Anna Garraway

5 Reasons To Visit Naladhu Private Island Resort – Pursuitist https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/5-reasons-to-visit-naladhu-private-island-resort-pursuitist/ Naladhu Private Island Resort is one of the most exclusive Maldivian resorts there is. With only 20 private residences, this is the kind of place you come to relax and see no one. Or get out and explore and see everyone, if you prefer. Naladhu shares its home with Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort and Anantara Veli Maldives Resort (currently undergoing a renovation of its own). This means that Naladhu guests have walking or private boat transfer access to all of their facilities. The same is not true in reverse since Naladhu is a private island reserved for just those staying here. It’s the kind of retreat that many dream of with the option for direct beach access plus a private pool overlooking the sea. The houses range in size from 3,200 sq ft to the 6,500+ sq ft two-bedroom residence. Here are five of the top reasons to visit Naladhu Private Island Resort in the coming year. The houses Following a total renovation during a six-month closure, the houses (named for a Maldivian flower or plant) look better than ever. They traded their more colonial look for a more modern twist on beach decor. The update with lighter colors is the work of New York-based designer Yuji Yamazaki. A main focus of the redesign was creating more spaces for guests to sit and relax. This includes by the window, by the pool, in the pool-facing tub or even on a day bed. Swinging day beds on the terrace are especially popular. The sky blue water in the distance is the highlight with the shimmering reflection of the private pool illuminating the rooms here. Expect beautifully dressed beds with pillows as long as your body and duvets as soft as a cloud. Air conditioning is swift (and necessary in this warm weather). There’s a ceiling fan if you want an extra boost. If you have an ocean-facing house, the sound of the waves crashing is quite unusual. While these do not have direct beach access, many appreciate them for the view of the waves. Beach villas have direct access to the sand. On the terrace are cushioned day beds, a relaxing swing and a cabana ideal for dining or working in the breeze. The pools here are much larger than a standard plunge pool. The bathroom has separate rooms for the shower and toilet. It also has his and hers vanities, a chaise longue, makeup table and outdoor shower. Each house has an external door that leads to a small patio with a second door that goes into the living quarters. It’s like your own private residence in the midst of tropical vegetation. Inside, an enormous foyer features a desk, bar area with minibar, wine fridge and coffee station. The walk-in closet adds ample space to unpack. It has extras like flip-flops to wear around the island and a souvenir beach bag to take home. The most exotic is the two-bedroom pool residence, which books up quickly with families and couples traveling together. It consists of two magnificent structures connected by an outdoor pool and living space. The residence has its own 60-foot private beach behind closed doors. It also has a small kitchen, large dining area and duplex bedroom space. The cuisine Naladhu has its own dining room, The Living Room, which has a no-menu concept. Well, in reality, it does have a menu. But, it just a guide for some of the dishes the staff can prepare. In reality, the menu is unlimited. Guests can ask for whatever they want, whenever they want (breakfast is available 24 hours a day). Of course, certain things may require advance notice to have them available. There is no limit to what is possible (for those willing to foot the bill). Many want suggestions, and that’s exactly what the lengthy menu and talented culinary team are able to do. One of the most romantic and exotic meals you can have here is the floating breakfast. A team of staff arrives with a bevy of delicious breakfast plates (from the menu you designed) at the time of your choosing. They set it up in the pool on a floating tray. You submerge yourself in the water to indulge in breakfast in the warm sun with a glass of Champagne. It’s a magical experience that you won’t find just anywhere. Guests can dine underneath the main dining pavilion facing the pool and beach or beneath private canopies in the sand. Almost every evening, guests can be seen enjoying private beachfront barbecues. These are a signature of the resort with bespoke menus enjoyed around tiki torches tropical flowers. Three resorts in one Elsewhere in the resort complex are other dining options like Sea.Fire.Salt, an al fresco grill restaurant serving the freshest seafood, meat and pasta among other things. Aqua has fresh salads, pizza and sandwiches poolside. Both of these are at Anantara Dhigu, a quick water shuttle ride across the bay. Fushi Cafe there serves a decadent breakfast buffet facing the water offering Maldivian specialties. It also has sushi, Indian cuisine, smoothies and juices made to order, and other international dishes. Baan Huraa is the Thai restaurant on stilts over the water serving fragrant and delicious food. It’s a guest favorite. Anantara Veli has a new small plate dining concept at Dhoni Bar poolside. Cumin serves breakfast and dinner with a menu that reflects the spices and flavors of the Indian Ocean. Origami is the Japanese restaurant serving freshly prepared sushi, izakaya menus and also teppanyaki-prepared dishes. There is so much variety that it’s hard to go hungry here. Naladhu has its own beautiful beachfront pool and private stretch of sand, but of course guests can explore the other two resorts in the trio, too. On Naladhu island itself, guests can use the private fitness center overlooking the pool. Just beyond is the stretch of sand where guests can dip their toes into the azure water. Water sport options include fishing, dolphin or sunset cruises, snorkeling, scuba diving and fitness classes. A treatment room is available at Naladhu for those that want spa services. Therapists can also bring massage tables to the private house There’s nothing better than listening to the sound of lapping waves while enjoying a massage on the terrace. This is also where the welcome massage for all guests take place, a 15-minute, neck-and-shoulder rub that alleviates the stress of long-haul flying. Guests can also use the impressive spa at Anantara Dhigu, which counts overwater villas among its treatment rooms. Cooking classes and Anantara’s signature Dining by Design concept, where guests can choose where they want to eat (ask for a meal on a private island away from the main resort) and what they want, are also popular with guests. It’s the ultimate in romantic experiences. The staff Like the neighboring Anantara properties, there is something special about the staff here. And at Naladhu, it’s always a step above with name recognition and recollection of personal preferences (your favorite drink, the way you like your coffee, etc.) a hallmark. Each house is attended to by a Kuwaanu, which means storyteller in the Maldivian Dhivehi language. The Kuwaanu is available at any hour via text or phone call and can organize anything from restaurant or spa reservations to onsite activities and personal needs anywhere around the island. An onsite marine biologist helps to lead a variety of island efforts to reduce waste (eliminating single-use plastic entirely) and coordinate conservation programs. She can lead snorkeling tours of the area reefs, home to nearly 2,000 species of tropical fish and sea mammals. Her commendable efforts are helping the resort island lead the way in the overall destination’s efforts to be more sustainable to protect it for future generations. The resort is also working with a third party to work toward reducing plastic waste and marine plastic pollution. She also leads educational talks for guests. There are educational walks around the island to learn about the natural life it has, too. Guests can also book private sessions with her to learn more about coral preservation. If wellness is top of mind, guests can chat with the resort’s naturopath and nutritional wellness expert on hand. She can design a plan for their vacation (and when back home) on how to improve healthy living habits. This can include everything from sleep issues and digestive problems to weight management and blood sugar balance. The location One of the best features of this trio of properties is the ease of access to Male International Airport, the main gateway to the Maldives. Many resorts require taking an expensive sea plane flight, but Naladhu is in the South Malé Atoll, just a 30-minute speedboat ride from the international airport. Within an hour or so of landing, you could be on the arrival jetty of Naladhu where the staff are throwing rose petals before your feet as you walk to your vacation home. While you don’t see or hear the international airport (it is still quite a distance from the resort), the hassle of not knowing when your departure is until 24 hours before you leave (sea plane flight schedules are announced just one day before departure) can be avoided here. And after a long flight from overseas, the last thing that jet-lagged travelers want is to be taken via bus to a separate sea plane terminal and have to wait for yet another (hot) flight to the next resort. The location here is paramount to a swift entry to vacation mode. If you weren’t in love with the resort already, management decided to donate the old furniture following the renovation to the country’s only mental health hospital. This is the kind of place that makes you feel good before you get there, while in paradise and long after you’ve left.

Nebraska Vs. Indiana Live Updates Score, Results, Highlights, For Saturday’s NCAA Football Game – CBS Sports https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/nebraska-vs-indiana-live-updates-score-results-highlights-for-saturdays-ncaa-football-game-cbs-sports/ The Nebraska Cornhuskers have had a week off and are no doubt ready to get back on the field. The Cornhuskers and the Indiana Hoosiers will face off in a Big Ten battle at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday at Tom Osborne Field at Memorial Stadium. Neither team wants a repeat from their last game since each was dealt a considerable loss. Nebraska suffered a bitter defeat two weeks ago, failing to capitalize on an early lead against the Oklahoma Sooners. Nebraska took a serious blow against Oklahoma, falling 49-14. Nebraska was in a tough position by the half, with the score already sitting at 35-7. No one had a standout game offensively for Nebraska, but they got scores from WR Trey Palmer and QB Chubba Purdy. Meanwhile, IU was expected to have a tough go of it last week, and, well, they did. Things couldn’t have gone much worse for them as they lost 45-24 to the Cincinnati Bearcats. The Hoosiers were down 38-17 at the end of the third quarter, which was just too much to recover from. Indiana’s loss came about despite a quality game from RB Shaun Shivers, who punched in one rushing touchdown in addition to snatching one receiving TD. Shivers hadn’t helped his team much against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers two weeks ago, so this was a nice turnaround for him. The Cornhuskers are the favorite in this one, with an expected 5.5-point margin of victory. Neither team has fared well against the spread — they are 0-2, while IU are 0-3. The losses put Nebraska at 1-3 and the Hoosiers at a reciprocal 3-1. Two stats to keep in the back of your head while watching: Nebraska ranks 12th in the nation when it comes to rushing touchdowns, with 12 on the season. But IU enters the matchup with only two rushing touchdowns allowed, good for 13th best in the nation. We’ll see if their defense can keep the Cornhuskers’ running backs out of the end zone. Season Leaders passing C. Bazelak1171 YD, 7 TDS, 4 INTS C. Bazelak1171 YD, 7 TDS, 4 INTS C. Thompson995 YD, 5 TDS, 3 INTSC. Thompson995 YD, 5 TDS, 3 INTS rushing S. Shivers69 ATT, 320 YD, 3 TDSS. Shivers69 ATT, 320 YD, 3 TDS A. Grant82 ATT, 464 YD, 5 TDSA. Grant82 ATT, 464 YD, 5 TDS receiving C. Camper33 REC, 418 YD, 1 TDC. Camper33 REC, 418 YD, 1 TD T. Palmer28 REC, 323 YD, 1 TDT. Palmer28 REC, 323 YD, 1 TD See New Posts Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned See More

Incels In The Metaverse – The American Conservative https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/incels-in-the-metaverse-the-american-conservative/ Culture Incels in the Metaverse Don’t Worry, Darling seems confused about which world is a natural order and which a dangerous lie imposed by force. Olivia Wilde, Nick Kroll, and Chris Pine in ‘Don’t Worry, Darling’. (Warner Bros. via IMDb) Warning: The following contains major spoilers for the film Don’t Worry, Darling (2022). Jordan B. Peterson is in touch with his emotions. The emeritus professor of psychology first rose to internet stardom in a simpler time, when online clips of crazy left-wingers still just showed them throwing hissy fits on campus (not looting convenience stores en masse or burning cities to the ground). In the latest viral video, though, it’s Peterson himself who’s been reduced to tears. Right near the end of a 45-minute interview this week, British journalist Piers Morgan asked Peterson about recent comments by actress-turned-director Olivia Wilde. Wilde’s latest film, Don’t Worry, Darling, features a charismatic villain portrayed by Chris Pine. In a recent Q&A about the movie, Wilde explained that she had “based that character on this insane man, Jordan Peterson, who is this pseudo-intellectual hero to the incel community.” She described that community, further, as “disenfranchised, mostly white men, who believe they are entitled to sex from women…[who] believe that society has now robbed them—that the idea of feminism is working against nature, and that we must be put back into the correct place.” Wilde continued: “But this guy Jordan Peterson is someone that legitimizes certain aspects of their movement because he’s a former professor, he’s an author, he wears a suit, so they feel like this is a real philosophy that should be taken seriously.” “Is that you?” Morgan asked. “Are you the intellectual hero to these people?” Peterson answered flatly: “Sure, why not? People have been after me for a long time because I’ve been speaking to disaffected young men. What a terrible thing to do that is.” He took a long pause while fighting back tears, and then: I thought the marginalized were supposed to have a voice…. It’s very difficult to understand how demoralized people are, and certainly many young men are in that category. And you get these casual insults—“these incels”—what does that mean? These men, they don’t know how to make themselves attractive to women, who are very picky—and good for them; women, be picky. That’s your gift, man. Demand high standards from your men. Fair enough. But all these men who are alienated…they’re lonesome, and they don’t know what to do. And everyone piles abuse on them. I am not sure that “incels” as such really exist, but there is no doubt something very rotten in the way men and women interact today. Partly this is relational, a problem with the dynamics themselves; but it is also founded in the respective crises of men and women in the postmodern world, in misconceptions of identity and nature. Peterson belongs to a peculiar class of intellectuals—present on the right for as long as it has existed—who recognize the root of social ills in the failure to find meaning, but fail to grasp (or even ask) what a recovery of such meaning would look like in substance and practice. Peterson in particular has always been focused on the structures and processes of meaning, dating back to his early academic works. And so the object of his later thought has been something like a reified order. But it is also a minimal order: not the reconfiguration of human society into conformity with divine law; just the moral imperative to clean your room. Peterson, like Morgan, is a reactionary liberal: he hopes to restore some of the virtues of the premodern and early modern worlds without moving beyond or against the social and political arrangements of late modernity. If he wants to turn back the clock at all, it’s not by very much. When asked what he found admirable in England, he pointed to the common law, the tradition of free speech, and self-effacing humor. Maybe he doesn’t have all the answers. (He doesn’t.) But what real harm has Jordan Peterson done? If there is a genuine problem here, it’s hard to locate the fault with the professor. So it’s worth turning to Olivia Wilde—and to her very strange new film. Don’t Worry, Darling has drawn unfavorable comparisons to Get Out, the 2017 Jordan Peele flick that set off the current craze over social-commentary horror. Don’t Worry, Darling at least has this going in its favor: it achieves some modest success in its efforts at atmospheric horror, whereas Get Out wound up laugh-out-loud funny every time it reached for a scare. Wilde’s film is especially clever in its use of sound to that effect. But Get Out and its follow-ons have been bad not just because they fail to scare, and not just because they fail as stories, but because they are all remarkably heavy-handed, remarkably clunky works of far-left propaganda. On this front, Wilde outpaces the competition by a mile. Don’t Worry, Darling broadcasts like the product of a very troubled mind. It follows happy, carefree housewife Alice (portrayed by Florence Pugh) as she begins to ask unwelcome questions about her cartoonishly idyllic setup. Alice lives with her husband, Jack (Harry Styles), in a midcentury company town called Victory, California. Victory is run by Frank—Chris Pine’s Peterson-esque villain—the brilliant but mysterious head of an unidentified enterprise. Every day, the men drive off in beautiful cars to work at Victory Headquarters. The women ride a trolley into town to shop, expensing everything to their husbands’ accounts. They return home to cook, clean, and take care of other business. Those who have kids welcome them home off the school bus every afternoon. A series of events set off by Alice’s former friend Margaret, who lost her son in the desert beyond Victory and now seems to have lost her mind, causes Alice’s life to unravel. She draws first the attention and then the anger of the enigmatic Frank—who has Peterson’s charm, his habit of talking with his hands, a version of his soft Canadian English, and all the cunning brutality Wilde must imagine the professor to possess. He even speaks often, in a kind of lowbrow Peterson ripoff, of the need for men to choose order over chaos. Alice becomes his girlboss nemesis, intent on exposing the lie behind the seeming utopia of Victory. Pugh had an impressive understated-horror turn in Ari Aster’s masterful Midsommar (2019), so she ought to have had the chops for this kind of role. As Alice, though, she fell flat—equal parts unconvincing and unlikable. That wasn’t her fault. In the film’s third act, the reason for all the weirdness and inconsistency becomes clear: Wilde was building to a ridiculous final plot twist. Victory is a simulation. In the real world, Alice was a successful surgeon. She even had a smartphone. Jack was her deadbeat husband, poorly dressed with a patchy beard, who spent his days at home listening to podcasts. One day, when Alice refused to have sex with Jack after a 30-hour shift, he knocked her out and placed her in the simulation against her will. Frank, we learn, operates this whole virtual reality; the other men are all like Jack, and the women (with at least one exception) are all prisoners like Alice. It is a less-than-subtle commentary on the domestic oppression women supposedly endured up through the middle of the twentieth century. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about Wilde’s delusion is just how hackneyed it all is. Men are evil. Housewives are oppressed. The goods of family life are all illusory. This is no groundbreaking radicalism; it is what feminism always has been, and always will be. Subscribe Today Get weekly emails in your inbox But it’s also worth noting just how bleak is the vision of liberation Wilde offers: if only you could see beyond the veil of domesticity, you too could break into the world of 30-hour shifts and soul-crushing exhaustion. You, too, could find yourself tied to a sloppy bum—a man deprived of masculinity because he is deprived of a masculine society—who has all of the vices and none of the virtues of the men in the simulation. You, too, could live in a dark urban apartment instead of a beautiful suburban house. You, too, could hate your husband (who deserves it). You, too, could find yourself bizarrely mismatched, in one way or another, to every aspect of your life—disaffected, demoralized, and alienated, to use Peterson’s words. The great irony here is that Wilde seems confused about which world is the natural state of men and women and which is a dangerous lie imposed by force. In the end of Don’t Worry, Darling, Alice finds her way out of the illusion. We hear her, in the movie’s final moment, wake up and take one first, gasping breath in the real world. God willing, her creator may just one day do the same.

This Month Yongpi Is New To Its New Yion, Yongyoi Is An Unrelenting Shack – Game News 24 – Game News 24 https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/this-month-yongpi-is-new-to-its-new-yion-yongyoi-is-an-unrelenting-shack-game-news-24-game-news-24/ It seems to be considered one of these months to be a highly effective virtual statue, thanks to the long-lasting PS1 T-Rex tech demo. The demo was one of a kind, and Sony hardly forgot it. With the PS Stars loyalty program living in Asia, fanatics are making some cool discoveries (and few not so-cool ones), and this actual praise is passed on to any person who performs any post-operative service all through the month of October. This system is going live in many other territories beginning Oct 5th, so we could be in the same position as the T-Rex. T-Rex tech demo PS Stars collectible is scientifically correct. In line with a translation of the tweet posted by others on PlayStation Fanatic (with PushSquare), the collectible’s outline states a scienceally correct mini statue of the Tech Demo T. rex from the unique PlayStation. File Ps Beach man Oct Challenge: October Soar In October. Play All Video games PS4/PS5 (1/1)Rewards: Trex pic.twitter.com/C0cBEb08Ao DarkClong October 1, 2022 (@DarkClong) November 1, 2022 This time, it seems that you can simplest view the collectible from the PS app by using cell gadgets and equipped you will have an Asian PSN account. PS Stars are likely to be delivered in the US in the fifth of October, and in the third of October. Source

Decentralized Social (DESO) Outpaces Crypto Market And Surges 102% This Week Amid Integration With MetaMask – The Daily Hodl https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/decentralized-social-deso-outpaces-crypto-market-and-surges-102-this-week-amid-integration-with-metamask-the-daily-hodl/ A social media-focused altcoin is surging this week after the announcement of a new partnership with the popular crypto wallet MetaMask. Decentralized social media platform Decentralized Social (DESO) rallied to a weekly high of $11 today, marking a 102% increase from its seven-day low of $5.43 The 226th-ranked crypto asset by market cap has retraced since the weekly high, but it remains up nearly 40% in the past 24 hours, trading at $10.32 at time of writing. Despite the slight pullback, DESO continues to outperform all other crypto assets within the top 300 by market cap ranking. The Coinbase-backed layer-1 blockchain project aims to redefine the nature of social media applications by resolving scalability limitations as well as protecting users and content creators from centralized authorities. Decentralized Social’s new integration with MetaMask “paves the way for DeSo to become the cross-chain social layer for all Web 3.0,” according to a press release from the project. Explains DeSo founder Nader Al-Naji, “Existing blockchains cannot store content efficiently. It costs about $50 to store a 200-character Tweet on Ethereum and about fifteen cents to store it on Solana, Avalanche or Polygon. In contrast, DeSo is one ten-thousandth of a cent, making it the first blockchain capable of disrupting storage-heavy applications like social.” Decentralized Social has thus far operated in the Ethereum (ETH) ecosystem, but the project also plans to expand to Solana (SOL). Despite the gains this week, DESO remains down almost 95% from its all-time high of $198.68, which it hit in June of 2021. Don’t Miss a Beat – Subscribe to get crypto email alerts delivered directly to your inbox Check Price Action Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Telegram Surf The Daily Hodl Mix Check Latest News Headlines &nbsp Disclaimer: Opinions expressed at The Daily Hodl are not investment advice. Investors should do their due diligence before making any high-risk investments in Bitcoin, cryptocurrency or digital assets. Please be advised that your transfers and trades are at your own risk, and any loses you may incur are your responsibility. The Daily Hodl does not recommend the buying or selling of any cryptocurrencies or digital assets, nor is The Daily Hodl an investment advisor. Please note that The Daily Hodl participates in affiliate marketing. Featured Image: Shutterstock/eva cool

CPAC Backpedals On Pro-Russia Tweet As Some U.S. Conservatives Back Putin – The Washington Post https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/cpac-backpedals-on-pro-russia-tweet-as-some-u-s-conservatives-back-putin-the-washington-post/ Prominent Republicans are digging in against American support for Ukraine despite Russia’s threats to use nuclear weapons and evidence of mass graves and war crimes facilitated by Moscow. The Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday tweeted — and then hours later deleted — a message that called on Democrats to “end the gift-giving to Ukraine” while featuring a fluttering Russian flag. The tweet also referred to “Ukraine-occupied territories,” appearing to legitimize Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claims to annex provinces based on a referendum that the U.S. and allies view as illegal. CPAC chairman Matt Schlapp on Saturday said the tweet did not clear the normal approval process because he was traveling for a conference in Australia. “Due to my travel into a distant time zone it was never approved per usual,” he said in a text message. In a statement, CPAC expressed support for Ukraine but maintained opposition to American aid for the embattled country. “We must oppose Putin, but American taxpayers should not be shouldering the vast majority of the cost,” the statement said. “The tweet belittled the plight of the innocent Ukrainian people.” CPAC has repeatedly flirted with pro-Putin views in recent years, including hosting pro-Russian Hungarian prime minister Victor Orban at a Dallas conference in August. CPAC is not alone among American conservatives in opposing Ukrainian aid despite Putin’s invasion. Fox News host Tucker Carlson has alleged U.S. sabotage for leaks in a Russian gas pipeline to Europe, baseless claims that have earned him airtime on Russian state television. Former president Donald Trump also posted a message on his Truth Social platform offering himself as a negotiator for the conflict. At a Trump rally in Michigan on Saturday, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) reiterated her opposition to U.S. aid to Ukraine and said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should negotiate a peace settlement with Russia. “We have so many problems here at home, I cannot even think about sending our money over to fund a proxy war with Russia,” she said in an interview. “Zelensky doesn’t run the United States government. He is not our president, but for some reason Joe Biden bends over every single time. … The American people don’t care about that war over there.” At the Michigan rally, Trump suggested he could have prevented Putin from invading Ukraine. “That war would never ever have happened if I were president and it didn’t happen,” Trump said. Many Republicans have followed Trump’s lead in waffling on Putin, whom Trump avoided condemning and sided with over his own intelligence agencies in doubting Russian interference in the 2016 election. Relations with Ukraine became partisan during Trump’s first impeachment, after he tried to use U.S. aid to Ukraine to pressure Zelensky to announce an investigation into Biden and his son Hunter’s business dealings in the country.

Pitt Without Five Players For Georgia Tech Game – Sports Illustrated https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/pitt-without-five-players-for-georgia-tech-game-sports-illustrated/ The Pitt Panthers will miss five players in Week 5. PITTSBURGH — The Pitt Panthers will be without five players as they take on Georgia Tech in Week 5.  Pitt will not have left tackle Carter Warren, running back Rodney Hammond, quarterback Nick Patti, defensive end Dayon Hayes or center Owen Drexel against the Yellow Jackets. All four players are not dressed for the game.  Warren’s injury is believed to have occurred this week but the details are currently unknown. Branson Taylor will start at left tackle in Warren’s place. Hammond suffered an ankle injury in Week 1 and has not returned to the field. Patti was hurt the following week against Tennessee. He warmed up before the game but did not dress.  Hayes suffered a reported knee injury during the practice week before Western Michigan. He did not travel with the team and has not dressed since.  Drexel has sat since Week 2 with a leg injury.  Make sure you bookmark Inside the Panthers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage and so much more! Scroll to Continue Pitt Announces Tip-off Times, TV Designations for 2022-23 Season Diaz-Graham Twins Making Instant Impression on Pitt Coaches Konata Mumpfield, Kedon Slovis Connecting Through Common Ground at Pitt Pitt Won’t Hold Back vs. Athletic Georgia Tech QB Pitt Expecting Extra Intensity from Georgia Tech After Coaching Fire Vets Helped Pitt Build Best Roster of Jeff Capel Era Unprecedented Experience Strengthens This Year’s Pitt Panthers Follow Inside the Panthers on Twitter: @InsidePitt

College Football Scores, Schedule, NCAA Top 25 Rankings, Games Today: Georgia, Texas, LSU, Auburn In Action – CBS Sports https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/college-football-scores-schedule-ncaa-top-25-rankings-games-today-georgia-texas-lsu-auburn-in-action-cbs-sports/ See New Posts Pinned Georgia on the board  Late 2Q: Missouri 13, Georgia 3 Georgia caps a 52-yard drive with a 40-yard field goal from Podlesny to get on the board. Stetson Bennett is just 5 of 14 for 90 yards, and the Bulldogs still have only four first downs. Their average yards per play is just 4.9, and Kendall Milton has run for -1 yards on the two attempts aside from the 35-yarder on which he fumbled in the first quarter. Pinned Clemson gets a FG Late 2Q: Clemson 6, NC State 3 Clemson’s once-promising drive stalls and results in a 46-yard field goal from B.T. Potter that puts the Tigers ahead. It’s been a defensive slog thus far, marked by long drives ending in field goals, so any points are to be appreciated here. Wolfpack have run just 17 plays with 5:47 remaining in the first half. Pinned Georgia in trouble Mid 2Q: Missouri 13, Georgia 0 After two fumbles and three punts, Georgia is in deep trouble at Missouri. The Tigers came to play on the defensive side, and Brady Cook is dealing. Mizzou has negative yardage in the run game, bu the top-ranked Bulldogs haven’t done much on the ground either. You would think Georgia will cut out the sloppy turnovers and get it figured out, but it does not look like the No. 1 team in the country thus far. Pinned Longhorns! Texas 14, West Virginia 0 Texas is bouncing back nicely so far following its heartbreaking loss at Texas Tech last week. It’s an early two-possession lead for the Longhorns after this Ja’Tavion Sanders TD grab from *checks notes* Xavier Worthy. Quinn Ewers won’t be back until next week, but Steve Sarkisian is getting creative in the meantime.  Pinned Georgia sluggish End 1Q: Missouri 3, Georgia 0 Georgia entered as 28-point favorites at Missouri, but the Bulldogs are looking sluggish so far. Three punts and a fumble on four possessions as Mizzou takes a lead into the second quarter. Stetson Bennett is just 1 for 4, and the only explosive play Georgia had in the quarter — a 35-yard run from Kendall Milton — resulted in a fumble. Seems the ‘Dawgs are playing about like they did in an uninspiring win over Kent State last week. Pinned Surprising start Early 2Q: Auburn 14, LSU 0 The Auburn offense has found life with Robby Ashford at quarterback. He’s 5 of 10 for 162 yards and two touchdowns early as Auburn leads against LSU. Jordan-Hare seems lit for this one, despite all the turmoil surrounding Bryan Harsin. We’ll see if they can sustain it, but his has been impressive so far from an Auburn team that entered as 8-point underdogs. Pinned Mississippi State crushes Texas A&M Final: Mississippi State 42, Texas A&M 24 Mississippi State took Texas A&M to the woodshed in a game that will almost certainly push the Bulldogs into the rankings, and the Aggies out. Quarterback Will Rogers threw for 329 yards and 3 touchdowns in another huge effort, with Rara Thomas exploding for 134 yards. The Aggies were miserable offensively again with zero first-half points. Receiver Moose Muhammad found some consistency in the second half, but it was primarily in garbage time. Mississippi State’s 4-1 start to the season is the best since Dak Prescott led the Bulldogs to the No. 1 overall ranking in 2014.  Pinned Alabama pulls away in the fourth Final: No. 2 Alabama 49, No. 20 Arkansas 26 The Razorbacks had a chance heading into the fourth quarter down five, but the Crimson Tide got 72-yard and 76-yard touchdown runs from star running back Jahmyr Gibbs, along with a 3-yard plunge from Jase McClellan to pull away. While they did get the win and cover on the road, starting quarterback Bryce Young suffered an injured shoulder late in the second quarter. Jalen Milroe came in and threw for 65 yards, tossed one touchdown, rushed for 91 yards and scored one touchdown on the ground. It’ll be interesting to what happens at the quarterback position this week heading into the matchup vs. Texas A&M. Pinned Deacs rebound Final: Wake Forest 31, Florida State 21 Wake Forest rebounds from the agony of last week’s loss to Clemson by knocking off previously unbeaten Florida State 31-21. There was more defense in this game than you’d expect from these teams. A couple of missed field goals hampered FSU’s momentum. Justice Ellison led the way for Wake Forest with 114 yards on the ground and a touchdown. Pinned Kansas shocks Iowa State Final: Kansas 14, Iowa State 11 Kansas football used a strong defensive effort to shock the Cyclones and move to 5-0 for the first time since 2009. Star quarterback Jalon Daniels was held to just 102 total yards in his fifth game, but the defense came up in a huge way. The Cyclones mustered just 26 yards rushing on 30 carries. Iowa State’s kicker went just 1 of 4 on kicks down the stretch.  “Dang it feels good to be lucky sometimes,” Kansas coach Lance Leipold said on the broadcast. Pinned Penn State survives Final: Penn State 17, Northwestern 7 It wasn’t pretty, nor was the weather. But Penn State stays unbeaten behind a great defensive effort against Northwestern. The Nittany Lions committed five turnovers and were whistled for seven penalties vs. just two for Northwestern. If you’re a Penn State fan, you’re not going to complain about a 10-point win over a league foe, but there was plenty to clean up in the bye before a showdown with Michigan on Oct. 15. Pinned UConn wins! Final: UConn 19, Fresno State 14 It’s not often that we get to write positive UConn news, but today is a special day. The Huskies — who were 24-point underdogs at kickoff — topped Fresno State 19-14 in East Hartford, Connecticut, thanks to a 17-yard touchdown run by Devontae Houston with 2:20 to play in the game. That capped off an 11-play, 94-yard drive that earns the Huskies their first FBS win since 2019 and snapped an 18-game losing streak. Bulldogs quarterback Jake Haener didn’t play in the game, which certainly played a role in the upset.  Pinned Blocked field goal helps Bulldogs End Q3: Mississippi State 21, No. 17 Texas A&M 10 The Aggies have been atrocious on offense all day, but it was special teams that did them in midway through the third quarter. Emmanuel Forbes blocked a 44-yard field goal attempt by Texas A&M’s Randy Bond, Decamerion Richardson picked it up at midfield and took it to the house to make it a 21-3 game. Aggies quarterback Max Johnson found Moose Muhammed III for an 18-yard touchdown to make it 21-10, but it’s been tough-sledding for the offense other than that. Pinned Miyan Williams goes off Start 4Q: Ohio State 49, Rutgers 10 A killer interception for Rutgers gives Ohio State the football on the Scarlet Knights’ 20-yard-line and leads to Miyan Williams’ fifth touchdown of the day. He’s got 189 yards on the ground for the Buckeyes with TreVeyon Henderson out. That ties a school record for most rushing TDs in a game. Pinned Hogs back? End Q3: No. 2 Alabama 28, No. 20 Arkansas 23 It looked like a blowout at halftime, but not anymore. Arkansas running back A.J. Green scored from 13 yards out to make it a 28-14 game midway through the frame, and a perfectly-executed onside kick on the ensuing kickoff gave Arkansas the ball back with momentum. A Cam Little field goal made it a 28-17 game late in the frame. The defense held Alabama to a three-and-out, and a bad snap was recovered by the Razorbacks at the Alabama 3-yard line. Raheim Sanders plunged in on the first play of the drive to make it a one-score game after a missed two-point conversion.  Pinned Tight game in Waco 4Q: Oklahoma State 33, Baylor 25 Things are coming down to the wire once again in the rematch of the Big 12 Championship Game. Oklahoma State jumped out to a 23-3 lead, but the Bears have gone on a 22-10 run to pull the game within eight points heading into the fourth quarter. Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders has been electric with 176 yards passing and 71 yards rushing. Baylor receiver Monaray Baldwin has explosive touchdowns of 70 and 49 yards to get the Bears back into the game.  Pinned Seminoles struggling End 3Q: Wake Forest 28, Florida State 13 Wake Forest isn’t known for its defense, but Florida State is having trouble scoring points against the Demon Deacons today. FSU put together an 85-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter and then got a great punt return from Mycah Pittman to set itself up in great field position. From there, a series of penalties doomed the drive. So the Demon Deacons have the ball and a 15-point lead to start the fourth quarter. Pinned Penn State? End 3Q: Penn State 14, Northwestern 7 Penn State is playing with its food today as it enters the fourth quarter leading the 1-3 Wildcats just 14-7. The Wildcats hit a 47-yard TD from Ryan Hilinski to Jacob Gill to finally get on the board late in the third quarter, and this one is kind of tense all the sudden. Penn State fumbled and went three-and-out on its first two possessions of the half. The Nittany Lions have turned it over three times today. Pinned Drake Maye banged up North Carolina star quarterback Drake Maye tried to hurdle a couple of Virginia Tech defenders and landed awkwardly. He needed attention from the training staff but ran off under his own power. Looked like there could have been a shoulder injury, so Jacolby Criswell entered and the Tar Heels settled for a 21-yard field goal. 34-10 Tar Heels with 3:50 remaining in the third quarter as it appears Maye is heading to the injury tent. Pinned Bulldogs lead Aggies at the break Half: Mississippi State 14, No. 17 Texas A&M 0 Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers found Caleb Ducking for a 5-yard touchdown midway through the second quarter to put Mike Leach’s crew up a touchdown. The Bulldogs tacked another tou...

Naya Homes Secures $5 Million To Expand Short-Term Rentals In Mexico – Skift Travel News https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/naya-homes-secures-5-million-to-expand-short-term-rentals-in-mexico-skift-travel-news/ A startup whose founding team includes two former Uber staffers has secured $5 million to grow its vacation and short-term rental platform in Mexico. Naya Homes began operations in Puerto Vallarta in August, and with the extra cash will launch in Mexico City, with a 15-unit building in Polanco in September. It specializes in vacation and short-term rental management, and it works with both real estate investors and homeowners. The company claims that relative to Latin America incumbents that execute master leases on larger buildings, Naya Homes is an asset-light operator that maximizes profitability for all types of properties, from individual apartments to vacation villas. Despegar, meanwhile, is bolstering its vacation rentals portfolio in Latin America, following the closing of a 51 percent stake in channel manager Stays. Lodging startup Casai, which is based in Mexico City, is also steeping up its presence. The funding round was led by Boston and New York City-based Flybridge Capital Partners with participation from Primary Venture Partners, Clocktower Technology Ventures, K50 Ventures, Carao Ventures, Trip Ventures, Colibri Equity Ventures, Derive Ventures, in addition to several former executives from Uber’s Latin America team. “We believe Naya can deliver incredible value to numerous stakeholders across the residential real estate value chain at scale,” said Jeff Bussgang, partner at Flybridge Capital Partners, in a statement. “Naya’s founding team is incredibly well-positioned, having on-the-ground experience managing operationally intensive businesses in LATAM, ranging from Uber to Sonder.” The funding follows a $600,000 pre-seed led by Primary Venture Partners in March 2022.

Michele A. Werder – Who’s News Oct 02, 2022 | Local Business | Lancasteronline.com – LNP | LancasterOnline https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/michele-a-werder-whos-news-oct-02-2022-local-business-lancasteronline-com-lnp-lancasteronline/ Michele A. Werder joins Gibbel Kraybill & Hess LLP Michele A. Werder has joined the law offices of Gibbel Kraybill & Hess LLP as an Associate attorney. Attorney Werder, who resides in Manheim Township, practices in the areas of elder law, estate planning and administration, civil litigation, and zoning and land use. She is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and earned her law degree from Duquesne University School of Law. After law school, she led the legal and asset management consulting teams at a major multinational media conglomerate and a global analytics organization. Prior to joining GKH, she served for two years as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Robert J. Eby in the Court of Common Pleas. “Who’s News,” announcements appear on Sundays and feature promotions, hirings and certifications. For questions, pricing information, or to submit your announcement, email businessnews@lnpnews.com. LNP Media Group, Inc.

Finally Healthy, Penguins Forward Drake Caggiula Is Showing He Should Stay In The NHL – TribLIVE https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/finally-healthy-penguins-forward-drake-caggiula-is-showing-he-should-stay-in-the-nhl-triblive/ There are three veterans in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ training camp who never have played a game in the minor leagues. Two are obvious. Forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are pillars of the franchise. The other is journeyman forward Drake Caggiula, a player the Penguins signed to a one-year, two-way contract worth $750,000, the league minimum, this past summer. Suffice it to say, two of those players have a slightly better chance at making the NHL roster to open the season than the third. But that’s nothing new for the 28-year-old Caggiula, a native of Pickering, Ont., who was never drafted. “Hard work, attention to detail. I don’t know,” Caggiula said when asked how he has avoided any time in the minor leagues. “I take a lot of pride in making it this far, especially not being drafted. I’ve never really been one of those people that’s been handed things in life, and I take a lot of pride in that. We all wish we could play 20 minutes a night and score 100 points. Sometimes, that’s just not the case so you’ve got to find another role and buy into that role. It’s not always the glamorous role that’s always being talked about. But you do the little things, and teams are looking for that, especially teams that are trying to win. ” Caggiula has been doing some big things this preseason, albeit through the limited prism of training camp. During three intrasquad scrimmages in Cranberry, he has three goals. And he accounted for the Penguins’ lone score during a 3-1 road preseason loss to the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Saturday by cleaning up a rebound on a goalmouth scramble. An impressive showing in camp is something to admire. But just being able to still exist as a professional hockey player is a resounding triumph for Caggiula (prounounced ka-ZHOO-lah). As a member of the Sabres last season, Caggiula missed the final 64 games because of a herniated disc in his neck. The ailment put his career in jeopardy and even inhibited his quality of life away from the rink in profound ways. “I had stabbing pain in my neck, shoulder, (pectoral muscle), arm,” Caggiula said. “Paralysis down my entire left arm. Weakness, muscle atrophy. You name it., I had it all. I couldn’t wake up or hold my kid because my arm was asleep 90% of the day. Couldn’t get a haircut because when you put your head back, my arm would go to sleep. Just everyday living was miserable. “We waited three months to see if it would heal on its own. It never did. Finally got surgery and instant relief once I woke up in that surgical room.” Caggiula underwent surgery in February and was able to resume skating in May. He did not receive final clearance for full contact until Sept. 1. In between, he wasn’t sure what kind of contract offers he might receive. Ultimately, the Penguins signed him July 13, the first day of the NHL’s free agent signing period. “It’s stressful,” said Caggiula, who indicated he is still trying to regain some strength in his left arm. “I’ve had some injuries. I’ve had some times where you miss a month or two. But I’ve never experienced anything like that. I’ve had to rely on family, friends, teammates, a mental coach just to get through it. I didn’t know if I was going to play hockey again or what the future held. Didn’t know if I’d get a contract once I was healthy. It was a pretty stressful time. But I just took one day at a time, did my best to get healthy and get ready for the start of the season and training camp. “Here I am, skating in training camp all healthy. I think I’ve got a different outlook on life and hockey and general, so just trying to enjoy each day.” Throughout his career, the left-handed Caggiula (5-foot-10, 176 pounds) has enjoyed 278 days in which he has appeared in an NHL game, exactly 278 more than he has experienced in the minor leagues. Following his senior season at the University of North Dakota, Caggiula signed with the Edmonton Oilers and turned professional in 2016-17. In addition to the Sabres and Oilers, he has played for the Chicago Blackhawks and Arizona Coyotes. Though determination and ingenuity, he has found a way to stay in the NHL. One of those ways has involved working with former Penguins forward Gary Roberts who, in retirement, has become a popular personal trainer among NHL players. “Once I got to Edmonton, (Oilers star forward Connor) McDavid was working out with him,” Caggiula said. “McDavid basically asked me — but told me — ‘Hey, you should come with me to Gary Roberts.’ Of course, I’m not going to say no to that. I’ve been there ever since. He’s got your food, your supplements, your training, your on-ice, your off-ice treatment, everything. I was very fortunate. He had a neck injury very similar to mine, and he was a big help getting me through the process.” So far in his brief time with the Penguins, Caggiula has done quite a bit to show he should remain in the NHL. “I’ve been fortunate to play with some pretty talented players and try to play that complementary role on their line,” Caggiula said. “Do some of the little dirty work, do the little things and then fill a different role. Just try to find those little things and find ways to stay in the lineup and do things to help the team win.” Seth Rorabaugh is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Seth by email at srorabaugh@triblive.com or via Twitter .

Ohio State Vs. Rutgers Updates: Live NCAA Football Game Scores, Results For Saturday – CBS Sports https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/ohio-state-vs-rutgers-updates-live-ncaa-football-game-scores-results-for-saturday-cbs-sports/ The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are 0-5 against the Ohio State Buckeyes since September of 2017, but they’ll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Saturday. The Scarlet Knights and OSU will face off in a Big Ten battle at 3:30 p.m. ET at Ohio Stadium. OSU will be strutting in after a win while RU will be stumbling in from a loss. Last week, RU lost to the Iowa Hawkeyes at home by a decisive 27-10 margin. RU was down 24-3 at the end of the third quarter, which was just too much to recover from. One thing holding RU back was the mediocre play of QB Evan Simon, who did not have his best game: despite one touchdown, he threw two interceptions. That was the first 300+ yard effort for Simon this season. Meanwhile, when you finish with 243 more yards than your opponent like the Buckeyes did last week, a favorable outcome is almost sure to follow. They took their matchup against the Wisconsin Badgers by a conclusive 52-21 score. With OSU ahead 31-7 at the half, the contest was all but over already. OSU QB C.J. Stroud was slinging it as he passed for five TDs and 281 yards on 27 attempts. RU have to know they’ll be fighting an uphill battle given the 40.5-point spread they are up against. They have failed bettors playing the spread in their past two games, so buyers beware. RU is now 3-1 while OSU sits at 4-0. Two stats to keep an eye on: The Scarlet Knights enter the game with only 241 yards allowed per game on average, good for seventh best in the nation. But the Buckeyes rank second in the nation when it comes to yards per game, with 558.8 on average. These opposing strengths should make for an exciting matchup. Season Leaders passing E. Simon566 YD, 3 TDS, 2 INTS E. Simon566 YD, 3 TDS, 2 INTS C. Stroud1222 YD, 16 TDS, 1 INTC. Stroud1222 YD, 16 TDS, 1 INT rushing K. Monangai42 ATT, 171 YD, 2 TDSK. Monangai42 ATT, 171 YD, 2 TDS T. Henderson50 ATT, 318 YD, 3 TDST. Henderson50 ATT, 318 YD, 3 TDS receiving A. Cruickshank18 REC, 156 YD, 2 TDSA. Cruickshank18 REC, 156 YD, 2 TDS E. Egbuka26 REC, 442 YD, 5 TDSE. Egbuka26 REC, 442 YD, 5 TDS See New Posts Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned See More

A Muhammad Ali-Inspired Metaverse Game Drops Soon! – Crypto Times https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/a-muhammad-ali-inspired-metaverse-game-drops-soon-crypto-times/ On the occasion of the 47th anniversary of legendary boxer Mohammad Ali, his career-defining Thrilla in Manila pay-per-view bout will soon be dropped on the metaverse. This Mohammad Ali-inspired AI-driven metaverse game called “The Next Legends” will feature digital boxing avatars with Altered State Machine’s AI NFT brains.  Muhammad Ali Enterprises and Non-Fungible Labs have collaborated with Altered State Machine to offer the Greatest’s loyal fanbase a one-of-a-kind AI metaverse boxing experience. The minting process for the AI boxers will go live at 2 pm October 1st PDT via a Pro-Pack bundle.  The Pro Pack bundle features some of the most “intelligent” AI boxers and a rare limited edition Gym Bag. Only 300 wallets are allowed to mint per hour and the process will continue until all Pro-Pack NFTs have been minted. The Pro Pack cost to mint is 0.11 ETH.  The game is set to release sometime in 2023. The interesting gameplay allows users to play whatever virtual boxing avatar they can secure during the mint. The players will compete to win the title of The Next Legend.  Note that, not all of these virtual boxers will be built the same. Anyone who will get a boxer from the Pro Pack mint on October 1 will start with a higher rank with free in-game items bundled in a rare Gym Bag. The contents of these bags will be revealed in an upcoming Locker Room event.  This is not the first time Muhammad Ali-inspired digital assets have been introduced. In May, an NFT collection based on Muhammad Ali’s film “A God Amongst Men” was also launched by Studio Pictures and director James Newton. Author Rupal Sharma is a creative technical writer who refers to herself as “a storyteller gravitating towards decentralized culture and cryptocurrencies.” When she’s not obsessively researching crypto space, she harnesses her superpower of holding an entire novel in her head, or series, or multiple creative projects at once. She struggles to remember if she ordered a latte or a cappuccino, though.

Space Cadets Has Everything A Person Needs To Get Organized With Something For Every Budget – 280 Living https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/space-cadets-has-everything-a-person-needs-to-get-organized-with-something-for-every-budget-280-living/ There’s nothing worse than trying to live and work in a cluttered environment. This is especially true for the many Americans who are spending more time at home than they used to. “Even though we’re venturing out more now, we’re still spending more time at home than before the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Kim McBrayer, owner of Space Cadets. The pandemic impacted our habits, plus many people are still working from home, Kim said. Space Cadets has everything a person needs to get organized, and there’s something for every budget. There are $5 solutions and $50,000 solutions to clutter — and everything in between. There are built-in cabinets for those who want a touch of elegance, and there are fixed ventilated shelves for those who want to get organized on a budget. At the retail and design center, customers can shop a variety of organization products for closets, kitchens, garages and more. “You don’t have to buy services from multiple companies,” Kim said. “We’re a one-stop shop with everything you need to get organized.” The best sellers at Space Cadets in 2022 are custom closets. This is a great way to reorganize your home and make sure you have a perfect place for everything you own. There are a variety of closet choices for every budget, and each one is a high-quality design. The closets can be customized to your home and your needs. The process at Space Cadets starts with a consultation, called a Space Walk. At this meeting, clients discuss their trouble areas, specific needs, budget and expectations. Next is the design phase. If a product system is required, one of the Space Cadet designers prepares a plan and estimate for your review. The production phase is the moment the client has been waiting for. Here, the Space Cadets organize with great care and attention to detail and leave the space better than they found it. Space Cadets also helps with relocations. “This is either for someone moving into a new home and wanting to get started with a clean slate, or for someone preparing to move and wanting to purge the unnecessary to lighten the load for the movers,” Kim said. Kim urges customers to call Space Cadets in the early stages of their home remodels or construction to get in the pipeline for ordering and preparation. “Don’t wait until the last minute,” she said. This need for early booking is due in part to continuing supply chain issues, but it’s also due to the Space Cadets schedule. “We need to get involved at an earlier date than we used to because we’re booking so far out,” Kim said. In addition, custom closets “are so popular and are in great demand, like never before,” Kim said. Anyone interested can stop by the retail shop in Brook Highland to find all sorts of cool storage items and gadgets, as well as take a walk through the showroom and design center for great ideas on how to improve their space.

Web3 And Crypto Checking Account Startup Juno Raises $18M, Airdrops Reward Token JCOIN – Finance Bitcoin News – Bitcoin News https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/web3-and-crypto-checking-account-startup-juno-raises-18m-airdrops-reward-token-jcoin-finance-bitcoin-news-bitcoin-news/ Juno, the Singapore-based Web3 crypto firm that offers customers checking accounts tied to crypto assets, has raised $18 million in a Series A financing round led by Parafi Capital. The fresh capital follows the startup’s seed round in 2019 when Juno raised $3 million from investors. Juno Raises $18 Million in a Funding Round Led by Parafi Capital, Crypto Startup Reveals Loyalty Token The Web3 crypto startup Juno is a digital currency company that provides clients with the ability to create a checking account by leveraging crypto assets. On October 1, it was revealed that the company has raised $18 million in a Series A funding round led by Parafi Capital. According to the announcement, Juno’s Series A investors also included 6th Man Ventures, Hashed, Sequoia India’s Surge, Greycroft, Jump Crypto, and Uncorrelated Fund. Varun Deshpande, the co-founder and chief executive officer of Juno, told Tech Crunch reporter Manish Singh the firm has “has reached $1 billion in annualized transaction volume processing.” The company has also launched a new token called JCOIN and Juno airdropped the new ERC20 token to “70k+ Juno users.” The latest funding round’s capital will be used to expand the company’s team and the firm’s loyalty program. JCOIN will be used for “exciting offers, collectibles, and in-app boosts redeemable through JCOIN, only on the Juno Store.” So far the startup, which was originally started by founders who created the Ethereum lending protocol Nuo, has raised $21 million to date, after the $18 million Series A fundraising and the company’s seed round in 2019. At the time in 2019, the investors that backed Juno included Dragonfly Capital, Polychain Capital, Sequoia Capital, Balaji Srinivasan, and Ryan Selkis. Tags in this story $18 million Series A, 6th Man Ventures, Balaji Srinivasan, Capital raise, Checking Account, Crypto Checking Account, Dragonfly Capital, Greycroft, Hashed, JCOIN, Jump Crypto, Juno, Parafi Capital, PolyChain Capital, Ryan Selkis, seed round, Sequoia Capital, Sequoia India’s Surge, Series A, Singapore, Uncorrelated Fund, Varun Deshpande, Web3, Web3 Juno What do you think about Juno raising $18 million from investors in a Series A financing round? Let us know what you think about this subject in the comments section below. Jamie Redman Jamie Redman is the News Lead at Bitcoin.com News and a financial tech journalist living in Florida. Redman has been an active member of the cryptocurrency community since 2011. He has a passion for Bitcoin, open-source code, and decentralized applications. Since September 2015, Redman has written more than 6,000 articles for Bitcoin.com News about the disruptive protocols emerging today. Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.

Defense Leaders Look To Strengthen Rules-Based Order – Department Of Defense https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/defense-leaders-look-to-strengthen-rules-based-order-department-of-defense/ The defense leaders of the United States, Japan and Australia met today to strengthen the defense of the rules-based, international order that China and Russia are trying to dismantle. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III hosted Richard Marles, Australia’s deputy prime minister and defense minister, and Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command headquarters in Hawaii to chart the way forward in the trilateral alliance. Austin said the meeting is a way for the nations to build on their already close partnership. “America is proud to count Australia and Japan among our very closest allies,” he said at the start of the meeting. “For decades, our three democracies have worked shoulder-to-shoulder as an anchor for stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and around the globe.” The three countries share common values and common purposes, the secretary said, and are willing to defend an order that respects the rights of all nations to go about their business without bullying and intimidation. “But today, that vision is threatened by autocratic countries that peddle disinformation and defy international rules and rely on coercion and intimidation,” Austin said. “We are deeply concerned by China’s increasingly aggressive and bullying behavior in the Taiwan Strait and elsewhere in the region.” He also said the democracies have been drown closer together in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its brutal war that threatens the very existence of the country.  Australia is halfway around the world from Ukraine, but the war is still felt there, and Australia has provided support and equipment to the embattled nation. “The global, rules-based order is being pressured in a way that we’ve not seen in many, many decades,” Marles said before the meeting. “We’re seeing that in Eastern Europe with the unprovoked aggression of Russia against Ukraine. And we are standing with Ukraine because we see that the principles which are engaged in that conflict go directly to Australia’s national interest because our interest lies in the upholding of the global rules-based order.” Marles said China is exerting that same pressure in Australia’s backyard and standing together is the way forward. “We are aligned strategically today as closely as we ever have been,” he noted. “But that strategic alignment is built upon relationships of deep affection between Australia and the United States, between Australia and Japan, and between Japan and the United States. We see the trilateral between our three countries as only growing deeper and stronger, and we look very much forward today to pursuing that agenda.” Hamada said Japan, too, believes the rules-based structure is under attack. “Today, the international community is faced with the severe security environments due to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, China’s unilateral change of status by force in the South and East China seas, and [the] remarkable development of North Korea’s nuclear- and missile-related technologies among others,” he said through a translator. “The foundation of the international order has been undermined.” Austin said the trilateral alliance makes the region safer. “I look forward to strengthening our trilateral defense cooperation today, including reaching out together in the region and expanding our trilateral military activities and deepening our technology cooperation,” he said. “Working together strengthens our integrated deterrence, and it moves us all toward a safer and more prosperous region.”

Photos: North Carolina Battles Virginia Tech In College Football Action – Raleigh News & Observer https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/photos-north-carolina-battles-virginia-tech-in-college-football-action-raleigh-news-observer/ North Carolina defeated Virginia Tech 41-10 in ACC play at Kenan Stadium, Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022. Tar Heel quarterback Drake Maye threw for three touchdowns and over 350 yards. Check out photos from the game by News & Observer photojournalist Robert Willett. North Carolina coach Mack Brown talks with Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry prior to their game on Saturday, October 1, 2022 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton (28) hurdles over Virginia Tech’s Chamarri Conner (1) for a nine yard gain in the first quarter on Saturday, October 1, 2022 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton (28) hurdles over Virginia Tech’s Chamarri Conner (1) for a nine yard gain in the first quarter on Saturday, October 1, 2022 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com Virginia Tech’s Chamarri Conner (1) works to stop North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton (28) in the first quarter on Saturday, October 1, 2022 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com North Carolina’s Antonie Green (3) pulls in a 16-yard reception from quarterback Drake Maye (10) for a touchdown to give the Tar Heels’ a 21-3 lead over Virginia Tech on Saturday, October 1, 2022 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com North Carolina’s Antonie Green (3) reacts after scoring a touchdown on a 16-yard reception from quarterback Drake Maye (10) to give the Tar Heels’ a 21-3 lead over Virginia Tech on Saturday, October 1, 2022 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com North Carolina wide receiver Josh Downs (11) pulls in a 24-yard pass completion from quarterback Drake Maye in the second quarter against Virginia Tech on Saturday, October 1, 2022 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com North Carolina’s Kamari Morales (88) scores on a three-yard reception from quarterback Drake Maye (10) to give the Tar Heels’ a 7-3 lead over Virginia Tech on Saturday, October 1, 2022 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com North Carolina’s Kamari Morales (88) scores on a three-yard reception from quarterback Drake Maye (10) to give the Tar Heels’ a 7-3 lead over Virginia Tech on Saturday, October 1, 2022 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com North Carolina wide receiver Josh Downs (11) reacts after a 24-yard pass completion from quarterback Drake Maye in the second quarter against Virginia Tech on Saturday, October 1, 2022 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com North Carolina’s Antonie Green (3) stretches, but can’t pull in a long pass from quarterback Drake Maye in the first quarter against Virginia Tech on Saturday, October 1, 2022 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye (10) passes to Antonie Green for a 16-yard touchdown to give the Tar Heels’ a 21-3 lead over Virginia Tech on Saturday, October 1, 2022 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com This story was originally published October 1, 2022 5:24 PM.

Star Wars Video Games Need More Alien Protagonists – GameRant https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/star-wars-video-games-need-more-alien-protagonists-gamerant/ Part of Star Wars’ allure is how massively diverse it can be. Myriad planets and alien races populate the franchise between live-action content, animation, novels, and games, giving it a great wealth of potential stories. Yet Star Wars seems comfortably routine in terms of what characters it decides to portray. Star Wars’ excessive dependence on Jedi and Sith, for example, is evidence that it has few plans to divert from traditional iconography. Even in The Mandalorian, there has been an emphasis on characters such as Grogu and Luke Skywalker that arguably outweigh its bounty hunter protagonist. However, there is an even bigger issue concerning Star Wars’ iconography. Since Star Wars’ first theatrical installment, the franchise has had an unabashed over-reliance on human protagonists. The same can be said for Star Wars games, and it is an issue that should be addressed to make for more diverse and interesting protagonists. Star Wars is Oversaturated with Human Protagonists Part of what has cemented humans as protagonists in Star Wars is the lackluster argument that humans are more relatable and expressive, able to be identified with. But any alien race in Star Wars, be it Abednedo, Quarren, Gungan, Duros, Sullustan, or Mon Calamari, is capable of self-expression and the same qualities of a human character. Moreover, human protagonists have been the status quo due to Star Wars’ reliance on the Skywalker family. Andor, despite being a breath of fresh air for Star Wars, still perpetuates this status quo with an overabundance of human characters. Star Wars games are disappointingly similar, though there are a couple of clever workarounds that players should be able to take advantage of to create their own representation. BioWare’s Knights of the Old Republic lets players choose how they would like to make their character avatar look in its custom character creator, for example. Unfortunately, only human characters can be selected. This could be a result of the protagonist’s true identity in Knights of the Old Republic, but it still reveals a flaw that Star Wars games should rectify. Two of Star Wars’ most popular contemporary games are The Force Unleashed and Jedi: Fallen Order, both of which have human protagonists. This is unlikely to change in the near future, but games should have the foresight to include more representation for Star Wars’ breadth of diverse characters. Star Wars’ Aliens and Droids are an Untapped Well Star Wars games such as Battlefront do allow players to choose an alien character avatar, but it is still not representative of an alien character as a fully fledged protagonist. Instead, alien races are typically left to be sidekicks or supporting characters whom the protagonist can interact with. The status quo that has made human protagonists frequent in Star Wars also typecasts alien characters into these supplementary roles, which is disappointing. Star Wars’ droids serve the same purpose, though they mainly behave as close companion characters – Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order’s BD-1 for instance, or Star Wars: The Force Unleashed’s PROXY. These characters meet the standards of their roles well, but droids and aliens could also be a protagonist if they were written for that role. Perhaps one reason why more alien protagonists or antagonists have not been featured is because of the extensive effects work that would need to be considered. Still, with how lucrative and beloved the Star Wars franchise is, that excuse seems to pale in comparison. If an alien protagonist was introduced in the next original Star Wars IP, it would be instantly noticeable based upon how many human characters there are in protagonist roles thus far. Because human protagonists have been so oversaturated, it would be great to see more installments where an alien or droid was a Star Wars protagonist rather than comic relief. Star Wars’ Future in Games Needs Originality and Diversity Disney reportedly wants to release new Star Wars games every six months, which raises concerns about quality, but is also a fairly exciting concept for representation. As long as these biannual titles are not solely conceived around pre-existing Star Wars lore, it is possible that fans may soon see games with alien protagonists in rotation. If this rumor is not true, it is still a development formula that should be followed if Star Wars wishes to maintain originality and diversity. Knowing a black, female protagonist was originally considered for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, it seems like the right considerations are hopefully being put in place for protagonist portrayals in Star Wars’ future. Though the status quo may not be easily swayed, it seems inevitable that Star Wars will dip into its alien races for an interesting protagonist. That is not to say that Ewoks or Jawas need to be protagonists, but Star Wars will always have more potential when it delves into its deeper science-fiction features and represents iconic and unique alien races. MORE: Knights of the Old Republic Remake May Have a New Developer, But It’s Not Out of the Woods Yet

35 Books In Conroe ISD. Lessons From A Book Controversy In… | By Franklin Strong | Oct, 2022 – Medium https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/35-books-in-conroe-isd-lessons-from-a-book-controversy-in-by-franklin-strong-oct-2022-medium/ Before Cassandra Crowe came to the podium at a Conroe ISD school board meeting this May, she had given the trustees in front of her a seventy-seven-page packet that contained excerpted passages from 35 books that she called obscene, “according to Texas law, not my opinion.” Now she had a demand for the board: “We respectfully request that the following books be removed from CISD circulation in libraries as well as classrooms effective immediately, and this list is not exhaustive, while these books are under a formal review.” Other speakers at the meeting referenced Crowe’s list of 35 books, and a small swarm of speakers came forward to argue that the board had failed to protect children from pornography and harmful materials. Kelli Cox, the publisher of local right-wing news site The Golden Hammer, read passages from The Perks of Being a Wallflower, inserting “bleep” in place of descriptions of body parts in a scene about a sexual assault. Misty Odenweller and Melissa Dungan, now running for spots on the board, scolded the current members. “We’re done taking it, we’re going to take a stand, and it starts tonight,” said Odenweller. Crowe’s list of 35 books would also come up during public comment periods of meetings throughout the summer. Then, at the start of August, the board voted unanimously to adopt a new policy in line with Crowe’s demands. On Facebook, Crowe wrote, “We know there is a long road ahead, but we celebrate our wins along the way. Thank you to all of the mamas, dads, grans, and concerned tax payers for your commitment to taking the necessary actions to truly affect change. And thank you to the CISD board members for this crucial policy update. One down …” I’ve been trying to decide how to write about this particular meeting in May, and the story behind it, for a while. Because there are almost too many stories here, and all of them are instructive. These are the questions I’ve been trying to disentangle: Is this a story about Mama Bears Rising, a new pro-censorship “moms” group, more explicitly Christian than Moms for Liberty, that has burst onto the scene in the suburbs of Houston and is following M4L’s roadmap for taking over local school districts? Is it a larger story about the nastiness of education-focused private Facebook groups, and how they’ve attacked teachers and librarians while simultaneously grabbing for power in Texas school districts? Or is it a more pointed story about the dishonesty of this group’s specific action, which involved pushing members to challenge books en masse even when they hadn’t read those books? All of these stories are important, and all of them overlap. I’m not a professional journalist, but I did want to handle these stories responsibly, so I reached out to the people involved, offering them the opportunity to give their perspective. Most of them didn’t answer my questions. Nonetheless, I’ve seen enough to know that the goings-on around book challenges in Conroe ISD can tell us a lot about the methods and motivations that characterize pro-censorship groups, and the collaboration between the members of these groups, local right-wing media, elected officials, and current candidates for school board positions. The item was placed on the agenda the month before by conservative trustee Dale Inman, who said he had been at a dinner with Attorney General Ken Paxton where there was discussion that books in school libraries might violate Texas obscenity laws. Inman is an active participant in the Facebook page for the group Mama Bears Rising, which was formed around that time by Crowe, a policy advisor to Texas State Representative Steve Toth, and Jessica Brassington, who describes herself as “a wife, mom, and citizen advocate.” According to their website, the group is for “mamas who are rising against a declining culture that is at war with our family values.” In a series of Facebook posts starting on May 11, Crowe announced that she had spoken to CISD superintendent Curtis Null and that the board would be taking up the matter of instructional materials in libraries and classrooms at the May 17 meeting. She explained that under current policy challenged books remain on the shelves pending the outcome of the challenge, but that with pressure the board might adopt a policy that would mean that “ALL books that [are] currently being challenged for obscenity can be removed immediately.” It’s a policy change based on recommendations made by the Texas Education Agency after Governor Greg Abbott expressed concern about “pornography” in school libraries last year. Though the recommendations were not mandatory and were opposed by the Texas Library Association and the Texas Association of School Librarians, similar policies are being enacted across Texas right now, especially in districts that have seen flurries of book challenges. The problem for Crowe was that the Conroe ISD community didn’t see library books as a major concern. When the policy change was first brought up at the board’s April meeting, Null said, “The policies that you currently have in place have served us very well. It’s not an area for us that we’ve had significant issues, we’re proud to say.” Even Inman said “I don’t believe” Conroe is experiencing a problem with pornography in its libraries. And at the May 17 meeting, an advisor told the board that the district had only had seven formal book challenges in the past 20 years. Crowe realized that unless she could present removing books in the library as an urgent issue, her concerns would “be written off and will fall completely on deaf ears.” So she urged Mama Bears Rising members to formally challenge as many books as possible to cement in board members’ minds the necessity of acting. “If we organize,” she wrote, “we can divide the efforts of completing these forms among our group members and actually effect REAL, necessary change in the immediate future.” In updates over the following days, she posted the list of 35 books that she eventually submitted to the board, books that in her words, “we MUST challenge for removal asap (before the school board meeting next week).” That list included award-winning literary fiction and memoirs (The Bluest Eye, The Handmaid’s Tale, The God of Small Things, The Glass Castle), popular YA titles (Looking for Alaska, The Perks of Being a Wallflower), and even literary classic Brave New World**. And, though Crowe would tell the board that the books all contained “graphic details of sex acts, are pervasively vulgar, obscene, not appropriate” and “violate Texas penal code,” her list also included Raina Telgemeier’s middle-grade graphic novel Drama, which contains none of that — its most salacious scene is a kiss between two characters onstage during a play. The materials Crowe submitted to the board described this book as “sexually explicit” and “not appropriate literary content for K-12 schools.” Drama does include gay characters, though, and has been challenged and removed from other districts. Books with LGBTQ themes or characters are overrepresented on Crowe’s list, which also includes commonly challenged titles Gender Queer and Lawn Boy. In fact, none of these books is obscene, and none violates the Texas Penal Code. While many of these books do contain depictions of sexual situations, those books are generally read by older students and are in line with books high school students have been reading for generations. And both federal and state obscenity laws require readers to consider the work “as a whole” and to weigh sexual content against the books’ “serious literary, artistic, political, and scientific value.” Laws restricting “material harmful to minors” have similar language, requiring a consideration of the work “as a whole” and only pertaining to works “utterly without redeeming social value for minors.” In other words, you can’t judge obscenity by reading only the most outrageous scenes in a book; you have to consider context. This was recently tested in court in Virginia, where a Republican legislator tried to force Barnes & Noble to restrict the sale to minors of two of the books on Crowe’s list, Gender Queer and Sarah J. Maas’s The Court of Mist and Fury. Virginia Beach Circuit Court Judge Pamela Baskerville dismissed the case because the plaintiffs couldn’t prove the books were obscene. The literary and artistic merit of many of the books on the list is obvious — at least four of them have appeared on free-response questions on the AP Literature exam multiple times. Brave New World, for example, first appeared on the AP Exam in 1989, and The Bluest Eye in 1995. That doesn’t mean there isn’t room for a thoughtful conversation about what books are and are not appropriate for students, and at what ages; but the Mama Bears Rising approach — with its accusations of porn-peddling and child sexualization — makes that kind of conversation difficult, if not impossible. After Crowe put out the call, several members of Mama Bears Rising volunteered to challenge books. Dungan volunteered to challenge The Bluest Eye and Beyond Magenta; her fellow school board candidate Odenweller challenged books by Sarah J. Maas. Odenweller soon took the reins of the project, alphabetizing the list for Crowe and collecting “data” on books for others to challenge. Jennifer Kratky, a candidate for trustee in nearby Tomball ISD, offered advice to the group for completing mass challenges: “Don’t submit a huge number, that was tried (by a single person) in another district and did not go over well. Find friends and submit 5 or 10 each. Yes attach printouts and write (see attached). Leave the other suggestions blank. We pay them enough to find good books, for crying out loud!” Kratky a...

10 Best Towns To Catch Fall Foliage In Upstate New York (If You’re Flying From Florida) – TheTravel https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/10-best-towns-to-catch-fall-foliage-in-upstate-new-york-if-youre-flying-from-florida-thetravel/ From Albany to Ithaca, these destinations in Upstate New York make for perfect trips to see the fall foliage! Shutterstock Floridians looking to explore the beauty and majesty of autumn should consider a visit to upstate New York. Encompassing cities like Albany and Utica, numerous towns and villages of upstate New York are perfect stays for autumn. With leaves glowing in gold, yellow, and red hues, these destinations emanate a charm that matches autumn. From the college vibe of Ithaca to the beauty of Hunter, book a flight from Florida to explore these picturesque upstate New York towns for fall! 10 Saratoga Springs Nicknamed “Queen of the Spas”, Saratoga Springs is a hub for all things related to horse racing, resort life, and gaming centers. When in Saratoga, appreciate the colors of the changing leaves while visiting the famous Saratoga Race Course, the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, and their popular mineral springs! Saratoga is perfect for couples seeking a destination filled with heritage, entertainment venues, and nightlife happenings. When visiting this New York State city, enjoy a stay at SpringHill Suites by Marriott Syracuse Carrier Circle. Flight + Accommodation: SpringHill Suites by Marriott Syracuse Carrier Circle Address: 6580 Weighlock Drive, East Syracuse, NY Amenities: Fitness Center, Air-Conditioned, Business Center 9 Ithaca Known as a New York college town, Ithaca is home to the prestigious Cornell University. Overlooking Cayuga Lake, Ithaca features natural landscapes perfect for admiring the fall foliage, from the majesty of Ithaca Falls to a peaceful stroll at the Robert Treman State Park. Plus, visitors can celebrate the fall festivities in the area, especially the famous Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival! Those planning a getaway in Ithaca can enjoy a nice stay at Argos Inn, a historic boutique hotel in the town. Flight + Accommodation: Argos Inn Address: 408 E State Street, Ithaca, NY Amenities: Business Center, Game Room, Golf 8 Lake Placid Situated by the Adirondack Mountains, Lake Placid is a destination for nature-seeking tourists. Besides being a popular spot for winter sports and activities, visiting Lake Placid in the fall is just as magical. Enjoy the crisp autumn air while taking in stunning views of New York’s Essex County. Enjoy the vibrant colors of fall on horseback, or try some tasty seasonal treats at Lake Placid’s orchids. For a relaxing stay, book a stay at the High Peaks Resort, providing a mix of luxury and comfort. Flight + Accommodation: High Peaks Resort Address: 2384 Saranac Avenue, Lake Placid, NY Amenities: Game Room, Business Center, Air-Conditioned 7 Saranac Lake The quiet village of Saranac Lake is ideal for those wanting a peaceful getaway from the city. Situated among the majestic Adirondack Mountains, this New York destination is one of self-reflection, pampering, and relaxation. Feel the fresh autumn air while exploring attractions like the Adirondack Carousel, the Saranac Laboratory Museum, or even the tranquility of Saranac Lake. From art galleries to bistros, this New York community will undoubtedly ensure a relaxing vacation, especially when staying at the Saranac Waterfront Lodge, which sits just by the lake. Flight + Accommodation: Saranac Waterfront Lodge Address: 250 Lake Flower Avenue, Saranac Lake, NY Amenities: Game Room, Fire Place, Fitness Center 6 Skaneateles Named after the Skaneateles Lake, which it overlooks (which means “long lake” in Iroquois), this picturesque town in Onondaga County promises visitors a relaxing fall vacation. Also referred to as the “Jewel of the Finger Lakes,” Skaneateles is jibing with boutiques, restaurants, and nature-filled hiking trails. During fall, visitors can embark on wine-tasting tours or go apple picking at local orchids. Plus, visiting Skaneateles is more beautiful when staying at the historic Bond 1835 Inn, situated inside a restored 19th-century home. Flight + Accommodation: Bond 1835 Inn Address: 2498 East Lake Road, Skaneateles, NY Amenities: Air-Conditioned, Business Center, Golf 5 Lewiston Situated near the American-Canadian border and Buffalo, this Niagara County town makes for a pleasant autumn getaway, especially for couples and traveling families. Bundle up and enjoy the autumn viewings of Niagara Falls, hike among the fall foliage at Devil’s Hole State Park, or explore the beautiful property of the Lady of Fatima Shrine along Swann Road. Additionally, travelers can stay in the heart of Lewiston and enjoy its attractions when booking their stay at the Red Coach Inn, the town’s famous bed and breakfast! Flight + Accommodation: Red Coach Inn Address: 2 Buffalo Avenue, Niagara Falls, NY Amenities: Air-Conditioned, EV Charging Station, Fireplace 4 Corning Corning is recognized for its well-established glass industry, hence its nickname, “Crystal City.” Situated in Steuben County by the Chemung River, there is a reason this “city” is also known as “America’s Most Fun Small Town.” Lovers of art can explore Corning in the fall, especially with its array of art galleries, beautiful architecture, and interactive museums—especially the Corning Museum of Glass. Don’t forget to experience local hospitality and book a couple of nights at the Staybridge Suites Corning! Flight + Accommodation: Staybridge Suites Corning Address: 201 Townley Avenue, Corning, NY Amenities: Air-Conditioned, Business Center, Fitness Center 3 Westfield Westfield won’t disappoint travelers passionate about art, architecture, and history. During the fall season, those touring Westfield can enjoy various activities, from wine tasting at the Johnson Estate Winery to touring the Barcelona Lighthouse. This beautiful New York town is also studded with hiking trails and peaceful creeks, teeming with lush fall foliage. Travelers can enjoy a relaxing visit to Westfield when staying at the no-frills Theater Motel. Flight + Accommodation: Theater Motel Address: 7592 East Route 20, Westfield, NY Amenities: Air-Conditioned, Grill, Internet 2 Hunter Located in New York’s Greene County, Hunter is a small town that’s great for visiting year-round. During the fall, visitors can appreciate the seasonal colors while partaking in several activities, especially around Hunter Mountain. Take a refreshing trail to reach picturesque views of the Catskills, or get an adrenaline rush by ziplining! To enjoy the offerings of Hunter, visitors should stay at the Bluebird Hunter Lodge, known for its 1970s ski-lodge décor. Flight + Accommodation: Bluebird Hunter Lodge Address: 7433 Main Street, Hunter, NY Amenities: Air-Conditioned, Increased Accessibility, Game Room 1 Alexandria Bay Tucked away in New York’s Thousand Islands, Alexandria Bay remains a magical destination, even during the fall season. This quiet, picturesque village is known for attractions like the historic Boldt Castle, Yacht House, and Millionaire’s Row. Situated along the St. Lawrence River, Alexandria Bay glows in golden, cream, and yellow hues during autumn, which can be admired while island hopping. While staying at the Riverside Resort Hotel, visitors can be a part of the autumn magic at Alexandria Bay. Flight + Accommodation: Riverside Resort Hotel Address: 17 Holland Street, Alexandria Bay, NY Amenities: Air-Conditioned, Business Center, Golf

Russia Withdraws Troops After Ukraine Encircles Key City – The Associated Press – En Español https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/russia-withdraws-troops-after-ukraine-encircles-key-city-the-associated-press-en-espanol/ KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — After being encircled by Ukrainian forces, Russia pulled troops out Saturday from an eastern Ukrainian city that it had been using as a front-line hub. It was the latest victory for the Ukrainian counteroffensive that has humiliated and angered the Kremlin. Russia’s withdrawal from Lyman complicates its internationally vilified declaration just a day earlier that it had annexed four regions of Ukraine — an area that includes Lyman. Taking the city paves the way for Ukrainian troops to potentially push further into land that Moscow now illegally claims as its own. “The Ukrainian flag is already in Lyman, Donetsk region. Fighting is still going on there. But there is no trace of any pseudo-referendum there,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly address Saturday. He was referring to “referendums” that Russia held at gunpoint in the four regions before annexing them — Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. The fighting comes at a pivotal moment in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war. Facing Ukrainian gains on the battlefield — which he frames as a U.S.-orchestrated effort to destroy Russia — Putin this week heightened threats of nuclear force and used his most aggressive, anti-Western rhetoric to date. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have inflicted damage on Ukrainian forces in battling to hold Lyman, but said outnumbered Russian troops were withdrawn to more favorable positions. Ukrainian forces moved into the city, and Zelenskyy’s chief of staff posted photos of a Ukrainian flag being hoisted on the town’s outskirts. Lyman had been an important link in the Russian front line for ground communications and logistics. Located 160 kilometers (100 miles) southeast of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, it’s in the Donetsk region near the border with Luhansk, two regions that Russia annexed Friday. Ukrainian forces have retaken vast swaths of territory in a counteroffensive that started in September. They have pushed Russian forces out of the Kharkiv area and moved east across the Oskil River. Moscow’s withdrawal from Lyman prompted immediate criticism from some Russian officials. The leader of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, blamed the retreat, without evidence, on one Russian general being “covered up for by higher-up leaders in the General Staff.” He called for “more drastic measures.” Meanwhile, on the Russian-annexed Crimean Peninsula, the governor of the city of Sevastopol announced an emergency situation at an airfield there. Explosions and huge billows of smoke could be seen by beachgoers in the Russian-held resort. Authorities said a plane rolled off the runway at the Belbek airfield, and said ammunition on board had caught fire. Russia annexed the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 in violation of international law. Russian bombardment has intensified in recent days as Moscow moved swiftly with its latest annexation and ordered a mass mobilization at home to bolster its forces. The Russian call-up has proven unpopular at home, prompting tens of thousands of Russian men to flee the country. Zelenskyy and his military have vowed to keep fighting to liberate the regions that Putin claimed to have annexed Friday, and other Russian-occupied areas. Ukrainian authorities accused Russian forces of targeting two humanitarian convoys in recent days, killing dozens of civilians. The governor of the Kharkiv region, Oleh Syniehubov, said 24 civilians were killed in an attack this week on a convoy trying to flee the Kupiansk district. He called it “сruelty that can’t be justified.” He said 13 children and a pregnant woman were among the dead. “The Russians fired at civilians almost at point-blank range,” Syniehubov wrote on Telegram. The Security Service of Ukraine, the secret police force known by the acronym SBU, posted photographs of the attacked convoy. At least one truck appeared to have been blown up, with burned corpses in what remained of its truck bed. Another vehicle at the front of the convoy was torched. Bodies lay on the side of the road or still inside vehicles that were pockmarked with bullet holes. Russia’s Defense Ministry said its rockets destroyed Ukrainian military targets in the area but has not commented on accusations that it targeted fleeing civilians. Russian troops have retreated from much of the Kharkiv region but continue to shell the area. And a Russian strike in the Zaporizhzhia region’s capital killed 31 people and wounded 88, Ukrainian officials said. The British Defense Ministry said the Russians “almost certainly” struck a humanitarian convoy there with S-300 anti-aircraft missiles. Russian-installed officials in Zaporizhzhia blamed Ukrainian forces but gave no evidence. In other developments, in an apparent attempt to secure Moscow’s hold on the newly annexed territory, Russian forces seized the director-general of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Ihor Murashov, on Friday, according to the Ukrainian state nuclear company Energoatom. Energoatom said Russian troops stopped Murashov’s car, blindfolded him and took him to an undisclosed location. Russia did not comment on the report. The International Atomic Energy Agency said Russia told it that “the director-general of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was temporarily detained to answer questions.” The Vienna-based IAEA said it “has been actively seeking clarifications and hopes for a prompt and satisfactory resolution of this matter.” The power plant has been caught in the crossfire of the war. Ukrainian technicians continued running it after Russian troops seized the power station, and its last reactor was shut down in September as a precautionary measure amid ongoing shelling nearby. In other fighting reported Saturday, four people were killed by Russian shelling Friday in the Donetsk region, governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said. The Russian army struck the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv twice overnight, once with drones and the second time with missiles, according to the regional governor. Russia now claims sovereignty over 15% of Ukraine in what NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called “the largest attempted annexation of European territory by force since the Second World War.” Zelenskyy on Friday formally applied for NATO membership, upping the pressure on Western allies to defend Ukraine. In Washington, President Joe Biden signed a bill that provides another infusion — more than $12.3 billion — in military and economic aid linked to the war in Ukraine. ___ Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

Meal Prepping And Sustainable Living Doesn’t Have To Be A Daunting Task – The Martlet https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/meal-prepping-and-sustainable-living-doesnt-have-to-be-a-daunting-task-the-martlet/ Illustration by Sie Douglas-Fish. With fall classes started, it can be easy to find yourself on campus rushed between classes and hungry, forcing you to turn to one of the many convenient food options around you. Similarly, cooking dinner after a long day while homework is piling up around you might be the last thing you want to worry about, making fast food or takeout look that much more appealing. While there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a meal out, it can be easy to fall into a habit of relying on it. Eating out every day can quickly become a staggering expense, not to mention that it can be difficult to know exactly how healthy what you’re eating is and where the ingredients came from. Cooking for yourself — especially for students living away from home for the first time — can feel daunting. The planning, grocery shopping, execution, and cleanup can make opening up SkipTheDishes or Uber Eats seem like the best option. But, cooking for yourself and meal prepping can be a great way to save money, eat better, live more sustainably, and build habits and skills that will stay helpful throughout your entire life. Getting Started The easiest way to fail at building a new habit is to go all in too quickly. Staying consistent with small progressions slowly will make lifestyle changes actually effective. Try bringing lunch to campus once a week, or swapping takeout with a homemade dinner. Once you feel comfortable with these changes, then you can increase their frequency. If you truly have zero cooking experience, try not to feel intimidated. We live in a world of endless content online ranging from absolute basics to complex techniques, all for free and with video instructions. YouTube and other social media can teach anything from knife skills to meal ideas. Some content creators with easy-to-follow recipes and techniques are Adam Ragusea, Ethan Chlebowski, and Pro Home Cooks. Meal Prep Essentials Meal prepping is the act of cooking a large quantity of food or meals and portioning it to eat throughout the week. It is a great way to get rid of the hard choice of deciding what to eat during the week, as well as saving on cooking and cleaning time. The most important thing for starting to meal prep is a good set of containers. This can be anything from two-dollar tupperware to expensive bamboo bento boxes. Anything that can effectively store and hold food will do the trick. There is a reason so many internet chefs use plastic deli containers, as they are cheap, stack well in the fridge, and are incredibly versatile. Just try to get something that won’t explode open in your backpack during class. Consider the following when picking what to meal prep: how will this keep throughout the week, how quickly will I get tired of eating it, and does it fit with my lifestyle and sustainability goals. Try cooking new things, exploring new cuisines, and finding recipes that you actually want to eat. Sustainability Buying in bulk can be an economical and more sustainable way to do your grocery shopping. Instead of trying to buy all your food at once, shop around. Slowly build up a pantry of basics. Use apps like Flipp to look for weekly specials. Utilize the many specialty grocery stores in Victoria for ingredients that you may have never heard or thought of. Cutting down on meat and animal products can be a great way to reduce food costs and lead a more environmentally friendly and healthy lifestyle. Vegan does not need to mean bland or boring. With plant-based protein sources like tofu, lentils, seitan, and a wide array of fake meats like Impossible and Beyond, it’s never been easier to try and make changes in your diet. Many cultures and cuisines around the world have been plant-based for centuries, and have great ideas for meatless dishes. If you’re wanting to take your sustainability further, you can look towards trying one of the sustainable stores in town, like the Zero Waste Emporium or West Coast Refill. Interested in learning how to grow your own food? Try getting involved with the UVic community garden. With the rapidly increasing costs of living, buying enough groceries for a full week at once can be financially undoable for many. The UVSS Food Bank and Free Store is a stigma-free way to get groceries and household items if you are a student in need, and can be visited by appointment in the basement of the Student Union Building.

Video & Transcript: Kirk Ferentz Michigan Postgame – Sports Illustrated https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/video-transcript-kirk-ferentz-michigan-postgame-sports-illustrated/ KIRK FERENTZ: I’m never discouraged by our players. I thought the effort was there. I thought we had a good week of preparation and practice. I thought the guys were wired in, and we knew what we were up against, what we had to do today to be successful. Credit our opponent; they did a good job of setting the tone and made it difficult for us in offensive and defensive phases, special teams maybe not as much, but they did a good job there. As crazy as it may sound, from where I stood, I thought our guys played hard and I saw some growth in our football team. Time will tell. We’ll go from there. We’ll look at the tape tomorrow. We’ll go back and lick our wounds a little bit, hopefully learn and grow. We’ll move forward on Monday, and that’s our plan right now. We have a bye week coming up after this, and we’ve known that, and our request to our players is be focused on these six weeks, the six-week block, and we’ll figure things out afterward, and that’s our plan, and I’ll open it up for questions. Q. What challenges did Michigan’s rushing attack, especially Blake Corum, pose for you guys? KIRK FERENTZ: He’s an outstanding back, first and foremost. Really good football player. That didn’t surprise us. You look at film, you can see that. And then they’re good up front. Those guys last year and this year are really blocking well. They have good tight ends that block well. The other part of the equation is they threaten you outside. They have really good receivers and a quarterback that can get it out to them. You have to choose your poison a little bit defensively, and if you load up too much in one area, you’re going to be vulnerable in another spot. Q. How encouraging is Luke Lachey’s emergence? KIRK FERENTZ: Really good. I can’t say we’re surprised. We’ve been watching him grow and develop. I don’t know what his age was actual age was when we recruited him, but he looked like he was 16, like a young-looking guy. But a tremendous guy with a great work ethic and good ability. It’s been fun to watch him grow. He’s playing really well. Right now we have a chance to have a pretty good tandem with him and Sam out there. But to make those big plays today gave us a spark, and it was great to see. That’ll help him and help our football team moving forward. Q. You called a time-out on that clipping penalty. Did you get a valid explanation? KIRK FERENTZ: Yeah, you always get a valid explanation. Flash back to 1994 or ’95, we were playing in Kansas City and it got distracting, and it didn’t help our cause at all. So I try not to get distracted by things. But today to say it didn’t impact the game a little bit, the way things went, I think that would probably be naïve. The two things we’ve been pretty good at — even if we don’t have a real good team — we’re usually pretty good at ball security and takeaway margin typically we do a good job, ’09 being an exception there. Typically we’re in the upper third penalty-wise, and I think we’re somewhere in that neighborhood right now. To have six major penalties, that’s kind of uncharacteristic. Maybe we were overwhelmed talent-wise or maybe our guys are that sloppy. It didn’t feel that way from the sideline. It is what it is. But it impacted the game, and we weren’t good enough to overcome that. But I’ve had a problem with college football’s interpretation of cut blocking for probably a decade now, and I don’t see that getting any better. The good news is they’ll probably eliminate it from football next year, so we won’t have to worry about it. Q. If an offensive lineman has his helmet across the far side knee? KIRK FERENTZ: It’s an illegal block. Q. It is an illegal block? KIRK FERENTZ: That’s what you saw. I’m cosigning, I’m not saying it. Q. As far as Logan Jones’ blocking too long, too hard during the play — KIRK FERENTZ: You can’t be too aggressive out there on that field. You can’t do that, with a play that’s still going on. You all have seen Linderbaum do that a lot on the other side of the line of scrimmage. This happened to be where the defender was, and he’s finishing the play, and that’s something we really emphasize and teach. I’m a little perplexed by that one, and I don’t know when you’re supposed to know when to stop if your opponent is still going. It’s a little confusing. Q. If you look at the offense, the passing game especially, third quarter into the fourth quarter seemed to get some rhythm and some movement. Maybe for the first time this year it looked like it was really in concert for multiple possessions. Are you encouraged by that or do you feel like that’s something you guys can build on? KIRK FERENTZ: I am. For a couple things, reasons. I talked about Sam and Luke. I think we have a chance now to have a pretty good tight end combination. Looks like Nico is back pretty close to full speed, which is helpful to have a veteran player out there. Arland is doing some good things, and we’ll keep moving him along, and hopefully Brody is benefitting from every rep he gets, so I am — and then the other component, I thought up until that I guess it was last possession, next-to-last possession, we pass blocked better today, against a group that’s pretty good. They have some guys. To me that’s encouraging. We had a meltdown on that last series — I think we were two scores down, and I’ve been there before as a line coach. It’s not that much fun. So it’s not like that’s the first time I’ve seen that. We’ll grow through that and work through that. I saw a lot of things I thought that were better, but that’s not going to get it done for us unless we really keep pushing this thing forward and squeezing some things down. Q. The guys have talked about they see the improvement, it’s just not quickly enough. Would you agree with that, and how do you speed that up? Scroll to Continue KIRK FERENTZ: Yeah, when you come up short — but again, we knew what we were up against today, what we had to do. Really we couldn’t force — only one bad play I think on their part, the quarterback’s part. He had that one down to the right of our bench, which we were hoping maybe we could get a little bit more going there. But to his credit, he played a really good game. Yeah, I think we’re growing. I do think that. Campbell has been playing at a pretty good level. He, by the way, got tackled it looked like to me. You guys probably saw that one, right? Looked like he was in a hole and some outside hands snatched him down. But he played through that. I think we’re not — I’m not discouraged, but I am disappointed. Q. That Campbell play, why do you think that wasn’t a flag? KIRK FERENTZ: Why wasn’t it? They didn’t call it. It’s real easy. It was only at the point of attack, but other than that — and pretty obvious. It looked pretty flagrant. They obviously didn’t see it. I’m not questioning anybody’s integrity. I’m not going down that road. The guys are working hard — it’s hard; they’ve got a really hard job, really hard job. Q. Did it feel like you guys defensively couldn’t get any traction early in the game? They went I think 11 plays, 13 plays, 13 plays. You guys couldn’t get off the field. KIRK FERENTZ: We couldn’t get off the field, and if you can’t stop the run, it’s tough. It’s easy to call plays when you can run the ball, and not minimizing what they were doing, but again, the pressure they put on you from my vantage point, you see both those receivers last week running by DBs, so if you match up on them one-on-one, you’re living dangerously there with a guy who can throw it. It’s a lot of cat-and-mouse, and it’s tough, but they did a really good job, and it looked like they were executing very well, too. Q. How have you been seeing Diante and Keagan progress in terms of injury recoveries? KIRK FERENTZ: Not fast enough, obviously, but Diante has got a broken bone, so that’s what we’re dealing with. I think there’s a realistic chance he’ll be back after the bye week. The good news for him is he can run. He’ll be in great shape because that’s all he can do is run; he can’t catch. But hopefully we’ll get him back, and he was doing really well prior to his injury, so if we can get him back, you’re talking about a guy that’s been around here for a while, not just a first-year guy, and that would help. But we still don’t know what it’s going to look like once he gets cleared. Q. We’re still talking about seven points and 220 yards until the final possession. What can you do to get from that to a level that can give you a better chance to win? KIRK FERENTZ: It’s kind of what I just described. It’s everything kind of coming together. I think we’re getting better up front. At least that’s my assessment after today. I haven’t seen the film. I think we’ve got backs that are doing a pretty good job. I think we have two tight ends doing a pretty good job, and getting Nico back, all that stuff goes together. Not like I’m only just describing Michigan. Part of the secret to the run game is they’ve got guys outside that you really have to respect or it’s like electrocution. It happens fast, those kinds of things. You know, we’re a work in progress. I’m not discouraged by our guys. In fact, I’m encouraged by some of the things I’m seeing. But we’re going to have to keep moving and obviously have to get better. We’re not going to win a game scoring seven points. Q. How do you see dynamics change when you have a second tight end like Lachey really emerge as a capable person that defensive opponents have to keep an eye out for? KIRK FERENTZ: Every year it’s what you have and try to play towards those strengths. We’re talking about Michigan; they’ve got a couple really good tight ends. One wasn’t here, I don’t think, but they’ve got a couple, three that are really good, good receivers a...

Ian Slows Down As Death Toll From Hurricane Grows In Florida – NBC News https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/ian-slows-down-as-death-toll-from-hurricane-grows-in-florida-nbc-news/ In Florida, nearly 1.3 million homes and businesses were still without power early Saturday, three days after Ian hit the state. The lack of power and water is why Meah Fields, 16, and her family had to leave their Cape Coral home, where they rode out the storm, for Sarasota. The teen said they all needed a place where they could recharge and freshen up until electricity is restored in the coastal city. As of now, she doesn’t know when they will return home. Ian was Fields’ first hurricane. Her family evacuated during Irma in 2017 but decided to stay this time because they didn’t think Ian would hit them. They also didn’t expect Ian’s ferocity, she said in a phone call Saturday. “It was honestly really scary. … My parents were even saying that they never experienced something like this,” she said. “It was hurricane-strength winds for at least 10 hours.” Fields, her 14-year-old brother, and her parents hunkered down in the hallway until the storm passed. Aside from some missing shingles, the family’s home was spared. In Fort Myers, which early on bore the brunt of Ian, residents waded through knee-deep water and used canoes and rafts to salvage what possessions they could find from their flooded homes. “I want to sit in the corner and cry,” Stevie Scuderi told The Associated Press as she shuffled through her mostly destroyed Fort Myers apartment, the mud in her kitchen sticking to her purple sandals. “I don’t know what else to do.” In South Carolina, Ian’s eye came ashore near Georgetown, a small community along the Winyah Bay about 60 miles north of historic Charleston. The storm washed away parts of four piers along the coast, including two that link to the popular tourist town of Myrtle Beach. More than 62,000 customers did not have power. Phil McCausland reported from South Carolina, Leila Sackur reported from London, England, Corky Siemaszko from New York City. Phil McCausland is an NBC News reporter. Corky Siemaszko is a senior writer for NBC News Digital. Associated Press and Minyvonne Burke contributed .

Telefónica Metaverse Day: Telco Embraces The Web3 Revolution – TelcoTitans https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/telefonica-metaverse-day-telco-embraces-the-web3-revolution-telcotitans/ Telefónica announced an array of partnerships and innovations as it continues to assert itself as a leader on metaverse and extended reality. Chema Alonso, Telefónica’s Chief Digital Officer, kicked off the operator’s Metaverse Day on Thursday, placing the emergence of the metaverse within the context of another, coming internet revolution. This revolution is manifesting itself through Web3, an iteration of the web with artificial intelligence services, decentralised token economies and built-in cybersecurity. Alonso framed Web3 within a “tsunami of technologies” which he believes will enable the metaverse. Telefónica characterised such technologies as a gateway to a cognitive interface, or AI with a human parity. Unprecedented challenges on the horizon Irene Bernal, the telco’s Connectivity Innovation Director, also took to the stage to discuss Web3 as a platform. There is no single definition for the metaverse, but Telefónica described it as a “real‑time, virtual, alternative 3D world”. The event was centred around a shift from interactive to immersive experiences, and device computing to spatial computing — not only for gaming, but also for commerce, communications, and education. Bernal was clear that the challenges in exacting this transformation will be “unprecedented”. To demonstrate the monumental challenge to providing XR experiences in real time, she noted that, based on today’s speeds, the Microsoft Flight Simulator would take 300 years to download its 2.5PB of data. Over the next ten years, Telefónica projects data traffic will increase by 20 times, requiring 1,000 times the current computing power at the world’s disposal. Telefónica was upfront about such growth requiring a large‑scale transformation of the telco industry, but sees this as possible through Web3. For instance, edge computing will be key for the metaverse in order to reduce the distance between users and data processing, which will combine with 5G and Wi‑Fi 6 networks to reduce latency. Alonso re‑entered the fray to explain how Telefónica aims to achieve real‑time digitisation in collaboration with Facebook parent Meta through the likes of network slicing and adapting software‑defined networking (SDN) to specific use‑cases. A flurry of strategic partnerships In order to help bring about the metaverse, Telefónica introduced its Metaverse Partnership Framework, setting out three key areas: XR devices; XR engines; and XR experiences. On XR devices, the telco is continuing to develop solutions alongside Meta, confirming the addition of the latter’s MetaQuest2 headset to its catalogue. Additionally, Hugo Swart, Vice‑President and General Manager of XR at Qualcomm, made an appearance to provide further details on its partnership with Telefónica. Swart sought to position Qualcomm as the “ticket to the metaverse”, explaining how its Snapdragon Spaces platform will enable developers to create experiences with AR SDK as a plug‑in for 3D engines. The discussion of XR engines resulted in the announcement of two new partners by Daniel Hernandez, Telefónica’s VP Devices & Consumer IoT. The first was a strategic partnership with cross‑platform game engine developer Unity Technologies on application planning interfaces, gaming experiences, and network‑as-a‑service innovation. Unity is one of the most widely used engines and has acted as the basis for VR experiences since their inception. The second strategic partnership announced was with US software developer Niantic, the creator of Pokémon Go. The pair will collaborate on network, visual connection systems, and delivering exclusive user experiences to Telefónica’s customers. Finally, on the experiences front, there was one more significant declaration. Telefónica announced the acquisition of Zaragoza-based metaverse firm Imascono. The acquisition reflects Telefónica’s desire to support domestic development of XR technologies in Spain, as well as support the gamification of educational experiences. The duo has a history of collaboration reaching as far back as 2015, including cooperation on the security joint venture Movistar Prosegur Alarmas as well as applications focused on bringing metaverse functionality to homes across Spain in real time. Hernandez confessed that he was formerly a sceptic of AR and the metaverse, but with confidence declared “forget this idea that it’s not going to happen!”, and asserted that one‑in‑four consumers will seek immersive experiences by 2026. Prior to the metaverse’s fully fledged launch for consumers, Telefónica has been shaping its own virtual space through Horizon Worlds, a social platform developed in tandem with Meta. The VR ecosystem enables users to interact with their avatars, and the technology is already in use internally for events and meetings. The telco will also join forces with Microsoft on its AltSpaceVR platform to enable customers and workers to interact and witness talks in a virtual edition of its Innovation Hub. Tokenomics: Not in an era of change, but a change of era Alonso went on to use the event to discuss the centrality of Web3 economies and “tokenomics” to commercial aspects of the metaverse. ‘Tokenomics’ is concerned with the use of blockchain services such as non‑fungible tokens. Alonso explained that tokens can be used to access a service and, with the growth of the service, the value of the relevant token will organically rise. NFTs have already sparked the interest of some investors globally, with The New York Times reporting that venture capital invested in cryptocurrency providers had risen in the previous year. Telefónica sees blockchain and crypto growing further with the roll out of metaverse commerce, with the telco’s Executive President José María Álvarez‑Pallete stating that “we are not in an era of change. We are in a change of era”. The telco is to work with tokenomics firm Bit2Me to allow consumers to pay for devices and services through a wallet system using digital assets. Of course, the elephant in the room for XR and the metaverse is the challenge associated with creating a world with seemingly infinite capabilities. Telefónica told attendees that it was aware that with no regulation for new decentralised economies, protection of health standards, or regulation of user behaviour, the metaverse could be a negative force. On top of this, the network and technological growth required will have to be achieved in line with pledges from Telefónica to achieve net‑zero emissions by 2040. Despite a host of challenges, the telco envisions XR 5G will come to market in about five years’ time, and 6G capabilities integrated during the 2030s.

Moto S30 Pro Has Got Everything You Want In A Phone – The Tech Outlook https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/moto-s30-pro-has-got-everything-you-want-in-a-phone-the-tech-outlook/ Motorola is a brand name that comes with cool style, updated features, and an awesome camera. Overall if you can afford a bit costly phone but have a long-lasting and stylish phone Motorola can be your best pick. Since the beginning, it has tried to come up with unique features that would help its buyers to brag about something. Once again it has come up with something super cool and it is about Moto S30 Pro. It was launched on 11th August 2022. If we talk about its screen it comes with a 6.55-inch touchscreen display (FHD+) with a 144 Hz display. A most peculiar feature of this phone is its RAM of 12GB. When most brands find it hard to provide even up to 8GB RAM at an affordable price Motorola is trying its best. The Moto S30 Pro runs Android 12 and is powered by a 4,270mAh non-removable battery. The rear part houses a triple camera setup in which a 50-megapixel primary camera; a 13-megapixel camera, and a 2-megapixel camera. The front camera is 32 megapixels. It is based on Android 12 and comes with 256GB of internal inbuilt storage. The best camera with expanded memory and RAM up to 12GB makes it most suitable for anyone. Don’t give a second thought about it go and just grab it now!

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Crypto News And Price Data – CoinDesk https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/bitcoin-ethereum-crypto-news-and-price-data-coindesk-4/ Released this week, the Best Universities for Blockchain 2022 by CoinDesk serves as a global resource for those looking to study this important technology. Four primary categories were investigated to determine the best universities for blockchain across the globe: (1) an institution’s strength in research and academic contributions to advancing the field; (2) the existing blockchain offerings on campus, whether in the form of classes, educational centers, clubs, etc.; (3) employment and industry outcomes; and (4) overall academic reputation. Every university received an individual score in each category. These scores were then normalized and added together to determine the overall score for the university and its rank. The 50 schools we ranked came from just four regions: Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia and the Pacific Islands. Asia and the Pacific Islands dominated the list with 20 schools. A closer examination of the schools by region showed clear strengths among each of the four metrics. The Best Universities for Blockchain in Asia and the Pacific Islands Universities in Asia and the Pacific Islands had the highest average overall score of 63.7, as well as the highest average research output score for regions with more than one school on the list. Asia and the Pacific Islands cemented its place as the top region for blockchain education with the sheer volume of research it is producing in the blockchain space. Sixty percent of the top 10 research producers are located in Asia and the Pacific Islands. The Best Universities for Blockchain in North America North America has 16 universities in our final 50 and they also achieved the second-highest average overall score of 57. North American schools scored the highest in campus blockchain offerings. While North American schools may be lagging behind their Asian and Pacific Island counterparts in blockchain research production, they tended to offer a greater variety of blockchain classes, have more research centers on campus and more student clubs dedicated to blockchain technology – all of which are counted in the campus blockchain offerings score. Graduates from North American universities also tended to have improved employment outcomes, yet another metric we measured, compared to other regions. The Best Universities for Blockchain in Europe Although Europe did not come out on top in any category by region that was investigated, the 13 European schools that made our final ranking scored second-highest in reputation and employment outcomes. Survey respondents viewed European universities as more prestigious than their Asian, Pacific Island or Middle Eastern counterparts. The Best Universities for Blockchain in the Middle East This year only one university in the Middle East made the Top Universities for Blockchain in 2022. King Saud University stood out from all but one U.S. school – Cornell University – for its number of blockchain research published papers and citations. The university has been investigating how blockchain technology can improve supply chains and energy grids. Sign up for State of Crypto, our weekly newsletter examining the intersection of cryptocurrency and government By signing up, you will receive emails about CoinDesk product updates, events and marketing and you agree to our terms of services and privacy policy. DISCLOSURE Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated . The leader in news and information on cryptocurrency, digital assets and the future of money, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups. As part of their compensation, certain CoinDesk employees, including editorial employees, may receive exposure to DCG equity in the form of stock appreciation rights, which vest over a multi-year period. CoinDesk journalists are not allowed to purchase stock outright in DCG .

Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival Draws Global Audience To US – FOX19 https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/annual-hot-air-balloon-festival-draws-global-audience-to-us-fox19/ ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Hundreds of hot air balloons lifted off Saturday morning, marking the start of an annual fiesta that has drawn pilots and spectators from across the globe to New Mexico’s high desert for 50 years now. As one of the most photographed events in the world, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta has become an economic driver for the state’s largest city and a rare — and colorful — opportunity for enthusiasts to be within arm’s reach as the giant balloons are unpacked and inflated. Three of the original pilots who participated in the first fiesta in 1972 and the family members of others are among this year’s attendees. That year, 13 balloons launched from an open lot near a shopping center on what was then the edge of Albuquerque. It has since grown into a multimillion-dollar production. Pilot Gene Dennis, 78, remembers the snow storm that almost caused him to miss that first fiesta. He had to rearrange his flight plans from Michigan so he could make it to Albuquerque in time. The weather was perfect when he got to New Mexico, said Dennis, who flew under the alias “Captain Phairweather.” He was quoted at the time as saying he had brought good weather with him. He was on the hook again, as pilots hope predictions for the rest of opening weekend are fair. “Ballooning is infectious,” Dennis said, describing being aloft like drifting in a dream, quietly observing the countryside below. Nicole Tagart, a launch official with the 50th annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, signals a balloonist to take off in Albuquerque, N.M., on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022.(Roberto E. Rosales/The Albuquerque Journal via AP) This year will mark Roman Müller’s first time flying in the fiesta. He’s piloting a special-shaped balloon that was modeled after a chalet at the top of a famous Swiss bobsled run. One of his goals will be flying over the Rio Grande and getting low enough to dip the gondola into the river. “This is my plan,” he said, with a wide smile while acknowledging that it’s not always easy to fly a balloon. One thing that helps, he said, is the phenomenon known as the Albuquerque box — when the wind blows in opposite directions at different elevations, allowing skillful pilots to bring a balloon back to near the point of takeoff. Dennis said it took a few years of holding the fiesta to realize the predictability of the wind patterns allowed for balloons to remain close to the launch field, giving spectators quite a show. Tens of thousands of people packed the field Saturday, wide-eyed with necks craned as they tried to soak in the spectacle. Denise Wiederkehr McDonald was a passenger in her father’s balloon during the first fiesta. She made the trip from Colorado to participate in a re-enactment of that 1972 flight on Friday. Her father, Matt Wiederkehr, was one of the first 10 hot air balloon pilots in the U.S. and held numerous world records for distance and duration and built a successful advertising business with his fleet of balloons. Wiederkehr McDonald, who went on to set her own ballooning records before becoming a commercial airline pilot, was wearing one of her father’s faded ballooning jackets and held a cardboard cutout of him as the balloon she was riding in lifted off. She recalled a childhood full of experiences centered on ballooning. “I remember the first time being down in the balloons with them all standing up and inflating and not being able to see the sky because it was all colored fabric. And then the other thing was the first balloon glow at night. Oh, my gosh,” she said. “There were a lot of firsts that I took for granted back then but really look back and appreciate so much now.” The fiesta has grown to include a cadre of European ballooning professionals. More than 20 countries are represented this year, including Switzerland, Australia, Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Taiwan and Ukraine. It also serves as the launching venue for the America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race, one of the world’s premier distance races for gas balloons. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Top 10 Most Funded Mobility-Tech Startups In MENA Region – Arab News https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/top-10-most-funded-mobility-tech-startups-in-mena-region-arab-news/ CAIRO: The shared mobility technology landscape, which includes ride-sharing, car-renting and taxi-ordering models, has been on the rise in the Middle East and North African region ever since global players such as Uber and Lyft rode a wave of success in the business. After producing several unicorns, the shared mobility market in the region is set to expand with a compound annual growth rate of 18.4 percent from 2022 to 2030 as the annual market is predicted to witness a 16.9 percent increase, according to Grand View Research Inc. Arab News has compiled a list of the 10 most funded mobility-tech startups from the MENA region. 1. Careem Total funding: $771.7 million Founders: Mudassir Sheikha and Magnus Olsson Investors: Alpha Partners, Arzan Venture Capital, BECO Capital, Bild Alternative Investment, Coatue Management and 22 others Headquarters: UAE Recognized to be the Middle East’s first unicorn startup, Careem has transformed the ride-hailing sector in the region, attracting global competition and acquisitions to the industry. The company first started as a car-booking app. It later entered the food delivery space and now operates as a super app. Founded in 2012, Careem is the second most funded startup in the region. It obtained unicorn status in 2018 and was later acquired by global ride-hailing giant Uber for $3.1 billion in 2020. 2. Swvl Total funding: $264 million Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Mahmoud Nouh and Ahmed Sabbah Investors: BECO Capital, Endeavor Catalyst, MSA Capital, Oman Technology Fund, Arzan Venture Capital, Sawari Ventures, VNV Global, Queen’s Gambit Growth Capital and others Headquarters: Founded in Egypt, based in the UAE Founded in 2017, Swvl is a tech-enabled mass transit solutions provider offering intercity, intracity, business-to-business and business-to-government transportation services. The company is another unicorn founded in the MENA region, also listed on the Nasdaq. Currently operating in 20 countries across four continents, Swvl went public after it completed a merger with special purpose acquisition company Queens Gambit Growth Capital and was valued at $1.5 billion in March 2022. 3. Yassir Total funding: $43 million Founders: Noureddine Tayebi and El-Mahdi Yettou Investors: Y Combinator, P1 Ventures, French Partners, ACE & Co., Venture Souq, WndrCo, DN Capital, Kismet Capital, Spike ventures, Quiet Capital, Endeavor Catalyst, FJ Labs, Venture Souq, Nellore Capital, Moving Capital and other investors Headquarters: Algeria Established in 2017, Yassir offers on-demand services such as ride-hailing and last-mile delivery in 25 cities across Algeria, Canada, France, Morocco and Tunisia, with over 3 million users. The startup started as a ride-sharing platform and later became a super app adding last-mile delivery and financial services for its users. The company raised $30 million in series A funding in June 2021 in a bid to expand into Western Africa and Europe in 2022. 4. ekar Total funding: $34 million Founder: Vilhelm Hedberg Investors: Polymath Venture and other investors Headquarters: UAE Founded in 2016, ekar offers on-demand access to a network of car-share, subscription leasing vehicles and other mobility options, including peer-to-peer rentals. Operating across seven cities with a fleet of 2,300 vehicles and 250,000 users in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the company is one of the region’s first fully contactless car-sharing apps. The company raised $17.5 million in series B funding in 2019, announced its launch in Thailand in 2022 and plans to expand into Malaysia, Turkey and Egypt later in the year. 5. Udrive Total funding: $17.3 million Founders: Nicholas Watson and Hasib Khan Investors: Cultiv8 and Oman Holding International Headquarters: UAE Another car rental app Udrive provides a pay-per-minute rental service for UAE residents and tourists, clocking in over 2 million trips. Founded in 2016, the company allows users to pick up a car from any location available and is then returned to any parking location in the same city. In its latest funding round, Udrive raised $5 million to support its plans to expand in the Middle East and enhance its technology. 6. Fenix Total funding: $5 million Founders: Jaideep Dhanoa and IQ Sayed Investors: Emkan Capital and Panthera Capital Ventures Headquarters: UAE Established in November 2020, Fenix provides a different kind of mobility using electric scooters on a subscription-based service. Founded by two ex-Careem executives, the company has one of the largest electric vehicle fleets in the region as it operates in four cities. In 2021, the company raised a $5 million seed funding to support its goals to become the first national micro-mobility operator in the Gulf Cooperation Council. 7. Telgani Total funding: $4.2 million Founder: Abdulkader Almkinzy Investors: 500 Startups, Saudi Venture Capital Co., Impact46 and others Headquarters: Saudi Arabia A car rental platform, Telgani allows users to rent a car through its mobile app that is then delivered to their doorstep. Founded in 2018, the company also enables users to pick the car and the location they want to travel to and provides them with nearby options. In November 2021, Telgani secured a $2.5 million pre-series A funding led by Saudi venture capital firm, Impact46. 8. Ousta Total funding: $3.1 million Founder: Nader El-Batrawi Investors: Angel investors Headquarters: Egypt Founded in 2016, Ousta is Egypt’s first local ride-sharing application that was established to compete with ride-hailing companies Uber and Careem. The company did not disclose any of its operations to the media since its fundraising of $1.5 million in 2016. 9. KOI Ride Total funding: $3 million Founder: Kayla Kroot Investors: CEG Invest and Taurus Wealth Headquarters: UAE KOI Ride is a B2B ride-hailing service startup that offers end-to-end ground transport services and connects online booking portals with licensed transportation providers. Established in 2015, the company offers services in Dubai, London, New York, Las Vegas, Cancun, Istanbul, Bodrum, Antalya, Izmir and Dalaman. In June 2022, KOI Ride raised $3 million in an investment round to support its expansion into 24 cities across Europe, the Americas and the Middle East. 10. Urent Total funding: $1.5 million Founder: Omar Al-Ashi Investors: Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed Al-Maktoum Headquarters: UAE Urent, another player in the car rental space, is a UAE-based platform aiming to revolutionize the car rental industry in the region. The company offers a peer-to-peer vehicle sharing platform, creating a whole community based on trust. It is dubbed to be the Airbnb for cars. In June 2019, Urent raised seed funding and, in 2020, raised an undisclosed pre-series A funding.

College Football Scores, Schedule, NCAA Top 25 Rankings, Games Today: Ohio State, Oklahoma State In Action – CBS Sports https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/college-football-scores-schedule-ncaa-top-25-rankings-games-today-ohio-state-oklahoma-state-in-action-cbs-sports/ See New Posts Pinned Alabama turning it sideways Late Q2: No. 2 Alabama 28, No. 20 Arkansas 0 Alabama quarterback Bryce Young exited midway through the second quarter with a shoulder injury, but his backup has picked up right where he left off. Jalen Milroe went in untouched from three yards out to make it a 21-0 game, and then hit JoJo Earle for a 22-yard score to make it a four-score game.  Pinned Penn State’s defense Half: Penn State 14, Northwestern 0 The Nittany Lions are absolutely dominating defensively, holding. Northwestern to just 78 total yards through the first half. The Wildcats mustered just five first downs, and if not for a 29-yard run from Evan Hull, their 2.5 yards per play would be significantly lower. Penn State isn’t lighting it up offensively, but Singleton and Lee have been reasonably effective in the run game. Pinned Cowboys dominating Baylor Half: Oklahoma State 16, Baylor 3 Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders has put together a sensational first half to give the Cowboys an early two-touchdown lead in Waco. Sanders has 101 yards through the air, 72 yards on the ground and a touchdown each way to keep the offense on schedule against a physical Baylor defense. The first half performance was the worst at home for the Bears since the Cowboys crushed Baylor 42-3 in their last trip to Waco. The Bears are undefeated at home since that game, but Sanders and Company are keeping things tight.  Pinned Bryce Young injured Alabama quarterback Bryce Young is out of the game against No. 20 Arkansas after suffering an apparent shoulder injury in the second quarter of the second-ranked Crimson Tide’s game in Fayetteville. Young was injured on a third-down play in which he scrambled right and was sacked by Razorbacks linebacker Drew Sanders and came down awkwardly on the shoulder while attempting a throw. He came back in on the next drive, but left the field after throwing an incomplete pass on third down — his first pass attempt of the drive. He went straight to the injury tent and Jalen Milroe is in the game  Pinned Scoreless in Starkville End Q1: No. 17 Texas A&M 0, Mississippi State 0 Defenses have ruled the day in Starkvile, where 17th-ranked Texas A&M and home-standing Mississippi State are scoreless through the first 15 minutes. More importantly, though, is the ineptitude shown by the Aggies offense so far. They’ve only snapped the ball nine times on offense and, aside from running back Devon Achane’s 39 yards, haven’t been able to do much at all. Pinned Wake up early Start 2Q: Wake Forest 7, Florida State 7 Big-time ACC battle here, and Wake Forest has an early lead as the Demon Deacons cap a long drive early in the second quarter with a 4-yard touchdown strike from Sam Hartman to A.T. Perry. Demon Deacons went 13 plays and 80 yards on their first scoring drive and 12 plays/90 yards on that possession. After an early TD drive of their own, the Seminoles have punted on back-to-back possessions  Pinned Ohio State bounces back End 1Q: Ohio State 14, Rutgers 7 Rutgers actually scored first on the road against No. 3 Ohio State, but the Buckeyes respond with a couple of touchdown drives as Miyan Williams already has two rushing touchdowns and 49 yards on the ground. No Jaxon Smith-Njigba again today for Ohio State as the Buckeyes take on Greg Schiano, who is their former defensive coordinator. Pinned Heavyweight battle in Waco 2Q: Oklahoma State 9, Baylor 3 Oklahoma State and Baylor have each thrown a few haymakers early in the first quarter of their top-25 matchup in Waco. Spencer Sanders and Blake Shapen have each thrown a few big passes, but the defenses have showed up in a big way. Oklahoma State forced a safety on a bizarre wide toss play out of the end zone by Baylor, while the Bears threw some big hits on Spencer Sanders.  Pinned Alabama rolling End Q1: No. 2 Alabama 14, No. 20 Arkansas 0 Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young found Kobe Prentice for a 47-yard touchdown midway through the first quarter, and ran one in himself on the next drive to make it a two-score game early in Fayetteville. The Tide have been searching for a go-to weapon outside all season, and Prentice is making a strong case. He has three catches for 92 yards so far. Pinned Penn State strikes End 1Q: Penn State 7, Northwestern 0  Penn State started ugly, going punt, fumble, interception on its first three possessions. But Northwestern failed to capitalize, going three-and-out  on three straight possessions and then throwing an interception. The Nittany Lions finally got going, and Sean Clifford finds Brenton Strange for a 20-yard TD pass with 15 seconds left in the first quarter. Pinned Oregon State hanging around Halftime: Utah 21, Oregon State 13 The Beavers head into the locker trailing by eight points, and that should be considered a win with the quarterback play they’ve gotten. Chance Nolan completed two of seven passes for 26 yards and two interceptions, including a pick six, before exiting with an injury. Ben Gulbranson replaced him and has completed one of five attempts for 63 yards. For Utah, quarterback Cameron Rising has been a one-man show. Rising has 132 total yards and two touchdowns, but he hasn’t gotten much help from anyone else. The Utes need to find a way to create some separation in the second half. Pinned Kansas State comes through Final: Kansas State 37, Texas Tech 28 Since a stunning non conference loss against Tulane two weeks ago, Kansas State has rebounded magnificently thanks in large part to Adrian Martinez. He ran for three touchdowns today after running for three last week in a win at Oklahoma. He totaled 171 yards on just 12 carrie against the Red Raiders to lead KSU to a 2-0 start in Big 12 play. Texas Tech racked up 26 first downs compared to just 15 for Kansas State, but four turnovers hampered TTU today. Pinned Big Ten West chaos Final: Purdue 20, Minnesota 10 Final: Illinois 34, Wisconsin 10 For the moment, Northwestern is now in solo possession of first place in the Big Ten West. None of the division’s seven teams have played more than two league games, but the Wildcats are the only ones without a loss. Of course, they are coming off consecutive non conference losses to Duke, Southern Illinois and Miami (Ohio) and are about to play at No. 11 Penn State. So, in all likelihood, every Big Ten West team will be 1-1 in league play by night’s end. Nebraska could be 0-2 if it does not win as a 5.5 point favorite vs. Indiana. Pinned Ole Miss tops Kentucky in a wild one Final: No. 14 Ole Miss 22, No. 7 Kentucky 19 Ole Miss defensive end Jared Ivey came in hot and knocked the ball away from Kentucky quarterback Will Levis and Tavius Robinson recovered it with 51 seconds left in the game and Kentucky on the Ole Miss 12-yard line to seal a three-point win for a Rebels team could move into the top 10 this week. It was coach Lane Kiffin’s first win over a top 10 team since arriving in Oxford, and a huge statement for a program that could be a contender in the SEC West.  Pinned Michigan improves to 5-0 FINAL: Michigan 27, Iowa 14 The Wolverines went to Iowa City and avoided the fate that has befallen so many top five teams to make the same trip in recent years. Michigan jumped out to a 7-0 lead on the first possession of the game, and honestly? It never felt like much of a contest afterward. Iowa scored a couple of fourth quarter touchdowns to make the game seem closer than it was. The Wolverines dominated the ball for most of the afternoon, though Iowa’s defense held the Wolverines to only 327 yards of offense. They could not hold Blake Corum, who a week after carrying Michigan against Maryland, did the same against Iowa. Corum finished with 133 yards rushing and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Iowa is now 1-1 in Big Ten play with a big game against an Illinois team that just beat Wisconsin waiting next weekend. Pinned Purdue! Late 4Q: Purdue 20, Minnesota 10 The Boilermakers finally found their explosive gear on offense as Devin Mockobee runs 68 yards to set up a two-yard TD run on the next play. Just like that, Purdue is ahead 20-10 on the road at Minnesota with a chance to throw the Big Ten West into utter chaos. Pinned Minnesota clawing Early 4Q: Purdue 10, Minnesota 10 Minnesota has the football and is trying to put together a drive for its first lead of the game in what has been an ugly slugfest for positioning in the Big Ten West. Both quarterbacks have thrown two interceptions without a TD and neither run game can get going. Pinned Iowa is on the board! Early 4th: Michigan 20, Iowa 7 The Hawkeyes have finally hit paydirt thanks to a two-yard ruch by Kaleb Johnson, but it’s likely too little too late. Iowa still only has 157 yards of offense, and 44 of them just came on its last possession. Michigan has completely dominated the game otherwise. Blake Corum has rushed for 101 yards, while JJ McCarthy has thrown for 148 with a TD pass. It’s hard to imagine the Hawkeyes scoring two more times in the final 15 minutes. At least, not on offense. Pinned Um, Wisconsin? Late 3Q: Illinois 31, Wisconsin 10 The Badgers are behind three scores at home against Illinois. Looks like the last time Illinois won in Madison was 2002. A win for the Illini would be made even sweeter because of the fact that it’s ex-Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema running things for Illinois now. With the Big Ten West in utter chaos, Illinois might need to be taken seriously as a division-title contender. Pinned Kentucky driving in Oxford End Q3: No. 14 Ole Miss 22, No. 7 Kentucky 19 The Wildcats got a touchdown pass from Will Levis to Jordan Dingle early in the third quarter, but Ole Miss to...