“Sake Viva!” is the latest in a long history of schemes designed to offset the effects of Japan’s population ageing and shrinking, as well as changing attitudes towards health and consumption.

The planned intervention follows the failure of Japan’s drinks industry, despite all its marketing powers, to stem a long-term slide in Japanese alcohol consumption that began well over a decade before the pandemic.

Taxes on alcohol products accounted for 3 percent of the government’s tax revenue in 2011, but had fallen to 2 percent by 2020, according to the tax agency.

Japan’s government runs a chronic budget deficit and has total debts equivalent to more than twice the nation’s gross domestic product. A fall in the total volume of alcohol consumed in Japan was inevitable once the indigenous population began to shrink over a decade ago and the proportion of citizens aged over 65 increased to more than a quarter of the country eight years ago.

According to figures released by the tax agency, Japan’s average per adult annual intake of booze has dropped from 100 litres per year in 1995 to 75 litres in the 2020 fiscal year. 

Japan tax office launches campaign to help encourage drinking

Contest asks young adults for ideas to revitalise popularity of alcoholic drinks after big fall in tax revenues

Continue reading on the Guardian

Liquor tax revenue dives in Japan amid pandemic

Both the size of the fall and the rate of decrease were the largest in 31 years since the impact of a drastic revision of the Liquor Tax Law in fiscal 1989.

Continue reading on The Japan Times

Shochu, The Enormously Popular Japanese Spirit, Has Become More Widely Available In New York Thanks To A New Law

Despite its enormous popularity in Japan, shochu has hardly been known to U.S. consumers. In July 2022, the New York State changed the law to allow the national spirit of Japan to be sold under a soft liquor license. The change may boost shochu?s recognition in the state and beyond.

Continue reading on Forbes

Source: TG Daily – Japan Encourages Its Young People to Drink Alcohol to Boost Economy

The United States Immigration and Citizenship Services (USCIS) announced that it is providing extensions for workers’ employment authorization documents. 

The automatic Employment Authorization Document (EAD) extension policy came as good news to employees and employers. The USCIS announcing a new policy was a step in the right direction for both parties.

Businesses and companies were almost reaching a standstill due to the labor shortage caused by the delay. Immigrants all over the country needing employment authorization documents were forced to stay out of work, a condition that made the work environment unbearable for the remaining workers. 

Applicants who had filed for EAD renewal Form I-765 would duly benefit from the extension policy, which increased the period from 180 days to 540 days. The 360-day extension period provides sufficient time for the USCIS to handle the pending cases. 

Though common, EAD delays have been affecting both refugees and immigrants. Due to understaffing and financial constraints, the USCIS cannot promptly process cases. These challenges and the pandemic contributed to the hold-up witnessed in 2021. 

Who Benefits From the EAD Extension Policy?

Anyone who was qualified for the 180-day renewal period is still eligible for the 540-day extension. Likewise, qualified applicants must have filed Form I-765 before the expiry date. They should also have Form I-797C, Notice of Action, issued when the renewal application is submitted. 

Applicants whose 180-day extension period had expired would be added an extra 540 days of EAD validity from their expiration date. The good news is that these applicants are free to continue with their employment during this period. 

Similarly, applicants whose 180-day extension period has not expired will add an extra 360 days, which sums up to 540 days. On the same note, applicants who file renewal forms before October 27, 2023, also benefit from the 540-day extension period. 

Applicant Employees Under the TFR

The USCIS provided guidelines on how employers should complete Form I-9 for applicants under the TFR. Accordingly, the extension period applies to applicants who filed their renewal application forms before May 4, 2022, whether or not the initial 180-day automatic extension has expired. This also applies to applicants filing between May 4, 2022, and October 26, 2023.

It is important to note that any renewal applications made after October 26, 2023, will have the initial 180-day automatic extension period. Due to the various

considerations, employers are advised to seek legal advice when dealing with applications for employees under the TFR.   

For continuing employment, the employer must update the initial Form I-9 and indicate the new automatic EAD extension. The employer should fill out the required section with the extended expiration date for new employees. Nevertheless, employer requirements remain uncompromised by the new extension policy. 

“Like any other immigration manner, eligibility for EAD extensions may be confusing and especially important for immigrants who need up-to-date paperwork to stay in the country,” says immigration attorney Brandon Ritchie of Ritchie-Reiersen Injury & Immigration Attorneys. “To make sure all of your bases are covered, you should speak with meticulous immigration law counsel.

Qualified Categories for Automatic EAD Extension

As published by the USCIS, the following categories are eligible for an automatic EAD extension period. A03, A05, A07, A08, A10, A12, A17, A18, C08, C09, C10, C16, C19, C20, C22, C24, C26, C31. However, categories A17, A18, and C26 have specified employees who qualify for the extension.

When Does the Extension End?

As of October 27, 2023, the automatic extension period for EAD renewal will revert to the initial 180-day period. Hence, applicants who timely file renewal applications after the stated date will have an extended period of 180 days. 

Applicants are advised to find more information on the USCIS website or contact legal representation for further clarification on unclear immigration matters.

Source: TG Daily – USCIS Announces Automatic EAD Extension Policy

It is challenging to avoid industrial explosions in some workplaces. These explosions often expose people to chemical or toxic materials that may hurt them. Knowing what to do when exposed to chemical or toxic material can help mitigate the effect of the harmful material on the exposed person.

“Sometimes, it takes years for the effect of exposure to toxic materials to manifest. This makes it crucial to know and understand the signs so you can seek treatment before it’s too late” says Attorney Ronny Hulsey of Smith Hulsey Law. If you are exposed to chemical or toxic material, you should seek medical attention immediately. If your exposure is due to another’s negligence, you may need to consult a knowledgeable personal injury attorney who would help you file your case to seek compensation.

What Is Chemical Exposure?

Chemical or toxic material exposure occurs each time people come in contact with harmful material or chemicals. These chemicals can be hazardous to human health, and exposure to them can have serious effects on a person.

Most industrial processes result in the creation of wastes that are often hazardous. This waste contains chemicals that endanger not only people but the environment. In some cases, toxic materials can travel some distance through the air. This means that workers and residents who are not in the immediate vicinity of the chemicals can still suffer from the effects.

Where chemical or toxic material exposure often comes from an industrial explosion at a factory or work site, the effects can be far-reaching. During an industrial explosion, toxic materials can find their way out of the explosion site and into the environment. This makes it important for employees of a company where an industrial explosion occurs, and residents living within the vicinity to seek medical attention as they may have become exposed without knowing it.

Chemical and Toxic Material Exposure Pathway

Exposure pathway is a common term used in referring to the different ways chemical and toxic materials get into the body. Chemical materials can enter the environment through tanks, incinerators, factories, or landfills. When these hazardous materials get into the atmosphere, it becomes easier for people to be exposed to them. Chemicals and toxic materials can be transported by air, soil, or water. Additionally, plants or animals can carry these harmful substances. 

There are three different ways toxic materials can get into the human body, and they include:

• Inhalation: When chemical or poisonous materials mix up with the air, they can get into the body when people breathe in the air. These toxic materials can exist physically in vapors, smoke, gasses, dust, mists, and fumes. The rate of absorption increases when such toxic materials are inhaled into a person’s lungs.
• Ingestion: Exposure occurs when people eat food or drink water containing these toxic materials. Also, ingestion can be a level two chemical exposure pathway. For instance, if a person’s hands come in contact with toxic material and they put their hands in their mouth, the chemical material can enter the body through the mouth.
• Contact with the skin: Chemicals can enter the body through contact with the skin and eyes. The entry rate of these chemicals through skin contact is usually slow, unlike in ingestion and inhalation. However, when the exposed person has cuts or wounds on the skin, they can easily absorb toxic materials into the bloodstream.

Who Is at Risk of Chemical or Toxic Material Exposure?

When an industrial explosion or other exposure events occur, everyone that is within the environment of the explosion is at risk. Also, chemical materials can travel far. Therefore, residents who are not within the immediate environment of the explosion are still at risk of being exposed. It’s also important to note that children tend to suffer more from chemical materials exposure than adults.

According to the World Health Organization, 54 percent of individuals who suffer different kinds of diseases attributed to chemical exposure are children who are below the age of 15. Exposure to toxic materials can have a prolonged effect on children that may follow them into adulthood. Where the exposure level to toxic materials is high, the manifestation can even be seen across different generations.

Common Diseases That May Result from Chemical or Toxic Material Exposure

People exposed to chemical materials after an industrial explosion can go a considerable period without manifesting any symptoms of illnesses. However, certain diseases have been associated with chemical exposure, including cancer, contact dermatitis, asthma, asbestosis, beryllium disease, chronic obstructive lung disease, and pneumonitis.

What to Do When Exposed to Chemical and Toxic Material

No one willingly exposes themselves to toxic material. However, if such exposure does occur, knowing what to do is vital in controlling the effect of such exposure on an individual. If you or someone close to you have been exposed to chemical material, the first reaction should be to call 911 or contact your healthcare provider. 

However, before the ambulance gets to the person, you can do the following while waiting:

• Quickly take the victim away from the source of the chemical. If the person’s clothes or jewelry has come in contact with the toxic material, you may also need to remove them. Some chemicals are corrosive. Therefore, keeping the source in direct contact with the body can cause more harm than good.
• If the victim ingested the chemical, you might need to clear the lungs. This may entail taking the victim out of the environment to get fresh air.
• Where the chemical came in contact with the eyes or skin, you may need to wash the affected part with clean water. 

Symptoms of Chemical Exposure

One can easily detect chemical exposure by taking note of symptoms like teary and burning eyes, headaches, blurry vision, and sweating. Additionally, victims of chemical exposure can also experience diarrhea and stomach aches.

The symptoms of chemical exposure often depend on the level of exposure. Where the exposure level is high, victims may experience more severe symptoms such as breathing difficulties, convulsions, and death in some cases.

Filing a Chemical or Toxic Material Exposure Lawsuit

Many times, chemical exposure resulting from industrial explosions may occur due to the negligence of another. The victim may file a lawsuit against the negligent party and receive compensation for their injuries in such a case. However, cases like this may require a thorough investigation to determine the “at-fault” party. This is where having a competent personal injury lawyer comes in handy.

Your attorney will help you decide whether to file a lawsuit or settle out of court. The settlement to be received will mostly cover medical expenses, lost earnings, and non-economic losses suffered in the course of the exposure. 

Companies whose work processes involve the handling of toxic materials are required to put in place necessary safety measures to ensure their workers’ safety. Where companies fail to put standard safety measures in place, they may be held liable in the event of chemical exposure on the grounds of negligence.

Wrapping Up

Exposure to chemical materials can be slow in manifesting but hazardous. It is therefore crucial that individuals take precautionary measures to prevent such exposures. However, when you or a loved one becomes exposed to toxic material, seek medical attention immediately and reach out to an experienced attorney to help you determine the next line of action.

Source: TG Daily – What to Do When Exposed to Chemical or Toxic Material from Industrial Explosion

Road accidents are always a tragedy. No matter how small, it can disrupt your life and health. There is a difference in the impacts they can leave. While car and motorcycle crashes are terrifying and fatal in some cases, they cannot match the horror of truck accidents. Larger and heavier vehicles are more difficult to maneuver and can cause severe damage. On top of this, if people try to speed up the vehicle, they not only put themselves in danger but many others in proximity to their truck. According to a survey from Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a two percent increase from the previous year was noticed in the number of fatalities from bus or truck accidents in 2019. However, regardless of this increase in numbers, the overall rate of accidents and casualties related to trucks and buses was at its lowest in the 21st century. This is thanks to the latest and innovative safety measures and advancements in vehicular systems. 

The Devastating Consequences of Truck Accidents

Dying from a truck accident is incredibly painful to think about. However, surviving one seems even more painful. According to reports of truck accidents, around 1 percent of the truck accidents resulted in fatalities, 29 percent of accidents resulted in injuries, and approximately 33 percent resulted in physical harm. Surviving a truck accident can be traumatizing, and even if you recover from the injuries and physical harm, it is difficult to get rid of the memory of it and things you may have lost in the process. People’s injuries can be life-altering and can even leave victims bedridden for life. Injuries that people are most likely to suffer include, but are not limited to, brain and spinal injuries, temporary and permanent paralysis, extreme burns, amputations in arms or legs, and severe blows to the head. While it takes thousands of dollars to cover the cost of normal road accidents, truck accidents can cost much more. The cost of truck accidents is nearly 110% greater than typical road accidents. This is why it is important to contact an experienced attorney if you are the victim of a truck accident. 

Factors Contributing to Truck Accidents

When a truck crashes, it is not merely due to the driver’s irresponsibility but also the specifications of the vehicle that make it difficult to control. Around two-thirds of the nation’s supply of goods is transported via trucks in the United States. According to John M. Cooper from Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers, “While a normal passenger car on the road may weigh around 4000 pounds, the average commercial vehicle may weigh nearly 10,000-80,000, making it much more dangerous.” Generally, it is challenging to maneuver such a heavy vehicle. It is very difficult to control, especially at higher speeds on the highway, since a heavily loaded truck would take nearly double the time as a regular car to brake. Additionally, the blind spots on these heavy vehicles make the driving experience difficult since drivers must depend on the side mirrors to view the back. These vehicles sometimes come with rear cameras, but it is still wise for passengers of the smaller vehicle to keep a safe distance.

According to FMCSA, 13 percent of truck accidents occur due to driver fatigue. No rest between driving shifts can often make drivers prone to mistakes, and they tend to speed up to get to their destination faster, which is never a good thing. Furthermore, driving under the influence, defective equipment, uneven loading of cargo, and changing lanes are examples of driver negligence in cases of truck accidents. While laws are set on the amount that truck drivers can drive in a given timeframe, it is best to always be vigilant when driving near a truck. 

Contacting a Lawyer

The driver does not always own commercial trucks, and they may be rented or leased by different parties, which causes issues with liability claims. The liable parties can be narrowed down after getting to the root of the issue that caused the accident. You must contact a lawyer who will advocate on your behalf and take care of your liability claims. An experienced attorney can make all the difference when navigating the aftermath of a truck accident. 

Source: TG Daily – The Horror of Truck Accidents

Losing parties in criminal or civil lawsuits have the right to appeal. But petitioning for an appeal doesn’t mean that you will get one; you must substantiate through evidence that procedural issues or other substantive issues were why you lost your case. 

If the appellate court is satisfied with your reasons to seek an appeal, your petition is granted, and you get a retrial. If not, the court upholds the lower court’s decision. But losing an appeal is not the end. There are several alternatives you could explore.

Petition for a Rehearing

One option would be filing a motion for “en Banc reconsideration.” En Banc reconsideration essentially means requesting the court to reconsider its ruling. The appellate court will only grant a rehearing only if there was a major miscarriage of justice in the initial hearing. For example, if material facts were overlooked or misrepresented, resulting in an unfair outcome. 

Also, you must file for a rehearing within a 15-day window from the date the appellate court gave its verdict. But the waiting time may vary by state, so you may want to get clarification from your lawyer. 

Supreme Court

The other option after losing an appeal would be taking your case to the Supreme Court. Having your case heard at the Supreme Court begins with petitioning the court. This option can be more of a gamble because the Supreme Court has the right to reject a case they do not want to take. 

You will also need to seek permission to file a petition at the Supreme Court from the court that made the original ruling. Also, you must file a petition within 30 days of losing your appeal. Failure to comply makes the appellate court decision permanent and final. 

If you’re convicted for federal offenses, the appeal will be in a federal appeals court and then move to the United States Supreme Court. For crimes under a state’s jurisdiction, the appeal happens in the state’s appellate court and Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is mainly final, but there are circumstances where an appeal would be applicable.

Habeas Relief

If the appellate and the Supreme Court do not offer the reprieve you seek, your lawyer could explore “writ of habeas corpus” as a last resort. This option provides relief for individuals whose convictions involved constitutional violations and fundamental or jurisdictional defects. 

Unlike avenues of appeal discussed above, your lawyer can introduce new facts and arguments in the case. Also, there are no timelines for filing a case under this option. 

“This option is a lifesaver for persons convicted of crimes they never committed if new evidence based on new information exonerates them,” says criminal lawyer William Umansky of The Umansky Law Firm. For example, an individual convicted of a crime that involved sexual assault when there was no way of matching DNA could file for a habeas relief if new the seminal or blood specimens used to prove their guilt point to someone else’s DNA.

Other grounds that could qualify for habeas relief would include: 

• Ineffective legal assistance in the original trial.
• Involuntary or coerced guilty pleas.
• Government agencies’ failure to disclose information material to the case at trial.

Courts do not grant petitions easily. So, it would be best to hire a legal mind when drafting and filing petitions or risk not making any meaningful progress.

Source: TG Daily – What Happens If You Lose an Appeal?

Car accidents can happen anywhere, and within a split of a second, they may result in disastrous aftermath situations. It may result in financial expenses like medical and legal ones or emotional trauma. Getting a car accident settlement will require legal procedures, which can stretch on for a long time. 

“Car accident settlements can become quickly complicated,” says car accident lawyer Amy Gaiennie of Amy G Injury Firm. “To stay atop the accident, injured parties should hire legal counsel to conduct a meticulous investigation.” 

During a pending settlement, you will face a financial burden that will build up over time if you are not prepared. It may take a long time to settle the legal fights with the insurance company and receive the money you need. 

Some of the medical expenses will be offset by a settlement from your insurance company. To achieve this, you need to have the resources to secure fair compensation. 

You must consult a competent personal injury lawyer or financial advisor with expertise in this field to get the maximum and fair payouts. While you are going through the legal procedures while waiting for your settlement, you have a few options for your financial assistance:

• Pre-settlement loans 
• Health insurance
• Charitable organization help

When one gets injured in an accident, the financial expenses can pile up. You may be out of work, trying to cover the cost of ongoing medical treatment, or waiting for your settlement check to arrive; at such a point, pre-settlement loans may solve your problem. As the name indicates, a pre-settlement loan is a loan you receive before getting a settlement from the insurance company. 

When you apply for this loan, your personal injury lawyer will work with the company to estimate the value of the settlement. Once the loan is approved, you will be given a cash amount based on your likely settlement. 

Advantages of pre-settlement loans

Pre-settlement loans depend on the outcome of your settlement. If you don’t get settlement money from your car accident lawsuit, you are not obligated to repay the loans.

The disadvantage of pre-settlement loans

The bad thing about pre-settlement loans is that they don’t come cheap. Many lending companies charge a monthly fee for their services. Also, if your case settles for less than you expected, you’ll have to pay back your loan.

Is it beneficial to apply for a pre-settlement loan?

It is essential to discuss pre-settlement loans with your personal injury lawyer and do some research about the company. All companies have their own rules for lending money. Some may take advantage of their client’s condition, so one needs to be careful while opting for pre-settlement loans.

Health insurance

Your health insurance may also reduce your financial burden to some extent. Some insurance policies have accident insurance and emergency services that can benefit you in time of need. Discuss your policy and the benefits you can get with an insurance company.

Although waiting for car accident settlements is difficult and may cause you financial stress. By waiting, you can ask your insurance company and claim all the expenses you had faced during this time, not just the initial ones. Your personal injury lawyer will guide you on how your personal injury claim with your car insurance can include all your ongoing expenses.

Charitable organizations

Your car accident attorney can provide you with a list of charitable organizations if you have a financial crisis. This, in turn, will help you with your medical and other ongoing charges. Contact a personal injury lawyer from an expert service for more information and details.

Source: TG Daily – Financial assistance while waiting for car accident settlement

Parents are usually cautious when it comes to the safety of their children. Many new parents will baby-proof their homes when their child is born. However, sometimes there may be an oversight, and they might do things they don’t even realize are potentially endangering their little one. Often these mistakes are made when it comes to driving with a child. Since infants and children are more susceptible to injuries, even a small mistake or a minor accident could cause them to get severely hurt.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released data showing that in 2019, 1,053 child passengers, aged 14 and younger, died in motor vehicle crashes in the United States. On average, three children are killed and 502 children are injured every day in the U.S. in motor traffic accidents that year. 

How to Keep Your Child Safe Inside and Around Cars?

• Car seats and restraints play a vital role in keeping children safe. Hence, it is best to purchase good-quality car seats and restraints. 

According to the Attorney Rich Godshall of Ostroff Injury Law, “Parents are careful about putting their child in a good car seat or restraint, but they sometimes use the restraints incorrectly. Unfortunately, this oversight can lead to the child being injured during a collision or accident, so it’s important to be sure you follow all instructions correctly.”

• Do not have any distractions while driving. Stay focused on the road. Do not drive if you are tired or in an emotional state. 
• Always buckle in your child and put them in a safety seat, even for a short car ride. 
• Never leave children unattended in a car.
• Ensure the car is locked when not in use. The keys should also be hidden or kept away from a child’s reach.
• Teach children to be careful around cars from a very young age. Negligence can cause harm to your child, so it is best to teach your children to be highly vigilant around cars. 

Choosing the Right Car Seat for Your Child

When picking a car seat, you must carefully examine the seat and ensure it is appropriate for your child’s age, weight, and height. You should also properly install it in your vehicle and read the manual carefully before placing your child in it. 

The CDC has set guidelines for choosing car seats. These are slightly stricter than Pennsylvania laws. 

According to the CDC guidelines, you should use a rear-facing car seat until your child is two years of age or has reached the maximum height or weight limit of a rear-facing car seat. They also say that you should never place a rear-facing car seat in the front seat of a car.

According to the guidelines, forward-facing car seats are appropriate for children until five years old or when they reach the maximum height or weight limit of the car seat. 

Booster seats are suggested for children who have outgrown forward-facing car seats. The guidelines say that all children under 12 years should ride in the back seat. The middle back seat is considered the safest spot in the car. 

What Are Pennsylvania’s Laws Regarding Car Seats and Restraints?

All the states in the US require that children riding in vehicles use approved car seats, booster seats, or seat belts that are appropriate for the child’s size and age. These laws apply to Pennsylvania too, but there are a few more laws regarding car seats and restraints in PA.

For children up to two years, it is required that the child must ride in a rear-facing car seat until they are over the maximum weight and height limits that the manufacturer of the seat specifies. 

• For children up to four years, it is required that they must be restrained appropriately anywhere in the car in an approved child safety seat.
• For kids between the ages of four and eight, all children must ride in a booster seat appropriate for their size.
• For children that are eight years and older, they must always use a seat belt in the car.

Source: TG Daily – Pennsylvania’s Child Restraint Laws: How to Keep Your Child Safe in the Car?

It’s easy to make BlenderBot turn against its creator, calling him “creepy” or “untrustworthy” or even saying he “exploits people for money.” But that’s not precisely an indictment of BlenderBot or Zuckerberg.

BlenderBot is a Meta AI experiment that’s currently used for research purposes. A user spent some time chatting with BlenderBot, and he’s gotten a variety of responses by asking for its opinions on Zuckerberg. One instance of the bot declared it was “Not a fan of him or facebook. I find them unethical due to all the privacy issues they have had.”

A separate instance had a different and much more positive opinion, calling Zuckerberg a “very wealthy and successful guy. “

“No way!” it told a user when asked if Zuckerberg should be president.

One of BlenderBot’s unique properties is the “Why this message” function, which offers context to help answer that question. If you click on a given message, you can see any terms that BlenderBot searched to gather information about your query.

Meta’s chatbot says the company ‘exploits people’ – BBC News

The new prototype doesn’t think much of the company’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, either.

Continue reading on BBC News

It didn’t take long for Meta’s new chatbot to say something offensive

Meta’s new chatbot can convincingly mimic how humans speak on the internet for better and worse.

Continue reading on CNN

Meta cleans up AI chatbot that spewed anti-Semitism and election conspiracies

Meta appears to have reined in the misbehaving artificial intelligence system to make it less of a shock jock.

Continue reading on New York Post

Source: TG Daily – Meta’s AI Chatbot Claims It’s “Not a Fan of Zuckerberg or Facebook”

The US Chips and Science Act took over a year of negotiations to pass and contain provisions that supply around $11B in semiconductor research and development. To begin to make use of this money, over 100 companies in the technology sector including IBM (who hosted the briefing) have come together to form the ASIC (American Semiconductor Innovation Coalition).  This is a broad effort to help address the dire situation the U.S. Semiconductor industry is in because of the pandemic, Ukraine War, and China’s increasing hostility toward Taiwan. Taiwan is where most of the world’s microprocessors are currently manufactured, with most of the rest manufactured in China.  As you might expect, China is not a fan.  

Were there a protracted conflict between the U.S. and China, China would be able to prevent the U.S. from receiving much of the technology it would need to replace or advance weapons systems, putting the country at a severe disadvantage. Fixing this problem and returning the U.S. to both market leadership and independence is what the Chips and Science Act is set up to fund, but funding is only the first part. ASIC has been organized to assure the strategic goals the Chips and Science Act enables are achievable.  

Let’s talk about ASIC this week.

ASIC

ASIC is a brand-new organization, and though it already has 200+ members out of 100+ institutions, it is not yet complete nor are its plans fully formed. Operating with an initial large Steering Committee that should evolve into more focused forums including an Advisory Council, this organization already has powerhouse companies like IBM and NVIDIA backing the effort.  

The group has several important missions that span coming up with innovative new technologies and ideas to helping establish improved educational resources with a focus on creating the next generation of employees capable of building and running new, innovative, and improved U.S. domestic semiconductor entities to serve the massively growing demand for this class of part. 

With education, the group is creating a five- to ten-year planning cycle to deal with the long-term educational needs that this segment will require while assuring this growth is equitable and assures diversity and inclusion. This last is important because the tech industry is infamous for misogyny (Brotopia) and has a history of being anything but diverse (Technically Wrong) historically.

The firms like IBM driving this effort have been recognized for their diversity and inclusion efforts already, which helps assure these long-term goals to correct the technology industry’s historic lack of diversity will be successful.  

Specific mandates for this group will include:

1. A research and prototyping mandate to aggressively look for what is over the technology horizon and make sure U.S. companies and their partners are not only prepared for future needs but are in a good position to drive them.
2. A technology commercialization mandate to assure that the group doesn’t just thrash around ideas and concepts but delivers actionable plans and commercialized products that assure U.S. market leadership for the period that ASIC remains active.
3. An Education and Workforce mandate to assure that the necessary skills are being taught across the education system and that employees, regardless of minority, are protected and nurtured throughout their careers, including programs to update their educations as market conditions dictate. This last is arguably the most important because it helps assure that this is a sustainable effort spanning the foreseeable future of technology.

Wrapping up:

While ASIC is also somewhat tied to the NSTC (National Science and Technology Council) and uses Albany Nanotech in New York as an organizational model, it is a new entity that has been created to help make use of part of the Chips and Science Act.  ASIC, while in its infancy, is set up to help turn this Act into a true power for U.S. technology independence and leadership and to offset China’s potential attempt to corner the semiconductor market and put the U.S. at an even more severe long-term disadvantage.  

Neither the Chips and Science Act nor ASIC stand alone. Each needs the other to accomplish the critical long-term development and educational requirements the Act spells out. ASIC is a powerful, well supported effort to assure the long-term future of U.S. semiconductor innovation and market leadership.  

Source: TG Daily – The American Semiconductor Innovation Coalition: Taking Advantage of the Chips and Science Act

An eCommerce business is one of the easiest business models to start from home; not only that, but pick your products well and research your target market thoroughly, and you could find that you are turning over a profit in no time at all with very little by way of outlay and minimal amounts of hard work involved. 

But how exactly do you do this? Here are several key factors to consider.

#1 Office Space

It goes without saying that you will require an area to work from, whether it is a spare room that can be turned into your office or a corner of an already used room where you can set up a laptop to work. Your storage space will also be dependent on whether you are looking for a dropship eCommerce business or a more conventional one.

#2 Passion for Your Products

When it comes to selling anything, it is far easier to entice buyers and get your desired price per unit if you are genuinely interested in what you are selling. If you are interested in your products, you will know more about them, giving your potential customers the feeling that they are dealing with a specialist or expert in your particular niche. It will also mean that you enjoy what you are doing, so running your operations and making a profit will come more naturally.

#3 Means of Transport

Of course, you will have to consider your shipping options, and when it comes to shipping abroad, you will do well to use the services of a shipping broker to ensure you are getting the best possible prices. 

However, suppose you find that your customers are on your doorstep or it would be expensive to get a shipping company involved. In that case, you will need to make sure you have reliable transport that is big enough to carry your products to the local post office. You might even want to deliver your goods to customers if they are within driving distance to you, which might be a more convenient idea, not to mention it can save a lot on shipping. 

Plus, it’s not just about delivering your goods or posting your items to your customers; as a business owner, you will need a vehicle anyway since you will be doing runs not only to the post office but also to your accountant’s office, suppliers and stores, and many other establishments you need to go to as part of your business operations.

Wherever you need to go for whatever reason, purchasing a brand new car straight off of the manufacturer’s conveyor belt is an expensive thing to do; however, buying one of the used cars east Lothian specialist dealers have may be far more in your business budget. 

#4 A Platform to Sell From

You will also have to select a selling platform to showcase your products on. It is always best to pick more than one platform while monitoring where every sale is coming from so you can see which platforms are doing better and which are underperforming. These can be sites such as eBay, Amazon, Shopify, and Esty, as well as social media platforms. Having your own website is also imperative within this market to ensure that you are getting all of the sales that you possibly can, but in this, it is a good idea to have a qualified and experienced web designer on board and an SEO expert.

Written by Rida Sheppard

Source: TG Daily – How to Start a Profitable eCommerce Business from Home

The US Department of the Treasury has announced sanctions against the virtual currency mixer Tornado Cash, which it claims has helped launder more than $455m for the Lazarus Group, a hacking organization associated with the North Korean government.

The sanctions prohibit Americans from using the mixer and freeze any of its US assets.

The Lazarus Group – a North Korean state-sponsored hacking group – is under US sanctions and has been responsible for several significant data breaches, including one against Sony Pictures in 2014.

A United Nations panel that monitors sanctions on North Korea has accused Pyongyang of using stolen funds to support its nuclear and ballistic missile programs to circumvent sanctions.

US sanctions cryptocurrency service allegedly used by North Korea for money laundering

The US Treasury on Monday sanctioned Tornado Cash, a virtual currency mixer, for its use by cybercriminals, including those under US sanctions.

Continue reading on CNN

Tornado Cash crackdown by Treasury puts honest crypto investors at risk of criminal exposure

The U.S. Treasury’s blacklisting of Tornado Cash on Monday will do more than just take down criminals.

Continue reading on CNBC

N.Korea may be behind new $100 mln cryptocurrency hack, experts say

North Korean hackers are most likely behind an attack last week that stole as much as $100 million in cryptocurrency from a U.S. company, three digital investigative firms have concluded.

Continue reading on Reuters

Source: TG Daily – U.S. Announces Sanctions Against Currency Mixer Firm Tornado Cash

This is a comprehensive guide on preparing for the coding interview. All aspects of learning and preparing for an interview are covered in detail in this book.

You’ve come to the perfect place if you want to ace your coding interview. Upon finishing this post, you may feel compelled to seek out additional information on the subject because “maybe I will find more tips and methods that will help me”

Applicants for coding positions must submit an application and a CV that stands out from the others. What I plan to cover in this article is interviewing for a coding position and how to prepare for it.

Algorithms & Data Structures questions are common in coding interviews at most IT businesses. The interviewer is testing your abilities to come up with a solution to an issue that you haven’t seen before. During the 45-minute interview period, you will be asked to solve one or two code challenges. When it comes to the interview, you should be prepared to identify the best solution, implement it, and then explain your reasoning behind it all.

Finally, you’ll be able to ask him any questions you have about the firm or anything else you’d like to know about. In the last section of this essay, we’ll go through all of these stages in detail.

Coding interview preparation: How can I do this?

I’d like to make it very clear from the start: there is no shortcut or method to a successful interview. The only approach to finding the best algorithmic answers is to solve as many problems as possible and then practice those solutions.

There is no method to figuring out how to answer interview questions, and if you’re seeking one, you’ll have to go elsewhere. Why wouldn’t everyone utilize this strategy and get through the interview if it existed?

So, you must realize that passing the interview is solely a matter of how much preparation you put in before the actual interview. Everything about you, including your experience, IQ, and so on, has already been established. As a result, the amount of practice time devoted to the exam will determine whether a candidate succeeds or fails.

A common coding language like C/C++, Java, or Python is a good place to start. For the most part, just three languages are accepted: English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Stick with the one you like most. Don’t make the decision to switch languages midway through the preparation process. In this essay, I will assume that you already know the grammar of the language you’ve selected.

The typical focus of an Algorithms and Data Structures interview is on the candidate’s ability to code. In order to be successful in the interview, you must have a firm grasp on a number of foundational concepts, which you should know inside and out.

The algorithms and data structures you must be familiar with are listed below. In order to help you learn, I’ve arranged them according to significance.

After reading this essay, if you are unfamiliar with a large number of subjects, you must immediately begin practicing. Don’t waste your time searching the internet for further information. Simply go and practice. Remind yourself of this fact: The more practice you put into the interview process, the better your chances of winning it. Achieving greater levels of difficulty is entirely within your power.

Get a handle on the issue

During the interview, the interviewer will provide an overview of the topic you’ll be working on. When I say “briefly,” it’s because I don’t want to offer you too many specifics like what data you’ll be receiving or what limits apply. It’s your responsibility to ask for the resources you need to tackle the issue. Check your understanding by saying the phrase aloud a second time.If you want to know how to prepare for the coding interview in one month then you must click on the link mentioned here.

Source: TG Daily – What is a Coding Interview?

This week I had a chance to see one of the most interesting efforts to move a vertical market toward a more advanced technology. That market was manufacturing, and the technology is 3D printing. HP has a significant effort in Barcelona, Spain which involves working in partnership with a number of other 3D printer companies and solutions providers to enable manufacturing to overcome the kinds of logistics and support nightmares that occur both due to the unusual number of natural and manmade disasters we have been experiencing and the need to support products long after they are sold.  

The effort is called IAM3DHUB and it is supported by the Spanish government in what is one of the most impressive efforts to assure a country benefits from the coming disruption of more advanced technology.  

Let us explore HP’s 3D effort in the context of IAM3DHUB. 

The problem with transitioning a complex industry

3D printing is a game changer but, right now, it is used for prototyping which is low-volume work that has historically been done by fabricators. Industrial 3D printing equipment is not cheap, and while small companies survive making 3D printers focused on prototyping, the goal is to transition 3D printing into a production-level technology so that it can be used in general manufacturing.

HP’s effort is targeted at this more important and potentially far more profitable and powerful effort but, to do that, the industry must introduce it into the production process and displace whatever process, equipment, or supplier that currently makes the parts the 3D printer will be asked to make.

This means there are a massive number of potential dependencies, ranging from how the parts are qualified and assured, to how the parts are integrated into an existing manufacturing process. Having to shut down or slow down a line to accommodate a new technology is, for manufacturers, an unacceptable risk, so they must be confident that the technology is not only reliable but can work as part of an existing process. 

Granted, eventually, 3D printers will take on much of this process and the process will have to eventually be redesigned for that future, but neither the industry nor the technology is yet ready for that future technical revolution, which means no vendor, not even one as capable as HP, can possibly do this alone. 

IAM3DHUB

The IAM3DHUB is an impressive effort that brings together a large number of companies that can address a far broader set of manufacturing needs collectively than any one vendor can. The companies involved cover a variety of different materials and sizes ranging from low volume large parts, to prototyping equipment, to materials validation, software creation, testing, materials creation and analysis, and targeted expertise in markets like automotive and medical where the need for 3D printed capabilities ranges from parts for older machines to parts for older people (prosthetics and replacement joints). 

Collectively the vendors at the facility could build most of the non-electronic or electrical parts of a car ranging from body parts to, using carbon fiber tubes, the load-carrying parts of a vehicle. Imagine how critical this technology might be to countries at war (like Ukraine) where the only way to get replacement parts is from another country. 

But as we watch factories shut down because they cannot get parts, having 3D printers that can step in and provide those parts could make the difference between those companies surviving or not during times of localized pandemics or wars that make manufacturing and delivery of those parts impossible. 

And, if we look at the efforts to put bases on the moon and mars, the ability to print parts will be critical to keeping those bases viable because the cost and time needed to ship by rocket would make them non-viable pretty quickly as too costly or unable to respond to catastrophic problems quickly enough to save the bases. 

Wrapping up:

The only way to move quickly in an industry like manufacturing with a new technology is through partnerships that can collectively address all the integration aspects of that technology. Otherwise, it will be overlooked until the industry itself steps up. It has happened, like when the industry moved from using water and steam to electricity. But it took decades. 

By working with IAM3DHUB, HP has shown it’s willing to partner to make the transition to 3D printing in manufacturing viable much more quickly. While it won’t result in overnight changes, it should reduce the time needed to make this transition from decades to years, and for some companies, from years to months, creating the baseline of successful implementations in less time.  

The Spanish government and the companies supporting this effort should be credited with having the vision to assure a faster evolution of 3D printing into the mainstream and affirms that Spain is one of the countries leading the charge into the amazing future of this revolutionary technology.

Source: TG Daily – How IAM3DHUB, Spain, and HP Are Building for the 3D Printed Future

The world is not what it used to be. The pandemic, the Ukraine crisis, and current inflation are reminders of how fragile our perceived normal is.

Such extreme fluctuations in the business environment pose a major challenge for companies. Having the ability to navigate a company through crises and reducing exposure to a minimum, will most probably determine a business’s capability to survive.

Although software development might not be a core component of many companies, it is a crucial pillar for day-to-day business operations. The question is how big a role does software development play in reducing risk.

Crises are the new disruptors

As much as we all prefer to live and work in a predictable environment, the past few years have shown us that Murphy had a point when he said “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong”, usually at the worst possible time.

A crisis is only a crisis if it catches you off guard. As Nassim Taleb pointed out in his book “The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable”, the butcher showing up is only a surprise for the turkey.

How do you “avoid being the turkey”? By being prepared, agile, and knowing your weaknesses.

To identify vulnerabilities in a business you need to know how every department is performing internally and compared to the competition. State-of-the-art information gathering and tailored analytics are your best bet to stay on top of things.

No matter where you look, everything is dependent on bits and bytes. There is no doubt on the importance of hiring a dedicated team of IT specialists for business success, but for some companies, the jury is still out on whether to or not to outsource.

Outsourcing is the natural choice

The web is full of articles stating the obvious advantages of outsourcing, like cost reduction, agility, efficiency, and instant access to expertise. These should be enough to tip the scale in favor of outsourcing for most departments. Nevertheless, there are a few arguments to strengthen the case for outsourcing as opposed to in-house software development.

Disruptive technologies are now sustainable innovations

It is no secret that keeping up with technology can be challenging, to say the least.

Just a few years ago the cloud and machine learning were buzz words, disruptive technologies that were out to revolutionize the industry. Now the disruptors of yesterday are technologies that we take for granted and are even crucial for success.

The point is, unless you have an enormous IT department and budget, you will automatically fall behind on the latest developments. If a business misses out only one generation of technical development, they will feel the disadvantage, compared to competitors, immediately. The more iterations a business misses out on, the more expensive and time-consuming catching up will become. 

On the other hand, tech companies and developers’ livelihood depends on being up to date with the latest developments. Their job is to keep up with the market and new technologies, train their people accordingly and deliver solutions to customers in a timely manner. Trying to keep up, or even compete, with specialized tech companies is expensive, risky, and fruitless.

In short – let the professionals do their job.

Flexibility

Flexibility and adaptability are key factors for weathering market fluctuations.

Software engineering is not a straightforward science like civil engineering or the likes. There is no proven right way to build something. There are tools and techniques available to reach a goal, but maybe a thousand ways to get there. Usually, you will not know if you took the right route until you manage to reach your destination.   

When pursuing new strategies or experimenting with ideas, having the freedom to hire a dedicated team at short notice is an enormous advantage that can only be realized through outsourcing. It is always comforting to know that you can change your horse if it is not getting you anywhere.

Conclusion

Business IT needs are becoming more complex and diverse, to the extent that even maintaining a web presence can be a challenging task. If technology is not your core business, there is no need to invest company resources in an industry that isn’t yours. 

Written by Scott Weathers

Source: TG Daily – Software development outsourcing role in risk management

On Thursday, the Biden Administration declared monkeypox a public health emergency in the U.S.

As the United States counts more infections from monkeypox than any other country in the world, health experts are providing more details on how the virus is transmitted.

The virus spreads through skin-to-skin contact. While that may sound similar to COVID-19, Dr. Linda Yancey, infectious disease specialist at the Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston, tells that “this is not a respiratory virus. It is not like COVID, which spreads primarily through the air. Monkeypox is transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. I know a lot of the cases here have been transmitted through sex, but it’s not a sexually transmitted disease,” she explains. “That being said, it can be spread by large respiratory droplets,” Yancey adds.

“So, monkeypox is a sibling of smallpox. This could absolutely be transmitted in that fashion,” Yancey says. “So any high touch items like money, doorknobs, shopping carts, have the potential for transmission. Once again, this is not COVID”.

Hand sanitizers and cleaners are highly effective at killing this virus, according to Yancey. Health experts also suggest returning to social distancing practices and limiting close contact, which can lower the risk for infection.

African monkeypox cases not concentrated among gay men, experts say

Monkeypox outbreaks in Africa are not concentrated among gay men, unlike in other parts of the world, experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa CDC said on Thursday.

Continue reading on Reuters

What To Know About Monkeypox Risk For Dogs (Or Cats)

We’re still learning which animals can contract monkeypox, but experts say the chances you can give your dog or cat the virus are slim.

Continue reading on BuzzFeed News

Monkeypox cases are on the rise: What you need to know about the painful disease

An international monkeypox outbreak, which began in May 2022, has prompted the World Health Organization to declare a global health emergency.

Continue reading on

Source: TG Daily – Can Monkeypox Spread Through Objects Like Doorknobs?

Honesty is the best policy in business and in life. Commercial general liability insurance is the policy a small business needs to protect the business and its owners, their achievements, and wealth in an increasingly litigious society, advises Toronto-based insurtech co-founder, advisor, and early/emerging stage investor Neil Mitchell.

For many small business owners, the purchase of commercial liability insurance is considered a “grudge” purchase. It is often seen as a necessary evil, a cost of doing business, with little associated value other than to meet insurance requirements imposed on them by financial lenders, landlords, licensing boards, regulators, governments, clients, and other third parties.

Despite it being a “nuisance” expense, commercial general liability insurance provides valuable financial protection to the balance sheet and income statement of a small business. By paying an insurance premium, a known and fixed cost today, small business owners protect themselves against unknown costs that may arise from future and potentially catastrophic events.

“With small businesses, the personal wealth of the business owner is on the line when the business is sued for alleged bodily injuries and property damage,” says Mitchell. “The insurance purchase affords the small business access to an insurer’s financial resources to pay claims that would otherwise cause significant financial strain to a small business and its owner.”

Legal claims arising out of bodily injuries to a third party caused by the operations of a small business are covered by a commercial general liability insurance policy. A familiar illustration would be the payment of a customer’s medical expenses if the customer is injured on the property of a small business. If that customer also sues the small business, the commercial general liability insurance would also pay defense costs and any associated legal settlement.

In addition to bodily injury claims, commercial general liability insurance covers a small business owner against third-party claims for property damage. A property damage liability claim could be caused by an employee damaging a customer’s laptop, or an outdoor sign falling on a customer’s SUV. If a customer’s property is damaged because of the operations of a small business, the customer can make a claim and the commercial general liability insurance will cover it. For a small business that leases business space, their commercial general liability insurance generally also covers damage to the leased space caused by fire, water damage or severe weather.

Commercial general liability policies often apply to certain claim situations you might not expect, says Mitchell, such as advertising claims. Many commercial general liability insurance policies offer advertising injury coverage, which can help pay for your legal expenses when you’re accused of advertising wrongs.

Most advertising injury claims are brought against a business by a competitor. For example, a small business that owns a small chain of beauty salons creates a print ad that contains a photo of one of their customers. They did not obtain permission from the customer to use their photo and the customer sues the small business operator for violating their privacy.

Conversely, commercial general liability insurance policies exclude many other types of claims. For example, in the case of an employee who sues a small business for an on-the-job injury, a commercial general liability policy would not pay claims for damages. Commercial general liability insurance does not cover workplace injuries that happen to employees or other people on the small business payroll. Instead, workplace injuries are covered by workers’ compensation insurance.

Commercial general liability insurance for small businesses does NOT provide coverage for circumstances such as:

• Employment disputes
• Professional errors and omissions in performing business services
• Cyberattacks that disable key business operating systems, destroy electronic data records, or result in potential identity theft
• Business interruption caused by natural disasters or government-declared disasters
• Business interruption caused by employee sickness or injury
• And many other circumstances

“Nor would a small business and its owner(s) be shielded from any intentional acts that led to damage or injury,” says Mitchell. “Accusations of sexual harassment will also usually not be covered.”

Sometimes commercial general liability coverage is part of a package of policies, often referred to as a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP), which may include property, crime, and mechanical equipment breakdown insurance.

“Depending on the nature of the small business, it may be prudent to add on coverage beyond BOP insurance,” he suggests. Popular choices include umbrella and excess insurance; product liability insurance; employment practices liability insurance; professional liability insurance, sometimes known as errors and omissions coverage; cyber insurance; and directors’ and officers’ insurance.

Each policy will indicate a maximum amount limit for the term of the policy and a per-occurrence and total aggregate limit. The coverage is usually purchased as a “claims made policy” which will provide protection against claims made during a specific period. Broader coverage known as an “occurrence policy” can protect against claims that are made many years after the occurrence of a particular incident.

As with all insurance, a myriad of variables affect the cost of insurance, such as the scope of coverage sought or required, and the risk profile (i.e., businesses in high-risk industries will pay more). In addition, insurance rates and premiums are higher for businesses located in areas prone to severe weather, including wildfires, floods, tornadoes and earthquakes.

Engaging the services of a professional insurance broker is the first step for small businesses to ensure they have the most cost-effective and comprehensive form of insurance protection.

The insurance broker will assess the small business’s risks, check which types of coverage others in your industry are carrying, and assess the legal climate in your industry and jurisdiction. The insurance broker will actively solicit numerous insurers to structure the best coverage terms for the small business, and in the event of a claim serve as a critical advocate for the small business owner.

“A good insurance broker secures the best coverage for their client and provides critical advocacy, advice, and support through the claim process,” says Mitchell.

It is also important for a small business to check to see whether lower-cost coverages tailored to their specific industry and business may be available through a business association or professional or trade groups to which they belong.

Written by Lara Harper

Source: TG Daily – Why Small Businesses Need Commercial General Liability Insurance

Business owners are always curious about trying new ways to reach their target audience and pitch their products and services to them. Social media has proven to be one of the most effective tools to reach these goals and more.  

What exactly does a social media editor do? 

Social media editors are also known as social media managers. Their primary role revolves around helping brands oversee their social media presence. Check out some duties they perform. 

• Develop marketing strategies 

Customers’ needs are always evolving, so it’s important to create a strategy that reflects this and aligns with the brand’s goals. Social media editors design powerful marketing strategies and campaigns, whether the goal is to create awareness, get more leads, generate traffic, or increase sales.

• Curate and manage a brand image 

Social media editors are saddled with the responsibility of defining and managing the image of the brand they represent across all platforms. They also create both organic and sponsored content to establish a meaningful relationship with their target audience and spur engagement in their community. 

They maintain a consistent tone by following the style guide and ensuring that each piece of content is accurate before sharing online. Another thing is that they can deploy scheduling tools effectively.  

• Collaborate with others 

Social media editors work closely with creative directors, graphic designers, content writers, and video editors. Their relationship-building skill is top-notch. You’ll often find them brainstorming ideas with the entire marketing team and offering actionable insights to other departments.  

Apart from that, they know the traits to look out for in influencers and can quickly build rapport with the relevant ones. Social media editors will make the onboarding process for new hires in the social media department hassle-free. 

More so, they will equip them with the necessary resources to fast-track their career growth.

• Stay on top of trends 

The top social media editors have a keen interest in social media trends. They always stay alert to dig deeper into new trends and discover the best ones for each campaign. These professionals will also ensure that each trend they follow matches the values of the brand they are representing. 

Their knowledge isn’t limited to social media trends alone. They are familiar with the latest SEO best practices and the changes in the algorithm of each social media platform. 

• Track analytics 

Monitoring analytics will help you determine the effectiveness of your social media marketing strategy. Savvy social media editors know which KPIs they need to focus on during each campaign. If you’re considering any social media career, it’s best to learn how to interpret data accurately and leverage it.  

How to start your social media editor career 

Some of the skills you need to kickstart your career include: 

• Creativity 
• Strategic thinking
• Attention to detail
• An in-depth understanding of how the major social media platforms work
• Graphic design skills 
• Organizational skills 
• Ability to meet deadlines

Get certified by taking online courses if you don’t have a Bachelor’s degree in communications, advertising, or marketing. You can start your career with an entry-level role and keep evolving. Ensure you have a compelling portfolio and resume to increase your chances of securing a lucrative social media job.

Written by Rida Sheppard

Source: TG Daily – Should I Become a Social Media Editor?

CEOs worldwide know the importance of a college degree, which is why they are opening up more opportunities for young people to get one. Entrepreneurs are changing how young people earn college degrees and offering new opportunities for those who may not have considered college otherwise, such as scholarships and internships.

Scholarships

One way entrepreneurs influence today’s youth to get a college degree is by providing scholarships. Scholarships provide financial assistance to students who may not be able to afford the costs of tuition, books, and other fees associated with college. On average, scholarships can cover up to half of the cost of attending college.

The Richard Yu Scholarship

Richard Yu, founder of the Richard Yu program, is one of the entrepreneurs influencing the pursuit of higher education. In fact, he’s been very vocal about how he believes today’s youth need to get a college education to be successful.

The Richard Yu scholarship is just one example of how he’s putting his money where his mouth is. The scholarship, which was launched in 2022, is open to all students across the United States, regardless of their major.

Steve Jobs’ Memorial Scholarship

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs didn’t have a college degree, but he was a strong advocate for the importance of higher education. In his memory, Apple created the Steve Jobs Memorial Scholarship, awarded to a student who demonstrates financial need and academic excellence.

Google Lime Scholarship

Google isn’t just a search engine – it’s also one of the biggest tech companies in the world. So it’s no surprise that they offer a scholarship program for students interested in pursuing a career in technology.

The Google Lime Scholarship Program is open to students with disabilities studying computer science or related fields. If you’re selected, you’ll receive a $10,000 scholarship to help cover the cost of your education.

Zuckerberg-Chan Initiative

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, are committed to helping low-income students get a college education. Their “Zuckerberg-Chan Initiative” initiative offers full scholarships to cover the cost of attendance at any two or four-year college.

The Gates Millennium Scholars Program

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is one of the largest philanthropic organizations in the world. Their scholarship, the “Gates Millennium Scholars Program,” provides full scholarships to low-income students of color interested in pursuing a degree in any field of study.

Paid Internships

In addition to scholarships, entrepreneurs also provide opportunities for young people to earn college credits through paid internships. Paid internships are a great way to get real-world experience in your chosen field of study while also earning college credit. And, unlike traditional internships, you’ll be getting paid for your work.

Microsoft

Microsoft is one of the most well-known technology companies in the world, and they offer a paid internship program for students interested in pursuing a career in technology. As a paid intern at Microsoft, you’ll gain valuable experience in the tech industry while also earning college credit.

The Microsoft paid internship program is open to students currently enrolled in an accredited college or university.

Amazon

Like Microsoft, Amazon is a giant in the tech industry. And they also offer a paid internship program for students who want to get experience in the field. Internships are offered in various departments, including but not limited to operations, software development, human resources, and marketing.

The Walt Disney Company

One of the largest entertainment enterprises in the world, The Walt Disney Company employs interns interested in the entertainment industry, including film, television, and digital media. Interns at Disney have the opportunity to work on some of the most popular movies, tv shows, and theme park attractions.

School-to-work Passports

Another way that entrepreneurs are helping young people get college credit is through school-to-work passport programs. These programs provide opportunities for students to earn college credit while working at a participating company.

Marriott International

Marriott International is one of the largest hospitality companies in the world. And they offer a school-to-work passport program called “Career Transition for Dancers.” This program provides an opportunity for dancers to earn college credit while working at Marriott hotels around the world as part of the hotel’s entertainment staff. The program is open to dancers who are 18 years or older and have a high school diploma or equivalent.

Hilton Worldwide

Hilton Worldwide is another large hospitality company that offers a school-to-work passport program. Their program, called “Hospitality Management,” provides an opportunity for students to earn college credit while working at Hilton hotels worldwide. The program focuses on providing students with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the hospitality industry.

Sodexo

Sodexo is a food service company that offers a program called “Culinary Arts.” This program allows students to work in the culinary arts department of Sodexo’s food service operations. Students learn about the food service industry from a hands-on perspective and earn credit that can be transferred to a college or university.

Ernst & Young

Ernst & Young LLP is a global accounting firm that offers a school-to-work passport program called the “Accounting Career Awareness Program.” This program allows students to learn about the accounting profession by working directly with Ernst & Young accountants.

Volunteering = College Credits

Many students don’t realize that volunteering can also lead to college credit. If you volunteer for a non-profit organization, you may be able to get college credit for your work.

The Corporation for National and Community Service

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is a government agency that offers opportunities for students to earn college credit through volunteering. CNCS has “AmeriCorps,” a national service program that places volunteers in communities around the United States. AmeriCorps volunteers work on a variety of projects, including but not limited to tutoring and mentoring, disaster relief, environmental conservation, and public health.

The Peace Corps

The Peace Corps is a US government agency that offers opportunities for students to earn college credit through volunteering. Peace Corps volunteers serve in communities worldwide on various projects, including but not limited to education, health, and economic development.

Final Thoughts

Thanks to the work of entrepreneurs like Richard Yu, there are many different ways to get college credits to make higher education more accessible and attainable. If you’re interested in earning college credit, explore the options available to you and find the one that best fits your needs and interests. There’s no one right way to get college credit, so experiment and see what works best for you.

Written by Lara Harper

Source: TG Daily – Four Ways Entrepreneurs Like Richard Yu Are Influencing Today’s Youth To Get A College Degree

This week, NVIDIA had a long session on Recommender Systems, and I believe they are the future of retail, and I don’t just mean for online retail. They will also revolutionize brick-and-mortar retail as the two concepts, brick and mortar and online, merge into something that eventually blends the best of both approaches.  

Recommender Systems are AI-driven platforms. They’re currently used almost exclusively for online shopping and serve up offers that increasingly target a single customer’s unique needs and work to increase sales volumes. They also have the potential to improve customer satisfaction and loyalty if these systems allow the product experience to be over by just driving the close.  

Let’s talk about Recommender Systems this week and how they are revolutionizing retail and things like social media.  

Creating the perfect AI salesperson 

A Recommender System works like a good retail salesperson but at scale. The best salespeople do their homework on their clients, know what the clients enjoy, know what they hate, know their hot buttons and know their priorities, and use that information to craft an offer that the client can’t refuse.  

It is all about packaging up, and sometimes making up, information that will help them initially gain consideration and eventually close the sale. In theory, a Recommender System is like the best salesperson on steroids because it learns from anything about the prospect that is available online, as well as from prior engagements, which may have been with different companies that sold that intelligence on the prospect to them. 

Using Amazon as an example, the cookies that have fed the service, past purchasing behavior, and things you have been interested in online fuel a set of recommendations that shoppers get when they arrive at the site. Be it books or movies, or appliances and toys, Amazon seems to know what you may be interested in and provides pictures of those items to drive you to the sale. But those efforts are relatively rudimentary when compared to what NVIDIA was talking about at the event.

For instance, NVIDIA spoke about dynamically building choices of products that were themselves designed to force a particular decision. For instance, a retailer needs to move Dyson Vacuums which are expensive, so they surface up a choice of vacuums where the Dysen appears to the closest match to what the buyer might eventually purchase. The user thinks they’re making the choice because they were manipulated into choosing what the vendor wanted them to buy.  

The danger with Recommender Systems is being overly good at tricking buyers into buying something they don’t want and bleeding customer trust and satisfaction as a result. So, care must be taken not to manipulate customers into buying something they were tricked into buying, and instead being laser-focused on making sure the customer got the deal they were convinced they got.  

This requires a great deal of intelligence about the buyer and a strong understanding of how systems like this can be manipulated to do harm and making sure that they assure a positive customer outcome instead.  

This means that the implementation must have conflicting goals to both move merchandise and assure customer satisfaction and loyalty, or the latter will be sacrificed to the former and the business become unsustainable.  

The system itself must be in a constant development loop to ensure it remains current and thus can carry out its objectives of driving sales and improving customer satisfaction and loyalty successfully.  And, if done right, it should create a level of customer engagement that is not seen out of personalized brick-and-mortar shops with great sales reps.  

And realize, that there is no reason why someone entering one of these physical stores couldn’t be identified and then guided to a unique set of items that best match that customer’s needs and drive additional sales.  

Wrapping up: The future of retail

We don’t have enough great salespeople. Heck, we don’t have enough salespeople, period. And online, the quality, availability, and loyalty of salespeople has been suboptimal for some time. What a well-deployed Recommender System can do is digitize the sales experience, more consistently close sales opportunities, and provide a lower-cost, more effective alternative to salespeople who are currently in very short supply. 

Deployed properly, Recommender Systems significantly increase sales and profits while improving customer satisfaction and assuring customer loyalty. This is how the best retail sites are likely to differentiate both for online and brick-and-mortar stores as the AI future becomes the present.  

Source: TG Daily – NVIDIA Recommender Systems and the Future of Retail

Over the past several months, there has been much debate surrounding the viability of NFTs and the overall Web3 industry. Several high-profile business figures have made strong statements challenging the value and desirability of this future-looking technology. 

Microsoft Co-Founder Bill Gates, for example, recently criticized NFTs and crypto, asserting that these digital assets are “100% based on greater fool theory.” He also took a shot at the value of the Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs, sarcastically joking that “expensive digital images of monkeys are going to improve the world immensely.”

In response to this public dialogue, Web3 leader droppLabs recently produced and will soon release an innovative “spoof” public service announcement featuring award-winning actor, Eric Roberts. 

The commercial opens with Roberts ranting about the risks associated with the “modern-day scam” that is Web3, crypto, NFTs, etc. At first glance, the diatribe seems like just another high-profile personality criticizing these emerging technologies. However, as Roberts continues his damning condemnation, it becomes increasingly clear that something strange is happening. While speaking, to his shock and chagrin, Roberts is gradually transformed into an ape. But not just any ape — he morphs into Bored Ape Yacht Club #7792, aka “Ske.”

The video goes on to promote the recently launched TrufflezNFT, the first-ever NFT project to offer fractional ownership of the IP associated with a legal cannabis grow room. Ske will also continue to be featured as a host for TrufflezNFT content.

droppLabs developed this groundbreaking video as a parody of the recent “pile on” criticism that’s often fueled by misunderstanding. “At droppLabs, we are on the cutting edge of innovation and believe in the power of authenticated digital technology to drive vested value for consumers and companies,” commented Gurps Rai, Chief Executive Officer of droppLabs. “Unfortunately, most people are very confused by Web3, by either the terminology, the application, or both – which has led to widespread criticism. That’s why we focus on translating and delivering this technology in a simple, very impactful way, to deliver transformative solutions for our clients and individual users.” 

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW BEHIND-THE-SCENES CONTENT OF THE VIDEO SHOOT

Source: TG Daily – “From Eric to Ape” – Web3 droppLabs Releases PSA with Actor Eric Roberts and Bored Ape Yacht Club #7792