16 Small Business Ideas for Senior Citizens
In this article, we will take a look at the 16 small business ideas for senior citizens. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to 5 Small Business Ideas for Senior Citizens. Entrepreneurial Trends Among Senior Citizens According to a report by the World Health Organization, between 2015 and 2050, […] In this article, we will take a look at the 16 small business ideas for senior citizens. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to 5 Small Business Ideas for Senior Citizens. Entrepreneurial Trends Among Senior Citizens According to a report by the World Health Organization, between 2015 and 2050, the percentage of people above 60 will nearly double from 12% to 22%. In 2020, the number of people aged above 60 was 5 times greater than the number of children under the age of 5. By 2030, almost one in every six people will be aged 60 or over. The older population is significantly increasing and life expectancy is experiencing an upward trajectory. Such suggests why the global entrepreneurial and working dynamic is shifting to include more senior citizens. According to a report by Forbes, people aged between 55 and 64 made up 22.8% of the entrepreneurs in 2021. Business founders above the age of 45 make up between a quarter and a third of new business activity. As life expectancy rates across the globe continue to increase, people will now experience 60-year non-linear career paths instead of the traditional 40-year career setup. Older people not only have enough experience in the industry, but the age group also happens to have more financial stability and freedom supported by a vast network. Forbes also highlights that older people or late entrepreneurs are three times more likely to introduce novel ideas to the market compared to younger entrepreneurs. You can also take a look at the part time jobs for seniors that pay daily or weekly. Ananas Anam is an innovative company that upcycles pineapple leaves into sustainable vegan textiles including Pinatex and Pinayarn. The company is owned by Dr Carmen Hijosa, who got a PhD at the age of 62 in 2014. She did not have enough knowledge of the textile industry, and therefore, wanted to expand her learning. She founded the company in 2013 and used her PhD knowledge to expand her business. She also offers a monthly newsletter covering news and opportunities for impact entrepreneurs. How Can Senior Citizens Upskill Themselves SeniorNet, Udemy, Inc. (NASDAQ:UDMY), and GetSetUp provide opportunities for senior citizens to upskill themselves and run successful businesses. Let’s discuss some offerings from these companies. You can also take a look at the best low stress jobs for seniors. SeniorNet is a charity organization that provides computer and internet education to senior citizens, veterans, the underprivileged, the disabled, and other people with impairments. It was founded in 1986 and is based in Florida, United States. The training is either carried out in informal groups or learning centers. In 2021, AMI partnered with SeniorNet to support senior citizens in New Zealand. The collaboration will allow seniors in New Zealand to be acquainted with digital technologies such as insurtech. AMI leverages SeniorNet’s capabilities to make its insurance tools accessible to everyone, especially the elderly. Udemy, Inc. (NASDAQ:UDMY) is an ed-tech company headquartered in California. Udemy, Inc. (NASDAQ:UDMY) offers a range of courses for senior citizens. One of the courses, Learn How to Work at Home & Digital Marketing for Seniors, is home to 3,204 students and is rated 4.5. The course helps senior citizens learn the best way to run a business from home. The course targets several domains such as virtual assistance, online selling, online tutoring, blogging, freelancing, consulting, and translation, to name a few. GetSetUp is an online community of older adults wanting to learn new skills and connect with fellow older adults. GetSetUp is home to more than 4 million older adults. The platform focuses on helping individuals make extra income without leaving their homes, managing their fitness and health, enhancing their cooking skills, and getting acquainted with technology. The community helps older adults learn from each other. Now that we have discussed the position of senior citizens in the market, without further ado, let’s take a look at the 16 small business ideas for senior citizens. You can also read our piece on the best vacations for seniors on a budget. 16 Small Business Ideas for Senior Citizens Our Methodology To gather a list of the 16 small business ideas for senior citizens, we consulted over 10 rankings and reports on the internet. We picked the business ideas that appeared in 50% of our sources and then ranked them. 16 Small Business Ideas for Senior Citizens 16. Sewing and Tailoring Senior citizens can engage in the production of handmade clothing items either by sewing or crocheting. These products can then be sold on e-commerce platforms like Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN). Under the individual plan, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) charges $0.99 per item sold. The company trains potential merchants, provides seller support, helps them manage inventory, and allows them to integrate other applications. 15. Start a Newsletter Senior citizens usually have a lot of wisdom to share with others. Sites like Substack allow people to set up a newsletter. Senior citizens can share a weekly or bi-weekly newsletter with important life quotes. If the individuals specialize in a certain domain such as finance or property, they can also share opinions and insights on the industry via the newsletter. 14. Home Organization Starting a home organization business is another small business idea for senior citizens. Senior citizens can offer decluttering and organization services to other homes in the community. Senior citizens can market their services by word of mouth via community centers. 13. Public Speaking Public Speaking is one of the best small business ideas for senior citizens. Senior citizens have a wealth of experience in different domains. Senior citizens can leverage social media and YouTube to talk about things that matter the most to them. These include history lessons, political talk, or social talk. Senior citizens can also hire a freelance editor for their videos. The average cost per hour for a video editor on Upwork is $15 per hour. 12. Nutrition Coaching Senior citizens have ample experience in gauging healthy eating habits. To become a certified nutrition specialist, seniors can enroll in registered courses to ensure that the coaching they provide is credible. Seniors can enroll in senior centers and community programs to provide nutrition coaching to other seniors. 11. Fitness Training Senior citizens are increasingly becoming more conscious of their health and fitness. The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) allows people to become certified personal trainers through an online 4-week program. Anyone above the age of 18 can enroll in a certification with ISSA. The certification is accepted at most gyms in the US. On the other hand, senior citizens can also provide fitness training to other seniors in their own community. Seniors can also set up an Instagram account to publicize their fitness journey. Joan MacDonald is a public figure in her 70s. She runs an Instagram account by the name of trainwithjoan. The account has over 1.9 million followers. 10. Making Courses/Books Making courses and books is among the best business ideas for senior citizens. Users can create and sell courses on several platforms including Udemy, Inc. (NASDAQ:UDMY) and Teachable. Senior citizens can hire an assistant to manage the marketing and listing of the course. Teachable allows course creators to target influencers to hype up the course. Teachable offers a range of plans. The basic plan is available for $39 per month, the Pro plan is available for $119 per month, and the Pro+ is available for $199 per month. Teachable also offers a free plan, allowing creators to try and earn before they start paying. 9. Selling Handmade Crafts Senior citizens are regarded as very artsy. Seniors can create handmade crafts and then sell them on Etsy, Inc. (NASDAQ:ETSY). The handmade wooden chess set on Etsy, Inc. (NASDAQ:ETSY) is one of the best-selling items on the platform priced at $216.93. Etsy, Inc. (NASDAQ:ETSY) charges $0.20 per listing and then charges money for every sale made. A listing expires in 4 months and the listing fee has to be paid regardless of the sales made. 8. Career Coaching Senior citizens usually have great advice to offer to young adults and teenagers on their career trajectories. Senior citizens can provide career and life coaching to prevent young adults and teenagers from making crucial mistakes. Other niches seniors can target include health and wellness coaching and post-retirement coaching. Such can be done by joining community centers and partaking in workshops. 7. Food Business/Catering Senior citizens with a knack for cooking can start delivering homemade dishes in their neighborhood or beyond. Senior citizens can also cater small events like birthday parties and other gatherings. Business owners can focus on making signature family dishes or a specific cuisine. 6. Pet Care Providing pet care is among the best small business ideas for senior citizens. Some of the key services include dog walking and house sitting. Wag! is a site for pet caregivers available across the United States. It is home to more than 400,000 pet caregivers and has donated more than 16 million meals so far. Click to continue reading and see 5 Small Business Ideas for Senior Citizens. Suggested articles: 20 Most Food Insecure States in the US 15 Money Mistakes to Avoid in Your 30s 15 Key Questions To Ask Your Financial Advisor Disclosure: None. 16 Small Business Ideas for Senior Citizens is originally published on Insider Monkey......»»
Russia ordered new defenses meant to stop its navy getting humiliated by Ukrainian drones
The Kremlin appears desperate to stop the Ukrainian drone attacks that Kyiv says have helped disable a third of Russia's Black Sea fleet. Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in Moscow on February 23, 2024.ALEXANDER KAZAKOV via Getty ImagesRussia's defense minister visited the HQ of Russia's troubled Black Sea Fleet. Ukraine has scored a series of striking victories, sinking powerful warships with sea drones.The Russian minister, Sergei Shoigu, announced plans meant to stop that happening again. Russia's defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, issued new orders on Monday meant to stop so many Russian ships from being sunk by Ukraine.Russia's Defence Ministry on Sunday announced that Shoigu had visited the Russian Black Sea Fleet headquarters in occupied Crimea.There, Shoigu was updated on Ukrainian attacks on the fleet and ordered the fleet to conduct "training for personnel every day," the update said.It was to cover "how to repel attacks from the air and by uncrewed boats," reported the AFP newswire.He also ordered vessels to be fitted with extra weaponry, including large-caliber machine guns, to help repel attacks.The visit comes in the wake of a series of audacious sea-drone and missile attacks by Ukraine that devastated the fleet.It is unclear whether the new measures will help — footage of a previous sea-drone attack showed Russians attempting to counter them without much success.Ukraine claims to have sunk or disabled around a third of Russia's fleet, which was once the Black Sea's dominant naval power.It has been an unusual bright spot for Ukraine, which is heavily outmatched by Russia on land and in the air.The latest success came on March 6, when Ukraine said it used sea drones to sink the Sergei Kotov, a Russian patrol ship.The sinking provoked the fury of Russian nationalist bloggers who accused the Kremlin of incompetence.Mounting losses forced Russia to relocate vessels from Sevastopol to other, smaller ports on the Russian coast, such as Novorossiysk, which are further from the reach of Ukrainian drones and missiles.The Kremlin is said to have fired the fleet's commanding officer in response to the defeats, in keeping with other times it has removed senior figures without announcing it formally.Shoigu's visit appeared to be an attempt to shore up morale.The Institute for the Study of War, a US think tank, assessed that Shoigu was setting himself up to either claim credit if the new measures prove successful or "blame other commanders" should they fail.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Amazon reports ‘measurable progress’ on worker safety; critics object
Amazon’s safety data shows a decline in its warehouse injury rate in 2023, but critics disagree with how the company measures its worker safety. Amazon’s safety data shows a decline in its warehouse injury rate in 2023, marking an improvement for the second consecutive year, but critics disagree with how the company measures its worker safety. Amazon says the numbers point to a year of “meaningful, measurable progress,” as it continues to bring its injury rate down with investments in new technologies, training and “safety professionals.” But two labor advocacy groups say the company’s numbers don’t tell the full story and still show that workers inside Amazon are at a dangerously high risk of injury. “This is no great cause for celebration — improvement from a horrific injury rate … to a merely horrible injury rate,” said Irene Tung, a senior researcher and policy analyst at the nonprofit National Employment Law Project. The Seattle-based e-commerce giant’s recordable incident rate — a calculation of any work-related injuries that require more than basic first-aid treatment, according to Amazon — improved 8% from 2022 to 2023, based on the company’s annual safety report released last week. In 2023, it reported 4.7 injuries per 200,000 working hours at its global facilities, compared with 5.1 injuries per 200,000 working hours the year prior. That marks a significant decrease from 2019, one of the first years of data Amazon released publicly. That year, Amazon recorded 6.7 injuries per 200,000 working hours globally. That number dropped in 2020 to 5.1 before spiking again to 5.7 in 2021. Looking only at Amazon’s U.S. facilities, the injury rate is higher. In 2019, Amazon recorded 8.7 injuries per 200,000 working hours in the U.S. By 2023, that number dropped to 6.3. Sarah Rhoads, Amazon’s vice president for global workplace health and safety, wrote in a blog post last week that the company knows there is still work to be done. “As we’ve said in past years, we don’t aspire to be around the average — we want to be the best in the industries in which we operate,” Rhoads wrote. “We know that every incident number represents a person, which is why one incident is one too many.” Amazon says it is in line with its industry peers and, in some cases, has a lower injury rate than the average reported from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Amazon puts itself into two categories: the general warehousing and storage industry, and the courier and express delivery services industry. Amazon recorded 6.5 injuries per 200,000 working hours in its warehouse division in 2023, compared with the BLS average of 6.8 for warehouses with more than 1,000 employees, the company said last week. But the advocacy groups that have been tracking Amazon’s injury rate and performing their own analysis say this comparison is misleading. Because Amazon is so large, it skews the average injury rate, they say. “The bottom line is the difference between Amazon and everybody else is still huge,” Tung said. According to a National Employment Law Project analysis of data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Amazon makes up roughly 71% of the category for warehouses with more than 1,000 employees. Taking Amazon out of the calculation, the analysis found, the average injury rate for warehouses with more than 1,000 workers would drop from 6.8 to 3.6. That would put Amazon’s injury rate significantly above the industry average. “Amazon is releasing incomplete, cherry-picked claims about its injury record in order to deflect criticism of its terrible record on worker safety,” said Eric Frumin, the health and safety director at the Strategic Organizing Center, a group of labor unions. “Amazon’s claims about its injury record cannot be trusted, and are based on misleading comparisons designed to bolster the company’s rosy story, rather than improve worker safety.” A spokesperson for Amazon pushed back on the idea that it made up the majority of the industry category. The BLS average is based on survey data, they said, and acts as a good benchmark in the absence of a more conclusive way to compare themselves to other large warehouses. Much of the scrutiny around Amazon’s warehouses has focused on the high rate of musculoskeletal disorders— a type of injury often caused by repetitive motions, including things like sprains, strains and tears. In 2023, Amazon reported that musculoskeletal disorders, or MSDs, accounted for 57% of all recordable injuries at its facilities. That rate was about the same as the year prior, when Amazon reported 55% of injuries were MSDs. The other 43% of injuries last year were from slips, trips, falls or “occasional objects that came loose and fell,” Rhoads wrote in Amazon’s blog post. Amazon’s lost time incident rate — which measures the number of work-related injuries and illnesses that result in time away from work — also improved for the fourth year in a row, according to company data. Worldwide, the lost time incident rate dropped from 4 injuries per 200,000 working hours in 2019 to 1.6 injuries in 2023. In the U.S., the lost time incident rate dropped from a high of 5.1 in 2019 to 1.3 in 2023. Tung and Frumin said this drop could also tell an “incomplete” story, pointing to allegations that Amazon has pushed employees to return to work before they are fully recovered, consequently skewing the injury rate. “They say their numbers are coming down — well, their numbers are unreliable,” Frumin said. Last year, federal safety regulators from OSHA accused Amazon’s in-house medical team of discouraging workers from reporting injuries. When workers did make a report, the medical team pushed them to either return to the floor or take a leave of absence, OSHA alleged. Amazon denied these allegations and appealed the citation. The federal agency also cited Amazon over allegations that it had failed to properly record injuries in a New York warehouse. Amazon has settled that citation, agreeing to pay roughly $4,000, though court documents indicate the settlement does not mean Amazon admits to the allegations. An Amazon spokesperson said that the citation referred to clerical errors with reporting. Amazon now has 1.1 million employees in its global warehouse network and 9,000 “dedicated safety professionals,” Rhoads wrote in the blog post last week. It plans to invest $750 million in safety initiatives this year, adding to the $550 million it committed in 2023. The company conducted 6.3 million inspections and 240 audits globally last year, Rhoads wrote. A spokesperson declined to share if any of those audits or inspections took place in Washington. Federal and state regulators have cited Amazon numerous times in recent years for failing to create safe working conditions in its warehouses. Amazon has appealed most of those citations and is locked in a legal battle with Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries over four citations at three facilities in its hometown. Amazon and L&I are still awaiting a ruling in that trial, which began in July......»»
8 Cracker Brands to Try
Foods resembling crackers date back to the Roman Empire, but the first cracker made in the U.S. was purportedly created in 1792 by John Pearson in Newburyport, Massachusetts. He wanted to create a biscuit for sailors that would have a longer shelf life. Some of the first names of the product were “sea biscuits” and […] The post 8 Cracker Brands to Try appeared first on 24/7 Wall St.. Foods resembling crackers date back to the Roman Empire, but the first cracker made in the U.S. was purportedly created in 1792 by John Pearson in Newburyport, Massachusetts. He wanted to create a biscuit for sailors that would have a longer shelf life. Some of the first names of the product were “sea biscuits” and “hardtack,” but these creations were the precursor of one of America’s favorite snack foods: the cracker. It’s no wonder why we love crackers. They are easily portable, whether you’re setting out on a seafaring voyage or just heading to a neighbor’s house to watch the game. They are perfect for dipping, but can also be a great standalone snack. They are often a healthier alternative to deep-fried chips (although neither could reasonably qualify as truly healthy food.) And they are versatile. Crackers cover a lot of flavor profiles, from savory to salty to sweet to a mashup of different flavors. Some of the most popular crackers include cheese, graham, wheat, salted, butter, and many more flavors and textures. However, as is the case with almost every snack food, all crackers are not created equal. Some are okay. Some are just plain bad. And then there are some that rise to the top of the heap. Out of the seemingly endless list of flavors and styles of crackers, which are the best of the best? We found eight cracker brands that you really need to try. Some of them you’re almost certainly familiar with, while others might become your newly discovered favorites. 24/7 Wall St. compiled this list of cracker brands to try by consulting seven food review websites, blogs, and vlogs. We also consulted actual customer reviews on retail websites. Using an aggregate scoring system (and a little editorial discretion), we ranked these crackers from eighth to first place. 8. Saladitas Saladitas are not your ordinary saltine cracker. Company: Gamesa Expected Price: $3.99 Size: 18.6 ounces Saladitas Review Saladitas can be difficult to find in U.S. stores, but they are available on Amazon and other online retailers. A saltine is a saltine, right? Seriously, aren’t these basic crackers all the same? No, they are not! Have you ever tried Saladitas? These crackers are made in Mexico and are a notch above any saltine you’ve tried in the States. One reviewer said, “These things are flaky, salty, and crispy, while still being sturdy enough to handle a big ol’ scoop of ceviche. They have a deep, fresh flavor that so many other saltines just can’t match.” A customer concurred with this assessment, saying, “Our favorite Mexican eatery serves these crackers and we love them! Very crisp and much more flavor than even the ‘best’ saltines. Cost more but so worth it!” Saladitas can be difficult to find in American grocery stores, but they are available from online retailers, including Amazon. 7. Triscuit Triscuit crackers are a vegan food. Company: Mondelēz International Foodservice Expected Price: $3.78 Size: 8.5 ounces Triscuit Review The ingredients list on a box of Original Triscuit crackers couldn’t be simpler: whole-grain wheat, canola oil, and sea salt. That’s it. These crackers are a healthier alternative to other snacks and also fit into a vegan diet. Don’t let those facts trick you into thinking that Triscuits aren’t tasty, though. On the contrary, these super crunchy wheat crackers have a robust taste that is quite different from any other cracker on this list. One reviewer cheered, “…it’s hard to beat their coarse texture, unique bite, and deliciously wheaty flavor.” That same reviewer also noted that these crackers can be “divisive.” Some people “swear they taste like hay.” Don’t count us among those haters, though. We love a good Triscuit. And we’re certainly not alone. One customer said, “My family and I love eating Triscuits on a regular basis! These hardy crackers pair really well with sliced cheeses and meats, avocado, tuna, pepperoni, etc…These crackers aren’t too salty and have a nice crunch to them. We love them!” 6. Stonewall Kitchen Stonewall Kitchen’s sea salt crackers are a light and salty treat. Company: Stonewall Kitchen Expected Price: $5.99 Size: 5 ounces Stonewall Kitchen Review Stonewall Kitchen offers numerous cracker flavors, but the sea salt is our favorite. Stonewall Kitchen offers 15+ varieties of crackers and crisps. The Sea Salt variety has a nice, buttery flavor with just the right amount of salt. It is a more basic style of cracker than some others on this list, but the simplicity is at the core of its appeal. One reviewer said, “Stonewall Kitchen’s Sea Salt Crackers have a variety of uses — perhaps none as awesome as dipping in soup.” One customer noted these crackers are “flavorful from the first bite to the last bite, it is the best cracker I’ve ever eaten.” The one knock on Stonewall Kitchen crackers is the high price point. It is a premium cracker that sells at a premium price. Fans of this brand will tell you it’s worth the extra coin, though. 5. Goldfish Is there anything more iconic than Goldfish crackers? Company: Pepperidge Farm Expected Price: $3.69 Size: 6.6 ounces Goldfish Review These little fish-shaped crackers are just as tasty and satisfying as you remember. These classics are packed with nostalgia. Who didn’t love Goldfish crackers as a kid? Well, kids still love them, but these baked cheddar crackers appeal to a lot of adults, too. There are many more varieties of Goldfish than you might remember from your childhood. Today, you can buy Flavor Blasted and Mega Bites Goldfish crackers. You can find pizza, parmesan, pretzel, and even sweet graham cracker flavors. In our opinion, though, nothing beats the Baked Cheddar flavor. One customer said, “My family loves Goldfish and [we] always have a bag in the pantry.” Another customer felt their comment would be lost in the expanse of the internet, but it is not so. We found it and we’re sharing it. “Ok, honestly, who is going to need to read this? EVERYONE loves Goldfish already!!! Plus they are [great] snack packets to leave in the car for the red light stop….or waiting for the kids’ pick up….or sneaking late at night….. I know YOU never sneak late at night? :)” Nope. Never. Well, on second thought… 4. Honey Maid There is real honey in every Honey Maid graham cracker. Company: Mondelēz International Foodservice Expected Price: $4.68 Size: 14.4 ounces Honey Maid Review Honey Maid graham crackers are a yummy treat for the whole family. Honey Maid is the only graham cracker to appear on this list, but it is a staple of many dessert recipes. It is also an essential provision on any camping trip because s’mores. These crackers have been made with real honey since they launched in 1925. That delightful sweetness remains unbeaten nearly a century later. One customer noted, “[Honey Maid graham crackers] are crunchy, hearty, and have a delicious mild honey flavor. Seriously, so good by themselves, but even better, when accompanied with a glass of milk!” Another said, “I can’t believe I wasted so many years not enjoying [Honey Maid] graham crackers as a snack. I had them plain right out of the box, crumbled on yogurt, with peanut butter, and every way I tried them, I loved them! They are sweet, but not too sweet, and crunchy so [they] can satisfy any craving. These will absolutely be a closet staple from now on.” (And, as if you needed another reason to buy these honey-sweet treats, graham crackers top the list of 25 junk foods that are actually not so bad for you.) 3. Crunchmaster Crunchmaster is a tasty baked rice cracker. Company: TH Foods Expected Price: $3.99 Size: 4 ounces Crunchmaster Review If you’re hungry for a different cracker experience, check out Crunchmaster. These baked rice crackers feature a flavor profile unlike any other cracker on this list. They are also gluten-free, which opens up a whole new audience that often has to ignore their cracker cravings. One review said these crackers are wonderfully “salty” and “nutty.” They went on to say, “Crunchmaster is truly the master of crunch and we love them for it.” If you’re skeptical that a gluten-free cracker can actually taste good, we completely understand. But listen to what this customer had to say: “Honestly, I expected them to taste like cardboard but I was very surprised! These crackers almost have a chip-like appearance and they are definitely crispy. They have this extremely pleasant sesame flavor. I actually looked for reasons not to like these going in, but now I am hooked!” 2. Cheez-It What school lunch is complete without a bag of Cheez-It crackers? Company: Kellanova Expected Price: $5.78 Size: 21 ounces Cheez-It Review Are they the cheesiest? Yes, they are. If cheese crackers are your jam, then Cheez-It is your brand. While other crackers call for dip or some topping to complete them, Cheez-It crackers stand up all by themselves. With nearly 30 different varieties of flavors and textures, Cheez-It can satisfy virtually any snack craving. However, the Original is, and likely will always be, the king. These crackers claim to be “the cheesiest” in their over-acted, melodramatic ads, but the claim itself can’t be denied. The cheddar cheese flavor stands out from any other cracker on the market. As one reviewer said, “Those tiny baked orange crackers, with their precisely correct hint of salt, remain an out-of-the-park hit…” Cheez-It crackers have been a snacking staple in the U.S. for well over 100 years and the popularity of these cheesy crackers continues to grow. One customer said, “Best snack ever. I have loved these since kindergarten. These are the GOAT of snacks.” We agree. But don’t worry…these crackers don’t actually contain goat. 1. Ritz In the battle for cracker supremacy, Ritz is the clear champion. Company: Mondelēz International Foodservice Expected Price: $5.79 Size: 20.5 ounces Ritz Review Salty. Buttery. Simply the best. That’s what you can expect from Ritz crackers. The winner of the best cracker battle was clear. Totally, obviously, unmistakably clear. Ritz won this cracker showdown in a landslide. There are over 25 different varieties of Ritz crackers, but the original is still the undisputed champion. As one reviewer put it, there are a lot of “brands attempting to imitate this classic cracker…[but] nothing can quite replicate salty, buttery, toasty, crunchy Ritz.” Another mused, “When it comes to the king of them all, only one can be ‘puttin’ on the ritz.’” The success of Ritz crackers is found in their simplicity. A rich, buttery flavor. A little salt. Perfectly toasted. It is beautiful, simple cracker perfection, and Americans can’t get enough of them. In fact, in a recent study by the research and analytics firm, YouGov, Ritz was not only the most popular cracker in the U.S., but it was the sixth most popular snack food brand period. These delicious buttery crackers only trailed M&M’s, Reese’s, Oreo, Snickers, and Lay’s. One customer gushed about Ritz crackers, saying, “These yummy crackers are a staple in our house. They are so buttery and delicious! We love them with cheese or peanut butter and one of my favorite ways to have them is with tuna or chicken salad. My daughter loves to just eat them plain. They are good with practically any topping so it’s fun to see what combinations we can come up with. The possibilities are endless!” We couldn’t agree more. Plain, topped, dipped…however you like to eat them, you will not find a better cracker than Ritz. Take This Retirement Quiz To Get Matched With An Advisor Now (Sponsored) Are you ready for retirement? Planning for retirement can be overwhelming, that’s why it could be a good idea to speak to a fiduciary financial advisor about your goals today. Start by taking this retirement quiz right here from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes. Smart Asset is now matching over 50,000 people a month. Click here now to get started. The post 8 Cracker Brands to Try appeared first on 24/7 Wall St.......»»
Sunday links: when irrationality takes over
MarketsMarket valuations aren't that helpful in the short term. (tker.co)The U.S. yield curve has been inverted for a record amount of time. (ft.com)StrategyWhy you can ignore all the magazine cover commentary. (downtownjoshbrown.com)Why it's so hard to profit from a big trend, like AI. (wsj.com)FinanceA Reddit IPO is another sign that VCs are coming to terms with a new reality. (ft.com)Who would be a buyer of an independent TikTok? (axios.com)Private equity return dispersion is a problem. (mrzepczynski.blogspot.com)How search funds work. (nytimes.com)PolicyHow much the U.S. relies foreign born STEM talent. (axios.com)Everybody wants simpler taxes, but it never happens. (wsj.com)Why so many members of Congress are calling it quits. (vox.com)There is a growing GOP caucus to work on climate change. (wsj.com)Marriage is a good deal, financially, in the U.S. (vox.com)Anti-IVF has found traction because a small minority oppose it vehemently. (theatlantic.com)Children are becoming a luxury good. (bloomberg.com)EconomyConsumer balance sheets are in good shape. (awealthofcommonsense.com)Shelter inflation is still going to come down this year. (disciplinefunds.com)One reason why inflation isn't slowing as fast as hoped. (ft.com)Industrial production is fading. (bonddad.blogspot.com)The economic schedule for the coming week. (calculatedriskblog.com)Earlier on Abnormal ReturnsTop clicks last week on the site. (abnormalreturns.com)What you missed in our Saturday linkfest. (abnormalreturns.com)Are you a financial adviser looking for some out-of-the-box thinking? Then check out our weekly e-mail newsletter. (newsletter.abnormalreturns.com)Mixed mediaOn the end of the 6% real estate commission. (cnn.com)The management consulting business is struggling. (wsj.com)Nobody is happy with the state of dating apps. (nytimes.com).....»»
Harvard Medical School Professor Was Fired Over Not Getting COVID Vaccine
Harvard Medical School Professor Was Fired Over Not Getting COVID Vaccine Authored by Zachary Stieber via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), A Harvard Medical School professor who refused to get a COVID-19 vaccine has been terminated, according to documents reviewed by The Epoch Times. Martin Kulldorff, epidemiologist and statistician, at his home in Ashford, Conn., on Feb. 11, 2022. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Martin Kulldorff, an epidemiologist, was fired by Mass General Brigham in November 2021 over noncompliance with the hospital’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate after his requests for exemptions from the mandate were denied, according to one document. Mr. Kulldorff was also placed on leave by Harvard Medical School (HMS) because his appointment as professor of medicine there “depends upon” holding a position at the hospital, another document stated. Mr. Kulldorff asked HMS in late 2023 how he could return to his position and was told he was being fired. “You would need to hold an eligible appointment with a Harvard-affiliated institution for your HMS academic appointment to continue,” Dr. Grace Huang, dean for faculty affairs, told the epidemiologist and biostatistician. She said the lack of an appointment, combined with college rules that cap leaves of absence at two years, meant he was being terminated. Mr. Kulldorff disclosed the firing for the first time this month. “While I can’t comment on the specifics due to employment confidentiality protections that preclude us from doing so, I can confirm that his employment agreement was terminated November 10, 2021,” a spokesperson for Brigham and Women’s Hospital told The Epoch Times via email. Mass General Brigham granted just 234 exemption requests out of 2,402 received, according to court filings in an ongoing case that alleges discrimination. The hospital said previously, “We received a number of exemption requests, and each request was carefully considered by a knowledgeable team of reviewers.” “A lot of other people received exemptions, but I did not,” Mr. Kulldorff told The Epoch Times. Mr. Kulldorff was originally hired by HMS but switched departments in 2015 to work at the Department of Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, which is part of Mass General Brigham and affiliated with HMS. “Harvard Medical School has affiliation agreements with several Boston hospitals which it neither owns nor operationally controls,” an HMS spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email. “Hospital-based faculty, such as Mr. Kulldorff, are employed by one of the affiliates, not by HMS, and require an active hospital appointment to maintain an academic appointment at Harvard Medical School.” HMS confirmed that some faculty, who are tenured or on the tenure track, do not require hospital appointments. Natural Immunity Before the COVID-19 vaccines became available, Mr. Kulldorff contracted COVID-19. He was hospitalized but eventually recovered. That gave him a form of protection known as natural immunity. According to a number of studies, including papers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, natural immunity is better than the protection bestowed by vaccines. Other studies have found that people with natural immunity face a higher risk of problems after vaccination. Mr. Kulldorff expressed his concerns about receiving a vaccine in his request for a medical exemption, pointing out a lack of data for vaccinating people who suffer from the same issue he does. “I already had superior infection-acquired immunity; and it was risky to vaccinate me without proper efficacy and safety studies on patients with my type of immune deficiency,” Mr. Kulldorff wrote in an essay. In his request for a religious exemption, he highlighted an Israel study that was among the first to compare protection after infection to protection after vaccination. Researchers found that the vaccinated had less protection than the naturally immune. “Having had COVID disease, I have stronger longer lasting immunity than those vaccinated (Gazit et al). Lacking scientific rationale, vaccine mandates are religious dogma, and I request a religious exemption from COVID vaccination,” he wrote. Both requests were denied. Mr. Kulldorff is still unvaccinated. “I had COVID. I had it badly. So I have infection-acquired immunity. So I don’t need the vaccine,” he told The Epoch Times. Dissenting Voice Mr. Kulldorff has been a prominent dissenting voice during the COVID-19 pandemic, countering messaging from the government and many doctors that the COVID-19 vaccines were needed, regardless of prior infection. He spoke out in an op-ed in April 2021, for instance, against requiring people to provide proof of vaccination to attend shows, go to school, and visit restaurants. “The idea that everybody needs to be vaccinated is as scientifically baseless as the idea that nobody does. Covid vaccines are essential for older, high-risk people and their caretakers and advisable for many others. But those who’ve been infected are already immune,” he wrote at the time. Mr. Kulldorff later co-authored the Great Barrington Declaration, which called for focused protection of people at high risk while removing restrictions for younger, healthy people. Harsh restrictions such as school closures “will cause irreparable damage” if not lifted, the declaration stated. The declaration drew criticism from Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Dr. Rochelle Walensky, who became the head of the CDC, among others. In a competing document, Dr. Walensky and others said that “relying upon immunity from natural infections for COVID-19 is flawed” and that “uncontrolled transmission in younger people risks significant morbidity(3) and mortality across the whole population.” “Those who are pushing these vaccine mandates and vaccine passports—vaccine fanatics, I would call them—to me they have done much more damage during this one year than the anti-vaxxers have done in two decades,” Mr. Kulldorff later said in an EpochTV interview. “I would even say that these vaccine fanatics, they are the biggest anti-vaxxers that we have right now. They’re doing so much more damage to vaccine confidence than anybody else.” Surveys indicate that people have less trust now in the CDC and other health institutions than before the pandemic, and data from the CDC and elsewhere show that fewer people are receiving the new COVID-19 vaccines and other shots. Support The disclosure that Mr. Kulldorff was fired drew criticism of Harvard and support for Mr. Kulldorff. The termination “is a massive and incomprehensible injustice,” Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, an ethics expert who was fired from the University of California–Irvine School of Medicine for not getting a COVID-19 vaccine because he had natural immunity, said on X. “The academy is full of people who declined vaccines—mostly with dubious exemptions—and yet Harvard fires the one professor who happens to speak out against government policies.” Dr. Vinay Prasad, an epidemiologist at the University of California–San Francisco, wrote in a blog post. “It looks like Harvard has weaponized its policies and selectively enforces them.” A petition to reinstate Mr. Kulldorff has garnered more than 1,800 signatures. Some other doctors said the decision to let Mr. Kulldorff go was correct. “Actions have consequence,” Dr. Alastair McAlpine, a Canadian doctor, wrote on X. He said Mr. Kulldorff had “publicly undermine[d] public health.” Tyler Durden Sat, 03/16/2024 - 21:00.....»»
25 Best AI Marketing Tools for Corporations in 2024
In this article, we will take a look at the 25 best AI marketing tools for corporations in 2024. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to 5 Best AI Marketing Tools for Corporations in 2024. What Does Artificial Intelligence Hold in 2024? On February 28, Canva published a report […] In this article, we will take a look at the 25 best AI marketing tools for corporations in 2024. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to 5 Best AI Marketing Tools for Corporations in 2024. What Does Artificial Intelligence Hold in 2024? On February 28, Canva published a report on the challenges and opportunities artificial intelligence will bring in 2024. Canva surveyed more than 1,350 CIOs. According to the report, the adoption of artificial intelligence is expected to increase. International organizations have been investing 30% of their IT budgets in producing AI-backed services, applications, tools, and solutions. 94% of the respondents aim to increase their budgets dedicated to creating AI solutions in 2024. Most CIOs believe that artificial intelligence is as important as other technologies. CIOs also understand the risks associated with the use of artificial intelligence. More than 70% of IT leaders have installed guardrails to ensure the responsible use of AI. You can also take a look at the top alternatives to Adobe Creative Cloud in 2024. Jasper AI is one of the leading artificial intelligence tools in the market. Jasper is an AI copilot for AI marketing teams. More than 100,000 companies across the globe use the AI tool. Jasper AI helps companies create AI-assisted content, curate analytics and insights, enhance team communication, and improve company knowledge of important things. Jasper operates across a range of domains including project management, content creation, repackaging, reviews, and optimization. It automates projects and develops multichannel campaigns. In 2024, the Jasper AI will be able to extract summaries from reviews and comments online. It will also be able to edit content and boost SEO performance. Marketing Giants and the AI Tools They Offer HubSpot, Inc. (NYSE:HUBS), Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM), and Marketo, Inc., a product of Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ:ADBE), are among the largest marketing automation platforms that offer unmatched artificial intelligence tools. Let’s read some offerings and updates from these companies. You can also take a look at the best Canva alternatives in 2024. HubSpot, Inc. (NYSE:HUBS) is one of the leading marketing automation platforms. HubSpot, Inc. (NYSE:HUBS) offers a range of artificial intelligence tools and solutions. The company owns a free AI content writer enabling companies to produce on-brand content with the help of AI. Users can generate copies, conduct market research, draft emails, and build websites, all with the help of artificial intelligence. Some of the popular AI tools by the company include the AI content writer, the Website Generator, the Social Caption Generator, the AI Blog writer, the AI Email Writer, and the Meta Description Generator. Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) is one of the largest enterprise solutions. Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) offers elaborate marketing capabilities, and AI backs some of them. Users can build and customize a conversational AI assistant for their CRM platform, manage data, and conduct research. Some of the marketing tools backed by AI include enhanced customer engagement tools, personalized customer journey markers, segment creators, and content developers. Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) also owns Einstein, an AI tool that rates and scores a company’s marketing campaign. Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ:ADBE) is home to some of the leading design and marketing tools. Marketo, Inc. is a marketing automation software and a product of Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ:ADBE). Marketo Engage uses AI from Adobe Sensei to predict content, discover content, and power recommendations. This helps marketers create targeted campaigns and develop enhanced content by leveraging data mining and modeling. Now that we deeply studied the role of artificial intelligence in marketing, without further ado, let’s take a look at the 25 best AI marketing tools for corporations in 2024. You can also read our piece on the best Ahrefs alternatives in 2024. 25 Best AI Marketing Tools for Corporations in 2024 Our Methodology To come up with the 25 best AI marketing tools for corporations in 2024, we employed a consensus approach. We consulted more than 10 rankings on the internet to aggregate the best AI marketing tools. Of them, we picked items that appeared in 50% of our sources. We then ranked our items based on the average customer star rating and the total number of reviews across four sources including G2, Capterra, GetApp, and TrustPilot. It is to be noted that we only included software with total reviews of more than 1,000 and an average customer star rating of at least 4.0. Our list of the 25 best AI marketing tools for corporations in 2024 is in ascending order of the average customer star rating as a primary metric, and the total number of reviews as a secondary metric. 25 Best AI Marketing Tools for Corporations in 2024 25. DeepBrain AI Average Customer Star Rating: 4.07 Total Number of Reviews: 1,370 DeepBrain AI is one of the best AI video generators. The Sora AI allows companies to generate videos. The ChatGPT AI video generator also automates scripts, creates more than 100 AI avatars, and personalizes content. 24. Skai Average Customer Star Rating: 4.10 Total Number of Reviews: 1,675 Skai has been using AI since 2006 to streamline its functionalities. The company provides AI powered campaign insights on trending products, provides creative insights, and conducts a search term analysis. It also provides advanced automated actions, AI Dayparting, portfolio optimization, and intent-driven messaging. 23. HootSuite AI Average Customer Star Rating: 4.25 Total Number of Reviews: 8,967 With an average customer star rating of 4.25, HootSuite AI ranks 23rd on our list of the best AI marketing tools for corporations in 2024. OwlyWriter is an AI tool that helps companies manage and execute their social media content. 22. QuillBot AI Average Customer Star Rating: 4.27 Total Number of Reviews: 1,512 QuillBot AI is one of the best AI tools companies can use for marketing in 2024. QuillBot AI is a productivity tool that helps authors write and edit faster to ensure content remains cohesive and readable. 21. Brandwatch Average Customer Star Rating: 4.28 Total Number of Reviews: 1,401 Brandwatch ranks 21st on our list of the best AI marketing tools for corporations in 2024. The social suite uses AI to help companies discover new trends and enhance their marketing strategies. It has an average customer star rating of 4.28. 20. Albert AI Average Customer Star Rating: 4.35 Total Number of Reviews: 1,537 Albert AI ranks 20th on our list of the best AI marketing tools for corporations in 2024. The advertising tool helps companies optimize campaign performance, create ads, and ensure the right keywords are being used for the right target segment. 19. Copy.ai Average Customer Star Rating: 4.53 Total Number of Reviews: 1,290 Copy.ai is one of the best AI tools corporations can use for marketing. The GTM AI platform helps companies streamline their sales and marketing processes. It can create content for companies and enhance their customer relationship management capabilities. 18. Zapier AI Average Customer Star Rating: 4.55 Total Number of Reviews: 4,736 Zapier AI is an automation tool. It helps companies personalize emails, automate support services, or summarize content. Zapier AI ranks 18th on our list of the best AI marketing tools for corporations in 2024. 17. Surfer AI Average Customer Star Rating: 4.60 Total Number of Reviews: 1,290 Surfer AI is a free article outline generator and writing tool. It helps create articles within minutes by assisting in research, writing, and optimization. It has an average customer star rating of 4.6. 16. Conversica Average Customer Star Rating: 4.60 Total Number of Reviews: 1,494 Conversica is an AI-powered conversational tool. The tool helps virtual assistants assist their customers via email, chat, and SMS. It ranks 16th on our list of the best AI marketing tools for corporations in 2024. 15. Synthesia Average Customer Star Rating: 4.60 Total Number of Reviews: 2,898 Synthesia is one of the best AI marketing tools for corporations in 2024. It is one of the best video generators. It can easily convert text to videos, create videos, and develop avatars. It has an average customer star rating of 4.6. 14. Notion AI Average Customer Star Rating: 4.60 Total Number of Reviews: 8,011 Notion AI ranks 14th on our list of the best AI tools corporations can use for marketing. The tool helps marketers by curating pages for companies. It also helps them derive key insights from databases to contextualize the meaning behind the data. 13. Grammarly AI Average Customer Star Rating: 4.60 Total Number of Reviews: 17,901 Grammarly AI is one of the best AI writing and text generation tools. The tool ensures the generated text and edit options are in line with the author’s writing style. The tool has an average customer star rating of 4.6. 12. ChatGPT Average Customer Star Rating: 4.63 Total Number of Reviews: 1,028 ChatGPT is one of the best tools companies can use for marketing purposes. The generative AI tool can be used for research, content creation, strategy organization, and outline creation. Companies can develop specific prompts to ensure the generated content is on-brand. 11. Jasper AI Average Customer Star Rating: 4.63 Total Number of Reviews: 7,216 Jasper AI is an assisted AI tool. The tool helps companies create content, analyze performance, and derive important insights. The tool is used by more than 100,000 companies across the globe. 10. Acrolinx Average Customer Star Rating: 4.67 Total Number of Reviews: 2,765 Acrolinx is one of the best AI marketing tools for corporations in 2024. The platform offers generative AI tools. The platform ensures that content is aligned with the brand’s values and that the visibility of their content is improved. 9. Tidio Average Customer Star Rating: 4.67 Total Number of Reviews: 3,694 Tidio is a leading AI-backed customer service platform. The company provides growing businesses with support services. Key features include a live chat feature and other helpdesk tools. The average customer star rating of Tidio is 4.67. 8. Canva Average Customer Star Rating: 4.67 Total Number of Reviews: 17,742 Canva is one of the leading platforms for design. The software is also home to some of the leading AI design tools. These include the Cnava AI Image Generator, Magic Design, and the Canva AI Art Generator. The tools assist in improving content, creating images, and adding effects. 7. Brand24 Average Customer Star Rating: 4.70 Total Number of Reviews: 1,598 Brand24 is one of the best AI marketing tools for corporations in 2024. The tool is a leading artificial intelligence backed social listening tool. It helps marketers gain important insights from their mentions across social media, blogs, videos, podcasts, and reviews. 6. Murf AI Average Customer Star Rating: 4.70 Total Number of Reviews: 1,786 Murf AI ranks sixth on our list of the best AI marketing tools for corporations in 2024. The tool is an AI voice generator. It automatically converts text to speech, allowing marketers to create voiceovers. Click to continue reading and see 5 Best AI Marketing Tools for Corporations in 2024. Suggested articles: Analysts on Wall Street Lower Ratings for These 10 Stocks 20 Biggest Natural Gas Companies in the World 15 Best Alternatives to Starbucks Coffee Disclosure: None. 25 Best AI Marketing Tools for Corporations in 2024 is originally published on Insider Monkey......»»
America The Snackable
America The Snackable Authored by Charles Hugh Smith via OfTwoMinds blog, There is only one pathway to health and sanity: stop consuming snackables of any kind. Everything in America has become snackable: devoid of value, easily consumed, intentionally addictive, and ultimately destructive to all that is healthy for individuals, communities and society at large. The core features of edible snackables are self-evident yet worthy of a closer look due to the severity of the consequences: 1. The snack is made of highly processed ingredients. 2. The snack has high concentrations of sugar, salt and unhealthy oils/fats. 3. The snack has low nutritional value (empty calories) and is not beneficial to health. 4. The snack is packaged in small quantities so the price appears cheap but is revealed as expensive when converted to price per pound. 5. The snack's "serving size" may be deceptively presented: a 4-ounce package may have a calorie count based on a "serving size" of 2 ounces, as if the package contains two servings when everyone knows a single individual will consume the entire snack. 6. The snack is a legal addictive product as the snack has been designed to hijack humans' innate receptors for sugar, salt and fat and satisfying mouthfeel. (Bet ya can't have just one.) Highly processed, highly addictive, low nutritional value foods are a key driver of America's declining health. All these foods share the same characteristics of the manufactured snackables: they are heavily marketed, highly profitable and contribute to obesity and metabolic disorders. When only one-quarter of the adult populace is normal weight, this leads to a host of chronic health disorders including higher risks of heart disease and many cancers, as well as the spectrum of metabolic disorders such as diabetes and prediabetes. Here are the facts: over 73% of adult Americans are overweight or obese. Given that almost 3/4 of adult Americans are overweight or obese, it shouldn't surprise us that 52% of adult Americans are diabetic or prediabetic. This is a sobering trend, one that won't be reversed by $1,000 a month weight-loss medications which cease to be effective once they're no longer consumed. These medications don't change the patients' diets from highly processed foods to only unprocessed real food, and so the benefits are inherently narrower than advertised. The snack and beverage aisles take up an astounding amount of space in America's specialty-groceries and supermarkets. These are the profit-generators, and so the processed-food manufacturers and grocery retailers are constantly seeking to entice more addicts with new novelties. For example: Trader Joe's Has Been Releasing A Ton Of New Products Lately. Consuming this kind of high-fat, empty-calorie snack isn't going to generate a healthy lifestyle. The marketing of novelty is as refined and devoid of value as the snacks being manufactured and sold: As those with any knowledge and experience of fitness know, the notion that it's possible to burn off the empty calories of snacks with a bit more exercise is a fantasy--hence America's bulging waistlines and declining health. The enormous profitability of edible snacks is mirrored in all the other manifestations of America the Snackable: our daily lives are now composed of one bite-sized addictive snack of social media, novelty memes, political opinion, financial data-snacks and pundits' opinions and snackable videos after another. Attention spans and the ability to grasp complex issues have withered to snack-size, and whatever is being marketed as "ideas" are as devoid of value as an empty-calorie snack. All share the same characteristics: they are addictive, bite-sized, packaged deceptively, marketed as novelty, devoid of value, destructive to human health and most importantly, astoundingly profitable. So the edible snacks generate chronic illnesses which then provide fodder for highly profitable medications, while the inherently deranging snackables of social media, videos, entertainment, political opinions and memes-du-jour fuel mental disorders which provide fodder for a vast spectrum of highly profitable medications. There is only one pathway to health and sanity: stop consuming snackables of any kind. Yes, the only solution is cold turkey, baby, and like all addictions, it's painful at first, and then it becomes a great relief to be freed of the addictions. * * * Become a $1/month patron of my work via patreon.com. Subscribe to my Substack for free Tyler Durden Sat, 03/16/2024 - 12:50.....»»
Europe Panics As Trump Rises From The Political Grave
Europe Panics As Trump Rises From The Political Grave Authored by Tom Luongo via Gold, Goats, 'n Guns blog, So last week was fun. It started with the US Supreme Court’s 9-0 beatdown of using the 14th Amendment to punish political opponents. Then the Wicked Witch of Kiev, Vic(Toria) “Cookies” Nuland was forced out at the State Department after decades of torturing the world with her psychopathy. Then Donald Trump pretty much sent Nikki Haley back to her Waffle House outside of Greenville. It ended with French President Emmanuel Macron making “believe me” eyes at the world that NATO was ready and willing to send troops to Ukraine. Whose troops? Clearly not French troops, which are only good at this point for “going on safari in northern Africa,” according to Col. Doug MacGregor. Also, clearly not British ships, which can’t seem to get out of port. I think I’m noting a kind of tit for tat going on between Boeing airline failures and British naval ones… but I could just be conspiratorial like that. *bong* No, the answer has always been that it would be US troops in Europe fighting Europe’s war that everyone — The UK, Davos and their EU apparatchiks, and the US Neocons — thought would be a slam dunk to bleed Russia out. And I’m sure that’s exactly the way they plotted it out in their Microsoft Project file over at Globalist Central. That has obviously not taken place and it is Ukraine that is now in serious trouble. Truth be told, which has been in very short supply since the war started two years ago, Ukraine has always been in serious trouble. And that has led, predictably, to the situation we see now. US support for Project Ukraine is coming to an end, if it hasn’t ended already. And the panic in Europe is palpable. This was all very predictable if you accepted the framework that there was a split at the top of the US hierarchy. One faction committed to the Davos vision of the future which implied a compliant, even beaten, US and another that looked up from their quote screens and said, “Uh… no.” The handwriting was on the wall about eight months ago when the big NATO Summit in Vilnius ended with the whimper by then UK Defense Minister Ben Wallace. Wallace was supposed to replace Jens Stoltenberg as NATO General Secretary and was shot down by no less than Joe Biden (JOAH Bii-Den!). After that, there was no more real talk of Ukraine joining NATO. Zelenskyy went back to Kiev with the big sads after Biden gave him nothing as well. Then, in October, US Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy was ousted in a coup by Matt Gaetz and a handful of GOP fiscal hardliners. They immediately got new Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to tie all further foreign aid funding to as many spending cuts and dollars for border security as a slim majority in Congress would allow. And since then Biden has been forced to look under the couches at the Pentagon for a few spare millions to send to Ukraine. He found 300 of them the other day As bad as things are, that the number starts with an ‘m’ rather than a ‘b’ has to be considered a victory. The Senate tried to blackmail Johnson with their ridiculous $95 billion aid bill and Johnson just ‘boss moved’ Chuck Schumer by calling a two-week recess. Now, the best they can hope for a smaller bill with a lend/lease contingent with no money going to ‘humanitarian aid’ — a euphemism for pocket lining. And despite his movement towards the Senate warhawks, Johnson is still using Ukraine aid as a means to push domestic funding reforms first. Every day these things are haggled over is another day which runs out the clock on Project Ukraine as Russian forces take towns and villages daily in the Western Donbass. Again, not an ideal solution by any stretch of the imagination, but a Pyrrhic victory nonetheless. But this is the state of play after last week and it’s far better than it was at the beginning of the year, since this money was already expected six months ago. It’s put Europe in the position of finally removing the mask completely. Because as the US keeps slowly pulling away from Ukraine the calls from the EU for America to stay the course grow louder and more strident. Remember, that in 2022-23 when it looked like the US was hellbent on going forward in Ukraine, European leaders like Macron and others were more circumspect. They wanted to virtue signal about the dangers of Ukraine escalating. They got to look like the moderates in the war room, while still sending billions in aid and weapons, arm-twisting everyone into compliance. The real mask-off event for Europe’s real position on this war was their threatening Hungary’s Viktor Orban with complete economic devastation if he didn’t allow their $50 billion aid package to go through the European Council. Now that all of Nuland’s military plans have failed, Ukraine’s army has been destroyed for the third time, and all of their attempts to undermine the US legally and economically (Powell must Pivot!) have fizzled, Europe finds itself in the blind panic. Because as poll after poll suggests, Trump will return to the White House in January and has plans to end the killing and the other shenanigans in Ukraine quickly. Orban is acting as Trump’s voice of reason to both Eastern Europe as well as Russia itself.: Orban, who spoke with Trump at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Friday, did not explain how exactly the American would do that, but said that cutting the flow of US aid was a crucial part of the plan. ”If the US will not provide the money, Europeans on their own will not be able to finance this war, and then the war will end,” Orban said in an interview with M1 broadcaster on Sunday. During his presidency, Trump had shown himself to be “a man of peace,” the Hungarian leader claimed. That stance puts him in alignment with Hungary, unlike the administration of US President Joe Biden and many members of the EU, he added. ”The American Democratic government and the leadership of the EU, as well as the leadership of the largest EU member states are pro-war governments. Donald Trump is pro-peace, Hungary is pro-peace. At the bottom of everything lies this difference,” Orban declared. Trump’s many things, but he is no dummy when it comes to money. Cut the flow of funds and you end the war. The wildcard is the seizure of Russia’s foreign exchange assets which would be the dumbest thing all these people could do. This is why they won’t shut up about it. For his part, Putin is as done with the current regime in the EU as he is with the Biden junta in the US. He’s tried to reason with them, and all we hear is the most over-the-top vitriol from the usual suspects, like Macron. Putin understands now that the only diplomacy will occur is at the point of his gun or not at all. And if Ukraine is going to escalate on behalf of Europe to attack critical infrastructure inside Russia he will take the gloves completely off, rather than just carpet bomb the line of contact. I told you last year that no matter what the West thinks there will be “No Truce With the Heartland.” And the way for Russia to beat the west in Ukraine was to continue letting them think they had a chance to win by leaving just enough hope to have the West keep funneling billions into a slaughterhouse. But, regardless of any of that, there will be no truce in the Heartland. Russia will not back down. China will back them to the end, as will OPEC+ and the rest of Central Asia. But they will not escalate one inch further than they need to. Allowing the West to keep thinking they can win is the ultimate form of grinding out a superior opponent. And even if Ukraine winds up being a decade-long meat grinder with no clear victor, it will serve everyday as a warning to the rest of Asia that there is no going back and their future is better served with their neighbors than accepting bribes to remain viceroys on the West’s payroll. Soulless ghouls like David Cameron and Lindsey Graham think this is the best money ever spent, killing Russians without any real European or American lives being spent. I guess Slavs aren’t people too. And I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that’s exactly what has happened, Russia has led Europe into the ultimate cauldron, which now looks more like a political and economic black hole. And we’re far beyond the event horizon. What it has done has left the world with no doubt what the real agenda behind this war, which really has very little to do with Russia itself. The real agenda is preserving the colonialist business model of old Europe and Great Britain which the US was seduced into believing we were equal partners in. Clearly we aren’t in their minds. If I’ve come to understand anything over the past few years of covering geopolitics it is that every time you think you understand the imperatives behind current events, another layer is peeled back to reveal an even deeper truth. And today that deeper truth is that this is Europe’s war with Russia because with a Russian victory in Ukraine they are at the mercy of all the world’s major energy producers — the US, Russia, the Middle East. This isn’t about Russia’s aggression, or the redrawing of borders through military means. So, with their true face revealed and their quislings in the US Capitol calling in every marker, we’re going to watch this tragedy drawn out for another year or two in the hope that the US commits suicide on their behalf. For whatever reason actually motivates them, people like Mitch McConnell, Graham and John Cornyn will happily sell what’s left of the country out to salvage their own pathetic skins. The fact that they’d do this for a bunch of equally pathetic Eurocrats is the most tragic part of this entire affair. But this is how change ultimately has to occur, by pushing the real motivators to the front of the stage, shining the klieg lights on them and watching them squirm before unleashing another round of rotten food at them. And what better humiliation for them than for Donald Trump to be the guy passing out tomatoes… * * * Join my Patreon if you like throwing fruit. Tyler Durden Sat, 03/16/2024 - 10:30.....»»
Terry Savage: The dangers of debt
Let’s stop ignoring $1.3 trillion in credit card debt owed by millions of Americans Let’s stop ignoring $1.3 trillion in credit card debt owed by millions of Americans. Perhaps including by you. Even if you stop buying, balances grow like a cancer, because the average annual interest rate on credit cards is 20.75%, according to Bankrate (many cards now charge 29% or higher). In most states, credit card rates are not subject to usury laws that set caps on consumer borrowing rates. Depending on your card issuer, if you pay only the minimum monthly balance you could be paying for 10 years or more, with interest totaling double the amount you originally charged! So, what can — and should — you do? You’ll read and hear a lot of advice for getting out of credit card debt. Unfortunately, some of the popular recommendations will only make your debt problem worse. Below I list some of the more popular strategies, and I’ve graded them ranging from A to F. —Borrow from your 401(k) plan: Grade F Don’t do that! If you think it’s tough to be in debt now, it will be even more painful to be poor in your old age! You won’t earn money on your plan investments while the money is borrowed out of the plan — if your employer even allows loans in the first place. Even worse, if you quit or lose your job with a loan outstanding, it will be considered a withdrawal, subject to taxes and penalties. —Payday loans: Grade F These loans are the quicksand of financial debt. They carry exorbitant interest rates, trapping you in a cycle of growing balances. —Credit card consolidation offers: Grade D If you’re paying the minimums, your credit remains in reasonably good standing, although you’re in a state of panic. But most of these fix-it programs require you to stop paying on your card debt and to set aside the money you would have paid so the fixers can negotiate a “deal” with the card issuer or debt collector. This process ruins your credit, and with some debts, a lender can file a lien against your home or attach your wages. —Personal loans: Grade C There are many online lenders like SoFi and Upstart that offer to give you a personal loan with an interest rate far lower than the ones on your credit cards. But there are fees as well as interest charges on these loans, and they may require a certain credit score. Even worse, some have balloon payments in a few years, requiring you to pay off the balance in full. Compare several lenders at Credible.com. —Home equity loan or line of credit: Grade C Now you’ve put your home on the line, because the interest on these loans is so much lower than on your credit card. Beware. You may be making affordable, lower monthly payments because you’re paying only the interest! And at the end of five years, there could be a “balloon” payment due. —Balance transfer cards: Grade B Here’s your chance, likely your one chance to really make a dent in your debt — if you handle the process wisely. Search for a balance transfer card at CreditCards.com or Bankrate.com. You’ll find one that offers as much as 21 months of zero interest on the balance. Of course, there are fees that go along with this service, and they are rolled into the balance. Make sure you use that interest-free period to pay down your balance, or you’ll be trapped. The zero rate jumps to 30% or more at the end of the grace period, leaving you in a deeper hole. —Double the minimum strategy: Grade A If you make double the current minimum payment due, and pay the same amount every month (not double the new minimum), without charging another penny, you’ll pay off that balance in less than three years! There is one critical caveat to all of these strategies: When your current credit card balance is paid off, there’s a temptation to keep that card — just for “emergencies.” You should immediately close the now paid-off card. Yes, it may ding your score if it is a long-held card. But it’s best not to leave temptation in your wallet. And if you’re totally overwhelmed with debt of all kinds, contact the one trusted source of help — the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. Call 800-388-2227. It will connect you to the nearest member agency. Fees are minimal and their advice is priceless. The debt law of holes is, “When you’re in a deep hole, stop digging!” And that’s The Savage Truth. (Terry Savage is a registered investment adviser and the author of four best-selling books, including “The Savage Truth on Money.” Terry responds to questions on her blog at TerrySavage.com.).....»»
20 High Quality Shampoos and Conditioners
In this article, we will discuss the 20 High Quality Shampoos and Conditioners. You can skip our detailed analysis of the global shampoo and conditioner market, inclination towards organic hair care products, and key companies’ advancements in premium shampoos and conditioners by going directly to the 5 High Quality Shampoos and Conditioners. Shampoo and conditioner […] In this article, we will discuss the 20 High Quality Shampoos and Conditioners. You can skip our detailed analysis of the global shampoo and conditioner market, inclination towards organic hair care products, and key companies’ advancements in premium shampoos and conditioners by going directly to the 5 High Quality Shampoos and Conditioners. Shampoo and conditioner are vital parts of hair care regimens. Shampoo cleans the scalp and hair, removing dirt and impurities, while conditioner moisturizes and nourishes the hair, making it soft and silky. When combined, they strengthen the overall look, improve texture, and encourage healthy hair growth. Global Shampoo and Conditioner Market: Fortune Business Insights reports that the size of the worldwide shampoo market was estimated at $32.78 billion in 2022 and is expected to increase at a CAGR of 5.57% from $34.46 billion in 2023 to $50.37 billion by 2030. The demand for strong, healthy hair, especially from teenage females, drives the global market for hair care products. Moreover, the growing number of hair-related problems and the increased need for herbal hair care products are the main drivers propelling market expansion. In the shampoo industry, Asia Pacific leads. The market value for Asia Pacific was $11.71 billion in 2022. In 2023, the global luxury hair care market was dominated by the luxury shampoo segment, which held a revenue share of approximately 30.5% as reported by Grand View Research. Shampoos are a crucial component of the personal hygiene regime. The growing frequency of hair-related issues such as dandruff, dry hair, oily scalps, and hair loss has been reported to be the cause of a growing demand for shampoos. Environmental issues, including increasing pollution, might be detrimental to the health of the hair and scalp, which will substantially boost the segment’s growth. Furthermore, there is a growing demand for high-end hair care products, such as shampoos, as people become more aware of personal cleanliness and grooming. At roughly 33.2% of global revenue in 2023, North America led the premium hair care market. From 2024 to 2030, Asia Pacific is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 9.5% according to Grand View Research. The size of the worldwide hair conditioner market is predicted to increase from $9193 million by 2021 to $13662 million by 2030, with a CAGR of 4.5%, as per Straits Research. The market is expanding due to factors like the growing acceptance of organic hair products and the growing inclination of consumers toward hair masks and treatments. With a sizable market share, North America has emerged as the industry leader in the hair conditioner sector. Inclination Towards Organic Hair Care Products: As consumer knowledge of the negative effects of certain compounds, such as paraben and aluminum compounds found in hair care products, grows, the demand for natural and organic products in the premium hair care market globally is rising. A substantial number of consumers prefer one brand over others because of its organic formulation. This has increased the demand in recent years for natural, organic, and safe hair care products. According to DSM, 56% of customers think that the active ingredient is more significant when making selections about what to buy than the brand, packaging, or smell. Research from the Battelle Memorial Institute and Silent Spring Institute found that 66 substances with potentially harmful effects were found in the examination of 18 widely used products, including relaxers, hair root stimulators, and anti-frizz treatments. Additionally, 30% of hair treatments in the US contained nonylphenol, a substance linked to obesity and an increased risk of breast cancer, according to the researchers. Thus, it is clear from the market analysis that there is a large need for natural components. As a result, the majority of companies have started to release hair care products that use ingredients inspired by nature, like premium botanicals and plant-based substances. For example, the German multinational chemical and consumer goods company Henkel introduced the “Nature Box” line of natural hair care and toiletry in France in 2020. The line includes both liquid and solid products. There are five liquid shampoos in the line, along with their solid equivalents and a conditioner. The products are made up of 99% organic ingredients that are packaged in eco-friendly packaging and include cold-pressed hemp, coconut, almond, argan, or avocado oil. The ingredients are sourced fairly. Global sustainability pioneers, Henkel, a multinational German chemical and consumer goods company, and Schneider Electric joined together in May 2022 to accelerate decarbonization throughout the supply chains of various products, including electronics and cosmetics. As of 2021, Henkel achieved sustainability success by reducing its CO2 emissions by 50% per tonne of product by 2021 (compared to 2010’s base year). With a focus on satisfying the hydration requirements of blonde hair, the L’Oréal brand Kérastase released the Blond Absolu Collection in November 2023, marking a recent breakthrough in the premium shampoo market. The collection includes a serum that contains the largest amount of hyaluronic acid ever found in a hair care product. Targeting the foundation of hair health, this serum is Kérastase’s first scalp-specific product created just for blondes. Under the Elvive brand, L’Oreal Paris debuted a range in 2019 named Elvive Rapid Reviver Deep Conditioners. This line of products serves customers seeking quick and easy hair care solutions by working deeply to heal damaged hair without requiring a waiting period. Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL) company’s Bumble & Bumble brand debuted its Bb. Seaweed line in June 2023. Rich in green microalgae, Pacific Sea kelp, and royal sugar kelp, this line is meant to support a balanced, healthy scalp, add shine to hair, and make air-dry style simple. Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL)’s annual revenue was $17.74 billion in 2022. Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL) is among the key premium shampoo market players. Moreover, in September 2022, Kao Corporation introduced a new range of hair care products called Essential Purify Moisture, which includes Essential Purify Aqua & Glossy shampoo and conditioner. The current range of goods is silicone-free and nourishing. Key Companies’ Advancements in Premium Shampoos and Conditioners: Renowned American businesses Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) with a whopping annual revenue of $82 billion in 2023 and Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) with an annual revenue of $64.80 billion in 2022 are among the companies that provide competing premium shampoo and conditioner solutions that meet various demands and preferences of customers. Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) ‘s Herbal Essence, which emphasizes natural ingredients and botanical benefits, partnered with the Royal Botanic Gardens in 2018 to deliver advanced botanical research for its shampoos and conditioners. Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) made a recent acquisition in the premium shampoo market category in 2023, acquiring the haircare brand Mielle Organics. Established in 2014 by Monique and Melvin Rodriguez, Mielle Organics is dedicated to creating natural hair products that are tailored to the needs of Black women. Procter & Gamble hopes to increase Black women’s access to textured hair products and services worldwide through this acquisition. The agreement included a $10 million donation from both businesses to the nonprofit Mielle Cares, which promotes economic and educational opportunities in Black and Brown communities. Melvin Rodriguez will stay as COO and Monique Rodriguez as CEO of Mielle Organics, which will continue to function as a separate P&G Beauty company. In December 2022, an anti-dandruff shampoo by Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) ‘s premium hair care brand, OUAI HAIRCARE, was introduced to minimize dandruff-related irritation, itching, and flaking. It contains essential components, including salicylic acid and propanediol caprylate, which lessen bacteria that trigger dandruff and cure its symptoms. Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG), one of the premium shampoo powerhouses, owns Head& Shoulders, Aussie, Herbal Essences, Pantene, The Waterless Brand, and OUAI. On the other hand, Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL)’s broad portfolio includes several premium shampoo brands. Unilever owns several high-end shampoo brands, including Sunsilk, Clear, TRESemmé, Dove, and Suave. By purchasing the high-end haircare company K18, Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) has lately made a big move in the premium shampoo and conditioner industry. The latter company is renowned for its innovative strategy that integrates biology and beauty. K18 has become popular for making use of online platforms to educate customers regarding hair science and for producing a line of products that target and diagnose the root causes of hair damage. K18Peptide, the brand’s main product, successfully reverses chemical damage to all types of hair by imitating the structure of human keratin. This acquisition strengthens Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) ‘s current portfolio of premium consumer brands and is consistent with its objective to strengthen its Unilever Prestige portfolio in rapidly expanding high-end markets. The exact terms of the purchase agreement were not disclosed. However, it was expected that this acquisition would conclude in the first quarter of 2024. With that said, here are the 20 High Quality Shampoos and Conditioners. LuckyImages/Shutterstock.com Methodology: To pick out the 20 High Quality Shampoos and Conditioners, we have used a consensus-based approach using a diverse variety of credible sources to determine the most premium products worldwide. To give you the finest result possible, we picked brands that appeared multiple times in reliable sources, including Byrdie, Elle, Sephora, and Reddit, assigned them a score based on their number of appearances, and ranked them accordingly. In tie-breaker situations, we consulted independent beauty blogs and product reviews and then curated the products for our list. By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a similar consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders. 20. Dove Nutritive Solutions Daily Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner Insider Monkey Points: 2 The Dove Nutritive Solutions Daily Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner are part of a nutritious hair care routine that hydrates the hair shafts, making hair manageable and silky. With the addition of Bio-Restore Complex, this shampoo delicately cleanses every strand of hair to maintain softness and protection. This shampoo is best for everyday use. The hair wash and conditioner combination hydrates and shields dry hair from the inside out, strengthening it over time and increasing its resistance to harm without adding weight. Each wash improves the texture and feel of the hair with this Dove hair care system. 19. John Frieda’s Frizz Ease Beyond Smooth Frizz-Immunity Shampoo and Conditioner Insider Monkey Points: 2 A frizz immunity complex is incorporated into John Frieda’s Frizz Ease Beyond Smooth Frizz-Immunity Shampoo and Conditioner, progressively strengthening hair’s barriers against frizz every time you shower. By entering the hair strands to counteract the porosity of frizzy hair and establish an internal barrier for frizz immunity, these treatments are made to tackle frizz at its root. The shampoo and conditioner boost the silkiness, manageability, and quality of hair because they consist of pure coconut oil and conditioning chemicals. They work well on medium-thick, wavy-curly hair types, but they additionally perform well on hair that has had color treatment. 18. Pantene Pro-V Sheer Volume Shampoo & Conditioner Insider Monkey Points: 2 The Sheer Volume line from Pantene Pro-V includes a Shampoo and Conditioner that is intended to offer fine hair, long-lasting body, and a hint of lightweight volume. The shampoo’s powerful blend of Pro-V ingredients gives hair fullness and movement while also aiding in hair renewal. It leaves hair clean, strong, and volumized and nourishes it with a thick lather. Sheer Volume Conditioner provides moisture for effortless detangling and long-lasting shine, making it a perfect match for the shampoo. It helps give the hair instantly obvious volume and lift. With preventive antioxidants and pH balancers, the product is appropriate for colored hair. These products are silicone-free. 17. L’Oreal Paris EverPure Moisture Sulfate-Free Shampoo and Conditioner Insider Monkey Points: 3 L’Oreal Paris EverPure Moisture Sulfate-Free Shampoo and Conditioner are parts of the EverPure Moisture System, which is intended for hair that has undergone coloring. These treatments, which are formulated with botanicals such as rosemary, deeply hydrate parched hair, giving it a radiant gloss and a velvety feel. The sulfate-free composition is gentle on color-treated hair, providing twice as much hydration as a non-conditioning shampoo. These products are also suitable for people looking for an affordable and nourishing hair care choice because they contain no gluten, harsh salts, sulfates, parabens, or dyes. 16. SheaMoisture’s Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo and Conditioner Insider Monkey Points: 3 Sulfate-free Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo from SheaMoisture is intended to hydrate dry, damaged, or overly treated hair. This moisturizing shampoo, infused with sea kelp, argan oil, and fair trade shea butter, helps restore and lock in moisture for parched hair. On the other hand, SheaMoisture’s Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner complements the shampoo by giving dry and weakened hair extra hydration. To increase the moisture content of the hair even more, this conditioner can be used as a rinse-out or leave-in treatment. Similar to the shampoo, the conditioner is made without mineral oil, petrolatum, silicones, phthalates, or parabens, making it an effective and all-natural option for hair care. 15. Davines OI Shampoo and Conditioner Insider Monkey Points: 3 The OI collection includes Davines OI Shampoo and Conditioner, which are enriched with nutritious Roucou oil. These products are designed to give hair exceptional shine, smoothness, and volume, and they work on all hair types. For soft and glossy hair, apply the daily-use shampoo, which is milky-smooth, and the conditioning treatment, which has antioxidant properties for thick and silky hair. All OI products also contain Roucou oil, which is acknowledged for its capacity to lessen UV-induced cellular damage and for having a regenerating effect on hair. Moreover, these products are free of sulfates and parabens. 14. TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shampoo and Conditioner Insider Monkey Points: 3 Together, TRESemme Keratin Smooth System the shampoo, and conditioner give frizzy, unruly hair a sleek, polished look that lasts for up to 72 hours. Lamellar-Discipline technology is used in the formulation of the shampoo and conditioner to reduce frizz, untangle knots, increase shine, add velvety smoothness, and control flyaways. These products are among the best professional shampoos and conditioners. Apart from being cruelty-free and recognized by PETA, this collection also shows a dedication to quality and ethical standards since it is free of mineral oil, parabens, and DMDM Hydantoin. 13. Nexxus Keraphix Shampoo and Conditioner Insider Monkey Points: 4 The Keraphix Healing Collection from Nexxus includes shampoo and conditioner that are intended to repair obvious indications of severe hair damage. After only one application, the shampoo’s protein fusion blend of black rice and keratin protein works to strengthen and restore severely damaged hair, making it appear dramatically healthier. Nexxus is one of the top shampoo brands. By deep conditioning and further repairing badly damaged hair, this conditioner strengthens and revitalizes the hair, making it a perfect match for the shampoo. These products are designed to meet the protein requirements of hair. 12. Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Shampoo and Conditioner Insider Monkey Points: 4 The Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Shampoo from Bumble and Bumble is a moisturizing and frizz-reducing shampoo that leaves dry hair feeling detangled, silky, and soft. This lightweight shampoo, which contains a blend of six oils, including coconut, argan, and sweet almond oil, gives hair nourishment, conditioning, softness, and smoothness. This sulfate-free product is ideal for medium-to-thick, straight-to-wavy hair. The Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Conditioner complements the shampoo by nourishing and moisturizing fine to normal hair. It makes hair softer, healthier, and easier to handle while strengthening damaged hair and minimizing breakage. For all types and textures of dry, brittle, or damaged hair, this protein-free conditioner is perfect. 11. Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo and Conditioner Insider Monkey Points: 4 The invigorating Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo removes impurities from the hair and leaves the scalp feeling clean and healthy. It is enhanced with peppermint, lavender, and organic tea tree oil, which gives the scalp a revitalizing and cooling sensation. On the other hand, the Tea Tree Special Conditioner leaves the hair feeling manageable, silky, and glossy after hydrating and detangling it. These products from John Paul Mitchell Systems’ Tea Tree range, are widely known for their botanical ingredients. 10. Kérastase Discipline Bain Fluidealiste Shampoo and Fondant Fluidealiste Conditioner Insider Monkey Points: 5 For unruly, sensitive, and unmanageable hair, Kerastase offers a sulfate-free shampoo known as Discipline Bain Fluidealiste. It provides excellent nourishment and anti-frizz protection while transforming frizzy hair into sleek and silky hair. The shampoo gently wraps the hair fiber with smoothing agents, making the hair more manageable and protecting it from frizz. To smooth fine to normal hair, the Fondant Fluidealiste Conditioner provides opulent nourishment and moisture, which balances out the shampoo. This conditioner makes hair softer, healthier, and easier to handle while also strengthening it and minimizing breakage. For people who want to fight frizz and, moisturize, and revive their hair, this is the perfect product. 9. The OGX Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo and Conditioner Insider Monkey Points: 5 The OGX Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo and Conditioner are part of a hair care range made with a potent formulation that includes cold-pressed Moroccan argan oil. These products leave hair soft, strong, and shining with a dazzling sheen by enhancing the hair’s flexibility, strength, and moisture retention. The shampoo and conditioner are perfect for dry, frizzy hair that needs hydration and restoration because they are paraben- and sulfate-free and mild enough for regular use. Hence, these are among the best shampoos and conditioners for hair growth. 8. Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Super Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner Insider Monkey Points: 6 Briogeo’s Super Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner are highly acclaimed hair care products due to their ultra-hydrating and strengthening characteristics. The Super Moisture Shampoo incorporates natural oils that combine to create a “moisture lock” to restore strands, as well as plant proteins that strengthen and seal the hair shafts. This shampoo is sulfate-free, soothing, and protects against future damage while eliminating debris, oil, and buildup. Its key components include algae extract, panthenol, and B vitamins. On the other hand, the Super Moisture Conditioner is protein-free and has been scientifically proven to reduce hair breakage after just two applications. It contains nourishing ingredients including almond oil, algae extract, and vitamin B5 that strengthen damaged hair, prevent future breaking, and provide extreme moisture. 7. Redken All Soft Shampoo and Conditioner Insider Monkey Points: 6 The All Soft Shampoo and Conditioner from Redken have been developed for restoring dry and brittle hair with hydration and smoothness. Use the All Soft Shampoo with the complete All Soft Conditioner to get fifteen times more conditioning while gently cleansing, repairing, and softening hair. One of the main ingredients is Redken’s Moisture Complex with Argan Oil, which promotes supple, shiny, and manageable hair that is soft and silky. For dry, damaged hair, this sulfate-free shampoo leaves the hair feeling nourished and refreshed. 6. The Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Shampoo and Conditioner Insider Monkey Points: 7 The innovative Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Shampoo and Conditioner have been created to give shine, moisture, and thickness to hair while also cleaning, restoring, and shielding it. The shampoo and conditioner are recyclable, suitable for color-treated hair, cruelty-free, and devoid of sulfates. Main ingredients like Phytantriol, moisturizing ester, marine algae polysaccharide, and the exclusive Amino Cleansing Complex contribute to detangling, shielding from environmental damage, maintaining hair color, and lessening damage from the surroundings and thermal aggressors. These products’ revolutionary formula provides three times stronger hair, 68% more shine, and rapid hydration in just one wash, making them ideal for anyone with dry, dull, or otherwise healthy hair. It is among the best and healthiest shampoos and conditioners. Click to continue reading and see the 5 High Quality Shampoos and Conditioners. Suggested Articles: 20 Biggest Cosmetics Brands in the World 20 Highest Quality Sunscreen Brands in 2024 20 Highest Quality Perfumes in the World Disclosure: None. 20 High Quality Shampoos and Conditioners is originally published on Insider Monkey......»»
11 Dry Shampoo Alternatives for Every Hair Color and Type
In this article, we will discuss the 11 Dry Shampoo Alternatives for Every Hair Color and Type. You can skip our detailed analysis of the global dry shampoo market, future of the waterless shampoo market: evaluating challenges and innovations, and US dry shampoo companies’ recent developments, go directly to the 5 Dry Shampoo Alternatives for […] In this article, we will discuss the 11 Dry Shampoo Alternatives for Every Hair Color and Type. You can skip our detailed analysis of the global dry shampoo market, future of the waterless shampoo market: evaluating challenges and innovations, and US dry shampoo companies’ recent developments, go directly to the 5 Dry Shampoo Alternatives for Every Hair Color and Type. Dry shampoo is a waterless hair cleaning product in powder or spray form. With no need for traditional washing, it provides a fast refresh by removing extra oil, perspiration, and product residue from the scalp and hair. Its ease of use, time-saving qualities, and volume-boosting ability contribute to its widespread popularity, making it an ideal option for people with hectic schedules and touch-ups while on the go. Global Dry Shampoo Market: It is anticipated that the dry shampoo market will reach a valuation of $9.18 billion in 2030, up from $5.35 billion in 2023, as per Maximize Market Research. In the haircare and personal care industries, dry shampoo will promote significant change. The dry shampoo industry is growing due to a variety of factors, including increased knowledge about hair health and appearance. Customers, particularly those with hectic schedules, are looking for hair care products that are quick and easy. Greater advertising efforts, cutting-edge formulas such as tinted alternatives, rising disposable incomes, and the trend toward natural-looking hairstyles also fuel the market’s development. North America held a 54.23% market share in 2023, leading the dry shampoo industry. As the population ages, there is an increased need for products because of the expansion of application fields comprising hair care products. As of 2023, by form the spray sector held a 63.7% market share, dominating the dry shampoo industry. North America exhibits the highest market penetration, with a saturation rate of over 40%. In this region, Unilever and Church & Dwight are the dominant companies, with Batiste occupying a strong market share. Europe comes in second with a penetration rate of about 35%, where L’Oréal and Henkel have a significant impact and match product offers to the wide range of needs of European consumers. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow at an astounding rate of over 9%, according to Maximize Market Research, making it an ideal location for rapid development. Future of the Waterless Shampoo Market: Evaluating Challenges and Innovations: Despite their popularity, customers continue to be concerned about the ingredients in dry shampoos. Manufacturers must be open and prioritize using sustainable or natural alternatives to relieve these worries. By offering complete ingredient information, we can meet the rising need for healthier and more transparent products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declared a statewide dry shampoo recall in 2022 because dozens of aerosol brands contained “elevated levels of benzene,” a chemical known to cause cancer. Dove, Nexxus, Suave, Rockaholic, Bed Head, and Tresemmé dry shampoo canisters made before October 2021 were among the products that were recalled. 70% of tested dry shampoo samples contained benzene, a known human carcinogen according to a 2022 study by Valisur. Thus, ecological concerns arise from the use of aerosol cans in dry shampoo. The challenge for manufacturers is to satisfy consumer demands while lowering their carbon footprint. To tackle the product’s environmental impact and meet consumer ecological awareness, recyclable solutions and eco-friendly packaging are being introduced. Global sustainability pioneers, Henkel, a multinational German chemical and consumer goods company, and Schneider Electric joined together in May 2022 to accelerate decarbonization throughout the supply chains of various products, including electronics and cosmetics. As of 2021, Henkel achieved sustainability success by reducing its CO2 emissions by 50% per tonne of product by 2021 (compared to 2010’s base year). In May 2018, Kaia Naturals introduced Takesumi Detox Overnight Dry Shampoo, a dry shampoo with natural ingredients that absorbs oil and pollutants from hair while also getting rid of odor and sweat. The increased focus on product launches and advancements by companies can be attributed to the rise in promotional activities and manufacturer-endorsed brands. For example, In July 2017, Yellow Wood Partners acquired Freeman Beauty to expand its distribution in the beauty and hair care industry. One of the latest technological innovations in the dry shampoo industry was developed by Kao Corporation, the world’s first waterless shampoo sheets that can be used in space. Kao is a Japanese global chemical and cosmetics company. Kao began selling a brand-new dry shampoo called Space Shampoo Sheet on April 3, 2023. Despite being designed by Astronaut Wakata for use in zero gravity, the sheets also provide a solution for ground-level individuals who struggle with washing their hair. Without water, the Space Shampoo Sheet effectively removes dirt from the scalp and hair. The scalp is revitalized, and extra sebum is removed with a gentle massage of the tailored sheet over the hair. The Space Shampoo Sheet, which has been commercially released, is offered for sale through Kao’s open innovation platform, FUNTECH Lab&Biz. The dynamic dry shampoo industry offers a wide range of market opportunities, including diverse demographics, green formulations, optimized online presence, customized hair-type formulations, sustainability focus, educational efforts, influencer partnerships, global expansion, and multifunctional benefits. US Dry Shampoo Companies’ Recent Developments: Renowned American businesses Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) and Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (NYSE:CHD) are among the companies that provide competing dry shampoo solutions that meet various demands and preferences of customers. Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG), one of the drugstore beauty powerhouses that owns Head& Shoulders, Aussie, Herbal Essences, and Pantene, added a new member to its hair-care brands in 2020. The Cincinnati-based consumer products producer launched The Waterless brand, aiming to satisfy every woman’s different hair care needs without using a single drop of water, the company claims. This environmentally friendly product line includes alcohol-free waterless hair refreshers, waterless dry conditioners, waterless dry shampoo sprays, and waterless dry foam dry shampoos. In 2023, Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) purchased for an undisclosed amount of money Michelle Organics – a well-known textured hair care business with a focus on natural ingredients, to increase access to its product portfolio. Mielle functions as P&Gs independent subsidiary. Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) and Mielle have committed $10 million each to expand the impact of the Mielle Cares Charity. The partnership intends to accelerate the hair care brand’s access to more black women and rapidly expand its community investments. Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) had a whopping annual revenue of $80.19 billion in 2022. As one of the market leaders in consumer goods, Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (NYSE:CHD) with an annual revenue of $5.86 billion in 2023, is well-known for its cherished Batiste brand. Batiste’s popularity stems from its availability, wide range of products, and especially effective formulas. In 2022, Batiste, a reasonably priced Dry Shampoo brand in America, increased the variety of products in its cherished line to offer additional options for quickly getting revitalized hair in between washes. Two fascinating new items have been added to the existing wide range of in-between-wash hair care products: Batiste Naturally Dry Shampoo and Batiste Leave-In Hair Mask. Incorporating 100% natural ingredients and rice starch, Batiste Naturally Dry Shampoo provides immediate refreshment by absorbing excessive oil. With an undetectable finish, this plant-powered solution is free of sulfates and parabens, and is suitable for vegans. Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (NYSE:CHD)’s Batiste just released one of the most innovative dry shampoos yet in January 2024, with sweat-activated technology. This company aims to expand its product line so that there is a Batiste product for every customer, regardless of their wash schedule, mood, or preferred hair color or type. It was revealed in 2022 that Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (NYSE:CHD) had paid $630 million to acquire Hero Cosmetics, a brand that specializes in acne and skin care. Hero’s net revenues were roughly $115 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022 according to Businesswire. With that said, here are the 11 Dry Shampoo Alternatives for Every Hair Color and Type. A stylish female hairdresser cutting hair in a salon. Methodology: To pick out the 11 Dry Shampoo Alternatives for Every Hair Color and Type, we have used a consensus-based approach using a diverse variety of credible sources to determine the dry shampoo substitutes. To give you the finest result possible, we picked products that appeared multiple times in reliable sources (1,2,3), and Reddit, assigned them a score based on their number of appearances, and ranked them accordingly. In tie-breaker situations, we consulted independent beauty blogs and then curated the dry shampoo alternatives for our list. By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a similar consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders. 11. Dry Clay Insider Monkey Score: 2 Besides leaving your hair smelling good, dry clay works as a dry shampoo. It takes the oil, or sebum, off your scalp so you can look like you just stepped out of a hair salon, thanks to the silica in it. With this technique, you can use any type of dried clay, such as agar, green, white, red, powdered orris root, etc. To achieve lustrous locks and soft hair, combine milk powder with dried clay for a more dramatic impact. 10. Cheesecloth Insider Monkey Score: 2 Cheesecloth is a loosely woven, thin, gauzy cotton fabric. It has numerous culinary uses, including straining berry purée, broths, and nut milks. It was initially employed in the production of cheese. Surprisingly, one of the things used as a dry hair shampoo is cheesecloth with a tried-and-true hair trick. After encircling a broad, natural bristle brush in cheesecloth, brush your hair. Your hair will be free of any dirt or oil after using this substitute for dry shampoo for every hair color and type. 9. Perfume Insider Monkey Score: 2 You can use perfume as dry shampoo. To eliminate the oily look, simply put the bottle away and spritz it on your hair. You can even mist it over a hairbrush and comb through your hair as usual, ensuring that the grease doesn’t take away your confidence. Many alcohol-based perfumes aid in breaking down and maintaining the freshness of our hair’s oil. 8. Hand Sanitizer Insider Monkey Score: 2 Although the majority of dry shampoo substitutes function by absorbing oil and dirt from the scalp, hand sanitizers’ alcohol dissolves these substances and leaves your hair and scalp feeling clean. All you have to do is rub a tiny bit of the solution into your roots with your fingertips. It works wonders for every hair type and color. 7. Salt and Cornmeal Insider Monkey Score: 2 Salt is a multipurpose crystalline mineral that works wonders for hair. When you combine salt with cornmeal, the effects are divine. To do this, combine one tablespoon of salt with half a cup of cornmeal. After thoroughly blending it in a shaker, apply it to your hair. It will be finished cleaning out all the debris and oil. 6. Apple Cider Vinegar Insider Monkey Score: 3 Apple cider vinegar is one of the most surprising dry shampoo options that works well on any type of hair. Fill a spray bottle with eight ounces of water and eight drops of apple cider vinegar, and your DIY apple cider vinegar dry shampoo is ready for application. After that, mist your roots wherever extra oil is present. It will take some time for your hair to dry before you see any changes. The fact that this option won’t leave any powder or residue behind will probably make you pleased with the outcome. Moreover, it can help make impaired, over-processed hair appear smoother and healthier, which is a bonus. Click to continue reading and see the 5 Dry Shampoo Alternatives for Every Hair Color and Type. Suggested Articles: 20 Biggest Cosmetics Brands in the World 20 Highest Quality Sunscreen Brands in 2024 20 Highest Quality Perfumes in the World Disclosure: none. 11 Dry Shampoo Alternatives for Every Hair Color and Type is originally published on Insider Monkey......»»
Consequences Minus Truth
Consequences Minus Truth Authored by James Howard Kunstler via Kunstler.com, “People crave trust in others, because God is found there.” - Dom de Bailleul The rewards of civilization have come to seem rather trashy in these bleak days of late empire; so, why even bother pretending to be civilized? This appears to be the ethos driving our politics and culture now. But driving us where? Why, to a spectacular sort of crack-up, and at warp speed, compared to the more leisurely breakdown of past societies that arrived at a similar inflection point where Murphy’s Law replaced the rule of law. The US Military Academy at West point decided to “upgrade” its mission statement this week by deleting the phrase Duty, Honor, Country that summarized its essential moral orientation. They replaced it with an oblique reference to “Army Values,” without spelling out what these values are, exactly, which could range from “embrace the suck” to “charlie foxtrot” to “FUBAR” — all neatly applicable to our country’s current state of perplexity and dread. Are you feeling more confident that the US military can competently defend our country? Probably more like the opposite, because the manipulation of language is being used deliberately to turn our country inside-out and upside-down. At this point we probably could not successfully pacify a Caribbean island if we had to, and you’ve got to wonder what might happen if we have to contend with countless hostile subversive cadres who have slipped across the border with the estimated nine-million others ushered in by the government’s welcome wagon. Momentous events await. This Monday, the Supreme Court will entertain oral arguments on the case Missouri, et al. v. Joseph R. Biden, Jr., et al. The integrity of the First Amendment hinges on the decision. Do we have freedom of speech as set forth in the Constitution? Or is it conditional on how government officials feel about some set of circumstances? At issue specifically is the government’s conduct in coercing social media companies to censor opinion in order to suppress so-called “vaccine hesitancy” and to manipulate public debate in the 2020 election. Government lawyers have argued that they were merely “communicating” with Twitter, Facebook, Google, and others about “public health disinformation and election conspiracies.” You can reasonably suppose that this was our government’s effort to disable the truth, especially as it conflicted with its own policy and activities — from supporting BLM riots to enabling election fraud to mandating dubious vaccines. Former employees of the FBI and the CIA were directly implanted in social media companies to oversee the carrying-out of censorship orders from their old headquarters. The former general counsel (top lawyer) for the FBI, James Baker, slid unnoticed into the general counsel seat at Twitter until Elon Musk bought the company late in 2022 and flushed him out. The so-called Twitter Files uncovered by indy reporters Matt Taibbi, Michael Shellenberger, and others, produced reams of emails from FBI officials nagging Twitter execs to de-platform people and bury their dissent. You can be sure these were threats, not mere suggestions. One of the plaintiffs joined to Missouri v. Biden is Dr. Martin Kulldorff, a biostatistician and professor at the Harvard Medical School, who opposed Covid-19 lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He was one of the authors of the open letter called The Great Barrington Declaration (October, 2020) that articulated informed medical dissent for a bamboozled public. He was fired from his job at Harvard just this past week for continuing his refusal to take the vaccine. Harvard remains among a handful of institutions that still require it, despite massive evidence that it is ineffective and hazardous. Like West Point, maybe Harvard should ditch its motto, Veritas, Latin for “truth.” A society hostile to truth can’t possibly remain civilized, because it will also be hostile to reality. That appears to be the disposition of the people running things in the USA these days. The problem, of course, is that this is not a reality-optional world, despite the wishes of many Americans (and other peoples of Western Civ) who wish it would be. Next up for us will be “Joe Biden’s” attempt to complete the bankruptcy of our country with $7.3-trillion proposed budget, 20 percent over the previous years spending, based on a $5-billion tax increase. Good luck making that work. New York City alone is faced with paying $387 a day for food and shelter for each of an estimated 64,800 illegal immigrants, which amounts to $9.15-billion a year. The money doesn’t exist, of course. New York can thank “Joe Biden’s” executive agencies for sticking them with this unbearable burden. It will be the end of New York City. There will be no money left for public services or cultural institutions. That’s the reality and that’s the truth. A financial crack-up is probably the only thing short of all-out war that will get the public’s attention at this point. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it happened next week. Historians of the future, stir-frying crickets and fiddleheads over their campfires will marvel at America’s terminal act of gluttony: managing to eat itself alive. * * * Support his blog by visiting Jim’s Patreon Page or Substack Tyler Durden Fri, 03/15/2024 - 14:05.....»»
What We Know So Far About Meghan Markle’s New Venture, American Riviera Orchard
Meghan Markle launched a new website and Instagram account for an upcoming lifestyle company called American Riviera Orchard Meghan Markle launched a new website and Instagram account for an upcoming lifestyle company called American Riviera Orchard on Thursday. American Riviera Orchard is likely a reference to Santa Barbara, Calif., where Markle lives with her husband, Prince Harry. The city, which sits some 100 miles northwest of Los Angeles, has been called the “American Riviera” for over a century, according to Travel & Leisure. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Markle’s new company will sell tableware, cookbooks, dinnerware, jellies, jams, and more, according to the company’s trademark application. The Duchess of Sussex previously had her own lifestyle blog known as The Tig, named after Tignanello wine. The Tig shut down in 2017—three years after its launch and seven months before her engagement. American Riviera Orchard’s instagram account already has more than 80,000 followers as of Thursday afternoon, just a few hours after launching. “By Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. Established 2024,” the page’s bio reads. The account’s first Instagram story features a video of Markle cooking in a kitchen while Nancy Wilson’s “I Wish You Love” plays. The website prompts people to enter their email to join a waitlist. Markle and her husband have been quiet on social media since stepping back as working royals and have not posted on their @Sussex Royal account since March 2020. The couple share updates on their personal website, which launched in February 2024. .....»»
Podcast links: understanding the past
Fridays are all about podcast links here at Abnormal Returns. You can check out last week’s links including a look at the... ImmigrationCardiff Garcia talks immigration with Andrew Selee who is the head of the Migration Policy Institute. (podcasts.apple.com)Stephen Dubner and guests on America's 'supremely messed-up immigration system.' (freakonomics.com)InnovationCameron Passmore and Justin Carbonneau talk with Adam Alter, whose new book "Anatomy of a Breakthrough: How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most." (rationalreminder.ca)Jim O'Shaughnessy talks with Cedric Chin of Commoncog newsletter fame about finding useful, practical ways to accelerate business expertise. (infiniteloopspodcast.com)Scott Barry Kaufman talks with Columbia business professor Shena Lyengar on how we make choices and innovate. (podcasts.apple.com)FinancePatrick O'Shaughnessy talks with Anne-Marie Peterson who is an equity portfolio manager at Capital Group. (joincolossus.com)Barry Ritholtz talks with Mark Wiedman, head of global client business at investing giant Blackrock ($BLK). (ritholtz.com)Justin Carbonneau and Jack Forehand talk market history with Mark Higgins, author of "Investing in U.S. Financial History: Understanding the Past to Forecast the Future." (youtube.com)David Perell talks writing and more with Michael Mauboussin. (open.spotify.com)ClimateSteve Clapham talks the energy transition with Emmanuel Lagarrigue who is the Co-Head of Climate at KKR. (behindthebalancesheet.com)Sean Illing talks with Stephen Markle author of "The Deluge." (podcasts.apple.com)Non-financeNilay Patel talks with Kyle Chayka, author of the new book "Filterworld: How Algorithms Flattened Culture." (theverge.com)Aaron Lammer, Max Linsky, and Evan Ratliff talk with 'inveterate dilettante' Derek Thompson. (pod.link)Jordan Harbinger talks with Charles Duhigg author of "Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection." (jordanharbinger.com)Jonathan Fields talks with Dr. Jud Brewer author of "Unwinding Anxiety: New Science Shows How to Break the Cycles of Worry and Fear to Heal Your Mind." (goodlifeproject.com)Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway talk with Ryan Harlan, the director of business development at the E Tech Group, about why we are in the golden age of snacks. (podcasts.apple.com)Laurie Santos and Tim Harford talk about the power of subtraction. (pushkin.fm)Tim Ferriss talks with author Hugh Howey. (tim.blog).....»»
7 Apple Juice Brands To Try
Apple juice is the second most popular fruit juice in the world, trailing only orange juice. Some consider it more of a fall beverage, but millions of people enjoy a cold glass of apple juice at breakfast, regardless of the time of year. Which apple juice brands are worthy to stand beside your bowl of […] The post 7 Apple Juice Brands To Try appeared first on 24/7 Wall St.. Apple juice is the second most popular fruit juice in the world, trailing only orange juice. Some consider it more of a fall beverage, but millions of people enjoy a cold glass of apple juice at breakfast, regardless of the time of year. Which apple juice brands are worthy to stand beside your bowl of oatmeal or plate of eggs, though? (And if you happen to be a next-level breakfast connoisseur, here’s a look at the best breakfast sandwich in every state.) 24/7 Wall St. compiled this list of seven apple juice brands to try by consulting numerous food review websites and blogs, as well as customer reviews on major retail websites. While there is no way to completely eliminate subjectivity in an exercise like this, we used an aggregate scoring system when consulting our sources to make it as objective as possible. Using this scoring system and a bit of editorial discretion, the apple juices on this list were ranked from seventh to first place. Apple Juice vs. Apple Cider Apple cider has a cloudier appearance than apple juice. We did not consider apple ciders in this survey, although we were surprised to learn that some manufacturers use the exact same recipe in their apple juice and apple cider products. The only difference between the two is the name on the label. This marketing stratagem is abhorrent to apple cider and/or juice enthusiasts, and rightly so. There is a difference between true apple cider and apple juice. Both are made by crushing apples which results in a pomace. The juice is extracted from this pomace. The difference between cider and juice is found in what happens next. Apple cider is typically not filtered, meaning bits of apple remain in the liquid. Those apple bits change color when exposed to air, much like an apple will turn brown once the skin is pierced. This is why apple cider has a darker and more opaque appearance than apple juice. Apple juice is typically filtered, which removes these small bits of apple. This filtration results in the lighter color and clearer appearance that we usually associate with apple juice. However, some juices that made our list admittedly push the boundaries of the juice/cider dividing line. We let it slide because we’re not splitting atoms, here. We’re just ranking apple juices. The rules are more like guidelines, to paraphrase Barbosa from “Pirates of the Caribbean.” Here is our list of seven apple juice brands that you really should try. The prices listed in each review were accurate at the time of publication, though they may vary by store or location. 7. Martinelli’s Gold Medal Martinelli’s Gold Medal apple juice is made from U.S. apples. Expected Price: $4.18 Size: 1 Liter Martinelli’s Gold Medal Review Martinelli’s Gold Medal apple juice has the clear color most often associated with traditional apple juice. Martinelli’s Gold Medal is better known for its sparkling cider. You may remember this from New Year’s Eve celebrations as a child. While the adults were toasting with champagne, you raised a glass of this fizzy apple beverage and felt oh-so-grown-up in the process. However, in addition to this carbonated beverage, Martinelli’s also makes traditional apple juice. Unlike most apple juice brands, you can still find its Gold Medal apple juice in glass containers (although some of its products are also available in plastic bottles). A lot of people believe the glass container enhances the flavor even more. The juice itself is a basic, well-balanced apple juice. It is one that both kids and adults will enjoy, although one customer noted that adults may especially enjoy it because “it makes a good cocktail.” Another customer noted, “This stuff tastes absolutely amazing! Love to know that it comes fully from apples [with] no additives.” There’s no need to wait until New Year’s Eve to try this one. It will be a welcome addition to the breakfast table any day of the year. 6. Langers Langers is a delicious apple juice, but it can be a bit harder to find than some other juices on our list. Expected Price: $2.49 Size: 64 fl oz Langers Review Langers produces a variety of different juices. Langers is sweeter than some of the other apple juices on this list, but that doesn’t mean it is a watered-down, sugary beverage. On the contrary, this juice features quite a bold apple flavor. One reviewer said Langers has a very dense flavor and a stronger, heavier mouthfeel. This juice is almost cider-esque in its taste and texture, so it may not be a favorite among the kids. However, your adult breakfast guests would likely rave about this apple juice. One customer commented (in all caps, of course), “BEST APPLE JUICE I EVER TASTED!” Give it a try. You might agree with this very excited fan. 5. Evolution Fresh Organic Apple Evolution is the priciest brand of apple juice on our list. Expected Price: $10.99 Size: 59 fl oz Evolution Fresh Organic Apple Review Evolution is just about the purest apple juice you’ll find anywhere, but it comes with a hefty price tag. The first thing you’ll notice about this apple juice is probably the price tag. At nearly eleven bucks a bottle, this juice is easily the most expensive on the list. It should also be noted that stores often do not stock this juice in the same section as the other apple juice products. It has its own special place in the produce section. All of this might make Evolution apple juice seem a bit “extra,” as the kids say. However, if you’re in the mood to splurge, you’ll be rewarded with a fine apple juice. The organic apples in this juice are cold-pressed. In this process, the apples are pressed without heat. Heat can “cook” some of the nutrients out of the product. Cold-pressing preserves those nutrients, making it a healthier option. The process also gives it, as one reviewer said, “an orchard-fresh” taste. This reviewer went on to say that Evolution apple juice, “smells and tastes a little more fresh and natural…organic [and] farmy.” The juice is less sweet than others on the list, meaning it comes even closer to the taste of biting into a high-quality apple. The only reason it doesn’t rank higher in our survey is the price. This juice is exceptional, but it certainly is not budget-friendly. 4. Tree Top Tree Top only uses U.S.-grown Honeycrisp apples in this juice. Expected Price: $3.50 Size: 64 fl oz Tree Top Review A juice made solely from Honeycrisp apples? Yes, please! Tree Top’s Pure Pressed 100% Honeycrisp Apple Juice will be a favorite at any breakfast table. It is not nearly as clear as other apple juices on this list. It has a color that more closely resembles apple cider. However, that color is a sign that you are about to enjoy some wonderful Honeycrisp apple flavor. Honeycrisp apples have only been on the market since 1991, but they have quickly become one of Americans’ favorite apple varieties. These super juicy apples are packed with honey-like sweetness. So, it stands to reason that any juice made from Honeycrisps is going to be a home run. If you don’t believe us, listen to some of these customer reviews. “Closest to fresh pressed you can get. You wouldn’t know it’s pasteurized from the taste.” “By far. THE BEST apple juice ever! It’s like taking a bite out of an apple!!!” “The only way to get fresher tasting is to buy unpasteurized at your local cider mill.” Yes, the Honeycrisp apple juice from Tree Top is that good. Try it for yourself. 3. Lakewood Lakewood’s juice is certified organic and non-GMO. Expected Price: $4.49 Size: 32 fl oz Lakewood Review Lakewood is another apple juice that is bottled in glass. It is not made from concentrate, Instead, it is cold-pressed, meaning you can feel good knowing that it is filled with extra nutrients. This juice is certified organic and there are no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. In short, it is pure, unadulterated apple juice. The juice is not filtered like other apple juices, giving it a cider-like texture and opaque color. In fact, this product is awfully close to being a cider, but as noted earlier, the delineating line between juice and cider is not set in stone. This may be the tartest juice on the list, so if you have kids who want a sweet apple juice, they may not go for this one. However, if you’re a cider fan, you should definitely try Lakewood’s organic apple juice. It’s a super clean, appley beverage that tastes as natural as the ingredients would suggest. 2. North Coast North Coast is pure apple juice, with no artificial ingredients. Expected Price: $4.99 Size: 32 fl oz North Coast Review Along with making wonderful apple juice, North Coast is also committed to environmental stewardship and sustainability. Check out this ingredients list: juice from 100% organic Honeycrisp apples. That’s it. That’s the entire list of ingredients in North Coast Organic Honeycrisp Apple Juice. This is another juice with a color and texture that strongly resembles a cider. In fact, one customer remarked, “This is the best apple juice I have ever tasted. It almost has an apple cider flavor. Others pale by comparison.” Not only is the taste wonderful, but you can feel good about supporting a company that is focused on environmental stewardship and sustainability. Half of the manufacturing process is powered by solar energy. The company uses the whole apple to make applesauce, juice, and vinegar, thus eliminating waste. Once the pomace has been used to make the various apple products, it is donated to local farmers as livestock feed. North Coast does a whole lot of things right, including this juice. It is among the best that you’ll find anywhere. 1. Simply Apple As you can see from this near-empty store shelf, Simply Apple is very popular with consumers. Expected Price: $4.59 Size: 52 fl oz Simply Apple Review Simply Apple claimed the top spot in our apple juice survey. The top spot on our list goes to an apple juice that also leans a little bit more to the cider side of the spectrum. There are some “apple bits” floating in this juice, similar to a cider. There are no artificial sweeteners, colors, or preservatives. Just 100% all-natural, non-GMO apples. The flavor is out of sight. One customer said, “I adore this stuff. It’s not fake/phony clear apple juice. This has depth and character. Really more like cider than juice. Tastes as though you just visited a cider mill and had some fresh apple juice made. It’s Autumn in a container!” Another said, “It’s like drinking a cup of crisp apples straight from the tree. My family loves this juice so much. Highly recommend if you like refreshing fruit juices.” Is it better than the organic juices in second and third place on our list? Honestly, it’s close. Very, very close. We awarded Simply Apple the top spot, in part, because it is a bit more affordable than North Coast and Lakewood. You can decide for yourself whether the extra coin is worth it. In the end, you can’t go wrong with any of the juices on this list. The top three especially are some of the best apple juices you’ll ever taste. ALERT: Today Could Be Your Best Shot At Early Retirement (Sponsored) If you want to retire before 65, pay attention. Study after study has shown that the longer you stay invested, the better your chances at an early retirement. Every day that goes by without saving and investing for tomorrow means more to earn and save later. Don’t waste any more time and get started with Robinhood today. The app makes it easy to buy and sell stocks, mutual funds, trade options, and even cryptocurrencies. Sign up today — click here to start your journey. The post 7 Apple Juice Brands To Try appeared first on 24/7 Wall St.......»»
China may have found a new way to skirt US import tariffs: Go through Mexico instead
Container shipping demand from China to Mexico surged nearly 60% in January from a year ago despite a general slowdown in global trade. An auto plant in Mexico.CLAUDIO CRUZ/Getty ImagesChina's exports to Mexico surged nearly 60% in January year-over-year, according to Xeneta.This could be a strategy to circumvent US tariffs, as many of the goods are likely being trucked into the US.Mexico became America's top trade partner last year, overtaking China amid geopolitical tensions.China's exports to Mexico are booming.In January, containers from China to Mexico surged nearly 60% from a year ago, freight platform Xeneta wrote in a blog post on Thursday, based on data from Container Trades Statistics."This is probably the strongest growing trade in the world right now," wrote Peter Sand, the chief analyst at Xeneta.The strong growth in trade between the two countries followed a 35% on-year jump in container volumes from China to Mexico. In 2022, China's exports to Mexico grew just 3.5% on-year.The surge in China's imports into Mexico is noteworthy because global trade has slowed since the fourth quarter of 2022. This suggests there's more going on than Mexican demand for Chinese goods."With a sizeable portion of these goods likely being trucked into the US, it gives rise to the possibility that China's increase in trade with Mexico is being used to circumvent tariffs placed on imports from China to the US as part of the ongoing trade war," wrote Xeneta's Sand.Former President Donald Trump launched a trade war against China — the world's factory for the last four decades — around 2018, imposing elevated tariffs on a range of Chinese imports.The Trump-era tariffs kickstarted changes in the dynamics of US-China trade, prompting companies to change up their supply chain strategies.Last year, Mexico overtook China as America's top trade partner, according to data from the US Commerce Department.As Business Insider reported in April, Mexico is shaping up to be a prime location for Chinese manufacturers to relocate — particularly since the US is a key consuming market.For instance, Chinese auto-part makers have taken to setting up shop in Mexico to cater to Tesla's upcoming factory in the country, Bloomberg reported in February.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Foxconn Reports 33% Profit Surge On Booming Demand For AI Servers
Foxconn Reports 33% Profit Surge On Booming Demand For AI Servers Taiwanese tech giant Foxconn - also known as Hon Hai Precision Industry - reported the second consecutive quarter of profit growth driven by a surge in demand for artificial intelligence servers. For the quarter ending December, Foxconn reported a 33% jump in net profit to NT$53.2 billion ($1.7 billion). That beat the average analysts surveyed by Bloomberg, who expected around NT$43.8 billion. Here's a snapshot of the fourth quarter earnings (courtesy of Bloomberg): Net income NT$53.15 billion, +33% y/y, estimate NT$43.81 billion (Bloomberg Consensus) Operating profit NT$48.93 billion, +11% y/y, estimate NT$51.74 billion EPS NT$3.83 vs. NT$2.88 y/y, estimate NT$3.18 Revenue NT$1.85 trillion, -5.5% y/y, estimate NT$1.83 trillion 2023 fiscal year results: Net income NT$142.10 billion, estimate NT$132.63 billion Operating profit NT$166.53 billion, estimate NT$168 billion EPS NT$10.25, estimate NT$9.51 Revenue NT$6.16 trillion, estimate NT$6.14 trillion "We see very strong demand for AI servers from our clients," Foxconn Chairman Young Liu told investors during an earnings call earlier today. Thanks to the AI frenzy, he expects revenue growth of more than 40% this year. Liu added that AI server market growth could average around 30% between 2023-25, with Foxconn's growth projected to match or exceed this rate. According to the tech blog DIGITIMES Asia, Foxconn was rumored to have secured a major deal from longtime US partner Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co, which would further boost its AI server business. For the current quarter, Foxconn forecasts that sales will decline again as the Covid mania normalizes. AI sales are helping the company improve profit while experiencing a downturn in global iPhone demand (read: here and here). The company is the largest manufacturer of Apple devices. "The business saw a good sequential rebound into Q4 partly driven by the AI-focused side, but if you take a step back and look at 2023 as a whole, it was a relatively weak year," Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Robert Lea said, adding, "The company should have a much better year as their main customers start to rebuild inventory." Foxconn shares trading in Taiwan have jumped in recent sessions towards record highs on optimism about AI orders. How long will the AI boom last? Tyler Durden Thu, 03/14/2024 - 20:00.....»»
The "Love Is Blind" season 6 reunion was a masterclass in bringing receipts
The "Love Is Blind" producers did not come to play at the season 6 reunion, showing Trevor's texts and Matthew's dates with both Amber and AD. The tea was piping hot at the "Love Is Blind" reunion.NetflixThe "Love Is Blind" season six reunion didn't shy away from addressing off-screen drama.The producers brought all the receipts, and it was thrilling to watch it unfold.This is a major improvement over past seasons' reunions, which virtually ignored all the best off-screen tea.The "Love Is Blind" producers did not come to play in the season six reunion.The team behind the hit Netflix reality dating show seems to have taken the criticism of previous reunions to heart. In season six, hosts Nick and Vanessa Lachey left no stone (or viral TikTok) unturned.Featuring unaired clips, personal text messages, and one very cringey TikTok, it was a masterclass in letting the evidence speak for itself, and it paid off with one of the most entertaining reunions in years.Jeramey had to address his past engagement, and Sarah Ann was grilled about her viral TikTokSarah Ann and Jeramey didn't get off easy during the reunion.NetflixReal "Love Is Blind" fans know that the actual drama happens on TikTok and Reddit, where internet sleuths and scorned exes are unearthing everything the contestants don't want us to know about their lives outside the show.TikTokers like @storytimewithrikkii and @realityashley, arguably the best-known "Love Is Blind" gossip bloggers, helped disseminate tea, like the fact that Jeramey Lutinski was engaged right before filming the show. (I talked to his ex-fiancée, who said she broke up with him after she caught him cheating on her thanks, ironically, to location-sharing.)The reunion drama kicked off almost immediately, when the Lacheys came out of the gate hot and started grilling Jeramey about his relationship status (yes, he's with Sarah Ann Bick) and whether he was engaged when he applied to be on the show. He maintained that he had broken up with his ex and applied "after I was out on my own, doing my own thing."Fans (and Jeramey's ex) were also wondering whether he'd even disclosed his past engagement to his "Love Is Blind" connections. The reunion addressed that too — Jeramey reiterated that, as he said in his Instagram response video, he did have conversations about his past engagement during his pod dates, but that footage wasn't shown. His "Love Is Blind" ex-fiancée Laura Dadisman and current girlfriend Sarah Ann were also asked to confirm that was true, which they did.Sarah Ann also took a lot of heat during the season for reaching out to Jeramey when he was still with Laura, and for posting unapologetic TikTok videos about it while the episodes aired. The Lacheys specifically called out one of Sarah Ann's most-watched videos, where she emphasized that the show was all about entertainment and that she'd provided that with her actions. They played the TikTok, much to the glee of the tea-loving "Love Is Blind" alums in attendance, and forced her to explain what she meant by that — and asked whether it was all just for entertainment.The producers also showed unaired footage of a conversation between Laura and Sarah Ann at the pod squad meet-up in episode 11. Not only was that scene excellent drama, but it was extremely cathartic to see Laura say her piece and warn Sarah Ann about Jeramey being fake — even if Sarah Ann didn't actually listen to her warnings in the end.Trevor was confronted with actual screenshots of his texts to the woman he was dating during filmingTrevor was initially a fan favorite in season six.Adam Rose/NetflixTrevor Sova had one of the most dramatic falls from grace of any reality show contestant.Trevor, who was left "heartbroken" when Chelsea Blackwell picked Jimmy Presnell over him in the pods, was dubbed "Teddy Bear Trevor." Thirsty fans were in his Instagram comments and DMs, saying "protect Trevor" and admonishing Chelsea for making a big mistake.The narrative turned swiftly when a woman named Natalia Marrero came forward to say she was dating Trevor right before the show, and that they'd decided to stay together when he left for filming. She says they did — and that he only dumped her weeks before the season premiered.Natalia provided proof in the form of texts that Trevor sent her, sharing them first with @realityashley and @storytimewithrikkii. She also sent BI those texts (and we verified the number they're from belongs to Trevor).Trevor was completely silent on the accusations as they spread like wildfire on social media, but he was finally taken to task during the reunion, when he was directly confronted with screenshots of his texts to Natalia. The Lacheys, who literally read the texts aloud, made him explain himself (it didn't go well) and chastised him on-camera for going on the show with the wrong intentions.Trevor, for his part, said in the reunion that Natalia was never "technically" his girlfriend and maintained that he really had gone on the show to "try to experiment with something else" since Natalia was the type of woman he'd typically go for in real life. But he admitted that the two of them were "toxic," that he was "toxic" and needs "a lot of therapy," and that it was "fucked up" how he spoke to Natalia right before and right after filming the show.He insisted that his connection with Chelsea was real and that he'd told Natalia that if someone on the show picked him, he'd be with them and not her.Vanessa Lachey also directly asked Trevor if he'd gone on the show to further his career, as Natalia has said he told her."No, what career? I did come here for good and bad reasons. I can't take back that I went on the show," he said. "I'm glad I went on the show cause it taught me a lot about myself."Eventually, Trevor asked to leave the stage when it became clear he wouldn't be able to explain his way out of this.We saw actual footage of the tense pod date that Jessica and Jimmy remembered differentlyJessica asked for the receipts and there they were.NetflixThe one questionable choice the reunion made was to virtually ignore Chelsea and Jimmy's tumultuous relationship in favor of giving a boatload of screentime to Jessica Vestal, the fan-favorite who Jimmy connected with but didn't pick in the pods. (Although giving the stage to Jessica makes a little more sense in context, given the end-of-show reveal that she's going to appear on "Perfect Match" season two.)Jessica was vocally supportive of all her fellow contestants, including Jimmy, in interviews as the season aired. But she was upset about some things Jimmy said about her in an interview of his own, where he implied that she had "hammered" him to make a decision about her and that she'd "stormed out" of one of their dates 10 minutes in."It seemed like you took the first opportunity you had to just make an attempt at throwing me under the bus," she told him, also tearing up when recalling how he'd said in the interview that she got a "good edit" on the show.Jimmy tried to explain himself and maintained that, as far as he recalled, it was 10 minutes (or maybe 45) into the date that she left, pointing to it as the incident that soured him on their relationship. Jessica asked for the receipts, and lo and behold, there was the footage — which showed definitively that the date (which was over two hours long in all) had been going on for over an hour, not 10 minutes, when they mutually agreed to take a break. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jessica Vestal (@jess.ves) As it turned out, those receipts helped them patch things up. Jessica said in an Instagram comment that Jimmy "apologized after the reunion was over when we were backstage" and they all took pictures together after that.Showing Matthew's dates with Amber cleared up whether he really said the same things to her and ADAD was amused watching the receipts.NetflixOne controversial contestant who wasn't present at the reunion was Matthew Duliba, who left the show early after being accused of saying the same things to both Amber Grant and Amber Desiree "AD" Smith in the pods. (He "politely declined" to attend the reunion, according to Nick Lachey.)While viewers only saw AD and Matthew's dates on screen while the season aired, the producers pulled the footage of Matthew and Amber's dates to prove the point that he was making very similar overtures to both women. To make the segment even better, one camera was on AD's face, to capture her reaction to seeing the footage for the first time."This is insane," she said to Clay, who was sitting next to her as the footage played.The tea-heavy season 6 reunion is 'Love Is Blind' at its best and a major improvementThis isn't the first time producers have pulled out unaired footage in an attempt to clear up some drama — remember Cole and Zanab's Cuties debacle back in season three? But this first time nearly all the hard-hitting questions were actually asked, and reams of receipts came along with them.The season four reunion, in particular, was a mess for a variety of reasons. Between the nearly two-hour delay for the "live" broadcast and the Lacheys failing to address some of the most controversial topics of the season, season four star Zack Goytowski served as the voice of the fans more than the actual hosts.Viewers were also annoyed that controversial contestant Jackie Bonds, who Zoomed into that reunion with her then-boyfriend and costar Josh Demas, wasn't asked to address her insulting texts about her ex-fiancé Marshall Glaze, despite the fact that the Jackie-Josh-Marshall drama dominated TikTok for weeks while the season was airing.There were indications that "Love Is Blind" would right the wrongs of reunions past. Before filming, the show's social media team posted a teaser of the Lacheys prepping for the reunion and inviting fans "who always have the best questions" to tell them what they needed to address.While that could have easily been lip service, the Lacheys did, in fact, come through.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
A clip that"s seemingly of the CEO behind Devin, the "first AI software engineer," at a math event is wowing viewers
Cognition's Scott Wu unveiled 'AI software engineer' Devin this week. Now, a 2010 clip that seems to show him winning a math quiz is wowing viewers. The CEO of Cognition, the company behind 'Devin,' is seen winning a 2010 math competition in a recently resurfaced clip. ILYA SEDYKH/GettyA 2010 clip of Cognition CEO Scott Wu seemingly winning a math competition is circulating.The video resurfaced days after Cognition unveiled the "first AI software engineer," called Devin."What the heck! I couldn't even read it that fast," said one viewer of the child in the clip.On Tuesday, Scott Wu's startup Cognition launched what it claims to be the world's "first AI software engineer," Devin, creating quite the buzz — and a little discomfort — in the tech community. A clip from 2010 of a kid that many say is Wu, seemingly killing it during a math competition, has got the CEO even more attention.In the short video widely shared on Reddit and X, formerly Twitter, a young Wu appears to be duking it out with another kid during the 2010 Raytheon Mathcounts National Competition for students grades six to eight.When asked what the "letter in the 2010th position" is in a particular pattern, the kid who many identify as Wu appeared to hit the button immediately and answered "A," which the moderator said was correct.He later answered questions before the moderator could finish asking them. When the host asked the contestants to calculate an equation, the youngster interrupted him mid-question to say the right answer. He answered a subsequent question about the number of integers in a given sequence similarly."It's the sheer speed that's truly impressive here," a person on Reddit wrote in a thread about the video. "He's not just fast, he's incredibly fast.""What the heck! I couldn't even read it that fast," another Redditor wrote regarding the questions the child was asked.The video resurfaced just days after now-CEO Wu unveiled Devin. The autonomous AI developer, Cognition claims, is the first of its kind to write code, fix bugs, and train AI models, among other tasks, all on its own.Wu didn't respond to Business Insider when asked to confirm if he was the child and, if so, how old he was.Regardless, Wu has a history of math prowess. He studied economics at Harvard University, then later worked as a software engineer at Addepar, which makes wealth management software, before he co-founded and led Lunchclub, an AI-powered social platform, as CTO for five years, according to LinkedIn.Over a year later, Wu moved on to start Cognition, which raised $21 million in funding from Peter Thiel's Founders Fund, Bloomberg reported. Scott works alongside his brother Neal, and the two are feted globally for their coding prowess, according to Bloomberg.Today we're excited to introduce Devin, the first AI software engineer.Devin is the new state-of-the-art on the SWE-Bench coding benchmark, has successfully passed practical engineering interviews from leading AI companies, and has even completed real jobs on Upwork.Devin is… pic.twitter.com/ladBicxEat— Cognition (@cognition_labs) March 12, 2024Cognition claims that Devin can radically change how software engineers do their jobs."Devin is a tireless, skilled teammate, equally ready to build alongside you or independently complete tasks for you to review," Cognition wrote in a blog post. "With Devin, engineers can focus on more interesting problems, and engineering teams can strive for more ambitious goals."That vision has sparked conversation among some software engineers who seem worried that it may potentially put their jobs at risk."We could be trying to cure cancers or make tax prep 100% free, but instead, we're trying to aggressively replace one of the few remaining jobs that provides a legit middle-class income," Kyle Shevlin, founder and software engineer at software development agency Athagist, wrote on X.And reactions to the capabilities of Devin — which Cognition claims can resolve 13.86% of coding issues found in open-source projects on GitHub — seem mixed.Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas said the autonomous AI coder appears to "cross the threshold" of human capability. However, Evan You, a Singapore-based developer, said the AI is "quite underwhelming" and added that a developer that accomplishes tasks only 13% of the time is a "liability" instead of an "asset."But Wu's cognitive speed — then and now — seems to have continued to wow tech fans, with one X user who said they'd interviewed with him at Lunchclub saying, "As I was speaking or after I'd ask a question, I'd see Scott think at teraflops a second. Bro was built different." A teraflop is a term for an extremely fast computing speed. "That day actually scared me as I found out that some people just work off a different magnitude."And if the video is of Wu, he isn't alone in being quite the mathlete: Cognition's team has won 10 gold medals at the infamously difficult International Olympiad in Informatics, according to the company's website.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»