Benton County News Now

Married At First Sight Season 13: Where Are They Now? – Screen Rant https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/married-at-first-sight-season-13-where-are-they-now-screen-rant/ The couples of Married At First Sight season 15 have officially made it out of the honeymoon stage and are now taking on married life out in the real world. Fans of the show are hoping for the best and that this season will feature more love connections between the couples that have supposedly been matched up by the experts as true-love matches. If the last few seasons are any indication of what’s to come, fans should buckle in for the long haul because the drama doesn’t always end when the cameras stop. The Houston season may not have produced any lasting marriages, but many bonds were formed between the season 13 cast in the past few months, some more unexpected than others. 10 Brett Layton On decision day, Brett decided to split with her husband Ryan and the two went their separate ways. She may have parted with her husband, but she has remained friends with some of her season 13 costars. Brett was recently seen in a TikTok posted by Myrla of them and costar Rachel all enjoying a little carpool karaoke but since Brett keeps her accounts private, updates on her life usually come from snippets seen in her friends’ posts. However, it can be assumed from her Instagram bio that she is still a coach and teacher in the Cypress-Fairbanks school district. She has decided to stay connected with the show as a fan and shared her thoughts on the season 14 MAFS couples with People Magazine. 9 Ryan Ignasiak Since divorcing Brett, Ryan has also remained in contact with some other MAFS season 13 husbands and is seen on Instagram attending workouts and dinners together. He has even attended an Astros game with MAFS’ Doctor Viviana who did not return for the show’s latest 15th season so that she could dedicate more of her time to outside projects and opportunities (via Screen Rant). Ryan is still working in the Houston Oil & Gas industry but finds time to make appearances for MAFS. He returned to the show for season 14’s “Where Are They Now?” special episode where he may have had some budding chemistry with Alyssa Ellman. The two were flirty with each other and while they seemed to have more chemistry together than they had with their previous partners, the romance was short-lived, and they are not currently dating. 8 Jose San Miguel Jose and his wife Rachel originally chose to stay together but after sharing that they had broken up after filming MAFS before later getting back together, they announced via US Weekly that they had filed for divorce and would be officially parting ways. He has since continued working as a Mission Flight Specialist for NASA and keeps in contact with other season 13 husbands. Avid investigative MAFS fans have taken notice of a new woman in a few of his Instagram posts and while he hasn’t explicitly or publicly confirmed the nature of their relationship, he has responded to fans’ comments letting them know that is happy with his life and is continuing to move forward since his divorce. 7 Rachel Gordillo Rachel Gordillo hasn’t slowed down her life since her time on the popular reality TV show. After filming and later going through her divorce, she’s stayed close to her season 13 costars Johnny and Brett and has also formed a strong bond with Myrla. When she’s not in Houston, Rachel is traveling all over the world and chronicling her adventures on Instagram and in her personal blog, “Booked at First Sight.” She also doesn’t shy away from her experience on MAFS and posts an occasional lighthearted reel or TikTok that reflects on her marriage and the feedback she’s received from fans since filming. 6 Gil Cuero Gil was a season 13 MAFS fan-favorite and fans often took his side in the issues he was having in his marriage to Myrla. The experts on the show were hoping that opposites would attract with the two, and while eventually it did, their differing values made it hard for their relationship to last through the difficulties that come with a new marriage after filming the show (via E! News). Now Gil spends a large amount of his time traveling. He’s currently partnering with a travel agency to offer travel experiences to encourage others to travel to vacation destinations curated by the company. While Gil insists that he is happily single and “in a relationship with his passport” (via Instagram), some MAFS have still tried suggesting he “save” former MAFS from their bad relationships, but Gill doesn’t entertain the idea and instead pokes fun at the notion that he should be anyone’s “savior” in videos he posts to his socials. 5 Myrla Feria During the season 13 reunion and the “Where Are They Now?” episode, Johnny and Myrla spoke about the friendship they had formed after filming and how they became closer after her divorce from Gil. Many have speculated about whether their relationship ever became romantic but they both remain adamant that they are just friends and have never dated. Besides Johnny, she’s remained close to Brett and Rachel as well. In her recent Instagram posts, Myrla has teased that she has a new man in her life but has kept his identity fairly secret. She has however openly shared her opinion on the most recent MAFS couples in season 15 via People. 4 Johnny Lam After his split from Bao, Johnny has moved forward. He and Myrla became quick friends after each of their divorces, but he’s been seen on Instagram hanging out with the women who were on his season (of course with the exception of his ex-wife Bao), and recently met up with Myrla while traveling in Europe (via Instagram). Johnny also remains friends with some of his male costars as well. Just this past February, he and Jose posted about attending a Houston Live Stock Show and Rodeo event together (per Instagram). The season 13 alumnus returned to MAFS for the season 15 kickoff special where he had quite a bit to say about the relationship that formed between his ex-wife and another husband from the show. 3 Bao Huong Hoang After decision day, Bao and Johnny divorced, and she began dating her season 13 costar Zack Freeman who had previously been married to Michaela Clark. The relationship caused quite a bit of drama before eventually ending due to more cheating allegations that were brought up against Zack according to US Weekly. Bao is now focusing on her work at MD Anderson Cancer Center and is spending lots of time with her family and with her dog. 2 Zack Freeman Zack and Michaela were not the best couplings made on MAFS and fans found it hard to root for them. While Zack was portrayed in a better light than Michaela, fans could tell that from the issues they were facing that they would both probably be happier with someone else. Zack said during the season 13 “Where Are They Now?” episode that he could see Bao becoming that happiness but after a few months of dating the two eventually split. The software engineer has since stayed out of the public eye and has only recently returned to Instagram where he has remained relatively quiet and really only pops up in a select few posted photos, posts with his friend, and with fellow season 13 cast mate, Ryan. 1 Michaela Clark Michaela chose not to attend the overnight outing with the other cast members at the official close of the Houston season. She stated that she has had absolutely no contact with Zack since their divorce even though she would have wanted to clear the air. She was seen as a villain during the season due to some of her outbursts of frustration when it came to her relationship, but she says that she wants to work on herself and move forward with her healing for a brighter future. While she is still healing from her experience on the show, she hasn’t completely put it behind her and still keeps in contact with other members of the Houston cast, most of them being the other women as well as Johnny. Next: The 10 Shortest Marriages From Married At First Sight %

Neighbors Frustrated With Compost Business Attracting Bugs To Area – News9.com KWTV https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/neighbors-frustrated-with-compost-business-attracting-bugs-to-area-news9-com-kwtv/ James Taylor is working to create a community composting business in his neighborhood, but he is getting complaints from his neighbor, Dean Heath. Heath and his wife own two homes in a neighborhood near Pine and Denver. They rent one of their properties to people through Airbnb and received complaints from one of their renters about a bug infestation. “When we came and investigated that Saturday, we realized why the complaint had come,” Heath said. Heath suspects the unwanted pests are coming from next door, where Taylor works on his compost piles. Taylor has been collecting food scraps, peels, and coffee grounds from people in the neighborhood to create fertilizer for local gardens and to help the environment. “Half of our trash is stuff that we could be putting into our gardens, and I think that coming up with solutions for coming up with community-driven composting like this should be something that we put on a priority,” Taylor said. Heath talked with other neighbors and while some think it’s good for the community, others are not fans of the compost piles either. “The other neighbors that we knew on either side of us that had noticed they haven’t been able to sit on their porches,” Heath said. Taylor is using pest deterrents to get rid of the bugs. “We don’t want our neighbors to be upset with us and for the most part we have had near unanimous support from our neighbors including our nearby neighborhood association,” Taylor said. Heath has filed a complaint with the city but has yet to hear back.

Coldwell Banker Realty New Homes Selected To Market Garden Homes’ Boutique Residential Community In Florham Park, N.J. – Real Estate Weekly https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/coldwell-banker-realty-new-homes-selected-to-market-garden-homes-boutique-residential-community-in-florham-park-n-j-real-estate-weekly/  Coldwell Banker Realty New Homes, a leading sales and marketing organization in the homebuilding industry, has announced its selection by Garden Homes as the MLS Listing Agent for Parc North in Florham Park, N.J. Working in partnership with Heather Bailey of Coldwell Banker Realty in Morristown, the Coldwell Banker Realty New Homes team will create a marketing strategy targeted at the brokerage community to support sales for the new community. Bailey will serve as the liaison to the brokerage community on behalf of Garden Homes. The assignment builds upon Coldwell Banker Realty New Homes’ successful marketing of Garden Homes’ sold-out 50-unit Cherrywood Townhomes community in River Vale. Situated in the heart of Morris County, one of the state’s most desirable locations to live, Parc North is a boutique residential community consisting of just 49 meticulously designed townhomes and carriage homes starting in the mid-$600,000s. Comprised of a diverse blend of two and three-bedroom designs ranging from 1,885 to 3,125 square feet, each residence features a custom-crafted interior with open, flowing floorplans, dramatic great rooms, chef-inspired center-island kitchens, sumptuous primary bedroom suites with sitting areas, and generous patio spaces. Set against a beautifully landscaped property, the homes at Parc North are designed for easy, everyday living as well as gracious entertaining. The thoughtful design of Parc North is further augmented by its attractive location in Florham Park, boasting one of the lowest property tax rates in Morris County. Residents can enjoy easy access to the nearby Florham Park center located only 1.3 miles away, which includes a Kings Supermarket, Trader Joe’s, CVS, Walgreens and other specialty shopping and dining options. In addition, the community is just a short drive from Life Time Fitness’ 100,000-square-foot athletic resort dedicated to the pursuit of healthy living and just six miles from all the excitement of downtown Morristown.  Parc North is close to major highways including Routes 10, 24, and 78 and is also less than a 15-minute drive to Morristown Medical Center and Summit Health Cancer Center and less than a 30-minute drive from Newark Liberty International Airport. Parc North model home tours are available by appointment only. For more information, brokers should contact Heather Bailey at (201 )274-3710.  Prospective buyers should contact Lori Dargento, Parc North’s on-site sales manager, at (973) 765-6900 or visit http://www.ParcNorthNJ.com/.  “Our ability to envision and implement creative, data-driven marketing strategies focused on driving sales velocity stands at the core of our significant track record of success,” said Dave Schoner, vice president of Coldwell Banker Realty New Homes. “We take immense pride in the relationships that our approach has enabled us to cultivate with leading companies like Garden Homes. We are excited to collaborate with them once again and help them achieve their sales goals at this property.” Powered by the Coldwell Banker brand, Coldwell Banker Realty New Homes partners with real estate developers through every step of the real estate marketing process to drive successful sales and leasing efforts at new residential properties. Through its unmatched business intelligence and data platform paired with a highly experienced team, Coldwell Banker Realty New Homes has become a trusted partner to many of the state’s premier construction and development firms. Since 1985, the Coldwell Banker Realty New Homes team has helped close over $11 billion in gross sales across over 20,000 homes in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. To learn more about Coldwell Banker Realty New Homes, visit their website at https://www.cbnewhomes.com/.

Buccaneers Vs. Packers Score: Live Updates, Game Stats, Highlights, Results For Week 3 NFC Game – CBS Sports https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/buccaneers-vs-packers-score-live-updates-game-stats-highlights-results-for-week-3-nfc-game-cbs-sports/ 4:25 P TB -1.5, o42.5 FOX Season Leaders passing A. Rodgers429 YD, 2 TDS, 1 INT A. Rodgers429 YD, 2 TDS, 1 INT T. Brady402 YD, 2 TDS, 1 INTT. Brady402 YD, 2 TDS, 1 INT rushing A. Jones20 ATT, 181 YD, 1 TDA. Jones20 ATT, 181 YD, 1 TD L. Fournette45 ATT, 192 YDL. Fournette45 ATT, 192 YD receiving S. Watkins6 REC, 111 YDS. Watkins6 REC, 111 YD M. Evans8 REC, 132 YD, 1 TDM. Evans8 REC, 132 YD, 1 TD See New Posts Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned DELAY OF GAME ON THE TWO-POINT CONVERSION ARE YOU SERIOUS Pinned Pinned Russell Gage!!!! Star of the game. Hauls in the touchdown with 14 seconds left. He has 12 catches for 87 yards and a touchdown! Pinned Pinned 20 seconds to go! This quickly turned into a thriller. Bucs have the ball on the 1-yard line.  Pinned Maybe the Buccaneers should have gone up-tempo all game. This is the first time they are driving effectively. Up to 10 plays, 79 yards. Pinned Pinned Eight-point game! This is a one-score affair. Brady hasn’t got anything going up to this point, but there’s a reason he’s the GOAT. He’s got that clutch factor. Watch for some short passing over the middle, and some quick pace.  Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Doesn’t look like they were very serious. Good try though.  Pinned There’s been no offense this half! Defensive slugfest. Looks like Aaron Rodgers is going to stay on the field on fourth down. wow Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned I can’t believe it, but Doubs has 8 catches on 8 targets for 73 yards. That’s amazing.  Pinned Packers D gave up a big play to Brate, but this unit stuck it out and didn’t fold. 14-6 after the FG.  Pinned Pinned Pinned See More

Ripple And Armin Van Buuren’s Armada Music To Launch An Album In The Metaverse – CryptoPotato https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/ripple-and-armin-van-buurens-armada-music-to-launch-an-album-in-the-metaverse-cryptopotato/ The blockchain company Ripple joined forces with the music integration platform Styngr and the record label Armada Music to release an exclusive album in Maladroids (a video game built on the XRP Ledger). It is worth noting that Armada Music is one of the leading entities in its field, while the renowned DJs – Armin van Buuren, Maykel Piron, and David Lewis – are its three Co-Founders. Ripple’s New Project According to a recent press release, the collaboration will aim to launch a music album in the play-to-earn game Maladroids. Developed by Ripple’s modular ecosystem onXRP, the game will allow players to compete with each other and earn XRP tokens as rewards. The album will add to the participants’ excitement of Maladroids’ release. The music integration entity Stingr and the record label Armada Music vowed to bring two major EDM artists – Tom Staar and Kryder – who will perform new tracks each month across the first 180 days of the game’s launch. In addition, the upcoming feature plans to introduce audio emotes and audio NFTs to users. Speaking on the initiative was Styngr’s Co-Founder Alex Tarrand: “Seamlessly launching an entire album through a game is a groundbreaking opportunity. We are thrilled to be collaborating with record labels like Armada Music to bring brand new tracks from some of EDM’s top artists to blockchain gaming that leverages the best-in-class capabilities of the XRP Ledger. To do all this in a game as fun and competitive as Maladroids is truly something special.” Kaj Leroy – top executive of onXRP – predicted that the album will be a “fantastic experience” for gamers. Those will get the chance to compete with each other and “discover great new music” from popular musicians, he added. NFTs and Music Earlier this year, two of the most famous dance music festival introduced non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to fans. After postponing its events in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the multi-day music and arts festival held in California – Coachella – returned this April and granted visitors more opportunities than usual. The Solana-built digital collectibles – “Coachella Keys Collection,” “Sights and Sounds Collection,” and “Desert Reflections Collection” – were some of those features. Arguably the world’s largest music festival – Tomorrowland – also interacted with the Metaverse space. Several months ago, it teamed up with crypto exchange FTX to bring Web 3 and NFT experiences to its fans during the iconic concert in Belgium this summer and the one in the French Alps, which will occur in March 2023. Back then, Sam Bankman-Fried – CEO and Founder of FTX – said it is “exciting” to see a collaboration between the crypto world and the music industry. He further argued that Tomorrowland’s initiatives will give attendees a “fun and interactive way to gain access to exclusive events.” Featured Image Courtesy of Sherpa Land SPECIAL OFFER (Sponsored) Binance Free $100 (Exclusive): Use this link to register and receive $100 free and 10% off fees on Binance Futures first month (terms). PrimeXBT Special Offer: Use this link to register & enter POTATO50 code to receive up to $7,000 on your deposits.

Geneverse HomePower ONE PRO + 400w SolarPower 2 Review: Power For The Average Person – Techaeris https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/geneverse-homepower-one-pro-400w-solarpower-2-review-power-for-the-average-person-techaeris/ Getting power to essential electrical devices when needed can make a difference in an emergency, a power outage, or even a weekend getaway. It can help you make a meal, sleep at night with your c-pap machine, keep your oxygen machine running, keep lights on, heat going or keep the fridge cold. There are hundreds of reasons why portable power stations, or solar generators as some call them, are quickly becoming more of a necessity than a luxury. For instance, we currently have a vast fire 60 miles from my house. Due to high winds and dry conditions, the power company shut off power to 40,000 people until conditions improve. This is where portable power solutions come in handy. Geneverse has launched two new options to help keep you up and running, the HomePower ONE PRO and the HomePower TWO PRO. The difference comes down to capacity, rated power, and surge power. We will be looking at the HomePower ONE PRO unit and the kit that ships with a pair of 200w portable fold-out solar panels that they dub their SolarPower 2. Let’s get to it. HomePower ONE PRO Specifications The Geneverse HomePower ONE PRO has the following features and specifications: Battery Specs Capacity: 1210Wh Type: Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4/LFP) Cycle Life: ≥3000 cycles Outputs AC Output: 3X 120v outlets powered by a 1200W sine-wave inverter with a surge rating of 2400W. USB-A Fast Charge: 2X QC 3.0 USB-A: Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0, 5-6.5V/3A, 6.5-9V/2A, 9-12V/1.5A USB-C Output: 2X USB-C: PD 100W, 5V/3A, 9V/3A, 12V/3A, 15V/3A, 20V/5A, 100W Max Inputs/Charging AC Charging Input:  800W Max, 9.5A Solar Charging Input: Supports 17.5V-54V, 10.5A, 400W Max each (21A, 800W in total) Car Charging Input: Supports 11.6V-17.5V, 8A Max each (16A Max in total) Charge Controller: Built-In MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) Additional Details Charge Time: AC 1.5 hours to 80%, 2.5 hours to 100%. Solar (800W input) 1.5 hours to 80%, 2.5 hours to 100%. Car Outlet 11.5 hours to 80%, 14.5 hours to 100%. Connection: Wi-Fi Net Weight: Approx. 38lbs Dimension: L 17.83″ x W 11.02″ x H 11.79″ Operating Temperature (Charging): 32°F ~ 104°F Operating Temperature (Discharging): 14°F ~ 104°F Safety Protection Over Charge Protection Over-Discharge Protection Short Circuit Protection Over Current Protection Over Voltage Protection Over Temperature Protection What’s in the Box 1X HomePower PRO Backup Battery Power Station 1X AC Charging Cable 1X Car Charging Cable 1X Accessory Case 1X User Manual Design (HomePower ONE PRO) The Geneverse HomePower ONE PRO design is similar to many brands on the market. Across the front, you find your information screen on the top left. It is bright, clear, and easy to read. You will find all the usual bits of information from battery charge percentage, input and output watts, and approximate hours remaining at the current power draw. To the right of the display, you have two buttons, one for turning the display on or off and one for the light. The light on the Geneverse HomePower ONE PRO is one of the largest ones I have personally seen. It measures roughly 4.62″ X 2.25″ and offers three lighting options. Low uses 3w of power and gives plenty of light for a small room. High uses 7w of power and easily lights a master bedroom or small living room. The third option is SOS; this also uses 7w of power, and the light flashes SOS in mores code. Being as bright as it is, the SOS function in low light could help rescuers find you quite easily. Geneverse HomePower ONE PRO Next, we have your DC outputs. You have your two QC 3.0 USB-A ports with your two USB-C PD 100W ports below them. To the right is your power button for operating the DC ports. There is a small light on the button, so you can see whether it is on or off. You find another small power button to turn the inverter and AC plugs off and on to the right of the DC ports. To the right of the button are your three AC plugs which are 120v outlets powered by a 1200W sine-wave inverter with a surge rating of 2400W. The sides of the unit offer tucked-in handle’s to help you transport it to where you need it. Below the handles are your fan vents to keep the internal electrical components cool while in use and while charging. On the rear, your charging ports are covered by a small rubber door. The right side is your AC connection, and the left side is your car/solar input ports. The top is concaved slightly around the edges and flat in the center. It appears that it is designed for stacking multiple units if needed, or at the very least, better storage and transportation. It does make for a great flat spot to put your phone, tablet, or laptop while charging. I am surprised with the flat design that they didn’t add a wireless charger for your phone. The bottom offers up two large rubber feet that prevent it from sliding around as well as protection against scratching surfaces you may set the unit on. Ease of Use (HomePower ONE PRO) One of the great things about power stations is how easy they are to use as a whole. The Geneverse HomePower ONE PRO is as easy to use as the outlets in your house. You are off to the races if you can plug in a toaster and hit a power button. They didn’t overly complicate the front of the device; all the ports are clearly labeled and easy to access. In the HomePower ONE PRO box, you get the carry case for the cables to charge it via AC (wall outlet) or DC (12v cigarette plug). Plugging the device to charge is just as straightforward as connecting devices. The AC cord measured in at 15 feet, and the DC plug measured in at 7 feet. Both are plenty long enough to reach an outlet without much effort. In our case, we also received a pair of SolarPower 2 solar panels. They came with their own proprietary cables in the carry bags of each panel. The display gives you all the information you will need to know at a glance. The center of the smart display shows you a battery percentage in digital form as well as a blue circle that depletes as your battery drains. You get hours remaining estimation, watts out, watts in, hours until fully charged estimation, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth icons for connectivity. You will also see indicators if the temp gets too low, too high, or if there was a malfunction in the unit. I took the HomePower ONE PRO over to a few friends’ houses who are less than technical, and none of them had any issues making it function or any trouble understanding what the display was telling them. Performance (HomePower ONE PRO) With a rated power on the inverter at 1200W and a surge of 2400W, you are going to get pretty solid performance for most of your base needs. Obviously, the needs of each person can vary widely, and even the needs on a day-to-day basis can vary. In my case, I have two primary uses for this type of system, power outage/emergency and camping. I need the system to be safe, easy to use, and reliable. The ONE PRO has a lot of safety features built-in. Some are a little more difficult to test as a general consumer. I did what I figured might happen, though. For instance, it has overcharge safety protection. I left it plugged in for a few days and never had overheating issues or anything weird happen. I drained it to zero and was able to charge it without issue. I also purposely attempted to run electronics that I knew were over the 1200W rated continuous power, and the ONE PRO didn’t hesitate to shut down to protect itself. I am confident that the other safety features work as designed. The HomePower ONE PRO offers an ACPS (Automatic Continuous Power System) feature. This allows the ONE PRO to charge the battery at the same time you are powering your devices. I plugged a fan in, then plugged in the ONE PRO and turned the fan on. The battery started charging without issue, and ACPS appeared on its display. I unplugged the ONE PRO, and the fan continued without fail. I also opened the app and turned off charging from AC to make sure the fan would stay powered, and it did. From there, I made sure the mobile app would switch the AC ports off and on. It worked exactly as it should. If the power went out, the fridge would be the first thing on my mind. Food is expensive, and losing everything in my fridge/freezer would be expensive to replace. I own a Hisense French Door Fridge/Freezer and figured I should have no issue powering it for a day. After digging into the specs of the fridge, I learned that it chews through power. I obviously didn’t think about that when I bought it. I ran the fridge for 4 hours and saw fluctuations from 4W-277W. According to Hisense, the average hourly watt consumption should be around 72W an hour, and it seems like I was about 70W. If that is the only thing running and we aren’t opening and closing it too many times, the HomePower ONE PRO should be able to run the fridge for roughly 14 hours without additional power inputs. With any luck, I’ll have some sunshine and can feed it solar power too. Other kitchen items tested to keep the family going were pretty basic gadgets that I would most likely use if the power was out. I made some toast in the toaster and got a rating of 792W. I made a fried egg on a small electric griddle from Wal-Mart and used 516W. I also made some rice in the pressure cooker that pulled 909W and drained roughly 15% of the battery. I gave the AirFryer a shot, but it pulled over the 1200w and shut down as I had anticipated. Anything that generates heat will use a lot of power. While some of those numbers seem like a lot, like the toaster, it is only running for a few minutes. Yes, it pulled the ONE PRO down a few percent on the charge, but I could make a lot of toast before it died. Moving to the living room, the HomePower ONE PR...

SEC ‘Out To Damage Or Destroy’ Crypto Industry: LBRY CEO – Decrypt https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/sec-out-to-damage-or-destroy-crypto-industry-lbry-ceo-decrypt/ LBRY CEO Jeremy Kauffman called out the Securities and Exchange Commission at Messari’s Mainnet, as the file-sharing network faces scrutiny from the regulator. The SEC charged LBRY with selling unregistered securities in March of last year. The Commission took issue with over $11 million in funding raised through the sale of LBRY Credits, which are now used to upload files and make payments on the blockchain-based platform but were offered for sale before the network was built. That led the SEC to view LBRY Credits as investment contracts, based on the notion that people assumed they would increase in value after purchasing the tokens. Kauffman said the company has been “fighting” the SEC for nearly five years and soon expects a federal judge to weigh in with a ruling on whether a full trial is necessary. The verdict will have far-reaching implications for other companies as well, according to him, setting some level of precedent for companies that have raised money for their projects through an initial coin offering or ICO. “The facts in this case would basically apply to every company in this room,” he said. “The SEC has very much demonstrated that they are out to damage or destroy the cryptocurrency industry in the United States.” Not only was the CEO verbally critical of the Commission, he also wore a shirt that day which visually expressed condemnation of the regulator. Even as Kauffman has faced pressure from regulators, he’s stepped into the political realm with the goal of being elected this year. If he’s elected, one of his main priorities will be bringing more attention to the cryptocurrency scene. Kauffman is currently on the ballot in New Hampshire, representing the Libertarian party in a bid to be one of New Hampshire’s next U.S. senators. A few cryptocurrency advocates have turned to New England to host campaigns, including Bruce Fenton and Brock Pierce, but have had little success securing a seat. Fenton lost his campaign for the Senate earlier this month and Pierce never found his way onto the ballot in Vermont. However, Keith Ammon, a representative in the House from New Hampshire who was reelected in 2020, has a track record of supporting the industry. “You send him a pro-crypto bill, it will be introduced the next session,” Kauffman said. “That’s the only way we can make blockchain legal–we have to get into office, we’ve got to pass new laws,” Kauffman said. Kauffman believes that his file-sharing platform and libertarian ideology are somewhat aligned, in regards to how some feel about politics and social media. He said, “People are tired of having these bureaucrats – these middlemen – making these decisions for them.” Stay on top of crypto news, get daily updates in your inbox.

The US Navy Used Ulithi Atoll As Forward Base To Fight Japan In WWII – Business Insider https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/the-us-navy-used-ulithi-atoll-as-forward-base-to-fight-japan-in-wwii-business-insider/ In September 1944, the US Navy captured Ulithi Atoll and used it to support the Allied advance. The remote atoll hosted hundreds of ships for repair and rearmament and allowed troops to rest. Ulithi is taking on new relevance amid heightened tensions with China in the Western Pacific. Loading Something is loading. On September 16, 1944, as US Marines began a major assault on Peleliu, Adm. William Halsey, commander of the US Navy’s 3rd Fleet, ordered III Amphibious Corps to seize Ulithi Atoll, located 400 miles to the northeast. Seven days later, soldiers from the 81st Infantry Division began landing on Ulithi’s coral islets. The Japanese had abandoned the atoll a few months earlier, and the US landing was unopposed. Within two days the Americans had completed their initial unloading operations. Located roughly between Guam and Palau and some 1,300 miles from Tokyo, Ulithi would have been easy to overlook, but within a few weeks it would become essential to the war effort. Hundreds of Allied ships would fill its lagoon and thousands of troops would occupy its islands. The remote coral outcropping would allow them to take the fight all the way to Japan’s shores. The world’s largest naval facility Sorlen Island and the north anchorage at Ulithi Atoll in late 1944. US Navy Ulithi is made up of 40 small islands, only four of which are inhabited, in an oblong ring around a lagoon of some 200 square miles in size and depths of 80 feet to 100 feet. The atoll was spotted by US Pacific Fleet commander Adm. Chester Nimitz while looking over a map of the area to find a good location for an advance base to support future operations against the Philippines and Japan. The Japanese had a weather station on the atoll and made limited use of its lagoon as a fleet anchorage and seaplane base earlier in the war, but they withdrew after coming under attack from US carrier aircraft. The Japanese saw no strategic value in Ulithi and didn’t think it could be used against them. US naval construction battalions, known as “Seabees,” quickly proved them wrong, setting up Ulithi as an advance base almost immediately after landing in late September 1944. US Navy sailors on Mogmog Island in November 1944. US Navy/Charles Fenno Jacobs The Seabees lengthened an abandoned airstrip on Falalop Island to 1,200 yards, set up buoys to designate areas in the lagoon where ships could anchor, established a headquarters on Asor Island, and built a boat pool and 100-bed hospital on Sorlen Island. The Navy also transferred Ulithi’s native population to one of the smaller islands, where they lived for the rest of the war. Mogmog, the largest and most habitable island, became a badly needed haven for US troops. It had ball fields, a band stand, a chapel, and a 1,200-seat theater. There was also an ice cream barge that could make 500 gallons of ice cream in one shift. At its peak, the island hosted 20,000 men, with roughly 9,000 there on any given day. The lagoon was Ulithi’s most valuable feature. Hundreds of ships, including entire carrier groups, anchored in its waters, alongside dozens of seaplanes. There they would be tended to by the small army of Navy engineers and logistics personnel assigned to Service Squadron 10. USS Randolph alongside repair ship USS Jason at Ulithi Atoll on March 13, 1945. Randolph was hit by a Japanese kamikaze on March 11. US Navy Service Squadron 10 oversaw the rearming, resupplying, and repairing of Navy ships and aircraft, and otherwise supported the war effort’s logistical needs. In all, the unit had over 400 vessels, including repair ships, tankers, floating dry docks, crane ships, desalination ships, tugs, floating barracks, and floating workshops. The ships and sailors of Service Squadron 10 allowed the Navy to continue fighting across the vast Pacific expanse. They were called Nimitz’s “secret weapon.” Ulithi became an extremely important base of operations. Any ship could be repaired — or mended enough to get back to a bigger base — and rearmed there and troops could rest and recuperate. Aircraft carriers moored there could continue launching rescue, reconnaissance, and bombing operations. The liberation of the Philippines and the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa were all launched from Ulithi. It also hosted preparations for the planned invasion of Japan’s home islands. USS Mississinewa after being hit by a Japanese Kaiten manned torpedo on November 20, 1944. US Navy By the end of the war, Ulithi was the world’s largest naval facility, hosting as many as 617 vessels. The presence of so many ships also made Ulithi a target. The Japanese repeatedly tried to attack it with aircraft, mini-subs, and even Kaiten manned torpedoes. On November 20, 1944, the Japanese sank the fleet oiler USS Mississinewa, killing some 63 sailors and officers. On March 11, 1945, a long-range kamikaze plane struck the carrier USS Randolph, killing 25 men and wounding 106 more. Randolph was repaired at Ulithi and joined the invasion of Okinawa a month later. Japan even sent its enormous plane-carrying I-400-class submarines to attack Ulithi. The subs were en route when Japan surrendered and had to return. Newfound relevance US military hospital ship USNS Mercy near Ulithi Atoll in March 2018. US NavyMCS2 Kelsey L. Adams Ulithi was largely abandoned after the war, but the atoll is taking on new relevance as heightened tensions with China make another war in the Pacific more likely. A forward base would be invaluable in such a conflict, especially since modern guided-missile warships cannot be rearmed while at sea. The need for such a base is compounded by the fact that the US Navy would likely struggle to repair warships damaged in battle with great-power rivals like China or Russia, according to a Government Accountability Office report released last year. An airfield and a high school damaged by Typhoon Maysak on Falalop Island in Ulithi Atoll in December 2015. US Air Force/Osakabe Yasuo The complexity of modern warship design coupled with US divestment of naval repair assets and the closure of many public shipyards after the Cold War make fixing battle-damaged ships more challenging. The US Navy is already struggling with a repair backlog. Its surface ships currently face roughly 4,200 days of maintenance delays — effectively reducing the fleet by about 10 ships a year, Navy officials said this month. With China continuing to build ships, expand the reach of its missile arsenal, and muster industrial capacity three times that of the US, the Navy would need every advantage it could get.

Artemis Technologies Unveils World’s Most Advanced 100% Electric Passenger Ferry – EIN News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/artemis-technologies-unveils-worlds-most-advanced-100-electric-passenger-ferry-ein-news/ Artemis Technologies’ EF-24 Passenger – the world’s most advanced, 100% electric, fast foiling ferry set to help global cities decarbonise their waterways. Interior of Artemis Technologies’ EF-24 Passenger ferry – the world’s most advanced, 100% electric foiling ferry THE ferry of the future! 85% fuel savings, zero emissions in operation, minimal wake, comfortable ride, low maintenance costs – just some of the benefits of the EF-24 Passenger ferry from Artemis Technologies The future of passenger ferries! The EF-24 Passenger will transform the global ferry market and help cities worldwide decarbonise their waterways. The EF-24 Passenger can provide an immediate green transport solution that competes economically with road and rail in places like San Francisco, New York, Venice, Istanbul, Dubai, and Singapore.” — Two-time Olympic champion Dr Iain Percy OBE BELFAST, UNITED KINGDOM, September 26, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ — Leading maritime design and applied technologies company Artemis Technologies has unveiled the design of its new 100% electric EF-24 Passenger vessel, targeting the global high-speed ferry market. This revolutionary ferry is among several zero-emission vessels being developed by Artemis Technologies in Belfast, Northern Ireland, designed to provide commercially viable green transport solutions for operators, cities and governments across the world. With a top speed of 38 knots, the EF-24 Passenger ferry offers a range of 115 nautical miles at a 25 knots cruise speed and produces incredible fuel savings of up to 85% compared to conventional high-speed diesel ferries. Powered by the patented Artemis eFoiler® electric propulsion system, the 24m vessels will fly above the water, providing a comfortable ride for up to 150 passengers on board, mitigating effects of seasickness and producing minimal wake at high-speed, significantly reducing the impact on shorelines. Artemis Technologies is a spin-off from the Artemis Racing team that competed in the America’s Cup of which its founder, two-time Olympic champion Dr Iain Percy OBE is a four-time veteran. He said: “We have combined our experience from the worlds of high-performance sailing, motorsports, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing to design and develop an electric propulsion system that is quite simply a game changer for the maritime industry. “Our high-speed passenger ferry provides a cost-effective public transport solution that helps address air pollution, congestion, and noise. “By encouraging multimodal transport in urban areas, we will enable cities around the world to utilise and benefit from the untapped potential of their waterways. “With hydrofoils that lift the boats out of the water, we are dramatically reducing drag. This is coupled with a submerged electric drivetrain that is exceptionally efficient, as proven through rigorous testing with our 12m eFoiler® workboat, validating our digital simulations and performance prediction.” The ferries will be fully accessible, incredibly spacious with a range of facilities on board including bike racks, cabin bag and overhead storage, baby changing facilities, and charging points. The vessels will also feature a unique high-speed collision avoidance system developed with ECIT, part of Queen’s University Belfast. The system will ensure the safety of operations in port and close to shore by safely diverting the ferry on an altered path away from sea life, wildlife, debris and other in-water objects that might otherwise be obscured from view. Artemis Technologies has partnered with Condor Ferries to operate a pilot scheme using the first EF-24 Passenger ferry. This will come into service in 2024, running between Belfast and Bangor in Northern Ireland. Iain added: “The zero-emission ferry that will be seen departing Belfast in 2024, aptly named ‘Zero’, will be the first we build at our manufacturing hub in the city, but it is only the start. “Many water-based cities around the world are grappling with the challenge of growing populations, congestion, and pollution. “The EF-24 Passenger can provide an immediate green transport solution that competes economically with road and rail in places like San Francisco, New York, Venice, Istanbul, Dubai, and Singapore – anywhere around the globe that is seeking sustainable transport alternatives that balance the requirement for people to continue to move around with the need to reduce carbon emissions. “Especially where new infrastructure is required like a new road or rail line, this ferry will not only be the cheapest, but also the fastest and least disruptive way to decarbonise transport networks in water-based cities”. John Napton, CEO of Condor Ferries, said: “As a leading operator of passenger ferries, we continuously seek to explore technology that will allow us to sail more sustainably, and we know our customers are of the same mindset. “Green vessels like the EF-24 Passenger ferry perfectly provide that clean alternative to traditional diesel ferries. “We are thrilled to partner with Artemis Technologies and the Belfast Maritime Consortium to develop these vessels from concept to reality over the coming months and look forward to being the first operator to set sail in 2024 with the world’s most advanced zero-emission foiling fast ferry.” Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris added: “My congratulations to Artemis Technologies and Belfast Maritime Consortium on unveiling the plans for this exciting zero emissions vessel. “I recently visited Artemis’ headquarters. I am delighted that they are seizing the many opportunities that the development of green transport presents, and which the UK Government is committed to supporting through our Net Zero Strategy. “The development of such world-leading technology will ensure that Belfast remains at the forefront of maritime innovation, while providing a boost to the local green economy.” Earlier this year on its continued mission towards the decarbonisation of maritime, Artemis Technologies launched the world’s largest 100% electric foiling vessel, ‘Pioneer of Belfast’ and unveiled an electric workboat range including a 12m multi-purpose workboat and a 12m crew transfer vessel with a 24m crew transfer vessel also currently under development. Carly Rodgers Lighthouse Communications +447772798027 ext. email us here Visit us on social media: Twitter LinkedIn Introducing the Artemis EF-24 Passenger Ferry – Artemis Technologies You just read: EIN Presswire’s priority is source transparency. We do not allow opaque clients, and our editors try to be careful about weeding out false and misleading content. As a user, if you see something we have missed, please do bring it to our attention. Your help is welcome. EIN Presswire, Everyone’s Internet News Presswire, tries to define some of the boundaries that are reasonable in today’s world. Please see our Editorial Guidelines for more information. Submit your press release

Indiana High School Football Scores From Week 6 – WHAS11.com https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/indiana-high-school-football-scores-from-week-6-whas11-com/ Some other highlights from High School Game Time include Providence versus Holy Cross, Seneca versus Atherton and Bullitt Central versus Fairdale. INDIANA, USA — Adams Central 49, S. Adams 20 Anderson 27, Indpls Tech 26, OT Andrean 24, Hobart 17 Angola 39, Fairfield 6 Bedford N. Lawrence 21, Jennings Co. 7 Beech Grove 44, Monrovia 32 Bloomington North 49, New Albany 7 Bloomington South 44, Southport 7 Bluffton 57, Southern Wells 0 Boonville 32, Mt. Vernon (Posey) 20 Bremen 14, Glenn 7 Brownsburg 31, Westfield 14 Carmel 50, Indpls N. Central 19 Carroll (Flora) 39, Tri-Central 13 Carroll (Ft. Wayne) 58, Ft. Wayne South 6 Cascade 40, N. Putnam 21 Center Grove 63, Lawrence Central 41 Charlestown 52, Scottsburg 13 Chesterton 41, Portage 7 Churubusco 44, Fremont 0 Columbia City 49, New Haven 7 Columbus North 41, Terre Haute North 35 Concord 37, Goshen 7 Corydon 32, Salem 16 Covington 33, Parke Heritage 30 Crown Point 34, Valparaiso 13 Culver 26, Winamac 20 DeKalb 56, Huntington North 48 Delphi 46, Clinton Prairie 28 E. Central 48, S. Dearborn 6 Eastbrook 50, Blackford 6 Eastern (Greentown) 52, Clinton Central 8 Eastside 54, Prairie Hts. 12 Elkhart 43, S. Bend St. Joseph’s 7 Ev. Mater Dei 23, Ev. North 6 Ev. Memorial 54, Ev. Bosse 14 Ev. Reitz 41, Castle 10 Fishers 21, Avon 17 Floyd Central 14, Columbus East 12 Franklin 28, Mooresville 21 Franklin Central 21, Noblesville 7 Franklin Co. 14, Greensburg 6 Ft. Wayne Dwenger 41, Ft. Wayne Concordia 12 Ft. Wayne Luers 35, Ft. Wayne Northrop 10 Ft. Wayne North 50, Homestead 49 Ft. Wayne Snider 49, Ft. Wayne Wayne 7 Gibson Southern 32, Heritage Hills 14 Greencastle 63, Brown Co. 7 Greenwood Christian 22, Edinburgh 7 Hamilton Hts. 43, Twin Lakes 0 Hamilton Southeastern 31, Zionsville 13 Hammond Central 48, E. Chicago Central 6 Hanover Central 55, Boone Grove 7 Heritage Christian 34, Covenant Christian 28 Highland 12, Munster 7 Holgate, Ohio 30, Harlan Christian 25 Indian Creek 48, Edgewood 20 Indpls Attucks 50, Phalen 14 Download the new WHAS11+ app on Roku or Fire TV for free! Indpls Ben Davis 34, Lawrence North 28 Indpls Cathedral 56, Hammond Morton 0 Indpls Chatard 31, Guerin Catholic 30 Indpls Lutheran 28, Indpls Scecina 19 Indpls Park Tudor 62, N. Central (Farmersburg) 0 Indpls Perry Meridian 31, Greenwood 21 Indpls Roncalli 31, Indpls Brebeuf 14 Indpls Shortridge 34, Christel House Manual 7 Jasper 27, Ev. Central 0 Jeffersonville 28, Silver Creek 14 Jimtown 69, S. Bend Clay 6 Knightstown 40, Cambridge City 18 Kokomo 49, McCutcheon 9 LaVille 21, Knox 20 Lafayette Catholic 42, Rensselaer 7 Lafayette Harrison 34, Lafayette-jefferson 27 Lake Central 35, Michigan City 31 Lake Station 30, S. Central (Union Mills) 20 Lakeland 49, Central Noble 20 Lapel 32, Heritage 27 Lawrenceburg 37, Batesville 0 Lebanon 21, Tri-West 14 Leo 37, Bellmont 7 Logansport 43, Marion 7 Lou. Holy Cross, Ky. 23, Providence 21 Lowell 38, Kankakee Valley 29 Maconaquah 28, N. Miami 26 Madison-Grant 69, Elwood 0 Martinsville 35, Whiteland 21 Milan 36, Eastern Hancock 35, OT Mishawaka 43, Warsaw 19 Mississinewa 28, Alexandria 0 Mt. Vernon (Fortville) 46, Pendleton Hts. 14 Muncie Central 57, Richmond 8 N. Decatur 55, Rushville 14 N. Harrison 50, Eastern (Pekin) 12 N. Knox 35, Pike Central 14 N. Montgomery 44, Crawfordsville 7 N. Vermillion 60, Attica 12 N. White 33, Caston 16 New Castle 17, Delta 12 New Palestine 42, Greenfield 7 New Prairie 49, S. Bend Adams 2 NorthWood 48, Plymouth 0 Northeastern 39, Centerville 12 Northfield 42, Wabash 7 Northridge 42, Wawasee 17 Norwell 45, E. Noble 0 Oak Hill 40, Frankton 0 Owen Valley 40, Sullivan 32 Paoli 48, Eastern (Greene) 13 Penn 42, Mishawaka Marian 3 Perry Central 51, Clarksville 30 Plainfield 34, Decatur Central 32 Purdue Polytechnic Englewood 27, Indpls Tindley 26 River Forest 43, Hammond Noll 6 Rochester 34, Peru 6 S. Bend Riley 34, S. Bend Washington 26 S. Decatur 36, Cloverdale 19 S. Putnam 40, W. Vigo 8 S. Spencer 34, Forest Park 21 Seeger 28, Fountain Central 27 Seymour 28, Brownstown 24 Shenandoah 36, Hagerstown 8 Sheridan 48, Taylor 0 Southmont 28, Danville 14 Southridge 34, Tell City 6 Southwood 55, Manchester 22 Speedway 41, Connersville 7 Springs Valley 71, Crawford Co. 0 Switzerland Co. 58, Eminence, Ky. 24 Tecumseh 45, N. Posey 29 Terre Haute South 42, Northview 37 Tippecanoe Valley 60, Whitko 6 Tipton 47, Northwestern 21 Traders Point Christian 52, Tri-County 6 Tri 38, Winchester 0 Triton 35, Pioneer 12 Triton Central 58, Indpls Ritter 15 Union Co. 55, Union City 14 Vincennes 42, Ev. Harrison 7 W. Lafayette 55, Benton Central 0 W. Noble 40, Garrett 14 Warren Central 49, Indpls Pike 14 Washington 41, Princeton 15 Western 28, Cass 6 Western Boone 56, Frankfort 6 Whiting 7, Wheeler 6 Woodlan 40, Jay Co. 33 Yorktown 42, Shelbyville 0 Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.

Full Video: Airbnb CEO At Skift Global Forum 2022 – Skift Travel News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/full-video-airbnb-ceo-at-skift-global-forum-2022-skift-travel-news/ An enthusiastic Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky took to the stage at Skift Global Forum in New York City on September 21 and made his case for why we are entering a “golden age of travel” during a wide ranging conversation with Skift founder and CEO Rafat Ali. The talk with Chesky was a fitting final session for this year’s forum, as he pulled together many of the themes discussed over the previous days, including new remote work trends, corporate travel and the value of experiential travel. Watch the full video of the conversation, as well as read a transcript of it, below, to hear Chesky, including his thoughts on the blending between between travel and living, between work and leisure, and why travel is being redistributed outside the major cities. Interview Transcript Rafat Ali: All right, folks, you guys are ready for this? Everybody ready? Thank you, Brian, for being here. Brian Chesky Thank you for having me here. Ali: It’s become our annual tradition. Chesky: I know. Now two is a tradition. Ali: Two is a tradition. You opened last year’s conference, now you’re closing this year’s conference. I guess, next year, you’ll be in the middle somewhere. Well, thank you for being here. Obviously, anything you say is of high interest, so I’m so glad you’re here. So, you have been the biggest proponent of how the world has changed. Chesky: Yes. Ali: … and what that means for travel. You’ve said travel will never come back to what it was pre-pandemic. Chesky: Right. Ali: All the remarks you said last year at Skift Global Forum, in many ways they continue to play out. Is there any pullback you’re seeing in terms of things going back to normal in terms of length of stays, are they shortening back to what it was pre-pandemic, et cetera, et cetera? Chesky: Not yet. I mean, so before the pandemic, Airbnb was a primarily cross-border business, where you’ll go to another country and stay in the city. And 80 percent of our business was either urban or cross-border. Then the pandemic happened, people couldn’t go to cities, they weren’t crossing borders. So, what they did is two big phenomenons happened. They would get in a car and they’d travel not by plane, but by car, like 200 miles away, which is basically the length of a tank of gas. And they would stay not necessarily in big cities, but in these small, non-urban destinations, in these really big homes with other friends and family, and the length of stay increased because people weren’t tethered to an office. So, those two trends, people not just going to 100 cities, going everywhere, that’s here to stay. In fact, there’s a really interesting step. More people now travel to Austin on Airbnb than Barcelona. More people travel to the Alabama Gulf Coast than Madrid. The Catskills in Hudson Valley are bigger than New Orleans. We could go down the list and what’s happening, isn’t that everyone’s going to the Catskills. It’s that everyone’s going everywhere. They’re not all concentrating in the same place. Length of stay. We’re not just a travel company. Half our business is still longer than a week or approximately, by nights. And a fifth of our business is remained longer than a month, but we are seeing some return of cross-border. We’re seeing a return of urban travel. Where we’re not seeing as much yet is Asia. Asia is laggard, because Asia is very much a cross-border business. Asia’s not really a domestic travel market, for the most part, at least for us. And so, there’s not a lot of movement across borders, but what we’re seeing, basically the summary is, all of our old business is now returning, except Asia’s a little laggard, but the new trends are here to stay. Ali: And so, cities. New York City, obviously, famously people said, “Cities are dead.” Et cetera, et cetera. Are you seeing urban stays back to the pre-pandemic level yet? Chesky: Not to the pre-pandemic level, but it’s somewhere in between, but it’s still very, very strong. New York City isn’t over. It was never going to be over. Ali: Well, if you see this week traffic, there’s no way it’s over. Chesky: Yeah, it’s not over. It’s never going to be over. But the other thing that is 100% true is no single city, I don’t think, maybe New York is an exception, but generally speaking, cities will never be as important as they were before the pandemic, because it used to be the place to be was a city. And now I believe the place to be is the internet. In other words, you can do your job from almost anywhere. Approximately, let’s call it, I don’t know the exact numbers, but maybe half of the jobs in the United States are jobs that can be basically done by a laptop. Now the other half, you have to be somewhere. But let’s say, the jobs on the laptop, I read a Wall Street Journal story yesterday, by Gartner (research group), that said only of the 187 companies they surveyed, only 5% are returning to the office five days a week. Ali: This is true in New York as well, by the way. Chesky: Yah. And so, the whole world’s not going to be totally remote. We’ve really embraced more remote work. But I can say that the days of five days a week in an office are completely over. And the proponents of it, these are probably people in a different generation, closer to my parents’ age. But if you want to look at how people live in the future, just look at young people and young companies, and they are living in a really distributed, really remote way. And the best people are going to live everywhere, they’re not going to live in a commuting radius around you. And so, the number one benefit after compensation’s going to be flexibility. So, living remotely, working around the world, is here to stay. This is completely changing, I think, how we’re going to live. Ali: And of course, you’re not just talking, you’re walking the talk. By the way, I should mention this, we will take questions. So, people, if you’re watching online and as well as here, if you have questions, please use the app and I’ll try as much as possible. But you’re walking the talk, which is for your company, you’re probably the largest company, as an example, that has basically said, “Live and work anywhere.” It’s been what, six months now? Chesky: Yeah, probably six months. Ali: What are the early lessons? Chesky: I have a couple. Number one, the world is going towards remote work and I think anyone that doesn’t believe that is basically betting against where the entire trends are going. I always thought if you want to, like I said this before, but I always thought 20 years ago, Silicon Valley and young companies defined the open floor plan in onsite perks. And I thought, to look to the future, let’s look to young companies and young companies were all embracing remote work, but we didn’t want to do pure remote. I think pure remote is not good, maybe it’s good for some people. Zoom is really great for certain things. Zoom is really efficient. It’s very effective. Anyone who says you can’t innovate remotely, our lesson is, we’ve actually done more innovation on Zoom over two years, 150 upgrades, than we ever had in an office. The problem is this though, think about what’s happening in the world right now. Suddenly you used to live in New York City, you moved to Connecticut, where you work out of your house. You used to go to an office. Your office is now Zoom. You used to go to a mall or a store, that’s now Amazon. You used to go to a theater, that’s now Netflix. You used to go to the grocery store, that’s now Instacart, your house. You used to go to a restaurant, maybe now that’s Door Dash. You could literally never leave your house. And if you never leave your house- Ali: But your business will be dead if that happens. Chesky: If no one ever leaves their house, that’s a big problem for us. And if no one ever leaves their house, what’s also happening? We’re glued to screens. And if we’re glued to screens all day, then I think there’s a risk that we recreate the movie WALL-E, where we’re all in these pods, staring at screens, endlessly scrolling. And I think that’s actually a really dystopian way to live. People need connection. More than half of Americans identify as lonely. You know the loneliest people in America right now? They’re teenagers. Teenagers are lonelier than people in nursing homes, as an age cohort. This is insane. The more connected we get to the internet and the more time we spend on screens, the less lonely we feel and the worse mental health gets. And so, here’s my whole theory. Why will people leave their home in the future? To travel. And they’re going to travel, not just for fun, but to see people. Business travel, I always thought it was never coming back to the way it was, but I knew it would come back. But business travel’s not going to be about that sales meeting. It’s going to be about much more meaningful bonding, longer trips. And so, I think that we’re about to experience a golden age of travel. I haven’t been able to listen to all the talks before me, but my view, my certainly contrarian view, is I think a lot of people have been talking about how we’re doing compared to 2019. I’m like, that game’s over. First of all, we’re not going back to 2019 any more than we’re going back to 1950. But more importantly, I think there’s a new golden age of travel upon us. I think travel and I think even the industry, the analysts, the experts of travel, are maybe even underestimating the potential of travel. Because you have to model the fact that you have hundreds of millions of people that are glued to screens all day. They want to leave their house. Travel’s going to be the way to do that. And there’s not a lot of competition for travel, as far as things to do in the real world. So, I think that’s good. It’s not just good for Airbnb. ...

Businesses Urged To Turn On Same-Day Delivery Before November Online Sales Peak – Tech Business News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/businesses-urged-to-turn-on-same-day-delivery-before-november-online-sales-peak-tech-business-news/ Australia’s online shopping industry is reportedly now worth more than $47 billion. According to a recently released study, the market size has grown by 8.9 per cent in 2022, proving that the Australian appetite for online shopping continues to soar. The November online sales days – Click Frenzy (8-10 November 2022), Black Friday (25 November 2022) and Cyber Monday (28 November 2022) – are now considered a huge retail opportunity for businesses of all sizes – not just major retailers. Especially following the Covid-19 pandemic – when online shopping skyrocketed to unprecedented levels – Australians today have clearly embraced the convenience of online shopping, with same-day delivery services in large part responsible for what is now considered a permanent change in Australian shopping habits. Sherpa – an Australian start-up founded in 2014 – is the country’s largest same-day delivery provider by volume of deliveries. Essentially a technology platform that connects independent courier professionals with businesses, Sherpa specialises in same-day delivery. CEO of Sherpa, Duncan Brett, says the company is gearing-up for another spike in demand this November online sales period. “Same day delivery is here to stay and businesses that aren’t embracing the benefits of e-commerce and same-day delivery are simply missing out on lucrative opportunities,” says Mr Brett. According to Statista, 62 per cent of Gen Z consumers intended to shop on the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, while almost half of Gen Y, more than a quarter of Gen Z and nine per cent of Baby Boomers planned to check out online. “We’re forecasting big demand for the end-of-year online sales period this year in particular, before we again see a boom in same-day delivery demand in the lead-up to Christmas. “Consumers today generally have a mentality that they “want it now”. Because Sherpa is synonymous with same-day delivery and we have set the timeframe bar so high, we are delivering a lot more during key retail periods, working with a lot more businesses and covering a much wider area of the country than ever before.” “Sherpa now has more than 70,000 Australian business customers – from big retailers such as Woolworths, Dan Murphy’s and Chemist Warehouse, to SMEs trading across a spectrum of categories.” “We’ve completed more than seven-million same day deliveries, we have a national fleet of more than 11,000 drivers, and we operate across 21 Australian cities… and that has all happened in less than a decade!” adds Mr Brett. According to KPMG, 80 per cent of retail CEOs say customer expectations are increasing around delivery; they want more delivery options and online delivery speed.  Additionally, according to Invespcro, 80 per cent of shoppers want same-day shipping, while 61 per cent want their packages even faster — within 1-3 hours of placing an order. While only a few retailers were able to offer ultra-fast delivery in the past, that has all changed as a result of the gig economy and platform business model adopted by companies such as Sherpa. Sherpa’s suggested seven starter considerations for businesses that aren’t offering same-day delivery are: Make the call sooner rather than later! Your Go/No decision point on whether to enable same day delivery for this year’s November online sales period is on the verge of crunch time. Whether it’s to launch with a bang or just to dip your toe in the water by shoring up carrier redundancy during the peak online sales, you still have options available but don’t leave it too long to make the call. Assess whether your order management system supports a same-day delivery service. Click & Collect is the litmus test here – if you already have it in place, you are halfway there in terms of the internal processes required. Consider how you can can best fulfil the service. Do you have the space and staff bandwidth to deliver from your store network or perhaps an alternative arrangement such as directly from your distribution centre is more fitting to your business? Determine how you will manifest the delivery orders. Your budget for technology will likely steer your decision. It could be by manually uploading onto a web portal, or via a middleware platform or through API (Application Programming Interface). Set your service radius – How far from your store or distribution centre will your same day delivery service cover? If you want to on-demand deliver within a couple of hours, this will be a shorter distance by necessity than if you deliver up to 9pm and have most of the day for the delivery driver to travel further afield. Determine how much to charge your customers. Same-day delivery is a premium option, above your traditional standard and express services and thus, should be charged as such; potentially up to 25 per cent more than express. Your free delivery shopping basket threshold should be higher too. Plan your means of promoting the service. Will it be shouted about on your homepage and across your social media channels or simply kept to the ‘Shipping & Delivery’ section of your website to start? Should you consider advertising or PR activities to promote the service? Austech Media Austech Media is Australian press release distribution and publishing organisation dedicated to the technology industry. Incorporating distribution of technology news and events

Etiology And Management Of Treatment-Resistant Hypertension In African American Adults ≥18 Years: A Literature Review – Cureus https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/etiology-and-management-of-treatment-resistant-hypertension-in-african-american-adults-%e2%89%a518-years-a-literature-review-cureus/ Treatment-resistant hypertension (TRH) is a frequently encountered clinical challenge that primary care clinicians, specialists, and patients face [1]. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), TRH refers to blood pressure that remains above the therapeutic goal despite the concurrent use of three or more antihypertensive medications taken at maximally tolerated doses, one of which should be a diuretic. Calcium channel blockers (CCBs), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are also commonly used classes. Interestingly, another definition of this phenomenon is well-controlled hypertension, which requires four or more antihypertensive agents to achieve the therapeutic target [1-3]. Many risk factors are associated with TRH, but older age, African American race, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are amongst the most common. Additionally, specific underlying causes play a pivotal role in TRH pathophysiology. Examples include obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), Conn syndrome, and renovascular diseases [4]. To be effective, treatment strategies for TRH must address three fundamental principles: availability, affordability, and the ability to be adapted to different healthcare settings. Practically, treatment modalities may not always fulfill the aforementioned factors within a given clinical scenario [5]. This review explores different treatment approaches to TRH, specifically in African American adults due to its higher prevalence amongst people of this race. By achieving an individual therapeutic blood pressure target in African Americans, 400,000 cardiovascular events could be prevented annually [6]. Chronic kidney disease To better understand the correlation between TRH and CKD, it is essential to illustrate prior situations leading to CKD. As per the guidelines outlined by the Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiative of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), CKD refers to kidney damage or an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) lower than 60 mL/min/1.73 m² for at least three months [7]. The precipitating factors associated with TRH include older age, lower GFR (60 mL/min/1.73 m²), higher albuminuria and body mass index, male sex, African origin, and presence of diabetes mellitus [8-9]. Notably, long-standing CKD and type 2 diabetes are strongly associated with TRH [10]. A study on African American adults showed a 30% incidence of TRH in patients with CKD during their follow-up, while a chronic renal insufficiency cohort study showed that the prevalence of TRH was higher in patients with lower eGFR [9]. CKD predisposes to TRH by continued and persistent stimulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and sympathetic nervous system, which results in high sodium retention and increased peripheral resistance [9]. There are five stages of CKD and these stages with their associating eGFR include: stage 1 (90 ml/min/1.73 m²), stage 2 (60-89ml/min/1.73 m²), stage 3A (45-59 ml/min/1.73 m²), stage 3B (30-44 ml/min/1.73 m²), stage 4 (15-29 ml/min/1.73 m²), and finally stage 5 (15 ml/min/1.73 m²) [11]. Data accumulated by the United States Renal Data System indicated that African American patients are three times more likely to develop end-stage renal CKD than white patients [9]. Management The goal of managing patients with TRH caused by the progression of CKD is to monitor blood pressure and albuminuria. TRH is managed and achieved through multiple therapies, including ACE inhibitors, ARBs, CCBs, mineralocorticoid receptor blockers, and thiazide diuretics. The longer half-life of chlorthalidone and indapamide results in increased and potent natriuresis, which prevents blood pressure elevation. Furthermore, the restriction of dietary sodium intake by 1 g has shown a decrease in blood pressure by 2.1 mmHg, which would be beneficial in addition to the recommended therapy [12]. It is advised that blood pressure in TRH patients should be maintained at 130/80 mmHg or lower [13]. A study observed an increased utilization of ARBs, ACE inhibitors, CCBs, and thiazide-type diuretics in African American adults, ranging from 43.3% to 63.6% [13]. However, mineralocorticoids and diuretics of the thiazide-type are underutilized in African Americans despite their ability to lower blood pressure [13-14]. Agarwal et al. encouraged the use of Patiromer, a potassium binder combined with spironolactone for better blood pressure control and a decreased likelihood of hyperkalemia [14]. Arteriovenous coupling, baroreceptor activation therapy, renal artery stenting, and renal nerve denervation are experimental procedures that have been successful but still require extensive testing. Nonetheless, of all these procedures, only renal artery stenting is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration [7]. Renal artery stenosis and fibromuscular dysplasia Renal artery stenosis (RAS) is known to be caused by fibromuscular dysplasia or atherosclerotic lesions [12]. Fibromuscular dysplasia is a rare non-inflammatory, non-atherosclerotic vascular disorder affecting multiple arteries, resulting in stenosis [15]. The prevalence of fibromuscular dysplasia is 0.4%, and it is seen more commonly in women between 20 and 50 years of age [12]. A study stated that men and African Americans with fibromuscular dysplasia were more likely to have atherosclerotic risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and CKD. African Americans are said to have a decreased prevalence of both fibromuscular dysplasia and renal artery stenosis [16]. Atherosclerotic causes of RAS are more prevalent in men and usually affect the aortic orifice or the proximal one-third of the renal artery. Furthermore, men and African Americans displayed increased susceptibility to atherosclerotic risk factors and vascular manifestations in comparison to women and Caucasians [16-17]. Although atherosclerotic lesions predominantly cause RAS, their etiology is not limited to the above-mentioned disorders. Other etiologies include nephroangiosclerosis, diabetic nephropathy, renal thromboembolic disease, thromboangiitis obliterans, and aortorenal dissection. In RAS, blood flow to the kidneys is distorted, which will inherently cause activation of the RAAS pathway, leading to hypertension [7]. Management Maintaining target blood pressure (130/80 mmHg) with minor medication adverse effects and minimal drug combinations is the main goal [13]. The use of ARBs and ACE inhibitors has shown a significant benefit in the mortality rate for managing resistant hypertension secondary to RAS [12]. ACE inhibitors or ARBs, in conjunction with beta-blockers, CCBs, and diuretics confer sufficient control on blood pressure [17]. Over nine months, revascularization decreased the mean systolic blood pressure from 162 mmHg to 145 mmHg in a non-randomized, single-arm study of 202 participants, but in comparison with medical therapy, eight trials with 2223 participants showed that revascularization produced no notable effect on systolic blood pressure [7]. The options available for revascularization are renal artery angioplasty and stenting, but the latter is associated with a better prognosis for avoiding restenosis [12,17]. Percutaneous angioplasty ranks higher than renal artery stenting in the treatment of fibromuscular dysplasia [12]. However, the indication for revascularization is ambiguous, leaving room for more studies to close the void of uncertainty [17]. Obstructive sleep apnea OSA is defined as recurrent obstructive breathing events generated by complete upper airway obstruction during sleep and is accompanied by daytime symptoms and sleep hypoventilation syndrome [18]. Usually, patients complain of having witnessed apnea and loud snoring, frequent nocturnal awakening, feeling very tired during the day, fatigue, and low energy. The patient’s waking from sleep terminates the apneic and hypopneic episodes [19]. The oropharynx collapses during OSA events, causing arousal or oxygen desaturation, resulting in fragmented sleep [20]. OSA, a cause of high blood pressure, has also been associated with changes in day-to-night blood pressure, severe hypertension, and TRH [2]. Male sex is the strongest predictor of OSA, with symptoms exacerbated during supine and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep [21].  Sleep disturbances are prevalent among middle-aged and older adults and vary by race/ethnicity, sex, and obesity status [22]. The Sleep Heart Health Study found a slightly increased risk of moderate to severe OSA in African Americans (20%) and American Indians (23%) compared with whites (17%). The differences among racial groups may be due to variations in craniofacial anatomy [20]. According to an AHA journal on hypertension, a 70% to 90% prevalence rate of OSA has been reported among adult patients with TRH [2]. A study conducted on a population of African Americans living in the southern United States showed a high prevalence of moderate or severe OSA (24%), which was mainly undiagnosed (95%) [23]. Undiagnosed cases are particularly prevalent in African American patients [24]. Many pathophysiological mechanisms exist between hypertension and OSA despite several studies showing that the cause of OSA is mainly unknown. Negative intrathoracic pressure, which places stress on the heart, inflammatory and cytokine-mediated effects of hypoxia, impaired sleep quality, nocturnal fluid shift, increased sympathetic autonomic system, and decreased parasympathetic autonomic system lead to activation of the RAAS. These mechanisms potentiate TRH [19]. Studies have implicated excessive accumulation of fluid centrally, i...

Commanders Vs. Eagles Score: Philadelphia Sacks Carson Wentz Nine Times, Rolls To 3-0 Start – CBS Sports https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/commanders-vs-eagles-score-philadelphia-sacks-carson-wentz-nine-times-rolls-to-3-0-start-cbs-sports/ The Philadelphia Eagles defense put up a dominant defensive performance to spoil Carson Wentz’s first game against his former team, finishing with nine sacks and six points allowed in a 24-8 drubbing of the Washington Commanders. The nine sacks by Philadelphia are the most by any team in the NFL this year, as the Eagles got 17 quarterback hits on Wentz. Wentz was hit throughout the day, by the defense and on the stat sheet. He finished 25 of 43 for 211 yards and no touchdowns, after being tied for the league lead with seven touchdown passes heading into Sunday’s game. He also had two fumbles on the afternoon and has 69 career fumbles in 88 career games. The Eagles scored all 24 of their points in the second quarter, not having to do much in the second half as Washington’s offense struggled to make a rally. Jalen Hurts finished 22 of 35 for 340 yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions to pace the Eagles, even though most of the damage was done in the first half. Hurts started 1 of 5 in this one before completing 12 of his next 14 passes — including two touchdowns — to lead the Eagles offense in building a 17-0 lead and essentially putting the game away.  Hurts had a 23-yard touchdown pass to Dallas Goedert on a screen pass to put the Eagles up 10-0 early in the second quarter and a 9-yard pass to A.J. Brown to put Philadelphia up 17-0. Brown had his first receiving touchdown with the Eagles, and finished with four catches for 75 yards.  Hurts went 18 of 27 for 279 yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions in the first half. DeVonta Smith had seven catches for 156 yards in the first half — including a 45- and 44-yard catch to spark two Eagles scoring drives. Smith’s 156 receiving yards in the first half were the most by an Eagles player since Kevin Curtis in 2007 — and the second-most in franchise history. His 2-yard touchdown catch to end the half put Philadelphia up 24-0, essentially putting the game out of reach for Washington.  Hurts became the third player since 2000 with 250 pass and rush yards in the first half of three straight games. The others were Patrick Mahomes in 2019 and Aaron Rodgers in 2014. He had 361 total yards in the victory. Smith finished with eight catches for 169 yards and a touchdown.  For a recap of this game, all the updates and analysis of this one are detailed in the live blog below! 1:00 P WAS +5.5, o47.5 FOX Season Leaders passing J. Hurts576 YD, 1 TD, 1 INT J. Hurts576 YD, 1 TD, 1 INT C. Wentz650 YD, 7 TDS, 3 INTSC. Wentz650 YD, 7 TDS, 3 INTS rushing M. Sanders30 ATT, 176 YD, 1 TDM. Sanders30 ATT, 176 YD, 1 TD A. Gibson28 ATT, 86 YD, 1 TDA. Gibson28 ATT, 86 YD, 1 TD receiving A. Brown15 REC, 224 YDA. Brown15 REC, 224 YD C. Samuel15 REC, 133 YD, 2 TDSC. Samuel15 REC, 133 YD, 2 TDS See New Posts Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned A Commanders TD. Too little, too late. Eagles just need a first down to finish this one off.  Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned The Eagles have eight sacks today. The most in a game in the NFL this year.  Pinned The Eagles have 7 sacks today. Ties Pittsburgh for the most in a game in the NFL this year.  Pinned The Commanders are taking a lot of time to put points on the board. Down 24-2 with 9:55 left.  Pinned For you Scorigami people. The #NFL has had 24-2 final scores. The last was in 2012 when the Giants beat the Falcons in the NFC Wild Card Round.  Pinned Pinned Pinned Ron Rivera and the Commanders tried to take a page out of Andy Reid’s playbook on 4th-and-goal with that shovel pass. And failed miserably.  Pinned Pinned I don’t like to get on Carson Wentz much, but that was a weak and pathetic block attempt on that Antonio Gibson run to end the third quarter.  Pinned Pinned That’s an unacceptable penalty by Jordan Davis. Can’t line up over the center — and gave the Commanders the ball back after they kicked a FG.  Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Carson Wentz is 6 of 14 for 36 yards with 2 fumbles. Nothing is going right for him or the Commanders today.  Pinned T.J. Edwards is having a nice season for the Eagles. Doing a good job at MIKE and picking up where he left off from last year.  Pinned All you need to know See More

How To Build A Metaverse, Part 1: Genesis – The Journal. – WSJ Podcasts – The Wall Street Journal https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/how-to-build-a-metaverse-part-1-genesis-the-journal-wsj-podcasts-the-wall-street-journal/ This transcript was prepared by a transcription service. This version may not be in its final form and may be updated. Kate Linebaugh: Hey, it’s Kate, one of the hosts of The Journal. Today in your feed, we’re kicking off a new series. It’s about the Metaverse. Over the past year, more and more companies have started talking about building 3D virtual worlds. So one of our producers, Annie, started digging into the Metaverse idea. And she got a little obsessed with one Metaverse in particular, one that’s already up and running, where people have already started businesses, built homes, socialized, and fallen in love, all as avatars. Over the next four Fridays, she’ll be bringing us the story of that Metaverse, and what it could teach us about a future that seems to be coming. Here’s Annie. Annie Minoff: In the beginning, Philip created the water. Philip Rosedale: The water. The water. Isn’t that weird? We built the water. We built a surface of water, a graphic simulation that was this blue water and sun. There was like a sun and a moon. And it had what’s called specular reflection, which is like, what we call it in graphics back then. Annie Minoff: Is that sparkle? Philip Rosedale: Yeah, the sparkle. Exactly. You could see the sparkle of the sunlight off the water. Annie Minoff: Was there sound? Philip Rosedale: We did make the wind. We wrote a thing where if you were close to the water, it sounded like water. It was kind of making white noise in your ears. And this part I’m really proud of, if you flew in the world, you heard that wind in your ears. Annie Minoff: The … Philip Rosedale: Yeah. Annie Minoff: Wow. Philip Rosedale: You can hear it. We also did clouds that were really beautiful. Oh, oh, and we had trees. We had these wonderful trees where all the trees looked different and they had little branching structures and you could move them around too. Annie Minoff: This is very genesis, I should point out. Philip Rosedale: Very genesis. Yes. And the evening and the morning was the first day, right? Annie Minoff: I’m on a video chat with a guy named Philip Rosedale. He’s in his 50s with spiked blonde gray hair. He has a little bit of a surfer vibe, and he’s recalling the time two decades ago when he and a small team of programmers built a world from scratch. They built it out of pixels, coded it from the second floor of an old industrial building on San Francisco’s Linden Street. In the years that followed that first act of creation, anyone in the world with an internet connection would be able to take up residence in Philip’s world. They’d be able to buy land, build a house, meet people, start a business. But they’d also be able to change gender or species. They could build anything that they could imagine. They’d be able to fly. And even then, almost 20 years ago now, there was a name for this kind of immersive digital world. It was called a Metaverse. But Philip and his team, they had another name for their creation. They called it Second Life. Video: You’re playing that game again. Second Life is not a game. It is a multi-user virtual environment. It doesn’t have points or scores. It doesn’t have winners or losers. Oh, it has losers. I signed up for Second Life- Annie Minoff: That’s Jim and Dwight on The Office in 2007. And to this day, this is pretty much how Second Life is talked about, if it’s talked about at all. It’s a bit of a joke, a place for the Dwight Schrutes of the world with not quite enough going on in their first lives. But lately Second Life has seemed like less and less of a joke to me. Instead, it seems prescient. That’s because for the past year, the tech world has been consumed by something of a Metaverse mania. Announcer: The Metaverse. Announcer: The Metaverse. Announcer: The Metaverse. Announcer: Metaverse is the next aversion of the internet. Annie Minoff: Companies and investors are putting billions of dollars towards Metaverse related projects. Some of the biggest brands in tech are signaling that they are all in. And one company has been particularly public about its Metaverse plans. Announcer: The social network that we’ve all known as Facebook for the last 16 years now has a new name and it is Meta. Announcer: Facebook says it plans to hire 10,000 workers in Europe over the next five years. They will work on building a Metaverse. Mark Zuckerberg: From now on, we’re going to be Metaverse first, not Facebook first. That means- Annie Minoff: Last year, Mark Zuckerberg unveiled his vision for the Metaverse, a connected world where we could work, shop, play, and hang out as avatars. Meta’s spending on that vision costed $10 billion last year, with much more to come. But hearing about all of the spending, I’ve been having a little deja vu because of course we do have a version of the Metaverse already. We’ve had it for almost two decades, and that’s the Metaverse that Philip and his team built. About 15 years ago, Second Life was where the Metaverse revolution was supposed to happen. Back then, it was Second Life that was being hailed in TED Talks and news articles as the future of the internet. And people were here for it. Fortune 500 companies set up shop in Second Life. Rock stars did shows there. Politicians campaigned there. Reuters opened a Second Life news bureau. Sweden opened an embassy. And then, many of those people left. Corporations wound down their campaigns. The embassy closed its doors. Users logged on, took a look around and quit, never to come back. Why? If we’re all supposed to be living in the Metaverse a decade from now, that question seems worth answering. So earlier this year, I went back to Second Life to find out why people left, but also why they were there in the first place. I discovered a world filled with stories of love, war, sex and creativity, sustained by thousands of people, stubbornly holding onto a vision of the future that most of us forgot about. From The Journal, this is How to Build a Metaverse. I’m Annie Minoff, and over four episodes, I’ll be telling the story of Second Life, as a way of trying to understand our own Metaverse moment. This is part one, Genesis. Username, AnnieWSJ. One night last February I booted up my computer and signed up for Second Life. It says loading world. Who am I? Oh, okay. I emerged into the Metaverse to the strains of the moody blues playing on Second Life’s in world radio. My avatar looks a little bit like Carmen San Diego. It is me. Okay. I’m a lady in a floppy hat with a suitcase and I’m on a boardwalk at night in a kind of a tropical landscape. And there is music playing. I, or rather AnnieWSJ, begin to take a look around. My first impression of Second Life is that it’s lush. My laptop screen is suddenly filled with palm trees, ferns and holly hawks. I hear macaws screeching in the distance and waves laughing at the shore. I’m on Adventure Island, where I, and all new Second Life users appear. I use my keyboard’s arrow keys to guide my avatar along the island’s wooden boardwalk, hitting a series of tutorial stations. There I learn how to walk. I learn that I can teleport to other parts of Second Life. I learn how to fly. Over the next six months I explored Second Life, having increasingly surreal experiences that I found it hard to explain at the end of the day. “How is work,” my partner would ask. “Well, today I cooed at a virtual baby. They are cute.” Speaker 16: Hi. Hi. Hi. Annie Minoff: They are adorable. Speaker 16: Howdy. Annie Minoff: Today I paid a house call on a dragon. Tom Verre: It’s like a 13 foot tall sort of feathered as tech and type dragon thing. Annie Minoff: Today, I went to a poetry reading by the beach. One of the avatars read John Donne. Speaker 14: Go and catch a falling star. Get with child a mandrake root. Tell me where all past years are or who cleft the devil’s foot. Annie Minoff: The more I explored, the more I wanted to understand where all of this came from. And that meant starting with the guy who kicked off this whole wild experiment. So I think a lot of people are going to have the question of who ends up creating something like Second Life. So can you tell me a little bit about your upbringing? Where you grew up? Philip Rosedale: Yeah. Well, my mom was initially an English teacher very briefly. And then she started having babies. Annie Minoff: Philip Rosedale grew up the oldest of four kids. His mom was a homemaker and his dad, a Navy carrier pilot, which meant that the family moved around a lot. Most of Philip’s childhood memories revolve around building. He told me he built all kinds of stuff as a kid. Also with models, go carts. He retrofitted the door of his childhood bedroom so that it would slide open, like the doors on Star Trek. He even cobbled together his own record player. Philip Rosedale: I had a needle stuck through a Dixie cup and I had some arm and I had something that would spin the record. And I ruined my mother’s Barbara Streisand record I remember. But I- Annie Minoff: And when Philip got his first computer, he was hooked. He remembers experimenting with this math program that let you generate endlessly repeating fractal shapes. He’d zoom into these shapes over and over again, almost like he was disappearing into them. Philip Rosedale: You just keep zooming and you’d be like, “My God. There’s so much stuff in here.” And I remember at that time thinking like, “Oh my God, the outer space that we all want to or so many of us want to build space ships and go to, the outer space, outer space is big, but I was struck even as a little kid by this idea, that inner space that was the space created by computers and math might itself be huge.” I kind of had this idea, “Well, what if you were kind of an astro...

Slime Rancher 2: All Plort Types – GameRiv https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/slime-rancher-2-all-plort-types-gameriv/ Learn all you need to know about the Plort, types, values, and more in Slime Rancher 2. Since Beatrix reached the land of far, far away, Rainbow Island, she’s been running around those thick jello monsters. Why wouldn’t she? These jellos have created a fortune for her, and she doesn’t need to think of any other way of making a fortune. However, what’s so special about these slimes? Beatrix runs around these slimes and hope for the rare ones. Well, rare or not, she’s getting Plorts from ranching those slimes. What does she do with Plorts, you ask? She sells them in the Plort Market, silly. Now that is another story to uncover. Check it out here. Anyway, in the land of the Slimes, Beatrix can’t seem to name every one of them. But there is an end. On that basis, this guide will uncover all the details you need to know about these Plorts that she ranches from the Slimes. Hop in! Read More: Best Ways to Earn NewBucks What is Plort? When Beatrix chases Slime, she collects them as a prize and feeds them. Now, when she feeds them, in return, these slimes churn out Plorts. What does she do with this harvest? She sells them in the Plort Market for NewBucks. And needless to say, that has earned her quite a fortune. Different Slimes gives out different types of Plorts. Each of them has different values in the market. However, the market price fluctuates from time to time. If you proceed with a strategy, you can surely get an idea of the market, even though the pricing system algorithm is a bit complex. However, there is another use for these Plorts. Beatrix can make cool-looking gadgets with the Plorts once she has unlocked the lab. All she needs to do in the lab is deposit a certain amount of Plorts, and she can get Slime Science gadgets in no time. All Types of Plort in Slime Rancher 2 Below, you will find all the info about Plort, sources, and much more. Get into it already! Plort Slime Spawning Location Default Price Diet Favorite Food Angler Angler Slime Ember Valley TBA Meat Sea Hen Batty Batty Slime Starlight Strand Caves of Ember Valley TBA Fruits Pomegranate Boom Boom Slime Caves of Ember Valley 45 Meat Briar Hen Cotton Cotton Slime Rainbow Field Ember Valley TBA Vegetables Water Lettuce Crystal Crystal Slime Starlight Strand 60 Vegetables Odd Onion Dervish Dervish Slime TBA 75 Fruit Prickle Bar Fire Fire Slime Caves of Ember Valley 45 Ash Ash Flutter Flutter Slime Starlight Strand TBA Nectar Moondew Nectar Gold Gold Slime Random 300 Glided Ginger Glided Ginger Honey Honey Slime Starlight Strand 45 Fruits Mint Mango Hunter Hunter Slime Starlight Strand 60 Meat Roostro Mosaic Mosaic Slime TBA 75 Vegetables Silver Parsnip Phosphor Phosphor Slime Rainbow Field Starlight Strand Ember Valley (Spawns at Night ONLY) 22 Fruits Cuberry Pink Pink Slime Rainbow Field Ember Valley 10 Vegetables – Puddle Puddle Slime Ember Valley 45 Water Water Quantum Quantum Slime TBA 60 Fruit Phase Lemon Rad Rad Slime TBA 45 Vegetables Oca Oca Ringtail Ringtail Slime Ember Valley Starlight Strand TBA All – Rock Rock Slime Ember Valley Starlight Strand 22 Vegetables Heart Beet Saber Saber Slime TBA 60 Meat – Tabby Tabby Slime Rainbow Fields 22 Meat Stony Hen Tangle Tangle Slime TBA 75 Meat Painted Hen That is all you need to know about Plort in Slime Rancher 2. Cheers! As you are already into Slime Rancher 2, I would presume you might want to know how to get radiant ore, whether Slime Rancher 2 is available on Game Pass or not, or can you even play it as multiplayer, and more answers to your curiosity. Hop in!

Crypto License Bill Vetoed By California Governor Gavin Newsom In Win For Industry – Cryptonews https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/crypto-license-bill-vetoed-by-california-governor-gavin-newsom-in-win-for-industry-cryptonews/ Image credit: JUSTIN SULLIVAN/GETTY The crypto industry has scored a win with California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoing a bill that would establish a licensing and regulatory framework for digital assets. Dubbed Assembly Bill 2269, the bill aimed to create a licensing regime for anyone hoping to facilitate crypto transactions, topping the existing regulatory hurdles that players in the crypto ecosystem currently face. The bill was sponsored by Assemblymember Tim Grayson (D) and was passed by the state assembly and senate last month.  “It is premature to lock a licensing structure in statute without considering both this work (in-house efforts to create a transparent regulatory environment) and forthcoming federal actions,” Newsom reportedly said in his veto statement, adding: “A more flexible approach is needed to ensure regulatory oversight can keep up with rapidly evolving technology and use cases and is tailored with the proper tools to address trends and mitigate consumer harm.” Newsom noted that prior to establishing crypto licensing initiatives, he wants the federal regulations to “come into sharper focus for digital financial assets.” If passed, the bill would have mandated all California-licensed entities to deal with stablecoins issued by banks or otherwise licensed by the state Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. In addition, it would have created a licensing regime comparable to New York’s “BitLicense.”  “The cryptocurrency market is under-regulated at best and deliberately rigged against everyday consumers at worst,” Grayson said in a statement on the veto. “A financial market cannot be considered healthy if there are no guardrails in place to protect consumers from scams and bad actors.” Stablecoin Issuers Under Scrutiny The bill also focused on stablecoin issuers, requiring them to own eligible securities “having an aggregate market value computed in accordance with the United States generally accepted accounting principles of not less than the aggregate amount of all of its outstanding stablecoins issued or sold in the United States.” Stablecoins have been historically under pressure, with Tether (UST) being the most controversial one due to its opaque reserves. However, these digital assets have come under increased scrutiny more recently largely due to the unprecedented collapse of Terra’s algorithmic stablecoin UST.  This has seemingly pushed the House to draft a new crypto regulation that would place a ban on algorithmic stablecoins. According to a report by Bloomberg, the House aims to put a two-year ban on Terra-like stablecoins, making it illegal to issue or create new “endogenously collateralized stablecoins.” Aside from the US regulators, lawmakers from other parts of the world have also increased their efforts to regulate stablecoins. For instance, in late August, Singapore’s Central Bank, which has made stablecoin regulations a top priority, claimed that it would consult industry participants about the regulation of stablecoins by October.

Don’t Worry Darling Opens To Impressive $19.2M At The U.S. Box Office – PEOPLE https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/dont-worry-darling-opens-to-impressive-19-2m-at-the-u-s-box-office-people/ Don’t Worry Darling, directed by Olivia Wilde, earned an impressive $19.2 million at the U.S. Box office on its opening weekend, from more than 4,000 U.S. theaters, according to Variety. The film also collected another $10.8 million at the international box office, bringing its global total to $30 million. Despite the film’s Rotten Tomatoes score of 38 percent, moviegoers reacted positively, with the site’s audience score currently at 80 percent. Variety reported that 66 percent of ticket buyers were female, with the majority being between 18 and 34. Per the outlet, Warner Bros., which distributed the $35 million budget movie, said in a statement to the press on Sunday, “We’re enormously proud of this film and are pleased with these results given our modest production budget.” Karla Welch, Wilde’s stylist, celebrated the news with a cheeky post on Instagram. Don’t Worry Darling stars Harry Styles and Florence Pugh as Jack and Alice, a young couple living in the seemingly perfect company town of Victory, Calif., in the 1950s. As cracks begin to surface in their idyllic community, Alice becomes obsessed with the nature of her husband’s work. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Wilde’s psychological thriller has generated headlines from the moment it was announced in July 2019. From casting shakeups to an on-set romance, the film kept movie fans and social media spectators abuzz in the months leading up to its release. On Friday, when the movie officially premiered nationwide in theaters, Pugh, 26, marked the moment with a post on Instagram that featured photos from the film’s set. Pugh included a snap of herself and Wilde, 38, dancing together in character. RELATED: A Complete Timeline of the ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ Drama Wilde also celebrated the film’s premiere on social media, sharing a photo of her and Pugh smiling on the set with Styles, 28, and screenwriter Katie Silberman. “Don’t Worry Darling is officially open,” she wrote in the caption. “Aaahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!” Don’t Worry Darling is currently playing in theaters.

Virginia Tech Receives $80 Million Grant To Combat Climate Change – Virginia Tech Collegiate Times https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/virginia-tech-receives-80-million-grant-to-combat-climate-change-virginia-tech-collegiate-times/ As reported by the Virginia Business, the United States Department of Agriculture awarded Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences $80 million in grants. The university will use at least $54 million to fund a pilot program for farmers to practice climate-friendly methods in an effort to curb greenhouse gasses. According to the article, the grant is the largest in Virginia Tech’s history. It will be distributed among nearly 5,200 producers, covering 600,000 acres in Virginia, North Dakota, Arkansas and Minnesota. The grant will be evenly divided across the four states, totaling $13.5 million for each state, as stated by Tom Thompson, the principal investigator of the project and associate dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. According to VTx, farmers in the pilot program could decrease the country’s agricultural emissions by 55 percent and total emissions by 8 percent after 10 years. The project will also focus on enhancing agricultural productivity to help feed the world’s increasing population. The program will implement climate-friendly crop, rice and livestock practices. Virginia Tech’s lead partner on the project is the Rural Investment to Protect Our Environment (RIPE), which Thompson also said was responsible for creating the pilot concept. In addition to RIPE, the university partnered with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Virginia Cooperative Extension and Virginia State University to execute the program. “We are proud to lead this effort that gives agricultural producers incentives to enact climate-smart practices and the financial means to do so,” Thompson said. “This is a watershed program that helps the agricultural industry be a leader in addressing climate change.”

Martin’s AP Prep Football Ballot For Monday, Sept. 26 – Globe Gazette https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/martins-ap-prep-football-ballot-for-monday-sept-26-globe-gazette/ The Iowa High School Associated Press prep football ballot is scheduled to be released on Monday afternoon. Here is the ballot submitted by Mason City Globe Gazette sports writer Zach Martin: Class 5A 1. Pleasant Valley (5-0, def. Davenport North 49-12; LW: 2) 2. Dowling Catholic (4-1, def. Council Bluffs Lincoln 52-0; LW: 1) 3. Ankeny (4-1, def. Des Moines Roosevelt 35-18; LW: 3) 4. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (5-0, def. Dubuque Senior 38-0; LW: 4) 5. Southeast Polk (4-1, def. Waterloo West 56-0; LW: 5) 6. Cedar Rapids Prairie (4-1, def. Ottumwa 49-14; LW: 6) 7. Urbandale (4-1, def. Des Moines East 48-0; LW: 7) 8. Davenport West (5-0, def. Dubuque Hempstead 14-7; LW: 8) 9. Ankeny Centennial (3-2, def. Sioux City East 31-28; LW: NR) 10. Cedar Falls (3-2, def. Muscatine 35-0; LW: NR) Class 4A 1. Council Bluffs Lewis Central (5-0, def. Council Bluffs Jefferson 63-0; LW: 1) 2. Waverly-Shell Rock (5-0, def. Waterloo East 56-0; LW: 2) 3. Cedar Rapids Xavier (5-0, def. Cedar Rapids Washington 38-0; LW: 3) 4. Indianola (4-1, def. Perry 49-0; LW: 5) 5. Iowa City Liberty (4-1, def. North Scott 20-16; LW: 7) 6. Carlisle (4-1, def. Bondurant-Farrar 36-20; LW: 10) 7. Fort Madison (5-0, def. Mount Pleasant 46-0; LW: 8) 8. Newton (5-0, def. Perry 21-14; LW: 9) 9. Bondurant-Farrar (4-1, lost to Carlisle 36-20; LW: 4) 10. LeMars (4-1, def. Storm Lake 49-10; LW: NR) Class 3A 1. Harlan (4-1, def. Saydel 62-6; LW: 1) 2. Humboldt (5-0, def. Ballard 26-14; LW: 2) 3. ADM, Adel (5-0, def. Atlantic 56-27; LW: 3) 4. Mount Vernon (5-0, def. Benton 47-0; LW: 4) 5. North Polk (4-1, def. Algona 55-28; LW: 5) 6. Creston (5-0, def. Knoxville 39-0; LW: 6) 7. Independence (4-1, idle; LW: 7) 8. Nevada (4-1, def. Gilbert 25-22; LW: 8) 9. Solon (3-2, def. West Burlington 36-0; LW: NR) 10. Hampton-Dumont-CAL (4-1, def. Charles City 33-0; LW: NR) Class 2A 1. Williamsburg (5-0, def. Centerville 55-7; LW: 1) 2. Central Lyon/George-Little Rock (5-0, def. Cherokee Washington 43-8; LW: 2) 3. Spirit Lake (5-0, def. OABCIG 28-13; LW: 5) 4. West Marshall (5-0, def. Iowa Falls-Alden 42-14; LW: 4) 5. OABCIG (4-1, lost to Spirit Lake 28-13; LW: 3) 6. New Hampton (5-0, def. Crestwood 24-14; LW: 6) 7. Dubuque Wahlert (4-1, def. North Fayette Valley 48-14; LW: 9) 8. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows (4-1, def. Pocahontas Area 17-8; LW: NR) 9. Mid-Prairie (4-1, def. Central Lee 51-0; LW: NR) 10. Greene County (4-1, def. Clarinda 43-12; LW: NR) Class 1A 1. Van Meter (4-1, def. West Central Valley 48-0; LW: 2) 2. West Branch (5-0, def. Mediapolis 35-13; LW: 3) 3. West Sioux (4-1, def. Western Christian 49-22; LW: 4) 4. Underwood (5-0, def. MVAOCOU 68-12; LW: 5) 5. Pella Christian (4-1, lost to Sigourney Keota 15-13; LW: 1) 6. Dyersville Beckman (4-1, def. Postville 89-0; LW: 6) 7. Dike-New Hartford (4-1, def. East Marshall 62-0; LW: 7) 8. Durant (5-0, def. Louisa-Muscatine 56-0; LW: 8) 9. Aplington-Parkersburg (5-0, def. South Hardin 28-12; LW: 9) 10. Carroll Kuemper Catholic (5-0, def. West Monona 57-6; LW: NR) Class A 1. West Hancock (5-0, def. North Union 60-27; LW: 1) 2. Grundy Center (5-0, def. AGWSR 35-0; LW: 2) 3. Woodbury Central (5-0, def. Lawton-Bronson 42-0; LW: 3) 4. Lynnville-Sully (5-0, def. Madrid 36-14; LW: 4) 5. North Linn (4-1, def. South Winneshiek 42-7; LW: 5) 6. East Buchanan (4-1, def. Maquoketa Valley 48-12; LW: 6) 7. AHSTW (5-0, def. Riverside 39-19; LW: 7) 8. Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn (4-1, def. Alta-Aurelia 51-16; LW: 8) 9. Columbus (5-0, def. Pekin 53-28; LW: 9) 10. LeMars Gehlen Catholic (4-1, def. Akron-Westfield 48-26; LW: 10) Eight-Player 1. Remsen St. Mary’s (5-0, def. St. Edmond 63-0; LW: 1) 2. Don Bosco (5-0, def. Dunkerton 57-12; LW: 2) 3. WACO (5-0, def. New London 43-14; LW: 3) 4. Newell-Fonda (5-0, def. Kingsley-Pierson 48-28; LW: 4) 5. Gladbrook-Reinbeck (5-0, def. GMG 76-8; LW: 5) 6. Easton Valley (4-1, def. Central City 49-6; LW: 6) 7. Lenox (5-0, def. Stanton 70-20; LW: 7) 8. Baxter (5-0, def. Brooklyn BGM 46-44; LW: 9) 9. GTRA (5-0, def. West Bend-Mallard 38-24; LW: 10) 10. West Harrison (5-0, def. Coon Rapids-Bayard 35-18; LW: NR) Zach Martin is a sports reporter for the Globe Gazette. Reach him via email at zachary.martin@globegazette.com and follow him on Twitter @zach_martin95. Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter Sent weekly directly to your inbox!

First Trip – What Do You Need To Know Before You Go Out For The First Time? – FTNnews.com https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/first-trip-what-do-you-need-to-know-before-you-go-out-for-the-first-time-ftnnews-com/ The thrill of making your first trip abroad inspires you to have more adventures, see as much as possible, and have a great vacation. However, preparing for the first trip abroad is not limited to buying tickets and packing luggage. Therefore, a few helpful tips will not hurt those abroad for the first time. If you want to immerse yourself in the culture of another country, there is an online option. For example, those who wish to learn about Indian culture can Visit Bollywood Casino and play favorite slots of Indian citizens. Choosing a country and buying a tour When planning the first trip abroad, it is better to spend time but find a reliable tour operator who organizes tours to other countries and has earned a good reputation for several years. Travel agencies, intermediaries between the client and the tour operator, only sell tours; they can help you choose the appropriate time and arrange documents. You should find out in advance which documents the travel agency should issue before your trip to another country. When choosing a country to travel to, you should first study the information about the climate, know what things to take with you, and be sure to read the rules of entry and stay in the country. In some countries may be fined and punished for what in our country is not considered an offense. Health and Safety Before leaving for another country take care of your health and safety. Some countries require vaccinations and medical insurance to ensure a treatment in a foreign country. Of course, medical care may be possible without insurance, but treatment in foreign countries is expensive. Preparation of Documents – Every person visiting a foreign country should have with them a passport (in case of loss, make a photocopy beforehand), a health insurance policy, hotel voucher, airline tickets (or other public transport used for traveling), driving license (if you plan to rent a car), customs declaration (filled at the airport), documents needed for currency export. Packing a suitcase – Pack everything you may need – this is what a traveler planning his first trip abroad thinks. The list of things can be so great that there will be a couple of suitcases, backpacks, and bags. And you have to carry your luggage to the airport (train station) and back. So once gathered things, you need to sort through them again and put away unnecessary items. If there are still many things, you should sort through things again. We need to take only what is necessary, considering the duration of rest, weather, and a mini first aid kit. Valuable items should not be placed in suitcases, which then will be given to the luggage, which can be lost. By the way, it is recommended to take a set of underwear and a change of clothes, food in hand luggage, in case of luggage loss through the airline’s fault. Knowing your baggage allowance and the list of prohibited items is also good. Money and communications Before leaving home, if possible, it is best to exchange your money for the currency of the country you intend to visit. If the trip is to a distant land, it is better to warn the bank about the use of a bank card outside your country so that, for security reasons, the bank will not block the card. Making sure you can pay with your bank card in another country is worthwhile. Before paying for the service, you should check the exchange rate to know how much you will have to pay. It is essential to be aware of money changes in order not to be cheated. Going abroad for the first time, you must also communicate with those who stay at home. Therefore, it would help if you chose a favorable rate for communication. You can download applications for mobile devices that may be necessary during the trip, such as a city map. By the way, mobile devices require charging, so you may need an adapter, which may not be in the hotel. The language barrier The first trip abroad is exciting because it may be challenging to communicate with the local population. However, knowing the language of the country, you are going to is reasonable. Otherwise, you will need to know at least some phrases and words in English. However, communicating in a foreign country may not be difficult. If your language knowledge is minimal or non-existent, you can use translator applications designed for mobile devices. Arrival It is necessary to book a hotel room or other accommodation in advance if the tour operator does not solve the housing question. Arriving at the airport of another country, if your guide does not meet you, you should look for a cab that will take you to the hotel, and tell its address the driver. Otherwise, you have to find out the public transport schedule before arriving in the country. Then, you can go to the information desk at the airport, which will tell you the best way to get to the right place. English-speaking assistants can be found at the airport. Getting to the Hotel In most hotels, the day begins and ends at noon (in some hotels at 3 pm). If you arrive earlier or later than this time, you will have to wait in the hotel lobby or elsewhere to be checked into your room. The hotel gives the guest a card, which is helpful to carry with you because it has information about the hotel’s location, and a mini-map of the city or area. For example, if you can not find your way to the hotel, you can show the card to the cab driver, who will take you to the address. It is better to leave your room keys at the reception desk whenever you leave the hotel. Information about guides and excursions can be found at the hotel. Valuables, money, and jewelry are best kept in a safe. In some hotels, you can use a safe deposit box for an additional fee. For an additional stay in the hotel, you must pay a fee. At check-out, the hotel may ask to vacate the room 30 minutes-2 hours before noon so that the maids have time to clean it for the next guests. Once the room is checked out, you can use the hotel services until you leave the hotel. Guide The hotel can offer a guidebook and a map in your native language, which is easy to navigate. In addition, you can download a guide, an audio guide, to your phone. However, it is not necessary to follow a strict plan painted in the guidebook because, during self-guided tours, you may be interested in the object that is not mentioned in the guidebook. But you need to keep track of his movements, noting the way on the map, so as not to get lost. By the way, make a rough plan of what you would like to see in the country better in advance so as not to lose time selecting attractions after arrival. Being abroad for the first time, everything that catches your eye arouses interest; you want to visit many places. But you should avoid crowds of people, be careful, and not let valuable things out of your hands. You can get rid of obtrusive traders by calling the police. %

How To Balance Competing Savings Goals | Business News | Wfmz.com – 69News WFMZ-TV https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/how-to-balance-competing-savings-goals-business-news-wfmz-com-69news-wfmz-tv/ If you know of local business openings or closings, please notify us here. PREVIOUS OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS – All-you-can-eat Korean barbecue is on its way, with 88 K-Pot opening perhaps in December near the Wine & Spirits store in the Bethlehem Square shopping center.  – Air Products’ joint venture in Saudi Arabia has acquired an industrial-gas business for an undisclosed price. The Abdullah Hashim Industrial Gases & Equipment venture acquired Khafrah Industrial Gases from Paris-based Air Liquide S.A. – Anatolian Kitchen is still closed for renovations, according to a sign at the Taylor Court, Bethlehem, business.  – After 36 years, the owners of Cavaluzzo’s Pasta, Steaks & Subs in Emmaus are retiring, and the restaurant will close. – The high-tech conglomerate formerly known as II-VI (pronounced “two-six”) has taken on the name of a company it acquired, Coherent Corp.  – Palmer Township’s board of supervisors approved a conditional-use application for four industrial buildings know as “First Park 33” on Tatamy Road, between Newlins Mill and Corriere roads. – The Florida-based chain Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers plans to open three physical-therapy clinics within two years in the Lehigh Valley. – Radish Republic, a specialty grocery store on North Seventh Street in Allentown, is closing after three years. – The Palmer Township Zoning Hearing Board made the decision to keep a cease-and-desist order against The Reserve at Palmer Pointe apartments, which township officials say were built contrary to designs submitted six years ago. – The Allentown-Based payment-processing company Shift4Payments Inc. introduced SkyTab POS, a point-of-sale system for restaurants.  – The Bethlehem Planning Commission approved three separate “mixed-use” buildings for South Bethlehem, on East Fourth Street, South New Street and West Fourth Street. – Transform Rehabilitation’s physical-therapy clinics in Allentown, New Tripoli and Whitehall are now part of Upstream, which owns or manages more than 1,200 locations in the U.S. – The Lehigh Valley’s newest Wawa opened on the east side of Nazareth Pike/Route 191, just south of the Borough of Nazareth.  – DoubleTree Hotel has expanded its catering to private jets that take off from Reading Regional Airport. – The not-for-profit Kutztown Community Partnership has discussed buying the shuttered Strand Theatre to continue its tradition, but KCP would need grants and donations to keep it going. – A man police say was drunk drove into Budd Lake Bagel & Deli II in Hackettstown, New Jersey, on Sunday night, causing the shop to close indefinitely.

Carpet Cleaning Benefits: Steam Cleaning For A Healthy Home – EIN News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/carpet-cleaning-benefits-steam-cleaning-for-a-healthy-home-ein-news/ Carpet Steam Cleaning JP Carpet Cleaning Expert Floor Care Logo Apartment Carpet Cleaning Carpet steam cleaning is a service many have heard of but take for granted. Professional carpet cleaning is essential to keeping the home healthy. Steam cleaning is not just for carpets. Steam cleaning can be used on other surfaces in the house as well, like upholstery and tile.” — Peter, owner and operator of JP Carpet Cleaning Expert Floor Care SHERMAN OAKS, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES, September 25, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ — There are many ways to keep the home looking and feeling fresh, but carpet cleaning is perhaps the most effective. After all, carpets are often neglected – even though they’re one of the most important features of a room. To begin with, carpets trap dirt, dust, pollen spores, and other particles that can cause major problems if left unchecked. If anyone has asthma or other respiratory conditions, these particles can lead to serious health issues over time. Carpets also insulate the home by keeping the heat in during the cold months and vice versa in summer. Unfortunately, this insulation also means that dust mites and pet dander have a cozy place to call home year-round. Unless professional carpet cleaning is scheduled regularly, this buildup can be quite dangerous for anyone who suffers from allergies or asthma. Furthermore, carpets act as soundproofing for our living spaces by absorbing sound vibrations and echoes so that we don’t hear outside noise as much as we would on hardwood floors or tile surfaces. This is especially useful in homes with children or elderly residents who may be sensitive to noise levels at different times of the day. What Is Steam Cleaning? Steam cleaning uses high-pressure and hot water to extract dirt and grime from carpets and rugs. It is considered a deep cleaning process that can remove up to 99% of contaminants from fabrics. This powerful cleaning method uses hot water and cleaning agents to reach deep into the fibers of the carpets and rugs. The combination of pressure and heat makes it the most effective cleaning solution. Steam cleaning uses hot water, a cleaning agent, and a vacuum to clean carpets and upholstery. This eco-friendly, non-toxic method of cleaning does not require the use of harmful chemicals and will not leave behind a residue. Why is Steam Cleaning Important? If there are carpets or area rugs in the house, it’s essential to have them professionally cleaned. While it’s possible to get away with vacuuming regularly, it’s almost impossible to remove all of the dirt, dust mites, and other toxins trapped in the carpet simply by vacuuming. This is particularly problematic for those who suffer from allergies or asthma. While vacuum cleaning can remove surface dust, it can’t remove allergens and bacteria from deep within the fibers of the carpet and padding. Additionally, carpet steam cleaning can be performed on all kinds of carpets. Whether the carpet is made of wool, synthetic, or even specialty carpets, rest assured that professional cleaners have seen it all. Professional carpet steam cleaning companies have the tools and knowledge to clean whatever carpet, upholstery, and tile are within the house. Steam cleaning can also extend the life of the carpets. Regular cleaning will help the carpets last longer. They can also help reduce fading and other issues that can shorten their life span. As mentioned several times already, professional carpet cleaning can help to protect the health of everyone within the home. Dirt, grime, and other toxins can build up in the carpets over time. If the carpet is not deep cleaned regularly, this can be dangerous for the health of anyone and everyone who regularly makes use of these spaces. As Peter from JP Carpet Cleaning Expert Floor Care says, “Steam cleaning is not just for carpets. Steam cleaning can be used on other surfaces in the house as well, like upholstery and tile.” Professional steam cleaning can extend the life of furniture and upholstery. Furniture can become stained easily if it’s not protected. Professional upholstery cleaning can help keep furniture looking new both through the cleaning and through the application of fabric protectors after the steam cleaning. Why Should Carpets Be Professionally Cleaned? Carpets play an important but often unappreciated role in our homes. They help to regulate our indoor climate, shield us from outside noise, and, in the case of area rugs, can even protect our floors from falling debris. Unfortunately, they also trap dirt, grime, and other harmful toxins that may become dangerous if left untreated for too long. There might be some that are tempted to save money by cleaning the carpet themselves, however, this is not recommended. Carpets are often infested with dangerous germs and chemicals that can be harmful to humans. This can be difficult to remove with a simple vacuum and commercial carpet cleaners tend to leave too much soap behind, introducing a slew of other issues. Professional carpet cleaning is a cost-effective way to keep the home clean and healthy. It can extend the life of the carpets, protect the floors, extend the life of furniture and upholstery, and protect the family inside the house against harmful toxins like bacteria and allergens. Make sure to book a carpet cleaning service once every 6-12 months. Peter Shams JP Carpet Cleaning, Inc. +1 818-263-9314 email us here Visit us on social media: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Other You just read: EIN Presswire’s priority is source transparency. We do not allow opaque clients, and our editors try to be careful about weeding out false and misleading content. As a user, if you see something we have missed, please do bring it to our attention. Your help is welcome. EIN Presswire, Everyone’s Internet News Presswire, tries to define some of the boundaries that are reasonable in today’s world. Please see our Editorial Guidelines for more information. Submit your press release

NCCS Group Donates To Pantry | News, Sports, Jobs – Evening Observer https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/nccs-group-donates-to-pantry-news-sports-jobs-evening-observer/ After finding out that our local food pantry was in need of certain items, these local Northern Chautauqua Catholic School students asked their parishoners at St. Joseph’s church in Gowanda to collect items for the food pantry in Gowanda. The children were able to collect six bags of food during the month of August. The Gowanda Food pantry serves more than 200 families a month and year to date has served over 29,000 meals. How can you help out? Just like these youth did! Do you belong to a church or organization that would like to help their community? Please contact 716-532-6130 for more information. Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox

Niantic Brings Metaverse World-Mapping To Web Browsers – Screen Rant https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/niantic-brings-metaverse-world-mapping-to-web-browsers-screen-rant/ Niantic, the company behind Pokémon Go, introduced support for their metaverse world-mapping to the web, which users can access through the browser. Niantic introduced support for its augmented reality world-mapping technology on web browsers. Many companies have been introducing new AR and virtual reality technology that create more ways to make the metaverse more immersive. When additional features become available to creators, there are new possibilities for AR and VR experiences. Advancements in AR and VR rely on both the software needed to create the experiences and the hardware used to track and engage with the interactions. It may be possible that handheld or head-mounted devices will not even be necessary to view virtual objects in the real world. Some large corporations, such as Disney, are working on AR without glasses that could be used in theme park rides and other real-world environments. Niantic, the company behind Pokémon Go, has introduced its AR world-mapping technology Lightship VPS (visual positioning system) to the web, supporting real-world metaverse interactions on the browser. This feature allows developers to build WebAR experiences that can be connected to locations with impressive accuracy and precision. This AR tech from Niantic means virtual experiences can be mapped onto landmarks to showcase immersive effects that can be viewed from the browser without downloading a dedicated app. WebAR Gets Real-World Content Mapping The Lightship VPS world-mapping technology is an asset for developers, but there are some limitations. Although Niantic offers a free tier, some features are exclusive to paid tiers, and there is a potential cost based on the number of active users. Lightship VPS is pretty straightforward to implement for experienced developers. However, it is not as accessible as some of the beginner-friendly AR creation platforms. Even if it is not the right tool to get new AR creators started, introducing this technology to WebAR will bring new possibilities to metaverse interactions for all users. While location-based AR experiences like Pokémon Go are still relatively novel, virtual interactions will be an essential part of the metaverse as consumer-level AR glasses become available. Although it can be somewhat limiting to view AR experiences through the screen of a handheld mobile device, the same interactions become much more immersive when viewed through a headset. As companies like Meta, Apple and Snapchat develop products like AR glasses, virtual integrations in real-world locations will become vital for users to experience immersive augmented reality interactions. Source: Niantic

Does Your Kitchen Need A Fancy French Door Fridge? Oui, Oui! – Yahoo Life https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/does-your-kitchen-need-a-fancy-french-door-fridge-oui-oui-yahoo-life/ incredibly efficient use of space. A French door fridge features two side-by-side doors on top, with one or two freezer doors stacked below. Outside, the look is sleek and sophisticated; inside, the open design allows you to stow bigger items, like casserole dishes and pizza boxes. While the French door fridge has been a mainstay in luxury homes for decades, the stylish option is going mainstream. While it’s still tough to find a bargain-priced French-style fridge, we sought out a range of prices and looked for refrigerators that offer a variety of storage features. The Best French Door Refrigerators What to Consider There’s a lot to think about before making a major purchase like a refrigerator. You will have the fridge for years to come and see and use it daily. Keep the following in mind, and you won’t second-guess yourself: Dimensions: Measure the space you have carefully. You don’t want your refrigerator to stick out or leave a big space between itself and the surrounding cabinets or walls. Capacity and Setup: Consider the cubic feet and think about the internal setup. Several of our options are specifically designed with adjustable shelves, spaces that accommodate food trays and pizza boxes, and more. Cool Features: Several of our selections come with smart tech options, Auto Fill water sensors, sophisticated ice crushers, and more. Read on for the best options on the market and get ready to chill your snacks in style. ” data-headline=”Does Your Kitchen Need a Fancy French Door Fridge? Oui, Oui!” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/f5l.zFuGpjlBZqh6oiPjsg–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTQ4MA–/https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/.CChCu0RwwOx2IPzqvZBnA–~B/aD0xMDAwO3c9MjAwMDthcHBpZD15dGFjaHlvbg–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/best_products_872/f1326df62edd3701e0f837848878abde” 1/8 French door refrigerators are trending right now not just because they exude cool European style, but also because they provide incredibly efficient use of space. A French door fridge features two side-by-side doors on top, with one or two freezer doors stacked below. Outside, the look is sleek and sophisticated; inside, the open design allows you to stow bigger items, like casserole dishes and pizza boxes. While the French door fridge has been a mainstay in luxury homes for decades, the stylish option is going mainstream. While it’s still tough to find a bargain-priced French-style fridge, we sought out a range of prices and looked for refrigerators that offer a variety of storage features. The Best French Door Refrigerators What to Consider There’s a lot to think about before making a major purchase like a refrigerator. You will have the fridge for years to come and see and use it daily. Keep the following in mind, and you won’t second-guess yourself: Dimensions: Measure the space you have carefully. You don’t want your refrigerator to stick out or leave a big space between itself and the surrounding cabinets or walls. Capacity and Setup: Consider the cubic feet and think about the internal setup. Several of our options are specifically designed with adjustable shelves, spaces that accommodate food trays and pizza boxes, and more. Cool Features: Several of our selections come with smart tech options, Auto Fill water sensors, sophisticated ice crushers, and more. Read on for the best options on the market and get ready to chill your snacks in style. Best Products; Courtesy Cafe

While Bitcoin Has Tanked, This Coin Has Risen 300% This Month And Is Still Climbing! – Cryptonews https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/while-bitcoin-has-tanked-this-coin-has-risen-300-this-month-and-is-still-climbing-cryptonews/ Disclaimer: The Industry Talk section features insights by crypto industry players and is not a part of the editorial content of Cryptonews.com. Deciding what to do with your Bitcoin, as prices continue to fall, can be tough. Many believe that the tide will eventually turn and if they hold on for long enough BTC will rise to new heights. The only problem with this is that while waiting for the market to bounce back, your BTC is just sitting there, doing nothing. One increasingly popular answer is ArbiSmart (RBIS), which rose over 100% last week, and is continuing to climb steadily, as the rest of the market falls. The EU authorized project safeguards against crypto market volatility, enabling you to keep hold of your Bitcoin and put it to work earning unmatched profits whichever direction the market shifts. A Shield Against Falling Prices The ArbiSmart ecosystem offers a number of ways to grow your Bitcoin, regardless of market trajectory. Firstly, this summer, ArbiSmart introduced its interest-generating wallet, which supports a huge list of FIAT and cryptocurrencies, from BTC, EUR, and GBP, to BTC, ETH, COMP, APE, SHIB, and many others. The wallet offers the same consistent returns, in a downturn or an upturn, generating industry-high rates of up to 147%. Crypto owners can keep funds securely stored interest-free, but accessible for withdrawal at any time, or decide to lock their funds in an interest-bearing savings plan. They can choose between short-term plans lasting 1, or 3 months and long-term plans lasting 2, 3, or 5 years. The longer the lock on the funds the higher the profits, which are also influenced by the way daily interest is received. Interest can be sent to an available balance, where it is always accessible, or it can be added to the locked balance for a higher return. Interest rates are primarily determined by the wallet holder’s account level, which is based on how much RBIS they own. More RBIS means a higher rate of interest on balances in every supported currency.  If the balance is in RBIS, the returns will be three times higher than for balances in other currencies. If the wallet holder decides to keep their capital in BTC, ETH, or another preferred currency they can still boost their interest rate by choosing to receive just the interest in RBIS. Inevitably, as the new wallet gains traction, in the coming weeks and months, more RBIS will be locked in savings plans for extended periods, leaving general circulation and diminishing the forever capped token supply. Once demand exceeds supply, the RBIS price will rise. This will mean that in addition to profits from savings plans, RBIS owners will enjoy huge capital gains on the climbing token value. Another bear-proof RBIS utility that generates the same consistent passive profits in any market conditions is ArbiSmart’s automated crypto arbitrage platform. The service offers sky-high returns of up to 45% a year, depending on the user’s account level. Crypto arbitrage is an investment strategy that makes money from price disparities across exchanges. These temporary price differences occur frequently, whichever direction the market is moving, often resulting from discrepancies in trading volume between bigger and smaller exchanges. The user just deposits funds that are automatically converted into RBIS and then the algorithm takes over. Integrated with 35 exchanges, it tracks hundreds of coins round the clock to find price differences. It then buys at the lowest price before selling at the highest, for the best possible profit. A Dynamic, Growing Ecosystem The ArbiSmart development team has not been in hibernation during this bear market. In fact, it is in the middle of a massive undertaking. Over the next 4 months a number of new RBIS utilities are being introduced almost simultaneously. These include a mobile application for storing, exchanging, buying, and selling crypto, as well as a completely original DeFi protocol that will offer one-of-a-kind gamification features. Liquidity providers will be rewarded with 0.3% of the fees from each trade plus up to 190,000% annual percentage yields.  This winter the development team will also be launching a marketplace for the purchase and sale of non-fungible tokens (NFT’s), a unique collection of ArbiSmart NFT’s, a cryptocurrency exchange and a gaming metaverse, where participants will be able to buy, develop and sell digital real-estate for real profits. Each of these new additions to the ArbiSmart ecosystem, just like all existing utilities, will require use of the RBIS token. As a result, in addition to earning revenue from staking, savings, trading, gaming, NFT investing, and arbitrage, RBIS owners will be increasing demand for the native token, driving the price higher and boosting their capital gains even further. A Digital Asset on the Rise According to analyst projections, RBIS is expected to rise to just over 40 times its current value by the end of 2022 and it is well on its way. So far this month, RBIS has already soared 300% and shows no signs of slowing down, even as the rest of the market has been sinking. With the new wallet growing its userbase, and multiple new RBIS utilities in the pipeline for the coming months, RBIS is THE coin to watch this autumn and winter. To start profiting before the price skyrockets any higher, open a wallet now!

Phaorah Sanders, Legendary Jazz Saxophonist, Walked Among Us – The Washington Post https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/phaorah-sanders-legendary-jazz-saxophonist-walked-among-us-the-washington-post/ It’s not like we expected him to materialize in a coil of stardust, but it still felt surprising to watch Pharoah Sanders take the bandstand late in life. I saw him perform twice — at Bohemian Caverns in 2011 and at Blues Alley a few years later — and each show began with a titan of American jazz plodding his way through the crowd, navigating a miniature maze of cocktail tables, his gait unforgettably heavy, his posture hunched, as if his world-changing music was something he carried around on his back. Then he’d find his place under the lights and start blowing bravura phrases through his saxophone until Earth’s gravity started to loosen. Is that why people called his music “spiritual jazz?” Because it made us feel like we were being released from the physical world? Sanders — who died in Los Angeles on Saturday at 81 — often described his work as a search for something that couldn’t be found, a quest toward the unknowable that he’d committed himself to since joining John Coltrane’s side in 1965. When Coltrane died two years later, many were quick to nominate Sanders as his heir: “Pharoah has incredible power, and incredible tenderness soulfulness,” the critic Amiri Baraka (known as LeRoi Jones at the time) wrote in the Cricket magazine in 1968, “like a love of playing, of sound, that will spread your consciousness dazzled among his notes.” That’s high praise and solid advice. Embracing Sanders’s expressive range as a metaphor for expanding consciousness is a very good place to begin to understand how this music can make you feel as if you’re taller than a house, or as if you’re swimming in the ozone layer, or any other exemptions to the laws of physics that his recordings might so generously offer. Across a sensational run of albums from the late 1960s through the mid-’70s — “Tauhid,” “Karma,” “Journey in Satchidananda” with Alice Coltrane just for starters — Sanders used his horn to lay all kinds of brayed melodies and ecstatic squeals on God’s doorstep. But ultimately, his search for transcendence may have simply been a pursuit of contentment. The vocal refrain of his signature composition, “The Creator Has a Master Plan,” has always suggested as much, envisioning “peace and happiness for every man” — one of those sweeping, cosmic, utopian ideas that may only manifest through the mundane. “I listen to things that maybe some guys don’t,” Sanders told the New Yorker in 2020 when asked about his current influences. “I listen to the waves of the water. Train coming down. Or I listen to an airplane taking off … I’ve always been like that, especially when I was small. I used to love hearing old car doors squeaking.” Maybe higher planes aren’t higher. Maybe they’re small and all around us. You don’t have to squint your ears too hard to hear the implication in last year’s “Promises,” a collaboration album with British producer Floating Points that allowed Sanders to play some of the most delicate phrases of his life. If anything, the intimate melancholy of “Promises” suggests that transcendence is something we can only ever yearn for. That’s why we listen, then, now and tomorrow.

Schuylkill County News: Schuylkill Technology Center Students Showcase Creativity – Skook News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/schuylkill-county-news-schuylkill-technology-center-students-showcase-creativity-skook-news/ All while learning the trade,  Schuylkill County Technology Center students get to show off their creativity as well. STC Students, Anthony Gaughan and Noah Morgan, both enrolled in the Computer Information Systems Program at the South Campus of showcased their “Pizza Box Computer” during the STC Open House Event held on September 21, 2022.  “Anthony and Noah utilized old computer components to a fully functioning computer inside a used pizza box,” said CIS Instructor Lisa Worthy. This is just one of the interesting items on display during the bi-annual STC Open House event held on September 21, 2022, at STC North and South Campuses. The Open House Events are an opportunity for prospective students, current students, parents, industry partners and post-secondary college partners to come together to experience all that career and technical education has to offer. The theme for this year’s event was “21st Century Career and Technical Training,” to highlight the fact that the STC of today is very different from the “Vo-Tech of your grandparents’ era” said Director Shannon Brennan. Six hundred and sixty-nine visitors attended the Open House. In addition to the Pizza Box Computer, visitors tasted the food prepared by culinary students, witnessed the new PLC trainer in the Electro-Mechanical Technology Program, the digital Anatomage Table used in the Emerging Health Program, the HAAS CNC in the Precision Machining program and the Plasma Cutter in the Welding program; all items purchased through technical equipment grant programs facilitated by the Bureau of Career and Technical Education. Industry partners also participated in this bi-annual event to demonstrate their support of career and technical education. “They are on-site to talk to parents and prospective students about the long-term career opportunities that exist for STC grads,” said Director, Shannon Brennan. Representatives from the BAC Local (Masonry Union), Auto Zone, Sands Ford, Hexcel, St. Luke’s Geisinger Hospital and Bowers Home Carpenter, just to name a few. The spring Open House is scheduled for March 1, 2023. Pictured: (left to right) Anthony Gaughan (Wilburton) and Noah Morgan (Pottsville), creators of the “Pizza Box Computer” ———————————————- The Schuylkill Technology Center is currently offering Adult Classes.

‘Sextortion’ Crimes Involving Boys On The Rise, FBI Reports – Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/sextortion-crimes-involving-boys-on-the-rise-fbi-reports-northwest-arkansas-democrat-gazette-2/ FAYETTEVILLE — The FBI and local police are reporting an increase in “sextortion” crimes in Northwest Arkansas, with young boys increasingly being targeted. Mark Grimm, special supervisory agent for the FBI office in Fayetteville, said the increase in schemes targeting young males reflects a national trend. He said the predators persuade victims to provide sexual videos or photos and then rely on threats and embarrassment to coerce their victims into providing money. “It’s not just in Arkansas, it’s national,” Grimm said. “Particularly with young men, the fraud really succeeds if the subject is embarrassed.” Grimm said a typical scheme begins with the predator posing as a young girl and trying to establish a relationship with the victim online or on social media. If they can persuade the target to provide a sexual image then the extortion begins. “They turn around and use that image or video and the threat that they’ll make it public,” Grimm said. “They demand the target provide them with gift cards or information for bank accounts they have access to.” Grimm said he couldn’t discuss specific cases but said the FBI and local police in Northwest Arkansas are seeing more and more reports of the crime. Recent arrests in Benton and Washington counties show some of the earmarks of this type of crime. In Benton County, Matthew Nance is currently being held in the Benton County Jail in connection with rape and sexual extortion. Court records indicate the victims in those crimes were young girls. Other court records show search warrants for social media accounts used by Nance found IP addresses with locations in Africa. Grimm said “a lot” of the sextortion crimes reported show links to African criminal enterprises also active in cyber fraud, banking fraud and other internet crimes. In Washington County, Coleton Russell of Vian, Okla., was arrested Aug. 31 in connection with sexual extortion. Sexual extortion under Arkansas law is a Class B felony with penalties of five to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000. Prosecuting Attorney Matt Durrett said Russell’s case showed similarities to the types of cases the FBI is reporting. According to the criminal information filed in Russell’s case during November and December 2021 that he “with the purpose to coerce the victim to engage in sexual conduct or sexually explicit conduct … communicated a threat to harm the reputation of the other person, or produce or distribute a recording of the other person engaged in sexually explicit conduct or depicted in a state of nudity.” Court records show the victim in the case is a juvenile. Russell was released from the Washington County Detention Center Sept. 1 on $15,000 bond. Durrett said some cases may be handled in state courts but others are taken up by federal courts. Connor Hagan, public affairs officer for the FBI office in Little Rock, said federal law states any person who forces or persuades a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct can face up to 30 years in prison. Additionally, Hagan said, most sextortion crimes also involve the use of a computer, which is an additional offense that can be punished by up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the reports the organization receives show how sextortion is changing. Since 2016, according to information on the center’s website, the CyberTipline has received 262,573 reports of online enticement, the category that included sextortion. Between 2019 and 2021, the number of of reports involving sextortion more than doubled. The center also reports in the past the dominant motive of offenders was to get more explicit images of a child but in reports from early 2022, 79% of the offenders were seeking money. Grimm said the use of social media platforms by the predators in these cases make it essential that parents, guardians and other adults are available to the victims and open to communication. Victim services providers agreed communication is the key to preventing or minimizing these crimes. Casey Atwood, program director at the Children’s Safety Center of Washington County, said she’s aware of the recent increase in sextortion cases targeting young boys. “I know that it is happening,” Atwood said. “It’s a growing trend. Technology is ever-evolving and kids are getting access at younger and younger ages.” Atwood said that parents need to replace or modernize the antiquated “birds and the bees” conversation about sex and discuss the risks kids are facing today. “Parents and guardians need to get out of the window of having a once-in-a-lifetime talk about the birds and the bees and have conversations about things they’ve seen or heard about in today’s world. Some people may be afraid that they’re putting ideas in kids’ heads. Don’t worry, they’re already being exposed to all those things.” Atwood said the center website has a list of crisis hotlines and community resources. Gretchen Smeltzer is executive director of Into the Light, a nonprofit organization providing services to victims of child sex trafficking. Smeltzer said she has also seen reports of the trend of young boys being targeted in sextortion crimes. She also said communication is vital. “We would encourage parents to have a ‘preemptive’ talk with their boys about it,” Smeltzer said. “That this is an issue that is going on and to let them know that they’re not going to be in trouble if they tell you about it. Taking away that barrier of embarrassment and fear. Being non-judgemental is going to help open the doorway for a child to feel safe and to share what has happened to them.” Smeltzer said Into the Light has resources available online and through a hotline. She said the group makes informational presentations to individuals and to groups.