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TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS PARTNER WITH DAIRY FARMERS OF ONTARIO – GlobeNewswire https://collincountynewsonline.com/toronto-maple-leafs-partner-with-dairy-farmers-of-ontario-globenewswire/ “Milk” patch to be featured on team sweaters starting this season September 20, 2022 11:28 ET | Source: Dairy Farmers of Ontario Toronto, Sept. 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Toronto Maple Leafs today announced that Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s “Milk” patch will appear on all the team’s game sweaters starting this NHL season, building on the two organizations’ multi-year partnership to support healthy active living, community programming and access to hockey for players and fans everywhere. The multi-year agreement comes into effect as the NHL introduces a sweater partner branding program to all clubs this season. “Just as milk nourishes healthy bodies, Ontario’s dairy farming families proudly nourish healthy communities, and that’s been the focus of our ongoing partnership with the Toronto Maple Leafs,” said Cheryl Smith, CEO of Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO). “Placing our Milk logo on the Leafs’ sweaters is a symbol of this shared commitment, and of milk’s role in building strong bodies and healthy lives.” DFO’s “Milk” insignia will appear in the upper right chest area of the Maple Leafs’ home, road and specialty sweaters. Fans will first see it in action as the Maple Leafs open their pre-season exhibition schedule with a double-header against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday, Sept. 24 (1 p.m. and 7 p.m. start times). To celebrate the enhanced Maple Leafs partnership, DFO will provide 5,000 tickets to the game to community youth groups, providing more access to hockey for young fans who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend a Maple Leafs game. DFO’s partnership with the Maple Leafs and MLSE will include even more grassroots and community programming to support healthy active living and access to the game of hockey for all players and fans. “Given our pride in our partnership with Dairy Farmers of Ontario, and the immense benefits of milk to both elite and everyday athletes, it’s a perfect fit to see the blue-and-white Milk logo on the Maple Leafs’ iconic blue-and-white sweaters,” said Jordan Vader, Senior Vice President, Global Partnerships, at MLSE. “Alongside MLSE and DFO’s shared values of support for grassroots initiatives, we look forward to further grow our partnership to reach the next generation of fans and give back to communities across Ontario.” About Dairy Farmers of Ontario Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) is the marketing board for the largest sector of Ontario agriculture. Our mission is to provide leadership and excellence in the production and marketing of Canadian milk for a dynamic, profitable growing dairy industry. Ontario’s more than 3,400 dairy farmers, their families and employees are proud to produce high-quality milk for Canadians. For more information, visit www.milk.org. -30- Jersey Photo Jersey Photo New Toronto Maple Leaf jersey shows the new Milk logo addition Contact Data Dairy Farmers of Ontario Heather MacGregor, Director, Communications (416) 894-1043 heather.macgregor@milk.org MLSE Charzie Abendanio Manager, Corporate Communications, MLSE (416) 970-4613 charzie.abendanio@mlse.com Argyle PR for Dairy Farmers of Ontario Jessica Lawson, Consultant 9023172916 jlawson@argylepr.com

Nasdaq’s Crypto Move, $160M DeFi Hack, Hong Kong CBDC + More News – Cryptonews https://collincountynewsonline.com/nasdaqs-crypto-move-160m-defi-hack-hong-kong-cbdc-more-news-cryptonews/ Source: AdobeStock / JHVEPhoto Get your daily, bite-sized digest of cryptoasset and blockchain-related news – investigating the stories flying under the radar of today’s crypto news. __________ Exchange news Nasdaq Inc., the second-largest stock exchange, is hiring a new group in charge of digital assets, Bloomberg reported. This new group will initially offer custody services for bitcoin and ether to institutional investors, they cited Tal Cohen, the company’s executive vice president and head of North American markets, as saying. Nasdaq hired Ira Auerbach, who ran prime broker services at crypto exchange Gemini, to head up the new Nasdaq Digital Assets unit.  Trading firm Alameda Research will repay some $200 million in loans to the bankrupt crypto lender Voyager Digital. Per a court filing, Alameda will repay 6,553 in bitcoin (BTC) and 51,204 in ether (ETH) in principal and loan fees, as well as smaller amounts in seven other tokens. The loans are due to be repaid by September 30. Indian crypto exchange WazirX has announced the delisting of major stablecoins tether (USDT), Pax Dollar (USDP), and True USD (TUSD). Instead, the company will convert the users’ existing balances of these stablecoins to Binance USD (BUSD) at a 1:1 ratio. Binance Canada has selected Solidus Labs as a transaction monitoring and marketplace surveillance partner in Canada. The exchange will utilize HALO, Solidus’ crypto-native market integrity hub, to optimize multiple key risk monitoring and compliance services, said the announcement. Security news UK crypto market maker Wintermute suffered a hack worth approximately $160 million, according to Evgeny Gaevoy, the company’s founder and CEO. Per Etherscan, over 70 different tokens have been transferred to “Wintermute exploiter,” including stablecoins tether (USDT) and USDC. “Cefi and OTC operations are not affected. We are solvent with twice over that amount in equity left,” Gaevoy claimed, adding: “Out of 90 assets that has been hacked only two have been for notional over $1 million (and none more than $2.5M), so there shouldn’t be a major selloff of any sort.” The official Twitter account of India-based crypto exchange CoinDCX has been hacked and used to post fake XRP promos along with phishing links. The official customer support handle of CoinDCX warned its users not to click any links or messages coming from the compromised account, saying that they are working to recover it and are investigating the incident. CBDC news Hong Kong will start testing out a digital coin called the e-HKD from the fourth quarter, paving the way for a virtual currency implementation and eventual rollout to be used by the public in the future to shop, dine out, and make money transfers, the South China Morning Post reported. The pilot scheme will be accompanied by law changes and digital infrastructure to support the e-HKD.  The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) will expand e-CNY trials to Guangdong, Hebei Jiangsu, and Sichuan provinces, the South China Morning Post reported, citing Fan Yifei, the bank’s deputy governor. The number of users, merchants, and transactions is “steadily growing”, the official is quoted as saying. Regulation news The US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) has claimed that Ethereum (ETH) transactions take place in the United States because Ethereum nodes are “clustered more densely” in this than in any other country. The argument was made in a September 19 lawsuit against YouTuber Ian Balina, stating in full that: “The U.S.-based investors in Balina’s pool irrevocably committed to the transaction when, from within the United States, they sent their ETH contributions to Balina’s pool. At that point, their ETH contributions were validated by a network of nodes on the Ethereum blockchain, which are clustered more densely in the United States than in any other country. As a result, those transactions took place in the United States.“ Sam Bankman-Fried, CEO & Founder of crypto exchange FTX, warned that “a scammer has been impersonating FTX in the UK by phone,” telling users that “FTX will never call you by phone.” This comes after the UK’s financial regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said that it suspected FTX was operating without proper authorization. Legal news The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has ordered crypto firm Sparkster and its CEO Sajjad Daya to pay a more than $35 million settlement to “harmed investors.” The SEC issued a cease-and-desist order on Monday against the two, claiming that they raised $30 million from 4,000 investors during an “unregistered crypto asset offering” in 2018. Investment news Fraud detection platform Sardine has closed a $51.5 million Series B round led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), while other investors include ING Ventures, ConsenSys, Cross River Digital, Visa, Eric Schmidt, and Google Ventures, TechCrunch reported.  US-based software company MicroStrategy added an additional BTC 301 worth around $6 million to its balance sheet at an average price of $19,851 per BTC, a filing revealed. Per founder and former CEO Michael Saylor, As of September 19, MicroStrategy holds approximately BTC 130,000 acquired for $3.98 billion at an average price of $30,639 per coin. Domain and digital identity platform Unstoppable Domains has announced an integration with crypto prices and portfolio tracker CoinStats, enabling people to manage and track their entire crypto portfolio, simply linking their non-fungible token (NFT) domain to CoinStats. Through this integration, users’ NFT domains will give them one-click access to a dashboard for tracking and managing their portfolios, without having to link wallets manually, an announcement said. GRNGrid, a renewable energy-focused Layer 1 blockchain, announced that it has secured a $50 million investment from the venture capital firm GEM Digital. The new funding will be invested in further connectivity with top crypto exchanges, adding new global professional partnerships, and building out its blockchain technology and infrastructure, GRNGrid said. Payments news Cloud-native payments company Gr4vy announced a strategic partnership with crypto payments processor BitPay to empower its merchants to accept crypto payments through BitPay’s checkout offering. As part of Gr4vy’s no-code payment orchestration platform (POP), merchants can now implement and offer BitPay’s crypto payment options while expanding into new global markets, they said.  Web3 payments platform Fuse has announced it’s partnering with ChromePay to launch a decentralized identity service that will enable millions of African users to participate in the Web3 economy, said the announcement. The integration will enable ChromePay users to access both traditional and blockchain-based payments on their mobile devices, and ChromePay will also create a decentralized marketplace with a fiat onramp. Web3 news BNB Chain has announced the successful migration of Gameta, a play-to-earn gaming Web3 Dapp. By utilizing BNB Chain’s large gaming ecosystem, Gameta is able to bring popular Web3 gaming Dapps not just to existing Web3 players, but also to mainstream mobile users that are still new to blockchain gaming, said the press release shared with Cryptonews.com. Furthermore, Gameta can now collaborate and build relationships within the BNB Chain ecosystem, expanding its user base and services with other projects. NFT marketplace OpenSea announced that it has upgraded its process for minting NFTs with a new “immersive” drop experience. Creators will be able to launch their collections with dedicated drop pages and greater discoverability, and collectors will be able to mint directly from an OpenSea page. Blockchain news Arkhia, an enterprise-grade Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) provide, has partnered with Google Cloud to accelerate the growth of distributed ledger applications on Hedera, enterprise-grade public ledger for the decentralized economy. Arkhia will enable application developers to build both backend and client-side applications to capitalize on and grow the burgeoning Hedera ecosystem, said the press release shared with Cryptonews.com. Decentralized public infrastructure layer IDNTTY today announced the launch of its public testnet. It is encouraging public validators to engage in stress testing and optimizing its blockchain network, which will mark a significant next step in the roadmap to the platform’s mainnet launch. IDNTTY is bringing to market a dedicated solution and set of services that allows developers to create applications and integrate digital identity into existing services while users maintain full control over their private data, said an announcement.  Recommended Latest news Best Crypto to Buy Trending Today: USTC, APE, HNT, CHZ, LUNC, ALGO, CVX, LUNA, QNT, LDO, IBAT

In A First, Health Panel Calls For Routine Anxiety Screening In Adults – The Washington Post https://collincountynewsonline.com/in-a-first-health-panel-calls-for-routine-anxiety-screening-in-adults-the-washington-post/ In a nod to the nation’s pressing mental health crisis, an influential group of medical experts for the first time is recommending that adults under age 65 get screened for anxiety. The draft recommendations, from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, are designed to help primary care clinicians identify early signs of anxiety during routine care, using questionnaires and other screening tools. Anxiety disorders are often unrecognized and underdetected in primary care: One study cited by the task force found the median time for initiating treatment for anxiety is a staggering 23 years. While the task force’s initial deliberations on anxiety screening predated the coronavirus pandemic, the new guidance comes at a critical time, said task force member Lori Pbert, a clinical psychologist and professor at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School in Worcester, Mass. “Covid has taken a tremendous toll on the mental health of Americans,” Pbert said. “This is a topic prioritized for its public health importance, but clearly there’s an increased focus on mental health in this country over the past few years.” In April, the task force made similar recommendations to begin anxiety screening in children and teens, ages 8 to 18. The proposal announced Tuesday focuses on young and middle-aged adults, including those who are pregnant or postpartum, citing research showing that screening and treatment can improve anxiety symptoms in those younger than 65. But the guidance, somewhat surprisingly, stops short of recommending anxiety screening for people 65 and older. One reason: many common symptoms of aging, such as trouble sleeping, pain and fatigue, can also be symptoms of anxiety. The task force said there wasn’t enough evidence to determine the accuracy of screening tools in older adults, which may not be sensitive enough to distinguish between anxiety symptoms and conditions of aging. The task force advised clinicians to use their judgment in discussing anxiety with older patients. The task force also reiterated an earlier recommendation that adults of all ages undergo routine screening for depression. The task force, an independent panel of experts appointed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, wields enormous influence, and while its advice isn’t mandatory, the panel’s recommendations often change the way doctors practice medicine in the United States. Some doctors questioned how the recommendations would play out in the real world, where mental health providers say they already can’t meet patient demand, and patients complain of waiting months for an appointment with a therapist. “Screening is great, but with a dire shortage in the workforce, it’s perplexing unless there are plans for increased funding of clinicians,” said Eugene Beresin, a psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital and executive director of the Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds. Global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by 25 percent during the first year of the pandemic, the World Health Organization reported earlier this year. By the end of 2021, the WHO said, “the situation had somewhat improved but today too many people remain unable to get the care and support they need for both pre-existing and newly developed mental health conditions.” Anxiety, with its telltale dread and gut-wrenching, heart-pounding, palm-sweating physical signs, can manifest in a number of distinct diagnoses, including generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder and others. Together, these make up the most common mental illnesses in the United States, afflicting 40 million adults each year, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Treatment can include psychotherapy, notably cognitive behavioral therapy; antidepressant or anti-anxiety medications; as well as various relaxation, mindfulness and desensitization therapies, physicians said. The panel also considered the benefits of screening patients for suicide risk but concluded that even though suicide is a leading cause of death among adults, there is “not enough evidence on whether screening people without signs or symptoms will ultimately help prevent suicide.” Still, the panel urged providers to use their own clinical judgment to determine whether individual patients should be screened for suicide risk. For primary care physicians, already in the throes of a “crisis” of burnout, pandemic-driven stress and their own mental health challenges, adding yet another screening test to a long list of clinical tasks may feel burdensome. “If primary care providers are asked to screen for one more thing, we are going to break without more resources,” said a nurse practitioner in Northern California, who asked not to be named because she didn’t have permission from her clinic to speak about the issue. Ticking off current requirements, like verifying up-to-date screenings for cervical, colon and breast cancer, as well as food insecurity, domestic violence, alcohol and tobacco use, she said everything must be packed into a 15-minute appointment, while also treating patients with complex, chronic conditions. “It just feels wrong if people are positive for depression or anxiety, and we don’t have the mental health support to help them,” said the practitioner. But Mahmooda Qureshi, an internal medicine physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, said that additional support for patients suffering from depression or anxiety will help. “After 2020, it’s the rare patient who is not anxious,” said Qureshi, who noted that she now routinely asks patients, “How’s your stress?” “We have found that when it comes to mental health, if we don’t ask, often we don’t know.” The task force acknowledged the challenges of delivering mental health care to all those in need, adding that fewer than “half of individuals who experience a mental illness will receive mental health care.” The panel also cited “racism and structural policies” that disproportionately affect people of color. The panel noted that Black patients are less likely to receive mental health services compared to other groups, and that misdiagnosis of mental health conditions occurs more often in Black and Hispanic patients. Pbert said the latest guidance is just one step in addressing the urgent mental health needs of patients. “Our hope is that this set of recommendations can bring awareness of the need to create greater access to mental health care throughout the country,” she said, as well as highlight “gaps in the evidence so funders can support critically needed research in these areas.” The proposed recommendations are open for public comment through Oct. 17, after which the task force will consider them for final approval.

Premier League News Live Updates: Tables, Fixtures And Build-Up To International Football – The Athletic https://collincountynewsonline.com/premier-league-news-live-updates-tables-fixtures-and-build-up-to-international-football-the-athletic/ September 20, 2022 at 10:48 AM EDT Manager at centre of blackmail case facing FA investigation and possible ban The football manager at the centre of an extraordinary blackmail case — revealed by The Athletic last week — is facing an investigation by the Football Association and the probability of a ban. Luke Bosher· Junior Editor, News September 20, 2022 at 9:59 AM EDT Sven Botman withdraws from Netherlands U21 squad to focus on Newcastle Sven Botman has turned down the opportunity to link up with the Netherlands’ Under-21 squad in order to focus on his Newcastle United career. The 22-year-old centre-back — who joined Newcastle from Lille in a deal worth up to €37million plus add-ons in June — was an unused substitute during his side’s 1-1 draw with Bournemouth on Saturday. He has since told Netherlands Under-21 coach Erwin van de Looi that he wants to train with Newcastle during the current international break. Click here to read the full story. (Photo: Getty Images) Omar Garrick· Staff Editor, News September 20, 2022 at 9:24 AM EDT Youri Tielemans happy to get away from ‘tough’ environment at struggling Leicester Youri Tielemans has suggested life is “tough” at bottom of the Premier League Leicester City. Leicester have lost their last two matches 5-2 and 6-2 against Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur respectively. They have collected just one point from seven games and have lost six league games on the spin. Tielemans is now away with Belgium for their Nations League games but admitted the situation at the King Power Stadium was not good. Click here to read the full story. (Photo: Getty Images) Omar Garrick· Staff Editor, News September 20, 2022 at 7:37 AM EDT Jordan Henderson added to England squad for matches against Italy and Germany Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has been added to England’s squad for the Nations League matches against Italy and Germany after recovering from injury. The 32-year-old has already linked up with the squad at St. George’s Park as they continue preparing for their upcoming matches. Henderson was originally ruled out for three weeks after damaging his hamstring in Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Newcastle United on August 31. Click here to read the full story. (Photo: Getty Images) Omar Garrick· Staff Editor, News September 20, 2022 at 6:49 AM EDT One-minute silence in honour of Queen Elizabeth II in Scotland vs Ukraine Scotland have confirmed they will hold a one minute silence before their match against Ukraine in memory of Queen Elizabeth II. Omar Garrick· Staff Editor, News Following discussions with UEFA, we can confirm that there will be a minute’s applause ahead of our match against Ukraine, in memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. pic.twitter.com/CGEY30xwut — Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) September 20, 2022 September 20, 2022 at 5:56 AM EDT England confirm Morgan Gibbs-White and Keane Lewis-Potter out of the England Under-21s squad to face Italy and Germany England have confirmed that Morgan Gibbs-White and Keane Lewis-Potter have pulled out of the England Under-21s squad to face Italy and Germany. Both players will return to their clubs for assessments over the coming days. It has also been confirmed that midfielder Tyler Morton has been called up as a replacement by manager Lee Carsley for the first time. Omar Garrick· Staff Editor, News September 20, 2022 at 5:25 AM EDT Barcelona forecast €274million profit this season Barcelona have forecast a profit of €274million (£240m, $274m) for the current 2022-23 season. The Spanish side also say they recorded a profit of €98m with a turnover of €1.017billion for the 2021-22 financial year. Barcelona had their spending cap increased by La Liga to €656.5million earlier this month after moving to fix their financial situation this summer. Click here to read the full story. (Photo: Getty Images) Omar Garrick· Staff Editor, News September 20, 2022 at 4:21 AM EDT Oldham Athletic appoint David Unsworth as manager Oldham Athletic have confirmed the appointment of David Unsworth as the club’s new first-team manager. Omar Garrick· Staff Editor, News September 20, 2022 at 3:50 AM EDT Ten Hag has brought a Guardiola and Klopp ‘discipline’ to Manchester United – Bruno Fernandes Bruno Fernandes believes Erik ten Hag has brought a disciplinarian attitude to Manchester United, similar to the styles of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp. United confirmed the arrival of Ten Hag as their new manager in April this year, with the Dutchman agreeing to move from Ajax to the Premier League club. While he endured a difficult start with worrying defeats to Brighton and Brentford, United have since won their last four Premier League matches in row, including victories against Liverpool and current leaders Arsenal. Click here to read the full story. (Photo: Getty Images) Omar Garrick· Staff Editor, News September 20, 2022 at 2:40 AM EDT ICYMI: Hugo Lloris withdraws from France squad due to thigh injury Tottenham Hotspur’s Hugo Lloris has withdrawn from the France squad for their upcoming Nations League matches due to a thigh injury. France captain Lloris will miss games against Austria and Denmark and has been replaced by Nantes No 1 Alban Lafont in Didier Deschamps’ squad. Lloris played the entire 90 minutes of Spurs’ 6-2 thumping of Leicester City on Saturday, and impressed with excellent shot-stopping during the match. Click here to read the full story. (Photo: Getty Images) Omar Garrick· Staff Editor, News September 20, 2022 at 2:20 AM EDT Chelsea sporting director appointment not imminent, good chance Christoph Freund remains at Red Bull Salzburg Chelsea’s installation of a sporting director is not imminent and there is a good chance that front-runner Christoph Freund now stays at Red Bull Salzburg. Optimism inside Stamford Bridge that a deal for Freund was almost done is believed to have been premature, with Salzburg keen to keep hold of him. Read more from our football correspondent, David Ornstein. Omar Garrick· Staff Editor, News September 20, 2022 at 2:12 AM EDT Good morning! We will be building up to all the Nations League fixtures taking place this week, plus bring you live updates throughout the Premier League. Stick around for updates! Omar Garrick· Staff Editor, News

Vassy Enters Into The Metaverse With ‘The Acoustic Series’ NFTs – Your EDM https://collincountynewsonline.com/vassy-enters-into-the-metaverse-with-the-acoustic-series-nfts-your-edm/ It’s always a joy to witness pivotal moments in music especially when cutting edge technology and serious talent is involved. Having the multi platinum singer songwriter, Vassy join the metaverese is one such momentous occasion. Vassy, known around the globe by electronic and pop fans for her chart topping hits “BAD” & “Secrets” with music icons David Guetta & Tiësto, Vassy releases her latest, THE ACOUSTIC SERIES as a limited NFT edition on RCRDSHP. This nine-track exclusive features digital collectibles of her chart-topping hits. Delivered through her soulful voice and melodic guitar chords. Commenting on this creative process and entrance into the metaverse Vassy states: “I’m excited to share this NFT with my fans giving them a chanceto hear some of my most popular songs recorded in an intimate, acoustic style.” Collectors will be rewarded with a private link to exclusive VASSY covers & receive signed memorabilia. You check out this amazing collecting here.

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EFG Expands C-Suite Spearheading Technology Innovation To Support Industry Evolution – Business Wire https://collincountynewsonline.com/efg-expands-c-suite-spearheading-technology-innovation-to-support-industry-evolution-business-wire/ September 20, 2022 10:58 AM Eastern Daylight Time DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–EFG Companies today announced the expansion of the company’s C-suite leadership with Joe Vide as Chief Information Officer, reflecting the company’s commitment to supporting the rapidly evolving consumer protection product industry. Vide will set the vision for EFG’s technology capabilities to fulfill strategic business objectives, improve efficiency, and enhance customer satisfaction. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2N2SfM0. EFG has long recognized the value of providing seamless technology integration with clients and contract holders. This investment and commitment resulted in the development of the company’s nationally award-winning platforms, such as EFG’s client portal, DRIVE. “While our clients are undergoing significant changes in the digital realm, it is incumbent upon us to stay at least two steps ahead,” said John Pappanastos, Chief Executive Officer, EFG Companies. “Digital retailing both by our clients and by EFG will only increase as a focus for our company and the entities we serve. Additionally, our successful and ongoing effort to diversify will be dependent upon our ability to deploy valuable consumer protection products into new segments while also driving cost efficiencies.” With more than 35 years of executive leadership experience, Vide will lead EFG’s technological expansion in support of the company’s commitment to bring about more opportunities to offer diverse consumer protection products in the marketplace. Vide has a strong record of serving as a strategic visionary, leading sustainable, high-performing, and multi-national technology teams for organizations such as AT&T, T-Mobile, EDS, Hypercom, and Hewlett-Packard. Over the last several years, EFG has invested a significant amount of time and resources into fortifying the company’s technology infrastructure and evolving its cyber-security protocols to protect both clients and contract holders. Currently, EFG is certified as compliant with both Service Organization Control 2 (SOC 2) and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). EFG is also certified as compliant with New York Codes Rules and Regulations surrounding data security. About EFG Companies For more than 45 years, EFG Companies has provided consumer protection programs for vehicles and residences across seven market channels. The company’s strategic intent is to build sustainable market differentiation and profitability for its clients and partners, including dealers, lenders, manufacturers, independent marketers, and agents. EFG’s award-winning engagement model is built upon the belief that the company serves as an extension of its clients’ management teams, providing ongoing F&I development, training, product development, compliance, and nationally recognized product administration with an ASE-certified claims team. Learn more about EFG at: www.efgcompanies.com

YouTuber Confesses To Secretly Being Gaming Industry Leaker After Getting Caught – Kotaku https://collincountynewsonline.com/youtuber-confesses-to-secretly-being-gaming-industry-leaker-after-getting-caught-kotaku/ Image: Ubisoft / Dan Allen Gaming / Kotaku It turns out a Twitter account called TheRealInsider, the latest in a crop of leakers posing as gaming industry insiders, was actually run by YouTuber Dan Allen Gaming. The account had convinced many in the scene that it was the real deal after accurately teasing which new Assassin’s Creed games would be revealed at Ubisoft’s 2022 gaming showcase. But it now appears Allen was simply leaking embargoed, privileged information he received as an influencer. “I’m sorry to everyone for my actions,” he wrote on Twitter before deleting both accounts. Allen has 189,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel where he posts guides, interviews with voice actors, and playthroughs of everything from Multiversus to Elden Ring. No one suspected him of secretly leaking industry marketing materials he received under embargo until he accidentally responded to someone asking TheRealInsider a question on Twitter as his main Dan Allen Gaming account. After that, Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier combed through past tweets from both accounts and discovered plenty of overlap. “If this is legit — and looking through both accounts, they sure seem to tweet about the same games around the same time — it would explain how this ‘real insider’ knew the AC codenames,” Schreier wrote in a Discord comment. “He broke the embargo himself.” But people didn’t have to speculate for long though. Allen admitted it shortly after and posted an apology. “I’m sorry to everyone for my actions,” it read. “I’m ashamed and disappointed in myself. I’ll be taking some time to reflect on my poor decisions, which will never occur again. To everyone that has supported me over the years, I’m truely [sic] sorry I let you down.” G/O Media may get a commission $10 or more Humble Bundle – Starlight Bundle Benefit the Starlight Children’s Foundation For $10 or more, you can help hospitalized kids get access to video games—and get some sweet games for yourself too, including Lego Star Wars – The Complete Saga. There’s a difference between when a journalist uncovers information they consider to be of public interest and presents it to the world, and when a person agrees to an embargo or an NDA, and a company shares information under the assumption that the details won’t be disclosed until a specified date and time. TheRealInsider’s biggest claim to fame was the Ubisoft leak, teasing the Japan open world RPG called Project Red and several other Assassins’ Creed games four days before the official showcase, and before they were reported on by TryHardGuides and, later that same day, Bloomberg. As Axios’ Stephen Totilo points out, that was the same day Ubisoft briefed press on the showcase (Kotaku did not participate). More often, however, the account has teased upcoming things like hands-on previews, as in the case of Square Enix’s Forspoken. This track record recently turned TheRealInsider into one of the fixtures of the Gaming Leaks and Rumors subreddit, a popular watering hole for fans to speculate about upcoming releases based on industry reports and, more commonly, random tweets. Allen’s outing comes within a week of the massive Grand Theft Auto VI leak and a Nintendo Direct where many rumored games once again failed to materialize. It’s spurred a renewed debate about the value and ethics of leaking gaming industry secrets, which can run the gamut from where the next Fallout will take place to whether a studio has been mistreating its employees. Plenty of people are sick of the rumor mongering, and developers and marketing specialists are understandably not fans of seeing their work discussed online outside of their control, especially when it revolves around incomplete information or inaccurate information. Does that mean it will end any time soon? Consider me doubtful. Read More: Rockstar Responds To ‘Illegal’ GTA 6 Leak As The Messy Aftermath Continues Coincidently, the first outlet to break the news about TheRealInsider was a new publication by industry insider Tom Henderson called, what else, Insider Gaming. While some were critical of the name, which is even invoked on the about page where sources are encouraged to “become an insider” by reaching out, the site immediately broke after launching yesterday when too many people tried to visit it at once. Responded one apparent fan, “Fuck criticism, see you on the inside.”

Parent Protesters Want Prosper ISD Leaders To Resign Over Bus Driver’s Sexual Abuse Case – FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth https://collincountynewsonline.com/parent-protesters-want-prosper-isd-leaders-to-resign-over-bus-drivers-sexual-abuse-case-fox-4-news-dallas-fort-worth/ Published September 20, 2022 8:31AM PROSPER, Texas – Prosper ISD parents in Collin County called on district leaders to step down at a demonstration and then again at Monday night’s school board meeting. The parents are upset about the way the district handled sexual abuse allegations against a bus driver. A lawsuit claims Frank Paniagua repeatedly sexually assaulted two young sisters who rode his bus.  He was arrested in May and died later after jumping from an upper level inside the Collin County jail. Parents called for transparency at a protest outside Rucker Elementary School, saying they’re still concerned there may be other victims. “We aren’t going away. These packed board rooms aren’t going away. The petitions are not going away. The press is not going away. You are never going to hear the end of this. This is a major leadership failure,” one parent said. Prosper ISD to hire firm to investigate after lawsuit alleges bus driver sexually abused students The parents said they were never informed of the allegations or arrest. They want the superintendent, board members and the principal at the school where the sisters attended to step down.

5 Travel Hair Styling Tips For On-The-Go Guys – Hornet https://collincountynewsonline.com/5-travel-hair-styling-tips-for-on-the-go-guys-hornet/ Anyone who travels regularly knows that every inch counts… especially when it comes to your luggage. With flight delays and airport overcrowding, managing to get everything you need into a ‘carry-on and one personal item’ is a win. So when defining your essential travel hair styling needs, it’s important to pack smart. Prioritize compact items that will come in handy throughout your entire trip (and even serve multiple purposes in a pinch). Items like the Panasonic Compact Hair Dryer with nanoe and oscillating quick-dry nozzle — and before you ask, we’ll talk more about nanoe and why it’s important later. Travel is tough on hair, and proper hair care when you’re on-the-go is vital. Airplanes are drying and ever-changing climates, and altitudes can wreak havoc on your follicles. It’s important to have go-to travel hair care tips that will keep your mane properly maintained.  Here are our top 5 tips for quick travel hair styling and maintenance: 1. You need a good travel hair dryer. My own recent travels have shown me that hotel hair dryers can be unreliable – sometimes even nonexistent. That’s why a good travel-size option is essential. The Panasonic Compact Hair Dryer will take up minimal space in your carry-on and will prove to be a lifesaver in just about any situation.  Nanoe technology creates moisture-rich particulates nearly 1,000 times more effective than general negative ions. That means you’re keeping your mane’s moisture, smoothness and shine even in the driest of climates. This technology also helps protect from damage caused by over-brushing and styling.  You can use this at the hotel gym, or even shove it in a backpack if you think you might not make it back to your hotel between sight-seeing and dinner. (Plus, if you’re clumsy like me and sometimes need to quick-dry spots on clothing that you maybe got wet while getting ready — this lightweight dryer comes through in a pinch. Bonus!) 2. Ditch the hotel shampoo. Every once in a while hotels supply top-end, high-quality products. Quite often, they don’t. Supplies are bought in bulk and sit in dispensers for weeks, if not months. And even if it is top-quality, that doesn’t mean it’s the right product for your hair.  So, yeah, it’s beneficial to pack your own shampoo and conditioner from home or swing by a local drug store to pick up a brand you’re familiar with. And when it comes time to style, the Panasonic Compact Hair Dryer comes with an oscillating quick-dry nozzle that’s perfect for enhancing curls, giving your hair some body, or just a quick dry for that messy look that’s all the rage.  3. Avoid washing your hair every day. Seriously, stop it. Over-shampooing is a top cause of dried-out hair, so give your mane a break when you travel. Consider using a dry shampoo or moisturizing product, which is also great for days when you’re on a tight schedule and don’t have time for a wash and style… which, let’s face it, feels like every day on a work trip. 4. Hats, bandanas, and hair bands are your friend. Now, this may not be ideal for work trips or fancy dinners, but if you’re sight-seeing or adventure traveling, who says you need to do your hair at all? Get it wet in the shower, give it a quick dry with your Panasonic Compact Hair Dryer, then wrap your hair in a bandana or a hair band and go.  Experiment with fun colors and patterns to give your head a fun, fresh look. It also pops in vacation photos (trust me). And if all else fails, throw on a hat. Over-styling your hair can take a toll. You’re on vacation, so your hair might as well get some time off, too.  5. When in doubt, remember Mariah Carey’s words. Mariah Carey made “I don’t know her” famous when she dissed JLo. And depending on where you’re traveling, you might not know anyone you encounter… which means they don’t know you… which means this is the perfect time to try something new.  Try a new hair product, or a new hairstyle. Maybe give your hair a break for a few days and don’t do anything at all. Who’s going to judge you if it doesn’t look fantastic? The beauty of being a man in a strange land is that if you try something out and it doesn’t look good, no one needs to know.  And if you stumble upon a new style that makes you look like a million bucks, well, now you’ve got your new Hornet profile pic.  This story about travel hair styling was sponsored by Panasonic. Find their state-of-the-art Compact Hair Dryer here.

Live News: Occupied Regions In Ukraine Plan Referendums On Joining Russia – Financial Times https://collincountynewsonline.com/live-news-occupied-regions-in-ukraine-plan-referendums-on-joining-russia-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

Healthy Family Project Celebrates 20 Years Of Cause Marketing & Impacting Families – PerishableNews https://collincountynewsonline.com/healthy-family-project-celebrates-20-years-of-cause-marketing-impacting-families-perishablenews/ Orlando, FL – This fall, Healthy Family Project is celebrating 20 years of innovative cause marketing programs and thought leadership in the health and nutrition space. In the 20-year timeframe the company, that was founded as Produce for Kids, has partnered with more than 100 better-for-you brands and 30 retailers while continuing to evolve with the health and nutrition needs of families.   Healthy Family Project Founder and President of Shuman Farms John Shuman attributes the company’s 20-year success to his team’s ability to tap into current trends and use out of the box thinking to reach the ever-changing shopper as well as the many brands and retailers that they partner with. “Our team has always consisted of individuals who go above and beyond because they are passionate about making a difference in the world and in the communities where our partners do business,” said Shuman. “I’m proud to say our cause marketing programs have raised more than $7.5 million and 16 million meals. And, while raising those funds we’ve also helped countless families understand the importance of living a healthy and nutritionally sound life.”  Over the years, Healthy Family Project’s in-store cause marketing campaigns have seen tremendous change and growth. Many of the traditional campaigns that began in 2002 shifted from 4-week campaign periods to 6-week campaigns and even year-long campaigns with seasonal pulse points throughout the year. The point-of-sale (POS) materials originally used in 2002 have now transformed to POS tailored specifically for each individual brand and resonates with that retailers’ shoppers including bi-lingual POS and digital resources.  In 2010, Healthy Family Project tapped into the world of retail dietitians recognizing their impact on shopper’s choices. Since then, retail dietitians have been an integral part of strategy for retail campaigns as well as the center of the all-digital Mission for Nutrition program that supports retail dietitians with materials and resources to celebrate National Nutrition Month. Retail dietitians have become a core audience for Healthy Family Project and have a prominent role today and in future plans for the organization.  In the digital space, the company has assumed a position as a top influencer in the food and nutrition world. A position not originally envisioned in 2002, but a position that was authentically taken as the digital and social media space grew and transformed. From MySpace to Farmville and Pinterest to Facebook, Instagram, and Tik Tok, Healthy Family Project has been present and a part of the digital shifts. Healthy Family Project’s digital reach far exceeds millions each year through healthyfamilyproject.com, social media outlets, podcast episodes and enewsletter marketing. “The longevity of Healthy Family Project is a true testament to the philosophy – doing well by doing good,” continued Shuman. “I am looking forward to the next 20 years and the impact we will continue to make.”   About Healthy Family Project Healthy Family Project believes in creating a healthier generation. As a cause marketing organization, Healthy Family Project creates programs, like Produce for Kids, that provide easy, fun, and inspiring recipes and healthy ideas. Since its creation in 2002 by Shuman Farms, Healthy Family Project has raised more than $7.5 million to benefit children and families and provided 16 million meals through Feeding America. To learn more about Healthy Family Project and healthy eating, visit healthyfamilyproject.com.

Coinshift Integrates Superfluid To Automate Crypto-Native Payroll With Ongoing Money Streams – Cryptonews https://collincountynewsonline.com/coinshift-integrates-superfluid-to-automate-crypto-native-payroll-with-ongoing-money-streams-cryptonews/ Disclaimer: The Industry Talk section features insights by crypto industry players and is not a part of the editorial content of Cryptonews.com. Sheridan, United States, 20th September, 2022, Chainwire Coinshift’s native integration of Superfluid Protocol allows DAOs and web3 businesses to automate payroll with money streams, saving HR managers time and cognitive effort Coinshift, the leading treasury management and infrastructure platform that enables DAOs and web3 businesses to manage treasury operations securely and efficiently, is pleased to announce its native integration of Superfluid Protocol   (“Superfluid”) within its V2 Dashboard is now live. Coinshift’s native integration of Superfluid allows users to create, view, manage & edit real-time money streams directly from the Coinshift dashboard, enabling them to put web3 payroll on autopilot. As programmable and automatable second-by-second token flows, salary streams help treasury managers save hours in administrative labor and reduce complexity.  “We are thrilled to partner with Superfluid – a pioneer in real-time finance and the leading asset streaming protocol for EVM networks – to bring the utility of money streaming to DAOs and crypto-native businesses. Superfluid is a key part of our product roadmap going forward as we build out the foremost treasury management solution for crypto-native organizations, and we look forward to further incorporating Superfluid streaming throughout Coinshift’s treasury management workflows.” – Tarun Gupta, CEO of Coinshift In addition to being able to start multiple streams in one transaction, web3 treasury managers using Coinshift to stream salaries can enjoy a variety of Coinshift’s best-in-class treasury management features (e.g., tagging and labeling transactions for seamless accounting, adding detailed notes, the ability for non-signers to create proposals). Moreover, when starting/stopping streams via Coinshift, tokens are automatically wrapped just-in-time to keep the streams running without any intervention required from the multi-sig signers. Salary Streaming Benefits for Crypto-Native Organizations Reduced time & cognitive effort: Salary streams only require one transaction to start, and they flow in perpetuity until you decide to stop them – drastically reducing the time and cognitive effort of manually managing payouts every month. Scaleable, gas-efficient payouts: You can set up multiple streams in bulk (including multiple tokens) in a single transaction, and the longer you keep your streams running, the more significant your gas savings are over the long term. Salary Streaming Benefits for Employees and Contributors Enhanced financial flexibility: By streaming salaries with Superfluid, employees and contributors receive their income every second as opposed to bi-weekly or monthly, allowing them to spend and invest their money in DeFi as they earn it over time. Continual reward & incentivization: By using the Perpetual Conditional Rewards token (an UMA KPI option that streams token rewards in proportion to the condition met), employees and contributors can be consistently rewarded and incentivized for achieving certain KPIs. “Superfluid is a ubiquitous solution for web3 value transfer, and by partnering with Coinshift, we’re making it widely accessible to a diverse range of crypto-native organizations. We’re excited for DAOs, web3 businesses, and their stakeholders to experience the benefits of salary streaming — be it enhanced treasury efficiency or capital flexibility — as they focus on building radically new technologies.” –  Francesco Renzi, Co-Founder and CEO of Superfluid About Coinshift Coinshift is the leading treasury management and infrastructure platform that enables crypto-native organizations to manage their treasury operations securely and efficiently. Built on Gnosis Safe and live on seven chains, Coinshift provides an easy-to-use solution for payout management, collaborative multi-signature transactions, and comprehensive reporting for Ethereum and Polygon, allowing users to reduce operational costs and save up to 90 percent on gas fees. Hundreds of crypto businesses, including blue-chips like Aave, Messari, and Polygon, trust Coinshift to manage over $1bn in crypto assets. About Superfluid Superfluid is the leading asset streaming protocol that enables Web3 native subscriptions, salaries, and rewards for DAOs and crypto-native businesses. Superfluid streams transfer value in a constant flow over time between wallets in a non-custodial and permissionless manner. Superfluid Protocol can be used to describe cash flows and execute them automatically on-chain, over time, and in a non-interactive way. Money streams are programmable, composable, and modular, allowing developers to build custom applications on top of the protocol. No capital is locked up, and all inflows and outflows are netted in real-time at every block without consuming any gas. Ongoing streams can be forwarded as they are received to both wallets and applications, eliminating delays and drastically increasing capital efficiency. Contacts Head of Marketing David Costello Coinshift [email protected] +351914156328

Awards $34.4M In Grants To Improve Access To Good Jobs, Training In Appalachian Region, Lower Mississippi Delta | U.S. Department Of Labor – US Department Of Labor https://collincountynewsonline.com/awards-34-4m-in-grants-to-improve-access-to-good-jobs-training-in-appalachian-region-lower-mississippi-delta-u-s-department-of-labor-us-department-of-labor/ Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities grants support workers in energy communities WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today – in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Delta Regional Authority – awards totaling $34,375,000, to provide education, training and supportive services in regions that have suffered significant job losses in the energy extraction industry. “The Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities Initiative provides grants to engage local communities and help build pathways for workers to good-paying jobs,” explained Acting Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Brent Parton. “The awards we’re announcing today reflect the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to ensure the benefits of its investments in climate, clean energy, training and workforce development reach and serve disadvantaged communities.” “When we prioritize education, training and career support for rural Appalachians, we help our people and our entire region thrive, and eventually compete, with the rest of the nation,” said Appalachian Regional Commission Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. “The latest round of Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities grants will continue giving workers in distressed communities the resources they need to enhance their career opportunities. In doing so, this will reignite Appalachian economies and create results that will reverberate throughout the whole region for years to come.” “Investments in workforce development is a key tool for economic growth in rural communities,” added Delta Regional Authority Federal Co-Chairman Dr. Corey Wiggins.  “Our continued partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor allows us to meet local industry demands head-on by developing a skilled workforce while also establish a talent pool that will attract new businesses to the region.” In keeping with Executive Order 14008, signed by President Biden, the WORC Initiative aligns with the Justice40 initiative, a whole-of-government approach to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to communities historically marginalized, underserved and overburdened by pollution. The WORC Initiative helps rural communities address historic inequities and to produce good, quality jobs for dislocated and other workers in rural communities in the Appalachian and Delta regions. The grants also help communities diversify their local economies by developing a skilled workforce and providing equitable access to underserved and underrepresented communities. Lists of Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities grant recipients follows this release. Grants are being awarded to recipients in the Appalachian Regional Commission area as follows: Recipient State Amount Hazard Community and Technical College KY $1,441,292 Kentucky Dataseam Initiative Inc. KY $1,441,292 University of Maryland, College Park MD $985,419 Land of Sky Regional Council NC $1,441,125 Rural Action Inc. OH $1,421,763 University of Pittsburgh PA $1,119,908 Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Development Board PA $938,962 Northeast State Community College TN $1,258,623 New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Area Consortium VA $1,441,292 Southwest Virginia Community College VA $1,378,568 BridgeValley Community and Technical College WV $1,441,280 Randolph County Housing Authority WV $1,440,438 Grants are being awarded to recipients in the Delta Regional Authority area as follows: Recipient State Amount Alabama Department of Commerce AL $1,384,792 Arkansas Center for Data Sciences AR $1,390,214 South Arkansas Community College AR $835,499 Strada Collaborative Inc. IN $1,394,534 Workforce Development Board SDA-83 Inc. LA $1,394,535 New Orleans Career Center LA $1,283,998 NextOp Inc. LA $1,143,215 Dream Innovations Inc. MS $1,394,535 Mississippi Community College Board MS $1,394,535 Delta Health Alliance Inc. MS $1,394,196 Ozark Action Inc. MO $1,394,535 Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences MO $1,394,535

Faces Of Fall: Sept. 20, 2022 | Sports | News-Gazette.com – News-Gazette https://collincountynewsonline.com/faces-of-fall-sept-20-2022-sports-news-gazette-com-news-gazette/ Josh Gernand, BHRA, during the Faces of Fall 2022 shoot at the News-Gazette in Champaign on Saturday, August 6, 2022. Robin Scholz/The News-Gazette JOSHUA GERNAND BHRA boys’ cross-country ➜ His favorite athlete is … Leighton Meeker. ➜ His favorite team is … the Golden State Warriors. ➜ If he could attend any one sporting event in person, it would be … the Rose Bowl. ➜ His favorite sport besides cross-country is … tennis. Amerie Hemphill, Clinton, during the Faces of Fall 2022 shoot at the News-Gazette in Champaign on Saturday, August 6, 2022. Robin Scholz/The News-Gazette AMERIE HEMPHILL Clinton girls’ cross-country ➜ Her favorite athlete is … Sydney McLaughlin. ➜ Her favorite team is … the St. Louis Cardinals. ➜ If she could attend any one sporting event in person, it would be … the Summer Olympics. ➜ Her favorite sport besides cross-country is … track and field. Aiden Pacunas, Rantoul, during the Faces of Fall 2022 shoot at the News-Gazette in Champaign on Saturday, August 6, 2022. Robin Scholz/The News-Gazette AIDEN PACUNAS Rantoul boys’ cross-country ➜ His favorite athlete is … Eli Wilhelm. ➜ His favorite team is … the St. Louis Cardinals. ➜ If he could attend any one sporting event in person, it would be … an MLB game. ➜ His favorite sport besides cross-country is … basketball. Syda Schlickman, GCMS, Faces of Fall 2022 shoot at the News-Gazette in Champaign on Saturday, August 6, 2022. Robin Scholz/The News-Gazette SYDA SCHLICKMAN Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley girls’ tennis ➜ Her favorite athlete is … Yadier Molina. ➜ Her favorite team is … the St. Louis Cardinals. ➜ If she could attend any one sporting event in person, it would be … the World Series. ➜ Her favorite sport besides tennis is … volleyball.

Brelyon Raises $15 Million Series A To Forge New Metaverse Experiences That Go Beyond Headsets – PR Newswire https://collincountynewsonline.com/brelyon-raises-15-million-series-a-to-forge-new-metaverse-experiences-that-go-beyond-headsets-pr-newswire/ World-class investors join Brelyon’s investment round to reimagine the future of work and play Inventor of the world’s first no-headset virtual monitor with monocular depth Financing to accelerate product development and hiring driven by rapidly growing enterprise and consumer demand , /PRNewswire/ — Brelyon, the MIT spin-off pioneering a new category of ultra-immersive display technology to enable access to the metaverse, today announced it has raised $15 million in Series A financing led by Lockheed Martin Ventures and the MIT-affiliated E14 Fund with participation from Corning Incorporated, LG Technology Ventures, UDC Ventures (the corporate venture arm of Universal Display Corporation), and Franklin Templeton. Brelyon, the MIT spin-off pioneering a new category of ultra-immersive display technology to enable access to the metaverse, announced it has raised $15 million in Series A financing led by Lockheed Martin Ventures and the MIT-affiliated E14 Fund with participation from Corning Incorporated, LG Technology Ventures, UDC Ventures (​​the corporate venture arm of Universal Display Corporation), and Franklin Templeton. Brelyon With the company’s patented light-field technologies, Brelyon’s Ultra Reality uses precise wavefront engineering to create a massive field of view with true optical depth layers, generating an immersive panoramic virtual screen that engulfs the viewer without the need for a headset, and all in a small desktop footprint. In doing so, Brelyon facilitates a desktop metaverse experience, enabling new types of immersive applications like gaming, simulation, and virtual offices, meeting rooms, events, and collaboration spaces. “With Ultra Reality, Brelyon is introducing a new perspective on the future of work and play, while forging new inroads as an immersive portal to metaverse experiences,” said Barmak Heshmat, CEO and Founder of Brelyon. “For our Series A, we looked for world-class investors who share Brelyon’s vision and bring a depth of experience in scaling cutting-edge technology. The rise of GPUs and efficient graphic neural nets in computer graphics is enabling an array of computational optics in displays and making them more accessible to the mass market. This opens the possibility to provide immersive services far superior to 32″ desktop monitors and headsets today.” Brelyon’s Ultra Reality is sparking demand from a growing roster of strategic partners worldwide that include enterprise and consumer brands from Fortune 500 and multinational companies across a range of industries for gaming, financial, productivity and industrial applications. “Brelyon’s computational optics technology presents an opportunity to develop, modernize and advance our capabilities in a digital environment,” said Chris Moran, Vice President and General Manager of Lockheed Martin Ventures. “Their virtual and multi-depth display has the potential to provide the U.S. and our allies a competitive advantage with 21st century navigation and visualization technologies.” Built upon groundbreaking research from MIT, Brelyon is pioneering a set of technologies that leverage computational optics to provide immersion. One of the first results of these technologies is realization of virtual displays which manipulate the light to allow the viewer a window-like experience with extended meters of depth.    “As the pioneer of an entirely new generation of display technology, Brelyon is opening up tremendous possibilities for new types of form factors and applications,” said Calvin Chin, Managing Partner at E14 Fund. “With its partnership program and Ultra Reality now on the market, Brelyon is already working with industry-leading customers on a variety of use cases that transform user experiences now and into the future.” “Brelyon has a completely new take on metaverse and virtual worlds,” said Anshul Agarwal, Managing Director at LG Technology Ventures. “Unlike conventional wisdom that is focused on binocular 3D and holograms, Brelyon’s approach is to leverage depth to push on visual and functional performance in the virtual domain. This opens the door to visual experiences that have orders of magnitude better fidelity at significantly lower computational cost.” “We are excited to be an early supporter of Brelyon and their impressive technology that is helping to expand the OLED ecosystem deeper into the metaverse and creating more use cases for premium immersive display technology,” said Josh Epstein, Managing Partner at UDC Ventures. Brelyon launched Ultra Reality in January at CES, where the company also announced its partnership with LG Display. ABOUT BRELYON Headquartered in San Mateo, CA, Brelyon is a technology pioneer in hardware and software technologies for headset-less immersive experiences. Helmed by a founding team of scientists and industry executives from MIT, UCF, DARPA and IMAX, Brelyon has developed the world’s first no-headset display technology with monocular depth. Companies interested in joining Brelyon’s early access partner program, please visit www.brelyon.com SOURCE Brelyon

Miller: MotoGP Bike Gadgets Can’t Be Blamed For Aragon Lap 1 Chaos – Autosport https://collincountynewsonline.com/miller-motogp-bike-gadgets-cant-be-blamed-for-aragon-lap-1-chaos-autosport/ The returning Marquez was rear-ended by championship leader Fabio Quartararo when the Honda rider had a small moment applying the throttle through Turn 3 on the opening lap. This sent Quartararo into a sickening crash while bits of his Yamaha got stuck in the rear of Marquez’s Honda. When the six-time MotoGP world champion engaged his rear ride height device exiting Turn 7, he lost drive from the rear wheel as the system locked, which caused a second collision with LCR’s Takaaki Nakagami. This incident has led to a renewed debate on whether the later technical advances in MotoGP, such as ride height devices and aerodynamic wings, should be banned on safety grounds. But Miller – whose Ducati team has been against all proposed bans to these items in recent years – feels the gadgetry can’t be blamed for what happened on lap 1 at Aragon. “Yeah, I mean, that’s a part of it. At the end of the day this is racing, shit’s going to happen,” Miller began. “Are we blaming them [gadgets] are we now? Shit seems to happen when you ride up the arse of other people. “The bike on its own seems to be perfectly fine, so I don’t think we can blame the gadgetry in this circumstance. Jack Miller, Ducati Team Photo by: Dorna “Someone running up the arse of someone else and breaking a lot of components off the motorcycle, of course the motorcycle’s not going to work properly. “I mean, either way whether that broke it or the subframe broke it, whatever, shit’s going to break when two bikes come together. It’s inevitable.” He added: “When we came up there, there was shit all over the track: wings and rocks and all sorts. “Right up the apex of Turn 4, where you go right up the kerb, there were thousands of stones. “Pecco [Bagnaia] ran up to the kerb in between four and five because we all went in there and all lost the front on all those stones across the track. So, it’s part of it. That’s why this sport is so cool.” Quartararo – who was involved in a scooter incident on his way back to the paddock after his retirement – only suffered some abrasions to his chest in the incident with Marquez, while Nakagami’s Japanese GP is in doubt after he suffered lacerations to his hand in his collision.

Samsara To Open New European Technology Center In Warsaw, Poland – Business Wire https://collincountynewsonline.com/samsara-to-open-new-european-technology-center-in-warsaw-poland-business-wire/ SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Samsara Inc. (“Samsara”) (NYSE: IOT), the pioneer of the Connected Operations Cloud, today announced that it is opening a new office in Warsaw, Poland, as part of an investment plan to expand its international footprint. Samsara’s latest expansion to its European operation, which now includes operational centers in the UK, France, and the Netherlands, will enable the company to provide exceptional support to its new, and existing, customers. “Our EMEA business continues to expand at a rapid rate since we first established our European presence in London in 2018,” said Philip van der Wilt, VP & General Manager, Samsara, EMEA. “As Samsara continues to grow and develop new solutions, we’re expanding our global technology team with an office in Poland’s capital, where some of the world’s brightest engineering talent will help us transform the future of physical operations.” The Warsaw office is expected to grow rapidly by the end of 2022, led by an engineering team focused on fleet telematics, which has been a driving force behind the company’s impressive growth. Samsara has grown from zero to $660M of ARR (annual recurring revenue) in just seven years, one of the fastest SaaS companies to achieve this milestone. Samsara also reported a 64% revenue growth year-over-year and more than 15,000 global core customers at the end of its last fiscal year. Engineers in Poland will work on a wide range of technologies across multiple features and functions within telematics, including Golang, GraphQL, React web dashboards, ReactNative for the Samsara Driver Mobile app, IoT, and machine learning (ML). “The creation of our Poland technology center follows Samsara’s rapid progress,” said Rick Carragher, VP of Engineering at Samsara. “We chose to open our next engineering center in Warsaw because of its world-class computer science programs and the fact that Poland consistently comes top for producing outstanding tech talent.“ “The engineering culture that is embedded throughout Samsara means the new teams will be driven by a focus on customer success underpinned by the engineering freedom to find innovative solutions to difficult problems. Our new team will work closely with customers across the world to provide an unprecedented level of real-time visibility of connected operations,” said Carragher. Samsara has already begun to interview candidates as part of a holistic approach to finding talent that builds on the foundation of computer engineering skills supported by a strong focus on problem solving. To find out more about the job opportunities in Poland, read our Life at Samsara Poland blog post and check out our careers page. To learn about Samsara’s mission to increase the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of the operations that power the global economy visit www.samsara.com. About Samsara Samsara is the pioneer of the Connected Operations Cloud, which allows businesses that depend on physical operations to harness IoT (Internet of Things) data to develop actionable business insights and improve their operations. Samsara operates in North America and Europe and serves tens of thousands of customers across a wide range of industries including transportation, wholesale and retail trade, construction, field services, logistics, utilities and energy, government, healthcare and education, manufacturing, and food and beverage. The company’s mission is to increase the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of the operations that power the global economy. Samsara is a registered trademark of Samsara Inc. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

Galaxy Gaming® To Showcase Their Table Games For Everyone, Everywhere At Global Gaming Expo 2022 – GlobeNewswire https://collincountynewsonline.com/galaxy-gaming-to-showcase-their-table-games-for-everyone-everywhere-at-global-gaming-expo-2022-globenewswire/ LAS VEGAS, Sept. 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Galaxy Gaming, Inc. (OTC: GLXZ), the world’s largest independent developer and distributor of casino table games and technology will unveil innovative new content and technology at this year’s Global Gaming Expo (G2E) from October 11-13 in booth #4016. “We’re thrilled to be exhibiting at G2E this year. The expo is a great opportunity for our team to meet face to face with our customers and show them what we’ve been working on,” shared Todd Cravens, President and CEO at Galaxy Gaming. “You are going to see the result of us focusing on what we do best, industry-leading table management and progressive solutions, world-famous and brand-new table game content, and delivering that premium content across diverse channels.” Those game-changing table games and solutions will be on display showcasing Galaxy’s commitment to building thrilling table games for everyone, everywhere. This omni-channel approach results in a portfolio of games, side bets, displays, and progressives that excite guests on the casino floor, on their mobile devices and desktop, and beyond. A preview of the new content and technology launching at G2E will be released soon. To stay up-to-date visit www.galaxygaming.com/G2E. About Galaxy Gaming Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, Galaxy Gaming (galaxygaming.com) develops and distributes innovative games, bonusing systems, and technology solutions to physical and online casinos worldwide. Offering games that are proven to perform, developed by gaming experts, and backed by the highest level of customer support. Galaxy Gaming Digital is also the world’s leading licensor of proprietary table games to the online gaming industry. Connect with Galaxy Gaming on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter. Contact: Media: Phylicia Middleton (702) 938-1753 Investors: Harry Hagerty (702) 938-1740

North Texas Property Tax Roundup: Relief, But How Much? – The Real Deal https://collincountynewsonline.com/north-texas-property-tax-roundup-relief-but-how-much-the-real-deal/ Pflugerville mayor Jeff Coleman; Pearland mayor Kevin Cole; Plano mayor John Muns; The Woodlands mayor Gordy Bunch; Collin County Judge Chris Hill (Getty, Collin County, coleforpearland.com, City of Pflugerville, City of Plano, Woodlands Township) The historic rise in Texas home values has left many owners facing monumentally higher property tax bills, and this has sent their elected officials scrambling to provide relief by lowering rates. Texas overall has some of the highest property taxes in the nation, and the Dallas-Fort Worth area has some of the highest in the state, so jurisdictions across North Texas are jumping on the tax relief bandwagon. ➤ The Pflugerville City Council approved its new property tax rate for the 2022-23 fiscal year during its September 13 meeting, passing a $0.4813 per $100 valuation. Under this new rate, which is 1 percent lower than the previous rate, the average Pflugerville homeowner will see an increase of 11.7 percent in their yearly tax bill — approximately $155 — due to higher property values. With the new rate, the city’s total expected tax revenue for the 2022-23 fiscal year is about $44.1 million, up 20 percent from last year. The newly approved budget of $380.6 million will allocate approximately 16 percent to the city’s general fund and 41 percent to some of the city’s capital and infrastructure projects. ➤ The Pearland ISD board also adopted its new tax rate on September 13, which was approved at $1.3027 per $100 of property valuation, an approximately 1 percent decrease from last year. The Pearland City Council had previously approved a ceiling for its own new tax rate at $0.628765 per $100 valuation, a 10 percent drop from the previous rate. The city could adopt an even lower rate when it finalizes its new budget. ➤ Plano City Council has decreased its property tax rate from $0.4465 to $0.4176 per $100 valuation for the fiscal year 2022-23, a decrease of 6.5 percent. The council approved the new rate during its September 12 meeting as a “no new revenue” rate designed to produce the same amount of taxes as in the previous year, despite rises in property values. Homeowners will still be eligible for a maximum 20 percent homestead exemption under this new rate. Plano is not the first city to adopt this sort of exemption for residents. The growing Dallas suburb of Frisco did the same back in June to also lower its property-tax burden for residents. ➤ The Woodlands Township board of directors approved a tax rate of $0.185 per $100 assessment on September 12 as part of its newly adopted $148.43 million budget for 2023, a 17 percent drop from the current rate of $0.2231. This is the lowest tax rate in the town’s 12-year history and will produce less revenue than the previous year despite the increase in assessed values. Collectively, property owners will pay $2.5 million less in taxes than in 2022. ➤ Collin County, which includes the city of Dallas, also reduced its property tax rate, but not enough to actually lower resident’s tax bills. County commissioners approved both a new $434.6 million budget and a decreased property tax rate for the fiscal year 2022-23 of $0.152443 per $100 valuation. While this is down 9.3 percent from the current rate of $0.168087, the average homeowner will pay approximately $115 more compared to last year without a homestead exemption. This is because the median home price in Collin County is currently about $525,000, up from just earlier this year and about 29 percent higher than last year. Home prices in Collin County are continuing to go up, a trend that can be seen across the county and especially in Dallas, and residential sales in the city and surrounding areas are seeing a spike as well which the council cited as the reason for lower rate.

Briscoe’s Magical Vacation Planner Ford Mustang Will Be On Display On Sept. 23 In Mitchell During Persimmon Festival – WBIW.com https://collincountynewsonline.com/briscoes-magical-vacation-planner-ford-mustang-will-be-on-display-on-sept-23-in-mitchell-during-persimmon-festival-wbiw-com/ MITCHELL – Their hometown connection grew to take on the national stage when the travel industry powerhouse and Authorized Disney Vacation Planner announced the sponsorship of Briscoe’s No. 14 Team for five NASCAR Cup Series races. Briscoe drove the Magical Vacation Planner Ford Mustang at the All-Star Race in Texas in May, and in this past weekend’s race at Kansas. MVP will again be Briscoe’s main sponsor during upcoming playoff races at Bristol, Talladega, and Homestead. Now, the two are taking the stage off the racetrack as they bring the Magical Vacation Planner Ford Mustang to town for Mitchell’s Persimmon Festival’s 75th Anniversary. The car will be showcased at Hatfield Elementary School on September 23 and in the festival’s parade the following day. The public will also be able to view the car on September 23 from 2:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Mitchell’s Post Office parking lot. “I remember as a kid watching all the planning and hard work it took for many people to plan the festival, and I remember the joy it brought to them,” said Eubanks. “It taught me so much about what the sense of community means, and how working hard as a team to accomplish something is the best way to do things.” “The Persimmon Festival was always a big deal,” said Briscoe. “Every year we’d go and hang out with friends and everyone in town. The festivals were one thing I always loved about growing up in Indiana.”

GolfClubs4Cash Celebrates 10th Anniversary With Consumer Offer – Golf Business News https://collincountynewsonline.com/golfclubs4cash-celebrates-10th-anniversary-with-consumer-offer-golf-business-news/ Golfclubs4cash, Europe’s biggest second-hand golf equipment retailer, is celebrating its tenth year in business with a special promotion. For 10 days from September 20-30 the company has 10,000 single clubs available to buy in store and online for less than £100, with the chance for one person each day to win their money back. The company will also be partnering with The Golf Trust to help them deliver their projects here and around the globe.  The promotion harks back to the very beginning of the company, when co-owner Murray Winton had his clubs stolen and couldn’t afford to replace them with brand new items.  “When money is tight, which it is for so many people at the moment, it’s hard to justify spending money on a hobby,” said Winton. “When I had all my clubs stolen, I missed playing so much that I started buying used clubs and the business began from there. Nowadays, we all appreciate how important golf is for our mental health, which is why we are giving customers the chance to buy some amazing brands at our lowest prices ever.” Every part of the bag is covered, including iron sets for less than £200. The quality of the products is reflected in the pricing, but there will be clubs from some of the biggest names in golf in the Anniversary Collection.   Golfclubs4cash will also be donating equipment to The Golf Trust as part of the birthday celebrations. Dean Cracknell, GC4C’s Head of Marketing, said: “We want to help get as many people on the course this winter as possible, so we will be donating the same number of items as transactions made on the busiest trading day over the 10-day celebration. The Golf Trust does fabulous work, so we are delighted to be able to help them get more golf clubs into deserving hands.” Cae Menai-Davies, founder of The Golf Trust, commented: “We are also celebrating our 10-year anniversary this year. The people we work with need to have access to equipment that will help them continue on a sustainable journey into golf.  Support from the industry isn’t just important, it is crucial to ours and our beneficiaries’ success so we’re incredibly grateful to partner with golfclubs4cash in this way.”

AprilAire Sponsored And 10 Employees Rode In The FairShare CSA Coalition Bike The Barns Event – PR Web https://collincountynewsonline.com/aprilaire-sponsored-and-10-employees-rode-in-the-fairshare-csa-coalition-bike-the-barns-event-pr-web/ AprilAire executive Heather Hartwig rode the Bike the Barns Sept. 18 and AprilAire sponsored the event. “We have a mission to be a good community servant through healthy living and making a difference in the lives of our friends, neighbors, and colleagues. The Bike the Barns event certainly checked all those boxes. We were very happy to be a part of the ride.” MADISON, Wis. (PRWEB) September 20, 2022 AprilAire, the nationwide leader in professional-grade Healthy Air solutions for the home since 1954, sponsored the 14th annual Bike the Barns in Madison on Sept. 18 and 10 employees rode in this large fundraising event for the FairShare CSA Coalition. AprilAire’s participation showcases its core value of making a difference in communities as well as its commitment to healthy living, including not only clean air to breathe but clean food to eat for everyone. Madison-based FairShare CSA Coalition is a non-profit organization providing locally produced, organic food from small-scale farms to families throughout the Midwest, including those with low incomes, through its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. In addition to individual fundraising efforts by AprilAire employee cyclists, the company was a premier sponsor for the event, providing banner signage, t-shirt logos, and more including sponsor branding as riders entered the finish chute. Bike the Barns began with breakfast at Lake Farm County Park and long route bikers began their approximately 60-mile ride at 9:00 a.m., while those riding 30 to 40 miles departed at 10:00 a.m. Depending on the mileage, participants could make two, three, or four interactive farm stops as they wheeled through scenic southeastern Dane County to enjoy tours, activities, food, beverage, music, and other barnyard fun. “It was a great day weather-wise for a bike ride,” said Heather Hartwig, AprilAire’s senior product manager – sensors, who rode the 30- to 40-mile route. “I enjoyed spending time with my AprilAire work friends outside of the office and challenging my cycling legs in the beautiful, clean Wisconsin air.” FairShare Coalition CSA’s Bike the Barns event perfectly mirrors one of AprilAire’s five core values, healthy living, because the brand believes inherently that everyone deserves the healthy, clean air provided by AprilAire solutions just as much as they deserve the healthy, clean food from a CSA. Participation in the biking event also strongly supports another core value: making a difference. In addition to those health and community service values, other AprilAire core messages include simplicity of design, inspired innovation, and delivering straight talk and real results, as promised. “We have a mission to be a good community servant through healthy living and making a difference in the lives of our friends, neighbors, and colleagues,” said David Carlson, director of marketing for AprilAire. “The Bike the Barns event certainly checked all those boxes. We were very happy to be a part of the ride.” AprilAire’s suite of healthy air innovations for homes nationwide is led by the company’s signature solution, the AprilAire Healthy Air System®, a set-it-and-forget-it, whole house system for all-in-one fresh air ventilation, air purification, humidity control, zoning, control, and radon mitigation which are all essential to maintaining proper indoor air quality no matter the weather outside. Other products are available individually including whole-house dehumidifiers, whole-house humidifiers, air purifiers and a complete line of filters, including the highest rated MERV 16 filters that capture 98%* of airborne viruses and 99%* of allergy and asthma triggers. To find the right solution for their residence, homeowners should contact their local AprilAire Healthy Air Professional for a consultation and to recommend the proper AprilAire solution to help reduce pollen, mold spores, bacteria, viruses, pet dander, dust, dust mites, tobacco smoke, and pollution indoors. *Contaminants removed based on air passing through the filtering system. About AprilAire AprilAire is on a mission to make homes healthy. We believe everyone deserves Healthy Air and envision a future with Healthy Air in every home. We value healthy living, customer-inspired innovation, simplicity of design, straight talk and delivering real results as promised, and most importantly making a positive difference in the lives of our customers, families, and communities. Headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin since 1954, AprilAire has been creating and delivering Healthy Air solutions to manage air purity, humidity, fresh air supply, radon mitigation, and temperature for all types of homes, in all environments. We have an unparalleled reputation as the brand of choice among tens of thousands of professional contractors and make a Healthy Air difference in the lives of the millions of families who rely on our products every day. To learn how to turn your house into a Healthy Home with the AprilAire Healthy Air System® and learn about other solutions, visit http://www.aprilaire.com. # # # Share article on social media or email:

FTX Builds $1 Billion War Chest To Buy Up Distressed Crypto And Other Assets – Cryptonews https://collincountynewsonline.com/ftx-builds-1-billion-war-chest-to-buy-up-distressed-crypto-and-other-assets-cryptonews/ Image credit: FTX CEO and co-founder of major cryptocurrency exchange FTX Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) has revealed that the company has built an estimated $1 billion war chest to continue deploying capital in order to bail out distressed crypto firms and buy their assets.  Speaking in an interview with CNBC, he declined to state the specific amount in order not to sound too certain of the answer but noted that FTX is still within its comfort zone in the amount of funds it is willing to deploy without emptying its coffers.  “You have the issue of ‘how much do we feel comfortable deploying.’ Saying there’s another part billion here that is completely unencumbered will get you within a factor of too certain of the right answer,” SBF said when pressed on how much more FTX had to deploy.  SBF further highlighted that going into the bear market, FTX had a couple of billions of its own funds, added to funds it raised from venture capital and profits it has made this year and from last year as well.  Meanwhile, the 30 years old billionaire continues to maintain that his company’s philosophy is guided by the need to both protect consumers, as well as stop contagion from spreading across the crypto ecosystem due to the failure of any asset or firm. He holds that this will in the long term be good for customers, regulations, and the ecosystem at large.  FTX’s bailout activities producing mixed results so far The Bahamas-headquartered exchange has engineered bailout deals with an estimated value of around $1 billion in the crypto industry this year. According to a Bloomberg report, some of these deals have already performed poorly while the results of others are showing hopeful signs.  In the report, SBF noted a $485 million loan made out to Voyager Digital Ltd. as one potentially sour deal as the amount had not been enough to keep the company from filing for bankruptcy in July. In contrast, the $400 million revolving credit bailout given to BlockFi, another troubled crypto lender, was showing signs of being effective.  SBF is not perturbed by the possible outcomes as he says FTX is not extending the aid to only earn a profit from every deal but to meet the need for capital in the market.  FTX reached a market valuation of around $32 billion following a Series C funding round it conducted in January as reported by CNBC. Regardless, the exchange has continued to explore ways to diversify its revenue stream away from just crypto fees amidst the market turmoil.

Will The Queen’s Death Change The “special” U.S.-U.K. Relationship? – The Washington Post https://collincountynewsonline.com/will-the-queens-death-change-the-special-u-s-u-k-relationship-the-washington-post/ The reign of Queen Elizabeth II (1952-2022) ran almost directly parallel with the British state’s most crucial diplomatic project of the post-war period, claiming a “special relationship” with the United States. In the hands of successive British governments, this was a project which has used the ties of history — and an occasional dose of royal spectacle — to secure a close partnership with Washington. Queen Elizabeth II was pivotal to this work. Taking the throne in 1952, at the very moment Britons grappled with a profoundly changed world after World War II, the queen was one of those figures (Winston Churchill was another) whose very life was woven into a mythic-history of Anglo-American relations. A key challenge before the new king, therefore, will be to assume this imposing mantle in a post-Brexit age in which British power and prestige have declined even further. The British monarchy’s connections to the United States reach back over 250 years (and of course the relationship with the American colonies goes beyond even this). From the War of Independence — precipitated in part by the obstinance of George III — to the outpouring of grief in the U.S. following news of the death in 1901 of Queen Victoria (a response not unlike that which we have just witnessed) British royalty has often engaged American interest. The first British royal to visit the U.S. was in fact Victoria’s son, the Prince of Wales, who toured North America in 1860. His itinerary included a visit to Mount Vernon in Virginia, where the future King Edward VII paid homage at the tomb of George Washington, the man who had repeatedly bested the armies of his ancestor in the 1780s. During the 20th century, however, the sight of British royalty in the U.S. became a more regular occurrence, especially when international tensions escalated. The first monarch to tour in an official capacity was the late queen’s father, George VI, who visited America in 1939, just as storm clouds gathered in Europe. Supported by his wife, Queen Elizabeth (later affectionately known as the Queen Mother), the king’s task was to cultivate American sympathy and support, a significant challenge given the strains that were placed on Anglo-American relations by his predecessor, Edward VIII, who had renounced the throne to pursue his relationship with an American divorcée, Wallis Simpson. President Franklin D. Roosevelt hosted the king and queen, and like the Prince of Wales in 1860, they also took time to visit Mount Vernon, laying a wreath to Washington (a powerful symbolic expression of the distance traveled since Washington’s victory at Yorktown in 1781). By all accounts their visit was a success, and they were greeted by flag-waving crowds in both Washington and New York. After World War II, Anglo-American relations entered a new era. The call for a U.S.-U.K. “special relationship” was first made by Churchill in a 1946 speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Mo. During the speech, the former British prime minister famously declared that an “Iron Curtain” had descended across central Europe. As Churchill saw it, world peace, stability and security at the onset of the Cold War demanded a close relationship between the United States and the “British Empire and Commonwealth.” In the years that followed, some close connections were certainly established, perhaps most notably between the U.S.-U.K. militaries and intelligence agencies. But Britain was an empire in decline. Decolonization, growing global industrial competition and of course the severe drain on resources occasioned by two world wars all combined to ensure that after 1945, Britannia’s former economic and military might was much reduced. This became especially apparent in the aftermath of the Suez Crisis of 1956, an event that placed an enormous strain on the Anglo-American relationship. Washington went so far as to reprimand Britain for its role in the Anglo-French-Israeli invasion of the Suez Canal zone. And so, Britain’s contribution to the “special relationship” has increasingly hinged on cultivating image and historical memory, with ritual and ceremony becoming especially useful. Be it the dedication of Anglo-American memorials and monuments (such as the unveiling by the queen of the American Memorial Chapel at St. Paul’s Cathedral in 1958) or the various ceremonies hosted at Balmoral or Buckingham Palace, memory became the coin of British transatlantic diplomacy. The queen has been integral to this assertion of “soft power,” and her historically resonant meetings with American presidents (from Harry S. Truman in 1951, when she was still Princess Elizabeth, to Joe Biden in 2021) have usefully bolstered the activities of successive British prime ministers and foreign secretaries. In 1957, for example, the queen was hosted at the White House by wartime friend and confidant Dwight D. Eisenhower, an invitation reciprocated in 1960 when Eisenhower visited her in Scotland (for several years the two also corresponded via letter). Their relationship was a powerful reassertion — in the aftermath of the rancor and recriminations connected to the Suez Crisis — of underlying Anglo-American unities born of World War II. A year later, there was an eagerly anticipated meeting in London with President John F. Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy (rumor had it that Her Majesty felt rather upstaged by the glamour that accompanied the King and Queen of Camelot). With the British establishment initially fearful that Kennedy — the first Irish American president — might be less committed to maintaining close Anglo-American ties, this meeting once again reaffirmed (and re-performed) the idea of transatlantic connection and common purpose. In June 1982 — following several weeks of occasionally tense Anglo-American relations linked to the Falklands crisis — the queen was seen chatting amicably with President Ronald Reagan as the two rode on horseback through the grounds of Windsor Castle. And in the 21st century, several carefully choreographed state visits for presidents George W. Bush (2003), Barack Obama (2011) and Donald Trump (2019) took place. Indeed, inviting American presidents to make a state visit (and thus be formally greeted and hosted by the queen) has emerged over the last 20 years as a key feature of the U.K.’s diplomacy toward the U.S. While the fine details of such visits might differ, the fundamentals were always consistent. These were purposeful and planned rituals that used history, memory and ceremony for diplomatic gain. And for 70 years, such rituals have frequently revolved around the figure of Queen Elizabeth II. Seen like this, the queen’s death has profound consequences for the “special relationship” — already strained by the tumult of recent years — and now her son, King Charles III, is left to fill the substantive diplomatic void she has left.

Rafael Benitez Exclusive: Former Everton Boss Says It Was Impossible To Manage Club His Way Due To Liverpool Ties – Sky Sports https://collincountynewsonline.com/rafael-benitez-exclusive-former-everton-boss-says-it-was-impossible-to-manage-club-his-way-due-to-liverpool-ties-sky-sports/ Rafael Benitez says it was impossible to manage Everton the way he wanted to due to his history with rivals Liverpool. Benitez, who won the Champions League, FA Cup and UEFA Super Cup during his time in charge at Anfield from 2004 to 2010, became Everton boss in July 2021 but was sacked six months later after struggling to improve results and win over supporters. In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News, the Spaniard said he does not regret taking over at Goodison Park but admits he struggled to make certain decisions because of his ties to Everton’s Merseyside rivals. Image: Benitez became Everton boss in July 2021 but was sacked six months later Maupay off the mark as Everton beat West Ham Premier League table | Fixtures | Results Watch Premier League highlights for free on Sky Sports Get Sky Sports | Download the Sky Sports App Image: Benitez won the Champions League as Liverpool manager in 2005 “At the time Everton came in with the offer, I knew I would give my best and do everything to try to improve things,” he said. “I knew it could be difficult because I was at Liverpool, so maybe I couldn’t make some decisions. It was very clear for us at the beginning. “I had a meeting with a head of one of the departments and I asked him ‘do you think everything is fine?’ He said ‘yeah, everything is perfect.’ I thought ‘£600m had been spent, it cannot be perfect when the owners aren’t happy and the fans are not happy.’ “So I realised we had to change things inside, but I couldn’t do it straight away because I was a former Red and it could be seen as ‘oh, he’s come in to change our club’. “In another club, I would have made those decisions. I did it in the past, because you know very clearly that is the way to improve, but there at Everton I couldn’t do it.” Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player FREE TO WATCH: Highlights of Everton against West Ham in the Premier League ‘Gordon beginning to fulfil potential’ One current Everton player Benitez knows well is Anthony Gordon. The winger was linked to a move to Chelsea in the summer, but the Toffees were adamant he was not for sale. Benitez believes Gordon, who has scored two goals in seven Premier League games this season, is now starting to fulfil his potential but admits he initially doubted the 21-year-old. “We played a friendly in Miami in pre-season and after 50 minutes, he couldn’t run,” Benitez said. “We knew he was a player with quality on the ball, could finish, pass and had pace. But he couldn’t run. We had a conversation with him after the game. It was hot, but he’s a young player. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player We take a look at Anthony Gordon’s best bits from his time in the Premier League with Everton so far “I was talking with the coaches in the academy and my assistant and they said they weren’t sure. They knew he had the talent but maybe it was his mentality. “We spent time with him, but the main thing was to change his mentality and he was very keen to do it. He worked really hard, he improved his stamina and he got better and better because he had the potential. “He has to improve some parts of his game, he knows that. But I’m really pleased to see him progressing because he’s a nice lad.” Follow Everton with Sky Sports Follow every Everton game in the Premier League this season with our live blogs on the Sky Sports website and app, and watch match highlights for free shortly after full-time. Want the Everton latest? Bookmark our Everton news page, check out Everton’s fixtures and Everton’s latest results, watch Everton goals and video, keep track of the Premier League table and see which Everton games are coming up live on Sky Sports. Get all this and more – including notifications sent straight to your phone – by downloading the Sky Sports Scores app and setting Everton as your favourite team. Hear the best Premier League reaction and expert analysis with the Essential Football and Gary Neville podcasts, keep up-to-date with our dedicated Transfer Centre, follow the Sky Sports social accounts on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, and find out how to get Sky Sports.

Optiminastic Launches Optiverse, Strengthens Its Metaverse-As-A-Service Offering For Brands – MediaNews4U https://collincountynewsonline.com/optiminastic-launches-optiverse-strengthens-its-metaverse-as-a-service-offering-for-brands-medianews4u/ Digital marketing agency, Optiminastic Media with expertise across Tech based Performance, Content and Influencer marketing services makes an entry into the Metaverse with the launch of its virtual office space, Optiverse. Strengthening its Metaverse As A Service (MaaS) offering for brands across the globe, Optiminastic Media’s Optiverse will play a significant role in providing brands and advertisers a view into the numerous potential marketing opportunities that the Metaverse has to offer. Through Optiverse, Optiminastic Media will enable brands to initiate their metaverse journey, enhance their creative strategies and drive marketing innovation. The agency’s statement on the new launch read, “Optiminastics’ metaverse office Optiverse will enable end users and brand marketeers to create their avatars, engage in office walk-throughs, interact with Optiminastic’s workforce, conduct meetings, etc. Optiverse will help Optiminastic showcase the potential opportunities for brands to engage with consumers in the Metaverse.” Akshae Golekar Speaking on the development, Akshae Golekar, Founder at Optiminastic Media said, “At Optiminastic, we have been bullish about the potential of the Metaverse. We have been early and keen watchers of Web3 and the Metaverse and believe that it has the opportunity to erase borders when it comes to creative communication. We have been working closely with brands in this domain and the launch of our office, Optiverse reinforces our commitment for the development and growth of MAAS in India and across the globe. We look forward to closely working with India Inc. as they step up their Web3 and Metaverse play while establishing Optiminastic Media as a partner of choice in this field.”

Upskilling To Manage The IoT Expansion – Times Of India https://collincountynewsonline.com/upskilling-to-manage-the-iot-expansion-times-of-india/ IoT booming becoming a global megatrend, how can tech companies upskill their employees to be future-ready? Inspur’s IDC-commissioned 2021–2022 Global Computing Index Report documents how edge computing and cloud are being increasingly adopted by companies around the world. This has largely been propelled by the pandemic, which brought home the temporal nature of work and pushed more businesses to move past legacy tech and towards tactical digital upgrades. From learning how to coordinate meetings on Zoom to collaborating on big projects via Trello or Asana, the shift has been monumental— ‘moving to the cloud’ has become a near-expectation for success. Now, the IoT boom is close at hand —a world where physical and digital objects exchange information and build solutions. While all of this might seem intimidating for companies even behind on their digital growth journey, the answer—as often—lies within. We take a closer look. What can IoT and automation do for tech teams? IoT essentially refers to the interconnectedness of an increasingly automated world. Gadgets feed into gadgets, which deliver real-time data to central decision-making agencies. Fitness watch data feeding into the smartphone is a simple example of this. At an industrial level, hundreds and even thousands of machines and products work synchronously to deliver insights, identify opportunities, and enhance business outcomes. Take buildings, for instance. Fifty years ago, no one would have thought building temperatures could be controlled by sensors linked to a remote dashboard. Modern building tech, however, allows managers to optimise temperature, lighting, and air quality down to the smallest degree, thus leading to considerable energy savings and optimal indoor conditions for productivity. At one level, IoT and automation liberate employees from the monotony of routine tasks. A machine can do them faster and better, while human employees can focus on more creative and strategic tasks. IoT, however, isn’t merely about routine jobs becoming redundant. For starters, managing an IoT ecosystem calls for a team of highly trained and industry-savvy professionals who can unlock the full potential of IoT for their company’s specific needs. Data analytics, machine learning, user-experience design, and even robotics are among the skills most coveted by every tech company. With a team of experts in these fields, even a small brand can develop core products and cutting-edge solutions that truly make a difference, rather than integrating IoT and automation for the mere ‘cool’ factor. And as IT and OT— formerly disparate teams—converge increasingly as IoT grows, the very definition of a tech job is likely to change. The question that often follows, though, is what becomes of the existing tech team when these new skills displace more traditional coding/programming ones. Job insecurity has gone up post-pandemic on account of widespread layoffs, which is exacerbated by the increased push towards automation. However, workforces can upskill and grow with their companies. Why is upskilling the key? Simply put, upskilling refers to the process of deepening and expanding one’s job-related expertise to develop faster along a career path or take on new opportunities. It involves taking on projects or completing courses that impart relevant skills for growth within one’s company. While employees can upskill themselves if they wish to, structured upskilling opportunities within an organisation make it much easier and more accessible to everyone. The company can create its own internal upskilling resources for each job description and level, or even fund external learning pathways. Given how dynamic technology is today, keeping abreast of and becoming adept at developing tech is vital for companies to stay relevant. This calls for teams to stay staffed with intelligent thinkers and tech-forward creators. While attracting new talent is one way to achieve this, it isn’t the only way. In fact, hiring new professionals from scratch could become time-consuming and expensive. Also, recruitment processes may tend to prioritise younger candidates who may be tech-savvy but don’t have the perspective and experience that older workers carry with them. Further, building a multigenerational workforce is a big part of diversity, which is why upskilling is so important for long-standing team members. Moreover, this way, employees don’t need to feel anxious about ‘becoming redundant’—they know the company has their back and will help them grow as needed. The result? A more dynamic and more motivated team whose members are all ready to do their best for the company! Final words Industry 4.0 is here, and companies that wish to ride the wave will need to equip their IT teams accordingly. Regardless of how technology evolves, however, the core tenet of good business remains the same—providing customers with better solutions to the problems they encounter every day. By investing in upskilling their employees, companies get to retain their valued staff while developing the talent needed to make the most of innovations including but not limited to IoT. Upskilling, in that sense, is a continuous process that offers tech-agnostic dividends—loyalty, productivity, agility, and ultimately business resilience. Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author’s own. END OF ARTICLE

Under A Thousand: The Best Budget Bluetooth Buds. Period! – The Indian Express https://collincountynewsonline.com/under-a-thousand-the-best-budget-bluetooth-buds-period-the-indian-express/ As the 3.5mm audio jack makes its way out of our tech lives, most of us are increasingly turning to Bluetooth options for our audio needs. However, one generally has to pay a significant amount to get a pair of Bluetooth earphones that deliver good quality audio. Which is why the Sennheiser CX 120BT are an almost unbelievable deal at their current price of Rs 999. In fact, we would say that if audio quality is what you seek, then these are easily the best Bluetooth earbuds you can get on a tight budget. Sennheiser had launched the CX 120BT in 2020 in an attempt to provide an affordable wireless option to those seeking good audio, but the earbuds were considered overpriced at their launch price of Rs 3,499. And with good reason. At that price, you could get earphones with comparable sound and features. However, at Rs 999, which is what the CX 120BT are currently available at on many outlets (including Amazon and Croma), these earphones are in a zone of their own. Fantastic sound even for twice the price That is because the Sennheiser CX 120BT punch well above their price in terms of sheer audio quality. They are very comfortable to wear and unlike most budget earphones, these do not come with a heavy bass accent. What you get is amazing clarity, great vocals in best Sennheiser tradition, decent but not overwhelming bass, and even a hint of good treble (for sharp sounds like cymbals, the flute and some stringed instruments), something which is literally and audibly non-existent at this price point. These are earphones that are great for listening to just about any genre of music and for watching films or even simply following your favorite podcast. There is no distortion even at high volume, and the volume can go quite high on them. They come with support for aptX and aptX Low Latency. We are again going to stress this – in terms of audio quality, there is nothing even close to them at this price point. In fact, we would say that they sound significantly better than buds that cost more than twice as much, including the likes of the Oppo Enco M32 and the OnePlus Bullets Z2. Only those who want booming bass can consider giving them a miss. Smart design They are smartly designed too. They comprise two buds attached by a wire, and are very lightweight at around 75 grams. The build is totally plastic, but it feels sturdy enough. The buds are tiny and have very subtle Sennheiser branding on shiny backs. Our variant had red bands on each earbud to give them a distinct look. You will have to peer very closely at them to figure out which one is for the right ear and which for the left, as the ‘R’ and ‘L’ are in very small print. There is a capsule-shaped unit on the wire below the right bud with volume controls and a micro USB charging port, while a similar unit (the battery) is below the left earbud as well. The wire connecting the two buds comes with an attachment to adjust its length. These are smart enough to be worn around the neck in formal as well as informal surroundings. Unfortunately, you cannot use them in a gym or anywhere in the vicinity of water or sweat as they do not come with any IP rating and are not sweat resistant. You get two extra pairs of eartips in the box, and a micro-USB cable. An unbeatable deal at that price Call quality is good as well, and definitely streets ahead of anything else at the price (where calling is generally a pain point). There is no environmental noise cancellation so we would advise against using them in noisy conditions. But their light weight and snug fit (just choose the right tips for yourself) makes them very good for extended listening sessions and they pair very smoothly with anything from a Windows PC to a mobile phone. The only real drawback in the Sennheiser CX 120BT is the battery life. At around six to seven hours on a single charge, these are well short of what many newer earphones offer. The micro USB port also seems a little old-fashioned. Some might even quibble at the fact that these support Bluetooth 4.1, in the era of Bluetooth 5.0 and above. Any complaints that one may have, however, are overruled by that price of Rs 999. At that price, the Sennheiser CX 120BT are unbelievably good value for money, especially for those who value audio quality. As we said earlier, simply the best Bluetooth earbuds for those on a tight budget. You can get the Sennhesier CX 120BT at Rs 999 from Amazon and from Croma.

ONEXPLAYER Announces Mini Pro Gaming Console With AMD Ryzen 7 6800U, Starts At 1199 USD – VideoCardz.com https://collincountynewsonline.com/onexplayer-announces-mini-pro-gaming-console-with-amd-ryzen-7-6800u-starts-at-1199-usd-videocardz-com/ « press release » ONEXPLAYER Mini Pro: ONEXPLAYER’s mini series ushered in a new generation of performance with AMD Ryzen 7 6800U ONEXPLAYER announced the latest Mini Pro model. This handheld PC console will be equipped with AMD Ryzen 6800U and Radeon 680M graphics card, and a series of new features. ONEXPLAYER Mini Pro will be available for pre-order on Sep 21, 2022 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time. The baseline model of ONEXPLAYER Mini Pro starts from the retail price of $1199. Players can pre-order with $50 deposit to get 23% OFF at $919 with free docking and protection bag. Shenzhen, China – Sep 20, 2022. – The AMD Ryzen 7 6800U has proved its power by bringing 200% average increase in maximum frame rate over previous generation games. (Up to 11% increase in single-core performance and 28% increase in multi-core performance) Now ONEXPLAYER has announced its latest 7-inch mini model to be fueled by AMD Ryzen 7 6800U, along with the Radeon 680M graphics and LPDDR5 memory. What’s improved? ONEXPLAYER Mini Pro also enables more flexible customization through embedded software, which were anticipated by lots of gamers. Now people can adjust the TDP, fan speed or GPU frequency depending on their preference when playing different types of games. The new feature of RGB lights also added personalization to top up the entertaining experience. In addition, the ONEXPLAYER Mini Pro reaches unprecedented lightness. In a limited body, all components are arranged efficiently to achieve the best gaming performance, yet only 599g. Continuing from the previous 7-inch screen, this ONEXPLAYER Mini Pro body can be compatible with ONEXPLAYER’s official docking. It also has 1920*1200 HD resolution and a higher pixel density at 323PPi. What’s new? The new ONEXPLAYER Mini Pro has added some new features to bring portable gaming to the next level. In line with the preference of most players, ONEXPLAYER Mini Pro uses the hall sensor stick instead of the traditional ALPS joystick to protect prevent drift and dead zone, with a significantly more accurate input detection and lifespan. In order to give players the most immersive gaming experience, ONEXPLAYER Mini Pro also adopts the HD linear motor as the vibration source of the handle. Unlike traditional vibration motors, the HD linear motor is less noisy, more responsive, more braking-sensitive with a longer life. It brings the gamers completely different vibration effects depending on the scene and the intensity of gaming performance. For instance, you will get the kind of tire bump vibration when driving on a bumpy road in Horizon 5, the metal impact vibration when the weapons collide in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. In Elden Ring, you feel the horseshoes hitting the air when you are riding on a horse and jumping in the air. ONEXPLAYER Mini Pro Spec Highlights: CPU: AMD Ryzen7 6800U Graphics: Radeon 680M graphics card RAM: LPDDR5 (Frequency 6400) 16GB/32GB Screen: 7-inch full lamination FHD IPS screen, 1920*1200 resolution Battery: 48Wh, supports 10h local video play, 2.5h full load gaming Size: 260mm*106mm*23mm Weight: 599g USB ports: 2x USB4.0 thunderbolt + 1x USB 3.0 Supports gyroscope, vibrator, RGB LED light and ONEXPLAYER docking Pricing and Availability ONEXPLAYER Mini Pro will start the worldwide pre-order on September 21, 2022 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time. The baseline model of ONEXPLAYER Mini Pro starts from the retail price of $1199. Players can pre-order from September 21 – Oct 7 with $50 deposit to get ONEXPLAYER Mini Pro at $919 with pre-order gifts such as free docking and protection bag. The orders will start to be fulfilled on Oct 15, 2022. Specifications Item Details CPU AMD Ryzen7 6800U GRAPHICS Radeon 680M Graphics card RAM LPDDR5 frequency 6400 VIBRATOR Support GYROSCOPE Support FEATURE RGB Lighting DISPLAY 7inch RESOLUTION 1920*1200 IPS GAMUT sRGB100% JOYSTICK HALL SENSOR JOYSTICK PIXEL DENSITY 323PPI DIMMING MODE DC BRIGHTNESS 350 NIGHT-MODE Support BATTERY 48wh PD CHARGER Support BATTERY USE TIME 10h local video play，2.5h full load gaming POWERBANK SUPPORT Support SPEAKER Dual stereo speaker SSD PCIE M.2 2280 WIFi wifi6 BT 5.0 TF CARD Support SIZE 260mm*106mm*23mm DOCKING/KEYBOARD Support docking WEIGHT 599g ONEXPLAYER Mini Pro will open its global pre-order on Sep 21th (9:00 a.m. PDT) on the official online store. « end of the press release »