#top recruitment agency in san francisco

[ai-for-recruitment]

ChatGPT Prompts Examples

As recruiters, you know how important it is to communicate your company’s opportunities to potential hires. Job descriptions, job postings, interview questions, personalized comms and onboarding plans are all part of your recruitment strategy. Here we’ve got detailed prompts to help you use ChatGPT to refine these processes so every interaction is clear, relevant and authentic. These prompts will help you attract top talent and a cohesive and engaging candidate experience that matches your company values and goals.

Crafting job descriptions

"Generate a clear and concise job summary. Highlights the responsibilities, required skills (mentioning proficiency in Python and familiarity with AWS), and growth opportunities for a senior software engineer position at a technology startup based in San Francisco."

Writing engaging job postings

"Create a compelling headline and an engaging first paragraph for a job posting seeking a marketing manager for a fast-growing e-commerce company. Highlight the company's unique selling points, such as its commitment to sustainability and innovative marketing strategies, to attract experienced candidates passionate about driving growth."

Creating interview questions

"Develop behavioral interview questions that assess problem-solving skills and experience managing cross-functional teams for a senior project manager position in a multinational corporation undergoing digital transformation. Ensure questions delve into candidate strategies for mitigating risks and achieving project milestones."

Generating candidate outreach emails

"Write a personalized outreach email inviting a recent graduate with a degree in graphic design to apply for a junior graphic designer role at a creative agency known for its innovative campaigns. Highlight the agency's recent projects and encourage the candidate to showcase their portfolio."

Drafting personalized rejection letters

"Compose a respectful rejection email for a candidate who interviewed for a customer service representative position at a global tech company. Acknowledge the candidate's enthusiasm for customer service, provide constructive feedback on their communication skills, and express appreciation for their interest in the company's mission and values."

Developing candidate assessment criteria

"Define measurable assessment criteria to evaluate technical proficiency, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit for a senior software developer position at a cybersecurity startup. Include specific indicators for assessing experience in Python, knowledge of cloud computing (AWS), and alignment with the company's collaborative and innovative culture."

Generating feedback surveys

"Design a comprehensive feedback survey for candidates who have completed the final interview stage for a managerial role in a hospitality chain. Include a mix of Likert scale questions and open-ended prompts to gather insights on their experience with the interview process, perceptions of the company's values, and suggestions for improvement. Ensure the survey is structured to capture feedback on communication with interviewers, clarity of job responsibilities, and overall candidate experience."

Writing job ad copy for social media

"Craft a captivating social media post to advertise a remote internship opportunity in digital marketing for college students. Emphasize the benefits of gaining hands-on experience in SEO, content creation, and social media management. Use relevant hashtags (#DigitalMarketingInternship, #RemoteInternship) and incorporate visuals or a brief video showcasing past interns' successes and the supportive work environment."

Onboarding plans 

"Create a detailed onboarding plan for a newly hired data analyst joining a multinational financial services company. Include a week-by-week breakdown of training sessions on data visualization tools (such as Tableau), orientation meetings with key stakeholders from the analytics team, and an introduction to the company's data governance policies. Develop personalized learning objectives aligned with the analyst's background in statistical analysis and proficiency in SQL."

Generating candidate outreach emails

"Write a personalized outreach email inviting a mid-career professional with experience in project management to apply for a senior project manager role at a leading consultancy firm specializing in digital transformation. Highlight the firm's recent successful projects in sectors like healthcare and finance, and emphasize the opportunity to lead high-impact initiatives. Tailor the email to showcase the candidate's expertise in Agile methodologies and stakeholder management, encouraging them to share examples of past project successes."

[capstonestudios1]

Top Reasons Your Business Needs A Professional Advertising Agency

When advertisements from every direction are bombarding consumers, it's essential to have a strategic approach to reach your target audience effectively. Finding and retaining customers is essential for any business in California. However, with so many marketing channels and strategies, trying to do it all yourself can be overwhelming. That's where an advertising agency in California can help. Read on to find the top reasons to consider hiring such a professional.

Expertise and Experience

One of the primary reasons to partner with a professional advertising agency is their expertise and experience in the field. These agencies have experts who have dedicated their careers to understanding the intricacies of marketing and advertising. Their knowledge extends beyond just creating ads; they understand consumer behavior, market trends, and the most effective strategies to achieve your business goals.

Strategic Planning

Impactful advertising is not just about creating eye-catching visuals or catchy slogans. It's about crafting a cohesive strategy that resonates with your target audience. By collaborating closely with a professional advertising agency, you can craft a thorough plan customized to meet your specific business goals. Whether it's increasing brand awareness, driving sales, or launching a new product, they will devise a strategy corresponding to your objectives and financial parameters.

Creative Excellence

Creativity is at the heart of advertising, and professional agencies excel in this aspect. They have a creative team specializing in graphic design, copywriting, and content creation. From compelling ad campaigns to engaging social media content, they have the skills to bring your brand to life in a way that captivates and resonates with your audience.

Access to Resources

Partnering with a professional advertising agency gives you resources that might not be accessible internally. From industry-leading tools and software to exclusive media partnerships, these agencies have the resources to execute campaigns efficiently and effectively. They also have access to valuable data that can enlighten your advertising strategies and drive better results.

Cost-Effectiveness

Although some businesses may be reluctant to invest in professional advertising services, the truth is that it can be a cost-effective solution in the long run. Outsourcing your advertising needs to an agency eliminates the requirement for recruiting and training an in-house team, thereby conserving time and finances. Also, agencies have established relationships with vendors and media outlets, allowing businesses to negotiate better rates and maximize their advertising budgets.

Measurable Results

One of the advantages of working with a professional advertising agency is its ability to track and measure the success of your campaigns. Advanced analytics and reporting tools can provide valuable insights into the performance of your ads. This information enables you to make data-driven decisions and enhance your strategies for improved outcomes.

Adaptability and Flexibility

Trends and consumer preferences can change instantly in today's fast-paced digital landscape. Professional advertising agencies are equipped to adapt to these changes quickly and efficiently. Whether shifting focus to a new platform or tweaking your messaging in response to market feedback, they have the agility and flexibility to maintain the trajectory of your campaigns, positioning them ahead of competitors.

Local Expertise

For businesses operating in California, partnering with a local advertising agency can offer unique advantages. A California advertising agency understands the local market dynamics, consumer preferences, and cultural nuances, allowing them to effectively create campaigns that resonate with the target audience. Whether you're targeting customers in Los Angeles, San Francisco, or anywhere in between, a local agency can help you connect with your audience on a more personal level. In today's crowded marketplace, partnering with a professional advertising agency gives your business a competitive edge. The investment pays dividends through their strategic thinking, industry knowledge, and technical expertise. Regardless of your business size enlisting the services of an advertising agency in California can significantly enhance your business's success.

[carsonwesley]

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Software Developer?

In today's digital age, hiring a skilled software developer is a critical step for businesses looking to create custom software solutions, revamp their websites, or enhance their digital presence. However, the cost of hiring a software developer can vary significantly based on various factors. In this blog, we'll delve into the key determinants that influence the cost of hiring a software developer and provide insights into what you can expect to pay for this valuable talent.

1. Experience and Skill Level:

One of the most significant factors impacting the cost of hiring a software developer is their experience and skill level. Junior developers with limited experience typically command lower salaries than senior developers with a proven track record of delivering complex projects.

Junior developers may cost anywhere from $40,000 to $80,000 per year, while senior developers can range from $80,000 to $180,000 or even more annually.

2. Location:

The geographical location of the software developer plays a significant role in determining their cost. Developers in high-cost-of-living cities, such as San Francisco, New York, or London, generally demand higher salaries than those in lower-cost regions or countries.

For example, a developer in the United States may cost significantly more than a developer with similar qualifications in Eastern Europe, India, or Southeast Asia.

3. Freelancer vs. In-House Employee:

Another factor to consider is whether you plan to hire a full-time, in-house developer or a freelancer/contractor. Freelancers typically charge hourly or project-based fees, which can vary widely based on their expertise and location.

In-house developers come with additional costs, such as benefits, office space, and equipment. However, they may offer better integration and collaboration with your team.

4. Project Complexity:

The complexity of the project you're hiring for will also affect the cost. Developing a simple website will be more affordable than creating a complex software application with multiple integrations, databases, and intricate features.

Highly complex projects may require a team of developers and can have costs that escalate into the hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars.

5. Technology Stack:

The choice of technology stack can significantly impact costs. Some programming languages and frameworks are associated with higher demand and, therefore, come with higher costs for hiring developers skilled in them.

For instance, developers specializing in cutting-edge technologies like blockchain or machine learning may command premium rates compared to those working with more mainstream technologies.

6. Hiring Model:

There are various hiring models to consider when bringing a software developer on board. You can hire full-time employees, part-time employees, freelancers, or work with development agencies. Each model comes with its cost structure and flexibility.

7. Additional Costs:

Remember to account for additional costs associated with hiring a software developer, such as recruitment fees, onboarding expenses, and potential training or certification costs.

In summary, the cost of hiring a software developer can vary greatly based on the developer's experience, location, employment model, project complexity, technology stack, and other factors. Junior developers may be more affordable, while senior developers or those in high-cost-of-living areas can be quite expensive. The choice between in-house, freelance, or agency developers also has cost implications.

To make an informed decision, it's crucial to evaluate your specific project needs, budget constraints, and long-term goals. Keep in mind that investing in top-tier talent can lead to a more successful project with higher quality results, ultimately offering a strong return on investment. Whether you're building a small website or a complex software application, understanding the factors that influence the cost of hiring a software developer is essential for making the right choice for your business.

[whatisonthemoon]

Don Diligent’s Message to Sun Myung Moon and Neil Salonen: admit the UC is a CIA operation!

Re-posting from WIOTM Archive - a Don Diligent archived post from August 8, 2016, titled, “Mr. Moon! Just tell us the Unification Church is a CIA operation! Tell us now! You too Neil Salonen! Tell us now!”

Interview With Reverend Moon - Frederick Sontag - 1977

Sontag: Outsiders seem to detect a sense of conspiracy about the church and its activities. Why does it arouse this suspicion about its activities?

Moon: You know the Unification Church does not have any secrets. Many people think it is surrounded by secrets, like some sort of super CIA-type operation…I do not have anything to hide…we operate in the open.

Cults, Anti-Cultists, and the Cult of Intelligence by Daniel Brandt From NameBase NewsLine, No. 5, April-June 1994

Given the CIA’s resources, it is reasonable to expect that a commensurate interest in the cult phenomenon has secretly persisted through the years… A CIA interest in cults is far more ominous than the phenomenon of cults by themselves, because intelligence elites have the resources and mind-set to manipulate large populations.

The first example of such links is the Unification Church (UC) of Rev. Sun Myung Moon. Today it is too well-established to be considered a cult; the list of their front groups and businesses in NameBase runs to 28 pages with 667 names. The UC no longer recruits on U.S. campuses the way they used to – they don’t need the money that Moonies would earn from selling flowers at airports, and they don’t need this sort of publicity. Instead they buy universities: in 1992 the UC plunked down over $50 million for the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut, and one of the UC’s new trustees there is Jack E. Thomas, who was assistant chief of staff for U.S. air force intelligence for six years, and then special assistant to the CIA director for nine years.

Before the Unification Church was incorporated in the U.S. in 1963 by Bo Hi Pak, Moon had the support of the South Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA). The expansion of the cult into the U.S. was conceived as a means of influencing U.S. politics. Four of Moon’s early followers were young army officers close to Kim Jong Pil, the founding director of the KCIA and chief strategist for the Park regime. Bo Hi Pak was the KCIA liaison to U.S. intelligence at the time, stationed in the Korean Embassy in Washington. Today he is one of Moon’s top aides and president of the Washington Times. In 1962 Kim made a two-week official visit to the U.S., and Lt. Col. Bo Hi Pak arranged meetings with CIA director John McCone, defense secretary Robert McNamara, and Defense Intelligence Agency director Gen. Joseph Carroll. On his way home, Kim met with some of Moon’s followers in San Francisco. Pak’s other duties at the Korean Embassy included frequent liaison trips to the National Security Agency at Fort Meade, Maryland. Moon… has received political and financial support from Yoshio Kodama, Ryoichi Sasakawa, and other powerful Japanese right-wing figures. In 1970 the Japanese contingent of Moon’s organization sponsored the annual conference of the World Anti-Communist League.

Church Takeover Of University Now Complete Hartford Courant August 07, 1992 By KATHERINE FARRISH  

The Unification Church’s takeover of the struggling University of Bridgeport is now complete with the election of 16 new trustees, including several of the most prominent Americans in the Unification movement. Leading the list of trustees elected Wednesday by the 15 current trustees are Neil Albert Salonen…New University of Bridgeport trustees nominated by the Professors World Peace Academy: Jack E. Thomas, a retired Air Force major general, former special assistant to the director of the CIA, trustee of the Washington institute.

On the referenced ‘NameBase’ NameBase is a web-based cross-indexed database of names that focuses on individuals involved in the international intelligence community, U.S. foreign policy, crime, and business. The focus is on the post-World War II era and on left of center, conspiracy theory, and espionage activities. Founder Daniel Brandt began collecting clippings and citations pertaining to influential people and intelligence agents after becoming a member of the Students for a Democratic Society, an organization which opposed US foreign policy, in the 1970s. With the advent of personal computing, he developed a database which allowed subscribers to access the names of US intelligence agents.

[rauthschild]

It is phenomenally amazing how many Autochthonous Americans, after all the true facts and information available in regard to the GLOBAL GENOCIDE PLAN called COVID-19, still will not accept that their own government could or would EVER deliberately target them for death or harm. For those of us old enough to have been there and seen that time and time again, even so far as to have lost family members as a consequence, we know better, in spades.

The following is a partial list of historical abuses collated and copyrighted by the Health News Network.

1932 – The Tuskegee Syphilis Study begins. Two hundred black men diagnosed with syphilis are never told of their illness, are denied treatment, and instead are used as human guinea pigs. The all subsequently die from syphilis.

1935 – The Pellagra Incident. After millions of individuals die from pellagra over a span of two decades, the U.S. Public Health Service finally acts to stem the disease. The director of the agency admits it had known for at least twenty years that pellagra is caused by a niacin deficiency but failed to act since most of the deaths occurred within poverty-stricken black populations.

1940 – Four hundred prisoners in Chicago are infected with malaria in order to study the effects of new and experimental drugs to combat the disease. Nazi doctors later on trial at Nuremberg cite this American study to defend themselves.

1945 – Project Paperclip is initiated. The U.S. State Department, Army intelligence, and the CIA recruit Nazi scientists and offer them immunity and secret identities in exchange for work on top-secret government projects.

1947 – The CIA begins its study of LSD as a potential weapon. Human subjects (both civilian and military) are used with and without their knowledge.

1950 – In an experiment to determine how susceptible an American city would be to biological attack, the U.S. Navy sprays a cloud of bacteria from ships over San Francisco. Many residents become ill with pneumonia like symptoms.

1956 – The U.S. military releases mosquitos infected with yellow fever over Savannah, Georgia, and Avon Park, Florida. Following each test, Army agents posing as public health officials test victims for effects.

1965 – Prisoners at the Holmesburg State Prison in Philadelphia are subjected to dioxin, the highly toxic chemical component of Agent Orange used in Vietnam. The men are later studied for development of cancer.

1966 – U.S. Army dispenses Bacillus subtilis variant niger throughout the New York City subway system. More than a million civilians are exposed when Army scientists drop light bulbs filled with the bacteria onto ventilation grates.

1990 – More than 1,500 six-month old black and Hispanic babies in Los Angeles are given an “experimental” measles vaccine that had never been licensed for use in the United States. CDC later admits that parents were never informed that the vaccine being injected into their children was experimental.

1994 – Senator John D. Rockefeller issues a report revealing that for at least fifty years the Department of Defense has used hundreds of thousands of military personnel in human experiments and for intentional exposure to dangerous substances.

1995 – The U.S. government admits that it had offered Japanese war criminals and scientists who had performed human medical experiments salaries and immunity from prosecution in exchange for data on biological warfare research.

1995 – Dr. Garth Nicolson uncovers evidence that the biological agents used during the Gulf War had been manufactured in Houston, Texas, and Boca Raton, Florida, and tested on prisoners in the Texas Department of Corrections.

1996 – The Department of Defense admits that Desert Storm soldiers were exposed to chemical agents.

1997 – Eighty-eight members of Congress sign a letter demanding an investigation into bioweapons use and Gulf War syndrome.

That is only a partial list. The loss of my son in January to the FAKE PANDEMIC NIH NON-TREATMENT PROTOCOL FOR MONEY is not the first time our family has suffered loss at the hands of those who profess to serve us. After the loss of my father-in-law in 2001, it came to light that he had been suing 140 companies over the damage he had suffered due to their use of asbestos in the steel mills he worked in and failed to apprise the workers of the danger.

I ended up in charge of that law suit at that point, did some research myself. I found that the federal government had known since 1922 that asbestos was a direct cause of Mesothelioma (a form of lung cancer) but did not say a single word until forced to in 1975 and, even then, simply issued regulations on industries using it and then failed to enforce them.

Also, as a result of that criminal action by our government, both my husband’s cousins died a few years later of cancer caused by the asbestosis used at the Fermi plant where the husband worked. The government knew that any person working around the substance brought it home on their clothing and exposed their whole families to the danger. My husband’s brother also died in 2000 from kidney cancer caused by his exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. It wasn’t until several months AFTER his death that the U.S. Government finally paid a meager 17 thousand dollars in compensation to his family.

IF YOU STILL BELIEVE YOUR GOVERNMENT DOES NOT WANT TO KILL YOU, HARM YOU OR TURN YOU INTO A LAB RAT, well, then you might as well go on out and get in line for your BOOSTERS and get it over with! There hasn’t been a SINGLE VACCINE tested for safety by the FDA or any other agency in the past 35 years!!! But, oh well, just buy the BS on the television and jump right up on the auction block!

By: Teri Hinkle

[mitchintille]

2021 Mock Draft 1.0

Super Bowl 55 is just a few days away, which means draft season is looming in the rearview mirror. In a class that is expected to produce an abundance of offensive talent, several teams could benefit from this year’s crop. With a reported possibility of 18 teams looking for a change at the quarterback position, there is quite a bit of ambiguity as we approach the draft, and this year could shape up to be one of the wildest drafts we’ve seen in recent memory. Without further ado, here are my early first round predictions for the 2021 NFL draft....

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson

From the moment he set foot on campus his freshman season, Lawrence has always has shown the capabilities of being a future NFL star. He took no time bursting onto the scene. After a dazzling freshman season, in which he lead the Tigers to a title in blowout fashion over an absolutely loaded Alabama team, he followed it up with two more trips to the playoffs, including another trip to the title game.

The former No.1 overall recruit in the country offers everything one could wish for in a franchise quarterback.  He is a gifted, natural thrower of the football who is wise beyond his years at the position. Even new head coach Urban Meyer feels that he has the potential to be the best QB ever. Jaguars fans, your savior has come. Rejoice. 

2. Houston Texans: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

Houston receives: 2nd overall pick (2021), 23rd overall pick (2021), 3rd round pick (2021), 1st round pick (2022), 4th round pick (2022)

New York receives: Deshaun Watson, 6th round pick (2022)

Let’s get weird. Deshaun Watson being traded has reached inevitability status, and the Jets are stockpiled with draft picks over the next few years. It has been rumored that Watson would prefer to play for the Jets under the tutelage of new head coach Robert Saleh. The Jets have the firepower to make this pick happen, and in this scenario they pull off the mega deal and get their guy. So where does that leave Houston?

 They luck into a talented, natural thrower of the football, with a very clean feel for the pocket. He has a rocket arm, and is particularly impressive when asked to go off script. The Texans rebuild will undoubtedly be a long one, but with Wilson, they have a fresh face of the franchise moving forward, and will look to continue adding more weapons around him to set him up for success.  

3. San Francisco 49ers: Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State

San Francisco receives: 3rd overall pick (2021), 5th round pick (2022)

Miami receives: 12th overall pick (2021), 43rd overall pick (2021), 1st round pick (2022), 3rd round pick (2022), 7th round pick (2022)

Between the Rams’ recent trade for Matthew Stafford, and Kyle Shanahan remaining noncommittal on Jimmy Garoppolo for the foreseeable future, it wouldn’t shock me to see John Lynch be aggressive and try to nab their QB of the future. 

Fields put up gaudy numbers in his first year as a starter, posting an absurd 51-3 TD/INT ratio. He showed a bit of regression in a COVID-shortened year two, but still displayed all of the tools you’d hope to see when searching for a franchise QB. 

Finding a way to get Jimmy G’s lucrative contract off the books, and adding a talented player like Fields would be a win-win for an organization whom I feel would GREATLY benefit from a changing of the guard under center. 

4. Atlanta Falcons: Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State 

With the arrival of new head coach Arthur Smith, it is time for a rebrand in Atlanta. Matt Ryan is expected to make over $40m a season for the next two years, and while he is certainly not the main issue with this team, the Falcons need to move in a new direction. 

Lance is perhaps the most polarizing player in this year’s class. Similar to Fields, he too posted video game like numbers in his first year at the helm. The Minnesota product threw for 28 TD’s, while posting another 14 on the ground. He also didn’t throw an interception all season. He possess all of the physical tools that NFL teams salivate over, and while questions will remain in regards to the inferior competition he’s been exposed to over his career, the opportunity to sit and learn from Matt Ryan could serve both himself and the Falcons some good.

5. Cincinnati Bengals: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

If Sewell is on the board, he will be the pick for the Bengals. After breakout rookie quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending ACL tear, the sense of urgency to upgrade the offensive line should be at an all-time high for the Bengals.

 Sewell allowed just one sack over 1,376 career snaps and will spend the majority of his rookie season at age 20. He is a smooth mover with easy power, who is capable of playing on either side of the line. He is the exact type of stalwart that is needed for the Bengals to protect their QB of the future. 

6. Philadelphia Eagles: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama

I don’t know what to make of the Eagles’ current situation. They are in QB purgatory and have gaping holes riddled across their roster. With the recent hiring of Colts’ OC Nick Sirianni, I’d imagine adding offensive firepower would be at the top of his to-do list. Assuming they move forward with Jalen Hurts at QB, it is imperative to surround him with quality skill players. After drafting Jalen Reagor in the first round last year, they double dip this year and take the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.

 Smith is not the most conventional receiver, being that there aren’t too many 6′1, 175-lb receivers who have enjoyed prolonged success in the league, but Smith doesn’t care about your player profiles. Smith can make plays all over the field and beat you in a myriad of ways. He is a nuanced route runner with a seemingly natural feel for his position, and someone I can assume Sirianni will fall in love with as the draft process begins to heat up.

7. Detroit Lions: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama 

If Lance were to have fallen to this spot, I’d have probably made him the selection. However, I’ll opt to give them a difference maker like Waddle.

 With Kenny Golladay’s impending departure and both Danny Amendola and Marvin Jones Jr. testing the open market, that WR room could get UGLY in a hurry. Waddle is essentially a supercharged version of his former teammate Henry Ruggs. He has legit 4.2 speed, and does a great job of tracking the deep ball. The Lions are desperate for speed on the perimeter, and Waddle would be an instant upgrade to what they have now. He’s a true, top-10 talent assuming he manages to stay healthy.

8. Carolina Panthers: Ja’marr Chase, WR, LSU

Now just hear me out on this. Curtis Samuel is approaching free agency and will likely be headed elsewhere. Aside from DJ Moore and Robby Anderson, the cupboard is bare. Chase put up record-setting numbers in his only year under current Panthers OC Joe Brady when they were at LSU, so a reunion would only be right.

 Chase is perhaps the best player in the entire class regardless of position. He is a physical route-runner who attacks the catch point with ease, and his RAC ability might be his best trait. He is very reminiscent of Moore, and pairing those two along with Anderson’s deep speed could perhaps create the most dangerous receiving trio in the NFL.

9. Denver Broncos: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

After an heavy offensive draft last year, the Broncos buck the trend and refocus on rebuilding their defense. Farley’s size and athleticism are a perfect fit in Vic Fangio’s versatile defensive scheme. I believe Farley has the potential to be a star in this league very quickly. 

10. Dallas Cowboys: Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern

After wrestling back and forth with myself on this pick, the Cowboys settle on Slater. The once elite Cowboys offensive line has suddenly deteriorated into mediocrity. With both Tyron Smith and La’el Collins returning from injuries, Slater can serve as an insurance policy at either position, or kick him inside if need be. 

His versatility and strong lower half are both commendable traits that should allow him to see a long career in the NFL.

11. New York Giants: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama 

Truthfully, this might be the most unpredictable pick in the first round. Dave Gettleman is tricky, but recently he has invested into the secondary quite a bit. After signing James Bradberry to a pricy extension last off-season, they also invested a pick into Xavier McKinney, as well as the addition of guys like Logan Ryan and Jabrill Peppers.

With Surtain, he brings a combo of length and savvy to the position, and would serve as the Giants�� other outside corner opposite of Bradberry.

12. Miami Dolphins: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida

San Francisco receives: 3rd overall pick (2021), 5th round pick (2022)

Miami receives: 12th overall pick (2021), 43rd overall pick (2021), 1st round pick (2022), 3rd round pick (2022), 7th round pick (2022)

Yes, I’m highly aware that Mike Gesicki exists. But hear me out on this one, Pitts is more than just your standard “tight end” prospect. If it weren’t for a TE listed next to his position, I’d say that he’s the second best receiver in the draft. 

He is nearly impossible to match up against. He’s too fast for linebackers and too physical for corners. He’s shown the capability to play in the slot, flexed out wide, or with his hand in the dirt. Pairing him and Gesicki together will give Tua Tagovailoa (assuming he remains their guy moving forward), a plethora of weapons at his disposal.

13. Los Angeles Chargers: Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech

Keeping Justin Herbert clean and protected should be the top priority heading into the offseason for Tom Telesco. After a breakout rookie season, it seems the Chargers struck a goldmine in Herbert. Being that the Chargers haven’t had a decent offensive line in years, a trip out west would make sense for Darrisaw. 

The Virginia Tech product is a very fluid mover, whose length and quickness allow him to reach the second level with ease as a run blocker. He will be an instant upgrade to their run game, and has the maturity to protect Herbert’s blindside from day one in LA. 

14. Minnesota Vikings: Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami

After the loss of Everson Griffen to free agency, and Danielle Hunter missing most of the 2020 season due to a back injury, the Vikings should be looking to rebuild their pass rush. Mike Zimmer seems to have a knack for high-ceiling pass rushers with athletic upside. Rousseau fits the bill.

 The Florida native saw his star shine after a dazzling sophomore season, racking up an impressive 15.5 sacks. Rousseau has easy power off the edge. While he is still a bit raw from a technician standpoint, his natural power and length will be a nightmare for tackles to deal with from day one. If he can mature his game, he has the potential to be one of the most productive edge rushers in the league in due time. 

15. New England Patriots: Micah Parsons, EDGE, Penn State

After some recent concerns over Parsons’ character, he sees his stock slide and he falls into the lap of Bill Belichick. After being used in several different spots at Penn State,

 Parsons projects best as an EDGE, but has the necessary tools to develop his skills over time. Belichick has a fetish for hybrid linebackers that can rush the passer, and pairing the two together would do wonders for his development over time.

16. Arizona Cardinals: Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina

After adding Matthew Stafford to the division, and the Niners looking to upgrade at the quarterback position, it is time for the Cardinals to get better in the secondary. Quickly.

 Horn is an excellent press corner, with an alpha-dog type mentality that should fit in well in the Cardinals’ back end. He does have a tendency to be too grabby and aggressive at times, and his lack of size will hurt him against bigger receivers. He is not a perfect corner prospect, but the Cardinals don’t have much of a choice here. 

17. Las Vegas Raiders: Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami 

Truthfully, I have no idea what to predict here. The front office is an absolute mess, and have proven themselves to be incompetent when it comes to drafting. After missing badly on Clelin Ferrell a few years ago, they have a chance to redeem themselves with the selection of Phillips. 

The former number one overall recruit had a late start to his career, after suffering several injuries and at one point declaring himself medically retired. After transferring to Miami from UCLA, Phillips began to improve his game, and vaulted himself into first round considerations after a breakout 2020 campaign. His injury history may force him to fall, but his combination of size, speed, and motor is very exciting, and he may be the exact type of player Mike Mayock falls in love with.

18. Miami Dolphins: Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa

Brian Flores is one of the few Belichick proteges recently that has found success as a head coach. Much like Belichick, Flores places a large emphasis on versatility, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. This is why Collins would be a perfect fit on day one. 

Collins was truly a jack-of-all-trades in his time at Tulsa. He was one of the best players in all of college football last season, and did so in a number of ways. He can rush the passer, cover a runningback out of the backfield. Think D’onta Hightower type role for Collins if he were to head to south beach.

19. Washington Football Team: Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

With the trend in the NFL heading towards a youth movement at QB, it wouldn’t shock me to see Washington fall in love with Jones.

Although he’s not the most dynamic passer, Jones is a solid athlete with an incredibly comfortable feel for the game. He is a great processor with plus accuracy, and has shown impressive flashes of improvisation. He may not have a very high ceiling moving forward, but I can him instantly making that team better and elevating them into playoff contention on a year-to-year basis.

20. Chicago Bears: Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota

With Allen Robinson likely headed elsewhere in free agency and Anthony Miller’s slow start, the time is now to add playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. Insert Bateman.

One of the most forgotten men in the whole class, Bateman is silky smooth in everything he does, and will be the most physical WR on any field he steps on. He eats up intermediate routes, and is capable of being a vertical threat. His game reminds me a ton of guys like Keenan Allen and Michael Thomas, not the most physically gifted guys, but masters of their craft and play to their strengths.

Whether or not the Bears decide to move forward with Mitchell Trubisky at QB or not, it is imperative to give the man under center some more feasible options to work with in the passing game.

21. Indianapolis Colts: Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan

While the temptation was high to take a receiver here, I opted for the highly athletic EDGE with limitless upside.

Not having a combine will prove to affect Paye’s stock, as he was expected to test through the roof at his position. Once listed as one of Bruce Feldman’s “freaks”, Paye finally applied his athleticism to the field in 2020. He is very reliant on his natural power and speed, and has yet to develop any consistent counter moves. If developed properly, his size/speed combo alongside Deforest Buckner could prove to be deadly for an already improving defense.

22. Tennessee Titans: Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia

Being that the Jadeveon Clowney acquisition backfired on them, the Titans are still in search of a consistent pass rush opposite of Harold Landry.

Ojulari is young and lacks experience. But when his motor gets going, he could be the most explosive rusher in the class. He’d be perfect in their 3-4 defense, and has the potential to be a good player in space as he gains more experience. 

23. New York Jets: Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas

One of the staples of a Robert Saleh defense is consistent pressure off the edge. The Jets lack any and all types of pass rush at the moment, and Ossai’s intriguing upside in that defense could see him turn out to be a very productive player.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame

Man, Notre Dame just pumps them out, don’t they? With GM Kevin Colbert’s affinity for drafting players from big name schools, Eichenberg becomes the most recent, NFL product of the offensive line factory that is Notre Dame.

Much like any of the Notre Dame linemen of the past, Eichenberg is techincally sound in everything he does. He may not be athletic enough to play left tackle, but is a plug and play right tackle from day one.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars: Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas

Although the temptation would be to select a receiver here, the Jags have $100m in cap space to work with, which can be spent on one of the receivers in what is expected to be an impressive free agency class. 

Cosmi may be a little undersized, but is very athletic and light on his feet for the position. If he can bulk up and maintain his athleticism, I can see him being the Jaguars’ left tackle for the next decade. 

26. Cleveland Browns: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame

A surprising slide leaves Cleveland with one of the most gifted players in the draft. 

JOK is a heat-seeking missile, who showed very impressive flashes in coverage. He is the prototypical, modern-day NFL linebacker through and through.

27. Baltimore Ravens: Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida

Eric Decosta recently hinted at his lust for the dynamic Florida receiver. Toney was used in several different ways over the course of his career, but really seemed to find himself as a slot receiver in 2020.

On a team desperate for playmakers on offense, Toney would fit like a glove on that intermediate/short game offensive scheme. Toney is a menace with the ball in his hands. He has incredible contact balance and vision. If he continues to progress as a receiver, he would be a very nice addition. 

28. New Orleans Saints: Christian Barmore, IDL, Alabama

In what looks to be a fairly uninspiring IDL class, Barmore’s stock rose in his first season as a starter. The Philly native has clubs for hands, and he proved himself to be un-blockable down the stretch. Ohio State had no answer for him in the national championship game, and he seems to only be sratching the surface of what he can become.

In this case, the Saints don’t reach for a QB and draft the best player on the board, which just so happens to be Barmore. 

29. Green Bay Packers: Dyami Brown, WR, North Carolina

The Packers failure to address the receiver position came full circle this season. After losing their second consecutive NFC Championship, the lack of talent at WR cost them in the end. Enter Dyami Brown, one of the best kept secrets in the entire draft. 

Brown is a budding star. Only listed at 6′1, 185-lb, Brown consistently plays larger than his frame. He is perhaps the best vertical threat in the entire draft. Brown displays freakish ball tracking skills, along with 4.3 speed. Pairing him with Rodgers could be the missing piece that gets them over the hump moving forward, and would show that the organization is dedicated to Rodgers as their guy until he retires. 

30. Buffalo Bills: Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri 

With Matt Milano’s future with the Bills in question, it would not surprise me to see them cut bait and go after the athletic and physical SEC backer.

Bolton is a bit undersized for the position, so pairing him with Tremaine Edmunds would be the perfect complement. He great sideline to sideline speed, and will be an immediate upgrade over Milano from an athletic standpoint.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama

With Donovan Smith set to become a free agent, I’d imagine the Bucs will look to replace him this off-season.

Leatherwood was a two-year starter at left tackle, but is capable of playing on the interior as well. Even if the Bucs were to bring Smith back, having a depth piece to the quality of Leatherwood could serve vital for a team who is destined ti make a run until Tom Brady’s retirement.

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Alijah Vera-Tucker, iOL, USC

An interesting storyline that has gotten lost in the mix of guys like Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, and Travis Kelce, the Chiefs have battled several injuries along the offensive line. They’re likely to play 3-4 backups in the Super Bowl this Sunday. 

Although the production remains elite and ultimately the deteriorating health on the line hasn’t bitten them yet, it is not a sustainable way to move forward. 

Vera-Tucker is a highly refined player, who has experience playing at any spot on the line. Much like the Bucs, adding quality depth and talent among the offensive line to protect your franchise should never be a move that is scrutinized.

[newstfionline]

Sunday, December 20, 2020

Americans Are Drinking More During The Pandemic (NPR) When the pandemic began spreading across the U.S. in March, stores, restaurants and schools closed down. But liquor stores in many parts of the U.S. were deemed essential and stayed open. Alcohol sales have ticked up during the pandemic, so maybe it’s a good time to ask yourself: Are you drinking more than you’d like to be? R. Lorraine Collins, a psychologist at the University of Buffalo, recommends asking yourself, “Are you keeping alcohol as ... a special beverage for limited situations, or are you engaging in alcohol use across the board?” A break from alcohol can lead to a range of outcomes. As we’ve reported, a 2016 British study of people who participated in a monthlong “Dry January” break, found that 82% said they felt a sense of achievement. “Better sleep” was cited by 62%, and 49% said they lost some weight. Maybe you hike farther, have better conversations or get better sleep. Notice if your life feels richer to you. If we’re stuck at home for now, why not give it a try? What do you have to lose?

‘Do as I say’: Anger as some politicians ignore virus rules (AP) Denver’s mayor flies to Mississippi to spend Thanksgiving with his family—after urging others to stay home. He later says he was thinking with “my heart and not my head.” A Pennsylvania mayor bans indoor dining, then eats at a restaurant in Maryland. The governor of Rhode Island is photographed at an indoor wine event as her state faces the nation’s second-highest virus rate. While people weigh whether it’s safe to go to work or the grocery store, the mayor of Austin, Texas, heads to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on a private jet after hosting a wedding for 20. California’s governor dines at a swanky French restaurant with lobbyists, none wearing masks, a day after San Francisco’s mayor was there for a birthday party. Both had recently imposed tough rules on restaurants, shops and activities to slow the spread of the virus. To the public’s chagrin, some of America’s political leaders have been caught preaching one thing on the coronavirus and practicing another. Sure, politicians have long been called out for hypocrisy. But during a pandemic that’s forced millions into seclusion and left many without paychecks, such actions can feel like a personal insult—reinforcing the idea “that some people just don’t have to follow the rules while the rest of us do,” says Rita Kirk, a professor of communications at Southern Methodist University. Pandemic-era hypocrisy has only deepened the polarization in a time already marked by division, emboldening those who doubt the seriousness of the virus and dividing people’s responses based on political affiliations.

Hacked networks will need to be burned ‘down to the ground’ (AP) It’s going to take months to kick elite hackers widely believed to be Russian out of the U.S. government networks they have been quietly rifling through since as far back as March in Washington’s worst cyberespionage failure on record. Experts say there simply are not enough skilled threat-hunting teams to duly identify all the government and private-sector systems that may have been hacked. FireEye, the cybersecurity company that discovered the intrusion into U.S. agencies and was among the victims, has already tallied dozens of casualties. It’s racing to identify more. “We have a serious problem. We don’t know what networks they are in, how deep they are, what access they have, what tools they left,” said Bruce Schneier, a prominent security expert and Harvard fellow. Many federal workers—and others in the private sector—must presume that unclassified networks are teeming with spies. Agencies will be more inclined to conduct sensitive government business on Signal, WhatsApp and other encrypted smartphone apps. The only way to be sure a network is clean is “to burn it down to the ground and rebuild it,” Schneier said.

College students recruited as teachers to keep schools open (AP) As the coronavirus sidelines huge numbers of educators, school districts around the country are aggressively recruiting substitute teachers, offering bonuses and waiving certification requirements in order to keep classrooms open. Coming to the rescue in many cases are college students who are themselves learning online or home for extended winter breaks. In Indiana, the 4,400-student Greenfield-Central school district about 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of Indianapolis made a plea for help as its substitute pool shrank. “I said, ‘If you’ve got a student who’s in college, maybe they’d like to work even a two-month thing for us—which would be a stopgap, no doubt—but it will help us a whole, whole bunch,” said Scott Kern, the Greenfield-Central Community School Corporation director of human resources. Over a dozen college students answered the call including his own daughter, 19-year-old Grace Kern, who is studying medical imaging technology at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis. She has been working in elementary school classrooms, helping students as teachers offer instruction remotely via a screen inside the room.

An Ex-Governor Is Gunned Down, Punctuating a Deadly Year for Mexico (NYT) The former governor of the state of Jalisco was gunned down early Friday while vacationing in the resort city of Puerto Vallarta, the authorities said, a brazen killing that further illustrated the government’s struggles to rein in the deadly violence that has surged across Mexico over the past five years. The killing of the ex-governor, Aristóteles Sandoval, who was shot in the back inside a restaurant restroom, is one of the highest-profile political killings in Mexico in recent memory, security experts said. Mr. Sandoval was killed just hours before President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and his cabinet delivered a grim update on the nation’s security situation during a news conference. More than 31,000 murders were recorded in Mexico this year as of November, the latest month for which government statistics are available, a figure roughly on pace with 2019. But homicides have nearly doubled over the past five years.

Bosnian city of Mostar gets a vote (AP) Irma Baralija is looking forward to Sunday, when she intends to vote and hopes to win her race as the southern Bosnian city of Mostar holds its first local election in 12 years. To make that vote possible in her hometown, the 36-year-old Baralija had to sue Bosnia in the European Court of Human Rights for letting a stalemate between two major nationalist political parties prevent her, along about 100,000 other Mostar residents, from voting or running in a municipal election for over a decade. By winning in court in October 2019, Baralija believes she has “busted the myth (that nationalist parties) have been feeding to us, that an individual cannot move things forward, that we matter only as members of our ethnic groups.” Left without fully functioning institutions, Mostar—one of the impoverished Balkan country’s main tourist destinations—has seen its infrastructure crumble, trash repeatedly pile up on its streets and hazardous waste and wastewater treatment sludge dumped in its only landfill, which was supposed to be for non-hazardous waste.

India’s virus cases cross 10 million as new infections dip (AP) India’s confirmed coronavirus cases have crossed 10 million with new infections dipping to their lowest levels in three months, as the country prepares for a massive COVID-19 vaccination in the new year. Dr. Randeep Guleria, a government health expert, said India is keeping its fingers crossed as the cases tend to increase in winter months. India is home to some of the world’s biggest vaccine-makers and there are five vaccine candidates under different phases of trial in the country.

Israel’s top-secret Mossad looks to recruit via Netflix, Hulu and Apple TV (Washington Post) After decades in the shadows, Israel’s foreign intelligence agency, the Mossad, has been getting a lot of airtime, both on the news and in popular TV thrillers. In real life, details of operations attributed to Israel are in the open like never before, including the theft two years ago of a trove of nuclear secrets from inside Iran, last summer’s drive-by killing of al-Qaeda’s No. 2 in Tehran and the assassination last month of Iran’s top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. And on the screen, streaming hits like Apple TV Plus’s “Tehran,” Netflix’s “The Spy” and Hulu’s “False Flag” have starred the Mossad as a cold, ruthless and efficient machine. Far from squirming, the once-supersecret agency has welcomed the exposure, former spies say. The Mossad needs recruits. Military veterans who might have once made their career in national service now leave to work for lucrative start-ups, or found their own. Israeli companies Waze, Wix, Viber and others were started by intelligence veterans. In response, Yossi Cohen, the Mossad’s director since 2016 and a close ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has embarked on a hiring spree, increased the agency’s number of sabotage operations and enlarged its budget by billions of shekels. The Mossad’s recruitment drive includes a heightened social media presence and a calculated trickle of unconfirmed information about its exploits. And former spies say the agency is quietly embracing a slew of TV shows and movies that could do for the agency what “Top Gun” famously did for naval recruitment: make a life in the organization seem cool again.

Chaos and jubilation as freed Nigerian schoolboys reunite with family (Reuters) Parents sobbed, mobbed their children in hugs and even kissed the ground in gratitude on Friday as they reunited with scores of schoolboys who had been kidnapped a week earlier in northwest Nigeria. Hundreds of adults jostled to find their offspring among the 344 dusty and dazed looking children who had arrived by bus in Katsina state on Friday morning. Those who succeeded cheered and grabbed their children, but scores more were still waiting by early evening. “I feel like God has granted me paradise because I am so happy,” said an ebullient Hamza Kankara after she found her son, Lawal, in the crowd. Another man knelt and kissed the ground, thanking God for the return of his young son, before clutching the boy and sobbing.

[casualvoidbread]

Battling The Signs of Underperformance In The Workplace

Introduction: In the dynamic landscape of modern workplaces, human resources teams and managers encounter a range of challenges that impact productivity, harmony, and employee well-being. Adapting to hybrid work models, prioritizing employee welfare, fostering team cohesion, and addressing underperformance are some of the key challenges organizations face today. Underperformance, a common issue, can hinder progress if left unchecked. This article delves into the concept of workplace underperformance, its causes, and actionable strategies to effectively manage it. Additionally, we will explore how staffing agencies like HireEazy can play a role in finding solutions to these challenges.

Understanding Workplace Underperformance: Workplace underperformance refers to situations where employees fail to meet set goals and expectations, leading to subpar results that hinder overall work progress. This is manifested through missed deadlines, absenteeism, low motivation, negative customer feedback, and poor evaluations. Identifying these signs is crucial for maintaining a productive work environment.

Causes of Underperformance: Several factors contribute to underperformance:

Capabilities and Skillset: Mismatches between an employee's role and their qualifications or skills can lead to underperformance. Periodic skillset analyses and behavioral assessments can help address this issue.

Communication Issues: Poor communication or discrepancies in communication often lead to underperformance. Strategies promoting transparency, regular updates, and improved relationships through discussion forums and meetings are essential.

Low Motivation: Long-tenured employees might experience diminished motivation due to various reasons such as lack of interest, inadequate compensation, or limited career growth. This can result in dissatisfaction and reduced performance.

Lack of Training: Continuous learning is crucial for performance improvement. Providing tailored training based on individual assessments can significantly mitigate underperformance issues.

Personal Issues: Personal crises and strained relationships can disrupt an employee's focus and work-life balance. Providing support and flexibility can help alleviate these challenges.

Strategies to Manage Workplace Underperformance: Addressing underperformance requires a thoughtful approach:

Communication: Initiate open conversations with underperforming employees. Actively listen to their concerns and clarify performance expectations. Empathetic communication fosters trust and loyalty.

Training: Identify areas for improvement and provide personalized training. Assign mentors or strong team members to aid in skill enhancement and track progress.

Setting Goals: Develop performance goals using SMART criteria (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound). Involve the employee in crafting an action plan that aligns with their skills and aspirations.

Feedback: Regular feedback is essential for improvement. Recognize improvements and address challenges promptly. This two-way dialogue encourages continuous growth.

Role of Staffing Agencies like HireEazy: Staffing agencies like HireEazy can play a pivotal role in managing workplace underperformance. These agencies specialize in identifying candidates with the right skill set and qualifications for specific roles, reducing the likelihood of mismatches. They can also assist in workforce planning, talent acquisition, and providing training solutions tailored to individual needs. By partnering with top recruiting firms in NYC, organizations can access a pool of qualified and motivated candidates, ensuring a higher likelihood of performance alignment.

Conclusion: Effectively managing workplace underperformance requires proactive strategies that address individual and organizational needs. By recognizing the causes of underperformance and implementing targeted solutions such as open communication, training, goal-setting, and regular feedback, organizations can nurture a culture of continuous improvement. Moreover, leveraging the expertise of staffing agencies like HireEazy can facilitate the process of identifying the right talent and optimizing workforce dynamics, leading to enhanced performance and success.

[mylocalskill]

Top 5 U.S. Cities for Remote Workers to Call Home

When did you last want to work remotely? Perhaps you spend an inordinate amount of time sitting in traffic and waiting for the commuting hours to end. Or perhaps there are days when it would be much more convenient to work from home so that you could get things done around the house without having to take time off for lunch. Imagine if your employer would let you take a day off!

Then think about all the amazing places you'd love to live if it weren't for your employer not allowing you to work remotely. Were we to tell you that there is a wide variety of high-quality, location-independent work available, would you believe us? Having a rewarding job and the opportunity to reside in a remarkable location is possible. Check out the top cities in the United States for digital nomads if you're looking to relocate within the country.

Best cities to work remotely in America

The Nomad List ranks the top places in the United States for digital nomads to set up shop and get to work on their terms.

Miami

You can easily discover an alternative when you need to get somewhere in Miami, Florida, but don't feel like driving. Two light rail systems and the traditional Metro train system give digital nomads a wide range of options for getting around the city. In addition to its beautiful beaches, Miami is also home to many exciting cultural attractions and exciting nightlife.

New York

Those who prefer working from home will find New York to be a dream metropolis. There are many places to do your job outside, such as parks, cafés, and public libraries. Also, while it may be prohibitive for digital nomads to reside in the heart of Manhattan, the city's huge subway and metro system makes it possible for them to do so in any part of the city, including the suburbs. Without the hassle and expense of commuting, you can take in all that "The Big Apple" has to offer in terms of entertainment and culture.

Atlanta

In Atlanta, you can live comfortably for less money than you may think, and there's always something to do thanks to the city's thriving social and entertainment scene.  Most remote workers acknowledge that learning to drive in the city can be difficult, but they also say that the extensive public transportation system makes getting around without a car a breeze.

Seattle

Seattle, a leader in the "green" movement, is well-known for being the home of Amazon, Microsoft, and other multinational corporations with headquarters, such as JPMorgan Chase and Starbucks. In Seattle, remote workers can find innovative tech, finance, and retail companies that welcome remote employees worldwide.

San Francisco

San Francisco is a top destination for digital nomads for work and recreation. There is something that will pique every visitor's interest, the seafood that will make your mouth water, the bustling market at Fisherman's Wharf, or the towering Redwood trees just over the bridge.

How to Make It as a Remote Worker

It's easy to picture yourself working on a project while lounging in a chair on a tropical beach when you imagine the lifestyle of a freelancer. However, many digital nomads base themselves in the United States and spend their lives exploring diverse landscapes and opportunities.

Leading IT recruitment agency in Canada & USA; LocalSkill connects people looking for a career in IT with employers. Check out our website for more resources!

[yexin06-29]

The United Arab Emirates is poised to issue federal licenses for virtual asset service providers by the end of the first quarter in an effort to attract some of the world’s biggest crypto companies, according to a government official.

The Securities and Commodities Authority is in the final stage of amending legislation to allow VASPs to set up, said the official, who requested anonymity due to government policy.

Binance Holdings Ltd., the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, is among those considering a bigger presence in the country. A nationwide licensing system for virtual-asset firms could help the UAE better compete with rival financial centers like Singapore and Hong Kong, which are also in the midst of creating fully regulated environments for crypto trading.

Some of the nation’s financial free zones have already issued permits for VASPs. Dubai Multi Commodities Centre has licensed 22, while Abu Dhabi Global Market has six and Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority has at least one, according to a government report seen by Bloomberg. Dubai International Financial Centre, which is the Middle East hub for most Wall Street banks, has none for now.

In an effort to lure more business, the UAE completed a risk assessment on virtual assets late last year, involving 14 public-sector agencies and 16 private-sector actors. While there’s a “high risk” that VASPs may be used to engage in illicit finance schemes, the government concluded proper regulation, rather than an outright ban, can mitigate those threats, the report said.

READ MORE: Cryptoassets Threaten Financial Stability, Top Regulator Warns

The UAE official told Bloomberg News that Abu Dhabi considered the latest guidance from the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force as well as the strategies employed in the U.S., the U.K. and Singapore. Opening the door to the sector reflects how the UAE embraces technology, the official said.

The country is taking a hybrid approach to oversight. SCA will handle regulation with input from the central bank, while local financial centers can establish their own day-to-day procedures around licensing, the official said.

That involves an application process and due diligence by the government, though the details depend on whether an entity is looking to set up on the mainland or within a commercial free zone.

Crypto Mining

Emirati authorities are trying to strike a delicate balance as they promote the business-friendly environment that’s made Dubai an attractive regional base for many of the world’s biggest financial firms and tech companies -- while also seeking to navigate concerns about volatility and financial crime that keep dogging the crypto industry.

In a matter of weeks, the FATF is set to decide whether to include the UAE on its so-called gray list of countries subject to more oversight for shortcomings in combating money laundering and terrorist financing.

Read more: The Global Task Force That’s Going After Dirty Money: QuickTake

The UAE official said the government also wants to build an ecosystem for crypto mining, an industry that’s drawn scrutiny from environmentalists and lawmakers globally due to its high electricity consumption and ensuing impact on greenhouse-gas emissions. The sector would be regulated, the official said.

Dubai-based crypto exchange BitOasis is the largest UAE VASP, according to the government’s report, yet the competition is picking up.

Binance has built up a local team, with Chief Executive Officer Changpeng “CZ” Zhao quickly becoming a fixture in the city. Regional players including CoinMENA BSC and Rain Financial Inc. also have a presence. Meantime, San Francisco-based exchange Kraken is currently recruiting for a Middle East North Africa CEO based in Abu Dhabi, according to LinkedIn.

The UAE is the Middle East’s third-largest crypto market, trailing Turkey and Lebanon, with a transaction volume of about $26 billion, according to data compiled by Chainalysis from July 2020 to June 2021.

While the region’s crypto footprint is relatively small in global terms, it grew by about 1,500% from the prior year, the data showed.

[theonyxpath]

Boo!

Matthew Dawkins here, to talk a little about Book of Oblivion for Wraith: The Oblivion 20th Anniversary Edition! The writing of this book proceeds apace, as we endeavor to include new Arcanoi, provide fresh looks at antagonists, make environmental horror a real thing (especially in the Underworld), and give new coverage to heretofore only mentioned Necropoli and Kingdoms the world over.

It’s an exciting time to be on a Wraith book.

Honestly, one of the things I love about working on Wraith is the ability to provide deeper and darker coverage of material left fallow in its previous editions. Lacking a Revised edition, we have a lot of ground we can cover, and the Book of Oblivion seeks to address some gaps while adding brand new material most of you won’t expect.

Do you want an example? While the Guilds are still at the forefront of Hierarchy life in the Shadowlands, we wanted more organizations and clubs wraiths might belong to. Here’s Clayton Oliver’s Maelstrom Bureau and a piece on how Reapers target those struck down in natural (and sometimes unnatural) disasters:

  The Maelstrom Bureau

On the top floor of a Brutalist office block down the street from the Sea of Shadows, the one Hierarchy agency with an official disaster mission struggles to coordinate its far-flung network of observers and researchers. Founded as the Office of Maelstrom Preparedness in the 19th century’s twilight years, the Maelstrom Bureau has endured every bureaucratic indignity known to wraithkind over its decades of existence, including numerous changes of name and structure. Despite it all, it is one of the Underworld’s foremost clearinghouses of Maelstrom knowledge – when it can be convinced to share.

The Bureau’s self-assigned mission is the prediction, mitigation, and study of Maelstroms. Its Stygian headquarters staff numbers just over 100 wraiths, only half of whom come from its sponsoring body, the Iron Legion. The rest hail from other Legions, seconded through a complex arrangement of reimbursement agreements. Most headquarters wraiths are clerks and academics who spend their shifts poring over reports and research proposals. Far larger are the ranks of the Bureau’s field staff, who range from lone weather-obsessed volunteers to the pluviometrists and  anemologists who operate the field offices in the largest and most Maelstrom-prone Necropoli.

Each aspect of the Bureau’s mission falls to a different branch. Maelstrom prediction is the duty of the Forecasting Service, which monitors both Skinlands events and the Tempest’s protean weather for signs of impending Maelstrom. The Forecasting Service also makes extensive use of Argos, Fatalism, and other divinatory methods to separate “ordinary” Tempest patterns from those heralding a more destructive event. As with Skinlands meteorology, Underworld forecasting is neither exact nor consistently accurate, and wraiths remember the failures more than the successes.

The Fortification Center specializes in defensive architecture. This office turns its eye toward reinforcing structures – anything from the tiny storm shelters scattered along major Byways to the greatest Citadels – against Maelstrom effects. It also grudgingly handles the Bureau’s public education work, disseminating Maelstrom preparedness pamphlets to all Hierarchy citizens through its Citizen Outreach Office. Finally, its Storm Systems Laboratory is an engineering think-tank focused on personal protective equipment for Maelstroms. This latter group supplies the majority of the Bureau’s supplemental funding through the sale of its creations. Storm Systems chain-coats, fog masks, wind-staves, and storm gauges command a premium among wraiths who must brave the Underworld’s elements.

The Bureau’s research arm is the Beaufort-Granogrec Anemological Institute. Prone to academic infighting and knowledge hoarding, the Institute generates its greatest successes despite itself. At any given time, its library and laboratory staff may be perusing damage reports from a storm-struck Citadel, analyzing the composition of a plasmic eyeball hail sample, or statistically surveying a half-century of Forecasting Service predictions against seismic records from the Cascadia Subduction Zone. Of course, someone must gather these data, and the Institute’s more adventurous (or foolhardy) members lead field research missions across the Shadowlands and Tempest. The Institute has several research campuses in Maelstrom-prone areas; the most prominent are in London, San Francisco, and Istanbul. In cooperation with other Empires’ authorities, its No.3 Storm Penetration Squadron (“3SPS,” officially an Iron Legion military unit) flies and sails from Hong Kong to make observations from within Maelstroms throughout the Western Pacific Shadowlands and coterminous Tempest regions.

Only the largest Necropoli’s field offices host representatives from all three branches. Most commonly, a field office contains a single Bureau representative who struggles to discharge the full spectrum of her assignment. Such field reps recruit volunteers for daily weather observations, post-Maelstrom damage assessments, and scientific expeditions into the Tempest.

Even as the Bureau’s scientific and operational capabilities have waxed with the deaths and recruitments of experts in a wide range of disciplines, its leadership and ability to influence Stygian thinking have waned. Its founder and first superintendent, Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort, was lost in 1969 when Hurricane Camille’s echo claimed the research ghost ship Muskeget. Co-founder and successor Jean Granogrec was an able meteorologist but a ham-fisted administrator, driving away many long-serving veterans. Granogrec’s mismanagement came to a head in 2010, when the agency (then titled the Maelstrom Prediction and Preparation Unit) failed to predict or prepare for the Haitian earthquake and subsequent Pan-Caribbean Maelstrom. In response, the Ashen Lady reassigned Granogrec and renamed the MPPU. The office of superintendent gave way to a committee of bureau chiefs drawn from the Iron Legion’s most influential Necropoli. Sadly, while some of these chiefs are able politicians, few are scientists or leaders, resulting in a vacuum of direction and coordination. Even the Journal of Applied Anemology, once a cutting-edge monthly publication laden with advice accessible to the average wraith on the street, has been reduced to an unreliable quarterly reprinting of monographs dredged from the archives. Increasingly, local field offices reach out to other sources of support in the absence of timely guidance from headquarters.

Reaping (After) the Whirlwind

The fear, grief, and other emotions stemming from disasters are concentrated and shared, so it’s no surprise that disaster deaths create a heightened number of wraiths when compared to the same number of similar individual deaths across the mortal population. This makes any disaster a fertile ground for Reapers. Reaping in a catastrophe’s aftermath (to say nothing of doing so amidst the storm) can be perilous, though. Competitors, Spectres, and the odd Plasmic or Ferryman all contest hunting privileges, and the freshest wraiths can erupt from their Cauls with surprising vigor, still fighting against whatever killed them. Casualties who tear their way out of their own Cauls are another sort of danger altogether, as they know exactly what’s happened to them and take a dim view of other ghosts profiting on their deaths. On top of all of it, the most fertile Skinlands disasters are the most likely to spawn Maelstroms.

Wraiths who specialize in picking swiftly through mass fatality incidents to harvest newly-made Restless are known as vultures in Stygian parlance. Like their namesakes, Circles thereof are called wakes. Any successful wake has a member who can predict a disaster before it occurs (usually by reading pre-Maelstrom portents, though some are adept at analyzing political, meteorological, or geographic indicators), allowing the group to stage itself nearby. This willingness to go where the bodies will fall requires wakes to be more mobile than typical Circles, so most have a member who can facilitate transportation, either personally or through connections. Of course, wakes must manage workplace hazards ranging from soulforged blades to supernatural weather; self-protection skills are a job requirement.

Less prestigious, though sharing many of the same traits, are tidings of magpies – Circles who salvage disaster-created relics rather than Enfants. Profitable magpies are well-attuned to current market forces and are adept at promoting their gleanings for auction or barter. Tidings tend to be busier than wakes and face slightly less peril in their trade, as many events of massive destruction (and thus large-scale relic creation) occur without significant casualties. Some Circles bridge both trades, but the different logistical needs and marketplaces lead most to focus on one or the other.

Some  vultures are more altruistic than others. The best style themselves as SAR teams, often adopting the Cormorant Order’s heraldic creature in place of their usual appellation. The worst are simply slavers with an unusually-strong work ethic and tolerance for (or addiction to) risk. Magpies, operating in a less morally-perilous marketplace, tend to be more businesslike – though it’s not unknown for predatory tidings (or ordinary bandits) to lurk outside disaster areas and rob fellow magpies at the end of a night’s labor.

[whatisonthemoon]

On the UC links to intelligence

Excerpted from "Cults, Anti-Cults, and the Cult of Intelligence" by Daniel Brandt, in the Alternative Press Review (Fall 1994)

The first example of such links is the Unification Church (UC) of Rev. Sun Myung Moon. Today it is too well-established to be considered a cult; the list of their front groups and businesses in NameBase runs to 28 pages with 667 names. The UC no longer recruits on U.S. campuses the way they used to—they don’t need the money that Moonies would earn from selling flowers at airports, and they don’t need this sort of publicity. Instead they buy universities: in 1992 the UC plunked down over $50 million for the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut, and one of the UC’s new trustees there is Jack E. Thomas, who was assistant chief of staff for U.S. air force intelligence for six years, and then special assistant to the CIA director for nine years.  Rev. Moon is also a force in Washington today. In 1992 he admitted that over its ten-year history, the Washington Times had cost him “close to one billion dollars.” The influence and respectability this provides is presumably worth more than that.

Before the Unification Church was incorporated in the U.S. in 1963 by Bo Hi Pak, Moon had the support of the South Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA). The expansion of the cult into the U.S. was conceived as a means of influencing U.S. politics. Four of Moon’s early followers were young army officers close to Kim Jong Pil, the founding director of the KCIA and chief strategist for the Park regime. Bo Hi Pak was the KCIA liaison to U.S. intelligence at the time, stationed in the Korean Embassy in Washington. Today he is one of Moon’s top aides and president of the Washington Times. In 1962 Kim made a two-week official visit to the U.S., and Lt.Col. Bo Hi Pak arranged meetings with CIA director John McCone, defense secretary Robert McNamara, and Defense Intelligence Agency director Gen. Joseph Carroll. On his way home, Kim met with some of Moon’s followers in San Francisco. Pak’s other duties at the Korean Embassy included frequent liaison trips to the National Security Agency at Fort Meade, Maryland.

Today the Moon empire is similar to a transnational corporation with various subsidiaries. Cult-like aspects remain visible among Moon’s entourage, but from the perspective of most employees, many Moon enterprises are just like other corporations. Rev. Moon still considers himself a Messiah, and his far- flung investments are the means he’s using to save the world. His politics are essentially reactionary and anti-Communist, and he has received political and financial support from Yoshio Kodama, Ryoichi Sasakawa, and other powerful Japanese right-wing figures. In 1970 the Japanese contingent of Moon’s organization sponsored the annual conference of the World Anti-Communist League.

[victoriabcjobs]

Senior Manager, Data Governance

Company Description Make an impact at a global and dynamic investment organization When you invest your career in CPP Investments, you join one of the most respected and fastest growing institutional investors in the world.

With current assets under management valued in excess of $450 billion, CPP Investments is a professional investment management organization that globally invests the funds of the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) to help ensure long-term sustainability.

The CPP Fund is projected to exceed $1.5 trillion in the next two decades.

CPP Investments invests in all major asset classes, including public equity, private equity, real estate, infrastructure and fixed-income instruments, and is headquartered in Toronto with offices in Hong Kong, London, Luxembourg, Mumbai, New York City, San Francisco, São Paulo and Sydney.

CPP Investments attracts and selects high-calibre individuals from top-tier institutions around the globe.

Join our team and look forward to: Diverse and inspiring colleagues and approachable leaders Stimulating work in a fast-paced, intellectually challenging environment Accelerated exposure and responsibility Global career development opportunities Being motivated every day by CPP Investments’ important social purpose and unshakable principles A deeply rooted culture of Integrity, Partnership and High Performance If you share a passion for performance, value a collegial and collaborative culture, and approach everything with the highest integrity, here’s an opportunity for you to invest your career at CPP Investments.

Job Description We are hiring a Senior Manager to lead the Data Governance function within the enterprise Data Governance and Quality team.

Reporting to the Director of Data Governance and Quality and in partnership with Investment Departments, Core Services, and other parts of Technology & Data, you will lead the design and oversee the adoption of the data governance framework at CPP Investments.

In this role, you will use your expertise across the data lifecycle in an asset management firm to champion the view of data as an asset and a source of investment insights.

You will work with teams responsible for data operations, data quality and data driven decisions to create a control environment that will improve trust in our data and increase speed to insight.

Additionally, to improve data accessibility, you will act as a co-owner of the data catalogue and discovery tool with the focus on making the relevant metadata available to the data consumers across the Fund.

The Opportunity Develop a strategic vision and roadmap for implementing data governance standards for the enterprise Define an approach for data governance, including KPIs and reporting, to ensure that data used across CPP Investments is appropriately managed and supports enterprise objectives Provide subject matter expertise related to data governance as it relates to the asset management/owner industry Identify potential areas where existing policies, processes, controls, and tools require change or need to be developed to ensure data governance objectives are met and to support the Enterprise Risk Framework Partner with colleagues in data operations and data quality functions to ensure data is properly governed Design and implement new processes in support of the data governance standards, develop supporting documentation Develop and execute a communication plan to build awareness and adoption of the data governance standards and policies across the fund Build partnerships across all levels of the organization and affect change through leadership Manage a team of highly skilled professionals Qualifications Consider applying if you have most of the following: Practical experience in data governance in a medium to large scale data driven organization Proven track record of building partnerships and influencing a diverse set of stakeholders (including C-level) to drive outcomes Exceptional problem-solving skills and critical thinking applied to data lifecycle management Experience with creating and managing metadata and lineage documentation for various datasets Experience with designing performance management mechanisms, e.g.

metrics, benchmarks, reporting dashboards, that are effective in driving outcomes and intuitive for the audience Experience with datasets and processes relevant for the investment and asset management companies, such as security master data, IBOR/ABOR data, fundamentals data, market data.

Experience working with alternative data Ability to quickly understand the data requirements of various groups of advanced data users such as quant analysts, fundamentals analysts, private equity analyst and operations analysts 5 years of experience building and leading high-performing teams of employees and/or contractors Strong understanding of the application of data governance to be a value-add to the investment process Experience with implementing or using industry-leading data governance software suites is an asset Knowledge of data modeling, architecture principles and techniques is an advantage Advanced written/verbal communication and presentation skills University degree.

Computer Science, Data Science and Analytics, Engineering, Finance, Business specializations are given a preference Commitment to CPP Investments’ guiding principles of integrity, partnership and high performance Additional Information Visit our Linkedin Career Page or Follow us on Linkedin.

LI-BG1 At CPP Investments, we are committed to diversity and equitable access to employment opportunities based on ability.

We thank all applicants for their interest but will only contact candidates selected to advance in the hiring process.

Our Commitment to Inclusion and Diversity: In addition to being dedicated to building a workforce that reflects diverse talent, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible experience.

If you require an accommodation for any part of the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials, accessible meeting rooms, etc.), please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Disclaimer: CPP Investments does not accept resumes from employment placement agencies, head-hunters or recruitment suppliers that are not in a formal contractual arrangement with us.

Our recruitment supplier arrangements are restricted to specific hiring needs and do not include this or other web-site job postings.

Any resume or other information received from a supplier not approved by CPP Investments to provide resumes to this posting or web-site will be considered unsolicited and will not be considered.

CPP Investments will not pay any referral, placement or other fee for the supply of such unsolicited resumes or information.

The post Senior Manager, Data Governance first appeared on Victoria Job Bank.

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[sksanaya92]

Is Your Small Business Fit for Battle?

Pick any top-performing company for your industry and that they’re possibly incredibly effective at coping with alternate and modernizing operations. If your small Accounting Services in san Francisco is likewise modernizing operations, you’ve probably stumble upon industry buzzwords like Digital Transformation, Artificial Intelligence, and Business Agility.  These buzzwords are extra than simply that–they’re actively describing the special ways to alternate your operations and convey it into the digital age.

Top Five Reasons to Prepare for Battle Now

This article affords some angle on the significance of small enterprise adaptability in a quick-paced virtual economy. Most Bookkeeping Services in san Francisco proprietors understand how to reply to conventional modifications in marketplace situations. Let’s say a competitor opened a new shop down the street. Your crew would likely understand how satisfactory to reply. However, adapting to marketplace adjustments within the virtual age is one-of-a-kind in once in a while dire methods. Why? Because that identical competitor now has a web presence, instead of just a physical region. They’re also within the method of building a customer-centric online experience that would make even Uber take a step returned. How will you reply now?

You see, today’s small Bookkeeping Services in New York are going through more market complexity, uncertainty, and staffing pressures than ever before. They additionally have limited realize-a way to expect where and the way competition will venture their market relevance.  Such market conditions may want to depart your commercial enterprise grossly unprepared to reply to change. To avoid such a fate, start constructing up your battle-readiness in these 5 regions as your opposition might also already have the benefit.

1. The competition’s digital knowledge.

There’s a sturdy opportunity that your opposition is in advance of you in digital knowledge and will benefit a widespread market proportion by the point you could respond. Data strongly suggests, regardless of the enterprise, that your competition is investing closely in modernizing operations and already seeing consequences. In truth, the majority of business decision-makers trust their present day “virtual transformation” initiative is delivering extensive returns on investment. The three biggest attention areas for improvement had been technology, customer support, accounting and finance.

2. The opposition’s size.

In the virtual age, it’s not the biggest or the best corporations that continue to exist, but those with a deep capability for change. Why? Because with the acceleration of automation, mobility, and connectivity, alternate is coming rapid.  In many cases, being smaller than your enterprise competitor is an aggressive benefit. It’s a digital age David and Goliath tale. Research statistics strongly suggests Accounting Services in New York that run small change quicker.  As enterprise operations and era improvements evolve a small commercial enterprise’ capability to triumph over industry giants likes Compaq, Toshiba, and Polaroid evolves, as nicely.

According to McKinsey, manufacturers with 100 employees or less are 3x more likely to report successful departmental improvement plans whilst as compared to businesses with extra than 50,000 personnel. These smaller manufacturers are also 15% more likely to have each frontline managers and employees visibly engaged in such rollouts.

3. The opposition’s tradition.

Small businesses require a team of workers with a boom-mind-set and a resiliency to change. The lifestyle need to also encourage a constant updating of competencies as today’s work turns into more virtual and automatic. Yet, small groups are woefully unprepared to modify to this developing trend. A recent survey called The Up skilling Crisis: Effectively Enabling and Retraining Employees for the Future indicates 56% of companies agree with that they have got a slight to excessive talents hole.  While 60% of employee’s trust that, to some extent, their present day skill set turns into old inside the next three to 5 years. This urgency for upskilling comes at a time whilst rising ability sets are scarce, and the talent marketplace is tight. This manner your pinnacle employees are possibly being recruited by increase-centered competition trying to improve operational efficiency and enhance their culture.

4. The competition’s sense of urgency.

There’s a loss of urgency for lots small agencies to modernize operations. The argument for adopting a ‘is patient’ attitude or being a ‘fast follower’ are now not possible strategies. In the virtual international, it’s pace, flexibility, and agility that win the day.

You’re probable acquainted with any other enterprise buzzword–disruption. Yes, it’s overused these days, but it’s nevertheless relevant in these days’s tech innovation subculture.  Consider how Amazon, Uber, and Airbnb changed their whole industries’ aggressive and operational landscapes. The query stays–will your enterprise experience such disruption? Without a doubt.

According to a current IBM file, ninety% of commercial enterprise executives say their enterprise’s aggressive landscape will subsequently be disrupted. This puts even the top performers for your industry susceptible to being toppled.

It doesn’t end there, both.  As the file continues, it lays out the facts, pronouncing “many corporations are failing to evolve rapid enough to avoid the negative or perhaps catastrophic influences of disruption.” Just ask Kodak, Xerox, or Blockbuster.

5. The competitor’s internal communications.

Good verbal exchange enables power conventional commercial enterprise change efforts, and is just as crucial in the digital age. In truth, the effectiveness of internal communications is a robust indicator of an employer’s virtual transformation success. Research data shows that trade management groups that didn’t talk a clear purpose for commercial enterprise development tasks to their personnel have been three times more likely to fail all through the execution.

According to Mckinsey, companies that don’t unify their groups with a compelling message that “trade is coming” can be unfit to do battle with high-appearing competition inside the coming years.

Just keep in mind, no matter your uncertainty with trade management, digital transformation, or even enterprise buzzwords, one component is positive–change is coming. In the stop, a small business that can’t speedy adapt to market trade will progressively adapt to market irrelevance.

[olko71]

New Post has been published on All about business online

New Post has been published on http://yaroreviews.info/2021/05/colonial-pipeline-hack-shows-ransomware-emergence-as-industrial-scale-threat

Colonial Pipeline Hack Shows Ransomware Emergence as Industrial-Scale Threat

The cyberattack that knocked offline an essential U.S. gasoline pipeline shows that a dangerous, professional-scale hacking-for-ransom threat is worsening, spreading rapidly and plaguing companies, schools, hospitals and other institutions.

While ransomware has been a challenge for small businesses for years, a confluence of factors have emboldened attackers in the past year, culminating in the shutdown on Friday of a critical gasoline pipeline to the U.S. East Coast. The pipeline’s operator, Colonial Pipeline Co., now says that service could be offline until the end of the week, threatening to raise prices at the pump for millions of Americans.

Attacks are growing in number and scale as millions of people around the country work or attend school remotely, in some cases opening back doors to networks without corporate or institutional security protections, security researchers say.

Hackers have grown adept at communicating about vulnerabilities on the so-called Dark Web, a network of computers that can share information anonymously. The ability to demand payment in cryptocurrency limits law-enforcement tracking capabilities. And the growth in insurance policies that cover ransomware payments has helped seed an increasingly professionalized ransomware industry.

Senior officials in the Biden administration have said ransomware is likely the most serious cybersecurity threat to the U.S. and that on its current trajectory the problem will only get worse in the years ahead. A senior Justice Department official likened the phenomenon to “cyber weapons of mass destruction.”

There is no official U.S. clearinghouse to track ransomware cases, but those reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation reached nearly 2,500 in 2020, an increase of 66% compared with the previous year.

While precise data on attacks is often difficult to come by, partly due to the desire for secrecy among both perpetrators and victims, ransomware victims paid criminals at least $350 million in cryptocurrency payments in 2020, an increase of 311%, according to the blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis Inc. Other security experts and cybersecurity officials have estimated the overall toll on the U.S. economy now registers in the billions annually.

“The reason why ransomware is exploding is because it’s scalable, predictable and lucrative,” said Antony P. Kim, a partner with the law firm Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP’s cyber, privacy and data innovation practice. “If that isn’t a business model, I don’t know what is.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has for years told companies that they shouldn’t pay ransoms when victimized by hackers, but the cybersecurity firm Bitdefender says that at least half of all victims end up paying.

The companies least vulnerable are those that back up systems so they don’t feel pressure to pay, but doing so can be costly up front.

Ransomware encrypts the contents of the victim’s computers, making them unusable until a payment is made, at which point the hackers promise to give the victims a decryption key—a complex series of letters and numbers that will unlock their systems. Often victims pay ransom because they have no backup copies of the infected systems or because the effort required to restore hundreds of computers is prohibitive.

“We are on the cusp of a global digital pandemic, driven by greed, a vulnerable digital ecosystem, and an ever-widening criminal enterprise,” Chris Krebs, the former top cybersecurity official in the Department of Homeland Security under President Trump, said in congressional testimony about ransomware last week.

Propensity to be hit by ransomware across different sectors

Business & professional services

Central government

Technology & telecoms

Manufacturing & production

Energy, oil/gas & utilities

Healthcare

Local government

Financial services

Global average

Media, leisure & entertainment

Construction & property

Distribution & transport

Impact

of ransomware

Ransomware complaints filed with the FBI

Victim loss from ransomware attacks

Cybercriminals

succeeded in

encrypting data

$30 million

Attack stopped before

the data could be encrypted

Propensity to be hit by ransomware across different sectors

Business & professional services

Central government

Technology & telecoms

Manufacturing & production

Energy, oil/gas & utilities

Healthcare

Local government

Financial services

Global average

Media, leisure & entertainment

Construction & property

Distribution & transport

Impact

of ransomware

Ransomware complaints filed with the FBI

Victim loss from ransomware attacks

Cybercriminals

succeeded in

encrypting data

$30 million

Attack stopped before

the data could be encrypted

Propensity to be hit by ransomware across different sectors

Business & professional services

Central government

Technology & telecoms

Manufacturing & production

Energy, oil/gas & utilities

Healthcare

Local government

Financial services

Global average

Media, leisure & entertainment

Construction & property

Distribution & transport

Impact

of ransomware

Ransomware complaints filed with the FBI

Victim loss from ransomware attacks

Cybercriminals

succeeded in

encrypting data

$30 million

Attack stopped before

the data could be encrypted

Propensity to be hit by ransomware across different sectors

Business services

Central government

Technology

Manufacturing

Energy,

oil/gas & utilities

Healthcare

Global average

Local government

Financial services

Impact of ransomware

Cybercriminals

succeeded in

encrypting data

Attack stopped

before the data

could be encrypted

Ransomware complaints filed

Victim loss from ransomware attacks

$30 million

Schools, law firms, local governments, airports and law-enforcement agencies have been hit.

A September hack cost hospital chain United Health Services Inc. $67 million last year before taxes, and a month later ransomware groups knocked dozens of hospitals offline during a widespread campaign.

The 10,000-student Sheldon Independent School District in Houston paid a ransom of $206,931, negotiated down from about $350,000, after a ransomware attack last year rendered it inoperable and threatened a coming paycheck distribution.

“We could not function,” said Sheldon Superintendent King R. Davis. “It was very important to us to keep moving forward.”

The University of California, San Francisco, paid a $1.14 million ransom to a hacker in June. The university has said that it made the decision to pay because the hacker encrypted data for important academic work, including research. The university said in a statement that it was a “difficult decision” to pay the ransom.

DarkSide, the ransomware linked by the FBI to the Colonial pipeline incident, uses the Tor anonymizing software to keep its server’s location hidden from law enforcement. The group that makes the ransomware uses the digital currency bitcoin for payments that can be made anonymously. It uses online hacking forums to recruit “affiliate” partners who can break into victims’ networks, and it is thought to operate out of Eastern Europe, according to security researchers.

The DarkSide developers didn’t respond to a request for comment. On the “press” section for the ransomware gang’s website, they appeared to distance themselves from the Colonial attack and blame an affiliate. They said that they would exert more control over the companies that their affiliates wanted to attack “to avoid social consequences in the future.”

While ransomware groups have traditionally shut down critical operations and demanded payment to provide keys to restore them, in recent years, ransomware groups began threatening to publish documents taken from victims.

This shift has given hackers a new line of business—allowing them to collect payments even when victims were able to restore encrypted systems through a backup, said Charles Carmakal, a senior vice president with the cybersecurity firm Mandiant. “A lot of times, these victims feel compelled to pay,” he said.

Ransomware gangs now notify company employees and even partners when they have infiltrated a victim to maximize the pressure to pay, said Sherri Davidoff, chief executive of the security consulting firm LMG Security LLC. On its website, DarkSide says it is willing to sell information stolen from victims to short sellers, if the victim refuses to pay.

Anne Neuberger, President Biden’s deputy national security adviser, said hackers are increasingly targeting companies that have insurance and are richer.

Photo: nicholas kamm/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

Layered together, all of these online services make it easy for a growing pool of hackers to get involved in ransomware with a minimum of effort, Ms. Davidoff said. It’s very point and click,” she said.

Reflecting the scale of the threat, last month the Justice Department formed a task force intended to curtail the popular extortion schemes by making them less lucrative through efforts to target the entire digital ecosystem that supports them, including how criminals rely on digital currency to extract victim payments.

In an interview last month, John Carlin, a senior official at the Justice Department, likened ransomware to “cyber weapons of mass destruction” that, like nuclear weapons, were growing more powerful and devastating over time. The success of ransomware operations has allowed criminal hackers to demand ever greater sums of money into the tens of millions of dollars from victims and reinvest those profits in new tools and services that enable more and better attacks, Mr. Carlin said.

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“We have to figure out a way to break the unvirtuous cycle we’re in right now, where the more money they make the more is being funneled back into the tools they are using,” Mr. Carlin said.

Speaking during a White House press briefing on Monday, Anne Neuberger, Mr. Biden’s deputy national security adviser, said that many companies are “often in a difficult position if their data is encrypted and they do not have backups and cannot recover the data.”

Ms. Neuberger also said there was a “troubling trend” developing of hackers targeting companies that have insurance and are richer, and therefore more likely to pay a ransom. “We need to look thoughtfully at this area, including with our international partners, to determine what we do in addition to actively disrupting infrastructure and holding perpetrators accountable to ensure that we’re not encouraging the rise of ransomware,” she said.

Colonial Pipeline Shutdown

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