Anna Garraway

Things To Do In Rochester NY – Democrat & Chronicle https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/things-to-do-in-rochester-ny-democrat-chronicle-2/ Local events and things to do in Rochester, NY. Find sporting events, conferences, attractions and more, or promote your own event.

Sports Planner For Thursday – The Republic https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/sports-planner-for-thursday-the-republic-3/ COMING UP Indianapolis Colts Sunday vs. Titans, 1 p.m. (FOX) Oct. 6 at Broncos, 8:15 p.m. (Prime Video) Oct. 16 vs. Jaguars, 1 p.m. (CBS) Indiana University football Saturday at Nebraska, 7:30 p.m. (BTN) Oct. 8 vs. Michigan, Noon (TBA) Oct. 15 vs. Maryland, (TBA) Purdue football Saturday at Minnesota, Noon (ESPN2) Oct. 8 at Maryland, Noon (TBA) Oct. 15 vs. Nebraska, Noon (TBA) Notre Dame football Oct. 8 at BYU, 7:30 p.m. (NBC/Peacock) Oct. 15 vs. Stanford, 7:30 p.m. (NBC/Peacock) Oct. 22 vs. UNLV, 2:30 p.m. (Peacock) Cincinnati Reds Friday at Cubs, 2:20 p.m. (Bally Sports Indiana) Saturday at Cubs, 2:20 p.m. (Bally Sports Indiana) Sunday at Cubs, 2:20 p.m. (Bally Sports Indiana) Indy Eleven Saturday vs. FC Tulsa, 7 p.m. (ESPN+/WNDY) Oct. 8 vs. Charleston Battery, 7 p.m. (ESPN+/WNDY) Oct. 15 at Birmingham Legion FC, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+) NASCAR Sunday at Talladega, Ala., 2 p.m. (NBC) Oct. 9 at Charlotte, N.C., 2 p.m. (NBC) Oct. 16 at Las Vegas, 2:30 p.m. (NBC) HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS TODAY Volleyball Calvary Christian at Columbus Christian, 6:15 p.m. Columbus East at Columbus North, 6:45 p.m. Rushville at Hauser, 7:15 p.m. Scottsburg at Jennings County, 7:15 p.m. Brown County at Southwestern (Shelby), 7:15 p.m. South Decatur at Rising Sun, 7:15 p.m. Trinity Lutheran at Providence, 7:15 p.m. Boys soccer Hauser at Irvington Prep, 5:30 p.m. Indian Creek at Brown County, 5:30 p.m. New Albany at Jennings County, 7 p.m. Girls soccer Jennings County at Oldenburg Academy, 5:30 p.m. Brown County at Indian Creek, 5:30 p.m. Trinity Lutheran at Indianapolis Lutheran, 6 p.m. Columbus East at Seymour, 7:15 p.m. Cross-country Hauser, South Decatur at Greensburg Invitational, 5 p.m. Boys tennis Columbus North vs. Brown County in North Sectional, 4:30 p.m. Columbus East vs. Hauser in Columbus North Sectional, 4:30 p.m. Trinity Lutheran vs. Seymour in Seymour Sectional, 4:45 p.m. Jennings County vs. Southwestern (Hanover) in Jennings Sectional final, 5 p.m. SPORTS ON TV TODAY College football South Carolina State at South Carolina, 7 p.m. (SEC) Utah State at BYU, 8 p.m. (ESPN) Women’s college soccer Notre Dame at Boston College, 6 p.m. (ACC) Nebraska at Purdue, 6 p.m. (BTN) Texas A&M at Arkansas, 7 p.m. (ESPNU) Butler at Providence, 7 p.m. (FS1) NC State at Clemson, 8 p.m. (ACC) Michigan at Minnesota, 8 p.m. (BTN) FIBA women’s basketball World Cup: Semifinal, 3 a.m. Friday (ESPN2) Golf DP World Tour: The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, 7 a.m. (Golf Channel) LPGA Tour: The Volunteers Of America Classic, 12:30 p.m. (Golf Channel) PGA Tour: The Sanderson Farms Championship, 3:30 p.m. (Golf Channel) NYRA: America’s Day at the Races, 1 p.m. (FS2) MLB Phillies at Cubs, 2 p.m., or Royals at Tigers, 1:10 p.m. (MLB) Rays at Guardians, 6 p.m., or Marlins at Brewers, 7:40 p.m. (MLB) Dodgers at Padres or Rangers at Mariners, 9:30 p.m. (MLB) NBA Preseason: Warriors at Wizards, 6 a.m. Friday (NBA) NFL Dolphins at Bengals, 8:15 p.m. (PrimeVideo) NHL Preseason: Devils at Rangers, 7 p.m. (NHL) Preseason: Kraken at Caunucks, 9:30 p.m. (NHL) Tennis Seoul-ATP, Tel Aviv-ATP, Sofia-ATP, Tallinn-WTA Early Rounds; Parma-WTA Quarterfinals, 6 a.m. (Tennis) Seoul-ATP, Tel Aviv-ATP, Sofia-ATP, Tallinn-WTA Quarterfinals; Parma-WTA Semifinals, 8:30 p.m. today and 6 a.m. Friday (Tennis)

AXA Enters Metaverse With The Sandbox To Offer Interactive Space For Customers – Marketing Interactive https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/axa-enters-metaverse-with-the-sandbox-to-offer-interactive-space-for-customers-marketing-interactive/ AXA has partnered with The Sandbox, a decentralised gaming virtual world and a subsidiary of Animoca Brands, to enter the metaverse. The insurer has acquired a 3×3 LAND where it will provide an innovative interactive space for its customers. Through its LAND, AXA Hong Kong will endeavour to provide fresh digital experiences to its customers, partnering to co-create the future of insurance in the metaverse. Gary Ho, chief technology officer, AXA Hong Kong and Macau, said: “I’m honoured to announce that AXA has partnered with The Sandbox to expand our digital presence by setting foot in the metaverse. This collaboration has reflected AXA’s vision and interest to create the insurance of the future by bringing immersive experiences around sustainability, wellness, healthcare, and so much more. Stepping into the metaverse, we are thrilled to discover more captivating capabilities and use cases for AXA’s customers and the communities.” JH Tang, digital transformation & strategy director, AXA Asia, said: “We are proud to be the pioneer in the Hong Kong insurance industry to partner with The Sandbox. AXA Hong Kong is dedicated to connecting the world by unfolding all kinds of inventive digital experiences. Stepping into the metaverse opens the door for cultural synergy and creates unlimited opportunities for us to explore the unknowns. Through our partnership, we aim to revolutionise the wellness and healthcare experiences for our customers and our markets in the broader regions by continuously driving innovation and technological development.” Sebastien Borget, COO and co-founder of The Sandbox, said: “AXA’s milestone as the first insurance company in Hong Kong1 to join The Sandbox is another step toward our vision of the open metaverse as a new digital economy where industries, brands, and cultures from around the world interact with players and creators for mutual benefit. We’re glad to support AXA’s commitment to being a force for good and look forward to creating shared value for our communities.” AXA has joined over 400 partners who have entered The Sandbox, including Warner Music Group, Ubisoft, The Rabbids, Tony Hawk, Gucci Vault, The Walking Dead, Snoop Dogg, Adidas, Deadmau5, Steve Aoki, Richie Hawtin, The Smurfs, Care Bears, Atari, ZEPETO, and CryptoKitties, all following The Sandbox team’s vision of empowering players to create their own experiences using both original and well-known characters and worlds Related articles: AXA debunks health and wealth myths with new playful campaign AXA brings me-time to sandwich generation in Asia

A Kitchen Torch Is The Tool You Deserve (But Probably Don’t “Need”) – Bon Appetit https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/a-kitchen-torch-is-the-tool-you-deserve-but-probably-dont-need-bon-appetit/ I’m not here to tell you that you need a kitchen torch; if you’re like most home cooks, you probably don’t. A culinary torch is the kind of kitchen tool that is necessary in only very specific situations—caramelizing the sugar on a crème brûlée, for instance, or blast-browning a sous vide steak—and if those situations don’t apply to you, well, use that cupboard space for something else. Let’s be real, though: There are plenty of kitchen tools you don’t need but covet anyway. And in my humble opinion, the best kitchen torch is a whole lot more awesome than, say, a purpose-built squash seed-scraper, or a WiFi-enabled spoon rest. Because playing with fire is fun. And so are you. This is me giving you permission to buy one of the most fun kitchen gadgets out there just for the hell of it, even if all you ever do is dig it out of the cabinet every once in a while and click it on a few times when no one is looking. And who’s to say a cooking torch is just for cooking? Scare/impress your guests by using it to light some candles or get really into shou sugi ban—a propane torch is a multipurpose tool. You don’t need it, but you do deserve it. If this entreaty is speaking to you in any way, here are some of the best kitchen torches to consider. For culinary butane torch newbies: Jo Chef Butane Kitchen Torch This little refillable butane torch can reach flame temperatures of up to 2730°F and is what you want for toasting a baked Alaska or lemon meringue pie, melting cheese atop French onion soup, or browning the marshmallow topping on a s’mores-inspired situation you found on Pinterest. You’ve seen something like this on The Great British Bake-Off, I’ll bet, a show I hear is very charming. The Jo Chef kitchen torch is lightweight, doesn’t take up too much space, and comes with about as much butane fuel as you’ll probably use in 10 years. (And if the fuel gauge shows you’re running low, not to worry, you can purchase additional compatible butane canisters.) This cutie is great for kitchen blow torch beginners because of its intuitive design, safety lock to guard against accidental ignition, and adjustable flame size. It’s ideal for desserts because it’s easy to wield in tighter spaces—a tight little tongue of concentrated flame that won’t accidentally set your tablecloth on fire when you’re trying to torch a dessert tableside. It is also great for lighting rows of birthday candles for your grandma without getting Lighter Thumb. Jo Chef Butane Kitchen Torch For the pyromaniac in all of us (…just me?): Bernzomatic TS8000 High Intensity Torch Often sold in hardware stores, Bernzomatic offers a wide array of professional-grade torches for everything from soldering to woodworking, with varying fuel types and flame intensities. While this particular model, the Bernzomatic TS8000, sounds like a character from the Terminator movies, it’s basically a small flamethrower, with the angled nozzle producing a whooshing jet of intense flame that, in all honesty, is kind of scary, but in a cool and fun way. The trigger unit itself is small and easy to stash in a drawer, which is a plus, but it needs to be attached to one of those bulky green propane cylinders you use with a camping stove in order to work, which makes the whole thing fairly heavy and awkward.

US Lawmakers Propose Amending Cybersecurity Bill To Include Crypto Firms Reporting Potential Threats – Cointelegraph https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/us-lawmakers-propose-amending-cybersecurity-bill-to-include-crypto-firms-reporting-potential-threats-cointelegraph/ Under the proposed amendment, the 2015 legislation would be renamed the Cryptocurrency Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act. 467 Total views 25 Total shares United States Senators Marsha Blackburn and Cynthia Lummis have introduced proposed changes to a 2015 bill that would allow “voluntary information sharing of cyber threat indicators among cryptocurrency companies.” According to a draft bill on amending the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015, Blackburn and Lummis suggested U.S. lawmakers allow companies involved with distributed ledger technology or digital assets to report network damage, data breaches, ransomware attacks and related cybersecurity threats to government officials for possible assistance. Should the bill be signed into law, agencies including the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency would issue policies and procedures for crypto firms facing potential cybersecurity risks. The original bill, which passed in the Senate in October 2015, essentially set up a framework for the U.S. government to coordinate cybersecurity reports from “private entities, nonfederal government agencies, state, tribal, and local governments, the public, and entities under threats” and recommend possible methods to prevent and protect against attacks. Under the proposed amendment, the legislation would be renamed the Cryptocurrency Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act. Blackburn reportedly told TechCrunch that the amendments to the cybersecurity bill would provide a means for crypto firms to “report bad actors and protect cryptocurrency from dangerous practices,” given potential illegal uses. Lummis has also co-sponsored bills in the Senate aimed at providing regulatory clarity to the space by addressing the respective roles of the Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission over digital assets. Lummis-Gillibrand would empower the Securities and Exchange Commission to enact clear regulations that define which cryptocurrencies are securities. https://t.co/9oNd5FX89N — Cointelegraph (@Cointelegraph) September 8, 2022 Related: Blockchain and cybersecurity awareness on the rise — PolySwarm CEO The original cybersecurity bill stated it would be in effect for 10 years starting on the date of its enactment. As of October 2015, Congress reported the bill was held at the desk of the House of Representatives.

U.S. VP Harris To Slam North Korea Missile Test, Visit DMZ – Reuters.com https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/u-s-vp-harris-to-slam-north-korea-missile-test-visit-dmz-reuters-com/ US Vice President Kamala Harris arrives at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek on September 29, 2022. Jung Yeon-je/Pool via REUTERS SEOUL, Sept 29 (Reuters) – U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is set to condemn North Korea’s weapons tests in Seoul ahead of her first visit to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the Koreas on Thursday, just hours after the isolated country test-fired missiles. Harris landed in the South Korean capital early on Thursday and will condemn North Korea’s latest missile launch during planned talks with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, a White House official said. She will also discuss Seoul’s concerns over changes in U.S. electric vehicle subsidies, trilateral relations involving Japan, and China’s action in the Taiwan Strait, the official said. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Aides said the visit to DMZ is intended to show unwavering U.S. commitment to South Korea’s security but took on new urgency after the two short-range ballistic missiles were shot off North Korea’s east coast on Wednesday. U.S. President Joe Biden’s aides have been shoring up alliances to manage China in the region, including over Taiwan. But South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol told CNN in an interview aired on Sunday that in a conflict over Taiwan, North Korea would be more likely to stage a provocation and that the alliance should focus on that concern first. The missile test is the second since Sunday and comes two days after South Korea and U.S. forces conducted a military drill in waters off South Korea’s east coast involving an aircraft carrier. North Korea’s Kim Jong Un has said it is developing nuclear weapons and missiles to defend against U.S. threats. Following a stop at a military base in Japan, Harris called recent missile launches part of an “illicit weapons programme which threatens regional stability and violates multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions.” Harris’ visit to the DMZ is the first by a senior Biden administration official and is expected to follow a meeting with Yoon. Several former U.S. presidents, and Biden himself before he became president, have visited the DMZ, but former President Donald Trump became the first to have met a North Korean leader there when he held a third meeting with Kim Jong Un in 2019 as part of his unsuccessful effort to persuade Kim to give up his nuclear and missile programs. The DMZ is often described as the world’s last Cold War frontier and has existed since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a armistice rather than a peace treaty. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Josie Kao and Stephen Coates Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Seattle Mayor Proposes Implementing Gunshot Detection Program – KING5.com https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/seattle-mayor-proposes-implementing-gunshot-detection-program-king5-com/ The Seattle Neighborhood Group opposes the technology, fearing it will lead to over-policing in communities of color. SEATTLE — Seattle police officers could soon be dispatched to emergency calls through new technology designed to detect gunshots. If approved by the city council, the program would establish the region’s “first gunfire detection system.” Leon Griffin has called Rainier Beach in Seattle home for 30 years and he’s seen a thing or two in that time. “I’ve seen so much happening here on this corner, I could just about write a book I’ve seen so much damn stuff,” Griffin said. Soon new tech could assist Griffin’s watchful eye and could help by sending police resources where they’re needed.  The program was outlined in Mayor Bruce Harrell’s 2023-2024 Proposed Budget as a million-dollar investment in a “gunfire detection system,” with the goal to “address the increase of gun violence in the city.” “They can try it but it’s hard to say if it’s going to work but the only thing they can do is try,” Griffin said. While they have yet to announce the company that would be contracted, ShotSpotter holds a patent for the technology and is currently in 125 cities around the country.  The so-called gunshot detection system, developed in the mid-’90s, uses sensors to detect loud noise and through an algorithm, determines if it’s a firearm. From that point, police are dispatched. In a statement to KING 5, Shot Spotter said the company will not comment on cities they are not currently operating in but adds that its system “is a critical part of a comprehensive gun crime response strategy that enables a fast, precise police response to help save the lives of gunshot wound victims and capture critical evidence at the scene.” In the budget proposal, the city says advocates point to many unsolved homicides in Seattle’s Rainier Beach area. The Seattle Neighborhood Group, a nonprofit working to create safer communities’ argues the money could be better spent somewhere else – fearing an overreaction by police responding to a computer and not a human call for help. “Research has shown that the effects of the shot shooter technology are damaging to communities of color. It’s unreliable and results in false alarms and conflicts within our communities,” said Cathie Willmore with the Seattle Neighborhood Group. ShotSpotter claims a 97% percent accuracy rate on its website.

Promote The Development Of The Web3 Gaming Industry, PlanckX Attend This Year’s Token2049 Asia In Singapore – GlobeNewswire https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/promote-the-development-of-the-web3-gaming-industry-planckx-attend-this-years-token2049-asia-in-singapore-globenewswire/ PlanckX makes it easy for players to do everything from browsing to trading in one place. September 28, 2022 22:25 ET | Source: PlanckX Singapore, Singapore , Sept. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — From September 28th to 29th, TOKEN2049, Asia’s premier cryptocurrency conference, was held in Singapore. This year’s Singapore conference is also the first time the conference was held in Singapore and is part of a full week of events that will unabashedly become the flagship event of Asia Crypto Week. The TOKEN2049 conference held in Singapore has attracted more than 7,000 participants and more than 200 speakers from around the world, with unprecedented influence. During the conference, global crypto industry entrepreneurs, institutions, industry insiders, investors, and those with a strong interest in the cryptocurrency and blockchain industry, as well as some of the world’s most pioneering projects, gathered at the conference held in Asia. A massive live event, exploring the future development of the blockchain industry. Afterward, the 2022 Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix will kick off on the weekend. As one of the sponsors of the Token2049 event, the one-stop Web3.0 blockchain game asset trading platform PlanckX, and its creative team participated in the conference activities with their products, and together with thousands of participants, from the changing regulatory landscape and institutional investment trends to the rise of the Metaverse and Web3, discussing the development prospects of the Web3 game industry and other topics, received unanimous praise at the event. About PlanckX PlanckX is an aggregate platform applicable to all P2E and GameFi, providing gamers with a one-stop blockchain game search, query, and asset trading solution. Helping players eliminate blockchain game barriers and find new games that provide encrypted tokens or NFTs with ease. PlanckX makes it easy for players to do everything from browsing to trading in one place. PlanckX not only provides players with game information and data dashboards, but also provides one-click direct access to the in-site trading interface of game props NFT, and provides a detailed overview of game P2E data, from supported tokens to NFT transaction rankings, to encourage players to trade game assets through the blockchain games store. Create an easier and more secure Web3 gaming and asset trading experience for gamers. The name PlanckX is taken from the cosmic radiation detector launched at the Kourou Space Center in French Guiana on May 14, 2009. X represents the infinite possibility of exploration. They call their users explorers. The founding team is committed to building a decentralized game asset trading platform centered on players and the community. It is hoped that users can use the PlanckX platform to explore the infinite possibilities of the Web3 gaming world. PlanckX provides players with an extensive amount of blockchain game information and NFT transactions for popular global blockchain games. Since its establishment in 2021, PlanckX has 50,000 active users in the official community. At present, its platform trading market has more than 200 million NFTs. PlanckX is cooperating with more than 50 game projects around the world. The game’s trading is also carried out on the platform simultaneously. Players can complete the pre-sale of game items and NFT transactions on the PlanckX platform, and can quickly locate the type through the filter tool on the game interface, search for their favorite games and the most popular NFT transactions, and analyze transactions based on NFT transaction data. PLK Token and Economic Model $PLK is the native token in the PlanckX ecosystem, a multi-chain utility token that supports the PlanckX ecosystem of gamers and game creators. $PLK tokens are minted on the Ethereum blockchain with a maximum supply of 1 billion. PlanckX aims to create a decentralized open metaverse world. The goal of its economic system design is to align the interests of all participants with the PlanckX system, which not only protects the interests of all participants but also maintains the ecological balance of the economic system. In the PlanckX platform ecosystem, users can obtain $PLK tokens through activities such as staking Tokens, official airdrops, etc., or they can trade on the exchange after $PLK is listed on the exchange. As a multipurpose token, $PLK also acts as a governance token, as it allows users to influence certain decisions about the ecosystem through their votes in the community pool. As more and more projects are built on Layer 2, PlanckX has also been working hard to integrate different DeFi protocols through cross-chain bridge solutions, allowing players to view all game assets and Conduct cross-chain asset transactions. The PlanckX platform currently supports the transaction of game NFTs and game assets on ETH, BSC, and Polygon. In the future, more popular public chains will be gradually integrated to enrich the platform’s blockchain ecosystem. PlanckX is not only a blockchain gaming platform, but also a creator of a new gaming experience in this new era. Let us look forward to the arrival of a new Web3 gaming world created by PlanckX. Company: Tapdeep Contact Person: Riley Tritz Email: riley.tritz@planckx.io Website: https://planckx.io/ Telephone: 852 – 67436509 Disclaimer: There is no offer to sell, no solicitation of an offer to buy, and no recommendation of any security or any other product or service in this article. Moreover, nothing contained in this PR should be construed as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any investment or security, or to engage in any investment strategy or transaction. It is your responsibility to determine whether any investment, investment strategy, security, or related transaction is appropriate for you based on your investment objectives, financial circumstances, and risk tolerance. Consult your business advisor, attorney, or tax advisor regarding your specific business, legal, or tax situation. For more info, please contact brandnewsproject@gmail.com. PlanckX PlanckX PlanckX makes it easy for players to do everything from browsing to trading in one place.

Solution Or Stunt? Hawley Proposes Allowing States To Deport Undocumented Immigrants – KSDK.com https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/solution-or-stunt-hawley-proposes-allowing-states-to-deport-undocumented-immigrants-ksdk-com/ Senator Josh Hawley proposed a measure granting states legal authority to enforce federal immigration law, raising constitutional and implementation questions. ST. LOUIS, Missouri — Several days after Republican governors in Texas and Florida sent buses and planes of migrants to liberal corners of the country, Senator Josh Hawley applauded their pushes to highlight illegal border crossings.   Florida’s governor Ron DeSantis sent vehicles to Texas to round up asylum seekers there, drive them back to Florida, then fly them to Martha’s Vineyard. Police in Texas have now opened a criminal investigation into the DeSantis administration for possibly luring and preying on those vulnerable migrants. During the ongoing criminal investigation, Hawley celebrated the move and described the actions as “totally reasonable” during an interview on “The Record.” “I love the way that the rich liberals freak out anytime they actually have to encounter illegal immigrants,” Hawley said. “You know, they don’t want any of these folks in their communities. They don’t want to have to pay for anything for them. But they’re happy to have small towns in Texas completely overrun with literally millions of illegal immigrants. They couldn’t care less about that. But if you send them to their enclaves, their rich beach communities, ‘Oh, my gosh, we can’t have that.’ It’s an outrage. So I think it’s hypocrisy of the worst kind.” Hawley referred to the busloads of migrants as “illegals,” and disputed the characterization from Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar, an elected Democrat, who told reporters at a recent news conference that migrants were in the U.S. legally at the time they were taken.  “You cannot cross the border illegally and then claim asylum and have your illegal border crossing baptized as being okay,” Hawley said. “That’s not how it works. You’re welcome to claim asylum in the United States. There’s a process for doing that. But what you cannot do is illegally cross the border, then say, ‘Oh, wait, I want asylum,’ and therefore my violation of U.S. law on the border is okay.” Days later, Hawley proposed an idea of his own and sponsored a Senate bill to give states individual authority to deport migrants out of the country. His proposal, however, raises a number of constitutional and implementation questions. Pressed to explain his proposal, Hawley said federal laws and procedures would still remain in place.  States would still “have to follow federal law,” Hawley said. “It would be federal law, federal procedures. None of the federal procedures would change.” Migrants facing deportation are allowed a hearing before an immigration court, which operates under the federal Department of Justice.  In a 1993 Supreme Court case Reno v Flores, former justice Antonin Scalia wrote, “It is well established that the Fifth Amendment entitles aliens to due process of law in deportation proceeding.” Hawley said those practices would remain in place, but states could send law enforcement resources to assist with the deportation.  “States have tried this before, by the way,” Hawley said. “Twenty years ago, the state of Arizona, which was getting overrun at that time with another surge in illegal immigration, they tried to say, ‘Well, listen, we’ll enforce federal law.’ And the Supreme Court wouldn’t let them because they said federal law doesn’t allow that. My bill would change federal law, and it would say, ‘Let’s give the states that authority.'” Immigration and the GOP A new NBC News poll shows voters favor the Republican party on border security (56% to 20% for Democrats), and immigration (46% to 29% for Democrats). The border is still a flashpoint for voters, but the economy and abortion are also issues that will get voters to the polls for the midterms. The playbook for drawing votes has certainly shifted over time. Former president Ronald Reagan’s platform embraced immigrants.  In 1981, Reagan said, “Illegal immigrants in considerable numbers have become productive members of our society and are a basic part of our work force.” “If they’re a basic part of our workforce, but they’re here illegally, then that’s a huge problem,” Hawley said. “It probably means they’re taking away jobs from legal citizens.” In 1988, Reagan said, “We lead the world because unique among nations, we draw our people, our strength, from every country and every corner of the world. And by doing so we continuously renew and enrich our nation.” Hawley said Reagan “was wrong about illegal immigration. He was also wrong about amnesty.” Watch The Record live Wednesdays at 3 p.m. on KSDK.com and 5+.

James “Jim” Russell Antel Obituary – The Beaver County Times – The Times https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/james-jim-russell-antel-obituary-the-beaver-county-times-the-times/ James “Jim” Russell Antel, 72, of Hermitage, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, September 26, 2022, in his home. Mr. Antel was born on November 1, 1949, in Sewickley, PA, a son of the late Robert and Elva (Cujas) Antel. He lived his childhood in Hopewell Twp. with his parents and brother, Dale “Robert” Antel, who survives in Cape Code, MA. In 1968, Jim graduated from Hopewell High School and attended Butler County Community College, where he studied accounting. At the age of 18, he was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. From 1970-1971, Jim served in the Infantry Division, where he walked point and was also a part of a Special Forces Hunter/Killer Team. After the war, he started working as a field service technician for Diebold Inc., servicing bank alarms and ATMs in the surrounding area. He retired after 40 years of service and earned his CDL License to become a bus driver with STA in Hermitage. He drove for the local area school district’s sporting events and field trips during the Fall and Spring. While driving the bus, he enjoyed watching the students play sports and attending their various events. In the Summers, he would drive for Zambelli Fireworks delivering fireworks all over the country. He was a devoted family man and deeply loved his children and grandchildren. Jim was a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Hermitage. He liked to camp, travel and go for rides on his boat at Pymatuning Lake. Jim loved Boy Scouts and served as a Scout Leader. He looked forward to spending the week with his son at Custaloga Town Scout Reservation. Jim also loved riding roller coasters and taking his family on an annual vacation to Cedar Point. Additionally, he was an avid Steelers and Pirates fan. On February 12, 1983, he married his wife, Diane (Tomko) Antel. Together they had two children, a son James Antel and his wife Jill (Turrisi); and a daughter, Jayne (Antel) Kornbau and her husband Matthew. He also had five beautiful grandchildren, Maeli, Alyssa, Astyn, Mira and Kyler. The family suggests memorial contributions be directed to the John Tomko Playground, C/O Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 3325 Morefield Rd., Hermitage, PA 16148; or the Shenango Valley Animal Shelter, 2599 Broadway Rd., Hermitage, PA 16148. Calling hours will be 4 to 7 p.m. Friday (09/30/2022) in J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1090 East State St., Sharon. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.McGonigleFuneralHomeandCrematory.com Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday (10/01/2022) in Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 3325 Morefield Rd., Hermitage, with Rev. Denny Blauser, officiating. Interment: Holy Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Hermitage. Posted online on September 28, 2022 Published in Ellwood City Ledger, The Beaver County Times Service Information Interment Holy Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Hermitage. Calling Hours J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1090 East State St., Sharon. September 30, 2022 at 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM Funeral Service Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 3325 Morefield Rd., Hermitage. October 01, 2022 at 11:00 AM

California Governor Approves Farmworker Unionization Law | Business News | Wfmz.com – 69News WFMZ-TV https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/california-governor-approves-farmworker-unionization-law-business-news-wfmz-com-69news-wfmz-tv/ SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A broadly smiling California Gov. Gavin Newsom joined about two dozen jubilant, cheering farmworkers camped outside the state Capitol Wednesday to sign one of the most contentious bills before him this year, reversing course on a measure to help farmworkers unionize after President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris supported it. The White House support pinned Newsom in a difficult political position after his office announced before Democratic lawmakers sent him the bill that he would not sign it. But Newsom approved the bill only after he, the United Farm Workers and the California Labor Federation agreed on clarifying language to be considered during next year’s legislative session to address his concerns around implementation and voting integrity. The new law gives California farmworkers, who harvest much of the nation’s fruit and vegetables, new ways to vote in union elections beyond physical polling places on farm property. Proponents say that would help protect workers from union busting and other intimidation, while owners say such a system lacks necessary safeguards to prevent fraud. The agreement includes a cap on the number of unionization petitions over the next five years and will allow state regulators to better protect worker confidentiality and safety, Newsom’s office said. It would do away with an option for workers to unionize through mail-in voting that is contained in the current language, but keeps a “card check” election process. “Sí, se puede,” the farmworkers chanted as Newsom signed the bill, echoing the UFW’s longtime slogan — roughly, “Yes, we can” in Spanish. The union led a weekslong summer march up the state to Sacramento, where farmworkers and their supporters rallied outside the Capitol, some camping outside through September in an effort to win Newsom’s support. “The vigil and the march were all worth it, because he came out and signed for us,” farmworker Teresa Maldonado said through a translator. The march cost Xochilt Nunez her fruit-picking job, several toenails and left her with blistered feet. But she was on the verge of tears after Newsom signed the legislation, plus an extra copy for Nunez to keep. “California’s farmworkers are the lifeblood of our state, and they have the fundamental right to unionize and advocate for themselves in the workplace,” Newsom said in a statement after signing the bill. Newsom vetoed similar legislation last year, as did his two most recent predecessors. One of his stated concerns centered on security concerns about mail-in elections, an option that would be eliminated in the clean up language agreed to by the union. The revised law would keep the card check option, which would still give farmworkers a chance to “vote from home or anywhere else they feel comfortable” and limit chances for employer intimidation, said Giev Kashkooli, legislative and political director for the United Farm Workers. Under such a system, a union is formed if more than half of workers sign the authorization card. The California Farm Bureau said it was “deeply disappointed” in Newsom’s decision to sign the bill, though the group’s statement focused primarily on the mail-in balloting system. The union did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment about the language to remove that option. Democratic Assemblyman Mark Stone added provisions to this year’s version that would let the law expire after five years unless it is renewed by lawmakers, and requiring the Agricultural Labor Relations Board to handle the ballots. Newsom has been positioning himself for months as a leading national Democratic voice calling out red state governors, fueling speculation that he has presidential ambitions despite his repeated denials. Mike Madrid, a Republican strategist in California who specializes in Latino voting trends, read Biden’s Labor Day statement strongly supporting the legislation as an effort to take Newsom down a notch. “I think it’s impossible to avoid the reality that there’s a little bit of tension between these two politicians because of Gavin’s posture in leaning into this presidential rumor mill,” Madrid said. “It’s basically just a reminder of who the sheriff is.” Biden has long supported the union. He keeps a bust of union co-founder Cesar Chavez in the Oval Office and Chavez’ granddaughter, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, is Biden’s director of intergovernmental affairs. “In the state with the largest population of farmworkers, the least we owe them is an easier path to make a free and fair choice to organize a union,” Biden said in his statement. Jack Pitney, a political science professor at Claremont McKenna College, said Biden seemed to be reflecting his longstanding support for unions, while Newsom had the more delicate task of balancing labor relations against an agricultural industry that also is struggling. Adding to the pressure, the struggling UFW recently rejoined the umbrella California Labor Federation. The issue of farmworker unionization became more critical to labor in 2020 after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that union organizers had no right to access farmers’ properties to talk to their workers. Newsom signed a different union-backed bill on Labor Day, creating a Fast Food Council empowered to set minimum standards for wages, hours and working conditions in California. The restaurant industry moved to block it a day later. Associated Press Writer Kathleen Ronayne contributed to this story. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

A Healthy Lifestyle Is Positively Associated With Mental Health And Well-Being And Core Markers In Ageing – BMC Medicine – BMC Medicine https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/a-healthy-lifestyle-is-positively-associated-with-mental-health-and-well-being-and-core-markers-in-ageing-bmc-medicine-bmc-medicine/ Research article Open Access Published: 29 September 2022 BMC Medicine volume 20, Article number: 328 (2022) Cite this article Abstract Background Studies often evaluate mental health and well-being in association with individual health behaviours although evaluating multiple health behaviours that co-occur in real life may reveal important insights into the overall association. Also, the underlying pathways of how lifestyle might affect our health are still under debate. Here, we studied the mediation of different health behaviours or lifestyle factors on mental health and its effect on core markers of ageing: telomere length (TL) and mitochondrial DNA content (mtDNAc). Methods In this study, 6054 adults from the 2018 Belgian Health Interview Survey (BHIS) were included. Mental health and well-being outcomes included psychological and severe psychological distress, vitality, life satisfaction, self-perceived health, depressive and generalised anxiety disorder and suicidal ideation. A lifestyle score integrating diet, physical activity, smoking status, alcohol consumption and BMI was created and validated. On a subset of 739 participants, leucocyte TL and mtDNAc were assessed using qPCR. Generalised linear mixed models were used while adjusting for a priori chosen covariates. Results The average age (SD) of the study population was 49.9 (17.5) years, and 48.8% were men. A one-point increment in the lifestyle score was associated with lower odds (ranging from 0.56 to 0.74) for all studied mental health outcomes and with a 1.74% (95% CI: 0.11, 3.40%) longer TL and 4.07% (95% CI: 2.01, 6.17%) higher mtDNAc. Psychological distress and suicidal ideation were associated with a lower mtDNAc of − 4.62% (95% CI: − 8.85, − 0.20%) and − 7.83% (95% CI: − 14.77, − 0.34%), respectively. No associations were found between mental health and TL. Conclusions In this large-scale study, we showed the positive association between a healthy lifestyle and both biological ageing and different dimensions of mental health and well-being. We also indicated that living a healthy lifestyle contributes to more favourable biological ageing. Peer Review reports Background According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a healthy lifestyle is defined as “a way of living that lowers the risk of being seriously ill or dying early” [1]. Public health authorities emphasise the importance of a healthy lifestyle, but despite this, many individuals worldwide still live an unhealthy lifestyle [2]. In Europe, 26% of adults smoke [3], nearly half (46%) never exercise [4], 8.4% drink alcohol on a daily basis [5] and over half (51%) are overweight [5]. These unhealthy behaviours have been associated with adverse health outcomes like cardiovascular diseases [6,7,8], respiratory diseases [9], musculoskeletal diseases [10] and, to a lesser extent, mental disorders [11, 12]. Even though the association between lifestyle and health outcomes has been extensively investigated, biological mechanisms explaining these observed associations are not yet fully understood. One potential mechanism that can be suggested is biological ageing. Both telomere length (TL) and mitochondrial DNA content (mtDNAc) are known biomarkers of ageing. Telomeres are the end caps of chromosomes and consist of multiple TTAGGG sequence repeats. They protect chromosomes from degradation and shorten with every cell division because of the “end-replication problem” [13]. Mitochondria are crucial to the cell as they are responsible for apoptosis, the control of cytosolic calcium levels and cell signalling [14]. Living a healthy lifestyle can be linked with healthy ageing as both TL and mtDNAc have been associated with health behaviours like obesity [15], diet [16], smoking [17] and alcohol abuse [18]. Furthermore, as biomarkers of ageing, both TL and mtDNAc have been associated with age-related diseases like Parkinson’s disease [19], coronary heart disease [20], atherosclerosis [21] and early mortality [22]. Also, early mortality and higher risks for the aforementioned age-related diseases are observed in psychiatric illnesses, and it is suggested that advanced biological ageing underlies these observations [23]. Multiple studies evaluated individual health behaviours, but research on the combination of these health behaviours is limited. As they often co-occur and may cause synergistic effects, assessing them in combination with each other rather than independently might better reflect the real-life situation [24, 25]. Therefore, in a general adult population, we combined five commonly studied health behaviours including diet, smoking status, alcohol consumption, BMI and physical activity into one healthy lifestyle score to evaluate its association with mental health and well-being and biological ageing. Furthermore, we evaluated the association between the markers of biological ageing and mental health and well-being. We hypothesise that individuals living a healthy lifestyle have a better mental health status, a longer TL and a higher mtDNAc and that these biomarkers are positively associated with mental health and well-being. Methods Study population In 2018, 11611 Belgian residents participated in the 2018 Belgian Health Interview Survey (BHIS). The sampling frame of the BHIS was the Belgian National Register, and participants were selected based on a multistage stratified sampling design including a geographical stratification and a selection of municipalities within provinces, of households within municipalities and of respondents within households [26]. The study population for this cross-sectional study included 6054 BHIS participants (see flowchart in Additional file 1: Fig. S1) [27,28,29,30,31]. Minors (� 18 years) and participants not eligible to complete the mental health modules (participants who participated through a proxy respondent, i.e. a person of confidence filled out the survey) were excluded (n = 2172 and n = 846, respectively). Furthermore, of the 8593 eligible participants, those with missing information to create the mental health indicators, the lifestyle score or the covariates used in this study were excluded (n = 1642, 788 and 109, respectively). For the first time in 2018, a subset of 1184 BHIS participants contributed to the 2018 Belgian Health Examination Survey (BELHES). All BHIS participants were invited to participate except for minors (� 18 years), BHIS participants who participated through a proxy respondent and residents of the German Community of Belgium, the latter representing 1% of the Belgian population. Participants were recruited on a voluntary basis until the regional quotas were reached (450, 300 and 350 in respectively Flanders, Brussels Capital Region and Wallonia). These participants underwent a health examination, including anthropological measurements and completed an additional questionnaire. Also, blood and urine samples were collected. Of the 6054 included BHIS participants, 909 participated in the BELHES. Participants for whom we could not calculate both TL and mtDNAc were excluded (n = 170). More specifically, participants were excluded because they did not provide a blood sample (n = 91) or because they did not provide permission for DNA research (n = 32). Twenty samples were excluded from DNA extraction because either total blood volume was too low (n = 7), samples were clothed (n = 1) or tubes were broken due to freezing conditions (n = 12). Twenty-seven samples were excluded because they did not meet the biomarker quality control criteria (high technical variation in qPCR triplicates). This was not met for 3 TL samples, 20 mtDNAc samples and 4 samples for both biomarkers. For this subset, we ended up with a final number of 739 participants. Further in this paper, we refer to “the BHIS subset” for the BHIS participants (n = 6054) and the “BELHES subset” for the BELHES participants (n = 739). As part of the BELHES, this project was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the University Hospital Ghent (registration number B670201834895). The project was carried out in line with the recommendations of the Belgian Privacy Commission. All participants have signed a consent form that was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee. Health interview survey The BHIS is a comprehensive survey which aims to gain insight into the health status of the Belgian population. The questions on the different dimensions of mental health and well-being were based on international standardised and validated questionnaires [32], and this resulted in eight mental health outcomes that were used in this study. Detailed information on each indicator score and its use is addressed in Additional file 1: Table. S1. Firstly, the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) provides the prevalence of psychological and severe psychological distress in the population [27]. On the total GHQ score, cut-off points of + 2 and + 4 were used to identify respectively psychological and severe psychological distress. Secondly, we used two indicators for the positive dimensions of mental health: vitality and life satisfaction. Four questions of the short form health survey (SF-36) indicate the participant’s vital energy level [28, 33]. We used a cut-off point to identify participants with an optimal vitality score, which is a score equal to or above one standard deviation above the mean, as used in previous studies [34, 35]. Life satisfaction was measured by the Cantril Scale, which ranges from 0 to 10 [29]. A cut-off point of + 6 was used to indicate participants with high or medium life satisfaction versus low life satisfaction. Thirdly, the questio...

BYU Vs. Utah State: How To Watch Live Stream, TV Channel, NCAA Football Start Time – CBS Sports https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/byu-vs-utah-state-how-to-watch-live-stream-tv-channel-ncaa-football-start-time-cbs-sports/ Who’s Playing Utah State @ No. 19 BYU Current Records: Utah State 1-3; BYU 3-1 What to Know After a two-game homestand, the Utah State Aggies will be on the road. They will square off against the BYU Cougars at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday at LaVell Edwards Stadium. BYU should still be feeling good after a win, while the Aggies will be looking to get back in the win column. Utah State came up short against the UNLV Rebels on Saturday, falling 34-24. QB Logan Bonner had a memorable game, but not in the way you want to be remembered: despite three touchdowns, he threw five interceptions and fumbled the ball once. Meanwhile, when you finish with 247 more yards than your opponent like BYU did on Saturday, a favorable outcome is almost sure to follow. They came out on top against the Wyoming Cowboys by a score of 38-24. The victory came about even with BYU handicapping themselves with 104 penalty yards. BYU QB Jaren Hall was slinging it as he passed for four TDs and 337 yards on 32 attempts. Near the top of the highlight reel was Hall’s 68-yard TD bomb to WR Keanu Hill in the fourth quarter. Utah State have to know they’ll be fighting an uphill battle given the 24-point spread they are up against. Those betting on them against the spread shouldn’t have high expectations for them since the squad is 0-2 ATS when expected to lose. The Aggies are now 1-3 while the Cougars sit at a mirror-image 3-1. Two numbers to keep in mind before kickoff: Utah State enters the contest having picked the ball off six times, good for 10th in the nation. But BYU comes into the matchup boasting the ninth fewest thrown interceptions in the nation at one. We’ll see which of these strengths — offense or defense — will win out. How To Watch When: Thursday at 8 p.m. ET Where: LaVell Edwards Stadium — Provo, Utah TV: ESPN Online streaming: fuboTV (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.) Follow: CBS Sports App Odds The Cougars are a big 24-point favorite against the Aggies, according to the latest college football odds. Over/Under: -110 See college football picks for every single game, including this one, from SportsLine’s advanced computer model. Get picks now. Series History BYU have won four out of their last six games against Utah State. Oct 01, 2021 – BYU 34 vs. Utah State 20 Nov 02, 2019 – BYU 42 vs. Utah State 14 Oct 05, 2018 – Utah State 45 vs. BYU 20 Sep 29, 2017 – Utah State 40 vs. BYU 24 Nov 26, 2016 – BYU 28 vs. Utah State 10 Nov 28, 2015 – BYU 51 vs. Utah State 28

Metaverse Stocks: How To Invest In The Top 5 Companies In Virtual Worlds – BeInCrypto https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/metaverse-stocks-how-to-invest-in-the-top-5-companies-in-virtual-worlds-beincrypto/ Metaverse stocks: The metaverse is fast becoming the most anticipated technological development of our generation. The emerging technology is still many years away from being a widespread mainstream success. Yet investors are already seeking opportunities to invest in this brave new interconnected digital landscape, says Rebecca Barnatt-Smith. The sheer volume of computational power required to fuel the metaverse, and its reliance on virtual and augmented reality, has paved the way for many existing stocks to stand as key beneficiaries in a Web3 environment. But where can wise investments be made on Wall Street? Top 5 Deep Dive Let’s take a deeper look into five of the most exciting metaverse stocks available to invest in today, and how each company could grow:  Metaverse stocks #1: Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) Firstly, let’s explore a company that could play an essential role in powering the metaverse. Nvidia’s graphics cards and data center chips are best positioned to bring the metaverse to life by delivering the computational power required for individuals to interact with one another within a sprawling digital environment.  Crucially for investors, we’re already seeing Nvidia graphics cards powering Meta Platforms’ AI Research SuperCluster (RSC) supercomputer. The company hopes to create a framework for handling the metaverse’s processing requirements.  The stock itself has slipped following a blistering 2021. But NVDA’s strong rebound from its Q2 2022 bottom shows that investor confidence in the stock remains strong.  The company has a strong relationship with Meta, a company hell-bent on building into the metaverse. Nvidia’s strong hand comes from the scale of the task at hand in powering the new Web3 landscape in a way that can cater to all users. According to estimates from Intel, the successful rtttttt of the metaverse would require a 1,000x increase in the computing capacity commonly available today.  It’s this requirement for the introduction of more processing hardware that’s likely to provide Nvidia with a golden opportunity for strong growth as the development of the metaverse gathers pace.  Metaverse stocks #2: Unity Software (NYSE: U) Much like Nvidia, Unity Software is set to be another key player when it comes to powering the metaverse. The company specializes in enabling game developers to create high-quality graphical content that can operate on a cross-platform basis. This can bring together users based on computers, smartphones, games consoles, and VR hardware.  Significantly, Unity had a 61% market share of the gaming market by the end of 2021. This makes the company’s stock performance throughout much of the year unsurprising. Unity has been impacted by the tech stock sell-offs of 2022. But the stock’s proximity to the gaming sector is likely to make it a trailblazer as Web3 develops.  It is thought that the company’s software has been incorporated into the development of more than 60% of the world’s 3D content to date. This can be significant for not only game designers but also metaverse development studios like BORN, which can use the technology to render vast 3D creations in the metaverse for its clients.  Today, Unity is working on a number of platforms like Insomniac Events in order to generate new metaverse worlds. With key industry figures like the Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella, claiming that the “metaverse is essentially creating games,” it’s likely that Unity will play a central role in the landscape’s development.  Metaverse stocks #3: Roblox (NYSE: RBLX) Roblox has built a reputation as an early iteration of the metaverse. As a gaming company, social network, and content creation platform, the stock incorporates many of the foundations of the metaverse as we know it today. Furthermore, Roblox’s market cap of $41.9 billion at the time of its 2021 NYSE listing shows that the company is already a metaverse star in the eyes of Wall Street.  Significantly, Roblox has become a leading entertainment hub, with 3D concerts for leading artists like Lil Nas X, and David Guetta among many others. At the time of writing, Roblox has hosted more than 24 million 3D experiences for users to involve themselves in.  We can also see strong evidence of growth for Roblox. In Q4 2021, Roblox counted 49 million active daily users on average, representing a 33% increase from the same time last year. Should the platform build on its growth, it could become the world’s metaverse of choice in the future.  Metaverse stocks #4: Snap (NYSE: SNAP) The artist formerly known as Snapchat may be acknowledged as a social media giant in its own right. But the company has been making waves in the field of augmented reality throughout recent years.  In fact, SNAP’s AR investments are generating healthy levels of growth within the platform. They could form an intricate bond with the metaverse as the technology leans further on the development of augmented reality.  Despite 2022 being a tough time for Snap’s stock market fortunes, 250 million of its users used the platform’s AR tools during Q1 2022. Accompanying Snap’s famous Lenses tool will soon be a fully-fledged pair of AR glasses which may become a precursor to metaverse compatible eyewear.  Metaverse stocks #5: Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) MSFT stock is performing exceptionally well, despite widespread tech sell-offs in comparison to some of its counterparts on this list. Whilst this may mean that there are fewer opportunities to pick up discounted stock, this blue-chip company has proven time and again that it can keep up with new innovations.  In early 2022, Microsoft announced the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, a leading gaming firm. The $70 billion deal provides access to Activision’s gaming titles like the wildly popular ‘Call of Duty.’ Furthermore, Microsoft will be capable of marketing to Activision’s seismic 390 million monthly users.  The company has made no secret of the fact that it views gaming as an intrinsic part of the development of the metaverse. In this acquisition, we can see a clear play by Microsoft to emerge as a leader in metaverse-based games.  Microsoft is also actively working to utilize its HoloLens as a means of creating mixed reality spaces for Teams. Microsoft has a rich history for innovation, and it seems certain that the company will be front and center of metaverse developments, if its recent market movements are anything to go by.  Tips for investors For investors, it’s essential to continually research the metaverse companies that they are thinking to add to their portfolios. The space is still very much in its formative stages and things can change quickly.  With this in mind, no metaverse stock is certain for long-term growth. However, with the right level of metaverse exposure, investors are likely to benefit significantly from the space’s winners over time.  About the author Rebecca Barnatt-Smith is a freelance journalist and multi-media marketing executive, interested in the future of the metaverse and what it could mean for investors. She covers tech-based topics, the future of crypto trading and NFT trends. Got something to say about metaverse stocks or anything else? Write to us or join the discussion in our Telegram channel. You can also catch us on Tik Tok, Facebook, or Twitter. Disclaimer All the information contained on our website is published in good faith and for general information purposes only. Any action the reader takes upon the information found on our website is strictly at their own risk.

The Coolest James Bond Car Ever Just Sold For Over $3 Million – DMARGE https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/the-coolest-james-bond-car-ever-just-sold-for-over-3-million-dmarge/ The James Bond series is famous for its cool cars, particularly the Aston Martin DB5… And now the coolest DB5 ever made has just sold – for a serious figure. Famed British auction house Christie’s and EON Productions are currently an amazing auction event called Sixty Years of James Bond: an official two-part charity sale celebrating the 60th anniversary of the iconic spy film franchise that boasts 60 iconic lots spanning the 25 Bond films. The 60 lots, split between an online and a live auction, include a treasure trove of Bond goodies, including Timothy Dalton’s tuxedo from License To Kill, a Casino Royale script signed by the actors, producers and screenwriters; and even one of the Day of the Dead skeletons from Spectre. But the vast majority of items come from the most recent Bond film, No Time To Die – the 25th in the franchise and Daniel Craig’s last stint as the famous fictional British agent – including the Aston Martin DB5 stunt car from the thrilling opening scene, which we reckon might just be the coolest Bond car ever. A car that’s been shaken, not stirred. Image: Christie’s The DB5, of course, is a staple of the franchise and one of the most iconic movie cars of all time. This DB5 is a cut above the rest, however. One of only eight built specifically for James Bond and, to date, the only DB5 stunt car to be released for public sale, this was exclusively engineered and handcrafted by Aston Martin’s Special Projects division for No Time To Die, Christie’s explains. All the DB5 stunt cars were modified in different ways, with this car being one of a few to include the bespoke No Time To Die gadgets and mocked-up side panel damage. RELATED: Sebastian Vettel Takes James Bond’s Classic Aston Martin DB5 Drifting At Silverstone What’s really cool is that this car is actually functional, as it was built specifically to perform dynamic stunts. Under the hood, it boasts a modern 3.2L inline-six petrol engine plus a manual gearbox. The body panels are all carbon fibre, as is much of the interior, and it boasts a beefed-up bespoke suspension and braking system uniquely engineered by Aston Martin Special Projects. It’s not just some mocked-up shell: this is the real deal; as close as one can get to driving a functional Bond car. Cool, right? What’s the catch? Well, you might technically be able to drive it, but it was sold as a ‘non-runner’ collector’s item and is not approved for use on any public roads or homologated. This is just a technicality – I mean, you’d probably be crazy to drive around something so rare on the streets anyway… Very expensive donuts. Image: Christie’s The DB5, part of the live portion of the auction, ended up selling for 2,922,000 of His Majesty’s finest pounds (~ 3,172,050 USD / 4,869,395 AUD), far surpassing Christie’s auction estimate of 1,500,000 – 2,000,000 GBP. RELATED: ‘Most Expensive Ever’: $202 Million Mercedes-Benz Smashes Car Auction Records This DB5 wasn’t the only cool car that went under the hammer, either. A bunch of vehicles from No Time To Die were up for grabs – most of which smashed their auction estimates – including Bond’s 1981 Aston Martin V8 (which went for 630,000 GBP), Nomi’s Aston Martin DBS Superleggera (403,200 GBP), the Triumph Scrambler motorbike from the Italy opening sequence (138,600 GBP) plus two of the villainous Land Rover Defenders from the Norway chase scene (which didn’t beat their estimates and sold for 163,800 and 189,000 GBP respectively). Other cool lots at the Sixty Years of James Bond live auction included the OMEGA Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition worn by Daniel Craig in the film (226,800 GBP) and a five-night stay at the luxurious Goldeneye estate in Jamaica where Ian Fleming wrote all fourteen Bond books (52,920 GBP). While the live portion of the auction is over, the online portion is still running until October 5th, and contains goodies like signed posters and a bunch of outfits worn by Daniel Craig and others in the films. WATCH our guide to James Bond’s best watches below. Read Next Where To Stream No Time To Die in Australia OMEGA Dropped An ‘Australian’ Speedmaster… And It’s A Bloody Ripper, Too

China’s Crypto Billionaire Stocks Up On Precious Metals, Gems And Fine Art – Kitco NEWS https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/chinas-crypto-billionaire-stocks-up-on-precious-metals-gems-and-fine-art-kitco-news/ (Kitco News) Chinese crypto billionaire Jihan Wu is diversifying into physical assets, including precious metals, gems and fine art, with his recent purchase of what is dubbed Asia’s Fort Knox. Bitdeer Technologies Holding Co., which Wu leads, paid $28.4 million to purchase Le Freeport, which is a state-of-the-art maximum security vault in Singapore designed and engineered by a team of Swiss architects and engineers. The news was reported by Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter. Jihan Wu is an influential figure in the crypto space. He founded Bitmain Technologies Ltd, which is the largest Bitcoin mining-machine manufacturer, with a revenue of $5.6 billion in 2021. Wu left the company last year and is now heading up its Bitcoin-mining spinoff Bitdeer and crypto-finance company Matrixport. The vault’s depository includes gold and silver bars, precious gems, and fine art from shareholders headed up by Swiss art dealer and founder Yves Bouvier, the media report said. The transaction was private and happened in July. Prior to this, Bouvier had been unsuccessful in trying to sell Freeport, located in Singapore near Changi airport. Freeport began operations more than a decade ago, intending to appeal to customers such as collectors, wealth managers, and major bullion traders. “The facility offers integrated services to handle the shipping, storage, display and trade of these valuables … Maximum security and 24/7 security access. Stringent security provisions include electronic monitoring of staff, clients and valuables as well as armed guards,” described Freeport’s website.  According to the deal, Bitdeer is the sole shareholder of Straitdeer Pte., which now is the new owner of Asia Freeport Holdings Pte. In another development, Wu is also forming a fund worth $250 million to buy up distressed assets from mining firms. “We can buy the cheaper machines and run them in our existing facilities with stable and cost-effective power purchase agreements,” Bitdeer CEO Matt Kong told Bloomberg. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.

U.S. House Advances Bill To Boost Antitrust Efforts – Reuters.com https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/u-s-house-advances-bill-to-boost-antitrust-efforts-reuters-com/ WASHINGTON, Sept 28 (Reuters) – The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to advance a bill that would update fees companies pay for merger reviews and strengthen state attorneys general in antitrust fights, according to Majority Leader Steny Hoyer’s office. The bill combines measures introduced by Representative Joe Neguse, a Democrat, and Representative Ken Buck, a Republican. The next step is for the full House to vote on final passage. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com It would allow state attorneys general to choose which court they want to hear antitrust cases. Defendants would not be allowed to request a change of venue. Texas, along with other states, brought an antitrust action against Alphabet Inc’s Representative Zoe Lofgren, a California Democrat, joined with at least four other California Democrats to urge that the bill be defeated because of the venue measure. California is home to some of the biggest tech companies, including Google and Meta Platforms’ (META.O) Facebook. The measure also would lower the fees paid for antitrust reviews of smaller deals. But bigger deals would be more expensive. Deals worth $5 billion or more would pay $2.25 million to regulators conducting the antitrust review. The reviews are conducted by the U.S. Justice Department’s Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission. The Senate has passed a bill giving state attorneys general the right to pick the venue for antitrust fights but has not passed a bill to update merger filing fees. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Diane Bartz; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Leslie Adler Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

6 Injured In Oakland School Shooting, Police Say – The New York Times https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/6-injured-in-oakland-school-shooting-police-say-the-new-york-times/ Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker

DUEX Plus Portable Laptop Monitor Review — You Need This. Now. – Gaming Trend https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/duex-plus-portable-laptop-monitor-review-you-need-this-now-gaming-trend/ Whether you are gaming, working, coding, surfing the web, or doing some combination of all of those things, a second monitor is almost a requirement nowadays. That’s easy when you’ve got a desk with a monitor tower to hold multiple displays and all of the associated connectivity and power cables, but what do you do when you need a more portable solution? If you use your laptop in the living room like I do, hauling an entire extra monitor is as disruptive as it is ludicrous. There are small portable devices on stands that you can employ, for sure, but they are often cumbersome as well, requiring space for a small stand or needing separate power. When I stumbled on the DUEX Plus portable laptop monitor, it seemed like I might have found my solution. Let’s unbox the device, wire it up, and see if it could give me the additional work space I need without a dump truck of wires, and hopefully without breaking the bank. DEUX Plus Portable Monitor Unbox and Review Gaming Trend There’s little to unpack, as you can see, with the contents of the box containing just the monitor itself with its integrated stowing mechanism, four neodymium magnets with 3M adhesive, a USB-C cable with integrated Ferrite bead and USB-C to USB-A adapter attached, and the instructions – not that you’ll need them. The DUEX Plus is the very definition of plug and play. Before we get to that, however, let’s talk about how this device attaches to your laptop. Utilizing four extraordinarily strong magnets (easily placed with the included guide sheet) you’ll place the DUEX Plus on the rear of your monitor – I’m recommending dead center. These four magnets become exceedingly important with what comes next. One of the most important aspects of portability for a laptop is the overall bulk, and the DUEX Plus adds very little to it. In fact, at its thinnest point (comprising more than 80% of the rear of it), the device is just 6.45mm, with the thicker part, where the monitor attaches to the sliding mechanism, being slightly larger at 14.92mm. More than likely, if something like the DUEX Plus is of interest, you likely have a laptop you take with you for travel. Whether that’d be a basic one or an ultraportable, there’s one thing you think about when you put it in a bag – the weight. To that end, the DUEX Plus adds 1.3 pounds to the overall weight of your device. Whether that’s a little or a lot to you is entirely subjective, but for frame of reference, 1.3 pounds is roughly the equivalent of a loaf of bread or two rolls of quarters. There are a lot of smaller screen options out there, and entirely too many are TN displays. If you aren’t aware, TN stands for twisted nematic, and there are several advantages to them, not the least of which being that they are cheap and sport some shockingly high refresh rates. Unfortunately they are also terrible for color reproduction, suffer from input lag, and that refresh rate comes with fairly streaky colors and poor viewing angles. Most folks have moved to the next type – IPS. IPS stands for In-Plane Switching, and most modern monitors fall into this category. Better viewing angles, deeper black reproduction, and refresh rates in the 200s coupled with response times as low as a sub-millisecond make these an obvious choice, though the price to make these tend to be higher. It’s also why so many manufacturers spring for TN to keep prices low. Thankfully, MobilePixels didn’t choose that option. The DUEX Plus uses a 300 nit, 60Hz, 16:9, 1080p IPS display. Drawing just 4.5 watts over that USB-C connection, it measures 13.3″, with a viewing area of 11.7” by 6.5” as viewable space, thanks to the slim bezel. There are two other use cases for this monitor – one is documented and officially supported, and the other is not. First and foremost, the DUEX Plus is certified to work with the Nintendo Switch, and thanks to the two USB-C ports, it does so while charging the device to boot. Plugging in the DUEX Plus, the screen sprang to life, as expected. I did run into one hitch, however: you’ll need to disconnect your Joycons and use them externally for this device to work. Not a big deal, but something to know. The second use case isn’t officially sanctioned, but the DUEX Plus works perfectly for the Steam Deck. Sure, neither the Switch nor the Steam Deck is going to see regular use with the DUEX Plus in my case, but when I’m on the road, it’s mighty handy on an airplane. If you do end up grabbing a DUEX Plus, you’ll probably also want to nab the “origami” folding stand. Not unlike the stand on a Kindle Fire, this little device will prop the DUEX Plus up in the appropriate position safely so you can position it on your tray table or wherever you plan to play. The DUEX Plus supports a specific Samsung device, but we are a Pixel 6 Pro household these days, so I wasn’t able to test out that use case. Obviously you can use the DUEX Plus in landscape mode, and that’s very likely how you’ll use it most of the time, but if you are a coder or somebody who works on webpages and needs a vertical orientation, the DUEX Plus has you covered. In fact, it also has auto-rotation detection, so placing the monitor in portrait mode automatically switches your content and reframes it. Similarly, if you move the monitor from the left side to the right, it will once again re-orient, making it very easy to keep your monitor out of other people’s line of sight. There are only two real drawbacks to the DUEX Plus, and one is very subjective. The MSRP for the device is $399, though it’s currently on sale for $299. There’s a productivity bundle that’ll run you an extra $30 and it comes with that portable “origami” stand I mentioned. The mobility bundle is a little more pricey at $450, but it comes with a whole bevy of goodies, including a privacy filter, a camera, mini-mouse, a foldable keyboard, and a case to hold the device. The company also offers extended warranties for all of it based on pricing, so you can be sure your device is covered. The second drawback may make you consider that coverage. The monitor is fantastic, but the sliding mechanism is made of ABS Plastic, with some aluminum bits. The sliding mechanism seems like it’ll work just fine for long periods of time, but seeing the entire thing flex when I went to fold the monitor into that external presentation mode gave me a moment of pause. You’ll want to fold the device closest to the hinge just to be safe. There is a mode called “Eyecare” that does precisely what’s on the tin – cools the color temp of the monitor to help with eye strain. This is a function you can find within windows, but here it’s native to the device. It’s not exactly necessary, but it’s nice to have. I’m already shocked at just how much more productive my laptop is with the DUEX Plus. On more than one occasion I’ve been tempted to lug a monitor into the frontroom, but divorce is expensive. Now I have that same flexibility without needing additional power or wiring beyond the single cable to connect it to my system. Sure, I do wish that cable was a little more streamlined, but in the grand scheme of things that’s a fairly small hitch. The price may give you a bit of sticker shock, but just think of how much productivity you’ve wasted debating it. If you are a desiccated laptop user, you need this. Immediately. Lightweight, clear, and in HD, the DUEX Plus is a force multiplier for any laptop user. Whether you are coding websites, or simply filling forms on the Internet, this device makes it easier to get work done. —Ron Burke PROS Incredibly easy to mount Simple use – just pull and use True plug-and-play – it just works! Low-power IPS display is clear from all angles Orientation and autorotation support CONS Screen frame gets a little “bendy” if not folded at the base Asking price is a bit stiff Ron Burke is the Editor in Chief for Gaming Trend. Currently living in Fort Worth, Texas, Ron is an old-school gamer who enjoys CRPGs, action/adventure, platformers, music games, and has recently gotten into tabletop gaming. Ron is also a fourth degree black belt, with a Master’s rank in Matsumura Seito Shōrin-ryū, Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do, Universal Tang Soo Do Alliance, and International Tang Soo Do Federation. He also holds ranks in several other styles in his search to be a well-rounded fighter. Ron has been married to Gaming Trend Editor, Laura Burke, for 21 years. They have three dogs – Pazuzu (Irish Terrier), Atë, and Calliope (both Australian Kelpie/Pit Bull mixes). See below for our list of partners and affiliates:

Gregg Abbott, Beto O’Rourke Faceoff In Texas Governor Debate – MySA https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/gregg-abbott-beto-orourke-faceoff-in-texas-governor-debate-mysa/ On Friday, September 30, Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke will meet for a televised debate at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg. It’s the only debate the two leaders will have ahead of the November 8 election. It will be broadcast by Nexstar Media Group and televised in English and Spanish in every media market in the state. Nexstar is partnering with Graham Media’s KSAT-TV in San Antonio to make the debate available on channel 5 in the state’s third largest market. It’s an hour long and begins at 7 p.m. The debate will be hosted by KXAN-TV News anchor Britt Moreno and feature questions from a panel of journalists, including Sally Hernandez of KXAN-TV, Gromer Jeffers of The Dallas Morning News, and Steve Spriester of KSAT-TV San Antonio. The panel will pose questions to each candidate, including several submitted by voters in advance, focused on such topics as immigration, gun violence and abortion rights. In San Antonio, you can watch the debate at the following three watch parties:  The Angry Elephant: Bexar County Republican Women is hosting a watch party at the bar at 19314 US-281 #107, San Antonio, TX 78259. Bella Event Center: Bexar County Democratic Party is hosting a watch party at the event center at 1002 Donaldson Ave, San Antonio, TX 78228. The Well: Republican Men of San Antonio is hosting the viewing at the bar at 5539 UTSA Boulevard, San Antonio, TX 78249.

As Adventure Travel Explodes, Guides Say Goodbye To The Dirtbag Life – Backpacker – Backpacker Magazine https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/as-adventure-travel-explodes-guides-say-goodbye-to-the-dirtbag-life-backpacker-backpacker-magazine/ “], “filter”: { “nextExceptions”: “img, blockquote, div”, “nextContainsExceptions”: “img, blockquote”} }” Mike Kmit didn’t always have his sights set on becoming a full-time outdoor guide. Fresh out of business school in 2017, he was juggling two part-time jobs as a night camp instructor at the Phoenix Zoo and as a footwear specialist at the REI store in Tempe, Arizona “I had a coworker at REI who worked as a guide and he always had exciting tales about the gig,” said Kmit. His interest piqued, he signed up for a wilderness first responder class with NOLS and soon landed a job leading day hiking, biking, and rafting trips out of Scottsdale for local outfitter Arizona Outback Adventure (AOA), ”  “I was hired, largely, to smile and point out waterfalls while the senior guides handled most of the real guiding,” he said. “I didn’t know it at the time, but my training would be short and went like this: Come along as a guest for two training trips, learn all you can, and then fly, little birdie!” Five years later, guiding is Kmit’s day to day. He now leads backpacking and camping adventures as a full-time multi-day interpretive guide with REI Experiences.  In 2020, 160.7 million Americans ages six and over participated in at least one outdoor activity—a total of 7.1 million more participants than in 2019, according to the Outdoor Industry Association. As more and more novices venture outside, guiding them has become big business. REI in particular saw a more than 60 percent increase over the last 12 months for its REI Experiences offerings, a growing roster of 124 multiday adventure travel trips led by professional local guides around the U.S.  As the business has grown, so have opportunities for guides. After REI acquired AOA in 2019 to grow its guide and trip capacity, Kmit says his life as a guide completely changed. Up until that point, he scrambled for consistent hours, scraped by on entry-level pay, and played it safe on backcountry adventures because of his limited health insurance coverage.  Post-acquisition, REI changed its pay format from a daily rate to an hourly rate to gain a competitive edge in a tight job market. Kmit’s upgraded gig guaranteed a 16-hour workday and overtime, which adds up quickly. To boot, guides received health insurance with an HSA option and they became eligible for paid vacation and sick time, a 401k plan, annual bonuses, and even sabbaticals—all the benefits of a quality, well-balanced occupation. He was no longer living the dirtbag lifestyle. Mike Kmit at Utah’s Delicate Arch “[Before guiding with REI], I remember feeling like it was a privilege to be doing the work I do,” said Kmit. “But that’s not to say you shouldn’t be making a decent living—especially when you’re responsible for keeping people safe in the backcountry and in potentially life-threatening situations.” Kmit’s story mirrors many US-based guides’ paths into the industry—a journey that demands grueling hours of work, technical know-how, and life-saving wilderness skills (built over many tireless years in the field). Colby Brokvist, an expedition leader, guide, trainer, and author of The Professional Guide’s Handbook, says leveling up to full-time work, or even leading global expeditions, requires an additional tier of experience, leadership, and professionalism in the guiding world. “It’s easy to go out there and lead a river rafting trip or a top-rope climb for a day—but it’s not until [the guides] have long-term wilderness experience that they reach the heart of guiding: The real-life leadership, team, and risk management, and operations and logistics execution,” said Brokvist. “These sorts of things require operating at a higher level and come with more experience, training, and bigger knowledge base.” Both Kmit and Brokvist also attest to the fact that guiding is a job of many jobs.  Not only are they providing an entertaining and awe-inspiring experience in the wilderness; They also take on the job of leader, role model, coach, environmental teacher, and literal lifesavers.  “Every guide has different skills, stories, and passions they bring with them to work every day,” said Kmit. “If [travelers] want to hone their backpacking or camping skills, or learn more about flora, fauna, geology, indigenous cultures, and other elements of the natural world—guides will be able to speak to those things. You walk away from a trip not just loving a place, but feeling a depth of connection you wouldn’t get by merely showing up and reading a few signs.” In his book, Brokvist describes one of many roles that guides must play as “The Interpreter.” This role requires guides to develop curiosity among travelers by helping people think more deeply about the places that they’re in. “Being the Interpreter means guides can provide insight and commentary along trips that focus on things like responsible visitation and conservation, social empowerment, and amplifying local voices. Guides can help connect the guests with local stories—whether they be ecological, cultural, social, economic—to build deeper connections with the people and the places and the wildlife that they’re visiting with.” The market for guides may only be growing, too. In addition to multiday adventure trips, REI also continues to host day trips and educational programming in 14 cities to teach and help people sharpen their outdoor skill sets for activities like camping, cycling, paddling, and climbing. Mark Seidl, REI Experiences divisional vice president, says the company has big goals for meeting and driving demand for multiday adventure travel trips, tours, and rentals; the goal, he says, is to get 3 million people outside every year. The company also recognizes that the quality and output of its team of thousands of guides remain a major reason for their success. “We believe the guide is the product and they are the most important part of the customer experience. REI is committed to ensuring we attract and retain the best guides in the industry—whether they are seasoned or just starting their career—and our benefits and pay reflect this intention.” As interest in guided outdoor adventures continues to explode, outfitters like REI have their work cut out for them to continue attracting and hiring high-quality guides fit for leading groups into the wilderness. “What used to be a dirtbag summer hustle has evolved into a year-round respectable gig with long-term desirability in pay, benefits, and quality of life,” said Kmit. “There’s now an opportunity to view guiding in a professional light.”

Business News | Insidenova.com – Inside NoVA https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/business-news-insidenova-com-inside-nova-5/ The Business Voice is produced in partnership with the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce In its fifth decade, Great American Restaurants isn’t slowing down. Instead, it’s launching two new concepts and expanding on a third in a large complex on Leesburg Pike in Tysons. The successful restaurant group knows what works, but it continues to push itself in new directions in its ques… Virginia’s new Economic Resilience and Recovery Program aimed at addressing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic will give Northern Virginians a new tool in helping get back to work. As businesses shut down, unemployment rose and people stayed home due to COVID-19, nonprofit organizations found themselves in a tenuous position. They faced an increased need for their services while sources for funding became uncertain. Four area nonprofits shared with The Business Voice h… In February, only about 5% of the nation’s workforce performed their jobs remotely, according to statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau. By mid-June, that number had jumped to 62%. With all that’s changed, two things remain the same: the people committed to doing good in and for our community, and your Chamber’s commitment to recognizing and celebrating them. The efforts of these individuals, businesses, and nonprofits mean a lot to all of us, so we asked a few of the … In June, at its annual Greater Washington Good Business Awards, the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce honored four individuals for their purposeful and outstanding community leadership. Here we offer you the opportunity to get to know the Lifetime Achievement Honoree, F. Kevin Reynolds, … Read more When Navy veteran Brad Halsey worked for the Stanford Research Institute, now SRI International, in the early 2000s, he noticed that, while researchers were doing good work for the military, none of that research and technology was going to the battlefield. Meanwhile, U.S. forces were being … Why is it important to get a business education? That’s an easy question for the new dean of the George Mason University School of Business. Matt McQueen, Chief Communications and Engagement Officer at Peraton, began his year as Chair of the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce in June. The Business Voice talked with him about his vision for the Chamber, its biggest challenges and opportunities, and how working in a funeral home… Before you take off for summer vacation, don’t forget to pack (or download!) one or two of these 10 terrific books on leadership. Each comes highly recommended by a top business leader in our region, and all are guaranteed to provide unique insights and resources for seasoned leaders.  Real-time social media posts from local businesses and organizations across Northern Virginia, powered by Friends2Follow. To add your business to the stream, email cfields@insidenova.com or click on the green button below. Most Popular Articles on InsideNoVa

Remarks By President Biden At The White House Conference On Hunger, Nutrition, And Health – The White House https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/remarks-by-president-biden-at-the-white-house-conference-on-hunger-nutrition-and-health-the-white-house/ Ronald Reagan Building Washington, D.C. 10:27 A.M. EDT   THE PRESIDENT:  Jimmieka, she — please, sit down.  Sit down.  (Laughter.)  She’s awful good, isn’t she?  She was really good.  Jimmieka, thank you for joining us and — for this historic Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health.   Before I begin, though, I — speaking of health, you all have been reading and hearing about the hurricane and — Hurricane Ian and its impact it’s going to have on our fellow Americans down in Florida.    Yesterday, I spoke with Governor DeSantis for some time — my team has been in constant contact with him from the very beginning — and the mayors of Tampa, St. Pete’s, and Clearwater.   And my message has been absolutely clear — is that we are on alert and in action.  We’ve approved every request Florida has made for temporary assistance, emergency assistance, long-term assistance that I’ve received.    We discussed what we have done to prepare for the hurricane.  That includes dispatching hundreds of FEMA personnel and activating thousands of National Guard members.  I have also developed the search and rescue teams — and deployed them from multiple federal agencies.  And they’re already on the ground and ready to help as we speak.   FEMA pre-positioned millions of — literally millions of liters of water, millions of meals, and hundreds of generators.  We have scheduled everything we can possibly do. And we think, and so do the mayors and the governor, that — and we’ve had — put up shelters — they’re ready.   We’re not sure exactly where it’s going to hit, but we’ve — pretty — it’s getting pretty clear exactly where it’s going to hit.   I made it clear to the governor and the mayors that the federal government is ready to help in every single way possible.    And I want to repeat what I said yesterday to the people of Florida: This storm is incredibly dangerous, to state the obvious.  It’s life threatening.  You should obey all warnings and directions from emergency officials.  Don’t take anything for granted.  Use their judgment, not yours.  Evacuate when ordered.  Be prepared.  The storm warnings are real.  The evacuation notices are real.  The danger is real.    And when the storm passes, the federal government is going to be there to help you recover.  We’ll be there to help you clean up and rebuild, to help you get — Florida get moving again.  And we’ll be there at every step of the way.  That’s my absolute commitment to the people of the state of Florida.  (Applause.)    And if you’ll forgive me, I want to add one more warning.  That’s a warning to the oil and gas industry executives: Do not — let me repeat — do not — do not use this as an excuse to raise gasoline prices or gouge the American people.  (Applause.)    The price of oil has stayed relatively low.  It kept going down.  The price of gas should be going down as well.   My experts inform me that production of only about 190,000 barrels a day has been impacted by this storm thus far.  That’s less than 2 percent of the United States’ daily production impacted for a very short period of time.   This small, temporary storm impact on oil production provides no excuse — no excuse for price increases at the pump.  None.   If gas companies try to use this storm to raise prices at the pump, I will ask officials to look into whether price gouging is going on.  America is watching.  The industry should do the right thing.  As a matter of fact, they should move more quickly now to bring down the price at the pump because gasoline is down — the price of gasoline is down a great deal.  There’s too much of a delay between the price of barrel of ga- — of gas being pro- — oil and the price of gasoline at the pump.   Now to why we’re all here for this — on this historic day: The Secretary of Agriculture said everything, so I’m leaving.  (Laughter.)  You really did.  So I apologize to you for any repetition that may occur here.    But all kidding aside, you know, it’s been over 50 years, to state the obvious — you all know it well — since President Nixon convened the original White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health.   And the single — that single conference and the laws that inspired it — it inspired led a transformational change that has helped millions of Americans live healthier lives for generations.    Since that time, advances in research and medicine have taught us so much more about nutrition and health.   And today, I’m convening this conference again because I believe we can use these advances to do even more to make America stronger and a healthier nation.  And so many of you know so much about this as well, and you’re committed.   And I want to thank all of you here, including bipartisan elected officials like Representative McGovern, Senator Braun, Senator Booker, Representative — Jackie, are you here?  Where’s Jackie?  I didn’t think she was — she wasn’t going to be here — to help make this a reality.  And thanks to Senator Stabenow, Representative DeLauro for their leadership.    And here today we have advocates and activists — José Andrés — you’ve heard of him, haven’t you?  (Applause.)  La- — last time we hung out on the Ukrainian border in Poland.  And leaders of business, labor, agriculture, faith, and philanthropy and — to achieve ambitious goals that I know we can do if we work together — I really do know we can do this: End hunger in this country by the year 2030 and lower the toll — (applause) — lower the toll that diet-related diseases takes on for too many Americans.   This goal is within our reach.  Just look at how far we’ve come on child poverty.   Thirty years ago, as was referenced, 1 in 4 children lived below the poverty line.  Today, 1 in 20 live below the poverty line.  So I know we can take — tackle hunger as well.  And I’ve released a national strategy to meet that bold goal.  The strategy that — has three key — three key principles.   First, help more Americans — I’ll say this again — help more Americans access the food that will keep their families nourished and healthy.  A lot of food deserts out there.   Second, give folks the option and information they need to make healthy dietary choices.   Thirdly, help more Americans be physically active.  People want to be; lots of times of times there’s no places to go to be active from where they live.   The good news is that we’ve already been laying a strong foundation for this work.   Soon after I came to office, I signed what was called the American Rescue Plan into law.  It helped put food on the table and keep a roof over the heads of millions of American families.  It helped our economy create nearly 10 million new jobs — most jobs created in that timeframe in American history.  We kept a pri- — a key price of — of the — a piece of the American Rescue Plan is the expanded Childcare Tax Credit.  (Applause.) Where is she?  The gentlewoman from Connecticut, I —   Overwhelmingly, working families used the Child Tax Credit to buy food and other basic needs for their families.  And it helped cut child poverty by nearly 50 percent in the United States — 50 percent.  (Applause.)  And it cut food insecurity for families by 26 percent.  (Applause.)   Look, folks, people are constantly looking at federal programs to see which ones are working and which ones are ineffective.   Well, during the pandemic, we had a real-world example right in front of us.   The expanded Childcare Tax Credit is one of the most effective programs we’ve ever seen.  And that’s why my national strategy calls on Congress to expand the Child Credit permanently.  (Applause.)  Permanently.  We got to do it.  (Applause.)  We tried.  We couldn’t get it done the first time.  We’ll get it done this time.  (Applause.)   At the same time, I remain committed to protecting workers’ rights and fair wages and collective bargaining, including workers who grow, produce, and process our food; who transport it to grocery stores — (applause) — who stock the grocery shelves and — so they too can afford to feed their families.   Look, folks, my strategy would also make permanent the Ameri- — an American Rescue Plan program that has made sure families, including over 30 million children, had money to buy groceries into the summer months so kids don’t go hungry when school isn’t in session. It sounds silly for a person to hear that who doesn’t have a child, but full school programs — food programs do a lot.  During the summer months, things change.   Within the next 10 years, my plan, as was already referenced, would make at least 9 million more children eligible for free school meals — a major first step for free meals for every single student.  (Applause.)   And we’re also supporting schools so they can cook more meals from scratch, purchase more food from local farmers and ranchers.  (Applause.)  And this will mean kids will have healthier meals, and we’ll strengthen rural economies at the same time.   You heard from Senator — from Secretary Vilsack.  “Senator.”  Excuse me, I demoted you.  (Laughter.)  All kidding aside, he’s doing a hell of a job.  Earlier — (applause) — I not only thank him for leading on this iss- — he knows a great deal about it and he cares passionately about this issue.   The national strategy recognizes the critical role that nutrition plays in our health and our healthcare system, and it acknowledges that we give — we have to give families the tools to keep them healthy.   How many of you here are — are medical people involved in research?  You know, almost every single — almost every single discipline, from cancer to heart disease on down the line, are finding out it’s affected...

PHOTOS: CVC All-Inclusive Sports Day With Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022 – The News-Herald https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/photos-cvc-all-inclusive-sports-day-with-empower-sports-sept-28-2022-the-news-herald/ Photos from CVC All-Inclusive Sports Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, by Steve Hare. Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity) Photos from the CVC All-Inclusive Sport Day with Empower Sports, Sept. 28, 2022, at West Geauga High School (Steve Hare – Ohio Varsity)

‘PUBG’ Creator’s Next Project Is An Open Source Metaverse For Everyone – The Washington Post https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/pubg-creators-next-project-is-an-open-source-metaverse-for-everyone-the-washington-post/ Brendan “PlayerUnknown” Greene, the creator of “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds” (commonly known as “PUBG”) has embarked on a metaverse project called Artemis. Greene revealed new details about Artemis in Hit Points, a newsletter by video game journalist Nathan Brown. In 2019, the developer announced a new project after leaving the PUBG team: “Prologue,” an open-world survival game on a massive, 40-square-mile map. In Tuesday’s edition of Hit Points, Greene told Brown that “Prologue” will ultimately be a tech demo for the even more ambitious Artemis, an Earth-size virtual sandbox. Companies in the tech world have expressed their ambitions to build the metaverse, the hypothetical next iteration of the internet that technologists surmise will be less like the text-based internet we have now, and closer to a digitized version of the real world. And Greene’s vision of the metaverse is a world owned and shared by everybody. PlayerUnknown Productions, the Amsterdam-based studio Greene founded to develop “Prologue” and Artemis, sounds more like a research and development lab than a game developer. Greene told Hit Points the staff includes nuclear physicists and mathematicians — decidedly not the sort of workers you might typically find on a video game team. But Artemis isn’t really a game in a traditional sense. Greene described it as a decentralized interactive world where the inhabitants are free to make or play whatever they wish. “I’m quite zealous about this,” Greene said. “It has to be made a certain way. The only way this exists is if it’s made for everyone, and it’s not made for money.” It’s a big vision that requires skilled management, which is why Greene brought on former Ubisoft Massive managing director David Polfeldt to the PlayerUnknown team as a senior adviser. The technology to create something like Artemis does not even exist yet. Making a 1:1 scale virtual Earth with thousands of people exploring its fully realized biomes is, currently, an impossible task. The tools for crafting a metaverse mirror of Earth don’t exist yet, at least on a scale that is practical. That is why PlayerUnknown Productions has been singularly devoted to building a game engine, Melba, which will be propped up by machine learning. Building Artemis, Greene said, would require an absurd amount of labor for human engineers, but it may be doable for an AI capable of churning out an entire planet’s worth of trees, plants, valleys, rivers and mountains at a relentless pace. It may also be able to populate Artemis with animals and even human NPCs that behave and interact in realistic ways — as long as the AI is built well and fed the right data. Greene told Hit Points that his studio has already filed several patent applications for some of the tech it has developed, and he shared a little about how it works. “We’ve created some new knowledge here: mapping terrain, populating it with trees and assets, inserting artist-made locations into that terrain,” Greene told Hit Points. “And that’s all done generatively, as you move through the world.” All of this is going to take a long time, about 10 to 15 years by Greene’s estimation. Polfeldt is optimistic about the project’s success and cited the team’s small staff as an advantage rather than a hurdle. To Polfeldt, it means the team can knock out the many objectives ahead of them — task by task — as they steadily march toward the white whale of a planet-size digital playground. Greene has remained open to using blockchain technology. Since anyone in Artemis can create whatever or do whatever they want, Greene said, they’ll need some way to verify proof of ownership or some sort of currency to exchange for providing a service. “We’re building a digital place,” Green said. “That has to have an economy, and it has to have systems at work. … But it’s not about, like, Chanel and Louis Vuitton. It’s some kid called AwesomePickle selling cool skins because he understands what people want.” The dream is for Artemis to be an open source world that anyone can modify with a decentralized ownership. All of Artemis’s inhabitants will have a stake, with PlayerUnknown Productions eventually fading into a “maintenance” role to make sure that things are running smoothly, according to Greene. It’s a place with a framework but “no real rules,” he said. Open-world games — even those with a limited scope and strictly controlled ownership relative to Artemis’s pitch — have already created some fascinating emergent moments, unplanned and often unforeseen by the developers. In 2007, a woman in New York City placed an ad on Craigslist offering sex in exchange for 5,000 gold in “World of Warcraft” to purchase an epic flying mount (the woman claimed to have found a client in a follow-up post). In 2012, the zombie apocalypse title “DayZ” inspired discussions on human nature as players chose to either band together or murder each other over cans of beans in the game’s cutthroat world. In 2005, a “World of Warcraft” glitch that acted like a viral epidemic forced the developer to briefly shut down the game to keep the “virus” from infecting all players — an incident later referenced by epidemiologists researching predictive modeling around covid-19. Greene referenced English computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web who also gave his creation away freely without copyrights or patents. More recently, Berners-Lee has been deeply critical of Silicon Valley giants controlling vast portions of the web and warning against a future he described as a “digital dystopia.” To that end, PlayerUnknown Productions is going to build Artemis — but Greene wants its inhabitants to determine what it will be. “We want to make our engine easy to mod, and to make it open source so everyone can participate,” Greene told Brown. “It won’t be PlayerUnknown’s Metaverse, just like it isn’t Tim Berners-Lee’s internet. It has to be owned by everyone.”

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Is Great, But It Won’t Make Me Play Cyberpunk 2077 – TheGamer https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/cyberpunk-edgerunners-is-great-but-it-wont-make-me-play-cyberpunk-2077-thegamer/ I’m not much of an anime head, as my colleagues constantly bemoan. I’ve seen most Studio Ghibli films, the first few series of Pokemon, and Death Note, but that’s it. I’m not going to watch 1,000 episodes of One Piece, and although Cowboy Bebop has been recommended to me time and time again, I still haven’t got around to watching it. But ten short episodes set in the Cyberpunk 2077 universe? Sure, I’ll give it a shot. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners was great. I enjoyed the second half much more than the first, but overall it was a really cool story propelled by great characters. The show explored concepts of losing your humanity as you augment your flesh with increasingly complicated bionics in interesting ways, and the central love story was as poignant as it was tragic. Gory fight scenes are full of unrealistic athletics, time-slowing gadgets, and more explosions than a Schwarzenegger flick. For an anime noob, it was perfect. On the other hand, we have Cyberpunk 2077. While I only played five to ten hours of CD Projekt Red’s RPG before I got bored and turned it off, I’ve read a lot about it. I’m aware that’s no substitute for playing the game, but everything I’ve read has turned me off it, and I’m not even talking about bugs. When it first launched (and was subsequently pulled from stores), I read about its childish views of sex (something Edgerunners sadly replicates), its useless skills, and the fact that Cyberware barely worked. You can only play by shooting your way through levels, there’s no place for hackers or any other roleplaying in Night City, no matter how hard you try. Since joining TheGamer nearly a year ago, I’ve read and edited countless articles about Cyberpunk 2077, and have therefore read up even more on the subject to provide useful and constructive advice. I’ve read about a world full of locked doors and buildings you can’t enter, racial stereotypes and poor-to-useless cosmetic upgrades. Sure, there are apparently some great characters, quests, and set pieces, but it’s clear to me this is not the game that will replicate the Edgerunners experience. I don’t care about getting David’s yellow jacket or spotting the Edgerunners references that have been patched into 2077, I want to upgrade myself with an Arasaka Exoskeleton so I look more like a Warhammer 40,000 Dreadnought than I do a man, become a metal monster and wreak havoc in Night City of my own accord. But that’s not an option for V, whose cyberware only buffs stats and grants abilities rather than giving her any cosmetic changes or significantly changing her playstyle. The only real physical upgrade is the Mantis Blades, which I’m told are useless when melee combat is rare and ineffective. While I’ve also been made aware that a cyberpsycho does wear a similar exoskeleton in the game, that’s not enough. What’s the cyberpunk genre without the risk of losing your humanity? Edgerunners tells that story perfectly, and while I don’t know how Johnny Silverhand gets to grips with his virtual life in V’s head, nothing tells me that 2077 will even attempt to tackle similar existential questions. From the outside, Cyberpunk 2077 looks all style and no substance. The character creator – which I did use in my short playthrough – is a prime example of this. You can match any genitals with either of the binary genders, but your voice is locked to being deep for a male V or high for a female. Everything is for show, to create a cool-looking world filled with edgy-looking people, but nothing goes deeper. Nothing is explored or analysed, none of the most interesting genre concepts used for anything more than epic set pieces. Maybe I’m wrong, and maybe Cyberpunk 2077 does a great job of embodying and interrogating cyberpunk ideas but it just so happens that nobody talks about that aspect of the game. But, at least from the outside, Edgerunners seems to achieve that better in its ten short episodes than 2077 does in its 100 hours of gameplay. Either way, I’m not going to waste my time in finding out. Next:

The Crypto World Is On Edge After A String Of Hacks – The New York Times https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/the-crypto-world-is-on-edge-after-a-string-of-hacks-the-new-york-times/ Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker

The US Dollar Is At A 20-Year High. A Good Thing? Depends. : The Indicator From Planet Money – NPR https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/the-us-dollar-is-at-a-20-year-high-a-good-thing-depends-the-indicator-from-planet-money-npr/ The mighty US dollar (Encore) Fred Tanneau/AFP via Getty Images Fred Tanneau/AFP via Getty Images Note: This episode originally ran in May 2022. Compared to other currencies around the world, the U.S. dollar is incredibly strong right now. In fact, the greenback is at its strongest in twenty years. But ‘strong’ in economics doesn’t necessarily imply good, nor does it imply bad. It depends on what and who we’re talking about. Today on the show, we’re revisiting a classic Indicator episode about the pros and cons of a strong dollar. Who wins and who loses? Music by Drop Electric. Find us: Twitter / Facebook / Newsletter. Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, PocketCasts and NPR One. For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Fast Company Shuts Website After Hack Sends ‘obscene’ Apple News Notifications – Reuters https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/fast-company-shuts-website-after-hack-sends-obscene-apple-news-notifications-reuters/ Sept 27 (Reuters) – U.S. business and media publication Fast Company said it shut down its website on Tuesday evening after the site was hacked and sent “obscene and racist” notifications to Apple users via the iPhone maker’s Apple News service. News publishers using the Apple News aggregation app can connect their digital publishing tools to Apple News to send push notifications to Apple customers who subscribe to the publisher’s channel. Fast Company said hackers broke into those publishing tools. Hackers sent two “obscene and racist push notifications” about a minute apart, Fast Company said in a tweet, adding it had suspended the Apple News feed until the situation was resolved. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com “We are investigating the situation and have suspended the feed & shut down FastCompany.com until we are certain the situation has been resolved,” the publication added. Fast Company’s website was down and the page displayed a 404 error when viewed by Reuters on Tuesday evening. In a subsequent tweet after the shutdown, Fast Company said that its content management system – software used by news outlets to publish and manage their stories – had been hacked to send the notifications. Apple News said in a tweet that it had disabled Fast Company’s channel. Fast Company said it had earlier suffered an “apparently related” hack of its website on Sunday afternoon, when similar language appeared on its home page, causing it to shut the site down for about two hours. Fast Company is owned by publishing firm Mansueto Ventures LLC. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Abinaya Vijayaraghavan and Akriti Sharma in Bengaluru and Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Editing by Neha Arora and Jamie Freed Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Hurricane Ian Makes Landfall In Southwest Florida As Category 4 Storm With 150-Mph Winds – CNN https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/hurricane-ian-makes-landfall-in-southwest-florida-as-category-4-storm-with-150-mph-winds-cnn/ Editor’s Note: Affected by the storm? Use CNN’s lite site for low bandwidth. You also can text or WhatsApp your Ian stories to CNN +1 332-261-0775. CNN  —  Hurricane Ian made landfall along the southwestern coast of Florida near Cayo Costa around 3:05 p.m. ET Wednesday with winds near 150 mph, making it a strong Category 4 hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is delivering a catastrophic trifecta of high winds, heavy rain and historic storm surge to the state and is set to cause significant power outages and flooding as it moves at a slow pace across central Florida over the next day or two. Hurricane Ian is tied for the strongest storm to make landfall on the west coast of the Florida peninsula, matching the wind speed of Hurricane Charley in 2004. Already, over a million Florida utility customers were without power as of 3:45 p.m., according to PowerOutage.us. Officials in Cape Coral and Punta Gorda reported significant impacts, and the storm surge set records for the highest water levels ever observed in Fort Myers and Naples. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida NOAA/AP A satellite image shows the eye of Hurricane Ian approaching the southwest coast of Florida on Wednesday, September 28. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Naples Police The streets of Naples, Florida, are flooded on Wednesday. City officials asked residents to shelter in place until further notice. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Pedro Portal/El Nuevo Herald/TNS/Abaca/Reuters Sailboats anchored in Roberts Bay are blown around in Venice, Florida, on Wednesday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Crystal Vander Weit/TCPalm/USA Today Network Melvin Phillips stands in the flooded basement of his mobile home in Stuart, Florida, on Wednesday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty Images A man walks where water was receding from Tampa Bay due to a negative storm surge on Wednesday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/AP Utility trucks are staged in a rural lot Wednesday in The Villages, a Florida retirement community. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Marco Bello/Reuters Traffic lights are blown by strong gusts of wind in Fort Myers, Florida, on Wednesday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Greg Lovett/The Palm Beach Post/USA Today Network Damage is seen at the Kings Point condos in Delray Beach, Florida, on Wednesday. Officials believe it was caused by a tornado fueled by Hurricane Ian. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Marco Bello/Reuters A TV crew broadcasts from the beach in Fort Myers on Wednesday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Shannon Stapleton/Reuters Highways in Tampa, Florida, are empty Wednesday ahead of Hurricane Ian making landfall. Several coastal counties in western Florida were under mandatory evacuations. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Wilfredo Lee/AP An airplane is overturned in Pembroke Pines, Florida, on Wednesday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP Zuram Rodriguez surveys the damage around her home in Davie, Florida, early on Wednesday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Ramon Espinosa/AP People play dominoes by flashlight during a blackout in Havana, Cuba, on Wednesday. Crews in Cuba have been working to restore power for millions after the storm battered the western region with high winds and dangerous storm surge, causing an islandwide blackout. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Chris O’Meara/AP Workers board up windows on the University of Tampa campus on Tuesday, September 27. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Yamil Lage/AFP/Getty Images People walk through a flooded street in Batabano, Cuba, on Tuesday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Chris O’Meara/AP Southwest Airlines passengers check in near a sign that shows canceled flights at the Tampa International Airport on Tuesday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Ramon Espinosa/AP Maria Llonch retrieves belongings from her home in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, on Tuesday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel via AP Traffic builds along Interstate 4 in Tampa on Tuesday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters A man carries his children through rain and debris in Pinar del Rio on Tuesday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters People drive through debris in Pinar del Rio on Tuesday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Joe Raedle/Getty Images Frederic and Mary Herodet board up their Gulf Bistro restaurant in St. Pete Beach, Florida, on Tuesday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Yamil Lage/AFP/Getty Images People stand outside a flooded warehouse in Batabano on Tuesday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images NASA’s Artemis I rocket rolls back to the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Tuesday. The launch of the rocket was postponed due to the impending arrival of Hurricane Ian. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida NASA via AP Hurricane Ian is seen from the International Space Station on Monday, September 26. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Yamil Lage/AFP/Getty Images A Cuban family transports personal belongings to a safe place in the Fanguito neighborhood of Havana on Monday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Shannon Stapleton/Reuters Local residents fill sandbags in Tampa on Monday to help protect their homes from flooding. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Adalberto Roque/AFP/Getty Images A family carries a dog to a safe place in Batabano on Monday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP People wait in lines to fuel their vehicles at a Costco store in Orlando on Monday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Mike Lang/USA Today Network Ryan Copenhaver, manager of Siesta T’s in Sarasota, Florida, installs hurricane panels over the store’s windows on Monday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Kevin Morales/AP A woman takes photos while waves crash against a seawall in George Town, Grand Cayman, on Monday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Yamil Lage/AFP/Getty Imagaes A man helps pull small boats out of Cuba’s Havana Bay on Monday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Gregg Newton/AFP via Getty Images Shelves are empty in a supermarket’s water aisle in Kissimmee, Florida, on Monday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Martha Asencio-Rhine/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Press Wire Cathie Perkins, emergency management director in Pinellas County, Florida, references a map on Monday that indicates where storm surges would impact the county. During a news conference, she urged anyone living in those areas to evacuate. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida NOAA/NASA This satellite image, taken Monday at 1 p.m. ET, shows Hurricane Ian near Cuba. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Andrew West/USA Today Network Sarah Peterson fills sandbags in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, on Saturday, September 24. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Andrew West/USA Today Network Besnik Bushati fills gas containers at a gas station in Naples on Saturday. The station had only premium gas that morning. “The storm surge is very significant. We’re seeing cars and boats float down the street. We’re seeing trees nearly bent in half,” Frank Loni, an architect from California staying in Fort Myers Beach for the storm, said midday Wednesday. “There’s quite a bit of chaos on the streets.” Water levels in Fort Myers have risen more than 6 feet over the past seven hours and still rising as strong winds continue to push water from the Gulf of Mexico ashore, according to CNN Meteorologist Brandon Miller. “I’ve been here since the mid-70s, this is actually – by far – the worst storm I have ever seen,” Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson told CNN’s Jake Tapper. The Collier County Sheriff’s Office, south of Fort Myers, reported people being trapped in their homes, according to the department’s post on Facebook. The Sheriff’s Office said it’s in “call triage mode” and getting numerous calls of people trapped by water. “Some are reporting life threatening medical emergencies in deep water. We will get to them first. Some are reporting water coming into their house but not life threatening. They will have to wait. Possibly until the water recedes,” the post read. To make matters worse, the Lee County’s 911 system is down and calls are be rerouted to Collier County Sheriff, according to the post. “You can’t imagine the calls,” the post read. The Olde Naples Seaport, a community of condos that overlooks the Naples Bay in southern Florida, has been consumed by storm surge, according to video shot by Graham Pederson. Pederson experienced knee-high water trying to escape. In another video shot from the second floor, wind is seen whipping trees and trucks nearly submerged by the water. Pederson retreated to the second floor to wait out the storm, his brother-in-law Kyle Wendel told CNN. FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis requested President Joe Biden approve a major disaster declaration for all 67 counties in the state due to Hurricane Ian, his office said in a news release. DeSantis is also requesting that President Biden grant FEMA the authority to provide 100% federal cost share for debris removal and emergency protective measures for the first 60 days from ...