Anti-Semitism As The Harbinger Of Global Chaos
Anti-Semitism As The Harbinger Of Global Chaos Authored by Stephen Soukup via American Greatness, On the off chance you hadn’t noticed, the world appears to be at an especially precarious moment presently. Obviously, war continues to rage in Ukraine and Gaza, with no end in sight to either conflict. Great Britain and Japan are currently in recession. Canada’s economy is an absolute disaster, with almost no hope of near-term recovery. Much of continental Europe and China are struggling economically, if not officially contracting. Some experts believe that the global economy more generally is sliding, slowly but surely, into recession. The only economic bright spot in the world is the United States, and even here we have our problems with consumer spending and sentiment, massive credit concerns, and inarguably sticky inflation. Meanwhile, China is investing in and winning friends, and influencing people in the Global South. U.S.-backed Kurdish leaders are warning that ISIS is resurgent in Syria and Iraq. The Marine general in charge of U.S. Africa Command is warning of Russia’s increasing influence on that continent. Sudan remains mired in civil war. Nigeria is plagued by Islamist terrorism and mass kidnappings. Mexico is in the midst of a full-blown war with the drug cartels, who continue to grow bolder and more militarily sophisticated. Everywhere one looks, chaos reigns—or, at the very least, bubbles just below the surface. Perhaps most telling among the signs of disarray is the unnerving rise of antisemitism in the United States, Europe, and throughout the world. Antisemitism, in general, has been intensifying, slowly but surely, over the last decade or so. Over the last few months, however, it has emerged fully into the open, undaunted and unembarrassed. What was once considered shameful and disconcerting is now warmly welcomed as a “rational” response to American foreign policy, Israeli war practices, “colonialism,” and “white privilege.” All of this is troubling, to put it mildly, both in and of itself and as a harbinger of greater and more deadly global unrest. Hatred of and anger toward Jews is not the same as other forms of bigotry. In many ways, the history of Western anti-Jewish hatred mirrors the history of Western political chaos and collapse. Or, to put it another way, historically, Jews are not only the perennial scapegoats during periods of social upheaval and displacement, but resurgent anti-Semitism serves as the proverbial canary in the coal mine for the rise of revolutionary movements. In his classic, The Pursuit of the Millennium, the British historian Norman Cohn argues that the Jewish diaspora generally fit comfortably, if tentatively into European society for most of the first thousand years or so A.D., and only became a hated and perpetually persecuted minority with the rise of utopian Millenarianism that accompanied and then outlived the Crusades. Beginning then and continuing for the next nearly a thousand years, Europeans came to associate Jews with the antichrist and thus to associate hatred and persecution of Jews with preparing the battlespace for the Second Coming. Many historians, including Hannah Arendt, believed that the anti-Semitism that was such an integral part of the West’s 20th-century collapse into totalitarianism was relatively new and, in any case, distinct from medieval anti-Semitism. Cohn’s history suggests otherwise, connecting the religious eschatology of medieval Europe to the quasi-religious eschatology of post-Enlightenment Europe, thereby connecting the persistence of Western anti-Semitism as well. Cohn tells us that millenarian moments and the millenarian movements that capitalize on those moments all share a common group of characteristics. They all appear under certain social and economic conditions. They all appeal to a certain segment of the population at large, who then present themselves as economic, spiritual, and political leaders. They all utilize scapegoats, meaning that they all identify a different, usually much smaller segment of the population on whom they can blame all the world’s ills and then set about to cure those ills through the elimination of the scapegoat. And more often than not, that scapegoat tends to be Jewish. In the conclusion to the second edition of Pursuit of the Millennium, Cohn notes that the millenarian fervor of the middle ages may have changed, but it never really died, and it maintained its common characteristics even as it became secular or “quasi-religious.” He wrote: The story told in Pursuit of the Millennium ended some four centuries ago but is not without relevance to our own times. [I have] shown in another work [Warrant for Genocide: The Myth of the Jewish World Conspiracy and the Protocols of the Elders of Zion] how closely the Nazi phantasy of a world-wide Jewish conspiracy of destruction is related to the phantasies that inspired Emico of Leningrad and the Master of Hungary; and how mass disorientation and insecurity have fostered the demonization of the Jew in this as in much earlier centuries. The parallels and indeed the continuity are incontestable. The parallels between the rise of Nazism and the current global unrest and demonization of the Jewish people are also largely incontestable. The election that brought Hitler to power didn’t happen in a vacuum, after all. It happened in the midst of global chaos, namely the Great Depression. It also followed the decadence and distortion of the Weimer Era. As the New York Fed has shown, even a global pandemic—the 1919 Spanish Flu outbreak—contributed to the sense of discomfort and disconnect among the German population, prompting increased support for Hitler and his Nazis. The present global chaos doesn’t have to end the same way the chaos of a century ago did. It doesn’t have to result in the ascension of millenarian ideologies and their totalitarian defenders. History has shown that extremism can be short-circuited and radical ideologies undone. The first step in doing so, however, must be to bring an end to the rationalization of the persecution of the world’s Jews. The second step is to end the persecution itself. Antisemitism is ugly and shameful, and it must be treated as such. For their sake and ours. Tyler Durden Tue, 03/19/2024 - 02:00.....»»
Sam Altman says he thought Elon Musk would have "more empathy" for OpenAI"s big dreams because it "wasn"t that long ago Elon was crazily talking about launching rockets"
OpenAI is now facing a lawsuit from Musk, a former cofounder. Musk accused OpenAI of violating its nonprofit mission when it partnered with Microsoft. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman (left) and Elon Musk (right).Halil Sagirkaya/Anadolu via Getty Images; STR/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesSam Altman says he thought Elon Musk would've had "more empathy" for OpenAI's big dreams.Altman said it "wasn't that long ago" that people were mocking Musk for his spacefaring ambitions."I think this whole thing is unbecoming of a builder," Altman told podcaster Lex Fridman.OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says he thought his former cofounder Elon Musk would have had "more empathy" for the AI company's huge ambitions."It wasn't that long ago Elon was crazily talking about launching rockets when people were laughing at that thought, so I think he'd have more empathy for this," Altman told podcaster Lex Fridman in the latest episode of his show, which aired on Monday.Altman referenced Musk's spacefaring ambitions with his rocket company SpaceX, while discussing Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI. On February 29, Musk filed a lawsuit the ChatGPT maker and Altman. In his lawsuit, Musk accused the company of violating its nonprofit mission when it partnered with Microsoft.But Musk, Altman said, had at one point wanted to "make OpenAI into a for-profit company that he could have control of." This was prior to Musk's departure from OpenAI's board in 2018.Altman told Fridman that he found Musk's lawsuit and conduct bewildering. On March 6, Musk said in a post on X that he would drop his lawsuit against OpenAI if they changed their name to "ClosedAI.""I think that speaks to the seriousness with which Elon means the lawsuit, and that's like an astonishing thing to say, I think," Altman said, referencing Musk's X post.To ClosedAI and I will drop the lawsuit— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 6, 2024Altman isn't the only one to have expressed disappointment at Musk's behaviour. Vinod Khosla, an early OpenAI backer, said that Musk's lawsuit "feels like a bit of sour grapes.""Like they say if you can't innovate, litigate and that's what we have here. Elon of old would be building with us to hit the same goal," Khosla wrote in an X post on March 2.This is a view Altman shares, per his latest interview with Fridman."Look, I think this whole thing is unbecoming of a builder. And I respect Elon as one of the great builders of our time," Altman told Fridman."It makes me sad. And I think it makes a lot of people sad. There's a lot of people who've really looked up to him for a long time," Altman said.Representatives for OpenAI and Musk didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
An ex-Biden aide said Obama staffers thought Biden would "suck" in the White House
"They didn't think he'd be organized enough to execute," a former Biden aide told Axios of the sentiment about the former No. 2 among Obama staffers. President Joe Biden.Saul Loeb via AFP/Getty ImagesSome among Obama's team were skeptical that Biden would be an effective leader in the White House."The Obama people thought Biden would suck as president," an ex-Biden aide recently told Axios.The Axios report detailed a relationship between Obama and Biden that is respectful but complicated.President Joe Biden's administration is filled with aides who also served under President Barack Obama, with many staffers who've worked with both Democratic leaders having maintained tight bonds over the years.But according to Axios, some of Obama's former staffers were also highly skeptical that Biden would be an effective president."The Obama people thought Biden would suck as president," an ex-Biden aide told the outlet. "They didn't think he'd be organized enough to execute."Axios also reported that some Biden aides have been dismayed that a significant number of ex-Obama staffers were able to secure higher-level positions in the Biden administration over many aides who'd been with the president for a longer period of time.However, the relationship between Biden and Obama has remained "respectful," according to Axios.During Obama's presidency, much was written about Biden's more freewheeling style on the campaign trail as well as the former Delaware senator's ability to cut legislative deals with lawmakers across ideological stripes.Obama, who walked into the Oval Office after serving less than four years in the Senate, leaned on Biden's expertise in Washington as he worked to advance some of the administration's biggest legislative accomplishments — which included the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the Affordable Care Act.And Obama will return the favor in the coming months, as he'll stump for Biden across the country ahead of what is likely to be a tight reelection contest against former President Donald Trump.In response to the Axios report, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates pointed to the longtime relationship between the two men."As President Biden has said, President Obama is family to him," he told the outlet, adding that the president "talks to both former President Obama and President [Bill] Clinton often."Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
An AI-generated rat with a giant penis highlights a growing crisis of fake science that"s plaguing the publishing business
Fake science can make it into reputable journals, due to the pressures of the publishing business. Take this AI-generated rat penis, for instance. This AI-generated figure from a scientific paper seems... off. (Green annotations were added by Business Insider.)Guo et al., 2024; Frontiers in Cell Developmental Biology; Business InsiderAn AI-generated image of a rat with a towering phallic appendage went semi-viral last month.The nonsense diagram appeared in a now-retracted scientific paper, published in a Frontiers journal.This rat is a symptom of a crisis of fakes in the career-driven business of research publishing.This rat has an enormous "dck," and it's a symptom of a bigger problem.You don't need to be a scientist to know that rats don't have bulbous, sky-high penises, or that words like "testtomcels," "retat," and "dissilced," are total gibberish.And yet, the bogus diagram below appeared in a paper published last month by the scientific journal Frontiers in Cell Development and Biology.Ever seen a rat like this before?Guo et al., 2024; Frontiers in Cell Developmental BiologyTo its credit, the journal quickly retracted the paper. But its AI-generated images had already gone viral in online science communities. They even got their own page on Know Your Meme.Are those hieroglyphics? (Red arrows were added by Business Insider.) Another diagram with bogus content published alongside the rat image.Guo et al., 2024; Frontiers in Cell Developmental BiologyBut this rat's towering phallus is just one symptom of a crisis of fake science."If it's the first time you've seen a really weird paper get published, I can see why it would capture your attention," Ivan Oransky, a co-cofounder of the watchdog journalism site Retraction Watch, told Business Insider. But for him, he said, "it's all sort of mind-numbingly routine at this point."How bad science and weird AI get through the 'Swiss cheese' of peer reviewEach piece of Swiss cheese has some holes... that an AI-generated rat might be able to squeeze through.Peter Finch/Stone/Getty ImagesFrontiers is an influential, open-access publisher with a peer-review process. So how did this paper make it to publication?When a publisher like Frontiers accepts a scientist's manuscript, the paper passes through the critical eyes of a series of peer reviewers who are experts in the subject matter, as well as editors who assess the peer review. Usually, study authors must make changes based on the reviewers' feedback before publication.Think of the peer review process like a stack of Swiss cheese. Each step has holes in it that bad science could squeeze through, but the overlapping steps tend to cover each other's holes, making it difficult to squeeze all the way through the whole process.Still, bad science does make it through sometimes, and over the years more holes have opened up. Scientists can now buy made-up papers from paper mills.There's even precedent for AI slop in science publishing. In 2014, publishers Springer and IEEE retracted more than 120 articles that were gibberish generated by computers. The publishing giant Springer Nature retracted 44 gibberish papers in 2021.Then there are more traditional forms of scientific fraud — bribing journal editors, falsifying data, or manipulating real images or data.These bad practices can have real consequences. Early trials that found ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine to be promising COVID-19 treatments were later retracted for signs of fraud, but the word was already out and a wave of ill-informed self-treatment ensued, Vox reported. Even beyond COVID, fabricated studies can end up in databases used for drug research, The Guardian reported.The mysterious case of the 'retat' 'dck'In the case of the rat with "testtomcels," Frontiers says that one of the peer reviewers raised concerns about the images and requested that the paper authors revise them."The article slipped through the author compliance checks that normally ensures every reviewer comment is addressed," Fred Fenter, chief executive editor of Frontiers, said in an additional statement emailed to Business Insider, calling it a "human error."He said that Frontiers has added "new checks to catch this form of misconduct," revised its AI policy to be clear about what's not allowed, and is developing "AI to detect AI-generated content and images.""Those bad faith actors using AI improperly in science will get better and better and so we will have to get better and better too. This is analogous to cybersecurity constantly improving to block new tricks of hackers," Fenter said.In January, Frontiers announced plans to lay off 30% of its staff, cutting 600 jobs."Quality is our highest priority, and the recent restructuring does not affect the peer review process and/or author compliance checks," Fenter said.The retracted paper's corresponding author, Dingjun Hao, did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment.Why some scientists publish bad papersJournals are businesses, and scientists have careers. Both are under intense pressure to publish often.Most hiring and tenure committees, Oransky says, evaluate researchers based on how many papers they've published, whether they've been published in prestige journals, and how much other scientists cite their work."People are desperate to publish and will do anything they have to do in order to publish and keep their jobs or get promoted," Oransky said. "That's the real problem here."Last year, research journals retracted over 10,000 scientific papers, more than ever before, according to a report in the journal Nature.Retractions aren't all bad. In fact, they're necessary for the times when peer review fails to catch data errors or irresponsible practices.But the record retraction rate comes alongside a rise in sham papers that some scientists hastily fabricate or generate with the help of AI."It's salacious," Oransky said of the rat and its "dck." But, he continued, "there's sort of nothing new under the sun."To Oransky, the solution is obvious. Science institutions across the planet should evaluate scientists based on the quality, not the breadth, of their work. His suggested evaluation metric? Show three good papers."What we need to do is stop using publications and citations as the metric of everything," he said. "All of that's game-able. Three good papers is not game-able."Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Nvidia"s CEO unveils the next AI chip that tech companies will be scrambling for — meet "Blackwell"
Nvidia"s CEO unveils the next AI chip that tech companies will be scrambling for — meet "Blackwell".....»»
Sam Altman said he"d "pick a different name" for OpenAI if he could go back in time
Sam Altman said on Lex Fridman's podcast that though OpenAI might not be totally open-source, it's open in other ways. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty ImagesOpenAI CEO Sam Altman says in hindsight, the name may not be apt for the AI company.Elon Musk, who helped cofound OpenAI, has argued that it should not be called "open" if it's not open-source. Altman said though the company's tech may not be entirely open-source, it is open in other ways. Sam Altman suggested OpenAI may not be the most ideal name for the artificial intelligence company — at least in hindsight. The 38-year-old OpenAI CEO — who cofounded the company along with Elon Musk and others in 2015 — explained on Lex Fridman's podcast that when the company was just getting started, they didn't quite know what it was going to be."We started off just thinking we were going to be a research lab and having no idea about how this technology was going to go," Altman told Fridman."This was before we had any idea about an API or selling access to a chatbot," Altman said on the podcast. "It was before we had any idea we were going to productize at all."OpenAI was first established as a nonprofit whose mission was to benefit humanity with artificial intelligence, but it shed that status in 2019 when it transitioned to a "capped-profit" model.Elon Musk — who has taken issue with the fact that OpenAI is not fully open-source — sued the company last month, alleging that it had breached its "founding agreement" and violated its original nonprofit mission."Change your name….To ClosedAI and I will drop the lawsuit," Musk wrote in a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter, earlier this month.But Altman told Fridman that he doesn't really understand what Musk's "real motivations" are. He defended the company, saying it went through a natural transition process as "it became clear that we were going to need to do different things and also have huge amounts more capital.""So we said, 'Okay, well, the structure doesn't quite work for that. How do we patch the structure?'" Altman added. "I think with many fundamentally new things, you start fumbling through the dark and you make some assumptions, most of which turned out to be wrong."Altman said if he could go back in time with an Oracle, he might've done things differently."Speaking of going back with an Oracle, I'd pick a different name," Altman told Fridman.Altman said that while OpenAI may not be completely open-source, it is open in other ways, like with the free version of its technology that's accessible to the public."So if we can keep putting free or low cost or free and low cost powerful AI tools out in the world, I think that's a huge deal for how we fulfill the mission," Altman told Fridman.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
What"s up with Trump and Chubb? Insurance giant balks at underwriting fraud-case bond days after blowback from E. Jean Carroll bond
Chubb's decision to pass on Trump's half-billion-dollar fraud bond comes days after blowback for underwriting his Carroll defamation bond. President Donald TrumpEvan Vucci/AP ImagesTen days ago, Chubb underwrote Trump's $92 million bond for his E. Jean Carroll defamation appeal.But Chubb declined to handle the far higher appeal bond Trump now needs in his NY civil fraud case.The insurance giant had faced blowback after agreeing to the Carroll bond.Days after underwriting the $92 million bond for former President Donald Trump's E. Jean Carroll defamation appeal, insurance giant Chubb has now declined to underwrite the half-billion-dollar appeal bond that the GOP frontrunner needs in his New York civil fraud case, defense lawyers revealed in a court filing Monday.Chubb's decision leaves Trump empty-handed just one week before his March 25 deadline to either secure a bond or pay New York the more than $456 million he now owes in fraud penalties.Chubb's "no, thanks" comes just five days after the company's CEO, Evan Greenberg, sent a letter to brokers, clients, and investors addressing widespread criticism over the Carroll bond.In 2018, then-president Trump appointed Greenberg to a seat on a key trade advisory committee, a position he held until March 2023."When Chubb issues an appeal bond, it isn't making judgments about the claims, even when the claims involve reprehensible conduct," Greenberg said in the letter in reference to the Carroll bond, as first reported by Insurance Journal."I realize how polarizing and emotional this case and the defendant are and how easy it would be for Chubb to just say no," Greenberg added."However, we support the rule of law and our role in it," he continued. "We considered this the right thing to do, and we frankly left our personal feelings aside."A Chubb spokesman declined a request for comment from Business Insider. The Carroll bond was underwritten by Chubb subsidiary Federal Insurance Company.Reputational damage is a risk factor that all surety carriers weigh before agreeing to underwrite a bond, said Nick Newton, the immediate past president of the National Association of Surety Bond Producers."They will ask not only do we trust this person, but is their character a public relations issue," said Newton, now senior vice president at AssuredPartners.To secure a bond for the New York fraud trial, Trump would have to set aside "cash reserves approaching $1 billion," his lawyers wrote in Monday's filing.It's unclear from the filing if Chubb had asked Trump to set $1 billion in cash aside as a condition for a bond.Surety carriers more typically ask for collateral covering 110% to 120% before underwriting a bond — not 200%, as in the $1 billion cash reserve Trump's lawyers made mention of, experts have told BI.Still, "a carrier can set whatever number they want," said Neil Pederson, owner of the surety bond agency Pedersen & Sons.Before saying "no," Chubb had been the closest to saying "yes" out of some 30 insurance carriers the former president approached, Trump's lawyers said in Monday's filing.Chubb had been the only carrier willing to even consider letting Trump post real estate before ultimately declining to do so, the filing said.But insurance carriers virtually never accept real estate as collateral for an appeal bond, Newton said."If the appeal is lost, that judgment is immediately payable," said Newton."Accepting real estate is not only extra paperwork, but it's not immediately liquid," he said."No surety company wants to guarantee a bond where there may be only 10 days to turn commercial property into cash when the appeals run out."Trump's lawyers are asking an appellate court in Manhattan to rely on the strength of his real estate holdings, rather than require he set the judgment aside in the form of a cash-backed bond.Attorneys for New York Attorney General Letitia James, whose office sued Trump alleging widespread financial record fraud and won, have countered that he can't be trusted to merely promise to pay the state some time down the road after his appeals run out.James has threatened to begin the process of seizing Trump's assets to cover the judgment if he defaults next week.Trump Organization lawyer Alan Garten said in an affirmation included with Monday's filing that after coming close to underwriting the bond, "within the past week, Chubb notified Defendants that it could not accept real property as collateral."Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Rudy Giuliani said he"ll be disbarred but that supporting Trump would "help me in heaven for sticking to my principles"
Giuliani said the Bar Association is "going to crucify me no matter what," but added that "not being a weakling" would be a boon for him in heaven. Rudy Giuliani (C) attends a campaign rally for Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump tat the SNHU Arena on January 20, 2024 in Manchester, New Hampshire.Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesFormer New York Mayor Giuliani said on Sunday that his support of Trump showed he stuck to his principles.That would "help me in heaven," said the lawyer, who's had his license suspended in New York and D.C.Giuliani, who's filed for bankruptcy, also faces a panel recommendation that he be disbarred.Rudy Giuliani predicted on Sunday that he'll be disbarred but said his loyalty to former President Donald Trump would be a boon for him "in heaven.""The Bar Association is going to crucify me no matter what," Giuliani said on a Sunday episode of his podcast "Uncovering the Truth." "I will be disbarred in New York. I will be disbarred in Washington. It will have nothing to do with anything I did wrong."Giuliani, who led Trump's legal challenge to the 2020 election outcome in Pennsylvania, had his law license suspended in both Washington, DC and New York in 2021.The former New York mayor is now contesting a recommendation from a Washington-based ethics review panel that he be disbarred for his actions while representing Trump."I consider that something that will help me in heaven for sticking to my principles and not being a weakling like all these weaklings who were afraid to represent Trump," Giuliani said.In June 2021, a New York court ruling on his suspension found that while fighting Trump's case, Giuliani made "demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers, and the public at large."A month later, a US appeals court also suspended Giuliani in Washington.Then came the July 2023 recommendation that Giuliani be disbarred, which will go to the DC Court of Appeals for a final decision.Despite predicting on Sunday that he'd lose, Giuliani appeared defiant.He criticized his defamation trial in Georgia, in which a federal jury ruled that Giuliani must pay $148 million to two election workers he defamed."And these DAs and people prosecuting me are headhunters," said Giuliani, who declared bankruptcy in December after the defamation ruling in Georgia.Giuliani also faces a criminal case in Georgia, in which Fulton County DA Fani Willis included him as a defendant in her election interference racketeering case. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.In a statement to Business Insider, a spokesperson for Giuliani said the former mayor "hasn't had the opportunity to defend himself on the facts with regards to the case in Washington, D.C. and the ridiculous $148 million judgement.""Many in the media continue to miss the story here, which unfortunately shouldn't surprise anyone," the spokesperson added. "We look forward to the appeal, and an opportunity to restore our broken system of justice."March 18, 2023 — This story was updated to reflect comment from Giuliani.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
I"m 40, unmarried, and not looking for anyone"s sympathy
Christina Pensa, an unmarried professional in New York City, says many women choose not to get married because they're not willing to conform due to pressure. Christina Pensa at her desk in Midtown Manhattan.Christina PensaChristina Pensa is an unmarried real estate professional in New York City.Questions about her choice not to get married come up often in the workplace and her social life.She wants to make it clear that many women are thrilled to be single and happily choose to stay so.Heading into my third round of interviews for a high-level position at a commercial real estate firm in 2019, I was excited and meticulously prepared. I had analyzed market trends for weeks, brushed up on recent trades, and reviewed industry affairs.I wasn't prepared, however, for the covert line of questioning into my personal life.Glancing at the top of my résumé, my interviewer made note of the Manhattan neighborhood I lived in."Nice area, my wife and I just had dinner there last night. Do you live alone?" he asked me.Suddenly my mind was racing: How do I answer this? I'm already feeling juvenile compared to the family photos, #1 Dad mug, and framed accomplishments displayed around his office.If I say I live alone, I'll sound behind in life, or worse, bankrolled by my parents. Should I admit I can only afford it because I also work a night job waitressing and occasionally rent out my second room? If I say I live alone, do I seem like a lonely spinster or an unstable party type? I did have a serious boyfriend at the time who stayed over most nights. Should I stretch the truth and say I have a steady live-in partner to give assurance that I have my life together?My mind raced until I caved and said, "Yes, I'm fortunate I got a great deal on an apartment, but my partner and I will be consolidating housing in the near future."Why I felt the need to offer disclaimers in my answer may have had more to do with societal conditioning than my own personal neurosis, but nonetheless, now I was berating myself for opening a new can of worms. Now I would run the risk of being considered a soon-to-be maternity leave liability. There was really no winning here.I was 36 at the time, and felt that women of a certain age are either perceived as severely independent and abrasive or high-risk for personal leave absence.Women get asked loaded questionsI recently turned 40 and have called New York City home for the better part of my adult life. After graduating from college, I spent a few years working as a chef and took on various roles in the hospitality industry before transitioning into a full-time career as a luxury real estate broker.These days, I manage several large-scale projects and find myself facing a slew of loaded questions regarding my marital status. I'm not alone in this. My fellow single girlfriends agree that questions we receive are out of a playbook, and depending on our answers, we are often met with conciliatory patrimony or harsh criticism.Being single can be a mixture of freedom and frustration all at the same time. A survey of 1,064 singles in the US conducted by the Thriving Center for Psychology in 2022 found 69% of those surveyed were content with their singleness and 91% said they were enjoying their independence.The author wants to see the narrative change after women say they're not married.Christina PensaRecently, I received an unoriginal yet perplexing question via Instagram. A man who had tried to ask me out several times over the years resurfaced after recently divorcing. The message read: "Hi Christina, I have always had such a thing for you, and I hold you in high regard. I am recently separated and would love to take you out. One thing I just can't seem to understand is, how on earth are you still single??"How did he expect this to be perceived? Is this a compliment, a question, a judgment, or all of the above?I decided to make things clear on social mediaIt was the third message of this nature I'd received, and I decided to take to the internet with a public reel rather than respond to his poorly received DM. It was not directed at this particular individual, but rather, all men and individuals who invade women's space with these questions and inferences.I received applause from various friends — mostly female but a couple of my more supportive and progressive guy friends as well. Then I received quite a defensive and angry response from the man who had messaged me several times questioning my single status.The underlying message is that women are damsels, pretty flowers just waiting to be plucked. Those that are seemingly single, are the unchosen ones, and there must be some derogatory explanation as to why they are still on the market.Author just returned from a two-month trip through Patagonia.Christina PensaIt doesn't seem to occur to many that there are women who are thrilled to be single and happily choose to stay so. The happier the woman, the more we prefer our own company rather than compromise our happiness to meet a status quo.Some of us who choose not to get married, or to not marry until a later age, do so because we hold life to a certain standard and are not willing to conform due to pressure.I would love to see the narrative change in the coming years. If a woman says, "No, I'm not married." Instead of a sympathetic look, how refreshing would it be to hear, "That's awesome," followed by a new question about our interests?Let's celebrate the other accomplishments in a woman's life — because we have many. And one of those is choosing to prioritize ourselves every single day.I also chose to turn down the job offer.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
The 6 best flea shampoos for dogs of 2024
The best flea shampoos for dogs kill and prevent fleas, ticks and lice. Our top picks include safe, fast-acting flea and tick shampoo for sensitive skin. When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn moreIn addition to monthly flea control medicine, a good shampoo can help get rid of fleas and ticks.Chewy/Business InsiderFleas and ticks are tiny parasites that cause big problems for dogs. Their bites make a dog's skin itchy, and they can transmit diseases like Lyme disease and tapeworms. The best flea shampoos for dogs are one of the many options pet parents have to kill and repel these pesky parasites. They contain either chemical insecticides or natural essential oils.We spoke with two veterinarians about how flea and tick shampoos work and what to look for in these shampoos. We also researched dozens of options and selected our top picks according to several factors, such as their ingredients and how long they are effective. The best overall is Adams Plus Flea and Tick Shampoo with Precor, which kills fleas, ticks, and lice on contact and works for up to 28 days."Compared to topical and oral flea treatments, flea and tick shampoos do not last as long," says Dr. Breanna Green, an associate veterinarian at Veterans Memorial Drive Animal Hospital. These best shampoos can be a great first line of defense against fleas and ticks, especially when a dog has a heavy flea infestation. However, make sure to use one of the best flea and tick treatments for dogs year-round. If you're looking to treat a dog younger than 12 weeks old, read about the best flea and tick treatments for puppies.Read more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and researches pet products.Editor's note: Flea and tick shampoos that contain pyrethrins and permethrin are toxic to cats and can be fatal. With exposure, cats can develop symptoms such as tremors, twitching, and vomiting. If you have a cat, choose a flea and tick shampoo free of pyrethrins and permethrin.Our top picks for the best flea shampoos for dogsBest overall: Adams Plus Flea and Tick Shampoo with Precor - See at ChewyBest with essential oils: Richard's Organics Flea and Tick Shampoo - See at ChewyBest budget: Sentry Flea and Tick Shampoo with Oatmeal for Dogs and Puppies - See at ChewyBest fast-acting: Zodiac Oatmeal Conditioning Shampoo for Dogs and Puppies - See at ChewyBest long-lasting: Sergeant's Guardian Pro Shampoo for Dogs - See at ChewyBest unscented: Advantage Treatment Shampoo for Dogs and Puppies - See at ChewyBest overall"Flea and tick shampoo can help provide immediate relief for an uncomfortable pet," says Green. Flea and tick bites are very itchy, making dogs scratch so much that their skin becomes red, raw, and irritated.Our top pick for the best flea shampoos for dogs, Adams Plus Flea and Tick Shampoo with Precor, kills all fleas at all life stages, ticks, and lice on contact and continues working for 28 days. It has a light coconut scent and contains skin-soothing ingredients like oatmeal. Green recommends oatmeal-based shampoos to relieve itching and skin inflammation from these bites.This shampoo contains two insecticides: pyrethrins and S-methoprene. Pyrethrins kill adult fleas by disrupting their nervous system, while S-methoprene is an insect growth regulator (IGR) that prevents flea eggs from reaching adulthood. The shampoo also contains piperonyl butoxide to enhance the insecticides' effectiveness. Precor is a brand of S-methoprene. It should stay on the skin for five minutes before being rinsed out. Although the shampoo remains effective for 28 days, the manufacturer recommends bathing every seven to ten days for heavy flea infestations.Best with essential oilPros: Kills all life stages of fleas plus adult ticks and mosquitoes; free of chemicals and artificial colors and fragrances; does not remove spot-on flea and tick treatmentsCons: Not labeled for use in puppies under 12 weeks of ageRichard's Organics Flea and Tick Shampoo is insecticide-free and uses a combination of essential oils to kill fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes for up to 7 days. However, weekly bathing with even the best dog shampoos can dry out a dog's skin, so this shampoo is only a short-term solution. This shampoo contains peppermint oil, a natural insecticide, and rosemary oil, which can reportedly repel parasites.Essential oils in flea and tick shampoos for dogs are highly diluted. However, Green cautions that essential oils may irritate a pet's skin.The shampoo also contains sodium lauryl sulfate to help the essential oils mix with water during a bath and vitamin E to soothe the skin. It should remain on the skin for several minutes before being rinsed out.Best budgetThe best flea shampoos for dogs do not have to be pricey to be effective. "High cost doesn't always mean that a shampoo has better ingredients or is more effective at killing fleas and ticks," says Dr. Tierra Price, a relief emergency medicine veterinarian at Veterinary Emergency Group.Sentry Flea and Tick Shampoo with Oatmeal for Dogs and Puppies kills all life stages of fleas and adult ticks for up to ten days at an affordable price. Its active ingredients are permethrin, a synthetic version of pyrethrins, and piperonyl butoxide. The shampoo kills fleas soon after contact and takes one to two days to begin killing ticks.Best fast-actingIf your dog has an active flea infestation, you want a flea and tick shampoo that works fast. "Fast-acting flea and tick shampoos may help kill existing fleas and ticks and resolve infestations quickly," says Price. Zodiac Oatmeal Conditioning Flea and Tick Shampoo for Dogs and Puppies kills fleas, ticks, and lice on contact and works for up to 28 days. Bathing can be repeated every seven to ten days if a dog has an especially heavy load of adult fleas.It also contains skin-soothing ingredients like lanolin and coconut extract, making it our top choice for fast-acting flea and tick shampoos for dogs.The shampoo contains pyrethrins, piperonyl butoxide, and (S)-methoprene as its active ingredients. It should remain on the skin for three to five minutes before rinsing out.Best long-lastingMany flea shampoos for dogs work for up to ten days. Sergeant's Guardian Pro Shampoo stands out because it kills adult fleas, flea eggs, and ticks for up to 30 days. It does not kill flea larvae, though, so it may not be as effective at breaking the flea life cycle as other flea and tick shampoos."Long-lasting flea and tick shampoos can repel fleas and ticks, but their effectiveness can be impacted by factors like swimming, bathing, and sunlight exposure," says Price.The shampoo has a fresh spring freesia scent and contains permethrin, pyriproxyfen, and piperonyl butoxide. Pyriproxyfen is an IGR that prevents flea eggs and larvae from reaching adulthood. The shampoo should stay on the skin for five minutes before being rinsed out.Best unscented"Pets can be allergic to flea bites, which can cause severe skin irritation and infection," says Green. She adds that for dogs with sensitive skin, scented ingredients in flea and tick shampoos may further irritate the skin.Advantage Treatment Shampoo for Dogs and Puppies is unscented and kills adult fleas and ticks on contact for up to seven days, making it our top pick for this category of flea and tick shampoos. This shampoo's main active ingredient is pyrethrins. The other two active ingredients — piperonyl butoxide and N-Octyl bicycloheptene dicarboximide — help the pyrethrins work more effectively. The shampoo should remain on the skin for five minutes before being rinsed out.Keep in mind that if a dog's skin is severely irritated and infected, an over-the-counter shampoo may not be enough. "In these cases, I will prescribe a medicated antimicrobial shampoo," says Green. You can find excellent options in our guide to the best medicated shampoo for dogs.What to look for in a flea and tick shampoo for dogsOur experts helped us narrow our criteria for choosing the best flea shampoos for dogs. The advice below will help you choose the appropriate shampoo for your dog.Number of parasites treated: While some flea and tick shampoos for dogs target just those two parasites, other flea and tick shampoos also kill lice and mosquitoes. Lice and mosquitoes can also make the skin feel extremely itchy. Mosquitoes can transmit diseases like heartworm, so flea and tick shampoos that treat lice and mosquitoes provide extra parasite control.Flea life stage: The best flea and tick shampoo for dogs will kill all life stages of fleas, from eggs to adults. This will help treat an active infestation of adult fleas and break the flea life cycle.Active ingredients: Flea and tick shampoos contain chemical insecticides or natural essential oils to kill fleas and ticks. The most common insecticides in flea and tick shampoos for dogs are pyrethrins, permethrin, and (S)-methoprene. Pyrethrins and permethrin target only adult fleas and damage their nervous system, while (S)-methoprene is an insect growth regulator that prevents flea eggs from becoming adults. Some shampoos also contain the active ingredient piperonyl butoxide to help the insecticides work more effectively.Essential oils, such as cinnamon oil and peppermint oil, are the most common natural ingredients used in flea and tick shampoos. They don't work nearly as well as chemical insecticides but may appeal to pet owners who don't want to use chemicals on their pets.Minimum age: Many flea and tick shampoos are safe only for dogs over 12 weeks old. If your puppy is younger than 12 weeks old, consider another treatment, such as oral flea treatment Capstar, which kills only adult fleas and is safe for puppies at least 4 weeks old. Your veterinarian can help you decide which flea and tick treatment will be the safest and most effective for your young puppy.Instructions for use: Following the instructions on the shampoo bottle is crucial to a flea and tick shampoo working most effectively. Fortunately, flea and tick shampoos are easy to use. They should be worked into a rich lather, starting from the head and working toward the tail. Working from head to tail prevents fleas from jumping up your dog's back during a bath. Also, the shampoo should stay on the skin for several minutes before being rinsed out to allow the shampoo's active ingredients to work.Duration of effectiveness: The best flea shampoos for dogs vary in how long they work to kill fleas and ticks. Many flea and tick shampoos are effective for 7 to 10 days, while others work for up to 28 or 30 days. Even for long-lasting flea and tick shampoos, the manufacturer may recommend more frequent bathing to maximize the shampoo's effectiveness. Scent: Flea and tick shampoos may contain artificial fragrances or essential oils for a pleasant scent. However, these ingredients may irritate the skin of dogs with sensitive skin. Also, shampoos with a strong scent may be off-putting to dogs and their owners.Skin-soothing ingredients: Flea and tick bites are very irritating to the skin. Constant scratching and licking at the bite areas irritates the skin even more. When selecting a flea and tick shampoo for your dog, look for ingredients like aloe vera and oatmeal that soothe irritated skin. Other pets in your home: Pyrethrins and permethrin are extremely toxic to cats. If a cat is exposed to these insecticides, they can develop symptoms like tremors, twitching, and vomiting. If you have a cat, select a flea and tick shampoo for your dog that is free of pyrethrins and permethrin.How we selected the best flea shampoos for dogsWe consulted two veterinarians about flea and tick shampoos. Their insights helped us select our top choices, but our experts did not endorse or recommend specific products.Dr. Breanna Green is a small animal veterinarian and an associate veterinarian at Veterans Memorial Animal Hospital in Houston, Texas. She shared insights on flea and tick shampoos that contain essential oils and those that are ideal for sensitive skin and itch relief.Dr. Tierra Price is an emergency veterinarian at Veterinary Emergency Group in Atlanta, Georgia. She provided her expert insight on budget flea and tick shampoos and flea and tick shampoos marketed as long-lasting and fast-acting.We also consulted the Merck Veterinary Manual for general information about insecticides and reviewed guidelines on flea and tick control from the Companion Animal Parasite Council.Dog flea and tick shampoo FAQsWhat is the most effective flea and tick shampoo for dogs?There is no single most effective shampoo. The best flea and tick shampoos for dogs typically contain insecticides like pyrethrin, which tend to work better than those with essential oils as their active ingredients. However, our experts agree that these shampoos are less effective than other flea and tick treatments, and pet guardians should not use them as the only form of flea and tick control.Does flea and tick shampoo really work?A flea and tick shampoo for dogs can be a good first line of defense against fleas and ticks, especially for active flea infestations. However, they do not work nearly as well or last as long as oral and topical flea and tick treatments. A common complaint with these shampoos is that fleas jump back on a dog soon after a bath. "The effects of flea and tick shampoos are short-lasting. If we do not also treat the environment and get a dog on adequate flea prevention, the adult fleas will jump back on the dog in a matter of days," says Green.Is there a dog shampoo that kills fleas?There are many dog shampoos that kill fleas. To kill fleas, these shampoos contain insecticides, such as pyrethrins or highly-diluted essential oils. With so many dog shampoos available, it is best to talk with your veterinarian about which may work best for your dog. Also, you may need to bathe more than once if they have a heavy flea infestation.What is the best thing to wash a dog to kill fleas?Your best option is to use a shampoo formulated to kill fleas. You can choose a flea shampoo that contains insecticides or essential oils as active ingredients. Always follow product instructions to ensure you use the shampoo safely and effectively.Best overall: Adams Plus Flea and Tick Shampoo with PrecorAdams Plus Flea and Tick Shampoo is the best flea and tick shampoo for dogs.ChewyActive ingredients: Pyrethrins, S-methoprene, piperonyl butoxideDuration of effectiveness: 28 daysSafe for: Dogs over 12 weeks oldScent: CoconutPros: Long-lasting, kills all life stages of fleas plus adult ticks and lice on contact, pleasant fragranceCons: Not labeled for use in puppies under 12 weeks of age, very thick lather may be hard to rinse"Flea and tick shampoo can help provide immediate relief for an uncomfortable pet," says Dr. Green. Adams Plus Flea and Tick Shampoo with Precor kills all flea life stages, ticks, and lice on contact and continues working for 28 days. It has a light coconut scent and contains skin-soothing ingredients like oatmeal. "Oatmeal-based shampoos are great for relieving itchy, inflamed skin," adds Dr. Green.This shampoo contains two insecticides: pyrethrins and S-methoprene. Pyrethrins kill adult fleas by disrupting their nervous system, while S-methoprene is an insect growth regulator (IGR) that prevents flea eggs from reaching adulthood. The shampoo also contains piperonyl butoxide to enhance the insecticides' effectiveness. Precor is a brand of S-methoprene. It should stay on the skin for 5 minutes before being rinsed out. Although the shampoo remains effective for 28 days, the manufacturer recommends bathing every 7 to 10 days for heavy flea infestations.Best with essential oil: Richard’s Organics Flea and Tick ShampooThis shampoo from Richard’s Organics contains a blend of essential oils that repel insects.ChewyActive ingredients: Peppermint oil, clove oil, cinnamon oil, rosemary oil, cedarwood oil, sodium lauryl sulfateDuration of effectiveness: 7 daysSafe for: Dogs over 12 weeks oldScent: Peppermint and clovePros: Kills all life stages of fleas plus adult ticks and mosquitoes; free of chemicals and artificial colors and fragrances; does not remove spot-on flea and tick treatmentsCons: Not labeled for use in puppies under 12 weeks of ageRichard's Organics Flea and Tick Shampoo is insecticide-free and uses a combination of essential oils to kill fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes for up to 7 days. However, weekly bathing with even the best dog shampoo can dry out a dog's skin, so this shampoo is only a short-term solution. This shampoo contains peppermint oil, a natural insecticide, and rosemary oil, which can reportedly repel parasites.Essential oils in flea and tick shampoos are highly diluted. However, Dr. Green cautions that essential oils may irritate a pet's skin.The shampoo also contains sodium lauryl sulfate to help the essential oils mix with water during a bath and vitamin E to soothe the skin. It should remain on the skin for several minutes before being rinsed out.Best budget: Sentry Flea and Tick Shampoo with OatmealThis affordable shampoo treats all stages of fleas plus ticks for up to 10 days.ChewyActive ingredients: Permethrin, piperonyl butoxideDuration of effectiveness: 10 daysSafe for: Dogs over 12 weeks oldScent: GingerPros: Kills all life stages of fleas plus adult ticks, inexpensiveCons: Not labeled for use in puppies under 12 weeks of age, thin consistencyThe best flea and tick shampoo for dogs does not have to be pricey to be effective. "High cost doesn't always mean that a shampoo has better ingredients or is more effective at killing fleas and ticks," says Dr. Tierra Price, a relief emergency medicine veterinarian at Veterinary Emergency Group.Sentry Flea and Tick Shampoo with Oatmeal for Dogs and Puppies kills all life stages of fleas and adult ticks for up to 10 days at an affordable price. Its active ingredients are permethrin, a synthetic version of pyrethrins, and piperonyl butoxide. The shampoo kills fleas soon after contact and takes 1 to 2 days to begin killing ticks.Best fast-acting: Zodiac Oatmeal Conditioning ShampooWe recommend this fast-acting shampoo from Zodiac if you want to kill fleas on contact.ChewyActive ingredients: Pyrethrins, (S)-methoprene, piperonyl butoxideDuration of effectiveness: 28 daysSafe for: Dogs over 12 weeks oldScent: FreshPros: Kills all life stages of fleas plus adult ticks and lice; long-lastingCons: Not labeled for use in puppies under 12 weeks of ageIf your dog has an active flea infestation, you want a flea and tick shampoo that works fast. "Fast-acting flea and tick shampoos may help kill existing fleas and ticks and resolve infestations quickly," says Dr. Price. Zodiac Oatmeal Conditioning Flea and Tick Shampoo for Dogs and Puppies kills fleas, ticks, and lice on contact and works for up to 28 days. Bathing can be repeated every 7 to 10 days if a dog has an especially heavy load of adult fleas.It also contains skin-soothing ingredients like lanolin and coconut extract, making it our top choice for fast-acting flea and tick shampoos for dogs.The shampoo contains pyrethrins, piperonyl butoxide, and (S)-methoprene as its active ingredients. It should remain on the skin for 3 to 5 minutes before rinsing out.Best long-lasting: Sergeant’s Guardian Pro ShampooSergeant's Guardian Pro Shampoo works for up to 30 days.ChewyActive ingredients: Permethrin, pyriproxyfen, piperonyl butoxideDuration of effectiveness: 30 daysSafe for: Dogs over 12 weeks oldScent: FreesiaPros: Kills adult fleas, flea eggs, and adult ticksCons: Not labeled for use in puppies under 12 weeks of age, does not kill flea larvaeMany flea shampoos for dogs work for up to 10 days. Sergeant's Guardian Pro Shampoo stands out because it kills adult fleas, flea eggs, and ticks for up to 30 days. It does not kill flea larvae, though, so it may not be as effective at breaking the flea life cycle as other flea and tick shampoos."Long-lasting flea and tick shampoos can repel fleas and ticks, but their effectiveness can be impacted by factors like swimming, bathing, and sunlight exposure," says Dr. Price.The shampoo has a fresh spring freesia scent and contains permethrin, pyriproxyfen, and piperonyl butoxide. Pyriproxyfen is an IGR that prevents flea eggs and larvae from reaching adulthood. The shampoo should stay on the skin for 5 minutes before being rinsed out.Best unscented: Advantage Treatment ShampooThis fragrance-free shampoo from Advantage is an excellent choice for dogs with sensitive skin.ChewyActive ingredients: Pyrethrins, piperonyl butoxide, N-Octyl bicycloheptene dicarboximideDuration of effectiveness: 7 daysSafe for: Dogs over 12 weeks oldScent: UnscentedPros: Unscented, fast-actingCons: Not labeled for use in puppies under 12 weeks of age, thin consistency"Pets can be allergic to flea bites, which can cause severe skin irritation and infection," says Dr. Green. She adds that for dogs with sensitive skin, scented ingredients in flea and tick shampoos may further irritate the skin. Advantage Treatment Shampoo for Dogs and Puppies is unscented and kills adult fleas and ticks on contact for up to 7 days, making it our top pick for this category of flea and tick shampoos.This shampoo's main active ingredient is pyrethrins. The other two active ingredients — piperonyl butoxide and N-octyl bicycloheptene dicarboximide — help the pyrethrins work more effectively. The shampoo should remain on the skin for 5 minutes before being rinsed out.Best anti-itch: Vet's Best Flea Itch Relief ShampooWe recommend this skin-soothing shampoo from Vet's Best if your dog has itchy skin from fleas.ChewyActive ingredients: Oatmeal, orange oil, lemon peel oil, neem oil, tea tree oil, lavender, citronella, vitamin B5Duration of effectiveness: N/ASafe for: Dogs over 12 weeks oldScent: Blend of shampoo's active ingredientsPros: Moisturizes itchy skin, does not rinse out topical flea and tick productsCons: Not labeled for use in puppies under 12 weeks of ageFlea and tick bites are very itchy, making dogs scratch so much that their skin becomes red, raw, and irritated. Dr. Green recommends oatmeal-based shampoos to relieve itching and skin inflammation from these bites. Vet's Best Flea Itch Relief Shampoo contains oatmeal, neem oil, and other skin-soothing ingredients for quick anti-itch relief. However, it does not kill fleas and ticks, so you'll need to treat your dog for fleas using a topical or oral medication.If the skin is severely irritated and infected, an over-the-counter shampoo may not be enough. "In these cases, I will prescribe a medicated antimicrobial shampoo," says Dr. Green. Read about the best medicated shampoo for dogs.The shampoo should remain on the skin for 3 to 5 minutes before being rinsed out. Repeat the bathing if your dog is especially itchy.What to look for in a flea and tick shampoo for dogsOur experts helped us narrow our criteria for choosing the best flea and tick shampoo for dogs. The advice below will help you choose the appropriate shampoo for your dog.Number of parasites treated: While some flea and tick shampoos for dogs target just those two parasites, other flea and tick shampoos also kill lice and mosquitoes. Lice and mosquitoes can also make the skin feel extremely itchy. Mosquitoes can transmit diseases like heartworm, so flea and tick shampoos that treat lice and mosquitoes provide extra parasite control.Flea life stage: The best flea and tick shampoo for dogs will kill all life stages of fleas, from eggs to adults. This will help treat an active infestation of adult fleas and break the flea life cycle.Active ingredients: Flea and tick shampoos contain chemical insecticides or natural essential oils to kill fleas and ticks. The most common insecticides in flea and tick shampoos for dogs are pyrethrins, permethrin, and (S)-methoprene. Pyrethrins and permethrin target only adult fleas and damage their nervous system, while (S)-methoprene is an insect growth regulator that prevents flea eggs from becoming adults. Some shampoos also contain the active ingredient piperonyl butoxide to help the insecticides work more effectively.Essential oils, such as cinnamon oil and peppermint oil, are the most common natural ingredients used in flea and tick shampoos. They don't work nearly as well as chemical insecticides but may appeal to pet owners who don't want to use chemicals on their pets.Minimum age: Many flea and tick shampoos are safe only for dogs over 12 weeks old. If your puppy is younger than 12 weeks old, consider another treatment, such as oral flea treatment Capstar, which kills only adult fleas and is safe for puppies at least 4 weeks old. Your veterinarian can help you decide which flea and tick treatment will be the safest and most effective for your young puppy.Instructions for use: Following the instructions on the shampoo bottle is crucial to a flea and tick shampoo working most effectively. Fortunately, flea and tick shampoos are easy to use. They should be worked into a rich lather, starting from the head and working toward the tail. Working from head to tail prevents fleas from jumping up your dog's back during a bath. Also, the shampoo should stay on the skin for several minutes before being rinsed out to allow the shampoo's active ingredients to work.Duration of effectiveness: Flea and tick shampoos vary in how long they work to kill fleas and ticks. Many flea and tick shampoos are effective for 7 to 10 days, while others work for up to 28 or 30 days. Even for long-lasting flea and tick shampoos, the manufacturer may recommend more frequent bathing to maximize the shampoo's effectiveness. Scent: Flea and tick shampoos may contain artificial fragrances or essential oils for a pleasant scent. However, these ingredients may irritate the skin of dogs with sensitive skin. Also, shampoos with a strong scent may be off-putting to dogs and their owners.Skin-soothing ingredients: Flea and tick bites are very irritating to the skin. Constant scratching and licking at the bite areas irritates the skin even more. When selecting a flea and tick shampoo for your dog, look for ingredients like aloe vera and oatmeal that soothe irritated skin. Other pets in your home: Pyrethrins and permethrin are extremely toxic to cats. If a cat is exposed to these insecticides, they can develop symptoms like tremors, twitching, and vomiting. If you have a cat, select a flea and tick shampoo for your dog that is free of pyrethrins and permethrin.How we selected the best flea and tick shampoos for dogsWe consulted two veterinarians about flea and tick shampoos. Their insights helped us select our top choices, but our experts did not endorse or recommend specific products.Dr. Breanna Green is a small animal veterinarian and an associate veterinarian at Veterans Memorial Animal Hospital in Houston, Texas. She shared insights on flea and tick shampoos that contain essential oils and those that are ideal for sensitive skin and itch relief.Dr. Tierra Price is an emergency veterinarian at Veterinary Emergency Group in Atlanta, Georgia. She provided her expert insight on budget flea and tick shampoos and flea and tick shampoos marketed as long-lasting and fast-acting.We also consulted the Merck Veterinary Manual for general information about insecticides and reviewed guidelines on flea and tick control from the Companion Animal Parasite Council.Dog flea and tick shampoo FAQsWhat is the most effective flea and tick shampoo for dogs?There is no single most effective shampoo. The best flea and tick shampoos for dogs typically contain insecticides like pyrethrin, which tend to work better than those with essential oils as their active ingredients. However, our experts agree that these shampoos are less effective than other flea and tick treatments, and pet guardians should not use them as the only form of flea and tick control.Does flea and tick shampoo really work?A flea and tick shampoo for dogs can be a good first line of defense against fleas and ticks, especially for active flea infestations. However, they do not work nearly as well or last as long as oral and topical flea and tick treatments. A common complaint with these shampoos is that fleas jump back on a dog soon after a bath. "The effects of flea and tick shampoos are short-lasting. If we do not also treat the environment and get a dog on adequate flea prevention, the adult fleas will jump back on the dog in a matter of days," says Dr. Green.Is there a dog shampoo that kills fleas?There are many dog shampoos that kill fleas. To kill fleas, these shampoos contain insecticides, such as pyrethrins or highly-diluted essential oils. With so many dog shampoos available, it is best to talk with your veterinarian about which may work best for your dog. Also, you may need to bathe more than once if they have a heavy flea infestation.What is the best thing to wash a dog to kill fleas?Your best option is to use a shampoo formulated to kill fleas. You can choose a flea shampoo that contains insecticides or essential oils as active ingredients. Always follow product instructions to ensure you use the shampoo safely and effectively.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Elon Musk says everyone should "move on" from focusing on racism
During Elon Musk's interview on "The Don Lemon Show," the Tesla CEO said society blames "a lot of things" on racism. "I think we need to move on." The X owner spoke with Don Lemon in an hour-long interview.Ebrahim Noroozi/AP"The Don Lemon Show" premiered with an Elon Musk interview on Monday.The Tesla and X owner told Lemon that society blames "a lot of things on racism."Musk said "we need to move on" from complaints.Elon Musk is over hearing people complain about racism.During a wide-ranging interview on "The Don Lemon Show" — which included Musk saying he felt upset by some of Lemon's questions — the X owner was asked about his stance on racism."I think being aware of inequities in society is fine, of course, but trying to make everything a race issue is divisive and corrosive to society," Musk told interviewer Don Lemon.And according to Musk, society blames "a lot of things" on racism, and that's unfair. His proposed solution is to "treat everyone according to who they are as an individual.""I think we should not make this a constant subject. I think we need to move on," he said.The Don Lemon Show episode 1: Elon MuskTIMESTAMPS:(02:23) News on X(10:07) Donald Trump and Endorsing a Candidate(13:04) The New Tesla Roadster(16:46) Relaxation and Video Games(17:54) Tweeting and Drug Use(23:19) The Great Replacement Theory(30:03) Content Moderation… pic.twitter.com/bLRae4DhyO— Don Lemon (@donlemon) March 18, 2024 "You cannot have a situation where someone is a self-described victim, and they just get to be that because that's how they feel," Musk said to Lemon about race and gender issues.Though he did concur with Lemon that racism existed in an extreme capacity during the time of transatlantic slave trade, Musk said it's time to "look to the future rather than the past.""If we keep talking about it nonstop, it'll never go away," Musk said.When the former CNN host pressed Musk about racism's place in the 21st century, Musk asked exactly what advantages he'd been given as a white person."There's an ease that you have in society, that many people of color don't," Lemon, who is Black, said — to which the Tesla CEO raised an eyebrow.Musk has been vocal about his dislike of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in the workforce. Earlier this year, he called DEI "another word for racism."Musk's own company Tesla has faced backlash over the treatment of its Black employees over the years. In 2022, 15 Black employees sued the EV maker alleging racial harassment.The plaintiffs said they were subjected to racial slurs, graffiti, and physical violence.The Lemon-Musk interview, which also touched on subjects like Musk's ketamine use and his leadership of X, contained some tense moments between the two men. At one point, in response to questions from Lemon, Musk replied saying, "You are upsetting me, because the way you're phrasing questions, I think, is not cogent." After Lemon was abruptly ousted from his position at CNN last year, Musk reached out about a partnership with X. Lemon said the platform terminated their deal hours after this interview was filmed.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang"s Taylor Swift joke shows he"s aware of his reputation among AI fanboys
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's reputation in the AI community has led to comparisons with Taylor Swift's popularity. Looks like Huang got the memo. Jensen Huang subtly referenced Taylor Swift's performance-readiness regiment in his almost two-hour-long keynote speech on Monday.Getty ImagesNvidia CEO Jensen Huang gave a much-awaited two-hour-long keynote speech in California.Huang joked he had not prepared for the presentation by rehearsing it while on a treadmill.The CEO appeared to be referring to Taylor Swift's training regime for her Eras tour.According to one tech commentator on X, "Guys who worship Jensen Huang are male Swifties." The Nvidia CEO seems to have got the memo.During his much-awaited introductory speech at Nvidia's GPU Technology Conference (GTC) in California on Monday, Huang said:"As I was simulating how this keynote was going to turn out, somebody did say that another performer did her performance completely on a treadmill so that she could be in shape to deliver it with full energy. I didn't do that. If I get a low wind at about 10 minutes into this, you know what happened."Huang appears to be commenting on a detail from music superstar Taylor Swift's Time magazine interview when she was named Person of the Year 2023. In the piece, Swift — whose legion of devoted fans are known as Swifties — said that she started training for her Eras tour six months before the first show and that "every day I would run on the treadmill, singing the entire set list out loud."And while he may not have gone to quite the extremes of Swift, Huang's no slouch, holding court onstage at a massive event dubbed "the Woodstock of AI" at San Jose's SAP Center for more than two hours.But Huang, who has helped drive Nvidia's share price up more than 240% in the last year as companies scramble to buy its powerful semiconductors to help drive their AI ambitions, didn't just make Swift jokes. He unveiled the company's next-generation AI chip, named Blackwell, the successor to its massively in-demand H100.Still, he had time for further banter. When cross-comparing Blackwell with Hopper (a name for the H100), he mock-seriously comforted the older chip by saying, "It's OK, Hopper. You're very good. Good, good boy. Good girl."Later, when using a picture of a cat to illustrate the growing potential of AI, he feigned surprise to see the image on the screen behind him, joking: "Guys, that was that's what happens when you don't rehearse." The company has been touting the conference for months.He also enjoyed some "interruptions" from two mini-robots onstage, chiding them by saying: "I'm trying to concentrate."Jensen Huang looking at two robots onstage at Nvidia's GTC.Nvidia keynote livestreamWhile we won't call it top-tier humor, the laughs from the audience seem to demonstrate that Huang does indeed have that likeability factor — alongside the ability to helm one of the buzziest companies in tech.And while we did spot one of Huang's signature leather jackets, we weren't eagle-eyed enough to see if he was sporting a Taylor Swift friendship bracelet — or Nvidia tattoo.Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert contributed to this report.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Reddit CEO Steve Huffman defends his $193 million compensation package
Reddit CEO Huffman discussed his compensation package, made up of stock and salary, in a video Q&A on the forum. Steve Huffman receives a fixed salary of $341,346 and the rest of his compensation in shares.Bryan Steffy/GettyReddit CEO Steve Huffman discussed his compensation package in a video Q&A posted on the forum.The CEO's $193 million pay package includes a mix of salary and stock.Reddit is targeting a $6.4 billion valuation as it moves to go public later this week.Reddit CEO Steve Huffman has received backlash over his $193 million compensation.Ever since word got out about Huffman's pay, users on Quora, Reddit, and X have criticized the package. Some feel the amount is too high for a platform that doesn't pay moderators or users — and for a company that hasn't been profitable thus far."The feel good moment of simultaneously revealing your CEO is overpaid while your risk assessment underscores the important of unpaid moderators," one user wrote in a discussion post about the topic on Reddit.Huffman went on the platform he cofounded to defend his pay in a video Q&A. "Look, I'm glad this question was asked because there's been a lot of commentary on this topic," Huffman said.The CEO said his compensation is based on salary and stock, and Reddit board members set the amount based on his performance.According to an SEC filing, Huffman got a salary of $341,346 in 2023, which is relatively low for a CEO of a major public corporation. In February, this was raised to $550,000. He also got a $792,000 bonus last year based on Reddit user numbers, revenue, and a type of profitability known as adjusted EBITDA that excludes certain expenses. The bulk of his compensation package is now in restricted stock units and stock options. A lot of this compensation is based on Huffman staying at Reddit through late 2028, and some is triggered based on completing the IPO, according to the SEC filing. Half of the stock options vest at $25.29, a relatively easy bar to reach. The other half only vest if Reddit shares reach $45, $60, and $90 in public market trading over 10 years, the SEC filing explains. That's a higher bar and aligns the CEO's interests with shareholders. A "big grant" late last yearHuffman said in the video that his "big grant at the end of 2023" was a result of the board canceling existing stock awards and then granting him this new equity package. "They did this to simplify things for both the company and me and align my performance with the company's performance. Some of the stock vests at IPO," the CEO added.However, the SEC filing also states that some of Huffman's previous performance-based RSU award was cancelled because the grants were "not providing the incentive initially intended." Reddit went on to say that it cancelled many of the "PRSUs for which performance had not already been achieved."Huffman already owns Reddit stockIn addition, Huffman already owns about 3.2% of Reddit. The company is targeting a $6.4 billion valuation for its upcoming IPO this week. So the CEO's stake will be worth about $200 million, even before his new equity compensation begins to kick in. Reddit and its investors plan to sell 22 million shares and they are targeting an IPO price of $31 to $34.Zuckerberg versus ElonIn contrast, Meta cofounder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg gets a $1 annual salary, and was awarded no bonus and zero equity awards in 2020, 2021 and 2020, according to Meta's latest annual proxy filing. Meta pays more than $20 million a year to cover Zuckerberg's security and use of a private jet. And, of course, he owns a major stake in the company, so if his performance improves, Meta shares should rise, making him more wealthy. The company also started issuing dividends, which means Zuckerberg collects hundreds of million of dollars a year from those payouts. Elon Musk is on the other end of the spectrum. His pay package at Tesla was valued at more than $50 billion. A Delaware judge recently struck down this compensation. Huffman's chances of getting even richerBack at Reddit, it's unlikely that Huffman will get $193 million in compensation. That's an estimate the company has to make for regulatory and disclosure purposes. It's based on the estimated fair value of the package on a certain date. His new RSUs vest in installments through late 2028, and the stock options can be exercised over 10 years, but only if Reddit shares hold up and then go higher. Either way, Huffman is already incredibly wealthy and has a chance to become even richer as Reddit goes public. Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Lauren Boebert brags about securing $20 million in funding that she voted against: "Can"t wait for the ribbon cuttings"
The Colorado Republican voted against the bill containing funding for her old district earlier this month. She's bragging about it anyway. Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado at the Capitol on March 13, 2024.Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call via Getty ImagesRep. Lauren Boebert voted against a bill containing $20 million for the district she's abandoning.On Monday, she bragged about that funding anyway."Can't wait for the ribbon cuttings and to see these priorities come to fruition," she said.Earlier this month, Rep. Lauren Boebert voted against a must-pass government funding bill that contained more than $20 million for the Colorado district she's now abandoning.On Monday night, she celebrated the impending arrival of that funding anyway."Can't wait for the ribbon cuttings and to see these priorities come to fruition," the congresswoman said in a release, listing 10 different projects across the state's 3rd congressional district that are set to benefit from an influx of federal dollars.That includes $5 million for a water reservoir near Wolf Creek, millions for highway repairs and renovations in western Colorado, and several other projects.Boebert was among 40 House Republicans who voted on March 6 against the so-called "minibus" — which funds vast swaths of the federal government — despite having secured federal funding for their districts.The #SwampOmnibus maintains COVID spending levels, funds the Green New Deal, and excludes nearly all conservative policy riders we fought for. No wonder Democrats are ramming this monstrosity through before Sleepy Joe takes the stage tomorrow. The real question is: why are…— Rep. Lauren Boebert (@RepBoebert) March 6, 2024The congresswoman argued at the time that the bill, a compromise package hammered out between Democrats and Republicans, was a "monstrosity" that "funds the Green New Deal."Boebert's office did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment on Monday evening.It's a version of what critics — most famously, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — dub "vote no take the dough." It's become especially common in recent years, with Republicans celebrating the flow of federal dollars into their states even when they opposed the passage of the bills that spurred it.In this case, it's congressionally-directed spending — known colloquially as "earmarks" — that Boebert did, in fact, secure in consultation with local stakeholders.Many Republicans have historically opposed earmarks, arguing that they lead to corruption or drive up government spending. House Republicans imposed a ten-year moratorium on the practice, which Democrats ended in 2021.Historically, it's been seen as a way to improve the functioning of government by giving individual lawmakers a greater interest in passing government funding legislation.During her first term, Boebert opposed earmark funding, only to backtrack last year.Yet even as the congresswoman says she looks forward to future ribbon-cutting ceremonies, she may be out of office by the time it happens — it takes time for projects to get built, after all.Boebert is facing a tough GOP primary race in the district she recently moved into, where she's faced accusations of "carpetbagging." That's only been complicated by Rep. Ken Buck's decision to retire this month, which is triggering a special election on June 25, the same day as the GOP primary.The congresswoman has said she will not seek to become the nominee in that election because it would trigger another special election in her current district.That means that in the next month, local Republicans could select one of her current competitors, handing them an advantage in the primary that's set to take place on the same day.And even if the local party chooses someone who's not already running, which she has indicated would be her preference, voters could take issue with her seemingly having it both ways on government spending.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
On their first date, he asked her if she had any debt. Today, they"re a DINK couple in the world"s most expensive city.
A DINK couple in the world's most expensive city breaks down their finances and how they think about money. Ryan Tan and Corinne Chow are a DINK couple in SingaporeCorinne ChowRyan Tan and Corinne Chow are a DINK couple in Singapore.Despite stigmas, they say they don't feel pressured to have kids.As the cost of raising children rises, the appeal of becoming a DINK is gaining traction globally.On their first date, one of the first things Ryan Tan asked his now-wife, Corinne Chow, was: "Do you have any debt?"Chow told Business Insider she was shocked by the question, but that her answer was no. Four years later, the couple is building a life together in Singapore, which currently shares the top spot on the list of the world's most expensive cities.Tan told BI he was looking to settle down, and liabilities, financial or otherwise, were important considerations when choosing who he'd do it with."I didn't see a need to be beating around the bush," he said.The couple is part of a growing group of DINK — double income, no kids — couples around the world. The lifestyle is gaining popularity on social media and is associated with financial stability and independence.Financing a DINK lifestyle in SingaporeChow works in social-media management at a Singapore-based company, and Tan works in the commodities industry at a multinational firm. The couple said they have a combined annual income of over 300,000 Singapore dollars, or US$225,000.Chow and Tan, both 36, said they share a similar outlook on finances and are intentional with large purchases such as a home and cars.They got married in 2021 but chose to live with their respective parents for six months after marriage until the apartment was ready to move in."I mean, we are going to live together for the rest of our lives, no point in renting," Chow said.They capitalized on low interest rates around the pandemic and bought their first home together in 2020 — an 807-square-foot, three-bedroom in a condominium building.Ryan Tan and Corinne ChowCorinne ChowChow broke down 80% of their monthly expenses as follows:Home loan: 20% of combined monthly incomeInvestments: 20%Shopping, holidays, and hobbies: 20%Private transport: 10%Utilities: 5%Restaurants: 5%"We intentionally don't own a car, so 10% of our income goes to private transport," she added, referring to their budget for taxis.Singapore is one of the world's most expensive places to own a car, because of a 10-year "certificate of entitlement" system introduced to control the number of cars on the road.They save the remaining 20% of their income. The couple said they also stay away from debt — they make sure they have the full amount in their account before spending.Enjoying a DINK lifestyleBecause they're in their 30s and don't have kids, Tan and Chow said they're able to indulge in some of the finer things in life.One of those is Tan's hobby of collecting whiskeys.Tan is a collector of Port Ellen whiskeys, which have a starting cost of around 1,300 Singapore dollars, or $967. The rarest whiskey in his collection is a Glen Keith he bottled himself to be served at their wedding."This involves purchasing a cask of whisky from the distillery or whisky broker and bottling it yourself. This is a bottle only we, close friends and family will ever have," Chow said.When they travel, they favor all-inclusive resorts."Now when we go on holidays, we have a bit more disposable income," Chow said. "We make sure that we stay in a better place, have a better rest, and try not to pack too many things into a particular day."The couple's most recent holiday was a nine-day trip to Tokyo in November.Tan bottled his own Glen Keith in 750ml and 45ml (1 dram) bottles, latter of which they gifted as wedding favours.Corinne ChowTheir friends and family have been supportive of their lifestyle choices."The two of us have very, very modern and open-minded families," Chow said. "There's no Asian stereotype horror story here, about the in-laws or parents forcing us to have children."Chow said her social circle includes career-driven women including friends who are not married in their 30s, and she feels no pressure to have children.But positive reactions to childless couples are not always the norm."I think particularly in Singapore, not having children is still very much stigmatized," Chow said.Chow shares vlogs about her DINK life on her personal TikTok. People in comments and on private messaging often thank her for creating content about not having children, she said.Still, Chow occasionally gets a comment on her videos along the lines of, "Your life looks so boring."Global DINK lifestyleAs the cost of raising children rises, the appeal of becoming a DINK is gaining traction globally.In China, for many women of childbearing age, children are just not part of the vision as the second-largest economy in the world slows and youth unemployment rises."Let's face it, having a child is like owning an investment with no guaranteed return for at least 18 years," Bihan Chen, a Chinese venture capital analyst, previously told BI.In the US, some couples are finding that a child-free life is the easiest way to achieve the American dream. In 2022, a child-free couple's median net worth was the highest of all types of family structures studied and almost $150,000 higher than that of couples with kids, according to the Fed's most recent Survey of Consumer Finances."We are doing so well in our portfolio. That is something that I'm really grateful for," Tiffany Wasiuk, a Virginia-based DINK who owns two boats," previously told BI. And I know not having children has contributed largely to that expense."For Chow and Tan in Singapore, the possibility of having kids in the future isn't totally out of the picture — but they recognize how good they have it for now."There's a lot of time and freedom to do what we want," Tan said."If we do have kids, then it's going to be a bit of a rebalancing."Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Trial shocker: Jurors can hear about a 2015 Trump Tower meeting that prosecutors say was a hush-money huddle hosted by Trump
The judge for Trump's Manhattan felony trial is also allowing Stormy Daniels, Karen McDougal, and Michael Cohen to testify. Former President Donald Trump mingles with supporters in Clinton, Iowa.AP Photo/Charlie NeibergallTrump's first of four felony criminal trials is on track to start in mid-April.In a loss for Trump, the judge ruled Monday that jurors can hear about a 2015 Trump Tower meeting.At the meeting, Trump huddled about hush money with Michael Cohen and a National Enquirer executive.In a blow to former President Donald Trump's prospects in his upcoming Manhattan felony trial, the judge ruled Monday that jurors can hear about a Trump Tower meeting where prosecutors say Trump was physically present as hush money was discussed.News of the August 2015 meeting and Trump's involvement was first revealed in November 2018 by The Wall Street Journal.Federal prosecutors in Manhattan alleged the meeting was evidence of a criminal end-run around campaign finance regulations, CNN reported.Trump's side had fought to exclude any mention of the hush-money huddle from the trial, which is on track to start in mid-April.In still more bad news for Trump, the judge also ruled Monday that two women who alleged they had sexual encounters with Trump — adult film actor Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal — can testify at the trial.So can Trump's former attorney, Michael Cohen, who in 2018 pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations for making the Daniels hush-money payment — on Trump's behalf, he alleged.Trump's lawyers had fought to exclude all three from the trial.Trump has denied having a sexual relationship with either Daniels or McDougal.The Trump Tower meeting was attended by Trump, Cohen, and David Pecker, then chairman of American Media Inc., the parent company of the National Enquirer, according to Monday's ruling by state Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, the judge who will preside over the trial.State prosecutors allege Trump falsified business records to hide an illegal $130,000 payment that silenced Daniels just 11 days before he won the presidency. The Trump Tower meeting is key to understanding that allegation, Merchan wrote.The meeting is "inextricably woven with the narrative of events, that is, the steps that eventually led to the purchasing of information from, among others, Daniels," the judge wrote.Merchan's decision is significant. Testimony and evidence linking the former president directly to strategy sessions over hush money payments to Daniels and other Trump accusers will make it harder for the defense to minimize his involvement in the payments.Trump's lawyers have said he relied on legal advice and had no intention of violating campaign finance laws, as prosecutors allege.The ruling is also significant in that it expands the boundaries of testimony for Cohen and Pecker, two former Trump confidantes who are now poised to do serious damage as prosecution witnesses.Under Monday's ruling, both may now debut on the witness stand their firsthand accounts of how the National Enquirer attempted to place its thumb on the scales to help Trump in the 2016 election.Prosecutors allege the 2015 Trump Tower meeting involved discussions of how the supermarket tabloid could publish flattering stories about Trump and negative stories about his opponents, the judge wrote."The Court grants the People's motion with respect to the introduction of evidence surrounding the Trump Tower Meeting," he wrote."The highly probative value of this evidence is not outweighed by any potential undue prejudice to the Defendant," the judge continued."As such, the evidence the People seek to introduce regarding this meeting is admissible provided a proper foundation is laid and it meets evidentiary standards."The judge wrote that he was reserving a decision on "the aspect of the Trump Tower meeting that involves the allegations that AMI sought to publish flattering stories about the Defendant while seeking to publish denigrating stories about his opponents."Prosecutors will have to show that such "flattering stories" evidence has a probative value that outweighs its prejudicial effect, the judge wrote.Also, in Monday's ruling, the judge rejected Trump's request that prosecutors make no mention of Trump's role in influencing the 2016 election or of the National Enquirer's "catch and kill" practices.Jurors will not see the "Access Hollywood" tape, but prosecutors can make reference to the tape and its alleged role in motivating Trump to purchase Daniels' silence, the judge also ruled.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
More & More Americans Turn To TikTok For News
More & More Americans Turn To TikTok For News The House of Representatives passed a bill last week that could lead to a nationwide ban of the social media platform TikTok in the United States, unless its Chinese owner Byte Dance sells its stake in the company within 165 days. U.S. lawmakers had raised concerns over the question of data and national security risks of the app, fearing potential links to China’s government. TikTok, which is headquartered outside of China, says it has never been asked by the Chinese government to provide them with U.S. data and has been actively trying to distance itself from Beijing. The short form video app is particularly beloved by teenagers and young people around the world. Now, as Statista's Anna Fleck reports, nearly one in three (32 percent) young adults aged 18-29 even say that they turn to TikTok regularly for news. This is up from just nine percent who said the same in 2020. While still low, the overall share of adults in the United States who say they regularly get news on TikTok has more than quadrupled between 2020 and 2024. You will find more infographics at Statista According to a survey by Pew Research Center of over 8,800 adults, where only 3 percent said they regularly get their news from the social media platform four years ago, this had climbed to 14 percent between September 25 and October 1, 2023, when the survey was last fielded. In order for the bill to come into action, it first needs to see through the legislative process and would then need to pass the Senate. Tyler Durden Mon, 03/18/2024 - 20:40.....»»
Queenpin Of Guatemalan Drug Cartel Sentenced Over International Trafficking Conspiracy
Queenpin Of Guatemalan Drug Cartel Sentenced Over International Trafficking Conspiracy Authored by Stephen Katte via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), A Queenpin of the Lorenzana drug trafficking network has been sentenced to 33 years in prison and forced to forfeit $27 million for charges related to international drug trafficking. The U.S. Department of Justice building in Washington on June 28, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times) According to the Department of Justice, Queenpin Marta Julia Lorenzana-Cordon from Zacapa, Guatemala, was a leader in one of the largest and most influential drug cartels in Guatemala. Guatemala is a Central American country south of Mexico, with a population of over 17 million people. During their reign, the Lorenzana criminal group was described by authorities as one of the most brutal and destructive drug trafficking organizations in the world. Julia Lorenzana-Cordon was extradited to the United States in December of 2021, after Guatemalan authorities took her into custody at the behest of the U.S. government in May 2021. She subsequently pleaded guilty in May of 2023 to conspiring to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, and knowing and intending for the drug to be unlawfully imported to America. According to the Department of Justice, Julia Lorenzana-Cordon, also known as Yulie, began operating within the criminal enterprise around 2008 and continued until at least 2019. The organization itself began operating in 1996. The patriarchal criminal group comprised primarily of family members and had the goal of distributing multi-ton quantities of cocaine from Colombia to Central America and Mexico for eventual distribution into the United States. The investigation into Julia Lorenzana-Cordon was part of Operation Slipknot and conducted by the DEA’s Bilateral Investigations Unit, with assistance from the DEA Guatemala City Country Office and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces. Investigators found the Lorenzana drug trafficking organization transported tonnage quantities of cocaine from Colombia into Guatemala, where the cocaine was stored on properties owned by the crime organization. After the cocaine was processed, the drug was transported by the Sinaloa Cartel, among other organizations, into Mexico, through Central America, and eventually, into the United States. Along with Julia Lorenzana-Cordon, her siblings, Eliu Elixander Lorenzana-Cordon and Waldemar Lorenzana-Cordon have also been hit with lengthy prison sentences. Both were convicted in 2019 on international narcotics trafficking charges in the District of Columbia and sentenced to life in prison. At the same time, the father of the siblings, Waldemar Lorenzana-Lima Sr., pleaded guilty in August 2014 to international narcotics trafficking charges in the District of Columbia, receiving 23 years in prison. He has since passed away. According to authorities, the family was deeply dysfunctional, and Julia Lorenzana-Cordon had separate drug trafficking networks different to those of her brothers and father, which allowed her to continue operating for a few years after the rest of her family was convicted. Julia Lorenzana-Cordon was also reportedly married to Jairo Estuardo Orellana Morales, a Guatemalan narcotics trafficker and accused murderer who was arrested in May 2014. His status since being detained is unknown. Drug trafficker Waldemar Lorenzana Lima, related to the Mexican Sinaloa drug cartel, is taken under custody on April 28, 2011, upon his arrival in Guatemala City. He faces an extradition warrant from the United States. (JOHAN ORDONEZ/AFP via Getty Images) The Department of the Treasury designated the couple as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers (SDNT) under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act). Under the act, U.S. persons and entities are prohibited from conducting financial or commercial transactions with anyone designated as a SDNT. The act also freezes any assets a SDNT may have under U.S. jurisdiction. Tyler Durden Mon, 03/18/2024 - 21:00.....»»
Watch: Nvidia Unveils "Project GROOT" Robot & New "Grace Blackwell" Superchip
Watch: Nvidia Unveils 'Project GROOT' Robot & New 'Grace Blackwell' Superchip Nvidia announces the highly anticipated Blackwell platform to power a new era of computing, specifically introducing Blackwell B200 AI chip. Among the many organizations expected to adopt Blackwell are Amazon Web Services, Dell Technologies, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI. Oracle. Tesla and xAI. A Massive Superchip "The NVIDIA GB200 Grace Blackwell Superchip connects two NVIDIA B200 Tensor Core GPUs to the NVIDIA Grace CPU over a 900GB/S ultra-low-power NVLink chip-to-chip interconnect." "For the highest AI performance. GB200-powered systems can be connected with the NVIDIA Quantum-X800 InfiniBand and Spectrum™-X800 Ethernet platforms, also announced today, which deliver advanced networking at speeds up to 800Gb/s." "The GB200 is a key component of the NVIDIA GB200 NVL72. a multi-node, liquid- cooled, rack-scale system for the most compute-intensive workloads." "The GB200 NVL72 provides up to a 30x performance increase compared to the same number of NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPUs for LLM inference workloads, and reduces cost and energy consumption by up to 25x." B200 AI chip features 208bln transistors. Just one thing... B200 recommended power supply pic.twitter.com/AoNGlPcOk1 — zerohedge (@zerohedge) March 18, 2024 All those who spent tens of billions on A100 and H100s capex are now looking at tens of billions in obsolete inventory. Welcome to the AI cadence cycle. But there's more - towards the end of the keynote, Jensen Huang announced Project GROOT, which stands for "Generalist Robot 00 Technology". Huang revealed that robots powered by the platform will be designed to understand natural language and emulate movements by observing human actions, allowing them to quickly learn coordination, dexterity, and other skills to navigate, adapt, and interact with the real world – and absolutely won’t lead to a robot uprising. Huang then showed a number of demos in which Project GROOT-powered robots performed a number of tasks, showing off its capabilities. “Building basic models for general humanoid robots is one of the most exciting problems we can solve in AI today,” says Huang. “The enabling technologies are coming together to allow leading roboticists around the world to make giant leaps toward artificial general purpose robotics.” The initiative includes the unveiling of Jetson Thor, a computer for humanoid robots based on the NVIDIA Thor SoC, and major upgrades to the NVIDIA Isaac robotics platform. * * * As we wrote in our weekly preview note earlier, while this week is chock-full of central bank announcements, including a historic rate hike by the BOJ which will also be ending its YCC and purchases of ETFs, all eyes are on Nvidia which has two key events this week, the first of which may be even more market-moving than the central bank announcements. We are talking about NVIDIA hosting the world's largest and most important conference centered around AI, its GTC (Graphics Technology Conference), where CEO Jensen Huang will talk about the next innovations in the segment and unveil the next generation of GPUs powering the latest cloud and data center markets. For those unfamiliar, NVIDIA is hosting its latest episode of GTC today at 4pm (right at the market close) and what makes 2024's GTC special is the fact that the company has seen huge successes from the AI segment when it comes to its financial performance. Starting with its Volta V100 GPU family up to the latest Ampere A100 and Hopper H100 chips, the company is the official king of AI. But at the same time, the market is heating up with competition hitting back on both the hardware and software sides. Keeping that in mind, this GTC, NVIDIA is not only going to respond to its competition with new hardware innovations but will also certainly showcase how its AI software strategy has helped define its leadership in this segment and how it will evolve over the coming years. According to wccftech, some of the new products that we can expect to see at the keynote will be the Hopper H200 GPUs featuring the fastest HBM3e memory with upgraded capacities, and also the first showcase of the truly next-gen Blackwell B100/B200 GPUs. There are reports that the first generation of Blackwell GPUs will feature HBM3e memory with huge computing and AI-side upgrades while the B200 GPUs will take things to the next level in the coming year with updated HBM4 specs and even more software optimizations. For those who want to tune into the event, the GTC 2024 keynote will be live-streamed on 18th March (Monday) at 1 PM (Pacific Daylight Time) and last 2 hours till 3 PM so one can expect a very jam-packed presentation by NVIDIA CEO, Jensen Huang. In addition to being live-streamed, this will be the first GTC after many years that will have a proper in-person attendance and we can expect lots of key executives of other companies to show up to announce their support and partnership with NVIDIA. * * * In any event we are not the only ones who view today's GTC presentation as the biggest market event of the week: according to Goldman trader Cullen Morgan, the NVDA GTC Conference presentation by CEO Jensen Huang on Monday 4pm ET will be the most important macro event of the week, with NVDA options implying a +/- 9% move over the next 1-week; which suggests investors expect the presentation to be as impactful as a typical earnings event. The chart below shows that 1-week NVDA implied volatility is higher than ahead of two of the past four earnings events. At the index level, NDX 1-week options are pricing an +/- 2.2% move over the next week and a +/- 1.5% move between now and Tuesday’s close. As Morgan concludes "the Tuesday morning reaction to the NVDA presentation and the Wednesday afternoon reaction to the FOMC statement will likely be the two most important hours of the week for the market." Meanwhile, according to UBS trader Robert Ruple, consistent with the feedback from his recent Nvidia meeting, focal points will likely center around: i) the growth of Inference (stated that around 70% of current total Data Center GPU mix) including the adoption of AI across end-markets with an expanding total addressable market (including greater Enterprise adoption), ii) updates on their roadmap (B100/N100), iii) monetization opportunities from their CUDA/software ecosystem, while addressing the competitive backdrop and China. Structurally, Ruple remains bullish on Nvidia, but he does question if this could be a tactical “sell-the-news” event given all the hype with the stock up 77% year to date and 243% over the last year. Still, it’s tough to fight “city hall” nor the overwhelming enthusiasm for Nvidia/other AI stocks these days. Needless to say, traders are on edge, and in a slightly scaled down version of the recent super wipeout in NVDA stock which saw the company lose a quarter trillion in market cap in one day on March 8, today we have seen a gain of as much as 5.2% evaporate as NVDA stock turned from bright green to red, wiping out tens of billions in market cap, as traders prepare for possible downside after Huang's appearance later today. This would be too easy, right? We will be live streaming the speech when it starts at 4pm ET. Tyler Durden Mon, 03/18/2024 - 18:15.....»»
US Announces Plan To Evacuate American Citizens Stranded In Haiti
US Announces Plan To Evacuate American Citizens Stranded In Haiti Authored by Jack Phillips via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), The State Department confirmed that it will try to evacuate Americans who are still stranded in Haiti as the country’s security situation continues to deteriorate. Police officers patrol a neighborhood amid gang-related violence in downtown Port-au-Prince on April 25, 2023. (Richard Pierrin/AFP via Getty Images) On March 16, the U.S. Embassy in Haiti stated that it will organize a charter flight for U.S. citizens who still remain in the country, coming months after the embassy issued a warning that Americans should leave. “We are arranging a charter flight for U.S. citizens from Cap-Haitien to the United States, assuming the security situation in Cap-Haitien remains stable,” the embassy said in a security alert issued over the weekend, noting that the airport in the city is “opened periodically for departing flights.” But, it warned, the “overland trip from Port-au-Prince to Cap Haitien is dangerous,” and the embassy recommended that people head to Cap-Haitien only if they believe they can reach the airport safely. “We cannot provide overland travel from other parts of Haiti to Cap-Haitien,” the statement reads. “We continue to work on options for departures out of Port-au-Prince and will let you know about them as soon as we are able to safely and securely arrange them.” It also states that U.S. citizens who choose to depart using federal government-backed flights have to sign a statement agreeing to pay the U.S. government back for the flight’s cost. “The security situation in Haiti is unpredictable and dangerous. Travel within Haiti is conducted at your own risk. The U.S. government cannot guarantee your safety traveling to airports, borders, or during any onward travel,” the embassy warned on March 16. “You should consider your personal security situation before traveling anywhere in Haiti. Only attempt to depart Haiti or travel within Haiti if you believe it is safe for you to do so.” The statement from the embassy comes about two weeks after U.S. military officials confirmed that it evacuated some embassy personnel in the country. Weeks before that, Haiti declared a state of emergency because of escalating violence from armed gangs while then-Prime Minister Ariel Henry was in Nairobi, Kenya, seeking a deal for a long-delayed U.N.-backed security mission. He resigned last week. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a transition council would be named, after which Mr. Henry would step down. “This is never going to be smooth and never going to be linear,” Mr. Blinken told reporters during a visit to Austria. “So that’s a work in progress, but we’ve seen that move forward.” U.S. aid chief Samantha Power announced $25 million in humanitarian assistance for Haiti on March 15 to cover food, essential relief supplies, relocation support, and emergency health care. That was on top of the $33 million announced on March 11. But some analysts say the transition plan isn’t working. “It’s starting off very, very badly,” Frederic Boisrond, a sociologist at McGill University, told Radio-Canada, pointing to the dissent within the groups proposed for the transition council by leaders in Jamaica, reported Reuters. “Elections are very long-term prospect.” He pointed to the need to, after restoring security, recreate an electoral roll and reappoint mayors, senators, and deputies. “This is a huge machine to reinstall. Haiti is in year zero of democracy,” Mr. Boisrond said. Gang Leader Issues Warning Over the weekend, a powerful gang leader in Haiti, Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier, issued a threatening message aimed at political leaders who would participate in a planned transition council, as fires broke out amid a fresh surge of violence in the Caribbean nation’s capital. “Don’t you have any shame?” said Mr. Cherizier, directing his remarks at politicians who he said were looking to join the council. “You have taken the country where it is today. You have no idea what will happen. Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier, leader of the "G9" coalition of gangs in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, looks on after speaking to members of the media on Oct. 26, 2021. (Ralph Tedy Erol/Reuters) “I'll know if your kids are in Haiti, if your wives are in Haiti ... if your husbands are in Haiti. If you’re gonna run the country, all your family ought to be there.” In his remarks, Mr. Cherizier said the resignation of Mr. Henry was only “a first step in the battle” for the island nation of about 11 million. Nearby countries have bolstered their border security and withdrawn staff from embassies, while plans to send a long-awaited international security force remain uncertain, Reuters reported. Reuters contributed to this report. Tyler Durden Mon, 03/18/2024 - 18:20.....»»