#Medical Marketing Services in Warren

[vocisllc]

E-commerce enabled websites have completely changed the way of doing business and have enabled organizations to sell their goods and services over the Internet with minimal-cost overheads and higher profit margins. E-commerce enabled websites are a 24-hour representation of your business and your image.

VOCIS allows businesses to take advantage of the Internet by developing such E-commerce stores for our customers which are operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We create end-to-end E-commerce solutions especially for your business that enable you to transact and sell goods and services on-line.

The main objective of our E-commerce division is to effectively map your entire business model into an optimal E-commerce website development company Louisville enabled business model, thereby increasing overall productivity and profitability of your business. Our high-end business analysts, web architects and developers will develop E-commerce enabled websites complete with shopping cart functionality, online transaction processing, order tracking, content management, and customer information storage capability while ensuring strict information security standards.

Our ecommerce development services facilitate the transfer of information between a payment portal and the processor. We’ve done this integration successfully for ecommerce websites and can provide secure payment integration services for all major gateways including: PayPal, Google Checkout.

Our affordable, professional custom E-Commerce solution can help you to reduce your costs, save money, and boost your profits.

You can view some samples of our work:

[beardedmrbean]

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., "is at long last acknowledging that ObamaCare has increased healthcare prices" and created other unintentional consequences, the Wall Street Journal editorial board wrote Friday.

Warren, who has long supported the Affordable Care Act, the official name for ObamaCare, has recently come to an "epiphany" about "industry consolidation and price increases caused by the healthcare law," per The Journal.

A letter to the Health and Human Services Department inspector general was aimed at determining if "vertically-integrated health care companies are hiking prescription drug costs" and are "evading federal regulations."

In a bipartisan letter, she and Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., complained "that the nation’s largest health insurers are dodging ObamaCare’s medical loss ratio (MLR)," according to The Journal. 

As Warren describes in the letter, health insurers have exploited the situation, making for "sky-high prescription drug costs and excessive corporate profits."

"In functioning markets, generic drugs cost 80 to 85 percent less than their name-brand equivalents, giving patients much-needed relief from high drug costs and saving taxpayer dollars," Warren wrote. "But patients – including patients in public health care programs like Medicare and Medicaid – who either use or are compelled to use vertically integrated specialty pharmacies are not seeing this relief."

The senators continued: "By owning every link in the chain, a conglomerate like UnitedHealth Group – which includes an insurer, a PBM, a pharmacy, and physician practices – can send inflated medical payments to its pharmacy. Then, by realizing those payments on the pharmacy side – the side that charges for care – rather than the insurance side, the insurance line of business appears to be in compliance with MLR requirements, while keeping more money for itself." 

The Journal explained that despite Democrats arguing that the MLR would help patients, "the rule has spurred insurers to merge with or acquire pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), retail and specialty pharmacies, and healthcare providers." 

"This has made healthcare spending less transparent since insurers can shift profits to their affiliates by increasing reimbursements," the board wrote. 

Warren has voted against ObamaCare repeal efforts over the years but also pushed for a "Medicare for All" proposal when she ran for president in 2020.

Warren's office and HHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. 

[nifm-institute]

How to Invest in Stock Market Giants: A Guide to Top Financial Franchises

Investing in stock market giants — the large, influential companies that dominate their industries — can bring big profits and stability to your portfolio. But navigating this investment environment requires careful planning and knowledge. This guide shows you how to identify and invest in top stock market franchises. We've integrated insights from the National Institute of Financial Markets (NIFM) to help you make informed decisions.

1. Understanding Stock Market Giants

Stock market giants are large companies with a huge influence on the global financial system. These include major financial companies, multinational corporations and influential media companies. Investing in these giants offers growth potential, dividend income and diversification benefits.

2. Key Characteristics of Top Franchises

According to NIFM principles, when evaluating top franchises, consider these attributes:

Market Position: Giants are leaders in their industry, often with a broad customer base and extensive market reach.

Financial Stability: Look for companies with strong financial health, including solid revenue growth, profitability, and low debt levels.

Innovation: Companies that invest in technology and innovation often have a competitive edge and growth potential.

Management Quality: Effective leadership and strategic vision are critical for long-term success.

3. Top Stock Market Giants to Consider

Based on insights from NIFM and market analysis, here are some leading franchises that stand out:

1. Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A / BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway is a diversified conglomerate led by Warren Buffett and known for its strong financial performance and prudent corporate governance. Its broad portfolio includes investments across various industries, making it a reliable choice for investors.

2. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM)

JPMorgan Chase is one of the largest and most diversified financial institutions, offering investment banking, asset management and retail banking services. Its global reach and stability make it a key player in the financial sector.

3. Apple Inc. (AAPL)

Technology giant Apple is known for its innovation and strong brand loyalty. Its diverse product range and large cash reserves provide the best conditions for long-term growth and stability.

4. Microsoft Corporation (MSFT)

Microsoft is a leading technology company with a strong presence in cloud computing, software, and hardware. Consistent revenue growth and strategic investments in technology make the company a solid investment choice.

5. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)

Johnson & Johnson is a major player in the healthcare sector,  known for a diversified range of products including pharmaceuticals, medical devices and consumer healthcare products. Its strong financial performance and product innovation contribute to its attractiveness as an investment.

4. Investment Strategies According to NIFM

To effectively invest in these giants, NIFM suggests the following strategies:

Diversification: Avoid putting all your resources into a single company or sector. Diversify across different industries and asset classes to manage risk.

Fundamental Analysis: Conduct thorough research on a company’s financial statements, market position, and growth prospects. Use NIFM’s tools and resources for in-depth analysis.

Long-Term Approach: Stock market giants often provide steady growth over time. Adopt a long-term investment horizon to benefit from compound growth and market stability.

Risk Management: Implement strategies to mitigate risk, such as setting stop-loss orders and regularly reviewing your investment portfolio.

5. Utilizing NIFM Resources

The National Institute of Financial Markets (NIFM) offers a wealth of resources and tools to help investors make informed decisions. Improve your investment strategy with educational materials, market analysis tools and expert insights. NIFM's advice provides valuable perspective on market trends and investment opportunities.

6. Conclusion

Investing in stock market giants can be a worthwhile strategy that offers both stability and growth potential. By focusing on top franchises with strong market positions and financial strength, and  applying NIFM's investment principles, you can make informed decisions that will achieve your financial goals.

[fadingsunsjvj]

Elizabeth Warren wants cannabis market with "fairness and competition" (Newsletter: July 15, 2024) - Marijuana Moment

[nickyysharmi]

Unlocking Healthcare: NBFCs' Pioneering Role in Medical Financing

In the complex world of healthcare financing, traditional banking mechanisms frequently prove inadequate in meeting the urgent needs of individuals grappling with medical emergencies. In response to this gap, Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) have emerged as dynamic alternatives, offering specialized financial products precisely tailored to address the diverse needs of patients. Let's delve deeper into how NBFCs are reshaping medical financing and facilitating access to quality healthcare.

Understanding NBFCs: Innovators in Specialized Finance

Often overshadowed by traditional banking institutions, NBFCs play a pivotal role in the financial landscape by providing indispensable services that do not fall under conventional banking regulations. Unlike banks, NBFCs operate without banking licenses, yet they effectively address critical gaps in the financial market, particularly in specialized sectors such as medical financing.

Also Read: How Digitalization Has Empowered Citizens From Small Towns?

Meeting the Need for Specialized Medical Financing

Medical emergencies can strike suddenly, leaving individuals burdened with overwhelming bills and financial stress. Conventional loans may not offer timely solutions to cover healthcare expenses. NBFCs step in to bridge this gap by offering specialized medical loans crafted to deliver immediate relief. With flexible repayment options, individuals can access necessary treatment without the added worry of financial strain.

Tailoring Loan Products to Diverse Healthcare Needs

Recognizing the wide variance in healthcare expenses, NBFCs offer an array of loan products meticulously tailored to different medical scenarios. Whether it involves financing elective surgeries or covering ongoing treatment costs, NBFCs provide personalized solutions aimed at alleviating financial pressure and ensuring individuals receive the requisite care they need.

Streamlining Approval Processes for Timely Access to Care

In moments of medical crisis, time is of the essence. NBFCs acknowledge the urgency of healthcare needs and expedite their loan approval processes accordingly. Unlike traditional banks with cumbersome procedures, NBFCs offer swift approvals, empowering individuals to expeditiously secure funds for necessary medical interventions.

Promoting Financial Accessibility Through Competitive Interest Rates

Affordability is paramount in healthcare financing. NBFCs endeavor to make medical funding accessible to all by offering competitive interest rates. By keeping borrowing costs reasonable, NBFCs empower individuals to manage medical expenses without succumbing to a cycle of debt, thus ensuring that healthcare remains within reach for everyone.

Bridging Disparities in Healthcare Access Through Financial Inclusion

In a diverse nation like India, access to quality healthcare remains a formidable challenge for many communities. NBFCs play a pivotal role in bridging this gap by extending financial services to underserved populations. Whether it's in remote rural areas with limited banking infrastructure or urban centers grappling with financial constraints, NBFCs ensure that healthcare remains accessible to all segments of society.

Expert Validation: Recognizing the Vital Role of NBFCs

Even revered investor Warren Buffett acknowledges the significance of NBFCs in the financial landscape. In his annual letter to shareholders, Buffett underscores the importance of specialized financial institutions like NBFCs in catering to niche markets and fostering economic growth. His endorsement further emphasizes the pivotal role NBFCs play in revolutionizing medical financing and enhancing healthcare access.

Empowering Informed Healthcare Decisions

Beyond merely providing financial aid, NBFCs empower individuals to take charge of their healthcare journey. Through transparent terms, flexible repayment options, and personalized assistance, NBFCs enable patients to make informed decisions regarding their medical needs without compromising on quality or affordability.

Also Read: Leadership In Action: Amit Shah And Narendra Modi's Impact On Security And Business Environment

Conclusion: Driving Access to Quality Healthcare

In a nation where healthcare expenses frequently pose a significant financial burden, NBFCs emerge as catalysts for change. Through their innovative financial products and customer-centric approach, NBFCs are reshaping the landscape of medical financing, making quality healthcare accessible to all. With their unwavering commitment to financial inclusion and innovation, NBFCs stand as unsung heroes in unlocking access to healthcare for every individual, irrespective of their financial circumstances.

[digitalsanshta]

Top debt-free stocks

Top debt-free stocks

Investing in Top debt-free stocks can be an attractive option for investors seeking stability and security in their portfolios. Debt-free companies are those that have little to no long-term debt on their balance sheets, which can indicate strong financial health and resilience, especially during economic downturns. Here are some top debt-free stocks worth considering:

Apple Inc. (AAPL): With a robust cash position and consistent revenue streams from its diverse product lineup, Apple stands out as a debt-free tech giant. Its loyal customer base and innovative products contribute to its financial strength.

Microsoft Corporation (MSFT): Another tech behemoth, Microsoft boasts a debt-free status thanks to its thriving cloud computing business, solid software sales, and strategic acquisitions. Its strong balance sheet and steady growth make it a favorite among investors.

Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL): Google's parent company, Alphabet, is renowned for its dominant position in online advertising, cloud services, and other tech ventures. Its debt-free status reflects its prudent financial management and sustainable business model.

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): A stalwart in the healthcare sector, Johnson & Johnson is debt-free and known for its diverse portfolio of consumer healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. Its global presence and commitment to innovation contribute to its financial stability.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.A/BRK.B): Led by Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway is a conglomerate with investments in various industries, including insurance, utilities, and consumer goods. Its lack of debt and solid cash reserves make it a safe haven for investors.

Investing in Top debt-free stocks like these can provide peace of mind and potential for long-term growth, offering a cushion against market volatility and economic uncertainties. However, it's essential to conduct thorough research and consider your investment goals and risk tolerance before making any investment decisions.

[tkkansaltancyventures]

OPPORTUNITIES AND EXITS IN THE INDIAN VC LANDSCAPE

Introduction:

The Indian Venture Capital (VC) landscape is undergoing a transformative phase, propelled by a surge in entrepreneurial vigor and an increasing appetite for innovation. As we navigate through this evolving ecosystem, we will dissect the opportunities and challenges shaping the Indian VC landscape, drawing insights from both local dynamics and global benchmarks that influence its trajectory.

I. Opportunities in the Indian VC Landscape:

Booming Startup Ecosystem:

The success story of Indian edtech unicorn BYJU'S showcases the booming startup ecosystem. Fueled by a young demographic and a government fostering entrepreneurship through initiatives like 'Startup India,' BYJU'S has not only attracted significant VC funding but has also become a global player in the edtech space.

Tech and Innovation Hub:

Bengaluru-based biotech startup Pandorum Technologies exemplifies India's role as a tech and innovation hub. With groundbreaking work in 3D bioprinting, Pandorum has attracted attention not only from Indian investors but also from global venture capitalists seeking opportunities in cutting-edge technologies.

Consumer Market Growth:

India's diverse consumer market has been a catalyst for startups like Zomato. As a leading food delivery platform, Zomato has successfully tapped into the growing demand for innovative solutions. Its global recognition and substantial funding highlight the attractiveness of India's consumer market for venture capital investments.

Government Initiatives:

The Indian government's 'Make in India' initiative has spurred growth across sectors, exemplified by the success of the electric vehicle startup Ather Energy. With support from government policies promoting clean energy, Ather Energy has secured significant funding and positioned itself as a key player in the sustainable transportation sector.

Global Investor Interest:

Indian fintech unicorn Paytm has garnered substantial global investor interest. Backed by investors like Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway and Japan's SoftBank, Paytm's success underscores India's appeal for international venture capitalists seeking exposure to high-growth markets.

II. Challenges in the Indian VC Landscape:

Valuation Pressures:

Valuation pressures in the Indian VC landscape are exemplified by the challenges faced by food delivery giant Swiggy. While successful in raising capital, Swiggy navigates the delicate balance between aggressive growth strategies and maintaining realistic valuations amid intense competition, showcasing the challenge of valuation management.

Kansaltancy Ventures is a Global Investment Management & IB firm into Venture Capital, Debt, M&A, Consulting & Virtual CFO with a network of 450+ VC Funds, Family Offices, Banks & Financial Institutions. Check https://www.kansaltancy.com/

Exit Challenges:

Indian startup OYO Rooms faces exit challenges as it ventures into the global market. While OYO has secured significant funding, achieving successful exits in international markets poses hurdles, emphasizing the complexity of navigating diverse global landscapes for Indian startups and their investors.

Regulatory Complexity:

Regulatory complexities impact the Indian healthcare startup Portea Medical. As a provider of home healthcare services, Portea operates in a sector with evolving regulations. Navigating these complexities requires a nuanced approach, highlighting the regulatory challenges that can affect investments in certain sectors.

Infrastructure Gaps:

Indian logistics startup Delhivery grapples with infrastructure gaps as it seeks to revolutionize the logistics and e-commerce delivery landscape. Infrastructure limitations, especially in last-mile connectivity, pose challenges that investors need to consider when evaluating the scalability of ventures in this sector.

Talent Acquisition and Retention:

The hyper-competitive talent landscape in India is illustrated by the challenges faced by ride-hailing giant Ola. Attracting and retaining skilled professionals is crucial for Ola's growth, showcasing the importance of human capital in sustaining the momentum of startups and their investor-backed initiatives.

III. Strategies for Success in the Indian VC Landscape:

Sector-Specific Expertise:

Venture capitalists focusing on the Indian market can draw inspiration from the success of logistics startup Rivigo. By specializing in the logistics sector and implementing innovative technology, Rivigo has attracted substantial funding, emphasizing the importance of sector-specific expertise.

Collaboration and Co-Investing:

Co-investing strategies are exemplified by the collaboration between Indian startups Flipkart and Myntra. Acquired by Flipkart, Myntra's success showcases how collaborative ventures can not only mitigate risks but also enhance the overall success of investments in the dynamic Indian e-commerce sector.

Long-Term Vision:

The long-term vision of Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart is a testament to sustainable success. Overcoming early challenges, Flipkart's commitment to its long-term vision culminated in a successful acquisition by Walmart, emphasizing the importance of patience and perseverance for both entrepreneurs and investors.

Tushar Kansal CEO of Kansaltancy Ventures ( https://www.kansaltancy.com/ ) offers a range of services to startups,encompassing funding assistance , consulting, investment management, and financial documentation

Impactful Government Advocacy:

Government advocacy is illustrated by the success of the Indian space startup Pixxel. With support from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and favorable government policies, Pixxel has garnered global attention, showcasing how impactful government advocacy can contribute to the success of ventures in emerging sectors.

Diversification Strategies:

Diversification strategies are evident in the success of Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries, led by Mukesh Ambani. By diversifying into sectors like telecommunications and digital services, Reliance has not only attracted significant investments but has also positioned itself as a key player in India's evolving business landscape.

Conclusion:

The Indian Venture Capital landscape is a dynamic terrain with a multitude of opportunities and challenges. Drawing insights from both local successes and global benchmarks, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs can navigate this landscape strategically. By fostering sector-specific expertise, embracing collaborative approaches, maintaining a long-term vision, advocating for supportive government policies, and implementing diversification strategies, stakeholders in the Indian VC ecosystem can unlock the immense potential for growth and innovation.

About Tushar Kansal, Kansaltancy Ventures:

Founder/ CEO of Kansaltancy Ventures - Tushar is an accomplished professional, a "Thought Leader" & "Thought Influencer".

Over the years, Tushar has supported Startups & Growth-stage companies in diverse sectors. Tushar is a Venture Advisor with a Canadian VC Fund & has invested in over 350 investments in more than 60 countries. His expert opinion is often sought by leading Business news channels and publications like CNN-News18, VCTV (Venture Capital Tv), Business World, Inc42, TechThirsty and Digital Market Asia. He has done 300+ talks - Just check on YouTube and Google. He is connected with 450+ investors globally, picking up global deals while being sector agnostic. His ticket size is USD 1-50 million.

He can be reached at tk@kansaltancy.com or on below social media

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tusharkansal/

Personal website: https://tusharkansal.com/

Blog: https://www.induschurning.com/

Company profiles –

https://www.linkedin.com/company/kansaltancyventures

[trendprospector]

Is UnitedHealth Group's stock a good investment?

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, an American multinational managed healthcare and insurance company headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota. In this article, we will explore the remarkable journey of UnitedHealth Group, from its inception to its current position as a global leader in the healthcare industry. Shaping the Future of Healthcare UnitedHealth Group traces its roots back to 1977 when it emerged as a subsidiary of PacifiCare Health Systems. Recognizing the need for a transformative approach to healthcare, the company set out on a mission to revolutionize the industry. In 1995, UnitedHealth Group took a significant step forward by becoming an independent publicly traded company, marking the beginning of its ascent to greatness. Trust and Confidence As a publicly traded company, UnitedHealth Group's stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol UNH. The company's outstanding reputation and commitment to excellence have garnered the trust and confidence of investors worldwide. Notably, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has recognized the potential of UnitedHealth Group, acquiring approximately 10% of the company's shares. Redefining Healthcare UnitedHealth Group's relentless pursuit of innovation and excellence has led to the development of several groundbreaking initiatives that have transformed the healthcare landscape. Let's delve into some of their notable ventures: OptumInsight: Empowering Healthcare Organizations with Data Analytics and Consulting OptumInsight, a prominent division of UnitedHealth Group, focuses on harnessing the power of data analytics and consulting to help healthcare organizations enhance the quality and efficiency of care delivery. By leveraging advanced technologies and cutting-edge methodologies, OptumInsight equips healthcare providers with the necessary insights to make informed decisions and drive positive patient outcomes. Revolutionizing Pharmacy Benefit Management OptumRx, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, is at the forefront of revolutionizing pharmacy benefit management. By leveraging their expertise and innovative solutions, OptumRx enables employers and health plans to effectively manage prescription drug costs. Through strategic partnerships, formulary management, and cost-effective strategies, OptumRx empowers individuals to access vital medications while ensuring affordability and quality care. Empowering Individuals for a Healthier Tomorrow UnitedHealth Group's commitment to comprehensive healthcare is exemplified by OptumHealth. This dynamic division offers a wide range of health services aimed at empowering individuals to take control of their well-being. From tailored wellness programs and chronic disease management to compassionate home health care, OptumHealth strives to improve the overall health and quality of life for individuals across the globe. A Testament to Success UnitedHealth Group's exceptional performance and unwavering commitment to excellence have propelled it to become one of the most valuable companies in the world. As of March 8, 2023, the company's market capitalization soared above an astounding $400 billion. UnitedHealth Group's influence and significance are further underscored by its inclusion in both the prestigious Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 index. UnitedHealth Group Leading the Way In conclusion, UnitedHealth Group stands as a beacon of innovation, excellence, and customer-centric healthcare. From its humble beginnings as a subsidiary to its current position as a global leader, UnitedHealth Group has consistently redefined the boundaries of healthcare. Through initiatives like OptumInsight, OptumRx, and OptumHealth, the company continues to shape the future of healthcare, making a positive impact on the lives of millions. With an unwavering commitment to improving the health and well-being of its customers, UnitedHealth Group sets the standard for excellence in the healthcare industry. Read the full article

[crazycollinmitchell]

Artificial Intelligence: A Brief History

Ancient Greek mythology included intelligent robots and artificial entities for the first time. The creation of syllogism and its application of deductive reasoning by Aristotle was a watershed point in humanity's search to comprehend its own intelligence. Despite its long and deep roots, artificial intelligence as we know it today has only been around for a century. The following is a quick rundown of some of the most significant AI events.

1940s * "A Logical Calculus of Ideas Immanent in Nervous Activity," by Warren McCullough and Walter Pitts, is published in 1943. The first mathematical model for developing a neural network was proposed in this publication. (1949) Donald Hebb offers the hypothesis that brain pathways are formed by experiences and that connections between neurons become stronger the more they are used in his book The Organization of Behavior: A Neuropsychological Theory. In AI, Hebbian learning remains an essential model.

1950s Alan Turing publishes "Computing Machinery and Intelligence" in 1950, suggesting the Turing Test, a method for detecting whether or not a machine is intelligent. Marvin Minsky and Dean Edmonds, Harvard undergraduates, create SNARC, the first neural network computer, in 1950. Claude Shannon publishes "Programming a Computer for Playing Chess" in 1950.

*

The "Three Laws of Robotics" are published by Isaac Asimov in 1950.

*

Arthur Samuel creates a checkers self-learning software in 1952.

(1954) In the Georgetown-IBM machine translation experiment, 60 carefully selected Russian sentences are mechanically translated into English.

At the "Dartmouth Summer Research Project on Artificial Intelligence" in 1956, the term "artificial intelligence" is developed. The conference, which established the scope and goals of AI and was led by John McCarthy, is largely regarded as the genesis of artificial intelligence as we know it today.

*

Allen Newell and Herbert Simon exhibit the first reasoning program, Logic Theorist (LT), in 1956.

John McCarthy creates Lisp, an AI programming language, and publishes his article "Programs with Common Sense" in 1958. The paper proposed the Advice Taker, a complete AI system capable of learning from experience in the same way as humans do.

* In 1959, Allen Newell, Herbert Simon, and J.C. Shaw created the General Problem Solver (GPS), a computer program that mimics human problem-solving.

*

Herbert Gelernter created the Geometry Theorem Prover program in 1959.

*

While working at IBM in 1959, Arthur Samuel coined the phrase "machine learning."

The MIT Artificial Intelligence Project was started by John McCarthy and Marvin Minsky in 1959.

1960s

*

John McCarthy establishes the Stanford AI Lab in 1963.

* 1966) The Automatic Language Processing Advisory Committee (ALPAC) report by the U.S. government details the lack of progress in machine translations research, a major Cold War initiative with the promise of automatic and instantaneous translation of Russian. The ALPAC report leads to the cancellation of all government-funded MT projects.

* (1969) The first successful expert systems are developed in DENDRAL, a XX program, and MYCIN, designed to diagnose blood infections, are created at Stanford.

1970s

* (1972) The logic programming language PROLOG is created.

* 1973) The British government releases the "Lighthill Report," which details AI research failures and results in significant funding cuts for AI initiatives. (1974-1980) Dissatisfaction with AI progress leads to significant DARPA reductions in research grants. Artificial intelligence funding is drying up, and research is stagnating, according to the ALPAC study and the previous year's "Lighthill Report." The "First AI Winter" occurs during this time.

1980s

R1 (also known as XCON), the first successful commercial expert system, is developed by Digital Equipment Corporations in 1980. R1, which is designed to configure orders for new computer systems, kicks off a decade-long investment boom in expert systems, essentially ending the first "AI Winter."

*

The ambitious Fifth Generation Computer Systems project is launched by Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1982. The purpose of FGCS is to create a platform for AI development and supercomputer-like performance.

1983) In response to Japan's FGCS, the US government develops the Strategic Computing Initiative, which will fund advanced computing and artificial intelligence research through DARPA. (1985) Companies invest over a billion dollars a year on expert systems, and an entire sector called the Lisp machine market emerges to support them. Symbolics and Lisp Machines Inc. are two companies that make customized computers that run on the AI programming language Lisp.

1987-1993) As computing technology advanced, cheaper alternatives arose, and the Lisp machine market crashed in 1987, kicking off the "Second AI Winter." Expert systems became too expensive to operate and update during this time, and they finally fell out of favor.

1990s

During the Gulf War in 1991, US forces used DART, an automated logistical planning and scheduling program.

(1992) Japan cancels the FGCS project in 1992, alleging failing to reach the grandiose targets set a decade before.

DARPA terminated the Strategic Computing Initiative in 1993, after spending over $1 billion and falling short of expectations. (1997) World chess champion Gary Kasparov is defeated by IBM's Deep Blue in the 2000s

*

(2005) The DARPA Grand Challenge is won by STANLEY, a self-driving automobile.

2005: The United States military began to invest in self-driving robots such as Boston Dynamics' "Big Dog" and iRobot's "PackBot."

*

(2008) Google develops advancements in speech recognition and makes the feature available via its iPhone app.

2010-2014

*

On Jeopardy!, IBM's Watson beats out the competition.

(2011) Apple's iOS operating system introduces Siri, an AI-powered virtual assistant.

* In 2012, Andrew Ng, the inventor of the Google Brain Deep Learning project, fed 10 million YouTube videos as a training set to a neural network using deep learning methods. The neural network learns to recognize a cat without being informed what a cat is, ushering in a new era of deep learning funding and neural networks. (2014) Google's self-driving car passes a state driving test for the first time. From 2015 through 2021, Amazon's Alexa, a virtual home, will be available.

*

(2016) World champion Go player Lee Sedol is defeated by Google DeepMind's AlphaGo. The ancient Chinese game's complexity was seen as a significant barrier to overcome in AI.

* (2016) Hanson Robotics develops Sophia, a humanoid robot capable of facial recognition, verbal conversation, and facial expression, as the world's first "robot citizen."

*

(2018) Google releases BERT, a natural language processing engine that lowers hurdles to machine learning applications' translation and interpretation.

*

(2018) Waymo announces the Waymo One service, which allows consumers in the Phoenix metro region to order a pick-up from one of the company's self-driving cars.

* (2020) Baidu makes its LinearFold AI algorithm available to scientific and medical teams working on a vaccine during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic's early phases. The system can anticipate the virus's RNA sequence in just 27 seconds, which is 120 times faster than prior methods.

[vocisllc]

Medical Billing And Revenue Cycle Management We provide personal one on one billing services for your office and save you big $$$. VOCIS has extensive experience in providing comprehensive billing services, Medical coder Garwood, NJ for just about every specialty. We provide end-to-end medical billing services, including following up on pending claims, initiating collections, finding out reasons for denials of claims, and tracking outstanding receivable balances. With a relentless commitment to providing high-quality and cost-effective billing and coding services to healthcare providers around the nation, VOCIS promises a higher level of service and value, as compared to any of our competition.

VOCIS Medical billing provider Mountainside NJ can and will

Increase your cash flow Eliminate your employee expenses Decrease your office paperwork Reduce your hardware and software upgrading and updating cost Reduce your telephone and postage expenses Save your valuable time Increase revenue through improved collection process Give you the confidence your practice needs to grow Our services backed by our 24 X 7 support operation, ensure that your questions are addressed any time of the day or night with a 100% commitment towards excellence in service. References of clients will be provided on request.

[jasonnylaura]

How can I get my money back from a binary options scam?

A binary option is similar to a normal (“vanilla”) option, where you pay a premium for the option to buy or sell an instrument at a fixed price (the exercise price – see box below for a detailed explanation). Profits or losses on vanilla options can be small or large, depending on the difference between the “exercise” price and the price of the underlying asset.

Unlike normal options, however, binary options do not fluctuate in value. Either the option is “in the money” on expiry – in which case it pays out – or it isn’t, in which case it expires worthless. Because of this binary nature, many shysters see an opportunity in selling binary options that are highly unlikely to end up in the money. They get to collect the hefty premiums, but never have to pay out.

Don’t be suckered by wild success stories

The media is part of the problem. Journalists, particularly those working at online content mills, are so desperate for content that might “go viral” and garner lots of hits that they’re quite willing to run a story with a click-bait headline without doing much (if any) background research. Take the recent tale of a 16-year-old “self-taught currency trader”, who apparently turned £150 into £60,000 in less than a year. This dubious success story was widely shared on social media without many questions being asked. Yet if we take those returns and calculate them on an annual basis, this 16-year-old’s return for the year would be 39,900%. That would literally make him the best trader of all time. So how did a 16-year-old school kid learn how to outsmart the best minds and machines on the planet, just by watching YouTube videos? As nobody asked him, sadly we’ll never know.

There was also the very recent example of Giovani , a 20-year-old medical student in Plymouth who claimed to be making six figures a month from foreign exchange trading. One major newspaper reported this month that more than 1,000 investors were sucked in by Singh’s Instagram account, which showed him posing in designer clothes with expensive cars at plush holiday resorts. Those who signed up for his services found that their trading accounts were emptied on Christmas Eve and the FCA has added him to its warning list of unauthorised traders (after the fact, unfortunately). But what the paper doesn’t mention in this particular piece is that Singh’s “success” was first reported on its own website in breathless, no-questions-asked fashion, in November, just a month before it all went horribly wrong.

This aggravates me because, as a genuine trader, I work hard to make profits and I know what it takes. I also don’t like to see people being conned. So I want to unpack this story for you, so that you don’t end up falling for one of these scams or something similar.

How does the binary-options scam work?

There is a reason why so many gentlemen (it’s usually men) in their early 20s now apparently own private jets, luxury cars and slick watches. It just may not be because they’ve cracked the financial markets as they claim. As Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett’s business partner, puts it: “Show me the incentive and I will show you the outcome”. There are many reputable financial-trading firms and brokerages out there. However, many – ones that I would describe as “bucket shops” – are not so reputable. Spread-betting firms typically make their money on the spread (the gap between the buying price and the selling price) and the commission paid by their clients. So their business model does not benefit from losing traders.

However, many brokers know that a losing trader can be very profitable – for them. If you know that 90% of traders will lose all of their money within six months, what do you do? Simply take the other side of the trade. When Johnny Punter buys, the broker sells. And when Johnny Punter wishes to cover his losses, the broker buys and collects the profit.

Unprofitable traders are so profitable for many a bucket shop that they will pay handsome introduction fees for new traders. Therein lies the incentive. It doesn’t matter if you’re actually making any money from your trading – if you can get even a £20 incentive for every trader who signs up with the minimum deposit of a few hundred pounds, then you only need to sign up 1,000 people a month to make £20,000. And the reality is that these brokers aren’t offering just £20 for new clients – they’re offering hundreds. I know they do, because I’ve been offered it.

The Pied Pipers of foreign exchange

If you’re not a successful trader, the next best thing is to fake it. A quick Google search reveals that you can rent a Lamborghini Huracan for four days at a price of £2,500. This is fairly steep – but you can rent a Lamborghini Gallardo for two days for £1,590. Two days is more than enough for a wannabe forex guru to take hundreds of snaps in different outfits, parking in fancy residential estates that they don’t live in and overall giving the impression over several months that they really do own a six-figure supercar. And of course, there are plenty of places to hunt down a cheap, out-of-season stay at a luxurious five-star hotel, where they can do exactly the same. Then they just pop it all on social media and wait for eager punters to line up to sign up with their “exclusive broker”.

Many brokers offer demo accounts, in which case the “guru” can just repeatedly put on ten trades in a row, come out with winners, then screenshot it and post it on Instagram. If even that is too difficult a task, then it’s a simple matter to fake the picture instead using image manipulation software and post that. With “evidence” of their success sorted out, the trader then promotes their wares with promises of “signals” that have 90% success rates, alongside key phrases such as “no risk” and “guaranteed profit”. Most informed investors realize that if a magic money-making machine did exist it would be owned by a private hedge fund, never to see the light of day. So anyone who actually believes that a 20-year-old student could pull this off is ideal bait – inexperienced, naive and potentially desperate.

The scam also succeeds because of how victims feel when they finally realize they’ve been suckered. Most don’t tell anyone because they feel foolish and want to save face. But also, they know (or rapidly learn) that there is very little the police can do. The banning of the sale of binary options was a step in the right direction. But now the traders of Instagram simply give away their “signals” to trade these options for free. And many bucket-shop brokers are overseas – often they’re not even doing anything illegal in the country in which they operate (although equally often the traders in question will imply that the bucket shop is a reputable UK-based and regulated institution, or lie flat out).

There are even operators who will manipulate the punter’s account in order to make them believe they are winning and then call on them to deposit more money. Then, when the client finally wishes to withdraw, the company goes cold and refers them to the small print, in which it says that the client must trade through an impossible amount of money just to be allowed to withdraw. Other brokers allow the affiliate to widen the spread to maximize their own commission and increase losses for their clients. We look at ways to avoid being scammed in the box below, but in short, as always – if it looks too good to be true, it is.

Can I trust Binary option scam reviews?

Is there a scam behind "Forex Binary Options" trading?

How do I go about recovering money from a Forex scam?

What is the best way to get my money back from an internet scam?

How can I recover my funds on binary options?

How can I get back my lost money from a scammer?

Alienmanhackers.xyz assists individuals and corporates around the world. They are able to use tools which are available in both UK and foreign jurisdictions to secure the best outcome for clients. With the help of a friend was able to recover the sum of 42,000GBP which was stolen under the pretense of investment.

[bakersfielddui]

How to Hire a DUI Lawyer You Can Trust?

Bakersfield DUI Attorney If you've got been charged with a DUI in Asian nation or Mason, Ohio, or in Associate in Nursing of the encompassing counties, I perceive what you're probing right now. most is at stake - and it is shuddery and confusing trying to urge through the mire of data on the market regarding what to try to next. The majority who are charged with a DUI Lawyer have several questions. They often have an understanding that they must rent a lawyer however don’t extremely acumen to travel about it.

The primary STEPS IN HIRING A DUI professional

1. the primary issue you'll be able to do is to put in writing down your most pressing questions. this cannot solely assist you organize your thoughts; however, it'll help you target your issue. you may notice that simply doing that alone will bring you a larger sense of peace, and help you feel a lot of management over your situation.

2. Then begin business lawyers who indicate a DUI specialty on their websites, and raise them your questions.

Our professionals at Dearie, Fischer & Mathews are happy to supply a free 15-20-minute phone consultation. in this conversation, our lawyer can learn a lot of regarding the main points of your case, offer you a thought of however he or she will be able to facilitate you, and discuss the fees for our services. If you're business around to many totally different attorneys, you may need to possess your queries and many alternative things handy to create the foremost of it slow and energy in learning about everyone Bakersfield DUI Attorney.

3. If you’ve determined to call Dearie, Fischer & Mathews, contact United States of America through our website or offer our offices a decision. In Lebanon, Warren County or pantryman County, call our office.

HAVE the main points OF THE CHARGE pronto on the market

once you call us for an initial consultation, we tend to perceive that you simply will have several queries for our attorneys. we are going to even have questions for you thus we will appraise and higher understand your case. it'll be useful if you've got the subsequent info readily available so as to create the most effective use of your time.

1. Have your price tag or citation handy.

 2. Be ready to let the professional apprehend that municipality or county you were in once the arrest occurred.

3. If you've got been scheduled for a court appearance, be prepared with the date, time, and court wherever you have been ordered to appear.

4. Be prepared to debate the main points of the arrest: why were you force over, what queries were you asked, however did you respond, what tests were administered, and the other details of the arrest. you'll be able to be assured complete confidentiality and speak honestly with the lawyer regarding these details.

COMMON queries OUR DUI shoppers raise

I perceive that you simply can have several questions once you are charged with a DUI. Below are a number of the common questions DUI clients ask, and my answers. I hope these answers are going to be useful to you.

1. Am I going to jail?

The primary issue we tend to neutralize each case is to judge the proof and are available up with a technique to beat the charges. that's forever the most goal, and that we fight terribly laborious to urge thereto point. our greatest strategy is to 1st get all the evidence within the case, together with any audio and video recordings of the stop. we tend to then evaluate the state’s evidence, and confirm your rights were protected throughout the traffic stop.  If we will demonstrate a haul with the state’s evidence, we will build motions to get some or all of the evidence thrown out. We tend to will also develop our own proof to supply a defense to the charge. we frequently see success at this stage, and lots of times we tend to feel able to} beat the fees.  This stage needs our professional to figure closely with the consumer in developing a fortunate defense strategy. Sometimes, in spite of all our efforts, we aren't able to get the charges thrown out. For a primary time, DUI/OVI, if you rent me, you may probably not get to do jail time. though the OVI statute carries a compulsory minimum 3-day jail sentence, I can typically hash out another thereto jail time with the prosecutor. If you’ve been charged with OVI multiple times, your possibilities of getting to serve jail time increase. However, several times, even within the most troublesome cases, we will negotiate a result that doesn't embody jail time.

2. What quantity expertise does one have defensive DUI charges?

I actually have been active criminal defines, together with DUI/OVI charges for over twenty-five years. I’m terribly aware of the court system in Lebanon, Warren County, pantryman County, and all of southwest Ohio.

3. Can my license be suspended?

If you've got been charged with DUI, there's smart likelihood your license is already below suspension. That’s as a result of in most cases, you either blew over the limit otherwise you refused to require the Breathalyzer test. In each of these cases, an on the spot license suspension are going to be obligatory (although we will typically get restricted driving privileges for you).

However, it's attainable that your license won't be suspended immediately. In some cases, the officer might ask you to submit a blood or piss sample. The samples are going to be sent off to a science laboratory for take a look anting. If, once the test comes back, it's determined that you simply were over the legal limit, your license might then be suspended. In some uncommon cases, a litigant is also charged with OVI despite the fact that he or she passed the Breathalyzer or urine test.

4. I've detected of DUI. however, what's OVI?

Below Ohio law, the official name of a drunk driving charge is OVI - operational Vehicle below the Influence of Alcohol or medication (Ohio Revised Code 4511.19). The offense remains most typically spoken as DUI - “Driving below the Influence”. The Ohio statute covers quite simply driving with an excessive amount of alcohol within the system. the number of alternative drugs is additionally considered, together with marijuana.   (More info on the distinction between DUI and OVI here.) you'll even have detected of OVAUC - operational a Vehicle when Underage Consumption

5. Does one have expertise defensive DUI charges for CDL holders?

Yes. Our lawyers acknowledge the seriousness of a DUI charge for individuals whose living depends on their business Driver’s License. we tend to positively attend bat for skilled drivers to save lots of their CDL.

[luxurysuccess1010]

Five Myths About The News Business

'Snaps' pay for newsrooms.

"The more site hits an article gets, the more cash it can make from sponsors," one industry watcher wrote in 2018. "This dynamic drives stories that get higher traffic as opposed to greater stories." Even today, Google regularly promotes the estimation of the traffic it ships off news distributers from search.

Be that as it may, as internet publicizing advanced to zero in on information and individualized focusing on, a lion's share of those dollars began to stream to Google and Facebook. In addition, tech organizations have come to overwhelm the entirety of the frameworks for selling and conveying advertisements, with the end goal that in any event, when perusers go straightforwardly to a news site, a large part of the promoting income goes to computerized stages and go-betweens. Studies demonstrate that distributers can get as meager as 50 pennies for each dollar spent on promoting on their locales. EMarketer announced that "almost 33% of US promoter spending on automatic presentation advertisements goes to tech and programming mediators." This is an essential explanation distributers have turned to underscore memberships and different types of direct peruser income.

Memberships alone will pay for news coverage.

Tech analyst Ben Thompson has composed that for neighborhood news distributions, "everything must beginning with the plan of action, of which there is just a single decision — memberships." Likewise, media researchers Jennifer Hoewe and Brett Sherrick as of late stated, "If Americans need to get high-caliber, precise data, they should be happy to pay for it."

Furthermore, numerous distributers are effectively pulling in new memberships. The New York Times as of late passed 6 million advanced endorsers, The Washington Post has around 3 million and there has been remarkable development in membership pamphlets. However, there are limits on perusers' ability to pay for all the reporting they require. "Membership exhaustion" is a wonder that obliges the number of sources perusers are happy to pay for. There are likewise numerous wellsprings of announcing — strikingly nearby TV and business radio — that have no set of experiences of direct crowd uphold, even as their substance moves on the web. In addition, there should be genuine worries about "data disparity" if extremely significant news-casting moves behind paywalls and gets unavailable to expansive portions of people in general. In the event that boundless quality reporting is to endure — and contact the individuals who need it most — distributers should get more monetary get back from the tech stages that control admittance to perusers. Music has demonstrated that it is conceivable to have a monetarily reasonable business that additionally makes content generally accessible.

Newsrooms rely monetarily upon inclusion of Trump.

Its an obvious fact that computerized memberships have expanded for some distributers during Trump's residency, yet connection doesn't really rise to causation. There are solid motivations to accept that the public's general interest in news isn't subject to one man. To begin with, the expansion in supporters at some bigger news distributers was brief, and numerous distributers — particularly more modest nearby sources — saw no critical change in endorsers identified with Trump.

In the interim, however the computerized news crowd expanded 12 percent somewhere in the range of 2015 and 2016 gratitude to the "Trump knock," the development has since eased back, staying up with the previous decade. Neighborhood news distributers have likewise observed expansions in computerized endorsers, however generally little of their substance centers around the president.

Very rich people will spare the news business.

In 2014, CNBC asked, "Would billionaires be able to spare the American paper?" A CNN reporter replied: "Impartial very rich person proprietors have had the option to put resources into inheritance titles and assist them with changing carefully, allowing them to contend." Others have contended that "the last trust in papers is for additional hands-off multi-tycoon White Knights to venture up." Mother Jones didn't care for the pattern however believed that "tycoons are the main plan of action left" for papers and magazines.

Very rich people and establishments are putting resources into and developing the absolute most significant media properties on the planet. Jeff Bezos, the organizer of Amazon, is the proprietor of The Washington Post. Medical services business person Patrick Soon-Shiong purchased the Los Angeles Times in 2018. Salesforce CEO, Marc Benioff possesses Time magazine. Yet, there essentially aren't sufficient rich benefactors of information to help an entire industry. What's more, direct guide from the ultrawealthy to the news media has zeroed in on public or large city provincial sources. No white knight dipped in to purchase battling nearby papers like the Union Times in South Carolina or the Washburn County Register in Wisconsin — which had to shade this year. Furthermore, even rich proprietors need their news properties to be monetarily self-supporting.

Further, while affluent proprietors don't regularly endeavor to direct news inclusion, we should all need distributers to be as autonomous as conceivable from settled in political and monetary interests. Warren Buffett, who was a drawn out ally of information, wound up selling his chain of generally little market papers. Also, as Jeff Bezos has noted, and Mike Bloomberg featured, claiming a news property can be a "complexifier" for the two proprietors and newsrooms. Financial autonomy is actually the best way to editorial freedom.

'Spotify for news' will protect news coverage.

Some accept that news coverage's burdens can be settled by news aggregators or packaging projects, for example, Apple News or Google News that permit shoppers to get to stories put out by various distributions from a solitary passage point. Like Spotify, such items offer purchasers an all in one resource to pay for an assortment of information at a lofty rebate. As Vox revealed in 2019, Apple pitched its administration to distributers with the guarantee that it would help "spare news-casting." Surveying its perusers, PressGazette recommended that "there might be an undiscovered market for packaged news memberships."

An ongoing Axios report says the news accumulation business is "detonating," giving a striking antithesis to the reference administrations offered by the tech goliaths, which additionally need to corner this market. In any case, this plan of action has not demonstrated monetarily economical. Pay-per-article item Blendle, hasn't had the option to make money and a year ago demonstrated that it was moving ceaselessly from micropayments. Apple News+ had solid beginning numbers (200,000 supporters at $9.99 every month) except then slowed down. Google News gives traffic however little income to distributers. Flipboard, which permits clients to basically make their own computerized "paper" by choosing themes and sources they'd prefer to see, saw its reference traffic drop essentially lately.

Music streaming works in light of the fact that those distributers have a solid solidified permitting framework that permits them to profit by an all inclusive resource for content. However, in spite of a ton of exertion, news accumulation simply hasn't been an answer.

IF YOU WANT TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE FROM HOME WITHOUT ANY INVESTMENT CLICK HERE.

[marvelsmostwanted]

What exactly does Elizabeth Warren have plans for?

100% Clean Energy for America

A Comprehensive Agenda to Boost America’s Small Businesses

A Fair and Welcoming Immigration System

A Fair Workweek for America’s Part-Time Workers

A Great Public School Education for Every Student

A Just and Equitable Cannabis Industry

A New Approach to Trade

A New Farm Economy

A Working Agenda for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders

A Working Agenda for Black America

Accelerating the Transition to Clean Energy

Addressing Discrimination and Ensuring Equality for Farmers of Color

Addressing Our Maternal Mortality Epidemic

Affordable High Education for All

Breaking the Political Influence of Market-Dominant Companies

Comprehensive Criminal Justice Reform

Comprehensive Debt Relief to Puerto Rico

Congressional Action to Protect Choice

Defend & Create American Jobs

Empowering American Workers and Raising Wages

Empowering Workers Through Accountable Capitalism

End Private Prisons

End Wall Street’s Stranglehold on Our Economy

End Washington Corruption

Ending the Opioid Crisis

Ending the Stranglehold of Health Care Costs on American Families

Excessive Lobbying Tax

Expanding Social Security

Fighting Back Against White Nationalist Violence

Fighting Corporate Perjury

Fighting Digital Disinformation

Fighting For Justice As We Combat the Climate Crisis

Fixing Our Bankruptcy System to Give People a Second Chance

Foreign Policy

Get Rid of the Electoral College

Getting Big Money Out of Politics

Health Care is a Basic Human Right

Holding Wall Street Accountable

Honoring and Empowering Tribal Nations and Indigenous Peoples

Honoring the Strength and Diversity of Muslim Communities

How We Can Break Up Big Tech

Improving Our Military Housing

Investing in Rural America

Justice for Border Communities

Keeping Our Promises to Our Service Members, Veterans, and Military Families

Leading in Green Manufacturing

Leveling the Playing Field for America’s Family Farmers

Leveling the Playing Field for Entrepreneurs of Color

My First Term Plan for Reducing Health Care Costs in America and Transitioning to Medicare for All

My Plan to Cancel Student Loan Debt on Day One of My Presidency

My Plan to Create 10.6 Million Green Jobs

My Plan to Fight Global Financial Corruption

No President is Above the Law

Our Military Can Help Lead The Fight in Combating Climate Change

Paid Family and Medical Leave

Preventing, Containing, and Treating Infectious Disease Outbreaks at Home and Abroad

Promoting Competitive Markets

Protecting and Empowering Renters

Protecting Our Communities from Gun Violence

Protecting Our Public Lands

Protecting the Rights and Equality of People with Disabilities

Real Corporate Profits Tax

Rebuild the State Department

Reduce Corporate Influence at the Pentagon

Restoring America’s Promise to Latinos

Restoring Integrity and Competence to Government After Trump

Restoring Trust in an Impartial and Ethical Judiciary

Safe and Affordable Housing

Securing LGBTQ+ Rights and Equality

Stop Wall Street from Financing the Climate Crisis

Strengthening Congressional Independence from Corporate Lobbyists

Strengthening Our Democracy

Tackling the Climate Crisis Head On

The Coming Economic Crash - And How to Stop It

Ultra-Millionaire Tax

Universal Child Care

Valuing the Work of Women of Color

We Need a Blue New Deal for Our Oceans

Worried about paying off student loan debt? She has a plan for that. 

Healthcare concerns? She has a plan for that. 

Climate change? She has *checks notes* 9 plans for that. 

Corruption? She has 9 ways to end it.

The best part? She even has a plan to make sure her plans become reality.

Visit ELIZABETHWARREN.COM/PLANS to learn more.

There is no other candidate with real, smart, comprehensive plans to make this country a better place for everyone. There is no other candidate with a path to the nomination who has committed to ending the filibuster so that these plans will actually pass once she is in office. 

There are 78 plans on this list. Just for comparison, Bernie lists 35 plans on his website, and no viable way to pass any of them through the Senate.

Imagine the world we could live in. Vote Warren. She has a plan for that.

[sciencespies]

5 Questions With Derek Du Chesne, President Of Exactus Hemp

https://sciencespies.com/news/5-questions-with-derek-du-chesne-president-of-exactus-hemp/

5 Questions With Derek Du Chesne, President Of Exactus Hemp

Derek Du Chesne touring the Candera processing facility

Candera

As a rule in my journalistic career, I’m pulling away from CBD, but Derek’s story made perfect sense to me and I felt that world deserved learning about his scene. I wanted to do this primarily because of his understanding of the pharmacological benefits of the plant. Not just another snake oil product. This is accurate for me because what Derek doesn’t do is CBD infused pain lotion, nor another CBD infused toothpick, but a philosophy that is grounded in deep healing. And after writing the book named Apothecary Cocktails, this path that he is taking is very familiar to me. It fulfills the desire to do well by others through healing. Thank you.

Warren Bobrow=WB: Please tell me how you discovered the plant? Who introduced you? How old were you? Where did you grow up? Now?

Growing up during the 90’s in the middle of Farmville USA (Shawano, WI) the beer and cheese mecca, alcoholism was everywhere, and cannabis was scarce. Drinking alcohol didn’t appeal to me growing up. After watching Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous, I was determined to become a music critic and was enamored by cannabis culture. I think the music videos we watched before the bus to school normalized cannabis use for me. It was a hot summer night after junior year and I was skateboarding to meet a group of friends by the lake. I sat down next to the bonfire prepping a tree branch to roast marshmallows when my best friend pulled out an empty soda can and began poking holes in it. She was crunching up the can in a peculiar way so I asked her what she was doing. She didn’t say a word, put headphones over my ears (Joker – Steve Miller Band), and pressed the can to my lips. Needless to say, s’mores never tasted so good and I finally understood the movie Half Baked. Some people are highly functional on THC, unfortunately I am not one of those people. Eating. Sleeping. Laughing – anything outside of that I’m incapable of. The non-psychoactive cannabinoids are my personal preference.

Flash forward 20 years later and somehow I find myself in a different city weekly educating consumers/businesses alike on the pharmacological and economic benefits of cannabinoids. Home base is Los Angeles but due to the explosive growth of cannabis/hemp globally, I was on the road 300+ days in 2019. My Mother has been very ill for the majority of my life and after witnessing the pharmacological benefits of cannabis 2016, I dedicated my life to helping companies incorporate cannabis-derived ingredients into their products.

WB: Please tell me about what you do? What obstacles do you face? Stigmas?

DDC: The most important aspect of what we do is education. There are over 113 cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, each acting differently upon our CB1 and CB2 receptors. These cannabinoids have varying effects on our bodies and it is crucial for consumers to understand the differences between them. By providing supply chain services, product development, and brand incubation for the wellness, cosmetics, pets, food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries, our goal is to drive sector growth while making cannabinoids more accessible for all. In 2016 every major CPG brand and big-box retailer was rejecting the idea of including CBD/CBG/CBN/CBL/etc. into their products. After the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, the narrative quickly shifted and the demand grew exponentially. If you have a CPG company and you’re not having the “CBD talk” at a board level, you are being reckless. In a few short years it went from taboo to seeing toothpaste, make-up, hair products, lotions, nutraceuticals, face masks, muscle rubs, and beverages with CBD on the shelves at your local convenience store. More and more countries are legalizing cannabis-derived ingredients and we’re looking forward to developing those markets.

Derek Du Chesne taking in the fine smell of cannabis at a Colorado farm

Derek Du Chesne

WB:  What is your six and twelve-month goal? What markets do you want to enter? Why?

DDC: Within the next six months we are focusing on the empowerment of enterprises through mergers and acquisitions. Motivation for concentration comes from different objectives that encompass increasing revenues, penetration to new markets, overall costs reduction, and protection of the market from new arrivals by combining focus. Bringing lesser known cannabinoids to the market at scale,and working with the world’s leading brands to develop products and educate consumers on their benefits is a primary objective. Within the next 12 months we would like to further explore opportunities in other uses, in addition to cannabinoid and terpene extraction, from this versatile plant: commercial and industrial products, including rope, textiles, clothing, shoes, food, paper, bioplastics, insulation, animal feed and biofuels. The hemp industry in the United States is in its infancy and we are seeking opportunities to leverage our hemp supply chain while increasing shareholder value and improving EBITDA margins.

WB: Do you cook? Who taught you? Food memory?

DDC: At 12 years old I was a dishwasher at a restaurant down the street from the house I grew up in, by 14 I was prep cook. French cuisine is my go-to, a strong balance of healthy and delicious. Mm, mm crepes! Just kidding, the mastery of crepes is elusive. My Mom taught me how to cook, she is the most brilliant and strongest woman I’ve ever met.  Cooking is therapeutic for me and provides a fun opportunity for family and friends to come together, strengthen ties and build better relationships. Leaving people satisfied after a healthy meal is a win win!

WB: What is your passion?

DDC: Finding my passion has been an interesting journey for quite some time because as life progresses, so do ideas and interests.  I am grateful for the years of working on films and television shows for the creative outlet and entrepreneurial thrill that inherently comes with each new project.  After caring for my Mother and going down the rabbit hole of naturopathy, my life trajectory completely changed.  Seeing first-hand how broken the medical system in the United States is and how aggressively addictive and deadly pharmaceuticals are prescribed, led me to seek alternatives. The more that I learned about plant-based medicine and environmental sustainability, the more determined I became.  Sharing that knowledge with people became the type of interactions that sparked motivation.  Cannabis can feed, fuel, and house us. Recently I have been researching mushrooms extensively and incorporating Turkey Tail, Reishi, Maitake, Shiitake, Chaga and Cordyceps mushrooms as part of my daily routine (Thank you Paul Stamets).  The applications for mushrooms are quite impressive as well: building materials, cleaning products, textiles, medicine, biofuels, and packaging to name a few.  I am passionate about helping people achieve unimaginable goals.  Focus on the value you can provide and success will follow.  Between Cannabis and Fungi there lays extraordinary opportunities to help our friends, our businesses and our planet.

#News

[fantasyfoucault]

Course Post #8: Sleeping on the Future’s Authenticity

Doktor Sleepless broadcasting on 98.3 Heaven’s Pirates

Warren Ellis’s Doktor Sleepless pushes the biopunk genre to new limits by combining its cyberpunk vision of a futuristic world that integrates technology with biology with anarchist philosophy. Situated in Heavenside, where much of Reinhardt’s is still at play and has created the “grinder” culture, which are “people [who] practise homebrewed extreme body modification” (Ellis).

The series protagonist, John Reinhardt, has turned into the maniacal Doktor Sleepless, his grinder name, after leaving Heavenside upon realizing the lie at the heart of humanistic thought. Reinhardt is a biohacker-turned-bioterrorist, or, Doktor Sleepless, and is a tech genius who has no friends or loved ones. He is particularly interested in biotechnology and biocybernetics that have allowed the transhuman grinder culture to form in Heavenside. Additionally, he is well-trained in computer programming, security and hacking, as we see when he shows Nurse Igor his control over the Apocalypse Bunker. Basically, he is the foil to Tony Stark’s techno-humanistic ideals. He is responsible for many technologies in the future city of Heavenside, such as Clatter, a wireless IM Lens instant messaging system built on soft contact lens that people put in their eyes and allows for cross platform services. Reinhardt is also the creator of Shriekyware, a technology that has manifested the “Shrieky Girl” subculture. Shriekyware is a set of networked receivers and transmitters like two fake fingernails, fake teeth or tongue-rings combined with an IM lens, like Clatter. This technology forms a motion-capture unit and haptic interface that allows the transmission of touch between users, which unifies all its users on the net with the same sensation and feeling, essentially creating a co-human existence. Another of Reinhardt’s technologies that is connected to Clatter are the I.D. Tags, electronic capsules that people ingest that identifies the person and enables one to vote, receive medical care, and make payments on bills. Earlier this semester we read an article by Maureen Meadows and Matthijs Kouw called “Future Making: Inclusive Design and Smart Cities” that hearkens to Doktor Sleepless’s futuristic Heavenside but on an individualistic level. In this article they discuss the possibilities that smart technologies hold in “enabl[ing] the efficient governance of urban public spaces, energy flows, and mobility patterns” (Kouw, Meadows). These smart technologies are various information and communication technologies (ICTs) like sensors, big data-processors, wearable technologies, and even autonomous cars that “will lead to more innovative and sustainable cities and dramatically improve urban life” (Kouw, Meadows). Meadows and Kouw argue for the consideration of different approaches in which all of society can team together in order to create a single vision for future cities. This is where Doktor Sleepless’s Heavenside deviates, as most of the technologies developed by Reinhardt are for the sole purpose of enhancing the individual, not society as a whole. In fact, Doktor Sleepless has become disgusted with how far grinder technology has evolved into creating such a deviant and solipsistic culture.

One of the comic’s prevalent themes is Doktor Sleepless’s Boemerian fatalist philosophy based on Henrik Boemer’s book The Darkening Sky (1966). Doktor Sleepless’s fatalist philosophy and plan to turn Heavenside on itself by awakening grinder culture from its own false consciousness is because he believes that Heavenside is “not the future we were promised... if we can't have that, then we shouldn't have anything at all” (Ellis). Using 98.3 Heaven’s Pirates frequency, Doktor Sleepless preaches his Boemerian philosophy to incite social anxiety and agitation at the complacency and privileged lifestyle that has enveloped Heavenside. In his first broadcast, Doktor Sleepless calls out the Heavenside residents for their obliviousness to the future they’re in, and their complacency:

“Everywhere I go I hear the same thing: ‘Where’s my fucking jet pack? Where’s my flying car?’ . . . You live in the future and you don’t know it. Half of you know where your friends are by looking inside your eyeball, for God’s sake . . . You can rebuild your own fucking bodies at home with stuff you bought from the hardware store . . . The future sneaks up on us. It leaks through the small, ordinary things. You want your jetpack, but you don’t even think about your IM lenses and your phones, were you born with them? No. You’re science fictional creatures. Each and every one of you” (Ellis)

This idea of an absent in the present—the absence of a jetpack and flying car in Heavenside’s futuristic present—reminds me of Tim Richardson’s reiteration of Warren Ellis’s “’science fiction condition,’ [which is] how ‘we can measure the contemporary day by the things that have become absent’” in his essay “The Authenticity of What’s Next.” For Richardson, we could measure change “by the removal or absence or invisibility of things . . . things [that] never even have to exist to register as absent.” The idea of opening a space of vacancy leads him to speculate that “maybe the best way to sell an authentic future is to remove something we don’t notice now, so that an authentic-seeming future wouldn’t be drawn as us with the addition of jet packs, but as us with the subtraction” of everyday tools, methods of transportation or anything else we tend to look as in the rear-view mirror (Richardson). Certainly, the Heavenside residents’s dissatisfaction with their present reality indicates a “futurity that is already upon us as the technology we take for granted, that we’re even bored with, that has fundamentally changed the way we work and live” (Richardson). For Doktor Sleepless, however, it is not so much about presenting an authentic future as much as challenging those of us sleeping on authenticity, or what we think it means to be “real.” For Doktor Sleepless, “Authenticity is bullshit. Never more so than today. We can be anyone we can imagine being. We can be someone new every day . . . ‘You should be happy with who you are.’ ‘Be yourself.’ . . . We’re not real enough. We’re not authentic to our society. Free speech does not extend to our bodies” (Ellis). Doktor Sleepless’s brash words are truly authentic, which is perhaps why it takes a comic book character whose existence is absent in our present reality to utter for them to (hopefully) register into our own individual practice. If, as Richardson speculates that “hacking seems about reuse and—more importantly—repurposing,” then Doktor Sleepless is the ultimate hack insofar as he is hacking, or repurposing, the grinders consciousness, challenging them to abandon their transhuman obsession and gain autonomy from the system of biotechnology. Doktor Sleepless pleads the grinders to “Be authentic to your dreams. Be authentic to your own ideas about yourself. Grind away at your own minds and bodies until you become your own invention.” In the same way, Ellis is pleading with us today to hack our own “minds and bodies” and become our “own invention[s].” Society has always told us who we should be. Michel Foucault and Judith Butler say that the moment we are born we are tossed into power relations and discourses that inscribe us with social norms and regulations in order to be heterosexual, be “manly,” be XYZ, be docile bodies. We are taught to hate others based on the color of their skin or who they love because of deep-seated ideological power structures. Heteronormative gender roles have embedded every facet of society and regulate the free-market capitalist economy that feeds off our own complacency and dissatisfaction with our present future. Cosmetic surgery and body modification offer us opportunities to modify our bodies to our liking according to what society demands of us. Social media like Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat, to name a few, offer us the possibility of creating a copy of our original selves in order to present it to the rest of the world, creating a simulacra where we all play an inauthentic role. Richardson describes an outbreak as “a localized occurrence or symptom of something already in the system more widely. To force an outbreak is to exploit a potential that’s already there.” I believe that in this era of Trumpian right-wing white supremacy, the potential for an outbreak is perhaps as visible as ever but the collective consciousness still fails to hack itself. Yet the collective relies on the individual. I guess then the question is, “What does hacking look like for you?” Perhaps it is our unconscious slumber, our deep sleep to the future’s authenticity, that prevents us from finding any semblance of an answer. Maybe that’s why Doktor Sleepless never sleeps.

Source: http://enculturation.net/authenticity

“I grew up in Heavenside. I know every inch of it… I know it like the face and body of my first love. We’re going to burn it all down. Because this is not the future we were promised. And if we can’t have that, then we shouldn’t have anything at all.” --Doktor Sleepless