Popular, long-running children’s TV show Sesame Street announced this week that it was joining the digital art world and launching a collection of Cookie Monster NFTs. Sesame Workshop will release 5,555 editions costing $60 each on Sunday , the first in a series featuring Sesame Street characters.
The PBS show, now in its 54th year, has joined forces with VeVe, an app that serves as a platform for the buying and selling of licensed digital collectibles. Its first foray into the world of non-fungible tokens is an image of the Cookie Monster beside an oven, which presumably has cookies baking inside.
Here are 10 other pop culture characters, brands and moments that have been turned into NFTs.
1. Coca-Cola
The world-famous soft drink brand launched four NFT collections in 2021 to celebrate its first anniversary in the metaverse.
Partnering with 3D art platform Tafi it auctioned a multisensory NFT inside a Friendship Box, which is itself another NFT.
The piece included a custom-designed Coca-Cola Bubble Jacket, featuring an unlockable version that could be worn in the Decentraland 3D virtual reality platform. Proceeds from the auction went to the Special Olympics.
2. Star Wars
Disney released its first NFT collection in May last year via blind box format, a framework similar to buying packs of trading cards without knowing exactly which are inside.
The Star Wars Dark Side Collection was launched with three Darth Vader NFTs: Dark Lord of the Sith, Beware the Dark Side and The Emperor’s Fist.
Disney also released the Lightsaber NFTs collection, which included Luke Skywalker, Yoda and Kylo Ren’s weapons.
3. The NBA
The National Basketball Association labelled its 2020 foray into NFTs “Top Shot”, selling digital versions of sports trading cards using blockchain technology.
They include video highlights of NBA and WNBA teams and players, and collectors can participate in challenges to win more.
Moments up for grabs include those by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Oklahoma City Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards.
4. Spider-Man
Marvel swung into the NFT-verse with a launch of digital Spider-Man collectibles in 2021.
The studio partnered with VeVe to create five limited-edition categories, including rare, ultra-rare and secret-rare collectables, all priced between $40 and $400.
It followed up with a Captain America series collection.
5. Doge meme
The image of a shiba inu dog named Kabosu looking at the camera with suspicion first appeared online in 2010 and went on to become one of the internet’s most popular memes.
Called “Doge”, in June 2021, it became the most expensive meme NFT ever sold. A group of collectors known as PleasrDAO bought the piece for $4 million (1,697 of the cryptocurrency Ethereum).
Don Caldwell, editor-in-chief of online database Know Your Meme, called Doge “one of the most iconic memes in internet history”.
6. Nickelodeon’s ‘Rugrats’ and ‘Hey Arnold’
The popular children’s cartoons were given the NFT treatment when 10,000 unique collectibles were released last year, featuring images of the characters and memorable moments from the show.
The network teamed up with Recur to add NFTs of 12 characters from the shows Invader Zim and AAAHH!!! Real Monsters.
7. Funko Pops
The team behind the pop culture character miniatures make regular digital collectibles of their series in the shape of Funko Digital Pops.
They are animated and come in limited print runs with varying levels of rarity.
Top-selling releases include Scooby Doo, Star Trek and popular US painter, Bob Ross.
8. Lay’s Potato Chips
The global crips brand owned by PepsiCo entered the NFT market in 2021 with its “Share smiles with Lay’s” collection.
The digital asset featured over 3,000 smiles, with the online auction raising over $300,000, which was donated to charity.
9. Disney
The Mouse House offers an array of collectables as part of its Golden Moments Disney NFT collection, which was launched last year.
The collection includes the Magic Lamp from Aladdin which grants the original buyer two special wishes from VeVe; The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey from the 1940s animation Fantasia and Elsa from Frozen.
10. Hello Kitty
The beloved Japanese character created by Sanrio was launched as an NFT in August 2022 with a drop of 10,000 collectibles focused on six characters from Hello Kitty and Friends.
The NFTs were sold in suitcase packs with which collectors could “travel” the world completing challenges and collecting special stamp NFTs in Premium, Rare, or Ultra-Rare categories.
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
RESULTS
5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (Turf) 2,200m
Winner: M'A Yaromoon, Jesus Rosales (jockey), Khalifa Al Neydai (trainer)
5.30pm: Khor Al Baghal – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: No Riesgo Al Maury, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6pm: Khor Faridah – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: JAP Almahfuz, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Mahmouda, Pat Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AS Jezan, George Buckell, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
7.30pm: Khor Laffam – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Dolman, Antonio Fresu, Bhupath Seemar
The Vines - In Miracle Land
Two stars
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Wednesday's results
Finland 3-0 Armenia
Faroes Islands 1-0 Malta
Sweden 1-1 Spain
Gibraltar 2-3 Georgia
Romania 1-1 Norway
Greece 2-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Liechtenstein 0-5 Italy
Switzerland 2-0 Rep of Ireland
Israel 3-1 Latvia
Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
