The Future of eSports
The greatest achievement of the International 3 is that the prize money was entirely fan-raised. DOTA 2 (Defense of the Ancients 2), is a sequel to a popular modification to the Blizzard game Warcraft 3, with Valve developing the successor. DOTA 2 is a free-to-play game, with micro-transactions for cosmetic and non-essential items. This payment model has become an increasingly popular trend in the gaming industry, and while risky, huge profits have been made by game companies when implemented correctly. For the third tournament, Valve decided to test the popularity of the event with an in-game item for sale called the Compendium.
The Compendium gave a number of cosmetic items, as well as a way to interact in the tournament with a betting system, information on the teams and players, and up to date statistics. In addition to the Compendium, Valve put rewards for the number of money raised with different prizes once money goals were achieved. The total money raised by players was over 2.9 million dollars by 290 thousand people purchasing the 10 dollar Compendium, all of which was given to the top 8 teams. This made for the greatest payout ever in a single eSports event. The gamble has paid off for Valve. With the prize money raised, Valve could focus its money on the event which raised production values to new heights. The International 3 is proof positive that eSports are viable sports, and evidence of how effective crowd sourcing can be.
OINKs, DINKs, and WOOFs
During my musings about who thrives in the contemporary economic landscape, I was reminded of several acronyms. I've isolated these 3 as a few of the top categories that generally succeed, financially speaking. Not surprisingly, those who are more career-oriented instead of family oriented generally fair better than those who have children. OINKs= One Income No Kids; DINKs= Dual Income No Kids; WOOFs= Well-Off Old Farts (the latter of which I altered slightly to make myself chuckle).
My generation has been plagued by a job force that is often underqualified and overpaid, but by virtue of being the first to arrive on the scene, are able to enjoy lucrative jobs that offer healthcare, dental, retirement, etc… In an effort to appear less cynical, I will offer up my own mother as an example. She had no education other than high school. She was a computer analyst or some such thing for the Illinois Department of Corrections for 25 years. The funny thing about this is that she lacks computer skills. My mother enjoyed a paycheck of around 42,000/year and retired at the age of 48.
In contrast to her success, I know multiple people with master's degrees that can't claim a salary that high with that kind of job security. Having a post-baccalaureate degree has become relatively cliché and doesn't yield the financial stability that it once did. I've known law school graduates that have had to tend bar for 3 years before procuring a job. I even had a professor with a PhD from Ohio State tell me that she currently makes 53,000/year as a professor at a university and went up against 198 other applicants with backgrounds from Yale, Harvard, Cambridge, and Oxford. The only other job offer she received was from a school in St. Louis which offered a laughable 38,000/year. Until the present job climate changes for the better, I will harbor a great deal of contempt for the hiring practices of old, and the longevity of the baby boomers.
Jacksonville Running Company Prepares MMM for 5K
If you have ever been athletic in any capacity whatsoever, running is more than likely the hallmark of your sport. If it's not, it's undoubtedly the cornerstone of any kind of conditioning program you may have been a part of. I, myself (along with JD and Justin), have backrounds as athletes in our collective pasts, but any athlete invariably encounters their fair share of injuries. Today's focus was on how to run safely, efficiently, and get the most out of your run. As someone with an exercise science backround, I found revisiting these principles helpful, and Chris was able to explain difficult movements and body mechanics in such a way that anyone would be capable of grasping them. Any athlete knows that dedication and a solid work ethic along with proper technique is vital to achieving the desired result, but it's equally important to utilize the best equipment at your disposal. For runners, it doesn't get more important than the shoes you put on your feet. That being said, I encourage everyone to check out Jacksonville Running Company at either the Tapestry Park or Bartram Park location and get a shoe that specifically suits you at no additional cost than the retail price. The fit process is comprehensive and includes video analysis of your stride, foot pressure scanning, and much more. I am the proud owner of a pair of Asics Gel Cumulus, and I will put them to good use tomorrow as I stride through the streets of Fernandina Beach. Happy 4th of July to all!!!!
50 Shades Of The Grey Market
A black market is simply illegal. It could be that the goods themselves are illegal or it could be that the goods are associated with tariffs that the seller does not wish to pay. Think of the black market as drug and arms trade. Meanwhile, the GREY market (or parallel market if you prefer) is a market price set by the people and their perceived value of a good. Let me illustrate by giving an example. If the going currency exchange for dollars to yen is 1:1 and this rate is recognized by the government and exchanged at this rate at ATM's and banks and so forth, but the value as perceived by the population at-large is higher, your exchange rate could be 2:1, 3:1, or any other combination. The grey market is far less seedy than the black market as it's kind of like a societal monetary control measure.
There IS a grey economy which some people will recognize as being paid under the table in cash without having to pay state, local, or federal taxes and various social welfare programs. This is not what a lot of people would call “illegal” so much as it's frowned upon, and THAT is where the grey part comes in. There are no clear cut lines as to whether or not something is permissable so it goes on unchecked. This generally isn't a problem with small sums of money, but if a CEO who made 7 million dollars per annum were to get paid entirely in cash, there would be one more corporate casualty.
Believe it or not, many foreign economies thrive on the grey economy because they don't have NASDAQ, or the DOW, or the HSI telling them what their product is worth, but leaves it to the consumer. Think of it like going to a market or bazaar and the price can be negotiated upon, or like a person to person auction. This can maximize profits, but the price isn't always even across the board, but allows for fluctuation.
Mad Men Mock Draft In Review
1. Luke Joeckel/Eric Fisher-Kansas City: The Chiefs made this selection purely based on their scheme and what they thought Fisher could do in it
2. Eric Fisher/Luke Joeckel-Jacksonville: The best possible thing to happen to the Jags. They get the best overall talent in the draft.
3. Geno Smith/Dion Jordan-Miami (from Oakland): A good selection to put on the other side of Cameron Wake
4. Dion Jordan/Lane Johnson-Philadelphia: 3 tackles in the first 4 picks. Next year we'll see who takes Vick's place.
5. Dee Milliner/Ezekiel Ansah-Detroit: A good selection with a lot of upside to replace the departed Kyle Vanden Bosch.
6. Jarvis Jones/Barkevious Mingo-Cleveland: Another selection based purely on potential. In time, Mingo could be a force….needs to add some weight and get stronger.
7. Ezekiel Ansah/Jonathan Cooper-Arizona: Must be good since he's the first guard selected this high in a decade and a half. Selected for his pass blocking ability, needs to improve in the run game.
8. EJ Manuel/Tavon Austin-St Louis (from Buffalo): Good trade by the Rams to move up to get the most electrifying receiver in the draft.
9. Barkevious Mingo/Dee Milliner-New York Jets: The obvious choice to replace Darrell Revis.
10. Chance Warmack/Chance Warmack-Tennessee: The highly decorated guard from Alabama went right where everyone though he would.
11. Tavon Austin/DJ Fluker-San Diego: Austin was gone at this point, so it didn't hurt to get Rivers some protection and improve a weak run game while they're at it.
12. Lane Johnson/DJ Hayden-Oakland (from Miami): A good corner, if healthy…could be the best one in the draft in the same mold as Patrick Peterson.
13. Sharrif Floyd/Sheldon Richardson-New York Jets: Bolsters a weak line in New York.
14. Bjoern Werner/Star Lotulelei-Carolina: The Panthers take the best NT in the draft. At best, he may be the next Haloti Ngata.
15. Xavier Rhodes/Kenny Vaccaro-New Orleans: The Saints address the secondary and take the consensus best safety in the draft.
16. Kenny Vaccaro/EJ Manuel-Buffalo (from St Louis): If EJ Manuel can improve his decision making and ability to dissect defenses, this will turn out to be a good pick. All the measurables are there.
17. DeAndre Hopkins/Jarvis Jones-Pittsburgh: A very good rush linebacker to replace Harrison
18. DJ Fluker/Eric Reid-San Francisco (from Dallas): San Francisco rebuilds its secondary immediately after their Super Bowl campaign, ensuring they may be their next year.
19. Tyler Eiffert/Justin Pugh-New York Giants: One of two “WTF” picks in the draft.
20. Star Lotulelei/Kyle Long-Chicago: Not that the Bears couldn't use the help on the line, but they also lost their leader on the defense and a gaping hole at middle linebacker that could have easily been filled.
21. Eric Reid/Tyler Eiffert-Cincinnati: Pairing Eiffert and Gresham could be as good as the Hernandez/Gronk tandem in New England…..if not better.
22. Cordarrelle Patterson/Desmond Trufant-Atlanta (from St Louis): A good pickup to replace a CB they had lost during free agency.
23. Manti Te'o/Sharrif Floyd-Minnesota: Finally, the highest graded DT finds a home on perhaps the leagues best D line. Jared Allen could break the sacks record this year
24. Datone Jones/Bjoern Werner-Indianapolis: A departure from the norm, the Colts draft the big-bodied Werner who has a lot of potential, in the mold of JJ Watt
25. Desmond Trufant/Xavier Rhodes-Minnesota: A big position need, the Vikings select the second best corner in my opinion
26. Eddie Lacy/Datone Jones-Green Bay: Best possible scenario for Green Bay happened. They got some help on defense and still added Lacy in the second round.
27. Justin Hunter/DeAndre Hopkins-Houston: A good receiver to put on the opposite side of Johnson.
28. Sylvester Williams/Sylvester Williams-Denver: A solid pick to ensure their D line is stout this coming year.
29. DJ Hayden/Cordarrelle Patterson-Minnesota (from New England): The Vikes get a new receiver, and between Rudolph and Jennings, Ponder should have a lot to be happy about. Also the Vikings 3rd pick in the latter half of the 1st round.
30. Zach Ertz/Alec Ogletree-St Louis (from Atlanta): Between Laurinaitis and Ogletree, the Rams give opponents a reason to be terrified about throwing across the middle
31. Matt Elam/Travis Frederick-Dallas (from San Francisco): This was the “OMG, WTF is Jerry Jones thinking?” pick of the draft. Jones slips further into senility and the Cowboys get worse or stay the same. The Cowboys of the 90s are probably hanging their heads in shame.
32. Tank Carradine/Matt Elam-Baltimore: A very good pick falls to the Ravens. Elam is a physical safety that fits the mold. Now that Ed Reed and Bernard Pollard are gone, this was a huge need.