Prager Metis Hosts Launch Party In Metaverse With Musical Guests – Accounting Today

Top 50 Firm Prager Metis kicked off its formal establishment in the metaverse with a launch party last night.

A precise definition of the metaverse is hard to pin down, but it generally describes an immersive virtual world and the places where it intersects with the physical one. What they seem to have in common is having a persistent or semi-persistent virtual “space” that is separate from the physical world.

The metaverse is composed of a growing number of persistent or semi-persistent virtual “spaces” that are separate from the physical world; the spaces or platforms are distinct from each other, and all of them have different focuses, whether art, technology or just social interaction. Some of the biggest ones right now that are explicitly pitching themselves as metaverse platforms include Decentraland, Illuvium, Sandbox, Axie Infinity and Cryptovoxels.

The Prager Metis launch party took place in the Decentraland environment. It began with a panel discussion featuring CEO Glenn Friedman, global managing partner Lori Roth, and chief metaverse officer Jerry Eitel. During the talk, Roth said the firm has always been interested in emerging markets, and the metaverse seemed like a place with a lot of growth potential. Eitel, meanwhile, talked about how the firm’s presence in this virtual space could be seen as an outgrowth of its historical ties to the entertainment industry, which has also shown great interest in the metaverse.

“It’s sort of fitting just as we were leaders there 100 years ago, that we are now leaders into the metaverse,” said Eitel.

Friedman said there is much the firm can offer the metaverse, noting that even though it is made of bits and bytes, it is not free from real-world financial complications that can arise.

“Whatever is in the real world sort of exists, to some extent, in the metaverse. There are rules and regulations, and governments do dictate those, so there are international issues [for which] we have a robust international department. There are estate and trust issues for inheriting. So the real world has those issues and today we find them in the virtual world,” he said.

Besides the talk, the event also featured live musical performances from Song Camp, Chaos and DJ GucciToe. There will likely be similar events in the future, which Roth hopes will drive more community engagement.

“We look forward to seeing you in this world and all the others,” she said.

Technology Editor, Accounting Today

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Grab These Top 5 Deals From Verizon During Black Friday Sale In November 2022 – The Tech Outlook

With a tagline to attract the most customers, Verizon is getting ready for its biggest Black Friday sale ever. The holiday deals are crazier than ever. There are deals on various electronic gadgets such as smartphones as well as accessories. What’s more to this is that we have handpicked the top five deals from Verizon from their ongoing Black Friday sale. Let’s throw some light on the duration of the sale and then, move on to the deals. 

Firstly, the Black Friday sale would begin as early as November 10th, 2022 onwards. Various promotional offers would be available then. The sale would end on November 27th, 2022. Selectively, these deals will be available in stores. If you are planning to visit Verizon stores to avail the offers, check with your nearest store. In-store pickups are also available. Most of them would be offered as online exclusives. Two-day free shipping will be offered on products worth more than $ 49. 

Now, let’s have a look at the top deals during the Black Friday sale at Verizon. We have the best five deals here. Have a look.

• The iPhone 14 Pro Deal

The phone’s on Verizon, meaning they’d be giving you $ 200 when you switch phones. There’s also $ 500 that’s given when you exchange an old or damaged phone for the new iPhone 14 Pro. It’s cool that they’re offering this deal on a premium phone like iPhone 14 Pro. Unlimited 5G plans are also an add-on.

• 20% off on Google Pixel accessories 

You can save up to 20 % on Google Pixel accessories such as Google Pixel 7 and 7 Pro cases. The offer is also available on screen protectors. Most of the products are available under $ 100 with this Black Friday sales offer. This is actually helpful if you are buying on a budget.

• Get Samsung Galaxy GS22+ for free

If you bring a phone that you own and buy a new phone, you get up to $ 500 off. You get an additional $ 200 when you switch phones. The price of the Samsung Galaxy GS22+ is covered in that. So, you could probably get that for free. Colors available include Phantom White, Phantom Black, Green, and Pink Gold.

And, you can also avail up to 60 % off on Galaxy Buds 2 while purchasing this device. Free in-store pickup as well as free two-day shipping is also available.

• Get $100 off on Google Pixel Buds Pro 

For prospective buyers planning to indulge in this sale, here’s some information. The offer is valid only if you buy a Google Pixel 7 or Google Pixel 7 Pro. Otherwise, the offer is not available. The Google Pixel 7 is a great phone to buy. The 7 Pro is a higher version than this one. It is available in three colors Snow, Hazel, and Obsidian. If you buy the device, you can avail a stunning $100 discount on the Google Pixel Buds Pro. 

• Get up to 70 % on Verizon chargers 

Verizon is offering up to 70 % off on accessories such as chargers. Accessories on sale include Verizon 24W Quick Charge Vehicle Charger, Verizon Wireless Charging Pad with Fast Charge, Verizon 40W USB-A, and USB-C Travel charger amongst others. The sale not only covers chargers but also covers only charging cables as well. Most of these products will be under $100 during the Black Friday sale. You can also avail of two days’ free shipping and save money. 

If you chat with Verizon’s live agent on their website, there’s a chance of getting an extra 30 % off. How cool is that? 

There are other deals apart from the ones mentioned above. The Black Friday sale at Verizon is going to be a blast. We urge tech enthusiasts and users to go and try it out in November 2022. It’s the best sale season after the Halloween parties. Wait and watch, this will turn out to be a success. Grab the best deals during the Black Friday sale at Verizon. You definitely don’t want to regret not doing this later on. 

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Why Reddit Is The Best Platform For Research On Crypto – Bravewords.com

Among the most crucial necessities for both veteran crypto experts and newcomers is access to reliable information. As a result, sites that report on the cryptocurrency industry are providing invaluable support to its rapid growth. This finding explains why social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter have become so important to the community-based approach that characterises the cryptocurrency sector. 

Because of this, more and more people working in the crypto industry are gravitating toward social news and discussion websites like Reddit.

We’ll go over the basics of Reddit, show you around, and give you some tips on what to look for in a crypto-specific subreddit.

What Exactly Is Reddit?

Social media platform Reddit bills itself as “the main site of the web.” While this claim may appear implausible at first, a quick look around the site will show you differently. The software organises the vast amount of data it stores into distinct discussion groups. Since users of Reddit are free to build communities devoted to sharing material on whatever subject they want, the site serves a wide variety of subcultures. 

Users, often known as Redditors, may participate in the site by posting links, images, writings, and videos. Moreover, you have the option to either upvote or downvote the efforts of others.

Subreddits

Based on our definition, crypto Subreddits are communities on Reddit dedicated to discussing cryptocurrency and related issues. The popularity of Reddit within the large crypto community has attracted the attention of crypto-focused businesses and information hubs. Subreddits have been set up so that people who use or are interested in the platform’s services may talk to one another and address any questions or concerns they may have. Furthermore, anybody may start a crypto-themed Subreddit.

Reasons Reddit Is The Best Crypto Platform For Crypto Research

Multiple forms of communication are Facilitated by Reddit. Reddit’s multimedia sharing features are a big draw for the crypto community. Users may choose the most effective method of conveying information to the group. This is especially the case with Subreddits where users often provide helpful resources like Best Crypto to Buy Right Now on Reddit and how-to guides as well as cryptocurrency charts. They may upload videos themselves, or they can send a hyperlink to a video hosted on YouTube.

Quickest Way To Keep Up To Date

Reddit is likely the first social media site where crypto news is disseminated, and this is well-known among crypto companies and news outlets. That’s why they’ve committed some of their resources to monitor crypto-specific subreddits in order to learn more about the prevalent attitudes in the crypto space. This will help them determine what types of products or content are most popular within the crypto community.

Great To Build A Strong Crypto Personality 

Experts in the field of cryptography often provide helpful insights and answers to user questions in various crypto-related Subreddits. They understand that the more useful and insightful information they provide about cryptocurrencies they publish, the more others will appreciate their expertise and respect their judgement. This is encouraging news for them and any associated businesses or endeavours.

Finding The Right Subreddits

After covering the inner workings of Reddit and its increasing popularity within the crypto community, this part will go into what to look for in a crypto-specific subreddit. This depends on the following elements:

What The Particular Subreddit Specializes In

As we said previously, Subreddits tend to focus on certain niches. Consequently, you must think about the specific area of cryptocurrency that said Subreddit covers. There’s no use in joining a Cryptocurrency-related Subreddit if you’re not going to get any value out of it. Given that this is the case, it is wise to learn the fundamentals of your chosen crypto vocation or specialisation. Then, check to see whether the selected Subreddits have the tools you need to reach your scalability goals.

Let’s look at a crypto trader as an example. He is well aware of the need of having ready access to relevant and timely information, such as news, quality crypto signals, gateways to cryptocurrency exchange, and development reports pertaining to the crypto assets in said portfolio. Having compiled his essential requirements, it is reasonable to assume that the finest cryptocurrency exchanges Subreddits are those that fit him.

Member Activeness

Simply joining a Subreddit dedicated to talks about your chosen area of cryptography is not sufficient. Instead, you should look at Subreddit’s activity to see whether its users are determined to assist you. Subreddits with a large number of members probably won’t be helpful in any way for your cryptocurrency-related endeavours. Therefore, before submitting yourself to a potentially hostile world on such Subreddits, it is wise to confirm the response of its members.

Quality Of Content

Quality, on the other hand, demonstrates how valuable the member’s inputs really are, in contrast to plain activity, which reflects the member’s enthusiasm to add to the community.  If you’re having trouble finding postings that are really of interest to you, it doesn’t matter how much hype surrounds your favourite crypto Subreddit; you’ll soon lose interest.

This idea also applies if the participants of a Subreddit are resistant to hearing alternative ways of conveying their viewpoint. Using visuals or movies might be helpful when trying to convey the nuances of something like crypto mining. You may have to put in additional work to understand explanations provided in text format if the self-proclaimed specialists in the Subreddit are hesitant to impart information through training videos.

For this reason, before signing up for a crypto-specific Subreddit, you should research the community’s openness to suggestions and the level of discourse there.

Beginner Friendly Subreddits

Individuals enter Subreddits since they desire to be members of a community with people who are eager to teach each other and spread the word about a certain topic. For this reason, newcomers to the crypto space should avoid crypto-related Subreddits that don’t provide a welcoming and learning environment. 

Certain subreddit will have more advanced topics and users will not take to kindly to beginner questions.  Keeping this in mind, experts suggest you subscribe to Subreddits whose ethos is centred on guiding newcomers through the ever-changing world of cryptocurrencies.

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Cuba Calls U.S. Trade Embargo A ‘hurricane’ That Never Ends – Reuters Canada

Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez speaks during a news conference in Havana, Cuba, October 19, 2022. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini

HAVANA, Oct 19 (Reuters) – Cuba on Wednesday said the decades-old U.S. trade embargo has been causing record financial losses and untold human suffering in recent months, at a time when Cuba was also battling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Ian.

Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez made the comments at the launch of an annual campaign for a United Nations resolution condemning the trade embargo, which was put in place after Cuba’s 1959 revolution.

The foreign minister’s comments follow a Biden administration announcement on Tuesday saying it would provide $2 million to Cuba for emergency relief efforts following Hurricane Ian, a rare olive branch between the two long-time foes. read more

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“Despite the positive announcements… the blockade has not changed in its scope or depth,” Rodriguez told reporters in a news conference in Havana.

He said Cuba was grateful for the U.S. aid but was still crippled by the embargo, which he called a “hurricane” that never ceases to batter the island.

“The embargo is a permanent pandemic, a constant hurricane,” he said. “Today the policy of President Biden’s government towards Cuba is… the same Republican policy, no changes have been introduced in that policy.”

Former U.S. President Trump, a Republican, introduced stiff new sanctions against Cuba, beginning in 2017. The administration of President Joe Biden, a Democrat, has since eased some policies around remittances, flights, tourism and more recently, migration, saying it would reopen full consular services in Havana in 2023.

The broader embargo, however, has remained largely unchanged. The web of U.S. laws and regulations complicate financial transactions and the acquisition of goods and services by the Cuban government.

The United States has said its policies are aimed at channeling “funds toward the Cuban people and away from a regime that has failed to meet the most basic requirements of a free and just society.”

Rodriguez on Tuesday blasted that assertion, saying the blockade was “aimed at causing the inability of the country to meet the fundamental needs of the population.”

The U.N. General Assembly will vote on Nov. 2 and 3 on a non-binding resolution condemning the trade embargo. It will be the 30th time Cuba has marshaled international support against the embargo. The resolution has historically garnered near unanimous support from member nations and is expected to pass again this year.

Economic losses caused by the embargo from August 2021 through February 2022 amounted to $3.8 billion, a record for that seven month period, Rodriguez said, bringing the total cost to $154 billion since the embargo’s inception.

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Reporting by Dave Sherwood and Nelson Acosta, Editing by Rosalba O’Brien

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Mississippi Rolls Out Mobile ID For Statewide Elections – The Associated Press – En Español

JACKSON, Miss (AP) — Mississippi voters will be able to use their smartphones as voter identification in the November election, marking the first real test of a new statewide program that integrates technology into the voting process.

The program was launched last year in the form of an Apple and Android app. It stores a resident’s driver’s license in digital form and allows someone to use their phone in places they would typically show a license, such as voting locations.

Keith Davis, deputy commissioner for the Department of Public Safety, told WLBT-TV that around 100,000 people have downloaded the app, and more than 51,000 residents signed up for the digital driver’s license.

Industry experts have estimated that the coronavirus pandemic sped up the widespread adoption of contactless identification methods by at least a decade.

Mississippi is one of 10 states with a “fully engaged” mobile identification program, Davis said. Idemia, a multinational technology company headquartered in France, was contracted by DPS to build the app. The company has launched similar apps in several other states.

Davis said DPS is also working to build a system that would allow people in Mississippi to use their phone instead of their license to check in with the Transportation Security Administration before boarding a flight.

“We are working with Idemia as well as the other states that are rolling out mobile ID, working with TSA to get that put into place,” Davis told the news station.

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U.S. Secretary Of Education Announces Recipients Of The 2022 Terrel H. Bell Awards For Outstanding School Leadership | U.S – US Department Of Education

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel A. Cardona today announced the recipients of the Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership for 2022. All nine school leaders from the 2022 cohort of National Blue Ribbon Schools will be honored during the National Blue Ribbon Schools awards ceremony Nov. 3 in Washington.

“As a former principal, I understand the vital role school leaders play in shaping school culture and welcoming learning environments, improving student achievement outcomes, and empowering teachers to meet the needs of their students,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “The nine school leaders receiving this year’s Terrel Bell awards have raised the bar for building positive school climates, increasing achievement, and finding creative ways to nurture, engage, and support students, families, educators, and school staff. At a time when principals and other school leaders face many challenges, from addressing students’ unmet mental health needs to accelerating their academic recovery from the pandemic, the Department of Education is proud to recognize the essential work they do each day.”

Named for the second U.S. secretary of education, Terrel H. Bell, the Bell Award honors school leaders who are committed to education as a powerful and liberating force in people’s lives. The award is part of the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Principals are nominated by their school communities during the final stages of the National Blue Ribbon Schools application process.

The U.S. Department of Education, together with the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the Association for Middle Level Education, and the National Association of Secondary School Principals, present the Bell Awards to principals of National Blue Ribbon Schools for their outstanding work and the vital role they play in guiding their students and schools to excellence, frequently under challenging circumstances.

The 2022 recipients are:

Visit the website to learn more about the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program and the Terrel H. Bell Awards

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IT Consulting M&A: E78 Partners Acquires Macronet – ChannelE2E

by Sharon Florentine • Oct 19, 2022

E78 Partners, backed by private equity firm Further Global Capital Management, has acquired Macronet, a value-added services distributor and IT and telecom consulting firm. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

This is technology M&A deal number 907 that ChannelE2E has covered so far in 2022. See more than 2,000 technology M&A deals involving MSPs, MSSPs & IT service providers listed here.

E78 Partners Acquires Macronet

E78 Partners, founded in 2016, is based in Oak Brook, Illinois. The company has 211 employees listed on LinkedIn. E78’s areas of expertise include corporate finance, financial advisory services, strategic consulting, interim CFO, deal sourcing for PE, pre-acquisition advisory, exit readiness for PE, post-acquisition integration, financial reporting, portfolio company monitoring, operational dashboards, advanced analytics, and business intelligence.

Macronet is based in Hampton, New Hampshire. The company has 24 employees listed on LinkedIn. Macronet’s areas of expertise include telecommunications and IT services, hosting and cloud services and IT security.

Macronet will operate as a service line under E78’s Technology Management and Advisory business unit which focuses on increasing profits by eliminating clients’ technology and communications overspend while optimizing their voice, data, wireless and related IT systems, the companies said.

As part of the E78 organization, Macronet’s team of agents will focus on marketing E78’s financial solutions. Additionally, Macronet will expand its network of independent agents to deliver E78 services to more clients, the companies said.

E78 Acquires Macronet: Executive Perspectives

John Signa, founder and CEO, E78 Partners

Scott Bryan, founder and president, Macronet

John Signa, founder and CEO of E78 Partners, commented on the news:

“With the addition of Macronet, you see our growth strategy and commitment to investing in value-added capabilities and service offerings in action. We are making good on our goal of distinguishing ourselves as the single-source success partner for essential business services across the office of the CFO that drive value to middle-market companies and their financial sponsors, and we encourage other agencies who want to be a part of this journey to explore how they can benefit from a relationship with us, too.”

John Cataldo, executive managing director and head of E78’s Technology Management and Advisory business unit, said:

“Plenty of others have acquired technology expense management firms before, but nobody has come up with a successful formula to do it – until now. What we are building is unprecedented in the industry: we are bringing together a full suite of operational and strategic CFO services to offer one of the most compelling and comprehensive value propositions to our client partners.”

Scott Bryan, founder and president of Macronet, added:

“Joining E78 was a remarkably easy decision for us. E78 gives us advantages that nobody else in the business can even come close to. They’re experienced at integrating businesses like ours, so we knew it would be a smooth, well-managed transition. Everyone in the organization from their financial sponsors on down have an energetic growth strategy that’s focused on bringing a unique value proposition to the market.”

E78 Partners M&A Activity

E78 Partners was founded by private equity professionals. The firm’s 300+ senior industry experts provide private equity firms, portfolio companies and corporate clients with accounting, finance and technology solutions aimed at CFOs, according to E78. Previously in 2022, E78 acquired Cadilus.

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