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Beverly Hills Mulls Metaverse Expansion – Beverly Hills Courier https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/beverly-hills-mulls-metaverse-expansion-beverly-hills-courier/ BY Bianca Heyward September 16, 2022 Metaverse media and virtual reality technology as internet futuristic streaming symbol with VR computing and augmented reality as a computer programs concept in a 3D illustration style. Reading Time: 3 minutes At its Sep. 12 adjourned Study Session, the Beverly Hills City Council unanimously agreed to explore the possibility of expanding into the metaverse. Thought to be the next evolution of the internet, the metaverse integrates physical and digital experiences and allows people to interact using technologies like 3D computing, augmented reality, virtual reality and blockchain. In the immersive virtual world, users can attend virtual events, explore cities, and purchase non downloadable virtual footwear, clothing, and accessories. While the City Attorney’s office filed a Class 41 Trademark application in June to protect the use of the city shield in the metaverse, Mayor Lili Bosse requested that the Council consider Beverly Hills entering the metaverse.  “Whether we like it or not the metaverse is here and will continue to be here,” Mayor Bosse said. “I want to make sure that we really protect our community, protect Beverly Hills, and use it as a way to really tell our story.” According to Travis Cloyd of Worldwide XR, an entertainment technology and digital agency, Santa Monica was the first city in the country to enter the metaverse by offering a virtual way to experience its downtown district through FlickPlay, a metaverse social app company. Users can explore an interactive map of the city and collect tokens, which can then be used to unlock digital experiences in the app or redeemed for physical items at retailers in the city.  “Look at these Metaverse ecosystems as trailers driving more foot traffic and more awareness,” Cloyd said. “For example, I can text message somebody anywhere in the world, and they get a snippet. They get a chance to go step in the virtual space for only a small, limited time. We’re hoping that that can drive them to physically come in here.” To partake and create content in the metaverse, the city would have to buy digital parcels of space in the metaverse using cryptocurrencies. After using cryptocurrencies to acquire digital parcels of real estate in a metaverse ecosystem, the city would be able build a virtual replica of City Hall or Rodeo Drive. In the metaverse, users can purchase virtual property, goods, services, or nonfungible tokens (NFTs) and pay for them with cryptocurrency.  “I absolutely would support looking at this as a way to promote the city, not as a new lifestyle,” Councilmember John Mirisch said. “But it’s a form of recreation. People are spending time there and can we reach them there? I think we should look at it more as a billboard than as speculative real estate.” However, Mirisch opposed doing anything that would require the city to use cryptocurrencies, and suggested the city do a cost benefit analysis. “Unless they develop cryptocurrencies that are carbon neutral, I’d say staying away from anything involving cryptocurrency is a must,” Mirisch said. While referred to as the “wild west,” the city hopes to explore opportunities in the metaverse that utilize augmented reality to support tourism and the local economy.  “I think there’s so many advantages to what this can do for our city,” Mayor Bosse said. “It can be a promotional tool. It can be an informational tool. We’re always looking at new ways of communicating with our residents and with those who don’t live in our city as well.” Bosse indicated that she and Vice Mayor Julian Gold would be in future liaison meetings to explore the metaverse for the city before bringing it back to the council. “I think it’s important that we protect the brand of our city as well and we also use this as an opportunity,” Mayor Bosse added. “If we could use this as an educational tool for our residents and others, I think that’s great,” Vice Mayor Gold said. “If we can create avatars that help people through the planning process, I think that’s great.”  29 views

The Best Soda Makers Of 2022 – Mashed https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/the-best-soda-makers-of-2022-mashed/ Jangqq/Shutterstock We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Who doesn’t love the invigorating fizz of a carbonated drink? There’s something undeniably refreshing about all those bubbles, especially when they combine with the bold flavors of soda. But even though it tastes great, the truth is that sugary soda — or any highly sweetened beverages — are really bad for your health (via Healthline). When you flood your body with excessive amounts of liquefied sugar, it burdens your liver and eventually gets transformed into body fat. Considering that sugary drinks can also lead to increased risk of heart disease, obesity, and cancer, it’s no wonder more Americans are learning to leave commercially-produced soda pop behind (via The New York Times). That said, there’s still a way to enjoy delicious carbonated drinks without wreaking havoc on your health: making your own at home. Having a soda maker empowers you to control all of the ingredients in your drinks and allows you to customize flavors with tasty recipes that are often much healthier than what you’ll find in grocery stores. Between all of the easy homemade soda recipes out there and your own creative twists, you can make all kinds of unique sparkling beverages from the comfort of home. All you’ll need is the right soda maker. How we selected products Sergey yakubovskiy/Shutterstock The soda makers on this list were selected through a research process that took several factors into consideration. Customer feedback was crucial, since user reviews are one of the best ways to get honest insight into a product’s quality and performance. By carefully evaluating user reviews of verified purchases, each soda maker’s strengths and weaknesses were assessed to gain a comprehensive view of its caliber. We also made sure to select soda makers with a variety of useful features. Whether you’re looking for a bundle package, a model for beginners, or a soda maker that’s easily portable, we’ve got you covered. Budget is another factor that guided our selection process, so you’ll find a lot of reasonable prices here mixed in with some of the more costly selections for those with a bigger budget.  Regardless of the size of your budget or experience level in the kitchen, you’ll find a high-quality soda maker on this list that will suit your needs. Here are the best soda makers of 2022. Best overall soda maker SodaStream If you’re on the hunt for a high-quality soda maker that’s an all-around great deal, then this offer from SodaStream should do the trick. This package comes with a sparkling water maker, a 60 liter CO2 cylinder, and a one liter reusable carbonating bottle. With well over 4,500 reviews and an average four star rating, it’s clear that plenty of fizzy drink enthusiasts around the globe are very happy with this soda maker kit. Wondering how many drinks you can make with just one cylinder of CO2 from this SodaStream model? The answer might pleasantly surprise you. Just one cylinder can whip up about 126 16-ounce bottles of sparkling beverages for you to enjoy. Not only is this a great way to save money and make healthier drinks, but it’s also a way to significantly reduce the number of single-use plastic bottles you use. That’s great news for the environment.  This easy-to-use soda maker can make a fresh fizzy drink in a matter of seconds, and all with just the push of a button. You can come up with your own recipes using fresh ingredients, or you can let SodaStream do all the work for you and choose from a wide range of flavored add-ins like blueberry pomegranate, peach, and grapefruit. You can buy the SodaStream sparkling water machine on Amazon for $90. Best budget soda maker Nuvantee It’s no secret that new appliances can be a little expensive. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t score a high-quality soda maker for a good price. There are plenty of great deals on the market for fantastic fizzy drink makers, including this soda siphon that comes in at under 40 bucks. Made with sleek, eye-catching aluminum, all this one-liter soda siphon needs is a CO2 charger to get you started in making some of the most refreshing homemade drinks you’ve ever tasted. This siphon is really easy to use, too, so there’s no need to feel intimidated. All you need to do is add water to the bottle, insert the CO2 charger, then turn the nozzle to add a healthy dash of sparkling aeration.  This deal comes with an aluminum charger holder, a fork key to remove the inner tube of the siphon, and a few extra o-rings just in case you need replacements later on. To sweeten the pot, the company even includes some free cocktail recipes with your purchase. All things considered, this is easily one of the most reasonably priced and high-quality soda makers out there right now. Purchase the Nuvantee sparkling soda maker on Amazon for only $37. Best splurge soda maker Aarke If you have a bigger budget lined up for your new soda maker, why not splurge and treat yourself to a deluxe model? Available in a range of different finishes that include matte black, white, and stainless steel, this premium soda maker has a slim, modern aesthetic that’s bound to add a touch of class and sophistication to any kitchen counter. Did we mention that it also has a nearly perfect five-star rating after more than 3,000 customer reviews on Amazon? For a super easy way to flavor your bubbly drinks, you can score some pre-made flavor additives for this soda maker such as wild strawberry, cucumber lime, and citrus twist. This device even comes with a fill line on the bottle so you know exactly how much water to add to make the perfect mix. It’s also important to note that colder water will produce more bubbles, so try and make sure to use refrigerated water.  This deal also comes with a CO2 cylinder so you can start making tasty drinks right away. If you’re going to invest in a soda machine, why not go big and get one that’s exceptionally well-designed and easy on the eyes? You can buy the Aarke soda maker on Amazon for $260. Best versatile soda maker Drinkmate You might be wondering how a soda maker could possibly be more versatile than other models. After all, don’t they all work pretty much the same way? Here’s the deal: most popular soda makers can only use water. Other liquids simply won’t work or could even damage the equipment, according to House Digest. In other words, with most models on the market, you’re very limited in the kinds of liquids that you can employ, because you can only use water. This model liberates you from the shackles of that narrow restriction, freeing you up to use other liquids like wine or juice, which opens up a whole new world of possibilities. All you have to do is fill the bottle with your liquid of choice, press the button, and enjoy the fresh effervescence of your tasty homemade beverage. This deal comes with the soda maker, a BPA-fee bottle with volume measurement lines, two CO2 cylinders, and a fizz infuser. Another bonus: this model is available in four different colors — red, white, arctic blue, and black. Stylish, innovative, and useful, this sparkling beverage maker was made for those of us who like to be a little more experimental in the kitchen. Liven up your cocktails and mocktails and see what you’ve been missing out on. Purchase the Drinkmate sparkling water maker on Amazon for $165. Best soda maker bundle SodaStream It’s often more convenient to just buy a bundle package that includes everything you need, rather than having to purchase a bunch of different items separately. The good news is that we found a generous bundle kit from SodaStream that offers up everything you need to make some of the best-tasting homemade drinks you’ve ever had. If you’re still on the fence, you might want to take a peek at the hundreds of raving reviews this model has earned from highly satisfied customers. This bundle deal comes with a soda maker, two CO2 cylinders, two dishwasher-safe bottles, and two bottles of flavored Bubly brand drops to get you started. This model is equipped with a quick connect CO2 system that simplifies the process of attaching CO2 cylinders — all you have to do is line up the cylinder and snap the lock into place. This soda maker also has an appealing retro look that will bring a unique vintage vibe to your kitchen. Save money, save plastic, and enjoy the fresh fizz of a handcrafted drink with this soda maker bundle package that has everything you need. You can buy the SodaStream bundle on Amazon for $180. Best mini soda maker OTE When you don’t have much space in the kitchen, every inch counts. Having smaller appliances is a great way to maximize the space in your kitchen without having to make any sacrifices. And it doesn’t get much more compact than this soda maker, which weighs less than three pounds. This model can hold up to 450 milliliters of liquid and comes with a hermetic seal that can lock in carbonation to maintain freshness. All you need to do is insert the mini gas cartridge, twist the cap, and presto — you have a bubblicious beverage ready to go! If you’re wondering if you’ll need to buy the mini gas cartridges separately, no need to worry. This package comes with 20 cartridges so you can hit the ground running. Great for all kinds of lifestyles and very reasonably priced, this is a great deal that you don’t want to let slip by. Purchase the OTE mini sparkling water maker on Amazon for $40. Best portable soda maker HXZB If you’re always on the go, a portable soda maker can be really useful. Whether you’re at the gym, on a picnic, or even camping, having easy access to the refreshing taste of a homemade sparkling beverage can be highly satisfying. And luckily for you, this model was recently ranked in the top three best portable soda makers currently on the market (via Find This Best). ...

Ether Falls This Week As ‘merge’ Hype Fades. The Crypto Outlook From Here – CNBC https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/ether-falls-this-week-as-merge-hype-fades-the-crypto-outlook-from-here-cnbc/ Ether is on pace to post its worst week since mid-June, after the long-anticipated Ethereum merge turned out to be the exact sell-the-news event so many foresaw. After an initially muted market response to the event, the price of the second largest crypto asset by market cap turned lower Thursday and is now down 15% for the week. The cryptocurrency slid despite the Ethereum network successfully completing what has been hailed as a monumental tech upgrade that will have long-lasting effects for the crypto industry at large. “From a purely technological perspective, it is difficult to overstate how big of an engineering feat the Merge represents,” said Anto Paroian, CEO at the cryptocurrency hedge fund ARK36. “It is more or less like constructing a new engine for a car that is going at full speed and then switching the engines without the car ever stopping or slowing down. That it was orchestrated by a global network of developers who aren’t managed by any central entity is already a triumph of the core ideals of the crypto space.” Meanwhile, the so-called “forked” version of Ethereum – whose launch many anticipated knowing proof-of-work Ethereum miners would soon have to find a new home – saw its price tumble. ETHPoW (as in Ethereum proof-of-work) fell from about $21 Thursday afternoon to about $9 on Friday, according to CoinMarketCap. What happened after the merge On Thursday, ether futures funding rates also fell near all-time lows as many traders bet the price would decline after the merge to take advantage of an arbitrage trade. Funding rates represent traders’ sentiments in the perpetual swaps market. Negative funding rates indicate that short-position traders are dominant. Many have been buying spot ether and shorting ether perpetual futures, in order to get tokens of the “forked” version of Ethereum for free, without the ether price exposure. Some analysts said they expected to see that trade unwind after the merge. “ETH funding rates are beginning to normalize back to pre-merge levels following the distortion after users shorted ETHperps and held spot ETH in order to be eligible for the ETHPoW airdrop,” Citi said in a note Friday. “The futures basis has now begun to normalize… because holders of ETH would be eligible for the airdrop at the point of the merge, meaning there is no longer an incentive to hold ETH for an airdrop post-merge.” What happens next No one is downbeat on the results of the merge – Ethereum is now 99.95% more energy efficient than it was before the transition, ether is now a yield-generating asset, and its issuance has dropped 90%. These benefits alone should make the network more attractive to institutional investors that have been observing from the sideline. However, it’s now an event of the past. The impact of the merge could take a long time to feel and on top of it, macro drivers still have a strong hold on the market. This week, investors digested hotter-than-expected inflation data . Now they’re holding their breath for the Federal Reserve’s meeting next week. “We’re still stuck in this unfortunately, and there really hasn’t been that catalyst to decouple crypto markets from macro trends,” Jason Lau, chief operating officer at Okcoin said on CNBC’s “Crypto World.” “The merge potentially could have been one of these events. However, we haven’t seen it play out either. The merge in practicality doesn’t do much for ether at this stage — it really is a first step in a series of upgrades.” Needham’s John Todaro added to that point, saying although the results of the merge are “obvious,” it could take at least six months to see them in the wild. “The changes resulting from the merge will likely take 6 months+ to actually have an impact on the ecosystem,” he said. “The merge paves the way for future technological upgrades that would bring enhanced scalability… but this is still months if not years away.” Some are also beginning to worry that ether’s new yield-generating opportunity could make it look like a security in the eyes of regulators. On Thursday, Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler said that staked coins could pass a key test of whether investors expect to make a return from the work of third parties, The Wall Street Journal reported . The Howey test, as it’s known, is used often to determine whether an asset is a security. Lau said that despite Ethereum’s great big feat on the environmental side, that’s just a fraction of what’s on cautious investors’ minds. “Institutions that are still on the sidelines are still getting set up and getting ready to dip their toes in. They are not looking at the merge as that trigger point, mostly because a lot of the blockers are not related to crypto at all,” he said. “It’s actually related to their own compliance procedures, their own legal teams getting comfortable with their with counterparties, for example, understanding sort of regulatory risks that may exist.”

U.S. Discloses Decades Of Memos On Presidential War Powers – The New York Times https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/u-s-discloses-decades-of-memos-on-presidential-war-powers-the-new-york-times/ Executive branch lawyers secretly worked to limit the reach of a post-Vietnam War law, according to a trove of opinions from the Office of Legal Counsel. Send any friend a story As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Anyone can read what you share. Henry Kissinger, then the secretary of state, briefs President Gerald R. Ford on developments in Vietnam in 1975.Credit…Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Library Sept. 16, 2022Updated 4:18 p.m. ET WASHINGTON — Justice Department lawyers have secretly worked under presidents of both parties to narrowly interpret the reach of a law passed at the end of the Vietnam War meant to reassert Congress’s constitutional role in deciding whether to go to war, newly disclosed memos show. The Office of Legal Counsel drafted the memos in the decades after Congress enacted that law, the War Powers Resolution of 1973. The writings shaped White House interpretations of its constraints in ways not disclosed to Congress or the public, and their release sheds light on the inner workings of executive branch lawyers seeking to protect or expand presidential power. Among the writings: a memo by Antonin Scalia, the future Supreme Court justice, blessing President Gerald R. Ford’s desire to send troops back to Vietnam in 1975 for the evacuation of Saigon, and another written in 1993 scrutinizing which parts of the law President Bill Clinton could disregard as unconstitutional, in what appears to be the office’s seminal work on the law. The tranche also covers various post-World War II issues, like the Harry S. Truman administration bringing Nazi scientists to the United States; ending the classification of Japanese people as “alien enemies”; and weighing whether to send peacekeeping troops to the Middle East as part of the 1948 establishment of Israel. The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University obtained the memos through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit and provided them to The New York Times. They open a window into how executive branch lawyers can expand White House power, allowing presidents to feel free to act in ways Congress sought to constrain. “The collection of previously unreleased war powers memos from the Office of Legal Counsel offers new insights into important historical moments, but it also has significance today,” said Oona Hathaway, a Yale Law School professor who gained early access to the documents. “Because war powers issues almost never get litigated on the merits in court, the O.L.C.’s legal opinion is often the only one that matters,” Ms. Hathaway added. “Moreover, the office treats its prior memos as precedential — so understanding war powers law requires understanding these prior memos. Yet, until now, no one else has been able to see them.” She and other legal specialists said the memos about the War Powers Resolution were particularly significant. Congress passed that law — overriding the veto of President Richard M. Nixon — a quarter-century into the Cold War, a period giving rise to what is sometimes called “the imperial presidency,” during which the authority of the legislative branch to control when to go to war had seriously eroded. Among other things, the resolution states that presidents may only deploy forces into hostilities to repel an attack on the United States or with Congress’s prior permission. Many legal specialists have since come to see the resolution as a largely failed effort at reining in presidential war-making powers. Executive branch lawyers have found ways to allow subsequent presidents to unilaterally deploy troops, while Congress has largely acquiesced. Against that backdrop, several memos deepen the understanding of how executive branch lawyers sought to interpret the law in ways favorable to what the presidents they worked for wanted to do, creating precedents subsequent presidents would build upon. In 1975, for example, Communist North Vietnam re-invaded South Vietnam. Ford wanted to send troops back to Saigon to evacuate both Americans and Vietnamese whose lives were in danger because they had worked with Americans. Scalia, then the head of the Office of Legal Counsel, said the president could. While the resolution’s narrow limit for when a president may dispatch troops into hostilities without congressional authorization “would clearly prevent all of the action contemplated,” he wrote, it should not be interpreted as binding law. And though it would be illegal for Ford to unilaterally return troops to Vietnam to enable Americans to be permanently stationed there or for the sole purpose of evacuating South Vietnamese citizens, Scalia wrote, the president had constitutional authority to do so to evacuate Americans. While they were there, they could extract South Vietnamese, too, he added. Ms. Hathaway said, “I think there’s a good case to be made that this memo marks the beginning of the end of the War Powers Resolution.” The Knight First Amendment Institute, along with the Campaign for Accountability and five historians, sought memos that are at least 25 years old after Congress in 2016 curtailed the government’s ability to indefinitely keep secret older deliberative documents. The case has resulted in a wave of disclosures of secret Justice Department memos. More than 500 other opinions have been released, along with a list of numerous unclassified memos written from 1945 to early 1994. Previously released documents cover topics like the civil rights movement or the enactment of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA. The Office of Legal Counsel became a center of controversy for its role in secretly blessing some of the George W. Bush administration’s responses to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Those decisions were based on sweeping claims that a president, as commander in chief, can lawfully override statutes and treaties, including by approving the C.I.A.’s torture of detainees. Jameel Jaffer, the director of the Knight institute, argued that the memos underscored that too much secrecy surrounded the government’s understanding of the law presidents must obey. He argued that the office should be required to routinely publish its contemporaneous work, “except in the most extraordinary circumstances.” Critics have resisted that idea, arguing that it could instead deter officials from asking the Justice Department to evaluate the legality of ideas. If the office publicly revealed that it believed a proposal would be illegal, that would be politically embarrassing, they have posited. Image President Bill Clinton announces the start of bombing on Serbian targets by NATO forces in March 1999.Credit…Paul J. Richards/AFP via Getty Images Among the most significant of the newly disclosed documents, several legal scholars said, is a memo Daniel L. Koffsky, a longtime career lawyer in the Office of Legal Counsel, completed for the Clinton administration in June 1993. That 84-page memo, according to people who were recently in government, appears to remain the executive branch’s most extensive analysis of the War Powers Resolution. It surveys the early debates among the country’s founders about the division of war powers between Congress and the president and later developments, and it dissects each provision in turn. Among the aspects of the memo that may come under greater scrutiny is its treatment of the resolution’s so-called 60-day clock. That provision says if a president unilaterally deploys troops into hostilities and Congress does not authorize the mission in two months, the forces must be withdrawn. No president has openly defied that provision on the basis of deeming it unconstitutional, but many administrations have chafed against it. Two Democratic leaders invoked disputed interpretations of the law in deciding to continue participating in congressionally unauthorized NATO air wars that lasted more than 60 days: Mr. Clinton in Kosovo in 1999, and President Barack Obama in Libya in 2011. The start of the 1993 memo says that while most scholars believed the 60-day clock was valid, “no administration has accepted the constitutionality of this provision.” But as the memo itself later acknowledges, the Carter administration did say it was constitutional, in a 1980 Office of Legal Counsel memo that has apparently never been revoked. In all, the 1993 memo’s take on the 60-day clock was ambiguous. The memo compiled numerous statements by executive branch officials over the years expressing hostility toward its constitutionality, but it also said courts would likely uphold the provision as constitutional on its face. Still, the memo said, the provision would be unconstitutional as applied to “extreme circumstances.” As an example, it said the Office of Legal Counsel was unlikely to say a president must abandon troops in a combat zone if an evacuation could not be completed by the end of a 30-day grace period the provision allows for withdrawal. Jack Goldsmith, a Harvard Law School professor and former head of the Office of Legal Counsel, praised the disclosure of the memos. “Issues about the president’s constitutional war power and the meaning of the War Powers Resolution are rarely adjudicated in court and are primarily interpreted by the executive branch in secret, so it’s impossible for the public to know what the executive branch thinks the scope of the president’s authority is,” he said. “For that reason, it’s vital that these unclassified memos be released.”

Microsoft Edge News Feed Infiltrated By Tech Support Scammers – TechRadar https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/microsoft-edge-news-feed-infiltrated-by-tech-support-scammers-techradar/ Home News Software (Image credit: Microsoft) Scammers are planting malicious advertisements in the Microsoft Edge news feed, according to new research from antivirus and VPN provider Malwarebytes. In a blog post (opens in new tab) by its threat intelligence team, the company claims that the scheme, set up to “direct victims to tech support scam pages”, has been in motion for at least two months. This particular scam operation has been particularly effective because of Microsoft Edge’s news feed doubling as the web browser’s homepage, increasing the chances that users may be lured by “shocking or bizarre stories” that have been placed there by attackers. Fake news in Microsoft Edge Once a user has clicked on a false news story, a script is run to decide if a user should be targeted by the scam. According to Malwarebytes, the script aims to filter out “bots, VPNs, and geolocations that are not of interest,” and that these machines are instead sent to a harmless decoy page. “This scheme is meant to trick innocent users with fake browser locker pages, very well known and used by tech support scammers”, wrote Malwarebytes, in reference to the scourge of malvertising, whereby threat actors serve up fake advertisements to users in order to compromise their devices. The scam operation relies on an ever-changing list of malicious domains served up by DigitalOcean’s cloud-based web hosting infrastructure, making the threat difficult to stamp out completely. Malwarebytes claimed that, over the course of 24 hours, over 200 different hostnames were being used to scam tech support pages. It also noted the considerable efforts to obscure identifying information (known as fingerprinting) about servers and devices involved in the campaign. The company did, however, connect one of the collected domains, previously reported as suspicious (opens in new tab), to Sumit Kalra, listed as a director for “Mws Software Services Private Limited”, a Delhi-based company working in “Computer and related activities”. It also linked Kalra to a number of other domains involved with this particular campaign, which Malwarebytes has said is “one of the biggest we are seeing in terms of telemetry noise”.  TechRadar Pro has asked Kalra, Mws Software Services Private Limited, and Microsoft for comment. Default browsers and malvertising Microsoft Edge is the default web browser on Windows 10 and 11, making it a prime target for scammers looking to target the largest number of unsuspecting users who are less aware of what measures they can take to stay secure online. Users looking to protect themselves from fake tech support scams and other threat actors may wish to install one of the best free VPNs, consider an anonymous web browser, or simply change their Microsoft Edge homepage from the default news feed. They should also maintain a healthy skepticism when interacting with content from an unfamiliar or disreputable source. If a news story sounds too good to be true, thinking twice before clicking on it can go a long way. Clicking on a fake advertisement can result in a device being infected with malware. But scammers sometimes just want users to believe they’ve been infected, and follow through with what the page is requesting of them. This may be to call a certain phone number, or send money to an unknown actor – the latter being a form of ransomware.  To stay safe, users should also be vigilant about the pages making these requests. Usually, it’s antivirus software, not a web browser, that reports on threats to a device’s security.  Here’s a list of the best VPNs for PCs Luke Hughes holds the role of Graduate Writer at TechRadar Pro, producing news, features and deals content across topics ranging from computing to cloud services, cybersecurity, data privacy and business software.

HP Victus 15 (2022) Review — Is This Cheap Gaming Laptop Actually Good? – Laptop Mag https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/hp-victus-15-2022-review-is-this-cheap-gaming-laptop-actually-good-laptop-mag/ The HP Victus 15 is a budget-friendly laptop that targets casual gamers who don’t demand the latest and the greatest specs, but this HP rig faces stiff competition. Pros + Great for casual gamers + Sophisticated, all-black design + Budget-friendly price tag + 144Hz refresh rate display + Excellent thermal performance Cons – Dimmer-than-expected display – Three-year-old GPU – Middling gaming performance Put your snobbiness away for the HP Victus 15. No, it doesn’t come with a killer response time, a fancy-schmancy Nvidia RTX 30-series GPU, nor a glitzy, animated RGB keyboard, but come on, you’re only shelling out $800 for this laptop, so give it a break! At this point, if you’ve already turned your nose up like a petulant child snubbing their vegetables, the HP Victus 15 is not for you. However, if you’re still intrigued, good! This means you’re willing to temper your expectations. The Victus 15 won’t appeal to professional gamers who demand the latest and greatest, but it has enough razzle dazzle to win the affections of casual players. The HP gaming rig sports a 12th Gen Intel Core i5 CPU, a 144Hz refresh rate display, updated thermals, and a sophisticated, office-friendly onyx chassis that can double as a work laptop. At only $800, the HP Victus 15 is a dream for unpretentious, budget-conscious gamers. However, there’s one little hiccup. The HP laptop has a stiff competitor on its hands: the Acer Nitro 5 (2022) (opens in new tab) which is, as of this writing, within the same price range. Stick around to find out whether the Victus 15 is one of the best cheap gaming laptops you can get — or perhaps there’s a better competitor that will give you more bang for your buck.  HP Victus 15 price and configurations  You’ll breathe a sigh of relief when you find out that our review unit only costs $799 at Best Buy (opens in new tab). It comes with a 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12450H CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 GPU with 4GB of VRAM, and a 15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080-pixel display with a 144Hz refresh rate. HP Victus 15 (Image credit: Future) Perhaps you want a little more RAM. Or maybe — and understandably — the GPU isn’t doing it for you. You’ll have to shell out an additional $300 for the Intel Core i7-12650H CPU model, which sports 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU, and a 15.6-inch, full HD panel with a 144Hz refresh rate. It costs $1,100 on Best Buy (opens in new tab) so it may not be appealing as the aforementioned $800 darling, but you’ll squeeze out more processing and graphical power for speedier frame rates. HP Victus 15 design  The Victus 15 is the guy at the party dressed to the nines with an urbane, sophisticated style, but you’d be shocked to find out he got his outfit at H&M — not Neiman Marcus. The Victus 15, unsurprisingly, features an all-plastic build, and it certainly feels plasticky to the touch. However, the onyx chassis has a mature, refined look that would fit in any office. Plus, it’s impressively sturdy; there isn’t much give while pressing down on the deck. HP Victus (Image credit: Future) I’ve grown to appreciate understated, unassuming gaming laptops. Just because you can play with it doesn’t mean it should look like a flashy pinball machine, right? HP calls the hue that coats the Victus 15 “Mica Silver.” It sounds fancy, but it looks like regular-degular charcoal to me with its dark-gray shade.The bold, reflective “V” on the Victus 15’s lid is striking, but subtle at the same time. You’ll also find the word “Victus” emblazoned across the hinge in a futuristic white font. Open the lid and you’ll be greeted with a monstrous bottom bezel that gives the Crimson Chin a run for his money. Other than the Jay Leno-esque chin, the bezels are slim. No, they’re not “barely there” thin, but they’re not unattractively thick either. On the deck, you’ll find an edge-to-edge keyboard, but I can’t help but cringe at the touchpad. While the deck itself seems averse to my fingerprints, I can’t say the same for the touchpad. It’s a neat freak’s nightmare and a criminal investigator’s dream. Above the keyboard, you’ll see a patterned speaker grille sandwiched between the function keys and hinge (I’ll dive into how it sounds later). HP Victus 15 (Image credit: Future) The underside features two elongated feet to keep the Victus 15 slightly elevated from surfaces. After all, with a giant vent that takes up nearly half of the laptop’s bottom, it needs plenty of breathing room. You’ll also find two bottom-firing speaker grilles. The HP Victus 15 measures 14.1 x 10 x 0.9 inches and weighs 5.06 pounds. The Acer Nitro 5 (2022), the Victus 15’s rival in this review, measures 14.2 x 10.7 x 1.02 inches and weighs 5.5 pounds, so the HP gaming rig has an edge with a thinner, lighter chassis.  HP Victus 15 ports  No, at this price point, the HP Victus 15 doesn’t feature Thunderbolt 4 support, but on the right side, you’ll find the following ports: USB Type-C, an Ethernet jack, HDMI 2.1 and USB 3.2 Type-A.  HP Victus 15 (Image credit: Future) The left side offers a microSD slot, a 3.5mm headphone jack, another USB 3.2 Type-A port, and an AC power port. HP Victus 15 display  The HP Victus 15 has a 15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080-pixel, anti-glare display with a 144Hz refresh rate and 9-millisecond response time. The Victus 15’s panel renders details like a boss, making visuals look crisp. However, this isn’t a display you’ll want to use if you’re a professional artist. However, color richness and brightness is not this display’s forte — and our test results reflect that. HP Victus 15 (Image credit: Future) Before I dive into the numbers, let’s delve into my anecdotal experience with the Victus 15. I played Prey (2017) on the HP Victus 15 for several weeks, and I often found myself reaching for the brightness button to get more illumination during dark scenes, but was disappointed to see that it was already maxed out. On the plus side, thanks to the 144Hz refresh rate, gameplay felt smooth, zippy and brisk, whether I was taking down aliens in zero-gravity environments or knocking down zombie-like freaks inside a spaceship. I also tested the HP Victus 15 display by watching The Little Mermaid trailer. Sea turtles that weaved through coral reefs seemed tangible as underwater sun rays danced on their ridged, rough-textured shells. As the sea-dwelling, mystical beauté Ariel swam past a shipwreck, the invasive vegetation on the dilapidated ruins could’ve been more verdant. When actor/singer Halle Bailey’s face came into view, I was impressed with the subtle details on her face, including several scars — and a cute little mole — on top of her eyebrow. I could even spot the body glitter placed across her decolletage. Colors fell a little flat in the trailer, and as mentioned, our test results explain why. According to our colorimeter, the HP Victus 15 reproduced 45% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, which stumbles behind the average entry-level gaming laptop (52%). The Acer Nitro 5, however, won by a landslide, offering a show-stopping 0.4% of additional DCI-P3 coverage with a figure of 45.4%. And yes, that was sarcasm. The Nitro 5’s edge over Victus 15’s display is damn-near imperceptible. I’m sure the HP is breathing a sigh of relief that its Acer-branded rival also delivered below-average stats. They can celebrate their mediocrity together. Yay! HP Victus 15 (Image credit: Future) The HP Victus 15 emanated an embarrassing 235 nits of brightness (this falls below its advertised 250 nits), which is far dimmer than the average budget gaming laptop (284 nits). The Acer Nitro 5 is no shining star itself, but it has a brighter, 314-nit display. If you like to play games while sitting in your backyard, or your desk is stationed near an unshaded window, you’ll likely find it difficult to see the screen (on both laptops), especially on sunny days. However, the Victus 15’s anti-glare panel helps to reflect some of the light. HP Victus 15 keyboard and touchpad  You’ll find white characters and symbols superimposed on the black keys of this edge-to-edge keyboard. It also features a numpad, a nice addition if the games you play demand one. As mentioned at the outset, this keyboard doesn’t have RGB lighting, but you can turn on a white backlight if you need it. One aspect of the keyboard I don’t love is that pressing the “increase volume” key prompts the following message to pop up: “Turn on caret browsing?” HP Victus 15 (Image credit: Future) After a few seconds of befuddlement, I realized I needed to press the FN key and the volume key simultaneously to amplify sound. I found it weird that caret browsing, which only requires a single key press, is more easily accessible than the volume setting, but erm, whatever. Suit yourself, HP! You’ll also find a diamond shaped key, too, which conveniently launches the Omen Gaming Hub. During the 10FastFingers.com typing test, my average dropped to 80 words per minute (I typically have a typing speed of 87 wpm). Why? I suspect that the keyboard doesn’t have enough “bounce back” to propel my fingers to the next letters rapidly. Also, the keyboard is too damn loud and clacky. I wouldn’t want to sit next to a co-worker with an HP Victus 15 — that’s for sure! The 4.9 x 3.1-inch touchpad is spacious. It feels cheap, yes, but it does the job. It performed all the Windows 11 gestures well, including three-finger swipes to revisit previous pages and pinch-to-zoom.  HP Victus 15 audio  Listen, as long as you’re not a music producer or an audio engineer, the HP Victus 15’s mediocre Bang & Olufsen-tuned speakers shouldn’t be a dealbreaker. There’s an upfiring, edge-to-edge speaker on the deck as well as two dual speakers on the lapt...

Broadband Mapping Masterclass – BroadbandBreakfast.com https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/broadband-mapping-masterclass-broadbandbreakfast-com/ You can navigate the treacherous water around broadband mapping by participating in this this 2-hour Masterclass for only $99. Enroll TODAY in this LIVE Masterclass on Tuesday, September 27, at 12 Noon ET You’ll get to the bottom of the broadband mapping mess – and understand your ISP and community’s options – by participating in this Masterclass Billions of broadband infrastructure funding have put broadband mapping back on the front-burner. You know that the federal government is about to award $42.5 billion in funds for broadband infrastructures. You also know that the Federal Communications Commission’s new broadband maps will determine how much funding each state gets.  But what if the broadband data underlying the maps is a complete mess? As broadband providers, you already submit data to the FCC through the Form 477. Now, you have additional broadband reporting requirements. But will your competitors’ data be accurate? How will you challenge their claims? As a community broadband participant, you’ve probably been upset by repeated inadequacies in the FCC’s Form 477 data. How will you assess what providers are claiming? How will you challenge their data? The broadband mapping miasma has so many moving parts, it takes a Masterclass just to keep up…. Now you have that opportunity. Introducing the Broadband Mapping Masterclass, presented by Drew Clark, CEO of Broadband Breakfast Drew Clark isn’t just anyone talking about Broadband Mapping. He launched the Freedom of Information Act lawsuit that ultimately forced broadband providers to identify where they offer broadband service. He then founded the first crowdsourced tool in this field, BroadbandCensus.com, which led him to be recruited to run the State of Illinois’s Broadband Mapping program. He is now CEO of Broadband Breakfast. In this Masterclass, you can expect these learning outcomes: Understanding the FCC’s Broadband Fabric and Challenge Process In this section of the Masterclass, you’ll learn what the FCC has done in the past, and what it’s doing now with its Broadband Data Collection. You’ll learn about the agency’s new broadband “fabric.” You’ll learn about challenges to the fabric. You’ll learn how ISPs must submit new data and how communities’ and ISP’s challenges to that data will work. Alternatives Your ISP or Community Has to Fix Bad or Missing Data In this section of the Masterclass, you’ll learn about other options for obtaining and verifying broadband data. You’ll see concrete examples of broadband data collection by government agencies, private GIS companies, and non-profit groups. You’ll learn your options for obtaining and using better broadband data. What State Broadband Authorities Can Do to Help You In this section of the Masterclass, you’ll learn about how state broadband offices are addressing the train-wreck in Washington. You’ll see concrete examples of state maps, understand how states are gearing up to challenge the FCC’s map, and get hands-on advice for how your ISP or community can benefit from the work of state broadband offices. Do you need to get a handle on broadband mapping? Or would you rather keep your head in the sand?  SECURE YOUR PLACE by enrolling today to fix your community and ISP problems with broadband data By participating in the Broadband Mapping Masterclass, you’ll get the key insights and understand the tangible actions that your ISP, consultants, and community can take to emerge successfully through the broadband infrastructure funding. Are you ready to achieve this? Enroll today for $99 One-time payment Guaranteed place Full on-demand access to Masterclass recording Lifetime access to downloadable resources, including Broadband Breakfast’s research report on broadband mapping ENROLL TODAY Frequently Asked Questions How is the Broadband Mapping Masterclass Different from Broadband Breakfast Live Online? Broadband Breakfast offers FREE webcasts every Wednesday at 12 Noon ET. The Masterclass does not replace this free programming.  How much does the Broadband Mapping Masterclass cost? The Broadband Mapping Masterclass by Drew Clark is available for only $99. Will the Broadband Mapping Masterclass be live?  Yes, the Broadband Mapping Masterclass will take place LIVE on Tuesday, September 27, at 12 Noon ET. Will a replay of the Masterclass be available? A replay of the 2-hour recording will be available to attendees. Where do I watch the Broadband Mapping Masterclass? The Broadband Mapping Masterclass will be available as a Zoom webinar. How to I purchase the Broadband Mapping Masterclass? ENROLL TODAY for our Zoom Webinar through PayPal. How many times may I be able to watch the replay? Attendees will enjoy unlimited, lifetime access to the Broadband Mapping Masterclass recording.  Will there be any resources associated much does the Masterclass cost? Attendees will receive a Broadband Breakfast Research Report on Broadband Mapping. This premium downloadable resource will be available only attendees.  Why is everyone focused on broadband maps right now? With the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s $65 billion broadband infrastructure program at stake, the Federal Communications Commission is gearing up to revise its much-flawed broadband maps. Who needs to attend this webinar? Internet Service Providers, consultants, and communities should all attend this webinar. Why should I pay $99 for this Masterclass when there is so much information available on this topic for free? This session is available for only $99. You’ll be guided on this journey by one of the most knowledgeable people on broadband mapping in the country. And you’ll get a better sense of the problems, pitfalls and opportunities for broadband providers and broadband communities. What credentials does Drew Clark have to talk about broadband mapping? Drew Clark is the original advocate for public and open broadband data. An early advocate of better broadband, better lives, Drew founded the Broadband Census crowdsourcing campaign for better broadband data in 2008. That effort became the Broadband Breakfast media community. As Editor and Publisher, Clark presides over news coverage focused on digital infrastructure investment, broadband’s impact, and Big Tech. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Clark served as head of the Partnership for a Connected Illinois, a state broadband initiative. Now, in light of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, attorney Clark helps fiber-based and wireless clients secure funding, identify markets, broker infrastructure and operate in the public right of way. Will there still be a program on broadband mapping on Broadband Breakfast Live Online? Yes, this Masterclass is in addition to Broadband Breakfast Live Online’s free weekly programs every WEDNESDAY at 12 Noon ET, including the program on Wednesday, September 21, 2022. When does the Broadband Mapping Masterclass happen? This Masterclass runs on TUESDAY, September 27, from 12 Noon ET-2 p.m. ET. Subsequent replay is available. ENROLL TODAY.

JW Marriott San Antonio Is Getting Spooky With Halloween Fright House & More – Focusdailynews https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/jw-marriott-san-antonio-is-getting-spooky-with-halloween-fright-house-more-focusdailynews/ Discover Fun And Frightful Activities For All Ages At The Resort Throughout October SAN ANTONIO – Sept. 16, 2022 – It’s the most frightful time of the year at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa. Spooky season calls for ghouls, goblins, and gimmicks, and the resort is the most festive spot for a scary good time. The Halloween Fright House, special Halloween inspired cocktail, arts and crafts, Halloween movies, scavenger hunts, and more will give guests of all ages the opportunity to join in on the haunted thrills and fun. The resort is thrilled to announce the return of the Halloween Fright House. Ventana Cabana near the River Bluff Water Experience transforms into a frightful experience for guests who dare to enter! The Halloween Fright House will include the traditional ghastly thrills with exciting new additions. Complete with spooky ghouls, spiderwebs, clowns, and more, this attraction is sure to cause quite the fright leading up to Halloween night. While the encounter may not be suitable for guests under 12 years of age, older guests can dare to enter the Fright House daily from 4-9 p.m. during the month of October. For those looking to celebrate Halloween with less of a tremor, the resort will host a spider scavenger hunt activity, Halloween movie showings, pumpkin decorating, and Halloween arts and crafts. The resort’s s’mores by the firepit will feature an exciting Halloween twist with ghost shaped marshmallows to bring the spooky season to everyone’s favorite dessert. To keep the Halloween celebrations in full swing, adult guests can sip on a Vanilla Fang, the resort’s signature Halloween cocktail. This witch’s brew is a creamy vanilla martini with pumpkin spice flavoring and topped with a hot cocoa spider. Vanilla Fang Ingredients: 1.5 oz Absolut Vanilla Vodka 1 oz Kahlua 0.5 oz Fireball 1 oz Heavy Whipping Cream 1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice Seasoning Sprinkle Hot Cocoa Spider publicity photo In addition to spooktacular activities, tricks, and treats, the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa offers activities for guests of all ages, picturesque hill country views, 9 acres of water park fun, 36 holes of PGA TOUR golf, an award-winning 26,000 square-foot spa, Hill Country hiking and biking trails, seven dining outlets, and is located just a short drive from San Antonio International Airport. Guests never need to leave the resort once they have arrived to stay entertained, keep up with their fitness regimen, or enjoy quiet spots to relax and rejuvenate while on vacation. The resort is the Texas Hill Country’s premier destination offering an authentic Hill Country experience and direct access to all the area’s treasures. About JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa Welcome to a San Antonio resort truly worthy of the Lone Star State. JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa has firmly established itself as the city’s premier luxury destination and the most renowned resort in the magnificent Texas Hill Country. Rated 4-Diamonds by AAA and just 12 miles north of San Antonio International Airport, the resort features two 18-hole TPC San Antonio golf courses, Lantana Spa, the 9-acre River Bluff Water Experience, six distinctive restaurants, 265,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting and event space, free Wi-Fi in the lobby and more than 1,000 custom-designed guest rooms. JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa is a proud participant of various environmental, energy conservation and waste reduction initiatives. The San Antonio resort hotel is sure to make any visit an unforgettable experience, and it all comes with JW Marriott’s impeccable service and lavish amenities. Whether you’re seeking a peaceful respite, productive meeting or exciting and fun-filled family vacation, JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa is designed not just to exceed expectations but redefine them. For information, call 1-210-276-2500 or visit the resort online, and on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. About JW Marriott JW Marriott is part of Marriott International’s luxury portfolio of brands and consists of beautiful properties and distinctive resort locations around the world. JW Marriott is a tribute to the founder of Marriott International, J. Willard “J.W.” Marriott, who prioritized his own well-being so that he could take better care of others. Inspired by his approach to life and rooted in holistic well-being, JW Marriott properties offer a haven designed to allow guests to focus on feeling whole – present in mind, nourished in body, and revitalized in spirit – through programs and offerings that encourage them to come together and experience every moment to the fullest. Today there are more than 100 JW Marriott hotels in more than 35 countries and territories worldwide that cater to sophisticated, mindful travelers who come seeking experiences that help them be fully present, foster meaningful connections and feed the soul. Visit JW Marriott online, and on Instagram and Facebook. JW Marriott is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy®, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including free nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit marriottbonvoy.com. Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of approximately 8,000 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 139 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy®, its highly-awarded travel program. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram. %

Slideshow: New Menu Items From McDonald’s, Wendy’s And Panda Express – Food Business News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/slideshow-new-menu-items-from-mcdonalds-wendys-and-panda-express-food-business-news/ KANSAS CITY — Restaurant chains are bringing fan-favorite items back to menus. McDonald’s is rolling out a cheese Danish, which was last on menus in the 1980s. The flakey pastry is filled with a sweet cream cheese and topped with streusel and a vanilla drizzle. Wendy’s is adding to its Made to Crave menu with the reintroduction of the Pretzel Bacon Pub Cheeseburger, after it left menus in 2021. Piled on a pretzel bun, a quarter pound of beef is topped with Muenster cheese, applewood smoked bacon, as well as a smoky honey mustard, beer cheese sauce, crispy-fried onions and pickles. “Our Made to Crave menu is a place for our culinary team to experiment with new concepts and introduce fans to latest flavor trends in a familiar, yet unique-to-Wendy’s way,” said John Li, vice president of culinary innovation for the Wendy’s Co. “But sometimes, when you land on a hit like the Pretzel Bacon Pub, the culinary magic lies in bringing items back to the menu, instead of creating a new flavor profile.  With flavor combinations like beer cheese sauce and honey mustard — the Pretzel Bacon Pub Cheeseburger creates an elevated cheeseburger experience you’ll want to try again, and again.” Panda Express is taking things in a plant-based direction with its Beyond The Original Orange Chicken. Made with Beyond Meat’s chicken, the plant-based alternative is tossed in the company’s signature sweet and spicy orange sauce. “We are thrilled to offer Beyond The Original Orange Chicken to consumers nationwide for the very first time,” said Dariush Ajami, chief innovation officer at Beyond Meat. “By partnering with Panda Express to introduce new and innovative plant-based options that deliver the delicious taste and experience of their iconic menu items, we’re enabling people to enjoy their favorite dishes with the upsides of plant-based meat.” View slideshow of new menu items.

Walnuts May Promote Better Health As We Age – Anti Aging News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/walnuts-may-promote-better-health-as-we-age-anti-aging-news/ Researchers who reviewed 20 years of diet history and 30 years of physical and clinical measurements have found participants who ate walnuts early on in life showed a greater likelihood for being more physically active, having a higher quality diet, and experiencing a better heart disease risk profile as they aged into middle adulthood. These novel findings come from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study (CARDIA),(1) a long-term and ongoing study that is supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health and aimed at examining the development of heart disease risk factors over time. This study is one of the longest to suggest that the simple act of adding about a handful of heart-healthy^ walnuts into the diet often could act as a bridge to other health-promoting lifestyle habits later in life. The findings also reinforce that walnuts might be an easy and accessible food choice to improve a variety of heart disease risk factors when eaten in young to middle adulthood. In this recent study published in Nutrition, Metabolism, & Cardiovascular Diseases,(2) University of Minnesota School of Public Health researchers note that a possible explanation for the results could be due to the unique combination of nutrients found in walnuts and their effect on health outcomes. Walnuts are the only tree nut that is an excellent source of the plant-based omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (2.5 grams/oz.), which research shows may play a role in heart health, brain health and healthy aging.^,(3,4) Additionally, just one serving of walnuts (1 oz.), or about a handful, contains a variety of other important nutrients to support overall health including 4 grams of protein, 2 grams of fiber, and a good source of magnesium (45 milligrams). Walnuts also offer a variety of antioxidants, including polyphenols. According to Professor of Epidemiology and Community Health at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and Lead Researcher on CARDIA, Lyn M. Steffen, Ph.D., MPH, RD, “Walnut eaters seem to have a unique body phenotype that carries with it other positive impacts on health like better diet quality, especially when they start eating walnuts from young into middle adulthood – as the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, obesity, and diabetes elevates.” Study Overview In this observational, longitudinal study, partially supported by the California Walnut Commission, diet and health information was collected and analyzed from 3,023 otherwise healthy black and white men and women aged 18-30 at one of four field centers located in Birmingham, AL, Chicago, IL, Minneapolis, MN, and Oakland, CA, when the CARDIA study began in 1985-86. Self-reported diet history was taken at three times throughout the study: baseline, year seven, and year 20. Physical and clinical measurements were taken at multiple exams spanning 30 years. Diet history was categorized into “walnut consumers,” “other nut consumers,” or “no nut consumers,” and assessed for relationships among heart disease risk factors, including dietary intake, smoking, body composition, blood pressure, plasma lipids (e.g., triglycerides), fasting blood glucose, and insulin concentrations in 352 walnut consumers, 2,494 other nut consumers, and 177 no nut consumers. The average intake of walnuts during the study was about ¾ oz./day, and the intake of nuts among other nut consumers was about 1 ½ oz./day. “There was a good degree of diversity in terms of the research field locations geographically speaking and the population studied,” said Steffen. “Following these black and white women and men for 30 years provides an unparalleled window of study into how lifestyle decisions made in free-living environments in young adulthood can affect health in middle-age,” adds Steffen. Study Results At A Glance Overall, the researchers reported the following results: Physical and Clinical Indicators of Heart Disease Risk After 30 Years: Walnut consumers had higher self-reported physical activity scores than other nut and no nut consumers.   Compared to other nut consumers, eating walnuts was linked with a better heart disease risk profile: Lower body mass index Lower waist circumference Lower blood pressure Lower blood triglyceride levels Eating walnuts was associated with less weight gain over the study period, and fewer participants who ate walnuts were classified as people with obesity compared to other nut and no nut consumers. Compared to no nut consumers, walnut consumers had significantly lower fasting blood glucose concentrations while other nut consumers had higher LDL-cholesterol. Markers of Diet Quality After 20 Years: Including walnuts in the diet during young adulthood was favorably linked with a higher total diet quality score (Healthy Eating Index 2015) when compared to other and no nut consumers. Compared to other nut or no nut consumers, people who ate walnuts had the following self-reported daily dietary intakes, including a significant relationship with higher intakes of several under consumed nutrients and food groups of public health importance as outlined in the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans5)* “Nut consumers showed an advantage in relation to diet quality, but walnut consumers appear to have a better heart disease risk factor profile than the other groups, even after accounting for overall diet quality,” said Steffen. “The surprising, healthy shifts in overall dietary pattern of walnut consumers suggests walnuts may act as a bridge or ‘carrier food’ for helping people form healthy nutrition and lifestyle habits throughout life.” While these results are positive and confirm earlier work from the CARDIA study on the health benefits of walnut intake,(1) randomized controlled clinical trials should be done in other populations and settings to confirm the observations in the current study. Observational studies cannot support cause and effect conclusions. Additionally, some of the outcomes for heart disease risk factors relating to cholesterol and lipids in the current study are inconsistent with previous randomized controlled trials. (6,7) This could be related to differences in study design, including duration of the intervention (e.g., several months to 30 years) or amount of nut intake. Last, the researchers did not isolate other specific nuts in their database, so findings cannot indicate no benefit of other nuts. This study is one of the longest to suggest that adding about a handful of walnuts to the diet every day and early on in life could be linked with benefits to overall diet quality as a heart-healthy “carrier food” that fits into any eating occasion.

This Week In MIL Football | News, Sports, Jobs – Maui News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/this-week-in-mil-football-news-sports-jobs-maui-news/ Xyler Nakamura of Baldwin is tackled by Lahainaluna’s Lance Morikawa during the Lunas’ win over the Bears last Saturday. The Maui News MATTHEW THAYER photo Baldwin vs. Kamehameha Maui Tonight, War Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m. Overview Both teams are looking for their first wins of the season as the first round ends. Kamehameha Maui is fourth in team offense, fifth on defense. Baldwin is fifth on offense, fourth on defense. The Warriors won the only meeting last season. Warriors at a glance Kamehameha has the MIL’s top passer, Makana Kamaka-Brayce, and the top three receivers in Frank Abreu, Dylan Schnitzer and Heno Stone-Han. The Warriors’ defense has given up just 107 passing yards. Bears at a glance Baldwin continues to grow under first-year coach Cody Nakamura, but is looking for its first touchdown since Aug. 19. Gavin Acosta is the Bears’ leading rusher, and Joseph Randolph tops the receivers. Quotable “Definitely, baby steps, there’s no shortcut to this. We’re trying to do something special. It’s going to take a while, but the progress that we’re seeing is something that we’re proud of.” — Cody Nakamura, Baldwin head coach after last week’s 42-0 loss to Lahainaluna ***** King Kekaulike at Lahainaluna Saturday, Sue Cooley Stadium, 7 p.m. Overview A battle between two of the top three records in the MIL on the night the Lunas celebrate homecoming. Lahainaluna is second in offense, first on defense. Na Alii are first on offense, third on defense. The Lunas won the only meeting in 2021. Na Alii at a glance Kalelepono Wong, Tysin Zackious and Kalani Puu are 2-3-4 on the MIL rushing list and have scored seven touchdowns combined. Puu averages 14.7 yards per catch on passes from Wong, the No. 3 passer in the league. Lunas at a glance Ian-Jay Cabanilla is averaging 15.4 yards per carry and ranks fifth on the MIL rushing list after missing the first game of the league season. Kaulana Tihada is sixth in rushing. The Lunas’ defense has allowed just 113.7 yards per game. Quotable “We still need more continuity on offense … too much penalties, a lot of setbacks. The score doesn’t indicate the amount of work we that we still gotta put in to get to where we really need to be.” — Dean Rickard, Lahainaluna co-head coach after last week’s 42-0 win over Baldwin ***** MIL Standings DIVISION I W L Pct PF PA x-Lahainaluna 3 0 1.000 80 24 Maui High 3 1 .750 88 20 Baldwin 0 3 .000 6 113 DIVISION II W L Pct PF PA x-King Kekaulike 2 1 .667 51 46 KS Maui 0 3 .000 33 55 x-clinched first-round championship Friday, Sept. 9 Maui High 10, Kamehameha Maui 3 Saturday, Sept. 10 Lahainaluna 42, Baldwin 0 Today’s Game Baldwin vs. Kamehameha Maui at War Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m. Saturday’s Game King Kekaulike at Lahainaluna, 7 p.m. Second Round Friday, Sept. 23 Baldwin vs. King Kekaulike at War Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24 Maui High vs. Lahainaluna at War Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m. Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox

NYSBA Launches Task Force On Digital Economy, Web3 And Metaverse, Says Lawyers Must Get ‘In Front Of The Issues’ | New York Law Journal – Law.com https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/nysba-launches-task-force-on-digital-economy-web3-and-metaverse-says-lawyers-must-get-in-front-of-the-issues-new-york-law-journal-law-com/ Saying it is important for lawyers to get “in front of the issues” created by the emerging digital economy, as well as issues created by both Web3 and the metaverse, the New York State Bar Association has launched a new “Task Force on Emerging Digital Finance and Currency.” “The rapid growth of the metaverse/Web3 and the digital economy present a confluence of issues for lawyers,” said NYSBA President Sherry Levin Wallach in a news release about the newly formed task force. Want to continue reading? Become an ALM Digital Reader for Free! Benefits of a Digital Membership Free access to 1 article* every 30 days Access to the entire ALM network of websites Unlimited access to the ALM suite of newsletters Build custom alerts on any search topic of your choosing Search by a wide range of topics Already have an account? Sign In Now *May exclude premium content You Might Like 7 minute read 5 minute read 4 minute read 8 minute read Trending Stories Mentioned in a Law.com story? License our industry-leading legal content to extend your thought leadership and build your brand. Featured Firms Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates P.C. 75 Ponce De Leon Ave NE Ste 101 Atlanta, GA 30308 (470) 294-1674 www.garymartinhays.com Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone 2 Oliver St #608 Boston, MA 02109 (857) 444-6468 www.marksalomone.com Smith & Hassler 1225 N Loop W #525 Houston, TX 77008 (713) 739-1250 www.smithandhassler.com Presented by BigVoodoo More From ALM CLE Center Law.com Compass Events & Webcasts Lawjobs Professional Announcements Premium Subscription With this subscription you will receive unlimited access to high quality, online, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry. This is perfect for attorneys licensed in multiple jurisdictions or for attorneys that have fulfilled their CLE requirement but need to access resourceful information for their practice areas. View Now Team Accounts Our Team Account subscription service is for legal teams of four or more attorneys. Each attorney is granted unlimited access to high quality, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry along with administrative access to easily manage CLE for the entire team. View Now Bundle Subscriptions Gain access to some of the most knowledgeable and experienced attorneys with our 2 bundle options! Our Compliance bundles are curated by CLE Counselors and include current legal topics and challenges within the industry. Our second option allows you to build your bundle and strategically select the content that pertains to your needs. Both options are priced the same. View Now From Data to Decisions Dynamically explore and compare data on law firms, companies, individual lawyers, and industry trends. Exclusive Depth and Reach. Law.com Compass includes access to our exclusive industry reports, combining the unmatched expertise of our analyst team with ALM’s deep bench of proprietary information to provide insights that can’t be found anywhere else. Big Pictures and Fine Details Law.com Compass delivers you the full scope of information, from the rankings of the Am Law 200 and NLJ 500 to intricate details and comparisons of firms’ financials, staffing, clients, news and events. ATTORNEY Cornell, Merlino, McKeever & Osborne, LLC, a boutique 10 attorney law firm specializing in school law, and located in Westfield, New Jer… Apply Now › LITIGATION ATTORNEY Dughi, Hewit & Domalewski seeks highly motivated associate with 2-5 years of civil litigation experience, outstanding research and writi… Apply Now › MCOMBER & MCOMBER ESQS 08/29/2022 NJLJ Web McOmber McOmber & Luber: Our New Associates Ashley E Malandre and Rachel C. Krupnick are providing accomplished representation for : Employment Law, Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, Personal Injury, Collections, Real Estate, Land Use & Zoning, Business View Announcement › Subscribe to New York Law Journal Don’t miss the crucial news and insights you need to make informed legal decisions. Join New York Law Journal now! Unlimited access to New York Law Journal Access to additional free ALM publications 1 free article* across the ALM subscription network every 30 days Exclusive discounts on ALM events and publications

4 Easy Ways To Get IOS 16 Style Lock Screen On Android – Gadgets To Use https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/4-easy-ways-to-get-ios-16-style-lock-screen-on-android-gadgets-to-use/ Ever since iOS 16 was introduced, millions of smartphone users were swayed by its new lock screen feature. With this new update, iOS users can finally customize their boring lock screen with new widgets, filters, font types, personalized colors, and whatnot. But, what if we tell you that you can experience the same on your Android phone too? Here’s how you can get the iOS 16-style lock screen on any Android phone. Get the iOS 16 Style Lock Screen on Android Android has always been the first preference of people who love customizing their smartphones. If you’re bored of your regular Android lock screen, you can try the new iOS 16 lock screen on your phone using various third-party apps. So, without further ado, let’s get started. Pre-requisites To enjoy the richness of the iOS 16 lock screen on your Android device, first, you need to disable the native system lock screen to avoid getting dual login screens when you unlock your phone. Here’s how to do it: 1. Open the Settings app on your phone and tap on Security. 2. Next, tap on Screen Lock and enter your device unlock password/pattern/pin. 3. Finally, set the screen lock method to None to disable the native screen lock mechanism. Now that you’ve successfully disabled the default lock screen, let’s look at the apps that offer iOS 16 lock screen features on your Android device. Lock Screen iOS 16 App (by ProLock) As the name states, the Lockscreen iOS 16 app by Prolock offers a personalized iPhone lock screen for your Android phone with various customization options like fonts, colors, and widgets. Here’s how to use it on your device: 1. Install the LockScreen iOS 16 app and provide the necessary screen overlay permissions to run it. 2. Next, browse various lock screen presets available at the top of the homepage and tap on your desired lock screen to edit it. 3. Now, go to the Widget section to add multiple widgets like the original iOS 16 lock screen. 4. Further, tap on the Time text to personalize it with various fonts and colors. 5. Additionally, you can tap on the calendar text to choose and display the calendar date on the lock screen. 6. Once you’ve finalized editing it, tap on the Done button at the top-right corner to save changes. 7. You can also change the wallpaper on your customized lock screen by browsing the Wallpaper Store. 8. Finally, lock your phone using the side power button and press it again to see your new iOS 16 style lock screen in action. 9. Similar to the original iOS 16 lock screen feature, you can long-press the current lock screen to customize it directly without unlocking your phone. Lock Screen iOS 16 (by Apps Genz) Another popular app that offers the iOS 16 lock screen experience on Android, offers to showcase your photos, font styles, and widgets straight from the comfort of your unlock screen. Follow these simple steps to enjoy it on your phone: 1. Install the Lock Screen iOS 16 app by Apps Genz and grant it the necessary permissions. 2. Next, tap on the Lock Screen iOS option at the top of your homepage to customizable the iOS 16 lock screen. 3. Long-Press the lock screen and press the + button to edit it. 4. On the next page, pick your desired wallpaper and tap on the widget section to add a new widget. 5. You can pick from a variety of available widgets and choose your desired font style and colors to personalize your lock screen. 6. Finally, tap on the OK button at the bottom to save changes and apply the lock screen by tapping on the Set as Default Lock Screen button. That’s it! Now, check the lock screen of your phone, to see the iOS 16 lock screen in its full glory. Use Lock Screen iOS 16 (by Developer Sout) Similar to the above two apps, the Lock Screen iOS 16 app by Developer Sout claims to offer a custom iOS 16 lock screen that is as good as the original iPhone lock screen. Here’s how you can use it: 1. Install the Lock Screen IOS 16 app and provide various overlay permissions required to experience it. 2. Next, tap on the Lock Screen Customize option to start editing your iOS 16-style lock screen. 3. Tap on the Widget section to add your favorite widgets from various available presets and pick your desired font style and color. 4. Further, tap on the Wallpaper button on the home screen to pick your favorite wallpaper that goes well with your lock screen. That’s it! You’ve successfully enabled an iOS 16-style lock screen on your Android phone. You can check the lock screen to see it in action. Get iOS Widgets on Your Android Phone Widgets offer a quick way to access your desired feature without going through the hassle of browsing the entire app. If you like the clean and minimal widgets of the iOS platform, you can try them on your Android device to personalize the device to your liking. Here’s how you can achieve the same: 1. Install the iOS Widgets app. 2. Next, head over to your device’s home screen and long press it to add new widgets. 3. Expand iOS Widgets among the list of installed ones and browse them to pick your favorite widget. 4. Drag your selected widget to the home screen and tap on the Allow button to add it. That’s it. You have successfully added iOS-style widgets to your Android phone. Bonus: Get Android12 Lock Screen Clock on Your Phone Besides iOS 16, Android 12’s Material You theme for the lock screen has also gathered huge attention for its cool looks. If you loved it too, you can head over to our guide to install Android 12 Style Lock Screen Clock on your phone to experience the latest Android clock on your device. Final Words: Spice up your Old Lock Screen We hope you’ve revamped your phone’s look with the iOS 16-style lock screen using the above-mentioned methods. If you enjoyed trying these new apps, then hit the like button and share it. Check out other tips linked below, and stay tuned for more awesome Android guides. You might be interested in: 2 Ways to Customize Status Bar on your Android Phone 3 Easy Ways to Customize App Icons and Name on Android Top 5 Touch Screen Gestures for Android, No Button Press Needed 3 Ways to Add, Use, and Customize Widgets on iPad You can also follow us for instant tech news at Google News or for tips and tricks, smartphones & gadgets reviews, join GadgetsToUse Telegram Group, or for the latest review videos subscribe GadgetsToUse Youtube Channel.

Bitcoin Spot ETF Might Just Have Come Another Step Closer After This Move – Cryptonews https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/bitcoin-spot-etf-might-just-have-come-another-step-closer-after-this-move-cryptonews/ Source: Unsplash A much-discussed Bitcoin (BTC) spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) could finally see the light of day in the US, after a new ETF filed under rules that would be used for a spot fund just went live on the market. The fund in question is Teucrium’s Hashdex Bitcoin Futures ETF with the appropriate ticker code DEFI, which began trading on the NYSE Arca exchange on Thursday, Bloomberg reported. And according to the report, the fund differs from all other bitcoin ETFs that have launched so far in that it was filed under the Securities Act of 1933 – the same act that would be necessary to use for a Bitcoin spot ETF. All other Bitcoin ETFs in the US have been filed under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Spot-based crypto ETFs that are backed directly by digital assets have long been denied listing in the US by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the financial regulator in charge of approving such listings. As a result, the crypto ETFs that exist in the US so far are all backed by Bitcoin futures contracts, and not “physical” bitcoins. For the time being, Bitcoin ETFs remain the only crypto-based ETFs that exist in the US. According to Bloomberg, the Investment Company Act of 1940 has been the SEC’s preferred law for crypto ETFs to be filed under, with SEC Chair Gary Gensler citing greater investor protections under that law as the reason. With the new fund filed and approved under the 1933 law, however, questions are being raised about whether the SEC has changed its stance to towards crypto ETFs. “The launch of this Teucrium product only bolsters the case for a spot Bitcoin ETF since it’s utilizing the exact same fund structure,” Nate Geraci, president of advisory firm The ETF Store told Bloomberg, before adding that this “doesn’t mean the SEC will budge from their hard-line stance.” “I’m still in the camp that a spot product simply won’t be approved until the SEC has regulatory oversight of crypto exchanges,” he said. When Teucrium’s new ETF originally was approved by the SEC back in April this year, other analysts, including Bloomberg’s own ETF analyst Eric Balchunas, also noted how the approval was a step on the way to a spot bitcoin ETF. The approval is a “good sign for spot” given that the application was “filed under the 33 Act, which [Gensler] has said doesn’t have enough [investor] protections vs [the] 40 Act,” Balchunas said at the time.

A Tropical Storm Warning Has Been Issued For The US Virgin Islands And Puerto Rico As Fiona Approaches – CNN https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/a-tropical-storm-warning-has-been-issued-for-the-us-virgin-islands-and-puerto-rico-as-fiona-approaches-cnn/ CNN  —  Tropical Storm Fiona’s center is approaching Guadeloupe and tropical storm conditions (winds 39 mph or higher), heavy rain and strong waves are expected in the Leeward Islands by Friday evening, the National Hurricane Center said. The storm, packing winds of 50 mph with even higher gusts, was only about 75 miles east of Guadeloupe, late Friday morning. The tropical storm conditions, which extend 140 miles from the center of the storm, have prompted multiple governments across the region to issue tropical storm warnings and watches. Tropical storm warnings have been issued for the British Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, including Vieques and Culebra, according to the National Hurricane Center. They also cover Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, Guadeloupe, St. Barthélemy, and St. Martin. A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere in the warning area within 36 hours. “Tropical storm conditions are expected across portions of the Leeward Islands within the warning area beginning this afternoon and will spread westward to the US Virgin Islands on Saturday and across Puerto Rico late Saturday and Saturday night,” the NHC wrote. A tropical storm watch is in effect for Dominica, the south coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano westward to Barahona and the north coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano westward to Cabo Frances Viejo. A watch means tropical storm conditions are possible within the next 48 hours. CNN Weather “The center of Fiona is expected to move across the Leeward Islands tonight and early Saturday, and move near or just south of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico late Saturday into Sunday,” the hurricane center wrote. The storm could fluctuate in strength through the weekend, but isn’t anticipated to strengthen significantly until the middle of next week. Fiona’s primary impact will be heavy rain from the Leeward Islands to Puerto Rico. 01:06 – Source: CNN Flash flooding explained: What it is and why it’s so dangerous Flash flooding of urban areas and mudslides in the higher terrain will be possible due to 3 to 10 inches of rainfall, with isolated amounts topping 16 inches, according to the center. “Considerable flood impacts are possible across eastern portions of Puerto Rico,” the hurricane center warns. Here is a breakdown of how much rain is expected in each location according to the NHC. Leeward Islands and Northern Windward Islands: 3 to 6 inches British and US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico: 4 to 6 inches with local maximum totals of 10 inches Eastern Dominican Republic: 6 to 10 inches with maximum totals of 16 inches possible Turks and Caicos: 4 to 8 inches By early next week, the system is forecast to be near Hispaniola, where watches may be required later on Friday, the NHC said. The forecast now calls for Fiona to reach hurricane status by mid-week north of Turks and Caicos. Beyond that time period, the computer forecast models have it linger east of the Bahamas for days. Still, then they disagree on where it goes next. It is undoubtedly a storm to watch, especially if you live on the east coast of the US.

Quadbridge Acquires IT Consultancy Able One – ChannelE2E https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/quadbridge-acquires-it-consultancy-able-one-channele2e/ by Sharon Florentine • Sep 16, 2022 Quadbridge Inc. has acquired end-to-end IT solutions provider Able One. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. This is technology M&A deal number 823 that ChannelE2E has covered so far in 2022. See more than 2,000 technology M&A deals involving MSPs, MSSPs & IT service providers listed here. Quadbridge Acquires Able One Quadbridge, founded in 2007, is based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The company has 79 employees listed on LinkedIn. Quadbridge’s areas of expertise include value added reseller, data center management, virtualization, cloud services provider, managed service solutions provider, data protection, network security management and IT asset disposal. Able One, founded in 1988, is based in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. The company has 46 employees listed on LinkedIn. Able One’s areas of expertise include IBM Power Server systems, server virtualization, networking, storage, application modernization, private and public cloud, business analytics, security, managed services, hosting, business continuity, artificial intelligence, storage, software-defined and API development and management. Able One will operate as Able One, a Quadbridge company. The newly expanded company will have 130+ employees in four offices across North America, the companies said. The acquisition adds additional technology expertise and broadens the number of available solutions for customers, according to the firms. Quadbridge Acquires Able One: Executive Perspectives Nelson Pacheco, president, Quadbridge Mark Ciprietti, president, Able One Systems Nelson Pacheco, president of Quadbridge, commented on the news: “The Able One team and portfolio are a perfect complement to our existing business, giving our growing company a deep-rooted presence in Ontario, as well as in Quebec and British Columbia. With our office in Arizona, we are now better able to meet all the IT needs of companies the length and breadth of Canada and the USA.“ Mark Ciprietti, president of Able One, added: “We’re excited to begin this new chapter in our story, contributing our experience and know-how to the further development of Quadbridge, and gaining from the recognition they enjoy with a number of additional partners to benefit our existing and future customers.” Quadbridge is no strager to acquisitions. In April 2021, Quadbridge acquired Vancouver-based DTM Systems Corp. to expand its reach in Canada and bolster solutions delivery and managed services capabilities.

NETGEAR Resolves Router Vulnerabilities In Bundled Gaming Component – The Daily Swig https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/netgear-resolves-router-vulnerabilities-in-bundled-gaming-component-the-daily-swig/ Adam Bannister 16 September 2022 at 16:10 UTC Updated: 16 September 2022 at 16:11 UTC Silicon Valley vendor tackles command injection and MitM-to-RCE issues Vulnerabilities in a third-party module within the firmware of NETGEAR routers and Orbi WiFi Systems could lead to arbitrary code execution on affected devices. The component in question is FunJSQ, “a third-party gaming speed-improvement service” developed by China-based Xiamen Xunwang Network Technology, included in NETGEAR firmware images, according to a security advisory published yesterday (September 15) by European IoT security firm ONEKEY. Now patched, the high severity flaws included an unauthenticated command injection flaw (CVE-2022-40619), and an insecure auto-update mechanism (CVE-2022-40620) that enabled manipulator-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks, potentially leading to remote code execution (RCE). Read more of the latest hardware security news The issues, which were both given a CVSS score of 7.7, can only be exploited if an attacker has the victim’s WiFi password or access to an Ethernet connection to the router, according to a NETGEAR advisory. Moreover, ONEKEY indicated that FunJSQ is seemingly only enabled when the Quality of Service (QoS) feature, which prioritizes internet traffic for applications like VoIP or online gaming, is also activated. Insecure auto-update The insecure auto-update mechanism led to arbitrary code execution from the WAN interface due to a trio of issues. First, insecure communications arose from the “explicit disabling of certificate validation (-k), which allows us to tamper with data returned from the server”, according to ONEKEY researchers. Second, the “update packages are simply validated via a hash checksum, packages are not signed in any way”. And finally, “arbitrary extraction to the root path with elevated privilege [allowed] whoever controls the update package to overwrite anything anywhere on the device (which puts a lot of trust in a third party supplier)”. Command injection The command injection issue was discovered during an investigation of , which was exposed by HTTP server . This endpoint accepted parameters that required an authentication token generated by a weak algorithm that used a hardcoded string and the device MAC address. The resulting token was sent to a remote FunJSQ service for validation by curl. “We found that the curl command line is built using the value, which is user controlled and unsanitized prior to creating the full command line,” revealed the researchers. Coordinated disclosure ONEKEY reported the bug to NETGEAR on May 19, and the Silicon Valley vendor disclosed details of the flaw alongside firmware updates on September 9. Affected router models include R6230, R6260, R7000, R8900, R9000, and XR300, while the vulnerable Orbi WiFi Systems models are RBR20, RBS20, RBR50, and RBS50. ONEKEY said the research highlighted the supply chain threat posed by “undocumented and vulnerable software components in widely deployed embedded devices”. The researchers urged vendors to “assure that all included third-party vendors adhere to at least the same cybersecurity standards” as their own. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE WAPPLES web application firewall faulted for multiple flaws

Your Mission: Deliver A Winning Raspberry Pi Project To Space – MUO – MakeUseOf https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/your-mission-deliver-a-winning-raspberry-pi-project-to-space-muo-makeuseof/ The Raspberry Pi allows teachers to create an entertaining learning environment without students realizing that they’re actually working through a classroom curriculum. Students can stretch their imaginations when creating games and animating characters, tracking objects in real-time, or constructing a classroom piano made with fruit. With the school year in full swing, it’s a great time to introduce a coding competition. All that is needed is a willing mentor and an eager group of students. Are you ready? Mission Briefing The European Space Agency and the Raspberry Pi Foundation have teamed up to create an exciting way for students to get their work into space. For Mission Space Lab, your assignment is to build a scientific experiment that is capable of working with the Astro Pi computers aboard the International Space Station. Teams with winning ideas will receive their Astro Pi kit and will move on to making their experiment come alive! What Is Astro Pi? ESA“” data-img-url=”https://static1.makeuseofimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Astro_Pi_Ed_and_Izzy_on_the_ISS.jpg” data-modal-container-id=”single-image-modal-container” data-modal-id=”single-image-modal” Image Credit: ESA The two Astro Pi devices aboard the International Space Station (ISS) are space-hardened Raspberry Pi computers equipped with gadgets and environmental sensors enabling astronauts to complete experiments during missions. The idea of running student-led programs in space goes back to 2015. The sensors that are paired with the Astro Pi devices help do some really cool stuff: Measure temperature readings from ISS electrical signals. Determine motion, orientation, and heading. Speed up machine learning model calculations. Detect moving objects with infrared light. Check out the Astro Pi Sensors page to dive into more details about these sensors in space. Getting Ready for Takeoff Before you can take part, you’ll need to do the following: Confirm your team is eligible to participate. Complete mentor sign-up for the team. Pick a theme: investigate life on earth or life in space? Design your scientific experiment. Submit your idea by October 28th, 2022. All competition details including timelines and checklists, theme information, helpful resources, as well as eligibility criteria, can be found on the Mission Space Lab page. Design Your Idea Ensure that you are thorough with your design as only teams with winning ideas will receive an Astro Pi kit. The kit includes everything your team needs to create your experiment. If this happens, your team will be able to move on to phase 2: Create! Which theme will you choose? If your team has an interest in photography, then consider investigating the planet’s surface by making use of the Astro Pi camera. Alternatively, your team can investigate life inside the International Space Station Columbus module. You’ll be able to have fun with both camera and sensors; however, no photo or video recording features can be included as the astronauts prefer to work in private. Both themes will have design considerations that your team will have to place additional thought around. Head over to the Astro Pi Life on Earth or Life in Space contest page for details on the experiment requirements. As you work through testing your design, familiarize the team with our guide on setting up a Raspberry Pi camera module. While you’re researching, it will also be a good time to review our introduction to the Raspberry Pi device with your students. Try This At Home You can still participate in a smaller Astro Pi project if you’re not competing, or just want to practice your skills before the Mission Space Lab idea results are officially announced. You can send astronauts a message that includes the relative humidity on board the ISS using the newest Mark II Sense HAT. All you need is an internet connection and a web browser that can view this virtual Sense HAT using trinket.io. The Raspberry Pi Foundation provides a step-by-step project resource that will guide you through the Mission Zero experiment. Teachers may want to download the Astro Pi PDF instruction guide (should you need to make learning easier for a larger audience). Although Mission Zero is not an eligible contest at this time, it’s still a great way to interact with the Astro Pi at home. Life on Earth? Life in Space? Don’t worry too much about which scientific experiment to complete. Choose what is exciting for you and your team. As you get involved in the design process, the likelihood is that you’ll forget you’re even learning at all. Enjoy the process and hopefully your idea will be chosen to move on to the Create phase. Experiments that pass that phase will be awarded ‘flight status’ and be deployed on board the ISS!

Crypto Prices On Back Foot Is A Buy Opportunity For PoW Miner Tokens – Cryptonews https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/crypto-prices-on-back-foot-is-a-buy-opportunity-for-pow-miner-tokens-cryptonews/ The crypto market’s stagnation has prompted investors to seek alternative income streams. One way is by opting for PoW miner tokens. Disclaimer: The Industry Talk section features insights by crypto industry players and is not a part of the editorial content of Cryptonews.com. The proof of work (PoW) consensus requires miners to verify transactions on the blockchain. During the crypto market’s slump, some investors have turned to PoW miner tokens. Let’s take a closer look at the best miner cryptocurrencies. Best PoW Miner Cryptos The top miner cryptocurrencies we found are Ethereum Classic, Ravencoin and Ergo. Tamadoge is a great miner token alternative. 1. Ethereum Classic (ETC)   An Ethereum fork, ETC has no plans of switching to proof of stake (PoS). The project has expressed vehemently that it plans to use the proof of work consensus indefinitely.  Ethereum Classic feels that PoW provides sovereign-grade censorship resistance. Miners have rallied behind ETC after the Ethereum Merge, leaving behind the second-biggest crypto by market cap and almost doubling ETC’s hashrate. 2. Ravencoin (RVN) Ravencoin is another fortunate beneficiary of the Ethereum Merge. Miners have abandoned Ethereum and flocked to Ravencoin. The network offers miners a block reward of 5,000 RVN and a block time of 1 minute. It has a new mining algorithm, KAPOW. That enables more decentralized mining. Ravencoin provides a peer-to-peer platform, offering an efficient transfer of assets from one user to another.  3. Ergo (ERG) Ergo is a smart contract platform providing users with secure and decentralized tools. Its mining is based on Autolykos, an efficient ASIC-resistant PoW algorithm. One of the key advantages for Ergo miners is the ability to participate in voting tokens, log-space mining and subpooling. Ergo also enables miners to adjust parameters with on-chain voting. But a supermajority implements larger changes via a soft fork. Miner Token Alternative Consider Tamadoge (TAMA) as a way to hedge the PoW mining risk. TAMA is an ERC-20 token that’s at the forefront of Web3.0 and a big beneficiary of PoS. Its P2E feature enables players to earn TAMA tokens for grooming their pets into adulthood. Tamadoge is currently in a presale. A TAMA token costs $0.03, a vast difference from its beta sale price of $0.01.The next stage for Tamadoge is listings on exchanges LBank and Uniswap. Buy TAMA tokens

U.S. Climate Envoy Kerry Cautions Against Long-Term Gas Projects In Africa – Reuters.com https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/u-s-climate-envoy-kerry-cautions-against-long-term-gas-projects-in-africa-reuters-com/ Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com DAKAR, Sept 16 (Reuters) – U.S. climate envoy John Kerry cautioned against investing in long-term gas projects in Africa as countries in the region, some hoping to tap recent oil and gas discoveries, wrestle with how to power their development with clean energy. “We are not saying no gas,” Kerry told Reuters on the sidelines of an African environment ministers’ conference in Dakar, Senegal, on Thursday. “What we are saying is, over the next few years, gas replaces coal or replaces oil,” the former secretary of state and Democratic presidential candidate said, adding that gas can be used as a transition to cleaner energy sources. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com But after 2030, it will be important to capture the emissions from gas too, Kerry added. Continued financing of oil and gas projects in Africa has become a key issue for the countries, which they plan to push during a United Nations climate summit in Egypt in November. Senegal and other countries in the region aim to start producing oil and gas, which they hope will help boost their electricity production, power industries and curb energy poverty. read more Over 600 million people, or 43% of Africa’s population, lack access to electricity, most of them in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the International Energy Agency. U.S. climate envoy John Kerry speaks during an interview with a Reuters journalist in Dakar, Senegal September 15, 2022. REUTERS/Christophe Van Der Perre African countries argue that they need investments to develop their energy resources, including oil and gas, and a pledge by developed nations including the United States last year to curb investments in fossil fuels, was unjust. read more Kerry said the question now is how to help the nations, which account for only a small amount of carbon emissions, develop without making mistakes that others made, enabling them to be as green as possible without creating more problems. He said the viability of long-term gas projects could become a problem beyond 2030, the target date many developed nations have set to move to mostly renewable and curb the need for gas. Kerry said such long-term projects likely would not recoup their investments within 10 years, adding that some countries are talking of projects with lifespan as long as 40 years, which was not necessary. “We do not have to rush to go backward, we need to be very careful about exactly how much we are going to deploy, how it is going to be paid for, over what period of time and how do you capture the emissions.” Kerry said. He said developed nations need to step up efforts and meet the urgency to help other countries adapt and get over the initial hurdles of developing renewable energy systems. Kerry said the United States has committed $12 billion for “adaptation and resilience,” and was working on a new structure to bring more the big investors with trillions of dollars. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Bate Felix; Editing by William Mallard Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

New Prairie Cross Country Invitational On Tap For Saturday – South Bend Tribune https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/new-prairie-cross-country-invitational-on-tap-for-saturday-south-bend-tribune/ Tim Creason  |  Tribune Correspondent That rumbling noise Michiana residents will be hearing Saturday morning won’t come from any earthquake.  More likely, it’s the sound of over 2,000 runners trampling the grounds around New Prairie High School.  Indiana’s largest high school athletic event, the New Prairie Cross Country Invitational, begins at 9 a.m. (EDT) and continues well into the afternoon.  This year’s field includes teams from 109 different schools coming from Indiana, Michigan and Illinois.  Teams are divided into classes based on school enrollment.  However, if a smaller school has a very good team, that group can move up into a larger class to get better competition.  For instance, Morgan Township, from Porter County, has an enrollment of only 243.  However, the Cherokees have a very strong girls team.  Thus, Morgan Township’s boys will compete in Class A, the small school division.  But the girls will move up to Class AAA and compete against the large schools.  Local runners may shine in the large school divisions.  South Bend news:Despite choking scare, Penn High grad Sarah Hildebrandt adds another medal to collection In Girls Class AAA, New Prairie senior Lilly Zelasko, the top female runner in northern Indiana, should battle Penn’s Mary Eubank and Ellie Stabnik, among others, for the individual championship.  Zelasko clocked 18 minutes, 10 seconds over 5,000 meters earlier this season at the Lafayette Harrison Invitational.  In Boys Class AAA, Mishawaka sophomore Liam Bauschke is one to watch after clocking 15:48 in a Northern Lakes Conference round-robin meet Tuesday night.  That is a Caveman sophomore class record. He also ran 15:58 earlier this season at a meet in Terre Haute.  Hanover Central’s Ryan York clocked 15:47 at the Lafayette Harrison Invitational and also should contend if he chooses to move up from Class AA to Class AAA.  H.S. tennis:Saint Joseph, Penn battle for NIC tourney title yet again. Who came out on top this time? 55th ANNUAL NEW PRAIRIE CROSS COUNTRY INVITATIONAL  When:  Saturday  Where:  New Prairie High School  Admission:  $6  SCHEDULE (All times EDT)  9:10 a.m. – Girls Varsity A  9:45 a.m. – Boys Varsity A  10:20 a.m. – Girls Varsity AA  10:50 a.m. – Boys Varsity AA  11:20 a.m. – Girls Varsity AAA  11:50 a.m. – Boys Varsity AAA  12:20 p.m. – Boys Freshman/Sophomore  12:55 p.m. – Boys Reserve  1:20 p.m. – Girls Reserve  CLASS AAA (Large Schools)  Adams, Angola (boys), Chesterton, Crown Point, East Noble, Elkhart, Franklin Central, Gary West Side Leadership Academy, Hammond Morton, Harrison (Lafayette), Hobart, Kankakee Valley, Kokomo, Lafayette Jeff, Lake Central, La Porte, Logansport, Lowell, Maconaquah (girls), McCutcheon, Merrillville, Michigan City, Mishawaka, Morgan Township (girls), Munster, New Prairie, Northridge,  Penn, Plymouth, Portage, Riley, Valparaiso, Warsaw.  CLASS AA (Medium-size Schools)  Andrean, Angola (girls), Bellmont, Benton Central, Berrien Springs (Mich.), Boone Grove, Bremen, Calumet, Clay, Culver Academies, Eastern (Greentown), Frankfort, Griffith, Hammond Bishop Noll, Hanover Central, Highland, Illiana Christian, Jimtown, John Glenn, Knox,  Maconaquah (boys), Manchester, Marian, Northwestern, Peru, River Forest, SB Saint Joseph, Tippecanoe Valley, Twin Lakes, Rensselaer, Rochester, SB Washington, West Lafayette, Western.  CLASS A (Small Schools)  Attica, Beecher (Ill.), Bridgman (Mich.), Buchanan (Mich.), Carroll (Flora), Caston, Clinton Prairie, Delphi, DeMotte Christian, Faith Christian (Lafayette),  Fremont, Fountain Central, Frontier, Gary Lighthouse, Hebron, Kouts, Lafayette Central Catholic, Lake Station, LaLumiere, LaVille, Lewis Cass, Michigan City Marquette, Morgan Township (boys), New Buffalo (Mich.), North Judson, North Miami, North Newton, North White, Oregon-Davis, Pioneer, Rossville, SB Career Academy, South Central (LaPorte), Steel City Academy (Gary), Tri County, Tri-Township (LaCrosse), Trinity, Triton, Victory Christian (Valparaiso), Washington Twp., West Central, Westview, Wheeler, Winamac, Whiting.

An Impulsive Traveler’s Plan-Free Trip To Thailand – The Washington Post https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/an-impulsive-travelers-plan-free-trip-to-thailand-the-washington-post/ On the southwestern coast of Thailand, limestone cliffs tower over seawater against the backdrop of swaying trees. Long-tail boats — the only means of transportation to Railay Beach — sit parked in the distance, neon-pink-and-green flags swaying at the bow. Sand bubbler crabs dip above and below the surface, leaving their intricate designs at the mercy of high tide and flip-flops. I’m sitting in a bar on the beach, watching water droplets fall down my ice-cold Singha beer, looking at the sunset glimmer on the water. Picturesque doesn’t even begin to describe this. There’s just one question on my mind: How did I end up here? A few weeks earlier, I was fantasizing about going somewhere — anywhere — far away. I craved the feeling of being lost in an unfamiliar city, soaking in its sounds, smells, energy. This led to casually browsing plane tickets to Southeast Asia, when a reasonably priced ticket to Bangkok popped up. Later that month, I boarded the plane with a friend who booked her trip a few days after mine. While jetting across the world on a whim admittedly made me feel pretty cocky, it turns out I’m part of a larger trend. According to data from the online travel company Skyscanner, demand focused on the Asia-Pacific region — and Thailand, in particular — has taken off since coronavirus restrictions began to ease in April. During May and June, for example, it was the third most popular long-haul destination from France, where I live. Beyond the uptick in trips to the region, Matt Bradford, who analyzes trends and insights for Skyscanner, has identified short booking horizons — a window of 30 days or less between booking and takeoff — as a new behavior. He explained by phone that, in France during May and June, 39 percent of bookings made on the site were for departures within one month. (In the United States, that figure was 35 percent.) When the doors slide open at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, it hits you: wet, sweltering heat. Within one minute, my skin was covered in a slick film of humidity and sweat, dripping down the back of my neck as we hopped into a cab. We drove past roadside dumpling joints, skyscrapers and a seemingly endless string of stalls selling sex toy souvenirs. The next afternoon, after a delicious lunch at Rung Reung Pork Noodle — a bare-bones, plastic-stool, fan-blasting haven for pork meatballs, noodles and broth — we set off toward Wat Arun, a temple built during the Ayutthaya era on the bank of the Chao Phraya River. Its “prang” towers more than 200 feet overhead, intricately decorated with porcelain pieces and walkways that snake up and around it. As we were strolling through the grounds, a lady approached us offering a boat ride around a nearby floating market. Our boat driver soon led us through Thonburi’s network of klongs, or canals, lined with worn wooden houses, many tilting on the stilts holding them above water. A woman wearing a straw hat with bows clipped onto the band slowly approached us on her long-tail boat, offering bracelets, key chains and flowery hair clips. After we politely declined, she reached into her cooler, emerging with a grin. “Beer?” While this normally wouldn’t send me over the edge with excitement, Bangkok had banned alcohol sales for 24 hours during its election, and a cold Chang sounded pretty good in that heat. I bought one for myself and our driver, and we continued to drift through the canals. I’m no floating-market expert, but let’s just say this one was slightly underwhelming; after a quick snack of fried quail eggs with soy sauce and sugar, we set off back toward Bangkok and spent the evening on a rooftop paying for drinks with crypto, the bar’s only payment option. The next two days would see endless heaps of sausages splattering into hot oil on street food carts, 3 a.m. massages on Khaosan Road and walks down the side streets of Sukhumvit. Then, after being seduced by travelers and locals raving about the south — they generally urged us to avoid Phuket, the notorious destination for tourists looking to get lost in the black hole of its nightlife — we hopped on a plane. After the intense, electric urban energy of Bangkok, Krabi — a southern province on Thailand’s Andaman Sea — was a literal breath of fresh air. We hopped into a shuttle that made various drop-offs in towns throughout the area. The driver played American country music as we drove past lush greenery on winding roads, passing a shooting range on the way into Ao Nang. A tourist, probably in her 20s, was talking to the woman next to her. “We don’t really have a plan,” she said. They weren’t the only ones. In Krabi, we set off by long-tail boat to explore the Ko Poda, Ko Thap and Ko Khai (or “Chicken”) islands off the coast, within the Phi Phi Islands national park. To say our first stop looked like a postcard would be a vast understatement. If you’ve ever imagined yourself on a deserted island, gazing out into crystal-clear waters under the shade of a mangrove tree on a white-sand beach, this was that. There was no one else in sight as we dived into the calm water, splashing around gleefully with silly grins on our faces. I soon started to notice some stinging on my upper arm. Thinking I was being a hypochondriac, I ignored it. A couple of minutes later, back onshore, my friend mentioned that her arm was stinging but reasoned that it was probably because of the saltwater-and-sunburn combination. When we finally connected the dots about our ailments, we strolled back to inspect the water. As it turns out, the deserted white-sand beach wasn’t deserted at all, but was instead full of massive translucent jellyfish, in the water and washed ashore, a small detail we didn’t register on our walk from the boat. Our driver didn’t seem too concerned, though. When asked whether the stings were dangerous, he laughed, shook his head and said, “No dead, no dead,” still chuckling as he returned to the stern. On our last night, we returned to Railay Beach via long-tail boat, tilting dramatically against the waves, water splashing into the boat through the open sides. After wading through the water to get to shore, we dropped off our stuff and hit the beach bar. “Hotel California” played in the background as the sun disappeared over the horizon, revealing stars and the vast surrounding cliffs shining in the moonlight. Then, the power went out. After a few minutes, the bartender created a makeshift glowing lantern by putting his phone flashlight under a bottle of Curaçao. Candles were lit. We asked for another round. “Why not?” he replied. A wander through the pitch-black town revealed shadows of massage ladies, chatting quietly while huddled together, looking out onto the pathway. Bartenders hung out outside, just their silhouettes visible in the darkness. In one bar, candles cast a glowing light over a pool table beyond the open windowsills, an acoustic guitar player singing behind it. We spent a few hours in that bar as rains flooded the road outside. Behind us, the bartender kept laughing to himself, repeating, “Why not?” — seemingly the town’s unofficial catchphrase — every couple of minutes. We couldn’t make out the faces of the people opposite us, just their shadows. Reality felt conflated with a sort of dream world — in a good way. Suddenly, the lights came on. Almost immediately, the place that couldn’t have felt farther away from home made me think of the bars on Rue de Lappe, the notoriously rowdy party street in my Paris neighborhood, characterized by neon lights and flaming shots. Acoustic music quickly faded behind the Top 40 songs blasting on the stereo, and fairy lights blinked aggressively on the walls. It was time to go. The next morning, I left Krabi, already feeling nostalgic as that night shifted from reality into memory on the journey back to Paris. I’m not advocating for always traveling without a plan. We missed a lot. The one thing we really wanted to do — travel by train from north to south — wasn’t possible without booking ahead. Our floating-market experience could have benefited from better research. We could have seen more sights. But if someone had asked me, “Would you like to take a rickety long-tail boat in high swells to this isolated beach town that will lose power, where you’ll be essentially stranded until morning?” I’d say, “Why not?” Radziemski is a writer based in Paris. Find her on Twitter and Instagram: @lilyradz. Rung Reung Pork Noodle 10/3 Soi Sukhumvit 26, Khlong Tan, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 011-66-84-527-1640 Pork, bone broth and noodles are king here. It’s hot, crowded and delicious. Open daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mains from about $2. Family Thaifood & Seafood 143 6 Ao Nang, Mueang Krabi District, Krabi 011-66-82-424-9902 This is a no-frills restaurant serving up delicious, fresh classics and seafood. I’m still dreaming about the tom yum soup and fresh passion fruit juice. Open daily, 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Mains from about $3. Ao Nang Landmark Night Market Ao Nang, Mueang Krabi District, Krabi 011-66-88-982-8899 The stalls in this night market have many options, such as dried squid skins, classic noodle dishes and freshly grilled squid. You can then eat at an open table. Open Monday to Saturday, 4 to 10 p.m., and Sunday until 10:30 p.m. Mains from about $2.50. Luna Beach Bar 2RQ8+H64 Muang Mueang Krabi District, Ao Nang 011-66-89-867-4100 This bar has a spacious terrace that opens onto the beach. Watch the long-tail boats come and go and the paddle boarders row into the sunset. There’s a full dining menu, and the food is fresh and delicious. Open daily, 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Bottle of beer from about $1.50. Reeve Coffee 2RM9+HH5, Ao Nang, Mueang Krabi District 011-66-93-631-7599 Delicious coffee shop with an outdoor terrace overlooking the ...

Hacker Claims To Breach Uber, Security Researcher Says – Long Island Business News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/hacker-claims-to-breach-uber-security-researcher-says-long-island-business-news/ Get our free LIBN e-alerts & breaking news notifications! AP Photo By: The Associated Press September 16, 2022 Uber said Thursday that it reached out to law enforcement after a hacker apparently breached its network. A security engineer said the intruder provided evidence of obtaining access to crucial systems at the ride-hailing service. There was no indication that Uber’s fleet of vehicles or its operation was in any way affected. “It seems like they’ve compromised a lot of stuff,” said Sam Curry, an engineer with Yuga Labs who communicated with the hacker. That includes complete access to the Amazon and Google-hosted cloud environments where Uber stores its source code and customer data, he said. Curry said he spoke to several Uber employees who said they were “working to lock down everything internally” to restrict the hacker’s access. That included the San Francisco company’s Slack internal messaging network, he said. He said there was no indication that the hacker had done any damage or was interested in anything more than publicity. “My gut feeling is that it seems like they are out to get as much attention as possible.” The hacker had alerted Curry and other security researchers to the intrusion on Thursday evening by using an internal Uber account to comment on vulnerabilities they had previously identified on the company’s network through its bug-bounty program, which pays ethical hackers to ferret out network weaknesses. The hacker provided a Telegram account address and Curry and other researchers then engaged them in a separate conversation, sharing screenshots of various pages from Uber’s cloud providers to prove they broke in. The Associated Press attempted to contact the hacker at the Telegram account where Curry and the other researchers chatted with them. But no one responded. The New York Times reported that the person who claimed responsibility for the hack said they gained access through social engineering: They sent a text message to an Uber worker claiming to be a company tech employee and persuaded the worker to hand over a password that gave them access to the network. The Times said the hacker reported being 18 years old and saying they broke in because the company had weak security. One screenshot posted on Twitter and confirmed by researchers shows a chat with the hacker in which they say they obtained the credentials of an administrative user through social engineering. Social engineering is a popular hacking strategy, as humans tend to be the weakest link in any network. Teenagers used a similar ploy in 2020 to hack Twitter Uber said via email that it was “currently responding to a cybersecurity incident. We are in touch with law enforcement.” It said it would provide updates on its Uber Comms twitter feed. The company has been hacked before. Its former chief security officer, Joseph Sullivan, is currently on trial on allegations he arranged to pay hackers $100,000 to cover up a 2016 high-tech heist in which the personal information of about 57 million customers and drivers was stolen. × Enjoy This Free Article We Have 2 More For You All You Need To Do Is Register To Receive Your 2 Additional Free Articles

YMCA Hosts Blood Drive In Partnership With The American Red Cross – The Zebra https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/ymca-hosts-blood-drive-in-partnership-with-the-american-red-cross-the-zebra/ Photo: iStock.com/stefanamer ALEXANDRIA, VA – A dire blood shortage continues across the U.S. It is the worst blood supply shortage in over a decade, according to the American Red Cross. The YMCA of Metropolitan Washington is partnering with the American Red Cross in holding blood drives throughout the region. The YMCA Metropolitan Washington has branches and program centers in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia. “We encourage everyone who is healthy to sign up to give blood,” said Angie Reese-Hawkins, president and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington. “The blood shortage is risking the lives of all of us.”  The YMCA has a 170-year history of stepping up to help in the communities it serves. The dates and times for the blood drives are as follows: Friday, September 23, Thursday, October 20 and Thursday, November 10 and Thursday, December 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the YMCA Anthony Bowen, Conference Room 2, 1325 W Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009 Friday, October 7 and Friday, December 9 from noon to 6 p.m. at the YMCA Alexandria, 420 East Monroe Ave., Alexandria, Va. 22301 Friday, December 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. YMCA Fairfax County Reston, 12196 Sunset Hills Rd., Reston, Va. 20190. Potential donors may sign up online here, or ​ http://ow.ly/fw9g50KvQeu. For more information on the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington, visit www.ymcadc.org. # # # About the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington The YMCA of Metropolitan Washington is a not for profit 501(c)3 charity organization that has been serving the communities and families of Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia in the areas of youth development, healthy living and social responsibility for nearly 170 years. Through opportunities in wellness, aquatics, youth sports, summer camps, childcare and more, the Y engages more than 250,000 individuals and families. Visit www.ymcadc.org for more information. Post Views: 9

Dunkirk Man Charged After Pursuit In Brocton | News, Sports, Jobs – Evening Observer https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/dunkirk-man-charged-after-pursuit-in-brocton-news-sports-jobs-evening-observer/ A Dunkirk motorist who led Chautauqua County sheriff’s deputies on a pursuit Wednesday has been charged in the incident. Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigators attempted to pull over a light green Dodge Challenger for observed vehicle and traffic violations before 1 p.m. Investigators observed this vehicle on West Main Street in the village of Brocton. After activating emergency lights and sirens, the subject in the vehicle failed to comply. A short pursuit occurred and the driver ended up North on Lake Avenue and struck guardrail at Lake Avenue and South Swede Road and continued on South Swede Road, which is a dead end. He crashed into a lawn at the end of the road. The subject exited the vehicle and ran toward a brush line. A Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Investigator observed the subject and positively identified the driver and sole occupant as Brandon L Vangiesen. Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office Deputies and K-9 arrived and a search was conducted for a short time. The search was discontinued due to fact deputies knew the identity of the driver. A Warrant of arrest was completed for Vangiesen, 31, of 327 Eagle St., out of Town of Portland Court. On Friday morning, Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to a residence on Route 380 in Portland. Brandon L Vangiesen was a this residence and taken into custody on the warrant. He was charged with third-degree unlawful fleeing of a police officer in a motor vehicle, failure to comply with a lawful order, third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, reckless driving, failing to stop at stop sign, no windshield, leaving scene of property damage accident, uninspected motor vehicle, speed not reasonable and prudent, improper passing and operating without insurance. He was transported to Chautauqua County Jail and taken centralized arraignment. Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox

Richard Walker Joins Bain & Company As A Partner Focusing On Web3 And Metaverse In The Financial Services Practice – PR Newswire https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/richard-walker-joins-bain-company-as-a-partner-focusing-on-web3-and-metaverse-in-the-financial-services-practice-pr-newswire/ Richard Walker brings to Bain his deep expertise on web3, metaverse, digital assets, technology strategy and transformation , /PRNewswire/ — Bain & Company announced today that web3 and metaverse expert Richard Walker will join the firm as a partner in the Financial Services practice in the New York office and co-lead the global scaling of Bain’s web3 and metaverse services. As a leading thinker and practitioner in this space, Richard brings deep expertise in navigating how web3 has the potential to introduce new opportunities across a variety of sectors. He has deep experience having recently led web3 projects for global banks, regional banks, hedge funds, payments companies and digital asset natives. Prior to Bain, Richard was practice head for blockchain and digital assets at another global business consulting firm. With nearly 30 years of consulting experience across the Americas and EMEA, much of his work has been serving major financial institutions and helping them with technology and operations strategies to understand and leverage the latest disruptive technology for competitive advantage. “Web3 is a priority for our clients and has broad implications across sectors,” said Bain & Company’s Thomas Olsen, global co-lead of the web3 and metaverse practice. “Richard’s experience working with blockchain, digital assets and leading web3 projects for multiple financial institutions will help us scale our support to clients as they navigate the opportunities and challenges that web3 can present.” While web3 has the potential to introduce new opportunities, it will also impact cost structures and profit pools. Tokenization, blockchain payment rails and decentralized finance (DeFi) are pushing financial institutions to rethink business models and market structures. Digital rights ownership (NFTs) will enable consumer brands to reimagine loyalty programs, engagement and brand experience. Moreover, the metaverse will change the way people engage with technology and commerce, propelling companies to rethink how they interact with customers in new virtual environments.  “We are enthusiastic about helping our clients unpack the implications that web3 and the metaverse have on their industry and business,” said Bain & Company’s Gene Rapoport, global co-lead of the web3 and metaverse practice. “Richard has a long track record of helping financial institutions evaluate ways web3 technology could present opportunities and threats, and chart a course for long-term value generation.” In addition to his client work, Richard will be an active member of the Veterans at Bain affinity group. He holds an undergraduate degree in Computer Information Systems from Chapman University in Orange, California. For a complete list of Bain’s web3 leaders and services, click here. Editor’s Note: For any questions or to arrange an interview, please contact Dan Pinkney at [email protected] or +1 646-562-8102. About Bain & Company   Bain & Company is a global consultancy that helps the world’s most ambitious change makers define the future.   Across 65 cities in 40 countries, we work alongside our clients as one team with a shared ambition to achieve extraordinary results, outperform the competition, and redefine industries. We complement our tailored, integrated expertise with a vibrant ecosystem of digital innovators to deliver better, faster, and more enduring outcomes. Our 10-year commitment to invest more than $1 billion in pro bono services brings our talent, expertise, and insight to organizations tackling today’s urgent challenges in education, racial equity, social justice, economic development, and the environment. We earned a platinum rating from EcoVadis, the leading platform for environmental, social, and ethical performance ratings for global supply chains, putting us in the top 1% of all companies. Since our founding in 1973, we have measured our success by the success of our clients, and we proudly maintain the highest level of client advocacy in the industry.  SOURCE Bain & Company

Tech News: OneStream Rolls Out New Capacities In Latest Release – Accounting Today https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/tech-news-onestream-rolls-out-new-capacities-in-latest-release-accounting-today/ Client engagement platform Ignition partnered with Intuit to provide a series of templates for tax advisory and advisory proposals for the recently-released Intuit Tax Advisory solution. The templates, designed by Josh Lance, managing director at Lance CPA Group and head of accounting for Ignition, are widely available for Ignition customers in the United States and can be found in the templates library. … Blockchain and cryptocurrency infrastructure firm Binance announced a partnership with MinervaA , which makes software to detect financial crimes. Binance’s Canadian affiliate will use Minerva’s artificial intelligence tools, sanctions and other risk screening capabilities to enhance their know-your-customer and anti-money laundering capabilities for security, anti-fraud and AML compliance programs in Canada. … Hyperproof Inc , a provider of SaaS compliance operations, has partnered with Top 10 Firm Grant Thornton to provide its products and services to clients in order to  standardize key control activities, automate their evidence collection processes and gain deeper insights into their compliance programs. Further, the two companies will jointly develop a data exchange capability between Hyperproof and Grant Thornton’s SOC.x tool, a SOC compliance platform. … Corcentric , which provides payments and procurement software, will be working with tax compliance platform Sovos to help companies adjust to a recent French law that requires all companies in the country, as well as suppliers doing business with French companies, to transmit and receive e-invoices via a central platform starting July 1, 2024. Corcentric’s software already supports the most widely used data exchange standard for e-invoicing, Factur-X; combined with Sovos’ tax compliance solutions, the two companies intend to make it easier to comply with the standard on a single platform. … Helm , which makes business management software, is now fully integrated with Sage Business Cloud Accounting. The integration is now available for Sage Business Cloud Accounting users in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Ireland. Sage joins the already available integrations with Xero and QuickBooks Online. … Automation solutions provider Botkeeper announced that expense management software provider Expensify has joined its marketplace partner system. The two companies will cooperate to increase the accounting profession’s capacity through automation of back-office tasks.

Rockstar Games Co-Founder Joins LEAP As Advisory Board Member – Twinfinite https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/rockstar-games-co-founder-joins-leap-as-advisory-board-member-twinfinite/ News LEAP gains one heavy-hitter in the games industry with Jamie King. We’re excited to see where this goes. Published on September 16, 2022 LEAP, the “next generation sports-discovery and endorsement platform” has brought Rockstar Games Co-founder Jamie King on as an Advisory Board Member. With the mobile gaming industry still blowing up, the further investment makes sense. LEAP is planning on a platform launch and “King will apply his experience and knowledge from the gaming industry to provide crucial insights for LEAP as it prepares for the platform’s launch.” LEAP outlines the main duties Jamie King will perform as “leverage his experience and expertise in the gaming industry and product development to support LEAP’s upcoming platform launch, grow LEAP’s global community, and serve as spokesperson and evangelist for the company.” “I’m excited to be a part of the LEAP team because their platform is innovative and unique, something I’ve never seen before,” says Jamie King. “LEAP’s product aims to correct a major blindspot in the sports industry, and that is the lack of growth opportunities for athletes from isolated and disadvantaged communities around the world. I love the gamification aspect of LEAP’s platform but I especially love how it aims to democratize the sports industry.” For those who may be unaware of what LEAP is all about, the site describes its origin as: LEAP, founded in 2021 and based in Israel, is a sports discovery and monetization platform empowering young athletes from across the world to develop and improve their talent through a gamified online experience. On LEAP’s platform, youth talent can create short-form videos of their real-life skills and use them to compete online with other talents worldwide in the digital arena in order to gain recognition from peers and talent seekers, while also getting rewarded. By leveraging blockchain technology, using NFTs, and a real-life in-app gaming mode, LEAP is building a digital sports community to democratize talent discovery across the globe and ensure their social inclusion.  The article gives a better description of what the LEAP platform actually offers. While they do mention mobile gaming in the announcement article, they operate as something more akin to a sports TikTok. Through LEAP, youth athletes get to showcase their skill-sets in short-form videos uploaded to the platform. By specifically working with young athletes from impoverished and isolated communities, LEAP brings together a digital community of both youth sports talent and talent seekers to help the athletes, not only gain recognition, but also get rewarded based on their skill levels and continuous engagement in sport activities. The app features a customized video creator—LEAP Studio—with specific filters, sticks, and add-ons to help talents better highlight their individual skills based on their sport. Talents can use the videos to challenge each other in LEAP DARE Battles, where the community votes for whoever they think performed the skill better, and winning will boost the value and rarity of the users NFT Player Card. We will continue to keep an eye on LEAP and see what comes from this new partnership. Is Gloria Dead in Cyberpunk Edgerunners? Answered (Spoilers) How to Earn Beta Rewards in CoD Modern Warfare 2 How to Play the CoD Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Early NBA 2K23 MyNBA Eras Explained All Game Modes in Call of Duty (CoD) Modern Warfare 2 (MW2) Beta

10 Heroes In TV Shows With The Most Unhelpful Abilities – CBR – Comic Book Resources https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/10-heroes-in-tv-shows-with-the-most-unhelpful-abilities-cbr-comic-book-resources/ One major appeal of superheroes is the variety of their abilities, which are often used for the good of humanity. Some of these abilities are supernatural while others are learned or practiced. The uniqueness of each ability helps viewers identify with heroes and root for them in their fight against a common enemy. While most heroes tend to contribute to the betterment of civilization with their powers, others are more of a hindrance than a help. Sometimes there are characters whose abilities even contribute to the plight of civilians, or worse, directly aid the very force of evil they’re trying to defeat. 10 Clover’s Accessorizing Liability (Totally Spies) Selecting the perfect shade of lipstick might be crucial for a night out, but it isn’t a skill in high demand when it comes to spying. In Totally Spies, Clover is certainly crafty with her gadgets, but her need to accessorize often lands her and her team in more sticky situations than is called for on top-secret missions. From getting distracted from the task at hand to sometimes fully exposing the team on a recon assignment, Clover’s fashionista tendencies are definitely not suited for undercover life. Compared to her teammates’ mental and physical contributions, her desire to accessorize is rarely, ironically, a fashionable asset. 9 Shippo’s Short-Lasting Transformations (Inuyasha) While Shippo has a fierce heart and an abundance of determination for a fox demon child, sometimes it seems like that’s all he has to offer his team in the anime, Inuyasha. His main asset is his ability to transform via his foxfire magic, which isn’t much more than a bag of tricks. Most of the time, when Shippo tries to use his magic, one of his older friends comes to his aid before a larger more powerful demon can devour him. Even though he can change his appearance to trick his enemies, his transformations are usually exposed within minutes…which is also how long his magic lasts. 8 Kole’s Immobility Is A Roadblock (Teen Titans) Turning into a material as hard as crystal sounds impressive, but it’s far less so when it renders the individual immobile. In Teen Titans, Kole’s ability to change into an organic crystal could technically work as a shield, but she’s only able to become a weapon if someone is strong enough to wield her like a hammer. In her crystal form, Kole also lacks the means to communicate, increasing the potential for confusion in the heat of battle. Her power is only helpful under very specific circumstances. So, in most situations, she’s a sitting duck or a literal roadblock. 7 Sea Hawk’s Fire-Wielding Burns Both Friends And Foes (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power) In She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, there’s no shortage of powerful royals with extraordinary capabilities. Despite the competition, Captain Sea Hawk still finds a way to burn brightly… but that’s exactly the problem. While intimidating, Sea Hawk’s fire-wielding abilities end up burning far more than his foes. Due to his clumsy nature, the captain’s fire-based combat frequently results in him setting fire to his own ships. While Sea Hawk assures his comrades the practice is intentional, it’s difficult to form a convincing argument when the characters’ one method of escape goes up in smoke. 6 Sheen Estevez’s High-Speed With Low Bladder Control (The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius) In The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, super speed might seem like a blast, unless you have to pump the brakes every few seconds. That’s exactly the plight of Sheen Estevez in the episode, “The N Men.” His alter ego, Vibrating Lad, must constantly stop his high-speed racing to take a bathroom break. It’s definitely not an optimal time to visit the restroom when facing off against a villain in a high-stakes battle. Sheen proves how even the strongest of bladders are terrible assets when the need to frequently relieve oneself requires abandoning comrades. 5 Squidward’s Eruptive Headshots (Spongebob Squarepants) Squidward’s alter ego, Krakatoa, might have a lot of firepower in Spongebob Squarepants, but that power proves detrimental when it isn’t controlled. The ability to spout volcanic lava from the top of one’s head will surely frighten enemies, but it can also severely injure allies. Squidward’s hot-headed capability proves exactly that in the episode, “Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy V,” when the steaming squid literally melts Spongebob down to his boots. With results like that, it’s an ability successful hero teams wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole. 4 Kosei Tsuburaba’s Solid Air Falls Flat (My Hero Academia) The ability to manipulate air sounds cool, but Kosei Tsuburaba’s powers in My Hero Academia reveal it’s definitely not a breeze. The hero-in-training can create solid walls by manipulating the air with his breath. However, the ability doesn’t lend itself to offensive advantages, and to make matters worse, it barely holds as a defense either. Tsuburaba’s walls prove little more than air traffic, being easily shattered with a well-timed attack. During the U.A. school sports festival, fellow student Bakugou shatters Tsuburaba’s shield with minimal effort, rendering him and his allies defenseless. With a shield like that, a hero is really only blowing hot air. 3 Catman’s Kitty Litter (The Fairly Oddparents) While Catman thinks he’s only a whisker away from being a true hero, the items in his utility belt are stepping on his own tail. In The Fairly Oddparents, the aspiring crime-fighter often gets Timmy and his fairies into hairy situations with his unhelpful bag of tricks, which include absorbent kitty litter. While Catman undoubtedly means well in his heroic endeavors, something as messy and mundane as litter is unlikely to serve as the fatal blow against a tough opponent. The neighborhood cats may appreciate this gadget, but when it comes to fighting evil, Catman will most certainly be killed without curiosity. 2 Zan Is The Lesser Half (Teen Titans Go!) Being compared to a sibling is never fun, but it isn’t even a contest when it comes to the Wonder Twins’ superhuman abilities in Teen Titans Go!. One member of the duo, Jayna, can transform into any animal, while Zan can only change into a state of matter. Becoming a solid, liquid, or gas might be considered supernatural, but it’s also super unhelpful in battle. In the episode “You’re Fired!”, the Titans begrudgingly recruit Zan because he and his sister are a package deal. While Jayna is off fighting crime, the team finds Zan’s abilities are more suited to secretarial work. 1 Tatami Nakagame’s Underwhelming Shrinking (My Hero Academia) Changing one’s size could come in handy for evading projectiles in battle, but it’s far less desirable when it’s all a hero can offer. Tatami Nakagame’s telescopic power in My Hero Academia allows her to withdraw her limbs into her body… but that’s it. Even when she withdraws, it takes a solid minute for her to return to her original form, leaving her and her team wide open for more blows. Tatami would undoubtedly be the first pick in a game of dodgeball, but certainly not in the field of battle. An ability like hers is a nuisance on the best of days and a liability on the worst. NEXT: The 10 Worst Powers In The Marvel Universe

Bitcoin Is A Tumor Created By Easy Money Says Nasim Taleb – Is He Right? – Cryptonews https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/bitcoin-is-a-tumor-created-by-easy-money-says-nasim-taleb-is-he-right-cryptonews/ Image Credit: Pixabay Risk management guru and author of “The Black Swan,” Nasim Taleb, has taken a jab at Bitcoin, calling it a tumor created by easy money. In an interview with CNBC, the New York Times best-selling author called Bitcoin, as well as the real estate market, a “tumor” that has been brought on by incompetent monetary policy. He opined that years of zero percent interest rates maintained by the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank damaged the economy and created bubbles like Bitcoin.  “At zero interest rates… for long periods of time, you are hurting the economy. You’re creating bubbles, creating tumors like bitcoin, creating hedge funds that should not exist but have existed for 15 years,” Taleb said.  His statement is in reference to the Fed holding funds target rate at a range of 0% to 0.25% between 2008 and 2015 to tackle the 2008 global financial crisis. The Fed also cut rates to near zero again in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Taleb maintained that this easy-money monetary policy has left an entire generation of investors oblivious of the effects of a recession – a phenomenon that last occurred in the 1980s. However, they are in for a rude awakening as the Fed is now determined to slow down inflation by implementing interest rate hikes to bring markets “back to normal economic life.”   When asked what he would consider normal, he said he expects the interest rate to rise to around three to four percent.  Does Bitcoin price drops coinciding with Fed rate hikes prove Taleb right?  This is not the first time the former options trader has criticized Bitcoin. Last year, he called the pioneer digital currency a “contagious disease” and an “obsolete product of low-interest rates” that has “zero value” in an interview with CNBC.  Meanwhile, the Fed’s drive to rein in inflation has been having a marked effect on the price of Bitcoin. According to historical data pointed out by TIME, the price of Bitcoin dropped by at least 10% following the first three Fed rate hikes in March, May, and June.  The report asserts that while the July rate hike was less severe, there is a clear pattern of Fed rate hikes corresponding with drops in the crypto market. This is why it expects that the rate hike the Fed could implement next week will again rock the market.  Regardless, Bitcoin proponents have held the asset continues to serve the purpose it was created for in 2009 in the long term. According to the Bitcoin white paper, the creation of Bitcoin was prompted by the failure of economic policies and lack of transparency that resulted in the global market crash of 2008.