Courtesy of: The Shelf
",1731883645,6a3fac543f,4d954273bc,,,1731883645
-https://www.hrbartender.com/2024/training/new-lifelong-learner-artificial-age/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=new-lifelong-learner-artificial-age,https://www.hrbartender.com/feed/,The New Lifelong Learner in the Artificial Intelligence Age,"Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
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-We’re all familiar with the concept of the lifelong learner. It’s a term to encourage us to always be learning new things, even as we age and leave the workforce. Wikipedia defines it as “ongoing, voluntary, and self- motivated pursuit of learning for personal or professional reasons”.
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-But I came across an article on Entrepreneur recently titled “Empowering the Future: Upskilling and Reskilling Talent in the Age of Generative AI” that got me thinking about what lifelong learning means today. And maybe there are new considerations when we discuss being a lifelong learner, both as an employee as well as an individual.
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-Lifelong learning might have “requirements”. One of the things that struck me about the Wikipedia definition of lifelong learning is that it sounds like any subject you want to learn is fine. Just keep learning. That could be okay … to a point. Today’s technology might require us to learn about topics that were not on our “learning” list – like artificial intelligence. For example: The workforce today might benefit from learning about AI and keeping current with the topic.
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-Lifelong learners might find they need to “learn faster”. Sometimes when we think about lifelong learning, it’s related to topics we’ve “always wanted to learn but never had the time. We might say to ourselves, “I’ve always wanted to take a calligraphy class.” and hope we get around to it someday. But with today’s technology, we might find that the pace of new advancements is forcing us to learn faster just to keep current. Organizations that sometimes tend to push training into the background might find that they need to do even more training, so employees have the information they need to do their jobs.
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-Lifelong learners might have to become “flexible”. It can be confusing to try to learn too many things at the same time. Especially if they are complex topics with many facets. That being said, with the speed of technology in today’s workplaces, we might have to start learning something – shift to another topic – and then shift back. This is going to require learners to have a way to pick up where they left off in their learning process. Maybe an emphasis on note taking? It’s also going to require learning designers to consider how learners can get a quick refresher on things they had shifted away from.
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-Lifelong learning design will change. If the future of learning is fast-paced and flexible, that leads me to believe that learning design will be focused on shorter learning sessions that require high impact results. Instructional designers will need to update their skills for this type of design. And learners will need to prepare themselves for that style of learning. It might not be everyone’s favorite way to learn so finding ways to peacefully coexist with it could be necessary.
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-Whether you’re learning something for work or your personal life, being a lifelong learner is important. There are plenty of studies that show keeping our brains active matters. But it doesn’t mean that learning won’t change and that we might be forced to change with it. As lifelong learners, this is our opportunity to spend time thinking about how we like to learn and fully embracing it.
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-There could be times when we can learn something that we want to learn in the format that we want to learn it. Then there might be times when we must learn something because we have to and in a way we really don’t like. Now is the time to think about how we can take those less-than-ideal learning scenarios and make them into a better experience. Because not doing them might not be an option.
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-Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring the streets of Las Vegas, NV",1731883669,de7efe2695,4eb0dbe32d,,,1731883669
-https://justcreative.com/ai-image-upscalers/,https://justcreative.com/feed/,7 Best AI Image Upscalers to Boost Quality and Resolution,"What Do We Think About VideoProc Converter AI
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-What Do We Think About Upscale.media
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-What Do We Think About HitPaw AI Photo Enhancer Online
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-What Do We Think About Adobe Photoshop
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-What Do We Think About Luminar Neo
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-What Do We Think About Topaz Gigapixel AI’s Image Resolution
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-What Do We Think About Aiarty Image Enhancer
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-In the world of digital creativity, image quality is everything. But enlarging images often leads to pixelation, blurriness, and loss of detail. That’s where AI image upscaling comes in.
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-AI image upscalers use artificial intelligence to increase image resolution without sacrificing quality. This makes AI upscaling a game-changer for many creative professionals. Graphic designers can upscale images for large-scale projects without losing sharpness. Content creators can improve the clarity of Stable Diffusion or Midjourney AI visuals for websites, social media, or marketing campaigns.
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-sponsored message
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-In this post, you’ll discover some of the best AI image upscalers available today. Each tool offers unique features, and we’ll guide you in finding the one that best fits your needs.
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-Also be sure to check out our articles on the best AI tools, photo editing software and laptops for photo editing.
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-What Is an AI Image Upscaler?
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-An AI image upscaler is a tool that uses artificial intelligence to enhance an image’s size while maintaining—or even improving—its quality. Unlike traditional upscaling methods, which stretch existing pixels and often result in blurry images, AI image upscalers analyze and reconstruct images to increase image resolution. They identify patterns, textures, and details, filling in gaps intelligently to create sharp, realistic visuals—even when enlarged. For creative professionals, this difference is crucial. With AI upscaling, you can enlarge images for high-quality prints, large displays, or digital content without worrying about losing detail or introducing blur. Best AI Image Upscalers – Top 7 Each AI image enhancer has unique features for different needs. Below, we’ve listed some of the best AI image upscalers to help you find the best fit.
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-sponsored message
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-Aiarty Image Enhancer — Best AI Image Upscaler Balancing Quality & Simplicity Topaz Gigapixel AI — Best for Exceptional Upscaling Quality (Maximum Resolutions) Luminar Neo — Best for Easy & Minimal Setup Adobe Photoshop — Best for Adobe CC subscribers HitPaw AI Photo Enhancer Online — Best Online AI Image Upscaler for Faces Upscale.media — Best Free Online Image Upscaler Videoproc AI — Best for Photos & Video Let’s dive in!
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-How Image Upscaling Works Image upscaling works by employing sophisticated AI algorithms to analyze the original image and predict the missing pixels needed to create a higher-resolution version. This process involves a series of complex calculations that consider the image’s texture, patterns, and colors. The AI algorithm then uses this information to generate new pixels that seamlessly integrate into the original image, resulting in a higher-resolution version that is virtually indistinguishable from the original. By using AI to upscale images, you can enhance image resolution and quality, making your visuals sharper and more detailed, even when enlarged.
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-Image Quality and Resolution Image quality and resolution are two critical factors that determine the overall appearance of an image. Image quality refers to the level of detail and clarity, while resolution refers to the number of pixels that make up the image. sponsored message
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-A higher resolution image typically contains more pixels, resulting in a more detailed and clearer image. However, increasing the resolution without compromising quality is a challenging task. This is where image upscaling comes into play. By using AI algorithms to upscale images, it is possible to increase the resolution without losing quality, resulting in a sharper and more detailed image. Whether you’re working with blurry images or looking to enhance image resolution for professional use, AI image upscalers can help you achieve an enhanced image that meets your needs.
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-1. Aiarty Image Enhancer
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-Pricing: Free trial; Premium subscription available from $75 on sale Compatibility: Windows 10 (x64) 1809 or higher; macOS 10.15 or higher Upscaling Options: 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x or customizable resolutions Supported Image Formats: JPG, JPEG, PNG, TIF, TIFF, WebP, BMP, RAW formats like DNG, CR3, CRW, ERF, DRF, RWL, RAW, etc. Aiarty Image Enhancer is ideal for those who want powerful upscaling results with minimal effort. It offers features like Denoise, Deblur, More Details, and Upscaling to help improve image quality. It’s an automatic 4-in-1 process, so you can maximize your efforts by letting the AI do the heavy repetitive work and focus on the creative part. This AI photo enhancer is well-trained to ensure content-aware and optimal performance. It offers three AI models to handle various restoration challenges, from denoising and deblurring to enhancing intricate details like skin, hair, and textures. Additionally, Aiarty Image Enhancer supports upscaling images up to 800% and 32K resolution on Windows and 16K on macOS. By increasing photo resolution, it ensures that enlarged photos remain sharp and free from pixelation, preserving the original quality. Its user-friendly interface and efficient batch processing allows you to restore large volumes of photos quickly and effortlessly. Even better, it’s specially optimized for NVIDIA/AMD/Intel GPU and CPU for lower system requirements and better performance, making it an ideal tool for both professionals and hobbyists for everyday uses. Key Features: 4-in-1 AI image enhancement: denoise, deblur, more details, and upscale
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-3 well-trained AI models for different image types
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-High-quality upscaling up to 8X and 32K on Windows and 16K on macOS
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-Batch processing 1000+ images simultaneously Pros: Simple and intuitive interface requiring no advanced editing skills
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-Optimized for hardware acceleration, including NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel GPUs and CPUs
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-Extensive format support, including RAW format
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-Preserve prompts for AI images from Stable Diffusion, etc. Cons: Lack of support for Linux Ideal Users: Aiarty Image Enhancer is ideal for graphic designers and digital artists who want a balance of quality and simplicity. It’s a great choice if you need high-quality upscaling for web and print without a steep learning curve. What Do We Think About Aiarty Image Enhancer Aiarty Image Enhancer stands out for its ease of use and reliable output quality. Its lower system requirements and automatic 4-in-1 image enhancement make it easy to achieve impressive results without extensive setup. For creatives looking for simplicity without sacrificing quality, Aiarty Image Enhancer is an excellent choice.
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-2. Topaz Gigapixel AI
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-Pricing: Free trial; $99 for personal uses plus 12 months of updates Compatibility: Windows 10 or 11; macOS Big Sur 11.0 and higher Upscaling Options: 1x, 2x, 4x, 6x sponsored message
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-Supported Image Formats: JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and RAW files Topaz Gigapixel AI is widely known for its dedicated focus on AI-powered image upscaling. Unlike general image editing software, Gigapixel AI specializes in enlarging images, producing results that retain intricate details and sharpness, even at high levels of magnification. The Resize Mode allows you to increase image resolution up to 6x the original resolution. Specialized AI models handle different types of images and enhance specific features. Its straightforward interface and batch processing capabilities also add convenience. However, this AI image upscaler requires a powerful setup to run smoothly. Key Features: Resize Mode to increase image resolution up to 6x the original resolution
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-Specialized AI models for different image types
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-Additional settings to Sharpen, Denoise, and Fix Compression
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-Face Recovery for human facial details Pros: Powerful AI upscaling to maintain detail and sharpness
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-Batch processing to upscale multiple images simultaneously
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-Option to use with Lightroom or Photoshop as plugins Cons: Higher price tag
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-Higher system requirements for optimal performance
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-Slower processing time with large or high-resolution files Ideal Users: Topaz Gigapixel AI is ideal for photographers and digital artists who require the highest quality upscaling, particularly when detail preservation is essential. It’s also well-suited for projects involving large prints or detailed visuals.
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-What Do We Think About Topaz Gigapixel AI’s Image Resolution
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-Gigapixel AI is a top choice for creatives who need exceptional upscaling quality. This AI image enlarger can retain textures even at large magnifications, which can be especially valuable for photographers and designers. Although it may have a higher initial cost, its one-time purchase option makes it attractive for those looking for a long-term investment without ongoing fees.
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-3. Luminar Neo
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-Pricing: 7-day free trial; $69 for 12 months subscription, $99 for lifetime license Compatibility: Win 10 (64-bit OS, version 1909 or higher); macOS 12.0 or higher sponsored message
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-Upscaling Options: up to 6x Supported Image Formats: PNG, JPEG, TIFF, PSD, HEIC, Raw Formats (CR2, CR3, DNG, etc.) Luminar Neo is a robust image editing software known for its AI-driven approach to enhancing photos. It provides creatives with powerful editing options that automate complex tasks, from basic adjustments to sophisticated retouching. Its Upscale AI feature allows you to upscale an image up to 6x its original resolution while maintaining sharpness and fine details. This enhancement in photo resolution ensures that enlarged photos remain sharp and free from pixelation. Open Luminar Neo as a stand-alone program, then you can access Upscale AI in the Resolution Enhancement section of the Catalog view. Besides the Upscale AI, you can enjoy a wide range of editing tools like portrait bokeh, background removal, sky replacement, etc. The software’s intuitive AI-powered controls automate complicated multi-step tasks. Key Features: Enhance image resolution up to 6x while preserving clarity
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-One-click automated upscaling
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-AI-powered editing tools for portrait bokeh, background removal, sky replacement, etc. Pros: Simplify upscaling with an easy, one-click process
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-Provide additional AI tools for a comprehensive editing experience
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-Work as a stand-alone program and Photoshop, Lightroom, and Photos plugin Cons: Fewer adjustments compared to other image upscalers
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-Some operations are slow Ideal Users: Luminar Neo is perfect for users seeking an intuitive tool that combines AI upscaling with other editing features without manual effort. What Do We Think About Luminar Neo Luminar Neo’s Upscale AI is an efficient option for those who want quality results with minimal setup. Although it has fewer adjustments than other software, it is still a solid choice for users looking for reliability and quality without extra complexity.
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-4. Adobe Photoshop
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-Pricing: Free trial; Plans starting at $22.99/mo or $59.99/mo with Creative Cloud Compatibility: Win 10 (V22H2) or later; macOS v12 or later Upscaling Options: Customizable scaling percentages, specific pixel dimensions, and scaling factors allow for precise control. Supported Image Formats: JPEG, PNG, TIFF, PSD, WebP, BMP, Cineon, HEIF/HEIC, IFF format, PCX, PDF, PSD, Photoshop Raw, etc. Access to AI photo upscaling in a program you already use is a big plus. Adobe Photoshop is a powerhouse in image editing that most photographers are very familiar with. It includes advanced AI-driven upscaling features that make it versatile for creative professionals. With Preserve Details 2.0, Photoshop allows users to upsample images while retaining quality with a Noise Reduction slider. This feature is particularly useful to increase image resolution without losing detail. You can customize specific pixel dimensions and scaling factors. The Super Resolution in the Camera Raw plug-in allows double the linear resolution, which quadruples the total resolution. Beyond upscaling, it offers extensive customization options, making it ideal for creatives who need both flexibility and precision. Although Photoshop’s main focus isn’t upscaling, its robust AI capabilities add impressive results to an already comprehensive tool. Key Features: Preserve Details 2.0 for high-quality photo enhancement and to increase image resolution
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-Super Resolution for doubling the image’s resolution while preserving clarity
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-Customizable adjustments for noise reduction, sharpness, and edge detail
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-Seamless integration with Creative Cloud Pros: Support extensive file formats
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-High-quality outputs for printing and display
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-Integrate seamlessly with other Adobe products
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-Enhance workflows for professionals already using Creative Cloud Cons: Steep learning curve, especially for new users
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-Higher system requirements and additional requirements for Adobe Camera Raw
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-Pricey subscription-based plan model Ideal Users: Adobe Photoshop is ideal for professional designers and photographers with an Adobe Creative Cloud plan who need precise control over their images.
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-What Do We Think About Adobe Photoshop
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-Photoshop’s AI-powered upscaling, especially with the addition of Super Resolution, is excellent for those already working within Adobe’s ecosystem. You’ll find it valuable for projects that demand detail and customization. While Photoshop may not solely focus on upscaling, its capabilities make it a reliable tool for creatives who value control and quality.
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-5. HitPaw AI Photo Enhancer Online
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-Pricing: Free with watermark; Pro plans available for $8.99/week, $18.99/month, or $129.99/year Compatibility: Web browser Upscaling Options: 2x (and 1x, 4x, 8x for Pro subscriptions) Supported Image Formats: JPG, PNG, and TIFF HitPaw AI Photo Enhancer Online offers a streamlined, web-based solution for quick and effective image upscaling. Designed with accessibility in mind, this online AI image upscaler requires no downloads or installations, making it ideal for users who need convenience. HitPaw’s AI models provide quality upscaling with minimal user input, which makes it especially suitable for creatives looking to enhance images directly from their browsers. Free users can only upscale 2x the original resolution with watermark. Pro users can select from various models for face, general use, denoise, coloration, and restoration. The free AI photo enhancer allows users to improve image quality and resolution without compromising details, making it a great option for those who need a sharper, high-quality finish while maintaining textures and clarity. While the online version may not have all the advanced features of a desktop AI image enhancer, it’s a fast, reliable option for straightforward upscaling needs. Key Features: Web-based convenience without downloading any software
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-Multiple AI enhanced models for various use cases
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-Upscale images up to 8x the original resolution with a Pro Plan
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-Work with popular formats like JPEG, PNG, and TIFF Pros: Simple interface for users of all experience levels
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-Accessible on multiple platforms without installation
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-Fast, convenient option for smaller projects or web use Cons: Lack of support for batch image upscaling
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-Require an internet connection for use
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-Higher price tag among other online photo enhancers
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-Limited download images with weekly or monthly paid plans Ideal Users: HitPaw AI Photo Enhancer Online is best for users who need a quick, convenient online solution for basic upscaling tasks. It’s especially useful for those who work on multiple devices or prefer not to install software. What Do We Think About HitPaw AI Photo Enhancer Online HitPaw Online can be a go-to for users who prioritize convenience and quick results. Its web-based interface makes it highly accessible, and the quality of upscaling is sufficient for web-based projects. While it may lack the depth of desktop tools, its ease of use and accessibility make it a practical choice for light upscaling needs.
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-Pricing: Free; Subscription Plan available from $0.05/credit Compatibility: Web browser Upscaling Options: 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x Supported Image Formats: PNG, JPEG, JPG, WebP, and HEIC Upscale.media is a browser-based AI image enhancer designed for fast and efficient image upscaling without the need for software installation. Known for its clean, minimalist interface, this program is accessible to all skill levels, making it easy to use for quick upscaling tasks. The program offers two ways—Normal Upscaling and AI Upscaling—to increase the resolution by up to 8x. As a free AI photo enhancer, it improves image quality and resolution without compromising details, allowing users to upscale their photos to a sharper, high-quality finish while maintaining textures and clarity. But that’s all this online image upscaler can do, no model selection or other additional features like denoise, etc. While it may not offer the extensive features of other online AI image upscalers, it’s a straightforward AI photo upscaling solution for individuals, professionals, and E-commerce alike. Key Features: Highly accessible across different devices with no download required
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-Use AI to upscale image resolution up to 8x
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-User-friendly interface and simple layout for all user levels Pros: No watermark on the outputs even with a free plan
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-Good quality for most general image upscaling tasks
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-Intuitive interface suitable for beginners and professionals alike Cons: Limited input resolution up to 1,500 x 1,500 px
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-Internet connection required to use Ideal Users: Upscale.media is a good choice for users who need a quick, reliable online image upscaling. It’s especially beneficial for social media managers, content creators, and designers who need to upscale images on the go.
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-What Do We Think About Upscale.media
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-Upscale.media shines for its accessibility and ease of use. It’s ideal for web-based AI upscaling tasks and quick image enlargements. While it doesn’t offer the higher levels of upscaling some may need, its performance and ease make it a decent AI upscaler for basic, everyday use.
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-7. VideoProc Converter AI
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-Pricing: Free trial; $25.95 for 1-year subscription, $45.95 for lifetime license Compatibility: Windows 7 and later (32-bit and 64-bit); macOS 10.13 or later Upscaling Options: 1x, 2x, 3x, 4x Supported Image Formats: PNG, JPG, PBM, XBM, JPEG, PGM, PPM, XPM, TIFF, WEBP, BMP, AVIF, etc. Videoproc Converter AI is a versatile media converter and enhancer equipped with advanced AI features. Primarily known for its video conversion capabilities, it also offers a dedicated Super Resolution tool that makes it easy to upscale images even on a 32-bit Windows 7 computer with only a CPU. This AI image upscaler offers 4 well-trained models for different types of images. It can enlarge AI art from Stable Diffusion or Midjourney, old photos, and low-resolution images by 2x, 3x, or 4x, and up to 10K resolution while preserving real details and sharpness. There’s a 1x scale option to enhance image quality without upscaling, ensuring that increased photo resolution improves clarity and detail while maintaining the original quality. Besides upscaling, VideoProc Converter AI also offers tools for video format conversion, audio denoising, file size compression, etc. It’s designed to provide ease of use without sacrificing quality, making it a great fit for creatives who work with both images and video projects. Key Features: AI upscale image resolution with fine details and clarity for professional results
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-Support batch processing to upscale multiple images at once
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-4 well-trained AI models for different types of images
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-Additional AI features for frame interpolation, video stabilization, audio cleanup Pros: High-quality upscaling with AI-driven precision for images and videos
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-Low system requirements even for less powerful computers
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-Ideal for multimedia projects with image and video format flexibility
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-Easy-to-use with minimal setup, suitable for all skill levels Cons: AI features currently lack support for macOS Ideal Users: VideoProc Converter AI is ideal for creatives who need an all-in-one AI upscaling solution for image and video enhancement. It’s particularly suitable for users with lower system configurations who prefer local processing and need quality results for multimedia projects. What Do We Think About VideoProc Converter AI VideoProc Converter AI stands out for its versatility and accessibility. Users appreciate the ability to upscale images and videos with high-quality results, even on less powerful systems. Its video format conversion feature is an added bonus for creatives working with NLEs, and the tool’s affordability makes it an excellent value for budget-conscious users.
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-Best AI Image Upscalers Summary
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-Choosing the right AI image upscaler can make a big difference in the quality and impact of your visuals. Each tool we’ve covered has unique strengths, and Aiarty Image Enhancer stands out for its balance of simplicity, quality, and efficiency. With its well-trained AI models, Aiarty Image Enhancer offers high-quality results for different image types. Plus the straightforward interface, this AI image upscaler is indeed an ideal choice for creatives who need reliable upscaling without complex settings. It also supports a range of formats and has batch processing options, so you can enhance multiple images at once to save time. Additionally, it can increase image resolution significantly while preserving textures and sharpness. Meanwhile, Photoshop is perfect for professional designers and photographers with an Adobe Creative Cloud plan. Topaz Gigapixel AI is ideal for creatives who prioritize high detail preservation and don’t mind a higher price tag, while online image upscalers like HitPaw and Upscale.media offer convenient web-based upscaling for quick and easy access without installations. When deciding, consider what matters most to you to find an AI image upscaler that aligns perfectly with your creative goals.",1731883670,b7a65c143b,4e3e66c142,,,1731883670
-https://mikevardy.com/podcast563/,https://productivityist.com/feed/,PM Talks S1:E11 - Mike Vardy,,1731883639,abe8315a83,4ece05a981,,,1731883639
-https://finance.yahoo.com/news/down-98-time-buy-spirit-103000375.html,https://finance.yahoo.com/rss/commodities,"Down 98%, Is It Time to Buy Spirit Airlines Stock?","Just like airplanes take off and land, shares of Spirit Airlines (NYSE: SAVE) have taken shareholders on a ride. Only in this instance, there has been ridiculous amounts of turbulence on the journey.
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-The business has made for a terrible investment. This airline stock currently trades 98% off its all-time high, a milestone that was achieved nearly 10 years ago. At this beaten-down level, is it time to buy Spirit Airlines?
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-Start Your Mornings Smarter! Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free »
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-Up and down
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-Things briefly reversed course recently. From Oct. 18 to Nov. 11, shares of the troubled airline surged 131% higher. The company initially gave shareholders a sigh of relief when it said it was able to secure an extension with bondholders to refinance its debt.
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-Earlier this year, Spirit Airlines' planned merger with JetBlue Airways was called off by a federal judge due to concerns that it would've lowered competition at the lower end of the airline industry. The stock tanked tremendously after the announcement.
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-There was hope that a new deal was in the works, adding to Spirit shares' recent short-lived bounce-back. The business was in talks recently with Frontier Group about a possible merger. But the discussions fell through.
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-This puts Spirit Airlines in a precarious situation. The company is expected to file for bankruptcy protection in the not-too-distant future. It has also revealed that it won't be able to file its Q3 2024 10-Q on time.
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-Value trap
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-Investors might have been encouraged by the market's renewed sense of optimism toward Spirit Airlines, but that has dissipated. I believe it's still extremely difficult to be bullish on the business or the stock, even though the shares trade at a dirt-cheap price-to-sales multiple of 0.03. In my view, this is a classic value trap. But that valuation shows just how much the market has soured on Spirit's prospects.
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-The challenges are hard to ignore. For starters, the company is struggling to grow its revenue. Sales totaled under $1.3 billion in Q2 (ended June 30), down 10.6% year over year. This was the fourth straight quarter of a year-over-year top-line decline.
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-""Significant industry capacity increases together with ancillary pricing changes"" were called out by the management team as key factors pressuring the top line. Spirit's strategy centers on charging travelers for various non-fare items, like seat selection, baggage, or food and beverage. But the competitive nature of the industry has forced the company to cut prices here.
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-Story Continues",1731883725,6e579b027f,4eb5dee932,,,1731883725
-https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/dentsu-downgrades-forecast-2024-reports-03-organic-growth-q3/1896034,https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/rss/news,Dentsu downgrades forecast for 2024 and reports 0.3% organic growth for Q3,"Dentsu downgrades forecast for 2024 and reports 0.3% organic growth for Q3
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-Full-year growth forecast down from 1% to 0%.
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-by Matthew Keegan",1731883619,ec257e8cc3,4e9d1c48df,,,1731883619
-https://www.npr.org/2022/10/25/1131313436/planet-money-records-earnest-jackson-inflation-song,https://www.npr.org/rss/podcast.php?id=510289,We start a record label to release a song about inflation : Planet Money : NPR,"Planet Money Records Vol. 1: Earnest Jackson
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-Enlarge this image toggle caption Sarah Gonzalez/NPR Sarah Gonzalez/NPR
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-In 1975, there was a band in Baton Rouge called Sugar Daddy and the Gumbo Roux. That year, they recorded a song called ""Inflation."" Everybody in the band went on to make it in the music industry...except the lead singer Earnest Jackson.
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-
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-So...we're giving Earnest a second chance. Releasing his long lost song, ""Inflation,"" to try to make him a star.
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-
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-Hello and welcome to Planet Money Records.
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-This is part one of the Planet Money Records series. Here's part two and part three.
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-Update: We now have merch! We released a line of Inflation song gear — including a limited edition vinyl record; a colorful, neon hoodie; and 70s-inspired stickers. You can find it here: n.pr/shopplanetmoney.
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-Enlarge this image James Sneed/NPR James Sneed/NPR
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-Music: ""Inflation,"" ""Superfly Fever,"" ""Love & Happiness"" and ""Nola Strut.""
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-Listen to ""Inflation"" on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, Tidal, Amazon Music & Pandora.
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-Help support Planet Money and get bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.
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-Always free at these links: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, NPR One or anywhere you get podcasts.
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-Find more Planet Money: Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok our weekly Newsletter.",1731884661,8181d7a585,4ef1becd41,,,1731884661
-https://roboticsandautomationnews.com/2024/11/14/nikon-sells-its-1000th-3d-printer-to-bosch/86983/,https://roboticsandautomationnews.com/feed/,"Nikon sells its 1,000th 3D printer to Bosch","Nikon SLM Solutions says that the 1000th system it has produced, an NXG XII 600, has now been acquired – by Bosch. (SLM stands for “selective laser melting”, a technique for 3D printing or additive manufacturing.)
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-German industrial giant Bosch will utilize the milestone NXG XII 600 to “elevate the production” of critical parts for powertrain technology, hydrogen, and electric drive applications at its 3D-Printing Manufacturing and Processing Center in Nuremberg, Germany.
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-This center specializes in additive manufacturing (AM) for both prototyping and serial production, harnessing the power of Nikon SLM’s technology to meet growing production demands.
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-The 1000th system, with its industry-leading 12-laser configuration, will “significantly enhance” the capacity for large-scale, high-quality AM production, especially for challenging materials like aluminium alloys.
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-This installation supports the manufacturing of reliable, efficient, and scalable AM solutions for automotive and emerging technologies.
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-Sam O’Leary, Nikon SLM Solutions’ CEO, says: “We’re honored to celebrate our 1000th system milestone with Bosch, a longstanding partner who truly understands the transformative power of additive manufacturing.
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-“The NXG XII 600 is designed for high-output production environments, and we look forward to seeing Bosch leverage this technology to push boundaries in automotive and beyond.”
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-The NXG XII 600 represents a groundbreaking achievement in additive manufacturing, featuring a 12-laser system capable of dramatically accelerating build rates and maximizing output.
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-Engineered for industrial-scale production, it includes an exchangeable build cylinder to minimize downtime and a closed-loop powder handling system that prioritizes operator safety and material efficiency.",1731883641,65442cd6f5,4ea2732fec,,,1731883641
-https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/ai-threat-escalate-in-2025-google/,https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/rss/news/biometric/,"AI Threat to Escalate in 2025, Google Cloud Warns","Researchers at Google Cloud believe the AI threat will worsen in 2025 despite not having had the catastrophic impact some analysts initially predicted.
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-In its Cybersecurity Forecasts 2025, the tech giant anticipates that successful malicious use of AI observed in 2024 will continue and new sophisticated uses will emerge.
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-Malicious actors will continue to use AI and large language models (LLMs) to develop and scale sophisticated social engineering schemes including phishing campaigns.
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-Google Cloud analysts also forecast that cyber espionage actors and cybercriminals will continue to leverage deepfakes for identity theft, fraud, and bypassing know-your-customer (KYC) security requirements.
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-During the report launch event in London, attended by Infosecurity on November 12, Stuart McKenzie, Managing Director of Mandiant Consulting EMEA at Google Cloud, said, “AI will play a massive part of overall cyber threats in 2025.”
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-From Malicious AI Prototypes to Large-Scale AI Adoption
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-In addition to the malicious use of AI already observed, the authors of the report believe that in 2025 some anticipated misuses of AI that have not materialized to date could do so.
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-Jamie Collier, Lead Threat Intelligence Advisor for Europe at Google Cloud, said using LLMs for malware development and malicious open source LLMs is still anecdotal, but will likely take off next year.
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-He also expects more AI experiments to supercharge malicious actors’ capabilities, including vulnerability research, code development and reconnaissance.",1731883660,2015353f75,4eb14c4874,,,1731883660
-https://qutech.nl/2024/05/16/lieven-vandersypen-appointed-as-knaw-member/,https://qutech.nl/feed/,Lieven Vandersypen appointed as KNAW member,"Scientific director at QuTech Lieven Vandersypen is appointed as member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (Dutch: KNAW), together with 16 others. On Monday 30 September, the new Academy members will be installed.
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-The KNAW is traditionally a society of outstanding Dutch scientists. Members are elected based on high-quality scientific achievements. A membership is for life. Every year, the KNAW elects new members to vacant positions. This is based on nominations from within and outside the KNAW. The opinion of external referees weighs into the selection.
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-Membership of the KNAW is a great honour for a scientific career in the Netherlands. The KNAW has ordinary members and foreign members. In addition, correspondents were appointed until May 2011. The approximately 600 members of the KNAW are leading scientists from all disciplines.
-
-About Lieven Vandersypen
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-Lieven Vandersypen achieved several breakthroughs in the field of quantum computers. A quantum computer can perform certain calculations much faster than ordinary computers. Vandersypen showed that the same principle works in reality, by executing it in molecules. That application of the so-called Shor algorithm amounted to the calculation 15 = 3 x 5. However, the approach with molecules cannot be scaled up to more complex systems, but it can be done with other types of quantum bits or qubits: these are the information-processing units of quantum computers, similar to bits in an ordinary computer that can store a 1 or a 0. Vandersypen has developed several such quantum bits that do scale and have the potential to yield a usable quantum computer. Vandersypen is scientific director of the research institute QuTech, of which he was also one of the founders. He is also a professor of quantum nanoscience at Delft University of Technology.",1731883659,855509a49b,4f04411f31,,,1731883659
-https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-wildcats/news/kentucky-vs-murray-state-ksr-live-blog-score-updates-highlights/,https://www.kentuckysportsradio.com/feed/,LIVE BLOG: Kentucky vs. Murray State,"After four straight losses, the Kentucky Football team is back home to try to get back in the win column. KSR’s new and improved LIVE BLOG will bring you all the sights and sounds from Kroger Field as the Cats host the Murray State Racers (1:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network+).
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-You know what’s going on with Kentucky. To make a bowl, the Cats have to win out. Today’s game against Murray State is by far the easiest of the three remaining. The Racers are 1-9 this season and have lost seven straight. They opened the season with a 51-0 loss at Missouri. Their defense is especially bad, which should provide ample opportunity for Kentucky’s struggling offense to find its footing. Brock Vandagriff will start at quarterback, but freshman Cutter Boley is expected to get plenty of reps as the program looks toward the future.
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-Today’s game streams exclusively on SEC Network+, so if you’re unable to watch, we’ve got you covered. Refresh the feed below for updates and our takes on the game, from Kroger Field and the couch. You can also join the conversation on the KSBoard Game Thread or by texting your observations to 859-587-3828 (standard messaging rates apply).
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-By: Tyler Thompson FINAL: Kentucky 48, Murray State 6 That’ll do it. The Cats advance to 4-6 with today’s 48-6 win over Murray State. Next up: No. 3 Texas in Austin.
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-By: Tyler Thompson Jackson Schulz gets an interception in the end zone and that should do it Junior defensive back Jackson Schulz makes it all but official, picking off Murray State’s quarterback in the end zone. Gamblers will be happy to know that secures the cover. FIRST career INT for @JacksonSchulz29 😼
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-📺 – @SECNetwork+ pic.twitter.com/Jzt9YSBynj — Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) November 16, 2024
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-By: Tyler Thompson Cutter Boley to Anthony Brown-Stephens again! The Cutter Boley-Anthony Brown-Stephens connection is strong. The duo just connected on another touchdown to put Kentucky up 48-6 with 3:34 to go. Boley is now 10-14 for 130 yards and two touchdowns. The Cats have 584 yards of total offense, the most since November 2021. Two TD passes from @cutterBoley, two TD catches from @anthonybrownn_ ✌️
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-📺 – @SECNetwork+ pic.twitter.com/DVLZSL51p8 — Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) November 16, 2024
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-By: Tyler Thompson Courtland Ford is down Offensive lineman Courtland Ford has missed most of this season due to injury. He just went down with what appears to be a left leg injury on a Chip Trayanum run. Fingers crossed it’s not serious.
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-By: Tyler Thompson We’re up to 24 penalties now Fred Farrier just ran into Murray State’s punter for a Roughing the Kicker penalty, our 24th of the game. I’d say this is comical, but I think we’re all past laughing. Kentucky will have the ball on the 28-yard-line up 41-6 with 8:44 to go in the fourth quarter.
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-By: Adam Luckett A fifth consecutive Kentucky scoring drive Make it 17 points in three second half possessions with Cutter Boley behind center. The Wildcats got the complete second offensive line unit in the game on that drive. It ended with consecutive completions to Willie Rodriguez and Anthony Brown-Stephens for 38 yards to turn a third-and-18 into a touchdown. The Wildcats are now up over 500 total yards for the first time this season.
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-Are the Cats going to cover? There’s a chance.
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-By: Adam Luckett Kentucky forced a red zone three-and-out Despite the field position, Kentucky’s defense gets off the field only allowing three points following a three-and-out. Cutter Boley will now get his second possession of the game at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
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-By: Adam Luckett This game just got weirder Did you want some more penalties? You got them on both teams on the Murray State kickoff. After the reset, a Brandon White fumble sets the Racers up with an instant red zone possession. Mark Stoops quickly burns a timeout.
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-This one is quickly turning into a sickos committee special.
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-By: Adam Luckett The shutout is gone Murray State needed a 13-play scoring drive that included six penalties to end the shutout bid. That was quite the drive that milked nearly eight minutes off the game clock. Both teams kept making errors including a five-play stretch where there was a penalty on every play.
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-One more quarter to play after Murray State adds three points.
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-By: Adam Luckett Kentucky settles for 3 in the low red zone After a couple explosive plays produced by Cutter Boley, Kentucky’s offense again bogs down in the low red zone. The false start penalty on Jager Burton on second-and-goal certainly didn’t help. The lead stays at five possessions with Kentucky going up 34-0. Kentucky has marched 119 yards on 14 plays with Boley behind center. The zone read keeper got the field goal drive started. .@cutterBoley turning on the jets ✈️
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-📺 – @SECNetwork+ pic.twitter.com/ghbD2ryqZj — Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) November 16, 2024
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-By: Adam Luckett Koby Keenum replaces Eli Cox After the Jamarion Wilcox touchdown run, Kentucky center Eli Cox needed help getting off the field. Following a quick three-and-out by the defense, the Kentucky offense is back in the game and redshirt freshman Koby Keenum has replaced Cox in the lineup.
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-Stay tuned for an injury update.
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-By: Adam Luckett That looked easy Kentucky marches 75 yards in seven plays and scores a Middle 8 touchdown in Cutter Boley’s first drive at quarterback. The Wildcats created four explosive plays and overcame a holding call. Boley finished 2-of-2 for 37 yards as the lead is now out to five possessions.
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-By: Adam Luckett Cutter Boley Time The blue-chip true freshman is in the game at quarterback. He finds Josh Kattus for an explosive gain on a bootleg on play one.
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-By: Adam Luckett First Half Advanced Box Now it’s time for some deep dive stats. Kentucky won every important category that half. A ton of explosive plays for the Cats created scoring opportunities.
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-Snaps: UK 43, Murray 25
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-Success Rate: UK 48.8%, Murray 32%
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-Yards Per Play: UK 7.4, Murray 5.3
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-Explosives: UK 23.2%, Murray 12%
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-Havoc Allowed: UK 13.9%, Murray 16%
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-Points Per Scoring Opportunity: UK 5.7 (17/3), Murray 0 (0/1)
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-3rd/4th: UK 4/6, Murray 0/5
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-Drives (non end of half): 6-6
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-By: Nick Roush First Half Stats Brock Vandagriff has been sacked three times and there have been 10 penalties between both teams. It hasn’t always been the prettiest football but the Cats have 318 yards and 17 first downs. Not too shabby.
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-By: Nick Roush A 2-Minute Drive Touchdown! A little tempo injected some life into the Kentucky passing attack. Starting the drive on the 9-yard line with 2:11 on the clock, the Wildcats methodically moved the ball down the field. The 11-play scoring drive only had one play of 20+ yards, a dart to Hardley Gilmore. A late sack put the Cats in jeopardy of settling for another field goal. Then Bush Hamdan called the “Throw it up to Ja’Mori Maclin” play and it worked for a 19-yard touchdown to give the Cats a 24-0 lead at the half. .@BrockVandagriff ➡️ @routerunner9 in the back of the endzone for the TOUCHDOWN.
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-📺 – @SECNetwork+ pic.twitter.com/jHZNUDvoBN — Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) November 16, 2024
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-By: Nick Roush Another Interception for Jordan Lovett We know of at least one guy who showed up to play today. Murray State drove down into the Kentucky red zone, in large part thanks to a 44-yard reception by J’Kalon Carter. Before the crowd’s frustrations could turn into full-blown anger, Lovett tipped the ball to himself and secured his second interception of the day. .@Jordan_Lovett1 INT x2
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-📺 – @SECNetwork+ pic.twitter.com/6UHvLB9fC6 — Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) November 16, 2024
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-By: Nick Roush Penalty-Palooza! There was a moment where the Cats looked cooked by another bad holding penalty. A reverse to Hardley Gilmore was set up for a huge gain, until flags rained down from all corners of the field to tag the Cats for holding.
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-
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-Fortunately, Jamarion Wilcox was there to save the day. He had runs of 15, 13, and 32 yards to get Kentucky into scoring territory. A couple more penalties almost cost the Cats, until Murray State was tagged with a pass interference on third and long. It wasn’t a big enough favor to get Kentucky into the end zone.
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-Brock Vandagriff was under duress that entire 13-play drive that ended with a 32-yard field goal. There’s some bad football being played this afternoon at Kroger Field.
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-By: Nick Roush Holding Call Wipes Away a Huge Play The first Jamarion Wilcox carry of the day was the most exciting play of the day, except it never happened. The redshirt freshman wiggled free and sprinted down the sideline before he was tackled inside the 5-yard line. Unfortunately, it was negated by a holding penalty on the other side of the line of scrimmage. You won’t see that in the final box score, but it was essentially an 80-yard penalty that ended a drive.
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-The self-inflicted mistakes are never-ending for this Kentucky football team.
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-By: Nick Roush So Close to a Pick Six and a Special Teams Disaster Terhyon Nichols is searching for his first career interception. He almost got it, thanks to a Maxwell Hairston cornerback blitz. The true freshman from Cincinnati jumped the route. He had nothing but green grass between him and the end zone, but couldn’t make a challenging catch for the pick six.
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-It’s always a wild ride when Ja’Mori Maclin returns punts. For a moment, it looked like he muffed the punt that Murray State recovered in the end zone. Fortunately, officials ruled that he did not touch the football. Exhale.
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-By: Nick Roush First Quarter Stats Kentucky out-gained Murray State by 100 yards in the opening period that featured more than one unusual moment.
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-By: Nick Roush Not a Pretty Scoring Drive, but We’ll Take It The Kentucky offense isn’t exactly firing on all cylinders. Demie Sumo-Karngbaye is the only UK running back with a carry so far, and it hasn’t looked easy for him. He has seven carries for 29 yards.
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-Kentucky had a third and long converted to Dane Key that got the Cats into the red zone. Vandagriff was promptly sacked. The Kentucky quarterback got the Cats out of the danger zone by scrambling for 22 yards on third and 15, setting up a short touchdown run for DSK to give the Cats a 14-0 lead with a minute left in the first quarter.
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-By: Nick Roush What a Stat Line I had to save this for my records. Not sure I’ll ever see a line like this again.
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-By: Nick Roush The Arm-Punt Play Didn’t Work This Time One snap after Brock Vandagriff got lucky on a long ball to Hardley Gilmore, he did the same exact thing. They dialed up the deep shot to Gilmore. It was once again severely under-thrown. This time Murray State did not drop the interception.
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-Brock’s deep-ball might be the best part of his game. These long under-throws are baffling. No harm, no foul. A Tre’vonn Rybka sack derailed Murray State’s drive and Kentucky has the ball back after a 3-and-out. Backfield disrupter, @trevonnrybka 💪
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-📺 – @SECNetwork+ pic.twitter.com/Rx5jNujHLL — Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) November 16, 2024
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-By: Tyler Thompson I know this is SEC Network+, but… Look, I get that ESPN doesn’t exactly send its top production crew for SEC Network+ games, but the broadcast quality is not great. It looks like Vaseline was smeared on the camera lens during Hardley Gilmore’s first career touchdown reception. Thankfully, they seem to have gotten the camera in focus now. It ain't pretty, but it'll do. Hardley Gilmore's first career touchdown reception.
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-LIVE BLOG: https://t.co/F7A8Qz2Fpi
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-GAME THREAD: https://t.co/62yBAhUQDUpic.twitter.com/2dzFwdJKpP — KSR (@KSRonX) November 16, 2024
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-By: Nick Roush A Silly Way to Score a Touchdown Kentucky dialed up a deep shot to Hardley Gilmore, looking to get the true freshman his first career touchdown. Brock Vandagriff severely under-threw the ball. For all intents and purposes, it was an arm-punt, except the return man wasn’t ready for it. The Murray State defensive back dropped the interception right into Gilmore’s hands for a 52-yard touchdown. Just how Bush Hamdan drew it up.
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-By: Nick Roush Turnover Time! The Murray State quarterback rolled out and threw it into a crowd of Kentucky Wildcats. Jordan Lovett slid to the turf to pick off the pass, the sixth of his career and the first this fall. .Jordan_Lovett1 😤
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-📺 – @SECNetwork+ pic.twitter.com/IkIof8B3Ei — Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) November 16, 2024
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-By: Nick Roush Josaih Hayes makes his 2024 Debut The fifth-year nose guard tore his Achilles in the spring. They couldn’t keep him off the field. He rehabbed to make his return for the Murray State game and on his first snap he made a tackle. Very cool moment. Hayes can use a redshirt and get another year of eligibility for 2025.
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-By: Nick Roush It’s Football Time in the Bluegrass The Racers won the toss and elected to receive. The shorthanded Kentucky defense will be tested first. Let’s play football.
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-By: Nick Roush The Crowd: Not that Bad I don’t think it’s worth making a big stink on who is or isn’t here for this game. It will be the worst crowd of the year, but I’ve been in much emptier Kroger Fields. The student section is near capacity. Traffic getting into the stadium wasn’t bad, but the Red and Blue Lots were mostly full. It’s a fine, half-full stadium for an FCS game. Let’s just hope they’re treated to a fun football game.
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-By: Tyler Thompson Reminder that today’s game is “on the computer” We’re about 15 minutes from kickoff, which is a good time to remind you that today’s game is only on SEC Network+, which you can access on the ESPN app if you have SEC Network with your cable subscription. Richard Cross and Charles Arbuckle (whom I’ve never heard of before) are on the call or you can listen to Tom Leach and Jeff Piecoro on the radio. Of course, we’ll be providing score updates and highlights on this here live blog.
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-Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. ET
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-TV: SEC Network+ (Richard Cross, Charles Arbuckle)
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-Watch college football games live – try Fubo for free! Click HERE NOW.
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-Local Radio: UK Sports Network (Tom Leach, Jeff Piecoro, Dick Gabriel)
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-AM: 840 WHAS, 630 WLAP
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-FM: 98.1 WBUL
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-Online: iHeart Radio
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-Sirius XM: 102 or 111
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-Live Stats: StatBroadcast
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-By: Adam Luckett Good news, bad news on the injury front Want some good news? Chip Trayanum is back on the field. Josaih Hayes is also dressed for the first time this season after suffering an Achilles injury.
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-
-
-Now for the bad news.
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-Jantzen Dunn, J.J. Weaver, D’Eryk Jackson, and DJ Waller Jr. are all missing in warmups. There is also no sign of Jamon Dumas-Johnson. Looks like Alex Afari Jr. and Grant Godfrey will be getting the start at inside linebacker today.
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-By: Drew Franklin Pregame notes from Kroger Field’s press box Because the parking lot was severely lacking, I was in the press box earlier than usual today. The KSR Pregame Show ended at 11:30 a.m. I took the equipment apart, stowed it away, and still found my seat in Kroger Field’s press box by noon (a new personal record). Some notes from the pregame press box scene:
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-
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-— Murray State is well-represented in the fifth-floor media area. Lots of people here to see and cover the Racers in Lexington.
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-— The bowl of brown substance next to the press box mashed potatoes is balsamic vinaigrette, not gravy. I had to pretend I knew that the whole time as I ate a large plate of balsamic mashed potatoes at a table with strangers. The guy behind me followed my lead in line. I owe him an apology for the false gravy narrative that I created.
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-
-
-— “If You Wanna Be My Lover” by the Spice Girls is the current stadium song as I write this. I’ll tell you what I want, what I really, really want: Kentucky to cover 41 points today.
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-— Holding off on my game day coffee tradition after consuming an unhealthy amount before and during the pregame show. The under will hit on press box coffees this week.
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-
-
-— Speaking of the pregame show, KSBar had a great crowd this morning, giving me hope for the crowd at today’s game. Go Cats.
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-By: Adam Luckett Kentucky defensive line will be short-handed We’ve got our first injury update of the day. Kentucky star defensive tackle Deone Walker and rotational player Kahlil Saunders are both in sweatsuits during warmups. The Wildcats will not have either today. Saunders suffered an injury last week against Tennessee and Walker has appeared on multiple availability reports this season.
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-Stay tuned for more injury updates.
-
-By: Tyler Thompson Not the greatest turnout so far As you might expect, by all reports, the parking lots were not packed ahead of today’s game. The crowd at the Cat Walk was lively, though. Mont Dawson, Kentucky Sports Radio",1731883659,b2069ab8ff,4f02a7cccd,,,1731883659
-https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitAFBVV95cUxNSGFSMUE3aHNvSHZJN203Mk96M1hTbUhJQnR3YU5DTEJ6ajMwQ2FSczFXUnF2dThOTy14ZU5lLWVEQ2xXU3ZCZWgzSUFNeF9kRUQ5YUtobGNHdkhJSDhuczg2RHpIamR3Z3JxTVZraFpsTUZrdUF3LTlZOVl1ckRMYU1EMlNnWFVuVE1vSmVrOVZqZllRWnpncFVBMGZ1XzVBejRpX1E1dlpWNXpIVEVaVXhTVzc?oc=5,https://news.google.com/rss/search?q=predictive%20analytics&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en,Google News,,1731883618,2688d2a9c6,4efda9ed0d,,,1731883618
-https://www.npr.org/2022/05/10/1097885472/buy-now-pay-dearly,https://www.npr.org/rss/podcast.php?id=510289,"America loves buy now, pay later lending. But do these plans come with a catch? : Planet Money : NPR","Buy now, pay dearly?
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-Enlarge this image Courtesy of Amelia Schmarzo Courtesy of Amelia Schmarzo
-
-When Amelia Schmarzo's dad helped set up a credit card for her to use while away at college, he told her it was only for essentials and emergencies. And Amelia barely touched the card ... until she discovered a new kind of payment called ""buy now, pay later.""
-
-The pitch was simple: get whatever you want now, and pay it back in four, interest-free installments. Suddenly, Amelia started buying all kinds of things using buy now, pay later. And she failed to notice that her small installments were quickly piling up. It only took a month before her credit card was maxed out.
-
-Sponsor Message
-
-Buy now, pay later companies like Klarna, Afterpay and Affirm have taken the country by storm ever since the pandemic fueled an online shopping explosion. But offering customers the option to pay for anything from clothes to oral surgery in interest-free installments sounds almost too good to be true, right?
-
-Today on the show, what exactly is buy now, pay later? And should we be worried?
-
-Music: ""Retro Funk,"" ""Comin' Back For More,"" ""Reactive Emotion,"" and ""EAT.""
-
-Find us: Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok
-
-Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify; and NPR One.
-
-Want economics stories from the comfort of home? Subscribe to Planet Money's weekly newsletter.",1731884677,8181d7a585,4f216ab909,,,1731884677
-https://www.npr.org/2022/01/14/1073227859/the-rapid-testing-show,https://www.npr.org/rss/podcast.php?id=510289,The Planet Money Team runs a test on the U.S. Covid testing system. : Planet Money : NPR,"The rapid testing show
-
-Enlarge this image Molly Messick Molly Messick
-
-The U.S. government is buying a billion Covid tests that it plans to distribute to anyone who wants them. But that move comes a little too late for the many Americans who have struggled to find tests as omicron surges across the country.
-
-Today on the show, we try to get tested. And we run into problems. From scammy testing sites to no tests at all, we explain what's behind the nation's Covid testing mess.
-
-Music: ""Warrior Of The Ring"" ""Big Band Showtime"" ""Quirk du Cirque"" ""The Parade"" and ""Bourbon Street Blues.""
-
-Find us: Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok
-
-Sponsor Message
-
-Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify; and NPR One.
-
-Want economics stories from the comfort of home? Subscribe to Planet Money's weekly newsletter.",1731884689,8181d7a585,4e93ff3b02,,,1731884689
-https://derivsource.com/2024/08/14/clearwater-analytics-study-reveals-client-engagement-as-dominant-driver-of-investment-flows/,https://derivsource.com/feed,Clearwater Analytics Study Reveals Client Engagement as Dominant Driver of Investment Flows,"New Research Uncovers the High Costs of ‘Business as Usual,’ Underscoring the Need to Modernize Data Management
-
-Clearwater Analytics (NYSE: CWAN), a leading worldwide provider of SaaS-based investment management, accounting, reporting, and analytics solutions, today released its comprehensive 2024 State of Investment Data Management study. The study reveals valuable insights into the current and future trends of investment data management. The survey, with contributions from 130 investment professionals including asset managers, wealth managers, hedge funds, and OCIOs, represents a broad spectrum of AUM ranges and reflects the diverse strategies and challenges confronting investment professionals in today’s complex market.
-
-“In the face of our latest findings, it’s a pivotal moment for investment industry leaders to take decisive action and shift toward smarter systems,” said Scott Erickson, Chief Revenue Officer at Clearwater Analytics. “We’re at a digital crossroads where clinging to legacy systems like Excel isn’t just inefficient, it’s a sign of commercial inertia. Firms spending up to 80% of their time on data collection are misallocating their most valuable resource – time. This study is a clear call to action: Accelerate the adoption of automation and data management technologies to free up valuable time for strategic initiatives that can significantly enhance client satisfaction and loyalty.”
-
-Download the 2024 State of Investment Data Management study today. Key findings in this study include:
-
-Organic Investment Performance Reigns Supreme in Driving AUM Growth
-
-The study reveals that 60% of respondents are primarily focused on organic investment performance to drive AUM growth. This finding underscores the age-old belief that competitive returns are fundamental to asset growth and that firms must not only maintain, but also evolve their investment strategies to maintain an edge in a crowded marketplace.
-
-Client Engagement Emerges as the Dominant Driver of Investment Flows
-
-According to the study, client engagement is identified by 48% of institutional investors as the most significant factor driving investment flows. Successful firms understand that an investment in technology systems that deepen client engagement is crucial for AUM growth. This focus ensures that each interaction enriches the client experience and solidifies trust and loyalty.
-
-Time Drain vs. Tech Gain: The Critical Decision for Investment Firms
-
-The study finds that 44% of firms continue to rely on manual tools, such as Excel, to aggregate and manage investment data for client reporting, while 21.3% of firms are spending between 60-80% of their time responding to client inquiries. Yet, the study also reveals a notable reliance on outsourced third-party tools (41.2%), illustrating the industry’s trust in specialized solutions and expertise. Firms lagging behind in this transition should consider the benefits of accuracy and efficiency that investment management technology offers, a potential area for immediate improvement and crucial step towards market leadership.
-
-“This study shows that firms cultivating and maintaining strong relationships with clients are well positioned for the growth and retention of assets. To optimize this dynamic, business leaders should invest in technology systems that support deeper client engagement, ensuring every interaction adds value and strengthens trust,” said Sunil Dixit, Chief Product Officer at Clearwater Analytics. “At the core of this study is an industry that’s on a steady march towards a data-driven, tech-savvy future. Those who have the foresight to invest in cutting-edge technology and outsourced expertise stand to reap substantial rewards.”
-
-To learn more about Clearwater Analytics, speak to an expert today.",1731883760,9dd65a327d,4f0d810e57,,,1731883760
-https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/ruben-amorim-man-utd-players-34128345,https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/rss.xml,Ruben Amorim sends message to three of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's 'unsellable' Man Utd stars,"Ruben Amorim will not allow his side to use youth as an excuse as he prepares to utilise stars already deemed 'unsellable' by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
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-Since investing in the club earlier this year, Ratcliffe has looked to overhaul United on and off the pitch. The club's footballing hierarchy has been transformed with a team of CEO Omar Berrada, Sporting Director Dan Ashworth and Technical Director Jason Wilcox now in place.
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-It saw a situation heading into the summer where just three players were deemed not for sale at Old Trafford. Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Hojlund were the only stars said to be off limits to potential suitors.
-
-United did not necessarily plan to put a 'for sale' sign up next to the likes of Marcus Rashord, but the forward was among a group for who the club would have considered a worthwhile offer. Under new management, youth looks set to continue to play an important role.
-
-The trio of Garnacho, Mainoo and Hojlund established themselves under Erik ten Hag to become 'unsellable' and Amorim will rely on them if United are to find success this term under his stewardship. Young players such as Leny Yoro and Amad Diallo will be given no room for excuses either however
-
-""I don’t want to say that we need time because we are a young team,"" Amorim said. ""They are prepared. They are prepared to cope with the demands of playing for Manchester United. They should be because they are here.
-
-""We know it will take time and we will try to win time with the games. But we have to start since day one without fear, without thinking that they are not used to playing like this. This is not on my mind. They will start on the first day with our idea, no matter what. That’s the goal.""
-
-Amorim also discussed his priorities for his new team after departing Sporting CP. The 39-year-old is set to take charge of his first game against Ipswich Town next weekend.
-
-The former Portugal midfielder seems firmly focused on providing an identity for his side and ensuring they work together.
-
-Amorim said: ""In one word: team. The team is the most important thing for me. And if you work as a team, then the talent individually is going to shine.
-
-""But if I have to explain the importance of everything, it is the character, the way we fight, the way we play, and we must have an identity. If our players take the shirt, they will know that it is the Manchester United team.
-
-""Everybody thinks the same, running back, playing, enjoying. This is what drives me. I can say the popular thing, which is to win. Everybody wants to win and I want to win with my players, with the fans, but with an identity and one idea, that is the thing that I am focused on all the time.
-
-""We know that we need time, but we have to win time. To win time is to win games. But the most important thing for me is identity. So since day one we will start with our identity. Of course we are going to prepare the games, but we will focus a lot in our game model.
-
-""How to play, how to press, these small things, small details. You cannot go 100% on every detail because it will be confusing for the players. So if I have to say one thing, my main goal, my first goal, is identity.""
-
-Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.",1731883637,312e351df6,4f4aaea0ae,,,1731883637
-https://www.esportsheaven.com/esports-investigative-journalism-will-never-be-like-that-of-conventional-sports/,https://www.esportsheaven.com/feed/,Esports Investigative Journalism Will Never Be Like That of Conventional Sports,"The Thursday before last, prominent investigative journalist, DeKay, was accused of lying in regard to a
-
-story
-
-about draken remaining on NiP and likely returning to play for the team at a future date. “Okay, so what? NiP are giving draken a break, and if the line-up with Lekr0 works out, then they’ll keep Lekr0 instead? What’s the big deal here?” That is exactly right: what is the big deal here?
-
-There is no big deal. This is just a mundane story. It is in no way earth-shattering, but it does have relevance to the public, hence why it was reported on. Nonetheless, some fans are still going to think that DeKay has made up the story just because he doesn’t show his sources—often a major violation of journalistic ethics.
-
-Before we get further into the story. It is important that I explain the need to keep a source anonymous. This really isn’t complicated stuff, but maybe, there are some younger readers out there who aren’t too familiar with journalism—keep note of this fact as it will come up again later. Journalists are kind of like public servants. They report on information that concerns the public, and they report on it in the most impartial way they can. With the controversies over fake news in the past few years, you can see that isn’t always the case, but with the vitriolic reaction to fake news, you can also see that fake news is a major ethical violation.
-
-Journalists are also supposed to strictly report on information that concerns the public. This would preclude credible journalists from reporting on a certain rock star who has been diagnosed with erectile dysfunction as it has zero relevance to the public. What they can report on though is a rockstar, one other than the rockstar with ED, having raped a fan.
-
-Journalists are supposed to preserve the anonymity of their sources because, if their identity were revealed, they could suffer financial, legal, and social consequences. Leaking information to a journalist may ethically be the right thing to do, but that doesn’t mean that the judge, the leaker’s colleagues, or their employer will see it that way. Therefore, in a field where the reporter depends on their reputation in order to get secret information, the journalist has an interest of their own in protecting their sources, otherwise no one will be willing to give them the information.
-
-Where investigative reporting in esports diverges from that of conventional sports is in the quality of the report. While there have been sports journalists who have broken significant stories, such as “Deflategate,” the typical insider reporting has a much worse track record than the reporting in esports.
-
-On the last By The Numbers episode
-
-, Richard Lewis stated:
-
-“It doesn’t work like this in sports. Have you ever seen the back page of a newspaper, right? It’s just full of transfer rumors and gossip and this guy—the standard is actually lower than in esports. I say this month after month. It’s just ‘We saw Lionel Messi having a Fizzio at Middlesbrough, like he’s gonna join Middlesbrough out of nowhere in a shock move.’ And that will just be published. And the player doesn’t come out and refute it. His teammates don’t come out and refute it. Neither team comes out and refutes it. If they get asked specifically at a press conference, they may address it. But they just understand that, that is the nature of the game that people will speculate and report based on the information they’ve got. The average sports journalist has a way worse ratio of accuracy to false stories than the average esports reporter, and yet you get raked over the coals over meaningless shit like this. It’s fucking so stupid.”
-
-Of all the issues to get worked up about in sports, reported roster moves are among the most minor things. Fans kill rival fans in sports, something completely unheard of in esports. I can’t even recall a single instance of fans getting into a fistfight. Yet esports fans will work themselves into a frenzy over someone giving them a heads-up.
-
-Getting back to the story at hand, not only is this such an insignificant story to risk one’s career and reputation on, but revealing his sources would be a violation of journalistic ethics and go against common sense. The credibility of a journalist and their reports come from their record, not the information that they are privileged to. And DeKay does indeed have a great record as far as reporting stories go. All of his stories have materialized or have been verified to have been true at the time.
-
-DeKay eventually revealed a screenshot of a Skype conversation between the NiP CEO and someone else. DeKay had gotten consent from his source to reveal this screenshot, but he might as well not even have bothered. NiP players and people within the organization vehemently denied these “rumors,” and that’s who the fans decided to believe. Even though the Virtus.pro management had recently been proven to be lying about the imminent departure of TaZ and DeKay’s request for comment, fans still took their side, and it was for no other discernable reason than being a fan of that team.
-
-These issues—not believing DeKay despite his good track record, siding with the team even though they are clearly lying, and demanding sources—are all, in my mind, due to the demographic we are dealing with. According to an estimate Thorin has mentioned a few times before, most fans of esports have only been following the game for a matter of months. They find a game, get hooked, and get so hooked that they find themselves watching esports. And for a large percentage of people, their interest wanes after a time. They may move onto another esport, or maybe, they won’t. The point is that most Counter-Strike fans haven’t even witnessed Luminosity win their first Major, nor have the more ignorant fans been given enough time to appreciate an investigative journalist’s track record. If and when they finally do depart, the knowledge they have gained will all be for nought as a new, ignorant fan will have taken their place.
-
-Among the conventional sports crowd, there are fans who are 80 or 90 years old. There is no such thing in esports. John Wooden, a historic hall of fame college basketball player and coach, coached until age 65 and died at age 99. In Counter-Strike, our oldest player is TaZ at age 32, and by far the oldest community figure is SirScoots at age 51. The demographic of sports fans means that many will have been around for a long time, as long as they can remember in many cases, but the advanced age of many sports fans also has another effect.
-
-Not only are esports fans new to the esport, but many of them are also new to life. When compared to a more age-diverse community, like sports, it makes sense why those who are into esports, typically young people, will lack an understanding of journalistic ethics and common sense. They just haven’t watched or read the news. Due to a largely migratory and young fanbase, journalistic ethics need to be explained over and over again and misunderstandings due to the ignorance of fans are incessant. These problems are never ceasing because of the effect that echo chambers have. In an echo chamber, misinformed and uninformed people get unjustified validation for holding a wrong belief, compounding the problem. There just aren’t enough people to step in and tell the kids what’s what.
-
-______
-
-I don’t believe that investigative journalists will encounter the problems regarding fans in the long-run, but it really will take a long time for that to happen. While I believe the esports viewer base will get older, that is going to take a long time as many fans will lose interest and pursue other activities, like dating or raising a family. One problem when it comes to understanding investigative journalism that is unavoidable is that there will always be a migratory fanbase as new games will always be coming out, which definitely is not the case with conventional sports. Therefore, you won’t be able to combat these issues surrounding insider reporting just based on one’s track record alone as fans will need to be exposed to proven story after proven story.
-
-Investigative reporting in esports is not dead, and it isn’t going to die anytime soon. Investigative esports reporting has laid claim to something insider sports reporting won’t ever be able to—near perfect accuracy. As Richard Lewis stated, “The average sports journalist has a way worse ratio of accuracy to false stories than the average esports reporter,” and that’s why esports transfer reports are getting to the front page of reddit, such as Jacob Wolf’s report on Koo Tigers, and sports gossip is relegated to the back page.
-
-Young, ignorant fans are almost always crying for esports to become like the mainstream, for themselves to validated in some strange way, but this is one area where I am glad to say esports is never going to be like the mainstream.
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-Image credit: The Economist, @dekay, UCLA Optimists,
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-Follow the author for more on Twitter at
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-@Bleda412
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-.",1731883665,53ff29704d,4f310daa7f,,,1731883665
-https://mashable.com/article/nov-15-garmin-watch-deals,http://feeds.mashable.com/Mashable,Seven Garmin smartwatch models are down to record-low prices ahead of Black Friday,"Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Learn more about how we select deals
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-Several Garmin smartwatch models are already on sale ahead of Black Friday:
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-We're still a week away from Amazon's official Black Friday sale kickoff, but deals have been rolling in pretty steadily the whole month of November. From gaming consoles to books to smartwatches, we've been keeping our eyes peeled for early discounts. And as of Nov. 15, Garmin smartwatch deals are definitely standing out.
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-Whether you're heading into the holidays hoping to become more active, more mindful, or more rested, a smartwatch from Garmin can assist you in achieving our goals. While the Apple Watch may dominate the market, it's certainly not always the best option. Garmin really makes its case when it comes to health and wellness features. Plus, with these early Black Friday discounts, the prices ain't too shabby either.
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-Best Garmin smartwatch deal
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-If you're looking for a smartwatch that checks all the boxes — smart features, health features, fitness features, and more — the Garmin Venu 3 is exactly that. It has impressive health metrics and fitness tools, in-depth recovery advice, detailed sleep data, a speaker and microphone for hands-free calls and virtual assistant communication, and a battery life that puts any Apple Watch to shame (up to two weeks). While we haven't had a chance to review the Venu 3, I personally own the original Venu from 2019 (now discontinued) and can't recommend it enough. It still outlasts the Apple Watch in battery life, and it's five years old. The 45mm Venu 3 is usually $449.99, but you can snag it on sale for just $349.99 at Amazon as of Nov. 15. That's 22% off and its lowest price on record. If you prefer a smaller case, the 41mm Venu 3S is on sale for the same price.
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-Mashable Deals Want more early Black Friday deals right in your inbox? Sign up for the Mashable Deals newsletter. Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Thanks for signing up!
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-Best Garmin smartwatch deal under $200
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-While we haven't had a chance to review the Garmin vívoactive 5, we have tested the previous model and had great things to say. As per our reviewer: ""The vívoactive 4 is an excellent smartwatch for active people wanting to be more in tune with their bodies, and for less active individuals who have the desire but need a little nudging to stick to their goals."" The newer model, released in 2023, boasts even more fancy features, an upgraded AMOLED display, improved heart rate sensor, upgraded sleep and stress coaching, and over 30 sports apps. It's not quite as advanced as the Venu 3, but it's also $150 cheaper. Snag it on sale at Amazon for just $199.99 as of Nov. 15. That's 33% in savings and its lowest price ever. It beats October's Prime Day price by $50.
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-More Garmin smartwatch deals",1731883675,644d6c1ea1,4f2602b567,,,1731883675
-https://www.getresponse.com/blog/best-black-friday-campaigns,https://www.getresponse.com/blog/feed,The 14 Best Black Friday Advertising Examples To Follow,"You don’t need someone to tell you that Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping events of the year, but as one retailer among many, how do you draw in customers? The trick to mastering Black Friday and Cyber Monday is to find a way to make your emails stand out in your customers’ overflowing inboxes.
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-Let’s look at some great examples of Black Friday emails and do a deep dive into how you can make their tactics work for you.
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-Best Black Friday advertising campaigns
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-From offering exclusive deals to making use of appealing graphics, the best Black Friday email campaigns grab — and hold — customers’ attention.
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-Astro West
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-Image Source
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-Most brands are so focused on Black Friday sales that they forget that the shopping holiday is tied to Thanksgiving.
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-This Astro West ad stands out because it starts by thanking customers and then positions the sale as a form of gratitude. It has some great lines, including “You help make Astro West more than a business: you make us a family,” which create a bond with readers and lead to an authentic feel compared to ads that are solely about the sale.
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-Apple
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-Image Source
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-Waiting until Black Friday to send your campaign’s first email is often too late. Using a drip campaign is an excellent way to generate interest before your sales. This email from Apple does an outstanding job of clearly outlining the brand’s upcoming Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.
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-Another thing this ad does well is offer an additional gift card for shopping directly through Apple. For a brand that sells through multiple other channels, like Walmart and Amazon, sending this extra incentive ahead of time can help capture more sales through its website and stores.
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-Soundstripe
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-Image Source
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-Urgency is a key tactic to use for Black Friday sales, but it can come across as too aggressive if you’re not careful. Soundstripe does a nice job of subtly creating a fear of missing out (FOMO) by using the words “biggest sale of the year.”
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-As ecommerce has ballooned, shopping holidays like Prime Day and Singles’ Day sometimes outshine Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This ad makes it obvious that the best deals for Soundstripe are now.
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-With 40% or more of consumers regretting past Black Friday bargain buys, this tactic reassures buyers and can help them feel better about a purchase after the fact.
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-Margin
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-Image Source
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-Similar to Soundstripe’s email, Margin’s campaign makes it clear that its Black Friday deals are the best ever because it’s the only sales event it does during the year. Margin also makes a smart choice by encouraging customers to take advantage of the low prices and buy in bulk. The email goes on to suggest that the sale is a fantastic time to stock up on products for the year or buy gifts for friends and family.
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-These suggestions come across as friendly reminders that help customers save money. As icing on the cake, the brand advertises its seamless online shopping experience. Instead of requiring a promo code, sales are applied automatically, and customers get free shipping.
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-The Washington Post
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-Image Source
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-When’s the last time you bought something for 99 cents? You had to think about it, right?
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-The Washington Post knows that a 99-cent price tag is going to capture attention and put it front and center in this Black Friday email. Leveraging a bold color, large font, and dark background keeps the reader focused on the strongest selling point. From there, a note that the offer is only available for a limited time adds subtle urgency.
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-Everlane
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-Matching your Black Friday offers to your brand’s ethos is one way to create a memorable and effective campaign. Everlane’s brand is all about ethical clothing production and transparency with buyers. For this Black Friday campaign, it leaned into this mission and connected with customers’ desires to give back by making a donation to help U.S. farmers with each purchase.
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-What’s great about this email is that it makes customers feel that they’ve done something good by buying from this brand. This type of campaign works incredibly well around Thanksgiving, as shoppers are focused on gratitude and community. Not to mention, it’s going to come across as authentic and unique compared to ads and emails that are solely pushing consumption.
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-Ray-Ban
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-Tailoring your Black Friday campaigns to different customer segments makes it easier to craft messages that really resonate with each group, which goes a long way toward improving conversion rates and driving revenue during the sale.
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-In a world where new customers often get the best treatment, using Black Friday to give some love to your loyal, returning buyers is a smart play. Ray-Ban made use of this strategy by offering exclusive deals to existing customers in The Ones community.
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-The early access encourages people to stay members and drives sales before the actual holiday by making subscribers feel special.
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-Adidas
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-Image Source
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-With 40% of consumers planning to complete their holiday shopping between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it’s a terrific opportunity for brands to position their products as gifts for friends and family.
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-Adidas took full advantage of the gift-buying aspect for this campaign and made sure to include free expedited shipping to ensure items arrived before the holidays. For a seamless shopping experience, it included visual links to popular gift categories in its online store.
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-Hims
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-Image Source
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-Let’s face it. Your email is not the only one customers will get on Black Friday. One of the best ways to get customers’ attention is to focus on the essence of what makes your brand unique.
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-One brand that knows exactly who it is and makes it work for it is Hims. Hims is all about normalizing health challenges and making a personal connection with customers, which it achieves by using a lighthearted sense of humor and playful double entendres like the one in this Black Friday campaign.
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-If humor works for you, it can be an effective tactic to outshine the other brands popping up in your customers’ inboxes.
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-Moment
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-Image Source
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-This Moment campaign is another example of creating urgency and stoking FOMO without being too aggressive with language or visuals. Using the heading “Deals this good won’t last forever” highlights how good of an opportunity the sale is and starts an internal countdown in readers’ minds.
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-It also uses phrases like “don’t miss your chance,” “supplies are limited,” and “get your order in ASAP” in the supporting text to underscore the urgency. The language is balanced by calming colors and a simple design that make the urgent phrases come across as good advice from a friend rather than a salesperson shoving discounts in your face.
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-Udemy
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-Image Source
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-This Udemy email is another excellent example of how you can leverage segmentation to make your Black Friday campaigns come across as personal, rather than looking like every other mass email blast.
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-The brand targets different segments based on their educational interests, such as software and IT. By saying, “Students interested in Web Development also took these Programming Language courses,” Udemy is telling its subscribers, “Hey, we know you and we’re only going to send you recommendations that are relevant to your interests.”
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-If your brand caters to a wide range of customers and interests, segmentation is a must, especially on Black Friday. It’s a fantastic way to narrow down a vast product catalog into a few curated items that resonate the most with each group.
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-Kidly
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-Image Source
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-Taking the time to craft a visually compelling email is one way to level up your Black Friday campaign game. Moving elements, such as GIFs or videos, go a long way toward capturing a reader’s attention and making them curious about what you have to offer.
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-Kidly sells children’s products ranging from clothes and shoes to toys and travel accessories. This email uses fun imagery and a play on words to capture the cute and aesthetically pleasing characteristics that set the brand apart. The falling snowflakes invoke the idea of holiday gift-giving, while the shifting penguins subtly create a sense of excitement and encourage readers to “Click now!”
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-Columbia
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-Image Source
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-Taking segmentation one step further and leaning into personalization is one of the best ways to elevate your Black Friday ads. In a sea of generic messages, you’ll be able to stand out as the brand that really gets your customers.
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-Columbia’s Black Friday email nails the use of personalization by letting one single product be the focus. The language in the email makes it read like a friendly reminder you might get from a store associate who knows what you like. The use of click-to-reveal builds curiosity and encourages readers to engage, while providing additional recommended items with pricing details helps tease how good the discounts are.
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-Pulp & Press
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-Image Source
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-Abandoned cart emails can work really well for Black Friday by re-engaging subscribers with a product they already showed interest in. In this campaign, Pulp & Press playfully reminds customers about forgotten items and demonstrates a sense of humor by saying, “Yes, we’re sending you the sign to buy.”
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-The lighthearted nature of the copy and the imagery makes this highly relevant and targeted email feel low pressure, which can be a tough balance to achieve on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
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-How to make your Black Friday marketing campaigns stand out
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-If you want to make the most of this holiday shopping season, here are some best practices you can implement today to level up your campaigns, stick out in the inbox, and drive more Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales for your business.
-
-1. Be super clear
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-Before we get into the fun stuff, rule number 1 is to always be clear. The one thing you need to communicate is the details of your Black Friday deals, namely the discount amount and the date range of your sale.
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-
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-Doing so creates excitement around the sale and makes for a better purchasing experience overall. It’s also helpful to highlight any additional benefits you provide, such as complimentary shipping, expedited shipping, or free gifts with purchase.
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-2. Opt for subtle urgency
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-“Subtle urgency” may sound like an oxymoron, but it just might be the secret to winning over more Black Friday shoppers. On a popular shopping holiday where people are prepared to be inundated with promotions and ads, you want to be able to create a sense of urgency without crafting emails that feel like they’re shouting in your customers’ faces to “shop now!”
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-One way to achieve this is by pairing urgent language with calming imagery and graphics. This works well for brands that are focused on pleasing aesthetics. Some other tips include focusing on curiosity and teasing the sale by crafting a fun email without using product imagery. This gives readers some incentive to click through to your website to see which items are discounted.
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-3. Start campaigns early
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-Getting a headstart with your email campaign helps you build excitement, make your brand top of mind with consumers, and avoid the inbox overflow on the day of the sale.
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-Sending emails ahead of time means you also get the advantage of encouraging earlier purchases before customers set a budget. Using an email automation platform to set up drip campaigns can help you stay organized while you beat the rush.
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-4. Leverage bulk buying
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-Bundling products together or advertising the benefits of buying in bulk is an excellent way to increase sales volume. For Black Friday, you can structure your promotions so that buyers get a bigger discount when they purchase more.
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-Another way to encourage bulk buying is through the language of your email campaign, whether it’s mentioning gifts to give or stocking up while prices are at their lowest.
-
-5. Create a gifting guide
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-Black Friday and Cyber Monday are significant gift-buying times for Christmas and other holidays. If you want to increase average cart volume, embracing this trend is super effective. Not to mention, creating gifting guides for your products positions you as a brand that helps take tasks off your customers’ plates by making holiday shopping easy.
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-For ecommerce brands, make sure you clearly communicate that your products will arrive on time for the holidays. You may even want to incentivize shoppers with free expedited shipping for all products or carts that meet a minimum amount requirement.
-
-If you have brick-and-mortar stores, let customers know if you offer buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS) options or link to a map of locations where they can shop in person to ensure they have all their gifts ready by the holidays.
-
-6. Optimize the mobile experience
-
-The days of people lining up outside of a Best Buy or Target for hours before opening on Black Friday are dwindling. In 2023, 40.5 million Cyber Monday shoppers made purchases from their phones in the U.S. alone.
-
-To make the most out of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, ensure that your emails are mobile optimized, especially your CTA buttons. Using a responsive design will ensure that your campaign looks compelling on screens and devices of all sizes.
-
-7. Focus on giving
-
-Giving is literally in the name of the U.S. holiday before Black Friday — “Thanksgiving” — and it’s in the spirit of holidays with gift-giving coming up. On a holiday that focuses on abundance and gratitude for what you have, it’s natural for many consumers to also think about ways to give back to others.
-
-Aligning charitable campaigns with your Black Friday efforts can make both of them more impactful. While customers are bombarded with emails from retailers trying to get them to buy something, being the brand that focuses on giving makes you stick out.
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-8. Use segmentation and personalization
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-If you want to get your best email ROIs this Black Friday, it’s time to go beyond the basics. At the end of the day, it’s impossible to craft copy that hits home for everyone on your email list.
-
-A marketing automation platform can help you leverage advanced tactics like segmentation and personalization that level up your campaigns and create emails that really resonate with each subscriber in your target audience.
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-Some powerful segmentation strategies to try this holiday season include product preferences, purchase history, and personal interests. For personalization, we recommend using relevant user data to customize each email, leveraging dynamic content, and trying AI product recommendations.
-
-9. Pay attention to design
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-At the end of the day, your shoppers are living in a visual world. For Black Friday campaigns, it’s not enough to find the perfect copy and offer your biggest discounts. Your email has to be visually appealing and have elements that can hold a reader’s attention.
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-Understanding email design best practices, from image and video use to font and color selection, can take your campaign from just another message in the inbox to a memorable brand moment. One easy way to start improving your design is to use professionally crafted email templates as a base and then customize them to fit your brand.
-
-Make your brand stand out this Black Friday
-
-One thing that makes all of these top-tier campaigns exceptional is that they take the best practices above and make them work for their brand. Ultimately, the best Black Friday marketing strategy is one that aligns with the elements that make your brand unique.
-
-GetResponse MAX can help you create engaging emails and automate delivery to maximize the ROI of your Black Friday campaigns. Book a demo today.",1731883653,90dc77288c,4f16ed54d6,,,1731883653
-https://www.stagewhispers.com.au/news/la-boite-theatre-season-2025,https://www.stagewhispers.com.au/rss.xml,La Boite Theatre Season 2025,"Australia’s longest, continuously running theatre company La Boite Theatre celebrates its 100th birthday in 2025.
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-One of the nation’s oldest and boldest arts organisations, La Boite marks this auspicious milestone with a year-long celebration of storytelling, special events, surprise guests and sojourns down memory lane.
-
-The party starts with the announcement of La Boite’s 2025 Season, a program of reimagined classics, cross-genre productions, powerful performances and striking cultural contributions.
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-La Boite’s four major productions are an adaptation of Macbeth, the world premiere of Dead Puppet Society’s We’re All Gonna Die!, the world premiere of Congratulations, Get Rich!, co-presented with Sydney Theatre Company and Singapore Repertory Theatre, and the Queensland premiere of a Griffin Theatre production, WhiteFella Yella Tree.
-
-Complementing the mainstage program is La Boite Encores, a three- month play-reading series that brings to life 10 celebrated hits from the company’s 100-year-old archives.
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-La Boite Artistic Director Courtney Stewart (pictured above) said it was a privilege to steer the company into its centennial year.
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-“The dual themes of legacy and longevity were front of mind even before I was appointed as La Boite’s Artistic Director, a position that has been filled over the past 100 years by luminaries and legends of Australian theatre,” Stewart said.
-
-“I keep returning to a quote I read in Christine Comans’ book, La Boite: The Story of an Australian Theatre Company, which recounted the ethos on which the company was founded.
-
-“It was about ‘presenting serious drama and aspiring to cultural awareness, social improvement, discussing moral and spiritual values and collective responsibility’ and it’s become a guiding light.
-
-“It’s what La Boite’s founders were trying to do 100 years ago and it’s what we’re still striving to achieve – how do we set ourselves up for another century of legacy?”
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-The next 100 years begin with a Shakespearean subversion: a retelling of the 400-year-old Macbeth (6 to 22 March) where the three witches reclaim the narrative.
-
-The Weird Sisters step off their heath and into the spotlight in this hybrid production that blends dance, movement, text and sound. Opening on International Women’s Day, this brand-new Macbeth breathes at the intersection of spirituality, philosophy, power, ambition and fate. The production is co-directed by Stewart and Lisa Fa’alafi (Polytoxic, Hot Brown Honey), with Roxanne McDonald leading a local cast. Former Artistic Director (1993-2000) Sue Rider also returns to La Boite as Macbeth’s dramaturg.
-
-We’re All Gonna Die! (29 July to 16 August) by Maddie Nixon is a premiere work from Dead Puppet Society, collaborating with La Boite for the first time since Laser Beak Man (2017). Part climate change play, part schlock horror, part live comic book, We’re All Gonna Die! is a romp about monsters, real and metaphorical. The production features an Australian cast including La Boite stalwarts Anthon Standish and Ngoc Phan.
-
-Making its world premiere in September is Congratulations, Get Rich! (恭喜发财,人日快乐乐) (4 to 20 September), a major international collaboration created by Merlynn Tong and directed by Stewart. The ghost story is set in a karaoke bar with a thematic playlist that spans transformation, legacy, family, hope, traditions, laugh-out-loud comedy and the ecstasy of being alive.
-
-The brand-new Asian-Australian work stars Tong alongside Singapore’s Seong Hui Xuan, Zachary Boulton and Kimie Tsukakoshi, returning to La Boite’s stage after her performance in 2023’s The Poison of Polygamy. Congratulations, Get Rich!. will tour Sydney and Singapore after its debut in Brisbane.
-
-La Boite’s final mainstage production for 2025 is a 19th-century coming-of-age saga about love, mob and Country, WhiteFella Yella Tree (23 October to 8 November). It chronicles the fragile friendship that blossoms into love between Ty and Neddy, two First Nations teenagers poised on the brink of a world that is about to change forever. The heart-warming and heartbreaking queer love story was written by Dylan Van Den Berg and La Boite is hosting its Queensland premiere season.
-
-The La Boite Encores line-up will be announced in October 2024. The series will dive into La Boite’s box office hits and ground-breaking productions as it celebrates 100 years of theatrical excellence.
-
-La Boite’s 2025 season is the first to benefit from its inclusion in Creative Australia’s National Performing Arts Partnership Framework.
-
-The Framework provides joint, multi-year investment from state and federal governments and recognises La Boite as Queensland’s seventh major arts organisation alongside Queensland Ballet, Opera Queensland, Queensland Theatre, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Circa and Dancenorth.
-
-Stewart said La Boite’s entry into the Framework was a testament to the company’s significant contribution to Queensland’s arts sector and influential position within the national arts and cultural ecology.
-
-“As a leading arts organisation, La Boite holds sacred the privileged responsibility we have to support Queensland’s arts sector and deliver exceptional performances and cultural experiences,” Stewart said.
-
-“I invite everyone to join us in our 100th year as we begin another century of changing the world, one story at a time.”
-
-For more information about La Boite’s 100th year, to view the full 2025 Season program and to purchase tickets, visit laboite.com.au",1731883606,72e08d18c1,4f24944269,,,1731883606
-https://www.hopperhq.com/blog/the-best-social-media-reporting-tools/,https://www.hopperhq.com/rss,Social Media Reporting Tools: The 10 Best to Pick From,"With the best social media reporting tools, businesses can make informed decisions, refine their strategies, and measure success effectively.
-
-One such tool is Hopper HQ, a simple-to-use social media management platform that offers essential analytics without overwhelming its users. For businesses whose primary focus isn’t social media but still want to keep track of their performance, Hopper HQ is the perfect solution.
-
-For brands that are looking for more detailed data on their social media performance may need a more complex tool like Hootsuite or Sprout Social. However, this comes with a pricier budget which may be out of reach for smaller businesses.
-
-Why Use a Social Media Reporting Tool?
-
-Social media reporting tools offer several benefits to businesses:
-
-1) Data-Driven Decisions
-
-One of the greatest advantages of using social media reporting tools is the ability to make data-driven decisions that can successfully grow your business. Instead of relying on intuition or guesswork, businesses can gain detailed insights into their audience’s behavior, content performance, and overall account growth.
-
-These tools track key metrics such as likes, comments, shares, follower demographics, and engagement rates. Some more complex tools can even provide social listening and competitor monitoring features so that you can keep an eye out for what works best for them. By leveraging this information, companies can refine their marketing strategies, focusing on what works and improving areas that don’t perform as well. The result is a more targeted and effective social media presence that aligns with business goals.
-
-2) Time Efficiency
-
-Managing multiple social media accounts across different platforms can quickly become overwhelming and hard to keep consistent. Social media reporting tools simplify this process by centralizing all key performance data in one dashboard, rather than jumping between different apps and manually logging results.
-
-Saving time on data collection allows marketing teams to focus on other important tasks, such as content creation, community management, and campaign optimization. By automating reporting and consolidating data, businesses can run their social media operations more efficiently, ultimately improving productivity
-
-3) Better ROI Tracking
-
-Another significant benefit of social media reporting tools is their ability to track return on investment (ROI) in their efforts more accurately. With a clear view of which posts, campaigns, partnerships, or channels are performing best, businesses can determine where they’re getting the highest value for their efforts.
-
-By analyzing key metrics such as conversion rates, website clicks, bounce rate, and engagement, businesses can easily see which social media activities are driving revenue and which are not. This allows for more informed decisions on how to allocate resources—whether that means investing more in high-performing platforms, adjusting underperforming campaigns, or scaling back where the ROI is low. With better ROI tracking, businesses can fine-tune their budgets and strategies, ensuring that every dollar spent on social media has the greatest impact.
-
-What to Look for When Purchasing a Reporting Tool
-
-Choosing the right social media reporting tool depends on several factors:
-
-Budget
-
-Some tools offer comprehensive analytics but come at a premium price, while others are more affordable but might lack advanced features. Align the tool’s pricing with your budget. Purpose
-
-Consider what you need the tool for. Is it for tracking engagement, audience insights, or growth over time? Some tools focus on one aspect, while others provide a more holistic view. Usability
-
-The complexity of a tool matters. If your team isn’t tech-savvy or social media isn’t your primary focus, look for tools that offer simplicity and ease of use.
-
-1) Hopper HQ
-
-Hopper HQ stands out as a user-friendly social media management tool that provides all the essential analytics without overwhelming users. Ideal for businesses that want to track their channel performance but don’t see social media as their main focus, Hopper HQ offers three key benefits:
-
-1) Understand Your Audience:
-
-One of the key benefits of using a social media reporting tool like Hopper HQ is the ability to gain a deeper understanding of your audience. This feature allows businesses to access detailed insights about their followers, including where they are located, their age demographics, and when they are most active online. By understanding these crucial data points, you can tailor your content strategy to better meet the preferences and behaviors of your audience.
-
-
-
-2) Discover High-Performing Content:
-
-
-
-Hopper HQ makes it easy for businesses to identify which content resonates best with their audience by offering detailed performance metrics at a glance. With Hopper HQ’s reporting tools, users can track essential metrics such as reach, saves, likes, comments, and overall engagement rates for each post. These insights help you quickly identify which types of content are most effective at engaging your followers, allowing you to optimize your content strategy.
-
-
-
-3) Measure Your Account Growth:
-
-
-
-Hopper HQ provides powerful tools to track and measure your social media account’s growth over time, giving businesses clear visibility into their progress. With Hopper HQ, you can easily monitor key growth metrics such as the number of new followers, profile views, website clicks, and more. This data helps businesses understand how their audience is evolving and how well their social media strategies are driving traffic and engagement.
-
-2) Buffer
-
-Buffer is a well-known social media scheduling and reporting tool that has been a favorite among small businesses and individual marketers for its simplicity and efficiency. Its user-friendly interface allows you to schedule posts across various social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. While Buffer shines in content scheduling, its reporting features are more basic compared to other tools on this list. Buffer is ideal for businesses that want straightforward social media management without delving too deep into analytics.
-
-Key Benefits of Buffer:
-
-Simple and Intuitive Interface : Buffer is incredibly easy to use, making it a great option for beginners or teams with limited social media experience.
-
-
-
-: Buffer is incredibly easy to use, making it a great option for beginners or teams with limited social media experience. Affordable Plans for Small Businesses : Buffer offers budget-friendly pricing tiers, making it accessible for small businesses or freelancers who don’t need highly advanced analytics.
-
-
-
-: Buffer offers budget-friendly pricing tiers, making it accessible for small businesses or freelancers who don’t need highly advanced analytics. Basic Reporting for Key Metrics: Buffer provides essential metrics like engagement, follower growth, and post-performance, which is enough for businesses that don’t require in-depth reports.
-
-3) Hootsuite
-
-Hootsuite is one of the most comprehensive and widely used social media management platforms available today. It offers an array of features, from scheduling posts to monitoring multiple social accounts, and it provides advanced reporting capabilities. However, Hootsuite is on the higher-priced side, and not all analytics features are available on its lower-tier plans. For example, team productivity data, which tracks how efficiently your team manages social media, and ad data, which helps monitor paid social campaigns, are only accessible on higher plans. While Hootsuite’s advanced features make it a powerful tool for large organizations and agencies, smaller businesses might find its pricing and learning curve a bit steep.
-
-Key Benefits of Hootsuite:
-
-Comprehensive Social Media Management : Hootsuite allows users to schedule, monitor, and report on multiple social media platforms from one centralized dashboard.
-
-: Hootsuite allows users to schedule, monitor, and report on multiple social media platforms from one centralized dashboard. Advanced Analytics for Higher Plans : For those on premium plans, Hootsuite offers in-depth analytics, including performance tracking, team productivity reports, and ad campaign data.
-
-: For those on premium plans, Hootsuite offers in-depth analytics, including performance tracking, team productivity reports, and ad campaign data. Customizable Reports: Users can tailor their reports to show specific data points and metrics, making it easier to track progress toward business goals.
-
-4) Sprout Social
-
-Sprout Social is a premium social media management tool designed with larger teams and businesses in mind. It offers robust analytics, powerful customer relationship management (CRM) tools, and features that help streamline communication across platforms. Sprout Social excels in providing detailed audience analysis, content performance tracking, and the ability to manage customer interactions directly through its interface. However, its pricing can be quite high compared to other tools, and some smaller businesses may find it more than they need. Additionally, while its reporting features are excellent, smaller businesses might find the cost prohibitive, especially when compared to less expensive alternatives that still offer basic analytics.
-
-Key Benefits of Sprout Social:
-
-Comprehensive Audience Insights : Sprout Social provides detailed data on follower demographics, behaviors, and engagement patterns, allowing businesses to better understand and connect with their audience.
-
-: Sprout Social provides detailed data on follower demographics, behaviors, and engagement patterns, allowing businesses to better understand and connect with their audience. Advanced Reporting Features : Users can create customized, in-depth reports that highlight performance metrics across multiple social media platforms, offering a holistic view of social strategy effectiveness.
-
-: Users can create customized, in-depth reports that highlight performance metrics across multiple social media platforms, offering a holistic view of social strategy effectiveness. Built-In CRM Capabilities: Sprout Social’s CRM tools make it easy to track customer interactions and manage relationships, making it especially useful for businesses with a strong focus on customer support and engagement.
-
-5) Socialbakers
-
-Socialbakers is an AI-powered social media management tool that excels in providing deep insights and analytics, making it a strong choice for businesses looking to optimize their social media strategy with data-driven decisions. Its AI-driven features help analyze audience behavior, content performance, and even competitor strategies. Socialbakers is particularly suited for larger companies or agencies that manage multiple accounts and require detailed reports on customer demographics, influencer partnerships, and paid campaign performance. However, the advanced features come at a higher price, and their complexity might be overkill for smaller businesses or those with less experience in social media analytics.
-
-Key Benefits of Socialbakers:
-
-AI-Powered Insights : Socialbakers leverages artificial intelligence to deliver detailed insights into audience behavior, helping businesses create more targeted and effective content.
-
-
-
-: Socialbakers leverages artificial intelligence to deliver detailed insights into audience behavior, helping businesses create more targeted and effective content. Competitor and Influencer Analysis : The platform allows users to monitor competitors and track influencer partnerships, offering unique data that can give brands a competitive edge.
-
-
-
-: The platform allows users to monitor competitors and track influencer partnerships, offering unique data that can give brands a competitive edge. Comprehensive Analytics Dashboard: Users get access to a centralized dashboard that provides a clear, holistic view of social media performance, including both organic and paid efforts.
-
-6) Agorapulse
-
-Agorapulse is a well-rounded social media management tool that offers an intuitive interface and solid reporting features, making it a favorite among small to mid-sized businesses and agencies. With Agorapulse, users can schedule posts, monitor social media conversations, and track performance metrics across multiple platforms. One of its standout features is its social inbox, which consolidates messages and comments from all social accounts in one place, making community management more efficient. While Agorapulse offers useful analytics, its reporting capabilities are less advanced compared to other high-end tools, making it a simpler but effective option for businesses that don’t require extensive data analysis.
-
-Key Benefits of Agorapulse:
-
-User-Friendly Interface : Agorapulse is easy to navigate, making it ideal for teams that need a straightforward tool to manage social media without a steep learning curve.
-
-: Agorapulse is easy to navigate, making it ideal for teams that need a straightforward tool to manage social media without a steep learning curve. Unified Social Inbox : The platform’s social inbox brings all messages and comments from your social profiles into one dashboard, improving team efficiency in handling customer interactions.
-
-: The platform’s social inbox brings all messages and comments from your social profiles into one dashboard, improving team efficiency in handling customer interactions. Affordable for Small to Mid-Sized Businesses: Agorapulse offers cost-effective pricing plans that deliver solid features without overwhelming users with unnecessary complexity.
-
-7) Sendible
-
-Sendible is a versatile social media management tool designed for agencies and larger teams managing multiple clients or social accounts. It offers a range of features, including content scheduling, client management, and analytics, making it a strong choice for agencies that need to streamline their workflow. Sendible also allows users to manage social media, blogs, and email marketing campaigns all from one platform, providing a more integrated experience. However, while its reporting features are comprehensive, they may be a bit complex for smaller businesses or individual users who only need basic analytics. Its pricing can also be on the higher side for teams with limited needs.
-
-Key Benefits of Sendible:
-
-Multi-Channel Management : Sendible allows users to manage social media, blogs, and even email campaigns from a single platform, making it an excellent option for agencies managing multiple clients.
-
-: Sendible allows users to manage social media, blogs, and even email campaigns from a single platform, making it an excellent option for agencies managing multiple clients. Client Collaboration Tools : It provides unique features like client approval workflows, helping agencies maintain smooth communication and deliverables for their clients.
-
-: It provides unique features like client approval workflows, helping agencies maintain smooth communication and deliverables for their clients. Customizable Reports: Sendible’s reporting tools are robust and fully customizable, allowing users to tailor reports based on client needs or specific performance metrics.
-
-8) Zoho Social
-
-Zoho Social is an affordable and straightforward social media management tool that integrates well with other Zoho products, making it a great option for small businesses already using the Zoho ecosystem. It provides essential features such as content scheduling, social media monitoring, and basic reporting. Zoho Social’s analytics, while not as detailed as some of the premium tools, still offer valuable insights into post performance, audience demographics, and engagement. It’s a cost-effective option for businesses that want to manage social media efficiently without breaking the bank, though larger organizations or agencies might find its reporting capabilities somewhat limited compared to other tools.
-
-Key Benefits of Zoho Social:
-
-Affordable and Accessible : Zoho Social offers a range of pricing plans that cater to small businesses, making it a budget-friendly option without sacrificing essential features.
-
-: Zoho Social offers a range of pricing plans that cater to small businesses, making it a budget-friendly option without sacrificing essential features. Seamless Integration with Zoho Suite : For businesses already using Zoho’s suite of products (such as CRM, email, and finance tools), Zoho Social integrates smoothly, creating a more connected business ecosystem.
-
-: For businesses already using Zoho’s suite of products (such as CRM, email, and finance tools), Zoho Social integrates smoothly, creating a more connected business ecosystem. Basic but Effective Analytics: While it doesn’t offer the advanced reporting features of more expensive tools, Zoho Social provides enough insights for businesses looking to track performance without needing in-depth data analysis.
-
-9) Iconosquare
-
-Iconosquare is a specialized social media analytics tool, primarily focused on Instagram and Facebook. It provides in-depth insights into content performance, audience behavior, and engagement, making it a top choice for brands that rely heavily on visual platforms. Iconosquare offers detailed metrics such as follower demographics, post reach, and engagement rates, which help businesses refine their social media strategy. While it excels in providing data for Instagram and Facebook, its support for other platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn is more limited. This makes Iconosquare perfect for businesses focused on visual content, but not as suitable for those needing comprehensive analytics across all social networks.
-
-Key Benefits of Iconosquare:
-
-Detailed Instagram and Facebook Analytics : Iconosquare offers highly specialized insights for Instagram and Facebook, providing brands with a deep understanding of their content performance and audience.
-
-: Iconosquare offers highly specialized insights for Instagram and Facebook, providing brands with a deep understanding of their content performance and audience. Competitor Tracking : Users can monitor competitor accounts, comparing performance metrics to help them stay ahead of the competition in their niche.
-
-: Users can monitor competitor accounts, comparing performance metrics to help them stay ahead of the competition in their niche. Content Calendar and Scheduling: In addition to analytics, Iconosquare provides a content calendar and scheduling feature, making it easier to plan and post content efficiently.
-
-10) Later
-
-Later is a visual content scheduling tool primarily designed for Instagram, though it also supports other platforms like Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and Pinterest. Its focus on visual content makes it a top choice for businesses and influencers who prioritize aesthetics and need an intuitive platform for managing their Instagram presence. Later’s drag-and-drop calendar and visual media library make planning and posting content easy and organized. However, while Later does offer some basic analytics, its reporting features are not as robust as other tools, making it more suitable for users focused on content scheduling rather than in-depth performance tracking.
-
-Key Benefits of Later:
-
-Visual Content Scheduling : Later’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface and media library allow users to easily plan, schedule, and post visually compelling content, particularly for Instagram.
-
-: Later’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface and media library allow users to easily plan, schedule, and post visually compelling content, particularly for Instagram. Instagram-Focused : Later provides features like Instagram grid previews and hashtag suggestions, tailored specifically for maximizing Instagram engagement.
-
-: Later provides features like Instagram grid previews and hashtag suggestions, tailored specifically for maximizing Instagram engagement. Affordable for Small Teams: Later offers budget-friendly plans, making it accessible for small businesses and individual influencers who need a simple yet effective scheduling tool.
-
-Conclusion
-
-Social media reporting tools are essential for businesses aiming to improve their online presence and marketing strategies. From tracking engagement to analyzing content performance, these tools provide critical insights that can shape a brand’s success. Hopper HQ stands out for businesses that want to keep social media reporting simple yet effective, making it a great option for companies whose primary focus isn’t social media.
-
-Don’t miss out—try Hopper HQ for free today and take the first step toward understanding and growing your social presence!",1731883663,1b90b10e2b,4f1bc13c91,,,1731883663
-https://expeditionportal.com/classifieds-ford-f-250-super-duty-xl-w-bison-overland-camper/,https://www.expeditionportal.com/feed/,2024 Ford F-250 Super Duty XL w/ Bison Overland Camper :: Featured Classified,"With more opportunities than ever to work remotely, an increasing number of people are ditching four walls and a ceiling for life on the road. To this end, full-size trucks are the ideal platform with both the power and capacity to safely accommodate a full-time rolling home. Publisher Scott Brady states, “When we first started Overland Journal, the compact pickup was by far the most popular choice for overlanding, but that gap is quickly narrowing with full-size variants. The reason is simple—big trucks are more capable than ever before, and they have the payload to haul more than a few passengers and a basket of groceries.” The F-250 is one of the most popular options for travel and a favorite with the Expedition Portal team. We’ve featured various adventure-equipped examples, including builds from Bruce Dorn, Rossmönster, and John Burtt. In addition, the Tremor variant was awarded Editor’s Choice in Overland Journal’s Full Size Truck of the Year. Cue today’s super-low-mileage 2024 Ford F-250 Super Duty XL 4×4 (3,089 miles), which showcases desirable 4WD attributes from the factory, tasteful aftermarket upgrades, and a partially converted Bison Overland Camper (learn more about these premium campers on the Down2Mob Overland channel). This turnkey rig could be enjoyed as is or would serve as the perfect blank canvas for a full expedition build-out. This is a unique opportunity to purchase an almost new truck and camper at a considerable discount.
-
-From the Seller:
-
-“My financial situation has changed, and I’m looking to sell my truck and camper. I’d like to sell it as a complete package at this time, as the camper is custom to fit in the bed of the truck with the tailgate closed. Everything is in like-new condition, purchased from the factory four months ago, and has been covered ever since in storage. There is zero wood in the camper. Bison is made with Lemker panels made of PET Gurit Kerdyn panels (not EPS), and are all made in America with aluminum powder-coated extrusions. If you really look into panels, I believe these are very hard to beat. Additionally, the interior is secured with adhesive, and no screws penetrate the box. The camper has 90 percent of the powder-coated aluminum interior installed; I have not mounted the cabinet over the sink or the final piece of the countertop, as that will be dependent on the buyer’s desires. Additionally, I have not installed the water tank seat at the front of the camper as the freshwater capacity will depend on the buyer. The rig is ready for adventures.”
-
-2024 Ford F-250 Super Duty XL Extended Cab 4×4
-
-The F-250 is fitted with a 6.8-liter V8 that produces 405 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque. A powerful motor is matched with impressive backcountry performance thanks to 4WD, high and low range, armor, a rear locking differential, manual locking front hubs, and intelligent off-road modes. These rugged attributes are balanced with a well-equipped interior with driver comforts that include:
-
-Air-conditioning
-
-Cruise control
-
-Multi-function steering wheel
-
-Center console with cupholders
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-Power steering, windows, and locks
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-Rearview camera
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-Keyless entry
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-Productivity screen, 4.2-inch
-
-Infotainment system with navigation
-
-Trailer brake controller and sway control
-
-Ceramic clear tint on front windows
-
-Heated tow mirrors
-
-Distinguishing Features
-
-Falken AT/4 tires
-
-Bison Overland Camper (2024 model) with windows, roof vent, Arctic Tern door, and more
-
-Front air dam and radio antenna delete
-
-Husky floor mats, window shade, bed mat, and side steps
-
-Camper jacks
-
-Memory foam 4-inch mattress and breathable underlayment
-
-Camper interior build-out constructed with aluminum extrusions and bamboo doors and countertops
-
-This 2024 Ford F-250 Super Duty XL with a Bison Overland camper is listed for $82,000 and is currently located in Longmont, Colorado. Check the full vehicle specifications via the original Expedition Portal forum post here.
-
-Contact Information:
-
-Email: mack.maier@gmail.com
-
-Tel: 720-626-3352",1731883657,ecdc66bb02,4f57676fc0,,,1731883657
-https://spinsucks.com/communication/communications-plan-creation/,https://spinsucks.com/feed/,The 16 Things Every Communications Plan Should Include,"Working with a new client or organization is exciting! They trust you to tell their story, to communicate with their audiences (or help them build new ones), and help them succeed as an organization. You can’t wait! You want to jump right in and get to work.
-
-But before you start looking for story ideas, planning events, or designing infographics, you have to develop an often-overlooked part of communications—your strategic plan.
-
-Remember Hannibal Smith in “The A-Team?” Do you remember the scene near the end of each show where he’d stand, looking out on yet another improbable victory with his trusty cigar in hand and say: “I love it when I throw a bunch of stuff against the wall and see what sticks!”
-
-No. Of course not.
-
-His memorable quote is: “I love it when a plan comes together.”
-
-Without a plan, Hannibal would be looking at the rubble around his feet crying, “Why?????”
-
-Because we want to keep you from being in that position, we are going to discuss what a good communications plan should include.
-
-What a Good Communications Plan Includes
-
-Whether you’re working for an agency, a nonprofit, or a corporation, you need a solid plan. A good communications plan helps you set expectations early during a campaign. It defines success for the organization, and better protects you from unrealistic—or out-of-scope—demands.
-
-Several years ago, we hosted a webinar with Benson Hendrix on how to craft a strategic plan. While it’s a few years old, the message behind why and how to develop a great strategy has not changed.
-
-It shows you how you can create measurable objectives, with solid strategy and tactics. It focuses on the “Four-Step Process” and “Management by Objectives,” two important ideas to help you develop strategies that make sense for you and your clients.
-
-It will help you develop your strategy chops.
-
-One of the great things about planning is that different people have different ways of developing plans. Almost none of them are ever completely wrong, but there are some basics to what you should include.
-
-The 16 Things Your Communications Plan Should Include
-
-Nearly every communicator prefers to jump right to tactics and we forget about the research and plan phase of what we do. While it’s certainly not as exciting as tactics, we should not do anything without it.
-
-Can you imagine being in a new city and having to find your way to a meeting without GPS, your phone, or a good old-fashioned map? That’s what it’s like when we try to run a communications program without a plan. We’re trying to drive somewhere without having any idea where we’re going.
-
-If you dread annual planning—or really have no idea where to start, this will help. There are 16 things every communications plan should have that will drive all marketing, business development, growth, and results.
-
-Money, money, money, mooooney! Let’s dig in!
-
-A Process
-
-The most important of your communications plan is to have a process. If you just stick some goals up on a whiteboard and call it a day, it won’t work.
-
-However, if you have a process and it’s implemented well, it will force you to confront challenges and contradictions that could trip future growth. It needs to be developed with colleagues who feel comfortable being brutally honest.
-
-The reason creating a communications plan is harder than it seems is that we often see what should be rather than what is. If you have colleagues who aren’t on the client team or not in the communications or marketing department, use them. They’ll have ideas that transcend your world.
-
-If you are a one-person show or have colleagues you don’t trust, use the Spin Sucks Community. We love a good brainstorm session that spans several days.
-
-In today’s virtual world, it can be a bit challenging. If you can craft this process in person, you can get it done in a day or day and a half, but on Zoom, it may take you some time. For instance, I wouldn’t ask people to sit on a Zoom call for a full day or day and a half. I’d break it up into two-hour segments over several weeks.
-
-The Objective
-
-If you want your communications plan to drive real business results, and you work in a B2B world, the objective will always be to increase conversions. If you’re working with nonprofits, it will be to increase fundraising or volunteers. And with consumer brands, it certainly depends on the organization, but I can’t imagine you wouldn’t want to affect sales in some way.
-
-From a B2B perspective, which is my expertise, this is where you’ll state how many new customers you need by size, industry, and marketing needs. You also can describe here how much growth can come from existing customers. After all, it’s far easier to grow existing customers than it is to obtain new ones.
-
-You also should say how much the increase should be and make it realistic enough that you can actually achieve it. For instance, don’t say you want to add $10MM next year if you added only $1MM this year.
-
-The objective is the what—what you want to achieve—and make it measurable. For one client we’re working with, the objective is to increase highly-qualified marketing leads We look at four things: quality of audience, origination, contribution, and conversion, which leads to return-on-investment.
-
-For another, we look at the website and blog traffic that comes from organic (content marketing and SEO) and direct (awareness and reputation) at the top of the funnel.
-
-From there, we create opportunities for them to be marketing qualified leads (they subscribe or download content), then sales qualified, and then new customers.
-
-While we aren’t in charge of converting from sales qualified to conversion, we definitely track where they came from.
-
-Goals
-
-For some reason, goals are really difficult for communicators. When I worked at FleishmanHillard, I got so tired of people asking me what a goal should include, I wrote a list of active words and posted it on my wall. It included words for goals and for strategies.
-
-Today, that seems kind of silly, but it worked and it taught people how to build goals, just by looking at my wall. The goals should be no more than five (ideally only three) and should be actionable.
-
-For instance, how will you reach your objective of increasing your conversions? You have to have goals that work backward from there:
-
-Increase website traffic from XX to XX
-
-Build email database from XX to XX
-
-Increase marketing leads from XX to XX
-
-Increase marketing qualified leads from XX to XX
-
-Increase sales qualified leads from XX to XX
-
-Convert XX percent of sales qualified leads to customers
-
-If you don’t yet have the numbers you need to include in your goals, you can set benchmarks. For instance, I would craft a 60- or 75-day plan to set benchmarks and then go back and create the goals.
-
-For the aforementioned client, we started with a list of 250 prospects. We tagged them all in the CRM as prospects and we got to work. If they subscribe to the blog, download some content, or fill out a form, they become a marketing lead. Now we’ve hit our first three goals—increase website traffic, build email database, and increase marketing leads.
-
-At this point, the marketing and sales qualified leads that lead to conversion are different for each organization.
-
-But this gives you a really good start.
-
-Strategy
-
-Next, you’ll move to your strategy, which is what helps you achieve your goals—it’s how you’ll do it. It becomes your map or GPS.
-
-If your goal is to build and enhance your reputation to attract more clients in your target market, then your strategy has to be a sentence or two that describes how you’ll do that.
-
-This is the vision of your communications plan. What does success look like a year from now? Really think about what you will have accomplished by the end—it could be three months, six months, a year, or five years.
-
-Imagine what the client or CEO is saying to you, after a successful year. Write that down.
-
-The Plan
-
-Now it’s time to start building your communications plan. You will need to get information from your client or your executive team to fill some of this in. They may delay getting you the information—or won’t provide it at all.
-
-Fight for it.
-
-You cannot affect change in the organization unless you know where the business is going and how you can help it get there.
-
-If some of the following information does not yet exist, force a strategic planning session. We will not work with a new client without that session—and we require every member of the executive team to sit in it. It is painful for some—and I once had a client CEO walk out because he didn’t want to discuss growth in front of his team—but it created a communications plan worth its weight in gold.
-
-Executive Summary
-
-This one is easy! Create a one-page recap of everything in your plan. It should sit on your desk so you can review it daily.
-
-It should include:
-
-Mission
-
-Vision
-
-Core values
-
-Objective
-
-Goals
-
-Strategies
-
-Differentiators
-
-Key messages
-
-List of communications tactics
-
-Any issues or challenges that came up in the initial planning meetings that you haven’t yet solved
-
-A list of things you would like to do if resources open up (but are not part of the main plan)
-
-Key Challenges
-
-During the meeting where you bring together colleagues from other departments, you will create a list of challenges you’re facing. These could be anything from a lazy salesperson to a commoditized business.
-
-Create a description of the products or services you want to market and what challenges you might face in doing so. For instance, we have productized our intellectual property for communicators and for agency owners.
-
-One of our challenges includes communicators who don’t have budget control. (Which means they can’t spend money on professional development.) Or perhaps a competitor has more experience in an industry you want to enter. Or your organization doesn’t yet have the history a prospect would want.
-
-List every challenge you can foresee.
-
-Situation Analysis
-
-The situation analysis, then, is an identification of key industry status metrics. We have a client who does this quarterly. He includes what’s going on economically, from a global perspective, as well as industry metrics.
-
-It’s incredibly helpful to see how things change from quarter to quarter and how the work you’re doing falls within the industry trends.
-
-Your situation analysis should include your overall goals and focus, your culture, your perceived strengths and weaknesses, and your market share position.
-
-Customer Analysis
-
-The customer analysis in your communications plan could also be a brand persona creation.
-
-Who are the three or four customer types you want to attract?
-
-How many customers do you want to have by the end of the year?
-
-What are the values of your targeted customers?
-
-Include an overview of the decision process those prospects use to hire an organization like yours (or your client’s).
-
-Competitor Analysis
-
-And now it’s time to do a customer analysis. It should look at your own marketing position, along with the market positions of your closest competitors. I would also include the domain authority of all of your competitors and a look at where they rank for your priority keywords.
-
-Moz and SEMRush will both let you do this automatically if you have $99/month to spend. If you don’t, you can do it manually. Then update it monthly. It won’t take you very long. It’s just a spreadsheet and a Google search.
-
-Include any weaknesses that could curtail your efforts to compete effectively.
-
-Implementation Summary
-
-Your implementation summary is an analysis of how you will use the above information to achieve your goals. This should be as specific as possible to allow for accountability.
-
-Who needs to do what, and on what timeline? Do you need help from other departments (the answer is yes) or will you work in a silo (the answer is no)?
-
-Write down a summary of the big things—product launches, events, speaking engagements, board meetings—and who will need to help.
-
-Positioning Statements
-
-These could also be called key messages if you prefer. It’s the language you will use in your marketing materials to differentiate you from competitors. It should highlight our key service mission and qualitative skill sets.
-
-Cost Strategy
-
-It seems odd to add a cost strategy in your communications plan, but it’s important to look at the overall business. In this case, the cost could definitely affect your ability to deliver results.
-
-Include an overview of the organization’s pricing structure, relative to that of the competitors and averages for the size of company, industry, and region. The more you can claim deep expertise, the more you can charge. In a PR agency, for instance, crisis communications experts do well here because they get paid based on their expertise.
-
-Once you have this complete, you should consider posting pricing on your website. It can stay internal, but it’s worth the conversation.
-
-The PESO Model™
-
-Now we can finally talk tactics. This is where most communicators start—but you can see how much you should do before you get here.
-
-This is where you’ll include the fun stuff, such as creating a new media room. Build a cranberry bog in Times Square (which we actually did). Host a celebrity chef cook-off for catfish (did that, too). Or hold a fire ant funeral, complete with a pastor and mourners (the pinnacle of my career).
-
-Go wild here—all of your tactics will work and be measurable because of all of the work you’ve done to this point. This should include tactics that fit within a PESO Model™, are integrated, and are measurable. It should include a detailed delineation of who on your team will implement specific elements of the plan and a timeline.
-
-Changing Market Analysis
-
-Forecast anticipated changes in the fiscal landscape of your target industries in the next three to five years. How will these changes affect you?
-
-For instance, no one in a thousand years could have predicted a global pandemic would shut businesses down for several weeks. Actually, that’s not true. Bill Gate predicted it, but no one believed him. Guess we learned that lesson!
-
-I think we can all agree the past couple of years have been special—not only did we deal with a pandemic, the Death Valley recorded the hottest temperature ever, three hurricanes hit landfall at the same time, Utah had days of earthquakes, murder hornets flew over Washington…not to mention social justice movements, cops murdering civilians, and a climate crisis.
-
-The point is, you have to be prepared for the outside forces that will affect your communications plan, even if you can’t predict the specific instances.
-
-Metrics
-
-And last, but certainly not least, you must include metrics. If you did your work upfront correctly, you already have your metrics.
-
-Scroll back up to the Goals section. You know where I said, “XX to XX”? Those should be actual numbers Those numbers become your metrics.
-
-If you need help building this part of your communications plan, we have plenty on the topic, which you can find here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
-
-Make sure you follow the SMART structure when creating your communications plan: are they specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound?
-
-Get Your Communications Plan Written!
-
-This is not an easy assignment, but the time is right. If you don’t already have many of these things written down and in stone, it may take you several weeks of brainstorming and testing to get it right. You have enough time to get it done between now and the end of Q1.
-
-Work with colleagues in other departments. Force a strategy session with the executives. Ask for help in the Spin Sucks Community. Access the organization’s analytics and any other data you can get your hands on.
-
-And then get to work. You’ll be happy you did!
-
-Need More Help?
-
-That one was a doozy, but this is incredibly important work.
-
-I know we’d all like to skip it—just like we’d all love it if one workout a week kept us in tiptop shape (or maybe that’s just me, but it would be pretty amazing!).
-
-Don’t skip it! Do the hard work. It’ll be worth it.
-
-To boot, the PESO Model Certification will teach you exactly how to do all of this work—and get you there in just eight short weeks. By the time you finish, you’ll have your PESO Model plan ready for global domination.",1731883799,4dc781f5bc,4f73dfe9a1,,,1731883799
-https://www.ign.com/articles/never-before-seen-half-life-2-episode-3-gameplay-footage-and-ice-gun-revealed-in-new-documentary,http://feeds.ign.com/ign/games-all,Never-Before-Seen Half-Life 2: Episode 3 Gameplay Footage and Ice Gun Revealed in New Documentary,"Half-Life: Episode 3 remains one of the great what-ifs in gaming history. Originally set to follow on from Episode 1 and 2, its cancellation instead left the series dangling on a cliffhanger it never directly resolved.
-
-Now, on the occasion of Half-Life 2's 20th anniversary, Valve has opened up about its development in a brand-new documentary that shows never-before-seen work-in-progress footage, a brand-new Ice Gun, and a raft of new concept art. You can see the gameplay segment from the documentary in the video below.
-
-Play
-
-IGN's Twenty Questions - Guess the game! IGN's Twenty Questions - Guess the game! 💡 Hint To start: ...try asking a question that can be answered with a ""Yes"" or ""No"". 000/250 Ask
-
-Among the details shown in the video, Episode 3 would have been set in the Arctic, and it would have focused on Alyx as a companion character. Aside from the Ice Gun, the footage shows a blob-like enemy that could split into multiple parts. According to the documentary, the team had complete a ""collection of playable levels in no particular order"" and expected to be able to release the game within a year or two.
-
-In addition to the new gameplay footage, writer Marc Laidlaw, founder Gabe Newell, and others also talk frankly about why it was never released, ultimately chalking it up to a lack of compelling new ideas and other reasons. At one point Laidlaw jokes, ""Are we allowed to cry in this documentary?""
-
-“ We could have shipped it. It wouldn't have been that hard
-
-The reason for Episode 3's cancellation has been the subject of much discussion over the years, not the least because Episode 2 ended on a grim cliffhanger. In an interview with IGN shortly before Alyx's release, Valve level designer Dario Casali described it partly as an issue of scope screep. Laidlaw would later reveal the plot in a story called ""Epistle 3,"" featuring ""Gertie Freemont"" and ""Alex Vaunt"" — plays on Gordon Freeman and Alyx Vance.
-
-Half-Life 2: Episode 3 would have been set in the Arctic and featured an Ice Gun. Image source: Half-Life 2 Documentary.
-
-It's possible to detect a lot of regret over the decision not to go through Episode 3. At one point Laidlaw jokes, ""Are we allowed to cry in this documentary?"" Others talk about how Episode 3 probably could have been released in hindsight. Newell says, ""We could have shipped it. It wouldn't have been that hard. My personal failure was being stumped. I couldn't figure out why Episode 3 was pushing anything forward.""
-
-Valve finally released Half-Life Alyx in 2020, sending the story spinning off in a new direction, but many fans remain wistful about Half-Life: Episode 3 (not to mention the long lost Half-Life 3). Now, 20 years after its release, Valve is celebrating Half-Life 2 amid unconfirmed rumors that a new game is in the works. In the meantime, it's worth watching the entire documentary, which delves deep into Half-Life 2's fraught development.
-
-Image source: Half-Life 2 Documentary / Valve
-
-Kat Bailey is IGN's News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.",1731883670,9e7916d7c6,4f52146527,,,1731883670
-https://zenhabits.net/letgo-practice/,https://zenhabits.net/feed/,The Practice of Letting Go - zen habits,"By Leo Babauta
-
-Most of our stresses and frustrations come from our unwillingness to let go.
-
-Hear me out: think about something you’re stressing about, or someone you’re frustrated about. What thought do you have about that person or situation that causes the frustration? It’s often an invisible thought, that we don’t realize we have, but if you were to speak it out loud, it would feel really true.
-
-Try writing it out with one of these prompts:
-
-“They shouldn’t …”
-
-“If I fail, it will mean …”
-
-“I wish things weren’t so …”
-
-Then fill in the blank.
-
-What thought or belief do you have that’s causing your stress or frustration? If you can identify that, you are halfway there.
-
-Now think about how true that thought or belief feels to you. It probably feels like absolute truth. This is the part that we’re unwilling to let go of — the truth of that thought/belief.
-
-What if you could recognize it as a thought or belief, and not as an absolute truth?
-
-Could you see ways that the opposite might be true? For example, if you think of ways that someone “always” acts in a certain way, can you see any times when they didn’t? If it feels like you can’t catch a break, can you see times when life gave you a gift?
-
-What would your life be like if you didn’t have this belief?
-
-In the moment when you considered that question, you let go.
-
-Notice how that works: you imagine life without the belief, and suddenly you have peace.
-
-What if you could practice it every time you had frustration or stress?",1731883646,3651ce3891,4f99afe916,,,1731883646
-https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/articles/c4gxjy31vrzo,https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/rss.xml,Diego Forlan on tennis: From beating Ruud van Nistlerooy at Man Utd to becoming ATP Tour professional,"Footballers are a competitive bunch. The will to win is rarely ever consigned to the pitch.
-
-So when Manchester United strikers Diego Forlan and Ruud van Nistelrooy faced each other on a tennis court at Nike's HQ in Portland during a 2003 pre-season tour, there was tension.
-
-Sir Alex Ferguson and their United team-mates were watching. Fergie had apparently put money on Forlan winning the pre-training tie-break tussle.
-
-""Everyone wanted to see who was going to win. I had all the pressure,"" remembers 45-year-old Forlan, who is gearing up for a professional tennis debut in his native Uruguay next month.
-
-""Ruud played a lot - not as much as I played, but still he knew how to play.""
-
-After a few serving jitters, Forlan beat Van Nistelrooy ""in the end"".
-
-What the now-interim United manager did not know - the wily Ferguson had typically not missed a beat - was Forlan had quite the pedigree.
-
-After retiring in 2019, external, Forlan had more time for tennis. Focusing on the fitness and social benefits, he played with friends in the Montevideo club league.
-
-His competitive spirit was sparked and, in 2023, the left-hander made his ITF Masters Tour debut. Now he is ranked 113th in the world in the over-45s category.
-
-A greater reward came when he was given a wildcard into the Uruguay Open doubles on the ATP Challenger Tour - the tier below where Novak Djokovic et al compete.
-
-""If you asked me when I was playing football if I was going to play on the ATP Tour, I would not have imagined it,"" said Forlan, who counts Boris Becker, Ivan Lendl and Goran Ivanisevic among his idols.
-
-""I didn't know if I was going to play tennis even though it was a sport I really liked.""",1731883655,95caee0db1,4f5011d584,,,1731883655
-https://spinsucks.com/communication/two-question-test-political-statements/,https://spinsucks.com/feed/,The Two-Question Test for CEOs Considering Political Statements,"Last week, Sticker Mule made quite a political statement. They sent an email to their subscribers, which caused a huge outrage.
-
-If you didn’t hear what happened, the short story is that their co-founder got on his soapbox about how he’s feeling about the division in the U.S. and how much he likes and respects Trump, even though he’s afraid to admit it.
-
-At the end of the email, he pleaded to subscribers to buy a once $19 shirt for $4 to show their support for the GOP presidential nominee. It was…something.
-
-Let’s put the illegalities aside (you can’t use your business to raise money for a political candidate) and, truly, as much as I would love to dissect the politics of this, we’ll put that aside, too.
-
-Instead, let’s discuss when we should advise our executives or clients to stand up for what they believe in personally, how their values relate to the business, how to make political statements (if appropriate), and what doing so can cost in the long run.
-
-Political Statements that Work
-
-Since the attempted assassination of the former president, plenty of business leaders have taken to public platforms to express their views and call for unity.
-
-Tim Cook, who has not exactly been overenthusiastic with the former president’s policies, condemned the violence in a social media post following the incident. Others who have been critical of Trump in the past have also put aside their differences in this moment as they released political statements, including:
-
-The difference between what all of these leaders and what the Sticker Mule co-founder shared is that they call for unity, peace, and the reinforcement of values. Except for Dimon, who shared his thoughts internally, they all shared on their personal social media networks. They didn’t do it on the company platforms or send a customer-wide email.
-
-Sticker Mule did the opposite. Their co-founder shared his thoughts with their customer base (if not an FTC violation, it certainly walks the line) and invited conversation on X. He didn’t condemn the violence or call for unity and peace. Instead, he whined about how the hate for Trump has gone too far and about how he’s scared to admit he supports him. Gosh. You think?
-
-A Right Way and a Wrong Way
-
-There is a right way and a wrong way to speak about your values or make political statements. And it’s up to us to help executives figure out what makes the most sense for their organizations while building and maintaining a leadership position.
-
-When a client is considering speaking up about what’s happening in the world, we start with two questions: does your brand already support this in a way that attracts like-minded people who have the same values? And does your brand make or sell anything that provides a greater good to society?
-
-In other words, do you make toothpaste or stickers, or do you work with the government or with kids? If it’s the former, we will almost always recommend you not take a stand and definitely no political statements.
-
-There are, of course, always exceptions to that rule, but a toilet paper company likely isn’t going to achieve anything by speaking out, other than pissing off half of your customers.
-
-Start With These Two Questions
-
-Let’s start with our two questions:
-
-
-
-Does your brand already support this in a way that attracts like-minded people with the same values? Does your brand make or sell anything that provides a greater good to society?
-
-Answering these two questions allows you to assess the relevance to the brand, evaluate customer expectations, analyze potential risks and rewards, and develop a strategy if you decide to move forward.
-
-Let’s assume the answer to one or both of our initial questions is “yes” and discuss how to proceed.
-
-Brand Relevance
-
-If the issue directly affects the company’s mission or is relevant to your industry, taking a stand or making a political statement may be appropriate—and you probably answered “yes” to the first question.
-
-This might look like an organization that advocates for sustainability should speak out on environmental issues and climate change. A tech company might speak out about data privacy issues.
-
-In both examples, they will remain silent on unrelated political matters. If, however, the issue isn’t relevant to the mission or the industry—such as, I don’t know, stickers or hot sauce—be smart and pass, no matter how fired up everyone internally might be.
-
-Evaluate Audience Expectations
-
-Next, you’ll evaluate what your audience expects—and this includes customers and employees. If your audience supports a certain viewpoint, you can proceed to the next step. If they are diverse, it’s worth re-evaluating your stance.
-
-If you don’t know where your audience stands, your time to speak out is not now. But if you want to prepare for the future, start conducting research—surveys, polls, focus groups, feedback, and reviews—on where your audiences stand, what they think, and how those views will support or detract from your business.
-
-For instance, a bank might be able to speak out on economic equality and corporate social responsibility, while a gaming company might do the same for issues regarding inclusivity.
-
-As you consider this step, consider other stakeholders, such as employees, investors, and partners. Without their support, your political statements (or any other statement) won’t get very far.
-
-Analyze Potential Risks and Rewards
-
-While analyzing the risks and rewards, it’s important to think about this as you would any crisis planning: what are the scenarios, how would you rank them, and what would cause them to move up in ranking (i.e., move from an issue to a crisis)?
-
-For instance, how would sending this email or publishing this social media post affect our reputation? How would it affect revenue? How would it affect sentiment? Does it break any laws?
-
-As we have seen, positive alignment with audience values can enhance loyalty, but misalignment can lead to backlash, loss of trust, and loss of revenue. Make sure you’re in the former group.
-
-Strategize the Communication Approach
-
-OK, let’s say you’ve made it all the way to being prepared to make a statement. Now it’s time to be strategic about how you go about it.
-
-When it comes to this part, I often think about Susan G Komen announcing in 2012 that they were going to defund Planned Parenthood. The backlash they received was fast and furious and four days later, they reversed their decision. To explain their decision, they had their then founder, Nancy Brinker, make the morning show circuit. But with every interview, she flip-flopped on why they made that decision, telling GMA one thing and The Today Show another.
-
-It’s one thing to make a strategic decision—and it came out later it was because they were under Congressional investigation—but you have to stand behind it and not give in to the vocal minority.
-
-All to say, agree on the messaging, avoid divisive language, and focus on constructive dialogue. At the same time, be prepared for some backlash. If you’ve been allowed to do your job to this point, you’ll know what to expect, and it won’t send you or your leadership into a crisis spiral where they are forced to go back and forth about their decision, based on who is asking.
-
-Monitor and Respond
-
-Then, just like anything else, monitor the conversations and respond. Through your scenario and crisis planning, you should have created messaging to respond to both positive and negative feedback. But also don’t give in to the trolls. You know what deserves a response and what does not.
-
-Having messaging ready will help manage any backlash and reinforce the organization’s commitment to its values.
-
-Political Statements Can Be Strategic
-
-If we look at why so many CEOs were able to say something while it backfired so spectacularly for Sticker Mule, it’s mostly because the message wasn’t aligned with his customer base, which is made up of artists, creatives, small business owners, and the LGBTQ+ community. His email seemed to reflect his personal views rather than the company’s values or mission.
-
-The tone of the message was defensive and divisive, focusing on his personal grievances rather than promoting unity or positive action. He sent the message via email and then doubled down on it on the company’s X account. Not only is this risky from a legal standpoint, but it’s inappropriate to use company assets for such a personal and divisive topic.
-
-When Axios asked, he said he drafted the statement while getting a haircut and did not communicate his message to 1,200 employees before blasting it out. They then asked if the communications team was consulted beforehand, and he said, “We don’t have a communications team. We have one PR guy who started five days ago, and he said not to send it.”
-
-Wonder if that “PR guy” still works there?",1731883690,4dc781f5bc,4f9bf1a421,,,1731883690
-https://www.npr.org/2024/09/27/1202000768/polyamory-dark-matter-hieronymus-bosch,https://www.npr.org/rss/podcast.php?id=510289,"Dark matter, Hieronymus Bosch, polyamory. How do they relate to economics? : Planet Money : NPR","What's THAT got to do with economics?
-
-""Wanna see a trick? Give us any topic and we can tie it back to the economy.""
-
-That is the bold promise in Planet Money's tagline. And we believe the show does live up to it. Over the last year, we've told stories about breakdancing, rum, pagers, buffets, colors, and heartbreak.
-
-But then one host wondered: what if we really held ourselves to that promise? What if we challenged ourselves to find economic meaning in the most esoteric and far-flung topics imaginable?
-
-Sponsor Message
-
-toggle caption Roberto Benavidez
-
-That's when we turned to you, our listeners. And boy did you deliver. You sent in ideas so obscure, so banananas, so guaranteed to stump and bamboozle that our host maybe started to regret her life choices...but she was resolved to give it a try.
-
-This episode was hosted by Sally Helm and Keith Romer. It was produced by James Sneed. It was edited by Molly Messick and fact-checked by Sierra Juarez. Engineering by Kwesi Lee. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money's executive producer.
-
-Help support Planet Money and hear our bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.
-
-Always free at these links: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the NPR app or anywhere you get podcasts.
-
-Find more Planet Money: Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Our weekly Newsletter.
-
-Music: Source Audio — ""Melting Pot,"" ""Say We Go Circular,"" ""Here And There,"" and ""On The Rocks.""",1731884577,8181d7a585,4fc9794b11,,,1731884577
-https://www.ign.com/articles/dandys-world-codes,http://feeds.ign.com/ign/games-all,Dandy's World Codes (November 2024),"Last updated on November 16, 2024: Checked for new Dandy's World codes!
-
-Looking for a big boost of Ichor to bolster your squad of Toons in Dandy’s World? We’ve got some redeemable codes that will load your wallet up with a ton of free cash. Below, you’ll find a list of all the currently active Dancy's World codes so you can get your hands on more Ichor and start buying some brand-new toons.
-
-Active Dandy's World Codes (November 2024)
-
-Below, you'll find a list of the active and working Dandy's World codes for November 2024:
-
-ICHOR - 50 Ichor
-
-Expired Dandy's World Codes
-
-The following Dandy's World codes are expired and no longer work as of November 2024:
-
-SKINTICKET
-
-2HUNDREDMILLION
-
-How to Redeem Dandy's World Codes
-
-To redeem Dandy's World codes, boot up the game and, once you’re in, follow the steps below:
-
-Look at the tabs on the left-hand side of the screen. You’ll see icons for five tabs. Click on the tab that reads ""Use Code"" to access the codes bar. Input your code in this bar, being careful to make sure it’s in the right case and spelt correctly. Click the use button and you should see the resources you unlock appear at the bottom of the screen.
-
-Why Isn’t My Dandy's World Code Working?
-
-If your Dandy's World code isn’t working, it’s likely due to one of two scenarios. The first is that the code was inputted incorrectly. Make sure you have the code inputted exactly as it is in the Active Codes section above. You can even copy and paste codes directly from this article over to Roblox if you want to make sure you’re inputting them correctly.
-
-The other possibility is the code has expired or you’ve already used it. If you’ve used it, you’ll get a message below the bar reminding you the inputted code has already been redeemed. If you’ve inputted it and it doesn’t recognise the code at all, it likely means it's no longer available to use and is expired.
-
-How to Get More Dandy's World Codes
-
-If you’re looking to scout out some Dandy's World codes yourself, the easiest way is through the game’s official Discord. After joining, you’ll be able to hop into the Announcements channel to find all the latest codes as they drop.
-
-What is Dandy's World in Roblox?
-
-Dandy's World is a mascot horror survival game in the same vein of spooky hits like Five Nights at Freddy's or Poppy Playtime. The major difference is Dandy's World is multiplayer, meaning you and up to seven other friends can jump in, pick a toon with unique abilities and perks to play as, and attempt to survive as long as possible while evading the game's endless supply of terrifying monsters. The longer you survive, the more Ichor you gather, allowing you to buy new toons to help you push further into the nightmare and get the drop on your foes.
-
-Callum Williams is an IGN freelancer covering features and guides. When he's away from his desk, you can usually find him obsessing over the lore of the latest obscure indie horror game or bashing his head against a boss in the newest soulslike. You can catch him over on Twitter at @CaIIumWilliams.",1731883674,9e7916d7c6,4fd7023a2f,,,1731883674
-https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2024/11/intersolar-energy-storage-north-america-acquires-midwest-solar-expo/,https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/feed/,Intersolar & Energy Storage North America acquires Midwest Solar Expo,"Intersolar & Energy Storage North America (IESNA) announced the acquisition of Midwest Solar Expo (MWSE). The acquisition reinforces IESNA’s commitment to providing quality connections, resources, and knowledge in support of the energy transition both nationally and regionally. Jake Rozmaryn, former Midwest Solar Expo Executive Director, will transition into an advisory role and Sharona Kohn will continue as Conference Director.
-
-“Midwest Solar Expo was founded to illuminate the future of the renewable energy market in the Midwest and now becomes our second regional expansion following Intersolar & Energy Storage North America Texas, which is set to launch November 19-20, 2024 in Austin,” said Wes Doane, VP of Intersolar & Energy Storage North America. “MWSE’s platform has focused on the intersection of policy, finance, technology and business model innovation in the Midwest, and its growing exhibition targets the region’s specific challenges, offering professionals the tools they need to successfully navigate this ever-changing market.”
-
-This acquisition builds upon prior investment in the renewable energy industry by IESNA producer, Diversified Communications of Portland, Maine. Since acquiring Intersolar North America in 2019, the international trade show and conference producer has grown its Clean Energy portfolio to include Energy Storage North America, the Smart Energy Decisions network, Net Zero Forum, Renewable Energy Forum, Intersolar & Energy Storage North America Texas — and now Midwest Solar Expo.
-
-Grimes, McGovern & Associates was the exclusive advisor to Midwest Solar Expo in the transaction.
-
-Midwest Solar Expo will be next held June 9-11, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
-
-News item from Intersolar & Energy Storage North America",1731883666,1796127155,4f910c5ad5,,,1731883666
-https://photographylife.com/reviews/hasselblad-xcd-75mm-f-3-4-p,https://photographylife.com/feed/,Hasselblad XCD 75mm f/3.4 P Review,"Introduction
-
-The Hasselblad XCD 75mm f/3.4 P the newest prime lens for the Hasselblad X system. It joins the company’s existing XCD 28mm f/4 P and XCD 45mm f/4 P lenses in the “Portable” series – Hasselblad’s line of smaller, less expensive glass. (Though at $2229, it’s only “less expensive” relative to the $4000+ Hasselblad alternatives.) Today, I wanted to offer my full review of the Hasselblad XCD 75mm f/3.4 P and show how it performs both in the field and in the lab.
-
-This focal length is a little on the long side of normal, making the XCD 75mm f/3.4 P a promising choice for street photography, travel, and documentary work. As a landscape photographer, I liked using the lens for intimate and close-up landscapes, partly because of the focal length and partly because of the portability. That said, the maximum aperture of f/3.4 is nothing special, so the XCD 75mm f/3.4 P wouldn’t be my first choice if you want a classic blown-out background as a portrait photographer. (In full-frame terms – and where depth of field is concerned – it’s roughly equivalent to a 59mm f/2.7.)
-
-Given that this lens is part of Hasselblad’s “P” series rather than their “V” series, it probably won’t surprise you to hear that it’s missing some of the company’s top-end features. While the XCD 75mm f/3.4 P still has an excellent leaf shutter with flash sync at all speeds, it is Hasselblad’s slightly older model that maxes out at 1/2000 second rather than 1/4000. There also aren’t a lot of handling-related features, but I’ll get to that later. These compromises are in service of Hasselblad’s goal: to make a lightweight, less expensive lens that doesn’t sacrifice image quality. Did they succeed?
-
-In order to answer that question, I tested the Hasselblad XCD 75mm f/3.4 P in depth over the last couple of weeks. Since I was working with an early sample of the lens, I wasn’t able to keep it for quite as long as usual, so this review is a little slimmer on sample photos. Of course, I still had plenty of time to put it through our detailed array of lab tests. If you’re thinking of buying the Hasselblad XDC 75mm f/3.4 P, this review should answer all of your questions!
-
-Build Quality
-
-Although the XCD 75mm f/3.4 P is part of Hasselblad’s Portable series, it is noticeably larger than the other two “P” lenses we’ve seen so far. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still on the small side, but here’s how the three compare:
-
-XCD 28mm f/4 P: 245 grams and 44mm long (0.54 pounds, 1.7 inches)
-
-245 grams and 44mm long (0.54 pounds, 1.7 inches) XCD 45mm f/4 P: 320 grams and 52mm long (0.71 pounds, 2.1 inches)
-
-320 grams and 52mm long (0.71 pounds, 2.1 inches) XCD 75mm f/3.4 P: 398 grams and 76mm long (0.88 pounds, 3.0 inches)
-
-The XCD 75mm f/3.4 P is clearly the largest of the three. And beyond the comparison above, this lens is actually a little longer and heavier than the XCD 55mm f/2.5 V, which is not even in the Portable series! (That lens weighs 372 grams and is 72mm long.)
-
-What gives? Well, you’ll see more on the next page of this review, but Hasselblad has clearly traded some size and weight for image quality with this lens. I don’t think that’s such a bad tradeoff given that the lens is still pretty small. But if you were expecting a pancake based on the “P” in the name, make sure you’re not disappointed. (And to be fair, it is clearly a more compact lens than the XCD 80mm f/1.9, XCD 90mm f/3.2, and XCD 90mm f/2.5 lenses – so among the “long normal” options, it is the smallest you’ll find.)
-
-As for the rest of the build quality features, the XCD 75mm f/3.4 P retains the all-metal construction of Hasselblad’s other lenses, and it also features extensive weather sealing. I didn’t end up using the lens in bad weather during my time with it, but there are no moving parts or any signs that it would fail in harsh conditions. Everything about the build quality felt very reassuring to me.
-
-Now let’s cover the handling features of the Hasselblad XCD 75mm f/3.4 P.
-
-Handling
-
-The XCD 75mm f/3.4 P is a very minimalist lens. There is only one control on the lens – an unlabeled focusing ring – and no buttons, switches, or other controls. If you want to switch to manual focus, you need to do so on the camera itself, not on the lens. It is a clear departure from Hasselblad’s XCD V series that has a very nice autofocus/manual focus mechanism complete with a depth of field scale.
-
-With a filter thread size of 72mm, the XCD 75mm f/3.4 P can share filters with four of Hasselblad’s modern lenses: the XCD 25mm f/2.5, XCD 28mm f/4 P, 38mm f/2.5 V, and 55mm f/2.5 V. It has a round (and relatively large) lens hood that, like on other XCD lenses, is a little finicky to attach.
-
-As for the leaf shutter, it is quiet and effective, allowing you to sync your flash at all shutter speeds. However, like I mentioned in the introduction, it is Hasselblad’s less expensive leaf shutter that maxes out at 1/2000 second rather than 1/4000 second. That’s unlikely to be a problem most of the time (especially considering the dim f/3.4 maximum aperture), but it does mean that in edge cases like shooting a backlit subject against the sun, you may be a little more constrained in your camera settings.
-
-Overall, I can’t say I’m a fan of this lens’s handling. The minimalist layout isn’t my preference. But this is clearly a lens that Hasselblad designed to be on the lighter and less expensive side of things, and that comes with some tradeoffs. You’ll see on the next page of this review whether those tradeoffs were worthwhile, at least where image quality is concerned.
-
-Hasselblad XCD 75mm f/3.4 P Specifications
-
-Full Name: Hasselblad XCD 75mm f/3.4 P (Hasselblad also calls it the XCD 3.4/75P)
-
-Mount Type: Hasselblad X
-
-Focal Length: 75mm prime (59mm full-frame equivalent focal length)
-
-Angle of View (Medium Format): 40°
-
-Maximum Aperture: f/3.4
-
-Minimum Aperture: f/32
-
-Aperture Blades: 8, rounded
-
-Leaf Shutter: Yes, to 1/2000 second
-
-Filter Size: 72mm
-
-Lens Elements: 10
-
-Lens Groups: 10
-
-Special Elements: 1 aspherical, 3 ED glass
-
-Anti-Flare Coatings: Yes
-
-Internal Focusing: Yes
-
-Control Rings: Focus
-
-Control Buttons: No
-
-Control Switches: No
-
-Focus Motor: Linear stepping motor
-
-Minimum Focus Distance: 55 cm (22 inches)
-
-Maximum Magnification: 0.17× (1:5.8)
-
-Mount Material: Metal
-
-Weather/Dust Sealing: Yes
-
-Dimensions (Length × Diameter): 76 x 75 mm (3.0 × 3.0 inches)
-
-Weight: 398 g (0.88 lbs)
-
-MSRP: $2,229
-
-Lowest Sale Seen: $2,229 (check current price)
-
-The next page of this review covers the optical characteristics of the Hasselblad XCD 75mm f/3.4 P, including focusing performance and sharpness tests in the lab. So, click the menu below to go to “Optical Performance”:",1731883655,94ff4c69ce,4f71508c3e,,,1731883655
-https://mashable.com/article/list-of-celebrities-who-have-left-x-since-the-election,http://feeds.mashable.com/Mashable,Celebrities who have left X since the election,"X users are fleeing to Bluesky and other alternatives since the U.S. presidential election, and celebrities are joining the exodus. Here's a list of famous people who've explicitly said they're ditching the Elon Musk-owned platform in the last week or so:
-
-1. Stephen King
-
-Prolific author and poster Stephen King left X for Meta-owned Threads this week, stating, ""I'm leaving Twitter. Tried to stay, but the atmosphere has just become too toxic.""
-
-2. Barbra Streisand
-
-Singer and actor Barbra Streisand also announced her departure in an X post, saying she'll be posting to Bluesky and using the hashtag #TwitterExodus:
-
-3. Jamie Lee Curtis
-
-Actor Jamie Lee Curtis deactivated her X account this week, sharing a screenshot captioned with the Serenity Prayer:
-
-Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Thanks for signing up!
-
-4. Don Lemon
-
-News anchor Don Lemon has deactivated his X account. He shared a video on Instagram stating, ""I once believed it was a place for honest debate and discussion, transparency, and free speech, but I now feel it does not serve that purpose."" He also mentioned X's new terms of service — specifically that legal disputes must be fought in a rural court in Texas — as a contributor to his decision.
-
-5. Bette Midler
-
-According to sources such as The Daily Beast and The Root, actor and comedian Bette Midler has deactivated her X account after the election.
-
-Other celebrities, such as singer Elton John and TV producer Shonda Rhimes, quit X years ago after Musk's takeover.
-
-Mashable will update this list as more notable people leave X.",1731883642,644d6c1ea1,4fa31d6d7c,,,1731883642
-https://taxjustice.net/2024/11/07/eu-public-consultation-on-the-anti-avoidance-directive/,https://www.taxjustice.net/feed/,EU public consultation on the Anti-Avoidance Directive,"The European Commission recently ran a call for feedback on the EU Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (2016/1164), also known as ATAD 1. This directive is a key instrument in the fight by the European Union against tax avoidance by multinationals corporations, as it sets out minimum standards for a number of anti-avoidance measures that have to be adopted by the EU member countries.
-
-Using data from the latest edition of the Corporate Tax Haven Index , we submitted our response, urging the EU Commission to strengthen the Directive’s Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) rules, make the limitations on the deduction of interest more watertight by abolishing the legacy debt loophole, and include limitations on the deduction of royalties and service payments in its updated version.
-
-The Directive
-
-In 2016, the European Council adopted Directive 2016/1164, the Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (ATAD) in an effort to implement some of the policy recommendations made under BEPS 1.0. The Directive provides a set of minimum norms which must be transposed by EU countries into their domestic legislation, although on various aspects EU countries are allowed to make certain choices or use certain optional clauses. The Directive includes minimum rules on five important measures aimed at stopping corporate tax abuse:
-
-limits on interest deductions to prevent tax avoidance through artificial debt;
-
-exit taxes to block asset relocation for tax avoidance:
-
-a General Anti-Abuse Rule (GAAR) to disregard non-genuine arrangements;
-
-Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) rules to combat profit shifting to low-tax jurisdictions, and;
-
-a switchover rule to prevent double non-taxation.
-
-Since January 2019, these measures became mandatory to all EU countries and the Directive has since received the status of ‘full transposition’ in all countries.
-
-Needless to say, getting the Directive right is crucial, as it sets the minimum standards for a number of crucial measures in the fight against corporate tax abuse. Non-EU countries sometimes also look to the Directives for inspiration for the design of their own regulations.
-
-Recently, we updated the anti-avoidance indicators of our Corporate Tax Haven Index. These indicators monitor a set of anti-avoidance rules that should be adopted by countries to make them tax-abuse proof. These rules partly overlap with the ones included in the ATAD. While reviewing countries’ legal frameworks, we identified several flaws and loopholes in national legislations. As it turns out, many of these imperfections can be traced back to shortcomings in the Directive itself.
-
-We therefore welcome the EU Commission’s initiative for a review of the ATAD and its public call for evidence. The Tax Justice Network was one of the few civil society organisations to submit feedback in a public consultation otherwise dominated by the business sector. The inputs gathered during the public consultation will be used by the Commission to evaluate and possibly to propose a revised version of the Directive in the third quarter of 2025.
-
-Our submission is available here.
-
-Much more than a ranking
-
-The data used for our submission comes from the recently updated Corporate Tax Haven Index. The Corporate Tax Haven Index ranks countries based on their complicity in helping multinational corporations underpay corporate income tax. However, the Index is more than just a ranking. Underneath its surface, it stores extensive legal research on national tax laws and the opportunities for tax abuse the rules fail to address. This research is captured in a country’s Haven Score in the Index, which is then combined with the country’s share in global foreign direct investment (or its ‘Global Scale Weight’) to provide a realistic picture of the actual risk of tax abuse each jurisdiction is creating.
-
-In this new launch, we have adopted a new strategy, whereby updates of the Index are undertaken on a rolling basis and focus only on a limited number of indicators per update. The reasons behind this change in approach are closely related to the fact that international tax policies are undergoing shifts at a faster pace, and the rolling updates allow us to be more responsive to such dynamics.
-
-In this first update, we reviewed the anti-abuse indicators which substantially overlap with some of the measures covered by the ATAD. These included the index’s indicators on Deduction Limitations of Interest Payments and on Controlled Foreign Company Rule s.
-
-We also updated the indicators on deduction limitations of intra-group payments of Royalties and Service fees. These type of ‘defensive measures’ are currently not covered by the ATAD but have been adopted by many EU countries and are frequently discussed in the EU context by the EU Code of Conduct Group on Business Taxation. As we explained in our submission, we believe these measures should be covered by the Directive.
-
-What needs fixing
-
-Elsewhere, we’ve written about the process behind the research and the development that goes into an Index indicator. Often, a tax rule seems effective on paper but in practice, the same rule leaves plenty of room for companies to exploit loopholes and for countries to implicitly continue to condone such practices. In our submission, we identified some of these loopholes in the ATAD itself and in the implementation of the directive in certain EU countries.
-
-One issue we highlighted involves the Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) rules. The directive currently lets countries choose between two approaches: transactional rules (Model B) and non-transactional rules (Model A). As we explain in the submission, we recommend that the revised directive eliminate the transactional approach. We argue that the transactional approach does not go beyond the mere application of the arm’s-length principle for pricing of intra-group transactions. In fact, transactional approach relies on a highly subjective method for attributing income to a CFC, and for this reason they are not adequate mechanisms to curtail tax abuse.
-
-The non-transactional approach is more effective at achieving CFC rules’ purpose of avoiding base erosion and limiting the deferral of taxes. Non-transactional CFC rules attribute pre-defined categories of income derived by the CFC to the parent company. The application of such rules is a mechanical process and does not involve any tax authority discretionary power.
-
-The non-transactional CFC rules in the ATAD are not without issues, however. In the directive, these rules come with a mandatory substance carve-out which turn off the CFC rules when a taxpayer can show substance. The need to include such a substance carve-out is a given, as it is based on prior jurisprudence by the Court of Justice of the EU. However, the ATAD currently lacks clear, standardised rules for determining when a company has genuine economic activity. This leaves the implementation of the substance carve-out completely up to the discretion of the tax authorities. As a result, the effect of these type of CFC rules across EU countries is far from harmonized. We therefore suggest tightening these rules by providing clear guidelines to identify real business operations, rather than allowing too much flexibility, which can be abused.
-
-Regarding the interest limitation rule, the current Directive allows interest costs to be deductible up to 30% of a company’s EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization), which is a rather high threshold. The Directive also allows countries to opt for a group-ratio rule which allows individual companies to deduct interest beyond threshold based on the indebtedness of the overall group at worldwide level. Allowing both a high individual threshold and the benefit of a group-ratio threshold makes the deduction limitation lose a large part of its effectiveness. For this reason, such a combination of rules also goes against international recommendations on the matter made during BEPS.
-
-If countries decide to adopt the 30% threshold, this should be paired with other restrictions, like removing the group ratio rule or adding more limits on interest deductions. We propose either lowering the 30% threshold or making it conditional on additional restrictions. Moreover, the Directive’s exemption for legacy loans under the optional grandfathering clause should be abolished, as it’s becoming a permanent loophole in some countries.
-
-Lastly, limiting (or prohibiting) deductions on intra-group payments like royalties and service fees is a powerful tool to prevent tax abuse in the form of base erosion and profit shifting. So-called ‘defensive measures’ to limit deductions in certain instances are already used by many EU countries, as pointed out by the EU Code of Conduct Group . To make this approach consistent across all EU members, we believe that harmonized anti-avoidance measures on these types of deductions should be included in the directive.
-
-Instead of what EU countries are doing today, which is to limit payments to countries appearing on a list of non-cooperative jurisdictions (which is ineffective and often leads to unfair practices of blacklisting), these limitations to deductions should be based on objective criteria to the risk of base erosion at hand. We would like to see the blunt practice of blacklisting abolished and propose alternative policy options that the Directive could employ to avoid base erosion through the excessive use of intra-group payments of royalties and service fees.",1731883658,685bd32e72,4fed40d6ac,,,1731883658
-https://www.nationalmortgagenews.com/news/what-would-matt-gaetz-as-attorney-general-mean-for-banks,https://www.nationalmortgagenews.com/rss,What would Matt Gaetz as attorney general mean for banks?,"Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., President-elect Trump's pick for attorney general Bloomberg News
-
-WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump said he would select Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., as attorney general, a controversial pick that nonetheless gives hints as to the posture that the future Trump administration might take toward consolidated corporate power, including for banks.
-
-The likelihood of Gaetz being confirmed as head of the Department of Justice is unclear. He resigned from the House on Wednesday, ending a House Ethics Committee investigation into sex trafficking and drug use allegations that began several years ago, which Gaetz has denied.
-
-Regardless of whether Republicans will vote to confirm Gaetz given the allegations against him, his stance as a skeptic of mergers and his previous work investigating banks as part of his House committee assignment shows that the Trump administration is embracing the increasing importance of economic populism in the Republican party in a way Trump didn't in his first term.
-
-""Certainly you could take from it that Trump is not afraid to nominate someone who has pretty strong antitrust views, and pretty strong views on big business in general,"" said Jesse Van Tol, president and CEO of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition.
-
-While Van Tol said that it's unlikely that Gaetz survives Senate confirmation, the willingness of the Trump administration to pick one of the Republican antitrust movement's most outspoken supporters speaks volumes.
-
-""It would seem to suggest that the JD Vance wing of the Trump administration is going to have some influence when it comes to questions of corporate consolidation,"" he said.
-
-In contrast to traditional Republicans , Gaetz's views on antitrust and consolidation more closely align with the Biden administration's views , said Jon Skladany, partner in Jenner & Block's congressional investigations practice and former chief counsel for oversight on the House Financial Services Committee.
-
-That said, changes at the top of other agencies might portend more closely how the Trump administration will approach bank mergers.
-
-""Banks will be watching the changes in leadership at the [Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.] even more closely,"" he said. ""This issue is also a top priority for the new Congress, where Republican efforts to place guardrails on the bank M&A review process have been underway for several years.""
-
-Still, Gaetz himself has applauded the antitrust approach of the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission over the last four years. He even wrote an amicus brief supporting the FTC's noncompete ban.
-
-""It remains to be seen whether Mr. Gaetz's own philosophy would prevail — or if he instead defers to new leadership at the prudential regulators and a White House that has sung a notably different tune,"" Skladany said.
-
-Gaetz's other activities in the House could also show that he's willing to go after large banking institutions. Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee issued subpoenas to Citibank, demanding information on the degree to which the bank gave law enforcement consumer transaction data after January 6.
-
-""Gaetz took an active role in the Committee's multiyear investigation into the issue,"" Skladany said. ""As attorney general, Rep. Gaetz would have an opportunity to shut down many of the lines of communication between the FBI and financial institutions that were established to share intelligence products and identify behavior that may indicate involvement in terrorist activity or money laundering, among other things.""
-
-His positions on other issues could also impact banking. Jaret Seiberg, a financial services and housing policy analyst at TD Cowen, said that because Gaetz has backed legalization of cannabis, banks should be more comfortable working with state-legal cannabis businesses.
-
-""We find it unlikely that Gaetz — given his legalization views — would have DOJ prosecute banks for working with companies that are violating federal law,"" he said in a note.",1731883668,53698d1bc1,4fa969f7df,,,1731883668
-https://zenhabits.net/unlocked/,https://zenhabits.net/feed/,Turning Towards a Task You've Been Avoiding for Weeks - zen habits,"By Leo Babauta
-
-Let’s imagine that there’s a big task you’ve been avoiding for weeks (or maybe a bunch of them!) … it just becomes this ball of dread that you don’t want to think about, but that you feel really bad that you’ve been putting off.
-
-Sound familiar? Everyone has something like this, whether it’s a big work project, taxes or budgeting, a difficult email, a creative project, or just some regular tasks you don’t want to deal with.
-
-So let’s assume you’d really like to do this task … how do you turn towards it?
-
-I’m going to give you a practice you can take on, turning towards one difficult task at a time, until your whole life starts to flow.
-
-Here’s the practice:
-
-Notice that you’re avoiding the task. It might be something you keep kicking to the next day. Or an email that’s been sitting in your inbox. Maybe there are a lot of them … but pick one and notice that you’re avoiding it. Set an intention to turn towards it, just a little, as a practice. Pause for a moment and sit with the task. You don’t have to do the task yet. Just think about the task for a few moments, and feel the feelings that come up. Maybe dread, feeling bad about yourself, judgment, fear. You don’t have to think too much about the feelings, just let yourself feel them for a few moments. Breathe. Take a break if you need to. Get up and walk around. Drink some water, stretch, do a little movement, dance, whatever you like. Then try step 2 again. Remind yourself of why this is important. Why do you care about this? Is there an important outcome that will come from doing this? Something that matters to you? Try the smallest step. With a big reason, take a small action. Tiny. Can you open it and read the first sentence? Can you write a few words? Just do that, and breathe. Celebrate yourself. It’s a start! You’ve turned towards the task! It might seem silly or unworthy of celebrating, but even turning towards something in a small way like this is a huge victory. Acknowledge yourself, and do a little dance.
-
-Then keep practicing! Turn towards the task again, after a little break. Then again.
-
-Take on another task you’ve been avoiding.
-
-Then another.
-
-Soon these tiny steps, tiny turning towards, will unblock a large part of your life. Then nothing can stop you.
-
-May your life become unlocked.",1731883647,3651ce3891,4fda545bb0,,,1731883647
-https://www.npr.org/2023/12/22/1197956186/christmas-tree-market,https://www.npr.org/rss/podcast.php?id=510289,Planet Money learns about market forces at Christmas tree auctions : Planet Money : NPR,"We buy a lot of Christmas trees (Update)
-
-Enlarge this image toggle caption Robert Smith/NPR Robert Smith/NPR
-
-*Note: This episode originally ran in 2020*
-
-'Tis the season for Americans to head out in droves and bring home a freshly-cut Christmas tree. But decorative evergreens don't just magically show up on corner lots, waiting to find a home in your living room. There are a bunch of fascinating steps that determine exactly how many Christmas trees get sold, and how expensive they are.
-
-Today on the show, we visit the world's largest auction of Christmas trees — and then see how much green New Yorkers are willing to throw down for some greenery. It's a story where snow-dusted Yuletide dreams meet the hard reality of supply and demand. We've got market theory, a thousand dollars in cash, and a ""decent sized truck""... anything could happen.
-
-Sponsor Message
-
-This episode was produced by James Sneed. It was edited by Bryant Urdstat. It was engineered by Gilly Moon. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money's executive producer.
-
-Help support Planet Money and get bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.
-
-Always free at these links: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, the NPR app or anywhere you get podcasts.
-
-Find more Planet Money: Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Our weekly Newsletter.
-
-Music: ""Our Holiday Romance,"" ""Bells and Beats,"" and ""The Story of the Tree.""",1731884611,8181d7a585,4fd0d54466,,,1731884611
-https://spinsucks.com/communication/growth-hacks-quick-wins/,https://spinsucks.com/feed/,How Growth Hacks Drive Quick Wins and Brand Visibility,"A few days ago, I joined April White and Laura Schooler on their PR Wine Down podcast (episode forthcoming) to discuss all things PR, including how fragmented media relations has become and what to do about it (as an aside, no wine was consumed during said recording).
-
-During the conversation, which also included Star Wars and the Yankees, we discussed how to help executives understand the value of PR in the same way they do marketing and advertising.
-
-Of course, we discussed the PESO Model© and how to use it to build a fully integrated, measurable framework. We also touched on how to get quick wins to satisfy our instant gratification world.
-
-While I strongly believe the real power of PR comes with patience, some elbow grease, and a marathon mentality, there are some things you can do to get quick wins while you work on the strategic value of a PESO Model program.
-
-Typically called growth hacks, these quick wins are creative, low-cost strategies for rapidly building brand awareness, staying top-of-mind, and even acquiring and retaining customers.
-
-Originally popularized in the tech startup world, growth hacks have since spread to various industries, including public relations. It’s about finding unconventional ways to increase brand visibility, engage audiences, and drive measurable results—often with limited resources, which we are very accustomed to doing.
-
-What Are Growth Hacks?
-
-There was a conversation in the Spin Sucks Community about getting quick wins either in a new job or with brand new clients. Doing things that show you can get results while learning the business and developing your strategy.
-
-This is where growth hacks were introduced to demonstrate your skills quickly. They include real-time social listening and newsjacking, micro-influencer partnerships, employee advocacy programs, and more. Plus, they’re fun to do and can be used anytime—not just when starting a new relationship or job.
-
-Let’s talk through some ideas.
-
-Social Listening
-
-Most of you are probably already doing this, but it’s a good reminder for those of us who sometimes forget the basics (cough, cough).
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-Use social listening tools to identify topics and journalist requests in real time.
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-Though you may already be monitoring the usual suspects, research has shown that many reporters are leaving X in favor of Reddit. So, if that’s not already being monitored, add it to your list!
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-First, set up alerts for industry keywords, brand mentions, and relevant hashtags. Then, monitor queries through social media, #JournoRequest on X, private groups on Facebook, subreddits, Qwoted, and Peter Shankman’s new Source of Sources (SOS).
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-When you see something that fits, respond quickly. Not in an hour. Not in 24 hours. Not in a week. In real time.
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-This will allow you to get some quick media wins—and I have some ideas in a minute that will help you use subject matter experts in cases like these.
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-Create “Newsjacking” Packages
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-First, prepare pre-approved content templates that can be quickly customized for breaking news. These templates might include versatile news releases, blog posts, and social media templates. Then, create a rapid approval process for newsjacking content.
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-Once you have all that ready, monitor trending news and quickly adapt your pre-approved templates to offer timely commentary.
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-Being among the first to comment on breaking news will help you gain increased media coverage and social media engagement.
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-But please, for the love of all things holy, do not be gross about it. No one wants to hear about how the phone company is remembering 9/11 or how a fashion house is dressing people in Lebanon. Please only use this tactic if the newsjacking is genuine and ethical.
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-Micro-Influencer Campaigns
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-Create a list of micro-influencers in your industry who can help you develop social media content. This is a quick and cost-effective reach to targeted audiences.
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-Once you’ve identified your influencers, create a simple, replicable campaign structure to use with them, such as product reviews or day-in-the-life content. Make it easy for them to create and submit content without creating all sorts of hurdles, such as laborious contracts and lots of rules.
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-Offer value exchanges, such as exclusive access or free products, instead of monetary compensation.
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-This will allow you to increase brand mentions and engagement within specific target audiences rapidly.
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-Optimize Existing Content
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-Quickly boost organic traffic by optimizing existing content for search engines, generative AI, and voice-activated search.
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-The first thing I would do is update the top 20 articles or website pages from a year ago and two years ago. Refresh all that content with new external and internal links, add in new subject matter expertise and experience, add new stats or research, if necessary, and republish with a new date. Do not change the URL when you do this because you want to signify that it’s updated content, not totally new. You don’t want to lose the optimization the page already has.
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-For traditional search engines, you can also:
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-Conduct keyword research to identify high-potential, low-competition terms.
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-Update titles, meta descriptions, and headers.
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-Add internal links between related pieces of content.
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-Doing so will increase organic traffic and improve search engine rankings without creating new content.
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-This, by-the-way, is something we do at least twice a year for our clients so that organic traffic continues to grow, they are found in all the search places, and their content is updated and fresh.
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-Create a “Stats Bank” for Media Pitches
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-Compile a database of compelling statistics about your industry or brand for quick media pitches. This is extremely important when using social media listening and newsjacking to be responsive to the 24/7 news cycle.
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-To do this, research and collect interesting statistics relevant to your field and then organize them into categories for easy access. Talk to the sales and customer service teams to get interesting data. If you have access to a data scientist, work with them to add even more to your stats bank.
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-Use these stats to craft data-driven pitches or social media posts quickly. And make sure you update the bank regularly with fresh data.
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-While no one is particularly drawn to numbers in storytelling, having quick access to industry and company-wide statistics will always be interesting to a journalist. It shows you have a factual story to tell that can also be interesting. And having readily available, compelling data points will put you at the top of their source list.
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-Add Employee Advocacy
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-As you’re starting a new job, working with a new client, or launching a new campaign, it’s always a good idea to talk to employees in different departments to understand their wants, needs, and desires (as well as things they’d like to see change). As you build these relationships, you can leverage their networks to amplify your messages quickly.
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-To do that, create easy-to-share content, such as pre-written social media posts, shareable graphics, and copy to choose from based on their personalities. You can also offer incentives for participation. For many of our clients, we’ve created a reward system that allows them to choose what they want based on how many “points” they accumulate to help us expand our reach.
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-At the start of every campaign, we ask for ideas on prizes, and we’ve done everything from Apple Watches and Theraguns to restaurant gift cards and headphones. This works incredibly well as long as the leadership team is down for it.
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-Develop a Rapid Response Media Team
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-I mentioned above I had an idea to get your subject matter experts to participate in rapid response media opportunities and newsjacking. Here is that idea!
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-Create a small, agile team for that purpose. Identify key team members with different areas of expertise and invite them to join your small group of respondents. When human beings are invited to something exclusive, they have an innate need to want to participate.
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-So make it exclusive and open only to a select few. Provide incentives—things that are important to them—and showcase their work throughout the entire organization.
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-Pretty soon, you’ll have others asking when they get to be part of that small group.
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-Launch a “Top Lists” Campaign
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-Back in the day, when Marcus Sheridan was still known as “the pool guy,” he did something brilliant (well, he did many brilliant things, but this one is applicable). He created a list of competitors who did things better than his company. It was risky because he was sending potential customers elsewhere, but it had the opposite effect.
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-He developed a new level of trust when he published this list and consistently updated it. People knew that he could be trusted with their money and pool project if he was willing to send homeowners to his competitors. Not only that, but his competition began referring business to him.
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-So, while you may not get immediate buy-in on this growth hack idea, you can be like Marcus.
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-Create and promote lists featuring influential people and companies in your industry, even your competitors. This will not only create goodwill in the industry but also garner website backlinks and expand your reach through their social networks.
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-Automated Performance Reporting
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-While this next idea is technically a growth hack, it really should be a non-negotiable. After all, if you don’t have a way to showcase your results, you’ll be out of a job fairly quickly.
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-Do this immediately: set up automated reports to quickly demonstrate the effectiveness of your PR efforts.
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-Use Google Data Studio or Tableau to create automated dashboards and include key metrics such as direct, organic, and referral website traffic, lead attribution, content downloads, and email subscribers.
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-This will allow you to report on your results consistently without doing “math.”
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-Create a FAQ Resource
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-A frequently asked questions resource may already exist, but when was it last updated? I find most organizations create one and never revisit it. Do that. And if it doesn’t exist, create one.
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-This gives you a great opportunity to quickly ingratiate yourself with your new colleagues. Sit with sales and customer service and compile a list of questions from prospects and customers. Talk to the senior leadership team to understand other stakeholders’ questions, such as investors, partners, and vendors. Talk with HR about the common questions from candidates and employees. And talk to anyone in marketing or comms about the most common questions from media.
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-Once you have that list, draft clear, concise answers that align with messaging. Publish it internally and externally (on the intranet and on the website). And make sure you create a reminder to update it quarterly.
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-Growth Hacks FTW
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-By implementing these growth hacks, PR professionals can achieve quick wins demonstrating immediate value.
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-These successes can then be leveraged to:
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-Gain strategic influence;
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-Expand team capabilities;
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-Justify budget increases; and
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-Pilot larger initiatives.
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-The key to successful growth hacks is to:
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-Stay curious and open to new ideas, not just at the start of a new relationship, but consistently. Always test and measure results. Be willing to fail fast and pivot quickly. Focus on scalable, highly effective strategies. Never lose sight of providing value to the people around you.
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-Keep in mind that what works for one brand or campaign may not work for another. The beauty of growth hacks lies in their emphasis on experimentation and adaptation.
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-Stay flexible, keep learning, be bold, and push the boundaries of traditional PR practices. With persistence and creativity, you can unlock new levels of success.",1731883667,4dc781f5bc,4fc991eb9a,,,1731883667
-http://www.historytoday.com/archive/history-matters/death-clive-india,https://www.historytoday.com/feed/rss.xml,The Death of Clive of India,"In the days following the sudden death, aged 49, of Robert Clive – ‘Clive of India’ – on 22 November 1774, rumours as to how it had happened spread fast. Despite having previously received knowledge to the contrary, the writer Horace Walpole reported to the diplomat Sir Horace Mann that the leading theory was that Clive had cut his own throat. Lady Mary Coke recorded in her journal that Clive had ‘killed himself’. Such stories were not uncommon in cases of high-profile society deaths and soon references to Clive having died in this way began to surface in popular literature. In 1777 a scurrilous biography by Charles Carraccioli stated dramatically that Clive ‘was found weltering in his blood’ with a razor nearby. In May 1778 Town and Country Magazine imagined a conversation in the afterlife between Clive and Charles Yorke. Yorke was lord chancellor when he died suddenly in 1770 and his death was also described as a suicide by Walpole. Long regarded as such, it is now doubted.
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-It seems likely that the deaths of both men prompted the spread of rumour and gossip which used suicide, then socially unacceptable, as a way to malign them.
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-Clive’s public profile – underpinned by the victory at Plassey in 1757, which established the East India Company’s control of Bengal, and by his wealthy lifestyle and political influence – meant that he inevitably attracted speculation designed to discredit and scandalise him. In May 1773 parliamentary enquiries into his conduct in India and his acquisition of an enormous fortune had culminated in a House of Commons debate and, despite the fact that he had emerged from it with his wealth intact, the public distrust of returned ‘East Indians’ – or nabobs – like Clive, was widespread. In Clive’s case, suicide provided an opportunity to suggest guilt: that he had not escaped the enquiries unscathed and had indeed paid a price for the consequences of actions he could no longer bear to live with.
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-The idea of suicide became engrained in subsequent biographies of Clive, beginning with the work started, but not finished, by Sir John Malcolm and published in 1836, which suggested that a combination of pain and the effect of medicine ‘led to the melancholy event which ensued’. This continued with the lives published by G.R. Gleig (1848), who wrote ‘The world knows that he committed suicide’, G.B. Malleson (1882), Sir George Forrest (1918), A.M. Davies (1939) and Mark Bence-Jones (1974). The short biography by George Dunbar in 1936 is an exception. Percival Spear, writing in History Today in 1954, concluded that Clive ‘died by his own hand’. Other recent works continue to perpetuate this belief. As well as supporting an inaccurate, and indeed dramatic, picture of the last phase of Clive’s life these narratives were fuelled by dubious 19th-century accounts and doubtless influenced by a story, recounted in Malcolm’s biography, that Clive had attempted suicide as a young man by placing a pistol to his head and pulling the trigger twice.
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-Miniature of Robert Clive, by John Smart, 1776. Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection. Public Domain.
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-That Clive’s life was dogged by ill health is well known. Instances of depression, nervous disorder and physical pain were evident in 1750 during his time in Madras and in 1766 during his second governorship of Bengal. He used opium for relief. His later life in England saw recurrences of an abdominal complaint and nervous exhaustion which required trips to Bath and Europe. In late 1773 he left for Italy and upon his return in May 1774 he appears to have been both mentally and physically well; he spent the summer and autumn in Shropshire, entertaining house guests. In October he was re-elected as an MP for Shrewsbury. In early November, however, he caught a bad cold which necessitated a visit to Bath. There was no improvement and on the 20th he was back at home in London at his Berkeley Square townhouse. What followed during the next two days is described in a letter written by Maria Ducarel, a family friend, to Philip Francis, a member of the Supreme Council in Bengal, about a month later. According to Ducarel, Clive was very unwell and his stomach caused him much discomfort. Against the advice of John Fothergill, a well-known physician, Clive took doses of opium and other medicines:
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-In short, he had all the restlessness of a dying man, and grew worse and worse till the next day at noon, when he was taken with an epileptic fit ... and expired immediately.
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-Newspaper reports support Ducarel’s account that Clive suffered a sudden fatal medical emergency, probably triggered by excessive use of medicine. Further proof of this is found in a letter from Robert Pardoe, an attorney at Lincoln’s Inn, to a friend in Clive’s home county of Shropshire. Fearful that false rumours would spread, Pardoe was adamant that Clive had died during a seizure and that he had experienced similar instances before.
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-Had Clive died by suicide an inquest would have been required: there is however no trace of any such occurrence among the archives of the Westminster coroner. Instead there is every indication that events following Clive’s death followed normal practice. The executors met the next day to read the will and agree funeral arrangements. The body was removed from Berkeley Square on 24 November and taken to Shropshire. The plans provided for a hearse and coaches to proceed from Clive’s ancestral home, Styche Hall, to the church at Moreton Say, with tenants in attendance, for the burial there at 12 noon on 30 November 1774. Armorial shields, drapes and streamers were placed in local churches. This evidence contradicts claims in biographies, designed to support the suicide theory, that Clive’s funeral was a rushed, secretive affair.
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-What seems clear is that a myth of suicide grew up so strongly around Clive that it led, in effect, to a conspiracy theory based around the idea that an act of felo de se had been covered up. It has become one of many defining elements in how Clive continues to be remembered; authors as recent as Maya Jasanoff (2005) and William Dalrymple (2019) have repeated it.
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-David Prior completed a University of Wales M.Phil. dissertation on Robert Clive and currently works at the Parliamentary Archives.",1731883668,96608eb700,5024d8000b,,,1731883668
-https://www.foxnews.com/politics/minnesota-election-judge-faces-felony-charges-over-accepting-unregistered-votes,http://feeds.foxnews.com/foxnews/politics,Minnesota election judge faces felony charges over accepting unregistered votes,"A Minnesota election judge is being charged after allegedly accepting people who were not properly registered to vote in the 2024 election.
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-Timothy Michael Scouton, who served as the head election judge for the Badoura Township Precinct in Hubbard County, Minnesota, is being charged with one count of accepting the vote of an unregistered voter and one count of neglect of duty by an election official, both felonies, according to a report from Fox 9.
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-Police say they were notified by an election auditor that 11 voters did not complete proper registration forms, yet were allowed to vote despite not being able to complete the forms that are used to authenticate their identity.
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-VOTER REGISTRATION FRAUD PROBE INVOLVING 2500 APPLICATIONS CONFIRMED BY PA. ELECTION OFFICIALS
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-Those votes were allowed despite Scouton reportedly completing his election judge training and head election judge training in July, the report notes.
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-Authorities spoke with another judge who worked with Scouton on the night of the election, with the judge telling police that Scouton instructed her not to use the proper registration forms. Another judge working with Scouton told police that she was not aware of the proper forms and was instructed by Scouton to have voters sign the back of a book.
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-DOJ ONCE OK'D LAW AT CENTER OF YOUNGKIN VOTER ROLL-CULLING ORDER FEDS NOW SUING TO BLOCK
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-Scouton was arrested on the charges by the Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office, who said he ""declined to provide a statement.""
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-Meanwhile, the Minnesota Secretary of State acknowledged that the charges against Scouton were ""very serious.""
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-CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
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-""These allegations are extremely serious and must be fully and thoroughly investigated,"" the Secretary of State’s office said in a statement to Fox 9. ""Election judges take an oath to administer elections in accordance with the law, a deliberate failure to do so is unlawful and a betrayal of the public trust. Minnesota’s elections rely on the dedication and public service of 30,000 people and they are required to conduct their work fairly, impartially, and within the letter of the law. The Hubbard County Auditor took prompt and correct action in notifying local authorities of the uncovered discrepancies so they could investigate.""",1731883655,7b5f0a8391,4fe73a51ab,,,1731883655
-https://www.packagingstrategies.com/articles/105186-blister-packaging-solutions-from-mono-materials-to-dry-molded-fiber,https://www.packagingstrategies.com/rss/articles,Blister Packaging Solutions: From Mono-Materials to Dry Molded Fiber,"Top
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-✕
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-
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-For the convenience and ease of use blister packaging provides consumers, the creation of such packaging isn’t as simple. From developing appropriate machinery to sourcing the right materials, blister packaging brings a variety of challenges that suppliers are constantly trying to mitigate.
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-As an example, Pharmaworks has developed blister machinery that can handle 100% recyclable mono-materials, marking a significant improvement when it comes to the sustainability of these operations.
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-Additionally, PulPac, PA Consulting and Optima collaborated to develop bespoke machinery that can create blister packaging from Dry Molded Fiber. The collaboration allows this practice to operate at a large scale while also contributing to a circular economy.
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-Finally, Aptar CSP Technologies announced that its N-Sorb nitrosamine mitigation solution was accepted into the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s Emerging Technology Program, which promotes the adoption of innovative approaches to pharmaceutical product design and manufacturing.
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-Learn more about these innovations below.
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-Pharmaworks Develops Blister Machine for 100% Recyclable Mono-Materials
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-Pharmaworks can also upgrade existing blister machines to make them compatible with mono-materials. Courtesy of Pharmaworks
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-Pharmaworks, a ProMach product brand, recently debuted its new capability to handle recyclable, mono-material packaging films on its blister machines at Interphex. In addition to offering their entire fleet of available blister packaging systems ready to run these challenging films, the company is offering upgrades for installed Pharmaworks blister machines in the field and can rebuild blister machines from other suppliers to handle these new sustainable films.
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-READ MORE
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-PulPac, PA Consulting and Optima Collaborate on Machinery for Dry Molded Fiber
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-The collaboration allows for the use of sustainable materials while maintaining high-level production. Courtesy of PulPac
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-PulPac, PA Consulting, and Optima have partnered to develop bespoke machinery for advanced Dry Molded Fiber applications.
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-The partnership aims to facilitate the industrialization of complex products such as coffee capsules and blister packaging. By integrating PulPac’s pioneering Dry Molded Fiber technology with PA Consulting’s product development expertise and Optima’s renowned bespoke machine building capabilities, the collaboration will drive the scalability and high-throughput production of commercially viable, advanced Dry Molded Fiber applications, supporting PulPac’s and PA Consulting’s Blister Pack Collective and other initiatives for advanced Dry Molded Fiber packaging.
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-READ MORE
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-Aptar Earns Acceptance to FDA's Emerging Technology Program for N-Sorb Solution
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-N-Sorb can eliminate the need for pharmaceutical companies to reformulate their products. Courtesy of Aptar CSP Technologies
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-Aptar CSP Technologies, part of AptarGroup, Inc. and a leader in active material science, announced that its N-Sorb nitrosamine mitigation solution has been accepted into the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) Emerging Technology Program (ETP), which helps promote the adoption of innovative approaches to pharmaceutical product design and manufacturing.
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-N-Sorb leverages Aptar CSP Technologies’ proven 3-Phase Activ-Polymer™ platform technology to address the pressing issue of N-nitrosamine impurities in pharmaceuticals. These impurities, classified as probable human carcinogens, have raised significant regulatory concerns and prompted numerous drug product recalls. Nitrosamines can form during drug product storage or transport, posing risks to patient health.",1731883638,c925e986aa,4ff03850b6,,,1731883638
-https://techtransfercentral.com/2024/09/03/licensing-research-tools-and-materials-a-revenue-stream-waiting-to-be-tapped-2/,https://techtransfercentral.com/feed/,TechPipeline,"This is an excerpt from an article in the October issue of TechEngage.
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-Green and clean technologies have garnered a lot of interest from both researchers and investors in the past two decades. Investment in these technologies has grown steadily, reaching $1.77 trillion in 2023, a 17% increase over 2022 according to BloombergNEF. That sounds like good news for universities with ongoing research and projects in the green/clean tech space, but not every green/clean tech project is marketable in a way that attracts licensees. Differences in timeline expectations, commercial potential, and even leadership qualities can keep companies from looking closely at technologies that may well solve important problems but don’t offer enough commercial upside.
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-Before reaching out, it’s important to understand what makes a green or clean technology or start-up investible to companies and venture capitalists.
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-Team First
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-Many investors evaluate the team behind the technology as much as they evaluate the technology itself.
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-“Team is first, always,” says Manny Stockman, a partner in Osage University Partners, a venture capital firm that works with universities. “You’ll hear that from every venture capitalist you ever talk to.”
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-Taking an idea from inception to a marketable product or service requires people who understand the market and how to talk to investors, and those are skills that are not always in the wheelhouse of a researcher or inventor. Gathering a team of people who can fill in the gaps of any missing relational and business skills is key to attracting support.",1731883677,bb9e812a9f,5012b4efca,,,1731883677
-https://thefinancialbrand.com/news/loan-growth/how-this-community-bank-tripled-loan-volume-using-smart-automation-182556/,https://thefinancialbrand.com/feed/,How This Community Bank Tripled Loan Volume Using Smart Automation,"On this episode of the Banking Transformed podcast, host Jim Marous sits down with Robert Watts, VP consumer credit administrator at D.L. Evans Bank to discuss how the $3 billion community bank based in Southern Idaho is modernizing its lending processes while maintaining strong risk management.
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-Q: Can you tell me about your career path and how you got to where you are today?
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-Robert Watts: I’ve been with the bank for 18 years. As a credit administrator, I followed a different career path. I started in the compliance department, doing HMDA verification, fair lending review and branch audits, and I got involved when we switched technology back in 2006.
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-I was part of the team that led that change and really got my foot in the door with the credit admin side. Then, in 2010, I got hired to the consumer credit administrative position and have been there ever since.
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-Q: How does your compliance background influence your current role?
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-Watts: It’s a challenge. Balancing the compliance aspect versus the risk and ensuring the customer needs are also met. My mindset is very much black and white, which made me good at compliance. It’s been a challenge being a credit administrator, letting that gray area grow a little bit.
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-A lot of our consumer applications or needs come from our commercial and agricultural customers to meet their consumer needs. Whether they need a car loan or a credit card, their kids need loans. That’s really where our portfolio has grown on the consumer side.
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-Streamlining the Loan Process
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-Q: How easy can current and new customers get loans?
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-Watts: Our process really doesn’t differ whether you’re a new or existing customer. We have ways to apply online, but customers can also come into a branch and apply regardless of whether they’re new or returning or new or existing; it’s the same process.
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-We’re looking to add efficiencies to try and make the process for the existing customers a little bit smoother with connectivity to our core processor and getting their information to flood into the application system. But really, we’re just taking the application and trying to use MeridianLink’s application to really trim the fat, so to speak, to ask the specific questions that we need to make the process very smooth and straightforward.
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-Q: What impact has instant decisioning had on your loan volume?
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-Watts: Since we’ve implemented instant decisioning, we’ve gone from, I think, when I started back in 2010, we were doing 100, 200 applications a year to now. Last year, we were probably working with around 300 applications a month.
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-Balancing Speed with Safety
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-Q: How do you balance compliance requirements with customer expectations for speed?
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-Watts: Yeah, I think it’s got to be a blend of everything. Obviously, you need speed to get the customer a quick response. You’ve got to have the compliance aspect of it to keep regulators from being too hard on you for decisions.
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-At the same time, it also manages the bank’s risk. There’s a three-pronged approach. You’ve got the customer, the regular, and the bank, all of which have to work together.
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-Q: What role does your existing customer relationship play in risk assessment?
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-Watts: Really, just having the customer relationships we have is kind of the balance there. We don’t have the compliance challenges because they’re our customers. We want to take care of them, but at the same time, we don’t have the risk. Because they’re not necessarily a new customer coming off the street, we have to do a bunch of due diligence on them. We’ve had the relationships for 20, 30, 40 years sometimes.
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-Technology Partnership Selection
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-Q: How do you evaluate and select technology partners?
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-Watts: Typically, we have a whole management team that comes together from compliance, lending, marketing, and whatever departments might be touched. And they all have the same amount of input on whether it’s a good fit, whether it’s a product we go forward with, whether it’s going to meet the needs we’re looking for. Then, we make a decision.
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-Q: What challenges have you faced in implementing new systems?
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-Watts: I think a lot of it just comes down to finding the right fit. Before we were with MeridianLink, we were a CRIF client, which MeridianLink acquired back in 2018. CRIF was a great company. They were good to work with. They were probably a bit more focused on the community bank side than MeridianLink.
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-As they acquired CRIF, they’ve kind of had to shift focus a little bit and take our viewpoint into perspective, as opposed to just the credit union. Sometimes, there have been challenges regarding the way a bank operates as opposed to a credit union. And so they’re trying to work through some of those hurdles, making things efficient and smooth for both parties.
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-The Path Forward
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-Q: What enhancements are you looking to make in your loan operations?
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-Watts: Although we have instant decisioning, I think there are definitely improvements that we can make. We can pull different vendors into the framework to make the speed even that much quicker and remove some of the redundancy aspects, whether it’s verification of income, verification of employment, or manual underwriting versus automated underwriting.
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-Another thing we’ve done is, about two or three years ago, one of our branch locations became an actual digital branch location. They’re housed in our corporate office, and all they do is process online applications.
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-Those applications coming in allow a certain department to grab them, pick them up quicker, and make a quicker decision, as opposed to maybe falling through the cracks on a branch loan pipeline that may be focusing on larger commercial customers rather than consumer deals. That way, the digital department can pick those up and get a quick response.
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-Q: What recommendations would you give other institutions on their modernization journey?
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-Watts: I think the biggest thing is not trying to tackle everything all at once simultaneously and knowing who you are as an institution. When we implemented it, we didn’t really do anything that was outside of the norm for the institution.
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-For example, we still offer real estate loans, but we don’t make instant decisions on those types of credits because they’re a little bit more risk and a little bit more to review. And so, we didn’t fully implement instant decisioning on those.
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-We have some smaller dollar volumes that we’ll allow instant decisioning on, but we didn’t apply instant decisioning across the board because we weren’t comfortable with it. So, you kind of know what you’re comfortable with and what your institution is looking to accomplish, and then you just work towards it. And once you accomplish that, move on to the next piece of it and just do it step by step.
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-Q: So you’re moving towards more risk management, which is a major change in your perspective.
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-Watts: And sometimes there are challenges involved with that because, kind of back to some of the topics we’ve already touched on, there’s the regulatory aspect. There are internal processes that we have to deal with that sometimes the bank has to give up some of those traditional processes and go more to a new modern aspect of things and really kind of look to make a philosophy switch or just kind of a mindset shift to get more up to speed with things.
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-Justin Estes is an award-winning writer, strategist, and financial marketing expert with expertise in banking, investments, and fintech. His clients include the NYSE, Franklin Templeton, Credit Karma, Citi and, UBS, and his work has appeared in Forbes, Barrons and ThinkAdvisor as well as The Financial Brand.
-
-For a longer version of this conversation, listen to “Balancing Speed and Safety with Instant Loan Decisioning”, a podcast with Jim Marous, available here. This Q&A has been edited and condensed for clarity.",1731883686,7e4f10d9a3,5054485537,,,1731883686
-https://www.ufc.com/news/ufc-names-ibm-first-ever-official-ai-partner,https://www.ufc.com/rss/news,UFC Names IBM as First-Ever Official AI Partner,"“This partnership with IBM is one of the most significant milestones for UFC and a game changer for how fans will experience our sport,” said Grant Norris-Jones, Head of Global Partnerships at TKO. “IBM is an iconic blue-chip, global brand with decades of experience in sports marketing. Together, we’re pioneering a product to revolutionize analytics and information in live sports. This partnership marks a pivotal win, not only for UFC and IBM, but also for fans around the world who will experience our sport in a whole new way.”
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-As its first official Global AI Partner, IBM will work with UFC to accelerate and scale existing capabilities, driving fan engagement with unique content experiences and unprecedented access to UFC fight information. Insights Engine, produced in collaboration by IBM and UFC’s Research and Development team, is expected to debut in early 2025. The branded insights, stats and graphics – integrated into key touch points across UFC consumer platforms, including pre-event programming, UFC Pay-Per-View broadcasts, UFC social media channels, in-venue video boards, and more – are expected to reach hundreds of millions of UFC fans in 170 countries that receive UFC’s broadcasts and follow UFC’s social media channels.
-
-“Data and AI solutions like UFC Insights Engine built with IBM watsonx can offer current fans entirely new ways to connect with their favorite athletes and sports, while also building excitement among new generations of MMA fans,” said Jonathan Adashek, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at IBM. “Leveraging watsonx and our Granite models also allows UFC to enhance its digital operations and to harness the power of its extensive library of match data – all to the benefit of current and future fans.”
-
-""IBM watsonx is synonymous with AI, and they have been leading the charge in this space from the beginning,” said Alon Cohen, Senior Vice President, UFC Research and Development. “UFC has been working on the concept of the Insights Engine for several years, and now we finally have the right partner in IBM with the depth of expertise in AI to bring it to life. We’re looking forward to rolling this out to our fans in the months ahead.”",1731883671,2c774cd014,4ff27a9bd8,,,1731883671
-https://www.ufc.com/news/marcus-mcghee-wont-squander-his-opportunities-ufc-309,https://www.ufc.com/rss/news,Marcus McGhee Won't Squander His Opportunities,"“I definitely think so, and I think I could have still been successful without the type of mentality that I have, but I don't think it would've bore as much fruit in so many other aspects other than just stepping into that cage,” said McGhee. “I think it could have hindered the person I am. It could have hindered who I am for others if I had gotten that too early. Because again, sometimes you get blessings too early and you don't know how to deal with those blessings and then you squander them. I'm just so thankful that I never got the opportunity to squander them.”
-
-It helps that for much of his career, McGhee was working, as well as fighting. That’s necessary on the regional circuit, but it doesn’t make it that any easier for the one trying to juggle two jobs, one that requires getting punched in the face, along with a personal life. So when that fighter eventually makes it to the point where he doesn’t have to be a juggler, he tends to appreciate the new normal more.
-
-MORE UFC 309: Chris Weidman Interview | State Of Heavyweight | Jon Jones' Career | Nicksick Talks Main Event | Co-Main Rematch Timeline | Jim Miller Interview | Nickal vs Craig | Miocic Memories
-
-“I definitely do,” he said. “I feel like when you go through certain things, they mold you and you get to feel all those emotions, as opposed to just seeing it on the outside and seeing somebody else go through it When you're day in and day out and you have to wake up at four o'clock in the morning to hit a four-mile run as fast as you can so that you can jump in the shower and get ready for work and be at work by six o'clock in the morning and then bust your butt, no break, no lunch until three o'clock so you could hit the gym at 3:30 and then go to six o'clock and then rush home to the kids. When you do that for years on end and feel all the emotions, sometimes good, sometimes bad, sometimes useless, sometimes great, I definitely think it gives you a whole new appreciation for the situation that I'm in now.”",1731883665,2c774cd014,507466b3f2,,,1731883665
-https://www.moneycrashers.com/stocks-vs-bonds/,https://www.moneycrashers.com/feed/,Stocks vs. Bonds: Key Differences to Consider (2024 Guide),"When you start investing for your future, it may be difficult to decide how you should invest your money. After all, if you don’t know the key differences between stocks vs. bonds, how will you be able to decide?
-
-For most investors, the best decision is to invest in a mix of stocks and bonds.
-
-This leads to a properly diversified portfolio, helping to protect you from risk while offering up exposure to opportunities that have the potential to generate a strong return.
-
-What Are Stocks?
-
-As defined by the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission, “stocks are a type of security that gives stockholders a share of ownership in a company.”
-
-Stocks are commonly referred to as equities because when you purchase a stock, you’re essentially purchasing equity in a company. The total value of a company is known as its market capitalization or market cap, and it’s equal to the total combined value of all outstanding shares of stock in that company.
-
-For example, as of July 2021, there are 16.53 billion shares of Apple stock currently outstanding. So if you purchase one share of Apple stock, you own 1/16.53 billionth of the company. If Apple’s stock trades at $100 per share, that means its market cap is about $1.653 trillion (16.53 billion shares x $100).
-
-Because stockholders own equity in the companies in which they invest, shares of stock generally come with voting rights that give investors a say in how a publicly traded company is managed. Investors often have a say in large financial transactions, acquisitions, allocation of funding, cosmetic transactions like stock splits, and more.
-
-Of course, the value of shares in any stock fluctuates depending on the value of the underlying company they represent. As stock prices move up and down, investors either earn money or lose it. Money can also be earned through the issuance of dividends — the act of a publicly traded company distributing a portion of its profits directly to its investors.
-
-What Are Bonds?
-
-Bonds work quite a bit differently than stocks. The biggest difference is that bonds don’t give holders an ownership interest in a company. Instead, they act as loans.
-
-Bonds are fixed-income instruments representing loans made by investors to borrowers. The most common borrowers are corporations, the federal government, or local municipalities, with bonds issued by these entities commonly referred to as corporate bonds, government bonds (U.S. Treasury bonds), and municipal bonds, respectively.
-
-Those who own bonds are creditors of the bond issuer. Like other types of fixed loans, bonds come with terms including the date at which 100% of the money loaned is due to be paid back in full, plus variable-interest or fixed-interest payments known as coupon payments, which are made by the borrower to the bondholder.
-
-As with consumer loans, interest or coupon rates vary depending on multiple factors. The most decisive determining factors of bond coupon rates include the time to maturity and creditworthiness of the borrower.
-
-The longer the bondholder must hold the bond until it reaches maturity, the higher the coupon rate normally is. Also, companies and municipalities with lower levels of creditworthiness must pay higher coupon rates than those with better credit.
-
-Once bonds are issued, they can be bought and sold. If a bondholder decides they no longer want to hold the bond, they can sell it to someone else on the open market.
-
-Moreover, companies and municipalities can choose to buy their own bonds back. This often happens when projects are completed early, if the issuer enjoys a large injection of funds, or if the issuer earns a better credit rating that gives them the opportunity to issue new bonds with lower coupon rates.
-
-Stocks vs. Bonds: Pros & Cons
-
-Stocks are the darling of the investing community, generally looked upon favorably, and the first thing considered when it comes to making your money grow for you.
-
-However, as with anything else, investing in stocks comes with its fair share of pros and cons.
-
-Pros of Owning Stocks
-
-There are several reasons stocks have earned a positive opinion among investors.
-
-1. Ownership
-
-There’s quite a bit of comfort in knowing that when you purchase a share of stock, you’re not just purchasing a piece of paper with a perceived value.
-
-Every share you own represents legal ownership of the company you’re investing in. This legal ownership gives you the right to speak out with regard to how the company is being run and what you believe management can do to make beneficial changes.
-
-Most single shareholders don’t represent enough of the company to make much of a difference. However, when shareholders band together, their combined ownership can be enough to force changes to a struggling company and to improve the company’s value for everyone involved.
-
-2. Exposure to Large Potential Gains
-
-Fixed investments like bonds don’t provide the opportunity for above-average gains. When purchasing bonds, you know what the rate of return is going to be.
-
-According to CNN Money, long-term government bonds have returned 5% to 6% annually since 1926, but in today’s market, the interest rates are much, much lower. With the average annualized return of the S&P 500 during the past 90 years coming in at around 9.8%, stocks are known for producing higher returns.
-
-However, savvy investors can take that a step further. Making properly timed trades in the stock market can yield gains many times this size in the matter of a single day.
-
-3. Avoiding Inflation-Related Losses
-
-Most savings accounts offer small interest rates that are not necessarily intended to keep up with inflation. As a result, long-term savings accounts tend to lose value as inflation reduces the purchasing power of money.
-
-Although there’s no guarantee a single stock will outpace inflation, a well-diversified portfolio of stocks and other financial instruments that are known to be stable growth investments should do so handily.
-
-Investing in stocks as a large part of a properly proportioned portfolio typically protects your savings from inflation-related losses.
-
-4. Potential Dividends
-
-Not all stocks pay dividends, but plenty do. In fact, there is an entire strategy revolving around investing in stocks that pay dividends. This gives investors a way to share in the profits produced by publicly traded companies.
-
-5. Liquidity
-
-Stocks are highly liquid investment vehicles. That means they’re easy to buy and sell. As a result, if you invest in a stock and later decide it’s time to sell, you won’t be stuck holding the bag for any long period of time as you await a buyer.
-
-6. Helping the Economy
-
-The U.S. economy and the stock market are closely tied to each other. In order to raise funds to fulfill projects, offer jobs, and grow their companies, corporations depend on investor dollars.
-
-The more investor dollars that are available, the more investors are assisting in broader economic development. So, investing in stocks isn’t just about generating gains; the economic implications offer a feel-good aspect too.
-
-Cons of Owning Stocks
-
-While stocks are what most people think of when they think of investing, they do come with some drawbacks.
-
-1. Exposure to Extreme Losses
-
-While investments in stable stocks that represent well-known companies tend to grow over time, they’re also the riskier of the two investments.
-
-For example, thousands of investors lost millions of dollars investing in what everyone believed to be one of the world’s largest and most successful companies, Enron. When the company collapsed due to one of the biggest financial scandals in stock market history, many shareholders lost everything.
-
-Moreover, even if companies are doing well, corrections and bear markets will occasionally set in, leading to significant short-term losses.
-
-2. Getting Paid Last
-
-If something goes wrong and a company you’ve invested in falls into bankruptcy or goes out of business, stockholders will be the last to be paid.
-
-Before beleaguered companies return any money to shareholders, they must first pay all of their employees, service providers, and creditors — essentially everyone else involved with them.
-
-3. Being at the Mercy of the Investing Community
-
-Stocks rise in price when investors are more willing to buy them than sell them. On the other hand, they fall when investors are more willing to sell than to buy.
-
-Ultimately, share prices are the result of investor perceptions and sometimes raw emotions. As such, when you invest in a share of stock, your investing dollars are at the mercy of the whims of the investing community.
-
-Pros of Owning Bonds
-
-Bonds are a great investment vehicle. Some of the benefits you’ll enjoy when investing in bonds include:
-
-1. Protection From Losses
-
-Bonds are safer investments than stocks. That’s because stock values are at the mercy of investor opinion. If the overwhelming opinion among investors is that a stock is going to fall, that opinion becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy as investors sell shares. Bonds are not nearly as volatile. Because bonds are debts, they’re subject to strict and predictable terms, further protecting investors from losses.
-
-2. Known Returns
-
-Because bonds have predetermined coupon rates and expiration dates, investors who purchase them have the benefit of knowing what the potential returns on their investment will be in advance, rather than subjecting themselves to the uncertainty of the stock market.
-
-The interest rate on a bond is defined from the start, and when a bond matures, you know you’ll receive 100% of your initial investment back.
-
-3. Getting Paid Before Shareholders
-
-Some of the largest companies face bankruptcy from time to time. Some are even pushed out of business. In these cases, stockholders of these companies experience extreme losses, oftentimes losing their entire principal investment.
-
-Although there’s always a chance of losing money in any investment, that chance is much lower with bonds, as even companies headed for bankruptcy or closure pay bond investors back before shareholders.
-
-4. Preserving Capital While Earning Returns
-
-Bonds pay coupon rates that provide predictable passive income streams. The rate you earn on a bond is generally better than what you receive from the interest on a savings account.
-
-At the same time, if you hold bonds to maturity, you’re paid your entire principal investment back, giving you a way to preserve your capital while outpacing inflation-related losses.
-
-Cons of Owning Bonds
-
-Stocks are not alone. Investors in bonds have their own share of cons to consider before diving in.
-
-1. Smaller Returns
-
-The primary goal of investors is to make their money work for them. Ultimately, you want to ensure your investment dollars are making as much money as possible in the safest way possible.
-
-While bonds are great on the safety side of the equation, they’re lackluster on the returns side. With returns on bonds ranging from 5% to 6% historically — and typically lower in today’s low-interest-rate environment — a properly diversified and well-researched portfolio of stock investments has the potential to nearly double your returns.
-
-2. Liquidity Risks
-
-One of the benefits of investing in stocks is that they’re extremely easy to sell when you decide it’s time to get out of an investment. Bonds aren’t nearly as liquid.
-
-Should you need to access your funds, or if you decide a company may be going under and it’s time to get your money back, you may have a hard time selling bonds to another investor.
-
-If you can’t find a buyer, you’ll be forced to wait until the bond’s maturity date to get your money back.
-
-3. Larger Required Investments
-
-In most cases, bonds are sold in $1,000 denominations. That means if you want to invest in most bond opportunities, you have to be willing to pony up at least $1,000 to do so.
-
-On the other hand, stock prices can range from pennies to thousands of dollars, making them more accessible for beginner investors with less capital.
-
-Stocks vs. Bonds: Determining the Best Asset Allocation Strategy
-
-When it comes to the question of whether you should invest in stocks or bonds, the answer for most is that – you should invest in both.
-
-A properly diversified portfolio includes exposure to stocks for large potential gains and exposure to bonds for more stable growth and protection against any market volatility.
-
-One of the best ways to decide how much of your portfolio should be invested in stocks and how much money should be invested in bonds is to use your age. In particular, your age should be the percentage of your portfolio you invest in bonds as risk tolerance should diminish as you age.
-
-For example, if you’re 21 years old, 21% of your investing dollars should be invested in bonds and 79% should be invested in stocks. If you’re 53 years old, 53% of your portfolio should be invested in bonds and only 47% should be invested in stocks.
-
-There are several variations of this formula, but the idea is the same: When you’re young, focus more on stocks. The older you get, the more you should lean into bonds.
-
-The reasoning behind this strategy has to do with the amount of time your money has to grow for you. If you’re young, your investment gains have more time to compound and you have plenty of time to make money back should investments go south. So, you should invest in a higher-risk and higher-potential-reward strategy.
-
-As you age and get closer to retirement, it becomes more and more important that your investments deliver stable returns with lower volatility and risk. In this case, investing more money in bonds provides a safe haven for the majority of your portfolio while letting a smaller portion in stocks continue to provide some potential for large gains.
-
-Final Word
-
-Stocks and bonds are both important pieces of the puzzle that is a properly diversified investment portfolio.
-
-Although stocks come with added risk, they also open the door to larger potential gains. On the other hand, bonds help reduce the potential for massive losses in your portfolio.
-
-When you get started in investing, remember the age-related allocation strategy. Following this approach will ensure you have the proper exposure to potential gains while maintaining protection from market risks, based on the amount of time your money has to grow for you before you need it.",1731883638,972663d68d,505419faf7,,,1731883638
-https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/15/microsoft-bets-a-carbon-removal-bake-off-will-help-offset-its-skyrocketing-ai-emissions/,https://techcrunch.com/startups/feed/,Microsoft bets a carbon removal bake-off will help offset its skyrocketing AI emissions,"Microsoft is in a pickle: It has committed to being carbon negative by 2030, but its emissions have skyrocketed more than 40% since 2020, thanks in part to its booming AI business. The company has bought a bunch of renewable power, but some emissions, like air travel, have been impossible to eliminate. What’s a Big Tech firm to do?
-
-One option is direct air capture (DAC), the process of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Microsoft has been a large investor in DAC, through both equity checks in startups and committing to buying carbon credits in advance. But DAC is still in its infancy, with startups taking many different approaches in an attempt to find the cheapest, most efficient path.
-
-To speed things along, Microsoft announced today that, along with the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), it’s pre-purchasing 10,000 metric tons of carbon over 10 years from Deep Sky, a DAC project developer. Unlike other DAC projects, which focus on one technology, Deep Sky is hosting a bake-off of sorts, welcoming eight startups to its site in Alberta, Canada, to see which one can do it best.
-
-The eight startups will all get space near a well into which they’ll inject the captured carbon dioxide. Power to run their operations will all come from the same source, too. The shared approach should make it easier for startups to focus on what they do best — remove carbon — and not have to worry about the rest. Deep Sky is procuring solar power through a third party, and it is handling permitting for carbon storage. (Finding suitable sites for storage is one of the limiting factors for any carbon removal and storage project.)
-
-Deep Sky told Bloomberg that the project should be up and running by April and that Microsoft and RBC will start receiving carbon credits by June. By DAC standards, that’s a pretty quick timeline. It won’t be enough to avert adverse warming, but if Deep Sky can find a winner, it might help pull the climate out of its current nosedive.",1731883630,878296e4f0,504c7f6cc6,,,1731883630
-https://techcrunch.com/2022/05/04/stripe-launches-financial-connections-for-customers-to-pull-banking-data-used-to-power-transactions-automatically/,https://techcrunch.com/tag/mobile-payments/feed/,Stripe flexes its fintech muscle with Financial Connections to pull banking data automatically,"Stripe, the payments behemoth valued at $95 billion a year ago and now reportedly inching closer to an IPO, today announced a new product that fills in some significant gaps in its play to be the financial services layer for merchants and other businesses whose models are based on enabling transactions. It’s taking the wraps off Financial Connections, which will let Stripe’s customers connect directly to their customer’s bank accounts, to access financial data to speed up or run certain kinds of transactions.
-
-These include verifying accounts for payments and payouts; to check balances ahead of a payment being made to ensure there’s enough money there; to confirm account ownership. Details like these can in turn be used to help underwrite risk for loans; to track spending patterns and automatically pay bills; and more — in other words, financial data that’s useful or necessary to run financial transactions over other Stripe services like Stripe Connect, ACH payments or Stripe Capital-powered loans.
-
-On the part of customers of Stripe’s customers, when asked, they will input their bank account details and get specific information on how that will be used, Stripe said. (Side note: It will be interesting to see whether U.S. consumers will be happy with sharing that information in situations where it hasn’t been previously.)
-
-The service is going live first in the U.S., where Stripe said it will work with over 90% of all bank accounts. It will be charged on a pay-as-you-use basis — bank account verifications and account information will come at $1.50 per API call; account balance retrieval is 10 cents per API call; transaction pulls have yet to be launched so pricing is TBA — and bigger customers can buy on an enterprise contract.
-
-We asked but Stripe declined to comment on when and if Financial Connections would be extended to other markets, which is perhaps not a surprise, given how much banking systems differ country to country.
-
-Financial Connections is coming at an interesting moment in the world of digital payments. E-commerce definitely created a market for enabling easier payments online. And while that opened the door to digital wallets like PayPal’s and some direct payments from banks in some countries, lot of the spoils of that growth has been passed into services based around card payment rails.
-
-But as the space has evolved, we’ve seen an ever greater proliferation of technology, services, regulations and consumer appetite for more than that. Digital banking, investing, cryptocurrency trading, new approaches to getting loans, managing expenses — all of these and more are examples of how digital services have gotten more sophisticated, and the demands we have from them have, too. (And e-commerce has also not stood still: Buy now, pay later services and a lot more have also entered that world to create more flexible services to net more transactions amid tighter competition and thinner margins.)
-
-There are more of these popping up all the time. Just yesterday, I wrote about an interesting startup called Kevin (okay, kevin.) that’s building a whole new set of payment rails and APIs for account-to-account payments that link straight into bank accounts, bypassing card rails and legacy account-to-account payment methods that are harder to implement.
-
-In that context, Financial Connections is a timely tool for Stripe to launch. It’s part of the wave of new services (like Kevin) that are creating a more programmatic approach to digital transactions and related financial services. While companies would have been able to get, say, transaction data from a bank before, now that can be handled in a faster and more automated way.
-
-“Businesses have been asking us for an easy, secure way to connect to and verify their customers’ bank accounts,” said Clara Liang, business lead at Stripe, in a statement. “Stripe Financial Connections delivers just that.”
-
-Indeed, it speaks to the needs of its current customers; but importantly for Stripe, it creates a tighter ecosystem of services around products that are already being used by them, a one-stop-shop so that they do not need to tap other parties’ tools — such as those offered by others like Plaid — to integrate that functionality. Stripe has been making a number of acquisitions to bring in extra functionality into its platform to close up some of the gaps — for example almost exactly a year ago it acquired TaxJar to help automatically calculate sales tax and provide related tools to its customers — but it looks like Financial Connections was built in-house, but powered by MX and Finicity (as pointed out by Mary Ann here).
-
-Stripe’s selling point for these tools, beyond a more seamless integration with its other products, is that it helps its customers make more transactions. It claims Connect customers that have already been working with the service have reduced payout failures by 75%; early Capital users are seeing 55% larger loan offers because of the extra data they’re using to inform decisions.
-
-All of that means more transactions on Stripe’s platform itself. The margins might be thin on any digital payment — one reason why even a company that looks like it’s growing and doing a lot of business might still fail: The numbers need to be huge to work out in its profitable favor — but this is why so many payments companies work on vast scale, and why building in a number of extra valued-added services in hopes of them getting picked up by customers (and customers’ customers), as Stripe is doing here, is smart business, one way that it hopes to sustain itself for the long (and likely public) haul.",1731883667,3aa6d26c70,5074453cb3,,,1731883667
-https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilwFBVV95cUxQQV9GYlJlTEhlY3Zoc0c0Y24tUERWU3djQTVGOHJXYWx5N216NE04ZEFmUFRDSVFER1VsUm1NRm9PbXIxVmdVU2hXVldxTUdpQThnVVBnRUlMMUxKUUs4bXUyTXJOS3FvQVdvaHEyZDNVZ3g1SVhlNmw2Q0pIYjJoUllPWnFPWnJ4N0JIbGNfZ2kzLS1kMHZV?oc=5,https://news.google.com/rss/search?q=predictive%20analytics&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en,Google News,,1731883623,2688d2a9c6,504cde5e78,,,1731883623
-https://mashable.com/article/tulane-navy-livestreams-how-to-watch,http://feeds.mashable.com/Mashable,How to watch Tulane vs. Navy football without cable,"Wondering how to watch college football this season? Here are your best options: Best for affordability Sling TV Blue Plan $20 for the first month, then $40/month (save $20 ) Get Deal BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV Pro plan 7-day free trial, then $59.99/month for 1 month (Save $20) Get Deal
-
-The No. 25 Tulane Green Wave and Navy Midshipmen teams go head-to-head this weekend at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland. The match will take place on Saturday, Nov. 16, and is scheduled to start at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT.
-
-
-
-Tulane is squeaking into the AP Top 25, despite being 8-2 overall and 6-0 in conference. Navy remains unranked (unlike their Army counterparts) at 7-2 overall and 5-1 in conference. The Green Wave is heavily favored over the Midshipmen.
-
-SEE ALSO: How to watch college football without cable
-
-Tulane vs. Navy football kickoff time and network
-
-The Tulane vs. Navy football game is scheduled for a 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT start on ESPN2 on Saturday, Nov. 16.
-
-Best streaming services for Tulane vs. Navy football game
-
-You need to choose a streaming service to watch college football without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Tulane vs. Navy football game on ESPN2.
-
-Mashable Top Stories Stay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news. Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Thanks for signing up!
-
-Most affordable: Sling TV
-
-Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.
-
-Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.
-
-Best for single game: FuboTV
-
-FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period.
-
-FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.",1731883658,644d6c1ea1,50955a7bff,,,1731883658
-https://www.npr.org/2021/10/06/1043746410/we-set-up-an-offshore-company-in-a-tax-haven-classic,https://www.npr.org/rss/podcast.php?id=510289,We set up an offshore company in a tax haven (Classic) : Planet Money,"We set up an offshore company in a tax haven (Classic)
-
-Enlarge this image toggle caption PEDRO PARDO/AFP via Getty Images PEDRO PARDO/AFP via Getty Images
-
-Note: This episode originally ran in July 2012.
-
-The Pandora Papers released this week reveal how some world leaders allegedly hold wealth outside of their countries through the use of shell companies.
-
-And the news reminded us of the time we set up our very own Planet Money shell companies. In this episode, we dive deep into the world of offshore companies and bank accounts. We set up our own company in a tax haven and we find the easiest place to register a business anonymously.
-
-For more about our two shell companies, ""Unbelizable Inc."" and ""Delawho? LLC,"" check out these episodes:
-
-Sponsor Message
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-Music: ""Bright Side"" and ""Live Twice""
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-Find us: Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok
-
-Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts and NPR One.
-
-Want economics stories from the comfort of home? Subscribe to the Newsletter.",1731884699,8181d7a585,50bea6f8ae,,,1731884699
-https://pitchfork.com/news/tyler-childers-announces-2025-tour-of-north-america,https://pitchfork.com/rss/news/,Tyler Childers Announces 2025 Tour,"Tyler Childers has announced an extensive North American tour that will take him to stadiums and arenas across the United States in 2025. The Tyler Childers: On the Road tour includes two nights apiece at New York’s Forest Hills Stadium and Nashville’s Geodis Park, plus stops at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl, Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena, London’s O2 Arena, and in many more cities. Childers, who had already announced a February tour of Australia and New Zealand, kicks off the North American dates in April, 2025. Find the itinerary below.
-
-Support at select dates comes from Wynonna, Charley Crockett, Robert Earl Keen, the Hold Steady, Medium Build, Deer Tick, Hayes Carll, S.G. Goodman, Cory Branan, and Soma.
-
-All products featured on Pitchfork are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
-
-Tyler Childers: Tyler Childers: On the Road Buy Now at Ticketmaster
-
-Tyler Childers:
-
-02-06 Auckland, New Zealand - Spark Arena
-
-02-08 Sandstone Point, Australia - Sandstone Point Hotel
-
-02-09 Tyagarah, Australia - The Green Room
-
-02-11 Sydney, Australia - Hordern Pavilion
-
-02-12 Sydney, Australia - Hordern Pavilion
-
-02-15 Newcastle East, Australia - Newcastle Foreshore Park
-
-02-16 Canberra, Australia - Royal Theatre
-
-02-20 Melbourne, Australia - Sidney Myer Music Bowl
-
-02-22 Korumburra, Australia - Coal Creek Community Park and Museum
-
-02-24 North Adelaide, Australia - The Drive
-
-02-28 Perth, Australia - Kings Park & Botanic Garden
-
-04-03 New Orleans, LA - Smoothie King Center *
-
-04-06 North Little Rock, AR - Simmons Bank Arena @
-
-04-07 Oklahoma City, OK - Paycom Center @
-
-04-09 Minneapolis, MN - Target Center @
-
-04-13 Charlottesville, VA - John Paul Jones Arena *
-
-04-15 Raleigh, NC - Coastal Credit Union Music Park $
-
-04-16 Charlotte, NC - PNC Music Pavilion $
-
-04-19 Lexington, KY - Kroger Field *+
-
-05-29 Jacksonville, FL - VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena *
-
-05-31 Panama City Beach, FL - Gulf Coast Jam
-
-06-01 Orange Beach, AL - The Wharf Amphitheater *
-
-06-03 The Woodlands, TX - The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion !
-
-06-05 Albuquerque, NM - Isleta Amphitheater !
-
-06-07 Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena !
-
-06-08 Phoenix, AZ - Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre !
-
-06-10 Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl ~¬
-
-07-26 East Troy, WI - Alpine Valley Music Theatre ^#
-
-07-27 East Troy, WI - Alpine Valley Music Theatre ^#
-
-09-24 Camden, NJ - Freedom Mortgage Pavilion ~^
-
-09-25 Mansfield, MA - Xfinity Center ~^
-
-09-27 Bristow, VA - Jiffy Lube Live ~^
-
-09-29 Forest Hills, NY - Forest Hills Stadium ^
-
-09-30 Forest Hills, NY - Forest Hills Stadium ^
-
-10-03 Cincinnati, OH - Riverbend Music Center !
-
-10-07 Cuyahoga Falls, OH - Blossom Music Center !
-
-10-10 Nashville, TN - Geodis Park =%
-
-10-11 Nashville, TN - Geodis Park =%
-
-11-15 London, England - The O2 Arena
-
-* with S.G. Goodman
-
-@ with Cory Branan
-
-$ with Deer Tick
-
-+ with Wynonna
-
-~ with Soma
-
-¬ with Robert Earl Keen
-
-^ with Medium Build
-
-# with The Hold Steady
-
-! with Hayes Carll
-
-= with Cory Branan
-
-% with Charley Crockett",1731883658,1fc7f26191,5098539e16,,,1731883658
-https://devblogs.microsoft.com/xamarin/tips-for-porting-your-xamarin-library-to-dotnet-maui/,https://devblogs.microsoft.com/xamarin/feed/,Tips for Moving Your Xamarin Library to .NET MAUI,"Note: This is a Guest Blog Post by Microsoft MVP Luis Matos. Luis is a System Engineer who specializes in helping companies and professionals create value in their software products.
-
-If you are a Xamarin.Forms Library maintainer and haven’t yet ported your library to .NET MAUI, then you are in the right place! In this post, I will be sharing the tips that I learned porting my NuGet Package, Plugin.ValidationRules to support .NET MAUI.
-
-Refactor or Rewrite or Bifurcate?
-
-Your Xamarin.Forms SDK library is likely targeting .NET Standard, Xamarin.iOS and Xamarin.Android. Some of your code may be ready to come along for the ride, and some may not. You will go through a process involving sorting through the projects and determining what to upgrade, abandon, or rewrite.
-
-Once you change update the Target Frameworks (TFMs) to net6.0 , net6.0-ios and net6.0-android , you will have to look at each of your projects one-by-one and see if you have any compatibility issues. You may find that you simply don’t have to do anything. And in some cases, you may have to update some code.
-
-Refactoring involves updating existing code to work in the new environment under .NET 6.
-
-Bifurcation means copying old code and pasting it into a new .NET 6 project. If you’re coming from .NET Standard you probably don’t need to do this, but you may need to update some namespaces.
-
-Understand your dependencies
-
-If your library has dependencies on other libraries or projects, you should take the time to examine their dependencies and determine what you can or cannot migrate. The external NuGet Packages that your projects depend on cannot target Xamarin.iOS or Xamarin.Android; they must instead target net6.0-ios and net6.0-android .
-
-Upgrade the CSPROJ Project
-
-The new CSPROJ format is known as SDK style.
-
-🚨 IMPORTANT 🚨
-
-If your library uses the MSBuild.Sdk.Extras SDK, you must change it to use Microsoft.NET.Sdk :
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-