Author: zittrexstore

June 7, 2023

Can You Live on $40,000 a Year? – Dollarsanity

Post By zittrexstore Money Making No Comments

You’re scouring the job postings, searching for that perfect job.

You see a job that catches your eye. You think you’d be perfect for the position. The job description says it pays $40,000 per year.

That sounds like a pretty good salary.  But how do you know how much $40,000 per year is how much an hour?

Is that an amount you can live well on or are you going to be broke?

Before you accept that job offer, it’s important to understand just how much $40,000 per year really is.

MORE: 10 High Paying Jobs with No Experience Required

Let’s break down how much $40,000 per year equates to

40,000 per year = 19.23 per hour (40 hours per week)

40,000 per year = 153.84 per day (8 hour day)

40,000 per year = 769.23 per week (52 weeks per year)

40,000 per year = 3,333.33 per month (12 months per year)

These numbers look pretty good, right?!

Well, there’s one catch:  these are what you’d make before taxes, and we all know that Uncle Sam has to get his share of our pay, so you have to take taxes out of your paycheck to get to your “real” take-home pay.

I always figure on 25% of gross pay will go towards taxes.  This amount is an estimate and it could be higher or lower depending on what state you live in and the number of exemptions you selected.

So with taking out 25% for taxes, here’s what you’ll NET on 40,000 per year:

19.23 x 25% taxes = 4.80 for taxes.  19.23 -4.80 = 14.43 Net Per Hour.

152.84 x 25% taxes = 38.21 for taxes.  152.84 – 38.21 = 114.63 Net Per Day.

769.23 x 25% taxes = 192.30 for taxes.  769.23-192.30 = 576.93 Net Per Week.

3333.33 x 25% taxes = 833.33 for taxes.  3333.33-833.33= 2500.00 Net Per Month

 Keep in mind you’ll always have to pay Federal taxes but if you live in one of the states that don’t tax wages, you won’t have to worry about losing some of your hard-earned money to the state tax man.

Here are the states that don’t tax wages. If you don’t currently live in one of these states and you’re looking to move, you may want to check into one of these states that don’t tax wages:   Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, Wyoming, New Hampshire, and Tennessee.

Is $40,000 A Good Salary?

Well, the answer is, that depends.  It depends on a few factors.

The number one thing to take into consideration when considering if 40,000 is a good salary is the number of people in your household that you’re supporting.

Supporting a couple obviously costs less than supporting a family.  Another thing to take into consideration that may not be so obvious is where do you live?

Another important factor to take into account when evaluating a salary is your location.

You may not have considered the fact that some cities are more expensive to live in than others.

The cost of living in Florida is going to be a lot less than what you’d have to pay to live in a big city like New York City.

For my husband and me, $40,000 is less than what we’re spending today, but if we had to make it on $40,000 we could cut back on expenses and be just fine.

Here’s what our budget would look like on $40,000 per year or $2500.00 per month.  Keep in mind the most important thing I think a person can do is to save money!

Whether you’re saving for retirement, saving to build up your emergency fund or saving for a rainy day, just stash money away every month.

This is why I list savings at the top of my budget.  And, I always try to save a minimum of 15% of take home pay.

 This budget shows how to save 15% and still be able to pay for day to day life

Here is the same $2500.00, this time budgeted for a family of 4:

  • Housing:  $800
  • Savings:  $225
  • Car Pymt:  $200
  • Utilities $200
  • Insurance:  $200
  • Phone:  $50
  • Food:  $400
  • Personal:  $250
  • Entertainment:  $175

The biggest difference here in the family budget is a slightly lower savings rate, a slightly lower entertainment budge and a higher food budget.

So you can see that $40,000 per year is a livable wage for couples or families.

That said, you’ll have to be on top of your money game to make it work.  I’d recommend setting up a simple budget so you can track your expenses every month to make sure you don’t overspend.

Also, you’ll definitely want to make sure you save money each month.

Putting money away regularly is the single most important thing you can do for your financial future.

Why Is Saving So Important?

Simply put, there’s absolutely nothing like the power of compound interest.

You’ll want to start saving as early as possible and as much as possible to let your money multiple via the magic of compound interest.

According to US News and World Reports, they have some nice studies showing the power of saving only $5 per day and after 40 years, you’ll have $400,000.00.

Increase the amount to $15 per day and you’ll have a cool 1 Million dollars after 40 years.  I know some people will read that and think “but it’s going to take so long!

And that’s true, 40 years is a long time, but the way I look at it, those 40 years are going to go by one way or another.

So, whether you choose to save over those years, in the end, 40 years will still have gone by.  So you may as well use that time to your advantage and save!!   And, you should bump up your savings rate anytime you can.

How Do You Increase Savings?

Create A Budget And Stick To It

If you have a monthly budget, you have power over your money and your money is working for you.

If you get a raise, the amount budgeted for savings goes up.  If you pay off a bill, that expense goes away and you can decide where you’ll put that money going forward.

It’s so great to see exactly where your money goes each month and there’s no better feeling than knowing this is YOUR budget and YOU are in control.  And, since you’re in control, you can change your budget anytime!

Try a side hustle

There are a million ways to make extra money.  With the plethora of online jobs these days, many times you don’t even have to leave your house to pull down extra cash.

I’ve had a lot of different side jobs over the years and while I haven’t loved every one of them, I have learned something from each of them and have met some really nice people.  And, I get paid!  So even if I don’t totally love the job, as long as I’m learning and getting paid, it’s a win in my book.

Raises or Anytime you get a raise or a bonus, put that amount into your savings.  You never had that extra money before so pretend you don’t have it now.  You’ll never miss it!  The same goes for cash gifts on your birthday or at Christmas time.

Wrap Up

So now you can feel confident that you know exactly how much 40,000 per year is and whether that’s a good salary for you and your family.

If you don’t think you’ll be satisfied with earning 40,000 per year, you can always take on a side gig to help increase your income.  However,  with my sample budgets,

I think you’ll see that with careful planning and sticking to a budget, it’s possible to support a couple or a family on  $40,000 per year.

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#Live #Year #Dollarsanity

June 7, 2023

Matt Walsh exposes alleged gender transition approval ‘scam’ (video)

Post By zittrexstore Politics , , , , , , , , No Comments

We cannot independently verify any of this, but if what he is saying and showing is true… yike.

This afternoon, Matt Walsh dropped a thread allegedly exposing gatekeeper organizations that are not actually gatekeepers:

Not a gatekeeper. Keep that in mind.

So, according to Walsh, they are supposed to be gatekeepers. They are supposed to be part of a long approval process that includes significant checks and balances to ensure that no one enters into this life-altering procedure lightly. But, according to Walsh, some people and companies have completely subverted this role:

Except they are supposed to be part of the process of ensuring it is necessary.

And that is the end of the thread. We will say that we suspect that in truth these people still rationalize it so that in their minds they are doing their patients a favor. The ideology of transgender is that you are whatever you say you are, at least when it comes to sex and gender. So, they probably rationalize their subversion of the process as necessary to get these people the help they think they need. That’s our guess, for what it is worth, but we believe that it is rare for a person to be consciously evil. And make no mistake, if what Walsh is reporting is true, this is evil.

And this even resulted in a tip:

Obviously, we don’t know if any of this is true, but we wouldn’t be surprised if someone does the gumshoe investigation needed to find out, one way or the other. So, with that caveat, the full text says:

Matt, if you send an investigative reporter over to @VUMChealth that is happening today.

A friend of a friend is a nurse who was placed involuntarily in gender reassignment surgical practice (@VanderbiltU has bullied/intimidated her when she asked to move). Based on high volume (VUMC runs one surgeon to 4-5 patients at the same time – Dr just flits around castrating in parallel) she asked how much informed consent/counseling they get. Surgeon laughed. He said he would do it through a drive-through window as long as they’re paying.

VU ramped up their surgical operations after the child mutilation ban in order to make up lost revenue – go look at how haphazard and frivolous they are about castrating/mutilating mentally ill adults. Transing the disturbed is BIG BUSINESS.

Indeed, it is not just the mentally ill. As ‘The Redheaded Libertarian’ pointed out with a meme, autistic people are disproportionately likely to be subjected to transitioning:

Since the picture cuts off the meme, here’s the full picture:

One person responded with ugliness:

That gave rise to a nice comeback:

And she has some cause to say what she said:

Still, while we think people rationalize this as not being just about the money, there is a lot of money in it:

And, of course, that means that anyone who buys health insurance is probably paying for this—not to mention the various types of government health care programs that are required to. It is past time for the term ‘need’ to be defined so it doesn’t just include when people just really, really want something. Indeed, the notion that this is necessary surgery leads to another potential problem:

That sounds like speculation to us. We would hope that the rational principle of ‘triage’ would keep hospitals from delaying cancer care for transitioning surgery, for instance. However, let’s just say our faith in the rationality of the medical profession has been shaken in the last few years. Most medical professionals are probably rational, but there are definite pockets of crazy—the pockets of crazy seem to be popping up in every profession, these days.

Lawyer Ted Frank points out that in a sane world this would at least result in criminal investigations:

Yeah, we aren’t holding our breath, and we are pretty sure Mr. Frank isn’t, either.

Anyway, one thing that occurred to us is that this might be the beginning of bigger plans. The other day we covered how the Daily Wire released Matt Walsh’s ‘What is a Woman?’ for free (for a limited time) on Twitter and how Twitter initially attempted to suppress the movie—contrary to the wishes of Elon Musk. In all of that, Walsh said something that we think might take on new meaning, now:

‘What a great way to ring in pride month.’

Is it possible that Walsh has multiple bombshell ‘events’ he is planning throughout pride month? First, he premiers his movie. Then one of his previously anonymous sources sheds her anonymity. And now this. Could it be his plan to basically carpet bomb the entire month with events like this?

Well, dear reader, we shall keep an eye on this for you and let you know. And if you can support this website in any way, we would appreciate it.

***

Editor’s Note: Do you enjoy Twitchy’s conservative reporting taking on the radical left and woke media? Support our work so that we can continue to bring you the truth. Join Twitchy VIP and use the promo code SAVEAMERICA to get 40% off your VIP membership!



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June 7, 2023

Rosendale Brandon School District School Bus Driver

Post By zittrexstore Jobs No Comments

Job title: Rosendale Brandon School District School Bus Driver

Company: Johnson School Bus Service

Job description: Drive a yellow bus – and put some green in your pocket! Now accepting applications for full-time and part-time School… Bus drivers. Must be at least 23 and possess a Wisconsin driver’s license and have a safe driving record. No experience…

Expected salary: $18 per hour

Location: Campbellsport, WI

Job date: Mon, 20 Feb 2023 00:02:01 GMT

Apply for the job now!

June 7, 2023

GAA Roundup: Mayo stays solid with Louth win

Post By zittrexstore World , , No Comments

GAA news and scores from around Ireland this week.

Mayo 0-14 Louth 1-10

The Mayo revival continues as Kevin McStay’s team followed up their big win over All-Ireland champions Kerry with this Castlebar defeat of Louth as they retain top spot in Group 1 ahead of the final round of fixtures.

Not even a late Conall McKeever goal for the Wee County could stop the Mayo bandwagon rolling on but for manager McStay it was only the result that mattered.

“The two points was key, that’s what was on offer, not a whole lot else, and we got them,” he said “I thought we got ourselves into a great position with 10 minutes to go but didn’t manage it quite the way we wanted to. It was a massive effort by Louth to take the game from us, but we’re very pleased with the points.

“We did feel that we were in control of the game but a late goal in injury time takes a lot of that control away from you. I’m very happy our boys stayed at it but what hurt our rhythm was that we fumbled a few balls and missed a few chances that we might have tidied up better.

“We’ve work to do now but we’re still in the position we wanted to be coming out of the bank holiday.”

A draw in their final round robin series fixture against Cork will now guarantee a quarterfinal spot for Mayo and McStay admitted, “It’s another two points until we get out of the round robin, but today we broke the back of it to a large extent; we’re in a really good position.

“We’re tipping away nicely. We’re in a cluster of seven or eight teams that have their eyes on the prize and we’re no different to anyone else. We’re ambitious for the group so let’s see where that takes us.”

Louth’s man of the match Bevan Duffy was naturally downbeat after this defeat even if his team can still make the quarters with a victory against Kerry next time out.

“We missed a few chances early on in the first half but then again we were happy enough with the scoreline the way the game was going,” said Duffy. “The plan was once it came to crunch time we’d make the call and press on and try to squeeze the game and finish it out.

“We just left it a little late. We got the goal, probably should have had another in the first half. These little key moments probably didn’t go our way. If someone had said to me a few years ago that you’d be in a group with Cork, Kerry and Mayo…not that long ago we were in a group with Antrim, Leitrim and Sligo.

“This is where you want to be playing football. The Louth support has been brilliant this year, they’ve really got behind us all and we’ve fed off that. It’s been brilliant but we want to stay here, get here again, and get to a Leinster final again. We’ve got to step up those levels and it’s as simple as that.”

Kerry 1-14 Cork 0-15

Cork manager John Cleary cried foul as a contentious 47th-minute penalty had a major bearing on his team’s two-point defeat to old rivals Kerry in their All-Ireland series Group 1 game on Leeside.

Sean Powter was adjudged to have fouled Paul Geaney and issued with a black card for what Cleary described as a “very dubious” penalty which was subsequently sent to the net by David Clifford.

“I watched it inside afterwards and it didn’t seem to me that there was a full goalscoring chance,” said Cleary. “If that’s the way, there would be penalties all over the place. There were players behind him and there was a coming together of the players.

“Look at the video, it was plain to see for everyone, Dan O’Mahony was between him and the goal. Powter went into him and it was a coming together rather than a pulling down. You’d take that, but a black card and a penalty was more than harsh. The referee gave it, and I felt we were on the wrong end of a few decisions.

“We are bitterly disappointed. We had our chances to win it but didn’t take them. It’s not fatal, and hopefully we learn from it and try and go again next week against Mayo.”

Global Irish GAA

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Kerry manager Jack O’Connor called it “a good day” when he spoke to RTE about this win, their first in the round robin series after a defeat to Mayo last time out.

“Pairc Ui Chaoimh is a tough place to come to,” said O’Connor. “I’ve been here many times over the years and got turned over with many Kerry teams, so any time you win here by two points is a good day.

“Happy enough at halftime but still wary of the fact that it was a significant wind, and within seven minutes of the second half, Cork had kicked four points and had cut the lead right back so we knew then we were in a battle, and I am happy that our fellas won the battle and got out on top.”

Louth are up next for Kerry and O’Connor added, “We’ll be going all guns blazing, because as far as I can see it’s knockout football from here on so we’re hoping for the best.”

Derry 3-14 Donegal 1-15

Derry won by five points in the end, but their three second-half goals from Conor Doherty, Lachlan Murray, and Padraig McGrogan made all the difference against Donegal as they moved level with Monaghan at the top of the Group 4 table in the All-Ireland series.

Clare, already out of contention for the quarterfinals, are next up for Derry and star man Conor Glass admitted after this win, “That was a good performance but not great from us. We probably should have had a couple more goals but we left them out on the pitch and it’s always something good to work on going into next week.

“If we had have scored about six or seven goals, we probably mightn’t have such a focus for next week. But at least we have a focus for next week.”

Donegal’s Jason McGee summed up the home team’s reaction in Ballybofey. “I’m disappointed with the result,” said McGee. “Goals are a killer in this game, especially when the games are so tight between ourselves and Derry and in fairness they took off after they got their goal.

“After we conceded a few goals, then we nicked back a few scores and we kept in the game. The fight was there and we’re not too far away.”

Galway 0-20 Westmeath 0-12

Galway boss Padraig Joyce claimed the scoreline flattered his side as Westmeath lost Ray Connellan to a 53rd-minute dismissal for a second yellow card offence then lost the game by eight points.

A failure to turn chances into scores was Joyce’s biggest gripe afterwards and he said, “We’re saying this the last couple of games, and it is a positive to win games and not play well. We still kicked 20 scores, which is our target, but when are we going to put a performance together that is across the board?

“It’s a habit we have to get out of because if we play that kind of football against other teams you could be six or seven down instead of one or two down at half-time and it would have been an uphill battle if they had got a goal. An 8/10 team performance instead of individuals carrying us across the line: that’s the challenge for us and we have a huge challenge now in two weeks’ time against Armagh. That would be a nice place to start.”

Monaghan 1-23 Clare 1-18

Jack McCarron scored nine points for the home team as Monaghan ended Clare’s interest in the All-Ireland championship with a game still to be played – against Derry – in Group 4 following this five point defeat in Clones.

That Clare were level on eight occasions is of scant consolation to Banner boss Colm Collins who said afterwards, “I suppose we got caught for some silly mistakes at the end which we were punished for, as you will be against a team of Monaghan’s quality.

“But I thought we were pretty close. I’m very disappointed like, this was our last chance saloon, really. We had to do something today. But very proud of the display and very proud of the effort the lads put in. They gave it everything.”

Tailteann Results

Tipperary’s Tailteann Cup campaign is over despite a third place finish in Group 2 after they ranked as the worst performing third placed team ahead of the draw for the preliminary quarterfinals which was made on RTE television on Sunday evening.

New York will now play Carlow this Saturday at Dr. Cullen Park while Down will host Longford in Newry, Fermanagh entertain Laois at Brewster Park and Offaly welcome Wexford to O’Connor Park.

Already through to the quarterfinals proper are Laois, Meath, Cavan, and Antrim, all of whom will enjoy home advantage for the last eight games on Saturday week.

The final round of group games were played at the weekend with the following results recorded: Cavan 2-25 Offaly 2-9; Laois 1-17 London 2-14; Meath 1-11 Down 1-9; Tipperary 0-17 Waterford 1-13; Carlow 2-13 Longford 1-14; Wexford 1-16 Leitrim 1-12; Antrim 3-13 Fermanagh 1-12; Wicklow 2-14 Limerick 1-10.

*This roundup first appeared in the June 7 edition of the weekly Irish Voice newspaper, sister publication to IrishCentral.



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June 7, 2023

Who is Captain Rex in Star Wars? | Wealth of Geeks

Post By zittrexstore Money Making , No Comments

Over the years, Clone troopers have become a cornerstone of the Star Wars universe, existing side-by-side with other notable elements of the series like lightsabers, starfighters, and even the Force itself (things that essentially make the Star Wars series what it is).

While Stormtroopers are sure to retain their iconic pop culture status as the decades go by, Clones have steadily risen to the forefront of Star Wars’ fandom. This surge in popularity can be most directly attributed to their appearances in fan-favorite TV series, like The Clone Wars, Rebels, and The Bad Batch.

In those shows (and most especially in The Clone Wars), ordinary Clone troopers are given a prominent place alongside their Jedi commanders, each Clone possessing their own distinct personality and physical appearances. For example, there’s the tactful, reserved Commander Cody, Obi-Wan Kenobi’s right-hand man in the 212th Attack Battalion; the energetic, explosive-addicted Wrecker of Clone Force 99; and the dedicated leader of the 501st Legion, Captain Rex.

Out of all the Clones featured in Star Wars’ Extended Universe, Captain Rex is given the most in-depth exploration, his character serving major or supporting roles in virtually every TV series created by Dave Filoni. The second-in-command of Anakin Skywalker and, later, Ahsoka Tano in the Clone Wars, Rex later became a hero of the Rebellion during the Galactic Civil War. He’s come face to face with some of the galaxy’s most credible foes, from Sith disciples like Asajj Ventress to infamous bounty hunters like Cad Bane.

Given Rex’s prominent place in the Star Wars universe and his personal connection to notable characters like Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka, it’s helpful to know a few things about the 501st Clone Commander, especially for those who are unfamiliar with The Clone Wars, The Bad Batch, or Rebels.

Assigned to Anakin Skywalker

Image Credit Lucasfilm.

At the offset of the Clone Wars, Clone commanders were assigned to serve under Jedi Knights, aiding in the Republic war effort against the encroaching Separatist forces. In the early months of the conflict, Rex and the 501st Legion were sent to join Anakin Skywalker. During these earliest days of the war, Anakin’s bravery, unorthodox approach to warfare, and absolute loyalty to the Republic came to rub off on Rex, who mirrored his Jedi commander’s personality more and more as the war went on (an attribute shared by most Clone officers in regards to their Jedi commanders).

Amid the Battle of Christophsis in 19 BBY, Anakin was ordered to take the teenage Togruta Jedi Ahsoka Tano as his padawan, overseeing her training throughout the remainder of the Clone Wars. For the next few years, Anakin, Ahsoka, and Rex all became increasingly close to each other, their relationship on the battlefield soon evolving into a personal friendship between the three. Demonstrating an undying loyalty to his friends and to the soldiers under his command, Rex routinely led the 501st Legion into some of the war’s worst battles alongside Anakin and Ahsoka, fighting on Ryloth, Felucia, Kamino, and Geonosis. As the war drew on, Rex also continued to cement his friendship with the fellow Clones he served with, most notably Commander Cody and 501st soldiers (later ARC Troopers) Echo and Fives.

In the final stages of the Clone Wars, Rex’s dedication to the Republic and his unwavering belief in its ideals started to unravel. In 20 BBY, Rex and his men participated in the costly Battle of Umbara, which saw their temporary Jedi Commander, Pong Krell, betray his men, pitting Clones against Clones in an effort to secure a Separatist victory on the planet.

One year later, Rex witnessed a dejected Ahsoka leave the Jedi Order after being wrongfully implicated in the bombing of the Jedi Temple. Not long after, Fives – who had gone rogue upon discovering a sinister plot to destroy the Jedi (known as Order 66) – was killed by his Clone brethren as part of a cover-up to ensure Order 66’s continued secrecy. While Rex was devastated to learn of his friend’s death, his early knowledge of the Clone inhibitor chips ultimately came in handy, allowing him to escape the directives of Order 66 months later.

Surviving Order 66

Captain Rex Clone Wars
Image Credit Lucasfilm.

In 19 BBY, a joyful Rex was reunited with Ahsoka Tano, having been ordered to aid the former Jedi in her mission to liberate Mandalore from Maul’s Shadow Collective. Donning customized helmets to reflect their new Jedi commander, Rex broke off a small contingent of the 501st Legion and reorganized them into the 332nd Company. Joining Ahsoka and Mandalorian loyalists led by Bo-Katan Kryze, Rex and the 332nd Company quickly overwhelmed Maul’s forces on the planet’s surface, capturing the former Sith Lord and freeing the planet from Maul’s puppet government.

As they traveled back to Coruscant onboard a Republic Star Destroyer, Chancellor Palpatine formally issued Order 66, triggering every Clones’ inhibitor chip, effectively turning them against their Jedi commanders. Like all of his fellow Clones, Rex promptly set his sights on terminating Ahsoka, although he managed to fight the effects of his chip long enough to warn Ahsoka of the betrayal, telling her to remove his inhibitor chip the first chance she had.

Momentarily fleeing the now homicidal Clones, Ahsoka managed to stun Rex long enough to surgically remove the chip, restoring Rex to his former, even-tempered self. Recognizing the danger to Ahsoka’s life, Rex and Ahsoka tried to escape from the ship before the 332nd Company could close in. Around the same time, a recently-escaped Maul began damaging the vessel beyond repair, sending the Destroyer crashing into a nearby moon. Escaping in the nick of time onboard a stolen Y-wing, Ahsoka and Rex buried the fallen Clones on the moon’s surface, making it appear as though they perished in the crash. They then secretly attended the funeral service of Padmé Amidala on Naboo.

On the Run

Captain
Image Credit: Lucasfilm.

Having faked their deaths, Rex separated from Ahsoka, fleeing into the largely chaotic Outer Rims in the hopes of outrunning the Empire’s increasingly tight grip over the galaxy. Living a fugitive lifestyle, Rex rapidly moved from planet to planet, carrying on the Republic’s main ideals in his own private war against the newly-formed Empire. Recruiting two smugglers who happened to be former acquaintances of Ahsoka (Trace and Rafa Martez) to his cause, Rex eventually reunited with the members of Clone Force 99, who had similarly gone rogue and were working against the Empire.

While the Bad Batch never formally agreed to join Rex’s freedom-fighting group – believing that fighting on behalf of the Republic was a lost cause – they did aid in several of Rex’s missions, including rescuing the captured Clone commando Gregor. As Rex continued to carry out his crusade against Palpatine’s new regime, he began to notice that an increasingly larger number of Clone troopers had started to revert back to their former personalities – the effects of the inhibitor chips slowly wearing off. Seeing this, Rex began to focus more of his time rehabilitating his Clone brothers, providing them with safety once they snapped out of their Imperial-induced trance.

Combating the Empire

captain rex star wars rebels
Image Credit: Lucasfilm.

For the next decade, Rex helps rescue and reform veterans of the Clone Wars whom he knew and served with, moving into a residence with Gregor and Commander Wolffe on Seelos. In 4 BBY, Rex is contacted by the crew of the Ghost on behalf of Ahsoka, who is searching for potential members for her growing underground resistance movement. Mutually distrustful of each other at first, the former Clone commanders eventually agree to pool their efforts with the Lothal Rebel cell, aiding them in various sabotage missions against the Empire. Having joined this new Rebel group, Rex once again met with Ahsoka, 15 years after their previous encounter during Order 66.

Though he was initially disdainful towards the Clones for their role in the Great Jedi Purge, Ghost crew member Kanan Jarrus was to put aside his past animosity long enough to form a rich friendship with Rex as they carried out missions together. While he was physically much older as a result of the Clones’ advanced aging process, Rex demonstrated the same ferocity and bravery he had exhibited in the Clone Wars during this time. His service would come at a cost – with Gregor losing his life during the Rebellion’s repeated clashes with the Empire – but Rex’s military expertise helped the Alliance gain a valuable edge over the Empire in the early days of the Galactic Civil War.

After helping the Ghost crew liberate the planet of Lothal from the Empire, Rex was promoted to the rank of commander within the Rebel Alliance, serving the Rebellion with outright dedication and loyalty. Most tellingly, Rex was handpicked by Han Solo for an elite task force assigned to infiltrate the Imperial facility on Endor. As a ferocious dogfight took place in space and as his former Jedi master, Anakin Skywalker, redeemed himself by killing the tyrannical Emperor, Rex faithfully fought in the Battle of Endor, surviving the conflict and living to see the end of not one, but two momentous wars in the galaxy.


Richard Chachowski is a freelance writer based in New Jersey. He loves reading, his dog Tootsie, and pretty much every movie to ever exist (especially Star Wars).


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June 7, 2023

Qi Blockchain Aims to Become the Most Efficient Payment Rail in the World

Post By zittrexstore Cryptocurrency No Comments

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London, England – Qi Blockchain announces to become the most efficient payment rail in the world. Imagine if every payment in the world was as fast, cheap, and global as sending an email. Banking has driven the world for finance for long, but there was a longstanding demand for a complete revamp to better serve the public, given the increased number of transactions and the average value for each. Simply put, banks can no longer offer the same service, and even if they could, it’s no match for the new-age technologies, particularly blockchain. Blockchain, though new, has captured the market and captivated millions with its enhanced reach, easy-to-use features, privacy, security, and user-centric approach. And it’s almost time blockchain will redefine banking, making it accessible to millions more worldwide. And Qi blockchain is leading on this front.

It’s not like there’s a shortage of available options. A quick search and one would come across hundreds of blockchains and thousands of cryptocurrencies across the globe. But not all offer the same benefits. Inexperienced young chaps create most with no fundamental understanding of the market intricacies, patterns, and relations. The Qi blockchain stands apart in this aspect, given the vast array of market-friendly options, the ability to take high returns, and the strictly enforced advanced security protocols.

To understand why the world needs to transition towards blockchain-based options, let’s take the case of Credit Suisse, one of the leading private banking solutions and a popular choice across the globe until recently. After years of dominating the market, Credit Suisse underwent a rough phase leading to its collapse and was sold to UBS for roughly $3.3 billion. This paints a clear picture of the banking solutions worldwide and how all these are prone to fall due to the slightest variations in the market. And new-age users have identified this and are looking for reliable alternatives.

Some key inefficiencies of current cross-border payments:

  • Legacy technology – most banks still use old Cobol-based mainframe computers from the 1970s and have not adopted a flexible type open banking API approach with cloud computing. A single server also increases hacking risk as opposed to a distributed network of servers.
  • Broken data formats and being error-prone – 35% of all payments sent by banks result in payment routing errors, and 20-25% of all card transactions fail.  Some of these errors are identified only upon a complaint from a beneficiary demonstrating a clear lack of traceability.
  • High operational costs of banks with skyscraper physical branches and being overstaffed.
  • Long transaction chains and disparate – a bank does not have a bank account or direct relationship in every country and requires what is called correspondent banks to help execute transactions across borders. If there are different currencies in the transaction in question this can become even more complicated.  Blockchain technology can remove the need for correspondent banks for faster settlement.
  • Limited operational hours – banks typically are open only from 9 to 5 and closed on weekends. The USA operates in a different time zone than China, causing even more delays.
  • High funding cost – liquidity is required at the end destination of the transaction with compliance check complexities, etc.

Qi blockchain to fill in the glaring loopholes

Banks, or traditional payment platforms, don’t serve users’ needs. Massive loopholes are yet to be addressed, let alone resolved. The industry has grown dormant over time, and though the number of players has increased, people are yet to witness a user-centric approach. And this growing concern is what’s driving users towards blockchain-based solutions, especially the Qi blockchain, which is emerging as the one-stop solution to all requirements.

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Here are some of the aspects that concern users and how the Qi blockchain manages to address them:

  • Reliable: What everyone saw with Credit Suisse wasn’t a one-off instance, but there have been several similar cases recently, this just being the most prominent one. Hundreds of banks across the globe have ceased to operate or were forced to merge in a bid to save them. What’s the guarantee that yours isn’t next in line? None, to be honest. But with the Qi blockchain, one can be sure of that. It has managed to create a storm in a short while and is currently one of the top-ranked options in terms of user-centric features. Besides, compared to other blockchains, Qi can process up to 2000 transactions per second (tps), and it will soon hit 10,000 after the planned upgrades.  Blockchain can remove the need for intermediaries like correspondent banks and enable direct settlement between parties involved.
  • Secure and Transparent: A simple fact about blockchain, anything on it cannot generally be tampered with, no matter the amount of effort or resources put in, given its style of functioning. And with the Qie wallet, all information is stored on the Qi blockchain, providing complete security to the end user in all aspects. The security protocols enforced are top-notch and the latest in the market to ensure an unmatched experience with highly secure cryptographic algorithms. Increased transparency will improve compliance by enabling banks to easily track and monitor transactions, which can help prevent fraud and money laundering.
  • Smart contracts: Blockchain technology enables the use of smart contracts, self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement between buyer and seller being directly written into lines of code. Smart contracts can automate compliance tasks such as KYC (know your customer) and AML (anti-money laundering) checks, reducing the risk of human error and increasing efficiency.  Furthermore, smart contracts can be used to automate various aspects of banking infrastructure, such as loan origination, trade finance, and insurance for faster settlements and lower costs.
  • Pocket-friendly: Conventional banking solutions usually charge a high transaction fee, especially for cross-border transactions. But that changes with blockchain-based payment rails, one where the geographical location of the sending and receiving parties isn’t much of a factor, and the gas fee (or transaction fee) is minimal. With Qi, it’s less than 0.001%. So, why shell an additional amount with the traditional banking partner when a futuristic option charges much less?
  • Available 24×7: One of the significant drawbacks with banks is the periodic downtime to aid upgrades and the weekly shutdown (typically on weekends) of most banking processes. It presents a major hurdle to users and is almost the same everywhere. But with the Qi blockchain, one can transfer funds 24×7.

The world of finance is changing, and users must transition for a more secure and reliable experience. Money plays a vital role in lives and should be kept where it’s safe and free of third-party interference, presently offered only by blockchain-based solutions. And the Qi blockchain is at the forefront of leading this change.

To find out more about the Qi blockchain, visit the official website:https://qiblockchain.online/.

Also, follow it on all social channels to stay updated with the latest developments in the space:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/qiblockchain

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qiblockchain.online

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QiBlockchain

Discord: https://discord.gg/9HCNTyqkwa

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/qiblockchain/

Media Contact:

Contact Person: QIE Marketing Team

Company: QIE Blockchain

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://qiblockchain.online/



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June 7, 2023

Financial Services SEO With AI & Automation – AccuraCast

Post By zittrexstore Digital Marketing No Comments

The intersection of financial services and search engine optimization (SEO) is increasingly important in today’s digital landscape. To stay ahead, many companies are turning to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation as powerful tools for improving visibility and driving growth.

This article dives into the potential advantages that AI-driven SEO can bring to financial services firms. It examines how AI technologies such as machine learning, natural language processing, automated content generation, and sentiment analysis can provide a competitive advantage when it comes to optimising web pages for higher rankings on major search engines like Google.

Furthermore, this article explores the practical steps businesses need to take in order to successfully implement an AI-driven strategy for their financial services SEO campaign.

Financial services SEO is an essential component of digital marketing strategies for businesses in the financial sector. It involves the use of technical and creative elements to help companies optimise their websites so they can achieve higher rankings on major search engines, such as Google, Bing and Yahoo!

The goal is to ensure that potential customers are able to find a company’s website when searching for financial services-related terms. The process typically starts with keyword research, which helps identify relevant terms related to a business’s products or services.

Keywords should be incorporated into all aspects of content optimisation, including page titles, headings and body copy. Additionally, local SEO tactics can be used to enhance visibility in specific geographical areas where a business has physical locations or serves customers nearby.

Link building is also critical for improving both organic search engine rankings and referral traffic from other websites. Finally, real-time analytics allow marketers to measure the impact of SEO activities over time and make adjustments accordingly.

By leveraging these tools effectively, financial service providers can improve brand awareness online and increase leads generated from organic search results. This approach requires ongoing maintenance but provides long-term benefits that will pay off well beyond the initial investment in SEO efforts.

Financial services businesses are increasingly turning to SEO for growth due to its ability to offer a multitude of advantages. These include:

  1. Increased visibility in online searches, resulting from strategically placed keywords and content marketing tactics;
  2. Improved customer trust, especially for high risk investments, data security, financial literacy education, and other specialised topics;
  3. Enhanced brand recognition among customers by leveraging the power of digital media platforms such as search engines and social networks.

With all these benefits, it is no surprise that more companies are committing resources to optimise their website’s visibility on search engine results pages (SERPs).

By implementing effective SEO strategies, businesses can gain access to new markets and audiences while also increasing their sales conversions over time.

Furthermore, with the right approach they may even be able to outplay larger competitors who lack an understanding of how best to maximise their presence in SERPs.

As advancements in technology have made incredible strides, the evolution of AI has made it become a major player in SEO. By utilising data analysis and content optimization to increase user metrics, AI is providing powerful tools and techniques for successful SEO strategies.

With AI-driven software able to analyse large amounts of data quickly, organisations are now able to make more informed decisions about their marketing campaigns. AI can be used to develop automated solutions that adjust webpages as needed while also keeping track of user engagement metrics such as clickthrough rates and website visits.

This automation allows businesses to optimise their site’s structure and content without the need for manual effort, resulting in faster results with fewer resources spent on development tasks. Additionally, AI can identify areas where improvements could result in higher organic rankings or increased conversions from search engine traffic.

The detailed insights generated by these platforms allow teams to take a proactive approach when it comes to optimising their websites for maximum visibility and return on investment — empowering them with strategic information they can use right away.

The advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionised many aspects of SEO, providing a range of tools that can automate time-consuming processes and make it easier to keep up with digital trends. Automation is particularly attractive for financial services brands who have limited resources and need to maximise their efforts in order to remain competitive.

This section will explore the potential of automating SEO functions without sacrificing quality. Content marketing forms an integral part of any successful SEO strategy, yet AI-driven automation technologies provide marketers with powerful ways to optimise campaigns and ensure high levels of engagement from audiences.

Website optimisation techniques such as page speed testing and code validation can also benefit from automated approaches, reducing manual effort while improving accuracy. Link building is another key aspect of SEO which requires considerable time and expertise; however, automation solutions are available that can help identify opportunities, assess competitor activity and evaluate backlinks according to their value for ranking performance on search engines.

Through careful utilisation of these technologies alongside traditional methods such as competitor analysis, financial services brands have the chance to enhance their visibility online while saving valuable resources in the process.

SEO for fintech and financial services firms is a complex and an ever-evolving field, but there are certain strategies that remain effective across the board.

One of these is content optimisation; by crafting well-written articles and service / product pages relevant to your sector, you can help increase organic visits from search. Additionally, keyword research should be done prior to writing any post in order to identify popular terms associated with your sector.

Another important factor for financial services SEO success is website speed. Research has shown that nearly half of all internet users expect a page to load within two seconds or less; if yours takes longer than this, they may become frustrated and leave before engaging with it further. This means optimising images so they take up minimal space on the server while still looking great on screen.

Inbound link quality, quantity, and relevance have always been important for ranking on Google. This is unlikely to change, even with the advent of AI. Search engines are becoming smarter with how they evaluate links and identify paid links versus earned, editorial links.

Finally, local listings are an invaluable tool for boosting visibility among potential customers who live nearby. By verifying your company’s address and contact information across sites like Google My Business, Yelp, and others, you can ensure that locals find you quickly when searching online.

The ability to leverage ChatGPT and Google Bard for SEO is an invaluable tool in the world of financial services. Businesses can use natural language processing algorithms to identify relevant keywords in order to optimise their organic ranking on search engine result pages (SERPs).

Consider a hypothetical financial advisory firm that offers investment planning services. By implementing ChatGPT on their website, they enable visitors to engage in real-time conversations with a virtual financial advisor. Users can ask questions about different investment strategies, risk management, retirement planning, or any other relevant topic.

ChatGPT, being powered by AI:

  • Can understand the context of these queries and provide accurate and informative responses.
  • Not only enhances user engagement but also positions the financial advisory firm as a trusted source of information.
  • Can feed into the keyword research process for the SEO team, guiding the creation of content based on actual visitors’ queries.

Furthermore, by integrating Google Bard into their content creation and management process, the firm can:

  • Tap into the SEO knowledge of the AI to create better-optimised content
  • Scale time-intensive tasks such as writing optimised meta titles and descriptions and heading tags for every single page
  • Specify schema for structured data on a vast number of pages rapidly
  • Use AI to show readers related content that’s most likely to be of interest
  • Analyse site-wide SEO data and create local knowledge graphs
  • Optimise internal linking at scale

Google Bard’s AI capabilities enable generation of well-researched, informative, and search engine-friendly content tailored to the financial services industry. While AI-generated content should not be published as is, it can be a great starting point in the editorial workflow, or a way to finesse already written articles, attracting more organic traffic from search.

The combination of ChatGPT and Google Bard allows the financial advisory firm in our example to optimise their SEO efforts. They provide valuable information through interactive conversations with visitors, while consistently generating high-quality content.

This holistic approach not only improves their website’s visibility in search engine rankings but also positions the firm as a go-to resource for individuals seeking financial guidance and expertise.

The use of automated SEO strategies in financial services is becoming increasingly popular as a way to maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of digital marketing campaigns. Automation can be used to simplify many elements of optimisation, such as content curation, keyword optimisation, competitor analysis, and customer segmentation.

By leveraging machine learning algorithms to better understand user intent and behaviour, personalised marketing initiatives can be more effective than ever before. These automated processes allow companies in the finance sector to gain insight into their customers’ needs with greater accuracy and precision.

They also reduce manual labour costs associated with traditional methods of research and analysis while providing data-driven insights that lead to improved performance metrics across channels like organic search. Companies can also make informed decisions about which keywords are most likely to drive conversions based on real-time analytics from their website traffic or social media accounts.

Overall, automating certain aspects of SEO for financial services offers tremendous potential for businesses looking to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive market landscape.

By freeing up time spent on tedious tasks and streamlining complex processes, marketers have the opportunity to focus on creating innovative campaigns that will help achieve organisational objectives. With these advantages at hand, it’s no wonder why so many companies are turning to automated solutions when optimising for success online.

The implementation of financial services SEO with AI & automation can have a positive effect on the overall growth and visibility of the business.

Automation can allow for large-scale optimisation without sacrificing quality, and AI enables businesses to use data effectively to gain insight into their marketing strategies.

By leveraging chatbot technology and AI content creation, companies can scale content optimisation, and create more & better customer experiences that help them increase conversions.

When used properly, these tools and tactics are invaluable resources for successful digital marketing campaigns within the financial services industry.

Financial services brands should take advantage of modern technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and automation in order to maximise their potential in this ever-evolving landscape.

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June 7, 2023

Review: Sony’s ‘Across the Spider-Verse’ Reinvents Visual Storytelling | FirstShowing.net

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Review: Sony’s ‘Across the Spider-Verse’ Reinvents Visual Storytelling

by Alex Billington
June 7, 2023

“Everyone keeps telling me how my story is supposed to go. Nah. I’m-a do my own thing.” Yes, Miles, you tell them. This line is the key to Miles entire story – be you, stay true to you, don’t let anyone tell you how to be, break the rules, define your own life your way. So let’s get into this… In all honesty, what more can I say about Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse that hasn’t already been said in 1000s of other glowing reviews of this animated masterpiece? (Read this one by our writer.) I only wish to chime in and state, for the record, that yes indeed I also think it’s a brilliant, spectacular, mind-blowing film. Is it better than the first Into the Spider-Verse – which I also consider a masterpiece? I’m not sure I can say that yet, it’s hard to compare them at this moment, much like it’s hard to compare the original Star Wars trilogy. I love all three of those movies, and some days I’m in A New Hope mood, other days I’m in an Empire mood, sometimes I’m in an Ewok mood, etc. For now, I’ll say they’re on par with each other and I don’t even mind calling both of them masterpieces. And the trilogy ain’t even finished yet – there’s still Beyond the Spider-Verse up next.

Spoilers from here on out! It’s also hard to write about something a story that is only half finished. I tried to start putting together my thoughts on Across the Spider-Verse, then waited to see it a second time on opening weekend before really thinking about what I want to say. Much like Dune, I can rave about how incredible the movie is, but I’m still anxiously awaiting the grand finale. And how it all comes together will likely affect my feelings about the first movie, because it is one giant, over-arching story spread across two epic movies. The same goes for Across the Spider-Verse, which ends on a cliffhanger and lots of unanswered questions. Yes, the characters in this movie do get an arc anyway, progressing through a good chunk of story, but they’re also pushed right to the brink of making a massive decision. Gwen has to decide who she is loyal to, Miles abandons Miguel and his mission and heads home, Miguel decides to go after him anyway, Peter B. Parker looks like he is also about to jump ship and join Miles. All the while, the story with Miles’ new nemesis The Spot is also unresolved, including the huge space / time rift still devouring Mumbattan. This is common with superhero movies (Avengers: Infinity War / Endgame) but we’re still in the middle.

One thing I can rave about now is how Across the Spider-Verse, thanks to the remarkably talented teams of animators / artists at Sony Pictures Imageworks and Sony Pictures Animation that made these movies, completely reinvents visual storytelling. It’s the epitome of cinema as a visual medium, an eye-popping blend of comic book fundamentals, animation (all styles / techniques / formats), and modern storytelling concepts. As always with cinema, story is key – and the filmmakers know this and care deeply. They’ve also outdone themselves in creating one of the most mesmerizing and psychedelic works of art in cinema. Sure, it can be overwhelming to behold at times, and there are scenes where so much is changing and so many colors are flashing by that it will make some people go catatonic. It really is a hallucinogenic experience, but these artists at Sony know exactly what they are doing. Every single frame is perfect because the look and style connects directly to the characters, the themes, and where the story is at in that moment. There are beautiful, conventional shots like the wind lightly flapping the sheets above Alchemax. And on the flip side, there’s the psychedelic colors splashing across Miles’ worried face just as he’s about to be sent to Earth-42.

What I’m waiting for them to do next is to integrate a live-action character into the animated world, as part of the multiverse concept. It’s the inevitable next step to pushing the multiverse concept and animation even further. My guess is this is what Donald Glover’s Prowler is setup for – he might even get involved in some fight in Beyond the Spider-Verse. Or not, who knows. Only time will tell. Interestingly, James Cameron’s Avatar 2: The Way of Water already pulled this off perfectly integrating Jack Champion’s human Spider character into the fully CGI scenes with all the Na’vi on Pandora. Perhaps they’ll bring back one of the other Spider-Men, as they did in No Way Home, to get involved in helping Miles. Both Into the Spider-Verse and Across the Spider-Verse are both groundbreaking animated movies. The first one already evolved animation forever (see this video) and this one should also inspire animators around the world to rethink how they tell their stories and what’s possible with animation. There’s artistry in every aspect, from the color choices to the backgrounds to the character designs to the framing and composition, and everything else on screen. I keep wanting to go back & watch it again just to get lost in and immersed by all this mind-blowing footage.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Review

By the time the opening logos come up in Across the Spider-Verse, the movie expects that everyone knows everything about Spider-Man already. His/her origin story, how the character works, the important parts of his/her life (family member dies, love interest, etc), the goofiness, the web shooters, the way “Spider-Sense” works. This movie doesn’t need to introduce or explain any of that, it’s entirely about “this is who and what Spider-Man is, folks.” The plot is actually what breaks away from this familiar concept, with Miles making rebellious choices to go against what is expected and what he “should” be doing as Spider-Man. This is what causes all the multiverse chaos and rifts and problems that catch up with all of them. This is his lesson to learn, of course, but I also think it’s extremely bold of this movie to say – hey you know what, yes it causes problems, but it’s not the end of the world (hopefully) that you break the rules every once in a while. I love that they continue to break from what is expected in animation (and visual storytelling) by using the story to show what is possible. It’s brilliant because both movies are a metaphors for the animation / entertainment industry, beyond only superheroes, saying that we should be unique, we should strive to be one-of-a-kind.

The thesis for this sequel seems to be – what if we break the rules, what will really happen? What if we break from Canon, can someone pull it off? It deals with the superhero identity theme it a clever way, using the multiverse concept to explore the accepted idea that all Spider-Men/Women are pretty much the same, and must follow the same paths to be who they are – heroes in their own universe. Ultimately, it’s commenting on how it’s possible to break from the superhero mold, from the animation mold, and from the Hollywood structures in place to make something radical and distinct again. It’s also another big learning experience film, once again similar to Avatar 2, perfectly allowing characters to grow and figure out what the right way forward is. And oh yes I need to mention Hobie! Spider-Punk is such an important character, and he kicks ass, becoming the real teacher for Miles in this one. Crash the system, rock out and take on everyone. Be punk. Don’t fall in line because the authority tells you to, you’ve gotta stay true to who you are and always go forward with the right open-mind. Yes, he says some funny stuff and contradicts himself (even Miles quips about this) but at the same time it seems his punk attitude has a major impact on Miles’ decision-making.

I also can’t talk about Across the Spider-Verse without mentioning that in addition to being another perfect Miles Morales movie, it’s a perfect Spider-Gwen movie, too. The voice performances by both Shameik Moore (as Miles) and Hailee Steinfeld (as Gwen) are stupendous. But it’s more about her story and how her character deals with her dilemma. It’s incredibly realistic and authentic, with Gwen’s responses to all these situations being accurate to the experiences of many people in the real world… It’s also a powerfully emotional look at the turmoil that can develop between family members. It’s riveting and refreshing to see the movie open with her storyline, spending the first ~30 minutes on Gwen. I can still feel the heaviness of her sadness trying to be open and admit the truth about her identity to her father, while he can’t accept it (at first) and she screams at him “are you really that afraid of me?!” This is a line that most other movies would be afraid to put in, but it is vitally important in Across the Spider-Verse. It’s a potent expression of anger and frustration, cutting right to the core of the fact that it’s this fear of someone else not being who you want them to be that often causes a rift between people. This is what happens between Miles and Miguel later on.

Where will it go next? How will they wrap up all these storylines they’ve only started to explore? What will they do with all these different Spidey characters? The first movie is all about: anyone can wear the mask, anyone can be a hero. This second movie is all about: who are you really, if you are just the same as every other hero? What defines you, what makes your story different? And most importantly – can you try to do what you believe is right even if everyone else says it won’t work? Strangely enough, Across the Spider-Verse doesn’t answer this question before the cliffhanger ending. How will they stop The Spot? Will they get the multiverse rifts under control, and how? Will Miguel eventually let Miles get away with breaking the Canon of Spider-Man and will it actually destroy the whole multiverse like he claims? I had chills watching this like I remember with the two Matrix sequels (yes, regardless of opinions on each of these not being as good as they could’ve been) – that excitement of waiting for what comes next after the curious ending of Reloaded is exactly how I feel now. I cannot wait for Beyond to land in theaters. I cannot wait to see how the the team of filmmakers / animators / artists pushes themselves again for the finale. I hope they break even more rules.

Find more posts: Animation, Marvel, Review

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June 7, 2023

The #1 Influence Hack That Will 10x Your Conversions

Post By zittrexstore Digital Marketing No Comments

In the world of digital marketing, we are always in pursuit of strategies to increase conversion rates and boost website conversions. Many tactics and strategies have been put to the test, but one often-overlooked element is the art of framing your messaging.

This powerful tool, when implemented correctly, can 10X your conversions. Let’s delve deeper into how framing your message can lead to conversion rate optimization.

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The Magic of Framing

Not all of us realize that the way we frame our message can significantly improve conversion rates. “Influence hacks” can create impactful shifts in the way consumers perceive and react to our marketing efforts.

This is known as gain framing and loss framing.

During a recent discussion between Eric Siu and Neil Patel, they explored a fascinating experiment around gain framing and loss framing.

Eric recently finished his entrepreneur’s master’s program from MIT and in one of his classes, they discussed this concept. Prior to the class, the professor – who is a professor at the London School of Business and does a lot of M&A deals – sent a survey to all the students.

Here’s a brief summary of the “game” (based on the class survey) Eric and Neil played to illustrate the impact of framing.

Related Content: SEO & CRO: How Rankings and Conversions Complement Each Other

The Power Plant Scenario

Eric presented two options to Neil, both aimed at saving jobs at power plants:

  • Plan A: Guarantees the preservation of one out of three power plants, which saves 2,000 jobs.
  • Plan B: On the other hand, offers a one-third chance of saving all three plants and all 6,000 jobs, but a two-thirds chance of saving none.

Neil chose plan A, emphasizing the importance of guaranteed results over potential outcomes.

The results of this study, when framed as a gain, were:

  • 62% of participants chose Plan A
  • 38% of participants chose Plan B

The Loss Framing Variant

Eric then presented the same scenario, but framed it differently. This time:

  • Option A results in a loss of two of the three plants and 4,000 jobs.
  • Option B has a two-thirds probability of losing all three plants and all jobs, but a one-third probability of no losses.

Neil chose plan A, once again favoring guaranteed results.

Interestingly, though, when framed as a loss, this time:

  • 27% of participants chose plan A
  • 73% of participants chose plan B

This demonstrates how people react differently based on the framing of the scenario, even though the outcomes are the same.

To restate the outcomes here:

  • 62% of people pick plan A when it’s framed as a gain.
  • But when it’s framed as a loss, 73% of people pick plan B.

It’s the same thing, it’s just how these questions are framed.

So, what does this mean for marketers? Simply put, the power of framing is a high conversion rate tactic that can’t be ignored. How we present our message — be it in a positive or negative light — can greatly affect our audience’s responses.

How you frame your product or service is really important with your marketing. Your messaging matters at the end of the day. And you might think you have a lot more control than you do as a consumer, but you don’t because this kind of psychological messaging is happening to you all the time.

Related Content:
* Make Your Product Sing: The Importance of UX Writing
* How to Design the UX of a Website or App to Increase Conversions

The Importance of Messaging in Conversion Optimization Strategies

The lesson here is clear: Your messaging matters. When it comes to e-commerce conversion optimization, it’s not just about what you’re saying, but how you’re saying it. Framing your message to highlight gains or downplay losses can significantly influence your audience’s decision-making process.

But there’s more to it than just the power of framing. There’s also the strength and clarity of your argument to consider.

Your Argument Is Only as Strong as Your Weakest Link

Take a look at another example shared by Eric.

Let’s say you’re shopping for a dinnerware set and you see that there’s a sale at your local store.

You can choose between buying these two sets of dinnerware:

  • Set A: This set comprises 24 pieces, all in perfect condition.
  • Set B: This set offers 40 pieces, with the same 24 in perfect condition, plus eight cups (two broken) and eight saucers (seven broken).

Now you’re asked what is the price you’re willing to pay for each of the two dinner sets.

Neil said he would pay $100 for the 24-piece dinnerware set, and just $110 for the 40-piece set. His reasoning is that the 24 dinnerware set is all in good condition, whereas the 40-piece set had many broken pieces in it. Ideally, he would try to convince the seller to give him a discount on the second set.

But not everyone’s a Neil Patel negotiator. In the study, the average max price people would be willing to pay for:

  • Set A: With 24 pieces, all in perfect condition = $205
  • Set B: With 40 pieces, but with nine of them broken = $135

MS - Use These Influence Hacks to 10x Your Conversions (framing your argument)

The point here? Adding weak arguments (broken items) to your overall proposition can dilute the strength of your stronger arguments. In other words, when making an argument, the strength of that argument is only as strong as your weakest link.

So, when building your landing page conversion rate strategy…

Remember that quality of arguments trumps the quantity of arguments.

Your messaging should focus on the key, strong pieces of evidence, leaving out any weaker points that might dilute your message.

Because anytime you’re talking about negative things, people give massive discounts. So, in essence, what you want to do is just talk about the positive things. And if there are items like broken plates or cups, instead try framing it like: “You’re also getting these extra six cups for free.” You still charge for the 24 pieces that are in pristine condition. You just throw in the other stuff for free.

Related Content:
* How Remarketing Can Help Increase Conversions
* 8 Facebook Ad Copywriting Tricks to Maximize Conversions

Conclusion: Harnessing Influence Hacks to Improve Conversion Rates

Whether you’re developing a product description, creating a PPC ad or formulating a social media campaign, remember to frame your messaging effectively. Keep your arguments strong, clear and focused on the key benefits your product or service provides. Don’t let weaker points dilute your message.

Implement these influence hacks in your conversion optimization strategies and experience a boost in your conversion rates. After all, in the digital marketing sphere, small tweaks can often lead to massive gains.

If you want to increase your conversions, Single Grain’s CRO experts can help. (We’ve helped Amazon and Uber, and we can help you, too!) 👇

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#Influence #Hack #10x #Conversions

June 7, 2023

How to Fix “This Reel is Unavailable” on Instagram

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In this guide, we’ll explain different troubleshooting methods to help you fix the “This reel is unavailable” error on Instagram and get back to enjoying your favourite Reels.

This Reel is Unavailable.

Instagram Reels is a feature within the Instagram app that allows users to create, discover, and share short, entertaining videos. Similar to TikTok, Reels enables users to record and edit multi-clip videos with various creative tools, effects, and audio options.

If you are an Instagram user encountering the “This reel is unavailable” error on Instagram, we’ve got you covered. Below are step-by-step effective solutions to fix the “This Reel is Unavailable” error on Instagram, ensuring you can enjoy uninterrupted Reel viewing.

Also, See:

What Causes the “This Reel is Unavailable” Error on Instagram?

Before we dive into the solutions, it’s essential to understand why an Instagram Reel may be unavailable. There are three main reasons:

  1. Reel Has Been Deleted: If the user who created the Reel decides to delete it, the Reel becomes unavailable for viewing. This can happen when the user removes the Reel intentionally or deletes their entire account, which removes all associated content, including Reels.
  2. Reel Has Been Taken Down: Instagram has community guidelines in place to maintain a safe and respectful environment for users. If a Reel violates these guidelines, Instagram may take it down, resulting in the “This Reel is Unavailable” error. Content that promotes hate speech, violence, and nudity or infringes upon copyrights is typically removed.
  3. Instagram Service Outage: Occasionally, Instagram experiences technical issues or service outages. During these periods, Reels may become temporarily unavailable for all users. This can happen due to server maintenance, updates, or other technical glitches.
  4. Network Connectivity Issues: Poor or unstable internet connection can also lead to the “This Reel is Unavailable” error. If your network connection is weak or experiencing interruptions, Reels may fail to load properly, giving you this error message.

Now that we understand the possible causes, let’s explore the solutions to fix the “This reel is unavailable” error on Instagram.

How to Fix “This Reel is Unavailable” on Instagram

How to Fix

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to fix the “This Reel is Unavailable” error on Instagram:

Solution 1: Confirm Reel Has Not Been Deleted

If you encounter the error message, ensure that the Reel hasn’t been deleted by the user who posted it. If the user deletes the Reel, it will no longer be available for viewing.

If the Reel violates Instagram’s community guidelines, it may have been taken down by Instagram. Review the guidelines to understand what content is prohibited. If you believe the Reel was mistakenly removed, you can contact Instagram for further clarification.

Solution 3: Check for Instagram Service Outages

Sometimes, Instagram experiences service outages that can affect the availability of Reels. Visit downdetector.com/status/instagram to check if Instagram is currently down. Additionally, search for the issue on Twitter and browse through the latest or top tweets to see if others are experiencing similar problems.

Solution 4: Install an Older Version of Instagram

If you’re using an Android device, you can try downloading an older version of the Instagram app. Follow these steps:

  1. Uninstall the Current Instagram App: Go to your device’s Settings, navigate to the Apps or Application Manager section, find Instagram, and select “Uninstall” to remove the current version from your device.
  2. Enable Installation from Unknown Sources: Since you’ll be downloading the older version of Instagram as an APK file, you need to enable installation from unknown sources. Go to Settings > Security (or Privacy) > enable the “Unknown Sources” option.
  3. Find a Reliable APK Download Website: Visit a trustworthy APK download website that provides older versions of Android apps. Examples of such websites include apkmirror.com, apk4fun.com, and apkpure.com.
  4. Search for Instagram: Use the search function on the APK download website to search for “Instagram.” Look for the older version that you want to install.
  5. Download the APK: Once you’ve chosen the desired version of Instagram, select the “Download” or “Download APK” button to initiate the download process.
  6. Install the Older Version: After the APK file has finished downloading, locate it in your device’s Downloads folder or the designated folder you selected. Tap on the APK file to start the installation process. You may be prompted to confirm the installation and accept permissions.
  7. Log in and Enjoy: Launch the older version of Instagram, log in with your credentials, and navigate to the Reels section. You should now be able to watch Reels without encountering the “This Reel is Unavailable” error.

By installing an older version of the app, you may bypass any compatibility issues or bugs that might be causing the “This reel is unavailable” error.

Solution 5: Install Instagram Lite

Install Instagram Lite
Install Instagram Lite.

Instagram Lite is a lightweight version of the Instagram app designed for lower-end devices or slower internet connections. To install it, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Google Play Store app on your Android device.
  2. Search for “Instagram Lite” using the search bar.
  3. Select the official Instagram Lite app from the search results.
  4. Download and install Instagram Lite.
  5. Log in to your Instagram account and try watching the Reel again.

Instagram Lite is optimized for low-end devices and limited internet bandwidth, making it a suitable option if you’re experiencing difficulties with the regular Instagram app.

Solution 6: Other Troubleshooting Methods

If the above solutions didn’t work, try the following troubleshooting methods:

  1. Restart the App: Swipe up from the bottom of your screen, find the Instagram card, swipe up to close it, and then reopen the app. This action refreshes the app and may resolve temporary glitches.
  2. Clear App Cache and Data: Clearing the cache and data of the Instagram app can help resolve issues related to temporary files and settings. To do this, go to your device’s Settings > Apps or Application Manager > Instagram > Storage. Tap on the “Clear Cache” and “Clear Data” options. Note that clearing data will log you out of the app, so you’ll need to log back in afterwards.

    Clear App Cache
    Clear App Cache.

  3. Update Instagram: Open the App Store (for iOS) or Google Play Store (for Android), search for “Instagram,” and check if an update is available. If an update is found, select “Update” to install the latest version. Updating the app can fix bugs and improve performance.
  4. Switch Networks: If you’re currently connected to Wi-Fi, try switching to mobile data or vice versa. This change can help determine if the problem lies with your internet connection.

By following these troubleshooting methods, you should be able to resolve the “This reel is unavailable” error and enjoy watching Instagram Reels once again.

Solution 7: Wait for Instagram to Resolve the Issue

If none of the above solutions works, it’s possible that the error is due to an Instagram-related problem. In such cases, you’ll need to be patient and wait for Instagram to fix the issue. Instagram service outages are typically resolved within 24 to 48 hours.

Conclusion

If you are encountering the “This reel is unavailable” error on Instagram, there are several steps you can take to fix it. Whether it’s installing an older version of Instagram, using Instagram Lite, or trying one of the troubleshooting methods, these solutions should help you get back to enjoying Reels on Instagram.

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