Virgilio Clapp

Intel Plans To Cut Thousands Of Jobs Hit By PC Slowdown – Bloomberg News – Reuters https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/intel-plans-to-cut-thousands-of-jobs-hit-by-pc-slowdown-bloomberg-news-reuters/ Oct 11 (Reuters) – Chipmaker Intel Corp (INTC.O) is planning a major reduction in headcount, likely numbering in the thousands, in the face of a slowdown in the personal computer market, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people with knowledge of the situation. The layoffs will be announced as early as this month and some of Intel’s divisions, including the sales and marketing group, could see cuts affecting about 20% of staff, according to the report. The company had 113,700 employees as of July, Bloomberg News said. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Intel declined to comment on the job cuts. The company in July slashed its annual sales and profit forecasts after missing estimates for second-quarter results. Decades-high inflation and the reopening of offices and schools have led people to spend less on PCs than they did during pandemic-related lockdowns. Chipmakers are also under pressure from COVID-19 curbs in key PC market China and the Ukraine conflict that have led to supply-chain snarls and also weighed on demand. Intel’s Chief Executive Officer Pat Gelsinger released a memo to company employees on Tuesday outlining plans to create an internal foundry model for external customers and the company’s product lines. A foundry business builds chips that other companies design and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (2330.TW) is the top player in that space. Intel has mainly built chips it designed itself so far. read more Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Yuvraj Malik and Abinaya Vijayaraghavan in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Suspect Caught In Kennewick Woman’s Murder, Body Found In River – Newstalk870.am https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/suspect-caught-in-kennewick-womans-murder-body-found-in-river-newstalk870-am/ Suspect arrested (BCSO) Suspect arrested (BCSO) loading… The search for a suspect in the murder of a Kennewick woman has gone to Oregon. Suspect arrested, awaiting extradition to Benton County Lt. Aaron Klem of the Kennewick Police Department, by way of Sgt. Joe Santoy has released new information on the homicide of 34-year-old Brandy Ebanez. The 34-year-old mother who lived in Kennewick was found in the Columbia River on September 27th by a fisherman, she was just east and south of the Cable Bridge near Clover Island. Now, KPD has released the following statement: “Kennewick PD detectives have identified a suspect in the murder of 34-year-old Brandy Ebanez. This suspect was known to Brandy and has been taken into custody in the State of Oregon on an arrest warrant and a no bail order related to charges in the City of Kennewick. The suspect is currently awaiting extradition to Washington State. Kennewick PD will provide an update once the suspect arrives to the Benton County Jail.”  Police did not say if the suspect is 34-year-old Richard Michael Jacobson, who was arrested in Oregon, and was being held in the Multnomah County jail. She’d been wrapped in plastic bags, and investigators say she had been in the water for some time, but have not said exactly how long. According to investigators and reports, Ebanez had been missing for about 2 weeks. KEEP READING: Scroll to see what the big headlines were the year you were born Here’s a look at the headlines that captured the moment, spread the word, and helped shape public opinion over the last 100 years.

Holiday Gift Guide 2022: The Top Gear For Safari Travel – Forbes https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/holiday-gift-guide-2022-the-top-gear-for-safari-travel-forbes/ getty If you’ve decided that this is the year that you’re finally going to check off that big bucket-list trip, you may want to orient this season’s gift giving to that end. Numerous intrepid travelers have a wildlife safari in their sights and many travel companies, like Exodus Travels, have already rolled out their 2023 departure dates. Whether you want to visit India for viewing Bengal tigers in their natural habitat, Costa Rica for photographing Howler monkeys and sloths, or Kenya for spotting lions, elephants, hippos, and giraffes, you’ll want to be sure you and your travel partner are outfitted in the appropriate gear. Avoid bright clothing with busy patterns and stay away from dark blue or black apparel as it attracts bugs like the biting Tsetse flies. Also, keep in mind that white gets dirty fast. Bring along good sunscreen, bug spray, and camera equipment, in addition to other items included here. Keep reading to discover the top gear for safari travel. Jack Wolfskin Lakeside Mosquito Hat Wendy Altschuler To get the most out of your vacation, be sure to pack neutral clothing to not only blend in with your surroundings, but also, to protect you from the mosquitos and other bugs that you may encounter. Jack Wolfskin has an entire line of chemical-free mosquito repellant apparel, from jackets to hats, vests, pants, and shirts. The Lakeside Mosquito Hat, for example, provides excellent sun protection with its sturdy wide brim as well as defense against mosquitos and bugs with a practical pull down netting. IMBŌDHI Sleeved Bōdhi Jumper IMBŌDHI For versatile, comfy, and travel-friendly attire, look no further than the packable Sleeved Bōdhi Jumper in the oatmeal color. Not only can you layer this outfit with a jacket or sweater for those early morning game drives when the weather is a bit chillier, but also, you can feel good about how it was created. This California-cut-and-sewn athleisure jumper is lightweight, breathable, and designed with ethically-harvested plant-based materials like eucalyptus and beechwood. That’s right, there are no plastics or toxins in the fabric. Danner Logger 917 GTX Melissa Findley Of course, good foot wear is indispensable for any wildlife adventure, especially if you’re going to be exploring natural landscapes offroad with rough ground. Danner’s Logger 917 GTX boots are well made and built to last. Not only will your feet be comfortable, no matter what the terrain is, but also, they’ll be dry. Designed with a GORE-TEX waterproof liner and a Vibram outsole, you’ll be prepared with all wildlife rugged pursuits on your travel itinerary. Blueview Pacific Blueview Often while on safari, you won’t be permitted to leave the vehicle for safety reasons, which means you’ll want a shoe that is easy to slip on and off for wildlife viewing. Lightweight and easy to transition from Jeep to lodge, the Blueview Pacific shoe comes in five different colors, including Sand Dune. Eco-conscious travelers will love these high-quality biodegradable kicks, crafted with renewable plant-based technology. Nocs Provisions Standard Proof Waterproof Binoculars Erin Hutch If you’re heading on a trip to see wildlife, you’ll need a good lightweight pair of binoculars to see all of the flora and fauna up close. With a lifetime warranty, Nocs makes rugged binoculars in fun colors that can stand up to any adventure, big or small. The Standard Proof Waterproof Binoculars are fog proof and easy to travel with. You’ll find that these magnifiers make it into your essential packing list for most escapades, whether you’re hiking or searching for wildlife from a safari vehicle. Designed to help you slow down and appreciate your surroundings, Nocs has made a high-quality product at an affordable price. Girlfriend Collective Fox Float Ultralight Legging Girlfriend Collective For packable bottoms that you can move in, choose the Fox Float Ultralight Legging from Girlfriend Collective. There’s so much to love about these sweat-wicking and quick-drying pants. They’re made from recycled plastic bottles and spandex, there’s a little back pocket for ChapStick or small essentials, and you’ll benefit from essential sun protection (UPF 50+). The best part? No matter what size you are, XXS—6XL, you’ll likely find something that will fit your body with this brand. Klean Kanteen Insulated TKWide 32 oz with Chug Cap Klean Kanteen When traveling to where the wildlife freely roam, you’ll want to be sure that you’re doing your best to protect the environment that the animals live in. One way to help is by eliminating your single-use plastic usage. Klean Kanteen’s Insulated TKWide 32 oz with Chug Cap reusable water bottle is vacuum insulated and designed with portability in mind. Bring it on the airplane, on your safari vehicle, and toss it in your backpack as you float from activity to activity. This handsome bottle, made from post-consumer recycled stainless steel, is BPA-free, easy to clean, and chip resistant. Undoubtably, it will become your favorite go-to hydration device as it keeps liquids cold throughout the day. Feetures Marino 10 Ultralight Quarter Feetures Stock up on well-made, stylish socks to bring along with you on your big adventure. You’ll want to be sure your feet are dry and protected with socks that focus on fit, feel, and durability. Choose from six different sock heights, from hidden to knee-high, as well as cushion levels from ultralight to max cushion. The Marino 10 Ultralight Quarter come in charcoal or gray colors and are designed with a reinforced heel and toe. Your feet will stay warm and dry, even in wet conditions, with the Merino wool. Rollink Flex Aura Cabin Plus Suitcase Rollink You’ll need to pack light when on safari—it will make your experience much easier if you’re not spending time managing too much stuff. Pack what you need and leave the rest behind, ensuring that your luggage will fit on the transport vehicles and any small planes that you might need to take. Rollink’s space-saving collapsible luggage is ideal for a safari because it’s small enough to bring on the plane, it fits in the overhead compartment, and it breakdowns when empty for easy storage under a bed or in a closet. The durable and impact-resistant Flex Aura Cabin Plus Suitcase comes in seven different fun colors and folds flat to about two inches thick. Award-winning and stylish, this case is a smart choice. REVLY Sport Sloan One Piece REVLY Sport If your lodge has a swimming pool, you’ll want to bring along a swimsuit. Sustainable suits from REVLY Sport are made to move in. They’re comfortable and, more importantly, they stay in place whether you’re playing a round of pool volleyball or soaking up the rays on a lounger. Comfortable one-piece suits can also be worn underneath clothing if you’re trying to pack extra light and need versatile pieces to function for multiple uses. The Sloan One Piece comes in four different colors and five different sizes. %

LIC Market Share Rises To 68.24% | Business News – The Indian Express https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/lic-market-share-rises-to-68-24-business-news-the-indian-express/ Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), which was under pressure from private players, turned the tables on them with its market share in new business premium jumping to 68.24 per cent during the six-month period ended September 2022 as against 64.48 per cent in September 2021 and 63.24 percent in March 2022. Giving the private players a run for their money, new business premium of public sector LIC, India’s largest insurance company with assets of Rs 41 lakh crore, jumped by 45.99 per cent to Rs 124,191 crore during the six-month period ended September 2022 as against Rs 85,112.59 crore in the same period last year. On the other hand, the market share of private players fell to 31.75 per cent as of September 2022 from 35.51 per cent a year ago. LIC’s growth outpaced the total life segment’s growth which came at 37.88 per cent. Total premium underwritten by the entire life segments rose to Rs 181,977 crore as against Rs 131,981 crore in the six- month period ended September 2021. The new business premium of private players showed a lower growth than LIC at Rs 57,785.88 crore as against Rs 46,869 crore last year, a rise of 23.29 per cent. SBI Life registered a 27.22 per cent rise in premium underwritten at Rs 13,087 crore as against Rs.10,287 crore a year ago. HDFC Life showed a growth of 5.73 per cent at Rs 11,039 crore during the six-month period ended September 2022. LIC’s group single premium income shot up by 56.91 percent to Rs 96,878 crore from Rs. 61,741 crore, according to figures released by the Life Insurance Council. “The insurance industry today has bounced back from the issues which arose during the lockdown period. People realized the importance of managing their risks while investing their savings in appropriate insurance schemes. The boom witnessed is due to a majority of factors… we need to make sure to curate and conceptualize newer concepts and ideas to realize this dream of a fully insured India,” LIC Chairman MR Kumar said at the NIA summit on Monday. Shares of LIC which were offered at Rs 949 per share in the IPO, have now come down to Rs 619.65 on the stock exchanges. While LIC market capitalisation is now Rs 391,928 crore, SBI Life has a market valuation of Rs 120,646 crore.

Older Adults Living Unhealthy Lifestyles Twice As Likely To End Up In A Nursing Home – Study Finds https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/older-adults-living-unhealthy-lifestyles-twice-as-likely-to-end-up-in-a-nursing-home-study-finds/ SYDNEY, Australia — Older adults who lead an unhealthy lifestyle are twice as likely to end up needing a nursing home in comparison to their more active peers, a new study reveals. Researchers at the University of Sydney found smoking, physical activity, sitting, and sleep quality to have a strong link to nursing home admission rates. Surprisingly, diet quality did not display the same connection. Smokers were 55 percent more likely than non-smokers to end up needing nursing care. For the study, which is the first of its kind, researchers looked at data on more than 127,000 Australians who took part in a large study on healthy aging between 2006 and 2009. Study authors followed up with these patients for 11 years on average. The team divided them into the three risk groups based on five lifestyle factors: smoking, physical activity, sitting, sleep quality, and diet quality. One quarter of participants (24%) ended up in the lowest risk group with a score of nine or 10 points. Almost two-thirds (62%) were in the medium risk group with a score of six to eight points and 14 percent were in the unhealthiest group with a score below five points. The Australian research team found people over 60 who eat badly and spend too much time on the sofa were 43 percent more likely to end up in a nursing home compared with the fittest retirees. Older people with a moderately healthy lifestyle were 12 percent more likely to need nursing home care than the healthiest seniors. Younger seniors see the double the risk Participants’ lifestyles were then ranked from one to 10, with one representing the unhealthiest lifestyles and 10 the healthiest. The risk of needing nursing home care increased by 19 percent with every unit decrease in healthy lifestyle scores. People with the lowest scores saw their risk double compared with people scoring the highest. This risk was higher for the least healthy 60 to 64-year-olds (2.15 times) compared with the unhealthiest 65 to 74-year-olds (61% risk) and 75 to 84-year-olds (36%). “Effective strategies to prevent or delay older adults entering nursing home care will help ensure society can adequately care for its increasing number of older people,” says lead study author Dr. Alice Gibson from the University of Sydney, according to a statement from SWNS. “Our study highlights the potential of preventing or delaying nursing home admission among at-risk individuals during ageing with interventions that promote a healthy lifestyle. This could be a powerful motivator for many individuals to adopt or maintain a healthier lifestyle.” “Further, our findings may also incentivize government investment in preventative healthcare and health promotion given the greater cost associated with caring for people in institutions,” the researchers tell SWNS. “This will require a shift in health policy towards preventative health. It is important to consider lifestyle risk factors not only in the prevention of chronic diseases but also in reducing or delaying long-term nursing home admission.” The team presented their findings at the International Conference on Obesity in Melbourne, Australia. South West News Service writer Gwyn Wright contributed to this report.

Astros-Mariners Score: Live Updates From ALDS Game 1 – CBS Sports https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/astros-mariners-score-live-updates-from-alds-game-1-cbs-sports/ The Houston Astros are hosting the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday in Game 1 of the best-of-five American League Division Series. The Mariners chased Astros starter and AL Cy Young Award frontrunner Justin Verlander early and are trying to hold onto a Game 1 win. The Mariners, participating in the postseason for the first time since 2001, got here by sweeping the Toronto Blue Jays in two games in the opening-round Wild Card Series. The Astros, top seed in the AL bracket, arrived here via first-round bye, which they earned by being one of the two top division winners. As you would imagine, the Game 1 stakes are high, as the winner of the opener in a best-of-five MLB postseason series goes on to win that series 71.3 percent of the time.  Below you’ll find our live updates and running analysis of Game 1 between the Mariners and Astros.  See New Posts Pinned Former Rays RP Diego Castillo is in Guessing the last two innings will be mostly Andrés Muñoz but could see some Erik Swanson and/or Paul Sewald mixed in. Pinned Pinned Mariners bats are still hot Eugenio Suarez homers and it’s 7-3 Mariners. They scored 21 runs combined in their last three games of the regular season and then 14 in their two-game sweep of the Blue Jays. They appear to be ready to average seven runs per game the rest of the way. That’s sustainable, right?  Pinned Pinned Pinned Astros threaten in the sixth But they strand the runner. It’s 6-3 Mariners through six and they have a stellar late-inning bullpen. Of course, the Astros’ offense is awesome, too, so it won’t be easy.  Pinned Julio joins elite company  Pinned Mariners still in control As of the pitching change, Seattle has roughly an 85 percent chance of winning Game 1, according to win expectancy principles. Pinned Pinned Halfway home We’re through 4 1/2 innings and the Mariners have a 6-3 lead. Fair to write that this would be a huge win for the Mariners, who will have Luis Castillo on the bump for Game 2. Pinned Pinned Pinned Verlander appears to be done His final line: 4 IP, 10 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 3 K In his regular-season career, there have been 22 starts with at least six earned runs and fewer than five innings pitched (the last time was 2018). In the playoffs? Just once. All the way back in 2006 (Game 1 of the World Series) Pinned Pinned The total (“over/under”) was 6.5 … Yuli Gurriel homers and it’s 6-3 Mariners. Or “9” total. It’s the fourth inning.  Pinned Pinned Another run The Mariners now lead 6-2 after Ty France’s double. Justin Verlander has allowed six earned runs. He only allowed more than four in a game one time this season. He gave up six earned runs on 10 hits in six innings May 27 …. against the Mariners Pinned Pinned JULIO Julio Rodríguez triples. He also has walked, scored twice, doubled and driven home two. He’s decent. Pinned Mariners get one back JP Crawford homers. It’s 5-2 Mariners. Crawford only had 6 homers in the regular season and hadn’t homered since Sept. 9 Pinned Crawford’s blast puts the M’s up 5-2 JP Crawford with a solo shot to right extends Seattle’s lead back to 5-2. Pinned Crawford goes deep Well I was about to say Verlander had settled down, then JP Crawford hit one halfway up the bleachers. It’s 5-2 Mariners. Still a lot of game to go. Pinned Pinned Pinned Two-out runs for Astros They are on the board with a Yordan Alvarez double to the corner of the Crawford Boxes. It’s 4-2 Mariners. Four runs in this building for this team is easily workable and it’s now down to two.  Pinned Yordan gets the Mariners on the board Two-run double off the top of the wall in left. I thought it had a chance to go off the bat and it almost did. It’s 4-2 Mariners. Pinned Alvarez plates a pair with a double Yordan Alvarez is one of the best hitters in the world, and he just scored two on a long double to left. The Astros are now down 4-2. Pinned Pinned McCormick reaches to lead off bottom of the third A single gives the Astros a baserunner to begin the bottom of the third. Maldonado is due up and then the lineup will turn over. Houston is just looking to get on the board at this point. Pinned See More

Facebook Shouldn’t Own The Metaverse – Review Geek https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/facebook-shouldnt-own-the-metaverse-review-geek/ Meta Meta may promise an open Metaverse, but it hasn’t shown we can trust it to deliver one. A little under a year ago, Facebook’s parent company got a new name: Meta. And along the way, it popularized and took ownership of the term Metaverse. While no really agrees on what the Metaverse is, it’s looking more and more like VR and The Matrix. And the most terrifying part of that is Facebook. Now don’t get me wrong—I’m a fan of virtual reality. And I even like some of what Meta has done for VR. I own both the original Oculus Quest and its sequel, the Meta Quest 2 (formerly Oculus Quest 2), though I am on record as preferring the original. I still use both frequently, and for plenty of use case scenarios, they are compelling systems with plenty of potential. But while Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) have strong arguments as a new form of gaming and maybe even exercise, Meta doesn’t want to stop there. It envisions a future where we work in the Metaverse, live in the Metaverse, socialize in the Metaverse, and of course, spend money in the Metaverse. Meta hints at a future where the boundaries between reality and virtual reality slowly fade until there isn’t one anymore. And if that thought doesn’t give you pause, then realizing the company that wants to know everything there is to know about you also wants to create and rule your reality should. What Is the Metaverse Anyway? Meta Before we get too much further, we should probably talk about what the Metaverse is in the first place. Meta (the parent company formerly known as Facebook) popularized the term at its 2021 connect event when the company rebranded. But technically, Meta didn’t come up with the term. It first appeared in a 1992 novel, Snow Crash. In that novel, the Metaverse is a virtual reality world people can join either through VR goggles or low-quality public access terminals. Users can purchase virtual real estate, interact, and transfer goods through this fictional Metaverse. The novel actually inspired real-world versions of the concept, starting with Second Life and Active Worlds. Since then, dozens of similar concepts have come along, some embracing Virtual Reality and others settling for computer interaction. PlayStation Home featured shops, gaming, social centers, and more, along with homes you could decorate with furniture and invite friends over. Today, Minecraft and Roblox let you create worlds, homes, craft games, and experiences and invite friends into your worlds. These are, by the original definition, Metaverse concepts. You could argue a game like Fortnite counts, with its built-in shops and avatar interaction, but that might be somewhat of a stretch. But if you’re looking for VR-specific examples, look no further than VR Chat and Altspace VR (now owned by Microsoft). In either, you can create home centers, public spaces, meet up with friends and strangers, watch movies together or play games. AltspaceVR could be considered notable for hosting a virtual reality church, complete with Sunday morning services. But it’s best to keep in mind that while some VR falls under the Metaverse umbrella, not all Metaverse content is VR. You’ll find AR in the space and traditional gaming. The idea of the Metaverse is generally to create some form of digital world where you can live out a life and of course, spend money. The Future of Metaverse According to Meta So if the current state of the Metaverse is essentially any form of digital world where you can interact with others, whether for work, socializing, or gaming, then what’s the future? Meta has a lot to say about that, and it is, at times, both concepts flung far into the future and a little iterative. At the Meta Connect 2022, the company showed off several products that are ready to release and in early development. The biggest and most anticipated gadget is the Meta Quest Pro, and as its name suggests, it’s a more powerful higher quality version of the Meta Quest. And it needs to be, given that it costs $1,500 for one VR headset. But Meta doesn’t intend for the average person to buy a Meta Quest Pro. The biggest use case scenarios given were collaborative work in AR and VR. Meta spent practically no time showing the system doing any sort of gaming or entertainment. What it can do, however, is fairly impressive. Passthrough, the ability to see the real world while in a VR headset on the Oculus Quest 2 is currently a black-and-white smudgy affair. It works, but it looks very electronic. The Quest Pro promises full-color passthrough that can enable AR-like experiences with digital whiteboards, shared surfaces, and integrated avatars. At the same time, the company promises screens at such a high quality you would be comfortable working in VR on a triple digital “monitor” setup, replacing the single monitor station you might have in an office. As someone who uses a real triple monitor setup, I am curious to see if the Quest Pro stands up to that promise. But that’s the near term—with enough money (like $1,500), high-resolution displays in a small compact form is an easy problem to solve. Meta also hinted at a farther-flung future. The company has openly admitted it is working on a set of AR glasses that are comfortable enough to wear as you walk around town. The Microsoft Hololens and Magic Leap systems promise to be high-quality AR systems you can wear, but they aren’t comfortable enough or convenient enough to wear on the go. But while the glasses are a tantalizing promise, Mark Zuckerberg also showed off a new form of control for the Metaverse. Using a wrist device, Meta says it can track simple gestures made by your hand through a neural interface. It tracks EMG signals to determine your intentions, not because you mirrored a flick of your thumb left exactly as a developer intended, but because it understands what you intended. Over time, Meta showed that it could learn what you intend to gesture without any real movement at all. That posits a future where you can interact with a digital world with little more than a display and a chair that measures your intentions. Wall-E doesn’t seem so unlikely after all. Why Meta Shouldn’t Run The Metaverse Meta is hardly the only company working on the concept of a digital world. Setting aside Fortnite, Roblox, and even Second Life, major players like Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Amazon are all interested in bringing about the “next generation in computing.” So why is Meta’s participation in the Metaverse a concern? Because the company is promising to act as an open steward and showing all the signs of wanting to be the sole ruler of our digital future. Take the Metaverse name alone. Before Connect 2021, it’s likely you never heard the term. It came from a sci-fi book several decades old and never took off as an encompassing term for the overarching concept. But in one move, the company formerly known as Facebook both popularized the term Metaverse and renamed itself, Meta, tying itself inexorably to the term. You can’t talk about the Metaverse without acknowledging Meta. That might be fine if the company both promised and followed through with being a good steward of the Metaverse concept as an overarching whole. But Meta has a habit of promising a Metaverse for all and by all and yet claiming all credit for everything to do with the Metaverse. Connect 2022 was no different. During the event, Meta promised that in the future, it would open Horizon Worlds, the company’s answer to VR Chat and AltspaceVR, beyond VR. The company plans to introduce the ability to interact with Horizon Worlds through computers and smartphones. And in announcing it, one of Meta’s spokespersons stated, “this is going to be the first way a lot of people experience a virtual world.” That outright ignores every other instance of Metaverse that already exists off VR, like Roblox, Minecraft, and even VR Chat, Yes, VR Chat, which is very similar to Horizon Worlds, already had a desktop mode you can connect with through your computer. As does Mozilla’s hubs Metaverse concept and Microsoft’s AltspaceVR. But more concerning is Meta’s promises to develop an Open Metaverse while doing the opposite. Most versions of the Metaverse, like VR Chat, AltspaceVR, and hubs, are cross-platform. You can access them from any computer or VR headset, even the Meta Quest. But despite its open promises, Meta’s branded initiatives like Horizon Worlds remain exclusive to the company’s hardware. The company announced collaborations with Microsoft and Zoom to bring experiences to the Meta Quest and Horizon Workspaces, but it didn’t announce anything going in the other direction. You’ll only find Meta’s Metaverse on Meta properties. Even that first promise to open up Horizon Worlds is coming first to Instagram, a Meta property. The company continues to gobble up any other VR company doing well in the space along the way, having purchased the developers behind Beat Saber, Supernatural, and more. Even the Meta Quest itself started as its own company, Oculus, and that purchase gave Meta a giant lead in the space. Eventually, when the Metaverse takes off, you’ll have to choose where you put your digital identity. Meta hopes to create digital avatars that look exactly like your real self, and it’s already making promises to keep those digital avatars safe. But that’s one more piece of your identity that Meta will own beyond just the Facebook social network. You’ll have to choose where to spend your money on digital real estate, clothing, and even wheelchairs to make your digital twin look like you. Meta may have promised an open Metaverse, but so far, it’s developing and delivering a closed system under its full control while acting as though other digital worlds don’t exist. Currently, there is no hope that you could easily take your digi...

The Best Anti-Prime Early Access Sale Deals Happening At Best Buy – The Verge https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/the-best-anti-prime-early-access-sale-deals-happening-at-best-buy-the-verge/ Amazon’s Prime Early Access Sale isn’t the only place where you can find marked-down tech products. Best Buy is participating with deals of its own, many of which price-match what we’re seeing at Amazon’s Prime member-exclusive event. By and large, searching on Best Buy for any of the deals currently live on our main post should pull up a price match. Similarly, its deals are also in effect for two days, lasting through Wednesday, October 12th. So, whether it’s more convenient to shop at Best Buy or you’d prefer to spend your money at a brick-and-mortar location, here are the best anti-Prime Day deals happening at Best Buy. Best Buy’s Flash Sale deals TV, monitor, and home entertainment deals The 55-inch LG B2 OLED TV is a great deal at $979.99. It offers an amazing picture, HDMI 2.1 and a 120Hz refresh rate, but it can’t get quite as bright as the C2 lineup. It’s just $3 pricier at Best Buy than at Amazon. $976.99 The B2 is one of LG’s latest OLED TV models. It sits in the middle of its offering, boasting a high 120Hz refresh rate feature that’s not present in the more affordable A2. It also has HDMI 2.1 ports for fast-paced content, like gaming. Sony’s 55-inch A80J OLED 4K TV with Google TV software is $999.99 at Best Buy (originally $1,899.99). This deal isn’t being offered at Amazon. Sony’s 27-inch Inzone M9 4K gaming monitor with full array local dimming has received a rare $100 discount. It’s discounted to just $799.99 right now at Best Buy (matching Amazon’s price). Read our review. Insignia (Best Buy’s in-house brand) has a huge 70-inch F30 4K TV with Amazon’s Fire TV software built-in for $419.99 ($230 off). Don’t expect stunning quality compared to pricier TVs, but this could be a great fit for someone’s needs. Plus, it includes an Amazon Echo Show 5 (second-gen) smart display at no additional cost. This free add-on is also the case for smaller F30 model, like the 55-inch priced at $279.99 ($170 off). $279.99 This 2020 model of Insignia’s Fire TV Edition 4K TV includes HDR10 for a more contrast-rich picture. It has three HDMI ports, too, with support for HDMI ARC and eARC, allowing you to send sound through an HDMI cable instead of audio cables. $699.99 Vizio’s Elevate is a high-end soundbar with unique rotating side speakers that turn upwards when playing surround sound audio. Vizio’s high-end Elevate soundbar — which comes with two satellite speakers, a wireless subwoofer, and two rotating, upward-firing speakers for Dolby Atmos — is discounted to just $699.99 ($300 off). This isn’t the first time we’ve seen the $300 price cut, but it’s well worth mentioning here. Read our guide to the best soundbars. Headphones and earbuds deals You can buy Apple’s second-gen Apple AirPods with a wired charging case for $99.99, which matches the lowest price we’ve seen on the earbuds at Best Buy ($10 more than Amazon’s price). These normally sell for around $129. Read our review. Sony’s high-end WH-1000XM5 over-ear, noise-canceling headphones have received a $50 price cut at Best Buy, costing $349.99 at Best Buy. They’re far from the most affordable model on sale this week (just scroll down a little), but it’s still a nice price reduction. Google’s affordable Pixel Buds A-Series are even cheaper, costing $69.99, which is only $3 more than Amazon (normally $99.99). $151.99 Google’s Pixel Buds Pro are the company’s first earbuds to include active noise cancellation. But that’s not the only thing that makes them Google’s best buds yet: the Pixel Buds Pro combine impressive sound, great battery life, and good comfort — all without the connection issues of earlier models. Bose’s awesome, noise-canceling QuietComfort 45 are down to $229, a $100 price cut. This matches Amazon’s price. Read our review. Google’s Pixel Buds Pro have been marked down to $159.99 ($40 off). Read our review. Sony’s LinkBuds wireless earbuds, which offer an open-ring style so you can hear both the outdoors and your music, are down to $129.99 ($50 off, $2 more than Amazon). Read our review. The Sony LinkBuds S, which do away with the open-ear design of the aforementioned LinkBuds and offer noise cancellation, are on sale for $129.99 ($70 off, $2 more than Amazon). The Beats Fit Pro, some of our favorite earbuds for running, are back down to $159.99 ($40 off). Read our review. $159.95 Our favorite fitness earbuds, the Beats Fit Pro, feature soft flexible fins that keep them anchored in your ears during vigorous workouts. Their excellent sound has plenty of bass to keep you motivated in the middle of a long run. Jabra’s Elite 7 Active wireless earbuds are $109.99 ($60 off). These workout-friendly buds support active noise cancellation and Jabra’s handy multipoint connectivity. This price is $10 cheaper than Amazon. The same goes for the Jabra Elite 7 Pro, which are $119.99 at Best Buy as opposed to $129 at Amazon. The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 over-ear, noise-canceling headphones have dropped to $269 (originally $400). This model offers some of the best ANC tech to date. These match Amazon’s price. Read our review for more info. Streaming device and smart speaker deals The latest Apple TV 4K (32GB) is down to $109.99, the best price we’ve seen yet (originally $179). If you want 64GB of storage, the cost is $129.99. Read our review. Both of these prices match Amazon’s. $109.09 The latest Apple TV 4K houses the A12 Bionic processor and features faster performance with HDMI 2.1, Wi-Fi 6, and Thread support. Amazon’s wall-mountable Echo Show 15 is $169.99 during this sale ($80 off). It was already handy for watching along with recipes, but it’ll soon be even more handy by being able to operate as a Fire TV device. Best Buy has the same price as Amazon here. Verge Deals on Twitter / Join over 50,000 followers and keep up with the best daily tech deals with @vergedeals Follow us! Tablet, laptop, and e-reader deals The ninth-generation iPad with 64GB of storage and Wi-Fi capabilities is $269.99 (originally $329). Keep in mind that this model may soon become outdated if Apple announces newer versions sometime in October, as is expected. The 2022 iPad Air with the M1 processor, 64GB of storage, and Wi-Fi connectivity is $519.99 ($80 off). If you want more storage, the 256GB model is on sale for $669 ($80 off). Read our review. This matches Amazon’s low price. $519.99 The latest iPad Air retains the iPad Pro-esque redesign of the 2020 model but does away with the A14 Bionic processor in favor of Apple’s lightning-fast M1 chip. It also comes in one of five colors and boasts a 12MP front-facing camera with support for Apple’s Center Stage feature. Apple’s latest iPad Mini with USB-C charging and 64GB of storage is $399.99 at Best Buy. While we’ve seen this $100-off deal before, it’s always nice to see it come back. $99.99 Amazon’s new Kindle Paperwhite has a 6.8-inch E Ink display with adjustable color temperature for nighttime reading. It also boasts a faster processor, additional battery life, IPX8 waterproofing, and — finally — a USB-C port. Amazon’s latest, ad-supported Kindle Paperwhite with 8GB of storage is on sale for $99.99 instead of $139.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, which is just $5 shy of the discount we saw during Prime Day (you know, the one in July). Read our Kindle Paperwhite review. $74.99 The 2021 Fire HD 10 is the largest of Amazon’s Fire tablets. Unlike the previous generation, it sports a 1080p display and 3GB of RAM, which is plenty if you’re streaming, browsing, or consuming Amazon content. Of all the budget-friendly tablets in Amazon’s current Fire lineup, the Fire HD 10 is the one we typically recommend, thanks to its sharp 1080p display and relatively good performance. You can currently buy it with ads and 32GB of storage for $74.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, a 50 percent discount. Read our review. You can also buy the ad-supported, 32GB Fire HD 10 Plus — which features support for wireless charging and more RAM than the base model — for $104.99 ($75 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. Apple’s 2020 MacBook Air with the M1 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD is on sale for just $799.99, matching its lowest price to date. It debuted for $999. Read our review. Best Buy has the same price as Amazon. $799 The MacBook Air is Apple’s entry-level laptop, which comes outfitted with the company’s new M1 chip in one of three different colors (silver, space gray, and gold). The newer 2022 MacBook Air with the M2 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD is $1,049 at Best Buy, following a $150 discount — the lowest price so far. Read our review. $1049 The redesigned MacBook Air is a thin, lightweight device powered by Apple’s latest chip. The M2 model also touts a 1080p webcam and a better display than its predecessor, while retaining features like long battery life and MagSafe charging. Smart home tech deals Amazon’s Smart Plug that can let you control any “dumb” device plugged into it with Alexa voice commands is just $12.99 ($12 off), matching Amazon’s price. Smart thermostats can be pricey. That doesn’t apply to Amazon’s, which you can get for $41.99 (usually $59.99) at Best Buy, as well as Amazon. This model is surprisingly good, considering its low price. Read our review. $41.99 Developed in partnership with Resideo, the Amazon Smart Thermostat allows you to control the temperature of your home through Alexa voice controls and remotely via an app. Smartwatches, wearables, and fitness tech deals The Apple Watch Series 8 (GPS, 41mm) is currently $50 off, bringing the price down to $349. This is the latest model, which has new temperature sensors for tracking your cycle, as well as a new high-g accelerometer and gyroscope for crash detection. Read our review. This pric...

Crypto.com Arena Unveils Completion Of Phase One Of Renovations Ahead Of NHL & NBA Seasons Kicking Off This Month – Business Wire https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/crypto-com-arena-unveils-completion-of-phase-one-of-renovations-ahead-of-nhl-nba-seasons-kicking-off-this-month-business-wire/ October 11, 2022 05:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–As the LA Kings prepare to take to their Crypto.com Arena home ice tonight to embark on their 23rd season at the downtown Los Angeles home they share with the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Sparks, their fans will finally get to experience the new amenities and renovated areas that were just unveiled as part of the iconic arena’s comprehensive three-year renovation project. Among the new and re-imagined arena locations now accessible to guests are: An expanded and reimagined Chairman’s Club that will provide select season ticket members and VIP guests new benefits and experiences at Crypto.com Arena’s most private and sought-after location before, during, and after events. Two new LED screens and ribbon boards visible to the upper and lower bowl seating areas, handled by Toshiba a Founding Partner of Crypto.com Arena. Among the installations are: Three levels of Ribbon Boards that are more than 3,000 linear feet of versatile video displays which can be programmed uniquely for each team and event. Two new giant LED wall video displays measuring approximately 21 feet high by 65 feet wide each and capable of variable content zoning allowing each to show one large image or to be divided into multiple zones to show any combination of live video, instant replays, statistics, graphics, animations and sponsorship messages. A redesigned and upgraded Impact Sports Bar & Grill on the Main Concourse that will offer guests new food and beverage menus. Improvements to the Main Concourse marked by an entirely new arrival experience, as well as upgrades to the Upper-Level Concourse including remodeled refreshment stands offering new food selections among other fan amenities on each level including: An innovative in-arena concession experience with the opening of two new grab and go locations powered by Amazon’s frictionless Just Walk Out technology. Visitors to Crypto.com Arena will now have the opportunity to take what they want without having to stop to check-out while shopping at the Bud Light Seltzer Market and the Michelob Ultra Market, located on the Main Concourse between Sections 105 and 108. To make their purchases more efficient while allowing them the ability to return to their seats quicker, guests entering the stores simply insert their method of payment at the entry gates and start shopping. As they select food and beverage items, Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology determines what they take from or return to the shelves. Upon exiting, the method of payment they inserted at the entry gate will be charged for the items taken. American Express is the official payment partner of Crypto.com Arena, providing select Card Member benefits at various events. The Just Walk Out technology-enabled locations will sell beer, wine, seltzers, ready-to-drink cocktails, soft drinks, coffee, water and other select food and beverage items. Guests purchasing alcohol will be required to show their ID to a store attendant for age verification. Introduction of LA’s own Dirt Dog concession stands located on the Main Concourse at Section 102 & Section 112 A refresh of the arena’s Premium and Suite Level Entrances and Concourses. On Monday evening, Crypto.com Arena Premium Seating and AEG Global Partnerships hosted “Taste of Premium,” a VIP reception on the arena floor providing Premier Members a preview and tasting opportunity for the menu items available this season throughout all of Crypto.com Arena’s Premium Levels including the Luxury Suites, Premier Seats, and Premier Tables & Lounges at Yaamava’ Club by San Manuel. Michele Kajiwara, SVP Sales, Premium & Event Services, Crypto.com Arena commented, “At Crypto.com Arena, Premium memberships are ‘More Than A Seat.’ They go above and beyond the games and events that are the foundation of standard sports and entertainment memberships. We pride ourselves in offering our members money can’t buy experiences, and exclusive events like tonight’s “Taste of Premium.” Crypto.com Arena is excited to begin the upcoming 2022-23 seasons alongside its new naming rights partner, Crypto.com and to be welcoming fans back to experience the first phase of the complete top to bottom upgrades and renovations through the arena. For list of upcoming events and to be the first to know about new announcements, upgrades and to plan your visit please visit www.cryptoarena.com and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @cryptocomarena. For Handout B-roll Footage please visit: https://vimeo.com/758616147/a1866825a9 Executives available by request for media interviews and arena tours are: Lee Zeidman, President, Crypto.com Arena, Microsoft Theater & L.A. LIVE Danielle Snyder, Senior Vice President, Arena Services, Crypto.com Arena Ignacio Guerra, Senior Vice President, Operations, Crypto.com Arena (Spanish Speaker) Sam Porter, Vice President, Hospitality, Crypto.com Arena

Shaheen, Tillis, Murphy & Wicker Urge Biden Administration To Establish U.S. Policy Toward Bosnia And Herzegovina As EUFOR Mandate Renewal Deadline Approaches | U.S – Senator Jeanne Shaheen https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/shaheen-tillis-murphy-wicker-urge-biden-administration-to-establish-u-s-policy-toward-bosnia-and-herzegovina-as-eufor-mandate-renewal-deadline-approaches-u-s-senator-jeanne-shaheen/ **Letter follows Senators’ delegation visit to the region in April & Shaheen’s most recent trip last week** (Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation and a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, sent a letter this week with U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, on the importance of the European Union Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR) mandate and the development of a comprehensive strategy towards Bosnia and Herzegovina. Shaheen just returned to a trip from the Western Balkans last week, and Senators Shaheen, Tillis and Murphy  traveled to the region together in April. The deadline for the United Nations Security Council to extend the EUFOR Mandate is next month. The Senators wrote, in part, “The fragility of the peace established under the Dayton Peace Accords is evident and alarming. Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine has emboldened actors in Bosnia and Herzegovina who have long been supported by the Kremlin and other external actors, and the risk of violence cannot be ignored. The United States must focus on maintaining peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.” The lawmakers went on to underscore the importance of the EUFOR mandate, which has helped keep the peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina following the end of the war in 1995. The number of NATO troops in the region under the mandate has steadily decreased. Amid precarious political dynamics in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the lawmakers argue that a more concerted strategic response from European Union (EU) member states, the United Kingdom and the United States is necessary to sufficiently source the EUFOR Althea Mission. The Senators underscored the serious European and U.S. national security implications in the region as a result of Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. They explained, “Russia continues to claim the Western Balkans as within its sphere of influence, and Russian officials have issued numerous statements of support for regional actors opposed to both European integration and NATO. The United States must not turn a blind eye to these threats; we must demonstrate our commitment to European security by maintaining an effective presence in the Balkans as we continue to respond to Russia’s unprovoked war in Ukraine.” In closing, the Senators urged the Biden administration to develop a strategy, in coordination with NATO and the EU, for how to maintain a peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the event of a Russian veto of the EUFOR mandate. Their letter can be read in full here. Senators Shaheen and Wicker lead bipartisan legislation in the U.S. Senate to strengthen U.S.-Balkan ties by supporting economic development in the region through initiatives on infrastructure, trade and anti-corruption. ### Previous Article

Staircase Leverages Blockchain In New Servicing Transfer Technology – National Mortgage News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/staircase-leverages-blockchain-in-new-servicing-transfer-technology-national-mortgage-news/ Staircase, a fintech company that’s been compiling an expansive set of interconnected digital mortgage tools, introduced new blockchain-based technology for servicing transfers on Tuesday. The latest automation is aimed at ensuring compliance sensitive information gets transferred correctly in an active mortgage servicing rights market. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has some specific requirements around this process, with a particular focus on ensuring it doesn’t interrupt modifications or other loss mitigation in progress. “MSRs transfers are increasing in volume given the increased value of the servicing rights, so it’s just a natural market to spend a little more time in right now,” said Adam Kalamchi, co-founder and CEO of Staircase. A growing number of fintechs have been looking to update automation used by servicing operations, which have become more prominent as rates have risen. Recently, for example, Valon teamed up with a quality control provider called ACES to address needs in the space; and distressed mortgage-technology provider Clarifire linked its platform to one IndiSoft has to loop counselors into the servicing process. At the same time, blockchain technology and the cryptocurrency it was initially designed to record are increasingly being used within the mortgage and banking industries, though there’s been some regulatory caution around the latter. Startup Moon Mortgage, a lender that plans to use crypto to partially secure loans, recently raised $3.5 million in seed money, and Bank of New York Mellon on Tuesday officially launched digital-asset custody services. “We use an immutable ledger so that you can actually say that we know every change in income, every single change in the loan balance, which adds a lot of richness around analytics and risks and auditability of how the loan file was created, so that’s one benefit of using blockchain. The other one is really secure data sharing,” Kalamchi said. Staircase’s latest technology works with its Loanboarding platform, which uses machine learning to extract and classify data from loan documents and then applies quality control procedures to it. Other automation Staircase has offered include technology used by private mortgage insurers to automate non-delegated underwriting of MI policies in conjunction with home loans. It also offers a tool for selective pre-approvals, and one that connects lenders to credit reporting vendors. It generally charges a $50 fee per loan, or less if the Loanboarding automation is used in conjunction with the new MSR transfer technology. “We’ve already attacked loan boarding, which is a very complicated process to get right and at a low cost, the same for MI, and MSR transfer is just a natural extension of that,” Kalamchi said.

Rural Gann Ridge Home Destroyed By Fire; Hydrants Not For Fire – NWAOnline https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/rural-gann-ridge-home-destroyed-by-fire-hydrants-not-for-fire-nwaonline/ Lack of available fire hydrants hindered the firefighting abilities of firefighters on the scene of a structure fire Tuesday, Oct. 4, according to Pea Ridge Fire Chief Jared Powell. Powell said firefighters shuttled water from downtown Pea Ridge to the scene on Gann Ridge Road. Firefighters from Pea Ridge, Northeast Benton County, Avoca and Little Flock assisted in fighting the fire that destroyed a manufactured home. The residents were not home at the time of the fire and there were no injuries reported. Powell said the cause of the fire has not been determined. “Due to the lack of close hydrant water, crews established tanker shuttles to bring water to the scene. The location of active hydrants combined with heavy traffic in the area hindered fire fighting operations,” according to a social media post by the Pea Ridge Fire Department. “A knock down of the fire was made one hour and 19 minutes from the time first units arrived on scene. Once the fire was under control, crews spent the next hour and 20 minutes extinguishing hot spots until it was determined no fire hazards remained.” NEBCO Fire Chief Rob Taylor said his department has a policy that they do not attempt to use hydrants along Gann Ridge Road west of Mahurin Road because the lines aren’t big enough. He said when the hydrants have been opened in the past, it hindered water flow to customers. He said the hydrant at Gann Ridge and Mahurin Road is “pretty efficient.” “We just have to shuttle water, like we do in a lot of other areas,” Taylor said. Powell said he spoke to Tim Evans, manager of the Gateway Public Water Authority, who told him the hydrants were flush hydrants and not fire hydrants. Powell said he told Evans the hydrants should be painted black to avoid confusion as to what is available for fire departments. Gateway Mayor Andrew Tillman said the city of Gateway does not govern the Gateway Public Water Authority. “They’re two separate entities,” Tillman said, explaining that he had served on the Water Board previously and that none of the city’s tax money is used for or by the Water Authority. “All they have to do is provide drinking water,” Tillman said. He said the lines supplying water are not large enough to provide fire-fighting water pressure and that if the water pressure is decreased too much, the authority has to issue a boil order according to rules governing rural water authorities. According to the Gateway Public Water Authority 2021 annual drinking water quality report, the authority purchases treated surface water from Benton-Washington Regional Water Authority which gets its water from Beaver Lake. “We want our valued customers to be informed about their water utility. If you want to learn more, please attend any of our regularly scheduled meetings. They are held on the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in Gateway Town Hall,” according to the water quality report, which states the manager is Pam Shaw. Gateway PWA is listed as members of the Arkansas Rural Water Association. The director lists Tim Evans as manager, operator and David Patterson as president of the Gateway Water Authority. Attempts to contact Evans were unsuccessful.

More Than 500 Owners Of Second Homes Weigh In On What Really Matters In A Vacation Property – Domino https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/more-than-500-owners-of-second-homes-weigh-in-on-what-really-matters-in-a-vacation-property-domino/ We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Owning a vacation home sounds like a dream, but finding the right getaway property isn’t necessarily as breezy as a day at the beach. In a recent survey conducted by Pacaso, a real-estate co-ownership platform, more than 500 second-home owners shared what they prioritized during the search process. Naturally, location, price, and size topped their list, but they revealed some other points worth considering before signing on the dotted line. “They have a peek under the hood of how often they use their place as opposed to dreamers,” says Pacaso CEO and cofounder Austin Allison. Whether you’re still in the thinking-about-it phase or already have your real-estate agent on the line, here’s what seasoned buyers had to say about what really matters.  Know Your Neighbors  The surprising thing second-timers value more than waterfront views or travel time? Who they’re living next to. A rowdy frat house or bustling bar can really put a damper on your plans to relax, so scope out the area (during the day and evening) to make sure you can properly zen out.  Prepare to Go the Distance While the idea of posting up on the Amalfi Coast for the summer sounds ideal, the majority of respondents (91 percent) prefer to put down roots domestically. In fact, most aren’t keen on the idea of hopping on a plane—87 percent of them favor a road trip. Prepare your music playlists: Forty-three percent of vacation home veterans commute more than four hours by car to get to their destination, which is quite a bit longer than what prospective buyers imagined they’d travel.  Pack Your Biggest Suitcase The survey revealed that those who are still in the fantasy phase believe they’d spend one week or less on vacation. “People are daydreaming of a perfect place to run to for a quick escape or occasional weekend getaways throughout the year,” says Allison. In truth, 61 percent of those who already have another abode are spending two or more weeks there because experienced vacationers know, if you’re making the investment, you might as well stay a while. %

‘Field Of Monsters’ Speakers Share Hopes For Friday’s Free Symposium – Richland Source https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/field-of-monsters-speakers-share-hopes-for-fridays-free-symposium-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.

Family Meals Together Ease Stress, Survey Confirms | Health | Kdhnews.com – The Killeen Daily Herald https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/family-meals-together-ease-stress-survey-confirms-health-kdhnews-com-the-killeen-daily-herald/ 84° Killeen, TX (76540) Today Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 86F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight A clear sky. Low 68F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Updated: October 11, 2022 @ 1:48 pm Full Forecast Cara Murez Oct 11, 2022 1 hr ago 0 TUESDAY, Oct. 11, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Experts have long suggested that family dinners serve up many health benefits. Now, a new survey from the American Heart Association backs that up: An overwhelming 91% of parents said their family is less stressed when they break bread with each other. Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. Welcome to the discussion. Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don’t Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don’t knowingly lie about anyone or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the ‘Report’ link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We’d love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article. Articles Images Commented Commented ‘Most abusive relationship I’ve been in’: KISD teachers plead for help (15) Reader objects to profane music played at Ellison JV sporting event (13) Killeen reader endorses strategy of arming teachers in Texas schools (11) ‘We’re going to hunt you down like a dog’ | Search continues for Brandon Hogan (7) Boyd asks council to name concourse for late general; wants to re-brand Killeen (6) KISD board to consider getting rid of at-large elections (6) Reader takes exception to PETA letter about no-kill animal shelters (6) Reader says Gov. 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Braves Vs. Phillies Score: Live Updates From NLDS Game 1 – CBS Sports https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/braves-vs-phillies-score-live-updates-from-nlds-game-1-cbs-sports/ The Atlanta Braves host the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday for Game 1 of the best-of-five National League Division Series. The winner will advance to the National League Championship Series to face the winner of the Los Angeles Dodgers-San Diego Padres NLDS. The Phillies got here by sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals in two games in the opening-round Wild Card Series. As for the Braves, they and the Dodgers were the top two division winners in the NL, which means they were rewarded with a first-round bye.  Date: Tuesday, Oct. 11 | Time: 1:07 p.m. ET Location: Truist Park (Cobb County, Georgia) TV channel: Fox | Live stream: fuboTV (try for free) Odds: PHI +170; ATL -205; O/U: 7 (via Caesars Sportsbook) Starting pitchers: LHP Max Fried (14-7, 2.48 ERA) vs. LHP Ranger Suárez (10-7, 3.65 ERA) As you would imagine, the Game 1 stakes are high, as the winner of the opener in a best-of-five MLB postseason series goes on to win that series 71.3 percent of the time.  CBS Sports will be providing live updates, highlights, analysis and more all game long. Follow along below. See New Posts Pinned More Braves runners Orland Arcia walks, so there are two on and one out for Michael Harris and the Phillies are going to the bullpen again. A LONG way to go here.  Pinned Pinned 7-3 Travis d’Arnaud doubles to drive two home and it’s 7-3. Some might proclaim it’s a “brand new ballgame.” d’Arnaud has all three Braves RBI. Pinned More baserunners for the Braves William Contreras doubles and it’s runners on second and third with one out. Will they be able to convert this time? They’ve left seven runners on base and the only run was a solo homer. Pinned 7-1 The Phillies strike again. The “small ball” will get the headlines for people who love it, but a double started things off.  Pinned Braves leave two more on base That’s seven left on base through four innings. Dansby Swanson has struck out three times. It’s 6-1 Phillies. Pinned Pinned Pinned The game has been broken open, as they say Castellanos with the two-out knock to plate two. It’s 6-1 Phillies. The final line for Max Fried:  3.1 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K It’s worth mention that the error (the reason two runs were unearned) was by Fried himself.  Pinned That was a nasty, nasty pitch to strike out Realmuto. Chavez backdoored a two-seamer to get a huge strikeout. Pinned Fried’s shortest outing this season Braves starter Max Fried was removed here with one out in the fourth, so 3 1/3 innings. His shortest outing during the regular season was five innings (five different times) Pinned Pinned Strikeout to end the inning The Braves have left four men on base through three innings and trail 4-1.  Pinned Bases loaded, again The Braves had them loaded in the first inning and failed to score. They are loaded here with two outs for d’Arnaud, who homered last time Pinned Big moment for Contreras William Contreras is up as the tying run. He’s up in the count 1-0. Could end up being a pivotal moment. Pinned Pinned Phillies with two outs It’s the third inning, and the Phillies in Game 1 are already 5 for 7 with two outs. Pinned Pinned and it’s 4-1 Segura with a line-drive single to center to score Castellanos. Braves ace Max Fried has allowed seven hits in less than three innings Pinned Error opens the door for Phillies  A throwing error lets JT Realmuto on, Bryce Harper sacrificed him to second (it was close to another error) and now Nick Castellanos doubles off the right-field wall. Realmuto didn’t get the best read and only gets to third, but then an Alec Bohm sac fly makes it 3-1 Pinned Pinned Pinned Braves on the board Travis d’Arnaud homers. The Braves will do that. They led the NL in homers by a comfortable margin Pinned Here’s that (potentially huge) double play Pinned HOOOOO BOY William Contreras hits a routine grounder to short and it becomes an easy double play to end the inning. Lots of fun so far for our first inning of at least 36 on the day. Pinned Bases loaded for Braves After the Acuña double, it has gone strikeout, walk, walk  Pinned Suárez … Much attention will be given to the Phillies’ aces, but Ranger Suárez is highly capable. He ended last season on a hot streak and this year had a 2.33 ERA in his last 13 starts before a clunker against the Astros. We can probably forgive that day, too, since it came the day after the clinch celebration. Pinned Braves ready to match?  Acuña with a leadoff double off Ranger Suárez to start for the Braves Pinned Pinned What to look for from Suárez Ranger Suárez is a lefty who has a deep arsenal. He mostly leans on three pitches: a low-90s sinker, a changeup, and a four-seamer. Expect lots of sinkers and changeups down and to his arm side, and some elevated four-seamers to change eye levels. (He’ll mix in cutters and curves, too.) See More

Quest Pro: Even In Meta’s Best Headset, The Metaverse Feels Far – The Washington Post https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/quest-pro-even-in-metas-best-headset-the-metaverse-feels-far-the-washington-post/ If Mark Zuckerberg had his way, we’d all be doing Zoom calls as 3D avatars through computers on our faces. I recently got to try out the newest and best experience of what the Facebook co-founder calls the metaverse. It felt more like a meh-taverse. I got a sneak peek at the Quest Pro headset, unveiled Tuesday by Meta as the culmination of billions in hardware development. Most people will likely never own a Quest Pro headset, in part because they’re selling it for $1,499.99 — nearly four times the cost of its predecessor. But more than seven years after it unveiled its first Oculus virtual reality rig, its state of the art lets us reflect on a big question for the future of everyone’s use of personal technology: When might the metaverse actually become part of how lots of people communicate, work and create? After spending two hours with the Quest Pro, that’s never felt further away. The metaverse is supposed to be a way to interact online in ways that let us feel closer and do away with boundaries between the physical and virtual worlds. The Quest Pro pushes beyond the VR goggles we’ve seen before, by layering digital images into what’s actually in front of you. And it tracks your eyeballs and facial muscles to help you express emotion through a virtual avatar. These are difficult technical challenges, but the Quest Pro didn’t seem to do either of them particularly well. It also introduced new kinds of peril: Should you trust the company behind Facebook’s privacy pirates with tracking every twitch of your face? After trying the headset in six creative and workplace demonstrations chosen by Meta, I still couldn’t identify a killer example of how Meta’s big hardware step forward unlocks the missing promise of the metaverse. Meta says the Quest Pro is just the next step to achieve its full-fledged metaverse vision and is intended for first adopters, artists and businesses. Yet Zuckerberg last year literally bet the farm on the idea it was the next big thing, changing the name of his company from Facebook to Meta. Even Apple wants a piece of that and is expected to unveil its own competing headset in the coming months. Meta’s hardware last got updated in 2020 with the Quest 2 headset, which is still being sold for $399.99. During the pandemic, some found them useful for games, fitness and joining niche communities. The company has sold at least 10 million VR devices, but that is far shy of the billions Meta’s other products reach. It’s easy to be critical of technology that’s trying to do something very new. So let me say: Meta’s improvements in the Quest Pro, which goes on sale Oct. 25, appear to focus on important user problems such as making interactions with other people feel more human. Still, I experienced a disconnect between the way Meta describes its new capabilities and what it was actually like to use right now. Let’s review three of the biggest developments. The previous Quest put weight and heat on your face because all the hardware is in the front, with a strap along the back and top. The Quest Pro is a complete redesign, with the battery resting on the back of the head so the weight is more evenly distributed. It also uses its cameras to guide you to adjusting it for a better fit. The Quest Pro is much better balanced, but there’s just one problem: Meta also increased the overall weight of the thing by nearly half, going from 500 grams on the Quest 2 to 720 grams on the Quest Pro. After using it for two hours, I noticed subtle lines on my forehead — not to mention a headache. So far in the metaverse, avatars have felt stiff. To address that, the Quest Pro uses cameras inside and around the front of the device to capture subtle aspects of facial movement, from a wicked smile to an arched eyebrow. Then it can apply those to your avatar in real time. At least that’s how it works in theory. During my demonstrations, the Quest 2 could hardly pick up on my eyebrows — one of my more distinguishing features. (Meta said my glasses, which I was wearing inside the headset, may have gotten in the way.) It also couldn’t detect when I stuck out my tongue. The even bigger problem is it didn’t lead to a magical experience. Based on a video presentation from Meta, I was picturing I’d get my own Pixar character. Far from it: The avatars of people I interacted with were only lightly animated and looked at times a little bit drunk. (One avatar I was interacting with kept slightly grimacing — I don’t think it was intentional.) I couldn’t determine if that was a problem with an underpowered processor driving the Quest Pro, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2+ or internet bandwidth problems. And then there’s the privacy implications of all that face data. Meta says face and eye tracking are optional and off by default, and the images captured by the cameras are processed on the device and then thrown away. Great, but that’s not the end of the story. Your face movements are converted into a constant stream of data points, which can leave the device. In fact, other apps can ask for access to them, too. So does that mean that if you watch “Queer Eye” in the metaverse, Netflix could learn every time you start to tear up? Or Facebook could tell advertisers how long you actually looked at their ads and whether they made you smile? None of that appears to be expressly off limits, though Meta says apps that want to use face data have to ask permission first. Who trusts Facebook to manage this in our best interests? The biggest leap for the Quest Pro is that it no longer just does VR. With past Quest devices, you’ve been mostly blind to everything except the virtual world. The so-called “mixed reality” technology in the Quest Pro brings inside the headset a color view of your immediate surroundings so you can interact with it and augment it with virtual images. For example: The controllers that come with the Quest Pro double as virtual pens so you can scribble virtually on your real desk or whiteboard. Again, this sounds great in theory. But the real world I saw inside the Quest Pro didn’t feel very real. It’s not like looking through regular glasses or even a color video camera. What I saw was more like the underwater scenes in the “Aquaman” movie, warped and washed out. The Quest Pro can run all the same largely game-focused apps as its predecessor, but Meta showed me demos designed to take advantage of its new tech. Two let me make 3D art in the room in front of me. Another let me view and move around a 3D version of something like Google Earth. A third put a virtual DJ turntable in front of me for lessons from the avatar of a real DJ instructor. I can’t imagine ever needing — or even wanting — to do these things again. The mixed reality experience Meta itself has put the most work into was a reimagination of the office called Horizon Workrooms. I saw three virtual screens projected from a real laptop in front of me with a cutout to the real-world at the bottom so I could type on the actual computer keyboard. This was not a good experience: The screens and mouse were painfully slow and a little disorienting. Now Meta will open up the Quest Pro to more app developers, who might have better ideas that will make it easier to overlook the device’s technical limitations. The biggest question for the future of the metaverse is figuring out a really, really compelling reason using a face computer is better than a phone or laptop.

Flagship Phones May Have Successfully Isolated African Consumers – Business Insider Africa https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/flagship-phones-may-have-successfully-isolated-african-consumers-business-insider-africa/ Phone companies today are beginning to lay heavy emphasis on luxury. It is no longer enough for a phone brand to innovate on the tech aspect, nowadays, these brands are pushing the boundary by dictating consumer experience. In 2017, phone giant, Apple did something unprecedented by putting a $1000 price tag on a non-specialist phone. At the time there was a backlash as the general public still shared the view that $1000 is too much to pay for an iPhone. However, true to form, Apple users overlooked the ridiculous price and purchased the product anyways. In that year, it sold 218 million units of iPhones. This created a trend that has become commonplace with almost all premier smartphones today as $1000 is no longer too much money to spend on a phone. In hindsight, these devices may be value for money, as you get the perks of numerous dedicated devices, crammed into one portable device. For example, flagship phones, like the Google Pixel 6, Samsung 22 Ultra, and the iPhone 13 pros can produce pictures and videos that rival even professional cameras. You get the best browsing and social media experience on high-end phones, a responsive A. I built into it, media consumption which can imitate a home theater system save in scope, and much more. And seeing as most people spend time with their phones, either for work or pleasure, it seems less ridiculous today to pay top dollar for a powerful handheld gadget. With this in mind, some phones now go for up to $2 million and are being sold. But, when does it all become too much? When does a phone become too luxurious for just a phone? When an entire market is isolated. In the past 5 years alone, the average African has been relegated to purchasing low-end phones. See the data here. Nowadays, only those willing to break the bank or those with a substantial amount of cash flow can buy a high-end flagship phone. The African tech market is dominated by budget phones, with low-end specs for the time being. The latest trend with these high-end phones is how you have to purchase a phone and its accessories separately. It used to be that you get a phone with a charger, earpiece, and other cool accessories, depending on the brand as some are more generous than others. However, today, you have to buy the phone and the charger separately, making phones that come with their accessory seem like a privilege to a population battling poverty. And with the push for MagSafe devices, no doubt these brands will become too much of a luxury good for Africans to have access to. There is a reason Apple has refused to open Apple stores in most parts of Africa, despite claiming that they make phones for everyone, which is simply its low market share in the continent. FOLLOW BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA Our newsletter gives you access to a curated selection of the most important stories daily. Thanks for signing up for our daily insight on the African economy. We bring you daily editor picks from the best Business Insider news content so you can stay updated on the latest topics and conversations on the African market, leaders, careers and lifestyle. Also join us across all of our other channels – we love to be connected! Unblock notifications in browser settings.

Currencies Replace Crypto At Forefront Of Market Trading Chaos – HT Tech https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/currencies-replace-crypto-at-forefront-of-market-trading-chaos-ht-tech/ The atmosphere at a conference was markedly different from the previous few years: there was a buzz. The atmosphere at a conference of currency market professionals was markedly different from the previous few years: there was a buzz. Senior executives from banks and brokers were feeling optimistic about the prospects of foreign-exchange trading at the recent gathering in Amsterdam. They’ve spent years eyeing the world of crypto with envy, as digital assets thrived in a highly volatile market, while traditional money remained dull. Currencies are now at the forefront of the action. Rapidly climbing interest-rate risks around the world and increased geopolitical tensions are fueling a 30% surge in trading and historic moves, reviving an industry that spent the past decade struggling with stagnant volumes. “FX as an asset class is really back this year,” said Russell LaScala, the global head of FX at Deutsche Bank AG, the world’s largest currency player by market share. “I think last year a lot of macro hedge funds were trading different assets, including crypto.” The notoriously wild swings in crypto markets have subsided this year, with the Bitcoin Volatility Index shedding more than 50% since a peak in May. By contrast, both Deutsche Bank’s and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s gauges of currency volatility are at the highest in a decade apart from a spike when the pandemic struck. And the moves have been shocking: in Japan, authorities sold dollars to prop up the yen for the first time since 1998, while the euro sank below parity with the dollar to a 20-year low. In London, the world’s top currency trading hub, the pound slid to an all-time low. “Volatility is a bit like a London bus: there are either none to be found for love or money, or three arrive at the same time,” said Kit Juckes, global head of currency strategy at Societe Generale SA. FX Traders Relish Volatile Markets After Years in the Doldrums The action has drawn in speculative players such as macro hedge funds and grabbed the attention of real-money investors, whose portfolio valuations are now subject to sudden swings. The war in Ukraine and aggressive Fed rate hikes heightened the moves, drawing money to the dollar as a haven and influencing other markets from Bitcoin to stocks. “FX has become a much bigger focus, even for investors who are not typically focused on FX for two main reasons: the dollar has been the one remaining effective hedge across markets and the dollar’s appreciation has been very tradable for speculative investors,” said Ebrahim Rahbari, the global head of foreign-exchange analysis and content at Citigroup Inc. At TradeTechFX, the Amsterdam conference, executives packed sessions with titles such as “How can you ready your FX desk for heightened volatility,” before taking to the floor at afterparties fueled by expresso martinis. Crypto players, following debates on whether progress in building an institutional ecosystem has been “hindered by the ‘winter,’” looked grim, muttering in corners. Bitcoin has been stagnant at around $20,000 for months in a collapse from last year’s peak near $70,000. Crypto Lending Now Pays Less Than Safest US Government Debt “Crypto seemed to be having all the fun until the central banks started breaking things,” said Tanvir Sandhu, chief global derivatives strategist at Bloomberg Intelligence. “It took inflation to blast the secular decline in currency volatility as central banks unleashed years of suppression. Volatility creates opportunity and it’s a trader’s best friend.” In fact, cryptocurrencies command only a fraction of volumes of foreign exchange markets, for all the attention they generate. Trades of fiat currencies clock in at around $6.6 trillion each day, according to the Bank for International Settlements. That compares with just under $1 trillion for Bitcoin and other tokens, according to data website CoinMarketcap. It’s likely that markets are now migrating to a higher range for interest rates and bond yields and that will be accompanied by higher currency volatility on average, Societe Generale’s Juckes said. This is boon to the firms that dominate the space. Trading activity on major exchanges has soared compared with last year, while profits at the largest currency trading banks stand at multi-year highs. EBS Market, a platform owned by CME Group Inc., posted a 30% increase in spot trading in September compared with a year ago, with futures trading at a record high. Spot volumes hit $76 billion, the highest since the pandemic struck in March 2020. Other large platforms have also enjoyed a boost, with Euronext FX seeing a 20% increase in August, according to website LiquidityFinder. Good Business It’s not all been plain sailing. At times liquidity has still been challenging, said Citigroup’s Rahbari. “There have been occasions when large asset price movements were in fact observed with relatively little flow, similar to patterns in other markets this year,” he said. Overall though, the jump in volatility has benefited Deutsche Bank, UBS Group AG and JPMorgan, the top three banks by market share. They control 30% of the market, according to an annual survey of currency trading banks by Euromoney. JPMorgan clocked up a 15% increase in its fixed-income markets business in the second quarter. UBS highlighted foreign exchange as a driver of revenues that climbed 19% at its global markets division. Meanwhile, fixed income and currencies at Deutsche Bank grew 32%, the best second quarter in a decade. “I’ve been doing this for a long time and when you get markets that are volatile, but not disorderly, client activity increases and that’s usually good for the business,” LaScala said.

Forward Melina Rebimbas Scores Twice As U.S. U-17 Women’s Youth National Team Rolls Past Host India 8-0 To Open 2022 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup – U.S. Soccer https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/forward-melina-rebimbas-scores-twice-as-u-s-u-17-womens-youth-national-team-rolls-past-host-india-8-0-to-open-2022-fifa-under-17-womens-world-cup-u-s-soccer/ Margin of Victory is Largest Ever for the USA in a Youth World Cup; Midfielder Riley Jackson Tallies Two Assists as Charlotte Kohler, Onyeka Gamero, Gisele Thompson, Ella Emri, Taylor Suarez and Mia Bhuta Add Goals; Bhuta Becomes First Player of Indian Descent to Represent the USA at a World Cup BHUBANESWAR, India (Oct. 11, 2022) – The U.S. Under-17 Youth Women’s National Team recorded its largest margin of victory in a FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup as it opened the tournament with an 8-0 victory against host India. Seven different players scored for the USA, led by a brace from forward Melina Rebimbas while forwards Onyeka Gamero and Taylor Suarez, midfielders Charlotte Kohler and Mia Bhuta and defenders Ella Emri and Gisele Thompson also scored.  The USA will now take on Brazil on Friday, Oct. 14 at 7 a.m. ET (FS2) in the team’s second match of the group stage. Brazil beat Morocco 1-0 in its opening game of the tournament, meaning the USA sits atop Group A in the early going. The U.S. got off to a flying start against an overmatched India side, pressing high against India’s defense while controlling the tempo immediately. It only took nine minutes for the young Americans to open the scoring as Rebimbas struck a great volley from about 10 yards out after a corner kick that was taken short. The 5-foot-3 Kohler doubled the lead just four minutes later, again off a corner, as she rose above her surrounding defenders and buried a header. Midfielder Riley Jackson assisted on both goals. Forward Onyeka Gamero added her name to the score sheet in the 23rd minute as India attempted to play out of the back on a goal kick. Gamero stripped a defender and finished her one-on-one challenge against the goalkeeper with a crisp left-footed strike into the lower right corner. In the 30th , Rebimbas added her second goal of the night with a brilliant left-footed strike from the top of the box. Thompson then capped off the first half with a 39th minute goal, her first at the international level, following a great individual effort to dribble out of pressure and finish with her left foot just inside the right post.  The USA continued its domination in the second half as yet another corner kick resulted in a goal, this time courtesy of Emri as she placed a header in the top right corner for her first international goal. Eight minutes later, the U.S. was awarded a penalty kick following a foul on Kohler in the box. Suarez stepped up and finished calmly for her first goal of the tournament. The game featured several special moments for U.S. midfielder Mia Bhuta, who entered the match at halftime in place of Jackson and wore the captain’s armband. Bhuta, whose father was born in Mumbai and grew up in Gujarat before emigrating to the USA at the age of 16, is the first player of Indian descent to represent the USA in a World Cup, which she did so at the age of 16. It got even better for Bhuta after entering the match. In the 62nd minute, the midfielder buried an incredible left-footed shot from distance in the top left corner. She also picked up the assist on Emri’s goal. GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN: USA – Melina Rebimbas (Riley Jackson), 9th minute – Following a USA corner which was played short, Jackson received the ball on the right wing, turned her defender and dribbled past another to get out of pressure, and then sent the a cross into the box. Rebimbas finished with a right-footed volley from 10 yards out to open the scoring. USA 1, IND 0 USA – Charlotte Kohler (Riley Jackson), 15th minute – On another corner from the right, Jackson played a ball into the center of the box where Kohler rose above several defenders to finish with a header from four yards out. USA 2, IND 0 USA – Onyeka Gamero, 23rd minute – As India tried to play out of the back on a goal kick, Gamero pounced to pick the defender’s pocket at the edge of the box and beat the goalkeeper with a low shot from 12 yards out. USA 3, IND 0 USA – Melina Rebimbas, 30th minute – Jackson played a cross into the box from the right side which an India defender attempted to clear, but she accidentally played it right to Rebimbas just inside the top of the penalty box. She settled the ball and fired a powerful left-footed strike that sailed into the left side of the goal from about 16 yards out. USA 4, IND 0 USA – Gisele Thompson, 39th minute – Thompson received the ball just inside the box on the right side and cut inside, dribbling out of pressure with a feint before finishing with a left-footed shot that snuck inside the near post from 12 yards out. USA 5, IND 0 USA – Ella Emri (Mia Bhuta), 51st minute – Bhuta played a great ball into the box off a corner which the 5-foot-9 Emri met with a powerful header into the top right corner. USA 6, IND 0 USA – Taylor Suarez, 59th minute – The U.S. was awarded a penalty kick following a foul in the box on Charlotte Kohler. Suarez stepped up to the spot and converted. USA 7, IND 0 USA – Mia Bhuta (Charlotte Kohler), 62nd minute – Kohler received the ball from Gamero on the right side and played a pass to Bhuta about 25 yards out from goal in the center of the field. She took a touch and fired a curling left-footed shot to beat the ‘keeper into the top left corner of the goal to cap the scoring. USA 8, IND 0 ADDITIONAL NOTES: With her brace, forward Melina Rebimbas tallied her team-leading ninth and 10th career international goals. Rebimbas’ brace was the sixth individual multi-goal game in the USA’s history at the U-17 WWC. With her two assists on the night – both of which came off set pieces – midfielder Riley Jackson has now tallied five assists in 2022. Forward Onyeka Gamero’s goal marked her sixth international goal. Midfielder Charlotte Kohler’s goal was her seventh international goal. Defenders Gisele Thompson and Ella Emri both scored their first international goals. Forward Taylor Suarez’s goal marked her third international tally. Mia Bhuta’s goal was her third at the U-17 level. The win marked the USA’s largest ever in a U-17 Women’s World Cup. The team’s previous biggest margin of victory came against Gambia, 6-0, at Azerbaijan 2012. The eight goals are the most ever scored by the U.S. in a youth Women’s World Cup match. After coming into the match as a halftime substitute, defender Jordyn Bugg earned her first U-17 WYNT cap. The match marked the first U-17 World Cup appearance for all 16 U.S. players who played. -U.S. UNDER-17 WOMEN’S YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT- Match: United States Women’s Under-17 Women’s Youth National Team vs. India Date: Oct. 11, 2022 Competition: 2022 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup Venue: Kalinga Stadium; Bhubaneswar, India Attendance: 4,100 Kickoff: 10:30 a.m. ET (8 p.m. local) Weather: 81 degrees, humid Scoring Summary:   1          2          F USA                             5          3          8 IND                              0          0          0 USA — Melina Rebimbas (Riley Jackson)                  9th minute USA — Charlotte Kohler (Riley Jackson)                   15 USA — Onyeka Gamero                                             23 USA — Melina Rebimbas                                            31 USA — Gisele Thompson                                           39 USA — Ella Emri (Mia Bhuta)                                     51 USA — Taylor Suarez (penalty)                                  59 USA — Mia Bhuta (Charlotte Kohler)                          62 Lineups: USA: 12-Victoria Safradin; 20-Gisele Thompson (2-Nicola Fraser, 46), 4-Cameron Roller (17-Jordyn Bugg, 46), 5-Ella Emri (13-Emeri Adames, 75), 3-Savannah King; 7-RIley Jackson (Capt.) (10-Mia Bhuta, 46), 8-Charlotte Kohler (15-Ella Sanchez, 82), 19-Lauren Martinho, 9-Onyeka Gamero, 14-Melina Rebimbas, 9-Taylor Suarez Substitutes not used: 1-Abigail Gundry, 6-Samantha Smith, 11-Nicollette Kiorpes, 16-Amalia Villarreal, 21-Valentina Amaral Head coach: Natalia Astrain IND: 21-Anjali Munda; 16-Shubhangi Singh, 20-Kajal, 2-Pumima Kumari (3-Naketa, 46), 5-Astam Oraon (Capt.), 4-Shiky Hemam (6-Babina Lisham, 46), 8-Kajol Dsouza, 17-Nitu Linda (14-Sudha Tirkey, 46), 11-Anita Kumari (19-Varshika, 70), 9-Lynda Serto (15-Shailja, 63), 7-Neha Substitutes not used: 1-Monalisha Moirangthem, 13-Melody Keisham, 10-Lavanya Upadhyay, 12-Shelia Loktongbam, 18-Rejiya Laishram Head coach: Thomas Dennerby Stats Summary: USA / IND Shots: 30 / 2 Shots on Goal: 14 / 0 Saves: 0 / 6 Corner Kicks: 11 / 1 Fouls: 4 / 2 Offside: 1 / 0 Misconduct Summary: None Officials: Referee: Susana Corella (ECU) Assistant Referee 1: Enedina Caudillo (MEX) Assistant Referee 2: Nataly Arteaga (COL) Fourth Official: Dorsaf Ganouati (TUN) FIFA Player of the Match: Onyeka Gamero

Q&A With MTU Diversity Award Winner Adrienne Minerick – Michigan Technological University https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/qa-with-mtu-diversity-award-winner-adrienne-minerick-michigan-technological-university/ Adrienne Minerick works at the forefront of culture change in engineering education. Her impact as a national leader, campus advocate and student mentor has been recognized with the 2022 Michigan Technological University Diversity Award. A professor of chemical engineering, Minerick is currently Immediate Past President of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). At Michigan Tech, she serves as director and principal investigator (PI) of the ADVANCE initiative. ADVANCE, or Organizational Change for Gender Equity in STEM Academic Professions, is a long-running, multifaceted program funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop and support the diverse talent pool of engineers and scientists needed to address the world’s grand challenges. Within and across institutions, it forwards the career progress of women and historically underrepresented faculty members in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). “When you look at what Dr. Minerick has been able to contribute, not just to Michigan Tech but to the effort to bring diversity, equity, inclusion and a sense of belonging specifically to the STEM fields, she has truly paved the way for many,” said Wayne Gersie, Michigan Tech’s vice president for diversity and inclusion. “Her leadership with ADVANCE and mentorship of colleagues and students has been transformational. Much of our success in the inaugural Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion could not have been achieved without her collaboration and sponsorship. Dr. Minerick is a true Michigan Tech treasure.”Wayne Gersie, Michigan Tech Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Advocacy and Allyship in Action The ongoing academic and organizational shifts Minerick has played a role in bringing about are an important aspect of her work in the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) space. But her one-on-one work to help students achieve and thrive professionally and personally has also borne measurable results. She was the advisor and remains a mentor to Tayloria N.G. Adams ’10 ’14, who completed her M.S. and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at Michigan Tech. Adams was the first Black woman to earn a chemical engineering doctorate at Tech, and went on to earn a National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 2021. About the Award In her letter of nomination, Adams, now an assistant professor at the University of California Irvine (UCI), detailed how Minerick offered essential mentorship from the moment they began working together. Her support ranged from introducing Adams to prominent researchers in the field and helping her to produce excellent conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications to inviting the single mother and her daughter to lunches and dinners with Minerick’s family.  “Dr. Minerick recognized my unique situation and that my family support system was 20 hours away in Virginia. She played an important role as my academic and MTU family support system while I was a graduate student,” Adams said. “She supported my applications to postdoctoral research positions as well as numerous applications for postdoctoral fellowships, which funded my postdoctoral research. Her recommendations extended to my search for a tenure-track faculty position. She provided guidance through the application and interview process and gave critical advice when it was time to negotiate.”  “Dr. Adrienne Minerick started as my Ph.D. advisor, quickly transitioned to my mentor and, I am happy to say, is now one of my biggest advocates.”Tayloria N.G. Adams ’10 ’14, assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, University of California Irvine $2.5M+  104  56%  1st  Changing Engineering Culture for a Better Tomorrow Nominator Janet Callahan, dean of the Michigan Tech College of Engineering, said Minerick serves as an example of how to bring about change through offering consistent, literature-based evidence on the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion and a sense of belonging, engaging faculty in programming that assists development, and providing safe places for learning.  “If I can convey in one sentence what Adrienne has done here at MTU, it has been to change the culture here to one that includes inclusiveness as part of what we are trying to do, as a unit goal at all levels.”Janet Callahan, dean of the Michigan Tech College of Engineering In her nomination, past ASEE President Stephanie Farrell said Minerick has directly supported the retention and success of underrepresented faculty and students and contributed significantly to culture change in engineering education. Minerick served as chair of the organization’s diversity committee during its Year of Action on Diversity in 2014-15, in which the group made major strides toward actively engaging and promoting diversity in engineering, bringing underrepresented people into the discipline. The ASEE recently continued the vigorous effort, declaring 2021-22 its Year of Impact on Racial Equity.  “Through sustained efforts to advance diversity, equity and inclusion at the university and national levels, Dr. Minerick has made enormous contributions to the advancement of diversity, equity and inclusion in engineering.”Stephanie Farrell, past president, ASEE; professor and founding chair of experimental engineering education, Rowan University In her own words, Minerick traces the origins of how she became involved in DEI work and reflects on the work that remains to be done.  Q: Why is DEI important?  AM: It takes a variety of ideas, creativity and experiences to achieve very unique and valuable problem-solving. Diversity means that end solutions are much more impactful and tied to society than they would be otherwise. The world needs more engineers. We’re not producing enough engineers to solve global problems. It’s extremely important that everyone in the realm of engineering feels appreciated and included — they’re going to be more productive and work to their highest potential. DEI is about keeping the knowledge we’ve gained and bringing in new perspectives for new demographics. We need to offer faculty, students and administrators tangible tools that help them approach the unfamiliar so that we can work together. Dealing with another set of experiences can be intimidating. But it’s an opportunity for learning and bringing in that unique problem-solving.  Q: When and why did you decide to devote so much time and effort to DEI?  AM: Early in my career as a professor, I gradually became aware of cards stacked against people like me — things like differential language, differential treatment, differential expectations, opportunities routed preferentially toward one group and obstacles when trying to innovate.  I was subject to differential rubrics used for performance and pay. For example, at my prior institution, when I was co-author on an article published in PNAS (impact factor of 11.2), it earned fewer annual review merit points than a colleague who published in AIChE Journal (impact factor of 4.0) because mine was “only a proceedings article.” When I received less of a pay raise than male colleagues, even after I earned a CAREER Award, it became apparent that true quality didn’t matter — only the antiquated perceptions of the person judging it. While these slights affected me personally — my zeal, productivity and confidence — I came to realize that they are also structural, existing within policies and practices that are derived from historic and present societal perceptions. It was a progression from feeling that I needed to prove myself to a building comprehension over time that, as a society, we are harming ourselves with these constructs of who is granted (perceived) credibility to do things. After I was recruited to Tech as an associate professor, I got involved in WISE (now the more inclusive Women in the Academy), which works to support women faculty across Tech to help them be successful in their careers. Many other DEI efforts at Tech have followed from that initial effort.  Q: Tell us more about ASEE and its work. How did 2021-22 become the Year of Impact on Racial Equity?  AM: I attended ASEE because a former Michigan Tech faculty member, Noel Schulz, took me under her wing my first year as a faculty member and said I should attend. It was a different conference from my other professional conferences. At most conferences, I’m the outsider constantly having to prove my competence, with my research presentations undergoing greater scrutiny than those of my colleagues. However, at ASEE, I found a phenomenally welcoming community interested in exploring ideas instead of scrutinizing and beating them up. ASEE provided the mentors and tools to complement my innovative research in dielectrophoresis that successfully earn an NSF Career Award (and most recently the AES Lifetime Achievement Award). Because ASEE provided a support network for my professional growth, I volunteered in many areas and eventually became a delegate to the newly formed ASEE diversity committee, a committee that came about due to the work of Sarah Rajala, a former ASEE president and a Michigan Tech electrical and computer engineering alumna. I progressed to vice chair and then chair of that committee, which is now the ASEE Commission on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (CDEI). The year I transitioned to chair, we petitioned the board to approve and then hosted a Year of Action on Diversity, during which many ASEE initiatives ongoing today had their start.  After George Floyd and the efforts of Black, Indigenous, and faculty of color within ASEE to help educate the engineering community, the ASEE CDEI leadership felt it was time for a new yearlong initiative. This time, in my role as ASEE presid...

Iowa Poetry Association Announces Release Of Its 77th Annual Anthology Lyrical Iowa 2022 – River Cities Reader https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/iowa-poetry-association-announces-release-of-its-77th-annual-anthology-lyrical-iowa-2022-river-cities-reader/ DES MOINES, IOWA (October 11, 2022) — The Iowa Poetry Association (IPA) announces the publication of its annual poetry anthology Lyrical Iowa. The poems in this year’s edition of Lyrical Iowa are anchored in lived experiences, cultural memories, and hopes and dreams for the future, according to Editor Marilyn Baszczynski. The 2022 edition of Lyrical Iowa is IPA’s 77th anthology. “These poems weave through continuing crises (political, social, psychological, global) in search of balance, love, serenity, and detente, with skilled narratives, surprising images and even humor,” Baszczynski said. “They are invitations to the reader to be open to new perspectives, to a change of heart. They are also reminders of our humanness and our need to stay connected: as a third-grader writes, ‘When we’re together / We’re family.'” Poems for the anthology are selected from among close to two thousand submissions each year to the Lyrical Iowa Competition. Membership is not a requirement for having poetry included in the anthology. Contestants need only reside in Iowa. The Iowa Poetry Association has close to 350 members across the state. Besides those awarded cash prizes or honorable mentions in the seven adult categories and four student divisions, many other top-ranking poems are showcased in this 168-page book with full-color cover. This year, a total of 319 poems was selected from about 1,800 entries submitted to IPA’s 2022 contests, including five Pushcart Prize nominations. Entries came from 122 towns in 71 of Iowa’s 99 counties, sent by persons ranging in age from kindergartners to near-centenarians. [Editors: See list of contest winners attached; also attached for your convenience is a listing by county of winners and poets to be published in this year’s anthology.] Books may be ordered from IPA, while the supply lasts. Cost is $15 per copy (plus shipping) to anywhere in the United States. Books from some previous years are also available. Check for details at iowapoetry.com or contact the editor at ipa@iowapoetry.com. The mission of the Iowa Poetry Association, a non-profit organization, is to promote interest in and appreciation of poetry among Iowans through educational opportunities, poetry writing contests and the publication of an annual anthology of Iowa poetry. Besides sponsoring the annual contests and new, exciting Slam competitions, IPA offers two workshops for poem critiques each year, as well as IPA LIVE!, a vibrant monthly program of online mini-workshops and readings. IPA will also be at Art on the Prairie in Perry, November 11-13. Association executive officers include: Dawn Terpstra of Lynnville, President; Rodney Reeves of Burlington, 1st Vice-President; Heather Clark of Winterset, 2nd Vice-President/Historian; Barbara Edler of Keokuk, Secretary; Di Mathis of Ankeny, Treasurer; and Marilyn J Baszczynski of Earlham, Editor, and Contest Chair. “We are also excited to announce our 2023 Lyrical Iowa Competition,” Baszczynski added. “Adult contests include the Lucille Morgan Wilson Poetry Award, Grant Wood Country Poetry Award, Haiku, Traditional Forms (ghazal, pantoum, sonnet, villanelle), National/World Events, Humorous Verse, and Poetry For Children.” Student divisions are College, High School, Upper Grades (5-8), and Lower Grades (K-4). Contest entries may be sent January 1 – February 28, 2023. Complete contest rules for adult, college, high school and grade school entries are available on their website at iowapoetry.com. There is no entry fee. For information on Slam Poetry competitions, see iowapoetry.com/slam.htm. Also on the website: how to order books, winning poems, judges’ page, Pushcart Prize nominees, resources for teachers, links to publication opportunities, workshop information, and more, all in support of Iowa poets. See iowapoetry.com. Winners of LYRICAL IOWA COMPETITION 2022 ADULT CONTEST RESULTS: LUCILLE MORGAN WILSON AWARD: JUDGE: Diane Glancy, Shawnee Mission, Kansas (673 entries) 1st — Lo Whittington; Iowa City 2nd — Rose Hamilton-Gottlieb; Ames 3rd — Bill Graeser; Fairfield 1st HM — Rose Postma; Sioux Center 2nd HM — Deborah Lewis; Ames 3rd HM — Heather Ann Clark: Winterset SPECIAL AWARD FIRST-TIME ENTRANT: Charlie R North; Ankeny RONALD KAHL MEMORIAL AWARD: Pat Underwood; Colfax TRADITIONAL FORMS: JUDGE: John Sibley Williams, Milwaukie, Oregon (41 entries) 1st — Erik Trilk; Marion 2nd — Allison Bartholmey; Colfax 3rd — Allison Berryhill; Atlantic 1st HM — Talbot Hook; Newton 2nd HM — Emily Wiebke; Britt 3rd HM — Cody Bock; Des Moines HAIKU: JUDGE: Glenn Lyvers, Johnstown, Pennsylvania (143 entries) 1st — Milli Gilbaugh; Iowa City 2nd — Rita F Reed; Waukee 3rd — Jane E DeShaw; Dyersville 1st HM — Angela McGlothlen; Cedar Rapids 2nd HM — Jed Magee; Jefferson 3rd HM — Dennis Maulsby; Ames MAXINE CARLSON MEMORIAL AWARD: Janvier Abramowitz; Coralville FOR CHILDREN: JUDGE: Lisa Toth Salinas, Spring, Texas (42 entries) 1st — Michelle Turner; Maquoketa 2nd — JoAnn Benda; Iowa City 3rd — Karen Schmitt; Solon 1st HM — Phyllis Frazier; Cedar Falls 2nd HM — Ginnie Padden;Des Moines 3rd HM — Carolyn Rohrbaugh; Sutherland NATIONAL/WORLD EVENTS: JUDGE: Christine Boldt, Temple, Texas (22 entries) 1st — Dawn Terpstra; Lynnville 2nd — Joe Chambers; Davenport 3rd — Mike Bayles; Davenport 1st HM — Lori Culbertson Harris; Cedar Falls 2nd HM — Anna Nicholas; Cedar Falls 3rd HM — Erin Olson; Greenville HUMOROUS: JUDGE: Julie Cummings, Conifer, Colorado (27 entries) 1st — Jan Blankenburg; Donnellson 2nd — Warren Reinecke; Grinnell 3rd — Marjorie Chew; Council Bluffs 1st HM — William Woodhouse; Des Moines 2nd HM — Sandra Green; Tipton 3rd HM — Lori Shannon; Manning EKPHRASTIC CHALLENGE: JUDGE: Kyle McCord, Windsor Heights, Iowa (20 entries) 1st — Laura Sohl-Cryer; Cedar Falls 2nd — Virginia Mortenson; Des Moines 3rd — Patricia Tiffany Morris; Bondurant 1st HM — Elaine Mattingly; Newton 2nd HM — Jayne R Vondrak; Kingsley 3rd HM — Pamela J Blomgren; Oskaloosa SCHOOL DIVISION RESULTS: COLLEGE: JUDGE: Michael Carrino, Plattsburgh, New York (22 entries) 1st — Hannah Adams, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Dordt University 2nd — Sierra Ann Earle, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Mount Mercy Univ 3rd — Kyra Takes, Iowa City, Iowa, University of Iowa 1st HM — Amber Wittrock, Humboldt, Iowa, Iowa State Univ 2nd HM — Sam Drake-Flam, Hancock, Michigan, Grinnell College HIGH SCHOOL: JUDGE: Elizabeth Ridge, Ottumwa, IA (287 entries) 1st — Ian Kilgus, Gr12, Oskaloosa HS, Oskaloosa 2nd — Cassidy Daub, Gr12, West Marshall HS, State Center 3rd — Josie Handlos, Gr9, Atlantic HS, Atlantic 1st HM — Samantha Horvath, Gr11, St Albert, Council Bluffs 2nd HM — Lillie Carreon, Gr11, Centennial HS, Ankeny 3rd HM — Jordan Praska, Gr12, Valley HS, WDM UPPER GRADES (5-8): JUDGE: Robert Schinzel, Argyle Texas (289 entries) 1st — Kiara Verhagen, Gr6, Eleanor Roosevelt MS, Dubuque 2nd — Alyse Beyer, Gr8, Gilbert MS, Gilbert 3rd — Avery Wonders, Gr7, Baxter CSD, Baxter 1st HM — Lucy A Eggleston, Gr8, Lawton Bronson Jr/Sr HS, Lawton 2nd HM — Cassidy Willess, Gr8, Sacred Heart, Boone 3rd HM — Lydia Beyer, Gr6, East Buchanan CSD, Winthrop LOWER GRADES (K-4): JUDGE: Robert Schinzel, Argyle Texas (124 entries) 1st — Delsy Vincente-Gomez, Gr4, LuVerne Elem, LuVerne 2nd — Lucy Munson, Gr1, Cardinal Elementary, Maquoketa 3rd — Sandali Rammawadu, Gr3, Sawyer Elementary, Ames 1st HM — Rose Schares, Gr4, Sawyer Elementary, Ames 2nd HM — Avery Whaley, Gr4, Baxter Elementary, Baxter 3rd HM — Adrian R Washington, Gr4, College Community SD, Cedar Rapids Some student poems entered in the 2022 contest will be selected to be sent to next year’s National Student Award contests. Nominations for the 2023 Pushcart Prize The Pushcart Prize series, published every year since 1976, is the most honored literary project in America. Since 1976, hundreds of presses and thousands of writers of short stories, poetry, and essays have been represented in their annual collections. IPA’s Editor-in-chief and Associate Editors have collaborated to select nominees from this year’s Lyrical Iowa 2022. The list of poems is presented in alphabetical order by author’s last name. Our 2023 Pushcart Prize nominees, published in this 2022 edition, are: Christopher Hunter, Grinnell — “Louisa, Age 6, At Rest” Susan J Koch, Iowa City — “Sofia” John Mitchell, West Des Moines — “Nicholas II” Alise Palmer, Scranton — “Beltane” Rose Postma, Sioux Center — “On Telling My Mother I Am Pregnant Again” Iowa Poetry Association-Poets published in Lyrical Iowa 2022 by County (All poets listed have one poem selected for publication. If a poem won in a category, rank and category follow name) ADAIR: Linda Wolfe, Greenfield APPANOOSE: Janet Abrahamson, Centerville BENTON: Jan Logan, Van Horne BLACK HAWK: Phyllis H Frazier, Cedar Falls — 1st HM — Poems For Children; Lori Culbertson Harris, Cedar Falls — 1st HM — National/World Events; Anna Nicholas, Cedar Falls — 2nd HM — National/World Events; Laura Sohl-Cryer, Cedar Falls — 1st Place — Ekphrastic Challenge; Also published: Janine Ambrose, Waterloo; Barbara Cardamon, Cedar Falls; Susan Klein, Waterloo; Kerri Mennenga, Cedar Falls; Delia Ralston, Waterloo; Kathy Sanborn, Waterloo; Erin Gitchell Thompson, Cedar Falls; Del Todey Turner, Waterloo BOONE: Angela Olney, Boone SCHOOL: Cassidy Willess, Gr 8, Sacred Heart School, Boone — 2nd HM — Upper Grades BREMER: Jill Lockey, Janesville; J Fielding Wood, Sumner BUCHANAN: Michael Andorf, Brandon; Myrna Sandvik, Brandon; Lisa Ross Thedens, Walker SCHOOL: Lydia Beyer, Gr 6, East Buchanan CSD — 3rd HM — Upper Grades BUENA VISTA: Carol Lytle, Storm Lake; Patricia Moe, ...

This Authentic Riviera Maya Destination Wants You To Visit Instead Of Going To Cancun This Year – Travel Off Path https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/this-authentic-riviera-maya-destination-wants-you-to-visit-instead-of-going-to-cancun-this-year-travel-off-path/ Last Updated 16 mins ago Cancun may be known the world over for the luxuriousness of its resorts and the azure nature of its waters, and despite being truly stunning, we know it is not necessarily representative of the Riviera Maya as a whole. Other smaller, competing towns in the region are well aware of this, too, with one in particular going as far as encouraging tourists to skip Cancun altogether and vacation there instead. Mexico is incredibly diverse and multicultural, and in recent months we have done our best to introduce you to other parts of the country you might not be entirely familiar with, such as the Pueblos Magicos or the colonial cities route. With that, we have been noticing a new trend emerging: visitors are now craving more ‘authentic’ Mexican experiences. Luckily, this hidden gem of the Mexican Caribbean seems to have understood the assignment: What Makes Puerto Morelos Special Compared to Cancun? Coming out ahead of other Riviera Maya destinations, the town of Puerto Morelos has quietly re-branded itself as an ‘authentic’ destination in an area that has long been plagued by over-development. Sandwiched between the almighty Cancun and Playa del Carmen, it is located at the heart of Mexico’s most famous resort strip, but it has a special something. Being home to the coastal Puerto Morelos Reef National Park, it features numerous dive and swimming sites, as well as hotspots for sea life viewing. Inland, its largely-unheard of cenotes rival those of Tulum, which have recently been flagged as unsafe for swimming, while the town itself has preserved a traditional fishing village aesthetic. Here, tourists will not find wide pedestrianized boulevards overtaken by heavy traffic, the same that posed a problem for many travelers traveling to and out of Cancun this year, nor Tulum’s crazy beach party scene. Puerto Morelos is much more quaint and lacks the others’ hustle and bustle, and the municipality authorities have finally realized this is not a weakness: it’s a powerful asset. A Town Of Endearing Tranquility Presenting the town to travel agencies, tourist officials have just unveiled Puerto Morelo’s new official website, explicitly highlighting its ‘authenticity’ compared to its strongest rival, Cancun. They also state the town has an ‘endearing tranquility’, a quality that will certainly help more reserved travelers entertain the idea of visiting. Moreover, Puerto Morelos is noted for having ‘talcum-powder sand and turquoise waters‘, coupled with a ‘distinct Bohemian ambiance‘ and flavorful local cuisine. Even better: it is a short 17-minute drive from Cancun Airport, Mexico’s number one international airport for U.S. travelers, making it easy enough to get to all year round. We have noted an increase in cultural tourism in Mexico lately, powered by the nation’s Mayan and Spanish-era heritage sites, and, as The Cancun Sun points out, Puerto Morelos is an old settlement linked to both Caribbean and Transatlantic trade, making it an unmissable gem for those keen on understanding more about Mexico’s History. What Are Some Of The Town’s Top-Rated Attractions? Of course, History is not the only aspect that will draw visitors to this little slice of heaven. The 9,188-people-strong town has plenty of small seaside hotels, offering guests a more relaxing and customized experience, narrow streets lined with shops where locally handcrafted items are sold, and friendly locals. Other attractions include: A flea market A farmer’s market (on certain dates) A leaning lighthouse A dolphin sanctuary and training center (Delphinus Puerto Morelos) A public beach within walking distance of the town center At the same time, it is popular among adventure seekers, with The Cancun Sun reporting ‘many fishing and boating opportunities’, including underwater excursions in one of the most beautiful sections of the Great West Atlantic Reef Belt. Foodies will love it just as much, especially if they’re seafood enthusiasts. Even if you end up deciding not to stay in Puerto Morelos in the end, the municipality makes for a fine day trip from Cancun’s Hotel Zone or Tulum, and an escape from the opulence of five-star all-inclusives, even if momentarily. Once the new Tren Maya launches, Puerto Morelos will become even more accessible as one of the train’s stops. Ready to see a far more authentic side to Mexico? Make sure you check out their webpage for more information. Read More: Travel Insurance That Covers Covid-19 For 2022 Should You Attend A Timeshare Presentation On Your Next Trip To Mexico? This Colonial City Has Been Voted The Most Beautiful In Mexico 7.5 Million International Tourists Have Already Visited Cancun and Cabo This Year Los Cabos Is Challenging Cancun For The Number One Vacation Spot In Mexico This article originally appeared on Travel Off Path. For the latest breaking news that will affect your next trip, please visit: Traveloffpath.com ↓ Join the community ↓ The Travel Off Path Community FB group has all the latest reopening news, conversations, and Q&A’s happening daily!  SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS Enter your email address to subscribe to Travel Off Path’s latest breaking travel news, straight to your inbox Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. 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Bank Of England In Fresh Emergency Move To Calm Markets – BBC https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/bank-of-england-in-fresh-emergency-move-to-calm-markets-bbc/ Image source, Getty Images By Daniel Thomas & Dharshini David BBC News The Bank of England has warned of a “material risk” to financial stability as it made a fresh emergency move to try to calm investors. It said it would buy more government bonds to try to stabilise their price and prevent a sell-off that could put some pension funds at risk of collapse. It is the third time the Bank has had to step in since the government’s mini-budget sparked alarm among investors. The chancellor promised huge tax cuts without saying how he would fund them. The government said it remained confident in the plan, with Kwasi Kwarteng telling MPs he was “relentlessly focused on growing the economy” and “raising living standards”. But Labour’s shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “This is a Tory crisis that has been made in Downing Street, and that is being paid for by working people.” The Bank’s warning about financial stability is rare and suggests it cannot confidently ignore the threat it sees to the financial system. It is even rarer for several senior Bank executives to have indicated part of the blame for the turmoil may lie at the government’s door, the result of domestic policy. The Bank was forced to intervene after government borrowing costs rose sharply despite actions it and the Treasury had taken to calm investors on Monday. On Tuesday borrowing costs remained close to the levels seen at the height of the market turmoil last month. One pensions industry body urged the Bank to extend its emergency support beyond Friday due to fears of further market turmoil. The Bank will now widen the emergency programme it launched on 28 September, when days after the mini-budget, investors began demanding higher rates of interest on those bonds and government borrowing costs surged to worrying levels. The turmoil has forced pension funds to sell bonds due to concerns over their solvency, and threatened to create a downward spiral in bond prices as more were offloaded which left some funds close to collapse. It has also fed through to the mortgage market, where hundreds of products have been suspended due to concerns about how to price these long-term loans. Last week, interest rates on typical two and five-year fixed rate mortgages topped 6% for the first time in over a decade. The government raises money it needs for spending by selling bonds – a form of IOU that is paid back plus interest in anywhere between five and 30 years. But the sharp rise in the cost of new government borrowing – the interest on those bonds – reflects an anxiety among investors that the UK’s tax-cutting plans make it a risky investment bet. By buying bonds, the Bank is hoping to help keep their price stable and prevent investors selling them in what it likened to a “fire sale”. The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association, which represents schemes managing about £1.3tn of retirement money, said many funds wanted the bond-buying programme to last until the chancellor delivered his economic plan on 31 October. The Treasury said it was “working closely with other UK authorities to monitor the markets as is usual”. Climbdowns Under pressure from its MPs, the government has been forced into a series of embarrassing climbdowns since the mini-budget, including U-turning on a plan to scrap the top rate of income tax. Experts believe Mr Kwarteng will have to row back on more of his tax cuts or drastically cut public spending. On Tuesday, the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank warned government departments could see “big and painful cuts” of up to £60bn a year to balance the books when Mr Kwarteng announces his economic plan on 31 October. Sir John Gieve, a former deputy governor for fiscal stability at the Bank of England, said the Bank had primarily stepped in to protect pension funds, many of which hold government bonds as investments. However, he said the “underlying problem” was that investors did not believe the government would be able to cut spending enough before its growth measures took effect. “The internal workings of the financial markets have thrown up an element of instability that the Bank is addressing. But the underlying move came on the back of the announcement of huge amounts of extra borrowing and tax cuts without a clear plan of how to pay for them,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. “It’s one thing to [promise huge cuts], but can [the chancellor] actually deliver that?” Prime Minister Liz Truss has said her £43bn of promised tax cuts will boost UK economic growth and therefore help pay for themselves. The chancellor has also committed to publishing an independent forecast of the UK’s economic prospects by the OBR, the independent budget watchdog, at the same time as his economic plan – something he declined to do with his mini-budget.

How Special Olympics Athlete Kayla’s Health Journey Leads To An Audience With White House Lawmakers – FOX 17 West Michigan News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/how-special-olympics-athlete-kaylas-health-journey-leads-to-an-audience-with-white-house-lawmakers-fox-17-west-michigan-news/ Special Olympics is an inclusive movement and an athletic organization, but it’s also a conduit for healthy living, something everyone can benefit from. Special Olympics Athlete Kayla Cornell serves as a health messenger for the organization and was recently chosen to attend the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health to advocate. The last time the President of the United States convened a conference on this topic was more than 50 years ago when Special Olympics was newly founded. Cornell was one of 500 attendees at the conference in our nation’s capital, hand-picked by Special Olympics International to represent those individuals with intellectual disabilities. Cornell, alongside Special Olympics Minnesota Health Messenger Kayte Barton, met in small groups with members of Congress, federal civil servants, representatives of the private sector, and leading civil society organizations. Now a nine-sport Special Olympics Michigan athlete, Cornell was first introduced to Special Olympics on the ski slopes in seventh grade. She began sharing her own health message in 2019 when she became a certified international Health Messenger for Special Olympics. Educating herself, Cornell has lost more than 40-pounds and learned the physical and emotional value behind a balanced diet. Currently, Cornell teaches a cooking class for Special Olympics Michigan; a seven-week class that can be done online or in person. She’s also enrolled in college to become a dietician. “You can go to doctors’ offices or talk to health professionals and talk to them about how they can understand our disabilities more, and how they can work with us,” Cornell explained. “Some athletes lead exercises at practices, I have my cooking class, and there are multiple things you can do to get involved as a Health Messenger. That’s how I found my passion and what I love to do. I wouldn’t be where I am if I wasn’t selected (in the Healthy Messenger program).” Cornell plans to continue conversations with Congress and Michigan lawmakers in an effort to educate the need for better health services. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Sign up for the Breaking News Newsletter and receive up to date information.

Dolphins Week 6 Power Rankings Roundup – Sports Illustrated https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/dolphins-week-6-power-rankings-roundup-sports-illustrated/ The Miami Dolphins continued to fall in the national NFL power rankings following their second consecutive loss, this one a 40-17 decision against the New York Jets. The Dolphins, of course, were down to third quarterback Skylar Thompson against the Jets after Teddy Bridgewater was removed from the game after one offensive play because of the new concussion rules, this after he started in place of the injured Tua Tagovailoa. In our survey of rankings of 10 national outlets —CBS Sports, NFL.com, The Athletic, The Sporting News, The Ringer, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, Yahoo, and Pro Football Talk — the Dolphins averaged a ranking of 11.8 among the 32 NFL teams, down from their average of 5.5 after Week 4. The Dolphins were ranked as high as sixth and as low as 18th. Here’s the breakdown of the Dolphins’ 10 power rankings spots, along with the commentary associated with it: CBS Sports Ranking: 10 Previous: 5 Analysis: With Tua Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater out, they had no shot against the Jets. But the defense has been an issue all season long. That’s a major concern. NFL.com Ranking: 18 Previous: 10 Analysis: The Dolphins have cooled off after their hot start, and injuries at the game’s most important position help to explain why. Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) sat out Sunday’s game against the Jets, and backup Teddy Bridgewater lasted one play before he, too, was sidelined after being evaluated for a head injury. Bridgewater passed the tests administered by doctors on Sunday, but was ruled out due to the new “ataxia” addendum to the league’s concussion protocols. Third-string QB Skylar Thompson performed admirably on short notice, but struggled to take advantage of Miami’s explosive playmakers. The result was an average Dolphins attack that all but disappeared in the fourth quarter, when the Jets reeled off 21 unanswered points to turn a tight contest into a laugher for the home team in green. The Athletic Ranking: 15 Previous: 5 Analysis: Maybe Teddy Bridgewater will be able to move quickly through the concussion protocol this week in order to start for the Dolphins on Sunday, but Miami is in danger of frittering away its 3-0 start if it has to go with Skylar Thompson against the Vikings. Enter Sudfeld, who spent the 2021 season with Mike McDaniel. Because the Lions have a bye this week, it’s no skin off their backs to not have a backup quarterback. Then the Dolphins can trade Sudfeld back to the Lions next week and he can be embroiled in a brand-new competitive-balance controversy. Pro Football Talk Ranking: 14 Previous: 5 Analysis: It may be the Skylar Thompson show against the Vikings on Sunday. Scroll to Continue Yahoo Sports Ranking: 10 Previous: 5 Analysis: The NFL is unfair. No, the Dolphins were never the best team in the NFL, as some were saying after they started 3-0. But they were good. Then they lost a quarterback in each of the past two games and are 3-2. Both games were close in the fourth quarter and probably Miami wins if they had their quarterback who started the game. It’s hard to even get a true read on Miami until they get Tua Tagovailoa back. ————————————————————————— FOR EVEN MORE COVERAGE ON THE MIAMI DOLPHINS, CHECK OUT SPORTS ILLUSTRATED’S MIAMI DOLPHINS PAGE ON SI.COM. ————————————————————————— Sports Illustrated Ranking: 9 Previous: 4 Analysis: We can’t punish a team down to its third-string quarterback too severely. The Dolphins are still dangerous, and they’re fifth in the NFL in EPA per dropback. This is still astounding, even if Tua Tagovailoa was under center for every down. ESPN Ranking: 12 Previous: 5 Analysis (on the biggest obstacle to making the playoffs): The health of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who remains in concussion protocol after being briefly hospitalized in Week 4, is paramount. There is no timetable for his return, at least not one that the Dolphins have shared publicly, and their first game without him was a bust. Teddy Bridgewater was ruled out after a single snap Sunday and was also placed in concussion protocol. Rookie Skylar Thompson then had a rough debut in a 40-17 loss to the Jets. Miami’s schedule for the next two months is easy enough to get it back atop the AFC — with Tagovailoa under center. That confidence wanes with anyone else. The Ringer Ranking: 6 Previous: 7 Analysis: By the second offensive snap of Sunday’s game against the Jets, the Dolphins were down to their third-string QB, rookie Skylar Thompson, after Teddy Bridgewater was removed under the NFL’s new concussion protocol. (Starter Tua Tagovailoa remains sidelined because of the concussion he suffered in Week 4.) Thompson completed 19 of 33 passes for 166 yards and threw an interception in his NFL debut. Running back Raheem Mostert and the Dolphins’ rushing attack helped keep the game close into the fourth quarter, but after Tyreek Hill exited with a foot injury, the offense unsurprisingly ran out of gas in the final 15 minutes of the 40-17 loss. The Sporting News Ranking: 12 Previous: 5 Analysis: The Dolphins’ offense has gone from breakout with Tua Tagovailoa to hampered with rookie Skylar Thompson in a hurry. Their defense isn’t capable of holding up in that scenario and the Jets exposed that with a variety of plays featuring a similar creative attack. USA Today Ranking: 12 Previous: 4 Analysis: Yes, the quarterback depth chart is temporarily tattered. But that’s masked the disappearance of the defense – and, to a lesser extent, the special teams – over the past two weeks, when Miami has been torched for 67 points.

Roblox, The ‘Only True Metaverse Today,’ Has This Analyst Bearish – Here’s Why – Roblox (NYSE:RBLX) – Benzinga https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/roblox-the-only-true-metaverse-today-has-this-analyst-bearish-heres-why-roblox-nyserblx-benzinga/ Barclays analyst Mario Lu initiated coverage of video game developer Roblox Corp. RBLX with an Underweight rating and a price target of $20. The Thesis: Users joined the Roblox platform to socialize with friends digitally. The San Mateo, California-based company was among the main beneficiaries of the Covid-19 pandemic, with a core demographic comprised of users between 5 and 24 years of age. It’s “what we consider as the only true metaverse today despite looming threats from Meta’s Horizon Worlds and Manticore Games’ Core,” Lu wrote. Check Out Other Analyst Stock Ratings. Roblox users in regions with high-ARPUs (average revenue per user), such as the U.S. and Europe, are “already 30% penetrated.” That means “both user and bookings growth may be challenged moving forward,” which could result in “further potential downward revisions,” the analyst stated. “While RBLX does have a large advertising opportunity ahead starting in 2023 with immersive ads, we view the stock as overvalued,” trading at a valuation that is “more than two turns above the revenue multiples of its social media peers,” Lu added. RBLX Price Action: Shares of Roblox had declined by 3.67% to $34.08 at the time of publication Tuesday. See Also: What 11 Analysts Have To Say About Roblox Image: Roblox.com © 2022 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

WIKO 10, WIKO Buds 10 Unveiled At Cool SM MOA Launch – BusinessMirror https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/wiko-10-wiko-buds-10-unveiled-at-cool-sm-moa-launch-businessmirror/ French phone brand WIKO recently wowed fans and customers alike at a fun-filled consumer launch for its newest products, the WIKO 10 and WIKO Buds 10, at SM Mall of Asia. Weekend shoppers flocked to the WIKO phone displays to check out the WIKO 10, as well as the WIKO T50 and WIKO T10. Buyers were treated with free accessories to go with their new phones. WIKO Philippines Senior Brand and PR Manager, Charisma Buan, and WIKO Retail Director, Kenny Lee, later gave product talks, providing an in-depth look into the brand and its latest products. The launch also featured games and raffles where lucky winners got a chance to bag free WIKO products. Before the day ended, shoppers and fans were treated to an electrifying performance by P-pop group and WIKO ambassadors G22. They performed their singles “BANG” and “Defy.” and also debuted a TikTok dance for “WIKO Beat.” Several fans grabbed the opportunity to show off their swag in the #WeCoolWithWIKO TikTok dance challenge, for a chance to win WIKO phones and other exciting prizes. Where to buy WIKO 10: Specs, price WIKO 10 is a new series with a 12nm MTK Helio G37 chip and IMG PowerVR G8320 GPU for smooth performance, and a 6.74-inch LCD with HD+ waterdrop display for comfortable viewing. The phone’s 50MP rear and 8MP selfie cameras deliver high-resolution photos and videos. With its large 5000mAh battery with 22.5W WIKO SuperCharge, users can enjoy cool content and experiences all day. The smartphone also features three colorways inspired by French aesthetics: Klein Blue, Silver, and Black. WIKO 10 comes in 4GB + 128GB RAM and 6GB + 128GB RAM models priced at P7,999 and P8,999, respectively. Customers who purchase WIKO 10 6GB from September 25 onwards get free WIKO Buds 10 and three (3) months extended warranty (on top of the 12 months warranty). Meanwhile, the WIKO 10 4GB will have a promo price of P5,999 on Shopee’s Super Brand Day on September 29. First 30 orders will get a free Anker Marvel charging bundle. Check out the WIKO 10, WIKO Buds 10, and other products at authorized WIKO Stores, Shopee, and Lazada. For more information and updates, follow the WIKO Philippines Facebook page and WIKOmmunity Group, and visit the official website.

Binance To Invest $500 Million In Elon Musk Twitter Buyout – Cryptonews https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/binance-to-invest-500-million-in-elon-musk-twitter-buyout-cryptonews/ Changpeng Zhao. Source: A video screenshot, Youtube/Entrepreneur ME Changpeng ‘CZ’ Zhao, the outspoken CEO of major exchange Binance, has announced his company is planning to allocate more than $1 billion to acquisitions and investments in 2022. Binance’s top project in this field is providing $500 million in financing for Elon Musk’s planned takeover of the social media platform Twitter. Earlier this year, a Delaware judge ruled that Musk and Twitter have until October 28 to close the deal, with Zhao’s statement indicating Binance could play a role in the potential transaction. To date, the exchange has earmarked $325 million for a total of 67 projects this year, compared with $140 million committed in 2021, Bloomberg reported. This confirms Binance’s determination to continue its expansion drive in 2022 despite the ongoing crypto market downturn.  “We did look at a lot of lenders in recent months because that’s where all the issues are,” Zhao said, adding that he was interested in “real products that people use”. The CEO said that Binance has remained profitable in spite of the latest crypto market woes. “NFTs are a lot more than selling pictures of monkeys,” Zhao said, adding that he believes “this technology will stay” as it could be used for a variety of purposes, such as issuing university degrees and tickets. The entrepreneur also said that the coming months are likely to pave the way for more consolidation within the crypto industry, as there is “a lot of opportunity” for mergers and acquisitions in the current market. Other major plans by Binance include its planned $200 million strategic investment in the media company Forbes. The exchange is also interested in becoming an investor in gaming companies, according to Zhao.

U.S. Expediting Shipment Of NASAMS Air Defenses To Ukraine -White House – Reuters https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/u-s-expediting-shipment-of-nasams-air-defenses-to-ukraine-white-house-reuters/ WASHINGTON, Oct 11 (Reuters) – The United States is speeding up the shipment of sophisticated NASAMS air defenses to Ukraine, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Tuesday, after a devastating missile barrage from Russia. U.S. President Joe Biden pledged to Ukraine President Volodomyr Zelenskiy in a phone call on Monday to support the country’s air defenses as residents took cover from strikes in Kyiv. The United States has approved sending Ukraine a total of eight National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) so far, with two expected to be delivered soon and six more sent over a longer time frame. “We think that we’re on track to get those first two over there in the very near future,” Kirby said during a briefing for reporters. “We are certainly interested in expediting the delivery of NASAMS to Ukraine as soon as we can.” The United States has provided more than $16.8 billion worth of security assistance since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24 and imposed a wide-ranging array of economic sanctions on Moscow over its actions in Ukraine. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt, Steve Holland and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Mark Porter Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.