Harmony Evans's Blog, page 685
September 21, 2023
Unleashing Smart Contracts for Business Breakthroughs
In recent discussions, James Tromans, the Head of Web3 at Google Cloud, emphasized the importance of concentrating on resolving business issues through smart contracts instead of being preoccupied with cryptocurrency token prices. Tromans asserts that the real power of Web3 lies in tackling business challenges and creating innovations capable of reducing operational costs and generating new revenue streams.
As a result, Tromans calls upon businesses and developers to turn their focus toward exploiting blockchain technology and smart contracts to streamline processes, improve security, and encourage transparency across various industries. By zeroing in on practical applications of Web3, well-established companies and newcomers can discover novel paths for expansion and partnership, ultimately driving widespread acceptance of this revolutionary technology.
Focus on Business Solutions Through Smart ContractsTromans revealed that, despite market fluctuations, enterprises still have robust demand for blockchain technology. Much of this interest originates from the traditional finance (TradFi) sector, as businesses look to address fundamental finance and accounting issues. Furthermore, industries such as supply chain management, healthcare, and gaming are also investigating blockchain integration to bolster security, transparency, and efficiency. As a result, the landscape for blockchain adoption keeps expanding, potentially setting the stage for more mainstream use in the near future.
Google Cloud Clients Explore Blockchain-Powered SolutionsGoogle Cloud’s clientele is actively exploring blockchain-driven solutions for digital identity and supply chain management. In particular, digital ID has recently witnessed significant interest in the Web3 space. As organizations globally begin to appreciate the value of secure and decentralized identity management, the potential of blockchain-based digital ID systems grows alongside it. In the realm of supply chain management, such systems are scrutinized to increase transparency, enhance trackability of products, and streamline operations across a variety of sectors.
Improving User Experience for Widespread AdoptionTromans asserts that mass adoption of blockchain technology will only occur when user experience substantially improves, specifically citing a need to streamline private key management. While the technology offers immense potential in various fields, the complexity of private key management presents a significant obstacle for the average user. Tromans recommended that developers center their energies on refining user experience through more intuitive and user-friendly interfaces to bridge the gap between the technology’s ability and its accessibility.
Seamless Support Across Domains for Extensive AdoptionTromans continued by elaborating that extensive adoption could only happen when technology seamlessly backs various domains, such as payments, gaming, and content creation—without users needing to understand the underlying details. This can be accomplished by prioritizing user-friendliness and streamlining interfaces, allowing people with differing levels of technical expertise to benefit from the technology. Moreover, integrating these systems with popular applications and services can facilitate widespread adoption while fostering innovation and collaboration across diverse industries.
A Future Where Web3 and the Web Become IndistinguishableIn conclusion, Tromans envisions a future in which Web3 becomes indistinguishable from the web itself, stating, “When Web3 hits mass adoption, we won’t call it Web3. We’ll just call it the web again.” This change will likely be characterized by the seamless integration of Web3 technologies into everyday online experiences, rendering blockchain-based applications as commonplace as current internet services and platforms. As decentralization and user autonomy become standard, internet users will gain greater control over their digital presence and assets while retaining comfort and connectivity.
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is the main focus of Web3, according to James Tromans?James Tromans, the Head of Web3 at Google Cloud, emphasizes the importance of resolving business issues through smart contracts instead of concentrating on cryptocurrency token prices. The real power of Web3 lies in addressing business challenges, reducing operational costs, and creating new revenue streams.
Which industries are currently showing demand for blockchain technology?There is a robust demand for blockchain technology in the traditional finance (TradFi) sector, along with industries such as supply chain management, healthcare, and gaming. These sectors are investigating blockchain integration to bolster security, transparency, and efficiency.
What are some potential blockchain applications that Google Cloud clients are exploring?Google Cloud’s clientele is actively exploring blockchain-driven solutions for digital identity and supply chain management. Digital ID, in particular, has recently witnessed significant interest in Web3, with organizations globally appreciating the value of secure and decentralized identity management.
What does Tromans believe needs to improve for mass adoption of blockchain technology?Tromans asserts that mass adoption of blockchain technology will only occur when user experience substantially improves, specifically citing a need to streamline private key management. He recommends that developers focus on refining user experience through more intuitive and user-friendly interfaces.
How can seamless support across various domains contribute to extensive adoption?Extensive adoption can happen when technology seamlessly backs various domains, such as payments, gaming, and content creation, without users needing to understand the underlying details. Prioritizing user-friendliness, streamlining interfaces, and integrating systems with popular applications and services will facilitate widespread adoption and foster innovation across diverse industries.
What does Tromans envision the future of Web3 to be?Tromans envisions a future in which Web3 becomes indistinguishable from the Web itself, with Web3 technologies seamlessly integrated into everyday online experiences and blockchain-based applications becoming as commonplace as current internet services and platforms. This would result in greater user control over their digital presence and assets while retaining the comfort and connectivity offered by the World Wide Web.
Featured Image Credit: Alexander Suhorucov; Pexels; Thank you!
Deanna Ritchie Managing Editor at ReadWriteDeanna is the Managing Editor at ReadWrite. Previously she worked as the Editor in Chief for Startup Grind and has over 20+ years of experience in content management and content development.
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What is Alexa Eye Gaze? The Fire tablet tech explained
Technology companies are putting more emphasis than ever before on accessibility features that make products easier to use, with Amazon’s latest offering being Alexa Eye Gaze.
The latest Amazon announcement has brought in a batch of new hardware and software. One of the most interesting concepts to come from this event is Alexa Eye Gaze.
If you want to learn more about this new Alexa feature, including what it is and which devices it comes with, then make sure you keep reading, as we’re going to be running through everything you need to know.
What is Alexa Eye Gaze?Alexa Eye Gaze is an accessibility feature with the aim of helping individuals with motor or speech impairments. Alexa Eye Gaze allows the user to use their gaze to perform preset actions, negating the need to use their fingers to control the touchscreen.
Amazon has not developed or implemented eye-tracking features before, making this a first for the company.
Alexa Eye Gaze works with pre-installed presets. These include home controls, media playback and calls. While we don’t know the full extent of Alexa Eye Gaze just yet, we expect that users will be able to control any smart home devices that are connected to the Alexa hub – such as smart lights, heaters or thermostats.
During the event, Amazon claimed that this is “still day one” for the technology. Nothing has been mentioned about implementing Alexa Eye Gaze on future devices, but we can hope that it will make an appearance on future Fire products.
Which devices support Alexa Eye Gaze?As far as we know, Alexa Eye Gaze is only supported on one device at the moment, the latest Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet.
Alexa Eye Gaze will be coming to the Fire Max 11 tablet later in the year at no additional cost, according to Amazon.
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Democrat Senator Bob Menendez and His Wife Now Under Investigation for Allegedly Accepting Gold Bars for Favors | The Gateway Pundit
New Jersey Democrat Senator Bob Menendez has been under investigation for alleged corruption more times than anyone can count.
Now it is happening again. Menendez and his wife are being investigated over claims that they accepted bars of gold in exchange for favors, otherwise known as a bribe.
Will this be the time that the senator’s luck finally runs out?
FOX News reports:
Feds probing if Dem Sen Menendez or wife accepted gold bars worth hundreds of thousands from felon: report
Federal investigators are probing whether Democratic New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez or his wife accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gold bars from a felon in a trade for help, according to a report.
NBC News 4 reported Monday that the FBI and IRS criminal investigators are attempting to determine if Menendez or his wife had taken up to $400,000 worth of gold bars from Fred Daibes, a New Jersey developer and former bank chairman, or his associates in a swap for Menendez reaching out to the Justice Department to aid the “admitted felon” accused of banking crimes.
Daibes starred down federal bank fraud charges at the time of the alleged handoff that could have netted him up to a decade in prison, the report says.
Witnesses are currently testifying before a Manhattan federal grand jury weighing whether to bring corruption charges against Menendez, the publication reported.
“For purposes of the Federal Extortion Act, it makes no difference if the senator took an official act so long as he accepted the money and there was knowledge the money was in exchange for that official influence, even if he never carried out what he had promised he would do,” NBC Legal Analyst Danny Cevallos said of the ordeal.
Even the liberal media is reporting on this and that’s a bad sign for Menendez.
Federal prosecutors are looking into whether an admitted felon helped arrange to give gold bars worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez or his wife in exchange for help. https://t.co/flP0z0Pebs
— NBC News (@NBCNews) September 21, 2023
The senator has a serious problem here.
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REVEALED: Feds Blocked Probe Into ‘Criminal Violations’ Involving Joe Biden’s 2020 Campaign and Politically Connected Lawyer Who Paid Hunter’s Large Tax Debts | The Gateway Pundit
Remember when President Trump got indicted on 34 felony counts for campaign finance violations for making ‘hush payments’ to Stormy Daniels?
The FBI and IRS investigated criminal campaign violations involving Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign and a politically connected lawyer who paid Hunter Biden’s large tax debts.
However, according to congressional investigators, federal prosecutors inside US Attorney Dave Weiss’s office blocked agents from pursuing the campaign finance violation case.
Was the politically connected lawyer’s payoff of Hunter Biden’s tax debt a contribution to Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign?
Hollywood attorney Kevin Patrick Morris paid off Hunter Biden’s past-due tax debts according to CBS.
“A source familiar with the arrangement between Morris and Hunter Biden said the attorney paid Hunter Biden’s past-due tax debts,” CBS reported.
According to the New York Times, Hunter Biden told business associates that he had to take out a loan to pay off more than $1 million in past-due taxes.
According to Just the News, IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley detailed how Leslie Wolf, a top prosecutor in Weiss’s office, blocked the investigation into Biden’s criminal campaign violations in a case summary memo dated May 3, 2021.
Shapley provided the information to Congress under the whistleblower protections.
“This investigation has been hampered and slowed by claims of potential election meddling,” Shapley wrote in the memo, according to Just the News. “Through interviews and review of evidence obtained, it appears there may be campaign finance criminal violations.
“AUSA Wolf stated on the last prosecution team meeting that she did not want any of the agents to look into the allegation,” Shapley’s memo stated, according to his interview with House Republicans. “She cited a need to focus on the 2014 tax year, that we could not yet prove an allegation beyond a reasonable doubt, and that she does not want to include their Public Integrity Unit because they would take authority away from her. We do not agree with her obstruction on this matter.”
According to Shapley, in late 2019-early 2020, Kevin Patrick Morris met Hunter Biden at a campaign finance event and shortly after that paid off several tranches of Hunter’s tax debt between 2020-2021.
Shapley said Hunter Biden wrote on his tax returns that Morris gave him a loan to pay off his delinquent taxes, so the money given is not taxable.
Hunter Biden was also hit with a massive state tax lien – $453,890 – in July 2020 and it was paid off in less than a week. The tax lien was paid off despite Hunter Biden telling an Arkansas judge in his paternity case against his baby mama Lunden Roberts that he was unemployed and broke.
“I attest that I am unemployed and have had no monthly income since May 2019,” said Biden in a Nov. 27, 2019, affidavit. “I currently have significant debts (in part as a result of obligations arising from my divorce which was final in April 2017).”
Morris paid more than $2 million in Hunter Biden’s delinquent taxes in addition to a $50,000 donation to Joe Biden campaign in 2020.
Just the News reported:
The FBI and IRS probed allegations that Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign may have benefitted from “campaign finance criminal violations” by allowing a politically connected lawyer to help pay off Hunter Biden’s large tax debts but agents were blocked by federal prosecutors from further action, according to new information uncovered by congressional investigators.
The previously unreported campaign finance inquiry was first alluded to in transcribed interviews by House investigators with two IRS agents and a retired FBI supervisor, and the allegations since have been augmented in recent weeks by new evidence uncovered by the House Ways and Means Committee, the House Judiciary Committee and the House Oversight Committee.
That evidence includes a case summary memo written by IRS Supervisory Criminal Investigative Agent Gary Shapley to his bosses dated May 3, 2021 in which he alleged that Lesley Wolf, a top prosecutor in the Hunter Biden case inside Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss’ office, waived agents off the campaign finance case. Shapley provided the information to Congress under the protections of whistleblower laws, and lawmakers voted the information to be public.
Read the full report on this story by Just the News here.
ALERT: Feds thwarted probe into possible ‘criminal violations’ involving 2020 Biden campaign, agents say https://t.co/eannBsmT9b via @JustTheNews
— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) September 20, 2023
The post REVEALED: Feds Blocked Probe Into ‘Criminal Violations’ Involving Joe Biden’s 2020 Campaign and Politically Connected Lawyer Who Paid Hunter’s Large Tax Debts | The Gateway Pundit appeared first on Harmony Evans.
Choosing a Custom Software Development Partner: 4 Challenges
Outsourcing software development can bring numerous benefits — from access to a larger talent pool to cost efficiency. Still, it comes with its challenges. Before selecting a vendor with a hands-on role in your project, carefully considering the possible pitfalls is essential.
In this article, we interviewed Ilya Boroda, Head of Pre-Sales at Timspark, to share his vision on the four key challenges commonly encountered when choosing a custom software development partner and solutions practice based on the company’s outsourcing model.
Challenge 1Outsourcing vs. in-house development: Choose your pathAccording to Deloitte’s 2018 Global Outsourcing Survey, 59 percent of companies opt for outsourcing as a means to decrease expenses. Yet companies who solely focus on this factor overlook other crucial aspects that could shape their decision.
Keeping certain functions in-house may not save you any money. But it gives you more control over the quality of work and the ability to better define and preserve your company culture.
SolutionNot to be caught in a double bind, one should try not to overlook new outsourcing models. Thus, the last 5–7 years show an evident shift in outsourcing from cost reduction optimization toward created value. Organizations can acquire the necessary technology and process guidance through collaboration with third-party providers and tap into their profound industry knowledge.
The vendor should not necessarily limit their role to executors acting by prescribed instructions from the client. On the contrary, they can bring expertise — the idea of how the business problem can be solved, even if the customer is not aware of the solution yet.
With a clear understanding of business needs, the vendor can provide a broader solution scope, and measure success with the impact on the business, not with the number of projects won over other vendors. Resources saving, maximizing value, and improving business performance all boil down to client satisfaction as the ultimate goal.
Challenge 2Development team expertise: Do the checkThe team for your project should ideally have prior experience working on similar projects. However, the challenge arises when a customer chooses a vendor for custom software development based solely on the company’s portfolio without considering the experience and expertise of the specific team the project. The project’s future success greatly depends on the skills and capabilities of the team working on it.
Unfortunately, in most cases, companies showcase their overall portfolio rather than providing insight into the individual team members’ portfolios. As a result, the customer has limited visibility into their past projects. And once the contract is signed and the project begins, vetting the team’s experience becomes irrelevant.
To address this challenge, one might thoroughly scrutinize the vendor’s portfolio, looking beyond the number of projects and instead focusing on the complexity and variety of cases handled. This can provide some insight into the vendor’s overall expertise and capabilities. However, it still does not guarantee that the specific team assigned to the project possesses the necessary skills and experience.
Ultimately, the challenge lies in ensuring that the chosen vendor has an impressive company portfolio and assigns a team with relevant experience in projects similar to the customer’s requirements.
SolutionOpen communication with the vendor throughout the selection process can increase the chances of a successful software development partnership.
Actions steps may look as follows:
– ensure that the development team is compliant with the quality requirements and can provide the expertise needed
– make the development team transparent for the customer regarding processes, workflow, and available certifications
Showcasing the portfolio with a complete description of our framework and the team’s expertise, which has already undergone a thorough vetting process, may be the key to building the foundations for transparency.
Challenge 3Business goals and vendor’s expertise: Get them alignedAs a customer searching for a custom software development partner, you aim to choose a vendor who aligns with your project requirements and can deliver high-quality results in a reasonable time and with feasible costs. Fast feedback from the vendor at an early stage on their expertise, capabilities, possible solutions, and overall future performance is crucial.
By considering vendor feedback, customers can mitigate risks, gain confidence in their selection, and establish a solid foundation for a successful software development partnership.
Yet the outsourcing model does not imply that the development team should be aligned with the business goals and problems, even at the development stage. The solution that the customer is requesting is rarely or hardly ever challenged by the vendor, with business goals in mind. Therefore additional time and human resources for implementation may be revealed later, possibly resulting in increasing costs and longer time to market.
SolutionHow can you mitigate this challenge? The answer boils down to aligning the development team with the customer’s business goals early on.
This approach ensures that the end product meets the latest technical requirements and provides value to the customer’s business. The vendor can contribute their expertise to enhance the software’s effectiveness and address the customer’s challenges at the same time.
As teams obtain this vision at an early stage, they can keep the business needs in focus. The team can propose a technological solution based on their background, and they might consider how to implement the solution throughout the development cycle, with possible roadblocks and additional expenses. Thus, the ultimate solution may vary from the customer’s initial request. Yet it ensures that the team strives to address the business goals most effectively, not just comply with their commitments and deliver.
For business, getting fast feedback means handling possible pitfalls and getting a precise estimate of the scope of work, time, and costs.
Challenge 4Knowledge transfer from customer to vendor: make it transparentA lack of knowledge transfer is a frequent problem in a traditional team augmentation model. Such gaps may occur between the delivery team and potential clients and between the presales and delivery teams. While executives do not have a vision of the system, and goals are not transparent to them, this can backfire. Costly proposals, reduced motivation among technical experts, lower performance and quality of the end product, and delayed time to market are possible negative results.
SolutionIt is not a direct correlation, yet effective consultations may equal cost and time savings for the client. By involving specialists from development teams already at the presales stage, one can achieve clear knowledge transfer about the client’s needs before the project starts and avoid the long communication pipeline and back-and-forths from client to vendor.
The presales team responsible for transferring the proper guidelines and vision to the delivery may significantly bridge the gap. As a result, all the development team members are fully aware of the agreements and committed.
ConclusionChoosing a custom software development partner comes with its challenges. However, by carefully considering and addressing them with a strategy, businesses can increase their chances of successful delivery. Focus on value creation, open communication, aligning teams with the company’s goals, and effective knowledge transfer may be possible answers.
Featured Image Credit: Sora Shimazaki; Pexels; Thank you!
Anna Rozhentsova Anna Rozhentsova, Content Manager at Timspark, a disruptive software development company that fosters dedicated teams that bring businesses to the next level.
With a background in linguistics and 8+ years experience in Content Design, Content Management and Digital Marketing at outsourcing and product companies, she strives to create content that brings value and helps businesses achieve their goals.
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Leaked Training Video From Veterans Affairs Promotes Abortion and Suggests Men Can Get Pregnant | The Gateway Pundit
A leaked training video from Veterans Affairs not only promotes abortion, it suggests that men can get pregnant.
This news comes just days after General Mark Milley insisted that the U.S. Military is not woke.
What would he call this?
FOX News reports:
Leaked Veterans Affairs training video promotes abortion, suggests men can get pregnant
A leaked Department of Veteran Affairs video showed efforts to promote abortions and more “medically accurate” terminology such as “person who is pregnant” over pregnant women.
A “Reproductive Health Training” video from April 2023 advised staffers on how to counsel veterans considering abortion.
Before discussing counseling procedures, the video began with a “note” on language that clarified, “Not all people who seek abortions identify as women.” Another note read, “’Person who is pregnant’ is inclusive and preferred to ‘pregnant woman.’”
“When ‘women’ is used in this presentation series, it’s because the studies cited only included ciswomen,” the video also stated.
Another slide offered a “guide” to “language and abortion” to offer to veterans potentially seeking abortions. The language included using “embryo or fetus” instead of “baby or unborn child,” “embryonic or fetal cardiac activity” instead of “fetal heartbeat,” “veteran or person” instead of “mother” and “pregnancy options counseling” instead of “abortion counseling.”
Additional videos obtained by The Post Millennial showed what appeared to be defenses for abortion as “essential, life-saving care” and safer than pregnancy. The videos also suggested that “pregnancy can endanger mental health” while abortion patients “rarely” feel regret.
Libs of TikTok posted the video on Twitter.
Leaked Dept of Veterans Affairs training video instructs staff to confirm that men can get pregnant, advises not to congratulate a pregnant woman, and encourages and glorifies abortions. pic.twitter.com/0gwpJ8jS8I
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) September 20, 2023
This progressive ideology has infiltrated pretty much every institution, from schools to the military and even medicine. It’s insanity.
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The best pads across all platforms
DualSense EdgeBest PS5 controller ProsMore personalisation options than everReplaceable stick modules Function buttons on the front and rear Comes with a sturdy carrying caseConsExtremely expensive Poor battery compared to the DualSense
The DualSense Edge is a fantastic controller developed for the PS5 that also works with PC, and is the most customisable controller Sony has ever released.
It looks almost identical to the vanilla DualSense, only a tad heavier and with a slightly edgier aesthetic (pun intended). Our reviewer really liked the PS branding on the touchpad and the sleek plastic used around the analogue sticks, as it gives the controller a more premium look compared to its matte sibling. The trigger buttons are rubberised for a more precise grip and come with three options in terms of sensitivity, with the short-range option being best for FPS gameplay and the long-range option being better suited for gradual movements, like braking in Gran Turismo 7.
The DualSense Edge is extremely customisable; users have the chance to remap every single button on the controller, aside from the centre-stage PS button. This amount of personalisation means that the possibilities are almost endless, since you can also create four specific profiles that can be accessed by simply clicking the new function button at the bottom of the controller. We thought that these profiles were best used for specific gaming genres, such as FPS, open-world and racing games. Sony included an extra profiles page too, meaning that you can create as many of these set-ups as you want and store them until you need them most.
The Edge features the same haptic feedback as the standard DualSense, and we found that it was equally as responsive. We could feel the Leviathan Axe leave Kratos’ hands in God of War Ragnarök and the purrs of our cat protagonist in Stray, with our reviewer claiming that this feature helps to add a whole new level of immersion to every supported game. The two new back buttons can be equipped with either a dome or lever-style button and allow for precise and accurate control, ideal for games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
The main downside of the DualSense Edge is that its battery is not as expansive as the DualSense, with Sony claiming that all the new features drain its power much quicker. We managed to game for five hours on the PS5 and PC before it died. Thankfully, this issue is somewhat alleviated with the new braided USB-C charging cable, which was more than long enough to accommodate our setup. The new charging lock adaptor also means that there is no possibility of the charger disconnecting during more intensive gaming sessions, which we found massively handy.
While the price of the DualSense Edge may be too high for some, at £209.99/$199.99, it is a must-have for any professional gamers out there. The levels of customisation are unmatched and the new back buttons mean that you can create any number of set-ups that work for you.
Reviewer: Gemma Ryles
Full Review: DualSense Edge
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September 20, 2023
Fed Pauses Rate Hikes… For Now – But 8%+ Mortgage Rates Are Here to Stay | The Gateway Pundit
Bidenomics = High mortgage rates, high inflation rates, collapsed banks, expensive groceries, record high rent, and dwindling retirement accounts.
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday paused rate hikes. The Fed kept the benchmark rate in the range of 5.25% to 5.50%.
For now.
“We’re prepared to raise rates further, if appropriate, and we intend to hold policy at a restrictive level until we’re confident that inflation is moving down sustainably toward our objective,” Chairman Jerome Powell told reporters on Wednesday.
Despite what Jerome Powell said, inflation is not cooling. The Biden Regime relies on lies and voodoo math when it rolls out its latest inflation reports.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.6% in August – the biggest monthly gain for the year.
Energy prices soared as real wages declined – Bidenomics!
Gas prices once again this week soared to record levels for the year.
Grocery prices are up 19%. Americans are suffering because of Joe Biden’s tax-and-spend policies.
Per CNBC:
The consumer price index rose 0.6% in August, its biggest monthly gain of 2023. The inflation gauge rose 3.7% from a year ago.The core CPI increased 0.3% and 4.3% respectively, against estimates for 0.2% and 4.3%. Fed officials focus more on core as it provides a better indication of where inflation is heading over the long term.Energy prices fed much of gain, rising 5.6% on the month, an increase that included a 10.6% surge in gasoline.The jump in headline inflation hit worker paychecks. Real average hourly earnings declined 0.5% for the month.The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates 10 times for a total of 525 basis points since last year – 7 times in 2022 and 3 times in 2023 – in an effort to hedge inflation.
It’s not working.
Inflation rates are STILL high.
The higher interest rates are now posing a problem for the banking sector and the real estate market.
Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and First Republic Bank collapsed this year after depositors withdrew billions of dollars from the lending institutions.
Regional bank stocks are also getting hammered amid fears of contagion.
The popular 30-year fixed rate mortgages are between 7.5% – 8.0% and housing prices are plunging.
Financial experts say the high mortgage rates are here to stay.
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How to enable Adaptive Audio on AirPods Pro
Adaptive Audio is a game-changing feature of the AirPods Pro available with the release of iOS 17 . But how do you use it?
Replacing the default Transparency mode, Adaptive Audio looks to blend ANC and transparency mode into one. It’ll filter in environmental noise so you stay aware of your surroundings, just like transparency mode would, but with one difference: it’ll automatically enable and disable ANC in loud environments as needed.
That means no more toggling between ANC and Transparency mode as you get on and off loud public transport, for example.
It’s a really cool feature that can totally change how you use your AirPods Pro, though at this point, we should probably mention that it’s exclusive to the newer AirPods Pro (second-gen) with OG AirPods Pro and even AirPods Max owners missing out on the new functionality.
That out of the way, here’s how you can enable Adaptive Audio on your second-gen AirPods Pro.
Apple Music
Apple Music gives you access to over 100 million songs and 30,000 playlists, ad-free. Listen online or off, across all your devices, and hear sound all around in Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. You can now try 1 month for free!
AppleGet 1 month free£10.99 p/mWhat you’ll need: An iPhone running iOS 17AirPods Pro (2nd-gen)The Short Version Make sure your AirPods Pro are connected to your iPhone.Swipe down on the top right of the screen to access the Control Centre.Tap and hold the volume slider.Tap Noise Control.Tap Adaptive Audio to toggle it on.Step1Make sure your AirPods Pro are connected to your iPhone
The first step is to make sure your AirPods are connected to your iPhone. Head to the Bluetooth section of the Settings app to verify this. 
2Swipe down on the top-right to access the Control Centre
Next, we need to access the Control Centre. This can be accessed pretty much anywhere within iOS by swiping down on the top-right of the display. 
3Tap and hold the volume slider
Within the Control Centre, you should see a volume slider next to a display brightness slider. But rather than swiping it to change volume, you’re going to tap and hold the volume slider to access the AirPod sound settings menu. 
4Tap Noise Control
Beneath the main volume slider, you should see three options – Noise Control, Conversation Awareness and Spatialise Audio. Tap Noise Control.
5Tap Adaptive Audio to toggle it on
To enable Adaptive Audio, simply tap the Adaptive Audio icon. If the icon is vibrant and colourful, Adaptive Audio is enabled.
Once enabled in the Control Centre, you can simply squeeze your AirPod to switch between ANC and Adaptive Audio, replacing the previously available Transparency mode.
Once enabled, you can switch between Adaptive Audio and ANC by squeezing the stem of your AirPods Pro when worn – the same action that’d previously switch between ANC and Transparency mode.
Why can’t I see Adaptive Audio in the Noise Control menu?This is likely because your AirPods Pro firmware isn’t up to date. There’s no easy way to force the update, unfortunately, but making sure your AirPods Pro are in their case and close to your iPhone should do the trick.
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Kamala Harris Makes Absurd Claim on Bidenomics and Cost of Living (VIDEO) | The Gateway Pundit
Kamala Harris on Tuesday gave a one-on-one interview with 69 News anchor Wendy Davis during her visit to Reading Area Community College in Pennsylvania.
Harris lied about the climate change crisis and falsely claimed Joe Biden has lowered the cost of living for Americans.
Wendy Davis asked Harris about a recent poll that found Joe Biden is just too old to run for president again. Kamala Harris absurdly claimed young voters don’t think Joe Biden is too old.
“Let me just say this, when I talk to these young voters, what they want is a leader who is in touch with the leaders of today and has a vision of what we can do today and in the future to deal with it. For young voters, what they’re looking for is who’s actually getting stuff done,” Harris said.
“There’s this chatter of whether you’re gonna be [Biden’s] running mate in 2024. How do you react when you hear that?” Wendy Davis asked Kamala Harris.
“I’m Vice President of the United States, and I will be running for re-election as Vice President of the United States,” Harris said.
Wendy Davis asked Kamala Harris about high inflation rates and what her take is with prices still going up.
Kamala Harris said Joe Biden has improved the lives for so many Americans by lowering the cost of living.
“I think it’s important to pay attention to the fact that prices need to come down in a number of areas, but we have been lowering the cost of living for so many people,” Harris said.
She continued, “What we are doing in bringing down the cost of energy by helping people get rebates to put in, for example, a new HVAC system.”
Go tell that to the single mothers and other working-class Americans who are struggling to put food on the table for their children.
WATCH:
Here are the cold, hard facts of Bidenomics:
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.6% in August – the biggest monthly gain for the year.
Energy prices soared as real wages declined.
Gas prices once again this week soared to record levels for the year. Californians are paying over $6 per gallon of gas.
Grocery prices are up 19%. Americans are suffering because of Joe Biden’s tax-and-spend policies.
The popular 30-year fixed rate mortgages are between 7.5% – 8.0% and housing prices are plunging.
The average payment on a $400,000 mortgage is $1,000 more per month than it was 2 years ago.
Rent prices shot up 15% – 30% between 2020 to present. The national median rent price is $2,029.
Kamala Harris is either lying or out of touch or both.
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