Daily Archives: January 28, 2022

Google has a Wordle Easter egg and its cute, okay – TechCrunch

Posted: January 28, 2022 at 12:01 am

I know, I know, youre tired of Wordle. Just mute the word wordle on Twitter and dont be like the guy who made a Wordle-spoiling bot and got banned from Twitter today for being a party pooper (actually, its because its against Twitter guidelines to make a bot that is designed to bother people, but thats some definitively party-pooping behavior).

Okay, now that were alone all the curmudgeons have closed out of the article lets talk about Wordle. Todays puzzle was particularly challenging, but when you typed wordle into the Google search bar to find that strange powerlanguage.co.uk website, you might have noticed a fun Easter egg. The Google icon in the upper right corner looks like Wordle! The animation even enacts someone guessing words like column and goalie before arriving at Google. Its cute, okay! (And in other news, Google is being sued by Washington, DC and three states over a user privacy issue.)

As the cultural significance of a Google Easter egg proves, Wordle is still very popular, and its not just on your Twitter feed. When TechCrunch spoke to the games creator Josh Wardle two weeks ago, he said that two million people were playing the game each day. If youre decidedly not a curmudgeon and still think Wordle is fun (It is! If you dont like it, just dont play!), check out our conversation with Wardle (yep, thats his name) about the games sudden virality, venture capital interest and why he doesnt want to monetize the game.

Wardle told TechCrunch:

Its not like I think that everyone needs to give away the things they create online for free, it was just that because thats how I started this, its made it easier for me to continue it this way. I made something that felt really authentic to me, and now when people are asking like, Do you want to monetize it? Why arent you doing X, Y and Z?

Its really easy for me to say No, I was really happy with it when it was just my partner and me playing together. Its really easy to get seduced by all that stuff, but I try and instead be like I was happy then, and I think Ill be happy in the future if thats where it ends. If at the end of the day with Wordle, its just her and me playing again, I think Ill be totally happy for that to be the outcome.

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Google’s long-rumored smartwatch could arrive on May 26th – Engadget

Posted: at 12:01 am

There have been rumblings for quite some time that Google has been beavering away on its own smartwatch. Rumors last month suggested a Google-branded watch could arrive sometime in 2022, and now we have a slightly clearer idea of when it might debut.

Leaker Jon Prosser said the watch is currently slated to arrive on May 26th, noting that this is "the first weve seen a set date on the device behind the scenes." While that seems on the surface like an oddly specific date for something so far away, the timing lines up with the Google I/O developer conference, which usually takes place in May.

As with most smartwatches in the Android ecosystem, the smartwatch is expected to have a circular face, albeit with no physical bezel. It will likely have a heart rate sensor and other features adopted from Fitbit, which Google bought last year. The device could show off the extent of what Wear OS can do and be positioned as an Apple Watch competitor.

The release date isn't set in stone, of course. Nor is the name of the device, despite suggestions that it'll be called Pixel Watch. Still, it's something for Android and Pixel enthusiasts to keep an eye on.

Other rumors suggest a Pixel 6a smartphone is coming in May as well. It's expected to use the same Tensor chipset as the Pixel 6, though Google could ditch the headphone jack in the budget model.

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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Girl Scout cookies are always trending (yum). Heres what Google says are some of our favorite choices – WNCT

Posted: at 12:01 am

GREENVILLE, NC(WNCT) It thats time of year for you to enjoy yourfavorite Girl Scout cookies. Google is alerting us to the ones we like the most and where we can get them.

This season there will be a newly released cookie,Adventurefuls.These cookies are a caramel and brownie combo that youre sure to quickly fall in love with. Also, Google has released trends for each states top searched cookies.

According to Google,Thin Mints are the most searchedcookiesof all time. Last week, according to Google, the search for Girl Scout Cookies Near Me increased 450%. Google broke down the search results among some of the top cities in the United States, including Durham.

Heres what they found were the most popular cookies:

Some other interesting locations in the South included Charleston, S.C.:

In Atlanta, the top searches were:

Sorry, no Google results for Greenville.

However, that hasnt stopped many people who are excited to get their orders in or stop by a spot where they are being sold. In fact, through a partnership with Doordash, you can have cookies delivered to where you live and work.

The search ofdoesdooordashdeliver Girl Scout cookies increased 2,600% on Google just recently.

Girl Scout Cookies went on sale earlier this month. If you want information on how you can order them through the Girl Scout app, click here.

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Google starts hiring IT professionals for its new office in Pune – Mint

Posted: at 12:01 am

Tech giant Google on Monday announced plans to open a new office in Pune in the second half of 2022. Google's Pune facility will help it build advanced enterprise cloud technologies in collaboration with global engineering teams, provide real-time technical advice, and deliver product and implementation expertise that customers turn to Google Cloud.

Im pleased to share that Google is opening an office in Pune, and the first Googlers in the space will be in our Cloud Product Engineering, Technical Support and Global Delivery Center organizations," said Anil Bhansali, VP of Cloud Engineering, India, Google Cloud.

Google said it has kicked off hiring, alongside rapidly growing teams in Gurugram, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.

This new location is expected to open in the second half of 2022 but our hiring starts now alongside our rapidly growing teams in Gurgaon, Hyderabad and Bangalore," Bhansali writes in a Google blog post.

This planned expansion is the latest in a series of investments by Google Cloud to fuel our customer growth and valued offerings to organizations of all sizes."

Interested candidates can visit the official portal of Google vacancies to find out more about the open roles.

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Prince Michael of Sealand on 54 years of independence – East Anglian Daily Times

Posted: at 12:01 am

Published:7:00 PM January 27, 2022

Visible from Suffolk's beaches, the 'micronation' of Sealand has had astormyhistory ever since the fortress was built during the Second World War.

Since the Maunsell fort was put in place, it has served as a base of operations for a pirate radio station in the 1960s, a family home for aself-proclaimed royal familyin the 1970s, and as a base of operations for websitesin the early 2000s.

Consisting of a floating base, a deck andtwo hollow concrete legs for the crew to live in, the fort originally called HM Roughs Tower was dragged into place over a sandbar and sunk in 1943.

During the war, it was used to defend nearby estuaries from German aircraft.

But in the 1950s the forts were abandoned.And bythe 1960s, they made tempting bases for people looking to set up pirate radio stations.

Roughs Towers being sunk/installed in 1942- Credit: Archant

One of those pirate radio broadcasters was Paddy Roy Bates.

Known as Roy Bates, he took over HM Roughs Tower in 1967 and went on to declare its independence and style himself Prince.

Michael Bates, the currentruler of Sealand,inherited the title of Prince from his father.

Speaking about Sealand's early piraticaldays, Prince Michael said: "When I was a boythere was no pop music on the radio. Transistor radios you could carry around were a fairly new thing and very expensive, but they were just coming into the mainstream.

"If you wanted to listen to pop music, you would have to tune into Radio Luxembourg, which would come in and out at night as it bounced off the ionosphere."

This gap in the market motivated a number of entrepreneurs, includingMichael's father, to set up privately run pirateradio stations on ships and platforms just off the coast.

Prince Michael said: "There isa bit of a misconception on the internet we never actually puta pirate radio station on Sealand. We had one on another Maunsell Fort the Knock John Fort off Essex broadcasting Radio Essex.

Prince Michael, and his father, the late Prince Roy on Sealand in 1979, next to a WWII anti-air gun- Credit: Principality of Sealand

"Whenthe governmentbrought in the Marine Offences Act (in 1967), it drew a line across the Thames Estuary and said everything inside it was British territory.

"Dad got closed down and started looking for somewhere else."

Thesearch led the family upthe coast, to HM Rough Towers the fortress which would become Sealand.

The Bates family in 1966 (LR Michael, Roy, Penny, and Joan)- Credit: Principality of Sealand

Prince Michael said: "We went out on Christmas Eve 1966 and took over the FortRoughs.It wasn't a radio station, but there were some caretakers on it from Radio Caroline.

"We just climbed up it was a really calm night andthey came out of the building."

Prince Michael claimed one person was armed with a rifle but there was "no violence".

"We just said we were taking them off," he said."My father and I then took them into Harwich."

Prince Michael and his men keeping guard over the fortress in 1978- Credit: Principality of Sealand

However, Radio Caroline attempted to take the platform back.

Prince Michael said: "There were sevenor eightdifferent attemptswhich are detailed in my book.

"What were they using it for? Nothing!

"The Marine Offences Act had just come in and Radio Caroline was using it as a resupply base for helicopters.

"I think the idea was they wanted somewhere to keep supplies, fuel, and stores to keep the radio station running.

"I was 14 when all this trouble was going on out there it was my dream really at the time.

"I was always brought up with a bit of Boy's Own Annual stuff. It was interesting to me to defend the place.

"I didn't really consider that I could gethurt at the time I was like my father I thought I was indestructible.

"A lot of my friends who've read my book said I should be dead."

Roy and Michael Bates on Sealand in the 1960s- Credit: Principality of Sealand

Since its pirate radio days, Sealand has gone on to havevarious uses.

The tower was used as a base of operations for web-hosting companies in the early 2000s.

In 2007, it was reportedly in sales talks with controversial Swedish website The Pirate Bay, which was looking for a new base.

The fortress has incredible views over the north sea. - Credit: Principality of Sealand

Prince Michael added: "Whatever we've done we've always tried to be aware of our responsibility to the outside world the international community.

"That's why we stopped issuing passports we don't want to give people a pathway to terrorism."

Sealand currently supports its continued independence through the sale of noble titles.

Via its website, people can pay to become a Knight, Lord, Count, or Duke of the principality.

For more information on Sealand visit its website.

Prince Michael of Sealand has also written a book on the principality'shistory.

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‘GH’ Alum Ryan Paevey, Director Ron Oliver Knighted By Tiny Country – TV Shows Ace

Posted: at 12:01 am

Hallmark movie fans may wonder why director Ron Oliver calls himself Sir Ron Oliver, and Ryan Paevey, Sir Ryan Paevey. Is this an inside joke?

No.

The smallest country in the world knighted both the actor and director. Moreover, are you ready to learn more?

Back on September 6, 2021, Ryan Paevey and Ron Oliver were photographed outside Hollywoods iconic Magic Castle. The director and actor were dressed to the nines. Normally, Oliver likes to wear tropical shirts but instead was sporting a suit and tie in mostly creams and whites. Meanwhile, Paevey was dressed in all black, including his suit, shirt, and tie. Although he sported a huge smile, his look was dark and provocative.

Ron Oliver wrote on Instagram, Sir Ronald OMS and Sir Ryan OMS celebrate their respective Knighthoods at The Magic Castle. (No dragons were harmed in the taking of this photograph.) #sirronaldandsirryan #sirronaldoliver #sirryanpaevey #magiccastle #hollywoodknights #hollywood #christmasattheplaza #atimelesschristmas #hallmarkchristmasmovies #knightsofsealand #sealand

What is the Christmas At The Plaza director referring to? Moreover, where is Sealand?

Turns out, the pair have been knighted by the tiny island of Sealand.

The tiny country of Sealand gave knighthood to Ryan Paevey and Ron Oliver. According to Olivers IMDb, the Picture Perfect Mysteries director was knighted in 2019 by the sovereign nation of Sealand, and is now referred to as Sir Ronald Robert Oliver OMS.

There is no date or other information on Ryan Paeveys knighthood.

According to the Sealand official website, the tiny nation started as an offshore platform built during World War II. It was an anti-aircraft, gun platform. The structure is only 120 feet by 50 feet. Two hollow concrete legs hold up the structure. Lastly, the platform resembles a giant PI () symbol.

Sealand is located just seven nautical miles from the British coast. The closest town is Suffolk. Sealand is located on international waters. Moreover, Sealand had a purpose. The British built this platform as protection. They were looking for German mine-laying aircraft. Many years went by without any sort of change.

However, in the 1960s, the micro-country was occupied by Army Major Paddy Roy Bates. In addition, he called himself His Royal Highness Prince Roy Of Sealand. Although Bates did die in 2012, there have been up to five inhabitants at one time. The Principality of Sealand includes HRH Roys family and his friends. Sealand even has its own flag.

However, Roy fought an unsuccessful battle against the British government to make Sealand its own country.However, no country has ever recognized Sealand.

You could have a noble title like Sir Ryan Paevey and Sir Ron Oliver. Sealands website offers an array of noble titles from Lord, Lady, Baron, Baroness, Duke or, even Duchess! They even can make you an official Coat of Arms.

Georgia Makitalo has been a freelance writer for 14 years. She enjoys writing about Hallmark, Lifetime, GAC, British Series, as well as Netflix series like Emily In Paris, The Witcher, Lucifer, and anything Austen. In her free time she enjoys traveling, hiking and learning about Pre-Raphaelite art.

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Online sports betting begins Friday in La. – American Press | American Press – American Press

Posted: at 12:00 am

Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns announced Wednesday that six mobile sports betting apps will go live at 8 a.m. Friday.Johns could not divulge the names of the six platforms, but he said they are a go. Louisiana began issuing six-month temporary sports betting licenses on casino properties back in November, with permanent licenses expected later this year.Johns said there has been a growing interest in mobile sports betting since voters in 55 parishes approved sports betting in November 2020.Were entering into the modern age of gaming, he said. This is something the people of Louisiana voted on. Its not something the Legislature said, Go do this. Johns said he is eager for mobile sports betting to kick off because Louisiana has traditionally been behind Mississippi on gambling reform. While Mississippi had sports betting two years earlier, it doesnt have mobile sports betting, he said.We will be ahead of the ball game, Johns said. Its a big deal.Johns credited the State Police Gaming Enforcement Division and the Attorney Generals Office Gaming Division for their help in setting up sports betting.We are doing this the right way, he said. Louisiana regulates its gaming industry stricter and harder then most states do and we should.Setting up mobile gaming was a challenging process, Johns said.We had to make sure everyone is compliant and go through background checks, he said. We had to make sure the technology is working properly. We want customers to have an easy and safe experience when they go online. We feel confident we have done that.The nine parishes that voted against sports betting will have a virtual geographic boundary to prevent mobile sports betting, Johns said.Remaining sports betting operators are working to meet statutory and regulatory requirements before being approved, the state Gaming Control Board said in a statement.

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What is the handle in sports betting? What is revenue? – The Athletic

Posted: at 12:00 am

The handle is a specific term to sports betting that can be foreign to outsiders but a fundamental concept. Simply, handle is the amount of money wagered by bettors. It is the amount of money in play across online and in-person sportsbooks.

A sportsbooks revenue is different from its handle. The revenue is determined after bets are settled, the winners get their profits, and the losers lose the money wagered.

Handle can be shown as the amount bet over a certain period of time at a sportsbook or in a state or country. For example, sports betting in New Jersey had more than $996 million in handle in Dec. 2020. That means almost $1 billion was wagered in bets during that month in every sports bet from every sportsbook in New Jersey. As a result, the revenue New Jersey sportsbooks made during that same period was over $66 million.

Handle is also used as the percentage wagered on each side of a single bet, like a Carolina Hurricanes-Tampa Bay Lightning game. In sports betting coverage and analysis, you may see something like, The Lightning moneyline bet has 65% of the handle and 59% of the tickets. In this usage, handle is all of the money bet on that game, and the Lightnings 65% is how much of that money is on the Lightning side of the bet.

Ticket percentage is the raw number of bets. That means a $5 bet on the Lightning counts the same as a $1,000 bet on the Lightning. So they are each one ticket.

Handle percentage is weighted on how much money each bet was placed for. That means 20 $5 bets on the Lightning would be valued the same as one $100 bet on the Hurricanes.

Comparing handle percentage and ticket percentage can show where big money is going. In the example above, the Lightning has 65% of the handle with only 59% of the tickets. Therefore, for the handle percentage to be higher than the ticket percentage, the average bet amount on the Lightning has to be higher.

Trying to make actionable conclusions from this is tricky. It doesnt mean pro bettors are betting on the Lightning. It could just be average skill-level bettors with more money to bet are betting on the Lightning.

The handle isnt something readily accessible for every event. For example, some sportsbooks will boast about how much money was bet during the Super Bowl or March Madness. Likewise, the ticket and handle percentage numbers arent always widely available, although sometimes they will be given to the media to present interesting headlines or tidbits of information. Generally speaking, the handle isnt useful information for bettors trying to find an edge.

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How to place a sports bet – The Athletic

Posted: at 12:00 am

There are a lot of rules and terms to learn regarding sports betting before you can dip your toe in the water. Once you get a grasp on what it is youre betting on, the next step is learning how to place an actual bet.

For the most part, this is an easy process, but there are some key things to know before placing a bet. For starters, there are two common ways to place a sports bet. One is in-person at a sportsbook. That requires going up to a window with a physical ticket written out to place a bet. The more modern way, which has become much more recently, is betting online through a website or app. The process is very different between the two.

Sportsbooks can be intimidating places to new bettors. There are tons of screens with games on, usually a board with dozens of games and the lines and odds associated with them. Its a lot to take in.

If you go up to place a bet and just say I want the Panthers -6.5 the teller can look up the bet, but they might be a bit annoyed. Between Carolina (NFL), Florida (NHL) and a number of different college teams with the same name, theyd have a right to be. Bet sheets, actual pieces of paper with bets listed on them, in the sportsbook will have the number associated with the bet. Its easier and faster to come prepared with the bet number when you get to the window. Saying I want the Panthers against the spread, which is bet number 1234, for $100, will make the process go faster and help ensure you place the right bet.

Its important to know that bet sheets arent always updated throughout the day. They are only updated once per day in many cases. The number associated with the bet wont change, but the line may change. Make sure to read the board to see the latest line before turning in a ticket.

Betting in-person provides the full sportsbook experience: crowds of people yelling at games on big screens because they have money on the line. It can be a fun party atmosphere.

There arent as many options for betting though. With the exception of big events, live betting isnt always available and there is certainly less live betting than betting online. Its harder to find alternate lines and prop bets, for example.

Sportsbooks are cash economies. Bets must be placed with cash. The upside of that is its possible to get cash right away on a winning bet. Once the event has finished and the bet is settled, return to the betting window with a winning ticket and get cash in your hand.

Online betting is growing every year and is a very easy way to place bets. They all have apps and there are multiple to choose from if its legal where you live. Its as simple as clicking or tapping on the desired bet, placing the wager amount and confirming the bet. For parlays, simply choose multiple bets and make sure parlay is selected on the confirmation screen. With so many options its very easy to pick the wrong one so double-checking is a must.

Most online sportsbooks also typically have some form of rewards or loyalty programs that give bonuses based on how much you bet. They also offer profit bonuses, which will give better odds on specific bets, or promotions depending on the sportsbook. These vary from place to place but can be used to the bettors advantage.

The obvious pro to betting online is that its possible to place a bet from the couch. In terms of how to place a bet, its much easier online. Theres also a bevy of options to choose from. Not only are the lines and odds updated in real-time, but there are so many more lines more easily viewable. From alternate lines to countless props and constantly updated live betting on almost every event, everything a sportsbook offers is there to be found.

Another benefit is seeing the potential payout on the confirmation screen. This isnt a big deal for single bets but is nice for parlays or teasers. You can see how swapping bets can change the payout and make a determination of exactly what you want.

Its also much easier to shop lines online. In order to shop lines in person, you have to actually go to a different sportsbook. Thats not an option in most places outside of Las Vegas and even there, who knows if that line will even still be available by the time you get there. Online, simply open a different website or app and compare the offerings.

The downside is the lack of liquidity. In order to bet online, you need to deposit money to create a balance as opposed to paying cash for bets each time. Winning bets are immediately automatically added to the balance, but it can be tedious to cash out and is a slower process.

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Sports betting to arrive in Ohio – Cleveland Jewish News

Posted: at 12:00 am

On Dec. 22, 2021, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law House Bill 29 legalizing sports betting in the state of Ohio. The new law legalizes and controls sports betting in Ohio through licensed gaming owners. The law also tasks the Ohio Casino Control Commission with regulating sports gaming online, at sports gaming facilities and at bars and restaurants.

However, the recent passage of the House Bill 29 doesnt mean Ohioans can immediately start placing sports bets at their local casinos or bars. Before sports betting can occur in Ohio, several more government measures must be implemented.

As previously stated, the Ohio Casino Control Commission is in charge of regulating sports betting. Regulating, however, also means creating the sport gambling rules and systems to effectuate the law. The Ohio Casino Control Commission is in the process of creating the rules, applications, forms, systems and other items necessary to implement the bills provisions.

Heres what we know so far based on the language of House Bill 29:

Type A: This category applies to online sports gaming including mobile apps. There will not be more than 25 at a time and each will be given a five-year term.

Type B: This category applies to proprietors of sports gaming facilities a designated area of a building or structure in which patrons may place wagers on sporting events with a type B sports license either in person or using self-service sports gaming terminals. There will not be more than 40 licenses given at any one time with a maximum number of sports gaming facilities that may be located in a county based on 2010 census. These will also be given a five-year term.

Type C: This category applies to proprietors who offer sports gaming through self-service terminals located at one or more Type C sports gaming hosts facilities. The casino commission must license at least two and not more than 20 at any one time, with a five-year term.

Applicants looking for licenses will be evaluated by a number of factors, including the length of time the applicant has been doing business, and the applicants current or intended contributions including tourism. Applicants will also be evaluated based on criminal history, tax compliance, reputation, bankruptcy history, public confidence, litigation history and prior compliance with gaming related laws.

The Ohio Casino Control Commission has yet to publish the actual application forms, therefore, it is anticipated that the Commission will not be accepting licensure applications until July or August of this year.

However, once sport betting goes live in Ohio, it is anticipated that the tax revenue will be significant. PlayOhio reports that by the end of 2025, Ohio online and retail operators could generate between $9 billion and $12 billion in bets annually. This translates to between $700 million and $900 million in annual gross revenue. With Ohios tax structure, which is 10% of an operators taxable revenue, that could mean as much as $90 million in annual taxes. At present, the bulk of taxes generated from sports betting will go to Ohio schools while a small percentage will go to support gambling addiction services.

To obtain the latest information on sports betting, visit the Ohio Casino Control Commission website at casinocontrol.ohio.gov.

Andrew Zashin writes about law for the Cleveland Jewish News. He is aco-managing partner with Zashin & Rich, with offices in Cleveland and Columbus.

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