Prepaidify has adopted blockchain technology in their digital gift cards bringing together retail industries and cryptocurrency.
Anyone must have wondered at some point in their lives what role digital gift cards play within cryptocurrency. The crypto topic remains mind-boggling to most people while some companies are welcoming its concept.
The gift card industry being one of them continues to embrace crypto as more programs and wallets that accept gift cards are being created. Prepaidify makes ownership of crypto gift cards possible.
Most people are clueless about this matter. However, this article is going to demystify how digital gift cards are becoming involved in cryptocurrency. Read along and be informed!
So, what is cryptocurrency?
Currency is the monetary system used in a particular country. Cryptocurrency, therefore, is a medium of exchange in virtual or digital form. It is decentralized as opposed to the centralized banking system. It uses blockchain technology to verify and secure transactions.
Cryptocurrencies are emerging and growing every day and according to Forbes, there are 2,530 cryptocurrencies with a $123 billion value. The most popular crypto is Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin.
How do digital gift cards come into play?
Applications are starting to make capital of the interchangeability of crypto and digital gift cards. They interact in the following ways:
As Bitcoin gift card
This allows customers to offer Bitcoin gifts to people without fear of risk. It makes it easy for the average consumer to access it, making buying Bitcoin painless.
Payment option
Some programs like Swych, Gyft, and eGifter offer crypto as a payment option during the purchasing point. When checking out you will see this option among the payment methods like PayPal and card type.
Crypto wallets and apps
Various applications allow the cryptocurrency to be spent in online stores. Buyers can pay for products using crypto gift cards.
Advantages
New consumers: Using crypto as a way of buying digital gift cards makes it accessible to new audiences or consumers.
Multiple currencies with zero interchange fees: Using crypto to buy digital gift cards make it accessible to a worldwide audience with different currencies. This also means no interchange fees.
Safer transaction: Most payment options like credit cards have reversible transactions while cryptocurrencies are irreversible. Upon confirmation of the transaction in the network, the transaction cannot be attacked or rolled back. This makes purchasing gift cards online safer.
Disadvantages
Stage of growth: Crypto is in the early stages of development. No data exists as to how much crypto is being used for digital gift cards or cashed out. Some applications are recording constant cashouts which may not be much as compared to digital gift card programs.
Fraud: Cyber security is on the rise in the digital age as cybercriminals steal crypto. Trust is bestowed on the security strength of your crypto of choice.
Conclusion
In summary, cryptocurrency is a new and somewhat hard topic to comprehend. There is so much to learn about it as it pops up in the gift cards arena. Gift cards like Prepaidify may help crypto holders to purchase in online retail stores around the globe in multiple currencies.
The European Union is proposing a ban on Russian coal in its fifth round of sanctions against the country.
Russia was the world’s third-largest exporter of coal in 2020, according to the IAEA.
The EU is also considering restrictions against its oil imports, but the trade bloc notably left natural gas out of the conversation. Europe has been moving away from coal to the cleaner natural gas for electricity generation.
The announcement came amid reports of Russian atrocities in Ukraine, accusing Russian forces of killing 300 civilians in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha over the weekend, which Ukraine says was a result of a military clash with the country’s troops and civilians.
EU’s new Russia sanctions to likely include steel, luxury goods, jet fuel and more, sources say
However, the bloc remains divided over whether to extend those sanctions to energy imports.
Stress is part of our life, and each of us has a way on how to handle it. However, long battles of stress can begin to compound various health problems, which is why it is better to find healthy alternatives to reduce stress before it becomes harmful.
There are three proven ways to reduce stress: Meditation, Yoga, & Counseling.
The first is meditation, which has been used for centuries as a way of relaxing the body while also calming your mind. When you are feeling overwhelmed by your emotions, it’s hard to make healthy decisions when you are feelingstressed out. To lower anxiety levels by keeping blood flowing properly through one’s system- think of all good things…or even just doing some exercise!
Counselors can help those who suffer from high emotional tensions deal with issues, such as anger management or other mental health conditions discussions.
Let us Stress the Definition of “STRESS”
What does stress out mean? As you adjust to a continually changing environment, stress is the wear and tear on your body that leads to physical effects such as headaches and upset stomachs.
Emotional responses can also occur from too much pressure, which may result in feelings of anger resulting in health problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
The interesting thing about stress is that it can have a positive or negative effect. And it depends on how you react to the situation.
If major events happen in life, such as losing someone close, getting engaged/ married, etc., then these will cause much more excitement than sadness which helps propel us forward into taking action.
Strategy #1: Meditation
Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years, and its original purpose was to help people understand the forces that govern their lives more deeply.
These days, we use this quiet time as an opportunity not only to relax from daily stresses but also to tap into our inner wisdom so we can make better decisions about what matters most in life.
Meditation may be a great way for you to relax and relieve stress.
It has been shown in studies of people with cardiovascular disease, like cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy treatments, that meditating regularly can help reduce their anxiety levels while also improving sleep patterns.
Meditation has been used as an effective way of calming the mind. It also increases physical and emotional well-being. This process enhances the quality of life for those who practice it regularly.
Different Types of Meditation
Meditation is a very popular way to achieve inner peace. There are many types of meditation and relaxation techniques that can be used for various purposes, like stress relief. But they all share the same goal: achieving tranquility within yourself by any means necessary.
Ways to meditate can include:
● Guided meditation- Guided imagery or visualization is a type of meditation in which you form mental images and try to use all senses. You could be led through this process by your guide, teacher, or even self-talkers that encourage positive thinking.
● Mantra meditation. When you meditate in this way, your thoughts are prevented from distracting by repeating a calming word or phrase.
● Mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness meditation is an ancient technique that was used to help people transition into a mindful state of mind.
This type of practice helps you become more accepting and aware of the present moment by focusing on your breathing or other sensations, such as pain if desired). You can observe those thoughts & emotions without judgment.
● Qi gong. Qi gong is an ancient Chinese healing art that helps you to restore and maintain your balance. The practice generally combines meditation relaxation exercises for the body, including movement with breathing techniques.
● Tai chi. Tai chi is a form of slow, flowing martial arts that can be calming to practice. The movements are gentle and forgiving while also teaching deep breathing techniques which help you remain calm in stressful situations.
● Transcendental Meditation. The Transcendental Meditation technique is a simple, natural way to achieve inner peace. In this practice, you repeat the word or sound of your choosing in an easy-to-follow manner, which may lead not only towards relaxation but also higher levels of understanding.
Yoga and meditation train your body-mind for better coping with the everyday hustle, so you have an easier time managing life’s challenges while improving overall health.
Yoga is not just a great way to relieve stress but also has powerful effects on your physical and mental health.
The main concept in yoga which helps you get rid of accumulated surplus energy called “stress,” can be relieved by being mindful while doing poses, such as downward dogs or prancing posse movements across the mat throughout practice sessions.
The practice of mindfulness allows one to focus less on their inner thoughts and more on the present moment. It can lead you into a state where your self-judgemental feelings are reduced significantly.
Yoga is a system designed to help you establish balance in your life. The practice affects the physical and mental planes, thus improving overall well-being by correcting imbalances that may exist within each domain individually and across these two aspects simultaneously.
Yoga is an excellent form of exercise that can improve your balance, flexibility, and focus. It helps you become more aware of how much tension there might be in certain parts so that it can hopefully help release some by practicing yoga.
Yoga not only trains your body but also trains the mind to handle stress. With regular yoga practice, you will find less chronic daytime stress hormone levels and higher heart rate variability in those who do therapeutic exercises often.
Strategy #3: Counselling
The effects of stress on the body are devastating. It can lead to addiction, chronic illness or pain, and lack of pleasure – all of which affect our well-being negatively when left untreated.
You don’t need to suffer in silence. There are many ways for professionals, including health care providers and mental coaches who will be able to work with you to treat your stress symptoms – without any long-term effects or consequences.
Therapy is an effective way to address the stress from life events such as divorce or a life-altering medical issue.
When it comes time for you and your loved ones to deal with these concerns, therapy can offer invaluable assistance by helping people explore their options to find solutions they may not have thought about otherwise. All while reducing overall levels of tension within any given relationship.
Take The Edge Off
With the demands of modern life, many people are struggling with their mental health. The good news? There is a way for you to manage your symptoms and live an active lifestyle.
Being stressed out is one way of proving that we are humans, and it is one way for us to learn essential life lessons. These three strategies are one of the most effective ways to reduce stress and help you calm your mind.
However, most people experiencing stress are busy individuals who do not have the time to do these time-consuming things. Don’t fret because, with a vagus nerve stimulation device, you can alleviate stress, boost sleep, and improve focus. Making your daily life productive and healthy.
When Mark Zuckerberg announced in October 2021 that Facebook was rebranding all its apps and technologies under the new name Meta, it brought heightened interest to a concept even those in the digital world struggle to explain – the metaverse.
The term “metaverse” isn’t that new. First coined in the 1992 science fiction novelSnow Crash by Neal Stephenson, it was used to describe a 3D virtual space where avatars and software agents interact. Today, the metaverse is being touted as the future of the internet, loosely coined Web 3.0, with the intent of transforming education, industries, and financial institutions. But defining it in a way we mere mortals can understand, is proving tricky.
In February 2022, Alex Kipman, Vice President of Artificial Intelligence and Mixed Reality at Microsoft and the man behind the company’s Hololens, spoke at the “Future Talks” series at Dubai’s Museum of the Future.
“It [the metaverse] is the idea of correspondence between the real and virtual world. It’s the idea of technology existing in the real world. It’s a bridge between the virtual and the real world. This is done through the language of people, places, and things. It can displace space and time,” Kipman told the audience at his “Mixed Realities and Metaverse” talk. He added that the concept is no longer that of science fiction but instead “science fact.”
Today, digital giants like Meta and Microsoft are ploughing funds into developing this next version of the internet. In January 2022, Microsoft announced it was buying video game maker Activision Blizzard for $75 billion USD, in a move the company said would help to “power its move into the metaverse.”
TEDx LytteltonWomen 2020 was the world’s first TEDx hosted in the metaverse by meeting and events platform Virtuworx. (http://www.virtuworx.io)
In a recent interview with Richard Waters of the Financial Times, Satya Nadella, executive chairman and CEO of Microsoft, explained, “Metaverse is essentially about creating games. It’s about being able to put people, places, things [in] a physics engine and then having all the people, places, things in the physics engine relate to each other. You and I will be sitting at a conference room table soon with either our avatars or our holograms or even 2D surfaces with surround audio. Guess what? The place where we have been doing that forever… is gaming.”
So is the metaverse really defining a new standard for social inclusion at a digital scale?
As the general population becomes more aware of the metaverse and its place in the future, the question regarding inclusivity begins to pop up. While many might think this refers to representation (gender, race, disabilities, etc) within the digital world, there’s another definition this must also encompass – inclusivity of users and their ability to access the technology. Not everyone will have a VR headset, or the computing power necessary to access these new digital worlds.
This begs the question: how do creators ensure the metaverse is truly open to the masses?
Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, has been a vocal proponent of the metaverse and its need to be accessible across different platforms. In November 2021 he told CNN Business about the future he envisions for the metaverse.
“I think it will take a decade or more to really get to the endpoint, but I think that is happening. And it will be a better online experience than we’re having today. It will succeed because it’s better. The metaverse doesn’t require fancy new hardware. It doesn’t require all that reality hardware or [virtual reality] or things that haven’t been invented yet. You can get online and start experiencing this right now.”
Examples of this “get online and experience it now” can already be seen. From Epic’s Fortnite hosting a Travis Scott concert in 2020 with over 12 million players attending, to the virtual Australian Pavilion at EXPO 2020 Dubai leading countries by attracting an astounding 30 million online attendees from around the globe (on top of the over 1 million in-person attendees hosted at the physical pavilion), virtual experiences, conferences, and events are increasingly becoming more than a futuristic dream.
Experiences are exactly what creators are looking to enhance in the future. Digital technologies and the companies powering them are in high demand. But the key to success in this evolving market will be tapping into this idea of an open metaverse, where everyone, from everywhere, has access. Virtuworx is one metaverse platform rethinking radical inclusion within its platform.
Powered by UK-based The Virtulab, Virtuworx was originally created as an in-house training solution to facilitate remote training of oil and gas engineers. During the pandemic, the company, which is part of the CG Tech Group, saw an opportunity to share the technology they were harnessing with the broader public. Today, Virtuworx has hosted a variety of virtual events and campuses for the likes of TEDx Lytellton, Womanomics, and Idna Africa and even hosted the president of South Africa during an immersive event.
“The hybrid working model is something we are definitely going to see as standard in the future,” says CG Tech Chairman Niall Carroll. “Therefore, it’s important to give people options and ways to meaningfully connect and collaborate.”
With an understanding that technology is key to productivity in the future, Virtuworx has developed two models of connection to help users access a more personalized experience. Immerse provides a 3D virtual reality experience that requires a PC and a download file. Here, your digital avatar moves around a virtual world, much like it would in real life. Whereas, Connect is a version of the same platform that offers on-the-go access for those with a phone.
“We’ve even integrated ZOOM and Microsoft Teams into the Virtuworx platform to help users further enhance their remote encounters,” explains David Cummins, Executive Director of The Virtulab.
Inclusivity was key for Virtuworx designers, understanding the importance of providing an experience that translates for those in-person, on-the-go, and those who want the full VR environment.
“We understand the importance of people being seen and heard,” explains Jason English, Chief Ecosystem Officer at CG Tech. “With Virtuworx we wanted to make sure teams and even those outside their ecosystem were able to share in a common experience. Whether it’s a business meeting, conference, or live event, you want people to feel included and to enjoy the experience, as if they were physically present.”
As the race to own the metaverse heats up, inclusivity looks set to be the driving force in implementing widespread adoption. With cross-platform connectivity and a mix of experiences setting the standard for big tech companies set to dominate the sector in the future.
HONG KONG, April 2022- Artists Jieying Li and Guillermo Fajardo are set to launch their iconic South American deity figures as NFT collectibles – “Wacky Gods” – powered by CrossVerse, which is an innovative platform by Cross Studio Asia. Li & Fajardo aim to infuse the meme-driven NFT space with a collection that is at once culturally significant, artistically masterful, and socially resonant.
The Wacky Gods are NFT versions of the figures Li & Fajardo originally crafted from South American festival day deities, updated with a sense of cultural fusion reflective of the artists’ backgrounds. Unlike a traditional god who judges us from the sky, the Wacky Gods have returned to earth to help us celebrate modern life and are just as quirky and up-to-date as the digital generation. They are also endowed with unique designs and personalities deeply significant to Li and Fajardo, making the Wacky Gods truly artistic collectibles and unlike other meme-driver NFT projects in the market.
“We selected our favorite creations, and gave them personalities resonant with the festival day functions of our earlier series,” says Fajardo. “Lil’ Shiva, for example, has returned to earth as a raver, dedicated to urban music, dancing, and partying.”
“The Wacky Gods are here not just to celebrate life as we know it, but also empower us to change the world for the better. Dragon the Eco-King is the God of Yogis. He’s a vegan who protests against polluting corporations, and his style is a blend of classic Chinese dragon design with pre-Columbian color schemes.” says Li. After meeting Fajardo in university, Li teamed with him to create their studio Jumping Lomo, holding their first exhibition in 2013. “The studio name itself speaks to a classic Peruvian-Chinese fusion dish. That fusion carries over to the studio’s work, and the Wacky Gods,“ says Li.
The Wacky Gods are not only artistically but culturally unique, revisiting earth to help believers celebrate their own diversity, embrace the quirkiness of 21st century culture, and change the world for the better. To preserve that uniqueness and rarity, Cross Studio founder Ken Wong and his team decides to empower a “Wacky Tribe”. Collectors, or “Wackies”, will have access to mystery boxes during sale, revealing NFTs of differing rarity.
After the sale ends and the characters in the boxes are revealed, holders will be assigned special roles in their Wacky Tribes, getting special access to games, competitions, online events, talks with the artists, and more. “We want to emphasize the unique cultural significance of this NFT Collection,” says Wong, “and will leverage all our Cross Studio resources, as well as our world-class tech proficiency.”
About Jumping Lomo
Jumping Lomo is Jieying Li (Guangzhou, China) and Guillermo Fajardo (Lima, Peru), two artists who decided to officially join forces in 2013 as a design and art studio.
The duo started to work together back in 2010, when they designed and developed their first characters as rag dolls for their screen-printing class in the Faculty of Arts at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú.
Their first solo show was presented 3 years later, called “Los Patroncitos”, at Galería Indigo, with art-toy-influenced sculptures and paintings inspired by several Patron Saint Festivals around Peru. Since then, Jieying and Guillermo have been expanding the imagination of their universe by getting inspiration from their own contrasting heritages and pop culture across the world. Jumping Lomo has participated in different fairs and art collectives such as ArtLima, CasaCor, Beijing Toy Show, Expo-Deco, and Casa Perú, among others. They have also collaborated with different brands such as Absolut Vodka, Monskey Maniacs, and Great Twins.
In 2019, the duo presented their latest solo show “The Awakening of Wiracocha” at Galeria Indigo, where the pluricultural heritage of Peru continues to be used as a tool for preservation and evolution, which transmits and connects different generations with art, crafts, symbology, and ancestral worldview.
Cross Studio Asia is leveraging its artistic and design strengths by building Crossverse, a unique NFT platform that will empower artists and brands to easily launch and sell their NFTs, and their fans to purchase and resell them. CrossVerse will specialize in helping fashion & lifestyle brands to seamlessly extend their intellectual property into the burgeoning Metaverse.
Cross Studio is a platform to bring new artists from the West to Asia through all forms of art products and exhibitions since 2016. It is committed to introducing art into China via more diverse forms, and we work with a number of artists to bring new cutting-edge art through forms of exhibition and limited product collaboration so that more people can learn and appreciate their artwork.
Cross Studio also devotes to designing, developing, and producing high quality and highly detailed collectibles and special limited-edition products with the artists.
Data, the omnipresent and omnipotent commodity in today’s world, has infinite value if one knows how to harness its power. With every person creating 1.7 MB of data per second, collectively, we produce over 2.5 quintillion data bytes every day. Everything we do, from browsing social media and visiting websites to viewing ads and making a purchase online, we create quintillions of data bytes every day. This data reflects who we are, how we think, and how we behave as individuals.
Businesses, both big and small, have realized the potential of such data and are trying to leverage this resource to gain insights into the preferences of their target customers. In addition, knowledge of this data helps create a competitive advantage. Here is where web analytics plays a significant role.
Four reasons why web analytics is essential for your business
In modern digital marketing, web and social media analytics is a proficient and valuable tool for businesses to leverage data and use it to create a customized product strategy and marketing plan that captures the interest of the target audience. These analytics provide a wealth of data for businesses to succeed online. Let’s take a look at some benefits of web and social media analytics:
Get a sneak-peek into the minds of customers:
Web and social media analytics offer unique insights into the minds of your customers and allow you to understand what makes them tick. You can use these insights to identify potential business opportunities and build new products (or services) to stand out among competitors.
Drive strategy:
Insights from web analytics can help businesses drive both marketing and pricing strategy by creating a marketing message and product offering tailored to the needs of your target customers. This way, you can build a loyal customer base that will advocate for your company, creating brand awareness and a strong brand image.
Improve user experience:
Web and social media analytics allow you to understand the experience users have while interacting with your website and brand online. These insights are critical to ensuring that the customers are satisfied with your online presence and tweak the aspects that are causing them dissatisfaction.
Optimize costs and maximize revenue:
Web analytics lets you know which aspects of your strategy work and which parts you need to tweak (or get rid of). This includes your product offerings and marketing campaigns. You can stop investing resources in the aspects that are not working out and instead focus on those that meet customer expectations.
The ease of accessing data is transforming businesses, industries, and economies. Armed with the right technology and tools, such as web analytics, organizations can ensure positive outcomes in the form of improved productivity and efficiency, better decision-making, and increased revenue.
Key takeaways
Be sure to choose a web analytics platform that complements your business and does not require the technical implementation or tools that you lack. Study the market and figure out what your competitors are using. Define the key performance indicators and metrics that you want to track to improve your business, identify your target audience, and increase profits. Before finalizing a platform, take the time to understand what parameters best fit your business requirements.
You can also hire experts who offer tailor-made web analytics solutions for your business without having to invest in resources, experience, and in-house expertise. With services such as web and social reporting, automated web analytics solutions, and predictive analysis solutions, you can optimize digital assets to serve consumers better and improve customer satisfaction while optimizing costs.
Web analytics solutions have become an integral part of business as we transition towards a more digital business ecosystem. But the bigger question is whether you’re prepared to harness the power of the web through analytics.
Out of 195 countries all over the world, it’s understandable why you may be finding it hard to choose a country to move into. This is most especially if you plan on staying there permanently or just for a long time.
Your new country will be your home, the location of your work and/or business, and that is also where you will find new friends. Easy to say, the country that you will choose will play a big part in how your life will turn out.
That said, it’s just right that you put a lot of thought into choosing where you will migrate. To help you with this, we have provided some pointers that you can go through in the following sections.
1. Take the Language and Cultural Barrier into Account
If you want a country that you can easily settle into once you land, then one of the first things that you should look at is the possible language and cultural barrier between you and the country.
As a rule of thumb, if you already know how to communicate in English, you can already live in more than 50 countries, hence your best option. If you want to start learning, then you might as well start with the said universal language.
You should also consider the existing culture of a certain country if you find it particularly hard to adjust to extreme changes. Each country has its own, so when choosing, you can consider those with similar beliefs as your own home country.
2. Consider Ease of Acquiring Citizenships
If you plan on acquiring citizenship from the country you’ll move to in the future, then you should also take their requirements into account. See if the whole process will come off significantly easier than others, and decide from there.
For recommendations, Canada, Peru, and Argentina are some of the countries that top the ranks when it comes to citizenship generosity.
Apart from checking citizenship requirements, make sure to also check the availability and ease of applying for a visa. This is most especially if you will be getting a rather complex type, such as a visa for family members, sponsors, and likes.
3. Figure Out Which Country Will Serve Best for Your Future Plans
Each country has its own field that it excels in. Some take pride in their workforce, others prioritize their business centers, and some focus on their people’s benefits and wellbeing.
That said, it’s just right that you figure out your plans and decide on a country that has the best offers according to your needs. You can easily know which one it is with just a few taps on your keyboard. Don’t forget to specify the search for immigrant-specialized benefits, so you can land accurate results. Talking to locals and fellow immigrants in a certain country will also help you have a more precise answer to your questions. Seeking help with immigration will help you too as professionals can give you better advice in terms of moving from your comfort zone to another country.
4. Take How the Country Treats Immigrants Into Account
No matter how good a country is, it won’t be a good choice if it doesn’t treat immigrants well. This applies to all aspects, specifically their people, amendments, and overall treatment. You have to make sure that you won’t have to face issues like discrimination, loss of opportunities, peace-deprived life, and likes.
Another thing, you should check if a country has specific laws that protect expats like you from the issues we talked about previously. This is where a lawyer or any legal professional will come in handy.
5. Make a Checklist of All Your Needs and Preferences
Since figuring out if a country will be able to cater to both your needs and wants, consider making a checklist consisting of all the things and qualities that you’re looking for in a country. You can do this way before you screen every country that you’re looking into, so you can have a clear view of which one passes your standards and which ones don’t.
Summary
To sum it up, you need to have a clear view of your wants and needs before finalizing the country that you want to move to. You should also take the suggestions of the people that you will be moving with into account.
Note, though, that your responsibility doesn’t stop by just choosing one country. You still have to process your travel documents, such as your passport, visa, entry requirements, and likes, in your local immigration office. Make sure to work with a professional immigration lawyer throughout the process, so you can ensure that you won’t be able to skip a step in your migration needs.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said in an address on Thursday that people in Afghanistan are “selling their children and their body parts” to provide for their families amid the country’s near economic collapse.
“Without immediate action, we face a starvation and malnutrition crisis in Afghanistan,” he said in remarks delivered in New York.
The need for humanitarian aid has tripled since June — just before the takeover — and is increasing “day by day and month by month,’ he said.
The United Nations warned in September that millions of Afghans were at risk of starvation after Kabul was overtaken by the Taliban in August, the United Nations had warned that 97 percent of people in the country could be living below the poverty line by mid-2022.
Earlier this month, Taliban leaders in Afghanistan closed secondary schools to girls, alleging that they would reopen when there is a plan in place that is compliant with Islamic law.
Afghan people selling children, body parts amid economic crisis
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in an address on Thursday that people in Afghanistan are selling their children and their body parts to provide for their families amid the
So you’ve been smart, setting aside money for savings and investments over the years. But when the stock market hits the roller coaster, you may be among the many looking for somewhere to put some money that isn’t so reliant on the whims of Wall Street and conflicts half a world away.
That’s where alternative investments come in. We’re taking a closer look at these less common places to put your money and how they can help diversify your assets.
What is an Alternative Investment?
There’s no “official” definition of an alternative investment. It’s generally used to refer to any sort of investable asset beyond the traditional stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and other common financial products.
Alternative investments may be physical objects you can touch and see or exist only on paper or in cyberspace. Their primary goal is to offer diversification to a well-rounded portfolio – in other words, assets that don’t necessarily lose value as the stock and bond market goes down or gain value as it goes up.
Why Should I Diversify?
You know the old saying about not putting all your eggs in one basket? That’s especially true when it comes to your investments.
The best performing portfolios over the long run contain a diverse mix of assets, from stocks and mutual funds to bonds, CDs, annuities, and of course, alternative investments. That way, you should be assured some protection even if certain assets don’t grow as you expect. Smart diversification is the key to safeguarding your portfolio from things outside your control – a financial crisis, a war, a real estate crash, and more situations than you can imagine.
6 Best Alternative Investments To Diversify Your Assets
Now that you understand what alternative investments are and why they’re so valuable, you may ask which are the best choices. As always, your personal financial situation will dictate a great deal about your best investment choices. But these six options are among the best choices for investors.
Real Estate
Real estate is a physical asset and, in most cases, has value whether or not you plan on selling it at a given moment. Real estate can produce income and serve as a hedge against inflation, especially when financed with a mortgage. It’s one of the most common alternative investments because almost everyone understands it in some capacity.
Your home may count as a real estate investment in some cases; you may operate real estate as a rental property, lease it for agricultural use, or any other number of things. Real estate’s ability to be tailored to your needs is one of the reasons it’s such a popular choice.
Cryptocurrency
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, you’ve likely heard something about cryptocurrency, or ‘crypto.’ The biggest and most widespread of these is Bitcoin, though in the decade or so since it was introduced, literally dozens of others have sprung up. The most well-known competitors include Ethereum and Litecoin, among many more.
Cryptocurrencies use technologies like the blockchain and smart contracts to offer a decentralized financial network, theoretically separate from any ‘normal’ currency. While many approach cryptocurrency as pure speculation, it can also serve as a hedge on U.S. dollars or other currency as well as a forward-looking investment.
Commodities
This can refer to a broad group of alternative investments, from the physical to the purely financial. Commodities investors can invest in options or contracts involving the price of everything from wheat to oil or buy physical commodities like gold or other precious metals to store themselves.
Certain commodities, particularly gold and oil, have historical relationships to other investments or stores of value like the stock market or the U.S. dollar. Investing in commodities can offer the opportunity for speculative gains, income, and a hedge of value – sometimes all at once!
Art and Collectibles
Everyone knows art can be valuable. Still, few consider its potential as one of the best alternative investments. Pieces of art have sold for nearly half a billion dollars, while anyone who’s ever been to an antique or other collectible store knows how valuable certain items can be, from vintage clothes to comic books.
The best part of investing in collectibles is that many of us already have some knowledge about some field of interest that can help us get started finding the perfect investment item. Concerned about the price of investable artworks? There are now numerous funds or other investment vehicles designed to help you own a piece of work without paying the entire cost or taking physical possession.
Private Equity/Venture Capital
For high net-worth individuals, investing can become a challenge as they seek to make the most of their money. One method that has exploded in popularity in recent decades is private equity and venture capital. Either on their own or with the help of a firm, private equity allows investors to fund typically the early stages of a promising company in the hopes that they’ll be richly rewarded when the company or product makes it big.
This isn’t an option for every investor, not only because of the high amount of capital and connections required but also the risk tolerance. While you might make it big, you might also lose it all, and therefore private equity and venture capital should be avoided by all but sophisticated, high net-worth investors.
Hedge Funds
Everything said above about private equity goes for hedge funds, as well. You’ll need a hefty amount of capital and likely some connections to get involved with a hedge fund. On the one hand, hedge funds can offer innovative investment strategies from the industry’s top minds, offering incredible returns.
On the other hand, they can be high risk with a chance of losses, as well as come with high fees that can eat into your gains. Consider this option carefully if presented with it, but exercise caution.
Dive Into Alternative Investments
Whether you’re looking for a way to explosively grow your wealth or safeguard the assets you already have, alternative investments are a key part of any diversified portfolio. Keep these options in mind, and you may find your investment goals closer than ever!
An order of protection against you is a legal court’s method of limiting your ways of living and talking. When one is taken out on you, you are bound to act specifically around the person who took out the order. The specific order may restrict the victim from portrayals of violence, even in passion around the person who took out the order or other people they are surrounded and connected by. This court order is often bound by a specific date, although it can also be expunged. Only after the order is no longer valid can the person affected by it act and talk freely while keeping in line with the existing laws.
Explanation of the Order
An order of protection may vary from person to person, depending on the circumstances of each case. Although the overall purpose of an order is to protect a person who faces harassment, violent behavior, domestic violence, and abuse, it also covers the cases wherein a person is stalked or threatened by someone. The purpose of this court-declared order is to prevent the protected person from being subjected to any harassment or abuse while the order stands. During this time, the order also guarantees that the victim does not have to deal with the target. Even if circumstances occur where the two will have to meet, the order ensures that the interaction is safe and peaceful.
The Consequences of the Order
While the order stands, it protects not only the person who took out the order but also the people surrounded by said person. This ensures that the safety of the protected one’s extended family, children, grandchildren, and close friends are not compromised. The order can last for as long as two years. The details of the order can vary from victim to victim, so the restrictions set by the court may be so grave that the target might not even be able to send messages or stay in touch with their friends and family. The target sometimes also has to maintain a certain amount of physical distance, which may occasionally affect the living situation of the affected person, especially in cases where both the victim and the target live together. In such cases, the target might be required to leave the house.
The target is not allowed to carry any weapons, and the order may make a huge impact on their activities as well such as daily habits and hobbies. It can also end up revoking the visa and green card of a non-citizen target.
Fighting against the Order
Since the order can make an enormous effect on the target’s life, one should always consider fighting against the order. As criminal defense lawyer Omeed Berenjian of BK Law Group says, “an order of protection may dictate the personal and community relations of the affected person. For that reason, it is important for an affected party to speak with a lawyer to ensure that all of the general procedures are followed.”
The procedure of fighting against the order includes hiring a lawyer and negating the evidence of the victim by presenting proof of the target being innocent. The evidence can either be witnesses of the instance of attack or other people who can assure that the target does not have violent behavior.
In the end, the affected person would have to explain the whole scenario which resulted in the order of protection, while also mentioning the negative effects of the order on his or her life. The correct evidence and the right reasons can result in the cancellation of the order.
Biking has always been a popular way to get outside and exercise. During the pandemic, many cyclists were seen hitting the road. But cycling on the roads with heavy vehicles and speedy traffic is always difficult and requires a lot of precautions and safety measures. Adherence to these safety measures is crucial when it comes to biking. An average of two percent of crashes each year involve bicycles, And as many as around 843 dead cyclists were reported in 2019 alone. Fortunately, there are many ways to protect yourself from dangerous interactions with other vehicles on the road while cycling.
Stick to Bike lanes
Protected bike lanes make the road safer for both cyclists and car drivers. As bicycles are also vehicles, the same road rules apply to them as any other vehicle. This means following all traffic signs like halting at a red light, signaling turns, and riding in the bike lanes along with other traffic. Different states have different laws for cyclists, so one should know and follow them.
What Statistics show
According to the statistics, most of the accidents reported involved men and occurred in the evening resulting from peak traffic hours and lower visibility. Women are less affected because they seem to follow bike lanes more often than men. The number of deaths among cyclists 20 years and above has tripled since 1975, which is alarming.
“Biking can very easily turn dangerous, as a bike is much less safe and less protected in comparison to cars on the road. Following bike safety tips and wearing good safety gear can protect you and your loved ones from injury.” Says personal injury lawyer Charles Boyk, of Charles E. Boyk Law Offices LLC.
Safety measures to follow
Following some safety measures can help you ride safely and prevent accidents. First, your bike must have proper lights. Ideally, white light in front and a red light at the back. But if there are low light conditions and you need to increase your visibility, you can add battery-powered or rechargeable lights or reflective strips to your bike frame or wheels. You can also use reflective clothing and backpacks to make yourself fully visible to other vehicles on the road.
Wearing a helmet is the most important protection while biking. Out of 843 reported deaths in 2019, only 127 wore helmets while the other 520 did not. This shows wearing a helmet can save you from fatal injuries. In some states, helmets are also required per law for children under 18.
As for alcohol, the same rule applies to bikers, do not drink while riding. About 21 percent of cyclists 16 and older who died in 2019 had alcohol concentration in their blood at or above 0.08 percent.
Driving predictably is very important. This means to stay focused on your route, stay in your lane, use appropriate hand signaling while taking turns. Always remain on high alert and don’t panic.
Avoiding parked cars is as important as preventing moving traffic. The term “doored” is used for cyclists hit by doors of parked vehicles that opened suddenly without checking the cyclist. This may result in a severe injury; that’s why it is essential to drive a few feet away from the parallel parked cars.
Sudden stopping and slowing of cars are also a cause of accidents. Thirty-five percent of accidents occur at intersections. Sometimes while you are riding in your bike lane, some panicked car driver can enter your lane unpredictably. Therefore it is important to stay focused all the time while driving.
If at some point you are feeling not well it is ok to stop by and relax for some time. Focus on your route, don’t panic, choose an alternate route if not feeling comfortable.
Follow these simple steps to protect yourself and avoid dangerous interactions with other vehicles on the road when you mount your pedal-powered vehicle. Stay safe and enjoy your ride.
Personal injury lawsuits usually arise when a person suffers from an injury or accident due to the fault of another person. The individual who causes the accident is legally liable for the harm inflicted on the other person. In such cases, the responsible person’s insurance company will have to pay for the victim’s medical expenses and other ongoing medical bills.
Personal injuries and their compensation typically vary from one person to another depending on the injury’s circumstances. Similarly, Indiana has its injury lawsuit process, which is different from those living in other states.
“To fully establish who is legally at fault in cases of dispute or personal injuries, a lawsuit needs to be filed”, says attorney Michael McCready of McCready Law. This article is a guide to Indiana personal injury lawsuits, their elements, time limitations, damages, and compensation.
Things you should know about an Indiana Personal Injury Lawsuit
Before filing a personal injury lawsuit in Indiana, you should be familiar with certain provisions made by the law including:
#1. Time Limitation
Time limitation is also known as the “statute of limitations.” It is the amount of time given for a person to file a lawsuit after an accident has taken place. The Indiana personal injury lawsuits statute of limitations extends the timing for filing a lawsuit to two years.
However, there are certain exceptions to these time limitations on personal injuries in Indiana, such as in cases of medical malpractice or any other specific claims. In such cases, your time limitation begins upon your discovery of the injury.
An example could be when a person suffers an injury and discovers after a series of medical treatments that the injury was due to another’s negligence. With the help of a personal injury attorney, the injured person can build and establish a case based on time limitations.
For claimants filing a claim against a city or county, the time limit is usually 180 days. Where the defendant is a state government agency, the limit is extended to 270 days. If a claimant fails to file a claim before the time limitation lapses, they stand the chance of losing their case.
#2. Comparative Fault for Personal Injury Claims
A comparative fault lawsuit in Indiana is filed in cases where an injured person is partially responsible for the incident leading to the injury. In such cases, the victim must be less than 50 percent at fault for the accident caused to file the suit successfully. The purpose of the comparative lawsuit is to reduce and even eliminate the degree of damages on the injured person.
An example could be in a car accident case if your car brake fails and hits a person’s personal property, and you are then given a fine of $10,000. However, you later discover that the cause of the accident was that the driver tampered with your car brake while parking it.
During the lawsuit, if the jury determines that the driver is 80 percent at fault for mishandling your brake and you are 10 percent at fault for negligence, you can recover your award by 10 percent. If your jury discovers that you are more than 50 percent at fault due to negligence over a long period, then this lawsuit fails, and you cannot apply for damages.
#3. Liability for Cases of Dog Bite/Attack
The court will rule off a dog as not being dangerous in cases where it injured someone for the first time. Here, the dog owners enjoy protection from injury liability. In Indiana, this liability is usually referred to as the “one bite” rule.
The Indiana Code 15-20-1-3 provides for strict liability by the dog owners. Where a dog bites a person on public property without provocation, or on private property without the victim trespassing, the owner of the dog is liable for all damages suffered by the person bitten. The owner would then be required to pay compensation to the victim.
#4. Punitive Damages
A lawsuit on punitive damages in Indiana is created to punish the person who committed the crime and has no intention to compensate the victim for the crime. The person who committed the crime must be highly responsible for the crime. In such cases, the plaintiff keeps 25 percent of the damages award, and the remaining 75 percent goes to the Violent Crime Victim Compensation Funds.
Elements of a Personal Injury Case
Certain elements must be in place before claimants can file for a personal injury Lawsuit in Indiana. These elements include:
Duty to exercise reasonable care: There is a duty to exercise reasonable care, and this duty is usually owed to the victim by the person at fault. The obligation to exercise reasonable care is typically easy to establish if the victim is in the same environment as the person at fault.
Failure to exercise reasonable care:The victim has to prove that the person at fault failed in their duty to exercise reasonable care. In such cases, even if the victim is partially at fault, the other party will still be held liable for negligence.
That there was causation:Causation is another element that has to be in a personal injury case. Here, the victim proves that the defendant’s failure to exercise reasonable care is the actual cause of the injury. The person at fault contributed to the accident. However, if the victim has a hand in the accident, it may reduce the amount to pay as damages. It is the responsibility of the person accused to prove that the victim is responsible for the accident.
That the Victim Suffered Actual Damage:The victim may need to prove that as a result of the other elements, the victim suffered actual damages from the accused. The case is usually filed to compensate the victim for the injury caused to himself or his property.
Conclusion
Individuals affected by personal injury cases in Indiana can decide whether to settle in or outside the court. It is, however, essential to have background knowledge of how these types of cases work. However, speaking with a knowledgeable attorney can make a difference in your case.
Increased demand for products and goods has driven people and businesses to expand their production and storage capacities. As a result, the warehousing sector has seen significant growth in employment, with over 1.3 million employees working in the industry.
Experts predict that this number will reach 2 million by 2030. The warehousing industry is a relatively dangerous place to work. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, warehouse accidents accounted for eight percent of all the nonfatal injuries and illnesses reported in 2019.
Falling Objects, and Slips and Fall
Falling objects resulting from collapsing pallet racks are among the most prevalent warehouse accidents. These accidents are particularly dangerous if pallets are stacked improperly or are relatively high.
One way of minimizing falling object accidents is building steady racks by putting bulky items at the base and ensuring that items with cylindrical surfaces are stored and moved with the flat side facing down.
Slip, trip, and fall accidents are also pretty common in warehouses and are responsible for approximately 12 percent of all workplace accidents. These accidents are usually caused by oil and water spills or obstacles on the warehouse floor.
Warehouses can minimize slip and fall accidents by keeping the warehouse floor clean, dry, free of debris or potholes, and ensuring that warehouse workers are equipped with non-slip shoes.
Forklift Accidents and Overexertion Injuries
Another common accident in warehouses is forklift accidents. These accidents can be prevented by adequately training operators and ensuring that the forklifts are in their perfect working condition.
Other safety practices include:
Maintaining reasonable speed.
Keeping the headlights on in areas with low visibility.
Carrying the recommended weight.
Using the horn where needed.
Due to the nature of work in warehouses, injuries resulting from overexertion and repetitive movements such as strains and sprains, back pains, and other musculoskeletal illnesses are also pretty common.
OSHA Inspections
“An employer has a responsibility of keeping work environments safe for all employees and visitors,” says workers’ compensation attorney Felix Gonzalez. Additionally, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is also responsible for conducting inspections of workplaces to ensure that employers comply with the set rules.
OSHA prioritizes several safety aspects when conducting the inspections, which include:
Situations that indicate imminent danger
Reported severe injuries or illnesses
Workers’ complains
Targeted inspections
Follow up inspections
As a federal government agency tasked with ensuring workers’ safety, OSHA inspections must follow a standard procedure that includes various steps.
In the first step, OSHA officials research a business’s safety compliance based on information provided in the complaint. After research, the next phase is the inspection which starts with an OSHA official debriefing a warehouse manager or business owner on the reason for their inspection and what it will entail.
The inspector then performs a walkthrough to examine the safety standards in the facility with the help of a workers’ union representative. After the walkthrough, the inspector holds a closing conference with the business owner and a workers’ representative. They disclose their findings, what they mean for the business, suggest an improvement, and maybe schedule a follow-up inspection in the future.
It is essential to know that the at-fault insurer or their lawyer will not easily yield to your settlement request. They are in business and want the most out of their investment. They may try to lower the value of your claim, deny it, or even deny your claim. Having a skilled personal injury lawyer on your corner will increase your chances of getting fair compensation.
Referrals Can Help You Get the Right Attorney
Use your resources by asking people who you know for a referral. You probably know a family member, a colleague, a neighbor, or an acquittance that has been in your situation or something similar. Talking to them about their experiences with their lawyers can give you an idea of which lawyers would fit your case best.
If you do not have anyone to ask, you may seek help from your local bar association or lawyer referral sites. Most bar associations or lawyer referral sites cannot refer lawyers unless they establish their reliability.
Track Record Matters
After getting referrals from the people in your circle, the next step would be narrowing down your options. Some of the things you may want to establish are the track records and the reputation of the lawyers or law firms on your list.
Additionally, you may want to ensure that your lawyer of choice has good standing with the local bar association or has ever had disciplinary issues against them. After all these considerations, you should be down to two to three options.
Visit Their Physical Office and Determine Payment Options
Once you have narrowed down options to two to three, the next step would be visiting their office. While it is possible to have a feel of what a law firm has to offer by visiting their website, visiting in person is a good idea. By visiting, you can judge whether an attorney is a good fit for your case by how they treat you or how organized they appear to be.
Understand All the Charges Involved
Most attorneys offer a first free consultation, so you do not have to worry about the consultation cost if you want to visit a few law firms. It is important to ask about their payment options during your visit to ensure that you get a good deal. Also, ask to know all applicable fees upfront to avoid being surprised with hidden charges later.
Most lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. A contingency fee basis means you do not have to pay the lawyer until they win your injury case and you recover compensation. Typically, the contingency fee should be at most a third of the value of your compensation, although the figures may vary from one lawyer to the other.
Getting the right attorney can be a daunting task, with so many in the market boasting their expertise online, on TV ads, and on billboards. But having excellent marketing skills does not mean that a lawyer is a good fit for your case.“Being a great advertiser and being a great lawyer is not correlated,” cites Lone Star Injury Attorneys. This is why it is important that people do their research and carefully select a lawyer to represent them.
Sky Mavis, a crypto startup operating the popular ‘Axie Infinity’ game, said hackers had stolen over $600 million worth in cryptocurrency.
Hackers gained access to accounts holding cryptocurrencies and drained 173,600 ether and 25.5 million of the USD stablecoin.
This was the second-biggest crypto hack ever, according to analysis firm Elliptic.
The assets were worth around $540 million on the date of the theft and are worth $615 million now, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Users are also reportedly unable to withdraw or deposit funds to the Ronin network, but the firm said it will make sure that all the drained funds are recovered and reimbursed.
North Korea has been using cash from government-sponsored hacking groups who have performed crypto thefts, PYMNTS reported. The report also wrote that the isolated country has been stealing digital assets, as opposed to its last focus on stealing COVID vaccine research, said Mandiant, which has recently reported.
“Axie infinity” is part of a small number of play-to-earn crypto games, which center around the buying, trading, and selling of virtual assets backed by non-fungible
Crypto hackers steal over $615 million from network that runs popular game Axie Infinity
$600 million gone: The biggest crypto theft in history
Hackers have stolen some $600 million in cryptocurrency from the decentralized finance platform Poly Network, in what it says is the largest theft in the industry’s history.
Here?s how a hacker stole $800,000 worth NFTs through Discord
The attacker was able to steal NFTs including Rare Bears and other NFTs from various collections including CloneX, Azuki, a mfer from artist sartoshi, and six LAND tokens used for The Sandbox metaverse.
Much of my educational background was in Manpower Management, a now largely discontinued field of study that focused on applying our understanding of people to motivation, company productivity, and employee/company success.
So when it comes to the current Hollywood scuffle compliments of the Oscar ceremonies, it has been fascinating to watch the discussions on who is right: Chris Rock as a comedian exercising his freedom of speech, or Will Smith defending his wife. The answer should be neither. Instead, the discussion should be focused on how to ensure it never happens again. From a workplace perspective, had Chris Rock done that at a company event, it would constitute a hostile workplace. What Will Smith did would be considered workplace violence. At the companies I have worked for, the former might have resulted in termination, and the latter would have certainly had that result. But the real damage was done to the entertainment industry because two of the industry’s top performers exited this event with their reputations crippled by it.
I have seen this a lot at companies. An executive or employee tells a poorly thought-through joke that results in a range of responses from being frozen in grade (never seeing another promotion) to being perp-walked out of the building never to return.
Let us talk about how award ceremonies work and why certain types of humor should be outlawed at awards events.
The power of awards vs. cash or promotions
If you have studied Abraham Maslow or Frederick Herzberg, you know that money does not motivate you well. People will not work harder if they get more money, but if you reduce their income, they will do disproportionately less work. Overpaying anyone, therefore, makes no sense, but correcting salary discrepancies and avoiding salary reductions, which can put you in a death spiral, do. You can motivate with promotions the way my industry does. But when most of the folks in the company have the title “VP” without being qualified to do the job, you have locked them into the industry. They cannot leave the industry without seeming either overqualified for the jobs they can do, or underqualified to keep their organizational level. Going from VP to Director would seem to be a demotion even though, in practice, it is not.
Apple’s practice of removing your title from your record and replacing it with “associate” does much the same thing without turning everyone into a VP, but it comes across as cruel and retaliatory. People with my background are likely to recommend no one go to work for that company, if you have a choice, as a result. Now that this policy is known, it will have an adverse impact on the quality of employees they can recruit going forward. Yes, it proves that you can implement a secret abusive retention practice, but in this connected world, secrets like this are very hard to keep, and if it gets out you do this, you will be open to litigation for damages and people who have a choice of employment are more likely to choose someone else.
Awards, if they are dependable and large enough, can drive productivity. Salespeople work incredibly hard to win a luxury car at the end of the selling season and salespeople already are getting commissions and other financial incentives to sell more. Two bad practices are making the award optional and changing eligibility at the end of the award qualifying period.
One of the large PR firms announced early one year that they would have impressive awards for top performers if the company did well, but if it did not, the awards would be canceled. As a result, few employees took the awards seriously and the program underperformed. At the end of the award period at another company I worked for, the business made anyone that had won the award the prior year ineligible. Given I had worked extra hard to win that award a second time, I went from loyal employee to rebel, and I eventually quit to go off on my own.
To work, awards must be dependable, large enough to be desirable and convey the status that was promised. Otherwise, the person being awarded will lose faith and their performance will decrease and they will be at high risk of acting out or looking for a new job in another company.
Forgetting the status thing
Part of what makes awards so effective is the status conveyed. Yet at company award events, it is common for whoever is giving the award to make fun of the recipient. Sometimes the jokes are vanilla, but they can be harsh and cruel, much like Chris Rock’s comments about Will Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. The goal of an award event is to value top performers and make other employees in the same field want to be them. This drives up overall performance. If getting the award will result in personal embarrassment, then not only does that weaken the award’s potential for motivation, but it will also make the award undesirable.
If you are going to tell jokes at an event, they should be focused on you and your experiences and you should avoid making fun of others, particularly those being recognized for their exemplary performance.
Wrapping up: A learning experience
I think the Will Smith/Chris Rock dust-up could be a good learning experience. It reminds us that violence at the workplace is unacceptable regardless of who does it, but it also reminds us that a poorly considered joke can have serious consequences. We live in an age where a lot of people seem to think that they can say anything. That has never been the case. Jokes are incredibly dangerous, and given the Oscars are designed to drive actors to higher performance, making fun of them on stage at the event is counterproductive and was bound to result in someone going off the rails.
The lesson you should walk away with is that awards do work to increase performance, but you can destroy the effectiveness of those awards if they are not reliably given or if you embarrass the winners when the awards are given. Awards event talent should be focused like a laser on making the award recipients larger than life and enviable so that others emulate their top-performing behavior. Most of the Oscar presenters did exactly that, but Rock did not and did substantial damage as a result to his and Will Smith’s careers, and to the Oscars in general. Make sure you and your people learn this lesson or it is likely to come back to haunt you with a series of painful repercussions. It is sad that the one great example, where Lady Gaga had Liza Minnelli’s back, was overwhelmed by the bad examples of Chris Rock and Will Smith. But that also shows that a mistake will always overwhelm any good news.
Awards are given for a reason. Not understanding that can completely undermine their purpose.
Trading might sound like easy money, but that’s in fact far from what it really is. If you have ever contemplated the prospect of engaging in it, you probably know how overwhelming the sheer amount of data can get. Luckily, a solid trading strategy can relieve you considerably when it comes to decision-making. Still, it doesn’t guarantee efficient trading. This article explores how you can boost your efficiency as a beginner trader as well as someone with experience in this area.
Use a Platform You Can Rely On
The platform you choose to trade on matters the world. Depending on your experience and personality, it can determine the overall success of your undertaking to a higher or lower degree. Here are some essential aspects to take into account when making the decision:
intuitive interface over a multitude of features you hardly know how to use
the range of assets you can trade
backup options for data protection and historical data access
technical analysis features and other analytics
It’s always a wise choice to use a well-reputed and powerful platform such as Metatrader 4. This one is much prized for a good reason as it offers its users a wealth of insightful data without being difficult to master.
Always Follow a Plan
Another step to take if you haven’t already is to set up a plan. Work out a trading strategy that specifies unambiguously when to close this or that position and what you are trying to achieve in the short- and long-term perspective.
However, it’s not enough to simply have a plan. Learn to curb your emotions and stick to it no matter what, adopt a businesslike approach to trading that eliminates hasty decisions. After all, it is business, isn’t it?
Avoid Unnecessary Risk
This may sound like another hackneyed truth but there’s really no skipping it. Never risk more than you can afford to lose, says the rule. In fact, attitude should be part and parcel of your plan (see above).
Once again, respect the limits even when you see an opportunity not to be missed. Many people lose their minds when it comes to leverage because they feel like the promise and appeal are so much greater than the risk. That’s not true. You can only afford to lose this much. And losing is okay as long as it’s within the limits.
Base Your Methodology on Facts
Use the data your platform gives you to inform your choices. Try to always be aware of what’s going on and learn to single out the most important events so you can respond to them. This is not to say that you should neglect your strategy whenever you see a deviation from the existing trend; rather, remember to study the market closely.
A Sense of Purpose
If you feel like your trading lacks efficiency, try scrutinizing your strategy. How consistent is it? How compliant are you? Does the platform you’ve chosen serve your purpose? The answers will surely help you boost your performance as a trader.
Even the best drivers in the world can get into car accidents. While you can take care of your driving, you cannot eliminate bad drivers from the road. When you get involved in a car accident, you may want to clear the misconceptions and leave the scene as soon as possible. After all, no one likes legal drama in their lives.
It is not illegal not to call the police at a car accident scene. However, that does not mean you should not. While you may think otherwise, calling the police can actually help your case. A car accident lawyer in Los Angeles can tell you how you can protect your rights and maximize your compensation by reporting the accident.
Reporting a car accident to the police
In Los Angeles, you are required to report all car accidents, no matter how minor they are. If you hit a moving vehicle, a pedestrian, or a stationary object, you need to stop at the scene and exchange information with the other parties involved.
Most people tend not to report accidents when there is a lack of personal injury. However, you are still encouraged to do so because a police report can clearly show how the collision unfolded. Besides documenting the events that caused the crash, this report can also record the extent of the vehicle damage and medical injuries.
How can the police help you?
In some car accidents, mostly minor ones, people often want to leave the police out of the matter to avoid additional trouble. If someone else causes the accident, they will likely try to convince you to settle the matters privately instead of getting involved with the police.
This is never a smart move because this way, you never get the chance to create an official report of the accident. If there is no report, you cannot prove that the accident even took place. If you decide to file a claim in the future, one of the documents the insurance company or the court is going to ask for is the police report.
The police can also help you with medical care
While the police are often associated with the investigation of the site, they can also offer necessary medical care in the absence of the ambulance. If you have severe injuries and the ambulance is late, the police can provide basic medical care. Moreover, they can help clear the site for the ambulance to park and help injured people move to the ambulance.
The police can be helpful at a car accident site in many ways. It is understandable why one would want to avoid the police, but it is only beneficial for you in the long run. For further help, contact an attorney.
Leader Kim Jong Un walks towards the camera, flanked by generals, as they prepare to fire the giant Hwasong-17 missile — Pyongyang’s first ICBM test since 2017.
Over suspenseful music, the camera cuts between two generals and Kim checking their watches, before, in slow motion, Kim whips off his sunglasses and gives a nod, prompting soldiers to move the enormous missile into position.
The footage — swiftly remixed into parodies on social media — also focuses on the missile itself.
Cheong Seong-chang of the Center for North Korea Studies at the Sejong Institute, said the style of the video shows Pyongyang’s increasing confidence in its military capabilities.
Known as the Hwasong-17, the giant ICBM was first unveiled in October 2020 and dubbed a “monster missile” by analysts.
It had never previously been successfully test-fired, and the launch prompted immediate outrage from Pyongyang’s neighbours and the United States.
The North is already under biting international sanctions for its weapons programs, and the UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting over the launch on Friday.
Kim Jong-un gets Top Gun treatment in North Korea’s missile coverage
State TV broadcasts Hollywood-style video starring leader in aviator shades and flanked by military officers
North Korea has confirmed it tested a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), its first long-range test in more than four years and marking a potential new era of regional confrontation.
This week was NVIDIA’s GTC and, as usual, the content blew me away. Jensen Huang always impresses me with a keynote that can stick with me for months by using his firm’s technology to turn what is otherwise (and often is at other events) a tedious spiel of speeds and feeds into a compelling view of our vastly changed future. It is worth your time watching it.
But one thing came out in one of the Q&A sessions I attended and that is that all the car companies are using NVIDIA’s infrastructure, but only a subset of them is using NVIDIA’s full-stack. Some believe they can do it more cheaply with their own hardware. This is ill-advised and, I expect, will eventually result in a black eye on technology and massive recalls
Let me explain.
Auto PC
I first saw this problem in the automotive market with Microsoft’s early 2000s Auto PC effort. At the time, Microsoft did the software but did not create a hard specification on the hardware. In testing, the software was impressive for the time as it would take voice commands, used an array microphone to even work in convertibles, had built-in navigation, and a host of other features I no longer remember largely because they broke on the final product. The reason for this breakage, which was most painful with a GPS system that would tell you where to turn after you passed the street (unless you kept your speed below 20 miles per hour), was that Clarion, the company that built the system, under-specified the Intel processor. The result was an affordable product that failed in the market (I put it in my wife’s car and the entire time she had it she threatened to rip it out of the dash and throw it out of the window.) Rather than enjoying this advanced device, we and our passengers would entertain ourselves by making fun of it.
The lesson learned was that the hardware and software need to be wedded for it to work properly. If you break that technology stack, you could end up with something that works unpredictably and not at all well.
The bigger problem
As I mentioned, NVIDIA’s infrastructure is being used for every car that will have autonomous drive technology, but many of the highest volume cars will use hardware that was not part of this development. This means most of the advanced testing and development will have been done on NVIDIA’s hardware, not on the potentially cheaper hardware the OEMs want to use at volume.
Now, typically, the risk of this is that the solution is unreliable, but we are talking about autonomous machines that are carrying people. So let’s say the third-party hardware is just a little slow and does not report or react to the car running the stoplight for two extra seconds. Those two seconds could make the difference between stopping safe or being T-boned in an intersection, and some of those accidents are fatal.
In the subsequent lawsuit, were I advising the plaintiff, I would suggest they add negligence to the charges for an escalation of remedies because the car maker made a conscious decision to degrade the solution to save money. The result could damage the car maker’s brand, reputation, and the resulting recall could cost far more than if they had just used the complete and thoroughly tested solution from NVIDIA.
Particularly early on with a solution like this when people are still learning, swapping out a part of the solution to save a few bucks is incredibly dangerous. Were I Consumer Reports, I would be tempted to blacklist any vendor that took this risk initially or at least until the technology had been on the road for a year or more just to assure the people that paid for my service remained safe.
Wrapping up:
Back when I was in graduate school, one of my professors who worked for NASA (which originated the concept of a digital twin, by the way) spoke about how spaceships were built. They were triple redundant and, for unique systems, three parts for every component were built. Assemblers would test the parts and install the first part that didn’t fail the test, if all three failed, they would still install the first failed part assuming one of the two redundant systems would step in. However, if all nine parts failed, so would the rocket, potentially catastrophically. That sounded incredibly stupid to me at the time.
Taking a brand new and extremely complex system and trying to save money by substituting third-party parts is incredibly risky. Yes, you may save a few dollars, but if the result ends catastrophically, you now own a decision where you put your customer’s life at risk for something like a $10 savings. Odds are, the result for you and your company will be tragic if only because, first, products that are highly complex have problems which may not emerge until later. If you mix it up, you run the chance of that decision being called out as the cause, even if it isn’t, and incurring far more massive costs and reputational damage as a result.
Now five or ten years out, when we know more about these systems in large numbers and for extended use, swapping out components might be less risky. But given the numbers, even a .01% additional risk might be unsustainable once an accident occurs, and no matter how good the technology, there will be an accident. So, personally, I would advise against this move even then.
By their very nature, autonomous cars are simply too risky to mess with. Shortly after this technology launches in volume in 2025 and 2026, I expect we will have several vendors who wished they had taken NVIDIA’s entire stack and not tried to save a few bucks.
