Grind City Culture

2022-02-28T23:15:00.001-08:00

CONFESSIONS OF A BEATMAKER by Bennie Anderson

My Latest Release: THE B.T.A EXPERIMENT

2022-02-01T10:18:00.004-08:00

THE B.T.A EXPERIMENT by Bennie Anderson Now Streaming On All Platforms

PlayStation Plus games for February

2022-02-01T10:10:00.004-08:00

EA Sports UFC 4, Planet Coaster: Console Edition, Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep: A Wonderlands One-shot Adventure

Let quick reflexes, dice rolls or skillful management shape your fate with February’s PlayStation Plus lineup. Do you enter the octagon in EA Sports UFC 4, storm castles in Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep: A Wonderlands One-shot Adventure or build parks in Planet Coaster: Console Edition? All three games join PlayStation Plus February 1. Let’s take a closer look at each game in turn.

EA Sports UFC 4 | PS4 No matter how or where you play, EA Sports UFC 4 puts you at the centre of every fight. Develop and customise your character through a unified progression system across all modes. Go from unknown amateur to UFC superstar in the new Career Mode, or challenge the world in new Blitz Battles or Online World Championships* to become the undisputed champ. Fluid clinch-to-strike combinations offer more responsive and authentic stand-up gameplay, while overhauled takedown and ground mechanics deliver more control in those key phases of the fight.

Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep: A Wonderlands One-shot Adventure | PS4** Smash skeletons, defeat dragons, and battle giant golems in this first Wonderlands adventure inspired by Borderlands. Experience the acclaimed 2013 quest that started it all in this standalone campaign jam-packed with fantasy, fun, and mountains of magical loot! Pick from six unique Vault Hunters, each with their own signature abilities and powerful builds, and jump into chaotic fantasy battles in solo or co-op*. Use souped-up firearms to blast your way through treacherous forests, spooky crypts, and fearsome fortresses. Be warned though: your journey can change in an instant on account of Tina’s gleefully chaotic whims.

Planet Coaster: Console Edition | PS5*** Surprise and delight crowds as you build the coaster park of your dreams and manage a truly living world with unparalleled attention to detail. Whatever your skill level, bring your ideas to life. Take advantage of Blueprints to quickly place over 700 pre-made objects, including coasters, facilities and scenery; build from the ground up with detailed piece-by-piece construction; or transform the ground itself with terrain-altering tools. Running your park is just as easy. Guests react in realtime as you set prices, place scenery, and install exciting new attractions. Keep them entertained so attendance figures – and profits – skyrocket. Looking for inspiration? Discover the Frontier Workshop and harness the world’s best designs in your expanding empire. Download coasters, scenery, buildings, and entire parks, or grow a following by uploading your own creations. From stunning firework displays to sprawling cruise ships, there’s no limit to the creativity. You’ll have until Monday, February 28 to download them.

Tom Brady retiring after 22 seasons, seven Super Bowl wins with New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2022-01-31T12:43:00.001-08:00

Tom Brady is retiring from football after 22 seasons in which he won a historic seven Super Bowl titles, sources told ESPN on Saturday. When Brady, widely considered the greatest quarterback in NFL history, left the field after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' loss to the Los Angeles Rams last weekend, he knew it was likely his final act as a football player, sources said. In the days since, he has spent time digesting that mindset and is preparing his retirement announcement along with the next chapter of his life and career, sources said. Sources said that Brady's decision to retire is based on several factors, including family and health. Although it's less significant, Brady also recognizes that the Buccaneers are likely to undergo significant roster turnover, sources said. Brady, 44, has been adamant for weeks that he never wanted a "farewell season," and many who know him believed he desired a decision made without much drama leading up to it. He will shift his focus to new endeavors and believes this is the right moment to end his playing career, sources said. It is unknown when Brady will formalize his plans to retire, but that move will be made with consideration to not upstage the NFL's postseason games, including the Super Bowl. Brady's company, TB12 Sports, sent a tweet that appeared to confirm his decision but later deleted the post. Don Yee, Brady's agent, deferred any comment on the quarterback's future to Brady himself.

"I understand the advance speculation about Tom's future," Yee said in a statement. "Without getting into the accuracy or inaccuracy of what's being reported, Tom will be the only person to express his plans with complete accuracy. He knows the realities of the football business and planning calendar as well as anybody, so that should be soon." Buccaneers executives and coaches have been bracing for Brady's retirement in recent weeks, recognizing that it was more likely than not that he would hang it up after the season, team sources told ESPN. One source said as recently as this week that "all signs point" to Brady's retiring. The Buccaneers hoped to make an emphatic pitch to persuade Brady to play one more year, but Tampa Bay recognizes that that effort is not expected to have an impact and the team is resigned to the challenges that now lie ahead. Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians told ESPN's Jenna Laine that Brady had not notified him or the team of his plans to retire. Tom Brady Sr. also told ESPN in a text that "Tommy has made no such determination" regarding his playing future. Earlier in the week, appearing on his "Let's Go" podcast with host Jim Gray, Brady used the word "satisfied" to describe how he felt about his NFL career, which caught the attention of many who know a man who rarely was satisfied with his achievements. Brady cited his family's desires as a heavy factor in his upcoming decision. "I said this a few years ago, it's what relationships are all about," Brady said on the podcast. "It's not always what I want. It's what we want as a family. And I'm going to spend a lot of time with them and figure out in the future what's next." Brady and his family have been building a South Florida home just north of Miami. "I'll know when I know," Brady said during the podcast. "I think for all of us, you know, we can all decompress a bit. It's been six straight months of football. Every day consumed by day in and day out football. And I think now it's just some time to spend some time with my family and spend some time with my kids." Brady will become the second future Hall of Fame quarterback to call it a career this postseason. On Thursday, Ben Roethlisberger announced his retirement from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky are expecting their first child together

2022-01-31T12:31:00.003-08:00

Rihanna has brought the world many gifts. She's an influential musician, actress, cosmetics and lingerie mogul, billionaire and national hero of her native Barbados. And now she's poised to add another title to that list: parent. The global superstar, 33, is expecting her first child, with rapper A$AP Rocky. Photos of the couple walking hand in hand in New York City are making the rounds on Twitter, with news of their announcement spreading like wildfire across social media and celebrity-focused media outlets. Celebrity photographer Miles Diggs, who goes by Diggzy, posted a close-up shot of Rihanna's baby bump on Instagram on Monday, writing "SHE IS !" Her many admirers (including fellow celebrities) sounded off excitedly in the comments.

Rihanna is pregnant! Rihanna and A$AP Rocky are expecting their first child together.
Photographed by Miles Diggs. pic.twitter.com/4toQb9iQhw
— Couture is Beyond (@CoutureIsBeyond) January 31, 2022

Former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst died Sunday morning

2022-01-31T12:26:00.001-08:00

Cheslie Kryst, who won the Miss USA sash in 2019, has died after a fall from her high-rise Manhattan apartment building. She was 30.

Her family confirmed Kryst’s death in a Sunday statement. “Her great light was one that inspired others around the world with her beauty and strength,” it read. “She cared, she loved, she laughed and she shined.” The family said that the pageant-winner had “embodied love and served others” and that “her impact will live on.” Her body was found on the sidewalk outside the Orion Condominium building in Midtown just after 7 a.m. Kryst lived on the ninth floor of the building, according to the New York Post. She was last seen on a terrace 29 stories above the ground. Though her family did not provide a cause of death, sources in the New York Police Department have confirmed that Kryst had died by suicide, according to the Post and The Hollywood Reporter. The Post reported that Kryst had left behind a note leaving her possessions to her mother. “May this day bring you peace and rest,” Kryst wrote in an Instagram caption posted just hours before her fatal fall.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cheslie Kryst, JD, MBA (@chesliekryst)

In a phone interview with the New York Daily News, Kryst’s grandfather, Gary Fimpkins, recalled her “infectious” laugh and “generous” spirit. “She was such a fantastic person,” he said. “She felt for other people. She tried to help other people. She was just one of those rare people that had a heart for people.” “To be extinguished so fast is just devastating,” the grandfather added. “So hard to imagine one minute they’re here and one minute they’re not. And you know that the only [way] you’ll ever see them again is when you yourself pass away.

State of Play | Horizon Forbidden West Gameplay Reveal

2021-05-27T08:23:00.003-07:00

During this State of Play, we will debut the Horizon Forbidden West gameplay reveal! In this 20-minute exclusive segment, you’ll be seeing about 14 minutes of brand new in-game action featuring our heroic protagonist Aloy, all captured directly on PlayStation 5. This reveal has been a true team effort and we’re very excited to show you what we have in store. Whether you’ve been with us and Aloy since Horizon Zero Dawn or are only just getting to know this incredible world, we want to share this huge milestone with you and cannot wait to see your favorite moments and reactions. Please join us on Twitch or YouTube at 9AM PDT / 5PM BST / 6PM CEST for the special State of Play Pre-Show, and at 2PM PDT / 10PM BST / 11PM CEST for the Horizon Forbidden West gameplay reveal. We are excited to see you there!

Washington Wizards' Russell Westbrook says fan behavior out of hand, calls on NBA to protect players better

2021-05-27T08:15:00.004-07:00

A fan attending Wednesday night's NBA playoff game in Philadelphia dumped popcorn on Washington Wizards star Russell Westbrook as he left the court after injuring his right ankle, infuriating Westbrook and eliciting outrage from fellow players. Westbrook had to be held back by multiple Wizards staffers and arena security guards as he limped down the tunnel after rolling the ankle with 10 minutes to play in the Philadelphia 76ers' 120-95 Game 2 victory. The fan was ejected by security moments later. "To be completely honest, this s--- is getting out of hand, especially for me. The amount of disrespect, the amount of fans just doing whatever the f--- they want to do -- it's just out of pocket," Westbrook said. "There are certain things that cross the line. Any other setting ... a guy were to come up on the street and pour popcorn on my head, you know what happens. "In these arenas, you got to start protecting the players. We'll see what the NBA does." Teammate Bradley Beal called the incident "disgusting," and Wizards coach Scott Brooks said the individual should be banned from the league. "Very disrespectful. Philadelphia is better than that," Brooks said.

Valerie Camillo, president of business operations for the Wells Fargo Center, released a statement shortly after the game that read: "This was classless, unacceptable behavior, and we're not going to tolerate it at Wells Fargo Center. We're proud to have the most passionate fans in the country and the best home-court and home-ice advantage around, but this type of behavior has no place in our arena." Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James addressed the situation in a Twitter post, writing, "By the way WE AS THE PLAYERS wanna see who threw that popcorn on Russ while he was leaving the game tonight with a injury!! There's cameras all over arenas so there's no excuse! Cause if the [shoe] was on the other [foot]." He attached the hashtag #ProtectOurPlayers. Four years ago, a fan sitting courtside in Philadelphia was ejected for flipping off Westbrook. In 2019, a fan in Utah was banned from Vivint Smart Home Arena for life after getting into a verbal altercation with Westbrook while he was on the Oklahoma City Thunder bench. "For me, there are a lot of incidents where fans, they say whatever, and the consequences for me are a lot more instrumental than to the fans in the stands because they feel they are untouchable," Westbrook said. "To get food thrown on top of me, it's just bulls---. "Obviously, I have learned to look the other way. But to a certain extent, you can't just keep looking the other way. There has to be some penalties or something to put in place where fans just can't come to the games and do and say as they please. "I really take this very personal. I am tired of the same thing. To me, I don't really see nothing changing. It just gets worse." Wednesday wasn't the first time a Wizards point guard has had a run-in with a Philadelphia fan, either. In 2019, then-Wizards guard Isaiah Thomas was ejected late in the fourth quarter of a loss at Wells Fargo Center after going into the stands and verbally confronting a fan. Thomas said the fan had "both of his middle fingers up and said, 'F--- you, b----,' three times." When the Wizards called a timeout with 2:53 left, Thomas said he went into to the stands "to confront him." Westbrook, meanwhile, did not return to Wednesday night's game after rolling his right ankle, which occurred when he stepped on 76ers guard Furkan Korkmaz's foot. Westbrook tweaked the same ankle in the third quarter while defending 76ers guard Ben Simmons in the post and fell to the court. Westbrook struggled on the night, going 2-of-10 from the field with 10 points, 11 assists and 6 rebounds. The 76ers have a 2-0 lead in the first-round playoff series. "I really take this very personal. I am tired of the same thing. To me, I don't really see nothing changing. It just gets worse." Wednesday wasn't the first time a Wizards point guard has had a run-in with a Philadelphia fan, either. In 2019, then-Wizards guard Isaiah Thomas was ejected late in the fourth quarter of a loss at Wells Fargo Center after going into the stands and verbally confronting a fan. Thomas said the fan had "both of his middle fingers up and said, 'F--- you, b----,' three times." When the Wizards called a timeout with 2:53 left, Thomas said he went into to the stands "to confront him." Westbrook, meanwhile, did not return to Wednesday night's game after rolling his right ankle, which occurred when he stepped on 76ers guard Furkan Korkmaz's foot. Westbrook tweaked the same ankle in the third quarter while defending 76ers guard Ben Simmons in the post and fell to the court. Westbrook struggled on the night, going 2-of-10 from the field with 10 points, 11 assists and 6 rebounds. The 76ers have a 2-0 lead in the first-round playoff series.

One year after George Floyd's murder, NBA social justice coalition urges passage of policing reform bill

2021-05-25T11:18:00.002-07:00

On the eve of the one-year anniversary of George Floyd's murder, the NBA's social justice coalition released a statement Monday night calling on the U.S. Senate to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act as a way to honor the memory of Floyd and "others who have been victims of police brutality."

The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which would ban chokeholds and "qualified immunity" for law enforcement while creating national standards for policing in a bid to bolster accountability, passed in the U.S. House of Representatives in March with bipartisan support and is now pending in the Senate.

In their statement, the board members of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition called on "elected representatives of both parties to work together to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in the U.S. Senate now and present it to President [Joe] Biden for him to sign into law this year."

Other groups of professional athletes joined the NBA players' coalition Tuesday with calls pushing for passage of the legislation.

The WNBPA said in a statement that it remains "hopeful that the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is the important first step for comprehensive policing reform at the federal level."

"America has a serious problem when it comes to discriminatory policing," the WNBPA said. "It is a deadly problem for Black and brown people. Excessive force used against communities of color is past crisis-level. Excessive force used against communities of color demands action by Congress."

The Black Players for Change, an independent organization representing Black players in Major League Soccer, also announced Tuesday that it is joining the NBA coalition's efforts.

"[The NBA players] communicating that to us, I felt like it was the perfect opportunity for us to collaborate because I just think it's the most meaningful thing that we can do in memory of George Floyd," Toronto FC defender and BPC executive director Justin Morrow said. "Pass some real reform that's going to change [things]."

On April 20, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter by a jury for his role in the murder of Floyd in May 2020 outside of a local convenience store. The death of Floyd, a Black man, and the video that showed Chauvin, who is white, kneeling on Floyd's neck for about nine minutes, became a catalyst for the sports world's racial and social justice movement last summer and led to the formation of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition.

The organization aims to lead "the NBA family's collaborative efforts to address racial and social inequality by advocating for policy change at the national, state, and local level."

Among the members of the coalition are players Carmelo Anthony, Avery Bradley, Sterling Brown, Donovan Mitchell and Karl-Anthony Towns, as well as multiple team owners, including Micky Arison, Steve Ballmer, Clay Bennett, Marc Lasry and Vivek Ranadive. Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers and former NBA coach Lloyd Pierce are also part of the coalition, as are NBA commissioner Adam Silver, NBPA executive director Michele Roberts and NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum.

"Almost exactly one year ago, George Floyd was murdered by a police officer in Minneapolis. Like millions around the world, NBA players, coaches, governors, officials, and staff throughout our organizations were outraged to see the horrifying and unlawful actions of the officer who pinned Mr. Floyd's neck to the ground under his knee for 9 minutes," the coalition's statement read. "Mr. Floyd's death added new fuel to the protests, marches, and urgent calls for racial justice and reform locally and nationally.

"Today, as this painful anniversary approaches, we have an opportunity to honor the memory of Mr. Floyd and others who have been victims of police brutality in this country by passing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Systemic problems demand systemic solutions. And, because police actions are governed by a diverse array of state laws and local policies, the Floyd Act takes unprecedented strides towards consistency -- reforming at a federal level the practices that failed its namesake."

The statement concluded: "As members of the NBA family, we will continue to use our influence to support common-sense policy reform in our communities across the nation so that equal justice is afforded to all."

Understanding how market capitalization affects stock value

2021-03-01T14:21:00.004-08:00

You can determine a company’s value (and thus the value of its stock) in many ways. The most basic way is to look at the company’s market value, also known as market capitalization (or market cap). Market capitalization is simply the value you get when you multiply all the outstanding shares of a stock by the price of a single share. Calculating the market cap is easy. If a company has 1 million shares outstanding and its share price is $10, the market cap is $10 million. Small cap, mid cap, and large cap aren’t references to headgear; they’re references to how large a company is as measured by its market value. Here are the five basic stock categories of market capitalization: ✓ Micro cap (under $250 million): These stocks are the smallest and hence the riskiest available. ✓ Small cap ($250 million to $1 billion): These stocks fare better than the microcaps and still have plenty of growth potential. The key word here is “potential.” ✓ Mid cap ($1 billion to $10 billion): For many investors, this category offers a good compromise between small caps and large caps. These stocks have some of the safety of large caps while retaining some of the growth potential of small caps. ✓ Large cap ($10 billion to $50 billion): This category is usually best reserved for conservative stock investors who want steady appreciation with greater safety. Stocks in this category are frequently referred to as blue chips. ✓ Ultra cap (over $50 billion): These stocks are also called mega caps and obviously refer to companies that are the biggest of the big. Stocks such as General Electric and Exxon Mobil are examples. From a safety point of view, a company’s size and market value do matter. All things being equal, large cap stocks are considered safer than small cap stocks. However, small cap stocks have greater potential for growth. Compare these stocks to trees: Which tree is sturdier, a giant California redwood or a small oak tree that’s just a year old? In a great storm, the redwood holds up well, while the smaller tree has a rough time. But you also have to ask yourself which tree has more opportunity for growth. The redwood may not have much growth left, but the small oak tree has plenty of growth to look forward to

STOCK TIP OF THE DAY

2021-02-28T16:24:00.003-08:00

Recognizing stock value Imagine that you like eggs and you’re buying them at the grocery store. In this example, the eggs are like companies, and the prices represent the prices that you would pay for the companies’ stock. The grocery store is the stock market. What if two brands of eggs are similar, but one costs 50 cents a carton and the other costs 75 cents? Which would you choose? Odds are that you’d look at both brands, judge their quality, and if they’re indeed similar, take the cheaper eggs. The eggs at 75 cents are overpriced. The same is true of stocks. What if you compare two companies that are similar in every respect but have different share prices? All things being equal, the cheaper price has greater value for the investor. But the egg example has another side. What if the quality of the two brands of eggs is significantly different, but their prices are the same? If one brand of eggs is stale, of poor quality, and priced at 50 cents and the other brand is fresh, of superior quality, and also priced at 50 cents, which would you get? I’d take the good brand because they’re better eggs. Perhaps the lesser eggs are an acceptable purchase at 10 cents, but they’re definitely overpriced at 50 cents. The same example works with stocks. A poorly run company isn’t a good choice if you can buy a better company in the marketplace at the same — or a better — price. Comparing the value of eggs may seem overly simplistic, but doing so does cut to the heart of stock investing. Eggs and egg prices can be as varied as companies and stock prices. As an investor, you must make it your job to find the best value for your investment dollars.

THE 10TH WONDER- From The Instrumental Album: THE B.T.A EXPERIMENT

2021-02-28T12:32:00.004-08:00

PlayStation Plus games for March: Final Fantasy VII Remake, Maquette, Remnant: From the Ashes and Farpoint

2021-02-27T21:31:00.004-08:00

Return to one of PlayStation’s most iconic settings reimagined for PS4 and experience a truly unique puzzle experience for PS5 as Final Fantasy VII Remake and Maquette join PlayStation Plus next month. Also launching alongside these titles on Tuesday, March 2 is the intense, sci-fi survival action of Remnant: From the Ashes and PS VR shooter Farpoint.

Let’s take a closer look at the games.

Final Fantasy VII Remake | PS4

Square Enix’s modern reimagining of its iconic RPG boasts unforgettable characters, a mind-blowing story and epic battles. Return to the city of Midgar as Cloud Strife, former member of Shinra’s elite SOLDIER unit now turned mercenary, lends his aid to the resistance group Avalanche. Initially executing daring raids against Shinra to fight back against its planet-threatening machinations, Cloud and his comrades are unaware of the epic consequences that await them.

The story of this first, standalone game in the Final Fantasy VII Remake project covers up to the party’s escape from Midgar, and goes deeper into the events occurring in Midgar than the classic original.

Please note the PS4 version of Final Fantasy VII Remake available to PlayStation Plus members is not eligible for the PS5 digital version upgrade.

Remnant: From the Ashes | PS4

In this third-person survival action shooter, play as one of the last remnants of humanity attempting to retake a world overrun by monstrous, interdimensional invaders. Venture into dynamically-generated worlds alone or with up to two other survivors*, scavenging for supplies and modding your equipment to strengthen your chances of survival when tackling over 100 deadly varieties of enemy and battling epic bosses.

Maquette** | PS5

All that is tiny is simultaneously huge in this intriguing first-person puzzler designed around a Escher-esque recursive simulation. Making its PlayStation 5 debut as part of next month’s PlayStation Plus lineup, Maquette sets you in the center of a world the rules of which are very different from our own. Solutions to puzzles require you to twist the world recursively – manipulating the landscape of a diorama will see those changes mirrored in the life-sized version that surrounds you. If you get perplexed by a puzzle, you can call up PS5’s Game Help*** for helpful hints to solve Maquette’s tougher conundrums.

Farpoint | PS VR****

Master an arsenal of weapons to keep yourself alive on a hostile alien world in this free-roaming, first-person PS VR shooter. Optimised for the PlayStation VR Aim controller and fully playable with a DualShock wireless controller, strike out towards your crashed space station solo or with a friend in online co-op. Trade alien threats for testing each other’s skills in a variety of Versus game modes.

These games will be available until April 5, 2021.

Also downloadable this month: Destruction AllStars | PS5

Destruction AllStars has a second month’s residency in PlayStation Plus and will leave the service on April 5, 2021. Take to the arena to partake in controlled car-crunching mayhem and parkour thrills with this supercharged multiplayer title. Master the unique abilities of 16 superstar competitors to come out on top across four game modes against other players online*. The game also supports PS5’s Game Help feature***, giving you hints and tips to become the ultimate destructive machine without the need to leave the game.

Your last chance to download February’s PlayStation Plus games

And as a reminder: you’ve only a few days left to download February’s other two titles: Control: Ultimate Edition and Concrete Genie. Head onto PlayStation Store from your PS4 or PS5 console, mobile app or through the website storefront to add them to your game library before it’s too late. Both games will be leaving the service on March 1, 2021.

THE CARNIVAL- From The Instrumental Album: THE B.T.A EXPERIMENT

2021-02-27T21:02:00.002-08:00

Rapper Scams $1.2M in COVID-19 Relief, Gloats with ‘EDD’ Video

2020-10-20T11:01:00.007-07:00

“Nuke Bizzle” faces 22 years in prison after brazenly bragging about an identity-theft campaign in his music video, “EDD.”

Rapper Fontrell Antonio Baines, who goes by the stage name “Nuke Bizzle,” made his first appearance in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles on Friday after being charged with fraudulently applying for more than $1.2 million in jobless benefits

under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California.

Allegedly, Baines was able to defraud the California Employment Development Department (EDD) into distributing CARES Act relief payments under the Pandemic Employment Assistance (PUA) provision, the statement from the U.S. Attorney’s office said. The PUA is intended to aid independent contractors who aren’t typically eligible for unemployment benefits.

Prosecutors claimed he used the names of identity-theft victims to get debit cards issued and mailed to various addresses in the Beverly Hills and Koreatown neighborhoods of Los Angeles, the statement added.

He is charged with three felonies: Access device fraud, aggravated identity theft and interstate transportation of stolen property. If convicted of all of them, Baines would face a statutory maximum sentence of 22 years in federal prison.

EDD Music Video Tipoff

Authorities were tipped off to the scheme after Baines posted a music video on YouTube and Instagram titled “EDD,” an apparent reference to the state unemployment agency.

In the video, posted on Sept. 11 and also featuring rapper Fat Wizza, Baines brags about “my swagger for EDD,” and holds up a stack of envelopes from the office, adding, “You gotta sell cocaine, I just file a claim.”

Source: YouTube.

The video shows Nuke Bizzle and Fat Wizza collecting EDD envelopes from various mailboxes, filing fraudulent claims on a laptop and spending wads of cash.

Apparently, the video’s disclaimer that “this video was created with props and was made for entertainment purposes only” wasn’t enough to dissuade authorities from taking a closer look at the ode to EDD.

An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Service, the IRS and California Employment Development Dept. found that Baines allegedly accessed more than $704,000 through 92 debit cards issued by EDD, with more than $1.2 million in benefits available. The statement added the money was used for cash withdrawals and purchases, including in Las Vegas, where Baines was arrested on Sept. 23.

At the time of his arrest, Baines was reported to have been holding eight debit cards issued under seven separate names.

Widespread CARES Act Fraud

Rampant fraud directed at the CARES Act and COVID-19 relief has been going on since the more than $2 trillion economic assistance bill passed on March 27 to aid families and businesses impacted by the pandemic.

In April, the Small Business Administration (SBA) was breached, exposing the information of 8,000 businesses which had applied for loans to weather COVID-19, including Social Security numbers, Tax ID numbers, financial information and much more.

In May, the business email compromise (BEC) gang known as Scattered Canary submitted hundreds of fake claims across several states with personal data that Agari researchers said looked like was lifted from stolen W2 tax forms. The group reportedly received almost 50 prepaid debit cards issued by Green Dot.

BEC attacks typically involve a scammer impersonating a trusted source from within a company, with the intention of tricking someone to wire money or share other sensitive data.

Overall, the CARES Act has driven a sharp uptick in phishing and other schemes to get ahold of American taxpayer data and an easy payout. Secureworks CTU reported in May seeing ads with phony tax forms to trick users out of their information, as well as emails impersonating the IRS to “confirm” information to receive stimulus payments.

Baines put out a video bragging about the alleged crime and showing how it worked. But as the case works its way through the courts, a reminder from the U.S. Attorney’s office reads, “Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Black Panther' star Chadwick Boseman dies after battle with cancer

2020-08-28T23:34:00.001-07:00

Boseman, who skyrocketed to international fame in the role of King T'Challa in the 2018 blockbuster, died after a four-year battle with colon cancer.

Actor Chadwick Boseman, who portrayed the Black Panther on the big screen, died Friday after a four-year battle with cancer, his family said in a statement on social media. He was 43.

Boseman had not spoken about his bout with cancer, and his death came as a shock to many.

He died at his home in the Los Angeles area with his family by his side.

The actor was diagnosed with colon cancer about four years ago, according to a statement from his family.

Boseman was a mainstay of the Black Panther franchise and also appeared in Avengers and Captain America movies. He also played Black icons Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall and James Brown in feature films.

“A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much,” his family said in the statement. “From Marshall to Da 5 Bloods, August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and several more — all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy. It was the honor of his career to bring King T’Challa to life in Black Panther."

The NAACP paid tribute to the actor on Twitter, praising him for "showing us how to conquer adversity with grace ... for showing us just how powerful we are."

Oscar-winner Matthew A. Cherry, who spent three seasons as a wide receiver on various NFL teams before turning to filmmaking, praised Boseman's strength.

"Chadwick was really out here shooting all of these huge action movies while fighting stage 4 colon cancer. Man. Strong isn’t even the word," Cherry tweeted Friday night.

Writer Roxane Gay said the news was devastating. "My heart goes out to his family," she said on Twitter.

Filmmaker Jordan Peele said the loss of Boseman was a "crushing blow."

Boseman was a native of Anderson, South Carolina, where he attended T.L Hanna High School before graduating in 1995.

His success was no surprise there.

Former assistant principal Sheila Hilton told NBC affiliate WYFF in 2013 Boseman was the "all-around" student, who excelled wherever he applied himself. He performed in school plays, and Hilton said many of his teachers expected him to make it.

Boseman attended Howard University before studying at the British American Drama Academy at Oxford, England, and then moving to Brooklyn to pursue acting.

His skills took him to Hollywood and daytime television ("All My Children") as well as primetime drama ("Third Watch," "ER") before he got a shot at the big screen.

Boseman got a relatively late start in film, landing his first studio lead at age 35 as Jackie Robinson in "42" in 2013.

His next big role was as James Brown in "Get on Up" in 2014. The New Yorker magazine praised his performance as "startling and galvanic."

"The beat is driving, insistent, even ferocious, but Boseman’s movements are liquid," critic David Denby said.

Two years later, Boseman was embedded in Marvel blockbusters as the character T'Challa, first in "Captain America: Civil War," then, of course, in "Black Panther," the 2018 film that at the time became the biggest-grossing superhero movie while surpassing $1 billion box office receipts.

Boseman rode to global fame as Prince T'Challa, the heir to the throne in the technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda who faces upheaval as he takes his place as king.

That year he hosted "Saturday Night Live."

At the "MTV Movie & TV Awards" in 2018 Boseman handed his award for best hero to James Shaw Jr., who wrestled an assault-style rifle away from a gunman at a Tennessee Waffle House in April of that year.

"Black Panther" won Academy Awards for best original score, best costume design and best production design categories.

Boseman also played T'Challa in Marvel films "Avengers: Infinity Wars" in 2018 and "Avengers: Endgame" in 2019.

"Black Panthers II" was scheduled for 2022 release.

Marvel Studios on Friday night mourned the loss. "Our hearts are broken and our thoughts are with Chadwick Boseman’s family. Your legacy will live on forever. Rest In Peace," it posted on social media.

Boseman is survived by his wife and a parent. He had no children.

Nexus War Launch Trailer for Fortnite Chapter 2 - Season 4

2020-08-27T11:41:00.002-07:00

Discover how the Heroes and Villains of Marvel ended up on the Island. Learn more: https://www.epicgames.com/fortnite/en... The Lore, Legends, Heroes and Villains from @Marvel have arrived in Fortnite. Join the fight and take on Galactus to save all of Reality. Awaken the Hero and Villain within, board the Helicarrier and drop into #FortniteNexusWar now! Play Fortnite Battle Royale, the completely free 100-player PvP mode. One giant map, A Battle Bus, Last one standing wins. ESRB Rating: Teen with Violence. Follow Fortnite Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fortnite/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FortniteGame Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FortniteGame/ Follow Marvel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marvel/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Marvel/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Marvel/ Learn More: https://www.epicgames.com/fortnite/home #FortniteSeason4 #NexusWar #FortniteMarvel #MarvelFortnite

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𝙲𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚏 𝙳𝚞𝚝𝚢®: 𝙱𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝙾𝚙𝚜 𝙲𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚆𝚊𝚛 - 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚃𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚛

2020-08-27T11:38:00.001-07:00

𝚆𝚎𝚕𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚔. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚌 𝙱𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝙾𝚙𝚜 𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝙲𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚏 𝙳𝚞𝚝𝚢®: 𝙱𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝙾𝚙𝚜 𝙲𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚆𝚊𝚛 – 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚜𝚎𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚕 𝚝𝚘 𝙲𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚏 𝙳𝚞𝚝𝚢®: 𝙱𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝙾𝚙𝚜, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚕. 𝙲𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚏 𝙳𝚞𝚝𝚢: 𝙱𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝙾𝚙𝚜 𝙲𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚆𝚊𝚛 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚍𝚛𝚘𝚙 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚑𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙲𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚆𝚊𝚛’𝚜 𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚐𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚘𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕 𝚋𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚢 𝟷𝟿𝟾𝟶𝚜. 𝙸𝚗 𝚊 𝚐𝚛𝚒𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚎-𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚎𝚛 𝙲𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚒𝚐𝚗, 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚐𝚕𝚘𝚋𝚊𝚕 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚢 𝚊𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚒𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚌 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚆𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚜, 𝙼𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙷𝚞𝚍𝚜𝚘𝚗, 𝚊𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚊 𝚙𝚕𝚘𝚝 𝚍𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝙱𝚎𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙲𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚒𝚐𝚗, 𝙱𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝙾𝚙𝚜 𝙲𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚆𝚊𝚛 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚍𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚡𝚝 𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝙼𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚒𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚉𝚘𝚖𝚋𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚜, 𝚋𝚎𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚆𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍𝚠𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝙼𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚒𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚎𝚛 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚘𝚗 𝚂𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝟿. 𝙲𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚏 𝙳𝚞𝚝𝚢: 𝙱𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝙾𝚙𝚜 𝙲𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚆𝚊𝚛 𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚗 𝙽𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝟷𝟹, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟶.

Kenny Smith Walks Off the Inside Set In Support of NBA Players | NBA on TNT

2020-08-27T11:35:00.001-07:00

After three playoff games were suspended in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake, the Inside crew reacts to the postponement of the game and Kenny delivers a powerful message in support of the players.

New details in Jacob Blake police shooting emerge in first law enforcement press conferences

2020-08-27T11:33:00.000-07:00

New details have been released about the Kenosha, Wisconsin police officer accused of shooting Jacob Blake in the back at least seven times. It comes as the U.S. Department of Justice opens a civil rights investigation into the shooting. After days of violent protests, Wisconsin’s governor is deploying 500 additional members of the National Guard to Kenosha. Mola Lenghi reports.