James Kelso

U.S. Grapples With Risk Of Nuclear War Over Ukraine – Axios https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/u-s-grapples-with-risk-of-nuclear-war-over-ukraine-axios/ The U.S. and its NATO allies are urgently grappling with a question that once seemed to have faded along with the Cold War: Will Moscow go nuclear? The big picture: Russian President Vladimir Putin’s nuclear threats are growing more direct as his battlefield position in Ukraine grows more precarious. After warning last week that Russia would consider using nuclear weapons, Putin added: “This is not a bluff.” National Security adviser Jake Sullivan conceded Friday that it might well not be. “There is a risk, given all the loose talk and the nuclear saber-rattling by Putin, that he would consider this,” he said. Sullivan said the White House had informed the Kremlin of the “decisive” action the U.S. would take if Putin follows through. Driving the news: Sullivan was responding to an address in which Putin confirmed Russia was extending its nuclear umbrella to four newly annexed territories of Ukraine. Putin also said the U.S. had itself “set a precedent” for the use of nuclear weapons when it bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Between the lines: Putin seems to believe that if he can convince the U.S. and its NATO allies that he’s willing to use nuclear weapons over Ukraine, they will pressure Kyiv to surrender, says Alexander Gabuev of the Carnegie Endowment. The problem for Putin is the Ukrainian government, military and public believe they’re on course for victory, and won’t be deterred by nuclear threats, Gabuev says. The U.S., meanwhile, is only increasing its arms shipments to Ukraine. But if Ukraine continues to re-take territory Putin has now claimed is part of Russia, he may believe his only option is escalation. Putin’s recent moves suggest he “views this war as existential for himself, for his personal survival maybe, for his legacy and for his country,” Gabuev says. Yes, but: We’re not yet at the top of the “escalation ladder,” Gabuev notes. Putin could knock out electricity to major Ukrainian cities, conduct air and missile strikes on particularly sensitive targets, or even use chemical weapons on the battlefield before he reaches for the world’s largest nuclear arsenal. But Gabuev believes in the last two weeks, the chances of a nuclear strike moved from “single digits” to “double digits.” If Putin does use nuclear weapons, he could seek a “demonstration effect” — perhaps by detonating a nuclear weapon over the Black Sea or in the Arctic — or deploy a smaller-yield “tactical” nuclear weapon on the battlefield, says Andrea Kendall-Taylor of the Center for a New American Security. The U.S. would not likely go nuclear in response, but it could conduct a conventional military strike on Russian soil — perhaps targeting the site or unit behind the Russian launch — and pursue non-military steps like permanently seizing Russian central bank reserves, Kendall-Taylor says. Rose Gottemoeller, the former Deputy Secretary General of NATO, would expect a “strong non-nuclear” military response, as well as major diplomatic costs for Putin. “He will lose the global south, which for him should be a great shame because he’s been very clever at keeping them on his side,” she tells Axios. Sullivan said the U.S. had privately made clear to the Russians what its responses would be, but “we’re not going to telegraph these things publicly.” The administration would certainly seek to rally global consequences and condemnation, including from fence-sitting countries like China and India. Retired general Ben Hodges, who commanded U.S. forces in Europe, has said if Russia conducts a nuclear attack in Ukraine, the U.S. could destroy Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. However, that would risk a Russian counterstrike and potentially all-out war. What to watch: The battering Russia’s military is taking in Ukraine could contribute to further nuclear standoffs, even after the war, Kendall-Taylor says. “The more degraded and vulnerable they are in conventional terms, the more they’re going to double down on non-conventional things” like nuclear weapons.

Science News Roundup: Rocket Lab To Fire Up First Tests Of New Engine Next Year – CEO; More Penguins Dying From Avian Flu At Cape Town’s Boulders Beach Colony And More – Devdiscourse https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/science-news-roundup-rocket-lab-to-fire-up-first-tests-of-new-engine-next-year-ceo-more-penguins-dying-from-avian-flu-at-cape-towns-boulders-beach-colony-and-more-devdiscourse/ Following is a summary of current science news briefs. NASA, SpaceX to study ways to boost orbit of Hubble telescope Elon Musk’s SpaceX plans to fund a study with NASA to examine ways to use the space company’s Dragon capsule to raise the Hubble Space Telescope’s orbital altitude, which would extend its useful life, agency officials announced on Thursday. SpaceX, whose Crew Dragon capsule ferries astronauts and cargo to and from the International Space Station for NASA, will fully fund the six-month study, NASA’s science chief Thomas Zurbuchen told reporters during a short-notice press conference. Rocket Lab to fire up first tests of new engine next year – CEO Launch company Rocket Lab by next year plans to conduct initial hot-fire tests of a new, more powerful engine that will power its next-generation Neutron rocket, the company’s chief executive told Reuters. The Long Beach, California-based company routinely launches small satellites into space with its small workhorse Electron rocket. In December, it unveiled a bigger, reusable Neutron rocket, upping its competitive footing with larger vehicles from Elon Musk’s SpaceX and United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Boeing Co and Lockheed Martin Corp. What caused holes in Sue the T. rex’s jawbone? Scientists are stumped Sue, the biggest and best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex ever unearthed, no doubt was a fearsome beast when this predator prowled what is now South Dakota about 67 million years ago at the twilight of the age of dinosaurs. But even this huge dinosaur, whose fossils are displayed at the Field Museum in Chicago, was not invulnerable. A prime example of this is the series of circular holes in Sue’s jawbone that continue to baffle scientists. New research seeking an explanation for these holes has managed to rule out one major hypothesis, though the answer remains elusive. More penguins dying from avian flu at Cape Town’s Boulders beach colony More penguins have died from avian flu at the colony at Cape Town’s Boulders beach, a popular tourist attraction and an important breeding site in South Africa, raising concerns for the species and for other seabirds. David Roberts, a clinical veterinarian at the South African Foundation For The Conservation Of Coastal Birds, said at least 28 out of around 3,000 penguins in the colony had died from the disease since the middle of August. U.S. agency adopts new space junk rules to reduce exploration risks The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 4-0 Thursday on to adopt new rules to address growing risks of orbital debris to space exploration by shrinking the time to remove defunct satellites. The FCC voted to require post-mission disposal of low-Earth orbit satellites within five years. The agency previously recommended operators of satellites in low-Earth orbit ensure spacecraft re-enter Earth’s atmosphere within 25 years. (With inputs from agencies.)

2 Tarrant County TX Restaurants Closed By Health Inspectors – Fort Worth Star-Telegram https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/2-tarrant-county-tx-restaurants-closed-by-health-inspectors-fort-worth-star-telegram/ Digital Access – Annual Only 33¢ a day billed annually at $120 a year. Cancel anytime

4 Little-Known Perks Of Using A Travel Agent – The Motley Fool https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/4-little-known-perks-of-using-a-travel-agent-the-motley-fool/ Image source: Getty Images Booking plans through a travel agent could really be a smart move. Key points Using a travel agent means having to do less work yourself. But there are other benefits you might appreciate as well. Travel agents can offer firsthand experience with some destinations, and they can offer special deals consumers might not have access to otherwise.  We all need a getaway once in a while. And if your vacation plans have different components — a flight, lodging, and activities, for example — then you may be considering using a travel agent.  The clear benefit of a travel agent? Not having to do all of that work yourself. Your travel agent can find you flights on your preferred travel days, book your hotel stays, and make the process of planning a trip easier from start to finish. But that’s not the only reason to work with a travel agent. Here are some other perks you might enjoy. 1. You might get a firsthand account of what a given destination is like Travel agents often get access to free or heavily discounted trips so they’re able to stay at different resorts themselves. And so if you use one, you might benefit from getting a firsthand account of what a given property is like. Let’s imagine you’re trying to book an all-inclusive vacation in the Caribbean for your family. You may be worried that a given resort is poorly maintained or might not have a lot of food options for your children, who are picky eaters. If you work with a travel agent who recently spent several days at that resort, they’ll be able to tell you whether your concerns are valid. 2. You might get tips on activities that cater to your interests Because travel agents know a lot about the destinations they send clients to, using one could result in a more enjoyable travel experience. Imagine you’re an outdoor sports enthusiast. If you use a travel agent to book a trip, that agent might not only be able to recommend specific activities, but actually book them for you so you don’t have to worry about using reputable companies or not. 3. You might save a lot of money You might assume that using a travel agent will mean spending more money on your upcoming vacation and getting stuck with a higher credit card balance in the process. But you may find that the opposite is true — that your travel agent is able to save you money because they have access to deals and rates that regular consumers don’t have. Also, it’s a big myth that travel agents charge for their services. Travel agents often earn commissions via their bookings, but those commissions aren’t fees you’re responsible for. A resort, for example, might give an agent a certain percentage back for each booking they arrange. 4. You’ll get help if you run into an issue on your trip Imagine you’re vacationing on an island and a storm hits, forcing you to miss your flight home while you wait things out. If that’s a trip you’ve booked solo, you’ll need to call your airline and figure out a backup plan. But if you used a travel agent to book that itinerary, they’ll be the one to get on the phone with the airline and make alternate travel arrangements so you can get home. Clearly, there’s much to be gained by working with a travel agent. It pays to give one a try the next time you’re heading out of town. Top credit card wipes out interest until 2023 If you have credit card debt, transferring it to this top balance transfer card secures you a 0% intro APR into 2023! Plus, you’ll pay no annual fee. Those are just a few reasons why our experts rate this card as a top pick to help get control of your debt. Read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

Business Beat: Daily Donut Opens In Spring Hill – Longview News-Journal https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/business-beat-daily-donut-opens-in-spring-hill-longview-news-journal/ Donuts, pho in Spring Hill Daily Donut opened in September at 4405 Gilmer Road, in the Spring Hill area. The restaurant is open 5 a.m.-8 p.m. daily, in a space attached to Panther Quick Stop. The restaurant also serves fried chicken, pho — or rice noodle soup — in different flavors, spring rolls and egg rolls, and sides such as fries, coleslaw, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese and fried okra. A variety of donuts, including cake donuts and sweet treats such as fried Oreos and fried apple pie round out the menu. LEDCO office in budget Wayne Mansfield Construction of a new office for the Longview Economic Development Corp. is proceeding on budget and without delays. LEDCO President and CEO Wayne Mansfield told his organization’s board of directors on Thursday that construction is “moving along pretty quickly.” Selection of carpet and other interior design elements will start next week, he said.  He said the project hasn’t had any issues getting necessary materials, and move-in will likely take place in the February-March time frame. LEDCO began construction on its new 5,000-square-foot office in May, at Whaley and Second streets, on the site where Longview High School was located from 1933-1976. The project has a $2 million budget. Massage therapy school  Massage tables are set up inside a new classroom for a massage school at Copper Tree Retreat and Med Spa in Longview. (Les Hassell/News-Journal Photo) Les Hassell Les Hassell/News-Journal Photo A new massage therapy school in downtown Longview has started enrolling students. Copper Tree Retreat: School of Massage could start offering classes toward the end of October or early November, depending on enrollment Copper Tree Retreat Massage and Med Spa opened on Fredonia Street in downtown Longview about 3 1/2 years ago. About a year ago, the business moved a few blocks away, into the former Chase bank building at Fredonia and South streets. Owners Hailey and Jason Davis renovated the building, and it opened in late 2021 with a retail boutique and new services. Now, the business is expanding again. “We decided to open a school upstairs,” Hailey Davis said. “We’ve been planning it probably for the last two years …” “There’s actually a big demand for massage therapy and massage therapists,” she continued, explaining that COVID-19 made it harder for students to finish massage therapy school because of all the restrictions when the virus first began circulating in 2020. “There were just not as many coming out of the schools.” For more information, call Copper Tree at (903) 230-1911 or visit the business at 116 E. South St. New owners for Tyler Grand Slam Family entertainment center Times Square Grand Slam in Tyler is now a part of Texas-based EVO Entertainment Group. The 65,000-square-foot center has been a locally owned business owned by the Howard Charba family. The center has been a popular location for birthday parties, with seven theater screens, more than 70 state-of-the-art arcade games, 22 bowling alleys, bi-level laser tag arena, virtual reality entertainment, all-ages ropes course, full restaurants and VIP bar access.

Boomers Are Flocking To Area’s Beautiful Golf Courses And Communities – Naples Daily News https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/boomers-are-flocking-to-areas-beautiful-golf-courses-and-communities-naples-daily-news/ Moorings Park Communities  |  Special to Naples Daily News Mark Twain was once supposed to have quipped, “Golf is a good walk, spoiled.” It’s not a sentiment shared by too many of the sport’s many devotees. “Twain never had the opportunity to play on a Rees Jones-designed golf course,” smiles Tom Mann, Vice President and Senior Living Specialist for Moorings Park Communities, the area’s premier retirement destinations. “Our Moorings Park Grande Lake homes enjoy gorgeous views overlooking the Rees Jones-designed Naples Grande Golf Club. About 40 of our residents have become members. It’s just so convenient to take your golf cart there from here, and it’s one of the area’s most spectacular golf courses.” A Premier Golf Course For A Premier Community Rees Jones has an outstanding reputation in the golfing community. His golf course designs have earned him numerous awards, including Golf World Architect of the Year, the Golf Course Association’s Don A. Rossi Award, and a place in the Northern California Golf Association’s Hall of Fame. His firm has designed nearly two dozen courses in Florida alone, including Golf Club of the Everglades and Olde Florida Golf Club here in Naples. Moorings Park Grande Lake resident Larry McPherson and his wife, Chuckie, are avid golfers, and have organized groups in the community to take advantage of the Naples Grande convenience. “Rees Jones is a very respected golf course designer,” Larry points out. “This is one of his better courses in this particular area. “When we moved in, I organized a Wednesday golf group of Moorings Park Grande Lake residents,” he says. “We have a mailing list of 24 to 26 people. Every Wednesday morning there’s about 16 of us that play. In addition, other residents have organized Monday and Friday groups.” Chuckie helped start one of the two lady golfer groups. “I ran a group where we lived before,” she explains. “It just felt natural jumping in and doing something similar when we moved here. “The Naples Grande Golf Course is unique in that it has no homes on it, so it has a lot of natural beauty,” she adds. “It’s nestled in Naples, but you wouldn’t know it when you’re on the course.” You Don’t Have To Be A Golfer To Appreciate These Views “As far as I’m concerned, Naples Grande is a beautiful course,” he says. “Our fourth floor views from our residence at Moorings Park Grande Lake overlooking holes 16, 17, and 18 are spectacular.” The golf course sits just across the placid 28-acre Grande Lake from the Life Plan Community. “Every residence has incredible sunset views from their impressive lanais which are perfect for indoor/outdoor entertaining,” notes Mann. “And the views from residents’ kitchens, great rooms, and master bedrooms are absolutely glorious.” Though Moorings Park Grande Lake’s easy access to the picturesque Naples Grande Golf Club will no doubt be particularly appealing to golfers, the community’s unstinting attention to every detail of modern retirement living is appreciated by golfers and non-golfers alike. “You don’t have to play golf to enjoy the rich and rewarding resort lifestyle available to residents here,” Mann points out. “Life here appeals to Baby Boomers with a wide range of interests. “I’m sure we have a few fans of Mark Twain in the book club as well,” he chuckles. A Drive For Excellence The community’s Grande Lake Clubhouse offers over 200,000 square feet of resort-style amenities and residential living, and is unlike any other in North America. The Clubhouse hosts three restaurants which are sure to satisfy the most demanding diner: Zest Café and Bistro; Savor 26, an upscale, yet casual “go-to” with a playful menu; and BlueStone, the fine dining restaurant with an emphasis on prime meats, seafood, and overall cuisine. The Clubhouse also features a top-of-the-line TrackMan Golf Simulator, a fitness center equipped with modern pneumatic machines and personal trainers, and a theatre for movie nights, special performances and guest speakers. The Clubhouse’s airily elegant interior engenders a relaxing atmosphere that’s perfect for friendly get-togethers with your neighbors. “Of course, our community’s amenity-rich lifestyle also includes world-class, personalized health care and concierge physicians,” Mann adds. “The Center for Healthy Living ® located within the Clubhouse is also where you will find the Physicians’ Clinic and Outpatient Therapy services. Our attentive physicians are devoted to keeping you active and independent, with an eye on preventing small health issues from becoming big concerns.” Assisted living and memory care services are  also included in the Life Plan contract at no additional cost should you ever need them in the future. “As one of the nation’s only not-for-profits with A or A+ ratings by S&P and Fitch Ratings services, our residents are comfortable about the future, knowing that we are the most financially secure senior living organization in the country,” Mann explains. An Ideal Spot Publications such as U.S. News and Travel + Leisure have recognized that Naples is one of the best places in the country to live. Ideally located just off Golden Gate Parkway, Moorings Park Grande Lake is in the perfect location to enjoy all that Naples has to offer. Residents enjoy the auspicious adjacency to Naples Grande Golf Club, and are only a few miles from exquisite sugar-white beaches on the Gulf and popular 5th Avenue shops and restaurants. “Moorings Park Grande Lake is truly one of the nation’s best retirement destinations,” Mann says. “There is so much to Moorings Park Grande Lake that it can feel like a lot to absorb,” he adds. “From our gorgeous floor plans, to our partnership with London Bay Homes (which works with residents to customize their new homes exactly how they want them), to our 70% refundable entrance fees, there’s a reason the community has proven so popular. I encourage everyone who wants to learn more to visit us and see this gem of a location for themselves.” Experience A Taste of Luxury At Our Luncheon  Ready to do a little window shopping? Moorings Park Grande Lake will host a delectable Informational Luncheon on Thursday, October 6th at 11:30 a.m, hosted by Mann himself. This event is designed to give you a sneak peek of what the Grande life looks like with a look inside the social hub, the Clubhouse. To register for this delicious event hosted by Moorings Park Grande Lake, please visit MooringsPark.org/Events or call 239-232-3903.

What Time Is Bellator 286 Today? Schedule, Main Card Start Time For Patricio Freire Vs. Adam Borics – Sporting News https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/what-time-is-bellator-286-today-schedule-main-card-start-time-for-patricio-freire-vs-adam-borics-sporting-news/ (Lucas Noonan/BELLATOR MMA) A Bellator original is looking to hold onto his status as an elite champion within the featherweight division. Patricio “Pitbull” Freire will defend his title against Adam Borics at Bellator 286 on Saturday, Oct. 1. Freire made his Bellator debut in 2010. The three-time Bellator featherweight champion lost the title in 2021 to A.J. McKee. Last, he beat McKee to regain the belt.  Borics made his pro debut in 2014. Since joining Bellator in 2017, he is 9-1 with the promotion and on a four-fight win streak. Borics’ last fight was a win over Mads Burnell in March.  McKee will also fight on this card, competing in the lightweight division for the first time. McKee and Freire are expected to confront one another multiple times by the time Bellator 286 comes to a close.  MORE: MMA Schedule 2022: Date, division, location for upcoming fights The Sporting News has you covered with all the information needed to watch Bellator 286, including start time, channel and more. What time does Bellator 286 start today? Date: Saturday, Oct. 1 Start time: 7 p.m. ET | Midnight BST | 9 a.m. AEST Main card: 10 p.m. ET | 3 a.m. BST | 12 p.m. AEST Main event: 12:15 a.m. ET | 5:15 a.m. BST | 2:15 p.m AEST (approximate)  Bellator 286 takes place on Saturday, Oct. 1. The YouTube prelims will start at 7 p.m. ET, and the main card will begin at 10 p.m. ET. Freire and Borics should make their way to the cage around 12:15 a.m. ET, depending on how long the undercard fights last.  What channel is Bellator 286: Freire vs. Borics on? Showtime YouTube  The Bellator 286 prelims will be shown on YouTube and Pluto TV. The main card will air live on Showtime.  MORE: Will the UFC be returning to Canada any time soon? Bellator 286: Freire vs. Borics fight card Main card Patricio Freire (c) vs. Adam Borics for the Bellator featherweight title A.J. McKee vs. Spike Carlyle; Lightweights Aaron Pico vs. Jeremy Kennedy; Featherweights Juan Archuleta vs. Enrique Barzola; Bantamweights Prelims Jay Jay Wilson vs. Vladimir Tokov; Lightweights  Mike Hamel vs. Max Rohskopf; Lightweights  Nick Browne vs. Islam Mamedov; Lightweights  Keoni Diggs vs. Ricardo Seixas; Lightweights Richard Palencia vs. Cee Jay Hamilton; Bantamweights Khadzhi Bestaev vs. Khalid Murtazaliev; Middleweights Sumiko Inaba vs. Nadine Mandiau; Flyweights  Lance Gibson Jr. vs. Dominic Clark; Lightweights  Bobby Seronio III vs. Miguel Peimbert; Bantamweights

Spanish Soccer League Laliga Partners With Globant To Support New Web3 And Metaverse Initiatives – Metaverse Bitcoin News – Bitcoin News https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/spanish-soccer-league-laliga-partners-with-globant-to-support-new-web3-and-metaverse-initiatives-metaverse-bitcoin-news-bitcoin-news/ Laliga, the premier soccer league organization in Spain, has announced a partnership with Globant, an Argentine software giant, to bring Web3 and metaverse experiences to its fans. The partnership will combine Globant’s tech resources with Laliga’s tech division in order to build products to expand the reach of the organization in the digital realm. Laliga Enlists Globant’s Aid to Build Its Metaverse Stack Big sports organizations are getting closer to the digital world as a way of reaching new fans and offering new interaction possibilities for their users. Laliga, the premier soccer league organization in Spain, recently announced a partnership that will serve to expand the digital reach of the company. The organization partnered with Globant, a Buenos Aires-based software giant, to build metaverse and Web3 experiences for current fans and new users. These new additions would come to complement the current digital offer of Laliga’s tech division, which currently includes fantasy gaming, web design and development, and other areas. The press release describing agreement hints at the possible development of games using these new technologies. However, no concrete product was announced directly as a result of the partnership. Oscar Mayo, executive director of Laliga, stated: LaLiga Tech was created to help sports and entertainment accelerate their digital transformation, and the surge in demand we have seen shows that this remains a core priority for the industry. Partnering with Globant will allow us to continue this growth at a global scale while creating the most immersive and valuable technologies for our clients. Laliga’s Metaverse Movements Laliga is one of the sports league organizations that has been making several movements to digitize part of its operations. This month, the company partnered with Ethereum-based metaverse platform Decentraland to offer licensed IP experiences in one of the parcels available in its metaverse. In the same way, the organization recently launched its own app, called MAS, that includes blockchain tech to protect the identity of its fans. Also, the company has been entering into the traditional game asset market, offering licensed products in Mojang’s block game Minecraft. In the game, users will be able to purchase a skin pack to equip any character with jerseys of the different teams present in Laliga’s roster. Laliga has also presented NFT-based projects before. In 2021, it established a partnership with Dapper Labs, creators of NBA Top Shots and Cryptokitties, in order to issue NFTs depicting the best moments in the story of the league. Tags in this story Dapper Labs, Decentraland, globant, laliga, MAS, Metaverse, Minecraft, nft, soccer, Spain, Spanish, Web3 What do you think about Laliga’s metaverse and Web3 push? Tell us in the comments section below. Sergio Goschenko Sergio is a cryptocurrency journalist based in Venezuela. He describes himself as late to the game, entering the cryptosphere when the price rise happened during December 2017. Having a computer engineering background, living in Venezuela, and being impacted by the cryptocurrency boom at a social level, he offers a different point of view about crypto success and how it helps the unbanked and underserved. Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons, rafapress / Shutterstock.com Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.

10 Weekend Reads – The Big Picture – Barry Ritholtz https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/10-weekend-reads-the-big-picture-barry-ritholtz/ Welcome to October! The weekend is here, so pour yourself a mug of Porto Rico Import coffee, grab a seat on the sofa, and get ready for our longer-form weekend reads: • The Great Bluff: How the Ukrainians Outwitted Putin’s Army: Russia’s army was thought to be vastly superior. But Ukraine has nevertheless managed to secure an almost unbelievable coup, taking back huge swaths of territory in the northeast. Can Ukraine actually win? (Spiegel) • New York City’s Empty Offices Reveal a Global Property Dilemma: In the heart of midtown Manhattan lies a multibillion-dollar problem for building owners, the city and thousands of workers. Blocks of decades-old office towers sit partially empty, in an awkward position: too outdated to attract tenants seeking the latest amenities, too new to be demolished or converted for another purpose. The rise of remote work is hurting older buildings, leaving landlords in the lurch. • New York City’s Empty Offices Reveal a Global Property Dilemma: The rise of remote work will hurt older buildings, leaving landlords in the lurch (Bloomberg) • Boaz Weinstein Reveals the Secret Trade That Helped Make Him Famous: The Saba Capital Management founder talks about the little-known deal that showed him how to take on JPMorgan’s chief investment office, and describes the new opportunities he’s finding in today’s credit market upheaval. (Bloomberg) • Beware the Illusion of Certainty: We like to think that our lives are ordered, predictable and subject to a great deal of control. The past is finite; we see only one outcome. We attach causality and narrative to it so that it makes sense. We roll our ability to make sense of the past over into the future, which is infinite; there are many outcomes, as yet unknown and unknowable. Randomness, chance, and luck influence us far more than we realize. Certainty is an illusion. Uncertainty is everywhere. (Richard Hughes Jones) • The Blackstone rebellion: how one country took on the world’s biggest commercial landlord: The giant asset management firm used to target places where people worked and shopped. Then it started buying up people’s homes. In one country, the backlash was ferocious https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/sep/29/blackstone-rebellion-how-one-country-worlds-biggest-commercial-landlord-denmark • Indistinguishable from Magic. Magical Technology: iPod, Spotify, Figma, AI Art, Arc, web3, and beyond: Last week, I asked people on Twitter for the best essays and blog posts they’ve ever read. They delivered. You should check out the replies. There’s so much gold in there. I think as a result of reading so much great stuff, I had more fun writing this week’s piece than I’ve had writing in a long time. It just flowed, like some of those other authors’ je ne sais quoi rubbed off on me. (Not Boring) • I Have Yet to Hear a Satisfactory Answer For Why Adults Care What Young People Think Maybe they just want to be the cool mom. (Rob Henderson) • How one of America’s last piano manufacturers stays alive: Piano-building was once one of the country’s largest industries. Today, only two companies remain in business. (The Hustle) • How Big Is Infinity? Of all the endless questions children and mathematicians have asked about infinity, one of the most fascinating has to do with its size. (Quanta Magazine) • The Jetsons, Now 60 Years Old, Is Iconic. That’s a Problem. Science was cool, technology was blossoming, and more and more Americans were dreaming of owning their own homes, replete with the latest gadgets. The Jetsons took that dream and supercharged it, riding the wave of optimism to depict a future where technology catered to our every need, at the touch of a button or at the command of our voice. It was a fantastical vision that deeply appealed to our needs and desires for comfort and convenience. (Slate) Be sure to check out our Masters in Business interview this weekend with David McRaney, science journalist, blogger, podcaster, and author. He created the podcast You Are Not So Smart based on his bestselling book of the same name. His new book is “How Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion.” Gen Z’s Favorite Brands Source: The Hustle Sign up for our reads-only mailing list here. ~~~ To learn how these reads are assembled each day, please see this.

After Bankruptcies, Layoffs, Losses, Does Crypto Owe An Apology After $2 Trillion Slump? – HT Tech https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/after-bankruptcies-layoffs-losses-does-crypto-owe-an-apology-after-2-trillion-slump-ht-tech/ Home Tech News After Bankruptcies, Layoffs, Losses, Does Crypto Owe an Apology After $2 Trillion Slump? Bankruptcies, layoffs and eye-popping losses have become fixtures of the digital-asset sector. Bankruptcies, layoffs and eye-popping losses have become fixtures of the digital-asset sector over the past few months, as it reels from a $2 trillion drop in its market value.  So as the fallout continues to reverberate, does the industry owe anyone an apology? That’s one of the questions we addressed on the first episode of Crypto IRL, a new Bloomberg Quicktake series. “I do think that certain executives of certain companies that lost millions, tens of millions, billions of dollars of consumers’ funds, they definitely have explaining to do,” Meltem Demirors, chief strategy officer at CoinShares, said on the show. “And I do think they’ll be held to account.” Over the course of eight episodes, Crypto IRL will sort through the rubble to assess what’s left standing and what’s ahead. Demirors says there could still be more pain, as crypto-mining companies struggle to stay afloat with asset prices declining and the cost of energy rising.  “The big part of the ecosystem I’m still concerned about is crypto miners,” she said. Watch Crypto IRL on Fridays at 8 p.m. New York time on Bloomberg Quicktake, and at 8:30 p.m. on Bloomberg TV. And it’s always streaming at www.bloomberg.com/qt.

U.S. Energy Independence Has Grown – Forbes https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/u-s-energy-independence-has-grown-forbes/ Getty Images I am often asked if the U.S. is energy independent, or whether we have ever been energy independent. A claim I frequently encounter is that President Trump made us energy independent, and we lost that under President Biden.” Before addressing such a claim, you must ensure that everyone is speaking the same language. When someone makes that claim to me, I ask them to define energy independence. If energy independence means we don’t import oil, then that hasn’t been true since the 1940s. If it means we export more energy than we import, then we became energy independent in 2019 (following a decade of soaring oil and gas production), but we remain energy independent today. Others may define energy independence as producing more than we consume. In that case, we reached that milestone in 2020. It was primarily a result of a sharp drop in consumption because of the Covid-19 pandemic, accompanied by a smaller drop in energy production that year. But, that milestone remained intact in 2021. It is true that we achieved both of those energy independence milestones under President Trump. What isn’t true, is that it was because of anything special that he did. His energy policies may have helped a bit, but the primary cause was a surge in domestic oil and gas production that occurred as a result of the fracking boom. From 2006 to 2016, U.S. energy production increased from 70.7 quadrillion British thermal units (quads) to 84.3 quads. The U.S. experienced record energy production in 2015, but 2016 production pulled back because of the oil price collapse. During Trump’s term — 2017 through 2020 — U.S. energy production increased by another 11.3 quads (although, again, 2019 was a record year and 2020 production declined because of the pandemic). The rate of increase was a bit higher under President Trump, which you can see in the graphic below. But the trend of surging energy production and falling energy imports since 2006 is also clear. Energy Information Administration So President Trump didn’t make us energy independent. In fact, the gap between supply and demand substantially shrunk when President Obama was in office (again, because that’s when fracking really ramped up). But it would be fair to argue that President Trump’s energy policies slightly sped up the timeline in getting to the finish line of energy independence. However, what isn’t true is that we lost that energy independence under President Biden. Using the definition of exports minute imports, 2021 was our highest level of energy independence in history. In other words, we are even more energy independent than we were in 2019. (You can see all the data in U.S. Energy Facts Explained at the EIA website, which is also the source of the above graphic). You can see the proof at the link. In 2019, our energy exports were greater than our imports by 0.61 quadrillion Btus (quads). In 2020, that excess grew to 3.47 quads (mainly because imports fell as Covid hit demand) and in 2021 it grew to a new record of 3.82 quads. By that measure, we are more energy independent than we have ever been. If you prefer the definition of production minus consumption, then we are also still energy independent. In 2020 the U.S. produced 2.7 more quads than we consumed. In 2021, that excess shrank to 0.45 quads on the back of strong post-shutdown demand. So you could argue that by that measure our level of energy independence declined from 2020 to 2021, but it didn’t disappear. If your preferred definition of energy independence is that we don’t import energy, as you can see from the graphic we haven’t come close to meeting that metric at any point since the 1950s. So, on an apples-to-apples comparison, depending on your definition we are either still energy independent, or we never were.

GST Collection News LIVE Updates: GST Collections In September Rise 26 Per Cent To Over Rs 1.47 Lakh Crore – Economic Times https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/gst-collection-news-live-updates-gst-collections-in-september-rise-26-per-cent-to-over-rs-1-47-lakh-crore-economic-times/ LIVE BLOG Economic Times | 01 Oct, 2022 | 04:19PM IST GST News Live: The gross GST revenue collected in the month of September 2022 is Rs 1,47,686 crore of which CGST is Rs 25,271 crore, SGST is Rs 31,813 crore, IGST is Rs 80,464crore. The government has settled Rs 31,880 crore to CGST and Rs 27,403 crore to SGST from IGST as regular settlement. The total revenue of Centre and the States after regular settlements in the month of September 2022 is Rs 57,151 crore for CGST and Rs 59,216 crore for the SGST. The revenues for the month of September 2022 are 26% higher than the GST revenues in the same month last year. During the month, revenues from import of goods was 39% higher and the revenues from domestic transaction (including import of services) are 22% higher than the revenues from these sources during the same month last year. This is the eighth month and for the seventh month in a row now, the monthly GST revenues have been more than the Rs 1.4 lakh crore mark. The growth in GST revenue till September 2022 over the same period last year is 27%, continuing to display very high buoyancy. Show more Show less !1 New UpdateClick here for latest updates India beat Sri Lanka by 41 runs in women’s Asia Cup opener Collector of Damoh district in Madhya Pradesh lodges complaint against BSP MLA Rambai Parihar, accuses her of abusing, threatening him: Police More than 2.5 lakh people donated blood during ‘Raktdaan Amrit Mahotsav’ that began on Sep 17 and concluded on National Voluntary Blood Donation Day on Saturday: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya Indian team return to National Camp ahead of FIH Hockey Pro League 2022-23 season opener Jaishankar joins foreign envoys in Gujarat for Navratri celebrations It is really the strength of our trust that allows us to go and venture into all new areas of cooperation: French envoy Emmanuel Lenain Bajrang Punia meets Home Minister Amit Shah after World Championship medal OPEC Plus to meet in Vienna next week for the first time since 2020 Covid curbs: AFP Women’s Asia Cup 2022: Jemimah’s fluent half-century helps India reach modest 150/6 against Sri Lanka in campaign opener. I think it was a very welcome remark: French envoy on PM Modi’s comments to President Putin that today’s era is not of war It is very important that we stand with each other and defend international rules: French envoy Lenain to PTI on Russian invasion of Ukraine K N Tripathi’s nomination form for AICC president poll rejected: Cong’s Central Election Authority chief Madhusudan Mistry France, India working on how to mitigate consequences of war in Ukraine on food and energy security: French envoy Emmanuel Lenain tells PTI Congress appoints six regional presidents in Uttar Pradesh unit: Party statement Technology has become democratic in its truest sense, PM Modi after launching 5G services World Team TT Championships: Indian women’s team loses to Germany in exciting campaign opener. Ankita Bhandari murder: 3 key accused remanded in SIT custody The Special Investigation Team investigating the Ankita Bhandari murder case has taken the three main accused on police remand, an official said on Saturday. Accused Pulkit Arya, owner of the resort where Bhandari was working as a receptionist, and his two accomplices — resort manager Saurabh Bhaskar and assistant manager Ankit Gupta — were arrested on September 23 for allegedly killing her after she refused to give ‘extra service’ to a VIP customer who is yet to be identified. GST News LIVE Updates: Monthly GST revenues during current year The revenues for the month of September 2022 are 26% higher than the GST revenues in the same month last year. During the month, revenues from import of goods was 39% higher and the revenues from domestic transaction (including import of services) are 22% higher than the revenues from these sources during the same month last year. GST News LIVE Updates: Monthly GST revenues more than Rs 1.4 lakh crore for seven months in a row This is the eighth month and for the seventh month in a row now, the monthly GST revenues have been more than the Rs 1.4 lakh crore mark. The growth in GST revenue till September 2022 over the same period last year is 27%, continuing to display very high buoyancy. GST News LIVE Updates: Another milestone crossed Another milestone crossed in September with more than 1.1 crore e-way bills and e-invoices, combined (72.94 lakh e-invoices and 37.74 lakh e-way bills), generated without any glitch on the GST Portal portal run by NIC on 30th September 2022 GST News LIVE Updates: GST collections in September rise 26 per cent to over Rs 1.47 lakh crore India 5G Launch LIVE Updates: In next 6 months, 5G services to be available in over 200 cities, says Ashwini Vaishnaw In coming 6 months, 5G services to be available in over 200 cities, attempts being made to make 5G services available in 80-90% of country in next 2 years. BSNL to provide 5G services next year August 15 onwards. 5G too, to be affordable: Telecom Min Ashwini Vaishnaw, in Delhi India 5G Launch LIVE Updates: Akash Ambani on Jio 5G plans Jio plans to cover the entire India by December…We will make it very affordable, it should be affordable for every Indian – right from device to service,” says Reliance Jio Chairman, Akash Ambani after the launch of 5G Services launch. India 5G Launch LIVE Updates: India focused on cost of devices, data tariffs to drive digital penetration, says PM Modi India 5G Launch LIVE Updates: Most affordable data tariffs From Rs 300 per 1 GB data, India now has 1 GB data for Rs 10, says PM Modi on the country having one of most affordable data tariffs in world. India 5G Launch LIVE Updates: PM Modi on ‘UPI’ change Even a small street vendor will tell you, ‘UPI’, not cash. This change explains how thinking becomes empowered when convenience is accessible: PM Modi India 5G Launch LIVE Updates: Digital India given a platform to everyone, says PM Modi Today, whether we have small traders, small entrepreneurs, local artists and artisans, Digital India has given a platform, a market to everyone, said PM Modi India 5G Launch LIVE Updates: PM Modi on digital payments The government itself went ahead and made the way for digital payments easier. The government itself promoted citizen-centric delivery service through the app: PM Modi India 5G Launch LIVE Updates: Now we have around 85 crore connections, says PM The more people connect, the better it’s for the sector. In 2014, we had 6 crore users of broadband, and now we have around 80 crore users. In 2014, we had 25 crore internet connections, and now we have around 85 crore connections: PM Modi India 5G Launch LIVE Updates: We have become a mobile phone exporting country, says PM Modi From exporting zero mobile phones in 2014, today we have become a mobile phone exporting country worth thousands of crores. India 5G Launch LIVE Updates: Digital India is not just a name, says PM Modi PM Modi said, “Talking about Digital India, some people think that this is just a government scheme. But Digital India is not just a name, it is a big vision for the development of the country. The goal of this vision is to bring that technology to the common people, which works for the people, works by connecting with the people.” India 5G Launch LIVE Updates: We focused on 4 pillars, says PM Modi Cost of device Digital connectivity Price of data Idea of Digital First India 5G Launch LIVE Updates: With 5G, India is setting a global standard in telecom technology for the first time, says PM Modi Today every person using the Internet is understanding that 5G will change the entire architecture of the Internet: PM Modi India 5G Launch LIVE Updates: At the time of 2G, 3G, 4G, India was dependent on other countries for technology. But with 5G, India has created a new history, says PM Modi India 5G Launch LIVE Updates: Today, the launch of 5G is a gift from the telecom industry to 130 crore Indians, says PM Modi It is a step towards the new era in the country, is the beginning of infinite opportunities: PM Modi India 5G Launch LIVE Updates: Historic day for 21st century of India, says PM Modi 5G technology will revolutionize the telecom sector, says PM Modi India 5G Launch LIVE Updates: PM Modi virtually interacts with metro workers, who are at present inside a metro tunnel, via 5G tech India 5G Launch LIVE Updates: Kumar Mangalam Birla on digital dreams Telecom industry will further ignite the digital dreams of 1.3 billion Indians and thousands of enterprises: Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairman of Aditya Birla Group addresses the gathering at the 5G event launch in Delhi. India 5G Launch LIVE Updates: PM Modi interacts with school students virtually after launching 5G services in the country India 5G Launch LIVE Updates: Committed to building digital infra for an India of tomorrow, says Aditya Birla Group’s Kumar Mangalam Birla India 5G Launch LIVE Updates: PM Modi launches 5G services in India India 5G Launch LIVE Updates: Bharti Airtel starting 5G services in 8 cities today, to cover entire country by 2024, says chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal It’s an important day. A new era is about to begin. This beginning is taking place in 75th yr of independence & will begin a new awareness,energy in the country. It’ll open several new opportunities for people: Sunil Bharti Mittal, Bharti Enterprises founder-chairman India 5G Launch LIVE Updates: India might have started late but we will finish first, says Ambani India 5G Launch LIVE Updates: 5G is like digital kamdhenu, says Ambani India 5G Launch LIVE Updates: Mukesh Ambani says Jio will launch 5G telephony services across...

Richland County Property Transfers: Appleseed Shopping Center Sells For $2 Million – Richland Source https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/richland-county-property-transfers-appleseed-shopping-center-sells-for-2-million-richland-source/ Breaking News We send the biggest breaking news stories directly to you. Daily Headlines from Richland Source Read Richland Source’s latest headlines every morning. A Look at Local Events Highlights for the coming weekend, delivered 1x / week. Area History Explore the history of Richland County, Ohio. Recounted with articles, photographs, original art, and video. Email delivered on the 15th of each month.  Ashland Source Get all the latest headlines from Ashland County. Crawford Source Headlines from Crawford County, delivered 1x / week. Richland County Business Digest Delivered monthly with the latest Richland County property transfers, small business news and more.  Subscribe To All The weekly thrive newsletter Start your week off with local inspiration, recipes, wellness advice and more. Get the thrive newsletter in your inbox every Monday. Area Job Openings See all the latest local job openings, delivered 1x / week.

What To Stop Doing On Your Trip To Hawaii, According To Locals – USA TODAY https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/what-to-stop-doing-on-your-trip-to-hawaii-according-to-locals-usa-today/ In pre-pandemic days, over 10 million people would arrive annually to enjoy the Hawaiian Islands. That’s quite a bit of people, considering that the state’s population is about 1.4 million. The impact of the high number of tourists hasn’t gone unnoticed. “Over a century, Hawaii has welcomed many visitors by embracing them with warmth and aloha,” Diana Su, the senior marketing manager of Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa who was raised in Honolulu, said. “However, over decades, the amount of visitors have increased and started depleting the state of its natural resources, damaging the delicate environment, and affecting traditional practices and rituals.”  About two-thirds of Hawaii residents think their “island is being run for tourists at the expense of local people,” a number that has held steady for about five years, according to a 2022 state-sponsored survey asking residents about their sentiment toward tourism. They point out overcrowding, damage to the environment, higher costs and more traffic. BOOK A SPOT: To manage over tourism, are reservation systems the future of traveling to Hawaii? JUST DON’T: Stop throwing coins into hot steam vents, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park asks of ‘disrespectful’ people At the same time, tourism is a pillar of Hawaii’s economy – in fact, it represents a quarter of it, thanks to the jobs it creates in the hospitality industry and visitor spending. It can be a tricky balancing act for people who want to visit Hawaii while minimizing any negative impact on the islands because for so long, people have treated it as their paradisiacal playground. The best people to turn to for advice on this are undeniably the ones who live in Hawaii: locals. Read below to read Hawaii locals wish tourists would stop doing while visiting the islands: 1. Don’t be clueless Su urges people to know their stuff before departing on their trip, so take some time and learn more about Hawaii.  “Avoid coming to Hawaii without doing some research first,” she said. It’s important to know how to “avoid disrespecting sacred sites and respect boundaries and kapu (off-limit) areas.” Take the time to learn about the companies you’re hiring for excursions or tours to make sure they support the community and environment. Making educated choices on where to spend your money and what is considered respectful or disrespectful will make your trip to Hawaii that much better. DON’T BE THAT TOURIST: Here’s how to respectfully visit Hawaii, have an authentic trip 2. Don’t take anything, ever Many visitors to Hawaii take sand, coral or lava rocks from its national parks as memorabilia of their trip to Hawaii. According to Jin Prugsawan Harlow, chief of interpretation, education and volunteers as well as public information officer for Haleakala National Park, taking items from national parks is not only illegal, it’s also culturally inappropriate.  Hawaiians view Haleakala as their ancestor, Harlow said, so taking something from the park is considered highly disrespectful. “People come to Hawaii and (other national parks) because they’re wild, scenic and beautiful,” Harlow said. “And people can play a great role in making sure it stays that way.” THINK TWICE: Stop throwing coins into hot steam vents, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park asks of ‘disrespectful’ people 3. Don’t go during peak hours Traffic in Hawaii is a sore spot, with Honolulu often ranking as one of the most congested cities in the country. With so many tourists out and about on the islands, Harlow suggests to try going to popular attractions during off-hours. “At Haleakala, things can get crowded around the summit around sunset but from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the park is really empty,” she said. “Going to the Kipahulu District, arriving earlier in the day helps you beat crowded parking lots.” 4. Don’t disturb wildlife Hawaii is blessed with many beautiful creatures, some of which are impossible to spot anywhere else in the world, like the Hawaiian monk seal. While spotting these creatures out in the wild is always a treat, keep your distance and make sure to never disturb them or their natural habitat (as in, don’t touch reefs or flip over rocks). In certain cases, it’s illegal to get too close to animals like turtles and nursing seals. Seriously, it’s not worth it. SHARK ATTACK: Tourist taken to hospital after ‘serious bite’ from shark on Maui’s north shore 5. Don’t be reckless outdoors  Hawaii has otherworldly valleys, peaks, shorelines and waterfalls to explore, and as stunning as the experience may be, it can also be dangerous if you’re not careful. A lack of preparation, bad weather conditions and going to unsafe areas that are trending online can often put people at risk. For example, on Kauai, the Kauai Fire Department locked the gate accessing Queen’s Bath, a large tidal pool that can be hazardous, especially when the surf is rough. Still, people sneak in and often end up needing to be rescued. Do your research about hikes or beaches and heed to warning signs – they’re there for a reason.  “One of our most important values, for example, is to respect the land and ocean that provides for us, and we ask that visitors share in this ethos to keep our home beautiful,” Wendy Tuivaioge, Director of Hawaiian Programs at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, said. “Be mindful of your surroundings, do not venture out alone, and stay on well-marked trails.” DO THIS, NOT THAT: You won’t regret these 8 activities when you visit the islands, according to Hawaii locals 6. Don’t use harmful sunscreen Hawaii’s ecosystems are unique and fragile, including its coral reefs, and some sunscreens may play a role in harming the islands’ marine life. In 2018, Hawaii Gov. David Ige passed a law that went into effect in 2021 – making Hawaii the first state – that banned sunscreens containing chemicals believed to damage coral and marine life, oxybenzone and octinoxate. When slathering up with SPF, do your part to protect the ocean by picking reef-safe brands. Some brands that are reef-safe include Raw Elements or Kokua Sun Care, which is made right in the islands. 7. Don’t geotag  It may be tempting to do it for the ‘gram and share your vacation pictures online, but that post may have consequences long after you hit upload.  The rise in social media geotagging and sharing of once hidden spots has caused many across the country to blow up and become overcrowded and overrun, much to the dismay of locals who have been enjoying these more secret places for a long time. If you find yourself at this crossroads, consider the impact of your post. CROWDED SPOTS: Was your favorite hidden vacation spot overexposed? Blame social media and pent-up demand 8. Don’t forget you’re visiting someone’s home At the end of the day, many locals have one reminder: “It’s important for travelers to understand they are visiting someone’s home and draw on the sensibilities that come with that,” Ha’aheo Zablan, general manager of Kaimana Beach Hotel who is also Native Hawaiian, said. “We have amazing visitor-centric opportunities to take in all Hawaii has to offer without venturing into local neighborhoods or exploring too far from resort zones.” For example, people who seek out hikes with trailheads in quiet neighborhoods have been called out for disturbing residents with noise or crowded parking.  Prejean echoes the sentiment: “While Hawaii is a welcoming destination, we do ask that tourists be aware of their surroundings, reduce your ‘footprint’ by leaving the places you visit better than you found it, and to treat the local neighborhoods and people with respect and kindness.”

AP Top Business News At 4:32 A.m. EDT – Federal News Network https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/ap-top-business-news-at-432-a-m-edt-federal-news-network/ Stocks end September down 9.3%, worst month since March 2020 Inflation hits record 10% in 19 EU countries using euro Resilient US consumers spend slightly more in August Newsom relaxes refinery rules as California gas prices soar India launches 5G services, Modi calls it step in new era Unpaid internships face new scrutiny as barriers to careers Hack puts Latin American security agencies on edge ‘Big impact’: UK… READ MORE Stocks end September down 9.3%, worst month since March 2020 Inflation hits record 10% in 19 EU countries using euro Resilient US consumers spend slightly more in August Newsom relaxes refinery rules as California gas prices soar India launches 5G services, Modi calls it step in new era Unpaid internships face new scrutiny as barriers to careers Hack puts Latin American security agencies on edge ‘Big impact’: UK economic chaos, pound plunge hit businesses UK’s budget watchdog promises initial analysis next week Brainard warns US rates to stay high, notes global impact Copyright © 2022 . All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

International Day For Older Persons: Tips To Maintain Your Well-Being In Old Age – Hindustan Times https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/international-day-for-older-persons-tips-to-maintain-your-well-being-in-old-age-hindustan-times/ International Day for Older Persons: Requirements for mental wellness alter as we become older. A new stage of life with its own special struggles and challenges is brought in by ageing. This frequently causes older persons to feel burdened, anxious, and occasionally helpless. The world is undergoing a major demographic transition with the population of the elderly rising rapidly. Already, people over 60 years of age exceed children under 5, and by 2050 they will outnumber children under 15. Even as fertility rates dip across the world, life expectancy has increased by more than 6 years between 2000 and 2019, according to the United Nations. This transition has been accompanied by an increase in the number of mental health issues among the elderly. Approximately 15 per cent of all adults aged 60 and above globally suffer from a mental disorder, finds the UN. (Also read: Healthy ageing tips: Here’s how an Indian balanced diet can work wonders for you ) Talking to HT Lifestyle, Prakriti Poddar, Mental Health Expert and Global Head, Mental Health and Wellbeing, RoundGlass, says, “There are several reasons and socio-economic factors that are causing the mental unrest in elders such as the rising number of nuclear families and migration of the younger generation due to urbanization are resulting in social isolation of the older generation. In addition, age-related aspects such as coping with a string of losses of physical and mental capabilities, of loved ones, of relevance and importance in one’s community – and declining capacities to accept and adapt are leaving the seniors struggling with mental health and wellbeing issues. Practicing wholistic wellbeing can empower and enable older adults to preserve their mental acuity and live with greater joy. “ She further recommends some healthy habits to help the elderly enhance their mental wellbeing and spend their twilight years with grace and dignity: 1. Nurture Social Connections: Our physical, sensory, and cognitive functions may decline with advancing age, but social functioning remains malleable and responsive to intervention throughout life. So, nurture your social connections as they have been linked to lower levels of anxiety and depression, and greater empathy. So, pick up the phone and call up your friends/family, and make plans for the weekend. 2. Move: The ‘Healthy body, healthy mind’ adage is true for all age groups. Being physically active can help boost your self-esteem and confidence and give you an opportunity to meet people. For those who can, doing regular exercise or yoga will also help you to sleep better, reduce the risk of falls by improving balance and strength, and improve cardiovascular health. 3. Meditate: Practicing meditation and mindfulness has benefits for all ages. It has been shown to alleviate stress, reduce anxiety, improve our relationships and improve sleep – all highly relevant outcomes for seniors. Meditation has also been shown to delay cognitive decline in older adults. So, get that mat and dedicate some time daily to expanding your inner awareness. 4. Find a purpose: Retirement is not the end, but the beginning of your later life. It is a transition phase that can be used meaningfully to share your experience and skills with the younger generation or with those who are less privileged. Doing volunteer/community service or paid part-time/consultancy work can add a much-needed purpose (and financial heft!) to your life post-60. Keep your senses and the mind is engaged by learning new skills, reading and solving puzzles. 3. Plan for end of life: Financial wellbeing post-retirement, health insurance, wills etc. can become a source of stress and anxiety in old age but they need not. Using technological tools such as wellbeing apps can help you plan better for your twilight years without impacting your mental health. 5. Eat healthy: Eating a nourishing diet is essential for physical and mental wellbeing, and for keeping your energy levels up throughout the day. Stay well hydrated, consume alcohol in moderation and include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your meals. In addition, expressing gratitude, being mindful, living in the present, and finding joy in every moment can help you enjoy this final phase of life as much as you cherish your youth. Keep working towards your wellbeing and thrive. Follow more stories on Facebook & Twitter

What Channel Is Clemson Vs. NC State On Today? Time, TV Schedule For ACC Atlantic Meeting – Sporting News https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/what-channel-is-clemson-vs-nc-state-on-today-time-tv-schedule-for-acc-atlantic-meeting-sporting-news/ No. 5 Clemson’s home game against 10th-ranked NC State is something of a final entry in their series. While the Tigers and Wolfpack doubtless will play again — they’re scheduled to meet in 2023 — the ACC’s decision to go with a 3-5-5 scheduling model in lieu of divisions beginning next season makes this their last meeting as ACC Atlantic foes. Of course, there’s more to this game — and more on the line — than a final victory as divisional opponents. Clemson is aiming to return to the College Football Playoff after missing out in 2021 for the first time since 2014. The Tigers went 10-3 last season, with one of the losses coming to the Wolfpack. The Tigers have the talent to make it back this season, starting with quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. The junior signal-caller overcame a stretch of difficulties last season and early this year to throw 10 touchdowns to one interception this season, including five scores in a 51-45 double-overtime victory over Wake Forest. MORE: Watch Clemson vs. NC State live with fuboTV (free trial) NC State is looking for its first 5-0 start since 2018. It’s also looking to beat Clemson for two years running for the first time since 2002-03. Like Clemson, the Wolfpack’s offense starts with their quarterback: Devin Leary, who has completed 80 of 125 passes (64 percent) for 890 yards and nine touchdowns to two interceptions. It’s setting up for a fascinating quarterback battle and positioning in the ACC Atlantic. With that, The Sporting News breaks down how you can watch the Clemson-NC State battle: What channel is Clemson vs. NC State on today? TV channel (national): ABC Live stream: ESPN App, ESPN+, fuboTV The ACC Atlantic meeting between Clemson and NC State will be broadcast nationally on ABC’s “Saturday Night Football.” Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will call the game from the booth, while Holly Rowe reports from the sidelines. Cord-cutters can stream the action on the ESPN App, ESPN+ or fuboTV, which offers a free trial. Clemson vs. NC State start time Date: Saturday, Oct. 1 Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET Clemson vs. NC State will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET from Clemson’s Memorial Stadium. MORE: College football scores: Complete results, highlights from Week 1’s top-25 games Clemson schedule 2022 Date Opponent Outcome Sept. 5 (Mon.) vs. Georgia Tech* (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) Clemson 41, Georgia Tech 10 Sept. 10 vs. Furman Clemson 35, Furman 12 Sept. 17 vs. Louisiana Tech Clemson 48, La Tech 20 Sept. 24 at No. 22 Wake Forest* Clemson 51, Wake Forest 45 (2OT) Oct. 1 vs. No. 10 NC State* TBD Oct. 8 at Boston College* TBD Oct. 15 at Florida State* TBD Oct. 22 vs. Syracuse* TBD Oct. 29 Bye N/A Nov. 5 at No. 5 Notre Dame TBD Nov. 12 vs. Louisville* TBD Nov. 19 vs. No. 16 Miami* TBD Nov. 26 vs. South Carolina TBD * ACC game NC State schedule 2022 Date Opponent Outcome Sept. 5 (Mon.) at East Carolina NC State 21, ECU 20 Sept. 10 vs. Charleston Southern NC State 55, Charleston Southern 3 Sept. 17 vs. Texas Tech NC State 27, Texas Tech 14 Sept. 24 vs. UConn NC State 41, UConn 10 Oct. 1 at No. 5 Clemson* TBD Oct. 8 vs. No. 23 Florida State* TBD Oct. 15 at Syracuse* TBD Oct. 22 Bye N/A Oct. 27 (Thursday) vs. Virginia Tech* TBD Nov. 5 vs. No. 22 Wake Forest* TBD Nov. 12 vs. Boston College* TBD Nov. 19 at Louisville* TBD Nov. 25 (Friday) at North Carolina* TBD * ACC game

Mark Zuckerberg’s Metaverse Reflects Our World Today – The New Statesman https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/mark-zuckerbergs-metaverse-reflects-our-world-today-the-new-statesman/ Photo by Facebook In October 2021, Meta Platforms, Inc, released a “trailer”, hosted by the company’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg, to give a visual tour of its recent expansion into the Metaverse – the immersive, virtual-reality world that is expected to be the next great iteration of our internet technologies. It was a curious piece of work. The trailer began with Zuckerberg standing in a living room with a fireplace, a stunning mountain view, and other conventional signifiers of wealth. The Zuckerberg who first greets us appears to be the real one; he quickly proceeds to summon up a nearly life-size digital avatar of himself, and then runs through a sequence of possible costumes to dress his Meta-self in ahead of a virtual meeting with his Meta colleagues (or, more accurately, is yea-saying underlings). He briefly considers some more outlandish outfits before deciding on one that exactly matches what he, the real Zuckerberg, is already wearing: an unassuming anti-fashion ensemble for which he has long been known for, consisting of a black shirt and black trousers. This comedic set-up reveals something about the mentality behind the dismal aesthetics of the Metaverse as we have seen it so far. After Zuckerberg dresses his avatar, he enters a virtual conference room where he finds his colleagues eager to start discussing business. It is a cute and diverse bunch, for whom the boundary between remunerative labour and freely given conviviality seems non-existent. Most appear in ordinary human form, though one of them has decided to come as a robot – and not just any robot, but a huge round-edged, red cartoonish one. Though mechanical, the robot is in some respects the most lifelike of the gang, reminiscent of any number of non-robotic sidekicks from Obelix to Chewbacca. Soon enough some other colleagues phone in from the streets of Soho, New York City to share the “3D street art” they’ve discovered. Next Zuckerberg’s wife Priscilla appears on a screen, and shows the gang what the family dog has been up to; Zuckerberg asks Priscilla to share this delightful clip with his dad. The world of the street-art hunters and of his wife and dog is – as far as we can tell – just the regular world: the real streets of Soho, a real backyard. The sight we catch of that world simultaneously ruptures all the virtual magic that was meant to enrapture us, and at the same time it reminds us just how far Meta still has to go before it mounts any serious alternative to the phenomenal reality mediated by our sense organs in contact with the ordinary world. [See also: Does the rise of the Metaverse mean the decline of cities?] Select and enter your email address Morning Call Quick and essential guide to domestic and global politics from the New Statesman’s politics team. The Crash A weekly newsletter helping you fit together the pieces of the global economic slowdown. World Review The New Statesman’s global affairs newsletter, every Monday and Friday. The New Statesman Daily The best of the New Statesman, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Green Times The New Statesman’s weekly environment email on the politics, business and culture of the climate and nature crises – in your inbox every Thursday. The Culture Edit Our weekly culture newsletter – from books and art to pop culture and memes – sent every Friday. Weekly Highlights A weekly round-up of some of the best articles featured in the most recent issue of the New Statesman, sent each Saturday. Ideas and Letters A newsletter showcasing the finest writing from the ideas section and the NS archive, covering political ideas, philosophy, criticism and intellectual history – sent every Wednesday. Events and Offers Sign up to receive information regarding NS events, subscription offers & product updates. Your email address Job title Administration / Office Arts and Culture Board Member Business / Corporate Services Client / Customer Services Communications Construction, Works, Engineering Education, Curriculum and Teaching Environment, Conservation and NRM Facility / Grounds Management and Maintenance Finance Management Health – Medical and Nursing Management HR, Training and Organisational Development Information and Communications Technology Information Services, Statistics, Records, Archives Infrastructure Management – Transport, Utilities Legal Officers and Practitioners Librarians and Library Management Management Marketing OH&S, Risk Management Operations Management Planning, Policy, Strategy Printing, Design, Publishing, Web Projects, Programs and Advisors Property, Assets and Fleet Management Public Relations and Media Purchasing and Procurement Quality Management Science and Technical Research and Development Security and Law Enforcement Service Delivery Sport and Recreation Travel, Accommodation, Tourism Wellbeing, Community / Social Services I consent to New Statesman Media Group collecting my details provided via this form in accordance with the Privacy Policy All of this happened almost a year ago. At the time it still seemed reasonable to suppose that what we were being shown was only an early rough draft, and that the still-hidden goods around which all the buzz had begun swirling would be delivered soon enough. How puzzling it was then, when in August of this year Zuckerberg, celebrating the opening of Meta’s Metaverse features in France and Spain, released a selfie featuring his avatar standing in front of the Eiffel Tower and the Sagrada Familia church (the distance between the monuments having been eradicated). Reaction on social media was caustic, vicious and hilarious. Zuckerberg’s fauvist-drawn face was described as “unprecedented cringe” and similar to an image you would see in a picture book for babies. One person wrote that the graphics were well-suited to the face of Zuckerberg, which appears bizarrely to have only three or four discernible features. Countless people said the image looked like a game made for Nintendo Wii circa 2002. Content from our partners It was apparently a grave failure and seemed to be a significant step back even from the modest preview we had been offered the previous year. What could have been going on at Meta headquarters? Many people speculated that the company was simply giving up on its Metaverse project, just as Facebook has shed countless features over the years when they had failed to garner the expected interest. I rushed to a more extreme conclusion, and presumed that there was something more devious going on. Perhaps the company had conspired to make its product appear retrograde and ridiculous as part of a more elaborate and multi-phase advertising campaign, keeping the low-information masses away from investing in Metaverse real estate so to allow a privileged group of investors to buy it all up first. These theories, however, slowly gave way to a simpler and less pleasing one. The Metaverse is only as ugly as the average of all of our species’ current unrelenting output of material and digital-cultural artefacts. Whether you approve of it or not, Meta’s vision of the Metaverse is a pretty good representation of what our world looks like today. Some will protest that I am exaggerating; after all, it is precisely Meta’s failure to meet the standards of graphic detail and “realism” which now dominate in CGI-saturated entertainments, such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe , that has provoked the most passionate mockery. And yet our new cinematic realism is anything but. I have heard so-called “photorealism” in painting being referred to as “the neoliberalism of portraiture”. By the same token we may say that CGI-realism is what reality looks like when the only incentive to represent it is profit. The graphics in the Avengers might be “good” – unlike those in Zuckerberg’s most recent bid for our attention – but the operative notion of goodness here is not one that bears any relationship to the usual criteria of evaluation throughout the history of art. This is a “goodness” that does not bring us any closer to discovering truths about the world and our place in it, but seeks to buffer and protect us – at least momentarily – from such discoveries. So at least in this respect, though superhero movies are graphically “good” and Meta’s Metaverse world is graphically “bad”, aesthetically they are both bad in the same way. The principal sources of aesthetically good representational art on the internet today are mostly anonymous meme-creators, and their work is, from a graphics point of view, aggressively and gleefully terrible. They delight in copy and pasting incongruous images into a single composition, with no attention given to proportions or perspective – for example putting a crying Wojak head on Joe Biden’s body, or attaching a muscular yet still somehow canine body to the head of a shiba inu dog. There is a difference between good graphics and good art, and exuberant teenaged meme-makers intuitively understand this, yet it is something that the profit-hungry content industry is, in its very nature, unable to ever grasp. [See also: “Tech must solve a real need”: the iPod inventor Tony Fadell on virtual reality consumerism] When we move down the scale from the extremely online avant-garde with their delirious memes, to the masses of normies, we find significant continuity in attitudes towards graphic precision and elegance. Similar to the vanguard, the masses care little about whether their memes look “good”; what matters most is raw feeling. This feeling is often conveyed through smiling or laughing emojis, or text-and-image jpegs featuring flowers, sunsets and prepackaged Hallmark sentiments. A 2018 Wall Street Journal article reported that “the internet is filling up becaus...

The North Face Urban Exploration FW22 Goes GORE-TEX Minimalist – Highsnobiety https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/the-north-face-urban-exploration-fw22-goes-gore-tex-minimalist-highsnobiety/ Who doesn’t love The North Face Japan? Operated by Goldwin separately from the VF Corp-owned American label, TNF JP is a masterclass in minimalist steeze, a perfect example of how to make truly technical clothing look effortlessly cool. We all love The North Face Purple Label and we’re collectively reminded every time it drops a beautiful seasonal lookbook (or a one-off drop). But mainline Japanese North Face stuff ain’t no slouch, plus there are all these cool sub-labels. For instance, look to TNF’s maternity collection, packed with killer wearables mom, dad, and baby alike. 1 / 2 The North Face Urban Exploration is similarly cool in a quiet, refined kinda way. Designed for exactly what the name intends — cool clothes you wear around the city — TNF Urban Exploration is as fascinated by functionality as the other TNF offerings, it’s just that this collection is more interested in metropolitan adventure. You can wear a lot of this out and about in nature, obviously, but the idea here is clothing for the people traveling from coffee shop to restaurant to bar and everywhere in between. However, Urban Exploration usually includes a wider selection than what’s on tap here. For Fall/Winter 2022, you have a men’s jacket, the Gadget Hanger Magne Triclimate Jacket (what a mouthful) and the Bison Chino Pant. The latter is simply a hardwearing work trouser but the former is a three-season layering piece packed with massive pockets and fitted with a removeable GORE-TEX Pro 3L liner that attaches to the shell with magnet closure. Next-level stuff. That’s it for apparel, the rest of Urban Exploration’s FW22 lineup encompasses weather-resistant and waterproof totes, weekenders, luggage, GORE-TEX sock shoes, and a Cordura moccasin shoe that’s the perfect blend of elderly and elevated. It’s all available on GOLDWIN’s Japanese site now. Hard to complain about a concise drop that gets the job done. In fact, perhaps more brands would be better served by tighter, punchier seasonal drops. If they were all this good, who’d complain?

Crypto’s Hold On Formula 1 Sponsoring Gets Tested In Singapore – Bloomberg https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/cryptos-hold-on-formula-1-sponsoring-gets-tested-in-singapore-bloomberg/ We’ve detected unusual activity from your computer network To continue, please click the box below to let us know you’re not a robot.

Lebanon Receives U.S. Mediator Proposals For Maritime Border With Israel – Reuters.com https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/lebanon-receives-u-s-mediator-proposals-for-maritime-border-with-israel-reuters-com/ Oct 1 (Reuters) – Lebanese President Michel Aoun has received a letter from U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein regarding proposals for the demarcation of a maritime border with Israel, the presidency said on Saturday on Twitter. A deal could defuse a potential source of conflict between Israel and the heavily armed, Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, which has warned against any Israeli exploration and extraction in the disputed waters. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Enas Alashray; Editing by Gareth Jones Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Truckmakers Eye Hydrogen Fuel Cell Tech – Automotive News https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/truckmakers-eye-hydrogen-fuel-cell-tech-automotive-news/ HANOVER, Germany — While the auto industry struggles to convince consumers that hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have a place in daily transportation, truckmakers see huge potential for the technology. It’s a matter of chemistry, Andreas Gorbach, Daimler Trucks’ technical chief, said at IAA Transportation 2022. No battery chemistry will ever outperform how much energy engineers can store with hydrogen, he said. “If you take the elements with the biggest difference in electrochemical that gives you the highest energy, the highest voltage and the highest potential energy density cell, you would never come even close to the hydrogen,” Gorbach said. Even with a significant breakthrough, battery chemistry might only reach a 30th of the energy that hydrogen packs. “There are not elements that can compete with hydrogen,” Gorbach said. To be sure, there are still major obstacles to overcome before hydrogen fuel cell trucks can start to replace diesel tractors. There’s almost no fueling infrastructure. The existing hydrogen supply chain couldn’t support trucks by the hundred-thousands. And hydrogen refining is dirty, defeating the purpose of a zero-tailpipe emissions vehicle. The industry must ramp up producing hydrogen with solar, wind and other renewable energy to fulfill its green promise. Gorbach worries that the infrastructure bottleneck will leave trucking companies without the best option as governments ban diesel engines. Even as it develops fuel cell trucks, Daimler continues to push into the battery electric truck market. It unveiled a European model with new battery chemistry at IAA Transportation last week. Daimler CEO Martin Daum told Automotive News that the powertrain and battery chemistry on that truck would make its way into Freightliners plying U.S. roads in several years. The buzz at IAA centered on battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell models. Daimler, Volvo, BYD, Iveco and nearly every other Class 8 truckmaker placed electric tractors front and center at their IAA booths. They parked the diesel models in secondary positions or outside at the sprawling Frankfurt complex. Daimler, a standalone truck builder after its December 2021 spinoff from the corporate parent of the Mercedes-Benz car business, touted its hydrogen fuel cell at multiple IAA locations. Visitors to its primary booth embarked on quiet and smooth rides in Daimler’s GenH2 fuel cell concept big rig. Elsewhere, the German company displayed the latest generation fuel cell stack in development at Cellcentric, a 50-50 joint venture with Volvo Group. In briefings and interviews, Daum discussed hydrogen technology with a sense of urgency, influenced by the corporation’s timetable for phasing out diesel transport. “We are in a carbon economy, and carbon heats up the world. … That’s not a world we want to live in,” he said. Fuel cell powertrains, which use hydrogen to generate electricity to run motors, are a logical substitute for diesel engines to haul goods and materials over the long routes of the U.S., he said. The weight of the fuel and powertrain is less than that of the heavy batteries electric trucks need to cover similar distances. Less weight allows motor carriers to haul more freight. And fuel cell trucks refill at about the same speed as combustion engine counterparts. Volvo also expects fuel cell technology to work better for long ranges and extreme loads. “We know that it will depend a lot on the infrastructure and the availability of green hydrogen and green electricity,” said Jessica Sandström, Volvo Trucks’ global product management chief. Volvo is testing fuel cell electric trucks that can run about 600 miles between fueling. It plans to have customers in Europe testing the trucks in 2025. That will extend to the U.S. and other markets in the following years. Nikola Corp. is already testing a fuel cell semitrailer in the U.S. and unveiled a version for the European market at IAA Transportation. It plans to launch commercial production of the truck at its factory in Coolidge, Ariz., in the second half of next year and then in Europe the following year, Nikola President Michael Lohscheller told Automotive News. It also is building fueling infrastructure, starting with one station at the Port of Long Beach and two others in Colton and Ontario near major Southern California distribution hubs. “I could sell you a truck, but good luck finding hydrogen. … I have to make sure that I can offer you the hydrogen as well. We need to bring these things together,” Lohscheller said. Others are also testing fuel cell trucks in real-world conditions. Toyota Motor Corp. worked with Kenworth to retrofit 10 diesel-powered Class 8 trucks into fuel cell vehicles for a pilot program in Southern California. Its success convinced Toyota there is a market selling the zero-emission technology to truck manufacturers. It will build a dual fuel cell module assembly line for heavy-duty commercial at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky next year. It plans to keep a couple prototype fuel cell trucks for its parts supply range in the Los Angeles region. Other companies are exploring urban package delivery and trades. A partnership between Hyundai Motor Co. and Iveco Group unveiled the eDAILY Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle at IAA. It mates Iveco’s large van to a fuel cell system that first appeared in Hyundai’s Nexo crossover. The van shows how automakers are repurposing zero-emission tech developed for cars in larger commercial vehicles. The Toyota/Kenworth Class 8 trucks pair fuel cell stacks designed for Toyota’s Mirai sedan. These advances demonstrate how transportation is leaving a world where internal combustion engines provide an answer for nearly every mobility use, Gorbach said. Sandström agreed: “We need to be prepared for everything. There will not be a single silver bullet solution for everyone.”

‘The Excavation Of Hob’s Barrow’ Is Old-School Adventure Gaming At Its Finest! – Forbes https://dentoncountynewsonline.com/the-excavation-of-hobs-barrow-is-old-school-adventure-gaming-at-its-finest-forbes/ Wadjet Eye Games The Excavation of Hobb’s Barrow is an old-school point and click adventure game from Wadjet Eye Games that just released on PC and Mac for Steam and Good Old Games for $13.49. For those that don’t know, the phrase “old-school and point and click adventure” means that it’s likely heavily inspired by the legacy of adventure games of yore from the 1980s and early 1990s like Maniac Mansion, the Secret of Monkey Island, and more specifically, spooky games like the Gabriel Knight series. ‘Barrow’ is also part of a larger trend of independent games from very small teams that lean heavily on nostalgia gameplay and uses older looking extremely pixelated graphics. It might be low on graphics, but it’s extremely high on gameplay and atmosphere as the very beginning of the game throws you into a foreboding mood as you take control of a Victorian dressed woman holding an umbrella in a downpour late at night walking past castle walls while the sound of a man coughing can be heard. After a strange exchange with the man with the cough, the woman goes inside the castle and the title credits and the sound of lightning crashing rolls. In ‘Excavation’ you play Thomasina Bateman, a never married woman who receives a strange letter urging her to excavate Hob’s Barrow in the small village of Bewlay (Great Britain). She’s a barrow digger and takes a train into town while writing a letter to her mother explaining to her that she will never believe the events that happened to her that night. Wadjet Eye Games Then when the train arrives, the game truly begins and we relive whatever it is that happened to her. She was supposed to meet a man at the local inn the day she arrived, but he mysteriously never appeared and to make matters worse her assistant was supposed to arrive the next day and he never appeared either. The sense of dread is pervasive throughout the game starting with spooky music followed by rain pounding the town when she arrives, people disappearing and many many sickly scary cats appearing at night. The game can be plowed through as this full-walkthrough video on Youtube can attest, and each conversation can be skipped through with a click of the mouse or keyboard, but the true pleasures of the game and indeed the genre in general is fully exploring your surroundings to discover the humor of the games writers and the fully engrossing story. Wadjet Eye Games The items you collect along the way can be accessed at the top of the screen by moving your mouse upwards and left clicking on an item to use it, then dragging it to the next object or person you want to use it on. Yes, the game is charmingly retro and looks ripped straight out of 1989, however, the game’s dialogue is both printed on screen and fully voiced with brilliant, inventive characters that pulled me into the story. I was instantly hooked by the little town and the denizens of the Plough and Furrow Inn where everyone disappears. If you’re someone who has longed for old fashioned adventure gaming from the days of yore you must play The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow and relish every spooky moment. Follow me on Twitter. Check out my website.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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