County commissioners meeting tonight on Facebook Live, YouTube
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the public is not able to attend tonight’s Warren County Board of Commissioners’ meeting in person.
The meeting will be live streamed in real time via Facebook Live @WarrenCountyNCOfficial, and on YouTube at https://youtu.be/o00oGM-p-MY. Footage will be made available after the live stream ends.
Game World Star PewDiePie Signs Exclusive Deal With YouTube
AFP – Agence France Presse
Swedish video star Felix Kjellberg, aka PewDiePie, is seen in a 2015 photo BEN STANSALL
YouTube on Monday announced that streaming star PewDiePie will make the Google-owned video platform his exclusive online stage.
PewDiePie, whose real name is Felix Kjellberg, has 104 million subscribers at YouTube, where his videos have racked up more than 25 billion views.
No details were disclosed regarding any financial incentives involved in his decision to go exclusive at Google-owned YouTube, which competes with rival platforms such as Amazon-owned Twitch and Microsoft Mixer.
“YouTube has been my home for over a decade now and live streaming on the platform feels like a natural fit as I continue to look for new ways to create content and interact with fans worldwide,” Kjellberg said in a release.
Kjellberg created a YouTube channel in 2010 and began uploading videos of “Minecraft” and “Amnesia” game play, according to the service.
His channel has evolved to include a range of comedy and reaction videos as well as popular videos about topics catching fire on various online platforms.
In August 2013, Kjellberg became the most-subscribed YouTube channel in the world in 2013, and six years later became the first individual YouTube creator to reach 100 million subscribers.
Kjellberg is going exclusive at YouTube as online gaming and video streaming has surged overall as people staying home due to the deadly pandemic turn to the internet for entertainment.
“YouTube is where the world comes together to connect and during these unprecedented times,” said head of gaming Ryan Wyatt.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled to continue to grow our roster of creators who are making our platform their exclusive live streaming home.”
The list of gaming-related content stars exclusive at YouTube include CouRage, Lachlan, LazarBeam, Muselk, Typical Gamer, and Valkyrae.
YouTube touts being the largest global gaming platform with more than 200 million gamers a day watching more than 50 billion hours of game play annually.
The 30-year-old Swede has stepped into controversy over the years.
In September 2017, he apologized for using a racial slur in an expletive-laden rant against an opponent during a live-streamed computer game.
Before that, he was shunned by YouTube and Disney over videos containing anti-Semitic insults or Nazi references.
In 2016, he was temporarily blocked from Twitter after joking he had joined the Islamic State group.
Kjellberg last year said he was “sickened” after hearing that the gunman behind a New Zealand mosque massacre had promoted his videos before opening fire.
How To Get Your Valorant Beta Key From Twitch Stream Drops Still waiting on a Valorant beta key drop from streams? Make sure your Twitch is setup properly for drops and more with this guide.
The Valorant closed beta has been active for weeks now, but there are still plenty of people who haven’t gotten their beta key yet. Record-breaking Twitch viewership numbers would suggest that the beta, which requires you to watch Twitch streams to get access to, is still in very high demand. If you’re still waiting for your Valorant beta key, make sure you’re following the instructions below properly to maximize your chances of getting in. Valorant has finally launched its ranked competitive mode after Riot mentioned it in its update 0.49 patch notes, so now is a good time to try to get in–you can learn more about how Valorant’s ranked system works in our guide.
How To Get A Valorant Beta Key From Twitch Stream Drops
To get a Valorant beta key, you will need a Riot account, but you also need to sign up for Twitch. You must also be located in one of the regions listed later in this section. Follow the step-by-step instructions below to become eligible for a Valorant beta invite.
Now Playing: How To Get Good At Valorant Without Playing It
Register for a Riot account
Sign up for Twitch
Link your Riot and Twitch accounts and make sure drops are enabled
During the second week of beta, Riot expanded which streams can actually drop beta invites. Originally, only Twitch streamers specially selected by Riot to drop invites could do so, meaning you could only watch specific streams to get access. But now all Twitch streamers with access to the closed beta are able to drop beta invites for their viewers, as long as they are streaming Valorant. This doesn’t increase the number of invites going out, but it does widen your options for getting into the beta. It should be harder to game the system than it was initially, as, well, as Twitch updated its guidelines to prevent people from running VOD 24/7 sessions to farm the keys.
This initial beta will be limited to players in the United States, Europe, Canada, Russia, Turkey, and CIS countries. More regions could be supported later, but Riot said this is “pending developments with the current COVID-19 pandemic.” You can find more information in the announcement post on Valorant’s official website.
How Long Do I Need To Watch Valorant Streams To Get A Beta Key?
According to Riot, you need to watch roughly 2 hours of Valorant streams in order to be eligible for a closed beta invite. A higher “weight” is given to viewers with more hours of Valorant streams clocked, which means your chances of getting an invite should be increased, but–as Riot states–“it’s still not guaranteed.” Riot has also provided more details about how closed beta entitlements work on a technical level to address some fans’ concerns. It’s also begun the process of manually rewarding “the most engaged Valorant stream viewers” with beta invites, as a thank you to fans.
Will Watching More Valorant Streams Increase My Chances Of Getting A Drop?
Riot has clarified how closed beta entitlements for Valorant work, as many people have been watching Twitch streams with no sign of an invite. You can read more about it in Riot’s blog post, but according to Riot, Valorant beta invites work differently than regular drops on Twitch. Among the points they’ve clarified, Riot states that a certain percentage of people who are eligible for an invite are given Valorant closed beta access “throughout the day and night,” except during server outages, when invites are paused. The selection is always random, and while watching more hours of Valorant streams will increase your chances of getting an invite, there is no guarantee you’ll get one.
According to Riot, you don’t need to have Twitch running to receive a drop. Once you’ve met the viewing requirement of 2 hours or more, you will be eligible for an invite during Riot’s next “wave of entitlements.”
Valorant Beta Updates And Patch Notes
Valorant has received steady and consistent updates in its still relatively fresh beta stage. One of its earliest updates nerfed Raze and Sage and its latest patch, update 0.49, added competitive mode and ranked matchmaking–they aren’t live yet, but they will be “in the near future.” Omen also got some gameplay adjustments and a redesign, alongside Breach.
Read full patch notes for several Valorant beta updates below.
Will Valorant Closed Beta Progress Carry Over To The Final Game?
According to Riot, progress you make in the closed beta for Valorant will not carry over to the final game, as its “current gameplay state may very well change come launch.” While gameplay progress won’t be saved, you will retain all Valorant Points you purchase during the closed beta, plus a 20% bonus as a thank you from Riot, when the game launches.
How Long Is The Valorant Beta?
According to Riot, the Valorant closed beta will be “short,” but it’s willing to reconsider based on player feedback. On beta launch day, Valorant broke a Twitch record for single-day viewership numbers, so it is certainly popular, with a large volume of players trying to access the beta even weeks later.
When Does Valorant Launch?
Riot Games hopes to launch Valorant in “Summer 2020,” but has not given a more specific release date.
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It’s the first Monday in May, and Instagram users are changing from their pajamas into homemade fashion statements, and it’s all in honor of the would-have-been Met Gala, which was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Though Vogue’s annual event at the Metropolitan Museum of Art has been delayed as the COVID-19 outbreak sweeps the globe, fans are paying tribute to the biggest night in fashion by dressing up at home.
In an epic salute to the star-studded soiree, Instagrammers are participating in the #MetGalaChallenge by showing off homespun spins on some of the most famous celebrity looks seen on the gala’s red carpet in recent years.
Fashion-forward participants are bringing the heat with look-alike homages to unforgettable ensembles worn by Lady Gaga, Emily Ratajkowski, Rihanna, Zendaya, Celine Dion, Janelle Monae and more. Even Mindy Kaling jumped in on the craze, recreating Jared Leto’s look from the 2019 bash — complete with mannequin head.
Better yet, Vogue and actor Billy Porter will select a number of favorite #MetGalaChallenge looks to highlight on the fashion mag’s Instagram page, as well as the Met Museum’s on May 4, Vogue said.
The 2020 gala theme was supposed to be “About Time: Fashion and Duration,” and chaired by actresses Meryl Streep and Emma Stone, “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Louis Vuitton creative director Nicolas Ghesquière, under the tutelage of longtime Vogue editor Anna Wintour.
Fox News’ Jessica Napoli and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Coronavirus: Instagram move for Ruddington Village Market
Villagers missing their monthly market took it online with live pub tours, bouquet demonstrations and tips on cutting your own hair.
Ruddington Village Market, in Nottinghamshire, broadcast 10-minute demonstrations from nine businesses live on Instagram on Saturday.
Organiser Mark Pinks said the feedback had been “phenomenal” and he was planning another.
Business owner Cheryl Stretton said she was “proud of the village we live in”.
Ms Stretton, who runs Ruddy Fine Distillery, added the villagers were “amazing people” to support the “fabulous” event.
The market was hosted by Mr Pinks, who invited traders to join him on Instagram live for the slots between 12:00 and 14:30 BST.
“We were thinking what can we do to help market stalls and shops struggling with limited trading ability,” he said.
“A pub which moved to takeaway showed us the beer cellar and behind the bar, and a cafe deli demonstrated how to make scotch eggs.
“The audience got to see some of the friendly traders that we miss so much.”
Mr Pinks, who is part of the Ruddington Village Centre Partnership which organises the markets, added as it was a “great success” plans were under way to “do it again if the lockdown remains” on 6 June.
Alex Preston, owner of The Bottle Top in Ruddington which sells food, craft beer and spirits, said: “A lot of people are missing the market, and obviously it is affecting trade.
“It is about keeping the local economy going, supporting traders, and getting supplies out to local people.”
Jen Walker, who runs The Split Screen Coffee Company, said she “enjoyed taking part and loved watching everyone else”.
She demonstrated how to make coffee and did barista-style art during the virtual market.
Mr Pinks added it was a “great way” to promote independent businesses and their products, many of which were trading online or over the phone.
He said it was “interesting to see how things worked virtually” and for businesses not able to trade, it was about helping them “keep on the radar”.
Selena Gomez is a fan of her own song, “Boyfriend”. Proof is, the young woman has fun on this piece on Instagram!
Selena Gomez is more active than ever on social networks. The young woman is having fun on her latest single on Instagram!
Selena Gomez’s Boyfriend music video has spilled a lot of ink. Indeed, in the latter, the young woman takes control over her romantic dates.
Armed with a magic flask, the young woman therefore transforms her suitors into toads and lock them in cages. Just that !
After a beautiful love story with Justin Bieber and a romance with The Weeknd, Selena Gomez does not hesitate to address the theme of romantic relationships. Single, the young woman is far from being a heart to take.
As she confided on Instagram, the young woman wants to live for her. After having suffered for a long time from what the tabloids said about her, the pretty brunette wants to go ahead. “I want to be clear: having a boyfriend is far from my priorities,” she said.
SELENA GOMEZ HAPPENS ON BOYFRIEND ON INSTAGRAM On social networks, Selena Gomez therefore continues to promote her latest song, Boyfriend. The latter is from the reissue of his latest opus, Rare.
A few hours ago, the pretty brunette was dancing to the song. All with a filter on which the young woman has a toad above her head.
The short video urges internet users to order their single. And this is not the first time that the young woman dances on her single.
A few weeks ago, Selena took over TikTok to dance to the song. “I like all of your TikToks on Boyfriend,” she also commented. I think of you and send you a lot of love. ”
For a long time Queen of Instagram, the young woman, dethroned by Kylie Jenner and Ariana Grande is therefore getting back on track! Will it be able to catch up on the flagship social network?
Those Facebook ‘Challenges’ Can Expose You to Hackers
By Eric Stann
Games can often extract sensitive information about a person, such as their first job, their first car, or their mother’s maiden name.
Oversharing on social media threatens your online security, warns Dan Lin.
“We cannot go out and socialize during this pandemic, so people are turning to social media to share what is going on with their lives,” says Lin, an associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science, and director of the I-Privacy Laboratory at the College of Engineering at the University of Missouri. “But it can be risky.”
Before a person decides to play along with the latest social media challenge, or post a picture of their family home, Lin says to consider the following three things:
Games Are No Joke
Online games that challenge people to answer a few questions about themselves, or post an image, seem innocent enough. But these games can often extract sensitive information about a person, such as their first job, their first car, or their mother’s maiden name—all of which can give hackers answers to commonly used security questions used on other websites such as online banking.
Lin notes two recent challenges as opportunities for hackers to steal a person’s information. Recently, social media users were posting their senior photos as a way to support the Class of 2020. But hackers can use those photos to gain the name of a person’s high school and graduation year.
Additionally, social media users were sharing photos of their mothers for Mother’s Day. But those images could put a person’s mother at risk by revealing identifiable information and provide clues as to whether the mother lives alone.
“If you want to celebrate with your mother, talking to her is better than sharing her picture with strangers,” Lin says.
Beware of What You Share
Images you take with digital cameras contain metadata that can provide information about the photo, such as where and when it was taken. While many social media platforms automatically remove that information when a photo is posted online, Lin warns that publishing images without first deleting the metadata can provide hackers with information a person did not intend to share, such as the GPS location of the place that the photo was taken.
She suggests removing metadata by opening the photo file and deleting this information, or using existing metadata removal software.
Lin says people also should be aware of what is present in the background of their photos. She suggests avoiding posting images that show a house number, vehicle, or unique decorative household items that can help hackers locate a person. It can also reveal personal information that a person may not want to have shared in the public realm.
Check Your Privacy Settings
While privacy settings from social media providers have improved over the last several years, it’s still easy for hackers to bypass that security, Lin says. Even if a person has blocked someone from seeing their information, another user connected with that person can save their information and pass it along to people outside of their connections—sometimes without their knowledge.
Therefore, Lin says if a person does not want something to be publicly seen by everyone, including strangers, it’s best not to share it at all.
Can AI boost social media security?
Lin is currently doing research on how artificial intelligence can help social media providers offer more advanced levels of privacy.
One strategy involves predicting what type of photo people are posting and alert the user to how other people may use that image. For instance, if someone wants to share an image with a select group of friends, the system could warn the user that friends of those friends could still view their photo, including people they intentionally excluded from the group.
A second strategy would allow social media channels to automatically recommend privacy protections for a particular image based on the type of photo and past user behavior. A family photo, for instance, could come with automatic privacy settings blocking others from sharing or downloading it. However, a funny picture of a pet might come with fewer security recommendations.
A more advanced method involves facial replacement in group photos. Rather than blurring out someone’s face in a photo of a class or public setting, which draws the attention of a hacker, this method allows social media providers to replace a person’s likeness with a synthetic facial image based on the person’s privacy needs obtained from his or her past behavior. The change would be subtle enough that those looking at the photo would not be able to tell it had been altered, Lin says.
Ultimately, Lin says it’s up to social media companies to determine whether to implement new security strategies. Until then, people should be cautious about what they choose to post on social media. Anything posted online never fully disappears—even if you delete it immediately.
President Donald Trump (left) and former president George W. Bush
President Trump on Sunday ripped former President George W. Bush for urging Americans to dismiss partisanship during the coronavirus pandemic, questioning where the Republican was during the impeachment “hoax.”
In a three-minute video released on the Twitter account of The George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, the former commander-in-chief reminded Americans “how small our differences are in the face of this shared threat.”
“@PeteHegseth ‘Oh bye the way, I appreciate the message from former President Bush, but where was he during Impeachment calling for putting partisanship aside,” Trump tweeted, citing comments from the “Fox & Friends” host.
“He was nowhere to be found in speaking up against the greatest Hoax in American history!”
The Democratic-controlled House last December voted to impeach Trump over a phone call to the Ukrainian president seeking an investigation into Joe Biden, a political rival.
THOUGHT EXPERIMENT Kylie Jenner’s coronavirus photo shoot is a reminder stars are more like us than we think
By Sage Young
As the pandemic changes our relationship with celebrity, we can only hope that it changes our relationship with ourselves, too.
Once upon a time, makeup application was the centerpiece of my morning routine — a calming, 20-minute ritual that prepared me for the day. Since quarantine began, that ritual has been shortened to the point that a swipe of concealer and mascara is reserved for truly special occasions, like a Zoom meeting or picking up a Thai order. Wearing makeup has always been something I did for me, but this period of self-isolation has reacquainted me with my naked face, as uneven and imperfect as it is.
And that’s not a bad thing. Pop culture, and especially celebrity culture, has warped our version of what “natural beauty” looks like, even if we can easily tell the difference between a bare face and a full one. Recently, photos of an unmade-up Kylie Jenner surfaced online, causing quite a stir. Makeup and extension-free, the “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” star and beauty businesswoman was almost unrecognizable.
While we all know, in theory, that the painstakingly crafted Instagram photo shoots and physics-defying Met Gala ensembles the Kardashians are known for require a tremendous amount of time, not to mention whole teams of stylists and makeup artists, it helps to be reminded. (It’s also worth noting that the Kardashian family’s “ideal” self included a much darker skin tone than her natural complexion — but that’s a separate essay better coming from a woman of color.)
Stuck at home without their glam squads, some stars are showing us their fresh faces, unplucked brows and awkwardly grown out bangs. And with those snaps and videos comes some actual — if superficial — solidarity. Nobody actually “wakes up like this.” Not even Beyoncé.
For many women, breaking a lifelong cycle of grooming and upkeep is terrifying. Missing one nail appointment wasn’t cause for concern, but what if your next professional haircut is still months away? What if the boxing gym doesn’t reopen? What about waxing and teeth whitening and the sales clerk at Sephora who helps you find your foundation shade? Who are we without these rituals that make us feel good about ourselves?
It’s disorienting, in a society that revolves around physical beauty, to not have access to these things. But when I open Instagram, I see Julia Roberts’ makeup-free selfies, Tia Mowry’s silver-streaked afro, Cara Delevingne’s messy (and not artfully messy — actually messy) bun, and it’s strangely comforting. Granted, they’re beautiful people — celebrity isn’t all smoke and mirrors — but these vanity-lite images are a reminder that, in most places, the pageant has been temporarily suspended. The curve has been reset. Paint your nails at home if you like; color your hair from a box if that makes you feel more in control. But the primary goal is just to make it through.
It remains to be seen whether the pandemic and quarantine will have an impact on these standards long-term. My prediction is that we see a resurgence of the kind of “natural,” earthy beauty that was big in the ‘70s. After all, we don’t know when it will be safe to step back into the salon, especially in hot zones like New York. DIY grooming has become the height of aesthetic self-care, and will probably stay that way for a while.
In this context, celebrities could actually help lead the way. Sadly, not everyone seems up to it. Lest you think that the country’s first family of reality TV has or will ever fundamentally change, a few days after she was snapped bare-faced, Kylie Jenner was photographed in what sure seems like an orchestrated paparazzi photoshoot. Clad in high-waisted jeans and a white crop top — with her matching face mask, thank you very much — Jenner is blown-out and camera-ready, urgently trying to convince her public that this is the real her.
She looks great. But the fact that Jenner thought such damage control was necessary is depressing. It’s like watching a noblewoman in revolutionary France load her arms with gold-plated heirlooms while her palace is being raided by peasants.
Even if I had the means to look like Jenner in those second “candid” photos, I wouldn’t do it. At least, not right now. Because who cares? How sad is it that while the world crumbles around us literal billionaires like Jenner are expending that much time and energy putting the mask (and not the PPE kind) back into place?
Much has been written about how the the COVID-19 pandemic has widened the gap between celebrities and regular people, countering any notion that wealthy stars are “just like us!” It’s maddening to be solicited for donations by people who could support whole institutions with their own private funds. The only positive thing to come out of Gal Gadot and her peers’ ham-fisted attempt at uniting the world by warbling out “Imagine” was the schadenfreude.
Celebrities, like it or not, have a lot of influence, even now. When they sing John Lennon en masse, we watch — even as we mock. It would have a huge impact if stars could use this time to embrace a new, more realistic normal. Some, like Jenner, would prefer it if we paid no attention to the woman behind the curtain. But as the pandemic changes our relationship with celebrity, we can only hope that it changes our relationship with ourselves, too. After all, that’s who we’re stuck with.
The legendary photo-sharing app Instagram (Instagram) recently introduced stickers like ‘How Can I Help’ and ‘Challenges’ for its users. Additionally, the company has now launched another sticker on its platform, named #InstaProm. Insta Prom Sticker supports AR effects. Apart from this, the company has appealed to people to stay at home through this sticker.
Instagram released short video Instagram has released a short video showing this sticker on its official Twitter account, which depicts it. The company has tweeted that the users can use this sticker in the story section. However, this sticker has not yet been received by all users. It is expected that this sticker will be available to all users in the coming days.
Instagram fonts Instagram had previously released new fonts. However, these fonts are currently in the testing phase and will soon be introduced for stable users. Currently, only these typewriters, strong, classic, modern and neon fonts are available in the Instagram Story section, which users can use.
Desktop users will soon get these stickers Instagram will soon release its latest How Can I Help ‘and’ Challenges’ stickers for desktop users. Apart from this, the company will soon launch more new features for users.
