Collin County News Online

Cool Holiday Gifts For Dads In 2022 – CNET https://collincountynewsonline.com/cool-holiday-gifts-for-dads-in-2022-cnet/ This story is part of Gift Guide, our year-round collection of the best gift ideas. The holidays are fast approaching, and if you’re looking for a gift to show dad how much you care, you’ve come to the right place. Your favorite elves at CNET have compiled a gift list for every kind of dad this holiday season. Whether he’s a sporty dad, techy dad, culinary dad, outdoorsy dad… or any other kind of dad, there’s probably something here that he would love to open on Christmas morning or a Hanukkah evening. And it doesn’t matter if you have $20 to spend on Pops or $220 — you can be sure that these vetted gifts will “wow” at the family gift exchange. We’ve got sought-after brands and trendy gifts on this list, including new gadgets, cozy clothing, gifts just for fun and practical presents that serve a purpose. Check out the surefire suggestions below and see which one jumps out at you. Perhaps it’s the beer dispenser? Or the cool joggers? Hopefully you’ll have soon checked another gift off your shopping list — just don’t forget to wrap it. n “,”topic”:””,”ttag”:””,”searchDim”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”variant”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”viewguid”:””,”event”:”listicle|image|1″,”correlationId”:””,”_destCat”:”https://www.therabody.com/us/en-us/mini-us.html”,”productName”:”Theragun Mini”,”formatType”:”IMAGE”,”location”:”LIST”,”position”:1,”sku”:””,”dwLinkTag”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”selector”:”#article-body #listicle-a087bb83-dbce-43da-afa7-067c6225d597 .itemImage”}}” data-omitnoreferrer=”http://www.cnet.com/” href=”https://theragun.xibx.net/c/159047/617418/10041?&sharedId=cnet&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.therabody.com%2Fus%2Fen-us%2Fmini-us.html&subId1=cn-___COM_CLICK_ID___-dtp___OPTOUT___” rel=”noopener nofollow” target=”_blank” David Carnoy/CNET Maybe you’ve eyed pricey Theragun massagers (which we’re big fans of, by the way) but haven’t pulled the trigger. The affordable Mini size is here to change that — and fulfill your holiday shopping needs. With the Theragun Mini, Dad can knead his sore muscles using three different speeds. The ergonomic handle is easier to use than a bulkier, bigger massage gun and reduces wrist strain. The Theragun Mini provides 150 minutes of battery life and it’s actually quiet, making it nicely portable. The new fourth generation is available in black, dusty rose, white and red. n “,”topic”:””,”ttag”:””,”searchDim”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”variant”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”viewguid”:””,”event”:”listicle|image|2″,”correlationId”:””,”_destCat”:”https://vuoriclothing.com/products/sunday-performance-jogger-forest-heather?”,”productName”:”Vuori Sunday Performance Jogger”,”formatType”:”IMAGE”,”location”:”LIST”,”position”:2,”sku”:””,”dwLinkTag”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”selector”:”#article-body #listicle-e2b5ea64-db9b-4422-b2d0-fe347e5bdf4d .itemImage”}}” data-omitnoreferrer=”http://www.cnet.com/” href=”https://vuoriclothing.com/products/sunday-performance-jogger-forest-heather?” rel=”noopener nofollow” target=”_blank” Vuori Athleisure brand Vuori has taken dads by storm with its comfortable performance wear. Most notable: the Sunday Performance Jogger, a favorite for its relaxed yet tapered cut. This pant goes from the home office to school pickup to the grocery store and everywhere in between. They’re available in 10 different colors, and the dad in your life will want to collect them all. n “,”topic”:””,”ttag”:””,”searchDim”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”variant”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”viewguid”:””,”event”:”listicle|image|3″,”correlationId”:””,”_destCat”:”https://www.amazon.com/ZWILLING-J-Henckels-Gourmet-Stainless/dp/B0758JZBL6″,”productName”:”Zwilling Gourmet 8-inch Chefu0027s Knife”,”formatType”:”IMAGE”,”location”:”LIST”,”position”:3,”sku”:””,”dwLinkTag”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”selector”:”#article-body #listicle-ef939060-54d3-437a-9dfb-fdc025f1c6c0 .itemImage”}}” data-omitnoreferrer=”http://www.cnet.com/” href=”https://assoc-redirect.amazon.com/g/r/https://www.amazon.com/ZWILLING-J-Henckels-Gourmet-Stainless/dp/B0758JZBL6?tag=cnet-buy-button-20&ascsubtag=___COM_CLICK_ID___%7C___VIEW_GUID___%7Cdtp” rel=”noopener nofollow” target=”_blank” David Priest/CNET J.A. Henckels’ Zwilling Gourmet 8-inch Chef’s knife is CNET’s top pick for the best midprice chef’s knife — one you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on, but still feels good in your hand. Dad can slice and dice meat and veggies with ease thanks to this knife’s ergonomic polymer handle. And the large blade means it can tackle most kitchen tasks. n “,”topic”:””,”ttag”:””,”searchDim”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”variant”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”viewguid”:””,”event”:”listicle|image|4″,”correlationId”:””,”_destCat”:”https://www.parksproject.us/collections/candles”,”productName”:”Parks Project candle”,”formatType”:”IMAGE”,”location”:”LIST”,”position”:4,”sku”:””,”dwLinkTag”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”selector”:”#article-body #listicle-dcb6ee09-8f12-4581-a141-90c038993681 .itemImage”}}” data-omitnoreferrer=”http://www.cnet.com/” href=”https://www.parksproject.us/collections/candles” rel=”noopener nofollow” target=”_blank” Parks Project If the dad on your holiday list loves the great outdoors, this Yosemite National Park Lodgepole Pine candle is a great gift idea that will light his fire. Pine, granite, meadow dew and fresh chopped wood scents mix and mingle in this popular Parks Project gift. The 11.6-ounce candle has an 80-hour burn time.  n “,”topic”:””,”ttag”:””,”searchDim”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”variant”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”viewguid”:””,”event”:”listicle|image|5″,”correlationId”:””,”_destCat”:”https://theathletic.com/checkout/?type=gift”,”productName”:”The Athletic”,”formatType”:”IMAGE”,”location”:”LIST”,”position”:5,”sku”:””,”dwLinkTag”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”selector”:”#article-body #listicle-447993ee-9eef-4d98-a74c-e294877ec3fc .itemImage”}}” data-omitnoreferrer=”http://www.cnet.com/” href=”https://theathletic.com/checkout/?type=gift” rel=”noopener nofollow” target=”_blank” Ezra Shaw/Getty Images If your dad is a sports fanatic who loves to keep up with his favorite pro or college sports teams, you can always get him a subscription to The Athletic, which covers basketball, football, soccer, baseball, hockey, mixed martial arts, auto racing, rugby, cricket and more. There are currently three subscription tiers for gifting: $30 for three months, $72 for one year and $100 for two years.  n “,”topic”:””,”ttag”:””,”searchDim”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”variant”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”viewguid”:””,”event”:”listicle|image|6″,”correlationId”:””,”_destCat”:”https://www.amazon.com/Fizzics-DraftPour-Beer-Dispenser-Nitro-Style/dp/B07G5NQ5B7/”,”productName”:”Fizzics DraftPour”,”formatType”:”IMAGE”,”location”:”LIST”,”position”:6,”sku”:””,”dwLinkTag”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”selector”:”#article-body #listicle-11acc92e-f2ab-4561-92f3-981c45dfce83 .itemImage”}}” data-omitnoreferrer=”http://www.cnet.com/” href=”https://assoc-redirect.amazon.com/g/r/https://www.amazon.com/Fizzics-DraftPour-Beer-Dispenser-Nitro-Style/dp/B07G5NQ5B7/?tag=cnet-buy-button-20&ascsubtag=___COM_CLICK_ID___%7C___VIEW_GUID___%7Cdtp” rel=”noopener nofollow” target=”_blank” Fizzics The Fizzics DraftPour makes any beer better by converting natural carbonation into microfoam, which gives beer the aroma and flavor you usually only get from a bar tap. The beer dispenser works with most beer cans and bottles, and any type of beer: lagers, IPAs, ambers, porters and more. n “,”topic”:””,”ttag”:””,”searchDim”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”variant”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”viewguid”:””,”event”:”listicle|image|7″,”correlationId”:””,”_destCat”:”https://www.amazon.com/Starter-Set-Dragons-Stormwreck-Isle/dp/B09V84WNPK”,”productName”:”D&D Starter Kit: Dragons of Stormwreck Isle”,”formatType”:”IMAGE”,”location”:”LIST”,”position”:7,”sku”:””,”dwLinkTag”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”selector”:”#article-body #listicle-4b02e2ae-45c2-4141-a6e9-a5121846e40c .itemImage”}}” data-omitnoreferrer=”http://www.cnet.com/” href=”https://assoc-redirect.amazon.com/g/r/https://www.amazon.com/Starter-Set-Dragons-Stormwreck-Isle/dp/B09V84WNPK?tag=cnet-buy-button-20&ascsubtag=___COM_CLICK_ID___%7C___VIEW_GUID___%7Cdtp” rel=”noopener nofollow” target=”_blank” Wizards of the Coast If dad has always wanted to try out D&D but never got a chance, this starter kit is the perfect gift. As CNET’s James Bricknell says, “I’m an avid tabletop gamer and I love giving these starter kits out to friends and family. So many people want to learn about Dungeons and Dragons but don’t know where to begin. This box has everything you need to start your first adventure.” Imagination is the key to a good D&D campaign, but you also need rules and dice. This set gives you both. n “,”topic”:”Smart Home”,”ttag”:”other”,”searchDim”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”variant”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”viewguid”:””,”event”:”listicle|image|8″,”correlationId”:””,”assettitle”:””,”campaign”:”other”,”cval”:35,”leadCpc”:0.35,”leadProdPrice”:59.99,”manufacturer”:”Amazon”,”productName”:”Amazon Smart Thermostat (White)”,”seriesGuid”:”b7e2ee50-5758-4b50-911d-51ac1fc6d939″,”sku”:”B08J4C8871″,”reviewId”:”9756bf72-8a8a-4544-8698-b61dd4a8f4e7″,”formatType”:”IMAGE”,”location”:”LIST”,”position”:8,”dwLinkTag”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”selector”:”#article-body #listicle-a9f2ecf9-8e0a-473b-aa82-6be83e1d7bc7 .itemImage”}}” data-omitnoreferrer=”http://www.cnet.com/” href=”https://shop-links.co/link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbestbuy.7tiv.net%2Fc%2F376373%2F633495%2F10014%3Fprodsku%3D6483323%26u%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.bestbuy.com%252Fsite%252F-%252F6483323.p%253Fcmp%253DRMX&publisher_slug=cnet&article_name=cool%20holiday%20gifts%20for%20dads%20in%202022&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=cn-___COM_CLICK_ID__...

Crypto Is ‘easily Tracked,’ And Not As Anonymous As You Think – Michal Gromek – Kitco NEWS https://collincountynewsonline.com/crypto-is-easily-tracked-and-not-as-anonymous-as-you-think-michal-gromek-kitco-news/ Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin can be “easily tracked,” said Michal Gromek, Co-Chair of the Digital Asset Task Force, a committee at the Global Coalition to Fight Financial Crime. Would-be criminals cannot easily escape law enforcement. “Conducting transactions on the blockchain and feeling that you will run away and be unpunished is not true,” he said. “Most suspects can be easily tracked.” Gromek said that coin exchanges are usually subject to KYC (Know-Your-Customer) and anti-money laundering regulations. This makes it easier to trace criminals. “On a global level, there is a financial action task force… to ensure that cryptocurrency brokers are subject to [legislation],” he explained. “When you send money to another wallet, and then to a sanctioned entity, this is still visible on the blockchain… and that can still be reported.” Gromek spoke with David Lin, Anchor and Producer at Kitco News, at the Future Blockchain Summit in Dubai. Financial Crimes It is “not very smart” to use “pseudo-anonymous” cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ether to conduct illegal transactions, said Gromek. “According to reports, illicit activities on the blockchain are roughly around 0.15 percent of all transactions,” he stated. “Conducting transactions on the blockchain with pseudo-anonymous currencies is not smart.” Since the blockchain stores data on all transactions and wallet addresses, police can use these data to track down criminals. “You just type in different cryptocurrency addresses and you can see how the transactions have been flowing,” he said. Even cold wallets, which are offline, are not impervious to surveillance, since cold wallet crypto holders, who want to use their funds, will ultimately need a hot wallet, Gromek said. Hackers and Scam Artists In order to prevent money from being stolen from a crypto scammer, investors should “select partners which are active in a trusted jurisdiction, working with a good regulator,” said Gromek. “Some regulators, ask you [crypto companies] to deploy your code to them, and then they review your code,” he said. “And then, there is a trust approval saying that this code or this token or this solution is approved.” However, he emphasized that there is always a “risk” when investing in new products. “You basically have to have a bit of faith that whatever we do on a global level will yield results that are accessible for everyone,” said Gromek, referring to the task of regulators. Privacy Coins? Monero, a proof-of-work cryptocurrency that uses complex codes to hide wallet addresses, is a so-called ‘privacy coin,’ which is intended to protect both anonymity and privacy of users. This is in contrast to Bitcoin, in which a wallet address can be used to identify users. However, even so-called privacy coins like Monero can be traced by law enforcement. “There are still tools that we can use for privacy coins as well, that are being used to identify suspects that are conducting certain crimes,” said Gromek. To find out Gromek’s thoughts on Central Bank Digital Currencies, watch the video above. Follow David Lin on Twitter: @davidlin_TV Follow Kitco News on Twitter: @KitcoNewsNOW Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.

U.S. Sells Oil Reserves As Biden Tackles Pump Prices Ahead Of Elections – Reuters https://collincountynewsonline.com/u-s-sells-oil-reserves-as-biden-tackles-pump-prices-ahead-of-elections-reuters/ WASHINGTON, Oct 19 (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden announced a plan on Wednesday to sell off the rest of his release from the nation’s emergency oil reserve by year’s end and begin refilling the stockpile as he tries to dampen high gasoline prices ahead of midterm elections on Nov. 8. Biden is seeking to add enough supply to prevent near-term oil price spikes that could punish Americans, and assure U.S. drillers that the government will enter the market as a buyer if prices plunge too low. He said 15 million barrels of oil will be offered from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) – part of a record 180 million-barrel release that began in May, and added the United States is ready to tap reserves again early next year to rein in prices. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com “We’re calling it a ready and release plan,” Biden said at a White House event. “This allows us to move quickly to prevent oil price spikes and respond to international events.” Biden’s use of the federal government’s reserve to manage oil price spikes and attempts to increase U.S. production underscore how the Ukraine crisis and inflation have changed the policies of a president who came into office vowing to cut U.S. dependence on the fossil fuel industry. The White House had an added sense of urgency after the Saudi Arabia-led Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries rankled Biden by siding with Russia and agreeing to a production cut, prompting the president to declare that the U.S.-Saudi relationship needs a revaluation. “With my announcement today, we’re going to continue to stabilize markets and decrease the prices at a time when the actions of other countries have caused such volatility,” Biden said. Biden blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine for higher crude and gasoline prices, while noting prices had fallen 30% from their peak earlier this year. He also repeated a plea to U.S. energy companies, gasoline retailers and refiners, asking them to stop using record-breaking profits to buy back stock, and to invest in production instead. Prices “are not falling fast enough,” he said. “Families are hurting,” and gasoline prices are squeezing their budgets, he added. The president, facing criticism from Republicans who charge he is tapping the SPR for political reasons and not because there is an emergency, also said he would refill the nation’s stockpiles in the upcoming years. U.S. President Joe Biden calls for a federal gas tax holiday as he speaks about gas prices during remarks in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building’s South Court Auditorium at the White House in Washington, U.S., June 22, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque He said his aim would be to replenish stocks when U.S. crude is around $70 a barrel, a level he said would still allow companies to profit while being a good deal for taxpayers. The U.S. benchmark was around $85 on Wednesday. The SPR, which is now at its lowest levels since 1984, is more than half full with more than 400 million barrels of oil, Biden said, “more than enough for any emergency drawdown.” The administration’s plan was to end the sale of the 180 million barrels in November. However, purchases by companies, including Marathon Petroleum Corp (MPC.N), Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) and Valero Energy Corp (VLO.N), were slower than expected over the summer and some 15 million barrels remained unsold. Those will be put up for bidding for delivery in December, a senior administration official said. Reuters Graphics Reuters Graphics PUSHING ENERGY COMPANIES TO DO MORE U.S. presidents have little control over petroleum prices, but the country’s massive gasoline consumption – the highest in the world – means high prices at the pump can be political poison. Retail gasoline prices have fallen from a high in June, but remain above historical averages, and are a major contributor to inflation. The gap between wholesale and retail prices has grown, too, spurring White House warnings against price-gouging. Biden said oil companies should feel more confident about investing in production with the new SPR repurchase pledge, and stop pushing stock buybacks. “So my message to all companies is this: You’re sitting on record profits and we’re giving you more certainty. So you can act now to increase oil production,” he said. Companies “should not be using your profits to buy back stock or for dividends. Not now, not while a war is raging,” he said, asking them to bring down prices they charge at the pump. In recent weeks, the oil industry has grown increasingly concerned the administration might take the drastic step of banning or limiting exports of gasoline or diesel to help build back sagging U.S. inventories. They have called on the administration to take the option off the table, a move officials are unwilling to do. “We are keeping all tools on the table, you know, anything that could potentially help ensure stable domestic supply,” the official said. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw and Steve Holland, additional reporting by Doina Chiacu and Andrea Shalal; Editing by Lincoln Feast, Heather Timmons, Lisa Shumaker and Marguerita Choy Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Reuters Science News Summary – Devdiscourse https://collincountynewsonline.com/reuters-science-news-summary-devdiscourse-8/ Following is a summary of current science news briefs. Apollo, Gemini astronaut James McDivitt dies at age 93 James McDivitt, a former U.S. astronaut who commanded some of NASA’s earliest and most ambitious missions in space, died in his sleep last week at age 93, NASA said in a statement on Monday night. McDivitt, who was selected for NASA’s second astronaut class in 1962, was the commanding pilot for the U.S. space agency’s Gemini 4 mission in 1965 and Apollo 9 in 1969, a mission that helped pave the way for the first human lunar landing. Genetic findings from Siberian caves give glimpse into Neanderthal life Bone and tooth remnants from two Siberian caves are helping scientists for the first time decipher the social organization of our cousins the Neanderthals through genetic sleuthing, including on the remains of a father and his teenage daughter. Researchers on Wednesday described genomic findings from the remains of 13 Neanderthals – 11 from Chagyrskaya cave and two from Okladnikov cave in the Altai Mountains of Russia – in one of the largest genetic studies of a Neanderthal population to date. The Paleolithic remains date to about 54,000 years ago. Virgin Orbit to launch first satellite in Europe within six weeks – Branson Richard Branson’s small satellite service provider Virgin Orbit Holdings Inc will be doing its first launch from European soil within the next six weeks, its founder said on Tuesday. “Virgin Orbit can launch satellites into space from anywhere in the world into any orbit at a days notice,” Branson said during a press conference in Milan. Europe plans first Ariane 6 rocket launch in Q4 of 2023 Europe plans to launch the first Ariane 6 rocket, its next-generation space launcher, in the fourth quarter of 2023, the European Space Agency (ESA) said on Wednesday. The 22-nation agency had previously said it was delaying the first launch from 2022 to 2023 without giving details. (With inputs from agencies.)

Tee Grizzley Says He’s Done Rapping, Video Games And Movies Only – TMZ https://collincountynewsonline.com/tee-grizzley-says-hes-done-rapping-video-games-and-movies-only-tmz/ Tee Grizzley All Rap Sounds the Same … Taking My Talents to Movies, Gaming!!! 10/19/2022 1:19 PM PT Tee Grizzley just released his new album, “Chapters of the Trenches,” and the Detroit-born rapper’s fans better soak it up, ’cause it’s also his last — he’s closing the book on his music career!!! The video game industry has been kind to Tee (and his pockets) amid the COVID-19 quarantine. During a new interview with Bootleg Kev, he claimed to bring in six-figures monthly from his growing “GTA” role-playing empire alone. According to Tee, he hasn’t been to a club in a minute and would rather sit at home making bank online than risk an altercation for an appearance fee … even if leaving five figures on the table makes his manager Melissa Tuan upset. TG’s denouncing rap altogether — he says it all sounds the same now — so, he’s rebranding himself as a professional gamer and part-time movie director who’s tired of the BS within the music industry. With “GTA6” currently in development, the digital sky’s the limit for TG’s Grizzley World. Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media. Part of the reason he could be backing away from hip hop is the recent loss of his close friend PnB Rock, who TG saw in September, the day before he was murdered. TG says genuine friends in the music industry are hard to come by, making the loss that much more crippling.

How Our Long Investigation Into Collin County Came To Be – D Magazine https://collincountynewsonline.com/how-our-long-investigation-into-collin-county-came-to-be-d-magazine/ Zac Crain, D Magazine’s senior editor, has a rule that I’m about to break. Zac says writers and editors should never brag about a story’s length, on the belief that quantity doesn’t guarantee quality, that often their relationship is of the inverse variety, that a fair number of dopes don’t get that, and that someone with good sense wouldn’t want to be mistaken for a dope. Whatever. Let’s do this.  Kathy Wise, our executive editor, wrote a story for this issue that runs to 11,316 words, making it one of the longest the magazine has published in its 48 years.  All that quality started in January, when I received an email from a lawyer named Scott Palmer who had just successfully represented a judge in a $600,000 civil suit against Collin County because the judge had been wrongfully convicted of taking bribes. Palmer wrote to me, “I thought this saga of a case would be a perfect story for the type of in-depth reporting D Magazine is known for.” That felt to me a little like a challenge. Notice he used the word “saga.” Kathy happens to be a lawyer. This happens sometimes, lawyers giving up law to practice journalism, which basically means going pro bono for the rest of their careers. I can’t fully explain it. But I know how to exploit it.  “Hey, Kathy,” I said, “I got an email from this lawyer who says he has a saga of a case that would be perfect for an in-depth story. It’s about an innocent judge who was convicted of bribery.” I don’t want to quote Kathy directly, because I can’t recall with certainty what her response was, and I don’t want to get sued by her, but she said: “Hell, no. A judge getting indicted and then convicted by a jury? But she was innocent? Impossible. You’re a dope. Give me that email.”  Like I said, that was January. Kathy spent the next six months interviewing people and poring over court filings and writing a lot of words. She’s a pretty tough character. Tough Midwestern stock and all that. But as the work grew more complex, the effort to unravel this wild story had her questioning her own life choices.  At one of her low points, I suggested that she structure her story based on the movie The Usual Suspects, which was totally sketchy advice given that I’ve never seen The Usual Suspects. (That’s a lie. I just thought it was funny. But what if I’d told her to follow the structure of Jaws?) Anyway, it worked. “The Most Lawless County in Texas” is online today. You can read it here. Reading it could take you more than an hour. That’s how good—and important—it is.  Get the D Brief Newsletter Dallas’ most important news stories of the week, delivered to your inbox each Sunday. Author Tim is the editor of D Magazine, where he has worked since 2001. He won a National Magazine Award in…

Fantasmic! Nighttime Show Will Return To Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Travel Weekly https://collincountynewsonline.com/fantasmic-nighttime-show-will-return-to-disneys-hollywood-studios-travel-weekly/ Nighttime show Fantasmic! will return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando on Nov. 3. The 29-minute spectacular and fan favorite will return for nightly shows. It hasn’t been running since the parks closed in early 2020 due to the pandemic.  The show will have an all-new sequence when it returns, featuring moments from the Disney stories of “Moana,” “Mulan,” “Aladdin,” “Pocahontas” and “Frozen 2.” Fantasmic! features live performers, special effects, pyrotechnics and animation. The show debuted in 1998. “Fantasmic! is a show that will take you on a journey to see so many characters, so many villains and heroes,” said Melanie Gagne, entertainment proprietor for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. “It’s one of our biggest shows, and many guests will plan their day or their entire vacation around it.” Dining packages for select restaurants will go on sale Oct. 26, available for dining starting Nov. 30.

Noodles & Company Starts LI Reboot In Farmingdale – Long Island Business News https://collincountynewsonline.com/noodles-company-starts-li-reboot-in-farmingdale-long-island-business-news/ Get our free LIBN e-alerts & breaking news notifications! Courtesy of Noodles & Company By: David Winzelberg October 19, 2022 Noodles & Company, which had closed four of its five Long Island franchised locations, is coming back to the area with new corporate-owned restaurants.  The Colorado-based fast-casual chain leased a 2,500-square-foot space in the Republic Plaza shopping center in Farmingdale, formerly occupied by Blaze Pizza.  New Jersey-based franchisees Doherty Enterprises, which has the Panera Bread and Applebee’s franchises here, had previously rolled out five Noodles & Co. locations on Long Island, but closed four of them and the fifth one in the Gallery at Westbury Plaza, the chain’s only remaining Long Island location, is now a corporate-owned restaurant.  Sources say the Farmingdale location is the first of several corporate-owned Noodles & Co. restaurants that will be opening on Long Island in the near future. Doherty had owned the chain’s former Farmingdale location, which was in Airport Plaza.  Brian Schuster and Tom Rettaliata of RIPCO Real Estate represented Noodles & Co., while Robert Delavale served as the in-house representative for landlord Breslin Organization in the Republic Plaza lease transaction.  × Enjoy This Free Article We Have 2 More For You All You Need To Do Is Register To Receive Your 2 Additional Free Articles

Obesity Rises Over 12% In School Students – Muscat Daily https://collincountynewsonline.com/obesity-rises-over-12-in-school-students-muscat-daily/ Muscat – To curb obesity among school students, the Ministry of Education, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, launched an initiative called ‘Ideal Weight Challenge’ on Tuesday. Dr Sulaiman al Shereiqi, senior specialist of public health in the Ministry of Health (MoH) and head of the technical team of ‘Ideal Weight Challenge’, informed that its pilot programme is being run in 12 schools in the Governorate of Muscat, targeting 200 students of Grades 2 and 3. The programme is optional, requiring the approval of a participating student’s father. It will run for four years to eventually include all schools in the sultanate. “The programme includes four axes – healthy and balanced nutrition, promoting physical activity and a healthy lifestyle, sleeping enough hours, and enhancing the psychological aspect of healthy living. It will be implemented in school and at home, and involve physical activities and an introductory meeting with students’ parents to implement the programme highlighting the importance of eating breakfast and healthy meals,” Dr Shereiqi said. The programme aims to diagnose obesity cases in a scientific way, reduce obesity among school students and spread awareness of the dangers of obesity-related health conditions, in addition to conducting important health tests to detect the presence of diabetes and anaemia among school students. “The latest official statistics indicate a rise in obesity among students aged five to nine years – an increase of up to 15 per cent among boys and 12 per cent among girls.” According to Dr Shereiqi, finding enough time to implement the programme in schools and nursing cadres was one of the biggest challenges. “But in cooperation with the schools, we created the necessary time and MoH also delegated nursing cadres for the programme. We recently held workshops to implement it.” Participants discussed all aspects of providing services for managing obesity in targeted schools, besides setting realistic targets for implementation of the programme. Dr Shereiqi described obesity as an outcome of several risk factors, including those that are in individual’s control and others that are not. “Genetic inheritance is one factor that is beyond our control. On the other hand, lack or insufficient physical activity, unhealthy diet, stress, binge-eating, and lack of basic nutritional knowledge are factors in our control,” Dr Shereiqi said. Obesity in itself, he noted, is a disease and a sign of malnutrition linked to several chronic conditions. “These include diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal blood fat (dyslipidemia), osteoarthritis and certain types of cancers. Being aware of these will alert people to seek medical help. By doing so, they can help themselves regain their optimum health and reduce risk of premature death.” The programme also includes a competition among students and schools for losing weight, with prizes for schools that succeed in implementing it, the top ten schools that lose weight collectively and the top weight loser among students. “Preventing obesity in communities requires the efforts of all stakeholders,” Dr Shereiqi said. In 2017, the National Non-communicable Disease Survey reported that 66 per cent of the population in Oman is overweight and obese. The prevalence of obesity in the sultanate has increased to 23.2 per cent among men and 39.3 per cent among women.

BreShawn Holley ’22 Credits Having The Right People In His Corner For His Success – Today At Elon https://collincountynewsonline.com/breshawn-holley-22-credits-having-the-right-people-in-his-corner-for-his-success-today-at-elon/ Holley, a broadcast journalism graduate, is now a Minorities in Sports Fellow with Tepper Sports & Entertainment and works with the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte Football Club in a variety of behind-the-scenes roles. BreShawn Holley (left) during the Minorities in Sports Fellowship with Tepper Sports & Entertainment. When BreShawn Holley ’22 first came to Elon as a broadcast journalism major, he wasn’t comfortable with his camera work or production skills. But through the diligent and innovative faculty in the School of Communications, Holley has not only developed greatly in these areas, he has excelled in them. “Now, I’m literally doing that work for an NFL and MLS team. It’s all coming to fruition,” Holley said, who is in the middle of a year-long Minorities in Sports Fellowship with Tepper Sports & Entertainment. Working with the Carolina Panthers and the newly minted Charlotte Football Club for the year-long fellowship, Holley will spend three months getting hands-on experience in four different departments for both franchises – ticketing, stadium operations, brand and consumer marketing, and “Panther Vision,” the team’s broadcast network. The variety of experiences Holley has gained in a field he is passionate about has been the ultimate reward. Holley in his Elon cap and gown outside of Bank of America Stadium, where the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte Football Club play their home games. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do; I just knew I wanted to be in the sports world. And for me to find a fellowship that had four different departments in one and I’m able to get my feet wet in every area was a blessing in disguise,” he said. A piece of advice Holley would give current students preparing to embark on their future careers is to be passionate about what they’re doing. Although it’s not an original or insightful observation, Holley said it’s still important. “The biggest tip for anyone that wants to get into the sports world is you have to love what you’re doing,” Holley said. “Right now, I’m averaging between 60 and 70 hours a week, but I love it because I’m going into an NFL and MLS stadium and it’s something that a lot of people wish they could do. I never take it for granted.” Holley said his short-term goal is to land a full-time position with the Panthers once his fellowship is completed. But long-term, Holley has his sights sets on a far loftier goal. “I definitely want to be the general manager one day. It’s a hard position to get, but with me being born and raised in Charlotte and being a life-long Panthers fan, that’s the main goal,” Holley said. But it’s not just the position title that motivates him. “I just want to be able to leave a legacy and be remembered for doing good in the community. I just want my name to be associated with nothing but positivity and respect … that’s my life goal,” Holley said. “My career goal would be to have a lasting impact on the Carolina Panthers organization before my time is up.” Holley (right) with Sir Purr, the Panthers mascot. Holley said he’d be remiss not to acknowledge all the helping hands that have supported him along the way. Whether it be his family, the mentors he developed in the Panthers organization through LinkedIn networking such as Director of Inclusion and Belonging Jasmine James, or Elon faculty and staff, like Kelly Furnas, Alex Luchsinger or Kathy Ziga, Holley has always had the right people in his corner. “That’s the best thing about Elon,” he said. “I didn’t know how to do a lot of things and I would question and doubt myself if I was capable enough to do it, but Elon had the right people to be in my corner and push and guide me.” Holley said Elon didn’t just give him the car and keys and expect him to drive. But step by step, he was given the tools to take his career forward and now is utilizing them in great ways. “Right now, I think I’m driving pretty good,” Holley said.

Top 10 Metaverse Tokens Tank As Interest Wanes – CryptoSlate https://collincountynewsonline.com/top-10-metaverse-tokens-tank-as-interest-wanes-cryptoslate/ Top 10 metaverse tokens tank as interest wanes Oluwapelumi Adejumo · 49 mins ago · 2 min read After the hype of 2021 saw the value of metaverse lands ballon to astronomical heights, the value of these lands have now drastically declined.  2 min read Updated: October 19, 2022 at 5:28 pm Cover art/illustration via CryptoSlate Investors appear to be losing interest in Metaverse-related tokens as only one among the top 10 crypto assets in the niche has recorded a positive performance in the last 30 days. According to CryptoSlate data, Bored Apes affiliated ApeCoin (APE) has shed 26.42% in the last 30 days. Over the seven-day metrics, it has lost 7.84% and is currently trading for $4.34. During this period, Decentraland’s MANA declined 14.2%, The Sandbox’s SAND lost 11%, Theta shed 3.8%, Axie Infinity’s AXS is down 14.76%, Enjin Coin’s ENJ plunged 10.84%. Others like WAX fell 9%, Radio Caca’s CACA fell 25.2%, and Ultra UOS lost 25.31%. Top 10 Metaverse tokens (Source: CryptoSlate) The only exception among the top 10 metaverse tokens over the last 30 days is GenshoKishi Metaverse MV which gained 11%. Meanwhile, all metaverse crypto tokens have dropped by 5.65% in the last seven days and 2.97% in the last 24 hours. As the metaverse real estate bubble crashed? After the hype of 2021 saw the value of metaverse lands ballon to astronomical heights, the value of these lands has drastically declined. As of August, land prices in metaverse projects have dropped by 85% since the peak. According to available data, land sales peaked on Decentraland at $37,238 in November 2021, but the average price is now around $6,600. The average land sale price on The Sandbox, which was also over $20,000, has tanked to roughly $3000. Even Yuga Labs-related Otherdeeds for Otherside, which launched to much fanfare earlier this year with an average land price of $25,247, has seen its value crash below $5,000. The user base on these metaverse platforms has also flatlined. The average number of concurrent players on Decentraland is down to 477 from 2,341 in February. Active traders have also declined. Otherdeeds had the highest number, peaking at 51,641 in April but down to 826. Some projects, such as Decentraland, Voxels, Somnium Space, NFT Worlds, and Tree Verse, have active traders of less than 100 as of October 17. Unique buyers have also dropped, with none of Decentraland, The Sandbox, and Otherdeeds having up to 100 on the same day. Facebook’s metaverse is empty Facebook’s attempt to rebrand its business to focus on Metaverse has also been entirely successful. A recent report by the Washington Examiner stated that Meta’s main Metaverse Horizon world had only 200,000 monthly active users (MAU) in October. This is far from its projection of 280,000 users, which it was forced to revise after realizing its goal of 500,000 MAU might be an overreach. While its metaverse interface tool, Meta Quest, is one of the market’s best-selling VR headsets, company data shows that over 50% were not used six months after purchase, as reported by Wall Street Journal.

Grab These Top 5 Deals From Verizon During Black Friday Sale In November 2022 – The Tech Outlook https://collincountynewsonline.com/grab-these-top-5-deals-from-verizon-during-black-friday-sale-in-november-2022-the-tech-outlook/ With a tagline to attract the most customers, Verizon is getting ready for its biggest Black Friday sale ever. The holiday deals are crazier than ever. There are deals on various electronic gadgets such as smartphones as well as accessories. What’s more to this is that we have handpicked the top five deals from Verizon from their ongoing Black Friday sale. Let’s throw some light on the duration of the sale and then, move on to the deals.  Firstly, the Black Friday sale would begin as early as November 10th, 2022 onwards. Various promotional offers would be available then. The sale would end on November 27th, 2022. Selectively, these deals will be available in stores. If you are planning to visit Verizon stores to avail the offers, check with your nearest store. In-store pickups are also available. Most of them would be offered as online exclusives. Two-day free shipping will be offered on products worth more than $ 49.  Now, let’s have a look at the top deals during the Black Friday sale at Verizon. We have the best five deals here. Have a look. The iPhone 14 Pro Deal The phone’s on Verizon, meaning they’d be giving you $ 200 when you switch phones. There’s also $ 500 that’s given when you exchange an old or damaged phone for the new iPhone 14 Pro. It’s cool that they’re offering this deal on a premium phone like iPhone 14 Pro. Unlimited 5G plans are also an add-on. 20% off on Google Pixel accessories  You can save up to 20 % on Google Pixel accessories such as Google Pixel 7 and 7 Pro cases. The offer is also available on screen protectors. Most of the products are available under $ 100 with this Black Friday sales offer. This is actually helpful if you are buying on a budget. Get Samsung Galaxy GS22+ for free If you bring a phone that you own and buy a new phone, you get up to $ 500 off. You get an additional $ 200 when you switch phones. The price of the Samsung Galaxy GS22+ is covered in that. So, you could probably get that for free. Colors available include Phantom White, Phantom Black, Green, and Pink Gold. And, you can also avail up to 60 % off on Galaxy Buds 2 while purchasing this device. Free in-store pickup as well as free two-day shipping is also available. Get $100 off on Google Pixel Buds Pro  For prospective buyers planning to indulge in this sale, here’s some information. The offer is valid only if you buy a Google Pixel 7 or Google Pixel 7 Pro. Otherwise, the offer is not available. The Google Pixel 7 is a great phone to buy. The 7 Pro is a higher version than this one. It is available in three colors Snow, Hazel, and Obsidian. If you buy the device, you can avail a stunning $100 discount on the Google Pixel Buds Pro.  Get up to 70 % on Verizon chargers  Verizon is offering up to 70 % off on accessories such as chargers. Accessories on sale include Verizon 24W Quick Charge Vehicle Charger, Verizon Wireless Charging Pad with Fast Charge, Verizon 40W USB-A, and USB-C Travel charger amongst others. The sale not only covers chargers but also covers only charging cables as well. Most of these products will be under $100 during the Black Friday sale. You can also avail of two days’ free shipping and save money.  If you chat with Verizon’s live agent on their website, there’s a chance of getting an extra 30 % off. How cool is that?  There are other deals apart from the ones mentioned above. The Black Friday sale at Verizon is going to be a blast. We urge tech enthusiasts and users to go and try it out in November 2022. It’s the best sale season after the Halloween parties. Wait and watch, this will turn out to be a success. Grab the best deals during the Black Friday sale at Verizon. You definitely don’t want to regret not doing this later on.

How Crypto Advocates Are Defending Ooki DAO – CoinDesk https://collincountynewsonline.com/how-crypto-advocates-are-defending-ooki-dao-coindesk/ Nikhilesh De is CoinDesk’s managing editor for global policy and regulation. He owns marginal amounts of bitcoin and ether. District Judge William Orrick, of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, ruled last week that LeXpunK Army and the DeFi Education Fund could file amicus (friend of the court) briefs in the CFTC v. Ooki DAO case. The allowance of these amicus briefs throws what looked like an inexorable case into a puzzle. We now no longer know just how this might resolve, and there’s a chance the CFTC’s effort to define a DAO as an unincorporated association might fail. Something a little strange happened last week. I got back to my hotel room, checked the federal court Pacer database and discovered that a federal judge had, surprisingly, approved a longshot motion by two crypto groups – LeXpunK Army and DeFi Education Fund – to weigh in on the CFTC’s case against Ooki DAO. The briefs were in by Monday (alongside another motion by Paradigm), and the CFTC has until Nov. 7 (three weeks) to respond. We’ll have a hearing on Nov. 30, where the parties can argue their motions before the court. There are a few things going on here. First off, it was surprising when the judge ruled in favor of the CFTC’s motion for alternative service, which allowed the agency to say it had served the Ooki DAO members by posting in a forum and a help bot. It was also surprising when the judge then allowed the friend of the court briefs, and said, “I interpret these requests as Motions for Reconsideration regarding my decision to permit alternative service in this case,” meaning he essentially paused that previous order. It seemed a much-needed chance for the Ooki DAO members to continue to figure out whether and how they’ll defend themselves in court. Thus far, the group has not formally responded to the CFTC’s suit, though its website became inaccessible to people with U.S. IP addresses last week. On the legal front, there’s now at least three teams of lawyers arguing that the CFTC should not be able to just serve the entire DAO at once through a chat bot, nor hold the entire DAO accountable as an entity (as opposed to the individual members responsible for any illicit conduct). The question is how the CFTC should have served Ooki DAO. The regulator is making the case that Ooki DAO is an unincorporated association and so serving the entire entity at once is fair game. What’s more, the CFTC says that because it couldn’t identify any Ooki DAO participants and because it is treating the entire collective as one entity, posting the suit on a forum and a help bot should be deemed adequate service. The amicus briefs take aim at these assertions in a variety of ways. The LeXpunK brief spells this out explicitly, saying DAOs are not people and arguing the CFTC’s interpretation of a DAO as an unincorporated association does not hold up under federal statute. We’ll have to wait until Nov. 7 to see what the CFTC has to say about this. The timeline, in a screen-capable form: Wed, Oct. 12: Judge William Orrick grants LeXpunK and DeFi Education Fund friend of the court motions to join the case. DeFi Fund already attached its brief with its motion. Mon, Oct. 17: The deadline for LeXpunK to file its brief (this has happened). Mon, Nov. 7: The deadline for the CFTC to file any opposition. Mon, Nov. 14: The deadline for LeXpunK and DeFi Fund to file any responses. Wed, Nov. 30: Hearing on CFTC’s push to serve Ooki DAO through its website. The end of 2022 is fast approaching. The midterm elections are in less than three weeks, so we won’t see much legislative action for a little bit. Here’s where current legislative efforts stand. The House Financial Services stablecoin bill: We’ve been hearing a lot about this bill’s development, but at this point it sure seems like it’ll be a 2023 effort. We might still see some kind of draft legislative language introduced this year, but that’s about it. At DC Fintech Week last week, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), the ranking member of the committee, said he and Chair Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) agreed on how they defined the term “stablecoin” and what the components of the asset include, but suggested that there’s still work to be done on other issues like how to assign a federal regulator. Moreover, at CoinDesk’s IDEAS conference in New York, Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) explicitly said the bill is not happening this year, and is not likely to happen in the early part of 2023. The Digital Commodities Consumer Protection Act: The DCCPA is the Stabenow-Boozman bill introduced to the Senate Agriculture Committee by senators Deborah Stabenow (D-Mich.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) that, if passed, would give the Commodity Futures Trading Commission some more regulatory oversight jurisdiction of crypto spot markets. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), who is a cosponsor on the bill, said she expects a markup to occur before the end of the year. In speaking to others, this does seem like it may actually happen, though passage is still a question mark. If you’ll indulge in some rumor proliferation, the big one right now is that this bill may get attached to the National Defense Authorization Act or another broad bill before the end of the year. I haven’t heard any concrete confirmation of this one way or another, but at the least it does seem like we’ll hear more from this bill before the year’s up. Key: (nom.) = nominee, (rum.) = rumored, (act.) = acting, (inc.) = incumbent (no replacement anticipated) (Platformer) This was a pretty weird one. So the background here is The Wire, a reputable news organization, reported last week that Meta (formerly Facebook) had allowed a senior BJP official (India’s ruling party) the ability to order Instagram posts taken down at will for any reason. It seemed reasonable because, as Casey Newton and Zoë Schiffer point out, the BJP has in the past actually tried doing just this. However, Meta denied the claim, leading to The Wire publishing what looks very much like a faked email, which was then supposedly verified by people, at least one of whom found out after the fact and denied helping verify its authenticity. Newton and Schiffer have more. The Wire announced it would review the story and its reporting on Tuesday. (The Washington Post) The Bering Strait snow crab population declined by about 7 billion over three years, leading Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game to cancel this year’s snow crab fishing season. There seems to be a reasonable argument to be made that overfishing of the waters where snow crabs used to grow up has led to their mysterious disappearance, but this is basically part of the broader ecological collapse we’re starting to see from climate change. (The New York Times) Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Charles Rettig’s term expires next month, and U.S. President Joe Biden has yet to nominate a successor. (Felix Krause) Security researcher Felix Krause reports that Facebook and Instagram’s in-app browsers track all user behavior if they click on third-party links within the app. In other words, if you’re, for example, clicking on the link in the biography of an Instagram user and it opens in the Instagram browser, the app will track your activity, and could allow the company to log and track every input you make on that site. Krause pointed to potentially buying goods on Instagram as an example. Users can open links in another browser – or use the browser versions of these apps – as a way to bypass this. If you’ve got thoughts or questions on what I should discuss next week or any other feedback you’d like to share, feel free to email me at nik@coindesk.com or find me on Twitter @nikhileshde. You can also join the group conversation on Telegram. Sign up for State of Crypto, our weekly newsletter examining the intersection of cryptocurrency and government 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 . Nikhilesh De is CoinDesk’s managing editor for global policy and regulation. He owns marginal amounts of bitcoin and ether. Nikhilesh De is CoinDesk’s managing editor for global policy and regulation. He owns marginal amounts of bitcoin and ether.

Cuba Calls U.S. Trade Embargo A ‘hurricane’ That Never Ends – Reuters Canada https://collincountynewsonline.com/cuba-calls-u-s-trade-embargo-a-hurricane-that-never-ends-reuters-canada/ Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez speaks during a news conference in Havana, Cuba, October 19, 2022. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini HAVANA, Oct 19 (Reuters) – Cuba on Wednesday said the decades-old U.S. trade embargo has been causing record financial losses and untold human suffering in recent months, at a time when Cuba was also battling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Ian. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez made the comments at the launch of an annual campaign for a United Nations resolution condemning the trade embargo, which was put in place after Cuba’s 1959 revolution. The foreign minister’s comments follow a Biden administration announcement on Tuesday saying it would provide $2 million to Cuba for emergency relief efforts following Hurricane Ian, a rare olive branch between the two long-time foes. read more Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com “Despite the positive announcements… the blockade has not changed in its scope or depth,” Rodriguez told reporters in a news conference in Havana. He said Cuba was grateful for the U.S. aid but was still crippled by the embargo, which he called a “hurricane” that never ceases to batter the island. “The embargo is a permanent pandemic, a constant hurricane,” he said. “Today the policy of President Biden’s government towards Cuba is… the same Republican policy, no changes have been introduced in that policy.” Former U.S. President Trump, a Republican, introduced stiff new sanctions against Cuba, beginning in 2017. The administration of President Joe Biden, a Democrat, has since eased some policies around remittances, flights, tourism and more recently, migration, saying it would reopen full consular services in Havana in 2023. The broader embargo, however, has remained largely unchanged. The web of U.S. laws and regulations complicate financial transactions and the acquisition of goods and services by the Cuban government. The United States has said its policies are aimed at channeling “funds toward the Cuban people and away from a regime that has failed to meet the most basic requirements of a free and just society.” Rodriguez on Tuesday blasted that assertion, saying the blockade was “aimed at causing the inability of the country to meet the fundamental needs of the population.” The U.N. General Assembly will vote on Nov. 2 and 3 on a non-binding resolution condemning the trade embargo. It will be the 30th time Cuba has marshaled international support against the embargo. The resolution has historically garnered near unanimous support from member nations and is expected to pass again this year. Economic losses caused by the embargo from August 2021 through February 2022 amounted to $3.8 billion, a record for that seven month period, Rodriguez said, bringing the total cost to $154 billion since the embargo’s inception. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Dave Sherwood and Nelson Acosta, Editing by Rosalba O’Brien Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Common Read Experience Hosts Critically Acclaimed Author | Binghamton News – Binghamton https://collincountynewsonline.com/common-read-experience-hosts-critically-acclaimed-author-binghamton-news-binghamton/ The Common Read Experience, a program for first-year students designed to foster intellectual conversations and academia relationships, has evolved from a fall semester series into a year-long experience to enhance students’ exposure to vital societal topics. This includes bringing in speakers such as critically acclaimed author Safiya Noble. During the talk, Noble, an internet studies scholar and author of Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism, explored how digital media overlaps with racial, gender, cultural and technological issues. During a critical time where technology dominates society, Noble provided extensive insight on the ways that people are affected by the platforms they use daily. This year, Common Read Experience organizers chose Kathy O’Neil’s book Weapons of Math Destruction because it explores how algorithms bolster pre-existing inequalities, a similar theme to that of Noble’s book. Noble explained how search engine results spread false information by reinforcing racist and sexist stereotypes. For example, during a 2011 Google search of “Black girls,” the results included mainly pornographic and hypersexualized content. Noble argued that technology companies need to be held accountable for their algorithms that target marginalized groups and influence people’s perception of the world around them. “I think this journey of studying the tech sector makes me realize that it will be harder than ever to create more fair societies because many of the technologies are ‘making life good,’ as Kathy O’Neil writes in her book,” said Noble. “They’re making life better for people who already have good lives and worse for people whose lives are already hard. What I’m trying to do with my work is uncover how that’s happening and try to intervene upon it.” Noble spoke to a packed house of students who were a part of the Common Read program and other students who were impressed with her work. “The fact that Noble brought in different aspects about how technology is impacting society, especially with search engines, was absolutely fascinating,” said Marco McClain, a sophomore majoring in sociology. “I knew that these things were racialized, but I didn’t know the extent to which they’ve been racialized. I think that it’s really important that these ideas are seen more and it made a huge impact on me.” “The way in which Noble detailed how algorithms reinforce systemic racism was eye-opening and thought-provoking, and complemented this year’s Common Read Experience book,” said Kelli Smith, Common Read Experience committee member and assistant vice president for student success. “I’ll never look at a Google search in the same way and she inspired action for change.” Noble said that people in every field must contend with algorithms, artificial intelligence and other predictive technologies and that she was happy to be at Binghamton University to broaden the conversation about the harms that come from them. “The Common Read Experience began as a way to help students gain perspectives and engage in a dialogue on important social issues affecting the campus community and the nation at large,” said Sean Fenty, director of the Writing Initiative. “It has continued to help students engage in such issues and build community by establishing a common basis from which to discuss these issues, and by offering activities and events to help encourage that dialogue and build that community.” Noble’s talk is only one of the events that the Common Read committee organized to encourage intellectual development and differing viewpoints. “This past year, not only did the campus provide an opportunity for students to connect with their collegiate professors and other faculty to support engagement when they arrived, we provided additional programming efforts, including a movie screening of The Social Dilemma, followed by a discussion, and brought our keynote speaker, Noble, to campus,” said Peter Nardone, committee member and director of The Union. “What has been most rewarding is seeing not only students, but also faculty and staff participate in the entire experience of the Common Read, bringing the campus community together on an important topic.” The Common Read Experience continues with The Annual Public Debates and Deliberation Challenge scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, in the UU-Mandela Room, when students will dispute prominent issues related to this year’s book, Weapons of Math Destruction. For more information about the Common Read Experience, visit the web. https://www.binghamton.edu/offices/success/first-year-students/common-read/index.html

Report: Former Misfits Top Laner Irrelevant May Be Joining SK Gaming For 2023 LEC Spring Split – Dot Esports https://collincountynewsonline.com/report-former-misfits-top-laner-irrelevant-may-be-joining-sk-gaming-for-2023-lec-spring-split-dot-esports/ A member of the former Misfits LEC roster appears to have found a new home. Joel “Irrelevant” Miro Scharoll, former top laner for Misfits, has made a “verbal agreement” to join the upcoming lineup of SK Gaming, according to Alejandro Gomis of Blix.gg. This move follows the departure of Misfits from the entirety of the LEC and ERLs. The organization is being replaced by Team Heretics as of the 2023 Spring Split and into the foreseeable future. Sources: Irrelevant reached a verbal agreement with SK Gaming and will be the toplaner in LEC . SK Gaming has significantly increased its budget and is targeting big players this off season. Detailshttps://t.co/uPy9m3PwMR — Alejandro Gomis (@anonimotum) October 19, 2022 Irrelevant debuted as part of the Misfits roster this past summer after being a part of the organization’s LFL team last year. Misfits shocked fans and players alike during the 2022 Summer Split after announcing the organization’s departure from League of Legends by successfully taking down some of the strongest teams in the region and advancing to the LEC playoffs. For SK Gaming, however, 2022 wasn’t too kind. Though the team found a handful of upset victories throughout the year, the organization as a whole has struggled immensely to make an impact on the LEC since its debut in 2019. Gomis reported that Irrelevant “received great interest from many LEC teams” but decided to cement a verbal agreement with SK, seemingly implying that the organization is increasing its funding for its team in the 2023 LEC season. No information regarding Irrelevant’s move to SK has been confirmed at this time. LEC fans can look forward to supporting the region at the 2022 League of Legends World Championship when Rogue takes on the LPL’s JDG tomorrow to start the quarterfinals in New York City. The 2023 LEC Spring Split is expected to begin early next year.

The Most Lawless County In Texas – D Magazine https://collincountynewsonline.com/the-most-lawless-county-in-texas-d-magazine/ 1. The Verdict Suzanne Wooten had 10 minutes to decide her own fate. It was the Tuesday before Thanksgiving in 2011, and the jury just wanted to go home. Wooten did, too. The 43-year-old Collin County District Court judge was used to observing the courtroom from the opposite vantage point. Now, she was seated at the defense table, dressed not in a robe but in a conservative pantsuit, her blond hair pulled back in a basic bun. She was facing not only the loss of her career but also the loss of her family. Charged with nine felony counts that included bribery, conspiracy to engage in organized criminal activity, and money laundering, Wooten could be sentenced to anything from five years to life in prison. The whole trial had felt like a terrible farce. She had been accused of taking bribes from a couple, whom she swore she had never personally met, to fund campaign expenses, which she had checks to show she had paid for, in return for favorable decisions in a custody dispute, which she had recused herself from and never heard. But that didn’t stop the lead prosecutor, Assistant Attorney General Harry White, from projecting on screen a photo of Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone in The Godfather and saying, “Not all mob bosses look like that.”  Her lawyers reassured her there was no rational basis for a conviction. If there was, every judge in the state of Texas could be indicted as well. But during the trial, when the jury stopped making eye contact with her, Wooten knew she was in trouble. Her lowest point came the night before the verdict. She was soaking in her bathtub, trying to figure out what to tell her kids, aged 15, 9, and 7, if the worst happened. Should she say she was sick and had to go away to the hospital? They weren’t stupid. For a moment, she thought maybe it would be better for them if she were dead.  But, as the pragmatic daughter of a career Air Force officer puts it, “I am really not a kill yourself kind of gal.” So she started looking for ways to make something out of the situation. “Well, crap—Shawshank Redemption,” Wooten thought. “I can help people write appeal bonds. I can help people with their divorces.” That flicker of a plan was enough to get her out of the tub. Suzanne Wooten Judge of the 380th | 2009 – 2011 Jonny Ruzzo Harry White Assistant Attorney General | 2003 – 2015 Jonny Ruzzo Peter Schulte Wooten’s criminal defense attorney  Jonny Ruzzo  It was still a gut punch, though, when she saw the verdict form. Wooten is farsighted, and she was familiar with the form from her time on the bench, so it was easy for her to decipher the jury’s findings as the judge silently flipped through the pages: guilty, guilty, guilty.  When the judge read the verdict out loud, Wooten’s husband collapsed and had to be carried out of the courtroom. In a daze, she followed her lawyers, Peter Schulte and Toby Shook, to the attorney-client conference room for a 10-minute break before sentencing. The only saving grace was that the jury had spared her a first-degree felony conviction, so now the worst-case scenario was 20 years. As they headed out of the courtroom, Schulte, a young, tough-talking former cop with a buzz cut, angrily told White, “This is not over. We’re going to appeal this until the end of time.” During the break, White approached Shook and offered 10 years’ probation if Wooten would waive her right to appeal. He would later testify that he offered the plea because his sole goal was to get Wooten off the bench and keep her from running again. Even if she were sentenced to prison time, White wasn’t sure how long she could stay on the bench during the course of an appeal. “I’m in this blur,” Wooten says. “But what got me to my decision was one of my dear friends who was there. She said, ‘Do you want to be right or do you want to be free?’ ” Wooten knew that if she were sentenced to more than 10 years, she would not be entitled to an appeal bond; she would go straight to prison without seeing her kids.  She took the deal. On that November day in 2011, nobody could have foreseen that Wooten, whose hands were effectively tied behind her back without the ability to appeal, would emerge a decade later, Houdini-​like, with a complete exoneration and a $600,000 settlement against Collin County. Suzanne Wooten had 10 minutes to decide her own fate.  Shortly after the settlement was announced in January of this year, I drive up to McKinney to meet with her in her law office, which is on the second floor of a building just off the historic town square, to find out how she was able to magically free herself through no action of her own. Her bangs are now tinged with gray, but her diamond stud earrings match the intensity of her bright blue eyes. She has the no-nonsense, salty-for-emphasis, English teacher-ish temperament of an effective mediator, which she now is. But I am skeptical. And confused. Wooten tries another tack. “One way I’ve tried to just explain it to people who don’t get it—lawyers don’t get it either—it’s like I was charged with walking my dog to my mailbox to get the mail when they knew for a fact that not only did I not walk to the mailbox, but it would not have been a crime. It was my mailbox, but I didn’t even own a dog.” I’m a lawyer. And I still don’t get it. I will spend the next six months and countless hours conducting interviews and reviewing hundreds of pages of court pleadings, testimony transcripts, and FBI investigation notes. I will lose myself in the crazy, corrupt, centuries-old history of the Collin County court system. But in the end, I will discover that no matter how hard people try to distort it, the truth tends to be clear at its core.  It just takes one jilted man and a few loyal henchmen to put a woman back in her permitted place. Everyone else is just collateral damage. 2. A Historic Election Judge Charles Sandoval resembled John Lithgow playing Winston Churchill in The Crown, only with more hair. Known as Hang Them All Sandoval, he had an abysmal approval rating among members of the local bar. At one point, according to a Collin County Bar Association judicial poll, it was 12 percent, the lowest in the history of the survey. Wooten had been a trial attorney for nearly a decade when, in 2003, she decided to challenge the 59-year-old jurist for his seat on the 380th District Court. At the time, she was 34 and visibly pregnant with her youngest child.  Friends in the legal community told her she should wait. “The ultra-right conservatives here will hate you,” they told her. “You’re supposed to be raising your children.” Plus, they warned, getting lawyers to donate to a judicial campaign against a Republican incumbent in a blood-red county, when their donations are a matter of public record, would be tough. She’d need at least $50,000 of her own money to have a shot. So she decided to sit out the race and spend the next four years getting ready. In 2007, Wooten was the managing partner of the McKinney branch of Collins & Basinger, a boutique Dallas law firm. Toward the end of the year, she told the partners at a firm meeting that she intended to run for Sandoval’s seat. Word of her intentions got around, and, in December 2007, she started receiving calls from Steve Spencer, a marketing-and-lobbying one-man band based in Austin who was known for wearing flashy clothes and driving nice rental cars. His eponymously punny company, Spen-Off Strategies, touted itself as offering “comprehensive and tailored strategies for operations, marketing, finance, technology, government relations, regulatory compliance and much more,” with a “global network of experts” as support. Wooten was familiar with his name—they ran in some of the same circles and had some of the same friends—and she needed the help. So when he offered his services as a turnkey media manager for her campaign, even though he’d never managed a judicial campaign before, she agreed. He estimated the overall cost would be $100,000 to $150,000. His fee would be $7,500, and the rest would mostly go to cover signs, mailers, and print and radio ads. Wooten assured Spencer that—between her generous law firm salary, savings, and a $50,000 line of credit—she had sufficient funds at her disposal to cover anything she couldn’t raise.  Spencer, who had heard from the chairman of the Collin County Democratic Party that Wooten was running, knew his first order of business was to talk her into switching teams. Wooten had considered running as an independent, because she felt judicial races shouldn’t be partisan and party affiliation shouldn’t make a difference. But Spencer confirmed what her law partners had already told her: to run in Collin County as anything other than a Republican would be futile. She needed to meet her opponent in his own primary, in March. So on January 2, 2008, the last possible day to file, she walked over to the Collin County Republican Party headquarters.  “I gave them my filing fee and my application, and they said, ‘What are you doing?’ And I said, ‘Well, I’m going to run for judge.’ ”  Their surprise was understandable. Since the first district court was established in Collin County in 1846, no one had challenged an incumbent judge, whether in a primary or general election. Ever. For 162 years, district court judges had gotten their benches either by gubernatorial appointment when a court opened up due to retirement or death, or by election (often uncontested) when a new court was created. And then they stayed as long as they wanted, or at least until they turned 75 and aged out by law. Once they were in, they were in.  Sandoval lost his bench by a larger margin than he initially won it. Courtesy Wooten planned to change all that. But when her first financial report was due in mid-January, the Secretary of State’s office told her t...

Viking Cruises Information Session – Monday, October 24, RSVP TODAY! – Hingham Anchor https://collincountynewsonline.com/viking-cruises-information-session-monday-october-24-rsvp-today-hingham-anchor/ October 19, 2022 by Hilary Jenison (images courtesy of Cruise Planners) Many of us have seen the advertisements for Viking Cruises while enjoying Downton Abby on PBS and quickly added a river cruise to our bucket list (we know we certainly have)!  Well now thanks to the Cruise Planners – Jay, Rick and Allison Carlson – your dream can now become a reality! This Monday, October 24th you can join Jay Carlson of the Cruise Planners and a representative from Viking Cruises at Scarlet Oak Tavern in Hingham at 2:00pm to learn more about their four different amazing cruise offerings, including: RIVER CRUISING: River cruises throughout Europe, Asia and Egypt OCEAN CRUISING: Ocean cruises throughout the world including Europe, South America and World Cruises EXPEDITION CRUISING: Antarctica, and the Great Lakes MISSISSIPPI CRUISING: Cruises up and down the Mighty Mississippi There has never been a better time to partner with a professional travel advisor, who will bridge the gap between your re-emergence into the world of travel and the many daily travel industry updates and protocols. Cruise Planners has been servicing clients since 1994 and is the largest home-based travel franchise company in the country.  When working with your Cruise Planners Travel Advisor, you can expect highly personalized travel service and exclusive offers for the most desired luxury vacations around the world.  Cruise Planners’ travel advisors have extensive travel expertise and can create a bespoke travel experience that is anything but ordinary – by land or by sea – your vacation will be tailored to your every whim at the level of service you are accustomed to. Attendees at Monday’s session will not only have the opportunity to learn about offerings and ask questions but will also have the opportunity to take advantage of bonus on board credits, past guest discounts and event specials exclusive for attendees. Many current promotions are offering FREE Round-Trip Airfare, including airfare to Europe. Cruise Planners promotions are also currently offering Shipboard Credits starting at $200/stateroom. RSVP today by calling Jay Carlson at 781- 834-7040 and start sailing the world with confidence through Cruise Planners and Viking! You can also learn more about Cruise Planners and their bespoke worldwide travel offerings by visiting https://www.cruiseplannertravel.com. Sponsored by Cruise Planners.

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

Survival And Prognosis Of Those Living With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy – SurvivorNet https://collincountynewsonline.com/survival-and-prognosis-of-those-living-with-hypertrophic-cardiomyopathy-survivornet/ Survival and Prognosis of Those Living with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Patients diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) will need to adopt a series of heart-healthy habits. These habits could include changes to their diet (such as avoiding sodium), adopting a moderate exercise plan, limiting alcohol, and managing stress. People with HCM should also avoid any substances that put strain on the heart. Lifestyle changes may vary from patient to patient, so it is important to talk to your doctor about the immediate and long-term changes that you may need to implement. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Overview  Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) causes the heart muscle cells to enlarge and the walls of the heart chamber (left ventricle) to become abnormally thick. This can make it harder for blood to be pumped effectively. The flow of blood through the heart may also become obstructed.  HCM can cause left ventricle stiffness, cellular changes, thickening of your heart muscle (most commonly the ventricles or lower heart chambers), and mitral valve changes. HCM is generally caused by a genetic (autosomal dominant) mutation that has been passed down through families.  An estimated 1 in 500 Americans are affected by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.  Diagnosing HCM This disease is traditionally passed down from family members (genetic disease). But generally, the diagnosis of HCM will depend on the results of several tests that are performed by your healthcare team.  Symptoms of HCM Some people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may not experience any symptoms (asymptomatic), while others may only experience symptoms when exercising or during exertion. Furthermore, some people may only develop symptoms at a later stage of disease progression. Symptom onset and manifestation vary greatly amongst patients living with the disease. Signs and symptoms that might manifest and result in an early diagnosis of HCM include the following: Shortness of breath, especially during exercise Chest pain Fluttering, fast or pounding heartbeats (palpitations) Fainting, during or just after exertion Heart murmur Although a number of different conditions can cause fast pounding heartbeats or shortness of breath, it is important to seek out medical care to confirm a diagnosis and start the appropriate treatment. If you know of anyone in your family with HCM or have any symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, or irregular or rapid heartbeat, it may be advisable to see your healthcare provider as soon as possible.  Treatment Guidelines for HCM There are many different approaches that may be recommended by your doctor in treating hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. For some people, certain drugs, surgical approaches, and a combination of methods may be needed, whilst others may be able to control their symptoms with lifestyle changes.  The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association has released updated (2020) hypertrophic cardiomyopathy treatment guidelines aimed at providing recommendations that are applicable to those with HCM or who are at risk of developing cardiovascular disease.  Can You Live a Normal Life with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy? “HCM must be looked at as a lifestyle changer,”  Dr. Philip Weintraub, a cardiologist at NYU Langone Health, advises avoiding any illicit drugs, such as cocaine, and cutting back on alcohol, and says “You don’t want to invite other agents that might be toxic to the heart muscle. You do not want to use illicit drugs, especially cocaine. You don’t want to use alcohol because alcohol itself could act as a depressant.” Dr. Weintraub suggests adopting a series of healthy habits to keep yourself on track to better health while living with HCM, which include the following: Moderate exercise Avoid isometrics exercises (like weight lifting) Maintain healthy weight Maintain a healthy sleep schedule Discuss/manage stress Avoid substances that put a strain on the heart (illicit drugs or alcohol) Eat healthily and maintain a healthy weight Keep up with heart tests and follow-up appointments “You want to keep your weight at a healthy weight,” he adds. “You don’t want to put more strain on an overstrained system by allowing obesity to settle in. Sleep is [also] very important. Sleep must be obtained because people who don’t sleep well and develop sleep apnea compromise their general health.” Diet and Exercise for HCM When it comes to maintaining an overall healthy diet, there are a few changes people with HCM should consider implementing—like limiting sodium intake and choosing heart-healthy foods. “Try to minimize the intake of salt, because salt itself leads to fluid [retention],” Dr. Weintraub explains. “Retention can work against somebody who is hypertrophic in that if they have [an] increased volume of fluid in their bloodstream, they’re more likely to congest in their lungs.” A heart-healthy diet includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and fish. A diet low in animal fat may also be helpful since it may reduce cholesterol. Alcohol intake should also be reduced or avoided as alcoholic drinks are known to worsen the condition and can further reduce blood flow. The consumption of alcohol can also promote weight gain, which can exacerbate symptoms experienced with HCM.  Dr. Aeshita Dwivedi, a cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital, tells SurvivorNet that finding the right exercise routine is important when taking care of heart health. “It’s also important that you remain active, which means moderate activity,” Dr. Dwivedi adds. “A lot of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are restricted from doing strenuous activity because it can actually make their condition worse, but it’s important to still stay active and [patients] can consider a supervised exercise program to remain active as well. “The other important thing is to have healthy habits,” she adds. “Excessive alcohol intake or excessive stress on the body in terms of physical or emotional stress can also worsen the condition, so it’s important to maintain an overall healthy lifestyle, including diet and [remaining] moderately active.” Stress Management for HCM Excessive stress can lead to spikes in blood pressure, which can increase the risk of cardiomyopathy (heart disease). Those with HCM should consider implementing lifestyle changes to help manage stress, such as: Maintaining a regular sleep schedule Adopting an exercise routine Practicing relaxation techniques (deep breathing, journaling, listening to music, etc.) Finding a support group and/or system Dr. Weintraub urges those dealing with HCM to find a support system that works for them, as being honest and open about their health struggles can help a lot when it comes to handling stress. “You need to live in an environment where you can share what’s going on with you, because we see many patients who are afraid of what’s wrong with them, [so they] withdraw, isolate, and develop certain types of depression,” he says. A support system may look different for every patient; some may find solace in groups or online communities of people who have gone through similar struggles, while others may be able to confide in a close friend or family member. “You can create support group systems out there in which there are people who are willing and who care about you [who can help] extract what your fears are from you,” he says. “So, therefore, when they get to express it, [any problems] can be dealt with directly.” Moving Forward – Questions to Ask Your Doctor Will I need to make significant changes to my diet?  Should I be on a supervised workout routine?  What foods and activities should I avoid? Will I have to quit my job if it involves physical labor?  How can I identify and manage my stress safely? Survival and Prognosis of Those Living with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Patients diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) will need to adopt a series of heart-healthy habits. These habits could include changes to their diet (such as avoiding sodium), adopting a moderate exercise plan, limiting alcohol, and managing stress. People with HCM should also avoid any substances that put strain on the heart. Lifestyle changes may vary from patient to patient, so it is important to talk to your doctor about the immediate and long-term changes that you may need to implement. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Overview  Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) causes the heart muscle cells to enlarge and the walls of the heart chamber (left ventricle) to become abnormally thick. This can make it harder for blood to be pumped effectively. The flow of blood through the heart may also become obstructed.  HCM can cause left ventricle stiffness, cellular changes, thickening of your heart muscle (most commonly the ventricles or lower heart chambers), and mitral valve changes. HCM is generally caused by a genetic (autosomal dominant) mutation that has been passed down through families.  An estimated 1 in 500 Americans are affected by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.  Read More Diagnosing HCM This disease is traditionally passed down from family members (genetic disease). But generally, the diagnosis of HCM will depend on the results of several tests that are performed by your healthcare team.  Symptoms of HCM Some people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may not experience any symptoms (asymptomatic), while others may only experience symptoms when exercising or during exertion. Furthermore, some people may only develop symptoms at a later stage of disease progression. Symptom onset and manifestation vary greatly amongst patients living with the disease. Signs and symptoms that might manifest and result in an early diagnosi...

FanDuel, Barstool Approved For Ohio Sports Betting – Gaming Today https://collincountynewsonline.com/fanduel-barstool-approved-for-ohio-sports-betting-gaming-today/ Two more mobile operators have been approved to offer sports betting in Ohio ahead of the Buckeye State’s universal launch on Jan. 1. That brings the total number of approved mobile sportsbook operators to seven so far. FanDuel and Barstool Sportsbook were approved as Ohio sports betting mobile operators by the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) at a meeting today. FanDuel is partnered with Belterra Park racino in Cincinnati. Barstool is partnered with Hollywood Casino in Columbus. Both operators have also been approved as retail operators for their mobile partners. Additionally, Barstool has been approved to operate retail sportsbooks at Dayton Raceway and Hollywood casinos in Toledo and Youngstown, bringing the total number of approved Ohio retail sportsbook operators to nine.  Ohio approved its first five mobile sportsbook operators on Oct. 5. Those five operators were PointsBet, Caesars, Betfred, bet365, and SuperBook. It is uncertain how many more operators, or service providers, will be approved before launch. Sportsbook Approval Conditional On Meeting Upcoming Deadlines Approval of all sportsbooks and their facility partners is conditional. Potential licensees must submit their sports gaming employee applications, responsible gaming plans, facility plans, geolocation procedures, and house rules to the OCCC by Nov. 2 in order to launch on Jan. 1.  Missing the Nov. 2 deadline will push their launch date to later next year.  Additionally, all sports gaming facilities and sportsbooks must have their gaming equipment verified and ready to go no later than Dec. 2 if they hope to launch on New Year’s Day.  OCCC staff were among hundreds of participants at the G2E Conference last week in Las Vegas, where companies that will drive the Ohio sports betting market shared their latest ideas. Staying on track to meet the universal launch date was emphasized at today’s meeting by OCCC Chair June Taylor.  “We are essentially seven and a half weeks away from what we are calling ‘the launch,’” Taylor said to operators. “So we ask that you continue to work with our team and ask questions, and just be authentic in your quest to get your paperwork and everything complete. Because we are genuine in what we’re doing in responding to you morning, night, weekends, and working as best as we can.”  “The date is the date, the deadlines are the deadlines, and let’s continue to work hard to meet them and we’ll hope this operation is successful.”  Sports Betting Kiosks and Suppliers Also Approved Ahead of Jan. 1 Launch Sports betting kiosks will also go live in Ohio at the first of the year at hundreds of locations statewide, including supermarkets, restaurants, bars, and gas stations. The OCCC approved another 29 locations today.  That brings the total number of approved kiosk hosts, so far, to 877.  Before today, the OCCC had not approved any of the seven companies that will service the hundreds of sports betting kiosks around the state.  Four of those companies – Green Bear Gaming (UBet Ohio), Intralot, betIGG, and Skybox Sports Network – were finally granted approval this morning.  Several new sports gaming suppliers were also approved today by the OCCC, bringing the total number of approved suppliers to 15. The suppliers provide software and other equipment for wagering from start to finish. Suppliers approved today include IGT, SimpleBet, IMG Arena, Skybox Sports, and Aristotle.  Image by: viewimage

Protecting Data In The Metaverse: Do Avatars Dream Of Privacy? – JD Supra https://collincountynewsonline.com/protecting-data-in-the-metaverse-do-avatars-dream-of-privacy-jd-supra/ SUMMARY The metaverse will bring many benefits, but it is also likely to multiply and compound privacy issues, particularly given its global nature. With the advent of the commercial internet in the 1990s, organizations were increasingly able to track users’ clicks and searches to gather information about their preferences, interests, and purchasing habits. Mobile technology not only added precise location tracking, it also enabled the integration of smartphones into virtually every life activity, giving organizations deeper insights into users’ identities. The metaverse will take us much further down this path, enabling the tracking of human bodies and even thoughts, particularly as users develop deep relationships with digital avatars. Whether through virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) – which together are known as extended reality (XR) – the metaverse will increase the type and volume of data that organizations collect, as well as change how they process and share it across domains and borders. This will raise a host of privacy issues that we are only just beginning to appreciate. Types and Volume of Data In his recent book The Metaverse: And How it Will Revolutionize Everything, Matthew Ball defines the metaverse as: “A massively scaled and interoperable network of real-time rendered 3D virtual worlds that can be experienced synchronously and persistently by an effectively unlimited number of users with an individual sense of presence, and with continuity of data, such as identity, history, entitlements, objects, communications, and payments.” Much of the activity that takes place in this universe depends on XR technologies that enable 3D experiences. Researchers estimate that XR applications produce one terabyte of data per hour, which is equivalent to 200,000 songs stored in a digital playlist. To convincingly render a scene, VR headsets track a dozen different types of movements at a rate of 90 times per second.[1] Whereas online companies currently observe browsing and search histories, operators in the metaverse will track our bodies themselves. Immersive technologies monitor human physiology, including eyeball motion and point of gaze, facial expression, voice, and heart rate. They also observe a wide range of physical actions, including head and body movements, haptics, gait, and posture. And they can track emotions through expression recognition technologies and neural activity using brain-computer interfaces. Moreover, XR environments use audio, visual, and inertial sensors to detect the position of a user or device relative to its surroundings. This often involves collecting data about non-participants, passive bystanders who happen to be within range of a system’s sensors. Operators that track physiological, mental, and biometric data are subject to laws governing the collection, use, and sharing of sensitive data and biometrics. That includes the General Data Protection Regulation in Europe; state privacy regulations in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah and Virginia; and biometric privacy laws, such as Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act. When the metaverse is used in work, education, or healthcare contexts, operators collecting data of this sort will be subject to sector-specific privacy laws, such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. How Data is Processed Organizations will process data using machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence techniques to estimate or infer the identities, emotional states, and intentions of their users, as well as predict how they may behave in the future. Moreover, AIs and bots will actively participate in games as well as social media and other communication platforms, raising challenges related to trust. Deepfakes may raise particularly thorny issues. In recent years, several states have advanced laws on automated decision making, and policymakers in the US, EU, and China are debating the regulation of AI. Under these laws, metaverse operators and participants will be subject to new layers of rules, including standards, trust marks, certification frameworks, and auditing schemes. How Data is Shared Across Domains and Borders One of the defining characteristics of the metaverse – what makes it “meta” – is interoperability. To support an environment that is persistent, live, synchronous, and interoperable, organizations need standards and frameworks for data sharing across domains and platforms. As noted, many countries already have laws on data collection, use, and sharing, especially when it comes to personal data — and many new laws are being considered. But laws in different countries may conflict. And it can be very difficult or even impossible to determine which national laws apply when people come together from different locations around the world to interact in virtual environments. Like the Internet, the metaverse doesn’t “reside” in a specific jurisdiction. Which country’s laws take precedence, for example, when a person who is in Japan meets another person who is in Brazil to interact in a virtual café owned by a US company that uses servers located in India? The internet, which is a relatively static environment, already raises myriad questions on jurisdiction and choice of law. The metaverse – where avatars cruise in interconnected, always-on digital spaces without physical or logical boundaries – will multiply and compound them. Enter the Blockchain The hype surrounding the metaverse also relates to its technological relative, the blockchain. While conceptually separate, the metaverse and blockchain intersect where property issues arise. For example, avatars may dress up in skins that are tradeable as NFTs and portable across platforms and applications through users’ digital wallets. Moreover, Web3 champions support systems for decentralized “self-sovereign identity” in the metaverse, liberated from the control of major platforms and mediated by cryptology. The blockchain, of course, has its own privacy frictions. For starters, it is designed to maximize transparency and actions taken on the blockchain are immutable. Anyone can see the history of every transaction that has taken place on a blockchain dating back to the chain’s launch. And individuals cannot technically enforce their right to privacy by deleting personal data stored on chain or hiding it from public view. The metaverse presents exciting opportunities for reinvigorating online work, commerce, and play. At the same time, organizations designing products and services in this space will need to bake in laws and standards governing sensitive data and biometrics, AI and machine learning, cross platform data sharing, and blockchain applications. Whether through top-down government regulation or bottom-up privacy by design, the metaverse is an exciting new domain not just for gamers but also for lawyers and policymakers. [1] Joseph Jerome and Jeremy Greenberg, “Augmented Reality + Virtual Reality: Privacy & Autonomy Considerations in Emerging, Immersive Digital Worlds” (Future of Privacy Forum, 2021). [View source.]

See What Happens When Two Worlds Best Phone Nothing And IPhone Compete – The Tech Outlook https://collincountynewsonline.com/see-what-happens-when-two-worlds-best-phone-nothing-and-iphone-compete-the-tech-outlook/ iPhone 13 and Nothing are the players in the market that have no brand besides them at their level. Nothing famous for its sleek design got its fame in a very short period of time. Apple has been known to the world for a long time. But you can grab the best between these two best options in this article only. Nothing Phone 1 Nothing Phone is one of the best models though they have almost all the best in the clan. But this model has made a special place among other phones because of its special features, sleek and unique design, and large memory. Because this has got 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant and that’s just for Rs. 29,999. If you are an SBI or Kotak Bank Credit card holder you can instantly grab this for Rs. 1,500 less than the actual rate. On top of it is its exchange value offer that allows you to avail of a discount of up to Rs. 16,900 on your purchase. Initially, it was launched at  Rs 33,999. iPhone 13 The iPhone 13 no doubt has got a lot more than its predecessor iPhone 13. It has got a bright, vibrant 6.1inch wide OLED screen with 60Hz and a notch on the top of the screen. If we talk about the gaming experience of this phone it has been enhanced by A15 Bionic SoC. The camera is decent enough to feature cinematic shoot mode and different features of photography. Battery life can be said to be great though it’s good enough to not make you worry. iOS 15 keeps everything smooth and cool for this phone. So at last it you must have come to know about the best between these two. So grab your best in this festive season.

The Best Recession-Proof Crypto In 2022 – Cryptonews https://collincountynewsonline.com/the-best-recession-proof-crypto-in-2022-cryptonews/ Disclaimer: The Industry Talk section features insights from crypto industry players and is not a part of the editorial content of Cryptonews.com. Although the crypto market has flourished over the prior few years, it is impossible to say with certainty how digital coins will perform during a strong economic downturn.  Nevertheless, there are a few potentially recession-proof crypto coins that could help investors hedge their portfolios against inflation.  In this guide, we take a closer look at the top cryptocurrencies that have the potential to survive the next recession.  9 Potentially Recession-Proof Cryptos to Invest in.  After carefully assessing the broader digital asset market, we found that the following nine projects could potentially represent recession-proof crypto investments.   IMPT – Emerging Crypto Project Supporting Sustainability Tamadoge – Metaverse Token With In-Built NFTs Battle Infinity – Play to Earn Game With Staking Support  Lucky Block – Crypto Project Offering Attractive NFT Competitions and Rewards Bitcoin – Most Popular Cryptocurrency for Long-Term Investments Ethereum – Blockchain and Smart Contract Network With Huge Growth Potential Solana – Top Cryptocurrency With Plenty of Use Cases  Binance Coin – Fast-Growing Native Token of Leading Crypto Exchange Tether – Popular Cryptocurrency With Low Volatility Below, we review each of the above-mentioned cryptocurrencies, explaining why they might be good choices for investors during a recession.  Invest in IMPT Now A Closer Look at the Recession-Proof Cryptocurrencies  Given the volatile nature of digital assets, it can be extremely challenging to figure out which are the best recession-proof crypto coins.  However, there are indeed a number of digital tokens that have demonstrated a strong growth potential – which could allow them to hold up well during the next recession.  With this in mind, we will now analyze some of the best cryptocurrencies to buy before the recession hits the global markets.  1. IMPT – Emerging Crypto Project Supporting Sustainability IMPT is a newly founded crypto platform that allows users to buy, sell, and burn carbon credits. For those unaware, carbon credits are permits that enable companies or individuals to emit a specific amount of CO2. Companies purchase them in order to offset their greenhouse gas emissions.  While carbon credits are usually sold directly by governmental organizations, these permits can also be purchased via voluntary trading markets. IMPT is one such project that makes carbon credits trading easier and accessible to everyone. With the help of a blockchain-based ecosystem, IMPT allows its users to invest in credible eco-friendly projects and get carbon credits in return.  Given the demand for carbon credits, IMPT is one of the best upcoming NFT projects that represents considerable long-term growth potential. For this reason, the IMPT project has managed to garner a lot of attention from crypto investors, regardless of a tight economy.  IMPT is still in its early stages, and as of writing, the project is selling its native digital token via a presale launch. This green crypto presale has already raised over $5 million in under 15 days. Early investors can buy the IMPT token for $0.018 during the first stage of the presale before the price increases to $0.023.  The IMPT token can be used to buy carbon credits on the platform. They can then choose to burn the carbon credits to offset their emissions or trade them for a profit. At a time when sustainable investing is becoming common, IMPT is well-positioned to conduct one of the best crypto ICOs this year.  The project has strong fundamentals and enables socially-conscious investors to support eco-friendly initiatives. Given these factors, the IMPT coin could rally strongly even after the presale comes to an end and the token is listed on exchanges.  Invest in IMPT Now 2. Tamadoge – Metaverse Token With In-Built NFTs Tamadoge was one of the most anticipated crypto projects to hit the market in 2022. The platform has just completed its hugely successful presale phase, which raised over $19 million, much ahead of its schedule. The meme-inspired TAMA coin is currently available to purchase via popular exchanges such as OKX and MEXC.  Now, the important question is why Tamadoge could be considered a recession-proof cryptocurrency. As crypto investors are aware, even the most popular digital coins have seen a significant drop in their price during the past few months. However, Tamadoge had managed to attract a sizable number of investors, despite the general bearish market sentiment.  As we mentioned above, the Tamadoge project hosted one of the best crypto presales of 2022. The coin continues to perform well and has gained over 1,000% in value – from its initial presale price. The platform offers attractive features, which comprise of play to earn games, and built-in NFTs set in a vibrant metaverse – all of which can help the project gain more traction in the future.  Within the game, players can use TAMA tokens to purchase NFT pets and battle them against others. Players who collect the most points are offered additional rewards. As the game progresses, the Tamadoge team also plans to add augmented reality and other features.  Recently, Tamadoge released its exclusive collection of ultra-rare pet NFTs. A total of 100 NFTs were available to purchase via auction on OpenSea. The second collection of 1,000 Tamadoge NFTs was launched on October 17th, 2022. The demand for these NFTs suggests that the growth of the Tamadoge project is not about to slow down any time soon.  Buy TAMA on OKX Buy TAMA on OKX DEX 3. Battle Infinity – Play to Earn Game With Staking Support  Battle Infinity is another popular cryptocurrency that had an extremely successful presale in 2022. It is considered to be one of the best metaverse tokens to launch this year, with its presale selling out in just 24 days. Like Tamadoge, Battle Infinity also combines the metaverse concept with a play to earn gaming ecosystem.  Moreover, Battle Infinity has other attractive features for investors. The platform supports the staking of its native utility token, IBAT. Meaning, investors can earn rewards merely for holding IBAT tokens. As such, income will be generated irrespective of broader economic conditions.   Battle Infinity also allows players to choose between flexible and fixed staking periods. This way, investors can earn up to 12% APY on their IBAT tokens. Moreover, if choosing a flexible option, investors will also have the option to sell their IBAT investment during an economic downturn, if necessary. Apart from staking, Battle Infinity also plans to launch a decentralized exchange as well as an NFT marketplace. However, its biggest attraction is the IBAT Premier League, which is an NFT-based fantasy sports arena. The project will also feature other metaverse games and an IBAT Battle Arena where players can interact with each other using avatars. Visit Battle Infinity Now 4. Lucky Block – Crypto Project Offering Attractive NFT Competitions and Rewards The crypto scene is ultra-diverse and thus – it is not necessary for investors to wait for many years in order to generate gains. For instance, Lucky Block allows players to enter competitions and claim rewards. Investors only need to buy a Lucky Block NFT, which serves as the entry ticket to these prize draws.  The platform features the best NFT giveaways as well as multiple competitions at a time, each offering attractive rewards such as holiday packages, million-dollar houses, new cryptocurrencies, and so on. When announcing a new competition, the platform also launches a specific NFT collection. The winner is picked after the NFT collection sells out.  More importantly, investors do not need to be a winner to earn rewards. Instead, as long as they hold Lucky Block NFTs in their wallet, the platform distributes tokens. However, to buy Lucky Block NFTs, investors will need first to purchase LBLOCK V1 tokens.  The Lucky Block ecosystem also has another token, the LBLOCK V2, that has no transactional fees. As such, this token is particularly suited for trading – a strategy investors can adopt to make profits even during a recession.  Since the price of cryptocurrencies such as Lucky Block fluctuates around the clock, there are plenty of opportunities to make money from strategies such as scalping and swing trading.  Visit Lucky Block 5. Bitcoin – Most Popular Cryptocurrency for Long-Term Investments Bitcoin is widely considered one of the best-performing assets of the past decade. The digital coin was first created with the goal of developing a currency that is independent of any central authority, such as a government or a central bank. Due to this decentralized nature, the value of Bitcoin is also believed to be disassociated with general economic conditions.  For instance, unlike stocks, the value of Bitcoin is not directly correlated to a healthy balance sheet, sector tailwinds, or strong management. Instead, it has value in both economic developments and downturns. As such, many investors view Bitcoin as a solid store of value when compared to other asset classes such as stocks and commodities.   On top of this, during an economic downturn, people choose to invest in established digital coins rather than volatile cryptocurrencies. And needless to say, Bitcoin is the most prominent cryptocurrency out there. Since its inception, the coin has gained significant value  – by many millions of percentage points.   Today, it is undoubtedly the most popular cryptocurrency, widely accepted as payment across the world. In addition to all this, Bitcoin also has a limited supply. Put otherwise, as long as the demand increases, this scarcity c...

U.S. Secretary Of Education Announces Recipients Of The 2022 Terrel H. Bell Awards For Outstanding School Leadership | U.S – US Department Of Education https://collincountynewsonline.com/u-s-secretary-of-education-announces-recipients-of-the-2022-terrel-h-bell-awards-for-outstanding-school-leadership-u-s-us-department-of-education/ U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel A. Cardona today announced the recipients of the Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership for 2022. All nine school leaders from the 2022 cohort of National Blue Ribbon Schools will be honored during the National Blue Ribbon Schools awards ceremony Nov. 3 in Washington. “As a former principal, I understand the vital role school leaders play in shaping school culture and welcoming learning environments, improving student achievement outcomes, and empowering teachers to meet the needs of their students,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “The nine school leaders receiving this year’s Terrel Bell awards have raised the bar for building positive school climates, increasing achievement, and finding creative ways to nurture, engage, and support students, families, educators, and school staff. At a time when principals and other school leaders face many challenges, from addressing students’ unmet mental health needs to accelerating their academic recovery from the pandemic, the Department of Education is proud to recognize the essential work they do each day.” Named for the second U.S. secretary of education, Terrel H. Bell, the Bell Award honors school leaders who are committed to education as a powerful and liberating force in people’s lives. The award is part of the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Principals are nominated by their school communities during the final stages of the National Blue Ribbon Schools application process. The U.S. Department of Education, together with the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the Association for Middle Level Education, and the National Association of Secondary School Principals, present the Bell Awards to principals of National Blue Ribbon Schools for their outstanding work and the vital role they play in guiding their students and schools to excellence, frequently under challenging circumstances. The 2022 recipients are: Visit the website to learn more about the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program and the Terrel H. Bell Awards

Albany Tech To ‘refresh’ Business Healthcare Technology Program – The Albany Herald https://collincountynewsonline.com/albany-tech-to-refresh-business-healthcare-technology-program-the-albany-herald/ Albany Eats Sign up for Albany Eats, a weekly email newsletter with the latest on eateries in the Albany area sprinkled with recipes. Albany Herald e-Edition Get the daily Albany Herald e-edition delivered to your inbox every morning. Business Newsletter Get the latest business news delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Contests, special deals, and more Get contests, advertising specials, special deals and more sent to your email address.  Coronavirus News Get the the most recent coronavirus news delivered to your inbox daily. Get local events delivered to your inbox Keep up with local events in southwest Georgia. Every Monday, find a list of upcoming events in your email inbox. On Fridays, upcoming weekend events are delivered to your email inbox. Local Newsletter Get the Local News headlines from the Albany Herald delivered daily to your email inbox. Most popular posts from AlbanyHerald.com Get the most popular posts on AlbanyHerald.com from the previous week emailed to you every Monday morning. Obituaries newsletter Get the latest obituaries delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Southwest Georgia Weather Get our expert short-term forecast, summary of the weather details and news of any severe weather in the Albany, Georgia area. Sports Newsletter Get the Sports headlines from the Albany Herald delivered daily to your email. Upcoming high school sports events Get a list of upcoming high school sports events delivered to your email inbox every Thursday.

Best Projectors For Gaming In 2022 – Popular Science https://collincountynewsonline.com/best-projectors-for-gaming-in-2022-popular-science/ We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more › Published Oct 19, 2022 1:00 PM Whether you’re more into the frenetic gunplay of Call of Duty or the slow charms of Stardew Valley, the idea of playing your favorite games on a 20-foot-tall screen is undoubtedly appealing and projectors for gaming can make it happen. Though projectors were considered a generally weak option for gaming in the past, improvements in resolution and response time have dramatically increased their appeal to everyday consumers. The top-of-the-line projectors are still going to make a major dent in your wallet, but there are good budget options, too. We looked at dozens of projectors to determine the best projectors for gaming in your specific setup, and here are our top picks. Best overall: Optoma UHD38 Best 4K: Optoma UHZ50 Best portable: XGIMI Elfin  Best short-throw: BenQ TK700STi Best mini: XGIMI Halo+ Best budget: BenQ TH685P/TH585P Why should I buy a projector for gaming? It’s a valid question. After all, most of us already have big, expensive TVs, so why would I want a projector instead? Well, for one thing, projectors are far easier to transport than TVs and most can be adjusted to fit walls that are between 3 and 30 feet. Of course, there are downsides to projectors. For one thing, they’re expensive, with even the budget options coming in at well north of the price of a cheap TV.  For another, they require a certain setup to be used correctly. For example, standard-throw or long-throw projectors often require 10 to 15 feet of space in order to output a good-quality image, which might not work for everyone’s living situation. Short-throw projectors can make do with just 5 to 8 feet—and ultra short-throws even less than that—so they might be a better fit for certain people. Projectors also require a darkened room in order to work well, which probably isn’t an issue for most people, but it can be inconvenient at times. The bottom line is that while a projector for gaming probably isn’t an everyday use item for most people, it can be very helpful for social gatherings, especially LAN parties. How we picked the best projectors for gaming I’ve been a professional tech writer for about a decade now, as well as a contributor to PopSci writing about everything from 3-D printers to VPNs. I know my way around gadgets for every level of consumer, from entry-level to industrial. To make these recommendations, I consulted personal testimonials, peer recommendations, consumer reviews, and tests conducted by top-quality professionals. This helped me to determine which projectors shone brightest. Things to consider before buying a projector for gaming As mentioned above, you should think about the room or rooms that you plan to use your gaming projector in and, especially, where you want to put the projector. You might even way to measure its dimensions to confirm. Depending on that, you’ll want to get a projector that has a throw ratio (a measure of its picture size relative to its distance from the wall) that fits that space. Think about your use case Some projectors are portable and suitable for outdoor use, while others are big, bulky, and are best used for an indoor gaming night. Additionally, some models are easier to set up with modern (or retro) gaming consoles—like the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X—than others. You’ll also want to look at vital stats like resolution and the projector’s response time. If you plan on playing competitive games on the projector, you’ll want to shell out for a model that has the fastest response time possible. Otherwise, you’ll have to deal with input lag. More expensive models tend to have smart features like Alex and Google Home support, too. The best projectors for gaming: Reviews & Recommendations As you’ll see in our list, some projectors are so portable that you can take them on a road trip, or perhaps even on a plane. They’re also more outdoor-friendly than traditional TVs, so you can have a backyard grill or bonfire as you play games with your friends. Best overall: Optoma UHD38 Why it made the cut: The Optoma UHD38 is a reasonably priced projector that delivers everything that a gamer could ask for.  Specs Price: $1,600 Throw ratio: 1.5 to 1.66 Brightness: 4000 lumens Resolutions supported: 1080p, 4K Response time: 4.2ms (1080p), 16ms (4K) Refresh rate: 240Hz (1080p), 60Hz (4K) Other features: HDR10 support Screen size range: 33 to 301 inches Source lifespan: 15,000 hours Pros Great response time 4K support Amazing refresh rate Fair price (though expensive) Cons Not very portable No smart features In terms of price-to-feature ratio, projectors don’t get much better than the Optoma UHD38. It has the trifecta that gamers are looking for in a projector: 4K support, a high refresh rate, and a low response time. Both its 4K and 1080p response times are the lowest you’re going to find in a gaming projector, and its 240Hz refresh rate supports higher frame rates for PC gaming on 1080p, too. Its brightness of 4000 lumens makes it suitable for both dark and semi-dark rooms during the daytime, and HDR support just sweetens the deal even more. It also has two HDMI inputs, which is more than enough for most people. Additionally, its lifespan of 15,000 hours isn’t the best in the space, but it’s more than a lot of lamp projectors out there. While the UHD38 is a great deal, it does have some downsides. For one thing, its asking price of $1600 is very competitive for the space, but it’s still a lot of money, especially compared to some budget options we’ll examine later. Also, it lacks some of the nifty smart features that its more expensive competitors have, such as Alexa and Google Home support. Additionally, its rated lifespan of 15,000 hours is significantly shorter than lower brightness sets. Still, it is the best overall projector for gaming for most people, and that’s the bottom line. Best 4K: Optoma UHZ50 Why it made the cut: The Optoma UHZ50 is an incredible high-end 4K laser projector that provides a crisper image and better contrast than its lamp-based competitors. However, it is also quite pricey, even by tech standards. Specs Price: $2,800 Throw ratio: 1.21 to 1.59 Brightness: 3000 lumens Resolutions supported: 1080p, 4K Response time: 4.2ms (1080p), 16ms (4K) Refresh rate: 240Hz (1080p), 60 Hz (4K) Other features: HDR support, eARC sound, smart features Screen size range: 30 to 300 inches Source lifespan: 30,000 hours Pros Unparalleled image quality Meets the specs gamers need Smart features Cons Not very portable Incredibly expensive When it comes to projectors, the overall answer is clear: in most cases, laser projectors are simply better than their lamp brethren. Laser projectors have a better contrast ratio, more vivid colors, deeper blacks, and lower maintenance than the alternative. However, this is balanced out with a much higher upfront cost. The UHZ50 has an MSRP of $2,800, which is nearly double that of the above-recommended UHD38. That means it’s much more of an investment than its fellow Optoma projector. That hefty price tag also gets you a premium set of comfort features, including voice commands via Alexa and Google Home support. Its 1.3x zoom makes it easier to set up in a tight space than most standard-throw projectors, and it has three HDMI inputs, which is one more than the UHD38. It’s also rated for 30,000 hours of use before maintenance, which is more than most lamp projectors. Overall, if you can afford the UHZ50, it’s a great product. For most of us mere mortals, however, we’ll have to stick to the cheaper lamp models. Best portable: XGIMI Elfin  Why it made the cut: The XGIMI Elfin’s compact size and competitive price make it a force to beat in the portable projector world. Specs Price: $650 Throw ratio: 1.20 Brightness: 800 lumens Resolutions supported: 1080p Response time: 26.5ms Refresh rate: 60Hz Other features: 6W dual speakers Screen size range: 30 to 200 inches Source lifespan: 25,000 hours Pros Very portable Good image quality for its size Competitive price Cons Not comparable in specs to a full projector Requires workaround for AirPlay and Netflix The concept of a portable projector is indeed a compelling one, and while these small devices can’t compare to their larger cousins, they’re still quite nice in their own right. The XGIMI Elfin is a bit bigger than the true “mini” projectors out there, like the Anker Nebula Capsule, but it’s only 7 inches by 7 inches by 2 inches, and it weighs less than 3 pounds, so you can easily fit it in a bag for a camping trip or the like. And 800 lumens is more than enough to conduct a clear image in dark or dim conditions, though it’s not suitable for outdoor daytime use. The Elfin does have one annoying problem common to mini projectors, however: it requires you to download an app in order to use AirPlay with iOS devices, and you’ll need to call XGIMI customer support to download Netflix. The device’s response rate of 26.5ms is higher than a larger projector, but it’s still quite suitable for most action games. Crucially, whereas some mini projectors top out at 720p, the Elfin delivers a 1080p image, as well as HDR, which is what gamers want. Overall, though it has its quirks, the Elfin is the best portable projector of its size out there. Best short-throw: BenQ TK700STi Why it made the cut: The BenQ TK700STi is an excellent gaming projector with the specs to please any player, and its short-throw ratio makes it suitable for any living situation. Specs Price: $1,700 Throw ratio: 0.9-1.08 Brightness: 3000 lumens Resolutions supported: 4K, 1080p Response time: 16.67ms (4K), 4.16ms (1080p) Refresh rate: 240Hz (1080p), 60Hz (4K) Other feat...

Early Voting In Texas Begins Soon. We Answered Your Questions Here – The Dallas Morning News https://collincountynewsonline.com/early-voting-in-texas-begins-soon-we-answered-your-questions-here-the-dallas-morning-news/ Early voting begins this month in Texas for the Nov. 8 election. Texans can head to the polls Oct. 24 through Nov. 4 to cast early ballots. Voters will choose the next governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, land commissioner, agriculture commissioner and comptroller. In addition, U.S. representatives, state senators, state representatives and members of the State Board of Education are up for election. Here’s what you need to know to cast your ballot. I’m not sure if I registered to vote. How do I check? You can check your voter registration status through the Texas Secretary of State’s website. Dallas County residents can also check at the county elections administrator’s office website. Tarrant County residents can check here. Collin County residents can check here. And Denton County residents check here. Can I still vote if I have not registered? No. Texas required voters to register by Oct. 11 to vote this election. Unlike Texas, 22 states and Washington, D.C. allow same-day registration, which allows eligible residents to vote and register and cast a ballot at the same time. What do I need to vote? Voters will need an acceptable form of ID, including a Texas driver’s license, Texas identification card, state handgun license, U.S. military ID with photograph, U.S. citizenship certification with photograph, or U.S. passport. When and where do I vote early? That depends on where you live in North Texas. Voters can cast ballots at any early voting location in their county. In Dallas County, early voting is: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24 to Saturday, Oct. 29 Noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31 to Wednesday, Nov. 2 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3 to Friday, Nov. 4 Check here for a full list of locations. In Tarrant County: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24 to Friday, Oct. 28 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31 to Friday, Nov. 4 Check here for a full list of locations. In Collin County: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24 to Friday, Oct. 28 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 30 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31 to Friday, Nov. 4 Check here for a full list of locations. In Denton County: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24 to Friday, Oct. 28 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31 to Friday, Nov. 4 Check here for a full list of locations.

AmaWaterways Announces Complimentary Pre- And Post-Cruise Land Packages – TravelPulse https://collincountynewsonline.com/amawaterways-announces-complimentary-pre-and-post-cruise-land-packages-travelpulse/ AmaWaterways announced a series of complimentary pre- or post-cruise land packages as add-ons to select Europe, Egypt and Mekong River cruises for groups and FIT travelers in 2023 and exclusively for groups in 2024. Now available for new reservations made until December 31, the offer provides guests a variety of complimentary two-, three- or four-night land packages as an extension to their river cruise vacation. Trending Now AmaWaterways is also offering travel advisors the ability to extend this offer as an exclusive incentive for group bookings of five or more staterooms for select 2024 Europe, Egypt and Mekong River cruises. “This new Free Land Package offer was designed to further enhance our guests’ vacation experience with an extra few days to recover from jetlag before their river cruise or explore a new city before returning home,” AmaWaterways co-founder Kristin Karst said. “Drawing on our European heritage, our river cruise itineraries and excursions have been created to offer our guests unparalleled experiences and the same is true for our land packages that have just the right balance of immersive included tours and free time,” Karst continued. With 15 different pre- and post-cruise land packages offered complimentary on select sailings, guests can discover fascinating cities like Prague, Paris, Vienna, Budapest, Amsterdam, Lucerne, Barcelona, Nice, Geneva, Lake Como, Lisbon, St. Malo, Bilbao, Bucharest or further afield with Bangkok and Dubai. Guests looking to extend their river cruise experience can also enjoy additional 10 percent savings on a second cruise and add a complimentary pre-cruise land package. Each land package includes daily breakfast, convenient transfers and portage services between the hotel and ship, plus city tours and experiences, such as visiting the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, or taste Czech Pilsners in Prague. For the latest travel news, updates and deals, be sure to subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter here.

Business News Digest – Federal News Network https://collincountynewsonline.com/business-news-digest-federal-news-network-5/ The highlights of the AP Business report. All times EDT. An up-to-the minute listing of all business stories planned is available in Coverage Plan on AP Newsroom, http://newsroom.ap.org/coverageplan. For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, contact AP Customer Support at 877-836-9477 or apcustomersupport@ap.org. The AP Business News supervisor can be reached at (800)-845-8450, ext. 1680. TOP STORIES: BRITAIN ECONOMY — British food prices rose at the fastest pace since 1980 last month, driving… READ MORE The highlights of the AP Business report. All times EDT. An up-to-the minute listing of all business stories planned is available in Coverage Plan on AP Newsroom, http://newsroom.ap.org/coverageplan. For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, contact AP Customer Support at 877-836-9477 or apcustomersupport@ap.org. The AP Business News supervisor can be reached at (800)-845-8450, ext. 1680. TOP STORIES: BRITAIN ECONOMY — British food prices rose at the fastest pace since 1980 last month, driving inflation back to a 40-year high and heaping pressure on the embattled government to balance the books without gutting help for the nation’s poorest residents. By Danica Kirka and Jill Lawless. SENT: 720 words, photos. With: BRITAIN-POLITICS — British Prime Minister Liz Truss described herself as “a fighter and not a quitter” Wednesday as she faced down a hostile opposition and fury from her own Conservative Party over her botched economic plan. By Jill Lawless. SENT: 780 words, photos. ELECTION 2022-BIDEN-OIL — President Joe Biden will announce the release of 15 million barrels of oil from the U.S. strategic reserve Wednesday as part of a response to recent production cuts announced by OPEC+ nations, and he will say more drawdowns are possible this winter, as his administration rushes to be seen as pulling out all the stops ahead of next month’s midterm elections. By Josh Boak and Zeke Miller. SENT: 890 words, photos. MARKETS & ECONOMY: FINANCIAL MARKETS —Stocks are opening lower on Wall Street Wednesday after two days of solid gains. The S&P 500 slipped 0.5% and the Nasdaq posted a slightly steeper decline. By Damian J. Troise and Alex Veiga. SENT: 660 words, photos. UPCOMING: 800 words by 4:30 p.m., photo. EARNINGS: P&G-RESULTS — Procter & Gamble exceeded $20 billion in sales during the fiscal first quarter but citing the strong dollar, it expects to post its first annual sales decline since 2017. By Michelle Chapman. SENT: 330 words, photos. INDUSTRY: SPIRIT-JETBLUE-SHAREHOLDERS — Spirit Airlines shareholders are expected to approve a $3.8 billion sale of the nation’s largest discount carrier to JetBlue, but antitrust regulators could still seek to block the deal. By David Koenig. SENT: 620 words, photos. CLIMATE INSURANCE — Insurance companies that have long said they’ll cover anything, at the right price, are increasingly ruling out fossil fuel projects because of climate change — to cheers from environmental campaigners. More than a dozen groups that track what policies insurers have on high-emissions activities say the industry is turning its back on oil, gas and coal. By Frank Jordans. SENT: 509 words, photos. ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT-RARE TOAD — The stage is being set in Nevada for another potentially significant test of the nation’s premier wildlife protection law in a legal battle over a geothermal power plant. The endangered critter in Nevada is a quarter-sized toad found only in high-desert wetlands fed by underground springs on federal land. By Scott Sonner. SENT: 1,220 words, photos. BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY ACQUISITION — Warren Buffett’s company completed its biggest acquisition in years Wednesday with its $11.6 billion purchase of Alleghany Corp. But even though major acquisitions have been rare at Berkshire Hathaway recently Buffett has been investing billions in the stock market this year. By Business Writer Josh Funk UPCOMING: 300 words, photo. TECHNOLOGY & MEDIA: BROADBAND INEQUITY — Internet service providers often offer drastically different speeds to different customers, even when those customers live in different parts of the same city. In many cases, the poorest and least white parts of a city only are offered service that’s so slow it doesn’t meet federal regulators’ definition of broadband — and providers regularly charge the same amount for that service as they do for their fastest speeds in other neighborhoods. By Leon Yin and Aaron Sankin/The Markup. SENT: 2,330 words, photos. An abridged version of 1,200 words has also been sent. BOOKS-MARGARET SULLIVAN — On the inside dealing with journalism’s top issues this century, Margaret Sullivan has a warning: news people need to have red lights flashing about the threats to democracy. Her book “Newsroom Confidential” is a self-described memoir manifesto. UPCOMING , By 1:00 p.m., photo. PHILANTHROPY: PHILANTHROPY-GATES-FOUNDATION — The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced Wednesday that it is making grants of more than a $1 billion as part of a sweeping national plan to improve math education over the next four years. Its goal: to help students succeed in school and land well-paying jobs when they graduate, given research that shows the connection between strong math skills and career success. By Alex Daniels of The Chronicle of Philanthropy. SENT: 1,120 words, photos. PERSONAL FINANCE: ON THE MONEY-NERDWALLET-INFLATION POINTS VALUE — Inflation has made the cash prices of flights and hotel stays skyrocket this year, but it’s having a surprising effect on a different currency — your airline miles and hotel points. Across the board, your airline miles and hotel points are actually worth more than last year, which is unusual because points and miles generally devalue over time. By Sam Kemmis of NerdWallet. SENT: 860 words, photo. BEHIND THE WHEEL-INTEGRA VS TURBO HATCH — The 2023 Mazda 3 hatchback with its optional turbocharged engine brings up similar fuzzy memories of the late 2000s Mazdaspeed 3, albeit with a more refined demeanor. Both cars promise driving fun at a somewhat reasonable price. Which one does it better? Edmunds compared them to find out. SENT: 790 words, photos. INTERNATIONAL: HONG KONG-POLICY ADDRESS — Hong Kong’s leader on Wednesday unveiled a new visa scheme to woo global talent, as the city seeks to stem a brain drain that is undermining its status as an international financial center. By Kanis Leung and Zen Soo. SENT: 900 words, photos. GERMANY-ELECTRIC CARS — Germany wants to massively expand the country’s charging network for electric cars, spending 6.3 billion euros ($6.17 billion) over the next three years as it expects more and more drivers to turn away from combustion cars to more climate-friendly vehicles. SENT: 530 words, photos. PAKISTAN-FLOODS — Pakistan said Wednesday that the World Bank estimates this summer’s record-breaking floods have caused $40 billion in damages in this impoverished South Asian nation. The figure is $10 billion more than an earlier estimate by the Pakistani government. SENT: 430 words, photos. SOUTH KOREA-KAKAO — A top executive of South Korea’s largest mobile chat app, Kakao, stepped down on Wednesday over a widespread service outage that triggered an outpouring of complaints in a country that is heavily reliant on such technology. SENT: 490 words, photos. —————————— Copyright © 2022 . All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.