The Chicago Journal

Dion Coopwood’s Dominate the Decade Helps Communities Achieve Financial Freedom

What is most remarkable about accomplished individuals from modest origins is how they have worked to defeat odds and manifest their dreams into existence. Setting an example for other dreamers, they are trailblazers that harness the power of initiative and commitment. For example, Dion Coopwood, aka Mr. Phenomenal Power, is a successful financial literacy advisor.

Growing up on the Southside of Chicago did not make Dion’s life out of silver platters and spoons. “Growing up in Chicago, we understand that it was not easy. Life just necessarily was not fair. I grew up in a broken home. Did not have my dad, no relationship there, probably met him about four or five times, to be honest with you.” he says on the show Inside The Vault with AshCash on the Earn Your Leisure Youtube channel. Nevertheless, equipped with a life that echoes with most people, Dion is currently on a better pedestal, enjoying a life made all more precious because he achieved incredible heights after clambering from the deep trenches of life. 

As he navigated his path through these challenges, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the Southern Illinois University in Carbondale in 2008. He further enhanced his people skills with extensive customer service experience and his long term as a Store Manager for two different telecommunication companies. In addition, he also acted as the Regional Marketing Director for Capital Choice Financial Group, receiving numerous distinctions and awards within his four-year employment.

Happily married to his wife and blessed with three children, Dion is also a devout family man. He looks after his mom until today and ensures he gives back to the community and the important people around him. “Even though I did not have a relationship with a [father figure] growing up and somebody to show me the way, I am going to allow that situation to motivate and inspire me to be the best father figure, the best individual I can be to my family,” Dion says.

For over six years, Dion has been a financial literacy educator. With this extensive experience, he established Dominate the Decade University; a mentorship company committed to educating the community on how to form a successful entrepreneurial venture through financial literacy and mentorship. “I started Dominate the Decade to impact the culture from a financial perspective, to help people learn how to leverage the bank’s money so you can live the lifestyle you deserve and start, grow, or scale a business,” he mentioned on a recent Facebook post.

The venture mainly concentrates on the significance of mentorship regardless of someone’s socioeconomic status or financial state. The lessons they teach equips individuals with the importance of “A coach to guide you. Someone who will tell you how to run the play.” as Dion puts it. At its root essence, Dominate the Decade help individuals, entrepreneurs, and small business owners understand how to enhance their credit rapidly and establish business credit, so they can leverage both to start, grow, and scale a business and live the lifestyle they deserve.

Mr. Phenomenal Power continuously helps numerous businesses and individuals obtain their objectives and ambitions by arming them with knowledge on how credit and money work via financial literacy—teaching Personal credit, business credit, business funding, Tradelines and last but not least, manufacturing spending.

Dion has his social media accounts, and more information about Dominate the Decade is on its website.

FIFA+ Collect, FIFA and Algorand’s NFT platform collaboration leading to the 2022 World Cup

Recently, football’s global governing body, FIFA, announced that it will launch an NFT platform with football-themed digital collectibles.

The announcement came in time as the 2022 World Cup approaches.

FIFA+ Collect

The FIFA NFT platform will be called FIFA+ Collect and will be launched at the end of this month.

The platform offers affordable, accessible and inclusive NFTs that showcase some of the best moments of this beautiful sport.

Once the World Cup takes place in Qatar at the end of November, moments from the world football tournament will likely be transformed into digital collectibles.

FIFA Commercial Director Romy Gai released a statement stating:

“Just like sports memorabilia and stickers, this is an accessible opportunity for fans around the world to engage with their favorite players, moments, and more on new platforms.”

Blockchain

FIFA+ Collect runs on the Algorand blockchain, a proof-of-stake alternative to Ethereum and Solana.

The Algorand blockchain was developed by MIT professor Silvio Micali.

In May, the Algorand blockchain made FIFA its lead partner in a timely World Cup deal.

The deal covers the Women’s World Cup 2023 and takes it a long way on the FIFA+ Collect platform with momentum.

Blockchain has taken a narrow and more defined approach to partnership agreements, rather than casting a wide net in the hope of reaching an agreement.

Outside of FIFA, sports facilities in the blockchain ecosystem are largely inactive, with limited exposure to transactions involving less physical sports like chess and drone racing.

Algorand

The blockchain platform made headlines earlier this year after acquiring Napster, a digital music sharing service.

It also partnered with LimeWire, one of the first peer-to-peer music sharing services, to launch a music-centric NFT market with songs from Universal Music Group-affiliated artists.

Despite the size of their deal, Algorand will not be alone in Doha.

In early March, Crypto.com announced that it would be the exclusive sponsor of the World Cup.

However, the company could limit its sports partnership program.

Last week, the company reportedly dropped a $495 million sponsorship deal with UEFA, the European Champions League.

More information

Details of the FIFA + Collect collections will be announced as soon as they are released. NFT-like teasers will also be released during the World Cup.

In addition, the NFT platform will also be streamed on FIFA+, the organization’s platform for football news, live matches and original content.

References:

FIFA launches NFT platform on Algorand in run-up to World Cup

FIFA to launch new NFT platform in partnership with Algorand

NBA report: Lonzo Ball’s knee issue remains a thorn in the Bulls side

According to reports, Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball may miss training camp as he remains a doubt for the start of the regular season.

Ball is currently dealing with lingering pain after his left meniscus surgery, according to Ramon Shelburne and Jamal Collier of ESPN.

The surgery

Lonzo Ball’s surgery took place in January, repairing his injury.

Sources reported that Ball’s knee remains structurally intact, but he continued to experience lingering pain while he rehabbed on the West coast.

Initially, the Bulls guard had a six-to eight-week timeframe to recover, but Ball’s knee didn’t recover in time for him to return to the team for the home stretch of the season.

Earlier reports

In mid-July, NBC Sports Chicago made a similar report, saying Ball’s rehabilitation efforts involved starts and stops.

Ball reportedly experienced discomfort while trying to increase his workload.

The report coincided with the Bulls’ statement wherein vice president Artūras Karnišovas spoke on an NBA TV broadcast of a summer league game.

He said that Ball is “getting better — probably not at the speed that we would like. But he’s getting better.”

Read also: Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls leadership style a big influence on Stephen Curry

Positive sentiments

NBC Sports Chicago shared two positive updates during the tapings of the Bulls Talk Podcast where they discussed Lonzo Ball.

The Bulls have faith in Ball, and it was apparent when Karnišovas aggressively pursued him in the 2021 offseason.

The team ended up forfeiting a second-round pick after the NBA ruled it held premature discussions with a representative ahead of the execution of his sign-and-trade agreement.

Lonzo Ball

Lonzo Ball’s recovery may be a major blow to the upcoming season as the management hopes for improved health and core continuity to revive the Eastern Conference-leading attack.

The Bulls have worked with Ball’s specialists this offseason and remain confident that Ball will continue to progress.

His knee also underwent a procedure in 2018 when the guard played for the Lakers, and it remains structurally sound.

Instead, it is the bone bruise that predates the January meniscus tear that has riddled Ball’s rehabilitation.

Read also: Despite progress, Chicago Bears are still wary of their offensive line

Chicago Bulls

Lonzo Ball was signed to the Bulls for four seasons.

The Bulls added depth at the point guard position when they signed veteran Goran Dragić in free agency.

They also kept Coby White despite fielding trade offers that didn’t move the needle for management.

Meanwhile, Caruso and Ayo Dosunmu will play prominent roles in the backcourt rotation.

If Ball remains sidelined, rookie Dalen Terry could find his opening to start in his place.

Reference:

Bulls’ Lonzo Ball doubtful for start of NBA season, per report

Bulls taking long view regarding Lonzo Ball’s lingering knee issue

How Burtons Grill & Bar Is Picking Up Speed

Burtons Grill & Bar opened earlier in 1990 and is one of the oldest in the industry. Burton’s has a great management team that strives for excellence and service above all else. “We believe in performance-based awards,” says Richard Burton, and that is precisely what Burton does. They are always looking at new ways to keep their customers coming back for more, which is reflected in the success of their restaurants.

Burton’s is a family-owned chain of restaurants started by brothers Stephen and Richard Burton. Their goal was to bring casual dining to the masses in an upscale setting at affordable prices. They say they have succeeded, but it wasn’t easy. Richard says the competition is tough, but he’s not about to stop. “We’ve got our eye on the ball, and I feel like we’re set for the next 20 years.”

When it comes to competition, Burton’s has a lot of it. Some more established chains might even be jealous of Burton’s success. “Everyone is doing well,” Burton says. “That means that in this economy, we’re all making money.

Burtons Grill & Bar insights

Burton’s Grill & Bar is a fast-casual, family-style restaurant specializing in grilled specialties. The company operates over 50 locations across the U.S., primarily in the midwest, southeast, and northeast United States. Founded by brothers Richard and Stephen Burton in 1989, the company continues to grow in popularity and business success.

In 1989 brothers Richard and Stephen Burton opened the first Burtons Grill & Bar location in Florence, Alabama. In 1999, after opening 15 locations in the southeast United States, the company opened its first location outside of Alabama in St. Louis, Missouri.

In 2001 the company began an aggressive growth strategy designed to expand its geographical footprint and grow its management team. As a result of this growth plan, Burton’s Grill & Bar has continued to open stores throughout the country, including new locations in Arizona, Florida, and Iowa. The current Burton’s restaurants employ over 1200 people.

Growing corporate with great culture and opportunity-

Business is “booming,” according to Stephen and Richard Burton, owners of Burton’s Grill & Bar. Not only are the company’s profits reaching new heights, but its corporate culture is also receiving rave reviews. Both brothers are very proud that they have created a lot of successful franchisees who all have great things to say about working at Burton’s.

“There’s nothing like it,” says one employee who has worked there for over ten years, “I love being part of a company that cares.!

Burton’s Grill & Bar is an award-winning company that tries to stay one step ahead of the competition. They are always looking at new ways to keep their customers coming back for more. The restaurant ensures that its patrons are please, which is usually reflectes in the success of their restaurants.

“We try to keep up with what people want,” says Richard Burton. “If it’s on our menu and somebody like me says it’s good, then we use it.

There are better opportunities out there-

Since its inception, Burton’s Grill & Bar has been recognized for its high-quality service and excellent food. Richard Burton explains, “We believe in performance-based awards because that’s where we live, and that’s what we do.”

In 2005, the company won a “Taste of Home” magazine award for having the highest customer satisfaction percentage among all franchises. In 2008 and 2010, Burton’s won the “Guest Satisfaction Survey” of the Better Business Bureau.

The company also received awards from “Super Service Magazine” and “Food Handler’s Quarterly” for its fast-food restaurant operation. In 2009, Burton’s Grill & Bar was award the industry’s first “Franchise 500 Award,” including the top 5% of all franchises in the franchising world.

ABOUT BURTONS-

Burton’s Grill & Bar is an award-winning company recognize as one of the best franchises in the industry. The company boasts over 50 locations all over the country.

On “Super Service Magazine’s” list of the 500 franchises in America with the fastest growth rates in 2005, Burton’s came in at number one. Additionally, Burton’s was recognised as one of the “Top 50 Fast Food Franchises” by “Food Handler’s Quarterly” magazine, and in 2008 and 2010 the business receive a “Taste of Home” magazine award for having the greatest customer satisfaction rate among all franchises.

Burton’s Grill & Bar is a fast-casual, family-style restaurant specializing in grilled specialties. The company operates over 50 locations across the U.S., primarily in the midwest, southeast, and northeast United States.

In 1989 brothers Richard and Stephen Burton opened the first Burtons Grill & Bar location in Florence, Alabama. In 1999, after opening 15 locations in the southeast United States, the company opened its first location outside of Alabama in St. Louis, Missouri.

In 2001 the company began an aggressive growth strategy designed to expand its geographical footprint and grow its management team. As a result of this growth plan, Burton’s Grill & Bar has continued to open stores throughout the country, including new locations in Arizona and Florida.

About grill and Bar-

Burtons Grill & Bar is a fast-casual restaurant specializing in grilled specialties. The company operates over 50 locations across the U.S., primarily in the midwest, southeast, and northeast United States. Founded by brothers Richard and Stephen Burton, they have continued to grow in popularity and business success.

“We try to keep up with what people want,” says Richard Burton. “If it’s on our menu and somebody like me says it’s good, then we use it! There are better opportunities out there!”

Since its inception, Burton’s Grill & Bar has been recognized for its high-quality service and excellent food. Richard Burton explains, “We believe in performance-based awards. That’s where we live, and that’s what we do. In 2003, the company won the “Better Business Bureau” award for “Highest Customer Satisfaction Percentage among all franchises.” In 2008 and 2010, Burtons Grill & Bar won the “Guest Satisfaction Survey” of the Better Business Bureau.

Burton’s Grill & Bar also received awards from “Super Service Magazine” and “Food Handler’s Quarterly” for its fast-food restaurant operation.

Conclusion-

Grill & Bar is on a roll. There are more and more new locations all over the place, with a new one opening in Florida this weekend. The food is delicious, the service is attentive, and the prices are affordable. They are also adding exciting new features to their menus, such as a raw bar with oysters, clams, mussels, and shrimp. They are also adding a lot more spice and flair to the menu with new items like:

“We try to keep up with what people want. If it’s on our menu and somebody like me says it’s good, then we use it!”

Burtons Grill & Bar is a great restaurant that serves up some of the best burgers in the area. The people at Burton’s are always friendly, and you’ll never be disappointed if you choose to eat here.

Ozzy Osbourne recounts quitting LSD after a conversation with a horse

The 1970s are memorable for the many musical personalities (especially rock stars) who defined an era, including Ozzy Osbourne.

Ozzy Osbourne is a wildly eccentric character whose lifestyle has sometimes overshadowed his musical career.

At the height of his career, Osbourne (like most rock stars at the time) was more into alcohol and drugs.

He recently shared how he quit using acid.

The horse

Classic rock animated the rise of Black Sabbath and the making of the classic 1972 album, Volume 4, as Osbourne recounted how he held himself back.

“We lived together in a house in Los Angeles, rehearsed there, did loads of drugs and made an album: simple,” said Osbourne.

“Those were good times.”

“At that time in America, people were very fond of lacing your drinks with acid. I didn’t care. I used to swallow handfuls of tabs at a time. The end of it came when we got back to England.”

“I took ten tabs of acid then went for a walk in a field,” he continued.

“I ended up standing there talking to this horse for about an hour. In the end, the horse turned round and told me to fuck off. That was it for me.”

Read also: Taylor Swift concludes VMA with new album announcement

Black Sabbath and their drug experiences

Ozzy Osbourne wasn’t the only one involved in psychedelic drugs, as the other members also shared their experiences.

In 2017, drummer Bill Ward talked about drug use before performing in front of a large crowd.

“It’s interesting to talk about the phenomena of LSD when you’re playing in front of 25-30,000 people,” he said.

“But in hindsight, I was taking huge risks with not only my performance but the entire performance.”

Guitarist Tony Iommi told Classic Rock in 2016 that LSD was the worst drug he had ever taken.

“I hate being out of control. With cocaine, I felt I was in control, I knew what was going on. But acid…”

“I was in America and I had a terrible headache, and this girl said she had a couple of pills for it. And she gave me some acid,” he revealed.

“Bloody hell, I didn’t know what hit me! Thank God the rest of the band came and sat in my room and calmed me down. I was gonna jump out the window.”

In 2020 bassist Geezer Butler talked about his first trip to Metal Hammer, saying:

“I thought I was a skeleton. I got in the van and they all went ‘What’s wrong with you?’ I said ‘Can’t you see? I’m a skeleton.’”

“We were driving along and there was a park on the side of us with all these flowers in it, and I thought the flowers were trying to get into the van.”

“I went onstage and thought it was on a boat and the crowds were waves. It was horrendous. I was watching my hand playing the songs and I thought it wasn’t connected to my body. Scary.”

Read also: Award-Winning English Band Muse to Launch Ninth Album as NFT

Ozzy talks about his past

Ozzy Osbourne has already talked about his past with the Orange County Register and revealed that he no longer indulges in vices.

“I don’t drink alcohol anymore… I don’t smoke tobacco. I don’t use drugs… I’m doing good right now.”

“I now think, ‘How did I think going into a bar and getting smashed and doing all that cocaine was fun?’”

“I have come to think that if right now you had a gun, a bag of cocaine, and a gallon of booze and you said ‘Take your pick,’ I’d pick up the gun. It’s not worth it.”

References:

Ozzy Osbourne gave up LSD after talking to a horse for an hour

Despite progress, Chicago Bears are still wary of their offensive line

The Chicago Bears went through an experimental phase by going through different combinations for their offensive line, but they seem to have found their ideal setup.

The Bears will be giving first-team opportunities to Larry Borom, Teven Jenkins, Braxton Jones, Sam Mustipher, and Cody Whitehair.

The decision

Before the decision was made, Whitehair was the only player guaranteed a spot to start for the team.

From there, things started to materialize.

Mustipher became the natural choice for the center after Lucas Patrick and Doug Kramer were sidelined with injuries.

Jones and Borom settled into the left and right tackles; each man delaying free agent Riley Reiff in an open competition.

Teven Jenkins was the final piece of the puzzle, having had to go through a whirlwind offseason compared to his peers.

Jenkins initially started at right tackle at the start of the OTA before he got injured and became tradebait.

He was able to recover, but he was delegated to second and third-string work at right tackle.

From there, Jenkins remained at right tackle.

Read also: Kevin Durant and Brooklyn Nets agree to continue working together

Surprise and praises

Of the five, Braxton Jones and Teven Jenkins surprised everyone the most, earning themselves praise from coaches and teammates.

“For a young guy, (Jones) came in kinda hot,” said Bears coach Luke Getsy.

“We were really excited about what he was showing. Then we put pads on and I thought he–it shocked him a little bit.”

During the early days of training camp, Jones was often on his heels as defensive ends whizzed by him.

“Obviously having Robert (Quinn) to go against every day doesn’t help,” added Getsy.

“But then I thought he really did a great job kind of digging his feet into the ground and getting right back at it. I saw – at least these two or three weeks – I thought he’s done a really nice job of getting better every day.”

“I’m excited to see what he can do, and I think he’s got a bunch of confidence in himself too, and I think he’s got an opportunity to show what he’s got.”

Meanwhile, Teven Jenkins went through a “fish out of water” experience, switching positions days before a preseason game.

The last time he played right guard was during his redshirt freshman year at Oklahoma State, but Jenkins’ performance impressed the Bears.

“I thought that showed: one, his athleticism; and two, his mental capacity,” said Getsy.

“The guard position has more on his plate than the tackle position. For him to be able to go in and execute at a high level was really good.”

Read also: Triple H likely to hand WWE titles to full-time stars and move away from part-time champions

Staying grounded

While it may seem that the Chicago Bears found their starting five, Luke Getsy remains wary of possible changes.

“I don’t want to go there yet,” said the coach. “But I thought all those guys have done a nice job of getting better each day.”

“I think you guys have naturally seen guys fall into certain positions and stuff, where they maybe feel a little bit more comfortable. So I think there’s been growth.”

There is still going to be some major changes for the Chicago Bears after teams across the NFL cut down the number of players to 53.

Ryan Poles and Ian Cunningham (both former linemen) will have their eyes set on the waiver wires this week.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see players from their former teams (the Chiefs and the Eagles) in Halas Hall.

Reference:

Why Bears may not have found starting OL just yet

US government orders Nvidia and AMD to halt exports to China

Due to their high quality craftsmanship, Nvidia (NVDA) and AMD are two of the leading US chipmakers in the tech industry. 

Recently, the US government ordered tech giants to stop selling their technology to China, even though China is one of their major customers.

The reason is that their technology can be used for artificial intelligence.

On Wednesday, the two chipmakers announced that the US government had ordered them to stop exporting high-quality chips to the world’s second-largest economy.

NVIDIA

Nvidia shared a filing motion in which U.S. officials said the decision was made because of a potential risk that the products could be used or diverted to a “military end user.”

The limitation falls on Nvidia’s A100 and upcoming H100 ICs, along with any systems that contain the two chips.

According to the company, the order is effective immediately.

Read also: SpaceX and T-Mobile could beam signals from space with their collaboration

How does this affect sales?

According to the filing, the decision could wipe out $ 400 million in deals for the company.

The numbers were compiled last week by the California-based tech giant as they discussed potential sales in China.

Therefore, their projection may be affected by the new requirement.

Both companies also suffered, with Nvidia shares down 6.6% in after-hour trading on Wednesday. Meanwhile, AMD’s shares fell 3.7%. 

Nvidia is currently working with its customers in China to try to “satisfy their planned or future purchases with alternative products and may seek licenses where replacements aren’t sufficient.”

AMD

AMD has also received new requirements from the US Department of Commerce, which will affect the shipment of its MI250 ICs to China.

The company released a statement about another set of components, stating:

“At this time, we do not believe that shipments of MI100 integrated circuits are impacted by the new requirements.”

“We do not currently believe it is a material impact on our business.”

Tensions between the United States and China

The latest order shows how tensions between the US and China are overshadowing the commerce and technology industries, among other things.

However, the two countries recently agreed to review Chinese companies listed in the United States, which has offered a breakthrough in their relationship.

Despite the progress, experts have warned that the deal will only play a minor role in addressing other important issues.

The orders for Nvidia and AMD also extend export bans to Russia.

The two companies said they currently do not sell any products there, as they stopped selling after the invasion of Ukraine earlier in the year.

Read also: Chinese students not as keen to study in the US, could affect the country’s economy

China responds

News of the decision reached the Chinese authorities, who opposed the decision. State media responded to the United States and said:

“Actions from the United States deviated from the principle of fair competition and violated international economic and trade rules.”

Beijing also released a statement stating:

“The US side should immediately stop its wrongdoing, treat companies from all over the world including China fairly, and do more things that are conducive to the stability of the world economy.”

Meanwhile, the US Department of Commerce responded to his statement.

“We are taking a comprehensive approach to implement additional actions necessary related to technologies, end-uses, and users to protect US national security and forreign policy interests,” said a Commerce Department spokesperson.

“This includes preventing China’s acquisition and use of US technology in the context of its military-civil fusion program to fuel its military modernisation efforts, conduct human rights abuses, and enable other malign activities.”

References:

US chip makers hit by new China export rule

US orders Nvidia and AMD to stop selling AI chips to China

SpaceX and T-Mobile could beam signals from space with their collaboration

Last week, SpaceX founder Elon Musk and T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert announced they were collaborating on a new project.

The announcement

On Thursday night, Musk and Stievart appeared at a webcast event at SpaceX’s starbase in South Texas.

The two companies are working on a project called “Coverage Above and Beyond,” which aims to bring smartphone connectivity to T-Mobile customers anywhere.

The service they offer is provided in areas without cellular coverage, especially in emergencies.

Above and Beyond coverage is set to launch in 2023, with T-Mobile using its midband spectrum to build a new network.

According to Sievert, the service will work with most phones and will prioritize the first launch of the SMS service.

“I think this is really a massive game changer,” said Musk. “In a nutshell, it’s no more dead zones.”

Press release

SpaceX and T-Mobile released a press release stating that the new plan will provide “provide near complete coverage in most places in the US — even in many of the most remote locations previously unreachable by traditional cell signals.”

“We’ve always thought differently about what it means to keep customers connected, and that’s why we’re working with the best to deliver coverage above and beyond anything customers have ever seen before,” said Mike Sievert.

“More than just a groundbreaking alliance, this represents two industry-shaking innovators challenging the old ways of doing things to create something entirely new that will further connect customers and scare competitors.”

Elon Musk joined in, saying:

“The important thing about this is that it means there are no dead zones anywhere in the world for your cell phone. We’re incredibly excited to do this with T-Mobile.”

Read also: Peiter Zatko’s Twitter allegations prompts executives to hold a meeting

Starlink coverage

Despite the seriousness of their partnership, Starlink’s coverage is not intended to replace the tower’s service.

Instead, it provides basic coverage for areas with little or no signal.

Above and Beyond coverage provides two to four megabits per “cellular area”.

This means they can receive 1,000 to 2,000 voicemail messages at a time or hundreds of thousands of text messages at the same time.

Due to the services, it will take some time for online games or video chat to be available in the near future.

However, Elon Musk and Mike Sievert are confident that the project will grow and expand Starlink’s direct telephone service internationally.

Competition

Despite the two companies’ announcement, they are not the only players in the game to use satellites to communicate with cell phones on the existing mobile spectrum.

A company called AST SpaceMobile has promised to bring broadband to phones from outer space.

Meanwhile another company, Lynk Global, has shown that its satellite “cell towers” can be used to send text messages from regular phones.

Despite the competition, Lynk and SpaceMobile are eagerly awaiting their competition.

“We love the validation and the attention that this is bringing to this technology,” said Charles Miller, CEO of Lynk.

“We’ve been getting all kinds of calls of carriers today who are like ‘Help us!’”

Lynk and SpaceX share the same goal: to partner with providers around the world so they can send messages on the satellite networks they are currently building.

Miller stressed the importance of technology during emergencies such as natural disasters that can destroy traditional cellular networks, namely hurricanes, fires, floods and earthquakes.

“It’s resilience,” said Miller. “It’s instant backup working for everybody on Earth. Your phones, even though the towns are down, can communicate.”

“This will save lives.”

Read also: Ford joins a number of companies in cutting its workforce

Lynk

With two of the biggest players in the industry working together, Charles Miller has no worries.

According to Miller, Lynk was ahead of the market and said it was the first company to send text messages from space to an unmodified phone.

“We think there’s going to be more big companies jumping in.They have years and years to go. They’re years behind us,” Miller said.

“We’re going to be like, ‘Wonderful! Educate the world that this technology is done.’ And when we start rolling it out at the end of this year, people are going to go, ‘I want it.’ They’re not going to want to wait years for it.”

References:

SpaceX Starlink satellites to beam service straight to smartphones

Elon Musk’s SpaceX and T-Mobile to link satellites to mobile phones, ‘eliminating dead zones worldwide’

Satellite-to-phone companies are thrilled about SpaceX and T-Mobile, actually

Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls leadership style a big influence on Stephen Curry

The past decade has seen Stephen Curry become one of the greatest players in the NBA, and his meteoric rise can be attributed to Michael Jordan.

The Last Dance

Like many, Stephen Curry looked up to Michael Jordan, particularly his time with the Chicago Bulls, which was documented in the Netflix series, “The Last Dance.”

The Warriors star was recently asked about his leadership style, to which he brought up Michael Jordan.

“[Jordan] never asked anybody on his team or in the organization to do anything that he wouldn’t do himself,” said Curry.

“Set the bar for what work ethic was and that grind. He tried to set the pace with his actions.”

“I’ve always carried that with me as the standard for what I expect from my teammates and people, that I lived up to that as well and I set the pace there.”

Read also: Warriors Win Game 5 While Stephen Curry Silences Boston Bar with His Shirt

Michael Jordan

While the two are different, Curry and Jordan have showcased that they are fierce competitors in the game, and Curry imitating the Bulls’ leadership style fits in.

Michael Jordan played an influential role in ushering the Chicago Bulls dynasty during the 1990s.

He was not only competitive, but also constantly pushing his teammates to go the extra mile.

Jordan’s ethics were best seen on the court as he consistently put up incredible numbers, leading the bulls to six championships.

The Bulls’ star earned him the moniker of the GOAT, a similar title given to the likes of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.

Stephen Curry

The Warriors star began receiving similar praises, exhibiting similar traits to Jordan, James, and Bryant.

He was seen working on his game in private runs.

Fellow Warriors Kevon Looney revealed that Curry is already pushing the team to focus on the upcoming season with the goal of maintaining their NBA Championship title.

While Curry has been criticized for his weaknesses, he managed to turn things around and transform them into strengths.

One of the criticisms directed at the Warriors star was his defensive contribution.

By 2016, Stephen Curry was leading the league with 2.1 steals per game, and he continues to improve his defense each season.

Read also: Stephen Curry Closes in On LeBron James’ Record

The “best player” debate

Like most players, Stephen Curry has been the subject of debate for the past couple of years.

Shaquille O’Neal is among those who claim that the Warriors player is the “best player in the NBA,” citing his drive to elevate his game each season.

Meanwhile, others wave him off.

However, the fact that Stephen Curry “just wins” should warrant him a place on the short list of the best players in the world.

Reference:

Steph uses great MJ quote as foundation for leadership style.

Android 13 launches for Google Pixel devices, what it has to offer

Android recently launched the latest version of Google’s mobile operating system, Android 13, which premiered in February.

The update comes after four beta cycles, and users were able to preview the update earlier this year, which got users excited.

Android 13

Android is currently the most widely used mobile operating system in the world, with a global market share of 86.2%.

Since 2014, Android’s global market share has stood at around 80%, with the lowest position being 81.1%.

Previously Android 12 made the biggest changes to the platform, most notably with Material You.

Material You takes on a new look for Android and offers a refreshing experience with current aesthetics.

Like Android 12, Android 13 may be a disappointing operating system for some users.

However, with the new features and changes to be configured, a whole new horizon is in sight.

Features

With the next update comes the new features and here we look at some of the features that users can expect.

Updated Material You color charts

Android 13 updates the Material You colored tones so that users have access to three new “Tonal Spot” colors:

  • Vibrant – supplemental accents
  • Expressive – a wider range of colors that extends to the background
  • Spritz – a monochromatic scheme

Improved notifications

With the Android 13 system, applications can no longer display notifications unless the user allows it.

Once installed, opening new apps will open a permissions pop-up asking users to allow or deny notifications.

Scan the QR code faster

Previously, on Android devices, users had to download a third-party app from the Google Assistant to scan QR codes.

Apps often slow down or don’t work at all, but Android 13 introduces QR code scanning in the Quick Settings panel.

Improved battery information

Android 13’s system adds a significant upgrade to battery life, particularly with apps affecting battery.

When an app causes excessive battery drain, Android 13 alerts users with a silent notification so they can force the app to close or restart.

UWB support

Ultra-broadband, or UWB, is a first in the world of technology and allows users to act as a car key or a finder for misplaced devices.

UWB also improves NFC and Bluetooth connectivity.

The problem with the old UWB support was that it required the built-in UWB.

With Android 13, a hardware abstraction layer adds functionality so that all Android devices can implement UWB.

Customizable lock screen

When Material You first launched, users complained about the size of the clock on the lock screen.

Android 13 allows users to disable the clock by turning off the double-line clock toggle in settings.

Android 13 privacy and security

Android 13 will introduce an improved user privacy and security experience, add more restrictions to apps, and allow users to choose what permissions and what data is accessible.

Permissions include file types such as audio, image, and video.

Among the security fixes introduced by the system is automatically clearing clipboard contents after a certain interval.

As a result, apps no longer have access to the oldest items on the clipboard, a recurring problem in the past.

The security update also prevents users from accidentally sharing copied texts with the wrong people.

App permissions for Android 13 activation include automatic revocation of permissions from apps that have not been used for a certain period of time.

Android 13 release dates

Google Pixel devices were among the first to receive Android 13, receiving the update on August 15, 2022.

However, the Pixel 6 Pro is yet to receive the update, which may indicate that not all Pixel phones will receive the update.

Pixels 1 to 3 are among the devices that no longer support Android 13.

References:

Android 13 cheat sheet: everything you to know