PreVeil

preveil

Feature image was generated with Midjourney Diffusion with the prompt “A python prevails, digital fantasy art”. About Data Science Data science is where statistics, programming, and communication intersect. A data scientist asks a question and uses data to answer that question through mechanisms of various complexity. They have the knowledge and toolkit to know which tests and methods to apply to each data type. And they have the ability to extract answers from data and relay those answers in a general everyday form of communication. Data can range from simple to wildly complex. It can be “clean” and it can be “messy”. Sometimes we have a question, but we don’t have the data. A data scientist and/or analyst must conform messy data into clean data by using specialized tools. They can also develop ‘ ’ programs that are designed to go and fetch data if they don’t have what they need to answer their question. Once the data is obtained and is in usable form, it is pushed into statistical tests and models via programs and tools such as Python, RStudio, etc. But which tools are the best? scraping Readers of HackerNoon HackerNoon’s (10/4/2023 to 16/4/2023) were used to assess where our readers fall on this topic. The HackerNoon community was asked what their workhorse data science tool is, given some of the most popular options and 374 people responded. The results can be seen in the image below: weekly polls Over 50% of HackerNoon readers, which are largely from the technology community, chose Python as their go-to data science tool. This isn’t all that surprising. is open-source which makes it accessible to all 🙂🙃🙂🙃🙂🙃🙂🙃🙂🙃🙂🙃 [ ] Python 18% selected as their top choice data science tool. [ ] Excel was only selected by 9% of poll respondents**.** [ ] Power BI Also an open-source tool, only took 9% of the votes. [ ] RStudio Finally, only 5% chose as their go-to tool for data science [ ] Tableau Tools Why are there so many tools to choose from? has been gaining in complexity over time, so naturally the choice of tools has been as well. There are so many streams of data science that each individual must decide for themselves which tool is right for them. And realistically, you’ll use multiple tools in tandem. This field Let’s see some highlights of each tool from the poll. Of course, there are more tools not discussed here 😆 Excel ❌ Open-source. ✅ Is user-friendly in the Microsoft way! ❌ Is not advanced enough for complex data science projects. ✅ Generates stylish charts and graphs that can be easily exported. We’re all familiar with Excel. Sure, it’s great for everyday tasks like data manipulation, cleaning, and visualizations, but it doesn’t cut it for more advanced projects. You can get crafty with creating dashboards and reports, and you can even set up specialized APIs within Excel. Rstudio ✅ Open-source. ❌ Has a significant learning curve. ✅ Can generate tidy and customizable graphs, tables, and outputs. ❌ Can be limited in some of the more advanced machine learning tools. ✅ Specialized for statistical based problems. A versatile open-source program that’s excellent for data analytics and data science is , which is now going by the shiny new name . RStudio Posit ** \ Similar to Python, the versatility of the R programming language is vast, allowing data scientists to perform complex tasks using multiple approaches. Libraries and packages are constantly being developed to take on specialized tasks which programmers can take advantage of. And if they don’t have the package you’re looking for, ! “Our mission is to create open-source software for data science, scientific research, and technical communication. We do this to enhance the production and consumption of knowledge by everyone, regardless of economic means.” -- Posit develop one yourself You can with one another. Look into this if you’re working on a collaborative project with R and Python programmers. use R and Python in tandem Power BI ❌ Open-source. ✅ Creates beautiful reports. ❌ Can appear to be easy to use, but has hidden complexity. ✅ Great for data wrangling and manipulation. ❌ Limited abilities for complex data science projects. ✅ Can scrape data from various sources. Power BI really shines as a rather than a workhorse tool for data science. It holds the capacity to perform specialized data manipulations through tailored coded operations such as regular expressions, etc. But chances are, if you’re working on a complex data science project, you would use Power BI in the end stage of the project as more of a presentation tool. data visualization and reports tool Python ✅ Open-source. ❌ Has a significant learning curve. ✅ Can create tidy graphs, tables, and outputs. ✅ Has numerous data science libraries like TensorFlow, Scikit-learn, NumPy, Pandas, PyTorch, etc. ✅ Is a multi-purpose programming language making your learning efforts reach further. is an object oriented, multi-purpose programming language. It’s known for being an easy to learn and versatile programming language. Because of its versatility, there’s a massive community of programmers, thus the educational resources are never ending. There are a plethora of that are ready to use. Python data science libraries To work with Python, you’ll want to learn how to set up a and you’ll likely want to choose a computing platform such as to perform your work in. virtual environment Jupyter Notebook Tableau ❌ open-source. ✅ Creates beautiful dashboards. ❌ Limited data pre-processing abilities such as cleaning and wrangling. ✅ Great for data analytics. ❌ Limited abilities for complex data science projects. ✅ Reports and dashboards are easily shareable with others. is an excellent data analytics and visualization software that is often used in larger teams due to its cost. It can create beautiful and intuitive presentation style dashboards which can highlight various aspects of your data. It is certainly not a workhorse tool however, as it is more specialized in the reporting stages and not the beginning and middle stages of a data project. Tableau Final Thoughts Our poll showed that Python rose to the top of the given choices for data science tools. Given its versatility, both in and out of the data science field, this was no surprise. Python is touted as an easy to learn programming language. Let’s be honest, if you’re a complete beginner to computer coding, it won’t be “ ” at first, but with practice, it will eventually become second nature to you. easy Please share your thoughts in the comments and keep an eye out for other to participate. HackerNoon Polls

Python Prevails: 57% Choose Python As Their Go-to Data Science Tool

পাইথন প্রাধান্য পায়: 57% পাইথনকে তাদের গো-টু ডেটা সায়েন্স টুল হিসেবে বেছে নেয়

Python setzt sich durch: 57 % wählen Python als ihr bevorzugtes Data-Science-Tool

Python prevalece: el 57% elige Python como su herramienta de ciencia de datos de referencia

Python l'emporte : 57 % choisissent Python comme outil de science des données incontournable

पायथन प्रबल: 57% पायथन को उनके गो-टू डेटा साइंस टूल के रूप में चुनें

Python の優位性: 57% が頼りになるデータ サイエンス ツールとして Python を選択

Python의 보급률: 57%가 Python을 데이터 과학 도구로 선택

Python prevalece: 57% escolhem Python como sua ferramenta de ciência de dados preferida

Python Hakim: %57'si Tercih Edecek Veri Bilimi Aracı Olarak Python'u Seçiyor

Python chiếm ưu thế: 57% chọn Python làm công cụ khoa học dữ liệu tiếp theo của họ

Python 盛行：57% 选择 Python 作为他们的首选数据科学工具

Prevail in the formation of dreams

Love and Mr. Lewisham by H. G. Wells, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book here . THE CAREER PREVAILS CHAPTER VIII. — THE CAREER PREVAILS. There is an interval of two years and a half and the story resumes with a much maturer Mr. Lewisham, indeed no longer a youth, but a man, a legal man, at any rate, of one-and-twenty years. Its scene is no longer little Whortley embedded among its trees, ruddy banks, parks and common land, but the grey spaciousness of West London. And it does not resume with Ethel at all. For that promised second letter never reached him, and though he spent many an afternoon during his first few months in London wandering about Clapham, that arid waste of people, the meeting that he longed for never came. Until at last, after the manner of youth, so gloriously recuperative in body, heart, and soul, he began to forget. The quest of a “crib” had ended in the unexpected fruition of Dunkerley’s blue paper. The green-blue certificates had, it seemed, a value beyond mural decoration, and when Lewisham was already despairing of any employment for the rest of his life, came a marvellous blue document from the Education Department promising inconceivable things. He was to go to London and be paid a guinea a week for listening to lectures—lectures beyond his most ambitious dreams! Among the names that swam before his eyes was Huxley—Huxley and then Lockyer! What a chance to get! Is it any wonder that for three memorable years the Career prevailed with him? You figure him on his way to the Normal School of Science at the opening of his third year of study there. (They call the place the Royal College of Science in these latter days.) He carried in his right hand a shiny black bag, well stuffed with text-books, notes, and apparatus for the forthcoming session; and in his left was a book that the bag had no place for, a book with gilt edges, and its binding very carefully protected by a brown paper cover. The lapse of time had asserted itself upon his upper lip in an inaggressive but indisputable moustache, in an added inch or so of stature, and in his less conscious carriage. For he no longer felt that universal attention he believed in at eighteen; it was beginning to dawn on him indeed that quite a number of people were entirely indifferent to the fact of his existence. But if less conscious, his carriage was decidedly more confident—as of one with whom the world goes well. His costume was—with one exception—a tempered black,—mourning put to hard uses and “cutting up rusty.” The mourning was for his mother, who had died more than a year before the date when this story resumes, and had left him property that capitalized at nearly a hundred pounds, a sum which Lewisham hoarded jealously in the Savings Bank, paying only for such essentials as university fees, and the books and instruments his brilliant career as a student demanded. For he was having a brilliant career, after all, in spite of the Whortley check, licking up paper certificates indeed like a devouring flame. (Surveying him, Madam, your eye would inevitably have fallen to his collar—curiously shiny, a surface like wet gum. Although it has practically nothing to do with this story, I must, I know, dispose of that before I go on, or you will be inattentive. London has its mysteries, but this strange gloss on his linen! “Cheap laundresses always make your things blue,” protests the lady. “It ought to have been blue-stained, generously frayed, and loose about the button, fretting his neck. But this gloss ...” You would have looked nearer, and finally you would have touched—a charnel-house surface, dank and cool! You see, Madam, the collar was a patent waterproof one. One of those you wash over night with a tooth-brush, and hang on the back of your chair to dry, and there you have it next morning rejuvenesced. It was the only collar he had in the world, it saved threepence a week at least, and that, to a South Kensington “science teacher in training,” living on the guinea a week allowed by a parental but parsimonious government, is a sum to consider. It had come to Lewisham as a great discovery. He had seen it first in a shop window full of indiarubber goods, and it lay at the bottom of a glass bowl in which goldfish drifted discontentedly to and fro. And he told himself that he rather liked that gloss.) But the wearing of a bright red tie would have been unexpected—a bright red tie after the fashion of a South-Western railway guard’s! The rest of him by no means dandiacal, even the vanity of glasses long since abandoned. You would have reflected.... Where had you seen a crowd—red ties abundant and in some way significant? The truth has to be told. Mr. Lewisham had become a Socialist! That red tie was indeed but one outward and visible sign of much inward and spiritual development. Lewisham, in spite of the demands of a studious career, had read his Butler’s Analogy through by this time, and some other books; he had argued, had had doubts, and called upon God for “Faith” in the silence of the night—“Faith” to be delivered immediately if Mr. Lewisham’s patronage was valued, and which nevertheless was not so delivered.... And his conception of his destiny in this world was no longer an avenue of examinations to a remote Bar and political eminence “in the Liberal interest (D.V.).” He had begun to realise certain aspects of our social order that Whortley did not demonstrate, begun to feel something of the dull stress deepening to absolute wretchedness and pain, which is the colour of so much human life in modern London. One vivid contrast hung in his mind symbolical. On the one hand were the coalies of the Westbourne Park yards, on strike and gaunt and hungry, children begging in the black slush, and starving loungers outside a soup kitchen; and on the other, Westbourne Grove, two streets further, a blazing array of crowded shops, a stirring traffic of cabs and carriages, and such a spate of spending that a tired student in leaky boots and graceless clothes hurrying home was continually impeded in the whirl of skirts and parcels and sweetly pretty womanliness. No doubt the tired student’s own inglorious sensations pointed the moral. But that was only one of a perpetually recurring series of vivid approximations. Lewisham had a strong persuasion, an instinct it may be, that human beings should not be happy while others near them were wretched, and this gay glitter of prosperity had touched him with a sense of crime. He still believed people were responsible for their own lives; in those days he had still to gauge the possibilities of moral stupidity in himself and his fellow-men. He happened upon “Progress and Poverty” just then, and some casual numbers of the “Commonweal,” and it was only too easy to accept the theory of cunning plotting capitalists and landowners, and faultless, righteous, martyr workers. He became a Socialist forthwith. The necessity to do something at once to manifest the new faith that was in him was naturally urgent. So he went out and (historical moment) bought that red tie! “Blood colour, please,” said Lewisham meekly to the young lady at the counter. “What colour?” said the young lady at the counter, sharply. “A bright scarlet, please,” said Lewisham, blushing. And he spent the best part of the evening and much of his temper in finding out how to tie this into a neat bow. It was a plunge into novel handicraft—for previously he had been accustomed to made-up ties. So it was that Lewisham proclaimed the Social Revolution. The first time that symbol went abroad a string of stalwart policemen were walking in single file along the Brompton Road. In the opposite direction marched Lewisham. He began to hum. He passed the policemen with a significant eye and humming the Marseillaise.... But that was months ago, and by this time the red tie was a thing of use and wont. He turned out of the Exhibition Road through a gateway of wrought iron, and entered the hall of the Normal School. The hall was crowded with students carrying books, bags, and boxes of instruments, students standing and chattering, students reading the framed and glazed notices of the Debating Society, students buying note-books, pencils, rubber, or drawing pins from the privileged stationer. There was a strong representation of new hands, the paying students, youths and young men in black coats and silk hats or tweed suits, the scholar contingent, youngsters of Lewisham’s class, raw, shabby, discordant, grotesquely ill-dressed and awe-stricken; one Lewisham noticed with a sailor’s peaked cap gold-decorated, and one with mittens and very genteel grey kid gloves; and Grummett the perennial Official of the Books was busy among them. “Der Zozalist!” said a wit. Lewisham pretended not to hear and blushed vividly. He often wished he did not blush quite so much, seeing he was a man of one-and-twenty. He looked studiously away from the Debating Society notice-board, whereon “G.E. Lewisham on Socialism” was announced for the next Friday, and struggled through the hall to where the Book awaited his signature. Presently he was hailed by name, and then again. He could not get to the Book for a minute or so, because of the hand-shaking and clumsy friendly jests of his fellow-“men.” He was pointed out to a raw hand, by the raw hand’s experienced fellow-townsman, as “that beast Lewisham—awful swat. He was second last year on the year’s work. Frightful mugger. But all these swats have a touch of the beastly prig. Exams—Debating Society—more Exams. Don’t seem to have ever heard of being alive. Never goes near a Music Hall from one year’s end to the other.” Lewisham heard a shrill whistle, made a run for the lift and caught it just on the point of departure. The lift was unlit and full of black shadows; only the sapper who conducted it was distinct. As Lewisham peered doubtfully at the dim faces near him, a girl’s voice addressed him by name. “Is that you, Miss Heydinger?” he answered. “I didn’t see, I hope you have had a pleasant vacation.” 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. H. G. Wells (2006). Love and Mr. Lewisham. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved October 2022, from https://www.gutenberg.org/files/11640/11640-h/11640-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 www.gutenberg.org, located at https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

THE CAREER PREVAILS

Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in from cyberspace. The cybersecurity industry is pulling off a magic trick that would make Houdini proud: simultaneously inflating consultant rates and flooding the market with wide-eyed newbies. A paradox wrapped in an enigma, served with a side of irony. You’d think this would be cause for celebration but hold your horses. This little circus act might just be setting us up for a spectacular face-plant, reminiscent of the outsourcing fiasco that keeps IT veterans up at night. So, let’s peel back the curtain on this digital drama and see if we can’t spot the sleight of hand before it’s too late. The cybersecurity community once prided itself on a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose. However, this spirit has been eroded by a race to the bottom in terms of pricing and perceived value. By offering free or extremely low-cost training and services, the industry inadvertently sends a message that these skills and efforts have little intrinsic worth. The rise of influencer culture in cybersecurity The devaluation of cybersecurity expertise is further exacerbated by the rise of the “influencer culture” within the industry. In recent years, there’s been a surge of individuals focusing on building their personal brand and becoming influencers in the cybersecurity space. While some of these voices provide valuable insights, the field has become saturated with people eager to share their thoughts, regardless of their actual expertise or experience. This proliferation of self-proclaimed experts has led to an overwhelming amount of noise in the cybersecurity information landscape (See Alyssa Miller‘s article on “Infosec Rockstars vs Influencers”). Social media platforms and online forums are awash with advice, tips, and “training” of varying quality. Unfortunately, quantity often drowns out quality, making it difficult for learners to discern valuable information from mere speculation or oversimplified explanations. The abundance of free or low-cost content creates a false perception that high-quality cybersecurity education should be easily accessible and inexpensive. As a result, reputable training providers like SANS Institute, CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency), and Cybrary, which offer comprehensive, vetted, and up-to-date courses, are often perceived as prohibitively expensive. The reality is that developing and maintaining high-quality, current cybersecurity training requires significant resources and expertise. However, many aspiring cybersecurity professionals, faced with course fees running into thousands of dollars, opt for the more affordable or free alternatives. This choice, while understandable from a financial perspective, often leads to gaps in knowledge and skills that can have serious consequences in real-world cybersecurity scenarios. This trend creates a vicious cycle. As more people turn to free or cheap resources, there’s less financial support for high-quality training programs. This could potentially lead to a decline in the overall quality of cybersecurity education, just when the need for skilled professionals is at its highest. Moreover, the focus on personal branding and influencer status can divert attention from the core mission of cybersecurity: protecting systems, data, and people. When the goal becomes amassing followers rather than developing deep expertise, the industry as a whole suffers. Outsourcing Boomerang: History’s Tech Lesson Ignored The situation eerily echoes a famous quote from the reimagined Battlestar Galactica series: “All of this has happened before. All of this will happen again.” Indeed, we’ve seen similar patterns play out in other tech sectors, most notably in the outsourcing boom of the early 2000s. During that period, many American companies rushed to outsource software development to countries like India, attracted by significantly lower labor costs. While this strategy seemed economically sound in the short term, it had far-reaching consequences for the U.S. tech industry – read this research article “Impact of Offshore Outsourcing of IT Services on the US Economy” by Kalyan Chakraborty and William Remington for more detail: Job Offshoring: A substantial number of U.S. service industry jobs, particularly in IT, were moved abroad. By 2015, it was estimated that 3.4 million U.S. service industry jobs would be offshored. This shift was driven by the cost savings associated with outsourcing, which allowed companies to lower software and service prices, increase productivity, and invest in new technologies and business ideas. By offshoring entry-level positions, American companies inadvertently created a gap in their domestic talent pipeline. Fresh graduates found it increasingly difficult to gain the necessary experience to progress in their careers. Fast forward 15 years, and the U.S. now faces a shortage of experienced senior developers and technical managers – professionals who would have cut their teeth on those entry-level jobs a decade and a half ago. Ironically, the outsourcing tide is now turning against early adopters like India. As companies seek ever-cheaper labor sources or turn to automation, Indian tech workers find themselves facing the same challenges that their American counterparts did years ago. The parallels to the current state of cybersecurity are clear and concerning. By undervaluing the human element in cybersecurity – whether through free training, rock-bottom service pricing, or over-reliance on AI – we risk creating a similar talent gap in this critical field. The cybersecurity industry must learn from these historical lessons. While innovation and cost-efficiency are important, they shouldn’t come at the expense of nurturing human talent and expertise. The complex, ever-evolving nature of cyber threats requires a workforce that is not only skilled but also continually developing and adapting. As we move forward, it’s crucial to strike a balance between leveraging new technologies and valuing human expertise. Only by recognizing and appropriately compensating the skills and efforts of cybersecurity professionals can we ensure a robust, effective defense against future digital threats. The cyclical nature of these industry trends serves as a reminder that short-term gains often lead to long-term challenges. As we navigate the future of cybersecurity, let’s strive to break this cycle and build a sustainable model that values both innovation and human expertise. Summary The cybersecurity industry faces a critical challenge: the devaluation of expertise and services, fueled by free but often subpar training and an oversaturated information landscape. This trend, reminiscent of past outsourcing mistakes, threatens to undermine the field’s effectiveness against evolving digital threats. To safeguard the future of cybersecurity, stakeholders must: Recognize the true value of expert knowledge and quality training Critically evaluate information sources and invest in reputable education Prioritize building a skilled workforce over personal brand promotion By addressing these key issues, the industry can maintain its integrity, improve its talent pool, and enhance its capacity to protect our digital infrastructure in an increasingly complex threat landscape. Credits I’d like to acknowledge an ongoing discussion between the founders of ThreatGEN and myself about how free training and low costs services are destroying cybersecurity. Clint Bodungen, Aaron Shbeeb, and Matthew Anderson have felt this firsthand. Jeff Whitney and Gary Leibowitz as board members are helping to combat this prevailing “free mentality “. I’d also like to acknowledge my best friend Patrick Anderson who is experiencing this from another perspective – the IT outsourcing process and implementation. Patrick and I along with Eddie Tipton were partners in Systems Evolution Incorporated in the early years 1999 through 2003, and we were part of onshore outsourcing with the likes of EDS, Accenture, and other large consulting firms. Later in the evolution of Systems Evolution (at that point, a publicly traded company), we acquired Duration Software, which was the largest custom software developer for the state of Texas. Chris Montgomery, Rich Steinle, Frank Prevatt, and Scott Friesen among others understand the later stages of outsourcing as we were competing with the offshore wave. Lastly, I disclose that I used Anthropic’s Claude to polish my thoughts as well as Perplexity’s search engine for references that underscore my thoughts. Here is a link to the original article on LinkedIn. Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in from cyberspace. The cybersecurity industry is pulling off a magic trick that would make Houdini proud: simultaneously inflating consultant rates and flooding the market with wide-eyed newbies. A paradox wrapped in an enigma, served with a side of irony. You’d think this would be cause for celebration but hold your horses. This little circus act might just be setting us up for a spectacular face-plant, reminiscent of the outsourcing fiasco that keeps IT veterans up at night. So, let’s peel back the curtain on this digital drama and see if we can’t spot the sleight of hand before it’s too late. The cybersecurity community once prided itself on a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose. However, this spirit has been eroded by a race to the bottom in terms of pricing and perceived value. By offering free or extremely low-cost training and services, the industry inadvertently sends a message that these skills and efforts have little intrinsic worth. The rise of influencer culture in cybersecurity The devaluation of cybersecurity expertise is further exacerbated by the rise of the “ influencer culture ” within the industry. In recent years, there’s been a surge of individuals focusing on building their personal brand and becoming influencers in the cybersecurity space. While some of these voices provide valuable insights, the field has become saturated with people eager to share their thoughts, regardless of their actual expertise or experience. influencer culture This proliferation of self-proclaimed experts has led to an overwhelming amount of noise in the cybersecurity information landscape (See Alyssa Miller ‘s article on “Infosec Rockstars vs Influencers”) . Social media platforms and online forums are awash with advice, tips, and “training” of varying quality. Unfortunately, quantity often drowns out quality, making it difficult for learners to discern valuable information from mere speculation or oversimplified explanations. Alyssa Miller “Infosec Rockstars vs Influencers”) The abundance of free or low-cost content creates a false perception that high-quality cybersecurity education should be easily accessible and inexpensive. As a result, reputable training providers like SANS Institute , CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency), and Cybrary , which offer comprehensive, vetted, and up-to-date courses, are often perceived as prohibitively expensive. SANS Institute CISA Cybrary The reality is that developing and maintaining high-quality, current cybersecurity training requires significant resources and expertise. However, many aspiring cybersecurity professionals, faced with course fees running into thousands of dollars, opt for the more affordable or free alternatives. This choice, while understandable from a financial perspective, often leads to gaps in knowledge and skills that can have serious consequences in real-world cybersecurity scenarios. This trend creates a vicious cycle. As more people turn to free or cheap resources, there’s less financial support for high-quality training programs. This could potentially lead to a decline in the overall quality of cybersecurity education, just when the need for skilled professionals is at its highest. Moreover, the focus on personal branding and influencer status can divert attention from the core mission of cybersecurity: protecting systems, data, and people. When the goal becomes amassing followers rather than developing deep expertise, the industry as a whole suffers. Outsourcing Boomerang: History’s Tech Lesson Ignored The situation eerily echoes a famous quote from the reimagined Battlestar Galactica series: “ All of this has happened before. All of this will happen again. ” Indeed, we’ve seen similar patterns play out in other tech sectors, most notably in the outsourcing boom of the early 2000s. All of this has happened before. All of this will happen again. During that period, many American companies rushed to outsource software development to countries like India, attracted by significantly lower labor costs. While this strategy seemed economically sound in the short term, it had far-reaching consequences for the U.S. tech industry – read this research article “ Impact of Offshore Outsourcing of IT Services on the US Economy ” by Kalyan Chakraborty and William Remington for more detail: Impact of Offshore Outsourcing of IT Services on the US Economy Job Offshoring: A substantial number of U.S. service industry jobs, particularly in IT, were moved abroad. By 2015, it was estimated that 3.4 million U.S. service industry jobs would be offshored. This shift was driven by the cost savings associated with outsourcing, which allowed companies to lower software and service prices, increase productivity, and invest in new technologies and business ideas. Job Offshoring: A substantial number of U.S. service industry jobs, particularly in IT, were moved abroad. By 2015, it was estimated that 3.4 million U.S. service industry jobs would be offshored. This shift was driven by the cost savings associated with outsourcing, which allowed companies to lower software and service prices, increase productivity, and invest in new technologies and business ideas. By offshoring entry-level positions, American companies inadvertently created a gap in their domestic talent pipeline. Fresh graduates found it increasingly difficult to gain the necessary experience to progress in their careers. Fast forward 15 years, and the U.S. now faces a shortage of experienced senior developers and technical managers – professionals who would have cut their teeth on those entry-level jobs a decade and a half ago. Ironically, the outsourcing tide is now turning against early adopters like India. As companies seek ever-cheaper labor sources or turn to automation, Indian tech workers find themselves facing the same challenges that their American counterparts did years ago. The parallels to the current state of cybersecurity are clear and concerning. By undervaluing the human element in cybersecurity – whether through free training, rock-bottom service pricing, or over-reliance on AI – we risk creating a similar talent gap in this critical field. The cybersecurity industry must learn from these historical lessons. While innovation and cost-efficiency are important, they shouldn’t come at the expense of nurturing human talent and expertise. The complex, ever-evolving nature of cyber threats requires a workforce that is not only skilled but also continually developing and adapting. As we move forward, it’s crucial to strike a balance between leveraging new technologies and valuing human expertise. Only by recognizing and appropriately compensating the skills and efforts of cybersecurity professionals can we ensure a robust, effective defense against future digital threats. The cyclical nature of these industry trends serves as a reminder that short-term gains often lead to long-term challenges. As we navigate the future of cybersecurity, let’s strive to break this cycle and build a sustainable model that values both innovation and human expertise. Summary The cybersecurity industry faces a critical challenge: the devaluation of expertise and services, fueled by free but often subpar training and an oversaturated information landscape. This trend, reminiscent of past outsourcing mistakes, threatens to undermine the field’s effectiveness against evolving digital threats. To safeguard the future of cybersecurity, stakeholders must: Recognize the true value of expert knowledge and quality training Recognize the true value of expert knowledge and quality training Critically evaluate information sources and invest in reputable education Critically evaluate information sources and invest in reputable education Prioritize building a skilled workforce over personal brand promotion Prioritize building a skilled workforce over personal brand promotion By addressing these key issues, the industry can maintain its integrity, improve its talent pool, and enhance its capacity to protect our digital infrastructure in an increasingly complex threat landscape. Credits I’d like to acknowledge an ongoing discussion between the founders of ThreatGEN and myself about how free training and low costs services are destroying cybersecurity. Clint Bodungen , Aaron Shbeeb , and Matthew Anderson have felt this firsthand. Jeff Whitney and Gary Leibowitz as board members are helping to combat this prevailing “ free mentality “. ThreatGEN Clint Bodungen Aaron Shbeeb Matthew Anderson Jeff Whitney Gary Leibowitz free mentality I’d also like to acknowledge my best friend Patrick Anderson who is experiencing this from another perspective – the IT outsourcing process and implementation. Patrick and I along with Eddie Tipton were partners in Systems Evolution Incorporated in the early years 1999 through 2003, and we were part of onshore outsourcing with the likes of EDS, Accenture , and other large consulting firms. Later in the evolution of Systems Evolution (at that point, a publicly traded company), we acquired Duration Software, which was the largest custom software developer for the state of Texas. Chris Montgomery , Rich Steinle , Frank Prevatt , and Scott Friesen among others understand the later stages of outsourcing as we were competing with the offshore wave. Patrick Anderson Accenture Chris Montgomery Rich Steinle Frank Prevatt Scott Friesen Lastly, I disclose that I used Anthropic’s Claude to polish my thoughts as well as Perplexity’s search engine for references that underscore my thoughts. Claude references Here is a link to the original article on LinkedIn. link

The Cybersecurity Paradox: Why Free Costs Too Much

সাইবারসিকিউরিটি প্যারাডক্স: কেন বিনামূল্যের খরচ অনেক বেশি

Das Cybersecurity-Paradox: Warum kostenlos zu viel kostet

La paradoja de la ciberseguridad: por qué lo gratuito cuesta demasiado

Le paradoxe de la cybersécurité : pourquoi la gratuité coûte trop cher

साइबर सुरक्षा विरोधाभास: क्यों मुफ़्त बहुत महंगा है

サイバーセキュリティのパラドックス: 無料にはコストがかかりすぎる理由

사이버 보안 역설: 무료가 너무 비싼 이유

O paradoxo da segurança cibernética: por que o gratuito custa muito caro

Парадокс кибербезопасности: почему бесплатное стоит слишком дорого

Siber Güvenlik Paradoksu: Ücretsiz Olan Neden Çok Pahalıdır?

Nghịch lý an ninh mạng: Tại sao miễn phí lại tốn kém quá nhiều

网络安全悖论：免费为何代价太大

My name is Marina, and I've been designing for over a decade. Three years ago, I entered the gaming industry and have been working in it since. Before this, I knew virtually nothing about games and their specific design needs. How surprised I was when I got an inside look! And I haven't stopped being surprised to this day. It turns out that, in most cases, communication design in the gaming industry lags far behind other fields. By communication design, I mean identity, websites, and any micro media like banners, newsletters, and covers. In this article, I explore why the leaders of the CG world remain on the margins of communication design. What areas of design suck in GameDev (TLDR: all of them)? As I mentioned, all communication design suffers. In this breakdown, I focused on what users and players encounter most often - websites. First, I'll provide concrete evidence by showing examples of poor design. I'll critique a few well-known publishers, developers, and recent games. Then, I'll speculate from my experience as to why this deplorable design persists. Even the world giants don't try! Of course, you might think of incredibly stylish sites related to Game Development and say, "Marina, you are treacherously deceiving us!" Yes, there are stylish projects, and I like them a lot, but they are few! By the way, I included some chic projects as examples at the end of the article. But let's look at the global industry as a whole. Even the giants don't really care about the visual quality of their media. I will analyse examples from Rockstar, EA, and CD Projekt Red, highlighting what is good and what is bad in their designs. EA One of the first companies in the industry, EA is among the top 5 game companies in America and Europe in terms of revenue and market capitalisation. It's a very solid company. Now look at the website. It doesn't look solid at all. Such layouts were popular in 2010: a header on half of the first screen and then a tile of pictures. Earlier it was cool because it was clean and minimalistic, but now even website constructors offer more interesting options. Rockstar Rockstar is an American video game company, recognised as an industry leader thanks to hits like GTA, Red Dead Redemption, and Max Payne. Rockstar is renowned for its meticulously crafted game worlds. But the website is the direct opposite of the games. I want to shout, "Guys, be rock stars! You have colossal resources and the greatest games!" On the website, we see the same layout: a big header and tiles underneath it. But there's an interesting nuance. The header isn't just an image; it's a slider. And the slider has a crooked grid: the picture on the left side doesn't match the end of the picture in the grid. The column on the right side is virtually empty and meaningless: the space is practically unused, and because of the colour, it merges with the background of the rest of the page. CD Projekt Red A Polish studio known primarily for The Witcher and Cyberpunk. They managed to get Keanu Reeves into their game but couldn't make a really cool website for themselves. Unlike the examples above, instead of an inarticulate header, they have a spectacular full-front screen video. Almost everyone in the industry is fine with CG: really talented people are doing art, motion, and concepts. But you have to scroll down, and what do we see? Tiles from 2010. Again! Conclusion on the biggest companies As we can see, even the giants aren't trying. This is bad for the industry as a whole because they set the style and direction for smaller studios. Imagine yourself as a studio looking at a huge, powerful company that sells this kind of visual media design. You think, "Well, since they're selling it, then we shouldn't bother either." Like the rock star, so is the music. What about design for smaller companies? Okay, we've realised that global companies are way behind. But big, complex projects are often slow and clunky. So let's look at those who are quicker - medium and small studios. What do they have in terms of design? In 80% of cases, it's the same as the leaders - dull layouts and tiles. Below, I'll just attach examples. Why is it bad with GameDev? I've been wondering why the sphere is so blatantly stagnant while others are actively developing. Projects in e-commerce or IT are wildly experimenting with meanings, techniques, forms, and layouts, while the game industry is stuck in 2014 when it comes to website development. Although it would seem that game sites are a better place to introduce new things: the audience is loyal and interactive by default. It's a whole field for experimentation! But no, blocks and standard narratives. It's a shame about the missed opportunities. I've highlighted two bold reasons for the stagnation: Publishers don't like to take risks and waste money. They don't want to touch something that works and consistently makes good money.
GameDev is rolling along on familiar rails. The industry is used to making high-quality, beautiful, very professional, and attractive key arts and using them to sell the product. Unfortunately, what's often overlooked is that design is also an excellent tool for selling and forming the brand's image. Especially if it's not only about the picture but also about the idea. It makes me sad to watch the industry from both a player's and a specialist's point of view. But I believe that good will prevail and we will see a market filled with cool products! In the meantime, I'm going to go through Disco Elysium for the third time. While I play and weep, as promised, here are examples of very cool projects worthy of all design respect. Design in GameDev that doesn’t suck Kepler A little-known publisher but with well-known projects: the studio that nailed Sifu is developing under them. Take a look at their addictive and enjoyable site. It has a super stylish design, lots of micro-animations, and interactivity. The layout is in the best traditions of festival projects. All in all, it's something to strive for in terms of visuals! AXOLOT A small studio based in Stockholm. Everything about this site is beautiful! Look at the preloader - precision animation, strong graphics, calibrated to the pixel! My inner graphic designer is in awe! The detail, the micro typography, the crazy interactive flying 3D—there's style in this. There's power to the brand—it makes you want to linger on the site to scrutinize every pixel for an interesting passphrase or solution. I give it 10 awwwards out of 10! A studio from Sweden has not shamed the great and mighty Swiss design. Belka Games Belarusians who could do it! Although they make mobile games, they do it with style! The site immediately makes it clear that there will be no serious shooters or huge open worlds here. The site is honest, beautiful, and simple, and that's what pays off. Special kudos for the custom typography and cool illustrations! My name is Marina, and I've been designing for over a decade. Three years ago, I entered the gaming industry and have been working in it since. Before this, I knew virtually nothing about games and their specific design needs. How surprised I was when I got an inside look! And I haven't stopped being surprised to this day. My name is Marina, and I've been designing for over a decade. Three years ago, I entered the gaming industry and have been working in it since. Before this, I knew virtually nothing about games and their specific design needs. How surprised I was when I got an inside look! And I haven't stopped being surprised to this day. It turns out that, in most cases, communication design in the gaming industry lags far behind other fields. By communication design, I mean identity, websites, and any micro media like banners, newsletters, and covers. In this article, I explore why the leaders of the CG world remain on the margins of communication design. What areas of design suck in GameDev (TLDR: all of them)? What areas of design suck in GameDev (TLDR: all of them)? As I mentioned, all communication design suffers. In this breakdown, I focused on what users and players encounter most often - websites. First, I'll provide concrete evidence by showing examples of poor design. I'll critique a few well-known publishers, developers, and recent games. Then, I'll speculate from my experience as to why this deplorable design persists. Even the world giants don't try! Even the world giants don't try! Of course, you might think of incredibly stylish sites related to Game Development and say, "Marina, you are treacherously deceiving us!" Yes, there are stylish projects, and I like them a lot, but they are few! By the way, I included some chic projects as examples at the end of the article. But let's look at the global industry as a whole. Even the giants don't really care about the visual quality of their media. I will analyse examples from Rockstar, EA, and CD Projekt Red, highlighting what is good and what is bad in their designs. EA EA One of the first companies in the industry, EA is among the top 5 game companies in America and Europe in terms of revenue and market capitalisation. One of the first companies in the industry, EA is among the top 5 game companies in America and Europe in terms of revenue and market capitalisation. It's a very solid company. Now look at the website. It doesn't look solid at all. Such layouts were popular in 2010: a header on half of the first screen and then a tile of pictures. Earlier it was cool because it was clean and minimalistic, but now even website constructors offer more interesting options. Rockstar Rockstar Rockstar is an American video game company, recognised as an industry leader thanks to hits like GTA, Red Dead Redemption, and Max Payne. Rockstar is an American video game company, recognised as an industry leader thanks to hits like GTA, Red Dead Redemption, and Max Payne. Rockstar is renowned for its meticulously crafted game worlds. But the website is the direct opposite of the games. I want to shout, "Guys, be rock stars! You have colossal resources and the greatest games!" Rockstar is renowned for its meticulously crafted game worlds. But the website is the direct opposite of the games. I want to shout, "Guys, be rock stars! You have colossal resources and the greatest games!" On the website, we see the same layout: a big header and tiles underneath it. But there's an interesting nuance. The header isn't just an image; it's a slider. And the slider has a crooked grid: the picture on the left side doesn't match the end of the picture in the grid. The column on the right side is virtually empty and meaningless: the space is practically unused, and because of the colour, it merges with the background of the rest of the page. CD Projekt Red CD Projekt Red A Polish studio known primarily for The Witcher and Cyberpunk. They managed to get Keanu Reeves into their game but couldn't make a really cool website for themselves. A Polish studio known primarily for The Witcher and Cyberpunk. They managed to get Keanu Reeves into their game but couldn't make a really cool website for themselves. Unlike the examples above, instead of an inarticulate header, they have a spectacular full-front screen video. Almost everyone in the industry is fine with CG: really talented people are doing art, motion, and concepts. But you have to scroll down, and what do we see? Tiles from 2010. Again! Conclusion on the biggest companies Conclusion on the biggest companies As we can see, even the giants aren't trying. This is bad for the industry as a whole because they set the style and direction for smaller studios. Imagine yourself as a studio looking at a huge, powerful company that sells this kind of visual media design. You think, "Well, since they're selling it, then we shouldn't bother either." Like the rock star, so is the music. What about design for smaller companies? What about design for smaller companies? Okay, we've realised that global companies are way behind. But big, complex projects are often slow and clunky. So let's look at those who are quicker - medium and small studios. What do they have in terms of design? In 80% of cases, it's the same as the leaders - dull layouts and tiles. Below, I'll just attach examples. Why is it bad with GameDev? Why is it bad with GameDev? I've been wondering why the sphere is so blatantly stagnant while others are actively developing. Projects in e-commerce or IT are wildly experimenting with meanings, techniques, forms, and layouts, while the game industry is stuck in 2014 when it comes to website development. Although it would seem that game sites are a better place to introduce new things: the audience is loyal and interactive by default. It's a whole field for experimentation! But no, blocks and standard narratives. It's a shame about the missed opportunities. I've highlighted two bold reasons for the stagnation: I've highlighted two bold reasons for the stagnation: Publishers don't like to take risks and waste money. They don't want to touch something that works and consistently makes good money. GameDev is rolling along on familiar rails. The industry is used to making high-quality, beautiful, very professional, and attractive key arts and using them to sell the product. Unfortunately, what's often overlooked is that design is also an excellent tool for selling and forming the brand's image. Especially if it's not only about the picture but also about the idea. Publishers don't like to take risks and waste money. They don't want to touch something that works and consistently makes good money. GameDev is rolling along on familiar rails. The industry is used to making high-quality, beautiful, very professional, and attractive key arts and using them to sell the product. Unfortunately, what's often overlooked is that design is also an excellent tool for selling and forming the brand's image. Especially if it's not only about the picture but also about the idea. It makes me sad to watch the industry from both a player's and a specialist's point of view. But I believe that good will prevail and we will see a market filled with cool products! In the meantime, I'm going to go through Disco Elysium for the third time. While I play and weep, as promised, here are examples of very cool projects worthy of all design respect. Design in GameDev that doesn’t suck Design in GameDev that doesn’t suck Kepler Kepler A little-known publisher but with well-known projects: the studio that nailed Sifu is developing under them. Take a look at their addictive and enjoyable site. It has a super stylish design, lots of micro-animations, and interactivity. The layout is in the best traditions of festival projects. All in all, it's something to strive for in terms of visuals! AXOLOT AXOLOT A small studio based in Stockholm. Everything about this site is beautiful! Look at the preloader - precision animation, strong graphics, calibrated to the pixel! My inner graphic designer is in awe! The detail, the micro typography, the crazy interactive flying 3D—there's style in this. There's power to the brand—it makes you want to linger on the site to scrutinize every pixel for an interesting passphrase or solution. I give it 10 awwwards out of 10! A studio from Sweden has not shamed the great and mighty Swiss design. Belka Games Belka Games Belarusians who could do it! Although they make mobile games, they do it with style! The site immediately makes it clear that there will be no serious shooters or huge open worlds here. The site is honest, beautiful, and simple, and that's what pays off. Special kudos for the custom typography and cool illustrations!

Everything Wrong With Web Design in GameDev

GameDev এ ওয়েব ডিজাইনের সাথে সবকিছু ভুল

Alles, was beim Webdesign in der Spieleentwicklung schiefläuft

Todo lo que está mal en el diseño web en GameDev

Tout ce qui ne va pas avec la conception Web dans le développement de jeux

गेमडेव में वेब डिज़ाइन के साथ सब कुछ गलत है

ゲーム開発におけるウェブデザインの問題点

GameDev에서 웹 디자인의 모든 문제

Tudo de errado com web design em GameDev

Все, что не так с веб-дизайном в GameDev

GameDev'de Web Tasarımında Yanlış Olan Her Şey

Mọi thứ sai với thiết kế web trong GameDev

GameDev 中网页设计的所有错误

Before the pandemic, I was engaged in organizing a bunch of large-scale festivals across the marketing and communications industries. I led a very active lifestyle with a major event to be arranged every season. The shift to a remote job in tech introduced a much more sedentary way of life, and the adaptation period was quite challenging. With many things turning digital, mental activity soon prevailed over physical, leaving me feeling disoriented. My stamina was decreasing, and I began experiencing stress and anxiety. That was when I discovered the concept of the “mind-body connection,” which highlights the wholesome balance we all need to maintain for our well-being. For me, the disconnection stemmed from a dramatic reduction in daily physical movement. Generally speaking, this is a common problem in today’s hectic world, where overwhelming schedules often divert us from mindfulness and alienate us from our bodily sensations. If this sounds familiar, read on for why a harmonious mind-body relationship is even more significant than you think, along with a set of effective practices that helped me restore and sustain mine. What is the Mind-Body Connection? The mind-body connection refers to the intricate relationship between our mental and emotional states and physical health. A wealth of scientific studies demonstrates that this link is deeply embedded in our brains. The body’s biology and chemistry influence our state of mind, while our emotions and thoughts impact the physiological processes. For example, when you exercise, you not only improve blood circulation and train your muscles, but you also stimulate the brain to produce feel-good chemicals called endorphins, which elevate your mood. At the same time, emotions are experienced physically. In a stressful or frightening situation, the mind signals the body to prepare by activating the fight-or-flight response, leading to an accelerated heart rate, rapid breathing, and a surge of adrenaline. Moreover, mental factors such as worries or unprocessed negative emotions can manifest as psychosomatic disorders, showing how profoundly intertwined our psychological and physical well-being truly are. How to Strengthen the Mind-Body Connection? There are numerous beneficial lifestyle habits that support a healthy relationship between the mind and body and can be seamlessly integrated into your daily routine without requiring a complete schedule overhaul. Taking active breaks from sedentary work, practicing mindful eating, unplugging from digital devices, maintaining good posture, connecting with nature, journaling, and communicating with loved ones can all help you become more attuned to your body’s sensations, thoughts, and emotions. If you’d like to delve deeper, I’ll share eight dedicated activities, practices, and auxiliary tools that can promote a stronger mind-body connection. These methods taught me to center and appreciate the momentary experiences and helped me develop a consistent approach with immediate and long-term results. Body Scan Meditation Besides offering general benefits of meditation like mindfulness and stress relief, the body scan practice provides a direct way to check in with your body and recognize where you might be holding discomfort or tension. During a session, you walk through your body and mentally scan it from head to toe, paying attention to the sensations and emotions that appear. Such mindful status checks encourage you to be more present in your body and deepen your self-awareness. If you’re new to meditation, I recommend trying Calm. It helped me structure my efforts when I was starting out, offering plenty of guided meditation sessions to pursue various needs, including body scanning. Breathwork Breathwork involves purposely controlling your breathing patterns to influence your physical, mental, and emotional states. Think of it as a bridge between your conscious and unconscious mind and notice how deep breathing feels compared to shallow breathing—the first makes you feel serene yet alert. Studies confirm that controlled breathing aids emotional regulation and improves physical stamina. To practice on your own, sit up straight, close your eyes, take a deep breath that expands your diaphragm, exhale slowly, and repeat as many times as needed. If you prefer guided exercises or want to explore different techniques, check meditation platforms like Calm or Headspace. From my experience, diaphragmatic and alternate nostril breathing techniques make a great start. Yoga Yoga needs no introduction. This ancient mindfulness practice is an ultimate mind-body connector, uniting controlled breathing, meditation, and precise physical movements. Beyond lengthening and strengthening your muscles and improving your balance and range of motion, yoga promotes relaxation. It has a proven track record of calming the mind and reconnecting it with physical sensations in the body. I used to underestimate yoga, being more inclined towards active sports, until I discovered how amazing it feels to unwind and become more grounded through each asana. Asana Rebel has been instrumental in helping me build a customized yoga program combining low-pace and dynamic flows. I also used StretchIt to mix up my routine with stretches from gymnastics, bodyweight training, and Pilates. Joy Snacking Joy snacking means finding the sources for little bursts of joy in daily life and savoring positive emotional responses and pleasant bodily sensations they bring. Joyous experiences immediately stimulate the brain to produce the “feel-good” chemicals associated with mood improvement, increased happiness, and reduced stress and anxiety. I perceive it as a mindful practice that helps me recognize the meaningfulness of small moments of bliss and appreciate the positive changes they spark in my mind and body. These can be as simple as exchanging a joke text with a friend, petting a puppy, eating a piece of chocolate, moving to a favorite song, contemplating the rainbow, taking a warm scented bath, smelling cherry tree blossoms, or browsing pics from past adventures. Continuous Learning Engaging in cognitive processes increases neural plasticity, the brain’s ability to develop new neural connections, reorganize, and alter functional and structural changes. Giving yourself a mental workout through learning enhances brain fitness and boosts your zest for life. Curiosity and variety are fundamental principles. I read many books during the pandemic, but now I pursue my learning goals by consuming smaller portions of content at a time. I’ve recently discovered the Pearls app, which provides fifteen-minute book summaries, enabling me to fit new titles into my busy days. I can quickly delve into new insights when I need to regroup my brain or listen to audio versions when doing routine tasks or running errands. Trying new physical activities as part of learning is also a win-win. Regularly switching between different types of sports reinforces motor skills and increases your body’s adaptability and versatility. Besides, it almost guarantees an elevated mood, energy boost, and positive emotions. I’ve found dancing to be one of the most effective ways to align the body and mind. Performing a dance sequence, you sync your body movements to the brain’s perception of the beat, enhanced by emotional expression. I’ve tried various styles, from hip-hop to contemporary to salsa with Steezy, and I genuinely enjoyed the experience and the outcomes. Visualization Meditation Visualization meditation involves creating a mental image or scenario to transport you from your busy day-to-day life to a place of inner peace. The aim is to make the visualization as vivid as possible by engaging all your senses—not just seeing the picture but also feeling, hearing, smelling, and even tasting it. Fully immersing yourself in this mental scene, such as a sunset ocean beach or a magnificent mountaintop, can stimulate actual relaxation responses in the body, demonstrating the mind-body connection in evidence. Another, more passive form of this practice is guided imagery meditation, in which you are talked through envisioning a tranquil location or situation and encouraged to appeal to your senses. You’ll find both types in Headspace or Calm, so you can choose either based on your preference. Sleep Tracking A good night’s rest is vital to health and longevity and a crucial cornerstone for maintaining a robust mind-body connection. Sleep deprivation can lead to imbalances in primary bodily and brain functions, weaken the immune system, and cause anxiety and depression. Tracking your sleep patterns will help you identify possible issues and make adjustments to improve the quality of your sleep. I recommend trying the Sleep Cycle app. It uses sound analysis to recognize your sleep states through your movements in bed and gently wakes you up in the lightest sleep phase. Tai Chi While I haven’t tried it yet, I look forward to exploring Tai Chi. It’s a traditional Chinese practice that aims to simultaneously develop the mind and body. It combines mental focus, breathing, and slow, rhythmic movements to spur a unique sense of awareness. Practitioners say that Tai Chi drives the mind into a state of relaxed concentration while improving muscle strength, balance, and flexibility, promising to promote a vigorous mind-body connection. Regular engagement in these practices has greatly supported my journey toward a more balanced and harmonious state of being. Spoiler alert: they will also positively impact other areas of your life! However, while these exercises can offer instant results, consistency is critical to bringing about lasting and sustainable changes. Before the pandemic, I was engaged in organizing a bunch of large-scale festivals across the marketing and communications industries. I led a very active lifestyle with a major event to be arranged every season. The shift to a remote job in tech introduced a much more sedentary way of life, and the adaptation period was quite challenging. With many things turning digital, mental activity soon prevailed over physical, leaving me feeling disoriented. My stamina was decreasing, and I began experiencing stress and anxiety. That was when I discovered the concept of the “ mind-body connection ,” which highlights the wholesome balance we all need to maintain for our well-being. For me, the disconnection stemmed from a dramatic reduction in daily physical movement. Generally speaking, this is a common problem in today’s hectic world, where overwhelming schedules often divert us from mindfulness and alienate us from our bodily sensations. mind-body connection mind-body connection If this sounds familiar, read on for why a harmonious mind-body relationship is even more significant than you think, along with a set of effective practices that helped me restore and sustain mine. What is the Mind-Body Connection? The mind-body connection refers to the intricate relationship between our mental and emotional states and physical health. A wealth of scientific studies demonstrates that this link is deeply embedded in our brains. The body’s biology and chemistry influence our state of mind, while our emotions and thoughts impact the physiological processes. For example, when you exercise, you not only improve blood circulation and train your muscles, but you also stimulate the brain to produce feel-good chemicals called endorphins, which elevate your mood. At the same time, emotions are experienced physically. In a stressful or frightening situation, the mind signals the body to prepare by activating the fight-or-flight response, leading to an accelerated heart rate, rapid breathing, and a surge of adrenaline. Moreover, mental factors such as worries or unprocessed negative emotions can manifest as psychosomatic disorders, showing how profoundly intertwined our psychological and physical well-being truly are. How to Strengthen the Mind-Body Connection? There are numerous beneficial lifestyle habits that support a healthy relationship between the mind and body and can be seamlessly integrated into your daily routine without requiring a complete schedule overhaul. Taking active breaks from sedentary work, practicing mindful eating, unplugging from digital devices, maintaining good posture, connecting with nature, journaling, and communicating with loved ones can all help you become more attuned to your body’s sensations, thoughts, and emotions. If you’d like to delve deeper, I’ll share eight dedicated activities, practices, and auxiliary tools that can promote a stronger mind-body connection. These methods taught me to center and appreciate the momentary experiences and helped me develop a consistent approach with immediate and long-term results. Body Scan Meditation Body Scan Meditation Besides offering general benefits of meditation like mindfulness and stress relief, the body scan practice provides a direct way to check in with your body and recognize where you might be holding discomfort or tension. During a session, you walk through your body and mentally scan it from head to toe, paying attention to the sensations and emotions that appear. Such mindful status checks encourage you to be more present in your body and deepen your self-awareness. If you’re new to meditation, I recommend trying Calm. It helped me structure my efforts when I was starting out, offering plenty of guided meditation sessions to pursue various needs, including body scanning. Breathwork Breathwork involves purposely controlling your breathing patterns to influence your physical, mental, and emotional states. Think of it as a bridge between your conscious and unconscious mind and notice how deep breathing feels compared to shallow breathing—the first makes you feel serene yet alert. Studies confirm that controlled breathing aids emotional regulation and improves physical stamina. To practice on your own, sit up straight, close your eyes, take a deep breath that expands your diaphragm, exhale slowly, and repeat as many times as needed. If you prefer guided exercises or want to explore different techniques, check meditation platforms like Calm or Headspace. From my experience, diaphragmatic and alternate nostril breathing techniques make a great start. Yoga Yoga needs no introduction. This ancient mindfulness practice is an ultimate mind-body connector, uniting controlled breathing, meditation, and precise physical movements. Beyond lengthening and strengthening your muscles and improving your balance and range of motion, yoga promotes relaxation. It has a proven track record of calming the mind and reconnecting it with physical sensations in the body. I used to underestimate yoga, being more inclined towards active sports, until I discovered how amazing it feels to unwind and become more grounded through each asana. Asana Rebel has been instrumental in helping me build a customized yoga program combining low-pace and dynamic flows. I also used StretchIt to mix up my routine with stretches from gymnastics, bodyweight training, and Pilates. Joy Snacking Joy snacking means finding the sources for little bursts of joy in daily life and savoring positive emotional responses and pleasant bodily sensations they bring. Joyous experiences immediately stimulate the brain to produce the “feel-good” chemicals associated with mood improvement, increased happiness, and reduced stress and anxiety. I perceive it as a mindful practice that helps me recognize the meaningfulness of small moments of bliss and appreciate the positive changes they spark in my mind and body. These can be as simple as exchanging a joke text with a friend, petting a puppy, eating a piece of chocolate, moving to a favorite song, contemplating the rainbow, taking a warm scented bath, smelling cherry tree blossoms, or browsing pics from past adventures. Continuous Learning Engaging in cognitive processes increases neural plasticity, the brain’s ability to develop new neural connections, reorganize, and alter functional and structural changes. Giving yourself a mental workout through learning enhances brain fitness and boosts your zest for life. Curiosity and variety are fundamental principles. I read many books during the pandemic, but now I pursue my learning goals by consuming smaller portions of content at a time. I’ve recently discovered the Pearls app, which provides fifteen-minute book summaries, enabling me to fit new titles into my busy days. I can quickly delve into new insights when I need to regroup my brain or listen to audio versions when doing routine tasks or running errands. Trying new physical activities as part of learning is also a win-win. Regularly switching between different types of sports reinforces motor skills and increases your body’s adaptability and versatility. Besides, it almost guarantees an elevated mood, energy boost, and positive emotions. I’ve found dancing to be one of the most effective ways to align the body and mind. Performing a dance sequence, you sync your body movements to the brain’s perception of the beat, enhanced by emotional expression. I’ve tried various styles, from hip-hop to contemporary to salsa with Steezy, and I genuinely enjoyed the experience and the outcomes. Visualization Meditation Visualization meditation involves creating a mental image or scenario to transport you from your busy day-to-day life to a place of inner peace. The aim is to make the visualization as vivid as possible by engaging all your senses—not just seeing the picture but also feeling, hearing, smelling, and even tasting it. Fully immersing yourself in this mental scene, such as a sunset ocean beach or a magnificent mountaintop, can stimulate actual relaxation responses in the body, demonstrating the mind-body connection in evidence. Another, more passive form of this practice is guided imagery meditation, in which you are talked through envisioning a tranquil location or situation and encouraged to appeal to your senses. You’ll find both types in Headspace or Calm, so you can choose either based on your preference. Sleep Tracking A good night’s rest is vital to health and longevity and a crucial cornerstone for maintaining a robust mind-body connection. Sleep deprivation can lead to imbalances in primary bodily and brain functions, weaken the immune system, and cause anxiety and depression. Tracking your sleep patterns will help you identify possible issues and make adjustments to improve the quality of your sleep. I recommend trying the Sleep Cycle app. It uses sound analysis to recognize your sleep states through your movements in bed and gently wakes you up in the lightest sleep phase. Tai Chi While I haven’t tried it yet, I look forward to exploring Tai Chi. It’s a traditional Chinese practice that aims to simultaneously develop the mind and body. It combines mental focus, breathing, and slow, rhythmic movements to spur a unique sense of awareness. Practitioners say that Tai Chi drives the mind into a state of relaxed concentration while improving muscle strength, balance, and flexibility, promising to promote a vigorous mind-body connection. Regular engagement in these practices has greatly supported my journey toward a more balanced and harmonious state of being. Spoiler alert: they will also positively impact other areas of your life! However, while these exercises can offer instant results, consistency is critical to bringing about lasting and sustainable changes.

8 Proven Ways to Foster a Stronger Mind-Body Connection

The hype for Gen AI has settled as organizations have begun to lay the groundwork for seamless adoption. But there are decisions that must be made, dilemmas to be solved, and questions to be answered. We list the top 10 Enterprise Gen AI dilemmas facing the C-suite leaders. Open or Closed Gen AI models The world came to know about Gen AI only through licensed models such as Open AI’s GPT or Google’s Bard. These systems shared very little details about the underlying code or how their systems were trained. But the Geminis and ChatGPTs indeed helped end-users understand Gen AI’s immense possibilities for the larger public. But soon came the emergence of open-source models such as Meta’s Llama. These models are built on a shared architecture, reveal the underlying codebases, and are pretty much transparent about the data being trained. So which way Enterprises would sway when it comes to embracing these foundation models? Open-sourced or licensed - which would really benefit enterprises in the long run. Various aspects related to performance, accuracy, ethics, explainability, and IP protection would enable stakeholders to decide whether to go with closed or open-sourced models. LLM or LMs Large language models (LLMs) are known for their high performance, comprehensive understanding, and versatility. However, they are lavish energy spenders, which means only the largest companies have the funds to train and maintain energy-hungry models with billions of parameters. Could it be that these enterprises are better off adopting smaller language models that are comparatively energy-efficient,  cost-effective, and even privacy-friendly? Among these smaller models, domain-specific LM is fast getting traction because of the obvious advantages - you can run your small model on modest hardware yet build powerful customized models trained on proprietary data. Industries such as healthcare, legal, and finance could immensely benefit from these domain-specific smaller language models. Explainable AI or Black Box AI Have you ever asked ChatGPT as to how it arrived at a decision? While the outputs of ChatGPT can be evaluated for their relevance and accuracy, the inner workings of how specific responses were generated were never transparent. This could be a challenge for enterprises when they work with LLMs as these models given their vast architecture with several layers of neurons, make it hard to trace the decision path. For any input, the model may not be able to tell how it arrived at a particular output.  This is what we call a Black Box AI. Again on this front, smaller language models (SLMs) are better poised to allow human users to comprehend and trust the results created by their algorithms. This explain ability provided by smaller language models can help developers ensure that the system is working as expected. SLMs may go even further to help enterprises meet regulatory standards. Don’t overlook the Enterprise layer The enterprise layer is crucial to building successful Gen AI applications. Remember one can’t take the-box foundation models such as Open AI’s GPT or Anthopic’s Claude, and instantly create Gen AI applications for their enterprise. They have to manually build an enterprise orchestration layer that enables the infusion of Gen AI into their normal applications. Would organizations invest considerable resources into building this layer? This is where Enterprises must work with effective partners to create a customized business layer that truly connects enterprise applications with Gen AI models. ROI dilemma Enterprise leaders emphasize that Gen AI offerings must demonstrate a clear business value proposition. But for a technology that is in its nascent stages, yet with tremendous transformative potential - how can enterprises measure value? Should organizations overlook ROI in the initial stages and instead focus on how Gen AI infuses innovation and helps them in strategic positioning and differentiation? Or should enterprises be shrewd enough to prioritize investing in areas that can bring easy wins, and gradually get into complex projects? Garbage in Garbage out The adage cannot be truer in the age of generative AI where the reliability of Gen AI output majorly depends on the quality of data being sent as input. How can organizations ensure the highest data quality standards when training Gen AI models? How seamless/difficult would it be for organizations to ensure that their custom AI abides and operates based on their internal data? This situation is further compounded when we realize that on average, organizations only capture 56% of the data they create. Even more alluding is that about 77% of the data collected is either obsolete or trivial. So, Organizations, if at all, if they wish for seamless large-scale Gen AI deployments, must thoroughly capture, classify, and clean data before feeding into their AI systems. Trust issues On one side, enterprises are concerned about the accuracy of Gen AI outputs. On the other side, employees have an inherent fear of technology potentially replacing them or making their jobs obsolete. Together, this cumulative mistrust could pose a barrier to Gen AI enterprise adoption. But fortunately, these concerns have not stopped organizations from embracing Gen AI in their Pilots or small-scale experiments. But if these pilots are to be scaled, then organizations have to build trust in numerous dimensions across worker empathy, transparency, input/output quality, etc. Sophisticated Virtual Agents Can Chatbots go all the way to completing the task apart from making sensible conversations? The ChatGPTs and Geminis have shown us how their question-and-answer systems can give rich contextualized answers. But can the chatbot help us complete a task altogether? For example, can it make reservations for us? Can it plan a trip or even book a ticket? The dawn of sophisticated virtual agents is not far and that would transform customer experience in ways never seen before. Ambiguous regulations The ambiguity in the regulatory environment continues to prevail. However, the EU has taken a more conservative approach to AI-generated content. In Dec 2023, a provisional agreement on the Artificial Intelligence Act was reached, prohibiting indiscriminate scraping of images to create facial recognition databases, biometric categorization systems (with potential for discriminatory bias), "social scoring" systems, and the use of AI for social or economic manipulation. Because of the impending election, there is still time for America to decide on AI governance and security, but that could only do little to stop the stellar developments continuing to happen in the country. Yet organizations cannot afford to be complacent when it comes to implementing guardrails for trust and security. Shadow AI Shadow AI typically arises when a seemingly enthusiastic employee, in the desire to learn or complete an action through an AI application, feeds sensitive information to a public-facing model and thus exposes business secrets. In another case, the employee could train the model with copyrighted material, potentially exposing the company to legal consequences. Conclusion In conclusion, the potential benefits of Gen AI are immense, but realizing them requires a delicate balance of technological innovation, ethical considerations, and strategic foresight. As the technology matures, organizations must navigate these challenges proactively to harness Gen AI's power while mitigating risks. The road ahead is undoubtedly complex, but with careful planning and execution, enterprises can position themselves at the forefront of this transformative era. The hype for Gen AI has settled as organizations have begun to lay the groundwork for seamless adoption. But there are decisions that must be made, dilemmas to be solved, and questions to be answered. We list the top 10 Enterprise Gen AI dilemmas facing the C-suite leaders. Open or Closed Gen AI models Open or Closed Gen AI models The world came to know about Gen AI only through licensed models such as Open AI’s GPT or Google’s Bard. These systems shared very little details about the underlying code or how their systems were trained. But the Geminis and ChatGPTs indeed helped end-users understand Gen AI’s immense possibilities for the larger public. But soon came the emergence of open-source models such as Meta’s Llama. These models are built on a shared architecture, reveal the underlying codebases, and are pretty much transparent about the data being trained. So which way Enterprises would sway when it comes to embracing these foundation models? Open-sourced or licensed - which would really benefit enterprises in the long run. Various aspects related to performance, accuracy, ethics, explainability, and IP protection would enable stakeholders to decide whether to go with closed or open-sourced models. LLM or LMs LLM or LMs Large language models (LLMs) are known for their high performance, comprehensive understanding, and versatility. However, they are lavish energy spenders, which means only the largest companies have the funds to train and maintain energy-hungry models with billions of parameters. Could it be that these enterprises are better off adopting smaller language models that are comparatively energy-efficient,  cost-effective, and even privacy-friendly? Among these smaller models, domain-specific LM is fast getting traction because of the obvious advantages - you can run your small model on modest hardware yet build powerful customized models trained on proprietary data. Industries such as healthcare, legal, and finance could immensely benefit from these domain-specific smaller language models. Explainable AI or Black Box AI Explainable AI or Black Box AI Have you ever asked ChatGPT as to how it arrived at a decision? While the outputs of ChatGPT can be evaluated for their relevance and accuracy, the inner workings of how specific responses were generated were never transparent. This could be a challenge for enterprises when they work with LLMs as these models given their vast architecture with several layers of neurons, make it hard to trace the decision path. For any input, the model may not be able to tell how it arrived at a particular output.  This is what we call a Black Box AI. Again on this front, smaller language models (SLMs) are better poised to allow human users to comprehend and trust the results created by their algorithms. This explain ability provided by smaller language models can help developers ensure that the system is working as expected. SLMs may go even further to help enterprises meet regulatory standards. Don’t overlook the Enterprise layer Don’t overlook the Enterprise layer The enterprise layer is crucial to building successful Gen AI applications. Remember one can’t take the-box foundation models such as Open AI’s GPT or Anthopic’s Claude, and instantly create Gen AI applications for their enterprise. They have to manually build an enterprise orchestration layer that enables the infusion of Gen AI into their normal applications. Would organizations invest considerable resources into building this layer? This is where Enterprises must work with effective partners to create a customized business layer that truly connects enterprise applications with Gen AI models. ROI dilemma ROI dilemma Enterprise leaders emphasize that Gen AI offerings must demonstrate a clear business value proposition. But for a technology that is in its nascent stages, yet with tremendous transformative potential - how can enterprises measure value? Should organizations overlook ROI in the initial stages and instead focus on how Gen AI infuses innovation and helps them in strategic positioning and differentiation? Or should enterprises be shrewd enough to prioritize investing in areas that can bring easy wins, and gradually get into complex projects? Garbage in Garbage out Garbage in Garbage out The adage cannot be truer in the age of generative AI where the reliability of Gen AI output majorly depends on the quality of data being sent as input. How can organizations ensure the highest data quality standards when training Gen AI models? How seamless/difficult would it be for organizations to ensure that their custom AI abides and operates based on their internal data? generative AI This situation is further compounded when we realize that on average, organizations only capture 56% of the data they create. Even more alluding is that about 77% of the data collected is either obsolete or trivial. So, Organizations, if at all, if they wish for seamless large-scale Gen AI deployments, must thoroughly capture, classify, and clean data before feeding into their AI systems. Trust issues Trust issues On one side, enterprises are concerned about the accuracy of Gen AI outputs. On the other side, employees have an inherent fear of technology potentially replacing them or making their jobs obsolete. Together, this cumulative mistrust could pose a barrier to Gen AI enterprise adoption. But fortunately, these concerns have not stopped organizations from embracing Gen AI in their Pilots or small-scale experiments. But if these pilots are to be scaled, then organizations have to build trust in numerous dimensions across worker empathy, transparency, input/output quality, etc. Sophisticated Virtual Agents Sophisticated Virtual Agents Can Chatbots go all the way to completing the task apart from making sensible conversations? The ChatGPTs and Geminis have shown us how their question-and-answer systems can give rich contextualized answers. But can the chatbot help us complete a task altogether? For example, can it make reservations for us? Can it plan a trip or even book a ticket? The dawn of sophisticated virtual agents is not far and that would transform customer experience in ways never seen before. Ambiguous regulations Ambiguous regulations The ambiguity in the regulatory environment continues to prevail. However, the EU has taken a more conservative approach to AI-generated content. In Dec 2023, a provisional agreement on the Artificial Intelligence Act was reached, prohibiting indiscriminate scraping of images to create facial recognition databases, biometric categorization systems (with potential for discriminatory bias), "social scoring" systems, and the use of AI for social or economic manipulation. Because of the impending election, there is still time for America to decide on AI governance and security, but that could only do little to stop the stellar developments continuing to happen in the country. Yet organizations cannot afford to be complacent when it comes to implementing guardrails for trust and security. Shadow AI Shadow AI Shadow AI typically arises when a seemingly enthusiastic employee, in the desire to learn or complete an action through an AI application, feeds sensitive information to a public-facing model and thus exposes business secrets. In another case, the employee could train the model with copyrighted material, potentially exposing the company to legal consequences. Conclusion In conclusion, the potential benefits of Gen AI are immense, but realizing them requires a delicate balance of technological innovation, ethical considerations, and strategic foresight. As the technology matures, organizations must navigate these challenges proactively to harness Gen AI's power while mitigating risks. The road ahead is undoubtedly complex, but with careful planning and execution, enterprises can position themselves at the forefront of this transformative era.

Top 10 Enterprise Gen AI Dilemmas Confronting the C-suite

Smart Contract Templates:
Foundations, Design and Research - Smart Contract Designs

Authors:
(1) Matthew Sprintson
(2) Edward Oughton Table of Links Abstract and Introduction 2. Literature Review 2.1 Reviewing Broadband Infrastructure’s Impact on the Economy 2.2 Previous Research into IO Modeling of Broadband Investment 2.3 Context of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act through Previous Research 3. Methods and 3.1 Leontief Input-Output (IO) Modeling 3.2 Ghosh Supply-Side Assessment Methods for Infrastructure 3.3 Data and Application 4. Results and 4.1 To what extent does the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocate funding to unconnected communities in need? 4.2 What are the GDP impacts of the three funding programs within the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law? 4.3 How are the supply chain linkages affected by allocations from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law? 5. Discussion 5.1 To what extent does the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocate funding to unconnected communities in need? 5.2 What are the GDP impacts of the three funding programs within the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law? 5.3 How are supply chain linkages affected by allocations from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law?" Conclusion Acknowledgements and References 2.3 Context of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act through Previous Research Policy choices can help maneuver broadband networks to achieve more positive outcomes (Oughton et al., 2023; Oughton, 2023), but efforts to close broadband gaps have not yet managed to do so (King & Gonzales, 2023). Currently, only 77% of people in the United States subscribe to a broadband connection (Pew Research Center, 2021). Many unconnected Americans lack access because of connection prices, insufficient technology, scarce information, and inadequate government policies (Bauer, 2023; Oughton et al., 2022; Rosston & Wallsten, 2020). A significant divide exists between urbanization and income levels in US households (Rothschild, 2019). For example, with 82% of urban households having a fixed broadband connection, only about 70% of rural areas have the same connection available (Li et al., 2023; United States Census Bureau, 2021). Most Native Americans living in tribal areas do not have access to the same broadband infrastructure that other communities have. There are numerous reasons - progress is hampered by a lack of trust, social structure, limited resources, and insufficient education (Korostelina & Barrett, 2023). Government investment could lead to increases in broadband connectivity, but substantial disparities still prevail (Andres et al., 2024; Healy et al., 2022). For example, 55.6% of Native American tracts have seen an expansion in broadband providers between 2004 and 2014, with 27.7% of Native American tracts now having an above-average number of providers (Mack et al., 2022). However, the percentage of Native households with Internet access is still 21% lower than in the surrounding areas (Bauer et al., 2022). For the US government to ensure everyone can participate in a modern online economy, there needs to be more infrastructure built to support tribal broadband and investment in education and awareness (Duarte et al., 2021; Hudson et al., 2021; Mack et al., 2023). As found in previous studies, Figure 1 emphasizes empirically the association between broadband inequality and income level (Deng et al., 2023; Houngbonon & Liang, 2020; Wolfson et al., 2017). This problem is exacerbated as broadband adoption has been found to increase wages and hiring in a community (Poliquin, 2021; Yin & Choi, 2023). Thus, communities with reliable broadband connectivity often have higher earnings and more opportunities, aggravating the inequality shown in the figure (Consoli et al., 2023; Mathews & Ali, 2023). Figure 1 (A) shows that, on average, communities with a mean income of less than $20,000 have poorer access to broadband than wealthier communities. This can constrain economic opportunities in poorer areas, meaning citizens in these areas are disadvantaged in seeking new employment options and adapting to changing labor markets. Figure 1 (B) shows us that the disparities in connectivity, separated by income, are present when we compare regions with larger broadband allocations. 69.3% of those making under US $20k in states receiving over US $1,350 have access, whereas 75.1% have access in states receiving less than US $50k. Finally, 20.9% of Tribal lands still lack access to reliable broadband (Hutto & Wheeler, 2023). The adverse effects of the lack of reliable broadband were shown throughout the COVID-19 pandemic when many tribal communities were restricted from accessing schools and working opportunities because they did not have a reliable connection to broadband infrastructure (Kroll, 2023; Le-Morawa et al., 2023; Levin et al., 2023). Broadband connectivity can be efficiently implemented through inter-tribal communication throughout the community and community-specific broadband dissemination (Gellman et al., 2021). The Tribal Connectivity Program’s awards aim to support the deployment of required broadband infrastructure by working in tandem with affected communities (Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, 2023). Now that a thorough literature review has been undertaken, the methods for analysis will be presented. This paper is available on arxiv under CC0 1.0 DEED license. Authors: (1) Matthew Sprintson (2) Edward Oughton Authors: Authors: (1) Matthew Sprintson (2) Edward Oughton Table of Links Abstract and Introduction Abstract and Introduction 2. Literature Review 2.1 Reviewing Broadband Infrastructure’s Impact on the Economy 2.1 Reviewing Broadband Infrastructure’s Impact on the Economy 2.2 Previous Research into IO Modeling of Broadband Investment 2.2 Previous Research into IO Modeling of Broadband Investment 2.3 Context of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act through Previous Research 2.3 Context of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act through Previous Research 3. Methods and 3.1 Leontief Input-Output (IO) Modeling 3. Methods and 3.1 Leontief Input-Output (IO) Modeling 3.2 Ghosh Supply-Side Assessment Methods for Infrastructure 3.2 Ghosh Supply-Side Assessment Methods for Infrastructure 3.3 Data and Application 3.3 Data and Application 4. Results and 4.1 To what extent does the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocate funding to unconnected communities in need? 4. Results and 4.1 To what extent does the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocate funding to unconnected communities in need? 4.2 What are the GDP impacts of the three funding programs within the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law? 4.2 What are the GDP impacts of the three funding programs within the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law? 4.3 How are the supply chain linkages affected by allocations from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law? 4.3 How are the supply chain linkages affected by allocations from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law? 5. Discussion 5.1 To what extent does the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocate funding to unconnected communities in need? 5.1 To what extent does the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocate funding to unconnected communities in need? 5.2 What are the GDP impacts of the three funding programs within the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law? 5.2 What are the GDP impacts of the three funding programs within the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law? 5.3 How are supply chain linkages affected by allocations from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law?" 5.3 How are supply chain linkages affected by allocations from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law?" Conclusion Conclusion Acknowledgements and References Acknowledgements and References 2.3 Context of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act through Previous Research Policy choices can help maneuver broadband networks to achieve more positive outcomes (Oughton et al., 2023; Oughton, 2023), but efforts to close broadband gaps have not yet managed to do so (King & Gonzales, 2023). Currently, only 77% of people in the United States subscribe to a broadband connection (Pew Research Center, 2021). Many unconnected Americans lack access because of connection prices, insufficient technology, scarce information, and inadequate government policies (Bauer, 2023; Oughton et al., 2022; Rosston & Wallsten, 2020). A significant divide exists between urbanization and income levels in US households (Rothschild, 2019). For example, with 82% of urban households having a fixed broadband connection, only about 70% of rural areas have the same connection available (Li et al., 2023; United States Census Bureau, 2021). Most Native Americans living in tribal areas do not have access to the same broadband infrastructure that other communities have. There are numerous reasons - progress is hampered by a lack of trust, social structure, limited resources, and insufficient education (Korostelina & Barrett, 2023). Government investment could lead to increases in broadband connectivity, but substantial disparities still prevail (Andres et al., 2024; Healy et al., 2022). For example, 55.6% of Native American tracts have seen an expansion in broadband providers between 2004 and 2014, with 27.7% of Native American tracts now having an above-average number of providers (Mack et al., 2022). However, the percentage of Native households with Internet access is still 21% lower than in the surrounding areas (Bauer et al., 2022). For the US government to ensure everyone can participate in a modern online economy, there needs to be more infrastructure built to support tribal broadband and investment in education and awareness (Duarte et al., 2021; Hudson et al., 2021; Mack et al., 2023). As found in previous studies, Figure 1 emphasizes empirically the association between broadband inequality and income level (Deng et al., 2023; Houngbonon & Liang, 2020; Wolfson et al., 2017). This problem is exacerbated as broadband adoption has been found to increase wages and hiring in a community (Poliquin, 2021; Yin & Choi, 2023). Thus, communities with reliable broadband connectivity often have higher earnings and more opportunities, aggravating the inequality shown in the figure (Consoli et al., 2023; Mathews & Ali, 2023). Figure 1 (A) shows that, on average, communities with a mean income of less than $20,000 have poorer access to broadband than wealthier communities. This can constrain economic opportunities in poorer areas, meaning citizens in these areas are disadvantaged in seeking new employment options and adapting to changing labor markets. Figure 1 (B) shows us that the disparities in connectivity, separated by income, are present when we compare regions with larger broadband allocations. 69.3% of those making under US $20k in states receiving over US $1,350 have access, whereas 75.1% have access in states receiving less than US $50k. Finally, 20.9% of Tribal lands still lack access to reliable broadband (Hutto & Wheeler, 2023). The adverse effects of the lack of reliable broadband were shown throughout the COVID-19 pandemic when many tribal communities were restricted from accessing schools and working opportunities because they did not have a reliable connection to broadband infrastructure (Kroll, 2023; Le-Morawa et al., 2023; Levin et al., 2023). Broadband connectivity can be efficiently implemented through inter-tribal communication throughout the community and community-specific broadband dissemination (Gellman et al., 2021). The Tribal Connectivity Program’s awards aim to support the deployment of required broadband infrastructure by working in tandem with affected communities (Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, 2023). Now that a thorough literature review has been undertaken, the methods for analysis will be presented. This paper is available on arxiv under CC0 1.0 DEED license. This paper is available on arxiv under CC0 1.0 DEED license. available on arxiv

How Previous Research Informs the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act’s Approach to Broadband Gaps

The Irreplaceable Human Element in Sales In an era dominated by digital marketing and automated sales, the very idea of cold calling is facing skepticism. Some even go as far as declaring it 'dead,' believing that data algorithms and analytics can replace the human touch (or voice).  This is absolutely false. Cold calling adds a personal element that emails and social media messages just can’t. The ability to hear a human voice, and respond in accordance to a prospect's tone, questions and their objections creates a rapport that automated systems cannot replace. Unlike marketing campaigns that need time and data to get results, cold calling offers immediate feedback for the salesperson. Breaking Through and Building Trust We all encounter thousands of advertisements throughout the day, whether in our email inbox, social media feed, on a billboard, or on the side of a bus.  We are so used to ignoring the marketing we see through the day, because there is so much of it, it’d require a full-time job just to keep track of it all. So, how does one differentiate their message in a time where everything has been heard? Break Through and Build Trust. A well-timed phone call, can cut through the noise. It grabs the prospect's full attention in a way that a text/email cannot. Trust is also a crucial factor, and hearing a genuine, confident, human voice on the other side can build credibility much more effectively than words on a screen. Skilled salespeople can adapt their pitch and style based on the prospect, making each interaction tailored to the prospect, and providing value no matter the outcome. Skilled salespeople do not get swayed easily by their emotions. They challenge the prospect’s beliefs in a respectful way, and know when to back off and when to apply pressure for a decision. Even after a full day’s worth of no’s, they remain respectful towards any prospects they talk to or receptionists telling them they 'can’t forward your call.' or "‘send an email’”. Connection and Perception of Cold Outreach Long-term business relationships are often built on personal interactions, and cold calling or personal cold outreach can lay the foundation for these connections. Dismissing cold calling due to one bad experience with a salesperson just trying to sell something unwanted or being rude is understandable but could limit your own opportunities. Not everyone thinks the same, and a surprising amount of people are actually quite open when realizing they are talking to a salesperson who is honest, genuine and transparent. Most people wouldn’t believe the nature of conversations I’ve experienced with a prospect on the first call, some including personal experiences most people wouldn’t 'just' share, all because the prospect felt an honest and listening salesperson on the other end of the line. Most people have had a bad experience with a cold caller or at least know somebody who have, that will always be in the back of their head every time they don’t know who is calling, and especially within the first bit of an unsolicited call. Try to leave a positive and respectful impression on the person you are calling, no matter the outcome. Be better than the last person that called them. Their day has gotten better after speaking to you.
Keep your enthusiasm, no matter the outcome.
Their impression of your company is better after the call. Resilience on the Phone and Personal Benefit Most people get discouraged when they get rejected, and start procrastinating in all sorts of different ways. Most will experience a lesser fear of rejection after the first few hundreds call (not dials), but the procrastination will still prevail. Just because someone tells you no now, doesn’t mean they won’t say yes another time. Leave a good impression for your company and yourself on the prospect, and don’t be discouraged. You’ll get them on the next call. Outside of business and on a personal level, this can be applied to many other aspects of life. The resilience you get from calling 100+ people during a working day is transferable to many other aspects of life. I myself have used this to land way more interviews and jobs then a CV ever would. Even having applications rejected to ending up getting the job, sorely based on my willingness to approach them with a personal “angle”. Success is not the result of a single approach, but the cumulative effect of many conversations. Embrace every 'no' as a step closer to the next 'yes,' and let resilience be your guide in every aspect of life. Use the relevant While all the digital strategies have definitely changed the sales landscape, they have not made cold calling obsolete. On the contrary, combining cold calling with digital marketing can create a outreach strategy that increases engagement and conversion. The declaration that “cold calling is dead” is not only untrue but fundamentally misguided. In this digital and ever-evolving world, the human touch is more important than ever. It enables businesses to break through digital noise, establish trust, and engage prospects in deep and meaningful conversations that lead to valuable and long-term relationships. The art of cold calling is not a relic of the past; it continues and will continue to drive success in modern business. I believe that embracing this approach can open doors to new opportunities both at a personal level and business-wise. In what ways does cold calling force us to confront our fears of rejection and failure? The Irreplaceable Human Element in Sales The Irreplaceable Human Element in Sales In an era dominated by digital marketing and automated sales, the very idea of cold calling is facing skepticism. Some even go as far as declaring it 'dead,' believing that data algorithms and analytics can replace the human touch (or voice). This is absolutely false . This is absolutely false Cold calling adds a personal element that emails and social media messages just can’t. The ability to hear a human voice, and respond in accordance to a prospect's tone, questions and their objections creates a rapport that automated systems cannot replace. Unlike marketing campaigns that need time and data to get results, cold calling offers immediate feedback for the salesperson. Breaking Through and Building Trust Breaking Through and Building Trust We all encounter thousands of advertisements throughout the day, whether in our email inbox, social media feed, on a billboard, or on the side of a bus.  We are so used to ignoring the marketing we see through the day, because there is so much of it, it’d require a full-time job just to keep track of it all. So, how does one differentiate their message in a time where everything has been heard? Break Through and Build Trust. Break Through and Build Trust. A well-timed phone call, can cut through the noise. It grabs the prospect's full attention in a way that a text/email cannot. Trust is also a crucial factor, and hearing a genuine, confident, human voice on the other side can build credibility much more effectively than words on a screen. Skilled salespeople can adapt their pitch and style based on the prospect, making each interaction tailored to the prospect, and providing value no matter the outcome. Skilled salespeople do not get swayed easily by their emotions. They challenge the prospect’s beliefs in a respectful way, and know when to back off and when to apply pressure for a decision. Even after a full day’s worth of no’s, they remain respectful towards any prospects they talk to or receptionists telling them they 'can’t forward your call.' or "‘send an email’”. Connection and Perception of Cold Outreach Connection and Perception of Cold Outreach Long-term business relationships are often built on personal interactions, and cold calling or personal cold outreach can lay the foundation for these connections. Dismissing cold calling due to one bad experience with a salesperson just trying to sell something unwanted or being rude is understandable but could limit your own opportunities. Not everyone thinks the same, and a surprising amount of people are actually quite open when realizing they are talking to a salesperson who is honest, genuine and transparent. Most people wouldn’t believe the nature of conversations I’ve experienced with a prospect on the first call, some including personal experiences most people wouldn’t 'just' share, all because the prospect felt an honest and listening salesperson on the other end of the line. Most people have had a bad experience with a cold caller or at least know somebody who have, that will always be in the back of their head every time they don’t know who is calling, and especially within the first bit of an unsolicited call. Try to leave a positive and respectful impression on the person you are calling, no matter the outcome. Be better than the last person that called them. Their day has gotten better after speaking to you. Keep your enthusiasm, no matter the outcome. Their impression of your company is better after the call. Their day has gotten better after speaking to you. Keep your enthusiasm, no matter the outcome. Their impression of your company is better after the call. Resilience on the Phone and Personal Benefit Resilience on the Phone and Personal Benefit Most people get discouraged when they get rejected, and start procrastinating in all sorts of different ways. Most will experience a lesser fear of rejection after the first few hundreds call (not dials), but the procrastination will still prevail. Just because someone tells you no now, doesn’t mean they won’t say yes another time. Leave a good impression for your company and yourself on the prospect, and don’t be discouraged. You’ll get them on the next call. Outside of business and on a personal level, this can be applied to many other aspects of life. The resilience you get from calling 100+ people during a working day is transferable to many other aspects of life. I myself have used this to land way more interviews and jobs then a CV ever would. Even having applications rejected to ending up getting the job, sorely based on my willingness to approach them with a personal “angle”. Success is not the result of a single approach, but the cumulative effect of many conversations. Embrace every 'no' as a step closer to the next 'yes,' and let resilience be your guide in every aspect of life. Use the relevant Use the relevant While all the digital strategies have definitely changed the sales landscape, they have not made cold calling obsolete. On the contrary, combining cold calling with digital marketing can create a outreach strategy that increases engagement and conversion. The declaration that “cold calling is dead” is not only untrue but fundamentally misguided. In this digital and ever-evolving world, the human touch is more important than ever. It enables businesses to break through digital noise, establish trust, and engage prospects in deep and meaningful conversations that lead to valuable and long-term relationships. The art of cold calling is not a relic of the past; it continues and will continue to drive success in modern business. I believe that embracing this approach can open doors to new opportunities both at a personal level and business-wise. In what ways does cold calling force us to confront our fears of rejection and failure?

Cold Calling; Building Trust and Opportunities in the Digital Age

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