Rumors Swirl for New Releases from Samsung

Steve Peters
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Rumors Swirl for New Releases from Samsung

The wintertime is always exciting in tech as new releases are scheduled and expected holiday news will come for the newest devices and the newest hardware too – this winter many eyes will be pointed towards the newest mobile releases as both Samsung and Apple are gearing up for a possible holiday release. This has the rumour mill churning on full, many individuals have been holding onto their mobile device for longer periods of time due to increasing costs and little change, but with changes in usage with the growth of many online platform like these casinos and other big games which have become more accessible due to changing legislation, mobile interest is at an all time high. But what do the latest rumours have in store for the newest flagship releases?

Battery charging and capacity may change – Early rumours particularly towards Samsung devices had been aimed at the battery – this is something that has been a sore spot for many mobile users for quite some time as batteries haven’t kept up with the change in devices, there had been suggestions that Samsung would re-introduce 65W superfast charging from reports of a known leaker, but that seems not to be the case. Similarly, there have been other rumours that the battery capacity may actually be reduced in the newest devices, but this may not be such a bad thing with other potential changes too.

Smaller displays may be on the way too – Whilst the smaller battery capacity may take some by surprise, the smaller displays may offset the huge power draw and make these batteries work well. Rumours have been suggested that Samsung could fall more in line with what is common across iPhones with smaller displays, up to 2” smaller across the range, taking a step back from the oversized displays that have been common and to something much easier to handle. 

Further S Pen support could be on the way – For Note users, the S Pen has always been seen as a unique and sometimes very useful feature too but has been missing from other devices – another rumour is that the S22 Ultra could feature S Pen support directly into the phone and fold it into the Note range, whilst the support did exist for the S21 Ultra, there had been no holster in the device itself. It’ll be a welcome change for many but may lead to confusion between the Ultra and future Note releases.

Clarity will be given soon enough, it’s expected a release date will fall around December or January, and those hoping for a big upgrade may have plenty of opportunity to pick up something great. Price will be a factor for some, but the newest features may certainly look to outweigh the cost.

Rowen Seibel’s Entrepreneurial Success Story

Sharon Anderson
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Rowen Seibel’s Entrepreneurial Success Story

Rowen Seibel learned what it meant to create a successful brand at a very young age. From baseball cards, to candy, all the way to an extremely successful party and event planning business at 17, Seibel was destined for success as an entrepreneur. 

He then expanded his business experience into his professional career as an adult. His first public deal was done on behalf of Rodale Press. He even introduced CBRE and their brokerage team to the Rodale team. He worked with them from the very start, securing a space and having the building named after Rodale, where they remain to this day. This experience is where Seibel’s interest in real estate blossomed. For his first project, this deal was incredibly successful, it was even named the most indigenous of the year (2004) by REBNY. 

Another one of his impressive accomplishments was his work in developing the retail portion of the famous Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Rowen channeled his creativity and put together ideas for the layout, development, restaurant selection and brand choices. His goal was to make decisions based on what would attract visitors and lead them past the ground floor. 

By 2005, Rowen’s work had paid off and he acquired the rights to Serendipity Restaurants worldwide. His success has now led to licensing in major locations such as Florida, Las Vegas, Washington DC and even globally in Dubai and Tokyo. 

One of his most exciting projects was partnering with Caesar’s Palace in the development of Old Homestead Las Vegas Steakhouse. Seibel had proved himself in the restaurant business which is what has allowed him to take on such important projects in the industry. Seibel worked with Caesar’s Palace to re-engineer the menu for NY and Atlantic City without losing the mystique of New York’s famous meatpacking location. Rowen also collaborated with Caesar’s Entertainment to finance and develop multiple brands for prestigious chef, Gordon Ramsey. His list of celebrity clients doesn’t end there! Rowen also worked with master chef Masaharu Morimoto and brought him to MGM Corporation. He was in charge of important details like financing, planning and strategizing for this deal. 

Once his Caesars and MGM projects were completed, he was ready to continue his success in the restaurant industry. His next large project involved developing the Rise and Shine breakfast brand. This project included choosing the real estate, financing the development and assisting in the brand’s expansion. 

Beyond the restaurant industry, Seibel has bought and sold millions of dollars in real estate. This includes his projects and financing within hospitality developments and private equity investments. Rowen seeks projects that allow him to make a market impact and gain a profit for himself and those involved. His passion for building and developing brands has allowed him to learn and grow as an entrepreneur.

In his personal life, Rowen enjoys traveling the world with his wife Bryn. Beyond his interest in the restaurant and real estate industry, he enjoys diversifying his business background and has even produced movies. There is nothing he can’t do!

Rowen Seibel doesn’t take his success for granted and uses his resources and time to give back to the community. Some of the philanthropies he is involved in include, lung and brain cancer research, St Jude’s, NYU Perlmutter Cancer Center, Ramaz School Hatzalah, Keep Memory Alive, Hour Children etc. Seibel even made an impact after 9/11 by developing an event at Cipriani 42nd St. to contribute to various charities supporting those who were affected by this tragedy.

Rowen Seibel has really made a name for himself globally and continues to do so with his successful business ventures. We can’t wait to see what’s next for him and the brands he develops! Visit Rowen Seibel on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedInPinterest

Charlotte Just Broke Ground on The South East’s First All-Concrete Residential Midrise

Steve
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Charlotte Just Broke Ground on The South East’s First All-Concrete Residential Midrise

Yesterday afternoon, leaders from the Greenstone Group, David Hoffman Realty, and the City of Charlotte gathered to break ground on a true first for our city – and for our region.

When completed, the 6-story $25 million Prosperity project at the corner of Summer Creek Lane and Benfield Road will become the first all-concrete residential midrise in the South East. The unique precast concrete structure will allow for significantly increased fire resistance and sound proofing when compared to typical stick-built condo develops, as well as allowing for full 10-foot floor-to-ceiling windows in the units.

Prosperity will include 87 luxury condo units, with studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom options with prices starting at around $295,000. It will also feature roughly 10,000 square feet of retail on the first floor and a range of amenities throughout the property.

The project is being spearheaded by Charlotte’s own David Hoffman Realty and renowned developers out of Atlanta, the Greenstone Group.

“Our new homes team at David Hoffman Realty is honored to represent a development and building team with nearly 40 years of experience, building in both Charlotte and Atlanta, including Park Plaza in Buckhead; the first luxury condo project in Atlanta, with both Elton John and Oprah Winfrey calling the skyscraper home,” said David Hoffman.

The residential units will feature high-end finishes such as quartz countertops, marble tiling, and rain shower heads, electric fireplaces, 10-foot ceilings, and secure parking and entrances. Resident amenities will include storage units, a fitness center, a conference room, barbecue stations, a fire pit, a pool with a Baja shelf, a sprawling dog park, and more.

What do you think about the new development? 

Why DFM Matters For CNC Machining

Sharon Anderson
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Why DFM Matters For CNC Machining

CNC machining is a popular rapid prototyping process known for its versatility, repeatability, reliability, and a host of other good attributes. However, these attributes can be improved by having a good design for manufacturing (DfM). 

With a clear focus on DfM, you can enjoy better production efficiency, reduced cost of machined parts, etc., when using CNC machining. Therefore, this blog post will introduce Design for Manufacturing on why it matters in CNC machining and tips that can help you achieve better production efficiency and reduced costs when incorporated in CNC machining. Below are a few things you need to know about DfM in CNC machining.

What is Design for Manufacturing? 

Design for manufacturing (DfM) simply means designing a product in an easy and less costly way. It is widely used in prototype CNC machining, however, it does not only help minimize error in the end. DfM encompasses every part of production that ensures that a product does not have errors and yet is produced at a very low cost. It takes into account five principles; process, design, material environment, and compliance/testing during the designing stage to ensure such results. 

Why Does DfM Matters in CNC Machining?

CNC machining is a process known for its repeatability, reliability, accuracy, precision, etc. However, all these attributes can be improved or, at worst, maintained with DfM. Below are some reasons why DfM matters in CNC machining. 

  • It Makes Sure Your Product Is Manufacturable 

There are scenarios where some products, even with good designs, are not manufacturable. Therefore, many prototype CNC machining companies such as RapidDirect, 3Dhubs, etc., now have DfM in their production plan. 

For some mechanical parts, it can be challenging to achieve a feature necessary for the parts’ functions or performances. Knowing such parts is possible with DfM during the finalization of design drawings and after prototype CNC machining. 

  • Reduce Mistakes Before Production

DFM incorporates all elements of the product’s design, such as mold layouts, heat transfer analysis, tooling design, etc. Consequently, it is easier to notice the errors that could mar product quality after production and avoid it. 

  • It Reduces Lead Time

Without Design for Manufacturing, production will go back and forth in order to judge product quality as there is no means of judging before production. However, with proper verification of the design using DfM, you can eliminate mistakes, save money, and reduce the time it takes to produce and deliver a product to the client. 

Note that while DfM will surely take its own portion of time and effort, it will increase production efficiency overall.

DFM Tips for CNC machining

Below are a few tips to take note of in order to enjoy the benefits of DfM in CNC machining. 

  • Materials

When choosing a material for CNC machining, you must ensure that the material is machinable before selecting it. Therefore, knowing the material properties is a necessary task. For example, copper and aluminum have high machinability, while alloys such as stainless steel and titanium are not easy to machine. 

Checking on the compatibility of the materials with the process will help you reduce production error and increase production efficiency. 

  • Inaccessible Parts Structure

There are some designs that have inaccessible features, such as an inner right angle. This can result in the CNC machine not being able to reach the parts which further leads to production inefficiency and an increase in production cost. Therefore, you should make sure that the CNC machine can access the parts without being blocked. 

  • Sharp Corner

All CNC drills have a circular shape. Consequently, it is difficult to achieve sharp internal corners as the CNC drill will leave a pocket of unmachined space known as the internal corner radius. Some people use other methods such as electrical discharge machining. However, these methods are costly. Therefore, it is better to avoid sharp inside corners whenever possible. 

An ideal rule you could follow is that a corner radius should be slightly larger than the cutter. If it has the same diameter as the cutter, it can lead to premature tool wear. You can also increase the corner radii value by 0.005” (0.127mm). This will give the CNC machine enough movement room.

  • Holes

Holes are machined by a drill bit or an end mill tool. When you have a hole with a non-standard diameter, you should machine it with an end mill tool. For holes deeper than 3mm, use a drill bit. When machining a blind hole, it is better to use a drill bit which will create a cone-shape bottom at 118° or 135°. Also, to avoid error during CNC machining, holes must have a diameter larger than 1mm. 

  • Avoid Thin Walls if Possible

Thin metallic walls in CNC machining will increase chatter and reduce the accuracy of the machining process. For thin plastic walls, it will cause warping or softening. Therefore, it is important to avoid making products with thin walls.

The ideal rule when machining metal is to have a wall thickness of 0.03” (0.762mm). For plastics, you should use 0.06” (1.524mm). While it is possible to machine thin wall sections without much significant risk, it is simply not advisable.

  • Avoid Tight Tolerances If Possible

While you might need a super tight tolerance for some products, it is not proper to always use them. Using a super tight tolerance when not needed will only increase the cost of production. Therefore, it is important that you be reasonable with tolerance.

Most products will do fine under a general tolerance of 0.005.” Increasing this when not needed will only increase the cost of manufacturing your product. Therefore, if not needed, do not ask for it. You can save time, effort, and money by that decision alone while still maintaining quality.

  • Deep Pockets

You should avoid designing parts with deep pockets. When this is an integral part of making a product, the best you could do is to reduce the depth or increase the cross-sectional area of the pocket. 

A rule you could follow is that pocket depth should not be more than thrice the diameter of the smallest tool.

Conclusion

Designing for manufacturing can help improve the manufacturing of products using CNC machining. CNC machining is a process known for its features which include high quality, reliability, and with DfM, you can improve on such attributes. This article introduced CNC machining and DfM, why it matters, and some tips that can help you become more production efficient

How to Take a 3x4cm Photo on Your Smartphone: a Detailed Guide

Sharon Anderson
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How to Take a 3x4cm Photo on Your Smartphone: a Detailed Guide

Long story short, there’s an official document you need some high-quality photos for and you’re not sure whether you can achieve the required 3x4cm format using only the phone you have? The short answer would be yes, you can, just with extra help from the online editing service. 

3x4cm Photos: Where to Use 

The 3x4cm photo size is the most commonly used one across Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. Doesn’t matter if you need a visa or a passport renewed, this would be the usual requested size in the specifications. Below are just a few countries to give you an example:

  • Ethiopia
  • Estonia
  • Brazil
  • Colombia
  • Indonesia
  • Japan

If you have a trip coming up or lost your passport or an ID and need it renewed, you should use the online photo tool for a quick service. The whole process shouldn’t take you more than 30 minutes, doesn’t require leaving your house and costs two times less than the photos at the photo centre or a studio. 

To find out the requirements for your photo, it’s better to check the government websites. For instance, those who need a tourist visa to Japan would go to the Embassy website to learn about the specification. 

3 Steps to a 100% Compliant Photo 

If you take the photo for your documents by yourself using your phone camera, you absolutely cannot submit the original file. Here’s how you can convert it to the appropriate size and have it match the specifications: 

  1. Take the photo.
  2. Find a decent online photo service that will help you crop and edit the image to fit all necessary requirements.
  3. Download the files and attach the photo to your online application or print for in-person submission.

First of all, it is much faster and easier than using the photo centre alternatives. You have to bear in mind that although there’s a bunch of online editing tools available, not all of them provide a compliant result. Opt for a service that’s all automated and definitely check out the success ratio. We don’t want to pay for something that will ultimately fail. 

Using the editing services that have manual alterations option is good if you already know the requirements and can make sure your hand won’t jiggle. Otherwise, it’s much better to use the automatic one to be safe. 

Pros of Using the Online Editing Tool

Before getting into all the benefits, check out these quick tips on taking a better photo for your ID type documents:

  • Take your photo stepping 1,5m away from the camera. This is the common requirement for all IDs
  • Keep your posture straight and look upward. It’s not much, but really helps to appear put together
  • Wearing monochrome clothes is best; keep your shoulders covered, as they might get into the picture
  • Tuck your hair so it’s not in the way and doesn’t cover your eyes. It’s better to remove glasses for the same reason
  • To have better lighting, stand in front of a window and take the photo in the morning or early afternoon, that’s when you have better chances at getting the best photo. It shouldn’t have any darkening or overexposed parts, look out for glaring too
  • Don’t smile, but keep a natural relaxed expression. If you wear makeup go for something nude; lipgloss is usually allowed

Now that we’ve covered the basics of taking the document photo at home, you should know more about editing the said image. 

Knowing that your photo will match the standards is as important as having all documents inserted in your application. Sometimes the quality of it gets overlooked hence resulting in the overall rejection. Be better than that and go for a top-quality editing tool that will leave you with a 100% suitable photo. If you were wondering, these are a few reasons as to why online services are simply 10 times better:

  • It costs roughly $7USD. You get two images: one for print out and one for digital upload via a download link. Add extra $0.30USD (give or take) for the printing services
  • By choosing your country you input the necessary data into the software. The tool will automatically know how to fit your photo best to the specifications of your destination
  • Before you submit your image for editing, you also choose the required format. You may rest assured you will get exactly the 3x4cm photo that you asked for with the automatic online tool

As you can see, getting a 3×4 image done is quite easy. All you have to do is get yourself all pretty and handsome, set up your camera, take that shot and use an online tool to take care of the rest. You can be sure that the image you receive won’t compromise your application.

Top 3 Deer Hunting Tips For Beginners

Cassandra Scott
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Top 3 Deer Hunting Tips For Beginners

Deer hunting is a sports activity that started decades ago, making it one of the best outdoor activities enjoyed by families and friends. It’s a bonding exercise with a reward of savoring, on that tender, healthy and juicy venison. 

Enjoying this palatable dish, there is more that you need to do than just aim and release/fire. While your wits are fundamental aspects of deer hunting, there are a lot of other hurdles you’ll need to circumvent for you to eventually enjoy your kill. 

Whether you’re a veteran or a novice hunter, here are three prerequisite techniques you should have for your hunting success matrix to go a notch up.

  1. Time of day
  2. Time of season
  3. Scouting

1. Time Of Day

While it might be alright and fun for a rifle hunter(or a hunter with a shotgun for deer hunting) or a road trip hunter to hunt day and night, day after day–this will be a recipe for burnout for a bowhunter. And while the deer’s pattern may change later on in the season, which will offer you the chance to hunt all day long, it’s prudent to hunt three hours after sunrise and equivalent hours before sunset.

You need to be privy to the legal hunting hours so you won’t have any running with the law. Settling. Settling in early in your hideout is crucial. Because deers are easily startled, you’d want to be settled in prior to their movements.

2. Time Of Seasons

As the hunting season progresses, deers become more and more aware of the hunter’s pattern and are wary of even the slightest movements. To increase your hunting success, especially for a beginner, go wild in the first few days of the hunting season. At this juncture, the deer aren’t easily spooked.

The mating period, known as the rut, is one instance where the bucks and does are overwhelmed by hormones. The deers are more concerned about their orgy and little about the human presence. Though the rut lasts for a couple of weeks, it only peaks within a day or two, giving you the perfect opportunity to claim your prize.

3. Scouting

It’s important to know the topography of the hunting ground—the food, drinking area, and thick bushes plus the likely location for bucks to bed prior to the hunting season. Understanding the terrain will give you an idea of the best location to pitch your blind as you await your kill.

For efficient scouting, use a digital mapping platform. You may have to make a few adjustments here and there depending on the wind direction. Deers use the wind to detect the scent of a predator. You’ll have to pitch your blind parallel to the flow of the wind or, better yet, mask your odor.

Your Hunting Success

Articulating and implementing the above tips will increase your chances of success, but always remember to familiarize yourself with the state laws on the legal deers to be hunted. Ensure you have the necessary hunting gear to ensure your hunt is flawless, especially after the kill.

Also, evaluate the best hunting techniques that are suitable for you with respect to the weapon that you are wielding. In case you want a souvenir, learn the basic cutting technique to use. Ensure you follow all the safe hunting procedures before you squeeze that trigger. 

References;

Best Shotguns For Deer Hunting [2021] | Gun Made

Best Shotguns For Deer Hunting [2021] | Gun Made (2021). Available at: https://www.gunmade.com/best-shotgun-for-deer-hunting/ (Accessed: 22 October 2021).

North Carolina Hunters: Make Sure You Think Twice Before Pulling That Trigger

North Carolina Hunters: Make Sure You Think Twice Before Pulling That Trigger (2020). Available at: https://www.charlottestories.com/north-carolina-hunters-make-sure-think-twice-pulling-trigger/ (Accessed: 22 October 2021).

Author Bio

Authored by Marice Young

Mom, wife, and pro-guns writer. I live in Tolleson, AZ where the crime rate has been higher than almost 99% of American cities. A horrible personal experience made me realize the importance of gun ownership and self-defense.

Author’s Links:

Governor Cooper Signs New Bill To Reduce Carbon Emissions In The State By 70%

Charlotte Stories
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Governor Cooper Signs New Bill To Reduce Carbon Emissions In The State By 70%

NC Governor Roy Cooper just signed a major piece of energy legislation into law to reduce carbon emissions of NC power generation by 70% by 2030 and make our state ‘carbon neutral’ by 2050.

House Bill 951 specifically requires North Carolina’s Utilities Commission to develop a new Carbon Plan every two years for public utilities, including renewable energy requirements sourced from a combination of wind, solar, batteries and/or natural gas. The bill also allows Duke Energy to set multi-year rate periods instead of the current system, which requires them to justify their rates each year to the utilities commission, which will ultimately save them millions of dollars in legal and admin fees, and potentially allow them to increase rates faster in the long run.

In a press release, Governor Cooper said, “Today, North Carolina moves strongly into a reliable and affordable clean energy future. This new bipartisan law requires the North Carolina Utilities Commission to take steps needed to get North Carolina a 70% reduction in carbon emission by the year 2030 and to carbon neutrality by 2050. Making transformative change is often controversial and never easy, especially when there are different points of view on big, complex issues. But coming to the table to find common ground is how government should work.”

While the new bill is being praised by many, others say the compromises to Duke Energy weren’t worth it.

“HB 951 sets a goal for 70% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and gives the commission authority to get there, but the legislation also provides enough power and oversight to Duke Energy to prevent that goal from becoming a reality,” said Josh McClenney, Energy Democracy Field Coordinator with Appalachian Voices. “In addition, the failure to address the concerns of low- and moderate-income ratepayers shows the need for the NCUC, Duke Energy, the governor, and all stakeholders to focus on ensuring the concerns of those ratepayers are addressed. We look forward to working in partnership towards that goal.”

What do you think about the new bill? 

America’s Only Major Paddlesurf Competition of 2021 Is Coming To North Carolina Next Month

Charlotte Stories
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America’s Only Major Paddlesurf Competition of 2021 Is Coming To North Carolina Next Month

“The Carolina Cup is the only official Association of Paddlesurf Professionals event in 2021,” said Tristan Boxford, CEO of the APP. “This event will feature both distance and sprints with APP prize money. However, due to extraordinary circumstances, we are not moving forward with a World Tour this year.”

The APP is recognized and sanctioned as the official world championship tour for standup paddling by the International Olympic Committee’s Federation for Surfing Sports and the International Surfing Association.

The Carolina Cup is a four-day festival of events featuring seven races, seminars and clinics by the pros, product exhibits and demonstrations. Ideally located with both oceanfront and soundside beaches, all races and activities start and end at Blockade Runner Beach Resort, the official resort of the Carolina Cup. Activities begin on Nov. 4 and conclude on Nov. 7.

Ranked second in the world in women’s standup paddleboard, North Carolina’s April Zilg announced plans to compete in the Carolina Cup’s brutal 13-mile Graveyard Race in Wrightsville Beach. “I have plans to race in November,” said Zilg. “It’s one of the biggest races in the world and one of the hardest courses.”

“The [Graveyard] race is unique, taking you through both ocean and Intracoastal waters, navigating two inlets, battling tides, and entering and exiting through the surf,” said Zilg. “It’s an excellent test of a paddler’s all-around skills, and mother nature doesn’t always play nice. Outside of some of the dedicated surf-zone races, the Graveyard Race is up there for difficulty, especially if you end up battling a stiff tide. It’s also a half-marathon distance, so the grind is real.”

Casper Steinfath – Courtesy APP World Tour

Other early entrants include Casper Steinfath, the reigning World Champion in the men’s division. Growing up in a fishing village in Denmark, Steinfath developed a passion for water sports before he could walk, riding on his dad’s surfboard. Now 28, Steinfath is one of the best water sports athletes, having won numerous victories and championships during his career.

In 2020, Steinfath was the first to standup paddle solo across the Skagerrak, the 130-kilometer stretch of treacherous water dividing Denmark from Norway.

French paddler Arthur Arutkin, ranked second in the world, and New Caledonia’s Titouan Puyo, ranked seventh, have signed up for the competition – with many more to come.

Seychelle Webster – Courtesy Benjamin Thacker

Seychelle Webster, the reigning World Champion in the APP women’s division, will attend the Carolina Cup and plans to offer clinics, be available for demo days, and assist during the Kids Race. “I do not plan on racing this year,” said Seychelle. “The Carolina Cup has always been one of my top priority races for the year. But currently, my top priority and most exciting challenge is that I am pregnant. So, that is my focus for this year, and I will not be competing.”

“Competing or not, this week in Wrightsville is going to be so much fun,” added Seychelle. I’m really excited to see and catch up with everyone and to support the APP and the Carolina Cup despite all the world challenges.”

Races on the Carolina Cup schedule include:

–The Graveyard Race (APP distance race) – A brutal 13.1-mile ocean and flatwater race for the elite and professional paddleboard racers, beginning and ending in the surf on the beach; standup paddleboard or prone.

–The APP Sprint – A dynamic short course (300m) with elimination format racing (pro and amateur) that provides dramatic action and a spectacle like no other, allowing the best to rise to the top.

–The Money Island Open Race – A 10-kilometer flatwater race designed for the intermediate to the advanced paddler, standup paddleboard, prone, kayak, surfski, outrigger canoe (OC-1 and OC-2).

–The Harbor Island Recreational Race – A 5-kilometer flatwater race for first-time to intermediate paddleboarders; standup paddleboard; prone.

–The Graveyard Surfski, Outrigger, and Kayak Race – A 13.1-mile elite race starting and finishing on the sound side, circumventing Wrightsville Beach, kayak; surfski, outrigger canoe (OC-1 and OC-2).

–The Three Island Challenge – Start to finish on the sound side, this 9-mile race is for six-team ocean canoe crews (OC-6) male, female, and mixed-gender teams. The race circumvents the marshes and undisturbed islands and lowlands behind Masonboro, Money, and Harbor Islands.

–The Kids Race – For children 6 to 14, one and two-loop course races on the sound.

The Carolina Cup is organized by the Wrightsville Beach Paddle Club and presented by Kona Brewing Company. The designated charity for the Carolina Cup is Nourish North Carolina, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to provide healthy food to hungry children, enabling them to succeed in the classroom and their communities.

Carolina Cup information and registration

NC Agencies Recognized Nationally for State Government IT Innovation

Charlotte Stories
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NC Agencies Recognized Nationally for State Government IT Innovation

Two North Carolina agencies were recognized this week at the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) annual conference, which brings together state chief information officers, other technology officials and technology organizations from across the country. The NASCIO State IT Recognition Awards are held annually to recognize innovative technology solutions utilized by state governments.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the N.C. Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) won the Data Management, Analytics and Visualization award for its Business Intelligence Data Platform (BIDP): “Bridging the Data Divide and Bringing Health Equity.” The N.C. 911 Board, a division of NCDIT, won the award for Enterprise IT Management Initiatives for its leadership in Next Gen 911.

“The Next Gen 911 and COVID-19 dashboard projects demonstrate how we are leveraging technology to transform government services for North Carolinians,” said Jim Weaver, state chief information officer and secretary for NCDIT. “It is an honor for that work and our people to be recognized on a national level.”

When COVID-19 hit N.C., NCDHHS was faced with mountains of data from many different data systems that needed to be collected, cleaned and manually entered. Often, by the time the data was entered, it was already out of date. NCDHHS needed a system that the organization could use in real time and deliver to the public almost instantaneously. With the help of NCDIT, NCDHHS stood up BIDP, a HIPAA-compliant, cloud-based platform, within 48 hours of COVID-19 impacting our state. The platform collects COVID-related data from 10 different dashboards and automatically processes it.

“BIDP allowed NCDHHS to break out COVID case counts by demographics, which helped to further shine a light on the disproportionate impact COVID-19 has on historically marginalized populations,” said NCDHHS’ Deputy Secretary for Operational Excellence, Dr. Cardra Burns. “BIDP helped us to prioritize data transparency, drive accountability, promote equity, and guide our decision-making.”

Technology has changed the way residents communicate on a daily basis, and that includes when they need emergency services. Emergency services across the country realized this change, and have migrated from a “legacy” system, which only accepted phone calls, to a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIp) system. VoIP can not only accept text messages but can better pinpoint the location of a caller and provide call backup in the event a 911 call center is hit with a natural disaster or call overload. The N.C. 911 Board contracted with AT&T and GeoComm to be the leader in this transition, with a hosted and managed approach. In 2018, Durham 911 became the first call center in the country to be transitioned over to this system.

N.C. also had two other finalists in the NASCIO awards. The N.C. Department of Commerce’s Division of Employment Security partnered with NCDIT to create an unemployment benefit claim status solution, which was a finalist in the Information Communications Technology Innovations category. NCDIT was a finalist in the Cybersecurity category for its whole-of-state approach to cybersecurity, which increases its ability to protect state data and taxpayer funds.

A Quick Guide To Betting On MLB Pitchers

Sharon Anderson
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A Quick Guide To Betting On MLB Pitchers

Understanding Baseball Betting. 

For a long time Baseball has been considered to be a popular American pastime, and with all the history and culture around it, it is now also a spot for a bit of betting action. 

Other sports such as football may get more attention for betting, but baseball attracts dedicated sports fans who love the long grind of a long. Not only do baseball fans enjoy the game, they know how the sport works, the teams, the trends and the players like the back of their hand. With baseball fans, betting on the games is popular, and with its rising popularity it is even getting close with fantasy sports partners. 

If you are a beginner to betting on MLB, then check out Fanduel’s MLB sportsbook. One of the most popular ways to bet on MLB is ‘pitchers’ and there are a few different ways to do this. Today, we will look at how you can bet on MLB pitchers. 

Terminology to know. 

  • Chalk– i.e. The favored team to win. 
  • Dog– i.e. The underdog team, not favored to win. 
  • Futures– These bets are odds on events in the future, such as division winners or the teams that will win the pennant or World Series. 
  • Listed Pitchers– The two starting pitchers announced by the teams taking part in the game. 
  • Money Line– Simply select the winning team, no matter how many runs they win by or the total runs scored. This is a bet on who the winner will be. 
  • Spread– The spread is a set at plus or minus 1.5. The chalk is listed at -1.5 and the underdog is listed as +1.5 for the game. 
  • Over/Under– This is the predicted total score for a game set by the sports book. It can also be referred to as the ‘totals’ or as the ‘run line’ in MLB games. 

Listed Pitchers Vs Action. 

When betting on pitchers, if you choose to bet the ‘listed’ starting pitcher, then your bet will only be valid if the pitchers listed at the time that you placed your bet tackle the mound as they are scheduled to. This means that if you take the ‘listed’ pitcher, then your bet would be canceled if the expected starting pitcher is scratched before the first pitch. 

However, if you take an ‘action pitcher’ then all money line wagers will be valid. This means that even if there is a pitching change, that you would be locked into the original bet with a revised money line based on the new pitches. A majority of experienced MLB betters will avoid taking action pitchers because it gives up the element of control that they seek and negates the whole previous analysis. It is far more desirable to take the listed pitcher and then decide whether you still like either team at the new and adjusted price. 

Advantages and Disadvantages of Listed and Action Pitchers. 

By betting listed pitchers, you are stating that your bet will only be valid if both of the starting pitchers start their game for their respective teams. If, for any reason, one of the starting pitchers does not make their scheduled appearance, then your money is refunded, and the bet has no action. Action bets are more for who will win, regardless of who takes the mound for either team. 

It is strongly recommended using the ‘listed’ option, while there are some advantages to using the on and against option, the option that you select depends on the reasoning behind your pick. More often than not, you will make your pick based on which team has the better starting pitcher. However, if you are picking the team simply because you think they have more going for them on the mound, then you may want to always choose the ‘listed option. 

If you make bets on the run line or total, you don’t need to worry about listed or action bets. Sports books will automatically use ‘listed’ options on these. This is just an example that proves how many sports books will use starting pitching when they set up the lines, and why it is advantageous to use the ‘listed’ options in bets. 

Listed is probably the preference among most, and it is the most sensible. After all, if the sports books are using it to set the lines for total bets, then it is obviously a good port of call to take advantage of this when you are placing your own bets. 

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