FileCloud Compliance Center automates data protection across federal agency standards

Over the past few weeks, the federal government has sent clear signals that it’s ready to work with vendors on infrastructure and cybersecurity. In the wake of the Executive Order on Cybersecurity and a $1 trillion infrastructure spending package, huge investments await companies that can achieve government standards on security and compliance.

The latest version of FileCloud’s cloud-agnostic enterprise file sync, sharing and data governance platform streamlines compliance to just two clicks. In seconds, companies can meet an entire array of federal agency standards.

From FileCloud’s new Compliance Center, organizations can run ITAR-compliant enterprise file share, sync, and endpoint backup solutions with necessary encryption options. Support for HIPAA, NIST 800-171 and FINRA standards is coming in future versions so that any company, regardless of its level of risk assessment capabilities, can be assured it meets federal standards.

“The new Executive Order on Cybersecurity lays out a timeline for standardizing contractual requirements across agencies and improves compliance for vendors and the Federal Government,” said Madhan Kanagavel, FileCloud’s founder and CEO. “There’s no easier way to achieve compliance than through FileCloud’s automated compliance wizard.”

FileCloud’s Compliance Center features an easy-to-understand display of which configurations are enabled along with a checklist of any missing elements. System administrators can follow FileCloud’s built-in best practices suggestions to apply the necessary security and sharing settings.

The Biden administration’s executive order on cybersecurity highlighted the complex system of agency-specific policies and regulations that govern current requirements. Compliance Center makes navigating the complex rules for each federal standard easy, creating greater opportunities for companies vying for federal contracts.

Along with an intuitive UI for setting each compliance policy, FileCloud allows users to export settings for each policy, along with a report on violations so that teams can focus quickly on any issues to be addressed.

FileCloud 21.2, featuring Compliance Center, will be available on Sept. 15.

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DNP Reflect Array expands 5G coverage area for mobile communications systems

DNP has developed a Reflect Array that flexibly reflects the millimetre waves used in fifth generation (5G) mobile communications systems to expand coverage area.

Compared to general metal reflectors, the new product is capable of reflecting millimetre waves in a more targeted manner. As a result, there are fewer restrictions on installation, making it possible to improve the communications environment in locations where radio waves have been difficult to reach, such as those in the shadow of buildings. In addition, the new product boasts superior design features allowing it to respond to various installation environment considerations.

Background

The 24GHz and above radio waves used in the high-speed large-capacity communications of 5G are higher frequency milliwaves than those used in 4G, and maintain a larger information capacity. At the same time, they are characterized by strong straightness properties and short reach, leading to radio waves being blocked in areas such as in the shadow of buildings making it difficult to ensure communication quality. Also, when adding base stations and relay equipment to resolve this issue, new challenges emerge, such as large costs and the difficulty of securing installation space.

DNP has once again risen to the challenge, taken advantage of proprietary microfabrication technology, and by applying an original concept has successfully separated the Frequency Selection Reflection Layer that selectively reflects predetermined frequency bands while merely passing through other radio waves, and the Reflective Direction Control Layer, a special dielectric layer that decides the direction of incoming and reflected radio waves, to develop a Reflect Array that makes it easier to control for the characteristics of each layer.

The newly developed product is cheaper than installing base stations and relay equipment, and does not require a power source. It can, therefore, be installed in a variety of location, which contributes to significant improvements in the 5G communications environment.

Features

Can be installed in a variety of locations

Unlike metal reflectors that reflect radio waves directly as in a mirror, the newly developed product is a reflective array capable of the asymmetric reflection of specific frequency radio waves. It is possible to flexibly set the frequency band to be reflected, the incidence angle of the radio waves received from the base station, and the reflection angle to deliver the radio waves, along with the spread of the reflection waves. As a result, it is now possible to effectively deliver radio waves to locations where it was previously difficult to do so. As a power source is no longer needed the new product can also be used in locations where installation space is restricted.

Effective designs based on original concepts

The new product is comprised of three layers: the Frequency Selective Surface Layer that selectively reflects predetermined frequency bands while merely passing through other radio waves, the Reflective Direction Control Layer that decides the direction of incoming and reflected radio waves, and a Design Cover Layer that not only protects these two layers, but also provides the durability required of construction materials along with high level design features that are conducive to various installation environment considerations.

Effective improvement of radio wave conditions

We have made it is possible to pre-adjust the spread of the reflection waves in answer to the desire to deliver reflection waves over a broad area, or to gather those waves into specific devices.

Reduces the impact on existing radio waves

Unlike metal reflectors that reflect all radio waves, the new product passes through all but target radio waves, reducing the impact on existing radio waves.

Superior design features

It is possible to print various patterns on the surface of the Design Cover Layer, making it possible to add external designs, including interior, exterior and advertising signboards.

Usage scene

Recently, we have seen more companies and organizations consider the adoption of 5G as a means of targeting the realization of smart cities and smart factories that exploit robots and the Internet of Things (IoT). Commercialization efforts are already underway. With the development of the Reflect Array, we anticipate the following installation instances in cases where the radio wave environment is expected to deteriorate due to obstacles, and aim to link these initiatives to the spread of 5G.

• Improvement of the communication environment behind radio wave shields in smart factories
• Improvement of mobile device usage environment indoors at business offices and educational sites
• Usage at exhibition spaces where layouts change with each event and radio wave shielding conditions alter
• Usage at stadiums and amusement facilities where area-specific information is delivered
• Applications leveraging design elements, such as urban buildings, walls and signboards that require harmony with the surrounding environment

Looking ahead

DNP will work jointly with various communications-related companies, including communications carriers, to verify the functionality of the new product, aiming for commercialization from FY 2023.

The new product is a Passive type Reflect Array that fixes the reflection direction of the radio waves. We will engage in joint development of an Active type Reflect Array with multiple companies, and this research has been selected as a national project in FY2021.

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NETGEAR Nighthawk M5 5G WiFi 6 Mobile Router provides WiFi connection for use anywhere

NETGEAR announced the availability of the unlocked version of the Nighthawk M5 5G WiFi 6 Mobile Router (MR5200). The compact M5 is capable of delivering Gigabit Internet speeds similar to your home WiFi network in a mobile environment.

This past year opened a host of possibilities for remote lifestyles as work transitioned from offices to homes and schools embraced remote learning. The resulting rise of hybrid work environments translated into working at home, in the office, on the road or just about anywhere else. Here to stay, this new, mobile lifestyle underscores the need for speedy, reliable and secure access to the Internet from wherever you are.

Combining the fast Internet speeds and low latency of 5G and capacity to handle multiple devices with WiFi 6, NETGEAR’s new Nighthawk M5 Mobile Router helps you work effectively, stay connected with friends and family or enjoy immersive entertainment wherever you go. Whether you’re video conferencing, gaming or streaming, you’ll remain confidently and securely connected at home and on the move. And, with the capacity for up to 32 devices, the M5 router ensures quality access for everyone in your family at once.

With 5G connectivity, the Nighthawk M5 router ensures more bandwidth and reduced lag for uninterrupted, seamless and secure high-speed Internet. Perfect for university students or those working or playing while travelling by RV, hotel hopping or planning longer-term getaways, the M5 paves the way for the new normal with Gigabit Internet speeds wherever, whenever.

Mobile workforces also require secure access when remote, but as mentioned by the National Security Agency, public WiFi, though convenient, is not configured securely and using these networks may make user’s data and devices more vulnerable to compromise. The Nighthawk M5 router provides a secure, reliable and personal WiFi connection for use anywhere, including at home where the mobile router can be used to enhance an existing network or act as a failover if wired Internet service is interrupted.

“The new Nighthawk M5 combines 5G and WiFi 6 to deliver faster speeds, better coverage and more secure mobile access than currently available solutions, which is critical at a time when the world continues to work, learn and play remotely,” said David Henry, president & GM of Connected Home Products and Services at NETGEAR. “The benefits of an unlocked mobile router like the Nighthawk M5 will help improve the way we all connect to the Internet, wherever we are.”

Mobile router versus mobile phone hotspot

While most phone carriers allow hotspot capability on the mobile phone that can provide a WiFi network for other devices to connect to, using your phone as a hotspot isn’t worth it for most remote workers. Using a mobile phone hotspot drains your smartphone’s battery life, provides access to only a limited number of devices, ties up your phone and uses up your data from your mobile plan.

Also, your phone performance could be sluggish as you share your bandwidth with other connected devices. The M5 mobile router not only provides better performance, it conveys the benefits of 5G even if your phone or tablet is not already 5G-enabled.

5G at home

The Nighthawk M5 is one of the only in its class to offer a 1Gbps Ethernet port which can be used to connect to your home WiFi mesh system, such as NETGEAR Orbi WiFi 6, to provide gigabit speed throughout your home. This is especially useful in rural communities or places with poor or unreliable broadband options. It can also be set up as a reliable backup if a wired Internet connection is interrupted or unavailable. The router includes a long-lasting lithium-ion battery, which is removable when used in a stationary location such as a home or office.

The mobile router provides:

• Speed: 5G delivers blazing-fast speeds so you can stream, browse, download, and more without slowdown.
• WiFi 6 technology: With increased capacity, enjoy faster speeds for simultaneous high-end video streaming on up to 32 WiFi devices.
• Fixed wireless options: If wired Internet is not optimal in your area, use 5G as the primary Internet connection for all your devices at home or the office through the 1Gbps Ethernet port.
• Secure and reliable network: Avoid the dangers of connecting to public WiFi. The Nighthawk M5 is equipped with VPN pass-through support and password protection.
• Flexible battery operation: Stay connected for up to 13 hours on a single charge – or remove the battery and plug into the wall for all-day use.
• Unlocked potential: The unlocked device accepts nano SIM cards and works best on AT&T and T-Mobile networks.
• Simple control via the app: With the NETGEAR mobile app, you can conserve mobile data usage by offloading to your home Internet connection using WiFi or Ethernet, track data usage by month and session, manage guest WiFi and customize WiFi settings.

The Nighthawk M5, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 Mobile Platform, delivers premium performance and groundbreaking speeds. Dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz AX1800 WiFi 6 is ideal for all your mobile connectivity needs: from fast throughput to high-end video streaming on your smartphones, tablets, and computers. A powerful 5040mAh battery lasts up to 13 hours on a single charge, providing power throughout the day and night. The simple and intuitive app and parental control options on the NETGEAR Nighthawk M5 Mobile Router takes your mobile lifestyle to its fullest potential.

Nighthawk M5 5G WiFi 6 Mobile Router (MR5200) is now available in North America; MSRP: $699.99. This unlocked device is compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile networks.

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Rambus PCIe 5.0 digital controller operates at 32 GT/s on leading FPGA platforms

Rambus announced that Rambus has demonstrated its PCI Express (PCIe) 5.0 digital controller IP on leading FPGA platforms. PCIe 5.0 performance at 32 GT/s in FPGAs is using a soft controller. This capability expands the use models of FPGAs by enabling multi-instance, switching and bridging applications and accelerates the performance of FPGAs used in defense, networking, and test and measurement markets.

“We’ve achieved a new industry benchmark with the demonstration our PCIe 5.0 controller operating at 32 GT/s on popular FPGA platforms,” said Scott Houghton, general manager of Interface IP at Rambus. “With the growing importance of FPGAs in markets from defense to the data center, this solution developed by the newly-acquired PLDA team expands the Rambus portfolio and offers the next level of performance for mission-critical applications.”

Features of the Rambus PCIe 5.0 digital controller

• Verified on leading FPGA platforms
• Supports up to 32 GT/s data rates
• Backwards compatible to PCIe 4.0 and 3.1/3.0
• Supports Endpoint, Root-port, Dual-mode, and Switch-port configurations
• Supports up to 64 Physical Functions (PF), 512 Virtual Functions (VF)
• Supports AER, ECRC, ECC, MSI, MSI-X, multi-function, crosslink, DOE, CMA over DOE, and other optional features and ECNs

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Attivo Networks and Swimlane empower organizations to get ahead of would-be cyber attacks

Attivo Networks and Swimlane announced a technology alliance partnership that brings together privilege escalation prevention and threat lateral movement detection with security automation. The integration combines Attivo’s deception technology that deploys decoys to help hide critical assets with Swimlane’s automation platform. With this integration, security operations teams gain the ability to stay ahead of would-be attackers by identifying attack methods before the attack reaches its intended target.

Attivo’s deception technology tricks attackers into releasing attacks on decoy environments, leaving behind a trail of forensics. This forensic data acts as an early warning sign of attackers targeting specific assets and allows organizations to identify actual attack methods adversaries deploy against them.

Security teams gain a head start to bolster defenses in critical areas, launch different decoys to learn more about the attack, or trigger an automated response using any integrated tools. Organizations can also configure Swimlane to deploy Attivo’s decoys as part of an automated workflow for immediate response.

“Visibility into where an attack is coming from and what attackers are targeting before they affect those assets is invaluable. Automated and continual monitoring of incidents during the eradication and recovery phases of incident response is a key capability that Swimlane and Attivo are providing,” said Karen Wood, VP of Global Partner Strategy at Swimlane. “By addressing alert overload, analyst churn, slow response to zero-day attacks, and efficiency issues, joint customers of Swimlane and Attivo are gaining critical insights into their risk posture and targeted remediation plans.”

Key benefits of this partnership include speed and consistency. With an automated prevention posture, Swimlane can launch responses to harden defenses at machine speeds. This faster time to resolution is critical during an attack, as each second counts. Machine-speed response also provides a much greater chance of stopping zero-day attacks. Swimlane workflows enable users to achieve a uniform response across their organization for repetitive alerts, taking human error out of the equation when requiring these responses.

“Swimlane excels at helping organizations achieve more efficiency in their security operations. Through their centralization of all integrated tools and data, customers can reach across traditional product silos to take action with any integrated tool within the SOC,” said Srikant Vissamsetti, senior vice president of engineering, Attivo Networks. “Automated malware analysis is also a key benefit of our partnership. Any alert from a Swimlane integrated vendor can be automatically enriched and submitted to Attivo Networks for further analysis on any malware.”

By partnering with Attivo Networks, Swimlane is continuing to champion security operations teams by improving analyst retention and growing internal tribal knowledge. When analysts must no longer spend their day copy-pasting, switching tools, or waiting for results to load, it improves worker satisfaction. Both Attivo Networks and Swimlane are members of the McAfee MVISION Marketplace, and both have trial offerings available for free.

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Entersekt partners with BankID to support digital identity requirements on a single platform

Entersekt has partnered with BankID to provide Norwegian banks with secure in-app and browser authentication, supporting requirements for digital identity, e-signatures and strong customer authentication on a single platform.

“Including the Norwegian e-ID on our security and authentication platform gives Norwegian banks the opportunity to work with a single partner for all their authentication needs, including biometrics, app security, and passwordless login features,” says Frans Labuschagne, Vice President Channel Partnerships at Entersekt. “Consolidating our offering to include BankID opens the door for banks to fast-track their digital enablement journeys. It can help them reach and acquire customers, launch new services, and multiply revenue streams while meeting compliance obligations with confidence – all via a single platform,” he adds.

Norwegian banks have been working together since 2000 to deliver a secure digital identity for their customers. Today, 4.3 million Norwegians make use of BankID as their primary means to identify themselves, give consent or authorise transactions.

The collaboration between BankID and Entersekt enables Norwegian banks to onboard customers using BankID, adhering to all Know Your Customer and Anti Money Laundering (KYC/AML) requirements. It also enables the use of BankID for verifying electronic signatures.

The addition of BankID to the Entersekt Secure Platform is timely as the EU moves toward greater cross-border support of interoperable electronic IDs. “We are delighted to be working with our new BankID partner Entersekt,” says Eva Sandberg, Head of Sales at BankID. “Our collaboration aligns perfectly with the goal for countries across the EU to continue facilitating support for digital identities. Working with a leader in device identity and customer authentication like Entersekt positions us well for the future.”

“Knowing that our platform can securely support countries’ identity schemes perfectly positions us to help banks and other organizations relying on e-ID across the region,” Labuschagne concludes.

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Prosegur Security and Everseen enhance physical security in retail with human-centric AI solutions

Prosegur Security and Everseen have partnered to reimagine physical security in retail and other industries using human-centric artificial intelligence solutions. The partnership will enhance security processes through a shared focus on innovation.

Initially, the two companies will roll out retail-specific solutions focused on checkout intelligence, parking lot solutions, process automation and supply chain security. Joint customers will minimize risks, including shrink, more effectively by equipping their existing asset protection and loss prevention personnel with real-time alerts that transform AI-enabled insights into human action.

Future joint AI solutions will expand into other industries and leverage the considerable global presence of Prosegur in both human and technology applications.

“This new partnership will start with giving retailers new AI-strengthened tools to use inside stores as well as in adjacent, fast-growing retail services such as curbside pickup and buy-online-pick-up-in-store,” said Tony D’Onofrio, CEO of Prosegur’s global retail business unit. “At the center of this partnership will be major global retailers that will co-define with both Everseen and Prosegur the AI-driven security solutions of the future. Everseen has an impressive track record of developing AI technologies in retail, and all of us at Prosegur look forward to working together with its team and quickly realizing our joint value proposition across all the sectors that we cover.”

“Retail already is an important sector for both Everseen and Prosegur, and this new partnership strengthens our commitment to improving end-to-end retail processes,” said Alan O’Herlihy, founder and CEO of Everseen. “We look forward to building on Everseen’s proven AI solutions and augmenting Prosegur’s customer base with real-time and actionable intelligence that reduces shrink and improves store operations. Prosegur is one of the top three security companies in the world, but the bedrock of this partnership is our shared desire and vision to reinvent the security industry by actively embracing innovative technology solutions.”Prosegur Security

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D3 Security raises $10M to accelerate advancement of its next-generation SOAR platform

D3 Security announced it had received a growth equity investment of $10 million USD from Vistara Growth, a provider of flexible growth capital solutions to technology companies across North America. The $10M USD will be augmented by a $5M credit facility from a major financial institution, raising the total funding to $15M.

D3’s SOAR platform helps many of the world’s most sophisticated security teams integrate their security tools, eliminate time-consuming tasks via automation, and orchestrate lightning-fast responses to threats. The investment from Vistara will enable D3 to continue to innovate through product development, scale to support its rapidly growing base of clients and partners, and greatly expand sales and marketing efforts to capture the global demand for SOAR.

“We’ve always been confident that we have the most powerful, agile, and easy-to-use SOAR platform on the market,” said Gordon Benoit, D3 Security President. “This investment from Vistara will supercharge our ability to reach the thousands of enterprises, MSSPs, and MDR providers around the world who need a solution like ours.”

“We believe that as the benefits of SOAR gain wider recognition with increasingly security-conscious enterprises, the market is growing fast and D3’s platform is at the forefront,” said John O’Donoghue, Vistara Growth Investment Director. “They are an ambitious technology company with a world-class product, and we look forward to supporting them as they reach their full potential.”

Both O’Donoghue and Vistara Growth Founder and Managing Partner Randy Garg will join D3 Security’s board as part of the investment.

The prevalence of security automation has exploded in recent years, a trend that appears to have been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, as companies adapt to remote workforces and a growing attack surface. A recent SANS survey found a 24.9% year-over-year increase in the number of organizations with a high amount of security automation.

D3 is uniquely positioned to help solve the challenges that are leading so many companies to acquire automation tools. As the leading independent SOAR vendor, D3 integrates with virtually any security tool, bringing automation to the entire stack, enabling the use of best of breed solutions, and maximizing the value of existing security investments.

The investment coincides with D3’s imminent release of XGEN SOAR, a massive leap forward for its flagship SOAR platform. In a market full of complex products that require expert coders to run and maintain them, XGEN SOAR is designed for ease of use, with intuitive configuration, testing, and operation. Its codeless playbooks allow users to seamlessly drag and drop complex automated sequences and product integrations into workflows.

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HGC offers fast connectivity for Google Cloud Partner Interconnect customers

HGC Global Communications Limited announced that it supports Google Cloud Partner Interconnect. By offering support for Partner Interconnect, Google Cloud customers have the ability to quickly establish secure and high-performance direct connections to business-critical workloads on Google Cloud Platform through HGC’s Tier 1 level diverse network.

Partner Interconnect is a product in the Google Cloud Interconnect family. Dedicated Interconnect provides higher-speed and lower cost connectivity than VPN, and has become the “go-to” solution to connect on-premise data centers to Google Cloud. Google Cloud offers connections to Google Cloud services from 146 network edge locations in metropolitan areas across North and Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Oceania.

Google Cloud Interconnect provides secure, private, and direct links, creating a unique opportunity for organizations to deliver vital cloud-based applications quickly. HGC’s global connectivity has been built on high-redundancy and industrial standard SLAs that serve different regions worldwide.

With HGC’s commitment to resilience improvement and latency reduction, Google Cloud customers engaging Interconnect can instinctively gain access to real-time data feeds with an enhanced networking experience. Applications cover global big data streaming processing, machine learning, and other interactive OTT applications over latency-sensitive and geo-distributed cloud-based microservice architecture such as 5G cloud gaming, telehealth, virtual commerce, and AI & IoT technology.

Ravindran Mahalingam, HGC’s Senior Vice President, International Business, said: “As HGC continues to embrace digital transformation riding on our full-fledged digital infrastructure, the company is bringing the agility and seamless integration to the business cloud and networking enhancement worldwide to meet the emerging and dynamic demand.”

Cliff Tam, VP – Global Data Strategy, International Business, HGC Global Communications, added. “Google Cloud Interconnect is built to serve an increasingly verticalized economy to maximize the values for innovative cloud-based cloud capabilities across data blending, AI, IoT and Smart City development with our fully-meshed global network infrastructure.”

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How Vaccine Side Effects Compare to COVID Symptoms

Photo: Thaiview (Shutterstock)

The COVID-19 vaccines have become somewhat notorious for their side effects: fatigue, sore arm, maybe a fever. In a few rare cases, there are more serious complications, like inflammation of the heart. So is it riskier to get a vaccine or to take your chances with COVID itself?

A new study in the New England Journal of Medicine set out to answer this question, comparing the moderate to serious symptoms people experience after the Pfizer vaccine with those that people experience with a COVID infection. (Mild reactions like fever and soreness at the injection site weren’t included.) Here’s what they found:

• People who got COVID were at substantially higher risk for arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), myocardial infarction (heart attack), deep-vein thrombosis (blood clots in places like the legs), pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lungs), myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), pericarditis (inflammation of tissues near the heart), intracerebral hemorrhage (bleeding in the brain), and thrombocytopenia (low platelet counts).
  
• People who got the vaccine were at substantially higher risk for lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes).

The study was conducted as a medical records analysis in Israel, and it compared 884,828 vaccinated people with an equal number of unvaccinated controls, and 173,106 people with a COVID infection and an equal number of controls. (Each person was matched to a control of the same age, sex, home location, and health status.)

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The vaccine involved was the Pfizer one, so this analysis may not apply to other vaccines like the Johnson & Johnson. The Moderna vaccine is very similar to Pfizer’s, so it’s likely the results would be similar if the same study could be done with that vaccine—but without the numbers, we don’t know for sure.

“What is even more compelling about these data is the substantial protective effect of vaccines with respect to adverse events such as acute kidney injury, intracranial hemorrhage, and anemia, probably because infection was prevented,” writes Grace Lee, a professor of medicine at Stanford who penned an editorial commentary on the study.

She also notes that the best way to compare risk would include the chance of being exposed to COVID; if it were a rare disease, you’d be much more likely to get a serious adverse event from the vaccine than from being infected, which could change the risk/benefit calculus. But the way the Delta variant is currently raging, COVID is not a rare disease at all.

She writes: “Given the current state of the global pandemic, however, the risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 [the virus that causes COVID] appears to be inevitable.”

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The Best Features Worth Knowing About in Chrome 93

Google Chrome version 93 has just launched for both desktop and Android. These monthly updates can bring a mixed bag of new features, tweaks, and changes for developers, but version 93 has several enhancements worth knowing about for users too, including enhancements to Chrome Web Apps on desktop, changes to the Android app’s interface, helpful cross-device security options, and more.

We’ll go over all the new features below, but if you want to grab the Chrome 93 update right now, here’s how (the same steps work on Android and desktop):

1. Click or tap the three-dot menu in the upper-right of the browser window.
2. Go to Settings > About Google Chrome to see if the update is ready to download.
3. Run the update if it’s ready, then close and reboot the browser.

You can also download the latest version from the Google Chrome download page. Now, on to what’s new...

Desktop: Web apps can now launch from URL links and support multi-screen devices.

Chrome 93 has two new Web App features for desktop users.

First, opening external web apps via URL links is now seamless. With this feature turned on, clicking a link in Chrome will open the web app if you have it installed on your device.

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For example, if you installed the YouTube PWA with Chrome, clicking a YouTube hyperlink will open the video in the PWA instead of a new Chrome tab. This won’t work for every web app, since it requires the developers to implement the capability themselves, but it will be a helpful change for the apps that support it. It’s also disabled by default and must be turned on by changing some settings in Chrome’s experimental flags menu:

1. Open Chrome and head to chrome://flags/#enable-desktop-pwas-url-handling
2. Select “Enabled” from the drop-down menu.
3. Restart Chrome when prompted.

The other new feature is multi-screen and multi-window support for web apps. This feature also requires developer implementation as well, but Google predicts it would be helpful for many types of web apps, including:

• Multi-window graphics editors à la Gimp can place various editing tools in accurately positioned windows.
• Virtual trading desks can show market trends in multiple windows any of which can be viewed in fullscreen mode.
• Slideshow apps can show speaker notes on the internal primary screen and the presentation on an external projector.

These apps can now open multiple windows simultaneously across one display, or multiple displays, which should be a marked improvement for multi-display users.

Cross-device Two-Factor SMS syncing

As of version 93, Chrome will now automatically recognize and sync SMS login codes for two-factor authentication if you’re signed in with your Google Account on multiple devices—for the websites that support it, at least. This one requires developer implementation too, but it’s likely more websites and services will support Two-Factor syncing in the future. Until then, you can see how the feature works with this mock-up test site Google created.

Android: New Google Search UI and Material You support for Android 12

Chrome 93 also brings some UI changes to the Chrome Android app.

First, the recently overhauled continuous results feed for Google Search results has been refined. The new design was originally added to Android back in Chrome 91 as an experimental test that let you open and tab between pages from a scrolling bar at the top of the Chrome window. The bar scrolls continuously through the search results, so you can jump between pages quickly.

Chrome 93 makes the cards easier to read and reportedly more responsive than in their initial implementation. Turning on the new search results bar still requires you to dig through the experimental flags menu, however:

1. In the Chrome Android app, go to chrome://flags#continuous-search
2. Enable the setting from the drop-down menu.
3. Restart the app when prompted.
4. After the app reboots, make a Google Search.
5. Select a website from the results. The new continuous search navigation bar will appear at the top of the search results.

Chrome 93 also brings support for Android 12’s Material You interface to Chrome mobile, albeit as yet another experimental feature.

The Material You feature changes the interface for supported Android 12 apps to match your phone’s background, and will likely be a default capability in Chrome for all Android 12 devices once the new OS update rolls out in the coming months. For now, though, you need the Android 12 beta. From there, enable the feature in Chrome’s experimental flags:

1. Open the Chrome app and go to chrome://flags#dynamic-color-android
2. Select “Enabled” from the drop-down menu.
3. Reboot the app to enable the changes.
4. Tap one of the URL info cards at the top of the feed to open the page, and scroll left or right to see more options

Those are the primary changes for general users in Chrome 93, but there’s plenty more for developers to pore over. You can read up on all of it in the update’s release notes.

[How To Geek]

  

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How to Make Sure Your AirPods Pro Are Actually Fully Charged

Photo: Hadrian (Shutterstock)

Ever wondered why your AirPods Pro’s battery level almost always hovers around 80 percent? This is because Apple automatically enables a feature that reduces battery aging—and as a consequence, slows down the charging speed significantly once your AirPods Pro’s battery is 80 percent charged. If you’re in a hurry to charge your AirPods Pro fully, there’s an easy way to bypass this feature.

Why does Apple slow down AirPods Pro’s charging speed?

Apple uses a feature called Optimized Battery Charging to improve your AirPods Pro’s battery health. This feature increases the lifespan of your AirPods Pro’s battery, which means that you will not end up with unusable battery life within a year of buying this product. That’s good. But it will also keep the battery from charging as quickly as you might like when you are going to be away from your charger for an extended period. Not as good.

This feature might remind you of recent lawsuits about Apple’s battery throttling practices, but this isn’t an example of Apple being evil. AirPods Pro uses Lithium-ion battery technology (like pretty much every other consumer electronics product) and the limitation of this technology is that the battery capacity decreases over time. There’s no way to stop these batteries from aging, but there are ways to slow down this process. Apple’s solution is enabling Optimized Battery Charging by default on AirPods Pro.

How to fully charge your AirPods Pro more quickly

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If you are in a situation where you need the AirPods Pro fully charged quickly, try disabling Optimized Battery Charging. Please note that we absolutely do not recommend disabling this feature permanently—if you turn it off, it’s a good idea to reenable once your need for rapid charging has passed, so you won’t needlessly shorten your AirPods Pro’s battery life.

However if you’re in a pinch and absolutely do need to charge your AirPods Pro ASAP, here’s what you need to do:

1. Connect your AirPods Pro to your iPhone or iPad. (For most people, this involves taking your AirPods Pro out of the case and sticking them in your ears; they’ll usually connect to the iPhone or iPad automatically.)
2. On the device, go to Settings > Bluetooth.
3. Tap the i button next to AirPods Pro.
4. Scroll down and disable Optimized Battery Charging.
5. When you do this, you will see a pop-up on your iPhone asking you to confirm this action. You can select Turn Off Until Tomorrow to disable it temporarily, which is probably a good idea for the reasons outlined above. Or you can live dangerously and select Turn Off to disable Optimized Battery Charging permanently (until you turn it back on manually).

Once your AirPods Pro have charged to 100%, you can follow the same steps to reenable Optimized Battery charging (or wait until it turns back on automatically).

Note: This feature requires iOS 14.2 or iPadOS 14.2 versions or newer. You can check if you have the required version by going to Settings > General > About and checking the number next to Software Version. If you have an older version of iOS or iPadOS, go to Settings > General > Software Update and update to a newer version of iOS.

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What to Expect When You Quit Vaping

The FDA cracked down on disposable, flavorful vapes last year, and although you can still find Puff Bars and their counterparts all over, the likelihood that you’re getting a sketchy counterfeit is increasing. The mystery of what’s in the phonies makes them even more dangerous than the original nicotine delivery devices, which weren’t super great for you in the first place. It might be time to quit, so here’s what to expect.

You’ll never find the perfect time to quit

“There’s no good time to do it,” said Robert S., a 30-year-old who started vaping to quit smoking four years ago, but found himself smoking again to get off vapes. “It’s like a Band-Aid. You just have to rip it off and do it.”

Robert quit, ultimately, because he was annoyed he couldn’t play with his four-year-old niece without getting winded.

“I was tired of being so dependent on a foreign substance to continue my day-to-day life,” he said, recalling that he’d hit his Juul “at all times,” no matter where he was or what he was doing. “I see a lot of adolescent people smoking these vapes and they can’t function without it and it’s really sad to see.”

He said that prior to quitting, he felt “tied down,” like he couldn’t go anywhere without his portable device. When he switched to his Juul and disposables, he even noticed physical issues he hadn’t had with the cigarettes: migraines and sores in his mouth.

You’ll have mental changes

Clarity can come with quitting, but you can also be an irritated mess for a while, too. The withdrawal symptoms are well-known at this point, but expect anxiety, depression, and a stinky attitude.

Try to think positively, though. Focus on how good what you’re doing is for yourself, how good it is for your family, or how much money you’ll save. It’ll be hard, especially during rough cravings, but it’s necessary.

To that end, don’t get down on yourself if you take a rogue puff here and there. This might not be linear. You could start and stop repeatedly; plenty of people do. These little devices are designed to be hard to quit, not only because of the nicotine they contain, but because they give you so much else: flavors, something to do with your hands and mouth, an excuse to leave a room you don’t want to be in, etc. Saying goodbye to all of that is no easy task. This is a mental challenge as much as a physical one. About that, though...

You’ll notice bodily changes

Robert said he craved sugar a lot after quitting, which is a sentiment reflected across online forums. (More on those later.) You’ll probably be inordinately hungry for a while and might be a little constipated. Gross, but true!

Beyond a sudden interest in sweet foods, there were other physical changes Robert noticed right away and even more over time.

“I’ve noticed my skin returning to its normal color,” he said. “About a month after, I wasn’t spitting up mucus every morning. Finally, after about two months, I had little to no shortness of breath.”

Look in the mirror. Is your skin an unusual color? If it is, did you even notice that happening? That’s a little alarming, and is another vaping side effect that is discussed widely on forums. OK; it’s time to talk about those now.

You’ll need a support system

It’s easier to do difficult things when you have someone on your side, especially someone who gets what you’re going through. The Quit Vaping subreddit has more than 6,000 members, so you can start there.

Tell your friends and family what you’re up to, too. They can help keep you accountable by calling you out if you try to sneak a puff. Plus, if you’re going to be irritable or going through cravings, it’s best to give a heads-up about why you might be ‘tude-y.

You’ll lean on a few crutches

Robert said he wouldn’t have been able to get so far into his quitting if not for nicotine patches and coffee. Look, you might not like the idea of replacing one habit with another, but if that’s what it takes, you might have to consider it, just for now.

If it’s the nicotine you’re after, patches are helpful. If you like the sweet, fruity tastes or have a little bit of an oral fixation, try sugar-free hard candies or flavored seltzer. If you love to have something to play with in your hand, look into fidget toys or anxiety rings.

You’ll end up happy you did this

However tough the journey is, the payoff is great—literally. For starters, you’re about to save serious money. Disposable vapes are pricey, as is the e-liquid you can buy to put in more long-term devices. (Put the $10 or so dollars you would have spent on a disposable into a jar every time you get the urge to buy one. Channel your cravings into a money-saving technique and spoil yourself after you hit a certain amount of time off the Juul.)

You’ll be healthier, breathing better, and just generally in a better place. Keep that end goal in mind and trust that you can do this.

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Landlords Still Can't Evict You in These States

Photo: John Moore / Staff (Getty Images)

Last week, the Supreme Court struck down the CDC’s latest extension of the eviction moratorium, which was supposed to last through Oct. 3. That means millions of renters now face eviction, although some states have their own eviction bans still in place, and rental assistance is available—despite a delayed rollout in many states. Here’s a closer look at your options if you’re facing eviction or can’t otherwise afford your rent.

What happened to the federal eviction moratorium?

After suggesting that the CDC was exceeding its authority in June, the Supreme Court has reversed the agency’s latest extension, effective immediately. The majority opinion stated that the CDC relied on “a decades-old statute that authorizes it to implement measures like fumigation and pest extermination.” The ruling suggested that a federal ban should be authorized by Congress, instead.

Some states still have their own eviction moratoriums

The following states have either eviction bans or graduated easing on eviction bans that extend into September:

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• California: An eviction ban is in place through Sept. 30. The legal news site Nolo has a list of cities and townships that also have restrictions here. There’s also a ban on utility shut-offs based on nonpayment until at least Sept. 30, 2021 for most utilities.
• Washington, D.C.: The mayor has enacted a phased out approach, allowing evictions based on nonpayment as early as Oct. 12. Landlords may begin filing evictions of any type, as of Jan. 1, 2022. More details can be found here.
• Illinois: Gov. Pritzker has extended the existing eviction moratorium, through Sept. 18, 2021.
• Minnesota: Minnesota renters not eligible for emergency rental assistance are protected from eviction until Sept. 12. However, renters with a pending application for federal rental assistance can’t be evicted until June 2022, per GOBankingRates.
• Nevada: Tenants can delay eviction by showing proof that they have applied for rental assistance.
• New Jersey: Renters are protected from eviction and eviction court cases through Dec. 31, 2021, provided that their annual household income is below 80% of their county’s median income.
• New Mexico: The state’s supreme court has a temporary moratorium on evictions in place already, with no end date at this time.
• New York: The existing state moratorium on eviction bans is set to expire today, although an extension until the end of the year is in the works.
• Oregon: Per NOLO, landlords must wait 60 days before filing an eviction if the tenant provides documentation proving that they’ve applied for rental assistance.
• Washington: Earlier this summer, Gov. Jay Inslee announced a “bridge” extension of an existing state eviction moratorium, effective through Sept. 30.

Don’t forget about rent assistance programs

Despite the fact that it was established early in the pandemic, the $46.5 billion Emergency Rental Assistance Program has only doled out 11% of its funds, according to the New York Times. While the federal government provides the funding, states are responsible for the actual distribution of rent assistance, and they’ve been sluggish in doing so, with delays resulting from understaffing and overly stringent documentation requirements.

Fortunately, access to rental assistance is slowly improving. If you haven’t done so already, check out the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s new Emergency Rental Assistance Dashboard, which allows you to search for rental assistance in your area. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also has a good guide for renters that can’t afford their rent here. For free legal help relating to evictions, contact either LawHelp.org or the Legal Services Corporation.

 

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You Can Still Plant These Fall Vegetables In September

Photo: mstudeny (Shutterstock)

September is when we start winding down our garden for the year, but there is still time to plant vegetables now to enjoy later in the fall. Based on where you live, the vegetables you can plant now will vary—but even in the colder zones, there are more options than you may realize. Some are fast-growing vegetables, while a few others should be planted as soon as possible to enjoy them later.

These vegetables are a good fall crop for all of the continental U.S. 

In zones 3-10, which is all of the continental U.S., some of the vegetables you can plant in September include lettuce, radishes, and garlic. For radishes and lettuce, you’ll want to select the quick-growing varieties, while garlic is a crop that you’ll need to plant now in order to enjoy in the spring. And if you’re in the mood for berries, planting blueberry bushes in the fall is a good way to promote healthy root development, as well as encourage early spring growth.

For slightly cooler areas 

Spinach is also a good fall crop to plant, although it requires slightly cooler temperatures, making it suitable for zones 3-9. Basically, as long as you don’t live in certain parts of southern Florida, Texas, California, or Arizona, spinach is a good option for planting in September.

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For slightly warmer areas 

If you live in zones 5-9, which includes most of the continental U.S. with the exception of certain parts of northern states, then broccoli makes for a good fall crop—and one that you’ll be able to pick well into November. You’ll just want to make sure to select a faster-growing variety, such as Calabrese or Early Purple Sprouting.

For a more detailed map, as well as a planting schedule for your state, Urban Harvest has this information for all of the continental states. If you want information on fall crops that grow well in Hawaii, you can access a monthly planting schedule here; in Alaska, though, September is a little too frosty for planting vegetables.

  

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How to Do Pullups With a Squat Rack

Photo: Freeman Studio (Shutterstock)

There isn’t always a handy pullup bar around, especially if you have a home gym without a good place to put one. I happened upon a solution in my own garage, and it’s one that can also help in some commercial gym situations: Use a barbell.

The steps are simple:

1. Move the hooks that hold the barbell to their highest setting (or wherever is comfortable).
2. Put the barbell up there.
3. Do your pullups from the barbell.

You can also do this in a Smith machine instead of a squat rack.

Now, not all of us need this hack. Many squat racks have a pullup bar already built in, and many houses have a doorway that’s well-suited to a doorway pullup bar.

But a lot of us could use it. For example, I couldn’t buy the squat rack with the built-in pullup bar because my garage’s ceilings aren’t high enough. The nearest doorway that can support a pullup bar is upstairs inside the house. For a while, I was doing pullups from a pair of rings I hung on the kids’ playset, but that had its own logistical challenges (including that I couldn’t use the playset in the rain.) The barbell pullup bar was a perfect solution.

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Doing pullups from a barbell is also handy if you’re short and the pullup bars in your gym are all too tall to reach and you don’t have a handy stool. (Always be considerate of others when using shared equipment, though; if somebody is waiting to do squats, don’t monopolize the squat rack if you do have other options.)

When you use a barbell for pullups, you’ll need to bend your knees so your feet don’t hit the floor on each rep. This also opens up possibilities for modifying pullups if you’re not doing sets of full reps: you can get a boost by resting your feet on the floor at the bottom of the movement, or by putting a foot on a bench or plyo box.

     

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15 Shows We're Begging You to Stream to Prove Wrestling Is Awesome

Wrestling isn’t just for grandmas anymore. (My grandma was really, really into pro-wrestling when I was a kid. I assume that is the norm.)

The United States has at least six major wrestling promotions (that’s what they are called, though you’ve probably also heard them referred to as “federations”). There are something like a dozen weekly pro wrestling shows running at any given time. What’s more, you don’t even have to be into wrestling to be kinda into wrestling: stars like John Cena, Dwayne “Formerly the Rock” Johnson, and Dave Bautista are everywhere, and prestige dramas like GLOW and Heels blend wrestling action with strong writing and compelling characters.

In fact, there has been a proliferation of such wrestling-adjacent shows, most of which can be enjoyed by fans but which will also serve as gateways to the uninitiated. And there are more on the way: Disney’s luchador action-comedy Ultra Violet & Blue Demon is arriving next year. Until then, here’s a bit of what’s out there right now for existing fans who want more, and for curious fans-to-be.

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What to Expect When You Start Hypnosis for Anxiety

Image: metamorworks (Shutterstock)

If fear and anxiety have gained a hold on your life, you know they can feel like they’re consuming everything. You can medicate or meditate, read self-help books, or try to push through on your own—but it’s always best to admit when you need help, then seek it out.

You might consider hypnosis, but not know where to start. We’ll ease some of the stress of figuring that out for you.

What is hypnosis good for?

For a full run-down of what hypnosis is, what it can be used for, and what you can expect when you first try it out, we turned to Dr. Gigi Arnaud. She was a dentist in New York City for over 30 years, but became a certified hypnotherapist and certified life coach to, at first, help out the patients who were nervous about dental appointments.

“Hypnosis is great for fears and phobias, like dental, flying, spiders, etc.,” she told Lifehacker, adding that it also works well for habit changing (think weight loss, smoking cessation, and the like) and anxiety and stress reduction. She sees clients who want to enhance confidence, self-esteem, and focus, as well as some who are looking for more restful sleep.

She described hypnosis as “a relaxed state of inner absorption, focused attention, and concentration.”

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“We all experience this trance state in our daily lives,” she said. “When you drive to a location and are not totally aware of the route but since you’ve already gone that way, you just do it without ‘thinking,’ you are in a trance. In those moments right before you fall asleep or as you’re waking up, you are in this state or when you are absorbed in a good book or movie (the theta brain-wave state). It is a state where the subconscious mind is open to positive suggestions, called post-hypnotic suggestions.”

How can hypnosis be helpful?

Dr. Arnaud said that for real, lasting change, you have to connect your conscious awareness to your subconscious mind, which is even stronger. Your subconscious mind holds your beliefs, your experiences, and, often, your negative thought patterns, which can be imparted on you by your parents, society, or surroundings.

Whether you’re hoping to correct social anxiety, a fear of bugs, or a habit of talking down to yourself, it comes from that subconscious part of your mind. Hypnosis can help you identify and utilize your conscious and subconscious minds so you can tackle the root of your issues and make positive changes going forward.

One key step necessary for hypnosis to work, Dr. Arnaud pointed out, is a positive attitude toward the process and sessions. A hypnotist will work with you to correct myths and misconceptions while developing a trusting relationship. Banish the thought of hypnosis as a gimmicky party trick that makes people do things against their will; it’s not that.

Here’s what to expect

After an initial session discussing hypnosis and what it really is, you’ll have an induction. That, Dr. Arnaud said, involves the hypnotist “talking the client ‘down’ into a trance state, which can be just a light trance.”

In the trance state, you should feel relaxed but able to focus on a goal. Your body might feel relaxed and heavy, though also “fine,” she said. You’ll hear your hypnotist’s voice, but don’t be surprised if it sounds distant and far away. Some hypnosis—especially hypnosis done to break habits—can involve therapy. In those cases, you might feel some pretty strong emotions during your session.

Don’t be afraid of the trance. You can easily get yourself out of it by just moving around and shaking your body out. You won’t be stuck like that and you won’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. Also, don’t be so sure you’ll notice any major differences right away after your session.

“There is no exact prediction for how being hypnotized will affect you. You may not feel or change anything in your life or you may not know it,” said Dr. Arnaud. “Remember, you’re shifting your subconscious (not conscious) mind, so, you may not be consciously aware of it. But it’s often there and working somewhere in the background.”

Conversely, you might feel “a big shift,” say, if you’re working to stop smoking or increase your confidence. “It’s all individual. It depends what your subconscious mind is willing and able to accept,” she said.

 

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What to Do When Your New Job Sucks (Other Than Quit)

Photo: Vadym Pastukh (Shutterstock)

Changing jobs comes with a lot of hope, but also a lot of risk. No matter how many questions you asked before accepting your job offer, there are always unexpected aspects, not to mention an uncomfortable learning curve. Although many of these may be relatively benign, some of them may be far more frustrating than you anticipated—your new boss may not be as helpful as you want, the job duties may be more difficult or time-consuming than you expected, or the workplace culture may not be a good fit.

Short of just up and quitting, if your new job isn’t going as well as you had hoped, what should you do? According to Amy Drader, a management consultant with Growth Partners Consulting, the key to adjusting to a new job that isn’t what you had hoped it would be is to exercise a little bit of patience, and to understand what the learning curve for a new role looks and feels like.

Make a commitment to stick out the job for at least a year

As long as your new workplace isn’t crossing any legal or ethical boundaries, or creating workplace conditions that put your mental or physical health at risk, Drader advises making a commitment to sticking out the new job for at least one year—two if you are mid-career.

Making the decision to stay for at least one year helps eliminate the uncertainty of what to do, while it also gives you the opportunity to gain a fuller understanding of your new job and its responsibilities. As Drader wrote, “[O]ften the initial years are the hardest, especially as we increase our expertise and scope of responsibility. Getting a full picture of the job won’t happen until you’ve experienced 12 months.”

Sticking it out for a specified period of time will also give you the closure you need, in case it turns out that it is, in fact, the job that sucks and it isn’t just you. It’s always easy to second-guess past decisions; when it comes to changing jobs, you want to do so with the understanding that you did so for the right reasons.

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Understand that the learning process is uncomfortable 

A new job is often uncomfortable in the beginning, given that things need to be learned for you to feel at your normal level of competence. This can be a hard stage to deal with, while there’s often a sense of loss about the ability to feel competent at what it is you’re doing.

As Drader writes, “In your past role, you had a level of expertise and knowledge that gave you confidence. You didn’t have to think about who to talk to or how to do something, you just knew.” When you start a new job, you often lose all that.

Drader advises using the Conscious Competence Model in order to understand what the different stages of learning a new job will look and feel like. According to the Conscience Competence Model, there are four stages of learning, which are:

Unconscious incompetence 

Unconscious incompetence is when you don’t know what you don’t know, such as before you start your new job, when you maybe didn’t realize what knowledge or skills you lack. Basically, this is the “ignorance is bliss” stage. As blissful as this may feel, it’s not a good stage for growing as a person.

Conscious incompetence 

Conscious incompetence is when you start to realize just how much you don’t know. This is a really uncomfortable stage to be in, one in which it’s easy to feel lost or lonely. When starting a new job, if you feel overwhelmed by everything you need to learn, or you feel like you are making way too many mistakes, then you are experiencing conscious incompetence.

The important thing to remember is that everyone goes through this stage at one point or another, and that it is an essential part of growing as a professional. After all, if you never realize what your gaps in knowledge and skills are, how will you ever fill them?

Conscious competence

Conscious competence is the stage where you have gained a fairly broad understanding, and have experienced some success, but you realize that you still have more to learn. However, when you are consciously competent, there is the assurance that although you may not have the answers right now, you know how to get them.

Unconscious competence 

After a while, what you’ve learned can become so engrained that you no longer have to consciously think about what to do, you just do it. This is the case with a lot of elite athletes who have practiced their skills until they no longer have to think about how to do something—they just do it. For example, if you ask a tennis player who has spent a lifetime practicing their serves to describe exactly what they are doing, they will probably fumble to explain, as these movements are so second nature to them that they no longer have to think.

As you progress in your new job, you will hopefully make the transition from realizing just how much you don’t know, to having the confidence that although you don’t know everything yet, you have the skills to find the answers we need. This is a hard journey to make, so it’s important to be patient with yourself and to remind yourself that learning is a lifelong journey, rather than a destination. As difficult as the new job may be, it’s often worth it to persevere through the uncomfortable stages, so you can have the satisfaction of learning the new skills you need to be successful in your new role.

 

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Skimming the CREAM – recursive withdrawals loot $13M in cryptocash

Recursion [noun]: see recursion.
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You Should Really Grill Up Some Shawarma

Labor day is rapidly approaching, and while I am always down to eat 30-50 feral hot dogs, the late summer drag has invaded my kitchen. I am weary of summer vegetables and run of the mill barbecue and cookouts. I can’t be bothered to make pasta salad. I want comfort food, but not the same old.

Turns out, I want shawarma.

Why is now the time for shawarma?

Found around the world, there are as many variations of shawarma as there are street corners on which it is sold. There are regional variations like Turkish Doner Kebab, Greek Gyro, and Mexican al Pastor that use different meats, seasonings, cutting, serving vessels, sauces, and toppings. But despite the many ways you could cook this at home, the best way is always going to be on a rotisserie.

It’s also practically September, and by now you’ve eaten every other kind of chicken there is to be eaten a dozen times this summer. With COVID-19 still ravaging supply chains and food production, chicken remains king of lower priced (and more importantly, available) meats. It’s also an awesome sandwich that takes very little effort to feed a good lot of people, with a bonus of how excited your guests are going to be when you tell them you’re making shawarma. Or don’t tell anyone and eat 15 of these things yourself. All you need is a lot of chicken, a marinade, and a comfortable chair.

You’re gonna need a spit

Now there is a small requirement: You need a rotisserie for your grill. As I’ve mentioned previously, this is going to be subject to some availability depending on the make and model of your grill, but universal kits are out there and won’t cost you an arm, leg, or wing. If you find this is something you’re into, you can add on a basket for wings, veggies, and even whole fish. It’s a good investment that adds versatility to an already versatile appliance.

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Marinating shawarma vs. using a dry rub

I am not going to tell you how to make an authentic shawarma at home, because I am not a professional in the field, so I will not tell you that you need to use an authentic shawarma marinade or rub at home. Some recipes call for both, some call for either. If you’re after a juicier chicken chunk, go for a marinade. If you want some crispy bits, the rub will get you there faster. Barbecue rubs work really well with this, but beware of anything high in sugar. Caramelization is good, but burning that sugar is easier than you think. Save the sauce for the table, as well—it will just drip off of the spit as it spins.

I like this particular marinade because I am a sucker for smoked paprika. Traditional spices include cinnamon, allspice, cardamom, clove, and an incredible amount of garlic to produce a deep sweet/savory profile. If you’re after the real deal street food variation, you can’t go wrong with Mama’s blend.

How to assemble your spit

I’m sorry, but this is where the work is. Unlike a rotisserie chicken, there’s no trussing chicken thighs to keep them in a single uniform piece. You could try to position your rotisserie forks to grab every thigh, but that would leave you with only a small width on the spit to place your chicken. Instead, skewer your chicken, centering it on the spit. Slide your forks into the ends as best you can and tighten down the screws/bolts to lock them in place.

Because chicken thighs vary in weight and shape more than any other meat, I recommend inserting additional skewers through the sides. This will help prevent the spit from wobbling in the motor, a sign that the motor is struggling to rotate the spit and that you’re headed toward uneven cooking. Take a look at this video for more detail.

Once you’re ready, transfer your meat to the grill and lock the spit into your rotisserie. Thanks to the high fat content and muscle density of chicken thighs, you’ll only need to check in every 30 minutes or so until they’re done, about 90 minutes from the time you start. Be mindful that a marinade will be drippy during prep and while the spit rotates, so keep an eye on your drip pan.

Prep your grill

This will vary depending on the grill and rotisserie you’re using, but for the most part the process is standard: Remove your grates, and for Weber models, leave the flavorizer bars in place.

The second most important component you need is a drip pan. A disposable aluminum pan works best, but try to get the half height variety: The taller pans can get in the way as the chicken spins around, causing the food to bump against it and even knock it over. This is going to be full of chicken fat and next to fire, and we’ve already been through why that is a bad thing.

Set your burners for a medium-high heat, targeting 375-400℉, and grab your oven mitts. There’s still a bit left to do while the grill preheats.

It’s not shawarma if you don’t have a sear burner!

We’re cooking primarily with radiant heat, but the traditional vertical spits used for shawarma are surrounded by direct heat, thanks to large sear burners. If you have one of these on your grill, go for it! You can also use a propane torch to the same effect, just please be careful using it. If you use a torch, make sure your fuel source is a safe distance away, and that there is nothing near your grill that could feel the effects of that pointed heat.

Should you choose either nuclear option, proceed with a blast of heat until the exterior of the meat is uniformly crisp. It should char very quickly, but not burn. Stop your sear, extinguish your torch, and just shave the charred bits off before you close the lid and resume a low and slow cook. With a bit of practice, this will give more uniformity to the shape of your chicken thighs through the entire cook. If you missed a stray bit here or there, feel free to jump in with a pair of kitchen shears.

At a target air temp of 375°F-400°F, you should see a cook time of 75-90 minutes, depending on how thick your thighs are. Grab a good probe thermometer and check for temp—as long as your thermometer reads 165°F, you’re safe to remove the spit and let it rest for a bit. Cutting into this now would unleash a torrent of jus, which is much better served inside the chicken than as a puddle on your cutting board.

The chicken will be more like something you would carve at a dinner table, larger and juicier chunks. This is a good route for most people, especially since you’ve already been waiting nearly two hours for dinner. Cut the heat, don your protective gear, and remove the spit to a surface to rest for a few minutes before carving.

For a more authentic experience, more authentic work is involved. Stop the spit, turn off the burners and get a new pan. Your goal here is to shave off the exterior of the chicken just enough to expose a new layer. To get the meat to fall downward, focus on shaving in a horizontal motion and cutting between the bolster and middle point of the blade, rather than toward the tip. Check out a pro in action.

And that’s it! Dress it to your heart’s delight. I’m a big fan of thinly sliced lettuce, tomato, and onion with a good hosing of halal cart white sauce. Once you’ve taken what you want from the spit, turn the heat back on, close the lid, and keep spinning until you’re ready for another sandwich. It’ll be sooner than you think.

   

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How to Patch the Dead Spots on Your Lawn

Photo: SingjaiStocker (Shutterstock)

Summer is rough on grass. After a few straight months of heat, sun, foot traffic, and often not enough rain, it’s totally normal to see some dead spots. Dead grass is uglier than it is dangerous, but if you’re sick of looking at it, here’s a quick and dirty guide to replanting grass where it’s needed.

Figure out what kind of grass you have

Different grass species thrive under different conditions, which means the very first thing you need to do is identify the type (or types) of grass you’re dealing with. This will make important decisions—like when to plant, which seed to buy, and which fertilizer to use—much more straightforward.

In general, you want to plant new grass when it’s cool, but not cold. For most areas in the U.S., that means either early fall or early spring; the exact window depends on your location and which species you’re working with. Your state university’s extension program can help with all of this, so if you have any questions, that’s the perfect starting place.

Break up the dead stuff

Scattered dead spots can happen for several reasons, but one of the most common culprits is thatch—an overly thick layer of dead grass, roots, and other organic matter that lies between the grass roots and the soil. Normal thatch acts like compost, but if it gets too thick and/or compacted, it cuts off the supply of soil nutrients and water that grass needs to grow.

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That means you have to physically break it up. “Dethatching” an entire lawn requires buying or renting a gas- or electric-powered lawn dethatcher, but for small spots, all you need is a handheld cultivator tool. A simple claw cultivator (which is basically a mini rake with sharp, hefty tines) will do in a pinch; for larger projects, you may consider investing in a rotary cultivator. These tools work a bit like push mowers, but with tines instead of blades, and cost somewhere between $40-70. The rotating tines easily break up tough thatch and aerate the soil so your seed can take root.

For a visual guide to dethatching dead spots check out this video from The Lawn Whisperer YouTube channel:

Plant (and fertilize) some seeds

Once you’ve broken up all the thatch, it’s time to plant some seeds. Grass seeds do best when scattered in an even layer across the soil; if you look closely, the area should be about 50% seed and 50% dirt. In the video above, The Lawn Whisperer suggests gently running your cultivator tool over the seeded area to help work them in a bit.

Next, you’ll want to fertilize the seed. You can use any kind of fertilizer that’s indicated for “starter lawns”—these varieties have a high phosphorus content, which encourages root growth. Liquid or granulated fertilizer can both work, but there are pros and cons to each type. The Home Depot website has a helpful guide to lawn fertilizers, and you can find location-specific recommendations through your state university’s extension program.

Keep it watered—and be patient

Grass needs a lot of water to grow, so you’ll have to keep your new seedlings nice and moist—but not drenched. To do this, lawn care company Scotts recommends misting freshly planted seed at least twice a day, then switching to slightly heavier watering once it germinates.

Finally, patience is key. Resist the urge to mow your new grass until it’s at least a couple of inches tall. If you mow too soon, you’ll just rip out the root network you worked so hard to establish. This can take several weeks or even longer, depending on your soil and what kind of grass you’re working with, but it will happen eventually. Just keep at it: With regular watering and a little help from the fertilizer, your grass will grow back.

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How to Fix the Android Bug Blocking Your Phone Calls

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We love to joke that no one uses their smartphone to actually make calls in 2021. And even if that’s kind of true, we obviously need these devices to be able make and take calls. When that functionality is thrown into jeopardy, our phones start to be a lot less reliable and a lot more frustrating. That’s why it’s so concerning that there’s a new bug blocking phone calls on Android devices.

As reported by Bleeping Computer, there now exists a Google app bug that can stop certain Android devices from both placing and receiving phone calls. The bug affects “the latest update to the Google Search app on Android,” according to a Google community manager, who did not confirm which version of the software contains the bug.

Consider this a reminder that while updating your software to the latest version is usually a good idea, you always need to be on the lookout for undiscovered bugs and instabilities. Now here’s how to fix this one.

How to fix the phone call bug on Android

Luckily, the fix exists and it’s pretty simple: Google has issued an update to its self-named app patching the call bug. All you need to do to ensure you can make and receive calls is to install the update. (If you have automatic updates enabled, it’s likely you have already done so.) To check if your app is fully up to date, follow these steps:

1. Open the Play Store, then search for the Google app.
2. If you see an Update button, tap it. If the button says Open, you’re fully updated.

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Which Android phones does this bug affect?

That said, you might not need to sweat this issue much if you own a smartphone made by anyone but LG. Google did not confirm which Android devices were affected by the bug (frustrating, yes), but user complaints largely stem from those with LG phones, including the LG G7, G7 ThinQ, LG V40 ThinQ, and LG Q70. Some users even resorted to uninstalling the Google app altogether to resolve their issues.

Until Google releases an official list of affected smartphones, anecdotal evidence is the best we can work with. And no matter which phone you have, you should update your Google app to ensure all your calls are getting through.

  

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Why We Shout During an Argument (and Why It's Not Effective)

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When we get into arguments with people, such as your on-the-other-side-of-the-political-spectrum uncle, the disrespectful neighbor, or even your messy roommate, it can be all too easy to devolve into a shouting match. However, according to Vanessa Bohns, a professor of organizational behavior at Cornell University, shouting during an argument not only undermines the effectiveness of our message, it also shows a lack of confidence in our ability to influence others.

As Bohns wrote in a recent Wall Street Journal article, “[W]hile we often are overconfident in our beliefs, the tendency to shout—whether over our neighbors, friends, or adversaries—comes from underconfidence in our ability to convince others.”

Bohns, whose book “You Have More Influence Than You Think: How We Underestimate Our Power of Persuasion and Why it Matters” comes out Sept. 7, has spent her career studying how people influence each other. Although many studies have shown that most of us consider ourselves to be better than average when it comes to qualities like creativity, moral character, and athletic ability, this confidence does not extend to how we perceive our social abilities or how other people perceive us.

We underestimate our ability to convince others

Our tendency to underestimate our ability to influence others has been demonstrated in a number of studies over the years. This includes surveys showing that people tend to assume others are less interested in them than they actually are, studies showing that people thought strangers liked them less than what those same strangers reported to the researchers, and study participants overestimating how difficult it would be to get friends and strangers to do a mundane task.

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As Bohns notes, “Together, these two seemingly contradictory, but actually complementary, sets of findings create a perfect storm that leads to shouting.” Since we believe that we are more knowledgeable, more moral, and less susceptible to bias than the average person, this gives us the belief that we should be listened to.

However, we also don’t believe we have the ability to convince others, creating an insecurity that no one is listening to us. As Bohns puts it: “We shout because we don’t think people will listen to us otherwise.”

Shouting during an argument is less effective

As anyone who has found themselves in an argument knows, when it comes to certain topics, it can be hard not to raise your voice. However, as tempting as it is to shout, this can actually backfire. Numerous studies have shown that shouting is a less effective way to persuade others, especially if they’re already disinclined to believe you.

Instead, gentle persuasion tends to be the most effective. This includes tactics such as pointing out the disconnect between what a person thinks and says versus what a person does, or what they recommend for others versus themselves. For example, if someone trusts their doctor when it comes to non-COVID-19-related medical advice but not when they offer COVID-19-related recommendations, that’s a disconnect. So is a person who recommends that their elderly parents follow COVID-19 precautions but doesn’t follow them for themselves.

Another strategy is to ask questions, as a way of getting someone to articulate what their thoughts and views are, which is a way of getting them to engage in the topic, and think it through. You can shout about a subject until you are blue in the face, but if the other person isn’t listening, nothing will change. However, if you can get a person to think and engage about a topic, there’s a chance they’ll work through what they think and why.

So the next time your uncle starts talking about why they think COVID-19 is overblown, try and refrain from raising your voice. It won’t help, it’ll most likely hurt, and you’ll just end the conversation frustrated and upset. Instead, if you think there’s a chance of engaging with them in a productive way, try a softer, gentler approach.

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Should You Pay Off Credit Card Debt With Your 401K?

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Is it a good idea to pay off high-interest credit card debt with money from your 401(k)? Financial experts will almost always say no, but they’ll also concede that there are desperate scenarios in which your retirement fund can alleviate the burden of debt, especially if you can’t pay it off otherwise. Here’s a look at how that works.

Unless you’re over 60 years old, avoid withdrawals from your 401(k)

Try to avoid straight withdrawals from your 401(k), as the penalties are simply not worth it. The sum will be taxed as income, and there’s an additional 10% penalty on that sum. That means a $10,000 withdrawal could leave with something closer to $6,000 after all those deductions. It’s a bad deal.

The exception to this would be making a withdrawal after the age of 59.5 years of age, as the 10% penalty no longer applies. At that age, if you’re working less, the withdrawal would also be at a lower tax rate, like, say, 10%—which could make the withdrawal more palatable, but certainly not ideal, either. (Although, by age 72, withdrawals become mandatory).

One option is to temporarily withhold 401(k) payments

If you’ve been making regular contributions to your 401(k) while also racking up a lot of debt, then another option is to simply withhold those contributions until your high-interest debts are paid off first. The danger here is that it’s easy to cut contributions indefinitely, and that can irreparably jeopardize the retirement savings you’ll need later.

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If you can’t afford to pay off accumulating credit card debt, first consider a hardship program with your lender or a balance transfer, before you make a 401(k) withdrawal.

And if your 401(k) comes with employee matching, try to keep making contributions that total whatever amount or percentage they’re willing to match. You don’t want to lose out on what’s essentially free money, if you can avoid it.

Another option is to take out a 401(k) loan 

Per Investopedia, it’s possible to take a loan from your 401(k) up to 50% of your vested balance, or up to $50,000 (whichever is less). The advantage compared to a personal loan is that 401(k) loans won’t be denied (there are some exceptions), the interest rates are typically more favorable (typically under 5%), and they don’t require a hard credit check, which can temporarily damage your credit score.

The downside is that you have to repay the loan, along with interest, within five years. Plus, if you quit or get fired, you’ll have less time to pay it back—before your next federal income tax is due. Otherwise, if you fail to repay the loan, it’s treated like a withdrawal, and you’ll incur all the taxes and penalties that come with it (for more on that, check out this Lifehacker post).

As you can see, there’s a lot of risk involved in such a move. That’s why you should explore all your debt reduction options first, like hardship relief programs or a debt management plan. For more on your options, check out this Lifehacker post.

Bottom line

If you simply can’t afford to keep up with credit card debt, then there are scenarios in which your 401(k) can be used to pay off that debt. But this is a serious, last-ditch move that’s not usually recommended. Be sure to consult with a financial advisor or credit counsellor before raiding your 401(k) fund, as they can assess your finances and help you determine next steps on paying down your debt.

 

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