Affordable Family Holidays For October Half Term Include Trips To Bath Corfu And Greece Wales Online
Affordable Family Holidays For October Half Term Include Trips To Bath, Corfu And Greece – Wales Online https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/affordable-family-holidays-for-october-half-term-include-trips-to-bath-corfu-and-greece-wales-online/
Going on holiday during peak periods can mean your well deserved break may eat up more of your budget. The good news is there are still plenty of late deals on the market if you look around.
According to consumer advice champions Which?, flights could be up to 42% more expensive than pre-Covid levels, which makes all-inclusive flights and accommodation bundles more appealing. If you can grab a decent flight, room-only options also offer great flexibility.
If you prefer staying in the UK and don’t fancy going abroad, October can be a wonderful time to enjoy the waterways and country trails closer to home. Here are a few good value family breaks yet to be snapped up.
Turkey vacation the whole family can enjoy
Sun, sea, sand and 13 swimming pools – what more could a family want? Adults can play on a 36-hole golf course or in the spa and wellness centre at the Cullinan Belek resort in Turkey, while kids’ clubs cater to tiny tots and teenagers.
Take a stroll along 800 metres of sandy beach, gaze up at the beautiful Taurus mountains and dine in a choice of 20 restaurants and bars.
How
Olympic Holidays offers seven nights all-inclusive at the Cullinan Belek from £1,675pp, saving £246pp (two adults and one child), including flights from Manchester. Other UK airports available.
Departs October 23. Call 0208 492 6868 or visit olympicholidays.com.
Boating to Bath
Setting off from Drifters’ Devizes base on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Wiltshire, float along canals to Bath and back. The journey takes around 10 hours, travelling across two aqueducts and passing through 10 locks with a choice of canal-side pubs to stop off at along the way.
How
Drifters offers the 58 foot Tibetan Fox narrowboat (sleeps six) for a four-night break from £1,122, saving £324. Price includes diesel, gas, damage waiver, bed linen, towels, canal map, life jackets, parking and tuition.
Pets are extra, charged at £30 each. Available October 24, call 0344 984 0322 or visit drifters.co.uk.
String out summer in Corfu
Days are still warm in the Greek islands at the end of October, although the weather is still cool enough to enjoy the many hiking and cycling routes on offer. Even though there are fewer crowds, direct flights are still running.
Sleep by the sea at the five-star Angsana resort, which also has excellent kids’ club facilities.
How
Rooms from £226.90 per night (two adults and two children sharing) with breakfast. From October 23. Visit angsana.com.
Bag a bargain in Cornwall
Staying in a Cornish caravan could be a perfect affordable family holiday option. Set on the edge of a wood and surrounded by countryside, the Sun Haven holiday park is within walking distance of the golden sands of Mawgan Porth Beach and is also close to Newquay.
How
A three-night stay in a six-person caravan costs from £138 per night. Call 0333 200 2780 or visit lovatparks.com.
Dine on great views in Greece
Choose between strolls through fabulous gardens or along a sandy beach at Parga Beach Resort on mainland Greece. In addition to family-friendly facilities, the hotel has a small spa, a selection of pools and a restaurant with local cuisine.
Parga Town and its castle ruins are reachable by water-taxi or walking path.
How
British Airways Holidays offers seven nights B&B at the Parga Beach Resort from £679pp, including flights, from October 22. Visit britishairways.com/greece.
Board Of Suzlon Energy Appoints Chairman And MD Business Standard
Board Of Suzlon Energy Appoints Chairman And MD – Business Standard https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/board-of-suzlon-energy-appoints-chairman-and-md-business-standard/
At board meeting held on 07 October 2022
The Board of Suzlon Energy at its meeting held on 07 October 2022 has approved the appointment of Vinod R.Tanti as the Chairman & Managing Director of the Company with immediate effect, i.e. from 7 October 2022. The Board also approved the appointment Girish R.Tanti as the Executive Director designated as the Executive Vice Chairman of the Company with immediate effect, i.e. from 7 October 2022.
The Board has appointed Pranav Tanti (DIN: 02957770) as an Additional Director of the Company, with effect from 7 October 2022.
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First Published: Sat, October 08 2022. 13:23 IST
The Secret To A Long Life Has Been Revealed And Its Unexpected Ohmymag
The Secret To A Long Life Has Been Revealed, And It’s Unexpected – Ohmymag https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/the-secret-to-a-long-life-has-been-revealed-and-its-unexpected-ohmymag/
Published on October 8, 2022 at 7:30 AM by Ashley Jones
Research shows people who look on the bright side are more likely to live longer.
Your outlook on life could be the reason you live long. A recent study shows that optimistic women are more likely to make it past 90 years, regardless of racial and ethnic background. The research supports previous studies linking optimism to long life.
Brighter side, brighter life
The research by a team from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health looked at data collected from some 160,000 racially and ethically diverse, postmenopausal women.
People of an upbeat disposition have previously been found to have a lower risk of heart conditions and premature death. Researchers now say it could also play a role in living a long life. The participants were between ages 50 and 79 and the data was collected over a 26-year period.
The researchers found that the 25% most optimistic participants were likely to live up to 5.4% longer and were 10% more likely to live beyond 90 than the least optimistic quarter participants, according to Today.com. The study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found no significant change in the results regardless of demographic, chronic conditions and depression.
Lifestyle factors, such as regular exercise and healthy eating, accounted for less than a quarter of the optimism-lifespan association, indicating that other factors may be at play.
Getty/ Tim Robberts
Environmental factors
However, this study is not encouraging you to bury your head in the sand when things get tough. According to Newsweek, the idea is to reframe difficult situations to find potential solutions while maintaining a sense of hope for the future. Speaking to the news outlet, one of the researchers at Harvard University, Hayami Koga said environmental factors are equally important in shaping your outlook.
Heritability studies have found optimism to be a little more than 25 percent genetic. Factors such as childhood environment, education, financial stability. There are a number of ways in which psychological factors can influence physical health.
Research suggested people who are more optimistic might also lead a healthier lifestyle.
Sources used:
Newsweek: Scientists Uncover the Secret to a Longer, Healthier Life: Optimism
Guardian: Optimism may hold secret to longer life, study suggests
Harvard TH Chan: High optimism linked with longer life and living past 90 in women across racial, ethnic groups
Today.com: Optimists live longer, study finds. Here’s how to boost positive thinking
Read more:
⋙ Here are some ways your body reacts when you’re dehydrated
⋙ Your eyes could show when you’re going to die, according to study
⋙ Anorgasmia: The reason why you find it difficult to orgasm
What Channel Is Alabama Vs. Texas A&M On Today? Time TV Schedule For Bitter SEC West Game Sporting News
What Channel Is Alabama Vs. Texas A&M On Today? Time, TV Schedule For Bitter SEC West Game – Sporting News https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/what-channel-is-alabama-vs-texas-am-on-today-time-tv-schedule-for-bitter-sec-west-game-sporting-news/
alabama-texas-channel-time-schedule
What is there to be said about Saturday’s meeting between No. 1 Alabama and Texas A&M that Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher didn’t say over the offseason?
Though neither coach will admit it, there’s bad blood between the Crimson Tide and Aggies after Saban publicly accused his former offensive coordinator of using an NIL collective to buy the top-ranked recruiting class in the country. Fisher responded with an impromptu news conference the following day to blast his former boss in a way that few have.
Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs — fresh off a 206-yard game against Arkansas — told reporters this week his teammates “feel some kind of way about” Saturday’s game. Linebacker Will Anderson Jr. told reporters at SEC Media Days this offseason that “everything will be addressed” when the Crimson Tide take the field vs. the Aggies.
MORE: Watch Alabama vs. Texas A&M live with fuboTV (free trial)
It certainly doesn’t help matters that Alabama is coming off a 41-38 loss to the Aggies in 2021, a game in which the Crimson Tide were favored by 18 points. With that loss, Fisher became the first Saban disciple to beat him.
If Alabama wants to exact revenge, it may have to do so without defending Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young at quarterback; he suffered a sprained shoulder in the win vs. Arkansas and, though his injury is not considered serious, he could miss this week’s game. If he does, Jalen Milroe will be called into action once again after holding Arkansas off in a 49-24 win.
Texas A&M has quarterback instability of its own. Starter Max Johnson hurt the thumb on his throwing hand in last week’s loss to Mississippi State, and ESPN reported Thursday that the LSU transfer has a broken bone and could miss the rest of the season. Haynes King — whom Johnson replaced as the starter three weeks ago — will take over for the Aggies.
MORE: Betting trends to know ahead of Texas A&M-Alabama grudge match
With that, The Sporting News breaks down where and how to watch the big game:
What channel is Alabama vs. Texas A&M on today?
TV channel (national): CBS
Live stream: Paramount+, fuboTV
The SEC West meeting between Alabama Texas and Texas A&M will be broadcast nationally on CBS. Gary Danielson and Brad Nessler will be in the booth calling the game while Jamie Erdahl works as a sideline reporter.
Cord-cutters can stream the action on Paramount+ and fuboTV, which offers a free trial.
MORE: Jimbo Fisher might be done with Nick Saban feud, but it’s not done with him
Alabama vs. Texas A&M start time
Date: Saturday, Oct. 8
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
Alabama vs. Texas A&M will kick off at 8 p.m. ET — one of CBS’ coveted night games — from Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
MORE: College football picks, predictions against the spread for Week 6 top 25 games
Alabama schedule 2022
Date
Opponent
Outcome
Sept. 3
vs. Utah State
Alabama 55, Utah State 0
Sept. 10
at Texas
Alabama 20, Texas 19
Sept. 17
vs. Louisiana Monroe
Alabama 63, ULM 7
Sept. 24
vs. Vanderbilt*
Alabama 55, Vanderbilt 3
Oct. 1
at No. 20 Arkansas*
Alabama 49, Arkansas 26
Oct. 8
vs. Texas A&M*
TBD
Oct. 15
at No. 8 Tennessee*
TBD
Oct. 22
vs. No. 23 Mississippi State*
TBD
Oct. 29
Bye
N/A
Nov. 5
at No. 25 LSU*
TBD
Nov. 12
at No. 9 Ole Miss*
TBD
Nov. 19
vs. Austin Peay
TBD
Nov. 26
vs. Auburn*
TBD
* SEC game
Texas A&M schedule 2022
Date
Opponent
Result
Sept. 3
vs. Sam Houston State
Texas A&M 31, Sam Houston State 0
Sept. 10
vs. Appalachian State
App State 17, Texas A&M 14
Sept. 17
vs. No. 13 Miami
Texas A&M 17, Miami 9
Sept. 24
vs. No. 10 Arkansas*
Texas A&M 23, Arkansas 21
Oct. 1
at Mississippi State*
Mississippi State 42, Texas A&M 24
Oct. 8
at No. 1 Alabama*
TBD
Oct. 15
Bye
N/A
Oct. 22
at South Carolina*
TBD
Oct. 29
vs. No. 9 Ole Miss*
TBD
Nov. 5
vs. Florida*
TBD
Nov. 12
at Auburn*
TBD
Nov. 19
vs. UMass
TBD
Nov. 26
vs. No. 25 LSU*
TBD
* SEC game
India Gate Foods Enters Metaverse To Preserve Traditional Art Forms Adgully
India Gate Foods Enters Metaverse To Preserve Traditional Art Forms – Adgully https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/india-gate-foods-enters-metaverse-to-preserve-traditional-art-forms-adgully/
Basmati Rice brand India Gate Foods has taken up the baton to preserve the dying art forms of India that have existed for ages and defined India’s rich art heritage but are unfortunately losing their existence with the onset of a new age. India Gate Foods has embarked on this journey with the marriage of art and technology. The brand is digitizing these art pieces on Blockchain technology as tradable NFTs. It has launched NFT legacy gallery to rediscover and commemorate India’s lost art forms to its real patrons. This unique initiative supports the artists as NFT sale proceeds go to them directly and also effectively connect with the next-generation consumers for the brand. Let us hear the story of Madan Bhowmik, a Chaal-Chitra artist from West Bengal.
The brand has begun this journey by presenting a heart-warming story, produced by Ice Media Labs Analytics, featuring a West Bengal-based Chaal-Chitra or rice artist Madan Bhowmik. The film has already garnered over 6 million views and is still counting. Known for creating sagas on one piece of rice grain – be it human evolution, the fall of the Roman empire, slaying on Mahishasura, or others, Bhowmik sees limitless possibilities in one single rice grain. However, there is no regular income, laurels, and any takers for Chaal-Chitra in this age & era.
India Gate Foods is closely working with Blockchain App Factory to digitally transform the art forms to tradable NFTs that will be available in the Blockchain market – Opensea for sale. With this new revolutionary initiative from the brand, artists like Bhowmik have a hope to find more patrons for their art. Speaking on the initiative, Kunal Sharma, Head of Marketing, KRBL India says, “India Gate Foods has always worked towards preserving and enriching the culture and legacy of India. This time our focus is on preserving the dying art forms of India that have defined India’s rich heritage for the longest time. We are introducing India Gate NFT Legacy Gallery, a first-of-its-kind technological revolution to give unsung Indian artists a global platform to showcase and sell their artworks as NFTs. It’s going to be a sustained effort and Chaal-Chitra is the first chapter in this saga with Madan Bhowmik as our first art protagonist. I think the vast Indian artistic heritage needs this boost and we are here to provide it.”
Debojit Saha, Founder & CEO, Ice Media Labs & Analytics said, “It is an extremely difficult form of art as the size of the canvas is small and needs extreme precision from the artists. The film narrates the undefying zeal of Madan Bhowmik who has been practicing this art form for the last 30 years without worrying about what people think about it. Bhowmik is an inspiration to everyone and we wanted to bring his story to the world.” As the digital world transitions into AI-based Web 3.0, NFTs are laying the building blocks for the assets and economics of communities. It has emerged as a popular medium among artists to showcase and trade their memorable work to takers across the world. India Gate Foods intends to make this initiative bigger by bringing multiple art forms from all over the country to their NFT Legacy gallery. It will facilitate their digital transformation and trading, the proceeds of which will be given to the respective artists. This will be a huge support to these artists. The brand urges people to come forward and support these artists so that these unique art forms can be preserved. Moving the needle from storytelling to action, India Gate Foods has lifted the festive spirit for Madan and many others.
61 People Who Took Their Organizational Skills To The Next Level And Came Up With Impressive Results (New Pics) Bored Panda
61 People Who Took Their Organizational Skills To The Next Level And Came Up With Impressive Results (New Pics) – Bored Panda https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/61-people-who-took-their-organizational-skills-to-the-next-level-and-came-up-with-impressive-results-new-pics-bored-panda-2/
With autumn blues kicking in and days getting shorter every week, most of us are spending more time wrapped in a blanket sipping on a hot chocolate. We also have more time on our hands to sort things out at home, from cupboards to bathroom drawers.
So in order to give us a little inspirational boost, we are taking a look at people’s organizing skills that would make Marie Kondo proud. From closet makeovers to DIY racks, to neat work stations and mall stands that shine bright in their perfect orderliness.
Thanks to this awesome Reddit community, we have a lot of great examples to entertain our inner neat freaks! Scroll down below and upvote your favorite ones as you go!
The worldwide pandemic has not just put a pause on our lives, it made us reevaluate our values and what we want from life as a whole. By spending more time in the comfort of our homes, we had a chance to sit back and reflect on the environment that we spend so much time in.
Many of us started wondering if we are truly happy with the way our home looks and whether we are satisfied with the way it makes us feel. The boom of renovations, remodeling, home DIY projects, and redesigns followed as we rolled up our sleeves and worked on the home projects we never thought we wanted or needed before.
Now that the pandemic is over, the tendency to better take care of ourselves and our homes is not going anywhere. Partly because, for many workers, their homes have also turned into their permanent offices. And partly because, after trying out working around the home, people realized how much fun it is.
Redditor Hansottowirtz is one of the people who eagerly took up a DIY project to organize his home. “I like cooking, 3D printing and foreign cuisines and tastes, so this seemed like a good opportunity to learn about all of those at once,” he told Bored Panda.
The result was this spice rack he designed using old botanical books and a 3D printer as shared on this Reddit community. Hansottowirtz said that the idea came after he felt that most spice racks he found online weren’t special enough.
The first step of the process for Hansottowirtz was taking a very good look at the images. “I started with the botanical drawings from Wikipedia but quickly found out that there are many hard-to-find old botanical books with beautiful drawings. All the sources are listed on Github.”
Most of the hours were spent on searching the right plants in those books, then cutting them out using Photoshop and lastly, creating a label for them, the Redditor told us. “Next to that, I designed the rack in Fusion 360 and did many test prints before arriving at the current design.”
Although Hansottowirtz is very happy with the result he came up with, he agrees that there are multiple things that can be improved. “The fit of the jars on the rack is not very stable and the Ikea jars let UV light through, which degrades the spices faster,” he noted and added that the same jars “don’t have a perfect seal.”
Moreover, “the printing quality of the labels isn’t good enough as I printed them on the office printer. I’m looking into professional printing now and might start selling them on Etsy soon,” Hansottowirtz added.
Before Hansottowirtz designed this rack, he said that he didn’t know a lot about spices. “I’ve learned so much while doing the research. If you don’t know everything beforehand, try to learn things along the way, and you’ll always enjoy the process better.”
Jim Cramer Says He Bought A Farm With Bitcoin ProfitsAnd Dares You To Bet Against Him Decrypt
Jim Cramer Says He Bought A Farm With Bitcoin Profits—And Dares You To Bet Against Him – Decrypt https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/jim-cramer-says-he-bought-a-farm-with-bitcoin-profits-and-dares-you-to-bet-against-him-decrypt/
CNBC’s Jim Cramer prodded his myriad online non-believers on Friday with a challenge: bet against him. He dares you.
Cramer bragged to Crypto Twitter that he’s divested from Bitcoin and Ethereum and bought a farm and boat with the spoils. He then coaxed doubters of his crypto market analyses to go all in on their anti-Cramer positions.
Soon, those doubters may be able to do precisely that.
As far as crypto, same: i bought a farm with my Bitcoin winnings, all announced, and i bought a boat with Ethereum. All announced. Everything disclosed. I WANT you to bet against me. You do not do this for 42 years and lose money evert year.
— Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) October 7, 2022
According to an SEC filing from earlier this week, Tuttle Capital Management has applied to launch two exchange-traded funds—the Inverse Cramer ETF (SJIM), and the Long Cramer ETF (LJIM)—that will put an investor’s funds towards the opposite of whatever the outspoken television personality advises on his CNBC program “Mad Money,” and via his Twitter account.
“The Fund is an actively managed exchange traded fund that seeks to achieve its investment objective by engaging in transactions designed to perform the opposite of the return of the investments recommended by television personality Jim Cramer (“Cramer”),” the SEC filing reads. “Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s investments is invested in the inverse of securities mentioned by Cramer.”
The history of the relationship between Cramer and Crypto Twitter is long and storied. Once an ardent crypto bull who stated it was “almost irresponsible” not to buy Bitcoin, Cramer had a 180-degree change of heart once crypto markets crashed earlier this year.
On Twitter, apparent patterns of Cramer’s financial advice backfiring perfectly led to the emergence of a parody account titled “Inverse Cramer ETF,” which would gloat whenever Cramer’s prognostications turned out to be precisely incorrect.
As Cramer developed increasing skepticism of crypto assets in the aftermath of May’s crypto crash, the television host began accumulating an ironic following on Crypto Twitter, with users jokingly—or maybe not—positing that so long as Cramer continued to bash crypto, there was hope for the market.
Cramer’s statement today may have been some form of acknowledgement of the lack of deference his financial advice is now generally granted online, and potentially, of his awareness of a prospective batch of publicly traded, anti-Cramer financial products.
As one Twitter user posited though, what “Inception”-level event would transpire if Cramer ever turned bullish on the Inverse Cramer?
What happens if Jim Cramer recommends the Inverse Jim Cramer ETF?
— Genevieve Roch-Decter, CFA (@GRDecter) October 6, 2022
Stay on top of crypto news, get daily updates in your inbox.
Googles News Partnerships APAC Head: Committed To Responding To Needs Of Indian Publishers Challenging When Govt Is Involved The Indian Express
Google’s News Partnerships APAC Head: ‘Committed To Responding To Needs Of Indian Publishers… Challenging When Govt Is Involved’ – The Indian Express https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/googles-news-partnerships-apac-head-committed-to-responding-to-needs-of-indian-publishers-challenging-when-govt-is-involved-the-indian-express/
Kate Beddoe, director of Google’s News Partnerships in APAC, believes India is a market where Google can have a very strong impact on ensuring access to quality information through a sustainable and growing business of news. She spoke with Nandagopal Rajan on how Google is engaging with publishers, updating the product to cater to the needs of readers, and balancing the many forces at play in the space of news. Edited excerpts from a video interview.
As you engage with publishers, what is your North Star goal? What is it that you finally want to achieve? Is it improving the visibility of the publishers, is it improving your ad business?
Kate Beddoe: As a former journalist, and as somebody who has spent an entire career in the news industry, the thing that is most important to me is that we find the right balance of how can I help quality news reach an audience in a meaningful way. But in order to do that, how do we find the business models that will allow that quality content to exist and reach audiences? For me, the North Star is a balance in the relationship between users, technology and news organisations themselves, and finding a workable equilibrium on those three factors.
How important is it then to ensure you have a level playing field, because you have different types of publishers, some big, some small… and you have the technology also coming into the picture with the algorithm. How do you manage all of that, especially in times where news and the delivery of news, the access to news is so critical, especially in the democracies?
Kate Beddoe: There are a combination of things that we need to balance. I think on one hand there is the response to users and you know, what is it that they’re looking for, and how do we serve the needs they have. We have increasingly found that people are looking for very local-based news which is becoming increasingly important. We saw that during the pandemic as well. People didn’t want to discuss the pandemic in general, they wanted to know what was happening that was most relevant to them. And so, there is an element of user behaviour and we track very carefully what users want and need, and how they are expressing their preferences for content. There is a very strong sense that we get through the way that we send traffic to different news organisations, as to what content is best to answer the kinds of questions that people have.
But there is a whole journey that goes into making sure there are quality answers to questions that is everything from media literacy, and how critical people are about thinking about the content they are consuming and where it’s coming from. Instead of trusted sources, there’s somebody that writes with authority on this topic, through to the way that news organisations themselves are focusing on, you know, taking their beats to make sure they are accurate and fact-checked and then the signals that we can take from the interaction between those two things to make sure that we are elevating quality content, regardless of where it comes from. So we are very focused on making sure there are a diverse range of quality content voices that meet user needs in every country we are working with.
Google has been working on taking search out of search by serving content based on user preferences. Does that also come with the pitfalls of creating echo chambers for the readers?
Kate Beddoe: So we tend to talk about our products as query-based surfaces like search, and then query-less surfaces… Discover would be a great example of that and it is so strong in India. Google News would be another example of that. The question of balance and whether or not we are just reaffirming consumers’ behaviours and beliefs is something that we look at, and we think very carefully about. So one of the things that you will see in Google News, for example, is that when you see an article it will offer you more on this topic. And the more on this topic is deliberately designed to offer you a diverse perspective on the topic so that you are hearing from a range of different voices. That’s one example of the way we are trying to embed the sense of user curiosity and how can you go deeper on this from a broader perspective. I think that the challenge of affirming echo chambers is something that is probably much broader than just Google and something that we really are very keen to collaborate and work very constructively with the industry on.
Are you also working on new products like Showcase which maybe gives more control on what should be read compared to what people want to read?
Kate Beddoe: That’s an interesting challenge. There’s a lot I love about the Showcase product and the way that it helps to signal the kind of quality content through the 90 publishers that we have signed up for the programme in India. We have heard feedback for years around editors wanting to be able to use some of our space to identify what they think is important. I think there is always going to be a challenge with digital media, in that it is more measurable to see what consumers are actually interested in reading. I don’t think that anybody has yet cracked the challenge of getting people to read what they need to know, against what they want to know or what entertains them.
More broadly, we are moving into an environment where the competition for attention is something that we see universally. People can spend time reading very long form articles or they can spend a very short amount of time consuming a much more visually rich expression of the same information. We know that people are going to want to go to the more visually rich but shorter time spent consuming (information). That doesn’t mean it doesn’t have the same value, but I think that there’s a lot of questions that we are very keen to work with the industry on how do we bring trust and authenticity to a group of readers who have a much shorter attention span than, perhaps, we are used to creating content for.
Of late Google has been surfacing a lot of the smaller publishers or websites often not from the mainstream. Is there a mechanism within Google to keep an eye on content that you end up surfacing?
Kate Beddoe: I’m not an algorithm expert. What I can say is that our way of surfacing content is relatively simplistic. Within search, we are looking at where a user is and what responses have we seen to other questions. It’s very rare that you get a question that’s never been asked before in search. And so we look at things like have other users clicked on this content… if they have clicked and if they bounce back and ask a slightly different question, we know that (content) hasn’t really answered their question. So what we are looking at is very much focused on the engagement and interaction that people are having with the small amount of content that surfaces on our platforms. Because we don’t host all of this content, we don’t have visibility into that in-depth version of it that, perhaps, other platforms where all the content is fully hosted would have. I’m dramatically oversimplifying what is, I’m sure, very complicated for all our engineers, but at the simplest level that’s what we’re attempting to do. There’s no question of how it plays through from a broader corporate perspective.
News is just 2% of what Google handles and in that sense it is pretty low down the hierarchy. But given the impact of that 2% on everything that we do, is it getting a little bit more headspace in the organisation as such?
Kate Beddoe: Definitely. I think when you look at organisations within Google, such as the partnerships work that I do, it is important to us that we have a very strong relationship and that we are fulfilling our need and desire to be elevating and showcasing quality content. And that’s because our product is better when there are better answers. If users came to Google and didn’t feel like they could trust the information they were getting in response to the questions they were asking, we would not be an effective product.
But it is also important to us that we’re working on the sustainability of the industry. And so as much as we run some amazing programmes where we are working with training, I think we have trained literally thousands of journalists through the News Lab and over 40,000 journalists have gone through our training around quality content. But we are similarly running programmes around advertising, where we have worked with over 300 publishers in India, or reader revenue where we are much more focused and you know and we are running programmes on digital transformation with 20 publishers. All of this is designed to make sure that the business of news is supporting the goal of that quality content.
India is a very different market with a lot more dependence on search for distribution of news and algorithm changes hence have a very significant impact on the business of news. Is that something that you are mindful of?
Kate Beddoe: We work a lot with news organisations to increase their specific presence so that direct entry is important. The thing that is important is that when it comes to the changes that we make in the way different content is shown, it is really about making sure that we are continuing to meet the needs of users, and that we are answering their questions.
I’ll give you a really specific example from about 18 months ago, when the pandemic hit. There was a working assumption that this was an international story for most people. And so what we were looking for was what is the most authoritative source of content at an international level for what was a story ...
Hugs & Shrugs | Opinion | Dentonrc.com Denton Record Chronicle
Hugs & Shrugs | Opinion | Dentonrc.com – Denton Record Chronicle https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/hugs-shrugs-opinion-dentonrc-com-denton-record-chronicle-2/
This was so much fun! Thanks to all those who helped organize each block party event too – we are thrilled to have been a part of #NationalNightOut and we couldn’t have done it without you! https://t.co/NkQauVAaKN
— Chief Doug Shoemaker (@DShoemakerDPD) October 5, 2022
HUGS go to … Denton Police Department’s new police chief, Doug Shoemaker, who was sworn in Monday, replacing Chief Frank Dixon, who has moved over to City Hall as Denton’s assistant city manager. Shoemaker comes to Denton from Grand Junction, Colorado, where he led that city’s Police Department for four years and championed integrity, selfless service and community policing. On Tuesday, his second day on the job, Chief Shoemaker demonstrated his commitment to the community by taking part in the department’s National Night Out activities, meeting neighbors and talking about how they can be better protected. We welcome Chief Shoemaker to the Denton community and wish him the best in his efforts to “engage with the community to accomplish great things.”
And speaking of police gathering with the community for productive conversations, HUGS go to … the Corinth, Hickory Creek and Lake Dallas Police Departments for arranging their first multiagency Coffee With a Cop, taking place Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at Thousand Hills Church in Hickory Creek. The gathering is an opportunity for community members — children included — to mingle with officers in a non-enforcement setting and to ask any questions on their minds. Similar gatherings had been held more frequently across Denton County before the pandemic, and we look forward to other area police departments and even the Denton County Sheriff’s Office bringing back these critical engagement opportunities. Perhaps, Chief Shoemaker, a Coffee With a Cop gathering could be part of your efforts to better meet with and address the needs of Denton’s residents?
Send us your Hugs & Shrugs: We’re always looking for contributions to this editorial from readers like you. If you wish to share your praises or concerns, email them to drc@dentonrc.com.
Cayuga Lake Is A Great Girlfriends Getaway By Travel Writers Creators Syndicate
Cayuga Lake Is A Great Girlfriends’ Getaway, By Travel Writers – Creators Syndicate https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/cayuga-lake-is-a-great-girlfriends-getaway-by-travel-writers-creators-syndicate/
By Candyce H. Stapen
We knew we had booked the right girlfriends’ getaway as soon as we pulled into the driveway of Rowland House in Aurora, New York. At 10,000 square feet and with 10 rooms, the Queen Anne-style home felt both impressive and friendly. Cayuga Lake glistened in the background, and 120-year-old ginkgo trees crowned the lawn, their leaves the color of spun gold in the fall.
My friend, Barbara, and I felt we had dropped into a charmed storybook setting. Aurora, with a year-round population of fewer than 300, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. On strolls through the village, we admired the grand 19th-century houses. Later on, we learned the remarkable story of the village’s picture-book prettiness.
We chose the Finger Lakes for our water, wineries, woods and walking vacation, basing ourselves on Cayuga Lake’s shores. One of the five Inns of Aurora, Rowland House satisfied our desire for a small property with big hotel services. A sister inn housed a restaurant, and a spa beckoned within a five-minute drive. Vineyards, hiking trails and waterfalls laced the region. Although we hadn’t booked early enough to get a massage, we walked by the spa’s cattail-ringed pond and along soybean fields edged with white, yellow and purple wildflowers, part of Aurora’s expansive landscape.
Another draw was Cayuga Lake, the longest of the Finger Lakes at more than 38 miles. We learned about Aurora’s storied residents on a wind-in-our-hair boat ride with Capt. Matt Bianconi, whose family has lived here for generations. Local entrepreneurs Edwin Barber Morgan and his brother, Henry, grew wealthy shipping agricultural and other products through Cayuga Lake to the nearby Erie Canal, which opened in 1825. From the 363-mile waterway stretching from Buffalo to New York, boats reached the Great Lakes and cruised down the Hudson River to New York City. Trade boomed.
In 1832, the Morgans met and became friends with Henry Wells, who later moved to Aurora. He became Cayuga Lake Railroad president and commissioned the lake’s first passenger steamboats. To lodge merchants, E.B. Morgan opened Aurora House, which later became the Aurora Inn, in 1833. Aurora Inn and Morgan’s grand 1858 Italianate-style mansion are two of the Inns of Aurora’s properties. Morgan was also an original investor in the New York Times.
Wells founded American Express and co-founded Wells Fargo to enable merchants to transport gold and cash safely between California and the East Coast. He also established Wells Seminary in 1868, renamed Wells College in 1870, with E.B. Morgan and other benefactors to educate women. The graduating class still rides stagecoaches through town to celebrate.
As a student at Wells, Pleasant Rowland fell in love with Aurora. She created the American Girl books and dolls series, later selling it to Mattel for $700 million. Starting in 2001, she invested more than $150 million in the village, burying power lines, opening inns and a market and lavishing the same attention to detail that propelled the success of American Girl to the village’s regeneration.
Driving past rolling fields and hillside wineries to restaurants and attractions was a gift to the eye. On the outdoor deck at Elderberry Pond Restaurant, a local gem serving its organically grown fruits and vegetables, we dined on excellent duck and crab cakes while listening to the breeze rustle the leaves of the maple trees. In fall, they turn a splendid burnt orange.
More than 100 wineries take root in the Finger Lakes. Of the 14 dotting Cayuga Lake, we toured two up the road in Union Springs. At Quarry Ridge’s hillside setting, we savored a dry rose and lake views from the winery’s covered porch. Next door, Heart & Hands Wine Co. has a small indoor tasting room and a table in a garden where we sampled rich pinot noir, riesling and chardonnay while learning about the wines and the lake’s microclimate that keeps the vineyards alive in winter.
Drawn by the chance to see the tallest free-falling waterfall in the Northeast, we hiked the gorge trail in Taughannock Falls State Park in Ulysses, about 50 miles from Aurora. As promised, the waterfall tumbled 215 feet down a vertical rock face. However, the recent drought reduced the cascade to a disappointing, hard-to-see trickle. Nonetheless, we liked walking between the 400-foot-high cliffs.
Each afternoon we came back to sit lakefront on Adirondack chairs, enjoying complimentary wine and cheese, and taking in the water views. Since the vast majority of the shoreline is privately owned, the lake feels pristine. Instead of crowds and numerous vessels, we heard only the occasional boat. We treasured the soothing lake views and the quiet.
WHEN YOU GO
Rowland House is part of the five Inns of Aurora: www.innsofaurora.com.
Tour Cayuga in the Finger Lakes: www.tourcayuga.com
Bianconi Tours, Cayuga Lake Boat Cruises: www.bianconitours.com
Elderberry Pond Restaurant: 315-252-6025 (Their website is currently under construction. Meanwhile, they have a Facebook page.)
Quarry Ridge Winery: www.quarryridgewinery.com
Heart & Hands Wine: www.heartandhandswine.com
Taughannock Falls State Park: www.taughannock.com
Rowland House in Aurora, New York, was established by Pleasant Rowland, who also created American Girl dolls and books. Photo courtesy of Inns of Aurora.
Some rooms at Rowland House in Aurora, New York, overlook Cayuga Lake. Photo courtesy of Inns of Aurora.
Adirondack chairs overlooking Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes region of New York, provide the perfect end to a day of exploring the area. Photo courtesy of Inns of Aurora.
Candyce H. Stapen is a writer at www.greatfamilyvacations.com. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook @Familyitrips and Instagram @CandyceStapen
and discover www.HennysKids.org, her non-profit that brings solar-powered computers and training to rural schools in Africa. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
BREAKING: Induction Of Women Agniveers Next Year Announces IAF Chief Hindustan Times
BREAKING: ‘Induction Of Women Agniveers Next Year,’ Announces IAF Chief – Hindustan Times https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/breaking-induction-of-women-agniveers-next-year-announces-iaf-chief-hindustan-times/
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Updated on Oct 08, 2022 10:28 AM IST
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Oct 08, 2022 10:28 AM IST
‘Induction of women Agniveers next year,’ announces IAF chief
‘Induction of women Agniveers next year,’ announces IAF chief VR Chaudhari on Air Force Day.
Oct 08, 2022 09:50 AM IST
India logs 2,797 fresh Covid infections in 24 hours
India logs 2,797 fresh Covid infections today, active cases drop below 30,000.
Oct 08, 2022 08:39 AM IST
11 dead, 38 injured after bus catches fire in Nashik
At least eleven people including a child died after a bus caught fire in Maharashtra’s Nashik Friday night, reported news agency ANI quoting the police. Read more here
Oct 08, 2022 08:31 AM IST
Rajnath Singh to attend the Indian Air Force Day celebrations in Chandigarh
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to attend the Indian Air Force Day celebrations in Chandigarh today.
Oct 08, 2022 07:48 AM IST
Congress party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra resumes
Congress party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra resumes from Mayasandra, Tumakuru in Karnataka.
Oct 08, 2022 06:33 AM IST
IGL hikes CNG price in Delhi-NCR
Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) has hiked the price of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in Delhi by ₹3 per kg to ₹78.61 per Kg. For Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad, the CNG price has been hiked to ₹81.17 per Kg, while in Gurugram, it will cost ₹86.94 per Kg.
Oct 08, 2022 06:32 AM IST
Heavy rainfall leads to waterlogging in parts of Mumbai
Maharashtra: Several parts of Mumbai face waterlogging due to incessant heavy rainfall.
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Air Force Day 2022: Stage set for grand IAF show in Chandigarh | Top 10
Published on Oct 08, 2022 10:29 AM IST
Security has been tightened in Chandigarh ahead of the grand air show. The city administration has also arranged shuttle services between alighting/parking points and Sukhna Lake to ferry people to the show.
Chandigarh: IAF fighter jets fly-past in a formation during the full dress rehearsal for the Indian Air Force Day celebrations, over the Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh, Thursday, Oct 6, 2022. (PTI Photo) (PTI10_06_2022_000232A)(PTI)
No one told India to not buy oil from Russia, says Hardeep Singh Puri
Updated on Oct 08, 2022 09:14 AM IST
“Have I been told by anyone to stop buying Russian oil? The answer is a categorical No,” Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on the issue of India buying Russian oil. “Typically what Europe buys in one afternoon is what we buy in a quarter,” the minister said.
BREAKING: ‘Induction of women Agniveers next year,’ announces IAF chief
Updated on Oct 08, 2022 10:28 AM IST
Breaking news October 08, 2022 live updates: Get latest news, breaking news, latest updates, live news, top headlines, breaking business news and top news of the hour.
Raj Thackeray’s MNS supports ‘Adipurush’; ‘Have you seen Ravana in real life?’
Updated on Oct 08, 2022 06:22 AM IST
MNS leader Ameya Khopkar said the party supports Adipurush director Om Raut and will not accept BJP’s ‘gundagardi’. “Has Ram Kadam ever seen Ravana in his life or does he have a photo of Ravana in his pocket?” he asked.
OPEC+ move will impact global prices, says India
Updated on Oct 08, 2022 08:22 AM IST
Speaking to reporters in Washington DC, Union minister of petroleum and natural gas Hardeep Singh Puri expressed confidence that India will be able to navigate the situation.
100% corruption during previous Congress govt, says Bommai
Published on Oct 08, 2022 12:18 AM IST
Bengaluru Faced by 40 per cent commission charge against his government, Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday hit back at the Congress for ‘maladministration’ when it was in power between 2013 and 2018 and alleged that there were instances of “100 per cent corruption” then
Man charred to death in electric wire in Belagavi, case filed against power company: Police
Published on Oct 08, 2022 12:16 AM IST
The deceased was identified as Ramachandra Andare, said the police, adding that he had been reported missing for over four weeks. A live electric wire was found on the body and the police have registered a suo motu case against Hubballi Electric Supplying Company (Hescom), said an official in the know of the developments.
TN governor approves ordinance banning online gambling in state
Updated on Oct 08, 2022 12:12 AM IST
Following the development, the Tamil Nadu prohibition of online gambling and regulation of online games ordinance, 2022 came into effect.
Another police officer held in Karnataka PSI scam
Updated on Oct 08, 2022 12:11 AM IST
The accused, K Subramanya, deployed with the KR Puram traffic station as a sub-inspector, was on the run ever since the PSI recruitment scam came to light. CID officials tracked him down and arrested him from a town in north India, said officials who didn’t provide further details.
Quota for SC/STs to be hiked, says CM Bommai after all-party meet
Published on Oct 08, 2022 12:11 AM IST
The decision comes after an all party meeting was convened on Friday in Bengaluru in which senior leaders from all major political outfits gave their consent to increase the reservation opportunities for marginalised sections.
National Herald case: ED quizzes Shivakumar, his brother
Published on Oct 08, 2022 12:11 AM IST
The Enforcement Directorate on Friday recorded the statement of Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar and his MP-brother D K Suresh for over four hours in the National Herald money laundering case, officials said.
ByPress Trust of India, New Delhi
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5 Healthy Habits: Easy Things You Can Do Every Day For Your Health Glamour
5 Healthy Habits: Easy Things You Can Do Every Day For Your Health – Glamour https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/5-healthy-habits-easy-things-you-can-do-every-day-for-your-health-glamour/
Health is a weird thing. It’s arguably the most important thing, yet it’s also this big-picture concept that can be exceptionally hard to focus on when you’re feeling pretty good and everyday life is coming at you nonstop. For example: You know that drinking less often would be good, but first you have to get through this one super-stressful work week, and then a few holidays, and also you really do love a good glass of red wine (or two) while you’re cooking. (And doesn’t that have some health benefits? That’s right, you’re in it for the phytonutrients!) Likewise, getting to bed earlier is a forever goal for just about everyone we know, but something always gets in the way–I mean, you’re midway through season two of Indian Matchmaking, and who can watch just one episode at a time? And, of course, there’s healthy eating and physical activity. It’s too easy to drown out the symphony of naggy little voices reminding you to make better choices in those departments.
We’re not here to add another naggy voice. Instead, here’s a different strategy: Rather than set unreachable goals that are sure to leave you beating yourself up for all your healthy-lifestyle shortcomings, add in an easy new healthy habit that’s super, extra doable. Once it becomes part of your routine, build off that momentum by adding one more. Stacking mini healthy habits can quickly add up to serious health benefits—and give you the willpower (and the well-being) to take on bigger challenges. Here are five easy things you can do every day in order to finally put health at the top of your to-do list.
Healthy Habit #1: Exercise these neglected but crucial muscles.
Even those of us who work out daily can easily forget that there are muscle groups that serve higher purposes than the aspirational hamstrings you’ve noticed in barre class. Among those, perhaps none are more overlooked and neglected than the pelvic floor muscles. This sling of muscles between the tailbone and pubic bone supports your bladder, uterus, vagina, and bowels–quite a heavy lift, as far as relatively small anatomical regions go. You can probably imagine various reasons for why having a weak pelvic floor could affect your quality of life, and most of them are probably true. When yours is weakened due to the strain and hormonal changes that come with childbirth or just due to aging, you can begin to experience urinary incontinence, or involuntary leakage of urine, as well as sexual problems, like reduced sensation in your vagina. Eventually you might need to get surgery if pelvic floor weakness leads to prolapse, wherein organs sink down and/or bulge out owing to lack of support. The good news: There’s one good habit that doctors say can go a long way toward preventing these cringe outcomes. We’re talking about Kegel exercises, which entails consciously contracting and releasing the muscles of the pelvic floor. Aim to do about 10 of them three times a day—maybe during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Try these tips for doing them right, and/or look into a Kegel trainer device that can help guide and motivate you. Consider each clench an investment in a future that hopefully won’t involve adult diapers.
Healthy Habit #2: Drink just one more glass of water.
There’s a reason motivational chug jugs can be found everywhere from fancy boutique gyms to the checkout line at T.J. Maxx: Everyone has finally admitted that they’re failing at their healthy-living New Year’s resolution of drinking the recommended eight (or so) glasses a day–for the eighth year in a row. Luckily, there is a middle ground between water-consumption perfection and deciding that your morning coffee counts as sufficient hydration for the day. (Because hey, you feel totally fine!) How about adding just one extra glass of water a day, maybe right when you wake up, so you won’t forget? Studies have shown that drinking one, two, or three additional glasses a day can have notable health benefits, including helping you reduce how much sugar and sodium you consume. And if upping your intake just a bit has you feeling more energetic (not to mention less constipated), maybe you’ll be inspired to add another glass or two—next thing you know, you’re downing a jug’s worth (without needing to lug one around).
Healthy Habit #3: Set a bedtime.
Yeah, yeah, we all know it’s optimal to aim for at least seven hours of sleep. But that’s a number easier said than slept, for many of us. Even if you manage to be in bed for seven hours on a regular basis, you might spend a good chunk of that time tossing and turning. Sleep experts agree that there’s one very doable first step you can take toward resetting your sleep routine so that you fall asleep more easily and you get better-quality shut-eye: simply stick to a bedtime, like you had when you were a kid. No more vague “I’ll be sure to get in bed by midnight” promises that you can’t keep as your p.m. willpower dwindles. Create a strict cutoff, and then start winding down an hour or so before so you’re in bed by that time. That means not checking work emails, not foraging the pantry for snacks, and maybe doing something relaxing like taking a hot shower. If you stay up past bedtime on a weekend night or two, nobody will ground you—just make a point of getting back on schedule come Monday. (Need an incentive? Sleep deprivation has been linked to physical health problems—including obesity, elevated cholesterol and blood pressure—and a long list of mental health conditions.)
Healthy Habit #4: Pick up the pace a little.
If you’re not naturally a fast walker, try cranking up your speed as you run errands at the mall or exercise your pup. Or incorporate some speedy walks into your regular workout routine. According to new research, walking at a brisk pace for about 30 minutes can reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, and dementia, compared with walking a similar number of steps at a slower pace. This doesn’t need to be 30 straight minutes, researchers found; short bursts of brisk walking work too. “At these moderate levels of effort, you are able to increase your aerobic capacity,” Dr. Tamanna Singh, a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic, told The New York Times. In addition to the long-term health benefits, such intensity would also lower blood pressure, moderate blood sugar levels, and lower the risk for heart attacks and strokes.
Healthy Habit #5: Sneak a little foliage into your meals.
Remember: People who eat the most vegetables now have the healthiest hearts later. The beautiful thing about that is: Getting more veggies doesn’t have to mean overhauling all of your eating habits in one swoop. You can keep your carbs and just add some greens to one or two meals a day. Add a handful of baby spinach to eggs in the morning or to pasta in the evening, put some kale in your smoothie, pack some microgreens into your sandwich, or add a simple side salad to your dinner.
More on healthy habits and low-key healthy living:
Spiritual Baths Are Going Viral on TikTok—Here’s How to Make Your Own
Toe Separators Are the Next Major Wellness Trend
10 Ways to Find Sunburn Relief Without Ruining Your Vacation
How to Practice Self-Care and Actually Take That Mental Health Day
Petra Guglielmetti is a health, wellness, and beauty journalist who taps into a broad network of doctors, scientists, and medical experts to write in-depth service articles for leading publications like Glamour, Health, Real Simple, and Parents.
Instructor Still Captivated By Dance | News Sports Jobs Warren Tribune Chronicle
Instructor Still Captivated By Dance | News, Sports, Jobs – Warren Tribune Chronicle https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/instructor-still-captivated-by-dance-news-sports-jobs-warren-tribune-chronicle/
CORTLAND — Captivated by dance at a very young age, Lisa Jordan studied and performed from childhood through adulthood. Now, she inspires the next generation at her Jordan School of Ballet in Cortland.
Developing an intense interest for ballet, she practiced at least five hours a day throughout the week.
“It was so difficult, and for that reason I loved it,” she said. “It asked something of me and challenged me more than anything. I loved that. I have never stopped or taken breaks. It’s a type of calling. This is my life’s work. To stop would be so counterproductive. It’s very tiring sometimes but such a joy to do.
“In the end it’s not really about dance. It’s something higher. The only thing that has changed is that I gain greater insight and understanding of what I’m doing and how I am doing it and why. It’s so connected to me. It’s almost as if I didn’t choose it,” Jordan said.
She started dancing at age 4. Tap lessons led to jazz and contemporary dance classes.
“My mother tells me that I always told her I would be a dancer,” Jordan said.
Originally, she dreamed of appearing on Broadway. Instead, at 12, she performed at the White House.
Around that same time, she watched a principal ballerina in the Cleveland Ballet (1972-2000) who looked like her (small with dark hair), which encouraged Jordan to learn the Russian vaganova method that focuses on strength and moves more slowly and, later, the George Balanchine technique that uses quick movements to music with complex rhythms.
FORTUNATE TIMING
Fortunate timing occurred when a husband-and-wife team — Barry and Anna VaCura — from the American Ballet Theatre moved to the Youngstown area and started a school, Ballet Midwest, and a youth ballet company. She fondly recalled attending classes during the summer.
“This changed everything. It was so difficult, and I was so far behind at that age. They told me I had a lot of talent but I would have to stop everything else and commit only to ballet and take beginning, intermediate and advanced classes all at once to catch up. I did just that. And I never had regrets,” Jordan said.
Demanding grace and precision while using defined steps and gestures, the classical dance form of ballet presents expression through movement to tell a story or express thoughts, concepts and emotions.
Jordan’s drive and discipline can be viewed as remarkably similar to her mother’s artistic endeavors. Nancy DeForest was the first female and youngest student with Robert Marcellus, the principal clarinetist of the Cleveland Orchestra (1953-1973) as well as a mentor to generations of musicians because of his lengthy career as a professor and teacher of master classes.
“I remember the day she dropped me off for ballet she said, ‘This is your deal. I already did this with my music when I was younger. If you want this to work, let them break you. This is the only way you can ever be molded into what they need you to be’,” Jordan recalled.
“She never came in or interfered. She supported me quietly and was my greatest support. As hard as it was, that was the greatest love she could have shown to me.”
After six months, Jordan was a featured dancer in the company. The Liberty High School graduate followed that with performances in numerous companies across the country including the Cleveland Ballet, Ballet Michigan, Ballet San Jose, as well as Busch Garden Theme Parks.
As the guest ballerina with the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra, Jordan worked with the dancer who originally influenced her at 12 to commit her life to ballet.
“The experience was surreal, and I knew I didn’t get there alone,” she said.
TEACHING
Like those before her, she offered the knowledge gained from years of studying, rehearsing and performing to others — teaching at the School of Cleveland Ballet, Dance Institute at University of Akron, directing students from the Moscow Ballet for productions of “The Great Russian Nutcracker” and co-directing, choreographing and teaching dance for a fine arts program for the Portage County public school system.
Jordan eventually set up a space at her home for those who wanted to study privately and gain a deeper education in movement. Expanding that approach, she opened her own studio two years ago.
“I teach all levels of ballet, pointe and stretch classes that increase both flexibility and turnout. I specialize in private coaching and cleaning technique for ballet, lyrical and jazz choreography,” she said.
Putting the lessons into practice, the Jordan School of Ballet performed “A Tour of Italy” last June at the Robins Theatre. She is already planning next year’s event, “Journey Through America.”
“I have students with all different goals and reasons for being there and they all are equally important to me as I always remind myself this is more than just about dance. It’s about life. I want to provide a safe space for them where they can come and learn valuable and important life lessons like discipline, focus and perseverance through the medium of dance,” Jordan said.
Considering her students as an artistic family she said, “It matters what is in your heart and if you can make a difference in someone’s day. And it matters how you become successful. I gave up many things people call ‘normal’ growing up, and for me it was a gift. I would have never been able to accomplish the things that I did but I didn’t lose out on anything. That was necessary to get to the level I was striving for.”
SPIRITUAL
The world of ballet also acts as an extension of her lifelong spiritual pursuits.
“Even as a child, my relationship with God has been the most important thing in my life. My students know this without a doubt. I could never take the credit for anything. I remember many years back it bothered me to think there was God in my Christian life and there was my dancing, but they were separate. I decided I could never let that be the case. They are one for me,” Jordan said.
Jordan lives in Cortland with her husband (and “best friend”) of 24 years, John Jordan, and their dog Isabelle.
To suggest a Saturday profile, contact Features Editor Burton Cole at bcole@tribtoday.com or Metro Editor Marly Reichert at mreichert@tribtoday.com.
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The Future Of Higher Education Is The Metaverse The Philly Caller
The Future Of Higher Education Is The Metaverse – The Philly Caller https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/the-future-of-higher-education-is-the-metaverse-the-philly-caller/
PHILADELPHIA – Immersive learning, virtual reality, augmented reality, immersive campus life, and more are all emerging technologies that higher education institutions are exploring. This article discusses some of these new technologies and what they can mean for higher education. But first, what is the metaverse, and how can it be used in higher education?
Immersive Learning
Immersive learning combines simulation and education in the same environment. Virtual objects and scenarios allow students to interact with the content, making learning more realistic and effective. It also allows students to make mistakes safely and to experience key concepts. It can be used as a supplement to traditional learning methods to reinforce key concepts.
The primary benefit of immersive learning is that it helps students focus on the learning experience. In a traditional classroom environment, students are distracted by many different factors. The learner can concentrate on the content at hand by removing these distractions. A study by PwC showed that people engaged four times more when using virtual reality to learn.
Immersive learning is particularly useful for STEM classes, as it allows students to explore a virtual model of a real-life environment. For instance, a virtual cadaver lab created by Fisk University allows pre-med students to examine and operate on a human body more precisely than traditional lab methods. Fisk University previously could not afford real cadavers, but the immersive cadavers allow for the same level of detail.
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality is a technology that can enhance the learning experience in courses and classrooms. As technology advances, more researchers are reporting the use of virtual reality in education. This research creates a rich knowledge base for educators who want to implement this technology in their classrooms. However, before implementing this technology in higher education, it is important to understand what it can do before adopting it.
While technology may have numerous educational benefits, it is not without its drawbacks. First of all, it can be costly. Many higher education institutions are still hesitant to use this technology, especially minority-serving institutions. This can lead to an unequal outcome for students. Furthermore, VR programs can be prohibitively expensive.
Using VR in higher education requires some preparation from teachers and lecturers. A small group of students is ideal to avoid disruptions and technical problems. However, scaling up the technology beyond a handful of students may be unrealistic due to cost and time considerations. To make VR useful, lecturers should set aside time for preparation and ask for student support. The extra time is worth the extra value students can derive from the experience.
Augmented Reality
Augmented reality can be an effective learning tool for online or distance learning students. Teachers can create virtual explorations and set up gamified tasks for students to perform at home. The best part is that the students do not need special equipment to engage in such activities. While VR headsets are out of the budget of most college students, augmented reality apps for mobile devices can be easily downloaded to help students study from anywhere.
Augmented reality can help learners learn about complex subject matter. For example, an AR app designed to help medical and biology students study human anatomy can help students better understand how the human body works. Students can use augmented reality to view detailed images of body parts and interact with 3D models. They can also use AR to visualize engineering designs. With AR apps, students can examine the mechanical designs of the human body in a more meaningful way.
Augmented reality in higher education has a variety of applications, ranging from creating a game environment to developing lesson plans. With more than 2 billion users of AR smartphones, this technology could be a game-changer for the higher education sector. It can also make classroom and distance learning more effective.
Immersive Campus Life
In the future, college students will experience real-world experiences through virtual reality. They’ll experience foreign streetscapes and interact with avatars who will act as conversation partners. And educators will have the chance to learn from the experiences of community members who face systemic challenges. Some believe that immersive campus life is the future of higher education.
While the future of higher education is still in its early days, some researchers are seeing the potential for virtual reality and immersive campus life shortly. Immersive learning environments encourage students to apply knowledge in real-world situations. Immersive environments also help students demonstrate mastery of learning objectives.
Students who engage in immersive learning are rewarded with practical knowledge they won’t gain from traditional learning methods. The experience also allows students to work more closely with faculty and students from different cultures and countries. In this way, students will better understand course material and develop career goals.
61 People Who Took Their Organizational Skills To The Next Level And Came Up With Impressive Results (New Pics) Bored Panda
61 People Who Took Their Organizational Skills To The Next Level And Came Up With Impressive Results (New Pics) – Bored Panda https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/61-people-who-took-their-organizational-skills-to-the-next-level-and-came-up-with-impressive-results-new-pics-bored-panda/
With autumn blues kicking in and days getting shorter every week, most of us are spending more time wrapped in a blanket sipping on a hot chocolate. We also have more time on our hands to sort things out at home, from cupboards to bathroom drawers.
So in order to give us a little inspirational boost, we are taking a look at people’s organizing skills that would make Marie Kondo proud. From closet makeovers to DIY racks, to neat work stations and mall stands that shine bright in their perfect orderliness.
Thanks to this awesome Reddit community, we have a lot of great examples to entertain our inner neat freaks! Scroll down below and upvote your favorite ones as you go!
The worldwide pandemic has not just put a pause on our lives, it made us reevaluate our values and what we want from life as a whole. By spending more time in the comfort of our homes, we had a chance to sit back and reflect on the environment that we spend so much time in.
Many of us started wondering if we are truly happy with the way our home looks and whether we are satisfied with the way it makes us feel. The boom of renovations, remodeling, home DIY projects, and redesigns followed as we rolled up our sleeves and worked on the home projects we never thought we wanted or needed before.
Now that the pandemic is over, the tendency to better take care of ourselves and our homes is not going anywhere. Partly because, for many workers, their homes have also turned into their permanent offices. And partly because, after trying out working around the home, people realized how much fun it is.
Redditor Hansottowirtz is one of the people who eagerly took up a DIY project to organize his home. “I like cooking, 3D printing and foreign cuisines and tastes, so this seemed like a good opportunity to learn about all of those at once,” he told Bored Panda.
The result was this spice rack he designed using old botanical books and a 3D printer as shared on this Reddit community. Hansottowirtz said that the idea came after he felt that most spice racks he found online weren’t special enough.
The first step of the process for Hansottowirtz was taking a very good look at the images. “I started with the botanical drawings from Wikipedia but quickly found out that there are many hard-to-find old botanical books with beautiful drawings. All the sources are listed on Github.”
Most of the hours were spent on searching the right plants in those books, then cutting them out using Photoshop and lastly, creating a label for them, the Redditor told us. “Next to that, I designed the rack in Fusion 360 and did many test prints before arriving at the current design.”
Although Hansottowirtz is very happy with the result he came up with, he agrees that there are multiple things that can be improved. “The fit of the jars on the rack is not very stable and the Ikea jars let UV light through, which degrades the spices faster,” he noted and added that the same jars “don’t have a perfect seal.”
Moreover, “the printing quality of the labels isn’t good enough as I printed them on the office printer. I’m looking into professional printing now and might start selling them on Etsy soon,” Hansottowirtz added.
Before Hansottowirtz designed this rack, he said that he didn’t know a lot about spices. “I’ve learned so much while doing the research. If you don’t know everything beforehand, try to learn things along the way, and you’ll always enjoy the process better.”
Bankrupt Celsius Court Documents Reveal Customer Details – Cryptonews https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/bankrupt-celsius-court-documents-reveal-customer-details-cryptonews/
In another installment of the legal woes of bankrupt crypto lender Celsius Network, court documents submitted as part of the case have been released for public access along with the personal data of thousands of the company’s customers.
The court filing allows anyone to access more than 14,500 pages of information that relates to the financial dealings of Alex Mashinsky, Dan Leon and Nuke Goldstein, the platform’s co-founders, but also the names, wallet IDs, and crypto transactions data of those who had invested their funds with Celsius Network.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Mashinsky, who quit as the company’s CEO in late September, withdrew some $10 million from the now-bankrupt cryptocurrency lender weeks before the business moved to freeze its customers’ accounts on June 12 and shut down its operations. The following month, Celsius Network filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy, leaving behind about $1.2 billion in debts.
The company’s lawyers have motioned the court to redact the personal information of its users, but the request was denied.
Meanwhile, the latest development has triggered a predominantly negative response to the leak across crypto-focused social media. However, some industry observers took a different approach to the issue.
“Customers were lending money to Celcius—not depositing it. Therefore they are creditors who must be listed in the filing,” tweeted user Cliff Van Buren.
“They didn’t make it clear at all. In fact, quite the opposite. They used the word ‘deposit’ in all marketing campaigns. The word ‘lend’ never made an appearance,” user JamSalad offered a different opinion.
The lender’s assets are to be auctioned this month, with the final bid deadline set for October 17. A filing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court states that, if necessary, the auction will take place on October 20. The cure and sale objection deadlines are scheduled for October 25.
North Korea Says Missile Tests Self-Defence Against U.S. Military Threats -KCNA Reuters
North Korea Says Missile Tests Self-Defence Against U.S. Military Threats -KCNA – Reuters https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/north-korea-says-missile-tests-self-defence-against-u-s-military-threats-kcna-reuters/
SEOUL, Oct 8 (Reuters) – North Korea said on Saturday its missile tests are for self-defence against direct U.S. military threats and they have not harmed the safety of neighbouring countries and regions.
North Korea carried out six missile launches in 12 days as of this week, including launching an intermediate-range missile over Japan on Tuesday.
“Our missile tests are a normal, planned self-defence measure to protect our country’s security and regional peace from direct U.S. military threats,” said state media KCNA, citing an aviation administration spokesperson.
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The missile tests “did not pose any threat or harm to the safety of civil aviation as well as the safety of neighbouring countries and regions, by a full consideration of civil aviation safety in advance.”
The message was in response to the International Civil Aviation Organization Council condemning North Korea’s missile launches for posing a serious safety risk to international civil aviation, KCNA said.
North Korea’s defence ministry was “taking a stern look at the development of the current situation, which is very worrisome,” regarding U.S.-South Korean drills involving the nuclear-powered U.S. aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, KCNA said in a separate statement.
The United States and South Korea held joint maritime exercises on Friday, a day after Seoul scrambled fighter jets in reaction to an apparent North Korean bombing drill.
The United States also announced new sanctions on Friday in response to North Korea’s latest missile launches.
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Reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Leslie Adler, Chris Reese and David Gregorio
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Watch Bloomberg Technology Full Show (10/07/2022) Bloomberg
Watch ‘Bloomberg Technology’ Full Show (10/07/2022) – Bloomberg https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/watch-bloomberg-technology-full-show-10-07-2022-bloomberg/
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The Online Gaming Market In India And Proposed Rules To Regulate It The Indian Express
The Online Gaming Market In India, And Proposed Rules To Regulate It – The Indian Express https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/the-online-gaming-market-in-india-and-proposed-rules-to-regulate-it-the-indian-express/
An inter-ministerial task force, set up by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to propose contours of a national-level legislation to regulate online gaming, has proposed the creation of a central regulatory body for the sector, clearly defining what games of skill and chance are, and bringing online gaming under the purview of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, among other things.
The task force, set up by MeitY in May 2022, included the CEO of government think tank Niti Aayog, and secretaries of ministries including IT, Home, Finance, Information and Broadcasting, and Consumer Affairs, among others. The task force is understood to have prepared a final report of its recommendations and submitted it to the IT Ministry.
Why a central-level law?
Online gaming so far has been a state subject, but state governments have said they find it extremely difficult to enforce certain rules like geo-blocking certain apps or websites within the territory of their state. Also, there is a concern that rules passed in one state are not applicable in another, which has caused inconsistency in how the online gaming industry is regulated in the country. State governments also do not have enough blocking powers like the Centre to issue blocking orders for offshore betting sites.
Stakeholders have highlighted a number of societal concerns that can arise from the proliferation of online games in the country. There have been a number of reported incidents of people losing large sums of money on online games, leading to suicides in various parts of the country. Along with that, there is currently no regulatory framework to govern various aspects of online gaming companies such as having a grievance redressal mechanism, implementing player protection measures, protection of data and intellectual property rights, and prohibiting misleading advertisements.
For online gaming businesses, the inconsistency has led to uncertainty. The thinking within the government is to have a nodal agency that will address all issues related to online gaming, including introducing a uniform law to determine what forms of online gaming are legally allowed.
How big is the online gaming market in India?
The revenue of the Indian mobile gaming industry is expected to exceed $1.5 billion in 2022, and is estimated to reach $5 billion in 2025. The industry in the country grew at a CAGR of 38% between 2017-2020, as opposed to 8% in China and 10% in the US. It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15% to reach Rs 153 billion in revenue by 2024. India’s percentage of new paying users (NPUs) in gaming has been the fastest growing in the world for two consecutive years, at 40% in 2020 and reaching 50% in 2021.
According to a report by EY and FICCI, transaction-based games’ revenues grew 26% in India, with the number of paying gamers increasing by 17% from 80 million in 2020 to 95 million in 2021.
What are the recommendations of the task force?
According to a source aware of the task force’s report, a central-level law for online gaming should apply to real money and free games of skill, including e-sports, online fantasy sports contests, and card games among others. Casual games with no real money element in the form of stakes may be kept outside the scope of such rules, unless they have a high number of users in India, or permit the publication or transmission of information in the nature of any inappropriate content like violence, nudity, addictive content or misleading content.
It has also recommended creating a regulatory body for the online gaming industry, which will determine what qualifies as a game of skill or chance, and accordingly certify different gaming formats, seek compliance and enforcement.
A three-tier dispute resolution mechanism, similar to that prescribed under the Information Technology Rules, 2021 for online streaming services, consisting of a grievance redressal system at the gaming platform level, self regulatory body of the industry, and an oversight committee led by the government should be put in place for online gaming.
Any online gaming platform – domestic or foreign– offering real money online games to Indian users will need to be a legal entity incorporated under Indian law. These platforms will also be treated as ‘reporting entities’ under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, and will be required to report suspicious transactions to the Financial Intelligence Unit-India.
Which ministry will be in charge of the regulation?
The task force has suggested that MeitY may act as the nodal ministry to regulate online gaming, except for the e-sports category on which the Department of Sports can take the lead. The scope of the regulation by MeitY should only cover online gaming, that is, games of skill, and the issues of online betting and gambling being games of chance in nature should be excluded from its scope, the task force is learnt to have recommended.
Certain other aspects of online gaming such as advertisements, code of ethics relating to content classifications etc. could be regulated by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, while the Consumer Affairs Ministry can regulate the sector for unfair trade practices.
What did the task force say about offshore betting apps?
On the aspect of prohibiting games of chance, gambling websites or apps being played online, the proposed Digital India Act can include it in the list of prohibited user harms that will not be permitted, the task force has said.
“Many offshore betting and gambling websites which are illegal in India have become popular among Indian users. Despite being based outside India, some of these websites are widely advertised in Indian newspapers and TV channels, and allow users to transact in Indian rupees through popular digital payment modes such as internet banking, UPI and popular wallets,” the task force is learnt to have said in its report.
Last month, The Indian Express had reported that betting websites such as 1xBet and FairPlay had placed surrogate advertisements on streaming services during the Asia Cup and the US Open.
High School Football Scoreboard The Cross Timbers Gazette
High School Football Scoreboard – The Cross Timbers Gazette https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/high-school-football-scoreboard-the-cross-timbers-gazette-4/
Flower Mound 48, Plano East 31
Flower Mound and Plano East slugged it out on Friday night, with the Jaguars finally scoring a knockout to earn its first victory of the season, defeating the Panthers by 17 points.
East got on the board first for a 7-0 lead, but the Jaguars made it 7-6 when Yale Erdman connected with Jason Welch on a 53-yard touchdown pass.
The Panthers made it 14-6, but Flower Mound came right back and scored on a 4-yard pass from Erdman to Grant Satterfield.
The Jags took a 20-14 lead into the second quarter on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Erdman to Walker Mulkey.
Erdman scored on a 3-yard quarterback sneak early in the second to extend Flower Mound’s lead to 13 points, before Plano East kicked a field goal.
Erdman and Welch hooked up again on a 23-yard touchdown pass, and Flower Mound led 34-17.
East scored just before the half, and the Jaguars led 34-24 going into the break.
The Panthers scored first in the second half to bring the game to within 3 points, but Peyton Porter scored on a 6-yard run and Erdman scored on an 8-yard keeper to put the game out of reach.
Flower Mound (1-5, 1-2) will play at 7 p.m. on Oct. 14 at Hebron.
Lewisville 15, Plano West 14
It was a chess match for Lewisville and Plano West on Friday night, as Lewisville emerged victorious thanks to some last-second heroics from the Farmers’ kicker.
Freddy Joya booted a 44-yard field goal with 5:16 remaining in the first quarter to give Lewisville a 3-0 lead after one.
West took a 7-3 lead early in the second, but Viron Ellison made it 10-7 Farmers at halftime following a 3-yard touchdown run.
After a scoreless third period, Plano West regained the lead on a touchdown to make it 14-10, but surrendered a safety to cut their lead to two.
Joya then had the moment of the night, when he drilled a 49-yard goal as time expired to lift the Farmers to victory.
Lewisville (5-1, 3-0) will travel to Plano at 7 p.m. on Oct. 14.
Argyle 30, Lake Dallas 14
Argyle jumped out to a 30-7 halftime lead and never looked back on Friday night.
Jacob Robinson got things going with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Will Krzysiak to make it 7-0 Argyle less than two minutes into the first quarter.
A minute later, RJ Bunnell scored on an 18-yard run to give the Eagles a 14-0 lead at the end of one.
Following a Lake Dallas safety, John Gailey hit Hunter McFaul on a 12-yard touchdown pass to make it 23-0.
Bunnell then scored on a 33-yard run, and following a Lake Dallas touchdown the score was 30-7 Argyle at the break.
Lake Dallas scored once in the second half, but could not threaten a comeback.
Bunnell finished the game with 116 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns.
Argyle (6-0, 2-0) will play at 7 p.m. on Oct. 13 at McKinney Emerson.
Northwest 70, Saginaw 0
Northwest cruised on Friday night, blanking Saginaw in a rout.
Kyle Cummings broke a 42-yard touchdown run to get things going for Northwest, and the Texans made it 14-0 on a 1-yard run from Joseph Rivas.
Jake strong then hit Logan Jeskevic on a 9-yard touchdown pass, and Northwest led 21-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Ife Durodoye scored on an 18-yard run to start the second, and Parker Dunmead returned an interception 22-yards give the Texans a 35-0 lead.
Cummings then added another touchdown run for 5 yards and Durodoye scored again on a 16-yard run to make it 49-0 Northwest at the half.
In the third, Cummings scored on a 4-yard run and Durodoye scored on a 2-yard run to make it 63-0 Northwest and in the fourth quarter, Jayden Harrington scored on a 21-yard run to finish out scoring for the night.
Cummings and Durodoye combined for 258 yards rushing and 6 touchdowns in the game.
Northwest (4-2, 3-1) will host The Colony at 7 p.m. on Oct. 14.
Coppell 38, Marcus 14
Marcus struggled on Friday night, falling to rival Coppell.
The Cowboys took a 21-0 lead into the second quarter before Cole Welliver hit Ashton Cozart on a 27-yard touchdown pass.
Following a touchdown and field goal from Coppell, Welliver and Cozart hooked up a second time on a 50-yard touchdown pass to make it 31-14 Coppell heading into the half.
Coppell scored a touchdown in the third quarter to make it 38-14 Cowboys.
Cozart had 122 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns for the Marauders.
Marcus (3-3, 2-1) will host Plano West at 7 p.m. on Oct. 14.
What You Should Know Before Cruising On The Discovery Princess TravelPulse
What You Should Know Before Cruising On The Discovery Princess – TravelPulse https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/what-you-should-know-before-cruising-on-the-discovery-princess-travelpulse/
Princess Cruises is known for offering elegant ships with state-of-the-art technology, as well as an upscale cruising experience that appeals to audiences of all ages. However, the cruise line’s mastery of the perfect cruise vacation has never been more on display than it is on the brand’s new cruise ship, the Discovery Princess.
Delivered during an official handover at the Fincantieri Shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy in January of 2022, the Discovery Princess has many of the popular features of other Princess Cruises ships. For example, traveling on the Discovery Princess gives you the chance to book one of the brand’s famous Sky Suites, as well as access to an on-board casino and a generous central corridor that features a coffee shop, plenty of bars and seating and an endless array of live entertainment.
Still, there are lots of added features to love about this ship, from its onboard mini golf course to its self-service laundry rooms and huge thermal suite. If you’re considering a cruise on the Discover Princess in the next few years, you should learn about the ship’s exciting features and everything else you should expect.
Rivian Recalling Nearly All Its Vehicles Over Loose Fastener Business News Castanet.net
Rivian Recalling Nearly All Its Vehicles Over Loose Fastener – Business News – Castanet.net https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/rivian-recalling-nearly-all-its-vehicles-over-loose-fastener-business-news-castanet-net/
Rivian recalling vehicles
The Associated Press – Oct 7, 2022 / 7:46 pm | Story: 389491
Photo: The Canadian Press
FILE – A Rivian logo is shown on one of the company’s electric pickup trucks , Dec. 15, 2021, in Atlanta. On Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, electric truck and SUV maker Rivian Automotive said it is recalling almost all the vehicles it has delivered to customers in order to tighten a loose fastener that could potentially affect drivers’ ability to steer. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
Electric truck and SUV maker Rivian Automotive said Friday it is recalling almost all the vehicles it has delivered to customers in order to tighten a loose fastener that could potentially affect drivers’ ability to steer.
The company, which was founded in 2009, said it is recalling about 13,000 vehicles because a fastener connecting the vehicles’ front upper-control arm and steering knuckle may not be torqued enough.
There have been seven reports potentially related to the issue, but no injuries have been reported, Rivian said.
“If you experience excessive noise, vibration or harshness from the front suspension, or a change in steering performance or feel, you should call immediately,” Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe wrote in a letter to vehicle owners.
The company based in Irvine, California, said the fix would only take a few minutes, and it expects to have finished the repairs on all of them in about 30 days, with customer collaboration.
Rivian is aiming to take advantage of a growing appetite among consumers and investors for electric vehicles. It is among a long line of companies, both new and old, trying to peel away market share from Tesla.
It went public last year, and its market value quickly soared past that of Ford and General Motors to become the second-most valuable U.S. automaker behind Tesla. But that is no longer the case: The company’s stock is down 67% so far this year.
Last month, Rivian said it was partnering with Mercedes-Benz to build a factory in Europe that will produce electric vans for both companies.
DAs Office Family Justice Center To Host Mid-October Health Fair Vacaville Reporter
DA’s Office, Family Justice Center To Host Mid-October Health Fair – Vacaville Reporter https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/das-office-family-justice-center-to-host-mid-october-health-fair-vacaville-reporter/
A free family event to promote healthy living in Solano County will be held in the coming days in Fairfield.
The Solano County District Attorney’s Office, which is teaming up with the Family Justice Center and Victims Empowerment Support Team (VEST), will host the Lori Frank Memorial Health Fair on Oct. 15.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the annex law, at 604 Empire St., and will include more than 60 local vendors.
The fair will feature a wide variety of activities for people of all ages. They include free flu shots, health screenings, tasty treats, music, K-9 demonstrations, pumpkin decorating, arts and crafts, local nonprofit service providers, health and wellness business vendors, public safety vehicle demonstrations, food trucks and much, much more, said Monica Martinez, a spokeswoman for the DA’s Office.
“We hope that you join us again this year as we celebrate our great community partnerships and healthy living throughout Solano County,” District Attorney Krishna Abrams said in a press statement. “With so many family-friendly activities to choose from, there will be something for everyone.”
For more information, call the Solano Family Justice Center, telephonecall 784-7635.
High School Football Scoreboard: Oct. 7-8 2022 | Football | News-Gazette.com News-Gazette.com
High School Football Scoreboard: Oct. 7-8, 2022 | Football | News-Gazette.com – News-Gazette.com https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/high-school-football-scoreboard-oct-7-8-2022-football-news-gazette-com-news-gazette-com/
The seventh weekend of the 2022 prep football regular season is upon us.
And news-gazette.com is your place to find scores involving area high school football teams.
Here is a full list of all the scores from Week 7 action:
Sublime Object Of Ideology: Korean Beauty Standards And Metaverse Koreatimes
Sublime Object Of Ideology: Korean Beauty Standards And Metaverse – Koreatimes https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/sublime-object-of-ideology-korean-beauty-standards-and-metaverse-koreatimes/
National 2022-10-08 11:43
Courtesy of Liane
By David Tizzard
Note: The following piece was part of a video essay created with Michelle Ju Sihyun. For the full interactive experience, watch it here on YouTube.
South Korean people are attractive. Especially the ones you see in the dramas, the music videos, the movies, and social media. Beauty here is off the charts. But such sky high beauty standards are not just expected from the country’s rich and famous. Nor are they only applied to women. Whether going to work, attending university, or just trying to live, Korean people young and old feel the pressure of having to look good.
A certain type of good.
There are standards as to what constitutes being beautiful in Korean society. These standards are not created by individuals, but instead by the community. And they are seen as a strength: a mark of personal development. Yet the expectations and pressure on ordinary Korean citizens have been very hard to live up to.
Now something new has emerged. Something more than human. Something challenging the very fabric of reality. Something that might change the conversation about beauty in Korea…forever.
Beauty and Lookism
The Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky said that beauty will save the world. Here in Korea, many feel like beauty is doing the opposite. It’s strangling them. But what is beauty? And just how do societies like South Korea determine what is or isn’t beautiful?
Standards of physical attractiveness differ by country, era, and culture. This points to beauty being, in part at least, socially constructed. Phenomenology tells us that there is a dialogue at play: our identities are formed by us perceiving how other people view us. Consciously and subconsciously we are affected by the people around us. We are reacting to others as we construct ourselves.
That’s why social media now plays a very important role in our perception of beauty. The more time we spend online looking at other people, particularly beautiful ones with features and skin enhanced by the latest filters, the more we think about our own appearance. So despite all the talk of communication and connectivity, the internet isn’t just us experiencing other people. The internet leads us straight back to us. To ourselves.
But why does beauty matter?
Research tells us that a person’s physical attractiveness is positively associated with their quality of social experiences. The prettier you are, the more advantages you will have in life. But what about if you are not pretty? The less beautiful you are, the more likely you are to face discrimination. And studies have shown that when people face discrimination based on their appearance, it can have strong negative effects on their mental health. It can even lead to suicide. Something modern South Korea sadly knows far too much about.
Discrimination based on beauty is common almost everywhere. While some of us might have been raised being told not to judge a book by its cover, in South Korea the opposite is often true. In this hyper-competitive society driven by the experience of a compressed post-colonial modernity, it has taken on an even more serious role. People are frequently reminded that first impressions matter ― including their face, clothes, and hair. A person’s external image carries huge importance. Like age, gender, and wealth, in South Korea, beauty can determine your life, your career, and your success.
This focus on aesthetic experience as a way of securing social and cultural capital in South Korea is called “Lookism.” For some, lookism and a focus on beauty is a positive thing. It is a method of improving and bettering oneself, with its origins in the traditional Confucian ideas of self-cultivation.
Gwansang is a traditional Korean concept which believes you can see someone’s fortune in their face. The outward appearance is everything and reveals our destiny. There are even stories of the biggest Korean companies having people specializing in such skills present during interviews ― determining through the face alone whether a person will bring success to the firm.
To others, lookism is a far more modern issue, driven by economic pressures, the labour market, and the weight of the entertainment industry. Plastic surgery, seen this way, is a sign of strength in South Korea, not of weakness. It’s a way to present the best side of yourself. To make a great first impression. And to show that you care about the public gaze.
In this way, beauty has become a surrogate for qualifications or experience. Instead of paying for training, citizens can instead invest in cosmetics or plastic surgery to help them better fit in and advance up the social ladder. They do this not by being themselves, but rather meeting the standards of beauty society expects of them.
Thus, the uniform standards of appearance are maintained. Big eyes, pale skin, a small face, and a slender body. Reinforced through the media and then exaggerated to sometimes impossible levels by filters.
Society demands you be hot…or at least try. And that trying is really important. In South Korea, for many people, looking good is a duty. Not a choice. It’s part of the social contract. And some people are much better at navigating this world than others.
Virtual Influencers:
Lucy is one of the many new virtual influencers, celebrities, and K-pop stars you can now find in the country. She works for Lotte Home Shopping. She’s huge on social media. She has a hundred thousand people following her. She’s all over the latest trends. But she’s not real. Not like you and me anyway. But what makes something real?
These virtual influencers like Lucy have Wikipedia pages, verified Instagram accounts, and they appear in commercials. They make songs and hold concerts. And what can be realer than achieving the dream of working for South Korea’s most powerful companies?
Lucy and these other virtual influencers are citizens of the metaverse. But some of you might be asking, what is the metaverse? The answer to that is both very easy, and very difficult. The metaverse forces us to question where we draw the line of what is and isn’t real, blurring the line between fiction and reality.
The basic idea is that our current 2D internet experience becomes 3D. So instead of just looking at a flat computer or phone screen, we actually become part of the screen in front of us. We enter the computer. Abandoning our physical reality for a digital one. Becoming virtual pioneers and inhabitants of a new world.
Rather than the speculative science fiction of The Matrix or Black Mirror, the metaverse is seen as part of our natural evolution as humans. Just like we went from living in the water, to trees, then caves, villages, towns, cities, and finally that super cramped but Netflix-having apartment all of your own, the metaverse is the next step.
We once believed that whatever intelligence computers had, they never had the faculty of consciousness. They might have raw power, but they would never master things which we held to contain the essence of humanity, such as chess or music. These beliefs have since been dramatically shattered. So while there is certainly skepticism about the applications of the metavese, we would do well to remember that computers have continually surpassed everything we once thought they were capable and not capable of.
The metaverse could well be the future of information, entertainment, education, and business. A revolutionary movement forward in becoming new humans. The birth of Homo Deus.
Metaverse in Korea
In the classrooms, students at Korean universities have begun attending orientation sessions in the metaverse. Here, alongside the pressure of starting a new chapter of their lives, young people have been carefully selecting their hair styles, faces, and eyes hoping to create a positive first virtual impression and impress their classmates in the digital world.
And while previously we tried to get close to the rich and famous through backstage exclusives, gossip magazines, and celebrity tours, through the metaverse, South Korean production companies have found a far more immersive way to provide such sensations. They have recreated K-drama sets in virtual showrooms. Allowing viewers to digitally inhabit these worlds and become characters in their favourite shows. Experiencing for themselves the whirlwind that is the K-drama life.
The music industry is not being left behind. We have already seen K-pop groups debut with virtual members alongside their real counterparts. And following the popular reality program ‘Produce 101’, similar competitions have been held online with popular female virtual influencers. These digital women held fan meetings, completed personality tests, and even uploaded compilations of their cutest sneezes for their devoted fans.
But what exactly are these new idols? Are they the next Blackpink or BTS ready to take the world by storm? Or simply soulless dancing shadows, the products of their creators?
A Search for Stability
Our current world has abandoned trust and stability. We now live in a post-truth era, characterized by constant change and liquid modernity. Strangely, our desire to create a secular environment based only on facts and rationality has meant none of these seem to exist anymore.
But as humans, we are always searching for our place in the world. Whether physically or psychologically. And so, despite not being real, virtual influencers like Lucy and digital worlds like the metaverse give us a very ironic sense of security amidst all the other changes we’re experiencing.
They’re code. Secure. Rigid. And Pure. Trustworthy combinations of 1s and 2s that make us feel warm and safe. And that’s because the metaverse...
50 Hidden Gems On Amazon That Seem Expensive But Are Actually Cheap As Hell Inverse
50 Hidden Gems On Amazon That Seem Expensive But Are Actually Cheap As Hell – Inverse https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/50-hidden-gems-on-amazon-that-seem-expensive-but-are-actually-cheap-as-hell-inverse/
Shopping
We only recommend products we love and that we think you will, too. We may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which was written by our Commerce team.
I love it when someone walks into my home for the first time and admires one of my many bargain finds, clearly thinking that I spent a fortune on it. I shouldn’t tell them, of course, that I didn’t. The smart play is to let them think I dropped big bucks while keeping my discoveries to myself. But I can’t help it. I always spill. Half the fun of shopping, I think, is finding a bargain. And half the fun of finding a bargain is sharing it with someone who will also enjoy owning it.
I am not talking about the kind of bargain that’s a cheap knock-off or counterfeit. I like things that are authentically awesome. These are products that were designed to be effective at what they do, and high-quality, but also completely affordable for those of us who don’t own three sports cars and a summer home. There are more of them out there than you would imagine, too. In fact, here are 50 hidden gems on Amazon that seem expensive but are actually cheap as hell. I’m sure you will find something that will make your visitors think you spent a fortune. Tell them you found a bargain… or let them believe what they like. That’s up to you.
01
This collection of charming ceramic pots for your succulents
Create a striking display of succulents on a window sill with this collection of six small ceramic pots, each in a different unique design. They are sized for small cuttings or tiny succulents, and each comes with a bamboo tray to catch water as it drains through the bottom.
“These are just about the cutest collection of unique little pots I’ve ever seen,” said one reviewer. “They are excellent for starting seeds, especially slow-growing ones.”
02
This workhorse chef’s knife that cuts like it’s super expensive
A fine kitchen knife can be a major investment. Or, in the case of this 8-inch chef knife, it can look and feel like you spent a tidy sum but cost less than a couple of cocktails. The blade is created from one solid piece of high-carbon steel, balanced, and razor sharp. It comes with a knife sharpener and blade cover to keep the edge honed and protected.
03
A quiet cool-mist humidifier for small spaces
This small, easy-to-operate humidifier delivers instant cool-mist humidity to your airspace at the turn of a dial. It holds 1.7 liters of water so it will run for up to nine hours, moistening the air so that it’s easy on your sinuses and lungs all night or day. Over 8,000 people give it five stars and use it for themselves, babies, or even orchids and other plant friends.
04
These LED lights that make your car’s interior so flash
Trick out the interior of your ride with these LED car lights that plug into the lighter and let you control the scene with an app on your phone. You can pick from 16 million colors (yes) and 30 modes, and even set it to sync with your music. They peel and stick under the dash, along the console, or wherever you like and turn any drive into a party.
“I love setting the mood in my car as well as being able to see items that have fallen on my floor mats without getting a flashlight,” said one practical reviewer.
05
A set of packing cubes for a suitcase you can live out of
Organize your clothes into these sleek and affordable packing cubes as you pack and your entire trip will go more smoothly. Dressing from these cubes is so easy you won’t need to unpack, and if your suitcase ever spills open you won’t have to repack everything piecemeal. There are four cubes in graduating sizes to fit everything from underwear to sweaters and a dirty laundry bag. Choose from nine colors.
06
A luxuriously soft set of sheets that looks so expensive
Dress your bed in this silky, colorful sheet set and it will feel like a luxury upgrade. But it’s so affordable! The soft, microfiber fabric is breathable, cooling in summer and warm in the winter, and goes into the washer and dryer without a problem. There are beautiful colors to choose from and over 59,000 people gave them a perfect five stars.
07
A set of elegant stemless wine glasses for $15
Stemless wine glasses are so much easier to live with than stemmed ones. They don’t knock over as easily and can go right in the dishwasher for cleanup. This set of four holds 15 ounces each, has a flat bottom, and is a versatile shape that brings out the best in many wines.
“As someone whose hand gestures become proportionately exuberant to the number of glasses of Pinot Noir, these stemless classic beauties are the perfect solution for eliminating the tabletop bowling ball down the alley kind of skids and crashes that stemmed glasses present for me,” said one eloquent reviewer.
08
The diffuser that’s also an alarm clock & speaker
This little essential oil diffuser is here to command your bedside table. It will fill the air you breathe, as you sleep, with a cool mist that’s soothing to your throat and sinuses and emit a calming scent if you add essential oils to the water. It’s also a Bluetooth speaker so it will play white noise, calming music, or read a book to you as you drift off. And the built-in alarm clock will wake you in the morning.
09
A big canvas toiletry bag so your personal care items are packed & ready
Instead of running around before a trip trying to remember everything from shampoo to medications, keep this smart canvas toiletry bag packed with travel-sized essentials. It’s compact yet roomy and drops easily into your suitcase. When you arrive at your destination, everything you need to stay groomed and healthy will be easy to find. There are six colors to choose from, the big vegan leather handle hangs your gear from a bathroom hook, and an internal pocket is a great place to stash small items.
10
This bifold wallet that’s slim, super functional, & totally affordable
With seven card pockets and a metal clip for cash, this slim bifold money clip wallet handles all your essentials easily, but also fits in a breast pocket and won’t bulge out your slim jeans. It comes in eight colors.
“Not only is it an attractive, well-designed wallet, it really is amazing how functional it is. There are enough slots to hold all of the essential needs you want, a great built-in money clip, and an outside clear covered pocket for my [ID],” said one reviewer.
11
This sleek charging station for tidy & fast power-ups
If you live amidst cable chaos, plug in this USB charging station and end that. End, too, the constant plugging and unplugging of devices sharing one outlet. This kit charges four gadgets at once from one plug and comes with five short cords so it won’t make a snarled mess doing it. LED indicators on each section alert you when a device is charged. And the whole thing fits in a small footprint on your desk.
12
A handheld frother for yummy lattes & foamy matchas at home
Love your café for the foamy lattes, matcha, and cappuccinos? You can do that at home, without getting dressed or forking over too much cash, with this electric milk frother. It runs on batteries, spins fast enough to turn warm or cold milk of all kinds into a delicious foam, and stands up on its own on the counter.
“The froth has a light, creamy, and airy texture and there’s just something a little extra special about my first cup of coffee each day being topped with it,” said one fan.
13
A set of plush cotton bath towels that’s soft & affordable
Refresh your bathroom with brand new towels without going broke in the process. This set of eight 100% cotton bath towels — two bath towels, two hand towels, and four washcloths — is lush and soft, comes in 11 colors for the fresh new look of your choice, and will get softer and more absorbent the more you use and wash them.
14
A white noise machine that helps you sleep & focus
When distractions — in the form of sounds you can’t control or your own thoughts — keep you from sleeping or focusing, turn on your favorite sound from the six options in this portable white noise machine. It will drown out noisy neighbors, traffic, the snoring of your bedmate, or whatever is bothering you with calming sounds like a babbling brook, rain, or the ocean.
“This little machine is a ticket to a better night’s sleep,” said one reviewer. “Helps to drown out my husband’s snoring. [I] love the RAIN sound.”
15
A pet brush that catches shedding fur before it blankets your home
Brush your shedding pet with this de-shedding tool and get that fur captured before it blankets the couch. The 4-inch stainless steel blade reaches into the undercoat to remove loose hair. Pets love this like humans love a spa treatment and the ergonomic handle is easy on your hands, too. Plus, it’s cheaper than more expensive brands.
“Both our labs … loved it!” said one reviewer. “[It] brushed out huge wads of fur with no fuss, no pain, no vacuum! [The dogs] act like it feels like a good scratching!”
16
A 3-pack of woven nylon iPhone chargers that doesn’t cost a fortune
These three iPhone chargers are high quality — made from braided nylon that is flexible and resists splitting and abrasion, and with fast charging capability — yet completely affordable. The cords are 6 feet long so you can reach the plug behind the bed and reviewers gave them over 18,000 five-star ratings.
17
This waterproof Bluetooth speaker that plays all day on a charge
This Bluetooth speaker might be small, but it is powerful and feature-rich. It’s waterproof enough to take to the beach or play in the shower and will run for 1,500 minutes on a single charge. You can pair two of them together for stereo sound or grab one and take it to the pool. Almost 19,000 people gave it five stars.
18
These ...
Chinas Once-Popular Crypto Exchange Huobi Global Bought By About Capital Yahoo Finance
China’s Once-Popular Crypto Exchange Huobi Global Bought By About Capital – Yahoo Finance https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/chinas-once-popular-crypto-exchange-huobi-global-bought-by-about-capital-yahoo-finance/
Huobi Global, once China’s top crypto exchange, has been retooling itself since exiting from the home market following Beijing’s crypto ban. Now the company is nearing a takeover by an investment firm.
Huobi Global announced today that its controlling shareholder has completed the transaction to sell its entire stake to About Capital, a Hong Kong-based fund management firm started by Ted Chen, who founded China’s hedge fund giant Greenwoods Asset Management. This confirms an earlier report by Bloomberg saying the founder Leon Li was looking to sell his majority stake for over $1 billion, valuing the exchange at $3 billion.
Founded in 2013, Huobi Global rode China’s crypto boom before Beijing declared all crypto transactions illegal in 2021. The parent firm Huobi Group now operates an umbrella of crypto-related entities, including its flagship exchange Huobi Global, its venture capital arm Huobi Ventures, and a crypto cloud service.
Huobi Global and rival Binance said they’ve stopped servicing China-based customers since the ban. While Binance kicked off global expansion well before the crackdown, Huobi Global appears to have been hit hard by the regulatory change as a big chunk of its users were still in China. The trading platform was reportedly laying off 30% of its workforce this summer after its retreat from China dampened revenues.
About Capital’s buyout won’t affect Huobi’s “core operation and business management teams,” the announcement says. The exact amount of the deal wasn’t disclosed, but it looks like the new parent is providing the much-needed capital to help the exchange ride out its financial troubles and go global in the midst of a crypto rout.
According to About Capital, Huobi Global will “embrace a series of new international brand promotion and business expansion initiatives, including a global strategic advisory board led by leading industry figures, the injection of sufficient capital in margin and risk provision fund, as well as measures to further enhance competitiveness.”
“Following Huobi’s exit from the Chinese mainland market in 2021, we have accelerated our globalization push amidst a challenging market environment, which adds to the impetus for Huobi to seek a new shareholding structure with a global vision and international resources,” Li says in a statement. “We believe the successful acquisition by About Capital vehicle will contribute to Huobi’s global expansion in both aspects.”
Report: Big U.S. Banks Are Stiffing Account Takeover Victims Krebs On Security Krebs On Security
Report: Big U.S. Banks Are Stiffing Account Takeover Victims – Krebs On Security – Krebs On Security https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/report-big-u-s-banks-are-stiffing-account-takeover-victims-krebs-on-security-krebs-on-security/
When U.S. consumers have their online bank accounts hijacked and plundered by hackers, U.S. financial institutions are legally obligated to reverse any unauthorized transactions as long as the victim reports the fraud in a timely manner. But new data released this week suggests that for some of the nation’s largest banks, reimbursing account takeover victims has become more the exception than the rule.
The findings came in a report released by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who in April 2022 opened an investigation into fraud tied to Zelle, the “peer-to-peer” digital payment service used by many financial institutions that allows customers to quickly send cash to friends and family.
Zelle is run by Early Warning Services LLC (EWS), a private financial services company which is jointly owned by Bank of America, Capital One, JPMorgan Chase, PNC Bank, Truist, U.S. Bank, and Wells Fargo. Zelle is enabled by default for customers at over 1,000 different financial institutions, even if a great many customers still don’t know it’s there.
Sen. Warren said several of the EWS owner banks — including Capital One, JPMorgan and Wells Fargo — failed to provide all of the requested data. But Warren did get the requested information from PNC, Truist and U.S. Bank.
“Overall, the three banks that provided complete data sets reported 35,848 cases of scams, involving over $25.9 million of payments in 2021 and the first half of 2022,” the report summarized. “In the vast majority of these cases, the banks did not repay the customers that reported being scammed. Overall these three banks reported repaying customers in only 3,473 cases (representing nearly 10% of scam claims) and repaid only $2.9 million.”
Importantly, the report distinguishes between cases that involve straight up bank account takeovers and unauthorized transfers (fraud), and those losses that stem from “fraudulently induced payments,” where the victim is tricked into authorizing the transfer of funds to scammers (scams).
A common example of the latter is the Zelle Fraud Scam, which uses an ever-shifting set of come-ons to trick people into transferring money to fraudsters. The Zelle Fraud Scam often employs text messages and phone calls spoofed to look like they came from your bank, and the scam usually relates to fooling the customer into thinking they’re sending money to themselves when they’re really sending it to the crooks.
Here’s the rub: When a customer issues a payment order to their bank, the bank is obligated to honor that order so long as it passes a two-stage test. The first question asks, Did the request actually come from an authorized owner or signer on the account? In the case of Zelle scams, the answer is yes.
Trace Fooshee, a strategic advisor in the anti money laundering practice at Aite-Novarica, said the second stage requires banks to give the customer’s transfer order a kind of “sniff test” using “commercially reasonable” fraud controls that generally are not designed to detect patterns involving social engineering.
Fooshee said the legal phrase “commercially reasonable” is the primary reason why no bank has much — if anything — in the way of controlling for scam detection.
“In order for them to deploy something that would detect a good chunk of fraud on something so hard to detect they would generate egregiously high rates of false positives which would also make consumers (and, then, regulators) very unhappy,” Fooshee said. “This would tank the business case for the service as a whole rendering it something that the bank can claim to NOT be commercially reasonable.”
Sen. Warren’s report makes clear that banks generally do not pay consumers back if they are fraudulently induced into making Zelle payments.
“In simple terms, Zelle indicated that it would provide redress for users in cases of unauthorized transfers in which a user’s account is accessed by a bad actor and used to transfer a payment,” the report continued. “However, EWS’ response also indicated that neither Zelle nor its parent bank owners would reimburse users fraudulently induced by a bad actor into making a payment on the platform.”
Still, the data suggest banks did repay at least some of the funds stolen from scam victims about 10 percent of the time. Fooshee said he’s surprised that number is so high.
“That banks are paying victims of authorized payment fraud scams anything at all is noteworthy,” he said. “That’s money that they’re paying for out of pocket almost entirely for goodwill. You could argue that repaying all victims is a sound strategy especially in the climate we’re in but to say that it should be what all banks do remains an opinion until Congress changes the law.”
UNAUTHORIZED FRAUD
However, when it comes to reimbursing victims of fraud and account takeovers, the report suggests banks are stiffing their customers whenever they can get away with it. “Overall, the four banks that provided complete data sets indicated that they reimbursed only 47% of the dollar amount of fraud claims they received,” the report notes.
How did the banks behave individually? From the report:
-In 2021 and the first six months of 2022, PNC Bank indicated that its customers reported 10,683 cases of unauthorized payments totaling over $10.6 million, of which only 1,495 cases totaling $1.46 were refunded to consumers. PNC Bank left 86% of its customers that reported cases of fraud without recourse for fraudulent activity that occurred on Zelle.
-Over this same time period, U.S. Bank customers reported a total of 28,642 cases of unauthorized transactions totaling over $16.2 million, while only refunding 8,242 cases totaling less than $4.7 million.
-In the period between January 2021 and September 2022, Bank of America customers reported 81,797 cases of unauthorized transactions, totaling $125 million. Bank of America refunded only $56.1 million in fraud claims – less than 45% of the overall dollar value of claims made in that time.
–Truist indicated that the bank had a much better record of reimbursing defrauded customers over this same time period. During 2021 and the first half of 2022, Truist customers filed 24,752 unauthorized transaction claims amounting to $24.4 million. Truist reimbursed 20,349 of those claims, totaling $20.8 million – 82% of Truist claims were reimbursed over this period. Overall, however, the four banks that provided complete data sets indicated that they reimbursed only 47% of the dollar amount of fraud claims they received.
Fooshee said there has long been a great deal of inconsistency in how banks reimburse unauthorized fraud claims — even after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CPFB) came out with guidance on what qualifies as an unauthorized fraud claim.
“Many banks reported that they were still not living up to those standards,” he said. “As a result, I imagine that the CFPB will come down hard on those with fines and we’ll see a correction.”
Fooshee said many banks have recently adjusted their reimbursement policies to bring them more into line with the CFPB’s guidance from last year.
“So this is heading in the right direction but not with sufficient vigor and speed to satisfy critics,” he said.
Seth Ruden is a payments fraud expert who serves as director of global advisory for digital identity company BioCatch. Ruden said Zelle has recently made “significant changes to its fraud program oversight because of consumer influence.”
“It is clear to me that despite sensational headlines, progress has been made to improve outcomes,” Ruden said. “Presently, losses in the network on a volume-adjusted basis are lower than those typical of credit cards.”
But he said any failure to reimburse victims of fraud and account takeovers only adds to pressure on Congress to do more to help victims of those scammed into authorizing Zelle payments.
“The bottom line is that regulations have not kept up with the speed of payment technology in the United States, and we’re not alone,” Ruden said. “For the first time in the UK, authorized payment scam losses have outpaced credit card losses and a regulatory response is now on the table. Banks have the choice right now to take action and increase controls or await regulators to impose a new regulatory environment.”
Sen. Warren’s report is available here (PDF).
There are, of course, some versions of the Zelle fraud scam that may be confusing financial institutions as to what constitutes “authorized” payment instructions. For example, the variant I wrote about earlier this year began with a text message that spoofed the target’s bank and warned of a pending suspicious transfer.
Those who responded at all received a call from a number spoofed to make it look like the victim’s bank calling, and were asked to validate their identities by reading back a one-time password sent via SMS. In reality, the thieves had simply asked the bank’s website to reset the victim’s password, and that one-time code sent via text by the bank’s site was the only thing the crooks needed to reset the target’s password and drain the account using Zelle.
None of the above discussion involves the risks affecting businesses that bank online. Businesses in the United States do not enjoy the same fraud liability protection afforded to consumers, and if a banking trojan or clever phishing site results in a business account getting drained, most banks will not reimburse that loss.
This is why I have always and will continue to urge small business owners to conduct their online banking affairs only from a dedicated, access restricted and security-hardened device — and preferably a non-Windows machine.
For consumers, the same old advice remains the best: Watch your bank statements like a hawk, a...
Tesla’s Optimus And The Problem With Humanoids – BBC https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/teslas-optimus-and-the-problem-with-humanoids-bbc/
Image source, Tesla
Image caption,
Optimus was unveiled at Tesla’s AI (artificial-intelligence) day
By Zoe Kleinman
Technology editor
Fans of Tesla and Elon Musk were enthralled by the unveiling of Optimus, a prototype humanoid robot, in California last week.
I also enjoyed the theatrics – but I’m not alone in wondering why, apart from the wow factor, Optimus had to be human-like.
And while the fans hate any perceived criticism, Mr Musk himself has said Optimus is nowhere near market-ready.
The argument made for humanoids is they are best equipped to work with human tools, in human environments. People may feel more comfortable interacting with something that looks like a bit like them. And of course, they look great.
But how practical are they?
Legs v wheels
“A lot of companies work in the area of humanoids because it’s interesting for the public to see,” Owen Nicholson, chief executive of Slamcore, which specialises in sensor-driven vision, says.
“But wheel-based robots and even drones are so much easier to control. The amount of work that goes into just getting a humanoid to stand upright is huge.”
Media caption,
Some of the falls experienced by competitors in the Darpa Robotics Challenge
The robotics behind Optimus look sound – Tesla is not exactly a novice at all this – but, Mr Nicholson says, by its release, the machine will have evolved into something physically more practical.
“I’d put money on them having more wheel-based robots,” he adds.
Reporting robots
In my job, I have seen lots of robots – all shapes and sizes – designed to clean, care for the elderly, teach, perform surgery, work as receptionists and tour guides, play Scrabble and chess, sing and dance, mix cocktails, pack shopping, deliver groceries, have sex, perform search and rescue and build cars.
You name it, somebody is probably trying to build a robot for it.
Some of them work better than others – and demonstrations rarely go to plan.
But what the sci-fi films fail to show is all the wires, the pre-programming and the very brief battery life. As I discovered when trying to film them, early football-playing robots could last for only 10 minutes.
Image caption,
Trying to make friends with Sophia the Robot
I have had excruciating “conversations” with conversational robots, watched many devices fail to complete the tasks they were designed for, and seen the panic in the eyes of the executives in the room when a developer brandishing a bunch of wires says: “We just need to reboot.”
But robots have advanced considerably faster than humans in the past decade. The robots of 2022 are far more skilled than those I first saw, in 2008, whereas I have acquired little more than a few grey hairs.
Time and time again though, the most impressive performers tend not to look like people. Precision-surgery robots, warehouse robots, window-cleaning robots – none of them is remotely humanoid.
If the face fits
Expectation may be part of the problem.
Humanoids might be expected to function like people, performing a variety of different tasks – mowing the lawn, making a sandwich, cuddling a baby.
But Prof Helen Hastie, of the National Robotarium, in Edinburgh, says robots are a very long way off being able to multi-task.
“What’s most important is that the robot is fit for the task it is designed for,” she says.
Boston Dynamics’ doglike quadruped Spot is ideally suited to rough terrains, such as bombed-out buildings – but a robot designed to, say, work in a kitchen work may need no legs at all.
Robots designed to work with vulnerable people, for example in care homes, might be better suited to looking a bit more human – but not too much.
It is a phenomenon known as the uncanny valley – if something looks human-like but not believably so, it becomes unnerving and even frightening.
As Prof Helen Hastie says: “If it’s too human-like, it will put off the human.”
