|
January 26, 2022
2 years ago today, the man, the myth, the Mamba, Kobe Bryant passed away. It's hard to believe that his death was only 2 years ago given that Covid has slowed down time like we're on the 8th dream level in Inception. Let's all remember Kobe, his daughter Gigi, and the other passengers. Life is precious!
It's a jam-packed newsletter today, but you won't want to miss today's Wrap on Winnie the Pooh, copyright laws, and (you guessed it) Ryan Reynolds.
|
|
SAT Goes Online
Overview
- The SAT will be taken on a computer beginning internationally in 2023 and in the US in 2024
- The test, which is the US' main college admissions exam, has been taken until now with paper and pencil. Students will be able to use their own laptops, but will take the test at monitored testing sites. It will be shortened from 3 hours to 2
- The SAT has lost relevancy in recent years, with some saying it's unfair and many schools dropping testing requirements amid the pandemic
- ~80% of US undergrad institutions have dropped test score requirements through at least fall 2022
DIG DEEPER
“We’re not simply putting the current SAT on a digital platform. We’re taking full advantage of what delivering an assessment digitally makes possible," said an exec at College Board, which runs the exams.
Is the SAT building its own Metaverse?
|
|
Animal Hostages
Overview
- Conservationists in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are reporting endangered animal kidnappings
- DRC is home to some of the world's most valuable and endangered animals, including mountain gorillas and pangolins
- For the first time, a rebel group has kidnapped and demanded a ransom for a pangolin, an armadillo-like creature that sells for $15k+. The kidnappers are threatening to poach the pangolin if payment isn't made
- Conservation is a multi-million-dollar industry in the DRC, where entire security forces exist to defend animals in war-torn areas
DIG DEEPER
“They have seen how much money is spent on conservation issues and that rare animals are prized by the international community, and they would say even more so than the poor communities who live in the same area," one conservationist told the Times of London.
|
|
Neil Young v. Joe Rogan
Overview
- All-time great singer/songwriter Neil Young demanded that Spotify choose between his music and Joe Rogan's podcast
- Young wrote, "I am doing this because Spotify is spreading fake information about vaccines…They can have Rogan or Young. Not both"
- Joe Rogan has interviewed vaccine-skeptic guests on his podcast, which is Spotify's most listened-to show. Rogan opposes mandates and has questioned the need for young, healthy people to get vaccinated
- In 2011, Rolling Stone ranked Neil Young the #34 greatest artist of all time, ahead of Michael Jackson, Madonna, and John Lennon
DIG DEEPER
Rogan recently interviewed Dr. Robert Malone, an early researcher into mRNA vaccines who now questions them and the response of mainstream scientists to the pandemic.
|
|
Ukraine War Prep
Overview
- The US has put 8,500 troops on "high alert" and is preparing emergency fuel supplies as expectations of a Russian invasion of Ukraine build. Russia has put 100,000+ troops on its border with Ukraine
- Countries, including the US and UK, have ordered some residents in Ukraine to depart as soon as possible
- NATO, a US-led military alliance, has said it will deploy additional troops to protect its member countries in Eastern Europe
- There are concerns Russia will cut fuel supplies to Europe in the event of a war. Russia supplies about 30% of the EU's gas and crude oil
DIG DEEPER
A war would be part of a broader conflict between Russia and NATO/Western Europe/the US. Since 2014, Ukraine, long controlled by Russia, has swung toward the West. Russia says the West is using Ukraine to isolate and threaten Russia. An invasion would essentially be Russia telling the world, "Ukraine is ours."
|
|
 What do you think?
Today's Poll:
Should a ransom be paid to free the kidnapped pangolin?
Yes
No
Today's Question:
How do you feel about universities dropping standardized testing requirements?
Reply to this email with your answers!
|
|
|
See yesterday's results below the Wrap!
|
|
 Popcorn
Culture & Sports
- NFL ratings blowout: The Chiefs-Bills OT thriller drew an average 43M viewers and a peak of 52M. Hurray for small market teams!
- But it's not all sunshine and rainbows: NFL star Antonio Brown said the Buccaneers tried to pay him $200k to "go to the crazy house"
- Teen drama Euphoria is taking off. The latest episode of the now-viral HBO show drew 3.6M viewers this week, a 41% increase from last week
- MLB Hall of Fame update: David "Big Papi" Ortiz will be the lone inductee this year. Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens were snubbed again!
Business
- Microsoft raked in $18.8B in profit in the last 3 months of 2021 as the software company beat expectations in its quarterly earnings
- In which US states is inflation the worst? Sorry in advance to the West: Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado
- Speaking of the Wild West, NBC just ordered a pilot following ranch families and rodeo competitions (perhaps due to Yellowstone's popularity)
Wildcard
- Don't freak out but... shark attacks were up in 2021 after 3 years of decline. 73 unprovoked shark attacks were recorded (28 of which were in Florida)
- Forget sharks, here's happy hippo news: New research suggests that hippos can recognize their friends' voices from far away
- Breaking borders: The killings of 2 Canadians at a resort in Mexico last week were reportedly motivated by international gang debts
|
|
― Roca Wrap
A Newsletter Exclusive
|
|
On January 2, Ryan Reynolds released a new commercial for his phone company Mint Mobile featuring “Winnie-the-Screwed,” a twist on the storybook character Winnie-the-Pooh. A parody on the original Pooh story, the poem concludes with “The End,” and Reynolds quickly adding, “Unless my interpretation of copyright is wrong.”
Reynolds’ marketing capitalizes on January 1st, also known as Public Domain Day, when thousands of books, movies, and songs previously protected by copyright law enter the public domain and become legally free to use and share.
2022 unlocked works published in the United States on or before 1926, from Ernest Hemingway’s classic “The Sun Also Rises,” to the first novels of William Faulkner and Agatha Christie and, perhaps most notably, the original Winnie-the-Pooh stories.
If Reynold’s interpretation of copyright holds, “Winnie-the-Screwed” – and any others who adapt Pooh and his friends for commercial purposes – no longer need to obtain permission or make payments to the previous owner. But Pooh's owner is Walt Disney Co., and if the past is any indication, Disney will not let go of their bear without a fight.
Disney acquired rights to Milne’s books and characters in 1961, and the Winnie-the-Pooh franchise has since become one of the company’s most lucrative, bringing in an estimated $3-$6B annually. Pooh is frequently featured in films, merchandise, and books. He's also slated for an upcoming Disney+ project.
From Disney’s perspective, Pooh’s entry into the public domain marks a significant loss. Disney maintains rights to its version of Pooh but won't be able to sue anyone that uses the original stories. To prevent this, Disney could try to extend its copyright, which wouldn't be the first time the company sought to revise copyright law.
The first US copyright laws, passed in 1790, were meant to incentivize creativity by guaranteeing creators would receive proceeds from their works over a set period, originally 14 years. Over time, that’s been extended to 50-70 years after an author’s death, or 95 years after a new corporate work, such as a Disney film.
Critics have dubbed the 1988 act that extended the copyright period the "Mickey Mouse Protection Act," saying that Disney lobbied Congress to avoid losing the rights – and future revenue – from its early Mickey Mouse films. The act's supporters say copyrights encourage creativity and should be extended as life expectancies rise.
Its critics disagree: “There’s no way a 95-year copyright term is an incentive for anyone to create anything,” said the primary opposition lawyer arguing against it.
Disney won the 1988 battle, but legal experts say expanding Pooh’s copyrights is a long shot. Plus, Disney already has other copyright challenges on hand: It’s battling several Marvel creators or their heirs who are trying to regain ownership of characters including Thor, Spider-Man, and Iron Man, and possibly gearing up to defend copyright protections for Steamboat Willie – the earliest version of Mickey Mouse – when they expire 2 years from now.
With all those lawsuits, Disney may just say “Oh, bother” about Winnie-the-Pooh who may be starring in many more ads in the near future.
|
|
If you have thoughts, let us know at Max@RocaNews.com!
|
|
 Games
Name the college based off their notable alumni. No, Blue Mountain State is not one of them.
- Mitt Romney, Stephenie Meyer, Ken Jennings, Steve Young
- Lana Del Rey, Denzel Washington, Andrew Cuomo, Alan Alda
- Hugh Hefner, Dick Butkus, Nick Offerman, Ang Lee
- Saquon Barkley, Keegan-Michael Key, Laurene Powell Jobs, Franco Harris
Find out the answer at the bottom of Roca Clubhouse.
|
|
 Roca Clubhouse
Yesterday's Poll:
Are you generally pro-Bitcoin or anti-Bitcoin?
Pro-Bitcoin: 41.0%
Anti-Bitcoin: 59.0%
Yesterday's Question:
If America had a royal family, who would it be and why?
Elisha from Pennsylvania: "What are the chances someone would say The Kardashians? ugh. Most likely the Kennedy's. Maybe even Meghan Markle and Prince Harry if that even counts. The US has influencers now. The Royal Family is so last decade."
Matt from Ft. Worth: "The Kennedys or the Roosevelts. Many people will list wealthy families that date far back as well, but these families have a distinct culture of making extraordinary leaders. It’s what they prepare for from childhood. So much history and multiple levels of government is affected by these two families, and that’s what royalty ultimately is - leadership, wealth, and history."
Zak from Seattle: "Easy answer would be the Obamas, but I’d also like to add Lebron James and his family. Sports stars are treated and recognized like royalty in the US, with no name more recognizable than Lebron both nationally and internationally in one of the biggest sports out there. He also expresses his voice frequently about activism, politics, and education. He has a wonderful family and will likely be a household name for decades to come."
General Feedback:
Julia from London: "Great wrap on celebrity endorsements of cryptos! There are a lot of good use-cases for crypto - especially in countries with mass surveillance - but there are also a ton of risk with these kinds of scams, and I'm glad you're shining a light on it! "
Peter: "Loving the new Subject line & Pre-header combos! Make much more sense : )"
|
|
20 Questions: 11-15
Every Friday, we ask the Roca Riders 20 questions and feature a few of our favorite answers. Last Friday, however, we asked you to rate the below on a scale of 1 - 10. Here are the average ratings....
11. Odds the Bills beat the Chiefs Sunday?
5.7
12. Odds Tom Brady wins another Super Bowl?
2.2
13. "We'll look back on football like we do the gladiators"
1.8
14. Josh Allen
8.5
15. Patrick Mahomes
8.6
|
|
|
Games Answer(s):
1) BYU 2) Fordham 3) Illinois 4) Penn State
|
|
― Final Thoughts
It's Wednesday, which means you may be thinking to yourself, "I've got a whole lotta week ahead of me." So we'll give you this inspiring camel fact to get you through hump day: Camels have 3 sets of eyelids and 2 rows of eyelashes to keep sand out of their eyes in the desert, and in sandstorms they shut their nostrils to keep the sand out of their noses, too.
Needless to say, you can make it to Friday.
Happy Wednesday, riders.
-Max and Max
Today's Instagram Wrap is on iBeer, the all-time great beer simulation app.
Thanks for reading! See you again tomorrow!
As always, send thoughts and feedback to Max@Rocanews.com |
|
|
|
|
