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greenhappyseed · 17 days ago

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This is a great question. In order to win, Democrats need to convince the American people — especially in rural areas and “red” states — that their ideas and plans will benefit the wallets of more people than Republicans. If people don’t feel like an honest day’s work can feed, house, provide healthcare, and clothe themselves, with some left over for entertainment, emergency savings, and long term retirement savings, then they will keep demanding change even though there are only 2 viable political parties. To oversimplify, red and blue are not merely team colors; they stand for specific governing principles:

Republicans are pro-business, anti-union, anti-regulation, pro-free market, and often shrink the size of government spending on social services (eg, no welfare, eliminating pensions and social security) while increasing military investments and spending (sometimes called being a hawk). Republicans often think private companies can do things better and faster than the government with less “waste,” and view the government with suspicion. Ronald Reagan, the Republican president throughout the 1980s, famously said, “I think you all know that I've always felt the nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help.” American Republicans are extremely conservative and theocratic (meaning a government by god(s)) compared to other conservative parties around the world.

Democrats are pro-worker, pro-union, pro-regulation, pro-government benefits, and generally against excessive military interventions (sometimes called being a dove….or a hippie). Democrats often think there’s a checks-and-balances system that needs to be in place between private companies and the government. Even though Americans refer to Democrats as “liberal,” they really aren’t — Democrats are a centrist party compared to other “liberal” parties around the world. But Democrats are all we have because it’s a 2-party system.

If I have to sum up the economic differences in one sentence, Republican vs Democrat comes down to who you trust more, companies or the government, to make life better for 340+ million people. Your answer will likely depend on your life experiences. For example, Republicans typically claim to be the party of financial responsibility because they prefer “small government,” but over my lifetime, Democrats have been the party that generally reins in Republican overspending (usually due to wars, vanity projects like a border wall, or paying a private company to provide what was previously a government service — this almost always increases government costs by >10-20% because someone has to profit). Democrats have also successfully gotten the United States out of (i) the 2008 global financial crisis (which was itself arguably caused by deregulation/lack of regulation) and (ii) what was nearly a massive COVID recession, with current inflation being the expected side effect of preventing a massive freaking recession (but IMO, Biden and the Democrats did a really poor job of marketing this tradeoff to the American people — I’ll get back to marketing in a moment…)

Personally, I think there are things that private companies can’t or won’t do because they won’t make enough money, and government needs to fill those gaps. I also think there are times when private industries make money but fail to actually help people (eg, healthcare), so it’s the role of government to step in. Moreover, I believe in sensible regulation to keep people safe, like food safety laws. Why should anyone get hurt or die just so some CEO can maximize shareholder value?? Finally, I am for freedom of religion and am very much against any kind of theocracy. Therefore, without even touching any social issues, it’s clear I’m a Democrat, and not much will ever sway me to vote for a Republican.

With that in mind, there are 2 main issues for Democrats to solve in the next election cycle:

1. Democrats need better marketing narratives because they struggle at the national level to connect with people’s feelings. This isn’t about facts or logic. It’s entirely about emotional connection. For all the actual policies and plans that the Democrats stand for, their brand is elite, coastal, urban, nerdy, wimpy, passive, excessively intellectual, un-fun, out of touch, etc. The fact is that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris come from middle class families and do not have Ivy League educations. Meanwhile, Trump was born to New York City elite, went to an Ivy League college, and has been a Manhattan socialite since before I was born. He literally lives in a gilded penthouse high above Manhattan when he’s not at his Florida mansion compound.

Yet somehow people think Trump represents them and understands their struggles better than Biden and Harris. They think Biden and Harris are out of touch while the man in the gold Manhattan penthouse “gets” them. WHY?? Because Trump makes people feel heard. All his petty anger, his negativity, and his victim complexes aren’t just him being a spoiled brat; he’s saying the things that people want to say. He mirrors their feelings back to them. He doesn’t actually care or intend to do anything to help them. But he makes them feel like he might, all facts and evidence to the contrary.

Look, I don’t think Trump is a particularly smart man or good businessman. But he IS a brilliant marketer. Probably one of the best in the last 50 years, if not century. Even the extremely well-documented trail of victims he’s left in the wake of his infomercial schemes isn’t enough to convince voters he’s a con man. Trump’s ability to create an emotional connection is so strong, especially among people who are desperately looking for it, that facts, policies, and plans don’t matter.

2. Democrats need infrastructure so their marketing narrative is voiced by trusted friends and neighbors. By aligning with church-going Christians, the Republicans didn’t just obtain a block of reliable voters. They obtained the hyper-local infrastructure where the Republican party story can be told. In other words, Trump creates the initial emotional connection and marketing narrative, but then it’s local churches that reinforce his message every. single. week. It’s a regular meeting place where people can talk about which candidate they support and why.

It’s influencing, plain and simple.

The Democrats don’t really have this infrastructure anymore. It used to come from unions, but as those crumble, it’s hard to find a replacement. Emails, text messages, TV ads, door-to-door canvassing by random campaign staffers, yard signs, etc. do not change minds. Telling people they have their facts wrong doesn’t change minds.

However, talking about how you feel, and why you believe what you believe, can absolutely sway opinions. For example, when Republicans talk about lowering taxes, I like to say that I’m happy to pay taxes if the money will feed hungry children, help veterans & first responders recover from injuries, revitalize a town after a natural disaster, etc. I do not think such things should be dependent on charities or churches that can pick and choose who is worthy. IMO it’s the role of government to provide for ALL who are less fortunate, because nobody else will do so reliably.

Of course, I’m just some random person on the internet. I’m literally out of touch for you. But you can see how having these discussions in real life, face to face, makes it real and tangible. Talk about what you believe so those around you know that Democrats are not “urban coastal elites.” Show that Democrats stand for actual economic policies, not just “social justice” and DEI. Democrats are real people — real Americans — in every community across the country who believe in the power of a government by the people to good things for the people.

#u.s. politics #u.s. presidential election #democratic party #us politics #vote democrat #democrats

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philosophicalconservatism · 11 months ago

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Response To Comment on Socialism And Radical Politics.

radical-libertarian

If you take the attitude that untested systems should never be tested, we would be stuck in feudalism or barbarism.

Philosophicalconservatism

I take the attitude that politically directed experiments upon millions of human beings is unethical. The free market system was not tested in this way. It was tested and established through a process of organic social development, not by political fiat. An emergence of full individual property rights over many centuries was followed by a technological-industrial revolution that made the cultivation of inherited land less vital, and other processes more important to the creation of wealth (processes which required the continual productive input of the individual owner in order for his position of wealth to be maintained, unlike the cultivation of feudal land). This was an unanticipated natural development.

The issue with radical ideology (of all kinds) is that a radical revolution which instantaneously unravels the entire existing order and replaces it with a new one (never before known within that society) is only conceivable in a context of top down political dictation and control. On their own, societies change gradually, and from the bottom up. An individual human being (a single autonomous person) can, at a particular moment in time, choose to completely change himself or his lifestyle. Entire societies, which are made up of millions of independent individuals and the immensely complex relationships that have developed between them, do not just decide at a single moment in time to completely and fundamentally change the way they function as if they were individual personalities.

Now a society may reject a specific government if that government has been widely abusive and oppressive, but they will either make superficial changes (usually in personnel) that still keeps the gist of the old system intact, or they will throw their entire fate into the hands of a tyrant-dictator to restructure their lives (Napoleon, Lenin etc.). The father of modern Conservatism Edmund Burke warned the fomenters of the French Revolution that this artificial ideological push toward a radical ideal would simply lead to an even purer political authoritarianism and of course it did. The Conservative is one who understands that freedom and lasting progress are conditions that must be grown into; they are a product of social development over time and not of political contrivance. Societies can be tweaked slightly for the good by political action in the short-term, but they cannot be remade in that way.

Here is a piece I did a while ago which may be of interest to you given your politics.

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fandomtrumpshate · 2 years ago

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2023 Supported Nonprofits

Our list of supported organizations for 2023 includes a few orgs from last year, and a host of new ones addressing issues such as climate and pollinator preservation, housing and immigration, and gun violence.

If you are a FTH creator and you want to ask your bidders to support an organization that’s not on the list, please read our policy on outside organizations here.

- - - -

Citizens Climate Education

A nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy climate change organization focused on national policies to address climate change; trains and supports volunteers to build relationships with elected officials, the media and their local community.

DigDeep/Navajo Water Project *

Works to ensure that every person, everywhere enjoys their human right to water. All people should have access to a sufficient quantity of safe, accessible, affordable water of good quality, and that they should understand and care for their water resources.

Life After Hate

Provides support to people leaving hate groups, and providing pluralism education and training to vulnerable young people

National Network to End Domestic Violence *

Offers a range of programs and initiatives to address the complex causes and far-reaching consequences of domestic violence

Never Again Action *

A Jewish-led mobilization against the persecution, detention, and deportation of immigrants in the United States; takes on campaigns against detention centers and ICE training programs, and organizes mutual aid and deportation defense.

Rainbow Railroad *

Works to help LGTBQI+ people facing persecution based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics find safety through emergency relocation and other forms of assistance.

Razom *

Initiates short and long-term projects, or collaborates on existing projects with partner organizations, which help Ukraine stay on the path of fostering democracy and prosperity.

Sherlock's Homes Foundation

Provides housing, employment opportunities, and a loving support system, for homeless LGBTQ+ young adults so that they can live fearlessly as their authentic selves. Within these homes, young adults learn about responsibility, accountability, financial independence, life skills, and how to love themselves.

The Appeal *

A news organization that envisions a world in which systems of support and care, not punishment, create public safety, The Appeal’s journalism exposes the harms of a criminal legal system entrenched in centuries of systemic racism.

Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund *

Works toward legal equality for trans people through education, public policy, litigation, and direct legal services

Violence Policy Center *

Works to stop gun death and injury through research, education, advocacy, and collaboration; exposes the profit-driven marketing and lobbying activities of the firearms industry and gun lobby, and offers unique technical expertise to policymakers, organizations, and advocates.

Xerces *

An international nonprofit organization that protects the natural world through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats. Focuses on pollinator conservation, endangered species conservation, and reducing pesticide use and impacts.

Umbrella: Abortion Funds

For the past three years, FTH has supported one “umbrella” cause: we invite participants to donate to their own local grassroots organization, while also suggesting a handful of exemplary organizations working in in communities where the need is especially acute. This year (like last year) this umbrella category is abortion funds.

Abortion funds are grassroots nonprofits dedicated to supporting reproductive justice in their communities. These organizations provide financial, logistical and emotional support for people seeking abortions, and work to build collective power to create political and cultural change around reproductive freedom.

Our 2023 selections for the umbrella group was compiled with assistance from Kiki, a digital engagement manager for an abortion support nonprofit and the co-founder and editor-in-chief of the (now-defunct) site The Learned Fangirl. (Please feel free to reach out to her on twitter @kdc if you have any questions about abortion funds!)

Buckle Bunnies Fund

Indigenous Women Rising

Kentucky Health Justice Network

Abortion Fund of Ohio

New Orleans Abortion Fund

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Organizations marked with an asterisk (*) allow for international donations directly through their websites. The orgs without asterisks may take international donations through a paypal or venmo account. If you are a non-US-based bidder/donor and you are having trouble finding an organization to which you can donate, please email us directly at fandomtrumpshate @ gmail . com.

#fth2023 #fandom trumps hate #climate preservation #pollinator preservation #lgbtq #supported nonprofits #resource justice #promoting tolerance #victim support #reproductive rights #health justice #carceral system #public interest reporting #youth homelessness #gun violence #ukraine support

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buttonloops · 7 months ago

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wrestling with the moral OCD lately

ok so, we generally agree that working for a defense contractor or being a cop is bad

but what about working at a bank, with all their bullshit fees and sometimes predatory loans? What about working for a payment processor that casually grinds sex workers underfoot as "too risky" and "too much hassle"?

Working entry level in the call center might be one thing, but what about getting promoted and working hard and moving up, until you're a loan underwriter? someone who's making the impactful decisions and enforcing the policies and putting the good of the company over the wellbeing of the customer base and the public?

How evil is it to be working for a company whose major customers are in the oil industry, with all we know about how environmentally catastrophic oil drilling is, not to mention the absolutely horrible ways Native water protectors are treated?

Obviously none of these things are on "killing babies with drones" level.

But.

There are so many things to care about. How do you decide what matters?

A lot of people say landlords are evil. Do they mean just corporations buying up homes as investment vehicles? What about a person who rents out a spare room? What about a small-scale landlord who owns a couple houses, is quick and responsive on repairs, doesn't nickel and dime their tenants, and is pleasant to work with?

We agree that it's impossible to become a billionaires without exploiting other humans.

But the whole goddamn stock market is built on the prioritization of profit over all. Even if I just contribute to my 401k, that's being invested in stock market funds. I'm indirectly profiting off companies using prison slave labor, or companies bottling and selling fresh water that should be a public resource.

We point out that the way white people talk and think about poorer neighborhoods is pretty racist. But is it racist for me to think maybe I'd like to live somewhere that doesn't smell so strongly of urine? that maybe I'm willing to spend more to live somewhere with fewer gunshots and less screaming?

Where do you draw the line? How do you construct a coherent system of personal ethics without going mad?

I mean, I grew up in a cult where morality was rigidly black and white. I grew up on "give all you have to the poor and follow Jesus" and "tithe a minimum of 10% of your gross income to god/the church/the poor/holy causes" and st francis of assisi and "cast your bread upon the water."

for a long time I believed that if I had enough to survive on it was my duty to give away the rest

and I spent years barely surviving because of that, because I prioritized supporting others who mostly just took me for granted instead of saving for emergencies

because I was more comfortable working shitty minimum wage jobs than ever being so crass as to pursue money

Also like, I don't believe in god or jesus anymore so I'm pretty sure I don't have to follow a bunch of rules that maybe were just hammered into me by pastors who wanted me to fund their new church buildings?

I am so over the mother teresa bullshit that suffering is inherently virtuous

Fuck that.

I'm tired of precarity.

It feels goddamn good to know I can afford emergency car repairs and regular maintenance. To buy myself little treats and clothes that actually fit. To watch my savings go up each month.

I want to stack up a big fat wad of cash and never be broke again. I want to know I can take care of myself and the people I love. I want to build a life with time for leisure and relationships and parenting and all the things that matter.

I think I could probably make a lot more money if I could swallow my crippling sense of moral injustice and just chase the almighty profits.

But I'm terrified it will make me evil

#good and evil #meanderings #venting #moral ocd #wealth #billionaires #racism #money #financial independence

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personalsafety0 · 4 months ago

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Kavach QR: Your Digital Shield for Safety and Peace of Mind

It is more crucial than ever to be ready for emergencies in the fast-paced world of today. Having the appropriate gear on hand can be crucial in situations such as an unexpected automobile accident, a health emergency, or even a challenging parking scenario. Presenting Kavach QR, a game-changing method for staying connected and safe when things become serious. Consider it your own digital shield, akin to the logo of a superhero, ready to defend you when you need it most.

What is Kavach QR? A unique sticker called a Kavach QR is intended to provide quick access to vital personal data in an emergency. You can store this multipurpose tool in your wallet, on your automobile, or in any other easily accessible location. The idea is straightforward yet effective: anyone can instantly obtain vital information, such as your name, emergency contacts, and any health information you've chosen to give, by scanning this sticker with a smartphone.

How Does It Operate? It is quite simple to use Kavach QR. Someone can instantly access a digital profile with your vital information when they scan the sticker with their phone. This implies that witnesses or first responders will have instant access to your information in the case of an accident or other emergency. Suppose you are in a car accident; rescuers can scan the Kavach QR sticker to provide them with the information they need to help you fast, rather of having to look for your ID or wait for your medical documents.

Why Opt for Kavach QR? Easy to Use: One of Kavach QR's best features is how easy it is to use. It's as simple as sticking a sticker on it and making sure it stays in a handy location. Expensive gadgets or difficult installations are not required.

Quick Information Access: Time is of the essence in emergency situations. By ensuring that your vital information is easily accessible to those who require it, Kavach QR may help you save time and improve the effectiveness of emergency response.

Economical Resolution: In contrast to other safety systems and solutions available on the market, Kavach QR provides a cost-effective means of improving your safety. Because of its affordable price, anyone can use it to get peace of mind without going broke.

Flexible Positioning: No matter where you decide to put the sticker

Actual Situations Think about the following situations where Kavach QR could revolutionize the industry:

Car Accidents: If you are in an accident, emergency professionals can obtain your emergency contacts and health information immediately by using the sticker, which will enable them to provide aid more swiftly and effectively. Medical Emergencies: By using the Kavach QR, onlookers can learn about your allergies or medical concerns and make sure you get the right care if you have an unexpected health problem. Parking Disputes: Kavach QR enables others to get in touch with you directly to quickly address any issues that may arise from your car being parked incorrectly.

In summary Kavach QR is a proactive measure to guarantee your safety and peace of mind, not merely a sticker. It equips you and people around you to manage emergencies with increased efficiency and confidence by giving you fast access to critical information. Kavach QR is a cost-effective, user-friendly, and incredibly powerful digital shield that can protect you in any circumstance. Invest in Kavach QR right now to take charge of your safety and avoid waiting for an emergency to occur.

Visit our website to obtain your Kavach QR sticker and other details. Remain vigilant and organized!

#safety #health and safety #privacy #information #health #mobility

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rideboomindia · 1 year ago

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In 5-7 years, what is the world-dominating vision for the RideBoom company?

Global Expansion: RideBoom may aim to expand its services to more countries and cities worldwide, establishing a strong presence on a global scale. This expansion could include entering emerging markets and regions where ride-hailing services are still developing.

Diversification of Services: To become a dominant player in the transportation industry, RideBoom may diversify its services beyond traditional ride-hailing. They might explore additional offerings such as food delivery, logistics, parcel delivery, or even autonomous vehicle services.

Enhanced Technology: RideBoom may invest heavily in advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data analytics to optimize their operations. This could involve developing more sophisticated algorithms for matching drivers with passengers, improving route optimization, and providing personalized user experiences.

Sustainable and Electric Mobility: With increasing environmental concerns and a shift towards sustainable transportation, RideBoom may focus on expanding its fleet of electric vehicles or promoting the use of environmentally friendly options. They might offer incentives for drivers to switch to electric vehicles, invest in charging infrastructure, or explore partnerships with electric vehicle manufacturers.

Integration with Public Transportation: RideBoom could aim to integrate its services with public transportation systems, providing seamless multi-modal travel options. This integration might involve partnerships with public transit agencies, allowing users to plan, book, and pay for both ride-hailing and public transportation through a single app.

Enhanced Safety Measures: RideBoom may continue to prioritize safety and invest in innovative safety features. This could involve implementing advanced driver screening processes, enhancing driver and passenger identity verification, and utilizing technologies like real-time monitoring and emergency response systems.

Remember, these are speculative possibilities, and the actual vision and strategy of RideBoom may be different. To get accurate and up-to-date information about RideBoom's long-term plans, it's best to refer to official company statements, press releases, or announcements.

#biketaxi #ola cabs #uber #rideboom app #delhi rideboom #uber driver #ola #indriver

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guestblogger1 · 5 months ago

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YES Germany: Empowering Students to Achieve Their Study Abroad Dreams

As the global demand for international education continues to rise, the study abroad consultancy market in India has witnessed remarkable growth in recent years. Amidst this dynamic landscape, YES Germany has emerged as a leading player, offering comprehensive services to help students realize their dreams of studying in Germany.

YES Germany: A Trusted Name in Study Abroad Consulting

Established over a decade ago, YES Germany has carved out a niche for itself as a premier study abroad consultant in India. With a team of highly qualified and experienced professionals, the company has built a strong reputation for guiding students through every step of the study abroad journey, from university selection to visa assistance and beyond.

Market Size and Growth

The Indian study abroad market is expected to reach a staggering $80 billion by 2024, growing at a CAGR of 18% according to a report by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Within this rapidly expanding market, YES Germany has firmly established its presence, catering to the growing demand for study abroad services in Faridabad and beyond.

Industry Leadership and Innovation

What sets YES Germany apart is its unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence. The company's comprehensive suite of services, including counseling, confirmed admissions, visa assistance, language training, and post-arrival support, has earned it a reputation as a one-stop-shop for study abroad aspirants.

YES Germany's industry leadership is further bolstered by its strong partnerships with prestigious German universities and its deep understanding of the German education system. The company's founder, Dr. Gagan Syal, is a German-educated engineer with over a decade of experience at Mercedes-Benz, lending the organization a unique blend of academic and industry expertise.

Overcoming Industry Challenges

The study abroad industry has faced its fair share of challenges, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, YES Germany has demonstrated its resilience by adapting its services to the changing landscape, offering virtual counseling sessions and online language classes to ensure seamless support for its clients.

Moreover, the company has leveraged its strong industry connections and market insights to navigate the evolving regulatory environment and stay ahead of the curve. This agility and responsiveness have been instrumental in maintaining YES Germany's position as a trusted partner for students seeking to study in Germany.

Market Outlook and Future Prospects

As the global economy recovers and international travel resumes, the demand for study abroad services is expected to surge. YES Germany is well-positioned to capitalize on this growth, with its comprehensive offerings, industry expertise, and commitment to student success.

The company's focus on providing personalized guidance, tailored to the unique needs of each student, has been a key driver of its success. By continuously investing in its team, technology, and industry partnerships, YES Germany is poised to maintain its leadership position in the study abroad consultancy market.

Furthermore, Yes Germany has a widespread presence with branches in - Faridabad, Gurgaon, Chandigarh, Noida, Delhi, Dubai, Bangalore-Indiranagar, Bangalore-BTM, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Mumbai-Navi Mumbai, and Mumbai-Andheri. This extensive network ensures that their services are easily accessible to students across India, providing localized support and personalized guidance.

Conclusion

In a rapidly evolving study abroad landscape, YES Germany has emerged as a beacon of excellence, empowering students to achieve their academic and professional aspirations in Germany. With its unwavering commitment to innovation, industry expertise, and student-centric approach, the company is well-equipped to navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities that lie ahead, cementing its status as the premier study abroad consultant in India.

#Yes Germany #Study Abroad Consultant #Overseas education consultant #education consultancy services #abroad education consultants #foreign education consultants #best consultancy for abroad studies #best agency for studying abroad #top consultants for study abroad #best consultancy for mba abroad #educational consultants for study abroad #study abroad consultancy services

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unpluggedfinancial · 5 months ago

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The History and Evolution of Bitcoin: From Whitepaper to Global Phenomenon

In 2008, amidst the financial chaos of the global economic crisis, an enigmatic figure known only as Satoshi Nakamoto released a whitepaper titled "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System." This document laid the foundation for what would become a revolutionary digital currency that challenged traditional financial systems. Today, Bitcoin is a global phenomenon, but its journey from a whitepaper to widespread adoption is a story filled with innovation, controversy, and dramatic shifts.

The Birth of Bitcoin

The concept of Bitcoin emerged in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, a period marked by widespread distrust in traditional financial institutions. Satoshi Nakamoto's whitepaper proposed a decentralized digital currency that would operate without the need for a central authority. In January 2009, Nakamoto mined the genesis block, or block zero, which contained the message: "The Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks." This embedded text highlighted Bitcoin's origins as a response to financial instability.

Shortly after, the first Bitcoin transaction took place between Nakamoto and a programmer named Hal Finney, marking the beginning of a new era in digital finance.

Early Years and Growth

Bitcoin's early years were characterized by rapid development and growing interest from tech enthusiasts. In 2010, BitcoinMarket.com, the first Bitcoin exchange, was established, providing a platform for trading Bitcoin. The same year, a programmer named Laszlo Hanyecz made history by purchasing two pizzas for 10,000 BTC, in what is now known as the first real-world Bitcoin transaction.

As interest in Bitcoin grew, so did its mining community. Early adopters utilized personal computers for mining, but the increasing difficulty of mining puzzles soon led to the creation of mining pools, where groups of miners pooled their resources to solve blocks more efficiently.

Increasing Adoption and Market Development

Bitcoin's journey to mainstream awareness was not without its hurdles. The rise of Bitcoin exchanges, most notably Mt. Gox, played a crucial role in its growing popularity. However, these platforms also exposed Bitcoin to significant risks. The infamous Mt. Gox hack in 2014 resulted in the loss of approximately 850,000 BTC, shaking investor confidence.

During this period, Bitcoin also gained notoriety for its association with illicit activities, primarily through the dark web marketplace Silk Road. Despite these controversies, Bitcoin's value continued to rise, driven by its potential as an alternative to traditional currencies.

Technological Advancements and Forks

As Bitcoin's user base expanded, so did the need for technological improvements. The introduction of Bitcoin Improvement Proposals (BIPs) allowed the community to propose and implement changes to the network. One of the most significant debates was the block size controversy, which ultimately led to the creation of Bitcoin Cash in 2017. This fork aimed to increase transaction speeds and lower fees by increasing the block size limit.

Other notable advancements included the implementation of Segregated Witness (SegWit) to reduce transaction size and the development of the Lightning Network to facilitate faster, low-cost transactions.

Institutional Interest and Mainstream Acceptance

Bitcoin's journey from a niche interest to mainstream acceptance gained momentum in the late 2010s. Early adopters in the tech industry, such as Overstock and Microsoft, began accepting Bitcoin as a form of payment. Financial institutions and investors also started to take notice, with 2017 marking a significant year as Bitcoin futures were launched by CME and CBOE.

In recent years, payment giants like PayPal have integrated Bitcoin into their platforms, further legitimizing its use as a medium of exchange and investment asset.

Bitcoin’s Role in the Global Economy

Bitcoin's role in the global economy has evolved significantly. Often referred to as "digital gold," Bitcoin is increasingly seen as a store of value and a hedge against inflation. Its price movements are influenced by global economic events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions.

Notably, some countries have begun to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender. El Salvador made headlines in 2021 when it became the first country to officially recognize Bitcoin as an official currency, sparking debates about the future of national currencies and financial sovereignty.

Challenges and Controversies

Despite its successes, Bitcoin has faced numerous challenges. Regulatory scrutiny and government crackdowns remain persistent threats to its widespread adoption. Environmental concerns about the energy consumption of Bitcoin mining have also sparked debates about the sustainability of the network.

Security issues, such as high-profile exchange hacks and the loss of private keys, continue to pose risks for investors. However, ongoing developments in security practices aim to mitigate these concerns.

The Future of Bitcoin

As Bitcoin continues to evolve, its future remains a topic of speculation and excitement. Potential technological advancements, such as improvements to the Lightning Network and further scalability solutions, promise to enhance its usability.

Predictions for Bitcoin's role in the future financial system vary, with some envisioning it as a dominant global currency, while others see it as a valuable digital asset akin to gold. The ongoing debate about Bitcoin's classification—whether as a currency, commodity, or something entirely unique—reflects its multifaceted nature.

Conclusion

From its inception as a response to financial instability to its current status as a global phenomenon, Bitcoin's journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. Its transformative impact on finance and technology continues to unfold, challenging traditional systems and offering new possibilities for the future. As Bitcoin evolves, staying informed and considering its implications will be crucial for anyone interested in the future of money.

Take Action Towards Financial Independence

If this article has sparked your interest in the transformative potential of Bitcoin, there's so much more to explore! Dive deeper into the world of financial independence and revolutionize your understanding of money by following my blog and subscribing to my YouTube channel.

🌐 Blog: Unplugged Financial Blog Stay updated with insightful articles, detailed analyses, and practical advice on navigating the evolving financial landscape. Learn about the history of money, the flaws in our current financial systems, and how Bitcoin can offer a path to a more secure and independent financial future.

📺 YouTube Channel: Unplugged Financial Subscribe to our YouTube channel for engaging video content that breaks down complex financial topics into easy-to-understand segments. From in-depth discussions on monetary policies to the latest trends in cryptocurrency, our videos will equip you with the knowledge you need to make informed financial decisions.

👍 Like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated with our latest content. Whether you're a seasoned investor, a curious newcomer, or someone concerned about the future of your financial health, our community is here to support you on your journey to financial independence.

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nividawebsolutions · 1 year ago

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Top 7 Challenges Faced By IT Industry In 2023

Within the rapidly growing universe of technology, the IT companies in India assume a crucial role, persistently adjusting themselves to cater to the needs of a perpetually shifting environment. Nevertheless, the advancement of society brings forth a set of obstacles that necessitate a deliberate approach to resolution. As the year 2023 commences, the IT industry faces a multitude of challenges that necessitate careful consideration and effective measures. This blog aims to explore the primary issues encountered by the IT industry in the current year, providing insights into their consequences and possible remedies.

1. Cybersecurity Threats:

The escalation of cyber risks has been observed as a consequence of the widespread adoption of digital technology and interconnected systems. The level of sophistication exhibited by cybercriminals is on the rise, as they deploy advanced strategies to bypass security systems. All the IT companies in Gujarat, India, in the year 2023 are confronted with the formidable challenge of maintaining a competitive edge in the face of cyber attacks, while simultaneously prioritising data protection and securing essential infrastructure. The implementation of effective cybersecurity safeguards, regular conduct of security audits, and provision of cybersecurity education to staff are essential elements in addressing and minimising this risk.

2. Data Privacy and Compliance:

The increasingly stringent legislative framework surrounding data privacy poses a substantial obstacle for the information technology sector. Stringent regulations pertaining to data privacy, such as the General Data Privacy Regulation (GDPR), necessitate rigorous adherence. In the year 2023, the IT companies in Vadodara, Gujarat have the challenge of striking a delicate equilibrium between adhering to regulatory requirements and efficiently using data for commercial objectives. IT organisations are required to allocate resources towards the implementation of compliance frameworks, provide training to their employees, and guarantee that data-handling procedures are in accordance with the prescribed norms.

3. Talent Acquisition and Retention:

The acquisition and retention of talent pose an ongoing problem for the IT industry, as it continues to seek and keep qualified workers. The scarcity of highly specialised skills frequently results in a disparity between demand and supply, hence engendering intense rivalry for those with such talents. Moreover, the current trends in remote work and the increasing globalisation of the talent market serve to exacerbate this challenge. In order to tackle this issue, a reliable IT company in India like Nivida Web Solutions prioritises the enhancement of the skills of their current workforce, provides enticing remuneration packages, cultivates a favourable work environment, and creates avenues for professional advancement and personal improvement.

4. Technological Advancements and Adaptability:

The expeditious rate at which technological developments are occurring has both advantages and disadvantages for the IT business. Although these developments present promising prospects, they also present a difficulty in terms of adaptation. Keeping abreast of developing technology and enabling a smooth transition to new platforms and tools may be a demanding task. In order to effectively adapt to emerging technology, IT organisations must allocate resources towards the implementation of continual training and development programmes, which aim to equip their personnel with the requisite skills.

5. Resource Optimization and Scalability:

The optimisation of resources and the effective scalability of operations have emerged as significant challenges in recent times. The management of resources and the scaling of operations in response to varying market needs and the imperative of cost-effectiveness can provide intricate challenges. Cloud computing and intelligent resource allocation are essential solutions that can be employed to effectively address this dilemma. The utilisation of cloud solutions by Nivida Web Solutions - a recognised IT company in Gujarat, India, allows for enhanced flexibility and cost-efficiency, hence assuring the appropriate allocation of resources.

6. Integration and Interoperability:

The IT environment is distinguished by a diverse array of systems and applications that necessitate harmonious integration. The task of achieving integration and interoperability across diverse platforms, legacy systems, and emerging technologies poses a significant challenge. The establishment of interconnectedness is crucial in facilitating an effective and productive IT ecosystem. It is imperative for the industry to prioritise the development of standardised interfaces, utilise APIs effectively, and implement integration platforms in order to improve interoperability.

7. Environmental Sustainability:

Environmental sustainability has emerged as a pressing issue in various sectors, encompassing the field of IT. The IT industry possesses a substantial carbon footprint as a result of its energy consumption, generation of electronic waste, and operations of data centres. In the year 2023, the sector is faced with the task of identifying environmentally sustainable solutions and adopting practices that effectively mitigate their ecological footprint. The use of green technology, the optimisation of data centre efficiency, and the incorporation of circular economy concepts are positive measures in the pursuit of sustainability objectives.

Final Thoughts:

The IT sector encounters a diverse range of issues in the year 2023, necessitating the implementation of proactive and strategic methodologies. Addressing a range of difficulties, including cybersecurity risks, talent acquisition, technological adaptation, and sustainability, is necessary in order to establish and maintain a flourishing and sustainable information technology ecosystem. By adopting a proactive approach towards innovation, allocating resources towards skill enhancement, and placing emphasis on adherence to regulations and sustainability, Nivida Web Solutions - the most distinguished IT company in Vadodara, may effectively navigate the obstacles it faces and emerge with increased resilience. This will facilitate the ongoing growth and progression of the industry in the era of digitalization.

#IT company in Vadodara #it company #vadodara #Gujarat #india

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mariacallous · 1 year ago

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For thousands of Ukrainians, Mark Hamill is the voice of the air raids. The first notice of an incoming attack is an ear-splitting whoop-whoop coming out of cell phone speakers, followed by the voice of the Star Wars actor in full Jedi Knight tones. “Air raid alert. Proceed to the nearest shelter,” he says. “Don’t be careless. Your overconfidence is your weakness.” In mid-May, following a few months of quiet in the skies over Kyiv, Russia restarted its almost nightly bombardments of cruise missiles and kamikaze drones. After a week of alerts, the novelty of “May the Force be with you” sounding asynchronously from a dozen phones in the air raid shelter wore off, and it was hard not to start blaming Hamill personally for the attacks.

The air alert app was developed by a home security company, Ajax Systems, on the second day of the war, in a process that epitomizes the scrappiness, flexibility, and back-of-the-envelope creativity that have allowed Ukraine to, at times, run its war effort like a startup, under the guidance of its 32-year-old vice prime minister, Mykhailo Fedorov.

On February 25, 2022, as fighter jets dueled low over Kyiv, Ajax’s chief marketing officer, Valentine Hrytsenko, was driving west out of the capital, helping to oversee the evacuation of the company’s manufacturing facilities, when his phone rang. It was the CEO of an IT outsourcing company, who wanted to know if Ajax had any experience with Apple’s critical alert function, which allows governments or emergency services to send alerts to users. The municipal air raid sirens were, in Hrytsenko’s words, “very old-style pieces of shit,” built during the Soviet Union, and often couldn’t be heard. People were already cobbling together their own mutual alert systems using Telegram, but these depended on volunteers finding out when raids were incoming and posting to public groups, making them unreliable and insecure.

From his car, Hrytsenko called Valeriya Ionan, the deputy minister of digital transformation, whom he knew from years working with the ministry on tech sector projects. She, in turn, connected him to several local ��digital transformation officers”—government officials installed by Fedorov’s ministry in each region of Ukraine, with a brief to find tech solutions to bureaucratic problems. Together, they figured out how the air raid system actually worked: An official in a bunker would get a call from the military, and they would press a button to fire up the sirens. Ajax’s engineers built them another button, and an app. Within a week, the beta version was live. By March, the whole country was covered. “I think this would be impossible in other countries,” Hrytsenko says. “Just imagine, on the second day of the war, I message the deputy minister. We’re talking for five minutes and they give us the green light.”

When he came into government five years ago, Fedorov promised his newly formed Ministry of Digital Transformation would create “tangible products that change the lives of people,” by making the government entrepreneurial and responsive to the needs of the population. The process is working exactly as Fedorov envisioned. The products aren't quite what he had in mind.

Fedorov is tall and broad with wide schoolboyish features and close-cropped salt-and-pepper hair. Almost always seen dressed in a hoodie and jeans, he looks like a movie star unsuccessfully geeking up for a role. When we meet, he’s just come offstage after headlining a press conference to launch a new digital education initiative. In keeping with the government’s carefully curated image, it’s a slick affair, with strip lights and hi-def screens, celebrity cameos, and a Google executive giving a speech via video call. It’s held in a five-star hotel near the Dnipro riverside but, as a concession to the ever-present threat of airstrikes, it’s taking place in the underground parking lot. The gloom and the neon and the youthful crowd in sneakers and branded sportswear gives the whole thing a kind of subversive glamor.

It’s not a packed room, but Fedorov is the main draw. Since the invasion began, he’s been one of the Ukrainian government’s most visible figures at home and abroad, more so even than the minister of defense, and second only to President Zelenksyy. Which makes sense. This has been a war fought in parallel in cyberspace, with information operations from all parties, diplomacy done at small scale on platforms, and relentless news flow, stories of hope and horror leveraged—and exploited—for gain on both sides. It’s one where, oddly for an active conflict, digital marketing, social media campaigning, crowdfunding, and bootstrapping have been vital skills. That is Fedorov’s world.

Within days of the invasion, the ministry had launched an appeal for donations: Fedorov tweeted out the government’s crypto wallet addresses, raising millions of dollars by the end of the first week. By May, the ministry had turned this into United24, a one-click ecommerce-style platform where anyone with a credit card, Paypal account, or crypto wallet could contribute to the war effort. Superficially simple, it was a radical move for any government—let alone a government at war—to open up its state finances and military supply chain to donations from the public. “But the world hasn’t seen such a huge, full-scale invasion, broadcast live, 24-7,” Fedorov says, speaking through an interpreter. “If we’d waited for people to donate through the organizations that already exist, they’d have got to Ukraine’s needs very slowly, or not at all.”

Since the start of the war, United24 has raised a reported $350 million to buy drones, rebuild homes, and fund demining operations. It has attracted celebrity endorsements from Hamill to Barbra Streisand to Imagine Dragons, helping to keep the conflict in the public consciousness around the world by giving ordinary people an opportunity to feel like they’re participating in Ukraine’s struggle for survival—something Fedorov says is more important than the money. “The same way the president talks to people abroad by broadcasts or on stage, this is the same way United24 speaks to regular people,” he says. “The main point of United24 is not fundraising itself, but keeping people around the world aware of what is going on in Ukraine.”

The initiative, and the projects that have spun out of it over the first 500 days of the war, have also been a vindication of Fedorov and Zelenskyy’s peacetime vision for the Ukrainian state. Since taking power in 2019, their administration has been trying to rewire the country’s bureaucracy, running parts of the government like a startup, communicating with and delivering services to citizens directly through their smartphones. They have nurtured their relationships with the local and global technology sectors, presenting themselves as an open, transparent and tech-forward nation, contiguous with the European Union and the democratic world they want to be part of, and whose support they now depend on.

Nothing could have prepared them for the total war that Russia launched in 2022. But Fedorov has been able to mobilize an extraordinary coalition of volunteers, entrepreneurs, engineers, hackers, and funders who have been able to move fast and build things, to innovate under fire to keep soldiers fighting and civilians safe—to get smarter. To win.

Until 2019, Fedorov was a little-known figure in Ukraine. His first foray into politics was as student mayor of his hometown of Zaporizhzhia. In 2013, as a 23-year-old, he founded a digital marketing company called SMMStudio, specializing in Facebook and Instagram ads for small businesses. One of its clients was a TV production company, Kvartal 95, founded by a comedian called Volodymyr Zelenskyy whose biggest hit was a political comedy, Servant of the People—in which a schoolteacher is unexpectedly elected president on the back of a viral video. Zelenskyy’s political party, also named Servant of the People, was spun out of Kvartal 95 in 2018. Fedorov signed on as an adviser.

In 2019, Servant of the People ran an extraordinary insurgent campaign for the presidency. The Ukrainian electorate was desperate for change, four years into a slow-burning war with Russian proxies in the Donbass region in the east, and exhausted with the crony politics of the post-Soviet era. Zelenskyy’s pitch was a new kind of politics: consensual, based on listening to the people and taking advice from experts, and decoupled from the oligopolies that corrupted administrations and slowed economic and social progress. Challenging those vested interests meant cutting the party off from the oligarchs’ financial resources, so they had to fight smart.

Fedorov ran the campaign’s digital strategy. He used Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram to sidestep the mainstream media and talk directly to a young, very online population. On Facebook, Zelenskyy crowdsourced policy ideas and asked for nominations for his cabinet. While TV was still a more important medium for the electorate at large, Zelenskyy’s campaign was at times able to dictate the news agenda online, driving viral stories that then made their way onto mainstream channels. They micro-targeted demographics that could be mobilized to vote on individual issues, with categories from “lawyers” to “mothers on maternity leave” to “men under 35 who drive for Uber.” With a full-time team of just eight people, Fedorov’s unit used social media to mobilize hundreds of thousands of volunteers, coordinated through a hub on Telegram.

Zelenskyy won the election in the second round against the incumbent, Petro Poroshenko, with nearly 75 percent of the vote. At 28 years old, Fedorov was appointed to head the newly formed Ministry of Digital Transformation, with the brief of digitizing the Ukrainian state. The new government had inherited a Soviet-era bureaucracy that had been hijacked by oligarchs, manipulated by Russia, and was corrupt at many levels. In 2019 the country ranked 126th out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, a common benchmark. By bringing services and government processes online, the administration hoped they could create a more transparent state, where corruption couldn’t fester in dark corners. “A computer has no friends or godfathers, and doesn’t take bribes,” Zelenskyy said at a Ministry of Digital Transformation summit in 2021.

The ministry’s flagship project was Diia, a “state in a smartphone” app, launched to the public in 2020. The system stored users’ official documents, including driver’s licenses and vehicle registration documents, and let them access online a growing list of government services, from tax filings to the issuance of marriage certificates. Ukraine became one of the first countries worldwide to give digital ID documents the same status as physical ones. Initially met with skepticism by a public used to governments overpromising and underdelivering, it’s now been downloaded onto 19 million smartphones and offers around 120 different government services.

“We wanted to build something that Ukrainians abroad would brag about when they went overseas,” Fedorov says, knowing full well that they already do. In its early days, Ukraine’s plans to digitize the state were often compared to Estonia, the small Baltic state that has become synonymous with e-government. This year, Ukraine is exporting Diia to Estonia, which is white-labeling the service for its own citizens.

Diia wasn’t just about building a practical tool, it was a way to change the perception of the Ukrainian government at home and abroad. Under Fedorov, the ministry was very visibly run like a startup. Its minister dresses and speaks like a tech founder, and the ministry has cultivated an air of accessibility and openness to experimentation. It has positioned itself at the center of the country’s booming tech sector, facilitating, investing, and supporting. In 2020, it launched a new “virtual free zone,” Diia City, offering tax breaks and other incentives for tech companies. The ministry has been a cheerleader internationally, with Fedorov himself conducting state-to-company diplomacy to build links between the government and Big Tech. A few months before the full-scale invasion, in late 2021, Fedorov was in Silicon Valley, pitching Ukraine to the US tech sector. On Facebook, he shared a picture from his meeting with Apple CEO Tim Cook, posting effusive praise for the “most efficient manager in the world.”

In peacetime, it’s easy to look at these initiatives with a cynical eye as the branding exercises of a country competing for a slice of the global tech dollar. Eastern Europe and Central Asia are densely populated with former Soviet states trying to reorient their economies toward services; what country doesn’t have a putative tech hub? But when the full-scale war finally began, this groundwork meant that Ukraine had a leadership with enormous experience of running asymmetrical digital campaigning; it had immediate access to a network of innovative and highly motivated engineers and tech entrepreneurs; and it had direct lines into a number of powerful global companies.

The war didn’t come s a surprise. Intelligence agencies had been warning for months that the huge buildup of Russian troops on Ukraine’s borders wasn’t a bluff. Fedorov’s ministry had been on a war footing since November 2021, working to harden national infrastructure against cyberattacks.

When the invasion began, the ministry went on the offensive, mobilizing the local tech community and using a weaponized version of its 2019 electoral playbook. Fedorov promoted a Telegram channel, the “IT Army of Ukraine,” which gathered volunteers from across the country and all over the world to hack Russian targets. Admins post targets on the channel—Russian banks, ministries, and public infrastructure—and the digital militias go after them. The channel now has more than 180,000 subscribers, who have claimed responsibility for hacks of the Moscow Stock Exchange and media outlets TASS and Kommersant. They got into radio stations in Moscow and broadcast air raid alerts, shut down the ticketing systems of Russian railway networks, and took the country’s product authentication system offline, causing chaos in its commercial supply chains.

At the same time, Fedorov, the ministry, and members of the tech community were pulling strings in Silicon Valley, mobilizing support for a “digital blockade” of Russia. On February 25, Fedorov wrote to YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos asking them to block access to their services in Russia. He asked Meta to shut down Facebook and Instagram for Russian users. He reconnected with Tim Cook at Apple, asking the company to stop selling products and services to Russia. “We need your support—in 2022, modern technology is perhaps the best answer to the tanks, multiple rocket launchers … and missiles,” the letter read.

The ministry had friends in America who helped spread the word, like Denys Gurak, a Ukrainian venture capitalist based in Connecticut. “I knew lobbyists, and I knew journalists, so I started picking up the phone and calling just everybody, asking, ‘Who can you connect me with?’ So we could start shaming Big Tech that they’re not doing anything,” Gurak says. Some of the Ukrainian demands were wildly improbable—there was a campaign to get Russia disconnected from GPS. “In the minds of Ukrainians, that totally made sense,” Gurak says. “If you ask any Ukrainian back then what had to be done in tech, they would say, ‘Just fuck them all,’ [cut them off] from GPS from the internet, from Swift.”

Gurak and others didn’t just target CEOs of tech companies, but employees at those companies too, urging them to pressure their bosses to act. When Zelenskyy and Fedorov wrote to executives, including Meta’s president of global affairs, Nick Clegg, and COO Sheryl Sandberg, asking them for assistance, Gurak helped make sure the emails “leaked” to The Ink, a newsletter read by tens of thousands of tech workers.

It’s hard to say whether these interventions directly resulted in what the companies did next. Netflix was already under pressure from new laws in Russia that would have restricted the content of its shows and compelled it to broadcast propaganda. Meta had been publicly dismantling Russian disinformation operations on Instagram and Facebook for years, leading to intense criticism from the Kremlin. Apple’s exports to Russia were inevitably going to be hit by looming sanctions. But nevertheless, they acted. Netflix, which had roughly a million customers in Russia, suspended its service there in March, closing it fully in May. YouTube blocked access to Russian state-affiliated channels worldwide. Apple halted all sales in Russia. Amazon gave Ukraine access to secure cloud storage to keep its government functioning, reduced fees for Ukrainian businesses selling on its platforms, and donated millions of dollars' worth of humanitarian and educational supplies. Facebook blocked some Russian state media from using its platforms in Europe, and changed a policy that blocked users if they called for the deaths of Russian and Belarusian presidents Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko. In response, Russia banned both platforms for “Russophobia” in March. In October, Russia declared Meta an “extremist organization.”

These are tech companies that have often studiously avoided taking overt political stances, at times dancing on a razor’s edge between neutrality and complicity in autocratic countries. Taking sides in a war between two sovereign nations feels more profound than simple commercial calculation. At the launch event in Kyiv where I met Fedorov, a Google executive gave a gushing presentation on videoconference, in front of a yellow wall that echoed the Ukrainian flag. A couple of months earlier, I saw Fedorov give a video address to a Google for Startups event in Warsaw. Wearing military green, he described the tech sector as an “economic front line” in the war with Russia. The support in the room was unambiguous. “When the invasion began, we had personal connections to these companies,” Fedorov says. “They knew who we are, what we look like, what our values are and our mission is.”

Of all Fedorov’s callouts to the tech world, the most tactically significant was probably his February 26 tweet to Elon Musk: “While you try to colonize Mars—Russia try to occupy Ukraine! While your rockets successfully land from space—Russian rockets attack Ukrainian civil people! We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations,” Fedorov wrote. “Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route,” Musk shot back.

It could be argued that this was a fantastic marketing opportunity for Musk’s company—Starlink being a solution in search of a problem—but the devices have at times proved decisive. The satellite broadband service has been used by frontline troops to communicate with one another when other networks go down, and to fly drones for surveillance and artillery targeting. Starlinks have kept government agencies and health care facilities online despite Russia’s routine targeting of power and communications infrastructure. When, in February 2023, Starlink said it was restricting Ukraine’s military use of the system, there was an outcry. (Although true to form in a Musk company, there was apparently little follow-through, and Ukrainian users said they experienced no meaningful disruption to their service.)

When asked about the early days of the war, what Fedorov reaches for isn’t the big picture, but the details—the small changes to processes that made the state more nimble. They figured out how to securely send training materials to military volunteers. They changed the law on cloud storage for government data to make it harder for the Russians to take out vital systems. They tweaked financial infrastructure to make sure donations from the global public went straight into transparent national accounting systems. United24, a platform where you can donate bitcoin to buy drones to kill Russian soldiers, has a banner saying it’s audited by Deloitte, one of the Big Four global accounting firms.

These things must have felt small and needlessly bureaucratic during the opening days of an existential conflict, in which government business was being conducted from bunkers and leading political figures were reportedly being targeted for assassination by the Russians. But they mattered, Fedorov says, because the administration couldn’t afford to be anything less than performatively incorruptible. “It was a test [set] by the president,” Fedorov says. “Make all this happen fast, but also keep the bureaucracy in place.”

Fedorov’s ministry was able to use that solid base of bureaucracy to bypass the military’s slow procurement processes, taking in money and buying drones and other high-tech gear from whoever could get it into the field quickly. “United24 shows how many unnecessary chains there were in this decisionmaking, and how it could be streamlined or optimized,” he says. In practice, what that meant was they could buy things that soldiers wanted, but the army’s procedures wouldn’t let them have. “Procedures work like anchors,” says Alexander Stepura, founder and CEO of Skyeton, a Ukrainian drone manufacturer. “The guys on the front line, they don't think about procedures.”

In a farmer’s field an hour’s drive outside of Kyiv, a man in combat fatigues kneels in the dust like a supplicant, one arm raised to the heavens, holding a quadcopter on his outstretched palm. A few meters away, two of his comrades take cover behind a concrete pylon, watched over by an instructor in aviator sunglasses. After a long wait—long enough for the kneeling soldier to have to get up and stretch his legs—the drone’s propellers start to spin. It lifts slowly from his hand, then zips away, heading for a distant tree line.

The team of three—pilot, navigator, and catcher—are learning how to launch their drones (the instructors call them “birds”) and bring them safely home in a low diagonal line that’s hard for the enemy to track. The rule of thumb is you have 30 seconds in the open before someone spots you and the mortar bombs start to fall. “Priority number one is for soldiers to survive,” the instructor, who spoke on condition of anonymity, says. The second is to get the drones back intact, since it’s getting harder and harder to get hold of the Chinese-made DJI models that were ubiquitous in the early days of the war.

These fields, strung with electrical cables and dotted with smallholdings, are where Ukraine’s “Army of Drones” trains. Over the past year, hundreds of Ukrainians have come here to learn to fly unmanned aerial vehicles in defense of their homeland, being taught how to surveil enemy lines, spot targets for artillery, and drop explosives on Russian vehicles. There’s an informality to the operation—at the battery charging station a spaniel belonging to one of the instructors barges between the trainees’ legs—but the trainers have honed their skills in combat, and many of their students go from the school directly back to the lines.

The Ukrainian army’s use of drones in the early days of the war was another master class in tech innovation. Ordinary soldiers collaborated with engineers and programmers working out of living rooms and office spaces to bootstrap a weapons program that helped drive Russia’s armored columns back from the edge of Kyiv, often using drones costing a few hundred dollars apiece to destroy millions of dollars’ worth of high-tech military gear. Since then, the enemy has begun to develop countermeasures, so the Army of Drones has had to adapt and refine its tactics and its gear. “If you want to win, you have to be smarter,” the unit’s lead instructor, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, says. “And the only way to get smarter is to learn.”

Many of Ukraine’s innovations in drone warfare were made in sheds, offices, small industrial premises, and in the trenches themselves. Soldiers jury-rigged drones to carry grenades or mortar bombs; engineers and designers helped refine the systems, 3D-printing harnesses that used, for example, light-activated mechanisms that could be fitted to the underside of DJI Mavic drones, turning the UAV’s auxiliary lights into a trigger. But the country also had a sizable aerospace industry clustered in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Lviv, which naturally pivoted to meet the threat of obliteration. Skyeton was part of it. Founded in 2006 as a maker of light aircraft, it’s been making UAVs for close to a decade, selling long-range surveillance drones to coast guards and police forces in Asia and Africa. One of its drones was put to work in Botswana, protecting the last remaining black rhino from poachers.

Converting its products for military use wasn’t straightforward. They needed to be adapted to fly without GNSS or GPS signals, and to be resistant to electronic warfare. Their software needed to be rewritten to identify military targets. “A lot of engineers in Ukraine are obsessed with fighting the enemy, so you just say ‘We need you guys’ and they come to the company and help,” says Skyeton CEO Stepura. They quickly built a new system that could fly without satellite navigation and took it to the military—who turned them down because it hadn’t been through testing, a process that typically takes two to three years in peacetime. The Army of Drones said yes straight away, and Skyeton’s drones headed to the front, where they’re still flying.

Stepura, and others I spoke to, are convinced that this approach has given Ukraine an edge. This is a war between competing technologies, he says. “Today, we have in this test field in Ukraine everything that was developed around the world. And it turns out, it doesn’t work.”

Surveillance drones like Boeing’s ScanEagle, previously billed as best-in-class, were too heavy, too slow to deploy, and too easy for the Russians to spot, he says. So the Army of Drones has gone for war-as-product-development, beta testing with “end users,” getting feedback, refining, picking winners. “The Army of Drones, all the time they communicate with end users, they collect information,” Stepura says. “They continue to invest into those companies that provide the product [about] which they've received good feedback.”

It’s easy to see Fedorov’s fingerprints on this approach. The deputy prime minister is taciturn, factual in his answers. (He’s far more expressive on Twitter.) But he’s at his most enthusiastic when he recounts a recent visit to a base on the front line near Zaporizhzhia. “The base is like an underground—actually underground—IT company. Everything is on screens with satellite connections, drone videos,” he says, with evident satisfaction. “The way people look and the way people talk, it’s just an IT company. A year ago, before the invasion, you wouldn’t see that.”

When I mention my meeting with Fedorov to Stepura, he beams. “He’s really good,” he says. “He’s really good. He’s a champion.” He might well be happy. The war, terrible as it’s been, has also been good for business. Skyeton has gone from 60 employees to 160. The drone industry is booming. A consensus estimate among half a dozen people I spoke with in the sector is that there are now around 100 viable military drone startups in Ukraine.

With the first, desperate phase of the war over, and the front line settling into more of a dynamic equilibrium, the Ministry of Digital Transformation wants to turn this startup arms business into a bona fide military-industrial complex. In April, the ministry, working with the military, launched Brave1, a “defense-tech” cluster to incubate promising technology that can first be deployed on the battlefield in Ukraine, and then be sold to customers overseas. In early June, the same fields where I watched new recruits learn the basics on DJI Mavics hosted a competition between 11 drone startups, who flew their birds in dogfights and over simulated trenches, watched over by Fedorov and an army general. The winner gets a chance at a contract with the military.

“The defense forces and the startup communities are different worlds,” Nataliia Kushnerska, Brave1’s project lead, says. “In this project, everybody receives what they need. The general staff and Ministry of Defense receive really great solutions they can actually use. The Ministry of the Economy receives a growing ecosystem, an industry that you could use to recover the country.”

It’s been a balmy spring in Kyiv. Café crowds spill out onto street-side tables. Couples walk their dogs under the blossoms in the city’s sprawling parks and botanic gardens, and teenagers use the front steps of the opera house as a skate ramp. From 500 days’ distance, the desperate, brutal defense of the capital last year has slipped into memory. What’s replaced it is a strange new normal. Restaurants advertise their bunkers alongside their menus. On train station platforms, men and women in uniform wait with duffel bags and bunches of flowers—returning from or heading to the front. During the day the skies are clear of planes, an odd absence for a capital city. At night, there are the sirens: Mark Hamill on repeat. When I left, the counteroffensive was due to happen any day. Here and there people dropped hints—supplies they’d been asked to find, mysterious trips to the southeast. It began in June, with Ukrainian forces inching forward once more.

Victory isn’t assured, and there are many sacrifices yet to come. But there is now space—psychological, emotional, and economic—to think about what comes next. Before I left Kyiv, I spoke to Tymofiy Mylovanov, a former government minister and now president of the Kyiv School of Economics, who is known for his unfiltered political analysis. I asked him why this young government had defied the expectations of many pundits, who expected their anti-corruption drives and grand plans for digitization to founder, and for them to crumble before Russia’s onslaught. “Because people weren’t paying attention to the details,” Mylovanov says. Of Fedorov, he says simply: “He’s the future.”

The war has provided proof of concept not just for drones, or the tech sector, but for a government that was idealistic and untested—even for Ukraine, as a nation whose borders, sovereignty, and identity have been undermined for decades.

Brave1 is a small way for Ukraine to look forward, to turn the disaster it’s living through into a chance to build something new. The incubator isn’t hosted in an imposing military building staffed by men in fatigues, but in the Unit City tech hub in Kyiv, with beanbags, third-wave coffee stands, and trampolines built into the courtyard. It’s emblematic of the startup-ization of the war effort, but also of the way that the war has become background noise in many cases. Its moments are still shocking, but day to day there’s a need to just get on with business.

The war is always there—Fedorov still had to present his education project in the basement, not the ballroom—but it’s been integrated into the workflow. In March, Fedorov was promoted and given an expanded brief as deputy prime minister for innovation, education, science, and technology. He’s pushing the Diia app into new places. It now hosts courses to help Ukrainians retrain in tech, and motivational lectures from sports stars and celebrities. Ukrainians can use it to watch and vote in the Eurovision Song Contest. And they can use it to listen to emergency radio broadcasts, to store their evacuation documents, to apply for funds if their homes are destroyed, even to report the movements of Russian troops to a chatbot.

Speaking as he does, like a tech worker, Fedorov says these are exactly the kind of life-changing, tangible products he promised to create, all incremental progress that adds up to a new way of governing. Small acts of political radicalism delivered online. “Government as a service,” as he puts it. He’s rolling out changes to the education system. He’s reforming the statistical service. The dull things that don’t make headlines. Ordinary things that need to be done alongside the extraordinary ones. “The world keeps going,” he says. “While Ukraine fights for freedom.”

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subornobiswas · 1 year ago

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AI in Finance: Automating Processes and Enhancing Decision-Making in the Financial Sector

Introduction:

In today’s rapidly evolving world, technology continues to reshape various industries, and the financial sector is no exception. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a game-changer, revolutionizing the way financial institutions operate and make critical decisions. By automating processes and providing valuable insights, AI is transforming the financial landscape, enabling greater efficiency, accuracy, and customer satisfaction.

AI Applications in Finance:

Automation of Routine Tasks: Financial institutions deal with massive amounts of data on a daily basis. AI-driven automation tools can streamline tasks such as data entry, processing, and reconciliation, reducing manual errors and increasing operational efficiency. Additionally, AI-powered bots can handle customer inquiries and support, freeing up human agents to focus on more complex issues.

Fraud Detection and Security: Cybersecurity is a top priority for financial institutions. AI algorithms can analyze vast datasets in real-time to detect unusual patterns and anomalies, flagging potential fraudulent activities before they escalate. This proactive approach enhances security measures and safeguards customer assets.

Personalized Customer Experience: AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants offer personalized interactions with customers, providing quick responses to queries and offering tailored financial solutions based on individual preferences and behavior. This level of personalization enhances customer satisfaction and loyalty.

AI for Risk Assessment and Management:

Credit Scoring and Underwriting: AI-powered credit risk models can assess an individual’s creditworthiness more accurately, incorporating a wide range of factors to make data-driven decisions. This expedites loan underwriting processes, allowing financial institutions to serve customers faster while managing risk effectively.

Market Analysis and Predictions: AI algorithms can analyze market trends, historical data, and other influencing factors to predict market fluctuations with higher accuracy. By leveraging AI-driven insights, investment professionals can make more informed decisions, optimizing investment strategies and portfolios.

Improving Financial Decision-Making:

Algorithmic Trading: AI-driven algorithmic trading systems can execute trades based on predefined criteria, eliminating emotional biases and executing trades with greater precision and speed. This technology has the potential to outperform traditional trading methods, benefiting both investors and institutions.

Portfolio Management: AI can optimize portfolio performance by considering various risk factors, asset correlations, and individual investment goals. Through data-driven portfolio management, investors can achieve a balanced risk-return profile, aligning with their specific financial objectives.

Ethical and Regulatory Considerations:

As AI becomes more prevalent in the financial sector, it’s crucial to address ethical concerns and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Financial institutions must be vigilant in identifying and mitigating biases present in AI algorithms to maintain fairness and transparency in decision-making processes. Additionally, adhering to data privacy laws is essential to protect customer information and build trust with clients.

Real-world Examples of AI Adoption in Finance:

JPMorgan Chase: The multinational bank utilizes AI to streamline customer interactions through their virtual assistant, providing personalized financial advice and support.

BlackRock: The investment management firm employs AI-powered algorithms to enhance its portfolio management and make data-driven investment decisions.

Challenges and Future Outlook:

While AI offers tremendous benefits to the financial sector, challenges remain, including data privacy concerns, algorithmic biases, and potential job displacement. Addressing these challenges is vital to maximizing the potential of AI in finance. Looking ahead, the future of AI in finance is promising, with advancements in Natural Language Processing (NLP), predictive analytics, and machine learning expected to reshape the industry further.

Conclusion:

AI is revolutionizing the financial sector by automating processes, improving decision-making, and enhancing customer experiences. Financial institutions embracing AI can gain a competitive edge, providing better services, reducing operational costs, and managing risks more effectively. However, ethical considerations and regulatory compliance must remain at the forefront of AI adoption to ensure a sustainable and equitable financial landscape for the future. With responsible implementation, AI is set to continue transforming finance, empowering institutions to thrive in the digital age.

#ai #talenstserve #finance #business

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digitaldrive360-blog · 11 months ago

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Are There Chances of Chatgpt Replacing Programmers?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is creating waves across various industries including the tech industry. The emergence of the various language models that include Chatgpt has left may wondering whether AI will be replacing the programmers. Chatgpt is a natural language chatbot that helps people write emails, college essays, song lyrics etc. Some of the earliest users of chatgpt have even used it to write the python code. The popularity of chatgpt has grown because of its practical applications. The question that however arises here is whether it will be able to replace the developers and the writers just as computers and robots have replaced cashiers and assembly line workers or perhaps the taxi drivers in the future. If you are interested in understanding how you can improve your work with chatgpt, you can pursue a good Search Engine Marketing Course In Gurugram.

Reasons for The Growing Popularity of Chatgpt

Chatgpt has been able to impress several people as it is able to simulate human conversations and also sounds quite knowledgeable. Chatgpt has been developed by OpenAI which is the creator of the most popular text to image AI engine called Dall- E. Chatgpt uses algorithms that helps in analysing and humans fine tune the system’s training to respond to the questions of the user with full sentences that sound similar to that of human beings.

Statistics Related to Chatgpt

A recent paper that was published by OpenAI revealed that as many as 80% of the US workforce have a minimum of 10% of their tasks affected by Chatgpt and other language models. Another research revealed that as many as 20% of the workers will find that 50% of their tasks will get affected by AI. If you want to become a web designer, you can get in touch with the best Search engine marketing institute in Gurgaon. Here you will get to learn about the use of chatgpt in the best way so that you are able to stay ahead in the competition.

The programmers can be relieved for now as it is not among the hundred professions that are going to be impacted by Chatgpt. Some of the professions that will be impacted include:

Why Will It Not Affect The Programmers?

Though Chatgpt is able to generate code and is also able to write programs, however, the process lacks proper understanding, problem solving ability and creativity that human beings have. It operates based on the patterns of the data that he was trained on. Like human programmers, it is not able to understand the code that it writes. It is also not able to understand the requirements of the projects and is not able to make It can’t understand project requirements, make architectural decisions to solve the human problems in a creative manner.

It is true that AI is able to automate repetitive tasks but programming is not just about writing codes. It is much more than that. Programming requires high level decision, personal interaction and strategic planning that AI is not able to do as these are elements that cannot be automated.

Software development is a creative field that requires users' understanding, based on feedback and sometimes abandoning the initial plans and starting all over again. All of these fall outside the realm of the AI capabilities. Pursuing a good online SEM course in Gurgaon will certainly benefit you.

Flaws of Chatgpt

1. Chatgpt has some flaws and limitations and that is why it cannot be a perfect content writing tool. It is also not a very reliable tool for creating codes as it is based on data and not on human intelligence. The sentences might sound coherent but they are not critically informed responses.

2. It is true that in the website of Chatgpt, you will find out ways that will help you debug code using this tool. But the responses are generated from prior code and it is incapable of replicating human based QA. This means that the code that it will generate will have bugs and errors. OpenAI have themselves accepted the fact that the tool at times writes plausible sounding but nonsensical and incorrect answers. So it is important for you to not use it directly in the production of any program.

3. The lack of reliability is creating a lot of problems for the developer community. In a question and answer website called Stack Overflow, where the coders used chatgpt to write and troubleshoot codes have banned its use. The reason for this is that there is such a huge volume of response generated by Chatgpt that it could not keep up with the quality which is done by humans. The average rate of getting correct answers in chatgpt is quite less. So, chatgpt is harmful for the site and for those people who are looking for correct answers from that site.

4. It is important to understand here that Chatgpt, like the other machine learning tools, is trained on data that suits its outcome. It is therefore unable to understand the human context of computing to do the programming properly. It is essential for the software engineers to understand the purpose of the software that they are developing and also the purpose of the people using it. It is not possible to create good software just by cobbling programs together.

Conclusion

So the simple answer to the question as to whether chatgpt will be able to replace the programmers is “No”. Chatgpt and the other AI tools can certainly automate the tasks, however they cannot replace human creativity, understanding and the problem solving capabilities. As of now we should consider AI as an augmenting force. It is a tool that helps programmers and software developers to be much more effective in their respective roles. Though chatgpt does have some flaws, if you want to learn to use it in the most effective way, you can get in touch with the Best SEM Training Institute in Gurgaon.

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