Daily Archives: August 28, 2020

Top Interesting Facts About Blackjack – The Union Journal

Posted: August 28, 2020 at 12:32 pm

Blackjack is currently one of the most popular games. It is both simple and fun, interesting, and incredibly reckless. One of the key advantages of blackjack is a large number of options to make a winning combination. If you have never played the game, then we have prepared top interesting facts about blackjack that will help you better understand the game flow and learn how to collect the most winning combinations.

Blackjack was the favorite game of the great commander. At the same time, Napoleon Bonaparte was well versed in the rules of the game and was often a winner when playing against his soldiers. Apart from the French military leader, many other famous personalities were true fans of this gambling entertainment. It is no wonder that so many game types, including vegas strip blackjack, are available today for play.

The origin of the blackjack game is still not fully understood. It is believed that blackjack was first played in Italy in 1700. Today, this card game is well known to all fans of gambling. According to opinion polls, blackjack is the favorite game of more than a third of the US population.

In the US, blackjack has long been an illegal card game, and the ban has only increased the popularity of this type of entertainment. Since the 19th century, underground blackjack tournaments have been constantly held in America. The ban was officially lifted only in 1939. It was then that underground games were legalized in Nevada.

Blackjack is the most popular card game. However, did you know that many of the game terms have been borrowed from baseball? It is believed that the player sitting to the left of the dealer is located at the first base, just like in baseball. The one sitting to the right from a dealer is considered to be on the third base.

A players success is largely determined by the number of decks used when dealing. The fewer they are, the higher the chances of winning the one has. Also, it is worth knowing that about 9% of all hands in blackjack end in a draw. Take this into account when making a bet.

When following the basic strategy of the game, the probability of a player losing with three hands is at the level of 14%. It is believed that more than 85% of unsuccessful bets occur in hard hands (when your card combination is worth twelve seventeen points).

One of the most striking stories of winning blackjack is that of Frederick Smith, founder of FedEx. Faced with a colossal lack of finance to grow his business, he went to the casino. At the start of the game, he had $5,000 in hand. After several bets, he has managed to pocket a sum of $27,000. This gain allowed him to cover all current fuel costs and take the business to the next level.

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‘There Is A Bit More Freedom’: Arizona Domestic Violence Counselor Optimistic About Move To Virtual Sessions – KJZZ

Posted: at 12:32 pm

LAUREN GILGER: Since the pandemic hit our state, domestic violence advocates have been worried. What can victims do when they are being told to stay at home when home is not a safe place for them to be? [In early August], the Phoenix Police Department reported that violent crimewent up sharply in the first six months of this year in the first half of 2020 there were 24 homicides tied to domestic violence. That's up 140% from the same time the year before. There are many reasons for this from victims being stuck at home with abusive partners to being cut off from their support systems. And on top of that, it's more difficult than ever for women to access things like counseling and support groups because, well, we're all supposed to be staying away from one another. So now many of those services are becoming virtual. Catholic Charities is offering virtual counseling to connect with victims by computer or phone, even if they have to take the call from their car or while hiding in a bathroom. So let's hear now from one of those counselors who's trying to help victims of domestic violence remotely during this pandemic, Roxanna Francies. I spoke with her more about her work and how she's seeing the pandemic make things harder for her clients right now.

ROXANNA FRANCIES: I have seen this different stressors that have come from the pandemic, of course, and how it's, they've influenced the lives of victims or survivors, right, depending on where they're at in their journey. The lack of employment or lack of employment opportunity, children being at home and now, most recently, children being at home and in school that just exacerbates the stress at home, which then just further perpetuates more incidents of abuse or at least gives opportunity to have more incidents of violence or abuse from, from intimate partners.

GILGER: So what are you hearing from, from victims that you're working with now? Like what kinds of situations are they finding themselves in as a result of this?

FRANCIES: I think the big one, of course, is probably the lack of privacy or the, you know, just not being able to do the regular stuff where there used to be safe places, maybe even just like going to the grocery was a safe place. It was a break from being from home or, you know, being able to visit family members or, you know, just being able to, to get out or even some of, some of my clients who join our D.V. support group, right. That would be like an hour, an hour and a half a week where they could just come and talk to other women who had similar experience, right. That's no long that's not an option anymore for a lot of people. I've had some of my clients who have to take phone calls our, our, our now virtual counseling, or we do phone calls or we do Zoom calls that have to take it either from a parking lot, from a park bench, they have to take it from, from their car or sometimes even just in the bathroom. And so I hear, I hear children banging on the door like, "Mom, Mom, Mom," it's like, "Hey, Mom is in therapy right now," right? So I think there's definitely that part of, of, of it that is, you know, people are taking precautions, they're not going out. And so that means finding ways around it at home, and I think that's very difficult for a lot of people.

GILGER: I want to backup for a second because I'm sure there are people who are thinking, you know, why is it that people in this situation who are in, you know, an abusive situation stay in these situations? Right. Like, why would they be in the house to begin with, with an abuser? That is obviously a much more complicated question than it seems. Can you tell us a little bit about why people find themselves in situations like this to begin with?

FRANCIES: People, you know, they, they get the question asked like "Why? Why does she stay?" Right, or "Why? Why are you still with this person?" You know, where there's, like, obvious or very overt abuse or violence. But the truth of the matter is that people who are in a domestic violence situation or you know, just have experienced intimate partner abuse, there's usually other underlying reasons why they stay. For example, the financial part of it is probably a big one, right? They stay because they have nowhere else to go, or sometimes it's just a rationalization of, "You know what, I, things are gonna get better," or "I have faith in our family," right? Like, "I got, we got married for a reason. We have children. I have believe, I have hope that things are gonna be better." Other times it's just fear. It's fear, to, you know, stand up to a person, to have a voice, because there's probably been incidents or, or situations in the past where, you know, you spoke up, you were trying to be brave and it probably didn't go very well. So just fear of what the abuser might do. And I think other times it's also just, there's cultural stigma, right? There's a lot of different cultures or, or family backgrounds, religions that frown upon divorce or, you know, just being a single mother or a single father is not easy, right? So there's also these other familiar cultural restraints that leaves a person in the situation kind of stuck at times.

GILGER: Yeah. Yeah. So as a counselor and now as a counselor who can only work with these people on the phone or maybe online, if you're lucky, how do you help them navigate this?

FRANCIES: So our very first sessions, all of my clients that we do, we do a safety planning. It doesn't matter what part of their journey they're at, we still want to make sure that, that they have a safe place to go if needed if they need to leave their home. And we want to make sure that they can have some type of financial independence in the case that they need to move out. We want to make sure they have a support group. And sometimes when that's not available, we just, we do safety planning around the home. "OK. Then what's the safest place in a home where, you know, there, that is going to be a reduced opportunity for incidents of abuse," right? So we're always trying to protect our clients. So safety is one of the first things that we work on. With other clients who are maybe, they're in the part of their journey where they're getting ready to leave, right, they're where they're getting ready for divorce, we focus a lot on their self-advocacy. "OK. How can you use your voice? How can you speak up? How can you start doing things that are gonna promote your independent living?"

GILGER: Yeah. What are your hopes for this? Is it, is it that this is only a certain amount of time and that you can get back to normal situations and these, these people that you work with will not have to be stuck in homes with their abusers anymore? Or is this something you think is going to be longer term and you're gonna have to figure out better ways to help them cope?

FRANCIES: I mean, I think that's everybody's question, right? Is it, is it going to be just a few months or is it going to be like a permanent change, right? And I think that's a bit more where I'm leaning towards, like, this is our new normal now, and I think we can really make the best out of it. If it is the case, which it seems like it, that, you know, we're going to continue having this telehealth for a while, then making just the best out of it and using technology in our favor. For example, there's been times where, where I've been able to share my screen with clients and we look, we look at a psycho-education video together, right? It's talking a little bit more about what's loneliness or, you know, what's the difference between being sad or disappointed, or even sharing articles using our email more than often, right? Before it was just, you know, just came in, schedule, we'll see you next week. But now we have that communication channel a bit more open through email or text. So there is a, there is a bit more freedom in a lot of other things that can be done through this medium now, this telehealth. And I think just really embracing it and making the best, the best of it is my hope. Yeah, and that we can continue doing good work together, like my clients and I and, and, and harnessing the technology and the times for the better.

GILGER: Yeah. All right. That is Roxanna Francies, a counselor who works with victims of domestic abuse for Catholic Charities here in the Valley. Roxanna, thank you so much for joining us to tell us about this.

FRANCIES: Thank you, Lauren. It was my pleasure.

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Coding academy Lambda School approved to operate in California – Education Dive

Posted: at 12:32 pm

Dive Brief:

California's Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) fined Lambda School $75,000 last year for operating without state approval.

Lambda officials immediately began registering with BPPE after the fine, they told Education Dive earlier this year, though the school did not heed the state entity's order to halt its work. The school is still appealing the citation from BPPE, according to a spokesperson with the California Department of Consumer Affairs, which oversees the agency.

ISAs have been contentious with BPPE. The state body rejected the school earlier this summer "entirely" because of the financing model, the school's co-founder and CEO, Austen Allred, wrote in a June blog post. Students can pay full tuition upfront, which is typically $30,000, but most opt for the ISA. After getting a job that pays at least $50,000, ISA students pay 17% of their salary every month to the school for 24 months, stopping at $30,000.

BPPE still didn't greenlight ISAs when it approved Lambda's operations, Allred wrote in a more recent blog post. Instead, the school will offer California residents a retail installment contract. The arrangement is similar to an ISA with a few key differences namely, that students don't stop paying after 24 months but rather must continue until they've given back the full $30,000. Students based in other states can still use an ISA.

"[T]his approval is a massive milestone, but not the finish line," Allred wrote. "We believe the ISA remains one of the most student-friendly, lowest-risk alternatives to traditional student debt, and we plan to continue to advocate for it in California and the rest of the U.S."

The consumer affairs department spokesperson provided a statement on BPPE's behalf, confirming that Lambda could operate legally in the state.

"Regulatory approval ensures that institutions provide a quality education to students, in turn opening pathways to career opportunities and financial independence," the statement reads. "As an approved institution, new and existing students are afforded all of the rights and protections offered by the Bureau and the state of California."

Though ISAs have become more prominent in recent years, they have proven controversial nationally. They tend to be used by unaccredited schools such as Lambda. Accreditation would enable students to receive Title IV money, though Lambda officials have said previously they don't want to take federal aid.

But accredited colleges have begun to use ISAs, too, as an alternative to loans and other forms of institutional aid.

Critics of ISAs say the financing tool is akin to debt and may even be more restrictive than private loans. For now, ISAs are covered under consumer credit protections. But supporters of the model are seeking their own categorizations, which a recent analysis by The Century Foundation, a left-leaning think tank, suggests could risk leaving ISA users with fewer protections.

State and federal lawmakers have proposed ISA-specific regulations, and while some state efforts have taken off, federal-level proposals have stalled. A bipartisan bill introduced last year, led by prominent legislators such as Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fl., did not see any movement, but it would have introduced a regulatory framework for ISAs.

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For Many To Try Their Luck Online Games Has Become A Commonplace – IMC Grupo

Posted: at 12:32 pm

Internet casino, virtual casino or you can say online casino. Whatever you say, this is the place where you can play gamble and wager. This is an online version of a traditional casino. An Online casino is a prolific form of online gambling. It generally offers odds and payback percentage. The main convenience of online casinos is available anytime, anywhere. People can join in online casino for his home. If you are not able to go out in the casino, now its ok for being at your workplace or in your home. Online casino is now so famous and too much popular for its availability. And now you can found variety in casino gambling. You also heard about extreme heat casino. It is a fairy twist retro reels simple slot machine. But it looks like a simple machine in the outside. But you may find so much excitement to play this game. In retro reel series, extreme heat is one kind of video slot. So, try this new twist from the site. Youll enjoy it with full of charm.

To select the best online casino is very difficult for anyone. You can find lots of website of the online casino platform. Find the best one is very tricky. Here you can find some suggestion to find the best online casino site. So lets take a look:

And also try the demo option the website. That helps you to understand the functionality and usability.

Roulette: it is a decidedly more comfortable table games both online and physical casino. Just like in a real casino you can easily buy your things and you can select your number and can easily spin the roulette wheel from your device like a computer or your mobile phone.

Live dealer games: you can enjoy live time gambling from your mobile. The live games are streamed in real-time who play with real cards.

Blackjack: you can enjoy blackjack by the online casino. To win this game and make money you can bet with dealer score. Choosing between one to eight 52-cards decks you can enjoy this game.

Slots: slots are one of the most popular games in the online casino. And slots are straightforward to play in online or physical gaming. And beginner mostly prefers them. In this game, the odds are ever-changing, and therefore you cannot execute a strategy.

In a vital factor safety and security that people consider before signing up in the online gambling platform. It is essential to go through the privacy page. So you can understand what information is collected from you in the online casino. And you can also know about what measures the platform use to protect your information. A reputed online site should have given you personal protection and financial safety data. You can get full security from that site .but you have to check this all before your using.

So, now the online casino is very admired to all and you can easily enjoy all types of games from the online site. It gives the same feeling of physical gaming and all the games like extreme heat casino have different types of enjoyment. Visit the website and enjoy your gaming with full safety.

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Best Casino Games for Better Payouts based on Return To Player Percentage – Gildshire Magazines

Posted: at 12:32 pm

Roulette is one of the Best Casino Games for Better Payouts based on Return To Player Percentage

Taking your first steps into the world of online casinos can be exciting but also a bit intimidating. With hundreds of different operators and even more different casino games to choose from, it can be hard to make an informed decision about whats best for you.

Selecting which games you are going to play is particularly challenging, even for more experienced players. When selecting your games you want to be assured of several things. First, you want to be certain youre going to enjoy it. Theres no point spending your hard-earned money on a boring game. Second, they want to make sure that you have a good chance of winning some money. Theres nothing worse than consistently losing a game and having no idea where you are going wrong.

On this second point, you may be sat there wondering: what are the best casino games to play for better payouts? Well, it may surprise you to find out that in general, table games are the way to go if you want to ensure you have the best chance of securing a win.

Sitting at the very top of the list is blackjack. Although your first time may be a bit scary, you should definitely face your fears of facing off against the dealer if you want to maximize your chances of securing a win. Blackjack is super easy to understand and offers very little advantage to the house. All you need to do is finish on a number that is closer than the dealer to 21. Gambling experts estimate that casinos normally enjoyed just a 1% edge over the players in blackjack, which represents excellent odds for gamers.

Blackjack is one of the Best Casino Games for Better Payouts Based on RTP (Return To Player percentage)

Another strong contender for players searching for their best chance to win at the casino is craps. This is a dice-based game where the odds of winning for the player are pretty much 50/50. The house enjoys no clear advantage in this game, giving gamers a great chance to win. The essence of the game is betting on dice rolls. Therefore it is very easy to go on a winning streak at the operators expense. Those looking for a great odds at a casino should certainly consider it.

Providing you bet responsibly, the roulette table also offers a fine opportunity for great odds. If you just opt to bet on red or black your chances of winning are almost exactly one in two. Roulette also offers you the chance to split your bets between certain areas of the roulette table and certain numbers further giving you better odds. In general, because you are not playing against other players, the casino holds very little advantage. Where the ball lands is down to good fortune at the end of the day.

While all of the above carry great odds, not all casino games give you a particularly good chance of winning. One of the riskier games is slots. While the safety and accessibility of the games can make them enticing, this comes at a price. That price is your chance of winning. RTP (rate to player) is a measure of how much a players bets a machine pays out over an extended period of time. Finding slot machines with a 100% RTP is impossible and machines with an RTP of 99% are extremely rare. Most machines hover around the 90% mark. For this reason, slots should be avoided if you want to ensure your best chances of receiving a payout.

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M&A activity expected to surge as independent health systems look for partners – Healthcare Finance News

Posted: at 12:32 pm

Because the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant financial challenges for the healthcare industry, smaller independent health systems will need to pursue partnerships to survive, according to a new report from analysts at Waller and Kaufman Hall.

Much of the financial hardship that hospitals and health systems face comes from reductions in elective procedures, and, by mid-June,26.5% of hospital systems had used more than 50% of their reserves, and another 41.1% of hospital systems had expended between 21% and 50% of their reserves, the report said.

As the year progresses, the financial future doesn't look bright, with estimates for hospital performance in Q3 and Q4 2020 indicating declines in operating margins by as much as 11%, according to the report.

With many health systems preoccupied with managing the financial and operational struggles caused by the pandemic, the report shows that merger and acquisition activity for Q2 2020 was the lowest it's been in five years.

The analysts predict that the pent-up M&A activity from the pandemic will "very likely" cause a surge of hospital M&As moving into 2021.

"We foresee an increase in the number of independent hospitals and smaller systems that will need to explore partnerships in order to ensure the continued delivery of quality healthcare to the organizations' communities," the report said.

However, even with smaller systems flooding the market, the analysts warn that the financial pressures caused by COVID-19 will result in fewer potential buyers.

WHAT'S THE IMPACTFOR SMALL AND INDEPENDENT SYSTEMS?

The report insists that executive leadership teams take a hard look at their real operational and financial performance when planning for the future.

While some hospitals have managed to remain independent from their inception, the new reality is "continued independence comes at the cost of diminished quality of care, services and expertise, or in some cases, closure," the report said.

Independent hospitals may also have to take actions such as reducing or eliminating service lines, cutting back the workforce, cutting expenses and backing out of capital investments.

WHAT'S THE IMPACTFOR LARGE HEALTH SYSTEMS?

Larger systems are better prepared for the future. These are the ones that typically have access to capital, scale, vertically-integrated services and adaptability that make them more likely to achieve growth.

Even though larger systems are often in better positions than independent systems, they should still undertake analyses of their growth goals. This will help them identify potential partners to help achieve those goals, especially for those seeking ways to vertically integrate.

"Areas such as telehealth, behavioral health, home health and long-term care, among others, are on the wish list of many large health systems seeking to provide a broader continuum of care while reducing the rate of readmissions in their hospitals," the report said.

THE LARGER TREND

The federal government has set aside $175 billion for hospitals and other providers through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, to be distributed through the Provider Relief Fund.

The Department of Health and Human Services has already announced allocation payments for Phase 1 and Phase 2 general distributions, which include:Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP and dental providers and targeted allocations to high-impact areas, safety-net hospitals, rural providers, tribal facilities, clinics, urban health centers, and skilled nursing facilities.

But many hospitals remain in a dire financial position. Doctors, nurses and hospitals have asked Congress to provide an additional $100 billion in relief to frontline healthcare workers to offset staffing and equipment expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

When asking for more aid, organizations cite the financial impact hospitals are going through, like Kaufman Hall's new National Hospital Flash Report for July that shows hospital operating margins have plunged 96% since the start of 2020,in comparison with the first seven months of 2019.

ON THE RECORD

"Despite these headwinds, health systems large and small are displaying an admirable level of focus, perseverance and dedication to their communities," the report said. "A spirit of collaboration, even amongst parties that were formerly fierce competitors, has emerged as health systems have been reminded that all are committed to the common goal of keeping their communities safe and healthy. If one positive is to emerge from the pandemic, it is perhaps this banding together, both within and between health systems."

Twitter:@HackettMalloryEmail the writer:mhackett@himss.org

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Hottest game releases this year – TechnoSports

Posted: at 12:32 pm

There have been many exciting video games released this year. Games of different genres and themes have been released to suit the taste of many players. From exciting casino titles to ordinary video games, the list is endless. However, there are some we cant just stop talking about. We bring to you four hottest game releases this year.

Bet on Teen Patti by Ezugi

Bet on Teen Patti was released this year by gaming developer, Ezugi. It is a live game that is streamed from a physical studio in Romania. You get to play the game on a beautiful casino table and also watch the dealer deal the card like you are in a brick and mortar venue.

The game comes with stunning visuals and is streamed in HD quality. It brings a wonderful live gaming experience right to players in different locations. It can be played on desktops as well as mobile devices. It allows for an unlimited number of players to join the game. Unlike other games where you use chips, this is a real money Teen Patti game. You can find sites that offer this game here: https://teenpattibaba.in/real-money-teen-patti/

Switch Blackjack by BetConstruct

This is another exciting casino game released this year. It is one of the four wonderful casino games released by Bet Construct recently. Switch Blackjack is also a live game that is streamed from a real casino environment with a real dealer.

The game table features three seats per game and two betting boxes. It offers high odds side bets for experienced players, granting them the chance to make more money. The game serves as an alternative for the main Blackjack. You can read more about the game here: https://www.betconstruct.com/

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Released on August 18, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 is one of the most anticipated games of the year. It was developed by Asobo Gaming Studio and published by the Xbox Game platform for Microsoft and Xbox Series X. It is one of the major instalments in the Microsoft Flight Simulator series.

The game simulates the whole Earth, making use of topographical data and textures from Microsofts Bing Maps. It features a 3D representation of the earths features like trees, grasses, buildings, terrain, and water. The visuals are perfectly rendered and the graphics are of high quality. It is already available for play on the Microsoft Windows platform but soon will be ready for Xbox Series X.

Marvels Avengers

Marvels Avengers is an action-adventure video game that is set to be released for PCs, Xbox One, and PS4 on September 4. It was developed by Crystal Dynamics and published by Square Enix. It is based on the Marvel Superhero Comics titled Avengers. The main games plot begins five years after A-Day, a day of celebration for the Avengers which turned into tragedy leading to destruction and death. The SuperHero team was blamed for the tragedy. The team has to come back together to save the world from destruction.

Marvels Avengers is presented from the third-person perspective and allows players to gather a team of heroes by themselves. It can be played offline by a single person but can also be played online with up to 4 players at different aspects of the game. The game will feature customization options that allow players to choose abilities and costumes. Players will also be able to get free updates of the game.

Assassins Creed Valhalla

Set to be released on November 17, Assassins Creed is an action role-playing video game. It is the latest entry and also the twenty-second release in the Assassin Creeds series. It is developed and published by Ubisoft. The game player takes on the role of a Viking raider, Eivor, and leads other Vikings against the enemy kingdom. The player can choose to play the Eivor role either as a female or male. Players can also customize Eivors dressing and looks. This instalment has a similar structure of the main plot missions and some additional side missions.

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Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford issues five grants to local nonprofits – West Hartford News

Posted: at 12:32 pm

WEST HARTFORD Five local nonprofits will receive grants this month to support social justice, help people impacted by COVID-19, and provide assistance to domestic violence survivors from two giving circles at the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford: JewGood Hartford for young professionals, and the Lillian Fund for women, according to an email from organizers.

Theres strength in numbers when people pool their money together to help causes that matter most to them, said Jacob Schreiber, president and CEO of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford. Our giving circle members are rallying together to address urgent issues and making a positive difference in Greater Hartford, he continued. Thats the power of collective philanthropy.

JewGood Hartford, which was established in 2019, issued its inaugural grant of $10,000 to the Connecticut Coalition for the Homeless to help house 10 families. The financial gift will also assist people who are highly vulnerable to COVID-19 due to crowded, confined shelter settings.

Interval House and Prudence Crandall Center each received a grant from the Lillian Fund. Interval House will use its $5,000 grant to help clients gain their financial independence so they can live self-sufficient lives free from domestic violence and fear. The $10,000 grant for PCC will help low-income victims of domestic violence secure safe, affordable, long-term homes for their families, and empower survivors and their children to build a network of community supports.

Both giving circles launched a special fundraising campaign to collectively support social justice, and awarded a $1,000 grant to Connecticut Bail Fund and a $1,000 grant to Hartford Communities That Care. These two non-profits help improve lives and enhance local communities by advancing social equality and social justice.

A giving circle is a group of like-minded individuals who donate their time and money to a pooled fund and decide together which organizations and causes will receive their grants. Every voting circle member has an equal voice in these decisions. Members also attend events that allow them to explore their philanthropic interests, deepen their knowledge of endowment and create new friendships.

The Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford operates two giving circles, JewGood Hartford and the Lillian Fund, and encourages a gift of $100 to become a voting member of a giving circle.

JewGood Hartford offers a fun and supportive community for young professionals who want to make a positive impact on the world. JewGood does this through two kinds of activities - Hangouts, which are fun, informal gatherings; and Events, which blend hands-on volunteer projects with opportunities to learn about local organizations that are making a difference. JewGood Hartford launched in 2019 with generous funding from the Steve and Randi Piaker Family Fund at the Jewish Community Foundation, and has engaged more than 125 young professionals.

Launched in 1999, the Lillian Fund envisions a world in which all women and children have equal opportunity for personal and professional achievement. They support this vision by funding childrens arts and education programs, domestic violence services, mental health counseling and job training, to name a few. They view philanthropy through a lens of Jewish values and gender equality, while expanding their impact and deepening friendships.

For more information about these giving circles, please email Elana MacGilpin at emacgilpin@jcfhartford.org, or visit them online at http://www.jewgoodhartford.org, @Jewgoodhartford and @Lillianfundjcf.

The Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford was founded in 1972 with an initial gift of $50,000 and has now grown to more than $120 million in assets. JCF, a proud partner to the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford and a member of the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy, is the fourth largest charitable community foundation in Connecticut. JCF offers an array of options for every size of charitable investment, which includes family giving, donor advised funds, social impact opportunities, and Jewish funding options. For more information, visit http://www.jcfhartford.org.

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The 5 Most Watched Gambling Movies – The Bulletin Time

Posted: at 12:32 pm

If you are a movie enthusiast, you probably know that gambling movies are very exciting. Watching James Bond play baccarat or poker against a super-villain gives you an instant adrenaline rush. That excitement cannot be found in any other type of entertainment.

And its not just Bond films that can get your blood pumping. There have been lots of other exhilarating gambling movies made too. They showcase the glamour of the worlds best casinos, but also display the tension and excitement that each round of gambling comes with.

If you are a big fan of gambling movies such as these, you will surely want to feel the rush too. If you feel that you can play the roulette as well as James Bond, then you should definitely check the best online gambling sites which can be found at http://www.roulettesites.org/gambling/india/.

The gambling movies we are going to talk about in this article put you close to the action. However, when you start playing poker, roulette, and blackjack yourself, you will be part of the action. And thats much better.

Without further ado, here are the 5 most watched gambling movies. They can teach you a thing or two about how gambling works and also give you that gambling adrenaline shot that you are all looking for.

21 (2008)

21 is based on the true story of the famous MIT Blackjack Team. Kevin Spacey stars as a Maths professor who is teaching at MIT University, but is also recruiting super-smart students to be part of his university Blackjack team.

The movie deals with how the strategy of card-counting can improve your chances of winning. Card-counting, when done right, increases your chances of winning at Blackjack up to 100% and minimizes your loses to zero. Counting cards is not illegal, but because it is very dangerous for casinos they dont allow it at their premises.

Both the real MIT Blackjack team and the one in the movie busted one casino after another before they eventually ran out of steam or were discovered by casinos.

The Gambler (2014)

Before Mark Wahlberg was helping his bear to become a father he stared in one of the best gambling movie remakes in history. In the 2014 version of the movie, Mark Wahlberg portrays a man obsessed with gambling and on a path to self-destruction because of his gambling addiction.

The movie presents the legitimate casino world quite accurately, but also paints a very realistic picture of the gambling underground in the US.

Mississippi Grind (2015)

Mississippi Grind is a cautionary tale of how you shouldnt gamble. The movie stars Ryan Reynolds and Ben Mendelsohn and both of their characters are constantly seeking the thrill of quick wins.

However, they do this while under the influence of booze, fueled by nicotine, and with no gambling strategy whatsoever. Their Mississippi gambling journey is a real grind for both of them and similar experiences should be avoided.

The Cincinnati Kid (1965)

The Cincinnati Kid is a real poker classic staring Steve McQueen. He is a young and cocky poker player who wants to beat the top poker dog known as The Man and played by Edward G. Robinson.

The movie has many twists and turns, characters are trying to exact revenge on each other, but it all builds to the final poker battle between the Cincinnati Kid and The Man. And that scene should be taught in poker school.

Rounders (1998)

What the Cincinnati Kid was for the 1960s Rounders was for the 1990s. It is a poker classic that stars Matt Damon and Edward Norton. They are friends who are up to their ears in debt and need quick winnings to pay it off.

Fortunately, they are very good at poker. As with the Cincinnati Kid, Rounders also culminates with an epic poker stand-off in which Matt Damons character lures his opponent to go all-in before beating him with a nut straight.

Conclusion: Gambling is a great topic for good movies

In conclusion, the 5 most watched films listed here all focus on different aspects of gambling. Some deal with the strategies you can utilize to win, while others put more focus on the rivalries between the players.

However, there is one thing that all of these movies have in common. They all show viewers that gambling is an intrinsic part of human nature and that the rush of high-stakes games cannot be compared to anything else out there.

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The Story of the Red Rooster Las Vegas Casino – History of Vegas – BestUSCasinos.org

Posted: at 12:32 pm

Everyone knows that there are dozens of casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, but which casino was the first casino on the Vegas Strip?

That distinction belongs to the Red Rooster Casino, which is no longer there.

But it has an interesting story that can help you understand some of the nuances of Las Vegas history and why it is the way it is today.

The Red Rooster wasnt always a casino. At first, it just was just a famous nightclub. The gambling came later.

At one point, the Red Rooster was a speakeasy and FBI agents raided the club during Prohibition.

As far as United States cities go, Vegas was more forgiving of both illegal drinking and illegal gambling than anywhere else.

At the time, the Strip was just a handful of nightclubs west of downtown. These clubs were located there specifically to attract business from people driving in from California.

But you could get an entire chicken dinner at the Red Rooster for just a dollar.

The Red Rooster was originally owned and operated by Alice Wilson Morris. In 1931, visitors to the Red Rooster found a one-story nightclub with singing, dancing, and dining available.

They also served alcohol almost from the start.

In February of 1931, the Justice Department sent agents in to demand that they stop selling alcohol. And the Red Rooster DID stop selling alcohol temporarily.

In March 1931, Nevada legalized casinos, and the Red Rooster was one of the first companies to get a casino license from Clark County.

It took them almost no time at all to set up the gambling there, limited at it was a single blackjack table and three slot machine games.

It only took them four months to lose their gambling license. It turns out that selling booze illegally is grounds for taking away a gaming license.

In 1933, a club like the Red Rooster could (and did) get a dance hall license. This was after Prohibition ended, and it enabled them to sell beer (but nothing harder). It caught fire and was destroyed later that year but was rebuilt and re-opened by the end of the year.

It continued to be a thriving business throughout the 1930s and the 1940s.

Grace Hayes was an actress and vaudeville performer in the 1920s and 1930s, but in the 1940s, she decided to try her hand at owning a nightclub. She bought the Red Rooster and re-named it, calling it the Grace Hayes Lodge.

At this point, the Red Rooster was more than a nightclub. It also included a motel, the Sans Souci.

Whats the difference between a motel and a hotel, by the way?

I learned this relatively late in life, and most people dont know this fact:

A motel has doors which open to the outside, while a hotel has doors which open into a hallway. The m in motel refers to motorcar.

But she didnt call it the Grace Hayes Lodge for long. She changed the name back to the Red Rooster. She also sold it and bought it back within the space of 12 months. By 1953, shed sold the place for good.

By the mid-1950s, the Las Vegas Strip was starting to grow and become a thing. The former Red Rooster grew with it, installing a huge showroom and operating under the following names:

In those days, the showroom at San Souci was home mostly to burlesque acts and B- and C-list celebrities.

Eventually, it became known as San Souci, which had 100 modern rooms and a chicken and pancake house.

After years of on-again, off-again financial troubles, the place was torn down and replaced with a new property The Castaways.

The Castaways managed to hang in there for over a quarter of a century.

Its also famous as one of the properties in Las Vegas that Howard Hughes owned. He bought it for $3 million in 1970.

The Castaways was in operation from 1963 until 1987.

The Castaways would be considered a tiny casino today; it only had 8 table games and 70 slot machines. It also had an aquarium in the bar, which was special because of the three-times-a-day nude showgirls performing in the aquarium.

The Castaways was torn down and replaced with The Mirage. This took some time, as the Mirage was a huge property, comparatively.

The Castaways closed in 1987.

The Mirage opened in 1989.

When it opened, it was one of the biggest resorts in town, with over 3000 rooms. Steve Wynn was the original owner, but MGM Resorts owns it now. The Mirage cost over $630 million to build thats a lot of money for a hotel and casino on the site of the Red Rooster nightclub and casino.

The Mirage is right next door to and has a tram to and from Treasure Island, which is the best place to play blackjack on the Strip.

The sign for the Mirage is one of the biggest in the world its over 160 feet tall. Like The Castaways, it has a huge aquarium, but this aquarium is 20 times the size of the original.

It also lacks the nude showgirls swimming through it.

Youll find plenty of interesting casino stories in Las Vegas. This is just one of them. The Red Rooster was there first, and it was located where the Mirage is now. Wouldnt it have been something to have been able to hang out there?

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