Shepherd training for Highland Lakes Crisis Network volunteers June 23 - DailyTrib.com

The next shepherd training for Highland Lakes Crisis Network volunteers is from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 23. The location will be announced at a later date. Dinner will be provided. 

The Shepherding Program is one of the most critical elements of the Crisis Network’s mission, Executive Director Kevin Naumann said. 

“Ultimately, this is the foundation of how we deploy volunteers from churches to disciple people as they navigate their time of crisis,” he said in a statement. “This is an ongoing, regular commitment to join a family in the midst of their ‘mess’ and help support them with friendship, prayer, and love, and to help usher a transformation in their lives.” 

Some of the programs with which volunteers will be assisting are Children Without Placement, which works with foster kids who are in a group home due to a lack of foster families; Transformation Living, which provides housing for families in crisis; and Disaster Response, the service at the heart of how the Crisis Network came to be. 

The formation of the Highland Lakes Crisis Network was in the works in October 2018 when the area was hit by major floods that took out homes and the RM 2900 bridge in Kingsland. That disaster sped up the process of creating a network of area churches working together to “meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of our neighbors during times of crisis and disaster.”

The nonprofit has since expanded its definition of emergency needs to include foster children, families in crisis, and community trust. 

That kind of outreach takes a lot of volunteers, Naumann said. Training shepherds, what the network calls its volunteers, helps prepare them to make the best use of their commitment to serve.

“You don’t have to know it all,” Naumann said. “We will help you navigate the ministry and will support you and the family you are walking beside, but we do need people like you to be a committed partner for these families and our ‘eyes and ears’ about how best to support them.”

For more information, call 325-423-3662 or email the Crisis Network through its contact webpage.

suzanne@thepicayune.com

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UnitedHealthcare and UVM Health Network reach agreement on new contract - vtdigger.org

The University of Vermont Medical Center's Fanny Allen campus in Colchester on in October 2019. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

UnitedHealthcare, the nation’s largest health insurer, and the University of Vermont Health Network, the state’s largest health care provider, have finalized an agreement that ensures people insured by UnitedHealthcare can continue to use UVM Health Network as an in-network provider.

A dispute between the two organizations as their contract expired April 1 left an estimated 5,000 Vermonters wondering how they would be able to afford continuing care at UVM Health Network if UnitedHealthcare no longer considered the hospital system as in-network.

The agreement covers people enrolled in UnitedHealthcare and Oxford employer-sponsored plans. UVM Health Network also continues to remain in-network for UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare Advantage plans. Medicare supplemental coverage and veterans’ care were not affected by the contract dispute. 

“We recognize and appreciate that the care UVM provides is not only important but also personal to our members, and we know the negotiations process has been difficult for them,” said UnitedHealthcare spokesperson Cole Manbeck in a statement. “Our top priority throughout this process was ensuring the people and employers we’re honored to serve in Vermont and New York have access to quality, more affordable health care, and this new agreement helps accomplish that goal.”

 “We are glad that we were able to come to a renewal agreement with UnitedHealthcare for the benefit of their members who look to us for care,” said UVM Health Network spokesperson Annie Mackin in a statement. “We regret any disruption and stress caused by this protracted commercial negotiation.” 

Mackin said that, in negotiations with health insurers, UVM Health Network has three main goals: obtain reasonable coverage of cost inflation, get relief from insurance company rules and procedures “that are contrary to excellent care and provider accountability,” and move toward value-based payments and away from fee-for-service. 

Neither organization provided details of the contract and how it would affect patients seeking care at UVM Health Network.

Because UVM Health Network is dominant in northwestern Vermont, some patients sought care as far away as Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, so they could be sure they would stay in-network and avoid massive fees.

The two sides fought over how much UnitedHealthcare would cover increased fees being charged by UVM Health Network. 

The dispute affected patients getting care at UVM Medical Center in Burlington, Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin, Porter Medical Center in Middlebury and three hospitals in upstate New York, as well as their affiliated physicians. 

Since April 1, both sides had kept extending their existing contract as they continued negotiations.

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Utah OCAVU brings utility to Web3, launches new web3 network, OCAVU token - Utah Business - Utah Business

Lehi — OCAVU announced the launch of a first-of-its-kind and patent-pending utility engine for the Web3 ecosystem, the OCAVU Network. Now, brands and influencers can easily assign, distribute, and enable real-world value from digital experiences like NFTs and tokens to build community with their users. Formerly SeekXR, OCAVU also announced a new token, and the company rebranded today at Cryptopia, Utah’s largest gathering of Web3 enthusiasts from around the world. 

OCAVU empowers brands and influencers with easy-to-use tools for Web3 digital engagement—from blockchain to NFTs, XR/AR, and digital tokens. The OCAVU Network has already seen substantial growth and revenue in beta over the past eight months, with brands like Dude Perfect, MaryRuth Organics, and Social Mixtape using it to enter the blockchain.

“We’ve had the opportunity to work with a lot of great content creators and brands, and a common frustration among them was the lack of control and stunted revenue potential,” says OCAVU co-founder and CEO Jon Cheney. “We created the OCAVU Network to tackle this problem head-on using the incredible new capabilities and paradigms of Web3 giving creators more opportunities to engage with their communities and have more control over their content and financial futures.”

Since its inception as Seek in 2016 as an augmented reality treasure hunt in the Wasatch Mountains, the company has evolved into leading 3D infrastructure technology to suit a variety of needs and use cases—from helping educators find creative ways for students to have interactive 3D/AR experiences during the pandemic, to powering e-commerce brands with real-time visualizations, so shoppers can decide on the spot how a couch would fit in their living room. OCAVU’s rebrand from SeekXR is indicative of its commitment to innovation alongside the next phase of the internet as OCAVU rolls out The OCAVU Network to further its mission of providing an easy onramp into Web3 for brands, artists, and influencers.

The OCAVU Network 

The OCAVU Network has easy-to-use tools that allow anyone to create and distribute content in Web3 (from tokens, video, 3D/AR, NFTs, and more) — ultimately helping brands, influencers, artists, athletes, and more reclaim ownership of their community, monetize their content, and add real-world value for their users. The Network allows for true ownership and revenue potential over the content creators build – not just a percentage like other social platforms. 

OCAVU Token 

The OCAVU Token powers the OCAVU Network by providing liquidity to additional community tokens on the OCAVU Network and creating a direct onramp/offramp through traditional payment platforms, such as debit and credit cards. With the automatic token trading feature, consumers will be able to purchase using their community token or with a traditional payment form. The OCAVU token is now live on the Polygon blockchain.

“When looking to invest in Web3 companies, we saw many that were building infrastructure, but we were impressed by OCAVU’s patented-pending utility engine that brings real-world value to NFTs, tokens, and communities powered by the OCAVU Network,” says Brandon Ball, CFO at Blue Diamond Capital. “OCAVU is the future of the internet because it grants the freedom and ownership that Web3 has promised since its creation.”

If you’re interested in learning more and/or becoming part of the OCAVU network, please visit ocavu.com.

About OCAVU

OCAVU helps brands and influencers create dynamic, immersive experiences that build community with users. The OCAVU Network’s Web3 ecosystem empowers brands for blockchain, NFT, XR/AR, and digital tokens to provide the next level of decentralized, digital engagement at scale. OCAVU also provides tools to create intuitive AR solutions that optimize 3D models, making it easier to create, manage, and distribute content across platforms. For more information, visit: Ocavu.com.

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Cancer Thrivers Network Enjoys In-Person Program — Detroit Jewish News - The Jewish News

Janet Moses, left, and Judie Blumeno, right, with Goldner Walsh terrarium instructor. (Cancer Thrivers Network)

The Cancer Thrivers Network’s vision and purpose is to join together in community to create new bonds, strengthen old bonds and to share life-affirming joyful experiences with one another.

At a programming committee meeting back in March, members of the Cancer Thrivers Network decided it was ready to have an in-person activity and chose to do a program at Goldner Walsh Nursery in Pontiac, where participants could build their own terrariums.  

“We have a lot of members interested in plants and both indoor and outdoor gardening,” said Trisha Mindel, Cancer Thrivers Network program manager, “so the setting was perfect as we were surrounded by stunning potted begonias and every other type of greenery one could imagine. It was a beautiful and mentally soothing venue complete with a little wildlife in the form of their in-house tortoise, Nelson.”

Participants were guided through the layered composition of the charcoal and soil and decorative elements as well as the selection of the miniature plants to complete their tiny ecosystems, and members were delighted by their efforts. 

“No less delightful was the joy we took in spending time together after long separation,” Mindel added. 

The Cancer Thrivers Network’s vision and purpose is to join together in community to create new bonds, strengthen old bonds and to share life-affirming joyful experiences with one another. The pandemic has been as hard on this group as it has been on any. 

“We enjoyed our time building terrariums and our time enjoying some gluten- and dairy-free kosher snacks from Plum Market and delicious kosher coffee from Soul Café,” Mindel said. 

Pam Goldberg shows off her terrarium. Cancer Thrivers Network

Susie Yesenko and Francie Cook build their terrariums. Cancer Thrivers Network

The Cancer Thrivers Network is open to women who’ve experienced cancer. For information, contact Trisha Mindel at 248-592-2267 or tmindel@jfsdetroit.org. 

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Foursquare founder banks funding for mystery 3D social network startup - TechCrunch

The excitement around web3 and the metaverse have pulled plenty of entrepreneurs who defined the first generation of native mobile apps to begin questioning what’s next.

Foursquare founder Dennis Crowley is on the co-founding team of a new startup called LivingCities, alongside Matt Miesnieks, who sold his most recent startup 6D.ai to Niantic for an undisclosed sum, as well as designer John Gaeta, who best known for his work on the Matrix Trilogy. The trio say they have banked $4 million in early funding led by DCVC for their project. Other backers include Eniac Ventures, Anorak and Matthew Ball.

“The big opportunity in the early days of Foursquare was really like, ‘Okay, let’s make some software that changes the way that people use physical space,’ and the way that we executed that is we tried to turn life into a game, we tried to turn spaces into a game, we tried to make it easier to meet up with people, and a lot of that was successful. But that was like 13 or 14 years ago, and technology has changed,” Crowley tells TechCrunch. “I think that the core idea that software can change the way that people interact with the world is still meaningful and unsolved in many ways, and that’s what keeps drawing me back to the challenge.”

The founding team doesn’t have an awful lot to say about what exactly they’re building, except that it’s a “social layer” for consumers based around interacting with virtual spaces that capture the “spirit” of real-life geographies and cities. The “mirror-world” platform will integrate elements of web3, though the team says they hope to build without succumbing to the “rampant speculation” that many associate with crypto.

CEO Miesnieks says the team is largely interested in building out a network that exists only on the web and mobile web, potentially sidestepping app stores and their associated fees, but that he’s not looking to build out another augmented reality startup or compete with mapping players like Niantic or Snap.

“We think that if you’re going to build something for consumers, you need to build on technology that’s widely available today,” Miesnieks says.

Just under a year ago, Crowley stepped down from his full-time role at Foursquare after more than a decade at the company. He tells TechCrunch that starting his new company has been the product of him and his co-founders asking themselves questions about what role new technology can play in bringing people closer together.

“What are the things that we want to see exist in the world? What are experiences that are only now recently possible because of what’s changed in how people use their phones or other devices? It has always seemed like there’s an opportunity to do more, to bring the digital and real world together in an interesting way,” Crowley says.

Subscribe to TechCrunch’s crypto newsletter “Chain Reaction” for news, funding updates and hot takes on the wild world of web3 — and take a listen to our companion podcast!

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Targeting an Oil Smuggling Network Supporting the IRGC-QF and Hizballah - United States Department of State - Department of State

The United States remains fully committed to imposing costs on the Iranian regime for its support to terrorist proxies that destabilize the Middle East.  To that end, today the United States is designating an international oil smuggling and money laundering network, led by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) official Behnam Shahriyari and former IRGC-QF official Rostam Ghasemi, both of whom are designated persons.  This network is backed by senior levels of the Russian Federation government and state-run economic enterprises.  It has facilitated the sale of hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of oil for the IRGC-QF and Hizballah, and it spans several jurisdictions, including Iran and Russia.  The IRGC-QF’s support for proxy militant groups continues to perpetuate conflict and suffering throughout the region.

We are taking this action pursuant to the counterterrorism authority Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended.  The IRGC-QF was designated pursuant to E.O. 13224 in 2007 for providing support to multiple terrorist groups.

While the United States continues to seek a mutual return to full implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), we will strictly enforce sanctions on Iran’s illicit oil trade.  We will not hesitate to target those who provide critical support for the IRGC or Hizballah and facilitate their access to the international financial system.  We work vigorously to counter sanctions evasion and continue to strictly enforce sanctions on Iran’s illicit oil trade.  Anyone purchasing oil from Iran faces the prospect of U.S. sanctions.

For more information on today’s action, please see the Department of the Treasury’s press release. 

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Researchers teleport quantum information across rudimentary quantum network - Science Daily

Researchers in Delft have succeeded in teleporting quantum information across a rudimentary network. This first of its kind is an important step towards a future quantum Internet. This breakthrough was made possible by a greatly improved quantum memory and enhanced quality of the quantum links between the three nodes of the network. The researchers, working at QuTech -- a collaboration between Delft University of Technology and the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) -- are publishing their findings today in the scientific journal Nature.

The power of a future quantum Internet is based on the ability to send quantum information (quantum bits) between the nodes of the network. This will enable all kinds of applications such as securely sharing confidential information, linking several quantum computers together to increase their computing capability, and the use of highly precise, linked quantum sensors.

Sending quantum information

The nodes of such a quantum network consist of small quantum processors. Sending quantum information between these processors is no easy feat. One possibility is to send quantum bits using light particles but, due to the inevitable losses in glass fibre cables, in particular over long distances, the light particles will very likely not reach their destination. As it is fundamentally impossible to simply copy quantum bits, the loss of a light particle means that the quantum information is irrecoverably lost.

Teleportation offers a better way of sending quantum information. The protocol for quantum teleportation owes its name to similarities with teleportation in science-fiction films: the quantum bit disappears on the side of the sender and appears on the side of the receiver. As the quantum bit therefore does not need to travel across the intervening space, there is no chance that it will be lost. This makes quantum teleportation an crucial technique for a future quantum Internet.

Good control over the system

In order to be able to teleport quantum bits, several ingredients are required: a quantum entangled link between the sender and receiver, a reliable method for reading out quantum processors, and the capacity to temporarily store quantum bits. Previous research at QuTech demonstrated that it is possible to teleport quantum bits between two adjacent nodes. The researchers at QuTech have now shown for the first time that they can meet the package of requirements and have demonstrated teleportation between non-adjacent nodes, in other words over a network. They teleported quantum bits from node "Charlie" to node "Alice," with the help of an intermediate node "Bob."

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Teleporting in three steps

The teleportation consists of three steps. First, the "teleporter" has to be prepared, which means that an entangled state must be created between Alice and Charlie. Alice and Charlie have no direct physical connection, but they are both directly connected to Bob. For this, Alice and Bob create an entangled state between their processors. Bob then stores his part of the entangled state. Next, Bob creates an entangled state with Charlie. A quantum mechanical "sleight of hand" is then performed: by carrying out a special measurement in his processor, Bob sends the entanglement on as it were. Results: Alice and Charlie are now entangled, and the teleporter is ready to be used!

The second step is creating the "message" -- the quantum bit -- to be teleported. This can, for example, be '1' or '0' or various other intermediate quantum values. Charlie prepares this quantum information. To show that the teleportation works generically, the researchers repeated the entire experiment for various quantum bit values.

Step three is the actual teleportation from Charlie to Alice. For that purpose, Charlie carries out a joint measurement with the message on his quantum processor and on his half of the entangled state (Alice has the other half). What then happens is something that is possible only in the quantum world: as a result of this measurement, the information disappears on Charlie's side and immediately appears on Alice's side.

You might think that everything is then completed, but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the quantum bit has been encrypted upon transfer; the key is determined by Charlie's measurement result. So Charlie sends the measurement result to Alice, after which Alice carries out the relevant quantum operation for decrypting the quantum bit. For example via a "bit flip": 0 becomes 1 and 1 becomes 0. After Alice has carried out the correct operation, the quantum information is suitable for further use. The teleportation has succeeded!

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Teleporting several times

Follow-up research will focus on reversing steps one and two of the teleportation protocol. This means first creating (or receiving) the quantum bit to be teleported and only then preparing the teleporter for carrying out the teleportation. Reversing the order is particularly challenging as the quantum information to be teleported must be stored while the entanglement is being created. However, it comes with a significant advantage as the teleportation can then be carried out completely "on request." This is relevant, for example, if the quantum information contains the result of a difficult calculation or if teleportation must be done multiple times. In the long run, this type of teleportation will therefore serve as the backbone of the quantum Internet.

Video: https://youtu.be/vBjxI-5Fb4U

Funding details

Financial support comes from the EU Flagship on Quantum Technologies through the project Quantum Internet Alliance (EU Horizon 2020, grant agreement no. 820445); from the European Research Council (ERC) through an ERC Consolidator Grant (grant agreement no. 772627 to R. Hanson); from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) through a VICI grant (project no. 680-47-624) and the Zwaartekracht program Quantum Software Consortium (project no. 024.003.037/3368) and from an Erwin-Schrödinger fellowship (QuantNet, no. J 4229- N27) of the Austrian National Science Foundation (FWF).

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