KeyBank To Close Branches In Palmerton, Sellersville | Business News | Wfmz.com – 69News WFMZ-TV https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/keybank-to-close-branches-in-palmerton-sellersville-business-news-wfmz-com-69news-wfmz-tv/ If you know of local business openings or closings, please notify us here. PREVIOUS OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS – The Cadillac Pub opens where Klingers used to be at 24 E. Main Street in Fleetwood – II-VI Inc. (pronounced “two-six”) will become Coherent Corp., taking on the name of a company it recently acquired. – ABEC, a company that provides services and products to the pharmaceutical industry, with headquarters in Northampton County, will invest in a new disposable-container facility in North Carolina. – A new Lehigh Valley Martial Arts center will hold a grand opening starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10, with a ribbon-cutting shortly afterward. – Bethlehem Township’s planning commission has approved an Amazon parking lot with 248 spaces at Brodhead and Mowrer roads. – The Bethlehem Zoning Hearing Board rejected variance requests that would have allowed multifamily homes to go up on the Southside properties at 508-512 Selfridge St. – Northampton County Council voted 1-8 against a tax break for development of a proposed warehouse at the Dixie Cup building on South 25 Street in Wilson Borough. – The former Valley Farm Market, now known as Gerrity’s Valley Farm Market, will take on a new name as of Oct. 14: Gerrity’s The Fresh Grocer. – Hamsa Exoticz is already open at the Lehigh Valley Mall, but it will hold a grand opening at 5 p.m. Sept. 16 with the Whitehall Chamber of Commerce. – A new Home Depot will open a 136,048-square-foot building on about 21 acres of vacant land just off Hamilton Boulevard in Lower Macungie Township. – Rocco Ayvazov’s Monocacy General Contracting received approval from the Bethlehem Planning Commission to put up a six-story building with 55 apartments and retail space on the first floor at 128 E. Third St. – The old Allen Organ showroom building on Route 100 in Lower Macungie Township will come down and about 100 total apartment units will go up. – Reading Hospitality’s Catering by DoubleTree will handle food at events at Reading Country Club, after Exeter Township supervisors approved a new agreement. – Natural healing is the goal at Reike Balance, which will open Sept. 9. on Reading Avenue in West Reading. – The Pocono Chamber of Commerce held a grand opening at the Bartonsville branch of Farmhouse Cafe. – The reopening date for the historic Frenchtown Inn building overlooking the Delaware River in New Jersey remains unclear.  – River Paws, a pet-supply store, is across Race Street from the Frenchtown Pharmacy. – The planned reopening date of Aug. 13 for Toby’s Cup was pushed back after ownership said a dispute about the occupancy of a home on the hot dog stand’s property delayed the reopening.

App For The Pre-K Set Promotes Healthy Eating, Exercise | Cornell Chronicle – Cornell Chronicle https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/app-for-the-pre-k-set-promotes-healthy-eating-exercise-cornell-chronicle-cornell-chronicle/ Preschoolers can be notoriously picky eaters – and that’s if you can get one to sit still for a meal. A series of free, evidence-informed apps for preschool-aged children, developed by a Cornell researcher and colleagues, aims to encourage healthy eating behaviors and exercise. A majority of parents said the apps helped their children try new foods and raise their activity level, according to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior on date. “Screens aren’t going away,” said Laura Bellows, associate professor of nutrition in the College of Human Ecology. “We want to substitute for sedentary screen time and give children active screen time instead.” Bellows co-authored “Engaging Preschoolers in Food Tasting and Movement Activities Using Mobile Apps,” with first author Ligia Reyes, a postdoctoral associate at Cornell. Additional coauthors include Susan L. Johnson, PhD, of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, and Barbara Chamberlin, PhD, of New Mexico State University. The work extends from the $5 million, USDA-funded HEROs (HEalthy EnviROnments) study, which concluded earlier this year. Adults can download the set of four distinct apps – collectively known as Foods and Moves – from the Apple app store and Google Play. Using the apps, children guide a half-dozen cartoon monsters and four animated human preschoolers to try new foods and boost their indoor activity through Tasting Party Express, Jungle Gym 1, Jungle Gym 2 and Spin-n-Move. Together, the Foods and Moves cast encourages children to try new foods and supports the building blocks for such age-appropriate movements as hopping and skipping. The goal is to promote physical activity and introduce new food- and movement-based vocabulary. The HEROs study provided families with information and activities that the apps put into action. The apps also support adults who want to extend these lessons to the real world, whether at the dinner table or through playful activities. “We intentionally developed the apps to help parents  engage their preschoolers in food and movement activities,” said Bellows, citing feedback from parents living in places where outdoor play can be constrained by weather or safety considerations. Initially, she said, members of the development team imagined the apps as activities for caregivers and children to do together, engaging in play. “Parents on the team agreed we needed to provide multiple ways to use the apps that fit into daily life,’” said Bellows, herself a parent. “The apps can be done together or while we’re doing laundry, making dinner. I can feel good putting this on for seven minutes – I’m not just putting my preschooler in front of a TV show.” In the study, which assessed how parents perceive the overall quality of Foods and Moves, as well as how their preschoolers’ behavior changed after using the apps, the majority of parents surveyed reported that their children’s willingness to try new foods was positively influenced by Tasting Party Express. Nearly all parents indicated that their children’s physical activity increased after playing Jungle Gym 1 and 2. Most parents observed that their children continued playing the apps in the year after they were introduced, and 80% of parents said they were likely or very likely to recommend the apps to other families. This project is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Sharon Tregaskis is a freelance writer for the College of Human Ecology.

A Stock Exchange For Sports Betting: Sporttrade Debuts In New Jersey – Gaming Today https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/a-stock-exchange-for-sports-betting-sporttrade-debuts-in-new-jersey-gaming-today/ On September 15, Sporttrade launched its sports trading platform in New Jersey. It sells itself as a user-friendly stock exchange for sports, similar to what Robin Hood was for ordinary people interested in investing. “The whole value of our business is trying to show that customers not only can do something that they can’t do on any platform besides Sporttrade but that they want to do.” Sporttrade CEO Alex Kane said.  On Sporttrade, bettors can buy and sell trades on sports wagers priced between one cent and $99. Winning bets are paid $100. Losing bets win nothing. However, Sporttrade sets itself apart with its focus on in-game markets. When a game starts, bettors can take advantage of each wager’s price movements. These trades can be especially volatile on teams poised to make dramatic and unexpected late-game comebacks.    “Someone did that [bought the Cardinals] at $2.50, but then sold it when it went down to two cents before it went back up,” Kane said. “So we didn’t have quite the success story there of someone riding it out to glory.”  Trading sports is a two-way street. It can result in forfeited wins or successful hedges. It also puts users in control of how long they want to hold onto their bets and how they want to manage their bets in-game.  Sporttrade Bonus and Pricing Structure Sporttrade offers a unique approach to sports betting, and its reflected in its approach to bonuses and pricing. Currently, Sporttrade does not offer a welcome bonus. However, its pricing can be better than traditional sportsbooks.  Kane is cautious about welcome bonuses. While Sporttrade plans to offer welcome bonuses, they won’t be the extravagant $1,000 welcome bonuses offered by books like DraftKings and FanDuel.  “I think too many times, you see these huge deposit bonuses, and what you’ve gained in a lot of customers in great top-of-funnel and bottom funnel metrics, you’ve lost in completely blinding yourself to whether you have product-market fit,” Kane said.  Competitive Odds Over Welcome Bonuses Sporttrade makes up for its lack of bonuses with pricing that can outdo traditional sportsbooks. For example, one Sporttrade user bought the Atlanta Falcons at 50 cents and sold them at $9.50 for a $9 per contract. That $9 profit is the equivalent of winning a bet with +1800 odds at a traditional sportsbook.  However, the Falcons lost on Sunday. At a traditional sportsbook, bettors would lose their bets. But at Sporttrade, users can take advantage of price movements from strong moments in the game that give Falcons traders hope. Those inflated hopes created inflated prices that make good sell prices before the game ends.  If the Falcons had won, that user would’ve won $100 for a contract he entered into for 50 cents — $99.50 in profit. That would have been the equivalent of winning a bet with 199/1 odds. Even competitive market-making books like Circa wouldn’t have offered odds approaching +20000 on a moneyline.  While Sporttrade’s pricing partly depends on users’ trading strategies and risk tolerances, it offers competitive odds in a saturated sports betting market.  How Sporttrade Works like a Stock Exchange Sporttrade users can buy and sell their contracts on different wagers because of agreements Sporttrade has made with super users called market makers. Market makers are large groups that have agreed to buy trades on Sporttrade. Since there’s always someone buying contracts, bettors can always buy and sell the contracts they choose. (This is what high liquidity means.) Market makers play a critical role on financial exchanges, only with much higher stakes.  “If the market makers on NASDAQ pulled out [of the market] … 401k’s would collapse,” Kane said. “Now this isn’t as life or death for sports betting, but they [NASDAQ] know it’s [liquidity] critical for engagement.”  Over time, the hope is that Sporttrade’s user base will grow large enough that these market makers won’t be the ones allowing trades to happen. With enough users, there will always be someone to buy what someone else is selling. Trades will be able to happen in real time. What’s Next for Sporttrade? Behind the scenes, Sporttrade’s market makers are treating their purchases on Sporttrade as an investment. If Sporttrade becomes liquid without large market makers, then those market makers can use Sporttrade as another exchange to make money on. Large companies could trade hundreds of thousands of contracts simultaneously, making large profits at scale.  Sporttrade and its market makers share the long-term goal of a healthy and liquid sports betting exchange. New Jersey will be a telling test ground for the country’s first stock exchange for sports.

Christina Aguilera Applies For NFT And Metaverse Trademarks – U.Today https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/christina-aguilera-applies-for-nft-and-metaverse-trademarks-u-today/ Alex Dovbnya Pop singer Christina Aguilera has followed Miley Cyrus by submitting trademark filings related to non-fungible tokens and Metaverse Pop singer Christina Aguilera has filed trademarks related to non-fungible tokens and the Metaverse with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The “Genie in a Bottle” singer wants to create downloadable multimedia files containing artwork, audio, text and videos relating to music and the performing arts. Such files would be authenticated with the help of non-fungible tokens. The pop diva plans to offer a slew of virtual goods such as art, clothing, headwear, footwear, eyewear, beauty products and other virtual merchandise. Aguilera also wants to provide entertainment services such as musical performances and virtual appearances. The pop singer gained popularity in the late 1990s with her self-titled debut album that sold roughly 14 million copies worldwide. The 1999 release, which spawned several sizeable hits, has been certified 8X platinum in the U.S. Aguilera, however, fell short of matching the massive sales of her then-rival Britney Spears, who boasts two diamond-certified albums. After several relatively successful releases in the 2000s, which include “Stripped” and “Back and Basic,” the singer’s career experienced a particularly sharp decline with the 2010 album called “Bionic.” Drawing comparisons to Lady Gaga’s insanely successful “The Fame,” Aguilera’s sixth studio album ended up being a critical and commercial disaster. “Bionic” started falling off the charts shortly after the release, and Aguilera has not bounced back from that disaster ever since. Issuing NFTs might become a new business venture for the 41-year-old industry veteran, but merely filing trademarks does not mean that she has any immediate plans related to crypto. As reported by U.Today, pop star Miley Cyrus also submitted several filings related to NFTs and the Metaverse roughly a month ago.

Left 4 Dead Map Reimagined In Halo Infinite Forge, And It’s Awesome – PCGamesN https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/left-4-dead-map-reimagined-in-halo-infinite-forge-and-its-awesome-pcgamesn/ There’s been yet another incredible Halo Infinite Forge creation despite it not even being officially out yet, as one player has made a level inspired by a Left 4 Dead map in the FPS game. Created by Karmaplex, the Halo Infinite Forge creation is seriously impressive, with a video showing off the dense, abandoned city streets filled with snow and punctuated by mesmerising lighting placements. Karamplex has dubbed the creation a The Division meets Left 4 Dead map, and it certainly fits the bill for both, as some sort of quarantine zone is left desolate and buildings stretch on behind the playable area. “Happy to see this is being well received but I promise this isn’t even a fraction of my power,” says Karmaplex. This is just one of many incredible Forge creations, as someone else also managed to recreate Andy’s Room from Toy Story in the game design tool, while another person turned Halo Infinite into Mario Kart. The community creations in Halo Infinite Forge are going to get better and better too, as the creation mode will launch on November 8 this year and give all players the chance to try out the tools and make their levels and wacky ideas into a reality. There was even the first of a few Halo Infinite Forge showcases fairly recently, and it showed off how you’ll be able to create giant grunts, and build with snappy commands come November this year. Not everyone is happy with the recent Halo Infinite roadmap though, as Cr1tikal called it the “last nail in the coffin” of the game. If you want some help in 343 Industries’ shooter ahead of Forge mode releasing, we have a Halo Infinite character customisation guide and a deep dive into the best Halo Infinite multiplayer weapons and gadgets as well.

Crypto Exchange Kraken Backs Enterprise-Grade Liquid Staking Protocol – Bitcoin News – Bitcoin News https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/crypto-exchange-kraken-backs-enterprise-grade-liquid-staking-protocol-bitcoin-news-bitcoin-news/ On Tuesday, the liquid staking firm Alluvial revealed a consortium of organizations will collaborate on the “first enterprise-grade multi-chain liquid staking protocol.” Alluvial’s announcement detailed the protocol will be known as the “Liquid Collective” and the cryptocurrency exchange Kraken has joined as a foundation member. Liquid Collective Aims to Bolster a Multi-Chain Liquid Staking Standard In a blog post published by the liquid staking company Alluvial, the startup introduced the new enterprise-grade multi-chain liquid staking protocol called the “Liquid Collective.” The Liquid Collective also has a Liquid Foundation, which includes participants such as Kraken, Coinbase Cloud, Staked, Kiln, Figment, and Alluvial. “[The] Liquid Collective will be governed in a decentralized manner by a broad and dispersed community of industry participants,” Alluvial’s announcement on Tuesday notes. Liquid staking has been a prominent trend in the world of decentralized finance (defi). Lido Finance is the largest liquid staking provider today, and the wrapped ethereum token Lido offers is called lido staked ether (STETH). At the end of August, Coinbase announced the launch of its own liquid staking token called CBETH. The Liquid Collective’s enterprise-grade token will be called LSETH and KYC/AML will be standardized into the protocol. “Liquid Collective, a multi-chain liquid staking standard, seeks to address the need for the highest guarantees of security and KYC/AML checks for institutions, Web3 native enterprises, and other regulated entities to meet regulatory obligations and best practices while unlocking new liquidity and increased capital efficiency on leading proof of stake blockchains,” Alluvial’s blog post details. The Liquid Collective brand and protocol will be impactful according to the CMO of Alluvial, Mark Forscher. “Liquid Collective’s brand symbol is a group of liquid droplets repeated in a circle. A graphical representation of ‘one from many,’ the resulting shape is harmonious and balanced with a star formed in the middle, symbolizing the formation of Liquid Collective and our intended impact. The sum is greater than its parts,” Forscher remarked on Tuesday. Tags in this story Alluvial, CBETH, Coinbase, Coinbase Cloud, Enterprise-Grade Liquid Staking Protocol, ether, Ethereum, Ethereum (ETH), Figment, Kiln, Kraken, KYC/AML, Lido, Liquid Collective, Liquid Foundation, Liquid Staking, LSETH, Mark Forscher, Staked, STETH What do you think about Alluvial’s announcement introducing the Liquid Collective and Liquid Foundation members? Let us know your thoughts on this subject in the comments section below. Jamie Redman Jamie Redman is the News Lead at Bitcoin.com News and a financial tech journalist living in Florida. Redman has been an active member of the cryptocurrency community since 2011. He has a passion for Bitcoin, open-source code, and decentralized applications. Since September 2015, Redman has written more than 6,000 articles for Bitcoin.com News about the disruptive protocols emerging today. Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.

Announcing Winners Of Peace Poster Competition – U.S. Embassy & Consulates In Russia – U.S. Embassy Moscow https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/announcing-winners-of-peace-poster-competition-u-s-embassy-consulates-in-russia-u-s-embassy-moscow/ Press Release In Honor of UN International Day of Peace Announcing Winners of Peace Poster Competition September 21, 2022 At this critical moment in history, when peace, freedom, and democracy are under threat, U.S. Embassy Moscow is proud to honor the United Nations International Day of Peace with the announcement of the winners of the Imagining Peace poster competition. In the words of competition curator and judge Angelina Lippert, Chief Curator of Poster House in New York City, “Posters are the perfect medium to express succinct ideas in a rapidly changing world. Since the 1860s, every conflict has engendered a public facing poster response that calls for peace, resolution, or an end to injustice and violence.” This competition brought together artists from all over the world to celebrate the fundamental human right of peace by reimagining it and sharing their vision. In their creative depictions, we recognize the hunger for harmony, mutual understanding, and an end to hostilities that continue to bring senseless death and destruction to innocent people. We congratulate all the artists who contributed their Imagining Peace designs to illustrate the singular significance of peace as a basic human right. As former U.S. Ambassador to Russia, John J. Sullivan, expressed: “It has long been a U.S. policy priority to advocate for and advance peace in the world. Now more than ever is a critical moment to strengthen our commitment to those ideals, and to safeguard peace, stability, and prosperity.” A special congratulations to the winners from the United States, North Macedonia, and Russia, whose poster designs have won the top prize of the opportunity to travel to New York City and Washington, D.C., to discuss their work with U.S. cultural leaders. Their entries, and those of all who submitted artwork, give us continued hope that people from across the globe are joined together by a desire to live in peace, and that we can realize this goal when we work together toward this common vision. Let us take today to remember the fundamentality of peace and continue our collective endeavor to achieve it in every corner of the world. In October, we will exhibit winning designs with selected submissions at U.S. Embassy Moscow. You may also view the competition’s artwork on U.S. Embassy Moscow social media platforms, the U .S. Embassy Moscow website, and at the competition website: https://www.imaginingpeace2022.org/exhibition/. By U.S. Mission Russia | 21 September, 2022 | Topics: Art & Culture, Fundamental Freedoms, Press Releases

HHS Technology Group Partners With Amendola For Strategic PR And Marketing Services – PR Newswire https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/hhs-technology-group-partners-with-amendola-for-strategic-pr-and-marketing-services-pr-newswire/ Award-winning Healthcare IT Marketing & PR agency to collaborate with leader in data and analytics software solutions and services , /PRNewswire/ — Amendola, a nationally recognized, award-winning healthcare and technology public relations and marketing firm, announced that HHS Technology Group (HTG), a leader in purpose-built data and analytics software and solutions for the public and private sector, has selected the firm as its agency of record to assist with messaging, marketing, and promotion of its distinct technology solutions, including its recent collaboration on the COVID-19 Research Database designed to create a scalable, repeatable model accelerating real-world pandemic research. “Healthcare systems, researchers, and agencies need a reliable technology partner to accelerate innovation utilizing our purpose-built platform that allows the harmonization, exploration, visualization, and modeling of patient data,” said Brett Furst, president of HTG. “We are excited to deepen our relationship with Amendola as we help answer some of healthcare’s most complex questions. Based on HTG’s previous relationship working with Amendola and my experience engaging them at other companies, I am confident in Amendola’s exceptional abilities to strengthen HTG’s position as an industry thought leader and drive our success with customers.” Amendola is implementing a comprehensive media and communications plan for HTG to showcase the company’s current technology and services, new offerings, accomplishments, customer wins, and industry partnerships. HTG recently announced a collaboration to offer public and private sector access to resources for the fight against the invisible epidemic of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and long-term COVID-19. This news follows HTG’s partnership providing access to the COVID-19 Research Database, a pro bono initiative led by numerous prominent companies to scale an open research database to extract and operationalize insights about critical health challenges. HTG also provides modular, interoperable solutions certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), enabling state agencies to quickly transform their legacy Medicaid Management Information Systems (MMIS) into a modern program. About Amendola Communications Amendola is an award-winning, insights-driven public relations and marketing firm that integrates media relations, social media, content, and lead gen programs to move healthcare, live sciences/pharma, and healthcare IT decision-makers to action. The agency represents some of the industry’s best-known brands and groundbreaking startups disrupting the status quo. Nearly 90% of its client base represents multi-year clients and/or repeat client executives. Amendola’s seasoned PR and marketing team understands the healthcare ecosystem’s ongoing complexities and provides strategic guidance and creative direction to drive positive ROI, boost reputation and increase market share. Making an impact since 2003, Amendola combines traditional and digital media to fuel meaningful and measurable growth. For more information about the industry’s “A-Team,” visit www.acmarketingpr.com, and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. About HHS Technology Group HHS Technology Group is a software and solutions company serving the needs of commercial enterprises and government agencies. HHS Technology Group delivers modular software solutions, custom development, and integration services for the modernization and operation of systems supporting a broad spectrum of business and government needs. For more information about HHS Technology Group, visit www.hhstechgroup.com. Media contact: [email protected] SOURCE Amendola Communications

SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless Gaming Mouse With 18 Programmable Buttons Hits $111 ($49 Off) – 9to5Toys https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/steelseries-aerox-9-wireless-gaming-mouse-with-18-programmable-buttons-hits-111-49-off-9to5toys/ Amazon is offering the SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless Gaming Mouse for $111.29 shipped. Down from $150, today’s deal marks the best prices that we’ve tracked since July. With an ultra-lightweight design, this mouse is perfect for premium gaming setups. It weighs just 89g and is one of the lightest MMO/MOBA mice on the market with 18 programmable buttons and a 12-button side panel. It’s IP54 water-resistant as well which protects it against spills that could happen at home. On top of that, the Aerox 9 uses both SteelSeries’ lag-free Quantum 2.0 2.4GHz wireless connection as well as Bluetooth 5.0 so you can play at home or on-the-go. It’ll also last up to 180 hours on a single charge, and just 15 minutes of being plugged in will net 40 hours of gameplay. Dive into our hands-on review to learn more and then keep reading for additional information. Consider using your savings to pick up the HyperX Cloud Stinger gaming headset for $30 on Amazon. While not from the same brand, HyperX is still a solid choice for your gaming setup. We recently went hands-on with the newer Cloud Stinger 2 and called it an “instant hit,” so be sure to check out the more budget-friendly original Cloud Stinger as a great alternative for your setup. Don’t forget to check out the Pyle 4-pattern RGB USB microphone that’s on sale for a new low of $58. That’s down from a normal going rate of $120 or more, making this the perfect upgrade for those who are trying to start streaming on a budget, as a dedicated microphone will generally deliver a better audio experience than using the built-in mic on most headsets. SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless Gaming Mouse features: The lightest MMO/MOBA mouse on the market, the Aerox 9 Wireless boasts an 89g build, optimal for long play sessions. Armed with an arsenal of 18 programmable buttons, including a 12-button side panel and a tilt-click scroll wheel, gamers gain a powerful edge in shortcut-heavy games. Quantum 2.0 ensures lag-free gameplay to cut the cord and provides the flexibility of 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 5.0 connections. Superb 180-hour battery life with fast charging keeps you in the action. Dominate raid bosses or 5v5 battles without worrying about dust or spills with the IP54-rated AquaBarrier that shields the holey design and circuitry. Engineered to perfection, the Aerox 9 Wireless has all the components for glory, except for one – you. Subscribe to the 9to5Toys YouTube Channel for all of the latest videos, reviews, and more!

Northwood Inducts 6 Into Athletics Hall Of Fame – The Chatham News + Record https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/northwood-inducts-6-into-athletics-hall-of-fame-the-chatham-news-record/ PITTSBORO — Northwood High School inducted six alumni into its Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday during halftime of the football game against Williams High School. Those inducted into the 2022 class were Casey Norris Bodlak, Tra Chandler, Robbie Degraffenreidt, Carrie Webster Howard, Darrell Kirby and Jim Pappas. Casey Norris-Bodlak Norris-Bodlak graduated from Northwood in 2014. She was a member of the basketball and soccer team all four years of high school. In basketball, Norris-Bodlak was a three-time all-conference selection and team MVP. On the soccer field, she was a two-time all-state selection, three-time all-conference selection and four-time team MVP. Norris-Bodlak attended Liberty University on a soccer scholarship, where she graduated with an Elementary Education Degree. She played in every game all four seasons and was a team captain during her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. She helped lead the Flames to a Big South Conference Championship and an NCAA First Round game against UNC-Chapel Hill. “Being able to compete in high school athletics helped to prepare me for a career in college athletics at a high level by challenging me to balance being an athlete and a student,” Norris-Bodlak said. “I was encouraged every day by my coaches and teachers who had a huge impact on me, some of which I am still in contact with today. I learned about what it meant to lead, how to be a good teammate, and also how to be a respectful player to both coaches and players. The coaches I had at Northwood high school made a huge impact on me. As I went on to play Division 1 soccer at Liberty, I took many of those lessons learned at Northwood with me.” Norris-Bodlak is currently a stay at home mother with her two children, ages three and one, with a third child on the way. Tra Chandler Chandler graduated from Northwood in 2011 where he was a standout on the basketball and football team. As a basketball player, he was a member of the 2009 and 2011 state runner-up teams. In 2011 he was named the Eastern Regional MVP for his performance against Kinston with 20 points. He was an all-conference selection his junior and senior year and was also known for his tenacious defense on the opposing team’s point guard. Chandler excelled in all facets of the game on the football field. He was a dynamic wide receiver, lockdown cornerback and electric kick returner on special teams. He was selected all-conference at the cornerback position his junior and senior years. He was also named to the all-state team as a cornerback his senior year. He led the Chargers with the most interceptions in a season with 12. He was also the only Charger to score a touchdown on offense, defense and special teams in the same game. Following Northwood, Chandler enrolled at Dean College in Massachusetts for a year before transferring to UNC-Pembroke. At Pembroke, his success continued as a kick-returner; he returned two kickoffs in a season for the Braves. As a senior at Pembroke, he was named to the all-conference team as a kick-returner. Following his collegiate career, Chandler has played in arena football. In 2019 he played for the Carolina Havoc in Florence, S.C., where he scored three touchdowns. This past year he played in the Fan Controlled Football League, where he had one touchdown. “The experience I had at Northwood meant everything to me. It molded me,” Chandler said. “The coaches and teammates instilled the work ethic to be successful. Everyone pushed me to be my best. The community of Pittsboro is hands down one of the best in the state. They supported us and came to every game during that 2009 and 2011 state playoffs. My coaches treated me like one of their own. They were there for me when I had questions and guided me as a young man. They helped me be a better man and have shaped me into the man that I have become today.” Chandler received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Informational Technology from UNC Pembroke in 2016. He has been mentoring youth in the Garner area and is training young athletes. He is currently employed as an IT Technician for Minpath Health and resides in Garner. Robby DeGraffenreidt DeGraffenreidt is a 1988 Northwood graduate who was a member of the baseball and basketball teams. Degraffenreidt was a two-time all conference selection in basketball, but it was on the baseball diamond where he excelled. He was a four-year starter for Northwood’s baseball team and was selected all-conference three years in a row. He won the conference batting title his sophomore and senior year. Degraffenreidt was also named the Conference Player of the Year in 1991 and 1992. He threw two no hitters against Denton in 1987 and another versus Bunn in the first round of the state playoffs in 1988. He won 15 career games as a pitcher. He was selected to the first North Carolina State Games as a member of the baseball team following his senior year of high school. “When I think back on my time at Northwood I remember how Coach Horton and Coach Shaner changed my life,” DeGraffenreidt said. “They stressed doing your job in the classroom and on the baseball field and basketball court. But academics was first before athletics. My coaches, teammates and friends that I had at Northwood have all impacted me on the man that I am today. I am forever grateful for the experiences that I had at Northwood High School.” Degraffenreidt went on to Louisburg College and finished his degree at Central Carolina Community College. He currently resides in Pittsboro with his wife and three daughters, Shanya, Destinee’ and Kyonti. He has a grandson, Jorden, and a step-daughter, Destinee Sumter. Carrie Webster Howard Webster Howard is a 2010 graduate of Northwood High School, where she excelled on the softball field. She was instrumental in the softball team’s success winning the conference championship and conference tournament in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Webster Howard excelled on the mound for the Chargers. She was an all-conference selection all four years as a pitcher. She was named Conference Player of the Year in 2008, 2009 and 2010. In 2009 and 2010, Webster Howard was named All-District and All-State. Following her career at Northwood, she attended Meredith College in Raleigh where she pitched two years for the Avenging Angels before deciding to double major her junior year of college. She graduated with honors from Meredith College with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising with a minor in Marketing. Webster Howard resides in Pittsboro and is employed at Galloway Ridge as an Administrative Assistant for Facilities and Technology. “Some of my best memories are from playing softball at Northwood and I am thankful for the values and lessons that I gained,” Webster Howard said. “I learned how to persevere when times get tough and that failure builds character. I also learned that having faith in yourself and others is contagious. The more you believe in others, the more they will believe in you. I will be forever grateful for everything my parents, coaches, teammates and Northwood did for me during my four years as a Charger; they helped shape my life today” Darrell Kirby Kirby, a 1992 graduate of Northwood, was a standout in football, basketball and baseball. A running back, Kirby was a two-time all-conference and all-area selection his junior and senior years. During his senior year, he had two 200 yard rushing performances and finished with 1,136 yards rushing his senior year. On the basketball court, Kirby was also a two-time all-conference selection. He was selected as the team MVP his senior year and was part of a team that won two conference championships. On the baseball field Kirby was a true force. He was a three-time all-conference selection. Leading the team in batting with an average of .425, he was named the 1992 conference player of the year and all-state selection. On the mound, he won 19 games as a pitcher and also hit 13 career home runs. Kirby was also the first Northwood athlete to receive the WRAL Tom Suitor Extra Effort Award. Reflecting on his experience at Northwood Kirby said, “The teachers and coaches that I had at Northwood kept me grounded. They kept me on the right path. I had goals that I wanted to achieve and they helped me reach them. Coach Pappas, Coach Horton, Coach Ribbett and Coach Hall, thank you for driving me and instilling a hard nose mentality and work ethic. You held me accountable and treated me like everyone else. They all treated me as if I was one of their own.” Kirby, who resides in Snow Camp, is married to his wife Tracy. He has two daughters, Ceionna and Aniyah, who were also Northwood graduates. Jim Pappas Pappas was a longtime Northwood teacher, coach and athletic director from 1989-2002. He coached tennis (89-92), football (87-97) and basketball (91-2002) during his tenure while also juggling athletic director duties during those seasons. He led the Northwood basketball team to its first ever state championship appearance in 2000. A native of Danville, Virginia, Pappas came to Northwood in 1989 after serving as a football assistant coach and Health and Physical Education teacher at Pinecrest High School.Coach Pappas received numerous accolades as a coach while at Northwood. He was the coach of the year during the 1989 and 1990 seasons in tennis. He won the Football Coach of the Year Honor in 1990. He was also named Coach of the Year in basketball during the 99-00 and 00-01 seasons. He had a career overall basketball record of 303-211 between his coaching stops at Northwood, Cedar Ridge High School, and Williams High School (girls basketball). “It was a tremendous time of our lives during the years my family and I spent at Northwood...

How Holiday Inn Revolutionized 20th Century Travel – Local News 8 – LocalNews8.com https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/how-holiday-inn-revolutionized-20th-century-travel-local-news-8-localnews8-com/ Francesca Street, CNN Kemmons Wilson was ferrying his family from New York to Washington by car when the idea first came to him. The Wilsons needed to stop for the night, but it was the summer of 1951, and American roadside facilities weren’t what they are today. Motels were luck of the draw, and often expensive given the lack of amenities. “Rooms were never quite as advertised, so [my father] would get a key and go take a look at the room before we signed up for it,” recalls Kemmons’ oldest child, Spence Wilson, today. “Many of the things that we think of today as just standards, well, they weren’t standards back then.” On this particular East Coast road trip, Kemmons, a father of five and an entrepreneur, started dreaming about a simple, family-friendly motel that would offer every necessary amenity. There wouldn’t just be one. There would be hundreds, dotted up and down US roads. No matter the state, whatever the highway, you could pull up at this hotel and know exactly what you were getting. The idea was simple — no frills, just clean, accommodation with a restaurant, plenty of rooms and a pool. (“We always liked to swim, and so we were always clamoring for him to find a place that had a pool,” Spence Wilson tells CNN Travel). Children under 12 who shared rooms with parents would be able to stay for free. In August 1952, Kemmons Wilson followed through on this dream, opening the first ever Holiday Inn. Seventy years later, the Holiday Inn brand is still going strong. Today, low-cost roadside hotels are commonplace, but back in the 1950s, Kemmons’ concept was “truly revolutionary,” as Ross Walton, a historian for the University of Southern Mississippi Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage, puts it. “Wilson put together this package of ideas of what kind of amenities that the business traveler and vacationing families would want,” Walton tells CNN Travel. “Things that were upcharges anywhere else, he made them all standard, at a very reasonable room rate.” Revolutionizing the motel Kemmons opened the first ever Holiday Inn in his home city of Memphis, Tennessee. His children were involved in the opening ceremony. “The mayor, who was supposed to come and cut the ribbon, didn’t show. Dad was not happy about that,” recalls Spence. “Then Mother said, ‘Well look, Kemmons, the kids are all dressed up, just have them cut the ribbon.’” This first Holiday Inn was followed by three other Memphis-based outposts, built in collaboration with Kemmons’ co-founder, businessman Wallace E Johnson. By the time the fourth Holiday Inn opened, a 1960 St Louis Post Dispatch article declared the then-prevailing image of a motel — “a group of shabby cabins huddled by a roadside” — to be a thing of the past. More Holiday Inns followed. The company started a franchising model, whereby independent parties were permitted to open and operate Holiday Inn branches. George Falls, a former Holiday Inn vice president, recalls traveling the length and breadth of the US — and later across seas — to look at potential sites and assess their viability for franchising. “It was exhilarating,” Falls tells CNN Travel. “I look back now — and look at some periodicals and annual reports and all — and I just can’t believe it grew so big, so rapidly, and particularly in the 60s.” Falls and his team were responsible for making sure each site met Holiday Inn’s meticulous standards. “Consistency was the name of the game — because the rooms were all the same size, they were all furnished the same way, and they had the same standard everywhere you went,” explains Falls, who recalls quarterly inspections to make sure motels were up to scratch. “They were the same — and that’s what makes a chain work.” The Great Sign Kemmons Wilson understood that marketing was key to getting his idea off the ground, so Holiday Inn’s family-focused, road trip origin story was omnipresent in the brand’s PR from day one. Motels had a less than wholesome reputation in the 1950s, and Kemmons, a Christian, wanted to overturn this image — one of Holiday Inn’s staples was a bible in every room. Kemmons also emphasized his humble beginnings as a high school dropout brought up by a single mother in the Great Depression of the 1920s. It helped that the chain also had a catchy name, credited to the brand’s architect Eddie Bluestein, who inscribed “Holiday Inn” onto his design sketches of the first Memphis-based motel. Bluestein was inspired by the 1942 movie musical of the same name starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire. Kemmons liked the name and so it stuck. Holiday Inn also successfully enticed would-be guests in from the highway via the “Great Sign” — a neon-colored, striking edifice designed by artists Gene Barber and Roland Alexander. The sign, which towered some 50 feet high, was eye-catching in green, yellow and red, embellished with flashing light bulbs. According to Spence, each sign used enough electricity to power five residential houses. Spence suggests cinema provided the inspiration for the sign’s aesthetic — after all, Kemmons had once owned a chain of movie theaters. “I think it was as exciting to business people as it was to families to ride down the road and see that sign, and pull in and be so fully satisfied and finding everything they could possibly want,” says former vice president Falls. It was also important to Kemmons that Holiday Inns should never display a “no vacancy” sign, even if there was no space. “If the hotel was full, they would find you [an alternative] place to stay,” says Spence. Spence worked in a Holiday Inn during a college summer vacation. He recalls Kemmons dropping by, and when he saw staff turning away prospective guests, stepping in and phoning some 30 nearby hotels until he secured the travelers alternative accommodation. The Great Sign was retired in the 1980s, shortly after Kemmons own retirement. Spence says his father was “disappointed” but understood this was a cost-efficient move, and that times were changing. “He was not a man who looked in the past much,” says Spence of his father, who passed away aged 90 in 2003. InterContintental, the hotel group that now owns the Holiday Inn brand, suggests the legacy of the Great Sign continues today. “While the Great Sign isn’t making a comeback per se, we are paying homage to it through our color palette, wall art, and accent pieces,” Jennifer Gribble, senior vice president global marketing mainstream brands for InterContinental, tells CNN Travel. “The keen observer will be able to find hints of it throughout our designs.” Creating a modern hotel Holiday Inn championed many concepts that were unusual in the 1950s, but later became commonplace — ice machines in every hallway, televisions in every room and onsite restaurants, to name just a few. In 1965, the company debuted “Holidex”, an internal computer reservation system created by IBM. Holidex allowed guests to instantaneously book rooms at any Holiday Inn across the US. In 1965, it was the world’s largest commercial computerized communications network. “Once that system came into being, Dad said it made selling franchises like selling candy on the street corner,” recalls Spence. “I would say no one else had anything like it,” agrees historian Ross Walton. “Holiday Inn was the undisputed leader at that point — and that was 10 years into the history of the company.” In the 1970s, Holiday Inn also premiered the Holiday Inn Holidrome concept — a climate-controlled indoor space that housed attractions such as tiki bars to indoor swimming pools. In 1972, the six roomed master suite at the Holiday Inn in the city of Gaithersberg, Maryland, was touted as the then most expensive suite at any US motel, at a reported $1,400 a night. The franchise owner built the room to entice famous faces, and celebrities including Cher reportedly stayed there. Early Holiday Inns also offered more practical on-site amenities, including pharmacies, dress stores and gift shops that sold everything from Holiday Inn-branded steak sauce to trampolines. “The idea was you wanted the customer to get there and stay there, and whatever they needed, they could buy it right there on the premises without having to go somewhere else and spend that money elsewhere. So it’s convenient for the customer, and it was profitable for the franchise holder,” says Walton. The focus wasn’t just on creating an on-site community. The aim was each Holiday Inn’s outpost would become a firm part of the existing community. That’s something George Falls recalls from his days traveling across the US to help establish new Holiday Inns. “The small towns we would go into — and they’d be towns of 20,000 people sometimes — the thing they wanted the most was a restaurant and a place for people to meet,” says Falls. “So [the restaurant] became the sort of central meeting place for a lot of communities, and that was kind of a thrill to see that happen, and to see it become a part of the small town.” Falls fondly remembers local buzz each time a Holiday Inn opened its doors. “We had a grand opening in each one, and that would really bring about excitement in the community,” he says. “It was vibrant, with that big sign out front — it was just a big happening, and we made the most of it.” Mark Stansbury, who became Holiday Inn’s community relations manager in 1969, has fond memories of one particular grand opening. Stansbury was, in his words, “one of the first African Americans, not pushing a broom or mop” to be hired by Holiday Inn. Four years after he got the job, Stansbury was in attendance at the 1973 opening of Holiday Inn’s first wholly Black-owned franchise in Tuskegee, Alabama. Stansbury is also a photographer — he counts Martin Luther King...

Comcast RISE To Award $1 Million In Grants To South Florida Small Businesses, Expands Eligibility To Include All Women-Owned Businesses – Business Wire https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/comcast-rise-to-award-1-million-in-grants-to-south-florida-small-businesses-expands-eligibility-to-include-all-women-owned-businesses-business-wire/ MIAMI–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Comcast today announced it will award $1 million in grants to 100 small businesses owned by women and people of color, including Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, and Asian American owners, among others, in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties, bringing the Comcast RISE program’s total investment in South Florida to $2 million. Comcast RISE stands for “Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment.” From October 3 through October 16, eligible small businesses in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties can apply online for one of the $10,000 grants at www.ComcastRISE.com. Comcast is also awarding grants in Chicago, Oakland, Seattle and Washington, D.C. The Comcast RISE program previously awarded $1 million in $10,000 grants to 100 South Florida businesses in November 2021. In total, $21 million in Comcast RISE grants have been awarded to small businesses nationwide. One of the South Florida recipients was Broski Ciderworks in Pompano Beach, founded and owned by brothers Daniel and David Verdugo. “Receiving the $10,000 Comcast RISE grant was a game changer for our business. We used the money to make significant upgrades to our operations, including establishing an online retail store so that our award-winning ciders can be available to not just our customers here in South Florida, but across the country,” said David Verdugo. “We are very grateful to have been selected as one of the Comcast RISE grant recipients. We encourage all other entrepreneurs who are eligible to apply for the grant and to tell their stories, because the Comcast RISE program could end up being a huge blessing for their businesses just like it was for ours,” said Daniel Verdugo. “We are very thankful that Comcast is contributing once again to the revitalization of Miami-Dade’s economy with another $1 million in Comcast RISE grants,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “We need lasting and meaningful change in our region, and we know Comcast is a committed community partner, not just today, but for years to come.” “Small business owners throughout Broward County are still navigating the ups and downs of the post-COVID pandemic economy. We must continue to support businesses of diverse ownership, of all sizes and across different industries,” said Broward County Mayor Michael Udine. “By committing another $1 million dollars in grants for small businesses, the Comcast RISE program is supporting the growth and development of the economy of our entire community.” Comcast RISE was formed in late 2020 to give small businesses owned by people of color, including Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, and Asian American owners, among others, the resources they need to not just survive, but thrive. In November 2021, Comcast RISE announced a major expansion to all women-owned businesses nationwide as a part of the program’s first anniversary. “Many circumstances for small businesses are vastly improved since the height of the pandemic. However, for some businesses that had to close their doors for weeks or had to put production or their services on hold because of supply chain disruptions, recovery is ongoing,” said Beatrice Louissaint, President & CEO of the Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council. “Support and resources from companies like Comcast are a lifeline for these small business owners and their neighborhoods.” In addition, Comcast RISE invests in ongoing mentorship and resources to help businesses succeed over the long-term. The program has partnered with Ureeka, an online platform for entrepreneurs, to provide grant recipients with business coaching to help build skills in company foundation, growing customers, and financial stability. All Comcast RISE recipients will also have a specialized online networking community within Ureeka with access to educational resources, sources of capital, and vetted experts such as U.S. Black Chambers, National Asian Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Association for Enterprise Opportunity, Walker’s Legacy, and Operation Hope. “Comcast RISE and the Comcast RISE Investment Fund offer the opportunity for small businesses owned by people of color and women to help grow their businesses, create jobs, and play a vital role in supporting our communities. This new round of Comcast RISE Investment Fund grants will provide more South Florida entrepreneurs with the resources and tools they need to scale their businesses and thrive for years to come,” said Rich Rollins, Vice President of Business Services for Comcast’s Florida Region. “While we know that no single organization can solve historic and systemic inequities overnight, we are committed to taking tangible actions that can drive long-term impact and change.” Comcast RISE Marketing and Technology Services In addition to the Investment Fund, Comcast RISE, provides the opportunity for small businesses owned by people of color and women nationwide to apply for grants for one or more of the following support focus areas with the opportunity to receive one. Marketing Services Grant: The following services from Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, and its creative agency, Mnemonic, are designed to help recipients with their marketing and media campaigns, including: Media: A linear TV media campaign to run over a 90-day period. Creative Production: Turnkey 30-second TV commercial production, plus a media strategy consultation and a 90-day linear TV media campaign. Consult: Digital audits by Ureeka in the form of Website Repair Reports and SEO Keyword reports to target website mechanics and effective organic marketing Technology Makeover Grants: The state-of-the-art equipment and technology upgrade from Comcast Business includes computer equipment as well as internet, voice, and cybersecurity services for up to a 12-month period. (Taxes and other fees may still apply for tech makeover services.) All eligible applicants will receive a monthly Comcast RISE newsletter with educational content, and all small business owners can visit the Comcast RISE destination on the X1 platform featuring aggregated small business news, tips, insights, and more. Just say “Comcast RISE” into the X1 voice remote. Comcast RISE is part of Project UP, the company’s comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and help build a future of unlimited possibilities. More information and the applications to apply for either the grant program or marketing and technology services are available at www.ComcastRISE.com. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on connectivity, aggregation, and streaming with 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. About Comcast Business Comcast Business offers Ethernet, Internet, Wi-Fi, Voice, TV and Managed Enterprise Solutions to help organizations of all sizes transform their business. Powered by an advanced network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is one of the largest contributors to the growth of Comcast Cable. Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and has emerged as a force in the Enterprise market; recognized over the last two years by leading industry associations as one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. For more information, visit www.business.comcast.com or call 866- 429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social. About Effectv Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, helps local, regional and national advertisers use the best of digital with the power of TV to grow their business. It provides multi-screen marketing solutions to make advertising campaigns more effective and easier to execute. Headquartered in New York with offices throughout the country, Effectv has a presence in 66 markets with nearly 35 million owned and represented subscribers. For more information, visit www.effectv.com. # # #

Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors May Lower Risk For Dementia In Type 2 Diabetes – Healio https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/healthy-lifestyle-behaviors-may-lower-risk-for-dementia-in-type-2-diabetes-healio/ September 21, 2022 1 min read Source/Disclosures Published by: Source: Boonpor J, et al. SO 319. Presented at: European Association for the Study of Diabetes Annual Meeting; Sept. 19-23, 2022; Stockholm (hybrid meeting). Disclosures: Boonpor reports no relevant financial disclosures. ADD TOPIC TO EMAIL ALERTS Receive an email when new articles are posted on Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on . We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact customerservice@slackinc.com. Living a healthier lifestyle can lower the risk for dementia for adults with type 2 diabetes, according to a speaker at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes annual meeting. “We know type 2 diabetes is a risk factor for dementia,” Jirapitcha Boonpor, a PhD student in the School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health at the University of Glasgow, U.K., said during a presentation. “Thirty-five percent of dementia risk is caused by modifiable risk factors. However, the link between lifestyle, type 2 diabetes and dementia is unclear. This study aims to investigate to what extent the association between type 2 diabetes and dementia risk is modified by lifestyle.” Adults with type 2 diabetes have a lower risk for developing dementia if they live a healthy lifestyle vs. living an unhealthy lifestyle. Data were derived from Boonpor J, et al. SO 319. Presented at: European Association for the Study of Diabetes Annual Meeting; Sept. 19-23, 2022; Stockholm (hybrid meeting). Researchers conducted a prospective cohort study of 445,364 adults in the UK Biobank (mean age, 55.6 years; 54.6% women). Adults self-reported whether they had type 2 diabetes. Incident dementia was identified from inpatient hospital records. Researchers analyzed nine self-reported lifestyle behaviors: TV viewing time, physical activity, sleep duration, smoking status, alcohol consumption and eating processed meat, red meat, fruits and vegetables, and oily fish. An unhealthy risk score was calculated, with a score of zero defined as having the healthiest lifestyle and a score of seven defined as having the least healthy lifestyle. The cohort was followed for a median of 9.1 years. Adults with type 2 diabetes had a higher risk for developing dementia than those without diabetes (HR = 1.33; 95% CI, 1.16-1.53; P .0001). Adults who had an unhealthy lifestyle risk score of seven had an increased risk for dementia compared with those with a risk score of zero (HR = 1.65; 95% CI, 1.08-2.52; P = .02). Adults without type 2 diabetes and the healthiest lifestyle had a lower risk for dementia than those without type 2 diabetes and the least healthy lifestyle (HR = 0.72; 95% CI, 0.59-0.9; P = .003). Similarly, adults with type 2 diabetes and the healthiest lifestyle risk score had a decreased risk for dementia compared with adults with diabetes and the least healthy lifestyle (HR = 0.55; 95% CI, 0.38-0.92; P = .003). “Having type 2 diabetes increases the chance of developing dementia, but this could be reduced if people with type 2 diabetes comply with healthy lifestyle behaviors,” Boonpor said. “There is no treatment for dementia, so prevention is more important.” ADD TOPIC TO EMAIL ALERTS Receive an email when new articles are posted on Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on . We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact customerservice@slackinc.com.

Faces Of Fall: Sept. 21, 2022 | Sports | News-Gazette.com – News-Gazette https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/faces-of-fall-sept-21-2022-sports-news-gazette-com-news-gazette/ McGWIRE ATWOOD St. Joseph-Ogden boys’ golf ➜ His favorite athlete is … Chet Holmgren. ➜ His favorite team is … the Pittsburgh Steelers. ➜ If he could attend any one sporting event in person, it would be … the Masters. ➜ His favorite sport besides golf is … basketball. CONNOR CLIFTON Champaign Central boys’ golf ➜ His favorite athlete is … Justin Thomas. ➜ His favorite team is … the Kansas Jayhawks. ➜ If he could attend any one sporting event in person, it would be … a Final Four. ➜ His favorite sport besides golf is … baseball. MIA HAUSMANN Tuscola volleyball ➜ Her favorite athlete is … Alyssa Williams. ➜ Her favorite team is … Illinois. ➜ If she could attend any one sporting event in person, it would be … the World Cup. ➜ Her favorite sport besides volleyball is … track and field. TUCKER WILLIAMSON Monticello boys’ soccer ➜ His favorite athlete is … Joey Chestnut. ➜ His favorite team is … Chelsea F.C. ➜ If he could attend any one sporting event in person, it would be … an Olympic gold-medal handball match. ➜ His favorite sport besides soccer is … badminton.

Metaverse Banking To Become Industry Trend – ICBC Macau CEO – Macau Business https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/metaverse-banking-to-become-industry-trend-icbc-macau-ceo-macau-business/ Metaverse banking is likely to become a dominant model of the next generation, as the combination of virtual reality online banking and offline physical outlets will be the future development direction, Niu Jianjun, Executive Director & CEO of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Macau) Limited (ICBC Macau) indicated today (Wednesday). The remarks were made during a keynote speech “Accelerating Financial Accessibility With Tech in Asia” in the BEYOND International Science and Technology Innovation Expo (BEYOND Expo 2022) commenced in the metaverse today. The ICBC Macau CEO stressed that AI technology will bring a subversive change to the banking industry in the future, and the “immersive experience” provided by Metaverse will present a completely different banking service format to the next generation of young people. “The banking service of the future, will be like the newspapers in Harry Potter, which is a combination of the virtual world and the real world,” Mr. Niu said. Also, the CEO noted that all banks now provide website services, online banking and call centers, while the development of Fintech can integrate these functions into a virtual bank, and people can transcend the limitations of time and space in the virtual space. “The technology behind Fintech is much the same, the focus should be put on how we can use these advanced digital technologies to enhance the customer experience and increase the efficiency of business processing,” Mr. Niu added. Meanwhile, another speaker at the keynote speech, Hong Kong HSBC Chief Executive Luanne Lim, indicated that the pandemic has accelerated the development of fintech and boosted the demand for digital banking services. At the same time, Michael Fei, PAOB CE Designate expressed at the event that it has become a clear trend that banks and financial institutions are moving to the cloud to conduct transactions and work.  The BEYOND Expo 2022 organised by the Macau Technology General Association, commenced in the metaverse today and will last until Sept 27, featuring over 500 exhibitors in various fields from technology to banking to construction and drawing more than 4,000 start-ups and 20,000 attendees.  Chinese tech giants, including Alibaba Group, Huawei and SenseTime, joined the event, which is divided into three zones, namely, healthcare, sustainability and consumer tech. Macau firms — including Bank of China Macau Branch, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Macau), MacauPass, and others — also take part in the event. Compared with the inaugural edition held at the Venetian Macao in the city last December, the latest edition eliminates the brick-and-mortar element and fully embraces the metaverse—virtual exhibition and conference halls of the event are set up in the metaverse, in which exhibitors can customise their booths and attendees are represented by avatars.

Looking For One Of The Best 2-In-1 Laptop Experiences In 2022? Meet The Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360! – Gadgets Now https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/looking-for-one-of-the-best-2-in-1-laptop-experiences-in-2022-meet-the-samsung-galaxy-book2-pro-360-gadgets-now/ If you are in the market looking for a new laptop – the options are way too many. You will find laptop options that are either performance focused for heavy-duty tasks or gaming-focused. And then, some laptop options cater to the productivity-focused business-oriented audience. There are hardly any options that are designed to provide you with a complete experience suited for all your needs. Samsung saw an opportunity to create a product that could address all the needs of different users. Being a house of innovation, Samsung launched some of the finest laptops available in the market right now, and a perfect example of this is the latest Galaxy Book2 series. Launched this year, the Samsung Galaxy Book2 series caters to every need a laptop user can demand. Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 in the series is a fine example of style meeting substance. Encased in a premium finish & an even classier Burgundy colour, the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 is a 2-in-1 laptop that fuels creativity & productivity. Power by the 12th Gen Intel Core processor, this thin and light 2-in-1 laptop supports S Pen. Too many features make the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 a one-of-a-kind laptop available in the market right now – let’s discuss some of these features that make it truly exceptional. Aesthetic design – much more than meets the eye! The first thing you will notice about the Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 is the thin and stylish design with a robust hinge built for 2-in-1 creativity. The laptop can be used traditionally with its clamshell design, or it can be folded all the way to the back – it all depends on how you make the most of it. The S Pen can be used whether in the 360-flip mode or directly while working in the standard laptop mode. The S Pen has enhanced low latency so that you can write and draw smoothly like a real pen. For the power user, the laptop has many ports, such as one Thunderbolt 4 port, two USB Type-C ports, a MicroSD Multi-media Card Reader & a headphone out/Mic-in Combo. A praiseworthy display! Once you open the laptop, you are greeted with a vibrant display. A 2-in-1 laptop is all about a great display, and the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 rocks a solid one. Thanks to an FHD AMOLED touch screen, the display on the Samsung laptop comes to life. The impressive colour volume of 120% and a brighter display allows you to see more vivid colours and deeper contrasts. The Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 display brings out the details in every frame for an amazing viewing experience—whether you’re working, gaming, or watching your favourite show. A powerhouse of a device – Intel Inside! Once you start using the laptop, you realise how incredibly powerful the device is. The latest Intel 12th Gen processors are all about impressive performance and efficiency & the latest Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 makes full use of the latest Intel Evo Platform. The processor provides a giant leap in performance in the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 as it delivers amazing graphics, superfast LPDDR5 RAM, and an advanced cooling system to keep you running cool and quiet as you blaze through intense workloads. Power through the day with exceptional battery life! Another interesting aspect of this laptop you will notice is the amazing battery life. Laptops usually attract a lot of flak due to their limited battery life. But the Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 is here to change this mindset. Galaxy Book Pro2 360 packs a powerful 68Wh battery which can get you up to 21 hours of video playback on a single charge. Longer battery life aside, the laptop also provides exceptional charging speeds. Now the Galaxy Book Pro2 360 can top up 40% in just 30 minutes with its universal fast charger. This level of fast charge is here to change how you use a laptop completely. Say hello to the Galaxy Ecosystem! What makes this laptop truly unique is that it can communicate with your Galaxy smartphone, Galaxy Tab, Galaxy buds & Galaxy Watch seamlessly. This unique proposition of a connected ecosystem unlocks a new level of productivity that was impossible earlier. Here’s everything you can do with the Galaxy ecosystem. Double the screen, double the productivity: You can easily connect a Galaxy Tab wirelessly to your Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 and use it as a Second screen. This way, you can duplicate or extend and instantly work across both devices with Samsung Multi Control. Quick Share: Sharing files between your phone and laptop can be troublesome. Thanks to the Quick Share feature, you can now conveniently and wirelessly send files across Samsung Galaxy devices. Phone = laptop: Ever wondered how easy it would have been if you could use all the apps on your phone right from your laptop? Stop wondering, as Samsung brings this feature to the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 laptop. With Link to Windows, you can use smartphone apps on the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360. You can enjoy a seamless inter-device experience for ultimate convenience. Be video-call ready. Anytime! Anywhere! When it comes to the camera department, laptops are not famous for their impressive quality. For years, laptop webcams have had a patchy reputation, but with the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360, you can make a great impression on video calls. The FHD camera with Auto framing always makes you look your best. Auto Framing puts you right at the center of the call, whether you’re in front of the camera or not. You can get a wide-angle perspective, remove distractions, and Intelligent Noise Cancelling comes standard. Moreover, the laptop has audio by AKG and Dolby Atmos. All the features listed above are just the tip of the iceberg. Numerous other features make the user experience of using a Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 a fine one, like the Wi-Fi 6E support, Secore-core for the added protection, Bixby and SmartThings support – the list is endless. If you wish to bring home the Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360, then the timing couldn’t have been better. The premium Samsung laptop comes with many interesting festive offers. Depending on your workflow, you can opt for different screen sizes as the laptop comes in two sizes – a compact 13-inch model and a 15-inch model. Apart from the classy colour option of Burgundy, there’s a sleek-looking silver colour option and an eye-catchy Graphite colour option. Click here to know more & buy now! Disclaimer: The article has been produced on behalf of Samsung by the Times Internet’s Spotlight team. FacebookTwitterLinkedin

CoinShares’ HAL Automated Trading Could Revolutionize Retail Crypto Investing – Cryptonews https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/coinshares-hal-automated-trading-could-revolutionize-retail-crypto-investing-cryptonews/ Image credit: CoinShares London-based digital asset manager CoinShares has introduced an algorithmic trading platform called HAL that could revolutionize retail crypto investing.   In a press release, CoinShares revealed that HAL is the only product of its kind that allows retail crypto traders “easy access” to strategies designed or curated by professionals with proven experience in crypto trading.  HAL, which stands for Heuristically programmed ALgorithmic computer, will allow crypto traders to use advanced trading strategies designed by the CoinShares’ quant team to effortlessly trade cryptocurrencies non-custodially on their existing centralized exchange accounts for a fee of 19.9 euros (around $19.8) per month.  Strategies currently available include four quantitative investment styles, with thematic index strategies planned. HAL is currently available to connect to Binance, FTX, Kraken, and Bitfinex.  The strategies can be used in trading Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), BNB, Polygon (MATIC), Ripple (XRP), Cardano (ADA), Solana (SOL), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), and Dogecoin (DOGE) on these exchanges.   Jean-Marie Mognetti, CEO of CoinShares, said in an interview with Forbes that the robo-advisor platform has been designed to provide help for retail traders as opposed to current platforms with complex marketplace offerings targeting advanced traders with bots designed by non-professional traders.  “It’s for every consumer who has an exchange account with an exchange in Europe who wants to be able to have a bit more risk-based approach to their trading environment,” Mognetti said HAL is CoinShares’ first retail investor-facing product. However, the asset manager is confident its track record with institutional investors where it has weathered several bear markets will win the confidence of the retail market.  “We have been able to navigate several bear markets with success. Ultimately people tend to trust people who stand by them in the long run, so CoinShares is one of these entities in the crypto ecosystem, which has been there for a very, very long time and we’ll continue to be there for a very, very long time,” Mognetti added.  Automated trading could be the new trend in crypto  HAL could be at the helm of a revolution to provide retail crypto traders with safe-to-use algorithmic trading services. Robo-advisors have been a commonplace thing in the stock market long before now, but are not so common in the crypto market.  According to Charles Schwab, a financial services company with its own robo-advising product, robo-advisors will manage an estimated $460 billion worth of assets by the end of 2022. Should HAL deliver on its promises, it could replicate the success of stock robo-advisors in the crypto market.

U.S. Department Of Education Awards Project SERV Grants To Fisk University And Coppin State University | U.S – US Department Of Education https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/u-s-department-of-education-awards-project-serv-grants-to-fisk-university-and-coppin-state-university-u-s-us-department-of-education/ Today, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) announced Project School Emergency Response to Violence (Project SERV) grants to two additional Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that experienced bomb threats earlier this year. Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, and Coppin State University in Baltimore, Maryland were awarded over $60,000 and $130,000 in Project SERV grants respectively. Coppin State University (CSU) will use its Project SERV funds to hire a full-time counseling psychologist, who will provide both individual and group counseling services. The funds will also go toward response training for all students, staff, and faculty as well as resources to cope with the stress and the anxiety that such events can trigger. Fisk University will use its Project SERV funds to boost campus safety, including security guard resources and equipment. Fisk will also use its funds for student services, such as a forum providing students with resources and information on how to cope with stress and anxiety, a workshop on how to respond after a crisis or trauma, in addition to other services needed to restore confidence and reduce anxiety among students. Additional institutions that have also been awarded Project SERV grants include; Tougaloo College, Fayetteville State University, and Southern University Law Center. The Department expects additional grants to be awarded in the coming weeks and continues to work with additional HBCUs impacted to support them in the grant application process and in expediting applications once received. At this week’s 2022 National HBCU Week Conference, the Department and its partners are also providing technical assistance on Project SERV applications and sharing best practices through workshops and networking opportunities. “We’re pleased that these institutions have been able to receive the aid they deserve to ensure the well-being and safety of their students, staff, and faculty, said Dietra Trent, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity through Historically Black Colleges and Universities. “The Biden-Harris Administration is here to support our HBCU community, and we will continue working to promote policies and practices that fortify their strength and advance educational equity, excellence, and economic opportunity through these institutions.” Project SERV provides short-term funding for local educational agencies and institutions of higher education that have experienced a violent or traumatic incident to assist in restoring a safe environment conducive to learning. The Biden-Harris Administration continues to take a whole-of-government approach to support HBCU campuses. The Administration has delivered nearly $6 billion in cumulative investments to HBCUs, including: $3.7 billion through the American Rescue Plan and other COVID relief; $1.6 billion in capital finance debt relief; and $500 million in grant funding to help HBCUs and other MSIs expand capacity.

Electrifying Icons: How This Company Is Using Brand Equity To Get Ahead Of The Pack – Marketscreener.com https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/electrifying-icons-how-this-company-is-using-brand-equity-to-get-ahead-of-the-pack-marketscreener-com/ EQS-News: EV Technology Group Electrifying Icons: How This Company Is Using Brand Equity To Get Ahead Of The Pack 21.09.2022 / 14:00 CET/CEST The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. In one of Top Gear’s best-performing episodes, host Jeremy Clarkson laments the downsides of electric vehicles. His biggest criticism? Electric cars just aren’t as fun as conventional gas-fueled vehicles. And while the electric vehicle (EV) field has expanded exponentially in the eight years since the episode was dropped, some of Clarkson’s critiques remain relevant. Much of the EV market is saturated with futuristic-looking designs that feature almost identical engine technology. Most people are not familiar with these brands and the market doesn’t seem particularly enamored by the futuristic designs on offer. Car fanatics still gravitate toward classic designs that ooze seduction. And so, EV adoption is slower than some hoped, and many companies trying to pave the way are seeing varied results. EV Technology Group Ltd. (NEO: EVTG) (OTCQB: EVTGF) (EV Technology Group or the Company) is entering the market with a different strategy. It isn’t looking to build a car that looks like it belongs in 2050; instead, it is looking to iconic brands that want a ticket to the electric future. The Company’s vision is to champion the joy of motoring and clearly understand that customers’ attachment to existing brands does not hinder electrification. EV Technology Group’s strategy is built around the concept of acquiring the brand equity of beloved brands and working with the brand to electrify existing models. The Power Of Sleeping Beauties EV Technology Group’s strategy has drawn inspiration from Louis Vuitton CEO Bernard Arnault. Arnault would acquire what he called “sleeping beauty” brands like Dior and catapult them into a new era of success. Instead of creating a whole new brand that customers were unfamiliar with and unattached to, Arnault banked on the customer’s existing love and loyalty to the brand. LVMH has seen wild and continued success from this model. EV Technology Group is finding its own sleeping beauties in the automotive space. It is acquiring beloved car brands that are no longer in production and thoughtfully reactivating them in EVs. EV Technology Group’s first brand is already proving powerful. In July, the Company entered a definitive agreement with the shareholders of MOKE International Ltd. to acquire up to 100% of the company with the intention of introducing Electric MOKE to the global market. Why MOKE? MOKE is an iconic brand with a cult following. The 1960s-era beach-buggy vehicle has a global reach ranging from the likes of James Bond movies to countless celebrities and brands that want to be associated with the classic style. Since the acquisition, EV Technology Group has made MOKE into an EV, showed it at the Cannes Film Festival and most recently distributed it at luxury department store Le Bon Marche Rive Gauche in Paris, and at its flagship retail store named Casa MOKE in Saint-Tropez, France. EV Technology Group is revolutionizing the world of EVs where joy is not compromised for the benefits of electric power. EV Technology Group’s strategy is to build a house of brands, and if its MOKE acquisition is any indication, the company’s future looks bright. EV Technology Group was founded in 2021 with a vision of electrifying iconic brands – and a mission of redefining the joy of motoring for the electric age. By acquiring iconic brands and bringing beloved motoring experiences to the electric age, EV Technology Group is driving the EV revolution forward. Backed by a diversified team of passionate entrepreneurs, engineers and driving enthusiasts, EV Technology Group creates value for its customers by owning the total customer experience — acquiring and partnering with iconic brands with significant growth potential in unique markets, and controlling end-to-end capabilities. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. This post contains forward-looking statements including, but not limited to: the acquisition of MOKE International Ltd and strategy of EV Technology Group. Often, but not always, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “estimated”, “potential”, “open”, “future”, “assumed”, “projected”, “used”, “detailed”, “has been”, “gain”, “planned”, “reflecting”, “will”, “containing”, “remaining”, “to be”, or statements that events, “could” or “should” occur or be achieved and similar expressions, including negative variations. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including those factors discussed under “Risk Factors” in the filing statement and annual information form of the Company. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended.Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except where required by law. There can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Contact Details Dave Gentry dave@redchip.com Company Website https://evtgroup.com/ News Source: News Direct 21.09.2022 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS – a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.eqs-news.com

French Gaming Operator FDJ In Talks To Buy Online Horserace Betting Site ZETurf – Casino.Org News https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/french-gaming-operator-fdj-in-talks-to-buy-online-horserace-betting-site-zeturf-casino-org-news/ Posted on: September 21, 2022, 07:17h.  Last updated on: September 21, 2022, 07:17h. Gaming operator FDJ has a good grasp of the gaming market in France. However, if its latest plan to purchase online horserace betting platform ZETurf moves ahead, it’s going to control an even larger stake. Horses come around a bend at Chantilly against the backdrop of Les Grande Ecuries in France. Horseracing continues to be big business in the country, and gaming operator FDJ is hoping to gain a part of the market share. (Image: Racing Post) The incumbent gambling operator wants to strengthen its position in sports betting via the acquisition of ZEturf. The latter is the second-largest player in online horse racing, following closely behind Paris Mutuel Urbain (PMU). FDJ has a virtual monopoly on physical sports betting through its state-granted license. On the other hand, PMU controls most of the horserace betting market. FDJ hopes to take over. ZETurf Gets New Legs ZEturf controls just 20% of the market share of horse betting in France. With its subsidiary ZEbet, which is beginning to make a name for itself in online sports betting, the group registered €800 million (US$793 million) in bets in 2021 for a turnover of €150 million (US$148.7 million). That’s way off the revenue of FDJ, which scored more than €10 billion (US$9.91 billion) in bets. Its turnover was €1.21 billion (US$1.24 billion) just from January to June of this year. Part of that goes to the French government, which still owns 20% of the company. FDJ is looking to grab the reigns of a online horse racing betting market that represented €1.5 billion (US$1.48 billion) in bets in 2020 and gross gaming revenue (GGR) of €354 million (US$350.9 million). That was a year-on-year improvement of 31%, according to the latest report from the National Gaming Authority (ANJ, for its French acronym). But ZEturf has a considerable advantage as it doesn’t only operate in the French market. It also has a presence in the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain. Online horse betting represents more than 50% of the group’s B2C bets. The acquisition is now under regulatory review. Should it move forward, FDJ will further entrench its position as a leader in French gambling. As a result, other acquisitions will likely appear on its radar. Resistance Ahead On the Paris Stock Exchange, FDJ’s shares rose almost 2% to €31.93 (US$31.64) at the end of the morning yesterday. That coincided with the company’s announcement of the pending purchase. The improvement also follows the FDJ’s continued growth over the years. That performance led to an IPO in 2019, which opened at €19.90 (US$19.40) for institutional investors. However, the company is now under investigation over its gaming agreement with France. Just over a year ago, the European Commission (EC) opened an investigation into the amount it paid in exchange for exclusive gaming rights. In 2020, FDJ paid €380 million (US$376.5 million) to the French government. In return, it received exclusive rights to control the country’s physical and online lottery. It also received a monopoly on retail sports betting for 25 years. FDJ already had those rights before the agreement, but for an undetermined period. France wanted to change its gambling environment, and the company looked for a way to lock in its presence. However, the EC began to take a closer look at the deal. Last December, it reported that the amount was “substantially lower than a price that could be considered a market price.” As a result, FDJ may have to pay as much as another €1 billion (US$991 million). The EC is still reviewing the case and the FDJ is cooperating. It continues to respond to requests for documentation to show that the transaction was legitimate and fair. There’s currently no timeline for the investigation to conclude.

Broncs Annual Meet A Splashing Success | High School Sports | Jhnewsandguide.com – Jackson Hole News&Guide https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/broncs-annual-meet-a-splashing-success-high-school-sports-jhnewsandguide-com-jackson-hole-newsguide/ The Jackson Hole High School swim and dive team got its annual taste of what the conference and state championships will be like during the two-day Adam Denton Memorial Swimming and Diving Invitational Friday and Saturday at the Teton County Recreation Center. “What a great weekend we had,” Broncs coach Jim Jenkins said. “This was the biggest two-day invitational that we’ve ever had. There were over 140 athletes competing. It was the hardest it’s ever been to make it on to the second day. However, we did have 18 athletes competing on Day 2. I’m really proud of this group of athletes.” Contact Mark Baker at 732-7065 or sports@jhnewsandguide.com.

Timeshare Sellers May Have A Vacation From Minimum Tax—Part 2 – Bloomberg Tax https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/timeshare-sellers-may-have-a-vacation-from-minimum-tax-part-2-bloomberg-tax/ The corporate alternative minimum tax (CAMT) usually does not apply to US corporations whose average three-year applicable financial statement income is less than $1 billion. For example, calendar year corporations generally will be exempt from 2023 CAMT if their average 2020, 2021, and 2022 AFSI does not exceed $1 billion. AFSI is pretax generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) income with certain adjustments, such as the use of tax depreciation. Although the 2021 gross revenue for Hilton Grand Vacations Inc., a major US timeshare seller, was $2.3 billion, the company has average 2020, 2021, and annualized 2022 GAAP net income before taxes of about $100 million. For 2023 and absent a large jump in profitability, HGV’s three-year average GAAP net income before taxes seems poised to fall well below $1 billion for several years. The company does not seem to be a likely candidate for impending CAMT exposure. A similar GAAP-income based size exemption from the CAMT seems available to some of HGV’s competitors, such as Travel & Leisure Inc. and Bluegreen Vacation Holding Corp., which also are vacation ownership intervals-focused corporations traded on the New York Stock Exchange and based in Florida. Travel & Leisure, HGV’s larger competitor, had 2021 GAAP gross revenue of $3.0 billion and first half 2022 annualized 2022 GAAP net income before taxes of $400 million. It had 2021 GAAP net income before taxes of $400 million and a 2020 GAAP loss before taxes of $300 million. Bluegreen had 2021 gross revenue of $800 million, first half 2022 annualized 2022 GAAP net income before taxes of $100 million, 2021 GAAP net income before taxes of $100 million, and a 2020 GAAP loss before taxes of $100 million. Because the CAMT has a very large GAAP net income size threshold, and this threshold is a three-year average that still reflects the adverse effects of Covid-19 on the VOI industry, CAMT is not a concern in the short term. Not all large VOI sellers fall below the $1 billion CAMT net income threshold in the short term. For example, Disney Vacation Resorts’ VOI sales business is owned by Walt Disney Co., which had companywide first half 2022 annualized 2022 GAAP net income of $8.4 billion. For each VOI seller, any commonly controlled corporations required to be aggregated will have to be identified, and the required adjustments from GAAP to AFSI will have to be made, to conclude on whether the CAMT threshold is reached. CAMT Groupwide Computation The CAMT is not a transaction-based tax, a segment-based tax, or a subsidiary-based tax; it applies based on consolidated GAAP statements, making some timeshare companies less likely to be subject to it. It may depend on the existence of a large volume of GAAP income items that are not included in taxable income. Selling VOIs on the installment plan produces significant GAAP-over-tax income. But HGV, Travel & Leisure, Bluegreen, and Disney also have large amounts of resort management fee income and other revenue that don’t produce significant GAAP-over-tax income. Moreover, Disney’s media business and theme park operating business are far larger than their VOI sales business, and those businesses might or might not involve material GAAP-over-tax income. The CAMT does not apply where the regular 21% tax on the consolidated group taxable income exceeds 15% tentative alternative minimum tax on GAAP income. When one business segment with a large volume of GAAP-over-tax items, such as a VOI installment sales business, which is within the same GAAP-consolidated group as other segments that generate a significant volume of income not derived from a GAAP-over-tax excess, such as a resort management fee business, the corporate tax rate in excess of 15% on the latter may offset the effects of the 15% tentative minimum tax rate on the former. This phenomenon is especially important where the GAAP-over-tax excess is attributable to a reversible timing difference, such as VOI installment obligations, and where the comparably GAAP-profitable business, such as a US resort management fee business, continuously has little or no GAAP-over-tax income. In that case, the 15% CAMT tentative tax rate GAAP-over-tax item is based to a significant extent on the growth of that VOI sales business rather than the absolute volume of that VOI sales business. This is because the collection of tax-deferred VOI installment receivables from earlier years’ sales will trigger a CAMT-creditable regular corporate tax and not generate significant GAAP income. By contrast, the 21% regular tax credit against the CAMT for a continuing fully taxed resort management fee or other business is based on that entire current net income. On the other hand, the VOI seller group may have other GAAP-over-tax income items, such as executive stock options and GILTI from foreign subsidiary resort management fees. Subject to future CAMT guidance, the items could cause the timeshare seller to be in a marginal CAMT provision, even where the US VOI sales GAAP-over-tax income, if combined only with the US resort management fee GAAP income would not create any CAMT liability. A comprehensive study of each covered VOI seller would be necessary to project its CAMT liability. Pillar Two OECD Pillar Two could impose a tax with respect to the US group of US-based multinationals if their effective US tax rate was below 15%, even if their net income was below $1 billion. The tax could be collected from the US parent, such as through the qualified domestic minimum tax (QDMT) proposal contained in the president’s FYE 2023 budget or, from the US parent’s foreign subsidiaries, based on the Pillar Two Undertaxed Payment Rule (UTPR). Pillar Two generally would only apply to a US based multinational if gross revenue exceed 750 million euros. The lower OECD Pillar Two gross-revenue-based size threshold likely would reach Disney and also could reach Travel & Leisure, HGV, and perhaps Bluegreen. However, Pillar Two has a temporary exclusion from the UTPR rules that can apply where the US group has subsidiaries in no more than five non-US jurisdictions, and the aggregate book value of group assets located outside the US does not exceed 50 million euros. All those corporations’ ability to blend higher-taxed resort management fee pretax income and other higher-taxed income, with the lower-taxed VOI installment obligation GAAP-over-tax income, would be available under Pillar Two as it is under the CAMT. The Pillar Two tax base computation also favorably excludes timing differences that will reverse within five years. This would exclude a large portion of VOI deferred installment gain from the QDMT and UTPR tax base. Unlike the CAMT, which will be effective in 2023, a US QDMT and foreign UTPRs have not yet been enacted, and their effective date is uncertain. Conclusion Many US corporations with segments generating significant GAAP-over-tax income, like HGV’s VOI sales business, may escape the CAMT in the near future because of the $1 billion AFSI threshold. With respect to the CAMT and Pillar Two, the general application on a group-wide basis may permit other businesses within the group to block the application of the CAMT and Pillar Two to the VOI sales business. One might question as a policy matter whether the VOI installment sale deferral allowed by Section 453(l)(2)(B) should be included in the CAMT tax base, and to the extent such deferral extends beyond five years, should be included as a Pillar Two item—particularly in view of the Section 453(l)(3) deferred corporate tax liability interest charge. Perhaps forthcoming IRS CAMT guidance, such as that issued under the regulatory authority of Section 56A, could provide some CAMT relief on timing differences in general and the VOI installment sales in particular. This article does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc., the publisher of Bloomberg Law and Bloomberg Tax, or its owners. Author Information Alan S. Lederman is a shareholder at Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart, P.A. in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. We’d love to hear your smart, original take: Write for Us

Wall Street CEOs Return To Capitol Hill As Election Looms – 69News WFMZ-TV https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/wall-street-ceos-return-to-capitol-hill-as-election-looms-69news-wfmz-tv/ WASHINGTON (AP) — In what has become an annual ritual, the CEOs of the major U.S. banks will appear in front of Congress this week to sell themselves as shepherds of a helpful industry at a time of financial and economic distress for many Americans. Democrats have called JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Citigroup to Washington to talk about pocketbook issues as households contend with the highest inflation since the early 1980’s and the midterm election looms just weeks away. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, which focus on investment banking, will not testify this time. Instead, the CEOs of three new banks will testify: Andy Cecere of U.S. Bank, William Demchak of PNC Financial and William Rogers Jr. of Truist. Each of them run “super regionals,” banks that are huge in their own right, with thousands of branches and hundreds of billions in assets, but are dwarfed in size by JPMorgan, BofA, Citi and Wells. While billed as a hearing on everyday finances, the CEOs are also likely to face difficult political questions with Washington in the midst of an election year. Republicans are almost certain to use the opportunity to ask about the tracking of gun store sales as well as whether banks should weigh in on hot-button social issues. Democrats are likely to ask about Wall Street’s lending to oil and gas companies, racial and wealth equity issues, CEO pay and overdraft fees. Many Americans still remember bailing out the banking industry nearly 15 years ago, so the bank CEOs typically use the annual platform to sell themselves as a force for good. The biggest banks were the primary conduit for the Paycheck Protection Program loans to small businesses. Many banks waived overdraft or late fees for borrowers during the worst of the pandemic and subsequently cut back on their collection of overdraft fees. The most prominent example was Bank of America cutting its overdraft fee from $35 to $10. “The work we do at JPMorgan Chase matters, in good times, and particularly in tough times,” said Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan, in prepared remarks. “We finance Americans’ ambitions with loans for homes, autos, and growing a small business, and provide valuable products and services to more than half of American households.” Eager to avoid the political headache that comes with being labeled as part of “Wall Street,” the super regionals are likely to bill themselves as a competitive alternative to the Wall Street megabanks. A series of mergers have brought increased scrutiny for the super regionals. U.S. Bank is currently in the process of buying MUFG Union Bank, the U.S. consumer banking arm of the Japanese banking giant. Truist resulted from the merger of SunTrust and BB&T and PNC bought the consumer banking franchise of Spanish bank BBVA. “We are a responsible provider that works for American consumers and the economy as a whole,” Cecere of U.S. Bank said in his prepared remarks. The CEOs will appear in front of the House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday, and return to testify in front of the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Back Home: Dana Anghel Returns From Paris To “reverv” Her Life And Open A Healthy Restaurant In Bucharest – Romania-Insider.com https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/back-home-dana-anghel-returns-from-paris-to-reverv-her-life-and-open-a-healthy-restaurant-in-bucharest-romania-insider-com/ Dana Anghel became a manager at 24, landed a dream job in Paris, and travelled around the world. In other words, just as she says it, her life has been “a flavorful journey.” But as things started to change, as she started to change and really develop her true self, she realized she needed a “reverv.” So she decided to return to Bucharest and start her own business here: a healthy comfort food restaurant named verv.kitchen. Dana Anghel was born and raised in Bucharest but left the Romanian capital to continue her studies in France and get her MBA at the leading business school INSEAD. That happened in 2012 when Dana was 26, and things just got better and better for her since then. She got a dream job in Paris, travelled to about 50 countries & territories, and explored and discovered lots of new things, tastes and cultures. “I am who I am today & I came back to Romania thanks to the French values I now adopted as mine, while keeping my Romanian core and heart,” she told Romania-insider.com. As her life changed and she accumulated more & various experiences, so did her values and needs. So she decided to “reverve” her life (as she calls it) and focus more on having a healthy lifestyle. Add to that her passion for cooking, and the decision to open a healthy restaurant becomes a rather natural next step. As for why she decided to start the business back home, she said: “I came back to Bucharest to give back.” Once the business plan was drafted, the moving back to Bucharest was done, and the perfect location was found, Dana opened verv.kitchen. The healthy comfort food restaurant is located in Bucharest and required an investment of roughly EUR 300,000. Most of the investment was from personal savings, but the support from family & friends helped a lot too. The 60-seat restaurant has a garden and an indoor area and serves both food and drinks. The menu changes every month, based on the product seasonality, and covers many dishes, including sweets and desserts. Plus, clients can also try the verv.kitchen goodies at home, as delivery is also an option. And the story is to be continued, as Dana told Romania Insider, with business plans including a few more locations in Bucharest and even a possible expansion outside the capital city, a small shop, and more goodies on the menu. Discover the full story from the interview below. To begin with, tell us a bit about yourself. You have visited & discovered many interesting places around the world. What countries/cities have you travelled to, and what was the most exciting experience?  My life has been a flavorful journey.  I was born & raised in Bucharest, and I had the classical start of a child from a regular family: public school next door, a grandmother figure coming to stay with me after school, being force-fed meat because “it is healthy” (I really never liked it, to be honest), being compared with all the other kids (for my family, I had to be the best all the time).  My passion for cooking started during my adolescence, more out of the urgent need to eat something that felt good than out of creativity. After a few “fires in the pan”, I started making recipes that were more creative & fun, and step by step, I discovered that I loved cooking.  During university, I felt that I had something to prove & so I put my other hobbies on hold in order to focus on developing my professional knowledge. I was the first in my class for 3 years in a row just to show my family that I was better than what they said about me; and afterwards, because the projects & classes were super interesting, I took extra evening classes, got some internships & eventually landed a job in management consulting during my 4th year in university.  A big thank you goes to the people who supported me during this time; they may not know it, but my managers & colleagues who saw my potential got me where I am today – I had little self-esteem back then & I usually overcompensated by sleeping an average of 5 hours/night and working or spending time with friends for the other 19 hours of the day – anything that would bring me knowledge.  “The rest is history”, as the saying goes. I became a manager at 24, went to get my MBA at INSEAD at 26, got the dream job in Paris & travelled around the world.  I developed my true self between the ages of 26 & 33. INSEAD re-ignited the fire of creativity in me & the work projects as an internal consultant and afterwards as a director helped me find self-esteem & self-worth. I saw myself through the eyes of cultures in which my nature was appreciated: they liked my kindness while valuing the fact that I was an equitable yet tough manager.  I travelled to only about 50 countries & territories (mostly work-related & spending a few weeks in each place), so I dare say that at some point, I will restart travelling.  The most interesting experience for me was in Paris, the city that I still consider home. I did not want to live in Paris, my plan was to stay in Singapore. But some things in life cannot be controlled by us & it looks like Paris wanted me – and for good reason. The Parisian culture is in many aspects the opposite of the culture in Bucharest. This alone made me develop a more well-rounded personality while opening my eyes to how amazing diversity is for the world. I had an extreme culture shock in Paris (for the more spiritual amongst you, I went through a “dark night of the soul” there). I learned modesty, open-mindedness & self-expression.  I am who I am today & I came back to Romania thanks to the French values I now adopted as mine, while keeping my Romanian core and heart.  You lived and worked in Paris – when did you leave Romania and why? What made you come back?  I left Romania to get my MBA – I wanted a school that was top-10 in the world & I chose the “funky” one. I left in 2012 when I was a little mad at the opportunities Bucharest had to offer me from a professional perspective & I was outright furious at the medical system.  After passing through Fontainebleau & Singapore, I was overqualified for most jobs that were both in my domain & in Romania. I went to Paris.  Travelling around the world opened my mind. And as I became more & more Parisian, I adopted French values. There is 1 point that struck a chord and started a process in me that led to my return to my hometown.  “When you are young, society invests in you. Then you give back. Afterwards society invests in you again.”  I came back to Bucharest to give back. I can only give back from my heart & I can only offer what I have. I have a lot of knowledge on healthy experiences, including healthy food, sleep, therapy, hormones. My natural response to struggling with unhealthy patterns & habits is to learn.  verv started with a healthy restaurant because I also like cooking. Why did you choose to bet on a restaurant with vegan food? What motivated you?  verv.kitchen is a healthy comfort food restaurant. Healthy for the people & healthy for the planet. The concept is based on what I feel & hope for the people of the city in which I grew up.  The idea of the place is to offer a safe space in the middle of the city: a peaceful & pleasant environment, safe to bring your true self (really, you can come if your pyjamas if you like), safe to eat & drink at.  Since you asked about veganism, the food & drink part is simple. What is healthy in the context of what Bucharest has to offer (because the environment of our visitors is important)? – vegan is healthy Many people eat meat every day in Bucharest. Even for non-vegans & non-vegetarians, eating like this can quickly become unhealthy. An alternative is needed.  The fact that more & more people are becoming vegetarian & vegan these days helps our journey. We are here to offer knowledge & a pleasant atmosphere. We give the recipes to everyone who asks in the hope that this will grow the consumption of healthy food; I will just create new recipes once other restaurants start using the ones we already have.  From an environmental perspective, I will not develop the topic much – if anybody is interested: google “meat & dairy pollution”.  Interestingly, there was an adaptation that we had to make that I initially didn’t expect. The population of vegetarians in Bucharest seems to be much higher than the vegan population. Our brunch has 4 “omelettes”: 2 vegan & 2 vegetarian (free range eggs, separate pan, totally separate from the vegan products – allergies to eggs are serious). Our customers requested vegetarian brunch options, probably because brunch is a time to sit around the table with everyone. – gluten-free is healthy  So many people in Bucharest eat heavily processed white flour products. While gluten as a protein is not bad, that form of eating is leading to more & more allergies and intolerances. There are amazing recipes that do not focus on white flour. – zero-added sugar is healthy  I’m a sugar addict. I do not wish that on anyone. I hope for a world in which we do not make our kids addicted to sugar anymore.  What followed after you decided to start on this path? How did you find the perfect place for the restaurant, and what was the investment? How did you cover the costs?  Firstly, I made a business plan. Secondly, I moved back to Bucharest together with my former partner, Cedric. And thirdly, we started searching for the perfect location.  Finding the place was the first adventure. It took about 6 months from when we started searching & until we signed a lease. There were 3 instrumental ingredients in finding the location: Cedric’s help, the right real estate agent, and the support from friends & family.  The investment wa...

Here Is The Latest Pac-12 Conference Sports News From The Associated Press – Valdosta Daily Times https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/here-is-the-latest-pac-12-conference-sports-news-from-the-associated-press-valdosta-daily-times/ UNDATED (AP) — The College Football Playoff is built to expand. While only three games determine a champion, the current postseason format is seven games: Two semifinals, a championship game and four marquee bowls. To convert a four-team playoff into 12 requires four more games and about three more weeks. Expanding for the 2024 and ’25 seasons largely hinges upon whether the already-scheduled semifinals and championship game can be pushed back. The NFL schedule will play a big role, too. College football fans should be prepared to watch playoff games on weeknights. UNDATED (AP) — The early-season starts by the four Pacific Northwest schools would have had all the hallmarks of an exciting race in the Pac-12’s North Division. If only the North Division still existed. The current season marks the first time that the two teams with the highest winning percentage in conference games will meet in the championship game. The Pac-12 decided to do away with divisions after the NCAA Division I Council changed the rule requiring conferences to have divisions to conduct championship games. Washington, Washington State, and Oregon State are all off to 3-0 starts, while Oregon is 2-1. The Huskies and Ducks pulled off significant wins last weekend, with Washington defeating No. 11 Michigan State 39-28 and 25th-ranked Oregon beating No. 12 BYU 41-20. TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona State ended the Herm Edwards experiment a day after an ugly home loss. The Sun Devils are hoping the change will help them straighten out a season that still has nine games left. Interim coach Shaun Aguano will be at the helm of this transition. Arizona State’s former running backs coach has deep ties to football in the Grand Canyon State. Aguano was one of the most decorated high school coaches in Arizona history and had been on Edwards’ staff since 2019. BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — The Colorado Buffaloes are off to an 0-3 start for the first time since 2012. The program has tumbled to the depths where director of athletics Rick George felt it necessary to acknowledge in a statement that the Buffaloes have been disappointing this fall. Third-year coach Karl Dorrell is feeling the pressure as he tries to turn around a program that lost quite a few players to the transfer portal. The Buffaloes are a 21-point underdog this weekend when they host UCLA at Folsom Field. UNDATED (AP) — Three weeks into the season and there are still more than few teams ranked in The Associated Press college football poll ranked that have a lot to prove. No. 4 Michigan is the prime example. The Wolverines have scored at least 50 in each of their first three games, but those opponents are a combined 0-9 against other FBS teams. But where it is ranked is based more on faith than accomplishments. Reality check rolls through the rankings this week, looking for mystery teams. UNDATED (AP) — Four running backs rushed for at least 200 yards in the Football Bowl Subdivision over the weekend. Eastern Michigan’s Samson Evans carried 36 times for 259 yards and a touchdown against Arizona State. UNLV’s Aidan Robbins ran for 227 yards and three TDs against North Texas. UAB’s Dewayne McBride had 223 yards and four TDs against Georgia Southern. Minnesota’s Mohammed Ibrahim had 202 yards and three touchdowns against Colorado. Ohio State scored 77 points for the third time since 2016. Georgia has allowed seven points or less in each of its first three games for the first time since 1954. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Facebook, Beware: The Metaverse Is Flat – The Washington Post https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/facebook-beware-the-metaverse-is-flat-the-washington-post-2/ In a few weeks’ time, Mark Zuckerberg will announce a new virtual reality headset from Meta Platforms Inc. Embarrassingly, we already know what it will look like. A video of the purported device has been doing the rounds online after someone found one in a hotel room. Yet none of that should matter because whizzy VR headsets are becoming too much of a distraction, and aren’t that integral to the early growth of the so-called metaverse, a 3D version of the internet that many see as its next chapter. It turns out flat screens are doing the job just fine.  While Facebook has sold about 14 million VR headsets to date, millions more have visited the metaverse through regular 2D screens like the one you’re looking at right now, via apps like Roblox and Epic Games Inc.’s Fortnite. The trend is likely to continue for several years yet as VR headsets take time to slim down in size and price. That puts Zuckerberg in an awkward position. He wants you to buy Meta’s headset, known as the Quest, because that gives him greater control over whatever metaverse marketplace he builds down the line. And the reason is clear: For years he’s been beholden to the rules of app gatekeepers Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Apple Inc., paying their fees and following edicts such as the App Tracking Transparency prompt that will knock about $14 billion off Facebook’s ad sales this year. It would be a painful, almost unthinkable step for Facebook to make its metaverse platform Horizon Worlds available on app stores. But perhaps there is another way. Facebook could allow people to visit the platform via a simple browser. Google’s Stadia uses a service called cloud-streaming that lets people play large video games via Chrome. It’s an expensive process, requiring powerful servers, but it could help Facebook circumvent Apple and Google while drumming up a flood of curious new users. Meta’s technology chief Andrew Bosworth hinted on Twitter earlier this year that a web-based version was in the cards, but a company spokeswoman declined to provide further details. “It’d be a 3D version of Facebook that looks like a game, but you’d browse it from your desktop,” said Sam Huber, CEO of metaverse property startup LandVault. “It could become the most popular game in the world.” Even modest popularity would reassure investors who are likely to balk at how slowly the company’s headset customers are growing: A mere 300,000 people have visited Horizon Worlds since it launched last October. You can only access the platform via a Quest 2 headset. “Facebook seems to be operating from a sunk cost fallacy,” said Wagner James Au, an author and blogger who has covered the metaverse for more than a decade. “There’s no data to support VR headsets as being the mass market device.”   In fact, flat versions of the metaverse are far more popular than 3D ones. About three-quarters of Roblox’s 52 million daily visitors are on a phone, while the vast majority of people using Microsoft Corp.’s Minecraft or Fortnite are on a desktop computer or mobile. Several metaverse companies have also pivoted to flat. Decentraland, for instance, a virtual world for trading crypto assets, was marketed as a “virtual reality platform” when it launched its initial coin offering in 2017. Yet all its users have since been visiting via a desktop or browser, the company says. VRChat, a platform for socializing with other avatars, was first released as an app for Oculus headsets in 2014. Three years later it produced a desktop version, and was able to attract millions more users. “The issue is price,” said Artur Sychov, the founder of metaverse startup Somnium Space, whose users mostly visit on a browser. Meta’s Quest 2 costs about $400, while other rival headsets can exceed $800. Going into a virtual world on a screen is actually a decent proxy for “real” VR and certainly more engaging than a regular video call, as I discovered when Sychov took me on a tour of the Somnium universe during our Zoom meeting. Since I wasn’t technically with him as an avatar, Sychov held a virtual tablet in front of him with a “camera” that let me follow his movements around the space. Watching him point to art in a virtual gallery and moving through colorful forests, even on my laptop screen, was enough to help me imagine myself being there. Until now, Meta’s marketing has focused on the immersive benefits of VR headsets, creating the feeling that you’re really with work colleagues or inside a fitness class. But that misses the true selling point of the metaverse — incentives to create new experiences — and you don’t need a VR headset for that. To lure more people into its virtual platforms, Meta needs to focus less on building cutting-edge headsets, and more on emulating metaverse pioneers like Roblox, Fortnite and Minecraft. Almost a quarter of Roblox’s own users have created millions of games for the platform, producing a marketplace for commerce as well as fun. Nearly all its content is user-generated, just like TikTok or YouTube, and that is a big part of its attraction. Zuckerberg similarly must turn his metaverse into a place where creators can thrive. Facebook’s current push to test tools for creators feels late, given how far ahead the other pioneers are. Concentrating too much on immersive tech is putting the cart before the horse. Meta needs to make its metaverse both accessible and an attractive place for creators. Going “flat” would be a good start. More From Bloomberg Opinion: • Squid Hit Shows Nintendo’s More Than Nostalgia: Reidy & Culpan • Can Apple Be a Privacy Hero and an Ad Giant?: Parmy Olson • Don’t Expect Drones to Air-Drop Your Packages: Thomas Black (Corrects 3rd paragraph with figure for impact on Facebook’s ad sales.) This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Parmy Olson is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering technology. A former reporter for the Wall Street Journal and Forbes, she is author of “We Are Anonymous.” More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion ©2022 Bloomberg L.P.

Sony WH-1000XM5 Review: Feature Rich Headset With High Quality Active Noise Cancellation – News9 LIVE https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/sony-wh-1000xm5-review-feature-rich-headset-with-high-quality-active-noise-cancellation-news9-live/ As soon as you place the Sony WH-1000XM5 over your ears, you are transported to a quiet place, with external sounds dampened. You feel like you are in a cocoon, separated from the environment. The isolation is that good. When you start playing the music, the crystal clear quality makes it immediately apparent that these headsets have some next level noise cancellation. When you take the headsets off, there is a rush of sound to the ears that makes you appreciate just how noisy the real world is. There are significant changes in the design compared to the previous version, with the major difference being that the M5 is not collapsible like the M4. As can be expected from Sony audio products, the headphones are feature packed and if you have used Sony TWS earbuds or headsets before, then you should get a head start with the Sony Headphones Connect app. There is no plastic used in the packaging, with Sony using its ‘original blended’ material that incorporates recycled paper. What’s in the box. (Image credit: News9/Aditya Madanapalle) In the box, is the carrying case, with the headphones inside. There is a flap in the middle of the box that contains the short charging cable and the comfortably long aux wire. If your desktop computer does not have a headphone jack towards the front of the cabinet, then it can be difficult for the cable to reach. There is a coupon code for a trial of the 360 Reality Audio service. The user manual and reference guide can be accessed online. Build and design The right earcup has two buttons, one is the power button which doubles as a Bluetooth pairing button on a long press of five seconds. A blue indicator light shows the status of the device. The other button is slightly longer, and is used to toggle noise cancellation and ambient noise modes. Right at the bottom of the left earbud is the aux port. The right earcup has the USB-C port for charging in the same location. Placed all around the headphones are the external microphones. This time, there are eight of them, all of which are used for noise cancellation. The WH-1000XM4 had five microphones, with the information from four of these used for noise cancellation. The end result is that WH-1000XM5 is indeed able to deliver superior noise cancellation. The earcups have a more aerodynamic design compared to the previous iteration of the series, to reduce disturbances from wind. (Image credit: News9/Aditya Madanapalle) The build quality is great, with sturdy buttons and joints. The insides of the earcups are made of soft, synthetic leather and comfortable. The slider has a new stepless design, that allows you to make precise and tiny adjustments as you listen, without having to choose a particular setting and stick to it. While the headphones are light enough to be comfortable for never-ending Dungeons and Dragons sessions or a binge watch, there is a lateral pressure on the ears that introduces some discomfort. This may just be because of how new the headset is though, and it may loosen up with use. The earcups have a more aerodynamic design, that performs better in really windy conditions, ensuring that the noise cancellation does not get jittery because of the noise of the wind interacting with the headphones. The design has been changed considerably from the Sony WH-1000XM4, with the earcups no longer swivelling inwards to reduce the space occupied by the headset. Sony has attempted to compensate for this with a redesigned case, that has creases on the side to make it collapsible. This allows you to squeeze in the case into tightly packed bags (the case has been designed for laptop bags), but the difference isn’t much, and the case is only collapsible when the headphones are not actually in the case. The slider has a new stepless design. (Image credit: News9/Aditya Madanapalle) The right earcup has a capacitive touch surface for controls using gestures. Up and down swipes control the volume, forward and backward swipes allow you to switch tracks. Covering the entire earcup with your hand does something really cool, it not only stops the active noise cancellation, it uses the microphones to let you hear what is happening in the environment better. This is an action just like putting a phone to your ear, and it kicks in instantly, and works well. The collapsible case is designed to easily fit into laptop bags. (Image credit: News9/Aditya Madanapalle) The headset is available in two colours, black and silver. We got the silver one, and this colour is a little worrying. This is just because of the possibility of the faux leather being difficult to clean, and getting stained by dust, sweat and oils. Even immaculately maintained ears and hair can be problematic for use with the silver colour. Note that the there is no ingress protection rating, which would mean that it has a rating of IPXX. This means that the headphones are not really suitable for working out or running, especially if you get really sweaty. If there is one place where the device falls short, then it is dust and water protection. The faux leather on the earcups can easily get dirty. (Image credit: News9/Aditya Madanapalle) Features These headphones are truly feature packed. The features have been developed with a lot of consideration for the various situations in which the headphones are being used. The Headphones Connect app provides a great deal of granular control over which features are active, and how you use the device. The app is essential for multi-device connectivity. The setup process is pretty lengthy, with a lot of options to set up, but that is the understandable cost of providing granular controls to the user. Adaptive Sound Control automatically switches between Noise Cancellation, Ambient Sound and Off depending on what you are doing, such as sitting at home or travelling. The Ambient Sound feature has a volume slider, that lets you decide how much to amplify the sounds from the environment. The headphones can detect four activities, sitting, walking, running and commuting, and provides users with the ability to control what the Adaptive Sound Control does in each scenario. The app can be trained to learn your habits, such as travelling at the same times, for how the Adaptive Sound Control is used. The app provides a number of granular options, and updates the firmware on the headset. (Image credit: News9/Aditya Madanapalle) The most useful feature on the homescreen of the app is a realtime indicator for the sound pressure. There is a handy reference guide for safe levels recommended by the WHO. The Activity tab has a Safe Listening section that lets you monitor sound pressure levels across your listening history. This is an incredibly helpful feature for those who listen to music on low levels on audio equipment, and want to take care of their eardrums. It is not clear if the information is fed back to the Health app, but seems like it is not. If not, this would be a useful addition. The other options available in the app include the Speak-to-Chat toggle, which automatically cuts off the playback when you are talking, an equaliser that changes the settings in the headset itself, a choice between prioritising quality or stability over the Bluetooth connection, and a toggle for the DSEE Extreme feature, which uses AI to upscale the audio quality. There is an option to disable the touch panel gestures entirely, controlling what the NC/AMB button does. It can take a while to finish setting up the app. (Image credit: News9/Aditya Madanapalle) Multi device connection is a bit of a complicated process. First you have to enable multi device connection in the Headphone Connect app. At this point, the headset will repair with the device that it has already paired with. Setting up the connection with multiple devices can be problematic, with the connection dropping off from one of the devices. Switching between the two is not as easy as claimed, though it works most of the time. There is a simple toggle that lets you switch between one of two connected device, but if the connection to either one drops, you have to troubleshoot a bit and reconnect everything all over again. However, if you are listening to music on your laptop and get an incoming call, then the switch to a smartphone and back to the laptop after the call is done is seamless. At times, the app can switch between devices on its own without any user input. We found that removing the headset caused the music to stop, and putting it on caused it to resume playback, but at this point, the connection frequently defaulted to the first device, that was the smartphone. Then it became a fight between the finger and the device, as the app repeatedly switched to the smartphone, even when the laptop was being tapped. At times, the headset can ‘wake up’ and switch to the intended device for the playback when left on its own, and you do not reach out to the smartphone to channel the sound through the right device. The charging cable is pretty short. (Image credit: News9/Aditya Madanapalle) The app offers deep integration with Spotify. When switching playback on the Spotify app between two connected devices, the headphones automatically switches to the device with the playback seamlessly. Switching from the smartphone to the laptop however, is more problematic in this scenario. The NC/AMB button can also be configured to fire up the Spotify app after a single or double tap. The feature works only on the smartphone though, and not the laptop. If you try it when the headset is connected to a laptop, then the app switches the connection to the phone, and starts Spotify playback on the phone. These eccentricities are easy to work with, and the integration is...

Crypto Lawyers Bet Big On Class Action Lawsuits As Market Slides – Bloomberg Law https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/crypto-lawyers-bet-big-on-class-action-lawsuits-as-market-slides-bloomberg-law/ As the Biden administration ramps up its scrutiny of the cryptocurrency industry, a handful of small litigation shops are piling up class actions against crypto exchanges and digital token issuers, pursuing theories that could shape how decades-old laws apply to the emerging field. Led by partners from boutique firms, lawyers have filed 58 securities class actions against crypto companies since 2016, according to a report from the consulting firm Cornerstone Research and Stanford Law School. More than one-third landed in the past two years, and the pace surged in the first six months of 2022, when the industry’s market capitalization fell by $2 trillion before stabilizing. Many of the complaints—targeting entities including Coinbase and Binance, two of the world’s largest crypto exchanges—allege that the trading platforms, coin issuers and other firms are shirking disclosure requirements mandated by federal securities laws and that they should be on the hook for investors’ losses. “There was a crash and a lot of the excesses and abuses started to come to light,” said John Jasnoch, a partner at the firm Scott & Scott, which is litigating seven proposed crypto class actions. It’s still unclear if the litigation will break any broad-ranging legal ground. Most of a rash of crypto class actions filed by two firms in April 2020 ultimately fizzled because of statute of limitations and jurisdictional issues. “In a way, the space has a ‘more money, more problems’ thing going on, where it’s mature enough where it can attract attention from class action lawyers, whether that attention is warranted or not,” said Jason Gottlieb, a Morrison Cohen attorney who maintains a crypto litigation tracker and whose firm is representing defendants in two class actions. “It’s very easy to copy and paste a complaint from one company to another,” he said. Lawsuits that have survived challenges so far include one crafted by Roche Freedman against crypto exchange Bitfinex and affiliate Tether, the company behind the Tether stablecoin. The suit accuses the companies of defrauding investors and causing billions of dollars in losses. In another, a California state judge in early September tentatively rejected blockchain platform Dfinity’s motion to dismiss a proposed securities class action filed by Scott & Scott. A New York federal judge, meanwhile, is weighing whether to greenlight a lawsuit filed by Selendy Gay and Silver Golub. The suit claims that Coinbase facilitated the transactions of 79 digital tokens that it asserts are unregistered securities. If successful, the lawsuit could potentially expose Coinbase to billions of dollars in damages. It would also undercut the company’s stance that no asset traded on its platform is a security, or an “investment contract” in which a person can expect profits to stem from the efforts of others. In a motion to dismiss the complaint, Skadden lawyers representing Coinbase called the action Selendy’s latest attempt to “manufacture” securities laws. But James Cox, a Duke University law professor who reviewed the complaint for Bloomberg Law, said the main allegation—that Coinbase failed to register as a broker-dealer or securities exchange—“has some really strong legs to it.” “The fact that there were scores of different coins would not prevent the class being certified,” Cox said. ‘Cop on the Beat’ The proliferation of private litigation comes as SEC chair Gary Gensler pledges the agency will be a “cop on the beat,” protecting investors in the digital assets arena. The agency brought 20 enforcement actions against crypto companies in 2021—Gensler was confirmed in April of that year—80% over the alleged sale of unregistered securities, Cornerstone found. The SEC then made waves in July by bringing an insider trading action against a former Coinbase employee in which it identified several tokens traded on the platform as securities. Last week, the Biden administration, in a series of reports, called for federal regulators to double down on investigating unlawful practices in the industry. The aggressive push is likely to provide further ammunition for class action attorneys, corporate litigators say. Most litigants, however, are still waiting for courts to resolve foundational questions, such as whether certain cryptocurrencies are akin to traditional stocks and bonds and should comply with the disclosure requirements for securities. Unless new legislation is passed by Congress—a bipartisan regulation bill is now wending its way through the Senate—the decisions could carry huge weight not just for the industry, but how both the SEC and plaintiffs bar move on the issue in the coming years. Gensler has said his agency has authority over “crypto security tokens” and repeatedly pushed for companies to comply with securities laws, claiming that most tokens are securities. Industry advocates have argued the space needs a clearer regulatory framework. Exchanges like Coinbase have repeatedly denied offering securities on their platforms. The law firms taking on these companies aren’t among the well-known plaintiffs’ shops that often represent a proposed class in a conventional securities action, in part because of so few institutional investors in crypto, said Kayvan Sadeghi, a Jenner & Block corporate defense lawyer. That has left a door open for upstart firms to seize lead positions in some of the biggest cases. Other small shops are making big splashes outside the securities realm. Gerstein Harrow, a two-person civil rights firm launched in Los Angeles in 2021, has formed a crypto consumer protection practice. The firm has filed two lawsuits targeting decentralized finance operators, or organizations that remove banks and other third parties from financial transactions. The lawsuits target the crypto company PoolTogether for allegedly operating an illegal lottery and decentralized finance platform bZx for alleged neglect that caused a $55 million theft on its platform. (Both have denied the claims and moved to dismiss them.) “We took the time to study the technology and came to the view that [digital asset operators] were operating in an area where they believe themselves to be free of American legal regulation,” said founding partner Charlie Gerstein. “Second, we noticed that there was a very large volume of money changing hands. That presented an obvious financial opportunity.” Lesser Known Players Firms like Selendy say they’re operating as a “complementary” force to the SEC examiners and other regulators applying broader scrutiny. Launched in 2018 by 10 Quinn Emanuel expats, the firm splits its time between plaintiff and defense matters. Philippe Selendy and Jordan Goldstein, who each have been involved in the firm’s crypto work, helped the Federal Housing Finance Agency win more than more than $25 billion in payouts from Wall Street banks following the mortgage-backed security crisis over a dozen years ago. Goldstein said he sees parallels between that work and his new focus on alleged fraud in crypto. “We saw the opportunity to start a litigation boutique that would be focused on cutting-edge matters that would not just benefit our clients but advance public interest where possible,” he said. “The crypto market seemed to present an opportunity to benefit investors through the legal system.” Roche Freedman, launched in 2019 by attorneys from prominent litigation shop Boies Schiller, has been the most active firm in the crypto class-action space, filing more than a dozen lawsuits and serving as lead counsel in many of them. Some of that work has come amid accusations—fueled by the August leak of secret recordings— that founding partner Kyle Roche worked with crypto startup Ava Labs to target competitors through litigation. Roche denied the allegation but has since left the firm’s class action practice and withdrawn from various cases, according to court records. The firm, meanwhile, is fighting to remain lead counsel in its action against Bitfinex and Tether. The past couple years have demonstrated that the industry is also investing in legal muscle to fight these actions, suggesting many cases, both public and private, face a long road to a resolution. Crypto firm Ripple Labs has aggressively pushed back against the SEC in response to a 2020 enforcement action claiming its XRP token is an unregistered digital asset. The case is one of the key ongoing matters that could help define the broader crypto litigation and regulatory landscape. Despite some of the recent turbulence, Wall Street has shown a greater interest in crypto this year, creating the dual screen of increasing litigation involving an industry still aggressively pushing to become more mainstream. And while the downturn seemed to flatten during the summer, the still-steep losses from the peak mean the crypto class action space figures to get more crowded. There wasn’t a ton of interest from plaintiffs firms in crypto “as long as the market was going up and up,” said Carol Goforth, an Arkansas University law professor. “Now there are plaintiffs coming out of the woodwork and theories coming out of the market.”

U.S. Rents Surge, Leaving Behind Generation Of Younger Workers – Reuters https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/u-s-rents-surge-leaving-behind-generation-of-younger-workers-reuters/ Sept 21 (Reuters) – The cost of renting a home in the United States is surging and young workers have felt the sharpest pain, many of them taking on additional jobs or roommates to afford housing costs. Household rents in 2021 jumped 10% from pre-pandemic levels, according to Census Bureau estimates released last week. The figures came as rising healthcare and rental costs pushed U.S. consumer prices up unexpectedly last month. The data from the bureau’s annual American Community Survey put median U.S. rent at $1,037 in 2021, up from $941 in 2019. Year-over-year increases in the median household rent over the past decade were typically 2% or 3% – one exception was the 5% rise from 2018 to 2019. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Among those affected most are recent college graduates and other new entrants to the workforce, who have little in savings and cannot afford to buy a house. Take Maeve Kozlark, a New York University doctoral student. The 23-year-old spent a year in an apartment in New York City’s Queens borough with a door that wouldn’t lock. Her landlord’s refusal to fix the latch prompted her to make a TikTok video about it. A year and 230,000 views later, the lock was still broken when her landlord announced a $1,000 hike on top of her existing rent of $2,500, Kozlark said. She left the apartment in June. “So began our crazy search to find something that was affordable and not a shoebox, which is pretty impossible,” said Kozlark, who considers herself lucky to have found a new place to rent for $3,300 in Queens. Similar accounts of abrupt price hikes and rental struggles abound across the country. In Austin, Texas, 22-year-old Skyler Lee signed a one-year lease for a two-bedroom apartment for which she and her boyfriend together pay $1950 a month in rent. Within a month of moving in, comparable apartments in the building were being rented out at $2,400 per month – the price Lee expects to pay to renew her lease next year. In Chicago, 23-year-old Kelvin Angelo Cupay decided to forego renting altogether and move in with family in Chicago because he expects to have to fork out close to $1000 in monthly rent, which he cannot afford while searching for a job. On the West Coast, Celine Pun, 21, initially added a housemate to her Santa Barbara apartment to make costs affordable. But she ended up moving out when the $600 in monthly rent for her share of the three-bedroom apartment rose by $50 and some of her five housemates left. “It was a very frustrating process,” Pun said. ‘TRULY UNPRECEDENTED’ Adding to renters’ woes, rents in the professionally-managed sector – usually larger properties operated by management companies – have risen even more dramatically. Annual rent growth there hit 11.6% at the end of 2021 and start of 2022, about three times what it was in the five years prior to the pandemic, according to the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. At the same time, vacancy rates fell to their lowest since 1984 as post-pandemic demand surged. “It’s a truly unprecedented market in a lot of ways,” said Whitney Airgood-Obrycki, a senior research associate at the Harvard housing center. A key factor in all this has been the COVID-19 pandemic. As coronavirus infections spread in 2020, wealthier people went to summer homes or remote areas to avoid infection, leading to vacancies and steep rent reductions in many cities. Now, landlords are making up for those losses while also trying to recoup higher maintenance and insurance costs, said Alexandra Alvarado, marketing director at the American Apartment Owners Association, which represents smaller landlords. With low supply in large cities and rural areas where more people have moved for remote work, landlords can ask prospective tenants to show higher incomes than previously required, she said. Adding to the demand, the millennial generation of mostly those in their thirties continues to live in apartments and is unable to purchase homes, said Michael Keane, adjunct professor of urban planning at New York University. “They’re sort of stonewalling the new rental population that was behind them,” he said. Some minority groups are also likely to feel the pinch more. Black renters are less likely to have parents who own homes – a key source of wealth in the United States — and can help them financially, said Ingrid Gould Ellen, professor of urban policy and planning at New York University. A recent survey by real estate company Zillow found that renters of color are asked to pay higher security deposits and more application fees than their white counterparts. All of this has made for a market where just securing any apartment can be a big deal in some areas. In New York – long known for its competitive and pricey rental market – apartment hunters have reported encountering landlords seeking tenants with an annual salary at least 40 times a month’s rent, or with guarantors who make more than 80 times a month’s rent. Recent college graduate Caleb Seamon, 22, started delivering for Uber Eats alongside his full-time job at a think-tank to afford housing. Even so, Seamon says he only found a New York apartment because one of his roommate’s parents acted as guarantors. “It’s a remarkably hard and privileged thing to be able to get even just the cheapest apartment on the market right now here,” Seamon said. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Rose Horowitch in New Haven, Conn., Editing by Donna Bryson and Deepa Babington Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

NASA’s Artemis 1 Cryogenic Test Demonstration: Watch Live Stream – The Indian Express https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/nasas-artemis-1-cryogenic-test-demonstration-watch-live-stream-the-indian-express/ NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft seen at the Launchpad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center on August 28, 2022. (NASA/Joel Kowsky) NASA is on track to conduct an Artemis 1 cryogenic test demonstration starting on September 21. Since the last failed attempt to launch the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, the space agency’s teams have analysed the seals that were replaced on an interface for the liquid hydrogen fuel line between the rocket and the mobile launcher. During the analysis, engineers found a small indentation on the eight-inch diameter liquid hydrogen seal that may have contributed to the leak during the previous launch attempt. They also updated the procedures for loading cryogenic (supercold) propellants into the rocket. During the cryogenic test, NASA teams will load supercold liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen into the SLS rocket, which will help engineers confirm that the hydrogen leak has been repaired properly. NASA will start streaming the test live on its website at 7.15 AM EDT (4.45 PM IST) on September 21. You can watch it at the link above. The livestream of the test will briefly be interrupted by coverage of the launch of the Expedition 68 crew on Soyuz MS-22 Based on engineering assessments, the new cryogenic loading procedures during tanking will transition temperatures and pressures more slowly to reduce the chances of leaks that can be caused by quick changes in temperature or pressure. Once the team transitions from slow fill phase of filling the liquid hydrogen tank to fast fill, teams will “kick-start” the flow of liquid hydrogen through the engines to begin conditioning or chilling down the engine. The first Artemis 1 launch attempt had to be scrubbed because one of the RS-25 engines wasn’t performing as expected during this stage. After this, both tanks will reach the replenish phase when the pre-pressurisation test will bring the hydrogen tank up to the pressure level it will experience just before launch. During this time, engineers will calibrate the settings for conditioning the engines at a higher flow rate, as they will do during the actual launch. This pressurisation test will help teams validate timelines before launch day. © IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd First published on: 21-09-2022 at 03:35:01 pm