Denton County News Online

Southeast Denton Galvanized In Call To Action Over Gentrification – Denton Record Chronicle https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/southeast-denton-galvanized-in-call-to-action-over-gentrification-denton-record-chronicle/ The Railyard apartment project — planned for Sycamore Street, near Prairie Street, in Southeast Denton — will bring five three-story buildings with about 320 units and 448 parking spaces to about 9 acres near Oakwood Cemetery. Jacob McCready/For the DRC By Christian McPhate Staff Writer Donald McDade, with the Denton Planning and Zoning Commission, says the city’s future land use plan foresees expanding downtown Denton. “They can’t go north because TWU owns that and can’t go west because UNT owns all that there,” he said. The only place they can come through is Southeast Denton.” Jacob McCready/For the DRC Denton Mayor Gerard Hudspeth, second from left, participates in a panel discussion about gentrification Monday at the American Legion Hall Senior Center in Southeast Denton. Panelists also included Harry Eaddy, executive director of the Denton Black Film Festival; the Rev. Reginald Logan from the Galilee Baptist Church and the Denton Ministerial Alliance; Colette Johnson, president of SEDNA; and Donald McDade, from the Planning and Zoning Commission. Courtesy photo/Spencer Wilkinson CHRISTIAN McPHATE can be reached at 940-220-4299 and via Twitter at @writerontheedge.

15 Ways The Middle Class Affords A Trip To Disney World – Yahoo Finance https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/15-ways-the-middle-class-affords-a-trip-to-disney-world-yahoo-finance/ The family trip to Disney World is a rite of passage for many American kids, especially those in the middle class. That said, the pilgrimage to the happiest place on earth is not cheap. There are plane tickets, park passes, hotel accommodations, and more to consider. If you’re headed to Disney World, here are a few ways you can save money without missing out on any of the fun. Grow your travel fund with these 11 legit ways to make extra money. 1. Save up for your trip This may seem rather obvious, but saving money over a few years for your Disney trip is a super savvy way to prepare for the expenses. You can do this with a savings account, though you may get a better return on your investment by working with a financial advisor. 2. Use a credit card You can finance your Disney trip with a travel credit card, ideally one without a high APR or annual fee. Maximize this tactic by using an option that has travel rewards, such as discounted hotel rooms and deals on rental cars. Or, get a credit card with Disney rewards — yes, it’s a thing. 3. Plan your visit beforehand If you’re going to be at Disney World for three or more days, you’ll save on park passes by buying them ahead of time. The price drops even lower once you hit five days or more. Another reason not to wait until the last minute is that you never know when Disney will raise the price of admission. Again. 4. Avoid the add-ons You may be tempted to opt-in on the bells and whistles that can be added to your park passes, but don’t do it. For instance, why buy a photo package when you have a smartphone that takes amazing shots? And while it may seem wrong to skip the waterparks, that’s what your hotel pool is for. You get the idea. 5. Hunt for discounts It’s worth spending some time online to hunt for discounted Disney World vacation packages. For one, the park itself often offers specials, as do a variety of travel agents. Just be savvy and make sure your vendor isn’t scamming you. A travel rewards credit card or discounted gift card can help offset the costs of your trip, too. 6. Visit during the offseason Most families visit Disney World when their kids are off from school. However, this is usually during the summer when the weather in Orlando is sweltering. A better option is to visit during another time of year when the climate is better. Hotels tend to be cheaper off-season, making it worth pulling the kids out of school for a few days. 7. Plan for the weather It’s HOT in Florida. Okay, you probably knew that, but Disney is super hot and humid from about June through October. Even when dangerous storms aren’t hitting Florida, it can rain for short bursts every day in the summer. So, bring your own rain gear and sunblock so you don’t have to buy them at marked-up park prices. 8. Stay at a cheaper hotel While staying on-site at Disney World is fun, you can save a lot of money by instead making an off-site hotel your home base during your trip. You might also fare well looking for an option on Airbnb or Vrbo. These places often have kitchens so you can cook meals instead of eating out. Pro tip: You can also pile up bonuses and rewards by booking your trip with one of the best hotel credit cards. 9. Stay on the property Not to contradict ourselves, but there are some cases in which staying on-site at Disney could save you cash. You’ll have access to the complimentary shuttle, for one, which means no car rental or Uber costs. It’s also cheaper to visit the park during the park’s Magic Hours. Just be sure to pick budget-friendly accommodations. 10. Stay for a short time While park passes get cheaper the longer you stay, that doesn’t mean you have to spend a full week or more at Disney World. Booking only four or five nights could save you hundreds on hotel and food costs and still let you squeeze in all the rides and attractions you want. You might enjoy your trip more, too. 11. Focus on one or two parks If you’ve never been to Disney World, you might not realize how large it is, with lots of places to spend lots of money. To that end, if you only focus on two parks — like Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, for example — you’ll have fewer temptations to spend money. 12. Don’t forget the free stuff Of course, the main reason people go to Disney World is for all of the cool rides and attractions, as well as the food. But don’t sleep on the free options, like window shopping in Disney Springs, a stop at The Lego Store, and strolling around the Animal Kingdom Lodge. 13. Dine smart Speaking of the food at Disney World — which is plentiful and drool-worthy — you can save a lot by dining smart. Disney even lets you bring food into the parks, so plan for a picnic lunch here and there. The parks also offer lockers so you don’t have to lug your food along with you all day. Pro tip: When you do eat out, pay for your meal using a credit card with dining rewards and cash in on your rewards when you get back home. 14. Be smart about souvenirs If you buy every souvenir at Disney World, you’ll go broke in a matter of hours. Do yourself a favor and buy Mickey Mouse ears and other souvenirs ahead of time online. Not only will they be cheaper than inside the parks, but you can also make a game of leaving them for your kids to find during your trip. 15. Bring a water bottle Disney World lets you bring reusable water bottles into its parks and refill them at the many water stations you’ll find. Not only will you save a dollar here and a dollar there — which can add up fast — but you’ll also stay hydrated in the hot Florida sun. Bottom line Going to Disney World is a dream come true for kids and adults alike, though it can be quite the expenditure. That’s why it’s smart to do your research about cost-cutting measures ahead of time. You may also enjoy the experience more, and reduce your stress about spending while on vacation. Instead, you can just relax and enjoy the magic. More from FinanceBuzz: 6 genius hacks Costco shoppers should know Paying more for groceries? 6 ways to fight inflation Can you retire early? Take this quiz and find out. This article 15 Ways the Middle Class Affords a Trip to Disney World originally appeared on FinanceBuzz.

Russia Accused Of ‘kidnapping’ Head Of Ukraine Nuclear Plant – 69News WFMZ-TV https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/russia-accused-of-kidnapping-head-of-ukraine-nuclear-plant-69news-wfmz-tv/ If you know of local business openings or closings, please notify us here. PREVIOUS OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS – All-you-can-eat Korean barbecue is on its way, with 88 K-Pot opening perhaps in December near the Wine & Spirits store in the Bethlehem Square shopping center.  – Air Products’ joint venture in Saudi Arabia has acquired an industrial-gas business for an undisclosed price. The Abdullah Hashim Industrial Gases & Equipment venture acquired Khafrah Industrial Gases from Paris-based Air Liquide S.A. – Anatolian Kitchen is still closed for renovations, according to a sign at the Taylor Court, Bethlehem, business.  – After 36 years, the owners of Cavaluzzo’s Pasta, Steaks & Subs in Emmaus are retiring, and the restaurant will close. – The high-tech conglomerate formerly known as II-VI (pronounced “two-six”) has taken on the name of a company it acquired, Coherent Corp.  – Palmer Township’s board of supervisors approved a conditional-use application for four industrial buildings know as “First Park 33” on Tatamy Road, between Newlins Mill and Corriere roads. – The Florida-based chain Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers plans to open three physical-therapy clinics within two years in the Lehigh Valley. – Radish Republic, a specialty grocery store on North Seventh Street in Allentown, is closing after three years. – The Palmer Township Zoning Hearing Board made the decision to keep a cease-and-desist order against The Reserve at Palmer Pointe apartments, which township officials say were built contrary to designs submitted six years ago. – The Allentown-Based payment-processing company Shift4Payments Inc. introduced SkyTab POS, a point-of-sale system for restaurants.  – The Bethlehem Planning Commission approved three separate “mixed-use” buildings for South Bethlehem, on East Fourth Street, South New Street and West Fourth Street. – Transform Rehabilitation’s physical-therapy clinics in Allentown, New Tripoli and Whitehall are now part of Upstream, which owns or manages more than 1,200 locations in the U.S. – The Lehigh Valley’s newest Wawa opened on the east side of Nazareth Pike/Route 191, just south of the Borough of Nazareth.  – DoubleTree Hotel has expanded its catering to private jets that take off from Reading Regional Airport. – The not-for-profit Kutztown Community Partnership has discussed buying the shuttered Strand Theatre to continue its tradition, but KCP would need grants and donations to keep it going. – A man police say was drunk drove into Budd Lake Bagel & Deli II in Hackettstown, New Jersey, on Sunday night, causing the shop to close indefinitely.

Obesity Can Be Controlled By Living A Healthy Lifestyle | Witness – The Citizen https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/obesity-can-be-controlled-by-living-a-healthy-lifestyle-witness-the-citizen/ A local dietician has warned South Africans of the deadly diseases that come with obesity and being overweight. This comes after the World Obesity Federation announced that half of all adults in South Africa are either overweight (23%) or obese (27%). The federation anticipates an additional 10% increase (37%) in obesity among adults by 2030. Speaking to Weekend Witness, Hilton-based consultant dietician, Julie Khan, explained that obesity is a condition in which a person has a harmful amount of body fat or an unhealthy distribution of body fat. She said it raises the risk for several serious health complications. Excess body fat puts strain on the bones and organs. It also causes complex changes in hormones and metabolism, and increases inflammation in the body. She explained that people with obesity have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. She said a raised BMI is a major risk factor for noncommunicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases which is mainly heart disease and stroke; diabetes; musculoskeletal disorders (especially osteoarthritis — a highly disabling degenerative disease of the joints); and some cancers including endometrial, breast, ovarian, prostate, liver, gallbladder, kidney, and colon cancer. Khan warned that these noncommunicable diseases cause life-altering illnesses, disabilities, and premature death. She said it is also sometimes linked to certain emotional and social problems. Globally, the World Obesity Federation ranked South Africa number 13 on its list of most obese nations. Khan said to change the obesity stats in SA, people need to moderate their lifestyles. Instead of putting yourself under unnecessary pressure to always make the healthy choice, Khan urged people to try using the 80:20 principle. Eat nutritious foods 80% of the time and have a serving of your favourite treat with the other 20% — without feeling guilty about it Khan also emphasised that exercise, which could be going to the gym, jogging or taking walks, and encouraging children to participate in school sports, is also vital in staying healthy and maintaining a good BMI.

84th MSFF Opening Events Kick Off Today | News, Sports, Jobs – The Inter-Mountain https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/84th-msff-opening-events-kick-off-today-news-sports-jobs-the-inter-mountain/ ELKINS — Today the local community will welcome the return of the Mountain State Forest Festival for the first time in three years, after being canceled the last two years due to COVID-19. “Overall we have a lot going on and I think there are a lot of reasons to celebrate finally getting back to normal, post-COVID,” MSFF Director General Robbie Morris told The Inter-Mountain. “I hope people enjoy themselves and have a great time.” The 84th MSFF will kick off with the official Opening Ceremony at 11 a.m. today at the Federal Building Plaza, with Morris officiating. Other notable events today include the MSFF Highland Dance Competition at the Citizens Bank of West Virginia Amphitheatre on the campus of Davis & Elkins College, taking place in morning and afternoon sessions; the Strongest Team in the Forest Competition at Elkins High School, beginning at noon; and Irish Road Bowling on the Georgetown Road at 1 p.m. Downtown, the Mountain State Street Machines lineup will be at 1 p.m. on Davis Avenue between Fourth and Fifth Streets. A Cornhole Tournament will take place in Elkins Town Square at 2 p.m. A Forest Festival Kickoff Party will begin downtown at 4 p.m., featuring live music by Bon Journey at 6:30 p.m. on Davis Avenue between Third and Fourth Streets. A fireworks display downtown will be the culmination of the evening, weather permitting. On Sunday, the 10K Run/Walk will begin at 12:30 p.m. The MSFF Parade of Children begins at 2:30 p.m., followed by the Children’s Festival at 3:30 p.m. on Davis Avenue, between Third and Fourth Streets. At 7 p.m., the bluegrass group Nothin’ Fancy will perform at the Citizens Bank Festival Stage Rotary Amphitheater in Elkins Town Square. Official MSFF Schedule: Saturday 9 a.m. — MSFF Highland Dance Competition (Morning Session) Primary, Beginner, & Novice Contest, Registration 8:30 a.m. Citizens Bank of WV Amphitheatre, Davis & Elkins College 11 a.m. — Official Opening Ceremony Federal Building Plaza 12 p.m. — Strongest Team in the Forest Competition Elkins High School 1 p.m. — MSFF Highland Dance Competition (Afternoon Session) Intermediate & Premier Contest, Registration 12:30 p.m. Citizens Bank of WV amphitheatre, Davis & Elkins College 1 p.m. — Mountain State Street Machines Lineup Davis Avenue Between 4th & 5th Streets 1 p.m. — Irish Road Bowling – Georgetown Road Course Registration 12 p.m., Northern Eagle Distributing 1001 S. Davis Avenue 2 p.m. — Cornhole Tournament Elkins Town Square, Registration 1 p.m. 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. — Forest Festival Kickoff Party Live Music by Bon Journey – 6:30 p.m. Davis Avenue Between 3rd & 4th Streets Sunday 10:30 a.m. — 10K Run/Walk Registration Begins (YMCA) 12:30 p.m. Runners & Walkers Step Off, 5th Street/Davis Avenue (Start) 12:45 p.m. Kids Fun Run Step Off, 5th Street/Davis Avenue (Start) 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. — Information Booth Open Corner of Davis Avenue & 3rd Street 2:30 p.m. — Parade of Children “Creatures of the Mon” 1:45 p.m. Lineup – Corner of 12th Street & South Davis Avenue (*Inclement Weather Date: Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 6 p.m., Phil Gainer Community Center) 3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. — Children’s Festival Davis Avenue (Between 3rd & 4th Streets) 7 p.m. — Citizens Bank Festival Stage Rotary Amphitheater, Elkins Town Square, Nothin’ Fancy Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox

A Muhammad Ali-Inspired Metaverse Game Drops Soon! – Crypto Times https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/a-muhammad-ali-inspired-metaverse-game-drops-soon-crypto-times/ On the occasion of the 47th anniversary of legendary boxer Mohammad Ali, his career-defining Thrilla in Manila pay-per-view bout will soon be dropped on the metaverse. This Mohammad Ali-inspired AI-driven metaverse game called “The Next Legends” will feature digital boxing avatars with Altered State Machine’s AI NFT brains.  Muhammad Ali Enterprises and Non-Fungible Labs have collaborated with Altered State Machine to offer the Greatest’s loyal fanbase a one-of-a-kind AI metaverse boxing experience. The minting process for the AI boxers will go live at 2 pm October 1st PDT via a Pro-Pack bundle.  The Pro Pack bundle features some of the most “intelligent” AI boxers and a rare limited edition Gym Bag. Only 300 wallets are allowed to mint per hour and the process will continue until all Pro-Pack NFTs have been minted. The Pro Pack cost to mint is 0.11 ETH.  The game is set to release sometime in 2023. The interesting gameplay allows users to play whatever virtual boxing avatar they can secure during the mint. The players will compete to win the title of The Next Legend.  Note that, not all of these virtual boxers will be built the same. Anyone who will get a boxer from the Pro Pack mint on October 1 will start with a higher rank with free in-game items bundled in a rare Gym Bag. The contents of these bags will be revealed in an upcoming Locker Room event.  This is not the first time Muhammad Ali-inspired digital assets have been introduced. In May, an NFT collection based on Muhammad Ali’s film “A God Amongst Men” was also launched by Studio Pictures and director James Newton. Author Rupal Sharma is a creative technical writer who refers to herself as “a storyteller gravitating towards decentralized culture and cryptocurrencies.” When she’s not obsessively researching crypto space, she harnesses her superpower of holding an entire novel in her head, or series, or multiple creative projects at once. She struggles to remember if she ordered a latte or a cappuccino, though.

Yes, You Should Put An Alexa Device In Every Room Of Your Home. Here’s Why – CNET https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/yes-you-should-put-an-alexa-device-in-every-room-of-your-home-heres-why-cnet/ This story is part of Home Tips, CNET’s collection of practical advice for getting the most out of your home, inside and out. Did that headline make you do a double-take? I mean, what kind of strange person has an Amazon device in every room? Well, call me strange — but don’t judge before you hear me out, because there are so many neat tricks you can do with that unused Echo Dot stuffed in a forgotten drawer or that Amazon Echo speaker that’s slowly getting dusty in the corner of your living room — or, soon, with one of Amazon’s new Echo Dot speakers, announced alongside a bunch of other Alexa devices on Sept. 28. I had two Echo Dots — both white third-gen models that I’d since replaced with the better-sounding fourth-gen “orbs.” But those old hockey pucks still rock, especially when paired with my black Echo Show 8, so I dug them out and found homes for both of them. One third-gen Dot went in my half-bath, the other in my upstairs hallway — bringing my menagerie of Alexa devices up to a whopping 11 smart speakers and smart displays. That means I now have one Alexa speaker or display every few feet throughout my home.  Is that overkill? Yeah, you could say that. Should you still put an Alexa device in your bedroom and bathroom and garage (you get the gist!) anyway? Well, absolutely. Once you do, you’ll wonder why you never did it before. That’s because there are some unique advantages to keeping a houseful of Alexa devices.  Here’s all of the neat tricks you can implement with those Amazon gadgets you already have lying around, plus some tips on how to keep everything in order. And if you’re itching to purchase some new Echo devices, Amazon is hosting an event next week to unveil new products and services. (You could always check out the best Alexa devices, the best cheap Alexa devices and the best smart displays already on the market, too).  Read more: The Real Cost of Setting Up an Amazon Smart Home Why so many Alexa devices? Because more is better Some Alexa features just work better the more Amazon Echo speakers and displays you have set up in your home. For example, if you’ve never experienced whole-house audio before, it’s a surprisingly dazzling experience — even if most of your speakers are Echo Dots (and even if you don’t have an Amazon Echo Subwoofer). On days when you’re moving a lot from room to room — cleaning the house, say, or hosting a get-together — it’s remarkable how neat it is to have music playing everywhere you go. Those old third-gen hockey puck Echo Dots make perfect speakers for your garage, hallway or other less frequently used spaces. Ry Crist/CNET But there are other nifty ways to use a houseful of Alexas, too. Besides multiroom music, here are some of my other faves: Announcements: Say, “Alexa, announce dinner is ready,” or, “announce that it’s bedtime,” and check out what happens (Alexa adds some audio “color” to the message). Drop In: You can have an intercomlike conversation with someone in a specific room — “Alexa, drop in on the kitchen” — or with the whole house at once — “drop in everywhere.” Multiroom audio (but in the same room): You may only be able to pair identical speakers together in stereo, but you can put any two or three or more speakers together in the same room, even though the feature is called “Multi-room.” But before you get started on any of this, the first thing you’ll want to rein in is all those Echo devices that could mistakenly respond to you (up next). The second-gen Amazon Echo is still a formidable smart speaker, so don’t shove yours in a drawer and forget about it. Tyler Lizenby/CNET Assign wake words other than ‘Alexa’ If you’re like me and have multiple Echo devices in the same area, then you already know how annoying it can be to yell, “Alexa!” and have every device compete for your attention. If you have two or more devices in the same vicinity, then it’s best to give each one its own wake word.  For example, I have an Echo Show in my kitchen and an Echo Dot in the living room just a few feet away. I use the Dot mostly to play music, not necessarily to listen for commands. I gave that speaker (and other speakers I just use for audio) a wake word other than “Alexa.” While Amazon’s traditional options for calling up your voice assistant are Alexa, Computer, Amazon and Echo, there are several newer wake word additions you can use like Ziggy and Hey, Disney. Unfortunately, you can’t give it a name other than these, so you’ll have to hold off calling your device “Buddy” or something else unique.  Here’s how to change the wake word on individual devices: 1. Open the Alexa app, navigate to Devices.  2. Tap Echo & Alexa from the top row of icons. 3. Tap the name of the device with the wake word you want to change. You’ll have to change each device’s wake word separately. 4. Select the Settings icon in the top right-hand corner then scroll down and tap Wake Word. 5. Pick a wake word other than Alexa (see above for your options). 6. Tap OK when a pop-up lets you know it might take a few minutes to change over, then either back out of that menu or close the app. You can also change the wake word with voice commands, too. Simply say, “Alexa, change your wake word.” Alexa will prompt you to pick from the list of offered wake words. Then select whichever word you want.  Now you’re all set! And you can always go back and change the wake word at any point.  Read more: All Amazon Echo Wake Words That Aren’t Alexa — and What They Do When setting up a stereo pair, the Echo with Clock, Echo Kids and Echo Dot are all interchangeable.  Julie Snyder/CNET Pair Alexas for stereo and multiroom audio groups If you’ve got two identical devices (or functionally identical — the same-generation Echo Dot, Echo Dot with Clock and Echo Kids are all interchangeable in this  sense) you can pair them so that audio is divided into left and right channels, like a bona fide stereo system. That pair will then appear as a single speaker in the Alexa app when directing audio in a routine or creating an even bigger set of speakers (more on that shortly). Before you set this up, make sure both speakers are in the same virtual “room” in your Alexa app and that both are on the same network. Then, do this: 1. Open the Alexa app, tap Devices on the bottom menu bar, then tap the plus sign (+) in the upper right corner. 2. Tap Combine speakers, then tap Stereo pair / subwoofer. Tap one of the speakers you want to use, then the app will highlight compatible speaker options — tap one, then tap Next. 3. The app will assign the right channel to one and the left channel to the other, but you can tap Swap Speakers to toggle the options, then tap Next. 4. Name your new stereo pair (I usually stick with the name of the room, such as “Master Bedroom”). Now playing: Watch this: Alexa gets new features to make it a better listener 7:02 Multiroom audio works similarly, but without the stereo separation. Also, you can combine unalike speakers, and previously paired stereo pairs, as many of them as you wish. And, again, the speakers don’t have to be in different rooms. Here’s how to do it: 1. Open the Alexa app, tap Devices on the bottom menu bar, then tap the plus sign (+) in the upper right corner. 2. Tap Combine speakers, then tap Multi-room music. Tap all of the speakers you want to include in the group, then tap Next. 3. The app will assign the right channel to one and the left channel to the other, but you can tap Swap Speakers to toggle the options, then tap Next. 4. Either choose a name from the list or type your own custom name at the bottom, then tap Save. Protect your Amazon Echo privacy  With all of these Echo devices scattered around your home, you’re probably wondering: Is Alexa always listening? It’s a good question considering no one wants Alexa to be privy to our confidential conversations.  Echo devices have raised plenty of privacy concerns. Even though they’re only recording and transmitting audio to Amazon’s cloud when the blue light activates, it’s widely known that Echo devices can be activated without you knowing it if one of them hears something similar to its wake word (for instance, if you say something like “election” or “I’d like some” instead of “Alexa”). It’s also worth understanding that Amazon employees can listen to your Alexa conversations if you don’t take certain precautions.  Luckily, there are settings and other hacks to keep Amazon out of your business.  For one, you can unplug the device or turn the mic off by pressing the microphone’s mute button to make sure Alexa isn’t always listening. You can also update the settings to delete your Amazon voice transcripts immediately so they can’t be reviewed by Amazon employees. You can read our full rundown of privacy tips here.  For more cool Alexa tricks, take a look at six useful Amazon Echo tips you’ll want to use every day, some funny things you can ask Alexa and a few more commands you can try tonight.  More tips for Alexa Alexa Settings You’ll Want to Change ASAP Can Alexa Devices Make Calls? Yep, and Here’s How It Works Customize Alexa So You Love Your Amazon Echo Device Even More Is Your Amazon Echo in 1 of These 4 Places? Move It Now Protect Your Amazon Echo Privacy While Working From Home: 7 Simple Tricks 5 Creative Uses for Your Amazon Echo That You Need to Try Roundup of Every Alexa Command You Can Give Your Echo Right Now

US Lawmakers Introduce Bill Allowing Crypto Investments In 401(K) Retirement Plans – Regulation Bitcoin News – Bitcoin News https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/us-lawmakers-introduce-bill-allowing-crypto-investments-in-401k-retirement-plans-regulation-bitcoin-news-bitcoin-news/ Several U.S. lawmakers have introduced the Retirement Savings Modernization Act to provide 401(k) retirement savers access to a wide range of investments, including crypto assets. “With inflation at record highs, a stock market downturn, and a potential recession on the horizon, many Americans are rightfully concerned about their financial future,” said U.S. Senator Pat Toomey. Retirement Savings Modernization Act Introduced The U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs announced Thursday that Senators Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Tim Scott (R-SC) and Representative Peter Meijer (R-MI) have introduced a bill called the Retirement Savings Modernization Act. The bill aims “to bolster Americans’ retirement savings by allowing workers to diversify assets included in defined contribution plans, such as 401(k) plans,” the announcement details. “This legislation will amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to clarify that private sector retirement plan sponsors may offer plans, including both pensions and 401(k)s, that are prudently diversified across the full range of asset classes.” Senator Toomey opined, “With inflation at record highs, a stock market downturn, and a potential recession on the horizon, many Americans are rightfully concerned about their financial future,” elaborating: By providing 401(k) savers with access to the same asset classes as pension plans, my legislation will open the door to a more secure retirement for millions of Americans. While pension plans and 401(k) plans are covered by the same law, the former have incorporated asset classes outside of the public markets since 1982. Meanwhile, the latter “almost never incorporate exposure to alternative assets due to fiduciaries’ anticipated litigation risk,” the announcement explains. The bill lists “digital assets” as a “covered investment.” Senator Scott described: “Inflation has eroded and devalued the savings many Americans spent their lives accumulating. This bill would modernize retirement plans to ensure they can provide diverse investments with higher returns. American workers and their families deserve to go about their lives with peace of mind, knowing their hard-earned money will be secure when they choose to retire.” Until the 1970s, most Americans working in the private sector relied on pension plans for retirement. Today, the vast majority of private sector workers rely on 401(k) plans. “However, pension plans have consistently outperformed 401(k) plans because they diversify across the full range of asset classes, putting one of every five dollars in alternative asset classes like private equity,” the lawmakers noted. Representative Meijer stressed: Americans deserve flexibility with their retirement options, especially in times of fiscal uncertainty. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a notice in March warning about crypto investments in 401(k) plans. “The department has serious concerns about the prudence of a fiduciary’s decision to expose a 401(k) plan’s participants to direct investments in cryptocurrencies, or other products whose value is tied to cryptocurrencies,” the DOL wrote. “These investments present significant risks and challenges to participants’ retirement accounts, including significant risks of fraud, theft, and loss.” Despite the warning by the Labor Department, Fidelity, a major 401(k) plan administrator, announced in April that it will allow bitcoin as an investment option in its new 401(k) products. The financial giant’s decision caused concerns for the Labor Department. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) is also worried, demanding answers from Fidelity regarding its decision to allow bitcoin in 401(k) plans. In May, a U.S. senator introduced a bill prohibiting the Labor Department from interfering with investments in retirement accounts. In June, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that crypto is “very risky,” emphasizing that it is unsuitable for most retirement savers. Do you think all retirement savers should be able to invest in anything including cryptocurrencies? Let us know in the comments section below. Kevin Helms A student of Austrian Economics, Kevin found Bitcoin in 2011 and has been an evangelist ever since. His interests lie in Bitcoin security, open-source systems, network effects and the intersection between economics and cryptography. 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.

Russian Timber Bypasses U.S. Sanctions Through Vietnam And China – The Washington Post https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/russian-timber-bypasses-u-s-sanctions-through-vietnam-and-china-the-washington-post/ HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam — Russian birch wood has continued to flow to American consumers, disguised as Asian products, despite U.S. economic sanctions imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, a new report says. The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), a nonprofit watchdog group based in Britain, has found that most birch products currently being exported from Vietnam to the United States originate in Russia. According to Vietnam customs data, roughly 40,000 cubic meters of birch wood is transported every month from Russia and China into Vietnam, where it’s assembled into furniture and plywood. These chairs and bed frames end up on the shelves of major American retailers, the EIA said in a report, which was shared exclusively with The Washington Post. The group’s investigators spoke to five Chinese companies accounting for 60 percent of China’s birch veneer exports to Vietnam and concluded that over 90 percent of their birch is sourced from Russia. One Chinese wood factory owner told the group that all of the birch their company uses comes from Russia but is repackaged in China and re-exported to Vietnam with China listed as the country of origin. “They [American importers] don’t track sources of original materials,” the manager told the EIA. “We have been doing this all the time.” In June, Russia’s Federal Forest Management Agency asserted that the country’s timber industry has not been significantly affected by sanctions. “The Russian forestry industry complex has already been oriented toward friendly markets and, where the restrictions emerged, it has already partially realigned,” Pavel Chashchin, head of the agency, told Tass, a state-owned news outlet. “The process of establishing new export channels will continue.” In construction, birch harvested from Russia’s vast forests has long been considered the best source of plywood — a material used in floors, ceilings and partitions, as well as for decorative purposes on items such as doors and cabinets. Before the invasion of Ukraine, the United States imported hundreds of thousands of cubic meters of birch plywood from Russia annually, trade data shows. Driven by strong demand, these imports surged in the early months of 2022 before changing course in April, when the Biden administration raised tariffs on Russian birch from 10 percent to 50 percent. From March to April, even as direct U.S. imports of Russian birch plunged, birch plywood imports from Vietnam grew by 206 percent, said the Decorative Hardwoods Association, which represents American hardwood industries. Ngo Sy Hoai, vice president of the Vietnam Timber and Forest Product Association, a nongovernmental trade organization in Vietnam, did not respond to questions on where companies are sourcing their birch, saying only that “Vietnamese plywood producers may import certain volumes of birch wood from various sources for plywood surfacing.” Phuc Xuan To, a senior policy analyst at Forest Trends who has studied Vietnam’s wood industry for years, confirmed the EIA’s findings. Sawed birch timber imports from China to Vietnam increased in the first half of this year, and it’s highly likely that birch originated in Russia, To said. Russian birch is also appearing under deceptive labels in markets outside the United States, according to advocacy groups. Companies in Britain have recently received more offers of birch “from the Far East,” said Timber Development UK, which represents companies throughout the timber supply chain in Britain. “Given that birch forests are concentrated in Northern Russia and Eurasia; it is almost certain the birch contained in the plywood being offered has in fact originated in Russia,” the trade association said in a statement warning members against running afoul of British sanctions. While China also exports birch, the EIA said the world’s biggest traders widely preferred Russian birch, which is seen as being more consistent and durable. In March, Earthsight, another watchdog group from Britain, reported that some of Russia’s largest forestry companies are owned by oligarchs with close ties to President Vladimir Putin. Mining tycoon Alexei Mordashov, who was blacklisted by the European Union in March, holds major assets in Sveza, one of Russia’s biggest exporters of birch plywood, Earthsight said. While Sveza’s direct exports to Europe have declined since the start of the year, company leaders recently told reporters that it has been actively redirecting supply to Asia and Africa. “I have absolutely nothing to do with the emergence of the current geopolitical tension,” Mordashov said in a statement in April. Telecommunications billionaire Vladimir Yevtushenkov’s family controls Sistema, parent company of Segezha, a logging firm that exports to the European Union and the United States. In April, after being sanctioned by Britain, Yevtushenkov gave up shareholder control over the Sistema conglomerate by transferring 10 percent worth of assets to his son. The Segezha group released a statement around the same time declaring that it did not consider itself affected by British sanctions. “Segezha Group continues its business as usual,” the statement said. Vietnam has strong political, defense and economic ties with Russia dating to Soviet times. At the U.N. General Assembly in September, Vietnam was among 35 countries that abstained from the vote condemning Russia for its attack on Ukraine. The abrupt increase of exports from Vietnam at a time of plunging Russian supply caught the attention of the EIA, which has been monitoring the relocation of Chinese manufacturers to Vietnam in recent years, said Alex Bloom, an analyst with the agency. “We were well aware from previous investigations that enormous amounts of Russian timber, particularly birch, are used in Chinese factories for exported plywood,” she said. “After American anti-dumping tariffs went into effect on Chinese hardwood plywood [in 2017], a lot of those Chinese factories migrated to Vietnam to avoid those tariffs.” Thomas Chung, an advocate at the EIA who focuses on Vietnam, said the repacking of birch described by Chinese companies not only violates U.S. trade rules and legislation but could also be considered illegal under Vietnam’s timber legality assurance system. “There is the requirement to know the origin of a wood product as part of a due-diligence process when importing timber or wood products into Vietnam,” he said. “This means that even when intermediary markets are used, the origin should be known. Any rebranding should be considered illegal.”

News Live: India Not A Mere Consumer Of Technology, Will Help In Its Development, Says PM – Deccan Herald https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/news-live-india-not-a-mere-consumer-of-technology-will-help-in-its-development-says-pm-deccan-herald/ 12:29 Our government has been focusing on how to increase ease of living in India The cost of data in India has remained very low due to the efforts of our government. It is a different matter that we did not make a fuss about it, did not give big advertisements. We focused on how to increase the convenience of the people of the country, increase the ease of living 12:29 Whether it is farmers or small shopkeepers, we have given them a way to meet their daily needs through the app; PM Modi 12:26 Digital India has given a platform, a market to everyone: PM Modi Today, whether we have small traders, small entrepreneurs, local artists and artisans, Digital India has given a platform, a market to everyone. Today you go to a local market or vegetable market and see, even a small street vendor will tell you that do not have cash and you should go ahead and do UPI payment 12:23 From 2 mobile manufacturing units in India in 2014, country now has over 200 mobile factories, says PM Modi 12:20 I have always had faith in the understanding of the common man of India: PM Modi There was a time when a handful of elite class people doubted the potential of poor people. He suspected that poor people would not even understand the meaning of digital. But I have always had faith in the understanding of the common man of the country. 12:19 Our government is now working on the goal of Internet for all: PM Modi Like the government started a campaign to deliver electricity from door to door, like worked on the mission of providing clean water to everyone through Har Ghar Jal Abhiyan, like, through the Ujjwala scheme, the gas cylinder was delivered to the poorest of the poor, our government is nowworking on the goal of Internet for all 12:14 From exporting zero mobile phones in 2014, today we have become a mobile phone exporting country: PM Modi We focused on 4 Pillars, in four directions at once. * First, the price of the device * Second, digital connectivity * Third, the cost of data Fourth * Fourth and most important, the idea of ‘digital first’ From exporting zero mobile phones in 2014, today we have become a mobile phone exporting country worth thousands of crores. Naturally, all these efforts have had an impact on the cost of the device. Now we have started getting more features at a lower cost. 12:13 The goal of this vison is to take that technology to the common people: PM Modi Talking about Digital India, some people think that this is just a government scheme. But Digital India is not just a name, it is a big vision for the development of the country. The goal of this vison is to take that technology to the common people, which works for the people, works with the people 12:11 With 5G, India has created a new history: PM Modi At the time of 2G, 3G, 4G, India was dependent on other countries for technology. But with 5G, India has created a new history. With 5G, India is setting a global standard in telecom technology for the first time 12:10 India will play an active role in development and implementation of technology: PM New India will not remain a mere consumer of technology, but India will play an active role in the development and implementation of that technology. India will play a big role in designing the future wireless technology, manufacturing related to it 12:06 5G is just start of a set of brand new opportunities that India is going to get in the upcoming days 5G is just start of a set of brand new opportunities that india is going to get in the upcoming days. I am very happy that 5G will benefit students of government schools, villages, labourers.Today, on behalf of the country, on behalf of the country’s telecom industry, 130 crore Indians are getting a wonderful gift in the form of 5G. 5G is the knock of a new era at the door of the country. 5G is the beginning of an infinite sky of opportunities. I congratulate every Indian for this very much 12:05 PM Modi addresses India Mobile Congress after launching 5G 11:57 Airtel demonstrates 5G’s uses to induce an immersive education experience In theAirteldemo, a girl from Uttar Pradesh witnesseda lively and immersive education experience to learn about the solar system with the help of virtual reality and augmented reality. The girl shared her experience of learning with the Prime Minister by appearing on the dias through a hologram. 11:49 Vodafone Idea demonstrates their test case to PM Modi TheVodafoneIdea test case demonstrates the safety of workers in an under-construction tunnel of Delhi Metro through the creation of a ‘digital twin’ of the tunnel on the dias. The digital twin will help give safety alerts to workers in real-time from a remote location. 11:45 PM Modi interacts with students digitally. He asks the children about how technology will help them in class even with the absence of teachers 11:40 Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches 5G, declares India Mobile Congress 2022 open 11:32 5G will set the stage for the economy of India to become a 5 trillion dollar economy: Kumar Mangalam Birla 11:29 Today 5G will be made available in 5 cities via Airtel: Sunil Mittal 11:25 We are very lucky to have a leader like you: Sunil Bharti Mittal While every leader talks about technology and its importance, nobody understands technology like our PM Modi. When pandemic started, our work at the digital front did not stop for even a minute to make sure that the country is functional. With the introduction of 5G, there will be several more startups and entrepreneurs in the country. 11:20 5G is like a digital ‘Kamdhenu’ a digital cow that delivers everything that we desire 5G is like a digital ‘Kamdhenu’ a digital cow that delivers everything that we desire. With 5G India will take a long strive to ‘Sabka digital saath and sabka digital vikas.’ I want to reiterate Jio’s goal of delivering 5G to every area in the country by December of 2023. Before I conclude I would lik to express a deep seated emotion of pride. India and Indians can’t settle for anything us. 11:15 We are now ready to take leadership and now the Indian mobile congress should become Asian Mobile Congress and Global Mobile Congress: Mukesh Ambani 11:08 Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw extends gratitude to PM Modi for offering help and direction that helped overcome all hurdles to launch 5G Today’s day will mak an important event in the history that this country will make. PM Modi has directed us all and because of the 5G rollout, there will several new changes that the country will see in the forseeable future. It is a proud moment for India that with the help of PM Modi’s leadership, India is able to launch 5G. 11:05 Minister of State for Telecom Devusinh Chauhan welcomes PM Modi to 5G launch 11:03 PM Modi on the dais to launch 5G in India 10:35 PM Modi experiences 5G services 10:31 PM Modi heads to Ericsson’s smart manufacturing facility stall 10:28 PM Modi heads to healthcare stall which shows the use of 5G in upgrading village healthcare system PM Modi heads to the healthcare stall. The goal is for the villages will be provided with critical healthcare services using 5G. A demo van has been created to show the PM how a single van will have a hospital control room in the smallest of villages in the country. 10:24 Smart farming: Airtel presents solutions concerned with agriculture in India Airtel presents solutions concerned with agriculture in India. The agri solutions offer a huge relief to farmers by introducing ‘smart farming’. If the farmers are involved in plantation, they can conduct the practice through a central system which will enable maximum yeilds while only requiring basic involvement by the farmers. 10:21 More that 100 start-ups present at the event. PM Modi spends significant time at the CDoT stall to understand technological advancements 10:18 Various use cases demonstrated in front of Prime Minister Narendra Modi The various use casesdemonstrated in front of the Prime Minister in the exhibition include precision drone-based farming; high-security routers and AI-based cyber threat detection platforms; automated guided vehicles; smart ambulances; augmented reality/virtual reality /mix reality in education and skill development; sewage monitoring system; smart-agri programme and health diagnostics, among others. 10:11 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspects an exhibition at Pragati Maidan Delhi | Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspects an exhibition at Pragati Maidan. He will inaugurate the sixth edition of the Indian Mobile Congress (IMC) and launch 5G services shortly. pic.twitter.com/5WKmlPIu5K — ANI (@ANI) October 1, 2022 10:07 First phase of 5G roll out will take place in 13 cities According to an official release, 5G will be launched by the Prime Minister in select cities and it will progressively cover the entire country over the next couple of years. The first phase of launch comprises 13 cities namely: Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Jamnagar, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune and Lucknow. 09:58 Three major telecom operators of the country will demonstrate one use case each in front of the Prime Minister to show the potential of 5G technology in India 09:56 Cumulative economic impact of 5G on India is estimated to reach $450 billion by 2035 Capable of supporting ultra-high-speed internet, the fifth generation or5Gservice is expected to unleash new economic opportunities and societal benefits, serving as a transformational force for Indian society. 08:46 The price of a commercial LPG cylinder in Delhi reduced by Rs 25.5 with effect from today 08:43 Fire breaks out at Gurugram’s Global Foyer mall 08:41 PM Narendra Mod...

Tencent Shifts Focus To Majority Deals, Overseas Gaming Assets For Growth-Sources – Reuters https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/tencent-shifts-focus-to-majority-deals-overseas-gaming-assets-for-growth-sources-reuters/ HONG KONG, Oct 1 (Reuters) – Tencent is resetting its M&A strategy to put more focus on buying majority stakes mainly in overseas gaming companies, as the tech giant eyes global expansion to offset slowing growth at home in China, people with direct knowledge of the matter said. Tencent Holding Ltd (0700.HK) has for years invested in hundreds of up-and-coming businesses, mainly in the onshore market. It has typically acquired minority stakes and stayed invested as a passive financial investor. However, it is now aggressively seeking to own majority or even controlling stakes in overseas targets, notably in gaming assets in Europe, the four people with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com The shift comes as the world’s number one gaming firm by revenue is counting on global markets for its future growth, which requires a strong portfolio of chart-topping games, the sources aid. Tencent’s new strategy indicates how China’s tech titans are looking to emerge from the regulatory shadows after two years of crackdown and uncertainty that weighed on their sales at home and triggered a massive selloff in their stocks. Apart from the core gaming sector, Tencent is also looking to snap up global assets, in particular in Europe, related to the so-called metaverse, said one of the sources and another source with direct knowledge of the matter. The people declined to be identified as the information was private. Tencent told Reuters the company had been investing abroad for a long time – “long before any new regulations” in China. It looks for “innovative companies with talented management teams” and gives them room to grow independently, the company added, without elaborating. Tencent’s pursuit for bigger stakes in gaming firms comes as other tech giants such as Microsoft , Sony (6758.T) and Amazon are snapping up gaming assets and related intellectual properties, said three of the sources. Tencent’s chief strategy officer, James Mitchell, said on a post-earnings call in August the company would remain active in acquiring new game studios overseas. “In terms of the game business, our strategy is … to focus on developing our capabilities especially in the international market,” he said. “We will continue to be very active in terms of acquiring new game studios outside China.” PURSUIT OF BIGGER STAKES Tencent’s growing focus on overseas assets and markets is in sharp contrast to its much slower dealmaking pace at home since the regulatory clampdowns intensified, and the divestment of a clutch of domestic portfolio companies. From 2015 to 2020, the owner of China’s number one messaging app WeChat 150 investments at home totalling $75 billion, compared to 102 deals worth $33 billion in overseas markets, according to Refinitiv data. Tencent in August reported its first ever quarterly top-line fall, partially hurt by a lack of game approvals in China and regulations that limit playing time. Revenue from online games decreased both at home and abroad by 1%. Its Hong Kong-listed shares have sunk some 60% in the last two years. Against that backdrop, Tencent has barely made investments in China this year versus 27 deals worth $3 billion offshore, Refinitiv data show. It has been reducing its portfolio partly to placate regulators and also to book some hefty profits, sources have told Reuters. “We believe Tencent will continue to make reasonable investments to acquire quality gaming content and talents and deepen partnerships with top-tier studios worldwide in order to step up its investments and presence in overseas markets,” said Citi analysts in a report in early September. Tencent’s pursuit of bigger stakes in its existing gaming portfolio or new targets would give the company a bigger say in such firms’ businesses and also help it secure the intellectual property rights of popular games, said the four sources. Also, with Beijing strictly restricting game approvals at home and still suspending approvals for games of foreign IPs, Tencent is forced to move towards gaining control of foreign game companies and their IPs, said the four sources. Tencent in September raised its stake in Ubisoft (UBIP.PA) in a deal that made the Chinese firm the single biggest shareholder of the top French games developer, with a stake of 11% which can be further increased to as much as 17%. REGIONAL HUB The Ubisoft deal comes just after deep-pocketed Tencent in June acquired Copenhagen-based Sybo Games, the developer of hit mobile game Subway Surfer, and in August took a 16.25% stake in Japan’s “Elden Ring” developer FromSoftware. Last year, Tencent said it would take over British videogame developer Sumo in a $1.3 billion deal – one of its largest foreign transactions since the regulatory crackdown in late 2020. In Europe, except for its purchase of majority stake in “Clash of Clans” mobile game maker Supercell for $8.6 billion in 2016, Tencent has for years mostly cut minority deals including its purchase of 9% of British gaming firm Frontier Developments. Elsewhere, Tencent also seeks to increase its investment in and make deeper forays into Southeast Asia as it sees the region – home to 650 million people – as having potential to replicate the success of China’s internet boom, said two of the sources. China’s largest social network firm already has a regional hub for Southeast Asia in Singapore that houses its international game publishing business. Since last year, the company has repeatedly emphasized that it is aiming to have half of its gaming revenue coming from outside China, from about 25% now. In doing so, it in December launched a new publishing brand called Level Infinite in Singapore. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Julie Zhu and Josh Ye; Editing by Sumeet Chatterjee and Kim Coghill Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Candidate Essays, Endorsement Letters Welcomed For Nov. 8 Elections – Denton Record Chronicle https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/candidate-essays-endorsement-letters-welcomed-for-nov-8-elections-denton-record-chronicle/ Best of the Blotter Every Wednesday morning, get the week’s top crime stories in Denton from the Blotter in your inbox. Breaking News Get the latest, most up-to-date news alerts when you sign up to receive our Breaking News newsletter.  e-Edition Notifier Receive a daily notification that the DR-C e-Edition is available. Sign up now. High School Season Pass Stay up to date with all of the sports news coming out of Denton-area high schools.  Mean Green Spotlight Get exclusive, in-depth coverage of the University of North Texas athletics teams in this weekly newsletter. Promotions and Offers Would you like to receive information from our advertisers or DR-C offers? Sign up now. Wake Up with the DR-C Every morning, get a link to our newly redesigned e-Edition and the top Denton headlines you need to start your day. Your Money, Your Home In the DR-C’s newest newsletter, get exclusive coverage about business in Denton County, with a focus on the housing market.

Taking Flight – And Vacation – In Dayton, Ohio – Edmonton Sun https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/taking-flight-and-vacation-in-dayton-ohio-edmonton-sun/ The famous Memphis Belle is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. It’s well worth the trip to visit the historic city of Dayton, Ohio, Advertisement 2 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The famous Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, are from Dayton and it is known as the birthplace of aviation. Edmonton Sun Headline News Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Edmonton SUN, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 It lays claim to being “the world’s largest and oldest military aviation museum featuring more than 350 aerospace vehicles and missiles on display amid more than 19 acres (7.5 hectares) of indoor exhibit space.” One thing that came to us a nice surprise — entry is free. No one will ask for your credit card at the front door. This is something we Canadians are not used to. As a first-time guest, the sheer size of the museum is impressive, as are its many aviation displays. Guests are treated to military aviation and Air Force history, including the Early Years, First World War, Second World War, Korea, Southeast Asia, the Cold War, Flying the President, Research and Development, Global Reach, and Space. Advertisement 3 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The highlights for us were touring some of the older Air Force One planes, seeing where John F. Kennedy and other presidents conducted business, and the fun challenge of trying to land a plane in one of their flight simulators. The Wright Brothers National Museum also is in Dayton. It boasts to have “more Wright artifacts on display than any other place in the world, including the 1905 Wright Flyer III.” We were lucky enough to get lodging at Drury Inn & Suits. It is clean, comfortable and safe, and has an indoor/outdoor pool. The Drury is famous in the U.S.A. for offering an impressive hot breakfast feast and something called 5:30 Kickback. It is a rotating menu of hot food and each adult gets three free drink tickets. Taking advantage of these perks by eating breakfast and supper at the hotel can save a family a lot of money.

PM Modi To Launch 5G Services In India Shortly – Hindustan Times https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/pm-modi-to-launch-5g-services-in-india-shortly-hindustan-times/ Live Updated on Oct 01, 2022 10:29 AM IST Breaking news October 1, 2022: Get latest news, breaking news, latest updates, live news, top headlines, breaking business news and top news of the hour. Get latest news, breaking news, latest updates, live news, top headlines, breaking business news and top news of the hour. Welcome to hindustantimes.com updates platform where you can find breaking news from India and across the world. Find fast updates about the latest news as it breaks. Follow all the updates here: Oct 01, 2022 10:15 AM IST PM Modi inaugurates 6th India Mobile Congress at Pragati Maidan Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the 6th edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) at the Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. Oct 01, 2022 09:00 AM IST Fire breaks out at Global Foyer Mall in Gurgaon A fire broke out at Global Foyer Mall on Golf Course Road in Gurgaon. Several fire tenders have been rushed to the spot. Oct 01, 2022 08:19 AM IST PM Modi to launch 5G services at telecom event Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch 5G services in India today in select cities. The service is expected to progressively cover the entire country over the next couple of years. Oct 01, 2022 07:06 AM IST Russian consulate in New York vandalised with red paint The Russian Consulate in New York was vandalised with red spray paint on Saturday. The paint appeared hours before Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he was annexing four parts of Ukraine occupied by Moscow’s army, AFP reported. Oct 01, 2022 06:18 AM IST Russia vetoes UN resolution calling its referendums illegal Russia vetoed a UN resolution Friday that would have condemned its referendums in four Ukrainian regions as illegal, declared them invalid and urged all countries not to recognize any annexation of the territory claimed by Moscow. The vote in the 15-member Security Council was 10-1 with China, India, Brazil and Gabon abstaining. The resolution would also have demanded an immediate halt to Russia’s “full-scale unlawful invasion of Ukraine” and the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all its military forces from Ukraine. Subscribe to our best newsletters 14th Dalai Lama still undecided on his reincarnation Published on Oct 01, 2022 09:19 AM IST The Buddhists in Tibet, at large, still swear by the 14th Dalai Lama despite Xi Jinping regime’s attempt to impose Han culture on the territory occupied since 1950. The 14th Dalai Lama, who escaped to India from Chinese occupied Tibet in 1959. ‘Who is SP?’ BJP’s question on ‘leaked’ photo of Ashok Gehlot’s notes Published on Oct 01, 2022 07:09 AM IST The BJP targetted the Congress over the reportedly leaked photo of Ashok Gehlot’s secret notes and said Congress needs to be united first. PM Modi to launch 5G services in India shortly Updated on Oct 01, 2022 10:29 AM IST Breaking news October 1, 2022: Get latest news, breaking news, latest updates, live news, top headlines, breaking business news and top news of the hour. PM Modi ditches microphone, apologises at Rajasthan rally. Video goes viral Published on Oct 01, 2022 06:13 AM IST As PM Modi reached the rally after 10pm, he chose to follow the microphone rules and not address the rally. “My conscience says that I should follow the rules. I apologise before you,” he said. Kerala HC extends stay on appointment of Priya Varghese in Kannur varsity Published on Oct 01, 2022 12:22 AM IST Justice Devan Ramachandran extended the stay on the appointment of Priya Varghese, the wife of KK Ragesh who is the chief minister’s secretary, in the Malayalam department of the varsity till October 20. ByPress Trust of India, Kochi Satya Pal Malik: Have no plans to join active politics Updated on Oct 01, 2022 12:25 AM IST Meghalaya governor Satya Pal Malik , whose term as the governor of the northeastern state will end on Friday, however, said he would work for the welfare of farmers and support them KCR donates 1 kg gold to temple ahead of national party launch Published on Oct 01, 2022 12:21 AM IST Chief minister KCR offered 1 kg and 160 grams of gold to the deity towards gold plating of the “gopuram” over sanctum sanctorum of the temple. Kerala high court asks police to remove obstruction in front of Vizhinjam Port Published on Oct 01, 2022 12:19 AM IST Justice Anu Sivaraman asked the police to ensure there are no obstructions in front of the entrance for the vehicles to pass. ByPress Trust of India, Kochi Services will jointly deal with security challenges Published on Oct 01, 2022 12:18 AM IST General Anil Chauhan retired as the Eastern Army commander on May 31, 2021, and was the military adviser to the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) before being appointed to the top job Isha foundation infra project: Madras high court adjourns case for 3 more weeks Published on Oct 01, 2022 12:18 AM IST Isha foundation had challenged a notice by the Tamil Nadu government alleging the said buildings were constructed without obtaining environmental clearance between 2006 and 2014 as mandated by the central government’s environment impact assessment (EIA) notification, 2006. Telangana requests Supreme Court to vacate stay on Kaleshwaram project Published on Oct 01, 2022 12:17 AM IST In its petition, the irrigation department said it was proposed to draw an additional one tmc ft (thousand million cubic feet) of water from Godavari river, apart from the originally planned two tmc ft, only for optimising the utilisation of 240 tmc ft of water during the rainy season, which will be there for a short period. ED seeks Bengaluru court permit to quiz 5 accused in PSI scam Published on Oct 01, 2022 12:13 AM IST In August, the ED registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) after concluding from an examination of the FIRs and charge sheets that money laundering had taken place in the scam. Story Saved New Delhi 0C Saturday, October 01, 2022

Why Your Healthy Habits Don’t Stick (And How To Change It), According To A Behavioral Sustainability Scientist – Forbes https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/why-your-healthy-habits-dont-stick-and-how-to-change-it-according-to-a-behavioral-sustainability-scientist-forbes/ getty If you look closely at the lives of the most successful people in the world—you’ll notice that they all seem to have one thing in common—healthy habits. Whether it’s Richard Branson’s commitment to waking up early to work out first thing in the morning (something the Obamas also swear by), Arianna Huffington and Oprah Winfrey’s daily meditation practice or Bill Gates, Mark Cuban and Warren Buffet’s love for reading, to name a few. While starting a new habit might be easy, making it stick is a whole different enchilada. Although self-discipline and motivation play a key role in whether or not you are able to maintain a healthy habit, turns out, having a flexible approach is just as important. “The primary way society teaches you to adopt healthy habits sets most people up to start and stop, but not sustain,” says Michelle Segar, behavioral sustainability scientist, award-winning researcher at the University of Michigan and author of The Joy Choice. “Much of the narrative about behavior change promotes ‘doing it in a certain way’ and in a prescribed quantity. This narrative has cultivated a strong belief in an all-or-nothing approach and grandiose plans—both of which thwart sustainability for most,” Segar explains. Habiters vs Unhabiters While “habiters” might succeed with this conventional approach as it promotes the type of structure, discipline and precision that habiters thrive on, “unhabiters”—which is the majority of the population—aren’t able to do so, notes Segar. “Unhabiters have a lot of unexpected in their lives. They are often the parent who is in charge of the household logistics—when the dog pukes they clean it up, they organize social events, they pick and drop off the kids, etc. They might also be someone who manages many people in a workplace,” says Segar. The bottom line is that the lives of unhabiters tend to have a lot of unanticipated events and when it comes to sustaining healthy habits like mindful eating or regular exercise, the plans of unhabiters often get disrupted, adds the sustainable behavior expert. In her book, The Joy Choice, Segar notes that this point of conflict becomes your choice point—”the true place of power.” What you do here determines not only the fate of your specific behavior change plan but your success in supporting the greater goals they aim to achieve, she writes. The Joy Choice So what should you do when there are so many moving parts in your life—both expected and the unexpected—competing for your time, energy and attention? It’s all about learning how to navigate and negotiate when your behavior change plans become unworkable, says Segar. To pick the “perfect imperfect” option—what Segar has termed “the Joy Choice.” It’s the option that lets you do something instead of nothing, breaking away from the all-or-nothing mindset so you can maintain momentum and stay on the path of lasting change, she explains. Basically, “it’s about not letting perfection be the enemy of good enough,” she notes. It’s about having flexible beliefs and strategies that work for rather than against you and all the meaningful things that make up your life, she further elaborates on the point in her book. “Flexible thinking cultivates psychological resilience to negative life events, including better coping and emotion regulation within work, relationships and leisure,” says Segar. It also drives creativity in the face of challenges and unexpected sudden change, she notes in her book. “We’ve been told over and over again, across decades, to stick to the plan no matter what. This idea is so deeply embedded in our psyches that inevitably these inflexible plans get blown to smithereens, leaving us picking up the pieces, once again despondent and pessimistic about ever becoming successful,” Segar observes in The Joy Choice. But flexible thinking is your “true superpower when it comes to successfully navigating choice points and making consistent decisions,” she writes. “This is especially true for caregivers and others living with many competing responsibilities,” adds the health coach. How can unhabiters master sustainable change Starting small is important. “Small is smart because it’s a way to ease into your new change. Whether kids or adults or pets, learning is easier when you start with a smaller action or thing and build onto that as you master that level,” says Segar. Also, don’t try to make too many changes at once as it would make you less likely to stay committed, therefore, less likely to succeed. Pick one behavior change at a time. It’s also imperative to have a flexible and resilient mindset. “Starting with a plan might need some motivation but what unhabiters want to be very clear about, if lasting change is their ultimate goal, is that their lifestyle change plan (exercise, healthy eating meditation, etc.) will have to flex and ebb and flow as their daily lives do,” says Segar. For example, if your goal is to meditate for 20 minutes daily but you’re able to squeeze in only five minutes on certain days, do it for five minutes instead of skipping it altogether just because it was less than the desired amount of time. Or, let’s say you decide to go for a jog every morning, but something comes up and you aren’t able to do so. On those occasions, you can try to get in some cardio by climbing stairs instead of using an elevator or taking a brisk walk around the block between work. Cultivate motivation by believing that something is better than nothing, says Segar. “Try to see being flexible and doing ‘less’ instead of trying to ‘stick to the plan’ as the way to lasting success,” she suggests. In addition, don’t beat yourself up if you slip up or experience a setback, no matter what your plan or long-term goal is. You’re a work in progress. So on those days, give yourself the gift of grace instead of giving up on your plans.

Funerals | News, Sports, Jobs – The Express – Lock Haven Express https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/funerals-news-sports-jobs-the-express-lock-haven-express-2/ STEPHENS — Mary Louise (Morton) Stephens, 88, of Westport, died May 6, 2022. A memorial service will be held today at 11 a.m. at the Renovo 7th Street Methodist Church. A luncheon will follow. HAYES — (Florence) Jane Hayes, 97, died on Sept. 19, 2022. A memorial service will be held today at St. John’s United Church of Christ, 1050 Buffalo Road, Lewisburg, Pa.. Visitation will be held at 10:30 a.m. with a service to follow at 11 a.m. Private inurnment will be at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Mill Hall, Pa. ORNDORF — Brian K. “Orny” Orndorf, 56, of Lock Haven, died Sept. 25, 2022. A funeral service will be held today at 2 p.m. at the Helt Funeral Chapel, 232 Hogan Blvd., Mill Hall. Friends and relatives will be received from noon-2 p.m. at the chapel prior to the funeral service. GRZONKA — Dr. Robert L. Grzonka, 63, of Mill Hall, died Sept. 15, 2022. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 8, at 1 p.m. at Great Escape, Schillers Park, Ill. (www.donaldwalkerfuneralhome.com) MORELLI — Jodi Lynne (Demi) Morelli, 51, of Pleasant Gap, died Aug. 28, 2022. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15, at Faith United Methodist Church, 512 Hughes St., Bellefonte, Pa. WILSON — Robert W. Wilson, 86, of Howard, died Sept. 24, 2022. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Sunday, Oct. 16, at 2 p.m. at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 850 Snydertown Road, Howard. STACK — Robert Walter Stack, 90, of Jersey Shore, died on Sept. 12, 2022. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22, at Frederick B. Welker Funeral Home, 125 N. Main St., Jersey Shore, Pa. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home.

Hadean, Metaverse Company, Sees Funding Become Proxy For U.S.-China Tech Fight – Washington Times https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/hadean-metaverse-company-sees-funding-become-proxy-for-u-s-china-tech-fight-washington-times/ The escalating competition between the U.S. and China for advanced technology has spread to the alternate reality metaverse, where the two global powers are fixated on the U.K.-based company Hadean. Hadean has plans to create the infrastructure needed to build digital worlds, including things like a multidimensional land warfare simulator that it said in July it was making for the British army. The company’s work lured funding from the U.S. intelligence community, via its strategic investment fund In-Q-Tel, and it also attracted the China-based tech titan Tencent. The mutual interest raised concerns in the U.S. that taxpayers’ money could serve to build new tools for China. After learning of China’s big-tech play for the cutting-edge metaverse business, Sen. Marco Rubio said he has worked to prevent American dollars from creating new capabilities for China. “We will continue conducting oversight to ensure that any investments by the IC are not also advancing the national security capabilities of our adversaries,” the Florida Republican said in a statement. “For too long, the Chinese Communist Party has successfully poached, stolen, or taken advantage of research and development performed by industry, academia, and the government funded by U.S. taxpayers or our allies.” Hadean was initially set to collect a multimillion-dollar sum from a group of funders including In-Q-Tel and Tencent, according to reports. In-Q-Tel is a nonprofit contracted with the CIA that spends taxpayer dollars on private companies to help solve national security problems. Tencent is based in China, where the communist regime’s policies of military-civil fusion force cooperation between businesses and the government. The initial funding plan for Hadean also included financing from the British government, according to the Telegraph in August. The National Security Strategic Investment Fund, a U.K. corporate fund similar to In-Q-Tel in the U.S., was also reportedly advising Hadean. The Senate Intelligence Committee learned of the investment plan and privately pressed In-Q-Tel about its investment and about Hadean’s efforts to raise cash from other sources, according to a spokesperson for Mr. Rubio. In-Q-Tel was not looking to partner with the Chinese tech giant. The fund told The Washington Times it invested in March 2021, before Tencent.   When Hadean announced its funding plans in September, the total amount of cash was higher than anticipated in previous reports, a new investor had emerged, and Hadean acknowledged taking less from Tencent than the Chinese company offered. Hadean said it reached an agreement raising $30 million from a range of investors including In-Q-Tel and bolstered by an additional investor, Epic Games, the behemoth video game and software developer. Epic Games was already a Hadean investor and collaborator.   Hadean CEO Craig Beddis told TechCrunch his company ultimately took less from Tencent to become compliant with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which is a federal government entity that reviews commercial transactions for national security problems. Mr. Beddis did not answer The Washington Times about whether In-Q-Tel urged him to take less funding from Tencent, nor whether his company heard from the U.S. government directly. In-Q-Tel did not answer whether it encouraged Hadean to take less money from Tencent. Hadean’s business may face further scrutiny in the U.S. The Senate Intelligence Committee is in contact with elements of the intelligence community performing oversight related to the Hadean investment, according to a spokesperson for Mr. Rubio. Precisely what Hadean’s investors will receive remains to be seen, but Mr. Beddis said Hadean is working to enable its customers and partners to “build, run and monetise vast virtual worlds.” “The funding will accelerate the development of our groundbreaking cloud computing technology which can be used to increase the scale, complexity and security of 3D environments and deliver a unique experience to users with no latency,” Mr. Beddis said in a statement. “It will also allow us to continue to innovate and make advancements that will overcome key challenges for the metaverse such as its massive computational demands or limitations in concurrent users.” Tencent has big plans for virtual worlds. The company said on Wednesday it has explored building a “digital factory” with the help of an unnamed partner and the end result would rely upon cloud computing and digital twin, or virtual reality, technology. “There will soon be a new connection that integrates digital and physical forms, transcending time and space,” said Tencent CEO Pony Ma on the company’s website detailing his plan for “Immersive Convergence.” The CIA declined to comment for this story.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk Showcases Humanoid Robot At Event – Malay Mail https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-showcases-humanoid-robot-at-event-malay-mail/ A humanoid robot developed by Tesla, known as Tesla Bot or Optimus, is shown in a frame grab from the live video of Tesla’s AI Day streamed on August 20, 2022. ― Tesla/Handout via Reuters Follow us on Instagram, subscribe to our Telegram channel and browser alerts for the latest news you need to know. Saturday, 01 Oct 2022 10:04 AM MYT SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 1 ― Tesla CEO Elon Musk showcased his much-touted humanoid robot ‘Optimus’ at the electric vehicle maker’s “AI Day” event yesterday. The billionaire has said a robot business will be worth more than its cars, hoping to expand beyond self-driving cars that have not yet become a reality despite his repeated promises. A prototype of the robot walked on stage and waved to the seated audience. A video of the robot carrying a box, watering plants and moving metal bars in the automaker’s factory was shown. “Our goal is to make a useful humanoid robot as quickly as possible,” Musk said at the event being held at a Tesla office in Palo Alto, California. “There’s still a lot of work to be done to refine Optimus and prove it.” Musk said currently humanoid robots are “missing a brain,” saying they don’t have the intelligence to navigate the world by themselves, and they are also very expensive and made in low volume. By contrast, he said, the Optimus will be an “extremely capable robot,” to be made in very high volume, probably, ultimately millions of units and is expected to cost much less than a car, at under US$20,000. Musk is also expected to discuss Tesla’s long-delayed self-driving technology. In May, Musk said that the world’s most valuable car maker would be “worth basically zero” without achieving full self-driving capability, and it faces growing regulatory probes, as well as technological hurdles. “There will be lots of technical detail & cool hardware demos,” Musk wrote on Twitter late on Wednesday, adding the event was aimed at recruiting engineers. Tesla’s live demonstration record is mixed. Launches typically draw cheers, but in 2019 when Musk had an employee hurl a steel ball at the armored window of a new electric pickup truck, the glass cracked. The key test for the robot is whether it can handle unexpected situations. Musk announced Tesla’s plan for humanoid robots at its AI day in August last year and delayed this year’s event from August to have its robot prototype working, with a plan to start production possibly next year. Tesla teased the unveiling of the bot on social media with an image of metallic robotic hands making a heart shape. But building human-like, versatile hands that can manipulate different objects is extremely challenging, said Heni Ben Amor, a robotics professor at Arizona State University. Initially, Optimus, an allusion to the powerful and benevolent leader of the Autobots in the Transformers media franchise, would perform boring or dangerous jobs, including moving parts around Tesla factories or attaching a bolt to a car with a wrench, according to Musk. “There’s so much about what people can do dexterously that’s very, very hard for robots. And that’s not going to change whether the robot is a robot arm or whether it’s in the shape of a humanoid,” Jonathan Hurst, chief technology officer at Agility Robotics, a humanoid robot firm, told Reuters. Musk has said that in the future robots could be used in homes, making dinners, mowing the lawn and caring for the elderly, and even becoming a “buddy” for humans or a sex partner. He is due at Friday’s event to give updates on Tesla’s much-delayed plan to launch self-driving cars, and on its high-speed computer, Dojo, which was unveiled last year and the company has said is integral to its development of self-driving technology. Musk has said he expects Tesla will achieve full self-driving this year and mass produce a robotaxi with no steering wheel or pedal by 2024. At an “Autonomy” event in 2019, Musk promised 1 million robotaxis by 2020 but has yet to deliver such a car. ― Reuters

Binance Officially Launches Crypto Exchange In New Zealand Following Regulatory Approval – Bitcoin News – Bitcoin News https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/binance-officially-launches-crypto-exchange-in-new-zealand-following-regulatory-approval-bitcoin-news-bitcoin-news/ Binance has officially launched a cryptocurrency exchange in New Zealand after successfully registering with the country’s financial regulator. “We see significant value in having a serious New Zealand presence,” said Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ). Binance Launches Crypto Trading Platform in New Zealand Global crypto exchange Binance announced Friday that it has successfully registered as a financial service provider with the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). The crypto exchange also announced the official launch of Binance New Zealand (Binance NZ). Noting that the registration was actually effective on Sept. 10, the company detailed: This registration allows Binance NZ to offer a range of financial services, including spot trading, staking, NFTs and more. Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) commented: “A lot of major tech firms are slow to open a New Zealand office. I guess for some, it’s easy to overlook as it’s a smaller market but we see significant value in having a serious New Zealand presence.” The executive continued: The history of fintech innovation in New Zealand is very well known, with one of the earliest and most rapid uptakes of digital transactions in the world. “We see New Zealand as a bit of a pioneer, so from that perspective, I think there’s a lot to be learned here with our local team working with Kiwis to envisage the future of currency, transactions and the web,” Zhao further opined. Binance has been expanding globally, including in Dubai, Kazakhstan, Romania, Spain, Brazil, Italy, and France. The company is also reportedly trying to reenter the Japanese crypto market after exiting it four years ago. Meanwhile, the crypto exchange is seeing a record increase in the number of Indian users after the government started imposing a new crypto tax. The company has made regulatory compliance one of its top priorities. Last week, Binance created a global advisory board to tackle regulatory challenges. What do you think about Binance launching a crypto trading platform in New Zealand? Let us know in the comments section below. Kevin Helms A student of Austrian Economics, Kevin found Bitcoin in 2011 and has been an evangelist ever since. His interests lie in Bitcoin security, open-source systems, network effects and the intersection between economics and cryptography. 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.

Cuba Makes Rare Request For U.S. Aid After Devastation From Hurricane Ian – WSJ – The Wall Street Journal https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/cuba-makes-rare-request-for-u-s-aid-after-devastation-from-hurricane-ian-wsj-the-wall-street-journal/ Hurricane Ian caused widespread damage in Cuba, including in Havana where a tree toppled onto a boat.Photo: Ramon Espinosa/Associated Press Updated Sept. 30, 2022 10:22 pm ET WASHINGTON—The Biden administration has received a rare request from Cuba’s government to provide emergency assistance following the devastating impact of Hurricane Ian, according to communications reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. No exact amount was requested, and the U.S. was still trying to determine whether the government in Havana would supplement the request as it works to determine the extent of the damage, according to the email communications. The storm killed at least two people in Cuba and left the country without power.

Reuters Science News Summary – Devdiscourse https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/reuters-science-news-summary-devdiscourse-5/ Following is a summary of current science news briefs. NASA, SpaceX to study ways to boost orbit of Hubble telescope Elon Musk’s SpaceX plans to fund a study with NASA to examine ways to use the space company’s Dragon capsule to raise the Hubble Space Telescope’s orbital altitude, which would extend its useful life, agency officials announced on Thursday. SpaceX, whose Crew Dragon capsule ferries astronauts and cargo to and from the International Space Station for NASA, will fully fund the six-month study, NASA’s science chief Thomas Zurbuchen told reporters during a short-notice press conference. Rocket Lab to fire up first tests of new engine next year – CEO Launch company Rocket Lab by next year plans to conduct initial hot-fire tests of a new, more powerful engine that will power its next-generation Neutron rocket, the company’s chief executive told Reuters. The Long Beach, California-based company routinely launches small satellites into space with its small workhorse Electron rocket. In December, it unveiled a bigger, reusable Neutron rocket, upping its competitive footing with larger vehicles from Elon Musk’s SpaceX and United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Boeing Co and Lockheed Martin Corp. U.S. agency adopts new space junk rules to reduce exploration risks The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 4-0 Thursday on to adopt new rules to address growing risks of orbital debris to space exploration by shrinking the time to remove defunct satellites. The FCC voted to require post-mission disposal of low-Earth orbit satellites within five years. The agency previously recommended operators of satellites in low-Earth orbit ensure spacecraft re-enter Earth’s atmosphere within 25 years. (With inputs from agencies.)

NFTs In Gaming: Brewing Revolution In The Web3.0 Gaming World – The Financial Express https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/nfts-in-gaming-brewing-revolution-in-the-web3-0-gaming-world-the-financial-express/ Reportedly, the paradigm shift is happening in the gaming industry as the focus is now more on generating value for the users By Abhay Aggarwal Given the accelerated times of digitisation and technology, it wouldn’t be wrong to assume that blockchain technology is creating path-breaking avenues for many industries. As the blockchain industry is becoming more competitive day-by-day, we are witnessing major breakthroughs in blockchain technology. NFTs are gaining attention across sectors and the gaming market is no exception. Since the first game launch in the 1950s, the gaming industry has constantly been evolving, and NFT gaming is definitely the next leap forward. Currently, gaming as we know it is changing due to the use of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Players can now turn their in-game awards into real money for the first time. We are witnessing the paradigm shift in the gaming industry as the focus is now more on generating value for the users, surpassing the traditional benefits of entertainment.  Let’s understand this better with an example. For instance, in a traditional game, the only advantage a player receives from purchasing an armour upgrade is better gameplay inside the constraints of that specific game. However, in a gaming ecosystem that uses cross-platform non-fungible tokens (NFTs), the same armour can be tokenized in a way that converts in-game purchases into transferable assets that may bestow benefits across connected games or be traded for fiat currency. What does the future of Gaming NFTs look like? Many people think NFT games are the future of gaming for several reasons. Some of the major benefits offered by NFT gaming are: ● In traditional games, in-game purchases are non-transferable between different games. In NFT gaming, the ownership is with the players enabling them to save their purchases/assets, re-sell to other players or move to other supported games. ● In pursuit of creating rare value and authenticity, the irreversible records built into the blockchain network underpins the NFT in-game purchases. This decentralised public ledger verifies the quantity and individuality of each NFT, making it valuable as collectibles. ● The users do not necessarily have to worry about the in-game purchases even at the advent of the game shutdown. NFTs are based on the blockchain itself and exist independently of any particular gaming platform and thus can be used in other games. The most significant feature of NFT gaming is the opportunity to Play & Earn. NFT games allow players to make money while doing what they enjoy most i.e. gaming. Multiple reports show that many Philippines-based gamers make between $200 and $1,000 every month. Another extension of earning while gaming is Rent & Earn. The emergence of gaming guilds has allowed gamers to invest in NFTs by giving newbies the option to rent through a scholarship scheme. The guild and the player then split the profits – another strategy that lowers barriers so players can participate and profit. As gaming gradually shapes into an earning model, a new term, “GameFi” has emerged that signifies the merger of gaming and finance. Widely identified as one of the fastest growing segments of Web3.0 gaming, it is leading to decentralised ownership. Game assets, or NFTs, can be moved inside and outside of games because of GameFi’s decentralised architecture. Their transferability increases the gaming assets’ worth outside of the gaming industry. Additionally, NFTs can be purchased and traded on third-party exchanges as collectibles because the ownership status of each one is recorded on the blockchain. Soon these games will also have governance tokens. The holder of a governance token can vote on treasury management issues and changes to the smart contract code. Token holders have a solid motivation to acquire governance tokens as they will have a say over the game’s tokenonmics. Additionally, these tokens frequently come with cash flow rights, much like stocks’ dividends. Pay-to-play and free-to-play were the two main types of gaming monetisation up until recently. Fast forward to today, NFT games are drastically changing the gaming business and giving players more control. They now provide benefits that were thought to be impossible through games in the past. Long gone are the days when video games were considered a mere means of entertainment or a waste of time rather than becoming an industry with its own economic and financial benefits. The author is founder and CEO, Colexion  Also Read: Block-the-Talk; Edul Patel of Mudrex on why investors need to do research before making cryptocurrency investments Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn

High School Football Scoreboard – The Cross Timbers Gazette https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/high-school-football-scoreboard-the-cross-timbers-gazette-3/ Marcus 30, Flower Mound 21 The Battle of the Mound lived up to expectations once again on Friday night, as Marcus emerged victorious. The Marauders scored first on a 7-yard run from Ben Perlmutter to make it 7-0 Marcus with 3:52 remaining in the first quarter. Just before the period elapsed, however, the Jaguars answered with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Yale Erdman to Walker Mulkey to tie the game 7-7 heading into the second. Michael Petro regained the lead for Marcus with a 26-yard field goal early in the second quarter, and the Marauders made it 16-7 on a second 7-yard run from Perlmutter to take a 9-point lead at halftime. In the second, Addison Wells broke a 75-yard touchdown run Flower Mound to make it 16-14 Marcus, but the Marauders came right back and scored on a 1-yard run from Jake Ballard to put it at 23-14 late in the third. With 10:55 to play in the fourth, Erdman connected with Grant Satterfield on a 79-yard pass to bring the game within 2 points. Then with 2:32 remaining in the fourth, Chance Sautter scored on a 9-yard run to make it 30-21. Marcus (3-2, 2-0) will play at Coppell at 7 p.m. on Oct. 7. Flower Mound (0-5, 0-2) will host Plano East at 7 p.m. on Oct. 7. KINGS OF THE MOUND#WeBleedSilverWeBleedRed pic.twitter.com/jCjPk5M5wA — MARCUS RED NATION (@MarcusRedNation) October 1, 2022 Guyer 56, McKinney Boyd 7 The Wildcats scored 21 points in each of the first two quarters enroute to a 49-point victory on Friday night. Jackson Arnold hit Sutton Lee on a 23-yard touchdown pass to get things going for the Wildcats, and Ahmed Yussuf made it 14-0 on a 10-yard run less than two minutes later. Arnold then completed a 37-yard touchdown pass to Josiah Martin, and after Boyd scored a touchdown of its own, Guyer led 21-7 after the first quarter. In the second, Yussuf added a 5-yard touchdown run to make it 28-7 Guyer, and then special teams got in on the act, as Peyton Bowen returned a punt 68 yards for a score. Then it was the defense’s turn, as Caleb Darthard returned a fumble 30 yards for a touchdown to take a 42-7 lead into break. Trey Joyner scored on a 6-yard run in the third quarter to make it 49-7 and Austin Correia scored on a 7-yard run with less than 2 minutes to play in the fourth to finish out the scoring. Guyer (6-0, 3-0) will be in its bye week next weekend. Lewisville 38, Coppell 3 Lewisville had little trouble with Coppell on Friday night, defeating the Cowboys by a score of 38-3. The Farmers got on the board early in the first quarter on a 4-yard run from Viron Ellison. Lewisville extended its lead on a 26-yard run from Xavier Lewis to make it 14-0 heading into the second. With 1:39 remaining in the first half, Freddy Joya drilled a 46-yard field goal to make it 17-0 Farmers heading into the break. Coppell kicked a field goal late in the third quarter, but Lewisville answered with a 5-yard run from Lamar Kerby. Jaydan Hardy scored on a 23-yard run to extend Lewisville’s lead, and with 2:46 remaining in the game, Lewis broke a 61-yard run to finish out the scoring. Lewisville (4-1, 2-0) will play at Plano West at 7 p.m. on Oct.7. Northwest 58, Azle 7 Northwest cruised by Azle on Friday night to move to 2-1 in district play. The Hornets actually took a 7-0 lead early on, but Northwest answered when Jake Strong hit Joseph Rivas on a 48-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-7. Strong then connected with Kenan Reil on a 34-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-7 Northwest at the end of the first quarter. In the second, Trayton Greer kicked a 39-yard field goal for the Texans, which was followed by an 8-yard touchdown run from Kyle Cummings. Cummings then scored on a 8-yard run to make it 30-7 Northwest heading into halftime. Cummings picked up where he left off on the third quarter, breaking a 49-yard run to make it 37-7. He then scored on a 3-yard run, followed by an 8-yard pass from Strong to Cooper McComas to make it 51-7 Texans. Ife Durodoye scored on a 20-yard run to make it 58-7 Northwest. Cummings and Durodoye combined for 424 yards rushing and 5 touchdowns in the game. Northwest (3-2, 2-1) will travel to Saginaw at 7 p.m. on Oct. 7. Liberty Christian 38, Frisco Legacy Christian 0 The Warriors jumped out early and never let up, shutting out Frisco Legacy Christian on Friday night. Jacob Vaughan hit Brady Janusek on a 5-yard touchdown pass early in the first quarter to make it 8-0 and the Warriors added a 34-yard field goal from Michael Stump a few minutes later to take an 11-0 lead after one. In the second quarter, Quinton Brown scored on an 8-yard run to give Liberty an 18-0 lead, and then Vaughan and Janusek hooked up for a second time on a 30-yard touchdown pass to make it 25-0 Liberty Christian at the half. Luke Thompson scored on a 1-yard run early in the third quarter to make it 31-0 Liberty Christian, and with 6:29 to play, Thompson scored again on 6-yard run to make it 38-0 LCS. Jason Witten’s Warriors (5-1, 1-0) will play at Fort Worth Christian on Oct. 7 at 7 p.m.

California Coronavirus Updates: California Extends State’s COVID-19 Supplemental Sick Leave – Capital Public Radio News https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/california-coronavirus-updates-california-extends-states-covid-19-supplemental-sick-leave-capital-public-radio-news/ Find an updated count of COVID-19 cases in California and by county on our tracker here. Latest Updates California extends state’s COVID-19 supplemental sick leave States are spending billions of federal pandemic relief funds on infrastructure projects World Cup spectators will need to test negative for COVID-19 upon entering host country, Qatar Some hospitals pocket high profits while many patients collect debt California teachers more pessimistic since the start of the pandemic, survey finds COVID-19 By The Numbers Friday, September 30 12:41 p.m.: California extends state’s COVID-19 supplemental sick leave California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill Friday that will extend the state’s COVID-19 sick leave policy which was set to expire. Lawmakers recently approved an extension to the state’s COVID-19 supplemental sick leave to the end of the year. Initially, the paid leave was expected to expire on Sept. 30. Workers can use the sick leave if they are infected with COVID-19 to care for a sick family member or to receive a vaccination. The bill will also allocate an additional $70 million — on top of the $250 million approved earlier this year — to aid small businesses in paying for the sick leave. Newsom has a deadline of Friday at midnight to sign or veto bills passed during the most recent legislative session. Thursday, September 29 12:01 p.m.: States are spending billions of federal pandemic relief funds on infrastructure projects States are spending billions of dollars of federal pandemic relief funds on infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges and public buildings, as reported by the Associated Press. Last year, President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan law that provided $350 billion to states and local governments to respond to the coronavirus and shore up their economies. An Associated Press review of reports submitted by states shows they are spending more on infrastructure projects than on public health purposes. States are taking advantage of U.S. Treasury Department rules that grant broad flexibility to spend money on almost any government services as an offset to reduced revenue growth. 11:50 a.m.: World Cup spectators will need to test negative for COVID-19 upon entering host country, Qatar Fans going to the World Cup in Qatar must show a negative COVID-19 test when they arrive as part of the host nation’s rules to combat COVID-19, organizers said Thursday. According to the Associated Press, all visitors aged 18 and over must also download a government-run phone application tracking people’s movements and health status, called Ehteraz. Visitors must be able to show a negative result from a PCR test taken in the 48 hours before arriving or from an official rapid test taken within 24 hours. The COVID-19 testing policy for visitors aged 6 and over is “regardless of the individual’s vaccination status,” the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy said in a statement. The decisions extend throughout the World Cup the public health policies that have been in place since Sept. 4 for all travelers arriving in Qatar. Vaccination is not mandatory for the 1.2 million expected visitors for the Nov. 20 – Dec. 18 tournament. In June 2021, Qatar’s government had suggested there would be a vaccine mandate for fans at the World Cup. Wednesday, September 28 11:57 a.m.: Some hospitals pocket high profits while many patients collect debt Nationwide, many hospitals have grown wealthy, with a roughly 5% operating margin, on average. But that doesn’t show the whole picture — hospitals have been spending lavishly on advertising, team sponsorships, and even spas, while patients are squeezed by skyrocketing medical prices and rising deductibles. A KHN review of hospital finances in the country’s 306 hospital markets found that several of the most profitable markets also have some of the highest levels of patient debt. Overall, about a third of the 100 million adults in the U.S. with health care debt owe money for a hospitalization. Close to half of those owe at least $5,000. About a quarter owe $10,000 or more. Many are pursued by collectors when they can’t pay their bills or hospitals sell the debt. “The fact is, if you walk into a hospital today, chances are you are going to walk out with debt, even if you have insurance,” said Allison Sesso, chief executive of RIP Medical Debt, a nonprofit that buys debt from hospitals and debt collectors so patients won’t have to pay it. Tuesday, September 27 2:48 p.m.: California teachers more pessimistic since the start of the pandemic, survey finds  Many teachers in California have considered leaving the profession and more have a negative outlook on the job following the onset of the pandemic, according to a new survey. The study, published by the California Teachers Association and UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools, found that around 40% of current TK-12 teachers have thought about leaving their job either to continue schooling or leave teaching entirely. The outlook of teachers has also become more negative since the start of the pandemic. Around 77% of teachers say that things are changing for the worse now, up from 45% pre-pandemic. Still, many teachers remain committed to the profession with 57% saying they are unlikely to leave teaching in the next three years, and 39% saying they are highly satisfied with their job. 12:48 p.m.: Over 4 million Americans have received new omicron-targeted booster More than 4 million Americans have rolled up their sleeves for the new omicron-specific booster shots. According to the Associated Press, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted the count on Thursday. The new shots target the most common omicron strains of the coronavirus. The U.S. has ordered 171 million doses of the new boosters for the fall. The first hint of public demand for the new boosters comes as health experts lamented President Joe Biden’s recent remark on 60 Minutes that “the pandemic is over.” The president later clarified his comment after facing heat from health experts, who worry the message might slow prevention efforts. Monday, September 26 11:58 a.m.: Pfizer plans to roll out updated COVID-19 booster shots for children ages 5 to 11 Pfizer is asking the Food and Drug Administration to expand the use of its updated COVID-19 booster shot to children ages 5 to 11. As reported by the Associated Press, some 4.4 million Americans have already received one of the updated boosters since they rolled out earlier this month for anyone 12 and older. Just like with Pfizer’s original vaccine, elementary school-aged children would get a third of the dose of the updated booster. The FDA is expected to decide soon. Pfizer and its partner BioNTech also announced that they have begun a study of the updated booster in children younger than 5. 11:02 a.m.: Canada to soon drop vaccine mandate at US-Canada border An official familiar with the matter says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has signed off on Canada dropping the vaccine requirement for people who enter Canada at the end of September. Canada, like the United States, requires foreign nationals to be vaccinated when entering the country. According to the Associated Press, no change in the mandate is expected in the U.S. in the near term. Unvaccinated foreign travelers who are allowed to enter Canada are currently subjected to mandatory arrival tests and a 14-day quarantine. The officials say Trudeau has agreed to let a cabinet order enforcing mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirements at the border expire Sept. 30. Saturday, September 24 12:30 p.m.: Flu season could be headed to the U.S. early After virtually disappearing for two years as the COVID-19 pandemic raged, influenza seems to be poised to stage a comeback this year in the U.S., NPR reports. And while COVID-19 is notoriously unpredictable and many restrictions have been lifted, there’s a good chance COVID cases will rise again this winter. During this year’s Southern Hemisphere winter, the flu returned to some countries like Australia, where it started ramping up months earlier than usual and caused one of the worst flu seasons in recent years. The combination of flu and coronavirus cases could seriously strain the health system, according to Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease professor at Vanderbilt University. The flu causes between an estimated 140,00 and 710,000 hospitalizations annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC is reporting that the flu is already starting to spread in parts of the south like Texas, and experts caution that very young kids who have not been exposed to flu for two years may be especially vulnerable. But experts doubt COVID and flu will hit the country at the same time because of something known as “viral interference,” a phenomenon that occurs when infection with one virus reduces the risk of catching another. “These two viruses may still both occur during the same season, but my gut feeling is they’re going to happen sequentially rather than both at the same time,” said Dr. Richard Webby, an infectious disease specialist at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “So I’m less concerned about the twindemic.” But Webby and others are still urging people to make sure everyone in their family gets a flu shot as soon as possible, especially if flu season arrives early. Friday, September 23 11:12 a.m.: California is easing mask-wearing recommendations California’s Department of Public Health released updated guidance for the use of face masks, dropping the recommendation for universal mask wearing in indoor public spaces. ...

AP Top Business News At 9:11 P.m. EDT – WTMJ https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/ap-top-business-news-at-911-p-m-edt-wtmj/ AP Top Business News at 9:11 p.m. EDT  WTMJ

Slam Dunk For Healthy Living | Local News | Santafenewmexican.com – Santa Fe New Mexican https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/slam-dunk-for-healthy-living-local-news-santafenewmexican-com-santa-fe-new-mexican/ 1 of 3 Sterlen Barr of Philadelphia, with Rapping About Prevention, shows children what your teeth could look like if they smoked at the Healthy Hoops health program on Friday targeting individuals with asthma and obesity at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center. Healthy Hoops focuses on healthy living, nutrition and fun with basketball. Bernard Corey of New Castle, Del., huddles with kids Friday at the Healthy Hoops health program at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center. They talked to the children about the dangers of vaping and smoking. About 100 children from the Santa Fe Boys and Girls Club took part. Jesse Vigil, 10, of Española dribbles with Coach Joe Richmond, ambassador of basketball for the Delaware Blue Coats, a 76ers G league affiliate, at the Healthy Hoops health program at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center on Friday. Photo feature Photos by Luis Sánchez Saturno The New Mexican Sep 30, 2022 24 min ago 0 1 of 3 Sterlen Barr of Philadelphia, with Rapping About Prevention, shows children what your teeth could look like if they smoked at the Healthy Hoops health program on Friday targeting individuals with asthma and obesity at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center. Healthy Hoops focuses on healthy living, nutrition and fun with basketball. Bernard Corey of New Castle, Del., huddles with kids Friday at the Healthy Hoops health program at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center. They talked to the children about the dangers of vaping and smoking. About 100 children from the Santa Fe Boys and Girls Club took part. Jesse Vigil, 10, of Española dribbles with Coach Joe Richmond, ambassador of basketball for the Delaware Blue Coats, a 76ers G league affiliate, at the Healthy Hoops health program at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center on Friday. Sterlen Barr of Philadelphia, with Rapping About Prevention, shows the children what your teeth could look like if they smoked at the Healthy Hoops health program on Friday targeting individuals with asthma and obesity at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center. Healthy Hoops focuses on healthy living, nutrition and fun with basketball. Articles Images Videos Images Sorry, there are no recent results for popular images. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos.

Sports Planner For Saturday – The Republic https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/sports-planner-for-saturday-the-republic/ COMING UP Indianapolis Colts Sunday vs. Titans, 1 p.m. (FOX) Thursday at Broncos, 8:15 p.m. (Prime Video) Oct. 16 vs. Jaguars, 1 p.m. (CBS) Indiana University football Today at Nebraska, 7:30 p.m. (BTN) Oct. 8 vs. Michigan, Noon (FOX) Oct. 15 vs. Maryland, Noon (TBA) Purdue football Today at Minnesota, Noon (ESPN2) Oct. 8 at Maryland, Noon (BTN) Oct. 15 vs. Nebraska, Noon (TBA) Notre Dame football Oct. 8 at BYU, 7:30 p.m. (NBC/Peacock) Oct. 15 vs. Stanford, 7:30 p.m. (NBC/Peacock) Oct. 22 vs. UNLV, 2:30 p.m. (Peacock) Cincinnati Reds Today at Cubs, 2:20 p.m. (Bally Sports Indiana) Sunday at Cubs, 2:20 p.m. (Bally Sports Indiana) Monday vs. Cubs, 6:40 p.m. (Bally Sports Indiana) Indy Eleven Today vs. FC Tulsa, 7 p.m. (ESPN+/WNDY) Oct. 8 vs. Charleston Battery, 7 p.m. (ESPN+/WNDY) Oct. 15 at Birmingham Legion FC, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+) NASCAR Sunday at Talladega, Ala., 2 p.m. (NBC) Oct. 9 at Charlotte, N.C., 2 p.m. (NBC) Oct. 16 at Las Vegas, 2:30 p.m. (NBC) HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS TODAY Volleyball Jennings County at Shawe Memorial, 10 a.m. North Putnam at Brown County, 12:30 p.m. Boys soccer Providence Cristo Rey at Hauser, noon Columbus East at Jeffersonville, 1:30 p.m. Girls soccer Herron at Trinity Lutheran, 11 a.m. Cross-country Columbus East, Jennings County in Hoosier Hills Conference Meet at Seymour, 9 a.m. Edinburgh in Johnson County Meet at Franklin, 9 a.m. Columbus North, Brown County in Nike Valley Twilight at LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course (Terre Haute), 6 p.m. SPORTS ON TV TODAY Auto racing IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship: The Petit Le Mans, Noon (NBC) NASCAR Camping World Truck Series: The Chevy Silverado 250, Playoffs-Round of 8, 12:30 p.m. (FS1) NASCAR Xfinity Series: The Sparks 300, Playoffs-Round of 12, 4 p.m. (USA) IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship: The Petit Le Mans, 7 p.m. (USA) W Series: Round 6, Marina Bay Street Circuit, 4:40 a.m. Sunday(ESPN2) College football 12 p.m. Oklahoma at TCU, Noon (ABC) Louisville at Boston College, Noon (ACC) Illinois at Wisconsin, Noon (BTN) Navy at Air Force, Noon (CBS) Georgia State at Army, Noon (CBSSN) Kentucky at Mississippi, Noon (ESPN) Purdue at Minnesota, Noon (ESPN2) Temple at Memphis, Noon (ESPNU) Michigan at Iowa, Noon (FOX) Kentucky at Mississippi, Noon (SEC) Wake Forest at Florida State, 3:30 p.m. (ABC) Virginia Tech at North Carolina, 3:30 p.m. (ACC) Rutgers at Ohio State, 3:30 p.m. (BTN) Alabama at Arkansas, 3:30 p.m. (CBS) Fresno State at UConn, 3:30 p.m. (CBSSN) Northwestern at Penn State, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN) Iowa State at Kansas, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN2) Miami (Ohio) at Buffalo, 3:30 p.m. (ESPNU) Oklahoma State at Baylor, 3:30 p.m. (FOX) Michigan State at Maryland, 3:30 p.m. (FS1) Central Michigan at Toledo, 3:30 p.m. (NFL) Texas A&M at Mississippi State, 4 p.m. (SEC) LSU at Auburn, 7 p.m. (ESPN) Cincinnati at Tulsa, 7 p.m. (ESPNU) NC State at Clemson, 7:30 p.m. (ABC) Indiana at Nebraska, 7:30 p.m. (BTN) San Jose State at Wyoming, 7:30 p.m. (CBSSN) NC State at Clemson (CFB with The Pat McAfee Show), 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2) West Virginia at Texas, 7:30 p.m. (FS1) Georgia at Missouri, 7:30 p.m. (SEC) Georgia Tech at Pittsburgh, 8 p.m. (ACC) UC Davis at Montana State, 10:15 p.m. (ESPNU) Arizona State at Southern Cal, 10:30 p.m. (ESPN) Stanford at Oregon, 11 p.m. (FS1) Fishing Bassmaster Elite Series: The 2022 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket, 8 a.m. (FS1) Golf DP World Tour: The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, 7 a.m. (Golf Channel) LPGA Tour: The Volunteers Of America Classic, 1 p.m. (Golf Channel) PGA Tour: The Sanderson Farms Championship, 4 p.m. (Golf Channel) DP World Tour: The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, 6:30 a.m. Sunday (Golf Channel) Horse racing NYRA: America’s Day at the Races, 12:30 p.m. (FS2) Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: The Champagne Stakes and Miss Grillo Stakes, 4 p.m. (NBC) NYRA: America’s Day at the Races, 6 p.m. (FS2) Mixed Martial Arts Bellator 286: Patricio Pitbull vs. Adam Borics (Featherweights), 10 p.m. (SHO) MLB Orioles at Yankees, 1 p.m., or Red Sox at Blue Jays, 3 p.m. (MLB) Reds at Cubs, 2 p.m. (Bally Sports Indiana) Athletics at Mariners, 4 p.m., or Red Sox at Blue Jays, 3 p.m. (MLB) Mets at Braves or Rays at Astros, 7 p.m. (FOX) Rockies at Dodgers or White Sox at Padres (joined in progress), 10 p.m. (MLB) NBA Preseason: Grizzlies at Bucks, 8 p.m. (NBA) Preseason: Wizards at Warriors, 1 a.m. Sunday (NBA) NHL Preseason: Penguins at Sabres, 1 p.m. (NHL) Preseason: Red Wings at Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m. (NHL) Men’s rugby NRL: Penrith vs. Parramatta, Grand Final, 4:25 a.m. Sunday (FS2) Women’s rugby NRL: Newcastle vs. Parramatta, Grand Final, 12:50 a.m. Sunday (FS2) Men’s soccer Premier League: Tottenham Hotspur at Arsenal, 7:30 a.m. (USA) Serie A: Torino at Napoli, 9 a.m. (CBSSN) Premier League: Chelsea at Crystal Palace, 10 a.m. (USA) Premier League: Wolverhampton at West Ham United, 12:30 p.m. (USA) Tennis Tallinn-WTA Semifinal, 6 a.m. (Tennis) Tel Aviv-ATP, Sofia-ATP, Tallinn-WTA Semifinals, 9 a.m. (Tennis) Seoul-ATP Singles Final, 6 a.m. Sunday (Tennis)

The Mugglehead Technology Roundup: The Metaverse Is Real Edition – Mugglehead https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/the-mugglehead-technology-roundup-the-metaverse-is-real-edition-mugglehead/ Mark Zuckerberg’s introduction of the metaverse was the mainstream realization of a project that’s been in the works for years. As with all new projects there have been detractors and doubt, and some of those arguments have some merit. The history of virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality are fraught with failures and setbacks. Is it all just vaporware? Some companies beg to differ. Here’s a short list of companies taking advantage of NFTs and the metaverse. Powerbridge Technologies gets onboard with soccer collectable NFTs The NFT craze is beginning to slow down and took a serious hit during the advent of the crypto-winter, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t companies that see something valuable in these lines of code. It could also be that these companies are the long-tail late adopters long after the bubble has burst. It’s hard to tell. Regardless, Powerbridge Technologies (NASDAQ:PBTS) acquired an exclusive right to offer soccer collectable NFTs on Ali Auction through a partnership with World Football Collection. Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA) is behind Ali Auction, and has made it into one of the biggest online auction marketplaces, sporting over two million active users everyday. The auction benefits from being attached to the largest e-commerce platform in China with over 100 million users. “I am thrilled that we have successfully launched our NFTs on Ali Auction. We will continue to strive and expand our new business in metaverse applications and NFTs, and we anticipate continuous growth from our new business,” said Stewart Lor, CEO of Powerbridge. Powerbridge’s has its finger in a lot of pies. Its business is in multi-industry tech solutions. These range from software apps and services for global trade industry to intelligent devices for smart cities, and much more.  Powerbridge is also up to its neck in the metaverse and smart offerings for travel and leisure, cryptomining and digital asset operations. In this case, it’s involved in soccer NFTs. These NFTs launched on Ali Auction on Sept 20, 2020, and have since pulled in over 240,000 views from potential participants. The first batch of NFTs sold out entirely within the first hour of the auction. Color Star new phone is your gateway to the metaverse Color Star Technology (NASDAQ:CSCW) is entering the mobile industry through the development and manufacturing of a metaverse phone called DONO. The DONO phone is an ESG-compliant, eco-friendly, with all of the sourcing for materials that go into making the phone completely mapped out over the lifespan of the device. Each phone will carry the Color Star logo along with the ColorWorld Metaverse software pre-installed. “The mobile industry is our new business segment, and we are very excited and confident about developing this segment in the years to come. We are a technology company, and combined with our continuous development and optimization of our metaverse platform, our DONO phone will be a significant entry in the industry. While the public has been studying the features of our metaverse, we have been looking into user safety and protecting their privacy. Moreover, we will combine our metaverse with other services and businesses in order to widen our market. We are not your typical tech company. Here, everything is possible,” said Farhan Qadir, CEO of Color Star. Color Star Technology is one of those mixed bag companies that gets as many fingers into as many different sectors as it can manage that are decently common on the fringes of the crypto-markets. In this case, it’s an entertainment and education company that provides online performances and online music education services. It runs through its subsidiaries, Color China Entertainment and CACM Group NY, and also it’s metaverse offering, Color World. Now it’s apparently into technology and phones. “Color Star is a technology company, so there are two things we value highly: one is software development, and the other is cyber security. Our upcoming DONO phone is aimed at the global market, and our priority is to ensure exceptional user safety and software stability. Our own Color World app will also introduce more people to the metaverse experience. We will provide more technology services and front-end projects in the future,” said Qadir. The phone will also be highly resistant to tampering and hacks because of its tech and security. The team behind it will be providing full support in the development process, and the Color World platform will be on display to generate publicity for the phone. DONO gives push-button connection to the metaverse, giving access to entertainment, collaboration, and educational content. The Color World app comes pre-installed, and users can visit new virtual locations, digital products, celebrity endorsement and other such things. The DONO will be unveiled in October at the 2022 Gulf Information Technology Exhibition in Dubai. FaZe Clan optimizes in The Sandbox FaZe Holdings (NASDAQ:FAZE) is a lifestyle and media platform that derives its value from gaming and youth culture. The Sandbox is a decentralized ‘metaverse’ or virtual gaming world, and a subsidiary of Animoca Brands. Faze Holdings is joining The Sandbox. The specifics of this include a 12 x 12 plot of LAND named “FaZe World.” The company will this LAND to promote its lifestyle, products and culture. The two companies will come together to produce digital experiences for the community in The Sandbox through shared digital infrastructure, virtual events, games, and digital product releases. Essentially, this gives FaZe the chance to produce a gamified digital space where users can engage the brand, its talent and ultimately create new revenue options for FaZe. “FaZe Clan has established itself through the power of the gaming and esports communities as a leading gaming, esports, entertainment, and culture brand. We’re thrilled to collaborate in bringing FaZe World to The Sandbox as we prepare to launch many exciting activations that put players and creators in control of the next phase of Internet culture comprising user-generated content, Web 3, metaverse, and gaming,” said Sebastien Borget, co-founder and COO of The Sandbox. LANDS surrounding FaZe World will be available to the public for digital real estate purposes, giving fans of the brand a chance to be neighbours with the gaming and media organization. The Sandbox will sell LAND later this year and anticipates FaZe World going live in 2023. The Sandbox is a curious creation. It’s part virtual real estate and part amusement park. The Sandbox embraces the idea of the metaverse as a consensual shared digital space where creativity and commerce meet. FaZe Clan is one of the largest gaming and lifestyle organizations, joining content creators and esports teams in The Sandbox. Over 400 existing partnerships are there, including Warner Music, Ubisoft, Tony Hawk, The Walking Dead, Snoop Dogg and more. “FaZe Clan’s leadership position at the apex of gaming and youth culture presents an ideal opportunity to build bridges and lead the gaming community at large into the metaverse,” says Lee Trink, CEO of FaZe Clan. “Through FaZe World and our partnership with The Sandbox, our already digitally native fans can experience FaZe Clan in a new immersive way.” Read more: The Mugglehead technology roundup: into the future edition Read more: Super League Gaming extends branding options to Roblox metaverse Orange Comet and AMC bring Anne Rice to NFTs and the metaverse Orange Comet and AMC Networks (NASDAQ:AMCX) have expanded their partnership to launch NFTs and virtual environments for The Immortal Universe of Anne Rice. This is a metaverse-space. It will begin when Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire goes live on Sunday, October 2, on AMC and AMC+. The two companies are expanding the scope for The Walking Dead NFT Collection to include the show’s expanding universe. This will include the upcoming The Walking Dead: Dead City spinoff starring Lauren Cohan and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. “AMC Networks has a proven track record of producing shows that break through the pop culture noise and attract highly passionate and committed fans. As The Walking Dead Universe enters its exciting second chapter, and we embark on the launch of our next epic franchise with Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, we’re excited to continue working with Orange Comet to deliver our viewers a world-class digital collectible experience that complements and enhances their favorite shows,” said Clayton Neuman, VP of games at AMC. AMC Networks is a global entertainment company with a strong content base. Its brands include streaming services AMC+, Acorn TV, Shudder, Sundance Now, and more. Beyond streaming, its in-house studio, production and distribution arm is behind some of the biggest titles and brands known to a global audience, including The Walking Dead, the Anne Rice catalog and the Agatha Christie library. Orange Comet is a Web 3.0 entertainment company dealing in NFTs and metaverse experiences. The company’s claim to fame includes attracting some of the world’s largest award-winning media creators, producers and artists to partner with its biggest brands, IP and talent. Its founders include Hollywood producer, Dave Broome, NFL Hall of Famer Kurt Warner and Grammy award-winning musicians Gloria and Emilio Estefan. Orange Comet runs its entire blockchain based operation on green severs to build a carbon-negative solution for the NFT space. The NFT marketplace, OpenSea, hosts the NFTs for The Walking Dead and The Immortal Universe of Anne Rice. Additionally, The Walking Dead and Anne Rice products will come to life in a cinematic Metaverse environment. “The first mint initiated a fan frenzy among dedicated supporters...

30 Best Gifts For Singers Of All Ages For 2022 – Good Housekeeping https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/30-best-gifts-for-singers-of-all-ages-for-2022-good-housekeeping/ BONAOK/ Bose When it comes to shopping for gifts, it’s always nice finding an option that matches your giftee’s interests, talents and hobbies. While best-selling items on Amazon and popular Christmas picks make creative presents for your loved ones, don’t miss out on the chance to choose something more meaningful and unique to their personality. That includes your search for the best gifts for singers or any aspiring (or professional) musician in your life. We’ve rounded up an array of personalized, funny and cool gadgets your family and friends will love for the holidays (or for any occasion that calls for a unique present). Some items will help them hone their talent, including the portable USB microphone and noise canceling headphones. Others are options you can customize for their everyday wear and use (from the musical note name necklace to the leather notebook for their song lyrics and future hits). Not to mention a guitar-shaped cutting board to replicate their favorite instrument and a scented candle that plays songs straight from their Spotify playlist when scanned. So if you’re looking for memorable family gifts this season, shop this list for any parent, child, grandparent or coworker who can hold a tune. And for more specific gift ideas, check out these gifts for coffee lovers, Star Wars gifts and some of the best gifts for chefs (according to Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen pros). 1 Best Personalized Necklace VictoriaMinimalist Personalized Musical Note Name Necklace 2 A GIFT FOR SINGERS AND READERS DJCBoutique Music Piano Bookmark 4 FOR SINGERS OF ALL AGES BONAOK Wireless Bluetooth Karaoke Microphone 5 PrintYourHeartOutUK Personalized Song Plaque 6 Infinity Collection Music Bracelet 7 Best Tea for Singer’s Throat Tea Drops Loose Leaf Tea Gift Box 8 EcoFlip Scannable Scented Candle 9 A One-of-A-Kind Holiday Playlist Uncommon Goods Holiday Scratch Off Advent Calendar Playlist 10 IkersonLTD I Don’t Always Sing Shirt 11 Playing Cards With a Musical Twist Laurence King Publishing Genius Music Playing Cards 12 Bose Nose Cancelling Headphones 13 FOR THE GUITAR PLAYERS Uncommon Goods Birth Month Guitar Pick 14 Elecstars Star Projector with Bluetooth Speaker 15 R&M International Musical Cookie Cutters 16 Music-Loving Gag Gift Uncommon Goods Mistaken Lyrics Coasters 17 VIBES High-Fidelity Earplugs 18 InnoGear Microphone Arm 19 MODERN VINYL Record Holder 20 New bee Headphone Stand 21 THE ORIGINAL MASHTAPE Retro Cassette Tape USB Flash Drive 22 PromiDesign Personal Guitar Cutting Board 23 Spontuneous Spontuneous The Song Game 24 KUNGYO Vintage Guitar-Shaped Decorative Hooks 25 CLYOR Voice 37 All Natural Voice Remedy for Singers 26 Uncommon Goods Turntable Cheese Board 27 MiraGiftsWorld Personalized Leather Notebook 28 A1GraphicsLtd Personalized Song Keychain 29 AvitoProducts Personalized Music Tumbler 30 Pure Enrichment Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier Mariah Thomas Assistant Editor Mariah Thomas (she/her) is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home and lifestyle content.

US State Issues Order Freezing Crypto At Exchanges In Pig Butchering Scam Crackdown – Regulation Bitcoin News – Bitcoin News https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/us-state-issues-order-freezing-crypto-at-exchanges-in-pig-butchering-scam-crackdown-regulation-bitcoin-news-bitcoin-news/ The Delaware Department of Justice’s Investor Protection Unit has issued a cease and desist order against 23 entities and individuals involved in a popular cryptocurrency scam known as “pig butchering.” The order also freezes the accounts allegedly holding cryptocurrencies belonging to the victims. Delaware Cracks Down on Pig Butchering Crypto Scam The attorney general of the U.S. state of Delaware, Kathy Jennings, announced Wednesday that the Investor Protection Unit of the state’s Department of Justice (DOJ) has “issued a summary order to cease and desist against 23 entities and individuals involved in a cryptocurrency scam known as the ‘pig butchering scam.’” Pig butchering crypto scams have recently become alarmingly popular. Victims of this type of scam “are groomed over time to make investments using cryptocurrency, only to find that what they thought was a safe investment was a scam,” the Delaware DOJ detailed. “The moniker stems from the scammers’ practice of ‘fattening’ the victims before absconding with their assets (‘butchering’).” Attorney General Jennings stressed, “When victims lose money through cryptocurrency scams, including the pig butchering scam, it can be difficult to recover those funds,” adding: Today’s order takes a first step toward protecting Delaware investors from the pig butchering scam by freezing funds at risk from further transfer by the wrongdoers. The announcement details that the Investor Protection Unit received complaints from residents in the state. They explained that they were contacted online by unknown persons who urged them to invest in cryptocurrency. The scammers then encouraged them to invest more after showing large returns on initial investments. However, the Delaware DOJ warned: “Ultimately, they were never able to withdraw the funds and their cryptocurrency disappeared. It is estimated that this international scam involves thousands of victims across the country with losses into the billions of dollars.” Working with a data analytics company, the Investor Protection Unit traced cryptocurrency belonging to two Delaware complainants to a number of wallets on various crypto exchanges, the authority described. The cease and desist order prohibits anyone or any entities affiliated with the wallets from withdrawing or transferring assets owned by the complainants, the Delaware Justice Department noted, elaborating: This, in turn, prevents the exchanges holding the wallets from permitting parties to move the fraudulently obtained crypto, thus effectively freezing the accounts holding assets belonging to the Delaware victims. Have you come across the pig butchering crypto scam? Let us know in the comments section below. Kevin Helms A student of Austrian Economics, Kevin found Bitcoin in 2011 and has been an evangelist ever since. His interests lie in Bitcoin security, open-source systems, network effects and the intersection between economics and cryptography. 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.