Virgilio Clapp

Daily Record, Oct. 18, 2022 | News, Sports, Jobs – Marshalltown Times Republican https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/daily-record-oct-18-2022-news-sports-jobs-marshalltown-times-republican/ Marshall County Courthouse Court Oct. 17 • Angel Jesus Sanchez made an initial appearance on a operating while under the influence charge, a driving under suspension charge, a careless driving charge and a stop sign violation charge. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 4. A substance abuse evaluation is ordered with the results submitted to the court. • Mikul Andrew Putney made an initial appearance on two counts of a domestic abuse assault charge. The preliminary hearing is set for 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 4. A no-contact order has been issued for the protected parties. • Saphrona Baker failed to make an initial appearance on a fraudulent use of registration charge and the court found Baker guilty. The fine is $260 with a $39 surcharge and $60 in court costs for a total of $354. • Sakaraia Epineisar failed to make an appearance on a driving under suspension charge and the court found Epineisar guilty. The fine is $250 with a $37.50 surcharge and $60 in court costs for a total of $347.50. • Kelly Lynn Gates made an initial appearance on a failure to stop in the assured, clear distance charge. Gates pleaded guilty and the fine is $105 with a $15.75 surcharge and $60 in court costs for a total of $180.75. • Marsiano Jose Galvez made an initial appearance on a driving while barred charge and a no insurance charge. Taylor Reichardt is appointed as counsel. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 4. • Miguel Angel Solorzano Valdez made an initial appearance on a driving while barred charge and a driving under suspension charge. The preliminary hearing is set at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 4. • Christopher William McClain made an initial appearance on a driving while barred charge. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 4. Marshalltown Police Department Arrests • On Monday, Oct. 17, Angel Sanchez, 24, was arrested for failure to yield upon entering a stop/yield intersection, driving under suspension-No SR22 on file, careless driving and operating while under the influence-first offense. • On Monday, Mikul Putney, 46, was arrested for domestic abuse assault-first offense-causing bodily injury. • On Sunday, Oct. 16, Jordy Mendez-Gonzalez, 19, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance-first offense and interference with official acts. • On Sunday, Oct. 16, Omar Agustince Gonzalez, 29, was arrested for no valid driver’s license, driving on the wrong side of a two-way highway and operating while under the influence-first offense. • On Saturday, Oct. 15, Natalie Purdy, 24, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance-third offense, possession of marijuana-third offense and domestic abuse assault-first offense causing bodily injury. • On Saturday, Oct. 15, Eric Murillo, 30, was arrested for operating while under the influence-first offense. • On Saturday, Oct. 15, James Cuellar, 61, was arrested for theft-third degree-enhanced for prior convictions, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance-third or subsequent offense. • On Friday, Oct. 14, Corey Hilson, 42, was arrested on a warrant. Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox

The Metaverse: Artistic Uses Of Trademarks In Virtual Spaces – Lexology https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/the-metaverse-artistic-uses-of-trademarks-in-virtual-spaces-lexology/ The metaverse provides new opportunities to engross consumers in branded environments. A brand can, for example, produce an entire curated, virtual world for the consumer to explore. As a real-world analogy, such virtual spaces are like immersive displays at industry trade shows: consumers step into a space that is defined in all respects by the brand owner. The metaverse can be a powerful tool to push brand messaging, but it can also be a space where your brand is used against a company’s wishes. This post explores an “artistic expression” defense to trademark infringement that could be prevalent as the metaverse evolves, and could also provide a lawful defense to using others’ trademarks online. I. Trademark Law Basics As background, trademarks are source-identifying marks (e.g., logos, product names and even colors) that indicate to consumers from where a product or service originated. Trademark law’s goal is to avoid consumer confusion and promote fair competition. In a marketplace, it is critical that consumers know from where goods and services originate so they know what they are getting when they make a purchase and brands are incentivized to establish good reputations for providing quality goods. As an example, Holland & Knight’s name and logo are trademarks, and they indicate that legal services are originating from our firm. If another law firm started using the Holland & Knight logo to provide legal services, clients would be misled as to whether they were receiving legal counsel from Holland & Knight or someone else. In that case, the real Holland & Knight would have a claim for trademark infringement at least under the Lanham Act. II. Fair Uses of Trademarks While the owner of a trademark has a right to use it in commerce and exclude others from doing so, there are “fair use” defenses to infringement that prioritize fair competition and other rights above the trademark holder’s interests. Below are a few fair use defenses, but there are numerous others: It is a fair nominative use to discuss a trademark while describing a branded product or comparing it to another brand. In New Kids on the Block v. News America Publishing, Inc., 971 F.2d 302 (9th Cir. 1992), the defendant newspaper was allowed to use the trademark “New Kids on the Block” to conduct a survey about the boy band (from Boston). It is a fair expressive use to parody trademarks in creative works. In Mattel v. MCA Records, 296 F.3d 894 (9th Cir. 2002), a band was permitted to produce a song that “pokes fun at Barbie and the values that [the band] contends she represents.” at 901. All of these fair uses apply to the metaverse. The metaverse, like other forums, is a place where people can discuss, compare and parody brands. III. Using Trademarks in Metaverse Artistic Works Another fair expressive use of trademarks is in artistic works. Whether such use is permitted is governed by the “Rogers test.” Rogers v. Grimaldi, 875 F. 2d 994 (2d Cir. 1989). Famed actress Ginger Rogers sued the producers of the “Ginger and Fred” film, which was named after Ginger Rogers and her often co-star Fred Astaire. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit summarized the film: The film tells the story of two fictional Italian cabaret performers, Pippo and Amelia, who, in their heyday, imitated Rogers and Astaire and became known in Italy as “Ginger and Fred.” The film focuses on a televised reunion of Pippo and Amelia, many years after their retirement. Appellees describe the film as the bittersweet story of these two fictional dancers and as a satire of contemporary television variety shows. Id. at 996-97. Ginger Rogers sued for false designation of origin, among other claims, under the Lanham Act. Id. at 997. The Second Circuit found for the defendants and established the Rogers Test for uses of trademarks in artistic expressions. The test seeks to balance artistic expression protected under the First Amendment with the rights of the trademark holder. The Rogers Test has two steps, and clearly tilts the scale in favor of the First Amendment: Does the use of the trademark have any “artistic relevance to the underlying work whatsoever”? at 999. This is a very low threshold to overcome, and some courts have stated that any artistic relevance above zero will clear Step 1. If there is no artistic relevance, however, then the question of infringement remains (and no need to proceed to Step 2). See Parks v. LaFace Records, 329 F. 3d 437 (6th Cir. 2003) (reversing a finding that Outkast’s use of civil rights icon Rosa Parks’s name did have artistic relevance to their “Rosa Parks” song). If the use of the trademark has some artistic relevance to the underlying work, then the next question is whether the use “explicitly misleads as to the source or the content of the work.” Rogers, 875 F. 2d at 999. Effectively, will consumers mistake the use of the mark for sponsorship from its owner? If so, then the question of infringement remains. Trademarks use in the metaverse is a relatively new issue, but analogies can be drawn to earlier cases involving video games. Because the Rogers Test is so tilted toward free expression, these cases largely favor the artists: AM General v. Activision Blizzard, 450 F.Supp.3d 467 (S.D.N.Y. 2020): Activision’s Call of Duty video game included drivable AM General Humvees to better simulate warfare. The court concluded that video games are artistic works that cleared Rogers Step 1 because the inclusion of the Humvees helped build the game’s theater of war. Step 2 examined the likelihood of confusion using the Polaroid Factors, and the court found for Activision. S.S. Entertainment 2000 v. Rock Star Videos, 547 F.3d 1095 (9th Cir. 2008): Rock Star’s Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas video game mimicked the appearance of Los Angeles, including E.S.S.’s “Play Pen” strip club, by including a “Pig Pen” strip club. Remarking that, under Rogers, the “level of relevance merely must be above zero,” the court found that the video game’s depiction of Los Angeles was artistic and the “Pig Pen” was relevant to the work. Proceeding to Step 2, the court concluded that “[a] reasonable consumer would not think a company that owns one strip club in East Los Angeles, which is not well known to the public at large, also produces a technologically sophisticated video game like San Andreas.” Dillinger, LLC v. Electronic Arts Inc., No. 1:09-cv-1236 (S.D. Ind. Jun. 16, 2011): EA’s Godfather video game included a gun called the “Dillinger” that mimicked the infamous criminal’s “Tommy Gun.” Finding the case “analogous to S.S.[,]” the court stated that “[t]he gentleman-bandit, commonly known for his public persona as a ‘flashy gangster who dressed well, womanized, drove around in fast cars, and sprayed Tommy Guns,’ . . . has above-zero relevance to a game whose premise enables players to act like members of the mafia and spray Tommy Guns.” Turning to Step 2, the court found that the plaintiff could not produce evidence of consumer confusion. Because the Rogers Test is so favorable to artists, a threshold question will be whether an experience in the metaverse could be fairly characterized as an artistic work. Like video games, virtual worlds are often creative experiences designed to invoke some feeling for their audiences. (Think of a peaceful virtual garden composed to soothe its guests with beauty and serenity.) Other virtual worlds tend to be much less creative, and are instead mostly functional. (Think of a virtual, Brutalist building that houses classrooms in the metaverse.) Even if a virtual world is deemed artistic, the analysis does not stop there. Courts will next ask whether the use of another’s trademark has artistic relevance to the work. Again, this threshold is extremely low, and must be just north of zero to qualify. Using marks that have no connection to the work at all may not qualify. Finally, even artistic uses of trademarks cannot lead to consumer confusion. If the peaceful virtual garden contains hundreds of branded candles, consumers may rightfully assume that the candle company owned or sponsored the virtual space. In such a case, the protections that Rogers provides would not apply. Because the metaverse is evolving, the use of trademarks in virtual spaces is likely to evolve with it. As in the real world, there will be a motivation to use others’ trademarks to piggyback on their goodwill in the metaverse. We can expect brand owners to bring infringement suits based on metaverse activity, and for defendants to invoke Rogers in their defense.

You Should Know These Crypto Tools For Trading And Hodling To Make The Profits Of Your Lifetime – Crypto News Flash https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/you-should-know-these-crypto-tools-for-trading-and-hodling-to-make-the-profits-of-your-lifetime-crypto-news-flash/ Our top five crypto tools for trading and hodling include DefiLlama, Messari Crypto, DaoSurv, Coinmarketcal, and Santiment. A lot of caution, via understanding different blockchains, is needed while dealing with the cryptocurrency market. The crypto market is one of the most ruthless and rewarding financial markets around the world currently. The volatility recorded in the crypto market, both short-term and long-term, requires every investor and trader to have the correct information at their fingertips.  Here, we have compiled the top five crypto tools that will help you make informed decisions in trading and hodling. Top 5 friendly crypto tools Our top five crypto tools for trading and hodling include DefiLlama, Messari Crypto, Token Unlocks, Coinmarketcal, and Santiment. The cryptocurrency market and blockchain technology have grown to a trillion-dollar market. Thus, assuming them would be treacherous to your future financial freedom. At the same time, a lot of caution, via understanding different blockchains, is needed while dealing with the cryptocurrency market. DefiLlama, which markets itself as the largest TVL aggregator for DeFi (Decentralized Finance), has 149 blockchains and 1974 total protocols listed. The company is well-known in the cryptocurrency and blockchain industry, with over 129k Twitter followers.  At the time of reporting, the total value locked (TVL) tracked by DefiLlama is $53.7 billion.  Messari, a crypto and blockchain research company, provides key information backed by data.  “We want to help investors, regulators, and the public makes sense of this revolutionary new asset class, and are building data tools that will drive informed decision making and investment,” Messari notes on its website. However, the company provides paid subscription service, $25 per month, to its pro members, dubbed Messari Pro. The company is backed by key crypto firms, including Coinbase Ventures, CoinFund, Blockchain Capital, and Black Panther, among others. Token Unlocks, by DaoSurv, helps you to know precisely when tokens will be released to early investors, who most often dump to the secondary market. Information found on this website is crucial to crypto investors before making financial decisions. The fourth essential crypto trading tool is Coinmarketcal, which provides an economic calendar for reliable cryptocurrency news. With Coinmarketcal, a crypto trader or hodler can quickly know upcoming project news, including airdrops, among other important updates. The website has neatly arranged its information into different categories, including exchanges and coins. Last but not least is Santiment, which provides on-chain crypto market intelligence and social metrics for over 2,500 digital assets. The company has over 146k Twitter followers, among others from different social media platforms. Founded in 2016, the company has historical crypto data from 2009 for over 2000 digital assets. Of importance, Santiment has over 731 available crypto and blockchain metrics to be used by both institutional and retail traders.

Russia Hits Infrastructure Targets Across Ukraine, Targets Power And Water – Reuters https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/russia-hits-infrastructure-targets-across-ukraine-targets-power-and-water-reuters/ Three blasts hit port of Mykolaiv – witness City of Zhytomyr left without power, water Blasts heard in Kyiv, other cities hit Zelenskiy accuses Russia of targeting civilians Moscow denies that, says hitting infrastructure KYIV/MYKOLAIV, Ukraine, Oct 18 (Reuters) – Russian missiles crashed into infrastructure targets across Ukraine on Tuesday morning as Moscow stepped up what looked like a deliberate campaign to destroy electricity and water facilities before winter. The major of Zhytomyr, a city of 263,000 people, said the attacks had knocked out the power and water supply, and two explosions rocked an energy facility in the southeastern city of Dnipro, a city of nearly 1 million, causing serious damage, according to Kyrylo Tymoshenko, a Ukrainian presidential aide. In the southern Ukrainian port of Mykolaiv, a missile slammed into an apartment building killing at least one man, a Reuters witness said, and blasts were heard and smoke seen rising in Kyiv, the capital. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com There were also reports of power facilities being targeted in the city of Kharkiv, a city with a pre-war population of 1.43 million people, close to the Russian border. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Russia of terrorising and killing civilians with the air attacks, which came a day after drone strikes on Kyiv and other cities killed at least four people. “Ukraine is under fire by the occupiers. They continue to do what they do best – terrorise and kill civilians,” Zelenskiy wrote on the Telegram messaging app. “The terrorist state will not change anything for itself with such actions. It will only confirm its destructive and murderous essence, for which it will certainly be held to account.” There was no immediate word on how many people had been killed in the strikes. Russia earlier this month named General Sergei Suvorikin as overall commander of what Moscow calls its “special operation” in Ukraine. Suvorikin served in Syria and Chechnya where Russian forces pounded cities in a scorched earth policy against its foes. A local resident takes pictures of a building heavily damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Mykolaiv, Ukraine October 18, 2022. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko Nicknamed “General Armageddon” by the Russian media because of his alleged toughness, his appointment was followed by the biggest wave of missile strikes against Ukraine since Moscow invaded on Feb. 24. Russia carried out its latest strikes on Tuesday after the United States warned it would hold Moscow accountable for any war crimes. Moscow denies targeting civilians. Its defence ministry has said it is carrying out attacks on military targets and energy infrastructure across Ukraine using high-precision weapons. In the port city of Mykolaiv, a Reuters witness said they had heard three explosions in the early hours of Tuesday. A missile had completely destroyed one wing of a building in the downtown area, leaving a massive crater, they said. A fire crew was seen pulling the dead body of a man from the rubble. “In Mykolaiv, the enemy destroyed a residential building with S-300 missiles. A person died. There was also a strike at the flower market, the chestnut park. I wonder what the Russian terrorists were fighting against at these absolutely peaceful facilities?” Zelenskiy said. The Russian strikes followed advances by Ukrainian forces in the east and south and came after an Oct. 8 blast on a bridge linking mainland Russia to Crimea – the peninsula Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014. U.S. President Joe Biden’s press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Monday that the White House “strongly condemns Russia’s missile strikes” and spoke of Putin’s “brutality”. Putin sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 in what he called a “special operation” to root out what it calls dangerous nationalists. Ukrainian forces have mounted stiff resistance, with the help of arms supplied by the United States and its allies, who have also imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia in an effort to force it to withdraw. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Reuters bureaux; Writing by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Philippa Fletcher Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Tech News LIVE Updates Today: Solar Storm Almost Crashes Plane, Asteroids, IPhone 14, Pixel 7 And More – HT Tech https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/tech-news-live-updates-today-solar-storm-almost-crashes-plane-asteroids-iphone-14-pixel-7-and-more-ht-tech/ Home Tech News Tech News LIVE Updates Today: Solar storm almost crashes plane, asteroids, iPhone 14, Pixel 7 and more LIVE UPDATES Technology News LIVE Updates Today, October 18, 2022: A solar storm almost crashes a plane, giant asteroid approaching the Earth, iPhone price to Google Pixel 7 sale and more. Technology News LIVE Updates – October 18, 2022: Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro will go on sale tomorrow, giving Android smartphone fans a reason to cheer. On the space front, new asteroids have been sighted which are approaching the Earth. With Diwali, one of the major festivities of the nation, just a week away, many smartphones and gadgets …Read More This solar storm almost caused a plane crash In 2008, a menacing solar storm injured many passengers in a plane. It could have easily killed them all in a Qantas airliner. Report: This solar storm almost KILLED all passengers on a Qantas plane; check terrifying TRUTH Monday the worst day of the week? The official Twitter account of Guinness World Records has declared Monday as the worst day of the week in a tongue-in-cheek tweet which has gone viral. Read: Guinness World Records Twitter declares Monday as the ”worst day of the week” Asteroid 2022 UM is headed towards the Earth A 48 feet wide asteroid named Asteroid 2022 UM is expected to zoom past Earth today, October 18. Check: Menacing rock speeding towards Earth! Clocked at 38448 kmph, says NASA WhatsApp more secure than iMessage: Zuckerberg In a recent Instagram post, Zuckerberg boldly goes on to say that Meta’s WhatsApp is far more private and secure than iMessage. Report: WhatsApp vs Apple iMessage? Zuckerberg says WhatsApp is “far more secure” Google Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro to go on sale tomorrow Google’s flagship Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are going on sale on October 19! Announced two weeks ago, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro finally make it to India as Google’s new flagship phones for 2022 and 2023. Check the report: Here is all you need to know about it. First Published Date: 18 Oct, 11:21 IST

3 Oaks Gaming Certifies Its Game Portfolio For Bulgaria As Distributor Expands Horizons – European Gaming Industry News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/3-oaks-gaming-certifies-its-game-portfolio-for-bulgaria-as-distributor-expands-horizons-european-gaming-industry-news/ European Gaming Industry News 3 Oaks Gaming certifies its game portfolio for Bulgaria as distributor expands horizons Balkans Published 5 seconds ago on October 18, 2022 Reading Time: 1 minute Certification ensures supplier can bring growing portfolio to ever-widening array of operator and platform partners 3 Oaks Gaming, the fast-growing distributor of iGaming content, is set to further expand its presence across Europe by getting its games certified for Bulgaria by the National Revenue Agency. Following the accreditation, 3 Oaks will be able to distribute its expansive array of exciting slot titles, as well as a comprehensive collection of gamification tools, throughout Bulgaria’s regulated online casino market. The supplier has enjoyed a strong first year of business, with its business model focused on bringing market-leading promotional tools, innovative games and exciting mechanics to Europe’s regulated jurisdictions. It has further expanded its operations through the opening of a hub on the Isle of Man, following the awarding of its Manx licence, while also partnering with major operators and aggregators across Europe, including Parimatch, SoftSwiss and iSoftBet. Sebastian Damian, Managing Director of 3 Oaks Gaming, said: “Expanding into Bulgaria is an important milestone for us, as we continue to grow our theatre of operations globally. “Our business model is focused on bringing exemplary titles to players throughout regulated markets, so receiving these accreditations are vital for us to expand and further broaden our horizons. “We believe we can really add value to operators throughout Bulgaria and are very excited at the possibilities that await us in the country.” Balkans Published 5 seconds ago on October 18, 2022 Reading Time: 1 minute Certification ensures supplier can bring growing portfolio to ever-widening array of operator and platform partners 3 Oaks Gaming, the fast-growing distributor of iGaming content, is set to further expand its presence across Europe by getting its games certified for Bulgaria by the National Revenue Agency. Following the accreditation, 3 Oaks will be able to distribute its expansive array of exciting slot titles, as well as a comprehensive collection of gamification tools, throughout Bulgaria’s regulated online casino market. The supplier has enjoyed a strong first year of business, with its business model focused on bringing market-leading promotional tools, innovative games and exciting mechanics to Europe’s regulated jurisdictions. It has further expanded its operations through the opening of a hub on the Isle of Man, following the awarding of its Manx licence, while also partnering with major operators and aggregators across Europe, including Parimatch, SoftSwiss and iSoftBet. Sebastian Damian, Managing Director of 3 Oaks Gaming, said: “Expanding into Bulgaria is an important milestone for us, as we continue to grow our theatre of operations globally. “Our business model is focused on bringing exemplary titles to players throughout regulated markets, so receiving these accreditations are vital for us to expand and further broaden our horizons. “We believe we can really add value to operators throughout Bulgaria and are very excited at the possibilities that await us in the country.” Balkans Published 6 days ago on October 12, 2022 Reading Time: 1 minute SYNOT Games has signed a new partnership deal with Arena Casino, a trusted, well-known, and strong brand in Croatia. Arena Casino players can start enjoying a new level of gaming experience with our favorite titles such as 81 Joker Fruits, Masters of Eclipse, 81st Cabaret, or Aztec Jaguar. Dagmar Cvrčková, Sales Manager at SYNOT Games commented: “We’re thrilled to launch this momentous partnership, which will allow us to deepen our investment and further extend our leadership in delivering amusing slots. Arena Casino is a huge brand when it comes to gambling, and we can safely say that customers will benefit from a wide range of our delightful content.” Mirko Kolak, Operational Director at Arena Casino commented: “We are proud of this creative partnership that benefits our customers and our partners. SYNOT Games is well-known in the industry for providing appealing gaming content that has proven to be very popular with players all over the world.” Balkans Published 1 week ago on October 10, 2022 Reading Time: 1 minute EGT Digital has further increased the variety of games available on its all-in-one online betting platform by adding titles from the well-known gaming provider Skywind. Joker’s Luck, Big Buffalo, Vinci la Gallina, Sky Piggies, Max Chance and the Safari Secrets and many more games of its rich portfolio are now available to X-Nave users on the Bulgarian and Romanian markets. “The decision to start working with EGT Digital was easy to take, having in mind the fact that the company holds serious positions in the digital gaming industry. We believe that our partnership will contribute to Skywind’s gaming content to become more popular among a wider gaming audience,” Alina Popa, Senior Partner Manager at Skywind, said. “X-Nave is a highly flexible solution, allowing the operators to choose top events and top markets which means that they can make fully customized offers for their players. And the players are always happy when they can choose among more attractive games, increasing their chances of winning and having fun. Skywind’s titles belong to this type, and I think they will quickly establish themselves as one of the preferred choices of the players on our platform,” Alexander Botov, CEO at EGT Digital, said. We are constantly showing banners about important news regarding events and product launches. Please turn AdBlock off in order to see these areas.

Deals: Eco4life Smart Doorbell With WiFi & Security Camera – Geeky Gadgets https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/deals-eco4life-smart-doorbell-with-wifi-security-camera-geeky-gadgets/ 7:00 am October 18, 2022 By Roland Hutchinson We have an awesome deal on Eco4life Smart Doorbell with WiFi & Security Camera over at the Geeky Gadgets Deals store at the link below. The Eco4life Smart Doorbell with WiFi & Security Camera is available in the Geeky Gadgets Deals store for $59.99. The Eco4life Smart Doorbell is the answer to your home security concerns. It gives you the ability to monitor activity at your front door and lets you enjoy peace of mind knowing that no one is breaking in while you’re away. It comes with a motion-activated sensor and two-way audio, which allows you to talk to visitors from your phone as well as listen in on them talking to you through your mobile device or computer. The IR night vision camera keeps an eye on what’s happening outside even when it’s dark outside. 1080P HD. Provides real-time 1080p high-quality video Night vision. Automatically switch to night vision function according to the ambient light level Motion detection sensor. Detects any suspicious action, & an alarm notification will be sent to your phone immediately 2-way audio. No matter where you are, you can talk to your visitors at any time Pluggable chime. Use music chime instead of noisy knocks to improve the quality of life Security camera. Easily connect to your Wi-Fi network & watch live streaming videos on your phone You can find out more details about this great deal on the Eco4life Smart Doorbell with WiFi & Security Camera. Get this deal Filed Under: Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more. Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals

Final Full AP Prep Grid Poll Released | News, Sports, Jobs – Fort Dodge Messenger https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/final-full-ap-prep-grid-poll-released-news-sports-jobs-fort-dodge-messenger/ For some, last Friday was the final week of the prep football regular season. For the rest, that happens this week. As over half the state prepares for playoff action, a handful of changes have gone down in regards to the latest polls. Humboldt, who suffered a 16-8 setback to Nevada last week, dropped from the top spot in Class 3A to No. 6. Harlan is now the consensus top-ranked team followed by Mount Vernon and Nevada. Independence, who the Wildcats knocked off to reach the final four a year ago, are ranked fifth. Humboldt fell in the state semifinals to Harlan, who received eight of the nine first place votes. Greene County remained sixth in 2A and Newell-Fonda moved up a spot from ninth to eighth in eight-player. The Wildcats (7-1 overall) meet Algona on the road to conclude the regular season. Greene County (7-1) hosts Union LaPorte City (2-6) in the playoffs, while Newell-Fonda (7-1) welcomes in Harris-Lake Park in another postseason tilt. West Des Moines Dowling, who had its record-setting run of 5A titles ended a few years ago, moved to No. 1 ahead of Pleasant Valley by two points. Pleasant Valley, the lone unbeaten in 5A, received five of the nine first place votes. Williamsburg (2A), West Branch (1A) West Hancock (A) and Remsen St. Mary’s (eight-player) all remained No. 1s heading into the postseason. West Bend-Mallard received two votes in eight-player. The Wolverines host Clarksville in the playoffs later this week. Johnston, Sioux City East, Ames, Linn-Mar and Iowa City High all joined the Top-10 in 5A this week, with Cedar Rapids Washington, Le Mars and Norwalk doing the same in 4A. Waukon in 2A along with Baxter and Montezuma in eight-player also joined the polls. Fort Dodge (4-4) will host now-No. 10 Le Mars for Senior Night following a convincing win at Denison-Schleswig. By The Associated Press The Top Ten teams in the Associated Press Iowa high school football polls of the 2014 season with first-place votes in parentheses and won-loss record, total points and position last week at right: Class 5A Rec. Pts. Pvs. 1. West Des Moines Dowling (4) 7-1 84 2 2. Pleasant Valley (5) 8-0 82 1 3. Southeast Polk 7-1 70 3 3. Ankeny 7-1 70 4 5. Cedar Falls 6-2 47 6 6. Cedar Rapids Prairie 6-2 42 8 7. Johnston 5-3 28 NR 8. Sioux City East 6-2 20 NR 9. Ames 6-2 14 NR 10. Marion Linn-Mar 5-3 10 NR (tie) Iowa City High 5-3 10 NR Others receiving votes: Cedar Rapids Kennedy 7. Davenport West 4. Ankeny Centennial 4. Urbandale 2. West Des Moines Valley 1. Class 4A Rec. Pts. Pvs. 1. Council Bluffs Lewis Central (6) 8-0 87 1 2. Cedar Rapids Xavier (2) 8-0 77 2 3. Waverly-Shell Rock (1) 8-0 76 3 4. Iowa CIty Liberty 7-1 59 4 5. Carlisle 7-1 50 5 6. Bondurant Farrar 7-1 47 6 7. Eldridge North Scott 6-2 39 7 8. Cedar Rapids Washington 5-3 11 NR 9. Indianola 5-3 10 8 10. Le Mars 5-3 9 NR (tie) Norwalk 5-3 9 NR Others receiving votes: Webster City 8. Newton 4. Spencer 3. Epworth Western Dubuque 3. Burlington 2. Fort Madison 1. Class 3A Rec. Pts. Pvs. 1. Harlan (8) 7-1 89 1 2. Mount Vernon (1) 8-0 80 3 3. Nevada 7-1 62 6 4. Adel ADM 7-1 52 5 5. Independence 8-1 51 4 6. Humboldt 7-1 48 2 7. Solon 6-2 43 7 8. Alleman North Polk 6-2 28 9 9. Van Horne Benton 6-2 20 T10 10. MOC-Floyd Valley 6-2 16 T10 Others receiving votes: Creston 5. Manchester West Delaware 1. Class 2A Rec. Pts. Pvs. 1. Williamsburg (4) 8-0 85 1 2. Central Lyon-GLR (5) 8-0 84 2 3. State Center West Marshall 8-0 65 4 4. Spirit Lake 8-0 62 3 5. O-A BCIG 7-1 56 5 6. Greene County 7-1 35 6 7. Osage 6-2 33 7 8. Inwood West Lyon 6-2 25 T8 9. Dubuque Wahlert 6-2 18 10 10. Waukon 5-3 15 NR Others receiving votes: Monticello 9. West Union North Fayette 4. Centerville 2. New Hampton 1. Orange City Unity Christian 1. Class 1A Rec. Pts. Pvs. 1. West Branch (6) 8-0 86 1 2. Van Meter (3) 7-1 80 2 3. Underwood 8-0 69 3 4. Hawarden West Sioux 7-1 66 5 5. Carroll Kuemper 7-1 35 4 6. Aplington-Parkersburg 7-1 34 6 7. Pella Christian 7-1 32 8 8. Monona MFL-Mar-Mac 7-1 23 10 9. Dike-New Hartford 6-2 20 9 10. Mediapolis 7-1 18 7 Others receiving votes: Hull Western Christian 12. South Hamilton 8. Sigourney-Keota 8. Denver 4. Class A Rec. Pts. Pvs. 1. Britt West Hancock (6) 8-0 83 1 2. Grundy Center (1) 8-0 76 2 3. Moville Woodbury Central (1) 8-0 72 3 4. A-H-S-T-W, Avoca (1) 8-0 62 4 5. Lynnville-Sully 8-0 57 5 6. Troy Mills North Linn 7-1 37 7 7. Winthrop East Buchanan 7-1 30 8 8. Alburnett 7-1 23 9 9. Fairbank Wapsie Valley 6-2 15 10 10. Columbus Junction 7-1 12 6 Others receiving votes: Le Mars Gehlen Catholic 10. Mount Ayr 8. Hartley HMS 7. Mason City Newman 3. 8-PLAYER Rec. Pts. Pvs. 1. Remsen Saint Mary’s (6) 8-0 83 1 2. Wayland WACO (3) 9-0 77 2 3. Gilbertville-Don Bosco 7-0 75 3 4. Lenox 8-0 55 4 5. Easton Valley 6-1 49 6 6. West HarrisonMondamin 8-0 44 5 7. Gladbrook-Reinbeck 7-1 30 7 8. Newell-Fonda 7-1 24 9 9. Liberty Center SE Warren 8-1 21 10 10. Baxter 7-1 7 NR (tie) Montezuma 6-1 7 NR Others receiving votes: Central City 6. Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire 5. Jackson Junction Turkey Valley 5. Anita CAM 4. West Bend-Mallard 2. Fremont Mills, Tabor 1. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox

As A Leading Knowledge Base Website, Saung Blogger Provides Unique Information About Tourism For Travelers. – Digital Journal https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/as-a-leading-knowledge-base-website-saung-blogger-provides-unique-information-about-tourism-for-travelers-digital-journal/ Saung Blogger offers comprehensive guidance and counseling services for Internet users looking to find reliable and up-to-date information about tourism. Saung Blogger is an online platform that shares information and knowledge about unique tourist sites and locations. California – October 17, 2022 – Traveling for tourism includes both leisure and business travel. It might use up neighborhood resources like leisure time, lodging, and tourist-oriented dining. In many regions, the introduction and growth of tourism give people a chance for economic and intellectual advancement that they otherwise would not have. It also gives locals and visitors the chance to encounter different cultures, which broadens understanding. However, Saung Blogger is an online platform that shares information and knowledge about unique tourist sites and locations. Saung Blogger provides facts and expertise on intriguing and distinctive tourist destinations with stunning views from across the globe that should be visited both with family and friends, as well as with neighbors and coworkers. According to Sudjono Arif, the spokesperson for Saung Blogger, who stated that “We offer users a chance to learn about new places to visit. Whether with family or friends, our website provides an opportunity to explore different areas and find hidden gems. In addition to providing detailed descriptions of each location, Saung Blogger also offers tips on how to get the most out of each destination.” “Saung Blogger also offers a variety of travel advice for ease, comfort, and safety while abroad. Also included are details on low-cost lodging options in numerous locations throughout the globe, seasonal weather patterns, local cultures, and proper communication tips,” he added The Saung Blogger team is made up of seasoned professionals with a first-hand understanding of the difficulties and advantages that come with traveling for business or residence. They are committed to delivering the best content and support possible to assist users in making well-informed decisions about their lives and careers. Some of the information Saung Blogger provides the latest blogs for the users includes eco-tourism, education tourism, golf tourism, honeymoon tours, Rome tours, Panama city beach, and many more. About Saung Blogger  Saung Blogger offers comprehensive guidance and counseling services for Internet users looking to find reliable and up-to-date information about tourism. Saung Blogger is an online platform that shares information and knowledge about unique tourist sites and locations.  Media Contact Company Name: Saung Blogger Contact Person: Sudjono Arif Email: Send Email Country: Indonesia Website: https://Majalahka.com %

BREAKING- Ukraine Says Russia ‘kidnapped’ Two Nuclear Plant Workers – Hindustan Times https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/breaking-ukraine-says-russia-kidnapped-two-nuclear-plant-workers-hindustan-times/ Live Updated on Oct 18, 2022 11:54 AM IST Breaking news October 18, 2022 LIVE: Get latest news, breaking news, latest updates, live news, top headlines, breaking business news and top news of the hour. Get latest news, breaking news, latest updates, live news, top headlines, breaking business news and top news of the hour. Welcome to hindustantimes.com updates platform where you can find breaking news from India and across the world. Find fast updates about the latest news as it breaks. Follow all the updates here: Oct 18, 2022 11:54 AM IST In Jayalalithaa death, panel holds Sasikala, ex TN health minister C Vijayabadkar guilty In Jayalalithaa death, panel holds Sasikala, ex TN health minister C Vijayabadkar guilty; recommends probe in report submitted in assembly today. Oct 18, 2022 11:37 AM IST Ukraine says Russia ‘kidnapped’ two nuclear plant workers: AFP Report Ukraine’s state nuclear energy company was quoted as saying by news agencies that Russia has kidnapped two senior officials at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and their whereabouts are unknown. Oct 18, 2022 10:13 AM IST First phase of Delhi-Mumbai expressway to be completed this year Union Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari while speaking about the status of the Delhi-Mumbai Express Highway said that work on the first phase from Delhi to JNPT in Mumbai would be completed this year itself. Read more Oct 18, 2022 09:26 AM IST 47 candidates in fray for Munugode Assembly bypoll in Telangana A total of 47 candidates are in the fray for Munugode Assembly bypoll scheduled to be held on November 3, after the deadline for withdrawal of nominations ended on October 17. Oct 18, 2022 09:15 AM IST Death toll from Russia plane crash rises to 13 as search ends: ministry At least 13 people, including three children, were killed after a military plane crashed into a residential area of Yeysk in southwest Russia, Russian news agencies said Tuesday as the search for survivors ended. “Rescuers have finished excavating the rubble (…) In total, 13 people died, including three children, while 19 people were injured,” according to the ministry of emergency situations, quoted by Russian agencies following Monday’s crash. AFP Oct 18, 2022 08:43 AM IST India logs 1,542 new Covid cases in last 24 hours India on Tuesday saw over 1,500 Covid cases in the last 24 hours. The number of active cases stay above 26,400. Oct 18, 2022 08:41 AM IST Indian-American appointed to Homeland Security’s Faith-Based Security Advisory Council Indian-American Chandru Acharya from Michigan has been appointed to the Faith-Based Security Advisory Council of Homeland Security. Acharya is the lone Hindu voice in this committee of 25 distinguished faith leaders from the United States, a media release said on Monday. Oct 18, 2022 07:17 AM IST Japan to impose additional sanctions against North Korea Japan will impose additional sanctions against North Korea by freezing assets of groups involved in the development of missiles, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a regular briefing on Tuesday. “We cannot tolerate North Korea’s repeated provocative actions which threaten Japan’s security and international peace and safety,” Matsuno said. Oct 18, 2022 06:35 AM IST China recruiting British ex-military pilots to train members of PLA: Report China has recruited dozens of former Royal Air Force pilots to train members of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), news agency ANI reported. Oct 18, 2022 06:24 AM IST Australia floods crisis set to worsen amid forecast for more rain Thousands of residents across southeast Australia braced for renewed flooding on Tuesday as weather forecasters warned of more downpours later this week, while swollen rivers continued to roll downstream inundating farms, towns and homes. Oct 18, 2022 06:08 AM IST Russian military jet crashes in southwest, at least six dead A Russian military plane crashed on Monday into a residential area of Yeysk, a town in southwest Russia near the border with Ukraine, causing a huge fire and killing at least six people, according to Russian authorities. “Six people died, 19 injured including two children,” a spokesman for the ministry of emergency situations said giving an updated toll late Monday. Subscribe to our best newsletters Nissan wages big SUV war, lines up 3 models for India Published on Oct 18, 2022 11:32 AM IST Nissan Motor is gearing up to intensify rivalry in the SUV segments in India. The three SUVs, one of which is set to make a comeback to India, will be positioned from the compact to the mid-size segments when launched. Nissan Motor has lined up three SUVs for India which are currently undergoing tests. Among the three models is the new X-Trail, which is set to make a comeback to India after eight years. Peace in border areas basis for normal India-China ties: Jaishankar Published on Oct 18, 2022 10:53 AM IST Jaishankar’s remarks, made while delivering an address on the theme “China’s foreign policy and international relations in the new era” at a conference organised by the Center for Contemporary China Studies (CCCS), came against the backdrop of the dragging military standoff in Ladakh sector India’s 1st case of Omicron subvariant BQ.1 detected in Pune Published on Oct 18, 2022 10:09 AM IST State surveillance officer Pradeep Awate cited the detection and added that high-risk patients should follow precautions PM Modi set to visit Ayodhya for Deepotsav celebration on eve of Diwali Updated on Oct 18, 2022 10:04 AM IST Ayodhya Deepotsava celebrations: Seventeen lakh diyas – earthen lamps – are set to be lit during the celebration. This would be a new record. Morning brief: RSS looks to enhance role of women in organisation Updated on Oct 18, 2022 08:55 AM IST Here are today’s top news, analysis, and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. BREAKING- Ukraine says Russia ‘kidnapped’ two nuclear plant workers Updated on Oct 18, 2022 11:54 AM IST Breaking news October 18, 2022 LIVE: Get latest news, breaking news, latest updates, live news, top headlines, breaking business news and top news of the hour. 2 labourers killed in terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian Updated on Oct 18, 2022 08:17 AM IST The victims were labourers from Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh, the Kashmir Zone Police said, adding that an LeT terrorist had been arrested for lobbing the grenade. Story Saved New Delhi 0C Tuesday, October 18, 2022

Air Quality Alerts Extended Until Thursday Night As Crews Battle Wildfires Across The State – Yahoo News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/air-quality-alerts-extended-until-thursday-night-as-crews-battle-wildfires-across-the-state-yahoo-news/ Smoky, dirty air hangs over the Puget Sound like a blanket as wildfires continue to burn across the state. An air quality alert that’s been in effect all weekend for much of Western Washington and was set to expire at 11 a.m. on Monday has now been extended to 5 p.m. on Thursday. The Bolt Creek Fire is still a big contributor. The air is likely especially bad around Snohomish County, where it is easy to see the thick haze and orange glow. On Monday, air quality was in the moderate to unhealthy for sensitive group range, with the lowest air quality closest to the Cascade foothills and closer to the fires. “The smoke is not good for people to be breathing that smoke,” said Marcia DeRuiter, a nurse. “It gets in their lungs and causes lots of issues.” Those issues include a lot of bellyaching. “Right, and that is just all that dry fuel that’s just getting burned,” said Lisa Kriederman, the NOAA meteorologist assigned to the Bolt Creek Fire. Kriederman says to blame it on the unusually dry and sunny weather we’ve been enjoying this mid-October. “It is so dry,” she said. “And we have certain locations near the fire that have broken records being the driest for October so far and have broken some dry-in-September records. So we’re very dry and warm.” 8 Road Fire burns 150 acres The 8 Road Fire has been burning in the Elbe Hills State Forest in south Pierce County since Saturday afternoon. It is 0% contained and about 225 acres have burned in the fire as of Monday morning, according to the state Department of Natural Resources. 8 Road Fire continues to grow in south Pierce County According to Pierce County Fire and Rescue 23, a level one, or “be ready,” evacuation notice has been issued for people living at certain locations of Scott Turner Road, Beaver Creek, and 8 Road. Bolt Creek Fire burns over 14,000 acres The Bolt Creek Fire, at more than 14,000 acres scorched, is by far the most stubborn. Firefighters have heard the criticism that they aren’t doing enough to put out the flames. However, they insist the risks are too great. Bolt Creek Fire crews reach critical turning point “We’re the fourth team on this fire,” said Don Ferguson, Bolt Creek Fire spokesman. “The objectives have always been to protect life and property, keep the fire in a broad box. And then to the north of it is a wilderness area. There’s no place for a firefighter in there. It’s steep and rocky and the fire is expected to just burn up into those rocks.” Nakia Creek Fire explodes to over 2,000 acres The Nakia Creek Fire broke out in Clark County, near the Oregon border, just over a week ago. It has burned about 1,565 acres and more than 2,900 homes were ordered to evacuate immediately on Sunday. Evacuation guidance has since been lifted for some residents. The Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office says it’s now looking to identify persons and a vehicle of interest seen on video near where the fire started on Oct. 9. “We are looking for what we believe is a white or light-colored Subaru vehicle,” said Assistant Fire Marshal Curtis Eavenson. “Based on witness statements, we also believe there were two men and two women connected with this vehicle.” Loch Katrine Fire gaining ground in North Bend Crews are also working to put out the Loch Katrine Fire burning in North Bend after weekend winds caused the fire to jump from 4 acres to over 1,200, according to command post spokesperson Emery Johnson. Crews battle Loch Katrine Fire in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest The fire is burning on a mixture of federal, state and private lands, but there are no structures or communities in danger at this time. “Because of where it’s at and where it’s hung up, it’s going to be difficult for us to go directly to it,” said Johnson. “So what we’re doing is we’re getting off all of our resources out there, heavy equipment, people, to get to those holding features and improve them, so when the fire comes and backs down towards it, it’s a stopping point.” It is difficult finding out how many wildland fires are burning in Western Washington. Some are on state land, and others are on federal land. But it is safe to say firefighters are battling several fires. So, like everyone, they are looking to the skies hoping for some relief soon. “On Tuesday and Wednesday, that onshore wind pattern will be light to non-existent, which will mean some smoke/haze moving back into the area. I don’t think it will be anywhere near as bad as it was this past weekend, but do expect some haze and highs around 70 degrees,” said KIRO 7 Meteorologist Nick Allard.

Bacon Wins Two Statewide Journalist Awards | News, Sports, Jobs – Evening Observer https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/bacon-wins-two-statewide-journalist-awards-news-sports-jobs-evening-observer/ Gregory Bacon An OBSERVER and Post-Journal staff member has won two statewide awards in digital and print journalism. Gregory Bacon won first place for Spot News Coverage for the article “North County man behind bars for sexual assault of children” and second place in Public Service for the article “Good, bad and ugly of recycling in Chautauqua County” from the Journalists Association of New York. The awards were for newspapers with a circulation of less than 75,000 a week and were announced over the weekend in Saratoga Springs. The Journalists Association of New York (JANY) was formerly known as the New York State Associated Press Association, a nonprofit organization overseen by a volunteer board of journalists from across the state. The article “North county man behind bars for sexual assault of children” was about Dustin Post who allegedly would befriend moms with young children, build trust with them, and sexually assault the children. The ages range of the victims were from 1 to 12 years of age. Post is still behind bars and his case has not gone to trial. In the judges’ comments, they wrote, “A good, solid reporting of a breaking news press conference. This article hit all the bases.” The article “Good, bad and ugly of recycling in Chautauqua County” was a feature about the positives and negatives when it comes to recycling things like scrap metal, plastic, paper, cardboard, glass, tires and electronics. The article was published near Earth Day, 2021. In the judges’ comments, they wrote, “Good coverage, explaining some of the things consumers could not be aware of.” This is the first time Bacon has won an award for article writing. He previously won an Associated Press award for headline writing. Bacon has worked for the OBSERVER and The Post-Journal since 1999. A Cassadaga resident, he is married to Angela (nee O’Neal). They have three children, Christopher and Abigail of Cassadaga, and Judith (Ronald Walter) Gabalski of Frewsburg. Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox

An Empty Metaverse? The Truth Behind DappRadar’s Report Of 30 Active Daily Users In Decentraland – Jing Daily https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/an-empty-metaverse-the-truth-behind-dappradars-report-of-30-active-daily-users-in-decentraland-jing-daily/ What Happened: As two of the metaverse’s major players, Decentraland and The Sandbox have become the go-to channels for luxury brands looking to build out their presence in Web3. But a viral report, published by decentralized finance (DeFi) analytic firm DappRadar, suggests that the online giants are apparently not as popular as once thought; according to the study, The Sandbox has only ever hit a maximum daily active user count of 4,503 and Decentraland has yet to exceed 675. Unsurprisingly, conversations surrounding the numbers blew up on crypto Twitter and had the public questioning the very future of Web3. News reports have also outlined that Meta’s (formerly Facebook) Horizon Worlds metaverse is also suffering from low user numbers, low retention rates and glitchy experiences.  But what does the news mean for luxury? Decentraland currently has collaborations with Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Nike, and Sotheby’s, while The Sandbox has previously partnered with the likes of Balenciaga, Gucci, and L’Officiel. As crossovers like these continue to develop in the space, and as both platforms see a valuation at around $1.2-1.3 billion, the assumption would be that a much more active community would — and should — be present.  In February 2022, Gucci announced its partnership with The Sandbox to create an interactive virtual fashion experience. Photo: Gucci DappRadar goes on to state that as of October 10, Decentraland had just 30 active users in a 24 hours span. These shockingly low metrics, however, don’t disclose the full story, and DappRadar has begun rolling back on it’s calculations, to “recalculate”.    The Jing Take: The recent revelation might just deal another blow to an already wobbly Web3 industry, as luxury houses looking to buy or rent metaverse land for activations may opt to think again. Decentraland has since rebuffed the numbers, turning to Twitter to declare that, “Lately, there has been a lot of misinformation on the number of active users of Decentraland. Some websites are tracking only specific smart contract transactions but reporting them as daily active users DAU, which is inaccurate.” The company then goes on to post its September data, which equates to 56,697 monthly active users and 1,074 users interacting with smart contracts, alongside 6,315 wearables sold, 161 community events, and 148 DAO proposals.  DappRadar has also since clarified that its metrics come from the number of Unique Active Wallets, the number of transactions, and the volume of those transactions across different decentralized applications (DApps) — all of which are blockchain interactions that ignore off-chain activities, such as users simply utilizing the channel to explore the space. This confusion comes from defining “active participants” only as those making blockchain transactions on the platform, not considering more passive community members on the site as active users.  Decentraland and The Sandbox are often the starting points for many brands wanting to establish a digital foundation, meaning that education from both players is key. Luxury groups need to be open to learning and evolving alongside Web3-native communities. But cultivating a symbiotic relationship that has mass appeal is challenging, especially when the technology needed to move forward is evolving slower than the ideas.  As Daniel Langer, founder of luxury brand strategy firm Équité, reiterated during the Jing Daily X Équité Creating Luxury in the Metaverse webinar, “Crypto is the fastest adopted technology in history,” suggesting that these fashion labels need to be looking at Web3 through a patient and malleable lens. Those choosing to rush in without considering the importance of collaborative communities are not only at risk of a culture shock but also a financial loss, particularly brands that assume that their IP alone is enough to garner attention and sales.  As of today, the true value of Web3 doesn’t derive from the quick turnover of NFT collections — making headlines with some extortionate prices — but the ability to form direct connections with new audiences. With this in mind, platforms like The Sandbox and Decentraland should instead be perceived as workshops for creative brand expression rather than an end result. For metaverses built off the blockchain, numbers are far more assuring. Gaming platform Roblox, for example, reported having 52 million daily active users for Q2 this year, and 11.3 million monthly unique payers. The early adopters across the luxury industry, who are positioning themselves in these respective worlds, are designing the visual language of the digital future in Web3. CitiBank predicts that the digital industry will be worth $13 trillion by 2030, but this number can only be achieved if companies understand that the success behind Web3 boils down to its interoperability. As groups like Decentraland and The Sandbox continue to ride out the turbulence, it’s undeniable that they are, at the same time, slowly but surely setting the precedent for a collaborative virtual future ahead.  The Jing Take reports on a piece of the leading news and presents our editorial team’s analysis of the key implications for the luxury industry. In the recurring column, we analyze everything from product drops and mergers to heated debate sprouting on Chinese social media.

Walmart CTO Says Crypto Will Become A ‘major’ Payments Disruptor – Cointelegraph https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/walmart-cto-says-crypto-will-become-a-major-payments-disruptor-cointelegraph/ Suresh Kumar suggested that crypto will become an important payment tool across the Metaverse and social media, as these areas will be a major way customers discover new products. 1771 Total views 25 Total shares Walmart’s global chief technology officer (CTO) Suresh Kumar has tipped cryptocurrency to become a “major” area of disruption, particularly in how customers pay for virtual and physical goods in the future.  Speaking at the Yahoo Finance All Markets Summit on Oct. 17, Kumar outlined Walmart’s positive stance on digital assets, noting that “crypto will become an important part of how customers transact” for both physical and virtual goods. “I think that there are three major areas of disruption. Crypto falls in sort of the middle of it,” he said, explaining that “the way in which customers are getting inspired and discovering products” is changing. Kumar also suggested that a significant amount of customers will be marketed to through the Metaverse and live streams on social media apps, and that crypto could be an important payment option in these kinds of areas. “When you specifically talk about crypto, it is going to be about discovery of products, whether it is physical or virtual inside, either the Metaverse or upfront, and then how people transact.” Such may explain Walmart’s recent foray into the Roblox Metaverse, launching Walmart Land in late September. The company is hosting a range of virtual experiences there such as games, a DJ booth and Ferris wheel, while also offering virtual merchandise products called “verch” for users’ avatars. NFTs and crypto are not integrated with the Roblox metaverse at this stage, however Walmart has previously indicated in patent filings from January that it could look to create digital currencies, tokens and NFTs in the Metaverse space sometime in the future. “We want to make sure that we make it as friction free for customers to be able to transact, and to be able to buy, and how they are able to derive value out of it. And that is where– I think a lot of the disruption is going to start happening in terms of different payment methods, different payment options,” he said. Related: Facebook is on a quest to destroy the Metaverse and Web3 The multinational retail giant has been rumored to have been working on rolling out crypto payment support for a while, but so far only false alarms have arisen such as the fake deal with Litecoin (LTC) that was announced via a dubious press release from September last year. As it stands, there were around 200 Bitcoin (BTC) ATMs installed at Walmart stores across the U.S. in October 2021, with plans at the time to expand that number to 8,000 at an unspecified time in the future.

U.S. Democrats Want Tougher Response On Saudi Arabia – The Washington Post https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/u-s-democrats-want-tougher-response-on-saudi-arabia-the-washington-post/ You’re reading an excerpt from the Today’s WorldView newsletter. Sign up to get the rest free, including news from around the globe and interesting ideas and opinions to know, sent to your inbox every weekday. In Washington, or at least some corners of it, knives are being sharpened for Saudi Arabia. It’s been almost two weeks since Riyadh and its counterparts in the OPEC Plus cartel moved to raise global oil prices by announcing its largest supply cut in years, no matter the desperate entreaties of the Biden administration. The resulting fallout still smolders in Washington, where many interpreted the decision as a calculated act to humiliate President Biden and undermine his party’s prospects ahead of the upcoming midterm elections — on top of boosting the fossil fuel-subsidized war machine of Russian President Vladimir Putin. In recent days, Democratic lawmakers have touted a series of punitive measures against the kingdom. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) announced legislation last week that would immediately halt all arms sales to Saudi Arabia for one year. “There must be consequences for fleecing the American people in order to support Putin’s unconscionable war,” Khanna said in a statement. In the summer, Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.), a former U.S. diplomat, backed Biden’s controversial July trip to Saudi Arabia as a bid to “ensure our client states that depend on our security are on our side.” But earlier this month, he and two other Democrats in the House introduced a bill to mandate the removal of U.S. troops and missile systems deployed in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which was also party to the cartel’s production cut. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, last week urged that U.S. missile systems and batteries committed to help defend the oil infrastructure of the Gulf kingdoms be transferred instead to protect Ukraine from Russian attacks. “Policy decisions have consequences, and these steps would right-size the relationship with Saudi Arabia and help Ukraine,” Murphy said in an emailed statement. Across the Democratic caucus, a lurking dissatisfaction with the United States’ long-standing entanglements with the Saudis exploded into full-bore rage. There remains disquiet over the outsize Saudi role in the attacks of 9/11, a long record of human rights abuses culminating garishly in the abduction and murder of Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi, as well as wariness over Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s partisan affections for Republicans and former president Donald Trump. After Biden’s reticent fist bump with MBS, the OPEC Plus decision was seen as a deliberate punch in the gut that had to be met with a tough response. The anger has given new life to the so-called NOPEC bill, long-mooted congressional legislation that would make the cartel’s member states subject to antitrust laws. That some lawmakers now believe a bill that could cause further havoc to energy markets has a chance, albeit a slim one, of passing is a sign of the appetite for confrontation with Riyadh. “It’s time for our foreign policy to imagine a world without this alliance with these royal backstabbers,” Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) tweeted. In public remarks, Saudi officials have treated the American reaction with bemusement. “When you are in the election season, what some call ‘the funny season,’ a lot of things are said and a lot of things are done that may not make sense at another period of time,” Adel al-Jubeir, minister of state for foreign affairs, told CNN. “I hope this is what we’re dealing with here.” Jubeir cast the OPEC Plus decision as one made entirely on technical and economic grounds by oil producers minding their collective interests. There’s an obvious truth to that — and some analysts have stressed the need for U.S. officials to look beyond their domestic frames of reference. “The Saudis weren’t thinking about Ukraine — like many people in Asia and Africa, they don’t think in absolute terms of being pro- or anti-Russian — although that was certainly shortsighted,” wrote Hussein Ibish, senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. “And it’s frankly narcissistic for Democrats to imagine that the Saudis are adjusting their national grand strategy around the upcoming midterm vote.” On Sunday television, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Biden would address the anger in Congress, while also cautioning against calls for an abrupt change to U.S.-Saudi relations. “He is going to act methodically, strategically, and he’s going to take his time to consult with members of both parties, and also to have an opportunity for Congress to return so that he can sit with them in person and work through the options,” Sullivan said. Yet it’s clear there is little love lost between the crown prince and Biden, who once campaigned on making Riyadh a “pariah” and journeyed begrudgingly to the kingdom this summer largely because of the new economic and political realities created by the war in Ukraine. As my colleague Adam Taylor detailed last week, the Saudi-U.S. relationship has been built on an age-old bargain, defined by the American need for oil and Saudi Arabia’s desire to shelter beneath the security umbrella of the U.S. hegemon. That decades-long transaction is not bound by treaty, is backed by minimal public support and has not led to the confluence of many other serious interests, let alone political values. Aaron David Miller, a former U.S. diplomat and senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told me that what we are seeing now is “the fraying of this essential trade-off.” The United States no longer needs Saudi oil imports (though it remains vulnerable to Saudi influence over global energy prices), while MBS and his cohort have made clear that the kingdom in the long run is going to diversify its geopolitical portfolio, cultivating closer ties to countries elsewhere from China to Brazil. Over the weekend, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, on a visit to Riyadh, said that MBS had expressed interest in joining the BRICS nations, an economic bloc of major emerging economies including Russia. “The bottom line is that MBS doesn’t care,” said Miller, “and that he really does believe he has enormous leverage over the United States and is dealing with a president who is in his eyes an inconvenient speed bump.” After all, a Republican takeover of Congress, followed by a presidential election where Trump or a Trump ally may come to power, would set the table more favorably for the crown prince. Saudi Prince Saud al-Shaalan, close relative of MBS, said this following Democrats’ criticism of their oil price hike: “Anybody that challenges the existence of this country and this kingdom, all of us we are projects of jihad and martyrdom.” pic.twitter.com/3nXXnE6lZ4 — Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) October 16, 2022 For now, though, the Saudis have few cheerleaders in Washington. Democratic lawmakers want to call MBS on his bluff and strip away the U.S. patronage once unquestioningly bestowed upon Riyadh. The broader foreign policy community is also turning against the Saudis. “Much of the national security establishment, which had supported greater engagement with Riyadh, is affected deeply,” Emile Hokayem, a Middle East expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told the Financial Times. “It’s now a cold transactional relationship at best.” Miller didn’t believe the “broken crockery” of the moment will lead to a “rupture” in the U.S.-Saudi relationship. But he said a clear-eyed reappraisal is necessary. “I’m hoping that what emerges out of this is a fundamental assessment that Saudi Arabia is not an ally,” he said, “and that, going forward, we should only give what we get.”

Short-Video Company Triller Launches Metaverse Platform | Technology News – The Indian Express https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/short-video-company-triller-launches-metaverse-platform-technology-news-the-indian-express/ Short-video platform Triller Inc is the latest company to stake its claim in the metaverse with the launch Monday of a new platform called Metaverz. Triller said its Metaverz provides virtual spaces where users can gather to watch live music and sporting events, such as Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship or the Triller Fight Club, and interact with artists and other fans. Its first event takes place on Oct. 22 with DJ Sam Feldt performing an electronic set from the Netherlands, then dropping into Metaverz’s virtual nightclub as an avatar to mingle with guests. The virtual performance is one of 2,000 events Triller and its subsidiaries plan to host in the next year, a majority of which will happen in the real world and in Metaverz. “We’re carefully curating all our events and experiences so people understand what they’re doing,” Christopher Taurosa, head of Metaverz. “It’s not like you walk around aimlessly … You get to engage around an event.” Triller’s Metaverz will compete with deeper-resourced rivals like Meta Platforms Inc, which has spent billions of dollars to create an immersive digital environment where people would socialize, play games and work. Its flagship game, Horizon Worlds, has struggled to gain a firm footing, attracting just 200,000 users, according to documents obtained by the Wall Street Journal. In a preview, Triller showed off virtual environments the company spent the last two-plus years building, including a sports arena, beach houses surrounded by rippling water and palm trees and a nightclub with projection screens, laser lights and marble floors. Clusters of seating areas provide places for users to talk with one another, either as avatars or via livestreamed video that appears in a dialogue box on the screen. The Metaverz is accessible via any internet-connected device, through a browser. The company is working with Epik to create games within its Metaverz. Players can earn digital currency, dubbed Illr Bucks, that can used to buy virtual apparel, customize their avatars, or purchase tickets to events hosted by Triller or its creators. The Triller video sharing app launched in its current form in October 2019, and has looked to take on larger rival TikTok. The company added fresh content and features to the platform with the acquisitions of live-streaming music platform Verzuz, founded by Grammy-winning producers Swizz Beatz and Timbaland, combat sports brands Bare Knuckle Fighting and Fite.tv, and Fangage, Julius and Amplify.ai, whose technologies help creators connect with and monetize their fan base. Triller recently raised $310 million from Global Emerging Markets, a Luxembourg-based private investment group, in anticipation of going public as soon as next month. Triller CEO Mahi de Silva said the company is losing money, but expects to cross into profitability by 2023. It has run afoul of one of the world’s largest music companies, Sony Music Entertainment, which filed a lawsuit against Triller in August in federal district court in New York, seeking millions of dollars in damages after the video-sharing app allegedly stopped paying licensing fees in March 22. De Silva described the lawsuit as a tactic in license negotiations. The Washington Post also reported this summer that Black influencers, who had been recruited to the platform a year ago with promises of $4,000 per month, say those payments have been erratic — and in some cases, nonexistent. “We did have a few hiccups in the beginning of the year,” de Silva said. “But we are 100% up to date.”

Lenovo Legion 5i Pro Review: ‘i’ Stands For Impressive – Gadgets Now https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/lenovo-legion-5i-pro-review-i-stands-for-impressive-gadgets-now/ Powering this model of the Legion 5i Pro is Intel’s Core i9-12900H processor, which comes paired with RTX 3070Ti GPU from Nvidia for handling graphic-intensive tasks. Complementing the brain and brawn is 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a terabyte of PCIe Gen 4 NVMe M.2 SSD. It is possibly the best hardware you can get for its price, and we also have some numbers to solidify this further. In Cinebench R23, the Legion 5i Pro scores 1,928 and 15,767 in single and multi-core tests, perfect numbers for this hardware. In PCMark 10, the laptop got 7,950 points on productivity and 2,310 on storage tests. We also ran 3DMark, and we got a score of 11,686. Do note that we ran these tests in the performance mode. No points for guessing; the Legion 5i Pro did not break a sweat in day-to-day tasks. For context, we used to have around 20 tabs opened in Chrome, having YouTube, Google Docs, Twitter, and a few more apps running in the background. The Legion manages to deliver in the range of 80 to 90 fps while playing intense titles as the likes of Marvel’s Spider-Man, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Avengers at high graphics settings. (Yes, we have a soft spot for Marvel games). In contrast, the less demanding titles, such as Apex Legends or Valorant, ran in the range of 150-180 fps. So, to conclude, the laptop is very much capable of running whatever game you want. Though, remember to turn on the performance mode and do not forget to plug it into the wall socket. Lenovo has a new cooling mechanism — CoolFront 4.0 — which promises to keep the temperatures down and works as said. We did not see the temperature going over 85 degrees, and the chassis remained cool even during the extended period of gameplay. Though, the sound of fans blaring can be irritating whenever the laptop gets a little hot. Lenovo’s Vantage app gives deep insight into the machine. You can get the current status of the CPU and GPU and even overclock them. Not just that, you can play a lot more with the hardware using the Vantage. Battery life has never been a strong suit of Windows laptops, and it has been the one major weakness of almost every gaming laptop out there. With 4 hours of life, the Legion 5i Pro is not different. And the 300W charger is so bulky that it gets hard to carry it everywhere with you, so it is a “portable work laptop.”

North County’s Council District Race Features Longtime Politician, First-Time Candidate – The Reflector https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/north-countys-council-district-race-features-longtime-politician-first-time-candidate-the-reflector/ Rick Bannan / rick@thereflector.com A veteran of state politics is seeking to return to elected office at the county level, facing off against a political newcomer in the race for the newest county council seat. During a candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Clark County, Don Benton took questions alongside Sue Marshall about county issues to see who will replace Richard Rylander for Clark County Council District 5’s seat. Rylander, who was appointed to the position following the resignation of former district 5 seatholder Eileen Quiring, was eliminated by Benton and Marshall during the August primary election.  The district the candidates will serve was created following an amendment to the county’s home rule charter that was approved by Clark County voters last year. The move changed what was once an at-large seat to one that represents a geographic area, like the other four districts. That area encompasses the bulk of North Clark County. It includes the cities of Battle Ground, Ridgefield and La Center as well as the town of Yacolt. ‘Overdue’ representation Marshall said the recent change to make county council positions nonpartisan spurred her to run for the district 5 seat. “I haven’t been involved in partisan politics, and I don’t think it’s helpful in making local decisions and solving problems,” Marshall said. Marshall, a Ridgefield family farm manager, said she has served on the county’s Clean Water Commission as well as the Clark Conservation District board. She said her primary issues are balanced land use planning, public safety and affordable housing. Benton, a former Washington State Senator and head of the Selective Service Administration under former president Donald Trump, said he wants to use his experience to represent those who live in the district. “It’s long overdue to treat our northern neighbors in the county with fairness,” Benton said. Benton said private property rights have been ignored in the county, which is something he seeks to rectify. He said Clark County has not used the state Growth Management Act (GMA) to its potential to meet the needs of balancing a rural lifestyle with the need for more housing. “The negative effect of this is to force the younger population out of the country and into the city,” Benton said. The county will undergo its periodic review of its Comprehensive Growth Management Plan, which is based off of the GMA, next year.  Marshall said it is most important to look at public participation first. She does not believe the community had the chance to weigh in on the potential changes.   “The comprehensive plan is intended to be the community’s vision,” Marshall said.  Marshall, who has been an activist for land use issues which included a leadership role with the Friends of Clark County group, is a proponent for protections on agricultural uses on rural land. “The ‘balanced’ approach is often in the eye of the beholder,” Marshall said. Regarding roads, and how the county funds them, Benton said arterial roads such as Padden Parkway or Northeast 117th Avenue are a priority. “County arterials are critical to getting around and through this county without wasting additional gas, creating additional impact on our environment from the fumes. We want to keep things moving,” Benton said.  Outside of the county funding scope, Benton said he outright opposes tolling to help replace the Interstate 5 bridge over the Columbia River. “You’ve already paid for the roads once … in your taxes. I think it’s extremely unfair to ask for you to pay for them twice,” Benton said. Marshall noted tolling was identified as an important funding component to the I-5 bridge by the groups who signed off on the ultimate plan. She referenced the failed Columbia River Crossing project, which was scrapped due to Washington’s unwillingness to put forth funds. “We cannot afford to have the process blow up again as it did 10 years ago, and then have to wait an additional decade before there’s a replacement of the I-5 bridge,” Marshall said. Specifically for county funds, Marshall said maintaining existing roads is a priority, especially when considering expected growth. “We need to make sure that we are not building without the available resources for the road infrastructure,” Marshall said. Communication  with the public Both candidates voiced issues with the county’s current communication with the public. Marshall noted how she wrote letters to the county that went unanswered. “I think it’s a sign of respect to respond to communications that come in,” Marshall said. She said providing notice for development projects or county work has been a serious issue, especially in North Clark County where properties are more spread out. Benton said he and Marshall attended many meetings where an apparent lack of communication was a major issue raised among members of the public. “We’ve got to do a better job of communicating with our existing citizens in terms of what is planned for their area,” Benton said.  One way to increase that communication would be through regular newsletters, he said. “When I was in the Legislature, we had newsletters. They don’t have them here (in Clark County government) and I think they should,” Benton said. Candidates were also asked what they respected about each other. “Actually, I don’t know Don Benton very well, I just know what I’ve read in the papers,” Marshall said.  She said a level of respect needs to be maintained among the councilors in order to rectify the current council’s tendency to devolve into partisan quarrels. “Everybody needs to respect each other to really participate in a civil governing process,” Marshall said. “We need to listen to each other. We need to not ascribe motives. That creates a more safe environment for the public to participate in decision-making.” Benton said he respects Marshall, who is a mother, for stepping up to run for public office. “We desperately need good people to step forward and serve our communities,” Benton said.  He agreed that whoever gets elected needs to be professional in their actions as a councilor. “We have to create an atmosphere of mutual respect, whether we agree or disagree,” Benton said. “We have to be willing to listen to everyone’s ideas so that we can craft the best solution for the challenges that we face in the future.” The two candidates will join dozens of others who are running for positions in this year’s general election. The deadline to submit ballots is 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

One-On-One With Avalon Waterways President Pam Hoffee – TravelPulse https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/one-on-one-with-avalon-waterways-president-pam-hoffee-travelpulse/ In an interview with AGENTatHOME, Avalon Waterways President Pam Hoffee discusses a new ship debut, the line’s ongoing commitment to travel advisors and what distinguishes it from the competition. What are Avalon’s Plans to Expand its Fleet? In September, Avalon Waterways announced that it will make its debut on Portugal’s Douro River with a new itinerary and Suite Ship – the Avalon Alegria – in 2024. We’ve been waiting for the perfect opportunity to add Portugal to our robust vacation portfolio and that day has finally arrived. With the debut of Avalon View in April 2022, our total fleet in Europe has grown to 14 Suite Ships with two additional Suite Ships on the Mekong in Southeast Asia. We also provide our guests the opportunity to cruise the Nile, Ganges, Amazon and the Galapagos Islands. How has Business Fared this Year and What’s Your Outlook for 2023? As cruisers look for a big-ship alternative, river cruising is continuing to garner more interest and more bookings. Sales have been solid for 2022. We’re at 90 percent of the bookings we had in 2019 from the U.S. market and growing. In fact, in August we saw more bookings for 2022 than we received for August 2019. Early bookings for 2023 have us back at pre-pandemic sales with more opportunities for growth. What are the Key Selling Points for Avalon Waterways in Terms of its Ships, Itineraries and Excursions? Offering travelers “Classic,” “Discovery” and “Active” options on every river cruise itinerary, Avalon Choice presents guests with a variety of excursions and onboard activities each day – all engaging in their own way. We’ve put together as many as 28 included excursion choices on our Active and Discovery itineraries, placing the compass firmly in the hands of our guests to choose any direction – and any experience – they desire. Avalon’s ships feature two full decks of 200-square-foot Panorama Suites, each featuring an 11-foot-wide wall of floor-toceiling windows that open seven feet wide, the widest-opening windows in cruising. This wall of glass converts the room into an Open-Air Balcony. How Important are Travel Advisors to Your Business? Travel advisors are at the heart of what we do and every decision that we make. The majority of our bookings come from travel advisors, so we’re committed in every way to supporting them. One recent example of that commitment happened during COVID when we changed our policy to pay commission at the time of payment rather than the time of travel. It was our way to help advisors get much-needed funds flowing back into business. We have no non-commissionable fares, and pay full cruise commission on land extensions, which no other line does. Our team of business development managers are deployed around the country and ready to work with advisors to grow their business. What Advice Would you Give Agents on How to Sell Avalon Waterways? Become an Avalon Waterways Specialist and let your clients and potential clients know that you are a specialist in river cruising. We’re a platinum partner to ASTA and we will, once again, take part in the River Cruise Expo in Budapest in March 2023. Go and learn about all the river lines and see what makes each company unique. You will benefit from seeing our ships side-by-side. Qualify for and travel on one of our Suite Rewards fam cruises. Once you’ve booked your trip, build a group around your planned sailing. That way, you’re guaranteed to be there with your clients, regardless of how many you book. If you do earn enough to quality for a tour conductor [TC] credit, you get to keep the TC as extra commission. %

$275M Verdict For Toxic Exposures At Washington School – Kentucky Today https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/275m-verdict-for-toxic-exposures-at-washington-school-kentucky-today/ MONROE, Wash. (AP) — A jury in King County has awarded $275 million to ten students and parents who say they suffered serious neurological injuries from chemical exposure at a school northeast of Seattle. The lawsuit against Bayer Pharmaceuticals is the fourth to result in a multimillion-dollar verdict, The Seattle Times reported. The company owns chemical giant Monsanto, the manufacturer of polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs. The first three lawsuits resulted in jury verdicts of $268 million distributed to 14 plaintiffs. One lawsuit is ongoing and 16 more await trial. More than 200 students, parents and teachers from the Sky Valley Education Center, an alternative school in Snohomish County, have sued Monsanto over environmental contamination. They say Monroe School District knew PCBs were found on the campus, but, despite cleanup efforts, toxins were still being found into 2019. Exposure to the PCBs led to health effects including neurological problems, skin lesions, cancer, hormonal diseases and other illnesses, plaintiffs said. PCBs were banned by the EPA in 1979 but still remain in some structures including in lighting ballasts at Sky Valley before they were replaced. Bayer Pharmaceuticals said in a statement that it disagrees with the verdict and plans to appeal, as it has with prior verdicts. Bayer also claims failures on the part of the Monroe School District. In early 2022, the school district agreed to pay $34 million in a settlement with parents and students exposed to PCBs. The district did not accept responsibility for hazardous conditions on campus and said it acted appropriately to remove toxicants and inform parents. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Here Are Some Of The Best Vegan Restaurants In India – Onmanorama https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/here-are-some-of-the-best-vegan-restaurants-in-india-onmanorama/ The concept of ‘healthy eating’ is more popular than ever now with social media and culinary platforms continuously promoting the benefits of a good diet. Taking it to the next level, many have been gradually moving towards a vegan diet from a completely vegetarian or non-vegetarian diet. Several celebrities and influencers have also started endorsing veganism and are very vocal about their preferences via their social media platforms which are filled with photographs and videos of vegan food and vegan recipes. This latest trend has led to the opening of several vegan restaurants across the country, catering to the culinary needs of their vegan patrons. Several restaurant entrepreneurs have taken extra care to ensure that people relish the dishes they serve by using organic food materials. Did you know that a plant-based diet is palate-friendly, prevents ailments and keeps one in the pink of health? Here’s a sneak peek into the best vegan restaurants in India Rose Café, New Delhi The Rose café located in Saket in South Delhi offers pizzas, soups and sandwiches made from plant-based raw materials. Some of the dishes such as the Goat’s Cheese and Basil Pizza, meatballs, Mushroom and Cheese Tart are loved by the millennials. A well-balanced menu is the café’s USP. One can have a hearty well-balanced meal while sipping some coffee, tea, juice or soy milk with the food, which acts as a palate cleanser too. On special occasions, a vegan breakfast is also served with a muesli fruit salad and almond milk. Not just this, the café also offers signature dishes from different cuisines of the world such as Italian, Lebanese, Chinese and Egyptian. Customers visiting this cafe love to binge on the Egyptian Egg-plant based Moussaka, Chickpea soup and stuffed veggies with rice and lentils. Paradigm Shift, Bengaluru Paradigm Shift, as the name suggests, is one of the trendiest rooftop restaurants in Bengaluru. They offer beetroot salad, legumes, nut pies, tofu curries, chia seed cakes, almond crackers, peanut cookies, millet bread and oats biscuits. Many vegan connoisseurs drop by this trendy restaurant to gorge on their favourite Lemon tart, Banoffee Pie and Almond cake. Carrots, Bengaluru Carrots, located in Bengaluru, serves remarkable food and provides gluten-free meals to its customers. Their desserts and their vegan dishes such as Almond Pasta, Pesto Vegetables and Peanut Butter Cheesecakes are absolute crowd pullers. The desserts here are prepared with impeccable perfection by the chefs and do not contain sugar or gelatin. The restaurant also offers freshly prepared burritos, sprouted salads and refreshing juices that appeal to foreign tourists. The positive vibe of the place also helps visitors unwind, relax and have a good time. The Real Green Café, Pune The Real Green Café serves many delectable dishes and some super delicious pizzas with toppings like lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, coriander leaves and tofu. While cooking the dishes, the chefs are careful to refrain from using too much oil, sugar or flour. The restaurant also serves gluten-free desserts that are made using plant-based milk and have fewer calories in them. The decor of the cafe also adds to the whole experience of the place – it is decorated with slogans and messages that emphasize the importance of veganism. The Holy Tree, Ludhiana Situated in the bustling city of Ludhiana, The Holy Tree serves vegan kebabs, momos and even vegan burgers. Having in-house produce of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables plays to the USP of this place which is highly popular among vegan customers in the city. Some of the popular dishes served here are vegetable potpourri soup, broccoli noodles and walnut smoothies. Divine Nature, Dharamkot, HP Located amidst the pristine Himalayas, the Divine Nature is a popular among both locals and travellers. Tofu burgers, Tomato-Cucumber Sandwiches, Vegetable Dosas and a variety of vegan Thalis are some of the vegan dishes served here. The restaurant also offers organic and sugar-free desserts like Biscuit Pudding, Apple Cinnamon Custard Cake, Strawberry Cheesecake and Mango Cream, which are made from organic cheese and curd. The restaurant promotes a sustainable way of living, they have furniture made of bamboo and mud walls – the rustic charm of the place only adds to the charming dining experience. So, the next time you are visiting any of the above cities and are interested in trying vegan food, do visit these restaurants and let us know about your experience! Bon Appetit!

Sports Planner For Tuesday – The Republic https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/sports-planner-for-tuesday-the-republic/ COMING UP Indianapolis Colts Sunday at Titans, 1 p.m. (CBS) Oct. 30 vs. Commanders, 4:25 p.m. (FOX) Nov. 6 at Patriots, 1 p.m. (CBS) Indiana University football Saturday at Rutgers, Noon (BTN) Nov. 5 vs. Penn State, Noon (TBA) Nov. 12 at Ohio State, TBA (TBA) Purdue football Saturday at Wisconsin, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN) Nov. 5 vs Iowa, Noon (TBA) Nov. 12 at Illinois, TBA (TBA) Notre Dame football Saturday vs. UNLV, 2:30 p.m. (Peacock) Oct. 29 at Syracuse, Noon (TBA) Nov. 5 vs. Clemson, 7:30 p.m. (NBC/Peacock) Indiana Pacers Wednesday vs. Wizards, 7 p.m. (Bally Sports Indiana) Friday vs. Spurs, 7 p.m. (Bally Sports Indiana) Saturday vs. Pistons, 7 p.m. (Bally Sports Indiana) NASCAR Sunday at Homestead-Miami, 2:30 p.m. (NBC) Oct. 30 at Martinsville, Va., 2 p.m. (NBC) Nov. 6 at Phoenix, 3 p.m. (NBC) SPORTS ON TV TODAY Men’s college soccer Hofstra at Virginia, 7 p.m. (ACC) Indiana at Wisconsin, 8 p.m. (BTN) MLB N.L. Championship Series: Phillies at Padres, Game 1, 8 p.m. (FS1) NBA 76ers at Celtics, 7:30 p.m. (TNT) Lakers at Warriors, 10 p.m. (TNT) NHL Flyers at Lightning, 7 p.m. (ESPN) Kings at Predators, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN) Men’s soccer La Liga: Valencia at Sevilla, 12:55 p.m. (ESPN2) Premier League: Nottingham Forest at Brighton & Hove Albion, 2:30 p.m. (USA) Women’s soccer FIFA U-17 World Cup Group Stage: Colombia vs. Mexico, Group C, 6:45 a.m. (FS2) FIFA U-17 World Cup Group Stage: France vs. Japan, Group D, 10:15 a.m. (FS2) Tennis Guadalajara-WTA, Stockholm-ATP, Antwerp-ATP, Naples-ATP Early Rounds, 5 and 6 a.m. and noon today and 5 and 6 a.m. Wednesday (Tennis)

Redhill Beefs Up Metaverse Offering With Pixel Canvas Tie-Up – Marketing Interactive https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/redhill-beefs-up-metaverse-offering-with-pixel-canvas-tie-up-marketing-interactive/ Redhill is expanding into the metaverse scene by collaborating with US-based enterprise metaverse platform Pixel Canvas for interactive and immersive brand experiences. The agency will leverage Pixel Canvas’s platform and technologies in brand campaigns and communications strategies, adding a new dimension to omnichannel storytelling for clients. Redhill hopes to transform customer experience and deliver real business outcomes through the partnership. Jacob Puthenparambil, founder and CEO of Redhill, said its metaverse offering is designed to help its clients understand and capitalise on this next massive wave of disrupting businesses and industries and arm them with the strategies and technologies they need to fully capitalise on these new virtual worlds. Through using programming, connected animation, and gamification, Redhill will enable its clients to create immersive brand experiences by organising experiential conferences, events, client presentations, and product launches to drive enhanced user engagement. Formerly a VR game company, Pixel Canvas began designing and delivering 3D virtual event prototypes to Fortune 500 companies such as Verizon and WarnerMedia. As interest in the metaverse rose and demand grew for immersive and visually appealing virtual experiences, Pixel Canvas pivoted to developing a full platform capable of delivering enterprise-grade metaverse experiences that were highly customisable, scalable, interactive, and accessible. One of Pixel Canvas’ projects to date is “Unlockverse” 3, a virtual mall experience built for Unlock Venture Partners. Users could visit each of the venture capital firm’s portfolio companies in their own virtual space and view product images and company information, as well as watch real-time discussions and, have live chats with staff. Pixel Canvas’s platform is powered by Unreal Engine 5 – touted as an advanced real-time 3D creation tool for photorealistic visuals and immersive experiences – resulting in lifelike experiences that invite better immersion and engagement than existing metaverses. To date, Pixel Canvas’s library contains over 25 templated environments, 30 minigames and five escape rooms that can all be fully reskinned to meet a brand’s needs, complemented by a full set of networking features such as video and text chat, live streaming and more. Additionally, these experiences are cloud-rendered for scalability and browser-based to be accessible by any connected device. “Through our partnership with Redhill, our companies will be able to deliver immersive experiences to transform how brands connect, collaborate, and communicate in a fully realised metaverse,” Joey Lee, founder and CEO of Pixel Canvas, said. The company also looks forward to working with Redhill to explore creative opportunities in the fast-growing Asia Pacific region. This latest news builds on the other offerings that Redhill has launched in the past year. Most recently, Redhill acquired Singapore-based Vision Strategy Storytelling as part of the agency’s efforts to further strengthen its sustainability offerings, providing creative visual storytelling solutions centred around social impact and sustainability for the agency and its clients. Earlier this year, the agency established a new creative technology and design unit – Redhill Studio – that offers creative design, video and podcast production, and website and web application development. This is in addition to Redhill providing the entire suite of end-to-end integrated communications solutions, including strategic counsel for public relations, digital narratives, crisis management, marketing, internal communications, and branding across industries and sectors. More recently, Redhill officially launched its global headquarters in Singapore, with the new 5,000 square feet office being able to accommodate up to 150 employees. The agency was founded in 2014. Meet Asia’s top PR and communication leaders in-person. PR Asia sets the stage for the future of purpose-driven contemporary PR. Join us on 9 November as we gather Asia’s top PR and communication practitioners in-person in Malaysia. Deep dive into the next necessary steps for PR as we head towards 2023. Only at #PRAsia. Related articles:  Redhill acquires VS Story in SG to grow sustainability offering  Redhill unveils specialist arm for creative assets and web development  Redhill expands Middle East and Africa footprint from Abu Dhabi Global Market  Adland Diversity & Inclusion Index 2021: Redhill

New York Man Faces 25 Years In Prison For Bitcoin Money Laundering And Narcotics Scheme – Cryptonews https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/new-york-man-faces-25-years-in-prison-for-bitcoin-money-laundering-and-narcotics-scheme-cryptonews/ Source: Unsplash A New York man is facing 25 years in prison, after being convicted by a federal jury in Brooklyn of money laundering and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. The unlicensed business the man was accused of operating was part of a scheme to launder money earned in bitcoin (BTC) from illegal drug trafficking, a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York said. The convicted man was identified as 50-year-old Mustafa Goklu, also known as “Mustangy.” The verdict followed a four-day trial in New York, and Goklu now faces a prison sentence of 25 years. According to Breon Peace, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Goklu’s business offered customers the ability to launder proceeds from various criminal activities, while at the same time remaining anonymous and “conceal where their Bitcoin was coming from […].” “With today’s verdict, Goklu’s illicit business of converting money from one form to another without a required license has been shut down and the defendant has been convicted for his crimes,” Peace said. He went on to thank the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Division for “outstanding investigative work on the case.” Goklu’s arrest came after undercover law enforcement agents first noticed an advertisement posted on the peer-to-peer bitcoin trading platform LocalBitcoins.com where a user named “Mustangy” offered to purchase up to $99,999 worth of BTC. The undercover agents then proceeded to contact “Mustangy,” whose real name was Mustafa Goklu, and later met with him in person to sell bitcoin for cash. Per the press release, the undercover agents reportedly indicated “on multiple occasions” that the source of the bitcoin they were selling was drug trafficking, but Goklu still completed the trade as agreed. In total, Goklu and the undercover agents met on seven occasions over a nine-month period, which ended with Goklu’s arrest in April 2019.

Oil Prices Steady On U.S. Dollar Weakness; Recession Fears Weigh – Reuters https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/oil-prices-steady-on-u-s-dollar-weakness-recession-fears-weigh-reuters/ Dollar dips as UK budget U-turn improves market sentiment U.S. Permian oil production forecast to hit record in Nov -EIA Oct 18 (Reuters) – Oil prices steadied in early Asian trade on Tuesday as a weaker U.S. dollar lent support, although rising shale production and fears that stubbornly high inflation could lead the world economy into a recession limited gains. Brent crude futures rose 9 cents or 0.1% to $91.71 per barrel by 1:20 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures gained 6 cents or 0.1% to $85.52 per barrel. The dollar fell against a basket of major currencies after Britain’s new finance minister Jeremy Hunt axed much of the government’s so-called “mini-budget”, lifting risk appetite. read more Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com The dollar index against a basket of currencies dropped 0.82% to 112.11. A weaker dollar makes oil cheaper for non-U.S. buyers. Rising shale output has helped to ease an oil supply crunch and capped price gains. Oil output in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico, the biggest U.S. shale oil basin, is forecast to rise by about 50,000 barrels per day (bpd) to a record 5.453 million bpd this month, the Energy Information Administration said. read more Expectations that China will keep with loose monetary policy to help its economy hobbled by COVID-19 restrictions has also lent support to oil prices. The country’s central bank rolled over maturing medium-term policy loans on Monday while keeping its key interest rate unchanged for a second month. Meanwhile, OPEC+ member states have been lining up to endorse the steep cut to its output target agreed this month after the White House accused Riyadh of coercing some other nations into supporting the move. read more Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Laila Kearney in New York; Editing by Edwina Gibbs Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Buzzing Stocks | L&T Tech, Mahindra CIE, Tata Communications, And Others In News Today – Moneycontrol https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/buzzing-stocks-lt-tech-mahindra-cie-tata-communications-and-others-in-news-today-moneycontrol/ Stocks to Watch: Check out the companies making headlines before the opening bell. October 18, 2022 / 06:53 AM IST Results on October 18: L&T Technology Services to be in focus ahead of quarterly earnings on October 18. Gujarat Fluorochemicals, Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation, Heritage Foods, HFCL, ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company, JSW Ispat Special Products, KPIT Technologies, L&T Technology Services, Mahindra CIE Automotive, Network18 Media & Investments, Newgen Software Technologies, Polycab India, Schaeffler India, Tata Communications, Tinplate Company of India, and TV18 Broadcast will declare their quarterly earnings on October 18. Tata Coffee: The company recorded a 172% year-on-year growth in consolidated profit at Rs 147 crore for the quarter ended September FY23 driven by improved performance of plantation and instant coffee businesses and one-time exceptional income on disposal of a non-core property. Consolidated revenue increased by 31% YoY to Rs 718.3 crore during the quarter led by higher realisations in all businesses. JMC Projects (India): The company has raised Rs 75 crore via NCDs as it has allotted 750 non-convertible debentures of the face value of Rs 10 lakh, on private placement basis. The said NCDs will be listed on wholesale debt market segment of the BSE. Aster DM Healthcare: Subsidiary Aster Pharmacies Group LLC entered into a joint venture agreement with Abdulmohsen Al Hokair Holding Group to establish, manage and operate pharmacy chain across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to market and commercialize pharmaceutical products under the ‘Aster Pharmacy’ brand. SJVN: Subsidiary SJVN Green Energy and Assam Power Distribution Company (APDCL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop 1,000 MW floating solar power projects in Assam. Spandana Sphoorty Financial: The non-banking finance company has turned profitable with Q2FY23 net at Rs 49.5 crore against loss of Rs 222.68 crore in previous quarter and loss Rs 58.87 crore in Q2FY22. Revenue fell 24.5% year-on-year to Rs 281 crore, but grew by 21% sequentially. Maharashtra Seamless: The company has appointed Sarat Kumar Mohanty as Chief Financial Officer and recommended issue of bonus shares in the ratio of one bonus equity share against one existing share, subject to approval of shareholders. Its consolidated profit for the quarter ended September FY23 grew by 86% to Rs 176.6 crore compared to year-ago period and revenue increased by 49% to Rs 1,414.2 crore during the same period. Indowind Energy: The company reported consolidated profit at Rs 3.91 crore for the quarter ended September FY23, up 587% on strong topline. Revenue during the quarter grew by 65% to Rs 14.7 crore compared to corresponding period last fiscal. In the half year ended September FY23, consolidated profit increased by 249% to Rs 5.61 crore and revenue rose by 48% to Rs 22.5 crore compared to same period last year. Ashiana Housing: The company has acquired a piece of additional land admeasuring 2.26 acres on perpetual basis from Mahindra Lifespaces within the township of Mahindra World City at Chennai (Tamilnadu). Total acquisition of land alongwith the above said land now stands at 17.90 acres. Star Housing Finance: The company said the board of directors approved sub-division of one share (face value Rs 10) into two fully paid-up shares (face value Rs 5), and issue of one bonus equity share for every one fully paid-up equity share.

The Biggest Gaming News For October 17, 2022 – TheGamer https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/the-biggest-gaming-news-for-october-17-2022-thegamer/ Switch Sports goes back online, Amouranth tries to make an appearance, and Bayonetta 3 voice actor Jennifer Hale weighs in on the pay controversy. Since you’ve probably been at work all day, I’m going to guess that you’ve gotten a little bit behind on all of the latest gaming news, but don’t worry because we’ve got you covered. That’s what friends are for after all. Today, we heard that Switch Sports will be coming back online, Amouranth tried to make her first appearance in public since revealing that she has a husband, and the Bayonetta 3 voice actor Jennifer Hale responded to the ongoing pay controversy. As always, these are just our top stories and so read on for the rest. The streamer Adriana Chechik severely injured herself at the recently held TwitchCon by falling backwards into a poorly designed foam pit. The latest development is that she has now left her hospital and is able to walk on her own, albeit with some help. “Today was so hard, I walked. I passed out after I brushed my teeth and had to be carried back, but baby got her dancing shoes,” Chechik said on Twitter. Followers have been showing all sorts of support, surely a big boost to her morale. More Rooster Teeth Employees Come Forward, Claim That They Were Unpaid And Overworked Several more former employees at Rooster Teeth have come forward with allegations of mismanagement, crunch, and pay disparity. These join Kdin Jensen who recently complained about workplace abuse. “Over the course of my entire time at Rooster Teeth, they forced thousands of hours of free labor,” Ian Kedward for example said on Twitter. “I think someone did the math for Gen:Lock and determined that over half the show was done for free.” Bayonetta 3 Voice Actor Jennifer Hale Responds To Voice Acting Pay Controversy The voice actor Hellena Taylor made headlines recently after calling for a boycott of the upcoming Bayonetta 3, claiming that she was only offered $4,000 in exchange for her services on the game. The current voice actor playing Bayonetta, Jennifer Hale, has now come forward with a statement on the matter, saying that “as a longtime member of the voice acting community, I support every actor’s right to be paid well and have advocated consistently for this for years.” Hale went on to say that “I am under a non-disclosure agreement and am not at liberty to speak regarding this situation. My reputation speaks for itself.” Switch Sports Will Be Back Online Tomorrow, Players To Be Compensated Players have been doing without Switch Sports for several days now, but the servers will soon be going back online. “A bug has been found in the Nintendo Switch Sports Ver1.2.1 update which causes the software to close during the pre-match loading screen,” Nintendo previously announced on Twitter. “This is unfortunately affecting both online and offline play modes. We have therefore temporarily suspended the rollout of this update.” The company added that “whilst we investigate to find a solution, Nintendo Switch Sports servers will be temporarily taken offline and online play will not be available during this time. Save data backup is also temporarily suspended. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.” Players will apparently be getting some form of compensation. Amouranth Starts First Stream Since Revealing Abusive Marriage, Someone Calls The Cops The streamer Amouranth revealed yesterday that she has a husband, something which sent a certain segment of her fanbase into a fury. The content creator tried to make an appearance this afternoon, but someone seems to have called the cops, preventing Amouranth from turning on the cameras. The reason for the police presence remains unclear. “People on the team were able to talk to her and she says that she’s fine,” her Content Lead who goes by TheRealMarzbar on Twitter said. “Police went multiple times since 5:00 AM yesterday. She says she’s okay, so they can’t do much. She spent all day talking to her husband to sort things out.” NEXT: The Problem With Historical Accuracy In Assassin’s Creed Mirage According To A Real Archaeologist

Cadillac Celestiq First Look: A Super-Luxury $300k Electric Car Built Just For You – SlashGear https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/cadillac-celestiq-first-look-a-super-luxury-300k-electric-car-built-just-for-you-slashgear/ Chris Davies/SlashGear The Cadillac Celestiq has been a long time coming. Not just a nod back to, but a wholesale reclaiming of the automaker’s coachbuilding talents, it’s the pinnacle of profligacy from a car-maker that has been accused of forgetting the reality of true luxury in recent years. Because, while leather, wood, and gadgets may wow by themselves, nothing quite beats exclusivity. Chris Davies/SlashGear Cadillac, like just about every automaker, has flirted with limited editions before now, but the Celestiq — pronounced, incidentally, “Celestick” so as to rhyme with Lyriq — elevates that to new levels. “It’s handcrafted, it’s built here in our technical center in Warren, Michigan,” Rory Harvey, Vice President of Global Cadillac, says of the astonishingly long fastback sedan. Each will be one-of-one. Each will also be — not only in Cadillac terms but car terms more generally — fabulously expensive. Celestiq ownership, if you’re approved to purchase one, will start in the low $300,000’s, according to the automaker. That, though, is for a “blank canvas” car, according to Harvey, and the price is expected to spiral accordingly as potential owners explore the possibilities. The most epic Cadillac ever Chris Davies/SlashGear Mass production has been responsible for a lot of things in transportation, not least bringing car ownership to a level where many can afford it, but the Celestiq takes the exact opposite approach. Cadillac will build fewer than two cars per day, and no more than six being produced at any one time, with total production for each vehicle from order to delivery expected to take months depending on just how much customization is involved. Chris Davies/SlashGear It’s that which Cadillac is hoping will catch on. The automaker would be mightily disappointed if you took home a Celistiq that looks just like this blue example, built to showcase the production version of the original concept. Not because it’s disappointed with how it looks and feels, but because the whole point of the exercise is to make something nobody else has. Indeed, the Celestiq brief was to “develop the most epic Cadillac ever,” according to Brandon Vivian, executive chief engineer at the automaker. Ultium meets 3D printing Chris Davies/SlashGear That has involved combining craftspeople with cutting-edge manufacturing processes, and General Motors’ Ultium electric platform underneath. Celestiq is a full EV, with an estimated 600 horsepower, 640 lb-ft of torque, and — despite its vast dimensions, almost as long as an Escalade SUV — capable of 0-60 mph in an estimated 3.8 seconds. Chris Davies/SlashGear They’re wild numbers, but not as wild as how complex each car will be to build. 115 of the parts use additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, the broadest application in GM so far. The steering wheel, for instance, is entirely 3D printed, and the biggest such metal piece put into production so far. The window switches, grab handles, and other structural pieces are also made in the same way. Mega castings, meanwhile, allow for six vast cast aluminum components for the underbid and the shock towers. Then there’s Flex Fabrication — a sheet-folding process that Cadillac describes as “akin to metallic origami” — with more than 300 such pieces through the EV. Bespoke is the name of the Celestiq game Chris Davies/SlashGear Cadillac has been extreme in avoiding plastic wherever it can, particularly in the interior. All of the metal is real metal; its finish and even its core design can be modified. There’ll be a palette of paint options, but if you want to match your Celestiq to your favorite lipstick or your dog’s eyes, Cadillac will do that too. Chris Davies/SlashGear There’ll be a design hub at GM’s Warren center, with a craft center to showcase some possibilities, but the Cadillac team will be headed out on the road to meet with customers where they are, too. If owners want to come to watch their car being built from time to time, they can; or, they can track the progress via their dedicated concierge. Chris Davies/SlashGear The limitations, really, come down to making sure the car still satisfies safety regulations. Beyond that, you get the sense that Cadillac is really hoping its customers rise to the challenge and test what’s possible. “We’d love you to be extreme,” Michael Simcoe, VP of Global Design, says. 600 horsepower and 300 miles of range Chris Davies/SlashGear For its part, Cadillac hasn’t left the Celestiq wanting when it comes to performance or platform. It’s the same core Ultium architecture as we’ve seen used in the automaker’s own Lyriq electric SUV — though Celestiq’s design actually predates Lyriq — with a bespoke arrangement that repositions the battery cells so as to allow the whole car to be lower. The 5.51-meter-long car is expected to drive more than 300 miles on a charge of its 111 kWh battery, and it’ll support 190 kW DC fast charging for adding around 78 miles of range in 10 minutes. Chris Davies/SlashGear There’s also Active Roll Control — a Cadillac-first — and adaptive air suspension, along with the latest iteration of Magnetic Ride Control 4.0. Active rear steering and 5-link front and rear suspension are standard, too, along with variable ratio front steering. Huge, 23-inch forged aluminum wheels and dual-motor all-wheel drive are also standard. So, too, will be Ultra Cruise, GM’s upcoming iteration on Super Cruise that — eventually — the company says will be able to do door-to-door hands-off semi-autonomous driving in 95% of all situations. The Celestiq will have all the hardware for Ultra Cruise installed, though the functionality will be rolled out as a series of over-the-air (OTA) software updates. Exactly what the EV will be able to do at launch is unclear, though the same feature set of Enhanced Super Cruise right now seems likely. Lashings of tech in a customizable cabin Chris Davies/SlashGear The rest of the Celestiq’s tech is a whole lot more noticeable. There are 5 high-definition displays in the cabin, including a 55-inch pillar-to-pillar screen — in fact two panels under a single sheet of glass — spanning the whole dashboard. Front and rear command centers handle things like comfort and seat settings, along with opening and closing the power doors. Finally, there are two 12.6-inch rear displays for the twin back seats. Despite the scale, Celestiq is resolutely a four-seater experience. Chris Davies/SlashGear The infotainment system is based on Google’s software, with things like the Google Assistant, Maps, and Play store built in. There’s also a 38-speaker AKG audio system with 1,000 watts and next-gen active noise cancellation, plus three exterior speakers for Cadillac’s first exterior sound system. 7mm-thick acoustic laminated glass — with antennas cunningly embedded inside — make sure exterior noise is kept at a distance. Chris Davies/SlashGear So, too, is an advanced HVAC system, with the Gentherm ClimateSense promising 33 unique microclimate devices for each occupant to tailor how their seat heats and cools. That includes neck scarf vents for the front and rear seats, plus heated armrests and pads, and motorized vents. Not only is the end result more precisely controlled, Cadillac says, but it’s actually more efficient than a regular climate control system. Sweating the details, big and small Chris Davies/SlashGear Look up, and you see what Cadillac claims is the largest piece of automotive-grade glass in the world. The Celestiq’s enormous panoramic roof is actually made of smart glass, with four separate quadrants that can individuals be adjusted from under 1% to 20% tint. It has infrared reflective and low-emissivity coatings, to help keep the cabin cool. Chris Davies/SlashGear Impressively, certainly, but it’s some of the detailing which stands out as being a little more charming, somehow. The trio of car silhouettes on the edge of the central console lid, for example, that puts the Celestiq in line with some of its bespoke forebears is a neat touch. Chris Davies/SlashGear Despite the “one of one” pitch, meanwhile, Cadillac insists that Celestiq won’t be entirely separate from the rest of its line-up; or, at least, that the techniques and processes involved won’t be. The team working on the big EV is the same that delivered sedans like the CT6, CT5, and CT4, and will be exploring how elements in Celestiq can be brought to mass production. “We will carry this technology forward,” Vivian promises. Finally, a halo car Cadillac can aspire to Chris Davies/SlashGear All the same, it seems fairly unlikely that any of us will encounter a Celestiq in the wild all that often. Cadillac isn’t intentionally limiting production of the car, counting on its manufacturing capabilities and the general appetite for such an EV to do that instead, and nor will it control allocations for different regions around the world. Interest has already been significant, though, the automaker says, and production is expected to begin in December 2023. Chris Davies/SlashGear It’s not unreasonable to say that Cadillac has felt the pinch in recent years, between established luxury players and new upstarts in the category. While models like the CT5-V Blackwing have certainly not stinted on performance, just whether they’ve also managed to attain the true prestige of an authentic luxury vehicle is questionable. Celestiq won’t be to everyone’s tastes, but it certainly leaves no room for doubting where Cadillac sees its priorities. “What all brands need is a halo, you need to have a North Star that defines a brand,” Michael Simcoe, VP of Global Design, says. “In many ways now, Celestiq is Cadillac.”

How To Prepare For Election Day In Washington And Oregon – NBC Right Now https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/how-to-prepare-for-election-day-in-washington-and-oregon-nbc-right-now/ The most important way for peoples’ voices to be heard is through voting, according to Benton County Auditor Brenda Chilton. As Election Day approaches, it’s important to make sure you’re registered to vote.  WASHINGTON  In Washington state, you can register to vote in-person all the way through Election Day. You can also register to vote online, but this should be done at least eight days before the election, or October 31.  “So we have what’s called same-day voter registration, and you can just walk into one of our offices and register to vote,” said Chilton. “And we can get you a ballot that day.”  If you vote by mail, Chilton recommends turning in your ballot at least a week before Election Day. At the very least, it shouldn’t be post-marked later than 1 p.m. on Election Day.  You can also drop off your ballot at any drop box location through Election Day.  OREGON  The last day to register to vote is October 18.  It’s also recommended to vote early in Oregon, according to Dan Lonai, Umatilla County Director of Administrative Services. He says the county isn’t known for having the best voter turnout, but that’s being worked on for this election.  Lonai says it’s crucial for voters to understand that their voice matters in shaping the future of their community.  “Now Oregon has a three-way governor’s race that they say is going to be pretty close,” said Lonai. “It’s important right now for people to really care about how they choose their next governor.”  You can mail-in or drop-off your ballot through 8 p.m. on Election Day.

The Lil’ Cannon Beach Cottage That Could: Whimsical Yet Historic Rental On N. Oregon Coast – Oregon Coast Beach Connection https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/the-lil-cannon-beach-cottage-that-could-whimsical-yet-historic-rental-on-n-oregon-coast-oregon-coast-beach-connection/ The Lil’ Cannon Beach Cottage That Could: Whimsical Yet Historic Rental on N. Oregon Coast Published 10/17/22 at 5:54 PM By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Cannon Beach, Oregon) – Have you ever dreamed of a white picket fence and a historic home-away-from-home on the Oregon coast? Say, in some much-revered coastal burgh as Cannon Beach? Are you hankerin’ for a bit of history? Does a heaping helping of times-gone-by along with sleek, modern conveniences in a quiet spot where you can the waves sound appealing? What about a robustly-shaded yellow door? OK, that’s random. But it works in this scenario, because just this vibe exists in the north Oregon coast town with a little place called Lil Bird Cottage. It’s a diminutive vacation rental that’s big on captivating, and just close enough to the beach to hear the lull of the ocean. Offered up by Beachcomber Vacation Homes in the lovely little town, the wee charming elder statesman on the street sleeps four and gleefully allows your furry friend to join in (for a fee). Cannon Beach (photo copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection) Historic homes in Cannon Beach are a special breed, enough to create a tour of them each fall. They range from stately and almost sprawling to smaller sweet talkers like this one, whispering intriguing tales of the town’s early days when it was called Ecola (but rather embarrassingly had to change because townfolk’s mail bundles kept going to a little town named Eola near Salem). Or perhaps those walls would tell you tales of back when CB had a natatorim (a heated salt water bath) – or maybe even the chilling tales of Cannon Beach’s Bandage Man. Lil Bird Cottage is rich in time travel vibes at first glance, even slightly whimsical, with the vine-covered white gate. That’s only a brief taste, however, as one of the cottage’s chief attractions is one heckuva of a lush garden. Spring almost springs eternal here, with major blooms when in-season and plenty of greens hanging out the rest of the year. That characteristic and eye-catching weathered wood that typifies this north Oregon coast town stands out quickly – and then there’s the wild, yellow, ebullient door. Spry, bold and definitely a head-turner, it’s a nifty addition and playful contrast to the wood. Spoiler alert: there’s another on the opposite side of the building. There, the backyard is a generous chunk of manicured lawn, a feature which your furbaby will love. Zoomies are even better on the Oregon coast, dogs say (or at least they would, if they could). Lil Bird Cottage sits on a quiet spot on the cusp of midtown and on the edges of downtown, making it close walking distance to the excellent grub found in both areas, as well as Cannon Beach’s bursting-at-the-seams art scene. That puts the cottage not too far from famed Haystack Rock, and only a bit of a distance to the slightly less-trodden sands of the northern edges of town. Inside, the cottage boasts details with a definite old-timey slant but in sleek, modern paint, giving it subtle yet unmistakable historic vibes. You wonder what these walls saw. Sons returning home from World War II? The end of Prohibition? Families around the dinner table arguing over Flower Power in the ’60s? There’s plenty of wi-fi, so you’re firmly grounded in all the modern necessities, like binging the new Interview With A Vampire series or Law & Order in between jaunts to the waves. A gas fireplace graces the living room, and the two bedrooms are packed with plenty of upbeat colors and snazzy stylings. There’s one bathroom with a shower and another with a claw-foot bathtub. Outdoors, a barbecue on the back deck caps off that richly-green lawn. All of these goodies are found through Beachcomber Vacation Homes, 503-436-4500. See Lil Bird Cottage page – you’ll have to check its rates on that page as well. Hotels in Cannon Beach – Where to eat – Cannon Beach Maps and Virtual Tours More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging….. More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining….. LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted %