Posts made in December 2021

art by Kaelen for use by 360 Magazine

The Silent Sea – Netflix

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By: Kai Yeo

Korean dramas have been popular, but it seems like they are even more on the rise in 2021. Ahem, Squid Game. K-dramas are known for their high production value, character arcs and engrossing storylines. While most of them are only 16-20 episodes, quality acting allows the audience to build a connection and become emotionally invested.

Looking for something to binge over the holidays? Part of the Top 10 trending shows on Netflix is a K-drama titled The Silent Sea. A Netflix original, sci-fi series that has been catching global attention, and is already at a 70% score less than a week after release. On top of positive reviews, the fascinating plot has been all the buzz on film socials. Before you start this series, you probably want to know the gist of what it is about – we got you covered.

The Silent Sea

The Silent Sea narrates the story of an earth that has been ravaged by drought, and a large crew must travel to an abandoned base on the moon to retrieve a sample. This sample supposedly contains what will save the world… but we are not quite sure what it is yet. Watch the trailer here.

The Synopsis via Netflix:

“During a perilous 24-hour mission on the moon, space explorers try to retrieve samples from an abandoned research facility steeped in classified secrets.”

Will they ever return to Earth? What lies ahead on their mission? So many questions and no answers, you’ll just have to tune in to find out. What we do know, though, is the stellar cast in this new release. Starting with the instantly recognizable leads: Train to Busan’s Gong Yoo and Sense8’s Bae Doona, acting as the caption of the mission and lead scientist respectively.

If you’ve been keeping up with the Korean film industry, most of these other actors might also be familiar to you:

With such a big crew, many unprecedented things happen, but The Silent Sea provides a lot of mystery and interesting plot twists by the end. While saying anything more would include spoilers, it was certainly a wild ride. A refined production that will be high on our sci-fi list for a little bit.

Mariah Carey Makes History

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Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” continues to make pop music history this year as the artist’s perennial yuletide standard (cowritten and coproduced by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff in 1994) keeps breaking new records while lighting up the 2021 holiday season.

This December, “All I Want for Christmas is You” became the first and only holiday single to take home the RIAA’s coveted Diamond Award (in recognition of ten million sales and streaming units in the United States).

Listen to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas is You” here.

“The continued love for my song never ceases to amaze me and fill my heart with a multitude of emotions,” said Mariah. “It blows my mind that ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ has endured different eras of the music industry. The RIAA DIAMOND award?! Wowww! I’m so fortunate to have the greatest fans on Earth, my Lambily, who continue to support my legacy. I love you.”

“Mariah is the Queen of Christmas,” said President of the Commercial Music Group at Sony Music Entertainment, Richard Story. “Her Sony Music family congratulates her on breaking yet another record, and continuing to make history as the first and only artist to achieve this incredible milestone.”

“Mariah Carey is one of the top Gold & Platinum awarded artists of all time, and ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ becoming the only holiday song to achieve Diamond is a remarkable milestone forever etched in music history. Congratulations and happy holidays to Mariah and her amazing Sony team,” said Mitch Glazier, Chairman and CEO, RIAA.

Carey also spotlights the global fan-favorite “All I Want for Christmas is You” in the Apple TV+ smash-hit, Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special, with a show-stopping performance of the record-breaking song, along with her twins, son Moroccan and daughter Monroe. On the heels of this exciting news, Carey debuts her all-new holiday extravaganza Mariah’s Christmas: The Magic Continues, premiering globally today and available now on Apple TV+.

On Tuesday, December 7, Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) will make two Mariah Carey films, Live at the Tokyo Dome and First Vision, available for digital purchase and rental for the first time in the United States. Showcasing more than 80 minutes of music, including a stunning live version of “All I Want for Christmas is You,” Mariah Carey: Live at the Tokyo Dome captures the artist’s historic first concert in Japan, lensed during her 1996 Daydream World Tour. Mariah Carey: First Vision gives viewers an inside look at Mariah on the cusp of her meteoric rise to superstardom; this 1991 film contains early music videos, behind-the-scenes footage, an interview and songs from her very first live performance at New York’s intimate Tatou Club in 1990. Currently available in the US only, four additional Mariah Carey films–Fantasy: Mariah Carey at Madison Square Garden, Here is Mariah Carey, Mariah Carey Around the World and Mariah Carey: MTV Unplugged +3–will be released worldwide via SPE on December 7.

Billboard recently named Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” as the #1 record on their Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs list. The song first cracked the Top 10 of the Hot 100 in December 2017 and, in December 2019, 25 years after its original release, became the second holiday single ever to hit #1 on the Hot 100, breaking the record for longest span from release date to #1. “All I Want for Christmas is You” hit #1 again in 2020, giving it a five week total in the top slot, a new milestone for a holiday recording.

Recorded in August 1994 at The Hit Factory in New York, “All I Want for Christmas is You” was originally released in October 1994 as the first single from Mariah’s Merry Christmas album, a showcase for Mariah’s interpretations of familiar holiday songs alongside the new material she’d composed with co-writer Walter Walter Afanasieff. “All I Want for Christmas Is You” went on to become one of the best-selling singles (of any genre) of all time and the best-selling holiday ringtone in the United States for several years running.

When “All I Want for Christmas is You” hit #1 on the Hot 100 in 2019, it was Mariah’s 19th claim on the top spot, a record for a solo recording artist; when her holiday single hit #1 the following year, Mariah became the first artist to have a Hot 100 # 1 in four separate decades (the 1990s, the 2000s, the 2010s and the 2020s).

Having charted every holiday season since its original release, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You”–which The New Yorker called “one of the few worthy modern additions to the holiday canon”–has become an essential seasonal standard that continues to bring the spirit of Christmas to the hearts of music lovers the world over.

“All I Want for Christmas is You” is Carey’s biggest international success, topping the charts in twenty-six countries including Australia, Canada, France, and Germany. In 2020, the holiday classic topped the charts in the United Kingdom for the first time, spending a record 69 weeks in the UK Top 40 before reaching #1. “All I Want for Christmas is You” is the all-time best-selling Christmas single by a female artist and one of the top-selling physical singles in music history. It’s the first holiday ringtone to be certified double platinum by the RIAA.

As of December 20, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” makes an unprecedented return to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, rising from No. 2. The carol logs its sixth total week atop the Hot 100 and becomes the first song in the chart’s history to have led in three distinct runs on the ranking (2019, 2020, 2021). Additionally, the record tops both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts. The two global charts rank songs based on streaming and sales activity culled from more than 200 territories, as compiled by MRC Data.

The song was first released on Carey’s album Merry Christmas in 1994 and, as streaming has grown and holiday music has become more prominent on streaming services’ seasonal playlists, it hit the Hot 100’s top 10 for the first time in December 2017, before ascending to No. 1 in both December 2019 (for three weeks) and December 2020 (two).

Carey’s gift that keeps on giving (and leading) paces six holiday classics in the Hot 100’s top 10, with Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” rising to No. 2 and Wham!’s “Last Christmas” returning to the tier at No. 9.

A deeper look at Carey’s latest Hot 100 coronation with “Christmas,” on Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings:

Airplay, streams & sales: Carey’s “Christmas” drew 37.6 million U.S. streams (up 16%) and 26.1 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 7%) and sold 7,400 downloads (up 7%) in the Dec. 10-16 tracking week, according to MRC Data.

The song spends a 13th total week at No. 1 on the Streaming Songs chart and rises 9-7 on Digital Song Sales; and 24-23 on Radio Songs. It also leads the multi-metric Holiday 100 chart for a 49th week, of the chart’s 54 total weeks since the list launched in 2011; it has topped the tally for 34 consecutive weeks, dating to the start of the 2015-16 holiday season, and dominates as the top title on the recently-revealed Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs chart.

Since its release, the song has upped its U.S. totals to 4.3 billion in radio audience, 1.4 billion streams and 3.7 million in download sales.

No. 1 in a third separate chart run: Carey’s “Christmas” first topped the Hot 100 dated Dec. 21, 2019, and led again on the next two lists, dated Dec. 28, 2019, and Jan. 4, 2020.

The following holiday season, it returned to No. 1 on the chart dated Dec. 19, 2020, and, after a week at No. 2 (below Taylor Swift’s “Willow”), topped the Jan. 2, 2021, dated tally.

As “Christmas” rules the latest, Dec. 25, 2021-dated chart, it claims its sixth total week at No. 1 in its third seasonal run at the summit, becoming the first song in the Hot 100’s 63-year history to lead in three distinct chart runs. The track has re-entered the survey each November or December dating to 2012.

(As “Christmas” has made four interrupted climbs to the top of the Hot 100, on charts dated Dec. 21, 2019, Dec. 19, 2020, Jan. 2, 2021, and now Dec. 25, 2021, it ties 24kGoldn’s “Mood,” featuring iann dior, beginning in October 2020, and Drake’s “Nice for What,” in 2018, as the only songs with four separate ascents to No. 1; unlike “Christmas,” the latter two tracks logged their four distinct rises to No. 1 over unbroken chart stays.)

Longest span atop the Hot 100: Carey’s “Christmas” now boasts the longest span from a song’s first week at No. 1 on the Hot 100 to its latest: two years and four days (Dec. 21, 2019-Dec. 25, 2021).

It passes the only other song to lead the Hot 100 over multiple runs: Chubby Checker’s “The Twist,” which topped the tally dated Sept. 19, 1960, before, thanks to new popularity among adult audiences, leading the lists dated Jan. 13 and 20, 1962, ruling again after a gap of a year, three months and three weeks. (Still, that break remains the longest between Hot 100 reigns.)

Most weeks at No. 1 for a holiday hit: With its sixth week atop the Hot 100, Carey’s “Christmas” extends its record for the most time at No. 1 among holiday songs. The only other seasonal single to jingle to the apex, “The Chipmunk Song,” by David Seville & the Chipmunks, spent four weeks on top beginning in December 1958.

Carey’s record 85th week atop Hot 100: With “Christmas,” Carey claims her record-extending 85th week at No. 1 on the Hot 100, dating to the chart’s Aug. 4, 1958, inception.

Most Weeks at No. 1 on Hot 100
85, Mariah Carey
60, Rihanna
59, The Beatles
52, Drake
50, Boyz II Men
47, Usher
41, Beyoncé
37, Michael Jackson
34, Elton John
34, Bruno Mars

“Christmas” became Carey’s 19th Hot 100 No. 1, the most among soloists and one away from The Beatles’ overall record 20. It also made Carey the first artist to have ranked at No. 1 on the chart in four distinct decades, dating to her first week on top with her debut single, “Vision of Love,” in 1990.

Further, “Christmas” is Carey’s record fifth Hot 100 No. 1 to rule for six weeks or more. She one-ups Boyz II Men, Drake and Usher, each with four such leaders.

Plus, it’s not only fitting that “Christmas” leads the Hot 100 dated Dec. 25, 2021, but Carey is the only artist to top the chart on multiple rankings dated Dec. 25: her “Hero” began a four-week stay at No. 1 on the Dec. 25, 1993, Hot 100. (This week’s chart is the 10th dated Dec. 25 in the list’s history.)

How to start selling NFTs online

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NFTs have, without a doubt, taken the world by storm in the last year (2021), with people around the globe spending millions of pounds to purchase them. There were also those who started producing their very-own NFTs to sell. You can use a free ecommerce website to sell your NFTs and begin to build up a loyal following. These free eComm sites will come with specialised built-in tools that can help you organise your NFT sales effortlessly. The code is done for you, you can plug in social media, and much more.

NFTs – what exactly are they?

NFTs are non-fungible tokens which are non-interchangeable, basically meaning that they are unique and can not be replaced with something else of its kind.

An NFT is a unit of data, stored on a blockchain, and can come in a number of different formats, including digital files such as artwork (drawings, paintings etc.), photos, videos, audio files, and even memes, which are usually humorous pieces of content that are popular amongst large audiences.

These non-fungible tokens come with a certificate of authenticity, or proof of ownership,  which is provided through the use of a digital ledger. This is what makes NFTs unique – and one of a kind.

How do you start selling NFTs? – where to begin

If you are looking to get into the selling of NFTs and not quite sure where to start, here is a brief guide to the steps that you should take.

Step one – Set yourself up with a digital wallet

The first thing that you should look to do is set yourself up with your own digital wallet.

So, what is an NFT wallet?

Basically, an NFT wallet is an online digital wallet that allows you to store your NFTs, as well as cryptocurrencies, all in one place.

What is the best NFT wallet?

Each NFT wallet offers something a little different, and so it is important that you decide upon the wallet which best suits your NFT needs and requirements.

Here is a list of some of the most-popular digital wallets that are being used by those who buy and sell NFTs, including a brief explanation on the specifics of each one:

  • Metamask – known to be one of the best Ethereum-based NFTs
  • Trust Wallet – a great choice for those looking to collect Cross-Chain NFTs
  • Math Wallet – an excellent multi-stage choice, enabling you to buy and sell NFTs from multiple platforms
  • Enjin Wallet – the best choice for those looking to store ERC-1155 tokens
  •  Coinbase – a world-renowned name with a simplistic, yet successful, interface
  • Kukai – an open-source NFT wallet, and a great choice for those new to the world of NFTs

Step two – Choose a marketplace to sell your NFT on

There are a lot of websites out there offering you the opportunity to open a digital wallet, and the same goes for NFT marketplaces – for those looking to sell NFTs, there are many options to choose from.

Here is a list of some of the more popular NFT marketplaces: 

  • OpenSea – the current leading marketplace for NFT sales
  • SuperRare – an excellent choice for those looking to sell art, videos, as well as 3D images
  • Rarible – allows users to sell NFTs in the form of collectibles, art, videos and music
  • Foundation – a marketplace that has sold more than $100 million of NFTs

The above list represents just a few of the marketplaces that are available in the world of NFTs.

It is important that you study each one to ensure that it offers what you need, and suits your NFT storage needs and requirements, whether your NFT comes in the form of a particular collectible, digital asset, or a piece of art.

And with more and more marketplaces looking to establish themselves in the world of NFTs (including one of the world’s largest e-commerce websites, eBay), there is certainly a plethora of choices for those wanting to sell their very-own NFT.

Step three – Connect your digital wallet to your chosen marketplace

First of all, you should make sure that the NFT marketplace that you have chosen to use for selling NFTs accepts your digital wallet.

If the marketplace is compatible with your digital wallet of choice, then the next step of connecting both should be pretty straightforward.

It is highly likely that connecting your digital wallet to an NFT marketplace website is going to be reasonably simple, as most of the marketplaces have a clearly visible button or link to click on and start this process.

Once you have completed this step and successfully connected your digital wallet and the marketplace you are going to use, you are ready to start selling your NFTs.

Step four – Creating – and uploading – your NFT

This step involves the creation of your NFT, which will require you to format and upload it to your chosen marketplace.

Most NFT marketplaces are likely to have a ‘create’ button on their site, which allows users to begin the creation of your NFT, and this will usually be a step-by-step process with clear instructions.

Step five – Setting up a listing to sell your NFT

By this point you should have your NFT uploaded to your marketplace, so now be ready to advertise it to potential buyers.

When listing your NFT for sale, you will need to consider whether to sell it at a fixed price, or to opt for a timed auction, which will allow for potential buyers to bid on it during a set timeframe.

You will also be required to give your NFT listing a title, an external link (which could be to a specific website or social media profile), as well as provide a brief description of your NFT.

Here are some of the other things that you are likely to be asked to upload or enter information for:

  • a preview image – which will be the ‘thumbnail’ for your NFT listing
  • unlockable content – this acts as an extra incentive to potential buyers, and could be in the form of a discount code for a future purchase or simply a message to say ‘thank you’ to the buyer for their purchase of your NFT
  • advanced settings – this section will allow you to add optional further details (properties) to your NFT listing, for example, an alternative description for your NFT listing

Once all of the above has been entered and you are happy that the information is correct and in order, you are now ready to hit that all-important ‘create’ button.

It is then time to sit back, relax and wait for your very first NFT sale.

Ranked Teams Battle on ESPN Networks illustration by Vaughn Lowery use by 360 Magazine

ESPN College Football Semifinals

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ESPN‘s expansive studio programming surrounding the College Football Playoff semifinals is in full swing, with live coverage from ESPN and SEC Network sets at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic and Capital One Orange Bowl. ESPN platforms are set for more than 30 hours of on-site analysis and insight leading into the final college football showdowns of 2021.

ESPN will have live pre-game, halftime and post-game wraps throughout the week from sets in Miami Gardens. Ram Trucks College Football Pregame is live from outside Hard Rock Stadium beginning Wednesday, Dec. 29, with Kevin Negandhi anchoring the day’s wraps, joined throughout the afternoon by analysts David Pollack, Joey Galloway, and Booger McFarland. Ram Trucks College Football Pregame returns on Thursday, Dec. 30 at 6:30 p.m., leading into the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, with Negandhi, Galloway, and McFarland prepping fans for CFP and New Year’s Six action.

College GameDay Covers the Capital One Orange Bowl

College GameDay Built by The Home Depot launches a full day of on-site studio shows Friday, Dec. 31, with nearly a dozen hours of live studio programming across ESPN and SEC Network, originating from sets in the Lone Star and Sunshine states. Rece Davis hosts the 12-time Emmy Award-winning show with analysts Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, David Pollack, research producer and sports betting analyst Chris ‘The Bear’ Fallica, and reporters Jen Lada and Gene Wojciechowski. The three-hour show starts up at 8 a.m. from outside Hard Rock Stadium. Galloway, McFarland, and Negandhi will join the show as well.

The College GameDay cast has several CFP semifinal ties, with Alabama alum Davis, Heisman Trophy-winning Michigan WR Howard, and recent Hall of Fame inductee and Georgia great Pollack behind the CGD desk. That trio will provide pre-game, halftime, and post-game wraps on Friday afternoon from ESPN’s set outside Hard Rock Stadium.

The College GameDay crew will also be live on New Year’s Day from the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Capital One Venture X, previewing the many Jan. 1 games at 10 a.m. from Pasadena, site of the Utah/Ohio State showdown (5 p.m., ESPN).

College GameDay Features

  • Friday, Dec. 31
    • Ojabo’s Journey: Born in Nigeria and raised in Scotland, Michigan linebacker David Ojabo moved to New Jersey in high school, where he started out playing soccer and basketball. It wasn’t until he saw a classmate getting scholarship offers to play football that he decided to give it a try. Now, even though he is still learning the game, Ojabo is a prospect with first-round potential and a key member of the Michigan defense. (Reporter: Gene Wojciechowski)  
    • Bigger Than Ball: For the last year, football has been more than a game for 13-year-old Taeden Johnson. It’s been an outlet and an escape. The Georgia football team-beyond the extraordinary season they’ve put together-has emerged as an extension of the family he recently lost. (Reporter: Jen Lada)
    • Jim Harbaugh Convo: Marty Smith sits down with the Michigan Head Coach to talk about his coaching journey at Michigan, why he decided to have this team be a more player-led group, beating Ohio State, and losing his wallet after the Big Ten championship. 
    • Luke Fickell Convo: Kirk Herbstreit sits down with his old college teammate, Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell, to talk about the challenges of the season, how he will prep for Alabama, his distinguished wrestling career, and just how many pull-ups he thinks he can do.
    • Nick Saban Live: Alabama head coach Nick Saban joins the College GameDay cast live from Miami
    • 2001 Miami Roundtable: Andrea Adelson sits down with some key members of the 2001 Miami Hurricanes, including Ed Reed, Jonathan Vilma, and Bryant McKinnie, to reflect on one of the greatest teams in college football history, 20 years later.
    • Bryce Young Convo: Gene Wojciechowski sits down with the Heisman Trophy winner to discuss how he always remains so calm and how that wasn’t always the case, the defining moment of the season so far, and how this team learned to respect winning again. 
  • Saturday, Jan. 1
    • Forever Bonded: Aaron and Ty: Aaron Lowe and Ty Jordan were best friends, as high school teammates in suburban Dallas, and as teammates at the University of Utah, where Jordan was the Pac-12 Offensive freshman of the year and Aaron was a special team regular and Nickelback. But two tragic events, nine months to the day of each other, ended their lives, but not their bond. (Reporter: Gene Wojciechowski) 
    • Dream Weaver: Kentucky Linebacker J.J. Weaver was born with a sixth finger on his right hand. Often hiding his extra digit as a kid, J.J. is now embracing what makes him unique and inspiring children just like him. (Reporter: Jen Lada) 
    • CJ Stroud Convo: Tiffany Blackmon sits down with the Ohio State quarterback to talk about as a Cali kid, what the Rose bowl means to him, how his Heisman experience has motivated him even more, and what it means to him to get to play a game back home. 
    • Big Man, Big Heart: Offensive Lineman Dillan Gibbons befriended Timothy Donovan, who lives with VACTERL after Timothy attended his first game at Notre Dame. The friendship has endured, having a life-changing effect on Donovan. When Gibbons transferred to Florida State, he used his NIL rights to help bring Timothy to Florida State for the Notre Dame game. (Reporter: Marty Smith)

A quartet of ESPN reporters has been assigned to the respective CFP semifinal teams, with Holly Rowe (Georgia) and Marty Smith (Michigan) reporting from Miami all week, and Molly McGrath (Cincinnati) and Laura Rutledge (Alabama) on-site in Arlington.

ESPN.com has the College Football Playoff covered, as Paolo Uggetti and Dave Wilson will be on site from the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, and Andrea Adelson and Mark Schlabach will report from the Capital One Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens.

SportsCenter will also have a full slate of live updates from Miami, starting Wednesday and continuing through kickoff.

SEC Network

SEC Network presents a full week of wall-to-wall studio analysis and in-game reaction surrounding the CFP semifinals. On Friday, Dec. 31 alone, SEC Network will spotlight more than 15 consecutive hours of live programming, the most in a single day in network history, as Alabama and Georgia fight for their places in the grand finale of college football, the College Football Playoff National Championship Presented by AT&T.

ESPN Digital and Social

Countdown to the College Football Playoff Semifinal Presented by AT&T 5G is one of several digital shows surrounding ESPN’s postseason coverage, with Christine Williamson, Gary Striewski, Jason Fitz, Skubie Mageza, Harry Douglas, and Mike Golic Jr. recapping the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic and gearing up for the Capital One Orange Bowl.

Kevin Young Capitol Music Group for use by 360 MAGAZINE

Alesso × Katy Perry – When I’m Gone

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Renowned producer Alesso and pop icon Katy Perry come together in collaboration to release When I’m Gone. When I’m Gone released on December 29, 2021, and the highly anticipated official music video is set to release on January 10, 2022. Listen to When I’m Gone HERE.

“When it comes to my music videos, we all know I like to push the boundaries and myself and create unique opportunities for my fans to see them. ESPN and especially College GameDay hold a special place in my heart, so partnering with Alesso to become the first artists to ever debut a global music video within a live event on ESPN made for a perfect and natural pairing,” says Katy Perry.

Alesso, too, chimed in on the song and music video, stating, “”I’m so thrilled that When I’m Gone is finally out. We’ve been waiting the whole year to share it with all of you. I’m honored to collaborate with Katy on such an amazing dance record and with ESPN to become the first artists to premiere our music video at halftime of the College Football Playoff National Championship. I loved working with her and think this song and video came out super special.”

When I’m Gone showcases a mix of high-tech beats paired with heart wrenching lyrics sung by Katy. In the chorus, Katy sings out to a past lover, and assures them that she won’t be that easy to move on from. “I’m never really gone, you think you’re movin’ on, but it won’t be for long, you’ll see.” The technical hit in combination with high-drama lyrics produces a match made in heaven between Katy and Alesso.

The premiere of When I’m Gone tops off a groundbreaking year for the DJ and dance music producer Alesso. Alesso recently paired with OneOf, a green NFT platform, releasing his debut NFT collection Cosmic Genesis. More accomplishments of Alesso include Chasing Stars (with Marshmello feat. James Bay) reaching the top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Song Charts, spending 11 weeks at this spot. Alesso is ringing in the 2022 new year while playing two shows in Miami on New Year’s Eve. In one show, Alesso plays with Doja Cat at Fountaine Bleau Poolside, the other at Liv Nightclub.

Katy Perry accumulates 50 billion streams, accompanied by 48 million adjusted album worldwide sales and 135 million tracks. Katy’s unforgettable 2015 Super Bowl performance stands at the highest-rated in the history of the event. A staple in the industry of pop music, Katy boasts 40M+ monthly listeners on Spotify, with numerous accomplishments to her name. Apart from her esteemed music career, Katy continues to use her platform to spread awareness for several philanthropic foundations.

Jonny Marlow for use by 360 MAGAZINE

SPOTLIGHT: CARSON MACCORMAC

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While chasing his dreams of becoming an actor, Canadian actor Carson MacCormac has established himself in the industry, and has plans to only expand his career as we head into 2022.

Carson can be found starring in East of the Middle West in the role of “Chris.” The film follows “Chris” as he navigates his life following his involvement in a fatal accident that leaves a mother and child dead. Through his interpretation of “Chris” in the film, Carson has been honored with the Best Actor award at the Montreal Independent Film Festival. Moreover, East of the Middle West was the closing film at the Chelsea Film Festival and won Best American Indie at the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival.

Carson additionally joined the cast of the withstanding Netflix series Locke and Key for both Season 2 and 3. The series follows the three Locke siblings as they work through their father’s peculiar murder. The siblings seek refuge in their mother’s ancestral home, also known as Keyhouse. Carson takes on the role of “Benjamin Locke,” a vague ancestor of the siblings, whose storyline is set in the 1700s. Season 2 of Locke and Key premiered in October 2021, and Season 3 premieres TBD in 2022.

Notorious for his role in DC Comics superhero movie SHAZAM!, Carson plays “Brett Breyer.” Carson can soon be found in the upcoming Netflix and Lionsgate thriller, Luckiest Girl Alive. 360 MAGAZINE had the opportunity to chat with Carson about his acting career, and what we can expect to see for the future of his career.

When did you know that you wanted to pursue a career in acting?

Before I realized how much work it would take to become one. When I was a kid, I would sit and watch movies and think “I could totally do that.” Little did I know just how much training goes into becoming an actor with even a basic level of competency. However, I knew I would pursue it for a living near the end of high school. Interestingly enough, it was once I started having to seriously work at the craft that I fell I became obsessed. A career is a kind way of putting what I lovingly refer to as an addiction. Once I fell in love with the work my course was kind of set for me.

What is the process that you go through to prep for a new role?

A lot of writing initially. I have a 5-page cheat sheet I made to ensure I always flesh out my characters, but that is only usually the initial prep. The fun work comes in the imagining of who my character is and why. Writing I find helps me organize my thoughts. It also ensures that any fleeting ideas I have to add depth to a role are jotted down for me to refer to later. Physicality is an important one for me, getting a character into my body as at the end of the day, that physical work is the majority of what the camera picks up. When I get my head around a character, get my body into the role and get my lines down, I just let it all go and have fun with it.

What is the greatest lesson you’ve learned from the acting world?

One of my personal favorites is the reminder to stay curious and imaginative through all assets of life. Curiosity of self, of others and of things is, in my opinion, one of the purest forms of purpose humans can have. Acting has forced me to question everything, oftentimes myself included, and plunge into characters with circumstances and motives far removed from my own. That curiosity I find is a stream to the more pleasant qualities of people such as empathy, perspective, and self-reflection.

What is a bucket list goal that you want to accomplish in your career?

I would love to star in something that I wrote. It would have to come down the line, as I still have a lot to learn as a writer, but to take a page out of Good Will Hunting, I think the chance to build-a-bear a role that I could then portray would be incredibly enjoyable. That, to me, is also one of the most terrifying tasks I can think of for myself, which is why I think it excites me so much.

What is your #1 piece of advice for aspiring actors/ actresses?

Number one is to always ask why. Ask it about everything, as curiosity and a questioning mind is what I found helped me grow the most as an actor. Another important one that I found helped me a lot is to not take yourself too seriously. Actors are asked to play make believe for a living, oftentimes in highly emotional situations. The industry and the world is going to be hard enough on you, and so I find it important to be forgiving and understanding with yourself if the industry starts to wear you down. Your instrument will grow much faster in a healthy mindset than in one that is self-deprecating or judgmental.

What was the biggest takeaway from being a part of “East of Middle West?”

Externally, a lot of friends. I wish I could have taken that whole cast and crew home with me back to Canada but alas, airlines have a baggage limit. Personally, East of Middle West helped me learn to trust myself. Our shooting schedule was incredibly fast paced, with emotional scenes and high stakes. With such little prep time, a large part of my process became just letting go and flowing within scenes and seeing what would happen. It was at first, terrifying, but as filming went along, I found it to be an incredibly freeing experience. It forced me to trust myself as our timing constraints allowed for no other choice.

How was your experience joining a withstanding show/ team on “Locke and Key?”

It helped that I could watch season 1 and get a sense for how I fit into the cast but more than anything, I noticed the benefits in how efficiently everything was running. Even with the added pressure that COVID put on the production, the whole set was one giant, well-oiled machine. Outside of the whole ‘acting; part of my job, I find that being on set can often feel like being a toddler sitting at the parents’ dinner table: don’t interject in the adult conversations you barely understand and make sure you stay in your spot and listen carefully to your parents’ direction. Locke and Key made me feel as if that internal child was being spoiled rotten at every step of the way. It was truly a joy to be part of such a talented team.

What role, would you say, pushed you out of your comfort zone the most thus far?

Maybe because it’s still fresh in my memory, but my upcoming role in Luckiest Girl Alive. It is such a far cry from anything I have played before, with stakes higher and more brutal than a lot of my previous work. Not to mention the director, Mike Barker, was incredibly gracious in allowing me to experiment with improvisation in my scenes. Scary at first, but with time thinking about ‘what can I throw into this scene?’ became something I looked forward to every day.

What can we expect from Carson MacCormac in the future?

Luckiest Girl Alive, as I mentioned, is coming out sometime in 2022 and I couldn’t be more excited for audiences to see it. I think this film is necessary, timely, and pushes the industry as a whole in an important direction. It also just happens to be one entertaining ride. I worked on a show premiering in January called Astrid and Lily Save the World and boy oh boy, is it crazy. The show is outrageous, wild, and I’m thrilled to be part of it. I have a few projects coming out in 2022 that I can’t quite talk about just yet… and another feature film being released in 2023 that I am very excited to share…. Stay tuned!

Jonny Marlow for use by 360 MAGAZINE

BEBERET BY AOHSOA

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AOHSOA (Ace of Haze Style of Ace) offers a twist to a classic 19th century French style beret. The overnight capsule release commemorates the birth of the iconic cap’s debut in 2017. Armon Hayes, designer & craftsman, takes hold of this unisex fashion statement through streetwear culture. Entering a new year symbolizing a rebirth to the BEBERET collection, the forecasting of the budding lifestyle brand reflects how the beret began its fashion journey. Adopted during WWI and worn by low-ranking military, the beret has since unexpectedly evolved in its use given those who combatted urban crime in the 1990’s, volunteers known as Guardian Angels. Outfitted by adults and kids alike now more than ever, the personalized expression of each design produced by AOHSOA embodies the intended concept of character and strength. A nod to Black religious nationalism, there are biblical references to a crown representing a halo and the Biblical covenant of God. The multifaceted and misunderstood a beret can be worn about 9 different ways and represent whatever the wearer so chooses. Hence the name BE BERET.

Each style and design, from materials through the end-product, are curated and handpicked from conception. Custom styles are encouraged given each individual consumer’s uniqueness and market availability. Nonetheless, the flexibility surrounding the composition complements the variations in its details. Hand painted, embossed branding ’86 represents the founder’s birth. The potential use of patch trimmings includes animalistic appliqués, provocative sayings, and other embellishments of your choice. Coatings and treatments to the fabrication add protection for those who live in rainy or damp conditions. ‘Starry Night,’ a best seller in the collection, features a reflective treatment. Echoing the original painting, an illusion reminiscent of city nights will surely have admirers stargazing. Production began and continues in New York City at the birthplace of HIP HOP where the beret is widely recognized and sought after. Armon’s Be Beret collection has been acquired by the likes of artist, fashionistas, trendsetters, and represented in the space of popular culture + design. As of late, Armon’s designs were embraced by Mariah Lynn for her freestyle video. Reintroducing and embracing the beret trend includes spots like editorial shoots for independent recording artist LaJune, on the heads of clients and influential people like Vaughn Lowery to name a few. A movement swiftly summarized, AOHSOA online’s streetwear presence redefines ‘What you wear makes you feel.”

Six Tips for Businesses to Reduce Plastic Waste

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You’re already in the habit of bringing reusable bags to the grocery store, upcycling glass jars, and maybe even tossing food scraps in a compost pile. Perhaps you’ve ditched single-use plastics, too.

If you’ve taken sustainable strides in an effort to save the planet, you’re not alone. Millions of others just like you have joined in the fight to conserve Earth’s resources and mitigate climate change. Together, we make a difference, but only if corporations commit to doing the same.

Individual-centered solutions, like the ones listed above, are inaccessible to many and, most notably, this approach ignores corporate influence. The truth is, when it comes to reducing plastic waste, there’s only so much you as an individual can do. Businesses have a far greater influence on climate change than the general public. That’s because major entities use, create, and waste more resources than consumers ever could.

Ultimately, it’s up to brands to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastic waste. Here are eight tips companies might use to achieve their sustainability goals and join you, the consumer, in defending the Earth.

1. Ditch Single-Use Plastics

Americans have developed disposable lifestyles that practically depend on single-use plastics. Whether it’s straws, utensils, or shopping bags, it seems you can’t go a single day without using or at least seeing one-and-done products.

Researchers estimate that about 50% of all plastics fit into this category. Sadly, much of it ends up in wildlife ecosystems and landfills, where it’ll take thousands of years to break down. Even then, toxic chemicals will leach into the soil and pollute the Earth.

That’s why it’s so important that businesses ditch single-use plastics. Grocery stores can swap plastic bags for paper ones. Restaurants can stop offering straws and including plastic cutlery in carry-out bags. Meanwhile, clothing brands and other companies can remove plastic items from their shelves and sell more sustainable materials in their place.

2. Charge Extra for Disposables

Some businesses like coffee shops simply can’t avoid single-use plastics. Those paper cups you sip from? They’re lined with polyethylene, a type of plastic that creates a waterproof seal to keep your beverage from seeping through. These businesses lack a better alternative, so they’ve begun charging extra for anyone who wants the disposable cup. Those who’d rather save a few cents can bring their own reusable one.

Some grocery stores, like Walmart, have taken a similar approach by charging customers a few extra cents for each new reusable bag they use. Others like Aldi don’t even offer plastic bags. Instead, customers can bring their own or purchase paper ones at the register.

3. Invest in Reusables

Of course, the best alternative to single-use plastics is no plastics. However, this option isn’t feasible for many businesses. Instead, they must invest in reusable items. For instance, a small business might replace the Keurig in the break room with a classic coffee maker that doesn’t require plastic pods. Meanwhile, a major corporation could start delivering products for manufacturers in reusable containers instead of plastic wrap or disposable cartons.

Even businesses that provide personal care and health services can invest in reusable equipment. For example, dentists can switch to reusable air, water, and suction tips and stainless steel prophy cups for tooth polishing. Simply disinfect them in the autoclave between patients and voilà! Zero waste.

4. Implement a Deposit-Return Scheme

If you’ve ever used a bottle return, you’re likely familiar with the deposit-return scheme. This strategy requires that customers pay a small deposit when they purchase plastic products. Then, if they return the empty containers, they’ll get their deposit back and the business can repurpose or recycle them properly.

Deposit-return schemes support a circular economy where all plastic is reused instead of becoming waste. In an ideal world, all companies would adopt this approach. However, it often works best for grocery stores, convenience stores, and other businesses that provide consumers with products in plastic containers.

5. Use Biodegradable Packaging

Packaging is responsible for 46% of global plastic waste generation. The second-largest contributor was textiles at 15%. Needless to say, it’s about time businesses ditched plastic packaging and switched to something more sustainable. While useful, cling wrap, bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and other kinds of plastic packaging pose a number of environmental threats.

Essentially, plastic waste will be around forever. So it’s best not to use it at all. Instead of replacing it with something that’s recyclable — like glass or cloth —  businesses should choose biodegradable or compostable materials. By using paper, cardboard or, better yet, no packaging at all, nixing plastic packaging is one of the best things companies can do for the planet.

6. Make a Pledge

Faced with increasing consumer consciousness and dismal predictions for the future, many companies have made a pledge to reduce, offset, or completely eliminate plastic waste. For example, in 2018, Coca-Cola launched a World Without Waste plan with goals that included having 50% recycled material in packaging by 2030 and recycling a bottle or can for each bottle they sell by that same year. Microsoft made a similar goal to use 100% recyclable packaging.

Of course, once a business makes a pledge, they must honor it by actually doing what they set out to do. Otherwise, their words are meaningless. For a company to truly commit to and actually create lasting change, it must support its goal with a plan and a reasonable timeline. Analysts must consistently collect and provide data so management can problem-solve and do the work to reduce plastic waste. If they follow through, they’ll achieve their goals and encourage others to do the same.

Working Together to Save the Planet

Businesses both big and small must make an effort to reduce plastic waste if they’re to survive in an eco-conscious world. Consumer voices have made a huge difference in the kinds of products and services companies offer. Now, the most successful companies are the ones that prioritize the planet over making a profit. Together, the brand and the consumer can work together to reduce plastic waste and create lasting change.

Five Ways to Add Heat Without Ruining the Meal

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Is your favorite part of the day the meal you’ll make at night but missing that je ne sais quoi is driving you up a wall? Some heat might very well be the thing you are looking for. It’s more versatile than you’d expect and has its place no matter the type of cuisine you are craving. If this is a new avenue for you, here’s some surefire ways to bring the heat.

Crushed Red Pepper

You probably know this best from its place among the shakers in your favorite pizza joint, but it might be time to stop only enjoying it there. The secret combination is a mixture or various red peppers that would be sure to add a little kick to your next meal all without dipping too far into the unfamiliar.

Pepper Jelly

You might be used to saving your pepper jelly for cheese and crackers but there’s no need for it to end there. This treat is perfect for meats, poultry, fish, you name it. It’ll add the perfect kick you are craving along with a few other flavors you didn’t realize you needed. Depending on what you are making, cranberry pepper jelly might be what you want or mango habanero might be the perfect way to reinvent your kitchen staples. 

If you somehow don’t have any on hand and aren’t sure where to buy pepper jelly, don’t forget the internet is your best friend in finding exactly what you need. Sure, there’s always what’s in the stores, but don’t settle if it’s not exactly what you want. At least, make sure you do a little research on the net; you’d be surprised how many varieties of pepper jelly are out there for the taking. 

Sriracha

It might look like it, but don’t think this is in any way ketchup. Thankfully, as the years have gone by, it’s become just as common in some places. Like it’s similarly colored, albeit more traditional friend, ketchup, people put it on just about anything. 

 Inside the bottle, you’ll find the perfect mixture of jalapeno and serrano peppers, garlic, brown sugar, salt and vinegar so it’s easy to imagine all the possibilities when looking to add this to your kitchen. 

 There’s plenty of copycats out there, so if you are looking for the original, make sure you grab the bottle with the rooster front and center.

Fresh Peppers

These are perfect if you are hesitant about adding heat to your next meal. Given it’s not a spice you’re adding, but actual peppers you might need to base the dish around this a little more than you would otherwise. 

The reason it’s such a great choice for those starting their spice journey lies in the seeds. Taking those first steps, take all the seeds out and you’ll have a more mild experience. If you do that and it actually ends up more mild than you were thinking, keep some in. Feeling adventurous? Leave as many as possible and enjoy the ride. 

Garam Masala

A great choice if you aren’t sure how to dress meat or tofu the next time you are preparing either. Don’t think it’s only useful on either of those; it is a key spice when making the wonderful dish that is butter chicken. 

This blend is often the basis of many Indian dishes and the name literally means “hot spices;” learning that is sure to excite some and give pause to others but don’t have fear when it comes to adding some heat into your staple dishes. 

carnage cover by Kendrik "Kunkka" Lim for use by 360 Magazine

MARVELS NEWEST CARNAGE SERIES

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RAM V AND FRANCESCO MANNA DELIVER A BLOODCURDLING NEW CARNAGE SERIES

New CARNAGE ongoing series launches this March

The killer celebration for Carnage’s 30th anniversary is just beginning! In the aftermath of CARNAGE FOREVER, a mayhem-filled anthology one-shot on sale in February, comes an all-new ongoing series for Marvel’s most terrifying villain! Writer Ram V and artist Francesco Manna will kick off this visceral new chapter for the character in March’s CARNAGE #1. Already reinventing the symbiote mythos over in the hit new VENOM series, Ram V’s thought-provoking work will now spill over into this all new ongoing series starring Venom’s most notorious offspring. And known for his masterful approach to brutal action on titles such as TRIALS OF ULTRAMAN and OLD MAN LOGAN, Franceso Manna’s dynamic art will make this one symbiote story you cannot afford to miss!

The new series will see the Carnage symbiote seeking a new bond after separating from longtime host Cletus Kasady. The two were the most notorious and prolific serial killers in the Marvel Universe but after the events of EXTREME CARNAGE, Cletus’ codex has found a new home, leaving the Carnage symbiote adrift, alone… and deadlier than ever before!

“This Carnage story is very likely to become the most twisted thing I’ve written,” Ram V promises. “The killer symbiote has gone through some pretty significant changes in recent times and I’ve been left with an opportunity to do something new and inventive with the character and the kind of stories you might expect to find in a Carnage book. This is my kind of horror– as frightening in its implications as it is on the page. This is a devilish, scary Carnage and he’s setting out to discover just where the bounds of his abilities really lie. Pity those caught in his wake. The Marvel Universe is not ready for what Carnage is turning into.”

Be there when Carnage slashes his way through a new era in CARNAGE #1 on March 2! For more information, click here.

About Marvel Entertainment

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.