Clark County News Now

OSU Awarded Defense Funds For Counter-Drone Technology – Stillwater News Press https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/osu-awarded-defense-funds-for-counter-drone-technology-stillwater-news-press/ OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education at Oklahoma State University has launched the Counter-UAS Center of Excellence and a new partnership aimed at strengthening national defense by developing counter-measures to thwart malicious Unmanned Aerial Systems. The agreement solidifies OSU’s position as the preferred aerospace defense provider for the U.S. Army base at Fort Sill. The agreement includes receiving a $15 million Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity subcontract from Amentum to help the U.S. Department of Homeland Security develop technology to counter threats from drones and other UAS. Amentum is executing this contract under the Department of Defense Information Analysis Center’s multiple-award contract vehicle. “By working together, we are setting the national standard for counter-UAS. The possibilities for the future of aerospace at OSU in Oklahoma and for the United States are far reaching and it’s all built on a bedrock constructed from decades of experience,” OSU President Kayse Shrum said. “This center will change what’s possible with national security. It will advance research and strengthen the Oklahoma economy as we merge civilian and military worlds into a partnership that will exponentially improve the mission of both.” As a part of OAIRE, the center is a vital component of OSU’s aerospace infrastructure, which extends across the state of Oklahoma, Dr. Shrum said. “We are working with industry and federal agencies to coordinate and evaluate technology to ensure the U.S. retains the lead in UAS and counter-UAS technology for the foreseeable future,” she said. The partnership announcement was delivered Friday during the launch event celebrating the opening of the national CUAS COE, which was held at the Hamm Institute for American Energy at OSU in the Oklahoma City Innovation District. The new center was established in partnership with the DOD via the National Defense Authorization Act. The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command contracted with OSU to initiate the CUAS COE with $6.5 million in appropriated funds across FY2021 and FY2022, with $5 million in additional funding pending for FY2023. As the counter-UAS arm of OSU’s Unmanned Systems Research Institute, this new center brings together resources and research to place Oklahoma at the forefront of this vital specialty area charged with safeguarding the nation from the weaponization of drones. “What I’ve seen as a soldier from the OSU USRI team – from what’s going to be the Center of Excellence for counter-UAS at OSU – is very encouraging to see the open dialogue, communication, thought and brilliant minds that put a lot of effort and work to solve these problems,” said Col. Todd Daniels, assistant commandant for the air defense artillery school at Fort Sill. Formalized in September 2022, the agreement will fund a series of projects at the center for up to $15 million over the course of the next 4.5 years. These projects will involve developing, evaluating and improving technologies for DHS to identify, track and mitigate threats posed by drones to infrastructure and other sites that are critical to homeland security. They also will involve the training of existing and potential professionals within DHS to understand and deploy counter-UAS technologies and techniques. At the event, Dr. Jamey Jacob, the current director of the USRI, was named director of OAIRE. “The Oklahoma aviation aerospace industry has $44 billion of annual economic activity and is the second largest industry in the state behind energy,” Jacob said. “With the advent of the new advanced air mobility industry, Oklahoma has an opportunity to leverage its expertise in aerospace and autonomous systems to lead in the newest and fastest growing field of aviation and secure a global impact throughout the 21st century.” Another mission of the center will be to improve facilities that allow the CUAS COE and U.S. Army partners to quickly and easily operate UAS systems for research, testing and training. “Drones have the potential to transform sectors of the United States economy, including agriculture, law enforcement, public safety, disaster evaluation and response, fire detection, border security, weather forecasting, construction and utility monitoring,” U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas said. “It’s exciting that as this technology grows, OSU is leading the way in aerospace R&D. The Unmanned Systems Research Institute is a true powerhouse of UAS and counter-UAS technology.” The center also plans to host an annual counter-UAS symposium to bring together representatives from across the government to discuss new threats, technologies and best practices along with connecting with private industry to meet governmental CUAS needs. Outside of counter-UAS efforts, USRI also addresses multiple aspects of unmanned systems research and development, including: drone development; use of drones for human health and safety; advanced air mobility; NASA applications for autonomous operations; and development of novel drone applications.

Washougal Teachers, District ‘make Progress’ In Contract Talks – The Columbian https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/washougal-teachers-district-make-progress-in-contract-talks-the-columbian/ Negotiations focus on salary as educators work without a contract By Kelly Moyer, Camas-Washougal Post-Record Published: September 23, 2022, 5:33pm Washougal High School (Samuel Wilson for the Columbian) Contract negotiations between the Washougal Association of Educators teachers union and the Washougal School District continued this week with meetings Monday and Thursday. The school district stated in its bargaining update that the “two groups continue to make progress toward an agreement.” Washougal teachers have been working since Aug. 30, under the terms of their former contract, which expired at the end of the 2021-22 school year. Washougal Association of Educators President James Bennett recently told The Post-Record that union leaders’ focus is “on reaching a deal that includes fair pay for educators to ensure everyone with the critical job of teaching and caring for Washougal students earns enough to support themselves and their own families.” The teachers union has asked the district to provide a 5.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment that is in line with other districts in Clark County. The district initially offered a 4 percent cost-of-living adjustment but has since included a 5.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment for the 2022-23 school year, with another increase of at least 2.25 percent in 2023-24. The district said this week it also is now offering an additional professional development day and a personal wellness day. “Under this offer, teachers at the top-end of the pay scale will make $111,575 in total compensation and would still be among the highest paid teachers in the region,” the district stated on its bargaining update website Tuesday. The offer now on the table would make Washougal’s top-step teachers the third-highest compensated teachers in Southwest Washington, after Camas School District, where teachers with the most education and longevity earn $114,456, and Evergreen Public Schools, where top-step teachers earn $112,301 in total compensation. Under the Washougal School District’s most recent offer, Washougal teachers on the first step of the salary schedule — those with no experience and just a bachelor’s degree — as well as those in the middle of the salary scale who have five years of experience and more than a bachelor’s degree, also would have the third-highest compensation rates in the region ($59,196 and $65,842, respectively) during the 2022-23 school year, after Evergreen ($61,056 and $68,541) and Camas ($60,451 and $67,027), according to a comparison chart provided by the district. The two sides still have a few sticking points, according to the district’s most recent bargaining update, including, “compensation increases, language around student discipline, language around professional learning community time, language around overload and the opportunity to offer advisory classes, and investments in paid professional development.”

How To Stay Safe While Driving On Vacation: 7 Important Steps To Take – VIVA GLAM MAGAZINE™ – Vivaglammagazine.com https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/how-to-stay-safe-while-driving-on-vacation-7-important-steps-to-take-viva-glam-magazine-vivaglammagazine-com/ Whether you’re driving solo or with a partner, it’s important to do what you can to stay safe. Your due diligence will help prevent injury or a fatal accident. To ensure you stay safe during your vacation, plan ahead and take the necessary precautions when you’re behind the wheel. If You’re Involved in an Accident, Contact a Local Lawyer ASAP Regardless of how careful you are, there’s still a possibility that you’ll be involved in a car accident. If you’re injured, you should contact a local accident attorney to go over your options. For example, if you live in Miami, you can get the compensation you need to move on by seeking a car accident settlement with Dolman Law. But if you don’t live in the Miami area, you can still contact Dolman Law Group across Florida, Texas, and in New York and Boston. With that in mind, it makes more sense to contact a lawyer in your home state or country instead of the state or country you’re traveling in unless you’re forbidden to do so by local laws. How to Stay Safe During Your Next Summer or Winter Road Trip If you plan to drive while on vacation or you’re expecting to take a road trip to your destination, use these helpful vehicle and road safety tips when you’re out of state or in a new country. 1. Ensure Your Vehicle is Road Ready If you’re using your own vehicle, perform a standard maintenance check before you start your vacation. Ensure the oil is topped up, your battery is charged, and the tire pressure is optimal. If you’re unsure what to do, take your vehicle to a qualified mechanic or automotive technician. 2. Always Keep Your Eyes on the Road Approximately 3,000 people die yearly in crashes that involve a distracted driver, and nearly half a million drivers are injured for the same reason. While driving, don’t look at your mobile device, eat, drink, or turn to speak to the passengers in the car. Keep your eyes on the road at all times. 3. Don’t Drive When You’re Tired While most people won’t drive while under the influence of drugs and alcohol, they’re less likely to take the same precautions when tired. If you’re tired, don’t continue on with your road trip until you rest. Or, take public transit if you’re already in the city and need to travel elsewhere. 4. Watch for Children and Fire Bans Children (and sometimes adults) may not watch for cars when they’re crossing the street. Pay close attention near intersections and private roads, so you can stop if someone jumps in front of your car. Check for fire bans in the area you’re heading in case of a sudden or current fire. 5. Keep an Emergency Kit in Your Car You should always keep an emergency kit in your car, whether you’re traveling in state, out of state, or in a different country. Prepare for the unexpected by packing a cellphone and car charger, flashlight, first aid kit, flares, candles and matches, jumper cables, food, and water. 6. Buy or Upgrade Your Travel Insurance Travel insurance will come in handy, even if you’re traveling within the US. Some states may not have a hospital nearby that staffs doctors under your health insurance plan. But if you have travel insurance, you’ll be able to receive low-cost health care if you’re in a car accident. 7. Review Your Car Insurance Policy You may want to upgrade your car insurance policy before your vacation, as you may need a different type of coverage in another state or country. If you’re renting a car, check your policy or credit card to ensure you’re covered if you’re in an accident or you damage the vehicle’s interior.

Purdue’s Next Big Move: A New School Of Business – Purdue University https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/purdues-next-big-move-a-new-school-of-business-purdue-university/ Business degrees blending science, engineering, liberal arts to give future business leaders and entrepreneurs a new competitive advantage   WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue’s next big move in a decade-long series of major strategic investments will reimagine its current School of Management into a new School of Business that will redefine the preparation of business leaders for today’s technology-driven world and tomorrow’s unknowns. Plans were announced Friday (Sept. 23) for the new school, which will be supported by a substantial university investment along with a major fundraising effort designed to reengineer a top-ranked School of Business that will prepare tomorrow’s leaders and entrepreneurs, grounded in the hallmarks of a Purdue education, including STEM disciplines and business analytics. “Students in Purdue’s new School of Business will receive a well-rounded education, including the history, philosophy and economic theory of free market systems, and a firm grounding in the liberal arts and the communication skills that come with it,” Purdue President Mitch Daniels said. “They will enter the world proud of the careers they have chosen and thoroughly prepared for leadership and managerial excellence in the most technologically complex fields.” Amid declines in college-going rates nationwide, Purdue’s School of Management has grown by nearly 33% since 2019. Purdue believes now is the time to capitalize on that momentum with a new School of Business, which will further expand the student body and faculty, and double the size of the facility through expansion and renovation. A rendering of expansion and renovation plans for the new Purdue School of Business. (Illustration by Ayers Saint Gross) Download image The school will build on Purdue’s recently inaugurated Integrated Business and Engineering (IBE) degree, highly ranked Business Analytics programs, the new Dean V. White Real Estate Finance program, and the Larsen Leaders Academy, further propelled by a new $10 million gift from Marshall and Susan Larsen celebrated on Friday night, to create a competitive advantage for students, letting them take the next giant leap into the future of business. Long named the Purdue School of Management with the graduate school bearing the Krannert name, the new entity as a whole will be known initially as the Purdue School of Business. Purdue is targeting Fall 2023 for its first phase of enhancements, involving student enrollment growth and the addition of targeted faculty, as well as curricular and experiential education additions. The advances of science across almost all economic sectors have created the need for business leaders who can understand not only the data in front of them, but where the next breakthrough may come from. Students who master the skills of gathering big data and using it to drive business decisions become the most valuable working professionals of today and tomorrow. Graduates from Purdue’s new School of Business will be uniquely positioned to bring discoveries to the marketplace, scale up innovations and effect societal change. President-elect Mung Chiang said, “Purdue will have a world-class business school through this relaunch, one that will carry out top-caliber research and educate many students who will be excellent at, and proud of, creating business growth and opportunities.” Historically, Purdue has celebrated many graduates who have become CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, with eight alumni currently serving in that role, as measured by Academic Influence. The move toward a new School of Business further builds on a standard of excellence at Purdue, beginning with the Engineering fields, where both the graduate (4th) and undergraduate (9th) degree programs are ranked nationally. Purdue was the only university selected recently by Fast Company as a “Brand That Matters,” joining well-known businesses like Ford, McDonald’s, Nike and 3M, and was recently named America’s No. 4 most trusted public university by Morning Consult. It is also recognized as a Top Ten Public University by the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education and a Top Ten Most Innovative University for five years straight by U.S. News & World Report. During the last five years, Purdue University has grown 23%, with a population of just over 50,000 students. It is ranked in the Top 5 for graduating STEM majors — 71% of its 2022 graduates earned STEM degrees. About Purdue University Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges. Ranked in each of the last five years as one of the 10 Most Innovative universities in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://stories.purdue.edu. Writer/Media contact: Brian Huchel, bhuchel@purdue.edu

Clean Living Linked To Lower Mortality In Former Smokers – Medscape https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/clean-living-linked-to-lower-mortality-in-former-smokers-medscape/ An important message for former smokers: You can overcome a history of vice through virtue. People with a history of smoking who exercise regularly, eat nutritious foods, and maintain a healthy weight can reduce their risk for premature death by almost 30% compared with those who don’t adopt such good habits, researchers have found.  “Engaging in more aspects of a healthy lifestyle was associated with a lower risk of mortality than engaging in one aspect,” said Maki Inoue-Choi, PhD, an epidemiologist at the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, who led the new study. “Former smokers may benefit from engaging in one of the healthy lifestyle recommendations but receive an even larger benefit if they follow more of them.”  For the study, published in JAMA Network Open, Inoue-Choi and her colleagues analyzed survey data from 159,937 former smokers in the United States. The data were part of a larger look at some 570,000 people participating in the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study. The primary outcome of the study was mortality on or before December 31, 2019, and participants had a mean follow-up period of roughly 19 years.   Former smokers who adhered to health recommendations were as much as 27% less likely to die over the study period than those who didn’t follow the suggestions. The effect appeared to be cumulative. The risk for all-cause mortality was 12% lower for those who had average adherence to health recommendations and 4% lower for those who had slightly above average adherence, according to the researchers. People who adhered more closely to the recommendations also were less likely to die of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory conditions during the study period, they found. Overall mortality rates were lower among those who quit smoking earlier. However, better adherence to the healthy lifestyle recommendations was associated with a lower risk for death regardless of when a person had quit smoking. More than 50 million Americans have quit smoking, according to Inoue-Choi. Previous studies have shown substantial health benefits to a healthier lifestyle and to quitting smoking.   “Former smokers are a large group of people who by nature of their quitting smoking may be especially motivated to adhere to other evidence-based healthy lifestyle recommendations,” she said. Evidence shows that alcohol consumption and smoking increased during the pandemic, but according to Inoue-Choi, there’s very little research about the effects of these increases on former smokers. According to Hilary Tindle MD, MPH, founding director of the Vanderbilt Center for Tobacco Addiction and Lifestyle, Nashville, Tennessee, the new findings are significant because of the message they send to patients.   “You don’t have to be the poster child for health — midrange adherence still decreases mortality. Even if you do some of the recommendations, you promote your overall health,” Tindle said. JAMA Netw Open. Published online September 22, 2022. Full text The study was funded by the Intramural Research Program of the National Cancer Institute for government employees’ official duties. Inoue-Choi reports no relevant financial relationships. Tindle reports no relevant financial relationships. For more news, follow Medscape on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

Roger Federer Retires, Plays Laver Cup With Rafael Nadal In Last Match – USA TODAY https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/roger-federer-retires-plays-laver-cup-with-rafael-nadal-in-last-match-usa-today/ The Associated Press  |  Associated Press LONDON – This day, this match, had to come, of course, for Roger Federer, and for tennis, just as it inevitably must for every athlete in every sport. Federer bid adieu Friday night with one last contest before he heads into retirement at age 41 after a superlative career that included 20 Grand Slam titles and a statesman’s role. He wrapped up his days as a professional player with a loss in doubles alongside his longtime rival Rafael Nadal for Team Europe in the Laver Cup against Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock of Team World. The truth is that the victors, the statistics and the score (OK, for the record it was 4-6, 7-6 (2), 11-9) did not matter, and were all so entirely beside the point. The occasion was, after all, about the farewell itself. Or, better, the farewells, plural: Federer’s to tennis, to the fans, to his competitors and colleagues. And, naturally, each of those entities’ farewells to Federer. “It’s been a perfect journey,” Federer said. “I would do it all over again.” When the match, and with it, his time in professional tennis, ended, Federer hugged Nadal, then Tiafoe and Sock. And then Federer began crying. As cascades of clapping and yells of affection came from the stands, Federer put his hands on his hips, his chest heaving. Then he mouthed, “Thank you,” while applauding right back toward the spectators who had chanted, “Let’s go, Roger! Let’s go!” during the concluding moments of a match that lasted more than two hours and ended at about 12:30 a.m. His wife, Mirka, their four children – twin girls and twin boys – and Federer’s parents joined him on the court afterward for embraces and, yes, more bawling. Members of both teams joined together to hoist Federer up in the air. “It’s been a wonderful day. I told the guys I’m happy; I’m not sad,” Federer said. “I enjoyed tying my shoes one more time. Everything was the last time.” The Swiss star announced last week that the three-day team event, which was founded by his management company, would be his final event before retirement, then made clear the doubles outing would be the last match. His surgically repaired right knee – the last of three operations came shortly after a loss in the Wimbledon quarterfinals in July 2021, which will go down as his official exit in singles – is in no shape to allow him to continue. “For me, just personally, (it was) sad in the first moment, when I came to the conclusion it’s the best decision,” Federer said in an interview with The Associated Press this week about his emotions when realizing it was time to go. “I kind of held it in at first, then fought it off. But I could feel the pain.” He had said he wanted this to feel more like a party than a funeral, and the crowd obliged, rising for a loud and lengthy standing ovation when Federer and Nadal, who is 36 – each wearing a white bandanna, blue shirt and white shorts – emerged together from a tunnel leading out to the black court for the last match on Day 1 at the O2 Arena. They remained on their feet for nearly 10 minutes, through the pre-match warmup, holding aloft phone cameras to capture the moment. FEDERER: Announces retirment, will end his career at Laver Cup OPINION: Federer didn’t always play perfect tennis – but he made it look perfect DON’T MISS OUT: Sign up to get sports news and features sent to your Inbox They came ready to roar for him, some with Swiss flags, some with homemade signs (“Idol Forever” read one), and they made themselves heard with a wall of sound when Federer delivered a forehand volley winner on the match’s second point. Similar reactions arrived merely at the chair umpire’s announcement before the third game of “Roger Federer to serve,” and again when he closed that game with a 117 mph service winner. “Obviously had 99.9% of the crowd against us. But it was super fun to just be a part of that match. I think we are going to be forever grateful to be a part of the GOAT’s final match,” Sock said, using the acronym for “Greatest of All-Time.” Doubles requires far less movement and court coverage, of course, so the stress on Federer’s knee was limited Friday. He showed touches of his old flair, to be sure, and of rust, as to be expected. There were a couple of early forehands that sailed several feet too long. There also was a forehand that slid right between Sock and Tiafoe and seemed too good to be true – and, it turned out, was: The ball traveled through a gap below the net tape and so the point was taken away from Federer and Nadal. Although this match amounted to, essentially, a glorified exhibition, all four doubles participants played as if they wanted to win. That was clear when Sock, a three-time major champion in doubles who is 29, leaped and screamed after one particularly terrific volley or when Tiafoe, 24, sent a couple of shots right at Federer and Nadal. But the circumstances did allow for moments of levity. Federer and Nadal were able to laugh after a bit of confusion over which should go for a ball on a point they lost. After Nadal somehow flicked one back-to-the-net shot around the post, only for it to land barely wide, Tiafoe, a semifinalist at the U.S. Open, crossed over to extend a hand with congratulations for the effort. In the first set, the older duo couldn’t quite hear each other between points, so Federer trotted from the net back to the baseline to consult with Nadal, then pointed to his ear to signal what the issue was. Before Federer began winning Grand Slam titles in 2003, the men’s mark for most major tennis championships was 14 by Pete Sampras. Federer blew past that, accumulating eight at Wimbledon, six at the Australian Open, five at the U.S. Open and one at the French Open, setting a new standard that Nadal, now with 22, and Novak Djokovic, with 21, equaled, then surpassed, as part of a golden era for the sport. Surely, there are those who would have found it particularly apt to see Federer finish across the net from Nadal, often an on-court nemesis but eventually an off-court friend. Maybe it could have taken place about 15 miles away at Centre Court of the All England Club, say, or in Court Philippe Chatrier at Roland Garros, or Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park, or even Arthur Ashe Stadium, the centerpiece of the U.S. Open, the lone Grand Slam tournament at which they never faced off, somehow. Perhaps they could have provided everyone with one final installment of a head-to-head matchup as memorable as any in the long history of their sport – or, indeed, any other. Roger vs. Rafa – just one name apiece required – belongs up there with McEnroe vs. Borg (as it happens, the two Laver Cup team captains, John and Bjorn), Evert vs. Navratilova, Sampras vs. Agassi, Ali vs. Frazier, Magic vs. Bird, Brady vs. Manning, and so on. Over the years, Federer and Nadal showed off individual greatness and compelling contrasts across their 40 matches, 14 at Grand Slam tournaments, nine in major finals: righty vs. lefty, attacker vs. grinder, seeming effortlessness vs. relentless intensity. And yet, there was an unmistakable element of poetry with these two men who challenged each other and elevated each other performing as partners, slapping palms and sharing smiles. This goodbye follows that of Serena Williams, the owner of 23 major singles championships, at the U.S. Open three weeks ago after a third-round loss. It leaves questions about the future of a game he and she dominated, and transcended, for decades. One key difference: Each time Williams took the court in New York, the looming question was how long her stay would endure – a “win or this is it” prospect. DEFINING GREATNESS: Serena is a living legend. Just look at her records. OPINION: Calling Serena the GOAT doesn’t reflect her impact on sports and society OPINION: Williams’ case as the GOAT in women’s tennis isn’t as airtight as you think Friday WAS it for Federer, no matter the result. “All the players will miss him,” said Casper Ruud, who beat Sock in singles 6-4, 5-7, 10-7. The day’s other results, which left Team Europe and Team World tied at 2-2: Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated Diego Schwartzman 6-2, 6-1 in a match interrupted briefly when an environmental protester lit a portion of the court and his own arm on fire, and Alex de Minaur got past Andy Murray 5-7, 6-3, 10-7. Due to begin playing shortly after the end of Murray’s loss, Federer and Nadal first provided him with some coaching tips, then watched part of that one on TV together in a room at the arena, waiting for their turn. When Federer and Nadal were in action, it was Djokovic’s turn to suggest strategy. The last hurrah came after a total of 103 career singles trophies and 1,251 wins in singles matches for Federer, both second only to Jimmy Connors in the Open era, which began in 1968. At the height of his powers, Federer appeared in a record 10 consecutive Grand Slam finals, winning eight, from 2005-07. Extend that to 2010, and he reached 18 of 19 major finals. More than those numbers, folks will remember the powerful forehand, the one-handed backhand, the flawless footwork, the spectacularly effective serve and eagerness to get to the net, the willingness to reinvent aspects of his game and – the part of which he’s proudest – the unusual longevity. Beyond the elegance and effectiveness while wielding a racket, Federer’s persona made him an ambassador for tennis, someone whose immense popularity helped attract fans. “It does feel like a celebration to me,” Federer said before taking a stroll akin to a victory lap around the venue, blowing kisses and waving. “I wanted to feel like this at the end, and it’s exactly what I hoped for.”

Healthcare Turns To The Gaming Industry To Build Its Metaverse – TechRepublic https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/healthcare-turns-to-the-gaming-industry-to-build-its-metaverse-techrepublic/ Image: Penumbra The pace at which the healthcare industry is building its metaverse is overwhelming. New scientific studies, clinical trials and medical VR and AR devices continue to emerge at a fast pace. The applications range from advanced surgeries and procedures to mental health treatment, pain management, training, simulations, remote care and rehabilitation. In the U.S., the American Senior Communities (ASC) partnered with MyndVR and is already providing therapeutic virtual reality for hundreds of senior citizens’ communities across the country. In the U.K., gameChange VR is used in selected NHS mental health services. The natural evolution of telemedicine As TechRepublic recently reported, the metaverse healthcare sector by 2030 will grow by 48.3% CAGR and be worth $5.37 billion. Brenda Kay Wiederhold of Virtual Reality Medical Center explains in the paper Metaverse Games: Game Changer for Healthcare? how the innovation is storming into healthcare as the natural evolution from telemedicine, heavily inspired by the gaming industry. TechRepublic spoke to healthcare experts from Penumbra—a healthcare company providing novel technology products—and to experts of REAL Immersive System, creators of a therapeutic metaverse device. “When we pair the expertise of award-winning game designers with the knowledge of rehabilitation providers like occupational and physical therapists, we’re able to deliver these science-backed immersive experiences that are both physically and mentally stimulating,” Gita Barry, general manager of immersive healthcare at Penumbra told TechRepublic. Chronic neck and back pain, cognitive impairment, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, spinal cord injuries, stroke rehabilitation, therapeutic and wellness, are some of the treatments metaverse experience can provide. The company’s healthcare metaverse games are specifically designed to strengthen the upper and core body, cognitive and motor skills, physical and cognitive rehabilitation and more. Penumbra was granted initial FDA clearance in 2019. A wide range of scientific studies support the benefits of metaverse for healthcare practices. For example, a study on VR rehabilitation for Parkinson’s found that these new technologies are more effective in determining overall improvement than conventional rehabilitation programs. “VR is an extraordinary tool when harnessed the right way, as it really leverages the principles of neuroplasticity, intrinsically motivating patients to work harder and longer in rehab, with the goal of ultimately accelerating patient recoveries,” Barry said. Steven Chen, senior director of product management for REAL Immersive, told TechRepublic that patients face rehabilitation challenges such as adherence to care plans, monitoring and engagement. Chen explained that rehab for patients can be painful, difficult to do, boring and inconvenient. “Reimagining rehab as an experience that presents the right level of physical, mental and cognitive challenge, while keeping people engaged and entertained means that patients are more likely to stick to a program, enjoy participating in it and will proactively seek those experiences,” Chen said. SEE: Artificial Intelligence Ethics Policy (TechRepublic Premium) What gaming professionals bring to the table Healthcare organizations are also building on what they have recently learned to conquer: remote technologies. According to Forbes, before 2020, just 43% of healthcare facilities provided remote treatment. Today, that number reaches almost 95%. And while not all metaverse healthcare applications are designed for remote care, the sector is now experienced in the rapid adoption of new technologies. TechRepublic asked Chen what skills gaming professionals bring to the healthcare metaverse construction. He said it’s all about creating immersive experiences. “The more immersive an experience is, the more engaging, entertaining, and effective from a therapeutic and clinical standpoint it can be,” Chen explained. From their professional experience to design skills and understanding of what works best to maximize the sense of immersion, gaming pros bring a lot to the table. “As a game designer, you have to understand the technical constraints of the hardware platforms and the software tools we use to build those experiences but those technical skills are only useful if you also have the experience and design skills to go with them,” Chen said. The technology building healthcare VR experiences Penumbra and the Real System VR team had to design metaverse experiences that specifically addressed physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language rehabilitation and general mental well-being. “For example, when a physical therapist works with a patient to improve their range of motion, they perform specific physical motions,” Chen explained. This work demands a solid understanding of the underlying clinical principles used in rehab and translating them into VR experiences. The metaverse solutions for healthcare are not just VR headsets; patients’ arms, legs, upper body and core, are “rigged” with VR sensors and tracking technology. “In VR, we can recontextualize those motions as an immersive experience and layer-in goal-oriented gamification that encourages people to do more and enjoy doing it,” Chen adds. While virtual reality therapy builds on existing treatments and therapies, it is also unconstrained by several real-world limitations. “Instead of a therapy clinic, we can put you on a tropical island, or your favorite city, underwater or in space,” Chen said. Immersion distracts the patient from pain and fatigue and improves the quality of a patient’s outcomes. The technology leading the way in the healthcare metaverse sector is unlike the AR/VR tech used by everyday consumers. “The healthcare environment has different requirements than commercial entertainment products, so I would recommend products that are designed specifically for a healthcare use-case—without that, you’re just playing games,” Chen said. Accessibility in VR healthcare is not just about the hardware but about ensuring that the software, virtual environments and experiences are user-friendly and accessible to people who have never tried VR or AR before. Designers, therefore, have guidance built into the experiences. On the other hand, to adapt to effective rehabilitation or treatments, the simulations can be customized by therapists according to the patient’s demands. “Therapists need the ability to change the difficulty and stimulation levels of an experience on the fly, or change the game settings to add new elements to the experience if they feel they need to for that patient,” Chen says. SEE: Metaverse cheat sheet: Everything you need to know (free PDF) (TechRepublic) The metaverse benefits for patients Motivating patients is one of the most critical factors influencing the speed and extent of their recovery. Barry explained that VR truly captures a patient’s imagination and motivates them throughout their course of rehab, “intrinsically motivating them to stick to their exercises and helping them progress faster.” Metaverse virtual reality experiences can distract the patients from the mental hurdles and discomfort and allow them to focus on the task at hand, which may be “moving a virtual bird from one branch to another, or playing a virtual pinball game”. “We’ve heard from providers using our VR for rehab that they’ve seen patients move in ways they didn’t think possible and even, in some cases, progress faster than they’ve expected, and that’s the ultimate goal—to help patients get the most out of their rehab experience as fast as possible,” Barry said. For many, a healthcare metaverse is not an unusual sight as the pandemic accelerated the adoption of telemedicine, and patients demanded new technology options for care. “What this technology has the potential to do is to allow a single therapist to effectively treat more patients, or patients who have challenges accessing services,” Chen said. VR experiences also present themselves as solutions to problems that affect the sector like burnout of healthcare professionals, increased demand and long waiting times, and overworked care centers. “VR offers therapists a new tool to increase engagement and satisfaction with the rehab experience, which often leads to better outcomes in the real world,” Barry said.

ICHOXER Fidget Spinner Launched On Kickstarter – Digital Journal https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/ichoxer-fidget-spinner-launched-on-kickstarter-digital-journal/ World’s most interactive spinner gives parties a new spin, offers help when making decisions, and allows users to simply relax The world’s most interactive fidget spinner has been launched today on Kickstarter, at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1134582750/ichoxer-fidget-spinner-have-fun-get-guidance-and-socialize?ref=discovery&term=sovmacn , which is enticing backers by being more than just a fidget spinner. The device spins in multiple directions, glows, allows the user to relax, helps the user to play games, and even turns a decision-making process into something simple and fun. While conventional spinners only spin in one direction, users can spin ICHOXER in three ways and feel stress and anxiety going away. “You can even let your finger go with it, experiencing a use-anywhere instant relaxation experience that only such an interactive spinner can offer,” said Leon of the ICHOXER campaign. As it spins, the device produces a special mechanical “da-da” sound that helps users relax and even meditate. One of the innovative features of ICHOXER is that by combining the digital dial with the main dial and multiple options, the user can turn any light or complex decision-making process surprisingly quick and easy. From choosing what to eat from a menu, getting workout guidance, deciding what to do the next weekend, figuring out which drink to have during a party, or rolling the dice without having one, this special fidget spinner makes deciding anything a simple process. “In fact, ICHOXER comes with multiple blank strips for the dial that you can personalize,” the crowdfunder detailed. ICHOXER also has a fluorescent function. The box is equipped with fluorescent lights and it comes with a violet light to illuminate it, making the device glow. “It looks amazing, and it’s a spectacular effect,” Leon said about the relaxing effect of this special spinning glow. ICHOXER Fidget Spinner is safe for kids to play with it, and it is also made to be robust and resistant. The ICHOXER Fidget Spinner campaign on Kickstarter at About Us ICHOXER Fidget Spinner is developed by SOVMACN, a brand owned and operated by Shenzhen OVMAN Technology Co. Our company focuses on designing, developing, and producing cool and fun creative consumer products. We leverage 15 years of industrial design and product launching success stories, as well as well-established supply chain resources and experience. We want to create special gadgets that our customers can use to create content, share it on social media, and socialize. For more information, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1134582750/ichoxer-fidget-spinner-have-fun-get-guidance-and-socialize?ref=discovery&term=sovmacn or contact Leon, on [email protected] Media ContactCompany Name: Ovmacn.IncContact Person: Leo zhuEmail: Send EmailPhone: +86 13825262098Country: United StatesWebsite: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1134582750/ichoxer-fidget-spinner-have-fun-get-guidance-and-socialize?ref=c68a5u

Coinbase Receives Approval To Offer Full Suite Of Crypto Products In Netherlands – Exchanges Bitcoin News – Bitcoin News https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/coinbase-receives-approval-to-offer-full-suite-of-crypto-products-in-netherlands-exchanges-bitcoin-news-bitcoin-news/ Crypto exchange Coinbase has received approval to offer its full suite of retail and institutional crypto products and services in the Netherlands. “We have taken strides to work collaboratively with government, policymakers, and regulators to shape the future in a responsible way,” Coinbase said. Dutch Regulator Approves Coinbase The Nasdaq-listed cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase (Nasdaq: COIN) announced Thursday that it “has successfully registered with the Dutch central bank (De Nederlandsche Bank — DNB) as a crypto service provider.” The announcement details: This registration will allow Coinbase to offer our full suite of retail, institutional, and ecosystem products to customers in the Netherlands. “We are proud to be the first major global crypto exchange to receive DNB registration approval,” the company claimed, noting that Coinbase Europe Ltd. and Coinbase Custody International Ltd. are both listed in the DNB’s public register as a crypto service provider. Nana Murugesan, vice president of Coinbase’s international and business development, commented: We have taken strides to work collaboratively with government, policymakers and regulators to shape the future in a responsible way. “The Netherlands is a critical international market for crypto, and I am really excited for Coinbase to bring the potential of the crypto economy to the market here,” the executive opined. Coinbase explained that it serves customers across almost 40 European countries through dedicated hubs in Ireland, the U.K., and Germany. The company is also pursuing additional registrations or license applications in several major markets. In August, the Dutch central bank warned that Binance is illegally offering crypto exchange services in the country. “This may increase the risk of customers becoming involved in money laundering or terrorist financing,” the regulator cautioned at the time. In July, the DNB said it fined Binance Holdings $3.4 Million due to “very serious” violations. The crypto exchange subsequently applied for authorization to operate in the country with the central bank. What do you think about Coinbase receiving approval to offer its full suite of crypto products and services in the Netherlands? Let us know in the comments section below. Kevin Helms A student of Austrian Economics, Kevin found Bitcoin in 2011 and has been an evangelist ever since. His interests lie in Bitcoin security, open-source systems, network effects and the intersection between economics and cryptography. Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.

Wanted U.S. Citizen For Capital Murder Repatriated To The United States – Customs And Border Protection https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/wanted-u-s-citizen-for-capital-murder-repatriated-to-the-united-states-customs-and-border-protection/ El Paso, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers, through collaborative binational efforts and multiple law enforcement agencies, coordinated the repatriation of a United States citizen with an arrest warrant for capital murder out of Dallas, Texas. “It is not uncommon for individuals to flee the country to avoid prosecution,” said Port Director Ray Provencio. “CBP frequently collaborates with law enforcement agencies throughout the country and internationally to apprehend criminals and bring them to justice.” On Sept. 21, CBP officers were notified that a 20-year-old male, U.S. citizen, wanted for capital murder, was captured in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico by Mexico State Police officials. CBP officers coordinated with local, state, federal and international agencies to repatriate the individual. The individual was escorted to the international boundary line by Mexico State Police officials and turned over via the Stanton Dedicated Commuter Lane border crossing.    The individual was secured and escorted to secondary inspection where biometric verification confirmed his identity along with the active warrant for capital murder multiple persons, out of Dallas, Texas. The individual was arrested by CBP officers and turned over to the United States Marshals Service. For information regarding the murder investigation and warrant, please contact the Dallas Police Department.

ACS Awards Technology Integration Certificates To Local Teachers – The Alexander City Outlook https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/acs-awards-technology-integration-certificates-to-local-teachers-the-alexander-city-outlook/ 65° Alexander City, AL (35010) Today Mainly clear. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Mainly clear. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable. Updated: September 23, 2022 @ 8:23 pm Full Forecast 65° Alexander City, AL (35010) Today Mainly clear. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Mainly clear. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable. Updated: September 23, 2022 @ 8:23 pm Full Forecast Brigitte McCawley and Beverly Price present the Technology Integration Coaching Cycle award to Scarlette Atchison on Sept. 20. Submitted / The Outlook A group of local school teachers underwent a technology integration program in order to transform their classrooms’ learning environment. Get Exclusive Members Only Newsletters Sign up for our Free Newsletters Abigail Murphy is a multimedia reporter for Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. To contact Abigail Murphy, email abigail.murphy@alexcityoutlook.com. Abigail Murphy Multimedia Reporter Author email Humidity: 81% Feels Like: 65° Heat Index: 65° Wind: 0 mph Wind Chill: 65° UV Index: 0 Low Sunrise: 06:33:01 AM Sunset: 06:39:22 PM Dew Point: 59° Visibility: 10 mi Today Mainly clear. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable. Tonight Mainly clear. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable. Tomorrow Sunny. High 83F. Winds light and variable. Upcoming Radar 7 Day Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reporting—but good journalism isn’t free. Please support our tireless efforts to gather and report your local news by subscribing or making a contribution. Stay informed with our Free Newsletters

Give More 24! Surpasses Goal, Raises $3.6 Million For Cowlitz, Clark, Skamania Counties Nonprofits – The Daily News https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/give-more-24-surpasses-goal-raises-3-6-million-for-cowlitz-clark-skamania-counties-nonprofits-the-daily-news/ For the third year in a row, Give More 24! broke its fundraising record and goal, bringing in more than $3.6 million for Southwest Washington nonprofits.  On Thursday, more than 200 organizations in Cowlitz, Clark and Skamania counties participated in the annual 24-hour online fundraiser held by the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington.  The 36 participating Cowlitz County nonprofits collectively raised $413,240 of the total.  FISH of Cowlitz County raised $51,975 from 53 donors, boosted by matches from an anonymous donor, the Kirchner Foundation and the Firstenburg Foundation.  Board President Bob Theriault said this is the most the all-volunteer organization has raised in the last few years of participating. The online fundraiser is FISH’s largest outreach to the general public for donations, though it raises money from other sources throughout the year, Theriault said.  “FISH can’t do what we do without, No. 1, over 300 volunteers in the community, … and No. 2, without financial assistance from generous people throughout the community,” he said.  The nonprofit partners with churches to distribute food, and also helps pay for utility bills, prescription medications, emergency dental care, eye exams and other emergency needs.  “This boost was really important to us to help us recover, help us get through a slow spot in our finances because of our extra efforts during the pandemic,” Theriault said.  Local organizations, like Stageworks Northwest Theatre and the Southwest Washington Symphony, held in-person events during the campaign. The nonprofit partnered with Kelso restaurant Fiesta Bonita Mexican Grill & Cantina, which donated a percent of sales to Ethnic Support Council. The organization raised $10,250 online, but also received checks from less tech-savvy supporters, said Cindy Lopez Werth, council board member.  “I thought we did very well this year in Give More 24!,” she said. “I’m just really amazed at how generous people are.”  The fundraiser is a “great community effort,” of businesses pitching in prizes and hosting nonprofit events, Lopez Werth said.  Although the overall number of donors was down from about 6,600 to 6,065, the average gift increased about $8 to push the fundraiser over its goal, said Maury Harris, Community Foundation spokesman. Many nonprofits also secured matching funds, for a total of about $1.74 million that was almost 100% fulfilled, he said.  The one-day fundraiser is an efficient way for organizations to raise money outside of typical fundraising efforts, Harris said.  “Communities coming together all on one day for this urgent challenge is fun, exciting,” he said. “(It’s) something that feels different to a donor, so they might give that extra gift that day.”  Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter.

You’ll Be Able To Holiday In Hong Kong Without Going Through Hotel Quarantine From September 26 – Concrete Playground Sydney https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/youll-be-able-to-holiday-in-hong-kong-without-going-through-hotel-quarantine-from-september-26-concrete-playground-sydney/ Clear your calendar. Check your annual leave balance. Dust off your biggest suitcase. In the space of less than 24 hours, not one but two dream vacation spots have added themselves back to everyone’s must-visit lists — and, even better, to our can-visit lists. First came Japan, which’ll drop its travel restrictions on individual international tourists in mid-October. Also announcing a big change to its border requirements: Hong Kong. The Special Administrative Region’s Chief Executive John Lee advised on Friday, September 23 that it’ll ditch compulsory hotel quarantine for incoming travellers from Monday, September 26. Yes, in a matter of days you’ll be able to jet over to the popular getaway destination and enter without spending a stint holed up in a hotel first. The quarantine requirement will lift “for inbound persons from overseas places or Taiwan” after “analysing scientific data and striking a balance among factors such as transmission risks”, the Hong Kong Government said in a statement. “The Government’s goal is to minimise the inconvenience faced by inbound travellers due to quarantine requirements and allow room for Hong Kong to connect with the world as far as possible, while being able to contain the epidemic development.” Also changing: testing requirements, with travellers no longer needing to provide a negative PCR test to enter Hong Kong from Monday, September 26, too. Rather, you’ll have to show a negative COVID-19 result from a rapid antigen test, which needs to be taken within the 24 hours prior to getting on your flight. There are a few other caveats. A period of “medical surveillance” lasting three days applies, which requires self-monitoring from wherever you’re staying in Hong Kong. And, during that period, travellers can’t enter bars or restaurants — places considered “high-risk premises involving mask-off or group activities” — but they can use public transport, and shop in supermarkets and markets. You’ll also need to undertake daily RATs, and take a PCR test upon arrival — and on days two, four and six of your stay. Currently looking for your passport? Making big summer plans? Plotting out your bucket-list 2023 trip? That’s understandable. Hong Kong’s compulsory quarantine requirement will lift on Monday, September 26. For further information about travelling to Hong Kong, visit the Hong Kong Government’s website.

Premium: Business News – Pampa News https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/premium-business-news-pampa-news/ 10 states most at risk for malware attacks Using SonicWall data, Beyond Identity highlights the 10 states with the most attempted malware attacks.   Small business owner? How insurance can help protect your business (BPT) – If you run a business, you probably already know that no two businesses are alike. An online jewelry business or web design service based in your home won’t have the same needs (or … Fall 2022 Business Travel Trends and How to Plan for Them (BPT) – Small business owners are expert planners, which means they’ve already started thinking about fall travel. Business travel has been steadily on the rise, with corporate travel spend … Starting a small business? These expert tips will help set you on a path to success (BPT) – The American entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well. After two record-breaking years of new business creation, there’s no sign of the trend slowing down with as many as 17 million new … Why is customer experience essential to the MZ Generation? And why is that important? (BPT) – At the essence of CX (customer experience) is an increased focus on how customers feel when they experience a particular brand, product and service. Nowadays, comprehensively understanding CX … 4 considerations for continued education in today’s economy (BPT) – Today’s economic and business environments are incredibly complex. Inflation is at a record high, supply chain disruptions continue to riddle companies and consumers, and while many … 3 Trending Scams and How to Outsmart Them (BPT) – By Nev Schulman in partnership with Zelle®The years I’ve spent hosting and producing MTV’s “Catfish” … Breaking all the rules: Finding success in healthcare marketing (BPT) – It’s a well-known rule in marketing that if you’re a healthcare company you need to work with an advertising agency that lives and breathes healthcare.But rules are made to be … Leadership, Integrity, Teamwork: Veterans Bring Big Value to Civilian Jobs (BPT) – Veterans served and sacrificed during their military careers to protect our freedom and keep us safe. When it’s time to transition to civilian work, their next mission is often to find a job … Are employee ownership programs the future of corporate America? (BPT) – It’s no secret it’s a job seekers market. Many people are open to new work and employers are vying to attract the best talent. This gives job seekers more options than ever to find positions … Irish technology exports in North America up 22% to $1.42bn (BPT) – The Irish and North American relationship has never been stronger, with Enterprise Ireland, the Irish government trade and innovation agency, and the number one VC in the world by deal count, … U.S. Business Leaders Navigate Economic Uncertainty in Search of Growth (BPT) – By Ginger Chambless, Head of Research, JPMorgan Chase Commercial BankingThe first half of 2022 has tested business leaders with decades-high inflation, sharply rising interest rates and … Is the Great Resignation contributing to your curiosity about starting your own business? [Video] (BPT) – During the Great Resignation, a record number in the workforce have quit their jobs. Many of these individuals are interested in … Trust-based philanthropy has the power to transform how foundations fund nonprofits (BPT) – When nonprofits receive grants from foundations or funders, the application, rules and reporting process are often arduous. Historically, the power dynamic leans heavily toward those … Ecommerce News: Turning Passion to Profit (NewsUSA) – Have you ever shopped at someone’s personal online store and thought, “I could do that”? In the wake of the pandemic, more people are reinventing their work lives and choosing to …

The Last Word: Is Alcohol Use At Any Level Actually Healthy? – Everyday Health https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/the-last-word-is-alcohol-use-at-any-level-actually-healthy-everyday-health/ For many of us, alcohol is an automatic part of the social events that punctuate our lives. Booze is a staple at Friday happy hours or boozy brunches or toasts to mark big milestones like graduations or weddings or promotions. And we may not give it a second thought because we’ve heard over and over again that it’s fine to drink in moderation. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans seem to echo this sentiment that moderate drinking is safe. They recommend no more than two drinks a day for men or one daily drink for women. One drink, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes, could be a 12-ounce (oz) beer, 8 oz of malt liquor, a 5-oz glass of wine, or a 1.5-oz shot of hard liquor like gin, rum, vodka, or whiskey. These guidelines also caution against heavy drinking and binge drinking — and stress that less is more when it comes to alcohol. Beyond this, the guidelines also emphasize that nobody should start drinking just because they think there might be health benefits. That begs the question: Is drinking alcohol actually healthy? “I think it unlikely that any level of alcohol consumption has net health benefits,” says Tim Stockwell, PhD, a substance use researcher and professor emeritus in the department of psychology at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada. There are decades of research to support this idea, at least as it applies broadly to society at large, Dr. Stockwell adds. But how this applies to each of us as individuals is much more nuanced, with the potential risks and benefits of alcohol consumption influenced in large part by our distinct life circumstances and unique medical histories. “The most important thing is that people are informed about the nature and scale of alcohol’s risks so they can make their own choices,” Stockwell says. How Much Do Americans Drink? Most U.S. adults drink at some point in their lifetime, according to survey data ferom the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). In any given year, two-thirds of adults drink at some point, and in a typical month, more than half of people consume alcohol. While many of these people are occasional or moderate drinkers, about 1 in 4 adults binge drink in a typical month, which NIAAA defines as more than four drinks for women or more than five drinks for men within about two hours. More than 1 in 20 adults are heavy drinkers, which NIAAA defines as more than four drinks a day or 14 drinks a week for men, and more than three drinks a day or seven drinks a week for women. In study after study, people who drink in moderation tend to be really different from both teetotalers and heavy drinkers — moderate drinkers are typically wealthier, healthier, better educated, and living in more affluent communities. And both people who abstain and those who binge are typically poorer, less educated, and more apt to have a history of substance use issues or chronic health problems than moderate drinkers. As a result, moderate drinkers may be healthier, independent of drinking status, than people who abstain or drink too much. That can make it hard to understand the extent to which alcohol plays a role in health. Why Most Alcohol Research Is Flawed Plus, studies comparing moderate drinkers to abstainers usually have a critical flaw. These studies typically don’t account for the medical reasons that motivate many people to avoid alcohol — like substance use disorders or chronic illness — and may appear to exaggerate the health benefits of moderate drinking as a result. One meta-analysis of 87 studies on alcohol consumption and the risk of premature death, for example, found that the longevity benefits of moderate drinking essentially disappeared after adjusting for this so-called “abstainer bias.” Another major caveat to most research into the health effects of alcohol is that the vast majority of these studies aren’t controlled experiments designed to prove whether alcohol directly causes specific positive or negative medical outcomes. The gold standard in medical research — clinical trials that randomly assign some people to try an intervention while others join an intervention-free control group — isn’t considered ethical in alcohol research given the potential for drinking to harm study participants. Instead, most of the biggest and most influential studies of alcohol and health rely on asking people about their drinking habits and looking for connections between the amount, type, and frequency of alcohol consumption and a wide range of medical outcomes. This kind of study design creates many biases that make it challenging to show cause and effect, leading to shakier results that can’t be fully relied on. “Big picture, the data are very clear and consistent that drinking in excess is overall harmful to health,” says Gregory Marcus, MD, a professor of medicine at the University of California in San Francisco, who researches the effects of alcohol on the heart. But the impact of drinking in moderation isn’t as clear. “The big unanswered question is whether consuming a standard drink of alcohol a day — meaning a glass of wine or a single 12-oz can or bottle of beer or one shot of spirits — is overall better or worse for your health,” Dr. Marcus says. Moderate Drinking and Longevity Like so many questions around alcohol’s health effects, the picture is mixed when it comes to longevity. For example, one study following more than 333,000 adults for about eight years found light-to-moderate drinkers were more than 20 percent less likely to die prematurely from all causes and from cardiovascular disease in particular than people who never drank at all. In this study, heavy drinkers and binge drinkers were more than 10 percent more likely to die prematurely from all causes and 22 percent more apt to die from cancer. Similarly, a meta-analysis of data from 34 studies with more than one million participants also found a survival benefit to moderate drinking. In this analysis, men who consumed up to four drinks a day were up to 17 percent less likely to die prematurely, while women who consumed up to two drinks daily had an 18 percent lower risk of premature death. But another large study that followed 600,000 drinkers over time found that moderate drinking may actually hasten death even when people limit their consumption to one or two drinks a day as recommended by U.S. dietary guidelines. In this study, adults who consumed 7 to 14 drinks a week had a six-month shorter life expectancy by age 40 than people who drank less often. Moderate Drinking and Heart Health There is no consensus that moderate drinking leads to a healthier heart. For example, one of the biggest studies to date (PDF) to examine drinking and cardiovascular health followed more than 1.9 million people without heart disease over about six years to see how alcohol might be associated with their risk of developing heart issues. In this study, moderate drinkers were significantly less likely than abstainers to experience heart attacks, stroke, heart failure, peripheral artery disease, and aneurysms. Moderate drinkers were more likely to have a heart attack than heavy drinkers, however. Another study of more than 1.1 million people examined the connection between alcohol and heart health much differently — by comparing outcomes based on whether people lived in “dry” counties that banned alcohol sales or “wet” counties that permitted sales without any restrictions. Dry county residents were 7 percent more likely to be hospitalized for atrial fibrillation but 11 percent less likely to be hospitalized for heart attacks compared to people in wet counties. Moderate drinkers had the lowest cardiovascular disease risk in a study of more than 371,000 adults who participated in the U.K. Biobank, offering detailed genetic and medical information to scientists. Adults in this study were in their mid-50s and had an average of nine drinks weekly. Heavy drinkers had the highest heart disease risk, followed by abstainers. Moderate drinkers had the lowest risk but they also tended to have healthier lifestyles — with more exercise, less smoking, and higher vegetable consumption — that might explain the protective effect of moderate drinking on the heart. So again, these findings are mixed. Brain Health and Moderate Drinking Some research also suggests that drinking in moderation can be harmful to the brain, hastening structural changes that can lead to dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and cognitive decline. One study of almost 37,000 healthy adults in the U.K. Biobank, for example, found consuming one or two drinks a day was associated with reduced overall brain tissue volume as well as less gray matter and white matter. Increasing drinking from about a half pint of beer daily to a full pint of beer amounted to aging the brain by about two years, the study found. Another study that followed roughly 9,000 middle-aged adults over more than two decades found moderate drinking less harmful to the brain than abstaining or heavy alcohol consumption. People who abstained from drinking were 47 percent more likely to develop dementia than moderate drinkers. In addition, people who cut back on alcohol consumption in middle age had a higher dementia risk than adults who consistently consumed moderate amounts of alcohol. Moderate Drinking and Obesity Risk Many studies linking obesity to alcohol consumption clearly demonstrate the negative impact of heavy drinking and binge drinking on body weight. As with many other health outcomes from alcohol consumption, the picture is mixed when it comes to the link between obesity and moderate drinking. One study of more than 45,000 drinkers found that the total number of drinks each week didn’t necessarily influence weight ga...

College Football Schedule, Games 2022: What To Watch In Week 4, TV Channels, Saturday Kickoff Times – CBS Sports https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/college-football-schedule-games-2022-what-to-watch-in-week-4-tv-channels-saturday-kickoff-times-cbs-sports/ Major conference games headline the matchups in the last Saturday of September Sep 23, 2022 at 7:45 pm ET • 4 min read USATSI The final Saturday of September is upon us which means that important conference matchups are all over the Week 4 college football schedule. No. 20 Florida will head to Rocky Top to take on No. 11 Tennessee in the SEC on CBS Game of the Week in a massive SEC East rivalry that will go a long way toward determining the state of the rebuilding process for both teams. Elsewhere, No. 5 Clemson will hit the road to take on No. 21 Wake Forest at high noon ET. The Tigers haven’t exactly been impressive through three games, but a win over the Demon Deacons would be a sure-fire signal that Dabo Swinney’s crew can contend.  A late night SEC West battle between No. 10 Arkansas and No. 23 Texas A&M will kickoff in the evening, as will a cross-division Big Ten tilt between Wisconsin and No. 3 Ohio State.  It’ll be a busy Saturday across the country. Here’s a handy viewer’s guide to help you navigate the action. All times eastern. The best games No. 5 Clemson at No. 21 Wake Forest — noon on ABC, fuboTV (Try for free): This key ACC Atlantic matchup will be a fascinating contract of styles. The Tigers defense — especially up front — is loaded, while the Demon Deacons up-tempo, slow-mesh offense is as dangerous as any in college football. The winner of this one will have a massive advantage in the race for the division title. No. 20 Florida at No. 11 Tennessee — 3:30 p.m. on CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App: The rivalry actually means something this year which is great not only for the SEC, but for the entire college football world. Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson has struggled through the air, but that might have to change if this turns into a shootout and he has to keep up with the up-tempo Volunteers offense led by Heisman Trophy candidate Hendon Hooker under center.  No. 22 Texas at Texas Tech — 3:30 p.m. on ESPN, fuboTV (Try for free): This key in-state battle is already a big deal in the race for the Big 12 title, but that intrigue cranked up a notch on Thursday when it was learned that star quarterback Quinn Ewers — who was injured in the loss to Alabama in Week 2 — will make the trip to Lubbock, Texas, and dress out. Ewers looked great against the Crimson Tide prior to his shoulder injury, and it’ll be interesting to see how coach Steve Sarkisian uses him if he does see the field. No. 10 Arkansas vs. No. 23 Texas A&M (in Arlington, Texas) — 7 p.m. on ESPN, fuboTV (Try for free): This showdown at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, is loaded with intrigue. The Razorbacks have the worst pass defense in the country (352.7 yards per game), while the Aggies pass offense has been mediocre at best. The loser of this one will be fighting an uphill battle in the SEC West for the remainder of the season. Wisconsin at No. 3 Ohio State — 7:30 p.m. on ABC, fuboTV (Try for free): This will be a contrast of styles between two Big Ten powers inside the Horseshoe. The Buckeyes boast a tremendous passing offense under Heisman contender C.J. Stroud, and the Badgers are built to own the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Ohio State’s defensive front was a concern coming into the season, and this will be its biggest test of the young season. No. 7 USC at Oregon State — 9:30 p.m. on Pac-12 Network, fuboTV (Try for free): The high-flying Trojans offense will head to Corvallis, Oregon, where it will take on a Beavers team that has very quietly gone 3-0 and produced the Pac-12’s second-best offense. If the Trojans’ defense is able to tighten up, it might be the signal that coach Lincoln Riley’s team is truly “back.” Best of the rest Kent State at No. 1 Georgia — noon on ESPN+ Maryland at No. 4 Michigan — noon on Fox, fuboTV (Try for free) Central Michigan at No. 14 Penn State — noon on Big Ten Network, fuboTV (Try for free) No. 17 Baylor at Iowa State — noon on ESPN2, fuboTV (Try for free) Rhode Island at No. 24 Pittsburgh — noon on ACC Network, fuboTV (Try for free) Buffalo at Eastern Michigan — noon on CBS Sports Network, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App Middle Tennessee at No. 25 Miami — 3:30 p.m. on ACC Network, fuboTV (Try for free) Notre Dame at North Carolina — 3:30 p.m. on ABC, fuboTV (Try for free) FIU at Western Kentucky — 3:30 on CBS Sports Network, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App No. 15 Oregon at Washington State — 4 p.m. on Fox, fuboTV (Try for free) Tulsa at No. 16 Ole Miss — 4 p.m. on SEC Network, fuboTV (Try for free) Northern Illinois at No. 8 Kentucky — 7 p.m. on ESPN2, fuboTV (Try for free) UNLV at Utah State — 7 p.m. on CBS Sports Network, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App Vanderbilt at No. 2 Alabama — 7:30 p.m. on SEC Network, fuboTV (Try for free) UConn at No. 12 NC State — 7:30 p.m. on ACC RSNs Kansas State at No. 6 Oklahoma — 8 p.m. on Fox, fuboTV (Try for free) Wyoming at No. 19 BYU — 10:15 p.m. on ESPN2, fuboTV (Try for free) No. 13 Utah at Arizona State — 10:30 p.m. on ESPN, fuboTV (Try for free) Stanford at No. 18 Washington — 10:30 p.m. on FS1, fuboTV (Try for free) Western Michigan at San Jose State — 10:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App

This Bluetooth Projector Tries To Bring The Metaverse To Your Room – Yanko Design https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/this-bluetooth-projector-tries-to-bring-the-metaverse-to-your-room-yanko-design/ Although the hype around the buzzword seems to have dialed down a bit, it’s hard to deny that the metaverse or something like it will eventually become our reality. The merging of the physical and the digital is something that will happen eventually, pending the development of hardware and people’s mindsets. Most of the rhetoric around the metaverse involves placing ourselves in the digital realm through avatars. It can, however, also involve placing digital assets into our physical spaces. That could become possible with holograms of the future, but until then, this stylish home projector system could bridge the gap by transporting some parts of the metaverse into your living room or bedroom. Designer: Gyung Min Lee Home projectors have become trendy these days, especially for people pressed for space or simply want to have flexibility. Naturally, these projectors prioritize displaying videos and sometimes photos on a rectangular space that recreates a TV screen. Their primary target, after all, is entertainment, so their designs and hardware are geared toward that purpose. The Light House projector concept might be capable of that as well, but its raison d’être is really to set the mood in a room with different visuals and, if needed, different worlds. Rather than a typical box-type projector, Light House is made of one or two cylindrical projectors hanging from a pole stand. It has a typical projector lens in the middle, surrounded by an array of six bright LED lights. Together, these pieces can project not only images but also different colors that match a specific theme or mood. While Light House can probably function as a normal projector for watching videos, it really shines in transforming a room into a lively party or a calming space. The ambient lights can set the mood, flooding the area with vibrant colors or soothing hues as desired. It can even try to recreate natural light, giving you a proper wake-up call while mimicking the sunrise. The metaverse comes into play when you start projecting virtual objects onto walls, ceilings, and floors. Rather than having your avatar go to a beach or into space, you can bring those scenes right into your bedroom. Of course, you can also project screens and other pieces of UI that show information, though you won’t be able to interact with them directly except through a smartphone or a computer. Although it’s not the most efficient use of a projector, Light House makes an interesting proposition on how we can build a bridge between the real and the virtual without having to wear headsets or touch screens. We’re still a long way from creating convincing room-wide holograms, so until then, we’ll have to make do with projectors like these, though hopefully with some form of hand gesture control in the near future.

The Secret IOS 16 Features For IPhone Apple Didn’t Tell Anybody About – Gadget Hacks https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/the-secret-ios-16-features-for-iphone-apple-didnt-tell-anybody-about-gadget-hacks/ It’s no secret that Apple’s iOS 16 update is packed with useful features, but some of them Apple never even mentioned. Not at the software’s unveiling in June and not even after iOS 16’s public release in September. It’s actually surprising considering that one little-known new feature may actually be one of the most important upgrades iOS 16 has to offer for iPhones. Some of the best new features that slipped under the radar aren’t even listed on Apple’s support webpages for iOS 16. Apple’s developer documentation doesn’t even mention the features below. But that’s part of the fun about getting a big new iOS update — there are a lot of cool things to discover on your own. Don’t Miss: Your iPhone’s Contacts App Just Got Its Biggest Update Ever 1. Pick Which App Opens a Link from Messages When you tap to open most links in the Messages app, they open in whatever app they’re associated with. That’s the case for all rich and non-rich links on iOS 16 and lower. However, Apple snuck in an obscure feature that lets you pick apps to open links in — but it only works for some non-rich links. To try it, long-press a non-rich URL to open the quick actions. If you only see “Open Link,” it won’t let you pick an app. But if you see multiple app names, you can choose one of those apps. For example, the quick actions for a shortcut’s iCloud link will show “Open in Safari” and “Open in ‘Shortcuts,'” while the quick actions for a podcast’s RSS feed link will show “Open in Safari” and “Open in ‘Podcasts.'” Don’t Miss: Apple Just Improved Messaging on Your iPhone with 26 New Must-Try Features 2. Use Apple TV Remote as an App If you use the Apple TV Remote from your iPhone’s Control Center to control your Apple TV or AirPlay 2–enabled smart TV, there’s an interesting change for you on iOS 16 that makes it more like an app than just a Control Center tool. While you won’t find an app icon for it on your home screen, nor in Spotlight Search or the App Library, it does act more like an app. Before, whenever attempting to switch apps from the remote, it would just close the remote and send you back to Control Center. On iOS 16, it actually lets you enter the app switcher, so you can quickly switch back to the remote after using another app. Even better, it now has a URL scheme — tvremote:// — so you can make your own app icon for it in the Shortcuts app and add it to the home screen. When you do that, it will even appear in Spotlight Search and the App Library. 3. Get Instant Unit Conversions in Messages When chatting with others in the Messages app, you’ll likely see a specific unit of measurement, currency, temperature, or something else in a conversation, especially if you’re talking with somebody from a different country. On iOS 16, Messages lets you convert those units to your preferred ones. It works for temperature, currency, weight, volume, distance/length, area, angles, time zones, and more. Some compatible units include Fahrenheit, Celcius, Kelvin, miles, kilometers, feet, inches, yards, quarts, pints, ounces, cups, pounds, teaspoons, tablespoons, horsepower, watts, radians, and liters. If Messages can convert a measurement, the unit will be underlined. Then, you simply tap or touch and hold the unit to get the most popular conversions for your location. Apple does have information on using Live Text to convert units in photos but never mentioned anything about conversions in Messages. More Info: iOS 16 Has a Hidden Unit Converter for Temperatures, Time Zones, Distance, and Other Measurements 4. Type, Sign, and Add Shapes in Handwritten Notes Another welcome addition to iOS 16 that Apple never discussed is the option to add shapes, typed text, and your signature to any handwritten note in the Notes app. It works just like it does for Markup in other scenarios, like when drawing on a screenshot, annotating a PDF, marking up an image in an email, etc. — only the menu looks slightly different. To add a sketch or drawing to a note, tap the Markup icon (the pen) from the toolbar above the keyboard or at the bottom of the note. Then, tap the new plus (+) icon to find “Add Text,” “Add Signature,” and “Add Shape.” Don’t Miss: Apple Notes Has 13 New Features on iOS 16 You Should Know About 5. Copy and Delete Screenshots Simultaneously One of my favorite iOS 16 features is something I’ve wanted for years: the ability to copy a screenshot to the clipboard and delete the image with one button. If you’re someone like me who keeps a bunch of unwanted screenshots in Photos, you’ll probably love this. First, take a screenshot and tap its thumbnail to open the editor. Then, edit the screenshot as needed and press “Done.” You’ll see a new “Copy and Delete” option in the menu. Tap that, and the screenshot will head right to the “Recently Deleted” album in the Photos app where it will eventually be wiped from your device, and you can use the paste function in any app to add the screenshot image. Don’t Miss: Make Your iPhone Auto-Delete Old Screenshots So Your Photos App Doesn’t Become a Hot Mess 6. Create and Manage Contact Groups Surprising, one of the biggest and most valuable features Apple gave us with iOS 16 is mentioned nowhere by Apple anywhere — creating and managing contact groups, now called lists, in the Contacts app. It’s actually the Contacts app’s most significant update ever, and the only thing Apple talked about was merging duplicate contacts. Before, you could only create and edit contact groups from the Contacts app on macOS or iCloud.com. The only thing you could do on your iPhone on iOS 15 and older was show and hide the groups you set up on your Mac or the web — unless you were willing to use a third-party app. Now, you can create, rename, edit, and delete lists, as well as add and remove contacts from them — and it couldn’t be easier. But if you didn’t know about it, you might never notice it if you keep using Contacts as you did before. More Info: Your iPhone Just Got a Massive Feature iCloud and Macs Had Forever Keep Your Connection Secure Without a Monthly Bill. Get a lifetime subscription to VPN Unlimited for all your devices with a one-time purchase from the new Gadget Hacks Shop, and watch Hulu or Netflix without regional restrictions, increase security when browsing on public networks, and more. Buy Now (80% off) Other worthwhile deals to check out: 41% off a home Wi-Fi analyzer 98% off a learn to code bundle 98% off an accounting bootcamp 59% off the XSplit VCam video background editor Cover photo, screenshots, and GIF by Daniel Hipskind/Gadget Hacks

Framework To Ban Members Of Congress And SCOTUS From Trading Stocks Includes Crypto Provision – Cointelegraph https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/framework-to-ban-members-of-congress-and-scotus-from-trading-stocks-includes-crypto-provision-cointelegraph/ Members of the United States House of Representatives and Senate as well as Supreme Court justices currently trading cryptocurrencies may have to stop HODLing while in office should a bill get enough votes. According to a framework released on Thursday, chair Zoe Lofgren of the Committee on House Administration — responsible for the day-to-day operations of the House — said she had a “meaningful and effective plan to combat financial conflicts of interest” in the U.S. Congress by restricting the financial activities of lawmakers and SCOTUS justices, as well as those of their spouses and children. The bill, if passed according to the framework, would suggest a change in policy following the 2012 passage of the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act, or STOCK Act, allowing members of Congress to buy, sell and trade stocks and other investments while in office, but also requiring them to disclose such transactions. “Congress can act to restore the public’s faith and trust in their public officials and ensure that these officials act in the public interest, not their private financial interest, by restricting senior government officials — including Members of Congress and the Supreme Court — and their spouses and dependent children from trading stock or holding investments in securities, commodities, futures, cryptocurrency, and other similar investments and from shorting stocks,” said Lofgren. She added: “I will soon introduce legislative text for a bill built on this framework for reform. Many Members have already concluded that reforms are necessary.” The framework suggested that lawmakers and SCOTUS justices could still hold and disclose a portfolio with diversified mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, Treasury bills, and other investments that did “not present the same potential for conflicts of interest.” The bill’s framework also proposed disclosure amounts be more precise rather than the “extremely broad” range currently used — for example, fro$5 million to $25 million — and be available to the public. Under the STOCK Act, lawmakers are required to report the purchase, sale or exchange of any investment over $1,000 within 30 to 45 days but the law provides minimal financial and legal consequences for not filing in time — sometimes as little as a $200 late fee. The proposed framework suggested enforcing fines of $1,000 for every 30-day period an individual was in violation of disclosure rules, increasing the late fee to $500, and authorizing the Department of Justice to bring civil actions if necessary. The House Press Gallery’s Twitter account reported on Thursday that the House could consider the proposed legislation as early as next week. Senators Jon Ossoff and Mark Kelly proposed similar reforms for the STOCK Act in the Senate in January, but there has been no movement on the bill in more than 8 months. According to Lofgren, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tasked the committee to review potential financial conflicts of interest in Congress. However, the speaker previously pushed back against efforts to prohibit lawmakers from owning or trading stocks, saying “they should be able to participate in that.” Related: Powers On… Why US officials ignore ethics and STOCK Act by trading stocks? A number of House members and senators have disclosed their exposure to crypto investments, including Illinois Representative Marie Newman, Florida Representative Michael Waltz, Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis, Texas Representative Michael McCaul, Pennsylvania Representative Pat Toomey, Alabama Representative Barry Moore, and New Jersey Representative Jefferson Van Drew. In December 2021, New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said it inappropriate for her to hold Bitcoin (BTC) or other digital assets because U.S. lawmakers have access to “sensitive information and upcoming policy.”

Barclays Shareholders Sue In U.S. Over $17.6 Bln Debt Sale Blunder – Reuters.com https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/barclays-shareholders-sue-in-u-s-over-17-6-bln-debt-sale-blunder-reuters-com/ A branch of Barclays Bank is seen, in London, Britain, February 23, 2022. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com NEW YORK, Sept 23 (Reuters) – Barclays Plc (BARC.L) was sued on Friday in a proposed U.S. class action in which shareholders claimed they were defrauded in connection with the British bank’s sale of $17.6 billion more debt than regulators had allowed. A complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan by two Florida pension plans seeks to hold Barclays responsible for declines in the prices of its American depositary receipts (ADR)as costs mounted over the blunder. The complaint said Barclays made “materially false and misleading” assurances in its annual reports that its internal controls over financial reporting were effective. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com It also said the bank overstated profit, and understated operating and “litigation and conduct” expenses, by failing to disclose the overissuance in its 2021 earnings releases. “The failure to have controls in place to account for the number of securities issued against the number of securities registered is such an elementary failure of internal control that is so obvious as to be deliberately reckless,” the complaint said. Barclays declined to comment. Chief Executive C.S. Venkatakrishnan and his predecessor Jes Staley are among the other defendants. The bank revealed in March that it had sold $15.2 billion more structured and exchange-traded notes than the $20.8 billion U.S. regulators had authorized. In July, the bank increased the oversold amount by $2.4 billion. read more Barclays offered to buy back the excess securities, and on July 28 said it set aside about 1.59 billion pounds (now $1.73 billion) related to the overissuance. read more The bank said on Sept. 15 that investors had submitted claims covering $7 billion of the securities. read more Friday’s lawsuit by the City of North Miami Beach Police Officers’ and Firefighters’ Retirement Plan and City of North Miami Beach General Employees’ Retirement Plan seeks damages for Barclays ADR holders from Feb. 18, 2021 to March 25, 2022. The case is City of North Miami Beach Police Officers’ and Firefighters’ Retirement Plan et al v. Barclays Plc et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 22-08172. ($1 = 0.921 pounds) Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York Editing by Chris Reese Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Iran Unrest: What’s Going On With Iran And The Internet? – BBC https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/iran-unrest-whats-going-on-with-iran-and-the-internet-bbc/ By Shiona McCallum Technology reporter Image source, Getty Images Activists in Iran are expressing concern about widespread internet outages and residents being unable to access social media. Anger has circulated online after over a week of protests sparked by the death of a Kurdish woman in police custody. Internet monitoring group NetBlocks said Instagram and WhatsApp – two of the major communication tools that Iran usually allows – had been restricted. WhatsApp said it was working to keep Iranian users connected. The two Meta-owned apps have millions of Iranian users and have become increasingly popular after authorities blocked other platforms in recent years, including Facebook and Twitter. Telegram, YouTube and TikTok have also periodically been closed down. The latest intermittent blackouts follow the eruption of nationwide protests over Mahsa Amini’s death. The 22-year-old had been detained for allegedly failing to adhere to hijab (headscarf) rules. NetBlocks reported that the internet was partially reconnected on Thursday night but that on Friday it was suffering a “nation-scale loss of connectivity” again. “People in Iran are being cut off from online apps and services,” Instagram chief Adam Mosseri tweeted, adding that “we hope their right to be online will be reinstated quickly”. But others accused Meta of being complicit in disconnecting users. Some shared their evidence that content supporting the Iranian protests had been blocked by Meta. Meta has a team of Persian-speaking reviewers who look at and remove content that violates their rules. If a post that has broken Meta’s community standards has been reported by users or flagged by technology, it will be taken down. People also reported not being able to access their WhatsApp accounts even when trying to use a VPN and proxy. Ordinarily, website access is heavily restricted by government filters and only those with VPNs can access uncensored content from overseas websites. But this ban seems different. So what is really going on? The internet blackouts largely come from Iran’s biggest mobile phone operator being offline. Iran Mobile Communications Company has more than 60 million customers. Earlier in the week, the communications minister blamed security reasons for the disruption. But Isik Mater from NetBlocks told the BBC: “The internet is one of the biggest tools that the Iranian authorities have got in their hands when unrest breaks out on the streets.” She says because there is no private broadcast network in Iran, the internet is the “only place” where protesters can share their voice. Image source, Mahsa Amini family Image caption, Mahsa Amini died after she collapsed at a morality police detention centre Miss Amini’s death has unleashed anger over issues including personal freedoms and economic challenges in Iran. Protesters – many of whom are women who have been waving and burning their veils – say they fear an escalating crackdown. “We are worried that the world will forget about Iran as soon as the regime shuts down the internet – which is already happening,” one activist, who wanted to remain anonymous, said. Most of the protests and campaigns are organised by people over social media and if they cannot get connected then it becomes much more difficult to mobilise. Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Protests over Mahsa Amini’s death have spread across Iran Shayan Sardarizadeh from the BBC’s disinformation unit said: “Shutting down internet connections nationwide is the nuclear option for Iranian authorities, only triggered when they fear protests are on a scale that pose an existential threat to the regime. “It is an effective tool that severely harms the ability of protesters to organise, communicate and inform the outside world, but it also carries a huge cost for the Iranian economy, businesses and public services. “However, Iranian authorities have shown time and again that when faced with a choice between a severe hit to the economy and cracking down on political unrest at any cost, they will always choose the latter.” Cracking down heavily on protesters and shutting down the internet has worked to suppress people in Iran in the past. But fears are growing that the situation could escalate to something like 2019 protests that erupted over petrol price rises, the bloodiest in the Islamic republic’s history. During those protests, the internet was cut off for days at a time. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has said protesting is allowed in the country but “rioting” will not be tolerated. “Protests have always happened in Iran. The protesters are heard. However, protests must be distinguished from rioting,” he said.

Live Laver Cup Updates And Results: Federer And Nadal Play Doubles – The New York Times https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/live-laver-cup-updates-and-results-federer-and-nadal-play-doubles-the-new-york-times/ Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker

Las Vegas Newspaper Wants Slain Reporter’s Devices Returned – The Washington Post https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/las-vegas-newspaper-wants-slain-reporters-devices-returned-the-washington-post/ RENO, Nev. — The Las Vegas Review-Journal is demanding that authorities don’t review a slain reporter’s electronic devices and reporting materials, which were seized by authorities after his death. Jeff German’s cellphone, four computers and external hard drive could be used in the prosecution and defense of German’s alleged killer. But they contain confidential sources and unpublished materials that are protected by federal and state law, the newspaper argued. “The Review-Journal appreciates the efforts of law enforcement to investigate the murder of Mr. German, and of all those seeking to ensure that justice is done for this horrific crime,” an attorney representing the Review-Journal said in a letter sent Thursday to local authorities, which was first reported by the newspaper. “However, the newspaper has serious and urgent concerns about the protection of confidential sources and other unpublished journalistic work product contained in Mr. German’s seized devices.” Prosecutors say Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles fatally stabbed German outside his home on Sept. 2, which authorities say could be connected to German’s reporting on Telles’ time as public administrator. German’s stories included reports of bullying and hostility perpetrated by Telles in the office, as well as an inappropriate relationship with a staffer. Telles lost the June Democratic primary in his re-election bid. He is currently being held in jail. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department seized German’s things during their investigation into his death, according to the letter. In the letter, attorneys for the Review-Journal argued the seizure violated the federal Privacy Protection Act, which prohibits the search and seizure of work product materials and other documentary materials from journalists. They also argued that the information seized is protected by the Nevada Shield Law, which states that no reporter, former reporter or editorial employee is required to disclose any published or unpublished information obtained as part of the news gathering process. The Review-Journal requested a meeting with law enforcement officials to discuss the disposition of the seized materials. “The Review-Journal and authorities have worked cordially and in good faith since Jeff German’s killing to resolve concerns about Jeff’s phone and computers and the extremely sensitive information they contain,” Glenn Cook, the Review-Journal’s executive editor, said in a statement to The Associated Press. “But negotiations have reached an impasse.” The Clark County District Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to an email request for comment on Friday. A spokesperson for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said in an email that they’re not able to comment on any specific evidence in cases. Ashley Kissinger, a lawyer representing the newspaper, spoke with the District Attorney’s Office and public defender on Thursday. But so far the parties have not been able to come to an agreement, she said in an email to The Associated Press. “The stakes for a free and independent press in Nevada could not be higher,” Kissinger said in a statement to the newspaper. “Officials in law enforcement want to review information in these devices that likely would reveal the newspaper’s confidential sources at those very agencies. That happens in other countries, but not in the United States. This is precisely why we have press shield laws prohibiting this.” On Friday, the Review-Journal published an extensive story that German was working on before his death. It examines the Las Vegas-based origins and development of the Oath Keepers, a right-wing militia group, as well as the legal troubles they’re in as a result of their role in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection. German’s byline is on the story along with another reporter who finished the story after his death. __ Stern is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Stern on Twitter: @gabestern326

AZ Big Media New Rob Schneider Film ‘Daddy Daughter Trip’ Is A Love Letter To Arizona – AZ Big Media https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/az-big-media-new-rob-schneider-film-daddy-daughter-trip-is-a-love-letter-to-arizona-az-big-media/ Comic actor and “Saturday Night Live” alum Rob Schneider donned three creative hats for his latest film, “Daddy Daughter Trip,” that premieres exclusively at Harkins Theatres on Friday, September 30. As director, star and producer, he also showcased our state in beautiful ways. “Daddy Daughter Trip” was filmed entirely in Arizona. “I love it,” says Schneider. “I had no idea of the different potential cinematic opportunities the state provides and just how beautiful a place it is to raise a family. Forget about making movies. How about making a happy family?” READ ALSO: Read all of Ryan Bordow’s movie reviews here Schneider and his wife Patricia Schneider, who co-wrote “Daddy Daughter Trip,” moved to Arizona during the pandemic when they decided they wanted a better life for their children. “We wanted them to grow up in a place where they could enjoy their childhood in a place that is clean, and we have nice, beautiful opportunities to enjoy snow and trees in Flagstaff. I also think it’s a free state. It really is. I think the liberties here … People don’t take them for granted. I just feel like I can breathe in every possible way.” Schneider had wanted to make this movie eight years ago but the requirement of millions of dollars, hundreds of cast and crew, and faith in making a good film that may turn a profit was a tall order. “There’s a short line of people that will go, ‘I’ll do that!’” says Schneider. “By the time we were thinking of finishing the script my daughter was old enough to play the lead.” His daughter was the natural choice for the film and snagged the lead role. Miranda Scarlett Schneider portrays Meara Buble, whose father, Larry Buble (Rob Schneider) takes his daughter on a spring break vacation. Although there is no budget for a vacation, Larry tries to make the best of it. When the duo meets a couple of famous travel bloggers, the father and daughter’s vacation does an about face, and they have the vacation that provides a lifetime of unforgettable memories. Schneider daughter grew up on the set of reality TV show “Real Rob,” which followed the life of the Schneider family. “Her first words two words that I ever remember her saying were, ‘Action!’ and ‘Cut!’” On set, she would see her dad bounce out of his director chair and say those words all the time. She also had her own small director’s chair and was just following her dad’s lead.  In “Daddy Daughter Trip,” Schneider is most proud of a particular scene where he and his daughter are outside under the stars. The father and daughter have a conversation about all the different ways they love each other. “It’s gorgeous and I’m so proud of her,” says Schneider. “We worked on that every night before she went to bed and just talked about how much we love each other. When it came time to shooting it, then we tease each other.” He says it’s the most beautiful scene in the movie. “The movie is really about hope and clinging to your dreams when you don’t have the means to pay for anything,” explains Schneider. “You have to. It’s about faith. I’m very proud how that all worked out.” The film was shot during the pandemic and Schneider notes that it was a very safe set, and he was happy that everyone was careful, and the film was made without being shut down. Shooting locations in Arizona included Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Park, Bearizona, Butterfly Wonderland, Arizona Boardwalk, Basha’s, Changing Hands Bookstore and Agritopia. “There’s a thank you at the end of the movie to the people of Arizona,” gushes Schneider. “I have never in my career been involved with a movie that had more help and more people willing to assist us in every facet of filmmaking. The outpouring of generosity and generosity of spirit that we’ve gotten from the people of Arizona… I was just floored by it. I’m grateful for the people of Arizona. The movie to me is very meaningful because it’s my ‘Thank You’ to the people of Arizona and a postcard for how beautiful the state is.” Daddy Daughter Trip co-stars include Jackie Sandler and Emmy and BAFTA-winner, John Cleese of “Monty Python” fame, Michael Bublé and Sandler’s eldest daughter, singer Elle King.

Strong Voices, Strong Future | CU Denver Business School News – University Of Colorado Denver https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/strong-voices-strong-future-cu-denver-business-school-news-university-of-colorado-denver/ “Who are we doing business with?” “What drives us?” “How do we impact our organizations for the better?” Rona Fourté, Vice President of Global Supplier Diversity at CBRE, posed many pivotal questions to the CU Denver Business School community, imparting her passion for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) for all industries. As the first speaker in CU Denver’s Multicultural Business Series, “Align with America’s Emerging Majority,” Fourté discussed how supplier diversity could advance an organization’s commitment to DEI, serving as a starting point or expansion to those initiatives. She encouraged active outreach beyond traditional supplier networks. Fourté emphasized how a robust and widespread focus on DEI initiatives through all channels helps create a holistic change. “You have to break away from the norm and build inclusivity even if you have something that works or is comfortable.” -Rona Fourté (CBRE) Rona Fourté speaks to CU Denver about the importance of DEI initiatives. Don’t be fooled; this change doesn’t happen overnight. Fourté cited a 60-year history of advancing social change in and out of the workplace, “…six decades of evolution to create supplier diversity.” However, Fourté did note that bursts of quick acceleration can help catalyze progress. She notes that “ESG was born out of corporate responsibility.” A key component in making positive waves is breaking the mold: “You have to break away from the norm and build inclusivity even if you have something that works or is comfortable.” An about-face from business-as-usual produces effective results and showcases businesses that walk the walk beyond a mission statement. Fourté not only walks the CBRE walk but visibly expresses her investment in her organization. Speaking to the crowd at CU Denver Business School’s Jake Jabs Center, she donned a statement-worthy dark green suit as she asserted the value of how people represent their brand (she noted the intentional color choice of her ensemble). People want to see themselves in the workplace, within their brand, and feel valued. She reminded the audience, “When people don’t feel valued, they check out.” That thread of values runs through five primary areas of impact: workforce, workplace, customers, community and suppliers. Here, Fourté asks those critical questions about who we are doing business with and what drives us. Requirement? Empowerment? Amplification of diversity? She challenges industries to use businesses that align with their DEI focus, to bring along stakeholders, and to cleanse and enrich the data while investigating their vendor base to get at the heart of how organizations can transform. Businesses can build solid DEI efforts through procedures, tracking, development, and communication. Fourté asked listeners to embrace the realization that “diverse business is today, not tomorrow.” She states that ownership and inclusion matter. Giving smaller operations a chance to interact and thrive in more advanced and established spaces is equally important. Fourté encourages organizations to welcome opportunities for others’ growth, “Give them a chance and access even if small while holding vendors to the same standard.” DEI efforts are becoming increasingly vital to the success of Colorado. Q&A moderator and Denver native Armando Martín from XL Edge built on Fourté’s impassioned wisdom with a challenge of his own. Martín is excited for the emerging majority-minority, with intel indicating Colorado is a mere 17 years away from housing predominantly minority groups. Sixteen counties in Colorado already report minority majorities, and school systems are trending similarly, with DPS 75% minority and 87% in Aurora. With this burst of ever-increasing diversity, Martín says that Colorado is still passive. Martín said, “This work isn’t mandated… this is on us. We’re all advocates enlisted to be champions in our sphere of influence.” Fourté agreed, “You have to have that thought leadership in the room, the opportunity to give safe space to voice your opinion.” Fourté advises that a difference-maker’s strength isn’t determined by which position or title they hold. Instead, she says, “Get out of your comfort zone. Meet with your leaders. You can do the right thing regardless of where you sit.” Fourté’s last pearl of professional wisdom pointed toward the future of business leadership, the CU Denver Business School student body: “Get involved in a business resource group in your DEI office. It’s important to get educated around these initiatives, know how you can impact the work that is going on and how you can voice what you see in your data.” She suggests it might be the best place for student cultivation and growth as they enter the workplace. “Start with your business resource group’s education and speak up. Say what’s going on, what you would like to see better, and that will help you perpetuate the work we’re doing in DEI.”

Balanced Meal Timing May Benefit Cognitive Health, Study Shows – Medical News Today https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/balanced-meal-timing-may-benefit-cognitive-health-study-shows-medical-news-today/ A new study suggests that eating three relatively similar meals throughout the day may help prevent cognitive decline. AzmanL/Getty Images A new study finds that meeting our daily energy needs through three relatively similar meals may be the best way to avoid cognitive decline. Skipping breakfast, according to the study, is associated with a decline in cognitive health. The study also finds that tilting your energy intake toward one meal or another is not associated with a rapid cognitive decline, but it does not benefit your cognition as well as a balanced three meals. Food is fuel. It provides us the energy our bodies need to function and also to remain healthy. Previous research has focused on how the quality of the energy — the food — we consume can affect our health, and experts have investigated and health outcomes associated with when we eat. However, there has been little research exploring the ways in which the distribution of our daily energy intake may influence long-term cognitive health, and whether it has any impact on the risk of developing dementia. According to the , around 55 million people worldwide have dementia, with 10 million new cases being diagnosed each year. As the world’s population is aging — the proportion of older people is rising steadily — the WHO estimates 78 million people will have dementia by 2030, and 139 million by 2050. To better understand the effects that energy intake and meal timing have on cognition, a new study takes a look at the potential effect on cognitive decline of different meal schedules, or temporal patterns of energy intake (TPEI). The results show that consuming three balanced meals each is associated with better cognitive function, compared to other, less evenly distributed ways of consuming one’s total energy intake, or TEI. “To our knowledge, this study is one of the few population-based studies that explore the association of TPEI and cognitive decline, although accumulating studies have linked TPEI to health outcomes, including , , and ,” the authors wrote. The study also demonstrates that skipping breakfast is associated with worse cognitive function and faster cognitive decline. The study was recently published in Life Metabolism. The researchers drew their conclusions from an analysis of data from the 1997–2006 China Health and Nutrition Survey. Included in that data were the meal habits of 3,342 people in China for whom the survey had collected up to four repeat entries over 10 years. Individuals were at least 55 years of age, with the average age being 62.2. The authors note that 61.2% lived in rural areas, and 13.6% had high school or higher degrees. People with severe cognitive decline were excluded from the study. At the start of the study period, each participant received both a dietary assessment and a phone-based cognitive test in which they were rated for their immediate and delayed word recall, backward counting, and their agility at subtracting 7 from supplied figures. Cognitive scores ran from 0 points to 27 points, with 27 points representing the highest level of cognitive health. The researchers categorized individuals’ meal timing into six eating patterns: Evenly distributed: People balanced their energy intake across three roughly equivalent meals per day. They consumed 28.5% of their daily energy at breakfast, 36.3% at lunch, and 33.8% at dinner. Breakfast-dominant: People ate three meals, but consumed the greatest share of energy, 49.5% at breakfast. Lunch-dominant: People ate three meals, but consumed the greatest share of energy, 64.3% at lunch. Dinner-dominant: People ate three meals, but consumed the greatest share of energy, 64.5% at dinner. Snack-rich: People consumed 36.8% of their TEI from snacks. Breakfast-skipping: People ate little or no breakfast, consuming just 5.9% of their TEI. The breakfast-skipping pattern was linked to a cognitive decline of 0.14 cognitive-test points a year, compared to the evenly distributed pattern. No other similar declines were seen for other patterns. Dr. Clifford Segil, a neurologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, not involved in the study, described this finding to Medical News Today as “fascinating.” “I think the take-home would be that skipping a meal is worse if you choose to skip the meal at breakfast,” he said. However, when the researchers modified the possible TPEIs into just four patterns — evenly distributed, breakfast-dominant, lunch-dominant, and dinner-dominant — all of them except for the first were linked to lower cognitive function. None of them were associated, however, with an accelerated loss of function. According to Dr. Segil, the study might “unintentionally support that we have excess calories, and assuming we have excess calories, we have obesity. And I think that’s where most of this kind of research has been done, on excess calories in general health.” Still, he noted, the study generally aligns with other research indicating that “dividing your energy and taking it in even meals improves short-term cognitive function.” “That’s supportive of what we’ve heard for other medical conditions.” has indicated that meal timing . In mammals, the circadian clock resides in two clusters of nerve cells called the , which are located in a region at the base of the brain called the anterior hypothalamus. Dr. Hoon-Ki Sung, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology at the University of Toronto, explained to MNT: “We have two different kinds of internal clock (circadian rhythm). One is located in the brain (central clock or central circadian clock), and the other clock in some peripheral tissues, including fat, liver, intestine, and retina (peripheral circadian clock). While the central clock is mainly regulated by light, the peripheral clock can be regulated by multiple factors, including central clock and feeding.” Dr. Sung suggests circadian nutrition may refer “to a circadian rhythm diet or circadian diet.” He said this means “you are keeping the feeding rhythms synchronized with your internal clock.” He noted that eating this way can include three meals, “as well as meal [or] energy intake between meal times.” have linked meal timing to short-term cognitive function improvement. The Western three-meals-a-day schedule grew out of the needs of employers and workers during the Industrial Revolution. Before that, two large meals a day, based on household and farming tasks, were more common. “I think common sense says you should eat a meal before the time of the day that you’re going to be the busiest,” added Dr. Segil. “Some people are busy in the morning, and that’s why a big breakfast [is often] advised, especially for school-age kids.” Be that as it may, more research on the long-term benefits of meal timing on cognitive health is still needed. “Cognitive issues are multifactorial, and there’s still a very limited understanding,” Dr. Segil concluded.

Oklahoma Vs. Kansas State: Prediction, Pick, Spread, Football Game Odds, Live Stream, Watch Online, TV Channel – CBS Sports https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/oklahoma-vs-kansas-state-prediction-pick-spread-football-game-odds-live-stream-watch-online-tv-channel-cbs-sports/ No. 6 Oklahoma starts Big 12 play by hosting Kansas State on Saturday night in what can be described as a trap game for the Sooners in recent seasons. The Brent Venables era is off to a solid start in Norman, Oklahoma, however, following blowout wins over UTEP, Kent State and Nebraska. The Sooners dominated the Cornhuskers 49-14 on the road behind 312 yards rushing on nearly six yards per carry.  Strangely, Kansas State became the fourth straight opponent to lose the week before playing Oklahoma as the Wildcats dropped a shocker to undefeated Tulane in Week 3. K-State scored a field goal as time expired in the first half, but posted just 141 yards in the second half despite nabbing two interceptions. The performance came just one week after dropping 40 points on Missouri.  Oklahoma edged Kansas State last season 37-31 thanks to two second-half touchdown passes from Spencer Rattler. The Sooners also hold a dominant 77-21-4 advantage all time. However, Kansas State has won two of the last three matchups, including a 38-35 win the last time these teams played in Norman.  Oklahoma vs. Kansas State: Need to know Disruptive defense: When Venables took over, there was little doubt the Sooners would put a new premium on defensive play. In a dominant win over Nebraska, the Sooners showed off all sorts of tricks to make the Cornhuskers’ offensive drives a living hell. Four different players recorded sacks, while defensive linemen Ethan Downs and Jonah Laulu were each credited with multiple tackles for loss. Kansas State’s offensive line will be a different challenge, but OU can make life difficult.  Deuce is loose: The most underrated player in the country stars in Manhattan, Kansas. Running back Deuce Vaughn posted 1,404 yards rushing, 468 yards receiving and 22 total touchdowns in a breakout sophomore season. With 388 all-purpose yards and three scores through three games, Vaughn is already back on track to match those lofty numbers. Kansas State is willing to move Vaughn all over the field to create mismatches, including out to slot receiver, making him one of the most unique playmakers in the sport.  Easy transition back: Quarterback Dillon Gabriel picked Oklahoma as his transfer destination to team back up with offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby, his former OC at UCF. Three games in, the transition has been easier than anyone could have expected. Gabriel has thrown for at least 230 yards and two touchdowns in each of his three starts. He has a pair of rushing scores, too, including a career-long 61-yard scamper a week ago. Gabriel has built a strong connection with future NFL receiver Marvin Mims, who is nearly halfway to his 2021 stats just three games into the season.  How to watch Oklahoma vs. Kansas State live Date: Saturday, Sept. 24 | Time: 8 p.m. ET Location: Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium — Norman, Oklahoma TV: Fox | Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free) Oklahoma vs. Kansas State prediction, picks Featured Game | Oklahoma Sooners vs. Kansas State Wildcats Kansas State has quietly played Oklahoma better than anyone since Chris Klieman took over the program in 2019. The Wildcats beat OU each of Klieman’s first two seasons, and played the Sooners to within a score in 2021. There was optimism that this could be the best team of Klieman’s tenure, but an inexplicable loss to Tulane put a damper on that. Still, expect the Wildcats to keep the game within two scores. Prediction: Kansas State +13 Which college football picks can you make with confidence in Week 4, and which Top 25 favorite will go down hard? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread — all from a proven computer model that has returned more than $3,300 in profit over the past six-plus seasons — and find out.

NASAA (State Securities, Not Outer Space) Cautions Investors Exploring Opportunities In The Metaverse – JD Supra https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/nasaa-state-securities-not-outer-space-cautions-investors-exploring-opportunities-in-the-metaverse-jd-supra/ The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), an organization of state and provincial securities regulators in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, recently issued an investor advisory warning about the potential risks of investing in the metaverse. The potential for fraudulent securities activity exists “IRL” (in real life) and in virtual worlds, whether through investing directly into a metaverse-focused company or by making an investment while par-digi-pating in the metaverse as an avatar (we may need to workshop that one a bit). NASAA points out that the difference between investing IRL and investing in the metaverse is increasingly blurry, but “real assets can be put at risk and transferred” in either case. Importantly, the advisory emphasizes that “the rules that apply to investments in the physical world also apply to investments in virtual worlds.” On that point, the SEC and state and provincial securities regulators could not be more clear. The NASAA advisory notes that the metaverse is “increasingly viewed as the future of the internet” with large, well-known technology companies already deploying resources to develop the space. As growth and advancements in this space continue, so too will regulatory scrutiny. Securities regulators already seem to be paying closer attention to metaverse-related considerations, including in a Texas case we recently covered involving the use of NFTs to finance multiple metaverse casinos. Issuers, intermediaries, or other service providers considering utilizing the metaverse or other facets of Web3 technologies must conduct themselves with the same care as they would IRL. Firms should pay special attention to the novel ways existing rules may apply in the metaverse, including in the areas of marketing and communication. Concerns around cybersecurity and the protection of personal information, an evergreen regulatory focus, are intensified given the digital landscape of the metaverse. The NASAA advisory identified several key areas of which investors should be mindful when evaluating metaverse-related investments. These are also instructive for issuers and service providers looking to establish a meta-presence in a compliant manner: Offerings and Personnel May Require Registration Offerings should be registered, or should utilize an appropriate exemption from registration. Absent exemptions, those providing investment advice related to securities, should be registered as an investment adviser or associated person of a broker-dealer. NASAA encouraged investors to check and verify these real-world facts before engaging with any metaverse investment. Be Wary of Scammy and Hyped Marketing Don’t get caught up in the hype. Fraudsters intentionally try to generate “viral” content, but popularity is not a good criterion for evaluating investment opportunities. Nor are celebrity endorsements. Avoid avatars that are persistent in discussing investment ideas or asking for money. Common Sense Remains Critical in the Metaverse Don’t share personal information. Identity theft can happen in any number of ways, including in the metaverse. Don’t ignore red flags. Every investment comes with risk, nothing is guaranteed, and nothing about the metaverse changes these tried-and-true principles. We will continue to monitor developments in this space and provide updates as we see them. [View source.]

Top 50 Most Popular Anime Characters Of All Time (According To Japan) – Anime Senpai https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/top-50-most-popular-anime-characters-of-all-time-according-to-japan-anime-senpai/ Published on September 23rd, 2022 More than 150 anime series are released yearly, but not many become as popular as Demon Slayer or Naruto. While the story and animation play a significant role in the popularity of the series, the majority of the fans remember the anime because of its popular characters. To determine the most popular anime characters, Japan’s biggest ranking website, Goo Ranking, created a poll where users could vote for the most popular anime characters of all time. Almost 25,000 Japanese anime fans participated in this poll, and 175,000 votes were collected to determine the most popular anime character of all time. Every participant can give their favorite characters a rating of 0 to 100. Here are the Top 50 most popular anime characters of all time, as voted by Japanese anime fans. 50. Hanako-kun Anime Title: Toilet Bound Hanako-kun Hanako is a dark-haired boy who is about 14 years of age and is a ghost. He has big amber eyes making him look kinda cute. He is always wearing a male-school uniform and has a paper seal on his left cheek. Hanako is always accompanied by two spirit orbs, just like any classical ghost. These orbs are called Haku-Joudai. He is always wearing a black hat, with a gold emblem on it. The real name of Hanako, when he was still human, was Yugi Amane. He has a pretty jolly personality, despite being a ghost. Hanako is the School Mystery Number 7 out of the School Mysteries which students have. 49. Nanami Kento Anime Title: Jujutsu Kaisen. Nanami is a first-grade jujutsu sorcerer who is in a serious mood all the time. He was the underclassman of the famous character of the series, Gojou Satoru. He started a normal job as a salaryman after graduation but returned to jujutsu training after a short amount of time. Nanami always looks like a salaryman with a suit, a spotted tie, and black shoes. He also teaches the protagonist, Yuji Itadori the basics of jujutsu sorcery. Nanami’s personality is very calm and collected as long as Gojou Satoru is not involved. He extremely hates loud people and tries his best to stay away from them. 48. Taizo Hasegawa Anime Title: Gintama. Hasegawa is a middle-aged man who was formally associated as a member of Bafuku, the central government. He now does strange part-time jobs all the time to receive some income. Hasegawa lost his previous job because the protagonist, Gintoki, motivated him in such a way that he committed some rude acts in Bafuku, leading to him being fired. Hasegawa has a kind personality, but his appearance, with sunglasses and a goatee, say otherwise. He has a nickname, “MADAO,” which means “completely useless old man.” 47. Eren Yeager Anime Title: Attack on Titan Eren is the protagonist of the series and holder of the most titan forms in the series i.e. Attack Titan, Founding Titan, and War Hammer Titan. He is an alone fighter and manipulator. Eren’s appearance changed from a pretty cute appearance when he was a young boy to the appearance of a villain with long hair. His personality changes the same way, from being kind and friendly to being a rude, hard-headed maniac later in the series. Eren plans to destroy the whole world, as he wants to see his friends happy and wants them to carry on a normal life. He betrays his older brother for this purpose and becomes a rebel. He is also famous for his highly talented voice actor “Yuuki Kaji”. Also Read: 10 Most Memorable Deaths In Attack on Titan 46. Inosuke Hashibira Anime Title: Demon Slayer Inosuke is the hot-headed member of the rookie trio of Demon Slayers in this anime. Despite his voice and appearance being crude and manly, his face is quite beautiful, making him look like a female. He is always wearing a boar mask to hide his face. His personality is extremely rude and he does not respect anyone. He has a buffed body and does not wear anything on his upper body. Inosuke is extremely obsessed with power and wishes to be the strongest demon slayer in the world. He uses Beast-Style Breathing. Also Read: Demon Slayer Season 3 Release Date & Plot 45. Shiro Anime Title: Crayon Shin-chan Shiro is an amorphous-looking dog that the protagonist, Shin, found in a box abandoned. He is a pretty wise dog because he comes up with more sharp decisions compared to his human owners. He is most of the time neglected by his owners because of their forgetful nature. He is white and fluffy in appearance. Shiro is responsible for his food as the food he gets from his owners is pretty much useless. He is extremely careful of nature and is very responsible. 44. Yuuta Okkotsu Anime Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Yuuta is a second-year student at Jujutsu High and the main protagonist of the record-breaking movie of this anime. He has a pretty rough appearance with blue eyes and unorganized black hair. He was treated as a special-grade curse in his early days because he was cursed by his childhood friend, Rika. He has to suffer a lot because of this situation. Yuuta is in Africa as the anime is about to reach its second season. He is training there with Miguel, the antagonist of the movie, who was recruited by Gojo later on. 43. Toushirou Hijikata Anime Title: Gintama (Series) Hijikata is the vice-commander of The Shinsengumi (a police force). He is famous for being hot-headed and a real headache for other people. But despite that, he has a pretty weak heart. Hijikita also has an obsession with cigarettes and mayonnaise. He covers everything that he eats in a flood of mayonnaise and this earned him the nickname “Mayora.” He is the eternal rival of the protagonist, Gintoki. He challenges him in every little thing he can think of, for instance, drinking challenges or simple rock-paper-scissors. Also Read: Japanese Fans Rank Best Anime In History 42. Ray Anime Title: The Promised Neverland Ray is one of three perfect children of the Grace Field House. He has a pretty cool aura and is very sharp. He has black hair and tries to associate with others the minimum, besides Emma and Norman, the other protagonists of this anime. Ray has a pretty short temper and is often seen shouting at small issues. He prefers to read books all the time and looks at everything realistically. It was later revealed that Ray is the real child of Mama, the antagonist of the story. Ray betrayed the children of the House after escaping but he planned to help them escape the demon world. 41. Emma Anime Title: The Promised Neverland Emma, just like Ray, is one of the perfect students of the Grace Field House. Despite being a girl, she is the gutsiest out of all the children. She, along with Norman, witnessed the true reality of the house after sneaking out secretly. She has a pretty good talent for learning things quickly. Emma has an extroverted personality and loves every child present in the house. She plays the role of a big sister for every little child present in the House. Her only flaw is that she is pretty soft-hearted. Later in the series, when everyone decides to exterminate the demons, Emma refuses. Emma is also pretty air-headed, despite being one of the perfect scorers of the House. 40. Naruto Uzumaki Anime Title: Naruto (Series) Naruto is the protagonist of one of “The Big Three” anime of the 2000s. He is an orphan who was left behind after his parents died after sealing the Nine-Tailed Beast inside him when he was just born. Naruto has a jolly personality and is very friendly. He always wears his orange jacket and is loved by his school teacher, Iruka, who treats him just like his own son. Initially, he is just a brat who likes to annoy people, but when he saves the village from Pain’s invasion, he becomes a hero. Later on in the series, Naruto makes up with the Nine-Tailed Beast inside him and reaches his perfect form. He also forms a pact with all nine beasts and gets power from them. This gives him a power of equal level to that of The Sage of the Six Paths (God). Also Read: 15 Years After Release, Naruto Is Still the Most Popular Anime 39. Miku Nakano Anime Title: The Quintessential Quintuplets Miku is one of the show’s five quintuplets and the third oldest out of them. She has a pretty calm appearance and is a very silent girl. Miku has little confidence in herself because of her silent behavior. She becomes pretty hectic when she gets in a bad mood. She loves to study Japanese history though. Miku later falls in love with the protagonist, Futaro, who is his teacher, when he starts to teach him more about Japanese history. She does gain confidence in herself later in the series. 38. Kikyo Anime Title: Inuyasha Kikyo is one of the supporting characters of the series and she loves the main protagonist, Inuyasha, throughout the series. She is killed by the main antagonist, Naraku. He loved Kikyo so much that he was killed while being disguised as Inuyasha. Kikyo is later given rebirth by a demon but she has to collect the souls of others to stay alive. Before death, Kikyo was a very kind and passionate girl who cared about everyone. But after she became a Spector, her personality became cunning and very cold. Kikyo is always in a white robe with red cords. She was a very beautiful woman with long hair and a pretty voice. After becoming a Spector, her appearance remained the same but she stopped bleeding whenever she was hurt. 37. Arsene Lupin III Anime Title: Lupin III Lupin III is the son of Lupin II and the grandchild of the Great Arsene Lupin. Lupin III is the most wanted thief in the world. He bears a fondness to cool gadgets and pretty women. Lupin III is treated as a gentleman despite being a thief, as he refuses to kill women. He is happy as long as she is successful in a heist, despite getting nothing from it. His hobbies include dating bea...

CFO Of Insolvent Crypto Lender Voyager Resigns – CoinDesk https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/cfo-of-insolvent-crypto-lender-voyager-resigns-coindesk/ Nelson Wang is CoinDesk’s news editor for the East Coast. He holds BTC and ETH above CoinDesk’s disclosure threshold of $1,000. The chief financial officer of crypto lender Voyager, which filed for bankruptcy in July, is leaving to pursue other opportunities, the company announced Friday. CFO Ashwin Prithipaul will leave Voyager after a transition period, with Voyager CEO Stephen Ehrlich handling Prithipaul’s duties for an interim period, the company said. According to Prithipaul’s LinkedIn profile, he had only been Voyager’s CFO since May. Prithipaul was previously the CFO at crypto exchange DriveDigital for nine months, and prior to that was the CFO at crypto investment firm Galaxy Digital. Voyager’s assets are currently being auctioned off by a bankruptcy court, with crypto exchanges Binance and FTX reportedly submitting the highest bids of around $50 million. Sign up for The Node, our daily newsletter bringing you the biggest crypto news and ideas. By signing up, you will receive emails about CoinDesk product updates, events and marketing and you agree to our terms of services and privacy policy. DISCLOSURE Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated . The leader in news and information on cryptocurrency, digital assets and the future of money, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups. As part of their compensation, certain CoinDesk employees, including editorial employees, may receive exposure to DCG equity in the form of stock appreciation rights, which vest over a multi-year period. CoinDesk journalists are not allowed to purchase stock outright in DCG . Nelson Wang is CoinDesk’s news editor for the East Coast. He holds BTC and ETH above CoinDesk’s disclosure threshold of $1,000. Nelson Wang is CoinDesk’s news editor for the East Coast. He holds BTC and ETH above CoinDesk’s disclosure threshold of $1,000.