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10 Gadgets Spider-Man Has But Never Uses Anymore – CBR – Comic Book Resources https://collincountynewsonline.com/10-gadgets-spider-man-has-but-never-uses-anymore-cbr-comic-book-resources/ Since his first appearance back in 1962, Spider-Man has become one of Marvel Comics’ most popular heroes. With his cool superpowers, wise guy persona, and determination to do the right thing, Spider-Man has become a staple in pop culture. However, Peter Parker doesn’t just use his powers to solve every situation. Using his genius intellect, he can find simple solutions to save lives and take down his many foes. One way Sider-Man accomplishes this is through his many inventions over the years. While some tools, such as his web shooters, have become synonymous with the character, there are a few that have managed to fall to the wayside. From being used sparingly to gimmicks solving one particular issue, there are a few products of Parker that will continue to collect dust for a while. 10 The Spider Signal Stopped Shining First appearing in Amazing Spider-Man #3 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, the Spider Signal was one of Parker’s first gadgets used in his crime-fighting career. This device was part of his utility belt, which shined a bright red light reflecting his face on whoever came across it. While readers could detect that the signal shared a similar approach to a certain hero in Gotham City, they do have a difference. While Batman has the Bat Signal to alert him of a crime, Spider-man uses his to alert criminals of his arrival. However, over time, the Signal began to be used on and off again, depending on the creative teams of the series. Though the light may have been diminished, it still remains a fan favorite for long-time readers. 9 Many Alternate Suits, But Only One Use Not every situation can be handled the same, and no one knows that better than Spider-Man. With each new foe with an unforeseen power comes the need for scientific invention. And there have been none as awesome (or as silly) as Peter’s need to don a new wardrobe to fight particular threats. From wearing an Electro-proof suit to stop Electro, to wearing a full suit made of steel, Peter has worn them all. Sadly though, after each villain encounter, these clothes tend to either be destroyed or retired. Though fans enjoy a return of some fan favorites, there is no doubt that the red and blue is still the most beloved. 8 Impact Webbing: Webs By Another Spider It’s no surprise that Spider-Man has used his intelligence to create different types of webbing for different uses. However, unlike most tools, this one has a different owner. Impact webbing was made popular in part to Ben Reilly, or as some would come to know him, the Scarlet Spider. Impact Webbing dealt with normal web fluid, now shaped into little spheres that could be launched at rapid speed, growing around an opponent when in contact. This form of webbing was used mostly during Reilly’s run as Spider-Man, going with him after he left. Though not used as much by Peter, it still shows up from time to time, including in the PS4 video game. 7 WebWare Was Cool, But Had To Be Destroyed During Peters’ time as CEO of Parker Industries, his company would create Web Ware, a device similar to current-day smartwatches. The users could access the internet and call from their wrists simply by pressing the pad. For, Peter, the device served another function. Connected to his Spider Armor, the devices gave Spider-Man unlimited access to all users and to track their locations. At first, Web Ware proved popular and resourceful in stopping crimes. Unfortunately, Peter would be forced to hack and destroy each one after they were infected by the Carrion Virus, ending his company. 6 The Spider Tracer Tracker Was Useful, But Irrelevant Later On Spider Tracers have been one of Peter’s long-lasting inventions, useful for tracking criminals who get away. However, sometimes in order to find these bugs, there needs to be a tracer for the tracer. Introduced in Amazing Spider-Man # 11 by Lee and Ditko, Peter sought to use the device in order to track down a now freed Doctor Octopus. Spider-Man would go back to using the device a few more times in other situations. However, by advancing his technology to respond with his own Spider-Sense, the tracer seemed redundant at best. The tracker has since been used sparingly, such as Peter losing his Spider Sense or tracking his former sidekick, Alpha. 5 Waldoes/Tentacles Reminded Peter Of His Past Misfortunes During Civil War, by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven, Iron Man blessed Peter with a gift: a mechanized Spider-Man suit filled with many gizmos and cool features. However, one standout was the Waldoes, four mechanical arms that increased mobility and offensive attacks. While the suit was a cool addition, Peter abandoned it when he betrayed Tony during the series. However, a new incarnation would arise thanks to Otto Octavius during his possession over Peter’s body in Superior Spider-Man, by Dan Slott and Ryan Stegman. Unlike before, the arms resembled pincers, and allowed for better, faster attacks. These too would be abandoned once Peter regained control of his body. 4 The Arachnaughts Were Overkill Established during Superior Spider-Man, Octavius’s takeover of Peter’s body would bring Otto’s own expertise to the Spider name. One such creation would be the Spiderlings, armed mercenaries who would serve as his enforcers around New York City. And on patrol, they would bring heavy artillery in the form of the Arachnaughts. With these giant spider-like robots, Otto was able to bring militia style combat to the field, each robot equipped with huge lasers and video surveillance. However, just like Otto’s career as a hero, all the Arachnaughts were destroyed once Peter regained consciousness of his body, blowing up Otto’s base. And due to the damage Octavius caused (as well as poor funds), Peter has never sought to revive them. 3 The Belt Camera, Useful For Photographers Only After getting picked up by J Jonah Jameson for The Daily Bugle, Peter would attach a micro camera to his utility belt. With this, he managed to obtain photos of his battles as Spider-Man and later submit them as Peter to the Bugle. At first, this device was one of Peter’s mainstays, serving as a tool for both of Peter’s professions. However, once Peter left the company, it served him no purpose to keep the camera. Even so, with that old Parker luck usually forcing him to go back to the Bugle, the camera may not stay as dormant. 2 The Web Wings Were A Design Choice Appearing back in Amazing Fantasy #15 by Lee and Ditko, One of the features that Steve Ditko drew on the character was webbing under his armpits. This unique feature originally served as a way to convince readers that Peter could fly, using them to glide down. While an interesting choice, this feature would be later implemented with another hero, Spider-Woman. Even so, the webbing has since become a choice between writers and artists on whether to use it. Some prefer the classic design, while others feel they get in the way. Although used in later Spider-Man films, the webbing still remains a debatable option. 1 The Spider Mobile Never Caught On In 1974, Spider-Man had to face his greatest foe in all history: car promoters. Appearing in Amazing Spider-Man #126 by Gerry Conway and John Romita Sr, Corona Motors begged for Spider-Man to promote their non-polluting engine, which required a car. Although he thought it ridiculous due to never needing a car in the city, Spider-Man would later rope the Human Torch into helping him construct a car aptly themed around the webhead. Spider-Man and his vehicle would go on a few strange adventures, from battling Hammerhead to the Tinkerer after he gave the car an evil makeover. However, the vehicle was scrapped due to the concept still coming across as ridiculous. The car has since served as an Easter egg among fans, who look upon and go, ‘Oh yeah, that was a thing.’ NEXT: Marvel: The 10 Most Useless Gadgets Used In The Comics

First Mover Asia: Ether Tumbles Below $1.5K; Ethereum Merge May Ding Demand For Chips, But Semiconductor Stocks Could Still Be A Good Buy – CoinDesk https://collincountynewsonline.com/first-mover-asia-ether-tumbles-below-1-5k-ethereum-merge-may-ding-demand-for-chips-but-semiconductor-stocks-could-still-be-a-good-buy-coindesk/ Good morning. Here’s what’s happening: Prices: Ether plummets in the hours after the Merge; bitcoin declines. Insights: The Ethereum Merge could lessen the need for chips powering GPUs, but semiconductor stocks could still be a good buy. Catch the latest episodes of CoinDesk TV for insightful interviews with crypto industry leaders and analysis. And sign up for First Mover, our daily newsletter putting the latest moves in crypto markets in context. ● Bitcoin (BTC): $19,708 −2.7% ● Ether (ETH): $1,474 −9.8% ● CoinDesk Market Index (CMI): $981 −4.4% ● S&P 500 daily close: 3,901.35 −1.1% ● Gold: $1,671 per troy ounce −1.5% ● Ten-year Treasury yield daily close: 3.46% +0.05 Bitcoin, ether and gold prices are taken at approximately 4pm New York time. Bitcoin is the CoinDesk Bitcoin Price Index (XBX); Ether is the CoinDesk Ether Price Index (ETX); Gold is the COMEX spot price. Information about CoinDesk Indices can be found at coindesk.com/indices. Ether Plummets Post-Merge; Bitcoin Sees Red as Well After holding steady in the hours immediately following the Ethereum Merge on Thursday, ether and other major cryptos tumbled. Ether was recently trading below $1,500, a roughly 10% dive over the past 24 hours, and its largest, daily drop since late August. The second biggest cryptocurrency by market capitalization had topped $2,000 earlier that month largely on Merge euphoria. The technological overhaul that has changed the Ethereum blockchain to a more energy efficient proof-of-work protocol went seamlessly, and data from crypto futures markets on Thursday showed that many investors seemed to have closed out hedged positions in the ensuing hours. The trend signaled that they were wrapping up trades they had made during the previous month or past few weeks to bet on possible outcomes of the event, including the possibility of a revolt by crypto miners wanting to continue operating in the PoW system. “We’ve seen that there was bullish positioning into the Merge, and as an industry we’re already looking for what’s next,” Jon Campagna, Partner, head of trading and capital markets at crypto investment firm CoinFund, wrote in an email to CoinDesk. Campagna noted ether and other cryptos’ recent tendency to track stocks, and riskier assets ongoing vulnerability to wider uncertainties. “We’re at the throes of challenging macroeconomic factors, which seem to persist,” he wrote. “It’s unclear if we will see enough idiosyncratic performance in the asset class to materially deviate from equities at this time.” Bitcoin fell below the psychologically important $20,000 barrier for the first time since Sept. 8, a nearly 3% drop from the previous day. The largest crypto in market value has tended to underperform ether in recent weeks. Other cryptocurrencies from the CoinDesk top 20 by market cap stood firmly in a red swamp with popular meme coins DOGE and SHIB and ADA recently off more than 3%. Equity markets also had their problems with the tech-focused Nasdaq and the S&P 500, which has a strong technology component, both declining more than a percentage point, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) losing about 0.5%. Investors remain skittish about inflation and the looming robustness of the U.S. central bank’s next interest rate hike at its Federal Open Reserve Committee meeting in less than a week. Observers of monetary policy widely expect a third, consecutive 75 basis point increase, although the odds of a 100 basis point rise ticked higher on Wednesday. Among the latest data in a week of key economic reports, retail sales kicked higher by 0.3%, reflecting consumers continued buying strength and an about-face from July when sales declined 0.4%. But rates for 30-year fixed, residential mortgages hit 6% on Thursday for the first time in nearly 15 years, another blow to a weakening housing market. Merge issues dominated crypto news. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin said the event had lowered the world’s energy consumption by 0.2%, marking what may be one of the single biggest decarbonization efforts in history. And U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler said that staked cryptocurrencies may be subject to federal securities regulations, repeating a pro-oversight stance in the wake of Ethereum’s transition to just such a method. CoinFund’s Campagna suggested that ether’s price drop could be temporary, highlighting its fluctuations after the Ethereum network’s last major upgrade in August 2021. “It spent the following days slowly trading down 5% to $3060, before rallying 30% in two weeks, closing at $3940 on September 3rd,” he said. “Granted, the macro environment has shifted during that time.” “Could we see the pattern repeat?” Biggest Gainers Biggest Losers An Inconvenient Merge, but Semiconductor Stocks Could Still Be a Good Buy Chipmakers Nvidia and AMD, which once provided the brains to ether mining farms worldwide, are having a rough year. Their struggles are not entirely because of crypto, yet Ethereum’s shift to proof-of-stake might provide an interesting opportunity for investors. Despite an exciting few moments where record-setting exchange inflows of ether signaled a potential sell-off, ether traded flat in the hours following the Merge and then dropped more than 9% at one point during the following U.S. trading day.. Ethereum Classic was recently  up 1% as proof-of-work fans stage a protest vote with their trading accounts. As a result of this, Graphics Processing Unit  prices are in freefall, and data from analyst house John Peddie Research shows that channel supply (distributors) is bulging. Nvidia, never a fan of crypto mining, will always downplay things. Nvidia CFO Colette Kress’ line is that the company has “limited visibility into how much this impacts our overall GPU demand” and is “unable to accurately quantify the extent to which reduced cryptocurrency mining contributed to the decline in Gaming demand.” Perhaps these non-answers have resulted from Nvidia’s settlement with the SEC for failing to disclose that crypto mining was a major contributor to its 2018 revenue. It would be reasonable to assume that Nvidia’s stock is being driven down because of the glut of GPUs on the market. But that’s not entirely the case. Nvidia does not only sell GPUs on the retail level but also to organizations using data centers and high-performance computers that crunch large stacks of numbers for research purposes. The ability of these chips to address massive amounts of information and make CPUs more efficient through what’s called parallel computing, makes them a considerable asset worldwide. Thus, data center is the company’s largest segment. China has been a large buyer of these data center chips during the last decade, as the country’s industries double down on artificial intelligence and its universities catch up to their American counterparts in research. Within these companies and universities data centers are Nvidia’s chips. This demand is why Nvidia’s stock tumbled when Washington announced an export ban on its most advanced AI chips to China, alongside AMD which also designs similar products.  Nvidia said the new ban could mean the loss of up to $400 million in revenue; AMD didn’t disclose its loss but it’s expected to also be large. This scenario has precedent. In 2015, the U.S. Department of Commerce banned the export of Intel’s Xeon chips, used in data centers, to some of China’s largest universities, including China’s National University of Defense Technology, which was at the time developing the world’s fastest supercomputer. The rationale given was that these universities were engaged in nuclear weapons research. Intel’s stock was unaffected by the news. In contrast, Nvidia’s dropped nearly 10% on the news of its export ban, compounding losses throughout the year as tech stocks have struggled. Nvidia has lost nearly half its value, putting it back to where it was in October 2020. Could this all be an overreaction, and the market acting irrationally? Maybe, says one analyst. “We view the 8% selloff in the stock yesterday (vs 2% SOX) as an overreaction, and view the recent weakness as a particular buying opportunity,” Jeffries analyst Mark Lipacis was quoted as saying. Lipacis notes that most of Nvidia’s business in China goes to tech giants not the government which would make it easier for the company to get an export license, insulating its loss potential. Analysts polled by Dow Jones seem to agree that there’s a value buy here, 27 give it a buy rating, 11 say it’s best to hold, and one says it’s a sell. The decline of mining has likely already been priced into the stock too. As early as February, when the company closed its fiscal fourth quarter, the mining market was beginning to bottom out. Of course, other proof-of-work tokens like Ethereum Classic. But Etherem Classic’s post-Merge jump in hashrate is frivolous: It’s only at 142 TH/s, which is a fraction of the roughly 950-1000 TH/s with which Ethereum finished its last quarter. Nvidia is going to fight against a nearly 13% decline of PC sales year-over-year and glut in the channel. Meanwhile,, the gaming market is expected to cross $200 billion this year – which gives Nvidia plenty of room to move past Ethereum. 10 a.m. HKT/SGT(2 a.m. UTC): China industrial production (Aug./YoY) 10 a.m. HKT/SGT(2 a.m. UTC): China retail sales (Aug./YoY) 10 a.m. HKT/SGT(2 a.m. UTC): U.K. retail sales (Aug./YoY) In case you missed it, here is the most recent episode of “First Mover” on CoinDesk TV: Special Ethereum Merge coverage included a look at the historic transition ...

Despite Gains By Ukraine Against Russia, U.S. Expects Much More Fighting – The Washington Post https://collincountynewsonline.com/despite-gains-by-ukraine-against-russia-u-s-expects-much-more-fighting-the-washington-post/ Despite Ukrainian forces’ startling gains in the war against Russia, the Biden administration anticipates months of intense fighting with wins and losses for each side, spurring U.S. plans for an open-ended campaign with no prospect for a negotiated end in sight. The surprise success by Ukrainian forces in areas of the country occupied by Russian troops during the weekend generated euphoria among Ukrainians sapped by months of fighting. It also fueled hopes among many of Kyiv’s foreign backers that its scrappy military might be able to expel Russia’s larger, better-armed force. President Volodymyr Zelensky, raising his country’s blue-and-yellow flag Wednesday over the liberated city of Izyum, promised it would be “definitely impossible to occupy our people, the Ukrainian people.” Officials in Kyiv said forces recaptured some 3,000 square kilometers in the Kherson and Kharkiv regions. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry described its forces’ disorderly withdrawal as a tactical “regroup.” U.S. officials, providing a quiet check to Ukrainian exuberance, said that while Ukraine troops have performed better in offensive operations than even their American backers had anticipated, those forces will encounter a period of intense fighting in the lead-up to winter as part of what they expect to be a “nonlinear” trajectory for the war. A senior State Department official, who like other officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal planning, said Thursday that while Ukrainian forces had proven they can reverse advances made by Russia following President Vladimir Putin’s Feb. 24 invasion, Russia retained a potent force. “They have significant equipment and arms and munitions positioned in the occupied territories, not to mention what they have in Russia,” the official said. “And so it is far from over, despite the momentum.” Those expectations undergird a U.S. strategy of attempting to hold together international support and gradually expanding American military aid without the immediate injection of heavier weaponry that might trigger a wider war. The advances in Izyum and other areas — which allowed shellshocked local residents to venture out of their homes, sharing stories of occupation and abuse — were all the more rousing following Ukrainian setbacks, including the withdrawal from the city of Lysychansk in July. After the weekend advances around Kherson, Russia hit electricity plants and other infrastructure, illustrating its willingness to strike civilian targets in an attempt to weaken Ukrainian resolve. U.S. officials expect intense fighting for the remainder of the fall, as both sides attempt to put themselves in the best possible position before the onset of winter makes transport and combat more difficult. Russian forces still control vast sections of Ukraine — including the cities of Kherson, Melitopol, Mariupol and Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014 — and U.S. officials anticipate Putin may use the coldest months to refit his spent, demoralized military before launching a renewed campaign in the spring. Putin has remained defiant, threatening to cut off gas supplies to Europe even as hints of public dissent raise questions about how long he can keep Russia behind what the Kremlin has dubbed its “special military operation.” Pentagon officials have said they are looking at ways to assist Ukraine’s evolving defense needs, focusing on areas including air defenses, surveillance and fighter capability. So far, the total of U.S. security aid to Ukraine amounts to some $15 billion since Russia’s invasion. Despite Ukraine’s ongoing calls for new, more sophisticated military hardware, U.S. officials don’t plan to immediately expand the array of weaponry they are providing, which has included High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems armed with midrange Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems. So far, the officials have stopped short of authorizing systems with much longer ranges, including the Army Tactical Missile Systems. Russia’s Foreign Ministry illustrated the stakes of such decisions on Thursday when it warned that supplying longer-range missiles to Ukraine would cross a red line for Russia and make nations providing them a “party to the conflict,” reinforcing earlier suggestions that Russia could strike NATO nations if they authorized shipments of more potent arms. Russia’s setback in Kharkiv has prompted speculation about whether Putin would be forced to resort to a general mobilization to fuel his war — a possibility the Kremlin has dismissed for now — or even use a nuclear device as Russia seeks to compensate for its defeat. Samuel Charap, a Russia expert at at Rand Corp., said the counteroffensive success was shaping the dynamics around the conflict, in part by illustrating Ukraine’s ability to successfully conduct complete offensive operations. “We had no evidence of that before,” Charap said. “That very fact is likely to disincentivize them to seeking compromise because they think they can do more of that.” To date, the U.S. strategy has been informed partly by what U.S. officials see as the remoteness of any possible negotiations to halt the fighting. A flurry of attempts to kindle substantive talks early in the fighting fizzled out as each side embraced a harder line. “Right now the Ukrainians do not have a viable map from which to negotiate. Twenty percent of their territory has gone; something like 30 percent of their industrial and agricultural potential is gone,” a senior State Department official said last week. “That’s why we’re supporting this counteroffensive.” U.S. officials expect it would be difficult for Zelensky to negotiate a settlement even if he wanted to do so, after Russian abuses have hardened public opinion against possible concessions to Moscow’s war aims. Moreover, officials say, Russia remains an untrustworthy negotiating partner and Putin’s war aims have shifted repeatedly as the tactical situation has evolved. The U.S. goal remains helping Ukraine make battlefield advances that will strengthen its negotiating position should eventual negotiations with Russia occur. The current moment draws attention to a tension that underlies America’s strategy for the war, as officials channel massive military support to Ukraine, fueling a war with global consequences, while attempting to remain agnostic about when and how Kyiv might strike a deal to end it. President Biden has vowed to support Ukraine in asserting its independence and sovereignty, promising in an opinion piece this spring to do so without pressuring Kyiv to make territorial concessions. He did not however explicitly back the goal of recovering all territory occupied by Russia, including areas taken or contested since 2014. The first senior State Department official said another key part of the Biden administration’s plan for propelling the conflict toward a settlement was its efforts to weaken Russia’s economic and technological edge through sanctions and other means. “But telling a sovereign country what success looks like for them, or what a negotiated solution looks like, that just isn’t where we want to be,” the official said. So far, U.S. officials appear to have kept to that pledge, taking a hands-off approach that marks a sharp contrast to U.S. actions in places where officials have at times adopted a much more expansive approach in dealing with foreign leaders supported by U.S. aid. “For both political and strategic reasons, they’ve been uninterested in drawing lines on the map and I think they’re absolutely justified in that reluctance,” Daniel Fried, a veteran diplomat who served as U.S. ambassador to Poland, said this week. Biden will attempt to stiffen international support for Ukraine’s self-defense at the United Nations next week, seizing the annual General Assembly meetings as a chance to smooth over friction caused by global inflation and food insecurity linked to the war. The resolve of European nations in particular, which have been among Ukraine’s biggest backers, will be tested this winter by high energy prices. But experts including Alexander Vershbow, who served as U.S. ambassador to Russia and deputy secretary general of NATO, say that tension may eventually come to a head, for example if Ukraine faces a choice between settling for territory it controlled before Feb. 24 and embracing a longer conflict with the goal of recapturing all areas under Russian control since 2014. “The Ukrainians are right now adamant that they would say we won’t concede one inch, but at some point difficult choices will be needed,” Vershbow said Thursday. Right now, however, “the administration doesn’t want to take a position.” Fried said the Biden administration was right to approach the months ahead with caution, but said Ukraine was different than other recent U.S. conflicts. “We’ve been so traumatized by our failures in Afghanistan and, partially, in Iraq. This is a situation where an actual success is possible — not inevitable — and it’s not a long shot,” Fried said. “Leaning into that prospect is in our national interest.” ​ Dan Lamothe and Alex Horton contributed to this report. War in Ukraine: What you need to know The latest: Grain shipments from Ukraine are gathering pace under the agreement hammered out by Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations in July. Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian Black Sea ports had sent food prices soaring and raised fears of more hunger in the Middle East and Africa. At least 18 ships, including loads of wheat, corn and sunflower oil, have departed. The fight: The conflict on the ground grinds on as Russia uses its advantage in heavy artillery to pummel Ukrainian forces, which have sometimes been abl...

Tech ‘capitulation’: BofA Top Banker Rick Sherlund Predicts Breakout In Mergers Due To Troubled Economy – CNBC https://collincountynewsonline.com/tech-capitulation-bofa-top-banker-rick-sherlund-predicts-breakout-in-mergers-due-to-troubled-economy-cnbc/ Mergers in software may be about to break out. Top investment banker Rick Sherlund of Bank of America sees a wave of struggling companies putting themselves up for sale at cheaper prices due to the economic downturn. related investing news “You do need to see greater capitulation,” the firm’s vice chair of technology investment banking told CNBC’s “Fast Money” on Thursday. “Companies will have their valuation expectations soften, and that will combine with more fully functional financial markets. I think it will accelerate the pace of M&A [mergers and acquisitions].” His broad analysis comes on the heels of Adobe‘s $20 billion dollar deal Thursday for design platform Figma. Adobe failed to generate excitement on Wall Street. Its shares plunged 17% due to questions about the price tag. Sherlund, a former software analyst who hit No. 1 on Institutional Investor’s all-star analyst list 17 times in a row, worked at Goldman Sachs during the 2000 tech bubble. He believes the Street is now in the beginning stages of a difficult market cycle. “You need to get through third quarter earnings reports to feel confident that maybe the bad news is largely out into the market because companies will be reporting lengthening of sales cycles,” he said. “We need to reset expectations for 2023.” Read more about tech and crypto from CNBC Pro Sherlund and his team are very active in the M&A market. “You have private equity with a boatload of cash, and they need functioning debt markets for leverage to do deals,” Sherlund noted. “They’re very eager and actively looking at this sector … It suggests that [for] M&A, in absence of an IPO market, we’re just going to see a lot more consolidation coming in the sector.” He notes the IPO has been hurt in connection with rising interest rate headwinds and inflation. “[The IPO market] is not open. But when the window does open back up, you are going to see a lot of companies going public,” he added. The long-term prospects for software are extremely attractive, according to Sherlund. “You’ve got to be very bullish on the long-term fundamentals of the sector,” Sherlund said. “Every company is becoming a digital enterprise.” Disclaimer

Gun Barrel City Man Accused Of Stealing $1.7M Pleads No Contest – KLTV https://collincountynewsonline.com/gun-barrel-city-man-accused-of-stealing-1-7m-pleads-no-contest-kltv/ COLLIN COUNTY, Texas (KLTV) – A man accused of stealing nearly $2 million dollars will not serve additional jail time, so long as he pays back the money. According to a court filing, Charles Anthony Miller, of Gun Barrel City, entered a plea of no contest to a Collin County judge on Wednesday. The judge in turn gave Miller 10 years of deferred adjudication, placing him on probation for no less than 10 years. Additionally, Miller will be required to pay a minimum of $1,000 per month until the sum of $1,751,500 to its original owner. According to filed indictments, beginning in 2012, Miller used deception to persuade someone to give him the money under false impressions. “…and said defendant promised performance that affected the judgment of said owner in said transactions that said defendant did not intend to perform and knew would not be performed,” the indictment states. Miller was initially arrested in 2017 and charged with first-degree theft and money laundering. Previous reporting: Gun Barrel City man accused of stealing $1.75M Copyright 2022 KLTV. All rights reserved.

18 Top Romantic Getaways In New York State – U.S. News & World Report https://collincountynewsonline.com/18-top-romantic-getaways-in-new-york-state-u-s-news-world-report/ It’s nearly impossible not to find love in a state that has served as the backdrop for so many romantic films, spanning “Dirty Dancing” in the Catskills to the countless classics – think “Annie Hall,” “When Harry Met Sally,” “You’ve Got Mail” – set in New York City. In popular sitcom “The Office,” Pam and Jim tie the knot beneath Niagara Falls, otherwise known as the “Honeymoon Capital of the World.” (Note: Some of the following activities, attractions and locations may be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. New policies may be in place, including capacity restrictions, reservation requirements or mask mandates. Check with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of State and local tourism boards before traveling.) Top Romantic Getaways in New York State The Inns of Aurora: Aurora The Inns of Aurora property comprises five historic inns, each with their own distinctive vibe. The Aurora Inn (the site’s original hotel), built in 1833, blends vintage furnishings with modern amenities, while the Rowland House, built in 1903, is a more eclectic option. All guest rooms are equipped with plush bathrobes; some even feature fireplaces and views of Cayuga Lake, perfect for cuddling up to admire the spectacular sunsets. Lovebirds can enjoy complimentary coffee and homemade granola bars each morning, a glass of local wine in the evenings, and seasonal s’mores by the lakefront fire pit. You’ll also find candlelit dining at the 1833 Kitchen & Bar and culinary classes just down the street from the Aurora Inn. Explore the beauty of the Finger Lakes with complimentary gear such as kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards; bicycles; telescopes for stargazing; bird-watching binoculars; and more. The highlight of any stay at the Inns of Aurora is its spa, a 15,000-square-foot healing and wellness center less than a mile from the main hotel property. Opened in 2021, the state-of-the-art facility features 10 treatment rooms where you can enjoy a variety of signature and customized treatments, as well as a full-service salon. All spa services come with a seasonal menu of fare at the on-site cafe, six jetted spa pools with optional hydrotherapy circuits, steam rooms, a sauna and fire pits. Mirbeau Inn & Spa: Skaneateles (Courtesy of Mirbeau Inn & Spa) The sweet town of Skaneateles – brimming with boutique shops, art galleries and lakefront restaurants – merits a trip to the Finger Lakes. But for the ultimate in romance, book a stay at Mirbeau Inn & Spa. This French-inspired spa resort features an elegant spa, overnight accommodations and on-site dining. Guests have the option to stay in a traditional guest room or private cottage, all of which come with fireplaces and large bathrooms with soaking tubs. Book the Mirbeau Signature Couples Massage or Art of Living couples experience and enjoy use of a heated foot pool, steam rooms and the outdoor Aqua Terrace – which features a heated spa pool with massage jets and a waterfall, a cozy fireplace, and a private bar where you can order beverages and light fare. Afterward, enjoy lunch or dinner at The Bistro & Wine Bar, where breakfast and Sunday brunch are also served. Previous guests rave about this resort, calling it serene and magical. Mirbeau Inn & Spa also has locations in Rhinebeck, New York (Hudson River Valley), and Plymouth, Massachusetts (Cape Cod). Belhurst Castle and Winery: Geneva (Courtesy of Belhurst Castle and Winery) In the Finger Lakes, not only can you taste some of the world’s best rieslings, but you can also spend the night in a castle – with a winery. Located on the shores of Seneca Lake, Belhurst Castle and Winery provides the perfect setting for a romantic getaway in New York. While the property consists of three hotels, the Chambers in the Castle is the most romantic option for couples. Here, 11 Victorian-era guest rooms – each architecturally and stylistically distinct – feature antique furnishings, some with four-poster beds. There are also three cottages available to rent. Guests of the Chambers enjoy cozy fireplaces and complimentary wine from a self-serve wine spigot. In addition to wine, Belhurst makes its own craft beer and hard cider, which patrons can enjoy at the winery tasting room or two on-site restaurants. The hotel also offers a spa and salon. The hotel reviews of Belhurst Castle are mixed, but most recent guests agree the staff is wonderful and the property is beautiful. The Lake House on Canandaigua: Canandaigua (Courtesy of The Lake House on Canandaigua) The Lake House is the first hotel of its kind to open on Canandaigua Lake, the fourth largest of the Finger Lakes. The eco-conscious hotel uses its natural environment to provide holistic luxury to guests – from creekside barrel saunas at the on-site Willowbrook Spa to meals made with local ingredients at the Rose Tavern and Sand Bar. Of course, guests can enjoy Canandaigua Lake via kayak, stand-up paddleboard, private boat charter or even a morning coffee cruise. Light and airy guest rooms and suites feature hand-carved furniture, rain showers, and plush robes and slippers; some first-floor rooms are pet-friendly. When booking your stay, consider the “Romance at The Lake” package, which includes overnight accommodations, a spa credit and a Rose Tavern credit for a candlelit dinner, as well as wine and chocolate upon arrival. If you can peel yourself from the property, take time to enjoy the award-winning wines and delicious food on the Canandaigua Lake Wine Trail. Cooperstown (Courtesy of The Otesaga) Cooperstown is undeniably family-friendly – it’s home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and Cooperstown Dreams Park, after all. But this central New York village is also ideal for a romantic weekend getaway, whether you and your beau are baseball fans or not. Nicknamed “America’s Most Perfect Village,” Cooperstown boasts plenty of boutiques, breweries and art galleries, such as the Fenimore Art Museum, located on a property once owned by James Fenimore Cooper, author of “The Last of the Mohicans.” In the winter, you and your partner can also try cross-country skiing or showshoeing at Glimmerglass State Park. The village’s grand dame, The Otesaga Resort Hotel, features romantic accommodations in which couples can wake up to the sun rising over Otsego Lake. Seasonally, hotel guests can enjoy water sports on the lake and cocktails at the outdoor Fire Bar overlooking the water. The luxury resort also features the Hawkeye Spa and fine dining at 1909 on Friday evenings. Other romantic dining options in Cooperstown include Brewery Ommegang (once famous for its limited-edition “Game of Thrones”-inspired beers); Nicoletta’s Italian Café; and Origins Cafe, a farm-to-table restaurant inside of a greenhouse. Glenmere Mansion: Chester You’d never guess that this 150-acre estate is located in the U.S., let alone that it’s only around 70 miles from New York City. Constructed in 1911, the mansion – then the summer home of industrialist Robert Goet – sits in the countryside of the Hudson Valley, intended to resemble the villas of Tuscany at the time. Now a Relais & Châteaux boutique hotel, Glenmere Mansion features more than a dozen guest rooms, each one thoughtfully redesigned and unique. Most rooms have fireplaces, and many offer terraces. Romantic retreats can (and should) include indulging at the Glenmere spa, which features a tandem suite with side-by-side soaking tubs and treatment tables. Guests of the spa enjoy pre- or post-treatment tapas and access to a variety of amenities, including an herbal steam room, dry heat sauna and a Swiss shower. Visitors at Glenmere also have access to four fine dining venues and local activities such as historic sightseeing and wine tasting at the award-winning Brotherhood Winery, widely considered the oldest winery in the U.S. Note that Glenmere Mansion is an adults-only resort. Many previous guests praise Glenmere, noting that the food is exceptionally good. Mohonk Mountain House: New Paltz (Courtesy of Mohonk Mountain House) Perhaps the grandest of all the mansions and castles in New York (and the U.S.) is Mohonk Mountain House. Founded in 1869, the resort can be found tucked into the Hudson Valley, less than 100 miles from New York City. Another major draw? It’s one of few all-inclusive resorts in the U.S. Rates include three farm-to-table meals daily plus afternoon tea and cookies; a roster of activities, spanning water sports on Lake Mohonk to 85 scenic miles of hiking trails; wellness offerings such as a spa and fitness classes; nightly entertainment including live music and seasonal campfires; and, for families, additional kid-specific activities. Couples can choose Victorian-style guest room or suite accommodations with wood-burning fireplaces in the Mountain House, or opt to stay in the more private Grove Lodge. While this National Historic Landmark resort is pricey, previous guests agree the cost is well worth the experience. The Catskills (Courtesy of Urban Cowboy Lodge) While the Catskills may always be synonymous with “Dirty Dancing,” the region looks a bit different than it did when Frances “Baby” Houseman and Johnny Castle fell in love here. A boom in boutique lodging options is once again attracting travelers to an area that saw a period of decline from the 1970s until recent years. Modern-day Babys and Johnnys can now go glamping in luxury tents and Airstreams at AutoCamp Catskills; spend the night at Wylder Windham, a full-service boutique hotel next to Windham Mountain Resort; relax in rustic-luxe rooms with soaking tubs at Urban Cowboy Lodge; tuck into cozy cabins at Eastwind Windham, which also features standalone saunas in the woods; or even spend the night at a revamped retro motel such as the Starlit...

AP Top Business News At 6:20 P.m. EDT – WTMJ https://collincountynewsonline.com/ap-top-business-news-at-620-p-m-edt-wtmj/ AP Top Business News at 6:20 p.m. EDT  WTMJ

Videos On Healthy Eating Can Help Obese Children Lose Weight, Study Finds – The Guardian https://collincountynewsonline.com/videos-on-healthy-eating-can-help-obese-children-lose-weight-study-finds-the-guardian/ Watching videos about how to cook, eat less and choose healthier foods can help obese children lose weight, reduce their risk of diabetes and become happier, a study has found. The doctor behind the findings believes they can help in treating childhood obesity because they show that online healthcare can be just as effective as face-to-face appointments. A team of researchers led by Dr Felix Reschke, of the children’s hospital in Hanover, Germany, studied 108 children who followed the video-based weight loss programme while the country was in its second Covid-19 lockdown in late 2020. The trial resulted in many participants eating much more fruit and vegetables and far fewer sugary treat foods such as sweets, snacks and soft drinks. In addition, they reduced the number of meals they ate each day, though they still averaged 4.1 meals, as a result of “video-based structured education”. Overall, two-thirds lost weight and generally displayed better health. The yearlong programme consisted of the young people watching educational videos about good food choices, the amount they should be eating at mealtimes and the benefits of being physically active. Participants ranged from eight to 17 years old and their average age was 12. All were already enrolled in the KiCK outpatient healthy living programme for under-18s who were overweight or obese. It was remodelled owing to Covid to become online-only. It also included educational seminars and workshops, as well as online cooking sessions and discussions about difficult subjects such as “emotional eating” and the health consequences of obesity, which can include diabetes and a higher risk of heart, breathing and joint problems. Participants displayed “significant improvements” in five key measures of their health. They had a lower body-mass index, reduced risk of developing diabetes, less cholesterol in their bloodstream, better results in a six-minute test of their walking speed, and improved mental welfare. “Successful treatment of childhood obesity is challenging work, but we have demonstrated that adolescents with pre-existing obesity may be helped through video-based training,” Reschke said. “Participants showed improvements in their dietary choices, appetite control and portion sizes, which was reflected in better measures of their metabolic health and quality of life.” The results proved that virtual care could help patients as much as in-person consultations, he added. “Our results are very hopeful that this approach may be a useful and cost-effective model for treating obesity in children. It eliminates the need for regular face-to-face contact, which may be of particular use for those who have difficulty attending appointments. Although we must take care not to unnecessarily increase the amount of screen time used by children. It may be a fine line, but our data suggest this approach is worthwhile.”

LeBron’s Bold Plan To Play Alongside ‘Chosen Sons’ Detailed In Sports Illustrated Magazine – Business Wire https://collincountynewsonline.com/lebrons-bold-plan-to-play-alongside-chosen-sons-detailed-in-sports-illustrated-magazine-business-wire/ September 15, 2022 05:47 PM Eastern Daylight Time NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–LeBron James has a grand plan to play in the NBA with his 17-year-old son Bronny… and maybe 15-year-old son Bryce too. The trio was shot exclusively in LeBron’s Akron, Ohio high school gym and broke records as the most viewed Sports Illustrated Daily Cover this summer. The King explained his audacious plan with Chris Ballard, adding that they don’t give a damn what anyone thinks of that dream, in the October Sports Illustrated issue on newsstands and at SI.com/issues today, with additional features below. October Issue Features Their Decision: LeBron James isn’t done dreaming: Chris Ballard takes us inside LeBron’s plan to end his career by playing alongside his son (or sons?) in the NBA. Aaron Judge: According to Tom Verducci, the easy narrative is that Aaron Judge bet big on himself when he rejected a mammoth contract offer from the Yankees before this season. But maybe it’s not a gamble if, after years of work and study, he’s a hitting master coming into his own at just the right time. He Plays For Sean: It’s been 15 years since Washington Commanders safety Sean Taylor was shot and killed by burglars in his home, a tragedy that sparked an outpouring of support across the country. Now his younger brother Gabriel is honoring Sean’s football legacy—and creating his own as a defensive back at Rice University according to Alex Prewitt. New York Mets: New York’s other team is poised to play in October, thanks to a turnaround project by new Mets owner Steve Cohen’s efforts to transform a bumbling franchise. Stephanie Apstein investigates if one competent season erases decades of dysfunction. Roll With It: More than a decade ago, an avid cyclist named Ian Mackay was paralyzed in a horrific bike crash. Now he finds happiness and inspires others by getting back on the road—as a record-setting endurance wheelchair racer, by Joseph Bien-Kahn. Also in this issue: As four iconic female athletes retire this fall, SI says goodbye with a photo tribute to Serena Williams, Sue Bird, Allyson Felix and Sylvia Fowles. Longtime SI writer/editor Jerry Kirshenbaum remembers a momentous Munich night 50 years ago: his dinner with Mark Spitz hours after the swimmer won his seventh gold medal of the Olympics, and hours before a brutal terrorist attack that changed the Games forever. SI Gameplan: Mark Bechtel on a new collection of football photos from longtime photographer Michael Zagaris. Richard Johnson on five college coaches sitting on the hot seat this fall. Point after: Shohei Ohtani’s incredible two-way encore performance. Follow Sports Illustrated on Twitter @SInow, Instagram @sportsillustrated, or Facebook. Subscribe to Sports Illustrated today or purchase single issues at SI.com. About Sports Illustrated Sports Illustrated (SI) is an unparalleled and influential leader recognized for shaping modern culture and uniting athletes, teams and fans worldwide. SI’s award-winning media enterprise brings powerful storytelling to life across platforms ranging from Emmy-winning video to the monthly print magazine with a 67-year heritage. Get in-depth features, probing profiles, and iconic and beloved photography from the best writers and photojournalists in the game at SI.com. About The Arena Group The Arena Group creates robust digital destinations that delight consumers with powerful journalism and news about the things they love – their favorite sports teams, advice on investing, the inside scoop on personal finance, and the latest on lifestyle essentials. With powerful technology, editorial expertise, data management and marketing savvy, the transformative company enables brands like Sports Illustrated, TheStreet and Parade to deliver highly relevant content and experiences that consumers love. To learn more, visit www.thearenagroup.net.

Meta: More Than Just A Story (Upside Beyond The Metaverse) – Seeking Alpha https://collincountynewsonline.com/meta-more-than-just-a-story-upside-beyond-the-metaverse-seeking-alpha/ Fritz Jorgensen I have written an article on Meta (NASDAQ:META) that illustrates an opportunity for a huge rally in the second half of 2022. While the focus on Meta has understandably been more on the metaverse, I think that the opportunity for Meta in the near term lies beyond the metaverse. The real near-term opportunity and catalyst is in its Family of Apps and more importantly, Reels. As we look to Meta’s experience and learnings from monetizing and ramping up Stories, I am of the view that the opportunity for Reels in terms of engagement and monetization is much more. This article aims to explain this and provide an update on my investment case for Meta. Reels improving engagement With Reels, I think the message that management has been wanting to bring across is that it is growing rather quickly, and perhaps faster than they would have anticipated. As mentioned in my earlier article, Reels took up about 20% of the total time spent on Instagram, which to me, was rather encouraging given that Reels is in its early days. In the current quarter, this time spent increased by more than 30% on both Instagram and Facebook, implying that about 26% of total time spent on Instagram was in Reels. While most of these gains in the early days are likely driven by advances Meta has made in its artificial intelligence, I also think that this proves the point of the importance of Reels and short-form videos for Meta as a social media company today. An example of AI improving time spent on Reels was that there was an increase of 15% in time spent on Reels in Facebook after the addition of a recommendations AI model. In my view, there is without a doubt that the company will need to continue to make improvements and add new AI models to, over time, increase engagement and time spent of Reels across its platforms. In building Reels, it is becoming clear that Mark and the team have a vision for it based on the past experience in building social media products for consumers. The focus is on connecting people as a social media company and this involves creating a flywheel effect through its network. As such, the important thing is for consumers to comment on and interact on these platforms. As such, I think that Reels is headed the right way as more than half of the content that consumers have been sharing on Instagram is Reels. This implies to me that Reels is helping improve engagement on Instagram and helping elevate the platform through better interactions and ultimately create a strong moat for Meta in Instagram. With regards to how Reels could add to time spent on Meta’s platforms, I get the sense that Reels could result in some form of cannibalistic effect on the overall company. However, management has reiterated that while there will be some form of cannibalistic impact from rolling out reels, there are incremental benefits to time spent on the company’s platform. Put it in another way, I am of the view that Reels, while having some cannibalistic impact, will see a net positive effect as short-form videos like Reels are the way to go moving forward to improve engagement in the long run. As such, it would be beneficial for Meta in the long run to focus its efforts on Reels to boost engagement of its platform. Reels monetization shows huge potential I think that the Meta team is doing good work in the monetization progress for Reels, given that Reels ads have officially reached the $1 billion annual revenue run rate. The progress that has been made for Reels at this point in time is actually faster than the monetization progress and pace for Stories a couple of years ago. As such, I am of the view that while we cannot hurry the monetization process for Reels as much as investors would really like to, the current progress made thus far has been really decent, especially when benchmarking it to Stories. While Reels is currently at a faster pace of monetization in a similar time frame compared to Stories, I think we have to be patient with the monetization process for Reels. A successful strategy does not happen overnight. For Stories, the monetization journey really began in 2018 and in 2022, and the company just reached parity on it. As such, I would expect Reels to take a multi-year process to fine-tune and optimize monetization in a way that works best for the businesses, consumers and Meta. While Meta reached a $1 billion run rate faster for Reels than for Stories, I think that the optimism that this brings should be put into perspective. This faster monetization was a result of Meta having a familiar playbook it could rely on where it has been successful in making products that its users love, and to integrate advertisement formats that works for its customers. As a result of its experience and lessons learnt from Stories, this $1 billion run rate was achieved faster than Stories. However, there are still challenges Meta faces in its monetization of Reels. One example of a challenge includes the video format of Reels being more difficult for small businesses that are more used to static photos as an advertisement format. As a result, some form of adjustment is necessary for Meta to take to drive further monetization results from Reels. So, what is next for Reels monetization? It is really about improving the performance and ramping up of Reels ad load. The use of AI will be crucial to ensure that the relevant videos are being pushed to consumers while the relevant ads are used to target these consumers. Meta gave an example where Wild Alaskan Company’s use and testing of ads on Reels resulted in 36% return on their spend as well as 26% decrease in cost per new subscriber. Second quarter results While there were fears about headwinds from a weakening demand for digital advertising, Meta reported 2Q22 advertising revenues that were better than expected, rising +3% year on year. However, operating margins disappointed as there were pressures from both Family of Apps and Reality labs. This came as management was spending more in 2Q22 than expected as they invested heavily into core business investments of AI and machine learning, needing to spend and invest in talent and infrastructure. In addition, Meta continued with its share buybacks in 2Q22, with a total of $5.2 billion worth of shares being bought back. Meta announced further reductions to its guidance for expenses from by about 3% to 4%, with the mid-range being around $89.5 billion. This lowering of expenses is part of management’s continued efforts to align the expectations and cadence for investments with its growth in revenues and margin profile. Weakening demand for digital advertising a near-term headwind Although 2Q22 beat on revenues and missed on operating margins, management’s commentary suggests that the opposite will be true in the next few quarters. This is due to more uncertainty in the macroeconomic environment while the company focuses on streamlining its costs structure in the next few quarters. While Mark’s commentary that we are seemingly about to move into an economic downturn is no surprise given the latest news about the economy, it is still pertinent to take this into account given that Mark did comment that he views the current macroeconomic environment as worse than 1 quarter ago. This will have an impact on the whole digital advertising industry and thus, if prolonged, could have a material and severe impact on Meta’s business. As such, the company’s guidance for 3Q22 implied a negative 10% to negative 2% growth for the quarter, which was lower than my initial expectations. This weakness was driven by the current sentiment on weakening demand for advertising as well as headwinds from foreign exchange. The metaverse As elaborated by Mark several times, Meta will, over the next decade, be building a platform for the metaverse across use cases including work and gaming. The focus on developing these platforms comes as Meta will then have the freedom to develop experiences in ways it wants without any external constraints. As this will be an expensive project that will take up heavy capital expenditures in the years to come, the metaverse project is a work in progress and provides the upside to Meta as it works towards being ahead of its competition. I firmly believe that the company’s near-term catalysts are unlikely to be the metaverse, and the metaverse then is likely to be a medium to longer-term project. However, as updated in the second quarter, Meta is looking to expand its metaverse platform, Horizon, as well as make improvements to its Avatars platform. These efforts will help to improve the user experience and user engagement in the metaverse to achieve its end goal. With regards to hardware of the metaverse opportunity, Mark has committed to releasing Project Cambria later in the year. This hardware will be focused on professionals, and it is expected to be a high-end device. As highlighted earlier, the main focus right now is more on its Family of Apps rather than on the metaverse opportunity, although the company is and intends to invest into the metaverse for the long term. What it has announced so far is only the beginning in a rather long-term opportunity, and this project requires patience in the near term. Valuation The negative sentiment around Meta has caused its P/E multiple to contract significantly from more than 1 year ago as concerns about increasing competition, weakening advertising demand and significant spending on the metaverse weighed on the company. Meta is now trading at 11.9x 2023F P/E and 10x 2024F P/E based on my estimates. Multiple expansion is very much in the cards given that it is trading at a discount to its peer group. Applying a 15x P/E multiple on 2024F EPS, I derive a target price of $225 f...

Home Screen Customization Just Got Even Better For IPhone With 15 Important New Features – Gadget Hacks https://collincountynewsonline.com/home-screen-customization-just-got-even-better-for-iphone-with-15-important-new-features-gadget-hacks/ The home screen is the most important part of your iPhone when it comes to customization, and Apple just gave us even more options to personalize it. On iOS 15, you could already hide apps and even entire pages from your home screen. You could also change the icons of apps that offered alternatives or switch out any app icon using Shortcuts. And you could set wallpapers to automatically change based on the time, the current dark or light theme, and other triggers. You still have all of those options on iOS 16, but you can customize even more features on your iPhone’s home screen now — and there are a few significant changes you’ll want to know about. Don’t Miss: All 350+ New iOS 16 Features for Your iPhone 1. Spotlight Search Takes Over Your Page Dots The iOS 16 update replaces the page dots above the dock on your home screen with a new Spotlight Search bubble. Tapping it does the same as swiping down on a home screen page. And like page dots, you can swipe left or right on the Search bubble to speed scroll through your other home screen pages. Long-pressing the bubble or tapping on it in the home screen editor will still open up the page selection tool to show or hide pages. 2. You Can Bring Back the Page Dots If you like the old page dots and prefer swiping down the Spotlight Search tool or using Back Tap, you can bring back the dots. Go to Settings – Home Screen, then toggle off the new “Show on Home Screen” switch in the Search section. 3. Spotlight’s Search Bar Is Above the Keyboard Following in Safari’s footsteps, the search bar is directly above the keyboard every time you open the Spotlight Search tool on your home screen, so your eyes don’t have to stray as far to see what you’re typing. When you scroll through the results, the bar moves to the bottom of the screen when the keyboard hides. 4. There’s Finally a Books Widget For some reason, Apple never made a widget for its Books app — until now. On iOS 16, you can add the new Books widget to your home screen or Today View. The small widget shows the current book you’re reading and your daily goal. The medium one also shows the percentage completed. And the large also shows the days of the week. Don’t Miss: Apple Books Just Got Its Biggest iPhone Update in Years 5. Wallpapers Auto-Match Your Lock Screen One of the most prominent features on iOS 16 lets you customize your lock screen with a different background for each occasion. With each lock screen wallpaper, you can choose between a font type, select a color theme, and add widgets. When you add a new lock screen wallpaper to your arsenal from the lock screen or via Settings – Wallpaper – Add New Wallpaper, you’ll be asked if you want to “Set as Wallpaper Pair,” meaning the home screen wallpaper will automatically match the lock screen one. Don’t Miss: Customize Your iPhone’s Lock Screen with These 27 Killer New Features on iOS 16 6. There Are Emoji and Cool Colors for Wallpapers When changing the lock screen wallpaper, you can choose a repeating emoji or group of emoji in different grid styles. Plus, the “Color” option lets you pick any solid color or apply a gradient effect such as Bright, Vapor, Deep, Tone, and Vibrant. Since you can match the home and lock screen wallpaper, you can also use any of these emoji and color options for your home screen background. 7. There Are Automated Wallpapers Too To make your iPhone automatically change wallpapers on iOS 15, you would have to set up an automation in the Shortcuts app. That’s no longer required if you want to shuffle through weather conditions, astronomy updates, or your photos. You can set these up when selecting a lock screen wallpaper, and they’ll also be your home screen background unless you change it manually in Settings – Wallpaper. 8. You Can Change Associated Wallpapers You don’t have to have to match the lock screen and home screen wallpapers. When you first set up a lock screen wallpaper, instead of “Set as Wallpaper Pair,” choose “Customize Home Screen” instead. If you set the lock and home screen wallpapers to match each other or just want to change your home screen wallpaper, go to Settings – Wallpaper, tap “Customize” under the home screen image, and choose another option, such as a color shade, color gradient, or photo. After you hit “Done,” that wallpaper is associated with the lock screen wallpaper that’s currently active. So when you switch lock screen wallpapers, it will also use the home screen wallpaper you set for it. 9. There’s a Legibility Blur for Apple Wallpapers When using one of Apple’s wallpapers for your home screen background, you’ll see an option in the wallpaper editor called “Blur.” By default, it’s off, but when you turn it on, the wallpaper blurs to bring more focus and legibility to the apps, folders, widgets, and other content on your home screen pages. 10. You Can Choose a Solid Color Wallpaper Fill While Apple had a few solid color wallpapers from time to time, you always had to find your own image to use if you wanted a solid color background on your home screen. Not anymore. The solid color fill is the second option from the left in the home screen wallpaper editor. Tap “Color,” then tap it again to bring up the color picker, where you can choose a color and its strength. Tip: If you want the same solid color on your home screen and lock screen, select “Color” from the lock screen wallpaper picker, choose your color, and then swipe to the “Solid” option. 11. Or a Gradient Wallpaper Fill If you like more of a fading color than a solid one, the third option from the left in the home screen wallpaper editor lets you choose a gradient. Tap “Gradient,” then tap it again to bring up the gradient picker, where you can select a gradient color and its strength. Tip: If you want the same solid gradient on your home screen and lock screen, choose “Color” from the lock screen wallpaper picker, select your color, and then swipe to the Vibrant gradient option. More gradient styles are available from the lock screen wallpaper editor, so if you want a Bright, Vapor, Deep, or Tone gradient on your home screen, it’ll have to match your lock screen wallpaper. 12. Photo Wallpapers Can Be B&W, Duotone, or Color Wash If you select a photo for your home screen’s background, you can now choose to keep it as is (“Natural”) in the wallpaper editor or make it “Black & White,” “Duotone,” or “Color Wash” instead. Swipe left or right on the screen to switch between the options. 13. You Can Change Duotone and Color Wash Colors If you choose a photo wallpaper using Duotone or Color Wash, tap the ellipsis (•••) in the editor and select “Style Color” to switch the shade to a different color. 14. Focus Lets You Choose Focused Home Pages There are a lot of changes to Apple’s Focus tool for iPhone, and one of them gives you home page suggestions when setting up the focus. Tap “Choose” for the home screen in the new Customize Screens section, and you may see page suggestions that remove apps and widgets unrelated to that focus. For example, a work focus may only keep apps related to emails, tasks, contacts, automation, stocks, utilities, etc. If none of the suggestions work for you — or if you don’t see any suggestions — toggle the current home screen pages that you want for the focus. Only the home screen pages you chose during the focus setup will appear on your iPhone whenever the focus is active. If you didn’t select any during the focus setup, your home screen would remain the same as before. 15. You Can See the Battery Percentage Always Apple added a feature for most Face ID-equipped iPhone models that finally lets us view the remaining power left in the battery as a percentage in the status bar. Touch ID models could already do this before, but now most Face ID models* can too, albeit with a major visual change: the numbers are inside the battery icon instead of a separate status bar icon. It’s a system-wide option, but you’ll see it every time you’re on your home screen if you choose to enable it. More Info: Finally! Permanently View Battery Percentage in Your iPhone’s Status Bar Instead of Battery Levels * Not available on iPhone XR, 11, 12 mini, and 13 mini. What’s Missing? We’ve wanted it for a long time, but Apple still has not delivered a way to remove app, folder, and widget names from the home screen. There are workarounds you can use to accomplish it, but we wanted Apple to include an option on iOS 16 to change icon and widget names. Other features that would be cool on the home screen include a way to space out app icons and hide the dock, but these didn’t show up on iOS 16 either. Keep Your Connection Secure Without a Monthly Bill. Get a lifetime subscription to VPN Unlimited for all your devices with a one-time purchase from the new Gadget Hacks Shop, and watch Hulu or Netflix without regional restrictions, increase security when browsing on public networks, and more. 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Cowboy Maverick Johnny Cash Mines 2.6 BTC Jackpot In Gold Rush At Bitcoin.com’s Crypto Casino – Promoted Bitcoin News – Bitcoin News https://collincountynewsonline.com/cowboy-maverick-johnny-cash-mines-2-6-btc-jackpot-in-gold-rush-at-bitcoin-coms-crypto-casino-promoted-bitcoin-news-bitcoin-news/ Gold Rush with Jonny Cash dishes out a massive win of 2.6 BTC! Massive Win on Casino Slot Jackpot wins on our crypto casino Bitcoin.com Games have become a regular phenomenon with players winning insane amounts of BTC every month. Just yesterday, a lucky player’s mining adventures on the smashing slot game Gold Rush with Johnny Cash took an extremely fortuitous turn. One of the bets that they had made on the slot was destined to land them a massive win of 2.6 BTC. Gold Rush with Johnny Cash Gold Rush with Johnny Cash is a western-themed slot from the popular games provider BGaming where the infamous bandit cactus named Johnny Cash searches for money and gold. Players can join the notorious gold digger in his underground quest for gold in a splendid vista of western drylands. High volatility and 25 pay lines exacerbate the chances of winnings bets landing a big win multiplier of up to 5,820x the bet value. Player gets lucky with a small bet, lands a big multiplier! Bitcoin.com Games offers various types of casino games including exciting slot and table games, games with big jackpots, and even a live casino with real dealers on the other side interacting with you. Players can choose from a range of fantastic slots that often accumulate crazy jackpots. Placing a bet on these games unlocks the opportunity for players to land insane multipliers, many of them going upwards of 100,000x! Bitcoin.com Games is a premium gaming portal that has been growing in popularity ever since its inception. With big jackpots and money multipliers being rewarded every week, the casino has seemingly become a thriving place for players to test their luck, and possibly, win life-changing money. Play Gold Rush with Johnny Cash now or check out other games with big jackpots and bonuses that you can play on Bitcoin.com Games. What do you think about this big win on Gold Rush with Johnny Cash? Let us know what you think in the comments section below. Tags in this story big win, Bitcoin, Casino, crypto casino, Cryptocurrency, Games, gold rush, Johnny Cash, online casino, Prize Pool, Promotion, Tournament This is a promoted post. Learn more on how to reach our audience here. Read the disclaimer below. Bitcoin.com Since 2015, Bitcoin.com has been a global leader in introducing newcomers to crypto. Featuring accessible educational materials, timely and objective news, and intuitive self-custodial products, we make it easy for anyone to buy, spend, trade, invest, earn, and stay up-to-date on cryptocurrency and the future of finance. Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.

U.S. Limits Export Of Fentanyl To Russia, Calling It A Potential Weapon – The Washington Post https://collincountynewsonline.com/u-s-limits-export-of-fentanyl-to-russia-calling-it-a-potential-weapon-the-washington-post/ The United States on Thursday strictly limited the export of fentanyl and related chemicals to Russia, saying that they “may be useful” as chemical weapons to support Russia’s “military aggression.” The Commerce Department said sales to Russia of the powerful opiate will now require a U.S. government license. The rule also applies to exports to Belarus, whose leadership supports Russian President Vladimir Putin. Fentanyl is widely known in the United States as an illicit street drug that has caused thousands of overdose deaths in recent years. But it also has legal uses as a prescription painkiller. It is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Commerce Department didn’t respond to questions about why it took the step. But the move brings the United States in line with the European Union, which controlled fentanyl and related drug exports to Russia in June, saying that the substances “have been used as toxic chemicals … in the past by Russia.” In 2002, Russian special forces used a gaseous form of fentanyl as a knockout agent before storming a theater where hostages were being held. The gas allowed the agents to enter and kill the Chechen militants who had taken hundreds of people hostage, but the powerful narcotic also killed more than 100 of the hostages. Russian officials at the time wouldn’t identify the type of gas used, saying only that it was a nonlethal anesthetic. But U.S. officials said that tests done by U.S. Embassy doctors on Americans present during the hostage-taking indicated that the gas was fentanyl. The new U.S. export controls also apply to the precursor chemicals needed to make fentanyl, and to a group of compounds closely related to fentanyl. The measure was one of a list of additional sanctions and export controls the United States adopted on Thursday in relation to Russia. It slapped new controls on the export of quantum computing technology to Russia. It also sanctioned additional executives in Russia’s financial sector. And it adopted new sanctions on people it accused of supporting Putin’s war in Ukraine and committing human rights abuses, including Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov; a Russian neo-Nazi militia allegedly fighting in Ukraine, and a Russian official who the United States said has “led Russia’s efforts to deport tens of thousands of Ukrainian children.” War in Ukraine: What you need to know The latest: Grain shipments from Ukraine are gathering pace under the agreement hammered out by Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations in July. Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian Black Sea ports had sent food prices soaring and raised fears of more hunger in the Middle East and Africa. At least 18 ships, including loads of wheat, corn and sunflower oil, have departed. The fight: The conflict on the ground grinds on as Russia uses its advantage in heavy artillery to pummel Ukrainian forces, which have sometimes been able to put up stiff resistance. In the south, Ukrainian hopes rest on liberating the Russia-occupied Kherson region, and ultimately Crimea, seized by Russia in 2014. Fears of a disaster at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station remain as both sides accuse each other of shelling it. The weapons: Western supplies of weapons are helping Ukraine slow Russian advances. U.S.-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) allow Ukrainian forces to strike farther behind Russian lines against Russian artillery. Russia has used an array of weapons against Ukraine, some of which have drawn the attention and concern of analysts. Photos: Washington Post photographers have been on the ground from the very beginning of the war — here’s some of their most powerful work. How you can help: Here are ways those in the U.S. can help support the Ukrainian people as well as what people around the world have been donating. Read our full coverage of the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for updates and exclusive video.

Tech News: 5 Things To Know In Australia Today – Gizmodo Australia https://collincountynewsonline.com/tech-news-5-things-to-know-in-australia-today-gizmodo-australia-4/ Happy Friday. This week has been heavy on the iPhone content, with the new 14 range going on sale today (if you’re after a good deal, we’ve got some), bringing with it a tonne of new things to do in iOS 16 and a throwback to the ’90s with an Apple website blunder. But there’s more happening outside of the Time Cook empire. 1. YouTube will now sell you ads vertically It’s well established that, if a major tech company sees another platform succeeding based on a (relatively) original idea, it’s going to want to shamelessly copy that idea. And it’s probably also going to want some upgraded ad-tech to go with it. That’s what YouTube is doing. Google is bringing vertical ads to your phone, using AI to translate the horizontal to a more TikTok/Instagram Reels-like experience. Ugh. Fab. 2. TikTok’s newest feature is a brazen copy of BeReal While YouTube is trying to be TikTok, TikTok is trying to be BeReal. The company is experimenting with a new feature called TikTok Now that, just like the once-a-day photo app BeReal, will prompt users to capture what they’re doing at a moment using both front and rear cameras. The key takeaway? Originality is a dead language, at least in the world of social media apps. TikTok Now sends users push notifications to record a picture or quick video of whatever they’re doing. Image: TikTok 3. Zoom outage gives quick solace Zoom went down for around an hour super early this morning, giving everyone working from home on the other side of the world a bonus brief period of time without back-to-back meetings. As reported by The Verge, users saw plenty of “an error occurred” messages, and most weren’t able to launch meetings. Zoom’s main website, zoom.us, even displayed a 502 gateway error for the majority of the outage. 4. Ethereum just completed ‘The Merge’ The Ethereum network, which powers the second largest cryptocurrency in the world, completed a long-planned upgrade known as “The Merge”, moving from a proof-of-work system to a proof-of-stake system. And nothing catastrophic has happened yet, despite plenty of dark predictions by an army of short-sellers. Read our explainer on The Merge over here. 5. myGov audit is go Prior to the election, Labor said if it were successful, myGov would undergo an audit. The user audit, Albanese said previously, would take a “fresh look at how well myGov is performing when it comes to reliability and functionality for a user-friendly experience”. Well, that audit is actually going ahead. The man who led the last major review of the Australian Public Service will also chair the myGov audit: none other than former Telstra CEO David Thodey. BONUS ITEM: Here’s some fresh nightmare fuel for your Friday. — Attractive Patriot (@RAF_Valerie) September 13, 2022 Have a great weekend.

Brewpub Team Drafts New Spot With Gourmet Sandwiches In Fort Worth – Culturemap.com https://collincountynewsonline.com/brewpub-team-drafts-new-spot-with-gourmet-sandwiches-in-fort-worth-culturemap-com/ There’s a new brewpub coming to Dallas-Fort Worth with not one but two locations. Called Boozie’s Brewery & Gourmet Sandwiches, it’s a full-service brewpub that will feature chef-driven food including bountiful sandwiches, plus a fully functional brewery and full bar. It’ll open in Fort Worth as well as Fairview Town Center in Collin County. The concept is from a team that includes founder Bruce Conti, chef David Hollister, and brewer Bobby Mullins. Conti is the Fort Worth businessman and developer who owns landmark buildings such as the former Fort Worth Star Telegram printing plant and the Ranch Style Beans complex where Wild Acre Brewing Co. opened in 2016. Hollister is the acclaimed chef who most recently led the kitchen at Wild Acre Brewing. Mullins was co-founder and brewer at Armadillo Ale Works in Denton, which closed in March. The journey to Boozie’s is a little complicated. Conti was part of the founding team of Wild Acre when they spun off a brewpub at 6479 Camp Bowie Blvd. in 2020. The spinoff served Wild Acre brews, plus dishes such as Wagyu patty melt, Cuban press, chicken lollipops, and Spam fries. The brewpub received a nomination in CultureMap’s 2022 Tastemaker Awards for Best Restaurant of the Year. In 2022, Wild Acre Brewing was acquired by Dallas-based Bishop Cider. The original brewing operation remains at 1734 E. El Paso St., southeast of downtown Fort Worth. Conti and company will transform the Camp Bowie Wild Acre into their Boozie’s concept, where they’ll continue to serve a menu of elevated bar food crafted by chef Hollister, but with a new lineup of beer brewed by Mullins. They also have plans to open more Boozie’s concepts around DFW. That includes a second location in Fairview, at 311 Town Pl., a space once occupied by a kooky restaurant called Wyland’s Ocean Blue. Fairview has been in the works for a while, originally floated as a Wild Acre location, and they’ve already installed a dozen brewing tanks. Both locations will feature an on-site brewery, but the menus will differ at each location. They’ll also be transitioning from beer-and-wine-only to a full bar, so that they can serve cocktails. Food-wise, the menu in Fort Worth will be similar to what Hollister created for Wild Acre, with an emphasis on the sandwiches Hollister is known for (he previously founded Dagwoods Grinders and Common Ground, both nominated for Restaurant of the Year in CultureMap’s 2016 Tastemaker Awards). The menu at Fairview will incorporate some of the cuisines he’s done in the past; the Le Cordon Bleu graduate once worked as a sous chef for Grady Spears. “We’ll be showcasing more Texas cuisine — not barbecue, but more like trail food,” he says. “We’re working on a chicken-fried steak with a sourdough breading. We’ll be doing a true Texas red chili, and a fun Texas caviar.” Since the location is in Fairview, they’re also going to play with a state fair theme including a funnel cake dessert with a Dr Pepper caramel sauce. No opening date yet, but they’re already hiring staff so it’ll definitely be in the fall.

Travel + Leisure Co. Provides Update On Strong Momentum In Third Quarter Prior To Conference Presentations – Business Wire https://collincountynewsonline.com/travel-leisure-co-provides-update-on-strong-momentum-in-third-quarter-prior-to-conference-presentations-business-wire/ ORLANDO, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL), the world’s leading membership and leisure travel company, provided an update on its third quarter results and outlook for the remainder of 2022 in advance of presentations at several conferences in September. Travel + Leisure Co. will be attending NYSE’s 3rd Annual Investor Access Consumer Day on September 20, 2022, Deutsche Bank’s 30th annual Leveraged Finance Conference on September 20, and Wells Fargo’s Consumer Conference on September 21. A link to the company’s updated Fall 2022 investor relations presentation is available online at travelandleisureco.com/investors. Third Quarter Update The company is reiterating the third quarter and full year outlook provided on July 28, 2022, in its earnings press release, including the following measures1: Third quarter adjusted EBITDA of $230 million to $240 million Full year adjusted EBITDA of $860 million to $880 million “The strong momentum we saw in the second quarter continued through August as our vacation ownership business continues to draw families prioritizing their vacations. Through the end of the year, booking pace at our vacation ownership resorts remains strong with room nights on our books 8 percent above 2019,” said Michael D. Brown, president and CEO of Travel + Leisure Co. About Travel + Leisure Co. Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL) is the world’s leading membership and leisure travel company, with nearly 20 travel brands across its resort, travel club, and lifestyle portfolio. The company provides outstanding vacation experiences and travel inspiration to millions of owners, members, and subscribers every year through its products and services: Wyndham Destinations, the largest vacation ownership company with more than 245 vacation club resort locations across the globe; Panorama, the world’s foremost membership travel business that includes the largest vacation exchange company and subscription travel brands; and Travel + Leisure Group, featuring top travel content and travel services including the brand’s eponymous travel club. At Travel + Leisure Co., our global team of associates brings hospitality to millions each year, turning vacation inspiration into exceptional travel experiences. We put the world on vacation. Learn more at travelandleisureco.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Forward-looking statements are any statements other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, hopes, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expects,” “should,” “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “future,” “intends” or other words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results of Travel + Leisure Co. and its subsidiaries (“Travel + Leisure Co.” or “we”) to differ materially from those discussed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, risks associated with: the acquisition of the Travel + Leisure brand and the future prospects and plans for Travel + Leisure Co., including our ability to execute our strategies to grow our cornerstone timeshare and exchange businesses and expand into the broader leisure travel industry through new business extensions; our ability to compete in the highly competitive timeshare and leisure travel industries; uncertainties related to acquisitions, dispositions and other strategic transactions; the health of the travel industry and declines or disruptions caused by adverse economic conditions, unemployment rates and consumer sentiment, terrorism or acts of gun violence, political strife, war, including hostilities in Ukraine, pandemics, and severe weather events and other natural disasters; adverse changes in consumer travel and vacation patterns, consumer preferences and demand for our products; increased or unanticipated operating costs and other inherent business risks; our ability to comply with financial and restrictive covenants under our indebtedness and our ability to access capital markets on reasonable terms, at a reasonable cost or at all; maintaining the integrity of internal or customer data and protecting our systems from cyber-attacks; uncertainty with respect to the scope, impact and duration of the novel coronavirus global pandemic (“COVID-19”), including resurgences, the pace of recovery, distribution and adoption of vaccines and treatments, and actions in response to the evolving pandemic by governments, businesses and individuals; the timing and amount of future dividends and share repurchases, if any; and those other factors disclosed as risks under “Risk Factors” in documents we have filed with the SEC, including in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on February 23, 2022. We caution readers that any such statements are based on currently available operational, financial and competitive information, and they should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s opinion only as of the date on which they were made. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to review or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances as they occur. 1 Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. This guidance is presented only on a non-GAAP basis because not all of the information necessary for a quantitative reconciliation of forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is available without unreasonable effort, primarily due to uncertainties relating to the occurrence or amount of these adjustments that may arise in the future. Where one or more of the currently unavailable items is applicable, such items could be material, individually or in the aggregate, to GAAP reported results.

Live News: IAEA Urges Russia To Surrender Ukrainian Nuclear Plant – Financial Times https://collincountynewsonline.com/live-news-iaea-urges-russia-to-surrender-ukrainian-nuclear-plant-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

NEWLY NAMED ESKATON PRESIDENT PEIFER TO FOCUS ON STRATEGIC GROWTH, COMMUNITIES AND SERVICES TO MEET SENIOR LIVING NEEDS – PR Newswire https://collincountynewsonline.com/newly-named-eskaton-president-peifer-to-focus-on-strategic-growth-communities-and-services-to-meet-senior-living-needs-pr-newswire/ , /PRNewswire/ — Eskaton, a nonprofit Sacramento-based senior living organization, has announced the promotion of Sheri Peifer to President as part of the first phase of a board-led CEO succession plan. In her new role, Peifer will oversee operations and strategic growth for the organization to meet the increasing demand for high-quality senior living solutions. “I believe the most successful organizations plan ahead and cultivate and develop their next leaders,” said Todd Murch, Eskaton CEO. “I fully support the board’s decision to name Sheri as my successor. Sheri brings a strong set of skills in strategic planning and innovation, operational excellence and partnership development as Eskaton continues to expand and meet the needs of older adults across the region.” Peifer, who formerly served as Eskaton’s Chief Strategy Officer, joined the organization in 2005 and has led Eskaton’s efforts in development, management services and affiliations, joint ventures, partnerships, innovation, marketing and communications. Over her tenure, she has led Eskaton’s expansion of services into the Bay area and Central Valley by managing and/or affiliating with nonprofit senior living providers who desire a strategic alliance with Eskaton. Peifer also led the expansion of Eskaton’s home and community-based services across the region. As President, Peifer’s short-term strategy will be focused on integrating and strengthening Eskaton’s communities and services, including investing in support for Eskaton’s dedicated workforce. Peifer noted that older adults will make up one-quarter of the state’s population by 2030, and she intends to ready Eskaton to meet the growing need. Her vision for the future includes positioning Eskaton as a single-point solution for older adults who desire an integrated healthy living experience through a range of innovative services and living options. “Eskaton is well-positioned to expand our reach through diverse partnerships and continue providing the high quality of life we are known for,” said Peifer. “Our future imperative will focus on understanding and delivering new customer experiences, services and ways to age well within a community. We anticipate partners will continue to be an ever-important part of our growth as we prioritize the well-being of older Californians.” Ms. Peifer serves as Vice Chair of the LeadingAge California board of directors and chairs its Planning Committee. She is a graduate of the national LeadingAge Leadership Fellow program based in Washington D.C. She holds a BA from Messiah College and a MS in Gerontology and Education from California State University, Sacramento. About Eskaton Since 1968, Eskaton has been serving older adults in Northern California. As a nonprofit senior living provider, our mission is to enhance the lives of older adults through innovative health, housing and social services. With five decades of experience and a national reputation for innovation, Eskaton is Transforming the Aging Experience. For more information, please call 1-866-ESKATON, or visit www.eskaton.org. CONTACT: Zach Melchiori 916-344-0810 [email protected] SOURCE Eskaton

Silkeborg Vs. West Ham Odds, Picks, How To Watch, Stream: Sept. 15, 2022 Europa Conference League Predictions – CBS Sports https://collincountynewsonline.com/silkeborg-vs-west-ham-odds-picks-how-to-watch-stream-sept-15-2022-europa-conference-league-predictions-cbs-sports/ West Ham United will try to keep their Europa Conference League hopes alive when they travel to Denmark to face Silkeborg IF on Thursday on Paramount+. The Premier League club sits in 18th on the league table but performing well in international play, opening up the Europa Conference League group stage with a 3-1 win against FCSB. Meanwhile, the Danish Superliga side sits in fourth place on their domestic table, but are not performing well elsewhere, losing three of their last five matches across all competition. You can catch all the action when you stream the match live on Paramount+. Kickoff from JYSK Park in Silkeborg, Denmark is set for 3 p.m. ET on Thursday. The latest Silkeborg vs. West Ham odds from Caesars Sportsbook list West Ham as the -205 favorite on the 90-minute money line, with Silkeborg as the +460 underdog. A draw is priced at +300 and the over-under for goals is 3.5. Thursday’s match will be streamed live on Paramount+ with their must-have Premium plan. Paramount+ now has levels of membership so you can watch the hottest soccer matchups worldwide and much more. The Premium Plan is $9.99 per month and you can watch your local CBS live stream, including plenty of sports like Champions League, Italian Serie A, college hoops, and the PGA Tour, with no ads, on demand and the ability to download episodes for offline viewing. Plus, watch the highly-anticipated series Halo, Picard, 1883, and more. Both plans come with a free week to start and include soccer matches, so sign up now here. How to watch Silkeborg vs. West Ham United West Ham vs. Silkeborg date: Thursday, September 15 West Ham vs. Silkeborg time: 3 p.m. ET West Ham vs. Silkeborg streaming: Paramount+ UEFA Europa Conference League picks for Silkeborg vs. West Ham United Before you tune in to Thursday’s match, you need to see the Viborg vs. West Ham picks from SportsLine’s soccer insider Martin Green. After working in the sports betting industry for several years, Green became a professional sports writer and handicapper and has covered the game worldwide. Since then, his European soccer picks have been spot-on. Green has generated almost $33,000 for $100 bettors since the 2017-18 season, and he is 10-7 over his past 17 EPL picks. He has his finger on the pulse of the game all over the globe. For Silkeborg vs. West Ham, Green is picking the English side with a -1 Asian handicap for a -105 payout. West Ham is one of the favorites in this year’s Europa Conference League, and the expert believes they will be too strong for the Danish side to overcome. Green also notes how much more money West Ham spent on its club in the offseason. Silkeborg spent around $1 million on three new players, while West Ham spent roughly $191.9 million, the fourth-most among the European clubs. The difference in spending is echoed in the talent on each roster. “The vast majority of Silkeborg’s players are Danish, but none play for the national team, whereas West Ham’s squad is packed full of internationals, and the Hammers should simply have too much quality for their opponents this week,” Green told SportsLine. How to watch, live stream UECL on Paramount+ Now that you know what to pick, get ready to watch the Europa Conference League. Visit Paramount+ now to see the UEFA Europa Conference League, your live local CBS sporting events, some of the world’s other top soccer matchups and much more.

Ommyo Makes Foray Into Metaverse, Says Zaleski – Khaleej Times https://collincountynewsonline.com/ommyo-makes-foray-into-metaverse-says-zaleski-khaleej-times/ The metaverse has captured the interest of social media platforms, online game developers, and other tech pioneers as the next major tech revolution. Dr Tomasz Zaleski. — Supplied photo Published: Fri 16 Sep 2022, 12:38 AM Last updated: Fri 16 Sep 2022, 12:44 AM The Private office of Sheikh Ahmed bin Faisal Al Qassimi is all set to make foray into metaverse with a launch of its new platform ‘Ommyo’, said chairman Dr Tomasz Zaleski. “Ommyo is the most recent economy to emerge in the metaverse developing a dedicated blockchain and a digital currency for payments in the metaverse. The platform consists of a team of developers focused on creating real use cases and connecting real assets like historical places, real estate and businesses that will be hosted in the virtual space of the metaverse,” said Zaleski “Ommyo. Net is dedicated to enhancing the integration of blockchain with our unique metaverse solutions to provide an all-natural look and organic financial growth for our clients, partners and community. Through our news channel, Learn and Earn, Ommyo Academy aims to educate our community and members, with the benefits that new technologies especially in the blockchain space can deliver. Ommyo wants its community to learn and grow opportunities globally.” Ommyo is not developing a gaming platform but is gamifying and dedicating disruptive technology to enhance and grow the local economy making Dubai a technology hub globally. Ommyo Blockchain Development gives developers the freedom to build, develop, and earn using Ommyo Blockchain to boost their earning potential while allowing our strategic partners to nurture and grow existing and new talent. There is currently a significant ecosystem for developing, acquiring, and profiting from decentralised digital assets due to the adoption of non-fungible tokens and cryptocurrency on several blockchain-based platforms. The idea of the metaverse is incomplete without blockchain because of all the limitations of centralised data storage. The potential of blockchain to work globally, as a digital source functioning on the concept of decentralisation, primarily differentiates the metaverse from the capabilities of the traditional internet, which is made up of websites and applications. The blockchain-based metaverse allows users to access any digital space without the intervention of a centralised authority. — business@khaleejtimes.com

Thermal Interface Materials Market Size Share Trends Growth Demand And Competitive Analysis Insights 2022-2029 | DataM Intelligence – Digital Journal https://collincountynewsonline.com/thermal-interface-materials-market-size-share-trends-growth-demand-and-competitive-analysis-insights-2022-2029-datam-intelligence-digital-journal/ The Global Thermal Interface Materials Market is expected to reach a high CAGR of 10.10% during the forecast period (2022 – 2029). Market Overview: TIM is an important thing of any thermal management system that is physically small. Thermal interface materials are widely used to produce the maximum crucial components of the heat dissipation gadget, which might be used to cool and defend integrated circuit (IC) chips. Most TIMs are based on proprietary polymer matrix and thermally conductive filler technologies, permitting them to deal with tough warmth dissipation issues with long-time period reliability and coffee price of ownership. The electronics industry severely wishes TIM. To Download free sample @ Click Here Market Dynamics The software of carbon-based thermal interface materials as a cheap substitute for metallic & aluminum is a prime marketplace motive force for the global thermal interface materials marketplace. Nonetheless, immoderate material and manufacturing charges might be a first-rate market restraint. Increasing energy densities in digital devices and the growing want for cheap warmness management answers Power densities in digital devices, mainly microprocessor chips, have multiplied exponentially over the last few decades. The ongoing fashion of shrinking device dimensions has appreciably multiplied thermal troubles in digital circuits. As a end result, thermal control is becoming critical in making sure that electronic gadgets operate in step with their specifications. Since thermal interface substances are cheap and could be injected into gaps of any length, they’re broadly identified as cheap and applicable thermal control answers. As the call for and different market prospects for thermal interface substances upward thrust because of the aforementioned elements, they will be diagnosed as a prime marketplace motive force for the respective market. Market Segmentation By Chemistry Silicone Epoxy Polyimide By Type Greases & adhesives Tapes & Films Gap Fillers By Application Computers Telecom Consumer Durables Medical Devices Others Competitive Landscape The global thermal interface materials market is rich in the number of market players, prospects and strengths and is growing rapidly. Furthermore, technological behemoths such as Honeywell International, 3M, Henkel AG, Parker Hannifin, Dow, Laird Technologies, Momentive, Indium Corporation, Wakefield Thermal and Zalman Tech Co., Ltd make the market extensively competitive. The market is fragmented and key market participants use tactics such as mergers, acquisitions, product launches, contributions and collaborations to gain a competitive advantage and recognition in their respective markets. Trending Topics Thermochromic Materials Market Thermoplastics Material Market Automotive Interior Materials Market Media Contact Company Name: DataM Intelligence Contact Person: Sai Email: Send Email Phone: +1 877 441 4866 Country: United States Website: https://www.datamintelligence.com/research-report/-thermal-interface-materials-market

Crypto.com Successfully Renews Top Tier NIST Cybersecurity Ranking – BSC NEWS https://collincountynewsonline.com/crypto-com-successfully-renews-top-tier-nist-cybersecurity-ranking-bsc-news/ Disclaimer: Overall it is vital to proceed with caution when purchasing tokens that have just been listed. For those who have not already read our articles on safety in the BSC it is crucial to reference the following items, HERE and HERE. This is a paid press release, BSC.News does not endorse and is not responsible for or liable for any content, accuracy, quality, advertising, products, or other materials on this page. The project team has purchased this advertisement article for $1500. Readers should do their own research before taking any actions related to the company. BSC.News is not responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods, or services mentioned in the press release. Disclaimer: Overall it is vital to proceed with caution when purchasing tokens that have just been listed. For those who have not already read our articles on safety in the BSC it is crucial to reference the following items, HERE and HERE. This is a paid press release, BSC.News does not endorse and is not responsible for or liable for any content, accuracy, quality, advertising, products, or other materials on this page. The project team has purchased this advertisement article for $2500. Readers should do their own research before taking any actions related to the company. BSC.News is not responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods, or services mentioned in the press release. Disclaimer: This is a paid Ask Me Anything (AMA), BSC.News does not endorse and is not responsible for or liable for any content, accuracy, quality, advertising, products, or other materials on this page. The project team has purchased this advertisement AMA for $2000 Readers should do their own research before taking any actions related to the company. BSC.News is not responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods, or services mentioned in the AMA. Don’t forget to download the BSC News mobile application on iOS and Android to keep up with all the latest news for BNB Chain and crypto. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram! If you need tools and strategies regarding safety and crypto education, be sure to check out the Tutorials, cryptonomics explainers, and Trading Tool Kits from BSC News. Looking for a job in crypto? Check out the CryptoJobsNow listings! Disclaimer: This article is exclusive BSC News Premium Content. Premium content is viewable without a membership for a limited time. After the limited time period expires, readers will need to either subscribe or hold a BSC News NFT to view Premium Content. Visit the BSC News NFT website, Discord, and Twitter to learn more about becoming a Premium member.

Stock Market Today: Dow Loses Over 150 Points As U.S. Stocks Extend Losses; Oil And Gas Prices Fall – The Wall Street Journal https://collincountynewsonline.com/stock-market-today-dow-loses-over-150-points-as-u-s-stocks-extend-losses-oil-and-gas-prices-fall-the-wall-street-journal/ About this page Last Updated: Sep 15, 2022 at 4:54 pm ET Follow The Wall Street Journal’s full markets coverage.

Major Gaming Brands Wade Deeper Into The Realm Of Blockchain Technology – Kitco NEWS https://collincountynewsonline.com/major-gaming-brands-wade-deeper-into-the-realm-of-blockchain-technology-kitco-news/ Editor’s Note: With so much market volatility, stay on top of daily news! Get caught up in minutes with our speedy summary of today’s must-read news and expert opinions. Sign up here! (Kitco News) – Epic Games, the company behind the popular online multiplayer game Fortnite, has officially waded into the world of blockchain gaming by launching Blankos Block Party on the Epic Games Store.   Blankos Block Party is a nonfungible token (NFT) powered online creation game created by Mythical Games that was originally launched as an open beta in December 2020. Since its launch, the Web3 game has accumulated more than one million users according to Mythical Games.  The game studio first revealed its plans to bring the free-to-play title to the Epic Games Store back in June, managing to beat out Gala Games and its western-themed shooter Grit for the honor of being the first Web3 game to launch on the popular PC gaming marketplace.  Blankos Block Party was inspired by designer/vinyl toy culture and allows users to play and collaborate in a colorful online world. NFT technology is used to represent unique items in the game, like avatar designs and accessories, which users can buy and sell through the game’s marketplace.  A number of well-known brands and artist partners have already signed on to be part of Blankos Block Party by offering limited-edition drops, including Burberry, Atari, and musician Deadmau5. For interested players, it’s important to note that owning an NFT is not required to play the game.  The version of Blankos Block Party that launched on the Epic Games store is functionally identical to the playable version on the games website. Both versions are currently available in an “early access” state ahead of the game’s full launch, which is scheduled to occur on Sept. 28. SWIFT explores the use of blockchain technology to improve efficiency Final Fantasy creators double down on blockchain In other blockchain gaming news, Square Enix, the Japanese game developer behind the globally popular Final Fantasy franchise, has signed on to become a node validator for the blockchain gaming project Oasys.  According to the announcement from Oasys, Square Enix managed to claim the last of the project’s 21 initial validator slots. Along with becoming a validator, the pair has also teamed up to create the next generation of blockchain games on Oasys’ EVM-compatible proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain. The main focus of the collaboration will be on the creatine of Triple-A quality games with play-to-earn (P2E) integrations. Other Oasys gaming partners include Double Jump, Bandai Namco and Ubisoft.  In January, Square Enix president and CEO Yosuke Matsuda signaled that he was interested in the idea of introducing blockchain-enabled “token economies” into games to incentivize both players and users that generate content to add to the games. “With advances in token economies, users will be provided with explicit incentives, thereby resulting not only in greater consistency in their motivation, but also creating a tangible upside to their creative efforts,” Matsuda wrote. “From having fun to earning to contributing, a wide variety of motivations will inspire people to engage with games and connect with one another. It is blockchain-based tokens that will enable this. By designing viable token economies into our games, we will enable self-sustaining game growth.” The company’s first dip into the realm of NFTs occurred in July with the release of tokenized character figures for $129.99 featuring characters such as Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.

Grand Jury List: Cocaine, Meth Cases Dominate Taylor County Grand Jury Indictments – KTAB – BigCountryHomepage.com https://collincountynewsonline.com/grand-jury-list-cocaine-meth-cases-dominate-taylor-county-grand-jury-indictments-ktab-bigcountryhomepage-com/ Editor’s Note: A Grand Jury indicted the following suspects on felony charges in Taylor County, Texas, August 18. All individuals named below are considered not guilty unless deemed otherwise in a court of law. Adrian Pena – Tampering with Physical Evidence Christian Moses Campos – Evading Arrest Enhanced Joseph Lee Dosson, Jr. – Theft, Evading Arrest, Unauthorized Use of Motor Vehicle Steven Anthony Lemons – Assault Family Violence Enhanced Christopher Ray Owens – Assault Family Violence Charie Chantel Graham – Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver, Possession of Methamphetamine Mitchell Ray Gollihar – Stalking Luis Luna Miguel – Possession of Methamphetamine Reginald Deandre Brown – Possession of Cocaine, Prohibited Substance in Correctional Facility Jerrian Jordan – Assault Family Violence Mark Tiffany – Aggravated Assault Christian Moses Campos – Evading Arrest Joseph Lee Dornbush III – Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver, Possession of Methamphetamine, Unlawful Possession of Firearm by Felon Adrian Manjarrez – Assault Family Violence Kabura Yeremia – Assault Family Violence Tamara Leigh Fowler – Theft Enhanced Quinton WIlliams – Possession of Cocaine Marselo Garcia – Possession of Methamphetamine, Prohibited Substance in Correction Facility Nova Dawn Nixon – Possession of Methamphetamine Ivory Frost – Unauthorized Use of Motor Vehicle Elkeithryck Mason – Publish or Threaten to Publish Intimate Visual Material Charie Chantel Graham – Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver, Possession of Methamphetamine Daniel Soliz – Possession of Methamphetamine Christopher Ray Owens – Theft Sir Thomas – Unlawful Possession of Firearm by Felon Pricilla Martinez – Forgery – Elderly Jose Ybarra – Forgery Douglas Hartley – Assault Family Violence, Assault of a Pregnant Person Michael William Ahrens – Continuous Violence Against Family Elkeithtryck Mason – Aggravated Assault Michael Ray Seely – Sexual Assault of a Child (three counts) Raymond Medina – Murder Richard Collin Wood – Theft of Property Michael Ryan Leal – Driving While Intoxicated Sheila McGee – Possession of Methamphetamine Gerald Scott Bivens – Possession of Methamphetamine Raquane Wallace – Possession of Cocaine Christopher Lamont Fowler – Possession of Tetrahydrocannabinol Taryn Hagood – Possession of Cocaine Reginald Brown – Possession of Cocaine

32 Top Cheap Weekend Getaways In The U.S. – U.S. News & World Report https://collincountynewsonline.com/32-top-cheap-weekend-getaways-in-the-u-s-u-s-news-world-report/ Sometimes you just need to get out of town, but you may not have weeks on end to spend away from home. For those seeking a quick escape, U.S. News has compiled some top ideas for affordable weekend trips to help you relax, unwind and get away from it all without draining your bank account or requiring you to trek too far from home. Grab your weekender bag and set out on one of these top cheap weekend getaways across the U.S. (Note: Some of the following activities, attractions and locations may be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. New policies may be in place, including capacity restrictions, reservation requirements or mask mandates. Check with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of State and local tourism boards before traveling.) Top Regional Destinations: Northeast Stowe, Vermont (Getty Images) Some call Stowe, Vermont, a hikers paradise, but travelers embarking on a New England weekend getaway here will also find zip lining and performing arts events, plus ample opportunities to enjoy cold weather sports like skiing and snowboarding during winter months. The city sits near many of Vermont’s top attractions. Autumn is especially beautiful here and can make for a cheaper trip if you stick to free activities like hiking and admiring the colorful fall foliage. As you look for weekend stays within your budget, make sure to check out The Stowehof and Butler House Stowe. There are also many bed-and-breakfast properties in the Stowe area, which can help you start your day with a hearty meal while keeping food costs at a minimum. Niagara Falls State Park, New York (Getty Images) Niagara Falls may seem like nothing more than a gigantic waterfall to some people, but there’s quite a bit to do and see in the surrounding area. While the falls themselves are a must-visit, you can also take part in activities ranging from hiking into the Niagara Gorge to riding the Maid of the Mist boat tour right up next to the rushing waters. The New York side of this attraction – one of the world’s top tourist sites – can be relatively low-cost when it comes to hotel stays. You may be able to find accommodation in Niagara Falls with nightly rates starting at less than $70 over dates this fall. New York City (Getty Images) The Big Apple is another city that doesn’t always have the lowest hotel rates, yet you can put your money-saving skills to use in other ways. If you can book a hotel with points or stay with friends or family, a bevy of free things to do in New York City can help you keep your budget in check. Explore the sights and sounds of Times Square or walk the entirety of Central Park, where in summer you’ll find a totally free theater event called Shakespeare in the Park. In the spring and fall, catch free live music at BAMcafé Live, one of Brooklyn’s top tourist offerings. Citygoers can also find affordable entertainment in the form of walking tours, outdoor playgrounds, museums and more. Atlantic City, New Jersey (Getty Images) You can enjoy an affordable weekend in Atlantic City – provided you steer clear of the casinos. Truthfully, there are plenty of ways to spend your time in one of New Jersey’s top tourist destinations, including exploring the beautiful beaches and boardwalk, whose roots date back to 1870. Atlantic City is also home to numerous arts and culture venues and offerings, such as the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey, the aquarium and the Atlantic City Ballet. To keep kids happy and entertained, you can play a low-cost round of mini-golf or spend some time splashing in the water during summer months; if you come here on a romantic New Jersey getaway, treat yourself and your partner to dinner on the waterfront. Farm Sanctuary: Watkins Glen, New York (Courtesy of Farm Sanctuary) Farm Sanctuary in the Finger Lakes region of New York is part animal sanctuary and part country retreat – and an ideal location for a weekend escape from New York City. Travelers eager for a break can book a tiny home and spend time with more than 600 rescued farm animals in Watkins Glen. Cottage rentals start at $225 per night for up to two people during winter (although you do have to pay a $25 membership fee to make a booking). You can check out the top wineries in the Finger Lakes during your visit or explore Watkins Glen State Park. Midwest Black Hills National Forest and Badlands National Park, South Dakota (Getty Images) This area of the U.S. is home to Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park and the fascinating caverns of Wind Cave, making the Black Hills and Badlands perfect for a road trip. The Black Hills boasts numerous potentially budget-friendly hotels for families, including campgrounds and lodges. Nightly rates at Sylvan Lake Lodge within Custer State Park Resort start at about $170 per night, for example. Sankoty Lakes: Spring Bay, Illinois (Courtesy of Sankoty Lakes) If you’re searching for weekend getaway deals or romantic trips in the Midwest, make sure to check out Sankoty Lakes. This Illinois adventure playground offers on-site dining options, bookable glamping tents, luxury rental cabins and endless outdoor fun. Guests who visit get the opportunity to participate in activities like fishing, biking, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, bird-watching and more. The best part? Two-bedroom glamping tents start at around $120 per night over dates this fall. Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari: Santa Claus, Indiana (Courtesy of Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari) If you live in the Midwest, consider making the drive to this budget-friendly theme park and water park. Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari ranks among the most affordable U.S. theme parks especially because of its free parking and modest lodging costs. In addition to plenty of thrill rides, this top-rated amusement destination offers other complimentary kid-friendly perks with admission, including sunscreen, Wi-Fi, soft drinks and use of inner tubes. What’s more, you can camp in a tent next door at the Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph campground for less than $40 per night. Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin (Courtesy of Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau) Wisconsin Dells is home to a myriad world-class water parks and family-friendly resorts – many of which include entry to their on-site parks within the nightly rate. Visitors will also enjoy theme parks, a Ripley’s Believe it Or Not museum, a bustling downtown and plenty of gorgeous scenery marked by unique rock formations. You can frequently find hotel and attraction discounts on the Wisconsin Dells tourism bureau’s website; keep in mind for any family trips that the best prices are typically available when kids are in school. Indianapolis, Indiana (Getty Images) Indianapolis has gained international acclaim for its bustling racing scene, but this Midwest locale is also affordable and fun to visit – particularly for families. The city hosts what’s considered the largest children’s museum in the world, the 250-acre White River State Park and an interactive history museum known as Conner Prairie. Indianapolis boasts plenty of free entertainment and shows especially in summertime, but you can find affordable attractions all year long, such as Eagle Creek Park or the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, which connects the city’s public spaces. Look for various hotel deals year-round – the colder months tend to be the quietest, and you’ll probably want to avoid a visit around the car races in May, when lodging prices soar. Cedar Point: Sandusky, Ohio (Courtesy of Cedar Point) The famed Cedar Point theme park – one of the best things to do in Ohio – is home to numerous thrill rides and roller coasters, as well as an 18-acre water park. Patrons can brave the park’s Steel Vengeance, which is one of the longest hybrid roller coasters in the world, for example. You can find affordable hotels or motels in nearby towns when you visit this top amusement park: The Holiday Inn Express in Sandusky, for example, offers free breakfast with rates starting at less than $100 per night this fall. Keep in mind that, as a seasonal attraction, Cedar Point is typically closed from November to early May. South Gulf Shores, Alabama (Getty Images) The Gulf Coast of Alabama boasts more than 30 miles of white sand beaches for hours of relaxation and aquatic entertainment. In Gulf Shores, you can find a two- or three-bedroom beachfront condo that can sleep up to four guests for less than $700 per week on rental sites such as Airbnb, making the city ideal for a family weekend getaway. Plus, you don’t have to visit during the summer to experience the area’s best weather: Spring and fall boast temperatures that are still comfortable for sunbathing and swimming. If you can drive (Gulf Shores sits less than four hours by car from Montgomery, Alabama; Tallahassee, Florida; and New Orleans), you’ll save even more on this weekend excursion in the South. Massanutten Resort: Massanutten, Virginia Massanutten Resort offers fun and adventure in all seasons of the year, from winter sports like skiing and snowboarding to golf, mountain biking and water park action during warmer months. This resort is perfect for a last-minute getaway from the nation’s capital, considering it’s less than 125 miles by car from Washington, D.C. Deal-seekers will also be happy with all the lodging options at the resort, spanning hotel rooms to affordable condo-style accommodations with up to four bedrooms. Check out Massanutten Resort’s specials and packages to see what you can save. Asheville, North Carolina (Getty Images) Situated within the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville offers a mix of nature, history and food. Travelers can tackle a few of the top hikes in Asheville for some scenic – and low-cost – fun. Stroll along the 1.7-mile Ash...

Latest Business News India Today 16 September 2022 | News Headlines – Tentaran https://collincountynewsonline.com/latest-business-news-india-today-16-september-2022-news-headlines-tentaran/ Please follow and like us: Here’s today business news, the latest business news India today 16 September 2022 Air India draws its transformation plan, to expand and target a 30% market share in the next 5 years. Vridhi Techno Farms Private Ltd.. a startup based in Coimbatore has been recognized by the government for its successful business model. AIRO Group, the company developing air taxis with L&T has started the process to launch its IPO in the US. Tamilnad Mercantile Bank made a market debut with a 3% fall from its issue price. Buy Online Books in India – Buy Deepshikha Books Online at Best Prices In India Must Read: 16 September in Indian history Latest business news India today 16 September 2022 – business news headlines today Billionaire Venture Incubation partnered with DBS Bank for providing investments for start-ups in form of equity. Munoth Industries Ltd produces lithium-ion batteries for the segment of consumer electronics at its Tirupati unit. Must Read:16 September 2022 ke Mukhya Samachar Latest business news India today 16 September 2022 – business news India today  As per government sources, India might export 5 million tonnes of sugar in the first tranche from October. Dassault System, a software firm based in France, to expand its Hinjwadi premises by adding a third building on Earth along with a tripling of its headcount to 9000 by 2030. Must Read:News Headlines of India today 16 September 2022 Must Read:Today Current Affairs 16 September To keep yourself abreast with the latest business news India today 16 September 2022 – business news headlines today, business news India, India startup world news, latest business news, business news live, latest news, business news today India, do follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For watching our collection of videos, follow us on YouTube.

My Turn: Flat Abs, Organized Closets, Financial Freedom – Newsday https://collincountynewsonline.com/my-turn-flat-abs-organized-closets-financial-freedom-newsday/ The first morning of retirement I started a diet. In six days, I dropped 9 pounds. By Week 3, I reached my goal weight. How? The Ketoterranianflexitarian Diet and a sensible exercise plan of pickleball after every meal. Then, I exorcised my wardrobe of superfluous sizes. No more overstuffed drawers or compressed hangers. Shirts, arranged by color, streak across my closet like a rainbow in the same tags-facing-forward direction on evenly spaced hangers. I get seven hours of brain-stimulating REM sleep, never waking to urinate. Sipping my morning coffee, I peruse the news online, check social media, then Wordle, WordHurdle, Phoodle, Phrazle and Quordle. From 7 a.m. to noon I write, avoiding emails and texts, never stopping to play Solitaire. Never. In the first month of retirement, I got a book deal with a major publishing house. My husband and I break for a well-balanced lunch and play tic-tac-toe, improving cognitive skills and strengthening memory. We even shredded our password cheat sheets — fear is a great motivator! Returning to our individual pursuits in the afternoon ensures self-reliance. Public displays of affection and active listening are some of our relationship must-haves. Billy and I enjoy a robust sex life, contributing to healthy body images and libidos. Being open-minded lovers willing to experiment, we explore new avenues to physical and emotional intimacy keeping monotony out of monogamy. We moved to a 55-plus development, guaranteeing a sense of belonging. Typically, it’s advised to downsize. We supersized, enticing loved ones to visit by creating a cozy Coastal Grandma space (think Nancy Meyers’ films). The house is loaded with senior-smart features promoting healthy living, such as an alarm system with a Diet setting. We have a large-capacity fridge since we entertain often, maintaining friendships and dispelling loneliness. If we open the fridge after 7 p.m. on a non-entertaining night, an alarm sounds: “Don’t eat that!” In addition, the alarm has a Public Shaming component, that when activated, prompts Alexa to text deleted photos to our Contacts. To address concerns about outliving our money, we maxed out our credit cards, set financial goals at the casinos, downloaded the HoroscopeWealth app and invested in a Magic 8 Ball. Giving back in our golden years? You betcha! I volunteer at Make-A-Dish Foundation, helping the culinarily-impaired, and Habitat for Urbanity, eradicating interior-design blunders (from the proliferation of backless poufs to unflattering lighting) so that everyone has a decently decorated home. Dinners out with friends maintain vital relationships for a healthy emotional support system, should either of us die. Which we won’t, because we eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly and never make left turns while driving. Never. When we’re not building critical relationships, we feed our voracious appetite for the arts with a beefy cable package, 85-inch smart TV and two Park-Your-Butt-Here chairs — the Rolls-Royce of recliners. Bingeing provides conversational fodder in our social circles. I maintain a list of recommended movies, series and documentaries, sorted by genre and referrer so we never utter: “What’s that show Glen’s watching?” After TV, I read for three hours, accomplishing my 365-books-a-year goal. Having recently moved from Bellmore, Billy and I visit family regularly and connect with long-distance friends via scheduled Zooms to avoid social isolation, which can pose health risks to seniors. We enjoy a larger social network than humanly possible with compelling Facebook comments and captivating images of frogs indigenous to southern Delaware. In my spare time, I digitized 50-plus years of photos without the help of a millennial. We know people who retired incorrectly. They started smoking, embraced inactivity and followed a high-fat, low-fiber, carb-heavy diet that didn’t provide the nutrients their brains and bodies need to lower their risk of chronic conditions. But the biggest mistake was their refusal to reinvest in their relationship with their partner. They didn’t practice positivity or model respectful listening but defaulted to old habits, like snapping at each other: “I just said that!”). They didn’t schedule date nights, turn out bedroom lights or binge “Bridgerton” together. Some people just can’t be helped. Paula Ganzi McGloin, Millsboro, Delaware YOUR STORY Letters and essays for My Turn are original works (of up to 600 words) by readers that have never appeared in print or online. Share special memories, traditions, friendships, life-changing decisions, observations of life or unforgettable moments for possible publication. Email act2@newsday.com. Include name, address, phone numbers and photos if available. Edited stories may be republished in any format.

Car Strikes Worker At North Collins School | News, Sports, Jobs – Evening Observer https://collincountynewsonline.com/car-strikes-worker-at-north-collins-school-news-sports-jobs-evening-observer/ North Collins Central School is reporting one of its bus attendants was injured after being struck by an automobile. The district reported the incident occurred around 7:25 a.m. Thursday while outside bus No. 111 at a student pickup. No students were involved in the accident and law enforcement is investigating the incident. “Students from the bus were then dropped off at their respective schools and were met by our counseling staff,” the district reported. “Please be assured that we will do everything we can to ensure the safety and well-being of our children. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the district office at (716) 337-0101 ext. 1301 or your child’s principal.” Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox

When Metaverse Worlds Collide In Congress – The Hill https://collincountynewsonline.com/when-metaverse-worlds-collide-in-congress-the-hill/ AP Photo/Steve Helber Pastor D.J. Soto of VR Church delivers a sermon in his home on Sunday Jan. 23, 2022, in Fredericksburg, Va. Soto sings, preaches and performs digital baptisms in the metaverse to a growing congregation of avatars. Assuming art is what the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer defined as a “a scene within a scene like in Hamlet,” then perhaps that’s what the metaverse is — a 3D spectacle within a spectacle of virtual reality worlds. Gaming industry leaders envision the metaverse as an online social network that relies on haptic feedback and computer components, such as a VR headset, to synchronize users’ real-time physical movements with a digital avatar. Meanwhile, the metaverse is already presenting novel opportunities and threats to users and Congress is just beginning to discuss its economic potential, security guardrails, and human rights implications. Focusing first on the financial possibilities, the metaverse’s expected market value may reach $758.6 billion by 2026. According to a 2022 business study by Ernst and Young LLP, gaming industry leaders anticipate that the metaverse will change how companies interact with customers and structure their business models to foster economic growth and innovation in new technologies. The company Meta, formerly Facebook, announced it would “bring the metaverse to life” in 2021 with Horizon Worlds, a virtual social platform.  Other companies, including Verizon, Chipotle, and the fashion brand Gucci, are exploring leveraging the metaverse to enhance brand recognition and capture the emerging market in Web 3.0 — a decentralized version of the internet in multiverse worlds that encompasses an array of new technologies such as nonfungible tokens (NFTs) and cryptocurrencies.  Despite these gains, however, any opportunity in the metaverse also carries privacy and data security risks: “As gamers input more and more personal information into the metaverse to best personalize their unique experiences, gaming companies will be responsible for protecting this user data from cyber criminals,” reports Ernst and Young. Their study also predicts that gaming companies will hire employees with advanced cybersecurity skills and partner with third-party cybersecurity firms to help mitigate cyber risks such as identity theft, intellectual property theft, and financial fraud. Even the health care industry may stand to benefit from using the metaverse to improve access to, and the quality of, patient care telemedicine visits and educational training simulations. Surprisingly, the Next Web opined that “the biggest challenge isn’t making the metaverse technically feasible. It’s making it comfortable.” For example, some metaverse users report experiencing motion sickness symptoms like nausea and dizziness. Dubbed “virtual reality sickness,” this sensation can occur when there is a sensory disconnect between visual environmental cues and physical body movement, according to the International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction. To remedy these adverse effects, app developers are experimenting with visual effects like minimizing peripheral vision during player movement, enabling players to jump from static position to static position, and snap turning — manipulating camera angles to reveal character points of view at either 30-, 45-, or 90-degree angles.  The metaverse also presents challenges for preventing online harassment and sexual assault. In 2021, a woman reported a disturbing incident using Oculus Quest’s VR platform when a stranger groped her avatar and refused to stop, replying, “It’s the metaverse, I’ll do what I want.” Another female reported a similar incident using Horizon Worlds, a multiplayer gaming platform, when her avatar was virtually groped by another avatar during beta phase testing. According to Meta spokeswoman, Kristina Milian, Horizon Worlds is enhancing safety features like “Safety Zone,” which casts a protective shield around avatars to prevent other characters from interacting with it, and also offers safety tutorials to users.  While such actions are helpful, researchers on online harassment are calling for stronger protective measures from tech industry leaders to deter and punish this type of toxic behavior. In an interview with MIT Technology Review, professor Katherine Cross of the University of Washington explained that “the nature of virtual-reality spaces is such that it is designed to trick the user into thinking they are physically in a certain space, that their every bodily action is occurring in a 3D environment … [which is] part of the reason why emotional reactions can be stronger in that space, and why VR triggers the same internal nervous system and psychological responses.” Apart from protecting adult users, some researchers are concerned that children may be targeted in the metaverse, and are therefore urging companies to enact heightened protections. As Congress begins evaluating the risks and opportunities with the metaverse, members can mine wisdom from antiquity by applying the following concept: Hierocles’ concentric circles of concern. First, Hierocles’ circles are drawn beginning with the immediate circle of self-interest; then a larger circle expanding outward to represent family; followed by a larger circle representing the local community; then the nation-state; and finally an outer circle representing the global community. This framework enables informed decision-making and planning across stakeholder groups with converging and diverging interests. Policymakers and industry leaders can apply Hierocles’ circles to better visualize the metaverse ecosystem. Doing so can enable leaders to design a regulatory framework that optimizes protecting and balancing community interests across this 3D spectacle. Zhanna L. Malekos Smith is a senior associate with the Strategic Technologies Program and the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, an assistant professor in the Department of Systems Engineering at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and an affiliate faculty member with the Modern War Institute. The views expressed here are hers alone and not those of CSIS, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.