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Byron Johnson’s Beginners Guide to Affordable Health Insurance

Avatar photo Alice Blake on September 12, 2022

Byron Johnson, commercial real estate investor, entrepreneur, and CEO of an insurance agency, ObamacareEnrollment.org, is an expert on health insurance. He believes that with the complexities of the US healthcare system, most American citizens don’t have explicit knowledge of health insurance. So, how can they choose the right health insurance plan?

 

Healthcare in the United States is the most expensive in the world. With the COVID pandemic, the hospitalization cost increases day by day, making it vital to get healthcare insurance for yourself and your loved ones. Having health insurance in place will offer financial security and help you tackle uncertain health risks with the help of quality healthcare services. 

 

Undoubtedly, the United States has the most complex healthcare system in the world. Unlike its neighboring countries, the cost of healthcare services in the US is your and your family’s responsibility. In many countries, essential healthcare is provided for free or at a reasonable cost. But, in the US, one appointment with a doctor can cost you a few hundred. If you had to be hospitalized due to disease and required regular healthcare, your bill will cross $10,000. The Affordable Care Act or Obamacare was introduced to help American citizens get relief from the high insurance bills, but it’s still not the final answer. 

 

Buying healthcare insurance will help you cover the medical expenses, given that you have chosen the right health insurance plan that fits your needs without breaking your wallets. 

 

Byron Johnson understands that it’s easier to find the optimal health insurance plan, but it can be overwhelming to choose among different options offered by different insurance companies. Byron Johnson has made it easier for us as in today’s article; we will be learning about different types of insurance plans, which plan would work the best for your needs, and what is covered under each insurance plan. Here’s a complete guide for you to choose the right health insurance plan for you and your family. 

 

What is covered by healthcare insurance?

Typically, your health insurance policy covers the medical expenses incurred due to the diagnosis of a disease. Generally, the surgeries are covered under your health insurance policy, but you need to purchase separate plans for dental and vision insurance. Up until 2019, it was mandatory to purchase health insurance, and if you didn’t have one, you would be charged with a tax penalty. But, in 2019, this mandate was removed by the federal government. 

 

What are the different types of health insurance?

According to Byron Johnson, here are several different types of insurance plans that you can buy:

  • Employer-sponsored: You can get health insurance through your employer. If a company has over 50 full-time employees, it is required to provide healthcare coverage. It allows you to split your monthly insurance premium with your employer. 
  • Individual and family plans: This healthcare insurance coverage is available to everyone and can be bought through state or federal marketplace and health insurance companies. 
  • Medicare: Medicare allows you to buy healthcare insurance for senior citizens that require regular health care services. You can buy it through an insurance company or the government. 
  • Medicaid: This insurance coverage is offered by the government for low-income people, pregnant females, older adults, and people with disabilities. Depending on the state, it is often low-cost or even free to enroll. 
  • Short-term insurance: A short-term insurance plan offers temporary health insurance to cover the gap in your coverage. 
  • Dental and Vision: Byron Johnsons suggests that the beneficiary should buy separate insurance plans for dental and vision care as most medical insurances do not cover these. 

 

How much does health insurance cost?

The cost for health insurance plans varies depending on the type of insurance plan and the coverage offered. As a result, your insurance rate will fluctuate annually despite sticking with the same insurance provider.

 

Byron Johnson notes, the average healthcare insurance premium is $479 for individuals and $1,229 for families. The cost of your health insurance is calculated based on zip code, age, gender, and other factors. 

 

When to buy health insurance?

You can buy a health insurance plan at any time, depending on your insurance coverage type. If you are unsure whether you need a healthcare insurance plan or not, you can reach out to Byron Johnson, as he can find the best healthcare insurance plan for your needs.

 

Where to buy health insurance?

You can contact health care insurance providers online and get a quote for your monthly or annual health care premium. You also have the option to go through your state or the federal marketplace. 

 

How to find an affordable health insurance plan?

If you want to find a healthcare insurance plan that matches your needs and fits in your budget, you need to know how to make your healthcare insurance affordable, explains Byron Johnson. The best way to reduce the cost of your healthcare insurance is by selecting a high deductible.

 

About Byron Johnson:

 

Byron Johnson is a founder, entrepreneur, and CEO known for founding several businesses, including an insurance agency, construction and remodeling company, and commercial real estate investment firm. Byron Johnson is an owner of 150+ units of commercial property located in the up-and-coming Seminole Heights area close to downtown Tampa. Additionally, Byron is a recgonzied WSOP Poker Player who won 1st place in the WSOP Poker series in Tampa, FL in 2020. 

 

For more information on Byron Johnson, visit ByronJohnson.com or visit his Cheap Car Insurance Guru YouTube Channel where he gives back by sharing free car insurance tips and valuable insurance info daily. 

 

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Dubai Investment Fund is Expanding Its Operations in Cyprus, New Zealand and The Czech Republic

Avatar photo Alice Blake on September 12, 2022

We recently learned that the Dubai Investment Fund (DIF) is expanding its operations in New Zealand, the Czech Republic and Cyprus. The company will develop its presence in these countries by opening offices to reach more businesses and gain broader market access. 

The first of these offices opened in Prague, Czech Republic, in August, to be followed by offices in Wellington, New Zealand, and Nicosia, Cyprus, by mid-September. Employees can choose to work from home, in the office, or in a hybrid mode that combines remote work and travel to the office. 

According to our observations of DIF’s development in the recent years, and as has happened repeatedly in some regions, operations in the Czech Republic and Cyprus will focus primarily on real estate, tourism, finance and artificial intelligence. The New Zealand office will focus on new projects in environmental, social and governance issues, as well as green energy and healthcare. 

In addition to traditional operations, the company also plans to invest in solar energy projects and pioneering biomedical ventures in New Zealand. These pioneering biomedical projects will explore different methods of combining artificial intelligence with modern medical advances. This endeavor is the result of years of interdisciplinary research in collaboration with leaders in the field of artificial intelligence. The company also has offices in Dubai, London, Sydney, Mumbai, Tokyo, New York, Frankfurt, Zurich, Quebec, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Seoul, Milan, Singapore, Luxembourg, Shanghai and Barcelona.  With three new offices, the total number of countries served by the company has grown to twenty. 

The company’s headquarters are invariably located in Dubai, and has a staff of 2,600 people. As of this writing in September 2022, in addition to Dubai, DIF’s most strategic offices are in New York, London, Tokyo, Frankfurt, Hong Kong and Shanghai. 

The Dubai Investment Fund manages about $320 billion in assets on behalf of its 7,300 clients in 61 countries. Since its founding in 2001, DIF has employed 920 people in financial positions. A full account of the investment fund’s history is available in English on its Web site. 

Last year, its operating income grew by AED 14.3 billion ($3.8 billion) in 2021, an increase of 27 percent over the previous year. The corporation’s total revenue was 180.7 billion dirhams ($49.2 billion), an increase of 4.25 percent over the previous year. The company’s year-end total assets were AED 1,184.6 billion ($322.2 billion) and total equity was AED 878.1 billion ($231.1 billion). 

The rapid expansion of the Dubai Investment Fund is a strong indication that the fund is constantly seeking new investment opportunities to diversify the risks of its portfolio. Given this expansion, as well as the creation of multiple departments dedicated to innovation and ESG investment, it is safe to assume that the Dubai Investment Fund (DIF) is also targeting its assets to capitalize on the potential of future technologies. 

Federal Reserve Chairperson Promises to Fight Inflation

Avatar photo Alice Blake on September 12, 2022

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In a conference done on Thursday, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, emphasized his pledge to continue with his fight against inflation, using an aggressive implementation of policies and mitigation measures to lessen the effects of the country’s economic downturn.

The 40th Annual Monetary Conference hosted by Cato Institute brought together experts and other officials to discuss fiscal matters of great importance to the country.

During the conference, Powell said, “The Fed has, and accepts, responsibility for price stability. We need to act right now — forthrightly, strongly.”

Powell has since informed the public of the robust measure the Fed will take under his leadership. In an annual symposium by the Jackson Hole last month, the Fed chairman said that the Federal Reserve is conditioning the public on the inevitable rise of the prices of commodities that could alter the spending habits of the citizens, including their income and investment habits.

According to Powell, the public might think that higher inflation in the country is supposed to be the norm. He justified that this mindset might be invoked by the failed attempts of authorities to control prices in the market. Further, Powell ultimately attributes this to the Fed’s inaction and unwillingness to impose tighter limits that could upend the skyrocketing prices of the country.

Powell’s belief that people are already thinking of inflation as a normal occurrence is affirmed by the Vice Chairperson of the Federal Reserve, Lael Brainard. “It is especially important to guard against the risk that households and businesses could start to expect inflation to remain above 2% in the longer run,” she said.

Read Also: TikTok is Helping On-the-Rise Artists in the Music Industry

The future of rates

Many investors are already expecting an increase in the basis points that will be set by the Feds during their policy meeting this month. According to them, at least a 75-point basis hike is expected. The increase will most likely happen even if the next release of the Producer Price Index and Consumer Price Index turns out better than expected.

“Their message is that we should expect them to remain in restrictive policy mode even after we start to see inflation data head in the right direction,” He went to pretty extensive lengths to dispel assumptions of any pivot coming forward soon,” said Keith Buchanan, Globalt Investments portfolio manager.

The Feds previously received raps after it has downplayed the looming inflation months ago. However, the agency’s senior officials have already apologized to the public and said that they have learned their lesson and will strive to thwart its effects.

“It would be sufficient for them to acknowledge that the near-term rate is trending in the right direction, but, definitely, they should not allow that to [influence] their trajectory. The real dilemma is, how much good data do they need in hand before they pause?” said Brad Conger, a deputy chief investment officer from Hirtle Callaghan.

Read Also: NASA’s Artemis I Mission Encounters Another Problem, Takeoff May be Delayed by Months

More work for the Feds

Apart from the current challenges the central bank faces, the possibility of low unemployment seems to exacerbate it. At the current time, the unemployment rate of the United States is experiencing the lowest since 50 years ago. In addition, Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank President Loretta Mester said that inflation has become the country’s key economic challenge now.

“Given current rates of inflation, I believe that the Fed has more work to do in order to get inflation under control. This will entail further rate increases to tighten financial conditions,” the president said.

During last month’s conference, Powell expressed the need to consider these factors.

“Our responsibility to deliver price stability is unconditional. While higher interest rates, slower growth, and softer labor market conditions will bring down inflation, they will also bring some pain to households and businesses,” Powell said.

“The longer the current bout of high inflation continues, the greater the chance that expectations of higher inflation will become entrenched,” the Chairman added.

Source: CNN

TikTok is Helping On-the-Rise Artists in the Music Industry

Avatar photo Alice Blake on September 8, 2022

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Without a doubt, TikTok has positively impacted the recording industry. Just one video can attract the attention of viewers worldwide and could help emerging musicians and choreographers gain prominence.

For instance, Zoi Lerma, a Los Angeles employee at a bagel shop, choreographed Benee’s song “Supalonely.” She subsequently posted her clip to TikTok, where it was well-received by viewers. Since then, the TikTok video has received over 45 million views, making Benee a household name.

Benee’s “Supalonely” has been featured in over 5.7 million videos that users and content producers have posted online. Benee received nominations for and wins for the song’s success, including New Artist of the 2020 People’s Choice Awards, as well as sales of more than 1 million copies and 2.1 billion streams across all platforms. The artist also gave two jam-packed performances in New Zealand.

“When it started trending on TikTok and picking up on TikTok, I would hear it on the radio or, you know, hear it in stores. I would hear it everywhere,” Lerma stated in an interview.

Read Also: NASA’s Artemis I Mission Encounters Another Problem, Takeoff May be Delayed by Months

TikTok is creating revenue for the music industry

TikTok is one of the most effective hitmakers of this century because of its widespread use. The program, which ByteDance of China owns, offers a platform for artists and content producers to express and promote their abilities in short films. In addition, a user may upload any sort of content, including pictures of pets, information about their personal life, hobbies, ASMR, singing, and dance.

The films readily become viral within hours of being released since they attract many people’s attention. As a consequence, TikTok sets trends and even helps older songs regain their prior level of popularity. For instance, Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” reached the top of the charts two years ago as a result of a popular video using the music as the backdrop. TikTok has also developed into a source of revenue for record companies and musicians.

“If a song is going viral on TikTok, and the artist is unsigned, and as a result, it’s getting a million streams on Spotify, the labels are scrambling to sign that song or that artist. “They’re obsessed with expanding their market share and making sure they don’t lose any market share to independent artists,” Midia Research analyst and consultant Tatiana Cirisano said.

“With hundreds of songs generating over 1 billion video views and dozens of artists signing record deals as a result of success on the platform, TikTok starts trends that reverberate throughout the culture, the industry, and the charts,” said TikTok in a statement.

TikTok has also been caught among youngsters. According to a recent poll, over 67% of youths in the country use TikTok, with 16% of them indicating they use it often. As a result, numerous social networking apps have adopted TikTok’s model. For example, Meta’s Facebook launched Reels, which looks similar to TikTok’s interface.

TikTok had over 1 billion users worldwide a year ago, and this figure is growing.

Read Also: VMAs Celebrate Music and Art, Get to Know the Winners of Each Category

Issues that trouble TikTok

Although TikTok is rapidly expanding, American officials are becoming concerned about the potential problems that the firm can do to consumers. Congress demanded that TikTok respond to allegations regarding suspected access to user data based in the U.S. a little more than two months ago.

“In light of this new report, we ask that your agency immediately initiate a Section 5 investigation on the basis of apparent deception by TikTok and coordinate this work with any national security or counter-intelligence investigation that may be initiated by the U.S. Department of Justice,” said Congress.

The declaration was issued in response to a BuzzFeed article that claims ByteDance, the parent firm of TikTok, frequently accessed its users’ data, particularly those based in the United States. TikTok quickly refuted the accusations, though.

“[TikTok has] consistently maintained that our engineers in locations outside of the U.S., including China, can be granted access to U.S. user data on an as-needed basis.”

Source: CNBC

How Business Expense Management Can Improve Your Financial Success

Avatar photo Alice Blake on September 7, 2022

One of the most important things you can do for your business is help it become more successful financially. To do that, you need to make sure you’re tracking income and expenses correctly. That way you can see what’s coming in, and what’s going out. It’s not just basic bills you need to be mindful of, either. You also need to consider your employees’ expenses.

If you have company cars, credit cards, and expense accounts, for example, you likely trust your employees not to overspend or abuse those privileges. Even the most careful and thoughtful employees may accidentally use their accounts for things they shouldn’t, if they aren’t clear on the rules and guidelines.

Fortunately, there are ways you can track your business expenses correctly, so you don’t have to worry about mistakes and problems. If there are any issues, you can catch them quickly and make the right adjustments. With good management of your business expenses, you’ll work toward a better bottom line and more peace of mind.

You Need a Comprehensive Solution

The best option for quality business expense management is a comprehensive solution. Why? Because you want something you can rely on for everything you’re trying to track. That means you want everything in one place, for seamless integration that takes your expense management to the next level. When you properly track every employee’s expenses, you can see any problems quickly and make changes.

This level of tracking also benefits your employees, though, because it shows them you’re serious about making sure they’re reimbursed properly. That can keep them feeling confident that they’ll get their money back, and also being careful about the amount they’re spending. They don’t want to abuse the privilege of having an expense account or corporate card, and proper reimbursement for valid expenses is a big part of that.

Small businesses don’t often have comprehensive solutions to expense tracking, because they might not have that many expenses to worry about. But as your company grows, or if you’re already heading up a larger one, you need the abilities that expense tracking offers. A tool to keep everything in one place is among the best ways to feel secure, and to find problems before they can become larger, more serious issues for your company’s strength and future growth.

Automate Everything to Increase Accuracy

You can see more accuracy with your business expense management when you automate everything. Not only will all your expenses be tracked, but you’ll also have the opportunity to integrate various financial areas of your company. From approving expenses to reimbursing employees, you’ll have what you need right at your fingertips.

There’s no reason to settle for less than the help and support you need for increased financial success. When you take the management of your business expenses to the next level, you increase value and peace of mind. The accuracy of your company’s finances is critically important, and automation is a great way to increase and improve upon that accuracy for the long term.

Provide Reports to Look for Trends and Concerns

 

When you automate and streamline your business expense management, one of the benefits you can get is the ability to generate reports. With the right tools and solution providers, you can have reports that will show you the trends your business is experiencing. You’ll also have the chance to see areas of concern, so you can decide how to approach a solution to the problem.

Without solid reports, you may not be sure whether there are issues with your company’s financial health, or what might be causing those issues. It’s very hard to solve a problem you’re not aware of, and also difficult to solve a problem when you don’t know its source. Reports are an excellent way to help address that, and give you the information you need to make wise financial decisions for your company.

Integrate Preapproval Into the Expense System

Pre Approval of certain types of expenses can make it easier for your company to operate smoothly. With the right business expense management tools, you can integrate preapprovals, so you don’t have to worry about them. You can set amounts, items, employees, and other details, making sure authorization protocols are correctly followed.

Then you can sit back and know that specific expenses are automatically being handled, giving you one less area to worry about. Of course, those pre approved expenses will still be a part of the reports you generate, which helps you quickly discover if there are any adjustments that need to be made.

Peace of mind can’t be bought, but it’s much easier to find when you have the right system for managing your business expenses. Not only will that help your company grow, but it will offer protection for you, your employees, and your customers.

Artemis I: NASA’s Precursor for Another Manned Space Flight to the Moon 50 Years After Apollo

Avatar photo Alice Blake on September 5, 2022

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After almost 50 years, humanity is now again preparing for a manned flight to the moon. With the help of a team of experts and scientists at NASA, the famed Apollo mission will soon be superseded by another ambitious flight to the Earth’s natural satellite – the Artemis I.

The Artemis program, named after the twin sister of Apollo, will make its way to the moon and land on where Apollo last ventured. The team is expected to travel across unexplored lunar regions. Looking ahead, NASA hopes that the Artemis missions will make it to the surface of Mars.

For the first time, humans would discover what is in the shadowy regions found south of the moon. The Artemis mission intends to find a stable area where astronauts could stay for extended periods of time and use findings to help in plans to shoot to Mars.

Over a month ago, NASA’s rover discovered stable pits on the surface of the moon where the temperature is stable and could support human life. Unfortunately, due to the volatility of the moon’s surface, astronauts have had a difficult time staying on the moon’s surface for a long time. However, with the discovery, NASA is confident that the Artemis I could achieve what it came for.

Read Also: The Mental and Physical Benefit of Swimming, a Good Activity During a Scorching Summer

What the Artemis I mission is

The Artemis launches on August 29. To ensure the safety of possible humans going into the intended region, the first flight would be unmanned but highly observed. NASA will lead the operations of Artemis I and check every factor that could help the agency come up with measures and countermeasures to guarantee smooth flight of the manned missions of Artemis II and Artemis III.

The subsequent missions will be based on the findings of Artemis I. NASA says that Artemis II will be launched in 2024, then Artemis III the year after.

The liftoff will commence at around 8:33 a.m. and 10:33 a.m. ET this August 29 from Florida. As expected, Americans would make their way to the Kennedy Space Center, where people could see the spectacle as the mission will start.

After liftoff, Artemis I will embark on a 42-day voyage where it will travel 40,000 miles beyond the moon, thanks to the Orion spacecraft. If successful, the journey will be farther than what Apollo has achieved. It is important that NASA oversees the mission since Artemis I’s path would be the same journey that the manned Artemis II will take.

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NASA’s pride

“As we embark on the first Artemis test flight, we recall this agency’s storied past, but our eyes are focused not on the immediate future but out there,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.

“It’s a future where NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the moon. And on these increasingly complex missions, astronauts will live and work in deep space, and we’ll develop the science and technology to send the first humans to Mars.”

The Space Launch Rocket System propelling Artemis I to the moon is a design based on all the information and data from the Apollo mission. The rocket could carry the craft a thousand times farther than the low-Earth orbit location of the International Space Station. Further, the rocket will speed up the Orion up to 22,600 miles per hour.

“It’s the only rocket that’s capable of sending Orion and a crew and supplies into deep space on a single launch,” said the program manager of the SLS, John Honeycutt.

“It’s the powerhouse side of the vehicle where it’s got the primary propulsion, power and life support resources we need for Artemis I. Re-entry will be great to demonstrate our heat shield capability, making sure that the spacecraft comes home safely and, of course for future missions, protecting the crew,” added the Orion program manager of NASA, Howard Hu.

“Artemis I shows that we can do big things, things that unite people, things that benefit humanity — things like Apollo that inspire the world,” Nelson added. “And to all of us that gaze up at the moon, dreaming of the day humankind returns to the lunar surface: Folks, we’re here, we are going back, and that journey, our journey, begins with Artemis I.”

Source: CNN

Pneumatic Tube Systems: Prioritizing Patient Care

Avatar photo Alice Blake on September 1, 2022

At the peak of the pandemic, demand for COVID-19 testing at hospitals caused delays in testing for other disorders such as respiratory diseases, STIs, and healthcare associated infections. Even now, up to 40% of ER patients are primarily there for COVID testing, meaning backups for other tests are only increasing. With so many other patients who need tests each day, what is causing such a delay in receiving results?

 

In 2021, 99% of US hospitals and health systems reported procurement challenges. Shortages affected critical lab supplies such as pipettes, sterile water, and regents which are all integral in producing results for lab tests. Along with equipment shortages, nearly 80% of physicians reported shortages of drugs. These drugs affect all patients, not just those with COVID-19.

 

The lack of supplies and drugs in hospitals and healthcare systems is directly affecting the accuracy of tests and the delivery of results. Blood, plasma, and platelet samples are often temperature and time sensitive. If a sample has to wait to be tested due to supply shortages, there is a higher chance that it will be rejected. In fact, 6% of emergency lab specimens are rejected before analysis. These materials have to be discarded, and tests have to be retaken. This wastes valuable time and resources for an already stressed healthcare system. 

 

The implementation of pneumatic tube systems can help alleviate some of the pressure of healthcare workers and solve the problem of inventory waste. These tube systems move carriers using compressed air and can transport materials at around 25 feet per second. Sensors ensure each carrier reaches its intended destination in a timely manner. These carriers can move from station to station, floor to floor, and even into different buildings! This means no matter where a test needs to go, it will get there before it is time or temperature compromised. 

 

Pneumatic tube systems not only help hospital systems deliver materials in a timely manner, they can also help ensure that samples don’t break and help avoid medication errors. RFID tagging is used to make sure samples are delivered to the correct station, and this helps to also reduce labeling errors overall. Tube systems also prioritize delivery for emergency medications, blood units, and IVs which can lower the risk of running out of these essential supplies. 

 

It has been proven that pneumatic tube systems have numerous benefits for hospitals and other healthcare systems. Advanced systems significantly reduce turnaround time for emergency testing, which helps to reduce time to treatment as well as patient wait times in the ER. In an average hospital, tests were delivered nearly 20 minutes faster than in hospitals that don’t have a tube system. In one hospital it was found that a floor with a tube system experienced zero medication errors over four weeks compared toa  floor without a system that experienced 16.

 

The healthcare system already deals with enough stress especially after the pandemic. Implementing pneumatic tube systems can help to alleviate some of these stresses in a number of ways. Learn more about the benefits of these systems in the infographic below:

How Live Video Will Shape the Future of Communication

Avatar photo Alice Blake on August 31, 2022

From 2016 to 2021, live video traffic quadrupled. Why? 

 

The pandemic has created a permanent shift towards remote working, education, and entertainment. Businesses and consumers are demanding live video in order to facilitate this, and as a result, global live video revenue will reach $184 billion by 2028. 

 

Within the corporate space, live video is more than just replacing meetings. Half of webinars are related to onboarding and training employees, and even earlier in the recruiting process, 86% of employee interviews are now conducted over video calls. From client calls to marketing campaigns and beyond, live video is the most effective way to convey information and connect with customers. Live video is not only cheaper and more efficient than in-person communication, but it is more effective than text or phone based communications; visuals are processed 60,000 times faster than text by the human brain. 

 

Businesses are also buying in to live video in order to meet consumer demand that has arisen in the aftermath of the pandemic. 17% of US patient visits were conducted via telehealth visits last year, and in 2020, the gaming industry generated $9.3 billion in content revenue. Streaming is gaining popularity: 33% of consumers interact with live video over five times a week, and 79% interact with live video at least once a week. 

 

Yet despite all this, effective live video remains a challenge. Live streaming demands high bandwidth in order to deliver low-latency, consistent visual and audio quality. In addition, connection issues arise due to an inability to be compatible with the range of different devices and platforms that users stream from. 

 

As a result of these challenges, live video costs employees over three days per year in waiting for meetings to start, a number that doubles for senior executives. A whopping 62% of workers never use live video for work purposes, likely due to bad experiences with such platforms, as well as a lack of familiarity. 

 

Consumers are also suffering. Many streaming platforms are poorly designed, meaning that common functions such as screen share and muting are a hassle to use. Required downloads to join meetings create delays, and the process can be even more complicated with dialling in from a mobile device. 

 

Given all this, and the lingering privacy concerns associated with the security of streams, it comes as no surprise that 30% of sales professionals believe their web conferencing tools are hindering sales, rather than helping them. 

 

Luckily, these issues are not unsolvable. Eyeson, a platform made for developers, by developers, has patented a single stream technology that enables all participants to view any data source, from any device, on a single, real-time video stream. The platform streamlines screen share, recording and data overlay features, alongside any individual client integrations. 

 

It is clear that the demand for live video already exists, and Eyeson demonstrates that seamless, low-latency live video streaming is possible to meet it. With such a positive outlook, businesses should be prepared to integrate streaming into many of their operations if they haven’t already. 

Powerful in Pink: Pelosi’s Choice of Clothing in Taiwan Trip More than Just Coincidence

Avatar photo Alice Blake on August 29, 2022

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Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan came on short notice. The House Speaker’s plane landed at the Taipei Songshan Airport on a Tuesday night, free of bustling crowds in the morning and the usual hustle of people in the island nation. However, Pelosi’s entrance into the country was important to the country.

Among the crowd of monotonous suits is the pink jumpsuit that Pelosi wore when she walked along the airport in front of the luminaries from Taiwan as well as the media. While Pelosi’s trip has been seen from a highly political vantage point, her outfit symbolizes more than what her agenda was when she went to Taiwan.

As reported, Pelosi made her declaration, saying that the United States will stand with Taiwan in its journey to economic prosperity and opening up to the global market. But more than that is the political communication that is donned by her pink outfit.

Pelosi made no change to her attire in between her flight. In fact, the House Speaker wore the same outfit when she went to Malaysia before Taiwan. With her suit are the usual heels and pearls that are common among US politicians. Pelosi could have changed her wardrobe while she was in transit to Taiwan, but she didn’t. This only means that Pelosi intended to wear the pink-clad outfit to communicate something.

The suit meant confidence, it was powerful, but it did not incite any threats. Instead, it seemed that wearing pink in front of the Taiwanese officials meant is a gesture of friendship, not a protest against China, which has since accused the speaker of maliciously visiting to aggravate the pressure between the countries.

Read Also: What Women in Afghanistan Take to Feed Their Families

Pelosi mirroring another great politician

With her choice of clothing, many people have come to wonder if she wanted to mirror a woman who was an icon for many Americans: Hillary Clinton.

Clinton wore a pink outfit in 1995 during the Fourth World Conference on Women by the United Nations, which was held in Beijing. ‘Women’s rights are human rights’ was the statement made by the then-first lady that has been cemented into the fabric of many societies across the globe.

Clinton then called on nations, including China, for their threats to women and indicated that the cycle of violence and prejudice should stop. This form of dissent against China is somewhat similar to what Pelosi did when she angered China after her Taiwan trip.

China censored the speech made by Clinton. However, here comes Pelosi donning the same pink outfit as if to remind China of women capable of standing against a superpower.

Read Also: Artemis I: NASA’s Precursor for Another Manned Space Flight to the Moon 50 Years After Apollo

It’s pink for Pelosi

There have been many occasions when the US senior official was seen wearing pink clothing. For instance, she wore a pink suit in an interview on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” she also wore pink pumps for a photo op with the House Committee Chairs and sported a Fuschia dress during the 166th swearing-in of Congress. On her Twitter account, Pelosi can also be seen with a pink blazer.

Like many women in politics, Pelosi rarely answers questions related to her fashion choice. However, we can be sure that the House Speaker places high regard on what the power of clothing projects to the public, including the choice of color.

Whenever Pelosi wears pink, it clearly exudes feminine power. This spirit is also exhibited by a number of women in the political landscape like Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who applies her red lipstick as her “war paint,” and Vice President Kamala Harris’ all-white suit for her acceptance as the first female Vice President of the country.

The choice of wardrobe colors means a lot to the public eye and even to politicians, which may be why Tsai Chi-chang, the deputy speaker of the Taiwan legislature, sported a pink tie when he met with Pelosi the morning after her arrival.

Clothes have symbolism, and her message was delivered effectively when Pelosi chose a color that symbolizes feminine power.

Source: CNN

Startup Advice from Seaquake CEO Andrew Katz

Avatar photo Alice Blake on August 24, 2022

Starting your own business is both exhilarating and anxiety-inducing. While the potential rewards are great, the many risks on the path to success mean that entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone. Knowing that 25% of startups fail in their first year and 50% within the first four years might not inspire much confidence in your ability to go it alone.

 

We caught up with Seaquake Founder and CEO Andrew Katz, who is six years into his second major entrepreneurial venture, to find out how he has achieved such incredible success. While some of his tips may sound intuitive, all of his advice is sound and applicable across any industry – you don’t have to be revolutionizing the crypto-verse to benefit from what Andrew has to offer.

 

Create a Company Culture you Want To Be a Part Of

For starters, be the kind of manager that you’ve responded to well in the past. Andrew recalls how soul-crushing it was working for a “seagull manager” – someone that only swoops in when a problem has arisen. He works hard to interact with his team throughout each day, catching potential issues before they escalate.

 

Andrew Katz appreciates the company culture of Seaquake so much that he looks forward to working each day. He and his team are able to work remotely, giving them the freedom to be where they want to be, and stay in constant communication every day. All new ideas are welcomed and explored rather than shot down.

 

Andrew credits an extreme dedication to organization and a well-planned annual roadmap with being able to constantly march forward on new projects and roll out new lines of business.

 

Hire People That you Like and Want to Work With

Seaquake maintains a tight ship, with a small but tech-savvy staff. As Andrew points out, there is no shortage of qualified candidates for any position you post, so be sure that the personalities you choose are people that you want to work with on a daily basis.

 

Always do your due diligence on anyone that you bring onto the team. Check with references and confirm the accuracy of resumes.

 

Pay your Staff Appropriately

This may sound like a no-brainer; while hiring people for less than they’re worth is tempting as you get your footing as a startup’ it’s better to pay your staff appropriately. It helps to build a strong company culture with a loyal and motivated team.

 

Listen To your Team

If you hire someone, you should value what they have to say. Allow everyone to contribute and welcome ideas and suggestions.

 

Take Care of Yourself

Overworking yourself will lead to burnout and an inability to manage your company effectively. Andrew makes time to work out, spend time with his dogs, and travel, all of which keep him fresh and ready to take on new challenges.

 

Provide a Product or Service that is Necessary

If you’re not sure that you’re adding value, don’t take the risk of getting into the business. Do your research and fully understand your competitors and what you want to bring to the table. If your concept isn’t clear, or you don’t have a direction for your work, you’re not ready to be in business.

 

Set Clear Expectations for Investors

Andrew is clear that you shouldn’t allow yourself to be taken advantage of by early investors. In fact, he recommends retaining a legal team from the start so that you can be proactive if things go south.

 

Andrew and his CTO, Dylan Knight, were able to guide Seaquake to profitability in only 15 months. Since then, they have only grown and expanded their offerings. By keeping communication open with his tight-knit staff, they can pivot and respond to opportunities as they arise.

 

Six years into Seaquake, Andrew Katz is still excited to go to work every day and create a full crypto ecosystem. He is a true startup success story by following his best advice.

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