The Future of Reality Television.

For the past few weeks, I sat around watching some of my favorite shows. During my free time, I find myself watching shows like Hell’s Kitchen or MasterChef. These reality TV shows have always been something that I enjoyed since a young age. One very particular thing that stood out to me was that MasterChef aired early in 2019, and the current season (season 19) of Hell’s Kitchen begun airing in 2021. This was quite fascinating for one simple fact, COVID had already taken root in our lives while these shows aired. For MasterChef, because it aired early 2019, it means they wrapped up production before COVID hit. Since then, the show has not come back on air. Hell’s Kitchen aired during the pandemic and is still ongoing. Season 19, initially meant to be produced in 2019, had to take a break because of the pandemic. Now, the show airs in 2021. It is not clear what it means for these shows going forward, however, one thing is certain, reality TV is not the same.

Many shows that are like Hell’s Kitchen or MasterChef have had to make adjustments because of the pandemic. Other shows like The Bachelor needed to take a lot of safety measures before inviting contestants to the show. This seems to be the new norm of reality TV. It seems that in order for production of reality tv shows to continue, more safety measures are needed before the show production begins. This includes participants being in quarantine or getting routine testing. If, for whatever reason, a contestant does have COVID, then the whole show is in jeopardy and could very well lead to the scrapping of the production. It is a risky time for reality TV shows.

On the bright side, the vaccine is available virtually across the board. Many states have opened-up full vaccination for everybody. This means that people who are going to be on reality tv can get vaccinated and attend the show. This little bit of hope means that reality TV might not be shut down. COVID has raised a lot of questions when it first appeared, but one thing is certain, our favorite reality TV shows still have a future.

Source: https://www.caltimes.org/4784/entertainment/things-heat-up-in-hells-kitchen/

COVID Vaccination.

For over a year now, COVID has drastically influenced our lives. In less then a year, we had a solution to the problem. The first vaccine was available in December of 2020. Now, in April of 2021, everyone can get the vaccine. Slowly transitioning from phased vaccinations, we are offering the vaccine to everybody. However, we still have people who refuse to believe that the vaccine is necessary.

As someone who has worked in the medical field for over a year, I got my vaccine in December. I did this in order to keep myself safe. I have seen an outbreak of COVID firsthand at my workplace and seen how our clients needed to be in quarantine. I got vaccinated because I did not want to go to work and get COVID. I got vaccinated to keep myself and everyone around me safe. I did it because it was the right thing to do during the time. Some people think that the vaccine is dangerous. Truth of the matter is, we do not know what it is. There haven’t been years of study conducted on the vaccine. One thing is clear, however, it works. If it works, why would you not want to take it?

I have also seen people say that the vaccine is “not effective” because people who got vaccinated still got COVID. For those people, let this be a reminder, its not 100%. For those people that think life has 100% of anything, you are wrong. There are no certainties. Most vaccines are 70-90% effective. They are meant to help keep you safe, but it was never guaranteed. Another issue is if you get your first shot, don’t walk around without a mask thinking you are safe. The vaccine takes time. If you catch COVID a day after you get vaccinated, think of the idiotic behaviors that led to that point. The vaccine needs two weeks to start working, and even then, you still need the booster. The issue for those people who read articles or little stories of people catching COVID after getting vaccinated is that most of the time, the person did not follow the recommendations. They think they are safe with one shot and they are good a day after taking it. Just because others out there want to play Russian roulette with their lives does not mean you have to. Play it smart, and if you can, take the vaccine.

Today, I am able to be with my significant other. Today I can go home and see my family. Today I can go to work and not have to worry about getting sick. Today I can travel and not have to worry about what is going to happen to me. Today, I can live. What will you do today?

Source: https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/frequently-asked-questions-0

Is Call of Duty the New Fortnite?

Let us get this out of the way first, Call of Duty has been a popular game for over 18 years. It has been beloved since it was first released back in 2003, and people still play it to this very day. With many spin-offs and a lot of new content, the Call of Duty franchise has built its own fan base. Another extremely popular game that made its debut was Fortnite, which dropped in 2017. This game was an instant success and is widely played all over the world on every gaming platform. Recently, there has been a trend of similarities between the games. Despite the games having their own player base, these games are far more similar than ever before.

Call of Duty, or better known as COD, has been releasing a steady flow of gaming content for 18 years. In some of their recent games, Call of Duty began charging people for content. This is not uncommon among online games, because with the release of new content, players can have more exciting stuff to look forward to. Charging a few dollars for releases of new maps or new gaming environments always seemed appropriate for players who wanted more. COD has a system called battle passes that they have implemented that offers more content for the players. This battle pass is free if you play the game, however, another feature that the game copies from Fortnite is paying for the battel pass completion. Instead of working hard to unlock the games content, players can spend $120 to fully unlock the battle pass. This is similar to Fortnite because all the game really offers is a few new gun skins and a few characters recoloring skins. This is basically Fortnite for adults.

Both games have tried to separate their content and make their own universe, but one thing is clear, these games are fundamentally the same. Both games are free shooting games that have developed their own story lines. Both games focus on the same battle royal system and offer “new” services for money. These games are about as different as roses. Ones red, ones white. Same flower. Both games are initially meant for older teens and adults but instead is widely played by children.

Simply put, Fortnite stole a lot of content from COD, and COD did the same in return.

Source:https://www.essentiallysports.com/fortnite-vs-call-of-duty-warzone-which-is-the-better-battle-royale-esports-news/

Micro Transactions Control Our World.

How many times have you gone online and seen something ask for a subscription? How many times have you used an app just to realize that you need a subscription for full access? How many times have your little kids came up to you and asked to buy something for Fortnite? You may not realize it, but micro transactions control our lives.

Ever since the smart phones made their first appearance, micro transactions begun to appear. At first, different smart devices begun to pride themselves on the vast availability of applications and games. Slowly, as more and more content came out, micro transactions began to occur. Apps slowly began to offer more content for a few bucks. This slowly began creeping into every single aspect of everyday life. Some of the most popular games have the most micro transactions. In 2020, over 77 billion dollars were exchanged in micro transactions alone.

Most of the popular free to play games and applications have micro transactions. If you play games like Fortnite, you might find it that sometimes you want to buy a “battle pass”. This is simply new content and skins for your playable character and does not offer anything new to the game. However, many people still choose to pay to unlock this content. This is extremely popular with young children. (Keep in mind that games such as Fortnite are not meant for children under the age 12, the game contains violence, guns and killing. It is a free person shooting game.) Children of all ages ask their parents for money to unlock content that does not change the gaming experience but simply alters a surface appearance. This is because the game creators know who plays their games and they know that releasing some minor alterations and charging hundreds of dollars for it will yield profit. I mean who does not want to run around as their favorite avenger or as John Wick?

The same can be said for games on your phone. Some people who commute by train or bus sometimes find themselves looking at their phones and playing one of millions of game apps available. Some of the biggest games such as candy crush or angry birds generate millions in revenue for the simple service of renewing lives. They offer in app services that make the game easier. Despite sometimes only offering the service for $0.99, they still generate thousands of dollars per day from millions of people who play the game.

One simple fact remains, you do not need to spend money on games. Just like any other game out there, most content can be unlocked by working hard. These sell out services on games take away from the working hard aspect of gaming. It shows that anything can be achieved if you have money. My recommendation is this: If you play and you want to use micro transactions, its up to you, however, do not forget that money is a necessity that should not be spent for 3 minutes of satisfaction. Anything online can be earned through hard work. Save your money and encourage yourself to dedicate time instead of money. Children, especially, need to understand that money is finite. Do not let your children use micro transactions carelessly. It is your money, you should know how to spend it wisely.

Source:https://www.thexboxhub.com/the-controversy-of-micro-transactions-in-games/

Online College and Why I love it.

Due to the COVID pandemic, a lot of colleges have transitioned to hybrid or strictly online classes. This is primarily due to the vast amount of college students who attend certain schools from out of state as well as the schools trying to keep students safe. For the past one year, most of, if not all, the work has been done online. With the use of Zoom and other online lectures, online classes have become a common form of education. Some students hate having to do zoom classes, but some, like myself, love it.

Some college students have waited to leave their home and live on a college campus. With the classes being online, many students stay home and do their work from home. In a way, it ruins the college experience. The students might not get a chance to live on their own. Some students do not get a chance to make more friends and have a real college experience. Since some schools have classes exclusively online now and college students cannot stay on campus. For a few students who use off-campus housing, it is still a great opportunity to be away from home. Generally, COVID has ruined a sincere college experience for many students, especially those who are just starting their first year in college.

For someone like me, online classes are an interesting alternative. Before transferring schools, I have lived on a college campus. I have made a significant number of friends and have done a lot of wild things. From living with different people, to traveling abroad, my college experience surrounded one thing only, having fun. Whether it was partying or staying in, my college experience was more about having a good time, and never about the real work. For a short time, I needed to take a break from college to work on myself. When I transferred schools and my classes transitioned online, I found myself doing more work then ever before. With Zoom class lectures, I was still able to learn from the professor directly. For any other work, I needed to educate myself and study any information I was confused about. Some teachers did not hold lectures and only posted guides and assignments. I found those classes even more interesting because I needed to learn how to teach myself. Sometimes the best style of learning is the one you do yourself. I was challenged and pushed to do better. With the classes being online, I also save time traveling to the school. Since the college is over an hour away, I was spending at least 3 hours a day traveling to class.

Online classes have pushed me to be a better student. Because it is so new for so many schools and so many professors, it is a challenge for all of us. Online classes might not be easier, and even have more work involved, but I feel like it is worth it. The education I receive online is just as good as I would get it in person. I save college living expenses, expensive college food fees, travel time and have time to focus on my own things. I do have a job that I enjoy, and I do live with some friends. They are not college friends that I met when I was at Hofstra, but they are friends, nonetheless. Online classes are not for everybody, and I am sure a lot of people are waiting to go back to campus, but one thing is clear, I love my online classes. As I approach this last semester online, I will remember this experience far more then being on campus.

Source:https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/13/upshot/coronavirus-online-college-classes-unprepared.html