James Kelso

Lantana Update – October 2022 – The Cross Timbers Gazette https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/lantana-update-october-2022-the-cross-timbers-gazette/ Lantana is investing in public safety. An agreement to deploy 13 Flock Safety automated license plate-reader cameras was finalized by the two Fresh Water Supply District boards on Sept. 6 and they are expected to be up and running by the end of November. The cameras, to be installed at every Lantana entrance, will aid the Sheriff’s Department in solving crimes and alert them to stolen vehicles and wanted or missing persons. In addition, if a resident reports a crime and has a vehicle description, the Sheriff’s Department can access the Flock database, look at a specific time period and filter the search based on the suspect vehicle’s specific characteristics, including body type, make, and color. The cameras do not have speed sensors and cannot be used for traffic enforcement. They do not capture the faces of drivers or passengers. Flock cameras are becoming more prevalent in Denton County and are currently in use in Bartonville, Argyle, Highland Village, Northlake, and Lewisville. The ongoing cost of the system is $2,500 per camera, per year, with a one-time $350 per camera install fee. Regular maintenance is covered by Flock. FWSD passes budget & tax rates The two Fresh Water Supply District boards in September approved their respective 2022-23 fiscal year budgets and set their property tax rates. Fresh Water Supply District #7’s new tax rate will drop from 80 to 74 cents per $100 of valuation. FWSD #6 is reduced from 79 to 74 cents. The majority of the tax rate goes towards paying off bonds used to build Lantana’s infrastructure. As the debt is paid off, the tax rates are expected to continue to decrease incrementally each year over the next several years. A $3 per month water base fee increase, $1 wastewater base fee increase and a $1 trash rate increase effective Oct. 1 was approved to cover increases passed on by the Upper Trinity Regional Water District and Republic Services. The boards earmarked $1.7 million in reserves to rebuild a portion of Lantana Trail and $1.4 million for pickleball courts, contingent upon grants totaling $900,000 from Denton County Development District #4 and Lantana Cares. Make your vote count (on the cutest dog or cat)! Is your dog the cutest? Is your cat the best? In this election year, we invite you to join the fun by participating in Lantana Ladies League Pets-idential Election Dog vs. Cat Photo Contest. Submit your favorite photo of your cat or dog for the chance to win. $5 per entry and voting will be $1 each with a minimum of $5. Lantana residency is not required. Contest winners will be determined by public online voting. The election will benefit Meals on Wheels Senior Paws Program. The goal of Senior Paws is to support the needs of pet-owning Meals on Wheels clients by providing monthly pet food supplements. Having this program helps to ensure that seniors are not sharing their hot lunches with their beloved companions when they are unable to afford enough pet food. For contest rules and to register online, go to lantanaladiesleague.com. For more information on the Lantana Ladies League and upcoming events, go to lantanaladiesleague.com or follow us on Facebook or Instagram. – Submitted by Shawna White, LLL Vice President

9 Best Babymoon Destinations For Parents-To-Be – TODAY https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/9-best-babymoon-destinations-for-parents-to-be-today/ Moms and dads who are about to welcome a baby into their lives may be seeking a chance for some quality rest and relaxation before they welcome their newest addition. “This is an amazing time to have that last hurrah before baby and before life revolves around their new bundle of joy,” Michelle London, founder of Away We Globe, an affiliate of SmartFlyer, told TODAY Parents. London said that babymoon destinations can be as unique as the couple themselves. “Whether it’s to a far-flung exotic locale that they are crossing off their bucket list, or a simple staycation to the charming bed and breakfast they’ve been eyeing for years, it’s a fabulous way to take time as a couple, reinforce their bond and indulge in some major self-care,” she said. What Is A Babymoon? A babymoon is a vacation that a couple takes before the birth of a child. “It’s a way for the couple to spend quality time together before their lives look very different,” London told TODAY Parents. “After the baby comes, they will not have as much time alone, and may not feel comfortable leaving the baby for a romantic getaway. It’s the perfect time to reconnect and relax before the overwhelm and fatigue of parenthood sets in.” 9 best babymoon destinations for parents-to-be London told TODAY that she has planned everything from two-week babymoons through Northern Italy, the Greek Islands and the Maldives, as well as simple long weekends at a drivable special spot — like Big Sur on the west coast, or northern Vermont for east coast couples. “Couples can be ambitious or conservative, based on their travel preferences, comfort level and budget,” she said. Top 5 Babymoon Destinations In The U.S. Hawaii “Hawaii is one of the best places to feel like you’ve traveled far away, plus you can even island-hop,” London said. “Couples can find beautiful scenery, luxury hotels and a fantastic mix of adventure and relaxation.” New England “New England in the spring or fall is magical with the leaves changing,” London said. “Hikes, picnics, mocktails by the fire, stargazing — it’s the perfect romantic getaway destination.” California “I love planning road trips along the California coast for a more active babymoon,” London told TODAY. “It’s a really nice way to explore different destinations and landscapes without having to travel too far — the beaches of Malibu, the cute cities of Santa Barbara and Carmel, and the rugged coastline and wilderness of Big Sur. It’s such a fun trip, and doable year-round.” Spa locations “Destination spas are an amazing way to ensure you get lots of pampering before baby comes,” London explained. Florida “For babymooners who want a warm weather getaway sans passport and a relatively short flight, Florida solidly delivers,” London said. “Little Palm Island in Little Torch Key is an adults-only special celebration spot, and Four Seasons Surfside offers the beauty of Miami’s beaches without the crowds of South Beach.” Top 4 Babymoon Destinations Outside The U.S. Los Cabos, Mexico “Los Cabos is one of my favorite destinations for babymooners, especially for those based on the west coast,” London said. “It’s a short and easy flight, (and) there are many incredible hotels that it’s hard to choose just one.” Anguilla “Anguilla has some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, and it just became a lot more accessible with the new direct flight from Miami on American Airlines,” London said, adding powdery sand, crystal clear waters, top notch hotels, and excellent dining — make it the perfect place to unwind before the chaos of parenthood begins. French Polynesia “French Polynesia is just a few hours farther than Hawaii, but just seems so much more far-flung,” London said. “Staying in an overwater bungalow gives off second honeymoon vibes, and is probably something you won’t do with a family since they aren’t the safest accommodations with young children.” London said she recommends French Polynesia for babymooners who are open to a bit of a longer flight. Maldives “For a real ‘last hurrah’ before baby, the Maldives offer an unparalleled luxury experience,” London told TODAY. “Ultimate privacy, on-call butler service, over-the-top spas offering prenatal massages, yoga and meditation, and tons of activities for those who can’t sit still on a beach vacation — the Maldives offers endless serenity and pampering for expectant parents. London cautions babymooners to get the official sign off from a doctor before selecting the Maldives, as it is far from the U.S. 4 Tips For Planning A Babymoon Talk to your doctor. “I always recommend that my clients speak to their OBGYN before planning a babymoon to obtain sign off to travel, and to also see if they mention any off-limits destinations,” London said. “Also make sure that your health insurance will cover you in your destination.” Timing is key. “The second trimester is usually the sweet spot for babymoons — the nausea of the first trimester is likely behind you, and you probably haven’t experienced the discomfort of the third trimester yet,” London said. Ask yourself what you want. “While some couples want a last adventure before baby, others understandably want to take things easy,” London said. “This can mean a destination that is a short drive or direct flight.” Get insurance. “I always recommend that clients get travel insurance, no matter where or when they are traveling,” London explained. “This is also a great time to get a MedJet membership, which offers evacuation to your home hospital if you are hospitalized while on vacation.”

This Week In Washington – Chamber Business News https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/this-week-in-washington-chamber-business-news-3/ Latest news from Washington, D.C. produced by Total Spectrum/SGA exclusively for members of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry More Info: Michael DiMaria | Partner and Vice President of Business Development | 602-717-3891 | [email protected] Thanks for your interest in Washington, D.C., and thanks for reading This Week in Washington. Senators and Congressmen have left Washington and returned home. This quiet time provides a great opportunity to sum up the present and look ahead to the future. Heard on the Hill takes a look at the economy and then reviews the current election predictions from the statistical modeling column of Fivethirtyeight. Al Jackson also provides his update on defense and defense appropriations. In case you missed it, we have also included Congressman Erik Paulsen’s exclusive Total Spectrum Spotlight interview with Senator Kyrsten Sinema, Arizona’s Senior Senator. I hope you’ll give it a watch – it’s well worth the time. We will be back in two weeks with the next edition of This Week. Be well. Steve Gordon Total Spectrum Managing Director Total Spectrum Spotlight ICYMI: Total Spectrum Spotlight is very pleased to bring to you Congressman Erik Paulsen’s exclusive interview with Senator Kyrsten Sinema, Arizona’s Senior Senator. Kyrsten Sinema was elected to the U.S. Senate in November of 2018, and has become a strong, independent, and effective voice for Arizona. Senator Sinema worked with Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) last year and built a bipartisan coalition that against long odds passed a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill through Congress that was signed by President Biden. Senator Sinema serves on the Senate Committees on Homeland Security and Government Affairs; Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; and Senate Veterans Affairs. Erik Paulsen and Kyrsten Sinema served together in the U.S. House of Representatives. In this Spotlight interview, he asked about her approach to getting meaningful things done in the Senate, how she views the differences between working in the Senate and in the House of Representatives, and her perspectives on a possible lame duck session. Heard on the Hill By Steve Gordon, Total Spectrum Managing Partner There’s nobody left in Washington Congress adjourned last week after both the House and the Senate passed a continuing resolution extending the current level of funding for the federal government through December 16. Senators and Members of Congress are back in their home states and districts. The legislative process is taking a hiatus while the voters have their say in the political process. I’ll take a shot at summing up and looking ahead. “It’s the economy, stupid.” (James Carville, 1992) Inflation continues unabated, even after the Federal Reserve recently raised interest rates by 75 basis points for the third consecutive time. The Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index climbed 6.2% over the year through August, which was higher than the 6% economists predicted. The Federal Reserve knows it has to slow down the economy to get at the pain of inflation. However, the Federal Reserve also knows that slowing the economy will cause pain – and here’s proof. The U.S. Labor Department reported on Tuesday that job openings fell to a seasonally adjusted 10.1 million in August from 11.2 million in July. Inflation and a slowing economy are hurting Americans. But the hurt isn’t over because rising interest rates will also bite into the federal budget.  My colleague Congressman Erik Paulsen wrote in the July 13th edition of This Week that the total federal gross interest expense will rise to or exceed the current defense budget of $746 billion. Unfortunately, his prediction has already come true. The Wall Street Journal reported on September 29th that our gross interest expense hit $88 billion in August, which calculates to $1.06 trillion a year. Erik also predicted in that same article that future spending priorities would be crowded out by interest payments on the debt. Unfortunately, that prediction will also come true. I had an off-the-record discussion recently with an individual with great experience in economics, housing, and finance. He said that “our situation is simple – and sad. The current inflation rate is 8.3%.  The Federal Reserve wants to get the inflation rate down to 2%. There’s more pain to come.”  The Coming Election Last Wednesday, Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) was on the floor of the Senate and accidentally referred to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell as the Majority Leader. Senator McConnell quietly laughed and replied, “I haven’t given up hope.” Republicans in the House and the Senate started the cycle with high hopes of flipping both chambers. The momentum was there until the Supreme Court’s June abortion decision, and then you could feel air going out of the balloon. However, since Labor Day there’s been a slight Republican rebound which is reflected in better polling for generic republican candidates as well as specific candidates. The political column Fivethirtyeight, owned by ABC News, uses statistical analysis to predict the probability of election results. Their September 30, 2022 report says “…Democrats are slightly favored to hold the Senate, and the Republicans are slightly favored to win the House.” Nate Silver, who created the forecasting model for Fivethirtyeight, offered five reasons why Republicans may do even better than his numbers indicate.  The fundamentals still ought to be pretty good for Republicans The issue environment could get better for Republicans Republicans could overtake Democrats in advertising Republicans are more likely than not to have an enthusiasm advantage There’s still some reason for Democrats to be concerned about the reliability of the polls Some closing thoughts and things to watch Democrats want the election to be about democracy, the Supreme Court abortion decision, and the January 6 conflict at the Capitol. Republicans want the election to be about the economy, crime, and illegal immigration.  We are in a hyper-partisan environment, so partisan enthusiasm levels should determine turnout numbers. That said, campaigns in Pennsylvania and Ohio are watching to see if ticket splitters make up a key part of the turnout. Campaigns throughout the country are holding their breath waiting for an October surprise – some event or perceived event that tilts the tiles and creates or decreases momentum going into the home stretch.  The view of most experts is that Republicans will retake the House, and the Senate is up for grabs. Senator McConnell said last week that “…Republicans have a 50-50 chance of retaking the Senate, but it is really going to be close either way.” But he certainly hasn’t given up hope. Defense Update By Al Jackson, Total Spectrum Strategic Consultant  In a recent white paper published by the National Defense Industrial Association, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 defense budget must total $815 billion just to outpace inflation. That figure represents a $42 billion increase over the Administration’s FY2023 budget request. If not addressed, the Pentagon will experience an estimated $110 billion loss in buying power in the coming years due to record-setting inflation, resulting in reduced quantities and maintenance backlogs or cost overruns and delays.  Further, the white paper indicates the current continuing resolution (CR), which keeps the government operating through December 16, 2022, will hinder the Pentagon’s buying power by $6 billion every month the CR remains in effect.  As defense companies cope with soaring inflation, the Pentagon is considering issuing new guidance that would give contracting officers more flexibility to adjust, especially on firm, fixed-price contracts with suppliers. The Pentagon hopes to update guidance for contracting officers in the very near future. Small businesses operating under firm-fixed pricing contracts coupled with 11% inflation could threaten their future survival.  Late in September, the Senate Appropriations Committee reported an $850 billion defense spending bill, which is well above the administration’s FY2023 request of $773 billion. The large budget increase was needed in response to the increase in inflation.  Budget numbers associated with the four key defense committees are as follows: House Appropriations Committee: $762 billion   House Armed Services Committee: $839 billion  Senate Armed Services Committee: $847 billion  Senate Appropriations Committee: $850 billion Procurement of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program received an increase, as the committee added $725 million for more F-35 aircraft. For Air Force aircraft, the committee fully funded the service’s request for 24 F-15EXs, 15 KC-46 tankers, and five MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters.  Appropriators also increased several aircraft procurement programs beyond the Air Force’s request.  The committee added $298 million to increase procurement of the Combat Rescue Helicopter by 10 HH-60Ws, for a total of 20 aircraft. The committee also added 16 C-130Js aircraft at a total cost of $1.7 billion and fulfilled an unfunded requirement of $554 million for four new Compass Call aircraft, which are based at Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona.  Another Arizona manufactured system, the Army’s Apache helicopter, received full funding by the committee.  Small defense contractors, which benefit from the popular Small Business Innovation Research  (SBIR) grants and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) awards, will see the programs reauthorized for three years, as both Houses passed the measure in late September. The SBIR and STTR programs are designed to incentivize small businesses to engage in early-stage research and development for technologies and products. Unfortunate...

Agreement Signed Between City Of Weyburn And SHA – DiscoverWeyburn.com https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/agreement-signed-between-city-of-weyburn-and-sha-discoverweyburn-com/ The City of Weyburn and the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) recently signed a five-year agreement, outlining the details of a rehabilitation program at the Credit Union Spark Centre.   The City will help facilitate the SHA’s Chronic Disease Management – Quality Improvement Program.  “This new partnership is exciting for the City of Weyburn,” Andrew Crowe, director of Leisure Services said. “Providing a space to improve the health and well-being of the community is a priority for the Leisure Services department. The Credit Union Spark Centre is a wonderful asset to the community, and this partnership is another example of how the new facility will benefit the various demographics within our community and surrounding area.”    Representatives from the SHA were at the Spark Centre yesterday to talk about the new program.  Dana Renwick, a Nurse Educator with Primary Healthcare said since partnering with the City they have revamped the chronic disease programming that they had before.  “Now we’re calling it all Healthy Living Program, and the first program we started with is cardiac rehabilitation,” she said. “We get a referral out of Regina, someone may have had a heart attack or some sort of heart event and then we book them in with our program and they have a one-on-one with me and I would provide education and just kind of clear them for exercise and things like that.”  “Saskatchewan Health Authority is dedicated to providing team-based primary care through our health networks to improve the health of Saskatchewan people,” Trevor Tessier, director of Primary Health Care for Weyburn Primary Health Services said. “We’re grateful to collaborate with the City of Weyburn to deliver this work.”  Tessier added the sessions focus on mental health and stress management associated with living with a chronic disease.  “The intent of the Healthy Living Program and what we do is to empower the participants within, so they have the tools to deal with their chronic disease.”  The pre-registered clients are elderly patients or have chronic conditions.   The agreement allows these participants to use the Credit Union Spark Centre as a safe space where they can exercise with their healthcare team encouraging them by their side.  A $7,500 recumbent fitness trainer was purchased through the collaboration. The Weyburn Credit Union Community Fund provided $5,000, and the Grow Your Community Grant from the South East Sport, Culture and Recreation District gave $1,000. Anyone can use the fitness trainer, which is located on the second floor of the Credit Union Spark Centre.  Facilitators of the chronic disease management program can utilize the centre’s multi-purpose room, first aid room, mini gym, and exercise track.

This Week In MIL Football | News, Sports, Jobs – Maui News https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/this-week-in-mil-football-news-sports-jobs-maui-news-3/ Ofa Falekaono of Maui High School runs down a Baldwin runner during the Sabers’ 43-0 win last weekend. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo Tonight, King Kekaulike Stadium, 7 p.m. Overview Both teams need a win to keep their slim second-round hopes alive. This game will feature the top two running teams and five of the top six rushers in the MIL. Maui High won the first matchup 24-0. The Sabers rank third in the MIL on offense, second on defense. Na Alii are first on offense, third on defense. Sabers at a glance Maui High’s defense has three MIL shutouts and four on the season. The Sabers have allowed just 37 points in seven games. Piercen Evans (604 yards) is the No. 2 rusher in the league. Joe Cariaga is sixth in rushing and fourth in passing. Na Alii at a glance King Kekaulike is likely headed to a playoff against Kamehameha Maui for the MIL D-II state berth. Kalelepono Wong tops the MIL in rushing (665 yards) and scoring (10 TDs), Tysin Zackious is No. 3 and Kalani Puu No. 4 in rushing. Quotable “These guys are definitely making me smile a lot more than I did in the past … I think these guys really have that family-oriented ilk and they always pick each other up and find a way to keep moving forward.” — King Kekaulike coach Tyson Valle at practice Tuesday ***** Kamehameha Maui at Lahainaluna Saturday, Sue Cooley Stadium, 7 p.m. Overview Depending on who wins Friday, this game will be a chance to clinch: A Maui High win means Kamehameha Maui can nail down the MIL D-II second round; if King Kekaulike wins, Lahainaluna can clinch the MIL D-I state berth. Lahainaluna won the first matchup 21-14 on Sept. 3 in terrible weather Upcountry. Warriors at a glance Kamehameha has won two games in a row after losing its first four. The Warriors are fourth on offense, fourth on defense. Makana Kamaka-Brayce’s 658 passing yards are more than the next three QBs combined on the MIL list. Lunas at a glance Lahainaluna is No. 2 in team offense, No. 1 in team defense and have won 36 MIL games in a row. At this point, they appear to be playing for one of the two byes in the six-team D-I state tournament. Kaulana Tihada is No. 5 in MIL rushing. Quotable “It’s like anything else, you take what people give you, but in the previous two games I don’t think that our timing was there — it seemed like we were just missing things. The idea is not to panic.” — Ulima Afoa, KSM coach prior to last week’s win over King Kekaulike ***** MIL standings (Overall MIL records in parentheses) DIVISION I W L Pct PF PA Lahainaluna (5-0) 1 0 1.000 17 7 Maui High (4-2) 1 1 .500 50 17 Baldwin (0-6) 0 2 .000 13 70 DIVISION II STANDINGS W L Pct PF PA KS Maui (2-3) 1 0 1.000 30 16 King Kekaulike (3-3) 1 1 .500 43 43 Friday, Sept. 30 Kamehameha Maui 30, King Kekaulike 16 Saturday, Oct. 1 Maui High 43, Baldwin 0 Today’s Game Maui High at King Kekaulike, 7 p.m. Saturday’s Game Kamehameha Maui at Lahainaluna, 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14 Baldwin at Lahainaluna, 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 Maui High at Kamehameha Maui, 7 p.m. Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox

It’s Lonely In The Metaverse: Decentraland’s 38 Daily Active Users In A $1.3B Ecosystem – CoinDesk https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/its-lonely-in-the-metaverse-decentralands-38-daily-active-users-in-a-1-3b-ecosystem-coindesk/ Cameron Thompson is a news reporter at CoinDesk. What’s going on in the metaverse these days, you might ask. Looking at two of the biggest companies with over $1 billion valuations, the answer is surprising: Not much, or at least not enough to bring users back every day. According to data from DappRadar, the Ethereum-based virtual world Decentraland had 38 active users in the past 24 hours, while competitor The Sandbox boasted 522 active users in that same time. An active user, according to DappRadar, is defined as a unique wallet address’ interaction with the platform’s smart contract. For example, logging onto The Sandbox or Decentraland to make a purchase with SAND or MANA, each platform’s respective native utility token, is counted as an “active use.” This means that DappRadar’s compilation of daily active users doesn’t account for people who log in and mosey around a metaverse platform or drop in briefly for an event, such as a virtual fashion week. It also likely means that these spaces are not where people are making transactions such as buying non-fungible tokens NFTs. A developer might defend the low daily stats with the familiar phrase, “don’t hate the player, hate the game;” but it seems it’s not just one quiet day for the two metaverse platforms. The largest number of daily users ever on Decentraland was 675, according to DappRadar. For The Sandbox, that number was larger at about 4,503. Sam Hamilton, Creative Director at Decentraland, told CoinDesk that while they report 8,000 users on average per day, this accounts for any individual who passively interacts with the metaverse. He noted that while they saw peak attendees in March, the number of “tourists and spectators” has since cooled down. Despite low user metrics, Decentraland and The Sandbox have high valuations. According to data from Messari, Decentraland and The Sandbox both have market caps of around $1.3 billion each. While the play-to-earn game Axie Infinity has a $1.16 billion market cap, its nearly 22,000 daily users reported on Dappradar suggest that open-ended metaverses that don’t provide incentives to stay, such as gaming or trading, may not see regular returning users at this point. Although the metaverse may be enough of a buzzword for companies to rebrand their names around its concept, mass adoption will likely still take a while. Sasha Fleyshman, portfolio manager at digital asset investment firm Arca, told CoinDesk that metaverse platforms will be much more valuable to users when they actually operate as intended. “Anyone telling you that there’s a metaverse today that has worked is lying through their teeth,” said Fleyshman. Beverage company Snapple’s pop-up bodega in Decentraland last August sparked questions about mainstream use cases for promotional content in the metaverse. In July, skater Tony Hawk announced his virtual skatepark paired with an avatar collection in The Sandbox, which aims to bring fans from his $1.4 billion “Tony Hawk Pro Skater” video game to a new, more interactive platform. Set to run from October 19 to 23, the turnout of virtual skaters may be larger than the users purchasing Hawk’s NFTs in SAND. “In my opinion, we’re leaning towards a lack of product-market fit on that side…irrespective of their valuation,” said Fleyshman. Sign up for Crypto for Advisors, our weekly newsletter defining crypto, digital assets and the future of finance. By signing up, you will receive emails about CoinDesk product updates, events and marketing and you agree to our terms of services and privacy policy. DISCLOSURE Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated . The leader in news and information on cryptocurrency, digital assets and the future of money, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups. As part of their compensation, certain CoinDesk employees, including editorial employees, may receive exposure to DCG equity in the form of stock appreciation rights, which vest over a multi-year period. CoinDesk journalists are not allowed to purchase stock outright in DCG . Cameron Thompson is a news reporter at CoinDesk. Cameron Thompson is a news reporter at CoinDesk.

This Pregnant Mom Accidentally Let Her Toddler Watch Her IPad All Night & Reddit Gave Her The Sweetest Encouragement – Yahoo Life https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/this-pregnant-mom-accidentally-let-her-toddler-watch-her-ipad-all-night-reddit-gave-her-the-sweetest-encouragement-yahoo-life/ All moms mess up sometimes, and I’ll be the first to admit it. I’ve yelled at my kids in moments of sheer frustration, forgotten to attend an event for my Kindergartner, bribed my kids with candy and screen time — it happens. One mom on Reddit recently shared a parenting mistake she made with her toddler, and our hearts go out to her. It’s so hard to try to be a perfect mom all the time! In the Parenting subreddit, a mom shared her story of how she “messed up so bad” last night. More from SheKnows A Woman Who Fell Into Default ‘Mom Duties’ With Her Partner & His Kid is Asking Reddit if She Made the Right Move “I’m 13 weeks pregnant and last night I was so tired I crawled into bed with my 3-year-old and told her we could watch a show on the iPad for bit,” the mom wrote. “We started watching PJ Masks and i fell asleep. Woke up at 5 am and she was still awake and still watching the iPad.” Yikes! Her toddler probably thought she hit the jackpot — hours of unmonitored, uninterrupted screen time! What kid wouldn’t stay up all night to soak it up? Click here to read the full article. “I can’t believe it. Today is going to f*ck with her sleep schedule so bad. Ugh,” the mom added. The mom probably felt awful when she woke up and saw her toddler still awake, so she wrote this quick post as a way to vent. Little did she know, Reddit would come through with the most surprisingly helpful words of encouragement. “If that’s your worst mess up, you’re doing great!” one person wrote, before offering some helpful advice. “Put the iPad/show on a timer next time if you’re able so if the kiddo is still awake when the show turns off they will either go to bed or wake you up and you can decide what to do next. :)” What a compassionate, helpful comment. We understand needing to turn to the iPad to help your toddler fall asleep (pregnancy exhaustion on top of regular mom exhaustion is so, so hard!), and this person offered a creative solution that would help monitor screen time and let the mom get some rest. We love to see it! Others were nice in their suggestions too. “Or set a nightly alarm for all your devices twenty minutes before her bedtime,” one person wrote. “Best case scenario you just swipe it away, worst case scenario you are saved from any extended snuggle naps.” Another suggested “turning the brightness down all the way” and putting the sound on mute to put kids to sleep. Someone else found “on Netflix you can also make it go super slow, I set ours to half speed on Cocomelon. Everything is basically a lullaby.” Genius! Other sympathetic parents shared their experiences with iPad use during pregnancy. “My second pregnancy was so brutal – nonstop nausea and puking and severe pelvic floor pain during a heatwave,” one mom wrote. “I spent a lot of afternoons sleeping on my bed while my four-year-old watched Paw Patrol on his iPad. I felt like an absolute garbage mom. He later told me he had the best summer ever because we got to snuggle and watch tv together on the bed. You’re doing your best and your kiddo totally fell asleep at one point. Good luck! You’ve got this.” Others agreed that it’s likely the 3-year-old did get some sleep throughout the night. “Nah, a 3-year-old would eventually crash,” one person wrote. “When my kids were that age they’d fall asleep in the weirdest places and poses because they’d just crash. I highly doubt a 3-year-old could pull an all nighter.” “100% she just woke up before you, that’s all,” someone else said. “Even if she hadn’t, this is one night, one time. Kid was always safe and happy. Could have been a lot worse.” At the end of the day, parents are all just doing the best we can, and one TV night (even if it’s all night!) won’t change anything. “Oh honey. Lol, she will be fine. Just bump up nap time a little then get her to run herself out afterwards,” one person wrote. “Give yourself a break, you’re pregnant and tired I’m sure. This isn’t a f*ck up, it’s ok. One night shouldn’t mess up her schedule.” Someone else wrote, “You are doing just fine as a parent. She is going to remember it as the best night of her life spent with her cool momma who let her watch PJ Masks ALL night! Trust me, it’s going to be a story she tells for many years … You are doing great Momma!” In the wise words of Hannah Montana, “Everybody makes mistakes. Everybody has those days.” It’s going to be OK! Before you go, check out our gallery on the coolest tech gadgets & laptops for back-to-school! best tech gadgets Launch Gallery: The Worst Mother-in-Law Horror Stories from Reddit’s AITA Best of SheKnows The Worst Mother-in-Law Horror Stories from Reddit’s AITA It’s Never Too Early to Snag Matching Family Holiday PJs — & New Collections Are Dropping Daily Our Favorite Photos of Angelina Jolie Enjoying Life As a Mom to Her 6 Kids Sign up for SheKnows’ Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Bitcoin Falls After The Jobs Report, But Crypto Prices Are Showing Relative Stability – CNBC https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/bitcoin-falls-after-the-jobs-report-but-crypto-prices-are-showing-relative-stability-cnbc/ Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images The crypto market fell with stocks after the highly anticipated jobs report showed the labor market is still tight and could keep the Federal Reserve on course to raise rates aggressively. The price of bitcoin fell 3.3% to $19,380.74, according to Coin Metrics. Ether fell 2.7% to $1,322.40. On Friday the Labor Department reported that the U.S. economy added 263,000 jobs in September, compared with the Dow Jones estimate of 275,000, and that the unemployment rate fell to 3.5% from 3.7% in the previous month. “The jobs report points to no change of tune on the horizon for the Fed, so we continue to expect firm interest rates which also adds pressure to crypto markets,” said Yung-Yu Ma, chief investment strategist at BMO Wealth Management.   Cryptocurrencies’ correlation with stocks has weakened in recent weeks but remains high. “Crypto looks to be at an important technical juncture here where it looks like it’s trying to carve out a bottom, but feeling heavy,” he added. “I still think it, more likely than not, breaks to the downside given rising interest rates and risk-off sentiment, but so far it’s a surprising effort to hold the line.” The market has been in a good-news-is-bad-news holding pattern with the Federal Reserve laser focused on bring down inflation. While the new data shows strength in the U.S. economy, that could make the Fed more likely to continue with its aggressive rate hiking plan (whereas investors are hoping for a pause or a pivot), which puts pressure on stocks and weighs on crypto. “Crypto has been the hardest hit by rate hike fears this year,” said Callie Cox, U.S. investment analyst at eToro. “It makes sense – many crypto projects don’t have cashflows, so people invest in them for what they could be, not necessarily what value they’re providing right now. When rates rise, the future value of a dollar falls.” Cox also highlighted the resilience of crypto assets in the second half of the year, noting that while stocks have revisited new lows with the spike in bond yields, bitcoin and ether haven’t done the same. Bitcoin has been trading in a tight range of between $18,000 and $25,000 since falling to its lows of the year in June. “To me, that’s progress in this bear market,” Cox said. “Crypto prices could be telling us the rate anxiety could be at a turning point. Crypto’s strength is also a good indicator of frothiness in the market. It seems like the brutal growth selloff has finally washed out all the weak hands.” “Bitcoin is also far below its highs too,” she added. “But stability is a step in the right direction.”

U.S. Jobs Report: Unemployment Rate Falls To 3.5% – The New York Times https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/u-s-jobs-report-unemployment-rate-falls-to-3-5-the-new-york-times/ Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker

Tech Savvy: Holiday Shopping Deals Are Here — And Early – Brainerd Dispatch https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/tech-savvy-holiday-shopping-deals-are-here-and-early-brainerd-dispatch/ The National Retail Federation surveyed 2,000 customers in late September finding 62% of shoppers agreed spending on holiday gifts and celebrations was important and they would cut back in other areas “so their loved ones can celebrate like they always do.” Contributed / Metro Newspaper Service BRAINERD — Christmas in July is certainly a thing, just watch Hallmark, but Christmas in October? This year, October has a definite holiday feel and it isn’t because of the approaching Halloween. Instead, this week offers early sales with retailers touting fall events as a way to get an early start on holiday shopping, entertaining and baking. “Retailers are responding to consumer demand by starting deals and promotions for winter holiday merchandise earlier in the year,” the National Retail Federation reported this fall. “That also allows consumers to spread out their budget over a longer period of time and search for the best deal for their holiday purchases. “This year, retailers moved up their peak shipping season to allow for additional time to bring in products for the winter holiday season. According to NRF’s latest consumer survey, 44% of holiday shoppers say it’s better to purchase gifts and other seasonal items now because they believe inflation will continue to impact prices later in the year. Another 31% believe it’s best to purchase items now because the deals won’t get any better.” The National Retail Federation reported consumer behavior has shifted “with consumers preferring to spread their shopping out over the entire season.” “Retailers adjust their promotion strategies and marketing calendars to meet consumer demand,” the federation reported. “For many, that could mean launching holiday sales early or understanding that promotions and sales might be even more important to consumers this year, in light of inflation and higher cost of living.” Holiday sales are underway Amazon’s Prime Early Access Sale, included with the Prime membership, is offering two days of holiday deals Tuesday, Oct. 11, and Wednesday. Amazon lists the event as two days of holiday deals with notables of gifts for all ages, deals on movies and TV, as the company notes exclusives, discounts on a host of items from cereal to TV wall mounts and clothing, along with benefits of membership. TechCrunch reported this is the first time Amazon is having two sales events just for Prime members in the same year. Walmart has its own version with deals starting Monday through Thursday. Walmart will have a “Rollbacks and More” sale on a host of products. Target already started its deal days Thursday, Oct. 6, which continue through Saturday. The retailer reports the Target Deal Days event represents “the earliest access ever to deep holiday deals on must-have items and everyday essentials.” Shoppers won’t have to worry they are missing out on a better deal if they choose to shop early with retailers instituting price match guarantees. Target listed the three days of sales as early Black Friday deals and included a holiday price match guarantee to match the price if it goes lower anytime between now and Dec. 24. So hang on to those receipts and price adjustments can be made at the store or by calling guest services for online purchases. “Throughout the season, guests will discover new and differentiated items for gifting and gathering, including only-at-Target owned brands and must-have national brands, and they can expect great deals and everyday low prices at every turn for an unmatched holiday shopping experience,” said Christina Hennington, executive vice president and chief growth officer, Target. Kohl’s is also in the mix with Kohl’s Cash and shopping discounts creating savings for shoppers or expanding their buying power. “As shoppers prepare their holiday lists earlier than ever this year with value top of mind, they can count on Kohl’s for unmatched savings on top gifts across all categories, all season long,” Kohl’s reported, noting sale items or offers will be listed every day from Oct. 6 through Christmas Day with “more opportunities than ever to earn and redeem Kohl’s Cash and NEW every day earn from Cyber Monday through Christmas Eve, and, this is the first holiday season Kohl’s Reward members nationwide earn 7.5% Kohl’s Rewards on every purchase when using a Kohl’s Card.” Last year, supply shortages had consumers looking to get online orders and in-person shopping done earlier. This year, the retailers are kicking off holiday sales earlier and there are expectations more people will want to get back to a pre-pandemic experience as well. In a September news release, Walmart stated it will be offering “better value and more convenience than ever as customers start their holiday shopping.” Walmart reported customers start their holiday shopping research in October and the retailer announced “price investments for even deeper savings, three new and expanded returns options, a broader assortment with more top gifts, a new community giving platform and an enhanced omnichannel shopping experience to deliver for its customers all season long.” Tom Ward, executive vice president and chief eCommerce officer, Walmart U.S., stated, “We listened to our customers, and the way we’re approaching holiday this year underscores our commitment to making holiday shopping easier, affordable and more enjoyable.” Walmart reports it will be providing customers with deeper savings across a broader assortment of gifts. The three new and expanded returns options the company announced include extended holiday return windows from Oct. 1 through Jan. 31, 2023. Customers will be able to return items curbside from their vehicles. And Walmart+ members in select stores will have the option of having returns picked up at their doorsteps by handing the return to a delivery driver. Walmart also introduced its Spark Good program to support community giving. Spark Good Round-Up means customers can round-up their purchase total and donate to their charity of choice when shopping online — year-round. The Spark Good Registry provides the option for nonprofits to create a registry of items they need, not unlike a wedding or baby registry, Walmart noted. “An impact dashboard will allow customers to see how Walmart and others in their community are supporting their favorite charities,” Walmart reported. As for its “omnichannel shopping experience” Walmart is referring to efforts it states make the online shopping experience better and more personal, with a virtual try-on and “View in Your Home” option, such as other sellers offer like Home Depot’s “See this in my room” visualization to see how a new product, even flooring, would fit into one’s home before it’s purchased. The National Retail Federation surveyed 2,000 customers in late September finding 62% of shoppers agreed spending on holiday gifts and celebrations was important and they would cut back in other areas “so their loved ones can celebrate like they always do.” “However, 43% of consumers say they don’t earn enough to cover the costs of gifts and other holiday items this year,” the federation stated, noting 40% are looking at dipping into savings, 32% are looking at taking on credit card debt, 25% are using services like buy now, pay later or selling things to gain income. Walmart reported it is hiring 40,000 employees for seasonal and part-time roles through the holidays. Target reported it is hiring up to 100,000 holiday workers. Kohl’s is hiring thousands of associates at its stores for the holiday season. With retailers looking to add seasonal jobs to help through the holiday season, the federation noted the labor market is robust but still not “close to normal” considering pre-pandemic times. “Retail added 44,000 jobs in August and employment in August was the highest number we’ve seen in the last five years. Retail employment has increased more than 800,000 in the last two years and is up more than 2.5 million since the peak of the pandemic. “Retailers and delivery companies are preparing for a peak shopping season by hiring seasonal workers and offering thousands of jobs.” Renee Richardson, managing editor, may be reached at 218-855-5852 or renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com . Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DispatchBizBuzz . Renee Richardson is managing editor at the Brainerd Dispatch. She joined the Brainerd Dispatch in 1996 after earning her bachelor’s degree in mass communications at St. Cloud State University. Renee Richardson can be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or by calling 218-855-5852 or follow her on Twitter @dispatchbizbuzz or Facebook.

DCNR Seeking Proposals For A Four-Season Recreation Adventure Center Concession At Denton Hill State Park In Potter County – Pennsylvania Pressroom https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/dcnr-seeking-proposals-for-a-four-season-recreation-adventure-center-concession-at-denton-hill-state-park-in-potter-county-pennsylvania-pressroom/ ​Department committed to $10 million in capital improvements to support master plan for year-round operations Harrisburg, PA — State Parks Director John Hallas today announced the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is seeking proposals for a four-season recreation adventure center concession at Denton Hill State Park in Potter County. “The department is seeking a concessionaire to lease approximately 700 acres and work with DCNR to create a year-round recreational operation,” Hallas said. “DCNR believes with infrastructure improvements and the right partner, Denton Hill will become an attraction that brings additional visitors to the Pennsylvania Wilds region in all four seasons.” Denton Hill includes a downhill ski area that has been closed since the winter of 2014. A master plan completed in 2018 included recommendations to rebrand the ski lodge as an “Adventure Center,” which is more applicable as an operational hub for four-season operations of expanded activities and services beyond traditional downhill skiing. DCNR is committing $10 million in capital improvements to support the rehabilitation of park recreational infrastructure. “DCNR is willing to consider alternatives to the commonwealth’s proposed design and capital development of Denton Hill as identified in the master plan, allowing for flexibility for proposers to be as innovative as they desire,” Hallas added. The design phase of this project will coincide with the award of a concession lease agreement. DCNR intends that the selected concessionaire will help identify and prioritize improvements during the design process. DCNR’s website contains information on available state park concession opportunities. The Denton Hill request is SFP# 2022-BSP-01. Interested parties are strongly encouraged to attend the virtual pre-proposal meeting on October 25 and one of two scheduled site visits on October 26 and November 1. For more information about the pre-proposal meeting, site visits, or solicitation, please contact the Bureau of Pennsylvania State Parks. Proposals must be received in a sealed envelope no later than January 6, 2023. DCNR will begin reviewing proposals on January 11, 2023. Denton Hill State Park is located along Route 6 in Ulysses Township, Potter County, in the Pennsylvania Wilds. The park was developed by DCNR as a specialized ski area in the early 1950s. All permanent infrastructure at Denton Hill is owned by DCNR and is in need of major rehabilitation and modernization to bring it to acceptable industry standards. Find more information about the Denton Hill State Park master plan on DCNR’s website. MEDIA CONTACT: Wesley Robinson, DCNR, 717-877-6315 # # #

How Many Americans Are Traveling This Holiday Season — And How Much They’re Spending – Travel + Leisure https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/how-many-americans-are-traveling-this-holiday-season-and-how-much-theyre-spending-travel-leisure/ Travelers are eager to hit the road this holiday season. After two challenging years of travel bans, restrictions, and lockdowns, more people are making big travel plans despite financial concerns, according to a new report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). The company just released its annual Holiday Outlook 2022 report, showing a significant bump from the roughly one-third of people traveling for the holidays in 2019. “Leisure travel is more than back. It’s exceeding in many cases pre-pandemic levels,” Jonathan Kletzel, PwC U.S. airline and travel practice leader, told Travel + Leisure, noting that 47% of survey respondents indicated they plan to travel over the holiday break. Kletzel explained that almost half of those, or 46%, plan to do so by plane, up from 40% in 2021 and 33% in 2020. However, according to PwC’s report, most Americans, or 69%, will be hitting the road, and many will end up using a combination of air and road travel to reach their final destinations. “Domestic [travel] continues to be strong. We are seeing a shift back to the big cities and the big vacation spots like Las Vegas and Orlando,” Kletzel added. He pointed out that travel demand for Europe, the Caribbean, and South America is also improving. PwC experts explain the surge in travel interest in three ways: travelers are finally ready to reschedule trips planned for the height of the pandemic, the popularity of the digital nomad lifestyle, and “revenge travel” — a.k.a. the pent-up demand for travel. “Expect that a lot of that ‘revenge travel’ will continue for at least one full year post-travel recovery,” Kletzel said. Despite the large numbers traveling this holiday season, people still worry about the high costs associated with travel. Rising gas prices are a top cause of concern for a whopping 74% of respondents, rising travel costs for 68%, and surging hotel prices for 58%. “Pricing in both airlines and hotels is really a supply and demand question,” Kletzel said. “On the air side, what you’re seeing is a big mismatch between supply and demand. The airlines have not been able to add capacity back fast enough to account for the demand that they’ve seen largely from leisure travelers [and] are able to charge more money per flight.” Another major concern is the record flight cancelations, which are expected to continue into the holiday season, especially with weather disruptions more likely to occur during the colder months. “If you are worried about a cancellation, there are two things you should be thinking about: trip insurance and having an alternate plan for travel,” Kletzel suggested. The report also looked at who the big spenders will be this holiday season. The results show that millennials are most likely to take a trip — and spend the most on it. Those between the ages of 26 and 40 plan to allocate an average of $623 for travel, compared to the $523 Gen Xers (ages 41 to 55) will spend. And finally, online booking sites remain the most popular way to book a trip, with 45% of travelers planning to use them this holiday season. Read more about PwC’s findings here.

Keurig Dr Pepper, Red Bull Enter Mexico Distribution Deal – Food Business News https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/keurig-dr-pepper-red-bull-enter-mexico-distribution-deal-food-business-news/ BURLINGTON, MASS. — Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) has entered a partnership with Red Bull, Frisco, Texas, to sell and distribute Red Bull products in Mexico. The agreement gives KDP exclusive rights to distribute Red Bull Energy Drink products through independent retailers, including grocers, convenience stores, pharmacies and kiosks, and wholesale channels within the region, with some exclusions. “This new agreement furthers KDP’s commitment to partnerships, which are a core element of our growth strategy in which we create long-term, win-win relationships for both KDP and our strategic partners,” said Ozan Dokmecioglu, chief executive officer of KDP. “The agreement demonstrates the strategic importance of energy to us and provides us the opportunity to partner with the No. 1 energy brand in the world.” KDP also will have the option to distribute future ready-to-drink beverage products that Red Bull may launch in Mexico. “The addition of the Red Bull brand to KDP’s powerful, nationwide distribution network in Mexico strengthens our presence in the energy drink category and leverages our distribution capabilities to expand availability of Red Bull in the country,” said Gilberto Maldonado, general manager and senior vice president of KDP Mexico. The energy drink partnership comes shortly after KDP was reportedly in talks to acquire Bang Energy drink maker Vital Pharmaceuticals, Inc., though the rumors were denied by KDP.

How Duff Goldman Keeps Life On The Road Nutritious – Mashed https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/how-duff-goldman-keeps-life-on-the-road-nutritious-mashed/ DFree/Shutterstock Fans of bakery owner and television personality Duff Goldman likely follow his main Instagram account, where he shares all kinds of personal moments, from snaps of his adorable daughter Josephine to pictures behind-the-scenes of his television projects to, of course, plenty of delicious and seriously impressive cakes and baked goods. However, did you know that Goldman seeks to inspire others with his healthy living journey and created a second Instagram account earlier this year devoted to sharing it? While Goldman’s primary account has a whopping 741,000 followers, his newer health and fitness has just shy of 4,000 as of this writing. The account name pays tribute to the culinary world, and though he added his first name to the bio, fans scrolling will simply see him posting as @beefcakecookie. On this account, Goldman shares photos and videos taken during his workouts, as well as some of the healthy meals he eats and other inspirational updates. As People reports, he’s shared his nutrition and fitness progress in the past as well. Though it may be easy to stick to his routine while at home at his scenic California home, working out in the fresh air and creating nutritious meals in his kitchen, it’s always a challenge to keep up healthy habits on the road when faced with temptations and a busy schedule. Goldman addressed his secret for healthy eating on the road in a recent post and it’s simpler than you might think. Goldman’s secret for staying healthy on the road Duff Goldman shared an Instagram post that showcased a baking sheet with a row of grilled chicken breast and zucchini, as well as a mason jar that contained some type of salad. In the caption, he discussed the challenge of sticking to healthy eating while traveling, something that he has to do “very often” because of his various projects and work commitments. While willpower is definitely needed to walk past the incredible aromas coming out of various restaurants, the secret to the celebrity baker’s success is simply meal prep. As he explained, he swears by Israeli salad because of how the lemon juice preserves the vegetables, as well as some grilled lean protein and vegetables. Goldman even shared his recipe for Israeli salad in case any fans following his health journey wanted to try it out themselves. The meal prep solution is likely for shorter trips — the Charm City Cakes owner mentioned that the food keeps about 48 hours on the road. However, he seems to have thought through all the potential issues, even confirming that his meal-prepped items stay quite cool in his checked bag because of where it’s stored on the plane. The comments section of the post was filled with encouragement, with many fans writing messages like, “you can do it Duff!” and reminding him of his motivation: One person commented, “You’re not eating healthy just for you; you’re doing it for your beautiful family!”

MLB DFS: Top DraftKings And FanDuel Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks, Lineup Advice For Friday, Oct. 7, 2022 – CBS Sports https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/mlb-dfs-top-draftkings-and-fanduel-daily-fantasy-baseball-picks-lineup-advice-for-friday-oct-7-2022-cbs-sports/ The Seattle Mariners‘ last appearance in the MLB playoffs came in 2001, when players like Ichiro, Bret Boone and Jay Buhner led the M’s to the ALCS. On Friday, they begin an AL Wild Card Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, who missed the postseason last year but were a wild card team in 2020. With strong hitters on both sides, which ones are the best fits for your MLB DFS lineups on Friday? One player for Seattle that could be the top choice in the MLB DFS player pool is second baseman Adam Frazier, who comes into Game 1 on a six-game hitting streak. Meanwhile, Toronto shortstop Bo Bichette closed out the season on a tear, and over his last 15 starts he hit .361 with an .803 OPS. Before you make your MLB DFS picks for the Wild Card Series games on Friday, be sure to check out the MLB DFS advice, strategy and projections from SportsLine daily Fantasy expert Mike McClure. McClure is a daily Fantasy pro who has won over $2 million in his career. And when it comes to daily Fantasy baseball, McClure is at his best. Recognized in the book “Fantasy Football (and Baseball) for Smart People: How to Turn Your Hobby into a Fortune” as a top MLB DFS player, McClure’s proprietary projection model simulates each game 10,000 times, taking factors such as matchups and recent results into account. This allows him to find the best values on every site. On Wednesday, McClure highlighted Boston outfielder/designated hitter J.D. Martinez in his MLB DFS player pool on DraftKings and FanDuel. The result: Martinez hit two home runs and finished with four RBI in the Red Sox season finale to return 32 points on DraftKings and 44.4 points on FanDuel. Anybody that included him in their lineups was well on the way to a profitable day. Now, as the 2022 MLB regular season winds down, McClure has locked in his top MLB daily Fantasy picks for Friday, October 7. Head to SportsLine now to see them. McClure’s top MLB DFS picks for Friday, October 7, 2022 One of McClure’s top MLB DFS picks for Friday is Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, who is listed at $5,300 on DraftKings and $4,200 on FanDuel. In his final start of the regular season, Alonso went 2-for-3 against the Nationals. He ended the season in an offensive groove, where he batted .400 with six total hits and four walks over his final five starts. The Mets begin their postseason against San Diego and will see Yu Darvish starting on the mound for the Padres. The series begins in New York, where Alonso has been a more efficient hitter than on the road. At Citi Field this season, Alonso’s batting average (.280) is 16 points higher than in away games, and overall, he has hit .300 with a 1.099 OPS with runners in scoring position.  Another part of McClure’s optimal MLB DFS strategy includes stacking Alonso with second baseman/outfielder Jeff McNeil ($4,300 on DraftKings and $2,800 on FanDuel). McNeil finished the regular season without a hit in New York’s season finale against Washington, but he had been on fire in the 10 games before that. During that stretch, he hit .465 with four extra-base hits, four RBI and a 1.151 OPS as he won the NL batting title. Historically, McNeil hasn’t had a great deal of success against Darvish (1-for-11 all-time), but overall this season, he’s had great success against right-handed starting pitchers like Darvish. Against righty starters, McNeil hit 33 doubles, 47 RBI, and eight of his nine home runs. Darvish hasn’t pitched for fewer than six innings in a game since June, and McNeil’s offensive splits against starters escalate across the board with each trip to the batter’s box, starting with a baseline of .336/.376/.453. How to set your MLB DFS lineups for Friday, October 7, 2022  McClure is also targeting an undervalued player who is set to explode for huge numbers on Friday. The stars are aligning for him to return tournament-winning value and he comes at a price that won’t break the bank. You can only see who it is here. So what are the top MLB DFS picks for Friday? And which player is a must-roster? Visit SportsLine now to see DFS millionaire Mike McClure’s complete player pool and picks for FanDuel and DraftKings, and cash in big on MLB DFS.

In An Exclusive Conversation With Alok Joshi, Co-Founder, Lepasa Metaverse – Outlook India https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/in-an-exclusive-conversation-with-alok-joshi-co-founder-lepasa-metaverse-outlook-india/ With the growing footprints and the popularity of Metaverse, many digitally connected universes are taking the shape. These ecosystems claim to open new avenues of opportunities for stakeholders by bridging the gap between physical reality and virtual reality. In fact, today entrepreneurs, companies, financial institutions, and tech giants are increasingly making their foray into the segment and this trend is expected to drive the next leg of the growth for the metaverse. No wonder, the digitally connected universes are poised to grow at a CAGR of 47.6% to reach $1528 billion by 2029. Metaverse is fast catching the imagination of stakeholders with both users and investors waking up to the enormous potential this emerging category of digital assets brings to the table. Reflecting the true spirit of web 3.0, the Lepasa is a brainchild of Ashish Agarwal and Alok Joshi. Lepasa Metaverse was launched in 2021 to take the revolution of the metaverse to the doorsteps of the masses. Built using web 3.0 space, Lepasa offers a mesmerizing 3D experience to users which is cut above the regular two-dimensional interactions offered by other projects in the virtual space. “The primary objective behind launching Lepasa is to offer users an immersive and holistic metaverse ecosystem while taking the creator’s economy to a next level,” says Alok Joshi, Co-Founder of Lepasa, “Our platform allows users to ideate, create, and trade digital assets and helps them experience the transformative potential of Non-fungible assets (NFTs) in a way that is simply unheard of in the past.” Lepasa Metaverse There are many first-in-segment features offered by Lepasa that include its immensely popular virtually-real metaverse. The ecosystem of digital properties on Lepasa includes land developers, owners, buyers, and service providers, and this holistic approach of bringing all stakeholders together is proving instrumental in establishing real estate on metaverse platforms. Digital Properties, just like their physical counterparts, can be leased, flipped, and developed further and thanks to their fully programmable characteristic, owners can customize the space to meet, greet, interact, and do transactions in a manner they do in a real-world scenario. “Lepasa is unique in terms of offering enthralling virtual realty projects on its metaverse built on next-gen Web 3.0 space. Unlike other metaverse projects, virtual realty on Lepasa metaverse is conceptualized by world-class architects, designers, and planners who have invested themselves to come up with this virtually-real experience,” Alok tells Business Standard. Lepasa NFTs NFTs are playing an instrumental role in boosting the prospect of the creator’s economy. NFTs are short for Non-Fungible Tokens and this category of digital assets has already become a billion-dollar industry worldwide. The segment has seen the participation of artists, politicians, celebrities, sportspersons, and leading fashion and consumer brands and is expected to clock a CAGR of 33.9% between 2022 and 2030. Lepasa offers state-of-the-art NFTs and importantly, the digital assets offered by Lepasa come with a unique distinction of having the source file. “Unlike other platforms that offer NFTs which are merely images in JPG or PNG formats, Lepasa offers NFTs with source file,” Alok explains, “This enables users to use NFTs in a wide range of formats such as videos, music, games, and metaverse among others.” Future Growth With digital transformation sweeping the world, companies cutting across sectors are investing every in Metaverse, creator economy, digital tokens, and NFTs. “Retail Industry, the gaming, music, and entertainment sectors are well-poised to leverage metaverse to connect with their target audiences,” Alok explains, “The companies in the consumer marketing space, tech sector, and fashion segments are also making a beeline for digital properties. In addition, firms catering to the segment of consumer electronics, physical realty, and banking and finance are also expected to make investments in digital assets in future.” The Team The founders Alok Joshi and Ashish Agrawal have worked extensively in the domain of technology across business segments and industries. Both have been instrumental in bringing new-age innovations to life and importantly, share the optimism for the transformative potential of blockchain and metaverse to enhance customer experience. This core belief and their quest for bringing excellence in the metaverse domain brought them together and finally led to the incorporation of Lepasa in 2021.

Get Best-Of-Web Pricing On This Minimalist Corner Floor Lamp – Engadget https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/get-best-of-web-pricing-on-this-minimalist-corner-floor-lamp-engadget/ This content is made possible by our sponsor; it is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Engadget’s editorial staff. When decorating your home, one important thing to consider is the lighting. Elements such as natural light, pre-installed pendant lamps and even the color temperature of your bulbs can make a room inviting, sterile or downright dim, and that doesn’t even take into account furniture placement. If you don’t know the first thing about home decor, your safest bet would be purchasing a versatile and understated fixture, and Lamp Depot has an option that might suit your needs. During our Deal Days event, which runs through October 12, you can get a Minimalist LED Corner Floor Lamp for only $60 or 25 percent off. This sale is our answer to Prime Day, and our promotional collection features over 150 discounted products, some of which you won’t find on Amazon. This chic corner lamp earned four stars in our store and is designed to blend in with any interior design. You may barely notice it’s there until you turn it on. The fixture measures 15 inches long and wide by 55 inches tall, and its clever weighted base can easily be tucked behind and underneath furniture such as desks, drawers and consoles, so you won’t have to rearrange your room arrangement to set it up. The RGB LED bulbs are rated at 50,000 hours and can produce a soft white light providing up to 1,680 lumens. But the real fun begins when you switch up the colors. Using the included remote control, you can shuffle between 16 million hues and over 300 multi-color lighting effects to set the mood or match the shades in your home. So if you’re planning a party soon, choose cool blues, greens and purples to energize your guests. Or you can cast warmer hues like yellow and orange when unwinding after work. Verified buyer Sue B. enjoyed her lamp’s ambiance, sharing: “This light is so delightful. It is picking me up from the grey Michigan weather! It is a beautiful accent in my living room.” You can purchase this Minimalist LED Corner Floor by Lamp Depot for just $60 or get a two-pack for just $40 more, the best price you’ll find online. No coupons are necessary to claim this discount, which expires on October 12. And if you’re decorating a new home, don’t forget to check out our Deal Days collection for more sales. Prices subject to change. Engadget is teaming up with StackSocial to bring you deals on the latest headphones, gadgets, tech toys and tutorials. This post does not constitute editorial endorsement, and we earn a portion of all sales. If you have any questions about the products you see here or previous purchases, please contact StackSocial support here.

Crypto News Summary: Visa Report Says $400M Stolen From Crypto Bridges, Bitstamp To Assists Mt. Gox Repayment Process, Solana Reveals A Bug – Cryptonews https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/crypto-news-summary-visa-report-says-400m-stolen-from-crypto-bridges-bitstamp-to-assists-mt-gox-repayment-process-solana-reveals-a-bug-cryptonews/ Source: AdobeStock / prima91 Get your daily, bite-sized digest of cryptoasset and blockchain-related news – investigating the stories flying under the radar of today’s crypto news. __________ Security news A new Visa report found that, beyond attacks on traditional currency, threat actors are employing new tactics to defraud cryptocurrency users, including new malware focused on browser extension wallets for crypto users as well as innovation in phishing and social engineering schemes. Crypto bridge services are also a target. From January through February 2022, three sizeable thefts exploiting vulnerabilities in various bridge services netted cyber thieves over $400 million, they said. Legal news Bitstamp announced that it was appointed by Mt. Gox Trustee as one of four designated crypto exchanges to assist in the repayment procedures to Mt. Gox creditors. Bitstamp has released a complete description of how those affected can register to reclaim their digital assets through the exchange. Per the announcement, a creditor of Mt. Gox can choose their preferred cryptocurrency exchange and register as a user for the receipt of the relevant assets according to the repayment procedures under the Rehabilitation Plan. Blockchain news A report by the Solana Foundation said that the Solana (SOL) blockchain downtime on September 30 was caused by a bug in the blockchain’s code and triggered by a malfunctioning hot-spare node that resulted in duplicate blocks. Exchange news Cryptocurrency exchange FTX is collaborating with Visa to launch debit cards in 40 countries, with initial rollouts across Latin America, followed by Europe and Asia. The FTX-branded Visa debit cards will be linked directly to a user’s FTX accounts and will initially be offered in the US, according to PYMNTS. Web3 news Fantom (FTM), a layer-1 blockchain platforms, today announced its integration with Unstoppable Domains, a platform for Web3 digital identity with more than 2.5 million registered non-fungible token (NFT) domains. Starting today, Unstoppable Domains will support the Fantom network, and allow Fantom’s more than 3.5 million users to benefit from the movement of digital assets via human-readable wallet addresses, an announcement said. One of the biggest Ethereum Merge staking providers Lido Finance announced that it has launched on two layer-2 networks, Arbitrum and Optimism. CBDC news The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), India’s central bank, has published a concept note for the introduction of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) in the country. It said that “we are at the forefront of a watershed movement in the evolution of currency that will decisively change the very nature of money and its functions.” Investment news Orca, a Solana-based liquidity platform, has announced the launch of the Orca Climate Fund. The fund is reflective of its mission to combat climate change and promote sustainable practices in crypto, said a press release. The Orca Climate Fund evolved from Orca’s Impact Fund which was born in August 2021. Since 2021, Orca has allocated a portion of fees on every trade to the fund. The Orca Climate Fund will focus on promoting change at the intersection of climate and Web3, they said. Mining news Bitcoin (BTC) miner Marathon Digital revealed exposure of $81.3 million in the now-bankrupt data center Compute North. Per a monthly report, it had invested $10 million in convertible preferred stock and $21.3 million in unsecured senior promissory notes in Compute North, and also paid it approximately $50 million as operating deposits for hosting services. Crypto mining company Argo Blockchain plans to sell 3,400 mining machines for cash proceeds of £6 million ($6.8 million). It will also raise approximately $27 million via a proposed subscription with a strategic investor, it said in a release, and it amended an existing agreement for equipment financing, releasing $5.7 million of restricted cash. The moves were made to ensure it “has the working capital necessary to execute its current strategy and meet its obligations over the next twelve months,” it added.

Hispanic Enrollment Reaches New High At Four-Year Colleges In The U.S., But Affordability Remains An Obstacle – Pew Research Center https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/hispanic-enrollment-reaches-new-high-at-four-year-colleges-in-the-u-s-but-affordability-remains-an-obstacle-pew-research-center/ “ Hispanic enrollment at postsecondary institutions in the United States has seen an exponential increase over the last few decades, rising from 1.5 million in 2000 to a new high of 3.8 million in 2019 – partly reflecting the group’s rapid growth as a share of the overall U.S. population. However, the COVID-19 pandemic brought a decline in postsecondary enrollment among Hispanics and most other racial and ethnic groups. In fall 2020, there were 640,000 fewer students – including nearly 100,000 fewer Hispanics – enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities than in the previous year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The decline for Hispanics, and other racial and ethnic groups, in 2020 was driven by a drop in enrollment at two-year institutions. Hispanic enrollment at two-year colleges declined by about 230,000, or 15%, from 2019 to 2020. It appears that this trend continued into fall 2021, as there was a decline in the number of higher education institutions where Hispanics make up at least 25% of students – known as Hispanic-Serving Institutions – from 569 in fall 2020 to 559 in fall 2021. (NCES has not yet released postsecondary enrollment data for fall 2021.) Hispanic enrollment at four-year institutions, by contrast, continued to rise even during the first year of the pandemic, increasing by about 140,000 students, or 6%, from 2019 to 2020. Hispanic enrollment at such institutions has increased every year for decades. Between 2000 and 2020, the number of Latinos enrolled at four-year institutions jumped from 620,000 to 2.4 million, a 287% increase. By comparison, overall student enrollment at four-year institutions in the U.S. grew by 50% during this time. This Pew Research Center analysis about Hispanics and college enrollment relies on data from sources including the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the Census Bureau’s 2021 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (IPUMS). To explore the factors contributing to the gap among racial and ethnic groups in college completion, we surveyed 9,676 U.S. adults between Oct. 18-24, 2021. Everyone who took part is a member of the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. This way nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories. Read more about the ATP’s methodology. Here are the survey questions used for this report, along with responses, and its methodology. Latinos make up a growing share of all students enrolled at postsecondary institutions. In 1980, there were about 470,000 Latinos enrolled at degree-granting postsecondary institutions, accounting for 4% of all students. By 2000, Latino enrollment had increased to 1.5 million, or 10% of all students. And by 2020, 3.7 million Latinos were enrolled, accounting for a fifth of all postsecondary students. Asian enrollment at postsecondary institutions has also grown sharply in recent decades, though not as quickly as Hispanic enrollment. The Asian share of postsecondary students nearly quadrupled from 2% in 1980 to 8% in 2020. The share of postsecondary students who are Black increased far more slowly, from 9% in 1980 to 13% in 2020, while White students saw a considerable decrease in their share of enrollment, from 84% to 54%. Despite growing enrollment, relatively small shares of young Hispanics are enrolled in college or have obtained a bachelor’s degree. In 2021, about three-in-ten Latinos ages 18 to 24 (32%) were enrolled at least part time in college, a similar share to Black Americans (33%) and a lower share than among White (37%) and Asian (58%) adults of the same age, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of Current Population Survey data. Among Latinos, some 35% of young women 18 to 24 were enrolled at least part time in college in 2021, compared with 28% of men of the same age group.     In 2021, about a quarter of Latinos ages 25 to 29 (23%) had earned a bachelor’s degree, up from 14% in 2010. A similar share of Black Americans in this age group (26%) had obtained a bachelor’s degree, while 45% of White Americans and 72% of Asian Americans ages 25 to 29 had done so. Hispanic women ages 25 to 29 were more likely than Hispanic men in the same age range to have a college degree (27% vs. 20%) – a pattern also seen among other racial and ethnic groups. Overall, a 62% majority of U.S. adults ages 25 and older do not have a bachelor’s degree, including about eight-in-ten Hispanics (79%). Financial constraints a major reason why Hispanics do not finish a four-year degree Financial considerations are a key reason why Americans overall do not complete a four-year degree, and this is particularly true for Hispanics, according to an October 2021 Pew Research Center survey. Among Latinos who do not have a bachelor’s degree and are not enrolled in school, about seven-in-ten Latinos (71%) say a major or minor reason why is that they need to work to help support family, while 69% say they couldn’t afford a four-year degree. Affordability restrictions may include the overall cost of college, lack of reliable transportation or a desire to not take on debt. Hispanics are more likely than other students to avoid taking on debt and more likely to report difficulties paying back student loans. Personal factors also play a role in college completion. Close to half of Hispanics who have not obtained a four-year degree (47%) say they just did not want to pursue one. There is a notable difference by gender, with 54% of Hispanic men and 40% of Hispanic women citing this as a reason for not finishing college. Other factors play a role, too. Among Latinos without a bachelor’s degree, about four-in-ten (42%) say they did not think they would get into a four-year college – a significantly higher share than among White Americans (22%). In addition, 37% of Latinos without a bachelor’s degree say they did not think they needed a four-year degree for the job or career they wanted. This is similar to the share of Black Americans who say the same, (41%) but lower than the share of White Americans (49%). Note: Here are the survey questions used for this report, along with responses, and its methodology. Lauren Mora  is a research assistant focusing on race and ethnicity research at Pew Research Center.

CCI Orders Another Probe Against Google | Technology News – The Indian Express https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/cci-orders-another-probe-against-google-technology-news-the-indian-express/ The Competition Commission has ordered another detailed probe against Google for alleged unfair revenue sharing terms with respect to news content. The case will be clubbed with two other ongoing matters against the search engine major where the allegations are substantially same, according to the Competition Commission of India (CCI). The latest order has come on a complaint filed by the News Broadcasters & Digital Association. In January this year, CCI ordered a probe against Google on the complaint filed by the Digital News Publishers Association. Later, the Indian Newspaper Society also filed a similar case and that was clubbed with the first one. Now, the regulator’s probe arm Director General (DG) will submit a consolidated investigation report, the watchdog said in an order released on Friday. The News Broadcasters & Digital Association had alleged that its members are forced to provide their news content to Google in order to prioritise their weblinks in the Search Engine Result Page (SERP) of Google. As a result, Google free rides on the content of the members without giving them adequate compensation, as per the complaint. Among others, it was alleged that Google exploited the dependency of the members on the search engine offered by Google for referral-traffic to build services such as Google News, Google Discover and Google Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP). The search engine major provides news content to user through Google Search and through news aggregator vertical, Google News. According to the complaint, in Google Search, users can either search directly for news through News Tab or receive news through result in SERPs. Google incorporated news content in its SERPs through featured snippets including ‘Top Stories’ carousels. However, the revenue distributed by Google to news publishers doesn’t compensate for the real contribution made by the association’s members to these platforms, it added. In a four-page order, dated October 6 and released on Friday, CCI said the allegations are substantially the same as that of the matter which is already being probed by the regulator. CCI has directed the DG to club the matters and submit a consolidated investigation report. Cases where there is prima-facie evidence of violation of competition norms are referred by CCI to its investigation arm DG for a detailed probe. The complaint has been filed against Alphabet Inc, Google LLC, Google India Pvt Ltd, Google Ireland Ltd and Google Asia Pacific Pte Ltd. The association consists of national and regional private news and current affairs broadcasters and digital news media entities as its members.

Fusion Energy Power Plant Plans Welcomed – Newark Advertiser https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/fusion-energy-power-plant-plans-welcomed-newark-advertiser/ A major project that could bring fusion energy to a decommissioned power station has been hailed as a beacon for Nottinghamshire. The region has been selected to host the world’s first fusion energy power plant,which is expected to bring more than £20bn and up to 10,000 jobs to the area. On October 3, it was announced by the government that a site at West Burton had been chosen for the pioneering project, ahead of 15 other shortlisted locations across the UK. Local politicians and leaders of the STEP project (credit LDRS) (59834007) Nuclear fusion is an energy process which powers the sun. The new site could be built as soon as 2040, if scientists can finalise the rapidly-developing technology to replicate it and ultimately replace fossil fuel power stations. The project will replace the coal power station site known as ‘West Burton A’ which will cease operations next year, just as the STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) fusion project, led by the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) begins. On October 6, local MPs, councillors and the leaders behind the project met at the site in West Burton to discuss the project. Rachael Glaving, who led the bid on behalf of EDF, which owns the power station, said: “We have been through a rollercoaster of emotions with this because we were on the longlist and we were incredibly excited about that. “We didn’t make the shortlist and we were devastated, then to find out that Ratcliffe had dropped out and we had taken their place, we were amazed. “We decided we didn’t just want to be in the top five to make up the numbers, if we were going to do it, we wanted to do it properly “That was the trigger to pull out all the stops and the rest is history. “When you walk around the site now, everybody from the security guards to the people cutting the grass are smiling. “This genuinely is a world first, this will put the area on the map globally as the home of the first real commercial fusion reactor project in the world. “This place that used to be known as mega-watt valley will become a beacon now.” The Nottinghamshire site was chosen ahead of 14 other sites ahead of locations in Yorkshire, Cumbria, Gloucestershire and North Ayrshire. UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) will be responsible for all aspects of the development, planning, construction and operation of the facility. Tris Denton, head of commercial and programme development, UKAEA, said: “One of the things that struck me about West Burton was the phenomenal level of community support, built so much on the huge industrial legacy of power generations right up and down the Trent. “We want to build on that and transition from fossil to fusion in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. “What I find so exciting is that it’s primary school age kids in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire will probably be the first operators of this plant. “They will be some of the first people in the world to generate clean, secure low-carbon energy from fusion. I find that phenomenally engaging.” But he admitted that the project would be “incredibly difficult and technically challenging”. He said: “We know fusion works on earth because we do it day in and day out at our site in Oxfordshire. What we want to show with STEP is we can do it in a commercially viable way. “You can power homes and businesses, we can power kettles and factories. We believe we can do that.” He added that first there will be construction and design projects, and the UKAEA already has an office on site. The construction of the prototype plant is due to start in the early 2030s and become operational around 2040. Jo White, deputy leader of Bassetlaw District Council, is also a local resident who lives a five-minute drive from the site. She said: “I look out my window and I see the chimneys so it has been part of my life. “The thought of it going was sad, so the fact that it now has a future in producing energy is absolutely brilliant. “This is not just a step change in terms of the project, but a step change for Bassetlaw.” Ben Bradley, Nottinghamshire County Council leader, said the “fossil to fusion” narrative was “poetry”. He added: “We want to power the nation again and the opportunity here to be at the heart of this technology for the whole world is fantastic. “Even if it doesn’t work, for the region, the jobs, the investment, the skills and opportunities it will bring for local people are amazing.”

On The Middle Fork Of Idaho’s Salmon River, White-Water Rafting At Its Best – The Washington Post https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/on-the-middle-fork-of-idahos-salmon-river-white-water-rafting-at-its-best-the-washington-post/ Nacho Libre knows rivers. Okay, maybe not the real Nacho, but definitely my friend Kurt, who has kayaked all over the world and is standing before me, cocktail in hand, dressed as the fictitious Mexican wrestler. We’re at a campsite along the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in central Idaho, and Señor Libre is on a roll. “This is one of the best — if not the best — river trips in the country,” he says of the Middle Fork, which cleaves through the alpine forest, high desert and shadowy gorges of the 2.4 million-acre Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. We are here in mid-June with my wife, Cathleen, and 21 friends, many from the University of Colorado at Boulder, Class of ’80-something, on a five-day guided run of the river, which drops 2,900 vertical feet over 100 free-flowing miles and serves up a steady parade of Class III and IV rapids; Kurt and two others are kayaking while the rest of us are riding rafts. “It’s the gradient, the scenery, the fact that there’re no dams,” Kurt continues, sweeping his drink across a view that features towering ponderosa pines, the luminous currents of the river and a hatch of caddis flies rising like dust into columns of sunlight. In short, the Middle Fork is a portal into bygone eras of natural purity, Native American and frontier history, and near-zero connectivity with the outside world. No cell reception, no roads, no evidence of the modern world. Still, at the put-in, it’s hard to fathom we’ll have any peace over the coming days. Two dozen rafts are tied up along the shore, and teams are ferrying oars, dry bags and coolers from a dirt parking lot down a 100-foot wooden ramp to the boats. Shuttle buses steer around a frenzy of guides in frayed ball caps, clients struggling into wet suits and kayakers waiting for breaks in the action to shoulder their boats down to the water. But minutes after we shove off into a chilly drizzle at elevation 6,000 feet, civilization feels very far away. The river sluices through a misty forest of lodgepole pines and Douglas firs, many skeletonized by wildfires, and starts into five miles of nearly continuous rapids. Fortunately, we appear to be in capable hands. Our lead guide, Jamie Zahner, 56, a shaggy, ursine outdoorsman, has been running the Middle Fork for 20 years, the past 10 with our outfitter, Middle Fork River Expeditions. Standing in the company’s warehouse the night before our departure, Jamie impersonates a raft, a paddle, a variety of client prototypes, a leaning ponderosa pine tree (beneath which we’re instructed not to camp), the wind and the river itself as he preps us for the week ahead. “Tomorrow’s going to be cold … like ice-on-the-windshield cold, and Tuesday morning, too,” he says, hugging himself in a mock shiver. “But then it warms up.” He smiles skyward to the imagined sunshine. “Plus, the river’s at a fun level right now, really cooking. You all know what to do if you see your buddy falling off a raft?” Jamie teeters, windmilling for a saving hand. “So pay attention. You fall in and it might be a while before we can get to you.” Among our other six guides: Sadie Grossbaum: 31, gold dreadlocks, five months pregnant, works winters as a predator tracker, heading into Idaho’s snowy wilds at 2 a.m. to stalk mountain lions and wolves; Madeline Martin, a lithe 29, enjoys snorkeling in freezing rapids and teaches winter avalanche safety courses in Fernie, British Columbia; and Mark Martin (no relation to Madeline), fit, bearded and 38, encyclopedic knowledge of river life, moonlights as a conservation advocate. All our guides are trained in emergency response, wilderness medicine and swift-water rescue, and they could no doubt survive weeks in the backcountry on sticks, leaves and a handful of ants. We, of course, could not. And so lashed to our armada are an embarrassment of clothes, food, booze, kitchenware, tents, sleeping bags and camp chairs, and the vital necessities: musical instruments, costumes, glow-in-the-dark bocce balls and hula hoops. Shortly after launch, we hit a train of six-foot standing waves that explode over the bows, smacking us with a 45-degree wake-up call. (The Middle Fork is fed predominantly by snowmelt, especially in spring and early summer.) It is indeed gasp-inducing cold, and the rapid doesn’t so much end as settle into a mile-long Class II/III ramble that culminates in Murph’s Hole, a Class III/IV pour-over with a habit of flipping even heavily loaded rafts. We encounter no such drama, although John McKinney — who is audaciously kayaking the Middle Fork following a 15-year break from boating — takes the first of a few swims he’ll endure after failing to roll his boat upright in rapids. At Mile 13, we reach our first camp, form a fire line to unload the rafts, disperse to pitch our tents and return to find that the guides have set up the kitchen and bar, complete with hors d’oeuvres, and built a fire. They have also, at the end of a very private trail, set up the “groover,” a five-gallon bucket with a toilet seat and a stellar view. After dinner, and after Cathleen and I follow a whisker of trail in the fading daylight up to a rocky moraine with steam rising from its far border, and after we sink into a 106-degree hot spring beneath ambling clouds and piercing stars — after all that, on our return to camp, we hear the faint strains of live music. It’s my friend Dan Rubinoff — a tall, scraggly-haired hippie — on acoustic guitar, and his partner, Joice Moore, playing a bass plugged into a toaster-size, battery-powered amp. Their music is mellow, beautiful, original. It’s also mildly curious, because in a pre-trip group email exchange, Dan had requested that people minimize the use of Bluetooth-enabled speakers on our trip. “We are traveling a long way to be in one of the most incredible remote wilderness areas left in the country,” he wrote. “We spend a lot of time on rivers and prefer the natural sounds that those areas give us.” He signed off, “Love ya, Rube.” When I ask him about the seeming contradiction, he doesn’t blink. “People have been making live music around campfires for thousands of years,” he tells me. So even though Joice’s bass is amplified, “it’s totally different” from piping canned music from a phone through a speaker. Fair enough, brother. The next morning, hot coffee in hand, I listen to those natural sounds — the timeless wash of the river, the calls of osprey, canyon wren and western tanager, the wind through the pines — while watching fog billow down the mountainside. We’re slow to break camp, but nobody seems to care: The Middle Fork is clipping along at 5,500 cubic feet per second — by late summer, it will drop well below 1,000 CFS — and we should reach our next camp with time to spare. However, the severe terrain and ever-changing weather here can scuttle even the best-laid plans. In 2006, not far below our first camp, a natural dam broke high on the riverbank, sending a massive flow of fallen trees, soil and rocks into the river at Lake Creek — where a rapid had been created only a few years prior by a similar debris flow. In the 2006 breach, a mess of logs washed a half-mile downstream before sealing off one of the Middle Fork’s marquee rapids, Pistol Creek. “We had groups backed up for three days,” Jamie tells me in Camp 2 as he flips (wild-caught Alaskan) salmon filets over the fire. “Hundreds of people. We all just sat there until the Forest Service showed up with dynamite and cleared it out.” Pistol today is striking — a plunging, narrowing S-turn with a lateral current that, Sadie warns us as we approach it, endeavors to smash us into a rock wall on river left and, if things go poorly, bounce us into a massive, churning hole. (With a few well-timed oar strokes, she reduces the smash to a nudge and the hole to a roadside attraction.) The first recorded run of the Middle Fork occurred in 1926; filmmaker Henry Weidner canoed it, taking four months and shooting 800 reels of film for a nature documentary. The first descent in a rubber raft followed in 1929, but recreational trips didn’t take off until after the signing into law of the 1968 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The Forest Service started issuing permits to outfitters in the 1970s, and the industry continued to grow after the 1980 designation of the area as wilderness. And although new development is prohibited in wilderness areas, the Frank Church-River of No Return contains active airstrips for small planes and a few old ranches and miners’ cabins, all of which predated the wilderness designation. What also predated that, of course, were the 10,000 years that the Shoshone Indians and other tribes lived here, subsisting on bighorn sheep (which still thrive here) and native salmon (which don’t), before their forcible removal by the U.S. Army in the late 1800s. At various stops, we see remnants of the Indians’ time — rounded depressions, mostly, which served as firepits inside their teepees, along with an obsidian arrowhead that Mark finds at our second camp. Day 3 carries us through some of the week’s calmest pools, but even here there are highlights: our bright orange rafts drifting dreamlike over crystalline green waters, a waning moon rising over a ridge, Rube actually mooning me from a raft as I take my 200th photo of the day. From our third camp, in a massive grove of ponderosas, Cathleen and I run a trail two miles downriver, through forest, meadow and sage, before turning up Loon Creek, which pours forth from the mountains in a turquoise cascade. This delivers us to the nicest hot spring of the week, a 6-by-15-foot log-and-earthen berm within steps of the creek. Upon our return, we confirm that we are in fact in ursus country. We are playing mu...

LIA Tackles Cannabis Banking And Financing Challenges – Long Island Business News https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/lia-tackles-cannabis-banking-and-financing-challenges-long-island-business-news/ Get our free LIBN e-alerts & breaking news notifications! Courtesy of the Long Island Association By: David Winzelberg October 7, 2022 The Long Island Association hosted a panel of cannabis and banking experts Thursday to discuss the industry’s financing challenges and support federal legislative solutions.  Organized by the LIA’s Financial Services and Tax Policy Committee, the panel focused on the obstacles presented by the illegal status of cannabis on the federal level, mainly that entrepreneurs operating in the Long Island market will not be able to bank or obtain financing from a federally insured institution.  “This dialogue is timely and important to have especially with New York set to open stores before the end of this year,” said Matt Cohen, LIA president and CEO. “We want to make sure companies interested in this emerging market have all of the information they need, and businesses leaders involved in this industry understand the obstacles current federal regulations pose to entrepreneurs.”   The banking situation creates other challenges for businesses beyond financial impracticality, including public safety and concerns that come with operating a cash-only business. There are proposals in Washington to address the issue, and until it is resolved cannabis companies will have to find alternatives to banking with federally insured institutions and will struggle with this issue.  The panel included Chef Ali of HiFive Edible Wonders Inc., a co-founder of The Cannabis Accountability Group; Linda Armyn, chief strategy and marketing officer for Bethpage Federal Credit Union; Brian Patrick Herrington, vice president of external affairs for Scotts Miracle-Gro; and Peter Su, senior vice president of Green Check Verified. The discussion was moderated by Maureen Evers-Willox, managing partner at KPMG LLP, and a co-vice chair of the LIA’s Financial Services and Tax Policy Committee.  “Because cannabis is still considered illegal at the federal level, there is a disconnect between federal and state law,” said Su, whose firm is a provider of cannabis banking solutions and advisory services for financial institutions. “This has a serious impact on business owners and workers who find themselves barred from capital and other banking services–they cannot operate safely, efficiently, nor successfully without any form of access to financial institutions.”  Proposed federal legislation called the SAFE Banking Act seeks to harmonize federal and state law by prohibiting federal regulators from taking punitive measures against depository institutions that provide banking services to legitimate cannabis-related businesses and ancillary businesses.  Small business caterer Chef Ali, who supports the proposed legislation, said it’s vital for any emerging industry to have a safe and sound foundation for success.  “Without laws in place like SAFE Banking, cannabis workers and entrepreneurs will continue to be limited economically, and safety-wise,” she said. “It shouldn’t be a privilege to be safe from violence and crime in your place of work, but should rather be the norm, no matter the industry you are employed in.”  Herrington agreed and urged action by the federal government.  “Congress is at a critical juncture and must act now on the SAFE Banking Act to positively affect the financial and physical safety of New York’s businesses, consumers, and workers,” he said.  × Enjoy This Free Article We Have 2 More For You All You Need To Do Is Register To Receive Your 2 Additional Free Articles

Climbing Pedestrian Bridge Promotes Healthy Heart – Firm – Punch Newspapers https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/climbing-pedestrian-bridge-promotes-healthy-heart-firm-punch-newspapers/ A food brand, Power Oil, has said that climbing pedestrian bridges promotes a healthy heart. The company disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, in commemoration of the 2022 World Heart Day, observed annually on September 30. According to the statement, the company engages over 15,000 people directly across three locations within Lagos State, discouraging passers-by against the option of crossing the express road and enlightening them to use the overhead bridge as a safer and healthier alternative. The Brand Manager, Valerie Amakulor, said the rationale behind the campaign was to educate Nigerians on the importance of a healthy lifestyle through routines in daily lives. She said, “The need to create awareness about maintaining a healthy heart can never be over-emphasised as cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of death globally. “An estimated number of over 17 million people die from the CVD every year, coronary heart disease or strokes were the major causes of these deaths. “While reviewing this estimation, it was realised that awareness effort needed to go further in Nigeria, especially at different touch points unimaginable, which gave rise to this concept of pedestrian-bridge engagement exercise.” It added that an estimation of 20 people die in Lagos State from crossing the road monthly in Nigeria, noting that even when the bridges were available for use, they still opted for the risky option. The statement explained that to further drive healthy choices, pedestrians were asked to partake in minor workouts to get more rewards. “Power Oil rose to the occasion by not only cheering pedestrians to use the bridge for safety purpose, but to also educate them about the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle, at this point, a sample the brand is offered. “It was delightful to see the number of people being engaged at all three locations, this further demonstrates that a little push might only be required to achieve the right amount of behavioral adjustments towards a healthy lifestyle,” it read.

Emergency Sports Betting Meeting Set For Friday – NBC10 Boston https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/emergency-sports-betting-meeting-set-for-friday-nbc10-boston/ The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is set to hold an emergency meeting Friday, after the group failed to come up with an agreement during a meeting Thursday that went on for more than eight hours. As of now, the start of sports betting in the Bay State is still very much in the air. The commission couldn’t come up with a timetable as to when sports betting would be rolled out during Thursday’s conversations. The Bay State’s gaming commission is meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday with a lengthy agenda. One of the ideas tossed around was having in-person betting launch before the Super Bowl, and mobile betting by the March Madness tournament. But nothing has been agreed or voted on yet. “This should be done in a responsible way, that gets us to the patrons but also maximizes the benefit but minimizes the harm,” Eileen O’Brien with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission said. “I’m concerned about and I will say aggressive because I think this is an aggressive timeline.” The commission is under pressure to get legal sports betting up and running after the Legislature slow-walked the issue for years, but regulators have run into hurdles that have complicated their efforts in the nearly two months since Gov. Charlie Baker signed the betting law. Eager bettors are clamoring for action, and the commissioners have said they want to implement legal sports betting here without unnecessary delay but also without sacrificing their commitment to consumer protection and gaming integrity. Gov. Charlie Baker signed a bill to legalize sports betting in Massachusetts. Local In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. Commissioner Nakisha Skinner asked repeatedly why the commission was pursuing an “aggressive” timeline and indicated that she was not comfortable with compressing the process in the interest of time. “If this compressed timeline makes sense and it’s responsible, I’m all for it,” Skinner said. “I just need to understand the rationale for why there is being this compressed timeline advanced as opposed to a reasonable timeline by which the team can get this done.” Friday’s meeting is scheduled for noontime. State House News Service Contributed to This Report

Top Metaverse, Exarta, Is Coming To Concordium – PR Newswire https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/top-metaverse-exarta-is-coming-to-concordium-pr-newswire/ , /PRNewswire/ — Exarta, a U.K based metaverse recently featured in the Business Leader Magazine’s Global Top 32 Metaverse Companies, is coming to Concordium.  Using Concordium’s ID layer to build safe and authentic environments while balancing privacy and accountability, Exarta plan to go multi-chain, bridging serious gamers and brands from existing blockchains. Exarta says a Fortune 200 company is expected to join Exarta in October, along with other organizations that are building on the virtual world which will be announced later this year. Enabling users to pay with both fiat and crypto, Exarta can onboard brands at speed and offer faster time to market, at a fraction of the cost it currently takes to build on current metaverses. In a metaverse first, Exarta have built their own proprietary A.I/ Machine Learning systems, and designed their virtual world built on Unreal Engine, including an in-house developed custom avatar creator module, and car configurator. Exarta will also incorporate retail, gaming, medical, and educational applications to give brands a complete metaverse platform to create new experiences with their customers. “Without question, the metaverse vision is a big opportunity for the blockchain industry. Therefore, at Concordium, it is very important for us to partner up with ambitious projects in this space. We want to support the metaverses themselves, but can also bring clients to them as an increasing number of use cases are requesting metaverse infrastructure for their own projects. So we see a great synergy between the metaverse, our other projects and use cases and the safe environment Concordium provides for both brands and users. We are excited to have identified Exarta as an aspiring and commercially orientated metaverse. Together, we will bring corporations and brands into these new virtual distribution and marketing channels that we believe will constitute an ever increasing part of business and everyday life in coming years. Both for social and commercial purposes, the future looks bright for the metaverse, and Exarta is well positioned to be among the front runners in the industry,” says Lars Seier Christensen, Concordium Founder and Chairman. “We are excited to be working with Concordium and believe that the ID layer will be a critical component for large brand adoption within the web3 space now and in the future. Exarta has been building non-stop for some of the largest brands in the world. Our rapid expansion also includes building teams across our offices in Asia, UK, Dubai, USA, and a headquarters in the Isle of Man,” Says Rashid Ali, Exarta Co-founder and CEO. He continues by saying, “Our proprietary A.I artificial intelligence coupled with the Concordium blockchain will revolutionize the Metaverse as we know it today. We will bring brands on at scale and give users a safe, secure and private platform to work in, explore, buy/ trade and play.” Contact Maria Amalia Rojas Marketing Director [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/concordium/r/top-metaverse–exarta–is-coming-to-concordium,c3644731 SOURCE Concordium

40 Best Gifts For 13 Year Old Boys – National Today https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/40-best-gifts-for-13-year-old-boys-national-today/ If you ask the average 13-year-old how good their parents are with gift giving, there probably aren’t many that would tell you they’ve had the best results. A pair of socks, a wooly sweater, a pair of reversible slacks. No thank you. It can be hard for adults to shop for kids, mostly because of the age gaps. We suggest trying to base your selections on how you’d react to prices on a game show. For example, a sports car sounds incredible when you’re a kid, but a luxury suit for special occasions would be boring. You wouldn’t rush to get a 13-year-old a sports car, but you get the idea. Try to put yourself in their shoes and you’ll manage. To get you jump-started with some ideas, here are some great suggestions. Our Top 3 Picks Best Playstation 5 Console Quite possibly the greatest console in existence. Buy it! Also Great Xbox Game Pass The gaming gift that keeps on giving. Buy it! Good on a Budget Dual Color LED Neon Sign All signs point to an awesome game room. Buy it! Best Christmas Gifts for 13-Year-Old Boys “Finish This Book,” By Keri Smith  Half a book from author Keri Smith and the reader is tasked with finishing the other half. It’s a great book for teaching kids how to solve problems, and some can even up their teamwork skills by working together to finish it. Some kids even found it addictingly fun to get into.  Get one on Amazon. Wekapo Inflatable Lounger Easy to blow up. This air lounger is designed to support your upper back and neck so your teen can have an easier time relaxing and feeling comfortable. Once it’s set up the lounger will remain standing for five to six hours. Get one on Amazon. Create-a-Sticker Some gifts just stick with you, and this one grabs your attention at first sight. Stickers make everything great, and with this sticker maker, your teen’s world will keep on spinning and sticking like there’s no tomorrow.  Get one on Amazon. Galaxy Projector A lot of kids grow up with a set of glow-in-the-dark stickers attached to the walls of their childhood homes. However, times change and those stickers aren’t built to last, or they simply move on and leave them behind. This projector not only shines stars but calls in the tide too with an ocean-wave projection. Connect your phone via Bluetooth and watch the stars around you. The best part is you can take it with you whenever.  Get one on Amazon. Gloomhaven: Jaws of The Lion Strategy Boxed Board Game Gaming is just the thing for teens and sometimes that includes board games. Your teen will enjoy the video game-like storyline without getting more screen time. It’s great for solo players or group sessions.  Get one on Amazon. Best Birthday Gifts for 13-Year-Old Boys Signature Series 3 Skateboard Skateboards are a hot-ticket item, but you don’t become a pro skateboarder without knowing a thing or two about boards. Featuring a colorful and artsy deck as well as Pro Trucks and skateboard wheels, the Tony Hawk Popsicle skateboard series comes with it all. It’s an ideal starter board for someone new to skateboarding and advanced enough for veteran boarders on the ramp.  Get one on Amazon. Game Room Dual Color LED Neon Sign All signs lead to somewhere awesome. This awesome place is your game room, or just your bedroom. It’s good for your kid’s room and a versatile piece of electric art that can easily be hung almost anywhere.   Get one on Etsy. The Comfy Original Jr. Oversized and cozy, your teen is going to want to snuggle up in this wearable blanket all day long. It’s great for staying warm around the house, at sporting events, or even while camping.  Get one on Amazon. Ripster Caster Board This board features a unique design perfect for riders with a narrow stance. Not only will they be able to practice tricks on the boards, but the slip-resistant deck will make sure they’re safer, and that they have a smoother ride.  Get one on Amazon. Catan Board Game Whether your teen plays with family or friends, they will be sure to have a fun time with a social game that’s all about using strategy. Get one on Amazon. Best Electronics Gifts for 13-Year-Old Boys Arctis 1 Wired Gaming Headset If he’s an avid gamer, this headset comes with a signature soundscape, bringing out the most subtle sounds for an improved audio experience. The headset is also adjustable for a comfortable fit and they’re built to last.   Get one on Amazon. Snaptain S5C Pro 2K Drone Easy to use and hard to destroy, this drone is great for a beginner in drone piloting. It features voice-activated commands, one-touch takeoffs, landings, and video transmission that can automatically be uploaded to your social media.  Get one at Walmart. Merge Augmented Reality Cube The Merge Cube is one of the more well-known STEM gifts this year. It’s going to change your kids’ perspectives, and how they learn and see the world. They have the entire world in the palm of their hands, creating and interacting with virtual objects they can also share.  Get one on Amazon. Clip 4 Waterproof Speaker If you have a kid who loves music, this is the speaker for them. It functions for 10 hours on battery and streams wirelessly. As an added bonus, it’s durable enough to take a mild beating or a quick swim in whatever body of water your child accidentally drops it in.  Get one at Walmart. Instax Mini 11 Instant Camera Printed pictures are coming back in style. This camera will provide memories in the palm of their hand, or he can hang them in his school locker or keep them in his wallet. These little cameras are handy, small, and snazzy, bringing instant gratification to any hangouts, trips, or surprise photos of the family. Get one at Target. Best Science Gifts for 13-Year-Old Boys Robotikits 14-in-1 Solar Robot This solar-powered robot can be transformed into 14 different robot modes which include a bunch of comical and functional movements. You can change from a dog wagging its tail to a running beetle, walking crab, surfer, speedster, or zombie chaser, to name a few. It also comes with unique accessories and parts to allow it to move on land and water. Get one on Amazon. Thames and Kosmos Rocket Science Kit Physics comes alive with a set of action-packed experiments centered around a specially–designed stomp-on rocket launcher with three foam rockets. Launch water and air-powered rockets to learn about actions and reactionary forces. There are loads of fun ways to learn science and this kit has plenty to show you the fun in the fundamentals of physics.  Get one on Amazon. Lego Architecture Studio Bring your architectural creations to life and in LEGO form with the LEGO architecture studio. The set comes with over 1200 LEGO bricks and a guidebook filled with tips, techniques, features, and intuitive hands-on exercises endorsed by leading design houses. LEGO gives you everything you need to make your very own unique buildings.  Get one on Amazon. DX SkyExpedition Computerized Telescope With this, you can automatically locate over 4,000 wonders of the universe with its motorized system and on-board computer. It comes with a fully adjustable tripod sporting a convenient accessory tray. It’s got computerized hand controls that are easy to use and can help locate objects with the touch of a button.  Get one on Amazon. Perplexus Twist The Perplexus Twist is going to amaze players as they try to solve the latest in the line of award-winning 3D puzzles. This gadget challenges players to move the stainless steel marble through 30 different points while it rotates on its axis. Fun and intriguing, it’ll help with hand-eye coordination, thinking steps ahead, practicing impulse control, and even memory skill.  Get one on Amazon. Best Disney Gifts for 13-Year-Old Boys Meme the Game: Disney Version Turn some of your best movie moments into chuckl-worthy memes. Match a picture card with a phrase and see who’s pairing makes people laugh the hardest.  Get one on Amazon. Mickey Mouse Waffle Maker The classic Mickey Mouse waffle maker finally gives him an excuse to have his Disney world-level character breakfast in the comfort of his own home. It makes a 6-inch waffle in just two minutes, which means the whole gang can be fed in no time.  Get one on Amazon. 3D Crystal Jigsaw Puzzle This puzzle only comes with 41 pieces, but it’s still quite the brain teaser. Once it’s put together you’re going to have an interesting sculpture to put on display. Reviewers claim it doesn’t even take that long to put together.  Get one on Amazon. Disney World Cast Member Ornament Even if they haven’t fulfilled their dreams of working at Disney, their Christmas ornament can be a reminder of the good times, as it’s personalized to look just like the name tags cast members wear in the parks.  Get one on Etsy. Delish Loves Disney: An Insider’s Guide to the World’s Most Magical Treats Now, they don’t have to hop on a flight to devour a plate of those magical treats. This book covers all of the park staples, from decadent dinner to tempting treats so they can get mom to make it for them and enjoy them whenever, wherever they please.  Get one on Amazon. Best Cheap Gifts for 13-Year-Old Boys Buddha Board Art Set Yet another product adored by shoppers and with thousands of five-star ratings. This Amazon best seller is great for inspiring the young artist in your life.  Get one on Amazon. LED Strip Lights Nobody can resist a good light show, and not your teen can bring that same flair to their room. These LED strip lights are simple and easy to use, featuring 20 different colors and eight various modes. Colors and settings can change with the simple flick of the remote that comes with the lights.   Get them on Amazon. 400 Bubbles Jumbo Rainbow Pop-It Pop-its have been a big hit amongst a range of ages, from toddlers to teen...

Permits Propel Crypto Operations In Brainerd Forward – Brainerd Dispatch https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/permits-propel-crypto-operations-in-brainerd-forward-brainerd-dispatch/ Two lots on Thiesse Drive in Brainerd’s industrial park, seen here Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022, will serve as locations for a cryptocurrency mining operation by VCV Digital Infrastructure Minnesota. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch BRAINERD — Brainerd city officials issued two permits Monday, Oct. 3, that will move forward proposed cryptocurrency mining operations in the industrial park. Despite a split vote from the Planning Commission, City Council members approved two interim use permits, allowing VCV Digital Infrastructure Minnesota LLC to build storage containers at 1911 and 1918 Thiesse Drive, with outdoor storage designated as the primary use for the properties. VCV Digital will operate the crypto mining facilities after working with B&D Power Solutions — the company that originally approached the city — to acquire the land for the operations. The permits are contingent on final sale of the properties to VCV Digital, and they would be voided if crypto mining operations discontinue at the sites. Cryptocurrency is a form of digital money that is decentralized and can be used to buy goods over the internet and exchange money without a bank being involved. While there are thousands of cryptocurrencies and counting, Bitcoin has emerged as the most popular one. Cryptocurrency mining is the energy-intensive process of extracting digital money by solving complex puzzles via supercomputers. While council members unanimously approved the permits Monday, the Planning Commission’s vote on the items was split at 3-3 during its September meeting, when some members voiced their opposition to the cryptocurrency mining operation in general. “I think it’s a horrible project for our city, and I think it compromises our future energy independence and sustainability,” said Mike Duval, Planning Commission chair, on Sept. 21. “When I look at 16 employees for combined 50 megawatts of power, that’s a tremendous amount of energy.” Brainerd Public Utilities approved a purchase power agreement with VCV Digital in March, allotting the company 50 megawatts of power per month once the operations are up and running. The approved purchase agreement states the power is interruptible, meaning if power had to be shut off for any reason, the power to the cryptocurrency facility would be the first to go before the rest of the city. Brainerd’s extra power capacity made the city an attractive location for cryptocurrency mining. When a new BPU substation was built in 2008, its capacity was based on future growth projections for the city, leading to three transformers each capable of handling 47 megawatts of power. The peak energy use for BPU’s coverage area during the year is 40 megawatts, roughly 100 megawatts less than the total capacity. In March, BPU commissioners approved an agreement with American Electric Power — BPU’s energy supplier — to purchase the necessary power when needed. Once the cryptocurrency operations are up and running, American Electric Power will provide BPU with the cost for the energy, and BPU will in turn bill the company. BPU is working on a similar agreement with Clough Properties and its subsidiary Just for Krypto for 20 megawatts of power. The idea of cryptocurrency operations in Brainerd was highly contested late last year, when both Texas-based B&D Power Solutions and local Clough Properties expressed interest in purchasing the same lots in Brainerd’s industrial park for their cryptocurrency facilities. There were also concerns over the city having the capacity to fulfill the power requests from both companies. During an Economic Development Authority meeting last December, commissioners addressed misinformation that had spread on social media regarding the issue, including accusations that the city was choosing to work with an out-of-state company rather than a local one. B&D Power Solutions previously had operations in China before cryptocurrency mining was banned in the country. The City Council’s actions up until that point did not accept or reject proposals from either company but conveyed land in the industrial park to the EDA, giving the EDA authority to enter into negotiations with either company. EDA members agreed to move into those negotiations in December, but Clough Properties has since opted to buy an existing building in the industrial park for its cryptocurrency operations. The EDA agreed in March to sell two parcels in the industrial park to VCV Digital for $277,815, with the sale contingent on the company submitting a construction plan and securing financing. The EDA found those conditions to be met in September and conveyed the lots to VCV Digital. A Crow Wing County map shows the parcels of land VCV Digital Infrastructure Minnesota purchased for its cryptocurrency mining facilities. Contributed Planning Commission response A 3-3 vote saw planning commissioners split on approving VCV Digital’s interim use permits in September. Chair Duval, along with commissioners Don Gorham and Chuck Marohn, opposed the measures, while commissioners Tad Erickson, Kevin Yeager and Theresa Woodward supported them. Commissioner Matt Kallroos was absent from the meeting. Gorham asked several questions about the city’s power supply, how much of its energy is renewable and the ethics of using so much power to promote wealth by mining cryptocurrency. Jerry Tang, who attended the meeting virtually on behalf of VCV Digital, compared crypto mining to any other activities people use power for, like playing video games or streaming videos on YouTube, and said the productivity of such is subjective to the user. Duval argued against the business by using the city’s comprehensive plan, which states the city aims to ensure adequate water and power supply to meet long-term needs of the city and steer city development toward energy conservation. He also said he did not believe the proposed 16 full-time jobs that would result from the facility were not enough to warrant the project. “I am just blown away at the amount of energy that this project would consume,” Duval said. “It’s in direct contradiction to the goals of our comprehensive plan.” Tang reminded the commission the operations would not be taking energy away from the city but only using the city’s infrastructure to use the power, which would be bought through American Electric Power. He added the company will pay BPU well over $1 million a year for the energy it uses, which will in turn finance BPU’s solar power project, providing more renewable energy for the city. BPU Superintendent Scott Magnuson said during a phone interview Thursday, Oct. 6, VCV Digital purchased solar renewable energy credit for five years. The city will use those credits to pay down the cost of the solar field, which in turn makes the purchase power price lower for BPU. Marohn suggested a reclamation clause be included with the permit, requiring VCV Digital to reimburse the city for work that would have to be done on the site for other business ventures if the crypto mining operations failed within a certain amount of time. Erickson, who sits on both the Planning Commission and City Council, advocated for the permits, telling commissioners it was not their place to question the business plan of someone proposing to do business in the city. The business, he said, is the one taking the risk upon themselves. A design rendering shows one of the cryptocurrency mining facilities planned for Brainerd’s industrial park by VCV Digital Infrastructure Minnesota. Contributed “How long have we sat with empty lots in this industrial park? And now we have an opportunity to at least put it to some use,” Erickson said. Yeager agreed, noting BPU officials already stated they did not have concerns about the amount of power requested by both companies proposing cryptocurrency operations. Yeager said the city’s energy capacity is a unique asset, and he fully supports a business coming in to make use of that asset. “We have an applicant in front of us who wants to do something with a bare lot that is sitting there doing nothing. We don’t have anything in front of us right now. So I just believe that if you have somebody who wants to go, you let them go,” Yeager said. When it came time to vote on the first permit for 1911 Thiesse Drive, Duval said there was too much confusion on how everything would work in terms of the power supply, and Gorham said he had too many unanswered questions. Council members unanimously approved both permits during their meeting Monday, as was staff’s recommendation. Council member Mike O’Day said while he was against this project to begin with, he would vote in favor of the permits because of all of the work into it, including the power agreement and the land sale. Erickson reiterated his comments about the city’s role in questioning business plans and the information about BPU officials already addressing the availability of power. During the council comments portion at the end of Monday’s meeting, Mayor Dave Badeaux spoke about city officials’ duty to be stewards of the city and hold themselves to the highest possible standards, saying there were a few recent happenings that have been “a little squirrely” and gotten the city off track. One of the items he mentioned was the last Planning Commission meeting, saying those who sit on all city commissions should make a point of asking relevant questions related to issues ahead of time and come to meetings prepared. In the case of the crypto mining operations, Badeaux said some of the questions asked at the Planning Commission meeting were answered at previous meetings of other bodies, and if commissioners still had questions, they could have arranged for BPU officials to be present to answer those. “Even if we are commissio...

India’s RBI Sells Dollars As Rupee Hits Record Low On U.S. Rate Hike Fears – Reuters https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/indias-rbi-sells-dollars-as-rupee-hits-record-low-on-u-s-rate-hike-fears-reuters/ MUMBAI, Oct 7 (Reuters) – The Reserve Bank of India likely sold dollars via state-run banks on Friday after the rupee slid below 82 to a record low against the dollar on concerns over the U.S. Federal Reserve rate outlook, traders told Reuters. The rupee was last trading at 82.2675, down from 81.88 in the previous session, but off the session low of 82.33. The rupee dropped to 82.33 within the first ten minutes of the open and has been range bound since, likely due to the RBI intervention, traders said. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com The intervention by the RBI was confirmed to Reuters by four bankers and a brokerage firm. “Basically, the RBI is making its presence felt and letting traders know once again that it will not allow one-sided moves,” said one of the state-run bankers who confirmed the intervention. “The intervention will have an impact to (the extent) that it will not allow the rupee to fall more, but will not help rupee recover by much.” Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Nimesh Vora; Editing by Savio D’Souza Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

LightSpeed Announces New Chief Product And Technology Officer – Business Leader https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/lightspeed-announces-new-chief-product-and-technology-officer-business-leader/ Lightspeed Commerce Inc., a commerce platform for merchants around the world to simplify, scale, and create customer experiences, has announced that the Company has appointed Ryan Tabone as its Chief Product & Technology Officer. Throughout his nearly 15 years at Google, Tabone has overseen the development of various ground-breaking products, including Chromebook, G Suite, and Google Finance. Ryan earned a Bachelor of Science from Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. JP Chauvet, CEO of Lightspeed, comments: “Ryan brings an impressive track record of tackling large-scale technology challenges while empowering product and technology teams to keep creativity and innovation at the heart of everything they do. “Ryan will play a central role in ensuring the solutions we bring to market not only power their continued success but provide new resources to enable them to adapt to the unexpected.” Tabone joins Lightspeed from ​​Google, where he held a number of roles, among them being a founding member of the team that built Chromebook and most recently as the Vice President & General Manager of Google Pay and Google Finance. He has also served as an advisor and executive in residence for Other Bets, including Wing, Intrinsic, and more. Ryan Tabone, Lightspeed’s Chief Product and Technology Officer said: “I’ve spent my career focused on solving problems to create fundamental shifts in industries for the benefit of businesses and consumers. “Lightspeed, with its portfolio of products, is uniquely positioned to dramatically simplify the commerce stack for these merchants. I am extremely excited by the opportunity to enable businesses across the globe to more efficiently and effectively serve their customers, both online and in person, reducing the effort it takes to grow and run their business.”