#plus the upcoming content and all of its implications

[constellationcrowned]

"Icons only" + Kariom (facing his greatest fear, maybe?)

Send "Icons only" and something for my muse to react to and I will show my muse's reaction using only icons (1-5) and no text

[anotheruserwithnoname]

Maybe not a new plan, but this could have implications for Doctor Who as history repeats itself.

The last major Hollywood strike in 2007 resulted in the American networks scrambling to find "new" content. One network aired the BBC series Merlin over the summer and there was serious talk of the first and/or second seasons of the Doctor Who revival also airing. (This was around the time Syfy picked up the series, which was likely why we didn't see Christopher Eccleston or David Tennant on something like NBC).

Of course now we have the double-barrelled writers and actors strike and Disney has announced its Ms Marvel series from Disney+ will air this fall on the Disney-owned ABC network.

Since it's been reported that Ms Marvel was one of the lower-rated of the Disney+ series, there's been some headscratching as to why it was chosen and not, say, Loki or Winter Soldier and the Falcon (or even the now-cancelled She-Hulk Attorney at Law), or even something like The Mandalorian. Likely easy answer is Ms Marvel is the more family-friendly of the series and would likely require less editing for language and violence (Disney+ isn't Netflix but its shows can have a harder edge than what you might see on ABC). Also, the character will be in the upcoming Marvels film so maybe trying to avoid the box office underperformance of other recent MCU films, Disney might see this as an easy way to promote it (plus, without spoiler, Ms Marvel does tie-in directly to the upcoming movie).

The reason why I bring all this up is if the strikes continue, there is another family-friendly property due to stream on Disney+ in the coming months. Doctor Who's 60th anniversary could potentially turn up on American network TV. (I am assuming that BBC America will not be showing future episodes of Doctor Who now that it's on Disney+. Even then I think some network in the states like BBC America was airing Merlin when it also showed on NBC; I'm also hopeful that the strikes end before Series 14 - which won't air till sometime in 2024 - becomes a factor). Food for thought!

[daveg65]

329 - The iPad Mini and Final Cut Pro

The latest In Touch With iOS with Dave he is joined by guest, Jim McKinley, Marty Jencius, Jeff Gamet. We provide an in-depth look at the Apple Vision Pro, examining the impact of the recent Vision OS 2.0 beta software on developers and users. The introduction of Vision Pro app by Vimeo and its implications for spatial video is a key highlight, along with reflections on Apple's software  Plus more strategy amid market challenges. We also discuss the new iPad mini 7 equipped with the A17 Pro chip, considering its potential for creative professionals and its compatibility with powerful applications. updates on iOS 18.1 and 18.2, focusing on the innovative features offered by Apple Intelligence.

The show notes are at InTouchwithiOS.com


Direct Link to Audio

Full Summary

This week's episode of In Touch with iOS features an engaging panel discussion with Jill McKinley, Jeff Gamet, and Marty Jencius, alongside our host, Dave Ginsberg. We dive into the latest news and developments surrounding the Apple ecosystem, starting with our main focus: the Apple Vision Pro. The discussion covers the recent release candidates for Vision OS, exploring the impact of the second seed of Vision OS 2.0 on developers and users alike. The panel shares their experiences with the beta software, highlighting both its potential and the challenges that have arisen, such as the lack of significant new applications since the device's launch.

A noteworthy topic is Vimeo's introduction of a Vision Pro app that brings spatial video support to the platform, contrasting it with YouTube's decision not to develop an app. The panel expresses excitement about the immersive capabilities this presents to users and the broader implications for content creation and sharing on the Vision Pro. As we navigate through various concerns raised in media reports about the Vision Pro's market performance and software development ecosystem, we consider Apple's long-term strategy and resilience in the face of skepticism.

Shifting gears, we discuss the release of the iPad mini 7, which features the powerful A17 Pro chip, and its compatibility with professional applications like Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro. The panel debates the practical applications of using such power on a smaller device and shares their personal experiences with iPads for creative work. This conversation seamlessly leads into a talk about iOS 18.1 and the upcoming 18.2 updates, particularly the incorporation of Apple Intelligence features which promise to enhance productivity through tools like smart replies and automated summaries.

Throughout the episode, our conversation touches on the implications of recent changes in services like Hulu and Disney Plus regarding subscription models and their integration with Apple's App Store. The panel reflects on the shifting landscape of content consumption and the evolving relationship between tech companies and media services.

In closing, we take a moment to highlight the significance of experimenting with new technologies, be it through free trials of carriers like AT&T or the willingness to embrace beta features, as we all seek to navigate the rapidly changing tech environment. Each panelist shares their thoughts on what lies ahead, from new product launches to personal experiences with various Apple products, framing a discussion filled with insights and anticipation for technological advancements.

Links to our Show

Give us a review on Apple Podcasts! CLICK HERE we would really appreciate it!

Click this link Buy me a Coffee to support the show we would really appreciate it. intouchwithios.com/coffee 

Another way to support the show is to become a Patreon member patreon.com/intouchwithios

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Spoutible

In Touch With Vision Pro this week. Apple Seeds Second visionOS 2.1 Release Candidate

Vimeo Releases Vision Pro App With Spatial Video Support After YouTube Shuns Apple's Headset

Apple Headset Stalls, Struggles to Attract Killer Apps in First Year 

Tim Cook on Why Apple’s Huge Bets Will Pay Off

Report: Apple May Stop Producing Vision Pro by the End of 2024

Beta this week. iOS 18.2 Beta and iOS 18.1 RC is released Apple Seeds iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 Release Candidates With Apple Intelligence

Apple Seeds visionOS 2.1 and tvOS 18.1 Release Candidates - MacRumors

Apple Seeds watchOS 11.1 Release Candidate

New AirPods Pro 2 firmware now available for iOS 18.1’s hearing health features

Apple Releases New AirPods Pro 2 Firmware Ahead of Hearing Aid Feature Launch

iOS 18.1: AirPods Pro 2 Hearing Protection Availability Limited to US and Canada at Launch 

 iOS 18.1 Fixes Bug Causing iPhone 16 to Randomly Restart 

iOS 18.2 beta 1: Every new feature and change 

Everything New in iOS 18.2 Beta 1 

Ipad Mini 7 is released. iPad Mini 7 With Apple Intelligence Available Today for Same-Day Pickup

iPad Mini 7 Supports Over-the-Air Recovery Using Another iOS Device

Apple Releases iPadOS 18.0.1 for iPad Mini 7 Ahead of Tomorrow's Launch

iPad Mini 7 Launches Tomorrow: Here Are 12 Changes to Know About 

New iPad Mini Compatible With Final Cut Pro, But Lacks Stage Manager

You Can Now Try AT&T's Network for Free 

News

Astropad Launches 'Bookcase' for Turning an iPhone Into an E-Reader

iPhone Driver's License Support Expands to Iowa

Apple Teases M4 Mac Announcements Next Week 

Hulu and Disney+ No Longer Support Signups and Payment Using App Store

Announcements

Macstock 8 wrapped up for 2024. But you can purchase the digital pass and still see the great talks we had including Dave talking about Apple Services and more. Content is now available! .  Click here for more information: Digital Pass | Macstock Conference & Expo with discounts on previous events. 

Our Host

Dave Ginsburg is an IT professional supporting Mac, iOS and Windows users and shares his wealth of knowledge of iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV and related technologies. Visit the YouTube channel https://youtube.com/intouchwithios follow him on Mastadon @daveg65, and the show @intouchwithios

  Our Regular Contributors

Jeff Gamet is a podcaster, technology blogger, artist, and author. Previously, he was The Mac Observer’s managing editor, and Smile’s TextExpander Evangelist. You can find him on Mastadon @jgamet as well as Twitter and Instagram as @jgamet  His YouTube channel https://youtube.com/jgamet

Marty Jencius, Ph.D., is a professor of counselor education at Kent State University, where he researches, writes, and trains about using technology in teaching and mental health practice. His podcasts include Vision Pro Files, The Tech Savvy Professor and Circular Firing Squad Podcast. Find him at jencius@mastodon.social  https://thepodtalk.net 

About our Guest

Jill McKinley is a professional in the field of enterprise software, server administration, and IT. She started her technical career in Windows but now exclusively uses a Mac in her personal life. She hosts several podcasts, including Start with Small Steps and Small Steps with God, where she offers tips and insights for a better life. Her podcast is at https://abetterlifeinsmallsteps.com/ and X @schmern.

Here is our latest Episode!

[allinonecryptoapp]

Crypto Pulse: Navigating the Future of Finance - Weekly Insights

Dear Traders. The world of cryptocurrency never sleeps, and this past week has been particularly buzzing with major news and developments. From significant legal settlements to technological advancements, here's a roundup of the most recent happenings in the crypto sphere.  

Weekly Crypto News Round-Up

Summary of the Week's Most Impactful News - Binance and DOJ: The U.S. Department of Justice argues that Binance's former CEO should remain free until sentencing, but only within the U.S. This development could have implications for the exchange's global operations​​. - Cosmos Hub Developments: The founder of Cosmos calls for a chain split, affecting the ATOM token and its ecosystem, demonstrating the dynamic nature of blockchain governance​​. - KyberSwap Hacked: KyberSwap, a decentralized exchange, was hacked for $48 million, a significant event raising concerns over DeFi security​​. - Do Kwon's Extradition: A Montenegro court has approved the extradition of Terra's Do Kwon, a decision that could have repercussions for the broader crypto market​​. - Binance Settles for $4B: Binance agreed to a $4 billion settlement in a U.S. criminal case, with CEO Changpeng Zhao resigning and pleading guilty​​. - Bitcoin Hashrate War Escalates: The competition between Antpool and Foundry intensified, highlighting the competitive nature of Bitcoin mining as the Bitcoin ETF nears​​. - Ethereum's Layer 2 Debate: The implementation of Layer 2 solutions in Ethereum spurred discussions about their impact on scalability and efficiency​​. - Bitcoin's Anti-Censorship Questioned: The acknowledgment of a 'filter' by the mining pool F2Pool brought Bitcoin's anti-censorship principles to the fore​​.  

Technical Analysis: Bitcoin #BTC, Bitcoin Dominance #BTC.D, Ethereum #ETH, Solana #SOL, Ripple #XRP, ChainLink #LINK and Some Potential Coins Price Prediction

The exclusive content has been posted in our announcement section. You can quickly read it here. Bitcoin at the Crossroads: Hold or Sell? Plus, Exciting New Altcoin Updates Including SOL's 275% Rally! 🤑  

Upcoming Crypto Events

Noteworthy Events in the Crypto World - Beldex TestNet Hardfork: Scheduled for November 27, 2023, Beldex announces a significant TestNet hardfork at block height 1251330​​. - Beldex iOS Wallet Update: A major update for Beldex's iOS wallet is set to release, marking a significant enhancement for users​​. - Qtum Mandatory Update: Qtum has announced a mandatory update for its mainnet, expected around 00:24 UTC on November 27, 2023​​. - Binance Japan Listing: Binance expands its reach with a new listing in Japan, adding to the platform's global presence​​. - Flux Major News: Flux teases substantial news regarding its Web3 interoperability efforts, an exciting development in the space​​. - USH Airdrop: An airdrop event is set for rewarding active community members involved in liquidity provision and $HTM staking​​. - Bad Idea AI Chatbot V3.0 Launch: The AI Chatbot for Telegram by Bad Idea AI gets an upgrade to V3.0, enhancing user interaction with advanced features​​. - WeSendit MEXC Listing: WeSendit will be listed on MEXC with the WSI/USDT pair, a new trading opportunity for the community​​. - Scribe Available to All: Previously limited to manually approved creator pool owners, Scribe is now accessible to all users​​. - Vertex Protocol Bitrue Listing: Vertex Protocol gets listed on Bitrue with the VRTX/USDT pair, widening its market accessibility​​. - Tenset Bitget Listing: Tenset will be listed on Bitget with the 10SET/USDT pair, offering a new trading avenue for investors​​. - AMA with Ciphers on Concordium Blockchain: An AMA session with Ciphers focuses on bridging real-world assets and NFTs on the Concordium blockchain​​. - Sonic Testnet Upgrade: The Sonic testnet is reopening, focusing on swap transactions and boasting over 2,000 TPS​​. - Abu Dhabi Finance Week: A significant event where global financial industry leaders discuss economic and technological opportunities and challenges​​. - AMA with Arbitrum: An AMA session with Arbitrum focuses on building and growing the ecosystem, scheduled for 12:00 PM (EST)​​. - QPIP-4 Vote for Qredo: A crucial vote for Qredo's QPIP-4, which could lead to significant changes in the platform​​. Source: coinmarketcal.com  

Free Crypto Signals Review

Last Week's Crypto Signals Performance In November 2023, the All In One Crypto App's crypto signals showcased the following performance: - Total Signals: 3 - Wins: 2 - Losses: 1 - Breakeven: 0 - Profit Percentage: 14.09% - Winrate: 66.67% These statistics reflect a solid performance with a majority of the signals resulting in wins. The winrate of over 66% and a profit percentage of 14.09% indicate the effectiveness of the signals provided by the platform for that month.  

Accurate Crypto Market Prediction Review

In the last month, the All In One Crypto App's crypto signals have shown impressive results: - SOL Performance: A signal for SOL predicted a 90% potential gain, which played out well, underlining the accuracy and potential of these crypto signals​​. - Market Update and Gains: Another update highlighted coins with a potential gain of 250% and 90%, showcasing the depth of market analysis and the potential for significant returns​​. - Bitcoin Success: A signal pertaining to Bitcoin met all its targets, demonstrating the platform's ability to accurately predict market movements​​. Overall, these results paint a picture of a robust and reliable signal system, capable of navigating the complexities of the crypto market and providing users with actionable insights for profitable trading decisions.  

All In One Crypto App Exclusive Features

Exploring the Revolutionary Trading Tools of the All In One Crypto App - AI-based Future Trading Bots: This innovative feature utilizes advanced AI and technical analysis to swiftly analyze market trends. By interpreting indicators and patterns, the AI-based bot executes trades free from human emotion, ensuring consistent, data-driven results. It's a step into the future of trading, offering an edge in rapidly changing markets​​. - DCA (Dollar-Cost Averaging) Trading Bots: These bots optimize crypto gains by automatically purchasing assets at set intervals. This strategy is ideal for investors at all experience levels, promoting smarter and more disciplined investing strategies​​. - Copy Trading Bots: For those who are either new to trading or too busy to manage their trades actively, the Copy Trading Bots provide a convenient solution. These bots mirror the moves of experienced analysts in real-time, enabling users to trade effortlessly while maintaining control over their investments​​.  

Join Our Premium Community

Exclusive Benefits for Premium Subscribers Take your crypto journey to the next level by joining the All In One Crypto App Premium Community. As a premium subscriber, you'll unlock a wealth of in-depth insights, advanced trading signals, and personalized support to enhance your trading experience. Our premium community offers: - Advanced Trading Tools: Get access to sophisticated AI tools and algorithmic trading bots. - Expert Analysis: Receive detailed market analyses and predictions from experienced traders. - Exclusive Signals: Benefit from high-quality, premium-only trading signals. - Personalized Support: Enjoy dedicated customer service for all your trading queries. Don't miss out on these exclusive benefits. Sign up today and be part of a community that's dedicated to helping you succeed in the dynamic world of cryptocurrency trading.  

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Follow Us on Social Media - Mobile app - Telegram Channel - Telegram Group - Twitter - Facebook - YouTube - Instagram Read the full article

[charteredaccountantjanakpuri]

Is Indian Share Market Overvalued? Exploring Possible Alternatives for Investors!

Introduction

 When there are talks about intriguing topics, the future surely qualifies as one. The uncertainties and lack of facts about it makes a human mind delve deep into the ambiguity. The current scenario of the Markets touching an all-time high and the massive surge of participants makes us ponder the question, what is the stock market's future? Is the market overvalued? Is there a bubble?

 This article will try to ease your anxiousness with some facts plus historical data, including judgements of the current trends and personal opinions. We will begin with the concept of valuations and the techniques involved, leading to possible future scenarios and how you as an investor can benefit from them.

 Let's begin!

 What is Overvaluation?

 Valuing a stock is a lot different than it seems from valuing the stock market itself. An investor can perform Fundamental Analysis to value a stock by measuring its intrinsic value based on relative economic, financial and quantitative factors, but we cannot say the same for the market itself. Due to the large scale implications of every financial decision in the country and macroeconomic factors, the metrics differ for the market.

 But every seasoned investor knows that there's more to analysing stocks than just looking at valuations metrics, and it is far more essential to invest in a good business than a cheap stock. We can say the same about the stock market.

 Let’s first look at some of the frequently used metrics of market valuations used around the globe and try to understand their credibility and relevance in our scenario:

 The Buffett Indicator

 The Buffett Indicator is the Market Capitalisation to GDP ratio, which is named after one of the most influential investors of all time, Warren Buffett, called this ratio 'The best single measure of where valuations stand at any given moment'. This indicator works by dividing the collective value of a country’s stock market by the nation’s GDP, assessing how expensive or cheap the aggregate stock market is at a given point in time. The current valuations according to this metric are hovering around 104-105% historically, which used to remain around 80% of GDP. To give you a clear idea only time such valuations (over 100%) happened was in FY08.

 P/E Ratio

 Another closely watched metric for market valuations after the Buffet Indicator is the Price to Earnings Ratio (P/E Ratio).

 It tends to show what the market is willing to pay today for a stock based on its past or future earnings. A high P/E Ratio reflects overvaluation, and guess what? Indian markets, along with global markets, are witnessing a raised P/E for the past few years. The Nifty Index P/E is trailed around 20 times which historically used to be 17 times at best, and the current figure is 25.39 as of today.

 So what do we make of it? That the market seems to be overvalued? Well, it's not entirely true.

 Experts point out that the buffet indicator is widely followed and works well in efficient economies like the US, but India has its unique characteristics. India's GDP does not capture many activities that are either informal in nature (including contributions by housewives) or are out of formal channel due to the unaccounted nature of transactions. If one includes this portion, then the denominator will rise. Also, in India, many PSUs and private companies (including startups) are not listed, and hence the numerator is also depressed.

 Hence it is believed that the Buffett indicator is less useful for an economy like India with a substantial proportion of GDP being from unorganised and SME sectors and is outside of listed space.

 As for the high and ambiguous P/E Ratio, Let me clarify that the P/E ratio is not a fact; it is an estimation. The Earnings denominator considers the past and the future earnings (which are estimated). Some might argue about the credibility of past earnings, but one massive problem exists in that also, the year 2020. The earnings had gone down drastically in 2020, causing the ratio to move up. Hence, consideration of the last 12-18 months earnings is not a good move.

 The points mentioned above indicates that the credibility of the most popular market valuation metrics are in question. Hence, no one can indeed say that the markets are overvalued and expect a crash coming to that itself.

 India is a stable economy with lots of growth potential, and expecting a bubble will restrict some serious money-making potential.

 Alternate Approach

 Investing is always about alternatives. Now that it is clear that the market situation is not as bad as it seems let us shift our focus towards options other than stock markets. If there are concerns about high pricing, bubble situation, speculative action, etc., in the market, the question arises what alternatives do we have?   FD? Bonds? Real Estate?

 Well, we all know about the devious nature of Fixed Deposits and how they can create a hole in your wealth, courtesy of Inflation. On the other hand, the Real Estate Sector is not as lucrative as it was a long time ago as it has succumbed to Liquidity problems, High valuations, slogged growth, etc. That leaves us with Bond Markets.

 Bond Markets are also a primary market like the stock market but much more prominent in size and often less talked about, which grabs the attention of investors through the Yield mechanism. But the problem lies in the low return scenario of these markets as they are operating on a belief of low Inflation that will lead to low growth in the upcoming years. In contrast, the Stock Market is sending a completely different signal of High Inflation that leads to high growth of businesses in the future resulting in high returns.

 One can argue that yield can grow in the future, but there are two types of yield growth in bond markets; First, a Knee Jerk Reaction to move money into bond markets from stock markets which is not likely to happen as this will shake the stock market and no country wants that to happen and second, a slogged growth overtime which again makes the stock market shines like the most lucrative option.

 There exist no option other than to invest in businesses as they are growing with Inflation. This growth becomes the sole reason why money is and will keep flowing from various other alternatives, including Bond Markets into Stock Market, indicating its growth in the future.

What should you do?

 After all these facts and speculations about the market's future, the question that lingers the most among investors is that what should they do?

 The first thing every investor needs to do is to stop pricing for perfections all over the world. Rather than believing that central banks can and will provide a stable floor for the market to stand upon, which is nothing but a perception, one should start planning for themselves and prepare accordingly for the worst to happen. Betting on Probable stories rather than Plausible ones makes much more sense, but sadly the reverse analogy is being followed (Take the case of Zomato)

 Conclusion:

 So rest assured, here are some key takeaways from my side with the hope of tapping the glorious opportunities which the future is going to throw at us:

 Invest in the growth of the middle-class sector

 If talking about the growth potential in India, the middle-class sector holds the key to its salvation. We are currently in a recovery phase from the devastating impact of covid on our economy. Hence, the earnings are bound to increase with time. So if we are considering the P/E ratio as a growth indicator, a market crash cannot be anticipated as the ratio will come down eventually without that happening.

 Staying away from overvalued and super inflated stocks like Titan (high P/E) and sectors (like pharma) of the market can make your investing journey a little safe and sound.

 Hedge by buying Cryptocurrency

 It is of believing that there is a good 10 to 15% population that believes in the Crypto narrative. To remove the uncertainties regarding the future of markets, investing around 20% of your portfolio in Crypto might be a sound hedging strategy. With the evolution and popularisation of Blockchain Technology (technology on which most Crypto operates) and its overtime infusion into mainstream tasks like Banking, Auditing, etc., speculations can be made about growth in this sector.

 And what if the market crashes?

A likely scenario causing the market to crash in future is the Convergence of the Stock Market and the Bond Market talked above but guess what will this crash lead to; the boom in Crypto, which would make your hedge in Crypto successful.

 Hence Investing in India and believing in its growth potential is the best bet one can make in the future.

 Authored by Himanshu Sharma and assisted by Bhavy Dhawan

For any clarifications and suggestions reach us at info@manishanilgupta.com

Disclaimer!

This article is meant purely for knowledge and educational purposes. It contains only general information and references to legal content. It is not legal advice, and should not be treated as such.

 Source: https://www.manishanilgupta.com/blog-details/is-indian-share-market-overvalued--exploring-possible-alternatives-for-investors!

[crimeronan]

soulmate verse meta no one asked for: adam’s lack of soulmates, narrative themes, and the story i care about telling 

(spoiler: i get bored writing “everything sucks for adam forever” fics)

this was a response to an ao3 comment on we never were good at doing what we’re told (that i’ve edited to be a clearer essay for people who haven’t read said fic)

i’m bursting so heavily to talk about themes and feelings and writing and characterization and shit that it’s become an essay that’s not just about the soulmate verse itself but also about like..... my entire thought process when crafting any narrative, ever

one of the biggest things that turned this story into a heart project of mine was wondering about what non-traditional relationships look like in a world where soulmates exist 

and then on the flip side, wondering what kind of challenges or unhealthy relationship dynamics soulmates might face despite being fated

in this universe, people are born with silhouettes of tattoos that color in when they touch their soulmate for the first time.  many people have more than one mark, but having a Lot of marks is unusual.  so you know from the getgo how many soulmates you have, but don’t know who they are until the skin-on-skin touch

adam parrish does not have any soul marks.  he has no fated soulmate relationships.  complicating this is the fact that most of his loved ones have marks for each other - but not for him

there's a low reach where you can take the concept of "adam doesn't have any soulmates" and run with routes like

adam can never connect to people on a deep intimate personal level

adam will never be as close to anyone as their soulmates are

adam can only forge relationships with other people who don't have soul bonds

every relationship adam forges falls apart because if it's not fated, that means there's no compatibility

adam has to work harder to be loved than a person with a soulmate

adam's a callous bastard who doesn't need anyone and hurts everyone because he doesn't understand them

adam is worse for ronan, gansey, noah, and blue than they are for each other

but that's not a story that feels genuine to me. it would give me no pleasure to write a fic where the conclusion is "and adam will never be able to have the love that other people do because he sucks and/or life sucks. amen. peace"

what DOES interest me, though, is the thought of how adam himself may have internalized these ideas 

the society that adam, ronan, hennessy, and the other characters are living in has very Very heavy social constructs about soulmates

mainly, that being someone's soulmate means:

that there's an inherent compatibility/understanding/reflection 

that there are missing emotional pieces immediately found 

that your soulmate is a person who is SUPPOSED to be in your life forever because they WILL make your life better  

if they don't make your life better, you're doing something wrong

but the thing is that we can also see that these constructs are not inherent truth, they're just being presented like inherent truth.

these are some details throughout the fic thus far (as of writing this, the first six chapters):

different cultures all have different complex and varied histories and traditions and feelings about soulmate bonds.

scientists have tried to quantify what different marks mean, analysts have tried to use marks to predict the shape of relationships, and there are no on-paper answers. 

ronan talks about a now-considered-antiquated idea that soulmates aren't relationship fated at all, but are instead formed when one person saves another's life. 

he's thinking about it because of his internal struggles, but there's a massive implication there: that the social definition and expectation of what a soulmate is has shifted DRASTICALLY over time rather than being an unchanging rock.

so as the person writing this world, i know that the social constructs are bullshit. adam does too, intellectually. he's spent a lot of time picking apart discrepancies and fallacies and falsehoods 

if adam didn't believe intellectually that he could have a relationship with ronan or gansey or blue or noah that's just as important as their relationships to each other, he wouldn't be here. 

if adam had bought into the idea that only soulmates understand each other, he'd be isolating himself as we speak 

he spent a lot of his adolescence challenging his preconceptions and rethinking what love and relationships mean, very parallel to his relationship with love in canon

but adam still has those nagging fears and doubts that these things might be true. 

what if he's more invested in his partners than they are in him? 

what if he loses them and can't rebuild? 

what if he's never going to be able to provide the emotional support or happiness that people deserve? 

what if no one will ever understand him? 

what if this is all a mistake? 

what if there's a reason he has no soulmates? 

what if he's an inherently destructive person fated to hurt anyone close to him?

adam doesn't believe these things are true, but the "what if"s are constantly itching at the back of his mind

so a big part of adam's journey in this story is him having experiences and shifting his worldview in ways that put the worst fears to bed. adam's done a lot of introspection about himself and his lack of soul marks, but he hasn't spared as much thought for soulmate relationships themselves. adam's looking at soulmate bonds and thinking, "those are an inherently good thing i've been deprived of," and hasn't yet devoted enough analysis to the fact that they might NOT be inherently good.

ronan and hennessy have equally complicated relationships with this society and its constructs. all three members of this group have experiences that challenge the others' preconceptions about what they believe is true

-

as the author, thinking about the themes i want to establish and the story i want to tell, every single interaction in this AU and every relationship is built around concepts like

-soulmates don't always understand each other's thought processes and emotions.

ronan has a very different relationship with every one of his individual soulmates plus adam 

each relationship has its strengths and weaknesses. not every soulmate can help ronan equally with every issue.

ronan and adam have learned each other, but ronan has ALSO spent a great deal of time learning his soulmates as well.  and they him

ronan’s relationships with EVERYONE have changed and grown and shifted over the years, and they’ve meant different things at different times.  there’s never been a single unchanging dimension of compatibility

-commitment, respect, growth, and communication are INFINITELY more vital for relationship health than a soul bond. 

this is something that’s gonna be delved HEAVILY into in upcoming content.  that being fated isn’t enough to make a relationship good if the foundation of mutual respect and commitment isn’t there

-soul bonds aren't well understood and don't necessarily mean what people think they do. 

(see: the whole above ramble)

-some soulmate relationships end up being DEEPLY unhealthy and dysfunctional. 

digging heavily into this soon as well. 

 in the first six chapters, the most striking example is hennessy’s parents.  they were soul bonded and hennessy’s mother believed her father would be a savior.  her father believed his soulmate was his sexy manic pixie dream girl but didn’t want to do the heavy lifting of helping with her actual mania.  

you’ve heard this tragedy before.  tale as old as time.

-soulmates CAN have lifelong happy healthy harmonious partnerships with strong compatibility, but it always takes work and respect and active choice. 

ronan is soul bonded to gansey, noah, and blue.  he has very good relationships with all of them.  he has also had very bad soulmate experiences in the past.  the difference in his committed life partnerships is the commitment and love and respect and ongoing understanding

-

the conclusion is:

my own life experience has been VERY centered around nontraditional relationships, figuring out how to construct healthy life partnerships, and making up my own rules because varying social constructs/expectations don't work for my heart. 

so that's all reflected in this verse, particularly in how adam has been told he's too broken to form connections & has instead said "fuck you i'm gonna do it anyway"

[aion-rsa]

Mark Wahlberg Movie Infinite Signals That Paramount Plus Will Evolve Beyond Star Trek

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Paramount+, once known as CBS All Access, has mainly defined itself with an overwhelming wave of Star Trek television content. However, surrounded by high-end competition from Disney+, HBO Max, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, the rebranded streamer is looking to live long and prosper beyond the space-faring franchise, having announced grandiose plans to expand its movie content. Most notably, sci-fi film Infinite, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Mark Wahlberg, will be the service’s first theater-skipping feature offering; a surefire sign of things to come.

Obviously, the boat of box-office-bypassing movies already left its proverbial dock some time ago; a notion recently exemplified by streaming’s dominance of the 2021 Academy Awards via Best Picture winner Nomadland (which debuted on Hulu in the U.S.), along with The Sound of Metal (Amazon Prime Video), Judas and the Black Messiah (HBO Max), Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix), Mank (Netflix) and Soul (Disney+)—embarrassingly-shrunken television audience for the ceremony itself notwithstanding. Indeed, while Paramount’s plans were likely long-gestating, there had to be a feeling that its insurgent steaming service missed said boat after fellow streamers cleaned up at the Oscars. This is especially the case as the theater-free phenomenon’s pandemic-related circumstances rapidly evolve in the post-vaccine era. Yet, today’s earnings call with ViacomCBS CEO Bob Bakish shows a company embracing the old adage, “Better late than never.”

Paramount announced a rather auspicious acquisition in director Antoine Fuqua’s Infinite, which stars a reliable headliner in Mark Wahlberg, joined by an ensemble consisting of Dylan O’Brien, Toby Jones, Rupert Friend, Jason Mantzoukas, Kingsman: The Secret Service standout Sophie Cookson and, notably, 12 Years a Slave Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor as the villain. The film, which originally had Marvel’s Captain America, Chris Evans, tapped as its star, was shot back in 2019, and, interestingly enough, was originally scheduled to hit theaters on May 28, 2021. Those plans, of course, have since dramatically changed, with Infinite now set for a U.S. streaming premiere on Paramount+ in late-June, with international plans to be revealed at a later time.

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The Paramount+ arrival of Infinite will unveil famed director Fuqua’s first feature since 2018’s The Equalizer 2. The ambitious sci-fi actioner—officially teased as “a classic story of good vs. evil with an epic twist”—was scripted by John Lee Hancock and Ian Shorr, who adapted D. Eric Maikranz’s 2009 novel, The Reincarnationist Papers. Bearing a plot that somewhat resembles the Assassin’s Creed video game series (and its 2016 movie adaptation), the film focuses on a secret society, called the Cognomina, whose members have the helpful ability to recall details from their past lives. However, things unravel as the haunting memories of Wahlberg’s formerly-Chris-Evans-cast character—a schizophrenic newcomer to the organization named Evan Michaels—uncover dangerous secrets. Thus, a film that could have been lucrative box office fodder for the popcorn crowd will instead become a bellwether offering for the streamer similar to HBO Max’s recent premium-free premieres of action-packed crowd-pleasers like Wonder Woman 1984, Godzilla vs. Kong, Mortal Kombat and the upcoming Dune.

Indeed, Bakish promises a release strategy that will see the consistent arrivals of even more pandemic-era pictures purloined from their planned theatrical releases, stating, “All of this is a preview to a substantial ramping up of original movies next year, when we expect to begin averaging an original movie a week in 2022.” The move complements news revealed to investors back in February that Paramount-hailing major releases such as A Quiet Place II and the untitled Mission: Impossible 7 will premiere on Paramount+ within a small 45-day window from their designated theatrical releases; news that’s more immediate, since the former is set to hit theaters by the end of the month, May 28, to be followed next year, on May 27, 2022, by the latter.

Interestingly, the effect of Paramount Plus’s acquisition of Infinite will be felt as immediately as early-June, during which 1,000 movies will be added to the platform’s existing film library, bringing its total to 2,500. It’s a dramatic transformation for the streamer, which, in its former life as CBS All Access, failed to make much of an industry impact outside of Star Trek—even with Jordan Peele’s heralded reboot of The Twilight Zone. Of course, that is not to say that the platform is moving away from Star Trek, since it’s still home to exorbitantly-produced returning live-action series Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Picard, which will be joined by a spinoff show of the former, the U.S.S. Enterprise-set Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and, prospectively, an untitled series focused on elusive intelligence agency Section 31 starring Michelle Yeoh’s Emperor Philippa Georgiou—not to mention current animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks.

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

Nevertheless, the ViacomCBS CEO is effectively hyping the Paramount platform’s imminent influx of films as a “Mountain of Movies,” setting up a course correction to the platform’s hitherto tardiness on the original movie front. While no serious prognosticator expects Infinite to make any kind of dent at the 2022 Oscars akin to its aforementioned dramatic streaming peers, its move does carry implications. The continued adherence to a socially-distanced distribution scheme is a consequential shift to Paramount+ itself, and also reinforces the idea that the pandemic’s effects on the industry could become permanent.  

The post Mark Wahlberg Movie Infinite Signals That Paramount Plus Will Evolve Beyond Star Trek appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[livehealthynewsusa]

“Power Bald” Male Celebrities – How Shaved Heads Became Trendy in 2021

Shrek is an iconic power bald head. Likewise RuPaul, host of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. But at the moment they are far from alone in their glittering splendor. Travis Barker is currently Kourtney Kardashian’s bald friend. Sean Evans is the powerful bald man from Hot Ones, while Stanley Tucci’s effortless Gravitas in Searching for Italy is just hot. And don’t forget the bald domination franchise, Fast & Furious, which features the glorious hairless heads of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Jason Statham, Tyrese Gibson and Vin Diesel. This month Gibson and Diesel shine again with F9 in theaters.

Welcome to the world of power bald heads, a hectic but hairless community in upheaval. In fact, the summer of 2021 could just be a peak balding season, with Adam Levine hugging the hairless self-care style, four times the strongest man in the world, Brian Shaw looking slick lifting a Hyundai SUV in a car commercial. and the WWE Braun Strowman alias Adam Scherr, who posts particularly intoxicating workouts on Instagram.

For the uninitiated, power balding is an emerging movement by men who have shaved off their insecurities about being bald. While baldness has always been around, a new cultural shift, both on and off screen, has shown the power of focusing on simple, sleek appearance. One that allows value and beauty to be defined by principles other than the lush mane or the uniformity of its brush cuts.

Power bald Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel look stylish.

Buda mendesGetty Images

To be clear, power baldnesses aren’t Homer Simpsons. You will happily part with these two remaining hairs to hug their sleek heads. They’re not Voldemorts either. Your baldness is not the result of too much toxic masculinity. In fact, some of the most honorable power bald people are not men at all. Dora Milaje from Black Panther embodies the term, as does Sinéad O’Connor. As is Gossip Girl’s newest queen bee, Julien Calloway, played by Jordan Alexander. A bald head has power. They are proud of that. But above all, they try to handle it responsibly.

“Somebody who is power-bald is about the self-confidence in which you carry yourself,” says Roger Bennett, co-host of the TV show and podcast Men in Blazers, along with his “smooth guy” Michael Davies Men’s Health.

The two Britons who live in the US are the unofficial architects of the term power bald, if for no other reason than that there are few documents online that are said by anyone else. They have been using the term since around 2016, which still makes it an insider term. There are few Instagram hashtags or Reddit mentions. Urban Dictionary has no related entries.

Men-in-Blazers co-host and power-bald advocate Roger Bennett.

Courtesy of Gentlemen in Blazers

But for Men in Blazers and their nearly 231,000 Twitter followers, the term is canonical. Bennett says they have received hundreds of letters related to baldness since talking about it on their platforms. They often give their favorite smooth footballers like Pep Guardiola and Zinedine Zidane the title “Power Bald”. “It’s probably the only thing that really binds us apart from our love of football and America,” says Bennett.

As a “third generation bald guy” Bennett had no choice but to appreciate his thinning hairline. Balding had always felt inevitable to him, so he decided to accept that. By doing this and speaking openly about it, he has turned what might otherwise feel like a source of shame into something more empowering.

Soccer star Zinedine Zidane stays limber on and off the field.

GABRIEL BOUYSGetty Images

In fact, Bennett takes so much pride in being a power bald man that he questions the implications of certain sports characters battling the aftermath. In 2016, former Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher appeared on billboards and in testimonials for Restore, a hair transplant company. If you’ve been driving the toll road to O’Hare Airport outside of Chicago in the past few years, you’ve likely seen an Urlacher billboard with new turf on its head. Baseball Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg and Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders also became speakers for Restore along with other famous retired athletes.

Overcoming one’s insecurities is a battle that neither muscle mass nor IQ can win, and men should be able to change their looks as they please. But there is a far cheaper and bolder move. “People, actually [go bald] with incredible bragging rights, these are the characters we’ve always hailed as Power Bald, ”says Bennett.

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At the same time, too much is being invested in treating baldness to completely normalize it, even if it is normal. Hair restoration remains a cornerstone of the male beauty industry. Toupees have gone viral and have been rebranded as trendy hair replacements. Hims, a digital health startup, recently valued at $ 1.6 billion and spokespersons for ex-married couple Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriquez, got involved selling prescriptions for hair loss (and erectile dysfunction) Names.

It may seem easier and cheaper to simply shave everything off than the headache of finding the most appropriate hair regrowth solution, but this is a huge commitment in its own right. “The easy solution to shaving your head is not an easy solution,” said Spencer Kobren, founder of the American Hair Loss Association, a private organization committed to raising public awareness of the emotional impact of hair loss on men .

Kobren told the New York Times in 2019 that he has been using finasteride, a drug used to treat hair loss, for 25 years. (It’s worth noting that finasteride, also known under the brand name Propecia, can have notable side effects.) “I wish everyone could be confident enough to shave their hair and not worry,” Kobren told Men’s Health. “That would be incredible, but there are just so many different components that the guys are uncomfortable with.”

For many, the act of baldness proudly appears to be one of the final refusals in the body positivity movement, a crusade that men are historically reluctant to accept. No wonder: men don’t know how to talk about their bodies. “How do we create security as men?” Psychiatrist Drew Ramsey, MD says. “Great chest. Big arms. Nice hair. Is that what it means to be a safe, mature man? “

The answer is a resounding no, but our culture would tell us otherwise. Take bald jokes like those recently raised on Prince William and LeBron James. They are still not considered taboo. The “joke” here is the Samson complex. A fear that, like biblical character, once you lose your hair, your strength, virality, and agency will all be lost.

LeBron James, still GOAT.

Robert LabergeGetty Images

Prince William remains royal.

Max Mama / IndigoGetty Images

But one look at some of Hollywood’s biggest action stars and iconoclastic athletes proves the Samson complex is a bust. LL Cool J made balding (and fedoras and bucket hats) cool. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Mike Tyson have proven that strength is not tied to hair. Gandhi showed that strength arises in the head, not what is shown externally. And Mr. Clean has proven it can be squeaky clean.

There is even a YouTube channel called BaldCafe that produces sincere videos of guys shaving everything off that have gone viral and have millions of views. However, apart from the Fast and Furious crew, the power shift in Hollywood is not moving fast enough.

According to data compiled by media analytics firm The Streaming Graduate, the bald portrayal in narrative films and on television falls into three main categories: villains (Thanos, Darth Maul), action stars (Bruce Willis, Briton Bruce Willis aka Jason Statham), and cowards (Tobias Fünke, George Costanza). Often these archetypes intersect like the mischievous but clumsy Frank in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia or the weak and sinister Gollum from Lord of the Rings.

Jason Alexander in an episode of Seinfeld.

ABCGetty Images

Sarah-Mikal, director of analytics and strategy at Streaming Graduate, says you rarely see bald actors in romance or family films. The main exceptions are The Rock, Vin Diesel, and Dave Bautista, who have all starred in at least one kid-friendly action comedy. (Belated justice for the pacifier.)

Some pioneers of the power bald head are slowly penetrating the world of male modeling. Ben Whit is a London-based plus-size model who featured in a 2019 campaign for British men’s clothing retailer Jacamo. “I’m more of a niche market,” he says. “Since the plus-size industry is still so small at the moment, it is more difficult to find work.”

Although the market for whit has recently cooled (losing modeling due to the pandemic certainly didn’t help), it is focused on changing the perception of what baldness can look like, be it on Instagram, in interviews, or in fashion spreads. He hopes that “more men will realize, ‘I don’t really have to look like this …” [the standard model] be happy. He’s happy the way he looks and I look just like him. ‘”

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Like Whit, Bennett doesn’t view balding as a personal defect, even though it can often feel like we’re supposed to believe it. “Going bald can be a deep emotional trauma for a person,” says Bennett. But it doesn’t stay in that headspace. He refuses.

For him, it’s not his upcoming memoirs (Re) born in the USA or Men in Blazers that will be his legacy. It is co-coin and actively lives the term power bald. “Even if my own family has forgotten my name for several generations, I can look up or down… wherever I end up… and just know that if this is my contribution to the world, then it is worthwhile to approach one carve tombstone, ”he says. “I have to get myself a bigger tombstone than I imagined.” Well, this is a powerless move.

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source https://livehealthynews.com/power-bald-male-celebrities-how-shaved-heads-became-trendy-in-2021/

[kaylatheskeleton-rp]

yup that's what I'm talking about they are shutting down in April of next year! and this is what it says:  Warner Bros. Discovery is effectively killing Cartoon Network/ Warner Bros. Discovery’s most recent round of layoffs and restructuring might turn Cartoon Network into a shadow of its former self as the company focuses on rebooting old IPBy CHARLES PULLIAM-MOORE Oct 12, 2022, 4:17 PM CDT|6 Comments / 6 NewShare this storyAlong with making Warner Bros. Discovery a less-diverse place overall, CEO David Zaslav’s latest bit of corporate restructuring is probably going to gut Cartoon Network and turn it into a shadow of its former self.For understandable reasons, Warner Bros. Discovery’s move to fire 82 employees and eliminate 43 open positions from its Television division grabbed headlines when news of the decision broke earlier this week. But the implications of the company’s plan to merge Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios may be much larger than what Warner Bros. Television CEO Channing Dungey recently implied in a company-wide internal memo.According to Dungey’s memo, Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe, Warner Bros. Animation, and Cartoon Network Studios will all continue to exist and be run by Sam Register as part of the company’s “new streamlined structure.” But the latter two animation labels will now share “development and main production teams,” which doesn’t exactly bode well for Cartoon Network, an outfit that’s traditionally been home to more original IP like Craig of the Creek, Victor And Valentino, and Summer Camp Island.By pulling Batgirl, canceling shows like Raised by Wolves, and axing upcoming projects like J.J. Abrams’ unreleased Demimonde series, Zaslav has presumably cut some of Warner Bros. Discovery’s spending. In theory, the consolidation of Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios is yet another cost-saving measure that, ideally, won’t have an adverse impact on either’s ability to produce content. Looking at the situation realistically, though, it’s tough to see how two separate production branches that once had their own budgets could possibly maintain their old levels of output after being made to share resources this way.Earlier this month, Cartoon Network’s Craig of the Creek and its spinoff Jessica’s Big Little World had their season episodes orders cut back by 50 percent. While both shows (and the upcoming Craig of the Creek movie) are still happening, the way they’re being pared back despite being part of one of Cartoon Network’s most successful current franchises feels reflective of things to come. In all likelihood, Warner Bros. Discovery intends to keep the Cartoon Network brand alive the same way that it probably wants to keep the HBO name around (at least somewhere, perhaps as a tab) on whatever platform HBO Max and Discovery Plus are about to become.But it feels quite possible that the Cartoon Network of the future might really just be more of a nostalgic brand Warner Bros. Discovery keeps around as Warner Bros. Animation is given the tools to develop new iterations of its old IP like Velma and yet another Powerpuff Girls show.

Morning everyone!

How about a hug to get your day started?

*hugs the reader*

[jacobhinkley]

World’s First HTML5 Blockchain Ecosystem

The online gaming industry is worth more than US$1 billion, and appears to be a likely candidate as one of the first industries to be meaningfully penetrated by blockchain technology. As such, there are a number of cryptocurrency projects and blockchain developments competing to be the first to see real adoption from the general gaming population. Egretia, an existing powerhouse in the gaming sphere, is poised to become that first pioneer with their unique blockchain HTML5 cross-platform approach.

Disclosure: This is a Sponsored Article

Egretia currently stands as the first complete workflow for HTML5 development. It’s 14 products encapsulated in the workflow are utilized by over 200,000 worldwide, whose content has been digested on more than one billion devices across the globe. In China, 75% of all HTML5 content is powered by Egretia.

Blockchain-HTML5 Synergy

The implications of a combination between blockchain and HTML5 are massive. HTML5 applications see large use do to the ease in which they can be enjoyed. Users do not need to install any HTML5 client or application. Instead, they can enjoy a seamless “click-and-go” experience that has allowed HTML5 developments to see massive adoption and virality across social media platforms.

Where blockchain gaming currently falters is its inability to attract large audiences. In an easy-to-use HTML5 approach, where gamers can connect with their friends and others through a simple link, the barrier to entry is eradicated.

HTML5 games also stand to benefit from a blockchain based approach. HTML5 games are currently inhibited by potential unfairness. The blockchain integration insures provable and unwavering fairness. HTML5 gamers are also empowered by a global blockchain, that connects their virtual assets, currencies, and progressions in a worldwide gaming ecosystem.

A Winning Approach

Egretia stands apart from competing blockchain gaming solutions in its existing role as an industry leader. Four years of background behind a top quality product adopted by hundreds of thousands suggests that Egretia is a powerhouse fully equipped for massive adoption. Blockchain integration into the HTML5 workflow means that those 200,000 developers and one billion plus devices will be immediately exposed to the blockchain.

Applications built with Egretia include viral Facebook games. Egretia is creating a future where blockchain games will be broadcast to the largest social network in the world. With close to 2 billion monthly visitors, the exposure made possible through blockchain integration into the Egretia workspace is unrivaled by anything currently seen by competing game coins as well as other cryptocurrency initiatives in general.

Beyond the massive audience, Egretia is providing developers with a toolkit that goes far beyond what other blockchain development platforms have to offer. On top of the core HTML5 blockchain engine, the workspace will include all of the following: virtual marketplace, universal gaming platform, advertising platform, data storage and communication, and the Egretia incubator.

Each of these components provide valuable resources for developers and gamers. The global  marketplace allows for real ownership, transfer, and trade of the virtual currencies and assets accumulated by players. The gaming platform provides a comprehensive destination for gamers to connect with every blockchain game built with Egretia. The advertising platform is a smart solution for connecting advertisers with the most efficient use of media and video. The data communication and storage will allow gamers to file KYC once, and maintain accessibility to communicate their KYC with all relevant parties on the platform in the immediate and distant future. Lastly, the Egretia incubator connects game developers with a comprehensive support system to allow outstanding qualified content to see as much success and exposure as possible.

Given each factor attached to the upcoming Egretia blockchain, it’s clear that this approach to blockchain gaming is both unique from its competitors and fully equipped to handle massive adoption and exposure worldwide.

World’s First HTML5 Blockchain Ecosystem published first on https://medium.com/@smartoptions

[technicalsolutions88]

Earlier today, Facebook said it had removed hundreds of QAnon groups from its site, and that it’s restricting many more groups, along with hundreds of pages and more than 10,000 Instagram accounts.

As The New York Times observed in its report about the maneuvers, four-year-old QAnon, once a fringe phenomenon, has gone mainstream in recent months despite a wide range of patently outlandish conspiracy theories, including that the world is run by pedophiles trying to damage Donald Trump and that 5G cellular networks are spreading the coronavirus.

How is this happening exactly? Because we happened to be talking this week with the famed former professional poker player turned best-selling author Annie Duke — an academic who now teaches about decision theory, including in her upcoming book “How to Decide: Simple Tools for Making Better Choices” —  we asked for her thoughts about whether and why more people than ever have grown susceptible to conspiracy theories.

She had some interesting things to say that we thought worth sharing. Stay tuned for a longer piece from our conversation about her new book and how it can help both founders and investors.

Our brains don’t like randomness. We as human beings are always trying to figure out this cause and effect that’s just kind of random, yet our brains don’t like; we try to connect dots and create causality where it doesn’t exist.

Belief in conspiracy theories isn’t correlated to intelligence. It’s kind of a different thing that’s going on with how comfortable are you with saying, ‘Shit happens. Sometimes life is random and there’s a lot of luck involved and what are you going to do?’ versus [people who] really want things to make sense and to [maintain] the illusion of control over outcomes.

If you say, ‘These random things can happen like COVID and people are dying and you’re now stuck in your home,’ it’s hard to think about that as luck expelling itself all over you because that has implications [regarding how much control] you have over your destiny. We’re very deterministic in how we  think . . . so we’re always connecting things together to make it feel like decisions and outcomes and things are much more deterministic than they are.

We’re also natural pattern recognizers, even where patterns don’t exist. It’s so we can partly figure out that, ‘When I went to this part of the plains, there were a lot of lions, [so for safety’s sake I shouldn’t go back],’ and so we can recognize faces. It’s [hard] to understand that the world is not as you see it and that we impose things on the world all the time. [Editor’s note: here, Duke points to this visual illusion (below) of two side-by-side cubes that look to be in motion but are not.]

One of the most powerful motion illusions I’ve seen: The cubes appear to be rotating in opposite directions – but they’re not actually moving at all…

Credit: @jagarikin pic.twitter.com/RgUFskZbZU

— Steve Stewart-Williams (@SteveStuWill) August 15, 2020

We shouldn’t have so much confidence that we know the truth, but we really believe that the cubes are spinning. So [one solution is] don’t have so much confidence that we know the truth, and know that you’re imposing your reality on the world, as opposed to reality imposing itself on you.

Conspiracy theories are not new, in any case, they’ve been going on a long time. The bigger issue now is how easily they are amplified.

One of the heuristics we have to determine whether something is true or not is processing fluency, meaning how easy is it for us to process a message. If we hear something over and over again, it increases its truthiness, in the words of Stephen Colbert. If you add a picture — so I say giraffes are the only animal that can’t jump, and I include a picture of a giraffe — that increases this truthiness.

You can see where that interacts with social media. With theories plus repetition, it’s harder to figure out fact from fiction.

Again, we’ll have more with Duke soon, including why you’re almost certainly running your meetings the wrong way, and why we dig into losses without exploring enough why things go the right way when they do.

from Social – TechCrunch https://ift.tt/31d7c2J Original Content From: https://techcrunch.com

[dailycryptonews-blog]

Crypto News - World’s First HTML5 Blockchain Ecosystem

World’s First HTML5 Blockchain Ecosystem The online gaming industry is worth more than US$1 billion, and appears to be a likely candidate as one of the first industries to be meaningfully penetrated by blockchain technology. As such, there are a number of cryptocurrency projects and blockchain ... You May Likes reading: Also Read: Latest Crypto News

World’s First HTML5 Blockchain Ecosystem

The online gaming industry is worth more than US$1 billion, and appears to be a likely candidate as one of the first industries to be meaningfully penetrated by blockchain technology. As such, there are a number of cryptocurrency projects and blockchain developments competing to be the first to see real adoption from the general gaming population. Egretia, an existing powerhouse in the gaming sphere, is poised to become that first pioneer with their unique blockchain HTML5 cross-platform approach.

Disclosure: This is a Sponsored Article

Egretia currently stands as the first complete workflow for HTML5 development. It’s 14 products encapsulated in the workflow are utilized by over 200,000 worldwide, whose content has been digested on more than one billion devices across the globe. In China, 75% of all HTML5 content is powered by Egretia.

Blockchain-HTML5 Synergy

The implications of a combination between blockchain and HTML5 are massive. HTML5 applications see large use do to the ease in which they can be enjoyed. Users do not need to install any HTML5 client or application. Instead, they can enjoy a seamless “click-and-go” experience that has allowed HTML5 developments to see massive adoption and virality across social media platforms.

Where blockchain gaming currently falters is its inability to attract large audiences. In an easy-to-use HTML5 approach, where gamers can connect with their friends and others through a simple link, the barrier to entry is eradicated.

HTML5 games also stand to benefit from a blockchain based approach. HTML5 games are currently inhibited by potential unfairness. The blockchain integration insures provable and unwavering fairness. HTML5 gamers are also empowered by a global blockchain, that connects their virtual assets, currencies, and progressions in a worldwide gaming ecosystem.

A Winning Approach

Egretia stands apart from competing blockchain gaming solutions in its existing role as an industry leader. Four years of background behind a top quality product adopted by hundreds of thousands suggests that Egretia is a powerhouse fully equipped for massive adoption. Blockchain integration into the HTML5 workflow means that those 200,000 developers and one billion plus devices will be immediately exposed to the blockchain.

Applications built with Egretia include viral Facebook games. Egretia is creating a future where blockchain games will be broadcast to the largest social network in the world. With close to 2 billion monthly visitors, the exposure made possible through blockchain integration into the Egretia workspace is unrivaled by anything currently seen by competing game coins as well as other cryptocurrency initiatives in general.

Beyond the massive audience, Egretia is providing developers with a toolkit that goes far beyond what other blockchain development platforms have to offer. On top of the core HTML5 blockchain engine, the workspace will include all of the following: virtual marketplace, universal gaming platform, advertising platform, data storage and communication, and the Egretia incubator.

Each of these components provide valuable resources for developers and gamers. The global  marketplace allows for real ownership, transfer, and trade of the virtual currencies and assets accumulated by players. The gaming platform provides a comprehensive destination for gamers to connect with every blockchain game built with Egretia. The advertising platform is a smart solution for connecting advertisers with the most efficient use of media and video. The data communication and storage will allow gamers to file KYC once, and maintain accessibility to communicate their KYC with all relevant parties on the platform in the immediate and distant future. Lastly, the Egretia incubator connects game developers with a comprehensive support system to allow outstanding qualified content to see as much success and exposure as possible.

Given each factor attached to the upcoming Egretia blockchain, it’s clear that this approach to blockchain gaming is both unique from its competitors and fully equipped to handle massive adoption and exposure worldwide.

Source #bitcoin #news #cryptonews #cryptocurrency #dailybitcoinnew #todaynews