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A Million Dollars Will ‘Level Up’ Thousands of Houston Area Residents Out of Digital Divide

Comcast Houston

If you’ve ever played a popular 80’s video game, then you know about the disadvantages your character has right out of the gate. You can’t jump as high or as far, and it’s easier to lose the level and have to start all over again. But in the first few seconds, there’s usually always a chance to ‘level up’ your character. Instantly, you can jump higher and farther, run faster and if you encounter an enemy, you still have another chance at winning the level. There are thousands of Houston area residents who — from a digital perspective — aren’t ‘leveled up” and therefore struggle to participate in the digital economy. Some Houstonians still don’t know how to surf the web, write emails or create a resume. Others don’t even have a reliable and fast internet connection in their homes. The digital divide is still big. According to the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau’s American Communities Survey, one in ten households, or 687,086 households, in the greater Houston area do not have an internet subscription or do not have a computer. They want to ‘level up’, and they are about to get it. Comcast, the Houston area’s largest internet service provider, is giving more than one million dollars this year to local organizations that help students, adults and people with disabilities ‘level up’ their computer, career development and tech education skills. The million-dollar investment will also support ongoing efforts to build awareness about low-cost or no-cost connectivity programs like Internet Essentials and the federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). “These investments are a part of Comcast’s ongoing efforts to make a real difference in southeast Texas by giving families an opportunity to thrive in this digital age,” Ralph Martinez, Comcast Houston’s Regional Senior Vice President, said. “The Internet is where life happens. It allows students to expand their educational aspirations and it empowers parents to explore better job openings so they can ultimately deliver a better quality of life for their families.” So far, Comcast has given grants to eight Houston area organizations. More announcements will be made later this year. United Way | Funding will be used to provide tech experts (Digital Navigators) to help people in need of digital skills training. BakerRipley | Funding will support computer skills, software, email and internet safety training for low-income adults in the Houston area. Comp-U-Dopt | Funding will support students participating in Early Adopters, STEAM Team and Learn2Earn, which brings technology education to area youth. Comp-U-Dopt will also use the funding to provide tech experts (Digital Navigators) to help people in need of digital skills training. Easter Seals of Greater Houston | Funding will support the development of a curriculum for people with disabilities to help them successfully learn to use digital technology to gain and maintain employment. The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Houston | Funding will help high school students gain technical and leadership skills through the Workforce Readiness Program. AAMA | Funding will be used to purchase technology and equipment to support students through the training program at the Work and Learn Center, with an emphasis on digital literacy and design. Dress for Success | Funding will be used to provide Houston-area women with the resources needed to obtain long-term employment through access to job readiness training, digital skills workshops, computers and mobile labs. AVANCE-Houston | Funding will support adult literacy program and continue to build pathways to economic mobility for families in the community. “We are passionate about doing our part to help close the digital divide and committed to helping establish a more equitable foundation for learning, working and succeeding,” Martinez said. Comcast remains steadfast in its efforts to connect people to moments that matter, to connect families to opportunities in Southeast Texas. For more than a decade, the company has offered Internet Essentials to help low-income Americans access reliable, high-speed internet. Comcast is now a proud champion of the federal government’s new Affordable Connectivity Program. ACP gives qualifying households up to $30 towards their monthly internet bill. With ACP, Comcast’s Internet Essentials internet service is free. As more Houston area residents get the ‘level up’ they need, just like in their gameplay, they will have more chances to keep advancing—better jobs, better education, innovation, opportunities and yes, more fun and better gaming. Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on connectivity, aggregation and streaming with 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Comcast Houston Steve Campion +1 832-920-2001 Steve_Campion@comcast.com Company Website https://houston.comcast.com/

August 02, 2022 08:40 AM Central Daylight Time

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Minuteman Press Million-Dollar Owners Thomas and Denise Batliner Share Keys to Business Growth in Louisville, KY

Minuteman Press International Inc

Thomas and Denise Batliner have owned their Minuteman Press franchise located at 3905 Bardstown Road since November of 2005. With over 16 years in business, Thomas shares the following insights that helped he and Denise grow their business in Louisville and become members of the Minuteman Press International President’s Million-Dollar Circle. On this accomplishment, Thomas says, “Denise and I believe marketing efforts, customer service, networking, and a little luck have been vital to our success and longevity. We would like to place special emphasis on customer service. At Minuteman Press in Louisville, we focus on treating the customer as we would like to be treated. We believe anyone who walks through the door can be our next biggest customer, and hospitality may make or break the possible relationship.” He continues, “Over the past 16+ years in business, Denise and I have grown the business by developing relationships with new customer bases. More specifically, we gained these relationships through acquisitions. For example, in August of 2012, we purchased an independent printer. This acquisition almost doubled our 2011 sales in addition to our everyday marketing and networking. Then, in December of 2020, we purchased an independent promotional products company. Like our 2012 acquisition, we almost doubled the past year’s sales. Our new customers are the key to our success, and we appreciate their continued business and loyalty.” From the US Navy to Owning a Printing Business Prior to franchising with Minuteman Press, Thomas Batliner served in the US Navy. He shares, “We didn't start Minuteman Press until 2005 when I was 38 years old. Before reaching this point, I served in the United States Navy for three years where I specialized in aviation hydraulics (AMH3). This military experience reinforced the work ethic instilled in me at a young age while farming with my family and has played a vital role in driving my determination to stay in the printing industry.” Thomas continues, “Furthermore, after being honorably discharged, I was a tool and die specialist by trade before being promoted to an estimator at a plastics manufacturer, Beach, Mold, and Tool, now known as NYX. While in this role, I earned an associate degree in Business. But most importantly, I decided I wanted to drive my career and become an entrepreneur. Minuteman Press matched this goal because of the low initial investment, and the business presented the new challenge I was seeking.” “Minuteman Press International supported me from the beginning before I had any professional knowledge about the printing industry. For instance, at the initial home office training, I learned basic facts about paper stocks and more information regarding machine availability and capabilities. Lastly, our office utilizes FLEX, the workflow software developed by Minuteman Press that constantly evolves to add effective apps that drive marketing value.” – Thomas Batliner, owner, Minuteman Press, Louisville, KY Leveraging Local Business Relationships & Benefits of Printing Today When asked what it has been like to own a business in Louisville for over 16 years, Thomas shares, “We are in an urban area and serve a diverse community. There are people from many varying backgrounds, and we have learned about different cultures from around the world. Additionally, we are part of a community where nearby business owners help and look out for one another. For instance, a nearby competitor has helped us continue production during machine downtime and meet customer demand. To return this favor, we have been known to share our resources if this competitor is short-staffed. Because of this dynamic, we believe it is important to develop healthy relationships with everyone in the community, even those with competing business goals.” Thomas explains why printing remains so vital today, sharing, “We believe printing remains vital today because it secures a company’s mission. In terms of management, it also provides different avenues for documentation. To illustrate, when a business provides a digital or physical copy of an employee handbook to its staff, it can better document and communicate expectations and other important information.” He adds, “The main benefit of print is that it can be found everywhere, from the menu you use at your favorite restaurant menu to the branded t-shirt you buy at the store. Because of print's presence, companies always need it. Even during uncertain times like the pandemic, manufacturing facilities, hospitals, and a variety of other companies needed printed materials promoting safety warnings and best practices.” “Our highest demand products and services include envelopes, every door direct mail (EDDM), and wide format printing, a powerful visual medium used for larger files such as blueprints and banners. Our customers value these products and services because they can reach a larger audience. In addition to our highest demand products, key growth areas for our business are promotional products and branded apparel. For example, the customers from our acquisition of the promotional products company have driven sales and we have added a new product line that existing customers can access.” –Thomas Batliner Rewards of Owning a Business & Advice to Others As Thomas and Denise reflect on their accomplishments, there are a couple of items that really stick out. Thomas says, “The biggest personal reward for Denise and me was the ability to put both of our children through college as traditional four-year students. Lauren, our oldest, is now a critical care nurse and Erica, our youngest, is a sourcing and supply chain professional.” He adds, “Aside from this personal reward, our biggest professional reward was receiving our plaque for the Minuteman Press International President's Million Dollar circle. After 16+ years of business, it was an honor to achieve such a high sales goal and to meet others who have accomplished the same or more.” Thomas shares the following advice to today’s aspiring business owners, saying, “The advice I would give to someone looking to own a business is ‘do your homework.’ You need to choose something you can be passionate about and enjoy daily. Despite the hard work ahead of you, because there are some long days and weeks, it can be very rewarding.” For more information on Minuteman Press in Louisville, Kentucky, visit https://minuteman.com/us/locations/ky/louisville20/ Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

August 01, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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MuskMelon NFT continues to offer healthy returns

MuskMelon

MuskMelon, the latest hit craze in the NFT & Gaming Universe, is all set to launch its new game in Android & iOS prior to the launching date due to community demand. Non-Fungible Tokens by MuskMelon are being bought out in collections and are setting a new high for collectors even in these low times. Run Melon Run the latest super-fun NFT play-to-earn racing game announced today that it's Android and iOS versions will be available to the players by the second quarter (Q2) of 2022. All Melon maniacs will get early access to this much-awaited game and can start racing against time and dodging obstacles starting this month. The demo was released privately to early investors that gave an overwhelming first impression of the game and unlimited earning potential. Players can own exclusive NFTs as the Game Avatars which shall have their own special in-game skills that in turn would make the player eligible for special and higher rewards. In traditional prize gaming, players could only win rewards that were unique to that game. There was no way to monetize those rewards as they held no value in the real world. Run Melon Run, changes that outlook by allowing players to win real rewards that can be traded off for other cryptocurrencies such as ETH, USDT, BNB, etc. The new play-to-earn game model enables players to spend their free time playing exciting games and gives them the opportunity to monetize their time as well. Additionally, these assets can be stored, transferred, and traded on various exchanges as well as the Muskmelon platform. Neal Mathews, Project Advisor of Run Melon Run, said, "Run Melon Run remains a favorite for many of our investors. The said game will host the Melon NFTs and merge the utility of the Melon Tokens, enabling users with dual benefits. The game will be available on iOS and Android stores post its launch." MuskMelon is an ecosystem that wants to enchant the global audience with NFTs and immersive gaming possibilities. The platform prides itself on being a community-driven initiative to re-ignite the spark that brought the Blockchain-Cryptocurrency industry to life. Melons have a maximum supply of 10 billion tokens and are launched on the BEP20 and ERC20 networks. The MuskMelon community wants to ensure maximum public participation with an almost fair sale. For more information, kindly visit the website https://muskmelon.org/ Media Contact Brand: MuskMelon Contact: Neal Mathews Email: hello@muskmelon.org | Website: https://muskmelon.org/ Contact Details Neal Mathews hello@muskmelon.org Company Website https://muskmelon.org/

July 28, 2022 02:22 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Cloudrise announces $10M in total funding

Cloudrise

Cloudrise, a tech-enabled services firm focused on securing data wherever it resides, is pleased to announce it has completed financing to raise the company’s total to-date funding to $10 million. Since launching the company in October of 2019, Cloudrise has worked with 100s of global customers, including numerous Fortune 500 enterprises, on their data protection and cloud security projects. During this time, Cloudrise has continued to exceed all stated financial targets and is investing significantly to expand service delivery and research and development teams, while raising the bar for data protection. To help further growth and innovation, Cloudrise secured additional funding in July from Three Kings Capital, with add-on capital from existing investors Stormbreaker Ventures and the Greater Colorado Venture Fund. With success comes the need to add more talent to Cloudrise’s Board of Directors, and Bill Ryckman, Managing Principal at Three Kings Capital, will join the Cloudrise board. "We are very pleased to be partnering with Cloudrise and its proven management team led by Rob Eggebrecht," Ryckman said. "Cloudrise is a well-known leader in the data protection market, with particular expertise in the cloud, and a reputation for delivering exceptional service. As more and more businesses embrace the cloud, Cloudrise has become an integral partner to a diverse set of clients across the country and around the world, helping to keep their data safe from cyber criminals. With its high-quality team and technology-enabled platform, Cloudrise is well-positioned to serve our collective mission on a much wider scale.” Cloudrise co-founder and CEO Rob Eggebrecht is excited about the future ahead for the company. “Our latest funding venture is a major milestone, allowing Cloudrise to fast-track industry-changing initiatives for how professional services are delivered in the cyber industry via our tech-enablement approach,” Eggebrecht said. “The current status quo for delivering professional services in the cyber industry is outdated, inefficient, and does not scale to the world of cloud computing in global enterprises today. While organizations are contending with the exponential growth of data and an excessive amount of cyber security application/platforms, traditional service providers are stuck in a mindset of a help-desk, ticket-driven world, attempting to throw more people at the problem.” Instead of throwing more time and resources at complex data security challenges, Cloudrise leverages a proprietary service delivery platform to increase efficiencies, enable better collaboration, and reduce time needed to deliver high-value outcomes. By bundling software and humans, Cloudrise delivers tech-enabled services that allow customers to realize an immediate impact for their business. Cloudrise continues to build on what has been a groundbreaking 2022, in which the company announced: The acquisition of CyberOrchard, an information security managed service organization located in the United Kingdom Jason Bird, CyberOrchard’s founder and CEO, as CTO at Cloudrise Cloudrise named as Netskope’s Global Services Partner of the Year Placement on the Managed Security 100 on CRN’s Managed Service Provider 500 list for 2022 ‘Best Solution in Data Security’ at Global InfoSec Awards by Cyber Defense Magazine Hiring Rob Zillioux as CFO The opening of a new global headquarters facility in Grand Junction, Colorado About Three Kings Capital Three Kings Capital is a mission-driven, family office-backed private equity platform that invests exclusively in cyber security companies. Its mission is to protect the world's assets, critical infrastructure, and personally identifiable information from cyber threats. Aided by an Advisory Board of government and private sector cyber security experts, Three Kings seeks to enable and partner with mission-driven companies at any stage of development. Its permanent, flexible capital base allows Three Kings to invest in any type of security within the capital structure. Three Kings is headquartered in New York City but seeks investment opportunities from around the country and certain other parts of the world. For more information, please visit www.ThreeKingsCapital.com. About Cloudrise Cloudrise is a technology-enabled services firm, specializing in delivering data security services customized to meet organizations’ business needs. Drawing from 20+ years of experience in the field, we have tailored our services to be laser-focused on securing organizations’ data wherever it resides. Cloudrise helps organizations elevate their data protection and privacy programs through assessments, technology enablement, and managed services. Cloudrise can be found at www.cloudrise.com or on LinkedIn. Contact Details Cloudrise Robert McLean +1 800-917-7619 sales@cloudrise.com Company Website https://cloudrise.com/

July 28, 2022 05:00 AM Mountain Daylight Time

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Hong Kong Chronicles Institute Debuts First Volume of English Edition of Hong Kong Chronicles on 7,000 Years of Local History in a Dedicated Ceremony

Hong Kong Chronicles Institute

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 27 July 2022 - Hong Kong Chronicles Institute (HKCI) today marked the historic launch of the first volume of the English edition of Hong Kong Chronicles in a ceremony at the Government House with the release of Overview & Chronology as part of a bilingual book series on Hong Kong's local history. HKSAR Chief Executive Mr John Lee Ka-chiu and Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC in the HKSAR Mr Liu Guangyuan were keynote speakers in the presence of HKSARG principal officials, Central government officials based in the HKSAR, more than 40 consuls general/deputy consuls general, over 10 representatives of international chambers of commerce and global institutions, among local community leaders and scholars, in Hong Kong. HKCI marked the historic launch of the first volume of the English edition of Hong Kong Chronicles in a ceremony at the Government House about Hong Kong's 7,000 years of history. From left to right in the first row, officiating guests at the ceremony are: Mr Sun Yu, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of BOC Hong Kong (Holdings) Limited; Mr Ronnie Chan Chi-chung, Chairman of Hang Lung Group Limited; Mr Philip Chen Nan-lok, Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Mr Chan Kwok-ki, Chief Secretary for Administration of HKSAR; Ms Lu Xinning, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR; Mr John Lee Ka-chiu, Chief Executive of the HKSAR; Mr Liu Guangyuan, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC in the HKSAR; Mr Li Jiangzhou, Deputy Director of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China in HKSAR; Mr Bernard Charnwut Chan, Vice Chairman of Our Hong Kong Foundation and HKCI Executive Committee Chairman; Dr Tung Chee-chen, Representative of The Tung Foundation; Ms Pansy Ho Chiu-king, Group Executive Chairman and Managing Director of Shun Tak Holdings; and Mr Daryl Ng Win-kong, Deputy Chairman of Sino Group and Chief Convenor of Development Committee at HKCI. Guests in the second row from left to right are: Dr Li Feng, Chairman of China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited; Mr Kenneth Fok Kai-kong, Vice President of the Fok Ying Tung Group; Mr Augustus Tang Kin-wing, Director of John Swire & Sons (H.K.) Limited; Mr Christopher Kwok Kai-wan, Executive Director of Sun Hung Kai Properties and HKCI Convenor of Development Committee; Mrs Eva Cheng Li Kam-fun, President of Our Hong Kong Foundation; Prof. Lawrence J. Lau, Vice Chairmen of Our Hong Kong Foundation; Prof. Lee Chack-fan, HKCI Chief Convenor of Academic Review Committee; Prof. Elizabeth Sinn Yuk-yee, HKCI Chair of Translation Committee; Prof. Wong Yuk-shan, HKCI Chief Convenor of Promotion Committee; Mr Oscar Chow Vee-Tsung, Non-Executive Director of Chevalier Group; Ms Gao Ming, Chairman & Executive Director of ICBC; and Mr Deng Renjie, Executive Vice President of China Merchants Group Limited. Mr John Lee Ka-chiu and Mr Liu Guangyuan were joined by Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR Ms Lu Xinning, Deputy Director of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government of the PRC in the HKSAR Mr Li Jiangzhou, HKSAR Chief Secretary for Administration Mr Chan Kwok-ki, as well as Vice Chairmen of Our Hong Kong Foundation and HKCI Executive Committee Chairman Mr Bernard Charnwut Chan in officiating at the ceremony under the theme "Chronicling the Ages, Connecting with the World" – dedicated to telling a global audience about 7,000 years of Hong Kong history from its early days to becoming a cosmopolitan city with prestigious international status under the framework of "One Country, Two Systems." HKSAR Chief Executive Mr John Lee Ka-chiu delivers a keynote speech in the launch ceremony of the first volume of the English edition of Hong Kong Chronicles. Among the guests in attendance were diplomatic missions in Hong Kong, including 41 consuls general and deputy consuls general from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Canada, Dominican Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, Vietnam and Zimbabwe. Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC in the HKSAR Mr Liu Guangyuan delivers a keynote speech in the launch ceremony of the first volume of the English edition of Hong Kong Chronicles. "The first English volume, Overview & Chronology, traces the footsteps of the 7,000-year history of Hong Kong – replete with folktales and cultural stories on local traditions and customary practices. The sweeping history tells the stories of Hong Kong's roots, and its political, social and economic development into the 'Pearl of the Orient' and gateway to China," said Mr Bernard Charnwut Chan, Vice Chairmen of Our Hong Kong Foundation and HKCI Executive Committee Chairman. "Hong Kong Chronicles – both the Chinese and English versions – seeks to recover the collective memories shared by the people of our dynamic city we call home." Mr Bernard Charnwut Chan, Vice Chairman of Our Hong Kong Foundation and HKCI Executive Committee Chairman, said in his welcome remarks, "Hong Kong Chronicles – both the Chinese and English versions – seeks to recover the collective memories shared by the people of our dynamic city we call home." Overview & Chronology – comprising an "overview" on Hong Kong’s local history and a "chronology" of more than 6,500 major historical events spanning 7,000 years – is the first volume in the first and largest translation project of any Chinese local chronicles in history. The ceremony, under the theme "Chronicling the Ages, Connecting with the World," is dedicated to sharing with the world 7,000 years of Hong Kong history from its early days to becoming a cosmopolitan city with prestigious international status under the framework of "One Country, Two Systems." Hong Kong-based consuls, representatives of global institutions and guests visit an exhibition at the Government House. Hong Kong Chronicles as a book series consists of 54 volumes with 25 million words in 10 content categories, namely Overview, Chronology, Nature, Economy, Culture, Society, Politics, Notable People, Appendices and Special Topics. The series is funded by private donations from more than 50 corporations, charitable foundations and NGOs, including the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust as the principal benefactor. HKSARG principal officials, Central Government officials based in the HKSAR, more than 40 consuls general/deputy consuls general, over 10 representatives of international chambers of commerce and global institutions, as well as local community leaders and scholars, witness the historic launch of the first volume of the English edition of Hong Kong Chronicles. " Hong Kong Chronicles is the first series of local chronicles to officially adopt name 'Hong Kong' in its title. It is the largest of its kind in Hong Kong and reflects significant historical and cultural value," said Prof. Lee Chack-fan, Chief Convenor, HKCI Academic Review Committee. "It is a community-wide academic project with the participation of nearly 370 scholars, historians and experts under the guiding principle of recounting historical facts without interpretation." "The compilation of local chronicles is an age-old Chinese tradition. However, the making of an English edition of is not part of that tradition – or any tradition. It is a unique and unprecedented venture," said Prof. Elizabeth Sinn Yuk-yee, HKCI Translation Committee Chairman and Academic Review Committee Convenor. "Being an integral part of Chinese tradition and, yet, having room to bring in new elements, is a reflection of Hong Kong's own unique position as a part of China and a key player of the global community." Hong Kong Chronicles is available on a global basis through worldwide distribution. Hard copies are available for purchase from bookstores under Sino United Publishing Holdings, including Chung Hwa Book Company (Hong Kong) Limited, and its online portal My Book One. E-books are available in more than 30 countries/regions through platforms such as Amazon Kindle, Google Book, Huawei Books, JDRead, Kobo, Overdrive, Rakuten, Readmoo, and Yuewen. The book series is also viewable for all readers and downloadable for universities, public libraries, national archives, government agencies and think tanks worldwide upon registration at www.hkchronicles.org.hk. About Hong Kong Chronicles Institute Hong Kong Chronicles Institute was established by Our Hong Kong Foundation in August 2019. The Institute brings together community leaders, experts and scholars to undertake the historic mission of compiling the first-ever Hong Kong Chronicles. The book series covers a period from the ancient era about 7,000 years ago to the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR on 01 July 2017. It Edmond Siuconsists of 10 content categories and is scheduled for completion by 2027. An English edition of the entire series is also scheduled for completion by 2032. More information is available at https://www.hkchronicles.org.hk or by connecting with the Institute on: Facebook: fb.com/hongkongchronicles Instagram: instagram.com/hongkongchronicles Contact Details Hong Kong Chronicles Institute Edmond Siu edmond.siu@hkchronicles.org.hk

July 27, 2022 09:57 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Minuteman Press Million-Dollar Circle Member Michael Levy Grows Sales for Levittown and Farmingdale Franchises

Minuteman Press International Inc

Michael Levy owns Minuteman Press in Levittown, NY located at 3000 Hempstead Turnpike. In June 2021, he also purchased the original Minuteman Press franchise in Farmingdale, NY located at 324 Main St. Already a member of the Minuteman Press International President’s Million-Dollar Circle, Michael has continued his strong sales growth in the first two quarters of 2022, including record monthly gross sales in March 2022. Key Drivers of Growth When asked about the key drivers of his growth in 2022, Michael shares, “Some would say luck, I would say persistence, perseverance and simply being known to be someone who gets things done. While there have been many challenges due to supply chain issues for the past year or so, I was able to use that to my advantage.” Michael further explains how he has been able to manage and overcome supply chain issues, saying, “For example, I had a customer contact me for a job I had never done before but I had done other jobs for this customer. It was a huge job, for 150,000 each of two envelopes. Someone else, who normally does this job for them, was not able to get the stock. So, the customer called me and told me what happened and asked if I can help.” He continues, “I spent two days researching and I was able to get both items for them and deliver them when they needed. One of the suppliers was through one of the field reps at Minuteman Press International, so it was great I could leverage that connection with my franchisor. I ended up producing $25,000 worth of envelopes I had never done before, and they just recently asked me to quote their next order of 200,000 of each one.” Michael sees the wide variety of products offered by his two Minuteman Press franchises as another competitive advantage. He says, “It’s examples like that envelope order plus the other items we offer that most other printers do not, such as in-house screen printing, embroidery, dye sublimation, and stamp production, that allows us to stay busy and grow. Another key is to have enough customers ordering products that when one is slow, others are not. This is a key ingredient, especially with my larger clients.” Promoting the Return of Live Events on Long Island As more live events, concerts, ball games, and trade shows return to Long Island, Minuteman Press is well-positioned to pitch in and help promote them. Michael shares, “It is very nice to be getting orders for tickets, programs, journals, and most importantly, items for trade shows and community events. Promotional items and apparel have really picked up over the past 6 months and that is because these events are happening again. That certainly gets me excited to be able to offer such a wide range of products that cater to all of my customers.” As for what advice he would give to other Long Island business owners right now, Michael shares, “Of course, every business is different, but one thing all businesses must do is to market themselves. Marketing is a very wide-ranging word and can be done in many different forms. Simply wearing a logo polo shirt is marketing. In addition, advertising, mailings, flyers, business cards, promotional items, apparel, and anything you can put your company logo on are all forms of marketing.” He adds, “That is exactly where I, as the owner of two Minuteman Press franchises, come in and help. We can put your logo on just about anything that allows you to market your business. I always tell my customers when they ask, ‘What type of marketing should my business do?’, to try a little bit of everything and see what works best for your specific business.” To find your local Minuteman Press on Long Island, visit their brand new consumer website, https://minuteman.com. For Minuteman Press franchise opportunities on Long Island, visit https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

July 25, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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New Research Shows Positive Sentiment for Ron DeSantis Steady, No Fluke

Ready for Ron

Today, Ready for Ron, a draft committee encouraging Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to run for President, released research it commissioned from Impact Social showing positive sentiment amongst critical “floating voters” towards Governor DeSantis remains steady. Previous reports showed positive sentiment for Governor Ron DeSantis growing by more than 8 points from earlier analysis reports, indicating the gain is no fluke, but part of steady momentum. “It’s great to see positive sentiment towards Governor DeSantis staying high in these reports – despite an increasing drumbeat of attacks from the left,” stated Lilian Rodriguez-Baz, Chief Legal Counsel for Ready for Ron. “The response from our work to build grassroots support is impressive, and this research confirms the tremendous support we see on the ground. The positive feedback and engagement are significant and continue growing exponentially.” Ready for Ron launched an advertising and grassroots mobilization effort in late May to help convince Ron DeSantis he has the support to win the Presidency in 2024. The PAC also filed an official Advisory Opinion Request with the Federal Election Commission to ask if it may share its supporter list with Governor DeSantis to convince him to run and when – not if - he becomes a candidate. To generate the report released today, Impact Social researchers analyzed the publicly available social media discussion in relation to Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump among swing voters from June 29, 2022 to July 13, 2022. Additional reports are expected to continue every two weeks. Previous reports are available here. “We carried out detailed language analysis of US social media discussions back to May 2016 to capture social media users into a database of 40,000 swing voters,” explained Phil Snape, Director at Impact Social. “With 40,000 participants, we are operating what is likely the world’s largest focus group – as big as a Football stadium.” The summary of Impact Social’s second report states: This has been a difficult period for Donald Trump with net sentiment falling 11pts (-30 to -41) over the last two weeks. This should set off alarm bells in Mar-a-Largo. It has long been believed that Jan 6 divides people into two camps. Those who love Trump think his involvement in events that day are a nonsense, a witch hunt cooked up by his enemies desperate to bring him down and ensure he never runs again. Whereas those on the left are convinced of his guilt regardless of any evidence to the contrary. However this analysis shows that floating voters, particularly those on the right, are increasingly siding against him as new revelations of what happened on Jan 6 take their toll. This has resulted in an increase in the amount of posts stating that they are against Trump (+15pt- 31 to 46). Worryingly for team Trump are the low number of people on the right who are prepared to defend his actions. When discussing Jan 6 right leaning voters tend to pivot away from events and try to draw attention to other Trump ‘successes’ such as low unemployment or relative global peace. It is therefore fair to conclude that many on the right seem uncomfortable talking about the events of that day. It is also interesting to note how few floating voters speak about the ‘stolen election’. This conversation has been almost non-existent within this 40K panel since this analysis began six weeks ago, which begs the question of how many floating voters side with Trump and believe the Democrats stole the presidency? For his part Ron DeSantis seems to be coasting along. Despite being in the middle of a re-election campaign - which by design means that the candidate is duty bound to upset some voters in order to attract others - his net sentiment among floating voters remains consistent at -6. In fact, in contrast to Trump, the conversation over the period has remained largely the same with those in favor of his politics and style seeing him as a good governor, with a solid track record in office and their preferred candidate ahead of Trump for 2024. “We are excited to see our efforts paying off. Support for Ron DeSantis continues to grow, despite increasing attacks from the Left, and his base is solid,” Rodríguez-Baz continued. “We are building the biggest grassroots movements ever, and with support growing like this, it will happen even quicker than anticipated.” Ready for Ron continues its TV and online advertising efforts to engage Americans to sign the petition at www.ReadyForRon.com to Draft Ron DeSantis to run in 2024. “Despite reports to the contrary, the only war on former President Donald Trump, is coming from the radical left. All of us at Ready for Ron appreciate his leadership and effective policies that led to a booming economy, lower crime, and affordable gas prices. We are #ReadyforRon to carry these policies and the America First agenda forward,” Rodríguez-Baz said. Impact Social is a specialist social media, online monitoring, and analysis company. Its unique methodology ensures unrivalled accuracy to show what has been said and its impact. Impact Social is the only company in the world providing this high level of analysis. ### For more information or to schedule an interview with ‘Ready for Ron’ legal counsel, Lilian Rodríguez-Baz, or an Impact Social spokesperson, please contact Dan Rene at 202-329-8357 or dan@readyforron.com Contact Details Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 dan@readyforron.com Company Website https://www.readyforron.com/

July 22, 2022 09:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Society Pass (SoPa) Welcomes Mangan.ph, Philippines Leading Restaurant Delivery Service, to its Ever Expanding Next Generation Digital Ecosystem

Society Pass Incorporated

SoPa acquires Mangan.ph (“Mangan”), the leading local restaurant delivery service in Philippines Mangan.ph represents SoPa’s second acquisition in Philippines and its third overall F&B acquisition as SoPa continues to expand its digital ecosystem throughout Southeast Asia (“SEA”) SoPa creates a one stop food delivery solution in Philippines with both its grocery delivery service, Pushkart, and restaurant delivery service, Mangan Since its launch in December 2017, Mangan has onboarded over 500,000 registered consumers, over 80,000 social media followers, and over 1,200 registered restaurants as well as generating over 100,000 mobile app downloads onto its platform. Leveraging its +200 rider/driver network, Mangan completes over 800 food deliveries per day With this acquisition, SoPa has now amassed over 2.1 million registered consumers and over 6,700 registered merchants/brands onto its ecosystem Singapore, 20 July 2022 – Society Pass Incorporated (“SoPa” or “Society Pass”) (NASDAQ: SOPA), Southeast Asia’s leading data-driven loyalty platform, today announces the acquisition of Mangan.ph (“Mangan”), the leading local restaurant delivery service in Philippines. Founded in 2017, Mangan delivers restaurant food from over 1,200 partner restaurants through its over 200 rider network to its over 500,000 registered users. Thus far, Mangan has generated more than 100,000 mobile app downloads and accumulated over 80,000 social media followers. Operating in Pampanga, the culinary capital of Philippines, Mangan’s geographic reach extends to 16 other cities including Angeles City, San Fernando, Clark, Dau, Mabalacat, Guagua, Lubao, Tarlac, Bataan, Magalang, Pasig, Cabanatuan, Baguio, Lipa Batangas, Antipolo City, Dagupan City. The newly acquired business will be integrated into SoPa’s F&B vertical, Push Delivery Pte Ltd, along with Pushkart and #HOTTAB. ​​ Despite the recent re-opening of the economy and the easing of multiple restrictions, online home food ordering remains the new normal in Philippines, similar to trends in other parts of the world. The convenience of ordering-in coupled with the work-from-home set-up and continued preference to avoid crowds encourage patrons to order as often as they did during the past two years. Society Pass Philippines Country Manager, Arbie Pagdangan explains, “We enthusiastically welcome Mangan into SoPa’s growing loyalty and data ecosystem. We combine the robust technology and operational efficiency of Mangan with our own brand building expertise. Combined with Pushkart, which delivers grocery food to consumers in Metro Manila, and Mangan’s operating focus in the provinces, SoPa is creating a food delivery behemoth to serve the 115 million people of Philippines. SoPa aims to double the number of registered users to over 800,000 and drive app downloads to over 200,000 by the end of 2023. We look forward to building out our next generation loyalty platform as well as opportunistically acquire market leading companies in F&B, lifestyle, digital advertising and travel verticals in Philippines for the rest of 2022.” Ralph Rile, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mangan asserts, “When we started Mangan five years ago, our vision was to deliver delicious dishes from Pampanga's wide array of cafes and restaurants right to our customer’s doorsteps in a hassle-free way. We have witnessed tremendous success in our initial goals, and now, aim to expand Mangan beyond Luzon Island to other regions in Philippines. This is why joining forces with SoPa is our logical next step, and we are excited about the combined capabilities we will now bring to Mangan’s partners and customers.” Louie Alcantara Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Mangan expounds, “In a short span of time, with our easy-to-use technology interface, Mangan has established a reputation of being the top online local food delivery service, achieving over US$2 million in gross merchandise value yearly. Leveraging SoPa’s marketing platform and capital, we aim to increase GMV multiple fold by the end of 2022.” About Society Pass As a loyalty and data marketing ecosystem in Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines, and Thailand and with offices located in Singapore, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Manila, Angeles and Bangkok, SoPa is an acquisition-focused e-commerce holding company operating 7 interconnected verticals (loyalty, merchant software, lifestyle, F&B, telecoms, digital media, and travel), which seamlessly connects millions of consumers and thousands of merchants across multiple product and service categories throughout SEA. SoPa’s business model focuses on analysing user data through its Society Pass loyalty platform and circulation of its universal loyalty points or Society Points. The Society Pass loyalty platform drives customer acquisition and retention for merchants. Since its inception, SoPa has amassed over 2.1 million registered consumers and over 6,700 registered merchants/brands on its platform. It has invested 2+ years building proprietary IT architecture with cutting edge components to effectively scale and support its consumers, merchants, and acquisitions. Society Pass leverages technology to tailor a more personalised experience for customers in the purchase journey and to transform the entire retail value chain in Southeast Asia. SoPa operates #HOTTAB Biz and #HOTTAB POS – a Vietnam-based POS, CRM and analytics technology solutions provider for small and medium-sized enterprises, Leflair.com, Vietnam’s leading lifestyle e-commerce platform, Pushkart.ph, a popular grocery delivery company in Philippines, Handycart.vn, a leading online restaurant delivery service based in Vietnam, Gorilla Networks, a Singapore-based, web3-enabled mobile blockchain network operator, and Thoughtful Media Group, a Bangkok-based, a social commerce-focused, premium digital video multi-platform network. For more information, please check out: http://thesocietypass.com/. Media Contacts: PRecious Communications sopa@preciouscomms.com As a loyalty and data marketing ecosystem, Society Pass operates multiple e-commerce platforms across its key markets in SEA. Its business model focuses on analysing user data through the expected launch of its Society Pass loyalty platform and circulation of its universal loyalty points, which seamlessly connects consumers and merchants across multiple product and service categories to foster organic loyalty. Since its inception, SoPa has amassed over 1.6 million registered consumers and over 5,500 registered merchants/brands on its platform. It has invested 2+ years building proprietary IT architecture with cutting edge components to effectively scale and support its consumers, merchants, and acquisitions.Society Pass provides merchants with #HOTTAB Biz and #HOTTAB POS – a specialized POS technology solution, a comprehensive system for payment, loyal customer management, user profile analytics, and convenient financial support packages for small and medium-sized enterprises.In addition, SoPa operates Leflair.com, Vietnam’s leading lifestyle e-commerce platform, Pushkart.ph, a popular grocery delivery company in Philippines, Handycart.vn, a leading online restaurant delivery service based in Hanoi, Vietnam, and Gorilla Networks, a Singapore-based, blockchain/web3-enabled mobile virtual network operator.For more information, please check out: http://thesocietypass.com/. Contact Details PRecious Communications PRecious Communications sopa@preciouscomms.com Company Website https://thesocietypass.com

July 20, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Telland Releases First of Its Kind Farmland NFTs on Telos Blockchain

Telos Foundation

The mint is currently underway on Telos EVM providing users with a unique opportunity to own collectable artistic NFTs representing access to yields from 100 square meters of physical land within the Proyecto Ecológico Nuestro Paraíso in the Northwestern region of Piura, Peru, South America. However, the use-case of Telland NFTs goes far beyond simple ownership. These land plots will contribute to the growth of local farmers' sustainable organic produce and a more robust economy in the region. Perpetual Rewards for Holders Users that mint one or more Telland NFTs will receive annual rewards in perpetuity, financially backed by the revenue generated from the South American farmland. Currently there are only 100 NFT parcels of land priced at $150 USD in TLOS tokens each available to mint. The rewards payment breakdown is as follows: Year 1 of ownership - Holder receives minimum guarantee of $30 (20% APR on NFT mint price) Year 2 of ownership - Holder receives a minimum guarantee of $50 (33% APR on NFT mint price) Year 3 of ownership - Holder receives a minimum guarantee of $75 (50% APR on NFT mint price). This minimum continues perpetually from year 3 onwards. The collection debuts at an ideal moment as accumulating land ownership is more challenging for millennials today than at any other time in our history. Furthermore, Telland NFTs offers holders a chance to generate passive revenue from a real-world asset that benefits the environment while omitting painstaking bureaucratic processes and paperwork. Telland is also a participant in the Telos Mission NFT contest, which offers NFT creators a chance to win substantial prize money and acclaim in the NFT community. The contest has over 60 submissions to date and Telland's participation provides yet another opportunity for value increase in the event Telland is announced a winner. Public voting begins on July 23, 2002, on the TaiKai Network. "We chose Telos primarily for two factors: the community and the technology. The vision of the founders of Telos was to create a community around the ideas of service to society and care for the environment. Telland wants to do just that by converting arid lands into farmlands that produce fruits with a high nutritional content that help the well-being of humanity. In terms of technology, the ease of creating and deploying smart contracts in the Telos EVM, the incredible speed and low cost of transactions was such that the decision to build on their network was simple." -Paul Gonzales, Telland Co-founder "Telland is an amazing example of real-world application of NFTs and a glimpse at the future of tokenised land and real estate. At $150 an NFT, these prove to be a very interesting way to gain exposure to the value of real estate. The idea of being able to buy and trade land rights with such ease is magical to anyone who has had the pleasure of making a traditional real estate purchase where the process is incredibly slow (taking 2-4 weeks) and requiring middle men and costly fees" -Justin Giudici, Telos Foundation CEO About Telos Live since 2018, Telos Blockchain (ticker: TLOS) is an ESG compliant Layer 1 smart contract platform that offers full-service compatibility with Solidity, Vyper and Native C++ smart contracts. The Telos EVM is the most powerful and scalable Ethereum Smart Contract platform built to power Web 3.0. Telos features a robust, third-generation, ESG compliant evolutionary blockchain governance system, including smart contracts, advanced voting features, and flexible and user-friendly fee models. In addition, Telos supports the blockchain ecosystem by serving as an incubator and accelerator for decentralized applications through development grants. Come build with us. About The Foundation The Telos Foundation is a Decentralized Autonomous Organization established as a promotional and funding body to advance the Telos Blockchain Network and provide support to network applications. Contact Details The Team hello@telosfoundation.io Company Website https://www.telos.net/

July 19, 2022 10:06 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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