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Most Innovative Gadgets Of 2022: LG MoodUP, DJI Avata & More – Gadget Flow https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/most-innovative-gadgets-of-2022-lg-moodup-dji-avata-more-gadget-flow/ Curious about the most innovative gadgets of 2022? Then check out today’s digest. These products impress with their design and smart functionality. Love gadgets that push boundaries? That’s exactly what the most innovative gadgets of 2022 do. Not just your everyday tech products, these creations let you fly with your drone and change your fridge color whenever you want. Let’s check them out. Related: These AI gadgets can help you focus and improve your work/life balance Get the sensation you’re flying with the DJI Avata FPV drone. Working with the DJI Motion Controller and DJI Goggles 2, it’s unlike any drone you’ve experienced, giving everyone the feeling of being airborne. Then, you don’t have to stress about choosing an appliance color with the LG MoodUP refrigerator. Select one of the LED colors to match any decor, mood, or season. Step into the future with the most innovative gadgets of 2022. 1. The LG MoodUP refrigerator boasts a color-changing LED door panel. That way, it always suits your mood and kitchen decor. LG MoodUP refrigerator in use Get flexible kitchen design with the LG MoodUP refrigerator. It offers 22 colors for the upper door and 19 colors for the lower. There are even color themes and an integrated Bluetooth speaker. This gadget is coming soon, and its price is TBA. 2. The DJI Avata FPV drone has a sleek profile and works with the DJI Goggles 2 and DJI Motion Controller, making your flying experience immersive. DJI Avata intro video Feel like you’re flying over your subjects with the DJI Avata FPV drone. Working with the DJI Goggles 2 and DJI Motion Controller, it lets you see what it does right before your eyes. Get it for $629 on the official website. 3. The Apple Watch Ultra endurance smartwatch keeps up with your outdoor adventures with its high WR100 water resistance rating. Apple Watch Ultra product design Wear the Apple Watch Ultra endurance smartwatch on long hiking trips, cross-country ski outings, and more. Its WR100 water-resistance rating and durable glass case can handle pretty much anything. It also works with gloves and has an 86 dB siren, making it one of the most innovative gadgets of 2022. Get it for $799 on the official website. 4. The Mode wireless charging toothbrush keeps your bathroom looking modern, eliminating cords with its sleek charging dock. Mode wireless charging toothbrush in use Say goodbye to messy toothbrush charging cords when you have the Mode wireless charging toothbrush. Its innovative charging dock allows you to charge and store it on the wall. Get it for $165 on the official website. 5. The Ultrahuman Ring smart fitness wearable tracks your metabolic health, sleep, and movement in a discreet, comfortable design. Ultrahuman Ring wearable in use Keep an eye on important health parameters like sleep, activity, metabolic health, and more with the Ultrahuman Ring smart fitness wearable. The cool ring design is comfortable, easy to wear, and screenless. Preorder it for $299 on the official website. 6. The Starlink Maritime low-latency internet device provides impressive 350 Mbps download speeds on your boat, connecting you at sea. Starlink Maritime in use Got a boat? The Starlink Maritime low-latency internet device delivers Wi-Fi even in the middle of the sea. It withstands extreme temperatures and weather conditions, ensuring everything from yachts to oil rigs get internet. It’s one of the most innovative gadgets of 2022. Get it for $5,000 on the official website. 7. The Prodrive Racing Simulator concept home furniture adds a stunning modern look and immerses you in race simulations. Prodrive Racing Simulator furniture in use Racing simulators don’t need to look like arcade gadgets. The Prodrive Racing Simulator concept home furniture proves it with its unique carbon monocoque and elegant black finish. Meanwhile, it has a driver’s seat, screen, steering wheel, and pedal box. Reserve yours for about $44,324 on the official website. 8. The WOWCube® system lets you interact with your games in 3 dimensions. Turn and twist the pieces to play Pipes, Butterflies, and more. WOWCube system in use Take your games to the next level with the WOWCube® system. Boasting 24 different screens, it lets you complete puzzles, play games, and display widgets like notes and the weather. Preorder it for $299 on the official website. 9. The ClicBot kids’ coding robot supports a child’s logical thinking and exploration skills as they build a robot pet they can cuddle with. ClicBot product video Help your child develop coding skills with the ClicBot kids’ coding robot. The pieces are easy to click together, and the puppy even interacts when it recognizes its owner, making it one of the most innovative gadgets of 2022. Get it for $499.99 on the official website. 10. The FITURE interactive smart fitness mirror blends into any home decor and puts you in touch with world-renown instructors. FITURE smart mirror in use Take a class with a world-famous fitness instructor right in your living room with the FITURE interactive smart fitness mirror. It counts your reps, offers professional tips, and has dual-frequency speakers. Get it for $1,495 on the official website. The most innovative gadgets in 2022 excel in design and features, taking tech to new horizons. Which of these gadgets did you love the most? Tell us! Want more news, reviews, and guides from Gadget Flow? Follow us on Apple News, Google News, Feedly, and Flipboard. If you use Flipboard, you should definitely check out our Curated Stories. We publish 3 new stories every day, so make sure to follow us to stay updated! The Gadget Flow Daily Digest highlights and explores the latest in tech trends to keep you informed. Want it straight to your inbox? Subscribe ➜ Lauren has been writing and editing since 2008. She loves working with text and helping writers find their voice. When she’s not typing away at her computer, she cooks and travels with her husband and two daughters.

Death Of GPU Mining? Popular Crypto Profits Go Into Negative As Ethereum Miners Flood Market | Bitcoinist.com – Bitcoinist https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/death-of-gpu-mining-popular-crypto-profits-go-into-negative-as-ethereum-miners-flood-market-bitcoinist-com-bitcoinist/ Mining profits of the PoW cryptos have gone into the negative following the Ethereum merge as ETH miners flood the hashrates of these other coins. Mining Profits Of Popular Proof-Of-Work Cryptos Like Ethereum Classic Crater After The Merge A couple of days ago, the much awaited ETH merge finally arrived and transitioned the network into a PoS-based consensus mechanism. Since proof-of-stake chains don’t rely on miners for hashing blocks, every miner attached to Ethereum was left without the whole of their revenues. Some of these miners have sold off their mining rigs in order to exit the market, while others have moved onto the remaining proof-of-work networks. There is, however, one problem with miners shifting to other coins and it is that all the PoW cryptos that utilize graphics cards for mining (that is, those other than Bitcoin) had magnitudes lesser hashrate than ETH did before the merge. There is a general concept of mining difficulty across crypto chains, where the network adjusts the rate at which miners can hash new blocks according to the total hashrate. Usually, coins increase the difficulty when the hashrate goes up to balance things out and keep the block production rate near constant. A flood of GPUs previously being used for ETH mining suddenly entering into these other, significantly smaller hashrates would therefore result in a difficulty explosion. Here is some data from the crypto mining profits calculator website WhatToMine that shows where the profits of the PoW coins with some of the largest market caps currently stand: No crypto in the list is offering positive mining profits currently | Source: WhatToMine As you can see in the above table, Ethereum Classic, the coin that’s currently the most popular mining option in the market, nets miners a profit of -$0.78 per hour right now. This figure assumes an average electricity price of $0.1 per kWh, and uses the hash of three AMD RX 480 graphics cards for making the calculation. Even with the strongest GPU available on the market, the 3090ti, ETC mining hourly profits remain in the negative at around -$0.50. As some already speculated before the merge, it would appear there just wasn’t any crypto with hashrate and market cap large enough to absorb the ETH miners, which made up for the vast majority of GPU crypto miners out there. It’s possible a PoW coin can rise up in the future to become large enough to host comparable amounts of hashrate as Ethereum once did, but for now it would seem graphics cards-based mining may be dead. ETH Price At the time of writing, Ether’s price floats around $1.4k, down 6% in the past week. ETH value tumbles down | Source: ETHUSD on TradingView Featured image from GuerrillaBuzz Crypto PR on Unsplash.com, chart from TradingView.com

Local Armenians Protest U.S. Assistance To Azerbaijan’s Military – Los Angeles Times https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/local-armenians-protest-u-s-assistance-to-azerbaijans-military-los-angeles-times/ More than 100 people gathered outside the Azerbaijani Consulate in Los Angeles on Saturday demanding an end to attacks by Azerbaijan forces in a disputed border region with Armenia and Artsakh, where an estimated 200 people were killed in the past week. The demonstration coincided with a surprise weekend visit to Armenia by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and two Armenian American members of Congress, and the introduction of a resolution in Congress by Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank) demanding a prohibition on U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan. The U.S. Embassy said the visit will include a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, according to the Associated Press. Like many others waving Armenian flags at the event organized by the Armenian Youth Federation, Tenny Alahverdian, 20, said she found herself thinking of relatives “suffering on the front lines.” “We’re hoping that the United States comes down hard on Azerbaijan,” she said. “For President Biden to be calling for peace while funding Azerbaijan’s military is a crazy — and deadly — double standard.” The demonstration was part of an effort that has spanned decades of advocacy and activism by Armenians around the world. Much of that movement has been centered in Los Angeles County, home to America’s largest Armenian diaspora community. The movement was launched in the 1980s, when children of survivors of the Armenian genocide of 1915 to 1918 established themselves in the U.S. The genocide claimed the lives of more than 1 million Armenians under the Ottoman Empire, which became the modern republic of Turkey. Over the years, Armenian Americans grew more politically active, contributing to political campaigns and the successful push last year to have Biden officially recognize the genocide. Bitter memories of the massacre have profoundly shaped Armenian and Armenian American identity. But U.S. presidents had avoided using the term “genocide” so as not to anger the Turkish government, an important ally that disputes that what took place constituted genocide. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan blame each other for instigating the recent bloody clashes. But demonstrators outside the Wilshire Boulevard consulate on Saturday say the fighting started in 2020 when Azerbaijan, with the help of Turkey, launched a war to remove Armenians living in the disputed border region of Nagorno-Karabakh, referred to as the Republic of Artsakh. News of Pelosi’s visit to Armenia, combined with Schiff’s proposed resolution, prompted Raffi Haig Hamparian, chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America, to urge Congress to “stop shipping U.S. tax dollars to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.” “A halt to U.S. aid to Azerbaijan,” he said, “would also meaningfully challenge our State Department’s deeply flawed policy of answering every act of Azerbaijani aggression with generic calls upon all parties to refrain from violence.” The Azerbaijani Consulate, however, said in a statement on its website that the ongoing tensions “arose as a result of large-scale provocations by Armenia, and therefore the responsibility completely falls on … Armenia.” Alahverdian, the Los Angeles protest attendee, said: “The situation isn’t looking good anyway you look at it. It’s difficult being a member of the diaspora.”

Photos: Lawrence Tech At St. Ambrose Football | Sports News | Nonpareilonline.com – The Daily Nonpareil https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/photos-lawrence-tech-at-st-ambrose-football-sports-news-nonpareilonline-com-the-daily-nonpareil/ Photos: Lawrence Tech at St. Ambrose football Lawrence Tech at St. Ambrose football St. Ambrose quarterback Tom Casey throws a long pass down the field over the arms of Lawrence Tech’s Dantae Banton during the first half Saturday at Brady street stadium. GARY L. KRAMBECK St. Ambrose’s Ray Bouye III slips away from the tackle of Lawrence Tech’s Christian Broaden (9) during the first half Saturday at Brady street stadium. GARY L. KRAMBECK St. Ambrose’s Ray Bouye III slips away from the tackle of Lawrence Tech’s Caleb Kelley during the first half Saturday at Brady street stadium. GARY L. KRAMBECK St. Ambrose’s Demetrius Coleman runs the ball with Lawrence Tech’s Jordan Morris on the tackle during the first half SAturday at Brady street stadium. GARY L. KRAMBECK St. Ambrose’s Demetrius Coleman runs the ball with Lawrence Tech’s Jordan Morris on the tackle during the first half SAturday at Brady street stadium. GARY L. KRAMBECK St. Ambrose’s Demetrius Coleman runs the ball with Lawrence Tech’s Dantae Banton looking to intercept during the first half Saturday at Brady street stadium. GARY L. KRAMBECK St. Ambrose’s Tom Casey runs the ball around Lawrence Tech’s Cameron Jones (31) and Caleb Kelley (52) during the first half Saturday at Brady street stadium. GARY L. KRAMBECK Related to this collection Annual North Scott Invitational boys and girls cross country meet at Scott County Park. Moline at Rock Island football. Check out Kenneth Ferriera’s photo (and drone!) gallery of the annual cross country meet.  Moline hosting Rock Island girls volleyball, Moline wins 25-13, 19-25, 25-19.

10 Emerging Wine Regions Across America – Arizona’s Family https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/10-emerging-wine-regions-across-america-arizonas-family/ PHOENIX (Stacker) – Napa. Sonoma. Finger Lakes. Columbia Valley. Many of America’s most celebrated wine regions have gained recognition from oenophiles worldwide. But even though producing wine is traditionally associated with certain regions, up-and-coming wineries are making their mark in surprising areas across the country from the islands of Hawaii to Arizona’s desert trails. Locations designated as an American Viticultural Area are grape-growing regions that have specific geographic or climatic features that make them distinct from the surrounding areas and directly affect how grapes are grown. Wineries in these areas will often include their AVA designation on bottle labels as a way to easily identify the origin of their wines. Plonk Wine Club reviewed the 10 most recently approved AVAs by the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. Some AVAs were established decades ago and will need to file petitions to change borders or grape varietals. Other regions are newly established as an AVA, or are still “pending” regions, listed as “accepted as perfected” but not yet approved or codified. Here are 10 wine regions across America that have been established within the past year. Ulupalakua, Hawaii Ulupalakua was established on July 1, 2021. The Ulupalakua wine region is located on the island of Maui in Hawaii, near Makena at the foot of Haleakala, a dormant volcano. The only operating winery is Tedeschi Vineyards’ MauiWine, which produces wine from grapes as well as pineapple. The vineyard produces some classic varietals such as grenache, syrah, malbec, and chenin blanc. Fruit wines are also popular such as Maui blanc, a pineapple wine, and Lehua, a juicy raspberry wine. Hawaii is home to two more vineyards: Volcano Winery on the Big Island, and Oeno Winemaking on Oahu. Virginia Peninsula, Virginia The Virginia Peninsula is located within the counties of James City, York, New Kent, and Charles City, as well as a few cities such as Poquoson, Hampton, Newport News, and Williamsburg. When the Virginia Peninsula was established in August 2021, the region was already home to five wineries: Gauthier Vineyard, Williamsburg Winery, New Kent Winery, Saude Creek Vineyards, and Upper Shirley Vineyards. While there are some two-dozen grape varieties growing in Virginia, many of the more classic grapes in the Virginia Peninsula include chardonnay, riesling, cabernet franc, merlot, and petit verdot. A few unique varieties are also offered including viognier, petit manseng, albariño, mourvèdre, and tannat. Verde Valley, Arizona The Verde Valley, established in November 2021, is located in Yavapai County just north of Phoenix. It’s also home to the Verde Valley Wine Trail, which features 25 different wineries within the region. Page Spring Cellars, Arizona Stronghold, and Caduceus Cellars are some of the more popular wineries to visit on the trail.  Vineyard owners grow more than 40 different grape varieties for both white and red wines. Popular white grapes include malvasia bianca, viognier, chardonnay, vermentino, seyval blanc, and picpoul blanc. For red grapes, popular varieties are syrah, petite sirah, cabernet sauvignon, sangiovese, tannat, and barbera. Lower Long Tom, Oregon In November 2021, Lower Long Tom region was established in Oregon between Corvallis and Eugene. It lies at the southern tip of the Willamette Valley, just north of the Umpqua Valley region. Part of the Willamette Valley Wineries, the Lower Long Tom AVA is a partnership of 12 wineries including High Pass and Benton-Lane. Pinot noir is one of the more popular grape varietals of the region, along with chardonnay, riesling, pinot gris, and sauvignon blanc. San Luis Obispo Coast, California As of March 9, 2022, the San Luis Obispo Coast was designated as a wine region in central California. Home to the San Luis Obispo Wine Collective of 30 member wineries, this emerging region is just five miles off the coast and is popularly known for its chardonnay and pinot noir grapes. The coastal air provides a cooling atmosphere for the grapes, offering 20 different varieties. Edna Valley Vineyard is a frequent stop from the SLO Wine Collective. West Sonoma Coast, California The West Sonoma Coast, established in May 2022, is another up-and-coming wine region in California. Located farther north, this wine region is home to the West Sonoma Coast Vintners, an association made up of 28 wineries formed to promote community-minded farming and support member wineries and the greater region. The cooler, coastal climate is also an advantage for vineyards, best known for chardonnay and pinot noir. Mt. Pisgah, Polk County, Oregon Mount Pisgah, Polk County, also associated with Willamette Valley Wine in Oregon, is located in the northwest part of the state. Established in June 2022, the region relies on the rich soil from the mountain to produce grape varietals such as pinot noir, pinot gris, pinot blanc, chardonnay, and tempranillo. The region is in north Willamette Valley and is home to Freedom Hill Vineyard, as well as 10 other vineyards. Mount Pisgah, Polk County, only contains two wineries—Illahe Vineyards and Open Claim Vineyards. Paulsell Valley, California Paulsell Valley is another growing wine region in central California, located in Stanislaus County east of Modesto. Paulsell Valley is home to three commercial vineyards covering 826 acres of vines, and a proposed fourth vineyard would add another 700 acres. Conditions are known to be warmer—the area gets a large amount of direct sun exposure due to a type of topography referred to as a “mound-intermound relief,” which means shadow-producing hills are low and intercut with arroyos. This makes an ideal climate for cabernet sauvignon, petite sirah, petite verdot, and teroldego. Paulsell Valley became an established wine region on June 3, 2022. Rocky Reach, Washington Established on June 3, 2022, Rocky Reach is located in Chelan and Douglas counties and is one of the most northern regions to be established as an AVA within Washington. Because Rocky Reach has lower elevations while still surrounded by mountains and plateaus, the warmer climate makes it well-suited for growing cabernet sauvignon grapes. There are 117 vineyards located within the region, which is also home to Rocky Pond Estate Winery, a family-owned operation that produces cabernet, syrah, malbec, grenache, and five varieties of white and rosé. Upper Lake Valley, California The Upper Lake Valley AVA was established wholly within the existing Clear Lake AVA, effectively expanding that footprint to an additional 17,360 acres. Good soil and drainage, as well as a relatively temperate climate and generally low winds, make this area ideal for the development of sauvignon blanc. Sixteen commercial vineyards are located within this region with wineries such as Ceago Vinegarden and Brassfield Estate Winery. Nearby, the Lake County Winery Association is linked with other regions including High Valley, Guenoc Valley, Red Hills Lake County, Big Valley District, Kelsey Bench, and Benmore Valley. This story originally appeared on Plonk Wine Club and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Copyright 2022 Stacker via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

A Connection Resistant To Displacement, Battling Loneliness During Times Of War – Berkeley Beacon https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/a-connection-resistant-to-displacement-battling-loneliness-during-times-of-war-berkeley-beacon/ By Margarita Ivanova September 17, 2022 It was late February during my study abroad program in The Netherlands when I first heard about Russia’s potential attack on Ukraine. The talk of an invasion was simply a rumor until Thursday, Feb. 24. When the news came, no one really knew what to do.  There were many students around me squirming around in fear and ignorance even though we were living in The Netherlands—one of the most disconnected countries in Europe from the war.  The fear didn’t last long though, as spring break came around a few weeks later. We had the privilege of trading our thoughts of war for our travels to Italy, which was going to be our living fantasy for the next week. Spending money like it was a game of monopoly, we first hit Venice, and after three days of gondola rides, it soon came time to frolic away to Florence. It was Thursday, March 8—International Women’s Day—and every restaurant in Venice was handing out bundles of yellow flowers. The day felt like magic; every woman seemed to share a glow of solidarity, feeling acknowledged in a special way. As my friends and I stood up to depart the train back from Florence, I saw her: a woman with a hopeless expression, two bags in hand, and a foreigners confusion that matched mine. I can’t really put the feeling into words, but it led me to give her my flowers.  [elementor-template id=”60935″] “Are you Russian?” she asked me in Russian. As a Bulgarian, I was familiar with the Slavic-rooted language, and found a way to communicate through gestures and an understanding of every other word.  She told me she was a Ukrainian refugee who needed help; she didn’t know where she was going, she didn’t have money, and she was meeting someone somewhere, with a passport deprived of destination. Her name: Anzhelika Holdobina. As we both got off from the next stop, I told her I was a journalist and she quickly gave me her phone number before charging off to her next train. Her presence led me to realize the reality of the refugee crisis. I was no longer distantly watching news interpretations of asylum seekers from a disconnected part of the world. Our technological exchange would soon foster a connection that allowed me to skim the surface of life for refugees. Staying in touch with Holdobina, as well as another family, has not only heightened my awareness and satisfied my curiosity, but it has given them the hope and tenderness of a stranger. Communication gives them the reminder that they are loved and appreciated. Holdobina and I have been in contact on Viber and WhatsApp ever since our exchange, and I received permission from Anzhelika to share bits of our correspondence throughout the past six months. As we have maintained contact, I have been able to follow her journey as she attempts to rebuild her life in Italy. Her story is more than just a political slogan for perseverance, but an example that the statistics and headlines we consume affect real people in heartbreaking ways.  March 8, 2022 :  “Hi Anzhelika, are you doing okay?” March 9, 2022:  “Hi Margarita, housing is not very good, money too, and I need a job, and a family that would take me to live with them, or a single woman. Please help.” After receiving this, I started a GoFundMe, but I was back in the Netherlands. There wasn’t much I could physically do to help. Holdobina had just returned from a three-day journey that bridged through Poland, Austria, to Italy, parting with her husband and son in Kyiv, who were fighting in the war. March 13, 2022:  Her loneliness changed course when she found a short-term sense of peace in a room with a grandmother and four small grandchildren who were also in Florence running from the war. Although there are many organizations and volunteers providing humanitarian aid, Evgeniya Volkova, a Bulgarian-Ukrainian real estate agent part of a non-profit seeking to integrate refugees into family housing, says the process is not an easy one.  “It’s really great when we see families hosting refugees, but the reality is that the other 90% of refugees who don’t get so lucky run the risk of being homeless,” she said. “This fear and lack of comfort makes them very depressed.” During our conversation, Holdobina talked about a comfortable sense of food security, but said finding work was already extremely difficult. March 14, 2022: “Hi Anzhelika, how is your family back home? How are you staying in touch with them?” “I can keep in touch with my family through the internet. But it is really difficult thinking about their position versus mine. They are fighting in a war and I am here with silence and beauty.”  “Have you had any luck finding a job?” “I am trying to get a job, but since I don’t know the language, they won’t take me anywhere, and I want some kind of work at least.” Volkova highlighted the difficulty in job integration also outside of the language barrier, saying that many doctors and highly-ranked professionals are being cornered into working low-wage jobs that don’t align with their strengths. March 25, 2022:  “Hi Anzhelika, The Go Fund Me donations went through, we raised over $300!” “Oh thank you Margarita for your help. I do need the money, I don’t work yet. They help feed us here, but besides food we also need personal items. Hopefully we will be going home to Ukraine soon.” To the average person, $300 doesn’t seem like much, but at the time, it doubled Italy’s approved monthly payment of €300 to Ukrainian arrivals. April 22, 2022:  “How is everything Anzhelika?” “Hello Margarita, life goes on. We are resting, waiting for good news.” I told her that the money was wired, and she thanked me, but the hope of work for her was seemingly slimming down. “We are still waiting for working documents, so we are not working yet, but we are being helped by humanitarian aid. I don’t know when the documents will be ready, for now we are patiently waiting.” “Thank you Margarita for being so attentive and kind.” I couldn’t understand why she was thanking me. It felt like I was doing less than the bare minimum at this point, feeling very privileged each time I reached out. May 20, 2022:  “Do you think you will get to go home soon?” She was now living in Empoli, Italy. She feared the thought of going home, and said it would be too dangerous, though her current situation remained precarious. “I want to stay here, I am learning the language, the state helps with the purchase of products, but no they still haven’t told us about our living situation.” August 19, 2022:  “Hi Anzhelika, How are you? It has been a while. Have you received your working papers? How is your living space? Are things more comfortable?” “Hi Margarita, Life goes on. I am learning a language in an online school. It’s vacation time in Italy, and everyone is on vacation. I am not working yet. We are waiting for the papers. Maybe in Autumn something will change. How are you? Where are you? You have an interesting life, you travel.” I filled her in on my life and my family, and then asked about her loved ones back in Ukraine. I talked about some of my dreams, and sent her some prayers. “Good evening Margarita, My husband and son and I talk on the phone, and sometimes by video link, but of course this is not the same as a living connection. I really want to hug them, but only God knows how soon it will happen. Thank you for your concern and prayers. It really helps to live and hope for the best.” “And your living situation? Are you with the same people?” “Hi Margarita, yes, we still live together with the grandmother and the three grandchildren from Ivano Frankivsk. We are also helped by the state of Italy. And everything is good with my adult children, if you can say so. These are not easy times for Ukraine. You are a smart woman. You will do great things, and I wish you strength, health, and well being. May all of your dreams come true.” Present day:  The refugee crisis continues, with hopes of going home continuously waning for those who are displaced. During times of conflict and war, we tend to hyperfocus on the policy, the resources, and the military, to the point where we leave behind some of the most basic principles of empathy and human connection. Although many of us are disconnected from those experiencing the effects of the war in Ukraine, technology has a set of arms that extend beyond the reach of our experiences.  By taking advantage of this communication, we can share love to the individuals running from war, and fighting the battle of loneliness that exists within working to maintain a sense of direction. It becomes repetitive to share or display solidarity without application. Show refugees they aren’t alone, not just by donating and keeping up with the war, but by sharing a sense of presence through kind words and listening, just as you would if it was your family. %

Chinese Citizens Top Number Of Foreigners With Ghana Card – Prof Attafuah – Ghana Business News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/chinese-citizens-top-number-of-foreigners-with-ghana-card-prof-attafuah-ghana-business-news/ Prof Attafuah The National Identification Authority (NIA) says China is the country with the highest number of foreigners issued with Non-citizen National Identity card (Ghana card). Professor Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah, Executive Secretary, NIA, said this at a press briefing in Accra on Friday to mark this year’s International Identity Day, after the Ghana News Agency posed a question to him. This comes amid recent controversy of Huang En, popularly known as, Aisha Huang, a Chinese citizen with a non-citizen card re-entering the country after her deportation in 2018 over alleged illegal mining. China has the highest citizens with non-citizen Ghana card with a total of 34,712 cards issued to them, being 22 per cent of the 161,007 citizens from 202 foreign countries. Nigerians constituted the second-largest citizens with non-citizen Ghana card with a total of 25,873 cards, while 20,110 bearers were citizens of India. Per the figures provided by NIA, the cards issued to Germans constituted 4,329; Lebanon, 4,324; United Kingdom (UK), 4,133; South Africa, 3,194; 2,222; Cote D’Ivoire, 2,150 and Gabon, 1,958 cards. Providing an update on the number of cards issued in the country so far, Prof Attafuah said as of September 15, 2022, a total of 17,163,081 people had been enrolled onto the NIA system, with 16,627,326 cards printed, and 15,869,026 cards issued. The Executive Secretary said the Authority had introduced a robust system to verify all cards of Ghanaians for the purpose of transacting businesses with banks and to verify non-citizens who would use the card to apply for or renew their residence permit, open or run a bank account in the country. On the celebration of the International Identity Day, Prof Attafuah asked African countries to heighten efforts to ensure that the citizenry had legal identity to foster social, economic and political inclusion. He said the country would leave no chance in ensuring that the Ghana card became “the single source of proof,” noting that the Authority, since January 2021, introduced a verification system, which made banks authenticate individuals who used the card for various transactions. “With this verification system, if you go to the bank with or without your Ghana card, with your fingerprint, the bank is able to verify your identity as part of KYC (Know Your Customer) and give you a service,” Prof Attafuah noted. The Executive Secretary hinted that NIA would from November 2022 start the registration of Ghanaians abroad and embark on an exercise to register children in the country between the ages of four to 15 in December 2022. Meanwhile, registration for the card for refugees would start next week, Prof Attafuah said. He said continuous registration would also be carried out in all 16 designated regional and all 275 district offices of NIA. Source: GNA

Nature’s Call For “Green Building” Revolution – Jammu Kashmir Latest News | Tourism | Breaking News J&K – Top Stories https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/natures-call-for-green-building-revolution-jammu-kashmir-latest-news-tourism-breaking-news-jk-top-stories/ Prabhat Kishore People spend major part of their life time indoor i.e. inside the buildings, which may be their homes, offices, hospitals, shops, factories, educational and other places. The time varies from 60 to 90 percent depending upon the nature of jobs and livings. According to UNEP, these buildings are a major source of carbon emissions (nearly 39%) causing global warning. Depleting natural resources, rapid industrialization and urbanization have led a negative impact on the environment and life-cycle. To tackle this source of global warming, “Green Building” concept has evolved. A Green Building is one which uses less water, optimizes energy efficiency, conserves natural resources, generates less wastes and pollutions and provides healthier space for its occupants as compared to a conventional building. A green building in its design and construction minimizes negative impacts. It is based on “Triple Bottom Line (TBL)” benefits, which accounts for social and environmental performances in addition to financial performance. The concept is also termed as 3P approach – People, Planet and Profits. In India, as per census 2011, nearly 31.16 % population are living in urban areas. The government had informed Lok Sabha that by 2050, nearly 60% of population will live in cities as India’s rate of urbanization is dramatic. There has been increase in nearly 700% commercial energy consumption in last four decades and there is water shortage of nearly 225 million liter per day (mld) in major Indian cities. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) survey report reveals that, 100 cities, including 30 in India, may face acute water shortage by 2050. In Indian context, a Green Building construction contains, as its components, all Panch-bhootas (5 manifestations of nature), i.e. Prithvi (Bhumi, earth)- Sustainable sites and materials, Apas (Jal, water)- Water efficiency, Agni (Fire)- Energy efficiency, Aakash (Space)- Daylight and atmosphere, and Vayu (Air)- Indoor environmental quality and pollution measures. Prithvi- Material Efficiency Materials for construction should be obtained from natural, renewal sources managed in a sustainable manner. It can be obtained locally to reduce the embedded energy cost of transportation or salvaged from reclaimed materials at nearby sites. Materials are assessed at their life cycle analysis (LCA) in terms of their embedded energy, durability, recycled contents, minimum wastes and their ability to be recycled. In-fill development, that increases density, is inherently better than building on undeveloped (Greenfield) sites. Mixed-use development, in which residential and commercial uses are intermingled, can bring down automobile use and help to create healthy communities. Apas- Water Management In green buildings, water use is minimised through water efficient appliances, self-closing or spray tapes, low flush toilets or waterless compositing toilets. Use of potable water is discouraged in non-potable applications such as landscaping or indoor plumbing needs. Rainwater and Greywater (i.e. water emanating from sinks, showers, bath tubs or cloth washers) catchment systems are installed, which recycle such water for toilet flushing and irrigation purposes. Due to urbanization, infiltration of rain water into sub-soil has decreased and recharging of ground water diminished, so “Rain water harvesting” is essential for a building. Rain water may be stored on surface for future use or may recharge to groundwater. Agni- Energy Efficiency Green building incorporates energy efficient lighting, low energy appliances and renewal energy sources such as solar panels and wind turbines. The passive solar design, high levels of insulation and energy efficient windows bring down the heating as well as cooling cost of the building. Passive solar power design is a part of the building itself and have heat absorbing surface materials and strategic placement of windows. It employs sunshine to heat, cool and light the building without mechanical and electrical devices. In this design, the building should be elongated on east-west axis and its south face should receive sunlight during heating seasons. Interior spaces, requiring most light as well as heating and cooling, should be along south face of the building and less used space on the north face. The two primary elements are south facing glass and thermal mass to absorb, store and distribute heat. Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL) are energy savers, as incandescent bulbs use only 10% of energy into light and rest 90% produces just heat. Actually active solar power panels would be more effective and produce sufficient energy requirement of the house as India has enormous scope of renewal energy. But its upfront installation costs are high and available equipments are of poor quality and short life, which discourages the common people. The government should give emphasis for research on renewal energy, particularly solar energy, so that the good quality equipments be available at optimum rate to all sections of the society which ultimately will aid in reducing greenhouse gas emission. Aakash- Daylight Harvesting Natural daylight design is the way to collect and utilize natural day-light in the interior of the building, when available, to reduce the need for energy-consuming artificial lighting. Green buildings are designed to maximize that light and distribute it effectively deeper into the building. A common design of daylight harvesting uses passive devices known as “Light shelves” to direct daylight back up and further into a space by bouncing it off the ceiling. The light shelf may be polished or reflective, and the ceiling must be of a light colour with good reflective quality. This method of providing “indirect” natural light delivers a good quality of light – diffuse and glare-free – that is superior to direct daylight and especially direct sunlight. Natural light is more pleasant, healthful and psychologically beneficial than artificial light. Daylight harvesting can reduce energy consumption and costs of building lighting by over 25%. Vayu- Health Concerns Non-toxic, ethical and sustainable materials should be used to improve the indoor air quality and to lessen the rate of asthma, allergy and sick building syndrome. These materials are emission free, have low VOC content and are moisture resistant to deter moulds, spores and other microbes. Indoor air quality is improved through proper ventilation system and use of materials controlling humidity. Plantation is also an important ingredient for green buildings depending upon the available space. In case of limited space in the house, Tulsi, Ghritkumari (Aloe Vera)and other herbal/medicinal plants in flowerpots would be a better solution. In foreign countries, the “Green Building” concept is gaining momentum. In India too, it needs to be popularized through enacting proper laws as well as community involvement. In first phase, all government buildings as well as manufacturing and construction industry sectors should adopt this concept and then by popularizing its benefits with sufficient proof, people should be encouraged to adopt this concept in their houses. Life on earth is secure so long as nature is pure. So nature must be conserved, restored and used sustainably while simultaneously meeting other global societal goals through urgent and concerted efforts. For fostering transformative changes, “Green Building” concept is the pivotal solution. (The Author is a technocrat and educationist)

Michigan State Vs. Washington Odds, Prediction: 2022 Week 3 College Football Picks By Model On 50-41 Run – CBS Sports https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/michigan-state-vs-washington-odds-prediction-2022-week-3-college-football-picks-by-model-on-50-41-run-cbs-sports/ The Big Ten and Pac-12 square off when the No. 11 ranked Michigan State Spartans battle the Washington Huskies on Saturday. Both teams enter the game unbeaten after two weeks. The Spartans are coming off a 7-2 Big Ten East and 11-2 overall mark from a year ago. The Huskies finished 2021 with a 3-6 record in the Pac-12 North and were 4-8 overall. Kickoff from Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. Washington leads the all-time series 2-1, including a 1-0 edge in games played at Seattle. The Huskies are favored by 3.5 points in the latest Michigan State vs. Washington odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 56.5. Before making any Washington vs. Michigan State picks, you need to see the college football predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s advanced computer simulation model. The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past six-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $3,400 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. It enters Week 3 of the 2022 college football season on a 50-41 run on all top-rated college football spread and money-line picks that dates back to 2021. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns. Now, the model has set its sights on Michigan State vs. Washington and just locked in its picks and CFB predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Now, here are several college football odds and betting lines for Washington vs. Michigan State:  Michigan State vs. Washington spread: Washington -3.5 Michigan State vs. Washington over/under: 56.5 points Michigan State vs. Washington money line: Michigan State +150, Washington -178 MSU: The Spartans are 4-0 against the spread in their last four games WASH: The Huskies are 7-2 ATS in their last nine non-conference games Michigan State vs. Washington picks: See picks at SportsLine Featured Game | Washington Huskies vs. Michigan State Spartans Why Michigan State can cover Junior quarterback Payton Thorne powers the Spartans’ offense. He threw for 212 yards last week in the 52-0 win over Akron, completing 18 of 28 passes. For the season, Thorne has been solid, completing 57.7% of his passes on 30 of 52 attempts for 445 yards and four scores. He has been picked off three times. In three season at Michigan State, he has completed 313 of 526 passes (59.5%) for 4,267 yards and 34 touchdowns. He has tossed 16 interceptions. Also leading the way is former Wisconsin Badger running back Jalen Berger. In the season opener, he rushed for a career-high 120 yards and one TD vs. Western Michigan. Last week, he followed that up with a career-high three scores to go along with 107 yards against Akron. Berger is averaging 113.5 yards per game, fifth-best in the Big Ten and 11th nationally. He carried 84 times for 389 yards (4.6 average) and three TDs in two seasons with Wisconsin. Why Washington can cover Despite that, the Spartans are not a lock to cover the Michigan State vs. Washington spread. That’s because the Huskies are led by a veteran quarterback in junior Michael Penix Jr., who is a transfer from Indiana. Penix was 26 of 39 for 345 yards and four touchdowns in his Washington debut against Kent State. The four touchdowns are tied for seventh in single-game school history. He was 20 of 27 for 337 yards and two touchdowns against Portland State. He joined the Washington roster this past spring after playing at Indiana from 2018 to 2021, where he played in a total of 20 games over four seasons. Another transfer who is a big part of the Huskies offense is graduate student and running back Wayne Taulapapa. He carried 11 times for 57 yards and a touchdown in a start vs. Kent State. He had 12 carries for 94 yards and a touchdown against Portland State. He joined Washington this past summer after having spent four seasons at Virginia, where he played in 40 games, including 27 starts. He rushed for 1,192 yards and 19 touchdowns on 266 career carries. How to make Washington vs. Michigan State picks SportsLine’s model is leaning Under on the total, projecting 52 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in almost 70% of simulations. You can only see the model’s pick at SportsLine.  So who wins Michigan State vs. Washington? And which side of the spread hits in almost 70% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its college football picks, and find out.

Metaverse Markets And Business Predictions In The Industry Report 2022 By GamesPad | Bitcoinist.com – Bitcoinist https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/metaverse-markets-and-business-predictions-in-the-industry-report-2022-by-gamespad-bitcoinist-com-bitcoinist/ Road Town / British Virgin Islands – Gaming, NFT and Metaverse ecosystem GamesPad has released Metaverse: Emerging Business Opportunities, a comprehensive research paper that explores how the metaverse will influence crucial business sectors, examines the opportunities presented by this new concept, and offers strategies for capitalizing on these opportunities. GamesPad believes that the metaverse will transform all aspects of our lives, starting with the way we socialize to how we work, shop, and even consume content. In the report, GamesPad lists the new markets that emerge through the evolution of the metaverse and advises entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and business owners on the importance of establishing a metaverse business strategy. In this article, we will explore the predictions and insights about the future of business in the metaverse by contributors to the Metaverse Industry Report 2022 by GamesPad. The Future of Business in The Metaverse The metaverse economy is expected to reach up to $13 trillion in value by 2030. Many mainstream big-name companies, especially tech giants, have already started exploring and heavily investing in the metaverse, which highlights the potential possibilities businesses have within a broad number of current business sectors. In the research paper, Co-Founder of  GamesPad and BullPerks Constantin Kogan commented: “The importance of the metaverse is twofold. First, its decentralized nature is revolutionary in shifting the power away from a single corporate entity and handing it back to the people. The second is connection. A shared community where anyone has access to be whoever they want to be. This is important because empowered people who feel supported by the community can change the world.” Anastasia Drinevskaya, Cointelegraph Communications CEO & Creative Director, added: “Innovation in technology is the key ingredient in the ways metaverse opportunities will be presented to business leaders. As the metaverse continues to evolve, strategies will become more clear. In a boundless virtual world that allows users to explore and interact, the metaverse will be powered by an independent virtual economy utilizing blockchain and NFTs.” In the report, GamesPad notes that businesses of all kinds can have their share of the metaverse, though they need to develop a metaverse business strategy in the early stages to maximize its impact. Fashion Fashion brands will be playing a crucial role in shaping the emerging stages of the metaverse. Digital self-expression will become the primary way for people to express their personality, mood, and style in the metaverse, which will bring the need for an entirely new sector focused on branded avatar skins and other digital clothing. However, metaverse fashion is not limited to that and embraces more opportunities. Wahid Chammas, Chairman & Co-Founder of Faith Tribe, Co-Owner of Faith Connexion, and Founder & CIO of TyreGate Capital, commented: “Consumers today are demanding immersive experiences, where they can express identity through fashion in both their physical and digital realms. As we like to say at Faith, digital fashion is not limited to clothing for avatars. It’s a growing fashion subculture that includes the digital design and modeling of real-world clothing, the uploading of designs for real and digital clothing onto the blockchain (so these designs can be sold as NFTs) and even digital clothes rendered onto real people.” Moreover, the metaverse serves as a perfect environment for creativity and self-expression for all users, particularly for content creators, artists, and fashion designers. “The creative freedom that comes with digital design is a profound utility for fashion designers and artists of all kinds. Our evolving digital world has changed the ways that the masses interact with fashion brands and clothing in general. Physical garments are no longer the most important element. – said A.Bahadir Yener, Founder of Metawear. – Fashion extends beyond fabric and fashion designers are harnessing the creative liberties of digital design to reignite a spark within consumers to discover their own digital and physical identities. Digital fashion has the potential to be both inspirational and accessible in ways the physical world doesn’t provide.” – he added. E-Commerce Travis Wu, Founder of Highstreet, about e-Commerce opportunities for brands in the metaverse: “Inhabitants of the metaverse already spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars on virtual assets, whether its character skins or weapons, gamers understand the emotional payoff of customizing digital avatars. What Web3 does is that it decentralizes these assets from the studio’s game servers and gives true ownership of them to players, allowing them to then be able to resell digital assets to their peers. For brands, this not only creates a brand new market for distribution, but unlocks the fastest growing demographic to their sales” Real estate As the limits of real-world geography fade, virtual real estate encompasses opportunities in digital landscapes, virtual gaming, and entertainment. GamesPad believes investing in a single location in the metaverse has the potential to reach a larger share of customers than most physical locations. Currently, the metaverse’s expansion relies heavily on digital real estate trading and leasing. Eran Elhanani, Co-Founder of  GamesPad and BullPerks, said: “We all know from the traditional real estate world that when supply is limited and demand is high then prices go up as well as it’s all about location, location, location. The same is true for the Metaverse. While there might be multiple digital worlds/Metaverses then just like countries and cities there will be some more successful and more attractive than others and it will be about buying lands in those where it’s also limited.” Gaming Gaming and entertainment platforms will be at the forefront of metaverse development. Players have globally shown a preference for games that offer immersive experiences with 3D graphics and VR-enabled titles, putting the already booming GameFi industry in a unique position to benefit from the metaverse. “Game developers are focusing more on economic incentives within gameplay as the GameFi model is rapidly becoming the most important feature for metaverse gaming projects. Monetizing games is keeping players interested and invested, and decentralized finance (DeFi) is making it all possible. As we see more gaming projects expand features to be more immersive and utilize technology like AR and VR, we will also notice that metaverse ready games will have incentive structures that allow players to earn real-world income.” – Phillip Devine, CEO of CryptoBlades Kingdoms. Entertainment In the past year, we have seen exciting entertainment endeavors such as Snoop Dogg and Deadmau5 hosting full-fledged virtual concerts. GamesPad believes that the metaverse will make concerts and other virtual events limitless and borderless, allowing a global audience to participate and enjoy exhibitions. Brian Hazan, Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer at THE HUSL, commented: “Entertainment industry players might have the most lucrative opportunities in the metaverse. This emerging virtual space is garnering immense interest from younger demographics, a social cohort that is the most excited about new types of entertainment. This is why gaming, mass media, and even event management companies are joining the metaverse, trying to create a virtual replica of their real-world services to capitalize on the opportunity and expand their audience reach.” Marketing The metaverse can make digital marketing even more exciting because of the implied fully immersive experiences, allowing companies to engage with customers at a whole new level. Some of the strategies for metaverse marketing include in-metaverse ads, virtual influencers, metaverse events, and metaverse commerce. Dana Kachan, CMO at GamesPad and BullPerks, commented about marketing in the metaverse: “The metaverse is the next big thing in digital marketing. Marketers have always been striving to build more immersive and exciting brand experiences. Today there is likely no better place for this than the metaverse. From virtual showrooms to test drives to online shopping – in the metaverse, all this will acquire a new form and skyrocket customer engagement. Imagine a Ferrari test drive on the virtual streets of Los Angeles, Bangkok, or any other location in the world.” Bottomline The metaverse can help all businesses engage with customers, expand brand awareness, and identify new revenue streams. With the help of Metaverse: Emerging Business Opportunities, you can explore metaverse markets, the opportunities presented by this new concept, as well as strategies for capitalizing on those opportunities. The research paper is written by GamesPad and BullPerks Co-Founders Constantin Kogan and Eran Elhanani. It overviews over 20 metaverse trends, unique statistics collected from around 1,000 respondents, as well as insights by the top industry experts and thought leaders including: Yat Siu (Co-Founder of Animoca Brands) Wahid Chammas (Chairman & Co-Founder of Faith Tribe, Co-Owner of Faith Connexion, and Founder & CIO of TyreGate Capital) Travis Wu (Founder of Highstreet) Brian Hazan (Co-Founder of THE HUSL) Bahadir Yener (Founder of Metawear) Philip Devine (Co-Founder of CryptoBlades Kingdoms) Gal Yosef (3D Artist, CEO of Reflection Studios) Anastasia Drinevskaya (CEO and Creative Director of Cointelegraph Communications) Shawn Mims (American Rapper, Co-Founder of Cre8tor and RecordGram Inc.) Warren Parker-Mill (CEO of Fashion M...

Amazon Makes The Cheapest Kindle Even Better – WIRED https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/amazon-makes-the-cheapest-kindle-even-better-wired/ The differences between Amazon’s Kindle e-readers used to be stark. The cheapest base model had paltry storage, bitsy battery life, and a slow, low-resolution screen. Meanwhile, the extravagant Kindle Oasis luxuriated in its sleek aluminum chassis, fully adjustable lighting, big battery, and physical buttons for turning pages. But the models have slowly begun to blend together, with the less expensive Kindles adopting premium features previously only found in the Oasis. The mid-tier Paperwhite got some sprucing up in 2021, when Amazon added adjustable lighting and a USB-C port. (It’s still WIRED’s pick for best e-reader.) At last, Amazon is juicing up the base-model Kindle as well. The new Kindle gets an upgraded display—a 300-ppi-resolution screen versus the previous Kindle’s 197 ppi. Storage is doubled to 16 GB. The new Kindle also—finally!—features a USB-C port like the newest Paperwhite models. It charges in as little as two hours over USB-C. Unfortunately, the prices have started to converge too. The new base-model Kindle costs $100, which is 10 bucks more than the previous version. Spend another $20 and you get a version that doesn’t bombard you with ads on the lock screen. If you’re in the market for an e-reader, check out WIRED’s guide to the best Kindles and the best ebook readers overall. Here’s some more news from the world of consumer technology. Alexa Speaks Brand The worst thing about searching for something on Google is all the ads that show up at the top of the page. Well, now Amazon is planning something like that for its Echo smart speakers. In a blog post with the not-at-all-dystopian title “Alexa Can Now Help Brands Answer Customer Questions,” Amazon laid out a new business strategy that will allow brands to provide answers to user questions that might relate to the products the brand wants to sell. Amazon gave an example of asking Alexa how to remove pet hair from the carpet. Such a query could cause a brand-backed response to spring forth, offering to send you links to Amazon pages selling the brand’s products. In Amazon’s brand registry system, sellers will be able to view common user questions and attach their branded answers to them. Amazon says the questions and branded answers will be reviewed by content moderators before they can be used by Alexa. Amazon insists these are not ads and that brands won’t be able to pay to submit answers. The company also says branded answers will be attributed to the brand that answered them, but it didn’t elaborate on what form that disclosure would take. The company plans to test the feature starting in October, then roll it out across the US after that. TikTok Wants to BeReal Every app is trying to be TikTok, but sometimes the viral video-sharing app has to play a bit of catch-up itself. If you are hip and cool (read: young), then surely you know about BeReal. The popular app prompts users with a notification at a random time every day that reads “Time to BeReal.” Users then have two minutes to snap a photo that captures images from both the front and back cameras. The results are quick and candid; the point of catching people unawares is to encourage more “authentic” moments than the carefully staged shots you see on platforms like Instagram.

This Week In Coins: Ethereum Posts Biggest Losses On Merge Week – Decrypt https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/this-week-in-coins-ethereum-posts-biggest-losses-on-merge-week-decrypt/ This week in coins. Illustration by Mitchell Preffer for Decrypt. Ethereum is down bad after merge week. The long-anticipated transition to a proof-of-stake network happened on Thursday as planned. Once it did, Ethereum (ETH) dipped 8% to under $1,500, and kept falling further.  ETH begins the weekend at $1,424, down 17% over the last seven days. It took the biggest losses among the top thirty cryptocurrencies by market capitalization this week.  Market leader Bitcoin (BTC) also sank. It enters Saturday 7% lower than it was last week, hovering at $19,788 at the time of writing.  After Ethereum, the second biggest losses—of a little over 10%—were posted by Near Protocol (NEAR), which trades at $4.24; Avalanche dropped to $18.06, and Polkadot fell to $6.87, all of which are so-called “Ethereum killers,” aka layer-1 blockchains with high-functionality smart contracts.  Ethereum Classic (ETC) is down 12.6% and trades at $34.27. ETC is based on Ethereum’s original ledger, which includes an infamous $55 million DAO hack that was wiped from Ethereum by vote.  Every top thirty cryptocurrency dipped in the past week except Ripple token XRP, which is up 2%, and Cosmos (ATOM), up 3.5%. Cosmos is structurally different to Ethereum in that it’s a network of many smaller blockchains but it also offers high-functionality smart contracts. Ethereum after the merge On Thursday, Ethereum completed the long-awaited transition from being a blockchain validated by a proof-of-work consensus mechanism—like the one currently employed by Bitcoin, in which miners with the most computing power generate the most coins—to a much more energy-efficient proof-of-stake algorithm—where miners who stake the most ETH validate the most transactions, and reap the rewards.  The transition went off without a hitch. A report from the Crypto Carbon Ratings Institute (CCRI)  commissioned by Ethereum-centric software firm ConsenSys claims that Ethereum uses approximately 99.99% less energy after the merge. If the number is true, the upgrade has even slightly exceeded Ethereum’s projections. However, the merge has also resulted in a more centralized Ethereum. According to Martin Köppelmann, co-founder of DeFi platform Gnosis, Coinbase and liquidity staking pool Lido Finance together account for 42% of post-merge Ethereum validators, and the top seven entities control more than two thirds of the stake used to validate transactions. Dispatches from Washington The crypto news out of Washington wasn’t encouraging either, though it’s unclear whether that contributed to the price declines. On Thursday, during an oversight hearing by the Senate Banking Committee, Republican Senator Pat Toomey grilled SEC Chair Gary Gensler over the regulator’s role in defining rules for crypto. Toomey said the SEC failed to help investors when Celsius and Voyager crashed and went bankrupt earlier this year. Both lenders were promising customers high returns on their crypto deposits.  Gensler responded by saying that many companies have not directly communicated with the SEC over listing and selling tokens, and need to come forward and do so. He also said it was important to have “one cop on the beat” regulating cryptocurrency. Following a Congressional Hearing on Thursday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Gensler said proof-of-stake cryptocurrencies, which allow holders to passively earn returns through staking, could be classified as securities: “from the coin’s perspective…that’s another indication that under the SEC’s “Howey test,” the investing public is anticipating profits based on the efforts of others. Stay on top of crypto news, get daily updates in your inbox.

‘They Enriched Us.’ Migrants’ 44-Hour Visit Leaves Indelible Mark On Martha’s Vineyard – CNN https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/they-enriched-us-migrants-44-hour-visit-leaves-indelible-mark-on-marthas-vineyard-cnn/ Edgartown, Massachusetts CNN  —  After sharing hugs and teary goodbyes with roughly 50 migrants who had arrived unexpectedly by plane on this affluent vacation island, the volunteers who sheltered them at an Episcopal church carried out tables and chairs, packed food onto trucks and folded portable cots. A familiar quiet had descended by Friday afternoon on the tree-lined downtown block on Martha’s Vineyard, where Jackie Stallings, 56, could not stop thinking about a young Venezuelan – she was 23 but looked 15 – who sat with her in the St. Andrew’s Parish House the night before. The asylum seeker showed Stallings cell phone video taken during the journey across a remote Central American jungle, pointing out migrants who died along the way. “It was like she was showing me cat videos but it was actually their journey and what they endured to get here,” said Stallings, a member of the Martha’s Vineyard Community Services nonprofit. “There were bodies and moms with babies trying to get through mud that was like clay.” “The heartbreaking part is seeing these beautiful young ladies become desensitized,” said her husband, Larkin Stallings, 66, an Oak Bluffs bar owner who sits on the nonprofit’s board. “For them, they just flip and show you a picture.” Stallings cut him off. “She was like, look, this one died, part of their original party. And he died and this one died. The mud is like to up to here to them,” she said Friday in the shade of the parish house porch, pointing to her thigh. “And you see them, they literally have to lift their legs out the mud. They die because they get stuck.” During their whirlwind 44-hour visit this week, migrants like the young Venezuelan woman left an indelible mark on their accidental hosts in this isolated enclave known as a summer playground for former US presidents, celebrities and billionaires. The guests, including young children, boarded buses Friday morning around the corner from St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. Days of uncertainty on the small island off the coast of Massachusetts and a massive effort by locals to provide for them ended with a new odyssey – a ferry ride and then another bus caravan to temporary housing at Joint Base Cape Cod. The asylum seekers – most of them from Venezuela – had been flown from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard on Wednesday under arrangements made by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis – part of a series of moves by Republican governors to transport migrants to liberal cities to protest what they describe as the failure of the federal government to secure the southern border. Martha’s Vineyard had not been expecting them but a small army of activists mobilized to help people who had become pawns in the contentious debate over America’s broken immigration system. DeSantis’ move was sharply denounced by the White House, Democratic officials and immigration lawyers who vowed legal action on grounds, they said, the migrants were lured north with promises of work, housing and help with immigration papers and ultimately misled about their final destination. Florida’s governor denied the migrants did not know where they were going. He said they had signed a waiver and had been provided with a packet that included a map of Martha’s Vineyard. “It’s obvious that’s where they were going,” he said, adding that the move was voluntary. Lisa Belcastro, winter shelter coordinator for the Harbor Homes nonprofit, was close to tears about an hour after the migrants left the island on Friday, with volunteers beginning to clean up the parish house and church hall where the newcomers slept. “I want them to have a good life,” she said. “I want the journey they experienced and the hardships they experienced to have been worth it for them and their families. I want them to come to America and be embraced. They all want to work. And I just I want their journey to have a happy ending.” On Thursday night, a group of young male migrants congregated on the narrow street outside the church, just blocks from the glittering upscale shops, restaurants and art galleries on Main Street in Edgartown. One asylum seeker, in his early 20s, ventured down the street to explore at one point. He asked about the price of a hamburger at a fancy eatery. When told it was $26, he noted that was much more than he earned in a month in Venezuela when he could find work. Through a front window in the parish house, young children could be seen in a playroom filled with books and stuffed animals. Juan Ramirez, who is 24 but appears younger, stood outside the hall of the 123-year-old church – where 18 of the men slept on portable cots and inflatable mattresses under donated blankets for two nights. He teared up talking about the family he left behind in Táchira state in western Venezuela when he embarked on his journey in late July with his phone and $400 in cash. “My friends thought I was crazy for leaving, that I would never make it. I only want a better future for my family,” he said of his parents, grandparents and his favorite niece back home. “I try but it’s hard not to think about them.” The cash was long gone and his phone stolen by the time Ramirez reached northern Mexico and the border with the United States, he said. Ramirez and other migrants said they were released by US immigration authorities with an order to return for a hearing. In San Antonio, they were approached by a woman who offered them a plane ride to a shelter in the Northeast where there would be housing, jobs and assistance with immigration papers. The migrants were put up in a hotel until about 50 of them were assembled for the flight to Massachusetts. “When we landed no one was waiting for us,” he said. “No one knew we were coming. We realized they had lied to us. But, thankfully, we came upon kindhearted people who have supported us with everything we need.” Pedro Luis Torrealba, 37, said he left the Venezuelan capital of Caracas with his wife in mid July. Their two children – ages 6 and 11 – stayed behind with relatives. The couple started the roadless crossing on the border between Colombia and Panama – the deadly Darién Gap – with more than 60 other migrants, Torrealba said outside the parish house on Thursday night. Only 22 completed the trek across the 60 miles of jungle and steep mountains, he said. Some fell from cliffs, others were swept away by flood waters. Those deaths are occurring at a time when a record number of undocumented migrants are overwhelming the US-Mexico border and dying while attempting to cross. In Mexico, Torrealba said, the couple and other migrants were briefly abducted by members of the Zetas cartel, a violent drug trafficking organization. When he told them he could not make the extortion payment to allow them to continue, he said, a cartel member used pliers to pull out his two gold teeth. They finally made it across the US-Mexico earlier this month. In San Antonio, they encountered a woman who offered them a free flight to a place they had never heard of, along with a promise of immigration assistance, housing and employment. Torrealba did not receive treatment for the injuries to his mouth and jaw until they arrived on Martha’s Vineyard. Another Venezuelan, David Bautista, 26, said he left San Cristóbal, the capital city of Táchira state, in late July. More than a month later he crossed the Rio Grande to Eagle Pass, Texas, from the Mexican border city of Piedras Negras. He said he was released by US immigration authorities after 11 days in detention. They gave him papers for an immigration hearing in Washington, DC. At a migrant shelter in San Antonio, he too was offered the free flight and the benefits that supposedly came with it – including help with changing the date and location of his immigration hearing. “I can’t tell you any more because I don’t know any more,” he said. “We’re all lost. We’re all in this together. We just know this is an island somewhere in the United States.” Standing next to Bautista, a 52-year-old man named Osmar Cabral, who said he is from Portugal and has been living on Martha’s Vineyard for four months, handed the migrant a folded $100 bill. “I’ve never met him before,” Cabral said. “But I came here with a friend because I wanted to help. We’re all brothers.” His friend, Franklin Pierre, a Venezuelan who has lived on Martha’s Vineyard since 2015 and works for a party rental company, was there to speak with some migrants and offer them advice. “You have to show up for your immigration hearing or you’ll be deported,” Pierre told Bautista and other young men gathered around him. “You’re arriving here after the busy summer season and work is hard to find. And winter is very cold, sometimes reaching 10 degrees below zero. Imagine that and not having work.” At one point Thursday night, a group of lawyers who had interviewed the migrants told reporters outside the parish house that they were exploring legal action, claiming that due process and the civil rights of the migrants had been violated. “This is a human rights violation. This is a constitutional violation,” Iván Espinoza-Madrigal, executive director for Lawyers for Civil Rights Boston, said as volunteers and other supporters applauded. “And we will hold the states and perpetrators accountable to the fullest extent of the law. This will not go unanswered.” Some passersby recorded the scene on their cell phones. Rachel Self, an immigration attorney from Boston, also drew applause. “We’ve got their backs and they are not alone. And to that end, I would like to specifically thank Trader Fred for donating underwear because Martha’s Vineyard doesn’t have a Walmart down the street,” she said, referring to the migrants and a local retailer who stepped up to help them. A bys...

Venture Investor Kat Kennedy Ready To Elevate Utah’s Tech Ecosystem – Deseret News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/venture-investor-kat-kennedy-ready-to-elevate-utahs-tech-ecosystem-deseret-news/ Tech veteran and newly minted venture capital investor Kat Kennedy got an early lesson in what equity looks like, though at the time it was just about everyone pitching in to do the work that comes with growing up in a rural agricultural community. “Where I was raised, on a cattle ranch, I was lucky to be raised by a father who put us to work on that ranch,” Kennedy said. “I was lucky because he never treated myself or my sister any differently than he treated my brother in terms of how we would contribute to the work on the ranch.” But what was the normal chores routine for Kennedy and her siblings as kids struck others as an oddity, some of whom would ask her father, “Why are the girls out there working?” “Luckily I had a dad who not only stuck up for how necessary it was for us to do that work but also how exceptional we were at it,” Kennedy said. “And that truly set the tone for my career.” And Kennedy’s career arc has been noteworthy, first as a software developer following her information technology studies at Utah State University, which led to an opportunity about a decade ago to join a little known Bay Area software startup called Degreed, an upskilling platform that helps individuals and organizations build professional skills and certify expertise. Kennedy was employee No. 1 at Degreed, but headed up the ranks as the company grew, eventually rising to become the company’s president and chief experience officer. And along the way, she helped grow Degreed from a fledgling effort to a $1.5 billion company. Kennedy said one of the opportunities she had in helping to scale up Degreed was participating in multiple funding rounds, efforts that generated over $400 million in venture investment, and learning that the relevance and importance of those venture backers went much deeper than the big checks they wrote. “I was lucky to be a part of every fundraising process,” Kennedy said. “I actually really enjoyed it and loved interacting with (the investors). I saw how they operated and the value they brought … and I just fell in love with the work that they did and wanted to, in whatever capacity I could, emulate that work.” That love was on Kennedy’s mind when she met with venture capital firm Kickstart Seed Fund in 2019. But while Kennedy wasn’t quite ready to pivot from her role in building a venture-backed company to the investor side of the equation, the seed had been planted, and a few years later she was ready for a new chapter. Kickstart general partner Kat Kennedy poses for photos at the venture capital group’s office building in Cottonwood Heights on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News When Kickstart announced Kennedy joining the firm as a general partner in early August, company founder and general partner Gavin Christensen said her experience, passion and grit were a perfect fit for the successful pre-seed/seed stage investment group. “Kat has an unmatched skill set when it comes to scaling companies,” Christensen said in a press statement about the hiring news. “Her gritty, entrepreneurial spirit and passion for helping other entrepreneurs was exactly what we have been looking for. “Kat’s addition allows us to scale at a time when so many venture firms are pulling back, not only on investments but on building their teams. Kat truly embodies everything we value here, and we’re excited to see what the future holds with her perspective on board.” Kennedy also highlighted her feelings about Kickstart being the perfect match for the kind of investor role she wants to fill. “What I love about Kickstart is their strategy around deploying capital specifically here in the Mountain West and that they also deploy at the earliest, pre-seed and seed stage,” Kennedy said. “I believed the empathy I could bring would be most valuable at the early stage.” Kennedy is also bullish on Kickstart’s founder-first mentality when it comes to the companies the firm has chosen to back since it launched in 2008. “I believe with the right founder and founder team you can make a lot of businesses work,” Kennedy said. “Through my own experience I saw how requisite that was to getting an outcome. “Because pains will come and down times will come. But if you, as a founder, are relentlessly focused on a certain problem and you have a vision for what the future can be, you’re going to be able to see through those challenging times that will come to any business.” Kennedy’s experience also exposed her to the diversity and equity challenges that run rife throughout the tech industry, not just in Utah but across the country. “I have been in so many rooms where I was the only woman,” Kennedy said. “Most of the time, those rooms were quite friendly. But every once in a while there would be bias, whether overt or unconscious, questioning my capabilities or how I had got to that room.” Kickstart noted in press outreach that Kennedy’s appointment makes her one of just a few female partners in the state. And, despite years of efforts to increase diversity among venture capital decision-makers, a significant gender gap still exists. Women make up only approximately 11% of investing partners at firms in the U.S. and, because venture capitalists play a critical gatekeeping role in deciding whose ideas, products and innovations receive capital, only around 13% of venture capital dollars go to startups with a woman on the founding team.  But Kennedy is ready to be a catalyst for change when it comes to building diversity in the investment/startup ecosystem, and it’s a goal she said is being vigorously supported by Kickstart’s partner group. “One of the things I want to do in my role now as a general partner is a call to action for a different profile of founders to come in and pitch,” Kennedy said. “There may have been some hesitancy because they didn’t see someone who looked like them on the other side of the table.” Kennedy also offered words of encouragement to those starting businesses, or looking to pursue investment careers, that fall outside the white, male-dominated demographic of the startup and tech investment worlds and noted the importance of role models for young entrepreneurs and investors. “To anyone who is feeling bias … I would say that it is so important that you push through it,” Kennedy said. “Not only do we need your contribution to the workforce, we need you to set the example that it is possible. “It is so critical that I not only contribute, but I do so without questioning my own capability. Because that leads to great outcomes for the companies I serve, but also because there are people watching that I may not be aware of and it matters for them to see me in that space.”

In Footsteps Of Arthur Ashe, Frances Tiafoe Reminded ‘There’s No Place Like Home’ – The Washington Informer https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/in-footsteps-of-arthur-ashe-frances-tiafoe-reminded-theres-no-place-like-home-the-washington-informer/ Frances Tiafoe sat quietly behind a makeshift podium situated just a few steps away from the courts on which he once practiced hour after hour as he honed his tennis skills.  And while the roar of the crowd may still be echoing in his ears after his historic success at the recent U.S. Open, the young tennis star received a hero’s welcome upon his return to the community where he took his first steps – both on and off the court.  In fact, as Tiafoe greeted hundreds of friends, family members, local leaders and dozens of youth eager to follow in his footsteps – a collective who gathered in his support at the Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) in College Park, Maryland – their voices filled the skies with shouts of “welcome home” that would reverberate long after he began his words of thanks.  Thus, making up in exuberance what they lacked in size when compared to the thousands who witnessed his success during the recent U.S. Open, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and Ray Benton, JTCC’s CEO, spearheaded a celebration that reminded Tiafoe what the fictitious Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz eventually discovered, “there’s no place like home.” Alsobrooks made it official as she declared Friday, September 16, “Frances Tiafoe Day in Prince George’s County.” Tiafoe, perhaps more willing to let his prowess on the tennis court serve as his message than a long speech ever could, thanked those who came out in his support with just a few comments and a huge smile. But he promised the hometown crowd that he would keep working hard until he could really make them proud and bring home his first Grand Slam title.  But from this writer’s perspective, what really made Tiafoe stand out in comparison to far too many other Black “celebrities” whohave risen to the top of their chosen careers, would be his humility.  Tiafoe willingly signed scores of t-shirts, tennis balls, posters –whatever folks presented to him – and posed for photograph after photograph with adoring children or equally enthralled adults until the very last person in line had been acknowledged.  If he had somewhere else to be, it clearly did not matter to him.And for the record, the line of those who waited for their chance to meet Tiafoe would be a very long one.  Benton said he has long been proud of Tiafoe who first learned the rubrics of tennis as a little boy under the guidance of JTCC coaches.  “We’re so proud of Frances who competes with such grace and sportsmanship, serves as an excellent role model and who always strives for excellence,” Benton said. “He’s a true champion for tennis. But what has really impressed me is his longtime commitment to serving as a mentor for youth.”  Alsobrooks shared a story about a woman who, as she moved through the crowd to take her seat – one, incidentally reserved next to the tennis star – continued to utter three simple words in an almost sing-song manner.  “I’m the mother,” Alsobrooks said, referring to her observation of Tiafoe’s mother and the phrase she said repeatedly with pride.  “And like your mother and as any mother would be, we, too, are all so proud of you,” Alsobrooks said to Tiafoe.  “We are in the presence of greatness,” she said. “And I’m convinced that your recent success at the U.S. Open, becoming the first American to reach the semifinals since 2006 and the first Black American man since Arthur Ashe in 1972 to make it to the semifinals, was not an accident.” “It was a step forward for you. This moment is lightning striking. And it confirms the fact that talent is nothing without its being accompanied by hard work. You’ve worked hard ever since your father, who helped build this facility, first brought you and your brother when you were just children to tennis courts not far from where we’re gathered today.” “This is your day – one on which we honor you – our hometown hero and native son,” she said.  Other local officials from the County would continue to share words of praise about Tiafoe with the festivities continuing for several hours, replete with picnic-style food and drinks, celebratory music and the release of a huge bundle of balloons into the sunny skies that signaled the end of the celebration.  As for Tiafoe, one observer reminded this writer something he’d heard the tennis star mention just a few days ago – a lesson that he learned during this year’s U.S. Open. “It takes courage to play this game at this level and to continue to be competitive,” Tiafoe had recently been heard to say.  “And now, I really believe that I can win any match, no matter who my opponent may be, if I really put my mind to it. If I play with everything I’ve got. And that’s what I plan to do – to get better and better and win,” Tiafoe said.

Fiona’s Rain, Winds Hit Caribbean: What To Know When Booking Hurricane Season Trips – The Points Guy https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/fionas-rain-winds-hit-caribbean-what-to-know-when-booking-hurricane-season-trips-the-points-guy/ From islands in the Caribbean to Alaska, Mother Nature is making travel difficult in some places this weekend as significant storm systems are packing a dangerous combination of heavy wind and rain. Among the largest concerns is Fiona, which was strengthening Saturday morning in the Caribbean with the possibility of being upgraded from a tropical storm to a hurricane as it barreled toward Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), British Virgin Islands and Dominican Republic this weekend. Forecasters warned that the Turks and Caicos Islands and Bahamas could potentially end up in the storm’s path in the coming days. The strengthening of Fiona has already affected travel in some destinations. The USVI closed its seaports Friday night in anticipation of the storm’s arrival, with government officials warning the ports would not reopen until after an inspection by the U.S. Coast Guard. Sign up for our daily newsletter Flights out of St. Thomas and St. Croix in the USVI and San Juan, Puerto Rico, continued to take off and land Saturday morning, but disruptions began to pile up as the day went on. A tweet shared by San Juan Airport (SJU) on Saturday showed a slew of cancellations. Cruise lines have been busy rerouting ships, as is customary and fairly common during hurricane season. Royal Caribbean has been swapping ports of call for several ships. The cruise line’s chief meteorologist, James Van Fleet, wrote on Twitter Saturday morning that Royal Caribbean had already made schedule adjustments for some ships, and that itinerary changes were possible for others. In Alaska, where the remnants of a typhoon threaten parts of the state, Van Fleet said Royal Caribbean’s ships were well outside that storm’s projected path. Meanwhile, government social media accounts in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and other Caribbean destinations potentially in the path warned residents and tourists alike to pay close attention to forecasts over the coming hours and days, as the National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane warning for Puerto Rico Saturday morning. In an update Saturday morning, the National Hurricane Center warned of “considerable flood impacts” and the risk of mudslides in Puerto Rico, with Fiona expected to dump large amounts of rain on the U.S. territory. A tropical storm hitting Puerto Rico this weekend brings back difficult memories. It was five years ago this coming week that Hurricane Maria made landfall, ultimately destroying the airport in San Juan and causing historic devastation throughout the island. Other Caribbean islands including the USVI sustained major damage from fall 2017 hurricanes too, from which the islands have spent much of the last five years recovering; a recovery that’s included a major tourism rebound in recent years. Damage to a beachside building in Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. AFP PHOTO/HECTOR RETAMAL/GETTY IMAGES And while it has largely been a quiet Atlantic hurricane season until now, Fiona is a reminder of a roadblock that, while ultimately unlikely, can certainly upend your fall travel. It’s also a reminder of the importance of at least considering travel insurance, whether through credit card protections or a separate policy, particularly when traveling during risky times of the year. Travel insurance during hurricanes We spent a good portion of the last two and a half years talking about travel insurance as it pertained to trips interrupted because of COVID-19. As the impacts of the pandemic on travel have subsided, there’s a good chance that weather is again one of the top reasons you might want to consider additional protections when planning a getaway. For some, that can mean leaning on the coverage provided by a travel credit card or buying a separate policy. Travel insurance can be critical in offsetting costs for a variety of reasons, including when you need to cancel or otherwise alter travel plans because of a major weather event like the systems seen this weekend in the Caribbean or Alaska. As you think about future trips, though, there’s an important rule of thumb to remember when it comes to storm systems like Fiona: In most cases, you can get reimbursed by typical travel insurance policies only once a storm is named, and only if you bought the policy prior to the storm being named. “Travel insurance is designed to protect you from financial losses due to unforeseeable events,” the coverage alerts page for Allianz Travel explains. “That means benefits may not apply for events that were public knowledge when you purchased your plan.” The company lists past events that triggered coverage alerts, which include not just past hurricanes, but winter storms, too. When you factor in all the reasons a trip could get disrupted, the costs of buying travel insurance and the rules behind a policy — not to mention when and whether to cancel a trip you’ve planned – there’s a lot to think about. Do I really need travel insurance? If you were to buy travel insurance for every trip that falls during hurricane season, it would, of course, get expensive. After all, Atlantic hurricane season technically runs from the beginning of June until the end of November. Understanding when and where storms most often strike can help you make the best decisions on when to purchase insurance, and on which trips you should be the most prepared for a weather disruption. “Statistically, Sept. 10 is classified as peak hurricane/tropical storm season,” said McCall Vrydaghs, Chief Meteorologist at CBS affiliate WHIO-TV in Dayton, Ohio, pointing to late August through the end of September as the most likely time your travels to certain areas might be affected. “The month of September, I would definitely be thinking, ‘Oh, there’s a possibility that my vacation may be impacted by some kind of tropical storm system.” Vrydaghs classified the Caribbean and Gulf Coast as “hot zones” during that time for trips to potentially be affected by a hurricane or tropical storm. Palm trees in hurricane-force winds during a past storm in Antigua. MIKE HILL/STONE/GETTY IMAGES How to know when to cancel a trip As most who have watched a weather forecast on television know, though, storms like Fiona can often change directions – in sometimes drastic shifts. This can complicate decisions to cancel a trip: when seeing a potentially ominous forecast at their upcoming destination, travelers may find themselves weighing their hopefulness to still take their vacation on one hand, with safety and the rules behind making a travel insurance claim on the other. “I need to know, how [close to departure] am I able to get a full refund, or partial refund, to allow myself enough time to see where a potential storm may be headed,” Vrydaghs said. She recommends keeping a close eye on the forecast, and evaluating decisions on whether to travel on a day-by-day basis – with an understanding along the way of how long you can wait to cancel your trip and get a refund, if you do have an insurance policy. “Five days out, I would be on alert,” she said. If the forecast still looks bad after that? “Three days [out]…I’m probably making a decision in my mind that I may have to cancel, and 48 hours…I’m probably already deciding yes or no,” Vrydaghs said. What to do if you’re on an island and a hurricane is coming Safety is an additional factor to consider when you’re at a destination as a storm begins a track in your direction; a situation that’s all the more crucial to evaluate when you’re staying on an island. Vrydaghs recommends formulating an ‘exit strategy’ of sorts at the first sign of a concerning forecast, calling it an “extra step” needed when traveling in the month of September to destinations that can see tropical storms or hurricanes. “I would start planning, ‘how do I get out if I need to get out, and how soon do I need to make that decision,’” she said. “A lot of people are traveling with multiple people of all ages, so it’s not so easy to just pick up a family of five.” Ultimately, she suggests paying close attention to local weather advisories, and the National Hurricane Center, which offers detailed information on a storm’s track and potential risks. Bottom line A satellite image of Fiona above the Caribbean. NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER Both Alaska and parts of the Caribbean face significant storm systems over the coming days, with the potential for high winds and heavy rain that could have a major effect on travel. While the early part of hurricane season was quiet this year, it’s a reminder of the importance of formulating backup plans when Mother Nature impacts travel, and evaluating – ahead of time, when you book a trip – whether it’s one you’d do well to protect with travel insurance. Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. %

Lake Norman Chamber’s Business Expo Returns Oct. 11 | Local News | Mooresvilletribune.com – Mooresville Tribune https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/lake-norman-chambers-business-expo-returns-oct-11-local-news-mooresvilletribune-com-mooresville-tribune/ Special to the Tribune After a nearly 3-year absence due to the pandemic, Chamber staff and volunteers are busy making plans for the 2022 Lake Norman Business Expo to be held at the Huntersville Recreation Center, 11836 Verhoeff Drive, in Huntersville. The region’s business trade show will be held Oct. 11 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Randy Marion Automotive is the presenting sponsor of the event. Admission is free and open to the public. The event is typically attended by 2,000 people and is the largest business to business trade show in the region. Bill Russell, president of the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce, states, “The Business Expo allows the chamber to showcase our business community. The diversity of the businesses which participate underscore why so many people choose Lake Norman to work and live. We encourage residents, students, employers, managers, employees, and retirees to see what kind of products and services businesses offer here at the lake.” The chamber represents approximately 825 businesses from Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Mooresville and the greater Lake Norman region. General business booths are available and limited to the first 112 businesses. For more information about showcasing your business in the Expo, call the chamber at 704-892-1922 or visit lakenormanchamber.org. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter.

September Is Fall Prevention Awareness Month | Lifestyles | Washtimesherald.com – Washington Times Herald https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/september-is-fall-prevention-awareness-month-lifestyles-washtimesherald-com-washington-times-herald/ SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL FALL PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH: For the next several weeks, we will be addressing 10 Myths About Older Adults and Falls from the National Council on Aging. Many people think falls are a normal part of aging. The truth is, they’re not. Most falls can be prevented—and you have the power to reduce your risk. Exercising, managing your medications, having your vision checked, and making your living environment safer are all steps you can take to prevent a fall. To promote greater awareness and understanding here are 10 common myths—and the reality—about older adult falls. Myths 4-7: • Myth 4: As long as I stay at home, I can avoid falling. Reality: Over half of all falls take place at home. Inspect your home for fall risks. Fix simple but serious hazards such as clutter, throw rugs, and poor lighting. Make simple home modi cations, such as adding grab bars in the bathroom, a second handrail on stairs, and non-slip paint on outdoor steps. • Myth 5: Muscle strength and flexibility can’t be regained. Reality: While we do lose muscle as we age, exercise can partially restore strength and flexibility. It’s never too late to start an exercise program. Even if you’ve been a “couch potato” your whole life, becoming active now will benefit you in many ways—including protection from falls. • Myth 6: Taking medication doesn’t increase my risk of falling. Reality: Taking any medication may increase your risk of falling. Medications affect people in many different ways and can sometimes make you dizzy or sleepy. Becareful when starting a new medication. Talk to your health care provider about potential side effects or interactions of your medications. • Myth 7: I don’t need to get my vision checked every year. Reality: Vision is another key risk factor for falls. Aging is associated with some forms of vision loss that increase risk of falling and injury. People with vision problems are more than twice as likely to fall as those without visual impairment. Have your eyes checked at least once a year and update your eyeglasses. For those with low vision there are programs and assistive devices that can help. Ask your optometrist for a referral. For more information: www.ncoa.org/FallsPrevention SEPTEMBER IS FALL PREVENTION MONTH: To protect yourself against falls, you should stay active. Generations is promoting activity with a “Roll the Dice” game beginning Fall Prevention Week (September 18-24) through the end of October. If you’d like to play, email rsvp@vinu.edu to register. Please leave your name and number and someone will call you back to tell you where and when to pick up your kit. The kit will include 2 dice, an exercise log and instructions on how to play. On November 2nd, we will be hosting Dine with a Doc in the Trailblazer Room on the campus of Vincennes University at 11 a.m. You can turn in your log at that time and pick up your participation reward. You are welcome to stay, eat lunch and listen to the doctor speak on that day. If you’d like more information, please contact Cathy Jones 812-888-5159. GENERATIONS TO OFFER LIVING A HEALTHY LIFE WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS IN OCTOBER: Generations will be offering a free 6-week course, Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions, every Thursday beginning October 6th through November 11th, 2022 from 10 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Generations (Zella Young Building – 3rd Floor), 1019 N. 4th St., Vincennes, IN. Many adults with conditions such as arthritis, asthma, diabetes, lung disease, heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, and others struggle to find ways to manage their condition. This program will address issues faced by individuals dealing with chronic disease. Some of the topics discussed during the course of this program are: techniques to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, isolation and poor sleep; decision-making skills to better deal with medication use and treatment options; exercise for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility and endurance; pacing activity and rest; nutrition gaps; and action planning. This program is FREE and a FREE lunch will be provided, but you must register, as seating is limited. For more information, or to register, please contact Cathy Jones at 812-888-5159 or by e-mail at catherine.jones@vinu.edu. MATTER OF BALANCE CLASS TO BE HELD IN BICKNELL: A Matter of Balance is designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels among older adults. Participants learn to set realistic goals to increase activity, change their environment to reduce fall risk factors, and learn simple exercises to increase strength and balance. A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls will be offered at the Knox County 4-H Fairgrounds, 11728 IN-67, Bicknell, IN every Tuesday beginning October 4th, 2022 through November 22nd, 2022. Classes will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. This 8-week program is offered free of charge, but pre-registration is required. Spots are limited! A workbook will be provided and refreshments will be served. For more information, or to register, contact Rita Wampler at 812-899-0465. GENERATIONS MAGAZINE: Our magazine is geared toward adults in pre-retirement and retirement years and promotes active aging and preventive health. It is published three times a year and is free to subscribers. All we need is your name and address. If you would like to receive future copies of the magazine, contact Brenda Hancock at 812-888-5146 or bhancock@vinu.edu. Generations, Area 13 Agency on Aging & Disability, is a program of Vincennes University’s Community Services Division. Our agency connects individuals and caregivers to community resources and options for long-term care and in-home services. For more information, call 1-800-742-9002 or 812-888-5880 or visit our website at www.generationsnetwork.org

Syracuse Vs. Purdue Updates: Live NCAA Football Game Scores, Results For Saturday – CBS Sports https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/syracuse-vs-purdue-updates-live-ncaa-football-game-scores-results-for-saturday-cbs-sports/ After a two-game homestand, the Purdue Boilermakers will be on the road. They will take on the Syracuse Orange at noon ET on Saturday at Carrier Dome. These two teams are strolling into their game after big wins in their previous games. Purdue got themselves on the board against the Indiana State Sycamores last week, but Indiana State never followed suit. The Boilermakers were fully in charge, breezing past the Sycamores 56 to nothing at home. The matchup was pretty much decided by the half, when the score had already reached 35 to nothing. Purdue’s WR Charlie Jones was one of the most active players for the team, catching nine passes for three TDs and 133 yards. Purdue’s defense was a presence as well, as it got past Indiana State’s offensive line to sack the QB four times for a total loss of 21 yards. It was a group effort with five guys contributing. Meanwhile, you’re bound to get a positive result if you outscore your opponent every quarter, and that’s exactly how it played out for ‘Cuse last week. They blew past the Connecticut Huskies 48-14. With the Orange ahead 27-7 at the half, the contest was all but over already. Their QB Garrett Shrader was on fire, passing for three TDs and 287 yards on 24 attempts in addition to punching in two rushing touchdowns. Their wins bumped the Boilermakers to 1-1 and ‘Cuse to 2-0. After both teams made easy work of their previous opponents, one of them is set up to suffer a discouraging change of fortune. Season Leaders passing A. O’Connell567 YD, 5 TDS A. O’Connell567 YD, 5 TDS G. Shrader524 YD, 5 TDSG. Shrader524 YD, 5 TDS rushing D. Mockobee13 ATT, 78 YD, 1 TDD. Mockobee13 ATT, 78 YD, 1 TD S. Tucker48 ATT, 210 YD, 2 TDSS. Tucker48 ATT, 210 YD, 2 TDS receiving C. Jones21 REC, 286 YD, 4 TDSC. Jones21 REC, 286 YD, 4 TDS S. Tucker10 REC, 102 YD, 1 TDS. Tucker10 REC, 102 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

BlackPink Bags Best Metaverse Performance Award At MTV VMAs – Crypto Times https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/blackpink-bags-best-metaverse-performance-award-at-mtv-vmas-crypto-times/ The biggest girl group in the world right now, Kpop group BlackPink, bagged the best metaverse performance award at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) 2022. Blackpink was up against musicians Ariana Grande (Fortnite), BTS (YouTube), Charli XCX (Roblox), Justin Bieber (Wave), and the Twenty One Pilots (Roblox). On August 12, MTV VMAs revealed its first-ever Metaverse experience in addition to this brand-new award category. The VMA Experience was accessible until September 3  and was introduced in the Roblox metaverse by Paramount Game Studios. Also Read: Snoop Dogg & Eminem to perform at MTV VMAs 2022 The metaverse category for this year’s VMAs was introduced following five years of dwindling viewership. MTV’s decision to feature virtual performance may help keep it current as the metaverse flourishes and draws younger audiences. Author Vismaya is a technical writer currently involved in the crypto industry. She holds a specific interest in blockchain technology. When not writing, she grooves to “Nirvana” and doesn’t forget to flaunt her dance moves occasionally.

Crossbows Vs. Compound Bows | Sports | Oleantimesherald.com – Olean Times Herald https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/crossbows-vs-compound-bows-sports-oleantimesherald-com-olean-times-herald/ Today’s bows and crossbows are very different from just 50 years ago. New York is pretty restrictive on its crossbow regulations and this shows in a small degree the conflict existing between compound and crossbow users. But, is there that much difference and is either even close to traditional archery hunting? Wade Robertson New York state has a strong, dedicated lobby of archers who are most decidedly against crossbows, so much so that regulations forbid using one until November of archery season, which seems a little ridiculous. I have a few observations that I hope readers will find interesting — possibly even thought-provoking.

Wanted Crypto Developer Do Kwon Is Not In Singapore, Police Say – Reuters https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/wanted-crypto-developer-do-kwon-is-not-in-singapore-police-say-reuters/ Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com SINGAPORE, Sept 17 (Reuters) – Singapore Police Force said on Saturday the wanted crypto developer Do Kwon, who is accused of fraud by investors following the collapse of his cryptocurrencies Luna and TerraUSD, is currently not in the city-state. Kwon, the primary developer of the two cryptocurrencies whose spectacular collapse in May roiled crypto markets around the world, was also the founder of blockchain platform Terraform Labs, which has been accused of fraud by investors in the wake of the collapse. Last week, a spokesperson for South Korean prosecutors said arrest warrants had been issued for six people, including Do Kwon, and that they were residing in Singapore. read more The arrest order came after months of investigation and amid public outrage in South Korea over the collapse. Globally, investors in the two coins lost an estimated $42 billion, according to blockchain analytics firm Elliptic. A statement from the Singapore police late on Saturday also said they would assist the South Korean police within the ambit of its domestic legislation and international obligations. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Chen Lin in Singapore; Editing by Alex Richardson and Clelia Oziel Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Matthew McClean Beats Hugh Foley To Win U.S. Mid-Amateur Title – ESPN https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/matthew-mcclean-beats-hugh-foley-to-win-u-s-mid-amateur-title-espn/ 2:33 PM ET Associated Press ERIN, Wis. — Matthew McClean won the rain-delayed U.S. Mid-Amateur on Saturday, building a 5-up lead and holding off close friend Hugh Foley in an all-Irish final at Erin Hills. The 36-hole championship match was split over two days because of rain earlier in the week. McClean was 2 up after 18 holes on Friday evening, and then took advantage of Foley’s bogeys to build a big lead. Foley ran off three straight birdies late in the match, only for McClean to close him out with par on the 35th hole for a 3-and-1 victory. The victory sends McLean to the Masters in April and the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club in June. It ended a long and inseparable week between the Irish friends. They flew out of Dublin together on Sept. 5. They shared a rental car and private housing and played practice rounds together. And then it was all business in the championship match, and McClean was largely in control throughout. He became the second Irish winner of a USGA title this year, following Padraig Harrington at the U.S. Senior Open. McLean said former British Open champion Shane Lowry, who won the BMW PGA Championship last week at Wentworth, messaged them Friday night to say there would be at least one more Irish player at Augusta National and the U.S. Open. “Just thankfully it’s me going there,” McClean said. “Hugh has played unbelievable golf this year. For the past three months he’s probably been the best player in Ireland comfortably. It’s probably in a way who I wanted to play in the final, but at the same time it’s not the person you want to lose in the final, as well.”

Google Updates Photos App, Brings Collage Editor, Shareable Memories – HT Tech https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/google-updates-photos-app-brings-collage-editor-shareable-memories-ht-tech/ Home Tech News Google updates Photos app, brings collage editor, shareable Memories American tech giant Google is seeding a big update to its Photos app, calling it the biggest update for Memories since the feature’s inception in 2020. American tech giant Google is seeding a big update to its Photos app, calling it the biggest update for Memories since the feature’s inception in 2020. According to GSM Arena, Google has added that Memories is very popular, netting more than 3.5 billion views per month. The feature has now been redesigned to be more dynamic. A big focus has been placed on videos and Photos will now preselect snippets of longer videos to show you. Still, images in Memories are now more immersive thanks to an automatic subtle zooming in or out. Also, users can now share a Memory with another Photos user. The option to share a Memory through a Web link and to iOS will be coming soon. Google notes that users can still choose to omit photos of certain people or time periods from their Memories, reported GSM Arena. Another way your Memories will be more dynamic is through Cinematic photos – Google Photos generates a moving, 3D model of your image and it will render full end-to-end videos with Cinematic photos. Further, a much-appreciated feature is the new Collage editor. Users can finally edit their collages with different grids, move photos around, and even choose a background, Google calls it Styles, with several designs set to launch, as per GSM Arena.

Eastern Washington Priest Pleads Innocent To Raping A Friend After Inviting Her To Lunch – Centralia Chronicle https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/eastern-washington-priest-pleads-innocent-to-raping-a-friend-after-inviting-her-to-lunch-centralia-chronicle/ Cameron Probert / Tri-City Herald A Tri-Cities priest pleaded innocent this week to charges he raped a friend after he invited her to lunch. Prosecutors charged The Rev. Tomás Vázquez Téllez, 49, with third-degree rape with the aggravating circumstance of abusing his position of trust. Vázquez Téllez has been released from Benton County jail on a $30,000 bond while he awaits his Nov. 28 trial. He has turned over his passport, but there were concerns that he might have a second passport, Deputy Prosecutor Anita Petra told a judge on Thursday. And Judge David Petersen ordered him to turn over the possible second passport. Vázquez Téllez also has resigned from his position at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Kennewick, according to the Diocese of Yakima. The diocese had allowed him to serve in the Diocese of Spokane at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Pasco before leaving on a three-month study program in Jerusalem. The diocese has since revoked that permission, so he’s not practicing in any church. However, the diocese said he will receive pay and benefits while the case in ongoing. Vázquez Téllez invited the woman to his Kennewick home on Aug. 19 for lunch, according to court documents. The two had known each other since 2018 and she described him as a “father figure” and a “spiritual leader she could trust.” As they ate lunch, they drank about two bottles of wine. The woman told police she felt the effects of the alcohol, but still was alert. Then Vázquez Téllez went into the kitchen and returned with what he called a “dessert wine.” According to court documents, she only drank a portion of the dark-colored liquor and felt very impaired and could not hold her head up. His drink was clear. He picked her up and carried her to his bedroom. She believed he was just going to let her sleep. Instead, he took off her clothes and allegedly sexually assaulted her, according to Kennewick police. “She told him ‘no’ multiple times, pushed him away, but had trouble holding her head up,” according to the affidavit filed by prosecutors. She said he would stop when she cried, but would then continue, saying everything would be OK. When she felt safe to drive in the morning, she went to another priest’s home and told him what happened. He took her to a local hospital. Hospital officials called police. Vázquez Téllez allegedly sent her a series of texts over several days apologizing and asking for forgiveness, police said. In an interview with police Aug. 29, he said he blacked out from the alcohol and didn’t remember having sex, but remembered waking up naked with her in bed. However, when asked if she should be worried about getting pregnant, he said no because he remembered certain actions he took during sex.

A Guide To Selecting The Right Vehicle – The Manila Times https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/a-guide-to-selecting-the-right-vehicle-the-manila-times/ A vehicle is an aspirational item. Aside from taking its passengers from point A to point B, most individuals and families consider a vehicle as the reward of sacrifice, hard work, and, perhaps, years of investing. For those who now have the means to purchase their dream car, here are some tips for finding the most value in your purchase. Conduct a Needs Assessment Before going to the showroom, the prospective car owner should ask “who will use this vehicle” and “where do I intend to take it?” On weekdays in Metro Manila, it is common to see only one or two persons inside a vehicle. Almost all four-wheeled vehicles are able to occupy five persons so the daily commute should not be a problem. However, the car owner should think of the extended family as well. Most Filipino families have extended members and as the country transitions to a new normal, travel to the countryside is back. Should you have nephews, nieces, nanny or dog in the house, it is best to provide an additional seat or two for them. This is where multi-purpose vehicles or small seven-seater SUVs come in. Roads can be a challenge in provinces. While most people now reside at or around urban areas, their work or business may require some to travel to far-flung places. The trip to a construction site may involve cruising through highways and traversing frequently muddy trails. It is true that a 4-wheel drive vehicle costs more but don’t compromise. There are carmakers who now offer entry-level pick-up trucks that have 4-wheel drive. Get the latest news delivered to your inbox Sign up for The Manila Times’ daily newsletters By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Identify the features that you need The more features in a vehicle, the higher its selling price. As a car buyer, ask yourself if these bells and whistles are worth spending a few thousand pesos more over the base, or entry-level, grade. Go for safety in assessing exterior features of a vehicle. Reverse cameras and parking sensors are good to have. These help the driver avoid hitting an obstacle or another car while parking, thus, removing costs for dent and scratch repairs. Fog lamps are both aesthetically-pleasing and helpful. You will need the additional visibility when you travel in dark, isolated roads, or if your area usually rains. If you want to stick to the essentials, forego on the features that enhance the look of the vehicle. More expensive grades offer front, side or rear skirts, a rear spoiler, and a sportier wheel design. Go for comfort and convenience with interior features. A good audio system, with Apple or Android connectivity, removes the stress of being stuck in EDSA traffic. Modern vehicles now have a wireless charger so you can be sure that your smartphone will not die as you leave the car. Expect the kids to be less bored if there are USB ports and less tired if there are sufficient bottle holders for their drinks. One of the reasons for physically visiting multiple brands is to check on the vehicle’s luggage space. There are vehicles within a segment that have a relatively smaller cargo space. A small cargo space is not ideal if you bring a lot of equipment for work, or bags if your family goes on a vacation. Then, there are the operating costs of the vehicle. First and foremost is fuel efficiency. While driving habits and the car’s maintenance contribute to fuel consumption, a car’s engine must be able to perform with less stress as possible. A 1.0-liter car is generally thought of as fuel efficient but this attribute diminishes if it regularly carries 5 adults plus equipment to work. The same applies to 1.3-liter, 7-seater multi-purpose vehicles. These are indeed affordable, but the engine may need to exert more to carry its body, not to mention its passengers and cargo. Don’t forget the after-sales service Enter the front door and a prospective car buyer can see and feel the level of customer service in a dealership. Like buying a policy from an insurance agent, a car purchase is a life-long relationship with the brand and its frontliners. The sale is just the start of that relationship. As you proceed to the service area, take a look at the staff and see if they are approachable, courteous and conduct themselves professionally. When buying a car, the selling and servicing dealer should be near your house or office. This should be paramount over falling in love with the design and value-for-money proposition of a vehicle. It will be a chore to drive 30 kilometers or an hour to take your car for periodic maintenance. When taking a car for maintenance or repair, there are parts that need to be replaced. Brands that are not volume-sellers may have a difficulty in obtaining parts for your vehicle. This will entail waiting and coming back after a few days or weeks. Remember to take time and shop from multiple brands and dealerships to find the right car and the most attractive offer for you. As one who invested for this goal for many years, it is now time to buy your dream car. Marion Evangelista, RFP CTEP CTA is a registered financial planner of RFP Philippines. To learn more about personal-financial planning, attend the 98th RFP program in October 2022. To inquire, e-mail [email protected] or text at 0917-6248110. %

How LinkedIn Became A Place To Overshare – Deccan Herald https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/how-linkedin-became-a-place-to-overshare-deccan-herald/ About three years ago, Joel Lalgee started posting on LinkedIn. He works in recruiting, so naturally, he spent a lot of time on the site, where people list their work experience and job seekers look for their next gig. But he didn’t just write about work. He wrote about his personal life: the mental health challenges he faced as a teenager, and his life since. “Being able to share my story, I saw it as a way to connect with people and show you’re not alone,” he said. Something else happened, too. “Six months in, I started seeing a big increase in engagement, followers, inbound business leads,” said Lalgee, 35. He now has more than 140,000 followers on LinkedIn, up from the 9,000 he had before he started posting. “The way you can go viral is to be really vulnerable,” he said, adding, “Old school LinkedIn was definitely not like this.” Read | LinkedIn and UN Women join hands to create employment LinkedIn, which was started in 2003, was first known primarily as a place to share résumés and connect with co-workers. It later added a newsfeed and introduced ways for users to post text and videos. The site now has more than 830 million users who generate about 8 million posts and comments daily. Since the start of the pandemic, as office workers missed in-person interactions with colleagues, many people turned to LinkedIn to help make up for what they had lost. They started talking about more than just work. The boundaries between office and home lives became blurrier than ever. As personal circumstances bled into workdays, people felt emboldened to share with their professional peers — and found interested audiences both in and beyond their networks. Users, including some who had left Facebook or felt guilty about using it during work, found they could scroll through LinkedIn and still feel that they were working. And for those hoping to make a splash and build an audience, LinkedIn proved an easier place to get noticed than more saturated sites. Karen Shafrir Vladeck, a recruiter in Austin, Texas, who posts frequently on LinkedIn, said the site was “low-hanging fruit” compared with crowded platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. Read | Bill Gates encourages jobseekers by sharing 48-year-old resume on LinkedIn During the pandemic, many people also wanted to post about social justice topics that, while far from the historically staid fare of the site, affected their work lives: In 2020, Black LinkedIn took off with posts about systemic racism. “After the murder of George Floyd, a lot of folks were like, ‘I know this is unusual LinkedIn talk, but I’m going to talk about race,’” said Lily Zheng, a diversity, equity and inclusion consultant. This summer, after the Supreme Court ruling on abortion, some women posted their own abortion stories. Now, users find on a typical day that between job listings and “I’m happy to announce” posts are viral selfies of people crying, announcements about weddings and long reflections about overcoming illnesses. Not all are happy about the changes. Some said they find they cannot use the site in the same way. A newsfeed crowded with personal posts, they said, can distract from the information they seek on LinkedIn. “Early in the pandemic, we started seeing content we really hadn’t seen before,” said Daniel Roth, a vice president and the editor-in-chief of LinkedIn. He said he noticed people posting about mental health, burnout and stress. “These were unusual posts for people where they were being much more vulnerable on LinkedIn,” he said. It wasn’t as if no one had broached those topics on the site before but, Roth said, it was “nothing like the volume” that LinkedIn started seeing in the spring of 2020, and continued seeing over the next two years. LinkedIn is not encouraging, or discouraging, the intimate posts. “In terms of the personal content, I wouldn’t say that we got too involved there,” Roth said. But it is encouraging influencers to join the site in the hope that they will post about topics such as leadership. The company walks a fine line, as it tries to encourage engagement on the site while protecting the professional context that it says its users expect. Roth said posts about skills and work accomplishments — more classic office fare — have seen increased engagement in the past year. In a survey of about 2,000 employed adults this year, LinkedIn found that 60 per cent said their definition of “professional” had changed since the start of the pandemic. “LinkedIn’s purpose for existing is changing,” said Zheng, who uses they/them pronouns. As is true in a workplace, sharing personal information on LinkedIn can foster a sense of belonging — but it can also lead to regrets. Zheng, who has more than 100,000 followers on LinkedIn, said companies are asking, “How much disclosure is allowed under this changing definition of professionalism? It’s not an answer that exists yet.” “There is a tension here. On the one hand, we want to support workers’ self-expression and self-disclosure,” Zheng said. But, at the same time, they added, workers should feel free to maintain boundaries between their personal and work lives, including on LinkedIn. Over the past couple years, LinkedIn has been trying to encourage content that will keep users engaged on the site: Last year, LinkedIn started a creator accelerator program to recruit influencers. A spokesperson for LinkedIn, Suzi Owens, said it was rolling out new tools and formats for posting. In the past, LinkedIn influencers were often “thought leaders,” including business pundits or executives who post advice to millions of followers. More recently, content creators from TikTok and YouTube, including stars such as Mr. Beast, have also joined LinkedIn. Although LinkedIn is recruiting influencers, Roth said, “there shouldn’t be that much content that goes viral.” He added that most posts should only reach people’s own networks. A full-time content creator who participated in LinkedIn’s creator accelerator program recently posted something that went well beyond her own network — and saw how far a more personal tone could reach. “I had a post that went absolutely viral on LinkedIn,” said the influencer, who uses the name Natalie Rose in her work. The post, a crying selfie with a caption about anxiety and the reality of being an influencer, got more than 2.7 million impressions. “That led to me having some business opportunities with anxiety apps, things like that,” she said. “I got a lot of connections and followers from it, all because I chose to be vulnerable in a post.” Rose, 26, said she used to think of LinkedIn as an online résumé. “In my understanding, it was kind of used for old people,” she said. But her thinking has changed. “I 100 per cent view it as a social media platform now.” She added that she found commenters more positive and mature than audiences on TikTok, where she has 2.7 million followers. Roth said he does not see LinkedIn as a social media platform in the vein of TikTok or Facebook — although some users see parallels and don’t like it. They frequently, grumpily comment that “this isn’t Facebook” on personal LinkedIn posts. Sofía Martín Jiménez, 30, used to be a LinkedIn power user. She used it all the time for a previous job in recruiting and often scrolled through her newsfeed to seek book recommendations and keep up with articles about her field. Since the pandemic began, Jiménez, who lives in Madrid, said her feed has become so cluttered with people’s deeply personal updates — stories of coping with a loved one’s death or overcoming an illness — that it is nearly unusable for professional tasks. “Now the feed is an obstacle,” she said. “I had to change my way of working on LinkedIn.” She now uses keywords to directly search for people’s profiles and avoids the homepage. Last year, Lalgee started to feel ambivalent about the attention he got from his personal posts. He wondered whether the hope of reaching a wide audience was leading people to share more than they should, or even to post emotional stories for attention. “It creates almost a false sense of vulnerability,” he said. “And then it becomes really hard to know, is this person genuine, or are they just doing it to go viral?” Owens said the company plans to continue rolling out product changes to ensure that people see relevant content in their feeds. “What’s unique about LinkedIn is that it’s not creation for the sake of entertainment — it’s about creation for economic opportunity,” she said. For those who want to see their life updates reach a wide audience, there is a cottage industry of consultants — and even a parody viral LinkedIn post generator — to help. John Nemo, a consultant who specializes in generating business leads for clients on LinkedIn, said he coaches people to follow a formula: “personal story + business lesson = the content.” He demonstrated his formula with news about the death of a hypothetical dog named Ralph. “Personal story is Ralph died,” he said. “What’s the business lesson in this?” He suggested starting the post with the update: “I lost my best friend yesterday, Ralph the dog, and here’s a photo of us.” Then add an observation about making deals: “One thing I’ve learned in sales is you’re constantly losing, you’re constantly getting rejected, you’re constantly having people abandon you.” Link it back to the dog: “One thing I love about Ralph, as any dog owner knows, is that they’ll never abandon you.” Sprinkle in some business advice: “You can’t get your validation from your sales calls because people reject you all day. You’ve gotta find your validation and self-esteem from loved ones or pets or whatever, religion.” Finally, prompt your followers: “Share a picture of your dog in the comments.” “The more personal it is, the more dramatic it is, as...

Hampton University Recruits Hall Of Famer Smith, Other Former NFL Athletes, For Men’s Health Fair – News 3 WTKR Norfolk https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/hampton-university-recruits-hall-of-famer-smith-other-former-nfl-athletes-for-mens-health-fair-news-3-wtkr-norfolk/ HAMPTON, Va. – NFL Hall of Famer Bruce Smith joined other former NFL athletes who used their voices in support of men’s health on Saturday. The discussion and panel was part of the Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute’s (HUPTI) first Prostate Cancer and Men’s Health Awareness Fair. “I’m 59 years old and I’ve been screened,” Smith told the packed room. The fair brought in numerous vendors to talk with the men who came out about living a healthy lifestyle. HUPTI also offered free early-detection prostate screenings that attracted dozens soon after the doors opened at 9 a.m. The panel of NFL athletes began at 10. “I think our lending our voices helps to amplify the need for men specifically and African Americans to take ownership of their health,” Smith told News 3. “I think it’s real important and sometimes it gives other men a little bit more encouragement.” Organizer Tiffany Rodgers says bringing in professional athletes to share their stories was crucial for an event that she says proved to be even more popular than expected. “They want to break down these walls we have where we don’t talk and we’re scared to go to the doctor. We can’t do that. We have to go to the doctor, we have to get screened and we have to stick around,” said Rodgers, Marketing Director for HUPTI. According to the Hampton Roads Prostate Health Forum, one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime and Black men are twice as likely to die from a low-grade case than any other race. The forum recommends Black men and others considered high-risk for prostate cancer begin annual screenings at 40 years old. Rodgers says she plans to make the Men’s Health Awareness Fair an annual event taking place every September. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Sign up for the Headlines Newsletter and receive up to date information.

Georgia Vs. South Carolina Score: Live Game Updates, College Football Scores, NCAA Top 25 Highlights Today – CBS Sports https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/georgia-vs-south-carolina-score-live-game-updates-college-football-scores-ncaa-top-25-highlights-today-cbs-sports/ No. 1 Georgia is looking the part of its recently acquired status as the best team in college football for the 2022 season, riding its dominant defense and holding a 24-0 lead on the road at South Carolina. This is the conference opener for the Bulldogs in their pursuit of a fifth SEC East title in six years, and so far the reigning national champions have made the Gamecocks look very similar to each of their previous two opponents, who they outscored 82-3 in two victories to open the season.  The fact that Georgia has found similar results with the likes of Oregon, Samford and so far South Carolina speaks to the efficiency with which Kirby Smart’s program is operating. The defense, in particular, lost a record haul to the NFL Draft and yet this is a group that has still yet to give up more one single field goal through 10 quarters of action. Offensively, Georgia has continued to lean on Stetson Bennett to lead the way, and even though he has appeared visibly under the weather at times this half he’s got one passing touchdown and is responsible for a couple of the Bulldogs’ longer rushing plays.  While South Carolina’s defense has a few things to be proud of at halftime, like limiting Georgia’s ground game to 79 yards and forcing one punt — more than Oregon could say at halftime — the game has been just as lopsided as the oddsmakers projected. Unless South Carolina’s offense can find a rhythm, the day is trending to No. 1 remaining No. 1, as Georgia possibly even strengthens its hold on that claim with another dominant performance.    Keep it locked here for highlights, game updates and analysis as the reigning national champions face their first true road test of the 2022 season.  Season Leaders passing S. Bennett668 YD, 3 TDS S. Bennett668 YD, 3 TDS S. Rattler603 YD, 2 TDS, 3 INTSS. Rattler603 YD, 2 TDS, 3 INTS rushing K. Milton18 ATT, 135 YD, 1 TDK. Milton18 ATT, 135 YD, 1 TD M. Lloyd18 ATT, 53 YD, 2 TDSM. Lloyd18 ATT, 53 YD, 2 TDS receiving K. McIntosh14 REC, 178 YDK. McIntosh14 REC, 178 YD A. Wells Jr.15 REC, 244 YD, 1 TDA. Wells Jr.15 REC, 244 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

Going Incognito: How We Can Protect Our Privacy In The Metaverse – VentureBeat https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/going-incognito-how-we-can-protect-our-privacy-in-the-metaverse-venturebeat/ September 17, 2022 6:40 AM Were you unable to attend Transform 2022? Check out all of the summit sessions in our on-demand library now! Watch here. The image below shows me standing in a “Virtual Escape Room” that was created by academic researchers at U.C. Berkeley’s Center for Responsible Decentralized Intelligence. The simulated world requires me to complete a series of tasks, each one unlocking a door. My goal is to move from virtual room to virtual room, unlocking doors by solving puzzles that involve creative thinking, memory skills and physical movements, all naturally integrated into the experience.   Louis Rosenberg inside a Virtual Escape Room created by researchers at U.C. Berkeley (2022) I am proud to say I made it out of the virtual labyrinth and back to reality. Of course, this was created by a research lab, so you might expect the experience was more than it seems. And you’d be right — it was designed to demonstrate the significant privacy concerns in the metaverse. It turns out that while I was solving the puzzles, moving from room to room, the researchers were using my actions and reactions to determine a wide range of information about me. I’m talking about deeply personal data that any third party could have ascertained from my participation in a simple virtual application.  As I have been involved in virtual and augmented reality for decades and have been warning about the hidden dangers for many years, you’d think the data collected would not have surprised me. But you’d be wrong. It’s one thing to warn about the risks in the abstract; it’s something else to experience the privacy issues firsthand. It was quite shocking, actually.   That said, let’s get into the personal data they were able to glean from my short experience in the escape room. First, they were able to triangulate my location. As described in a recent paper about this research, metaverse applications generally ping multiple servers, which here enabled the researchers to quickly predict my location using a process called multilateration. Even if I had been using a VPN to hide my IP address, this technique would still have found where I was. This isn’t shocking, as most people expect their location is known when they connect online, but it is a privacy concern nonetheless.   Going deeper, the researchers were able to use my interactions in the escape room to predict my height, the length of my arms (wingspan), my handedness, my age, my gender, and basic parameters about my physical fitness level, including how low I could crouch down and how quickly I could react to stimuli. They were also able to determine my visual acuity, whether I was colorblind, and the size of the room that I was interacting with, and to make basic assessments of my cognitive acuity. The researchers could have even predicted whether I had certain disabilities.   It’s important to point out that the researchers used standard hardware and software to implement this series of tests, emulating the capabilities that a typical application developer could employ when building a virtual experience in the metaverse. It’s also important to point out that consumers currently have no way to defend against this — there is no “incognito mode” in the metaverse that conceals this information and protects the user against this type of evaluation.   Well, there wasn’t any protection until the researchers began building one — a software tool they call “MetaGuard” that can be installed on standard VR systems. As described in a recent paper by lead researchers Vivek Nair and Gonzalo Garrido of U.C. Berkeley, the tool can mask many of the parameters that were used to profile my physical characteristics in the metaverse. It works by cleverly injecting randomized offsets into the data stream, hiding physical parameters such as my height, wingspan and physical mobility, which otherwise could be used to predict age, gender and health characteristics.   MetaGuard Image from Nair and Garrido The free software tool also enables users to mask their handedness, the frequency range of their voice, and their physical fitness level and conceal their geospatial location by disrupting triangulation techniques. Of course, MetaGuard is just a first step in helping users protect their privacy in immersive worlds, but it’s an important demonstration, showing that consumer-level defenses could easily be deployed.   At the same time, policymakers should consider protecting basic immersive rights for users around the globe, guarding against invasive tracking and profiling. For example, Meta recently announced that its next VR headset will include face and eye tracking. While these new capabilities are likely to unlock very useful features in the metaverse, for example enabling avatars to express more realistic facial expressions, the same data could also be used to track and profile user emotions. This could enable platforms to build predictive models that anticipate how individual users will react to a wide range of circumstances, even enabling adaptive advertisements that are optimized for persuasion.  Personally, I believe the metaverse has the potential to be a deeply humanizing technology that presents digital content in the form most natural to our perceptual system — as immersive experiences. At the same time, the extensive data collected in virtual and augmented worlds is a significant concern and likely requires a range of solutions, from protective software tools like MetaGuard to thoughtful metaverse regulation. For those interested in pushing for a safe metaverse, I point you towards an international community effort called Metaverse Safety Week that is happening in December.   Louis Rosenberg, PhD is an early pioneer in the fields of virtual and augmented reality. His work began over 30 years ago in labs at Stanford and NASA. In 1992 he developed the first interactive augmented reality system at Air Force Research Laboratory. In 1993 he founded the early VR company Immersion Corporation (public on Nasdaq). In 2004 he founded the early AR company Outland Research. He earned his PhD from Stanford, has been awarded over 300 patents for VR, AR, and AI technologies and was a professor at California State University. DataDecisionMakers Welcome to the VentureBeat community! DataDecisionMakers is where experts, including the technical people doing data work, can share data-related insights and innovation. If you want to read about cutting-edge ideas and up-to-date information, best practices, and the future of data and data tech, join us at DataDecisionMakers. You might even consider contributing an article of your own! Read More From DataDecisionMakers