used. However when you are going to use these extension cords , it is better to use heavy-duty extension cords which are suitable for outdoors. The next thing is using bulb that are powered with solar power. They are not consuming electric power , so they are very cheap, also very adorable. There are light bulbs with batteries, so once you charge them you can use them or longtime. As I think they also very easy and comfortable to use. These rechargeable light bulbs prevent your outdoor from messing up with wires. In this way there are many things that you can follow up to take power for lightning your outdoor Christmas decorations.

Can we get our portrait painted by Picasso, Da Vinci, or Ravi Varma? If you had asked me this question couple of years ago, the answer would have been straight NO. Come 2023, for the same question the answer is an astounding YES. Though it could not be accurately painted by them, it would be an approximate representation. How is that possible? What made that possible? The answer is Generative AI or G-AI for short.
When Microsoft came up with an upgraded user-friendly version of Windows paint in 1995 it was a big boon for artists. It opened up different paint applications that changed the entire art landscape. But still, those apps needed an artist to draw them, but with G-AI you don’t need to be an artist. If you can word it rightly, G-AI will be able to draw or paint it for you.
Yes, Artificial Intelligence has taken a big leap with Generative AI, the technology disruptor of the year 2022. G-AI has broken into the 100 billion-dollar creative or creator industry.

What is Generative AI?

Artificial intelligence has taken a leap with a machine learning subfield that quickly and convincingly creates original content ranging from images and artwork to poetry, music, text, video, dialogue, and even computer code quickly and convincingly. The output is so impressive that it is becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate between human-created and AI-created.
If you ask McKinsey, What is Generative AI, their answer will be along these lines. Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms (such as ChatGPT) that can be used to create new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos.
These G-AI tools are expert imitators of human ingenuity. They have been trained on countless millions of human artifacts, including books, articles, sketches, paintings, movies, and anything else that can be stored in large-scale databases. With only data patterns, these generative AI tools are capable of producing new works of content that are unique and astounding despite this.
Let us take a look at how the most creative fields of arts have been disrupted with Generative AI. Open AI-based image generation tools, like DALL-E 2, Stable Diffusion, and Midjourney are taking the art world by storm. These apps are so easy to use and can so quickly produce extraordinary results that they have sent shockwaves through the art community. These apps can churn out a wide range of artistic options in just minutes based on a simple text prompt.
As per OpenAI, DALL-E is used by over 1.5 million people to generate over two million images every day. Midjourney has almost two million members, whereas Stable Diffusion has over ten million daily users.

Why is Generative AI important?

1. It can produce entirely new data that doesn’t exist anywhere. Think about the countless opportunities for exploration and research!
   
2. It can enhance current algorithms by producing training data for fresh neural networks or making cutting-edge architectures.
   
3. It functions as a machine that creates better machines. (Scary!!!)
   

Generative AI — An overview

The two prominent frameworks of generative AI: are Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) and Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT).

Generative Adversarial Network (GAN)

GANs are neural networks competing to find an equilibrium between the two: a generator and a discriminator.
The task of creating fresh data or content that closely resembles the source data falls to the generator network.
It is the responsibility of the discriminator network to distinguish between the source and generated data to determine which is closest to the original data.
GANs learn by playing cooperative zero-sum games. They are commonly utilized in the creation of images, videos, and voices.
There are three main steps in GAN training for images are:

1. Choose a few real pictures from the training collection.
   
2. Create several fake images by sampling random noise vectors and using the generator to produce images from them.
   
3. Using both fake and real images, train the discriminator for one or more epochs.
   

Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT)

A Generative Pretrained Transformer (GPT) is a kind of large language model (LLM) that generates human-like text using deep learning. They are referred to as “generative” because they generate new text based on the received input. It is referred to as “pretrained” because they are trained on a large amount of text data for specific tasks, and referred to as “transformers” because they process the received input and generate output with the help of a transformer-based neural network.
We have already heard many exciting stories about GPT-3 use cases, the prominent one being Chat — GPT
Transformer applications are used for Text (Generation, Summarization, Classification), Language translation, Querying, Search, etc.

Impact of Generative AI

1. Never before Creativity

Generative AI will be able to make complex works of art, heartfelt poetry, and original music. It doesn’t transform regular people into accomplished artists, but it bestows on a large number of people a new superpower — a visual vocabulary. Many more people will be able to express their creative ideas in ways that previously were only possible for those with formal training.

2. Coding made Accessible

Generative AI innovations can translate natural human language into programming code, essentially turning our practical intentions into complex pieces of software. 40 percent of the code in some popular programming languages can be generated by G-AI, a figure that is set to increase.

3. 24 x 7 Co-worker

G — AI helps us do our jobs better. From creating music to coding assistance, industries from construction to healthcare, technology to law, could potentially benefit from G-AI. It has the potential to augment and amplify human capability, enabling people to spend less time on repetitive tasks. These models will also democratize access to AI and we will have a more diverse group of people able to participate in the creation of technology.

4. Faster Iterative process

Generative AI assists designers in iterating on product concepts, and writers in generating initial drafts of press releases, essays, and scripts, visual design-heavy posters, video editing, and more. It enables knowledge workers to devote more time to higher-order cognitive tasks. As a result, the iteration cycle is accelerated as humans adjust and perfect the AI’s work in a joyful, iterative, and collaborative process.

5. Making Work Enjoyable

G-AI tools for programmers have the potential to vastly improve the overall work experience. Developers are stating that G-AI helps them stay in the flow and keeps their minds sharper during what used to be boring and repetitive tasks. This also extends to low-code and no-code tools that are opening new potential across job functions, roles, and processes.

Conclusion

In their 2022 Emerging Technologies and Trends Impact Radar study, Gartner listed generative AI as one of the most disruptive and quickly developing technologies.
In comparison to the current level of less than 1%, generative AI is anticipated to produce 10% of all data and 20% of all test data for consumer-facing applications by 2025. Additionally, by 2025, it will be utilized in 50% of initiatives for drug research and development. 30% of manufacturers will use it to enhance their product development process by 2027.
The unprecedented level of human-machine collaboration is in going to be full-fledged and the game is now open to whoever will integrate generative AI into their business process.
This post was originally published in: https://www.purpleslate.com/generative-ai-here-is-everything-you-need-to-know/