Category Archives: Roulette

A week before Red roulette was due to be published, in September 2021, its author Desmond Shum received two phone calls from his ex-wife Whitney Duan, who had been detained by Chinese authorities and hadnt been heard from in four years. Duan told Shum that she had been temporarily released and might be reincarcerated at any moment, and asked him to cancel publication. She reminded him of an old Chinese warning: No good comes to those who oppose the state. Having no confidence that Duan would be freed, Shum went ahead and published.

Shums book is a riveting personal account of the rise and occasional fall of Chinas super-rich. However, it is also much more: it offers a detailed case study of the nexus between money and politics at the very top of Chinas power structure. Shum wrote the book to set the record straight for his son, but decided that the story should be made public.

The books cast reads like a whos who of Chinas red aristocracy, including the families of retired Chinese Communist Party general secretary Jiang Zemin, retired premier Wen Jiabao, and a raft of other senior officials and their relatives. As Shum describes it, at that level most deal-making is based on mutual understanding, relying on interlocutors, without written records or contracts. Deals are wrapped in an intricate web of holdings to conceal the identity of the real owners.

From a business perspective, Shum and Duan were the ideal couple. He came from a middle-income background, was educated in Hong Kong and the US, and cut his teeth investing in China in the go-go 1990s. Duans roots were more modest, and she quickly realised that to get ahead she had to have the right connections, at the highest possible level.

Following extensive networking, Duan managed to become the trusted friend of Zhang Beili or Auntie Zhang, the wife of premier Wen, whom she fronted for in several public listings and other deals. They were close, but ultimately, according to Shum, like the fish that clean the teeth of crocodiles.

Expanding her network, Duan also formed personal relationships with Wang Qishan, then a vice premier and currently vice president, and Sun Zhengcai, an ambitious young politburo member and until recently a contender to succeed Xi Jinping.

While things were going well, the couple led a charmed life, frequently accompanying Auntie Zhang on trips abroad. Jetting to France with the chief executive of construction giant Evergrande, the entourage ran up a wine bill of US$100,000 at a single sitting. Ironically, in October the heavily indebted Evergrande had to sell its corporate jets to stave off financial collapse.

Duans close relationship with key officials gave her access to inside information about party power struggles, including how Xi managed to eliminate adversaries and sideline potential successors. Shums most serious allegations are cautiously worded, presumably on the advice of the publishers lawyers.

Crunch time came in October 2012, when The New York Times published a front-page article on the hidden wealth of Wens family. Auntie Zhang had made the mistake of placing shareholdings in her mothers name, which made them easy to trace. The article identified Duan as the family fixer, and inevitably relations cooled.

The revelations were made just weeks before the CCP congress that would confirm Xi as its new leader, and there was speculation that the information was leaked by supporters of Xis arch-rival Bo Xilai in retaliation for Wens supporting his ouster earlier in the year.

Sensing that all was not right, Shum eventually left China, while Duan continued to work on a luxury hotel project in Beijing. In October 2017, Sun, who had risen to party secretary of Bos former bailiwick, Chongqing, was detained. The charge was corruption, but there was speculation that he was being penalised for not dismantling Bos support network. A few weeks later, Duan and several of her assistants disappeared.

Xis decade-long anti-corruption campaign has snared up to 200,000 officials and businesspeople, including many of his competitors and enemies.

Chinese authorities are casting an increasingly wide net. In 2015, five Hong Kong booksellers disappeared, including one who was apparently abducted while travelling in Thailand, and later showed up in detention in China, charged with trafficking banned books. In 2018, somewhat surprisingly, Interpols Chinese president, Meng Hongwei, was detained while visiting China and charged with bribery. And most recently there is the case of Peng Shuai, the international tennis star.

In China, having the right connections has long been the best way to get ahead. Shum provides a stark reminder that knowing too much is also the quickest way to disappear into the countrys detention system.

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From the bookshelf: 'Red roulette' | The Strategist - The Strategist

Henry Labouchere is arguably the most famous politician that youve never heard of. The Englishman is well-known in his own circles for his run-ins with Irish poet Oscar Wilde and for becoming so unpopular with his peers that Queen Victoria herself intervened to prevent him from becoming a minister in parliament. However, most importantly, at least from the perspective of this article, Henry Labouchere also enjoyed playing roulette, creating the betting system that now bears his name sometime in the 19th century.

The Labouchere betting strategy can be applied to any game that offers even-money wagers, such as roulette, blackjack, craps, and baccarat, albeit with varying levels of effectiveness. Put another way, the Labouchere system is designed to offer some kind of control over bets with a 50% chance of success. For that reason, applying it to inside bets in roulette can serve as a lesson in how to empty your bankroll quickly. Its a simple method that seems ideally suited to beginners but is it? Lets take a look.

Contrary to popular belief, betting systems are almost never designed to increase or guarantee winnings. Almost everything thats available to play in a casino is based on luck, and no amount of strategizing or wishful thinking is going to change that. Even blackjack, which has plenty of charts dedicated to the most appropriate moves in any situation, is still ultimately based on the turn of a random card.

So, whats the point of the Martingale, Fibonacci, and Labouchere (and many other) systems of this world? Successful wagering is all about control, whether thats of a bankroll or how youre spending each individual credit in a game of roulette. If you can concoct a means of limiting or recouping your losses during each session, its possible to extend the lifetime and overall value of the money you put into each experience.

This doesnt mean that /$/1 magically becomes /$/10. Anything that promises access to jackpots, unlimited funds, or huge wins has been made under false pretences. Its simply not possible to overcome the casinos edge or similar factors when playing your favourite games. To help you understand the limitations of the Labouchere betting system, though, lets take it apart piece by piece.

First of all, scribble down how much you would like to win in a series of sequential numbers. This can be anything at all but, for the sake of simplicity, lets use 10. How you get to 10 is up to you. For example:

and so forth.

Now, lets place our first bet. In every case using the Labouchere system, your stake will be the sum of the first and last numbers. In the above four sequences, this means that you should bet with 2 (1+1), 2 (1+1), 4 (2+2), or 3 (1+2). If you win, simply remove the two numbers that made up your wager from the sequence. If you lose, take the number that represented your bet and add it to the end of our list of numbers, extending it. Here are a few examples to help explain the logic of the Labouchere strategy:

Easy. Note that theres also a Reverse Labouchere betting system that simply swaps the win/loss criteria around, meaning that numbers are deleted on a loss and added on a win. The benefit of this latter strategy is that it can be used to earn more money from winning streaks ifthey occur.

Of course, we had to get to this bit eventually. Any kind of strategy that can be used in casino games tends to come with the same old disclaimer its incompatible with losing streaks. In many aspects of life, chasing losses is generally regarded as something that just causes more and more problems. Unfortunately, this is true of casino betting too.

After several losses under the Labouchere strategy, you start betting with increasingly large wagers to cover the ones youve already lost. This way of proceeding is reminiscent of the gamblers fallacy, namely, the belief that a negative result means that a positive outcome is more likely the next time around. Of course, this is false. Bets with a 50:50 chance of winning will only produce both sets of results equally on an infinite timescale. Anything under that will likely give an outcome that skews one way or the other.

As a means of record-keeping and creating an understanding of the relationship between profit and loss, though, the Labouchere system can help you to keep track of that.

You might also find the Labouchere system referred to as the Split-Martingale or Cancellation method due to the similarity of its mechanics to other betting strategies.

Link:

Learn Why The Well-known Labouchere Betting System is Flawed with - blog.casino.com

I feel like COVID is a lot like Russian roulette, said Kristen Coleman as she waited in line for a COVID-19 booster shot at a clinic in Marin County. You can go anywhere from zero symptoms to having a tube down your throat.

Coleman is one of the estimated 7 million U.S. adults who are moderately to severely immunocompromised and athigh risk in the coronavirus pandemic. When public health guidance includes the aside except for the immunocompromised, she is part of that caveat.

On this episode of the Fifth & Mission podcast, producer Ta Francesca Priceshares how people with underlying health conditions have navigated the pandemic, from locking down inside their homes and delaying in-person medical care to begging loved ones to get vaccinated. And she asks an important question: Has the pandemic changed the public perception of health?

People with compromised immune systems arent the only ones at higher risk from the coronavirus: 40% of Americans have at least one chronic health condition, which could impact their immune response. Price herself is in that group. And she asks an important question: Has the pandemic changed the public perception of health?

Photo above: Artist Suzanne Brennan Firstenbergs installation, In America: Remember, memorializes those who've died of COVID-19 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Read more here:

What it's like to be the pandemic's most vulnerable - San Francisco Chronicle

Anal sex, especially when youre bottoming, can feel like a game of Russian roulette.

Actually, the same can be said for all kinds of sex. Our guard is down and really, we're at our most vulnerable: we're naked, turned on, eager to please, and there's a risk that whatever we're doing just won't work. But for a bottom the person in the receptive role during anal sex the stakes feel higher, with a lot of us left feeling like we're groping around in the dark (both literally and figuratively).

How painful is it going to be? Should I not eat before? For how long? What if I have an 'accident'? These are the questions bottoms have asked themselves (or googled on the sly) at one point. Many of us have had to rely on trial and error over the years to figure out best practice that is, until now. TikTok has become the hub for bottoms wanting to learn more about anal sex, how to enjoy it, and most importantly, how to practise it safely. But this begs an even bigger question: why were we never taught about it?

In the UK, the answer lies within the decades-long erasure of LGBTQ people from school curricula, and most notably the implementation of Section 28 in 1988. The legislation, enacted by Margaret Thatchers government to "prohibit the promotion of homosexuality" by local councils, banned the positive depiction of LGBTQ identities and relationships in classrooms, libraries, and extracurricular clubs for 15 years until it was repealed in 2003. However Lisa Hallgarten, head of policy and affairs at Brook, a charity specialising in the sexual health and wellbeing of young people in the UK, says the problem didnt end there.

"Section 28 not only created a complete silencing at the time but for years afterwards," she explains. Hallgarten argues the legislation's legacy has left today's teachers still feeling anxious to talk about LGBTQ sex. "They're much more comfortable talking about heteronormative forms of sex because it's focused on reproduction," she says. "They're not trained to talk about pleasure or any other form of sex different couples might have."

Dr Carlton Thomas made his first TikTok about bottoming in the summer of 2020. As the coronavirus pandemic escalated around the world, TikTok was busy taking over the lives of his teenage children at home in San Diego. A gastroenterologist for 17 years, the 49-year-old saw an opportunity amongst the Megan Thee Stallion dance routines and banana bread recipes (remember those?) to share his expertise. "I'm a gay man and a butt doctor, and there's this huge lack of anal sex education out there," he says. "Who better to teach it than someone with professional and personal experience of how things work?"

Since then, hes amassed nearly 250,000 followers on Gen Zs favourite platform by covering a range of anal sex-related topics from advice on how to avoid bleeding, douching (his most popular video, a guide to using store-bought enemas, has 1.6 million views), kegel exercises, tips for maximum pleasure as well as information about HIV prevention.

Citing the absence of gay sex education from his own childhood as the motivation behind starting the account, Thomas tells me that throughout medical school and his gastrointestinal doctor training, anal sex was never mentioned. "I had a lot of questions, so I did my own research to get the answers," he says. The success of his videos, which regularly receive tens of thousands of likes, confirms that others around the world have been searching for these answers too. "People want to know how to do anal sex right, how to do it well, and how to do it safely," he explains.

But Thomas isn't the only face of TikToks bottom positivity movement. Alex Hall, a 29-year-old graphic designer, was living in New York when he came up with the idea of The Bottoms Digest, a cooking channel sharing "bottom-friendly" recipes inspired by the Texan and Cajun cuisine he was brought up on. The rising cost of meat in the city paired with Hall's growing sensitivity to dairy led him to a mostly plant-based diet, which he says provides a number of benefits for bottoming. "What we eat is such a big part of how our sex is going to go," he tells me.

Now living in Texas and running the account with his husband Mike, Hall has spent years searching far and wide for the best (or should I say cleanest) bottoming fuel. "What I did find would be so obvious...a salad. I hate salad!" he exclaims. "Sex and food are two of life's great pleasures and our community really deprives themselves of one to enjoy the other, and we shouldn't." Whether it's alfredo pasta, mac and cheese, or meatballs, Hall's comfort food recipes are high in fiber and low in FODMAP (short for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols essentially sugars that can cause intestinal distress), which makes them perfect for bottoms eager to avoid bloating, diarrhea, and constipation.

Daniel OShaughnessy, nutritionist and author of Naked Nutrition: An LGBTQ+ Guide to Diet and Lifestyle, notes that the perfect bottoming diet varies by individual. "As a general rule a bottom needs fiber when it comes to anal sex," he says. He advises increasing fiber intake slowly to avoid excess wind and to avoid insoluble fibers (which can be high in FODMAP, think cauliflower, legumes, and some whole grains) at least 24 hours before the big moment. OShaughnessy's other recommendations for bottoming nutrition include fermented foods (such as kimchi and kombucha) for improved gut health, avoiding dairy products, and chewing food properly for digestion.

Hall tests his bottom-friendly recipes himself, then runs them past a group of 10 drag queens. 24 hours later, the queens report back about whether they felt bloated, and if they did bottom, how it went. "So many people have had heartache trying to find information like this so its important these recipes actually work," he adds.

Aside from the occasional troll, the response to both accounts has been overwhelmingly positive. Thomas' followers regularly credit him with revolutionising their sex lives in his comments, but he says the real impact of his videos can be found in his DMs. Gay men living in countries where homosexuality is illegal and sometimes where it's punishable by death, like in Saudi Arabia and Iran message him "at least once a week" for advice.

The bottom community on TikTok isn't exclusively for gay men, either. For Hall, cis and trans women make up almost half of his following. But whenever our society talks about sex, its heterosexual, penis-in-vagina sex that has always been the default: its compulsory to teach in schools, we read about it in the advice columns of magazines and websites, it's what we read about in erotic novels, and watch (or awkwardly avoid watching when accompanied by family) in our favourite TV shows and films. The only representation we really see of anal sex onscreen is when it's relegated to cheap homophobic jokes.

Thankfully, the tide appears to be turning. TikToks bottoming hashtag has over 10.4 million views and is brimming with honest experiences and advice from bottoms all over the world. Accounts like Thomas' and The Bottom's Digest are normalising these once shame-ridden conversations while providing an education to bottoms who can't find information in more conventional places.

But these creators, for all their hard work, are facing censorship from TikTok itself. While the platform bans videos featuring nudity and sexually explicit content, creators across the field are having their content removed and their reach suppressed for even mentioning the word 'sex' in their TikToks, despite the platforms community guidelines stating that educational content is an exception to the rules. Thomas says he has to be selective with what he posts, often resorting to codewords and innuendos in his videos to avoid being censored.

This censorship is problematic, says Hallgarten from Brook, especially for the people whose only access to information about sex is through social media. She's curious about the criteria TikTok uses for judging and removing videos, and whether expert organisations have been involved in the process. "The way they approach sex needs to be more nuanced and there has to be a clear set of values that underpin the decisions being made," she says. When it comes to sex ed videos that haven't been removed from the platform, Hallgarten urges users to check how the information they see on TikTok compares to that of trusted sources like Brook. If COVID-19 has taught us anything it's that misinformation on social media is rife. Hallgarten suggests platforms could easily add a box to videos featuring sex content directing users to expert organisations, like TikTok and other platforms have (eventually) done with mentions of the coronavirus.

A spokesperson for TikTok said that users can appeal the platform's decisions to remove their content or suspend their accounts if they believe no violation of the community guidelines has occurred. They also noted that TikTok's content moderation practice is detailed in the quarterly enforcement reports it publishes. But while these reports gloat statistics, for example that 90 percent of videos flagged for "adult nudity and sexual activity" are removed within 24 hours of being posted, they fail to explain how educational videos about sex are distinguished from the potentially harmful videos which are banned.

Information on anal sex shouldnt be reduced to folklore. Bottoms deserve to feel empowered to take control of the sex they have, and a vital part of that is ensuring they are well equipped to enjoy anal sex safely. For too long we've been relegated to the shadows and made to feel like we're harbouring a dirty little secret but thanks to TikTok creators, change is finally on the horizon.

With the help of some trusted health organisations including the UK's National Health Service (NHS), Brook, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and sex education charity Fumble, we've compiled a list of bottoming dos and don'ts to get started.

Always make sure your top is wearing a condom. The lining of your anus is very delicate and can be damaged easily, which increases the risk of STI transmission.

Your anus isn't self-lubricating, so using lube is essential for anal play. Try to use water-based products as oil-based lube can break down condoms, and avoid desensitising lubes they may prevent you from noticing pain.

This is to avoid transferring bacteria from your anus to your vagina, which could lead to a urinary tract infection.

This is pretty self-explanatory, but getting tested regularly for STIs is always recommended.

Purely for ease of cleanup if you do have an accident.

If it's your first time bottoming (or first time in a while), use a lubricated anal sex toy (slowly) beforehand to get used to the feeling. Foreplay is crucial to relax the muscles in your anus.

Remember, you're in control

Make sure you communicate to whoever you're having sex with if something doesn't feel right or if you want to stop. Consent can be given and withdrawn at any time.

Bottoming can feel uncomfortable (especially if you're a newbie), but that's what foreplay is for. Pain should never be something you're expected to put up with, and tears on the anus (known as anal fissures) take time to heal.

Feeling relaxed is key. By regulating your breathing, you're helping your anus to relax. Take deep, slow breaths to start with.

Avoid doing this where you can, but if you can't, make sure to clean the toy thoroughly before and after use.

A common assumption is that poo sits directly inside of your anal sphincter, but this is false. Poo is stored in your colon and its when you're on the toilet that it travels through the rectum (where the fun happens) and out of your sphincter. As long as you've recently been to the toilet, it's very unlikely that you'll actually 'poo' on your partner.

If you're too worried about it to enjoy yourself, stick to other forms of sex (like oral) until you've gotten comfortable with the fact that shit does indeed, happen. Anal douching is common in the bottoming community to clean the rectum before sex, but it has its own pros and cons.

Continue reading here:

Bottoming TikTok: Meet the creators providing sex education about anal sex - Mashable

The Government cannot help the fact that the world is now being confronted by the omicron variant, but it has to take responsibility for its failure to do enough to prepare one of the richest, most advanced countries for the oncoming storm.

No wonder so many voters, and, increasingly, back-bench MPs, ministers and Cabinet members, are cynical, angry and exhausted. Two years into this crisis, the authorities appear to have learnt little. The roll-out of third jabs (which appear to be vital in combating the variant) has proceeded far too slowly; bureaucratic errors continue to befuddle every move (with people unnecessarily turned away from vaccination walk-in centres); the Government has ordered far too few antiviral pills; and the process of working on and giving authorisation for new, improved vaccines is scandalously slow.

Just as bad has been the Governments utter inability to increase the NHSs capacity. This is extremely hard to do, granted, but why didnt we spend the past year at least working on a plan for temporary, emergency field hospitals, perhaps staffed with retirees, volunteers and students?

The basic problem is that, while omicron, at present, appears less dangerous than previous variants, it spreads more rapidly, meaning that even if it sends a smaller proportion of the infected to hospital, this could be a very large number in real terms. That, at least, is the hypothesis (still not fully confirmed by data) that senior Government figures are working to. Hence their abject panic at the latest models, and why we are back to the prospect that our lives will be shut down killing businesses, curtailing liberties and wrecking mental health to save an NHS that, we are told, wont be able to withstand a looming tsunami of hospitalisations.

This was more forgivable in early 2020 because Covid was new and the entire planet had been caught short. Britain had no domestic diagnostic industry, for a start, and the emergency procedures signed off by Jeremy Hunt were for the wrong kind of pandemic.

But why has the Government done so little since then to cope with the inevitability of fresh waves? Why is it falling back on restrictions yet again? Why is nobody sure where the gradual tightening of the rules will end? And does this mean that every new variant will overwhelm us, even when we are on to our fourth or fifth jabs? That would be a strange kind of society. The Government must be held to account for betraying its own earlier success. The world-leading vaccine roll-out was made possible by innovation taking procurement out of the hands of the NHS, creating a brilliant public/private vaccine taskforce. Then the Government handed the operation back to the sainted NHS. After an initial period of apparent achievement, it lost momentum.

Why doesnt the booster operation run 24/7? Are there lists of retired medical staff being actively recruited and directed to help?

The worst error of all must be the failure to produce and distribute enough antiviral pills. These can be taken at home, and, as long as Covid is detected quickly and the treatment starts promptly, are hugely effective. This would be the best way to reduce the pressure on the NHS as the pillsscould be delivered to homes or picked up at pharmacies so why isnt it happening? We need answers.

For all the vast sums spent, the massively increased NHS budget, and the endless boosterism, we are left playing a giant game of Russian roulette gambling upon authoritarian measures, the healthcare system not collapsing, and the hope that the variants will eventually fizzle out to something resembling the cold. This is a shocking failure of policy. The Government must get its act together immediately.

Excerpt from:

Voters and MPs are exhausted and angry - and it's easy to see why - Telegraph.co.uk

KANSAS CITY, Mo. The number of deaths attributed to the opioid epidemic is skyrocketing. The Missouri health department reports opioid deaths in the Kansas City area increased by 56% in 2020.

That jump has an area sheriffs office stepping up to educate and raise awareness about the problem.

The Clay County Sheriffs Office said its seen 12 overdoses this year. Investigators said nine of those have been deadly. The majority are people between the ages of 15 and 25, and theyre taking pills laced with fentanyl.

Theyre readily prevalent on the streets. Once you take one supplier out, someone else is gonna come in and fill the void, Sgt. Gary Blackwell, Clay County Sheriffs office, said during a briefing provided by the University of Kansas Health System.

The sheriffs office expects the drug problem to get even worse because they said they cant find and arrest dealers as quickly as dealers are supplying the drugs. At one point they were worried about heroin, but said opioids, like Percocet, are easier to get and cheaper to make, leading to a larger profit.

The high level dealers are paying $8 a piece for these and the average price on the street is $30. So were talking a $22 profit per tablet. So someones going to step in to fill that void, Blackwell said.

Last week the Clay County Sheriffs Office held an education summit to talk about what its seeing. During the meeting, investigators said you are 2.5 times more likely to die taking a counterfeit pill laced with fentanyl than playing Russian roulette.

Key take-away from our Community Drug Education Summit last night: you're 2.5 times more likely to die taking a counterfeit pill laced with fentanyl than playing Russian roulette: #onepillcankill pic.twitter.com/8etfJCUwNW

Blackwell said he knows one person who was Narcanned five times in the week before officers actually arrested him. That means the guy overdosed five times, and emergency responders gave him Narcan to save his live five times in one week.

Blackwell said thats not the most surprising thing hes uncovered as he works as a drug enforcement officer.

Ive talked to dealers who actually when they sold these Perc-30s, if you bought so many Perc-30s then you would get Narcan with it. Its kinda one-stop shop, Blackwell said.

Once addicted, experts say its extremely difficult to break the habit and get clean.

Its the only substance that Ive ever known of that, if somebody hears that a friend or somebody overdosed then they want to know who their supplier was. Not to scare away from that supplier but to actually seek out that supplier because they know that theyre selling strong Perc-30s, Blackwell said.

The University of Kansas Health said there are treatment options available to help those trying to break their addition to opioids. That includes a newer treatment option called Sublocade.

Sublocade is a monthly injection that slowly releases medication into a persons system to help fight opioid cravings.

A local man named Clint Adams was the first person at KUs Addiction Treatment Center to take Sublocade.

When you first start taking Sublocade, its supposed to help with any cravings you may have. I didnt have a huge problem at all with cravings once I got on it. As time goes by, they get less and less and less. At least thats what the hope is at least and thats what it did for me, Adams said.

Adams credits Sublocade with being sober for a year.

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More likely to die taking counterfeit pill than playing Russian roulette, sheriffs office says - fox4kc.com

Central Florida drivers are getting stuck between a rock and a hard place, namely, State Road 417 around Exit 24."Its like Russian roulette going on that ramp. Are we going to get hit today? Is it going to be on my side? His side? Its horrible," said Yrma Azcona who drives on the road at least twice a day.Azcona said her heart races every time gravel smacks the car with her son inside."Over here, this is cracked. And then down here about three rocks hit me here. Cracked, cracked, cracked," Azcona showed WESH 2.People sent us even more photos they say show the result of construction on SR 417."We believe the issue was we were water blasting some old roadway striping on the 417," said Brian Hutchings, spokesperson for the Central Florida Expressway Authority.Hutchings told WESH 2's Anika Hope they are listening and responding."We're hoping between the sweeper trucks and the vacuum trucks and then resurfacing those areas of concern that moving forward there won't be any more issues," Hutchings said.But the damage is already done for Joe Mathein."Thats chips in the paint from rocks. You know, Ive had this car three months its like ugh," Mathein said. Hutchings said to help people like Joe who drive along SR 417 daily, the Central Florida Expressway Authority plans to sweep the shoulder and travel lanes at night. "You hear that (noise) and its happened so many times. I know when its gonna happen," Mathein said. If all goes as planned, it won't happen again."Every day, its rocks and rocks," Azcona said. Florida law says if you have combined additional coverage insurance or comprehensive car insurance, your windshield repair should cost you nothing. For people like Mathein and Azcona, the Central Florida Expressway Authority said you can reach out to them if you believe you have damage from the construction.To contact the public information officer, email construction@cfxway.com.The Central Florida Expressway Authority is also urging drivers to slow down and maintain a safe following distance during the construction.

Central Florida drivers are getting stuck between a rock and a hard place, namely, State Road 417 around Exit 24.

"Its like Russian roulette going on that ramp. Are we going to get hit today? Is it going to be on my side? His side? Its horrible," said Yrma Azcona who drives on the road at least twice a day.

Azcona said her heart races every time gravel smacks the car with her son inside.

"Over here, this is cracked. And then down here about three rocks hit me here. Cracked, cracked, cracked," Azcona showed WESH 2.

People sent us even more photos they say show the result of construction on SR 417.

"We believe the issue was we were water blasting some old roadway striping on the 417," said Brian Hutchings, spokesperson for the Central Florida Expressway Authority.

Hutchings told WESH 2's Anika Hope they are listening and responding.

"We're hoping between the sweeper trucks and the vacuum trucks and then resurfacing those areas of concern that moving forward there won't be any more issues," Hutchings said.

But the damage is already done for Joe Mathein.

"Thats chips in the paint from rocks. You know, Ive had this car three months its like ugh," Mathein said.

Hutchings said to help people like Joe who drive along SR 417 daily, the Central Florida Expressway Authority plans to sweep the shoulder and travel lanes at night.

"You hear that (noise) and its happened so many times. I know when its gonna happen," Mathein said.

If all goes as planned, it won't happen again.

"Every day, its rocks and rocks," Azcona said.

Florida law says if you have combined additional coverage insurance or comprehensive car insurance, your windshield repair should cost you nothing.

For people like Mathein and Azcona, the Central Florida Expressway Authority said you can reach out to them if you believe you have damage from the construction.

To contact the public information officer, email construction@cfxway.com.

The Central Florida Expressway Authority is also urging drivers to slow down and maintain a safe following distance during the construction.

Read more:

'It's like Russian roulette': Drivers say gravel on SR 417 is cracking their windshields - WESH 2 Orlando

Looking for a new and shiny casino site to start another online gambling round? Weve prepared a roundup of the best new casinos in the UK.

With new casino sites debuting seemingly every day, theres plenty to get caught up with. However, you shouldnt waste your time on sites that arent worth it just because they are new and exciting. To help you separate the wheat from the chaff, weve singled out those that deserve your attention.

Well also explain how we rank these best-rated new casinos and provide a short review on each one. So, keep reading!

First look:

1. Overall top new casino UK Casino Planet2. Best for slots Casino 20203. Top bonuses Casino Lab4. Best live dealer games FunBet5. #1 customer support Cashmo6. Best VIP club BacanaPlay7. Top new gambling site for mobile Kassu8. Best payment methods Casoola9. Best game selection Genesis10 Top exclusive titles The Sun Vegas

Since were discussing the best new online casinos in the UK, it makes sense to consider when they were established.

These are new betting sites that have only been online for a few years, but their operators usually have several years of experience in the industry. In addition, they operate with at least one licence with a reputable regulatory authority.

We also checked the libraries of these gambling sites to see how rich their game selection was. Most of them feature plenty of games from top developers. This includes video slots, blackjack, roulette, video poker, baccarat, and even live dealer games.

The available promotions offered by these newest online casinos are another factor that we considered. They reward both their new and active players with attractive bonuses such as a deposit match offer, free spins, VIP rewards, and more.

An online casino that offers decent bonuses is no good if its difficult to navigate or hides terms and conditions. We check a site to see if it offers accessible menus, clear bonus terms, and an overall focus on the ease-of-use.

Our top new casinos in the UK are innovative sites that are unique in their respective ways. We also seek contemporary features, such as a dedicated mobile app for iOS and Android.

1,800+ games High-quality providers like Yggdrasil and NetEnt 24/7 customer support

Having been established in 2020, Casino Planet is a brand-new online casino, and it has climbed to the top of our list for its game variety, safety measures, and customer support.

It is owned by Genesis Global Limited which packs a wealth of experience and operates with valid licences from the Malta Gaming Authority and UK Gambling Commission. They are partnered with leading developers to offer numerous slots, such as classic, 3D, jackpot, and branded titles.

There are also several table games, including baccarat, roulette, and blackjack. There are also live games anchored by real dealers. Could you ask for anything more, game-wise? Not really.

Besides that, Casino Planet offers numerous casino bonuses which makes it one of the best casinos online. When you join it, you can claim a deposit bonus. It also offers other attractive recurring promotions like free spins and reload bonuses.

As one of the top new online casinos, the operator also accepts various payment options like PayPal, Trustly, and Paysafecard. The processing time is fast for withdrawals and instant for deposits.

Whats more, Casino Planet provides 24/7 customer support. You can reach out to them through phone and email.

About 38 unique slots Free play available in the majority of games No deposit bonus

Another top new online casino especially recommended to slot fans is Casino 2020. If you guessed that it was founded in 2020, you were wrong (we dont blame you; we did the same thing), as it actually started in 2019.

It belongs to Intouch Games Limited and operates with a valid licence from the UKGC. Among other reasons, it has quickly become popular with UK players for its good bonuses. It has a no deposit bonus something you wont see every day.

Casino 2020 focuses essentially on slots, which may be a drawback for table games and live casino game fans. On the other hand, there are numerous new online slots to play here, and they come with unique themes and bonus features.

The arrangement of the games is not entirely the best, as there is no search feature available. Still, we liked the live winners function.

Despite the limitations with the game library, Casino 2020 supports many safe banking options popular in the UK. They include PayPal, Paysafecard, and even Pay by Phone Bill. The processing time is also pretty fast.

To get assistance from the casino, you can use the chat option, available 24/7, that will redirect you to a digital assistant designed to help you.

Visually appealing chemistry lab animated theme 13 banking methods No fees

Casino Lab is also among the brand new online casinos that promise UK players a top-notch gaming experience and boy, do they deliver.

Founded in 2020, this casino is home to over 1,500 casino games. It is owned and operated by Genesis Global Limited, and holds licences with two of the strictest regulatory bodies in the industry, MGA, and UKGC.

There are different kinds of slots in the lobby, including progressive jackpots and classic titles. In addition, the operator has a rich selection of table games and live dealer games. However, the video poker section is on the smaller side.

There are also a few generous Labs bonuses. New players can enjoy a welcome casino bonus. In addition, the operator offers attractive bonuses to existing players, including monthly and weekly deals.

Whats more, Casino Lab accepts numerous banking methods that UK punters will find easy to use. These include Apple Pay, debit cards, Trustly, and more. Processing of transactions at the betting site is free of charge.

Apart from that, UK players can get support from the operator through phone and contact forms.

Over 800 slots High-quality live tables by Evolution Gaming Founded in 2020

FunBet is owned by Genesis Global Limited, and it has vaulted past the competition in terms of its live dealer games. FunBet operates under the laws of the UKGC and MGA, meaning that its 100% safe.

It features various games, including 800+ slots, jackpot games, live games, and table games. Thats not all. The operator also has a sports section where you can place bets on various events.

Besides its good game selection, this new casino in the UK also offers decent bonuses, though they are mostly aimed at sports fans.

FunBet supports banking options like debit cards, Paysafecard, and MuchBetter. It provides customer support through live chat, phone, and email.

50+ slots, but no live dealer games No deposit match Fully optimised for mobile

Cashmo was founded in 2019 by Intouch Games Limited, with a licence from the UKGC.

How did it make it to our list?

Firstly, its bonuses are decent, and we are happy to report theres a no deposit bonus. New members who register with the operator can claim it and get free spins. In addition, it offers existing players deposit match bonuses, as well as a refer-a-friend deal.

As for the game selection, Cashmo is essentially an online slot casino in the UK. This means that only slots are available to play. However, they come in different types and themes.

There are several classic games, 3D slots, and progressive jackpot titles. If youre interested in table games and live dealer games, this is not the betting site for you.

Despite this drawback, youll find plenty of banking options to choose from, such as PayByPhone, PayPal, and debit cards. The transactions are quick, so you wont need to wait too long to receive your winnings. You can contact them through email or text them and wait for them to call you back.

Special VIP club Mobile-optimised; dedicated casino app 15+ software providers

BacanaPlay is a UKGC and MGA-licensed online casino that has been around since 2019. SkillOnNet Limited powers the betting site, so, its no wonder that it feels like a casino with years of experience under its belt.

As one of the latest mobile casinos, the operator features innovative slots, table games, and live dealer rooms in fact, it has over 2,000 games in total.

UK players at BacanaPlay can enjoy good bonuses, including a welcome deposit bonus, free spins, daily picks, and especially generous VIP rewards.

You can use the usual payment methods like PayPal and debit cards at BacanaPlay. The operator also offers assistance via email, chat, and phone.

Over 1,800 titles from top developers in the industry Hipster design Good bonuses and promotions, including a live welcome bonus offer

Owned by Genesis Global Limited, Kassu is a brand new online casino that entered the UK gambling market in 2019. It operates legally, holding valid licences with the MGA and UKGC.

It offers smooth performance on mobile devices both iOS and Android with most of its games available on the go.

The operator features hundreds of games, ranging from video slots and table games to live dealer games.

On top of that, it has plenty of unique bonus offerings. For example, there is a first deposit bonus offer for new players who like live casinos. They say you need to Dance like a robot from 1984 to become a Kassette, but for this bonus, you only need to fulfill the wagering requirement of 40x.

You can use varied banking methods like Sofort, debit cards, and PayPal. In addition, if you need help, you can contact the operator via phone or a contact form.

UKGC and MGA licences Over 1,600 games 13 payment methods

Casoola is a top new casino site in the UK that stands out for its payment methods. Established in 2016 by Genesis Global LTD, this online casino is licensed and regulated by the UKGC and MGA.

It has a rich selection of games (1,600) that run the gamut from jackpot games, video slots, and live dealer games to table games.

As one of the best new casino sites, Casoola also offers different kinds of bonuses. These include a welcome offer and frequent deposit matches.

There are 13 payment methods, so youre likely to find one that fits the bill (no pun intended). Additionally, Casoola provides customer support via phone and email.

1,800+ games 10+ banking options Seven game categories

Genesis was established in 2018 (the lower limit for a site to be considered new, in our opinion), and has quickly become one of the best UK online casinos.

It holds UKGC and MGA licences, and it is home to plenty of online slots, table games, and live dealer games over 1,800 in total.

As with other latest online casinos in the UK, the operator also offers good bonuses like the welcome deposit offer and free spins. In addition, you can use various banking options, such as debit cards, Apple Pay, and PayPal

If you need help, you can contact the casino support team via phone or a contact form.

In-house games, like The Sun Slingo Possibility to earn loyalty points Popular live game shows, such as The Money Drop

The last new site on our list is The Sun Vegas that has quickly established itself as one of the most unique gambling sites. It was established in 2019 and has links with the iconic newspaper, The Sun.

It is a UKGC and Alderney-licensed site with a rich selection of slots games, blackjack, roulette, and baccarat. Even better? It features some exclusive, in-house developed titles, like The Sun Slingo.

Another feature that makes the casino stand out is its bonuses. It offers a generous welcome bonus to the new players, and there are loyalty points that can be exchanged for real cash.

The Sun Vegas accepts several payment methods for deposits and withdrawals. All the must-haves are there debit cards, PayPal, and Paysafecard. When it comes to processing payments, the operator also does it quite swiftly. You can get assistance through three channels email, live chat, and phone.

To choose the best new casinos in the UK, youll need to consider different factors. The most important ones include:

Licensing and security Game selection Payment methods Bonuses and promotions Customer support Mobile compatibility Overall user experience

You can read honest reviews of new casinos in the UK (yes, like this one) to learn what other players and casino experts can say about the operator. Do not choose a betting site only because it has a good design. Always ensure that it is capable of delivering the best services at all times.

The best new UK casinos that target offer different kinds of games just like their veteran counterparts.

They work hand-in-hand with top developers to feature different kinds of video slots, online poker, baccarat, blackjack, roulette, and live dealer games. Some of them also offer games in free play mode.

Yes, you can. Top UK new betting sites offer players different kinds of bonuses. They usually have a welcome bonus for new players to claim when they sign up. In addition to the welcome bonus, they offer their existing players other bonuses, like free spins, deposit match bonuses, and so on.

But be aware that bonus funds come with terms and conditions. For instance, they may come with wagering requirements and could only be used on specific games.

Weve gathered together all the new casinos UK to look out for. They heralded a whole array of innovative features when it comes to the gambling industry, including fresh games, modern site mechanics, and convenient banking.

Our overall top new casino is Casino Planet due to its first-rate service, rich game selection, and good bonuses.

Other new sites on our lists are also worth checking out, and most importantly they are perfectly safe to play at. So, which one will it be?

DISCLAIMER: Gambling isnt a venture to engage in if you have financial troubles due to the risks involved. Dont forget the famous catchphrase: the house always wins.

Suppose youre struggling with a gambling addiction or know someone who does, contact the National Gambling helpline today via 0808-8020-133. There are several advisors available to help make gambling safe for both you and your loved ones.

Dont forget that gambling websites are rated 18+ only. More so, you may be unable to access the casino sites listed here, so ensure you check your local laws for online gambling and its legality. We offer reader-supported and independent reviews. While we may earn commissions for recommendations in our website guides, it wont affect our ranking method. Were committed to providing the best gaming experience for all players.

For more free gambling addiction resources, visit these organizations:https://www.gamcare.org.uk/https://www.gamstop.co.uk/https://www.begambleaware.org

Read more from the original source:

Best New Casinos Online in the UK for Real Money Casino Games in 2022 - We Heart

The number of active cases of COVID-19 in First Nations and Inuit communities continues on an overall downward trend.

According to the latest data from Indigenous Services Canada, there were 906 active cases of COVID-19reported in First Nations as of Dec. 7. This is down from the 1,132 active cases that were reported on Nov.15.

In the week ending Dec.4, First Nations in British Columbiarecorded the highest number of newly reportedcases among the provinces with 65, with First Nations in Ontario recording 26 and First Nations in Quebec recording 22 cases.

According to the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, there were no new cases as of Dec. 7 bringing the totalactive cases to 42 in Inuit communities in northern Quebec.

Since the pandemic began, there have been 50,966 cases in First Nations communities. To date there have been 544 deaths, 2,369 total hospitalizations, and 49,516 recovered cases.

Total cases in First Nations communities per region reported as of Dec. 7:

British Columbia: 6,172

Alberta: 14,295

Saskatchewan: 13,703

Manitoba: 11,379

Ontario: 3,925

Quebec: 1,179

Atlantic: 313

In Sandy Bay First Nation, about 130kilometres north of Winnipeg, the chief and council have been dealing with an ongoing outbreak.

"We have had at least one new case every day since the end of September," said Randal Roulette, a Sandy Bay band councillor.

Roulette said most of the cases have been linked to the delta variant andthe local school has been shut down since September.

Between the end of September and Dec. 6, the community has had 178 total cases and three deaths.

Roulette said the community has implemented strict stay-at-home measures for people who are confirmed to have COVID-19 as well as anyone who has been identified as a close contact.

He said it has been difficult for some of the larger households where people aretesting positive days apart, causing prolonged isolation periods for the tenants.

"If we have a house of nine people, then they don't all become positive at the same time, so then the isolation kind of starts like a chain reaction where they can be isolating for over a month sometimes."

A total of 891,972 vaccine doses have been administered to individuals aged 12 years and older in 687 First Nations and Inuit communities as of Dec. 1. Of that number, 383,602 were second doses.

Several regions have also begun offering third doses of the vaccine on First Nations or to elders over a specific age, however no data on third doses is available through Indigenous Services Canada to date.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

New or worsening cough.

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.

Temperature equal to or over 38 C.

Feeling feverish.

Chills.

Fatigue or weakness.

Muscle or body aches.

New loss of smell or taste.

Headache.

Abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting.

Feeling very unwell.

If you think you might have COVID-19, please consult your local health department to book an appointment at a screening clinic.

Read more:

COVID-19 in Indigenous communities: What you need to know - CBC.ca

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Read more here:

How to Win in a Casino - The Sports Bank