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☆ How Elon Musk transformed Twitter’s blue check from status symbol into a badge of shame
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Over the weekend, numerous high-profile people announced — with apparent despair — that they too had been “punished” with verification badges. Twitter Verified account seen in an iPhone screen in Vancouver, Canada, on Dec. 9 2022. Instead of conveying authenticity, Twitter verification is now fraught with multiple conflicting messages. For weeks, many legacy verified users had signaled they would not be paying for Twitter Blue. It doesn’t benefit Twitter for celebrity accounts to be buried along with the other non-paying accounts Musk has said the platform will demote.

☆ An academic used ChatGPT to write a letter of recommendation that helped a student win a prestigious scholarship from Cambridge
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Matt Huculak, a university librarian, used ChatGPT to help write a letter of recommendation for a student. The "heartfelt" letter may have helped the student win a prestigious scholarship to Cambridge. A screenshot of the ChatGPT-generated reference letter Huculak used as a template of what not to write. After all, writing a reference letter, Huculak said, "is a tremendously difficult task" that he finds "anxiety producing." "I think committees will quickly learn to spot ChatGPT letters," Huculak said.

☆ How to put your best travel foot forward for Earth Day 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( Forrest Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +20 min

But you don’t have to totally cut out travel or stay super close to home to be a good planetary citizen. You need a city that’s dedicated to getting it right to best enjoy an urban biking vacation. Here, we've curated 30 of our favorite corners, including the Thu Bon River, which flows through central Vietnam. A maze of rivers and caves, the UNESCO World Centre is defined by its craggy limestone facades and jade green water. Bruno De Hogues/Photodisc/Getty Images Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park: A UNESCO World Heritage, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is heaven for spelunkers.

☆ Tiffany: Not Just a Shopping Destination, But a World-Class Museum
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Stephen Wallis | Photography Nagi Sakai For Wsj. Magazine | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

When Tiffany & Co. reopens its New York City flagship on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 57th Street this spring, following three years of work, visitors will hardly recognize the street-level sales floor famously featured in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Where dark-green marble and teak columns once surrounded a bank of art deco elevators, a showstopping painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat now hangs. The canvas was chosen especially for the robin’s-egg-blue background that nearly matches Tiffany’s own trademarked blue. It’s an intentionally placed lure—inviting in those tourists who come to re-create Audrey Hepburn’s dreamy window-shopping scene. In the new-look Tiffany, splashy art abounds: A concave, faceted stainless-steel Anish Kapoor wall sculpture in the third-floor wedding and engagement area seems tailor-made for celebratory ring-shopping selfies.

☆ Kashmir's traditional Ramadan drummers wake neighbours up for pre-dawn meals
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Fayaz Bukhari | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Devout Muslims fast from dawn to dusk during Ramadan, and usually eat a meal before the sun comes up. Jinded says his family has been playing the role of "Sahar Khans", named for the pre-dawn Ramadan meal called Sahri, for generations. Kashmir's Ramadan drummers are not paid, but as the month nears its end, people tend to become generous. "Ramadan drummers are an important part of our tradition," said Sheikh Ghulam Nabi, a tailor in Srinagar's old town. "They add to the festive atmosphere of the holy month."

☆ What should you do with your 401(k) when you switch jobs? Experts weigh in
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Holly Johnson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Millions of people switch jobs every single year, and millions of 401(k) plans and other retirement accounts fall by the wayside as a result. We asked experts what most retirement savers should do if they have multiple old retirement accounts scattered around — here’s what they had to say. Keep track of your old 401(k) accountsTry and keep good records of your 401(k) accounts, including account numbers. Roll over your 401(k) accounts earlyRollover your old 401(k) accounts early to avoid confusion and potentially maximize returns. How to roll over an old 401(k) planYou can often roll over your 401(k) to an IRA online.

☆ How Broadway Theater Owners Are Trying to Block a Times Square Casino
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Dana Rubinstein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Some New Yorkers may love Times Square; some definitely hate it. That also goes for a casino that may be headed there. Caesars Entertainment and SL Green Realty Corporation, New York City’s largest commercial landlord, say that Times Square — with its neon lights and jostling tourists — is tailor-made for their Jay-Z-backed bid for a parlor of one-armed bandits and roulette wheels. But Max Klimavicius, the owner of the century-old Sardi’s restaurant, would like a word. “A casino in Times Square has the potential to jeopardize the character of the theater district and ultimately the fate of its restaurants,” Mr. Klimavicius said.

☆ Amazon CEO Andy Jassy says his letter to shareholders follows one of the toughest economic years in recent memory. Read it in full.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +38 min

Further, as machine learning adoption has continued to accelerate, customers have yearned for lower-cost GPUs (the chips most commonly used for machine learning). While some areas of the economy have struggled over the past few years, Amazon Business has thrived. Some people have never heard of Amazon Business, but, our business customers love it. For years, Amazon customers had asked us when we'd offer them an online pharmacy as their frustrations mounted with current providers. More recently, a newer form of machine learning, called Generative AI, has burst onto the scene and promises to significantly accelerate machine learning adoption.

☆ Amazon CEO Andy Jassy says he's confident he can get costs under control in shareholder letter
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Annie Palmer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +38 min

☆ I'm a Gen Zer who went undercover for 3 weeks as a Gen Xer on TikTok – a lot of their jokes went over my head
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Gen Z keeps it painfully realA lot of the time, Gen Z is the butt of its own jokes. One "Gen X Thought of the Day" installment, receiving more than three million views, says that Gen X adults "refuse to grow up" because they were forced to be independent at a very young age. The sentiment is something Gen Z could understand possibly more than Gen Xers realize. Access to the internet and widespread information pushed many to mature faster as Gen Z learned at a quicker rate than others. Now, at the end of my time on Gen X TikTok, I've learned a lot more about the generation that raised me and my millennial siblings.

☆ Companies like Uber and Amazon use AI to pay people different wages for the same work, a new study finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Some companies use AI to pay workers "different amount for the same amount of work," per new research. As companies adopt AI, she's concerned these practices could become prevalent in other industries. According to Dubal, companies like Amazon and Uber have "massive data sets" on the contract workers using their delivery or rideshare platforms, including when they work, for how long, and what kind of pay they've taken for past jobs. One Uber driver Dubal interviewed, Domingo, recalled being one ride of short of unlocking a $100 bonus one evening, but then said he experienced 45 minutes of "dead time" in a popular area before he was able to get another ride. Dubal described the alleged variable pay system as the "gamblification of work," a sentiment other gig workers shared.

☆ As U.S. Tries to Isolate China, German Companies Move Closer
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Melissa Eddy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As Washington seeks to throttle economic ties with Beijing, two powerful engines of the German economy, Volkswagen and the chemical company BASF, are broadening their huge Chinese investments. Volkswagen, which has more than 40 plants in China, announced a new effort to tailor models to Chinese customers’ wishes, with features like in-dash karaoke machines, and will invest billions in local partnerships and production sites. It’s part of a theme unveiled by the German automaker last year: “In China for China.”BASF, with 30 production facilities in China, is pushing ahead with plans to spend 10 billion euros ($10.9 billion) on a new chemical production complex that would rival in size its massive headquarters complex in Ludwigshafen, which covers about four square miles. Throughout Germany, executives are aware such investments run contrary to efforts by the United States to isolate China economically. They counter that revenue from China is essential for their businesses to thrive and grow in Europe.

☆ Skittish Savers Are Fleeing Local Banks. Here’s Why They Could Still Be a Great Deal for You
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

In fact, experts say now may be the time to consider what small banks have to offer. Depositors appear to be fleeing small banks because they fear problems in the banking sector could spread beyond the tiny number of troubled banks that have made headlines so far. “Which is bad for them, but good for their customers.”Of course, online banks also offer savers high interest rates that meet or exceed what most small banks offer. Small bank loansIf you are looking for a loan, small banks have a lot to offer, too. And if you already have a relationship with a small bank, you might be able to obtain more favorable borrowing terms.

☆ Inside Nike: Sources share claims of sexism, cheating, abuse at the world's wokest brand
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Joshua Hunt | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +51 min

The conservative blowback came as no surprise to Parker, who told Nike's board of directors to expect some short-term backlash. In late 2014, the BBC sent a film crew to Portland to interview several former Oregon Project employees. "He would be at the side of the track calling out runners' splits but wouldn't call Kara's out," Adam Goucher told me. When people asked why she left the Oregon Project, she said it was a "personal decision." "I don't think it has anything to do with who the CEO is," Goucher told me.

Multiple experts identified the presence of malware on the Pinduoduo app that exploited vulnerabilities in Android operating systems. Evidence of sophisticated malware in the Pinduoduo app comes amid intense scrutiny of Chinese-developed apps like TikTok over concerns about data security. Pinduoduo has previously rejected “the speculation and accusation that Pinduoduo app is malicious.”CNN has contacted PDD multiple times over email and phone for comment, but has not received a response. Google Play is not available in China, and Android users in the country download their apps from local stores. Engineers also found their access to big data, data sheets and the log system revoked, the source said.

☆ In times of crisis these stocks are a 'core holding,' analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

They include: Costco, Estee Lauder, Pacific Premier Bancorp, ON Holding and Phillips 66. Still, with Pacific Premier shares down 23% this year, Tenner said investors should take advantage of the buying opportunity. "Pacific Premier is, in our view, a long-term core holding for institutional investors," Tenner said. ... .We still view PSX as a long-term core holding in energy. PPBI is, in our view, a long-term core holding for institutional investors.

☆ Parenting expert shares her No. 1 rule for raising successful kids—78% of Americans aren't doing it
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Tom Huddleston Jr. | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

If you want to raise successful children, start showing optimism on a regular basis. "Our beliefs and attitudes spill over to our kids," educational psychologist and parenting expert Michele Borba tells CNBC Make It. "If pessimism always builds and it becomes personal, permanent, or pervasive, it robs our kids of hope." "I think it's one of the reasons why we're seeing such a huge mental health crisis in our children," Borba says. "It's not just the eavesdropping on what we say," Borba says, noting that older kids especially can pick up on physical cues that you're stressed or worried.

Updating liquidity stress tests to take into account high-speed digital withdrawals, and the ability of social media to spread information among depositors at a much faster pace than ever before. Increasing the frequency of stress tests for mid-sized banks. Several of the proposals the White House endorsed are already under consideration, according to bank regulators who testified this week before two congressional committees. Among these are stricter rules for measuring liquidity in mid-sized banks, those with over $100 billion in combined assets, but under $250 billion. On Wednesday, group of Democratic senators, led by financial regulatory hawk Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., sent a letter to bank regulators demanding stronger bank capital requirements.

☆ Ron DeSantis' plan to take control of Disney's land backfired spectacularly because of a loophole in the agreement that may reduce his appointees to powerless functionaries
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Ron DeSantis gained control of Walt Disney World's oversight district board in February. Ron DeSantis' move to take over Walt Disney World's governing board in Florida may have backfired due to a prior obscure agreement that new governor-appointed board members argue stripped them of their power. Disney also had the authority to appoint district board members. But the new supervisors are now saying that previous board members entered an agreement that effectively stripped them of their powers. "All these board members very much would like to see the type of entertainment that all families can appreciate."

No matter your destination, single trip travel insurance may be the ticket to protecting your investment and providing peace of mind before, during, and after takeoff. How does single trip travel insurance work? Who needs single trip travel insurance? For example, you'll need travel medical insurance for emergencies as your standard health insurance probably won't cover you abroad. For example, you'll need travel medical insurance for emergencies as your standard health insurance probably won't cover you abroad.

☆ This e-commerce stock has a whopping 300% upside, according to Morgan Stanley
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Zavier Ong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The e-commerce market grew in 2020 as consumers shied away from brick-and-mortar stores and opted for contactless deliveries during pandemic lockdowns. A period of normalization then followed, according to Morgan Stanley , with the sector notching a streak of four consecutive quarters of declining penetration. Stock picks The recovery in e-commerce growth is an opportunity for incremental sales growth and gains in market share, according to Morgan Stanley. Morgan Stanley said the company is a "share taker" in a key underpenetrated e-commerce category: global luxury. Nike expects the figure to rise to 40% over the longer term, according to Morgan Stanley, which implies e-commerce sales of $30 billion by 2027.

JANDARIS, Syria, March 22 (Reuters) - Hussein Mankawi has little hope he will ever rebuild his home and food distribution businesses in the north-west Syrian city of Jandaris after they were reduced to rubble by last month's deadly earthquake, wiping out his life's work. There is nothing but tents," he said, standing by the mangled ruins of his home in the rebel-held region. The Feb. 6 earthquakes were the worst modern-day natural disasters to strike Syria and Turkey, killing more than 56,000 people across the two countries. The U.N. says more than 100,000 people have been displaced in the region since the first quake struck on Feb. 6. "We were looking for a better life," he said as he waited to be let through the border with his family.

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). When building your perfect wallet, be sure your credit card portfolio includes all five of the following features. Still, if you can't organically get $395 worth from this card annually, go for a travel rewards credit card that offers a smaller annual fee — or a no-annual-fee travel credit card, such as the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card. Co-branded by an airline or hotelWhy bother with an airline or hotel-specific credit card after just proclaiming the virtues of flexible rewards credit cards? For example, many cash back credit cards also are no annual fee credit cards.

☆ You can finally change the size of Netflix's subtitles on your TV
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Subscribers can tailor subtitle text size and select between four text styles. Subscribers will be able to adjust subtitle text size to small, medium, or large, and choose among four text colors and styles, including: drop shadow (the default white text), dark (white text on a black background), contrast (yellow text on a black background), and light (black text on a white background). These customizable options are also similar to those offered by other streaming platforms including Disney Plus, Hulu, HBO Max, and Amazon's Prime Video. But this update could also remedy complaints about poor audio quality on streaming platforms. According to the same survey, 50% of Americans watch content with subtitles, and 62% used subtitles more on streaming platforms than on regular TV.

☆ Job search stalled? Here are the resume, interview and networking tips you need to get back on track
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Cindy Perman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Or have you embarked on a new job search full of optimism only to have it stall out? Are you unable to start your job search? If you're having trouble achieving liftoff, getting your job search started, Fisher recommends asking yourself a few questions:What are you avoiding? "But we don't really walk ourselves through that so we're like, 'Agh! "A successful job search is all about navigating your way to the intersection of what you want and where you have the best odds of landing a position," Ng said.

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