September 19, 2022 - Kivo Daily

Self-Sovereignty In the World of Web3

Jerry Cooper on September 19, 2022

Web3 is enabling the self-sovereign worker. Over the past couple of decades, web technologies have made rapid advancements. The first web technology consisted of read-only information, followed by Web2, a digital hierarchy regulated by big business. Web3 shifts the power from big corporations and places it on the individual. In this world, online spaces are decentralized and accessible for everyone. As these new technologies emerge, the demand for digital work roles has rapidly increased. Recently, full-stack developers, technologists, and data scientists have seen large increases in demand following the emergence of new web technologies.

More people than ever are engaging with these Web3 technologies, and it’s only continuing to grow. Globally, more than 18,000 worldwide businesses will accept cryptocurrencies as a form of payment. Additionally, 106 million people worldwide now use crypto exchanges. In the United States, 16% of people have invested in some form of crypto. As the technological world advances, new job markets emerge.

Work needs and desires have shifted in the past few years due to the increased role technology plays in our lives. Technology opens doors in the job market; more than 12 million jobs will be created in tech by 2030. Additionally, workers are less reliant on the 9-5 and consistently choose job opportunities with adjustable schedules. In 2019, almost 60% of workers had flexible schedules. Similarly, due to economic uncertainty in recent years, many fear for their job security; only 20% of full-time workers feel their job is secure, compared to 68% of freelancers. This sense of security is helping push workers to become their own employers.

The deregulation of the internet spearheaded by Web3 alongside the benefits of workplace flexibility are empowering workers to step forward and forge their own career paths. 2 in 3 people considered quitting their jobs in 2021 because of greater opportunities elsewhere. Independent work can be daunting, but it generates more revenue and affords more freedom; today, almost 71% of Americans across all generations say they want to be self-employed. In 2021, the average independent worker made $83,792 compared to the $49,440 of the average salaried worker.

Opolis enables independent workers to get the payroll and benefits of salaried workers. Through Opolis.co, gig workers, freelancers, sole practitioners, and independent contractors can effortlessly source employment benefits and access shared business services. This interface allows independent workers to seamlessly integrate into the world of work in Web3 without the added stress of decentralized work benefits. You can manage cash flow to accommodate vacations and holidays and have access to health, dental, and vision insurance. They also offer group and solo 401(k) and various IRA options. Opolis takes care of payroll compliance, integrated partners with discounts, automated payroll, and tax withholdings for you.

Preparing yourself for the Web3 version of work looks different for everyone. If you’re a freelancer, digging into a like-minded community and decentralizing your payments with crypto can help ensure a seamless transition. Small business owners should leverage tax tools to remain in compliance, and those interested in cryptocurrency should diversify digital assets and track changing trends in the market. In the world of Web3, now is the best time to transition to sovereign work. Champion Web3 independence without compromise in the Opolis.co community.

The Little Mermaid Live Action Inspires Young Black Girls

Alice Blake on September 19, 2022

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Disney’s The Little Mermaid is finally getting a live-action adaptation decades after the original version was released by the production company. The movie is in itself a recognizable and famous movie, spanning generations after generations. But what made the live-action become viral is the racial representation, as shown in the short trailer that Disney dropped a few days ago.

Across social media, videos of Black girls and children positively reacting to the tan-skinned Ariel went viral.

“Mommy! … She’s brown like me!” said a girl in a TikTok video.

After Disney released the teaser, similar videos made rounds on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok. Users posted the videos along with the hashtags #representationmatters and #Blackgirlmagic. To date, the Little Mermaid trailer now has over 12 million views.

The trailer was first seen during the D23 Expo hosted by Disney. Along with it are other slated films for release, like the sequel of Enchanted. Fans went into a frenzy after the video showed Halle Bailey take on the main protagonist’s role as she sang a part of the iconic song, “Part of Your World.” Bailey is a singer from Chloe x Halle, an R&B duo.

Other casts for the film include Daveed Diggs voicing Sebastian, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder, Javier Bardem as Triton, and Awkwafina as Scuttle.

Some people disapproved

While many were delighted to see a dark-skinned girl taking on the role of a character who was perceived to be white, others did not like the idea. The Little Mermaid is based on a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen that features Ariel as a white girl. Because of this, others think Disney’s live adaptation went against the original author. Some have used the hashtag #NotMyAriel to express their disappointment.

However, Bailey said that while it affected her in some ways, she had her grandparents who gave her several pieces of advice on how to cope with criticisms.

“It was an inspiring and beautiful thing to hear their words of encouragement, telling me, ‘You don’t understand what this is doing for us, for our community, for all the little Black and brown girls who are going to see themselves in you,'” she said.

“I want the little girl in me and the little girls just like me who are watching to know that they’re special and that they should be a princess in every single way,” added Bailey.

Bailey is perfect for the role

Rob Marshall, the movie director, said that Bailey was a natural in front of the camera.

“Halle had this incredible facility to be able to dig deep, find the truth of Ariel’s passion and her heart. It was like watching a great film actor being born,” he recalled.

Marshall first scouted Bailey during the Grammy coverage in 2019 when she performed “Where Is The Love” with her duo Chloe. According to Marshall, Bailey had a pure voice, and he wondered whether the young woman could act. She then approached Bailey and asked her if she could audition for the Little Mermaid and sing Ariel’s “Part of Your World.”

“When she finished, I was in tears because she’s so soulful. You could tell right away that she was able to harness Ariel’s passion, her fire, her soul, her joy and her heart,” he said.

Bailey, on the other hand, said she’s honored to be portraying the role. It is both a challenging and fun task to be playing the protagonist of an animated film that everyone has come to love.

“I find myself learning things from these characters and trying to adopt them and keep them with me as I go about my life. It’s like the universe is trying to give these themes to me, like ‘Here, do it! We’re putting it in through the characters,'” she said.

The Little Mermaid will drop to the theaters this coming May 26, 2023.

Source: NPR

Queen Elizabeth II: an Icon of Pop Culture

Jeah Lorraine Adams on September 19, 2022

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The longest-reigning Queen of the United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth II, told her subjects farewell before passing away on Thursday. As a result of the announcement, throngs of people flocked to different royal locations to pay their respects to the Queen.

Queen Elizabeth is recognized by most people on the planet, if not everyone, as the symbolic head of one of the most important countries in the world. So it goes without saying that the idea of producing movies and television shows on the Queen has caught on with the media.

The rich lifestyle of the British monarch has attracted a lot of attention in popular culture. The Queen has been portrayed by both weekend live entertainers and award-winning actors. Even animated movies portray the Queen in their works.

Here are some productions of Queen Elizabeth II you might like:

The Queen

Released: 2006

Synopsis: The plot focuses on how Buckingham Palace and the Royal Family responded to the national tragedy of Princess Diana’s death in Paris. In the meantime, Tony Blair, the newly elected prime minister, implores the Queen to give a speech in front of the public regarding the incident.

The Academy Awards went to Helen Mirren, who played Queen Elizabeth II in the movie. The movie was additionally nominated for Best Picture.

Minions

Released: 2015

Synopsis: The cartoon movie is about Stuart, Kevin, and Bob’s effort to kidnap the Queen in order for the plot’s main adversary to seize the kingdom and the crown.

The movie was a box office success, making over $1 billion worldwide.

The King’s Speech

Released: 2010

Synopsis: The hardships of King George VI’s ascent to the throne following his brother’s unexpected abdication are shown in the film. The new King had to work with his speech and language therapist to get over his stutter.

In 2010, the film snatched Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

Paddington

Released: 2022

Synopsis: A short video honoring Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee that stars the iconic Paddington Bear.

Spencer

Released: 2021

Synopsis: The movie is set during a Christmas vacation with the Royal Family and centers on Princess Diana’s dilemma on whether or not to end her relationship with Prince Charles, the reigning monarch of England.

2012 London Olympics Opening

Released: 2012

Synopsis: In the advertisement for the London Olympics, the Queen makes an actual appearance. The Queen is seen riding a helicopter above a throng in London with the famed James Bond by her side. The two then made a parachute landing on the Olympic Stadium.

Source: CNBC

Religious Activities Found to Incite Better Cardiovascular Health among African Americans

Alice Blake on September 19, 2022

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Participation in religious activities on a regular basis has been demonstrated to be extremely advantageous among African American adults. According to a current study, people who regularly engage in spiritual activities have higher test results, indicating good heart health. According to the study, there is a noticeable difference between those who do and those who do not.

According to a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, religious African Americans involved in the research fared substantially better on tests for blood pressure, cholesterol, and other parameters that are crucial to the overall health of the cardiovascular system.

Joining religious activities increases one’s chances of attaining high scores in eight measures, including physical activity, nicotine exposure, food, and sleep, by 15%.

Dr. LaPrincess C. Brewer, the lead study of the research, said, “I was slightly surprised by the findings that multiple dimensions of religiosity and spirituality were associated with improved cardiovascular health across multiple health behaviors that are extremely challenging to change, such as diet, physical activity and smoking.”

“Our findings highlight the substantial role that culturally tailored health promotion initiatives and recommendations for lifestyle change may play in advancing health equity,” Dr. Brewer added. “The cultural relevance of interventions may increase their likelihood of influencing cardiovascular health and also the sustainability and maintenance of healthy lifestyle changes.”

Relatively poorer cardiovascular wellness

According to health professionals, African Americans had lower cardiovascular health than non-Hispanic Whites. As a result, African-Americans had a greater fatality rate from cardiovascular disease than White people.

The research included 2,967 African-American participants. The health tests and questionnaires were done on a sample of 21 to 84-year-old Jackson, Mississippi residents. The tri-county area is well-known for its residents’ strong religion. Those with pre-existing cardiac disease were excluded from the research.

The selected individuals were then classified based on their religious practices. According to Mercedes R. Carnethon, an epidemiologist at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, religion is linked to improved cardiovascular health outcomes.

“One hypothesis that could explain these observations is that both the practice of religion and the behaviors that are associated with better cardiovascular health, such as adherence to physician recommendations for behavior change, not smoking, and not drinking excessively, share a common origin or personality characteristic,” she said.

“Observing a religion requires discipline, conscientiousness and a willingness to follow the guidance of a leader. These traits may also lead people to engage in better health practices under the guidance of their healthcare providers.”

A faith-based lifestyle needs to be fostered

According to the findings, people could improve their lifestyle by embracing a more religious perspective, according to Jonathan Butler from the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.

“A potential way to address health inequities in the African American community is to leverage faith-based organizations’ physical and social capital capacity to improve health outcomes,” he said.

Source: CNN

Now that Charles is King, Heir to the Throne Inherits new Properties

Jerry Cooper on September 19, 2022

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Properties passed down from one Royal to another will never be made public. This only means that whatever personal wealth the Queen had after her passing last week will only be limited to the Royal family’s knowledge.

According to an estimate by Forbes, Queen Elizabeth’s fortune was worth over $500 million, consisting of her investments, collections of art, jewels, and two houses – the Sandringham House in Norfolk and the Balmoral Castle found in Scotland. The Queen inherited the two properties from her late father, King George VI.

“[Royal wills] are hidden, so we have no idea actually what’s in them and what that’s worth, and that’s never ever made public,” said Laura Clancy, an author and lecturer from Lancaster University.

However, the vast majority of the wealth from the Royal family will now be given to the new monarch, King Charles III and his heir. The total wealth is projected to be at least £18 billion or $21 billion in investments, properties, and lands.

After the line of succession moved up after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William, the heir to the throne, just became wealthier. The prince is already in possession of the Duchy of Cornwall estate, which he got from his father. The Duchy is 140,000 acres of land and property found in southwest England.

The estate is worth $1.2 billion and was created by the late King Edward III in 1337. The earnings from the estate would be utilized for activities in the public and private sectors, most especially in charitable activities, under the supervision of the Duke of Cornwall. This title is now Prince William’s.

The Sovereign Grant

The biggest part of the Royal Family’s fortune is the Crown Estate, the £16.5 billion property that is now given to King Charles III under his new title as monarch. However, in an agreement in 1760, the profit garnered from the estate will be turned over to the government, and in return, the government will give a portion of it back to the monarch. This is called the Sovereign Grant.

The estate covers large portions of central London and the seabed in Wales, Northern Ireland, and England. The Crown Estate is a corporation comprised of a chief executive and commissioners who are all appointed by the ruling monarch or recommended by the current prime minister.

During the last financial year, the Crown Estated earned a total of over £313 million ($361 million). Under the arrangement, the UK government paid the Queen about £86 million or $100 million in Sovereign Grant. According to sources, the money earned from the grant is poured into maintaining the properties of the Royal Family and paying their staff.

Before, the Sovereign Grant was 15% of the total profit of the Crown Estate. However, in 2017, the percentage take was increased to 25% so the Crown could finance the upgrades and maintenance of Buckingham Palace.

Apart from the Crown Estate, the new monarch is also ahold of the Duchy of Lancaster, valued at £653 million or $764 million. The Duchy is a private estate made back in 1265. The profits from the estate pay off for the other expenses not covered by the Sovereign Grant and other expenditures incurred by the members of the Royal Family.

There are still restrictions

While the members of the Royal family reap the benefits of their family affiliation, there are still restrictions on how they manage their properties. For instance, the monarch could only use the Sovereign Grant when performing his duties as the King. Furthermore, he cannot, in any way, take the profits of their duchies.

According to the Institute for Governments, the earnings from the duchies will be reinvested in the estates. Moreover, large transactions made by the Royal Family should get the approval of the UK Treasury first.

“Of course, voluntary income tax [is] not a fixed rate, and they don’t have to declare how much income they’re making their tax on. So actually, it’s just like plucking a figure out of thin air.”