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A Serial Female Entrepreneur’s Journey: Mary Blackmon Launches Farm To Wellness Retreats(TM) – Wellness Travel With A Farm-Fresh Twist – AccessWire https://collincountynewsonline.com/a-serial-female-entrepreneurs-journey-mary-blackmon-launches-farm-to-wellness-retreatstm-wellness-travel-with-a-farm-fresh-twist-accesswire/ ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / October 5, 2022 / Mary Blackmon plans to help people have better well-being, self-care and health by launching Farm to Wellness Retreats, putting the first-ever farm-fresh spin on the world of wellness travel. This is her latest entrepreneurial venture that coincides with her sister business Farm Star Living, currently in its tenth year, which has helped people find farms to visit across the USA as well as have healthy farm-fresh foods, recipes, farmer profiles and fresh food at their fingertips. Blackmon believes that farm-fresh food is at the crux of all things healthy – mental, physical and spiritual; and without it, holistic health isn’t possible. Thus her new ‘on the pulse’ venture Farm to Wellness Retreats shines a spotlight on things ‘farm-fresh’ by featuring a “very first” international list of spas and resorts that offer mind, body spirit wellness – with each offering their own unique farm-fresh twist. To make the cut, each property must have either a farm, garden, vineyard on premises, offer farm-to-table cuisine sourced locally, or provide spa services featuring indigenous / organic or farm-sourced spa products. Recently Blackmon conducted a survey of the Farm Star Living community, with 5,000 people responding: 95% said they take health and wellness seriously 97% practice self-care; spa services, meditation, yoga, healthy eating, walking, mindfulness, 74% they’d be interested in a health and wellness retreat Blackmon, always the entrepreneur, listened to her community and has just launched Farm to Wellness Retreats to help others achieve their personal goals and dreams of a healthier way of life. Now self-care, holistic health and even inspiration is more accessible than ever. Stay tuned as Blackmon’s next entrepreneurial journey – and personal next chapter – is just beginning. Mary Blackmon’s Backstory – From Spa Star to Farm Star A pioneer in digital marketing working at Wired in NYC who helped roll out the ‘ad banner’ across the USA (1996), Mary later launched the former Spa Addicts in January, 2003, to help ‘the everywoman’ find luxury spa services more affordably – prior to the spa boom or sites like GroupOn that followed many years later. She soon became a celebrated advocate for me-time and self-care, or in other words an influencer (before social media), promoting this passionate message for brands such as Cadillac, Blackberry, Johnson & Johnson and more. Blackmon penned columns for IVillage, Skin Inc. and contributed to others including Health, and was featured in national women’s magazines from O Oprah Magazine to Cosmo to Women’s Health, and a featured speaker across the USA and in Canada. Then came a significant life decision, to step up to take over the family rice farm spanning thousands of acres or watch it disappear. So, in 2009, Blackmon traded in her spa robe for overalls, leaving Beverly Hills for the Arkansas Louisiana Delta, and learned how to farm. This confirmed how she had always felt – farmers are our unsung heroes who are rarely given their rightful due, so she started a new business Farm Star Living, celebrating farmers and farms and presenting them for the first time in a more accessible, hip and pop-culture spin. This was the first website to make ‘farm to table’ a way of life and spotlight those who had been so often overlooked. Blackmon created one of America’s first agritourism farm directories, featuring approximately 1,000 farms offering activities including apple picking, alligator farms, corn mazes, petting zoos, honeybee plantations and more. Her name has become synonymous with farm-fresh food over the last ten years and has been a go-to agriculture expert for Fox & Friends, hailed as one of the most “important farm voices in the USA” (Country Woman Magazine), been featured in national and regional TV, magazines, podcasts, and iHeart Radio, sharing insights into food trends, tips and farming. She has taken site visitors behind the scenes in videos filmed at farms, food shows and created content on healthy eating and foods. An Evolving Community Yet, Blackmon’s passion for self-care still has remained dear to her heart, as has overall wellness, and so in 2021, she became a certified Integrative Health & Wellness coach to uplevel her skills and ability to empower and educate others. The pandemic and the alarming increase in many neglecting self-care, mental health, and wellness issues reaffirmed her need for this, as did the Farm Star Living community. ABOUT Blackmon is pioneering a new way of living, which she calls farm to wellness, integrating fresh food while partnering with boutique wellness destinations, offering holistic, self-care, and mind-body-spirit health. Blackmon is evolving, stepping into a new venture fueled by passion, digital expertise, and mind, body, and spirit. She continues to inspire, motivate and educate audiences on how to be their most healthy versions of themselves. For More Information contact: Tammy Petersen Founder/CEO 312-961-3280 WELLNESS MARKETING, LTD. [email protected] SOURCE: Farm To Wellness Retreats

2022 MLB Playoff Field Is Set With Seeds Locked: Wild Card Series Schedule And Format Explained – CBS Sports https://collincountynewsonline.com/2022-mlb-playoff-field-is-set-with-seeds-locked-wild-card-series-schedule-and-format-explained-cbs-sports/ USATSI With the action from Tuesday, Oct. 4 between playoff teams concluded, we know now for certain that the games on the final day of the regular season are all meaningless in terms of the playoff field. Each of the 12 teams was already clinched heading into Tuesday, then the Braves clinched the NL East and results for the last two wild-card teams on both sides of the bracket settled the matchups.  Here’s how it’ll look.  American League Byes: No. 1 Houston Astros and No. 2 New York Yankees Wild Card Series: No. 5 Seattle Mariners at No. 4 Toronto Blue Jays Wild Card Series: No. 6 Tampa Bay Rays at No. 3 Cleveland Guardians The Wild Card Series will be three games all in the same ballpark with no travel. There won’t be re-seeding, either, so the winner of the Rays-Guardians series faces the Yankees in the ALDS while the Mariners-Blue Jays winner heads to Houston.  For a full breakdown of the new format, we’ve got you covered.  National League Byes: No. 1 Los Angeles Dodgers and No. 2 Atlanta Braves Wild Card Series: No. 5. San Diego Padres at No. 4 New York Mets Wild Card Series: No. 6. Philadelphia Phillies at No. 3 St. Louis Cardinals As noted, there isn’t re-seeding after the first round. It’s a locked bracket, so the winner of the Padres-Mets gets the Dodgers in the NLDS while the winner of the Phillies-Cardinals series gets the defending champion Braves.  The individual game times haven’t been assigned yet, but we know all four Wild Card Series will be played Friday, Saturday and, if necessary, the clinching Game 3 would be played Sunday.  Wild Card Series schedule (best-of-three) Friday, Oct. 7 Game 1: Mets vs. Padres ESPN Game 1: Cardinals vs. Phillies ESPN Game 1: Guardians vs. Rays ESPN Game 1: Blue Jays vs. Mariners ESPN Saturday, Oct. 8 Game 2: Mets vs. Padres ESPN Game 2: Cardinals vs. Phillies ESPN Game 2: Guardians vs. Rays ESPN Game 2: Blue Jays vs. Mariners ESPN Sunday, Oct. 9 Game 3: Mets vs. Padres (if nec.) ESPN Game 3: Cardinals vs. Phillies (if nec.) ESPN Game 3: Guardians vs. Rays (if nec.) ESPN Game 3: Blue Jays vs. Mariners (if nec.) ESPN Game 1 of all four divisional series will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 11. Check out the full schedule here.

Fidelity Launches Ethereum Index Fund, Bitwise Offers Metaverse ETF – Kitco NEWS https://collincountynewsonline.com/fidelity-launches-ethereum-index-fund-bitwise-offers-metaverse-etf-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) – Institutions continue to ramp up their cryptocurrency offerings as global regulators increasingly move towards establishing a working framework for dealing with the nascent asset class as adoption treks higher.  Most recently, Fidelity Investments has launched a new Ethereum Index Fund that will provide its clients with exposure to Ether (ETH), according to a document the firm filed with the SEC on Sept. 26. The new fund accepts minimum outside investments of $50,000 and it has already seen more than $5 million in reported sales.  The multi-trillion dollar asset manager launched originally launched its crypto-focused institutional custody and trading platform Fidelity Digital Assets in 2018. The firm currently offers two exchange-traded crypto funds that are dedicated to the metaverse and digital payments.  This most recent development follows last month’s revelation that Fidelity Investments is mulling over the idea of letting all of its retail customers have access to trading Bitcoin (BTC) directly through the brokerage platform.  Fidelity Digital Assets is also part of a group of institutions that are backing the launch of EDX Markets (EDXM), “a first-of-its-kind exchange that will address latent demand for digital asset trading by enabling safe and compliant trading of digital assets through trusted intermediaries.”  Bitwise launches a Metaverse ETF In other institutional news, crypto index fund manager Bitwise Asset Management has announced the launch of the Bitwise Web3 exchange-traded fund (ETF), which includes exposure to five categories of Web3 companies. According to a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing dated Oct. 4, the Bitwise Web3 ETF (BWEB) is now listed and trading on NYSE Arca, an all-electronic, U.S.-based exchange for listing and trading ETFs. The five categories of Web3 companies included in the BWEB are infrastructure providers, finance, metaverse and digital worlds, “web3-enabled creator economy” and development and governance.  The ETF offers exposure to up to 40 companies, with at least 85% of the portfolio “directly linked to business activities associated with one or more key areas of growth in web3,” Bitwise said on its website. “With the Bitwise Web3 ETF, we’re excited to give investors the opportunity to capture one of the fastest-emerging themes in technology through a diverse mix of companies that we believe will lead the charge,” Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan said in the product announcement.  According to the ETFs product sheet, BWEB is based on the Bitwise Web3 Equities Index and has management fees equivalent to .85% of average daily net assets.   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.

The Best Dog Gifts For Dogs, Dog Moms And Dads To Buy Before Prime Day – USA TODAY https://collincountynewsonline.com/the-best-dog-gifts-for-dogs-dog-moms-and-dads-to-buy-before-prime-day-usa-today/ Camryn Rabideau  |  Reviewed — Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed’s editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission. If you consider your dog a member of the family, chances are you get them gifts for the holidays—we at Reviewed certainly do! Even if you just get your four-legged friend a new toy or bone, they’re sure to be excited to have a present waiting for them under the tree, and you’ll be excited to know many of these dog gifts are already on sale, ahead of Amazon’s October Prime Day, the Prime Early Access sale. There’s a lot more where this came from. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get all our reviews, expert advice, deals and more. Whether you’re looking for something small and inexpensive or want to go all-out for your pup, we’ve got a wide range of amazing holiday gifts for dogs to choose from, including options for every type of dog—active, adventurous, couch potato and more. The following are 20 gifts to give your pet this year, including one of our top-rated dog cameras, a super-cozy dog bed and a delicious dog cookie subscription box! 1. For the dog who loves sleeping: Casper Dog Bed If your dog loves nothing more than a good mid-day nap, treat them to the splurge-worthy Casper Dog Bed this holiday season. Our testers love that this dog bed is extremely supportive and well-made—not to mention comfortable for your pup! It comes in three sizes to fit any dog breed, and it comes in three colors to match your decor. The cover of the bed is easy to remove and wash if it ever gets dirty, and it can withstand years of rough play and digging.  $169 at Casper 2. For the dog who loves treats: Wufers Cookie Club If you have to spell out C-O-O-K-I-E to prevent your dog from racing over to the treat jar, we know the perfect gift for them. The Wufers Cookie Club is a subscription box designed just for the special dog (or dogs) in your life, and each box contains an array of delicious gourmet dog cookies with a fun seasonal theme. You’ll get tasty pumpkin cookies in the fall, the brand’s signature advent cookie calendar during the holidays and so much more. You can choose a month-to-month subscription or to pay for a full year in advance, but either way, your dog will definitely thank you for this special treat!  $40/month at Wufers 3. For the adventurous dog: Fi Smart Dog Collar  If you and your dog frequently go hiking or camping together, we highly recommend the Fi Smart Dog Collar. This collar keeps track of your dog’s daily activity levels and sleep patterns, and it also doubles as a GPS tracker if your dog ever gets lost. When we tested this smart collar, we loved that it has a sleek, stylish design, and its battery also lasts much longer than other smart collars, only needing to be charged once every few months.  $149 at Fi 4. For the dog who hates being alone: Eufy Pet Camera We’ve tested several of the best smart pet cameras available today, and our favorite is the Eufy Pet Camera. This gadget allows you to see what your pet is up to at any time of the day, streaming 1080p video right to your smartphone, and we love that it has a 170-degree wide-angle view and can rotate up to 270 degrees, letting you see the whole room. The camera is equipped with two-way audio and is able to toss treats to your pet, and unlike many other options, there’s no monthly subscription fee. $200 at Amazon 5. For the dog who loves balls: KONG Jumblr  Your dog is sure to go crazy for this cool ball-in-a-ball toy. The KONG Jumblr is made up of a large outer ball with a tennis ball that rattles around inside. The outer shell has handles on each side, making it easy for your pup to pick up and carry around, and it even squeaks when squeezed to keep your dog engaged for longer. The unique design is sure to provide hours of entertainment for your pup, and it might even become their new favorite toy. $15 at Tractor Supply 6. For the dog that always needs a bath: A personalized dog robe Every pampered pooch deserves a custom robe for bath time! The WhiskersWorld Personalized Dog Robe is available in three sizes and a wide range of colors to match your dog’s style, and it’s made from an absorbent polyester-microfiber blend with velcro closures that wrap around your dog’s chest and stomach. You can have the robe embroidered with your dog’s name for a sweet personal touch, and they’ll love running around in it after their at-home spa session. $28 at Etsy 7. For the dog who was extra good this year: Goody Box Did your dog make it onto Santa’s “Nice List” this year? If so, your good boy or girl definitely deserves a Goody Box! These curated boxes from Chewy get two paws up from our reviewers, as they’re packed full of top-rated toys and treats from the brand. Each box contains five or more items at a discounted price, and Chewy frequently introduces fun seasonal boxes for both large and small dogs, as well as puppies. $25+ at Chewy 8. For the dog who loves puzzles: Nina Ottosson Puzzle Toy You can make mealtime more interesting for your dog with the help of the Nina Ottosson Interactive Treat Puzzle Toy. These top-rated puzzles are a must-have for smart pups, as they’ll keep your pet stimulated and help to tire them out. While there are a wide variety of puzzles available from the brand, this particular design is a ball that your dog has to roll around to dispense treats or food. It’s a great brain-buster for rainy days, and who can resist the reasonable price? $10 at Amazon 9. For the super-smart dog: FluentPet Talking Buttons If you’re on Instagram or TikTok, you may have seen Bunny, the super-smart sheepadoodle who uses a set of buttons to communicate with her parents. Sounds cool? You can talk to your dog, too, with the FluentPet Dog Talking Button Kit—the exact buttons that Bunny uses! This starter set includes two non-slip floor tiles and two buttons that you can use to record words you want to teach your pup. The buttons are suitable for dogs of all sizes, and the floor tiles have extra slots to add more buttons in the future, if you choose.  $35 at Amazon 10. For the athletic dog: Agility equipment set The Better Sporting Dogs Deluxe Agility Equipment Set is the perfect activity for any dog who has endless amounts of energy. The at-home agility kit includes two bar jumps, a tire jump, six weave poles, a 10-foot-long tunnel, a chute tunnel and a pause box, allowing you to set up a full obstacle course for your pet. The components break down into compact, easy-to-store forms, complete with carrying cases, and the set will provide hours of entertainment as you teach your pup how to navigate each task. $185 at Amazon 11. For the dog who likes homemade treats: Dash Dog Treat Maker With the Dash Dog Treat Maker, it’s quick and easy to whip up homemade treats for your spoiled dog. This gadget works just like a waffle iron—you simply pour in batter, and in a matter of minutes, you’ll have eight bone-shaped treats to entice your pup. We love that this treat maker comes with recipes that are easy to make with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, and we’re betting your dog will give the homemade treats two big paws up. $25 at Amazon 12. For the dog in training: A custom treat jar If your pup is still learning good behaviors, the Pottery Barn Mason Stoneware Pet Treat Canister is a great spot to stash their favorite treats. The jar is available in white or black finishes, and it comes with a tight-fitting acacia wood lid. The sleek design has a little bone shape on the side, and we love that you can even have it personalized with your dog’s name. It will look adorable sitting on your kitchen counter, and your pet will quickly learn that good behavior = a trip to the cookie jar! $40 at Pottery Barn 13. For the dog who wanders: Apple Airtag + Airtag case Does your dog tend to wander off when you’re not looking? If so, you can give yourself peace of mind with an Apple Airtag and the FuniteStore Dog Airtag Case. The Airtag pairs up with your iPhone, allowing you to quickly pinpoint its location and locate your missing pup, and the special Airtage case is designed to attach right to your dog’s collar. You can even have the case customized with your dog’s name and your phone number to ensure your dog will always find their way home. $29 at Best Buy  $9 at Etsy 14. For the dog who loves camping: Ruffwear Highlands Dog Sleeping Bag Is your dog your faithful camping companion? Then they deserve their very own sleeping bag for your outdoor adventures. The Ruffwear Highlands Dog Sleeping Bag is designed specifically for pets, with a circular shape that your dog can curl up in on cold nights. It has a padded bottom to provide cushioning against the hard ground, and the shell is water-resistant and quick-drying. Plus, the sleeping bag comes with a convenient compression sack that makes it easy for you to carry as you hike.  $100 at REI 15. For the city dog: Fable Carrier Bag For those with small dogs—we’re talking 15 pounds or less—you’ve got to get them the chic Fable Carrier Bag. This attractive leather tote bag might look like your average handbag, but it’s actually designed for carrying around dogs, featuring a cushioned nylon interior, inner tether, and reinforced straps. The stylish bag is handcrafted in Spain, and it comes in three colors to match your dog’s style.  $225 at Fable 16. For the dog who loves being part of the family: A personalized holiday ornament Get your dog involved in the festivities this holiday season with a HowlinTag Personalized Dog Ornament. These adorable ornaments are made from a piece of walnut wood cut into the shape of a bone, and they’re personalized with your dog’s name. We love that you can choose fr...

Crypto News Summary: Bridgewater Associates ‘Transitions’ From Ray Dalio, LG Partners W/ NFT Platform – Cryptonews https://collincountynewsonline.com/crypto-news-summary-bridgewater-associates-transitions-from-ray-dalio-lg-partners-w-nft-platform-cryptonews/ Ray Dalio. Source: a video screenshot, Financial Observer / YouTube Get your daily, bite-sized digest of cryptoasset and blockchain-related news – investigating the stories flying under the radar of today’s crypto news. __________ Career news Major hedge fund Bridgewater Associates said that its founder Ray Dalio has finished a leadership transition that began in February. The necessary and required legal, regulatory, and investor requirements to finish the transition procedure have been completed, and, from now on, the fund will be led by co-CEOs Nir Bar Dea and Mark Bertolini, as well as co-chief investment officers Greg Jensen and Bob Prince. Daniel Leon, co-founder of bankrupt lender Celsius Network, has stepped down, Bloomberg reported. Infrastructure and technology solution Pool Data announced that Andrew Yang, former US presidential candidate, entrepreneur, and Web3 advocate, will join its team as a Strategic Advisor. Yang will support Pool Data’s mission to redistribute power, value, and control in the data economy, they said. Major crypto exchange Coinbase has hired a Goldman Sachs executive Usman Naeem as its new head of global derivative sales and agency trading in London, according to a LinkedIn post. Naeem also worked in the equity derivatives department of Bank of America Merrill Lynch. NFT news South Korean tech giant LG announced a global partnership with Portuguese-based non-fungible token (NFT) platform Fr0ntier X to deliver interactive NFT integrations and experiences on LG webOS Smart Signage, said a press release. This partnership is built around Fr0ntierX’s suite of software solutions and its application that allows for authentication of NFT’s on-screen. This enables a new class of possibilities for brands and users to explore while maximizing NFT utility, they added. Exchange news Coinbase is expanding its services in Australia with new product features, said an announcement. Australians will now be able to buy, sell, and trade crypto with new PayID features,  and they will get access to Retail Advanced Trading, providing more advanced traders with in-depth technical analysis of crypto markets. OKX’s website has been blocked in Russia, according to Roskomsvoboda, a local NGO monitoring online censorship, and as first reported by CoinDesk. The reasons for it being blacklisted are unknown.  Digital asset exchange EDX Markets and blockchain infrastructure platform Paxos (PAX) announced a partnership that will enable institutional custody of traded assets for EDXM clients, and provide Paxos customers with direct access to this new ecosystem, said the press release. Web3 news Web3 services platform Chainlink announced that Two Sigma Securities, a systematic liquidity provider and trading business, has joined the Chainlink network, enabling developers in the Web3 ecosystem to access Two Sigma Securities’ market data to support a wide range of smart contract use cases that rely on an aggregation of data sources for financial market data, including swaps, options, and other derivative markets. Two Sigma Securities is contributing its proprietary data to Chainlink decentralized oracle networks (DONs) to generate tamper-resistant oracle reports, said the press release. The foundation behind the NEAR Protocol announced a new partnership with Google Cloud. The collaboration will involve Google Cloud providing technical support for NEAR grantees as they develop and scale their Web3 projects and dapps, said an announcement. DeFi news Market infrastructure provider Cboe Markets announced it has joined the Pyth network, a decentralized financial (DeFi) market data distribution platform for aggregated data. Per the announcement, Cboe plans to begin publishing limited derived equities market data for certain symbols from one of its four US equities exchanges to the Pyth network in fourth-quarter 2022, providing real-time, institutional-grade pricing information to help further grow the network. Polkadot (DOT)-based DeFi-focused parachain Acala said on Wednesday that it has fully reopened its services to users following its security incident. “The community referendum for stage 3/3 of resuming Acala operations has been executed. All functionalities on Acala are now live,” the team said in a tweet. Investment news Talent Protocol, the web3 professional community for high-potential builders, has acquired Agora Labs, a social token and NFT infrastructure platform for creators to build and scale their communities, said a press release. The acquisition will not only integrate Agora’s tech stack and community into Talent Protocol, but also onboard its young founders, Matthew Espinoza (CEO) and Freeman (CTO), into the team. Gaming news Oasys, a blockchain developed for the gaming community, announced a strategic partnership with tofuNFT, a multi-chain, GameFi-focused NFT marketplace, to expand the Oasys gaming ecosystem. As part of the strategic partnership, tofuNFT will integrate with all of the Verses (gaming-focused Layer-2s on Oasys), said the press release.

Poland Wants US To Share Nuclear Weapons To Counter Growing Threats From Russia – Bloomberg https://collincountynewsonline.com/poland-wants-us-to-share-nuclear-weapons-to-counter-growing-threats-from-russia-bloomberg/ We’ve detected unusual activity from your computer network To continue, please click the box below to let us know you’re not a robot.

Pinnacle InterTech Award For FLXfinish+ Technology In Canon Colorado Large Format Printers Powered By UVgel Ink – PR Newswire https://collincountynewsonline.com/pinnacle-intertech-award-for-flxfinish-technology-in-canon-colorado-large-format-printers-powered-by-uvgel-ink-pr-newswire/ , /PRNewswire/ — Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, is pleased to announce that it has received a Pinnacle InterTech Award from PRINTING United Alliance for the new Canon FLXfinish+ technology featured in its award-winning range of Colorado roll-to-roll large format printers, powered by Canon’s UVgel inks.  FLXfinish+ is a UVgel feature that is designed to enable Print Service Providers to use only one ink set to produce matte prints, gloss prints and mixed matte and gloss on the same print, independent of the media – without a varnish or additional consumables. FLXFinish+ “We are proud to win this Pinnacle InterTech award, which further demonstrates Canon’s commitment to delivering the best products and services possible to our customers,” said Shinichi “Sam” Yoshida, executive vice president and general manager of Canon U.S.A., Inc.  “FLXfinish+ offers capabilities that can help a print service provider uniquely differentiate their business without increasing costs by offering customers matte and glossy finish on the same print.” The Pinnacle InterTech Awards recognize significant new technologies that help improve or advance the printing industry with exceptional contributions in quality, capability, and productivity, and are predicted to have a major impact on the printing industry. Canon FLXfinish+, which in the opinion of the judges “represented a new revolutionary and unique feature of UVgel technology,” has been honored with a Pinnacle InterTech Award for 2022. “This juried competition represents the best of the best among commercial hardware, software, consumables, and industrial and screen equipment, and judges are basing their decisions on objective criteria,” said Ray Weiss, director, Digital Print Programs, PRINTING United Alliance. Combining the best aspects of alternative ink technologies in one, UVgel is designed to offer the color gamut and light fastness of eco-solvent, the fit-for-indoor use and quick drying time of latex and the productivity and low-temperature printing process of UV. And with customers benefitting from zero VOC emissions, zero hazardous air pollutants and a low average ink usage of .6ml/ft2 across the more than 2,500 UVgel engines installed worldwide, UVgel has already proved itself to be a sustainable and cost-efficient alternative for latex and eco-solvent technology. “We’d like to thank PRINTING United Alliance for recognizing the innovative FLXfinish+ technology,” said Robert Reddy, senior vice president, Large Format Solutions, Canon U.S.A., Inc.  “We hope this award shows how FLXfinish+ really breathes life into the prints.”  For more information and the full list of product specifications, visit http://usa.canon.com. About PRINTING United Alliance PRINTING United Alliance is the most comprehensive member-based printing and graphic arts association in the United States, comprised of the vast communities which it represents. The Alliance serves industry professionals across market segments with preeminent education, training, workshops, events, research, government and legislative representation, safety, and environmental sustainability guidance, as well as resources from a leading media company in the industry – NAPCO Media. Now a division of PRINTING United Alliance, Idealliance is a global leader in standards training and certification for printing and graphic arts operations across the entire industry supply chain. PRINTING United Alliance also produces the PRINTING United Expo, the most influential days in printing. The expansive display of technology and supplies, education, programming, and services are showcased to the industry at large, and represents all market segments in one easily accessed place. About Canon U.S.A., Inc. Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions to the United States and to Latin America and the Caribbean markets. With approximately $30.6 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), as of 2021 has ranked in the top-five overall in U.S. patents granted for 36 consecutive years† and was one of Fortune Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies in 2022. Canon U.S.A. was featured in Newsweek’s Most Loved Workplaces list for 2021, ranking among the top 100 companies for employee happiness and satisfaction at work. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company’s RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss and follow us on Twitter @CanonUSA. †Number of patents for 2021 are based on figures released by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services. Figures for 2005 to 2020 are based on information issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Specifications subject to change without notice. SOURCE Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Braniff Airways Boutique Announces New Fall Collection Featuring Designs Of Alexander Girard – Galveston County Daily News https://collincountynewsonline.com/braniff-airways-boutique-announces-new-fall-collection-featuring-designs-of-alexander-girard-galveston-county-daily-news-2/ Daily Headlines Start your morning with the top headlines each day. Breaking News Receive email alerts anytime there is breaking news or a severe weather alert. Sports Update Get the latest local and national sports headlines delivered to your inbox every morning. Reel Report Plan your fishing trips with Capt. Joe Kent’s Reel Report every evening. Biz Buzz Receive Laura Elder’s Biz Buzz direct to your inbox every Sunday. Today’s Weather Receive the daily weather forecast and the weekly outlook in your inbox each morning. Weather Man Stan Receive an email notification each time resident weather expert Stan Blazyk writes a new article. In Case You Missed It ICYMI is a weekly newsletter highlighting stories from the past week. Wether they were the most important, most read or most talked about we want to make sure you read them. ICYMI also features select historical content. Obituaries Receive the most recent obituaries every afternoon. e-Edition Get a link to the latest e-Edition delivered to your inbox each morning. Coast Monthly Receive updates on the latest issues of Coast Monthly. Dear Abby Receive the latest Dear Abby column in your inbox each morning. Special Offers Receive special offers from The Daily News and select partners including discounts, contests and more.

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Credit Cards From Chase Launch The Teach The Love Contest To Celebrate And Give Back To U.S. – Bloomberg https://collincountynewsonline.com/southwest-rapid-rewards-credit-cards-from-chase-launch-the-teach-the-love-contest-to-celebrate-and-give-back-to-u-s-bloomberg/ We’ve detected unusual activity from your computer network To continue, please click the box below to let us know you’re not a robot.

AP Top Business News At 8:20 A.m. EDT – WTMJ https://collincountynewsonline.com/ap-top-business-news-at-820-a-m-edt-wtmj/ AP Top Business News at 8:20 a.m. EDT  WTMJ

Improve Your Nutrition And Workouts With Coaching From This Pair Of Freeletics Apps – MUO – MakeUseOf https://collincountynewsonline.com/improve-your-nutrition-and-workouts-with-coaching-from-this-pair-of-freeletics-apps-muo-makeuseof/ In life, two things are essential: your health and fitness. Staying physically active and eating well have a number of fantastic benefits, and with smartphone apps, living, feeling, and looking better have never been easier. Here’s why you should download and use the Freeletics Fitness and Freeletics Nutrition apps to help you become the best version of yourself. What Is Freeletics Fitness? Using Freeletics Fitness is like exercising with a personal trainer on your phone when you can’t afford a real one. Forget about going to the gym or buying expensive equipment—Freeletics Fitness works around what you have access to and what your personal goals are. The app learns and adapts according to your progress as you work toward your fitness goal. If you want to use all the features on the app such as the AI-powered personal trainer and mindset sessions, you’ll need to sign up for a subscription. But the app does feature some workouts and audio sessions so that you can get a feel for it before you pay. Download: Freeletics Fitness for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available) Working out with like-minded people can help you stay motivated and consistent. That’s why the Community feed and challenges are such great features of the Freeletics Fitness app. The Community tab is where you can freely share your accomplishments with the community, comment on posts, and find new friends to follow. It’s important to continuously challenge yourself. Otherwise, how can you push yourself and improve? Athletes create the challenges in the Freeletics Fitness app, but you also have the option to create your own unique challenge. All you have to do is pick between a consistency or repetition challenge, choose the workout or exercise, select the dates, and get to work. Coaching Sessions on Freeletics Fitness The standout feature of the Freeletics Fitness app is the customized training sessions. Your digital coach creates your training program based on your preferences, and you can make changes to them at any time if need be. There are several training journeys you can participate in, each with a different goal. For instance, the Get Started training program is ideal for beginners while the Get Running training program is better for those who want to run and burn calories. Every time you complete a workout session, you have the option to give your coach some feedback on how well you did, and then your training plan is adapted accordingly. Even better, you can tap Adapt session to let your coach know what your preferences are for the day, such as if you don’t have much time or don’t have access to equipment. Moreover, each exercise features a demonstration video from various angles, along with a breakdown of which exercises are included, the leaderboard, and the targeted muscle groups. Exercise Achievements & Progress On the Freeletics Fitness app, you can earn various badges as you hit milestones and master new skills. You can view the badges you’ve recently claimed and what else needs to be collected by tapping Achievements. Based on your personal training journey you can get badges for skill progressions, weekly streaks, and more. On the other hand, you can track your various progressions when you tap Progress. These include which milestones you’ve reached for certain exercises, like knee jumps or pushups. Be aware that your coach may block some more of the difficult milestones for safety reasons. The Freeletics Nutrition App Like Freeletics Fitness, Freeletics Nutrition is like having a professional nutrition coach by your side. The app features tons of delicious recipes, an individualized meal plan, and a convenient grocery shopping list. Based on what your goal is, whether you want to lose weight or gain weight in a healthy way, your Freeletics Nutrition coach does all the planning for you. To gain access to all the features on the app—including the nutrition coach—you need to sign up for a subscription. Download: Freeletics Nutrition for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available) Freeletics Nutrition Coach The key feature of the Freeletics Nutrition app is the digital nutritional coach. Simply answer a couple of questions to receive your personalized, balanced meal plan. A few of the questions include your goal, activity level, and food restrictions. Once you’ve completed the assessment, you’re ready to get started on your healthy lifestyle journey. Your tailored meal plan includes typically includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack. If you feel like eating something different or don’t have the right ingredients, you can swap out each recipe for another equally delicious one. Additionally, you can enter your training activity for the day and your digital coach will recommend a post-workout snack. Freeletics Nutrition Recipes With over 300 recipes available in the recipe library, you’re bound to find something you love. Take your cooking skills to the next level with an advanced vegan meal or take it easy with a 15-minute dinner recipe. You can filter your recipe search based on your diet, budget, how much time you have, and other criteria. Every recipe on the app includes an overview of the total calories, protein, carbs, and fat as well as helpful ingredient substitutes. All recipes are accompanied by a stunning photo as well as instructions that are easy to follow. Plus, you can switch to cooking mode to keep your device’s screen awake and make sure there are no interruptions during your cooking process. Shopping List in Freeletics Nutrition Another great feature of the Freeletics Nutrition app is the integrated shopping list. Having a convenient list on hand for each recipe is the best way to save time and avoid wandering around the grocery store aimlessly. Tap Add to Shopping List or tap the shopping basket icon on a recipe to add the ingredients to your list. Once you’ve added all your recipes for the week you can check off items as you shop or delete any recipes you’re not making anymore. So throw away that crumpled piece of paper that you call a grocery list and use Freeletics Nutrition’s shopping list to simplify your grocery shopping. What the Freeletics Fitness and Freeletics Nutrition Apps Can Do for You Freeletics Fitness is the ultimate workout app if you can’t go to the gym or just don’t want to. And Freeletics Nutrition is an excellent app to help you make healthier food choices. While you don’t have to pay to download and use the Freeletics Nutrition and Freeletics Fitness apps, their free content is limited. To access all the key features, including coaching, you have to pay for a subscription. However, for what you get on each app, the subscription price is certainly worth it. Moreover, you can try a free trial of the apps before you fully commit to a subscription. Overall, Freeletics Fitness and Freeletics Nutrition are two apps that pair perfectly together to help you prioritize healthy eating and good exercise habits.

Prep Boys’ Soccer Top 10 (Oct. 5, 2022) | Sports | News-Gazette.com – News-Gazette https://collincountynewsonline.com/prep-boys-soccer-top-10-oct-5-2022-sports-news-gazette-com-news-gazette/ RK., SCHOOL REC. PREV. COMMENT 1. Champaign Central 16-1-2 1 Maroons haven’t lost in their last eight matches, including Tuesday’s against Danville. A big tilt with Normal West awaits. 2. Urbana 13-2-2 2 Tigers haven’t allowed a goal in five-match win streak. They’ll get tested Thursday when Peoria Notre Dame pays a visit. 3. Mahomet-Seymour 13-4-2 4 Bulldogs took one-goal losses to Urbana and Champaign Central last week, knocked off Mattoon on Tuesday in league play. 4. Monticello 16-4 3 Sages suffered a shutout loss to Illini Prairie rival St. Joseph-Ogden on Tuesday, their first defeat in their last six outings. 5. St. Thomas More 12-4-1 5 Sabers have won just once in their previous five matches, cap their regular season Wednesday at home versus Unity. 6. Fisher/GCMS 16-4-1 8 Bunnies are in the midst of a five-match run of success that they hope stretches to six on Wednesday versus Blue Ridge. 7. Oakwood/Salt Fork 18-4-2 6 Comets were winners of five consecutive matches before being unable to find the net in Tuesday’s loss to Fisher/GCMS. 8. St. Joseph-Ogden 15-4-1 9 Spartans grabbed a huge victory over Monticello, close the regular season against Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond. 9. Uni High 8-5-4 7 Illineks dropped Cornerstone on Tuesday for a third win in a row. Major test upcoming at Bloomington Central Catholic. 10. Centennial 6-6-3 10 Chargers tied Normal Community on Tuesday to start a week that includes home matches against Peoria and Rantoul. More boys’ soccer coverage inside: SJ-O boys’ soccer team’s impressive victory among the highlights from a busy Tuesday night of action — C-2 Colin Likas is the preps coordinator at The News-Gazette. He can be reached at clikas@news-gazette.com, or on Twitter at @clikasNG.

Thai Firm Translucia Enters India, Selects Sunovatech For $3 Bn Metaverse Project – CNBCTV18 https://collincountynewsonline.com/thai-firm-translucia-enters-india-selects-sunovatech-for-3-bn-metaverse-project-cnbctv18/ By CNBC-TV18 Oct 05, 2022, 06:07 PM IST (Published) Mini Sunovatech will design a 3D virtual reality experience for Translucia. Specialising in 3D modeling and rendering design, Sunovatech will be helping to develop 3D assets and environments for visualizing Translucia, using its exceptional Unreal Engine technology development and specialists. Translucia, a subsidiary of T&B Media Global (Thailand), on Wednesday said it has entered the Indian market by forging a partnership with Sunovatech India, a specialist immersive and extended reality company to build a comprehensive ecosystem with metaverse elements to create a virtual world worth $3 billion. In this global alliance, other partners include Sygnum world’s first digital asset bank and the first to offer secure “Custody” digital banking, Two Bulls, a Metaverse R&D Center in Melbourne and Black flame. Under the partnership, Sunovatech will act as a production hub for building 3D Assets, Environments and modules of the metaverse, the company said. Sunovatech will design a 3D virtual reality experience for Translucia. Specialising in 3D modeling and rendering design, Sunovatech will be helping to develop 3D assets and environments for visualizing Translucia, using its exceptional Unreal Engine technology development and specialists. Dr. Jwanwat Ahriyavraromp, founder and CEO of T&B Media Global and founder of Translucia, said partnering with global experts would enable Translucia to perfectly integrate with other metaverses. We are delighted to work with Sunovatech India including our global partners, these partners bring their unique expertise, talent and advanced technologies to help Translucia achieve its goals, he said. Translucia aims to develop an ‘infinite universe’ capable of interconnectivity with other metaverses leveraging Web 3.0 capabilities. The Translucia universe will have shared infrastructure, utilities, technologies, hardware, and software. The development will provide a new experience that leads users to a truly immersive experience that connects the real and virtual worlds. Rishi Ahuja, the founder of Sunovatech, said, “We are really excited to be part of this unique and extensive project, this partnership uniquely opens access to a large volume of 3D Assets for Translucia owned by Sunovatech. We will bring in production speed, finest processes of the Metaverse with harmonized international standards and managed production base in India.”

Businessman And Artist David McCune Of Fayetteville Has Died – The Fayetteville Observer https://collincountynewsonline.com/businessman-and-artist-david-mccune-of-fayetteville-has-died-the-fayetteville-observer/ In his 68 years, sculptor, author, businessman and entrepreneur David McCune left his mark on Fayetteville and elsewhere through his art, his hard work, his wit, his philanthropy and his many friendships. McCune’s early work adorned sports cars in the 1970s — he made and sold metal louvers by mail order for their rear windows. Today McCune’s artwork is displayed in homes, businesses and public spaces around the city, around the state, and, he said in 2021, around the world. Methodist University’s art gallery, which became Fayetteville’s de facto art museum after the Fayetteville Museum of Art shut down, bears his name. McCune unexpectedly died of a heart attack on Sunday at home in St. Marys, Georgia, said his son, David McCune Jr. The senior McCune retired in Georgia several years ago after the sale of McCune Technology-Fayetteville Steel. “He went peacefully,” David McCune Jr. said. As of Tuesday afternoon, the McCune family was still making funeral arrangements. Numerous friends were posting to his Facebook page how much they will miss him. A young inventor who flew mice on model rockets David McCune Sr. was born in Parkersburg, West Virginia. He came to Fayetteville with his family when his chemical engineer father got a job at DuPont’s then-new factory, which opened in 1971, the younger McCune said. He graduated from Terry Sanford High School and taught himself how to work with metal, his son said. McCune’s biography on Amazon.com, where he has seven books published, says that when McCune was a boy, he “was always building or inventing some kind of new gadget.” This included flying model rockets with mice in them. In the ensuing decades, according to David McCune Jr. and news clippings: In 1974, 20-year-old McCune designed, made, marketed and sold rear window louvers to owners of the Datsun 240Z and Bricklin sports cars who were eager to add panache to their whips along with shade to keep the interiors cool. His apartment was his factory. In 1985, when McCune was 30, McCune Technology-Fayetteville Steel metal fabrication became the first tenant in Cumberland County’s then-new industrial park on Tom Starling Road. The company moved its operations from across town and McCune announced it would expand from 12 employees to 24. The company cut and manufactured steel parts and equipment for businesses and Fort Bragg. In the 1990s, McCune was named Cumberland County’s entrepreneur of the year, had an unsuccessful run for the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, and was among a group of investors who bought and rehabbed the Prince Charles Hotel downtown. Further, McCune’s company was the subcontractor that fabricated and built Fayetteville’s “Ghost Tower,” a 35-foot-tall sculpture along the Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway that marks the location of the old Fayetteville Arsenal. Into the 21st century, McCune made more public art and other sculptures. He built a social media following for his dog, Rufus. He wrote novels and books about his life and Rufus. And in 2010, Methodist University opened the David McCune International Art Gallery. In addition to showcasing Methodist’s art students, the art gallery has brought to Fayetteville the works of Rembrandt, Rodin, Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso, the university’s website says. David McCune Jr. said his father had developed a relationship with Methodist University because he took classes there when he was in his 30s. Finally, McCune Technology was sold in 2015 and McCune retired. A modern-day Renaissance man who cultivated friendships Downtown businesswoman Molly Arnold and Fayetteville Technical Community College President Larry Keen said on Tuesday they treasure their friendships with McCune. He used to live in a downtown townhouse, Arnold said, and frequented her Rude Awakening coffee shop. Her shop is one of the businesses that helped bring life back to Fayetteville’s then-struggling downtown. “We met about when Rude opened, because — you know he’s always been interested in downtown, sat on a lot of boards and commissions. “And in the early years, when I was the night shift, I didn’t so much have customers as I had some people that would come in just to have a cup of coffee and talk, right? So David tended — tended to be one of those people.” Arnold found him intelligent and well-read, she said. “So there’s a myriad of topics to try to tackle, and problems to try to solve,” she said, laughing at the memories. They didn’t agree politically, as Arnold swung left and McCune to the right. But they didn’t let their differences foul up their friendship, she said. Now, one of McCune’s metal sculptures, Umbrella Man, stands in the corner of Rude Awakening’s courtyard. He also made signs for Arnold’s shop and designed and built a stand for her granita Italian ice machine. “He took measurements, and I’m telling you, it fit to a T” in the confined space behind the counter, she said. McCune served on the Board of Trustees at Fayetteville Tech from 2008 to 2016. Keen, the Fayetteville Tech president, said he knew McCune long before then from their work together on Cumberland County Workforce Development Board. “Some people might call him a modern-day Renaissance man, in that he always looked for new opportunity and new horizons and new relationships,” Keen said. He always had what Keen called “a creative spark.” This manifested in 2012 when Fayetteville Tech celebrated its 50th anniversary. McCune built a sculpture to mark the school’s history. Fifty steel pipes, some short, some long, symbolize the school’s growth over the years. It’s in front of the Tony Rand Student Center. In retirement, McCune continued to create. In 2021 he posted on Facebook photos of himself in his garage as he was using a machine called an English wheel to form a piece of metal for a piece of art. Less than a month ago, on Sept. 11, the town of Sunset Beach on the North Carolina coast unveiled a monument that McCune made in memory of the terror attacks of September 2001. David McCune Sr. is survived by his son, David McCune Jr., daughter Sarah Valentine and her husband, two grandchildren, his brother Robert McCune and Robert’s wife, and his former wife Sonya. Senior North Carolina reporter Paul Woolverton can be reached at 910-261-4710 and pwoolverton@gannett.com.

Billionaire Mike Novogratz Believes Bitcoin Price Will Surge If Fed Makes This Decision – Cryptonews https://collincountynewsonline.com/billionaire-mike-novogratz-believes-bitcoin-price-will-surge-if-fed-makes-this-decision-cryptonews/ Mike Novogratz. Source: a YouTube video screenshot Mike Novogratz forecasts a bullish takeoff for Bitcoin (BTC) once the US Federal Reserve eases down on its aggressive rate hikes aimed at taming inflation.  The current cycle has especially been tough for the firstborn crypto, as it suffers from both an unfavourable outlook, and the effects of growing correlation with traditional finance. As a consequence, Novogratz believes the asset will stage a comeback once the abysmal macro climate cools. Novogratz disclosed these opinions while speaking on a CNBC Squawk Box episode Tuesday. The 53-year-old CEO of Galaxy Investment Partners implied that Bitcoin lost its status as a potent hedge against inflation when Fed Chair Jerome Powell began his campaign of interest rate hikes. Bitcoin, often touted as an inflation hedge, collapsed in tandem with other risk assets as the Fed staged its response against inflation. The asset’s recent correlation with traditional finance contributed to its fall.  “When Powell started beating inflation over the head with a sledgehammer, of course, Bitcoin came back down as did lots of assets,” Novogratz remarked.  Notwithstanding, the American billionaire and investor argued that Bitcoin will likely see a breakout once Chair Powell “gives up the fight against inflation.” According to Novogratz, Powell’s moves towards combating inflation have a more detrimental effect to Bitcoin than inflation itself. Last month, the Fed raised benchmark interest rates by another 75-basis point in its continued fight against inflation. The move marked the third consecutive 0.75% hike, and the central bank noted that hikes could persist going forward. Hikes in interest rates do not come without their adverse effects on the economy and risk assets. In view of this, a UN agency recently released a report, warning the Fed against further hikes. Anthony Scaramucci does not believe BTC is an inflation hedge yet The “Bitcoin is an inflation hedge” narrative has seen some objections from crypto critics of late. This is due in large part to the asset’s struggles against the recent inauspicious macro atmosphere. While some crypto proponents have held on to this belief regardless, most have had to review the assertion. Two months ago, CEO of SkyBridge Capital, Anthony Scaramucci argued against the assertion that Bitcoin is an inflation hedge. According to Scaramucci, the asset is not mature enough to serve as a powerful hedge against inflation. He noted that Bitcoin needs to reach a billion in wallet bandwidth to be able to hedge against inflation. Scaramucci has, for some time, asserted that Bitcoin cannot hedge against inflation yet. Notwithstanding, the former White House Communications Director remains bullish on the assert in the long term.

OPEC+ Heads For Deep Supply Cuts, Clash With U.S. – Reuters.com https://collincountynewsonline.com/opec-heads-for-deep-supply-cuts-clash-with-u-s-reuters-com/ Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud and OPEC Secretary-General Haitham al-Ghais shake hands at the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) headquarters in Vienna, Austria October 5, 2022. REUTERS/Lisa Leutner VIENNA/LONDON, Oct 5 (Reuters) – OPEC+ looks set for deep cuts to its oil output targets when it meets on Wednesday, curbing supply in an already tight market despite pressure from the United States and others to pump more. The potential OPEC+ cut could spur a recovery in oil prices that have dropped to about $90 from $120 three months ago due to fears of a global economic recession, rising U.S. interest rates and a stronger dollar. OPEC+, which includes Saudi Arabia and Russia, is working on cuts of 1-2 million barrels per day, sources told Reuters, with several sources saying cuts could be closer to 2 million. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com The United States is pushing OPEC not to proceed with the cuts arguing that fundamentals don’t support them, a source familiar with the matter said. read more Sources said it remained unclear if cuts could include additional voluntary reductions by members such as Saudi Arabia or if cuts could include existing under-production by the group. OPEC+ fell about 3.6 million bpd short of its output target in August. WASHINGTON REACTION “Higher oil prices, if driven by sizeable production cuts, would likely irritate the Biden Administration ahead of U.S. mid-term elections,” Citi analysts said in a note. “There could be further political reactions from the U.S., including additional releases of strategic stocks along with some wildcards including further fostering of a NOPEC bill,” Citi said, referring to a U.S. anti-trust bill against OPEC. JP Morgan also said it expected Washington to put in place countermeasures by releasing more oil stocks. Saudi Arabia and other members of OPEC+ – which groups the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other producers including Russia – have said they seek to prevent volatility rather than to target a particular oil price. read more Benchmark Brent crude traded flat at below $92 per barrel on Wednesday after rising on Tuesday. The West has accused Russia of weaponising energy, creating a crisis in Europe that could trigger gas and power rationing this winter. Moscow accuses the West of weaponising the dollar and financial systems such as SWIFT in retaliation for Russia sending troops into Ukraine in February. The West accuses Moscow of invading Ukraine while Russia calls it a special military operation. Part of the reason Washington wants lower oil prices is to deprive Moscow of oil revenue while Saudi Arabia has not condemned Moscow’s actions. Relations have been strained between the kingdom and the administration of Biden, who travelled to Riyadh this year but failed to secure any firm cooperation commitments on energy. “The decision is technical, not political,” United Arab Emirates Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazroui told reporters. “We will not use it as a political organisation,” he said, adding that concerns about a global recession would be one of the key topics. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, who was put on the U.S. special designated nationals sanctions list last week, also arrived in Vienna. He is not under EU sanctions. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Editing by David Gregorio, Jason Neely and Louise Heavens Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Reuters Science News Summary – Devdiscourse https://collincountynewsonline.com/reuters-science-news-summary-devdiscourse-2/ Following is a summary of current science news briefs. Space station’s Italian commander, with lookalike Barbie, tells girls about science in orbit The first European female commander on the International Space Station, Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, answered young girls’ questions — accompanied by a lookalike Barbie doll. Cristoforetti recently took time to describe some of the experiments conducted aboard the ISS, as well as answer questions from five girls 8 to 11 years old from across Europe. She and her spacesuit-clad Barbie floated in zero gravity, as she spoke. Rugby-Research shows huge spike in MND risk among former international players A new study looking at the impact of concussion on a group of former Scottish international rugby players has found that they were 15 times more likely to develop motor neurone disease (MND) than the general population. The figure is likely to send shock waves through the sport, which is already embroiled in a legal fight over the link between concussion and early onset dementia and which is scrambling to find ways of reducing incidences of concussion in matches and training at all levels. Rocket builder Firefly nails crucial milestone with first mission success Rocket builder Firefly Aerospace reached orbit for the first time this weekend, hitting a crucial milestone that kick-starts its launch business and opens new funding opportunities for growth, the company’s chief executive said on Monday. Firefly, based near Austin, Texas, launched its two-stage Alpha rocket in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday from a U.S. Space Force base in Southern California, sending its first payloads into orbit after an initial attempt over a year ago failed mid-flight. Nobel prize goes to pioneers of Lego-like “click chemistry” Scientists Carolyn Bertozzi, Morten Meldal and Barry Sharpless won the 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry on Wednesday for discovering reactions that let molecules snap together to create new compounds and that offer insight into cell biology. The field of click chemistry and bioorthogonal chemistry has been harnessed to improve the targeting of cancer pharmaceuticals now being tested in clinical trials, along with a host of health, agricultural and industrial applications. Lowly wax worm’s saliva may boost fight against plastic pollution Two substances in the saliva of wax worms – moth larvae that eat wax made by bees to build honeycombs – readily break down a common type of plastic, researchers said on Tuesday, in a potential advance in the global fight against plastic pollution. The researchers said the two enzymes identified in the caterpillar saliva were found to rapidly and at room temperature degrade polyethylene, the world’s most widely used plastic and a major contributor to an environmental crisis extending from ocean trenches to mountaintops. Russian cosmonaut hitching ride with SpaceX as part of next space station crew Elon Musk’s rocket company SpaceX was due to launch the next long-duration crew of the International Space Station into orbit on Wednesday, with a Russian cosmonaut hitching a ride with two Americans and a Japanese astronaut as part of the mission. The SpaceX launch vehicle, consisting of a Falcon 9 rocket topped with a Crew Dragon capsule dubbed Endurance, was set for liftoff at noon EDT (1600 GMT) from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Nobel physics prize goes to sleuths of ‘spooky’ quantum science Scientists Alain Aspect, John Clauser and Anton Zeilinger won the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics for experiments in quantum mechanics that laid the groundwork for rapidly-developing new applications in computing and cryptography. “Their results have cleared the way for new technology based upon quantum information,” the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said of the laureates — Aspect, who is French, Clauser, an American and Zeilinger, an Austrian. (This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Transfers Making A Big Impact For Big 12’s Early Leaders – News-Press Now https://collincountynewsonline.com/transfers-making-a-big-impact-for-big-12s-early-leaders-news-press-now/ Kansas linebacker Craig Young gestures during an NCAA game Sept. 2 in Lawrence, Kansas. Associated Press Adrian Martinez, Dillon Gabriel, Quinn Ewers and JT Daniels understandably topped the preseason lists of players transferring to Big 12 schools. They’re quarterbacks, after all. While Kansas State’s Martinez might be the conference’s most celebrated transfer after the first month of the season, it’s been lesser-known transfers who have been big difference-makers for the surprise teams at the top of the Big 12 standings.

A Bucket-List Golf Trip To…Greece?! Yep, Here’s Why That’s Now A Real Thing – Golf.com https://collincountynewsonline.com/a-bucket-list-golf-trip-togreece-yep-heres-why-thats-now-a-real-thing-golf-com/ By: John McAlley October 5, 2022 The Hills Course, a José María Olazábal design in Costa Navarino, sits 700 feet above sea level. Courtesy Why is there so little golf in Greece? Theories are as abundant as the olives in Kalamata. “Too rocky, and water is scarce and expensive” is Tom Doak’s guess. The architect has not only never been approached to build a course in Greece, he’s also never set foot in the country. “Golf isn’t a Mediterranean sport, it’s a northern European sport,” posits Robert Trent Jones Jr. “Plus, it’s hot,” Doak adds. “And there aren’t many golfers!” But there is at least one lunatic golf fan: the “guest service ambassador” who greets me at the Romanos. The luxury resort — all vaulted ceilings, marble surfaces, cerulean blue-tiled pools and curtain-billowing breezes — anchors Costa Navarino, a sprawling vacation spot set softly against the Ionian Sea in a remote region of the Peloponnese. “I see that your passion is for golf,” he says excitedly, eyeing my Titleist cap. “Have you ever met the Gold Bear?! I believe he has won 117 tournaments on his career!” This is the rare Greek with something of a grasp on the game. In a country of nearly 11 million people, there are only nine 18-hole golf courses, four of them at Costa Navarino. So it’s not surprising that the kid has never picked up a club. “I think it is a demanding sport,” he says, shaking his head. “A lot of secret of techniques!” The Dunes was the first course in Costa Navarino. courtesy (both) The Bay course soon followed. courtesy Costa Navarino has, until now, been something of a secret in itself, at least to American golfers. Its first course — the Dunes, designed in collaboration with Bernhard Langer — and its first resort — the family-friendly Westin, which seamlessly shares 320 acres of seaside property with the posher, couples-friendly Romanos — opened in 2010. A year later, Trent Jones Jr.’s Bay Course debuted six miles down the road on Navarino Bay, where a few centuries ago Greece gained its independence in a naval battle with the Turks. RTJ, a ravenous history buff, thinks of his windblown, beautifully sloping Bay Course as “a green apron to the sea.” Brits, Germans, Scandinavians and the French have flocked to Costa Navarino for a decade, drawn by the relentless sunshine, high-quality golf (the Dunes and Bay perpetually flirt with the list of Continental Europe’s 100 best courses), easy access (affordable flights into nearby Kalamata International Airport) and first-class hospitality, an area in which the Greeks are scratch players. What’s suddenly reshaping the perception of Costa Navarino as a dream-golf destination is the opening, in February 2022, of two new courses: mountaintop stunners courtesy of José María Olazábal’s design group; a sexy and chic, Mykonos-worthy W hotel opened its doors in August; and an ultra-high-end Mandarin Oriental arrives in the spring. The two new hotels — the first W and Mandarin Oriental in all of Greece — are nestled into Navarino Bay and offer the most central access (via gratis, Mercedes Sprinter van shuttles) to Costa Navarino’s four golf courses. There’s an audacious vision at work here; ambition that defies the region’s earthy, rural roots. And a fortune is being spent — all for an outpost a hefty three-and-a-half-hour drive from Athens. Plato would be perplexed. The Romanos is long on views. courtesy Costa Navarino is the dream of the late shipping magnate Vassilis Constantakopoulos. Over a span of 20-plus years, “the Captain” used his wealth to scoop up large waterfront swaths of Messenia, the agriculture-rich southwest corner of the Peloponnese. The intention was to put his birthplace on the map, honor his up-from-nothing beginnings and give back to a region made up of small farms, olive groves for as far as the eye can see and young locals in need of opportunity and a future. The Captain is celebrated as a local hero, but not every Messenian was ready to buy in. Jones remembers building the Bay Course over a decade ago: “We wanted to widen a fairway, but they hadn’t acquired a piece of the land in the elevation above the hole. The woman wouldn’t sell, and she kept coming out with a kitchen knife and threatening my shaper!” She’s still there, Jones thinks. “Her property line borders the 6th hole, so if somebody hits it out of bounds it might be more than a few strokes penalty,” he says, chuckling. RTJ likes a good quip, but he’s quick to praise what the Captain and his heir, Achilles, have achieved. He can’t think of another golf destination quite like Costa Navarino in all of Continental Europe. “You might better compare it to Bandon or Pinehurst or Pebble Beach,” he says. “And there’s lots to do there besides golf. Warm people. Nice people. Great food. Sea experiences. We like to joke that on the 2nd hole of the Langer course, right by the sea, if you’re playing double-bogey golf, you can just take off your shirt and go swimming.” Robert Trent Jones Jr. can’t think of another golf destination quite like Costa Navarino in all of Continental Europe. It’s not an exaggeration. The three hotels currently open are vast playgrounds for sun worshippers, spa lovers, kite surfers, tennis junkies, entry-level foodies. English is the common language, but multiculturalism is everywhere — particularly in the open-air, moonlit restaurants. Classic steakhouse? It’s called Flame. Italian? Da Luigi. Traditional and modern Greek? There are several, including Armyra, Parelia (at the W) and, at water’s edge, Barbouni. Japanese? The nirvana called Onuki is legit world-class. Servers named Adonis and Babis bring you your pink grapefruit–infused G&Ts. Beauties named Paola and Afrodite (with an f) field your questions about the menu. Sotiris is the devil in your ear when choosing between the chicken and the Wagyu rib eye. Breakfast, free to hotel guests, is treated like the Last Supper. Imagine the opulence of HBO’s The White Lotus, but with a Euro beat and without the bickering Americans. The courses are just as diverse and tasty. No Doak or Coore-Crenshaw designs here. The place courts tourists, not purists. But the golf is still first-rate. The Langer course, which wraps around the Romanos and the Westin, is considered Costa Navarino’s championship course — and its toughest because of diabolical bunkering. The whip-smart kid who wiped down my clubs after a round called Jones’ Bay layout a “holiday course,” meaning it epitomizes resort golf: friendly fairways, large greens, killer vistas (of Navarino Bay). But that’s like calling Marilyn Monroe cute. Typical of a RTJ II track, it’s wily; a chess game waiting to be taken on in two-club winds and with thrilling elevation changes. To play the two new Olazábal loops — the Hills Course and the International Olympic Academy Golf Course — you’ll shuttle 20 minutes into the mountains, 700 feet above sea level. Jones likes to rib the work of players-turned-designers like Langer and Olazábal for what he calls their “straight-line” architecture. But the Ollie courses are precocious; a feast of doglegs, blind tee shots and bending fairways dotted with rocky outcroppings and archly placed olive trees. The Olympic — a collaborative enterprise with Greece’s IOC and a place where the hope is to spark the talent of young Greek golfers — is the only Costa Navarino course with black tees, which tip out at just about 7,000 yards. Although its front nine is the least memorable of the four tracks, its back nine is a mindblower, a string of testy holes that ride along tiered cliffs high above the bay. Several holes on the Olympic course run along the cliffs. courtesy Because it’s the only layout without water views, the inland Hills might, you’d think, be a comedown. But it’s entrancing. Its cart paths, dusted with red clay, move like copper ribbons through native areas populated with aromatic jasmine, rosemary and fruit trees. Cradled in the folds of the mountains, the course is eerily hushed and strangely lush. Off the tee, it’s even more beguiling. In golf operations manager Adam Kritikos’s estimation, it’s the gnarliest of the layouts for those hitting from the tips. Kritikos had the best explanation for why golf in Greece has been so slow to gain traction — and why it’s Greek to most Greeks. “The perception here is that it’s a rich man’s sport,” he says. “The first four golf courses in Greece were built at the same time: the 1960s to 1970s, during the military occupancy of Greece. We had a small dictatorship. And the old prime minister used to play golf, so the perception became, Ah, it’s a sport for the rich. That thinking is still not so up to date.” For Americans, the price of putting it in play at Costa Navarino begins with the not-insignificant expense of getting there: a flight into Athens (there are none from the States into Kalamata) and a car rental for the journey to the coast. Once you’re there, the numbers fall a little more in line: a standard room at the W goes for roughly $375 a night; at the Romanos, $340; at the Westin, $320. Poolside at the W. courtesy (both) A villa at the Romanos. courtesy Greens fees for the four courses are identical: about $190 in the peak golf season, which emphatically is not the peak summer season. Costa Navarino’s busiest months are July and August, but you’d rather walk the surface of the sun than play midday in that heat. Early-morning and late-afternoon rounds, when the sun loses its bite and breezes pick up, are more common. If you like to feel as if you own a place, by all means get out in the summer, when each course books maybe a dozen rounds a day. Kritikos says the number jumps to 150 per course in the temperate months of February through May and September through November...

Live Updates: Russia-Ukraine War | Business News | Wfmz.com – 69News WFMZ-TV https://collincountynewsonline.com/live-updates-russia-ukraine-war-business-news-wfmz-com-69news-wfmz-tv-2/ A former Russian state TV journalist who quit after staging an on-air protest against the war in Ukraine and who was later charged with spreading false information about Russia’s armed forces, said on Wednesday that she is no longer abiding by house arrest rules. Marina Ovsyannikova separately was charged in August for taking part in a street protest and holding a banner reading: “(Russian President Vladimir) Putin is a killer, his soldiers are fascists. 352 children have been killed (in Ukraine). How many more children should die for you to stop?” A former state-controlled Channel One employee, Ovsyannikova faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted under a new law that penalizes statements against the military and that was enacted shortly after Russian troops moved into Ukraine. Ovsyannikova was placed under house arrest pending an investigation and trial, but over the weekend her ex-husband claimed she had escaped with her young daughter. In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Ovsyannikova herself said that “starting from Sept. 30, I refuse to abide by the restrictions imposed on me in the form of house arrest and (I) release myself from it.” KEY DEVELOPMENTS: – Putin signs laws annexing 4 Ukrainian regions – Ukraine nuclear workers recount abuse, threats from Russians – The AP Interview: Ukraine aims to restart occupied reactors OTHER DEVELOPMENTS: BRUSSELS – European Union countries agreed on Wednesday to impose new sanctions on Russia after it illegally annexed four regions in Ukraine, according to an EU official, including an expected price cap on Russian oil. No details of the sanctions were immediately released. They will be published as soon as Thursday. They are expected to include a price cap on Russian oil, curbs on EU exports of aircraft components to the country and limits on Russian steel imports. The moves build on already unprecedented European sanctions against Russia as a result of its war against Ukraine since February. EU measures to date include restrictions on energy from Russia, bans on financial transactions with Russian entities including the central bank and asset freezes against more than 1,000 people and 100 organizations. They also include a ban on most Russian oil products from December. MOSCOW — A Russian-installed official in the Kherson region insisted Wednesday that Ukrainian advances in the region have been halted. Kirill Stremousov, in comments to the state-run news agency RIA Novosti, said that “as of this morning … there are no movements” by Kyiv’s forces. Stremousov vowed that “they won’t enter (the city of) Kherson, it is impossible.” He added that the Russian forces in the region were “regrouping” in order to “gather strength and strike (back.)” KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s presidential office says that at least five civilians have been killed and eight have been wounded by the latest Russian shelling. A statement on Wednesday says Russian troops used six Iranian suicide drones to strike the town of Bila Tserkva in the Kyiv region, leaving one person wounded. The strikes were the first on the town since March when the Russians retreated from the areas near the Ukrainian capital after a failed attempt to capture it. Russian forces also shelled the areas on the western bank of the Dnieper facing the Russia-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and in the Donetsk region. In Sviatohirsk, which was reclaimed by Ukrainian forces, a burial ground for civilians was found and bodies of four civilians were discovered, according to Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko. Luhansk Gov. Serhiy Haidai said the Ukrainian forces were pressing their offensive from Lyman toward Kreminna snd Svatove. In the Kherson region, the Ukrainian troops captured eight towns and villages so far this week during their counteroffensive, according to the presidential office. KYIV, Ukraine — Kyiv has dismissed as “worthless” the laws that Russian President Vladimir Putin signed on Wednesday formalizing the annexation of four Ukrainian regions into Russia. “The worthless decisions of the terrorist country are not worth the paper they are signed on,” the head of the Ukraine President’s Office, Andriy Yermak, said on Telegram messaging application. “A collective insane asylum can continue to live in a fictional world.” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier said in his nightly address that he has signed a decree rendering void any of Putin’s acts designed to annex Ukrainian territories since the annexation of Crimea in 2014. “Any Russian decisions, any treaties with which they try to seize our land — all this is worthless,” Zelenskyy said at the end of his video address. MOSCOW — Russian energy company Gazprom says it is resuming gas supplies to Italy after reaching an agreement for transit through Austria. The Russian government-controlled company had suspended delivery to Italy through Austria last week citing regulatory changes that came into effect in the Alpine nation last month. In a statement Wednesday, Gazprom said the operator of an Austrian pipeline has indicated its willingness to handle the transit of gas to Italy “making it possible to resume the supplies of Russian gas across Austria.” Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed laws formally absorbing four Ukrainian regions into Russia, even as its military is struggling to hang on to control of the regions it illegally annexed. The documents finalizing the annexation carried out in defiance of international laws were published on a Russian government website on Wednesday morning. Earlier this week, both houses of the Russian parliament ratified treaties making the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions part of Russia. That followed Kremlin-orchestrated “referendums” in the four regions that Ukraine and the West have rejected as a sham. On the ground, Moscow’s war in Ukraine has entered a new, more dangerous phase. Russia faces mounting setbacks, with Ukrainian forces retaking more and more land in the east and in the south — the very regions Moscow has pushed to annex. KYIV, Ukraine — The Ukrainian army has recaptured a number of villages in Kherson region as a part of its massive counteroffensive in the south of the country, the regional military command said. The Ukrainian flag has been raised above Liubymivka, Khreschenivka, Zolota Balka, Biliaivka, Ukrainka, Velyka and Mala Oleksandrivka villages, Operational Command South said. The villages are all concentrated on the right bank of the Dnipro river in the northern part of the region. Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Consulate Bridges Health Gap In Mexican Immigrant Community – KVEO-TV https://collincountynewsonline.com/consulate-bridges-health-gap-in-mexican-immigrant-community-kveo-tv/ Binational Health Week stresses prevention, education among population often uninsured and in need of care by: Julian Resendiz Posted: Oct 5, 2022 / 06:00 AM CDT Updated: Oct 4, 2022 / 03:45 PM CDT EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – Some 200 El Paso residents got free health screenings, flu and COVID-19 booster shots Tuesday at the Mexican consulate. It was part of Binational Health Week, which for the past 22 years has bridged the gap between local health providers and the immigrant community. “Basically, what we do here is take their blood pressure, offer different tests so if they have any problems, they can be referred to low-cost clinics or hospitals or we can help them navigate the insurance system,” said Consul General Mauricio Ibarra Ponce de Leon. Twenty-one El Paso hospitals, nonprofits and insurance companies are partnering with the consulate to promote healthy living. The El Paso Food Bank donated 200 boxes with food staples that were distributed to participants in a Tuesday health fair in the consulate’s parking lot. Ibarra said talks about cancer, high blood pressure, mental health and others would take place throughout the month in Spanish online and in-person at the consulate. The U.S. Census July 2021 population estimate shows that nearly one in four El Paso County residents were foreign-born, and that 69.8 percent speak a language other than English at home. Those numbers make the consulate a key player in community health education. “We need to raise awareness of the importance of having good physical and mental health and that everybody knows they can reach out to a health provider regardless if they have insurance or not,” Ibarra said. All of Mexico’s 50 consulates in the United States are observing Binational Health Week, though some may have it on a different date. Maria Estrada (Border Report photo) Maria Estrada, a Mexican national who says she has lived in El Paso for many years, was among the first in line at the screening tents. “I’m here for the tests, medical insurance information, everything they have here,” she said. Others came for the flu and COVID-19 shots and the free foodstuffs. “This is the first time I come to these fairs. I came here for the flu vaccine. I have all the COVID vaccines and all,” said Ana Lilia Perez. SpaceX RGV News

Dave Reardon: Thankfully, Aaron Judge Brings Good News To Sports World – Honolulu Star-Advertiser https://collincountynewsonline.com/dave-reardon-thankfully-aaron-judge-brings-good-news-to-sports-world-honolulu-star-advertiser/ Thank you, Aaron Judge. We needed that. While waiting for you to hit home run No. 62 yesterday, the other “sports” stories I scrolled through included Tom Brady filing divorce papers and reports of Herschel Walker apparently being a bad husband and father. Read more Mahalo for reading the Honolulu Star-Advertiser! You’re reading a premium story. Read the full story with our Print & Digital Subscription. Subscribe Now Log In Already a subscriber? Log in now to continue reading this story. Activate Digital Account Print subscriber but without online access? Activate your Digital Account now.

Asus, World’s 6th Largest PC Vendor, Enters Metaverse With NFT Platform – The Tokenist https://collincountynewsonline.com/asus-worlds-6th-largest-pc-vendor-enters-metaverse-with-nft-platform-the-tokenist/ Image courtesy of 123rf. Taiwanese electronics maker Asus unveiled a new web3 arm and launched an NFT platform to dive into the metaverse. Published on October 05, 2022 Neither the author, Tim Fries, nor this website, The Tokenist, provide financial advice. Please consult our website policy prior to making financial decisions. With a market cap of roughly $5.7 billion, Asus is the world’s sixth largest producer of personal computers. As of October 5th, 2022, Asus becomes the latest major company to join the Web3 space after launching an NFT platform. However, Asus’ new NFT marketplace allows only a group of invited artists to list their NFTs at the moment, with plans to launch a secondary market soon. Asus Unveils ‘Art Black hole’ as it Enters the Metaverse Asus, a Taiwan-based electronics and hardware maker, announced the launch of its non-fungible token (NFT) platform Tuesday. The move marks the company’s first push into the growing Web3 space, following the footsteps of other Taiwanese manufacturers Foxconn and Ennoconn Corp. The platform, named ‘Art Black hole‘, was launched under Asus’ new Web3 business Asus Metaverse. The Ethereum-powered NFT platform is currently open only to a select group of artists, the company’s spokesperson said in a statement. Also, Art Black hole does not support secondary trading at the moment, but the laptop maker plans to launch it soon, according to the official website. Buyers can purchase NFTs in New Taiwan dollars, the spokesperson added. “Asus pays close attention to the latest developments of emerging industries, and we’re particularly drawn by the potential of the Web3 industry.” – Joe Hsieh, chief operating officer of Asus Join our Telegram group and never miss a breaking digital asset story. Metaverse Welcomes More Major Players The launch of the Art Black hole comes with Asus’ new Web3 arm, Asus Metaverse. Asus’ new subsidiary seeks to integrate the company’s cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and blockchain capabilities to dive deeper into the metaverse. Earlier this year, Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn, which produces Apple’s iPhones, also forayed into the metaverse by partnering with and investing $100 million in XRSPACE, the maker of virtual reality (VR) devices. More recently, Facebook owner Meta Platforms has also been focused on bringing NFTs to its two biggest platforms – Facebook and Instagram. As of Sept. 29, Facebook and Instagram users are able to link their wallets and cross-post NFTs to both platforms. “In order to post a digital collectible, all you need to do is connect your digital wallet to Instagram. As of today, we support connections with third-party wallets including Rainbow, MetaMask, Trust Wallet, Coinbase Wallet and Dapper Wallet coming soon. Supported blockchains at this time include Ethereum, Polygon and Flow.” Introducing Digital Collectibles to Showcase NFTs on Instagram The tech giant has rebranded from Facebook to Meta in 2021 to focus on building the metaverse and “the next chapter of social connection.” The company also unveiled a $50 million fund in September 2021 to research and develop the metaverse. Finance is changing. Learn how, with Five Minute Finance. A weekly newsletter that covers the big trends in FinTech and Decentralized Finance. Do you think more tech giants will join the metaverse sooner or later? Let us know in the comments below. About the author Tim Fries is the cofounder of The Tokenist. He has a B. Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan, and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Tim served as a Senior Associate on the investment team at RW Baird’s US Private Equity division, and is also the co-founder of Protective Technologies Capital, an investment firm specializing in sensing, protection and control solutions.

42 People Share Their Cooking ‘Cheats’ To Save You Time And Energy In The Kitchen – Bored Panda https://collincountynewsonline.com/42-people-share-their-cooking-cheats-to-save-you-time-and-energy-in-the-kitchen-bored-panda/ To gain some more cooking tips and insight about how to improve your cooking skills, we reached out to Trevor and Brittany of Mediocre Chef. First, we wanted to hear what inspired them to start their own cooking blog and what being a mediocre chef means to them. “We started getting together once or twice a month to try new recipes back in 2017,” the told Bored Panda. “For a lot of the recipes we tried, we found ourselves asking questions like, ‘Wait, what does this mean?’ or we would make something and go, ‘We really wish we had done this instead’ or, ‘Next time we should do this differently’. We thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if someone who was just a normal, average cook, annotated some of the recipes to give guidance for other normal, average cooks?'” “To us, being a mediocre chef means just being a normal, average person who wants to get better at cooking,” they shared. “Neither of us went to culinary school, neither of us were food prodigies or anything. We’re just two normal people who wanted to get better at cooking and really like food. Being a mediocre chef is having the skills to go a bit above ‘normal’, but also being cool with eating frozen pizza from time to time.” We also asked Trevor and Brittany what their favorite thing about cooking is. “Getting a chance to try out new dishes from different cuisines. There’s so much good food that we missed out on for a long time simply because we didn’t cook enough/weren’t comfortable enough with our skills to try.” And their least favorite? “Doing the dishes. Dishwashers were the best thing ever invented,” they shared. “Another contender for least favorite: Trying to interpret old family recipes that have no measurements for ingredients or vague instructions,” they added. “What do you mean by one onion? What size of onion? When a recipe just says ‘simmer’, am I supposed to simmer that covered or uncovered?” I boil water in my electric kettle instead of in a pan on the stove. Saves time and also money on gas (which is going to cost us 1.5 as much as of next month) Celestina-Warbeck , cottonbro Report We also asked Trevor and Brittany if they could share some of their best lazy cooking tips. “OP in the Reddit thread talks about using jars of pre-minced garlic because they hate mincing garlic by hand. We hate mincing garlic too, but the jarred stuff tastes a lot different versus freshly minced garlic,” they explained. “We don’t usually like one-trick gadgets, but a garlic press is great if you’re a garlic lover! It makes mincing garlic a breeze.” “Using frozen puff pastry,” they added. “Nobody has time to make puff pastry from scratch. It’s exhausting, and butter is expensive.” “If a recipe calls for wine, cheap wine will almost always do. If your dish needs to be simmered (soups, stews, etc) it can almost always be turned into a slow cooker recipe.” “Air fryers are your best friend if you’re cooking for one (or two) and want food fast,” the Mediocre Chefs told Bored Panda. “They take way less time to cook versus an oven. We love potatoes (wedges, fries), chicken wings, and veggies (broccoli, brussel sprouts) in the air fryer!” Frozen puff pastry even though I love to bake. As long as it’s made with all-butter then it’s good enough for me. Making puff pastry from scratch can be such a hassle. Plus, I don’t even like puff pastry all that much anyways. I much rather be making a tart or pie crust because I like them way more. Darwin343 , Veganbaking.net Report Trevor and Brittany also shared their tips for people who want to learn how to cook but just don’t know where to start. “Choose a dish that you really like, and make it regularly to build your confidence. Love macaroni and cheese? Practice making macaroni and cheese a lot. Adapt and change the recipe you start out with to fit your tastes — this will also help you gain confidence and learn what works and what doesn’t work when trying to alter recipes.” “Out of our friends that don’t cook, we find the biggest obstacle is lacking confidence,” they noted. “Practice makes perfect. You won’t become a master cook overnight. Additionally, start small. If you’re a beginner, don’t try to cook a 5 course French meal from scratch. Simple is best.” I love to bake but I don’t like to reinvent the wheel. If something is great, why make it from scratch? So I unapologetically use brownie mix. Also, anything Krusteze brand. jmac94wp , Teresa Trimm Report “Try to find a video of the recipe on YouTube (or Facebook, or Reddit),” the Mediocre Chefs recommended. “Sometimes chefs aren’t the best at describing what they mean when they write recipes, so having a visual aid helps. Plus, we all learn differently!” “Try to sample as many different styles of food as possible. If you want to be a good writer, you should read a lot of different books. If you want to be a good musician, you should listen to a lot of different music. If you want to be a good cook, you should eat a lot of different cuisines. You’ll probably find a bunch of flavors that you really like, and it helps to develop your palate.” If you’d like to learn even more tips from Trevor and Brittany, be sure to check out their blog Mediocre Chef right here. We also reached out to Reddit user ChallengeLate1947 to hear what inspired him to start this conversation in the first place. “Mostly I was looking to still make quality food without taking hours to do it,” he told Bored Panda. “I spend roughly 3 hours a day cooking for my household, and as much as I love it, some time saving tips are always welcome,” he shared. “I enjoy baking primarily — I do pastry and make all my own bread. I have a fondness for dumplings.” And as for what he learned from this list, he told us, “I mainly learned what not to cut corners on.” Cheap rotisserie chicken, at least once a week. I break it down and serve it for a couple meals, use the little bits stuck on the bones for salads, and I save the bones for stock. I could roast my own, sure. But the rotisserie chicken is a) already done and b) cheaper than I can buy raw. Wins all around. MelMickel84 , Phil Gwinn Report Cooking is one of those things that most of us wish we were better at or had more time for, but it can easily be put on the back burner time and time again. Why spend time learning how to cook when frozen foods and takeout exists? But the thing is, a delicious meal does not have to take hours to make. In fact, even spending 15-30 minutes preparing dinner will likely result in a more fulfilling and wholesome meal than spending 15 minutes running to the nearest takeout joint. If you’re short on time, the tips on this list can go a long way in your kitchen. Don’t get enough vegetables in your diet? Keep bags of frozen ones on hand to eliminate the time it takes to wash, peel and chop. In certain recipes, you won’t even be able to tell the difference once it’s finished. I make curry at least once a week using whatever fresh veggies I have on hand, but I always toss in some frozen ones as well to bulk it up. And I assure you, I cannot tell which is which by the time everything has soaked up the liquid. Plus, I save myself valuable time by simply dumping out a bag rather than spending time fussing with produce.   Never waste a precious drop of your Nutella again. Instead, pour warm milk into the dregs of the jar to create Nutella hot chocolate and happiness. klaraclarkk , Denys Almeida Report On a similar note, pre-prepared seasonings and broths can be a godsend. Curry paste? My best friend. Mushroom or vegetable broth? My right-hand man. I have various seasoning mixes as well that I rotate through depending on what culture of food I’m making that evening. Many people who responded to this thread also mentioned the value of having a handy-dandy bouillon on hand, and I could not agree more. A cube of stock or a splash of broth concentrate adds so much flavor and salt that it can be a huge shortcut in cooking many dishes. We all know meal-prepping can save lots of time and energy as well, but themed days of the week can have the exact same effect. In my humble opinion, half of the struggle of cooking every day is just deciding what to make. 6 days out of the week, this can be a problem. On Sundays, however, my partner and I always make pizza for dinner. We mix up the type of crust and the toppings of course, but Pizza Sunday is a beloved tradition that saves us both time and energy. We usually have most of the ingredients on hand already, and the process runs smoothly because we’ve got it down to a science. If you’re too exhausted to think about what to make each day, consider introducing Taco Tuesday, Pasta Saturday or Pizza Sunday to take the guesswork out.  Giving things that take forever to heat through (especially roasted/baked items) a running start in the microwave. Frozen lasagnas and casseroles, potatoes, carrots, whatever. The microwave gets the inside hot first (or at least warm) in a few minutes, then the oven or pan finishes the outside in about half the normal time, and with zero mushy, microwaved texture left at the end. theBodyVentura , Chris Bloom Report Another time-saving tip that is mentioned several times on this list is having ingredients that can be used many different ways. For example, rotisserie chicken, tofu, a vegetable that can be used alongside many dishes like peas, etc. Rice is a great food that can be used in many ways as well, as a side, in a stir-fry, in a risotto, in burritos; the possibilities are endless. So when you make rice, prepare more than you need and use the leftovers throughout the week. If I make a curry with rice one evening, I can use that same rice for a completely different meal the next day. I’ll prepare a different prote...

Bitcoin Miners Selling 50% Less BTC Compared To Last Month – End Of Bear Market? – Cryptonews https://collincountynewsonline.com/bitcoin-miners-selling-50-less-btc-compared-to-last-month-end-of-bear-market-cryptonews/ Source: Unsplash Bitcoin (BTC) miners are now selling off fewer of the coins they mine compared to last month, signaling a more optimistic outlook on the future among some of the network’s most important players. The finding that miners are selling less bitcoin was shared in Glassnode’s latest The Week Onchain report, where the crypto analytics firm said that the 30-day change in miner wallets shows that 50% fewer coins are now being sold by miners compared to in early September. Source: Glassnode Digging further into the data, however, Glassnode found that a “great majority” of the selling by miners was linked to miners associated with the major mining pool Poolin. Poolin was until recently one of the largest Bitcoin mining pools, accounting for 12% of the hashrate at the start of September. However, its hashrate started plummeting shortly after, when the mining pool admitted that it was experiencing “liquidity problems due to recent increasing demands on withdrawals.” Today, Poolin accounts for only 3.7% of the Bitcoin network’s hashpower, Glassnode’s data showed. The net position change by miners is seen as a key on-chain metric to watch for Bitcoin investors, given that it gives a clue about the conviction of some of the most heavily invested market participants. However, selling by miners has also been seen as necessary before a new bull run can begin, and many traders have patiently waited for a so-called ‘miner capitulation’ to happen. “Notably stable” bitcoin price Commenting on the state of the bitcoin market more broadly, Glassnode said in its report that the price has remained “notably stable” in the face of a challenging macroeconomic environment. “Such quiet periods are very uncommon for Bitcoin, with semblance to both pre-crash November 2018, but equally to pre-rally March 2019,” the report said.

U.S. Senators Ask Starbucks For Information About Union Dealings – Reuters https://collincountynewsonline.com/u-s-senators-ask-starbucks-for-information-about-union-dealings-reuters/ Starbucks employees who support unionization protest in the company’s hometown ahead of Investor Day, in Seattle, Washington, U.S. September 12, 2022. REUTERS/Hilary Russ/File Photo NEW YORK, Oct 5 (Reuters) – Four U.S. Senators have asked Starbucks to disclose how much the coffee chain has spent on lawyers and consulting fees to counter the growing union membership at hundreds of its locations in the United States. Senators Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey and Richard Blumenthal, all Democrats, and independent Bernie Sanders, who caucuses with Democrats, sent their request in a letter late Tuesday to Starbucks Corp (SBUX.O) Chief Executive Officer Howard Schultz and its board of directors. According to a copy of the letter seen by Reuters, they cited “reports that Starbucks is engaging in illegal union-busting tactics” and asked Starbucks to respond within a month. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com “We appreciate every opportunity to share the facts and address inaccuracies about our company and our partners, and we are confident in our stringent compliance with federal labor law,” Starbucks said in response to the letter. Employees at about 245 out of Starbucks’ nearly 9,000 company-owned U.S. locations have voted to unionize in just over the past year. The Senators also said in their letter that they want to see the guidance Starbucks gave to managers about how to deal with workers organizing unions and whether its spending expenditures to counter unions were listed in its tax filings. They also asked for a list of changes the Seattle-based chain has made to benefits for non-unionized employees. The company has been boosting benefits – including expanded coverage for adoption services on Monday – but only for employees not in a union. Starbucks is “weaponizing benefits and wage increases to discourage workers from organizing,” Warren said in emailed remarks to Reuters. Bargaining is tentatively set to begin on various days this month at some stores. August, the National Labor Relations Board accused Starbucks of illegally withholding raises from unionized workers. Starbucks said on a company blog that labor law requires it to negotiate any changes in benefits or working conditions with the union representing those employees. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Hilary Russ Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Mosaic Adds Technology E&O To Cyber Exposure Protection – Captive Insurance Times https://collincountynewsonline.com/mosaic-adds-technology-eo-to-cyber-exposure-protection-captive-insurance-times/ Image: Alex 05 October 2022 Bermuda Reporter Lucy Carter Share this article Mosaic adds technology E&O to cyber exposure protection Specialty insurance firm Mosaic Insurance (Mosaic) has launched excess technology error and omissions (E&O) as a companion cover to cyber for companies in the technology sector. Tech E&O protects companies from risks associated with cyber exposure, including cyber warfare, data breaches, and ransomware. The product is available globally, through the company’s cyber hubs in London, Bermuda, and the US. It is underswritten through Mosaic’s Syndicate 1609, and requires a minimum attachment point of US$10 million. Yosha Delong, global head of cyber at Mosaic, comments: “We are excited to announce the progression of our cyber strategy and product offering. The ability to offer technology E&O and cyber on an excess basis is focused on providing needed solutions to the challenges faced by our clients in an increasingly interconnected world.” James Tuplin, head of international, cyber, at Mosaic, says: “I have been writing technology E&O for nearly 15 years and while today’s headlines are focused on cyber, the underlying need for technology companies to purchase protection has also increased. Clients and brokers are asking for more capacity, but have been unable to find it. We are happy to support them with this new excess capacity we are bringing to the market.”

What’s Happening: Oct. 7-9 | What’s Happening | Ktbs.com – KTBS https://collincountynewsonline.com/whats-happening-oct-7-9-whats-happening-ktbs-com-ktbs/ Do you have an event you’d like to promote? Scroll down to the bottom of ktbs.com/whatshappening to enter the info. RED RIVER REVEL ARTS FESTIVAL The Red River Revel Arts Festival continues through Sunday, Oct. 9 at Festival Plaza in Shreveport October 1-9 at 11 a.m. Admission is free Monday – Friday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. and every day to children 12 and under (accompanied by an adult) and to military and first responders with valid ID. A general admission fee of $5 will be charged all day on Saturday and Sunday and from 5 p.m. to close Tuesday through Friday.  The Red River Revel Arts Festival is known for traditional Cajun cuisine, deep-rooted music and hand-crafted art. The Red River Revel offers a vast experience through activities, entertainment, food and more. See the 2022 music lineup here: https://redriverrevel.com/rrr/music-lineup/ 360 RED TIE GALA The 2022 360 Foundation Red Tie Gala will be held Friday, October 7 at 6 p.m. at the LeBossier Event Center in Bossier City. The Gala will be a night of food, mask display and silent auction. Adult tickets are $50 per person. Reserve your tickets by emailing 360enrichmentandartprogram@gmail.com, or you can purchase masks and tickets at The Enchanted Garden in Shreveport, located at 2429 Line Avenue, Shreveport, LA 71104. Join us as we put the “FUN” back in Fundraising. The Red Tie gala will be a formal, exclusive night with food and a silent auction. At this formal/semi-formal attire event, male guests are asked to wear a red tie, and ladies are asked to wear a red dress. The proceeds from this event benefit 360 Foundation’s yearly programs supporting women and children. BATTLE OF THE BAGS CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT Battle of the Bags First Responders Cornhole Tournament will be held at The Seventh Tap in Shreveport on Friday, October 7 at 7 p.m. Adult admission is free. This cornhole tournament is only open to all active and retired first responders to participate, however everyone can join in on the fun. Come out and join us for a fun night of friendly rivalry, great food, and awesome people. Sign up individually or as a team $25/per person ($50 per team) Payment required at night of event at check in. SIGN UP 1. Download Scoreholio App 2. Sign Up as a Team: https://app.scoreholio.com/share/24Ba 3. Sign Up as an Individual: https://app.scoreholio.com/share/Zh9F MUSICFEST 34 Main Street El Dorado and Standard Lithium are hosting MusicFest 34 — featuring acts such as Shenandoah, Chayce Beckham, Mitch Rossell, Mae Estes and former members of Lynyrd Skynyrd. The event will be held Oct. 7 and Oct. 8. This festival will have family events, cook-off contests, and food and shopping vendors. Attractions will include The Murphy USA Kids’ World with magician attractions, sidewalk vendors with food and shopping, Cole’s Jewelers Miss MusicFest Pageant, Beer Gardens and more. On Friday, Oct. 7, festival times are from 5:00 p.m. until midnight. On Saturday, Oct. 8, festival times are from 9:00 a.m. until midnight. GIRLS UNITED TO SUCCEED The G.U.T.S. (Girls United To Succeed) inaugural event was designed to showcase women of color entrepreneurs who have grown beyond Shreveport in non-traditional careers in addition to the production of a fashion show, beauty, and shopping. The event, Friday, Oct. 7, is also a fundraiser for Gertrude’s Gifts which is a local non-profit organization that helps improve girl’s and women’s self-esteem, body image and mental health.  315 Clyde Fant Pkwy  Shreveport, LA 71101 (318) 861-1886 Venue: Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino Time: 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM Price: $50 LUKE BRYAN: RAISED UP RIGHT TOUR 2022 Luke Bryan: Raised Up Right Tour 2022 will be held at Brookshire Grocery Arena in Bossier on Friday, October 7 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $45 and up. Luke Bryan is a country singer and songwriter. Luke will perform with Riley Green, Mitchell Tenpenny, and DJ Rock. Masks must be worn. General admission pits are standing with no chairs. 2000 Brookshire Arena Dr.  Bossier City, LA 71112 (318) 747-2501 Venue: Brookshire Grocery Arena – formerly CenturyLink Center Time: 7:00 PM Price: $45 and up THE ARKLATEX STAR TRUE BEAUTY CONTEST AND FANTASY MASK SHOWCASE The Arklatex Star True Beauty Contest and Fantasy Mask/ Art Showcase will be held at the LeBossier Event Center in Bossier City on Friday, October 7 at 8 p.m. Adult admission is $50 and will include dinner. The Arklatex True Beauty contest is open to young ladies ages 21 and up. Participants can enter by emailing a recent photo to: arklatexbeauty@aol.com and mailing a $100 entry fee, payable to Miss Arklatex 2533 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, Suite 115, Shreveport, LA 71118. The deadline to enter is Tuesday, September 20, 2022. The True Beauty participants will be judged on their photos and compete in a red formal floor-length gown. The winner will receive a crown and sash. Special guest appearances will be the reigning Miss Arklatex Taylor Sims, fantasy mask designer Dennis Beckman, and artists Ron Smith and Juanita Mayo. Male attendees are asked to wear a red tie and female attendees are asked to wear red formal or semi-formal attire. Proceeds from this event will benefit the 360 Highland Home serving women and children. Limited tickets are available. All attendees must submit an RSVP by email to arklatexbeauty@aol.com to attend the event or to compete in the Arklatex Star True Beauty Contest. 4000 Industrial Dr.  Bossier City, LA 71112 Venue: LeBossier Hotel & Event Center Time: 8:00 PM Price: $50 WEIRD AL YANKOVIC Weird Al Yankovic will perform at the Strand Theatre in Shreveport on Friday, October 7 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $52 and up. Weird Al Yankovic is pressing his luck again, this time with the return of the Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour. The tour marks Weird Al’s long-anticipated return to the concert stage after his hugely successful Strings Attached Tour in 2019 where he performed each night alongside a full symphony orchestra. 619 Louisiana Ave.  Shreveport, LA 71101 (318) 226-1481 Venue: The Strand Theatre Time: 8:00 PM Price: $52 and up SBC GLOFEST – FRIDAY, OCT. 7 Join the Shreveport Regional Arts Council and Bossier Arts Council for monthly GloFests debuting new light shows on the “Bakowski Bridge of Lights” on the Texas Street Bridge. October and late November’s Glo Fest will be at Riverview Park. These events will feature live music, an arts market, a kids’ area, street performances by Spinner Entertainment, and more! These FREE festivals will introduce new animated light shows on the “Bakowski Bridge” produced by the Light It Up Artist Team and Caddo Parish Students. 2022 EAST TEXAS POULTRY FESTIVAL 2022 EAST TEXAS BURN RUN 2022 East Texas Burn Run is Oct. 7-9, 2022, Downtown Jefferson Bike Games, Vendor booths, Poker Run and Live Entertainment in Jefferson Texas! About this Event East Texas Burn Run 2022 is October 7-9, 2022 Bike Games, Vendor booths, Poker Run and Live Entertainment throughout the whole weekend in Jefferson Texas. Proceeds from this fundraiser go the the Camp I’m Still Me from Burn survivors. KIWANIS 5K COLOR RUN AND PANCAKE FESTIVAL 1 MILE RUN Kiwanis 5K Color Run and Pancake Festival 1 Mile Run is happening on Saturday, October 08, 2022 at 08:00AM CDT at Collins Pavilion at Northwestern State University with tickets starting at $25.00 The Kiwanis Club of Natchitoches is hosting its 5th annual Kiwanis 5K Color Run and Pancake Festival. The festival style event will take place at Northwestern State University’s Collin’s Pavilion on October 8th, 2022. This event will include a 1-mile fun run and 5K Color Run with finisher’s medals for both races. Along the route, there will be volunteers throwing color at those who want to participate. The pancakes will be FREE to all guests. Yep, we said FREE PANCAKES! The Pancake Festival will also offer a wide array of events including pancake flipping contest and a free Kids Zone that includes face painting and bounce houses. The breakfast itself will include delicious pancakes, sausage, and your choice of beverage (milk, coffee, apple juice or orange juice). There will be face painting, bouncy houses, and more. 100% of the funds raised will go to the Natchitoches community’s children through service projects, school supplies, literacy projects, and more. Donations will be accepted. If you are interested in learning more about Kiwanis, The Kiwanis Club of Natchitoches meets every Thursday at noon. If you would like more information about Kiwanis, visit our website at kiwanisclubnatchitoches.com Photographer: Jeff White SHOOT FOR THE BLUE Please join us Saturday, October 8, 2022, for our annual “Shoot for the Blue” sporting clay tournament at the Los Paloma Sporting Range and Event Center in Benton, Louisiana. With your support, this annual event is guaranteed to provide those participating with not only a fun and challenging shooting experience, but a unique insight into the mission of the Louisiana State Police. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Louisiana Trooper Foundation, Inc. (501-C-3) and the Louisiana State Troopers Association (501-C-5). These Organizations serve as charitable facilitators of community service initiatives embraced by your Louisiana State Troopers throughout our state. Donations may be tax deductible, please check with your tax advisor. Check in of pre-registered teams will begin at the Los Paloma Event Center at 7:00 a.m. the morning of the event. Please complete the online registration form or you can print and mail it to Louisiana State Police, Attn: Alan Verhoef at 5300 Industrial Drive Extension, Bossier City, LA 71112. You must pre register as we are limited to 50 teams. Silver Star Steakhouse will provide a delicious meal the day of the event...

American Express Travel Is Right On Point For Certain Millennial Travelers – Skift Travel News https://collincountynewsonline.com/american-express-travel-is-right-on-point-for-certain-millennial-travelers-skift-travel-news/ A majority of American Express’ new customers — 60 percent — in the second quarter belonged to the Generation Z and millennial generations, a metric very much noticed at subsidiary American Express Travel. “Their mindset around culturally impactful travel is helping to shape what we do,” Audrey Hendley, president of American Express Travel, told Skift last week. American Express Travel, the leisure travel business that handles cardmembers’ vacations and pleasure trips, became the sixth largest U.S. travel agency in 2021, overtaking Flight Centre and Internova. That ranking is from Travel Weekly’s 2022 Power List, which pegged American Express Travel at $4.9 billion in 2021 sales. This figure was just 71 percent of the travel agency’s 2019 numbers, but parent company American Express reported that in April cardmembers’ total travel and entertainment spending, including for hotels, flights, car rentals and cruises, as well as restaurants and concerts, rose to 108 percent of the 2019 mark. That was the first time travel and entertainment spending through American Express eclipsed pre-pandemic levels. “We have seen the demand for travel rebound faster and stronger than what we expected,” Hendley said. One signal of that rebound is the recovery of the company’s elongated booking windows, which many travel companies saw shrink to a fraction of their pre-pandemic lengths as uncertainty and disruption took their toll. “We’re seeing advanced bookings being very, very strong,” Hendley said. “So one of the measures that I look at is 120-plus days out from today. Versus the same time in 2019, those 120-day-plus bookings are up 40 percent for U.S. card members.” The trip mix has reverted to pre-pandemic levels of 70 percent domestic and 30 percent international, she said, adding, “And that’s kind of back to what we would’ve seen in the past, as travel continues to surge.” American Express Travel and Amex Global Business Travel Many people confuse American Express Travel, the leisure travel agency that’s part of public credit card company American Express, with the larger American Express Global Business Travel ($7.1 billion in 2021 sales), which became a public company in its own right in at the end of May. The two businesses had been part of the same parent company until 2014 when American Express spun out Amex Global Business Travel into a privately held joint venture. The two companies have a tight relationship, and American Express owns 35 percent of Amex Global Business Travel, now formally known as Global Business Travel Group. That stake is down from 40 percent before the business travel company’s stock market debut. Among the tie-ins, American Express licenses its brand to the business travel group, and American Express and the Global Business Travel Group conduct joint negotiations with airlines, hotels and car rental companies to wrangle sometimes-exclusive deals, including private airfares, as well as significant discounts and perks such as late checkouts or hotel upgrades. The Value Proposition Those deals are part of the reason many cardmembers are attracted to American Express Travel, which touts its roughly 100 years in the travel industry, despite some weaknesses (we’ll discuss further below). American Express Platinum cardmembers, according to American Express Travel, “can enjoy exclusive savings on premium class fares on over 20 participating airlines” when booking international trips at AmexTravel.com. Business Platinum cardmembers who book first and business class seats partially or wholly with points through American Express Travel receive 35 percent of these points back, the company said. Luxury lodging benefits from 2,000 hotels around the world include 5x membership rewards points for Platinum cardmembers when they book on AmexTravel.com, and they can pay for these stays with points on that portal, as well. “I book all my travel with Amex,” said Marcus Baldwin, 27, who’s in the tech industry, in a Twitter direct message. “I think the hotel prices are compelling and I like the added perks I get from the hotels program (including Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection). “I also think the peace of mind of dealing with a travel company that knows me based on my card membership. I like being able to use points to pay with travel also.” Baldwin’s one cited disappointment is he would like to see American Express Travel add the ability to book Amtrak tickets. Allen Walton, 34, the founder of FlyGuyTravel and a Richardson, Texas resident, said in a phone call that he booked around half a dozen hotel stays through American Express Travel over the last year, including an upcoming reservation at a Hilton’s Conrad Bangkok in Thailand, and he’s generally found the rates “way better” than booking directly with the hotel or Booking.com, or even compared to group rates in one instance when he was attending an event. Travel Agents and Mix of Booking Channels American Express Travel has around 7,000 travel agents, or travel consultants in company parlance, in 23 countries, and the planning and booking experience can be hybrid. Hendley of American Express Travel said the agency attempts to provide a cross-channel experience so disclosing to this reporter a percentage of online or offline bookings might be misleading, and a “disservice” to each. “So you could go online, and you could start your booking there and then you have something a little bit more complicated or something you want to talk about,” Hendley said. “And you might then say, forget that. I’m going to call you on the phone. You might start on the phone and you might say, you know what? I need to look around and see what other hotels are in the location, and you go back to the online.” Walton, the Texas entrepreneur, said he booked a stay using the American Express Platinum card’s concierge service, but reserved the wrong dates. In trying to modify the booking, he said the customer service was “not great” because the concierge service agent told him she couldn’t cancel an American Express Travel booking, and redirected Walton back to the travel agency’s non-Platinum cardmember customer service. On the other hand, Danielle Nuzzo, 38, a communications professional at Trust & Will in San Diego, California, raved in a Twitter direct message about her experience booking her honeymoon, including using Amex points for the flights, through American Express Travel six years ago. “They had a lot of knowledge of specific hotels and villas to book in Sri Lanka and the Maldives,” Nuzzo said. “They were super helpful on which hotel and even the villa number to book in the Maldives for the best sunset view.” Nuzzo’s American Express travel consultant even came to the rescue with a visa on short notice. “Well one thing that was overlooked was a tourist visa, which was needed for Sri Lanka,” Nuzzo said. “So the day before our flight, while in Dubai, we realized we don’t have a visa but once we contacted our agent she was able to get it sorted out very quickly and we were on the flight the next day. “ Nuzzo said the couple communicated with the American Express Travel agent for the honeymoon trip “mostly by phone and email communication.” “I’m wondering if they have an app now that you could direct-message your agent for quicker responses?,” asked Nuzzo, who counts herself solidly as a millennial. If there are some gripes at times about American Express Travel’s customer service, it should be pointed out that American Express took top honors for customer satisfaction in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study for the third year in a row. There Are Millennials and Then There Are Other Millennials Nuzzo’s reference to whether American Express Travel has a mobile app raises the issue of how American Express Travel relates to younger travelers. American Express Travel doesn’t have a dedicated mobile app, and when cardmembers seek to book travel in the American Express app they get pushed to an American Express Travel mobile website. American Express Travel’s Hendley said the company’s customers — and not just the ones who skew younger — seek experiential travel — and during the second quarter 60 percent of American Express’ new customers in the U.S. were Generation Z or millennials. Hendley said American Express Travel found that 81 percent of its customers expressed the sentiment that it was “very important” that they feel like they are contributing to local economies when they travel. “And this is very meaningful to people, and it’s not just what you would think in terms of millennials,” she said. “It’s across the board in terms of what customers want. They want to be in local places, they don’t want the one size fits all.” American Express Travel doesn’t have a great mobile experience, and it doesn’t offer short-term rentals during an era where many people are looking to travel, work, and live in new places beyond hotels. Hendley pointed out that its Fine Hotels + Resorts program offers “a lot of properties that have onsite villas, and properties that have multiple bedrooms and kitchens in different destinations.” If American Express Travel indeed wants to appeal to customers in the current era, after the pandemic reshaped the travel environment, doesn’t it need to offer more vacation rentals at a minimum? Calling it “an interesting trend,” Hendley said the company knows a lot of customers are interested in short-term rentals. “We’re watching the ways people are traveling, and I just want to make sure that if we ever did that, that we made sure that we were innovating and being very differentiated in the marketplace,” Hendley said. It would be easy to envision an American Express Trav...

Army Cheetah Helicopter Crashes Near Tawang In Arunachal Pradesh, Reports ANI – Hindustan Times https://collincountynewsonline.com/army-cheetah-helicopter-crashes-near-tawang-in-arunachal-pradesh-reports-ani-hindustan-times/ Live Updated on Oct 05, 2022 01:17 PM IST Get latest news, breaking news, latest updates, live news, top headlines, breaking business news and top news of the hour. Get latest news, breaking news, latest updates, live news, top headlines, breaking business news and top news of the hour. Welcome to hindustantimes.com updates platform where you can find breaking news from India and across the world. Find fast updates about the latest news as it breaks. Follow all the updates here: Oct 05, 2022 01:13 PM IST Army Cheetah helicopter crashes near Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, reports ANI Army Cheetah helicopter crashes near Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, reports ANI Oct 05, 2022 01:05 PM IST After iPhone, Apple to produce some AirPods, Beat headphones in India: Report Apple has asked its suppliers to move some AirPods and Beats headphone production to India for the first time, Reuters reported. The development takes places days after the Cupertino-based technology giant began its iPhone 14 production in India. Read more Oct 05, 2022 12:29 PM IST Putin signs laws annexing 4 Ukrainian regions Putin signs laws absorbing four Ukrainian regions into Russia, in defiance of international law, reports AP. Read more Oct 05, 2022 12:23 PM IST PM Modi inaugurates AIIMS Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh | 5 points Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday inaugurated All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bilaspur constructed at cost of about ₹1,470 crore in a bid to strengthen health services. Read more Oct 05, 2022 10:19 AM IST Mumbai’s Bandra Worli Sea Link car accident: 5 dead, 8 undergoing treatment  A total of 13 people were injured in the Bandra Worli Sea Link road accident after a speeding car rammed into an accident site. Five people have died and eight are undergoing treatment, news agency ANI reported quoting Mumbai Police. Oct 05, 2022 09:14 AM IST India reports 2,468 Covid fresh infections in last 24 hours With 2,468 fresh Covid infections in last 24 hours, India’s daily tally goes up by 25% in a day. Oct 05, 2022 08:13 AM IST Delhi likely to withdraw ₹500 fine for not wearing masks in public: ANI Delhi set to withdraw ₹500 fine for not wearing masks in public as Covid cases drop, ANI reports. Oct 05, 2022 07:41 AM IST At least 25 dead, several injured after bus falls into gorge in Uttarakhand At least twenty-five people have died after a bus – with more than 40 aboard – fell into a gorge in Uttarakhand. Oct 05, 2022 06:48 AM IST On Twitter deal revival, Elon Musk says buyout an accelerant to…| 10 points Hours after it was revealed that billionaire Elon Musk has proposed to go ahead with his original Twitter buyout offer, in his first public remarks, he said that buying the social media platform would be an “accelerant to creating X, the everything app”. Read more Oct 05, 2022 05:32 AM IST 1 dead, 21 rescued as bus falls into gorge in Uttarakhand, rescue ops on: Report One person is reported to be dead after a bus – with more than 40 aboard – fell into a gorge in Uttarakhand. Over 40 people – including children – were reportedly on the bus which fell into a 500-meter gorge on the Rikhnikhal-Birokhal road in Pauri Garhwal district on Tuesday. Twenty-one people have been rescued so far in the operations. Read more Subscribe to our best newsletters Is the military bureaucracy as powerful as their civilian counterparts? Published on Oct 05, 2022 01:20 PM IST The new Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan has his task cut out in creating a consensus among the three services on theatre commands as well as holding the military research establishment in walking the talk on hardware development within specified time. Defence minister Rajnath Singh with CDS General Anil Chauhan and IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari.(Twitter/Rajnath Singh) Afternoon brief: PM Modi inaugurates AIIMS Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh Published on Oct 05, 2022 01:00 PM IST Here are today’s top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Amit Shah chairs high-level meeting to review security in J&K Published on Oct 05, 2022 12:31 PM IST The home minister is also scheduled to address a public rally at Showkat Ali Stadium in Baramulla district before returning to Srinagar. PTI “http://www.hindustantimes.com/” Posted by Nisha Anand Bhagwat expresses concern over growing population, calls for policy to check it Updated on Oct 05, 2022 12:04 PM IST In his annual Vijaya Dashmi speech, he also said the dialogue with minority communities will continue and called for women’s empowerment ByPradip Kumar Maitra & Smriti Kak Ramachandran Hindu Rashtra, women empowerment in focus in RSS chief’s speech on Dussehra Updated on Oct 05, 2022 10:30 AM IST Acclaimed mountaineer Santosh Yadav – the first woman to climb Mount Everest twice, first in May 1992, and then again in May 1993 – is the chief guest at the RSS Vijayadashami event this year. India logs 2,468 new Covid cases, 17 deaths in last 24 hours Published on Oct 05, 2022 10:00 AM IST The daily positivity rate was recorded at 1.32 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 1.32 per cent, according to the health ministry. Interview: Tata Tiago EV targets 3 sets of customers. Are you in one of them? Published on Oct 05, 2022 09:47 AM IST Tiago EV may be the most-affordable battery-powered hatchback in the country but it is looking at going beyond just its lucrative pricing in wooing potential buyers. Story Saved New Delhi 0C Wednesday, October 05, 2022