#and have an effect on proper regulation for data scraping

[cosmereplay]

Well, I lasted less than a month of locking my ao3 fics to registered users. It didn't have any impact at all on the problem of data scraping, and having little to no interactions on ao3 has been impacting my motivation to write.

I really want to write, I enjoy writing on its own, but I gotta say it's a real boost when other people are reading and enjoying my works.

So, I've unlocked them to the public again. You can check out my Stormlight fanfic here (beware the broad range of ratings and topics!).

Instead, I'll use this opportunity to tell those who live in the States that a law firm called Clarkson is preparing a class action lawsuit against OpenAI over their data scraping practices. You can check out the law firm's website here, and join and voice how you've been affected.

[1globosetechnologysolutions]

Face Image Datasets: Advancing AI in Facial Recognition and Analysis

Facial recognition technology has evolved rapidly, transforming industries such as security, healthcare, and personalized marketing. At the core of this transformation lies face image datasets, the essential building blocks that enable artificial intelligence (AI) to learn, recognize, and analyze human faces with remarkable accuracy.

High-quality face datasets help train AI models to detect identities, recognize emotions, and even assess age or gender. In this article, we explore how face image datasets are shaping the future of AI-driven facial recognition and analysis.

The Role of Face Image Datasets in AI Development

AI-powered facial recognition systems rely on extensive datasets of human faces to function effectively. These datasets serve multiple purposes, including:

Training AI Models – Machine learning algorithms need vast amounts of labeled facial images to recognize patterns in human faces.

Improving Accuracy – A diverse dataset helps minimize errors and biases, ensuring better recognition across different demographics.

Advancing Security Systems – Facial recognition is used in surveillance, fraud detection, and access control systems.

Enhancing User Experience – AI-driven personalization, such as facial filters in social media apps, depends on high-quality image datasets.

Without well-structured face image datasets, AI systems would struggle with misidentifications, leading to inaccurate results and potential security risks.

Sourcing and Preparing Face Image Datasets

1. Collecting Facial Data

Face image datasets can be sourced from:

Public datasets released by research institutions.

Crowdsourced contributions, where volunteers submit images.

Web scraping, although it raises ethical concerns.

2. Data Annotation and Labeling

For AI to understand facial features, datasets need proper annotation, including:

Bounding boxes to define facial regions.

Landmark detection to identify key facial points (e.g., eyes, nose, mouth).

Expression labeling to categorize emotions.

3. Data Augmentation

To increase dataset diversity and prevent overfitting, AI developers use data augmentation techniques, such as:

Rotating and flipping images to simulate different angles.

Adjusting brightness and contrast to handle lighting variations.

Adding artificial noise to make models more robust.

By preparing and augmenting data properly, AI models achieve higher accuracy and reliability.

Challenges in Face Image Datasets

While facial recognition technology offers incredible potential, working with face image datasets comes with significant challenges:

1. Bias in Facial Recognition

AI models trained on biased datasets may struggle with accurate recognition across different demographics. Studies have shown that some facial recognition systems perform poorly on people of color due to insufficient diversity in training data.

Solution: Ensuring datasets include ethnically and geographically diverse images helps reduce bias and improve accuracy.

2. Privacy and Ethical Concerns

Facial recognition technology raises privacy issues, especially when data is collected without consent.

Solution: Adhering to strict data protection regulations, such as GDPR and CCPA, and obtaining explicit user consent for data collection.

3. Deepfake and Security Risks

Face datasets can be misused to create deepfake videos, leading to misinformation and fraud.

Solution: Developing AI models capable of detecting synthetic images and implementing anti-spoofing techniques in recognition systems.

Addressing these challenges ensures ethical and responsible use of AI in facial recognition.

Real-World Applications of Face Image Datasets

1. Security and Authentication

Face image datasets power biometric authentication systems, such as:

Facial unlock features on smartphones.

Airport security checks using face scanning.

Fraud detection in banking and financial transactions.

2. Healthcare and Wellness

AI-driven facial analysis is used in:

Medical diagnostics, detecting conditions like Parkinson’s disease.

Mental health assessments, analyzing facial expressions for emotional well-being.

3. Retail and Personalized Marketing

Retailers use facial recognition to:

Analyze customer demographics for targeted advertising.

Enhance in-store experiences by identifying returning customers.

The ability to process and analyze facial images is transforming multiple industries.

The Future of Face Image Datasets in AI

The next phase of AI in facial recognition will focus on:

Bias-free datasets for fair and inclusive AI.

Real-time face analysis for security and behavioral insights.

AI-powered emotion recognition to improve human-computer interaction.

As technology evolves, ensuring data privacy, ethical AI use, and unbiased datasets will be critical for shaping a responsible future for facial recognition.

Conclusion

Face image datasets are the driving force behind AI-powered facial recognition and analysis. From security applications to healthcare innovations, the ability to accurately detect and analyze faces is revolutionizing industries.

However, ethical concerns surrounding privacy, bias, and security risks must be addressed to ensure AI is fair, accurate, and responsibly developed. With continuous advancements in data collection, annotation, and deep learning, face image datasets will continue to push the boundaries of intelligent AI systems.

Visit Globose Technology Solutions to see how the team can speed up your facial recognition projects.

[qksgrouptech]

Understanding Bot Management and Its Importance in Digital Security

In today’s interconnected world, web applications, APIs, and digital platforms are critical for business success. However, with this increased dependence on digital systems comes a growing threat: malicious bots. Bots—automated software programs—can perform a variety of tasks, both beneficial and harmful. While some bots improve user experience by powering search engines or customer service tools, others, known as malicious bots, can severely disrupt online operations.

Bot management ensures protection against malicious bots disrupting digital platforms. By detecting and mitigating harmful activities, it safeguards sensitive data, enhances user experiences, and ensures secure, efficient operations in the digital landscape.

The Rising Threat of Malicious Bots

Malicious bots pose serious risks to businesses. They can execute large-scale attacks such as credential stuffing, scraping sensitive information, spreading misinformation, or denial-of-service (DoS) attacks. For instance, an e-commerce company could lose revenue and trust due to bots purchasing limited-edition products and reselling them at higher prices. Similarly, financial institutions are targeted by bots attempting fraudulent transactions or stealing sensitive customer information.

Without proper management, malicious bots can overwhelm infrastructure, compromise sensitive data, and harm user trust. Recognizing these threats, organizations like QKS Group emphasize the critical need for robust bot management solutions.

What is Bot Management?

Bot management refers to the tools and strategies employed to detect, monitor, and mitigate malicious bot activities on digital platforms. This ensures that legitimate bots operate efficiently while harmful ones are blocked. An effective bot management solution can help businesses maintain their operations, enhance security, and ensure compliance with data protection regulations.

Key Features of a Bot Management Solution

Real-Time Bot Detection Advanced Bot Management Market Forecast tools leverage AI and machine learning to detect bots in real-time by analyzing user behavior patterns. Legitimate users typically have unique browsing behaviors, while bots often exhibit repetitive or unnatural patterns.

Behavioral Analysis By studying how users interact with a platform—such as mouse movements, keystrokes, or click intervals—bot management systems can differentiate between humans and bots with high accuracy.

Device Fingerprinting This feature creates a unique fingerprint of a device accessing a platform. Malicious bots, even if masked, often fail to replicate human device behaviors convincingly.

CAPTCHA Challenges CAPTCHAs are used to challenge suspicious activity and ensure only humans proceed. Modern bot management systems apply these challenges intelligently to minimize disruptions for genuine users.

Rate Limiting To prevent bots from overwhelming a platform, rate-limiting controls the number of requests a single IP or session can make within a specific timeframe.

Benefits of Bot Management

Enhanced Security Bot management helps safeguard digital assets by detecting and blocking unauthorized access attempts, credential stuffing, or fraudulent activities.

Improved User Experience By eliminating bot traffic, genuine users experience faster response times, fewer disruptions, and better platform performance.

Regulatory Compliance Many industries, such as finance and healthcare, must comply with stringent data protection laws. A robust bot management solution helps ensure adherence to these regulations.

Reduced Infrastructure Costs Bots often consume significant server resources By mitigating bot traffic, businesses can reduce costs associated with scaling infrastructure to manage unnecessary traffic.

Industries Benefiting from Bot Management

E-Commerce Retail platforms face challenges like inventory hoarding and price scraping from bots. With effective bot management, companies can ensure fair transactions and protect their pricing strategies.

Financial Services Banks and financial institutions are common targets for bots attempting fraud or account takeovers. Bot management prevents unauthorized activities and secures customer accounts.

Healthcare Healthcare platforms, especially telehealth services, require bot protection to ensure patient data security and uninterrupted service availability.

Media and Entertainment Streaming platforms and ticketing websites frequently combat bots attempting to scrape content or purchase tickets in bulk. Effective bot management ensures a seamless user experience.

The Role of QKS Group in Bot Management

QKS Group is a leading advocate for advanced cybersecurity solutions, including bot management. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies, QKS Group helps businesses identify and neutralize malicious bots, ensuring uninterrupted operations and secure user experiences. Their tailored solutions are designed to meet the unique needs of industries ranging from e-commerce to financial services.

With a global presence and a commitment to innovation, QKS Group stands at the forefront of helping organizations combat the ever-evolving threat of malicious bots. By integrating their solutions, businesses can focus on growth without worrying about the risks posed by automated attackers.

Conclusion

In an era of increasing digital reliance, bot management is no longer optional but a necessity. Malicious bots can disrupt operations, compromise data, and harm user trust. However, with the right bot management solutions, businesses can safeguard their platforms, improve user experiences, and protect sensitive data.

QKS Group, with its industry expertise and innovative approaches, is a trusted partner in the fight against malicious bots. By prioritizing bot management, organizations can ensure secure, scalable, and efficient operations in the digital landscape.

[flentas]

Ethical Implications of Generative AI

Generative AI, an innovative branch of artificial intelligence, has made significant strides in recent years. From creating realistic images and videos to composing music and writing text, generative models have the potential to revolutionize numerous industries. However, as with any powerful technology, Generative AI brings ethical challenges that need careful consideration. This blog explores the moral implications of Generative AI, focusing on issues such as deepfakes, data privacy, and bias while discussing potential solutions and frameworks for responsible AI development and usage. 

The Rise of Deepfakes 

One of the most prominent ethical concerns associated with Generative AI is the creation of deepfakes. Deepfakes are hyper-realistic digital manipulations that use AI to create or alter content, often making it appear that someone said or did something they never actually did. While the technology behind deepfakes has legitimate applications in entertainment and art, its misuse poses significant risks. 

Deepfakes can be used to spread misinformation, create non-consensual explicit content, and even commit fraud. The ability to generate convincing fake videos and audio can undermine trust in media and erode public confidence in what is real. For instance, deepfakes could be used to falsely depict political figures making inflammatory statements, potentially influencing elections or inciting violence. 

Data Privacy Concerns 

Generative AI models require vast amounts of data to train effectively. This data often includes personal information, images, text, and other forms of content. The use of such data raises significant privacy concerns. Individuals' data can be used without their consent; in some cases, sensitive information can be inadvertently exposed. 

The problem is exacerbated because many datasets used to train AI models are scraped from the internet without proper consent. It violates individuals' privacy and raises legal and ethical questions about the ownership and use of such data. Furthermore, the potential for Generative AI to recreate personal data, such as generating realistic images of people who never existed, adds another layer of complexity to the privacy issue. 

Bias in Generative AI 

Bias in AI models is a well-documented issue, and Generative AI is no exception. These models can perpetuate and even amplify existing biases present in the training data. For example, suppose a generative model is trained on data that reflects societal biases, such as gender or racial stereotypes. In that case, the outputs generated by the model may also exhibit these biases. 

It can have serious consequences, particularly when Generative AI is used in sensitive applications like hiring, law enforcement, or content generation. Biased AI models can lead to discriminatory practices and reinforce harmful stereotypes, further entrenching societal inequalities. 

Addressing Ethical Challenges 

A multi-faceted approach is necessary to address these ethical challenges, involving researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders. Here are some potential solutions and frameworks for responsible AI development and usage: 

Developing Robust Regulations and Standards 

Governments and regulatory bodies need to establish clear guidelines and standards for developing and deploying Generative AI. These regulations should address data privacy, consent, and the ethical use of AI-generated content. 

Enhancing Transparency and Accountability 

AI developers should prioritize transparency in their models and methodologies. It includes disclosing how models are trained, what data is used, and how decisions are made. Implementing audit trails and accountability measures can ensure responsible use. 

Implementing Bias Mitigation Strategies 

Researchers and developers should actively work to identify and mitigate bias in AI models. It can be achieved through techniques like diverse data sourcing, bias detection algorithms, and regular audits of AI outputs. 

Promoting Ethical AI Research and Education 

Encouraging a culture of ethical AI research and education is crucial. Academic institutions, industry players, and governments should collaborate to create training programs and resources emphasizing the importance of ethics in AI development. 

Fostering Public Awareness and Engagement 

Educating the public about the capabilities and limitations of Generative AI is essential. Increased awareness can help individuals recognize and critically evaluate AI-generated content, reducing the impact of deepfakes and misinformation. 

Conclusion 

Generative AI holds tremendous potential to transform various sectors but also presents significant ethical challenges that must be addressed proactively. By developing robust regulations, enhancing transparency, implementing bias mitigation strategies, promoting ethical AI research, and fostering public awareness, we can harness the benefits of Generative AI while minimizing its risks. As we move forward, we must prioritize ethical considerations to ensure that Generative AI serves the greater good rather than exacerbating societal issues. 

[foodspark-scraper]

Food Data Scraping Services – Scrape Food Data from Websites

In the digital age, data has become the backbone of decision-making across industries, and the food industry is no exception. Food data scraping services have emerged as a powerful tool, allowing businesses and food enthusiasts alike to access a treasure trove of culinary information from various websites. In this article, we explore the world of food data scraping services, their benefits, and how they can unlock culinary insights.

The Importance of Food Data

Food data encompasses a wide range of information, including recipes, nutritional facts, ingredient lists, restaurant menus, customer reviews, and more. This data is invaluable for various stakeholders:

Restaurants and Food Businesses: Access to data on customer preferences, pricing strategies of competitors, and emerging food trends can help restaurants and food businesses make informed decisions about their menus, marketing efforts, and pricing.

Food Enthusiasts and Home Cooks: Food lovers can explore recipes, nutritional information, and cooking tips from a vast array of sources, enhancing their culinary skills and repertoire.

Nutritionists and Dietitians: Professionals in the field of nutrition can use food data to provide personalized dietary recommendations to clients, based on their specific needs and preferences.

Food Researchers: Food researchers can leverage food data scraping services to gather data for academic studies, market research, or trend analysis within the food industry.

Benefits of Food Data Scraping Services

Comprehensive Data Collection: Food data scraping services can collect extensive and diverse data from multiple sources, providing a comprehensive view of the culinary landscape.

Competitive Intelligence: Businesses can gain insights into their competitors' menus, pricing, customer reviews, and marketing strategies, enabling them to refine their own offerings and stay competitive.

Menu Optimization: Restaurants can use scraped data to analyze which dishes are popular and adjust their menus accordingly. This can help improve customer satisfaction and profitability.

Recipe Development: Food enthusiasts and chefs can access a vast repository of recipes to inspire new culinary creations and experiment with diverse cuisines.

Nutritional Analysis: Nutritionists and dietitians can access nutritional information to make informed dietary recommendations for their clients.

Market Trends: Food data scraping services can provide real-time data on emerging food trends, allowing businesses to adapt and capitalize on shifting consumer preferences.

Scraping Food Data: Methods and Considerations

To scrape food data from websites, several methods and considerations should be kept in mind:

Authorized Access: Ensure that you have the proper authorization or permissions to access and scrape data from the target websites. Respect the website's terms of service and any legal or ethical guidelines.

Data Sources: Identify the specific websites and sources from which you want to scrape data. This may include recipe websites, restaurant directories, food blogs, and more.

Web Scraping Tools: Use web scraping tools, libraries, or custom scripts to extract data from websites. Popular tools include Python libraries like BeautifulSoup and Scrapy.

Data Cleansing: Clean and structure the scraped data to make it usable for analysis. This may involve removing HTML tags, formatting data, and handling missing or inconsistent information.

Data Storage: Decide where and how you will store the scraped data. Databases, spreadsheets, or cloud-based storage are common options.

Data Analysis: Utilize data analysis tools and techniques to derive insights from the scraped data. Visualization tools can be helpful in presenting findings effectively.

Ethical and Legal Considerations: Ensure that your scraping activities are ethical and comply with applicable laws, including data privacy regulations.

Scraping Frequency: Be mindful of the frequency of your scraping activities to avoid overloading target websites' servers or causing disruptions.

Conclusion

Food data scraping services have opened up a world of culinary insights for businesses, food enthusiasts, and professionals in the food industry. By collecting and analyzing data on recipes, menus, nutritional facts, and market trends, stakeholders can make data-driven decisions that enhance their offerings and culinary experiences.

However, it's crucial to approach data scraping ethically, respecting website terms of service and legal guidelines. When used responsibly, food data scraping services can be a valuable asset for anyone looking to explore, innovate, or compete in the dynamic world of food and cuisine.

[techtownsblog]

Terms of Use

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These Terms of Use, and any additional terms which might apply to certain products or services, govern your use of our applications ("Applications") – together, our "Services".

 Before you (also the "user") read and decide whether to accept our Terms of Service (the "Agreement"), We advise you to carefully read and understand the provisions of this Agreement that are underlined and in bold, which exclude or limit the liability of this app and which place significant obligations upon the user.

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Subject to your agreement to this Terms of Use Agreement and its possible following amendments, you may use the app and our service solely for your own non-commercial purposes. You may not use the app or the service for any other purpose or using any other method.

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Our Services and associated content (and any derivative works or enhancements of the same) including, but not limited to, all artwork, text, illustrations, files, images, software, scripts, graphics, photos, sounds, music, videos, information, content, materials, products, services, URLs, technology, documentation, and interactive features included with or available through our Services (collectively, the "Service Content") and all intellectual property rights to the same are owned by us, our licensors, or both. Additionally, all trademarks, service marks, trade names and trade dress that may appear in our Services are owned by us, our licensors, or identified third parties. Except for the limited use rights granted to you in these Terms of Use, you shall not acquire any right, title or interest in our Services or any Service Content. Any rights not expressly granted in these Terms of Use are expressly reserved.

 You acknowledge that you do not acquire any ownership rights by downloading, installing or printing Service Content. C. Furthermore, except as expressly permitted in these Terms of Use, you may not: (i) remove, alter, cover, or distort any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary rights notice we include in or through our Services or Service Content; (ii) circumvent, disable or otherwise interfere with our security-related features including, without limitation, any features that prevent or restrict the use of or copying of any software or other Service Content; (iii) use an automatic device (such as a robot or spider) or manual process to copy or "scrape" the Service Content for any purpose without our express written permission; (iv) collect or harvest any personally identifiable information from our Services including, without limitation, user names, passwords, email addresses; (v) solicit other users to join or become members of any commercial online service or other organization without our prior written approval; (vi) attempt to or interfere with the proper working of our Services or impair, overburden, or disable the same; (vii) decompile, reverse engineer, or disassemble any portion of our software or other Service Content, or our Services; (viii) use network-monitoring software to determine architecture of or extract usage data from our Services; (ix) encourage conduct that violates any local, state or federal law, either civil or criminal, or impersonate another user, person, or entity (e.g., using another person's Membership (as defined below)); (x) violate U.S. export laws, including, without limitation, violations of the Export Administration Act and the Export Administration Regulations administered by the Department of Commerce; or (xi) engage in any conduct that restricts or inhibits any other user from using or enjoying our Services. D. You agree to fully cooperate with us to investigate any suspected or actual activity that is in breach of these Terms of Use.

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[tastydregs]

Scraping the Web Is a Powerful Tool. Clearview AI Abused It

The internet was designed to make information free and easy for anyone to access. But as the amount of personal information online has grown, so too have the risks. Last weekend, a nightmare scenario for many privacy advocates arrived. The New York Times revealed Clearview AI, a secretive surveillance company, was selling a facial recognition tool to law enforcement powered by “three billion images” culled from the open web. Cops have long had access to similar technology, but what makes Clearview different is where it obtained its data. The company scraped pictures from millions of public sites including Facebook, YouTube, and Venmo, according to the Times.

To use the tool, cops simply upload an image of a suspect, and Clearview spits back photos of them and links to where they were posted. The company has made it easy to instantly connect a person to their online footprint—the very capability many people have long feared someone would possess. (Clearview’s claims should be taken with a grain of salt; a Buzzfeed News investigation found its marketing materials appear to contain exaggerations and lies. The company did not immediately return a request for comment.)

Like almost any tool, scraping can be used for noble or nefarious purposes. Without it, we wouldn’t have the Internet Archive’s invaluable WayBack Machine, for instance. But it’s also how Stanford researchers a few years ago built a widely condemned “gaydar,” an algorithm they claimed could detect a person’s sexuality by looking at their face. “It’s a fundamental thing that we rely on every day, a lot of people without realizing, because it’s going on behind the scenes,” says Jamie Lee Williams, a staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation on the civil liberties team. The EFF and other digital rights groups have often argued the benefits of scraping outweigh the harms.

Automated scraping violates the policies of sites like Facebook and Twitter, the latter of which specifically prohibits scraping to build facial recognition databases. Twitter sent a letter to Clearview this week asking it to stop pilfering data from the site “for any reason,” and Facebook is also reportedly examining the matter, according to the Times. But it’s unclear whether they have any legal recourse in the current system.

To fight back against scraping, companies have often used the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, claiming the practice amounts to accessing a computer without proper authorization. Last year, however, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that automated scraping doesn’t violate the CFAA. In that case, LinkedIn sued and lost against a company called HiQ, which scraped public LinkedIn profiles in bulk and combined them with other information into a database for employers. The EFF and other groups heralded the ruling as a victory, because it limited the scope of the CFAA—which they argue has frequently been abused by companies—and helped protect researchers who break terms of service agreements in the name of freedom of information.

The CFFA is one of few options available to companies who want to stop scrapers, which is part of the problem. “It’s a 1986, pre-internet statute,” says WIlliams. “If that’s the best we can do to protect our privacy with these very complicated, very modern problems, then I think we’re screwed.”

Civil liberties groups and technology companies both have been calling for a federal law that would establish Americans’ right to privacy in the digital era. Clearview, and companies like it, make the matter that much more urgent. “We need a comprehensive privacy statute that covers biometric data,” says Williams.

Right now, there’s only a patchwork of state regulations that potentially provide those kinds of protections. The California Consumer Privacy Act, which went into effect this month, gives state residents the right to ask companies like Clearview to delete data it collects about them. Other regulations, like the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act, require corporations to obtain consent before collecting biometric data, including faces. A class action lawsuit filed earlier this week accuses Clearview of violating that law. Texas and Washington have similar regulations on the books, but don’t allow for private lawsuits; California’s law also doesn’t allow for private right of action.

[warninggraphiccontent]

1 November 2019

Bits and pieces

So:

There's an election coming. Finally. Stay tuned to the IfG for all your election needs - and lots of #dataviz, of course *fires up live-blog*

A plea: can we have some useful visualisation about the election results rather than flash but feeble fatuous 3D flapdoodle please? (Yes, broadcasters, I'm looking at you)

Another plea - we've been trying to keep track of MPs announcing they won't stand again in the next election. Spreadsheet here, thread here - get in touch if you spot any we've missed

The subject line on last week's email - 8 March 2019 - was a genuine error and not some deliberate witty comment on the Brexit process and how we haven't moved on since March

Inevitably I missed a brilliant newsletter out of last week's list: Martin Belam's Friday Reading. Last week's included this on the Aberfan disaster

Some great jobs this week (though, as per, subscribe to Jukesie's newsletter if that's what you're after). Of particular note: the brilliant Rachel Rank is stepping down as CEO of 360Giving, a story of real open data impact - an amazing job for someone, and huge shoes to fill. Sam Tazzyman - who gave one of the best Data Bites presentations we've had - has also been in touch with various MoJ jobs, which you can find below

Speaking of Data Bites... there are still a few places left for next Wednesday's event, where we'll hear from Ordnance Survey, the Oil & Gas Authority and the Race Disparity Unit and from DCMS on the National Data Strategy. Join us! Or watch the livestream.

Another data-driven IfG event for your diaries - join us on Wednesday 13 November for the launch of our latest Performance Tracker report on public services.

And finally...

The IfG has launched a new podcast. I am on this week's edition with something completely different. You'll have to listen when it goes live later. But on a completely unrelated note, here are some links about data sonification:

Der Sound zum tiefen Fall der SPD (Berliner Morgenpost)

The gender pay gap in many countries is exacerbated by parenthood—you can hear it in the data* (The Economist)

Chart doctor: the mysterious music of the yield curve* (FT)

Sonification - 50 Years of Income Inequality (Naughty Step)

Data sonification lets you literally hear income inequality (Mic)

What the world map sounds like on a piano (John Keats)

What the world map sounds like on a piano - alternative version (HybridShark)

Have a great weekend, and hopefully see some of you at #odcamp on Sunday

Gavin

Today's links:

Graphic content

The never-ending festival of fun

MPs standing down - thread (me for IfG)

Composition of the Commons (me for IfG)

Membership change (Ketaki for IfG)

Commons defeats (me for IfG)

General elections - days and months (me for IfG)

Vote against a general election (Marcus for IfG)

Vote for a general election (Ketaki for IfG)

How Members of Parliament Voted on Johnson’s December Election Bill* (Bloomberg)

Brexit’s ‘Super Saturday’ (Reuters - a few weeks ago but good)

Countdown to GE2019 (Institute for Government)

‘Toxic’ tweets aimed at MPs soar after Johnson outburst* (FT - with bonus marimekko)

parli-n-grams, now back to 1919 (Giuseppe)

UK general election poll tracker* (FT)

Who is winning the race for 10 Downing Street?* (The Economist)

Why UK election outcome is impossible to predict (Politico)

British politicians - popularity vs fame (BuzzFeed via Duncan Weldon)

Last Orderrrrs! Speaker John Bercow's career in numbers (BBC News)

Politics everywhere else

RESULTADOSEN TODO EL PAÍS (La Nacion)

Landtagswahl 2019 in Thüringen (Thüringer Allgemeine)

Umfragen sind besser als ihr Ruf (Süddeutsche Zeitung)

Weapons of mass control, tactics of mass resistance (Reuters)

People

Ageing, fast and slow: When place and demography collide (Resolution Foundation)

Societies change their minds faster than people do* (The Economist)

The global fertility crash* (Bloomberg)

China worries about its bulging waistlines* (The Economist)

Everything else

Thanks, Whistle-Blower, Your Work Is Done* (New York Times)

Maps: California Fires, Evacuation Zones and Power Outages* (New York Times)

Visualizing personal notes on the history of Western Philosophy (via Alberto Cairo)

How we stopped making all graphics by hand and started printing from our graphics toolbox (NZZ Visuals)

Scraping Hansard with Python and BeautifulSoup (Phil Gorman)

Meta data

UK government

UK lags in Capgemini e-gov rankings for Europe (UKAuthority)

An interview with John Pullinger, former UK National Statistician (Civil Service Quarterly)

Measuring Defence productivity: a first step (Civil Service Quarterly)

Safeguarding our nation's story (Civil Service Quarterly)

DATA-DRIVEN HEALTHCARE: REGULATION & REGULATORS (Reform)

Data as institutional memory (Adam Locker)

Linked identifier schemes: Best practice guide (Geospatial Commission)

Your face or mine

Live facial recognition technology – police forces need to slow down and justify its use (ICO)

Ada Lovelace response

Why did Microsoft fund an Israeli firm that surveils West Bank Palestinians? (NBC News)

Electoral dysfunction

Under the radar: the battle in the online campaigns (Sky News)

Crossing Divides: How a social network could save democracy from deadlock (BBC Click)

Data protection experts want watchdog to investigate Conservative and Labour parties (Sky News)

Revealed: The fearsome data targeting machine that will power Labour's next election campaign – and why some of it could be illegal* (Telegraph)

Twitter's canny political ad ban costs it little – and piles pressure on Facebook (The Guardian)

Key election safeguards won't be ready for December poll (Sky News)

We’ve made the decision to stop all political advertising on Twitter globally... (@jack)

Everything else

Distracted by Data (Elizabeth M. Renieris, Berkman Klein Center)

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (RSA)

A biased medical algorithm favored white people for health-care programs (MIT Technology Review)

Book Review | Charles Booth’s London Poverty Maps (LSE British Politics and Policy)

From PDFs to Machine-readable planning data: progress on changing London’s planning system (Smart London)

Media amnesia and the Facebook News Tab (Emily Bell, CJR)

The Internet and the Third Estate (Stratechery)

Opportunities

JOB: Chief Executive Officer (360Giving)

JOB: Grade 7 Senior Interaction Designer (MHCLG)

JOB: Research Assistant or Associate (Global Data Barometer)

JOB: Lead, OGP Local (Open Government Partnership)

OPPORTUNITY: Data Justice Fellowship (Data Justice Lab)

EVENT: Performance Tracker launch - Election 2019: The next five years of spending on public services (Institute for Government)

And MoJ have been in touch with some jobs:

Come and join the Data Engineering team here at MoJ!

We’re doing modern data engineering in Python using AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, and Airflow, and incorporating automated testing, CI/CD workflows, and all of that good stuff. We’re making a genuine difference to how data flows around the Ministry of Justice. Our team and influence are growing all the time. In this recruitment round we are seeking people at three different levels of seniority, and are generally looking for people with coding experience who want to learn about and influence how analysis and data science are going to be done in the near future. Come and be part of a revolution in how data is done in government!

Grade 7

Band B / SEO

Band C / HEO

And finally...

Season's greetings

Halloween... (Keri Blakinger and George Greenwood)

Daylight savings: Brits take lighter evenings over an extra hour in bed (YouGov)

Hellvetica

Haunted houses have a chilling effect on the property market* (The Economist)

Everything else

Bar chart race: NHL top 25 all-time point scorers (Neil Richards)

Every Proper Noun on Kanye West’s Jesus Is King, Charted and Annotated (Slate)

UI vs. UX (Chris Albon)

Swearing on Mumsnet's 'Brexit' board (via Jonathan)

Winning here... (Bath and North East Somerset Lib Dems)

#datagovernance (via Sean McDonald)

Laughing On Line (The Pudding)

[john2983miller-blog]

Capital Allowances Claims for Commercial Residential Property in the UK - The Basics

Capital Allowances Claims for Commercial Residential Property in the UK - The Basics

 Commercial Property proprietors or those who have repaired leased residential or commercial property in the UK need to check out the probability of a capital allowances claim. There is no disadvantage to creating an insurance claim as well as if certainly not made owners as well as tenants are going to proceed to pay out too a lot tax every year.

This post looks for to respond to several of the concerns that a well suspicious home owner may ask before appearing to create an insurance claim London Bridge St.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Innovation+Tax+Specialists+Limited/@51.7623519,-0.2444141,19z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x48763d420c4f4c9b:0xe0a4a24a896bf51b!8m2!3d51.7623511!4d-0.2438669

 Is this Legal?

Yes. Capital allowances regulation goes back to the 1870's yet the present regulations is actually The Capital Allowances Act 2001 which is actually often modified annually due to the Government of the time. Consequently capital allowances are actually a tax obligation alleviation enshrined in law. Additionally the legislation exists to urge office home owner to purchase residential property by delivering a source of income tax alleviation.

www.innovationtax.co.uk

 What are actually Capital Allowances?

Capital Allowances could be asserted on any kind of cost which delivers right into existence (or strengthens) an asset with an enduring perk for the trade. This is a lawful interpretation originated from case-law. The function of these allocations is to shield the proprietor's revenues from taxation and lower their income tax costs. It is not unusual for a capital allowances claim to generate a substantial tax refund and also generate substantial tax obligation discounts within the initial five years after the case has actually been actually created London.

Just how does this put on business building including equipped holiday lets?

Industrial building has fittings/ integral features which might be actually valued for capital allowances functions. This includes power systems, home heating bodies, warm & chilly water units, home kitchen equipment and various other items which assist the stock inquiry. On acquisition or even renovation a financial advisor may possess valued what are actually labelled the loosened personal chattels like household furniture and rugs however these may embody a tiny portion of what may be claimed. The truth the accounting professional does not insurance claim dramatically extra is a representation of the intricacy of the laws. The bright side however exists is actually no time limitation for creating an insurance claim so you haven't failed regardless of whether you acquired the home some years ago and professional companies exist that devote themselves to making claims Hatfield.

A beneficial instance

In 2005 an accommodation is obtained for ₤ 500,000 leaving out a good reputation as well as loosened effects actually claimed for through the accountant. Within this occasion it will certainly not be unheard of to discover that 25% of the acquisition as capital allowances so ₤ 500,000 x 25% = ₤ 125,000. Back then of recording April 2012 this could possibly make an income tax refund for 2010/11 of about ₤ 5,000 for a twenty% income tax payer or even ₤ 10,000 for 40% taxpayers.

The income tax expense for 2011/12 could possibly also be reduced through ₤ 4,000 for a 20% tax payer as well as ₤ 8,000 for a 40% citizen. There would likewise be the benefit of being worthwhile much less tax for a long times to come.

Why have not my accounting professional informed me regarding this?

This is actually the most usual inquiry asked as well as there is no one response.

Accounting professionals have many false impressions on the topic that includes:-.

i) making a capital allowances claim has an effect on the volume of resources increases tax which might be actually owed on purchase of the property. In truth they are actually governed through 2 independent parts of income tax regulations and also yet it is actually a myth which continues with no manner actually Hertfordshire.

ii) the investment deal contains worths for fixtures and also fittings which are actually tiing. Typically our company would certainly assume deals of the attributes to become binding yet along with capital allowances claims they are actually certainly not as capital allowances claims are governed by statute and not due to the purchase deal. For the reasons of the Capital Allowances Act 2001 cases need to be produced on the manner of a "sensible apportionment" based upon the simple facts linked with the acquisition or repair of the home Leicester.

iii) any kind of tax obligation advantages are actually scraped back on sale of the residential property. Again a misunderstanding. So long as the seller is actually given the proper insight either through their current professional agents or even by speaking to an expert capital allowances claims provider after that this must not hold true.

What should I perform if I intend to investigate additionally?

If you consult with a professional capital allowances professes specialist they will definitely offer you a price quote of the very likely outcome of undertaking a case alongside the basis of their costs. This enables you to bring in a thinking as to whether you wish to create a claim or otherwise. It is actually additionally worth inquiring the company whether the person who are going to embark on the work is actually both a qualified land surveyor and tax skilled i.e. a participant of the Association of Tax Technicians or the Chartered Institute of Taxation SE1 9SG.

If your financial advisor has appointments the capital allowances states company will definitely speak to all of them to respond to any type of questions they might possess. There is actually no downside to creating a case and also sizable firms who possess industrial residential or commercial property percentage this work as an issue of training course.

 The latest change complying with on from the reduction in the annual reduction to 20% is actually to lower the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) coming from April 2012 to ₤ 25,000 coming from the existing ₤ 100,000. That is a notable decline as well as small organisations need to recognize the secrecy income tax and also plan appropriately.

These allocations perform not separate in between specific business and professions and along with more significant ranch incomes assumed as a result of the boost in corn costs and also the basic planet deficiency of food items, alongside the environment-friendly impact it is actually doubly significant for farmers specifically with their trade tools being therefore costly AL10 9NA.

The size of women skirts increase and fall with fashion and also capital allowances are actually the taxes equivalent.

You can easily profess capital allowances on qualifying expense sustained in the rechargeable duration. They are actually on call in several conditions and the most typically complied with is for the investment of plant as well as machinery for your organisation.

In the usually priced quote scenario of Yarmouth v France (19 QBD 647) vegetation was actually described as consisting of whatever network is actually used by a businessman for continuing his business, certainly not his stock-in-trade which he acquires or creates resell, yet all goods and also belongings, corrected or even moving, live or even lifeless, which he always keeps for irreversible employment in his service.

Because 1887 the courts have actually created numerous tries at getting to a definition of vegetation and also currently CAA 2001 parts 21 to 23 attempt to specify the borderline between plant and also buildings as well as restrict the expansion of the "vegetation" group.

Lord Cameron in your home of Lords judgment in case CIR v Scottish and Newcastle Breweries Ltd. (55 TC 252) claimed: "the question of what is actually adequately to become considered vegetation can just be addressed in the circumstance of those field concerned and also probably in the lighting also of the particular conditions of the individual citizen's personal trade".

A current case entailing the club chain Wetherspoon has actually assisted clear up the position. It has concerned imply that vegetation is any sort of property that plays an useful task in an organisation that is actually certainly not machinery or even portion of the building. To ensure can be a sink or even a palm rail to assist folks along with impaired wheelchair. At final identity of plant is less complicated but relief is actually also offered for the expense of altering a structure to allow plant to become put up AL10 9NA.

As the expense of such jobs is actually included to the expense of the possession as well as with capital allowances being asserted on the complete price there have actually been actually issues along with HMRC winding up in the Wetherspoon case which recently ended after five years LE1 3BH.

For the cost to be actually permitted the building modification have to continue to be a different building within the building. In the Wetherspoon case they managed to assert capital allowances on the cost of the blocks, mortar, ceramic tiles, as well as the work in putting these together to develop a toilet cubicle SE1 9SG.

The bathroom cubicle was effortlessly recognized individually from the property and in Wetherspoon it indicated that they likewise were entitled to claim capital allowances for the expense of the increased flooring leading up to some equipment and the splash-back floor tiles encompassing the sinks etc

. Keep in mind that the expense of the linked specialist expenses such as organizing fees as well as the price of the designer should be included in the insurance claim; the Tribunal stated that it was permissible to predict the proportion of the overall prices.

 The R&D Tax Credits system was introduced in the year 2000 by HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs). HMRC is actually the United Kingdom's authorities department in charge of the management and selection of all kinds of tax obligation. These feature VAT, profit tax, as well as excise customs. HMRC integrates the customs of two formerly distinct teams, the Inland Revenue and also HM Customs and Excise.

The entire factor of the R&D Tax Credits program is to motivate advancement, because r & d are critical to the healthy growth of company and venture. There are actually countless extra pounds on call to UK firms annually, but merely a minority are actually stating. There are even companies along with their own specialized experimentation departments that are actually not in the plan.

Expert consultants for R&D Tax Credits locate their job a genuine delight, as a result of the benefits it offers their clients. Their customers get substantial sums of loan back from Taxes they have spent. They additionally often happen to acquire innovation awards, which deliver stature as well as attention Leicester.

You perform not possess to be performing top-level research study right into a treatment for cancer or even the newest generation of the or that. All you possess to perform is actually illustrate development. A number of our customers are manufacturers producing average products. Before our experts came to be included they were not conscious that they had helped make an innovation in any way Hertfordshire.

As in any type of region of service, your best choice is to receive a specialist professional to aid you on your R&D Tax Credits quest. Not simply your existing accountant either, as this is an expert place. There are an amount of R&D Tax Credits organizations, and these are people to assist you. The most effective ones focus on a "No Win No Fee" manner, therefore you simply possess to pay all of them a modest down payment to cover their job in the direction of your claim submission and absolutely nothing even more if an insurance claim does certainly not materialise. If the case is effective, they obtain a percentage of the payout.

 Her Majesty's Revenue and also Customs (HMRC), the UK Tax authority, is presently shelling out approximately GPB150 thousand yearly to providers that may reveal they have been actually introducing. HMRC possesses a Large Business Service for handling R&D Tax Credit states for the very greatest public providers. All various other cases, for SMEs (small and medium-sized organizations) are actually handled by a network of devoted workplaces across the UK. Released in 2006, these offices are actually positioned in Manchester, Leicester, Cambridge, Cardiff, Croydon, Maidstone as well as Southampton. With each other these offices are actually right now taking care of about 5,000 insurance claims for R&D Tax Credits each year Hatfield.

The UK Government has actually been actually cultivating as well as enhancing this plan considering that the year 2000, to urge advancement, which consequently boosts Britain's service and also as a result the UK economy in its entirety. The complication is that lots of 1000s of companies in the UK are actually still skipping out in a major means through certainly not professing their R&D Tax Credit entitlement. This results from an amount of factors.

Many organizations strongly believe that R&D Tax Credits can only be claimed by large providers along with committed R&D divisions with full-time research study experts as well as experts. In reality, organizations that have actually taken advantage of the system include programmers of personal computer video games and man-made intelligence information plans, cars suppliers, cheese creators, meals testers, vegetation dog breeders, and also device security specialists London.

A lot of regular accounting professionals around the UK are themselves not adequately familiar with the R&D Tax Credits system, thus when asked through their client, they mention they would certainly not be actually entitled. In reality, the place is actually so complex that a brand-new creation of professional professionals for R&D Tax Credits have sprung up over current years. These organizations are actually properly acquainted up in all the intricacies of R&D Tax Credits, and remain in the method of educating the company market spot about the system.

[daydropapp]

DayDrop Terms of Use

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR USE OF AND ACCESS TO OUR SERVICES (DEFINED BELOW) ARE SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING TERMS; IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO ALL OF THE FOLLOWING, YOU MAY NOT USE OR ACCESS THE SERVICES IN ANY MANNER.   

Terms of Use

Welcome to DayDrop.  Please read on to learn the rules and restrictions that govern your use of our website(s), products, services and applications (the “Services”).  If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding these terms or the Services, please contact us at info@DayDrop.com.

These Terms of Use (the “Terms”) are a binding contract between you and Better AirDrop Limited. (“Company,” “we” and “us”).   You must agree to and accept all of the Terms, or you don’t have the right to use the Services.  Your using the Services in any way means that you agree to all of these Terms, and these Terms will remain in effect while you use the Services.  These Terms include the provisions in this document, as well as those in the Privacy Policy and Copyright Dispute Policy.

Will these Terms ever change?

We are constantly trying to improve our Services, so these Terms may need to change along with the Services.  We reserve the right to change the Terms at any time, but if we do, we will bring it to your attention by placing a notice on the http://www.DayDrop.com website, by sending you an email, and/or by some other means.

If you don’t agree with the new Terms, you are free to reject them; unfortunately, that means you will no longer be able to use the Services.  If you use the Services in any way after a change to the Terms is effective, that means you agree to all of the changes.

Except for changes by us as described here, no other amendment or modification of these Terms will be effective unless in writing and signed by both you and us.    

What about my privacy?

Company takes the privacy of its users very seriously.  For the current Company Privacy Policy, please click here

We do not knowingly collect or solicit personally identifiable information from children under 13; if you are a child under 13, please do not attempt to register for the Services or send any personal information about yourself to us.  If we learn we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will delete that information as quickly as possible.  If you believe that a child under 13 may have provided us personal information, please contact us at info@DayDrop.com.

What are the basics of using DayDrop?

You may be required to sign up for an account, and select a user name (“Company User ID”).  You promise to provide us with accurate, complete, and updated registration information about yourself.  You may not select as your Company User ID a name that you don’t have the right to use, or another person’s name with the intent to impersonate that person. You may not transfer your account to anyone else without our prior written permission.

You represent and warrant that you are of legal age to form a binding contract (or if not, you’ve received your parent’s or guardian’s permission to use the Services and gotten your parent or guardian to agree to these Terms on your behalf).  If you’re agreeing to these Terms on behalf of an organization or entity, you represent and warrant that you are authorized to agree to these Terms on that organization or entity’s behalf and bind them to these Terms (in which case, the references to “you” and “your” in these Terms, except for in this sentence, refer to that organization or entity).

You will only use the Services for your own internal, personal, non-commercial use, and not on behalf of or for the benefit of any third party, and only in a manner that complies with all laws that apply to you.  If your use of the Services is prohibited by applicable laws, then you aren’t authorized to use the Services.  We can’t and won’t be responsible for your using the Services in a way that breaks the law.

You will not share your account or password with anyone, and you must protect the security of your account and your password.  You’re responsible for any activity associated with your account.

Your use of the Services is subject to the following additional restrictions:

You represent, warrant, and agree that you will not contribute any Content or User Submission (each of those terms is defined below) or otherwise use the Services or interact with the Services in a manner that:

(a)   Infringes or violates the intellectual property rights or any other rights of anyone else (including Company);

(b)   Violates any law or regulation;

©   Is harmful, fraudulent, deceptive, threatening, harassing, defamatory, obscene, or otherwise objectionable;

(d)   Jeopardizes the security of your Company account or anyone else’s (such as allowing someone else to log in to the Services as you);

(e)   Attempts, in any manner, to obtain the password, account, or other security information from any other user;

(f)   Violates the security of any computer network, or cracks any passwords or security encryption codes;

(g)   Runs Maillist, Listserv, any form of auto-responder or “spam” on the Services, or any processes that run or are activated while you are not logged into the Services, or that otherwise interfere with the proper working of the Services (including by placing an unreasonable load on the Services’ infrastructure);

(h)  “Crawls,” “scrapes,” or “spiders” any page, data, or portion of or relating to the Services or Content (through use of manual or automated means);

(i)    Copies or stores any significant portion of the Content;

(j)    Decompiles, reverse engineers, or otherwise attempts to obtain the source code or underlying ideas or information of or relating to the Services.

A violation of any of the foregoing is grounds for termination of your right to use or access the Services. 

What are my rights in DayDrop?

The materials displayed or performed or available on or through the Services, including, but not limited to, text, graphics, data, articles, photos, images, illustrations, User Submissions, and so forth (all of the foregoing, the “Content”) are protected by copyright and/or other intellectual property laws.  You promise to abide by all copyright notices, trademark rules, information, and restrictions contained in any Content you access through the Services, and you won’t use, copy, reproduce, modify, translate, publish, broadcast, transmit, distribute, perform, upload, display, license, sell or otherwise exploit for any purpose any Content not owned by you, (i) without the prior consent of the owner of that Content or (ii) in a way that violates someone else’s (including Company’s) rights.

You understand that Company owns the Services. You won’t modify, publish, transmit, participate in the transfer or sale of, reproduce (except as expressly provided in this Section), creative derivative works based on, or otherwise exploit any of the Services.

The Services may allow you to copy or download certain Content; please remember that just because this functionality exists, doesn’t mean that all the restrictions above don’t apply – they do!

Do I have to grant any licenses to Company or to other users?

Anything you post, upload, share, store, or otherwise provide through the Services is your “User Submission.”  Some User Submissions are viewable by other users.  In order to display your User Submissions on the Services, and to allow other users to enjoy them (where applicable), you grant us certain rights in those User Submissions.  Please note that all of the following licenses are subject to our Privacy Policy to the extent they relate to User Submissions that are also your personally-identifiable information.

For all User Submissions, you hereby grant Company a license to translate, modify (for technical purposes, for example making sure your content is viewable on a mobile device as well as a computer) and reproduce and otherwise act with respect to such User Submissions, in each case to enable us to operate the Services, as described in more detail below.  This is a license only – your ownership in User Submissions is not affected.

If you store a User Submission in your own personal Company account, in a manner that is not viewable by any other user except you (a “Personal User Submission”), you grant Company the license above, as well as a license to display, perform, and distribute your Personal User Submission for the sole purpose of making that Personal User Submission accessible to you and providing the Services necessary to do so.

If you share a User Submission only in a manner that only certain specified users can view (for example, a private message to one or more other users)(a “Limited Audience User Submission”), then you grant Company the licenses above, as well as a license to display, perform, and distribute your Limited Audience User Submission for the sole purpose of making that Limited Audience User Submission accessible to such other specified users, and providing the Services necessary to do so.  Also, you grant such other specified users a license to access that Limited Audience User Submission, and to use and exercise all rights in it, as permitted by the functionality of the Services. 

If you share a User Submission publicly on the Services and/or in a manner that more than just you or certain specified users can view (a “Public User Submission”), then you grant Company the licenses above, as well as a license to display, perform, and distribute your Public User Submission for the purpose of making that Public User Submission accessible to all Company users and providing the Services necessary to do so, as well as all other rights necessary to use and exercise all rights in that Public User Submission in connection with the Services and/or otherwise in connection with Company’s business.  Also, you grant all other users of the Services a license to access that Public User Submission, and to use and exercise all rights in it, as permitted by the functionality of the Services.

You agree that the licenses you grant are royalty-free, perpetual, sublicenseable, irrevocable, and worldwide, provided that when you delete your Company account, we will stop displaying your User Submissions other than Public User Submissions, which may remain fully available) to other users (if applicable), but you understand and agree that it may not be possible to completely delete that content from Company’s records, and that your User Submissions may remain viewable elsewhere to the extent that they were copied or stored by other users.

Finally, you understand and agree that Company, in performing the required technical steps to provide the Services to our users (including you), may need to make changes to your User Submissions to conform and adapt those User Submissions to the technical requirements of connection networks, devices, services, or media, and the foregoing licenses include the rights to do so.

What if I see something on the Services that infringes my copyright?

You may have heard of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (the “DMCA”), as it relates to online service providers, like Company, being asked to remove material that allegedly violates someone’s copyright.  We respect others’ intellectual property rights, and we reserve the right to delete or disable Content alleged to be infringing, and to terminate the accounts of repeat alleged infringers; to review our complete Copyright Dispute Policy and learn how to report potentially infringing content, click here.  To learn more about the DMCA, click here. 

Who is responsible for what I see and do on the Services?

Any information or content publicly posted or privately transmitted through the Services is the sole responsibility of the person from whom such content originated, and you access all such information and content at your own risk, and we aren’t liable for any errors or omissions in that information or content or for any damages or loss you might suffer in connection with it.   We cannot control and have no duty to take any action regarding how you may interpret and use the Content or what actions you may take as a result of having been exposed to the Content, and you hereby release us from all liability for you having acquired or not acquired Content through the Services.  We can’t guarantee the identity of any users with whom you interact in using the Services and are not responsible for which users gain access to the Services. 

You are responsible for all Content you contribute, in any manner, to the Services, and you represent and warrant you have all rights necessary to do so, in the manner in which you contribute it.  You will keep all your registration information accurate and current.  You are responsible for all your activity in connection with the Services.

The Services may contain links or connections to third party websites or services that are not owned or controlled by Company. When you access third party websites or use third party services, you accept that there are risks in doing so, and that Company is not responsible for such risks.  We encourage you to be aware when you leave the Services and to read the terms and conditions and privacy policy of each third party website or service that you visit or utilize.

Company has no control over, and assumes no responsibility for, the content, accuracy, privacy policies, or practices of or opinions expressed in any third party websites or by any third party that you interact with through the Services. In addition, Company will not and cannot monitor, verify, censor or edit the content of any third party site or service. By using the Services, you release and hold us harmless from any and all liability arising from your use of any third party website or service.

Your interactions with organizations and/or individuals found on or through the Services, including payment and delivery of goods or services, and any other terms, conditions, warranties or representations associated with such dealings, are solely between you and such organizations and/or individuals. You should make whatever investigation you feel necessary or appropriate before proceeding with any online or offline transaction with any of these third parties. You agree that Company shall not be responsible or liable for any loss or damage of any sort incurred as the result of any such dealings.

If there is a dispute between participants on this site, or between users and any third party, you agree that Company is under no obligation to become involved. In the event that you have a dispute with one or more other users, you release Company, its officers, employees, agents, and successors from claims, demands, and damages of every kind or nature, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, disclosed or undisclosed, arising out of or in any way related to such disputes and/or our Services.

Will Company ever change the Services?

We’re always trying to improve the Services, so they may change over time.  We may suspend or discontinue any part of the Services, or we may introduce new features or impose limits on certain features or restrict access to parts or all of the Services.  We’ll try to give you notice when we make a material change to the Services that would adversely affect you, but this isn’t always practical. Similarly, we reserve the right to remove any Content from the Services at any time, for any reason (including, but not limited to, if someone alleges you contributed that Content in violation of these Terms), in our sole discretion, and without notice.

Does DayDrop cost anything?

The Company Services are currently free, but we reserve the right to charge for certain or all Services in the future.  We will notify you before any Services you are then using begin carrying a fee, and if you wish to continue using such Services, you must pay all applicable fees for such Services.

What if I want to stop using DayDrop?

You’re free to do that at any time, by contacting us at hello@DayDrop.com; please refer to our Privacy Policy, as well as the licenses above, to understand how we treat information you provide to us after you have stopped using our Services. 

Company is also free to terminate (or suspend access to) your use of the Services or your account, for any reason in our discretion, including your breach of these Terms.   Company has the sole right to decide whether you are in violation of any of the restrictions set forth in these Terms.

Account termination may result in destruction of any Content associated with your account, so keep that in mind before you decide to terminate your account.  We will try to provide advance notice to you prior to our terminating your account so that you are able to retrieve any important User Submissions you may have stored in your account (to the extent allowed by law and these Terms), but we may not do so if we determine it would be impractical, illegal, not in the interest of someone’s safety or security, or otherwise harmful to the rights or property of Company.

If you have deleted your account by mistake, contact us immediately at hello@DayDrop.com – we will try to help, but unfortunately, we can’t promise that we can recover or restore anything.

Provisions that, by their nature, should survive termination of these Terms shall survive termination.  By way of example, all of the following will survive termination: any obligation you have to pay us or indemnify us, any limitations on our liability, any terms regarding ownership or intellectual property rights, and terms regarding disputes between us.

I use the Company App available via an App Store – should I know anything about that?

These Terms apply to your use of all the Services, including the iPhone and iPad applications available via the Apple, Inc. (“Apple”) App Store (the “Application”) or any other App Store, but the following additional terms also apply to the Application:

(a)                   Both you and Company acknowledge that the Terms are concluded between you and Company only, and not with Apple, and that Apple is not responsible for the Application or the Content;

(b)                   The Application is licensed to you on a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferrable, non-sublicensable basis, solely to be used in connection with the Services for your private, personal, non-commercial use, subject to all the terms and conditions of these Terms as they are applicable to the Services;

©                   You will only use the Application in connection with an Apple device that you own or control;

(d)                   You acknowledge and agree that Apple has no obligation whatsoever to furnish any maintenance and support services with respect to the Application;

(e)                    In the event of any failure of the Application to conform to any applicable warranty, including those implied by law, you may notify Apple of such failure; upon notification, Apple’s sole warranty obligation to you will be to refund to you the purchase price, if any, of the Application;

(f)                    You acknowledge and agree that Company, and not Apple, is responsible for addressing any claims you or any third party may have in relation to the Application;

(g)                   You acknowledge and agree that, in the event of any third party claim that the Application or your possession and use of the Application infringes that third party’s intellectual property rights, Company, and not Apple, will be responsible for the investigation, defense, settlement and discharge of any such infringement claim;

(h)                    You represent and warrant that you are not located in a country subject to a U.S. Government embargo, or that has been designated by the U.S. Government as a “terrorist supporting” country, and that you are not listed on any U.S. Government list of prohibited or restricted parties;

(i)                    Both you and Company acknowledge and agree that, in your use of the Application, you will comply with any applicable third party terms of agreement which may affect or be affected by such use; and

(j)                    Both you and Company acknowledge and agree that Apple and Apple’s subsidiaries are third party beneficiaries of these Terms, and that upon your acceptance of these Terms, Apple will have the right (and will be deemed to have accepted the right) to enforce these Terms against you as the third party beneficiary hereof.

(k)                   In the event you use the Application to provide you with real-time route guidance, YOUR USE OF THIS REAL TIME ROUTE GUIDANCE APPLICATION IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK.  LOCATION DATA MAY NOT BE ACCURATE.

What else do I need to know?

Warranty Disclaimer.  Company does not make any representations or warranties concerning any content contained in or accessed through the Services, and we will not be responsible or liable for the accuracy, copyright compliance, legality, or decency of material contained in or accessed through the Services.  We make no representations or warranties regarding suggestions or recommendations of services or products offered or purchased through the Services.  THE SERVICES AND CONTENT ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS-IS” BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR  A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, OR THAT USE OF THE SERVICES WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE.  SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG AN IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

Limitation of Liability.  TO THE FULLEST EXTENT ALLOWED BY APPLICABLE LAW, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES AND UNDER NO LEGAL THEORY (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, TORT, CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE) SHALL COMPANY BE LIABLE TO YOU OR TO ANY OTHER PERSON FOR (A) ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOST PROFITS, LOSS OF GOODWILL, WORK STOPPAGE, ACCURACY OF RESULTS, OR COMPUTER FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION, OR (B) ANY AMOUNT, IN THE AGGREGATE, IN EXCESS OF THE GREATER OF (I) $100 OR (II) THE AMOUNTS PAID BY YOU TO COMPANY IN CONNECTION WITH THE SERVICES IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTH PERIOD PRECEDING THIS APPLICABLE CLAIM, OR (III) ANY MATTER BEYOND OUR REASONABLE CONTROL.  SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF CERTAIN DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION AND EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

Indemnity.  You agree to indemnify and hold Company, its affiliates, officers, agents, employees, and partners harmless from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages (actual and consequential), losses and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) arising from or in any way related to any third party claims relating to (a) your use of the Services (including any actions taken by a third party using your account), and (b) your violation of these Terms.  In the event of such a claim, suit, or action (“Claim”), we will attempt to provide notice of the Claim to the contact information we have for your account (provided that failure to deliver such notice shall not eliminate or reduce your indemnification obligations hereunder).

Assignment.  You may not assign, delegate or transfer these Terms or your rights or obligations hereunder, or your Services account, in any way (by operation of law or otherwise) without Company’s prior written consent.  We may transfer, assign, or delegate these Terms and our rights and obligations without consent.

Choice of Law; Arbitration.  These Terms are governed by and will be construed under the laws of Hong Kong, without regard to the conflicts of laws provisions thereof.  Any dispute arising from or relating to the subject matter of these Terms shall be finally settled in Hong Kong, in English, in accordance with the rules of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (“HKIAC”) then in effect, by one commercial arbitrator with substantial experience in resolving intellectual property and commercial contract disputes, who shall be selected from the appropriate list of HKIAC arbitrators in accordance with such rules. Judgment upon the award rendered by such arbitrator may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing obligation to arbitrate disputes, each party shall have the right to pursue injunctive or other equitable relief at any time, from any court of competent jurisdiction.

Miscellaneous.  You will be responsible for paying, withholding, filing, and reporting all taxes, duties, and other governmental assessments associated with your activity in connection with the Services, provided that the Company may, in its sole discretion, do any of the foregoing on your behalf or for itself as it sees fit.  The failure of either you or us to exercise, in any way, any right herein shall not be deemed a waiver of any further rights hereunder.  If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated, to the minimum extent necessary, so that these Terms shall otherwise remain in full force and effect and enforceable.  You and Company agree that these Terms are the complete and exclusive statement of the mutual understanding between you and Company, and that it supersedes and cancels all previous written and oral agreements, communications and other understandings relating to the subject matter of these Terms, and that all modifications to these Terms must be in a writing signed by both parties (except as otherwise provided herein). No agency, partnership, joint venture, or employment is created as a result of these Terms and you do not have any authority of any kind to bind Company in any respect whatsoever.  Except as expressly set forth in the section above regarding the Apple Application, you and Company agree there are no third party beneficiaries intended under these Terms.

[takenews-blog1]

The Solar Alternate funds photo voltaic installations with micro-investments and bitcoin

New Post has been published on https://takenews.net/the-solar-alternate-funds-photo-voltaic-installations-with-micro-investments-and-bitcoin/

The Solar Alternate funds photo voltaic installations with micro-investments and bitcoin

Solar energy might rework small communities all over the world, however distant villages can’t all the time scrape collectively the hundreds of required to put in the requisite cells. The Solar Alternate desires to alter that by leveraging the hearts and wallets of interest buyers who cowl the set up prices after which have their share of the income trickle in for years to come back. There’s even a cryptocurrency!

The entire thing, as defined onstage at Disrupt Berlin right now, works like this. First, the Solar Alternate and its companions (photo voltaic firms in numerous sun-drenched places all over the world) find tasks the place a small set up — assume lower than a megawatt — might make a big effect, as an example rural clinics or villages with inconsistent energy.

The set up is deliberate and priced out, and this data is put on-line at a devoted web page. At that time folks should buy plenty of the photo voltaic cells within the facility, from a couple of bucks’ price to a serious funding.

As soon as the prices are lined, the array is constructed and put on-line inside 60 days, its energy offered to the group for a utilization charge like several utility and buyers (and the corporate) get part of that charge proportionate to their possession of the array. And it truly is possession: “You’re now the proud proprietor of some photo voltaic cells absorbing wonderful African sunshine,” the FAQ reads, and the Solar Alternate simply handles the leasing and charge assortment. (And insurance coverage and paperwork, after all.)

Ideally, it’s a win-win scenario. The local people will get dependable, low-cost energy, and also you get a gentle (if small) supply of revenue primarily coming straight from the solar.

Founder Abraham Cambridge began engaged on the enterprise years in the past, elevating a bit of cash on Indiegogo and constructing a prototype with it in early 2016. However it was solely when he bought a little bit of angel cash that summer time (from BoostVC) that he started making it into an actual enterprise. A $1.6 million seed spherical introduced final month must hold the lights on (although that shouldn’t be an issue with all that solar energy).

“Our principal purpose is to make the deal look engaging sufficient to encourage prospects to take cash out of current investments which can be backing fossil fuels and be put into photo voltaic power,” Cambridge advised me. “It’s as much as you to resolve whether or not it’s a worthwhile funding.”

There’s additionally the feel-good issue, which might’t be dismissed. These are investments that may in any other case by no means have been made. As Cambridge identified to me, they’re properly beneath the megawatt scale that established energy firms would like to deploy. And decentralizing possession isn’t just a good suggestion, it’s solely potential proper now via small deployments of renewables with manageable prices.

The cryptocurrency facet of issues isn’t a gimmick. It’s a approach to transfer small quantities of capital from (say) the U.S. to South Africa with out fiddling about an excessive amount of with exchanges and financial institution charges. You are able to do a standard forex alternate as a way to pay in rand or one other native forex, however meaning your returns can be in that forex as properly, so that you’ll need to convert again if you wish to receives a commission. Utilizing bitcoin can definitely make easy purchases extra sophisticated than they should be, however for good-size worldwide cash transfers, it’s a fairly good instrument.

After which there’s SolarCoin: it’s one other cryptocurrency, one that’s awarded to you as a solar energy operator for each megawatt-hour of juice your cells generate. They’re not notably beneficial (presently round 50 cents per coin) however hey, it provides up.

Cambridge has been refining issues and smoothing out obstacles for the reason that concept struck him, however mentioned that greater than something the curiosity proven by customers has vindicated the mannequin.

“I spent the primary 12 months of the enterprise mapping out obstacles and so the mannequin we’ve been operating with is fairly resilient,” he advised me once I requested how he had improved issues in contrast with the early levels. “What’s stronger is folks signing up and utilizing the service, proving incorrect the naysayers who mentioned that nobody would need to purchase photo voltaic panels on this approach and that bitcoin was a fad.”

The skyrocketing value of bitcoin has additionally led to larger-than-expected transaction charges, which means he’s needed to regulate the funding course of a bit. However Cambridge is assured that may work itself out. Within the meantime, the positioning and repair are reside, as are the preliminary profitable installations. When you’d prefer to convey a bit of mild into somebody’s life and perhaps make a buck off it, you may join at The Solar Alternate now.

[mbcali-blog]

The 7 rules of respectful marketing

http://mbcali.com/?p=79787 The 7 rules of respectful marketing

Consumers are in open rebellion about how they’re disrespectfully treated by your marketing. Millions now use ad blockers to escape the relentless barrage of online ads, resulting in 32 percent of global page views being impacted by ad blocking. And the rest don’t need an ad blocker because they’re conditioned to ignore the ad. Virtually all email users take advantage of spam protection software and mention receiving too many emails as the top reason for unsubscribing.

This is why it is absolutely imperative for brands to invest in respectful and relevant marketing. They must realize their customer experiences begin with their marketing, and that the customer has a reasonable expectation of respect. This is a two-way street, and you do harm to your own brand by plowing ahead with blinders on.

With this in mind, a brand should:

1. Be vigilant about where your partners (and their partners’ partners) get their data

When buying data for ad targeting and retargeting purposes, vet individual partners and use only those that are a validated, safe, primary data source. But even then, how do you know where that partner is getting their data? They could (unknowingly) be relying on a whole basket of providers from across the ethical spectrum.

Be thorough as you investigate, and only work with partners who use reliable, trustworthy data. They’re out there, and they generally have names you recognize.

2. Boycott data gathered from ambient listening and other unethical techniques

Ambient listening and scraping peoples’ text messages and emails are highly unethical and odious practices, and you want to stay far away from it. Add it to your contracts with data providers to ensure they will not knowingly give you data obtained unethically. Add a damage clause to it, and if they push back, run.

3. Favor publishers with good practices

Marketers should channel their dollars to publishers who prioritize quality content and a good user experience, especially ones that balance viewability guarantees without sacrificing UX.

Marketers should do business with publishers that have strong, plain-language privacy policies, and go publisher direct via private marketplaces where appropriate to reduce ad fraud.

4. Consider taking your programmatic in-house

Many major brands are setting up in-house programmatic efforts to reduce costs, gain transparency into what they’re buying and keep control of their first-party data. It’s a significant investment of time, money and resources — so at the very least, getting more involved in optimizations at the keyboard is worth the effort.

5. Fight ad fraud and deliver ‘healthy impressions’

A “healthy impression” is one that’s presented respectfully, at the proper time, in the proper context and situation. Fraudulent ads aren’t healthy, because they have no chance to influence a consumer. Capping the frequency of retargeting impressions and suppressing retargeting after the consumer has made a purchase are also respectful and healthy practices.

Marketers would be well served by a constant reminder that they are consumers as well. Whatever your personal threshold is, multiply that by 10 for the average consumer not enamored of (or employed by) marketing.

6. Consider regulation with teeth

Take an active, transparent and public stance. The industry should insist on effective regulation with criminal penalties to prevent some of the more egregious digital marketing abuses. CAN-SPAM was mostly ineffective to deter spam. It wasn’t until the free market created spam filters that spam got under control.

7. Consider brand safety precautions

The recent furor over digital ads appearing in, or adjacent to, objectionable and low-quality content has raised questions about current (and expensive) automated brand safety services that don’t work well enough. Demand to see where your ads run in real time, not after the campaign has ended. Put the time into your whitelists and blacklists, as others are doing.

While it’s true that the above practices are expensive and difficult, the respect you give and results you get will be well worth it. Why invest in display advertising that’s more likely to hurt your brand and waste your budget? Doesn’t it make sense to pay more, in an effort to finance a well-targeted and well-received campaign?

Digital advertising has fallen into an unhealthy pattern. Each new technique introduced enjoys high ROI for a while. Marketers overuse the technique, then it gets abused. Consumers, feeling harassed and disrespected, rebel and stop responding. Efficacy falls. Marketers, desperate for results, focus on efficiency to do more with less. This exacerbates the situation and worsens the abuse of the consumer.

It’s up to marketers to restore good health to the medium. Instead of trying to do more with less, focus on doing better. Put customer experience ahead of marketing ROI for a moment — just for a moment! — and you’ll start seeing fewer ad-blocking customers and better results in the long run.

Some opinions expressed in this article may be those of a guest author and not necessarily Marketing Land. Staff authors are listed here.

About The Author

Lewis Gersh is a founder, Chairman and CEO of PebblePost. Prior to PebblePost, Lewis founded Gersh Venture Partners, one of the first seed venture funds in the country, focused primarily on B2B marketing and e-commerce technologies, especially those bridging online data with traditional markets. Lewis later changed the name to Metamorphic Ventures, later adding two partners who continue to manage the fund. Lewis built one of the largest portfolios of companies specializing in retargeting, e-commerce and database marketing.Prior to Metamorphic, Lewis founded Worldly Information Network, a database direct marketing company leveraging user-driven segmentation. Worldly became the largest provider of free investment newsletters on the web, publishing over 40 daily/weekly topics and delivering upwards of 1 billion email newsletters through both its O&O and network sites. Lewis has a BA from San Diego State University and a JD and Masters in Intellectual Property from UNH School of Law. Lewis has served on many corporate and non-profit boards, and is an accomplished endurance athlete having competed in many Ironman triathlons, ultra marathons and parenting.