Voice Recognition Technology: Why Alexa Succeeds

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(January 15, 2020)–I

t would be understandable to think that voice recognition does not have too much of a place in the realm of modern technology. While it would be nice to have, it is understandable to think that it might be more of a nuisance than anything. When compared to something such as touch technology, voice recognition might be seen as more of a luxury than a necessity. However, Alexa has continued to prove that voice recognition has a place in today’s world and has so far exceeded expectations.

With the help of

Alexa skill development

and a bit of creativity, Alexa has become known as the premier voice assistant – and for a good reason! One of the technological standards that helps Alexa in its rise to stardom is the modern app, as the tech behind

Amazon Alexa skill development

allows it to fully integrate and be used in ways that continue to surprise.

A boon in marketing and more

One of the most successful uses of Alexa involves skill development in stain removal, with the help of Tide. Not only will Alexa help you in ridding yourself of hundreds of different varieties of stains, but it will also suggest the best types of products to help you achieve your goals. Since we have all had to deal with stains at one point or another, it is a convenient way of utilising Alexa, and it simultaneously markets Tide products to create the perfect storm of marketing.

As if that was not enough,

Alexa for business

is something that is still seen as relatively untapped. There are still plenty of potential ways to utilise Alexa for business, such as the use of business software between departments.

A joy to have at home

Aside from Alexa’s uses in business, its primary function is to be used in the household. It can integrate with other apps to aid you in providing as much convenience as possible. Are you looking to stream your favourite shows or videos? What about gaming? Alexa has your back!

What is surprising about Alexa in the household is it can be utilised in many creative ways. For example, it is entirely possible for an Alexa skill to be used in controlling the lighting or the temperature in your home. You can transform your humble abode into the house of tomorrow!

A world of untapped potential

The best part is that when it comes to what Alexa can do, it is still relatively untapped. The limits to Alexa’s uses in today’s world are only limited by the imagination of those who utilise its skills and features. While voice recognition might not necessarily be seen as necessary when compared to touch technology or apps, Alexa’s potential could very well hold the future.

Without a doubt, Alexa succeeds because she is making use of convenience instead of a gimmick. Instead of burdening us with more to do, she offers a more natural way to get the job done!

Image:

https://pixabay.com/photos/pokemon-pokemon-go-phone-game-1553989/

Route 47 Traffic Shift Required at 47 Bridge Over I-295 on Thursday

I-295 southbound Exit 25B to remain closed for another month

(Trenton) – New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced daytime lane

closures with alternating traffic on Route 47 as the Bridge over I-295 replacement project nears completion in Deptford, Gloucester County.

Beginning at 9 a.m. tomorrow, Thursday, January 16, NJDOT’s contractor, South State, is scheduled to close one lane on the Route 47 Bridge over I-295 and set up alternating traffic to facilitate a traffic shift. In addition, the ramp from I-295 southbound to Route 47 southbound will be closed temporarily while alternating traffic is in effect. The following signed detour will be in place until approximately 3 p.m.:

I-295 southbound Exit 25A to Route 47 southbound detour:

(Thursday, January 16 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.)

Motorists on I-295 southbound wishing to take Exit 25A to Route 47 southbound will be directed to take Exit

24B/CR 551 (Westville/Woodbury Heights)

Bear left onto CR 551 South/Woodbury Heights

Continue on CR 551 South which becomes North Evergreen Avenue

Turn left onto CR 642/Red Bank Avenue, which becomes Tacoma Avenue to Route 47

By 3 p.m., traffic on the bridge will be shifted into the final configuration, with one lane open in each direction. The I-295 southbound Exit 25A ramp to Route 47 southbound will reopen.

The I-295 southbound Exit 25B ramp to Route 47 northbound will remain closed to allow for overhead sign installation.

The following detour will remain in place for approximately one month:

I-295 southbound Exit 25B to Route 47 northbound detour:

(Will remain in place for approximately one month)

Motorists on I-295 southbound wishing to take Exit 25B to Route 47 northbound will be directed to take Exit 24B to CR 551/Broadway (Westville/Woodbury Heights)

Keep right at the fork onto CR 551 north/Broadway toward Westville

Continue on CR 551 north which becomes Broadway

Turn left onto Route 47 northbound

The $7.7 million federally-funded project will replaced the existing concrete bridge deck, parapets and superstructure, which were in poor condition. It also increased the vertical clearance of the bridge up from 14 feet 4 inches, to meet current standards of 16 feet 6 inches.

Portable variable message signs are being utilized to provide advance notification to the motoring public of all traffic pattern changes associated with the work. The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors.

Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT\’s traffic information website

www.511nj.org

for real-time travel information and for NJDOT news and updates follow us on the

NJDOT Facebook page

or on Twitter

@NJDOT_info

American Legion provides over $1.1 million in grants to veteran families

The American Legion

In January 2019, The American Legion’s Temporary Financial Assistance (TFA) program broke a single-month record in grant distribution – $1,030,163. Of the grants distributed, $1,000,500 assisted children of active duty Coast Guard servicemembers who were financially affected by the federal government shutdown.

The government shutdown created a critical need of monetary assistance for active-duty U.S. Coast Guardsmen. And The American Legion answered their call for help by providing immediate financial support through the TFA program.

But the financial need for veterans and their families across the country was still there long after the government reopened.

Subject to an audit, so far 2019 numbers for TFA show that $1,143,000 was provided in cash grants that assisted over 3,000 children of nearly 1,700 veteran families. And these grants are non-repayable.

The American Legion distributes one-time grants of up to $1,500 to eligible active-duty military and American Legion members in need. Grantees must have minor children in the home and the funds are designed to help meet the cost of shelter, food, utilities and health expenses so that children have a stable environment during a time of hardship. Since 1925, TFA has awarded more than $16 million

The American Legion Temporary Financial Assistance program is funded through the generosity of donations made by American Legion members and the public to The American Legion Veterans & Children Foundation. National Commander Bill Oxford has made the Veterans & Children Foundation his primary fundraiser to help the foundation reach the goal of $25 million.

Donations to The American Legion Veterans & Children Foundation are tax deductible and can be made online at

www.legion.org/donate

Report: Job Growth in Pennsylvania Projected at 0.5 Percent

The Center Square

Job growth in Pennsylvania is expected to reach 0.5 percent by the end of 2020, down from the state’s 2019 job growth of 0.7 percent, according to

a new study by Kiplinger

that assessed state economic outlooks.

Pennsylvania ranked in a tie for 35th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on its projected job growth this year, according to the Kiplinger analysis. The state’s current jobless rate is 3.9 percent.

Generally, tax revenues flowing to states should remain healthy in the next several quarters thanks to rising incomes, modest inflation and low unemployment, Kiplinger reports. State spending should rise only modestly in the coming year, according to the report, and states are putting more money in their rainy-day accounts.

But regions also are struggling somewhat because of a number of financial challenges. The trade war between the United States and China is hurting Midwest farmers, while New England growth is slowing because of a lack of skilled workers, the report said.

published here with permission of

The Center Square

———-

2020 Economic Outlooks, State by State

6 Top Environmental Issues You Need to Worry About in 2020

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(January 15, 2020)–Most people are aware that the environment is changing; after all, it’s almost impossible to avoid all the new stories about climate change and how the ice caps are melting, and huge hurricanes are on the way. But how many people

really

understand what is happening to the natural world around them and the impact it will have on their future, not to mention their children’s future? Probably not that many.

That being said, the environmental issues that our world faces today are not going to suddenly disappear overnight. So, steps must be taken to try to tackle these problems head-on; unless people want the world that they know and love to be irrevocably changed forever. We can start by taking a look at the top six environmental issues that should be on everyone’s radar going into 2020.

The Expansion of Urban Areas

The world’s population is expanding at unfounded rates; people are living longer due to impressive developments in medical science, and the number of babies being born is not decreasing any time soon. This means that more housing is needed, which has led to contractors building more and more new developments, mainly by expanding urban areas.

What effect does this have on the environment? By covering the natural landscapes to concrete and bricks, contractors are interrupting the ground’s natural water cycle by stopping water from being absorbed into the ground, leading to

flooding

. Not to mention the fact that an increase in the number of homes being built leads to an increase in gas emissions, resulting in more air pollution.

An Increase in Waste

There are currently 2,000

active landfills

in the U.S., with the average person throwing out 4.4 pounds of trash a day. However, America is in danger of running out of space in their landfills in the next 15-20 years, and then where will the trash go?

Reducing the amount of waste that households throw away is vital, with every person needing to actively try to recycle or compost their waste whenever possible. With more people throwing out nearly twice as much waste compared to a few years ago – most of which is recyclable – the excessive landfills are posing a big risk to our climate.

Endangered Species

Did you know that one out of every 10 plant and animal species will be extinct by 2050? As our ecosystems continue to diminish, the list of endangered species will only continue to get longer; because where are these animals going to live if their habitats become lost? Who can forget the shocking and haunting image of a polar bear balancing on a small piece of ice in the middle of the ocean? We must work to avoid situations like this by supporting conservation efforts.

When we look at success stories of conservation efforts, such as the work being done by

Eric Mogensen

, CEO of Gulf Breeze Zoo, it becomes apparent that we need to do more to protect endangered species. Anyone can donate or volunteer for a conservation group to support this cause.

Climate Change

Whether you want to admit it or not, climate change is real, and it is happening right now, with a majority of experts stating that both natural and man-made greenhouse gasses are to blame. Greenhouse gasses impact so many elements of our planet, from wildlife habitats to the ocean to natural disasters such as hurricanes and tsunamis. So, how can climate change be reduced?

There are, in fact, several actions that can be taken to reduce the threat of climate change. These include:

Building more sustainably

Using

renewable energy sources

Reducing waste

Reducing pollution

Deforestation

Around 15% of greenhouse gas emissions come from deforestation, which might not seem like a huge amount but is still significant. And, as more rainforests are cut down for wood, this number is only set to increase.

Furthermore, what about all the animals and plants that live and thrive in the forests? What will happen to them when their homes are chopped down? It’s a vicious cycle where ecosystems are destroyed, species become endangered, and climate change continues to worsen.

Trees are needed to produce oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide, so what will happen when all the forests have been cut down? Rather than waiting to see the negative effects this will have on our planet, we can stop cutting down trees, or at the very least, ensure that every time a tree is cut down, another one is planted in its place.

A Lack of Water

Running water is so simple in today’s developed world that you probably never thought about what would happen if there wasn’t any. However, there is currently a big problem with water scarcity across the globe, with an estimated 780 million people not having access to clean water, and it is most definitely not just a problem for underdeveloped countries.

Water can often become

contaminated

with diseases, toxins, or chemicals, making it unsafe to drink. Luckily, everyone can help with the issue of water shortage by simply being more mindful of the water that they use on a daily basis; for example, have a quick shower instead of a bath and don’t continuously run the tap when doing the washing up.

Saving the environment is not the job of some big corporation, nor is it down to just one man; everyone needs to do their part and start taking active steps in order to make a difference. Starting now.

How to Solve Small Business Cashflow Problems

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(January 15, 2020)–The wheel of fortune is a fickle mistress and regardless of how well your business is performing today, tomorrow may bring any number of unexpected hazards and unforeseen encumbrances to challenge your business acumen and your business bank balance. Balancing the books is hard enough for a small business, and so it pays to be prepared for tough times and armed with a strategy for dealing with potential cashflow hiccups as they arise. When times are good and money is flowing freely, that’s a good time to start planning for the unexpected, so that in the event of a financial downturn in your fortunes, you can keep things on track. In this article, we look at a few of the ways you can solve these cashflow problems.

Be better at building a budget for your business

When you are enjoying a successful period, it’s tempting to pay little attention to your budget, keeping only a rudimentary spreadsheet at which you’ll occasionally give a cursory glance every now and then, safe in the knowledge that there’s more than enough coming in to deal with what’s going out. Unfortunately, without a

sensible budget

in place, it can be very tricky to cater for all those new tools, expensive staff parties, and costly resources. Should a downturn occur, this could leave you chasing your tail looking for ways to pay that VAT bill and your corporation tax on tie. There’s nothing like a fine from HMRC to make you wish you’d budgeted more carefully. Preventative maintenance is a great way to solve cash flow problems before they start.

Consider a short-term loan to keep your business running

A sensible short-term loan can be an excellent and productive way of keeping all your business-critical processes moving forwards when cash flow is poor and you would otherwise not be able to afford to keep the business afloat. You could consider liquidating stock or perhaps dip into some savings or even borrow money from a family member or willing business investor. If you’d rather keep hold of your assets and not relinquish any control to a third-party investor, you might look at a short term loan from a reputable lender, such as

biz2credit

, so that there doesn’t need to be any interruption in your business-critical activities.

Engage with a more flexible working environment

Depending on what sort of business you are and what you deliver, you might be able to dispense with some significant costs altogether. Technology today allows for teams to be far more remote than they used to be, meaning that a physical office might not even be a requirement, saving your business a lot of money in the process. Making a move towards a remote working environment doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice productivity or quality of work either. Studies show that staff tends to be

more productive

when able to maintain a more flexible approach to their work-life balance.

With some sensible budgeting, a short-term business loan and a more flexible approach to your working conditions mean you should be able to deal with most cash flow problems.

Introduction to Online Casinos

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(January 15, 2020)–Gambling is typically considered as a zero-gravity area from where the chances for a surge and a plummet are equal. Time and technology have redefined casinos as the space of unlimited entertainment, and it gradually materialized into the screens as well. For as long as the urge for thriving fortune exists within humans, casinos will stand high in the zone of factors that shoot up the economy. As online casinos are getting more players to the platform without the need for exhibiting live casino etiquettes, doors to the live casinos are gradually closing down. Although this trend has been spreading for a long time now, it is quite sporadic. Polarising views on the concept of casinos have been developed, and the groups that prefer the online platforms are increasing day by day.

Playing on online casinos would seem like a difficult task to take up, and many of the regular players are neophobic towards this idea. Familiarizing with every new technology has been imperative, so is the case of online casinos. Delving deeper into a subject wouldn’t be as hard as getting it started. Every aspiring player needs to learn the basics of the games and the platforms on which they are planning to begin their gambling career.

Fundamentals

Here are a few essential details that every player needs to know before stepping into the game.

The overall experience is what matters the most, and the bets that you place should never affect your financial stability. Luck is a result of the randomness of the entire game that takes place, and in the case of online casinos, this factor of randomness is produced artificially. Random number generators are computer programs that are used for this purpose.

The security and fairness at online casinos are of great concern for the players. Since the digital platforms hold a high number of frauds and scams, the apprehension towards signing into these would be as equally high. But the online casinos have been programmed in such a way that they do not conduct unfair games or stay biased to a certain group of players. Security has also been ensured by these platforms, which has ensued in the massive footfalls.

Most of the casinos prefer to use third-party software to run their games, and the three types of software that are used are the downloadable, instant, and mobile versions.

Incentives are always motivators, and no one refuses to accept it. In online casinos, various types of bonuses are provided to the players at the time of signing up. Additional funds to play the games and chips to enter it are usually offered as sign-up bonuses. Many sites necessitate an initial payment for the rewards, whereas a few other casinos provide it free of cost.

Choosing the Best Online Casino

Selecting a particular online casino is never as easy as reading through the list. The ones that are ranked on the top might not be the ones that please you the most. Your priorities matter the most when narrowing down to that one site, which makes that particular option the best. While some casinos prove to be ideal for poker, some others support blackjack. Ignition, Betonline, and Bovada are some of the best online poker sites

according to this website

. The player has to decide on which casino site to be selected for his/her game. Best is, therefore, a subjective term here, and it would be the site that meets your needs that turn out to be the best one. Make sure to check the geographical restrictions of the site, so that you don’t choose the one that isn’t available in your state/country. So, pick the right option rather than the best one.

Conclusion

Online casinos have been witnessing immense growth for the past few years, and this has generated an urge to jump into gambling without a second thought. Acquire the necessary information about such online platforms before leaping into the game, so that you play the game safely.

Lawmakers in Pennsylvania Announce New Push to Fight Medicaid Fraud

By Steve Bittenbender |

The Center Square

HARRISBURG, PA–Pennsylvania lawmakers and the state’s Attorney General’s office announced on Monday they’re teaming up to fight waste, fraud and abuse in the Medicaid system.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers will sponsor bills in both the House and Senate aimed at protecting the health insurance program for 2.7 million of Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable residents. The proposals come nearly nine months after a state grand jury released its recommendations to curb fraudulent claims from siphoning funding from the public program.

“This is a nonpartisan issue that brings people together to solve a challenge,” Attorney General Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, said at a Monday news conference in Harrisburg.

The proposals include a bill that would create a state version of the federal False Claims Act, which the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) uses to recoup fraudulent Medicare expenditures. Shapiro said Pennsylvania is the only state among the top eight Medicaid spending states that does not have a False Claims Act on the books.

That means while the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in Shapiro’s office was able to make 292 arrests, get 173 convictions and reclaim $34 million in taxpayer funds in 2017 and 2018, it was not able to reclaim all the funding it could have.

State Rep. Seth Grove, R-York, will sponsor the House bill that will allow the state, as part of national settlements, to regain an additional 10 percent in funds for false claims made against the state’s Medicaid program. It will also allow Shapiro’s office or a district attorney appointed by the attorney general to look into cases where fraudulent or other improper claims may have been submitted.

State Sen. Lindsay Williams, D-Allegheny, will sponsor a similar bill in the Senate.

“I applaud Attorney General Shapiro for bringing to light the glaring problems our Medicaid program faces. Every misspent or fraudulently used dollar is another dollar hardworking taxpayers have to make up for,” Grove said.

Also among the bills is a proposal state Rep. Tommy Sankey will sponsor that requires any Medicaid managed care organization (MCO) to enter into an agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and allow the state to recoup any Medicaid funding that paid for such erroneous services.

Among the money misspent includes $43 million approved by MCOs for what the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services deems as “provider preventable conditions.” That would include cases where mistakes were made, such as the removal of the wrong appendage during an amputation.

In addition, state Rep. Wendi Thomas will also file legislation that would make knowing or causing a fraudulent claim to be file a crime. Any claim over $2,000 would be a third-degree felony, with claims valued at $100,000 or more becoming a second-degree felony.

published here with permission of The Center Square

BUSINESS: Alex Hogan Assigned as General Assignment Reporter for FoxNews

NEW YORK–(

BUSINESS WIRE

)–FOX News Channel (FNC) has signed WFMZ-TV, an independent television station, reporter Alex Hogan as a general assignment reporter. She begins her new role today.

Since 2017, Hogan has served as a morning news reporter and fill-in anchor for WFMZ-TV in Allentown, Pennsylvania. In this capacity, Hogan covered various breaking news stories, including the trial of Bill Cosby, the 2017 Cosmo Dinardo murders and the 2018 Allentown car bombing. Previously, Hogan worked as a general assignment reporter for CBS affiliate WTAJ-TV covering the Altoona, State College and Johnston, Pennsylvania areas.

Hogan got her start in the industry interning for Bloomberg TV where she field produced and contributed to the weekend version of Bloomberg Intelligence’s

Equity Market Minute

. She also interned at NBC O&O WRC-TV in Washington, D.C., where she assisted with coverage of local debates, hearings and the 2014 Navy Yard Shooting Remembrance.

A graduate of Pennsylvania State University, Hogan holds a Bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism and was awarded a regional Emmy award for her work at the school’s Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications. Born and raised in Switzerland, Hogan is multilingual and has lived in Spain, Israel and seven states across the United States.

FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service delivering breaking news as well as political and business news. The number one network in cable, FNC has been the most watched television news channel for more than 17 consecutive years. According to a 2019 Suffolk University poll, FOX News is the most trusted source for television news or commentary in the country, while a 2019 Brand Keys Emotion Engagement Brand Analysis survey found that FOX News was the most trusted cable news brand. A 2017 Gallup/Knight Foundation survey also found that among Americans who could name an objective news source, FOX News is the top-cited outlet. Owned by FOX Corporation, FNC is available in nearly 90 million homes and dominates the cable news landscape, routinely notching the top ten programs in the genre.

MyMedicalShopper Provides Response to DHHS Request for Public Comments

Portsmouth, NH –

January

13, 20

–

MMS Analytics, Inc. dba MyMedicalShopper, the leading provider of healthcare price transparency solutions, submitted a detailed response to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding proposed rule making to “give consumers personalized, real-time access to cost-sharing information,” shedding light on the secret world of healthcare pricing and empowering consumers to make more informed care decisions.

The “Transparency in Coverage CMS-9915-P” rule requires most group health plans and issuers to give participants personalized access to provider pricing, including an estimate of negotiated in- and out-of-network cost-sharing liability, via an online tool or paper, upon consumer request. The proposed rule would make consumers fully aware of their insurance issuer’s negotiated prices before receiving care to compare provider costs, include pricing in their decision-making, and promote more competition in the healthcare industry to lower cost.

“This rule would finally put an end to the secret pricing in healthcare and create a fair marketplace for consumers,” said Mark Galvin, President and CEO of MMS Analytics, Inc., the creator of MyMedicalShopper.

“For the past six years MyMedicalShopper has provided users with unparalleled access to negotiated pricing information via its responsive web design (RWD) and mobile application—exactly like those proposed in the new rules. We’re excited to share our expertise with these agencies to ensure consumers have access to the tools and information needed to make better-informed healthcare decisions.”

MyMedicalShopper’s public comments are available on its

website

. (update when published on the web and provide link). To review the full rule and public comments, please visit

Regulations.gov

MyMedicalShopper is a comprehensive platform for employers designed to drive down the cost of healthcare while improving employee benefits. The platform includes the nation’s leading medical price transparency tools for employees, dynamic rewards programs, and robust analytics packages for employers.

MyMedicalShopper is available through benefit brokers and consultants serving both the fully insured and self-funded employer markets. The platform integrates with over 120 health plan member portals providing real-time deductible tracking, in- and out-of-network facility information, and other personalized plan details to help employees manage out-of-pocket expenses and plan for future procedures.

MyMedicalShopper empowers employers and their employees to take control of their healthcare costs on over 10,000 medical tests and procedures tests by making it easy to shop for low-cost, high-quality medical care.

About MMS Analytics, Inc. (

www.MyMedicalShopper.com

)

MMS Analytics, Inc. dba MyMedicalShopper™ is a big data company on a mission to build technology, products, and services to drive meaningful savings from the cost of healthcare in the United States. The company was founded on the belief that fixing the broken healthcare marketplace required a focus on the alignment of financial incentives, medical price transparency, and the reduction of administrative overhead. The company empowers employers and their employees with the ability to choose care based on price, quality, and convenience with unprecedented access to the previously secretive prices negotiated between insurance carriers and providers. Experts document that as much as $1 trillion could be slashed annually from the cost of healthcare in the United States. MyMedicalShopper aims to help transform the healthcare industry into a fair market for consumers.