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Top 7 Best Crypto Futures Trading Platforms In 2022 – Cryptonews https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/top-7-best-crypto-futures-trading-platforms-in-2022-cryptonews/ Crypto futures offer traders and investors an excellent way to trade digital assets. To increase your chances of generating a profit in the crypto futures market, choosing a secure and liquid crypto futures trading platform is essential.  Read on to discover a list of the best crypto futures trading platforms. What Are Crypto Futures?  Crypto futures are derivatives contracts with which traders can speculate on the future price of an underlying cryptocurrency. This way, investors can gain exposure to cryptocurrencies without having to actually hold them.  In simple terms, when investors trade bitcoin futures contracts, they are speculating on bitcoin’s future price. Essentially, there are two parties that make a wager. One party believes the price of bitcoin will rise in the future, while the other party bets on the price of bitcoin to decline. The party that loses the wager pays the winner the difference. This is part of the futures contract both parties have signed when entering it.  Crypto futures contracts have a specific number of units, pricing criteria, marginal requirements, and modes of settlement that investors have to take into account. Depending on prevailing crypto market conditions, an investor can choose to hold a futures contract, roll it over, or sell it to another party.  Top Crypto Futures Trading Platform To start trading in crypto futures, you will have to set up an account on a crypto derivatives trading platform. Let’s take a look at the most popular ones based on trading volumes. Binance Binance is the world’s largest crypto exchange, with an average daily trading volume of $76 billion and over 120 million registered users. The crypto exchange was co-founded in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao and Yi He. The trading platform supports over 350 digital assets and lets users buy and sell across thousands of trading pairs. Binance Futures is the crypto derivatives branch of the Binance exchange. Since its introduction in late 2019, it has become the go-to platform for retail users due to its range of innovative products, simple user interface, and seamless trading experience for users.  Binance offers one of the best choices for investors looking to trade crypto futures, as it supports a multitude of crypto assets combined with deep liquidity. In its entirety, Binance Futures provides access to four product categories: USD-Margined Futures Contracts, Coin Managed Futures Contracts, Binance Leveraged Tokens, and Binance Options. Additionally, Binance Futures offers traders a 10% discount on standard trading fees if they use BNB to pay for trading fees on the derivatives exchange. To enjoy this discount, you will have to transfer BNB from your spot wallet to your futures wallet.   FTX FTX is a Bahamas-based crypto derivatives trading platform. Co-founded in 2019 by Bankman-Fried and Gary Wang, the platform aims to be a leading avenue for crypto traders. FTX supports 300+ crypto assets at the time of writing, while the platform has a total trading volume of over $12 billion. In addition, FTX offers 250+ perpetual and quarterly futures markets. FTX quarterly futures are suitable for traders who want to hold a position for a longer time. On the other hand, perpetual futures are great for trades a trader expects to close soon. Due to funding payments, their pricing mirror BTC prices closely, almost resembling trading spot.  KuCoin KuCoin is a crypto exchange that claims to offer technology-driven products and is built around the KuCoin token (KCS). The crypto exchange was founded in 2017 by Michael Gan, a software engineer who wanted to build a platform that was simple for users to navigate and offers innovative products, offering over 700 tradable assets.  KuCoin Futures offers several of trading products, like futures contracts with a cash settlement. The contracts are divided into perpetual contracts and delivery contracts.  Perpetual contracts are settled after every 8-hour window, while delivery contracts are settled on a specific date. The futures contracts are grouped based on the settlement coins used into USDT-margined and COIN-margined contracts.  OKX OKX is a Seychelles-based crypto exchange and wallet provider. The platform offers crypto derivatives like margin trading, perpetual swaps, options, and of course, futures. Formerly known as OKEX, the crypto exchange was founded in 2013 by Mingxing “Star” Xu, a Chinese entrepreneur.  OKX operates in over 100 countries and lists 350+ digital assets and almost double the number in trading pairs. OKX supports the trading of futures contracts for 13 crypto assets.  The exchange offers two groups of futures contracts, namely, crypto-margined futures and USDT-margined futures. Crypto-margined futures are settled in the underlying cryptocurrency, while USDT-margined futures are settled in USDT.  Each futures contract offered by OKX is named according to the assets that are being traded, the settlement date, and the period it is traded for. The options available for investors include weekly, fortnight, quarterly and bi-quarterly. Futures contracts are settled every Friday at 8 AM UTC.  Huobi Global Huobi Global is a crypto exchange and derivative trading platform. Huobi Global supports 500+ digital assets on its platform and is available in over 100 countries. Huobi Global was founded in 2013 by Leon Li in Beijing, a former computer engineer at Oracle. Huobi Futures offers investors and traders three types of product categories: USDT-margined contracts, coin-margined contracts, and options.  USDT-margined contracts are quoted and settled in USDT, while coin-margined contracts derive their value from the underlying cryptocurrency.  Gate.io Gate.io is a leading crypto exchange that supports over 1,400 digital assets and has over $12 billion in daily trading volumes. The crypto exchange was founded in 2013 by its current CEO, Lin Han, a software engineer, who aimed to create a secure trading platform for bitcoin enthusiasts.  Gate.io offers three types of futures contracts: perpetual contracts, delivery contracts, and quantitative strategy contracts.  Bybit Bybit is a crypto derivatives platform that offers a professional platform with advanced matching capabilities, multilingual support, and quality customer service. The platform was founded in 2018 by Ben Zhou and is based in Singapore. Bybit serves more than 10 million users worldwide who can access over 100 assets and contracts across crypto derivatives like futures.  Bybit offers several futures contracts, including USDT Perpetuals – Perpetual contracts that use USDT as collateral, Inverse Perpetual and Futures – Perpetual and futures contracts that use the underlying cryptocurrency as collateral, and USDC Perpetuals – Perpetual contracts that use USDC as collateral. The Takeaway Today’s leading crypto futures exchanges enable anyone with sufficient trading experience and capital to access the global crypto derivatives market in a secure and user-friendly manner.  If you are new to crypto trading, however, remember that futures trading involves leverage (resulting in higher risk than spot trading), and there are nuances to each futures contract. So make sure you know exactly what you are trading before you place your first crypto futures trade. And, of course, never risk more money than you can afford to lose!

U.S. Export Controls On China Semiconductors Force Suppliers To Cut Ties – The Washington Post https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/u-s-export-controls-on-china-semiconductors-force-suppliers-to-cut-ties-the-washington-post/ Western suppliers have started cutting ties to some Chinese chipmakers in response to new U.S. export controls, in another sign of the partial technology divorce the Biden administration is mandating to stymie China’s military development. One large supplier of chip-making equipment, ASML, told U.S. employees to stop installing or servicing equipment at any Chinese chip factory while it sorts through the new rules. Another equipment provider, Applied Materials, said the export restrictions will prevent it from making sales of roughly $400 million in the fourth quarter. It is common for Western companies to broadly suspend exports in the immediate wake of new U.S. restrictions, and then resume some later, once they decipher the rules, lawyers say. But national-security experts say the new restrictions, which aim to stop China from producing advanced chips, are among the toughest the United States has enacted. “I see these export controls as being hugely consequential. It goes straight to the heart of Beijing’s efforts to create a domestic world class semiconductor industry,” said Martijn Rasser, senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security. In particular, a new rule preventing “U.S. persons” from supporting certain Chinese chipmakers “won’t just freeze China’s abilities in place, it will actually lead to a degradation over time,” Rasser said. The trade curbs could also have unintended consequences for the United States, cautioned Willy Shih, a Harvard Business School professor who specializes in technology and manufacturing. Depriving China of the ability to make the highest-tech chips could cause it to pump out even more low-end chips, driving down prices and making it hard for U.S. and Western factories to compete in that segment, he said. That in turn could leave Western buyers of such chips dependent on Chinese suppliers. “It’s a little bit of a blunt instrument,” he said of export controls. “The thing you have to worry about is collateral damage.” The export controls, announced Oct. 7, aim to slow China’s ability to produce high-end semiconductors that have dual uses in commercial and military technology. For now, China still lags behind Taiwan, South Korea and the United States in manufacturing the most high-tech chips. The controls essentially bar exports to China of American-made manufacturing equipment needed to produce advanced chips. They also bar export of any U.S. tools or components to Chinese factories capable of making high-end semiconductors. In a novel step that appears to have prompted some companies to broadly suspend trade with China, the rules also bar “U.S. persons” — including American factories, and Americans and U.S. green-card holders who work in foreign factories overseas — from providing support without a U.S. government license to the development or production of such chips for China. ASML, a Dutch manufacturer of high-end semiconductor manufacturing tools that has U.S. offices and many U.S. employees, immediately instructed its U.S. staff to freeze their interaction with Chinese customers. “ASML U.S. employees must refrain — either directly or indirectly — from servicing, shipping or providing support to any customers in China until further notice, while ASML is actively assessing which particular fabs are affected by this restriction,” the company told employees in an internal letter last week, an ASML spokesman confirmed. The company said the freeze applies to U.S. citizens, green-card holders and foreign nationals who live in the United States.

CAE’s Ground-Breaking Technology Highlighted In New Canada Post Stamp – PR Newswire https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/caes-ground-breaking-technology-highlighted-in-new-canada-post-stamp-pr-newswire/ , /PRNewswire/ – (NYSE: CAE) (TSX: CAE) CAE’s innovative flight simulation technology has been featured on a new stamp recently launched by Canada Post as part of its “Canadians in Flight” series. The new stamp can be viewed on CAE’s multimedia centre. Featuring both an early CAE full-flight simulator and its leading-edge design today, the new stamp coincides with the 75th anniversary of CAE’s founding by Ken Patrick, an ex-Royal Canadian Air Force officer, in 1947. His goal was to “create something Canadian and take advantage of a war-trained team that was extremely innovative and very technology-intensive.” True to this vision, today CAE is a Canadian high-tech success, producing cutting-edge, digitally immersive training and critical operations solutions that make the world a safer place. “No matter where you fly, chances are that the pilot and co-pilot have been trained in one of our training centers around the world by a flight simulator designed and built by CAE right here in Montreal. We help our clients perform at their best in the moments that matter,” said Marc Parent, President and Chief Executive Officer of CAE. “As CAE proudly celebrates 75 years of industry-firsts, we are thrilled to have CAE’s contribution to Canadian history recognized by Canada Post.” A cornerstone of Canadian aerospace, CAE is committed to support the fight against climate change. In 2020, CAE became the first Canadian aerospace company to reach carbon neutrality across its global operations. Training in a flight simulator greatly reduces the need to consume fuel. In 2021, more than 5 million tons of CO2 emissions were avoided through the substitution of live flight training in an aircraft with full-flight simulators at CAE training centres. CAE has also recently announced that it is converting two-thirds of its Piper Archer® aircraft training fleet into electric aircraft. Future pilots will train on electric aircraft which will reduce carbon emissions and noise levels at CAE flight schools around the world. The CAE stamp is part of Canada Post’s second instalment of the Canadians in Flight series celebrating the people, planes and technology that have allowed Canada’s reputation for innovation to soar. About CAE At CAE, we equip people in critical roles with the expertise and solutions to create a safer world. As a technology company, we digitalize the physical world, deploying simulation training and critical operations support solutions. Above all else, we empower pilots, airlines, defence and security forces, and healthcare practitioners to perform at their best every day and when the stakes are the highest. Around the globe, we’re everywhere customers need us to be with more than 13,000 employees in more than 200 sites and training locations in over 40 countries. CAE represents 75 years of industry firsts—the highest-fidelity flight and mission simulators, surgical manikins, and personalized training programs powered by artificial intelligence. We’re investing our time and resources into building the next generation of cutting-edge, digitally immersive training and critical operations solutions while keeping positive environmental, social and governance (ESG) impact at the core of our mission. Today and tomorrow, we’ll make sure our customers are ready for the moments that matter. Read our FY22 Annual Activity and Corporate Social Responsibility Report CAE Contacts General Media Samantha Golinski, Vice President, Public Affairs & Global Communications +1-514-341-2000, ext. 7939, [email protected] Investor Relations Andrew Arnovitz, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Enterprise Risk Management +1-514-734-5760, [email protected] Follow us on Twitter: @CAE_Inc Facebook: www.facebook.com/cae.inc LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/cae Hashtags: #CAE; #CAEpilot SOURCE CAE INC.

Bushland Rises To No. 2, Tascosa And Canyon Also Rise In DCTF Rankings – Amarillo Globe-News https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/bushland-rises-to-no-2-tascosa-and-canyon-also-rise-in-dctf-rankings-amarillo-globe-news/ The latest release of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football high school football rankings had seven teams from the Panhandle included in the top 10 of their respective classes. Tascosa (6-1) rose up one spot and is ranked No. 8 in the Class 5A Division I rankings following its bye week. The Rebels return to the field this Thursday night against Caprock at Dick Bivins Stadium. Canyon (7-0) remained unbeaten after a 32-0 throttling of Hereford and rose up one spot to No. 8 heading into a heated rivalry matchup against Randall on Friday night. Bushland (8-0) rose up two spots, for the second week in a row, up to No. 2 following a 68-0 shutout win on the road against River Road. The Falcons have outscored their two district opponents 102-0 in the last two weeks. Canadian (5-2) stayed steady at No. 4 in the Class 3A Division II rankings following a one-sided 42-3 victory over Spearman. The Wildcats next challenge will be against Friona on Friday night. Stratford (7-0) maintained its spot at No. 6 following a thrilling 40-35 win over District 1-2A Div. I rival Panhandle. The Elks hit the road to challenge the Sanford-Fritch Eagles this week. Wellington (6-1) also did not rise or fall this week, standing pat at No. 3 in the Class 2A Division II rankings. The Skyrockets have defeated their last two opponent 86-0 following a 50-0 win against Memphis. Wellington will battle District 2-2A Div. II rival Wheeler this week. Happy (6-1) once again stayed at No. 6 in the Class 1A Six-Man Division I rankings following a 78-38 victory over Lubbock Kingdown Prep. The Cowboys will face Nazareth this week in one of the most anticipated six-man games of the season. The Silverton Owls (5-3) fell from their spot at No. 10 of the Class 1A Six-Man Division II rankings after suffering a 54-52 loss to Groom. CLASS 6A — 1. Galena Park North Shore (7-0), 1; 2. Austin Westlake (7-0), 2; 3. Duncanville (6-0), 3; 4. Southlake Carroll (7-0), 4; 5. Katy (7-0), 5; 6. Denton Guyer (7-0), 6; 7. Humble Atascocita (6-1), 7; 8. Cibolo Steele (7-0), 8; 9. Allen (6-1), 9; 10. Arlington Martin (6-1), 10; 11. DeSoto (6-1), 11; 12. Spring Westfield (6-1), 12; 13. Alvin Shadow Creek (7-0), 13; 14. Highland Park (7-0), 14; 15. San Antonio Brennan (6-1), 15; 16. Prosper (6-1), 18; 17. Dripping Springs (6-1), 16; 18. Austin Vandegrift (6-1), 17; 19. Trophy Club Byron Nelson (7-0), 22; 20. Rockwall (7-1), 20; 21. Klein Collins (7-0), 21; 22. North Crowley (7-0), 23; 23. New Caney (7-0), 24; 24. Round Rock (6-1), 19; 25. Humble Summer Creek (4-3), 25 CLASS 5A DIVISION I — 1. Longview (7-0), 1; 2. Mansfield Timberview (7-0), 2; 3. College Station (6-1), 3; 4. Aledo (6-2), 5; 5. Port Arthur Memorial (7-0), 4; 6. Frisco Reedy (8-0), 7; 7. Lancaster (5-2), 8; 8. Amarillo Tascosa (6-1), 9; 9. Midlothian (7-0), NR; 10. PSJA North (7-0), NR CLASS 5A DIVISION II — 1. Argyle (7-0), 1; 2. Fort Bend Marshall (6-1), 2; 3. Liberty Hill (7-1), 3; 4. Texarkana Texas High (6-1), 4; 5. Grapevine (6-1), 5; 6. Montgomery Lake Creek (8-0), 7; 7. Midlothian Heritage (6-1), 6; 8. Alamo Heights (6-1), 9; 9. South Oak Cliff (4-3), 10; 10. Lovejoy (5-2), NR CLASS 4A DIVISION I — 1. Stephenville (7-0), 1; 2. China Spring (7-1), 2; 3. Corpus Christi Calallen (8-0), 3; 4. Boerne (7-0), 4; 5. Anna (7-0), 5; 6. Celina (6-1), 6; 7. Lumberton (6-1), 7; 8. Canyon (7-0), 9; 9. Kilgore (6-2), 10; 10. Tyler Chapel Hill (5-2), NR CLASS 4A DIVISION II — 1. Carthage (8-0), 1; 2. Gilmer (6-0), 2; 3. Cuero (6-1), 3; 4. Silsbee (7-0), 4; 5. Bellville (8-0), 5; 6. Wimberley (7-0), 6; 7. Texarkana Pleasant Grove (5-2), 7; 8. Wichita Falls Hirschi (4-2), 8; 9. Glen Rose (6-1), 9; 10. Aubrey (6-2), 10 CLASS 3A DIVISION I — 1. Franklin (7-0), 1; 2. Bushland (7-0), 4; 3. Grandview (6-1), 3; 4. Malakoff (7-1), 5; 5. Hitchcock (8-0), NR; 6. Columbus (7-1), 2; 7. Llano (8-0), 8; 8. Cameron Yoe (5-2), 9; 9. Brock (3-4), 10; 10. Lorena (6-2), NR CLASS 3A DIVISION II — 1. Gunter (6-0), 1; 2. Holliday (7-0), 2; 3. Newton (7-1), 3; 4. Canadian (5-2), 4; 5. Bells (5-2), 5; 6. West Rusk (5-2), 6; 7. Poth (6-1), 7; 8. Palmer (7-0), 8; 9. Lexington (7-0), 9; 10. Wall (6-1), 10 CLASS 2A DIVISION I — 1. Timpson (7-0), 1; 2. Hawley (7-0), 2; 3. Crawford (7-0), 3; 4. Shiner (7-1), 4; 5. Refugio (6-1), 5; 6. Stratford (7-0), 6; 7. Tolar (7-0), 7; 8. Cisco (7-1), 8; 9. Centerville (5-2), 9; 10. Coleman (6-2), 10 CLASS 2A DIVISION II — 1. Mart (7-0), 1; 2. Burton (7-0), 2; 3. Wellington (6-1), 3; 4. Wink (7-0), 4; 5. Chilton (7-0), 5; 6. Price Carlisle (7-0), 6; 7. Santo (7-0), 7; 8. Albany (5-2), 8; 9. Granger (6-1), 9; 10. Milano (6-0), NR CLASS 1A DIVISION I — 1. Abbott (5-0), 1; 2. Westbrook (6-1), 2; 3. May (7-0-1), 3; 4. Jonesboro (7-1), 4; 5. Rankin (6-1), 5; 6. Happy (6-1), 6; 7. Garden City (6-1), 7; 8. Irion County (6-0), 8; 9. Gordon (7-0), 9; 10. Medina (6-0), 10 CLASS 1A DIVISION II — 1. Benjamin (5-0), 1; 2. Cherokee (6-0), 2; 3. Balmorhea (5-1), 3; 4. Oglesby (7-0), 4; 5. Richland Springs (4-1), 5; 6. Loraine (6-1), 6; 7. Sanderson (7-0-1), 7; 8. Whitharral (7-1), 8; 9. Rising Star (5-1), 9; 10. Bluff Dale (5-10), NR

Vacation Add-Ons, Free Flights And More Credit Perks To Use Now – AOL https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/vacation-add-ons-free-flights-and-more-credit-perks-to-use-now-aol/ Vladimir Vladimirov / Getty Images Cash back and flight miles are some common benefits to having a credit card, but you could be missing out on some hidden perks that could really come in handy. From travel insurance to shopping bonuses, there’s a whole lot having a credit card in your wallet can do for you. Explore: Your Biggest Money Etiquette Questions Answered Learn: What Is the Highest Income Level for Food Stamps in 2023? Travel Insurance Lost a bag? Had to cancel a trip due to extenuating circumstances? Need to cancel a hotel at the last minute? These are all instances that could potentially be covered by the insurance your credit card offers. Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and The Platinum Card from American Express were all listed as cards that offer top travel insurance benefits. Free and Express Shipping No need to pay for Amazon Prime because American Express, Chase cards and World Elite Mastercards come with a shipping perk — a ShopRunner membership. This membership offers free 2-day shipping and free returns at 100+ stores including 1-800-FLOWERS and Bloomingdale’s. Take Our Poll: Do You Have an Emergency Fund Established? TSA PreCheck or Global Entry If you’re looking to skip the long security lines at the airport, your credit card might be able to help you do that. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve will give you up to a $100 credit towards the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee. Price Protection Never lose out on the best price again. If you use your credit card to buy an item and it goes down in price, this perk will refund you the difference. Some cards that offer this include the Wells Fargo Visa Signature Card (up to $1,000 a year), UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card (up to $1,500 a year) and Capital One Spark Miles for Business (up to $2,500 a year). Extended Warranties Though big-ticket items might come with a standard manufacturer’s warranty, some credit cards extend that insurance so you can have some extra peace of mind. If you buy the item with your credit card, the credit card’s extended warranty will kick in as soon as the manufacturer’s expires, giving you anywhere from 1-3 more years of protection. Cards known for offering this are any Chase card and Capital One Venture Rewards. Hotel Extras Looking to add a little luxury to your next trip? See if your credit card offers hotel perks. These can include free meals, free room upgrades, and late check-out at no charge. One card known to have these types of benefits is the Platinum Card from American Express. Cellphone Insurance We’re going to damage our phones. There is no way around it. Luckily, some credit cards offer insurance so it’s cheaper (or even free!) to repair your phone, or get a new one if need be. Check to see if your card has this protection, and then make sure you’re paying your phone bill with that credit card to get access to insurance. That way, all the lines on your cellphone account are covered. Free Access to Museums If you’re looking to do something a little different on the weekends, some credit cards like those from Bank of America offer free museum passes on certain weekends. More From GOBankingRates 10 Most Expensive Vinyl Records The Downsides of Retirement That Nobody Talks About Looking To Diversify in a Bear Market? Consider These Alternative Investments 6 Hidden Ways To Help You Boost Your Credit Score This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Vacation Add-Ons, Free Flights and More Credit Perks To Use Now

Diamond’s Panmure Gordon Plots Merger With Listed Rival FinnCap – Sky News https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/diamonds-panmure-gordon-plots-merger-with-listed-rival-finncap-sky-news/ The City stockbroker controlled by Bob Diamond, the former Barclays chief, is plotting a merger with one of its listed rivals as a slowdown in corporate activity drives a search for bigger cost savings. Sky News has learnt that Panmure Gordon, which Mr Diamond’s Atlas Merchant Capital took a majority stake in in 2017, has approached finnCap Group about a potential tie-up. Discussions between the two companies are said to be at an early stage, and there was no certainty on Monday evening that they would result in a deal. A merger of Panmure and finnCap would bring together two of the best-known players in the area of the London stockbroking industry which focuses on advising small- and mid-cap companies. FinnCap has endured a difficult period, losing Sam Smith, its prominent chief executive and one of relatively few female City bosses, during the summer. Its shares have slumped by nearly two-thirds during the last year. At Monday’s closing share price of 13.5p, it had a market capitalisation of just £24m. Panmure itself also used to be listed on the London stock market, and it was unclear whether a deal would see it launch a reverse takeover of FinnCap that would see it return to being a listed company. Mr Diamond’s move to take control of Panmure in 2017 came five years after he stepped down as Barclays chief executive just days after it was fined for manipulating the Libor interbank rate. Since then, he has parachuted in Rich Ricci, a former Barclays colleague, as Panmure’s CEO. Its other shareholders include a vehicle backed by the Qatari royal family. Panmure reported in May that it had turned a profit for the first time since Mr Diamond took control. A dearth of initial public offerings and takeover activity in the City this year have forced investment banks to begin cutting their cost-bases. At the weekend, it was reported that finnCap was making 10 of its 150-strong workforce redundant, while The Sunday Times said that Numis, Peel Hunt and Zeus Capital were also trimming jobs. Other broking firms are also expected to participate in industry consolidation, including WH Ireland, which is under siege from an activist shareholder. Atlas Merchant Capital and finnCap both declined to comment.

Eating Disorders In Colorado Teens, Young Adults Rose During Pandemic – Colorado Springs Gazette https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/eating-disorders-in-colorado-teens-young-adults-rose-during-pandemic-colorado-springs-gazette/ As the pandemic enveloped the globe in 2020, Emma Warford used her newly acquired free time to laser in on a destructive hobby — scrutinizing her caloric intake. Over the course of the next year that obsession, coupled with stressful activities, such as taking advanced placement and college classes, having a job and extracurricular hobbies, landed her in the pediatrician’s office. She was deemed severely underweight, diagnosed with anorexia and placed in outpatient treatment, where she saw a dietician and therapist weekly. Several factors coalesced to create a perfect disordered eating storm. “Being at home and also I am definitely a perfectionist,” said Warford, 17, who attends Rock Canyon High School in Highlands Ranch. “I have OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) that contributes a little bit. I’ve never had coping skills. I was never taught how to prioritize mental health.” Warford wasn’t the only one. The pandemic, with its double whammy of isolation and fear of getting sick, changed the way many people related to their bodies and contributed to a rise in eating disorders for kids and young adults. According to a recent study, in 2020 those disorders increased by 15.3% in children and adults 30 and younger. It’s a serious statistic about an issue more dangerous than many might believe. Even if someone isn’t losing a massive amount of weight, the consequences can be harsh. Depriving the body of nutrition can cause a wealth of physical problems, such as impaired memory, the ability to learn and even death. Malnourishment can lead to increased rigid and obsessive thinking. And this, added to a potentially fraught time of life, when teens and younger people are already perseverating on their bodies and image, can be detrimental. “People think we die more by depression,” said Jenna Glover, child psychologist and director of psychology training at Children’s Hospital Colorado, “but because of the complications that come with an eating disorder, like cardiac arrest, malnutrition and death by suicide, it’s a very serious disorder.” About eight months into the pandemic 17-year-old Colorado Springs student Shelten stopped playing football due to fears of getting COVID-19. After he stepped away, his mind began to play tricks on him and lured him into a tricky relationship with food. “I worried I wouldn’t stay fit physically and mentally,” he said. “I thought if I changed the way I ate it would do that, but it didn’t help. It made it worse. I just ate things that didn’t have a lot of calories or small portions.” People restrict their eating for a few reasons, Glover said. In Western culture, with its emphasis on beauty ideals — muscular men and thin women — body image is a looming factor. Social media hasn’t necessarily made it worse, she said, but it has provided more opportunities for comparison. An eating disorder also can grow out of trauma. Restricting what someone eats can give a sense of control or help change their body in such a way that others won’t be interested in it. There’s also orthorexia, an obsession with healthy living. “We talk about being on the paleo diet,” Glover used as an example about the diet that promotes eating the same foods eaten by humans during the Paleolithic era. “We elevate what wellness looks like and take it to the extreme. It can become an obsession, when it’s not healthy anymore and it’s the extreme.” After being diagnosed, Warford’s health continued to decline. After an EKG revealed her heart rate was plummeting last year, she was rushed to the hospital where she stayed for a few weeks until she got medically stable. She went home, but wound up requiring residential care. A facility in Washington took her in when the waiting list for such a place in Colorado was too long. Warford spent four months recovering before coming home and resuming her junior year. “I’m doing well,” she said. “Physically I’m 100% better. There are still some mental aspects I’m working on because the physical comes first. I still see a therapist and dietitian occasionally. A lot of it I do by myself, navigating and trying new things, like being more comfortable around food and accepting myself as I come.” After being admitted to the hospital on Christmas two years ago, Shelten, who also learned he had OCD after getting sick, spent the next five months in recovery, four of which were at an eating disorders center. After returning home in the summer of 2021, he’s faring well, spending time at football practice and working two jobs. “I’m doing amazing,” he said. “I still have some problems with my emotions, but I’m getting helped by doctors. I have medicine to help with that.” Warford and Shelten are lucky. In the majority of cases, it takes an average of seven years from when a child develops an eating disorder until they’re diagnosed, Glover said. It can live under the surface for a long time before anybody else notices. The good news is recovery is possible. If it’s caught early in teens, they can be treated on an outpatient basis. Others, who have lived with disordered eating for a long time and are malnourished, might need intensive programming and possibly residential treatment. “You can’t just refeed someone immediately. It will cause damage,” Glover said. “After a course of treatment it’s a lifelong maintenance of recovery for some, but they can recover and live their lives without an obsession of food and body image.” While there might be a few kids who tell their parents they’re struggling with disordered eating, they’re the exception. Kids either refuse to believe they have an issue or they use it as a coping strategy, Glover said. “It makes them feel better temporarily,” she said. “Or they know it’s a problem, but they don’t want anyone to take it away from them. They’re highly secretive about it — this is helping me and I don’t want to change it or I’m highly ashamed and I don’t want anyone to know.” Signs to watch for include significant changes in eating habits; suddenly caring about calories; refusing certain foods or eating at a restaurant if they don’t know the calorie count; sudden interest in grocery store outings or what the family is eating; excessive amounts of time looking in the mirror or their phone; checking body parts, such as wrist size; negative comments about their body; over-exercising; and withdrawing from mealtimes or in general. “One thing wouldn’t be concerning, but multiple things warrant a conversation with your child and pediatrician,” Glover said. “If a parent suspects or has a child who is diagnosed and suffering with an eating disorder, they should also get their own support. This is a chronic medical condition, the same as if a kid had cancer.” Warford did try to tell her mom a few times something was wrong, but it took a while to register. “I had no idea. An eating disorder is hard,” said Chris Hendrickson, Warford’s mother. “How can you not eat? … You want to say just eat, what’s the problem? But you’re not addressing what’s going on in their head. Something is going on that is so strong and turning off their eating cues.” Though the increase in eating disorders is holding steady, doctors are still seeing more mental health problems in kids and young adults. “They’ve lost time with friends and learning opportunities,” Glover said. “There’s more stress to get back into everyday life. If chronic stressors exist for a long time, it takes a long time for kids to get back to normal, even though their daily schedule looks like normal.” She advises parents to develop healthy language and habits around food, such as talking about food in a nonjudgmental way. So often in society foods are deemed good or bad, or people make comments like, “I was bad today so I can’t eat dinner tonight.” “We don’t want to model that for our children,” she said. “Food is medicine for bodies and energy. There is no good or bad food. It’s just food. And don’t make negative comments about your body. Talk about your body in a way that is neutral and positive: I love my legs, they take me everywhere.” Contact the writer: jen.mulson@gazette.com

Ballon D’Or 2022 Live Stream: How To Watch On Paramount+, Time, News With Karim Benzema The Favorite – CBS Sports https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/ballon-dor-2022-live-stream-how-to-watch-on-paramount-time-news-with-karim-benzema-the-favorite-cbs-sports/ The 2022 Ballon d’Or will be awarded Monday in Paris and it will be the 66th annual edition of the ceremony, which is presented by monthly publication France Football. The prestigious prize recognizes the best soccer players in the world from the 2021-22 period and like last year, the ceremony will take place at Theatre du Chatelet. You can watch it live on Paramount+. Men’s titleholder and seven-time winner Lionel Messi has not been nominated for this year’s award, which is the first time since 2005 that the Argentina and Paris Saint-Germain star does not make the cut. France and Real Madrid superstar Karim Benzema is expected to triumph here while women’s defending champion Alexia Putellas of Barcelona could successfully retain her crown. Here is our refresher on the rules, how you can tune in to the ceremony and more: How to watch on Paramount+ Paramount+ will present complete coverage of the 66th edition of the Ballon d’Or on Monday, Oct. 17. The ceremony, which will be hosted by Didier Drogba and Sandy Heribert live from Paris, begins at 2:30 p.m., ET, streaming live on Paramount+. Red carpet coverage kicks off the day at 12:50. Coverage will culminate with an hourlong press conference beginning at 4, featuring interviews with winners. The awards that will be unveiled as part of France Football’s Ballon d’Or ceremony streaming live on Paramount+ include: Kopa Trophy (top young player) Socrates Award (recognizes a player involved in social and charitable projects) Women’s Ballon d’Or Yachine Trophy (top goalkeeper) Gerd Müller Trophy (top scorer award) Best Club of the Year Trophy Men’s Ballon d’Or Streaming details Date: Monday, Oct. 17 | Time: 2:30 p.m. ET Location: Theatre du Chatelet — Paris TV and live stream: Paramount+ Favorites to win: Karim Benzema and Alexia Putellas Voting and rule changes This year’s nominees were unveiled on Aug. 12, and it will be the first time that the results are decided based upon what was achieved during a season and not an entire calendar year. The new formula is designed to cover the most critical sporting period with a sharpened jury, tighter selection process and clearer award criteria. France Football have specified that “individual performances” and “decisive and impressive character of contenders” will be the leading criteria ahead of “the collective aspect and trophies won” as well as “the player’s class and sense of fair play.” Craving even more coverage of the world’s game? Listen below and follow ¡Qué Golazo! A Daily CBS Soccer Podcast where we take you beyond the pitch and around the globe for commentary, previews, recaps and more. Nominees for Ballon d’Or and Ballon d’Or Feminin Ballon d’Or: Trent Alexander-Arnold (ENG, Liverpool): Karim Benzema (FRA, Real Madrid); Joao Cancelo (POR, Manchester City); Casemiro (BRA, Real Madrid); Thibaut Courtois (BEL, Real Madrid); Cristiano Ronaldo (POR, Manchester United); Kevin de Bruyne (BEL, Manchester City); Luis Diaz (COL, FC Porto/Liverpool); Fabinho (BRA, Liverpool); Phil Foden (ENG, Manchester City); Erling Haaland (NOR, Borussia Dortmund/Manchester City); Sebastien Haller (CIV, Ajax/Borussia Dortmund); Harry Kane (ENG, Tottenham); Joshua Kimmich (GER, Bayern Munich); Rafael Leao (POR, AC Milan); Robert Lewandowski (POL, Bayern Munich/FC Barcelona); Riyad Mahrez (ALG, Manchester City); Mike Maignan (FRA, AC Milan); Sadio Mane (SEN, Liverpool/Bayern Munich); Kylian Mbappe (FRA, PSG); Luka Modric (CRO, Real Madrid); Christopher Nkunku (FRA, RB Leipzig); Darwin Nunez (URU, Benfica/Liverpool); Antonio Rudiger (GER, Chelsea/Real Madrid); Mohamed Salah (EGY, Liverpool); Bernardo Silva (POR, Manchester City); Heung-Min Son (KOR, Tottenham); Virgil Van Dijk (NED, Liverpool); Vinicius Junior (BRA, Real Madrid); Dusan Vlahovic (SER, Fiorentina/Juventus) Ballon d’Or Feminin: Selma Bach (France, Lyon); Aitana Bonmati (Spain, Barcelona); Millie Bright (England, Chelsea); Lucy Bronze (England, Manchester City/Barcelona); Kadidiatou Diani (France, PSG); Christiane Endler (Chile, Lyon); Ada Hegerberg (Norway, Lyon); Marie-Antoinette Katoto (France, PSG); Sam Kerr (Australia, Chelsea); Catarina Macario (USA, Lyon); Beth Mead (England, Arsenal); Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands, Arsenal); Alex Morgan (USA, Orlando Pride/San Diego Wave); Lena Oberdorf (Germany, Wolfsburg); Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria, Barcelona); Alexandra Popp (Germany, Wolfsburg); Alexia Putellas (Spain, Barcelona); Wendie Renard (France, Lyon); Trinity Rodman (USA, Washington Spirit); Fridolina Rolfo (Sweden, Barcelona). Prediction  It has felt for a while like Benzema winning the men’s prize is a foregone conclusion after his latest UEFA Champions League title with Real. Truly, there are few other credible contenders with stronger cases than this year. As for the women’s, Putellas may well end up with back-to-back titles despite her injury. It would not only be the first time in the award’s history. She would also become the all-time most-titled female Ballon d’Or winner.

Oscar Mayer Wienermobile Heads To The Metaverse Along With NFTs: Here Are The Details – Kraft Heinz (NASD – Benzinga https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/oscar-mayer-wienermobile-heads-to-the-metaverse-along-with-nfts-here-are-the-details-kraft-heinz-nasd-benzinga/ “I wish I were an Oscar Mayer wiener, that is what I truly like to be.” If you’re one of the millions of people who grew up with this jingle or are aware of what the Wienermobile is, this news may excite you. What Happened: JPMorgan Chase & Co. JPM has called the “metanomics” segment of digital worlds and the metaverse a trillion-dollar opportunity. The call comes as companies like McDonald’s Corp MCD, Nike Inc NKE, Roblox Corporation RBLX and others are investing heavily in the metaverse and filing trademarks to bring their brands and new products into the sector. New filings from Kraft Heinz Company KHC shared by Josh Gerben of Gerben Law on Twitter show that the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile could be headed to the metaverse. The trademark filing from Kraft Heinz shows the company plans to offer virtual food and beverage products in the metaverse, non-fungible tokens and virtual restaurants. The trademark was filed on Oct. 12. Among the items offered could be downloadable virtual goods, digital tokens, digital collectibles, digital art, downloadable software and non-fungible tokens, according to the filing. There could also be virtual restaurants and food items related to the Oscar Mayer and Wienermobile brands, similar to filings made by McDonald’s, Burger King and Panera to offer virtual restaurants. “Entertainment services, namely, providing online virtual restaurants and food and drink items for use in virtual environments; entertainment services, namely, providing an online virtual restaurant where users can earn reward points and virtual currency which may be used to purchase food and beverages in the real or virtual world,” the filing reads. The filing also includes language to open a virtual restaurant that features “home delivery in the real and virtual world.” Related Link: Metaverse And Altcoin Officially Added To The Dictionary  Why It’s Important: Brands have increased the number of trademark filings related to the metaverse and non-fungible tokens over the last year. Oscar Mayer introduced the Wienermobile in 1930 and it became what the company calls “a national icon.” The unique-looking vehicle regularly tours the country and is among the promotional efforts to generate brand recognition by Oscar Mayer. A radio jingle created in 1963 proved to be incredibly popular and is known by many today. The strong brand recognition of the Wienermobile could help Kraft Heinz get established in the metaverse and bring its other brands on board eventually. McDonald’s and others have filed for trademarks to have virtual restaurants and also tie them into their physical locations and rewards programs. As the jingle says, Oscar Mayer is likely hoping that, in both the physical and digital worlds, “everyone would be in love with me.” Image: Wikimedia Commons © 2022 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Visit Benzinga’s Crypto Homepage – 1,000,000+ depend on Benzinga Crypto every month

Jackson Roloff Shows Off His Genius With New Gadget – TV Shows Ace https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/jackson-roloff-shows-off-his-genius-with-new-gadget-tv-shows-ace/ Little People, Big World star Jackson Roloff is showing fans just how smart he is. The five-year-old boy is growing up quickly and learning a lot these days. Keep reading for all of the details about his new gadget. If you follow Tori Roloff on social media, you might have seen her post videos of Jackson playing or learning at home. It looks like he enjoys hands-on activities. And because Tori was a kindergarten teacher before becoming a stay-at-home mom, she is often playing educational games with Jackson at home. The five-year-old also started going to kindergarten this year. He turned five in May and began school in August. Even on the weekend, however, he’s putting his knowledge to good use. Jackson Roloff shows fans how smart he is On her Instagram Stories this weekend, Tori revealed that she got some quality time with her son, Jackson. As she recorded a video of him, he showed off his genius. In the videos, Jackson is sitting at the kitchen table. He’s using a kids’ writing tablet, which automatically erases with the touch of a button. As the video begins, Tori encourages her son to write all of his numbers. He starts writing the numbers one through five and says them out loud as he does. When he gets to number four, he asks his mom which kind of four he should write. She instructs him to write it however he wants to. In another short video, Jackson Roloff continues showing off his genius. He ended up writing all of the numbers up through 14. Then, he starts writing on the tablet once again. Tori wrote to fans, “I love that these are a perfect way to get my kids away from screen time!” It looks like Jackson is a big fan of it too. She also shared the link to the product so fans could buy it for their own kids. It’s possible that Tori earns a commission for the products sold because she promoted it on her Instagram Stories with Jackson’s help. Maybe his genius is a good strategy to help sell the writing tablet. So, can you believe how smart Jackson Roloff is? What do you think of his cool gadget? Sound off in the comments section below, and come back to TV Shows Ace for more LPBW news. Plus, don’t miss Jackson and the rest of the family on Little People, Big World Season 24, which premieres on TLC on Tuesday, November 1. Author Recent Posts Aubrey Chorpenning has been a freelance writer since December 2016. She enjoys writing, researching, spending time with her cats, and of course, watching TV! Latest posts by Aubrey Chorpenning (see all)

This Will Be Record Year For Crypto Hackers, Over $3 Billion Already Looted – Kitco NEWS https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/this-will-be-record-year-for-crypto-hackers-over-3-billion-already-looted-kitco-news/ (Kitco News) With crypto hacking headlines now making regular appearances in mainstream media, this year is looking to be a new record year for hackers, according to a report by Chainalysis. Year-to-date, hackers have already managed to steal more than $3 billion across 125 different hacking attempts, the blockchain analysis firm headquartered in New York City said in a report released mid-October. October, which is not even over, was the best month for hackers in 2022, with $718 million stolen in eleven different hacks. Decentralized finance protocols (DeFi) were the main targets this year. This is a shift that began in 2020. DeFi protocols use software-based algorithms that allow users to trade, borrow or lend crypto without a central intermediary. 2/ At this rate, 2022 will likely surpass 2021 as the biggest year for hacking on record. So far, hackers have grossed over $3 billion dollars across 125 hacks. pic.twitter.com/vgT3pz2iOu — Chainalysis (@chainalysis) October 12, 2022 “Back in 2019, most hacks targeted centralized exchanges, and prioritizing security went a long way. Now a vast majority of targets are DeFi protocols,” the report said. “Cross-chain bridges remain a major target for hackers, with 3 bridges breached this month and nearly $600 million stolen, accounting for 82% of losses this month and 64% of losses all year.” 3/ Back in 2019, most hacks targeted centralized exchanges, and prioritizing security went a long way. Now a vast majority of targets are #DeFi protocols. pic.twitter.com/efSKCkhnm2 — Chainalysis (@chainalysis) October 12, 2022 In another report, Chainalysis estimated that North Korea-affiliated groups got their hands o $1 billion worth of crypto in various hacking attempts on DeFi protocols. One of the biggest hacks from October involved Binance’s native blockchain, BNB Smart Chain (BSC), which was hit with a bridge exploit. The hack triggered a network suspension for a brief period. Reports said that a hacker took advantage of an issue with a cross-chain bridge, escaping with an estimated $80 million in BNB tokens, the native currency of the chain.  Another big hack involved Solana-based decentralized finance protocol Mango Markets (MNGO). In this instance, a hacker manipulated the price data of its native MNGO token and exploited under-collateralized cryptocurrency loans. The attack managed to wipe out $100 million.  Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.

U.S. Lawmakers Want To Boost Oversight Of Foreign Government Broadcast Sponsorship – Reuters https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/u-s-lawmakers-want-to-boost-oversight-of-foreign-government-broadcast-sponsorship-reuters/ WASHINGTON, Oct 17 (Reuters) – A bipartisan group of lawmakers on Monday introduced legislation to strengthen the authority of the Federal Communications Commission to oversee foreign sponsorships of U.S. broadcast TV and radio programs. Democratic Senator Brian Schatz, Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn and Representative Anna Eshoo, a Democrat, proposed giving the FCC authority to compel broadcasters to check foreign media databases to better identify groups sponsoring programming. “Foreign governments shouldn’t be able to hide behind shell companies to fund misinformation and propaganda on American airwaves,” Schatz said. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Blackburn said foreign governments currently “can use shell companies to broadcast regime-funded propaganda across American airwaves. This legislation will protect consumer transparency by requiring the disclosure of foreign government-sponsored content.” In July, a U.S. appeals court struck down an FCC requirement that broadcasters check federal sources to verify sponsors’ identities. The FCC rules finalized in April 2021 require foreign-government sponsorship disclosure at the time of a broadcast if a foreign governmental entity paid a radio or television station, directly or indirectly, to air material. The bill would not prohibit foreign governments from sponsoring content on U.S. airwaves. The court noted that the FCC had raised concerns “that the Chinese and Russian governments have been secretly leasing air time to broadcast propaganda on American radio.” The issue took on new urgency in the aftermath of Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel praised the effort in Congress to “increase transparency and ensure consumers know who is behind the information transmitted over public airwaves.” Earlier this month, the FCC issued a revised proposal to identify foreign governmental entities, including a certification process with standardized language for broadcasters to use in order to demonstrate appropriate inquiries have been made. The National Association of Broadcasters challenged the 2021 FCC rule requiring independent checks, arguing it would result in “onerous requirements to … conduct independent research on all the entities with whom broadcasters currently or will in the future have lease agreements.” Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington Editing by Matthew Lewis Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

5G Network Rollout: Nokia, Ericsson Bag Jio’s $3-Bn Contracts – The Indian Express https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/5g-network-rollout-nokia-ericsson-bag-jios-3-bn-contracts-the-indian-express/ Reliance Jio, the country’s largest telecom service provider, on Monday awarded long-term contracts to global gear makers Ericsson and Nokia to roll out its standalone 5G network. Though the value of the contracts was not disclosed by the companies, industry estimates have pegged the total value around $3 billion, divided equally between the two vendors. In August, Bharti Airtel had awarded similar contracts to Nokia, Ericsson and Samsung for rolling out its 5G network. The value is estimated to be similar. Going ahead, Jio is likely to award one more contract to South Korean major Samsung, which has built its 4G network. The developments conclusively show that Chinese vendors like Huawei are not going to be part of the country’s 5G network. As per the contract, Ericsson will deploy its energy-efficient 5G radio access network products and solutions for Jio’s 5G network rollout, whereas Nokia will supply equipment such as base stations, high-capacity 5G Massive MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) antennas, and remote radio heads to support different spectrum bands, and network software. Ericsson and Nokia would be paid upon achievement of certain milestones laid down by the telecom service provider. The structure of the contract involves building, operating and maintaining the network. Jio’s core network is already up and running, built by the company itself. Once these radios are put on the towers, the 5G coverage will get enhanced. Jio has already started beta trial of its 5G services in four cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Varanasi. It has said that its 5G services will be available on a pan-India basis by December 2023 at a total outlay of $2 trillion. “Jio transformed the digital landscape in India with the launch of LTE (4G) services in 2016. We are confident that Jio’s 5G network will accelerate India’s digitalisation and will serve as the foundation for achieving our nation’s ‘Digital India’ vision,” Akash Ambani, chairman of Reliance Jio, said. Unlike its peers Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, Jio is deploying its 5G network on standalone architecture, which it calls a ‘true 5G’ solution. In standalone 5G architecture, the network deployed is independent of the 4G network. According to experts, the standalone architecture does not have a developed ecosystem at present but every telco would have to switch to this architecture eventually to unleash the varied use cases of 5G and give an optimum experience of the new technology to the users. According to Jio, its standalone 5G network deployment represents a major technology leap as it modernises the network infrastructure to deliver a transformative 5G experience to consumers and enterprises with advanced features. For Ericsson and Nokia, India is one of the top markets in terms of business opportunity. “India is building world-class digital infrastructure that will drive innovation, job creation and entrepreneurship across the country. We are happy to partner with Jio in those ambitions, through Ericsson 5G standalone connectivity, which will be a major catalyst in meeting those digital transformation goals across society, enterprise and industry,” Borje Ekholm, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Ericsson, said. “This (deal with Jio) is a significant win for Nokia in an important market and a new customer with one of the largest RAN (radio access network) footprints in the world. This ambitious project will introduce millions of people across India to premium 5G services, enabled by our industry-leading AirScale portfolio. We are proud that Reliance Jio has placed its trust in our technology and we look forward to a long and productive partnership with them,” Pekka Lundmark, president and CEO at Nokia, said. Currently, only limited users are able to use 5G services as handset makers are yet to launch the required software updates on the 5G-enabled devices. Simultaneously, the telecom operators are working to extend the coverage of 5G network across the cities. FE

Denton Rent Ranks Cheaper In North Texas, But It’s Still A Struggle – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/denton-rent-ranks-cheaper-in-north-texas-but-its-still-a-struggle-nbc-5-dallas-fort-worth/ Although rent costs have flattened in North Texas, renters are still paying some of the highest prices our region has ever seen. But there’s one spot where some are finding a little relief – even if it may not feel like it. A new report ranked Denton with some of the cheapest rent prices in North Texas for a one-bedroom. Listing site Zumper ranked some other cities with cheaper rent, including Arlington and Fort Worth. Plano, Richardson and Frisco topped the list as the most expensive. But Denton is unique. John Baen, UNT real estate professor within the G. Brint Ryan College of Business, says Denton is essentially in its own bubble and has been for years. “Our market is very, very strong because the university is the primary employer and draw for apartment dwellers,” he said. “The University of North Texas has a very large housing department. And we have apartments, we have dormitories, etc. and we’re not trying to make a profit on it necessarily, because it’s part of our service to grow the university.” Local The latest news from around North Texas. Its distance from the metroplex and the college town culture to focus on affordable housing for students has made it that way. “We also have a lot of parents of UNT students. They actually buy houses to house their kids and then rent out rooms. There’s a bunch of that going on, which also puts a lid on what people can charge on their rent,” said Baen. “[The students] also get their parents to cosign. So the risk of default is a lot less in Denton than it is in other places. So there’s an assurance that our occupancy rate is going to stay fairly level.” Baen said overall, the culture in Denton is far different from its neighbors just miles down the road in Collin County. “We don’t have the Fortune 500 companies like Frisco and Plano does – those high-paid executives. And we don’t have high-rise apartment buildings that are 20 stories high, that are luxuries, we don’t have the condo market that they do,” he said. “We don’t have the housing market averaging $900,000. So we’re still pretty laid back. And we’re still Denton.” Because of the proximity to such demand, there’s concern the Denton bubble won’t last forever. “People from Frisco are commuting from Denton because of the price differential. So I don’t think the price differential is going to is going to stay for very long, because the demand is growing so much,” he said. “It’s not that Denton has grown out to the metroplex. The metroplex has grown to Denton.” Cheaper doesn’t necessarily mean affordable. Rents have risen 15 percent in Denton year over year. Cities like Carrolton, Plano and Grand Prairie saw bigger increases. We can blame it on demand for housing in general, inflation, a dramatic increase in property taxes, and Texas’ lack of rent control. It’s especially hard for those living paycheck to paycheck, with CNBC reporting earlier this year that 64% of residents across the country are living that way due to increased cost of living expenses. Additionally, a recent report by the United Way of Denton County shows more than 45 percent of households can no longer afford to live in the area, with the poverty rate also exceeding the rate of other Denton County communities as well as the national average. Homelessness has also increased exponentially in Denton County over the past year. These types of occurrences in this unique housing market are a potential learning tool for the real estate program at UNT. Right now, UNT’s business school is looking for partners to establish a real estate center to study these housing trends.

Winter Travel Strategies To Get Your Winter Getaways Cheaper – The Epoch Times https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/winter-travel-strategies-to-get-your-winter-getaways-cheaper-the-epoch-times/ The holidays will soon be here. Winter travel plans are being made, but inflation seems to have affected the budgets of many travelers. As a result, people are looking for cheaper ways to travel more often now than not. An article at CNBC reports that as many as 79 percent of adults with travel plans are changing them because of inflation. They plan on taking fewer trips this winter, a shorter one, or are looking for cheaper ways to travel. Here are some tips on how you can travel for less. Book Now for the Best Prices Remember that airlines have not fully recovered from the pandemic yet and are still short on staff and aircraft. The number of people wanting to travel for the upcoming holidays continues to increase. That makes it all the more important to book your flight early. Although you may be able to find last-minute travel deals, in general, it is often the worst time to try to book a cheap flight. Tickets are likely to be at their highest prices, and many airlines may no longer have seats available. You can use software and set some alerts to notify you when ticket prices have dropped. Various flight websites, such as ScottsCheapFlights and Skyscanner, can help you get the lowest prices. Select Out-of-the-Way Destinations Taking a trip where everyone else is going will be more expensive than if you choose a less-traveled destination. Save your trips to popular areas in the off-season for lower prices. Less-popular destinations are also going to be less expensive. Look at Various Airports in the Area Catching a plane to a large airport can have several problems, including layovers and canceled flights. Smaller airlines often go to nearby airports—smaller ones—that may give you lower prices. They also may have nearby hotels, cheaper car rentals, and less traffic. If you are going to fly, keep an eye on the weather where you make connecting flights and at your destination. In bad weather, you could end up stuck in a city where you had no intention of staying. Flight delays are less likely to occur if you head toward a warmer climate for your winter vacation. If you suspect that bad weather might hinder your arrival time, SummerTravel suggests that you call your airline and see if they can give you a different flight and reroute you. Another option is to see if you can fly via southern cities, which are less likely to be affected by snowstorms. Although they do not occur often, do remember that southern cities are less prepared to handle the snow. If you can travel in the morning, you may still be able to catch a flight if your plane becomes grounded for some reason. Use Travel Advisors Many websites offer travel packages to destination cities. They also have cheap, all-inclusive vacations that you and your family may enjoy. Package travel deals enable you to save money because they often have agreements with the airlines and resorts or hotels. Just enter your destination and look for travel deals. Shop around among websites to discover the best flight and hotel packages. Travel sites like Expedia can give you more than flight and hotel packages. All-inclusive vacation packages enable you to bundle everything you need at a low price. Packages can include car rentals and the option of staying in a short-term home or a beachfront condo. Some hotel chains may give discounts if you stay more than three nights. One chain that offers a unique touch—but is less expensive than many hotels—is Sonder. It has rooms in many major cities around the world and will give you 25 percent off when you stay for a week and 40 percent off for longer stays. Buy Your Tickets Early The best deals are for people who book early. Ticket prices rise the closer you get to the holidays, especially within two weeks of the special days. KCRA, for example, says that for the Thanksgiving holidays, you should be booked before Halloween to get good deals. For a Christmas holiday, you want to book your flight by Thanksgiving. When you have multiple stops, Forbes says you can save money by flying the last leg of your trip on a low-cost airline. Since they only serve local airports, they will be glad for your business. Although the airports are smaller, they have the advantage of fewer delays. Take a Train If you are going to a place where trains are readily available, train travel can be more relaxing. Trains are common in the northeast (Amtrak) and some parts of Europe, England, and Japan. CNN says that Amtrak lets you carry two bags of 50 pounds each for free. Even better, trains have larger seats and are often less crowded, letting you relax more. You also will not need to worry about traffic jams or delayed flights. Driving Is Often Cheaper If the distance is not too great to drive, you may want to reach your destination by car. It is generally cheaper than flying, and it will let you avoid the crowds at the airport and the possibility of a canceled flight. You can leave when you are ready and travel without paying any baggage fees. Being in a car gives you the advantage of making stops along the way if you want to visit attractions. You can also stop to eat where and when you want. There will not be any car rental fees to pay if you drive your car, and finding a hotel to stay in is easier. You can expand your experience on the road if you decide to travel in a campervan or RV. Campsites for these vehicles are cheaper than hotels. If you are looking for a place to rent an RV in your area, you can find a list by state at OutDoorsy, where hundreds of RV rental sites are listed. Whether looking for family vacation packages, all-inclusive resorts, or cheap trips this winter, you can probably save money if you look around. Avoid buying the first tickets you find online and dig a little deeper. Better deals are there if you search. The Epoch Times Copyright © 2022 The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors. They are meant for general informational purposes only and should not be construed or interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation. The Epoch Times does not provide investment, tax, legal, financial planning, estate planning, or any other personal finance advice. The Epoch Times holds no liability for the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided.

C-Stores Are Elevating Their Foodservice Game – Food Business News https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/c-stores-are-elevating-their-foodservice-game-food-business-news/ LAS VEGAS — Restaurant-quality offerings, better-for-you options and global flavors are trending in new foodservice offerings launching across the convenience channel. Foodservice sales in convenience stores increased 20.5% in 2021 after falling 10% in 2020, according to the 2022 Convenience Store News Industry Report. Elevated offerings that go beyond the typical gas station fare are key to capturing a bigger share of shoppers’ wallets. “I think the messaging for the convenience channel has to evolve,” said Bradley Borchardt, strategic account chef for convenience stores at Minneapolis-based Cargill. “C-stores still have the halo of ‘cokes and smokes,’ but a lot of them are doing food that is better than most quick-service restaurants. Getting that message out there is more prevalent than ever before.” Tyson Foodservice, a division of Springdale, Ark.-based Tyson Foods, is helping convenience stores compete in the “fast-food chicken sandwich wars” with its new Hot N’Spicy Chicken & Waffles Sandwiches, made with antibiotic-free portioned chicken breasts and Belgian-style waffles. The company also is gearing up to introduce Southern Style Chicken Sandwiches, made with soft brioche buns and a breading profile featuring notes of dill, onion and garlic. Better-for-you options  Convenience stores are challenging the channel’s reputation as a purveyor of empty-calorie offerings with better-for-you options. Veggies Made Great entered the foodservice channel earlier this year with a range of vegetable-forward items in convenient formats. It has continued to expand its foodservice footprint with convenience stores as a key area of focus, said Elliot Huss, CEO of the Rahway, NJ-based brand. “Convenience store offerings have dramatically evolved in the last decade,” he said. “Today’s c-stores are closer to quick-service restaurants with gas pumps. The core c-store foodservice consumer, Gen Z and millennials, are demanding better-for-you food options everywhere they shop, and the pandemic has only accelerated this expectation for healthier options.” Veggies Made Great offers individually wrapped sweet muffins made with zucchini and carrots, available in flavors like double chocolate, blueberry oat, banana chocolate chip and keto-friendly cinnamon roll. It also offers a range of savory frittatas, including a plant-based sausage, egg and cheese frittata made with Beyond Meat Sausage Crumbles, and a mushroom and three cheese egg white frittata made with cauliflower and kale. Photo: Veggies Made Great “Breakfast and snacking remain the core dayparts for c-stores, with breakfast coming back strong as a growth area post-pandemic,” Mr. Huss said. “C-store operators have an opportunity to offer better-for-you on-the-go items in place of sugary baked goods and overly indulgent breakfast items.” The brand recently introduced a line of Stuffed Cauliflower Bites. The healthier alternative to pizza rolls features a crispy cauliflower crust made with carrots, broccoli and spinach, plus alternative flours like chickpeas and rice, and are filled with a blend of vegetables and cheese. Varieties include margherita, stuffed with mozzarella, tomatoes and basil, and spinach and ricotta, stuffed with spinach, ricotta and Parmesan cheese. “The Stuffed Cauliflower Bites are a great format for c-store customers who want a familiar, crave-worthy hot snack,” Mr. Huss said. “They satisfy consumers craving for convenient comfort foods while still appealing to health-conscious eaters since the bites are a good source of protein and fiber. They can go straight from the freezer into the convection oven, high speed oven, microwave or air fryer with zero prep needed, so they are a great option for c-store operators looking to elevate their warm snack options.” The Kellogg Co., Battle Creek, Mich. is bringing its MorningStar Farms plant-based portfolio into the foodservice channel. It is testing a variety of meat-free options for convenience stores, including chicken-style tenders, breakfast sausage alternatives, chorizo-style crumbles and spicy black bean burgers. “MorningStar Farms is more common in other channels, but we see c-stores as a big white space opportunity,” said Daniel DeMeyer, senior director of commercial strategy, small format, at Kellogg. “We’ve been working on things like on-the-go breakfast sandwiches and other meal solutions that just need to be placed under a heat lamp or in a microwave.” Flexibility and versatility  Data from Cargill show millennials are the top indexing convenience store customers. Better-for-you foodservice offerings are key to capturing the demographic, as are Mexican-inspired flavors, said Jessica McMillan, strategic account lead for convenience stores at Cargill. “When we look across the consumer base, millennials are actually the first generation to prefer Mexican flavors over Italian flavors,” she said. “If you look at Gen Z, Asian flavors are their top choice.” With convenience stores facing a challenging labor environment and contending with small kitchens and prep spaces, operators are seeking flexible foodservice offerings that are easily incorporated into multiple dishes, Mr. Borchardt added. “Finding ways to utilize products in multiple different applications is key,” he said. “You could use a crumble in a breakfast burrito or breakfast nachos, and then use the same crumble as a pizza topping later in the day.” The company offers Charter Reserve, a lineup of fully cooked, prepared proteins. Featuring a variety of whole muscle proteins in on-trend Mexican- and Asian-inspired flavors, the “ready-to-heat-and-eat” offerings elevate menus in a convenient and labor-efficient way. “The key with our cooked meats portfolio is that we do 80% to 90% of the heavy lifting and allow 10% to 20% for brand customization,” Mr. Borchardt said. “You could take a pork carnitas that is very neutral in flavor and add barbecue sauce for a barbecue pork sandwich or sour cream for a carnitas taco. That flexibility allows you to do different limited-time offerings throughout the year with the same product, just by changing the sauce.”

ChristianaCare’s Cancer Program Wins Innovation Honors – HealthLeaders Media https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/christianacares-cancer-program-wins-innovation-honors-healthleaders-media/ The Delaware-based health system’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute has received an award from the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) for a program that integrates cancer care with primary care. ChristianaCare’s cancer care program has earned national recognition for a unique program that integrates primary and cancer care. The Delaware-based health system’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute has won the Association of Community Cancer Centers’ (ACCC) 2022 Innovator Award for the program, which builds on the institute’s Oncology Express Unit, which offers urgent care services to cancer patients in need of emergency services during treatment. It also addresses a gap in cancer care management spotted by the health system. “We conducted an informal survey that found as many as 15% of our patients did not have their own primary care provider,” Cancer Program Clinical Director Cindy Waddington, MSN, RN, AOCN, said in a press release, which includes a link to a recent podcast on the program. “Having a primary care provider onsite working closely with the entire cancer care team helps ensure that essential patient care beyond cancer treatment is not delayed.” The health system pointed out that patients undergoing cancer treatment are often dealing with other health concerns, especially chronic issues like diabetes, heart problems, COPD, and high blood pressure, and that cancer treatment can exacerbate those issues. To facilitate comprehensive care, the program enables oncologists to refer their patients to primary care services for any non-cancer concerns. “Primary care in oncology has been a long-standing challenge for cancer patients and cancer programs,” Family Nurse Practitioner Debra Delaney, RN, MSN, ACNS-BC, FNP-BC, who provides primary care services at the Graham Cancer Center, said in the press release. “Thankfully, we’ve been able to solve that challenge by addressing the whole person and promoting healthy living for the long-term.” As part of the process, Delaney helps patients who finish their cancer treatments transition to a primary care provider for ongoing care management. “Earning the prestigious ACCC Innovator Award for our primary care practice is an accomplishment that belongs to our entire cancer care team, which has worked long and hard to develop this unique program designed to improve our patients’ long-term health,” Nicholas Petrelli, MD, the Bank of America endowed medical director of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute, said in the press release. Eric Wicklund is the Innovation and Technology Editor for HealthLeaders. Photo credit: Photo courtesy ChristianaCare

Nearby Blaze Halts Prevention Lesson In Fredonia | News, Sports, Jobs – Evening Observer https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/nearby-blaze-halts-prevention-lesson-in-fredonia-news-sports-jobs-evening-observer/ OBSERVER Photo by M.J. Stafford Fredonia Fire Department firefighters look over the aftermath of a fire on Westerly Drive Monday morning. The Fredonia Fire Department didn’t have far to go when it got a call for help at 11:27 a.m. Monday. A fire charred the exterior of a home’s garage on Westerly Drive, and the firefighters made a very quick stop — in part because they were already nearby at Wheelock Elementary School, talking about fire prevention with the kids. “We were very close. It was an exterior fire on the house, unknown cause right now,” Fredonia Fire Chief Joshua Myers said at the scene. “With the quick reaction of the fire department, we were able to contain it to the outside, with minimal damage to the structure. I call it a success.” There were no injuries, Myers added. “The homeowner was home so they were able to alert us rather quickly,” he said. Firefighters were already located a few hundred yards away, offering a presentation to Fredonia schoolchildren in conjunction with Fire Prevention Week. “They were actually still doing it when this call came out. They had to tell the kids ‘See you later,’ they left and came here,” Myers said. Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox

Decentraland Announces 2nd Metaverse Music Festival; Returns With OZZFEST, Dillon Francis, … – The Bakersfield Californian https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/decentraland-announces-2nd-metaverse-music-festival-returns-with-ozzfest-dillon-francis-the-bakersfield-californian/ LOS ANGELES, Oct. 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Decentraland, the world’s largest user-owned and operated virtual social world, announced today the sophomore edition of Metaverse Music Festival (MVMF), including confirmed talent, new types of metaverse experiences, and more. This year, MVMF returns bigger and bolder from November 10-13 with 100 confirmed artists (more to come) across uniquely curated community genre stages, and with newly-created, Web3-enabled, immersive music experiences. Presented by digital asset platform Kraken, MVMF is free for all to attend, no VR, ticket or headset required. In October 2021, Decentraland hosted the inaugural Metaverse Music Festival which hosted 80+ artists including Web3 innovators Deadmau5, 3LAU, Paris Hilton, RAC, and Alison Wonderland, and saw 50,000 unique attendees during the 4-day event. Since then, major artists including Jason Derulo and Grimes, labels and producers, have embraced virtual performances leading to MTV announcing a new metaverse category at their 2022 VMAs. Set in a cyberpunk city of the future, the 2022 festival centerpiece is the Tower of Babel stage featuring Universal Music France’s Vladimir Cauchemar, award-winning Chinese idol group SNH48, CryptoPunk Rapper Spottie WiFi, Japanese girl group Atarashii Gakko!, London-based afro and funk band Amadis & The Ambassador, Finnish one woman orchestra Maija Kauhanen, space rock project Handshaking, British DJ and producer Akira the Don, DJ Eddy Temple-Morris’ band Losers and Klezma (Web3 music launchpad) artists inc. K-Pop band 2AM, Israeli DJs and producers Erika Krall and Lian Gold and former Division One athlete PIP. Metaverse Music Festival features curators who are redefining IP ownership and seeking to transform the music industry through Web3 technology and AI software, including: The Iconic Global touring metal festival OZZFEST which launched the careers of countless new bands, including Slipknot, Disturbed, System of a Down, Incubus, Lamb of God, and many others, is coming to Decentraland with a confirmed virtual performance from Ozzy Osbourne himself (fresh from his global chart-topping new Patient Number 9 album) and exciting acts that are soon to be announced. Iconic music brand LIMEWIRE will host one of the main stages with an exclusive avatar performance and music video premiere from Soulja Boy directed by Grammy-nominated director Yasha Gruben, in addition to many other music artists across various genres. AR metaverse platform OVER will showcase experiences and performances DJ Regard, Morgan, Jamis, Nicola Fasano, Danilo Rossi and Azel. UNPAIRED, the team behind the Party Degenerates NFT collection, will inaugurate the OxArena, a unique venue with an open air stage, 3 indoor clubs, concept store and NFT gallery. Jump in for curated performances by Superf3st, Volta XR, Revealed Recordings, Fold London and others. Metaverse music label SOUNDR who’s stage features Junior Andre, Ellysse Mason, Tarune, Lil Yamaha, Miya Miya, and Soundr’s first AI virtual band Skullz. RANDOM RAVERS, a metaverse music brand, is presenting The Raverse, an immersive rave experience featuring international artists such as Dead-Tones, Ray Kash, Kana Hishiya and NonCitizens amongst others. METATOKYO will present a stage featuring Japanese music acts and Metaverse artists and a special installation – a gigantic dancing doll made in collaboration with Metaani, NFT Character and the iconic Japanese artist Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. This year, Decentraland is doubling down on music in the metaverse. MVMF will showcase the latest metaverse technology that presents listeners with truly unique experiences only available through a virtual world. Decentraland’s unique Emotes feature enables any creator worldwide to create custom moves and gestures that bring your avatar to life, and will be a central part of how concert goers have fun through dancing and self expression during the festival. New motion capture technology will also be demonstrated on this global stage from Move.ai which enables motion capture with no suits and Kinetix.tech that aims to empower creators to make emote NFTs using only a phone camera. Presenting partner Kraken will also drop a series of NFT wearables exclusive for festival-goers, unveil a pop-up NFT gallery as well as host a special festival after party. Whether it’s promoting an album release, supporting an NFT strategy, experimenting with metaverse performances, or looking for new ways to share their music with new audiences, Decentraland’s MVMF supports artists in a myriad of ways. New fan engagement models – such as wearables, NFT gated-experiences, and exclusives – have gained momentum over the last year and are being taken to another level this year. The artists playing at MVMF have worked with community designers in Decentraland to create one-of-a-kind swag options and soon-to-be-announced specials. For this year’s festival, superstar producer, songwriter and DJ Dillon Francis has collaborated with Vegas City to bring a state-of-the-art Dillon Francis mega club to Decentraland. Dillon will open the festival with a very special set that will be projected on several screens throughout the mega club all weekend, making it a right of passage of sorts for anyone who comes to the festival at any point. Attendees will also be able to play Smash the Piñata with Dillon’s infamous piñata sidekick Gerald and chase him all throughout the venue. The Decentraland Festival District is showcasing an array of new experiences and exciting performances including a Jerry Garcia Acoustic Stage, MultiNFT Techno Parkour Stage, an epic pop-up nightclub by web3 music network MODA DAO and importantly the OG stage featuring Decentraland’s most prolific musicians and event promoters. Last but not least, Decentraland will introduce a variety of new metaverse experiences for users to attend when their ears need a moment of rest, such as the Portaloo experience to the Follow the Rabbit to the Take the Blue Pill experience. Other experiences are geared towards creators and community organizers looking to develop more embedded experiences, showcased through the MadMax Decentrally race, a community dance contest using the first generation of Emotes, and the Backstage Pass Quest. Join Decentraland at the next installment of Metaverse Music Festival by pre-registering at Event link. Follow us on Twitter at #DCLMVMF22 and join our Discord to learn more about specific experiences and still-unannounced artists that will join us at MVMF. See you at the show. About Decentraland Launched in 2020, Decentraland is a virtual social world powered by the Ethereum blockchain and the first decentralized metaverse. Within the Decentraland platform, users can create, experience, and monetize content and applications as well as socialize and attend a wide range of daily community-driven events. Decentraland is unique in that it is owned, created, and governed by the people who use it every day. Through the decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) users can submit proposals and even apply for grants for the community to vote on. About Kraken Kraken is one of the world’s largest digital asset platforms and the leader in euro volume and liquidity. Globally, Kraken’s client base trades more than 200+ digital assets and 8 different fiat currencies. Kraken was founded in 2011 and was one of the first exchanges to offer spot trading with margin, regulated derivatives and index services. Kraken is trusted by well over 10 million clients and institutions around the world and offers professional, around-the-clock online support.” For Media Inquiry: press@decentraland.org Copyright 2022 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

Amo Your Awesome With Oppo New Feature Of No Shake Camera – The Tech Outlook https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/amo-your-awesome-with-oppo-new-feature-of-no-shake-camera-the-tech-outlook/ Samsung’s Galaxy phone has been a huge success in the premium phone class. Samsung has the well-taken advantage of it by coming up with new models again and again for a long time. Now the premium Galaxy A series has come up with something super exciting. We would be mainly talking about the feature around the camera because that’s the main content that we would be serving in it. Oppo camera that has never disappointed us bags something interesting and the very first thing is its no shake feature. The shake feature lets you record and capture the video without any blur. If you have been to a function or a party and have asked someone else to take your group photo it might have disappointed you because of the blurry image. Oppo’s new camera lens moves in the opposite direction as soon as you move it. This causes the lens to be in the same place and take blur-free images and videos. But what about the unwanted person in the picture? You can’t do anything about it but now you can with a new feature of Oppo that lets you remove unwanted guests in photos. This is not the end because you can also follow the water and blowing sand because even that won’t let you down while taking some awesome shots.

Why Are So Many Crypto Execs Leaving? – CoinDesk https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/why-are-so-many-crypto-execs-leaving-coindesk/ Daniel Kuhn is a features reporter and assistant opinion editor for CoinDesk’s Layer 2. He owns BTC and ETH. Management shake-ups are hitting crypto in what some are calling crypto’s “great resignation.” On Monday it was announced Gemini co-founder Cameron Winklevoss – twin of Tyler – is stepping back as a director of Gemini Europe. The news, announced in a U.K. regulatory filing, comes as the wholly owned Gemini subsidiary maps out its expansion into known tax haven Ireland. This article is excerpted from The Node, CoinDesk’s daily roundup of the most pivotal stories in blockchain and crypto news. You can subscribe to get the full newsletter here. No formal reason was given for Winklevoss’ move, but it comes amid a wave of C-Suite shuffling across the digital asset industry. Growing regulatory challenges as well as a multi-month long market rout have led to a number of resignations. Among the most notable departures or downsizings, for very different reasons, are Genesis CEO Michael Moro, MicroStrategy CEO Michael Saylor, Kraken CEO Jesse Powell, all announced in recent weeks. Alameda Research co-CEO Sam Trabucco also stepped down, as did FTX.US President Brett Harrison. Then there’s Celsius’ Alex Mashinsky and Daniel Leon, who served as the now-bankrupt crypto neobank’s chief executive and chief strategy officer, respectively. The crypto lender is going through a difficult Chapter 11 restructuring, and it seems likely that Mashinsky could face lawsuits. The reasons for these exoduses vary on a case by case basis. In many instances it seems like individual attempts to save face after making bad business decisions, or a result of pressure from a company’s board or owners. Moro threw in the towel, for instance, after Genesis got in bed with the overzealous and potentially criminal hedge fund Three Arrows Capital, which apparently lost the institutional-facing lending firm Genesis a whopping $1.2 billion. Genesis, like CoinDesk, is owned by Digital Currency Group. Michael Saylor, the long-time CEO of business intelligence company MicroStrategy, directed the firm’s first bitcoin purchase in 2020 and essentially transformed the firm into a BTC investment trust. MicroStrategy’s BTC buys seemed prescient in 2020, ahead of the bull run – and was even said to catalyze other corporate entities into holding bitcoin “on the balance sheet” as a hedge against inflation – but are now deeply in the red. Saylor kept buying, even as the market turned against him, while most other publicly listed firms have not. He remains at MicroStrategy as executive chairman. Kraken’s Powell founded the exchange in 2011 and has long been known as one of crypto’s most ideologically driven executives. This year, the libertarian-leaning former CEO was accused of fostering a toxic workplace culture after making offhand remarks and setting “anti-Woke” policies. Powell, like Saylor, said he’s stepping down as CEO to continue focusing on crypto advocacy. In some cases, these shifts work out. David Marcus, who oversaw the Libra project at Facebook, before both were renamed, has emerged as a thoughtful industry commentator and CEO of Bitcoin Lightning-focused Lightspark. Like the broader tech industry, several crypto firms have put hiring-freezes in place and started rounds of layoffs. Bear markets, where the goal is to merely survive as users and capital flood out, require an entirely different set of managerial skills than bull markets, where growth and market dominance seem to be all that matters. The tricky thing with crypto, however, is that management can be hard to hire. Many companies, particularly Coinbase, have relied on hiring from within due to the complexities of the industry. Decent managers need to have an understanding of crypto’s technicalities as well as the gumption to lead in such a volatile market. Sign up for Crypto for Advisors, our weekly newsletter defining crypto, digital assets and the future of finance. By signing up, you will receive emails about CoinDesk product updates, events and marketing and you agree to our terms of services and privacy policy. DISCLOSURE Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated . The leader in news and information on cryptocurrency, digital assets and the future of money, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups. As part of their compensation, certain CoinDesk employees, including editorial employees, may receive exposure to DCG equity in the form of stock appreciation rights, which vest over a multi-year period. CoinDesk journalists are not allowed to purchase stock outright in DCG . Daniel Kuhn is a features reporter and assistant opinion editor for CoinDesk’s Layer 2. He owns BTC and ETH. Daniel Kuhn is a features reporter and assistant opinion editor for CoinDesk’s Layer 2. He owns BTC and ETH.

U.S. Urges 6-Month Sentence For Ex-Trump Adviser Bannon Over Contempt Conviction – Reuters https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/u-s-urges-6-month-sentence-for-ex-trump-adviser-bannon-over-contempt-conviction-reuters/ WASHINGTON, Oct 17 (Reuters) – The U.S. Justice Department on Monday asked a federal judge to sentence former President Donald Trump’s adviser Steve Bannon to six months behind bars, saying he pursued a “bad faith strategy of defiance and contempt” against the congressional committee probing the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Bannon, 68, an influential far-right political figure, was convicted in July on two counts of contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena. Each count is punishable by between 30 days to one year in prison and a fine ranging between $100 to $100,000. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com He is due to be sentenced before U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols on Friday morning. Prosecutors told Nichols in their sentencing recommendation on Monday that Bannon’s actions, including his refusal to this day to produce “a single document” to the congressional committee, led them to recommend a prison sentence at the top of the U.S. guidelines range. They also urged the judge to impose the maximum fine of $200,000, which they said they based on Bannon’s “insistence on paying the maximum fine rather than cooperate with the Probation Office’s routine pre-sentencing financial investigation.” “Throughout the pendency of this case, the defendant has exploited his notoriety — through courthouse press conferences and his War Room podcast — to display to the public the source of his bad-faith refusal to comply with the committee’s subpoena: a total disregard for government processes and the law,” prosecutors wrote in their filing. “The defendant’s statements prove that his contempt was not aimed at protecting executive privilege or the Constitution, rather it was aimed at undermining the committee’s efforts to investigate an historic attack on government.” Bannon’s attorneys filed a sentencing memo on Monday saying their client should be sentenced to probation only. If the judge insists on incarceration, then Bannon should be permitted to serve his sentence at home, and not in prison, they said. In their memo, they argued that Bannon was convicted on statutes governed by “outdated” caselaw, and that he relied on his attorney’s legal advice by not appearing before the committee. “The facts of this case show that Mr. Bannon’s conduct was based on his good-faith reliance on his lawyer’s advice,” they wrote. During the trial, Nichols limited the scope of Bannon’s defense. He was barred from arguing that he believed his communications with Trump were subject to a legal doctrine called executive privilege that can keep certain presidential communications confidential. He was also prohibited from arguing he relied upon an attorney’s legal advice in refusing to comply. Bannon was a key adviser to the Republican Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, then served as his chief White House strategist during 2017 before a falling out between them that was later patched up. While he was awaiting sentencing for his contempt of Congress conviction, he was separately indicted by a New York state grand jury on money laundering and conspiracy charges for allegedly deceiving donors to an effort to help Trump build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Bannon, who pleaded not guilty, could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted on those charges. The state charges are similar to federal charges filed against Bannon and several others in August 2020. Bannon was never convicted in the federal case, after Trump pardoned him during the final hours of his presidency. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by David Gregorio Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

7 Secrets Of Selling Homes To Gen Z Buyers – Inman https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/7-secrets-of-selling-homes-to-gen-z-buyers-inman/ Every generation gets its time in the spotlight. And right now, that spotlight is firmly on Gen Z, a cohort for whom the internet is a second home. Speaking of homes, the oldest “Zoomers” are turning 25 this year — the age when most people start considering homeownership. As a Realtor(r), most of your time is likely spent catering to Millennials and Gen X’ers. However, you simply can’t afford to overlook this up-and-coming generation. To help you get a head start, Agent Image has prepared this guide for you. Get to know Gen Z Just who are the people who belong to Gen Z? Demographic experts tend to place their birth years between 1997 and 2012. Aside from age, however, the most important characteristic of Gen Z is their affinity to all things technology-related. Whereas Millennials spent a huge chunk of their childhoods in an analog world, Zoomers have been immersed in the digital lifestyle since they were in grade school. Naturally, this informs how you should reach out and interact with this group when they finally decide to go house-hunting. Indeed, homeownership is very much a goal for people in this age group. Studies show that 85% of them plan to buy a home, with having a place to call their own being the primary motivation. They plan on purchasing a property fairly soon, too, with 48% saying they will do so between the ages of 25 to 29. Now that you have a better grasp of who your future client will be, how do you turn them into customers? 1. Beef up your online presence The defining characteristic of Gen Z is the fact that they’re digital natives. This means that they came of age in the online era, where the internet is as ubiquitous as electricity. This also means that if they need a real estate agent, they’ll turn to the internet to find one. The question is: can they find you? That’s why Agent Image offers flexible website design packages so agents, no matter where they are in their careers, can have a robust online presence. We also use search engine optimization (SEO) so that your website becomes not just the top result in Google, but also the top-of-mind choice for young homebuyers. Jon Krabbe, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Agent Image, says: “To make headway with this hyperconnected generation, you need to meet them where they are — and that inevitably means being online. Doing so signifies that you understand their habits and mindset, which makes you uniquely qualified to help them buy a home.” 2. Highlight technology as an amenity For the youngest homebuyers in the market, technology is no longer a convenience — it’s a necessity. As a generation that grew up around smartphones, tablets, and other internet-capable devices, it’s hardly surprising that tech is such a big factor in their home search. That’s why properties with features like smart thermostats, wall outlets with built-in USB ports, and smart appliances will likely pique their interest. Zoomers are all about connectivity and convenience, so keep this in mind when showing them listings. 3. Sell a purpose (not just property) It’s also important to clearly communicate what your values are as an agent. Remember: most Gen Zs prefer to work with an agent whose principles match their own. If you support various charitable institutions or have corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs, be sure to highlight them on your website or social media postings. Not only will it get you good press, but it will also help Zoomers warm up to you. 4. Think green Did you know that 76% of Gen Zs are worried about climate change? Indeed, this generation has a keen sense of environmental welfare, a mindset that also affects what they buy. Again, the numbers bear this fact: 73% of them are willing to pay more for sustainable products. What does this mean for agents? It pays to highlight the “green” features of a house, be it sustainable construction materials, energy-saving architecture, or solar panels. Gen Z put their money where their values are, so make sure to market your listings accordingly. 5. Entice with “new normal” features These days, houses are more than just a place to come home to; thanks to the pandemic, they also double as offices, too. This is crucial because Gen Zs are redefining the future of the workplace, with almost 70% of them preferring to work remotely at least half the time. If you’re an agent, the listings you present must be able to accommodate a work-from-home lifestyle. A home office, for a start, will be an especially potent draw for younger buyers who want more flexible working arrangements. 6. Make a home move-in ready For such a young and enterprising generation, Gen Zs are generally risk-averse. This is hardly surprising, though, as they’ve lived through 9/11, the Great Recession, and the COVID-19 pandemic. If they have qualms about a listing, they’re more likely to walk away from it rather than risk spending a ton of money fixing it up. That’s why it’s crucial to stage a house and have it inspected so these young buyers feel reassured that the property is a good investment. 7. Deliver a seamless experience If there’s one factor that’s true across generations, it’s that quality service matters. Of course, what quality service means to Gen Zs might be different from your other clients. For a generation that’s used to getting the information they want on the fly thanks to the internet, they’ll want to get hands-on service and prompt responses to their queries. Likewise, they appreciate being able to view a home remotely before going on a showing via technologies like virtual tour platforms. Luckily, ACCESS, our new digital listing, and open house platform lets you incorporate 3D tours, photo galleries, video walkthroughs, floor plans, and more into your presentations, so all the information about your listing is conveniently located in one place. There’s also an analytics suite that tracks engagement so you can verify if your pitch resonates with Gen Z prospects. Is your business Gen Z-ready? The battle for tomorrow’s clients starts today and Agent Image can equip you with the tools you need to win. To know more about our design, SEO, and digital marketing services, visit our portfolio of top websites or get in touch today.

The Remotto Enerjoy Battery Looks To Extended Undocked Switch Gaming On The Go – The Outerhaven https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/the-remotto-enerjoy-battery-looks-to-extended-undocked-switch-gaming-on-the-go-the-outerhaven/ One of the best reasons I don’t play on my Nintendo Switch undocked is the battery dying mid-game. I hate that, and it’s happened to me more than once. Sure, I know there are several battery kits I could use, but most are awkward and bulking. Now, one company, Remotto, is looking to solve that issue with a new Switch external battery called the Enerjoy. The Remotto Enerjoy is a battery pack that clips to the rear of the Switch and will come in a 5,000 mAh size and will provide up to 9 hours of extra gaming time. Or if that’s not enough, the larger 10,000 mAh Remotto Enerjoy Pro will double that at 18 hours. In addition, both devices will utilize a nifty magnetic clip, which will fit both the Nintendo Switch and the Switch OLED models. However, it will not work with the Switch Lite models. The clip will clap onto the Switch, while the magnetic function will hold the battery into place. While a USB-C cable will connect the Switch and the battery, allowing gamers to play on the go. Currently a Kickstarter project, the Remotto Enerjoy has already blown past its original goal short of $20,000 and is sitting close to $40,000, which 27 days left to go. The more I’ve looked into the Remotto Enerjoy, the more I’m impressed with what it can do. Sure, it can keep your Switch from dying during heavy gaming sessions. But it can also charge your Joy-Cons in gamepad mode or when they need a charge. Remotto has also claimed that the Enerjoy is the (or will be) the lightest battery available for the Nintendo Switch. Given that several batteries are out there, and again, many of them are just way too heavy, that’s some tall talk. Hopefully, it lives up to the claims. So far, this seems like a good idea, and I’ve already placed an order so we can get some hands-on and review the Everjoy when it gets released. Currently, Remotto is planning to ship the Everyjoy during Q1 2023. However, the exact date hasn’t been finalized. Of course, dates can change regarding Kickstarter projects, so keep that in mind. I have no doubt this will be successful, given the Kickstarter campaign. Maybe, after this launches, Remotto can work on one for the Steam Deck. Talk about battery life killing a gaming session.

These Are The 50 Safest Cities In Texas: FBI Crime Data – KXAN.com https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/these-are-the-50-safest-cities-in-texas-fbi-crime-data-kxan-com/ (NEXSTAR) — Have you ever wondered what the safest places in Texas are? To determine the rankings, safety and security research outlet SafeWise used crime data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in addition to demographics and population information. As part of the rankings, only cities with populations above 2,500 residents and below 300,000 were included. You can find the full methodology here. A September study by Smart Asset also used FBI data for its list of America’s 10 Safest Cities (though criteria for this were wider), determining at least two of SmartWise’s top 50 rank among the safest in the country — those are McKinney (No. 2) and Frisco (No. 1). These are the 50 safest cities in Texas, according to SafeWise’s analysis. Asterisks indicate cities that are new to the rankings. 50. Coppell (Dallas County) 49. Cedar Park (Williamson, Travis counties) 48. Lakeway (Travis County) 47. McKinney (Collin County) 46. Whitehouse (Smith County) 45. Woodway (McLennan County) 44. Mansfield (Tarrant, Johnson, Ellis counties) 43. Sanger* (Denton County) 42. Prosper (Collin, Denton counties) 41. Graham (Young County) 40. Anna (Collin County) 39. Cibolo (Guadalupe, Bexar counties) 38. Allen (Collin County) 37. Socorro (El Paso County) 36. Frisco (Collin, Denton counties) 35. Hewitt (McLennan County) 34. Midlothian* (Ellis County) 33. Leander (Williamson, Travis counties) 32. Sugar Land* (Fort Bend County) 31. Fredericksburg (Gillespie County) 30. Celina (Collin, Denton counties) 29. Helotes (Bexar County) 28. Canyon (Randall County) 27. Corinth (Denton County) 26. Manvel (Brazoria County) 25. Little Elm* (Denton County) 24. Fair Oaks Ranch (Bexar, Comal and Kendall counties) 23. Hutto* (Williamson County) 22. Keller (Tarrant County) 21. Melissa (Collin County) 20. Wylie (Collin, Dallas and Rockwall counties) 19. Friendswood (Galveston, Harris counties) 18. San Elizario (El Paso County) 17. West University Place (Harris County) 16. Horizon City (El Paso County) 15. Murphy (Collin County) 14. Flower Mound (Denton, Tarrant counties) 13. University Park (Dallas County) 12. Crystal City (Zavala County) 11. Heath (Rockwall, Kaufman counties) 10. Sachse (Collin, Dallas counties) 9. Southlake (Tarrant, Denton counties) 8. Fate (Rockwall County) 7. Highland Village (Denton County) 6. Elgin (Bastrop, Travis counties) 5. Memorial Villages (Harris County) 4. Colleyville (Tarrant County) 3. Fairview (Collin County) 2. Fulshear (Fort Bend County) 1. Trophy Club (Denton, Tarrant counties) SafeWise underlines that its use of “safe” and “dangerous” terms “refer explicitly to crime rates as calculated from FBI crime data — no other characterization of any community is implied or intended.” The FBI also notes that rankings of its crime statistics are not a way of measuring law enforcement effectiveness in any given area.

Get A Front Row Seat To The Northern Lights At These Stunning Hotels – TheTravel https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/get-a-front-row-seat-to-the-northern-lights-at-these-stunning-hotels-thetravel/ Viewing the Northern Lights is an experience most travelers dream about, and even though the celestial phenomena is on display all year round, undoubtedly the best times for scoping its technicolor glory is during the winter months—the farther north, the better. And while planning a vacation in the auroral zone may seem like a daunting task, there are plenty of luxe locales just waiting for travelers to set up camp and view the Northern Lights—and the following are some of the very best. With sumptuous accommodations and plenty of activities on the itinerary, these top spots for aurora adventures have everything any intrepid traveler needs for an unforgettable Northern Lights vacation. Norway Knows Northern Lights From late September through late March, Northern Norway is shrouded in darkness from early afternoon through the late morning—making it one of the best places on earth to see the Northern Lights in all their dramatic splendor. Wide open spaces unhampered by light pollution serve as the perfect backdrop for sky viewing, while plenty of winter activities provide more than enough recreation for visitors who want to soak up those Nordic Norway vibes. Sorrisniva Arctic Wilderness Lodge Situated on the banks of the Alta River, this amazing spot offers a number of distinctive experiences for guests who want to scope the Northern Lights in style. Where It’s At: Sorrisniva 20, 9518 Alta Rates: Approximately $280 USD and up/night Amenities: Floor-to-ceiling windows; stunning river and Northern Lights views; balcony; walk-in showers; onsite restaurants; complimentary breakfast; plenty of add-on activities Experiences: Sami and Reindeer Meet and Greet; Husky Visit; Hammocking under the Midnight Sun; Hike to the Alta Canyon Lyngen Experience Lodge Situated on the edge of a fjord on the Lyngen Peninsula, this epic accommodation’s location above the Arctic Circle makes it an amazing place to catch the Northern Lights. And there are plenty of options and experiences for viewing them, too. Where It’s At: Lenangsveien 1656 Leiligheter: Sandnesveien 36 9068 Nord-Lenangen Rates: Inquire directly for room rates and availability Amenities: Onsite bar and restaurant; lodge, apartment, and aurora hut accommodations available; spa area with hot sauna, outdoor jacuzzi; fantastic mountain and fjord views Experiences: Aurora Hut; Northern Lights Tour; Sami Culture and Reindeer Experience; Dog Sledding; Whale Safari; Deep Sea Fishing A Sumptuous Swedish Stay In Sweden, the Northern Lights can be seen in all their vibrantly-hued glory from September through March, and sometimes even in early April. When winter arrives, the long nights in the country’s north, aka Swedish Lapland, become the ultimate backdrop for some of the most stunning light shows in all of Scandinavia. Arctic Bath An immersive and incredibly luxe property surrounded by picturesque natural beauty and unending, unspoiled vistas, Arctic Bath offers guests the chance to stay in a floating(!) cabin on the Lule River or in tucked-away cabins along the shore. Either way, the plethora of activities and wellness options makes this an ideal place to view the Northern Lights. Winter season begins November 18, 2022 Where It’s At: Ramdalsvägen 10, 960 24 Harads Rates: Start at about $687 USD and up/night Amenities: Onsite restaurant with Arctic Culinary Dinner Experience; onsite spa; spectacular views; variety of luxe lodgings; complimentary breakfast Experiences: Snowmobile, Snowshoe, and Hidden Spots Northern Lights Tours; Husky Tours; Cold Baths and Sauna Experiences Northern Lights Lodging, Alaska-Style From late August through April, Alaska’s daylight dwindles as its night skies become awash with vibrant colors. Considered one of the best places to view the Aurora Borealis outside of Scandinavia and Canada, the 49th state is packed with everything an aspiring sky watcher needs. From a myriad of scenic destinations and distinctive experiences to top-notch lodgings with unimpeded views of the colorful natural phenomena. Borealis Basecamp Fairbanks is undoubtedly one of the best spots in Alaska to view the Northern Lights as it’s easily accessible with plenty of tours and accommodations geared toured sky viewers—and Borealis Basecamp offers the best of both worlds. Close to the hubbub and activity of Fairbanks, while also remote and secluded enough to be away from it all, it’s the perfect stay with its dark skies and forested surroundings. Where It’s At: 2640 Himalaya Rd, Fairbanks, AK 99701 Rates: Two nights, three days (igloo stay) starts at $980/person; numerous packages are available Amenities: Igloo and Cube accommodations; amazing Aurora views via clear ceiling (igloo) or floor-to-ceiling windows (cube); onsite restaurant; in-room beverage bar Experiences: Sunset Snow Coach Experience; Private Arctic Circle Drive; Aurora Portrait Adventure; Dogsledding; UTV Tours; Reindeer Hiking Experience Sheldon Chalet Those looking for a truly once-in-a-lifetime Northern Lights viewing experience need look no further than this five-star, ultra-luxe property. Its hefty price tag is definitely worth it for its heart-stopping views of the Aurora Borealis with dramatic Denali as its backdrop and a veritable parade of sumptuous amenities. Where It’s At: Don Sheldon Amphitheater of Denali’s Ruth Glacier, Talkeetna, AK 99676 Rates: Contact property directly for rates and availability Amenities: Round-trip helicopter rides; private world-class chef; all-inclusive experience; use of adventure gear; private sauna; viewing decks; private, hexagonal chalet; oysters and champagne upon arrival Experiences: Guided Trek to Don Sheldon Amphitheater; Sledding; Spelunking; Gourmet Glacier Picnics; Snowshoe Glacier Trekking; Rappelling Canada Is For Sky-Gazing Depending on the area, the Northern Lights can be viewed in Canada all-year long, depending on the location—however, the best months to view the spectacular light show are from October through March (shorter days, longer nights). As for the best viewing spots, the Northern Provinces reign supreme; though those who favor summer traveling can also catch them during periods of high solar activity in the southern provinces. Either way, get ready for a front seat to some of the best Borealis viewing around. Northern Lights Resort & Spa Located in Canada’s Yukon Territory (with its long Northern Lights viewing window), this stunning spot is the perfect chalet stay. And with plenty of Aurora viewing packages and a slew of activities, guests can count on a colorful celestial backdrop to complement an unforgettable trip. Where It’s At: 41 Gentian Ln, Whitehorse, YT Y1A 6L6, Canada Rates: Aurora Viewing & Sightseeing Package starts at about $688 USD/person. See website for additional rates and packages Amenities: Multiple accommodations and packages available; onsite bar and restaurant; onsite spa and wellness options; glass-fronted Aurora chalets Experiences: 1/2 Day Dog Sledding, Snowshoeing, Ice-fishing, and Snowmobiling Adventures; Nordic Hot Springs Visit; Yukon Sightseeing Tours; Guided Wolf Creek Trail Hike Seeing the Northern Lights in all of their multi-hued splendor is undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime bucket list experience for most travelers. And while this natural phenomenon occurs all year round, nothing beats scoping the skies when they’re at their darkest—and these hotels offer the best front-row seats available to witness nature’s best light show at its best.

After Four Years Of Legal Cannabis, Will Provinces Review Policies? – Business News – Castanet.net https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/after-four-years-of-legal-cannabis-will-provinces-review-policies-business-news-castanet-net/ Michael J. Armstrong – Oct 17, 2022 / 7:02 am | Story: 390990 Photo: The Canadian Press Oct. 17 marks the fourth anniversary of Canada’s recreational cannabis legalization. When The Cannabis Act was passed in 2018, Canada became the second country in the world to legalize the sale, possession and non-medical use of cannabis by adults. Now, four years on, the federal government is reviewing the law to see if it’s meeting Canadians’ needs. Morris Rosenberg, the former deputy minister of justice, will chair an expert panel for that purpose. Similarly, the Ontario Cannabis Store recently announced a “holistic review” of its pricing. Other provincial and territorial governments should follow these examples and likewise start looking for improvements in their cannabis rules. The industry’s rapid growth During Canada’s first month with legal recreational cannabis, there were only about 100 licensed stores and sales were just $42 million. But the industry grew quickly — even the pandemic didn’t slow it down — and Canada now has more than 3,300 licensed stores. Legal cannabis products are more accessible than ever. Legal products also became more competitive with illegal ones thanks to dry cannabis prices dropping 25 per cent since 2018. In some provinces, they now start at $3.57 per gram including taxes. Improved cannabis product quality has also made those products more competitive with illegal ones.  Consequently, monthly recreational cannabis sales hit $395 million in July, just over half the size of Canada’s beer sales. However, not all is well with industry. Producers’ profits have suffered due to overproduction. Meanwhile, stores in some places, like Toronto and Manitoba, face too many competitors. After having little information about the health impacts of cannabis for years, evidence is starting to emerge. A recent study found an increase in cannabis hospitalizations among young children — all the more reason to review cannabis rules. The federal government’s review only covers things within its jurisdiction, like producers, products and pardons. Since the provinces regulate retailing and consumption, it’s crucial they review their rules too. Cannabis taxes vary Aside from health-related issues, the provinces should revisit their cannabis rules on taxation. Ontario’s cannabis excise taxes during 2021-22 totalled $215 million, twice that of the year before. Profits at its Ontario Cannabis Store wholesaler, likewise doubled to $184 million. I estimate Ontario also collected about $121 million in sales tax, putting its combined cannabis cash haul at around $520 million. This means the provincial government received about 30 cents out of every dollar its residents spent on legal recreational cannabis last year. The Ontario Cannabis Store spent another six cents on operating expenses. By comparison, I estimate the federal government collected a relatively modest eight cents in taxes. That left about 20 cents for retailers and 36 cents for producers. Those businesses spent some of that on government licences, property taxes and income taxes. Or consider Alberta, which often brags about charging no sales tax but rarely mentions its extra 16.8 per cent cannabis excise tax. That surcharge likely contributed about $74 million of the $164 million Alberta collected in cannabis taxes last year. Governments clearly need revenue from someplace. But is it appropriate to extract so much from consumers in ways that ignore the industry’s low profitability? Provincial agency operations Provinces also should review their cannabis agencies’ operations, including whether those agencies should keep their wholesale monopolies. The Ontario Cannabis Store, for example, collects wholesale markups of about 31 per cent — even on sales it doesn’t touch, when producers sell directly in stores — when just 10 per cent would cover its operating costs.  And as monopolies, the agencies become bottlenecks if they fail. When computer troubles in Ontario and a strike in British Columbia temporarily stopped shipments from cannabis agencies last summer, retailers lost money because they ran out of products. Why not let products flow directly from producers to retailers instead, like Saskatchewan does? A second issue is whether provincial cannabis agencies have enough stores. Québec’s efficient cannabis agency’s retail-plus-wholesale markup was just 38 per cent, compared to the Ontario Cannabis Store’s 74 per cent. But with fewer stores per capita than other provinces, its legal sales per capita were the lowest. That left more of the market for illegal dealers. Lastly, provinces should consider simplifying rules to help retailers, without hurting public policy. For example, Alberta recently removed its requirement for stores to cover their windows. Transparent glass can make shops safer for staff inside, and street-friendlier for pedestrians outside. Store locations are key Retail density is another key consideration. At one extreme, some Ontario neighbourhoods have too many shops. This clustering occurred partly because the province stalled licensing for a year. The government should make it easier for cannabis businesses to move to underserved areas, thereby reducing the retail hyperconcentration. Conversely, some rural areas have too few customers to support standalone shops. Newfoundland handles that by letting general stores sell cannabis. Other provinces could consider doing the same thing.  There are also some cities, like Mississauga, Ontario and Richmond, B.C., that have no legal stores because provincial governments let local councils opt out. While it was a smart political move for provinces to allow municipalities to opt out, it might not be a wise policy move. Learning from experience As one of the few countries to legalize recreational cannabis, Canada has set an example for others to follow. A growing number of places, including Thailand, Malta, South Africa, Mexico and Germany, are working to implement nationwide legalization.  Even the United States federal government recently took a tiny step toward reforming its conflicted cannabis law patchwork. In the U.S., some states have passed laws authorizing cannabis sales, but they remain illegal at the federal level. These countries can learn much from Canada’s four years of experience. But Canada’s provincial and territorial governments should learn from that experience as well by reviewing their rules. – This article was originally published on The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Author Michael J. Armstrong is Associate Professor, Operations Research, at Brock University.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard And Outside Join Forces To Create North America’s Preeminent Snowsports Hub – Business Wire https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/u-s-ski-snowboard-and-outside-join-forces-to-create-north-americas-preeminent-snowsports-hub-business-wire/ PARK CITY, Utah–(BUSINESS WIRE)–In a move that links America’s snowsports governing body and the country’s largest creator of outdoor recreation media and services, U.S. Ski & Snowboard and Outside Interactive, Inc., today announced a longterm strategic partnership to create and broadcast snowsports content. For the first time, FIS World Cup alpine, cross country, freestyle, snowboard, and freeski events held in the United States will be available to stream on all Outside platforms, including OutsideOnline.com, SkiMag.com, the Outside App, and Outside Watch. The partnership will also launch a bundled Outside+ and U.S. Ski & Snowboard consumer membership, as well as business partnerships in competition registration, photography services, Web3 innovation, and sponsorship sales. As part of the partnership, Outside becomes the streaming broadcaster of domestic U.S. World Cups, with more than 90 hours of competition in the 2022-23 season. The season’s eight alpine, freestyle, snowboard, and freeski domestic FIS World Cup events include the Killington Cup, Xfinity Birds of Prey at Beaver Creek, Aspen World Cup, Palisades Tahoe World Cup, Freestyle International at Deer Valley, the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Mammoth and Copper, and the Visa Big Air at Copper. The coverage will also feature never-before-televised snowboard and freeski qualifiers at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix and Visa Big Air. In addition to these events, Outside will air new and archival non-event programming. “We are delighted about this new partnership with Outside,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO. “It enables the passionate fans of skiing and snowboarding in the United States to watch our major domestic events and to combine the U.S. Ski & Snowboard and Outside communities in an innovative multi-platform partnership. We have the most FIS World Cups on U.S. soil in history this winter, and we are proud to showcase those incredible events with Outside to inspire new and seasoned ski and snowboard fans. Outside is more than a distribution partner with incredible channels and scale; what really attracted us was the opportunity to build a strategic alliance to allow our community to more deeply engage with our athletes, content and other new offerings.” “First and foremost, we’re honored to support the Olympic movement and help U.S. Ski & Snowboard nurture the next generation of American medal hopefuls,” said Robin Thurston, CEO of Outside. “Nothing could be more inspiring for a young skier than to watch champions come up through the ranks, dominate and take gold with the national anthem playing. This partnership will bring those special moments to more eyeballs, along with hundreds of hours of exciting video content from Outside Watch, Warren Miller and our brand partners. With U.S. Ski & Snowboard, we’re creating a one-stop resource where skiers and snowboarders will find motivation along with the world’s richest archive of gear, travel, and instructional content.” The partnership will also lead to the creation of a unique membership bundle for U.S. Ski & Snowboard members, one that provides access to Outside+ premium content, educational videos, SKI Magazine content, GPS mapping services, outdoor industry gear discounts and NASTAR, the largest public grassroots ski racing program in the world. In addition to airing races, Outside will have access to an extensive archive of ski and snowboard footage, as well as the opportunity to produce original content franchises with the team’s athletes, coaches and other experts. U.S. Ski & Snowboard will also utilize Outside’s expertise in competition software and Web3 to develop innovative services for its membership and fans of the sports. Further streaming and televised coverage of international FIS races in the United States will be announced in the following weeks leading up to the FIS World Cup season. 2022-23 DOMESTIC WORLD CUPS Alpine Nov. 26-27: Killington Cup, Killington, Vermont; women’s slalom/giant slalom Dec. 2-4: Xfinity Birds of Prey, Beaver Creek, Colorado; men’s super-G/downhill/downhill Feb. 25-26: Palisades Tahoe, California; men’s slalom/giant slalom March 3-5: America’s Downhill, Aspen, Colorado; men’s super-G/downhill Freestyle Feb. 2-4: Intermountain Healthcare Freestyle International, Deer Valley, Utah; men’s and women’s aerials/moguls Freeski and Snowboard Dec. 16-17: Toyota U.S. Grand Prix, Copper Mountain, Colorado; men’s and women’s halfpipe Dec. 16-17: Visa Big Air Presented by Toyota, Copper Mountain, Colorado; men’s and women’s big air Feb. 2-4: Toyota U.S. Grand Prix, Mammoth Mountain, California; men’s and women’s halfpipe/slopestyle About Outside Interactive, Inc. Outside is the premier destination for active lifestyle enthusiasts and home to leading brands in the endurance sports, outdoor, and healthy living spaces. Each month, Outside reaches 80 million of the most active consumers in the world across its 30+ media, digital, and technology platforms, creating an experience for both longtime adventurers and those just getting started. Outside’s mission is to get everyone outdoors, experiencing healthy, connected, and fulfilling lives. Outside’s membership offering, Outside+, bundles best-in-class storytelling, meal plans, gear reviews, online courses, discounted event access, magazines, and more. Learn more at OutsideInc.com. About U.S. Ski & Snowboard U.S. Ski & Snowboard is the Olympic National Governing Body (NGB) of ski and snowboard sports in the USA, based in Park City, Utah. Tracing its roots directly back to 1905, the organization represents nearly 200 elite skiers and snowboarders in 2022, competing in seven teams; alpine, cross country, freeski, freestyle, snowboard, nordic combined, and ski jumping. In addition to the fully-funded elite teams, U.S. Ski & Snowboard also provides leadership and direction for tens of thousands of young skiers and snowboarders across the USA, encouraging and supporting them in achieving excellence. By empowering national teams, clubs, coaches, parents, officials, volunteers, and fans, U.S. Ski & Snowboard is committed to the progression of its sports, athlete success, and the value of team. For more information, visit www.usskiandsnowboard.org.

Here Is The Latest Big 12 Conference Sports News From The Associated Press – Beckley Register-Herald https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/here-is-the-latest-big-12-conference-sports-news-from-the-associated-press-beckley-register-herald-2/ UNDATED (AP) — Tennessee has moved to No. 3 in The Associated Press college football poll behind No. 1 Georgia and No. 2 Ohio State. It comes after the Volunteers knocked off Alabama, one of five unbeaten teams to fall during a wild weekend. The Crimson Tide dropped three to No. 6 and swapped places with the Vols after Tennessee kicked a field goal as time expired Saturday. Alabama is out of the top-five for the first time since 2019. Georgia is still No. 1 and received 31 first-place votes and No. 2 Ohio State had 17 first-place votes. NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Dillon Gabriel passed for 403 yards and Oklahoma defeated No. 19 Kansas 52-42 to end its losing skid at three games. Eric Gray ran for 176 yards, Marvin Mims had a career-high nine catches for 106 yards and Brayden Willis had five catches for a career-best 102 yards for the Sooners.  It was Oklahoma’s 18th straight win over Kansas. The Sooners haven’t lost to the Jayhawks since 1997. Jason Bean passed for 265 yards and four touchdowns for Kansas. Lawrence Arnold had 113 yards and two touchdowns receiving and Mason Fairchild had 106 yards and two touchdowns receiving for the Jayhawks. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Quinn Ewers threw for three touchdowns including the go-ahead score with less than five minutes remaining as No. 22 Texas rallied to defeat Iowa State 24-21 on Saturday. The Longhorns trailed 21-17 when Ewers connected with Xavier Worthy to put Texas up for good. The Cyclones drove to the Texas 28 before linebacker Jaylan Ford recovered a fumble by quarterback Hunter Dekkers with 2:28 to play. Moments earlier, it looked like Iowa State might go back in front but receiver Xavier Hutchinson dropped a pass inside the Texas 10. MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Casey Legg kicked a 22-yard field goal with 33 seconds left to lift West Virginia to a 43-40 victory over Baylor. West Virginia’s Tony Mathis scored on a 34-yard run with 7:05 left and set up the winning field goal with a 37-yard run to the Baylor 8. Mathis finished with a career-high 163 rushing yards Thursday night. Baylor had one last chance starting from its 23-yard line. But backup quarterback Kyron Drones threw two incompletions and he was tackled near midfield on a scramble as time ran out. Drones came on in relief of Blake Shapen, who was injured on a helmet-to-helmet hit in the third quarter and did not return. FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Kendre Miller scored on a 2-yard run in the second overtime and 13th-ranked TCU beat No. 8 Oklahoma State 43-40 in a matchup of the Big 12′s last remaining undefeated teams. Fans stormed the field after Miller got into the end zone for the 6-0 Horned Frogs, who had gone into the fourth quarter trailing by two touchdowns. The teams traded touchdowns in the first overtime. Oklahoma State got the ball to start the second overtime, but after a holding penalty and three incomplete passes in a row, the Cowboys had to settle for Tanner Brown’s fourth field goal, a 52-yarder. NEW YORK (AP) — The Big 12 Conference has come back from the brink. Last summer, it was sent reeling when Oklahoma and Texas said they will be leaving for the Southeastern Conference. New Commissioner Brett Yormark is trying to rebuild the Big 12’s brand. He wants to set a new narrative for a league known for years of instability. For now, things are going well: Half of the Big 12’s football teams are ranked the AP Top 25. It has also had a team in the men’s Final Four every year since 2018 — and won the national title two years in a row. NEW YORK (AP) — Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark says he has had “meaningful” conversations with ESPN and Fox as the conference explores striking a media rights deal almost two years before the current contract expires. The Big 12 announced in late August it planned to engage ESPN and Fox, even though the exclusive negotiating window between the conference and the networks does not open until February 2024. The Big 12′s deals with the networks expire in June of that year. Yormark says there is no timetable for the discussions to produce a deal. He says ESPN and Fox would be the two best partners to boost the Big 12 brand. FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Max Duggan has gone from losing his job as TCU’s starting quarterback to being one of the nation’s best passers. He is exceling in coach Sonny Dykes’ system after the new coaching staff initially went with a different starter than the guy who started most of the past three seasons. Duggan has thrown for 1,305 yards and a Big 12-best 14 touchdowns with one interception. Redshirt freshman Chandler Morris started the opener before getting hurt. Dykes says he has been impressed with how Duggan has handled the entire situation. Duggan says he was initially disappointed but never felt sorry for himself. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

‘Disappointing’ Data About Meta Creates Doubt On Metaverse Timeline – Loup Ventures – Seeking Alpha https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/disappointing-data-about-meta-creates-doubt-on-metaverse-timeline-loup-ventures-seeking-alpha/ Loup Ventures analyst Gene Munster said Monday that leaked documents from Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) showing slower-than-projected growth of its key metaverse platform represent a “very clear disappointment.” In an interview with CNBC, the Loup Ventures founder and managing partner also suggested that the lack of dramatic consumer demand for the metaverse concept put the timeline for the overall technology in doubt. “[The news] begs the question, which is how long is the metaverse really away here? How far are we away from this actually taking off?” he asked. Citing internal documents, the Wall Street Journal over the weekend reported that META has had fewer than 200K users sign up for its Horizon Worlds offering, the centerpiece of its metaverse development. The company had targeted a figure of 500K monthly active users. With the current number about two-fifths of that total, the firm has lowered its year-end goal to 280K Munster said he would have hoped the monthly active user total would be closer to 1M at this point and described the core issue as “a chicken and an egg problem.” He noted that disappointing adoption rates are tied to the expensive gear required to use the technology. Specifically, he noted that the cheapest headset that META has to access the metaverse comes in at $400. Munster argued that the company needed to get that figure down to the $100 range. Overall, Munster remained upbeat for META’s long-term future. He contended that betting on the technology was effectively a gamble that there will be a user-engagement platform in the future other than mobile devices. “I’m still positive on where this company can go and more positive on the long-term potential of the metaverse,” he said. “I’m still optimistic that we’re going to find a way forward and this will be something.” The Loup Ventures managing partner noted that while META has become the most prominent symbol of the development of the metaverse, it is far from the only big-name tech firm making a sizable investment in the technology. Specifically, he noted pushes from the likes of Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), Google (GOOG) (GOOGL) and Samsung. For another long-term look at Meta’s prospects, Seeking Alpha contributor Dilantha De Silva says the company’s stock will be “nowhere near” its current levels in five years.