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The 2023 year kicked off with a taste of volatility. After starting on a potentially optimistic note, the market is showcasing fluctuations caused by inflation fears, so leveraging data to manage risk remains a priority. Investors have long relied on traditional financial data and market research to make decisions, but as financial markets become increasingly volatile, these sources of information are proving insufficient. Amidst this complexity, AI sentiment analysis is emerging as a tool touted to offer unprecedented insights and potentially redefine traditional investment practices. AI detecting shifts in sentiment could potentially provide investors with a significant edge. But, like all powerful tools, AI sentiment analysis also has limitations. The effectiveness of the technology relies on the quality of the data it examines. False information or 'noise' on social media can skew results. Also, defining and identifying 'sentiment' is a complex task—even for AI software. As we ride the cusp of this revolution, one question arises — Will AI-driven sentiment analysis be the future tool for risk-averse investors? The field is ripe for exploration and development. As technology advances, we will likely see an evolving role for AI sentiment analysis within the financial markets. The Influence of Sentiment Analysis on Investment Choices The current economic hardships are not unprecedented, and there’s a lot we can learn from the previous ones. The 2008 financial crash demonstrated how traditional analytical methods were ill-equipped to foresee future economic upheaval. Back then, conventional analytical tools relied heavily on historical data, financial ratios, and macroeconomic indicators. However, they missed a crucial dimension: the capability to tap into the collective emotional undercurrent of the market. This gap meant decision-makers were caught off guard by the growing negative sentiments that brewed beneath the surface, ultimately leading to the catastrophic collapse. As of 2023, this need to bolster our risk-assessment infrastructure prompted an interest in sentiment analysis – attempting to glean insights from public opinion, as reflected in content across various media. There’s a between investor sentiment and financial market volatility, placing sentiment analysis at the core of investment strategies. Indeed, there is a link between sentiment and market performance, for instance: correlation A common tendency emerges when investor sentiment is categorized according to different topics: it often exhibits a positive correlation with the excess return rate. The Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences proved this. Different topics have varying degrees of impact. Investor sentiment has an on excess returns. asymmetric impact Sentiment analysis's potential to gauge market trends and sentiments can be demonstrated through recent events like the GameStop short squeeze and the cryptocurrency craze that took over Reddit. The surge in GameStop's stock price in early 2021, driven largely by traders organizing themselves on the subreddit r/wallstreetbets, exemplifies how sentiment analysis can reveal market-shifting trends. The popularity of cryptocurrencies also significantly increased on Reddit, noticeably on r/CryptoCurrency and r/bitcoin. These sentiment shifts had real-world implications. During this period, the price of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum experienced a surge, partially due to the heightened investor sentiment displayed on these platforms. The surge in discussions and collective bullish sentiment on Reddit could be analyzed in real-time, revealing a potential market movement before it was reported by mainstream financial news. Investors and data analysts using AI-based sentiment analysis tools were able to observe the rising positive sentiment towards GameStop shares. An AI-powered sentiment analysis tool would’ve detected an increased volume of posts, comments, and positive sentiment around particular cryptocurrencies. By monitoring the sentiment on platforms like Reddit, investors can gain an invaluable window into retail investor sentiment. AI-driven sentiment analysis provides the tools needed to parse through the enormous volume of posts and comments, sorting them for content and analyzing their sentiment, whether positive, neutral, or negative. This empowerment to detect mass sentiment shifts early enough can prove exceedingly beneficial, especially during volatile market conditions. How AI Sentiment Analysis Uses NLP for Revealing Hidden Patterns Sentiment analysis utilizes Natural Language Processing (NLP), text analysis methods, and computational linguistics to detect, extract, and measure subjective information from source materials. Using NLP techniques, sentiment analysis pre-processes texts for analysis by eliminating irrelevant information and breaking the texts down into smaller, manageable tokens. These tokens, then, are classified into sentiments, thereby defining the overall sentiment of the text. The key objective is to discern the underlying sentiment—positive, negative, or neutral—expressed in a series of words. When combined with NLP, AI transforms the way machines comprehend and engage with human language. AI helps NLP algorithms grasp the meaning, context, and sentiment behind complex and unstructured text data. AI sentiment analysis models are capable of comprehending the context and nuances of language. They can pick up on nuances, irony, sarcasm, and other complex aspects of language that could change the entire sentiment behind a statement. Brand mentions, product reviews, online feedback - AI can analyze all these and more to provide valuable insights about public sentiment. Let's take a look at an example: "We stopped off at Cafe X last week. Their coffee was impeccable, but the muffins were rather disappointing." The next stage involves fusing these words into grammatical structures and assigning semantic attributes to these structures. In this situation, "impeccable" delivers a positive sentiment regarding the coffee, while "rather disappointing" imparts a negative sentiment toward the muffins. Each semantic function, including the Participant ("We"), Activity ("stopped off"), Entity ("Cafe X"), Item 1 ("coffee"), Sentiment 1 ("impeccable"), Item 2 ("muffins"), and Sentiment 2 ("rather disappointing"), is pulled out and evaluated. This helps decode what people say about specific products or services, enabling brands and decision-makers to gain enhanced understanding and make strategic decisions. To enhance the accuracy of its output, sentimental analysis models are trained with large datasets, allowing them to better understand and predict sentiments based on the association between words and their sentiments. An essential element in this process is contextual understanding, which helps depict the varying sentiments of words when used in different settings or contexts. Delving into the context of verbal expressions, then, it analyzes the context of those words to determine how they could affect an investor’s strategy in the short term. For example, suppose there are predominantly negative and several positive articles about the same stock. In that case, it might interest long-term investors who want to get in at a lower price before there’s more growth ahead for the stock price. An instance of this, a featured in the Australasian Accounting, Business, and Finance Journal delved into the connection between the tweet activity of Tesla CEO Elon Musk and the fluctuations in Tesla's stock price. The purpose of the research was to determine if Musk's tweets noticeably influenced the stock price of Tesla. Through the use of machine learning with Python and Scikit-Learn, the authors classified Musk's tweets into sentiment categories. Curiously, on April Fool's Day, Elon Musk took to Twitter with a tongue-in-cheek assertion that Tesla had hit financial rocks by going bankrupt. But this seemingly innocuous tweet packed a punch, leading to a substantial 7% dip in Tesla's stock value. research paper Considering Musk's propensity to share opinions and updates about Tesla on Twitter, his tweet activity has the potential to sway market sentiment, both positively and negatively. Therefore, the study's results could provide valuable insights into the power of high-profile individual's influence on market dynamics. However, it may underscore the importance of sentiment analysis for spotting trends in real time and understanding the significance of influential voices in the market. Investors and analysts can leverage these insights to adapt their strategies and seize opportunities arising from shifts in public sentiment, especially in today's world where social media plays a crucial role in shaping opinions and decision-making. Is It Effective? Some experts say AI sentiment analysis works well enough to predict short-term movements in stock prices, but they're skeptical about its long-term accuracy and effectiveness. Others seem more optimistic about its potential benefits, claiming that sentiment analysis can help investors find hidden opportunities in their portfolios. Various resources claim that sentiment scores generated by AI algorithms were only 60-70% accurate at best — meaning they were right just three out of every five times. Misleading information, fake news, and spam distort results, challenging reliable insights. Moreover, human language complexities, including sarcasm and nuanced emotions, can hinder accurate interpretation and need advanced AI models to detect and interpret them. In reality, even while it's not 100% accurate all the time, the insights it brings can still be valuable. Another conducted at Stanford University states that by analyzing Twitter data with sentiment analysis and machine learning, it's possible to predict stock market movements with a 75.56% accuracy using a Self Organizing Fuzzy Neural Network (SOFNN) and formulate a basic portfolio management strategy based on the results. research study Sentiment analysis adds a new layer of intelligence to investment strategies, making them more empathetic and responsive to shifts in the public opinion landscape. Leveraging cutting-edge methodologies such as Big Data analytics, Machine Learning, and Natural Language Processing (NLP), specialists can produce optimized and cost-effective applications suitable for diverse organizational purposes. An example of how impactful sentiment analysis can be is seen in Cognovi Labs' Twitris tool. Twitris could hours before the polls by analyzing real-time sentiment expressed over Twitter. By understanding context, even inclusive of slang, Twitris could detect the underlying sentiment of tweets to predict a significant political event. predict Brexit This example demonstrates the power and potential of machine learning and NLP in analyzing social media chatter and predicting market and socio-political trends. As these technologies evolve, the fintech industry stands to gain even more valuable, real-time insights - ultimately leading to more informed and potentially successful investment decisions. In a nutshell, if you go for AI when managing sentiment analysis, you’re on the right track, provided you combine tech expertise with industry-specific sensitivities and expertise. The importance of this advanced technology extends past the simple interpretation of customer emotions. AI sentiment analysis equips businesses, particularly startups, with a competitive advantage in the ever-evolving market landscape. Whether or not any out-of-the-box solutions emerge in the coming years for particular industries is entirely up to the demand and supply laws, and they will likely be there before 2027.

Will AI Sentiment Analysis Be the Next Online Trading Tool for Risk-averse Investors?

How to Write Clearly: Rules and Exercises on English Composition by Edwin Abbott Abbott, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . CLEARNESS. here CLEARNESS. The following exercises consist of extracts from Burnet, Butler, and Clarendon, modernized and altered with a view to remove obscurity and ambiguity. The modernized version will necessarily be inferior to the original in unity of style, and in some other respects. The charm of the author's individuality, and the pleasant ring of the old-fashioned English, are lost. It is highly necessary that the student should recognize this, and should bear in mind that the sole object is to show how the meaning in each case might have been more expressed. clearly Occasionally expressions have been altered, not as being in themselves obscure or objectionable, but as indicating a habit of which beginners should beware. For example, in the extract from Burnet, is often altered, not because, in the particular context, the pronoun presents any obscurity, but because Burnet's habit of repeating is faulty. he he These exercises can be used in two ways. The pupil may either have his book open and be questioned on the reasons for each alteration, or, after studying the two versions, he may have the original version dictated to him, and then he may reproduce the parallel version, or something like it, on paper. LORD CLARENDON. The principal faults in this style are, long heterogeneous sentences (43), use of phrases for words (47 ), ambiguous use of pronouns (5), excessive separation of words grammatically connected together (19). a ORIGINAL VERSION. PARALLEL VERSION. (44) It will not be impertinent And now, in order to explain, as nor (50) far as possible, how so prodigious , to set down an alteration could take place in in this place the present temper so short a time, and how the[19] and constitution of both Houses royal power could fall so low as of Parliament, and (34) of the to be unable to support itself, court itself, (30) that (5) its dignity, or its faithful may be the less wondered at, that servants, it will be of use to set so prodigious an alteration should down here, where it comes most be made in so short a time, and naturally, some account of the[20] (37) the crown fallen so low, that present temper and composition, it could neither support itself not only of both Houses of nor its own majesty, nor (47 ) . unnatural to this present discourse it those Parliament, but also of the court who would a appear itself. faithful to it * * * * * * * * * * (Here follows a description of the House of Lords.) In the House of Commons were many In the House of Commons persons of wisdom and gravity, who there were many men of wisdom (7) of great and and judgment whose high plentiful fortunes, though they position and great wealth disposed were undevoted enough to the them, in spite of their indifference court, (19) had all imaginable to the court, to feel duty for the king, and affection a most loyal respect for the to the government (47 king, and a great affection for ) or ancient custom; the ancient constitutional (43) and without doubt, the (54) it cannot be doubted that consisted of men who had no mind the majority had no intention to to break the peace of the kingdom, break the peace of the kingdom or to make any considerable or to make any considerable alteration in the government of alteration in Church or State. Church or State: (43) and Consequently, from the very therefore (18) inventions outset, it was necessary to resort were set on (15) to every conceivable device to work upon (5) for the purpose of perverting , and (11) corrupt (5) this honest majority into rebellion. , (43) (45) by suggestions "of the dangers (8) With some, the appeal was threatened all that was precious addressed to their patriotism. to the subject (19) in their They were warned "of the liberty and their property, by dangers that threatened [all (47 ) the law, (47 and property of the subject, ) it to (47_a_) , and by subservient to despotism, and countenancing Popery to the if Popery was to be encouraged subversion of the Protestant to the subversion of the Protestant religion," and then, by religion." infusing terrible apprehensions into some, and so working upon The fears of others were appealed their fears, (6 ) "of (11 ) to. "There was danger," so[21] it being called in question for was said, "that they might be somewhat they had done," by which called to account for something (5) would stand in need of they had done, and they would then (5) protection; and (43) stand in need of the help of those (45) raising the hopes of others, who were now giving them this "that, by (47 ) timely warning." In others, hopes (5) (5) were excited, and offices, should be sure to obtain offices honours, and preferments were held and honours and any kind of out as the reward of adhesion. preferment." Though there were too Too many were led away by one or many corrupted and misled by these other of these temptations, and several temptations, and (19) indeed some needed no other others (40 ) who needed no temptation than their innate other temptations than from the fierceness and barbarity and the fierceness and barbarity (47 ) , and the Church and the court. But the the malice they had contracted leaders of the conspiracy were not against the Church and against the many. The flock was large and court; (43) yet the number was not submissive, but the shepherds were great (47 ) , nor were there many who had the absolute authority (13) to lead, though there were a multitude (13) that was disposed to follow. being possessed established a by law major government of the country. Indeed, part of that body all foot from the beginning them them which overthrowing a or that was precious in] the liberty overmastering and a subjecting an if the laws were to be made arbitrary power b a they their concurring a with them they a of malice they had contracted against their a own natures of those in whom the very few. government of the rest a was vested (44) (30) Mr. Pym was looked upon Of these, Mr. Pym was thought as the man of greatest experience superior to all the rest in in parliaments, parliamentary experience. To this (50) , and (50) , business acquired from his (7) being an officer in the continuous service in the Exchequer, (43) and of a good Exchequer. He had also a good reputation generally, (30) though reputation generally; for, though known to be inclined to the known to be inclined to the Puritan party; yet not of those Puritan party, yet he was not so furious resolutions against the fanatically set against the Church Church as the other leading men as the other leaders. In this were, and (44) wholly devoted to respect he resembled the Earl of the Earl of Bedford, who had Bedford, to whom he was nothing of that spirit. thoroughly devoted. where he had served very long was advantage he added habits of always a man of business (Here follow descriptions of Hampden and Saint John.) It was generally believed that These three persons, with the these three persons, with the three peers mentioned before, were other three lords mentioned united in the closest confidence, before, were of the most intimate and formed the mainspring of the and entire trust with each other, party. Such at least was the and made (47 general belief. But it was clear ) all the rest; (30) that they also admitted to their yet it was visible, that (15) unreserved confidence two others, , were Harry Vane, eldest son of the received by them with full Secretary, and Treasurer of the confidence and without reserve. House. the engine which a moved Nathaniel Fiennes, the second son (45) whom I will now of the Lord Say, and Sir Harry describe,—Nathaniel Fiennes, Vane, eldest son to the Secretary, second son of Lord Say, and Sir and Treasurer of the House The former, being a man of good Nathaniel Fiennes, a man of good parts of learning, and after some parts, was educated at New years spent in New College in College, Oxford, where[22] his Oxford, (43) of which his father family claimed and enjoyed some had been formerly fellow, (43) privileges in virtue of their that family pretending[23] and kindred to the founder, and enjoying many privileges there, as where[22] his father had formerly of kin to the founder, (43) (19) been a fellow. He afterwards spent had spent his time abroad in some time in Geneva and in the Geneva and amongst the cantons of cantons of Switzerland, where[22] Switzerland, (30) where he he increased that natural improved his disinclination to the antipathy to the Church which he Church, with which milk he had had imbibed almost with his been nursed. From his travels he mother's milk.[24] By a singular returned through Scotland (52) coincidence, he came home through (which[24] few travellers took in Scotland (not a very common route their way home) at the time when for returning travellers) just (5) rebellion was in bud: when the Scotch rebellion was in (30) (43) (44) and was very little bud. For some time he was scarcely known, except amongst (5) known beyond the narrow and people, (47 ) exclusive circle of his sect, until until at last he appeared in he was now (15) , (30) (43) (44) when quickly discovered that he was it was quickly discovered that, likely to fulfil even the fond as he was the darling of his hopes of his father and the high father, so (5) was like to promise of many years. make good whatsoever had for many years promised. that that which conversed a wholly amongst themselves, found in Parliament. Then, indeed, it was Parliament he he (5) , Sir H. Vane, was Fiennes' coadjutor, Sir H. Vane, a man of great natural parts[25] was a man of great natural (45) and of very profound ability.[25] Quick in understanding dissimulation, of a quick and impenetrable in dissembling, conception, and of very ready, he could also speak with sharp, and weighty expression. He promptness, point, and weight. His had an (50) unusual aspect, which, singular appearance, though it though it might naturally proceed might naturally proceed from his from his father and mother, parents, who were not noted for neither of which were beautiful their beauty, yet impressed men persons, yet (19) made men think with the belief that he had in him there was somewhat in him of something extraordinary, an extraordinary: and (52) his whole impression that was confirmed by life made good that imagination. the whole of his life. His Within a very short time after he behaviour at Oxford, where he returned from his studies in studied at Magdalen College, was Magdalen College in Oxford, where, not characterized, in spite of the (43) though he was under the care supervision of a very worthy of a very worthy tutor, he lived tutor, by a severe morality. Soon not with great exactness, (43) he after leaving Oxford he spent some spent some little time in France, little time in France, and more in and more in Geneva, and, (43) Geneva. After returning to after his return into England, England, he conceived an intense (38) contracted a full prejudice hatred not only against the and bitterness against the Church, government of the Church, which both against the form of the was disliked by many, but also government and the Liturgy, (43) against the Liturgy, which was which was generally in great held in great and general reverence, (15 ) to (5) . In Incurring or seeming to incur, by his giddiness, which then much his giddiness, the displeasure of displeased, or seemed to his father, who at that time, displease, (30) (43) his father, beside strictly conforming to the who still appeared highly Church himself, was very bitter conformable, and exceedingly sharp against Nonconformists, the young against those who were not, Vane left his home for New (5) transported himself into England. New England, (43) a colony within few years before planted by a This colony had been planted a few mixture of all religions,[26] which years before by men of all sorts of disposed the professors to dislike religions, and their the government of the Church; who differences[26] disposed them to (30) (43) (44) were qualified by dislike the government of the the king's charter to choose their Church. Now, it happened that their own government and governors, privilege (accorded by the king's under the obligation, "that every charter) of choosing their own man should take the oaths of government and governors was allegiance and supremacy;" (30) subject to this obligation, "that (43) (5) all the first every man should take the oaths of planters did, when they received allegiance and supremacy." These their charter, before they oaths had been taken, not only by transported themselves from hence, all the original planters, on nor was there in many years after receiving their charter, before the least scruple amongst them of leaving England, but also for many complying with those obligations: years afterwards, without exciting so far men were, the slightest scruple. Indeed, (15) , from scruples against lawful oaths were refusing to take lawful oaths. unknown[27] in the infancy of the (45) He was no sooner landed English schism. But with the there, but his parts made him arrival of Vane all this was quickly taken notice of, (26) and changed. No sooner had he landed very probably his quality, being than his ability, and perhaps to the eldest son of a some extent his position, as eldest Privy-councillor, might give him son of a Privy-councillor, some advantage; (51) recommended him to notice: and at , when the next season came the next election he was chosen for the election of their Governor. magistrates, he was chosen their governor: (30) (45) (43) in which In his new post, his restless and place he had so ill fortune (26) unquiet imagination found (his working and unquiet fancy opportunity for creating and raising and infusing a thousand diffusing a thousand conscientious scruples of conscience, which (5) scruples that had not been brought had not brought over with over, or ever even heard of, by the them, nor heard of before) (19) colonists. His government proved a that he unsatisfied with failure: and, mutually them and they with him, dissatisfied, (45) governed and he retransported himself governor parted. Vane returned into England; (30) (43) (44) to England, but not till he had having sowed such seed of accomplished his mischievous task, dissension there, as grew up too not till he had sown the seeds of prosperously, and miserably those miserable dissensions which divided the poor colony into afterwards grew only too several factions, and divisions prosperously, till they split the and persecutions of each (15 ) wretched colony into distinct, , (30) (43) which still hostile, and mutually persecuting continue (54) factions. His handiwork still : remains, and it is owing to (15) insomuch as some of (5) , that some of the colonists, upon the ground of their first on the pretext of liberty of expedition, liberty of conscience, conscience, the original cause of have withdrawn themselves from (5) their emigration, have withdrawn jurisdiction, and obtained themselves from the old colonial other charters from the king, by jurisdiction and have obtained which, (30) (43) in other forms of fresh charters from the king. government, they have enlarged These men have established new their plantations, within new forms of government, unduly limits adjacent to (5) (15 ) enlarged their boundaries, and set .their plantations, up rival settlements on the within new limits adjacent to (5) borders of the original colony. (15 ) . The other a even with reverence. many of those who were not friends the other he which in the infancy of their schism insomuch that they a other to the great prejudice of that plantation them him their a the other a the other FOOTNOTES: [19] The original metaphor uses the crown as a prop, which seems a confusion. Though the metaphor is so common as scarcely to be regarded as a metaphor, it is better to avoid the appearance of confusion. [20] We sometimes say, briefly but not perhaps idiomatically, "the sovereign," "the temper," &c. then then [21] The personality of the tempters and organizers of the conspiracy is purposely kept in the background. [22] The relative is retained in the first two cases, because it conveys the Fiennes was educated at New College; and in the third case, because the increased "antipathy" is regarded as the natural of the residence in Calvinistic Geneva. reason why consequence [23] Claiming. [24] An insinuation of sedition seems intended. [25] This sentence is a preliminary summary of what follows. [26] If "which" is used here according to Rule (8), the meaning is, ( ) "and their differences;" if it is used for "that," the meaning will be, ( ) "all religions that were of a nature to dispose &c." I believe ( ) is the meaning; but I have found difference of opinion on the question. a b a [27] The following words appear to be emphatic, bringing out the difference between the and the development of schism. infancy About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Edwin Abbott Abbott (2007). How to Write Clearly: Rules and Exercises on English Composition. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/22600/pg22600.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

Modernized and altered with a view to remove obscurity and ambiguity

A Floating City and The Blockade Runners by Jules Verne, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . Chapter XX here CHAPTER XX. Corsican and I could no longer doubt but that it was Ellen, Fabian’s betrothed, and Harry Drake’s wife. Chance had brought all three together on the same ship. Fabian had not recognized her, although he had cried, “It is she, it is she!” and how was it possible that he could have done so? But he was not mistaken in saying, “A mad woman!” Ellen was mad, undoubtedly; grief, despair, love frozen in her heart, contact with the worthless man who had snatched her from Fabian, ruin, misery, and shame had broken her spirit. It was on this subject that Corsican and I spoke the following morning. We had no doubt as to the identity of the young woman; it was Ellen, whom Harry Drake was dragging with him to the American continent. The Captain’s eyes glowed with a dark fire at the thought of this wretch, and I felt my heart stir within me. What were we against the husband, the master? Nothing. But now, what was most important, was to prevent another meeting between Fabian and Ellen, for Fabian could not fail at last to recognize his betrothed, and thus the catastrophe we wished to avoid would be brought about. At the same time we had reason to hope that these two poor creatures would not see each other again, as the unhappy Ellen never appeared in the daytime, either in the saloons or on the deck. Only at night, perhaps eluding her gaoler, she came out to bathe herself in the damp air, and demand of the wind a smooth passage. In four days, at the latest, the “Great Eastern” must reach New York harbour; therefore we might hope that accident would not dally with our watchfulness, and that Fabian would not discover Ellen during this time; but we made our calculations without thinking of events. The steamer’s course had been slightly altered in the night, three times the ship, being in water twenty-seven degrees Fahrenheit—that is to say, five degrees below zero, had been turned towards the south. There was no longer any doubt of icebergs being very near, for the sky that morning had a peculiarly brilliant aspect; the atmosphere was misty, and the northern sky glittered with an intense reverberation, evidently produced by the powerful reflection from the icebergs. There was a piercing wind, and about ten o’clock the deck was powdered by a slight snow-fall; then dense fog surrounded us, in which we gave warning of our approach, by deafening whistles, which scared away the flocks of sea-gulls in the ship’s yards. At half-past ten, the fog having cleared off, a screw steamer appeared on the horizon, a-starboard, the white tops of her chimneys indicating that she was an emigrant ship, belonging to the Inman Company. Before lunch several of the passengers organized a pool, which could not fail to please those fond of betting and gambling. The result of this pool was not to be known for four days; it was what is called the “pilot’s pool.” When a ship arrives at the land-falls every one knows that a pilot comes on board; so they divide the twenty-four hours of the day and night into forty-eight half-hours, or ninety-six quarters, according to the number of the passengers. Each player stakes one dollar, and draws one of the half or quarter hours: the winner of the forty-eight or ninety-six dollars is the one during whose quarter of an hour the pilot comes on board. From this it may be seen that the game is very simple; it is not a race-course, but a quarter-of-an-hour race. It was a Canadian, the Honourable MacAlpine, who undertook the management of the affair. He easily collected ninety-six players, including several professed gamblers, not the least among those ready for gain. I, following the general example, staked my dollar, and fate allotted me the ninety-fourth quarter; it was a bad number, and one which left me no chance of profit. The fact is, these divisions are reckoned from noon to noon, so that there are night as well as day quarters; and as it is very seldom that ships venture close in in the dark, the chance of a pilot coming on board then is very small. However, I easily consoled myself. Going down into the saloon, I saw a lecture announced. The Utah missionary was going to hold a meeting on Mormonism; a good opportunity for those wishing to initiate themselves in the mysteries of the City of Saints; besides, this Elder, Mr. Hatch, was an orator of no mean power. The execution could not fail to be worthy of the work. The announcement of the conference was received very favourably by the passengers. The observation posted up was as follows:— Lat. 42° 32´ N. Long. 51° 59´ W. Course, 254 miles. About three o’clock in the afternoon the steersman signaled a large four-mast steamer, which slightly changed its course, in order to give the “Great Eastern” its number. It was the “Atlanta,” one of the largest boats running between London and New York, calling at Brest on the way. After having saluted us, which we returned, in a short time she was out of sight. At this moment Dean Pitferge, in a vexed tone, informed me that Mr. Hatch’s lecture was forbidden, as the wives of the puritans on board did not approve of their husbands becoming acquainted with the mysteries of Mormonism. About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Jules Verne (2022). A Floating City and The Blockade Runners. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved October 2022 https://www.gutenberg.org/files/67829/67829-h/67829-h.htm This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

The steamer’s course had been slightly altered in the night

According to the , inflation in the 12 months up to April 2023 was 4.9%. This is a slight decrease on the 2022 annual inflation rate of 6.6%. US Inflation Calculator The impact of is clear to see for shoppers who are adapting purchasing behavior to limit financial challenges. For many, it seems the effects of inflation on consumers are intensifying. inflation The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the Consumer Price Index for April 2023 rose after a 0.1% increase in March. This data shows shoppers have less to spend on essential items due to the impact of inflation and . 0.4% shrinkflation The shock of shrinkflation However, it’s not just rising prices and inflation that are creating stressful shopping conditions for Americans. Reduced product sizes (shrinkflation) are also affecting consumer shopping habits, with shoppers buying items at their normal price but ending up with a smaller product. In fact, the recent inflation and shrinkflation survey found that respondents said shrinkflation is affecting their wallets. 83% of Shoppers are buying what they need but it isn’t going as far as it used to. Survey respondents stated that they are selecting cheaper, larger items to get by. How is inflation affecting consumer choices? In March 2023, PissedConsumer.com surveyed 400 U.S. consumers of different ages, genders, and backgrounds to find out how inflation is influencing their consumer preferences: 94.5% found inflation impacts their shopping habits. 76.5% noticed price gouging on groceries. 94.3% saw an increase in egg prices. 33.6% said Walmart is the cheapest store, 46.3% thought Whole Foods was the most expensive. Consumers notice price increases Shoppers are running into price rises everywhere they look, so it’s a real challenge to maintain standards and buy essential items. Some consumers are leaving online reviews about significant price hikes, such as this Papa Murphys’ shopper: “Today I bought a pizza I've been paying $14 for at $19. This is a $5 or 35% increase in price. I think they are simply trying to take advantage and blame inflation.” Maximizing the power of the reviews website, Walmart shoppers are also leaving about price rises to their favorite products over a short time period: comments “WALMART has increased its prices dramatically on food items. For example, their GREAT VALUE 16 oz. peanuts went from $1.98 to $2.28, now they are $2.44-up over 42%!” Shrinkflation concerns shoppers More and more consumers are recognizing the tell-tale signs of shrinkflation affecting the size and nature of their products. Store shoppers are leaving online reviews to talk about this issue, including this Nabisco customer: “Today I purchased a family sized package of lemon Oreos. When I got home there were noticeable gaps in each of the trays … large enough for 10 cookies!” Another consumer review reports that bottles they bought in The Epoxy Resin Store had been reduced in volume: “There is probably 20 ounces missing in each bottle.” How are consumers coping? Consumers are cutting back on those splash-out items, eating out less, and considering fewer trips. But they are saving for that feel-good splurge to keep them feeling great to maintain their lifestyle as much as possible. Shoppers need to keep their loved ones healthy with groceries and small extras to help in challenging times. Many consumers are trading down, buying bargain brands, and purchasing less to keep their finances in check. One way consumers can stay ahead of the curve is to check online review websites to ensure they can pick up any coupons, money off items and discover stores that are keeping prices in check.

When Prices Rise and Products Shrink: How Inflation Alters Consumer Preferences

PHOENIX, AZ, June 1st, 2023/Chainwire/-- , a pioneering restaurant engagement technology company, is thrilled to announce its strategic partnership with , an innovative force in the gaming industry. The collaboration aims to revolutionize the restaurant and gaming experience by expanding , Devour's web3-enabled guest engagement platform, to the upcoming release of AlterVerse's Sky City gaming Metaverse. Devour AlterVerse DevourGO DevourGO has emerged as a prominent player in token-gating food ordering experiences. It is gaining swift recognition for its innovative approach, which allows users to unlock these experiences by utilizing their digital assets and the native token, DevourPAY ($DPAY), for payments and exclusive rewards on the platform. With this new partnership, DevourGO will extend its offering to include real-world food delivery orders coming from storefronts within AlterVerse’s stunning photorealistic metaverse, Sky City. The integration with AlterVerse will allow DevourGO to unlock a whole new level of immersive restaurant experiences for customers and restaurant brands. The visionary AlterVerse team, backed by notable entities such as Binance Labs, Polygon Ventures, and Gate.io Labs, is actively building a vibrant global community of gaming enthusiasts. With Sky City, built on Unreal Engine 5, AlterVerse offers an extensive range of experiences that go beyond traditional gaming. Users can play countless games and challenges, design their own homes, engage in high stakes competition, and shop at many restaurants and retail shops in the central hub. The metaverse is blockchain-driven allowing users to create, own and sell in-game creations in support of its fun-first gaming mantra. As part of this partnership, Devour will integrate its DevourGO order platform into Sky City, enabling users to seamlessly order food and beverages from participating restaurants within the virtual realm. As the partnership evolves, players will not only receive real-world food, but their avatars will gain valuable increases in their hunger and thirst meters, which players need to maintain in order to progress in the game. Because the Alterverse community is Global, players will be able to seamlessly order from restaurants local to their physical location. "We are thrilled to partner with Alterverse and expand the reach of DevourGO to the exciting world of AlterVerse's Sky City metaverse," said Shelly Rupel, CEO at Devour. "This collaboration represents a significant step forward in enhancing guest engagement for restaurant brands. By combining the immersive experiences of Alterverse with the convenience and efficiency of DevourGO, we are enabling restaurant guests to seamlessly order, dine, and engage in an entirely new way.” As the release of AlterVerse's Sky City approaches, Devour and AlterVerse will work closely to ensure seamless integration of DevourGO with the metaverse. Restaurant brands will have the opportunity to leverage the combined power of Devour's technology and AlterVerse's immersive gaming environment to create unforgettable guest experiences and maximize their reach in the gaming community. About Devour Devour Inc is a next-gen restaurant engagement technology company dedicated to transforming the way restaurants connect with their guests. Their DevourGO platform utilizes web3 technology to provide community-focused delivery and pick-up ordering services for restaurant brands of all sizes, with on-premise ordering, reservations, and more digital guest engagement solutions coming soon. Included in the Devour ecosystem is DevourPAY $DPAY ( ), the native utility token of the platform, and The Industry Pass ( ), offering exclusive perks and benefits to its community members. More information can be found at https://devour.io/devourpay https://devour.io/theindustry https://devour.io About AlterVerse AlterVerse is a pioneering force in the gaming industry, creating a four-phase metaverse intricately built on Unreal Engine 5. Their upcoming Sky City gaming metaverse offers users the ability to play mini-games and adventures, fly a ‘Copter over the shrouded planet, race a Violator around the Sky City track, and monetize their in-game creations within an expansive, interconnected ecosystem. The metaverse is powered by blockchain technology, VR compatible, and provides players with opportunities for both immersive gameplay and financial reward. More information can be found at https://www.alterverse.com Disclaimer: This press release is for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest. Contact CEO Shelly Rupel Devour Inc shelly@devour.io This story was distributed as a release by Chainwire under HackerNoon’s Brand As An Author Program. Learn more about the program . here

Devour & Alterverse Set to Bring the World's First Web3 Food Ordering Marketplace to the Metaverse

Devour & Alterverse está listo para traer el primer mercado de pedidos de alimentos Web3 del mundo al metaverso

Devour & Alterverse s'apprêtent à apporter le premier marché de commande de nourriture Web3 au monde au métaverse

Devour & Alterverse दुनिया के पहले वेब3 फूड ऑर्डरिंग मार्केटप्लेस को मेटावर्स में लाने के लिए तैयार है

Devour & Alterverse が世界初の Web3 食品注文マーケットプレイスをメタバースに導入

Devour & Alterverse devem trazer o primeiro mercado de pedidos de comida Web3 do mundo para o metaverso

Devour & Alterverse được thiết lập để đưa Thị trường đặt hàng thực phẩm Web3 đầu tiên trên thế giới vào Metaverse

Devour & Alterverse 将把世界上第一个 Web3 食品订购市场带到 Metaverse

Venture capital (VC) has played a crucial role in the growth of the digital asset industry over the past two years. According to a by Pitchbook , VC investments in crypto skyrocketed in 2021, reaching $25.1 billion, which is a sevenfold increase compared to  $3.4 billion in 2020. And while 2022 in crypto was not for the faint of heart, crypto VCs still managed to deploy a record high of $26.2 billion. report Across the board, valuations on practically all projects rose significantly during the 2020-2021 bull market, but as the market contracted throughout 2022, VC’s also started to see valuations of investments taking a heavy nosedive. This was of course fuelled by the changes happening in the surrounding macroeconomic picture where a shift in economic and fiscal policy started to greatly influence the economy. And to top things up, the crypto domain suffered greatly in the wake of the industry-specific implosions happening with and . FTX TerraLuna Crypto VC Funding Resilient Amidst 2022's Bear Market Seasoned crypto professionals are well aware that the cyclical bear markets are not something for the faint of heart, and that valuations cut in half or even worse are well within the norm of an ordinary bear market. Regardless, 2022 stands out as one of the toughest years for crypto to stomach since its inception. Nonetheless, the VC market still witnessed some action. Several big players in the industry such as Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and Sequoia Capital launched billion-dollar funds dedicated to Web3, DeFi, NFTs and the metaverse. Many other funds had similar success in their funding rounds. Below is a chart that summarizes some of the biggest crypto VC raises from 2022. Image source: Bitcoin Global Macro But even with so much fresh funding available for venture capitalists, most crypto VCs were caught up in an industry that had been plagued by a deteriorating macro environment and idiosyncratic disappointments within the industry itself. The Venture Capitalists that understand risk were better off However, what’s particularly worth noting is that VCs who were keen on their risk management strategies performed better than those who took asymmetrical bets and ended up with too much exposure in crypto projects that went under. For instance, in the Luna fiasco, one of the leading crypto VCs, Pantera Capital, up to a 100-fold return from their initial investment. The firm initially allocated $1.7 million in Luna and managed to sell 87% of the investment between January 2021 and April 2022, translating to an overall return of $171 million. reported According to Pantera Capital's co-chief investment officer, Joey Krug, the main reason for gradually reducing their exposure was to manage their risk and avoid having "a super large portion of the fund in one position". Another top VC that dodged the Luna bullet is CMCC Global, one of Terra's seed investors in 2018. The company's founder, Martin Baumann, told CNBC that it exited the Luna position two months before the May collapse, mainly because of regulatory concerns and the technicality of the UST stablecoin. “As opposed to asset-backed , which are derivatives of existing USD in circulation, UST was effectively increasing the money supply of USD in existence. We figured, while an interesting concept, regulators would not tolerate tampering with money supply of the USD,” noted Baumann. stablecoins Who Bite the Dust? On the contrary, there are many institutional investors that did not follow risk management procedures as stringent as the aforementioned, and as expected, they did not weather the storm equally well. The most obvious examples are of course Alameda Research and Three Arrows Capital (both leading crypto hedge funds at the last cycle high). 3AC was among the first companies to be affected by Luna’s collapse. The now insolvent fund had invested $200 million in Luna tokens in February 2022, all of which became worthless when Luna collapsed in May. We now know that the now-defunct Alameda Research was probably caught in the rain at about the same time. Multicoin Capital, a prominent name in the crypto VC space, was also caught off guard in the market chaos witnessed last year. While Multicoin Capital successfully dodged Luna’s implosion, it took a heavy hit from FTX’s collapse in November 2022. According to a copy of Multicoin's yearly investor letter, the firm a 91.4% impairment loss, mainly from its exposure in FTX-related tokens such as , and SRM. incurred FTT SOL It should be obvious to any observer of these markets that as prosperous as the waters may be, as deadly can they become once the tide turns, and it is likely that those who care most about managing risks are the ones who persevere on the long haul. Crypto VC fund directions in 2023 As expected, crypto VCs have become more selective following the events that rocked the industry last year. However, activity has slowly been picking up, with February $872 million in VC investments, a 54% increase from January’s $574 million. recording But more interesting are the developing investment themes; to Coindesk, Pantera’s Capital, Joey Krug, noted that the firm is particularly interested in the growth DeFi, especially following the rise of Layer-2 chains that have improved usability, reduced transaction costs and have the potential to attract more liquidity. speaking We also spoke with Benjamin Hovarth, a partner at Blockchain Founders Fund, which recently $75 million to support potential Web3 startups in the pre-seed and seed stages. raised Hovarth observed that it is reasonable to anticipate more solutions that operate within regulatory acceptance, such as KYC/AMLA tools, permissioned blockchains, and centralized exchanges. “There has been a renewed interest in decentralized stablecoins, currency mixers, privacy enablers, and DEXs. We expect this trend to continue moving forward and be one of the primary catalysts for the next bull run” Hovarth added. Crypto VCs in 2023 seem to be focused on investing in areas that had already shown significant potential prior to the recent market downturn. This trend is reflected in the Q1 2023 VC by Galaxy Research, which indicates that trading, exchange, investing, and lending crypto startups received the most funding, accounting for 22% of all money raised, followed by wallet infrastructure, which received 21% of all funding. report Image source: Galaxy Research At the same time, startups developing in the Web3, NFT, DAO, Metaverse, and Gaming space recorded the highest number of deals. This suggests that while investors may prioritize more established segments in terms of funding, they are also continuing to explore and support emerging trends and technologies in the crypto space. Overall, these trends indicate that despite market turbulence, the crypto industry continues to evolve and attract significant interest and investment from venture capitalists. Also published here.

Exploring the Risk-Averse Shift in Crypto Venture Capital During the Bear Market

On March 10, we witnessed an event that nearly pushed crypto to the brink of collapse. , founded in 1983 with over $200 billion in assets, went under after depositors scrambled to withdraw funds. This was a classic case of mismanagement and incompetence, but how does this affect the crypto industry? Silicon Valley Bank Circle, the company behind the second-largest stablecoin, had over $3 billion worth of USDC reserves in SVB, and this news caused the token to briefly lose its peg. At one point it was selling for $0.88 – 12% under its expected value. Before going into how you can keep your portfolio safe, it’s crucial to understand what stablecoins are, how they work, and what causes them to lose their peg. What are Stablecoins and How do they work? Stablecoins are tokens pegged to a real-world currency. For every USD-pegged token issued by Circle, , or any other stablecoin provider, a real dollar is kept in its reserves. As of now, no stablecoin provider publishes audits of their reserves. Instead, these companies put out ‘Proof of Reserves’ statements, which are about as reliable as saying, “trust me bro.” Tether Banks infamously do not want to work with these stablecoin providers, so when three of the only banks partnered with crypto companies (SVB, Signature, and Silvergate) crashed, liquidity in crypto markets temporarily dried up. The blockchain community has since raised concerns about relying on centralized banking infrastructure to run its decentralized finance operations, but the most popular cryptocurrency by trading volume to date remains a tokenized form of the US dollar. But this isn’t the only form of stableecoin. What are algorithmic stablecoins? Instead of being backed by fiat money, these stablecoins are backed by other cryptocurrencies. Most algorithmic stablecoins fail. These aren’t reliable investments if you’re looking to keep your money in crypto without having to deal with the market’s wild swings. When the cryptocurrencies backing the stablecoin fall in value, the algorithmic stablecoin is supposed to adjust its reserve ratios to maintain price stability. All of these mechanisms are managed automatically by smart contracts. Unfortunately, these mechanisms fail more often than not. Stablecoins are often hailed as the solution to crypto volatility – a way to keep your money in crypto without having to worry about all the wild price swings. But if stablecoins aren’t stable anymore, how do you keep your crypto-assets safe? Don’t overlook DAI is a decentralized stablecoin that’s backed by cryptocurrencies like ETH and Wrapped Bitcoin. The difference between DAI and other algorithmic stablecoins is that it’s over-collateralized, meaning you have to deposit around $1.70 worth of ETH to mint 1 DAI. If the value of ETH falls, you either deposit more ETH, or risk being liquidated (i.e. the locked-up ETH is sold to ensure the protocol doesn’t lose money). DAI What some don’t realize is that this only applies to minting DAI. People mint DAI for a variety of reasons, but you can buy DAI directly from an exchange for exactly $1. DAI remained stable through the Luna/UST crash, and is the longest-running decentralized stablecoin to date, having launched nearly six years ago in 2017. The problem is, nearly 50% of DAI’s collateral reserves are in USDC. If something were to happen to USDC (as it did on March 10), this stablecoin would technically be at risk. Luckily, the 12% drop in USDC’s peg wasn’t enough to topple this DeFi behemoth. However, if algorithmic stablecoins sound a tad too risky for you, there is another option. Long-term stability, short-term risk Another popular option is to move your assets into Bitcoin, which is widely considered a store of value, though it is far more volatile than any of the stablecoins we’ve mentioned here. If you’re looking for a long-term solution, and don’t mind bearing the short-term price swings, Bitcoin is probably your safest bet. You could also swap into Monero, a privacy-focused digital asset that’s maintained its value at around $150 since last June. Though it’s not stable by any measure, XMR’s primary use-case is payments, meaning it doesn’t fluctuate as wildly as some other tokens out there. However, with the laws surrounding privacy coins being quite strict, you may run into trouble getting your hands on some. Get out or get rekt If the risk of holding crypto assets seems too high, you only have one option left: liquidate. Sell your tokens for . Make sure to look into your local tax laws before doing this, because it can get pretty complicated. For instance, Germany doesn’t require you to pay capital gains taxes on crypto assets held for longer than a year, but if your assets are staked, you have to hold them for ten years to avoid paying taxes. fiat currency A lot of people who lost money during the UST crash would have killed for the opportunity to pay tax on their crypto if it meant getting back at least some of it. If risk is something you can’t handle, this is your only option. Crypto is an incredibly risky market, and it’s important to remember this when organizing your portfolio. In an age where scams comprise a large portion of the digital asset market, make sure to verify everything a project claims before parting with your funds. Remember: not your keys, not your crypto. Make sure to store your assets safely in a cold storage wallet, and write down your seed phrase somewhere secure. The VCs have failed us (3 Arrows Capital), the exchanges have failed us (FTX), and now the stablecoins are failing us too. As a risk-averse investor, it’s time to get a grip or get rekt. Your move! Lead image generated with stable diffusion Prompt: Illustrate a basket filled with stablecoins

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