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Austin-Webcor JV Team Delivers World’s 1st WELL Core Certified Airport Terminal at San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

Austin Commercial & Webcor Joint Venture

San Francisco International Airport’s (SFO) Harvey Milk Terminal 1 Boarding Area B (BAB) is officially the world’s first WELL Core Certified airport terminal, exceeding the wellness-focused designation’s requirements with the highest available rating—WELL Certified Platinum. WELL Certification is administered by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI ), the world’s leading organization focused on deploying people-first places to advance a global culture of health. “This exceptional accomplishment reflects the entire design-build team’s steadfast commitment, in collaboration with SFO, to delivering a space that uniquely prioritizes occupant health and well-being,” says Webcor Project Director, Design Wayne Campbell. The project’s design-build team includes the Austin Commercial & Webcor Joint Venture, along with HKS / Woods Bagot ED2 International / KYA. This momentous achievement closely follows Terminal 1 BAB’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) BD+C v4 Platinum certification, which recently made headlines for becoming the world’s first airport terminal to achieve LEED BD+C v4 Platinum. These groundbreaking sustainability certifications are the culmination of years of tireless efforts made by the design-build team to meet both standards’ rigorous requirements. Setting a New Standard for Sustainable Airports While the LEED rating system examines whole building design, the WELL Building Standard focuses and expands on a space’s indoor environmental quality. According to the WELL Certification website, WELL represents “an investment in the world’s most valuable asset—people,” and was founded on the principles of being equitable, global, evidence-based, technically robust, customer-focused, and resilient. Being the first of its kind, Harvey Milk Terminal 1 BAB has become the foundation of WELL v2 ’ s current standards for airports and embraces the WELL Standard’s 10 concepts: air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind, and community. For this program, the air and materials concepts were rigorously integrated into the coordination of Terminal 1 BAB’s design and were weighted particularly heavily during the terminal’s on-site WELL performance evaluation. As outlined in SFO’s recent press release, highlights of the health and well-being measures incorporated into the terminal include: Highly efficient outdoor air filtration system to remove pollutants and odor to provide healthier indoor environments that meet WELL’s enhanced indoor air quality requirements as verified through third-party testing. Radiant heating and cooling to complement displacement ventilation to provide energy efficiency, improved indoor air quality, and enhanced passenger comfort. Online data provided by SFO that shows annual water quality test results, including enhanced taste properties. Dynamic glazed windows that change with the sun’s location to reduce glare and improve comfort. Large windows that harness daylight to reduce the need for electric lighting and to support occupants’ circadian rhythms. Building materials and furnishings with minimal human health impact based on Health Product Declarations (HPDs) and with low volatile organic compound emissions and content to support improved indoor environmental and air quality. Selection of products, systems, and materials with the least environmental or planetary impact based upon Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). Green cleaning processes that support occupant and employee health during construction and after occupancy. Acoustic management through sound reducing surfaces, quieter mechanical systems, and the Airport’s ‘quiet airport’ program. “Unlike LEED, WELL primarily focuses on a building’s impact to the human experience (mind, nourishment, and community), which distinguishes it from the ‘traditional’ sustainability standard,” says Webcor Assistant Design Manager April Chang, who led the JV’s WELL Certification efforts. “Successful certification required third-party performance verification testing of water, light, and sound.” A Unique Partner in SFO From the beginning, SFO envisioned Harvey Milk Terminal 1 as a low-energy, low-carbon, LEED Gold-certified (at a minimum) building—a vision that eventually evolved into an even more innovative goal to reach Zero Net Energy readiness. “SFO’s Zero Energy and Resilient Outcomes (ZERO) Committee guided, supported, and collaborated with the project team to exceed LEED Gold certification standards through additional funding to support the additional Zero Net Energy and building health measures that were proposed after the original building program was completed,” says Austin Commercial Project Manager Kent DeRusha. “These measures enhanced energy efficiency and carbon emissions reductions and promoted improved human health in the built environment.” “The WELL Standard wasn’t originally designed for an airport setting,” Chang says. “Earning WELL Platinum Certification for this type of large-scale, 24/7 operation with multiple stakeholders was only possible because we had the support of SFO’s ZERO committee. SFO’s formation of a distinct committee, allocation of funds dedicated to achieving the terminal’s ambitious sustainability goals, and premium on improved human health in this airport terminal facility were key to our success. “It’s also worth noting that WELL is complementary to LEED certification; we didn’t have to modify the design to achieve WELL,” she continues. "The design-build team and ZERO committee had gone above and beyond to develop a design that outperformed LEED Platinum standards from the beginning.” "SFO's commitment to social responsibility and sustainability aligns with our mission to use research-proven strategies to positively impact occupant well-being for every project," says Allison Smith, Sustainable Design Leader at HKS, who also served on IWBI's Airport Advisory in 2020 and was the WELL Project Administrator for Terminal 1 BAB. "The process of pursuing and becoming the first to achieve this certification allowed our collective teams to better understand how to apply this people-focused standard to highly complex transportation projects and ultimately have a positive impact on the health and well-being of staff, tenants, and the traveling public." “We are honored to be the first airport in the world to achieve full WELL Certification,” says Airport Director Ivar C. Satero. “Harvey Milk Terminal 1 was designed with both our passengers and employees in mind… as a place to be relaxed, a place to be healthy, and a place to be inspired by the legacy of pioneering civil rights leader Harvey Milk. My sincere thanks go out to the entire project team for setting the new standard for how airport facilities can truly benefit the people who use them.” Ivar C. Satero, Airport Director, SFO and Dr. Matt Trowbridge, Chief Medical Officer, International WELL Building Institute accept the WELL Platinum Certification plaque for SFO Harvey Milk Terminal 1 BAB. Photo provided courtesy of Webcor SFO Harvey Milk Terminal 1 Boarding Area B (Credit: Kevin Meynell Photography) About Webcor Webcor is a premier provider of commercial construction services, known for its innovative and efficient approach, wide range of experience, cost effective design-build methodology, skill in concrete construction and expertise in building landmark projects. Webcor's mission is to build structures of superior quality with integrity, continuously improve its processes by employing the best talent in the industry and add social and economic value to its communities. Founded in 1971 and repeatedly honored as one of the Best Places to Work, Top California Contractors, Largest Bay Area General Contractors, Top Green Contractors, and Top Design-Build Contractors, Webcor has offices throughout the state in San Francisco, Alameda, San Jose, Los Angeles, and San Diego. More information is available on the Webcor website and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. About Austin Austin Industries is one of the nation’s largest, most diversified construction companies. With more than 7,000 employee-owners, Austin Industries provides civil, commercial, and industrial construction services through the expertise of its operating companies: Austin Bridge & Road, Austin Commercial, and Austin Industrial. Austin Commercial is nationally recognized for delivering exceptional safety performance, innovative construction solutions, world-class diversity-inclusion program, and innovative construction solutions across several markets, including aviation, corporate/office, healthcare, hospitality, mixed-use/retail/residential, semiconductor and fabrication plants, sports/public assembly/themed entertainment, and university/education. Learn more at www.austin-ind.com. Contact Details Shel Holtz, Webcor Sr. Communications Director +1 510-517-3845 sholtz@webcor.com

December 08, 2022 09:00 AM Pacific Standard Time

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DeFi Can’t Protect Your Crypto Either

Radix

Authored by Amy Wilkinson, Radix. “ Not your keys, not your crypto. ” If you’ve traded a token or two in your time, you’ve likely heard this phrase thrown around before. For those who haven’t, the six-word warning is often said in reference to the use of centralized financial (CeFi) products when storing your cryptocurrencies, and the contradictory position this leaves your tokens in. With the idea that crypto was born to decentralize the financial ecosystem and remove holding power over your assets from money-hungry authoritative entities, holding your crypto on a centralized exchange or application that simply leverages Web3 to offer their services does the opposite. The age-old battle has recently escalated thanks to the FTX scandal that felt ever-so reminiscent of traditional financial corruption, with many rattled crypto investors directing their attention towards the development pinned to kick centralized criminals once and for all: decentralized finance (DeFi). DeFi, by nature, is exactly what crypto was built for. Following the 2008 financial crisis, Satoshi Nakamoto created Bitcoin as a new, decentralized monetary system that, if globally adopted, was intended to become a new financial system free of the flaws fiat currencies pose. Fast-forward 14 years, and the foundations set by Nakamoto have become a fully-fledged (albeit also flawed) industry. While many projects within the space fundamentally align with Bitcoin and maintain decentralization at their core, the wild pace at which they’ve been developed has resulted in an industry brimming with talent and opportunity that just isn’t quite mapped out for global adoption. As many have joined the scurry to pull their tokens out of centralized applications, fearful of the lack of ownership over their own holdings, there’s one fundamental issue with the migration of CeFi users to DeFi platforms: DeFi isn’t ready for it. Picture Eleven Madison Park – one of the best restaurants in the world – in its early days of growth. Now picture hundreds of hungry customers scrambling to the front doors of the restaurant following a less-than-satisfactory experience at an over-hyped restaurant down the street. It’s early. The lights aren’t on, the wine shelf needs a restock, the prep chefs aren’t finished, and the servers haven’t even arrived. Not only would it be absurd to expect a world-class dining experience under such circumstances, but a surge of demand in such a manner would most likely lead to an array of problems from an otherwise exquisite project and brilliantly thought-out plan of execution. This, on a much grander scale, is comparable to what we might come to see with a mass-migration from CeFi to DeFi. Crypto isn’t ready for mass adoption, but it will be (very) soon. Join over 10,000 others at RadFi2022 - hosted by the minds behind Radix DLT - on December 8 to find out how. Sign up for free to the virtual event here. Your Keys But… Still Not Your Crypto? To ensure you ‘own’ your crypto, you must ‘own’ your keys. ‘Keys’ in this case refer to a cryptographic sequence of characters known as a ‘private key’, which is generated by a decentralized crypto wallet and accessible only by the owner of said wallet. This ensures a wallet powered by decentralized software is non-custodial, meaning any big bad bosses who might have wanted to dip their mitts into your pot of honey are eradicated from the equation. While those who migrate their crypto holdings to a decentralized application (dApp) are right to assume whole ownership over their tokens, not all is quite as it seems when it comes to using dApps. Across virtually every smart contract platform, transactions are far from what they seem on the surface, and this is where a shift to DeFi really starts to get tricky. Although the user interface of a product may offer the feeling of security that your tokens are ‘in your wallet’, scratch beyond the surface and you’ll have a pretty tough time locating anything recognizable. Most smart contract languages used in DeFi today don’t actually know what an asset is. ‘Assets’ that exist on networks like Ethereum are actually just variable numbers on a list of balances maintained inside a smart contract, they’re not actually stored in a wallet. Essentially, on most existing networks in today’s DeFi, although it might look like you’ve got X amount of X token safely stored within your wallet - there’s actually nothing in there. Instead, your wallet simply knows from where to pull the numbers. This, in turn, makes what should be pretty simple concepts - like peer-to-peer transactions - become incredibly complex. Each time an on-chain transaction is processed, rather than one wallet sending tokens to another (as you’d expect), a message is sent to the smart contract that manages the list of balances instructing it to update the balance state for the two wallets involved. It sounds complicated, and it is - way more complicated than it needs to be. While the industry has moved at an incredible pace to develop innovative applications, areas for improvement of the underlying technology have been neglected, meaning more and more products are being built on inadequate foundations. The issue with how tokens exist on current networks cuts far deeper than inefficiency though. Having such intricate, long-winded, and convoluted processes for what should be a simple A to B transaction increases the risk of exploits and hacks within the crypto space. Since the set-up of a smart contract on networks like Ethereum boils down to how its developer has built it, the existing architecture for transactions on a decentralized network means the entirety of a financial ecosystem is left in the hands of developers. This, paired with the issues developers face working with programming languages like Solidity creates room for a number of opportunities for exploits and hacks that can leave you high and dry. This isn’t even sustainable for the few using it right now – it certainly won’t be for a global economy. Decentralized Exchanges Can Be as Risky as Centralized Ones One of the major problems tied to developer dependency lies within exchanges. Exchanging cryptocurrency on a decentralized exchange (DEX) should, in theory, be quite simple. However, as transactions on smart contracts do not actually involve "sending" tokens from one account to another, DEX users require their wallets to follow the same steps as above, only, with the additional need for two smart contracts interacting with one another to actually record the exchange of tokens. There’s one big problem here though: smart contracts don’t know how to do this. A solution was provided to remove this bottleneck, but it opened the floodgates for hackers. If you’ve used a DEX before, you’ll be familiar with the step that asks you to approve the transaction you’re about to make before it goes ahead. With the complexities that come from smart contract limitations, for DEXs to fulfill a transaction, they require your permission to spend your funds for you with the expectation that you’ll receive back the token you requested in exchange. Unless users opt-in to cap the limit they’re allowing the smart contract to spend, when these spend approvals ask a user to authorize the smart contract’s spending of those tokens, they’re often giving access for the smart contract to spend an infinite amount of the user’s holdings of said token. With many top-tier DEXs you can expect the platform to do as it promised - provided the smart contract is implemented correctly. But, DEXs can be built by anyone who has the know-how - and when it comes to picking one from the bunch, there are a lot of them out there. While the process might feel decentralized, when you click ‘approve’ you’re essentially giving the DEX, the smart contract, and the often anonymous developer the ability to literally drain your wallet. Apply that logic to almost any other form of trade that currently exists, and the idea is completely ludicrous. It’s like giving Walmart access to your bank account when you buy a carton of milk. Crossing our fingers and hoping for the best like this is never going to be enough to support the $400 trillion industry that is global finance today, or even begin the drive to mass adoption of DeFi. Tomorrow’s DeFi is Not The Same As Today’s While the picture this paints might not be pretty, it doesn’t actually represent real DeFi. Radically improving a global economy is not an easy feat, nor one that can be accomplished overnight. While many of the products we’re currently armed with in Web3 might not convince us to upshift & move our entire life savings to Web3 just yet, there are innovations across the industry that are starting to provide the infrastructure that DeFi actually needs – the future that finance actually needs. Take Radix - a layer 1 smart contract platform embedded with the world’s first “ DeFi engine ” virtual machine built with the intention of obsoleting traditional finance. Projects like this have long addressed the issues preventing Web3 and DeFi from scaling, and have spent the best part of the past decade building technology designed at the core to enable a functional and radically better future for DeFi. Thrusting the responsibility to secure an entire financial infrastructure onto developers isn’t good for anyone – nor is the attempt to build a novel financial system that doesn’t know what assets are. Smart contract languages like Scrypto – Radix’s developer-first programming language – enable developers to seamlessly build code without having to spend all their time worrying about the underlying architecture. For the first time in crypto, this would allow Web3 developers to build innovative features fit for purpose on a global scale. In an asset-oriented paradigm like Radix’s, assets like tokens are native to the network. Unlike Ethereum, Solana, and most other networks, this removes the complicated and risky process of sending, receiving, and exchanging assets because transactions on Radix work exactly how you’d expect them to. If the crypto industry is ever to globally scale, it needs to be rebuilt. Too many crypto projects have flown to market without effectively addressing the technology needed for DeFi, leading to devastating hacks being seen time and time again across the industry. While the industry learns from its mistakes and evolves to the next phase of evolution, developments like Radix that have been years in the making are two steps ahead – laying the foundations for better global finance to finally exist. In 2023, after 10 years in the making, Radix plans to launch smart contracts live on its public network. To find out more about how Radix plans to radically change the future of finance, join more than 10,000 others at RadFi2022 on December 8. Sign up for free to the virtual event here. DeFi is young. While the kinks haven’t been straightened out yet, the critical problems with central governance over independent finances are only growing. DeFi has some work to do, but the global opportunity it will provide for everyone can’t be ignored any longer, and with projects like Radix redefining the landscape, it won’t be. Want to learn more about Radix? Visit the website here. DeFi needs to be better - and it’s about to get radically better with Radix. Get your free ticket to join RadFi2022 on December 8 and learn what the future holds for decentralized finance. Find out how. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Amy Wilkinson amy.wilkinson@rdx.works

December 08, 2022 09:50 AM Eastern Standard Time

AmeriLife’s Agent Support Group Announces New Leadership & Company Name

AmeriLife

Agent Support Group (ASG), one of the oldest and most established life insurance brokerages in the U.S. and an affiliate of AmeriLife Group, LLC (“AmeriLife”), today announced the elevation of Jay Scheiner to CEO of the firm and principal with AmeriLife. Scheiner succeeds Sam Kaufman, who recently announced his retirement after leading Agent Support Group through 50 years of growth and innovation. Scheiner will take over day-to day operations while focusing on its core business of providing advanced case design and underwriting support for life insurance, long-term care and annuities. “Our core mission at ASG is to provide concierge-level service to life insurance agents, financial advisors, and professionals in other insurance disciplines, helping them develop and expand the life insurance area of their practice,” said Scheiner. “I look forward to continuing ASG’s strong legacy and accelerating our growth as an integral part of the AmeriLife team.” In a related decision, ASG Partner Gary Bleetstein also announced his retirement after 16 years with the firm and more than 45 years of success in key roles in the insurance industry. With Bleetstein’s retirement, ASG’s Mark Milbrod will assume the role of vice president and continue to assist ASG in providing unrivaled service to its client partners. Scheiner takes the reigns of ASG at a pivotal moment for both the business and its brand, as it re-introduces itself to the insurance market under the name ASG, An AmeriLife Company. The firm’s new name and logo reflect its legacy as one of the longest-serving life brokerages in the New York metropolitan area and its deep, long-held connection with AmeriLife, while also repositioning it as a forward-looking firm that supports the modern financial advisor. “Jay and Mark are the right leaders for the moment, and we look forward to working closely with them as they usher ASG into a new and exciting era,” added Mike Vietri, AmeriLife’s Chief Distribution Officer. “We’re also incredibly grateful for the leadership and contributions of both Sam and Gary over the many years, and wish them well in retirement.” ### About ASG, An AmeriLife Company Founded in 1973, ASG (formerly known as Agent Support Group) provides insurance services for professional advisors, including advanced case design for estate and business planning life insurance, impaired risk underwriting, and point of sale assistance for life, annuity, disability and long-term care insurance. ASG, which has its principal offices in New York City and Manhasset, N.Y., is a member of LIBRA Insurance Partners, assuring direct access to top-rated carriers and underwriting. For more information, visit ASGLife.com. About AmeriLife AmeriLife’s strength is its mission: to provide insurance and retirement solutions to help people live longer, healthier lives. In doing so, AmeriLife has become recognized as the leader in developing, marketing, and distributing life and health insurance, annuities and retirement planning solutions to enhance the lives of pre-retirees and retirees across the United States. For more than 50 years, AmeriLife has partnered with top insurance carriers to provide value and quality to customers served through a distribution network of over 300,000 insurance agents and advisors and more than 100 marketing organizations and insurance agency locations nationwide. For more information, visit AmeriLife.com, and follow AmeriLife on Facebook and LinkedIn. Contact Details Media Jeff Maldonado +1 321-297-1112 jmaldonado@amerilife.com Partnership Inquiries Patrick Nichols +1 727-726-0726 pnichols@amerilife.com Company Website https://amerilife.com/

December 08, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Xpoint granted license to operate from Tennessee Sports Wagering Advisory Council

Xpoint Technology

Xpoint, the leading geolocation and compliance technology company specializing in North American sports betting and iGaming markets, has announced that the company has been granted a license to provide geolocation technology services in Tennessee by the Tennessee Sports Wagering Advisory Council. Geolocation services have been essential in ensuring that sports betting remains compliant with existing legal regulations, much of which is contingent on sportsbooks and iGaming operators being able to prove that any requests placed by consumers using their platform are within their state borders. “I would like to thank the members and executive staff of the Tennessee Sports Wagering Advisory Council for approving our application for licensure to provide geo-verification services in Tennessee," commented Marvin Sanderson, CEO of Xpoint. “To be licensed to provide our geolocation technology solutions in another legalized sports betting U.S. State is a huge honor, and we are looking forward to working with multiple partners in Tennessee to help their players gamble safely, securely, and free from any fraud.” This announcement comes right around the corner of Xpoint receiving authorization to launch their geolocation services in the state of Ohio, United States. The company has launched live geolocation technology services with multiple partners in Canada and throughout the USA and is one of only two geolocation technology vendors licensed in New Jersey. ABOUT XPOINT Xpoint provides essential geolocation security solutions and intelligent location-based marketing insights to the global sports betting and iGaming industries. Xpoint’s innovative Verify and Lite platforms ensures partners meet their regulatory geo-compliance obligations, and deliver enhanced value through the generation of location-based data that can drive marketing programs. Xpoint was founded in 2019 and officially unveiled in Las Vegas in 2021, and is led by the company's CEO Marvin Sanderson, a global sports betting and iGaming industry leader. With North American offices in Toronto, Canada and Miami, Florida, Xpoint is changing the global geolocation market, bringing innovation to an industry that has, to date, viewed geo-compliance as a utility, not a new business opportunity. For more information, visit xpoint.tech and follow LinkedIn and Twitter for regular updates. Contact Details Xpoint Arisha Nomani +1 305-455-8776 arisha@xpoint.tech Company Website https://xpoint.tech/

December 08, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Metacade Presale for Web3’s First-Ever P2E Crypto Arcade Raises Over $670k in Under 2 Weeks

Metacade

Metacade, the first-ever community-developed play-to-earn (P2E) blockchain arcade, has announced the launch of its highly anticipated $MCADE token presale. The sale of Metacade’s native utility token sold over an incredible $670k in under 2 weeks, with their Beta Sale stage now over 60% SOLD OUT. $MCADE is available to buy on the official Metacade website. Positioning itself as a Web3 community hub, this gaming-first platform is set to attract gamers, investors, and entrepreneurs alike by offering a multitude of ways to earn, play, and connect. It looks to be a central hangout for all of those interested in GameFi and metaverse. To ensure investor confidence, $MCADE has been audited by leading blockchain auditing firm CertiK, a security-focused platform that analyzes and monitors blockchain protocols and DeFi projects. Verification and approval from CertiK mean that the code behind Metacade is highly secure and has been scrutinized for any weak spots. Metacade harnesses the power of Web3 to take blockchain gaming to the next level. The project goes beyond play-to-earn and offers a place to discover what games are trending, view leaderboards, publish game reviews, and access the hottest and most advanced GameFi alpha. Head of Product for Metacade, Russell Bennet said: “The crypto gaming space is crying out for a single destination where we can all go and learn, earn and play games with fellow enthusiasts without having to jump from platform to platform”. Metacade isn’t out to just improve the existing P2E and metaverse worlds but also to foster the future of this space. The project's hallmark feature is Metagrants, a source of funding awarded to game developers to bring new games to the Metacade. The Metacade community will vote on which projects get funded to turn the collective vision into a reality on the platform. The first game developed using the first Metagrant will be launched in 2024. By the end of 2024, the project intends to transform into a DAO, handing over key roles and responsibilities to the Metacade community and achieving a fully community-staffed business. It looks to achieve this by deploying Play2Earn, Create2Earn, and Work2Earn functionalities with each of these initiatives giving a little more control of the project over to the community in the coming years. Reflecting on the core ethos of Metacade, Russell said: “We want to create a community that has zero barriers to entry whether you want to work in the space, launch a business or just hang, out, play, and have fun.” $MCADE has a fixed supply of 2 Billion $MCADE tokens. Seventy percent of these (1.4 billion $MCADE tokens) are being made available during the token’s presale event. The remaining thirty percent will be used on exchange listings, during development, providing liquidity, and funding the competition pool. $MCADE is the utility and governance token powering the project. It plays a crucial role in the platform's functionality as holders can use it to vote on the project’s future direction and new game proposals. It will be the main tool for interacting with the Metacade ecosystem: holders can use it to enter tournaments and exclusive prize draws, purchase merchandise, and many other things as the platform develops. Token holders will have plenty of opportunities to earn rewards through the project. $MCADE holders can earn from activities such as contributing content, reviewing and testing games, and generally engaging within the ecosystem. $MCADE holders may also stake their tokens in liquidity pools to earn rewards and APYs based on the amount staked. Staked rewards are paid in a stablecoin amount rather than in $MCADE to protect the value of the funds from inflation and price swings. To further promote a deflationary attribute to the token, Metacade plans on introducing a burn mechanism or a buyback scheme. Token burning will help the ecosystem permanently erase a given percentage of supply, thereby lowering the overall supply and boosting the value of $MCADE in the long run. Right after the $MCADE presale is complete, Metacade will roll out the website and build a founding team. In Q1 2023, the goal is to list the $MCADE token on Uniswap and the top five centralized exchanges, along with popular crypto aggregators. With an ambitious road map, Metacade is on track to revolutionize how a traditional community hub is owned and operated. The Metacade Beta sale has now sold over $670,000 worth of tokens in under two weeks and at the time of publishing has under 40% remaining. To buy $MCADE, visit Metacade.co and join the presale now. About GameFi GameFi, one of the most talked about and promising sectors of Web3, creates a virtual gaming ecosystem that relies on the use of cryptocurrency, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and blockchain technology. At the core of the GameFi ecosystem is the play-to-earn (P2E) gaming model. Unlike the traditional pay-to-play model, P2E allows gamers to earn financial rewards by participating in challenges and tasks. About Metacade Metacade is the premier destination for gaming in the metaverse. As Web3's first community arcade that allows gamers to hang out, share gaming knowledge and play exclusive P2E games. The platform offers users multiple ways to generate income, build careers in Web3, and connect with the wider gaming community. Metacade will be the one-stop destination for users to play, earn, and network with other passionate gamers worldwide. Once the project reaches the end of its roadmap, Metacade will be handed over to the community as a full-fledged DAO. After all, Metacade wants you to have a hand in shaping the GameFi world of tomorrow. Links Website: https://metacade.co Whitepaper: https://metacade.co/whitepaper.pdf Socials: https://linktr.ee/metacade_ CertiK Audit: https://www.certik.com/projects/metacade Contact Details Metacade Head of Product Russell Bennett pr@metacade.co

December 08, 2022 05:02 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Announcing the 2022-2023 Class of AAJA-SF Bay Area’s Rising With the Tides Fellowship

Comcast California

Comcast, NBC Bay Area and the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA-SF Bay Area) are proud to announce the fellows and editorial coach who have been selected for the 2022-2023 Rising With the Tides ( RWTT ) program. This year’s program will fund stories by three talented young Bay Area journalists — Kate Selig, Kori Suzuki and Junyao Yang — who will share portraits of the region’s Asian American population and the issues that the community faces. Selig is a Stanford undergraduate student and the news editor of The Stanford Daily. Her RWTT -supported story will focus on the effort to preserve Cantonese language programs at higher education institutions in the Bay Area. Suzuki is an audio and visual journalist and a student at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism. For RWTT, Suzuki will trace the history of Japanese American recreational basketball leagues in the Bay Area and will follow one East Bay program through its current season. Yang is also a student at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism, and her RWTT -supported story examines the unique challenges faced by Chinese immigrant women who are victims of domestic violence. Selig, Suzuki and Yang will receive guidance during their reporting from this year’s RWTT editorial coach, Karishma Mehrotra. She is a Fulbright fellow and her work has appeared on Radiolab, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, The Indian Express, Scroll.in and Bloomberg Businessweek. Mehrotra has reported across beats, usually focused on forward-looking issues: technology, urbanization and climate. RWTT launched in 2020 as an effort with Comcast to support journalists who were facing career and financial insecurity during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Past RWTT grant recipients have had their stories published in the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, NBC Bay Area and Wired. They also participated in AAJA-SF Bay Area’s sold-out live storytelling fundraiser, Hella Asian, held at KQED’s headquarters. All fellows will participate in a story showcase at the project’s end in early spring 2023. The RWTT fellowship is a part of AAJA-SF Bay Area’s mission to support AAPI journalists and storytelling, diversity in newsrooms and to ensure fair and accurate coverage of communities of color. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on connectivity, aggregation, and streaming with 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Adriana Arvizo +1 925-200-1919 Adriana_Arvizo@comcast.com

December 07, 2022 12:07 PM Pacific Standard Time

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Houston’s Second Tim Hortons® Restaurant Set to Open on Richey Road

Tim Hortons

Tim Hortons ®, – the beloved coffee and bakery shop, founded in Canada and popular in the northern US – is expanding its presence in Texas with the opening of its second Houston-area restaurant. On December 16 th, Tim Hortons will celebrate the grand opening of its location at 5312 W Richey Rd Houston, TX 77066. The popular chain famous for its iced and hot coffee, donuts, and breakfast sandwiches, opened its first Texas restaurant in Katy in September of this year. Tims is excited to bring back the fan-favorite, grand opening giveaway – the first 50 guests to arrive win free coffee for a year!* Beginning at 5 a.m. on December 16 th the event will feature fun prizes, food samples, and an official ribbon-cutting ceremony. Guests can also enjoy Timbits or breakfast sandwiches and get refreshed with iced beverages like Cold Brew or TimsBoost energy infusions. “We’ve received such a warm welcome from the Houston community since our grand opening in Katy earlier this year,” said Ekrem Ozer, President of Tim Hortons, U.S. “We’re excited to continue to grow our presence in this community and get to know more Houstonians with the opening of our Richey Road restaurant.” World-renowned for its Original Blend coffee, that is always brewed fresh every 20-minutes, Tim Hortons also serves a variety of beverage options, including Cold Brew with cold foam, hot and iced lattes, its famous Iced Capp® beverages, TimsBoost energy infusions, Tim Hortons Refreshers and more. Guests can also enjoy quality food options like made-to-order breakfast sandwiches made with freshly cracked eggs, hand-dipped and glazed donuts, and a variety of donut holes affectionately known as “Timbits”. Tim Hortons new Richey Road coffee shop will be open every day from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. and serve guests through its double drive-thru and dine-in seating. Tim Hortons also provides an integrated digital experience with mobile order and pay, delivery, and the Tims Rewards loyalty program, which allows guests to earn points and redeem on Tims favorites. Supporting the communities it serves is a key part of the Tim Hortons brand. Every year on Tim Hortons Camp Day, 100 percent of purchases from every coffee sold are donated to Tim Hortons Foundation Camps, which supports youth from disadvantaged circumstances. And its annual week-long Smile Cookie campaign donates 100 percent of the purchase price from Smile Cookies to local charities in every Tim Hortons community. To date, more than $235 million has been raised through Camp Day and Smile Cookie across North America. Tim Hortons was established in 1964 by its namesake founder and legendary hockey player, Tim Horton, a member of the official list of the 100 Greatest NHL Players. Since then, Tim Hortons has grown to over 5,000 locations across the globe and is already one of the largest coffee chains in the U.S., with over 600 locations primarily concentrated in Ohio, Michigan and western New York. From Tim Horton’s humble beginnings in Canada, he worked hard to become a world-class athlete and sought to have a big impact in his community by opening coffee shops to create “a place where anyone can go at any time and feel at home.” * No purchase necessary to enter or win a prize. Must be a Texas resident 18+ to participate. For “First 50 –Free Coffee for a Year” prizes, promotion ends sooner of December 16 th, 2022, at 11:59pm CT, or when first 50 participants visit the Tim Hortons at 5312 W Richey Rd Houston, TX 77066. “Free Coffee for a Year” fulfilled as equivalent of one, small hot or cold brewed coffee per day for a year. Prize redemption valid at Richey Rd location only. About Tim Hortons® Tim Hortons® is one of North America's largest restaurant chains operating in the quick service segment. Founded as a single location in Canada in 1964, Tim Hortons appeals to a broad range of guest tastes, with a menu that includes premium coffee, hot and cold specialty drinks (including lattes, cappuccinos, espresso, teas and our famous Iced Capp® Beverages), baked goods, hot breakfast sandwiches, breakfast snacking items, and other food products. Tim Hortons has more than 4,800 system wide restaurants located in Canada, the United States and around the world. More information about the company is available at timhortons.com. For more information, visit timhortons.com/texas and follow Tim Hortons on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Contact Details Alison Brod Marketing + Communications Adrianna Lauricella +1 212-230-1800 tims@abmc-us.com Company Website https://www.timhortons.com/

December 07, 2022 11:07 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Minuteman Press Franchise in Bloomington, MN Celebrates 15 Years in Business

Minuteman Press International Inc

Bill and Karen Grewe have owned their Minuteman Press franchise in Bloomington, Minnesota since July of 2007. As they celebrate 15 years in business, Bill shares keys to success, lessons learned, high-demand products and services, and many more insights and reflections. Minuteman Press in Bloomington is located at 8742 Lyndale Avenue South, Bloomington, MN 55420. Congrats on 15 years in business! What does this milestone mean to you and what are 3 keys to your success and longevity? Bill Grewe: It means we’ve thrived over other competitors in the area, and we lasted longer than the average small business. Most recently, we survived the Covid-19 crisis, and we start to see a return to normalcy. Further, our retirement plans include continuing to work in our shop for the foreseeable future. We still enjoy it! Key 1: Our customer focus requires us to authorize staff to solve ‘the problem.’ We back the good faith decisions made in our absence. We prioritize discussions about how to solve issues when we are available. We emphasize that the customer is not always right, but we all make mistakes. Even so, there is no need to place blame. We look for win-win solutions. Key 2: Prioritize the quote. It is not the least expensive print company that gets the job; it is the most responsive. Sure, we accommodate ‘commodity-focused’ customers. We also price aggressively on three tiers: retail, print brokers, and non-profits. We also have two of our five employees, who generate estimates for us. Key 3: Value your team members. Our payroll is excessive, and that is intentional. We pay for talent, and that inspires loyalty. When Covid forced us to reduce hours and pay, our staff supported us. We share the successes and struggles, and we look for opportunities together. What are some of the key ways you’ve grown your business? Bill Grewe: One of the hardest lessons we learned was ‘cold calling.’ We waited too long to start following the advice received at training. (What can we say, introverts find it difficult.) A business coach encouraged us to experiment with a variety of ideas. So, we ventured outside the ‘comfort zone.’ As the business expanded, we found a salesman to perform this task for us. Early on, we remembered an important lesson from Minuteman Press International (MPI), “When someone asks you if you can ‘print this’, the answer is always ‘Yes.’” Since our small print shop simply did not have the resources to produce every job, we figured out how to find “central facilities” to fill the gaps. (Hint: We asked our MPI friends, searched the internet for trade only printers, and checked the vendor catalog.) Before FLEX offered a feature to request reviews, we employed a vendor to perform the service on our behalf. Now, we use functionality built in to automatically make this request when invoices are sent. The benefit of our finding this functionality early is that we are working to maintain a 5.0 rating, not trying to earn it. Our Google rating is one of the most often mentioned ways that new customers find us. What are the high-demand products and services that have really been helpful for your clients? Bill Grewe: EDDM offers one landscaping customer the opportunity to replace the 20% customer loss experienced year-over-year. On a routine basis several times each year, we use a central facility to produce 30,000 postcards. Our customer chooses the carrier routes they want to prospect. Then, we batch the postcards and deliver them to various post offices in the area. Wide format is a place where our central facility strategy permits us to offer signs for graduates. Our graphic designer offered to produce artwork for a school-themed graduation sign, and word quickly spread. Several other schools participated, and parents even paid in advance our third year providing this service to our community. One private school decided to pay for all the signs ahead of time and resell them. We print so many envelopes, regular and window. We moved our envelope printing off our digital toner machines onto an inkjet envelope printer, and we assigned the task to our graphic designer. This freed up our other machines for other work. We still have discriminating customers, who demand precise color. So, when our team cannot match color digitally, we work with an area pressman, who works out of his garage. How would you best describe your community? Bill Grewe: Bloomington is the 5th largest city in Minnesota with more jobs per capita than either Minneapolis or St. Paul, the two largest cities. Businesses range in size from the smallest to large, multi-national corporations. From a business perspective, the opportunities are abundant. Why do you think printing remains so vital to businesses today? Bill Grewe: Print provides tangible marketing messages that you can set aside for a convenient read. Where people skim their emails followed by the quick delete, they store and share meaningful documents. What was your background before franchising and why did you choose Minuteman Press? Bill Grewe: Neither of us comes from a print background. Karen worked in a day care center, then provided home day care. I worked for the revenue department for 20 years before looking for something new. An advertisement caught my attention, and the rest is history. What has the support from Minuteman Press International been like for you? Bill Grewe: After learning volumes of new information during training, I spent the first year figuring out what it all meant. Remember when I said we waited too long to start following all the advice we received from Minuteman Press International? I was so wrapped up in trying to understand it all, I missed the ‘do this’ advice that helped our business start growing. The FLEX software is a significant advancement over previous versions, which underscores Minuteman Press International’s commitment to improvement. Its integration with the website and increased functionality allows us to accept orders and payments online. Much of our business remains either an email or phone conversation, but the day is coming when current customers can reorder previously delivered projects with the click of a portal button. We should not miss an opportunity to thank the most important local support provided by Minuteman Press International, our field representative Kate. When Bill, our salesman, retired in July this year, Kate was on the job helping train Pete with updated advice from the franchisor, using FLEX, etc. What are the biggest personal and professional rewards of owning your business? Bill Grewe: For us, our franchise provides a sense of security. While there are income fluctuations, the business provides a steady income. Furthermore, it is part of our retirement plan. (We enjoy working with our staff.) What advice would you give to other business owners or people looking to own a business? Bill Grewe: For people looking to own a business, your first responsibility is to build your market share. Your employees depend on their paycheck. This means you must separate yourself from the day-to-day operations and focus on how to increase income. Our franchise focuses on building a relationship with customers. This starts with listening long enough to hear the vision, ask questions to clarify the intent, and suggest options that deliver the right product on schedule. It involves managing expectations and avoiding unrealistic promises. Sometimes the best thing to tell your customer is, ‘We simply cannot meet that deadline.’ Otherwise, you risk delivering a product that advertises failure. It’s better to overdeliver. For more information on Minuteman Press in Bloomington, MN, visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/mn/bloomington/ Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and see Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

December 07, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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'Tis the Season-ally Inspired Holiday Menus at Firebirds Wood Fired Grill

500NewsWire

Charlotte, NC ( 500NewsWire ) -- Firebirds Wood Fired Grill introduces new holiday lunch and dinner menus just in time to make any celebration a memorable one this holiday season. From hand-cut wood-fire grilled NY Strip, and certified Duroc pork chop with cognac cream sauce, to Bananas Foster Bread Pudding for dessert, Firebirds’ limited time scratch-made menus are available now through January 3. Firebirds Wood Fired Grill is known for its signature hand-cut steaks and fresh seafood hand-fileted in-house and seared over locally sourced hickory, oak, or pecan wood on Firebirds’ exposed wood-fired grill. Firebirds’ seasonal Lunch Menu includes suggested wine pairings, and features: NY Strip (10oz.) BLT butter / choice of side Suggested wine pairing: Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon Parmesan Crusted Mahi Coal-roasted tomato-basil sauce / “loaded “ember-grilled corn / fresh asparagus Suggested wine pairing: Decoy Chardonnay Lump Crab Cakes Bold remoulade / wonton slaw / seasoned steak fries Suggested wine pairing: Firebirds Private Label Chardonnay Guests can enhance their entrées by adding: Lump Crab Cake Lobster Mac & Cheese Dessert Bananas Foster Bread Pudding Vanilla bean ice cream / spiced pecans / crispy cinnamon-sugar tortilla Firebirds’ seasonal Dinner Menu includes suggested wine pairings, and features: NY Strip (14oz.) BLT butter / choice of side Suggested wine pairing: Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon Tomahawk Prime Pork Chop Wood-grilled, certified Duroc pork chop / cognac cream sauce / red wine-poached apples / green chile mac & cheese Suggested wine pairing: Acrobat Pinot Noir Parmesan Crusted Mahi Coal-roasted tomato-basil sauce / “loaded “ember-grilled corn / fresh asparagus Suggested wine pairing: Decoy Chardonnay Lump Crab Cakes Bold remoulade / wonton slaw / seasoned steak fries Suggested wine pairing: Firebirds Private Label Chardonnay Guests can enhance their entrees by adding: Lump Crab Cake Lobster Mac & Cheese Dessert Bananas Foster Bread Pudding Vanilla bean ice cream / spiced pecans / crispy cinnamon-sugar tortilla Many of the restaurant’s dishes are created using fresh seasonal ingredients. Gluten-sensitive menu items, such as Grilled Tenderloin Salad, Wood Grilled Salmon, and Parmesan Mashed Potatoes, are also available. Firebirds offers catering, online ordering for ToGo and delivery options. In addition, Firebirds is offering a holiday gift card promotion. For every $100 in gift cards purchased in-store or online, guests will receive $20 in “bonus cards.” This special offer is available now through December 31st and “bonus cards” are valid for redemption from January 1 through February 9, 2023. For more information visit firebirdsrestaurants.com/gift-cards/. Firebirds Wood Fired Grill’s FIREBAR® offers an impressive array of seasonal cocktails, craft beer, bourbon, after-dinner drinks, Firebirds’ private label wine, hand crafted mocktails and more. Popular specialties include Wine Down Mondays, and happy hour in the FIREBAR® and on the Patio every Monday through Friday from 4PM – 7PM. Happy Hour times vary. Visit FirebirdsRestaurants.com to make a reservation, order ToGo online, or register to become a member of Firebirds’ Inner Circle and be the first to hear about upcoming events, promotions, new menu items and exclusive offers. Members receive a gift for joining and a gift for their birthday. About Firebirds Wood Fired Grill Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, a polished casual American restaurant, is an energetic twist on the traditional grill featuring a boldly flavored menu in a stylish, fire-centric atmosphere. Signature menu items include hand-cut steaks and fresh seafood hand-fileted in-house and seared over locally sourced hickory, oak, or pecan wood on Firebirds’ exposed wood-fired grill. Complementing its inviting dining room, a patio with seasonal comforts and the award-winning FIREBAR® are additional gathering spaces inside the restaurant. Firebirds has been named one of ten ‘Breakout Brands’ by Nation’s Restaurant News, and the 2022 Diners’ Choice Winner awarded by OpenTable. Firebirds supports sustainability efforts and partners with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, having surpassed $3 million raised for childhood cancer research through the sale of fresh-squeezed lemonade. To become a member of Firebirds Inner Circle, order ToGo online or to make a reservation visit firebirdsrestaurants.com. Contact Details Firebirds Wood Fired Grill Lesley Gamwell +1 404-309-6915 lgamwell@rountreegroup.com Company Website https://firebirdsrestaurants.com/

December 07, 2022 08:59 AM Eastern Standard Time

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