— Google Search is home to various tools and the latest lets you look up Bitcoin addresses to show the balance of any wallet.
Announced on Tuesday, you can “Search for any of your wallet addresses across bitcoin and five new EVM networks.” The latter (Ethereum Virtual Machine) is a component of another cryptocurrency.
Enter a Blockchain address into Google Search and the first result will be a card noting your Bitcoin balance and when it was last updated. Google notes that this is the “Balance as of last transaction. Supported formats include: P2PKH, P2SH, and Bech32. Extended public key addresses are not currently supported.”
All Bitcoin transactions are public on a distributed ledger, the “blockchain.” Knowing an address cannot reveal the owner, while the private key is what’s needed (and has to be kept secure) to retain control.
Meanwhile, Google Search will also show Ethereum balances. It’s looking at Arbitrum, Avalanche, Fantom, Optimism, and Polygon. This joins other tools like searching for the price of Bitcoin (e.g., BTC USD) like you would with any other stock.
— Owner contributes $430K for IVF treatments amidst court controversy
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. –– According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five couples in the U.S. struggles with some form of infertility.
— Photo: Attorney Brooke Goff, founder and owner of Goff Law Group in Connecticut, is helping her employees start a family by offering a bonus health benefit by pledging $43oK for coverage of infertility treatments. From left: Attorney Brooke Goff, her wife Angeline Ioannou, and their children: 11-year-old Grayson and 5-month-old Victoria, who were conceived via IVF and IUI, are a refreshing example of the modern family. — Credit: Goff Law Group
The biggest roadblock for most of them to start on the path of parenthood is the high cost of fertility treatments. To ease that financial burden and help those seeking to start a family achieve success, Brooke Goff, founder and president of Goff Law Group in Connecticut, has pledged $430K to offset the massive expense of the fertility process.
The enhanced benefit is a hot topic given the recent Alabama Supreme Court ruling on “fetal personhoods” and the uncertain future of the procedure.
“I knew at a young age that I wanted to have a family, yet I also knew that as a gay woman, I would need some assistance from science,” said Attorney Brooke Goff, owner of Goff Law Group, a personal injury law firm in Connecticut.
“In vitro fertilization fulfilled my desire to carry a child and experience the beautiful journey of pregnancy, something every woman should be entitled to, if she so desires, regardless of her sexuality.”
That’s why in 2022, Attorney Goff began researching viable solutions and was told that only larger global companies, not small businesses, would even consider fertility health coverage.
“I was taken aback that more small businesses do not invest in their employees across the board- with family planning and creation,” she adds.
“Employees are the lifeblood of any company and if a business owner wants continued success and profitability, he or she should be investing in their employees’ family – both present and future.”
Undeterred, Attorney Goff eventually partnered with Carrot, a third-party health benefit company, and absorbed the entire near half-a-million-dollar cost of implementing the program. Specifics of Goff Law Group’s comprehensive IVF program include:
mental health counseling as related to the infertility process
individual infertility journey design and implementation
access to over 800 clinics throughout the United States
discount coverage for infertility care including but not limited to IVF, IUI, surrogacy, adoption, preservation of embryos, genetic testing, and medications related to infertility
coverage for after birth lactation services, overnight doulas, and women’s behavioral health as related to postpartum
“It has always been my belief that every woman deserves the right to have a family and unfortunately, it is easier for some than others,” said Attorney Goff.
“When infertility comes into the mix, it adds unplanned costs to the family and a lot of anxiety and uncertainty. Hence, it is important to offer a benefit with full-spectrum physical and mental health care.”
Attorney Goff explains that although some health insurance plans cover run-of-the-mill infertility treatments, they may have certain requirements as a result of strict state mandates such as 12 months of unsuccessful attempts to become pregnant and other limitations based on the age of the woman.
She further notes that health insurance typically does not cover surrogacy, adoption, egg harvesting, donor eggs, or donor sperm. “I wanted to provide something better to my employees alternative to the minimal health insurance coverages currently on the market,” Attorney Goff adds.
Regarding the recent Alabama legislation that allows couples undergoing IVF to sue a fertility clinic for lost or damaged embryos under the state’s wrongful death law, Attorney Goff explains that the ruling takes away pregnancy options and freedoms from potential parents who desperately desire a biological family. She believes that couples who are having infertility issues will now be deterred in using IVF intervention due to the risk of criminalization if their embryos are not used or disposed of properly.
“The ruling is making a lot of assumptions as to what might happen in that an embryo is a promise of pregnancy not an actual pregnancy,” said Attorney Goff. “The ruling should be appealed and overturned so as not to limit a family’s ability to conceive and reproduce. This is not a woman issue — it’s a family issue.”
When asked if she has any concerns about her female employees becoming mothers and its residual impact on her firm’s bottom line due to them being out of the office for sick days, Attorney Goff notes that she prefers hiring working mothers because they do the same amount of work in eight hours that others often do in twelve since they have learned excellent time management and organization skills, patience, and compassion while raising a family — all essential traits in operating a legal business. Goff Law Group is currently the largest women-owned and operated personal injury law firm in the state and is predominately made up of a female staff.
“Everyone has their own parenting journey and I want to open all of the doors for my employees to select one that universally meets their medical history, sexual preference and financial situation,” concludes Attorney Goff. “Doing my part to give my employees hope and direction in creating a family is something I take very seriously — and so should everyone else.”
About Attorney Brooke Goff
Attorney Brooke Goff is the founder and president of Goff Law Group, the largest woman-owned and operated personal injury law firm in Connecticut, comprised of 12 experienced female attorneys with various litigation backgrounds and skillsets. The firm’s foundation is built on its aggressive, no-nonsense tactics, free consultations, direct attorney access and a 99% resolution result rate. Arguably the most public openly female gay lawyer in the region, Attorney Goff has been named one of the Top 10 Most Influential People in Legal Services for 2024 and has earned the Super Lawyer Rising Star Award for the past seven years. Attorney Goff is a sought-after speaker at numerous elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as colleges and universities about the importance of education and pursuing one’s dreams. She is an inspiration for girls and a strong advocate for women to live their authentic lives. Visit www.gofflawgroup.net for more information.
The battling factions of “Red vs. Blue” are getting one last adventure — in which they must team up to fight a common enemy — that will soon available on a screen near you, even though Rooster Teeth is closing its doors.
“Red vs. Blue: Restoration,” the 19th and final season of Rooster Teeth’s groundbreaking comedy sci-fi series, will be available starting May 7 in its entirety as an 87-minute feature-length film by Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment.
The movie will be available on May 7 to purchase for $14.99 from Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu and other electronic sell-through outlets, and available May 21 to rent digitally for $4.99.
WBDHE also released a teaser trailer of the forthcoming movie (watch below). Per the official synopsis: “When the universe’s greatest villain returns in a terrifying new form, old adversaries, the Reds and Blues of Blood Gulch, will have to set aside their differences to save the galaxy one last time.”
The move comes in the wake of the decision by Warner Bros. Discovery — Rooster Teeth’s most recent corporate parent — earlier this month to shut down the money-losing entertainment division, throwing RT’s employees and contributors out of work. WBD is looking to sell the catalog and intellectual property rights to “Red vs. Blue,” along with a handful of other popular Rooster Teeth productions like “RWBY” and “Gen:Lock.”
For the final chapter of “Red vs. Blue,” series co-creator and RT co-founder Burnie Burns returned after a four-year hiatus to pen the script, reuniting with director Matt Hullum to bring closure to the narrative that has spanned more than two decades.
“I’m thrilled to return for ‘Red vs. Blue: Restoration’ and to conclude this incredible 21-year journey with our longtime fans,” Burns said in a statement. Hullum added: “Red vs. Blue has been a cornerstone of Rooster Teeth’s legacy, and we’re immensely proud of what we’ve accomplished together.”
“Red vs. Blue” is set in the universe of Xbox’s Halo game franchise, in which two teams, Red and Blue, engage in a perpetual conflict in a desolate canyon. Led by the bumbling Sarge and the cynical Church, the soldiers navigate absurd situations and misunderstandings with a mix of humor and sci-fi elements.
The show debuted in 2003, before YouTube launched. “Red vs. Blue,” in addition to establishing a popular digitally distributed entertainment franchise before the streaming revolution, was innovative in using machinima to create animations using video game engines. “Red vs. Blue: Restoration” was produced with Epic Games’ Unreal Engine.
OLDWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#insurance—AM Best has assigned a Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and a Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a-” (Excellent) to Emerald Bay Specialty Insurance Company (EBSIC) (Tucson, AZ). The outlook assigned to these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.
The ratings reflect EBSIC’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).
EBSIC is an Arizona-domiciled hybrid fronting company operating in the surplus lines market throughout the United States. As such, the company’s strategy involves maintaining a significant risk position in the programs it writes. EBSIC’s ultimate parent is Emerald Bay Risk Solutions, LLC (Emerald Bay) and Emerald Bay will be owned primarily by Bain Capital Insurance (BCI).
EBSIC’s balance sheet strength assessment is driven by the company’s risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), which is expected to be in the strongest range throughout the company’s initial five-year business plan. The balance sheet strength is underpinned further by a conservative investment profile and the backing of BCI. BCI has committed significant equity into the company to support the start-up operations and has assisted EBSIC’s ultimate parent, Emerald Bay, in sourcing a term loan credit facility as part of the initial funding of EBSIC.
AM Best assesses EBSIC’s operating performance as adequate as the company’s underwriting guidelines are anticipated to produce profitable operating results over the intermediate term. Additionally, the company’s initial portfolio will include third-party programs where management has developed deep expertise through previous collaborations. AM Best assesses EBSIC’s business profile as limited given the start-up nature of the company’s operations. However, AM Best notes that management has a strong track record of operating in the insurance and fronting markets, which reduces execution risk. AM Best assesses EBSIC’s ERM framework as appropriate with clear strategic objectives well aligned with the company’s risk appetite. Moreover, there is a robust risk monitoring and governance structure in place to ensure accountability and oversight throughout the organization.
This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.
AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.
Limonero Films has picked up world rights to distribute environmental documentary, “Wild Coast Warriors,” which launches at Mipdoc.
The film aims to raise awareness of the plight of small coastal communities on South Africa’s Wild Coast, who are standing up to the oil and gas industry.
It follows a David vs. Goliath court-case against Shell, which halted oil and gas exploration, winning protection for the community, the ocean and the local culture.
“Wild Coast Warriors” is directed by Nick Chevallier and Leigh Wood, who also edits the film. It is produced by Chevallier for Contemporary Film Productions. The cinematographer is Warren Smart, who was part of the camera crew on Oscar winner “My Octopus Teacher.”
Pippa Ehrlich, director of “My Octopus Teacher,” said “Wild Coast Warriors” was “a critical story about the power of community advocacy, and a warning to big corporations that there is strength in the voices of vulnerable people who are connected to and dependent on their land.”
She said the film was “an empowering case-study showing how South Africa’s constitution protects its people.” She added: “It is exquisitely shot and paints a beautiful portrait of the people working to defend their communities and the land they love.”
The film is supported by Greenpeace Africa, Natural Justice and Oxfam Intl.
Chevallier’s credits include “Blood Lions.” His clients have included BBC, Discovery Channel, National Geographic, Animal Planet and South African broadcasters.
Twenty years ago, Chevallier produced a documentary called “The Wild Coast….a Fragile Paradise” in which he explored the natural beauty and rich natural resource base of the Wild Coast.
Mipdoc runs April 6-7 in Cannes, ahead of the MipTV market and conference.
— The Soledar Salt Mine in eastern Ukraine shut down in early 2022 amidst the Russian invasion. The Ukrainian government recreated it in Minecraft to raise funds to restore a school hit during the war.
— On Feb. 24, 2022, Stepan Bandrivskyi woke up before dawn and got ready for a special day: his birthday.
It wouldn’t be a particularly happy one. Hours earlier, a couple dozen miles away, Russian tanks had rolled across the borders of his native Ukraine. The full-scale invasion had begun.
Like so many other Ukrainians, Bandrivskyi didn’t know what to do. So he went to work, to the Soledar Salt Mine, a cavernous state-run operation in Eastern Ukraine. Kyiv says it is the biggest such mine in Europe. His manager told him to go home: The mine was closed. It hasn’t resumed operations since.
Bandrivskyi fled the region not long after, as Russian forces advanced. After nearly a year of fighting, during which the mines were turned into bunkers, Russia seized and occupied the town of Soledar—although fierce fighting continues nearby. Over time, Bandrivskyi came to the painful realization that he may never see the salt mine, and its eerie and isolated beauty, ever again.
Last year, Bandrivskyi received a phone call from a colleague. “He invited me to participate in a very interesting project,” he says.
The Ukrainian government wanted to completely map the mine “and translate it into a game environment,” he says. Bandrivskyi seized the opportunity. “I wanted to keep it in my memory, and I wanted other people to be able to kind of immerse themselves in this world as well,” he says.
With that, Minesalt was born.
THE IDEA FORMinesalt comes from United24, the official crowdfunding arm of the Ukrainian government. For nearly two years, United24 has raised funds to rebuild apartment blocks and purchase de-mining equipment. Last year, United24 began shipping batches of salt to donors, through its “Soledarity” campaign—raising some $3 million to purchase reconnaissance drones.
But as the war drags into its third year, donor fatigue has set in. That has pushed United24 to come up with new and innovative ways of attracting the world’s attention—and support.
Minesalt, which launches last Thursday might be their most inspired effort yet.
A recreation of the mine in Minecraft.
“It is important for us to remember and talk about every Ukrainian city that is under temporary Russian occupation,” Yaroslava Gres, chief coordinator of United24, told WIRED in a statement. Last summer, when a team suggested bringing Soledar to life as a video game, it was a very easy idea to say yes to.
Built for the wildly popular sandbox game Minecraft, Minesaltchallenges players to race through the mine, collecting 140 hidden salt crystals as fast as possible. At the end of the run, a quiz tests players’ recollection of details from Soledar. But, like in the rest of Minecraft, Minesalt players can also opt to wander at their own pace.
EU leaders have gathered today (22 March) to sign what they are calling a Quantum Pact that recognises the importance of advancing quantum computing technologies to enhance the bloc’s scientific and industrial competitiveness.
Quantum computing has been rapidly advancing with major breakthroughs taking place around the world. The emerging technology has potential to transform a range of sectors, including medicine, energy, communications, cybersecurity, space, defence, as well as climate and weather modelling.
“It will enable huge productivity gains, revitalise industry and open up new markets, applications and job opportunities,” said Thomas Skordas, deputy director-general responsible for communications networks, content and technology in the European Commission.
Skordas was filling in for EU commissioner Thierry Breton at the Shaping Europe’s Quantum Future conference held in Brussels, Belgium today. He describes the Quantum Pact as the EU’s attempt to make Europe the “Quantum Valley” of the world.
“Only by building on our strengths, by working together, by being ambitious, by targeting the whole spectrum of activities – research, industry, infrastructures, talent, external partnerships and more – can we transform Europe into the leading region globally for quantum excellence and innovation. Quantum will help us to challenge the boundaries of what is possible.”
The event featured keynotes, panel discussions and workshops on EU quantum strategy and was held at the Belgium Institute of Natural Sciences.
A declaration was first signed in December, setting the stage for cooperation, investment and innovation in quantum computing technologies in the EU and positioning it as a global leader in the space.
The pact today has been signed by 20 European countries: Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. Ireland has not signed the pact.
Last month, the EU and Canada announced intentions to boost their strategic digital partnership to address “new challenges in digital transformation” such as in the areas of AI, quantum science, semiconductors, public policy related to online platforms, secure international connectivity, cybersecurity and digital identity.
For quantum science, the regions intend to expand “mutually beneficial collaboration” to improve and accelerate research, development and innovation in the area, while also promoting jobs and the use of quantum tech in the broader economy.
The owners of 810 Billiards & Bowling continue to fight the wrongful death lawsuit for Takeoff’s fatal shooting, blaming attendees, including the rapper.
Source: Variety/Getty
Nearly a year ago, Takeoff’s mother Titania Davenport filed the million dollar lawsuit. The case comes after her son was murdered outside of the bowling alley in November 2022. According to theLos Angeles Times, Davenport alleges that the Houston bowling alley was informed of the Migo’s arrival and that the venue should seek more security measures.
The lawsuit against the bowling alley was filed in June 2023, but no settlements have been reached. 810 Billiards & Bowling has requested that the lawsuit be dismissed. They denied any wrongdoing in Takeoff’s, real name Kirshnik Ball, death.
Davenport is adamant that Takeoff was an innocent bystander and that 810 Billiards & Bowling should take responsibility. In the lawsuit, she stated that the venue was aware that large crowds would attend due to the presence of celebrities. She believes that they disregarded the possibility of improving the security measures.
The grieving mother also claims that a group of patrons attempted to intimidate Takeoff. This resulted in verbal and physical altercations. This then led to gunshots that would claim Takeoff’s life. Davenport is requesting more than $1 million dollars to cover emotional damage, funeral expenses, and Takeoff’s personal injuries.
Takeoff’s father joins mother in lawsuit against bowling alley
Kenneth Ball, Takeoff’s father, and Davenport have been in a legal battle over Takeoff’s estate, as the rapper did not leave a will. RapUp reports that Takeoff left behind at least $26 million. Still, Ball has been named an Intervenor in Davenport’s lawsuit against the bowling alley. AllHipHop reported that Ball is also seeking $1 million dollars in damages as Ball has suffered greatly due to his son’s death.
Source: Penske Media/Getty
Additionally, Quavo’s assistant, Joshua Washington, filed a lawsuit against 810 Billiards & Bowling in August 2023. Washington was injured in the same shooting that abruptly ended Takeoff’s life. According to RapUp, Washington was shot in his right side, and in the rush to flee, he had to find his own way to the hospital. He also claims that security was inadequate and personnel was not properly trained.
Patrick Clark remains on house arrest
After Takeoff’s untimely death on Nov. 1, 2022, law enforcement began investigating the crime. The Los Angeles Times reported that detectives utilized video, audio, and physical evidence that marked Patrick Clark as the perpetrator.
CUMBERLAND, Md. — The monumental problems impacting the young, neglected populations in the world’s poorest countries will, sooner or later, reach everybody’s borders, posits Dr. Sylvanus Ayeni, a retired neurosurgeon who is also the president and founder of Pan Africa Children Advocacy Watch (PACAW), a nonprofit organization headquartered in Maryland.
“We live in a very complex, unsettling and troubled world, which is shrinking — distance wise — faster than we can imagine,” Ayeni said.
Ayeni founded PACAW in 2007 in response to the devastating deficits in education, infrastructure and healthcare facing African nations, predominantly in Sub-Saharan Africa. PACAW’s primary mission is to nurture and develop a new generation of African leaders who will use the continent’s abundant natural resources to provide a much needed better life for the citizens. PACAW does this by providing access to quality education at public primary and secondary schools, and community development activities.
“The main purpose is to get Nigerian youths to think differently about who they are, their innate capabilities and ultimate responsibility to their nation,” Ayeni said. “Furthermore, to get them to develop a ‘Can Do’ mindset instead of constantly waiting for foreign aid from Europe, the United States, Canada and Asia. Also, to embrace the spirit of selflessness, incorruptibility and nation building.”
PACAW is currently seeking funding to build science laboratories in public high schools run by the state and local governments, an issue that is very close to Ayeni’s heart.
“Many of these schools, sadly, have been totally neglected by the leaders,” he added.
In the 2024 school year, which beings in September, PACAW, in collaboration with Olise Omolu Foundation (https://oliseomolu.com), will launch an annual multi-state high school essay competition in Nigeria for senior high school students. The goal of this project is to re-orient and guide Nigeria’s youths — the nation’s future — toward a mindset of selflessness, service, incorruptibility and ethical thinking. Support for this endeavor will be greatly appreciated.
“The world would be different — hopefully better — if we realize that there is only one human race, a well-established scientific fact which unfortunately has been ignored for decades,” Ayeni said.
To learn more about PACAW or to make a contribution, please visit https://www.pacaw.org.
About Sylvanus Ayeni
Sylvanus Ayeni was born and raised in Nigeria and graduated from the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria. As a neurosurgeon, he worked in the private sector, for the U.S. Navy and in academia. Now retired from medicine, he is the president and founder of PACAW. He is also the author of Rescue Thyself: Change In Sub-Saharan Africa Must Come From Within (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers), in which he offers a bold dialogue about the necessity of finding alternative pathways to solve the monumental problems facing the nations of Sub-Saharan Africa.
— China has introduced new guidelines that will mean U.S. microprocessors from Intel and AMD are phased out of government PCs and servers, as Beijing ramps up a campaign to replace foreign technology with homegrown solutions.
The stricter government procurement guidance also seeks to sideline Microsoft’s Windows operating system and foreign-made database software in favor of domestic options. It runs alongside a parallel localization drive under way in state-owned enterprises.
The latest purchasing rules represent China’s most significant step yet to build up domestic substitutes for foreign technology and echo moves in the U.S. as tensions increase between the two countries. Washington has imposed sanctions on a growing number of Chinese companies on national security grounds, legislated to encourage more tech to be produced in the U.S. and blocked exports of advanced chips and related tools to China.
Officials have begun following the new PC, laptop and server guidelines this year, after they were unveiled with little fanfare by the finance ministry and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) on Dec. 26.
They order government agencies and party organs above the township level to include criteria requiring “safe and reliable” processors and operating systems when making purchases.
On the same day in December, the state testing agency, China Information Technology Security Evaluation Center, published its first list of “safe and reliable” processors and operating systems, all from Chinese companies.
Among the 18 approved processors were chips from Huawei and state-backed group Phytium. Both are on Washington’s export blacklist. Chinese processor makers are using a mixture of chip architectures including Intel’s x86, Arm and homegrown ones, while operating systems are derived from open-source Linux software.
Beijing’s procurement revamp is part of a national strategy for technological autarky in the military, government and state sectors that has become known as xinchuang or “IT application innovation.” The standards “are the first nationwide, detailed and clear instructions for the promotion of xinchuang,” said a local government official managing IT system substitution.
State-owned enterprises were similarly told by their overseer, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, to complete a technology transition to domestic providers by 2027, according to two people briefed on the matter.
Since last year, state groups have begun quarterly reporting on their progress in revamping their IT systems, though some foreign technology would be allowed to remain, the people said. The state-led march away from foreign hardware will dent US companies in China, starting with the world’s dominant PC processor makers, Intel and AMD.
China was Intel’s largest market last year, providing 27 per cent of its $54bn in sales and 15 per cent of AMD’s $23bn in sales. Microsoft does not break out China sales but president Brad Smith last year told the US Congress that the country provided 1.5 per cent of revenues. Microsoft and Intel declined to comment. AMD did not respond to a request for comment.
It may be difficult for Intel or AMD ever to make the list of approved processors. To be evaluated, companies must submit their products’ complete R&D documentation and code. The top criteria for evaluation is the level of design, development and production completed within China, according to a notice from the state testing agency.
