Benton County News Now

Queens Lawmaker Partners With Grubhub To Donate Meals To Seniors At Commonpoint Queens In Little Neck – QNS.com – QNS https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/queens-lawmaker-partners-with-grubhub-to-donate-meals-to-seniors-at-commonpoint-queens-in-little-neck-qns-com-qns/ Council Member Linda Lee joined Grubhub’s ‘Serving the City’ program to deliver meals to seniors at Commonpoint Queens in Little Neck and homebound seniors at Deepdale CARES NORC. (Photo courtesy of Council Member Lee’s office) Councilwoman Linda Lee on Sept. 29 joined Grubhub’s ‘Serving the City’ program to deliver 250 meals to seniors at Commonpoint Queens in Little Neck and homebound seniors at Deepdale CARES NORC in honor of Senior Appreciation Month.  Lee thanked Senator Leroy Comrie, Commonpoint Queens, Grubhub and Holy Schnitzel for their partnership during Senior Appreciation Month, as they work to close hunger gaps among the older adult communities and address the specific needs of eastern Queens.  (Photo courtesy of Councilwoman Lee’s office) “Eastern Queens is a transit desert with no rail service and limited access to bus lines that have always made it difficult for our seniors to travel to even the closest supermarkets and restaurants to obtain fresh food and produce to support their health and well-being,” said Lee, chair of the Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities and Addictions. “As the weather gets colder, we must ensure that our communities have all the resources necessary to support healthy living and combat the rising threat of food insecurity in our neighborhoods.”  (Photo courtesy of Councilwoman Lee’s office) Danielle Ellman, CEO of Commonpoint Queens, said the organization is thrilled to partner with Lee and Grubhub to get food to older adults in their community.  “With more than one in 10 seniors facing food insecurity, programs like these are literally saving lives by getting healthy meals to our most vulnerable. Thank you to Grubhub and Council member Lee for their support in helping older adults age with dignity,” Ellman said. The COVID-19 pandemic and recent rise in grocery prices have increased food insecurity across the nation, impacting nearly 1.5 million New Yorkers, including one in four children. To help combat this issue on a local level, Grubhub is leveraging its vast restaurant  network to support underserved communities in Council District 23 and eastern Queens. “This is a first-of-its-kind program for Grubhub and launching in New York City — touching all five boroughs and partnering with every single City Council member — is the perfect way to leverage our resources and address food insecurity for those in need,” said Brett Swanson, Grubhub’s senior manager for Community Affairs and Social Impact. “To have the greatest impact, we’re going hyper-local, working with the City Council members to understand specific needs in the community and then partner to address them.”

ADs Explore Options Aiming To Create Leverage In Future Restructuring Of College Football, Basketball – CBS Sports https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/ads-explore-options-aiming-to-create-leverage-in-future-restructuring-of-college-football-basketball-cbs-sports/ Last month, the professional organization representing FBS athletic directors issued what amounted to a veiled ultimatum. The “overwhelming majority” of those ADs at a Lead1 Association meeting in Washington D.C. had a “strong preference” the NCAA continue running major-college football if the association “can be more streamlined and less bureaucratic.” Or else … what? The answer has opened the door to perhaps not a breakaway of major college football and basketball but at least a forming picture of what a new structure would look like. A growing number of those ADs believe they have a unique and powerful hammer as leverage if the NCAA doesn’t clean up its act. “If not,” a Lead1 executive said. “We would explore other options.” Among those implied options, CBS Sports has learned, is leveraging schools’ participation in the NCAA Tournament. While a separate basketball tournament operated outside of the NCAA isn’t likely anytime soon, the ADs’ realization they could create such an event provides a picture as to how the NCAA’s two biggest sports will be run in the future. A football breakaway has long been discussed — it is more likely than one in basketball — as the NCAA’s power diminishes as membership has demanded a reorganization of the 117-year-old organization. Approximately 80 FBS ADs traveled to Lead1’s mid-September meeting in person. Another 20 participated virtually, putting 100 out of 131 total in attendance. They saw two compelling presentations made by former West Virginia AD and NCAA executive Oliver Luck and North Carolina associate professor of sports administration Erianne Weight. One presentation was a model with college football continuing to operate inside the NCAA. The other showed the FBS going “completely independent” of the NCAA, according to a source. “It was about as unanimous as it could get,” Lead1 CEO Tom McMillen said of his membership’s reaction to football governance. “It was, ‘Fix it or we will seriously consider move options.'” Basketball is involved in the discussion because the revenue from the NCAA Tournament is used by the association to essentially run major-college football. The NCAA does not sponsor an FBS championship. Meanwhile, the tournament is the mother’s milk of the association itself bringing approximately $800 million per year. Approximately 80% of that goes back to the members. McMillen compared more oversight of major-college sports by his members to a “discharge petition.” In parliamentary procedure, such an act means bringing a bill to the floor for a vote without a report from a committee. In this case, that “committee” represents the bureaucracy of the NCAA.  “If the ADs stand together, they can almost accomplish anything,” McMillen said. Lead1 is essentially an advisory group when it comes to NCAA matters, but change has to start somewhere. Ohio State AD Gene Smith raised eyebrows last summer when he suggested to ESPN that the College Football Playoff take over FBS. He was not alone. In December 2020, the reform-minded Knight Commission essentially suggested the same thing. Lead1 and its members hope to gain more power over major-college sports as the NCAA remakes itself through a rewritten constitution that will give more power to the schools. To that end, Lead1 was encouraged to see its views were taking hold recently when the NCAA adopted seven of its 11 recommendations. Among those was the abolition of the much-criticized Independent Accountability Resolution Process. The future of basketball was not discussed formally last month. Various college officials came out of that Lead1 meeting contending there is no grant of rights between the Division I schools and the NCAA that binds them to play in March Madness. The grant of rights is most commonly known as a document schools sign that assigns their television rights to their conference. Lead1 executives and other ADs confirmed to CBS Sports that there is no such binding document. “It’s not ironclad,” said McMillen. “That’s my quote. It’s just not ironclad [that they participate].” When asked what binds those schools to the tournament, NCAA general counsel Scott Bearby referred CBS Sports to Bylaw 31.2.1.1 It states: Eligible members in a sport … will participate [if selected] in the NCAA championship or in no postseason in that sport. “I don’t know the consequence, for instance, if a team that qualified for a conference automatic bid, their choice [was] to not participate,” Bearby told CBS Sports. “I don’t know what that would mean.” While there is no overt movement for Division I to stage its own basketball tournament, the National Association of Basketball Coaches is on record as saying it would like to establish a governing board of the game but within the NCAA structure. (NABC president Craig Robinson provided no comment when contacted.) Most importantly, for the first time during that Lead1 meeting, a price tag was put on what it would take to run the FBS: $65 million annually. That figure was revealed during a slide presentation by Kathleen McNeely, the NCAA’s former CFO and currently a Lead1 consultant. (McNeely did not comment but gave a Lead1 official permission to describe her presentation in detail with CBS Sports.) An outside entity taking over the FBS would be less about affordability and more about liability. That $65 million represents 10% of the current annual CFP payout ($600 million) and even less (about 4%) of the projected annual payout in an expanded 12-team CFP field. However, the NCAA has long been target practice for attorneys seeking retribution for clients with catastrophic injuries. The association also spends millions annually defending itself in lawsuits aimed at the NCAA and conferences. As mentioned, building a tournament outside of the NCAA structure would be a massive lift. And there is little indication that college presidents, who have the ultimate say, are dissatisfied enough to make such a dramatic move. However, acknowledging the fact that they could reflects some of the dissatisfaction. “I wouldn’t worry about the basketball tournament falling apart, yet,” said a source at the meeting. “I think there is widespread acceptance of the tournament as the place to be if you’re a college basketball team.”  Football remains key because its presence within the system was a significant reason the NCAA generated a record $1.16 billion in revenue last season. Division I is made up of 351 members, many of whom derive a large part of their budget from NCAA revenue distribution, a large portion of which comes from the tournament. But as part of the massive NCAA reorganization that’s in progress, Power Five schools hope to have more input into how the NCAA is run. That’s where the streamlining of governance comes in. Short of a breakaway, football and basketball could be parceled out into different pieces split between the NCAA and the schools. “If FBS football says, ‘We don’t want to have NCAA enforcement. We want to have our own enforcement and all we’re going to enforce recruiting,’ that could be a model,” said one person in the room. One source suggested getting rid of the NCAA Football Oversight Committee, which is responsible for kicking legislation upstairs to the NCAA Council. The composition of the committee is part of the problem for Power Five administrators. Only five of the 18 members are from Power Five schools. The new FBS governing board for the entire sport could be half that size. For example, NCAA eligibility and amateurism are largely dead discussion points. Name, image and likeness rules have wiped out whatever was left of the collegiate (amateurism) model. Initial eligibility is largely being left up to schools. There is a movement within Lead1 that would mimic what the Knight Commissioner has proposed: establish a board that would at least oversee the sport and answer to what was termed a commissioner or CEO of major-college football. CBS Sports took a deep dive into a potential football breakaway in June. The $65 million needed to make such a move is believed to be the first time a number has been attached to the FBS. That’s where the conflict emerges. Over the years, bowl games, the BCS and the College Football Playoff have been stewards of major-college football. The NCAA basically set play and practice rules and provided catastrophic insurance while overseeing the sport with its enforcement department. As the NCAA became less relevant and powerful in recent years, many questioned why the association should oversee the FBS at all. For any entity to take over the FBS, it would inherit the legal liability estimated by McNeely to be at least $10 million annually. That is not counting any massive legal settlement that might impact the NCAA’s legal exposure in any given year, she warned. The advantage of that arrangement is the NCAA remaining a “legal shield” against all incoming litigation. “They are the first line of defense,” McMillen said. “Whoever would take this over not only would have to pay the current legal bills of $10 million a year, but [McNeely said] you’d have to have a substantial reserve — $20-plus million per year in case you had settlements.” There is also health and welfare, insurance, officiating and rules oversight involved in that $65 million. All of it makes it unlikely a third party would take over the entirety of the FBS. The Knight Commission continues to argue that FBS schools receive NCAA revenue and have a weighted voting advantage in governance despite being a sport that, again, the association basically didn’t sponsor. The commission pointed out the NCAA “received $0 in revenue from FBS football,” but assumes legal liability a...

VICUNA Metaverse, Digital-Life Experience Like Never Before – GlobeNewswire https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/vicuna-metaverse-digital-life-experience-like-never-before-globenewswire/ The VICUNA multi-phase mega project launched in the first quarter of 2022 has used the state of the art AI intelligence to cater to prevalent Digital-Life an e-commerce issues faced by the majority. October 03, 2022 12:19 ET | Source: VICUNA Network Dubai, UAE, Oct. 03, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OSTD is a UAE-based licensed technology company that has launched a multidimensional project, VICUNA, which will bring real-life experiences in e-commerce. The project has been introduced with a vision to solve prevalent issues of e-commerce platforms to enable a better experience. Scheduled for release in the fourth quarter of 2022, the VICUNA ecosystem offers users VINA FitNet, which uses modern technology to allow online buyers to try a product on their virtual selves before buying it and earn by any action related to perfume/fashion industry. The VR with smell further enhances the shopping experience. The platform features buyers, sellers, and reviewers who will have the opportunity to earn through their participation in multiple activities happening on the VICUNA FitNet. The 21st-century technology of the pattern recognition method by VICUNA enables users to monetize any kind of activity in the metaverse allowing them novel and potential passive income opportunities. A unique Meta-ID will be created for customers to protect them against cyberspace concern and identity theft threats. The ID will allow users to enter the platform without using their real financial/bank information or credit/debit card details. VICUNA will use Meta-IDs to let customers stay anonymous, keeping their real identities hidden. The ID will be used to make sales and purchases and communicate with other ecosystem members. The Metaverse ID and Credit feature will allow buyers to store credit which will determine their credit power for sales and purchases, keeping the identity safe and secure. The engagement platform will allow public gatherings, yet private ones. The crypto ecosystem of the project is VINA Token, the private sale of which was conducted in June 2022. The Binance-Smart-Chain (BSC) technology and BEP20 generated 4.5 Billion VINA Tokens that were out for sale at the inaugural price of $0.02, which has seen exponential growth in the span of 3 months, a surge in the value of tokens. The public presale started in September, and the token is in the middle Pre-Public Sale phase, which will be followed by Public Presale in November 2022. VINA Tokens can be purchased at Vina Token Pre-Public Sale. The token will soon be listed on the major cryptocurrency exchanges across the globe. The mega-scale VICUNA project is divided into phases, launched in the first quarter of 2022; the last quarter of 2022 will be completed by the launch of Public Sale and VINA Verse, where people will enter a real-life enriched virtual world. Users will use the sense of touch and smell in the VINA Verse along with offerings like 4D restaurants. VINA MetaZoo and FitNet will be launched in the first and second phases of 2023, respectively. VINA MetaZoo is a step towards protecting the endangered animals on the planet. The MetaZoo will have animals that users can meet and pet. It is a charity-oriented initiative by the VICUNA project to support and raise awareness against animal cruelty and the consequences on the Earth’s ecosystem due to animal extinction. VICUNA will use the democratized advertisement model, which minimizes businesses’ digital marketing costs. Through this model, sellers will pay for advertisement based on Cost-Per-Sale and VICUNA provide guarantee users/ads participants to get their sell rewards by VICUNA algorithm. The project aims to expand the horizons of earnings through social media platforms. The project brings buyers, sellers, service providers and just simple users under one roof. The developers of the project shared. ‘VICUNA is a metaverse platform that can solve all of the problems that the e-commerce industry is currently facing. This cutting-edge platform employs Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms to deliver an unrivaled one-of-a-kind e-commerce experience.’ For more details and information, visit their website. Join their Telegram for the latest updates. Disclaimer : There is no offer to sell, no solicitation of an offer to buy, and no recommendation of any security or any other product or service in this article. This is not investment advice. Please do your own research. Contact Details Website URL: https://vicuna.network/ Contact Person: David Kalahan Email: support@vicuna.network Location: Dubai, UAE Company : VICUNA Newsroom: socials.submitmypressrelease.com

Homegrown Company Lava Is Set To Compete With 5G Phones In Market With Its Blaze 5G – The Tech Outlook https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/homegrown-company-lava-is-set-to-compete-with-5g-phones-in-market-with-its-blaze-5g-the-tech-outlook/ Lava India has a huge market, almost every brand strives to compete in the Indian market. But it’s not up to the mark until India is itself not producing phones that can compete in the international market. Though India does have a lot of brands that can compete but still they need to work harder than they are doing. Lava, a homegrown smartphone company, finally unveiled its new budget smartphone during India Mobile Congress 2022.  This phone was unveiled by Ashwini Vaishnav, Union Minister of Railways, Communications, and Electronics. This is one of the most affordable 5G phones on the market. Currently, this phone Lava Blaze is in the lineup of Lava. It would be introduced in the market with a price cap of just Rs 10,000. This would be available for users during Diwali. Let’s talk about its features. Lava Blaze 5G has a .5-inch HD+ LCD screen with a screen resolution of 1600 × 720 pixels. Its 2.5D curved display with a 90Hz screen refresh rate makes it work and look cool. Blaze 5G is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 700 processor with up to 2.2GHz clock speed and the chip is built on a 7nm fabrication process. the phone comes with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of UFS storage. Here are the complete specs of Lava Blaze 5G NETWORK Technology GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G LAUNCH Announced 2022, October 3 Status Coming soon. Exp. release 2022, October24 BODY Dimensions – Weight – SIM Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) DISPLAY Type IPS LCD, 90Hz Size 6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~81.6% screen-to-body ratio) Resolution 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) PLATFORM OS Android 12 Chipset MediaTek MT6833 Dimensity 700 (7 nm) CPU Octa-core (2×2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) GPU Mali-G57 MC2 MEMORY Card slot microSDXC (dedicated) Internal 128GB 4GB RAM eMMC 5.1 MAIN CAMERA Triple 50 MP, (wide), 0.64µm, AF 2 MP, (macro) VGA Features LED flash Video [email protected] SELFIE CAMERA Single 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) Video Yes SOUND Loudspeaker Yes 3.5mm jack Yes COMMS WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, hotspot Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, LE GPS Yes, with A-GPS NFC No Radio FM radio USB USB Type-C 2.0, USB On-The-Go FEATURES Sensors Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity BATTERY Type Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable MISC Colors Green, Blue Price Around Rs 10,000

XRP Price Prediction – Can XRP Reach $1 This Week As Lawsuit Deadline Nears – Cryptonews https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/xrp-price-prediction-can-xrp-reach-1-this-week-as-lawsuit-deadline-nears-cryptonews/ Disclaimer: The Industry Talk section features insights by crypto industry players and is not a part of the editorial content of Cryptonews.com.  The end of the SEC Ripple legal saga seems to be close. According to recent developments, presiding Judge Analisa Torres has mandated the top US regulator to accede to the demands of the embattled crypto company. Following the regulator’s 2020 subpoena, the price action of the XRP token has drastically underperformed. Could the push for a summary judgment aid or harm the Ripple blockchain? Is there a possibility of the XRP token retouching the $1 price peg this week? Turn Over the Documents Last Monday, Federal Judge Analisa Torres ordered the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to comply with Judge Sarah Netburn’s court orders to deliver the Hinman document requested by the defendant, Ripple.  According to the Ripple counsel, the document is critical evidence in establishing its argument, as it captures a speech by former SEC director William Hinman stating that Ethereum is not a ‘security.’ The Ripple team had previously requested access to the document to prove that, just like Ethereum, XRP is not a security as the government agency claims. However, the SEC objected, stating that the document was irrelevant to the case and asserted the attorney-client privilege that protects internal speech communications.  The new ruling by Judge Torres puts the SEC in a tight spot as it tries to enforce regulatory oversight in the burgeoning crypto industry. Ripple executives have continued to state that the SEC was overreaching in its efforts and was not putting things in their proper perspective. Popular crypto lawyer Jeremy Hogan believes this could further strengthen Ripple’s position.  Others have noted that Ripple’s stance could help other crypto projects in the future when the regulator comes knocking.  No Jury Needed There has been a drawn-out legal dispute between the SEC and Ripple, and both parties want to put it behind them. The SEC stated that the $1.3 billion investment Ripple raised during its initial coin offering (ICO) event was unregulated, leading to the dispute. In the last few weeks, Ripple and the SEC have applied for a summary judgment in a bid not to go to trial. Should the case be resolved soon and in favor of XRP, the digital asset could see a price surge as it would be relisted on several top US crypto exchanges. Also, the company can reignite its North American ties with remittance companies and further strengthen its hold on the cross-border industry. A potential win could see XRP hit the $1 price peg in the coming days.  Buy XRP Now on eToro Ripple Winning Elsewhere The Ripple blockchain has continued to show its dynamism despite its problems. According to a recent tweet, French fashion house Balmain recently launched its first non-fungible token (NFT) membership on MintNFT – an NFT platform operating on the XRP Ledger (XRPL).  This is a huge win for the carbon-free protocol, which has recently started paying close attention to the digital collectible ecosystem.  TAMA Upending the Crypto Status Quo A crypto asset that has gained the attention of several investors in the last couple of weeks is TAMA – the native token of the Tamadoge ecosystem.  According to its website, Tamadoge is a meme coin and utility NFT project that allows players to raise digital pets in the form of dogs and battle one another for experience points. The project also features a virtual reality experience through its Tamaverse offering. The TAMA token recently debuted on the popular centralized exchange OKX and has already broken records. It recorded a 600% increase after surging from its listing price of $0.018 to $0.08 in the first week of full trading. At press time, TAMA has surpassed $77 million in trading volumes in one week of trading. Buy TAMA on OKX CEX  Buy TAMA on OKX DEX

Iranian Supreme Leader: US And Jews Behind Mass Protests – Washington Free Beacon https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/iranian-supreme-leader-us-and-jews-behind-mass-protests-washington-free-beacon/ National Security Ali Khamenei / Getty Images Adam Kredo • October 3, 2022 1:05 pm The United States and the “fake Zionist regime” are orchestrating nationwide anti-regime protests in Iran, the country’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, claimed in a Twitter screed Monday. “I openly state that the recent riots & unrest in Iran were schemes designed by the U.S.; the usurping, fake Zionist regime; their mercenaries;  & some treasonous Iranians abroad who helped them,” Khamanei wrote on his official Twitter account, which routinely disseminates anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. Protests have swept across Iran since the regime’s morality police murdered a 22-year-old woman for not properly wearing her head covering, which is required by law under the theocratic regime. Since her death, Iranians across the country have been protesting Khamenei’s government and threatening to topple it. “The young girl’s death was a tragic incident that saddened us too,” the supreme leader wrote. “But the right reaction to it wasn’t for some to create insecurity for [people], burn the Quran, Mosques, banks, and [people’s] cars, & to pull off women’s scarves. These weren’t normal acts. They were planned.” U.S. and Israeli intelligence services planned and directed the protests, according to Khamenei. “Some individuals are against stating that certain events were designed & carried out by the enemy. They stand up to defend U.S. & Zionist intelligence services, & they use fallacious analysis & rhetoric to deny it was the word of the enemy,” he wrote. The protests are not even about head coverings, Khamanei wrote, claiming that his country does not actually persecute women who do not wear a hijab. All factual evidence, however, contradicts this claim. “This is not about Hijab in Iran,” he wrote. “Many Iranian women who don’t observe the Hijab perfectly are among the steadfast supporters of the Islamic Republic. It is about Islamic Iran’s independence & resistance. The U.S. cannot tolerate a strong, independent Iran.” Khamenei also used his platform to criticize the U.S. government for not supporting protest movements that erupt in Europe. “Many riots take place around the world. Especially in France, massive riots occur every now and then, but has the U.S. president ever supported European rioters, issued a declaration or said we stand with you? Is there any record of U.S. media supporting them?” he asked. Khamenei’s government has met the country’s protesters with violence and arrests.

Sunway City Kuala Lumpur Hotels Deploys Shiji’s Infrasys Cloud POS Across Its Sunway Resort, Sunway Hotel Pyramid And Sunway Hotel Clio F&B Outlets | – Hotel Technology News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/sunway-city-kuala-lumpur-hotels-deploys-shijis-infrasys-cloud-pos-across-its-sunway-resort-sunway-hotel-pyramid-and-sunway-hotel-clio-fb-outlets-hotel-technology-news/ Shiji Group and Sunway City Kuala Lumpur Hotels have successfully grown their partnership as the hospitality technology company has completed the implementation of its product Infrasys Cloud POS in all the F&B outlets within Sunway Resort, Sunway Hotel Pyramid and Sunway Hotel Clio, which includes Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill. The cluster of hotels located within Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, managed by Sunway Hotels & Resorts, the hospitality division of Malaysian conglomerate Sunway Group, was seeking new technology solutions, a committee was created by its directors to evaluate what would be the best option to upgrade their point-of-sale system. After analyzing different solutions, the group decided to implement Shiji’s Infrasys Cloud POS because of the experience the hospitality technology company has in the region and because of its wide variety of solutions to hotel companies. Established in 1974, Sunway Group is one of Southeast Asia’s leading conglomerates with 13 business divisions across more than 50 locations primarily in Asia. Our 16,000-strongteam is committed to sustainable development and socio-economic progress through our diverse businesses including core interests in real estate, construction, education, healthcare, retail and hospitality. Sunway Hotels & Resorts operates 11 hotels and resorts in Malaysia, Cambodia and Vietnam, representing a collection of close to 4,000 guestrooms, suites and villas. Founded in 1998 as a network solutions provider for hotels, Shiji Group today comprises over 5,000 employees in 80+ subsidiaries and brands in over 23 countries, serving more than 91,000 hotels internationally, 200,000 restaurants and 600,000 retail outlets. “Working with Sunway Hotels has been an excellent experience, they understand how technology will be the driver for better guest experiences and have been selecting their technology partners accordingly. We share similar visions on how technology needs to help both staff and guests make experiences smoother.” said Nikkie Singh, SVP Shiji Asia Pacific. Does your company have news it would like to share with our readers? If so, we invite you to review our editorial guidelines and submit your press release for publishing consideration.

Iowa High School Football Rankings: The Gazette’s Post-Week 6 Poll – The Gazette https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/iowa-high-school-football-rankings-the-gazettes-post-week-6-poll-the-gazette/ Cedar Rapids Prairie linebacker Nic Powell (42) holds the American flag and prepares to run out to the field before Friday’s win over Waterloo West. The Hawks are tied for No. 5 in Class 5A in this week’s Gazette football poll. (Jerod Ringwald/The Daily Iowan) After some volatility — particularly in Class 1A — in recent weeks, the top of each class stayed firm after Week 6 in The Gazette’s football poll. The top three teams in each class remained virtually the same. And the only No. 4 team to fall was Newell-Fonda in 8-Player, and that was to No. 1 Remsen St. Mary’s. So the top end of each class is basically rinse-and-repeat from last week. Ankeny maintains a slim margin over No. 2 West Des Moines Dowling and Pleasant Valley in Class 5A. All three teams retained their two first-place votes. The Hawks accumulated 54 poll points, Dowling 53, Pleasant Valley 50. Southeast Polk is No. 4 and hosts co-No. 5 Cedar Rapids Prairie this week at Pleasant Hill. The Hawks share the fifth spot with Ankeny Centennial. Lewis Central, Waverly-Shell Rock and Cedar Rapids Xavier remain the top three in Class 4A, with the defending-champion Titans earning all of the first-place votes for the seventh straight poll. Carlisle and Indianola are tied for fourth, and the Warren County rivals square off Friday at Indianola. The state’s game of the week for Friday is in Class 3A, where No. 1 Harlan welcomes No. 3 Adel ADM. Humboldt is second, with Mount Vernon and Nevada completing the top five. In Class 2A, the top four teams — Central Lyon/George-Little Rock, Williamsburg, Spirit Lake and West Marshall — holding fast from a week ago. Ida Grove OABCIG returns to the top five. As has been the case all season, 1A remains the toughest class to pinpoint. Van Meter is at No. 1 for the second straight week, earning 52 poll points and a pair of first-place votes. Then, it’s West Sioux (50 and two), West Branch (49 and two) and Underwood (46 and one). Dike-New Hartford is fifth after edging Aplington-Parkersburg last week. The top five teams in Class A are unbeaten, led by defending champion West Hancock. Grundy Center and Woodbury Central are tied for second, with Lynnville-Sully and Avoca AHSTW rounding out the top five. Remsen St. Mary’s has been a unanimous 8-Player No. 1 all season, and the Hawks solidified their standing with a surprisingly easy 61-13 win over Newell-Fonda. No. 2 Don Bosco faces a home challenge this week against No. 6 Gladbrook-Reinbeck. WACO is No. 3; Easton Valley and Lenox are tied for fourth. The Gazette high school football poll, post-Week 6 (First-place votes in parentheses) CLASS 5A W-L Pts. Pvs 1. Ankeny (2) 5-1 54 1 2. West Des Moines Dowling (2) 5-1 53 2 3. Pleasant Valley (2) 6-0 50 3 4. Southeast Polk 5-1 47 4 5. Ankeny Centennial 4-2 30 9 (tie) Cedar Rapids Prairie 5-1 30 7 7. Iowa City High 4-2 19 10 8. Cedar Falls 4-2 15 — 9. Cedar Rapids Kennedy 5-1 11 5 10. Urbandale 4-2 8 6 Dropped out: West Des Moines Valley (8). Others receiving votes: West Des Moines Valley 5, Iowa City West 4, Davenport West 2, Waukee Northwest 2. CLASS 4A W-L Pts. Pvs 1. Lewis Central (6) 6-0 60 1 2. Waverly-Shell Rock 6-0 52 2 3. Cedar Rapids Xavier 6-0 50 3 4. Carlisle 5-1 37 4 (tie) Indianola 5-1 37 5 6. Iowa City Liberty 5-1 27 7 7. Bondurant-Farrar 5-1 23 7 8. Newton 6-0 17 9 9. Norwalk 4-2 13 6 10. North Scott 4-2 8 — Dropped out: Cedar Rapids Washington (10). Others receiving votes: Spencer 4, Cedar Rapids Washington 2. CLASS 3A W-L Pts. Pvs 1. Harlan (5) 5-1 59 1 2. Humboldt (1) 6-0 53 2 3. Adel ADM 6-0 50 3 4. Mount Vernon 6-0 41 4 5. Nevada 5-1 29 7 6. Solon 4-2 27 9 7. Independence 6-1 26 8 8. North Polk 4-2 25 5 9. Creston 5-1 10 6 10. Hampton-Dumont/CAL 4-2 3 10 (tie) MOC-Floyd Valley 4-2 3 — Dropped out: None. Others receiving votes: Algona 2, Benton Community 1, West Delaware 1. CLASS 2A W-L Pts. Pvs 1. Central Lyon-GLR (5) 6-0 59 1 2. Williamsburg (1) 6-0 53 2 3. Spirit Lake 6-0 49 3 4. West Marshall 6-0 40 4 5. Ida Grove OABCIG 5-1 38 6 6. West Lyon 4-2 23 8 7. Greene County 5-1 21 9 8. Osage 4-2 13 — 9. Clarion CGD 4-2 10 — (tie) New Hampton 5-1 10 5 Dropped out: Dubuque Wahlert (7), Estherville ELC (10). Others receiving votes: Monticello 8, Crestwood 3, Waukon 3. CLASS 1A W-L Pts. Pvs 1. Van Meter (2) 5-1 52 1 2. West Sioux (1) 5-1 50 2 3. West Branch (2) 6-0 49 3 4. Underwood (1) 6-0 46 4 5. Dike-New Hartford 5-1 36 6 6. Carroll Kuemper 6-0 31 8 7. Aplington-Parkersburg 5-1 25 5 8. Pella Christian 5-1 15 10 9. MFL MarMac 5-1 7 — 10. Guthrie Center ACGC 5-1 4 — (tie) Mediapolis 5-1 4 — Dropped out: Durant (7), Dyersville Beckman (9). Others receiving votes: Durant 3, Sigourney-Keota 3, Western Christian 3, South Hamilton 2. CLASS A W-L Pts. Pvs 1. West Hancock (4) 6-0 57 1 2. Grundy Center 6-0 49 2 (tie) Woodbury Central (1) 6-0 49 2 4. Lynnville-Sully (1) 6-0 46 4 5. Avoca AHSTW 6-0 38 6 6. North Linn 5-1 24 7 7. Hartley HMS 4-2 17 5 8. East Buchanan 5-1 16 8 9. Le Mars Gehlen 5-1 13 9 10. Alburnett 5-1 9 10 Dropped out: Wapsie Valley (10). Others receiving votes: Wapsie Valley 6, Columbus Community 5, Mount Ayr 1. 8-PLAYER W-L Pts. Pvs 1. Remsen St. Mary’s (6) 6-0 60 1 2. Don Bosco 6-0 49 3 3. WACO 7-0 47 2 4. Easton Valley 4-1 37 6 (tie) Lenox 6-0 37 5 6. Gladbrook-Reinbeck 6-0 31 7 7. West Harrison 6-0 22 9 8. Newell-Fonda 5-1 14 4 9. Baxter 6-0 10 10 10. Harris-Lake Park 5-1 9 — Dropped out: Ruthven GTRA (8). Others receiving votes: Fremont-Mills 6, Ruthven GTRA 4, Southeast Warren 3, Tripoli 1. Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com

5 Activities For Every Type Of Traveller When You Visit The Hill Station Of Naukuchiatal – NDTV Swirlster https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/5-activities-for-every-type-of-traveller-when-you-visit-the-hill-station-of-naukuchiatal-ndtv-swirlster/ Naukuchiatal is a hill station located near Nainital in the state of Uttarakhand. If you want to try something unique then skip the common places like Nainital as Naukuchiatal is a perfect underdog of a vacation spot for you. The word Naukuchiatal means ‘The land of nine lake corners’ thus talking about the neighboring Nainital which means ‘the land of nine lakes’. There are plenty of sights to be seen in this underexplored location. Being a part of the state of Uttarakhand has guaranteed this destination with immense natural beauty and resources. Serene lakes, sunset points, significant temples, breathtaking views, and much more. Here is a list of different sights you can visit and the activities that can be done when you travel there. Also Read: Top 5 Places To Shop In Bali For Every Kind Of Shopper 5 Things To Do In Naukuchiatal The Next Time You Visit The Place 1. Visit the Lakes Check out the most striking lakes in the Naukuchiatal area which are Bhimtal, Sattal lake, and Naukuchiatal Lake. Bhimtal or Bhim lake is the second largest lake in all of Uttarakhand. You have to bear the long journey from the ghats to reach this lake but the sight is worth it! Sattal is an accumulation of many lakes and is located near Bhimtal. Sattal has a super interesting butterfly museum that welcomes many species of butterflies and moths for you to witness. The Naukuchiatal lake is the prime spot in the hill station that is beloved by a lot of tourists. This place has water activities for the visitors including fishing, boating, parasailing and more making this lake an absolute must-visit. 2. Pay A Visit To Mukteshwar Apart from being a place that has immense natural beauty, Naukuchiatal has great historical significance. Built by a Pandyan King from Tamil Nadu, the Shiva Temple here is around 350 years old and is worth visiting. The place is renowned among tourists and also has been mentioned in Jim Corbett’s book ‘The Temple Tiger. 3. Explore Jungligaon You can judge a place is worth visiting when it is known for attracting many wildlife photographers. Jungliaon is a hotspot for tourists and locals alike owing to the great natural diversity it has to offer. Everything here right from the scenic mountain range to the different species of birds is something to marvel at. There are a variety of adventurous activities that can be done in Jungligaon. 4. Sightseeing and Trekking The place is a hotspot for all kinds of trekking activities. Find yourself getting the much-needed adrenaline boost while scaling the mountains of Naukuchiatal. If you are new to trekking, make sure your first proper trekking experience is with a professional trekking group with guides and sherpas. Many of the treks in Naukuchiatal have the most mesmerizing views to offer. 5. Adventure Sports There is a plethora of adventure sports that Naukuchiatal offers its visitors. Mountain Biking, Horse Riding, Boating, Paragliding, etc. are just some of the many things that can be done here. You can also get to witness the extremely rich wildlife in Naukuchiatal. Animals like leopards and deer are seen very frequently in the denser part of the jungles. There are also diverse bird species that can be explored here. In addition to this, café hopping, shopping, trying out the street food, etc. is always an adventure that every new place you visit demands! We hope you visit these places the next time you visit Naukuchiatal for a mermerising experience. Also Read: World Tourism Day 2022: 6 Must-Try Experiences From Different Countries To Add To Your Bucket List RN! %

Live News: Russia Confirms Ukraine’s Breakthrough In Kherson Region – Financial Times https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/live-news-russia-confirms-ukraines-breakthrough-in-kherson-region-financial-times/ Choose your subscription Trial Try full digital access and see why over 1 million readers subscribe to the FT For 4 weeks receive unlimited Premium digital access to the FT’s trusted, award-winning business news Digital Be informed with the essential news and opinion MyFT – track the topics most important to you FT Weekend – full access to the weekend content Mobile & Tablet Apps – download to read on the go Gift Article – share up to 10 articles a month with family, friends and colleagues Print FT print edition delivered Monday – Saturday along with ePaper access Delivery to your home or office Monday to Saturday FT Weekend paper – a stimulating blend of news and lifestyle features ePaper access – the digital replica of the printed newspaper Team or Enterprise Premium FT.com access for multiple users, with integrations & admin tools Group Subscription Premium Digital access, plus: Convenient access for groups of users Integration with third party platforms and CRM systems Usage based pricing and volume discounts for multiple users Subscription management tools and usage reporting SAML-based single sign-on (SSO) Dedicated account and customer success teams Or, if you are already a subscriber Sign in Are you a student or a professor? Check if your university has an FT membership to read for free. Check my access

PA Council On The Arts Unveils Free, Innovative Digital Platform For Teaching Artists And Older Adults – Pennsylvania Pressroom https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/pa-council-on-the-arts-unveils-free-innovative-digital-platform-for-teaching-artists-and-older-adults-pennsylvania-pressroom/ Harrisburg, PA – Today, Karl Blischke, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA), announced the launch of the Academy for Creative Aging, a free, digital platform that offers a certificate of completion for teaching artists and on-demand video lessons for older adults. Research indicates that working with artists and engaging in creative activities can decrease feelings of loneliness and isolation in older adults. The Academy for Creative Aging, which was developed by a team of industry experts, prepares teaching artists to better understand and support the unique needs of the aging brain. Custom curriculum outlines research in the field and evidenced-based strategies through interactive modules. “Supporting opportunities for lifelong learning for residents across Pennsylvania is a strategic priority of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts,” said Blischke. “We are excited to launch this innovative platform so that PA teaching artists and older adults have a flexible resource that supports their goals around professional development and quality of life.” Two tracks are available on the site. The Academy’s Professional Development track provides a module-based, certificate pathway to bolster credentials and deepen expertise and understanding for teaching artists and professionals working with older adults in creative environments. To attain a certificate, users must complete a series of online modules containing interactive videos, reading assignments, and resources. Each module ends with a formative assessment that uses prompts to stimulate critical thinking and reinforce the content. The platform’s Lessons on Demand track provides individuals and groups with the opportunity to explore and enjoy the Academy’s complete video catalog. Lessons on Demand is an alternative to the Academy’s certificate track and aims to provide users with an entertaining and stimulating creative resource, including videos on Indian classical dance, how to create a still-life self-portrait, storytelling through theatre, and jazz singing fundamentals. “We commend and support the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts on the development of the Academy for Creative Aging. This online platform will extend the reach and opportunities for more individuals and communities to participate in activities that benefit and enrich the lives of older adults,” said Secretary of Aging Robert Torres. “The Department of Aging applauds the Council’s efforts to promote education of different art forms and to foster creative engagement in a social environment that can yield positive physical and emotional health benefits for older adults.” “For years, we have used the arts as a way to engage older adults socially and recreationally, knowing we were combating social isolation, teaching lifelong learners new mediums of self-expression, and expanding our evidence practices intentionally to improve the health outcomes of those we are serving,” said Jason Kavulich, director of the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging. “This platform not only provides all of us with a consistent catalog of diverse and exciting online programing, but it also gives us the tools necessary to train and support our local professional artists working with Area Agencies on Aging to design evidence-informed programs to offer to the communities we are serving.” Inspiration for development of the Academy for Creative Aging stemmed from the PCA’s awareness of a critical need for consistent, professionally designed teaching artist training tools. Combining development of evidence-based creative aging training modules for teaching artists with accessible, video-based art lessons to reach PA’s senior population supports strategic goals of both the PCA and PA Department of Aging (PDA). Since 2015, the PCA and PDA have worked together to develop the PA Creative Aging Initiative, which was founded on the principle that creative aging programs support healthy living for older Pennsylvanians by providing authentic skill development in the arts, while cultivating opportunities for social engagement at PA senior centers. Pennsylvania has the fifth “oldest” population in the nation with more than 3.3 million individuals aged 60 years and older and more than 2.4 million citizens aged 65 and older. PDA data estimates that by 2030, there will be more than 3.9 million Pennsylvanians ages 60 and older. ABOUT PCA: The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) is a state agency under the Office of the Governor. PCA’s mission is to strengthen the cultural, educational, and economic vitality of Pennsylvania’s communities through the arts. By leveraging the immense potential of Pennsylvania’s arts and cultural sector, the PCA supports jobs, builds community, inspires lifelong learning, promotes the commonwealth nationally and internationally, and sparks innovation. For more information about the PCA, visit arts.pa.gov or call 717-787-6883. To explore the Academy for Creative Aging, visit academyforcreativeaging.org/.   MEDIA CONTACT:   Norah Johnson, norajohnso@pa.gov                                   Jack Eilber, agingcomms@pa.gov

City, School Meetings Set | News, Sports, Jobs – The Daily News – Iron Mountain Daily News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/city-school-meetings-set-news-sports-jobs-the-daily-news-iron-mountain-daily-news/ By Daily News staff Florence County Board of Education will hold a curriculum meeting at 4:30 p.m. today, followed by a budget committee meeting at 5 p.m. in Room 259 of Florence High School in Florence, Wis. Breitung Township School District Board will have a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. today in the media center at Kingsford High School. Iron Mountain City Council will meet at 6 p.m. today at Iron Mountain City Hall. The agenda includes a developer’s agreement for a planned Kwik Trip at 1010 N. Stephenson Ave. and withdrawal of a Nov. 8 ballot proposal on council member compensation. For more, go to https://www.cityofironmountain.com/. Kingsford City Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. today at Kingsford City Hall. Agenda items include the public works report and a public safety director wage resolution. For more, go to https://www.kingsfordmi.gov/. Norway City Council will meet at 7 p.m. today at Norway City Hall. For more, go to https://www.norwaymi.gov/. Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox

How Brands And Advertisers Can Build Kid-Friendly Experiences For The Metaverse – The Drum https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/how-brands-and-advertisers-can-build-kid-friendly-experiences-for-the-metaverse-the-drum/ Investing in experiences that are designed with all audiences in mind will help ensure we are collectively creating a welcoming metaverse for all, writes SuperAwesome CEO Dylan Collins. The metaverse will be a place where people of all ages meet, compete, create, and take part in events just like they do in the physical world. As the metaverse is built, it won’t just be the work of a single company – but the collective work of many. And, as we build out the metaverse collectively, it’s on all brands, advertisers and companies to work to ensure it is a safe experience for everyone it brings together. There are many existing and evolving laws and regulations that provide guidance for brands who are hoping to engage young audiences in the metaverse, from COPPA in the United States, to GDPR-K in the EU and the Age Appropriate Design Code in the UK. Brands that focus on compliance with these laws coupled with a curated strategy built on principles of data-minimization and age-appropriate design will be well positioned to create metaverse experiences that are kid, teen and brand-safe. Kids are becoming increasingly social when going online, with many turning to gaming as a way to hang out and chat with their friends. According to a recent study from SuperAwesome, 90% of children aged 6-16 identify as gamers. And when young audiences go online to game, they are complementing this with other social experiences: according to that same study, 65% of tweens (ages 10-12) are messaging friends and playing games at the same time, and that percentage only grows with the young teen (ages 13-16) audience. Many brands have already taken notice of this trend, adapting their strategy to include social gaming activations for young audiences across platforms like Roblox and Minecraft. When building for these platforms – especially when focusing on younger audiences – it’s important to implement safeguards from the start that make it possible for kids to play and socialize safely, while designing environments and experiences that take their preferences into account. Considerations for building kid-safe online experiences Kids and young teens seek different ways to interact with content, both actively and passively. Beyond the gameplay itself, games can serve as an engine for community building and foster positivity. Technology that minimizes toxicity in environments built for young audiences is also essential. Our research tells us that while kids seek the recognition, excitement, and social experience that gaming can bring them, they want to enjoy these experiences in a safe and respectful environment. Children also prefer platforms that are designed for them and for their peers. In a 2020 study, 88% of participating kids in the US reported that they preferred social platforms meant only for young audiences. It’s with this in mind that we at SuperAwesome offer PopJam, a social sharing space specifically designed for young audiences. To meet this audience where they are, we’ve created a moderated and welcoming environment that kids are able to enjoy without many of the downsides they encounter on adult-oriented social platforms. PopJam members are not able to share photos of themselves or post personal information, and the platform filters out negative language in order to create safe, non-toxic social spaces. With PopJam, brands are able to build kid-oriented content, including filters and stickers, quizzes and polls, and fun mini-games – all in a kid-friendly and moderated environment. Brands are already using PopJam to deliver interactive and kid-appropriate content, housed on their own branded channels while building their audience, like Penguin Random House, who was able to grow more followers than any other US publishing channel on PopJam. And while PopJam is one way for brands to deliver kid-safe social experiences, many of these best practices can be applied to any brand activation for young audiences. Responsible video content and engaging creators In addition to connecting in games and digital social spaces, children and teens are spending more and more time consuming video and streaming content. While video content is a great way to meet kids where they’re at, it is important for brands and advertisers creating video content to be mindful of what kind of video content they create and promote. Creating age-appropriate content protects both advertisers and their viewers – and it doesn’t require as much effort as you might think. Brands and advertisers can create content that appeals to all ages by avoiding the use of swearing or inappropriate slang, not promoting unhealthy habits (such as cigarettes, drugs or alcohol) and refraining from using visuals that portray realistic violence and gore. There are also tech services advertisers and brands can use to ensure your promotional video content is only being shown on brand-safe and audience-appropriate channels. For example, SuperAwesome’s Kid Social Video (KSV) helps brands ensure that when they advertise on YouTube their content is only showing up in videos that are a safe, relevant match for that brand, as well as the kids and families they’d most like to reach. Our human and AI moderation has reviewed over 182 million pieces of youth-oriented media and we apply approximately 65 criteria for vetting content in addition to YouTube’s filters to help ensure age-appropriate digital experiences for your brand. Brands looking to create kid-safe video content can also follow advertising standards based on the best practices set by self-regulatory and standards bodies like the Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU), which was created in the US to help companies comply with laws and guidelines that protect children under age 13 from deceptive or inappropriate advertising, or the relevant sections of the CAP and BCAP codes published by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in the UK. There’s no one-size-fits all approach when it comes to young audiences, but keeping these principles and best practices in mind is a good place to start. So whether you’re building a gaming activation to inspire young builders, launching a new way for teens to connect with your brand or creating an influencer campaign for your newest product, investing in experiences that are designed with all audiences in mind will help ensure we are collectively creating a welcoming metaverse for all.

The Best Tech Travel Gadgets Of 2022 – How-To Geek https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/the-best-tech-travel-gadgets-of-2022-how-to-geek/ l i g h t p o e t/shutterstock.com What to Look For in Tech Travel Gadgets When shopping around for necessary gadgets to take on your next trip, there are a few things you’ll want to consider. First, it’s important to think about what’s necessary for your vacation or business trip—whether for work or play, you’ll likely have limited space in your luggage for clunky or heavy tech. Before making any purchases, you’ll want to ensure that it’s something you’ll need while you’re away from home. Our list contains things that may be considered necessary for some, but the ultimate decision will be up to you. Likewise, size and weight are equally important factors. If you’re planning on packing your tech in a carry-on bag, for instance, you’ll want to stick to pretty compact gadgets such as a portable charger or a tablet. If you play on checking a bag, you may be able to pack larger items such as an instant film camera. Lastly, you’ll want to consider your budget. If you’re specifically buying a gadget for an upcoming trip, you may not want to drop a ton of cash. However, if you’re a frequent flier or road tripper, perhaps it’s a good idea to invest in something that’s on the pricier side. Best eReader: Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition Amazon Pros ✓ 32 gigabytes of storage ✓ One charge can last up to 10 weeks ✓ Glare-free display Cons ✗ Have to pay for a monthly Kindle Unlimited subscription ✗ Wireless charger is sold separately If you’re a frequent reader, carrying chunky books can take up precious space in your carry-on or checked luggage. However, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, our top pick for eReaders, eliminates this issue through its 32 gigabytes (GB) of storage and the ability to rent up to 20 titles at a time with Kindle Unlimited. The Kindle Paperwhite Signature is hard to bargain with—you can charge it via USB-C, with one full battery lasting up to 10 weeks. Additionally, its display is something to write home about. The 300 ppi screen is glare-free, while its warm lighting is adjustable. The front light also automatically adapts to the brightness of your surroundings, making it an excellent option for red-eye flights. Although you can use your Kindle without a Kindle Unlimited subscription (which costs an additional $9.99 a month), the accompanying plan provides a free trial and access to thousands of content with no due dates. The bottom line? If you’ve been tossing around the idea of buying an eReader, the $200 Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is your best bet. Best eReader Best International Plug Adapter: EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter Pros ✓ Compact size ✓ 4 USB ports, 1 USB-C port, 1 AC socket ✓ Compatible with most devices Cons ✗ A bit pricey for an adapter ✗ Doesn’t convert voltage Planning on diving into international waters? The EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter is essential. Universal travel adapters allow electronics to power up in different countries. For example, the United States has plugs with two flat vertical prongs, while the United Kingdom has plugs with a top vertical prong and two bottom horizontal ones. A travel adapter ensures you can charge your devices regardless of where you go. This option from EPICKA functions explicitly as a multifunctional travel plug. However, it doesn’t convert voltage, so you’ll want to make sure your devices support 100 to 240 voltage—especially hair dryers and electric razors, which often don’t. It boasts four USB ports and one USB-C, all of which can be plugged in simultaneously. It covers more than 150 countries, including the U.S., the UK, Australia, and Japan. Best of all, this adapter is super compact. You can easily pop it into your carry-on bag for quick access, perfect for unexpected layovers or delays. Best International Plug Adapter EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter A great gadget to pack in your international luggage, this travel adapter is small, compatible with USB-C and USB, and can be used in more than 150 countries. Best Noise-Canceling Headphones: Sony WH-1000XM4 Pros ✓ Great ratings ✓ Up to 30 hours of battery life ✓ Can fold up ✓ Touch sensor controls Cons ✗ Some users report the touch sensor controls being too sensitive Whether you’re traveling via plane, train, or car, noise-canceling headphones are something you won’t want to go without. Our pick? The Sony WH-1000XM4, a powerful set of overhead headphones that feature a ton of awesome traits. These Bluetooth headphones have a near-perfect rating from more than 38,000 Amazon customers. Aside from that, a single charge can keep them alive for up to 30 hours, and they even fold up, making them all the easier to pack. Other highlights? There’s speak-to-chat technology, which automatically pauses your music when you talk. There’s also built-in Alexa, touch sensor control that allows you to skip, pause, and play tracks, multiple device pairing, and a durable case with a cable for wired listening. All of those incredible features come with a hefty price tag, though—at nearly $400, these Sony headphones are a significant investment. If you have the cash to spend, however, and you want a pair of noise-canceling Bluetooth headphones that will last, these are your best bet. Best Noise-Canceling Headphones Sony WH-1000XM4 The Sony WH-1000XM4’s feature ANC technology, top-notch sound quality, and incredible comfort. Best Portable Charger: Anker PowerCore Slim 1000 Pros ✓ Affordable ✓ Compact size ✓ Compatible with most Apple and Samsung devices ✓ Lifetime warranty Cons ✗ USB-C and lightning cables aren’t included ✗ Takes almost 6 hours to fully recharge the device A portable charger is a necessity for traveling. If you’ve somehow managed to live without one (or you’re looking to upgrade your current model), we recommend the Anker PowerCore Slim 1000. Priced at less than $30, its impressively slim design can provide multiple charges for iPhones, Android devices, and smaller tablets. Perfect for tucking into your carry-on, this Anker charger features PowerIQ and VoltageBoost technologies, which ensure that your device is receiving the fastest charge possible. It’s also airline friendly and designed to provide optimal charging to low-power devices, such as headphones and Bluetooth speakers. The Best USB-C Cables of 2022 Anker New Nylon USB-C to USB-C Cable Amazon Basics USB-C to USB-A Cable Grtoeud USB-C to USB-C Cable Anker Powerline III USB-C to USB-C Cable Best Lightning to USB-C Cable Anker New Nylon USB-C to Lightning Cable Uni USB-C to HDMI Cable Cable Matters Premium Braided Aluminum USB-C to 3.5mm Aux Cable Spigen DuraSync 3 in 1 Universal Charger Cable That being said, it does take nearly six hours to charge this gadget to its full capacity, so you’ll want to gear this guy up a day or two in advance. Additionally, while there are both USB-A and USB-C ports, cords are not included, so make sure you have those ahead of time. Best Portable Charger Best Bluetooth Tracker: Tile Mate Pros ✓ Compatible with Android and Apple/iOS devices ✓ Waterproof ✓ Bluetooth range of up to 250 feet Cons ✗ Have to upgrade to the premium plan for added features ✗ Battery powered A Bluetooth tracker is a great gadget, especially when you’re away from home. These handy devices can be latched onto essentials such as your bag or wallet. And if you accidentally lose them, your tracker will help you find or keep an eye on them. Our favorite? The Tile Mate, a compact little gizmo that can be easily snapped onto travel necessities and features a Bluetooth range of up to 250 feet. At less than $50 for a pack of two, these trackers are super easy to use and affordable. You download the accompanying Tile app, which will ring your Tile when it’s in Bluetooth range (you can also ask a smart home device, like Amazon Alexa or Google Home, to find it for you). There’s also a custom QR code on each Tile, so you can be reached if someone finds it and scans the code. We also like that the Tile Mate can be used to find your phone. You can double press the button on your Tile to make your phone ring, even when it’s on silent. And, in cases when your Tile is out of Bluetooth range, you can use the app to see its most recent location on a map. You’ll have to upgrade to Tile’s premium plan for added features like Smart Alert and item reimbursement. Additionally, the Tile is battery-powered, so you’ll want to ensure it has a fresh battery before jet setting. Best Bluetooth Tracker Tile Mate A handy Bluetooth tracker with an easy-to-use accompanying app that will help you keep track of your absolute necessities. Best Instant Film Camera: Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic Pros ✓ Automatic brightness detection ✓ Rechargeable battery ✓ Double exposure mode Cons ✗ Expensive ✗ Film can be pricey, and you have to repurchase it Film cameras are all the rage right now, and this option from Fujifilm, the Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic, is no exception. This easy-to-use film camera instantly develops 2.1 by 3.4-inch (53.34mm x 86.36mm) photos. In terms of its specs, the Instax Mini 90 is pretty cool. It can automatically detect the brightness of your background or surroundings and will adjust the flash and shutter speed, so you get a great photo every time. Additionally, there’s a double exposure mode you can access by pressing the shutter twice. While it has great ratings and reviews from buyers, we would only recommend this purchase if it’s something that you’ve had your eye on for a while. The camera itself is pretty expensive, and the price can quickly continue to rack up with the added cost of repurchasing film. If you’re simply looking for something to take photos with, chances are, your smartphone may do the job just fine. Best Instant Film Camera Best Handheld Gaming Machine: Nintendo Switch ...

Matt Homer, Cryptocurrency Investment Leader And Former Executive Deputy Superintendent Of The Research And Innovation Division At The New York Department Of Financial Services, Becomes Senior Advisor To Tusk Strategies’ Crypto + FinTech Pract – Business Wire https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/matt-homer-cryptocurrency-investment-leader-and-former-executive-deputy-superintendent-of-the-research-and-innovation-division-at-the-new-york-department-of-financial-services-becomes-senior-advisor/ NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Building off a decade of guiding the world’s fastest-growing start-ups through major regulatory, communications and public affairs challenges, Tusk Strategies today welcomed Matt Homer as Senior Advisor to its expanding Cryptocurrency + FinTech Practice. Matt will advise on the rapidly developing state and federal political landscape impacting the crypto, blockchain, and the financial services ecosystem. Matt becomes Senior Advisor to Tusk with unparalleled public and private sector experience. Prior to entering the venture capital space full-time, Matt founded and ran the Research and Innovation Division at the New York Department of Financial Services (DFS), where he led efforts involving fintech, crypto, insurtech, and regtech. He also chaired the Conference of State Bank Supervisor’s FinTech Steering Group. Before that, Matt was Head of Policy and Research at Quovo, which was acquired by Plaid during his tenure. Earlier, Matt was with the FDIC and launched two innovation programs with USAID, promoting cashless payments and regtech knowledge-sharing among regulators. He has also been an advisor to the U.N., World Bank, Aspen Institute and Cambridge Center for Alternative Finance. Tusk Strategies also announced that Eric Soufer, the Head of the firm’s Crypto + FinTech Practice, has been promoted to partner. Matt Homer, Senior Advisor at Tusk, said “I’ve long admired the impact Tusk has had tackling difficult public policy issues to enable innovation and entrepreneurship. Bradley has been an example in my career and Eric is one of the most thoughtful and effective policy and political strategists operating in fintech and crypto. I’m excited and honored to serve as an advisor to the Tusk team as they continue to influence and shape the policy landscape for fintech and crypto.” Eric Soufer, Partner and Head of the Crypto + FinTech Practice at Tusk, said “We’ve all been fans of Matt for a long time and so we are thrilled to formally welcome him to the Tusk Strategies network. His experience navigating novel and complex regulatory challenges in crypto, DeFi, and financial technology will be a tremendous asset to our team and our clients.” Matt is currently Executive in Residence at Nyca Partners, a venture capital firm focused on connecting innovative companies to the global financial system. Matt also recently joined the Board of Managers at Gemini Trust Company, a leading crypto-native finance platform. Tusk Strategies has been advising some of the biggest names in crypto, blockchain, fintech and NFTs since 2014. In recent years, Tusk Strategies has advised industry leaders such as Paxos, Zero Hash, Genesis, Circle, eToro, Tezos, Apex Crypto, Sorare, Moonpay, the Crypto Council of Innovation (CCI), and the Proof of Stake Alliance, among many others. The addition of Matt comes on the heels of a major expansion at Tusk Strategies in 2022. New senior team members include Shontell Smith, previously chief of staff to the New York State Senate Democratic Majority, and Cristóbal Alex, the former White House Deputy Cabinet Secretary under President Joe Biden and current MSNBC contributor, who opened Tusk’s Washington, DC office. Jackie Zupsic also recently launched a new Los Angeles office to deepen Tusk’s national communications and policy capabilities. About Tusk Strategies Tusk has led successful interdisciplinary campaigns for dozens of the world’s leading disruptors in tech, finance, mobility, healthcare, and countless other industries, helping them build their brands with thought leadership and earned media; gain market share with cutting edge commercial strategies; and solve complex “bet the company” regulatory challenges in markets across the globe. Tusk Strategies was founded by venture capitalist, philanthropist and political strategist Bradley Tusk and is now led by CEO Chris Coffey. www.tuskstrategies.com @tuskstrategies

U.S. Supreme Court Spurns Coal Executive’s Challenge To Mine-Explosion Conviction – Reuters https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/u-s-supreme-court-spurns-coal-executives-challenge-to-mine-explosion-conviction-reuters/ WASHINGTON, Oct 3 (Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday turned away former Massey Energy Co CEO Donald Blankenship’s bid to overturn his conviction on a charge of criminal conspiracy stemming from a 2010 West Virginia mine explosion that killed 29 coal miners. The justices declined to hear an appeal by Blankenship, who served a one-year sentence after being found guilty in 2015 of a single misdemeanor charge, of a lower court’s rejection of his arguments that the conviction should be tossed due to prosecutorial misconduct. Blankenship, 72, had faulted federal prosecutors for failing to turn over to his lawyers before the trial evidence he considered favorable to his defense. Once dubbed West Virginia’s “king of coal” for his working-class background and tough approach to business, Blankenship helped build Massey into Appalachia’s largest coal producer, with more than 7,000 employees and more than 40 mines. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com A jury found him guilty of a misdemeanor charge of conspiring to violate federal mine safety standards while opting not to convict him on other charges. Blankenship, who also was fined $250,000, was released from prison in 2017. He mounted an unsuccessful campaign as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in 2018. A fire caused by a methane or natural gas leak likely set off the April 2010 blast at Massey’s now-closed Upper Big Branch mine, located about 40 miles (65 km) south of the West Virginia city of Charleston, according to federal investigators. The death toll was the highest in a U.S. mine accident since 91 workers died in a 1972 Idaho silver mine fire. Massey was acquired in 2011 by Alpha Natural Resources Inc for about $7 billion. Blankenship in 2018 sought to overturn his conviction after completing his prison term and while preparing for his Senate campaign, noting that prosecutors belatedly turned over evidence that he should have received before the trial. Those records included citing memos summarizing interviews with high-ranking Massey employees and internal U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration documents that prosecutors had not turned over to his lawyers before trial as required. The U.S. Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility conducted an investigation and concluded that prosecutors committed professional misconduct, exhibited “poor judgment” and were “deficient” in performing their duties. A federal magistrate judge in 2019 recommended that Blankenship’s conviction be overturned, saying the federal prosecutors had violated his constitutional rights to a fair trial by withholding the evidence. A U.S. trial judge rejected that recommendation and upheld the conviction, as did the Richmond, Virginia-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2021, finding that the withheld evidence would not have affected the verdict. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Will Dunham Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Nate Raymond Thomson Reuters Nate Raymond reports on the federal judiciary and litigation. He can be reached at nate.raymond@thomsonreuters.com.

Hodei Technology Partners With Vuzix To Support Its New Klabra Platform And Places Initial Volume Purchase Order – PR Newswire https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/hodei-technology-partners-with-vuzix-to-support-its-new-klabra-platform-and-places-initial-volume-purchase-order-pr-newswire/ , /PRNewswire/ — Vuzix® Corporation (NASDAQ: VUZI), (“Vuzix” or, the “Company”), a leading supplier of Smart Glasses and Augmented Reality (AR) technology and products, today announced that it has received and shipped against an initial volume purchase order from Hodei Technology, an Indiana-based developer and seller of secure, enterprise collaboration solutions designed for a global, connected, and remote workforce, to support the company’s newly launched Klabra platform. Hodei Technology will use Vuzix Smart Glasses in its Klabra platform The partnership struck with Vuzix provides broader customer access to Hodei’s Remote Support Platform called Klabra, a proprietary secure web platform that will seamlessly integrate Vuzix M400, M4000 and Blade 2 smart glasses to offer an innovative, collaborative WebRTC solution. This platform is positioned for use by companies to more effectively provide remote customer support, coaching, troubleshooting, work oversight or training. Hodei customers will now be able to go to one place to purchase their Vuzix smart glasses and have the Klabra Remote Support App pre-loaded. Klabra is a subscription-based solution that is easy to use, easy to deploy and, with an open API architecture, easy to integrate and scale, offering OEMs, field service organizations, construction companies, and healthcare systems the flexibility and customization desired. Klabra’s intuitive interface provides multiple participants a unique real-time first-person point of view from the smart glasses wearer. The Vuzix user simply logs into Klabra.com, scans a designated QR Code with the smart glasses and joins the session live, enabling everyone in the meeting to see everything they see while working hands-free. Session participants talk to and freely share information with the remote smart glass user. “We see our relationship with Vuzix as another important piece in our mission to develop and deploy the best-in-class hardware with our Klabra solutions, which are tailored for the emerging “Connected Worker” Industry 5.0 environment. The team at Vuzix has been great in their partnership efforts with Hodei and we look forward to that continuing to strengthen and grow over time,” stated Guy Mascaro, CEO and President of Hodei Technology. “We are excited to be partnering with Hodei Technology and supporting its Klabra platform, a robust enterprise solution that is ideally suited to work with Vuzix smart glasses,” said Paul Travers, President and CEO of Vuzix. “We look forward to supporting their efforts to help their expanding list of customers improve productivity and gain competitive advantages within their respective industry verticals.” About Vuzix Corporation Vuzix is a leading supplier of Smart Glasses and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies and products for the consumer and enterprise markets. The Company’s products include personal display and wearable computing devices that offer users a portable high-quality viewing experience, provide solutions for mobility, wearable displays and augmented reality. Vuzix holds 252 patents and patents pending and numerous IP licenses in the Video Eyewear field. The Company has won Consumer Electronics Show (or CES) awards for innovation for the years 2005 to 2022 and several wireless technology innovation awards among others. Founded in 1997, Vuzix is a public company (NASDAQ: VUZI) with offices in Rochester, NY, Oxford, UK, and Tokyo, Japan.  For more information, visit the Vuzix website,  Twitter and Facebook pages. About Hodei Technology Hodei Technology develops and deploys secure, enterprise collaboration solutions designed for a global, connected, and remote workforce. Incorporating assisted and augmented reality technologies since 2014, Hodei has continued to innovate its solutions to meet the connection, collaboration and creation needs of today’s connected worker. Its latest product, Klabra by Hodei Technology, is a secure, easy-to-use, always available collaboration platform featuring a choice of smart glasses and devices and the functionality required to get work done. Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer Certain statements contained in this news release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward looking statements contained in this release relate to Vuzix Smart Glasses, our business relationship and future opportunities with Hodei Technology and its customers, and among other things the Company’s leadership in the Smart Glasses and AR display industry. They are generally identified by words such as “believes,” “may,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “should” and similar expressions. Readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are based upon the Company’s beliefs and assumptions as of the date of this release. The Company’s actual results could differ materially due to risk factors and other items described in more detail in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Reports and MD&A filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and applicable Canadian securities regulators (copies of which may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov). Subsequent events and developments may cause these forward-looking statements to change. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation or intention to update or revise these forward-looking statements as a result of changed events or circumstances that occur after the date of this release, except as required by applicable law. Vuzix Media and Investor Relations Contact: Ed McGregor, Director of Investor Relations, Vuzix Corporation [email protected]   Tel: (585) 359-5985 Vuzix Corporation, 25 Hendrix Road, West Henrietta, NY 14586 USA, Investor Information – [email protected]  www.vuzix.com SOURCE Vuzix Corporation

Monday, October 3, 2022 – Kaiser Health News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/monday-october-3-2022-kaiser-health-news/ From Kaiser Health News – Latest Stories: Severe Sleep Apnea Diagnosis Panics Reporter Until He Finds a Simple, No-Cost Solution An industry has grown up around sleep apnea, stirring concerns about overdiagnosis and overtreatment. (Jay Hancock, 10/3 ) Mental Health Crisis Teams Aren’t Just for Cities Anymore In many cities, social workers and counselors are responding to mental health emergencies that used to be solely handled by police. That approach is spreading to rural areas even though mental health professionals are scarcer and travel distances are longer. (Tony Leys and Arielle Zionts, 10/3 ) Listen: Grieving Families Face the Cruelest Bills KHN Midwest correspondent Lauren Weber talks with NPR’s “Consider This” podcast about her reporting on families confronted with medical bills while grieving the loss of a baby who received expensive hospital care. ( 10/3 ) Journalists Dig In on the Fiscal Health of the Nation and Hospital Closures in Rural Missouri KHN and California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media this week to discuss their stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances. ( 10/3 ) Political Cartoon: ‘Best Buds?’ Kaiser Health News provides a fresh take on health policy developments with “Political Cartoon: ‘Best Buds?'” by Dave Coverly. Here’s today’s health policy haiku: THE HIGH COST OF HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS Hospitals losing; Patients and millions in claims; HAIs winning – Bob Arnold If you have a health policy haiku to share, please Contact Us and let us know if we can include your name. Haikus follow the format of 5-7-5 syllables. We give extra brownie points if you link back to a KHN original story. Opinions expressed in haikus and cartoons are solely the author’s and do not reflect the opinions of KHN or KFF. Summaries Of The News: Rural Medicare Programs Extended In Short-Term Spending Bill The congressionally-passed bill that keeps the federal government funded through mid-December included two Medicare programs. The Medicare Dependent Hospital program would have otherwise expired, while the Low-Volume Hospital program would have lost expanded eligibility criteria, Modern Healthcare reports. Modern Healthcare: Rural Medicare Programs Get Short-Term Extensions From Congress  Two Medicare programs that boost payments for hundreds of rural hospitals were extended through mid-December with the House’s passage of a short-term federal spending package on Friday. (Kane, 9/30) Fierce Healthcare: Congress Passes Spending Bill That Extends Rural Programs The House voted 230 to 201 to advance to President Joe Biden’s desk a continuing resolution that funds the federal government through Dec. 16. Biden is expected to sign the legislation. The short-term package gives providers another chance to include key end-of-the-year policy priorities such as delays to Medicare doctor payment cuts and extensions of a key quality bonus. The legislation also extends through Dec. 16 the hospital payment adjustment for certain low-volume hospitals (LVH) and the Medicare-Dependent Hospital (MDH) program. Both programs were set to expire after September. (King, 9/30) Forbes: Big Health Insurers Will Expand Medicare Advantage To Hundreds Of New Counties For 2023 Health insurance companies that are big players in Medicare Advantage, including Humana, Cigna, CVS Health’s Aetna unit, Elevance Health and UnitedHealth Group are launching popular plans in several new states and hundreds of new counties for 2023. Aetna, which is in 1,875 counties and 46 states plus Washington, D.C. with 3.2 million Medicare Advantage enrollees today is expanding to 2,014 counties and 46 states plus Washington, D.C. (Japsen, 10/1) Atlanta Journal-Constitution: PolitiFact: Democratic Bill Sen. Warnock Voted With Biden On Didn’t ‘Slash’ Medicare Spending Although the bill is projected to reduce federal spending by almost $300 billion, that would reflect government savings and not benefit cuts. In other words, Medicare recipients would receive the same amount of medicines, just for less taxpayer money. (Jacobson, 10/3) CNBC: Some Seniors Make This Costly Medicare Enrollment Mistake. A Bipartisan Bill Looks To Fix It A bipartisan bill in the House aims to fix a costly enrollment mistake that some older adults make when they transition to Medicare from an employer-based health plan. (O’Brien, 10/2) More from Capitol Hill — Politico: The War Against Superbugs Caught In Congressional Quagmire Lawmakers are on the brink of missing a critical window to fix America’s broken antibiotic market — and to prepare for the growing crisis of superbugs that federal officials say is a national security threat and experts warn is already a silent pandemic. Nearly 50,000 people die each year in the U.S. from drug-resistant and antibiotic-associated infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency says the crisis grew worse during Covid-19 as doctors over-prescribed antibiotics and inundated hospitals failed to control drug-resistant infections, which spiked by at least 15 percent in 2020. (Gardner and Mahr, 10/2) More from the Biden administration — AP: US Outlines Plan For Long-Term Baby Formula Imports U.S. regulators on Friday unveiled their plan to allow foreign baby formula manufacturers to stay on the market long term, an effort to diversify the nation’s tightly concentrated industry and prevent future shortages. The Food and Drug Administration said recent entrants to the U.S. market will have until October 2025 to make sure their formulas comply with federal standards for nutrition, labeling and manufacturing. The agency noted that some companies should be able to meet those requirements sooner. (Perrone, 9/30) Stat: White House’s Open-Access Directive Scrambles Long-Entrenched Models In August, the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy released a memo directing all federal agencies to form plans to make all federally funded research publications and data publicly available without embargo by the end of 2025. (Trang, 10/3) Newly Approved ALS Drug Priced At $158,000 Annually Amylyx Pharmaceuticals revealed its recently FDA-approved Relyvrio drug would cost about $12,500 per 28-day prescription. The drugmaker noted it would give the drug free to certain uninsured patients. Separately, reports say the “Ice Bucket Challenge” actually helped fund Relyvrio’s development. Reuters: Amylyx Prices Newly Approved ALS Drug At $158,000 Per Year  Amylyx Pharmaceuticals Inc on Friday set the list price of its newly approved drug to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at about $158,000 per year in the United States, a discount to its most recently approved competitor. The drug Relyvrio was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday, making it the third ALS treatment to get the regulator’s nod after Japanese firm Mitsubishi Tanabe’s Radicava, priced at around $170,000 per year, and the generic drug riluzole. (Leo, 9/30) Axios: New ALS Treatment Sparks Yet Another Drug Pricing Debate The FDA’s expedited approval of a new ALS treatment priced at $158,000 a year, has touched off another debate over balancing regulation with patient access. (Owens, 10/3) AP: NIH To Fund Unproven ALS Drugs Under Patient-Backed Law When patients with a deadly diagnosis and few treatment options have tried to get unapproved, experimental drugs, they have long faced a dilemma: Who will pay? Responsibility for funding so-called compassionate use has always fallen to drugmakers, though many are unwilling or unable to make their drugs available for free to dying patients. After years of lobbying Congress, patients with the debilitating illness known as Lou Gehrig’s disease have found an unprecedented solution: make the federal government pay. (Perrone, 10/1) NPR: ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Helped Fund The Development Of A New Drug For Treatment The ALS Association said that $2.2 million of funds that were raised from the Ice Bucket Challenge went into funding the development and trial of the new drug that the Food and Drug Administration approved this week for treatment of ALS, which is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. (Davis, 10/1) In other pharmaceutical and biotech news — Stat: Epic Overhauls Popular Sepsis Algorithm Criticized For Faulty Alarms Epic Systems has revamped its widely criticized sepsis prediction model in a bid to improve its accuracy and make its alerts more meaningful to clinicians trying to snuff out the deadly condition. (Ross, 10/3) Stat: Scientists Train An AI Model To Predict Breast Cancer Risk From MRI Scans A biopsy that turns out to have benign results can be a relief. But in some cases, it could also mean a patient whose risk of cancer was low from the start has gone through an unnecessarily invasive procedure. (Williamson-Lee, 10/3) Reuters: Walmart, CVS Must Face Lawsuit Over Placement Of Homeopathic Products  The District of Columbia’s highest court revived two lawsuits that claim CVS and Walmart are misleading consumers by selling unproven homeopathic products alongside FDA-approved over-the-counter medicines on their store shelves and websites. (Grzincic, 9/30) New Supreme Court Term Opens On Heels Of Far-Reaching Abortion Ruling The conservative-majority court is back in session starting Monday. Environmental protections, election law, and gay rights are already on the justices’ docket, and other health-related cases are expected. The Wall Street Journal: Supreme Court Term Opens With New Justice And Weighty Cases  The Supreme Court opens its new term Monday with a new member, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, and a docket that could reshape features of American society ranging from college admissions to political redistricting. Monday’s first case, Sackett v. Environmental P...

October In Savannah Is The Most Magical Southern Vacay – TheTravel https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/october-in-savannah-is-the-most-magical-southern-vacay-thetravel/ The oldest city in the US state of Georgia, Savannah has southern charm in spades. With its cultural essence, antebellum architecture, restaurants with a creative bent, stylish boutiques & haunted stories, this southern escape is brimming during October. With most of the festivals this month and the pleasant temperature, this is a detailed guide to visiting Savannah during October. Festivals In Savannah Savannah Greek Festival Celebrated for almost 67 years, this festival evokes the Grecian vibes in you. This three-day festival is culturally exploding with Greek food on the menu, traditional dance & music, church tours as well as plenty of stalls to shop. Nevertheless, the festival’s primary focus is food and has everything from familiar Gyros & Greek salads to authentic food dishes such as Spanakopita, comprising spinach with feta cheese, Dolmades having rice, beef & herbs in grape leaves, Greek lamb & chicken, the famous desserts such as Baklava, which has pecan and spices, Finika are honey dipped spiced cookies, Kourabiedes which are buttered cookies and a lot more. Location: St Paul’s Hellenic Centre Date: October 12th to October 14th Annual Oktoberfest Even though Oktoberfest has its root in Germany, people celebrate German heritage and culture along Savannah’s waterfront. This three-day festival is an exciting celebration with German cuisine, music, dance, and Savannah’s renowned Wiener dog races. Traditional German dishes such as pretzels, brats, cheese beer dip, kalte ente with German beers selection are sold by food vendors. Alongside, artists showcase painting, pottery, jewelry, and photography. Location: Rousakis Riverfront Plaza Date: October 6th-8th Savannah Film festival For ardent film lovers, Savannah Film Festival hosts an array of competitive film screenings, workshops, panels as well as award ceremonies. This is an 8-day event where cinematic creativity is revered through submissions from emerging filmmakers to award-winning professionals. Tickets to individual events can be purchased at savannahboxoffice.com, and the Savannah pass starts from $100 and has access to all screenings and panels. Each year more than 63,000 individuals attend the festival. Location: Downtown Savannah Date: 22nd October to 29th October Ghost Tours Savannah has a reputation for spooky history, and October is the Halloween month indeed. There are plenty of ghost tours in Savannah, a few of which are for strong-hearted and a few are child-friendly tours. On this tour, one can learn about the haunted history of Savannah, visit the Ghost City Haunted Pub Crawl, stay at a haunted house or witness the famous ghost sightings such as Marshall House, Kehoe House, 17thHundred90Inn, and a few more. Ghost City Tours is Savannah’s group tour specialist who arranges tours, spooky accommodations, and events overall. Ghost tours such as The Beyond Good And Evil Tour and The Dead Of Night Ghost Tour combine elements of ghosts, occult, and demons through the narration of spooky stories, explore haunted locations, the cemetery as well as the Ghost City Haunted Pub Crawl has a spooky fun night with drinks. The Pirates House, The Olde Pink House, and Moon River Brewing Company are a few of Savannah’s haunted restaurants with amazing food. Shalom Y’all Jewish Food Festival Celebrating Jewish culture and heritage, this annual event is presented by Congregation Mickve Israel. Having traditional cuisine, music, and dance, this festival has live music, magic shows, puppeteers, and so much more. Jewish delicacies such as potato latkes, homemade challah, blintzes, noodle kugel, corned beef sandwiches, hummus, and brisket in the view of historic homes and Forsyth fountain makes this event scenic and culturally alluring. Savannah Pride Festival One of Savannah’s prime festivals, the Savannah Pride Festival has colorful murals lined across the streets, and unique shopping stalls can be witnessed across every corner. Also, one can learn about Savannah’s social efforts for the LGBTQIA+ community at First City Pride Center. Another festival, such as Mermaid Festival, can be gravitating, which is celebrated at Tybee Island, Savannah’s Beach. Scenic Sights In Savannah Savannah has plenty of scenic sights to bask in, similar to its cultural essence. Here are the few prime ones in October. Pumpkin Patches If Fall had a mascot, there is no other option than pumpkin. Although Savannah’s Historic District is kinda crowded for pumpkin patches and thus, the outskirts of the city are the best options. Poppell Farms has a huge 10-acre pumpkin patch with pony rides and pumpkins all around, as well as celebrates Halloween with dark, haunted activities. Madrac Farms & Holiday Farms are the other two options for pumpkin picking, corn maze, farm animals, and so on. Trolley Tour Of Savannah The trolley tours of Savannah give a local essence of Savannah by a tour of its streets and attractions. Both Old Town Trolley Tours & Old Savannah Tours give us a glimpse of the history of Savannah while touring around the town. The cobblestone streets, historic buildings, housing shops & renowned restaurants, along with the scenic view, make the best of it. Visit Savannah’s Oldest Historic Sites Be it the First African Baptist Church, the Congregation Mickve Israel, which is the third-oldest Jewish congregation in America, the only synagogue in North America having Gothic style architecture, as well as the Cathedral Basilica of St John the Baptist, a photographed landmark in Savannah are few of the oldest religious sites exuding the cultural essence of Savannah. Also, Bonaventure Cemetery dating back to the 1700s, is one of Savannah’s famous destinations for Southern Gothic architecture and design. The Davenport House Museum, the oldest brick structure in the city, has an array of artifacts of life in the 1800s as well as the Pin Point Heritage Museum, which reflects about Gullah Geechee community, are some places for history buffs. Must Visit Restaurants In Savannah If you wish to have a meal in a historical setting, a reservation at The Pirates House will make you travel back in time. Established in 1973 as a refuge for seafarers, this place is a great dining affair for the family. The Oldie Pink House with opulent interior and classic southern food, Vics On The River, which is located in the historic 19th-century warehouse with an upscale dining experience, and The Grey is a retro-modern eatery, Mrs. Wilke’s Dining Room with wholesome Savannah’s dining experience, Clary’s cafe for best breakfast in Savannah, Fog & Fig Cafe for health conscious individuals and Leopold’s Icecream for delectable dessert are few of the best restaurants worth trying in Savannah. Places To Stay In Savannah Savannah has accommodations to suit all budgets ranging from hotels and motels, historic inns, bed & breakfasts run by families, haunted hotels, vacation rentals, and even camping options. The elegant Marshall House, the upscale Kehoe House, and the oldest hotel, 17thHundered90Inn, are haunted hotels but still an upscale stay. Gastonian, The Inn On West Liberty, and Green Pam Inn are a few Bed & Breakfast options starting from a minimum of $216 for a day. Lucky Savannah Vacation Rentals, Savannah Vacation Collection, My Beach House Vacation Rentals as well as historic inns such as River Street, President’s Quarter Inn, Historic Inns of Savannah, and Planters Inn On Reynolds Square are a few other accommodation choices. The price range starts from $176 for the latter. %

Central Islip Office Complex Trades For $21.5M – Long Island Business News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/central-islip-office-complex-trades-for-21-5m-long-island-business-news/ Get our free LIBN e-alerts & breaking news notifications! 320 Carleton Ave. Central Islip By: David Winzelberg October 3, 2022 An office property in Central Islip has sold for $21.5 million.  Lawrence-based Bosfa Properties purchased the 168,000-square-foot Courthouse Corporate Center on 11.05 acres at 320 Carleton Ave.  The nine-story office building was constructed in 2003. The property is 90 percent occupied.  Bosfa Properties, founded by the father and son team of Daniel and Aron Goldstein, focuses on acquisition of investment properties and development opportunities. The company plans major upgrades to the Central Islip property.  Peter Wolf of Select Real Equity Advisors represented the buyer, while Jack Bick of S. Charatan Realty represented the seller, The Benjamin Companies, in the sales transaction.  “The buyers are extremely excited to close on this transaction and they see this as an ideal value-add opportunity,” said Wolf.  × Enjoy This Free Article We Have 2 More For You All You Need To Do Is Register To Receive Your 2 Additional Free Articles

Sugar Free Jude By Merck Foundation Storybook Launched By African First Ladies In Three Languages To Raise Awareness On Diabetes – Business Wire India https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/sugar-free-jude-by-merck-foundation-storybook-launched-by-african-first-ladies-in-three-languages-to-raise-awareness-on-diabetes-business-wire-india/ Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany in partnership with African First Ladies launched a new children’s storybook – ‘Sugar Free Jude’ to promote healthy lifestyle and raise awareness on the early detection, prevention, and management of Diabetes for children and youth across Africa in English, French and Portuguese. Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation expressed, “I am very happy to bring to you Merck Foundation’s new children storybook– ‘Sugar Free Jude’ in partnership with my dear sisters, the African First Ladies which is currently available on our social media and websites and will be distributed soon in our partner countries. Through our new children storybook, we want to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness on the early detection, prevention, and management of Diabetes, from a young age, to remind all of you that together we can fight diabetes every day and that health is our only wealth. ‘Sugar Free Jude’ is a story of a young school-going boy, Jude, whose daily life is affected when he is diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. Jude was able to manage his health condition with help from his family, friends and teachers at school and he became the advocate to fight diabetes in his school and community”. Read ‘Sugar Free Jude’ storybook here: https://merck-foundation.com/merckfoundation/public/uploads/digital_library/1656412954_b2be045662b6b261026a.pdf According to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost 70% of the African population living with Diabetes is unaware of their condition and about 45 million adult population have Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) which places them at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. “Jude symbolizes the many young men and women in Africa who suffer from Diabetes but are unaware of their condition. Early signs and symptoms of Diabetes such as frequent urination, increased thirst, feeling tired and hungry, vision problems, slow wound healing, and yeast infections must not be ignored. In case one experiences any of these symptoms, one must consult a doctor and get tested. Diabetes management is a lifestyle change, those living with this condition have to eat healthy, exercise regularly, stop smoking, and limit alcohol, sugar and salt intake,” explained Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej. Merck Foundation has also released three Songs in three languages named ‘NO more Diabetes, Sugar Free’ in English, ‘Dites non au Diabète’ in French and ‘Chega de Diabete’ in Portuguese. And recently has released the remix of the three languages. Listen to the remix diabetes song here: https://youtu.be/1Witk3k9ykE These songs have been sung by Cwezi from Ghana for English Version, Laura Beg from Mauritius for the French Version, and Blaze from Mozambique for the Portuguese Version. The songs talk about promoting a healthy lifestyle and raising awareness on the early detection and prevention of Diabetes. Click here to listen to ‘NO More Diabetes, Sugar Free’ English Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC6VpDVoE-k Click here to listen to ‘Dites non au Diabète’ French Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXvL88X62DQ Click here to listen to ‘Chega de Diabete’ Portuguese Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMJO4JHTPZM Moreover, through “Merck Foundation Diabetes Blue Points Program” in partnership with African First Ladies, Ministries of Health, and Medical Societies, Merck Foundation has provided more than 720 scholarships for doctors from 45 Countries, of one-year Post-Graduate Diploma and two-year Master degree in both Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, Endocrinology and Diabetes, and 3 months Diabetes Mastercourse. Merck Foundation together with African First Ladies, has also introduced Awards for Media, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers, Musicians/ Singers, and new potential talents in these fields from African countries to Promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension. Details of the awards:   1. Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards 2022 “Diabetes & Hypertension”: Media representatives are invited to showcase their work through strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension. Submission deadline: 30th October 2022. Click here to view more details. 2. Merck Foundation Film Awards 2022 “Diabetes & Hypertension”: All African Filmmakers, Students of Film Making Training Institutions or Young Talents of Africa are invited to create and share a long or short FILMS, either drama, documentary or docudrama to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension. Submission deadline: 30th October 2022. Click here to view more details. 3. Merck Foundation Fashion Awards 2022 “Diabetes & Hypertension”: All African Fashion Students and Designers are invited to create and share designs to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension. Submission deadline: 30th October 2022. Click here to view more details. 4. Merck Foundation Song Awards 2022 “Diabetes & Hypertension”: All African Singers and Musical Artists are invited to create and share a SONG with the aim to promote a healthy lifestyle raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension. Submission deadline: 30th October 2022. Click here to view more details. Entries for all the awards are to be submitted via email to: [email protected]   Merck Foundation in partnership with African First Ladies has also released 7 inspiring children’s storybooks in three languages and over 30 songs on breaking infertility stigma, supporting girls’ education, and women empowerment, in English, French and Portuguese language. To listen to the Merck Foundation songs and read the Merck Foundation storybooks, please visit: https://merck-foundation.com/our-programs/Merck-Foundation-More-Than-a-Mother/Local-Songs-and-Children-Stories

Calendar For Oct. 3, 2022 – Jamestown Sun | News, Weather, Sports From Jamestown North Dakota – The Jamestown Sun https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/calendar-for-oct-3-2022-jamestown-sun-news-weather-sports-from-jamestown-north-dakota-the-jamestown-sun/ The Calendar publishes public events, meetings and fundraisers in The Jamestown Sun free. To submit an activity, email it to ksteiner@jamestownsun.com — with “Calendar” in the subject line or fax to 701-952-8477. Buffalo Bridges Human Service Zone board, 10 a.m., 116 1st St. East, Jamestown. Jamestown City Council, 5 p.m., City Hall, 102 3rd Ave. SE, or access by phone at 1-701-566-9575, conference ID 395 333 628. Jamestown Public School Board, 5:15 p.m., Thompson Community Room, Jamestown Middle School, 203 2nd Ave. SE. Jamestown Community Choir, 7 p.m., Jamestown Middle School choir room, 203 2nd Ave. SE. Tuesday, Oct. 4 City of Spiritwood Lake, 7:30 p.m., at Chip Steckler shop, 617 Spiritwood Ave., Jamestown. Budget hearing, council meeting.

Nobody Knows What The Metaverse Is And We Won’t Live In It, Argues Apple Boss Tim Cook – Daily Star https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/nobody-knows-what-the-metaverse-is-and-we-wont-live-in-it-argues-apple-boss-tim-cook-daily-star/ After spending an estimated £8.9billion ($10bn) on the metaverse last year, you’d think Mark Zuckerberg‘s big idea for the future of the Internet would have caught on by now. However, Zuckerberg’s pitch for an immersive virtual reality Internet hasn’t quite captured the attention of his wealthy Silicon Valley colleagues, not least Apple. Apple‘s CEO Tim Cook has poured cold water all over the metaverse, claiming that it is badly defined and that people are unlikely to spend most of their time in. READ NEXT: ‘Hardcore’ Steve Jobs fan travels 3000 miles to buy an iPhone In an interview this month, Cook said: “I always think it’s important that people understand what something is. And I’m really not sure the average person can tell you what the metaverse is.” Apple CEO Tim Cook argued people wouldn’t want to spend all their time in VR (Stock image) (Image: Getty Images) Cook told Dutch magazine Bright that people won’t want to spend their whole lives in virtual reality, in stark contrast to Zuckerberg’s claims that users will one day spend the majority of their time in the metaverse. Cook said: “[VR is] something you can really immerse yourself in. And that can be used in a good way. But I don’t think you want to live your whole life that way. VR is for set periods, but not a way to communicate well.” Mark Zuckerberg thinks his company is facing a ‘deep’ competition with Apple over the metaverse (Image: AFP via Getty Images) Cook’s comments come in stark contrast to what Zuckerberg himself believes. The Meta CEO reportedly told his staff earlier this year that the firm is in a ‘very deep, philosophical competition’ with Apple over building the metaverse. It has been rumoured for some time that Apple is investing in its own augmented reality headsets for release in 2023, and Cook has advocated for the technology for some time. However, unlike Meta, it seems that Apple and other tech giants are unwilling to bet the farm on something that still doesn’t have a clear definition. READ MORE: CIA invests in woolly mammoth resurrection ‘Metaverse’ children to replace real kids by 2050 and ‘help with overpopulation’ AI image of what Princess Diana would look like today sparks outrage Invisibility cloak tech could ‘become reality’ thanks to new camouflage jacket Beijing bus drivers to have their emotions ‘tracked’ by government

16 Kitchen Products You Need For Cooking Holiday Dinner – Bustle https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/16-kitchen-products-you-need-for-cooking-holiday-dinner-bustle/ Cooking a multi-course meal for the holidays in a tiny kitchen might seem like a feat that requires absurd amounts of precision and finesse. But it is possible with some clever use of your space — and a plan for cooking your dishes in the right order so you’re not rushing at the last minute to serve your guests. “Holiday cooking can be a bit hectic, but if you have a list of the dishes you are preparing you can organize a well-executed holiday meal,” says Patti Delgado, executive chef at Vibrant, a restaurant in Houston, Texas. The good news is that you don’t have to leave all the cooking for the day of your occasion and can use some time leading up to your event to get things started. Read as: procrastination has no place here. “I always leave the main dishes (or protein dish) and also fresh items such as salads or pickled herbs for the day of the event,” Delgado says. “But I give myself a head start with sauces, vinaigrettes, and casseroles because they tend to develop deeper flavor [over time].” For these, she says you can make them three days in advance. For side dishes like compotes or pickled veggies, Delgado says you can make them five days in advance — just be sure to keep them fresh in an airtight container. On the day of the event, Delgado advises you cook the proteins first before any other dishes so that they have some time to rest before you carve them up and serve. Now that you’ve got a kitchen plan, here’s a list of space-saving gadgets that will make your small kitchen seem more spacious. A cute canister for spoons, spatulas, and whisks might seem tidy but it takes up valuable counter space that you’ll need when preparing a holiday meal. Attach a pair of these rotating hooks to the underside of your cabinets to reclaim space and keep instruments at the ready. Top Review: “I like it, they keep the utensils up out of the way. Great for keeping clutter down.” If you’re running out of counter space and need to put a hot pan or a platter out to rest, try this silicone mat as a heat-resistant trivet. When you’re not cooking up a storm for the holidays, you can also use it as a regular dish-drying mat. Top Review: “I bought this to protect the edge of my black granite at the sink. But it has so many uses. It is a drain for dishes, a hot plate, and a workspace. Silicone is a wonderful product.” Whether you’re baking up multiple pies or batches of cookies or simply need another place to store a hot dish until it gets to the table, this three-tier cooling rack does the job. Set it up on a table or countertop and you can stack three dishes or pans without taking up a ton of space — you can also use just one rack if that’s all you need. Top Review: “I love that they are stackable and if you only need one then you don’t have to have all three out. Ideal for cooling cookies and cakes.” Your stove is the workhorse of the kitchen. Put it to good use even when the burners are off with this bamboo stovetop cover. Simply place the board over cool burners — it works on gas and electric stoves — to convert your appliance into more prep space. Top Review: “This adds a nice amount of counter space for our apartment’s smaller kitchen.“ Cutting boards are a key tool for any at-home chef. If you’re working on multiple courses, you’ll likely have several boards going at once. This over-the-sink cutting board lengthens your counter space while also giving you easy access to washing vegetables and dumping peels into the sink or disposal for quick cleanup. Top Review: “Chunky, well made and durable…yes it’s [a] chopping board but this is a good one compared to others I have owned.” Even with various digital devices with timers, an old-school kitchen timer makes it easy to keep you and your food on a schedule. This two-pack digital timer helps to keep track of multiple dishes, plus it’s magnetic — just pop it on your refrigerator and it’s go time. Top Review: “This is a handy set of digital timers that work well in cooking.” Annoyed by the gap between your cabinets and appliances? This slimline rollout shelf unit gives you practically a whole other cabinet’s worth of storage. Use it to store dry goods, spices, cooking oils, utensils, and more. Slide it out when you’re cooking and slide it right back in when you’re done to make the most efficient use of your kitchen space. Top Review: “[T]his is perfect! it turned this awkward space into a usable space.” Clear up the clutter on your counters with this multi-tiered corner bamboo shelf. You can adjust the shelves in the direction you want to quickly organize oil, bottles, spices, kitchen utensils, and more. Top Review: “This is perfect for the corner of the counter in my tiny kitchen. I have so much more room now!” You’ve likely seen the Always Pan pop up in your social media feed — we’ve even spotted it in a cameo in Hulu’s hit show The Bear. This multi-use cookware also deserves a spot in your kitchen. The Always Pan replaces a frying pan, sauté pan, steamer, and skillet, among others. Plus, it comes in beautiful, bright colors that you won’t mind leaving out on your stovetop when not in use — even though you will be able to fit it comfortably in your cabinets, too. Top Review: “Love it! So far it’s my go-to pan for almost everything.” It’s natural to want to have your go-to spices within easy reach when you need a pinch of this and a dash of that. This magnetic spice rack sticks right on your refrigerator so you won’t have to clog up the cabinets or countertop with bottles — plus there’s a hook so you can hang a spoon, cooking mitt, or another small utensil. Top Review: “Very pleased with the strength of the magnets on these shelves. They can hold a lot of weight, no problem.” Why have five utensils when you can have this one that works as a slotted spoon, solid spoon, spatula, turner, and slicer? You just cleared out your utensil caddy thanks to this handy kitchen gadget. Top Review: “The best kitchen utensil I never knew I needed.” If you’re dishing up pasta, you know that a traditional colander can take over your sink. This pot strainer does all the work of a regular colander with only a fraction of the size. It’s good for pots, pans, and bowls — just snap it on and pour out the liquid. You could even get a couple of these handy gadgets if you use them often and they still wouldn’t take up as much space as a regular colander. Top Review: “Clips easily to all of my pots and works perfectly as it should.” Your kitchen backsplash isn’t just for decoration anymore. Put it to use with this elegant-looking magnetized knife holder that can hold up a butcher block’s worth of knives. Your countertop will thank you for the breathing room. Top Review: “Not only is the wood a beautiful addition to my kitchen, the magnet is powerful enough to securely hold a 10-inch, three-pound chef’s knife and four other heavy steel knives with zero wobble nor give.” If your utensil caddy is stuffed to the point that it’s hard to reach that ladle or spatula, try this compact standing tool set. This sleek set of five nylon utensils nestles into the ladle, which is magnetized to an upright stand that takes up minimal space. Top Review: “This ended up being perfect for my small student apartment with minimal counter space. They are durable, easy to clean, and look great.” This over-the-sink colander makes it easy to wash vegetables and fruit and even drain cooked pasta. You can even use it to dry kitchen utensils after you’ve washed them to relieve clutter from your dish drying rack. Top Review: “This product is great! It’s super easy and versatile.” This silicone-coated stainless steel gadget doubles as an over-the-sink dish drying rack and a heat-resistant trivet, so you’ve got yet another place to put that hot pot of food as you’re preparing your meal. Roll it up when you’re finished and stow it in a drawer until next time. Top Review: “This roll-up dish drying rack has become a necessity in my kitchen! I don’t have a lot of counter space so turning a portion of my sink as a drying space for large items has been wonderful.” Source: Patti Delgado, executive chef at Vibrant.

Indian Crypto Exchange WazirX Lays Off 40% Of Workforce – Cryptonews https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/indian-crypto-exchange-wazirx-lays-off-40-of-workforce-cryptonews/ Source: Adobe/sdx15 Major Indian crypto exchange WazirX has laid off about 40% of its employees, citing a fall in trading volumes due to the bear market and the regulatory climate in India.  Local news outlet the Economic Times reports that the figure equates to around 50 to 70 employees of the exchanges around 150 employees. WazirX said in a statement that the move will help it maintain financial stability and continue to serve its customers.  “The Indian crypto industry has had its unique problems with respect to taxes, regulations, and banking access. This has led to a dramatic fall in volumes in all Indian crypto exchanges… As India’s No 1. exchange, our priority is to be financially stable and to continue serving our customers. To achieve this, we’ve had to reduce our staff to weather the crypto winter,” the statement read.   WazirX further noted that it is not new to crypto bear markets as it lived through the 2018 cycle. At the time, it doubled down and built its innovative peer-to-peer engine. This is one reason it is confident that it will come out stronger when the market inevitably turns bullish.  The affected employees have already been contacted and will be compensated with about 45 days’ pay as well as other support, the report notes. They cut across several departments including customer support and HR where managers, analysts, and associate managers/team leaders were among the axed personnel.  WazirX facing other troubles amid the crypto bear market  Added to the global crypto market downturn and India’s tax laws which have caused turmoil for WazirX, the company is also in other controversies. The exchange’s co-Founder Nischal Shetty has been embroiled in an online battle with Binance CEO Changpeng Zhou (also CZ).  CZ took to Twitter to state that Binance is not linked to WazirX as is commonly believed as a purchase transaction was never completed. Nischal has debunked the claim, pointing to WazirX’s terms of service. He also stated that Binance owns the exchanges domain name, has root access to its AWS servers, and owns all its crypto assets and crypto profits as well.   Meanwhile, the exchange also just emerged successful from a dispute with the Enforcement Department (ED) – India’s financial crime-fighting agency – which froze its accounts for more than a month. Reuters reports that following an investigation, the ED has unfrozen assets worth up $8.16 million which it previously linked to suspicious transactions.

These Are The Most And Least Expensive Major U.S. Cities Based On The Average Cost Of Monthly Expenses – CNBC https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/these-are-the-most-and-least-expensive-major-u-s-cities-based-on-the-average-cost-of-monthly-expenses-cnbc/ A bill pay service, doxo released its United States of Bill Pay: Top 50 U.S. Metros Household Spend Report 2022, which broke down comparative household bill costs across the 50 largest cities in the country according to the U.S. Census numbers. The report looked at these key household bill categories: Mortgage Rent Auto loan Utilities (electric, gas, water & sewer, and waste & recycling) Auto insurance Cable, internet and phone Health insurance (consumer paid portion) Mobile phone Alarm and security Life insurance The report found that Americans spend an average of $22,667 on household bills annually. Top 10 most expensive major U.S. cities based on monthly household spend San Jose, California San Francisco, California Washington D.C. Los Angeles, California New York, New York San Diego, California Boston, Massachusetts Seattle, Washington Riverside, California Denver, Colorado According to the doxo report, of the 50 major cities, San Jose residents pay the highest monthly bills, with an average of $3,151 or 66.8% higher than the national average of $1,889. It’s important to note that because the data included rent and mortgage in the 10 major household bills, the total number will generally be higher than if the household only pays one of those bills. California was the state with the most expensive cities on the list, which also includes San Francisco, San Diego, and Riverside. Washington D.C. is third on the list with an average monthly bill expense of $2,767 per household, which is 46% higher than the national average. New York ranked fifth, with average monthly bill expenses of $2,674 — 41.5% higher than the national average. Top 10 least expensive major U.S. cities Buffalo, New York Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Cleveland, Ohio Rochester, New York Louisville, Kentucky St. Louis, Missouri Memphis, Tennessee Cincinnati, Ohio Birmingham, Alabama Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Buffalo, New York, topped the list as the least expensive of the 50 major cities in the U.S. Residents there pay an average $1,603 in monthly expenses, which is 15.1% lower than the national average. Pittsburgh is the second least expensive city on the list with an average household spend of $1,689. And Cleveland’s average monthly expenses are $1,709. The report found that the least expensive major cities were mainly in the South and Midwest. Sign up now: Get smarter about your money and career with our weekly newsletter Don’t miss: These are the 10 cheapest states to buy a house in 2022—and Florida isn’t one of them These are the 10 U.S. cities where housing markets are cooling the fastest—and only one is in Florida

Dish, Disney Settle Carriage Dispute, For Now – TV Technology https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/dish-disney-settle-carriage-dispute-for-now-tv-technology/ (Image credit: Disney) Less than 48 hours after Disney channels (including ESPN) went dark on Dish, the two companies announced a temporary truce, returning Disney channels to the satellite provider’s channel lineup. “We have reached a handshake agreement with Dish/Sling TV, which properly reflects fair market value and terms for The Walt Disney Company’s unparalleled content,” Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution said in a statement Sunday night. “As a result, we are pleased to restore our portfolio of networks on a temporary basis while both parties work to finalize a new deal.” “We are pleased to announce that all your Disney and ESPN channels have been restored. Thank you for your patience and support,” Dish tweeted early Monday morning.  The blackout started 12:01 a.m. Saturday when ESPN, ABC-owned local stations in eight markets, FX, Disney channel and other Disney-owned services were pulled from Dish and Sling TV services after Disney and Dish were unable to come to terms on a new carriage deal.  Dish claimed that Disney was asking for a nearly $1 billion increase in carriage fees.  “Disney has exploited its market position to increase fees without regard for the public viewing experience,” Brian Neylon, executive VP and group president of Dish TV, said in a statement just prior to the blackout Friday night. “Clearly, Disney insists on prioritizing greed above American viewers, especially sports fans and families with children who watch their content.” Financial terms of the interim deal were not announced.   Tom has covered the broadcast technology market for the past 25 years, including three years handling member communications for the National Association of Broadcasters followed by a year as editor of Video Technology News and DTV Business executive newsletters for Phillips Publishing. In 1999 he launched digitalbroadcasting.com for internet B2B portal Verticalnet. He is also a charter member of the CTA’s Academy of Digital TV Pioneers. Since 2001, he has been editor-in-chief of TV Tech (www.tvtech.com), the leading source of news and information on broadcast and related media technology and is a frequent contributor and moderator to the brand’s Tech Leadership events.

Political Newcomer Takes On Current State Representative In Contest For Seat Representing Parts Of Washington County – Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/political-newcomer-takes-on-current-state-representative-in-contest-for-seat-representing-parts-of-washington-county-northwest-arkansas-democrat-gazette/ FAYETTEVILLE — Washington County’s state House District 18 has a race between a longtime Republican House member challenged by a Democrat active in the community and making her first foray into politics. District 18 consists largely of northern Washington County west of both Springdale and Fayetteville. Four-term Rep. Robin Lundstrum, R-Elm Springs, saw the district she represents lose parts of southern Benton County, including Siloam Springs, when district lines were redrawn after the 2020 U.S. census. The district picked up portions of western Fayetteville, where Democratic nominee Monique Jones lives. State representatives serve two-year terms and receive a base salary of $44,357. There are 100 members of the state House. Early voting begins Oct. 24 for the Nov. 8 general election. Jones decided to run, she said, to include more of the district’s residents in the discussion of shared issues and problems such as the rising cost of housing. “Not all of us have the ability to be a voice for themselves,” she said. Too often the discussion of how to address issues such as affordable, well-maintained housing for lower income workers, for instance, does not include lower-income workers themselves, she said. “I know families that are moving in together just to make ends meet,” said Jones, who manages a food bank. The state needs to do more to protect renters’ rights, Jones said. People are having to pay $1,000 deposits to get apartments that need repair, she said. Teachers should be better paid, Jones said. “A teacher should not have to struggle to afford a comfortable place to live,” she said. Mental health needs more state attention, particularly since the frequent and unsuitable alternative to mental health care is arrest, she said. Lundstrum cited her legislative experience, her lifetime residency in Northwest Arkansas and her business experience as reasons to reelect her. “I grew up in Springdale. This is home,” Lundstrum said. “Northwest Arkansas is part of me, and I’m part of Northwest Arkansas. I love it. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. “The people here want the least amount of government possible, to be left alone and prosper,” Lundstrum said. The level of government they want ensures their safety and good schools, she said. If reelected, one of her priorities will be prison reform with a special interest in fixing the fines and fees collection process for various criminal courts in the state, Lundstrum said. “We have 75 ways of collecting fines and fees,” one for each county and its courts, she said. She cited an instance in which a local businessman was arrested for nonpayment of a fine he, in good faith, thought he had paid more than 10 years ago in another part of the state.     2-28-2022 Monique Jones 220348

4 Cheapest Countries To Travel To In 2022-23 – Study International News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/4-cheapest-countries-to-travel-to-in-2022-23-study-international-news/ A new place brings not just escape, but rest and rejuvenation — even in the cheapest countries to travel to. Being on a budget may not be as restrictive as you think. There are lots of countries to visit that are cheap and affordable. In these countries, you can enjoy cheap and delicious food, favourable exchange rates, campsites, and affordable accommodation whether you’re travelling alone or with friends. You can do something you haven’t done too — maybe through the many cheap and free activities you didn’t even know existed. After two years or more of lockdowns, it’s time to travel far. And the good news is you don’t have to spend much at any one of the cheapest countries to travel to: Phi Phi Islands is known for its sandy beaches, clear blue water and its colourful marine life. Source: Mladen Antonov/AFP Cheapest countries to travel to Thailand  Thailand is a vibrant country with culture, history, sparkling temples, spicy cuisine, tropical beaches and legendary nightlife. It’s a tourist’s paradise, especially for those on a budget.  Expect to pay less than US$4 for a single portion of tom yum, green curry, pad thai and pad kra pao from mid-range restaurants. Accommodation in Thailand ranges from US$23 to US$131 per night depending on how well equipped it is. Most tourists spend around U$S21 to US$43 per day on transport, food and activities. If you’re not into the hustle and bustle of a sprawling megacity, ditch Bangkok for Phi Phi Islands’s white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. There are six islands that make up Phi Phi Islands. Mixed with lush greenery and mountainous terrain, this is a place of stunning beauty. Not bad for one of the cheapest destinations. Bogota, the capital of Colombia, is known as the city that produces the world’s finest Emeralds. Source: Guillermo Legaria/AFP Colombia Colombia is becoming more and more friendly to tourists from all countries. Colombia’s Caribbean coastline, towering Andean mountains, and mysterious Amazonian jungle make it one of South America’s most exotic and fascinating countries. The Caribbean, Spanish and indigenous cultures blend to create delicious cuisine, stunning colonial architecture and the warmest and most beautiful people. One of the country’s most famous cities is its capital, Bogota, which is charming, quaint and welcoming. Bogota is a city full of art that dazzle, from bright graffiti-covered city streets to the Botero Museum. Accommodation and transportation are affordable, and there are many options available depending on your budget.  Hotels range from US$29 to US$153 per night, while most vacation rentals will cost US$50 to US$440 per night for the entire home. As for other expenses such as transportation, activities and food, you should budget an average of US$25 to US$52 per day. Surfers from all around the world travel to Bali for their world-famous waves. Source: Sonny Tumbelaka/AFP Indonesia Thousands of islands, hundreds of languages, white sandy beaches and bubbling volcanoes. Indonesia’s rich diversity is the ideal gateway for a relaxing trip. With so much to offer travellers, there are plenty of free and affordable activities to experience the best of Indonesia. Indonesia has over 1,000 islands but is most known for Bali, the “Island of the Gods.” It has sublime beaches, many temples, glorious food and majestic scenery. Overlook the bad traffic and make your way to like snorkelling, surfing and yoga on the beach. As one of the most affordable travel destinations, you can find expect to find cheap accommodation, food and activities here. Prices of hotels in Indonesia range between US$24 to US$154 depending on the hotel. To save on food, head to roadside stalls (known locally as “warungs”) for spring rolls, grilled seafood or “nasi pedas” (translated as spicy rice). The Bayon Temple is one of the most famous temples in Angkor Wat. Source: Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP Cambodia Perfect for small budgets, Cambodia offers a distinctly Southeast Asian experience with affordable accommodation, food and transportation.  The country is known for many things, including being the filming site for the movie King Kong and being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But what makes Cambodia unique is its thousands of temples, the most famous being Angkor Wat. The most popular tourist destinations in Cambodia are Monkey Island and Siem Reap which also offers affordable accommodation, dining, transportation and entertainment. Tourists usually explore the city by foot as most of Siem Reap’s attractions are within walking distance. Tuk-tuks are also available and are an inexpensive way to get around in. On average, one day in Cambodia should cost you around US$49 for food, transportation and accommodation. A budget meal only costs between US$2.70 to US$6. %

Hardies Acquires BDG Thomson Gray – Scottish Business News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/hardies-acquires-bdg-thomson-gray-scottish-business-news/ HARDIES Property & Construction Consultants has acquired long-established Aberdeen-based Quantity Surveying practice BDG Thomson Gray. A strategic move, the acquisition bolsters Hardies’ service offering in the northeast, where it did not have a QS department. Founded in 1885, BDG Thomson Gray is one of the oldest quantity surveying practices in Scotland, specialising in Quantity Surveying, Project Management, Principal Designer and Dispute Resolution. The acquisition sees BDG Thomson Gray owner Shirley Thomson become a Partner in Hardies with responsibility for running its Quantity Surveying department in Aberdeen. She will also head its Dispute Resolution department. A leading figure in the dispute sector, Ms Thomson is appointed to the RICS Chairman’s panel of Adjudicators. Commenting on the acquisition, Hardies’ Senior Partner, Danny McArthur, said: “We have witnessed continued growth in our Aberdeen office over recent years. This deal strengthens our position in the northeast of Scotland and provides additional local support to our and BDG Thomson Gray’s clients. “Shirley coming on board significantly increases our service offering in Dispute Services which was an area identified in our growth plan. A well-known figure in the Aberdeen area, we are delighted to have Shirley join our team.” Ms Thomson added: “What appealed about this deal is that Hardies share our thinking in terms of the quality of service we deliver and how we look after and develop our staff. We regard this deal as a tremendous opportunity that enables us to expand the range of projects we can undertake for existing and new clients.” The acquisition follows Hardies’ announcement earlier this year of an ambitious expansion strategy that has seen it open three new offices across the UK. The new offices in Belfast, Leeds, and London, which take its office network to 13 locations, formed the first phase of a development strategy executed on the back of a series of major successful project wins across the UK and Ireland over recent years. With experience in all sectors working on the smallest to the largest projects the country has to offer, Hardies’ core services include Building Surveying, Quantity Surveying, Project Management, Principal Designer/Health & Safety Advisor, Energy Surveying and Housing Services. Combined with sister firm, Shepherd Chartered Surveyors, with specialisms in residential valuation, commercial property management, agency, valuation and auction services, the two entities form a national practice unrivalled in its delivery network of surveying services throughout Scotland. Combined the firms now have 41 offices across the UK.