#data residency requirements for businesses

[legalfirmindia]

Data Protection: Legal Safeguards for Your Business

In today’s digital age, data is the lifeblood of most businesses. Customer information, financial records, and intellectual property – all this valuable data resides within your systems. However, with this digital wealth comes a significant responsibility: protecting it from unauthorized access, misuse, or loss. Data breaches can have devastating consequences, damaging your reputation, incurring…

[yyokkki]

Warning: Chapter 6 spoilers? Vaguely??

Idia Shroud

A hermit that claims to be a game developer! He’s not lying but he has omitted some details about his family business that he’s been working with remotely.

Owns a house that he lives in with his little brother Ortho who does all the grocery shopping!

Created Ortho after a terrible tragedy with the help of a mage (not the local one).

Would never willingly take part in the town festivals but Ortho hides all the food in the house on those days so he has no choice but to eat the festival food if he doesn’t want to starve…

Plays board games with Azul every Monday in his house.

Is often found in his room… And sometimes by the lake late at night (Ortho kicks him out to get fresh air).

Loved Gifts: Pomegranate, Any Candy, Battery Pack, Dwarf Gadget, Iridium Bar. Universal Loves

“!! T-thanks, you’re not bad, farmer.”

For Battery Pack and Iridium Bar: “Huh, I needed these for some of Ortho’s new upgrades… Thanks farmer.”

Hated Gifts: Sashimi, Any Fish, Universal Hates

“...Normies like you are the reason why I stay inside.”

Ortho Shroud

The resident sunshine child and Idia’s little brother!

He’s a robot that doesn’t require food to survive but with the power of the world wide web, he can do anything in the world!

He has a lot of healing equipment installed in him so he kinda turned into the town’s informal doctor by default! Is usually the one who treats you whenever you pass out in the mines.

He has a bunch of different gears but the most commonly seen ones are for each season and beach wear.

Absolutely obliterates the competition at every egg festival (Floyd is so mad about it). The hunt is like 10x harder for you in this universe particularly all because of him.

Joins Vil in the library every Thursday for film appreciation! He takes part in the plays along with the other children! 

Doesn’t attend school the way the other kids do but he does sit in and gives his own lectures every once in a while.

Is often found at his house or in the town square chatting with the other kids and residents!

Loved Gifts: Battery Pack, Dwarf Gadget, Iridium Bar, Radioactive Bar, Universal Loves

“Thank you, farmer! This will be useful for data collection!”

Hated Gifts: Bombs, Poisonous Mushrooms, Universal Hates

“My sensors say that this is a highly dangerous object! Activating Energy Cannon!

---

TWST x SDV Masterlist

Tag List (Interact with the linked post to be tagged in future updates mwah)

Tag List Below Dropdown

@coffee-or-hot-cocoa @neuvilletteshusbandd @multifandomlazywriter @whimsybloom

@petaled-pages @blerp-22 @lazy-raven @the-ghost-0f-t0m0

@iamlowkeycrying @sleep-ydragon @loopdydee @hrhqueenfox

@mielle-estelar @cerisescherries @asillysleepy @sarah22447

@iamstillalive158 @fatally-incorrect @kumikokane @lettuceyarn

@awkwardlyso @banshee-y-etc @wolfdragongodex @honehbee42

@yvonneyudith @gyarukitti

[acceptccnow]

Maximize E-Commerce Growth with Efficient Payment Processing

Article by Jonathan Bomser | CEO | Accept-Credit-Cards-Now.com

In the rapidly evolving world of business, E-Commerce Payment Processing stands as an undeniable linchpin. With the perpetual surge in online shopping and digital transactions, businesses must prioritize delivering a seamless and secure payment experience for their diverse customer base. This article zeroes in on strategies that empower businesses to unlock their full e-commerce potential by implementing effective payment processing methods. From embracing credit card acceptance to skillfully navigating the complexities of high-risk sectors like CBD and credit repair, we'll delve into key insights that enable businesses to make well-informed decisions and turbocharge their profitability.

DOWNLOAD THE MAXIMIZE E-COMMERCE GROWTH INFOGRAPHIC HERE

The Cornerstone of E-Commerce Triumph At the core of every flourishing e-commerce enterprise lies a robust payment processing infrastructure. A frictionless payment solution can have a direct impact on conversion rates and customer satisfaction. Payment processing for high-risk industries, such as CBD and credit repair, demands specialized services owing to their unique challenges. These sectors require reliable payment gateways that cater precisely to their distinct needs while steadfastly upholding stringent compliance with industry regulations.

Crafting a Seamless Customer Journey The acceptance of credit cards stands as a fundamental pillar of e-commerce success. The ease and familiarity associated with credit cards empower customers to make swift purchasing decisions. By seamlessly integrating credit card payment processing systems, businesses can streamline the checkout process, reduce instances of cart abandonment, and cultivate trust among their patrons. A user-centric payment gateway guarantees that transactions happen rapidly, securely, and without complications, thereby enhancing the overall shopping experience.

Navigating Uncharted Waters Industries like CBD and credit repair often find themselves classified as high-risk, primarily due to intricate regulatory frameworks and potential chargeback risks. Securing a high-risk merchant account and harnessing specialized high-risk payment processing solutions become imperative. These tailored services provide the indispensable infrastructure for tackling the unique challenges of high-risk industries while simultaneously mitigating potential setbacks.

Paving the Path to Progress Merchant processing forms the crux of e-commerce expansion. By acquiring a merchant account, businesses unlock access to a broader spectrum of payment options and enhance their market credibility. A well-structured merchant processing system serves as a competitive advantage, allowing businesses to accept credit cards, expedite transaction processing, and offer a diverse array of payment alternatives to their clientele.

The Future of E-Commerce Payment Processing As technology continues its inexorable advancement, payment processing solutions evolve in tandem. Online payment gateways now encompass more than just transactional capabilities. Contemporary payment gateway solutions extend offerings to encompass comprehensive analytics, real-time reporting, and customization features, empowering businesses to make data-driven decisions and optimize their overall payment ecosystem.

E-commerce payment processing resides at the heart of e-commerce expansion. By embracing the intricacies of payment processing within high-risk sectors, embracing credit card acceptance, and optimizing merchant processing systems, businesses can chart a course toward success. The voyage to maximizing e-commerce growth is initiated by acknowledging the pivotal role of payment processing and making judicious choices that align with industry trends and cater to customer preferences.

[mitigatedchaos]

VOL - Value-Over-LLM

(~700 words, 3 minutes)

3) Ken, an estate campus resident: "Cycling through my neighborhood this morning, I can't help but appreciate living in a place that values sustainable transportation and community spirit! 🚴‍♀️🌳 #EstateCampusLife"

I instructed Nous Capybara to generate 5 fictional characters after reading about the hypothetical country I've mentioned before. On previous runs I didn't specify to make ordinary people, and got pairings like:

An influential [country's politics] philosopher and political thinker known for her radical ideas about the role of religion in governance and societal order.

"The path to true enlightenment lies not within abstract notions of good and evil, but in the practical application of morality and ethics in our daily lives." - Hera

A high-ranking member of [country's military], known for his exceptional strategic thinking and leadership skills in [country]'s wars and conflicts.

"In times of war, it is often those with the sharpest strategies who emerge victorious. But in peacetime, it is the leaders who can adapt quickly to changing circumstances who will prevail." - Shu

With respect to both the text and the knowledge base of the model, with respect to meaning, we can think of LLMs as moving sideways and downwards - they generate a related text in the text-space, which generally has less meaning. This can result in an information gain if you are not familiar with the meaning of the original text, or with that portion of the LLM's knowledge base, or just haven't thought about it much yet.

In my opinion, LLMs as a technology, by itself, are likely to be at least as consequential as email.

First, I expect this to reshape how human beings communicate with each other. A ChatGPT subscription costs about $20/mo. The existing generations will get used to nearly-unlimited, on-demand, LLM text generation. Future generations will grow up with LLM text as a baseline.

This is likely to socially devalue text that sounds like an LLM. I can already feel the outline of socially lonely people turning to LLMs in some way, and this generating a vibe of, "All your friends are puppets," / "all my friends are flesh and blood," where the latter will be seen as the result of superior social ability and fitness.

It may lead to the devaluing of all generic business talk, or push some individuals to a higher level of consciousness or understanding. These conditions may spark new artistic or philosophical movements, and are likely to change the way society views itself.

It's unclear what follower-personalities, whose beliefs are more socially determined, are likely to do in the face of the text onslaught, as they are not currently reading text into a coherent model for evaluation. Some of them may be "trapped" by this technology and fail to reach a new level of development.

Future teenagers will likely project retro nostalgia for the pre-LLM era and its greater authenticity.

There will likely be development of a writing style which is deliberately LLM-illegible, but it would likely be an awful lot of fucking work to read.

Second, humans are likely to accumulate a ring of text information and spreadsheet type data that can be fed into LLMs and related systems. Right now, it's difficult to get the information back out, because you have to do it manually, which is high attention. An LLM's reading of this data will be low-attention, but cheap.

What's in this ring of text information is likely to depend on copyright or intellectual property law, but the provisioning of textbooks or articles for inclusion in LLM use may emerge in the coming decades.

Automatic summarization, even of middling quality, is a big deal. LLMs still have the issue where processing a large document at speed requires a tremendous amount of VRAM, but documents could be summarized in a hierarchy, and then searched and processed in a multi-step process.

Regardless, the text information is likely to include the user's own creative content.

A lack of access to this ring is likely to result in reduced mobility, for lack of a better word.

Third, an increasing body of text will likely be written for LLMs. I don't mean messages or queries. Rather, the goal of an article is to add information, so text will be written as LLM source materials.

Fourth, what you get out of an LLM depends a great deal on what you put in. People with a higher aptitude can get more out of an LLM because they better understand the limits of the system, but also because they ask the right questions.

Fifth, constant exposure to text generation of this kind might also result in atrophy of skills in reading and writing.

It's difficult to tell at this juncture. What seems more likely is a split. Some people will focus on what gives them the advantage, writing in a way that provides a very rich and understandable information source, providing "value over LLM." Others will let the machine write everything and gradually pay less and less attention to it, and would eventually find it challenging to write a quality email on their own even if they were forced to at gunpoint.

The effect of the latter may end up being be similar, in some ways, to online environments in which someone's avatar is "physically" present, but the operator is not at-keyboard, and you don't know when the operator will be at-keyboard, and if they don't want to answer you they may pretend to be not-at-keyboard. (This is one reason to avoid brain-computer interfaces, as they could lead to a society of people who are never anywhere - even online.)

It may be necessary to apply some class of future social conservative policies, such as banning the use of LLMs on school grounds, but we will see.

[robboyblunder]

Was in the mood for drawing another robot and came up with this beast for my solar/cyberpunk setting :) It's a giant robot that processes an entire city's data instantaneously and fluently and LOVES information. the robot doesn't really have pronouns, so I gave it it/they where people unfamiliar use 'it' and those closer to it use 'they'. I don't have a name for them other than 'data bot' at the moment lmao.

more info about 'em under the read more! Image ID in ALT text :)

(please don't repost or use these, and leave my description; thanks! reblogs appreciated!)

-this data bot cares about information more than anything, and will do most anything to get it; the only way it isn't destroying systems and taking over is built in inhibitors lmao. it's one of the only things that can handle the massive information flow the cyber city it resides below needs to compute and control things. having something with that much power go out of hand... not safe!

-data bot loves talking about the things it knows and providing information, but doesn't have strong attachment to most anything; sentimentality, empathy, and morality are not part of its AI. It does feel emotions, but simply tends to be mostly curious, ambivalent, and quite bored.

-intruders or rude people will get rapidly 'disassembled' into information by the data bot; as in, like a praying mantis, it'll snatch them up so fast they can't react before they're pulled apart to be dissected for how they work and what's inside them. it's a little brutal! cleaning up after sucks for everyone except data bot.

-data bot is not entirely waterproof as a safety protocol; the water in the bottom of the room serves to cool its tech, but also as a threatening reminder that if it goes haywire or tries to escape, it'll be dropped from the ceiling straight into a watery pool grave.

-the glass panels floating around the bot are actually intricate low-tech data storage made from special tech imbued glass that is water proof and holds large quantities of information each. data bot is one of the only things that can read them! the slot holes in the walls are for putting away panels, retrieving them, or getting new ones to write data upon.

-data bot can move in most any direction in its giant bubble room, and is incredibly flexible and nimble. this makes its motions oddly organic and kind of creepy to most! the workers seriously fear this thing, and rarely want to be the ones to have to go near it.

-workers are required to be sterile and hazmatted up around data bot for unknown reasons to them. data bot doesn't mind either way.

-data bot gets rapidly bored, and this is dangerous; its super intelligent mind needs constant stimulation lest it start trying to find ways to entertain itself to the detriment of the building and the city it controls. workers often give it puzzles, news from their own lives, and talk to it to keep it busy when the city's data isn't enough.

-to keep it clean, workers must squeegee bathe the bot, who funny enough, finds it very enjoyable and relaxing; one of the only times it's safe to be remotely close to it is bath time. holding up a squeegee in their presence is like holding up a stick for a dog.

-data bot longs to break free and pick apart as much of the world to understand and catalogue all information out there... if it had a body, it would be catastrophic as its information is priceless so destroying it would be incredibly devastating, expensive (its tech is state of the art), and difficult (in the event it manages to break out, shut off the inhibitors, and upgrade itself to be water proof).

-the city council and members in power often use data bot like an AI assistant, and have no idea how dangerous, huge, and scary the thing is minus a select few. the ones who know are the most wary.

ty for reading :)

[tgrailwar-zero]

From what we saw before, it seems like you have many forms that each could be called a “true form” of you. What’s up with that?

DRACO: "Simple. I am a Larval Beast in this current state, and given the proper conditions I should be able to evolve. This body of mine has many forms and many names."

"Of course, there's the 'Foolish Me', who boldly shies away from her true nature, boldly declaring herself as a Saber. I have no intention of ever debasing myself by even mentioning her name. I am Draco, Sodom's Beast, and will always be. This is a Spirit Origin of a Beast, after all, not that of a hero. You have awoken me from the farce that is 'Lucius', and for that I am grateful. For now I may get to business."

"And as such, given the proper conditions, I should manifest as something that could devour the Solar Cell utterly. A genuine City Eater, the bane of civilization. But to even begin, I require the data stored within my meteor blade."

You could feel the blade grow hot in DRACO's presence, burning to life. While the 'Saber' verification doesn't seem to be broken, it seems as if DRACO ticks off more of a few of the other locks present.

DRACO: "Ah, I can sense it. I may not wield such a blade, but the secrets residing within sing such a vibrant melody, even under such lock and key. Hand it over, now. I do not break my promises. Give me the sword, and I will supply you with valuable information."

[batterfang]

Nick Cave on AI

"Songs arise out of suffering, by which I mean they are predicated upon the complex, internal human struggle of creation and, well, as far as I know, algorithms don’t feel. Data doesn’t suffer. ChatGPT has no inner being, it has been nowhere, it has endured nothing, it has not had the audacity to reach beyond its limitations, and hence it doesn’t have the capacity for a shared transcendent experience, as it has no limitations from which to transcend. ChatGPT’s melancholy role is that it is destined to imitate and can never have an authentic human experience, no matter how devalued and inconsequential the human experience may in time become."

"Writing a good song is not mimicry, or replication, or pastiche, it is the opposite. It is an act of self-murder that destroys all one has strived to produce in the past. It is those dangerous, heart-stopping departures that catapult the artist beyond the limits of what he or she recognises as their known self. This is part of the authentic creative struggle that precedes the invention of a unique lyric of actual value; it is the breathless confrontation with one’s vulnerability, one’s perilousness, one’s smallness, pitted against a sense of sudden shocking discovery; it is the redemptive artistic act that stirs the heart of the listener, where the listener recognizes in the inner workings of the song their own blood, their own struggle, their own suffering. This is what we humble humans can offer, that AI can only mimic, the transcendent journey of the artist that forever grapples with his or her own shortcomings. This is where human genius resides, deeply embedded within, yet reaching beyond, those limitations."

"It may sound like I’m taking all this a little too personally, but I’m a songwriter who is engaged, at this very moment, in the process of songwriting. It’s a blood and guts business, here at my desk, that requires something of me to initiate the new and fresh idea. It requires my humanness. What that new idea is, I don’t know, but it is out there somewhere, searching for me. In time, we will find each other."

- Nick Cave on the use of ChatGPT to recreate lyrics in his style.

https://www.theredhandfiles.com/chat-gpt-what-do-you-think/

[stackslip]

The European Union is set to generate millions of euros more from the high rejection rates of visa applications by African visitors with a new increase in non-refundable fees.

Citizens of the 26 member states within Europe’s Schengen area have unhindered borderless access within the area, while most travelers from elsewhere require visas. A 12.5% price hike that takes effect on June 11 increases the cost of a short-term (90 days) visa application to €90.

But while the price hike applies equally to all non-EU residents who require a Schengen visa, it raises the prospect of the bloc making disproportionately more money from its rejection rates for applicants from Africa, analysts say.

Of the €130 million the EU earned in 2023 from rejected visa applications, about 42% of that was from applicants living in Africa, even though the continent accounts for 24% of Schengen visa applications, according to London-based research firm LAGO Collective. Prospective visitors who apply from Ghana, Senegal and Nigeria receive rejection rates of between 40% and 50%, LAGO estimated, based on data from the European Commission’s migration and home affairs office.

“We found a relationship between the GDP of countries and rejection rates for short-term visas,” Marta Foresti, LAGO’s founder, told Semafor Africa. A similar rejection trend in 2024 with the new price would deepen long-standing inequality of outcomes between consumers paying for the same service from high and low-income countries, Foresti said.

While these encourage dangerous attempts to reach Europe across seas and deserts, most African migration is via “regular channels,” the Africa Center for Strategic Studies in Washington DC notes.

Yet Africans applying to visit Europe for short-term stays, such as business engagements or conferences, continue to face a stumbling block.

Average rejection rates for African applicants are generally 10 percentage points higher than the global average, Mehari Taddele Maru, a researcher at the EU-owned European University Institute in Italy, found. Seven of the top ten countries with the highest rejection rates for Schengen visa applications in 2022 were in Africa.

The EU’s more expensive visa and its potentially disproportionate impact on Africans comes as the bloc takes a tougher stance on migration.

New rules approved by the EU Commission in April impose a higher standard for screening non-EU nationals at borders, including the collection of biometric data, and health and security checks. Border fences set up by member states within the Schengen area have become longer in the last decade, stretching from 315 km to 2,048 km as of 2022.

Higher visa prices could be another type of fence, which when combined with high rejection rates, will continue to enrich European consulates at the expense of residents of low income countries who nevertheless have legitimate reasons to be in Europe.

Africa’s high rejection rate is sometimes explained as a consequence of visitors overstaying their visas. But “there is no evidence to suggest that a higher rejection rate leads to a decrease in irregular migration or visa overstays,” Maru argues. In essence, an unexplained bias against Africans is at play.

The costs of rejection to African entrepreneurs, career professionals, artists and other seekers of the EU’s short-term visa calls for a reform of the approval process, Foresti told me. Consulates with high unequal outcomes should review their decision-making to ensure “systematic discrimination” against some countries isn’t an underlying cause.

And should some EU members enforce high rejection for short-term visas to dissuade overstays by residents of particular African countries, more paths to legal migration should be considered, she argued.

[bulkdatabaseindia]

Chennai Mobile Numbers Database

Learn about Chennai Mobile Numbers Database. Describe the key features of a Chennai Mobile Numbers database and application.

In the digital era we live in today, corporations and NGOs alike would greatly benefit from having a database of mobile phone numbers. This collection of contact information would also be crucial for marketers targeting specific customer segments so that they could enhance their marketing drive through personal information.

An organized mobile number database makes operations easier and enables growth in SMS campaigns, customer outreach, or data analysis. Competitive considerations necessitate being able to stay in touch with clients and customers competently throughout a fast, technology-dependent world through consistent supplies of accurate and updated contact information because people are increasingly using their phones.”

Chennai Mobile Numbers Database

The specific Android area phone data set is a directory of phone numbers belonging to Chennai city, and it frequently features additional data within its portals, including names, addresses, and e-mail addresses.

Employ founders unstructured for business organizations and companies that would like access to new clients inside Chennai, for instance, sales news or so on, and support services besides event advertising.

Key Features of a Chennai Mobile Numbers Database

Geographical Targeting: Address the Chennai region and, hence, local markets so that businesses can successfully target their customers.

Demographic Segmentation: Creating marketing campaigns that are personalized can be challenging if you don’t have detailed information about age, gender, income level, and occupation.

Updated Information: Make sure that the database remains true and keeps abreast of doing so regularly rather than allowing for any misinformation or out-of-date files that would lead to it being unreliable

Compliance with Regulations: By obeying set regulations and laws for data protection, ethical standards in database use are ensured, and this also shields firms as well as individuals.

How to Obtain a Chennai Mobile Number Database?

1. Purchase from Data Provider

Several of firms deal in mobile number databases that are confirmed for accuracy and updated for sales. They guarantee comprehensive details by observing prescribed laws.

2. Build Your Database

Gather phone numbers from client interactions, registration forms, loyalty schemes, competitions, and promotions. Using this method guarantees that the information collected is exactly what your business requires.

3. Collaborate with Local Businesses

Share resources and data by partnering with other businesses in the locality. This collaboration will lead to an increased reach for your business and enhancements to its database.

4. Utilize Online Directories

It is important to note that public records and online directories are essential access points for contact details. However, caution should be taken in the way collected information is used by ensuring it adheres to moral conduct as stipulated in regional laws.

Applications of a Chennai Mobile Numbers Database

SMS Marketing: In the domain of enterprise marketing, contextual marketing is a dedicated module that involves sending marketing messages, offers, and updates tailored to the mobile phones of potential clients directly.

Telemarketing: Contacting possible customers and presenting products or services.

Customer Support: “Delivering swift help and backing to clients through immediate interaction.”

Event Promotion: Let residents find out about local events, sales, launching new products, and other important messages.

Surveys and Feedback: Gathering consumer feedback and product or service observations related to developments involved in surveying.

Conclusion

The Chennai Mobile Numbers Database business opportunities are increased, and customers are reached in one of the most productive economies in India. This resource gives you new contact details, thus helping you to improve your marketing plans as well as enhance client ties, leading to extensive customer base penetration.

Using custom messages in Chennai’s lively setting can help one advance positively and achieve long-term objectives while building a real connection with the audience.

More Information About Plan and price Visit our website :- https://bulkdatabase.info/

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

A new Florida law cracking down on undocumented immigrants, signed last month by far-right Gov. Ron DeSantis and set to take effect on July 1, has pushed thousands of workers to flee the state.

Now even some capitalists who otherwise support DeSantis and the state's GOP-controlled House and Senate are beginning to speak out about how the law is likely to hurt their bottom lines.

As The Tallahassee Democrat reported Tuesday:

“In his packing plant, Graves Williams, a lifelong Republican, proudly explained the skill, labor, and manpower needed to provide tomatoes across North America, a feat that he says wouldn't be possible without immigrant laborers.

"We all love them to death," said Williams, whose family has been farming tomatoes for decades. "We couldn't run a business without them."”

Williams, the owner of Quincy Tomato Company, may soon be forced to try. Following right-wing lawmakers' passage of Senate Bill 1718, thousands of working-class immigrants, including many who are residing lawfully in the U.S., have opted to leave Florida.

The new law places harsh restrictions on undocumented immigrants. Among other things, it also requires the "repayment of certain economic development incentives" if the state, which plans to conduct random audits of businesses, "finds or is notified that an employer has knowingly employed" an undocumented immigrant without verifying their employment eligibility.

At the bill signing ceremony on May 10, DeSantis, who is now campaigning for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, slammed President Joe Biden's ostensibly lax immigration policies, saying: "We have to stop this nonsense, this is not good for our country... this is no way to run a government."

Data released earlier this month showed that unauthorized crossings of the U.S.-Mexico border fell sharply after the Biden administration imposed new asylum restrictions that went into effect when Title 42 ended on May 11. Undermining DeSantis' dubious accusation of inaction at the border, immigrant rights groups have condemned Biden's crackdown on asylum-seekers, saying the president's new ban deepens the bipartisan abandonment of international human rights law set in motion by the Trump administration.

Meanwhile, in Florida, DeSantis' xenophobic approach has sparked fears that "a labor shortage will leave crops unpicked, tourist hotels short of staff, and construction sites idle," The Tallahassee Democrat noted.

Notably, concerns are emanating from some Republican proprietors.

"How can one man pass one law and destroy all these businesses in Florida?" asked Williams.

"It's almost like he's doing it on purpose," Williams said. "I know he's doing it for politics, but the end results, it's going to be hard."

According to The Tallahassee Democrat: "Florida employers in construction, restaurants, landscaping, and many other service sectors already are struggling to fill jobs during what has been a post-pandemic, sustained stretch of low unemployment. The new immigration limits will compound that, many say."

However, the newspaper observed, many business owners still "refuse to speak publicly about the measure, fearing it could antagonize DeSantis."

[meret118]

There are hundreds of nonfiction and fiction books that show us what poverty looks like—Charles Dickens immediately comes to mind, as does Barbara Kingsolver’s excellent Dickens adaptation, Demon Copperhead (scroll down for our review). Princeton sociologist Matthew Desmond, who won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction for his last book, Evicted, and whose own family struggled financially during his Arizona childhood, chose instead to focus on why: Why is poverty—especially deep poverty, a ghastly state of existence for 1 in 18 Americans—so stubbornly persistent? In this enlightening and well-argued book, Desmond examines the reasons Americans face destitution at rates so much higher than, for example, Europeans. He also offers solutions and calls upon not only policymakers but everyday people of privilege to acknowledge our complicity—indeed, to remake ourselves as “poverty abolitionists.” We have the resources to eliminate this scourge, this national embarrassment, Desmond writes. It’s surprisingly cheap, and we know what has to be done. We need only to summon the heart and the will. —Michael Mechanic

After reading this fascinating book, I can no longer countenance people talking about how America is turning into a surveillance state. Too late, I’ll say. Privacy was dead and buried ages ago. Funk, a talented magazine journalist, chronicles how the late Hank Asher—brilliant, obsessive, and volatile—pioneered the business of harvesting every available scrap of information about every American back in the early 1990s. These snippets, including court and DMV records, residence addresses, data about our travels, families, relationships, professional pursuits, money owed, consumption habits, social interactions, and more, resided in far-flung public and private databases. Asher’s innovation was to gain access to these disparate troves and merge them into a single, high-speed storage-and-retrieval system that knew more about us than we knew about ourselves. To win over high-level clients, including law enforcement brass who presumed their information was sacrosanct, he only had to run the person’s name through his system. The universe of data services he unleashed, now peddled by firms like LexisNexis, Equifax, and Cambridge Analytica, can be put to good uses—like improving health outcomes and nabbing child abductors—but also deeply problematic ones. Readers will learn how Asher’s work likely cost Al Gore the presidency in 2000, and how police and immigration authorities used his products to seize and deport otherwise law-abiding immigrants with American-born children. This deeply reported book is required reading for people who want to comprehend American culture and where it’s headed. —Michael Mechanic

From Mother Jones

[alittlecatastrophe]

Nick Cave's response to ChatGPT writing a song in his style.

Dear Mark,

Since its launch in November last year many people, most buzzing with a kind of algorithmic awe, have sent me songs ‘in the style of Nick Cave’ created by ChatGPT. There have been dozens of them. Suffice to say, I do not feel the same enthusiasm around this technology. I understand that ChatGPT is in its infancy but perhaps that is the emerging horror of AI – that it will forever be in its infancy, as it will always have further to go, and the direction is always forward, always faster. It can never be rolled back, or slowed down, as it moves us toward a utopian future, maybe, or our total destruction. Who can possibly say which? Judging by this song ‘in the style of Nick Cave’ though, it doesn’t look good, Mark. The apocalypse is well on its way. This song sucks.

What ChatGPT is, in this instance, is replication as travesty. ChatGPT may be able to write a speech or an essay or a sermon or an obituary but it cannot create a genuine song. It could perhaps in time create a song that is, on the surface, indistinguishable from an original, but it will always be a replication, a kind of burlesque.

Songs arise out of suffering, by which I mean they are predicated upon the complex, internal human struggle of creation and, well, as far as I know, algorithms don’t feel. Data doesn’t suffer. ChatGPT has no inner being, it has been nowhere, it has endured nothing, it has not had the audacity to reach beyond its limitations, and hence it doesn’t have the capacity for a shared transcendent experience, as it has no limitations from which to transcend. ChatGPT’s melancholy role is that it is destined to imitate and can never have an authentic human experience, no matter how devalued and inconsequential the human experience may in time become.

What makes a great song great is not its close resemblance to a recognizable work. Writing a good song is not mimicry, or replication, or pastiche, it is the opposite. It is an act of self-murder that destroys all one has strived to produce in the past. It is those dangerous, heart-stopping departures that catapult the artist beyond the limits of what he or she recognises as their known self. This is part of the authentic creative struggle that precedes the invention of a unique lyric of actual value; it is the breathless confrontation with one’s vulnerability, one’s perilousness, one’s smallness, pitted against a sense of sudden shocking discovery; it is the redemptive artistic act that stirs the heart of the listener, where the listener recognizes in the inner workings of the song their own blood, their own struggle, their own suffering. This is what we humble humans can offer, that AI can only mimic, the transcendent journey of the artist that forever grapples with his or her own shortcomings. This is where human genius resides, deeply embedded within, yet reaching beyond, those limitations.

It may sound like I’m taking all this a little too personally, but I’m a songwriter who is engaged, at this very moment, in the process of songwriting. It’s a blood and guts business, here at my desk, that requires something of me to initiate the new and fresh idea. It requires my humanness. What that new idea is, I don’t know, but it is out there somewhere, searching for me. In time, we will find each other.

Mark, thanks for the song, but with all the love and respect in the world, this song is bullshit, a grotesque mockery of what it is to be human, and, well, I don’t much like it — although, hang on!, rereading it, there is a line in there that speaks to me —

‘I’ve got the fire of hell in my eyes’

— says the song ‘in the style of Nick Cave’, and that’s kind of true. I have got the fire of hell in my eyes – and it’s ChatGPT.

Love, Nick

[yzanjiiii]

𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗴 #𝟭 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗩𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲

I've always been attracted by the beauty of politics in business. How people can settle and manage their financial transactions through efficient communication, proficiency, and the development of plans using scientific methods in research to patch up gaps and establish projects based on solvency. Selling your business necessitate you to be able to speak persuasively, and I admit that it was still challenging for me to gather my thoughts and be confident enough to approach people and persuade them about something, despite the fact that I am a Political Science major and thus expected to be good at public speaking. However, our interview activity gave me the opportunity to venture outside of my comfort zone. In a larger perspective, it made the realm of politics and entrepreneurship converge in a sense that I was able to practice the art of identifying grassroot problems to provide solutions for the betterment of learning and quality education, which is entirely the definition of politics, and to make it income generating, we have to devise a product or services to cater the needs of the people, which is in the business realm, and for me to be able to show my innovative skills, I have to also link the realm of entrepreneurship hence, I believe that I can pour out all the learning application of my three years residency in political science in this subject.

EXPERIENCE

The encounter itself was enjoyable. During our preparation phase, I was able to demonstrate my leadership skills by devising techniques to make our workload more efficient by assigning ourselves quotas to meet. Personally, I wanted our data to exceed 100, but owing to forthcoming requirements, we opted to limit the quota at 50-60 interviewees. I assigned the deadlines, responsibilities, and established a bureaucratic framework to guarantee that each of us fulfilled our tasks; thus, before the interview, I ensured that the Google Drive was available for the uploading of our documentation, specifically images, videos, and recordings. Google Docs is also ready for the consolidated report, which includes both the quantitative and qualitative data. To avoid delays, I have also assigned the secretary to monitor task completion.

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW/D-DAY

During the interview, it became increasingly difficult to identify students who are not shy in front of the camera and are willing to participate. Fortunately, I know a lot of people at the university, which gave me an edge in finding interviewers. An individual interview was initially conducted, but I later realized that it was time consuming and made the interviewee more shy due to the pressure and tension of becoming embarrassed, so I have to make small talk with the interviewee first to ensure that I will be able to break the ice and allow comfort to kick in. We experimented with combined interviews, team interviews, and partner interviews alongside Eloisa. As a result, we were able to troubleshoot problems during the interview by devising plans and trying out different techniques. Regardless of the outcome, I believe it gave me confidence to take risks and become resilient, both of which are essential in entrepreneurship, especially since one major challenge is dealing with people with different tastes, preferences, and attitudes.

D-DAY

INTERVIEWEES #1 and #2

Eloisa and I with our first interviewee from the program of Sociology. The problem identified was the absence of comfortable tambayan with good food.

Our second respondent is from BSED PE and the problem identified was waste problems.

INTERVIEWEES #3 and #4

The third interviewee is also from BSED PE and the problem identified was mental health issues due to the pressure being felt by students.

The fourth interviewee is from the College of Business and Management major in Finance. The problem identified was ventilation due to poor budgeting of the university.

INTERVIEWEES #5 & #6 and #8 & #9

The fifth and sixth interviewees are from the program of BS Bio. The problems identified are transportation and printing problems due to the location of printing services.

The 8th and 9th interviewees are both from the program of AB Political Science. The problem identified is waste problems.

Bonus GIF

Caught on 4K: Ma'am Butalid, the program coordinator

INTERVIEWEES #10 & #11 and #11, #12, #13, & #14

The tenth and eleventh interviewees are both from the College of Education. The problem that was identified is also the prevalent waste problem.

All four interviewees (11-14) are from the program of AB Political Science and the problems identified were insufficiency of educational tools, transportation, waste problems, and illegal business (no permit).

INTERVIEWEES #15 & #16

Our fifteenth interviewee is from the program of BS Math and the problem identified was waste problem.

The last interviewee is from BSED PE and the problem identified was waste problem.

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

Following the interview and consultation with the instructor, we were able to share our views, suggestions, and data results, so with waste management being the most pressing issue at the university based on our data gathered from the series of interview, we looked for potential products and services that would be the greatest solution. We had a lot of prospects for the proposal because I came prepared, and I had already researched sustainable products online through various platforms to make our decision process easier. Following the deliberation, it was decided to proceed with the conversion of leaves into paper, with modifications such as colour classification and scented option.

RESULTS OF THE INTERVIEW

The first pie chart shows the result of our joint interview. It has been revealed that there are 8 identified problems and the top three are the following: (1) Waste problems, (2) Transportation, and (3) Ventilation. Meanwhile, for the consolidated result, it was revealed that waste problems still hold the top issue that the CMUans are currently facing and have been posing grave concerns weighing 53.8 percent out of 55 respondents being interviewed. Therefore, we have decided to go with a visionary EcoVenture product called "EVERLEAF" which means everlasting leaf which aims to stop deforestation and degradation of the environment 🌿

REFLECTION

Through this dialogue, I have come to understand that that, despite the fact that we are in a micro level setting, the problem that we are facing in the university is ubiquitous since corporations do nothing about it because they just care about profit. Sustainable practices are difficult to implement since they may inhibit economic growth, which is something every businessman avoids. The ongoing problem of deforestation, erosion, and forest fires will exist unless we begin to develop regulations and sanction big industries. Thus, this subject is an excellent way to enter the VentureVerse because anyone may be a businessman, but not everyone can sustain their business owing to the ups and downs of business hence, it needs strong mentality.

LEARNINGS

Furthermore, this interview helped me identify my strengths, such as strategic leadership, critical thinking, resiliency to troubleshoot unforeseen problems that require immediate solutions, adaptability, time management skills, and the ability to remain rational at all times in order to manage the team. While I accept my inadequacies, such as my public speaking abilities and approaching strangers, it has provided me with opportunities to identify areas for improvement. It taught me that mistakes and failures are inevitable and necessary for learning and growth. Every master was once a beginner in their chosen industry. As a result, I feel that by constantly improving and allowing oneself to admit mistakes, I will be able to recognise threats that are critical for mitigating macro consequences on the endeavour.

To summarise everything, I am excited for the thrills of this rollercoaster journey. The uncertainty makes me rosier about the future. Risks are what keep me alive. It piques my interest in exploring new horizons. I am challenged to venture beyond of my comfort zone in order to try new things and discover more about myself.

[goongiveusnothing]

remember how harry wouldn't let those other singers get the credit for singing in his song with him, and were told if they didn't like it he'd find someone who would accept that?///

Omg. I completely blocked that from my mind. That was the first time it really hit how greedy he is. I’m remembering his fans made it seem like an honor that he was stealing from the girl group. They would get more “exposure” due to the kindness of their fairy godmother Harry sharing credits. Except no one would have even known they performed the majority of vocals since Harry didn’t bother mentioning it.

He’s hell bent on being seen as some boy genius (loool 😂) who does it all even though we can see a whole ass village manufacturing his image. With how tight he holds on to his purse strings though, I cannot imagine him willingly giving anything beyond the bare minimum to anyone, not even people on his own team. This is a person who needed others to chip in on a donation so he would have enough money for his $250,000 Ferrari. He be greedy af. His downfall will be enjoyed by many. I’m here for it 🍿 🥤

some of his stans are still delusional about this, so this is what they said again. "AND IF YOU DON'T WANT THAT, THEN WE'LL JUST TAKE YOUR VOICES OFF AND REPLACE THEM." i know the harry style translators are very busy these days trying to turn all the stupid shit he says into something coherent and intellectual, but the meaning behind this comment was if they refused to engage with this shitty practice of just having a regular credit, the harry styles TPWK machine told them to get fucked, and they'd just simply replace them... with people who would agree to those terms. you either agree to them or walk. so they had to agree to get some money and attention from this. because harry knows people will agree to it because they'll want the association to him.

so if you think how he was like with them... it's absolutely how he is like with his song writers and producers. you have to give him the big credit no matter what, or he'll find someone who'll agree to it. he's not the only major celeb who acts like this.

and yes, the man is greedy as sin! i keep thinking that to cover up his all his bad PR he'll try some charity thing, but he doesn't! because to do charity would require his own money and he's not doing that! he gave that donation to a hospital via part of his tour money where they both put together some money to have a $100,000 donation, which meant harry could've literally only made a $10,000 to be part of it. unbelievable greed from someone with all that.

his shitty pleasing crap, his awful merchandise, the lack of any stage concepts or production at all, data mining, ticketmaster, residencies in US cities, all of these are to cut costs and increase how much he earns. there's zero doubt in my mind that he treats the people who make his albums in the exact same scrooge like way.

[travelmd]

A Detailed Guide to the France Visa Application Process

France, with its rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning landscapes, beckons travelers, students, professionals, and families from around the globe. However, before embarking on your French journey, it's essential to navigate the intricacies of the visa application process. This comprehensive guide aims to unravel the complexities, offering valuable insights and practical advice to facilitate a smooth and successful visa application experience.

Deciphering Visa Categories:

Understanding the array of visa categories is the first step toward a successful application. France offers various visa types tailored to different purposes, including:

Short-stay Visa (Schengen Visa): Designed for stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period for tourism, business, or visiting family and friends.

Long-stay Visa: Intended for stays exceeding 90 days, encompassing purposes such as work, study, family reunion, or entrepreneurship.

Work Visa: Targeting individuals seeking employment opportunities in France, contingent upon job offers, skill shortages, or intra-company transfers.

Student Visa: Catering to international students pursuing academic degrees or participating in exchange programs at recognized French institutions.

Family Reunification Visa: Facilitating the reunification of family members residing in France with their non-EU/EEA relatives.

Identifying the most suitable visa category based on your intentions and eligibility is paramount to a successful application.

Preparation and Documentation:

Gathering the requisite documents is a critical aspect of the visa application process. While specific requirements may vary depending on the visa type and individual circumstances, essential documents typically include:

Valid passport with a minimum of six months' validity beyond the intended stay, accompanied by any previous passports showing travel history.

Completed visa application form, accurately filled out and signed, adhering to prescribed guidelines.

Recent passport-sized photographs meeting specifications outlined by the French consulate or embassy.

Travel itinerary, including flight reservations, accommodation details, and a comprehensive outline of planned activities.

Proof of financial means to cover expenses during the stay, such as bank statements, sponsorship letters, or scholarship awards.

Health insurance coverage valid in France, meeting minimum requirements for medical expenses and repatriation.

Additional documents specific to the visa category, such as employment contracts, acceptance letters from educational institutions, or marriage certificates for family reunification.

It's advisable to compile all necessary documents well in advance and ensure they are up-to-date and accurate to avoid delays or complications during the application process.

Visa Application Process:

Navigating the France visa application process entails several steps, each requiring attention to detail and adherence to guidelines:

Schedule an appointment: Depending on the jurisdiction, applicants may need to schedule an appointment at the nearest French consulate, embassy, or visa application center.

Biometric data submission: Some visa categories necessitate the provision of biometric data, including fingerprints and photographs, at a designated appointment.

Submit application and pay fees: Present the completed application form and supporting documents at the designated visa application center or consulate, paying the requisite visa fees.

Await processing: Allow sufficient time for visa processing, which can vary depending on the visa category, jurisdiction, and time of year.

Collect your visa: Once the application is processed, collect your passport with the visa affixed inside, ensuring all details are accurate before departure.

It's essential to monitor the progress of your application and promptly respond to any requests for additional information or clarification from the consulate or visa processing center.

Tips for Success:

Enhance your chances of a successful France visa application by following these tips:

Plan ahead: Initiate the visa application process well in advance of your intended travel dates to account for processing times and unforeseen delays.

Thoroughly review requirements: Familiarize yourself with the specific requirements for your chosen visa category and ensure all documents are complete and compliant.

Maintain transparency: Provide truthful and accurate information in your application and during any interviews or interactions with visa authorities.

Seek assistance if needed: Don't hesitate to seek guidance from visa consultants, immigration lawyers, or relevant authorities if you encounter difficulties or uncertainties during the application process.

Stay organized: Keep track of important dates, appointments, and communications related to your visa application to ensure a smooth and streamlined process.

Navigating the France visa application process can be a complex yet rewarding endeavor, unlocking a world of opportunities for travel, study, work, and reunification. By understanding the visa categories, diligently preparing required documents, and adhering to application procedures, you can embark on your French journey with confidence and anticipation. Remember, meticulous planning, attention to detail, and proactive communication are the keys to a successful France visa application experience. Bon voyage!

[atwodigi]

Geotargeting for Local Real Estate Marketing Success

Introduction In the world of modern-day actual property advertising and marketing, achievement is regularly executed thru strategic methods that resonate with a local target market. Geotargeting, a technique that includes tailoring advertising efforts to unique geographical places, has emerged as a vital device for accomplishing neighborhood real property advertising and marketing fulfillment. In this comprehensive manual, we are able to delve into the intricacies of geotargeting and the way it is able to elevate your real estate advertising and marketing strategy to new heights.

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The Power of Geotargeting in Real Estate Understanding Geotargeting Geotargeting is an advertising and marketing strategy that lets groups, which include actual property specialists, deliver focused content material to users based on their geographical place. With improvements in generation and the superiority of smartphones, leveraging geotargeting has grown to be greater available than ever earlier. By identifying the perfect vicinity of capacity customers, real property entrepreneurs can tailor their messaging, listings, and offers to match the specific traits and choices of each neighborhood marketplace.

Personalization and Relevance One of the important thing advantages of geotargeting in real estate advertising is the capacity to customize content material and make it exceedingly applicable to the audience. For instance, in case you are a real property agent focusing on luxury homes in a selected neighborhood, geotargeting lets you exhibit residences that align with the lifestyle and preferences of potential shoppers in that location. This personalization not best captures the eye of potential customers but also increases the chance of conversions.

Enhancing User Experience In the trendy digital age, consumer experience plays a pivotal position in the fulfillment of any online marketing campaign. Geotargeting contributes to advanced consumer enjoyment by means of imparting capacity clients with information that is most applicable to their vicinity. This minimizes the effort and time required for customers to locate homes that suit their criteria, thereby improving their common enjoyment of your real estate internet site.

Implementing an Effective Geotargeting Strategy Research and Data Analysis Before diving into geotargeting, it's vital to behavior through research and statistics evaluation. Understand the demographics, preferences, and behaviors of the local market you would like to target. Identify trends, which include famous property kinds, charge tiers, and amenities that resonate with capability buyers in that region. By gaining deep know-how of your target marketplace, you can create content that speaks immediately to their needs.

Keyword Optimization Keywords play a critical position in geotargeting for actual estate advertising. Incorporate area-specific key phrases into your content, which includes the names of neighborhoods, towns, or landmarks. For example, in case you're promoting properties in the colorful "Midtown District," make certain that your content material consists of applicable keywords like "Midtown luxurious condos" or "Midtown homes on the market." This now not only boosts your visibility in nearby searches but additionally positions you as a informed aid for properties in that area.

Compelling Content Creation Compelling and informative content material is the cornerstone of any a success geotargeting method. Craft engaging blog posts, films, and virtual excursions that spotlight the precise components of each community or locale you're targeting.