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Stays For You And Your Pets To Enjoy A Holiday – Together! – Times Of India https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/stays-for-you-and-your-pets-to-enjoy-a-holiday-together-times-of-india/ Precious Rongmei, TIMESOFINDIA.COM, HOTELS IN INDIA Updated : Sep 23, 2022, 12:10 IST Photo courtesy: SeleQtions Hotels 01 Stays for you and your pets to enjoy a holiday – together! The gut-wrenching experience of saying “No! Stay!” to your pets as you leave the house with your bags packed, or worse, you are at a pet hostel, dropping your fur baby off just because the hotel you booked has a No Pets policy in place. Every pet owner has been through this. Some of us try to cheer up by looking at famous dogs and cats on Instagram, holidaying in exotic locations. This sadness needs to end here and so we are here with some of the best accommodation options in India that are pet-friendly. Photo courtesy: Sunnymead Bed and Breakfast 02 Sunnymead Bed and Breakfast in Shimla This Colonial-era property in Shimla will be a home-away-from home, not only for you but for your pets too. Your fur-babies are most welcome here, just remember to keep them on leash. There are lovely walking trails around the property where your pets can take long leisure walks. The B&B has some pets of their own – dogs and cats, and they are known to be very friendly. Sounds like a great holiday already. Photo courtesy: The Den Corbett Resort & Spa 03 The Den Corbett in Ramnagar, Uttarakhand The Den Corbett is a luxury resort and spa, located near Jim Corbett National Park. Being so close to nature itself is a treat; add to that, the luxury that this property has to offer, not just you but your pets too. The folks at The Den Corbett believe in giving a wholesome holiday for your pets, no wonder they have such great outdoor activities for the visiting four-legged guests. Photo courtesy: The Hideaway 04 The Hideaway in Hosur, Karnataka Located a mere 40km from Bengaluru is The Hideaway in Hosur. This eco-friendly property has a doggy swimming pool, games and playground for your pets. The location is perfect as it is surrounded by nature and close to Bengaluru and other attractions around, should you feel the need to leave the comfort of the eco-resort. Photo courtesy: Presa di Goa – The Country House 05 Presa Di Goa Country House in Calangute, Goa The very pretty Presa di Goa in Calangute is winning the hearts of everyone who has visited the place. The warmth of this old Portuguese stay is what everybody is talking about. Both pets and their hoomans are welcome here. This coconut palm-fringed property has plenty of room for your fur babies to explore. Just remember, pets on leash is always a wise thing to follow. Go ahead and take a walk on the beach with your pets. Photo courtesy: Taj Hotels 06 Vivanta By Taj in Kovalam, Kerala At Vivanta By Taj, Kovalam, you and your pets can have the best of luxury and space. The pet-friendly hotel’s staff is very accommodating towards your pets and they make sure that your fur babies are also having the best of time. Swaying coconut palms, plenty of greenery around, the gorgeous view of the Arabian Sea, and plenty of space for your pets to walk around. Photo courtesy: Tree of Life Resorts 07 Tree of Life Resort & Spa in Jaipur, Rajasthan If you are travelling to Jaipur with your pets, Tree of Life Resort & Spa is a good pet-friendly option. You’ll need to book a villa here to let your pets roam around freely. Some of the resort areas are off-limits for pets, so be mindful of that as well. Photo courtesy: Mawi Infinity Villa 08 Mawi Infinity Villa in Lonavala, Maharashtra Located approximately 85 km from Mumbai, Mawi Infinity Villa in Lonavala is a luxurious getaway for both you and your pets. This pet-friendly stay lets you stay close to nature, and views of the neighbouring hills are just gorgeous. There is plenty of space for your pet to run around. Photo courtesy: SeleQtions Hotels 09 President in Mumbai, Maharashtra Give your pet a super luxurious vacation, not that they understand the concept like we do, for being such a good boy/girl. The hotel even has a special pet menu! Minced lamb risotto, chicken steak and even a Canine High Tea! Their in-house bistro is pet-friendly too. %

AP Business SummaryBrief At 2:22 A.m. EDT – Federal News Network https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/ap-business-summarybrief-at-222-a-m-edt-federal-news-network/ Powell’s stark message: Inflation fight may cause recession WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve delivered its bluntest reckoning Wednesday of what it will take to finally tame painfully high inflation: Slower growth, higher unemployment and potentially a recession. Speaking at a news conference, Chair Jerome Powell acknowledged what many economists have been saying for months: That the Fed’s goal of engineering a “soft landing” — in which it would manage to slow growth enough to… READ MORE Powell’s stark message: Inflation fight may cause recession WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve delivered its bluntest reckoning Wednesday of what it will take to finally tame painfully high inflation: Slower growth, higher unemployment and potentially a recession. Speaking at a news conference, Chair Jerome Powell acknowledged what many economists have been saying for months: That the Fed’s goal of engineering a “soft landing” — in which it would manage to slow growth enough to curb inflation but not so much as to trigger a recession — looks increasingly unlikely. “The chances of a soft landing,” Powell said, “are likely to diminish” as the Fed steadily raises borrowing costs to slow the worst inflation in four decades. Bank of England raises rates but avoids bolder hike like Fed LONDON (AP) — The Bank of England has raised its key interest rate by another half-percentage point. Despite facing inflation that outpaces other major economies, the Bank of England avoided more aggressive hikes made by the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks. The U.K. bank on Thursday raised its benchmark rate to the highest level in 14 years. It’s the seventh straight move to increase borrowing costs as rising food and energy prices fuel a cost-of-living crisis that’s considered the worst in a generation. Despite facing a slumping currency, tight labor market and inflation near its highest in four decades, officials held off on acting more boldly as they predicted a second consecutive drop in economic output this quarter. Asian stocks slide for 3rd day on economic growth fears BEIJING (AP) — Asian stocks fell for a third day Friday after unusually large interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve and other central banks to control inflation spurred fears of a possible global recession. Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seoul and Sydney declined. Japan’s markets were closed for a holiday. Oil prices edged lower. Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 index fell for a third day after rate hikes by central banks in Britain, Switzerland, Turkey and the Philippines. The Fed hiked its key rate earlier for a fifth time this year and indicated more rises were on the way. Bank CEOs questioned on consumer protections, social issues NEW YORK (AP) — The CEOs of the nation’s biggest banks returned to Capitol Hill for a second day Thursday, and Senate Democrats strongly urged them to do more to help and protect their customers, while Republicans questioned whether banks should weigh in on hot-button social issues. The bank leaders testified at a time when prices for food and other necessities are the highest in decades. JPMorgan Chase’s Jamie Dimon, Citigroup’s Jane Fraser and five other chief executives repeated the message they gave to a House panel Wednesday: The U.S. consumer is in relatively good shape but faces threats from high inflation and rising interest rates. Revamped Detroit auto show now also features new flying tech DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit auto show has returned with a roar. And a soar. The prestigious North American International Auto Show last was held in 2019. It returned last week. Visitors once again can lay eyes on the latest offerings from some of the world’s biggest automakers. But now they also can check out what organizers call “the show above the show.” The Air Mobility Experience features displays and demonstrations from six air mobility innovators that include an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, a hoverbike, a hoverboard and a jet suit. The show runs through Sunday at a downtown convention center. Antony Blinken’s father, former diplomat and banker, dies NEW YORK (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s father, Donald Blinken, a former U.S. diplomat, investment banker and modern art collector, has died. He was 96. Blinken announced his father’s passing in a series of tweets while he was attending the annual UN General Assembly. Blinken said his dad served his city, state and country as “a member of the U.S. Army Air Corps, a U.S. ambassador, president of the Mark Rothko Foundation and chair of the State University of New York. Donald Blinken died at his home in East Hampton, Long Island on Thursday. Inflation, unrest challenge Bangladesh’s ‘miracle economy’ DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh’s economic miracle is under severe strain as fuel price hikes amplify public frustrations over rising costs for food and other necessities. Protests have erupted in recent weeks, adding to pressures on the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, which has sought help from the International Monetary Fund to safeguard the country’s finances. Experts say Bangladesh’s predicament is nowhere nearly as severe as Sri Lanka’s, where months’ long unrest led its long-time president to flee the country. But it faces similar troubles: excessive spending on showcase projects, public anger over corruption and cronyism and a weakening trade balance. Such trends are undermining Bangladesh’s progress toward becoming a more affluent, middle-income country. Facebook violated rights of Palestinian users, report finds Actions by Facebook and its parent Meta during last year’s Gaza war violated the rights of Palestinian users to freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, political participation and non-discrimination. That’s according to a new report commissioned by the social media company. The report confirms long-standing criticisms of Meta’s policies and their uneven enforcement as it relates to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Written by the independent consulting firm Business for Social Responsibility, the report found that Meta over-enforced rules when it came to Arabic content and under-enforced content in Hebrew. But the report did not find intentional bias at Meta, either by the company as a whole or among individual employees. Ford shuffles management, seeks new global supply chain head DETROIT (AP) — Ford is restructuring its vehicle development and supply chain operations, shuffling multiple executives just days after announcing that it would build up to 45,000 vehicles with parts missing due to shortages. The Dearborn, Michigan, automaker gave some executives new roles and said that its chief financial officer will begin reworking supply chain operations until a new global purchasing chief is hired. The moves come at a time of profound change for Ford and the auto industry, which for more than a century have made a living by selling petroleum-powered vehicles. The company has plans for half of its global production to be electric vehicles by 2030, but like its main competitors, Ford will need to keep selling gas-burning vehicles to fund the massive transition. Zelenskyy aide: Ukraine needs funds, expand Russia sanctions BERLIN (AP) — A top Ukrainian government economist says the country’s efforts to defend itself from Russia are placing a severe financial burden on the country that it can only bear with the help of outside support. Oleg Ustenko, chief economic advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said the speed of victory will depend however in large part on the pressure that Ukraine’s allies place on Russia. Ustenko told The Associated Press that it was “ridiculous” for European countries to keep paying for Russian fossil fuels while Moscow wages a war against Ukraine. He called for an EU oil embargo to be brought forward and a price cap imposed on Russian gas. Copyright © 2022 . All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

CSR Collaboration Can Aid The Development Of Public Healthcare And Wellness, Says Dr. Nalini Saligram, Founder & CEO, Arogya World – IndiaCSR https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/csr-collaboration-can-aid-the-development-of-public-healthcare-and-wellness-says-dr-nalini-saligram-founder-ceo-arogya-world-indiacsr/ India CSR interview with Dr. Nalini Saligram, Founder & CEO, Arogya World, an Ashoka Fellow By Rusen Kumar Arogya World is a global health non-profit organization working towards preventing non-communicable diseases (NCDs)—diabetes, heart disease, cancer and chronic lung diseases—through health education and lifestyle change. Since prevention is at the core of Arogya’s work, through its programs and advocacy efforts, they help people around the world lead healthier lives. All programs at Arogya world are now ready for scaling up and investment from the corporate is invited and welcome. Collaborating with companies through CSR initiatives will aid the development of public healthcare and wellness in India. Dr. Nalini Saligram, Founder & CEO, Arogya World talked to Rusen Kumar, India CSR and shared how organisation is adding value to society and people.  Today we have Nalini Saligram, the head of Arogya World. Please introduce yourself, your organization, and your key area of intervention.  I am Nalini Saligram, founder, and CEO of Arogya World. I have a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. I had the opportunity to work and live in various parts of the world in the pharma and healthcare industry. Leveraging my experience, I was determined to make a meaningful contribution to global health. This is how the Arogya World came into being. Founded 12 years ago, it is a global health non-profit that works on diabetes prevention through healthy living, with a PAN India operation. Our core objective is to facilitate sustainable development in national health, helping mobilize people to improve their health habits. We, at Arogya World, interact with experts from the healthcare and communications industry to help our programs reach the masses. What inspired you to take up healthcare? About 15 to 20 years ago I was a member of the Dean’s Council at Emory University, Atlanta– the School of Public Health. We were introduced to Dr. William Foege—the man who single-handedly conquered smallpox. Inspired by his journey, I decided to dedicate my life to public health. Having said that, routinely meeting with public health experts also keeps me going. What was the reason for choosing Diabetes as your organization’s core focus? Having lived with gestational Type 2 Diabetes and a family history of the disease, I wanted to be able to educate people unaware of lifestyle changes that can delay or prevent Diabetes, empowering them to take up healthy habits. Secondly— As a student of public and global health, several of my peers were working on Under-5 childhood mortality, women’s health, or HIV. Unlike them, I wanted to explore unconventional areas, using my background in both Science and Communications. I chose Diabetes as non-communicable diseases are one of the biggest challenges facing our nation. Through persuasion and science, I could effect a change in public behavior concerning health. India is the world capital for Diabetes. What are the reasons behind the growing numbers of patients in the country? The World Health Organization (WHO) categorizes Diabetes, heart disease, some cancers, and chronic lung diseases as non-communicable diseases (NCDs) as they are not communicable like infectious diseases. However, they are chronic in nature and affect every 2 out of 3 people. Non-Communicable diseases are the prime cause of death in India. The problem of NCDs is not limited to just rich countries. Middle and lower-income countries suffer greatly due to socio-economic factors like lack of access to healthcare, misinformation, and overpopulation. The impact is felt severely by the poorest of the poor. Treatment and care for NCDs come at a great expense. Our study on 10,000 Indian women found that 25% of a lower-income family’s wealth is spent on treatment. The economic burden forces them to remain in poverty, negating any chance of improving their economic condition. This forces another generation into poverty. High cost/economic consequence is felt by families with lower income.  Indians are genetically predisposed to Diabetes. Research suggests that Indians can have Type-2 Diabetes as early as 30 years, two decades before the West! The issue is aggravated further in urban metros with 75% of the population either Diabetic or Pre-Diabetic.  Being demographically young, the median age here is 27 years. Leaving the issue unaddressed can mean a demographic disaster. Even children as young as 5 years old! 10% of our children and adolescents are pre-diabetic. Physical inactivity has exposed children and adolescents to the risk of early onset Diabetes. Another one of our studies revealed that Bangalore’s inactivity levels equal an alarming 65%. Lifestyle is one of the biggest culprits behind India’s poor Diabetic health. Please elaborate on the factors that affect our lifestyles. Rapid urbanization is responsible for the explosion of Communicable diseases. Consumption of fast food and tobacco are other major contributors. Smart marketing and attractive packaging lure children to eat at large fast-food chains. Busy lives force us to reach for processed, ready-to-eat food products instead of freshly cooked alternatives. But the good news is, despite being genetically predisposed, it is possible to prevent and curb genetic pressure with healthier lifestyle choices. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 80% of diabetes and heart disease and 40% of cancers can be prevented with three lifestyle changes—eating right, adequate exercise, and avoiding tobacco.  Our ‘Doorstep Health Model’ follows the same ideology. We take prevention to people where they live, learn, and work. To children in schools, adults in their workplaces, and on social media. The model consists of sending participants healthy living reminders to eat right and exercise. How can corporations join hands with healthcare, through CSR initiatives in creating awareness and helping take the right interventions?  The Corporate role is manifold. For example, employee health programs that focus on both; employees’ physical and mental health and extend the benefits to their families. The ‘Healthy Workplace’ program at Arogya World assesses and awards companies based on criteria encompassing physical and mental health. Additionally, leveraging Corporate Social responsibility (CSR) initiatives coupled with technology to improve adolescent health can include more people in the purview of leading healthy lives. Mental health has emerged as the No.1 fallout from Covid. Corporations need to commit to the mental health and well-being of their employees and communities. Close links were observed between Covid and Diabetes now. People with underlying health issues like Diabetes were more susceptible to Covid and were more likely to succumb to the disease. To prevent the next pandemic, we need to prepare our bodies well. Companies can spearhead the effort not just for their employees but also for society at large. A collaboration of the private sector, the government, and civil society can work wonders for public health and welfare using a multi-stakeholder approach. Collaboration is key! What are the key projects at Arogya World? Please elaborate on the key findings, outcomes, and impact. In addition to the Doorstep Health model, we have four key projects at Arogya World— ‘Healthy Schools’: This program has reached 5,00,000 children so far. We interact with adolescent children, aged 11 to 14 years, and organize activities that teach children the basics of healthy living as a foundation before their lifestyle habits are set. Additionally, we provide them with reading materials to understand the concepts better. An activity with 250,000 kids now showed a 15% improvement in both: awareness and health behaviors. Answers to awareness and behavior questions are tracked through scientific pre-post analysis, to evaluate an overall measure of health—available in multiple languages.  The results are validated by the Stanford Center for Asian Health Research and Education. Currently, we are reaching up to 2,00,000 children in extremely poor districts of West Bengal. So, we are optimistic about the potential to scale up opportunities for the ‘Healthy Schools’ program. ‘Healthy Workplace: This program recognizes companies for their investment in employee health. Our criteria are based on physical and mental health parameters. We assess companies’ employee health programs and award them basis effectiveness. So far, we have recognized about 170 companies. Government departments, public sector as well as private sector companies are included in the scope of this program. ‘M-Diabetes’: Our text message program is now adapted to voice messages as well as WhatsApp. Developed with Emory University, the program teaches people through text messages on their phones, available in multiple languages. The program is an effective way to leverage technology in public health intervention. 20% improvement has been observed across multiple health behaviors. In 2012-2013 the M-Diabetes was conducted with over 1 million people at Nokia. Our program has also been successful at the Aravind Eye Hospital and LV Prasad Eye Centre. ‘My Thali’: Using the National Institute of Nutrition guidelines, the My-Thali uses easy-to-understand graphics to indicate what should be eaten in proportional quantities. We also utilize social media to educate people on eating right and learning how to read food labels.  The program has reached 10.8 million people so far. A Nielson analysis revealed that over 1 million people had actively engaged with the My Thali program. In...

Prep Sports Roundup: Friday, Sept. 23, 2022 | Local Sports News | Havasunews.com – Today’s News-Herald https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/prep-sports-roundup-friday-sept-23-2022-local-sports-news-havasunews-com-todays-news-herald/ 88° Lake Havasu City, AZ (86403) Today A mainly sunny sky. High around 100F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Mostly clear skies. Low near 80F. Winds light and variable. Updated: September 23, 2022 @ 12:09 am Full Forecast Sep 23, 2022 26 min ago 0 Wednesday 9/21 Girls’ Golf: Havasu 178, Lee Williams 237 Welcome to the discussion. Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don’t Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don’t knowingly lie about anyone or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the ‘Report’ link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We’d love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article. The Lake Havasu Knights football team (2-1) consistently preach that winning turno… CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The last Presidents Cup was so close the International team… Josh Allen threw four touchdown passes, including three to Stefon Diggs, and the Buffalo Bills rolled past Derrick Henry and the Tennessee Titans 41-7 in their home opener. The Bills followed a season-opening 31-10 rout of the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams by throttling an opponent that has been their nemesis in each of the past two seasons. Fullback Reggie Gilliam and linebacker Matt Milano, with a 43-yard interception return, also scored touchdowns for Buffalo. Buffalo’s defense limited Tennessee to 182 yards of offense and 12 first downs, while registering two sacks and forcing four turnovers. The Titans fell to 0-2 for the first time since 2012.

Discovery Leans On Metaverse, Social Commerce To Evolve Hospitality, Property Management – Manila Bulletin https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/discovery-leans-on-metaverse-social-commerce-to-evolve-hospitality-property-management-manila-bulletin/ Discovery leans on metaverse, social commerce to evolve hospitality, property management Regardless of their industry or competitive landscape, businesses must always ensure that they continue to provide outstanding customer service and be on the lookout for new revenue channels while discovering different ways to innovate and evolve. These advancements were mostly anchored on digital transformation in recent years, with the digital shift undoubtedly hastened by the global pandemic. As a recognized leader in the Hospitality and Property Management Industry, Discovery Hospitality Corporation (DHC) was recently invited as the sole Philippine representative to the prestigious APAC Digital Travel Summit, held in Singapore, to share the company’s insights about optimizing commerce market channels and tech innovations.  Maximizing tech Blessy Townes, Discovery Hospitality VP and Head of Digital Marketing and Branding, in the APAC Digital Travel Summit. According to Discovery Hospitality’s Vice President & Head of Digital Marketing and Branding, Blessy Townes, the function of social media is no longer limited to the exchange of communication but has recently diverged into the area of Social Commerce.   “Social commerce is the ‘new normal’ of social media marketing. The pandemic has changed the way we use the Internet, and has transformed social media from a social networking site to a social selling platform,” Townes noted. ” Social media marketing is now merely a skill required to manage social commerce,” she added. Focusing on social commerce allowed Discovery to create a more connected customer experience with patrons, and potential guests, of their hotels, resorts, restaurants, and other attractions. “Like our name suggests, it’s really a matter of discovering new ways to engage through existing digital channels,” Townes pointed out. “We recognize the disruption of Social Commerce in the hospitality space. It has created its own ecosystem and touchpoints for us to engage with the customers: from Interest, to Research and, ultimately, Conversion,” she expounded. Innovating customer experience Bogart and Friends in Roblox Metaverse. One of Discovery Hospitality’s ways to achieve this is to step into the metaverse through one of its resorts, Discovery Shores Boracay. They recently launched “Bogart and Friends” in the popular Roblox Metaverse, making them the first Philippine Resort to utilize the app in its engagement efforts. “Doing so enabled us to provide our guests with an enhanced experience through challenges that were rewarded with real-life prizes,” she further explained. In Discovery Hospitality’s presentation, the gamification initiative inspired APAC hoteliers how the lucrative yet often daunting Metaverse can enhance the customer experience and brand affinity in the Hospitality industry. From left: Benjamin Pangilinan, Hannah Pangilinan, Solana Pangilinan, Bogart the Bear, Marc Lim – Associate Director of Operations, Imran Khan – Chief Joy Officer, and Anrthony Pangilinan. Launched in May 2022 to promote brand love, “Bogart & Friends,” starring Discovery Shores Boracay’s mascot, Bogart the Bear, is a miniature loyalty program for kids that allows them to virtually experience the resort. Players of the metaverse game can earn coins and badges, and trade them for real-world perks when they visit the property. Through the effective adoption of such emerging platforms and technologies, Discovery Hospitality continues to innovate the customer booking journey and beyond so that for every step of the booking decision their properties are top of mind. This also allows the group to tap into a wider array of market segments, further attracting the attention of different age groups such as millennials and Gen Zs to engage with their properties. Since 1999, Digital Travel APAC has been regarded as Asia’s leading summit for digital travel leaders. Their top-level conferences allow attendees to learn from, network, and collaborate with leading heads of eCommerce, Customer Experience, and Digital Marketing throughout the world. Discovery Hospitality Corporation, a trailblazer in Filipino hospitality, has been a repeat presenter on topics such as Website Traffic Acquisition and Conversion Optimization since pre-pandemic. For inquiries on allied businesses and hotel management services, contact Discovery Hospitality Corporation’s Senior Vice President and Head of Sales & Operations, Cathy Nepomuceno, at [email protected] For more information, visit www.discoveryhotelshospitality.com. SIGN UP TO DAILY NEWSLETTER CLICK HERE TO SIGN-UP YOU MAY ALSO LIKE 2022-09-23 15:01:51 [“business”,”business”] [3092237,3092272,3092254,3092213,3092204,3092156,3092271]

9 Cool New Gadgets To Keep On Your Radar – Gear Patrol https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/9-cool-new-gadgets-to-keep-on-your-radar-gear-patrol/ For more of the latest and greatest product releases, check out our full collection of the best new gear. This week, Amazon announced that its next big hardware event will take place next week — on September 28 — so get ready for some more Echo devices (as well as probably a lot of other gadgets). Some reviewers actually put the iPhone 14‘s new crash detection feature to test. And we reviewed two of Apple’s newest gadgets, the Apple Watch Ultra and the AirPods Pro 2. Additionally, a bunch of cool new gadgets were announced. Check ’em out below. Victrola Stream Carbon Courtesy The Victrola Stream Carbon is the first turntable that works natively with an existing Sonos speaker system. It’s a collaboration between Victrola and Sonos and, after you set it up, it’ll appear in the Sonos app just like any other Sonos component; from there, you just group it with your other Sonos speakers are — boom — you’re rocking out to vinyl. There’s no extra components needed. In addition to working perfectly with Sonos, it’s also just a really gorgeous and high-end turntable. Price: $799 LEARN MORE Polaroid Players Courtesy Polaroid is temporarily jumping out of the realm of instant film cameras and into… portable Bluetooth speakers. That’s right, the company announced four different Bluetooth speakers — the P1 ($60), P2 ($130), P3 ($190) and P4 ($290) (from left to right: starting from the smallest and most affordable to the largest) — that each have a colorful-yet-retro flair. They work like most other portable Bluetooth speakers (although none are rugged) but the kicker is that each works with the company’s new companion app (Polaroid Music), which allows them to stream a number of different radio stations. Price: $60 — $290 LEARN MORE Meze Audio 109 PRO Courtesy The Meze Audio 109 Pro is the Romanian hi-fi company’s first pair of dynamic open-back headphones. They’re designed to be super lightweight and comfortable, but yet they’re also made with premium materials — like wood, steel and leather — so they’ll feel pretty lavish. The 109 Pro are modeled after the company’s well-loved 99 Classics ($309), but they have an all-new beryllium coated dynamic driver that promises rich, detailed and accurate sound. At $799, they are open-back headphones for budding audiophiles looking to make the jump into the world of serious hi-fi. Price: $799 LEARN MORE Sony SRS-XV900 Courtesy The Sony SRS-XV900 is the company’s newest Bluetooth party speaker, and it’s effectively a larger version of its existing SRS-XV700. At 58 pounds, it’s a far-cry from being classified as a “ultra-portable” speaker, but it does have a built-in battery (that gets up to 25 hours of playtime) so you can move it around your backyard as you see fit. It has multiple analog connections and can be used to power your other mobile devices. And yes, you can customize its built-in LEDs to light up however you see fit. Price: $900 LEARN MORE Mophie Powerstation Wireless Stand with MagSafe Courtesy This is Mophie’s newest portable power bank that doubles as a stand for your iPhone. It’s fully compatible with MagSafe, meaning it can fast charge any iPhone 12, iPhone 13 or iPhone 13 at up to 15 watts. It has a 10,000-mAh capacity, which is enough to nearly double the battery life of your iPhone. Additionally, it has a USB-C PD input/output port that you can use to charge a second device along with your iPhone. (Mophie also announced updated models of its other portable powerbanks, including the powerstation mini, the powerstation and the powerstation pro XL.) Price: $130 LEARN MORE Focal Utopia (2022) Courtesy Focal announced an upgraded version of the super high-end Utopia headphones that it first released in 2016. The new open-back cans have an updated and more lightweight design (the earcups also have a new honeycomb pattern on them), but they also boast improved sonic performance thanks to new M-shaped drivers and M-shaped grills that, according to the company, enable “even clearer and more accurate musical reproduction.” The only real downside is the Focal increased the price of the new models by about a grand. Price: $4,999 LEARN MORE Logitech Brio 500 Courtesy Logitech, one of the biggest names in external webcams, has announced the Brio 500. It’s effectively an updated version of the company’s c922 Pro. It delivers similar picture quality — 1080p at 30 fps or 720p at 60 fps — but it does have a new ultra-wide lens and more advanced autofocusing capabilities that can automatically keep you in frame. The Brio 500 also has a built-in microphone and a privacy shutter, and it comes in three different colors. It’s positioned as a moderately affordable option for anybody looking to up their Zoom game (it’s also compatible with Microsoft Teams and Google Hangouts) with upgrading to a more expensive 4K webcam. Price: $130 LEARN MORE Bowers & Wilkins 700 S3 Courtesy The Bowers & Wilkins 700 S3 is the company’s third-generation line of 700 series loudspeakers. The line includes a total of eight loudspeakers — including three floor-standing speakers, three stand-mounted speakers and two center-channel speakers — and they all borrow technologies of the company’s high-end line of 800 Series Diamond speakers, but deliver them in a slightly more accessible package. Price: $1,500 (center-channel) — $7,000 (floor-standing) LEARN MORE DJI Osmo Mobile 6 Courtesy DJI announced the Osmo Mobile 6, its latest handheld gimbal designed to help you take more stabilized photos and videos with your smartphone. This sixth-generation model has a couple marked improvements over its predecessors. It has a new wheel control on the side of the handle that can help you quickly zoom-in (or out) and focus on your subject. There’s a new “quick launch” feature that, as the name gives away, will help you quickly launch to the DJI camera app so that you can get shooting faster than before. And there’s a new status panel screen that’ll more easily show you how much battery the gimbal has left. Price: $159 LEARN MORE

Latest Crypto News: Royal Enfield NFT Soon, UK Bill To Seize Crypto Used In Illegal Activities – Outlook India https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/latest-crypto-news-royal-enfield-nft-soon-uk-bill-to-seize-crypto-used-in-illegal-activities-outlook-india/ There have been quite a handful of crypto developments over the past few days including the announcement of Royal Enfield non-fungible tokens (NFT), introduction of a bill regarding crypto sanctions in the UK, JPMorgan Chase bank calling Bitcoin a scam, and others.  Royal Enfield NFT To Be Launched On Ethereum Blockchain Based Platform Royal Enfield, the maker of the popular Classic 350, Bullet, and other motorcycles in India and abroad had announced its foray into Web 3.0 technology, NFT by partnering up with an Ethereum (ETH) based NFT platform called foundation.app.  In a release Royal Enfield said that they will launch their NFT collection featuring 10 exclusive winning artwork designs from the last two seasons of their Art of Motorcycling programme. All of these NFTs are priced at Rs 15,000 each. The NFTs will be released on October 3. Puneet Sood, global head of apparel business at Royal Enfield, said, “Art Of Motorcycling is intended to give designers, artists, illustrators and motorcycling enthusiasts a platform to illustrate their love for motorcycling. We are extremely proud to take this to the next level in the digital space, as we announce the launch of Royal Enfield’s first-ever NFTs to encourage this ever-growing community scale to new heights.” United Kingdom Introduces The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency bill The U.K. has introduced this bill as originally promised in May by the Home Office, and it essentially makes it easier for law enforcement agencies to seize, freeze and recover crypto assets if they are used for various criminal activities like money laundering, drugs, cybercrime, and others. “Domestic and international criminals have for years laundered the proceeds of their crime and corruption by abusing U.K. company structures, and are increasingly using cryptocurrencies,” Graeme Biggar, director general of the National Crime Agency, said in the statement, reported Coindesk. We’re introducing the Economic Crime & Corporate Transparency Bill to crack down on the kleptocrats, criminals & terrorists who abuse our open economy. Driving out dirty money from the UK. Strengthening the UK’s reputation for supporting legitimate business to thrive. pic.twitter.com/WMlcfTLUOI — Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) May 15, 2022 JPMorgan Chase Bank Calls Bitcoin ‘Decentralised Scam’ Jamie Dimon, CEO, JPMorgan Chase Bank, one of the big 4 U.S. based banks, said in a U.S congressional hearing, “I’m a major sceptic on crypto tokens, which you call currency, like bitcoin. They are decentralised Ponzi schemes,” reported Bloomberg. Dimon also argued that digital currencies are being used by an increased number of criminals in their illicit operations including sex trafficking and money laundering, among others. Dimon, however, is quite vocal about the underlying technology behind these digital currencies i.e. blockchain, metaverse, others and said that these technologies are ral and can be deployed in both public and private use cases, permissioned or not. JPMorgan Chase bank has a lounge in decentraland where a host of digital services are on offer over there. Decentraland is a Ethereum blockchain based virtual 3D animated world. “I’m a major skeptic on crypto tokens, which you call currency, like Bitcoin,” JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon said in congressional testimony Wednesday https://t.co/C1ymC4nXGp — Bloomberg Wealth (@wealth) September 22, 2022 Michael Saylor Says The Price Will Reach $69,000/Bitcoin In 4 Years Michael Saylor is the co-founder and chairman of IT company MicroStrategy, which is the world’s largest corporate Bitcoin holder with about 1,30,000 BTC tokens in its reserves at an average price of $30,639. He said in an interview to Marketwatch, that Bitcoin could go back to the $68,990 levels sometime in the next four years and could also reach $5,00,000 levels in the next decade “if it matches the market cap of gold.” Saylor also said that his company is also making developments on the Lightning network, which is a payment protocol layered on the Bitcoin network. Ethereum Miners Rally Up To Dump Ethereum Ethereum miners who no longer can mine Ethereum (ETH) tokens have reportedly sold more than 16,000 ETH tokens and are still left with about 2,45,000 ETH tokens. According to on-chain data analysed by Oklink, a blockchain analytics firm, miners dumped about 16,000 ETH tokens from September 12 to September 19 and this was worth more than $300 million. Lucas Ontumuro, head of research, IntoTheBlock, in an interview to Coindesk, said that miners are moving onto other blockchains by taking their profit from ETH holdings out. “Miners dumping their ETH is an overhang that we’ll have to get through over the coming months in order to resume up-only mode, but it will happen,” Lucas Campbell, editor of the Bankless newsletter on September 19 in a newsletter, reported Coindesk.

US Aircraft Carrier Ronald Reagan Arrives For South Korea Drills – Al Jazeera English https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/us-aircraft-carrier-ronald-reagan-arrives-for-south-korea-drills-al-jazeera-english/ Arrival marks most significant deployment yet amid push for more US nuclear-capable ‘assets’ to deter North Korea. Published On 23 Sep 202223 Sep 2022 The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan has arrived in South Korea ahead of joint military exercises that are seen as a show of strength amid growing North Korean threats. The Ronald Reagan and ships from its accompanying strike force docked at a naval base in the southern port city of Busan on Friday. The arrival marks the most significant deployment yet by Washington under a new push to have more US nuclear-capable “strategic assets” operate in the region to deter North Korea. Joint military drills in the coming days will be the first involving a US aircraft carrier in the region since 2017, when the US sent three aircraft carriers including the Reagan for naval drills with South Korea in response to North Korean nuclear and missile tests at that time. North Korea denounced previous US military deployments and joint drills as rehearsals for war and proof of hostile policies by Washington and Seoul. Al Jazeera’s Rob McBride, reporting from the flight deck of the Ronald Reagan, said that the stated mission of the joint drills was to demonstrate “the resolve of these allies in the face of renewed North Korean threats”. “This is a way of showing the strength of the alliance in the face of what the US and South Korea say are these increased threats from North Korea. From North Korea’s point of view, they are always enraged by these exercises,” McBride said. Joint military exercises had reduced in recent years to allow “summit diplomacy to take place to try to get the North Koreans to give up their nuclear arms”, he said. “Clearly, they haven’t done that,” he added. The North, McBride said, will likely look on the drills as justification for “their position that they need to hold on to their much-treasured nuclear weapons at all costs as a guarantee of their survival in what they see as a hostile world”. ‘Firm resolve’ The South Korean navy said on Friday that its combined training with the Reagan battle group is meant to boost the allies’ military readiness and to show “the firm resolve by the Korea-US alliance for the sake of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula”. With North Korea’s resumption of major weapons testing, Seoul and Washington have revived their large-scale military exercises that were downsized or cancelled in previous years to support diplomatic efforts with Pyongyang or because of COVID-19. The North Korean threat is also expected to be a key agenda when US Vice President Kamala Harris visits South Korea next week after attending the state funeral in Tokyo of slain former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. It’s a great day to #FlyNavy! @USNavy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, participating in routine flight operations while in the #PhilippineSea. #Warship76#FreeandOpenIndoPacific #PresenceMatters pic.twitter.com/BlfJ0ud5aj — USS Ronald Reagan (@Gipper_76) September 22, 2022 The aircraft carrier’s arrival in South Korea comes after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told Pyongyang’s parliament this month that he would never abandon his nuclear weapons and the missiles he needs to counter what he perceives as US hostility towards the North. North Korea also passed a new law that enshrined its status as a nuclear power and authorised the preemptive use of nuclear weapons over a broad range of scenarios where the country or its leadership comes under threat. Sung Kim, the Biden administration’s special representative for North Korea, met with South Korean counterpart Kim Gunn in Seoul on Thursday where they expressed “serious concern” over the North’s escalating nuclear doctrine spelled out in the new law, South Korea’s foreign ministry said. The diplomats reaffirmed the US commitment to defend South Korea in the event of a nuclear war with the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear. The allies also maintained their months-old assessment that North Korea is gearing up to conduct its first nuclear test since 2017 and discussed “stern” countermeasures to such an action, the ministry said. North Korea has increased weapons testing to a record pace in 2022, launching more than 30 ballistic weapons including its intercontinental ballistic missiles as it exploits a divide in the UN Security Council deepened over Russia’s war on Ukraine. Source : Al Jazeera and news agencies

News Organisations Get More Power Over Tech Platforms After U.S. Senate Panel Approves Bill – The Hindu https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/news-organisations-get-more-power-over-tech-platforms-after-u-s-senate-panel-approves-bill-the-hindu/ Also opposing the bill are two technology industry trade groups that Facebook and Google belong to: the Computer & Communications Industry Association and NetChoice Also opposing the bill are two technology industry trade groups that Facebook and Google belong to: the Computer & Communications Industry Association and NetChoice The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee voted Thursday to approve a bill aimed at allowing news organisations to band together to negotiate with Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Meta’s Facebook and win more revenue. (Sign up to our Technology newsletter, Today’s Cache, for insights on emerging themes at the intersection of technology, business and policy. Click here to subscribe for free.) It must now go to the Senate for their approval. A similar bill is before the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill is aimed at giving news and broadcast organisations more clout after years of criticism that the big tech companies use their content to attract traffic and ad revenue without fairly compensating the publishers, many of which have struggled to make profits in recent years. Unlike other bills aimed at reining in big tech, some progressive groups oppose this measure, including Public Knowledge, on the grounds that it favours big broadcasters like News Corp, Sinclair and Comcast/NBCU. Also opposing the bill are two technology industry trade groups that Facebook and Google belong to: the Computer & Communications Industry Association and NetChoice.

Law And Order | Local News – Milton Daily Standard https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/law-and-order-local-news-milton-daily-standard/ 53° Milton, PA (17847) Today Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 62F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear early, then a few clouds later on. Low 41F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Updated: September 23, 2022 @ 1:20 am Full Forecast 53° Partly Cloudy Milton, PA (17847) Today Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 62F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear early, then a few clouds later on. Low 41F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Updated: September 23, 2022 @ 1:20 am Full Forecast Connecting the Valley to Print and Digital State Police at Selinsgrove DUI DANVILLE — Joshua Konkolics, 25, of Astoria, Ore., was taken into custody for suspicion of driving under the influence as the result of a traffic stop troopers reported conducting at 11:18 p.m. July 23 at Northumberland Street and Beaver Place, Danville. Post a comment as anonymous Welcome to the discussion. Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don’t Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don’t knowingly lie about anyone or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the ‘Report’ link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We’d love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article. News Updates Would you like to receive our daily news? Signup today! Please enter a valid email address. Articles Images Videos Commented Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Commented Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles.

Japan’s Lifting Of Travel Restrictions Expected To Significantly Boost Hawaii Tourism – KITV Honolulu https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/japans-lifting-of-travel-restrictions-expected-to-significantly-boost-hawaii-tourism-kitv-honolulu/ ...HIGH SURF ADVISORY FOR SOUTH FACING SHORES OF ALL HAWAIIAN ISLANDS... .A long-period south-southwest swell continues to bring elevated surf heights along south facing shores of all Hawaiian Islands. The swell is expected slowly lower through Friday. ...HIGH SURF ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT HST TONIGHT... * WHAT...Surf of 7 to 10 feet. * WHERE...South facing shores of all Hawaiian Islands. * WHEN...Until midnight HST tonight. * IMPACTS...Moderate. Expect strong breaking waves, shore break, and strong longshore and rip currents making swimming difficult and dangerous. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Beachgoers, swimmers, and surfers should heed all advice given by ocean safety officials and exercise caution. && Japan is finally lifting travel restrictions for the first time since the start of the pandemic and at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, many travelers can’t wait. Erin Taniyama says her family had planned to go to Japan this year as a graduation present for her son, but that was put on hold because of the restrictions. Kristen Consillio Reporter Kristen joined KITV4 in March 2021 after working for the past two decades as a newspaper reporter. Kristen’s goal is to produce meaningful journalism that educates, enlightens and inspires to affect positive change in society. Author facebook Author instagram Author twitter Author email %

Panama Luxury Oceanfront Home Launch Goes Sideways | Business News | Wfmz.com – 69News WFMZ-TV https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/panama-luxury-oceanfront-home-launch-goes-sideways-business-news-wfmz-com-69news-wfmz-tv/ If you know of local business openings or closings, please notify us here. PREVIOUS OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS – The Cadillac Pub opens where Klingers used to be at 24 E. Main Street in Fleetwood – II-VI Inc. (pronounced “two-six”) will become Coherent Corp., taking on the name of a company it recently acquired. – ABEC, a company that provides services and products to the pharmaceutical industry, with headquarters in Northampton County, will invest in a new disposable-container facility in North Carolina. – A new Lehigh Valley Martial Arts center will hold a grand opening starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10, with a ribbon-cutting shortly afterward. – Bethlehem Township’s planning commission has approved an Amazon parking lot with 248 spaces at Brodhead and Mowrer roads. – The Bethlehem Zoning Hearing Board rejected variance requests that would have allowed multifamily homes to go up on the Southside properties at 508-512 Selfridge St. – Northampton County Council voted 1-8 against a tax break for development of a proposed warehouse at the Dixie Cup building on South 25 Street in Wilson Borough. – The former Valley Farm Market, now known as Gerrity’s Valley Farm Market, will take on a new name as of Oct. 14: Gerrity’s The Fresh Grocer. – Hamsa Exoticz is already open at the Lehigh Valley Mall, but it will hold a grand opening at 5 p.m. Sept. 16 with the Whitehall Chamber of Commerce. – A new Home Depot will open a 136,048-square-foot building on about 21 acres of vacant land just off Hamilton Boulevard in Lower Macungie Township. – Rocco Ayvazov’s Monocacy General Contracting received approval from the Bethlehem Planning Commission to put up a six-story building with 55 apartments and retail space on the first floor at 128 E. Third St. – The old Allen Organ showroom building on Route 100 in Lower Macungie Township will come down and about 100 total apartment units will go up. – Reading Hospitality’s Catering by DoubleTree will handle food at events at Reading Country Club, after Exeter Township supervisors approved a new agreement. – Natural healing is the goal at Reike Balance, which will open Sept. 9. on Reading Avenue in West Reading. – The Pocono Chamber of Commerce held a grand opening at the Bartonsville branch of Farmhouse Cafe. – The reopening date for the historic Frenchtown Inn building overlooking the Delaware River in New Jersey remains unclear.  – River Paws, a pet-supply store, is across Race Street from the Frenchtown Pharmacy. – The planned reopening date of Aug. 13 for Toby’s Cup was pushed back after ownership said a dispute about the occupancy of a home on the hot dog stand’s property delayed the reopening.

New Local Snack Brand OSH! Promotes Healthy Lifestyle Via Guilt-Free Snacking – Philstar.com https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/new-local-snack-brand-osh-promotes-healthy-lifestyle-via-guilt-free-snacking-philstar-com/ Philstar.com September 23, 2022 | 11:00am MANILA, Philippines — Who says you can’t enjoy snacks if you want to look, feel and be actually healthy? It’s time to rave about guilt-free snacking treats you can munch on any time of the day! The glow-up version of anytime-snacks is now available from OSH! Oh So Healthy! This fresh, new brand is flexing a variety of treats that are deliberately made to promote health and proper nutrition without forcing deprivation, so you can have fun eating in between meals, while doing your homework, playing your favorite mobile game, binge-watching on Netflix or just hanging out with the gang. “Healthy food need not be bland and boring anymore,” says Almay Gaw-See, the head of Innovative Packaging Industry Corporation. “Our brand is synonymous to great-tasting, guilt-free snacks of unsurpassed quality,” she added. Promoting healthy Pinoy lifestyle The brand advocates healthy eating by leading by example. “OSH! also makes it a commitment to continue spreading the word about the importance of living a healthier lifestyle and making better choices when it comes to food,” See shared. The sustainable snack brand boasts of plant-based products that are non-GMO, low in calories, gluten-free, cholesterol-free, preservative-free and non-fried. OSH! defies the conventions by turning popular local fruits and crops into innovative, healthy snacks produced after meticulous research and development processes. While more people start to cringe at the age-old junk food products, it’s time to switch on your taste imagination and try the healthy Guava Purple Yam Banana crisps or the Mango Sweet Potato Banana chips. How about indulging in Coconut Purple Yam Banana to spruce up an idle morning or afternoon? Get ready to exclaim, “Oh my gosh! That’s OSH! upon discovering and trying each variant from its line of cool, trendy snacks. Among the other must-try products are the sour cream-flavored Veggie Crisps, Choco Mango Dipped Crisps, the spicy Kimchi Crisps and OSH! Pops. Be surprised to discover and enjoy each offering from the line. For a healthy nation Aside from offering healthy, delicious snacks, OSH! definitely hits different by helping people enjoy better lives. First, the company sources the fruits it uses from the local produce. This way, it supports sustainability for our farmers, providing them with better income opportunities. Patronage of homegrown harvests also helps promote local crops so consumers would be more aware of their abundance and nutritional value. At the same time, the OSH! maker ensures the welfare of its own workforce. It promotes overall well-being internally by encouraging its people to get into regular Zumba classes and be part of annual team building and other fun physical activities. Moreover, during the onset of the ongoing pandemic, the company was quick to provide free flu vaccines for protection, at a time when COVID-19 shots were not yet available. Later on, it coordinated with the local LGU to make sure all its staff get convenient and organized access to available COVID-19 vaccines. “Overall, OSH! is a Filipino brand from a Filipino company that has been working devotedly to help bring out a better you in a better country through its highly-committed people. That is what makes us stand out,” See concluded. OSH! can now be stashed online through Lazada, Shopee, Zalora, BeautyMNL and the OSH! website and online store. You can also buy the treats at brick-and-mortar shops and supermarkets (SM, The Marketplace, Robinsons Supermarket, Landmark, Unimart, AllDay, South Supermarket, S&R and Landers) in the metro and in key cities nationwide. OSH! is also available at SM Kultura, SM Snack Exchange, Watsons, Duty Free Philippines, Real Food, SaladStop! and Go! Salads.

District Moves On Sports Upgrade | News, Sports, Jobs – The Sentinel – Lewistown Sentinel https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/district-moves-on-sports-upgrade-news-sports-jobs-the-sentinel-lewistown-sentinel/ LEWISTOWN — A site survey for the potential sports complex and fundraising for the athletic field upgrades highlighted the voting meeting of the Mifflin County school board on Thursday. The board approved by a vote of 8-1 for the ELA Sport/ELA Group Inc. to complete the site survey and utility locating for $51,805. This work will be done to obtain existing conditions, topographic and amenities surveys, partial property boundaries and subsurface utility locations. This information from the four areas of the MCSD properties will be used to prepare a base map and existing conditions plan for land development and construction drawings for athletics and amenities improvements. Properties to be evaluated include the area in front of the high school where the existing track is located, the Highland Park property across Sixth Street from the high school, the existing baseball field area, and the existing grass field area in front of the junior high school. The proposed improvements include removing the existing track and the current natural grass field within the track and building a new stadium with synthetic turf, bleachers, athletic lighting and field-associated equipment such as new football goalposts; construction of a new eight-lane, all-weather surface track with a second artificial turf field within the interior of the track with athletic field lighting on the Highland Park property; building the long jump, triple jump and high jump venues within the ‘D’ areas of the track and constructing throwing events (discus, javelin, shot put) outside the track area; providing pedestrian access pathways and connections to the new facilities; and creating additional parking areas. Also, the board gave consent to a community group to begin soliciting pledges for funding for athletic field upgrades, with the understanding that in the event an acceptable amount of community and corporate funds are raised (90% of its share of the construction costs) that the board will commit money to support the project, with a minimum of $4 million and a total amount not to exceed $4.5 million. Final approval for this project will be on or before Dec. 15, 2022. The vote was 7-2 in favor. Separately, the board tabled a resolution to prohibit implementation of Critical Race Theory and the 1619 Project, including downloadable lesson plans, to a future date until editing the resolution for clarity. Some board members are concerned about Critical Race Theory being minimized as diversity, inclusion and equity and the ease in downloading the information. They want downloading documents and the addition of the new diversity, inclusion and equity curriculum to be prohibited along with Critical Race Theory and the 1619 project. The board also took the following action: • Approved the minutes of the Special Voting meeting held on Aug. 18; the Committee of the Whole meeting held on Aug. 18; and the regular board meeting held on Aug. 25. • Recommended approval of the following draft policies as a second reading and final approval to replace the board’s previously adopted board policies of the same number: Trauma-Informed Approach (New), Enrollment of Students, Admission of Students, Eligibility of Nonresident Students, Immunizations and Communicable Diseases (New), HIV Infection, Attendance, Postgraduate Students (New), Assignment Within District, Confidential Communications of Students, Withdrawal from School, Health Examinations/Screenings (New), Food Allergy Management (New), Diabetes Management, Possession/Administration of Asthma Inhalers/Epinephrine Auto-Injectors (New), Reporting Student Progress, Class Rank (New), Naming Rights (Revised). • Recommended approval of the following Board Operations Guidelines (BOGs) as a second reading and final approval: Filling a Board Vacancy, Board of School Directors Vacancy Application Form, Board Standing Committees, Functions of Standing Committees, Abstention for Conflict-of-Interest Memorandum. • Recommended approval of the following draft policies as a first reading to replace the board’s previously adopted board policies of the same number: Promotion and Retention, Student Records, Graduation, Tobacco and Vaping Products, Use of Bicycles and Motor Vehicles, Care of School Property, Searches, Controlled Substances/Paraphernalia, Hazing. • Recommended approval of the following financial items: Review of Treasurer Reports for the month ended August 31, 2022–Kish Bank, PSDLAF / PSDMAX, Temporary Investment Report and Summary, Capital Projects Fund (PLGIT), Athletic Project, Review of listing of bills for payment, Review of Revenue and Expense Summaries, Real Estate and Per Capita Tax Collector Reports. • Recommended approval of the Cafeteria Financial Report for August 2022, Request authorization to pay Cafeteria Bills for August 2022. • Recommended approval of the following drivers: Megan Stundon (Fisher Brothers), Ray Hartzler (Fisher Brothers), Wanda Shields (Krise), Ashley Fultz (Krise). • Recommended approval of Cassandra Goss as Title I Parent Engagement Co-Coordinator for the 2022-2023 school year at a stipend of $500 at LES. These stipends will be fully funded by Title I funds. One percent of Title I funds must be spent on parental engagement activities. Half of the Title I stipend will be paid in December and the other half in May. • Recommended approval of the resignation of Josh Snook as paid Jr. High Assistant Football coach. He wishes to continue as a Volunteer Assistant Jr. High Football coach, effective Aug. 30. • Recommended approval of the following coaches for Spring 2022-23: Bailey Hetrick (volunteer baseball), Cody Heane (assistant varsity baseball), Brett Leister (varsity baseball), Isaac Maclay (varsity baseball), Kalen Gearhart (varsity baseball), Josh Nichols (varsity baseball), Cole Knable (varsity baseball), Ray Hoppel (varsity baseball), Tamara Sechler (assistant track), Greg Loht (assistant track), Allen Hepner (assistant track), Floyd Ciccolini (assistant track), Jen Freed (volunteer assistant track), Richard Yearick (volunteer assistant track), Neil Breneman (volunteer assistant track), Skylar Ciccolini (volunteer assistant track), Lauren Kuykendall (volunteer assistant track), Shannon Specht (volunteer assistant track), Ella Spriggle (volunteer assistant track), Brooke Coburn (volunteer assistant track), Deion Curry (volunteer assistant track), Jeff Mazurek (assistant boys tennis), Steven Hugendubler (volunteer assistant boys tennis), Carolyn King (head junior high girls soccer), Barrett Knepp (assistant junior high girls soccer), Jenna Slepicka (head junior high girls volleyball), Aimee Seitz (assistant junior high girls volleyball), Terry Henry (assistant varsity softball). • Recommended approval of the following coach for Fall 2022-23: Josh Parson (assistant junior high football). • Recommended approval of the following event staff for the 22-23 school year: Kelly Parks. • Approval for the Mifflin County School District to donate the “school bell” from the former Reedsville High School to the Mifflin County Historical Society. The bell would become part of the society’s extensive collection of county school memorabilia. • Recommended approval of an amendment to the agreement between Mifflin County School District and Folium, Inc. d/b/a Laurel Life Services for expansion of junior/senior school transition classrooms for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years. The amendment includes the addition of a Behavior Coach to expand the current Laurel Life Program at the MCHS at a rate of $87,500 per school year. The amendment depends on the MCSD receiving $175,000 funding from the PCCD Mental Health and Safety Grant. Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox

Highlights From The Vogue Business Metaverse Atelier With Epic Games – Vogue Business https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/highlights-from-the-vogue-business-metaverse-atelier-with-epic-games-vogue-business/ Additionally, The Fabricant co-founder and creative director Amber Jae Slooten discussed the inspiration and genesis of the now-famous “Iridescence” dress, which was the first recorded sale of a fashion NFT, auctioned for $9,500 in 2019. The piece was displayed in 3D for the first time during this event. Digital-native luxury fashion house Auroboros, co-founded and creative directed by Paual Sello and Alissa Aulbekova, displayed a standout piece from its Biomimicry collection, the first digital-only ready-to-wear collection to show at a major global fashion week in London in June 2021. The designers discussed their wide-ranging inspirations, which span science fiction and the natural world, and noted that the piece on display has since been worn by a 3D iteration of Marilyn Monroe (created through a partnership with her estate) and by singer Grimes. The Institute of Digital Fashion shared two important works: A demi-couture dress created this February for luxury brand Roksanda, which was sold as an NFT and wearable via augmented reality during London Fashion Week, and a piece created for The British Fashion Council’s 2021 Fashion Awards, worn via AR on the red carpet by stars including singer Kehlani and model Munroe Bergdorf, also later sold as an NFT. In a “cave” room — replete with a water floor — Congolese American designer Anifa Mvuemba of ready-to-wear brand Hanifa discussed the genesis of her digital-physical gown printed with an image of the Congo River, designed to reshape the narrative around prints created by African designers. In 2020, Hanifa was the first brand to live stream a virtual runway show on Instagram, with the Pink Label Congo collection. Finally, guests could view a few special pieces from digital fashion platform DressX, including a special limited- edition jacket created in collaboration with Vogue Business to commemorate the event, and a catsuit worn by model Maye Musk in December for Vogue Czechoslovakia and later adapted for Zepeto, Roblox, Decentraland and augmented reality. To join Vogue Business’s next event, become a Member today. Comments, questions or feedback? Email us at feedback@voguebusiness.com.

Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed Announces Collector’s Edition – Bleeding Cool News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/ghostbusters-spirits-unleashed-announces-collectors-edition-bleeding-cool-news/ | IllFonic revealed that they will be releasing a special Collector’s Edition of Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed this October. As you can see from the images below, the game will come in a special collector’s case that looks like the iconic book of all things supernatural, Tobin’s Spirit Guide. Along with some additional items like stickers and a poster, available for PS5, PS4, and Xbox Series X|S. You can read more about it below as it will be released on October 18th, 2022. Credit: IllFonic This extra spooky edition is packaged inside a replica case of the Tobin’s Spirit Guide and includes an exclusive poster, stickers, and a display stand. Purchasers will also get Advance Access to the Basher Ghost, a rare Ectoplast Skin, Ghostbusters RTV Kit Ghost Trap, and a special PKE Meter. The Collector’s Edition will be available at various retailers where games are sold worldwide. From developer IllFonic, this action-packed four versus one game allows fans to play out their Ghostbusting fantasies. Play solo or with up to four others as either the iconic Ghostbusters in a team of four versus the Ghost in an asymmetrical multiplayer battle (online or solo offline with AI support). As players progress, they will unlock cosmetics and upgrades for both Ghostbusters and Ghosts to evolve their gameplay experiences. Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed has all the iconic gear and gadgets, from Proton Packs to PKE Meters and Ghost Traps, that fans and new players to the universe will enjoy. Ghosts have multiple abilities in their arsenal such as possessing objects and sliming that make haunting all the various locations a blast to play. 4v1 Gameplay Setup – Slime or be slimed! Play with up to four friends or solo as a new member of the Ghostbusters or a Ghost. A New Story with Old Favorites – As you progress through the game, unlock new story elements and scenes featuring iconic characters, Ray Stantz and Winston Zeddemore, from the Ghostbusters universe. Explore Iconic Ghostbusters Sets – Just like in the movie, the legendary Firehouse is the players’ Ghostbusters hub where you personalize your equipment and target practice before the big mission. Explore Ray’s Occult Bookstore to enter the Ghost Realm and customize your Ghost. Enjoyed this? Please share on social media! About Gavin Sheehan Gavin is the current Games Editor for Bleeding Cool. He has been a lifelong geek who can chat with you about comics, television, video games, and even pro wrestling. He can also teach you how to play Star Trek chess, be your Mercy on Overwatch, recommend random cool music, and goes rogue in D&D. He also enjoys hundreds of other geeky things that can’t be covered in a single paragraph. Follow @TheGavinSheehan on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Vero, for random pictures and musings. Latest by Gavin Sheehan This morning we found out the official dates and new information for the Red Bull Solo Q 2022 World Final happening next month. Nintendo has released a new update this week for Mario Strikers: Battle League, as players now have Diddy Kong and Pauline to choose from. Krafton Inc. has revealed new details as to the schedule and planning for the PUBG Global Championship 2022, happening in Dubai. Funcom has revealed a new update for Dune: Spice Wars today as players will get the Imperial House Corrino Faction. Iceberg Interactive and Rhombus Studios revealed today that Lord Of Rigel will be coming to Steam Early Access in early October. EA Sports will be doing the ultimate crossover of kindness as Ted Lasso at AFC Richmond will be added to FIFA 23. Latest in Games IllFonic revealed that they will be releasing a special Collector’s Edition of Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed this October. Pokémon TCG Japan collectors who purchase booster packs of Paradigm Trigger will have a chance at pulling a special alternate Lugia STAR. This morning we found out the official dates and new information for the Red Bull Solo Q 2022 World Final happening next month. Dragon Ball Super Card Game’s latest set Dawn of the Z-Legends features Gohan as he was seen in the latest film, Super Hero. Nintendo has released a new update this week for Mario Strikers: Battle League, as players now have Diddy Kong and Pauline to choose from. Pokémon TCG announces the Best Buy-exclusive Mew V Box, featuring yet another way to get the Sword & Shield – Darkness Ablaze Mew V.

New Crypto ICOs To Invest In September 22 – Tamadoge, Neptune Mutual, Magic Square – Cryptonews https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/new-crypto-icos-to-invest-in-september-22-tamadoge-neptune-mutual-magic-square-cryptonews/ With the cryptocurrency market continuing to suffer the effects of inflation and interest rate hikes, it’s likely that many investors are increasingly looking towards the future. This means smaller altcoins, as well as projects that have only just recently launched, and therefore have plenty of future gains left in them. One way of identifying future big movers in the cryptocurrency market is to focus on ICOs and token presales, since the best of these can offer a way of buying altcoins early at very cheap prices. Accordingly, this article compiles the best new crypto ICOs to invest in at the moment. This includes tokens whose ICOs are still in progress, as well as tokens whose ICOs have just ended. New Crypto ICOs to Invest in September 22 Tamadoge (TAMA) One of the most exciting new altcoins on the market, TAMA is the native token of the pet-themed Tamadoge metaverse/play-to-earn game. Running on Ethereum, Tamadoge will enable users to mint NFT-based pets, raise them and use them to battle against other players. TAMA’s presale kicked off in early August and has just ended. Beginning with a relatively modest target of $2 million, it ended up raising $19 million. Such an overshoot is an incredibly encouraging sign for its future growth and development, and with its first CEX listing set to be announced tomorrow, the coin could start paying dividends for its early investors soon enough. Broadly comparable to something like Axie Infinity, Tamadoge’s play-to-earn platform will give users the chance to battle their Tamadoge pets and earn rewards for doing so. In addition, players will also be able to sell their NFT-based Tamadoges on the secondary market, offering real potential for profits. With already more than 68,000 users on Twitter, it’s very arguable that Tamadoge will attract plenty of players once its gaming metaverse is launched. As such, it could end up being one of the most successful crypto ICOs of the year. Neptune Mutual (NPM) Neptune Mutual is a decentralized insurance provider, facilitating parametric cover pools that offer insurance against risks related to the cryptocurrency market. It raised $5.3m in private funding in May of this year, after the successful launch of its testnet. As described in the press release announcing this raise, Neptune Mutual functions as a “marketplace for parametric cover protection of digital assets against hacks and exploits. Stakeholders can choose to assume one or multiple roles, for example, a cover pool creator can also choose to become a liquidity provider.” It has planned an IDO for its NPM token on Poolz, although there’s no fixed date for this token sale as of writing. Within the Neptune Mutual ecosystem, NPM works as a utility token, enabling holders to participate in insurance pools. Magic Square (SQR) Magic Square is an upcoming decentralized Web3 app store. Running on the Solana blockchain, it combines a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) with crypto’s equivalent of the Apple App Store. It will hold an initial DEX offering (IDO) on Poolz, starting from September 26. Within the Magic Square ecosystem, SQR will function primarily as a governance token, offering holders to participate in community votes and to use certain features of the Magic Square ecosystem (such as accessing and downloading apps).   According to Magic Square’s page on ICO Drops, 15.5% of SQR’s maximum supply one billion SQR will be made available by the upcoming IDO. In the future, it will be possible to stake SQR as well as use it within the Magic Square platform, although this staking feature isn’t due until late 2023. Magic Square launched the beta version of its app store in August, and currently boasts over 100,000 followers on Twitter. Given this progress, it looks like it’s shaping up to be a promising new platform. Swords of Blood (SWORD) Running on the Solana blockchain, Swords of Blood is a blockchain-based RPG game that promises to combine play-to-earn features with genuinely playable hack-n-slash gameplay mechanics. It has already accumulated over 74,000 followers on Twitter, since starting an account in February. Encouragingly, Swords of Blood is due to launch its beta server in the next few days, offering gamers a chance of what it will actually be like to play. This stands in positive contrast to some upcoming platforms, which have released their native tokens without doing the same for their actual products. With regards to Swords of Blood’s ICO, it began on September 1 and has raised $3.9 million of a $5 million target. However, the games developers have actually paused the sale, while they update its tokenomics and its game economy. This pause might be disappointing for some, but it shows that Swords of Blood’s developers are taking their project very seriously. New ICO details will be released shortly, via the game’s official channels. Battle Infinity (IBAT) IBAT closed its successful presale at the end of last month, raising more than $4 million in a couple of weeks. Since then, it has received listings on PancakeSwap, LBANK Exchange and Coin98, testifying to its rapid growth. In terms of current prices, IBAT has risen by 3,5% in the past 24 hours, reaching $0.00309640. However, this represents a 13% drop in a week and a 26% fall in a fortnight, although the coin is up by more than 100% compared to its presale price of $0.0015. Based on Binance Smart Chain, IBAT is the native token of the Battle Infinity is a sports-themed gaming metaverse. Still under development, it will feature a variety of NFT-based games, including the IBAT Premier League.  The latter will enable players to build their own fantasy sports teams made up of NFTs of real-life athletes. These teams will then be able to compete against each other, with winners receiving crypto-based rewards. In time, Battle Infinity will also grow to incorporate other crypto and NFT-based games. On top of this, it will also involve a staking feature, which is now due to launch on September 24.  This comes in addition to its own DEX, and an NFT marketplace, meaning that Battle Infinity is aiming to become a thriving platform.

U.S. Interest Rates May Be Rising, But That Won’t Trigger Another Asian Financial Crisis, Analysts Say – CNBC https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/u-s-interest-rates-may-be-rising-but-that-wont-trigger-another-asian-financial-crisis-analysts-say-cnbc/ The world economy may be facing conditions seen during the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis — aggressive U.S. interest rate hikes and a strengthening U.S. dollar. But history is unlikely to be repeated, analysts said, though they caution that some economies in the region are particularly vulnerable to currency devaluations reminiscent of the time. On Wednesday, the U.S. Fed Reserve made another interest rate hike of 75 basis points. The last time the U.S. pushed up interest rates this aggressively in the 1990s, capital fled from emerging Asia into the United States. The Thai baht and other Asian currencies collapsed, triggering the Asian Financial Crisis and leading to slumps in stock markets. This time, however, the foundations of emerging Asian markets — which have evolved into more mature economies 25 years on — are healthier and better able to withstand pressures on foreign exchange rates, analysts said. For instance, because there are fewer foreign holdings of local assets in Asia, any capital flights would inflict less financial pain this time around, UBS Global Wealth Management executive director for Asia-Pacific FX and macro strategist, Tan Teck Leng, told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia” on Thursday. “I think this brings back memories of the Asian Financial Crisis but for one, the exchange rate regime has been a lot more flexible in today’s context, compared to back then,” he said. “And just in terms of the foreign holdings of the local assets, I think that there is also the sense that the holdings are not elevated.” “So, I don’t think we’re on the cusp of an outright currency collapse.” “But I think a lot depends on when the Fed had reached an inflection point.” Asia’s most vulnerable Tan said, however, that among the riskier currencies, the Filipino peso was one of the most vulnerable, given the Philippines’ weak current account. “And I think the battle lines in Asian currencies is really drawn along the lines of — against the backdrop of higher U.S. rates — the external financing gaps to the likes of Philippines and India, Thailand. These would actually be the currencies that are most prone to near-term weakness within Asia.” The present episode is not comparable with the carnage that they faced during the Asian crisis Manishi Raychaudhuri BNP Paribas strategist On Thursday, however, the central bank of the Philippines also raised its main policy rate by a further 50 basis points and signaled it would implement further hikes down the track. Reducing currency disparity with the U.S. dollar reduces the risks of capital flights and foreign exchange rate collapses. In contrast, economies with more accommodative monetary policies — that is, those that aren’t hiking interest rates in tandem with the U.S. — such as Japan, may also risk further weakening of their currencies, said Louis Kuijs, chief economist for Asia-Pacific at S&P Global Ratings. He warned that downward pressures on Asian currencies may rise, especially in light of expectations that the Fed will continue to hike rates well into the first half of 2023. Nevertheless, he, too, does not anticipate another Asian Financial Crisis. A ‘healthier’ Asia “Fortunately, Asian emerging markets policy regimes are stronger now and policymakers better prepared. Central banks have much more flexible exchange rate regimes now,” he told CNBC. “They largely let exchange rates absorb the external pressure, rather than supporting the currency by selling FX reserves.” “Also, Asian [emerging market] governments have pursued more cautious macroeconomic policies in recent years than before the 1997 crisis.” Manishi Raychaudhuri, an Asian equity strategist at BNP Paribas, said the “present episode is not comparable with the carnage that they faced during the Asian crisis” mainly due to healthier balance sheets and larger foreign exchange reserves. Depleted foreign reserves triggered the floating and subsequent crash of the Thai baht in the 1997 crisis. Some Asian economies are also running balance of payment surpluses and healthier foreign reserves improved by efforts such as the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization in 2010, a multilateral currency swap arrangement between ASEAN+3 members, said Bert Hofman, director of the East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore. Nevertheless, Vishnu Varathan, Mizuho Bank’s head of economics and strategy, said the foreign exchange turbulence for emerging Asia will remain significant and will likely cause similar distresses like those of the 2013 taper tantrum — when the market reacted strongly to the Fed’s attempt to slow quantitative easing through bond and stock sell-offs. “Panic about an impending financial crisis, and attendant collapse in Asian emerging markets foreign exchange is arguably overblown … but that said, the threat of persistent FX turbulence is not obviated either,” he said. “So, further downside foreign exchange risks cannot be carelessly dismissed on “this time, it is different” refrain.” Chinese yuan Despite the jitters, there are positives for markets. The Chinese yuan, for instance, is showing resilience, said Dwyfor Evans, State Street Global Markets head of Asia-Pacific macro strategy. “A lot has been spoken about the weakness of the Chinese yuan but in actual fact, when you look at the Chinese yuan relative to other regional currencies, actually, China has held up relatively well,” Evans told CNBC’s “Capital Connection” on Thursday. “So, it’s a very stable currency relative to the basket.” He added that the slowdown in China could, however, heighten capital flows in and out of the country, and that could have a more significant impact on the Chinese yuan down the track.

Nothing Ear (Stick) Goes Official At London Fashion Week – The Indian Express https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/nothing-ear-stick-goes-official-at-london-fashion-week-the-indian-express/ Nothing ear stick: Carl Pei’s Nothing has revealed its third product and it’s a pair of earbuds again called the Nothing Ear (stick). The London-based company’s new TWS earbuds seem to be a refresh over its first product, the Nothing ear (1). The new earbuds were teased during the London Fashion Week, and while the company didn’t talk a lot about the earbuds and its features, we did see the new elongated slim case design, something leaks had also revealed earlier this year. It looks very different from the large squarish case of the ear (1). Ear (stick). Supremely comfortable. Exquisitely unique. Revealed exclusively on Chet Lo’s SS23 runway. pic.twitter.com/lzP3n4cQNR — Nothing (@nothing) September 22, 2022 The company says that the new stick-shaped charging case was designed to be compact enough to fit into pockets and that its design was inspired by “classic cosmetic silhouettes.” With pretty much no word on the new earbuds, we can assume they will likely be a version of the ear (1), with a little branding change on the stem. This is something Mukul Sharma’s leak also backed. In addition to the Nothing Phone (1), there’s Nothing Ear (1) Stick coming up too.@CaschysBlog #Nothing #NothingPhone1 #NothingEar1Stick pic.twitter.com/HZORtG4flV — Mukul Sharma (@stufflistings) June 30, 2022 We also speculate that the new shape could mean the Ear (stick) may no longer support wireless charging. Leaks also suggest they will not come with ANC (Active Noise Cancellation), although both these points are not officially confirmed yet. More details on the Nothing Ear (stick) are expected to be revealed at an undisclosed later date, and it is then that we will know more about the earbuds including pricing, colours, new features and international availability.

Senior Living: Seven Tips To Keep Loneliness Away – UT Physicians https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/senior-living-seven-tips-to-keep-loneliness-away-ut-physicians/ Loneliness can be bad for your health — really bad. According to the National Institute of Aging, severe loneliness can lead to poor mental and physical health. Side effects can include high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, weakened immunity, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and even death. Faith Atai, MD Though loneliness can affect anyone, senior citizens are especially susceptible for a number of reasons, according to Faith D. Atai, MD, geriatrician with UT Physicians Center for Healthy Aging – Bellaire Station. “As people get older, things change. Their children grow up and move away. They retire or lose their jobs. A significant other passes away,” Atai said. “If they get to the point where they can no longer live independently, the problem becomes worse because they can no longer leave their home as freely as they once did.” Unfortunately, prolonged loneliness can negatively affect the mind and body. “Loneliness can lead to depression,” said Atai, associate professor of geriatric and palliative medicine with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, “and if you are not mentally healthy, you are not healthy as a whole person.” In fact, many health care workers and care givers noticed a significant decline in the health of seniors who were isolated and lonely during the COVID-19 pandemic. “During COVID, some seniors stopped eating because their family members weren’t allowed to visit them in the nursing home or allowed to feed them. Some started to lose their conversational skills; many suffered more memory loss. Overall, their health and abilities declined,” she said. “On the upside, some seniors had their family members more available because they were working from home, and they showed stable or even improved health.” The pandemic proved what many health care professionals already knew. “People need people. The stimulation we receive from socialization and relationships improves our overall health and quality of life,” Atai said. Though life changes can create risk factors for loneliness, there are still many things seniors can do to push it away. In recognition of Healthy Aging Month, the doctor offers tips to help seniors continue living fuller, happier lives. Go out on dates Schedule weekly and/or monthly dates with friends. Whether it is for lunch, gin rummy, golf, or bingo, a planned activity offers an opportunity to leave the home and have fun with others. Keep a set date so friends can keep a routine or pattern and also have something to look forward to. “We’re social creatures. We need to interact with others,” Atai said. “Don’t let COVID stop you. Get vaccinated, wear a mask, and social distance. If you stay permanently locked down, then the virus has already affected you.” Join a team Join a civic club or service organization; consider joining a place of worship. Participate in a group that expects steady attendance and promotes charitable work. Committing to a meaningful activity is a way to stay involved in the community and build a support system. “It’s good to continue working even after you retire to remain part of society. Joining a group establishes a routine and gives your day more purpose,” Atai said. “It’s also a good way to make new friends.” Become a VIP Volunteer with a nonprofit. Giving back time and energy on a consistent basis is another way to stay connected in the community and feel fulfilled. Serving others in need helps foster a personal sense of gratitude and satisfaction. “Volunteering is a great way for seniors to socialize and even exercise as they help other people. It’s also a good way to learn new skills for free,” Atai said. “Everything about it improves holistic wellness.” Welcome a pet Consider adopting or fostering a pet. A pet, particularly the four-legged kind, offers valuable companionship and encourages physical activity and playfulness. A pet can help increase happiness and reduce stress and anxiety. “Pets can be very good company and very loving. The responsibility of feeding, bathing, and looking after them also helps seniors maintain their cognitive abilities. People who own pets are less likely to be depressed and more likely to be healthier,” Atai said. Grow a green thumb Keep plants in the home and yard; possibly start a garden. Plants require watering and attention to thrive. Nurturing this form of life keeps the mind occupied and beautifies the environment. Plants can also improve mood and lower stress. “Plants are very therapeutic and great for your mental health,” Atai said. “Caring for another living thing and helping it grow helps you feel better and happier, even when it’s just you.” Play mind games Keep your mind occupied with brain-boosting activities. Putting together jigsaw puzzles, performing word searches, reading books, learning a new language, and even making crafts are all examples of mental workouts. Activities that require focus can help people have their own fun. “It’s important to keep your mind active and stimulated as you get older, especially if you live alone,” Atai said. “Puzzles and books are great — and so is listening to your favorite music. If TV is a must, trivia game shows can be engaging.” Call grandma! Seniors need to keep themselves connected to others, but family members and friends need to make the same effort. Make it a point to visit or call older family members or friends on a regular basis. Routinely speak with them so they feel remembered.   “I’ve learned a lot from my families. Some grandkids call their grandma every day at a certain time, and these calls become more precious as the years pass. It shows how something so simple can go such a long way,” Atai said. “Staying in contact with an aging family member makes them feel better, and it helps you notice when things begin to change or if something bad happens. We all need to look out for one another.”

Steelers Vs. Browns Score: Live Updates, Streaming, Game Stats, Highlights For ‘Thursday Night Football’ – CBS Sports https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/steelers-vs-browns-score-live-updates-streaming-game-stats-highlights-for-thursday-night-football-cbs-sports/ A shootout has broken out in Cleveland. While many were expecting a defensive battle between two old division rivals, the Steelers and Browns combined to score on four consecutive drives in the first half. The Steelers, after falling behind early, rallied to take a 14-13 lead into intermission.  After slow starts on both sides of the ball, the Browns, spearheaded by a 37-yard run by Nick Chubb, struck first on Jacoby Brissett’s 11-yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper. The Steelers responded with Najee Harris’ 5-yard touchdown run to start the second quarter. A balletic, one-handed catch by rookie George Pickens set up Harris’ touchdown.  Cleveland countered with David Njoku’s touchdown catch from Brissett with 8:58 left until halftime. The Steelers took their first lead moments later when Mitch Trubisky scored on a 1-yard touchdown run. Cleveland was unable to regain the lead before halftime after throwing an incomplete fourth-down pass on the final drive before intermission.  Heavy winds affected both kickers during the first half. Chris Boswell missed a 53-yard attempt on Pittsburgh’s second drive. Browns rookie kicker Cade York missed a PAT, which is the difference in the game at this point. Keep it locked right here at CBS Sports throughout Thursday night’s AFC North battle for live updates and analysis:   How to watch Date: Thursday, Sept. 22 | Time: 8:20 p.m. ET Location: FirstEnergy Stadium (Cleveland) Stream: Amazon Prime Video  Follow: CBS Sports App    Odds: Browns -4.5, O/U 38 8:15 P CLE -4.5, o38 AMZN Season Leaders passing M. Trubisky362 YD, 2 TDS, 1 INT M. Trubisky362 YD, 2 TDS, 1 INT J. Brissett376 YD, 2 TDS, 1 INTJ. Brissett376 YD, 2 TDS, 1 INT rushing N. Harris25 ATT, 72 YDN. Harris25 ATT, 72 YD N. Chubb39 ATT, 228 YD, 3 TDSN. Chubb39 ATT, 228 YD, 3 TDS receiving D. Johnson13 REC, 112 YDD. Johnson13 REC, 112 YD A. Cooper12 REC, 118 YD, 1 TDA. Cooper12 REC, 118 YD, 1 TD See New Posts Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Good win for the Browns. They used the running game well and received a really solid night from Brissett. They also received a big second half from their defense. They could be 2-1 but I’m sure they’ll take 2-1, especially given the state of the rest of the AFC North.  Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Trubisky takes a sack on third down, and the Steelers will have to punt with just over 4 minutes left.  Pinned Browns special teams sets up tough field position for the Steelers offense, who is already struggling with back-to-back three-and-outs. Pinned Cooper fails to hang on to a deep pass from Brissett on third down that pretty much would have ended the game. Browns still in great shape as their ensuing punt is downed on the 5-yard-line.  Pinned Pinned Browns have taken over the game. Great effort by their defense in the second half, specifically in the secondary. Once again, the Steelers haven’t done anything in the middle of the field. Pat Freiermuth has been non-existent.  Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Nick Chubb now has over 100 yards on the night. Pinned Browns fool everyone in the building and go play action on third and 1. Brissett burns Cam Sutton deep for a 32-yard gain.  Pinned Pinned Pinned Browns lead 16-14 going into the fourth. CLE has a chance to distance themselves from Pitt on this drive.  Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Johnson has to make that catch. That’s two drops for Johnson tonight. Steelers punt and don’t give their defense much of a break.  Pinned See More

AllStar Health Brands (OTCMarkets: ALST) Reaches Agreement To Develop “The Sports Metaverse” And “Village Sports Mega Mall” – AccessWire https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/allstar-health-brands-otcmarkets-alst-reaches-agreement-to-develop-the-sports-metaverse-and-village-sports-mega-mall-accesswire/ MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2022 / AllStarHealth Brands Inc (OTC PINK:ALST) has Established a Contractor Relationship with TGI Advent Galaxy/XR-Labs (TSPG) to develop a sports Metaverse called Village Sports and Entertainment Mega Mall. As well, the relationship wishes to announce a collaboration with a Major Gaming Company that will be 1st big the advancement of the Village Sports and Entertainment Mega Mall “ Last Week, the Company drew a lot of attention at the September 15th 2nd annual Expo with over 12 major companies attending as part of the growing Advent Expo Networks. “We are in discussion with a major gaming company to bring entertainment to the Mega Malls for the users to the Village Sports and Entertainment Mega Mall. At the next Expo there will be a Demo to show the 1st glimpse into the Sports Village Mega Mall and the gaming companies entrainment offering for major sports brand XR-LABS coupled with Advent Galaxy. “We are very excited for all future prospects in the Sports Village Mega Mall. The interest being shown for the MetaVerse business model is explosive. At the Expo, we engaged in discussions with several groups, each a possible client moving forward” indicated Peter Wanner, CEO ALST About AllStarHealth Brands Inc.: ALST AllStarHealth Brands Inc a specialty HealthCare Products Company dedicated to improving health and quality of life by offering select nutritional supplements, over the counter remedies, and medicines all across the Americas and Europe. AllStar’s goal is to bring additional products to the market and provide new, innovative options for better health and wellbeing, as well as grow the company through acquisitions, mergers, and joint ventures. About XR-LABS: Founded in Miami, FL XR-LABS is a co-created community of professionals and enthusiasts. Who are passionate about building and connecting Global AR/VR/XR Networks, that aim to integrate with other emerging technology. We seek to empower and accelerate Tech Communities and content creators. To both catalyze and inspire Local and global Alliances, our long-term goal is to create Original IP Content and showcase the latest and greatest in the Global XR industry Starting on 2022 XR Miami Metaverse will be the only Web Dapp Metaverse in the world with multi-chain adoption and NFT Marketplaces for all of Miami real world businesses and places About ADVENT GALAXY Inc. and its main product ADVENT EXPO: Expo is going to become a central meeting place and center for important social interactions between people of different backgrounds and age groups. Underlying technology allows for merchants, consumers, and large enterprises to be replaced by a virtual EXPO in the metaverse. EXPO will cater to B2C+B2B+B2E= B2X, or simply stated B2All. Imagine visiting Entertainment zones, meeting and interacting with your friends at a coffee shop in real the future. Conducting business in co-working spaces without leaving one’s house is the future. So get ready!!! VR/ AR ADVENT EXPO is coming soon and will become a reality, thanks to Advent Galaxy About TGI Solar: TGI SOLAR POWER GROUP INC. is a diversified holding company. TGI’s strategy is to acquire innovative and patented technologies, components, processes, designs, and methods with commercial value that will give competitive market advantage and generate shareholder value. Safe Harbor statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1965: Those statements contained herein which are not historical are forward-looking statements, and as such are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual operating results to materially differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, certain delays that are beyond the company’s control, with respect to the market. Contact: Pete Wanner [email protected] 416-918-6987 SOURCE: Allstar Health Brands, Inc.

13 Expert-Approved Gadgets For Fall And More – TODAY – TODAY https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/13-expert-approved-gadgets-for-fall-and-more-today-today/ Whether you plan on spending the remaining nice days outdoors this fall or are looking to upgrade your home and office space into a cozy retreat ahead of the cold weather, there are a few gadgets that can help. Wirecutter Deputy Editor Jason Chen stopped by the 3rd hour of TODAY to share some handy products that are perfect for the changing seasons. From a portable outdoor lamp to a heated mattress pad for those extra chilly nights, Chen has you covered. Keep reading to see all the top gadgets you’ll want to try for yourself. Must-have gadgets for the outdoors and home as seen on TODAY Black Diamond Moji Lantern This portable outdoor lantern will come in handy for your next backyard bonfire, camping trip and more. According to the brand, it features a frosted shade for even light and will last up to 70 hours with AAA batteries. Sunbeam Heated Electric Mattress Pad Nothing is more satisfying than getting into a warm, cozy bed. Chen chose this heated mattress for those extra-cold nights. It features 10 heat settings and auto shutoff. It has over 4,000 Amazon five-star ratings and one verified reviewer wrote, “it helps me sleep deeper, maybe I needed a warm bed and did not have one before. It also helps my arthritis, I can sit longer at my desk now.” Rain Design iLevel 2 Adjustable Laptop Stand Chen says this laptop stand is a great option for those traveling back and forth between the home and office. According to the brand, the adjustable height brings the laptop to your eye level to protect your posture and keeps you from feeling hunched over all day. The brand also mentions it’s compatible with MacBooks and most PC laptops and notebooks. Logitech K380 Multi-Device Bluetooth Keyboard Whether you’re a remote or hybrid worker or travel a lot, Chen likes this Logitech bluetooth keyboard. Coming in three different colors, the brand says this universal keyboard is compact, making it easy to travel with. They also mention it is compatible with most devices, including Windows, Mac, Chrome, iPads and more. ComfiLife Footrest for Under Desk Upgrade your office or work-from-home space with this cozy footrest, which features an adjustable height and memory foam cushion. According to the brand, this product is perfect for those who sit for a long period of time and they say it will help relieve pain and pressure from the back and hips. Celestron Electric 3-in-1 Outdoor Tool and Hand Warmer Whether you’re sitting in the bleachers for an evening game or out for a stroll, Chen loves this 3-in-1 gadget for those chilly nights because it functions as a hand warmer. The brand also mentions it can be used as a portable phone charger and LED flashlight, making it perfect for evening walks or even fall camping. More must-have gadgets for outdoors and home, according to Steve Greenberg “Gadget Nation” author and tech expert Steve Greenberg previously joined TODAY with Hoda & Jenna to share some useful and entertaining gadgets. From cool picks for outdoor gatherings to solar-powered bug zappers, Greenberg’s recommendations are sure to be a hit. Lexon Mina M Rechargeable LED Lamp Spruce up your backyard decor or set the mood with these fun lights at late-night barbecues. You can switch up the color of the lighting, from warm white to cool white to blue, just by tapping the top of the dome. You can also dim it by pressing down on the top, too. Plus the brand says it is water-resistant. Sunfox Solar Speaker From the pool to picnics, a portable speaker can come in handy for just about any occasion. Greenberg picked this handheld option from Sunfox, which can fully recharge in as little as 16 hours of sunlight or within two hours via a USB port. According to the brand, it is also waterproof, sand-proof and shockproof, so you can bring it along for many outdoor adventures. Calicle Bowl Set Ice cream shouldn’t be enjoyed as a soup. These insulated bowls can help prevent frozen treats from melting, and even come with their own lids. According to the brand, they can help keep ice cream at the right temperature for up to 200% longer than traditional bowls. Bite Away Bug bites are often unavoidable, but according to the brand, this gizmo can at least help to take away some of the itching and swelling they cause. With the press of a button, the device channels heat to the ceramic plates on its end (up to 124 degrees), which can be applied directly to the bite. The brand says it is a chemical-free way to reduce bug bite reactions for everyone ages 2 and up. The Solar Insect Zappers Rather than wasting your own physical energy trying to keep bugs away, Greenberg found these solar-powered zappers that you can place around your yard to help eliminate mosquitoes and other insects. According to the brand, they only require moderate sunlight and can provide protection for up to eight hours on a full charge. Colsen Tabletop Fire Pit Whether you’re an apartment dweller or simply don’t have enough room for a fire pit in your backyard, this portable fire pit can bring the bonfire vibes right into your home — without any of the smoke. All you need is some rubbing alcohol and a well-ventilated room to light it in. Swimways Dry Float Shadester Pool Float Relaxing in the pool sounds nice, but not everyone wants to get wet while doing it. This float was designed with those people in mind. It is elevated above water, so your chances of getting wet are lower. It can support up to 250 pounds, is ergonomically contoured for comfortable lounging and features a sun canopy to help keep you cool, too. More must-have gadgets for outdoors and home Groview Mini Projector Whether you’re looking to create the ultimate home theater or host outdoor movie nights, this mini projector is a great addition for your home or backyard. Featuring an easy WiFi setup, you can even hook up to Fire Sticks, Chromecast, laptops and more, according to the brand. Add in an 80 to 100 inch projection screen for optimal viewing, the brand shares. Bonak Wireless Bluetooth Karaoke Microphone Your next gathering will be a hit with this wireless karaoke microphone, which features bluetooth capabilities. By pairing with your phone and hooking up with the included singing app, you’ll be able to show off your karaoke skills with your favorite songs. INSMY Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker This waterproof speaker is perfect for the shower, hiking, vacations or anywhere you might want to listen to music. According to the brand, it can be fully immersed in three feet of water for up to 30 minutes. Jillian Ortiz Jillian Ortiz is an Editorial Assistant for Shop TODAY.  Shannon Garlin Shannon Garlin is an Editorial Assistant for Shop TODAY.

This Crypto Insider Says Bitcoin Has Bottomed And Will Retake $60k, But When? – Cryptonews https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/this-crypto-insider-says-bitcoin-has-bottomed-and-will-retake-60k-but-when-cryptonews/ Source: Adobe Stock MicroStrategy’s chairman and co-founder Michael Saylor believes the price of Bitcoin has found a stable bottom at around $20,000. From here, he expects the flagship crypto to retake its former peak price levels of around $60,000 within the next four years.  Saylor made the comment during an interview with MarketWatch’s inaugural ‘Best New Ideas in Money Festival.’ Saylor told MarketWatch’s editor-in-chief Mark DeCambre that he has been watching Bitcoin’s simple moving average over four years for a potential bottom. This metric currently stands at around $20,000.  “It has touched that a few times. I think this is stable. The next logical stop for bitcoin is to replace gold as a non-sovereign store of value asset,” Saylor said.  Meanwhile, the Bitcoin evangelist also disclosed during the interview that MicroStrategy is building a Bitcoin Lightning Network wallet. The wallet is targeted at serving enterprises, which are already MicroStrategy’s main customer base.  The Bitcoin L2 compatible wallet will facilitate enterprise use cases such as wrapping their websites in “a layer of digital energy to protect it from cybersecurity threats” and paying employees with Bitcoin.  This is not the first time Saylor has expressed strongly bullish sentiments for Bitcoin. Earlier this year, the billionaire remarked that Bitcoin is the only scarcity in the world as reported by Business Insider. The comment snubs gold completely as Saylor maintains that the precious metal can be created indefinitely.  “I can create more real estate in New York City. I can create more cars. I can create more luxury watches. I can create more gold. I can create more shares of a stock. I can create more bond,” he said.  Saylor preparing for a Bitcoin-dominated future  Saylor ultimately expects Bitcoin to trade at around $500,000 per Bitcoin when its market capitalization surpassed the around $11 trillion market cap of gold. This is one reason he has cited in MicroStrategy’s ongoing addition to its balance sheet.  At present, MicroStrategy is one of the biggest publicly traded holders of Bitcoin. In a disclosure this month, Saylor revealed that MicroStrategy added another 301 Bitcoins – bought for about $6 million between August 2 and September 19 – to its balance sheet. This brings the enterprise softwares company’s Bitcoin holdings to more than 130,000 BTC.  Bloomberg reports that these bets on Bitcoin have so far cost MicroStrategy losses of as much as $1 billion. Further losses are expected if the company continues borrowing to fund its purchase of the volatile assets especially as interest rates are getting hiked the report opined.

New China ETFs Test Investor Appetite Amid Sino-U.S. Tech War, Market Rout – Reuters https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/new-china-etfs-test-investor-appetite-amid-sino-u-s-tech-war-market-rout-reuters/ A man wearing a protective mask is seen inside the Shanghai Stock Exchange building, as the country is hit by a new coronavirus outbreak, at the Pudong financial district in Shanghai, China February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Aly Song Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com SHANGHAI, Sept 23 (Reuters) – Five Chinese tech-focused ETFs launched on Friday, testing investor appetite for chipmakers, new materials producers and machine tool manufacturers amid an escalating Sino-U.S. tech war, and a global rout in tech shares. The new batch of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) were given regulatory approval at record pace over the weekend, in an apparent effort by authorities to bolster battered tech stocks ahead of the politically key Communist Party Congress next month. The approval took two days versus weeks for other funds, according to regulatory filings. Two of the ETFs will invest money into the stocks of the 50 biggest chipmakers listed on Shanghai’s STAR Market, including Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) (0981.HK) and Montage Technology Co (688008.SS). Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Two others will put money into the biggest makers of key strategic materials listed on STAR, such as Western Superconducting Technologies Co (688122.SS) and Ningbo Ronbay New Energy Technology Co (688005.SS). Another new ETF will invest in high-end machine tool makers, such as Avic Aviation High-technology Co (600862.SS). The ETFs’ fundraising, which end next Tuesday, comes amid a global sell-off in tech shares, as aggressive U.S. monetary tightening – including another big interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve on Wednesday – dampens risk appetite. read more It also comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions and tech rivalries between China and the United States. The Biden administration took fresh steps in recent weeks to support domestic tech sectors and cut economic reliance on China, sending shares in Chinese biotech and new energy lower. read more Vying for tech supremacy over China, the United States is seeking to “suppress China’s technological advancement, and reshore the supply chain of high-tech industries that are critical to U.S. national security,” said Kaiwen Wang, China strategist at alternative asset management firm Clocktower Group. Daisy Li, fund manager at EFG Asset Management, said “the whole world has shifted to security-centric from cost-centric,” adding the United States is aiming to revive its manufacturing industry. They predicted more Sino-U.S. tensions going forward. Shanghai’s tech-focused STAR Market – which Beijing hopes will fund China’s tech self-sufficiency – has tumbled roughly 30% this year. The lightening approval of the ETFs also comes as securities regulators have vowed to maintain market stability ahead of the 20th Party Congress, to be held from Oct. 16. read more Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Samuel Shen, Jason Xue and Brenda Goh; Editing by Ana Nicolaci da Costa Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

First Half Lookback: Virginia Tech Vs. West Virginia – VT Hokiesports.com https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/first-half-lookback-virginia-tech-vs-west-virginia-vt-hokiesports-com/ In a back-and-forth battle, Virginia Tech trails West Virginia 13-7 heading into the half. The game would be a higher-scoring affair, but both defenses have clutched up when needed, holding the offensive units to a combined 4-for-12 on third-down conversions. On their second drive of the game, West Virginia found itself in the red zone, but the Lunch Pail defense hunkered down to hold the Mountaineers to only a field goal. The Hokies came right back, marching down the field and finished the 92-yard drive with a 28-yard touchdown reception by receiver Kaleb Smith to make it 7-3. That was Smith’s second touchdown on the season and his sixth of his career. The following drive, West Virginia was making its way into Tech’s territory, but a forced fumble by defensive back Jalen Stroman that was recovered by fellow defensive back Dorian Strong gave the ball back to the Hokies. With just under two minutes left in the half, Tech was able to stop West Virginia in the red zone yet again and held them to only a field goal to make it 7-6. The Mountaineers closed out the half with a touchdown with only 11 seconds left, to make the score 13-7 heading into the break. Players Mentioned # 80 Kaleb Smith WR 6′ 2″ 222 lbs Redshirt Senior # 26 Jalen Stroman DB 6′ 1″ 200 lbs Sophomore # 44 Dorian Strong DB 6′ 0″ 178 lbs Junior Players Mentioned #80 Kaleb Smith 6′ 2″ 222 lbs Redshirt Senior WR #26 Jalen Stroman 6′ 1″ 200 lbs Sophomore DB #44 Dorian Strong 6′ 0″ 178 lbs Junior DB

Blockbuster’s Gaming Championship Is Back But Will Dr Disrespect Defend His Crown? – Dexerto https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/blockbusters-gaming-championship-is-back-but-will-dr-disrespect-defend-his-crown-dexerto/ It’s a well-known ‘fact’ that Dr Disrespect is the two-time Blockbuster video games champion, having won back-to-back events in 1993-1994. But with the tournament now returning for another round three decades later, will the YouTube star look to defend his crown? If you’re well-versed in Doc lore, you’re all too familiar with his Blockbuster history. Back in the 90s, long before his ascent as a content creator, Dr Disrespect allegedly ran away with multiple championship wins at major events hosted by the now-defunct movie rental company. At least, that’s how his retelling of the story goes. For years now the popular streamer has reflected on this high-point, so much so it’s become ingrained as one of his more recognizable nicknames: The two-time. His back-to-back tournament wins are now folklore in the streaming age. Despite Blockbuster filing for bankruptcy in 2010, and just one franchised store still standing today, the company appears to be showing signs of life. 28 years removed from Doc’s last gaming championship win, it seems there’s now a chance for him to become the ‘three-time’ as the Blockbuster World Video Game Championship is making a return. “In the mid-90s, at the height of the Sega / Nintendo rivalry Blockbuster held two competitions retro gamers fondly remember,” a blog post announcing the event’s return read. “The Blockbuster World Video Game Championship 3 will create new memories for a new generation.” Set to feature as part of the Portland Retro Gaming Expo, a full-scale recreation of a Blockbuster store will serve as host to the third iteration of the event. This time around, players have to compete in two rounds of retro action. Round one throws players into Saturn Bomberman while round two pivots to Downfall OG Plus. Those with the three highest scores at the end will be crowned the winners, with first place nabbing a $1,000 shopping spree at the expo. Well aware of the event’s history, along with the supposed back-to-back champ, the official Blockbuster Twitter account has already reached out to Dr Disrespect. “Are you going to answer the call?” they asked on September 22. For the time being, Doc is yet to acknowledge the challenge. But with a chance to defend his throne and claim a third title, it’s likely we’ll hear from him very soon.

CWD Testing In Mississippi: Here’s Where To Take Deer Heads – Clarion Ledger https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/cwd-testing-in-mississippi-heres-where-to-take-deer-heads-clarion-ledger/ ‘Detecting it early is critical. When we detect it early we can enact management actions to keep prevalence low.’ The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks is urging hunters to have their deer tested for chronic wasting disease and to make it more convenient, changes have been made in locations where freezers are located to drop off deer heads. “Mostly, we added some,” said Russ Walsh, MDWFP Wildlife chief of staff. “We added 12. “We have 63 locations. We moved some around. Some were just not getting many heads so we moved them to more convenient locations.” Walsh said not only is testing important in CWD management zones, but also in deer management units where the disease has not been detected. “Detecting it early is critical,” Walsh said. “When we detect it early we can enact management actions to keep prevalence low.” Hunters should keep heads refrigerated or frozen before dropping them off and should leave 6 inches of neck attached to the heads. Antlers may be removed before depositing heads in freezers. All freezers may be accessed 24 hours a day. Look who’s back:GPS-tracked deer crosses Mississippi River into South Delta, again Deer hunting:How to get more bucks on camera (and fewer pictures of other animals) Hunters may also have their deer tested by choosing a taxidermist who is participating in the CWD testing effort. Where to drop off deer heads for CWD testing in Mississippi Adams County – Natchez State Park, 230-B Wickcliff Road, NatchezAlcorn County – MSU Extension Office, 2200 Old Hwy 45 South, Corinth Attala County – Yockanookany WMA, 28329 MS Hwy 12, McCool Benton County – Benton County 911 Dispatch, 368 Ripley Ave., Ashland Bolivar County, Dahomey NWR, 831 MS 446, Boyle Carroll County – Carroll County Sherriff’s Dept., 105c East Washington Street, Carrollton Chickasaw County – Chickasaw WMA, 770 Hwy 32 Ext., Houston Choctaw County – Choctaw WMA, 2121 Webster Road, Ackerman Claiborne County – Canemount WMA, 17059 Rodney Road, Port Gibson Claiborne County – All Creatures Veterinary Hospital, 1011 St. Mark Drive, Port Gibson Clarke County – MSU Extension Office, 101 Westwood Ave., Quitman Copiah County – MSU Extension Office, 2040 West Gallman Road, Hazlehurst Covington County – MSU Extension Office, 68 Collins Industrial Park Drive, Collins DeSoto County – Love VFD 7345 Hwy 51 South, Hernando Franklin County – US Forest Service Office (Bude), 3085 U.S. 98, Meadville George County – MSU Extension Office, 7128 Hwy 198 East, Lucedale Grenada County -Malmaison WMA, 126 Malmaison HQ Road, Holcomb Grenada County – MS Forestry Commission, 1801 U.S. 51 South, GrenadaHancock County – Bay St. Louis FD Station 2, 9998 MS 603, Bay St. Louis Hinds County – LeFleur’s Bluff State Park, 3315 Lakeland Terrace, JacksonHolmes County – Holmes County State Park, 5369 State Park Road, Durant Issaquena County – Mahannah WMA, 1370 Anderson-Tully Road, Redwood Issaquena County – Valley Park Community Center, 64 Kelso Road, Valley Park Itawamba County – Fulton Fire Department, 604 South Adams Street, Fulton Jackson County -Lower Pascagoula WMA, 1600 Ward Bayou Road, Vancleave Jefferson Davis County – Jeff Davis Lake, 16 Lake Drive, Prentiss Jones County – Bogue Homa Lake, 149 Bogue Homa Lake Road, Laurel Lafayette County – Fire Station 1, 401 McElroy Drive, Oxford Lamar County – Purvis VFD, 805 Main Street, Purvis MS Lauderdale County – Collinsville VFD, 11710 Nancy Drive, Collinsville Lawrence County – MSU Extension Office, 214 Main Street, Monticello Lee County – Trace State Park, 2139 Faulkner Road, Tupelo LeFlore County – Fire Department 4, 308 MS Hwy 7 North, GreenwoodLowndes County – Black Prairie WMA, 744 Fire Tower Road, CrawfordMadison County – Pearl River WMA, 506 Hwy 43 South, Canton Marion County – MSU Extension Office, 1060 Hwy 13 South, Columbia Marshall County – Wall Doxey State Park, 3946 MS Hwy 7, Holly Springs Marshall County – Mt. Pleasant VFD, 194 Mt. Pleasant Road, Red Banks Neshoba County – Fire Station 3, 257 Gum Street, Philadelphia Noxubee County – USDA Service Center, 48 Millers Chapel Church Road, MaconOktibbeha County – Trim Cane WMA, 2025 North Jackson St., Starkville Panola County – Panola County EMS, 100 MSG William J. Ferrell Drive, SardisPearl River County – Pearl River County Fairgrounds, Hwy 26 West, Poplarville Pike County – Pike County Cooperative, 105 Nehi Road, McComb Pontotoc County – Pontotoc Agri-Center, 430 C.J. Hardin Jr. Drive, Pontotoc Prentiss County – Prentiss County Agri-Center, 2301 North 2nd Street, Booneville Quitman County – O’Keefe WMA, O’Keefe Road, Lambert Scott County – Caney Creek WMA, 6373 West Moore Tower Road, ForestSimpson County – MSU Extension Office, 2785 Simpson Hwy 49, Mendenhall Sunflower County – Deviney WMA, 171 Hughes-Ertle Road, Indianola Tallahatchie County – North Region Office, 457 CR 36, Enid Tippah County – Walnut VFD, 660 Main Street, Walnut Tishomingo County – Tishomingo County Fairgrounds, 108 CR 107, Iuka Tishomingo County – Burnsville/ Yellow Creek Boat Ramp, Frontage Road (Hwy 72), Burnsville Union County – New Albany Fairgrounds, 112 Fairgrounds Circle, New Albany Union County – Hell Creek WMA, 4120 CR 825, Myrtle Walthall County – MS State Dept. of Health, 903 Union Road, Tylertown Warren County – Phil Bryant WMA, 11641 Hwy 465, Vicksburg Warren County – Communication Specialist, 760 Hwy 61 North, Vicksburg Webster County – American Legion Building, 8243 Hwy 9, Eupora Wilkinson County – Wilkinson County Sheriff, 1389 U.S. Hwy 61 South, Woodville Yalobusha County – MDOT Maintenance HQ, 32950 Hwy 32, Tillatoba Yazoo County – District 3 VFD, 171 Old Benton Road, Yazoo City Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.

Review: 6 Products For Easier Family Travel | KSL.com – KSL.com https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/review-6-products-for-easier-family-travel-ksl-com-ksl-com/ Family trips can be complicated. Here’s a review of six products to help relieve some of the stress associated with traveling with children. (NicoElNino, Shutterstock) Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes SALT LAKE CITY — Traveling with the family is a great way to create lasting memories, but it always brings its own quirks and challenges. In most cases, those factors are only exacerbated when one of your kids is a baby or toddler. As my wife often says: “It’s not a vacation … it’s a family trip.” This review looks at six products that might be helpful on your next family trip. From electronic devices to storage containers, they offer convenience that can hopefully relieve a little of the stress and complexity that come when traveling with the whole crew. Etekcity Luggage Scale GRADE: A PRICE: $10 Etekcity luggage scale as advertised on Amazon. (Photo: Screenshot) Most of us have tried the old “stand on the bathroom scale holding your luggage” trick to weigh our bags before a flight. Overweight fees can really add up, after all, so you’ve got to make sure ahead of time that you’re not going to incur the wrath of the airlines. But what happens when there isn’t a bathroom scale handy, or you’re worried you’ll do the math wrong? This handy scale from Etekcity saves the day. It’s compact, lightweight, accommodates up to 110 pounds, and can toggle between pounds and kilograms for international travel. Collapsible Travel-size Bottles GRADE: A PRICE: $5 Collapsible travel-size bottles, as advertised on Amazon. (Photo: Screenshot) There are lots of cheap options out there when it comes to travel-sized containers. What makes these bottles special is that they’re collapsible and have a leakproof design. Because they’re made of silicone, they’re flexible and can survive accidental drops. They’re TSA-approved and can expand in size from 42 milliliters to 88 milliliters. NOTE: Even though these bottles are supposed to be leakproof, you should always keep them in a resealable plastic bag just in case. Accidents can always happen. Portable Sound Machine GRADE: A- PRICE: $24 The Sleep & Soother Portable Sound Machine. (Photo: Baby Brezza) White noise is a precious commodity on a trip. You can use it to help your baby nap better on road trips, and it can be a game-changer when it comes to the whole family’s ability to sleep in a crowded hotel room. This Sleep & Soother, made by Baby Brezza, is one of the best on the market, with 18 different sound options. Additional features include a built-in nightlight with adjustable brightness and timer settings for the sounds and light. You can power it with AAA batteries or simply with the USB cord. LEVEL8 Textured Carry-On 20-inch GRADE: A PRICE: $156 LEVEL8 textured carry-on 20-inch rolling suitcase. (Photo: LEVEL8) Traversing an airport with your family’s belongings can be a frantic and miserable experience, but I’ve found that a smooth-rolling and non-tipping bag can go a long way toward making it easier. This carry-on luggage from LEVEL8 fits the bill, as it has four durable 360-degree spinner wheels with an anti-shock design. Seriously, this thing practically glides along like a hoverboard. Beyond its great mobility, this luggage provides excellent protection for your items with its polycarbonate hard shell. It also comes with an integrated, TSA-approved combination lock, so nobody can go snooping through your belongings. And the telescoping handle extends higher than any I’ve ever seen, which is really appreciated by us tall folks. DoAce C11 2000W Travel Voltage Converter GRADE: A- PRICE: $40 DoAce c11 2000-watt travel voltage converter, as advertised on Amazon. (Photo: Screenshot) This versatile unit from DoAce is ideal for international travel where you’ll need to adapt to another country’s socket configuration and voltage. Anyone who has ever struggled to charge their phone while abroad or has fried their hair dryer in a 220-volt outlet can attest that such a device is often worth its weight in gold. The kit comes with three different adaptors and built-in surge protection, so you’ll be covered on most of your travels. Additionally, the device has USB ports to that it’s easier to power your various electronics. Joolz Hub+ GRADE: A PRICE: Varies by retailer Joolz Hub+ lightweight stroller in navy blue. (Photo: Joolz) The Joolz Hub+ is among the best compact strollers available because it combines two of the most important features for a family on the move: mobility and comfort. First up, the design is lightweight and stable, which means you can easily steer it with one hand. But it also has a narrow wheelbase that’s ideal for public transportation and navigating tight aisles in stores. And once you’ve folded the stroller up, you can simply tote it around with the included carry strap. As for the children who will actually be riding in the stroller, the Joolz Hub+ has an incredibly comfy seat. When they’re dozing, it’s easy to recline and there’s also an adjustable footrest. And the four-wheel suspension makes for one of the smoothest rides out there. A couple other features that deserve a mention are the large underseat storage basket and the integrated LED lights in the front and rear for added safety after dark. × Related stories Most recent Home & Family stories Grant Olsen joined the KSL.com contributor team in 2012. He covers outdoor adventures, travel, product reviews and other interesting things. He is also the author of the book “Rhino Trouble.” More stories you may be interested in %

Business News From The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority – September 22 – TysonsToday – TysonsToday https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/business-news-from-the-fairfax-county-economic-development-authority-september-22-tysonstoday-tysonstoday/ Two Fairfax County companies announce expansions, creation of 300+ new jobs combined This week, two Fairfax County-based companies announced significant growth: Tysons-based Pangiam and Falls Church-based Enabled Intelligence. Pangiam Pangiam, an emerging technology company streamlining the travel and security industries, will invest $3.1 million to establish its global headquarters at 7950 Jones Branch Drive in Fairfax County. With this new operation, which includes the addition of 20,000 square feet, Pangiam can increase its capacity to meet growing domestic and international demand. The project will create 201 new jobs over the next three years. “With safety always at the forefront of everyone’s minds, Fairfax County is pleased to have Pangiam’s headquarters in Fairfax County, the heart of America’s national security infrastructure,” said Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay. “As Pangiam works to secure our ports of entry using next-generation technology, we welcome their expansion to Tysons and the hundreds of new jobs they are bringing.” Click here to read more. Enabled Intelligence Enabled Intelligence, Inc., a provider of secure and accurate data labeling services to enable artificial intelligence applications, will invest $1.4 million to expand its headquarters in Fairfax County. The company will add over 10,000 square feet of classified and unclassified office space to its operations located at 6400 Arlington Boulevard in Falls Church to increase capacity. The project will create 117 new jobs. “We are honored to have Enabled Intelligence expand their presence here in Fairfax County,” said Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA). “The opportunities they offer to our diverse populations is extraordinary, and their efforts shine as a bright example of the true spirit of inclusion, upon which we continue to build our thriving business community.” Click here to read more. Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month Did you know that there are more than 1,500 Hispanic-owned employer firms in Fairfax County? These firms employ more than 13,000 people with over $2 billion in receipts. Fairfax County has the largest number of Hispanic-owned employer firms in the Northern Virginia region. In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, FCEDA will be highlighting Hispanic business success stories in Fairfax County throughout the month. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook for more! (Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2017 Annual Business Survey) Championing diversity in leadership A joint initiative between the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia aims to diversify leadership in Northern Virginia’s workforce. The Northern Virginia Champions for Accountability Badge initiative is a commitment by employers throughout the region to collect, analyze and act on data related to the diversity of C-suite leaders and board members. The project was developed in collaboration with a task force composed of four cross-sector chief diversity officers. Fifty-three employers, which include 26 Fairfax County-based companies and organizations, made up the first cohort of badge recipients, or “champions.” President and CEO of the Community Foundation Eileen Ellsworth presented the research findings at an inaugural event last week, and she acknowledged that the lack of diversity among top executives is a regional and nationwide issue. “We can all become more intentional in recruiting, recognizing and promoting underrepresented talent into the top positions of the companies and institutions we run,” Ellsworth said. InsideNoVa has more. Reimaging the space experience Tysons-headquartered Hilton will design astronaut facilities for the private space station Yulee, Flor.-based StarLab currently under development by Denver-based Voyager Space Holdings and Bethesda, Md.-based Lockheed Martin, the companies told CNBC. In addition to designing hospitality suites and sleeping arrangements, Hilton will also work with Voyager to examine opportunities for the marketing of the space station and astronaut experiences onboard. Voyager Chairman and CEO Dylan Taylor, told CNBC he’s excited by the “unique perspective” that Hilton brings to the project because “they’re not space people.” “It’s almost like looking at it with a fresh set of eyes and saying: ‘How do we reimagine this experience,’” Taylor said, adding that he sees it as “a bit of an edge.” The partnership marks the first of its kind among the private stations in development, although both the space and hospitality sectors have long envisioned the possibilities of a hotel in orbit. To the edge and beyond Reston-based Razor’s Edge Management, a venture-capital firm focused on investing in national-security startups, closed a $340 million fund, the latest example of the increased interest investors and corporations have in backing young companies developing defense-related technology, the Wall Street Journal reported. The firm said it is aiming to deploy the capital into startups helping the U.S. maintain technological superiority over its adversaries. “Our third fund will continue the approach we have successfully applied since the beginning. The U.S. faces an increasingly complex and rapidly growing national security threat environment. We work diligently across our portfolio to help our customers solve the hardest problems and maintain a technological advantage over near peer adversaries,” said Peggy Styer, co-founder and managing partner. Growing up so fast Celebrating the grand opening and expansion of Beanstalk Farms in Herndon, Governor Glenn Youngkin and other state and local officials, including Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of the FCEDA, attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the vertical agriculture business on Sept. 13, Fairfax County Times reported. Aiming to promote the continued success of Virginia agriculture, one of the state’s largest industries, the event highlighted one of the most recent developments in controlled farm technology and sustainable agriculture production. The new facility expands Beanstalk Farms’ current operation and represents more than $2 million of new capital investment to a long-vacant warehouse facility, in an area Fairfax County has targeted for development. Beanstalk Farms will hire 29 new employees for various jobs in the new indoor farm and distribution facility. Fox5 has more on Beanstalk Farms. Digital infrastructure consortium Five companies were selected by the U.S. Air Force to be part of an industry consortium that will define future requirements and develop the digital infrastructure for the Advanced Battle Management System. Reston-based Leidos; Falls Church area-based Northrop Grumman; Reston-based Science Applications International Corp.;  Melbourne, Flor.-based L3Harris Technologies, which has locations in Fairfax County and Northern Virginia; and Raytheon Technologies, which is moving its headquarters to Arlington, Va.; are the ABMS Digital Infrastructure Consortium participants. The alliance will establish the design criteria for an open architecture and address data management, secure processing and resilient communications to enable and deliver command-and-control capabilities to the Air Force and Space Force, reported GovConWire. Developing an Orbital Robot fleet Reston-based SAIC is partnering with Laconia, N.H.-based startup Rogue Space Systems to develop small satellites for in-space services, SpaceNews reported. Rogue Space, a two-year-old startup, designed a CubeSat known as Orbital Robot for in-orbit services such as inspection and repairs.  SAIC will integrate two Rogue CubeSats for a planned 2023 mission. Going forward, SAIC will help develop Rogue’s fleet of Orbital Robots for space situational awareness, in-space services, assembly and manufacturing. “SAIC and Rogue bring unique skills and expertise that will support the growing demand for services in Earth orbit, the cislunar domain and beyond,” said David Ray, senior vice president of SAIC’s space business unit. Expanding Canada greenhouse gas-monitoring Tysons-based Spire Global said it will build three CubeSats launching in 2023 to expand Canadian greenhouse gas-monitoring operator GHGSat’s constellation, SpaceNews reported. The three satellites are slated to join the six similarly sized spacecraft that GHGSat currently operates in low Earth orbit. Joel Spark, co-founder and general manager of Spire’s space services business, said these CubeSats would be dedicated to GHGSat and not host other payloads. Spire is seeing growing demand for the space-as-a-service side of its business, where it manages payload integration, launch, and mission operations for the payloads it hosts. Spire mainly provides data-gathering and analysis solutions across maritime, aviation, weather, climate, and other markets under its primary business. Monitoring global economic activity Herndon-based BlackSky Technology received a combined total of $13.8 million of orders to date within the first year of a five-year Springfield, Va.-based National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency contract to monitor global economic activity. “These awards underscore the growing demand for commercial real-time, AI-driven monitoring services that reveal economic activity at manufacturing hubs, major maritime ports, and airports around the world,” said Dr. Patrick O’Neil, BlackSky chief innovation officer. Since winning the first order, BlackSky’s dynamic monitoring platform has collected thousands of observations over critical sites worldwide and demonstrated the ability to scale the quantity of observ...