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reality-detective · 3 months ago

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Wake Up! Everything You Believe Is a Carefully Crafted Lie by a Hidden Elite That Owns Your Governments, Banks, and Minds!

The world is under the control of a hidden, powerful elite that has manipulated humanity for thousands of years. Governments, banks, corporations, and even religions are all part of a massive, interconnected system designed to keep the masses in line. You are living in a controlled simulation where every move is calculated, every narrative crafted, and every dissent crushed.

Ancient Rome never fell; it just changed its face. The Vatican is the continuation of the Roman Empire, pulling the strings of global power from the shadows. The Pope is not a religious leader but the CEO of the world’s largest covert operation. Global leaders bow to Rome; every major decision made in Europe, America, and beyond has its roots in this ancient power structure. The so-called “democracies” are just fronts, and the real rulers operate far from the public eye.

The financial system is a tool of enslavement, but its grip is weakening. Central banks, the Federal Reserve, the World Bank, and the IMF have long kept nations in debt and citizens in economic chains. However, their reign is about to end. The Global Economic Security and Reformation Act (GESARA) is poised to trigger the biggest wealth transfer in history, redistributing stolen wealth back to the people.

This is a total overhaul designed to dismantle the corrupt systems that have enslaved humanity for centuries. Trillions of dollars hoarded by the elite will be seized and returned to the people, restoring economic power where it belongs.

This act will expose the financial fraud perpetuated by these institutions, wiping out debts and releasing new technologies that have been suppressed to keep the populace in poverty. The days of the financial overlords are numbered, and GESARA is the catalyst that will break their chains for good, restoring wealth and freedom to the masses.

Education and media are the propaganda arms of this hidden empire. From kindergarten to university, you are fed lies designed to shape your worldview to fit the agenda of the elite. Critical thinking is discouraged because an informed population is a threat. The news you watch, the books you read, and the information you consume are all curated to keep you ignorant, divided, and powerless.

Governments are puppets. Elections are rigged shows to give you the illusion of choice. Presidents, prime ministers, and kings answer to the same hidden masters. Policies, wars, economic collapses—they’re all orchestrated from behind closed doors by a small group of individuals who have no allegiance to any nation but only to their own interests. They decide who wins, who loses, and how the game is played.

Laws are tools of oppression, not justice. The legal system is designed to protect the elite and keep you in line. Roman law still influences modern legal codes, and its principles are used to maintain control over the masses. The courtrooms are theaters where the outcome is predetermined, and the real power lies in the unseen hands that pull the strings.

Corporations are not independent entities—they are branches of the same control network. They push products, policies, and narratives that serve their masters’ agenda. From the food you eat to the technology you use, everything is designed to monitor, influence, and control you. You are not a customer; you are a data point, a resource to be exploited.

The world is not what it seems. Every institution you trust, every leader you admire, every belief you hold has been carefully constructed to keep you obedient and blind to the truth. You are not free; you are a pawn in a game that was rigged long before you were born.

The only way out is to see the truth: that the world is run by a small, powerful group that considers itself above the rest of humanity. They are the masters, and we are the slaves. This is the reality they don’t want you to see. Wake up, or remain a willing participant in your own enslavement.

Escape the Matrix 🤔

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justinspoliticalcorner · 3 months ago

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Right-wing dark money activist Leonard Leo launches $1BN crusade to "‘crush" liberal America

Alex Rogers at Financial Times:

The conservative activist who led the crusade to overhaul the US legal system is making a $1bn push to “crush liberal dominance” across corporate America and in the country’s news and entertainment sectors. In a rare interview, Leonard Leo, the architect of the rightward shift on the Supreme Court under Donald Trump, said his non-profit advocacy group, the Marble Freedom Trust, was ready to confront the private sector in addition to the government. “We need to crush liberal dominance where it’s most insidious, so we’ll direct resources to build talent and capital formation pipelines in the areas of news and entertainment, where leftwing extremism is most evident,” Leo told the Financial Times. “Expect us to increase support for organisations that call out companies and financial institutions that bend to the woke mind virus spread by regulators and NGOs, so that they have to pay a price for putting extreme leftwing ideology ahead of consumers,” he said.

Leo has spent more than two decades at the influential Federalist Society, guiding conservative judges into the federal courts and the Supreme Court itself. In 2018, conservative justice Clarence Thomas joked that Leo was the third most important person in the world. Leo’s efforts culminated under Trump’s presidency, when three Federalist Society-backed judges were appointed to give conservatives on the Supreme Court a 6-3 supermajority, and profound influence over US law. The court has since then ruled to overturn the right to an abortion, among other long-sought rightwing causes. In 2020, after Trump lost the election, Leo stepped back from running the daily operations of the Federalist Society, while remaining its co-chair. The following year, Leo founded Marble, with a $1.6bn donation from electronic device manufacturing mogul Barre Seid, to be a counterweight to what he said was “dark money” of the left. He spent about $600mn in its first three years, according to public financial disclosures.

Leo said his goal was to find “very leveraged, impactful ways of reintroducing limited constitutional government and a civil society premised on freedom and personal responsibility and the virtues of western civilisation”. The $1bn money machine is now funding the conservative mission against private institutions, opposing diversity, equity and inclusion policies, climate and social concerns in investing and the “debanking” of politically conservative customers, in addition to taking on the public sector. The non-profit is increasingly interested in launching campaigns against “woke” banks and China-friendly companies involved in everything from food production to autonomous vehicles in the US and potentially Europe. Leo also intends to invest in a US local media company in the next 12 months, although he has not decided which, and is building conservative coalitions through groups such as Teneo Network, a club with chapters across the country. He also confirmed that Marble had since 2021 helped fund organisations that launched campaigns against companies with DEI, ESG and other initiatives, including BlackRock, Vanguard, American Airlines, Coca-Cola, State Farm, Major League Baseball and Ticketmaster.

The Financial Times interviewed right-wing dark money activist Leonard Leo, as he announced plans to launch a $1BN crusade to "‘crush" liberal America.

Leo has hinted that he’ll invest in an unnamed American media company within the next year.

#Leonard Leo #Dark Money #Marble Freedom Trust #Barre Seid #Teneo Network #Federalist Society

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ravenkings · 2 years ago

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When Donald J. Trump responded to his latest indictment by promising to appoint a special prosecutor if he’s re-elected to “go after” President Biden and his family, he signaled that a second Trump term would fully jettison the post-Watergate norm of Justice Department independence.

“I will appoint a real special prosecutor to go after the most corrupt president in the history of the United States of America, Joe Biden, and the entire Biden crime family,” Mr. Trump said at his golf club in Bedminster, N.J., on Tuesday night after his arraignment earlier that day in Miami. “I will totally obliterate the Deep State.”

Mr. Trump’s message was that the Justice Department charged him only because he is Mr. Biden’s political opponent, so he would invert that supposed politicization. In reality, under Attorney General Merrick Garland, two Trump-appointed prosecutors are already investigating Mr. Biden’s handling of classified documents and the financial dealings of his son, Hunter.

But by suggesting the current prosecutors investigating the Bidens were not “real,” Mr. Trump appeared to be promising his supporters that he would appoint an ally who would bring charges against his political enemies regardless of the facts.

The naked politics infusing Mr. Trump’s headline-generating threat underscored something significant. In his first term, Mr. Trump gradually ramped up pressure on the Justice Department, eroding its traditional independence from White House political control. He is now unabashedly saying he will throw that effort into overdrive if he returns to power.

Mr. Trump’s promise fits into a larger movement on the right to gut the F.B.I., overhaul a Justice Department conservatives claim has been “weaponized” against them and abandon the norm — which many Republicans view as a facade — that the department should operate independently from the president.

[...]

As the Republican Party has morphed in response to Mr. Trump’s influence, his attacks on federal law enforcement — which trace back to the early Russia investigation in 2017, the backlash to his firing of then-F.B.I. director James B. Comey Jr. and the appointment of Robert S. Mueller III as special counsel — have become enmeshed in the ideology of his supporters.

Mr. Trump’s top rival for the Republican nomination, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, also rejects the norm that the Justice Department should be independent.

“Republican presidents have accepted the canard that the D.O.J. and F.B.I. are — quote — ‘independent,’” Mr. DeSantis said in May on Fox News. “They are not independent agencies. They are part of the executive branch. They answer to the elected president of the United States.”

Several other Republican candidates acknowledged that Mr. Trump’s handling of classified documents — as outlined in the indictment prepared by the special counsel, Jack Smith, and his team — was a serious problem. But even these candidates — including Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, the former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley, and former Vice President Mike Pence — have also accused the Justice Department of being overly politicized and meting out unequal justice.

The most powerful conservative think tanks are working on plans that would go far beyond “reforming” the F.B.I., even though its Senate-confirmed directors in the modern era have all been Republicans. They want to rip it up and start again.

[...]

#this seems.............bad............#donald trump #politics #usa #news #article

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f1 · 2 years ago

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FIA confirms new structure in Formula One with Steve Nielsen joining as Sporting Director

FIA confirms new structure in Formula One with Steve Nielsen joining as Sporting Director By Balazs Szabo on 18 Jan 2023, 15:00 Formula One's governing body, the FIA has today confirmed significant updates to its Formula 1 structure with Steve Nielsen leaving FOM to take on the role of FIA's F1 Sporting Director. Following a review of FIA’s internal procedures initiated by its President Mohammed Ben Sulayem at the start of the year, the Paris-based governing body has confirmed that it has made significant tweaks to its structure. Nikolas Tombazis, who has led the FIA’s Formula 1 technical team since 2018 and overseen the development and implementation of the successful 2022 regulations overhaul, will take on a more transversal role as Single Seater Director. Four new roles have been established with the Sporting, Technical, Financial and Strategy & Operations Directors with all of them set to report to the Single Seater Director. F1 Sporting Director Steve Nielsen is leaving FOM to take up a similar position with the sport’s governing body, the FIA. The Bristol-born has been sporting director at rights holder F1 since 2017 and his 30-year career has also included spells at Williams, Alpine and Toro Rosso. The 58-year-old will be responsible for overseeing all sporting matters including the ongoing development of Race Control and the Remote Operations Centre, as well as future updates to the Sporting Regulations. Tim Goss will take on the role of Technical Director previously held by Tombazis, having worked as Deputy since the start of the 2021 season. Federico Lodi has led the FIA’s Financial Regulations team since its inception, and now becomes the Formula 1 Financial Director. Former Sporting Director François Sicard will take on a newly-created position within the FIA as Formula 1 Strategy & Operations Director, responsible for long-term strategic planning, and also for key trackside activities and logistics. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem commented: “We have dedicated a lot of time and effort to making significant, informed changes to our Formula 1 team to create the right structure with the right people to oversee the future regulation of the sport. By developing and empowering people within our organisation, as well as bringing in expertise and experience from the outside, I am confident that we are in the best position possible to move forward together with our partners at FOM and the Formula 1 teams.” Tombazis added: “I am excited and honoured to be taking on this new position within the FIA, and very grateful to the President for the trust he is demonstrating towards me. We have a group of extremely talented and dedicated people who work flat out to deliver the level of regulation that Formula 1 demands and deserves, and I fully believe this new structure will take our resources to the next level and allow us to make continual improvements.” Commenting on the announcement, Nielsen said: “I have spent my professional life working for many teams and organisations in Formula 1, and cannot wait to engage with another new chapter with the FIA. I’d like to thank both the President and Stefano Domenicali for their trust in me, and I understand and appreciate the unique challenges that come with being the regulator. "Having worked closely with a number of people in the Federation over the years, I’m looking forward to tackling those challenges that lie ahead with them - Formula 1 is in a great place at the moment, and it’s our responsibility to ensure the future health of the sport that is at the heart of everything we do.” via F1Technical.net . Motorsport news https://www.f1technical.net/news/

#F1 #FIA confirms new structure in Formula One with Steve Nielsen joining as Sporting Director #Formula 1

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pannimanagementteam · 4 months ago

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The Importance of Cannabis Software Systems in the Industry

The cannabis industry is evolving at an unprecedented pace. As businesses scale and the regulatory environment becomes increasingly complex, cannabis software systems are essential for managing the vast amount of operational, financial, and compliance-related data. These systems streamline workflows, ensure compliance with ever-changing laws, and enhance operational efficiency. The introduction of advanced cannabis software systems has revolutionized how businesses approach everything from cultivation to retail.

How Cannabis ERP Transforms Business Operations

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are integral for industries requiring efficient resource management, and the cannabis sector is no exception. Cannabis ERP offers a centralized solution for managing production, distribution, inventory, compliance, and financial operations. With cannabis ERP, businesses can track each step in the seed-to-sale process, ensuring that all departments are aligned with regulatory requirements while enhancing productivity.

Unlike generic ERP systems, cannabis ERP is tailored to meet the specific needs of the cannabis industry. This includes managing compliance, tracking inventory, optimizing supply chain operations, and improving customer relationship management. Integrating a cannabis ERP system allows businesses to reduce redundancies, automate processes, and achieve higher levels of operational visibility.

Cannabis ERP Software: An All-in-One Solution

Cannabis ERP software is designed to manage every aspect of a cannabis operation, from cultivation to distribution. This software helps companies streamline their operations and ensures that all business functions work together harmoniously. With cannabis ERP software, users can integrate data from various departments, such as inventory, sales, finance, and production, providing a clear view of the company's overall performance.

One of the key features of cannabis ERP software is its ability to track inventory and manage supply chains in real-time. The software ensures that businesses remain compliant with industry regulations by providing accurate data on production levels, inventory counts, and sales reports. Additionally, cannabis ERP software automates many manual processes, reducing the risk of human error and allowing employees to focus on strategic decision-making.

Another benefit of cannabis ERP software is its ability to provide detailed analytics. By utilizing comprehensive reports, businesses can identify trends, optimize processes, and make data-driven decisions that enhance efficiency and profitability.

Why Cannabis ERP Systems Are a Game-Changer

In a heavily regulated industry, businesses cannot afford inefficiencies or non-compliance. Cannabis ERP systems offer the perfect solution to manage these challenges. These systems consolidate all aspects of a cannabis operation, from inventory management to financial reporting, into a single platform, making it easier to track key metrics and ensure regulatory compliance.

Cannabis ERP systems provide several key benefits:

Real-Time Data Access: With access to real-time data, companies can respond quickly to changes in the market or shifts in regulatory requirements.

Enhanced Compliance: Compliance is critical in the cannabis industry, and cannabis ERP systems ensure that all operations adhere to local, state, and federal laws.

Improved Scalability: As the business grows, cannabis ERP systems allow companies to scale their operations efficiently, without the need for costly overhauls.

Integration Across Departments: A cannabis ERP system integrates various departments such as finance, production, and distribution, ensuring that every aspect of the business is aligned and functioning optimally.

Incorporating a cannabis ERP system reduces the risk of operational bottlenecks and helps companies maintain high standards of transparency and accountability.

The Role of Cannabis Software Solutions in Compliance and Growth

Regulatory compliance is one of the most significant challenges facing the cannabis industry. Failure to comply with local, state, and federal laws can result in fines, product recalls, or even the loss of a business license. Cannabis software solutions are specifically designed to help businesses navigate the complex web of regulations governing the industry.

Cannabis software solutions offer features like automated compliance tracking, real-time reporting, and audit trails. This allows businesses to keep detailed records of their operations and ensures that they meet all legal requirements. Whether it’s tracking inventory, managing financial transactions, or ensuring proper labeling, cannabis software solutions make compliance straightforward and manageable.

Moreover, cannabis software solutions can be integrated with other business management tools, such as accounting software, point-of-sale systems, and HR platforms, making them versatile and invaluable for growing businesses. These solutions not only support compliance but also play a pivotal role in helping companies scale operations and improve overall efficiency.

Key Features of Cannabis Software Systems

Businesses that implement cannabis software systems benefit from a suite of tools that optimize operations across the board. Key features of these systems include:

Seed-to-Sale Tracking: Cannabis software systems track every phase of production, from cultivation to retail sale. This ensures full transparency and enables businesses to remain compliant with industry regulations.

Inventory Management: Real-time tracking of inventory levels allows companies to optimize stock management and prevent overproduction or understocking.

Compliance Reporting: Automated compliance tools ensure that all activities are documented according to regulatory requirements. This simplifies audits and minimizes the risk of penalties.

Financial Management: Cannabis software systems often include integrated financial tools that track revenue, expenses, and profit margins, providing a clear financial overview.

Data Analytics: Advanced analytics help businesses identify trends, predict customer behavior, and make informed decisions to drive growth.

By leveraging these features, cannabis software systems empower companies to optimize operations, reduce costs, and stay ahead of regulatory demands.

Implementing Cannabis Software Solutions for Long-Term Success

Implementing the right cannabis software solutions can significantly impact a company's long-term success. These systems allow businesses to operate more efficiently, maintain compliance, and scale with ease as the industry continues to grow.

The flexibility of cannabis software solutions enables businesses to customize their systems based on specific needs, whether it's optimizing cultivation processes, managing retail operations, or tracking distribution channels. Furthermore, by integrating cannabis software solutions into existing workflows, businesses can gain deeper insights into their operations, improve decision-making, and drive profitability.

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ejesgistnews · 4 months ago

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In a bold move to restructure Nigeria’s governance, President Bola Tinubu has taken decisive actions since assuming office on May 29, 2023. His tenure, marked by significant policy shifts, has seen the removal of several principal officers who served under the administration of his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari. These actions are seen as part of Tinubu’s broader strategy to revitalize key institutions and ensure alignment with his administration's objectives. Here is a comprehensive list of government officials sacked by President Bola Tinubu since he assumed office on May 29, 2023: 1. Godwin Emefiele Position: Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Date of Sack: June 9, 2023 Details: Suspended by President Tinubu as part of the administration's efforts to restructure the financial sector. 2. Abdulrasheed Bawa Position: Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Date of Sack: July 14, 2023 Details: Suspended amidst investigations into the commission's activities. 3. Service Chiefs Positions: All service chiefs appointed by the Buhari administration Date of Sack: June 19, 2023 Details: Replaced to align the military leadership with Tinubu's security strategies. 4. Maj-Gen Babagana Monguno (rtd) Position: National Security Adviser Date of Sack: June 19, 2023 Details: Replaced by Nuhu Ribadu as part of a broader security sector overhaul. 5. Bashir Gwandu Position: Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) Date of Sack: Mid-2023 Details: Dismissed in line with Tinubu's administrative reforms. 6. Lauretta Onochie Position: Board and Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Date of Sack: August 2023 Details: The board was disbanded to restructure the NDDC. 7. Engr. Aliyu Abubakar Aziz Position: Director-General/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Date of Sack: 2023 Details: Directed to commence 90-day pre-retirement leave. 8. NDDC Nominees Position: Ondo and Cross River NDDC Nominees Date of Sack: September 1, 2023 Details: Sacked and replaced with fresh appointments. 9. Muhammad Nami Position: Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Date of Sack: September 14, 2023 Details: Replaced by Zacchaeus Adedeji as acting chairman. Yusuf Magaji Bichi biography, Wife, Son, Resignation as DSS DG, Net Worth 10. CEOs under the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment Positions: Various Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) Date of Sack: October 2023 Details: Sacked as part of the administration's efforts to streamline operations within the ministry. 11. CEOs under the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development Positions: Various Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) Date of Sack: December 13, 2023 Details: Approved the suspension, removal, and replacement of these officials. 12. Babatunde Irukera Position: Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) Date of Sack: January 8, 2024 Details: Dismissed as part of administrative changes within the commission. 13. Alexander Ayoola Okoh Position: Director-General/CEO, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) Date of Sack: January 2024 Details: Replaced as part of Tinubu's ongoing government restructuring. 14. Mamman Ahmadu Position: Director-General/CEO, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) Date of Sack: June 15, 2024 Details: Directed to resign as part of changes in the procurement sector. 15. Adekanmbi Position: HYPREP Coordinator Date of Sack: July 15, 2024 Details: Sacked and replaced by Prof. Zabbey. 16. Yusuf Magaji Bichi Position: Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) Date of Sack: August 26, 2024 Details: Replaced as part of a strategic shake-up in the security agencies. 17. Jalal Arabi Position: Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Date of Sack: August 19, 2024

Details: Replaced by Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman as the new Executive Chairman of NAHCON. These sackings reflect President Tinubu's commitment to restructuring the government and aligning it with his administration's Renewed Hope policies and goal.

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thebestucollegeadmissions · 8 months ago

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College Admissions Chaos: Why it’s messier than you might realize & what it means for you

While much attention was paid to the pandemic-related upheaval in the college admissions process, not as much is being said about the multilayered impacts to college admissions that have made the 2023-2024 admissions cycle unprecedented.

Here are just a few pieces that have transpired in admissions this year –

Radical reworking of application review processes and diminished transparency

As we entered into this season, a landmark Supreme Court decision required a complete reworking of the admissions process including how colleges understand applicants, and how they consider identity in the context of the decision process. With applications opening August 1, colleges had just one month to implement changes to their admissions processes in response to the decision, leaving little time to communicate expectations to applicants.

The parameters of the decision encouraged most admissions offices to operate with more opacity and less transparency in their processes, making it more bewildering for students and families to understand how to proceed and what matters in admissions. With substantial concern for further litigation, colleges have trouble saying much of anything at all about how their review processes have changed as a result of the decision and how they are considering the qualitative information students share about their ‘lived experiences’ in their writing as part of the evaluation process.

Ongoing consolidation & record application numbers

Students continue to funnel record breaking numbers of applications to a smaller number of colleges, leaving many schools outside of the top 50 to 100 universities scrambling with enrollment declines and subsequent budget constriction.

The Common App has made it increasingly easy for students to apply to a higher number of colleges. With the average number of applications submitted by each student increasing, application pools grow at selective schools, while acceptance rates reach new lows. As admissions offices operate in the context of ballooning application numbers, it is inevitable that their review and decision processes are shifting to accommodate this reality.

Test optional in policy but more complicated in practice

In the 23-24 admissions cycle, the vast majority of colleges have continued their pandemic-driven test optional policies. These policies have contributed to sustaining record high application numbers at most very selective institutions over the past several years, and 2024 has been no exception. While many colleges have maintained policies permitting students to apply without SAT or ACT scores, at many of those institutions, students with strong scores that mirror the typical admitted student are accepted at higher rates than their peers who utilize the test optional policy. This trend is amplified at many colleges from ivies to public flagships in very popular and quantitative majors such as business and engineering. In this context, many students understandably choose to withhold their scores, leading to an astronomical rise in the ‘middle 50%’ of scores for admitted students at many selective colleges where admissions readers speak to struggling with how to best assess a student’s readiness on the basis of grades and curriculum alone.

And on top of it all, a catastrophic failure in financial aid

While admissions offices navigated a total overhaul of their processes, surging application numbers, and ongoing ambiguity around the role of testing in the evaluation process, the financial aid process fell apart in an unprecedented series of events. Federal legislation requiring updates to the FAFSA form used to calculate financial aid and merit scholarship offers across the country led to a rushed process to change the form, a near three month delay in rolling out the application and cascading tumult as errors, delays, revisions and recalculations have prevented colleges from receiving the critical information they need to award aid to admitted students. Even still as the typical May 1st decision and deposit deadline approaches, the future is uncertain. Families who managed to complete the FAFSA are still in the dark on what the true costs of college will be to inform their decisions. These families are in the minority, as FAFSA completion overall is down 40%. As a result, some colleges are extending their deposit deadlines to give students and families more time to receive financial aid information, while others are proceeding with unchanged deadlines. We have yet to see the long term impacts of these failures on college enrollment, especially for the most vulnerable students.

What it all means

While the circumstances are deeply challenging, we have hope for the many students and families who are working hard to find their way, stay informed and make their own best college decisions. We are rooting for you, celebrating your wins, and inviting you to acknowledge your resilience in navigating an extraordinary time in college admissions.

We will continue to strive to keep you informed with transparent information about the college process, and grounded guidance in how to navigate your journey. When you turn down the noise on prestige and turn up the volume on your own values to choose college communities where you will thrive, this process can be more enjoyable and less overwhelming.

TBU Advisors are experienced in supporting students to navigate their college choices and personal best fit. If you’d like to explore working with a TBU Advisor, get in touch here. We look forward to connecting with you.

Looking for more insights like these? Join us on our Membership Platform for exclusive content, live webinars, and the resources and tools to unstick your college process. Members are invited to join us live for more on this topic:

#Admissions #College #College Admissions #College Admissions Support

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jcmarchi · 9 months ago

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U.S. Treasury warns financial sector, AI threats “outpacing” security - CyberTalk

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/u-s-treasury-warns-financial-sector-ai-threats-outpacing-security-cybertalk/

U.S. Treasury warns financial sector, AI threats “outpacing” security - CyberTalk

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

According to a new U.S. Treasury Department report, the financial services industry is extremely vulnerable to cyber threats that weaponize AI-based tools. The report provides warning to the industry at-large, while also sharing best practices and advocating for AI-based threat prevention.

The “…report builds on our successful public-private partnership for secure cloud adoption and lays out a clear vision for how financial institutions can safely map out their business lines and disrupt rapidly evolving, AI-driven fraud,” stated Under Secretary for Domestic Finance, Nellie Liang.

AI-powered attacks

According to high-level stakeholders who hail from financial technology companies, generative AI capabilities may give the “upper hand” to cyber criminals.

Experts anticipate that AI will supercharge malware potency, social engineering tactics, vulnerability discovery (on the part of hackers) and disinformation campaigns – including deepfake videos that show impersonation of executives.

Financial institutions have long utilized AI for cyber security, anti-fraud and other operational purposes. However, many have stated that their current risk frameworks remain inadequate when it comes to preventing novel artificial intelligence-based attack vectors.

As AI models become more resource-intensive, over-reliance on third-party cloud providers also presents new cyber security risks.

Short-term recommendations

The Treasury report details several immediate measures that financial services companies can take to mitigate risks:

Leverage existing regulations. Although AI-specific rules are still emerging, many current cyber security, privacy and risk management regulations can be applied to AI system governance.

Improve anti-fraud data sharing. At present, large banks have a major advantage in building AI fraud detection models, as they have large data reserves. More public-private data pooling is needed.

Develop AI data supply chain mapping. Like nutrition labels for food, “AI nutrition labels” should be mandated to clarify the origins and parameters of training data used to build AI models.

Cyber workforce transformation. Static training programs must be overhauled in order to develop AI-fluent cyber security professionals; talent that can effectively operationalize AI-based tools while upholding ethics, security and privacy standards.

Push for increased government coordination. An inconsistent patchwork of state/federal AI rules presents a tangle of different challenges. Aligned regulations and public-private partnerships are needed in order to effectively combat threats.

Long-term solutions

In order to address the AI-based cyber security challenges outlined by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, financial institutions are also encouraged to explore Check Point’s industry-leading AI cyber security offerings.

Check Point’s unified cloud security platform secures financial AI workloads and data across public clouds, private clouds and on-premises, using comprehensive AI-powered security services.

Given how AI-based cyber threats are intensifying, banks and fintech groups need to urgently prioritize AI risk management programs, upgrading defenses before disruptive attacks manifest.

Early mover advantage

When it comes to getting ahead of the AI security curve, there is such thing as an early-mover advantage. By partnering with Check Point, financial institutions can acquire the strategic vision and execution velocity required to outpace modern threats. To learn more about AI-powered, cloud-delivered cyber security solutions, please click here.

In addition, empower your organization through more great thought leadership. Discover new artificial intelligence focused thought leadership insights from CyberTalk.org, here. Lastly, to receive cutting-edge AI cyber insights, groundbreaking research and emerging threat analyses each week, subscribe to the CyberTalk.org newsletter.

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epacer · 2 years ago

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT

No More Nuggets and Tots? School Lunches Go Farm-To-Table — for Some California Students

In a national survey of 1,230 school nutritiondirectors, nearly all said the rising costs of food and supplies were their top challenges this year. More than 90% said they were facing supply chain and staffing shortages.

As the fine-dining chef at a suburban high school gave samples of his newest recipes, junior Anahi Nava Flores critiqued a baguette sandwich with Toscano salami, organic Monterey Jack, arugula and a scratch-made basil spread: “This pesto aioli is good!"

Classmate Kentaro Turner devoured a deli-style pastrami melt on sourdough and moved on to free-range chicken simmered in chipotle broth with Spanish-style rice. “Everything is delicious!”

These are not words typically uttered in school cafeterias.

The food served at the school system outside San Francisco, Mount Diablo Unified, reflects a trend away from mass-produced, reheated meals. Its lunch menus are filled with California-grown fruits and vegetables, grass-fed meats and recipes that defy the stereotype of inedible school food.

Among American schoolchildren, these students are in the lucky minority. Making fresh meals requires significant investment and, in many areas, an overhaul of how school kitchens have operated for decades. Inflation and supply chain disruptions have only made it harder on school nutrition directors, widening gaps in access to affordable, high-quality food.

What's more, federal money to boost lunch budgets has declined. The government last year ended a pandemic-era program offering free school meals to everyone. A few states, such as California, have been paying to keep meals free for all students, but most states went back to charging all but the neediest kids for meals.

Increases in money from California’s state government have made it possible for Mount Diablo to buy fresher local ingredients and hire the chef, Josh Gjersand, a veteran of Michelin-starred restaurants. Local farms, bakers, creameries and fishermen now supply most ingredients to the district, which serves 30,000 students from wealthy and low-income communities east of San Francisco.

On a recent January morning, student taste testers were sampling Gjersand's latest creations. His daily specials have ranged from barbecue spare ribs to fresh red snapper on a whole-grain brioche bun.

“I love the idea of serving students better food,” said Gjersand, who quit restaurants during the pandemic, when serving a wagyu-beef-and-caviar crowd lost its luster. “School cafeterias should feel like restaurants, and not fast food chains.”

School systems elsewhere can only dream of such offerings.

“Financially, we are dying right now,” said Patti Bilbrey, nutrition director for Arizona’s Scottsdale Unified School District. It charges students $2.85 per lunch, but that no longer comes close to covering the district's cost.

A staff shortage makes it impossible to cook more food from scratch, she said. The school relies on mass-produced food that is delivered, then reheated. The pizza: “It’s done; you just bake it.” The spicy chicken sandwich: “You heat it and put it on a bun.” The corn dogs: “You just have to wrap it,” she said.

Some students give the food positive reviews. “I eat spicy chicken every day. That’s my favorite,” said Hunter Kimble, a sixth grader at Tonalea Middle School, where almost 80% of students still qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

Eighth grader Araceli Canales is more critical. The school serves an orange chicken that she says makes her cringe. “The meat is like a different color,” she said. At a recent lunchtime, Araceli picked at a chicken Caesar salad, noting the croutons were bland and hard. “The chicken tastes OK, but I want them to cook it longer and add more seasoning.” When the bell rang, she tossed most of her salad in the garbage.

Not many schools can afford gourmet offerings like Mount Diablo's, which also benefits from California’s year-round growing season. But school menus in several places have improved in the past decade, with fresher ingredients and more ethnic dishes, said School Nutrition Association spokesperson Diane Pratt-Heavner.

The pandemic, however, created new obstacles.

The survey by the nutrition association also found soaring levels of student lunch debt at schools that have returned to charging for meals. The association is urging Congress to resume free breakfast and lunch nationwide.

“This is the worst and fastest accumulation of debt I’ve seen in my 12 years in school nutrition,” said Angela Richey, nutrition director for the Roseville and St Anthony-New Brighton school districts in Minnesota, which serve about 9,400 students. They don’t turn away a hungry child, but this year’s school meal debt has surpassed $90,000, growing at a rate of over $1,000 a day.

Making food from scratch isn’t just healthier, it’s cheaper, many school nutrition directors say.

But that’s only possible when schools have kitchens. A national shift away from school kitchens began in the 1980s, which ushered in an era of mass-produced, processed school food. Pre-made meals delivered by food service companies meant schools could do away with full-time cafeteria staff and kitchens.

“If you don’t have a kitchen to chop things up, there’s not much you can do with fresh vegetables,” said Nina Ichikawa, executive director of the Berkeley Food Institute, part of a team evaluating a California farm-to-school incubator grant. She describes California’s investments as undoing past damage.

In 2021, California committed to spending $650 million annually to supplement federal meal reimbursements — money for food, staff, new equipment and other upgrades. Additionally, hundreds of millions of dollars are available for kitchen infrastructure and for schools that cook from scratch and buy from California farmers.

In California's rural Modoc Unified School District, near the Oregon border, lunch menus reflect what the state is trying to change: a rotation of hot dogs, chicken nuggets, pizza, burgers. There are vegetables, as required by federal guidelines, but usually not fresh. “I try not to do canned veggies more than twice a week,” said Jessica Boal, nutrition director for the district of 840 students.

The district’s five schools lack functional kitchens, so her staff spends half the day unpacking deliveries of processed, pre-made food. But Boal is excited about change on the horizon. The district recently applied for state grants to put new kitchens in every school and bring in more produce.

At Mount Diablo High School, there are still hot dogs and hamburgers, but the meats are grass-fed.

“I haven’t served a chicken nugget here in two years. And the kids don’t miss it,” said Dominic Machi, who has reimagined meals for the district since he became nutrition director five years ago.

Students at the school, 96% of whom belong to a racial or ethnic minority group, say the attention to quality food sends a message of respect.

The school is in a neighborhood of fast-food strip malls. But inside its walls, “this food makes me feel more important. It makes you feel good to not eat trash food,” said Kahlanii Cravanas, 16.

Anahi Nava Flores, 17, said the meals instill a sense of self-worth. “When you go to a high-end restaurant, you go home feeling good about life. That’s what this food does.” *Reposted article from the Associated Press by Jocelyn Gecker on January 24, 2023

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raseshkumarshah1 · 4 years ago

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The Basics of Finance and Statistics

Description: Finance is actually a generic term encompassing several things regarding the study, production, management, and distribution of funds and securities. In particular, it concerns the questions of why and how an individual, business or governmental agency to obtain the funds necessary to conduct their activities and how those funds are used - often referred to as capital within the financial framework of the firm or organization. Some people and groups commonly call financial analysis "the science of management," while others prefer to call it "finance." This latter description is arguably most appropriate since the science of management is often seen as a field that applies exclusively to companies and similar organizations and cannot readily be applied to non-financial enterprises, at least not without a massive and time-consuming overhaul of the system by the relevant managers.

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Deposits are made by individuals or companies by using a promise to pay an agreed amount of principal and interest in return for an interest rate over time determined by the lender. Interest rates on deposits are tied to the federal funds rate and are subject to change on a regular basis. The major types of deposits are checking and savings accounts. Lending institutions can be categorized as either commercial or residential. Commercial lending includes such establishments as commercial banks, thrift associations, mortgage banking, and municipal lending.

The third area of study in financial planning and statistics is that of market investment strategies. One of the primary strategies for bank investing is buying securities, especially equities. Stock markets are dominated by large corporations that have a stable cash flow and adequate capital to execute their trades. Another popular area of financial investment strategies is the purchase of bonds. Bonds are long-term obligations that pay fixed interest rates at designated intervals over time. The main article on this topic, The Mortgage Guide, gives more information on the various types of bonds available.

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Finally, there is the issue of inflation. This term refers to a rise in the cost of basic public goods and services as a result of an increase in demand due to a rise in population, which in turn drives up prices. To avoid inflation, companies must aim to increase the supply of essential products and services, while reducing costs of operations and production. The main article on this topic, Inflation and Financial Management, provides more detailed information on the subject. Understanding inflation and its effects on investment and financial management is key to ensuring adequate funds for growth and current assets.

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verychildfun-blog1 · 4 years ago

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Auditing Services in Abudhabi

KGRN Auditing Services in Abudhabi ranked as top 10 audit services in Abu Dhabi, UAE

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crazylovefox-blog1 · 4 years ago

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Auditing Services in Abudhabi

Audit and Assurance Services in UAE

Auditors in Abu Dhabi

Why KGRN?

Top Auditing Services in Abudhabi enquires call @ +971 45 570 204 / Email Us : [email protected] of Auditing Services in Abudhabi Financial Control Audit services

Operational Audit Services

Internal Audit Services

How Internal Audits Help?

Internal audit services in Abu Dhabi can be sorted into the accompanying beneath types that emphasis on a particular kind of capacity performed by the business.

Compliance and Environmental Audits

This Best Auditing Services in Abudhabi assesses the Compliance with different laws, guidelines, arrangements, and techniques and assesses the effect of a business’ exercises on the earth.

Data Technology Audits

Execution Audits

Audit Services in Abu Dhabi checks whether the goals of the business are being accomplished and the business activities are working in line to accomplish these targets.

Due Diligence Audit

How Due Diligence Services Help?

Investigation Audit

What should be possible for Investigative Auditing?

Compliance and Anti-Financial Laundering

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creepingsharia · 5 years ago

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Michigan: All the meat in Dearborn schools is now halal, i.e., sharia compliant... at taxpayer expense

You may not be concerned with McDonald’s India going full sharia as noted in our last post, but America is not far behind. Is your school openly, or stealthily, serving sharia to non-Muslims?

As announced on the Dearborn schools website:

Dearborn Public Schools is overhauling its school menu this year! Students are in for a more diverse menu, more options every day, more fresh produce, and more made-from-scratch meals.

Parents will see menus that are easier to find and understand – right down to being able to look up possible allergens and even carb counts online for every dish.

The changes come after the district hired Southwest Foodservice Excellence (SFE) to help oversee the food service program. The company has provided nutritionists and chefs to help transition the district to a program with a much more expansive and fresh from scratch menu, including training the District staff on how to cook these meals. In addition, SFE will help improve food service operational, procurement and financial tracking systems and reinforce nutritional and safety protocols. SFE works in 150 school districts around the country offering several employee management models. In Dearborn, District employees will continue to run and staff our kitchens, working in close partnership with SFE.

Students will see dramatic differences in this year’s menu, staring with more made from scratch meals, promised Joshua Bain, SFE senior general manager of food service.

...

All the meat served in Dearborn will now be halal. Before some schools offered all halal, while other had a mix, which contributed to confusion about which menu was being served at which school.

...

Last school year, Dearborn Public Schools began offering free lunch and breakfast to all kindergarten through 12th grade students across the district. The meals were provided through a special community qualification program offered through the U.S.D.A. school lunch program. Dearborn served 2,050,258 school lunches last school year, up from 1.8 million the previous year. Breakfasts increased to 684,049, up from 646,901 the previous year.

...

SFE’s fees, and all other food service costs, are paid for from meal sales and federal reimbursements. General fund dollars are not used for food service.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Considering a large number of Dearborn students receive “free” meals and whatever is not covered by meal sales is funded through “federal reimbursements,” the author can spin the source of funds any way he wants. However, the source of the funding is the federal government and the federal government derives its funding from U.S. taxpayers.

You, the U.S. taxpayer, are funding sharia law in the U.S.

Check the school’s online menu - we didn’t find any typical breakfast or lunch pork products like ham, bologna, salami or bacon - forbidden in Islam. See if you find any.

Crowdfunding Terrorism Through Islamic Halal Food Certifications

#Sharia #Legal #Islam #Immigration #Education #Halal #Finance

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theculturedmarxist · 5 years ago

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The coronavirus pandemic is shutting down entire sectors of the economy and putting millions of Americans out of work, but one corner of Wall Street may find opportunity amid the carnage: private equity.

The group, which includes investment giants Blackstone, Carlyle and KKR, has a record $1.5 trillion in cash ready to deploy and has been actively seeking deals across the struggling travel, entertainment and energy industries, according to a half-dozen investment bankers who declined to be identified to speak candidly about potential clients.

"They have been waiting for this type of market dislocation," the head of mergers at a major Wall Street firm told CNBC. "I don't think they wanted something quite this bad, but they did want a pullback in valuation."

Private equity firms have been stockpiling cash in recent years as rising markets made it harder for them to invest, accumulating a record pile of "dry powder" for deals. The industry typically buys undervalued companies with borrowed money, taking them private to spruce up operations for an eventual sale. The high company valuations that kept them at bay collapsed this month amid widespread business closures and quarantines of some of the world's largest cities.

But the confluence of forces at play — an oft-maligned section of Wall Street seeking money-making opportunities in an election year and amid an unprecedented global crisis that has caused thousands of deaths — could invite greater scrutiny on the industry. Critics including Sen. Elizabeth Warren have said private equity firms enrich themselves at the expense of workers and the companies themselves, which sometimes end up in bankruptcy.

"Vulture investors, especially in private equity, are waiting in the wings to scoop up scores of struggling businesses on the cheap," tweeted Rohit Chopra, an FTC commissioner.

The first deals are likely to be investments rather than full-on takeovers, the bankers said. Transactions known as PIPEs, or private investments in public equity, are one way companies under distress can quickly raise cash. The buyer gets shares at a discount, and the new stock typically dilutes the holdings of existing shareholders.

"Private equity is trying to do PIPEs all over the place right now," said a senior investment banker at another top Wall Street firm. The targets are "every industry where stock prices" have collapsed, this person said.

One example of a PIPE made during the last crisis: In 2008, Leonard Green & Partners bought a 17% stake in Whole Foods for $425 million, an investment that yielded more than $1 billion in profit when shares recovered a few years later.

While travel, entertainment and energy companies are in obvious need for cash infusion as demand has evaporated, over the longer term, the coronavirus pandemic could favor industries including health care and home security, according to a presentation from management consultant Bain.

Don't take the money

For now, bank advisors are mostly telling corporations to ignore private equity money as lawmakers close in on a massive stimulus bill. The details of the $2 trillion bill, including the forms of relief struggling companies will get and at what terms, needs to be known first.

Another reason for a delay in deals: One banker said that private equity investors "only want to invest in the strongest companies" like makers of consumer staples, or top restaurant chains, and these companies aren't yet willing to take on expensive forms of capital.

Still, even with anticipated federal aid like potential bridge loans, for many businesses, the crisis and its aftermath will take months, if not years, to play out, and collapsing revenue and share prices make them vulnerable to takeovers.

Last week, Goldman Sachs warned its clients to expect a rise in hostile takeovers and shareholder activism, according to a presentation sent to clients. The bank told clients that a shareholder rights plan, known as a poison pill, "is the single most effective takeover protection device" the companies can use, according to Vox, which obtained the memo. A Goldman spokeswoman confirmed its authenticity.

To be sure, private equity firms are also exposed to the coronavirus-induced downturn because they already own wide swaths of corporate America, including struggling retail shopping and entertainment properties. Even before the pandemic struck, lenders were increasingly concerned about defaults from companies owned by the PE industry.

As a result, many private equity firms are in "defense mode" across their portfolios, said one investment banking head.

Barbarians at the Gate

Still, because the industry's management fees are based on investments that are locked up for years, private equity firms "should be quite resilient in the current market backdrop," JMP Securities analyst Devin Ryan said Tuesday in a research note.

Private equity became widely known in the 1980s as a generation of corporate raiders including Carl Icahn and T. Boone Pickens sought bigger and bigger deals, culminating in the $31 billion takeover of RJR Nabisco in 1989.

The industry has swollen in size since the financial crisis, adding $4 trillion in assets in the last decade, as institutional investors including pensions and insurance companies seek out higher returns in a low-yield world. Last year, shares of PE firms Apollo and Blackstone soared roughly 90% after they changed their corporate structure to take advantage of the 2017 corporate tax overhaul.

While the market for leveraged loans has fallen off in recent weeks, leverage of roughly six times a target's earnings is still available for private equity deals, according to the head of mergers quoted at the beginning of this article. Parties are having conversations about investments in hotels, restaurants, movie theaters and casinos, among other companies.

"These are fundamentally good businesses that are going to have a terrible year," the banker said. "There's an opportunity for private equity to go in there and take a meaningful stake or buy the company at a valuation they could not have gotten before."

#bernie sanders #bernie sanders for president #private equity #capitalism #economics #coronapocalypse #economic crisis 2020 #class warfare

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