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Elite Benefits Group offers affordable healthcare to all

At Elite Benefits Group, Sierra Gilmore provides accessible healthcare options to individuals across all income brackets and social classes, at an affordable cost.

Elite Benefit Group, a leading and reputable insurance brokerage company based in the US, assists numerous organizations and individuals in locating cost-efficient insurance coverage.

Given the rising cost of healthcare, affordable healthcare has long been a hot topic in the media and public discourse. In addition to assisting low-income families, self-employed individuals, daycare workers, and individuals in navigating the complex world of health insurance, Elite Benefits Group specializes in assisting individuals and businesses find affordable healthcare insurance by comparing plans and prices to find a plan that best suits their requirements and financial situation.

At Elite Benefits Group, a wide range of clients, from small businesses to large corporations and individuals, benefit from their diverse insurance services, which include health, life, and disability coverage, as well as other insurance options. The company is committed to offering personalized service, working closely with each client to identify their distinct needs and objectives, and crafting tailored insurance solutions that precisely match those requirements. The collaborative approach ensures that each client’s unique needs and objectives are fully comprehended, leading to the development of customized insurance solutions.

Angela Knight of House Of Pies, a client said “Being a small business trying to offer extensive benefits to your employees can be overwhelming and expensive. Elite Benefits Group made this task affordable, and understandable and gave our employees great coverage at a low cost to the company. I would and have recommended Elite Benefits Group to everyone!” 

Elite Benefits Group provides consulting services for employee benefits and human resources in addition to insurance brokerage services. Their services involve aiding businesses in creating and implementing employee benefits packages that not only attract and retain high-caliber talent but also ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Elite Benefits Group understands the challenges of rising healthcare costs and the importance of having access to affordable healthcare. One way Elite Benefits Group helps its clients find affordable healthcare is by comparing plans from different insurance carriers. They can help clients understand the differences between plans, such as deductibles, copayments, and out-of-pocket maximums, and how those differences can affect the overall cost of the plan.

Elite Benefits Group also assists clients to navigate government programs like Medicaid and Medicare, as well as other options for low-cost or free healthcare. 

About

Elite Benefits Group is a company that specializes in providing insurance brokerage and consulting services to businesses and individuals. The company is based in the United States and has been in operation for over a decade and hope to reach anyone looking for affordable healthcare because it’s affordable to everyone.

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Finance Financial Market Lifestyle Services U.S

Brighter Loans: Payday Loan App: Revolutionizing Quick, Secure & Convenient Payday Loans

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 <h1>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</h1>

 <h2>Brighter Loans: Payday Loan App – A Comprehensive Solution for Fast, Secure, and Convenient Payday Loans Now Available on Google Play Store</h2>

 <p>[Miami, 04.21.2023] – Today marks the official launch of <a href=”https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.brighter.loans.payday.loans.cash.advance” rel=”dofollow”>Brighter Loans: Payday Loan App</a>, a revolutionary new financial service app that provides a comprehensive solution for fast, secure, and convenient payday loans, now available for download on the Google Play Store. The app has been carefully designed and developed to cater to the diverse financial needs of people in need of short-term loans, offering a seamless user experience and unparalleled access to lenders and loan products.</p>

 <p>Brighter Loans: Payday Loan App comes as a timely response to the ever-growing demand for accessible financial services, especially in a world where financial stability is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve. With its intuitive design and user-friendly interface, the app aims to revolutionize the way individuals apply for and receive payday loans, ensuring they can access funds quickly and securely when they need them most.</p>

 <h2>Key features of the Brighter Loans: Payday Loan App</h2>

 <h3>1. Quick and Easy Loan Application Process</h3>

 <p>The Brighter Loans: Payday Loan App simplifies the process of applying for a payday loan by allowing users to complete a straightforward application form within minutes. This eliminates the need for time-consuming paperwork or lengthy face-to-face meetings with lenders.</p>

 <h3>2. Wide Range of Lenders and Loan Products</h3>

 <p>The app features an extensive network of trusted and reliable lenders, offering users access to a diverse range of loan products and competitive interest rates. This ensures that users can find the right payday loan to suit their specific needs and financial circumstances.</p>

 <h3>3. Instant Loan Decisions</h3>

 <p>Once users submit their loan application, the Brighter Loans: Payday Loan App utilizes advanced algorithms to analyze and match the user’s profile with suitable lenders. This process ensures that users receive instant loan decisions, allowing them to access funds quickly and efficiently.</p>

 <h3>4. Secure and Confidential</h3>

 <p>Brighter Loans: Payday Loan App prioritizes user privacy and security. The app employs industry-standard security measures, including SSL encryption, to protect user data and ensure that all transactions are secure and confidential.</p>

 <h3>5. Flexible Repayment Options</h3>

 <p>The app offers users the flexibility to choose from various repayment options, including weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly repayments. This ensures that users can select a repayment plan that best fits their financial situation and minimizes the risk of default.</p>

 <h3>6. Comprehensive Financial Management Tools</h3>

 <p>Brighter Loans: Payday Loan App goes beyond providing payday loans by offering users a suite of financial management tools, including budgeting and expense tracking features. These tools help users better understand and manage their finances, promoting long-term financial stability.</p>

 <h3>7. Responsive Customer Support</h3>

 <p>The Brighter Loans: Payday Loan App team is committed to providing exceptional customer support, ensuring that users have access to timely assistance and guidance throughout the loan application process. Users can reach out to the customer support team via in-app chat or email.</p>

 <h3>8. Free Download and Usage</h3>

<p>The Brighter Loans: Payday Loan App is available for free download on the Google Play Store, allowing users to access its extensive range of features and services at no cost.</p>

 <h2>Promoting Responsible Lending Practices</h2>

 <p>In addition to its impressive array of features, Brighter Loans: Payday Loan App is committed to promoting responsible lending practices. The app’s developers have worked tirelessly to ensure that users receive accurate information about payday loans, including the potential risks and benefits associated with this type of financial service. Furthermore, Brighter Loans: Payday Loan App only partners with reputable and responsible lenders who adhere to strict lending guidelines and regulations.</p>

 <h2>Transforming the Payday Loan Industry</h2>

 <p>Brighter Loans: Payday Loan App is set to transform the payday loan industry, making it more accessible, secure, and convenient for individuals in need of short-term financial assistance. By offering users a comprehensive solution for obtaining payday advances and cash advances, the app empowers users to make informed decisions about their finances and manage their short-term financial needs more effectively.</p>

 <p>As the demand for accessible and transparent financial services continues to grow, Brighter Loans: Payday Loan App is poised to become a game-changer in the industry. The app’s development team is committed to continuously improving and expanding the range of services and features offered, ensuring that users have access to the most cutting-edge financial solutions available.</p>

 <p>The Brighter Loans: Payday Loan App is not only a platform for obtaining payday loans but also a powerful tool for promoting financial literacy and responsibility. The app offers educational resources, including informative articles and expert tips, to help users better understand the payday loan process and make the most of the financial services provided.</p>

 <h2>Upcoming Features and Services</h2>

 <p>In the coming months, the Brighter Loans: Payday Loan App team plans to roll out additional features and services, including loan refinancing options and integration with other popular financial apps. These updates will further enhance the user experience and solidify the app’s position as a leader in the payday loan industry.</p>

 <p>For more information on the Brighter Loans: Payday Loan App or to download the app, visit the <a href=”https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.brighter.loans.payday.loans.cash.advance” rel=”dofollow”>Google Play Store</a> today. Join the thousands of satisfied users who have already discovered the convenience and security of managing their payday loans through the Brighter Loans: Payday Loan App.</p>

 <h2>Contact Information</h2>

 <p>For media inquiries, please contact:</p>

 <p>Mark Wallace<br>

 Public Relations Manager<br>

 Brighter Loans: Payday Loan App<br>

 Email: Brighter Loans: Payday Loan Ap<br>

 Phone: 25636585985<br>

 Website: <a href=”https://brighterloans.club/” rel=”dofollow”>Payday Loans</a></p>

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Computers & Software Health & Medicine Technology U.K U.S

ObvioHeath to Conduct Decentralised Clinical Trial on Mi-Helper Device: Treatment of Migraines Expected to be Facilitated

On March 16th, Mi-Helper, Inc. and ObvioHealth reportedly declared a collaboration to carry on a decentralised clinical trial (DCT) in order to analyse the effectiveness of a non-invasive neuromodulation (nVNS) device. 

This nVNS device, called Mi-Helper, is expected to facilitate the treatment of migraines.

According to NeuroNews, the device will be used for a randomised, controlled, and fully remote clinical trial where patients with migraine issues will be able to record essential data from the comfort of their homes.

The partnership will ensure a cost-effective and accessible remedy for this debilitating neurological condition that affects around one billion people across the globe.

Migraines: a Quick Overview

Migraines are described as miild to severe headaches that cause intense, throbbing pain. The burden and prevalence of self-reported migraine and severe headaches in the adult population in the USA are high, affecting more than 39 million Americans, according to Migraine Research Foundation.

In addition, roughly one in every seven adults in the U.S. suffer from migraines. The economic costs of migraine-based diseases were evaluated to be USD 36B in 2016, taking into account the factors such as loss of productivity (i.e., inability to work) and medical costs, according to the NIH.

On top of that, in a recent study published in AANP, more than 40% of migraine patients reported dissatisfaction with existing treatments because of precautions, tolerability issues, lack of efficacy, or contraindications between medications.

The Collaboration will Facilitate Migraine Treatment

With the partnership, both companies expect to devise a more targeted, effective, and non-drug pain management system for people suffering from migraines.

A small, non-invasive therapy device, the Mi-Helper delivers an on-demand stream of conditioned air intermixed with nebulised mist to the mucosa membranes in the nose to help recover from migraine pain and related symptoms, for instance, photosensitivity and nausea.

“We are working with the top headache neurologists in the world to inform our clinical studies,” said Steve Schaefer, CEO of Mi-Helper. “And, we are committed to delivering a paradigm shift for migraine treatment—fast, accessible, and affordable relief for this highly complex and debilitating neurological disease.” 

With the partnership, both companies are committed to increasing diversity in the trial by enrolling the underrepresented social, racial, and ethnic minority groups from all over the continental United States. 

“Mi-Helper and ObvioHealth are dedicated to inclusivity,” said Ivan Jarry, CEO of ObvioHealth. “By designing a decentralised clinical trial without the need for physical site visits, we can recruit patients anywhere in the continental United States, including underserved communities. This will provide Mi-Helper with essential data on a real-world population in a real-world setting and should help to ensure that the device, when launched, can serve a broad population.”

Featuring a DCT-based adaptive design, the study is expected to start enrolling participants this summer.

The ObvioGo app, which will be used for conducting remote study, is expected to improve patient centricity in the trial by allowing patients to participate, consent and document any critical conditions remotely. 

ObvioHealth has confirmed that its experienced COACH team will ensure remote and real-time monitoring of patient safety and compliance.

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Business Computers & Software Government & Politics Technology U.K

Governance and Uses of AI: Using ChatGPT-4 in MVP Development

On the 29th of March, the British government released a white paper to “guide the use of artificial intelligence in the UK, to drive responsible innovation and maintain public trust in this revolutionary technology”.

In this white paper, the government has outlined five principles that should be considered by regulators “to best facilitate the safe and innovative use of AI in the industries they monitor”.

The five principles are:

  • Safety, security, and robustness
  • Transparency and explainability
  • Fairness
  • Accountability and governance
  • Contestability and redress

There is also a plan for a £2 million sandbox which will help businesses test out AI rules before they go out into the market.

The use of AI has steadily increased over the last few years, with the technology becoming more mainstream since the public launch of ChatGPT.

What Is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT, the really smart chatbot created by OpenAI, has caught the public’s attention because of its natural language processing capabilities that allow it to converse with people like a human.

Some people think it will replace search engines—no more wading through a list of pages to find the answer. Others, on the contrary, worry it might “steal jobs”.

However, since it’s here to stay, experts are exploring ways of using it. And, according to The Recursive, ChatGPT-4 can be especially useful in the development of MVPs.

Using ChatGPT for MVP Development

MVPs, or minimum viable products, are a no-frills version of a digital product. An MVP is complete and has all the features that necessary for proof of concept. However, it doesn’t include any additional nice-to-have features.

One can get MVP and software app-building services from businesses that specialise in this type of development, like Luminos Software. This company in particular will be the first to emphasise that designing an MVP is not just about coming up with the idea and rushing to build it.

To design a successful MVP, which can then be developed into a successful product, one needs to have completed market research to see if there is a need for it at all. There also needs to be a detailed roadmap, where the important features are listed and prioritised.

And, according to The Recursive, the planning stage of MVP development can be made easier with ChatGPT.

Market Research

Whilst the chatbot cannot go and interview people (not yet, anyway) for market research, what it can do is scour through search engine result pages. It can look at the search queries people are using and the results they are generating.

This information can be used by startups to gain valuable insight into what their customers are looking for and what the market needs.

Financial Decisions

Startups can use ChatGPT as an autonomous business consultant to develop a narrative for potential investors. The tool has access to a vast amount of data that it can use to generate insights. 

These can help in creating accurate budgets, resource allocation, and investment decisions.

Idea Validation

The ChatGPT chatbot has been quite handy in helping people refine ideas because one can use it as a sounding board. It has access to the information available on the internet—as long as that information as published online before September 2021. 

It can carry out a discussion, offer suggestions, and come up with solutions. That can be beneficial to the process of verifying concepts and developing ideas.

The tool can also be utilised for prototyping, where it may run user testing, recommend improvements, and simulate new products.

Better and Cheaper Decision Making

Thanks to its access to vast amounts of data and its processing power, ChatGPT-4 has made decision-making simpler and cheaper. It can automate certain tasks and sift through data in a shorter amount of time than a human can.

That is not to say that it can replace developers. One would still need trained professionals to build their MVP. 

However, with AI, a lot of the planning can be done quickly and easily, without using up a big part of the initial funding on prep work.

Originally published in Geeky News

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Gaming Leisure Activities Lifestyle Retail Sports

Unplug and Play: Merritt Toys and Games Relaunches Online Store with Board Games, RPGs, and More

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Merritt, BC – Merritt Toys and Games is pleased to announce the relaunch of its online store at merrittgames.com. The new website offers an extensive range of board games, D&D RPGs, Gundams, and other toys and games for enthusiasts of all ages, providing an excellent alternative to electronic devices.

As a small town, Merritt has always valued the importance of community connections and quality time spent together. Merritt Toys and Games believes that board games and other tabletop games provide the perfect opportunity for family and friends to gather and bond over shared interests.

In today’s digital age, it is more important than ever to encourage young minds to explore beyond screens and engage in interactive play. Board games and other tabletop games help develop important social, strategic, and problem-solving skills while fostering creativity and imagination.

“We believe that providing a space for tabletop gaming enthusiasts in Merritt is essential,” said the spokesperson for Merritt Toys and Games. “Our store offers an opportunity for families to disconnect from their devices and connect with each other, while also providing a space for enthusiasts to come together and share their love of gaming.”

Merritt Toys and Games is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for all customers. The company offers a wide selection of high-quality products, including bestsellers, board games, D&D RPG, Gundams, and everything else. All purchases are backed by a satisfaction guarantee, and the company provides live personal support during business hours from Tuesday to Saturday.

To celebrate the relaunch, Merritt Toys and Games is offering a 5% discount on the first purchase for customers who sign up for the company’s newsletter. To stay up-to-date with the latest news and promotions, customers can subscribe to the newsletter on the website.

For more information, please visit merrittgames.com or contact Merritt Toys and Games at 250-800-0634 or hello@merrittgames.com.

About Merritt Toys and Games:

Merritt Toys and Games is a toy and game store based in Merritt, BC. The company offers an extensive range of board games, D&D RPGs, Gundams, and other toys and games for enthusiasts of all ages. Merritt Toys and Games prides itself on providing customers with a fast, reliable, and secure shopping experience.

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Business Computers & Software Technology

Microsoft Teams Now Empowering Users to Edit Excel Spreadsheets in Real-time; User Productivity Expected to Improve

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The software giant Microsoft is reportedly bringing Excel directly into Teams. With the new update, multiple users can collaborate in real-time on a single spreadsheet through Excel Live while in a Teams meeting.

The new Excel Live version will allow users to make edits or update data during a Teams call, and the changes will be reflected in the spreadsheet in real-time, according to techradar.

“Until now, sharing spreadsheets within a Microsoft Teams meeting has been a fairly one-sided experience. You share your screen, and everyone else watches while you navigate through the workbook and update the content. But what if your group could use that meeting time more efficiently to get the work done together? Building on what we’ve learned and the evolving needs of today’s workplace, we’ve created an enhanced collaboration solution for working on Microsoft Excel workbooks—Excel Live—empowering your group to collaborate in real-time within your Teams meetings,” explained a member from Microsoft’s Tech Community.

Excel Live in Teams

Excel Live is built on top of the Live Share feature of Microsoft, described by the company at its Build 2022 developer conference.

Previously, meeting attendees were required to open Excel documents and share their screens. However, this process creates conflict, thus negatively impacting users’ productivity.

The new update of Excel Live will allow owners to choose the workbook file they want to share with others and edit directly while on a Teams call. Upon sharing the file, they can grant editing permission to specific meeting attendees or allow all participants to edit the workbook from the Teams meeting interface.

Microsoft expects the new update of Excel Live will make collaboration on Teams meetings seamless, delivering a frictionless co-working experience. 

In addition, by enabling users to co-edit Excel spreadsheets right from within the meeting window, this new Teams feature will eliminate the need to switch between multiple windows, thus saving time in consolidating content after the call.

The new update has a scheduled rollout date of April 2023 and will be available on PC, iOS, and Android devices. 

Microsoft Striving to Fortify Customer Experience

Microsoft has been working on updating Excel and Teams as part of its effort to fortify customer experience. 

For example, it has recently added a new “@mentions” expansion which is expected to enable users to tag their co-workers, both within their company and outside. 

On top of that, by releasing the spreadsheet software update last year, Microsoft has rectified an obvious drawback dating back several years: Excel users can now drop hyperlinks into comments added to spreadsheets.

To make presentations more accessible, Microsoft has recently introduced the Closed Captions feature with PowerPoint Live for Teams meetings. 

Moreover, Microsoft is poised to give Excel a deep AI boost by bringing out an assistive AI system, FLAME AI. An AI developed for Excel-specific tasks, FLAME is expected to make automation in the Excel app more efficient.

Excel charts have now become the go-to choice for many when it comes to making a large volume of datasets easily comprehensible. By recapitulating massive troves of data in visual form, Excel charts help professionals assess key trends, evaluate key values at a glance, and more. 

However, despite releasing a number of updates, the built-in Excel charts and graphs are still overwhelming to work with. 

For example, formatting functionalities are limited with some types of Excel charts, which make the process of creating professional-looking PowerPoint presentations arduous and time-consuming. 

For professionals who are often required to make PowerPoint presentations with great-looking charts, investing in high-quality add-ins such as think-cell is a sensible decision.

With less formatting and fewer clicks, PowerPoint add-ins enable users to create charts directly in PowerPoint, thus significantly saving working hours. 

Wrapping Up

Microsoft expects the new Excel Live feature in Teams will allow users to collaboratively edit Excel spreadsheets while making file sharing in meetings more seamless than ever before.

Categories
Financial Market Health & Medicine Public Affairs Technology U.S

Community Health Systems Completes Divestiture of its Last Hospital in West Virginia for $92M

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Tennessee-based healthcare giant, Community Health Systems (CHS), has reportedly divested its 25-bed Plateau Medical Center (PMC) in Oak Hill, West Virginia, to the affiliates of Vandalia Health. Vandalia Health is the parent company of Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC).

The transaction, according to businesswire, was put into effect on April 1, 2023.

Details of the Divestiture

Closed on April 3rd, 2023, the sale of Plateau Medical Center is worth roughly $92M. Besides the medical center, the sell-off includes PMC’s outpatient services, physician clinic operations, and respective assets.

The agreement for the Plateau Medical Center acquisition was inked earlier this year.

“As a critical access hospital, Plateau Medical Center plays an important role in the Oak Hill community and beyond,” said David Ramsey, president and CEO of Vandalia Health and CAMC. “We are excited they are joining CAMC and Vandalia.”

Now that the transaction is finalised, CAMC is about to hold sway over the hospital operations and work with the medical staffers as part of its effort to deliver proactive services to the region. 

“The staff is terrific,” Ramsey stated. “They do a great job of taking care of the community and the patients that come to them.”

Plateau Medical Center

Previously a for-profit hospital, Plateau Medical Center is a certified 25-bed hospital with more than 315 staff on the Oak Hill campus and in nearby clinics. The specialised services it offers are paediatrics, family practice, emergency medicine, cardiology, internal medicine, and general surgery.

CAMC is a not-for-profit organisation; funds raised from the hospital will be used for the betterment of the state and the people of the Oak Hill area.

CHS Continues with Hospital Sell-off

The divestiture of Plateau Medical Center is one of the potential sell-offs CHS detailed on its final quarter and fiscal year-end 2022 earnings call.

With this transaction, CHS has ceased its services in West Virginia. 

The agreement to sell the PCM took shape over two years after CHS had completed the massive divestiture of a hospital program that dropped its hospital count to 79 from its peak at 206.

The CHS now runs 78 acute-care hospitals and around 1,000+ other healthcare sites, including emergency care centres, imaging centres, physician practices, cancer centres, freestanding emergency departments, occupational medicine clinics, and ambulatory surgery centres.

On January 1, 2023, CHS sold Greenbrier Valley Medical Center — a 122-bed healthcare facility based in Ronceverte, W.Va. — to Vandalia Health for a cash consideration of around $85M.

CHS has been selling hospitals recently as part of its effort to improve its financial position while also reducing its heavy debt load.

The hospital giant has encountered significant losses over the past several years, including a $2B loss in the final quarter of 2017. 

Overcoming Divestiture Challenges

Whether it’s a spin-off or an equity carve-out, divesting a business asset is a complex transaction that comes with strict time constraints. 

For businesses undergoing a divestiture, investing in a high-end carve-out consulting service like Fission Consulting is a sensible business decision.

Industry-leading IT transformation services can mitigate investment risk and help businesses make more informed decisions while significantly accelerating the overall separation timeline.

Wrapping Up

Community Health Systems, one of the largest publicly traded hospital companies in the U.S., continues hospital sell-off with the divestment of Plateau Medical Center. With this divestiture, CHS has no remaining hospital in West Virginia.

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Education Lifestyle Professional Services U.S Website & Blog

Tristan Stahl From ValorMen Releases The Alignment Blueprint: A Coaching Program for Young Men

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Orlando Florida – April 3, 2023 – Tristan Stahl, the Founder of ValorMen, has recently launched a new coaching program called The Alignment Blueprint, created for young men who want to become the best versions of themselves. The program is designed to provide a comprehensive guide for navigating life’s challenges while staying true to oneself and personal values.

The Alignment Blueprint covers a wide range of topics, including discovering one’s life purpose, setting healthy boundaries, understanding women, and staying grounded in difficult situations. The program offers practical and easy-to-implement strategies that can help young men make meaningful changes in their lives and experience a life of impact and adventure.

The program has tailored exercises from world-renowned experts, such as Dr. John Demartini, to help participants discover their current life purpose. The program also helps young men communicate assertively and empathetically, build supportive relationships, and set healthy boundaries. It also teaches principles taught by relationship experts like Dr. Glover to help participants develop a deeper understanding of the opposite sex. 

Moreover, The Alignment Blueprint teaches mindsets and heart sets from influential figures like Jesus, Gandhi, and Lao Tzu, to help young men stay grounded and centered even in the face of chaos or uncertainty. Participants learn how to manage their emotions, cultivate inner peace, and find strength in adversity.

Overall, The Alignment Blueprint is an invaluable resource for any young man who wants to become a better version of himself. With its practical strategies, insightful guidance, and supportive community, the program helps young men achieve their goals and live a life of purpose and fulfillment.

Enrolling in the program also provides an opportunity for men to start the journey to becoming a ValorMen.

According to Tristan, a ValorMan is a man that lives with shameless authenticity. A man that lives in congruence with his values and natural talents in both his career and relationships. A man that leads with integrity and compassion. 

For those interested in learning more please visit https://tristanmstahl.com/.

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Financial Market Services Technology Transportation & Logistics U.K

Holme Beach: An ANPR Camera Has Gone Live; Drivers Using the Car Park Being Charged Again

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As declared, an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) camera has reportedly been installed to monitor cars parked at Holme-next-the-Sea, near Hunstanton, in the English countryside of Norfolk.

With the new ANPR system enforced, drivers will now be charged £100 as fines if they don’t pay for using the Holme beach parking lot, according to Eastern Daily Press.

Fleshing Out the ANPR Parking System

Also known as Licence Plate Recognition (LPR), an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system is a specially designed high-speed image capture technology that can identify and read vehicle registration plates as they pass through an infrared camera.

Built on optical character recognition technology, an ANPR camera captures an image of a vehicle number plate as it enters or exits a parking lot. The image, when passed on to a compatible number plate reader, gets converted into standard Wiegand format ID numbers. Upon comparing this information with the record in the existing database, the access control system decides whether or not to grant access to that vehicle to the parking premises.

The recorded vehicle registration plate details and the location data can be used for various law enforcement and traffic management purposes.

Besides enforcing surveillance of vehicle entry/exit at parking facilities, an ANPR system ensures car parking security.

A cost-effective way to provide consistent data to parking management apps, an ANPR camera also helps with threat recognition, repeat delinquent detection, or targeting vehicles/block-listed vehicles.

For a ticketless parking lot, deploying high-quality ANPR surveillance cameras that seamlessly integrate with parking management and enforcement solutions, such as ZatPark, is essential for vehicle access control. 

High-end ANPR integration increases efficiency by enabling seamless processing of ANPR images. This type of system helps extend enforcement hours without increasing overhead expenses.

Advanced ANPR technologies ensure a 100% capture rate accuracy under recommended lighting conditions.

Fully automated ANPR camera systems do not require employees to operate them, thus reducing operating costs.

Deployment of ANPR Camera at Holme Beach Car Parking

The deployment of the ANPR system took shape after the Hunstanton Golf Club had been given a go-ahead by West Norfolk council in December to install the equipment in the parking lot it owns on Beach Road at Holme.

In a planning statement, the golf club, said: “The proposed installation of ticketing equipment would allow charges to be levied all year round on a more cost-effective basis.”

According to a report written by an officer who recommended the approval of the ANPR camera installation last year, “Based on the existing use of the land, the surrounding area and the level of natural screening, it is not considered that these small scale additions will have a significant visual impact or adversely affect the locality.”

Earlier, a kiosk was used to manage the parking premises at Holme beach. However, anyone arriving at the parking lot, when the kiosk was not open, could park their vehicles without paying until the concession closed in the summer of 2022.

Now that the ANPR surveillance camera is deployed, drivers need to pay £3 to park their vehicles for two hours, £5 for four hours, or £7 to park for an entire day.

Charges at the Holme beach parking are lower than the nearby Hunstanton Cliff Top car park, where drivers have to pay £2.20/hour, £4.20/two hours, £6/three hours, and £8/day.

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Arts & Entertainment Computers & Software Media & Communications Society & Culture Technology

How AI and Cloud-Based Filmmaking Could Redefine the Way Videos & Films Are Made

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Social media users and visitors on image and meme-sharing sites must have seen the image of the pope in a fancy jacket that’s been doing the rounds. The image is fake, of course. It was created by the artificial intelligence (AI) image generator, Midjourney.

The platform has since discontinued its free trial, citing “extraordinary demand and trial abuse” as the reason.

The thing is, AI–generated images are not the only thing taking the content world by storm. AI and the cloud are also changing the way videos are being made and edited.

In an article by Forbes, the author discusses how film and TV show production is being transformed by AI and camera-to-cloud technology.

Using AI in Film Production

AI technology has been used to change the appearance of actors, going as far as to make them look younger. This can be seen in the Miramax feature, Here, starring Tom Hanks and Robin Wright. Both actors start as younger versions of themselves and age through the course of the film.

For agencies, this can be a good thing as their best-selling actors can be made to “last longer” and be suitable for a larger variety of roles. 

However, creatives are insisting that technology can only support human creativity, not replace it.

AI can be very useful for sifting through information that might be tedious for humans to go through—like finding a scene from a longer piece of footage. This feature then frees up human creators to focus on other, less “automatable” tasks.

Camera-to-Cloud in Film Production

Michael Cioni, Adobe’s senior director of global innovation, claims that by 2030, all electronic assets in the media and entertainment industry would be “generated in the cloud, by the cloud.”

According to Cioni, edits and effects would be added to pre-shot scenes simply by telling the computer to do so, using text-based commands. For example, he said, one could shoot a scene and then add rain to it simply by typing “make it rain”.

Filmmakers would be able to create a rough “assembly” with basic visual effects, colour correction, and sound design. That would then be passed on to specialists to be refined.

Cloud-based filmmaking would also mean directors could collaborate with each other, even when they aren’t in the same physical location. It could also speed up short projects like music videos and advertisements.

In short, AI and cloud-based tools are being touted as a way to enhance productivity by delegating mundane tasks to them.

Legal Implications of AI in Filmmaking

However, lawyers are advising that contracts with “language that purports to control the right to simulate an actor’s performance are void and unenforceable until the terms have been negotiated with the union.”

This fact can be quite divisive as some actors might want to take advantage of technology to extend their “viability”. However, there is a concern that it might be used as a way to avoid paying for digital performances since they technically aren’t being played by the artist.

Content generation using AI has led to an authenticity concern, especially with deep fakes that seem extremely realistic.

Actor Keanu Reeves, who has been quoted as saying he finds the idea of deep fakes “scary” often has a clause in his contracts that forbid digital manipulation of his performance. Interestingly, this clause dates back several years—decades, even—when a production added a virtual tear on his face. 

According to the actor, any performer might expect the footage to be edited with their consent. However, deep fake is different, as it has no input from the performer.

Of course, this technology is still mostly limited to films and television productions. Corporate videos still require the services of video production companies, like Bold Content. (Check out Bold Content’s contribution to encourage girls into STEM studies.)

However, with AI taking over so many tasks, it remains to be seen whether it will help enhance filmmaking or “take away jobs” in yet another industry.

Originally published in Geeky News