2.2 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes 40 Miles South of Charlotte

Charlotte Stories
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2.2 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes 40 Miles South of Charlotte

Yesterday afternoon, at about 12:41 PM, a 2.2 magnitude earthquake Monticello, SC, a small town located about 40 miles south of Charlotte and 20 miles north of Columbia.

According to the USGS, the quake had a specific epicenter of 34.347°N 81.298°W and a depth of 3.8 km.

Earthquakes have been increasing in frequency around the Charlotte region over the past few years. Last year, we experienced the largest earthquake in over 100 years when a 5.1 magnitude quake hit Sparta, NC, and since then, dozens of aftershocks have continued to rattle our state.

According to USGS.gov, “Moderately damaging earthquakes strike the inland Carolinas every few decades, and smaller earthquakes are felt about once each year or two.”

Did you feel this morning’s quake? 

Duke Energy Partnering With Honeywell To Build Carolina’s First Large Scale Flow Battery

Charlotte Stories
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Duke Energy Partnering With Honeywell To Build Carolina’s First Large Scale Flow Battery

In cooperation with Honeywell, Duke Energy has just announced plans to build the Carolina’s first large scale flow battery system at the company’s Emerging Technology and Innovation Center in Mount Holly.

The revolutionary new technology uses non-flammable electrolyte that converts chemical energy to electricity to store energy for up to 12 hours, significantly exceeding the duration of current lithium-ion battery technology (which now maxes out at 4 hours of discharge capacity). The new flow batteries will also be built with recyclable components that won’t degrade over time. It maintains system performance, providing a reliable and cost-efficient system for at least 20 years.

“Duke Energy has followed flow battery technology for a number of years and is interested in the advancements Honeywell is pursuing,” noted Tom Fenimore, director of Smart Grid Emerging Technology and Operations. “Our Emerging Technology and Innovation Center is an ideal proving ground to study this technology. Over the next five years, Duke Energy plans to install almost 400 megawatts of battery storage capacity in our service territory. We have a keen interest in breakthrough technologies.”

Here is how the new technology will work:

What do you think about the new technology?

Why Charlotte Desperately Needs Mobility Transformation To Survive

Charlotte Stories
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Why Charlotte Desperately Needs Mobility Transformation To Survive

As Charlotte’s explosive growth continues, our traditional growth pattern – low-density and heavily auto-centric — is not sustainable for the generations who will live and work here in the years ahead and has made living here difficult for many today.

Facing similar challenges, other fast-growing cities such as Austin, Seattle, and Denver are making ambitious investments to build diverse mobility networks. Unfortunately, Charlotte’s response has been lackluster. Our bus system is ranked among the poorest in the nation, rail transit expansion has been sporadic, and safe bicycle and pedestrian networks are rare.

Expeditious development of the Transformational Mobility Network (TMN) – with interconnected mobility options to serve everyone – is essential to a strong and sustainable future for the Charlotte area.

A report from the local nonprofit group Sustain Charlotte has detailed what we can do as a city to utilize our full potential. They note that some positive steps from the TMN include:

  • Non-transit projects (bicycle, pedestrian, greenways, and roadways) would receive funding as soon as the sales tax is imposed in 2023 (assuming referendum passage in 2022);
  • Implementing the bus priority corridors and Envision My Ride bus improvements also in 2023;
  • Cost estimates and timelines for each transit project.

But they say that other aspects of the proposal are concerning, including:

  • Longer timelines for the rail projects – doubling the projected schedule for some – will significantly increase overall costs and limit our ability to achieve many goals of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, as the future rail corridors fill up with incompatible development in the interim.
  • The “one project at a time” approach to transit will delay vital improvements that our region needs now, not 20 years from now, and make it harder to meet the city’s adopted climate goals.
  • No details have been shared on how the TMN sales tax’s 10 percent share for non-transit projects would be spent. The majority must go to pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and greenways, not road capacity expansion – and still, that 10 percent may not be enough to deliver, in a timely way, the infrastructure we need to achieve adopted goals.

They believe that the best next steps include:

  • Prioritizing the creation of a fast, frequent, and reliable bus network.
  • Faster rail project completion, perhaps in smaller phased segments (a priority schedule already is needed for more significant segments requiring FTA funding.)
  • Doing a detailed analysis to determine how much money could be saved by building the rail projects faster. Inflation and interest will increase costs the longer we wait. The new projected cost for all transit projects of $11.6 billion is equivalent to $7.3 billion in today’s dollars ($4.3B in inflation costs over 18 years).
  • Augmenting the proposed sales tax with other revenue sources, potentially including value capture from the increased property values of adjacent properties and additional vehicle licensing fees. (Denver’s multi-source approach was recommended by Charlotte’s Transit Funding Working Group in 2013. Seattle’s broader approach to funding also deserves review.)
  • The development of a detailed list of bicycle, pedestrian, and greenway projects, including the timing for each (following the model of the transit projects).

Building the full Transformational Mobility Network, on an expedited schedule, is essential to securing Charlotte’s position as a top-tier city.

The Rise of Online Gaming During Covid

Sharon Anderson
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The Rise of Online Gaming During Covid

With the rise of cryptocurrencies and the pandemic shutdowns, many people have been turning online for their gambling entertainment. New sites are increasing security and offering many more options when compared to traditional in-person gaming facilities.

Even poker is now becoming an online pastime, which is especially surprising, considering it’s storied history. Over 2 centuries ago, it was mainly played by con artists, criminals, and knife-makers on riverboats. Now it is a famous ‘sport’ which is played all over the world by professionals. The celebrity status of poker players has replaced today’s criminal group. Moreover, technology has taken it a step further, and poker hands are no longer handled by professional cheaters manipulating the deck but more often by software programs that connect millions of players worldwide.

Back in the day, games like this in betting houses supported by several exciting game machines. And places like that usually have units that reach more or less up to 1000 units. But with the development of technology, this method is considered less efficient because it must take more time to prepare and cost more money. Hence the creation of new high-tech gaming sites like https://casinohex.co.uk/online-casinos/fast-payout/.

Many Choices of Game Types

Casino Hex features a wide array of games include gambling games, roulette, baccarat, sic bo, and slots. And each player certainly has their favorite type, but the most popular are Baccarat and Roulette. 

Have you been to the site?

What are your favorite games?

Charlotte Landmarks to “Light the World in Teal” for Alzheimer’s Awareness on November 4

Charlotte Stories
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Charlotte Landmarks to “Light the World in Teal” for Alzheimer’s Awareness on November 4

Charlotte landmarks, together with more than 375 other buildings around the world, will light up teal on November 4 to raise Alzheimer’s awareness as part of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s (AFA) Light the World in Teal program.

Light the World in Teal is an annual program held in November as part of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. People and places around the world “go teal” to raise awareness and show support for the millions of people affected by Alzheimer’s. Teal is AFA’s Alzheimer’s awareness color.

To date, participating Charlotte landmarks include:

  • NASCAR Hall of Fame
  • Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts
  • Romare Bearden Park

“Light the World in Teal is a tremendous initiative that demonstrates unity around the world in the battle against Alzheimer’s disease,” said Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., AFA’s President & CEO. “We are grateful to these Charlotte sites for shining a spotlight on Alzheimer’s disease and invite others to join them in going teal on November 4.”

Individuals can participate in Light the World in Teal by wearing teal, turning their porch lights teal, and turning their social media profile picture or cover photo teal—samples can be found by visiting www.lighttheworldinteal.com.  Use the hashtag #AFALightTheWorldInTeal to help raise Alzheimer’s awareness.  Buildings in the Charlotte area interested in participating can sign up by visiting www.lighttheworldinteal.com.

Families looking for information about Alzheimer’s disease or support services can contact AFA’s Helpline at 866-232-8484 or visit www.alzfdn.org.

2.7 Magnitude Earthquake Just Shook The NC Mountains

Charlotte Stories
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2.7 Magnitude Earthquake Just Shook The NC Mountains

Yesterday afternoon, at around 2pm, the North Carolina mountains were rocked by a 2.7 magnitude earthquake.

According to the USGA, the quake had an epicenter of 19 km NNW of North Carolina’s Lake Santeetlah at a 7.6 KM depth.

Earthquakes have been increasing in frequency around the Charlotte region over the past few years. Last year, we experienced the largest earthquake in over 100 years when a 5.1 magnitude quake hit Sparta, NC, and since then, dozens of aftershocks have continued to rattle our state.

According to USGS.gov, “Moderately damaging earthquakes strike the inland Carolinas every few decades, and smaller earthquakes are felt about once each year or two.”

Did you feel this morning’s quake? 

Report of Shots Fired During SWAT Standoff in SouthWest Charlotte

Charlotte Stories
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Report of Shots Fired During SWAT Standoff in SouthWest Charlotte

Over the past 24 hours, the Charlotte SWAT Team has been attempting to subdue an armed man who barricaded himself inside his SouthWest Charlotte home.

According to police, a number of agencies responded to a report of a man with a rifle in the Lions Gate community off South Tryon Street in SouthWest Charlotte yesterday afternoon. The Charlotte SWAT team was eventually called in and the entire neighborhood was barricaded while officers attempted to get the man inside the home to surrender.

At about 8:30am this morning, the man fired his rifle while officers were attempting to take the man into custody. No injuries have been reported from the shot.

Local school students who live in the area are being asked to get on a bus at the intersection of South Tryon and Lions Mane Street.

This is an ongoing investigation.

Business Holiday Cards: 8 Best Practices

Sharon Anderson
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The holiday season is a time for family and loved ones but one cannot forget about colleagues, business partners and associates, office acquaintances, and workplace buddies. One of the best ways to impart your good wishes and/or affection is to send a holiday card. However, there is an unsaid business holiday card etiquette that you need to follow so use the following tips when sending out your well wishes this holiday season. 

  1. Physical Over Digital

Everyone in today’s world is glued to their phones and receiving hundreds of notifications, inboxes, and even emails daily. In the midst of this, a digital holiday card will go largely unnoticed and acknowledged but a physical holiday card will really stand out and enable you to be remembered. Research has shown that physical cards have a greater response rate and make the receiver feel warm and cared for. A digital card in comparison is low effort and for that reason doesn’t count as much. 

  1. The Magic Words

Businesses need to master techniques of employee retention and motivation and part of that is appreciating everything that the employees do year around. In terms of holiday cards, be sure to use warm, appreciative words and thank each employee personally for their efforts (don’t get any names mixed up and use an automatic generator or list) and that will go a long way. Furthermore, still, keep the content of the card formal and business-like and don’t add sentences like asking them over for dinner. Avoid casual slang. 

  1. Delegate The Cards

As a business owner or an employee, you may not have all the time to individually label each envelope and keep on top of the paperwork. Start at least 6 weeks or so before the card absolutely needs to be sent and get other people to help you out depending on how many receivers you have on your list. A card that is sent too late or irresponsibly mailed (entering the wrong address or not writing it clearly enough) is not going to be appreciated by anyone. Wherever possible print the address and name to stick on the envelope instead of handwriting it. 

  1. Industry Specific

Having industry-themed cards like trucking Christmas cards for example are a brilliant idea because they reinforce the team and employee morale and make them feel part of a valued group within a certain profession. You can take a slightly good-humored view of it as well by having a small joke on the cover. 

  1. Use Links

Business holiday cards can be a good opportunity to inform employees about any perks they may have coming up or even to personally inform them of a promotion etc. This of course will vary from person to person and will require specificity to avoid errors. Using the card to direct the receiver onto a custom landing page made by the business is also a good idea and you can make it easier by printing a scannable barcode. 

  1. Don’t Ask Questions

A business holiday card is to spread goodwill so be sure to not include questions. It is also important to not mention tasks on the card or demand RSVPs or callbacks. Keep the card message simple and kind and don’t use it to remind anyone of their duties or use it as an opportunity to delegate any work assignments. The only kind of questions that would be acceptable etiquette-wise would be motivated-related (you can add a questionnaire to this effect). 

  1. All Or None

A business runs smoothly as a combination of everyone’s efforts. Include everyone on the holiday card list including junior employees so that you can cultivate a positive environment that people are happy to work in. It is usually small gestures that massively affect productivity and motivation in an organization so don’t underestimate the power of a well-written physically delivered holiday card that brightens up someone’s day even if they’re mostly doing repairs over the holiday season or working on DIY projects like making a river table with deep pour resin epoxy. 

  1. Accompanying Emails

Whether you’re sending physical holiday cards to valued, regular customers or to employees you can always throw in an accompanying email to ask whether they received the card (however don’t demand an answer). In terms of cards sent to customers, there is research to support that customer retention is boosted by offers and information they receive consistently through multiple channels such as through social media or traditional marketing methods like billboards or mail. 

Traveling To The United States With A Criminal Record

Sharon Anderson
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Traveling To The United States With A Criminal Record

Has someone brought a criminal charge against you? A criminal record truly adds a blemish to your life. It hampers the career, fame, and several other things in your life. However, does it prevent you from visiting the USA? You may like to visit the United States as a temporary visitor for pleasure, business, and any other purpose. But, the question is-

Do you need to take any special steps to access the country?

In most cases, foreign nationals visiting the USA for recreation and temporary business stay need to have B visas (visitor visas). They can apply for these visas at the consulate/US embassies in their home countries.

Unfortunately, the process to apply for a B visa is not easy for someone having a criminal record. According to the latest US immigration law, foreign travelers having different criminal records cannot gain entry to the USA. Thus, they will not get any type of visa to travel the country. 

Types of criminal allegations preventing visa entrants from accessing the US 

Not every crime can result in ineligibility to your B visa. For instance, a single record of drunk driving will not make you ineligible for the visa. But, due to your dangerous behavior and alcoholism, you may have medical ineligibility.  

Drug crimes, theft crimes, drug crimes, tax fraud, and other serious crimes (causing the death of a person and damage to properties) will cause visa ineligibility. Thus, before applying for the visa, you need to focus on the type of crime you committed in the past.

Can you purchase a gun with a criminal record?

Similar to the USA visa, there are some restrictions to your purchase of a gun, especially when you have a criminal record. You need to go through a background check and submit fingerprints to buy a gun. However, the rules of every state are different. According to the laws in Oregon, a convicted person cannot own and purchase firearms.

How will your criminal record be disclosed?

During your visa application process, you need to submit your fingerprints. The law enforcement databases have the record of fingerprints of all criminals. Thus, while checking and matching your fingerprints, it will be easy to identify your criminal convictions.

Moreover, consulates and US embassies use different methods to get the foreign law enforcement details. These are publicly available records in several countries. Thus, you must not try to conceal and tell a lie about your criminal records. It will cause permanent ineligibility for the US visa due to misrepresentation.

Visa ineligibility and waivers

There are some exceptions, according to US immigration law. Thus, you have a chance of getting your visa approval, although you have a criminal record. When your jail sentence was less than 1 year and you were convicted of a single crime, one crime, you could take advantage of the exception.

In some cases, while the sentencing exception is not applicable for the foreign traveler, the US government can waiver inadmissibility. Thus, foreign visitors have some ways of entering the country despite their criminal records. The visa will be valid for a single trip for a limited period.

Criminal inadmissibility rules are relevant to any type of visa (not simply for tourists). Thus, when you have criminal records, and you think of visiting the USA as a temporary worker/student, you can look for a waiver.

How will you obtain the waiver of visa inadmissibility?

To obtain a waiver, you have to fulfill other visa requirements. For instance, to be eligible for a tourist visa, you have to convince the consular officer that you will be back in your homeland after the permitted stay. Then, the officer will make a decision while you have fulfilled the major visa requirements. However, in case of a recently committed crime, you may not get the waiver.

Moreover, the officer will identify the reason for your visit to the US. For instance, when you have a 10-year old criminal record of possessing some marijuana, you will receive a waiver.

Your request for the waiver will reach the Admissibility Review Office, and this inadmissibility waiver is known as the 212(d)(3) waiver.

ARO will assess a range of factors while deciding on the waiver. It mostly checks-

  •         the potential of any danger for permitting the convicted foreign national to the USA
  •         the severity of the crime
  •         the reason for traveling to the USA

You may not need to provide compelling reasons. It is easy to get the waiver approval if you think of entering the country only to visit the Grand Canyon, Disneyland, and some other places. You do not always need to show an emergency reason (the illness of your close relative).

Thus, you have to know about some legal rules to apply for visa to enter the USA with a past criminal record. Get prepared to enjoy a temporary stay in the USA. You can use vacation rental software to look for houses for rent.

 

Why does a business need a copywriter?

Taylor Brouwer
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Every day gigabytes of information are published and transmitted around the world. The most common way to visualize information is through texts (at least for now). A 2019 study found that the most acceptable way for people to communicate with businesses is through texting. And this trend will only intensify as millennials, who make texting an absolute, become more and more mature and become the primary target audience for more and more companies. Because of this, copywriters are important players in the modern market.

Photo by Negative Space/Pexels

But In most cases, businesses need high-quality texts not only for communication purposes. They also use it for effective advertising of services/goods, for SEO-optimization of the site, and so on. Therefore texts are influencing a lot of processes.

Obviously, texts are not important to the seller in the marketplace. But once you want to scale your business, you can’t do without texts. You’ll have your own website and/or social media pages, which will need not just a text, but high-quality texts, sales texts, texts with keywords. One of the things to know before starting a business is at least a rough understanding of what will be the difference between you and your competitors. With that understanding and a good copywriter, your business is practically doomed to success.

A copywriter’s job is not just to write text without errors. 

The copywriter develops the concept of sales, and all the information they get turns into a profit. Each word in the text is written with meaning and for something. For example:

  • encourage the visitor to order a product;
  • tell potential partners about the benefits of cooperation with your company;
  • encourage the customer to call the contact phone number;
  • inspire and cause a desire to visit the blog again;
  • encourage to order services;
  • to remember the information they need.

From any factors that seem insignificant to the customer, the copywriter draws important information to solve complex business problems.

To sell a product or service, you need to have a clear idea of who you are selling to and what problem you are solving. That is why it is important that the copywriter knows how to research a topic, a target audience, a product that needs to be described, and many other things that may be necessary to know in order for the text to be not just a set of letters and words, but to fully perform its task: to sell the product, to inform the audience, to promote the site, etc.

A good copywriter is a person who tells clients why they need your company via different types of texts.

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood/Pexels

What kind of copywriting services businesses may need

Before continuing, it is worth noting that it is almost impossible to find a copywriter all-in-one, who knows how to write all kinds of texts at a high level. In most cases, a specialist who is strong in custom writing will hardly help you write a speech for your board of directors or partners.

So if you’re planning to hire an in-house copywriter, you need to understand exactly what tasks you plan to set them. Because depending on this you will need a person with different experience.

Now back to what copywriters can help you with.

Selling SEO-texts.

The task of the copywriter is not only to harmoniously insert the key “buy an elephant New York”, but also to be able to turn an ordinary internet user into a website visitor and induce them to make a purchase or order services.

A competent copywriter can optimize the website in terms of SEO for key queries so that search engines after indexation increase the ranking of the website in SERP.

Text templates for calls.

To write an effective template for closing the deal on cold calls, the copywriter applies sales skills and the ability to level out possible objections in the text. As a consequence, the call of interest, sending an offer and selling a product or service. Almost the same applies to warm calls.

Texts for landing pages.

Texts for single pages are in high demand by copywriters. In the text for the landing, the copywriter applies psychological methods of persuasion, effective techniques to stimulate the purchase or order of services.

Corporate blogging.

The articles on the corporate blog are not written by a copywriter spontaneously. They all have a theme, a clear structure, and a goal. For example, to attract the maximum number of potential customers from the search traffic, to “accustom” the reader to regular reading of the blog. Such texts form the status of an expert, develop loyalty and stimulate repeat purchases.

To Summarise

This is not a complete list of tasks that an experienced copywriter can perform to the benefit of the business. Here we should once again emphasize that almost each of the above tasks requires people with special expertise. Therefore, it is necessary to be smart not only with the definition of tasks but also with the selection of a person/people to perform these tasks.

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