Benton County News Now

Can Crypto Make The World A Better Place? – TechCrunch https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/can-crypto-make-the-world-a-better-place-techcrunch/ Image Credits: TechCrunch The crypto world has never shied away from making big promises, but as the industry matures and its audience widens, now’s a good time to take a step back and look at how the space is delivering on its vision. Welcome to Chain Reaction, where we unpack and explain the latest in crypto news, drama and trends, breaking things down block by block for the crypto curious. For our Tuesday episode this week, where we interview an expert in the crypto space, we chatted with Kevin Owocki. Kevin is the founder of Gitcoin and an outspoken proponent of both open source software and decentralized governance. We spoke with Owocki about whether the crypto community is living up to its lofty ideals and what comes next for Ethereum after The Merge.  In our episode, we also discussed: How venture capitalists should be incentivizing the creation of more publicly beneficial blockchain infrastructure, and what still needs to be built. Whether technology is enough to solve some of the societal problems blockchain developers and advocates are frequently passionate about. Chain Reaction comes out every Tuesday and Thursday at 12:00 p.m. PDT, so be sure to subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Overcast and Spotify to keep up with the action.

Puerto Rico Seeks U.S. Waiver As Diesel Dwindles After Storm – NPR https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/puerto-rico-seeks-u-s-waiver-as-diesel-dwindles-after-storm-npr/ A house lays in the mud after it was washed away by Hurricane Fiona at Villa Esperanza in Salinas, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Alejandro Granadillo/AP hide caption toggle caption Alejandro Granadillo/AP A house lays in the mud after it was washed away by Hurricane Fiona at Villa Esperanza in Salinas, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Alejandro Granadillo/AP SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Puerto Rico’s governor on Tuesday requested that the U.S. government waive a federal law to allow for more fuel shipments to the island amid concerns over a dwindling supply of diesel in the wake of Hurricane Fiona. Gov. Pedro Pierluisi warned that a shortage of fuel would affect public health, security and government functions in the U.S. territory. “Diesel supplies continue to decrease at a higher rate than previously anticipated, and shortages have been reported around the island,” he wrote. The law that Pierluisi references is the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, best known as the Jones act, which requires that all goods transported to Puerto Rico be aboard a ship built in the U.S., owned and crewed by U.S. citizens and flying the U.S. flag. The law has been waived during previous storms, but U.S. President Joe Biden has not responded to Pierluisi’s petition. Pierluisi’s letter comes as a British Petroleum ship with 300,000 barrels of diesel floats off Puerto Rico’s southern coast since Sunday, awaiting entry. The archbishop of San Juan, Roberto González Nieves, also appealed to Biden to waive the law, saying the measure makes Puerto Rico’s recovery and rebuilding difficult because it drives up prices for materials. He also said that despite officials claiming a majority of the island’s homes have power, “this does not match with our lived experience.” “If this is not attended to immediately, we will face a deeper crisis in Puerto Rico,” he wrote in a letter to the president. A group of Puerto Rico legislators, including the president of the island’s House of Representatives, were at a White House meeting with officials to urge a temporary waiver of the law amid concerns that elderly people could start dying like they did in the sweltering aftermath of Hurricane Maria, which struck as a Category 4 storm in September 2017. “Every minute counts in an emergency,” said Puerto Rico Rep. Eddie Charbonier. Local and federal official have long called for a permanent repeal of the Jones Act, saying it has driven up prices and crippled Puerto Rico’s economy. Pierluisi asked Biden for a waiver limited to the shipment of petroleum-derived products and liquefied natural gas to at least nine specific ports around the island. “This specifically targeted and temporary relief would allow Puerto Rico to diversity its fuel sources, ease supply constraints and mitigate the risk of a fuel shortage in the middle of the response to the emergency caused by Hurricane Fiona,” he wrote. The Category 1 storm slammed into the island’s southwest region on Sept. 18, sparking an island-wide blackout. As of Tuesday, power had been restored to more than 70% of 1.47 million clients, driving up demand for diesel as businesses, government agencies and homeowners continue to rely on generators. During a press conference on Tuesday, Josué Colón executive director of Puerto Rico’s Electric Power Authority, surprised many as he became emotional and wiped away tears as he spoke. “When you tell yourself, ‘We have to lift it up once again,’ you can’t stop thinking about family,'” he said, referring to the island’s power grid that was razed by Hurricane Maria in 2017 and pummeled by Fiona. Government officials have said 77% to 91% of clients might have power by Friday, adding on Tuesday that the remaining 9% in areas hardest hit by Fiona could be connected soon. “We hope within days,” said Daniel Hernández, an engineer with Luma, the private company that took over the island’s power transmission and distribution last year. “This is not María.” However, the governor warned during the press conference that “we still have a lot to do to completely recover.”

Intel, Samsung Display Showcase Slidable PC During Intel’s Innovation Keynote – The Indian Express https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/intel-samsung-display-showcase-slidable-pc-during-intels-innovation-keynote-the-indian-express/ During Intel’s Innovation keynote today, Intel and Samsung Display showed us what slidable PCs could look like in the future. Samsung Display CEO JS Choi appeared on the stage with a 13-inch tablet and converted it into a 17-inch display by simply sliding the screen. “We’re announcing the world’s first 17-inch slidable display for PCs. This device will satisfy various needs for a larger screen and portability as well”, said Choi during the keynote. It looks like Samsung will be opting for a sliding mechanism and ditch the concept of foldable PCs, at least for now. Before Microsoft dropped its support for Windows 10X on foldable devices, Intel had been working on and experimenting with various form factors like dual-screen and foldable PCs. While these form factors might seem appealing, they are not useful if the software support isn’t good enough. It is interesting to note that the recently revealed 13-inch display features a flexible display in addition to a sliding mechanism. Intel also announced a new software called Unison, which might help connect Intel-powered PCs to smartphones and said it is compatible with Android as well as iOS. Unison will enable users to make and answer calls, share files and photos, send and receive messages and get notifications on the phone. In case the software is not running, the notifications will be diverted to the Windows notification center. Coming back to slidable PCs, it looks like the device itself is just a concept for now. Moreover, there is no word from either Samsung Display or Intel if the PC will be available for general consumers.

Tuesday Night Scoreboard – Sept. 27 – KELOLAND.com https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/tuesday-night-scoreboard-sept-27-keloland-com/ SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Here are Tuesday’s results from across KELOLAND. Boys Soccer Aberdeen Central 7, Mitchell 1 Huron 1, Pierre 1 Jefferson 4, Harrisburg 0 O’Gorman 3, Tea Area 0 Vermillion 6, Freeman Academy 0 Girls Soccer Aberdeen Central 2, Mitchell 0 Brookings 3, Washington 1 Harrisburg 6, Jefferson 0 Pierre 8, Huron 0 Roosevelt 5, Yankton 2 Sioux Falls Christian 1, Vermillion 0 West Central 1, O’Gorman 0 Girls Tennis ESD Tennis Tournament Team Standings Watertown 282 Aberdeen Central 255 Pierre 214.5 Mitchell 164.5 Yankton 164 Brandon Valley 135.5 Huron 55.5 Harrisburg 18.5 Brookings 0 College Volleyball NDSU 3, USD 2 SDSU 3, UND 1 High School Volleyball Andes Central/Dakota Christian def. Colome, 16-25, 25-18, 25-13, 25-22 Baltic def. Dell Rapids St. Mary, 25-10, 25-16, 25-18 Canton def. West Central, 25-19, 25-13, 25-16 Colman-Egan def. Howard, 19-25, 25-13, 25-21, 25-19 DeSmet def. Clark/Willow Lake, 25-18, 25-22, 27-29 Dell Rapids def. Montrose, 25-23, 25-21, 25-17 Elkton-Lake Benton def. Flandreau, 25-16, 25-12, 25-14 Ethan def. Bridgewater-Emery, 25-14, 25-16, 25-15 Faulkton def. Langford, 25-6, 25-5, 25-12 Garretson def. Alcester-Hudson, 25-20, 25-21, 25-17 Hamlin def. Castlewood, 25-18, 25-15, 25-22 Harding County def. Dupree, 25-17, 22-25, 25-23, 15-24, 15-7 Harrisburg def. Sioux Falls Roosevelt, 25-18, 25-19, 25-18 Kimball/White Lake def. James Valley Christian, 25-16, 25-16, 25-16 Lennox def. Beresford, 26-24, 15-25, 25-14, 25-23 Madison def. Parker, 23-25, 25-13, 25-16, 25-12 Miller def. Chamberlain, 25-10, 25-11, 25-14 Rapid City Christian def. Pierre, 25-22, 25-17, 22-25, 25-21 Red Cloud def. Lead-Deadwood, 25-21, 16-25, 25-23, 25-17 Sioux Falls Jefferson def. Yankton, 25-16, 27-25, 25-19 Sioux Falls Lincoln def. Mitchell, 25-14, 25-22, 25-10 Tri-Valley def. Canistota, 25-18, 21-25, 25-20, 25-17 Warner def. Aberdeen Roncalli, 25-8, 25-20, 25-8 Wessington Springs def. Corsica/Stickney, 25-22, 25-21, 23-25, 25-17 Hay Springs Triangular Hay Springs, Neb. def. Edgemont, 25-15, 25-19 Hay Springs, Neb. def. Oelrichs, 25-13, 25-23 Boys Cross Country Sioux Valley Invite Flandreau 19 Madison 41 Deubrook Area 53 Sioux Valley 66 Great Plains Lutheran 90 Webster Area 97 Clark/Willow Lake 97 Girls Cross Country Sioux Valley Invite Clark/Willow Lake 31 Flandreau 33 Sioux Valley 42 Great Plains Lutheran 56 Madison 68 Webster Area 119 Boys Golf Metro Championship Team Results 1. O’Gorman +11 2. Harrisburg +14 3. Lincoln +32 4. Jefferson +42 5. Brandon Valley +48 6. Washington +89 7. Roosevelt +108 Individual Leaderboard

Don’t Let Scammers Ruin Your End Of The Year Vacation By Following These BBB Tips – CBS 4 Indianapolis https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/dont-let-scammers-ruin-your-end-of-the-year-vacation-by-following-these-bbb-tips-cbs-4-indianapolis/ INDIANAPOLIS –  It’s about time to book your upcoming trip for the holidays. As we know, there’s always a chance for disruptions when you go to the airport. Adding to the frustrations, scammers are trying to trick you into spending money on a fake airline ticket. We investigated how scammers want to ruin your end of the year vacation and the steps you can take now, so this doesn’t happen to your family. The bustling airport is about to get even busier for the holidays. “Everyone is really hungry for seeing the world again,” said Shawn Hayes, the Owner of Travel with Shawn Hayes. But before you purchase your ticket, or pack up your suitcase, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has a scam warning. “We shouldn’t have that in this world nowadays,” said traveler Elizabeth Boyer, “It’s just sad and terrible.” Hayes considers herself a travel concierge, who helps people plan their dream vacations. She’s aware of the scams out there and knows how to avoid them. “I’ve had some new clients that have come to me and have been stuck,” said Hayes, “And they don’t want that to ever happen again.” The BBB scam tracker has received multiple reports of scammers creating fake airline ticket booking sites or customer service numbers to attempt to charge you for rescheduling fake flights. They’re using the uptick in canceled or delayed flights to take advantage of people at moments when they’re panicking to get where they need to go on time. “What’s happening is that they’re jumping on air fares online, so they do searches for particular flights, and you might get something back that says, round trip to Hawaii for $400. Well, that hasn’t been the case since 1976. That’s the truth,” explained Hayes. From January to July this year, U.S. airlines have cancelled almost 129,000 flights. That’s up 11 percent. Nearly a million flights have been delayed, according to Reuters. Scammers are taking notice. The better Business Bureau reports nearly 700 travel related scams in the last year.” “I believe that resulted in $1.4 million lost,” said Jennifer Adamany, the Director of Communications for BBB Serving Central Indiana. Adamany explained how the scam works. “Check it carefully,” she stressed. Shortly after making an online payment for a cheap flight, you receive a call saying there’s been a sudden price change to finalize your booking. Something the BBB says a legitimate company would never do. In another case your original flight was real, but the cancellation notice was fake. When you call the phony number to re-book, you’re not purchasing a new ticket, your giving away your money. “If you notice it’s generalized, that’s a red flag,” said Adamany, “You’ll want to double check the confirmation information in there, so if it does have your name, it does have a confirmation number – confirm with your actual receipt when you made the purchase to see that it matches.” We reached out to United, American, Allegiant and Southwest Airlines for a response to the scams. Southwest Airlines is the only one to respond saying it’s taken numerous steps toward supporting customers and preparing ahead of the holidays. In a statement, Southwest says, “Southwest fares are available for purchase only on through Southwest. We do not partner with any third parties, thus Customers should avoid any fares they find outside of Southwest.com.” Representatives for Southwest Airlines went on to say, “We have taken numerous steps toward supporting operational reliability and Flexibility for Customers throughout the busy Summer travel season and upcoming Fall holidays, including the following: Surpassing our total number of active, full-time equivalent Employees, with most in Operational roles directly supporting Customers and Employees. Boosting our Summer travel preparedness and modernizing the Customer Experience. Announcing an industry-first policy that Flight Credits don’t expire.” Experts stress the most important thing you can do is go directly to the source. Advice, that Boyer has used and will continue to. “I always contact the airline directly for any changes or any questions that way I don’t get scammed,” Boyer added. If you happen to come across one of these scams the BBB wants you to report it, to help alert them and others of what’s going on. You can visit the BBB Scam Tracker by clicking here. Here’s a look again at how to avoid these scams, according to the Better Business Bureau’s website: Do your research. If you come across a company you haven’t dealt with before, research it before making any purchases. Double check flight details before calling support. Scammers are blasting out fake airline cancellation emails and text messages that can easily be mistaken for the real deal. Confirm the information in the message, such as the flight and reservation numbers is correct before calling customer support.   Confirm the URL before you enter personal and payment information. It can be easy to click on a sponsored ad or impostor website without noticing. Before entering any sensitive information, double-check that you are on the right website and that the link is secure. Be wary of third-party websites. Some websites appear to offer a legitimate service but are only fronts for a scam. Be suspicious of websites with no working customer service number or physical address. Typos and grammatical errors can be indications of a scammer’s handiwork. Make online purchases with your credit card. %

Fast Company’s Website Shuts After Apple News Feed Was Hacked – CNBC https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/fast-companys-website-shuts-after-apple-news-feed-was-hacked-cnbc/ A sign with the apple logo of an Apple store on March 5, 2022, in Madrid, Spain. Several companies have closed their branches and stores in Russia after it invaded Ukraine. Inditex announced the temporary closure of its 502 stores in Russia. A. Perez Meca | Europa Press | Getty Images U.S. business and media publication Fast Company’s Apple News account was hacked on Tuesday evening, the company said, prompting it to shut down the website. Apple‘s Apple News, had also disabled their channel with the Fast Company, the news aggregator app said in a tweet. Hackers sent two “obscene and racist push notifications” about a minute apart, Fast Company said, adding, it had suspended the Apple News feed until the situation was resolved. “We are investigating the situation and have suspended the feed & shutdown FastCompany.com until we are certain the situation has been resolved,” the publication said its tweet. Fast Company’s website was down, with the page displaying a 404 error. Fast Company is owned by publishing firm Mansueto Ventures.

San Diego Declares Homelessness A Public Health Crisis. ‘Today, Our County Takes A Significant Step’ – The San Diego Union-Tribune https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/san-diego-declares-homelessness-a-public-health-crisis-today-our-county-takes-a-significant-step-the-san-diego-union-tribune/ The San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously declared homelessness a public health crisis Tuesday, a move the board said will create a more unified, regional approach to the problem. In another unanimous vote, supervisors also approved a $3 million pilot program to provide $500 a month to 220 seniors to help them avoid homelessness over 18 months. “A public health approach to homelessness will help align efforts, share resources, and more purposefully help address the root causes of housing instability and health on a large scale with a humane response,” said Vice Chair Nora Vargas, who with Chairman Nathan Fletcher introduced the policy. “Today, our county takes a significant step, by serving as a regional convener, bringing cities, business organizations and service providers together in a collaborative effort to develop innovative, sustainable, long-term solutions to prevent and end homelessness.” While the declaration itself does not create new programs or generate new funding, supervisors said it would elevate homelessness as a regional issue and call attention to the health aspects of the problem. A count conducted in February found 8,427 homeless people throughout the county, with more than half living without shelter. The Regional Task Force on Homelessness, which conducts the count, found 14 percent of homeless people have chronic health conditions, 18 percent have mental health conditions, 12 percent have physical disabilities, 13 percent have substance use disorders and about 25 percent are 55 and older. Following the vote, Father Joe’s Villages President and CEO Deacon Jim Vargas issued a statement in support of the declaration. “Together, we can solve the crisis of homelessness, but we must move out of disciplinary and jurisdictional silos to collaborate and work as partners with measurable goals, he said. “This declaration is a key step to drive further collaboration between our local jurisdictions, homeless services providers, health care professionals, and others to develop resources and a comprehensive approach.” During the meeting, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria’s chief of staff Nick Serrano spoke in support of the declaration and said all levels of government should work together on the issue. Jordan Beane, director of policy and communications for the Regional Task Force on Homelessness, called the declaration incredibly important. ”One thing is clear,” Beane said. “Simply being without a home is a dangerous health crisis.” Homeless advocate Martha Sullivan called into the meeting in support of the policy and said the county Medical Examiner’s Office had reported 495 deaths of homeless people in 2021, up from 334 in 2020. Fletcher said the county has become more involved than ever in working on solutions to homelessness, but more needs to be done regionally. “The easiest thing in the world is for folks to stand up and say, ‘Not here, not there, not this program or not this program,’” he said about the resistance some communities have put up to shelters and services. “The hard, difficult work is putting in place things that, while imperfect, will actually help get people off the street and get people the services and help and support they need.” Most callers and public speakers were in support of the public health declaration and of the rent subsidy program for seniors facing homelessness. Providing some background on the subsidy proposal, Serving Seniors President and CEO Paul Downey spoke before the board and said his organization had released a needs assessment report last year and found many seniors said another $300 a month would stabilize their housing situation. Downey said 80 percent of 400 seniors interviewed in the assessment said they faced housing instability because of economic reasons. Beane told supervisors that the latest count by the Regional Task Force on Homelessness found about 25 percent of homeless people on the street were 55 or older, and the oldest person counted this year was 87. “When it’s just a few hundred dollars, we should do everything we can to fill that gap,” he said about the rent subsidy. “The easiest way to solve homelessness is to make sure nobody experiences it in the first place.” Sullivan, the homeless advocate who had supported the public health declaration, also called in to voice support of the subsidy program, but said she was disappointed that payments would not begin until next March. “The urgency is dire,” she said. “These folks don’t have until March. There’s a lot of folks who are going to become homeless waiting for this. And I’m very dismayed it’s only 220 households.” To qualify for the subsidy, an applicant must be at least 55 years old and the head of household. The applicant’s household income may not exceed 50 percent of the area median income, and the household must be severely rent-burdened, which is defined as paying more than 50 percent of household income towards housing. During the pilot program, preference will be given to applicants 60 years or older whose income is at or below 30 percent of the area median income and to seniors who live within one of the 39 Health Equity Zip Codes, areas identified as having some of the poorest access to healthy living conditions.

Hear Both Sides Of Prop. 27: Allowing Online Sports Betting Throughout California – The San Diego Union-Tribune https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/hear-both-sides-of-prop-27-allowing-online-sports-betting-throughout-california-the-san-diego-union-tribune/ Welcome to the San Diego News Fix. I’m Kristy Totten.This week the News Fix is focusing on California ballot measures. Today you’ll hear more about Prop. 27, which would allow online and mobile sports betting outside of tribal lands. Fees from revenues would go to homeless services throughout the state. The measure is funded by online betting companies FanDuel and DraftKings. It is supported by some advocates for the homeless and the mayors of Fresno, Oakland, Sacramento and Long Beach. It is opposed by a long list of tribes and tribal casinos, the California Teachers Association and many others. Both campaigns have websites you can visit for more information. In this episode, you’ll first hear from Yes on 27, followed by No on 27. Listen on the player above or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can find more election coverage here.

Ineffective Copyright Protection In The Metaverse | India Business Law – Law.asia https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/ineffective-copyright-protection-in-the-metaverse-india-business-law-law-asia/ Pooja Entertainment recently purchased virtual land, naming it Poojaverse, to promote its release of Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, the first Hindi film released in the metaverse. This unprecedented move proves film producers are tapping into and utilising new and evolving mediums and markets to maximise the viewership of their content. The metaverse is the digital twin of the physical world, where people can create avatars, place them in virtual spaces, and manipulate them with virtual reality, augmented reality and artificial intelligence tools, effectively living a virtual life. To understand copyright issues in the metaverse, it is important to distinguish between an open and closed metaverse. An open metaverse consists of platforms where users can create new features such as buildings and marketplaces, such as Decentraland. A closed metaverse features platforms where users cannot create additional elements, and one company owns and manages all aspects of a platform such as the video game Fortnite. As the metaverse is itself a software computer programme, it enjoys copyright protection under the Indian Copyright Act, 1957 (act). What remains to be ascertained and assessed is the copyright protection in the elements created in the metaverse. In answering this it can be said that in a closed metaverse, the platform owner owns all the elements within that platform since the users do not have autonomy to create any works/features. However, the challenge is to ascertain who owns the copyright in works created in an open metaverse – Whether it is the platform owners or the real-world creators, or whether through avatars or otherwise, or both may claim to be the owners of such works? Anushree Yewale Associate partner TMT Law Practice Under the act, unless there is any contract to the contrary limiting the use of the platform, the author of the works is the owner of the copyright in such works. Accordingly, the real person or entity creating the work is to be regarded as the author of the work, and hence its owner. Logically, it is in the interests of open metaverse platform owners that the users are indeed the owners of the copyright of the works they create, thus making platform owners intermediaries only and absolving them of liability for any infringement. To complicate matters further, in the metaverse, the boundaries of content exploitation are blurred as multiple rights of several persons are being exploited simultaneously. For example, a metaverse music concert may require a public performance licence as well as a reproduction licence, since the concert is being streamed in the real world albeit virtually. It may therefore be difficult to identify the rights to be granted for exploitation of content in the metaverse given the overlap of rights and use. If a third party shares any work generated outside the metaverse, that is in the real world, within the metaverse, without permission from the copyright owner, such exploitation would amount to copyright infringement. One such example of infringement was where luxury brand Hermès sued an artist for making and selling copies in the metaverse as NFTs. However, the position changes for works created within the metaverse. The identities of those claiming to be copyright owners and of the infringer are usually unknown, making it extremely difficult for real-world copyright owners to identify and pursue the individuals involved. Further, if copyright owners bring infringement cases where they are domiciled, any relief granted may be restricted within territorial boundaries and therefore ineffective. There is a need for jurisdictions to put in place international agreements and guidelines to regulate such matters. Given the absence of boundaries in the metaverse, it is also difficult to determine whether any use of content without permission amounts to fair use. The extent and co-existence of multiple metaverses may lead to the real-world tests of fair use, that is the purpose and character of the work, the nature of the work, the portion of the work used and the effect on market value, losing their effect. The challenges in the metaverse are to identify the owner of the copyright of the content in the metaverse, to ascertain the manner and extent of infringement and to know who the infringer is. It is also difficult to decide which forums should hear cases and the extent of the remedies to be granted to copyright owners. It is urgent that existing legal mechanisms be amended in order to protect copyright holders in the ever-expanding and unregulated virtual space that is the metaverse. Anushree Yewale is an associate partner and Krishi Shah is an associate at TMT Law Practice. TMT Law Practice C-2/39, Safdarjung Development Area, adjacent to Aurobindo Market New Delhi-110 016, India Contact details: Tel: +91 (11) 26512813 +91 (11) 41682996 Email: Info@tmtlaw.co.in

The Best Holiday Cyber Security Tips & Tricks – Privacy News Online https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/the-best-holiday-cyber-security-tips-tricks-privacy-news-online/ Holiday cyber security often gets forgotten about among the rush of packing, planning, and travel excitement. Yet, it’s one of the most important, and at the same time the easiest to-do list entries to prepare for. Want to know how? We’ll give you top tips and tricks to protect your devices and data during your holiday to make sipping on a cocktail much sweeter. We even threw in cyber security tips for the holiday season, particularly for safe gift shopping, to save you from scammers pushing under your Christmas tree. Cyber Security As the #1 Thing on Your Holiday To-Do List Eager to go on holiday, you’re less suspicious of possible vulnerabilities you’re exposed to. According to McAfee, 44.5% of holiday-goers use unsecured Wi-Fi networks. Yet, over half of survey respondents worry about identity theft! This could show people don’t know how to protect themselves on holiday. Your smart home is exposed to cyberattacks while you’re away too. Which? recent research proved attackers perform over 12,000 IoT hacking attempts every week. Though most of them are unsuccessful, printers and security cameras tend to be the weakest link in your network. The culprit here is their default username and password. Check you secured your devices before leaving! If summer scams weren’t enough, you also need to watch over your shoulder during the holidays. Non-payment and non-delivery scams cost their victims over $265 million in 2020, IC3 reports. Credit card fraud lost an extra $129 million. It doesn’t mean you’re doomed every time the holiday season comes around. All you need is a few new cyber security habits to protect your devices and data from anywhere. Update Software and Download Latest Security Patches Before departure, check your devices are up to date. Software updates fix existing vulnerabilities to stop hackers from breaking into your electronic network.  You should also enable automatic updates, especially if you forget to download them manually. This regularly scans and downloads the latest updates as you travel, maximizing your cyber security.  Change Your Wi-Fi’s Name Your Wi-Fi name may create an easy entryway for cybercriminals Your Wi-Fi’s default name, like TalkTalk123 or SKY4935, lets hackers identify which provider you’re using and research its easiest entry points. Renaming your Wi-Fi to something random, eg. BringPizza4WiFiPassword, creates a stronger barrier between you and hackers. Why? Because it has no information about you or your ISP. The best thing is you can get creative — as long as you don’t use identifiable phrases. While you’re at it, your Wi-Fi password could also use a refresh — 12 (ideally 16) characters including numbers, uppercase & lowercase letters, as well symbols should do the trick. Enable Strong Encryption on Every Device Encryption turns your data into a string of random characters. The combination is impossible to decipher without a digital key, so cybercriminals won’t glimpse at your information!   Most modern devices have built-in encryption available in their settings. However, you can boost your data protection with a VPN. Connecting to a VPN adds a layer of encryption to your internet traffic. It also provides better anonymity, because it’s an independent service — so it doesn’t report to anyone.  You can install PIA on your router to protect your entire network without extra charges. Switch it on before you jet off, and you won’t have to worry about hackers taking control of your devices while you’re gone. Create a Data Backup for All Devices A data backup ensures you won’t lose important information no matter what What’s worse than losing your devices? Losing documents, photos, videos, and other stored data. Creating a data backup before you leave is an easy way to save important files to the cloud or external memory so they’re safe even if your devices get stolen, damaged, or misplaced. Change Your Passwords and Enable Two-Factor Authentication If you don’t change your passwords every three months, do it before leaving on holiday. Cybercriminals continuously run brute force attacks on online accounts, but you can reset their progress when you switch up your passwords. For better protection, enable multiple-factor authentication. Even if hackers manage to guess your password, the authenticator blocks them as only you can access it. As exciting as it is, don’t post about your holiday until it’s over. Cyberpunks and other criminals actively scan social media for any details about when you’re away and mark you as a target.  If you can’t wait, use messaging apps with end-to-end encryption, such as WhatsApp. This hides all messages and lets you securely make your coworkers green with envy — as long as you have a group chat.  Alternatively, get stronger encryption on your entire device with a VPN. Doing so keeps you invisible online and stops persistent cybercriminals from leaking your data when you’re using the internet. Including public Wi-Fi!  Best Cyber Security Tips for Holiday Endeavors Reduce The Number of Devices You Use Going on holiday doesn’t mean you need to live off-grid, but you should limit the devices you’re taking with you to the minimum. Doing so dramatically reduces the risk of losing them or having them stolen.  Turn On “Find My Phone” Settings Losing your device is one of the most stressful experiences, whether you misplace it or have it stolen. Luckily, mobile devices come with a handy “Find my phone” feature letting you pinpoint where your phone or tablet is. If your devices don’t have it built-in, Google Play and the App Store offer multiple third-party apps with the same functionality. Our top picks include Prey Anti-Theft and Cerberus, but the choice is limitless. Disable Location Services When You Don’t Need It Navigation often makes it easy for hackers to spy on your location. This applies even to saved locations in your photo gallery!  Use your GPS when navigating unknown territory and turn it off when you don’t need it. You should also refrain from “checking in” to restaurants, bars, hotels, beaches, and other places you visit on Facebook and social media. Use Your Own Devices, Chargers, Cables, and Power Adapters It’s easy to forget your batteries, chargers, or other items necessary to power your devices. The obvious solution seems to be widely available cords in public spaces or even your hotel — but it’s not smart.  Cables, power adapters, and USB ports may contain malware. They can infect your devices as soon as you plug them in, giving attackers an entry to the entire system.  The same goes for public computers or tablets at hotels or libraries. Even if they’re not malicious, cookies and trackers still record your online activity. If you really need to use a public device, don’t log in to any vulnerable or personal accounts. Don’t charge your devices with malware instead of electricity Don’t Use Public Wi-Fi Unless Absolutely Necessary Public Wi-Fi is a playground for snoopers and hackers as they use it to spy on unsuspecting travelers. They often steal any data you share and perform man-in-the-middle attacks — usually without you noticing. This may even happen on the internet at your hotel.  In an ideal world, you’d use your mobile data when traveling. But since it’s not always possible, get a VPN to stay safe on public Wi-Fi. A VPN encrypts the internet traffic passing through your device. It’s a guaranteed way to avoid nasty surprises like identity theft without compromising on your speeds or bandwidth.  As a bonus, a VPN also helps you bypass geoblocks, so you can still access services and sites from back home without issues. Watch Out for Over-the-Shoulder Data Thieves Despite hackers coming up with more sophisticated attacks every day, traditional shoulder surfers are still thriving. They often hang out in public spaces, including the pool in your hotel, trying to steal any data you may share by looking over your shoulder.  Sometimes it can be difficult to spot them, especially if you’re in a crowded space — but you can use cool gadgets to help. My favorite is a screen protector you stick on, which makes your screen completely dark for anyone who’s not looking directly into it. They’re super affordable too! Secure Holiday Season Purchases With Cyber Security Tricks Use Credit Cards or PayPal to Complete Purchases The holidays give malicious actors a great opportunity to trick you into purchasing highly discounted items without sending them to you. To avoid disappointment, use credit cards, PayPal, Klarna, or another form of secure payment. These companies let you pay using credit, which you pay off over time. However, if you don’t receive the item or something goes wrong, contact the credit provider and ask them to remove the charge — so you won’t lose your money. Spot Phishing Messages and Avoid Scams It’s easier to disguise a phishing message among holiday marketing emails, so you need to learn how to spot a fake email, text, or phone call quickly. Before you click on any links, check the sender’s details. Watch out for spelling mistakes or random capitalization in the middle of a word. You should also verify it came from a real company by looking up their contact details. Phone calls are trickier as you can’t confirm how legitimate they are straight away. Even if your phone shows a Caller ID, refrain from sharing your details over the phone. Instead, hang up and call the retailer using the number found on its website.  Shop From Verified and Trusted Online Retailers Supporting small shops is great, but make sure they’re safe When shopping online, pay attention to URLs. Secure websites have “https://” at the front, which means the platform protects you with encryption. “Http://” is not the same thing — the “s” i...

UFC Fighter El Ninja To Become First Argentinian Athlete Paid In Crypto – Cointelegraph https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/ufc-fighter-el-ninja-to-become-first-argentinian-athlete-paid-in-crypto-cointelegraph/ Beyond the Octagon, Guido Cannetti fights Argentina’s 78% inflation rate with USDC stablecoin. 717 Total views 33 Total shares Guido Cannetti, an Argentinian Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter, is now the first martial arts athlete in the country to receive 100% of his salary in stablecoins, amid rising inflation and Argentina’s economic deteriorating, announced the crypto payroll company Bitwage on Monday. Dubbed El Ninja, he returns to the Octagon on October 1st in the United States to face the local fighter Randy Costa. According to Bitwage, Guido will receive his payment in USDC stablecoin via the Stellar Network on Vibrant, a wallet application developed by the Stellar team specifically for Argentines experiencing inflation. As per official government figures’, inflation in the 12 months through August was 78.5% in the country, whereas prices in the first eight months of the year were up 56.4%. Argentina’s central bank predicted a 95% inflation rate for the year, while some private analysts forecasted a 100% inflation rate in 2022. “I am getting paid in USDC because it is safer for my future,” said Cannetti in a statement released by Bitwage, noting that stablecoins will spare him from the volatility and devaluation of local currency. Among Argentine consumers surveyed by Americas Market Intelligence in April, 51% purchased crypto and 27% regularly bought cryptocurrencies, up from 12% adoption at the end of 2021. Inflation protection is the primary reason for 67% of respondents’ purchases of cryptocurrencies. US dollar-pegged stablecoin prices surged in July following Martin Guzman’s abrupt resignation as Economy Minister. His fiscal policies aimed at reducing budget deficits and tightening monetary policy divided opinions in Argentina’s government. In the country’s black-market, the exchange rate was at 287 pesos per dollar at press time, according to the website DolarHoy.

U.S. Lawmakers Want Biden Order Boosting Oversight Of Outbound Investment In China – Reuters https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/u-s-lawmakers-want-biden-order-boosting-oversight-of-outbound-investment-in-china-reuters/ WASHINGTON, Sept 27 (Reuters) – A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday called on President Joe Biden to issue an executive order to boost oversight of investments by U.S. companies and individuals in China and other countries. The lawmakers including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Senator John Cornyn urged Biden to issue an order to “safeguard our national security and supply chain resiliency on outbound investments to foreign adversaries.” Congress has been considering legislation that would give the U.S. government sweeping new powers to block billions in U.S. outbound investments into China. The proposal was removed from bipartisan legislation to subsidize U.S. semiconductor chips manufacturing and research in a bill approved in August. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com The lawmakers, including Democrats Bill Pascrell, House Appropriations chair Rosa DeLauro, Senator Bob Casey and Republicans Brian Fitzpatrick and Victoria Spartz, said in a letter to Biden that as negotiations continue, “our national security cannot afford to wait.” They urged the president “to safeguard our national security and supply chain resiliency on outbound investments to foreign adversaries.” The White House did not comment. In Washington, Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy, said, “The allegation that China is hurting the interests of American workers is completely wrong.” The United States “should maintain the stability of the global industrial and supply chains rather than pick on China from time to time,” the official added. White House national security official Peter Harrell said this month that the Biden administration has not made a final decision on a potential outbound investment mechanism regulating U.S. investments in China. Harrell stressed that any measure targeting such investments should be narrowly tailored to address gaps in existing U.S. authorities and specific national security risks. “When we cede our manufacturing power and technological know-how to foreign adversaries, we are hurting our economy, our global competitiveness, American workers, industry and national security. Government action on this front is long overdue to address the scope and magnitude of these serious risks we face as a country,” the lawmakers wrote. The Senate Banking Committee on Thursday will hold a hearing on outbound investment that will feature testimony from Cornyn, Casey and several former government officials among them Information Technology Industry Council Executive Vice President Robert Strayer. The proposed legislation is intended to give the government greater visibility into U.S. investments. It would be mandatory to notify the government of investments that may fall under the new regulations, and the United States could use existing authorities to stop investments, or mitigate risk. If no action is taken, the investment can move forward. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Mark Porter and David Gregorio Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Apple Drops Plan To Boost IPhone Production As Demand Falters-Bloomberg – Reuters https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/apple-drops-plan-to-boost-iphone-production-as-demand-falters-bloomberg-reuters/ Sept 27 (Reuters) – Apple Inc is dropping plans to increase production of its new iPhones this year after an anticipated surge in demand failed to materialize, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The company told suppliers to curtail efforts to increase assembly of its flagship iPhone 14 product family by as many as 6 million units in the second half of this year, Bloomberg reported. Instead, the Cupertino, California-headquartered company will aim to produce 90 million handsets for the period, nearly the same number as a year ago and in line with Apple’s original forecast this summer, the report said. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Apple did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Demand for the higher-priced iPhone 14 Pro models is stronger than for the entry-level versions and at least one Apple supplier is shifting production capacity from lower-priced iPhones to premium models, Bloomberg reported. Apple had this week said it would start manufacturing the iPhone 14, launched earlier this month, in India, as the tech giant moves some of its production away from China. read more Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Jahnavi Nidumolu and Juby Babu in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich and Savio D’Souza Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Benton County Will Throw Out Your Household Hazardous Materials – NBC Right Now https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/benton-county-will-throw-out-your-household-hazardous-materials-nbc-right-now/ BENTON COUNTY, Wash. — Benton County is hosting a household hazardous materials waste collection event on October 28 at the Fairgrounds. The event is completely free to county residents and operates on a first come, first served policy.  You can throw out your materials between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. in the main parking lot off 10th Avenue. However if capacity is reached before 6 p.m., the county may close early.  The event offers people a chance to safely throw out hazardous materials, but not everything is accepted. At the event, you CAN throw out: Paints Propane tanks  Cleaners  Less than 20 gallons of gasoline  A mix of gas and oil  Yard chemicals and fertilizers  Motor oils and antifreeze  Batteries  Fire extinguishers  Pool chemicals  At the event, you CANNOT throw out: Explosives and dynamite  Asbestos  Ammunition  Biohazards  Tires  Medicines  Electronics  Gasoline  Business/contractor waste  Fluorescent bulbs and tubes  CFL bulbs and tubes  Contact Benton County Solid Waste for more information at 509-786-5611.

A Lifetime Of Moments, Part Two – Warwick Beacon https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/a-lifetime-of-moments-part-two-warwick-beacon/ For my obituary, I want to be remembered for the small moments which have accumulated to form my life’s mosaic.  Hubby and I married when we were young, and, characteristically, got married over the October holiday so we would have the extra Monday off for our honeymoon in the cape before returning to our jobs.  Later that year, while visiting a friend who lived in Hollywood, California, I was chosen to be on the game show “All Star Secrets”, with Bob Eubanks as the host.  The premise included a panel of four “stars” and a disclosed secret.  The panelists, including me wearing a bright yellow shirt and broad grin, would have to guess which star the secret was about.  Having watched the show, I knew that the secret always belonged to the least likely candidate. The winning question was something like “This star always felt awkward as a child and did not socialize well.” The anti-answer was staring me in the face, Jed Allen, a star of the soap opera “The Days of our Lives” who appeared to be very sociable and graceful.  Of course, everyone was amazed that a man of his stature had ever felt awkward, and I won the show, which included a fifteen-day trip to five islands of Hawaii and $2600 in cash. It was this trip which Hubby and I used as our honeymoon, and we enjoyed every ocean wave, waterfall, luau, and volcanic tour made available to us.  Traveling the country, which was done as a child, morphed into international travel with my mother after my father passed away.  To him, traveling meant driving the Volkswagen van on the small, windy roads across America.  To my mother, it meant being on foreign soil truly experiencing a different culture, and I was glad to help her spend her money to do so.  (It appears that my father’s cheapness his whole life resulted in a hefty sum left over in their bank account once he passed away.)  On our first trip to Guatemala, we stayed in a village inn in Chichicastenango.  Although there was no electricity, we were provided a “manservant” who stood outside our door to light the candles and provide heated bath water.  My mother and I giggled at the thought of such a thing but did feel safe from the marauders who may have been cavorting outside our windows.  On a later trip to Costa Rica, where we stayed at a non-commercialized resort, we had great fun trying to fit in with the locals who had come to the area for a vacation.  Without either of us speaking a word of Spanish, we pointed to the foods we wanted in the Costa Rican buffet, boiled rabbit, gallo pinto (white rice and black beans sauteed in oil with diced onions, sweet peppers, and coriander,) fried plantains, and arroz con pollo, (sauteed rice with shredded chicken and diced vegetables.) On that trip, we went white water rafting, with my mom fully clothed in long pants, socks, sweatshirt, and jacket which became drenched in river. (I have a picture of her looking like a wet rat.) On a trip to England to get son, Francis settled at Cambridge University, my mother and I stood outside Buckingham Palace, in the rain, and she poked me in the eye with her umbrella, all caught by the camera. This confirmed my previously irrational fear that an umbrella could poke me in the eye.  (Fortunately, contrary to my phobia, I did NOT lose an eye.) I got to travel to Belize with my mom and family, and we almost lost son Steven to the alligators behind the ill-fitting fence meant to contain them at the “zoo”.  On a hike up to a shrine in Nicaragua the tour guide warned of impending possible mountain lion attacks.  Exhausted on the uphill trail, my mother lamented, “I hope one attacks me just so I can lay down”. Global travel with my mom defined my adulthood. These enriching, always enjoyable journeys into other countries taught me about the sanctity of life. Seeing that many of the residents we encountered were dirt poor, yet happy and sociable, confirmed that it is not the quantity and quality of possessions that makes one happy. %

Whatcom County Business Announcements – Whatcom News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/whatcom-county-business-announcements-whatcom-news/ WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — The following business announcements were recently received by Whatcom News. Ferndale Chamber of Commerce announces interim director Megan Juenemann The Ferndale Chamber of Commerce announced Megan Juenemann has been hired to serve as their interim executive director. Former Executive Director Anya Milton recently vacated the position to take a position with Bellingham Technical College. A press release said Juenemann began her new role on September 6th and is expected to retain it until the end of the year or at such time the Chamber board of directors appoint an executive director. According to Juenemann’s LinkedIn profile, she graduated from Western Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication. She had the title of director of marketing and communication with Jamie Shannon, Life Coach for Teens, in Bellingham beginning 2016. Advertisement Click for more information Advertisement Click for more information Lynden office of Brown & Brown Insurance adds to its ranks Stephen Couldry The Lynden office of Brown & Brown, located at 501 Front Street, announced that Stephen Couldry has joined their office. According to the announcement, Couldry will work with local businesses to develop employee benefits strategies to meet the needs of both the business and employees. Couldry also will provide advice and resources to support employers, CFOs and HR directors in their efforts to provide employee benefit solutions to their employees and their family members. A Lynden resident, Couldry is a youth leader at Blaine Christian Fellowship and volunteers for several at-risk youth non-profits. Whatcom Land Title Co. opening fourth branch in Ferndale Dave Paulette Ferndale will soon join the list of Whatcom Land Title branches which currently includes Bellingham, Blaine and Lynden with the opening of a new branch at 5616 3rd Avenue in Ferndale. According to a recent press release, the Ferndale branch will open Monday, October 3rd, and the branch’s hours will be 8am to 5pm on weekdays. The Ferndale branch will be staffed with title and escrow officers and assistants, recording officers and other support staff. Dave Paulette, title manager for the whole company, will be the Ferndale branch manager. Evergreen Goodwill partners with Comcast to open Lift Zone high-tech learning space in Bellingham, grand opening planned Evergreen Goodwill and Comcast are prepared to help of families across Whatcom County access online resources and digital skills needed for education and employment with free WiFi, access to laptop computers and more at the recently opened Lift Zone & Community Space. Advertisement Click for more information Advertisement Click for more information Advertisement Click for more information Advertisement Click for more information The Lift Zone was made possible through a Comcast investment of more than $100,000 and it is located at Evergreen Goodwill’s Whatcom County Job Training and Education Center. According to Comcast, a Lift Zone is a facility primarily designed to help provide low-income individuals with a safe, clean space to participate in distance learning during the day or to do homework before or after school. However, adults, seniors and veterans can also use the site for remote work, to look for or apply for a job, or learn digital skills. The space features new, cutting-edge technology enhancements and will be used for a variety of online and hybrid meetings, nonprofit community partner programming, and soon, online and hybrid job training classes. The grand opening for the new Lift Zone in Bellingham is scheduled from noon to 3pm on Thursday, September 29th at Evergreen Goodwill’s Whatcom County Job Training & Education Center, 1115 E Sunset Drive in Bellingham.

I Tried Following New Zealand’s Healthy Eating Guidelines And Failed Miserably – Stuff https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/i-tried-following-new-zealands-healthy-eating-guidelines-and-failed-miserably-stuff/ Lyric Waiwiri-Smith is a lifestyle reporter who drinks 3L of water but is not getting her 5+ a day. OPINION: After spending a number of days trying to figure out if plant-based food alternatives count towards our 5+ a day, I was met with a very troubling realisation: I am not eating enough veges. We’ve all been taught the golden 5+ a day rule – eat three vegetables and two fruits a day, and you’ll be on the right track to achieving a healthy lifestyle. As it turns out, the recommendations on eating and living well are a little more complex than shoving greens into your gob. READ MORE: * Energy needs decrease with age, so what you eat is even more important * Are we taking clean eating too far? * Get a healthy gut by eating these three things Lyric Waiwiri-Smith/Stuff My week of following the healthy eating and activity guidelines. The Ministry of Health’s (MoH) Eating and Activity Guidelines contain recommendations for daily servings of grains, proteins, and milk products as well as fruits and veg, and the number of suggested servings differs between gender and age groups. As a 22-year-old female, I’m supposed to work in five servings of vegetables, two of fruit, six servings of grains, two and a half servings of protein, and another two and a half of milk products – every day. Proteins in the MoH’s guidelines include “some legumes, nuts, seeds, fish and other seafood, eggs, poultry and/or red meat with the fat removed.” I’m also meant to limit the amount of salt, saturated fats, and sugar, focus on wholefoods and get in 2.1L of water a day. I tasked myself with the goal of following these guidelines for a week, hoping to transform my life with a government approved way of living. Lyric Waiwiri-Smith/Stuff Chicken salad from a kebab shop – one serving of protein, one serving of grains, and three servings of veg in one meal. A regular day of eating for me would see me get half my recommended veges and grains. My protein serves were fulfilled but my milk product servings would often go overboard. I made it my mission to target whole veges and grains in my meals. I have a tendency to lose my appetite in the middle of the day if I’m stressed or dealing with a busy work day, which means I often skip lunch (although I always have breakfast and dinner). Missing a meal made it near impossible to get in the full list of recommendations. At one point I was so worried about not meeting my daily vegetable intake I ate corn with porridge for breakfast (it actually tasted pretty good). Another day, I counted avocado as part of my veggie serve and didn’t realise until after it’s actually a fruit. Cottage pies and curries became regular menu items as they contained as many as three servings of vegetables and two serves of grain, while smoothies helped me meet my milk, grain, and fruit serves. Lyric Waiwiri-Smith/Stuff Cereal with yoghurt and fruit – one serving of grain, one serving of milk products, and one serving of fruit. While my fruit and vegetables were successfully on the rise, my grains were still lacking. The idea of needing to double my usual intake was easily the most daunting aspect of this healthy eating, and I never managed a day when I ate all six servings. Grains aren’t exactly a food group that is found in abundance in my household. My boyfriend has coeliac disease (he can’t eat gluten) so our pantry only consists of gluten-free pastas and white rice (do gluten-free alternatives have different serving sizes?). It wasn’t just fitting the grains into a meal that caused issues. I deal with frequent painful bloating, and after eating each meal I felt like my stomach was swelling up to the size of a balloon. Unfortunately, the discomfort and bloating didn’t ease up the whole week. Lyric Waiwiri-Smith/Stuff Omelette with bread (not pictured) – one serving of protein, two servings of veg, and two servings of grain. Because I was so focused on veges and grains, I often ignored working milk products into my diet unless it was the yoghurt I paired with my morning cereal. On average, each day of my trial week, I would eat four servings of vegetables, one serving of fruit, three servings of grains, two servings of proteins, and one and a half servings of milk products. There wasn’t a single day when I managed every recommended serving from every food group. Nutritionist Lillian Morton says the MoH base their guidelines on a wide range of research to see how our portion sizes in food groups can improve our health. “It’s based on a whole truck load of research that they’ve pulled together and said, ‘if you do this, this will keep you healthy’.” Lyric Waiwiri-Smith/Stuff Chicken curry with rice and veges- one serving of proteins, two servings of veg, and one a half serving of grains. Morton suggests my method of suddenly increasing servings may have stressed out my gut. “The gut is quite a complicated organism, so when you eat a lot of something there are all these receptors in the stomach and the gut that your body regulates,” Morton says. “When you don’t eat a lot of grains, and you suddenly introduce new foods to your diet, your stomach actually takes a while to recalibrate. “Whole grains have a lot of fibre, and fibre is amazing for the gut, but it does make you feel bloated because it ferments in the large intestine. You’ve also added more fibre with the fruit and veg, so you’ve got way more fibre and that takes a lot of digestion. “It does come right, it’s just how your body works … you get a bit symptomatic and think ‘grains don’t agree with me’ rather than just persisting. “Going from nothing to a hundred is quite a lot for the gut to deal with. Maybe go for three grain serves and two vegetable serves if you’re starting from nothing, and then increase it slowly.” She says her simple hack to sneak more whole foods into our diets is to make every meal colourful. “My phrase is ‘touch the rainbow, be the rainbow’, so include colour at every meal,” Morton says. “Many Kiwis have what I call a ‘beige diet’ – pasta and mince, bangers and mash – it’s just about adding some berries to your breakfast, having some salad ingredients in your sandwiches and wraps, adding mixed veges if you’re having tuna and rice. Just try to have colour at every meal.”

Brazil And Neymar Show They’re Fully World Cup Ready After Thrashing Tunisia – CBS Sports https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/brazil-and-neymar-show-theyre-fully-world-cup-ready-after-thrashing-tunisia-cbs-sports/ PARIS — Brazil and talisman Neymar appear ready for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar later this year after a 5-1 demolition of Tunisia at Parc des Princes on Tuesday. The Parisian crowd heavily favored the Eagles of Carthage, but it was the Selecao Brasileira who demonstrated their potential title credentials. Barcelona’s Raphinha score twice as Tite’s men ran riot in the first half in the French capital while Richarlison added to his brace against Ghana with another goal and assist. Neymar was able to score in Brazilian colors at Paris Saint-Germain’s spiritual home from the penalty spot while Montassar Talbi provided consolation for the Tunisian contingent. The action was largely limited to the first half where Dylan Bronn was dismissed with a red card before things turned ugly as Richarlison became the victim of a thrown banana from a Tunisia-heavy crowd which was also ordered to stop targeting Brazilian players with lasers. However, the default “home” side did have an effort chalked off in the second half which would have cut the deficit before substitute Pedro got in on the act towards the end. The Brazilian Football Association issued a communique regarding the Richarlison incident in which they were “vehemently repudiating yet another episode of racism in football.” “The fight against racism is not a cause,” said Brazilian FA president Ednaldo Rodrigues. “But a fundamental change to wipe this type of crime from the planet. I insist on saying that the punishments need to be more severe.” On the field, however, based on the evidence provided by their 3-0 win over Ghana and this 5-1 romp in Paris, Brazil are ready for this World Cup. The five-time champions might be 20 years without success, but they seem primed to go far, starting from Group G alongside Serbia, Switzerland, and Cameroon. Ahead of that anticipated opener against the Serbs at Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail, several of Tite’s key men are in hot form. Neymar is the ringleader, but he is aided by the likes of Raphinha, Richarlison, Marquinhos and Casemiro who all contributed against Ghana and then Tunisia and the PSG man’s readiness is no surprise. The 30-year-old reported early for preseason training with Les Parisiens and has looked focused and motivated from the off this campaign. The feeling is that the combination of a fresh start under Christophe Galtier and Luis Campos combined with this being a World Cup year has helped Neymar to roll back the years to the sort of consistent form PSG fans have been dreaming of since his 2017 arrival. That is not to say that this is a one-man team, but the fact that he is the focal point of such strong camaraderie is telling about his importance to this current crop. With the World Cup and Copa America successes missing from his collection but time left for the latter, there might not be a better chance on the global stage. As for Tunisia, they had their moments and Jalel Kadri clearly has some talented players in his group, but they were ultimately outclassed by a much better team. They might be a handful for the likes of France, Denmark, and Australia, but that is probably as good as it will get in Qatar this winter. Have we just seen the new champions? Time will tell, but Brazil look as good a bet as any from outside of Europe heading into this winter.

Metaverse In Entertainment Market 2026, Rising Consumer Spending Across Virtual Concerts, Events, And Others To Boost Growth – Technavio – PR Newswire https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/metaverse-in-entertainment-market-2026-rising-consumer-spending-across-virtual-concerts-events-and-others-to-boost-growth-technavio-pr-newswire/ , /PRNewswire/ — The Metaverse in Entertainment Market size is expected to grow by USD 28.92 billion during 2021- 2026, at a CAGR of 8.55% during the forecast period, according to Technavio. The market is concentrated, and the degree of concentration will accelerate during the forecast period. Aomen City, Epic Games Inc., Hungama Digital Media Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., Meta Platforms Inc., Niantic Inc., OverActive Media Corp., Qualcomm Inc., Queppelin, Roblox Corp, Tencent Holdings Ltd., and Tetavi Ltd. are some of the major market participants. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Metaverse in Entertainment Market 2022-2026 The rising consumer spending across virtual concerts, events, and others, the emergence of VR gaming on metaverse, improved experience of 3D and 4D cinemas will offer immense growth opportunities. However, privacy and security concerns over the metaverse, legal challenges associated with the rights of digital collectibles, and the high cost of AR and VR devices will challenge the growth of the market participants. Request Free Sample Report. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Metaverse in Entertainment Market Segmentation End-user  Film Production Music Labels OTT Platforms Television Broadcasters Others Geography  North America Europe APAC South America The Middle East And Africa Metaverse in Entertainment Market Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our metaverse in entertainment market report covers the following areas: Metaverse in Entertainment Market size Metaverse in Entertainment Market trends Metaverse in Entertainment Market industry analysis This study identifies the rising consumer adoption of online gaming as one of the prime reasons driving the metaverse in the entertainment market growth during the next few years. Buy Sample Report. Metaverse in Entertainment Market Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the Metaverse in Entertainment Market, including some of the vendors such as vendors Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the Metaverse in Entertainment Market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Aomen City Epic Games Inc. Hungama Digital Media Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. Meta Platforms Inc. Niantic Inc. OverActive Media Corp. Qualcomm Inc. Queppelin Roblox Corp Tencent Holdings Ltd. Tetavi Ltd. Find additional highlights on the growth strategies adopted by vendors and their product offerings, Download Free Sample Report. Metaverse in Entertainment Market Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will assist metaverse in entertainment market growth during the next five years Estimation of the metaverse in entertainment market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the metaverse in the entertainment market Analysis of the market’s competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of metaverse in entertainment market vendors Related Reports: Mobile Phone Accessories Market by Product and Geography – Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026 Enterprise AI Market by End-user, Deployment, and Geography – Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026 Metaverse In Entertainment Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 8.55% Market growth 2022-2026 $28.92 billion Market structure Concentrated YoY growth (%) 7.41 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution North America at 33% Key consumer countries US, Canada, China, UK, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Aomen City, Epic Games Inc., Hungama Digital Media Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., Meta Platforms Inc., Niantic Inc., OverActive Media Corp., Qualcomm Inc., Queppelin, Roblox Corp, Tencent Holdings Ltd., and Tetavi Ltd. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Table Of Contents : 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Market overview Exhibit 01: Executive Summary – Chart on Market Overview Exhibit 02: Executive Summary – Data Table on Market Overview Exhibit 03: Executive Summary – Chart on Global Market Characteristics Exhibit 04: Executive Summary – Chart on Market by Geography Exhibit 05: Executive Summary – Chart on Market Segmentation by End-user Exhibit 06: Executive Summary – Chart on Incremental Growth Exhibit 07: Executive Summary – Data Table on Incremental Growth Exhibit 08: Executive Summary – Chart on Vendor Market Positioning 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem Exhibit 09: Parent market Exhibit 10: Market Characteristics 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis Exhibit 12: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2021 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026 Exhibit 13: Chart on Global – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 14: Data Table on Global – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 15: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 16: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 4 Five Forces Analysis 4.1 Five forces summary Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis – Comparison between 2021 and 2026 4.2 Bargaining power of buyers Exhibit 18: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers – Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026 4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers – Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.4 Threat of new entrants Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants – Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.5 Threat of substitutes Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes – Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.6 Threat of rivalry Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry – Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.7 Market condition Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition – Five forces 2021 and 2026 5 Market Segmentation by End-user 5.1 Market segments Exhibit 24: Chart on End-user – Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 25: Data Table on End-user – Market share 2021-2026 (%) 5.2 Comparison by End-user Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by End-user Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by End-user 5.3 Film production – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 28: Chart on Film production – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 29: Data Table on Film production – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 30: Chart on Film production – Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Film production – Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.4 Music labels – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 32: Chart on Music labels – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 33: Data Table on Music labels – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 34: Chart on Music labels – Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Music labels – Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.5 OTT platforms – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 36: Chart on OTT platforms – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 37: Data Table on OTT platforms – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 38: Chart on OTT platforms – Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 39: Data Table on OTT platforms – Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.6 Television broadcasters – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 40: Chart on Television broadcasters – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 41: Data Table on Television broadcasters – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 42: Chart on Television broadcasters – Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 43: Data Table on Television broadcasters – Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.7 Others – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 44: Chart on Others – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 45: Data Table on Others – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 46: Chart on Others – Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 47: Data Table on Others – Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.8 Market opportunity by End-user Exhibit 48: Market opportunity by End-user ($ million) 6 Customer Landscape 6.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 49: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 7 Geographic Landscape 7.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 50: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 51: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) 7.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 52: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 53: Data...

Area Resident’s Classic Album Review: Pink Floyd | Ummagumma – Tinnitist https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/area-residents-classic-album-review-pink-floyd-ummagumma-tinnitist/ When you have a favourite band, sometimes you have records of theirs which you rarely play and don’t enjoy thoroughly enough to spin. I’ve had a love affair with Pink Floyd since 1985 or so. I have all the albums, but there are a few which rarely get played anymore. Still, not only would I never part with them — I’d even consider buying a special edition. It’s an illness. 1969’s Ummagumma is one such album. This was Pink Floyd’s fourth release — a two-record set with both a live album and a studio album. Their previous release was the spotty soundtrack from the film More. Their next project — Atom Heart Mother — would be their first gold record. Ummagumma has gone gold, technically, but that didn’t happen until 1974 and was the direct result of Dark Side Of The Moon’s success. The first thing to notice is the excellent live album begins with the same version of Astronomy Domine as on 1973’s A Nice Pair — a repackaging of the first two albums. Curious. I have no idea why this was done. There could be three reasons: They messed up; they didn’t want to pay former bandleader and principal songwriter Syd Barrett performance royalties; or they preferred this version. No question about it, the live version is incredible. The Ummagumma and A Nice Pair version features the group, but primarily David Gilmour singing the atypical Barrett masterpiece. The live tracks were recorded April 27, 1969 (my father’s 42nd birthday) at Mothers Club in Birmingham. Mothers was a second-floor venue above a pair of shops. Formerly a furniture store and then the Carlton Ballroom, it closed in March 1971. Filling out the rest of Side 1 on Ummagumma is the moody and explosive concert staple Careful With That Axe, Eugene. The song, which was the flipside of single Point Me At The Sky, was never on a studio album. It was issued on the 1971 compilation Relics. Originally called Beset By Creatures Of The Deep, Floyd re-performed the song as Come In Number 51, Your Time Is Up for the Zabriskie Point soundtrack in 1970. There’s quite a good live rendition of it in the 1972 French film Pink Floyd at Pompeii. The Ummagumma version is the best one — brooding, gloomy and chill until midway, when the title phrase is spoken by Roger Waters. “Careful, careful… careful with that axe, Eugene,” he says, followed by one of his inimitable long screams, signalling a big drum fill and an extended, explosive jam. It rounds out an absolutely unimpeachable first side of the album. Side 2 begins with another concert staple — one which Waters still performs. Truthfully, as much as teenaged me loved playing the main bass riff, Set The Controls For The Heart of The Sun is boring. Originally released on Floyd’s sophomore album A Saucerful Of Secrets, it lumbers along with the type of tiresome, whispered lyrics found in abundance on the More soundtrack. The song would be more effective at twice the speed, or covered by Portishead. But fans love it. I don’t smoke weed, so what do I know? Next (and last) on the live album is the epic Saucerful Of Secrets. Originally titled The Massed Gadgets Of Hercules, the song is broken down into four main sections: Something Else, Syncopated Pandemonium, Storm Signal and Celestial Voices. I’ll break it down for you — it means four minutes of moody malleted cymbals and chimes, followed by a quick, cool drum pattern with squealing guitar and percussion for three minutes, then it chills out for a minute and a half before the final section, which is the best part — a gorgeous Rick Wright organ and Mellotron progression with Gilmour singing the wordless melody overtop. For me, it’s a bit much. Epic, self-indulgent and not musical enough until the final four minutes. The Ummagumma version is just shy of 13 minutes. Seeing it performed is better than hearing it. You can do that, once again, via Pink Floyd At Pompeii. So, the live album is 50/50 for me. Side 1 is amazing. But even though the two tracks on Side 2 are bona fide classic psychedelic Floyd, I don’t ever need to hear them again. On to the studio album … goddamnit. Speaking of self-indulgence, the idea here was for each of the four members to conceive and lead something of their own. The results are mostly awful. It begins with Wright’s epic and boring Sysyphus. Curious spelling. The main melody is an ominous, dark death march which mercifully dissolves into a rather pleasant instrumental piano piece before the playing gets erratic and avant-garde. This is where I typically lift the stylus. The next section is similar, sounding like randomly plucked piano strings in time with kindergarten percussion. It’s annoying. Next there’s a Mellotron and organ bit which starts off quiet and gloomy and gets louder & louder before finally, mercifully, returning to the opening death-march theme. It’s bullshit. The next two tracks are Waters’ contributions. First is the lovely Grantchester Meadows, named after a green space in their hometown of Cambridge. It’s the best song on the studio album. It’s followed by an insane show-and-tell track, the wonderfully named Several Species Of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together In A Cave And Grooving With A Pict. The “song” has two parts — the beginning is a bunch of simulated rodent and animal sounds, microphone tapping and clicking accompanied by a sort of psychedelic beat-boxing — all performed by Waters. If that wasn’t bonkers enough, it devolves into the final bit — Waters shouting in an exaggerated Scottish burr. I can’t help but wonder what producer Norman Smith made of all this. It’s well-known that while he was The Beatles’ engineer, John Lennon used to call him Normal Smith. So of course when Smith wrote an autobiography he called it John Lennon Called Me Normal. Sigh. This was the last album he produced for the Floyd, for whom he actually has one performance credit — drums on Remember A Day, from Saucerful Of Secrets. Just as producer Jimmy Miller did on The Rolling Stones’ You Can’t Always Get What You Want, Smith stepped in to help a frustrated Nick Mason. Speaking of Mason, Side 4 of Ummagumma features his heinous songwriting contribution to the album — the pretentious, three-part Grand Vizier’s Garden Party. A Vizier, in case you’re wondering, was the highest-ranking political advisor to the Pharaoh in ancient Egypt. The song, which closes out the album, begins with a flute introduction before we are subjected to several minutes of amateur timpani playing. Or, what seems like timpani playing — tuning up and down of some sort of drum — accompanied by cymbal crashes and other toms, the playful tapping of a wood block and lord knows what else — absolutely drenched in reverb to sound like it was performed in a concrete silo. Eat your hearts out, Great Lake Swimmers. It descends into a raucous overdubbing of drum fills before returning to the flutes for the outro. The last side begins with Gilmour’s contribution, the frustrating The Narrow Way. And, of course, it has three parts. I actually really like this piece. It opens with a cool backward effect before jumping right into a soundtrack-sounding multi-tracked acoustic guitar piece with slide overdubs, once again sopping with reverb. Part 2 is a villain-sounding instrumental electric guitar riff set to a jungle beat. This again could be in a soundtrack, perhaps for a monster movie aimed at kids. A giant lizard perhaps. This eventually devolves into noise before Part 3 begins: The only song on the record which sounds like Pink Floyd. Well, 69-72 era soundtrack Floyd. It features an excellent lead vocal by Gilmour and some wonderfully sloppy and loud drum fills. It would have benefitted from a soaring Gilmour guitar solo, but he wasn’t really doing those yet. Nonetheless, this is how the album should have closed. The live album is 4/5 stars, the studio album is 2/5 — so, 3/5 altogether.

Russian Exchanges Ready To Launch International Crypto Payments, Lawmaker Reveals – Exchanges Bitcoin News – Bitcoin News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/russian-exchanges-ready-to-launch-international-crypto-payments-lawmaker-reveals-exchanges-bitcoin-news-bitcoin-news/ The largest exchanges in Russia are ready to begin operating with cryptocurrencies right after authorities legalize cross-border settlements in crypto, according to a leading member of the Russian parliament. The stock and commodity trading platforms in Moscow and St. Petersburg are working to develop this market, the high-ranking official added. Russia’s Top Exchanges Waiting for Moscow’s Green Light on Cryptocurrency Payments Major Russian exchanges are prepared to start working with cryptocurrencies as soon as government institutions create the legal conditions for crypto settlements, the head of the Financial Market Committee at the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, has announced. Moscow Exchange, St. Petersburg Exchange, and the St. Petersburg International Commodity Exchange are actively working to develop the market and are ready to immediately get involved in the process, since the infrastructure is already there, Anatoly Aksakov said in an interview with Parlamentskaya Gazeta, the official newspaper of the Federal Assembly. Also quoted by the crypto news outlets Bits.media and RBC Crypto, the Russian deputy pointed out that legislation designed to regulate the matter is currently being discussed. The necessary bills can be adopted as early as November, the lawmaker indicated. Russia turned its attention to cryptocurrencies as a way to circumvent financial restrictions imposed by the West over its military invasion of Ukraine. The Russian government now views them as a tool that can ensure uninterrupted cross-border payments. In mid-September, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin ordered the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Russia to elaborate by December a joint position on the federal legislation needed to regulate the issuance and circulation of digital coins, including their mining and use in international settlements. Last week, news came out that the two regulators have already reached a general agreement on a bill authorizing the employment of cryptocurrency in foreign trade deals. Russian media reports also unveiled that financial authorities in Moscow are already developing a mechanism to facilitate such crypto payments. Tags in this story commodity exchange, cross-border payments, cross-border settlements, Crypto, crypto payments, Cryptocurrencies, Cryptocurrency, Exchanges, international settlements, moex, moscow exchange, Payments, Russia, russian, Settlements, stock exchanges Do you expect Russia to quickly adopt laws allowing the use of cryptocurrencies in cross-border settlements? Share your thoughts on the subject in the comments section below. Lubomir Tassev Lubomir Tassev is a journalist from tech-savvy Eastern Europe who likes Hitchens’s quote: “Being a writer is what I am, rather than what I do.” Besides crypto, blockchain and fintech, international politics and economics are two other sources of inspiration. Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.

Biden Keeps US Target For Refugee Admissions At 125,000 – KY3 https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/biden-keeps-us-target-for-refugee-admissions-at-125000-ky3/ SAN DIEGO (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday kept the nation’s cap on refugee admissions at 125,000 for the 2023 budget year, despite pressure from advocates to raise it even higher to meet the need after falling far short of that target this year. Refugees advocates have been pushing the Biden administration to do more to restore the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. The more than four-decade-old program suffered deep cuts under the Trump administration, which slashed admissions to a record low of 15,000. Biden raised the cap to four times that amount, but so far fewer than 20,000 refugees have been admitted this budget year, which ends Sept. 30. That number excludes the roughly 180,000 Ukrainians and Afghans who came to the United States via a legal process called humanitarian parole that got them into the country more quickly than the traditional refugee program but only allows for stays of up to two years. Refugees are provided a path to permanent residency. Their admissions are determined by the president each year, and federal funding for resettlement agencies is based on the number of people they resettle in a given year. The 125,000 target “is justified by humanitarian concerns or is otherwise in the national interest,” Biden stated in his presidential determination. Historically, the average has been 95,000 under both Republican and Democratic administrations. Biden earmarked 5,000 more slots for people from Europe and Central Asia for the 2023 budget year, making room to accommodate those fleeing the war in Ukraine. The largest number of slots — 40,000 — was set aside for refugees from Africa, followed by 35,000 from South Asia and 15,000 each from East Asia, Europe and Latin America. Biden has struggled to restore the U.S. Refugee Program despite raising the numbers and removing bureaucratic barriers put in place by his predecessor, which slowed the process and led to a massive backlog. Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, head of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, said the Biden administration must act now to improve the refugee program with the United Nations reporting a record 100 million people being displaced from their homes. “It must ramp up and streamline overseas processing of refugee applications if this lifesaving program is to remain relevant amid an unprecedented global displacement crisis,” she said in a statement. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that “this ambitious target demonstrates that the United States is committed to rebuilding and strengthening the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program” through various means. He pointed to plans for a pilot program that is expected to get underway by the end of the year that will allow regular Americans to sign up to resettle refugees in their communities, much like U.S. citizens did in stepping up to help Afghans and Ukrainians over the past year. Traditionally refugees are placed in communities by nine refugee resettlement agencies. “Our refugee admissions program embodies the best of American values and the will to help those in need, and it will continue to provide access to resettlement as a lifesaving, durable solution,” Blinken said. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Ford Releases New 2023 Super Duty Truck, Highlighting Technology – Courier Journal https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/ford-releases-new-2023-super-duty-truck-highlighting-technology-courier-journal/ Advanced capabilities and driver connectivity are the main focus of the newest F-Series Super Duty truck model revealed by Ford Motor Co. executives during a special presentation at Churchill Downs Tuesday. The new model, the first new entry in the Super Duty series since 2017, is expected to go on sale in early 2023. The unveiling ceremony kicked off with a Ford derby, where employees drove their personal trucks around the track, showcasing Ford trucks through the ages. Tuesday’s unveiling followed an announcement earlier in the day by Ford executives and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear that 500 new jobs will be coming to the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, funded through a $700 million investment by the company. “The investment goes into updating or adding new equipment throughout the facility to make sure we’re ready for the content of the new truck,” John Savona, vice president of Americas Manufacturing & Labor Affairs for Ford Blue, said during the Tuesday morning news conference. Mike Levine, a Ford North America product communications director, said Ford was able to decide what new Super Duty truck features needed to be created after spending time living with customers in the Canadian oil fields and miners in the western United States. “We understand truck customers better than anyone else,” Levine said. “These are the industries, and these are the customers that we have that depend on our trucks to do their jobs.” Levine said by spending time watching customers use the truck it helped the company make new updates to the 2023 Super Duty that “makes their lives easier and a little bit more productive.” Ford is currently one of the largest employers in the city with nearly 9,000 total employees. The company is also one of the largest employers in the state, directly employing more than 12,000 workers and supporting 120,000 jobs across the commonwealth. Ford investment:Ford announces 500 new jobs, $700 million investment into Louisville manufacturing plant The company announced it would contribute $5.8 billion and another 5,000 jobs to a battery park project based in Hardin County in 2021. Here are five key features of the new model. 1. Standard 6.8-liter V8 gas engine An increased engine will give the new model more horsepower for towing, payload and torque. Ford is also introducing a new high-output 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel V8 engine and 7.3-liter V8 engine. The goal of the standard engine is to target low-end torque which will allow for drivers to start on inclined surfaces and merge on to highways easier. The new engines will also get better gas horsepower and be able to go longer periods of time between oil changes due in part to improved air intake. New grilles will also maximize engine cooling while the truck is under heavy loads. 2. Embedded 5G capability The 2023 Super Duty will become the first U.S. pickup truck with 5G wireless capability, powered by AT&T, embedded in the vehicle. The feature will allow drivers to have Wi-Fi, access to Ford Power-Up software updates while driving and faster and smarter mapping capabilities. The Super Duty will also be able to provide a hotspot for up to 10 additional devices. The Trailer Navigation feature will use smart technology to identify the best routes based on a trailer’s size and weight and provide early warnings for low bridges and tight turns. This feature also allows the owner to create different trailer profiles for the various trailers they may pull making each drive customized to the specific trailer hitched. 3. Ford Pro Upfit Integration System A new feature aimed at drivers who utilize upfits and other body equipment such as plows or utility cranes, the digital integration system will provide improved access to the Super Duty’s electrical system, allowing for easier calibration. 4. Tremor Off-Road Package A new package available for those who need extra assets for off-roading, Tremor package trucks comes with a suspension tuned specifically for off-road driving, a front axle with a limited-slip differential, 35-inch Goodyear tires, custom 18-inch wheels, Trail Control and Trail Turn Assist technology and new drive modes, including a rock-crawl mode. 5. Interior upgrades On the interior, the model will provide an 8-12 inch display screen to allow drivers to see the outside of the vehicle from every angle and even offer an inside look into the trailers being hauled. This package also offers complete comfort by providing four USB charging ports, a wireless charging pad, reclining seats that go fully horizontal and an eight-speaker sound system. Ford officials said that while the base model will be available early next year, the trim series will be available starting spring 2023. Here is a list of additional new features truck lovers can find in the new model: Pro Power Onboard which turns the truck into a mobile generator Power outlets inside the truck, through the cargo box or mounted on chassis cab 10-speed TorqShift automatic transmission Power take off connection to run added equipment for the chassis cab models Standard four-wheel drive on all models XLT or above Onboard scales with smart hitch that estimate cargo weight 360-degree trailer camera system Blind spot information system for fifth wheel and gooseneck which can be attached to a trailer to add more visual aide for the driver Tailgate down camera and tailgate down reverse sensing system to alert drivers when the tailgate is down to make hooking up to a trailer easier Pro Trailer Hitch Assist which will automatically back the Super Duty up and align it with the trailer Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane centering technology Trailer theft alert will provide alerts to the FordPass app if a trailer is tampered with while the truck is locked Forward and reverse sensing system which will show drivers of objects immediately in front or behind the vehicle Front and rear brake assist which will allow drivers to prevent low-speed collisions Full-color head-up display which will encourage drivers to keep their eyes on the road by putting information in a drivers line of sight Customizable 12-inch digital instrument cluster Center console slot that can hold a tablet upright

Nampa (Idaho) Standout Dante Avijan Voted SBLive’s National Athlete Of The Week (Sept. 11-17) – Scorebook Live https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/nampa-idaho-standout-dante-avijan-voted-sblives-national-athlete-of-the-week-sept-11-17-scorebook-live/ Nampa High School (Idaho) standout Dante Avjian was voted SBLive’s National Athlete of the Week for Sept. 11-17, as decided by fans and readers.  Avjian caught five receptions for 192 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-23 win over state powerhouse Kuna. He received 88.2 percent of the total vote, edging out national blue chips Arch Manning of Isadore Newman (La.) and Dante Moore of Detroit Martin Luther King (Mich.). Here is the final vote tally and a list of nominees. Check back to the SBLive Sports homepage every week to vote for the top performers across the country.  SBLive National High School Athlete of the Week candidates Tate Allen, Fairfield (Iowa) football If every barn-burning finish has a hero, Allen was Farifield’s. He threw for 251 yards and a touchdown, as and ran for 106 rushing yards and two touchdowns in a 29-28 win over Knoxville. Dante Avjian, Nampa (Idaho) football Took five receptions for 192 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-23 win over Kuna. Kaden Batieste, Natchez Cathedral (Mississippi) football Finished with eight catches for 230 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-24 win over Pisgah. Benji Bauer, Eisenhower (Pennsylvania) football In a 46-34 win over Seneca, he ran the ball 21 times for 221 yards and five touchdowns. His five scores were a new school record. Chase Brown, Flagstaff (Arizona) football How’s this for a varsity starting debut? The freshman completed 15 of 18 passes for 405 passing yards and six touchdowns and no turnovers in a 59-12 win over Rio Rico. Ben Dredge, Madison (Idaho) football Rushed for 235 yards, and had scoring runs of 74 and 72 yards as part of his three rushing touchdowns. He added two passing touchdowns in a win over Thunder Ridge. Sincere Edwards, Wekiva (Florida) football Central Florida pledge logged four sacks and nine total tackles — two for loss – in a 25-13 win over West Orange. Kyler Finney, Winnsboro (Texas) football Finney completed 21 of 28 passes for 543 yards and five touchdowns in a 54-28 win over New Boston. Kirk Francis, Metro Christian (Oklahoma) football Francis passed for 355 yards and five touchdowns in a 41-21 win after crossing the Arkansas border to take on Prairie Grove with a 75 percent completion percentage. Dennis Gaines, East Poinsett County (Arkansas) football The junior rushed for 326 yards on 13 carries with 3 touchdowns (77,63 and 56 yards) in a 36-6 victory over Corning. Cayden Gibson, Arizona College Prep (Arizona) football Recorded eight tackles, a school record six sacks and a pass deflection. He recorded the game-winning play, logging — you guessed it — a sack. Thomas Gotkowski, Ben Davis (Indiana) football Gotkowski led the Giants past rival Warren Central behind three second-half touchdowns: a 51-yard run and TD passes of 33 and 68 yards. Finished with 469 total yards and five touchdowns. Ben Hall, Southeastern (Alabama) football Recorded five receptions for 295 yards and five touchdowns at receiver, then had six tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery on defense to help fuel a 57-53 win over Holly Pond. Justice Haynes, Buford (Georgia) football No. 1 running back prospect in Georgia looked the part, recording 216 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Carver. Chi Henry, Van Buren (Arkansas) football The senior has sticky hands on either side of the ball. Caught six passes for 78 yards and a receiving touchdown, tying a school record (24) for career receiving touchdowns. Josh Holst, Marengo (lllinois) football How’s this for a contribution? The senior quarterback accounted for 427 yards and eight total touchdowns in a 69-48 win over Johnsburg. He threw four touchdown passes and ran for four more. Diore Hubbard, Gahanna Lincoln (Ohio) football Led Gahanna to its first-ever win — in thrilling 22-20 fashion — over Pickerington Central rushing for 211 yards on 38 carries. Trey Leckner, Glacier Peak (Washington) football Unstoppable against Ferndale, and that’s no exaggeration. The Washington State pledge scored a touchdown every time he caught the ball: five receptions for five touchdowns and 210 yards. Arch Manning, Newman (Louisiana) football The nation’s No. 1 quarterback completed 22-of-37 passes for 370 yards and four touchdowns, while adding a 35-yard TD run, leading the Greenies to a thrilling 54-52 win over Benton. Colt Michael, O’Fallon (Illinois) football Senior Missouri Southern commit may as well have put a cape on. He completed 24 of 37 passes for 390 yards and three touchdowns in the Panthers’ come-from-behind 32-31 win at Edwardsville. Dante Moore, Detroit Martin Luther King (Michigan) football Senior five-star quarterback Dante Moore came up big in Detroit King’s rivalry win over Cass Tech, 28-23, finishing 15-for-24 passing for 240 yards and three touchdowns. (Complete coverage here; stats here.) Zane Palmer, Odessa (Missouri) football In a shootout win over Oak Grove, 57-43, Palmer ran for seven touchdowns — four in the first half — on 32 carries, finishing with 364 yards. Jaxon Potter, Santa Margarita (California) football Tossed for 482 yards and five touchdowns and added 57 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground in a 69-49 win over Los Alamitos. Jamal Roberts, St. Mary’s (Missouri) football Missouri recruit had a career day with 238 rushing yards and five touchdowns, including a kickoff return, in a 56-20 road win at Lutheran-St. Charles. He scored on the opening kickoff, as well as three times in the third quarter. Editor’s Note: Our Athlete of the Week feature and corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes that receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified.

Hurricane Ida Has Some Louisville Residents Changing Their Vacation Plans – WDRB https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/hurricane-ida-has-some-louisville-residents-changing-their-vacation-plans-wdrb/ LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — As Hurricane Ian strengthens from a Category 3 to a Category 4 storm, every county in Florida is under a state of emergency. But the storm is also impacting people across the country, even Kentucky and southern Indiana residents.  Hurricane Ian made landfall as a Category 3 storm in western Cuba on Tuesday, with winds up to 120 mph. and is now barreling toward Florida. Henny Stewart is a former radio and TV personality in Jacksonville, Florida. “The weather is beautiful,” Stewart said. “As they say, ‘the calm before the storm.'” Jacksonville is not expected to take a direct hit from Ian, but Stewart says there are still a lot of people preparing for the worst and panic-buying. “It reminds me of COVID,” Stewart said. “People running in the stores, panicking, running to the back of the store for the water, for the toilet tissue, and there is none.” All of it has some Louisville area residents changing their vacation plans. Jennifer Armstrong is a travel consultant with Louisville-based Travelmation, and is already making adjustments and exit plans for clients traveling to and from Florida. “I’ve had to move a client that was going in, and I’ve had to move them back a little farther,” she said. “They have small children and they really just don’t want to take that chance. So they’re just — they’re cutting their vacation short by two or three days.” Armstrong recommends a Plan B for anyone traveling to Florida during hurricane season. “If something would happen…if you drove there, can we get you to Georgia? Can we get you to Alabama? Can we get you somewhere as an option if you have to get out?” she said.  Meanwhile, Henny says she’s at least a few hours away from the area expected to take a direct hit, but her latest trip to the store showed the panic buying is still out of control. “They had just gotten in a whole pallet of generators, and by the time I was walking out of the store, they only had two left,” she said. “They were grabbing generators, like they were M&Ms.” Kentucky’s Transportation Secretary has issued an official order to help speed up things for emergency crews heading to Florida. As a result, there are currently no limits on the number of hours they can drive and crews can bypass weigh stations. Copyright 2022 WDRB Media. All rights reserved. %

Cape Ann Business Briefcase | News | Gloucestertimes.com – Gloucester Daily Times https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/cape-ann-business-briefcase-news-gloucestertimes-com-gloucester-daily-times/ Chamber fundraising auction Thursday The Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Love Greater Cape Ann Fundraising Auction celebrates its 35th run on Thursday, Sept. 29, beginning at 5 p.m. at Cruiseport Gloucester, 6 Rowe Square. The auction retains its legacy as the largest in the region, and award-winning auctioneer Lynne Zink is returning to lead the live bidding. This year’s auction — a signature event of the chamber’s centennial year — will bring together bidders from across Greater Cape Ann and the North Shore in hopes of going home with marquee items. Led by committee co-chairs Karin Porter and Andrea Donnelly, auction preparations are humming along with over $100,000 worth of donated items already in hand and great new packages arriving daily from chamber members and friends. “We have been planning this since June, and our centennial year’s auction promises to be another great success and the most exciting night of the year,” said Porter. Original paintings by Cape Ann’s leading artists, including Ken Knowles, Robert Gruppe, John Terelak, and Sam Nigro; exciting trips and adventures, including Tuscany, a South Africa Photo Safari and a hot air balloon ride; tickets to Bruins and Patriots games; and vacation getaway packages to the Berkshires and White Mountains, Boston and the other Cape are just some of the auction highlights. Plenty of other fun and unique items will also be up for bid. Auction planners wish to express their appreciation for the support provided by sponsors Beauport Hospitality, Institution for Savings, Johnson O’Connor, Cape Ann Savings Bank, Coastal Windows & Exteriors, Noble Financial Group LLC, Applied Materials, BankGloucester, Brookline Bank, Carroll K. Steele insurance Agency Inc., Cazeault Solar, and Works by JD. Auction items may be previewed by visiting https://one.bidpal.net/lovegca22. To register to attend, please visit www.capeannchamber.com or call 978-283-1601. Tickets for the 35th annual Love Greater Cape Ann Auction are $75 per person or $750 for a reserved table of 10 and include a cocktail hour with appetizers and full dinner. A limited number of seats and tables remain. Home watch accredited ROCKPORT — Salo Home Watch has earned accreditation from the National Home Watch Association for the 12th year. Dana Salo Courtesy photo Salo Home Watch is a service that “keeps an eye on things” at your vacation or primary home while you are not in residence. The NHWA was formed in 2009 in order to establish and maintain industry standards for absentee homeowner services throughout the United States and Canada (www.nationalhomewatchassociation.org). During 2018-2019, Salo Home Watch experienced five saves. A save is a situation where, if Home Watch was not watching over the client’s home, the client would have experienced a big mess and an expensive clean-up. Owner Dana Salo, a father of two daughters, is a 1983 graduate of Northeastern University, College of Criminal Justice. After retiring as a 36-year letter carrier, he began Salo Home Watch in August 2009, when a retired doctor on his mail route asked him to watch over his home while he was away. After counting the number of vacation homes on his mail route, a business idea took root. He is now operating Home Watch full-time. Salo likes to point out that unoccupied homes are the breeding grounds for trouble. If your home sits unoccupied, it is not a question of “if something will happen,” he says, but instead, “when something will happen.” Salo sat on the NHWA’s Advisory Board from its inception until last year. He is a Certified Home Watch Professional, making him one of the elite professionals in the industry. The CHWP designation shows Salo’s commitment to providing excellent service to his clients. Salo Home Watch serves Rockport, Gloucester, Essex, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and most of the North Shore along the Route 128 corridor. Salo can be reached at 978-660-2372 or salohomewatch@gmail.com. Learn more at the company website, www.salohomewatch.com. Gorton’s helps Food Project A group of employees from Gloucester-based Gorton’s Seafood volunteered with The Food Project on Sept. 13. They harvested, washed, and weighed vegetables to be donated or brought to a crop share. The Food Project is a local non-profit organization that works to create a productive community of youth and adults from diverse backgrounds who work together to build a sustainable food system. Volunteering that day were Logan Taylor, Victoria Tondo, Reilly Zubricki, Dillon Cecchi, Mark Jordan, and Joy Smith. People Lisa Albanese has joined J Barrett & Company as a Realtor at the agency’s Cummings Center office in Beverly. Her professional background includes more than 20 years of customer service experience with Verizon. Albanese, who lives in Wenham, is also longtime volunteer with the Boy Scouts, coordinated award ceremonies with local vendors as well as fundraisers. She was also an Assistant Scout Master. Draga D. Gilroy also recently joined the firm as a sales associate at the Cummings Center office. Gilroy, a longtime Middleton resident, has worked in the field of disabilities as an educator and nurse for almost 20 years, and is fluent in several languages including Serbian, Croatian and Bosnian. Realtor Norman Banville has also rejoined the agency in the Prides Crossing office in Beverly. In addition to his real estate experience, Banville has an extensive business background as a former successful business owner, software solutions provider and skilled craftsman/handyman. He has been a real estate agent since 2006.

California Bans Unnecessary Pesticide, Chemical Testing On Dogs And Cats – Los Angeles Times https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/california-bans-unnecessary-pesticide-chemical-testing-on-dogs-and-cats-los-angeles-times/ California will ban the testing of harmful chemicals on dogs and cats, effectively becoming the first state in the U.S. to remove the option for companies seeking to learn about the harmful effects from their products. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law Monday along with several other bills aimed at protecting animal welfare in the state. The law goes into effect Jan. 1. State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) authored Senate Bill 879, which bans unnecessary toxicity testing that exposes dogs and cats to industrial and consumer products. Products tested on animals include pesticides, chemical substances and food additives, Wiener said. “For many families, including my own, pets are beloved companions that enrich our lives every day,” Newsom said in a statement. “I’m proud to sign this legislation to advance our state’s leadership on animal welfare by ending cruel and unnecessary testing on dogs and cats, among other measures to protect the health and safety of pets in California.” Testing involves exposing animals to products to better understand what harms can be expected when they are used by humans. But the process is often painful for animals, according to the nonprofit Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. The testing includes observing animals for toxic effects over an extended period of time, including vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, death and other serious side effects. Some animals are bred specifically to be exposed to harmful products in laboratory settings, according to Wiener’s office. The Prohibiting Extraneous Testing Act will not apply to products intended for use on dogs and cats including medicines, like anesthesia, cancer treatment and other products for animals, but is the first of its kind in the country. “Animal testing that has no scientific value and causes terrible pain and suffering is inhumane, unnecessary, and cruel,” Wiener said in a statement. “The PET Act protects cats and dogs from this type of testing, and helps these animals live long, healthy lives.” The most recent example of animal testing involved 4,000 beagles bred in captivity at a research facility in Virginia. The dogs were living in unsafe conditions at an Envigo RMS facility. A sizable number of those dogs have since been relocated to California, said Kitty Block, chief executive of the Humane Society of the United States. “As we celebrate California becoming the first state in the nation to prohibit certain testing on dogs and cats, we extend our gratitude to Governor Newsom for signing The PET Act, SB 879, into law,” Block said in a statement. “Almost 500 beagles recently arrived in California after our organization led a historic effort to remove nearly 4,000 beagles from a mass breeding facility that sold dogs to laboratories for experimentation.” Animal rescue and advocacy groups say the type of testing done on dogs and cats is ineffective at indicating harmful effects in humans. About 60,000 dogs each year are used in government, university, commercial and private industry laboratories, according to the Humane Society.

Hurricane Ian Updates: College Football Schedule Tracker With Florida, South Carolina, UCF Moving Games – CBS Sports https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/hurricane-ian-updates-college-football-schedule-tracker-with-florida-south-carolina-ucf-moving-games-cbs-sports/ The first major storm of the 2022 hurricane season is about to touch down in the Southeastern United States, and it appears prepared to affect those living on the west coast of Florida and nearby states in the region. Hurricane Ian should touch the continental United States for the first time Tuesday evening with the storm carrying up through the Gulf of Mexico into Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina by the weekend. While it may not be swirling during some college football games on Saturday, it could certainly leave plenty of damage in its wake. Beyond that, emergency personnel in each state will be on high alert making services needed for game days — such as security — a lower priority for states when the same resources can be used to project the population. As such, college football teams have already begun moving games. Some are changing locations. Others are moving days and being played either earlier or later in the week. Given the constantly changing situation caused by Hurricane Ian, CBS Sports will be updating all of the schedule changes and game updates constantly throughout the week. Keep it locked here for game information, schedule updates and much more through the weekend as Week 5 of the 2022 college football season remains in flux. See New Posts Pinned UCF vs. SMU moved to Sunday UCF was set to host SMU on Saturday afternoon, but Hurricane Ian has delayed that kickoff. The Knights and Mustangs will meet at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. Television coverage for the key AAC matchup will be determined at a later date.  Pinned No change for Florida State vs. Wake Forest … yet No. 23 Florida State is set to host No. 22 Wake Forest on Saturday afternoon, and that appears to still be the case … for now.  Pinned Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson has concerns No. 22 Wake Forest is scheduled to travel to Tallahassee, Florida, to take on No. 23 Florida State on Saturday afternoon, but the hurricane has put the time and location of that game in doubt. Demon Deacons coach Dave Clawson said Tuesday that player safety is his biggest concern no matter what decision the ACC makes regarding the status of the game. Pinned Eastern Washington vs. Florida moved to Sunday Florida’s home game with Eastern Washington, originally scheduled for Saturday at noon ET, has been moved to Sunday at noon ET at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. All tickets that were issued for Saturday will be honored for Sunday afternoon’s game. Pinned South Florida vs. East Carolina changes venues Originally scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, the game will see a site location change to Boca Raton at Howard Schnellenberger Field, the home stadium of FAU, who is not in town for its Week 5 game as the Owls will be playing at North Texas in Denton, Texas. The game will now kickoff at 2 p.m. Pinned South Carolina vs. South Carolina State moved Originally scheduled for Saturday at noon ET, the game will now be played Thursday at 7 p.m. Television coverage has not been announced at this time. Fans with tickets for Saturday’s matchup will be able to use them for Thursday night’s game.  “Due to the potential impact of the hurricane on Columbia and the surrounding area, it is in the best interest of safety to play the game on Thursday rather than Saturday afternoon,” South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner said. “I appreciate the cooperation of South Carolina State head coach Buddy Pough, the South Carolina State administration and the Southeastern Conference officials who worked closely to make the appropriate operational adjustments in order to accommodate this change in the schedule.” Tanner added: “Based on the current forecast and expected weather conditions as well as information from our campus, state and local law enforcement agencies, at this time, the University is confident in our ability to host the game on Thursday at Williams-Brice Stadium. We will be able to staff traffic, law enforcement, security and other game day operations. The safety of everyone affected by the storm and the minimization of the impact on emergency personnel were the most important factors considered in making the decision,”

M1 And ESPL Power 5G And Metaverse For Gardens By The Bay In Singapore – Channel Asia Singapore https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/m1-and-espl-power-5g-and-metaverse-for-gardens-by-the-bay-in-singapore-channel-asia-singapore/ Metaverse concert featuring DJ Red Credit: M1 M1 has signed a memorandum of understanding with Gardens by the Bay and Electronic Sports (ESPL) to provide fast-speed 5G connectivity and immersive metaverse experiences in indoor venues at the iconic Singapore location. The partnership seeks to enable metaverse experiences that complement the Singapore attraction’s physical offerings, specifically, new opportunities for ‘phygital’ — a blend of physical and digital — events at the Gardens and in a re-created version of it in the metaverse developed by ESPL, dubbed a digital twin. “With the enhanced 5G connectivity, we look forward to working with M1 and ESPL to create even more interactive and immersive experiences in Gardens by the Bay, offering a phygital option for event organisers to expand their reach beyond the physical confines of the venues here, to engage people from around the world,” said Lee Kok Fatt, deputy CEO of Gardens by the Bay. In one example showcased at the launch, a metaverse concert was held in the digital twin, featuring an avatar of Singapore-based artiste DJ Red interacting with the audience against a virtual back-drop of Supertree Grove. As such, audiences with 5G-enabled mobile device can access the metaverse and experience the performance in a real-time immersive environment. “Offering metaverse experiences is an exciting milestone in our True 5G rollout roadmap,” added Willis Sim, chief corporate sales and solutions officer at M1. “M1 is constantly pushing the bar with our 5G capabilities, and we’re proud to roll out 5G within the Gardens by the Bay as well as power its digital recreation made by our partner ESPL. “The ability to give audiences a live and immersive experience both physically and virtually has immense potential to deliver rich content on-the-go. We are excited to unlock new metaverse opportunities for the entertainment, MICE and tourism industries and help Gardens by the Bay become the garden of the future.” In a meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) industry use case, M1 envisions adding a “new dimension” to physical events and allowing participants from around the world to interact with the content and with one another in the metaverse. Meanwhile, specific to the education sector, M1 suggests that the high-speed and low-latency connectivity of 5G also supports educational technology to bring curricula to life and capture the imagination of students through extended reality and gamification. Tags M15Gmetaverse

How To Use The DOTS Projector In Phasmophobia – The Nerd Stash https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/how-to-use-the-dots-projector-in-phasmophobia-the-nerd-stash/ Phasmophobia is a favorite psychological thriller game of many, filled with cool tools, creepy entities, and awesome maps. As you progress through the game and in levels, you will come across several different tools that will help you along your journey. One such tool is the DOTS Projector, which was recently added to the game. You can also pick up loads of ghost traces with the DOTS Projector. Keep reading to learn how to use the DOTS Projector in Phasmophobia. Screenshot via Psycho (YouTube) What is the DOTS Projector is Phasmophobia? The DOTS Projector is a tool you will probably use quite a bit throughout your time playing Phasmophobia. It can help you pick up traces of the entities that threaten your life in the game. The DOTS Projector can pick up traces of Banshee, Deogen, Goryo, Oni, Phantom, Raiju, Thaye, Wraith, Yokai, and Yurei. The DOTS Projector works by projecting a bunch of little dots all over the room that land on any surface in sight, and even those that aren’t in sight as well. Luckily for you, it picks up objects in the room that your character’s human eyes cannot pick up. Related: Phasmophobia: How Custom Difficulties Work How to Use the DOTS Projector in Phasmophobia As with any other gadget or tool in a game, your first step is to equip the DOTS Projector. Next, you’ll have to look around for a hard surface, such as a wall, door, or the floor, and press the “F” key on your keyboard. Once you’ve hit the “F” key, the DOTS Projector will do what it’s meant to. It will project hundreds of little dots in front of you, covering the room. Whenever a ghost comes near, you will be able to see the shape of the ghost as a silhouette under the projector’s dots. However, ghosts can and will likely appear then very soon after disappear just as quickly. So, make sure you are actively checking the room’s hard surfaces. Though, since the DOTS Projector’s main purpose is to help you view ghosts in Phasmophobia, it will have done its job by that point. If you’re finding that you’ve been using Phasmophobia‘s DOTS Projector for a while and still haven’t seen much, you can try communicating with the ghost in an attempt to raise its activity levels! Just make sure to stay safe and keep your teammates nearby.