Category Archives: Golden Rule

As NFTs exploded in popularity, scammers also jumped on the hype. Watch out for counterfeit NFTs, rug pulls, pump-and-dumps and other common scams plaguing the industry.

Looking back at 2012, colored coins were the first hint of what we now call non-fungible tokens (NFTs), or nifties for some. Ten years later, these blockhain-based assets that can represent pretty much anything are on everyones lips, especially in the worlds of arts, sports and videogames.

The NFT market began to pick up steam in 2020, having grown by more than 300% from the previous year and moving millions of dollars worth of cryptocurrency. By the first week of May 2022, however, the sale of these tokens plunged 92% to 19,000 from its high of 225,000 last September. The number of active wallets fell about 88% to about 14,000 from 119,000 in November.

Even so, the market is still driving thousands to millions of dollars worth of cryptocurrencies, offering plenty of opportunities for scammers and bringing a lot of concerns over the safety of this asset. To steal an art piece, a thief would previously have to go through several barriers and cameras inside a museum; now, a digital wallet can be cracked open using malware or social engineering techniques.

When digital artist Qing Han died in 2020, scammers took advantage of the moment to sell her artwork as NFTs, on her behalf. Last September, renowned graffiti artist Banksy got his website hacked, showing an ad for the sale of what was supposed to be his first NFT; a collector paid $336.000.

The lack of regulation of the NFT market makes it a place of opportunity for all types of scams. Several companies, such as Adobe, are trying to create authentication stamps that will make it easier to verify the legitimacy of a token. Despite some anti-fraud barriers, this is a fast-paced space heavily dependent on users behavior.

Here are some common scams involving NFTs you should be aware of and how you can avoid falling victim.

Discord holds quite some allure for cybercriminals and there are various ways of scamming users. The platform is divided into communities called servers where people can talk, stream and play games together.

Last December alone, 373 members of a Discord server run by the recently launched gaming NFT marketplace Fractal saw their digital wallet authentication compromised, losing a total of $150.000 worth of Solana.

Other ways of being scammed on Discord involve sending direct messages (DMs) duping users into believing that theyre actually being contacted by a brand, artist or influencer. Essentially, the larger a Discord network, the higher the chances of receiving scam messages. You should be wary of clicking on links sent by strangers or answering any requests for money. By the same token, dont let yourself be caught out by new NFT opportunities or projects without checking that the offer is legitimate.

Fake social media profiles looking to attract NFT creators

Social media users, be it on Twitter or any other social media platform, need to be constantly aware of potential fake profiles. Often, these are copies of real profiles, and a little attention to detail might be enough to distinguish them sometimes one letter is all it takes to tip you off to a scammer.

At the same time, bots that prompt users to react to messages or tech support scammers use social media to interact with users and request information that can give them access to crypto wallets. While the bad actors may not always succeed, a small percentage of scammed users might mean big payouts.

Additionally, cybercriminals might try to reach users by sending messages where they act as if they wanted to chat or sought advice. Some red flags might help spot a fraudster, including the number of followers, the number of tweets and retweets, or whether the account lacks original content.

Website impersonating the OpenSea NFT marketplace

Fake website preying on NFT wallets

Another fake site posing as OpenSea

Another attempt taking aim at a crypto wallet

Another common tactic is copying websites and apps of perfectly legitimate brands. Replicas of NFT marketplaces or fake crypto wallets are shared on Discord, Twitter and forums, as well as via email. The level of resemblance with the real companies is impressive, and it takes a keen eye to spot small differences in the URL or general layout.

For this reason, it is always essential to check the URL of a link before clicking, especially when websites require personal information. We should always remember the golden rule and never give seed phrases or passwords to anyone outside our NFT wallets.

Once you confirm the website is genuine, the next step is to confirm the veracity of an NFT. Check the background of the seller and previous sales, but also check if the NFT is original and not being sold in other markets, especially when buying expensive crypto art in high demand. Speaking of expensive, suspiciously low prices should always raise eyebrows as scammers tend to sell copies on the cheap.

Apart from Banksy and his scammed website story, other artists have been through similar situations. Tyler Hobbs, the artist behind the Art Blocks project Fidenza, denounced the platform SolBlocks for using his code to sell replicas of his works. The artwork of Derek Laufman was also being sold by a fake account using the artists name, getting even a verified icon.

The list of similar scams is long, prompting artists to act by commenting, reviewing and denouncing fake profiles for the unauthorized sale of their art.

The closest to NFT speculation, this kind of scam involves a person or a group of individuals buying a large number of NFTs (or cryptocurrency) and selling them back to themselves in order to artificially create a false sense of the asset being in high demand. This way, market forces will increase the reselling profits.

On the buyers side, this scheme seems to be validated by influencers who share the NFT on their profiles, making it seem like a great opportunity. Ultimately, these buyers expect to resell at a higher price, which never happens as the scammers clean up their footprints after getting their money.

A typical crypto scam inherited by the NFT market. Rug pulls have been quite common, benefiting from its main feature: when the scam is revealed, it is generally too late.

Like pump-and-dump scams, the scammers will hype up a project, solicit investment and, without notice, abandon it. This usually happens once they believe they have drained the investors to the full, withdrawing all funds from an NFT wallet and deleting their profiles from marketplaces and social media.

One of the most famous cases dates back to Squid Game and the cryptocurrency inspired by the TV show Squid. This token went up in value to $2,800 within just a few weeks when, suddenly, it vanished. All its social media accounts and its website disappeared with no trace. The scammers, meanwhile, are believed to have stolen $3.3 million.

Fake bids in NFT auctions are one of the most common scams. These occur when a real seller tries to auction off an NFT. The seller indicates the cryptocurrency in which they want to be paid, but a scammer can manage to change the currency of their offer to one with a lower value.

Another way this can work is by adding and removing an NFT listing from a market, moving the decimal one number to the right. Without noticing the change, a buyer might end up paying much more than the amount they looked at initially. Just like in real life, looking at the price before paying is a must.

Fake offers and giveaways are a great way to pique users interest (not just) on social media. Surprisingly, they may even come from well-established user accounts. The reality, however, is that often enough, these accounts have been hijacked by scammers to promote fraudulent schemes.

Once a user tries to access the fake offer, they are requested to insert their passwords or personal information, giving away their details and getting nothing in return.

In these schemes, fraudsters airdrop NFTs to the wallets of influencers, making it appear as though the celebrities had actually minted the NFTs on the blockchain. This is because many buyers monitor specific wallets for new activity in order to anticipate mass interest and a spike in the value of an NFT.

These scams involve elements from most techniques mentioned earlier, including artist impersonation to pump-and-dump fraud. According to OpenSea, the biggest NFT marketplace, more than 80% of NFTs created for free on its platform were fake, plagiarized from other artists, or spam.

There are many scams to be aware of when diving into the NFT world and, as usual, scammers never pass up a golden money-making opportunity. Its, therefore, important to always be attentive a healthy dose of skepticism will save you some headaches further down the road.

Here are a few quick tips for how to stay safe while using NFTs:

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Common NFT scams and how to avoid them - We Live Security

Jeff LaHurd| Special to the Herald-Tribune

I have been researching and writing about Sarasota history for more than 35 years. During that time, I have come across interesting tidbits, some of which I have used in my books and articles, and some that I thought were interesting or colorful enough to jot down and pass them on.

John Hamilton Gillespie came to Sarasota in 1886 to rejuvenate the failed Scot Colony. Known as the Father of Sarasota, and the founder of the Church of the Redeemer advised, Be not too zealous to get rich, nor too easily tired of work, and follow a careful observance of the Golden Rule.

Alex Browning, a young man when he arrived with the colonists in 1885 described Gillespie: The natives and early settlers came to look upon him as a great big boy who could take a joke and was always ready to do a good turn for his neighbors.

Back in the long-ago day before Chevrolet was advertisingSee the USA in a Chevrolet, America is asking you to call ... And even before the pricey Packard suggestedAsk the man who owns one, the Jordan automobile company that had a dealership on SouthPineapple Avenue offered this during the Roaring 20s: Somewhere West of Laramie, there is a bronco-busting, steer roping girl who knows what Im talking about the truth is the [Jordan] Playboy was built for her. Built for the lass whose face is brown with the sun when the day is done of revel and romp and race. Revel and romp and race notwithstanding, Ned Jordans company went out of business in 1931.

In October of 1925 when the Atlantic Coastline Railway Station opened at the east end of Main St., placed there at the suggestion of well-regarded city plannerJohn Nolen, it was dubbeda tribute to the certainty of Sarasotas future by the Sarasota Herald.

John Ringing always traveled in style be it in his Rolls-Royces, Pierce Arrow, his sumptuous private railroad cars Wisconsin and JoMar, or on the water aboard one of his yachts. The last of these, the Zalophus was delivered to him in 1922. At 125 long, it offered six staterooms and five bathrooms and could cruise 5,000 miles at 14 knots. The beautiful yacht was crewed by a crew of 10. On Sept. 2, 1930, the shallow draft vessel sank off Lido Key with colorful New York mayor Jimmy Walker and actress Betty Compton, with whom Compton was having an affair,on board. To avoid scandal, they were spirited away before the press got wind of the tryst.

During the era when Sarasota was segregated, city manager, Ken Thompson, of his own volition, integrated both the library and the Bobby Jones golf course. Of his action, United Press founderKarl Bickel said, Your statesmanship and far vision of the recent situation at the golf course was so sound and constructive that I am moved to express my personal admiration and thanks.

Of the iconic Lido Casino,Fredd Atkins told Herald-Tribune journalist Barbara Peters Smith: I cant tell you much about the Lido Casino because when I was a boy, we were never allowed to go there so I dont miss it at all. I didnt even know it was beautiful. Atkins would go on to break racial barriers in Sarasota, becoming the citys first Black mayor and serving for many years asa city commissioner.

When the storied Casino building was demolished in 1969, only one city commissioner Jack Betz had voted to restore it. In a 1992 interview he told me, The people voted to remodel it. We didnt do that, and I think it was wrong. I still think it was.

Spring training has been a major attraction in Sarasota since 1924 when the mighty New York Giants came to town led by the feisty Hall of FamerJohn. J. McGraw, akaLittle Napoleon.

The first order of business was to prohibit his players from playing golf, which bothered sluggerRogers Hornsby not at all:He said that when he hit a ball, he wanted someone else to chase it.

Never known for his reticence, McGraw summed up his coaching style by saying, With my team I am the absolute Czar. My men know it. I order plays and they obey. If they dont, I fine them.

The Giants were followed by the Boston Red Sox whose stars included the Splendid Splinter Ted Williams. One of his teammates said of him, He could hit better with a broken arm than we could with two good ones.

Another Sox team member, Jimmy Foxx, nicknamed The Beast, was a fearsome slugger, so strong it was said his curls had muscles. When trying to figure out to pitch to him, one hurler said, Id rather not throw the ball at all.

When Babe Ruth, the Sultan of Swat came to town with the Yankees for Spring Training, he loved to golf. About to put one in the hole, he asked the gallery, How about a little noise? How do you expect a man to putt?

Connecting the Midwest to the South, the Dixie Highway which opened in 1915 was called the String upon which Florida has strung her jewels.

The very narrow two-lane road from Sarasota to Venice was dubbed, The Velvet Highway.

For those who did not know the make of an odd looking car driving around town, The News solved the mystery. It was William G. Selbys Mercedes-Benz which cost $3,600 and got 46 miles per gallon on diesel fuel.

Between 1952 and 1968, Ross E. Boyer was elected Sarasota County Sheriff five times. A former Florida Highway Patrolman, his slogan for his first campaign was the comforting, No friends to reward, no enemies to punish. During his first term he was responsible for an area of 550 square miles with a population of 42,000 people. His staff comprised fivefull-time deputies, two night officers, two Sunday officers,two school officersand two women who worked in the office.

On Oct. 30, 1954, The News wrote, Siesta Key Booms In Seven Years, and reported that the island had grown from a few hundred to an estimated 500 permanent residents.

When drive-in theaters were all the rage, especially among the younger set, the Trail Drive In the largest screen in the South offered for our viewing pleasure The Touch of Flesh, a heartwarming story about the Selfish and shameless rich teenage tramp Joan Denton [who] gets impregnated by her earnest yet dimwitted working class pushover boyfriend, Eddie Mercer. Not steamy enough? The late show was Lady Chatterleys Lover, a film adaptation of the controversial late 1920s D.H. Lawrence novel.

Sarasota has used many appellations over the years to describe its offerings: A City of Glorified Opportunity; The Riviera City; The Art Center of the South;The Air-Conditioned City; Americas Sun Parlor; Natures Own Solarium;The Circus City;Where Urban Amenities Meet Small-Town Living. Perhaps next on the list? The Circle City: Well Have You Traveling in Circles.

When Sarasota was, as noted by prominent architect Tim Seibert, A small elegant, little space, a forewarning about what could happen was sounded by nationally known writer, Mary Freeman. Writing in The Nation: Sarasota might turn into an imitation Miami populated by pasty, paunched men with big cigars. We can still take things in hand ... otherwise hell destroy our unique assets in an effort to reproduce Miami. Not too many of todays developers meet that description, but in the end, they did turn Sarasota into an imitation Miami.

Speaking for many longtime residents who remember the city that Freeman wanted to protect, Seibert said: There comes a sense of loss that sneaks up when you least expect it, and the lump in my throat and shortness of breath surprised me. There are more and more encounters in Sarasota that now brings on this sense for those of us who have spent our lives here. Amen to that.

Finally, something out of Bedford Falls. When local banker Charles Bailey passed away in 1980, Mayor Jack Betz said of him, Every community deserves a Charlie Bailey. The same could be said of his son, attorney Dan Bailey.

JeffLaHurdwas raised in Sarasota and is an award-winning author/historian.

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Real History With Jeff LaHurd: More bits and pieces from Sarasotas past - Sarasota Herald-Tribune

The golden rule of makeup is to take it off before bed. Though it may feel like a rather annoying practice, it can be enhanced by the best cleansing balm.

A cleansing balm is an oil-based cleanser that has more of a solid consistency, says triple board-certified dermatologist Dr. Mamina Turegano. The oils in cleansing balms not only help with breaking down makeup, but also with cleaning away dirt, sunscreen, and other products from the day. She continues that because the balm is formulated with not only oils but nourishing emollients and waxes, they are able to cleanse the skin without leaving it dryacross all skin types (yes, even oily skin!).

As a reminder though, removing makeup before bed offers a chance to eliminate buildup of any kind of product, chemicals, dirt, grime or oil that can damage skin, as Turegano puts it. In fact, shes admittedly a fan of a good double cleanse for removaloften opting for a cleansing balm as her first step on dry skin.

First massage [the balm] in your palms, and then massage it on your face for 30-60 seconds, she explains, then rinse. I would then follow this with a cream-based cleanser (if you have dry skin) or a gel-based cleanser (if you have normal to oily skin). From there, she might reach for a silicone cleansing brush to aid impurity removal, followed by a curated nighttime skin-care routine: think of a hydrating toner or serum, then retinoid and moisturizer.

And with that, youre left with skin thats not only incredibly clean, but not stripped of its natural balancing oilsthe best formulas even enhance skin softness, minimize the look of pores, or brighten skin over time. Ready to try one for yourself? Below, 14 of the best cleansing balms to consider.

Whether youre removing makeup or double cleansing, the True Botanicals cleansing balm combines nourishers (yucca extract, turmeric, and mango butter) with exfoliators (lactic and azelaic acid) for a covetable multi-tasking formula suitable for sensitive skin and pregnancy-safe regimens.

The Paulas Choice Omega+ Complex Cleansing Balm is a top pick of Turegano because its housed in a convenient tubeconsidering most formulas are jarred.It also does an amazing job at removing makeup. I would follow this with a regular gentle cleanser.

A sensitive skin-care salve, Naturopathicas cleansing balm is infused with manuka honey, probiotics, and sweet almond oil for long-lasting hydration and skin barrier restorative benefits.

Infused with hyaluronic acid as well as a blend of maqui, acai, goji, and prickly pear seed oils, Youth To The Peoples cleansing balm works like a dream to quickly dissolve unwanted buildup on the skin.

If you havent tried Cliniques Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm, youre truly missing out. A classic formula for a reason, this is known to melt even the most longwear makeup awayfrom that pigmented eyeliner to layers of sunscreen.

Even the most budge-proof makeup is no match for Farmacys Green Clean balma cleanser formulated with turmeric, moringa extract, papaya enzymes, as well as sunflower and ginger root oils to melt away residue for hydrated, smooth skin.

A cleansing balm that also boasts exfoliating properties? Yes please. Not only can Drunk Elephants cleanser remove oil and makeup, but can gently wipe away dead skin through its featured bamboo and charcoal powder.

Belief knows a thing about hydration, as shown through its acclaimed Aqua Bomb moisturizer. Here though, its cleansing balm brings together lotus flower, marshmallow root, and ladys mantle to leave skin more radiant after one use.

As the name suggests, yesJuno & Cos cleansing balm only features ten ingredients. Powered by Japanese pearl barley, expect this balm to transform from solid to a milky cleanser that washes away impurities without stripping your skins natural oils.

Then I Met Yous cleansing balm that has a light, yet fragrant scent and creamy texture. The fact that its infused with restorative antioxidants and fatty acids is an added bonus.

Featuring a blend of brown algae, elderberry, and starflower oils, the Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm is effective at dissolving makeup, but works to soften, tone, and restore elasticity in skin. Basically, a thoughtful addition to any maturing beauty regimen.

Those who are fans of Augustinus Baders rich moisturizer should consider incorporating its cleansing balm too, as its powdered by the same high-powered amino acid complex, TFC8. And so, you can expect this to deeply nourish the skin while removing makeup and buildup.

This is another makeup removing cleansing balm that I love, says Turegano. It comes in a jar, but the consistency of the balm is comparable to a light fluffy cloud, which makes it enjoyable to use.

The cleansing balm from Jenni Kaynes Oak Essentials line helps remove dirt and oil through a soft, nourishing formula made of safflower seed oil, sesame oil, avocado oil, and Vitamin E. It is gentle on the skin, locks in moisture, and feels refreshing with every cleanse. It will be your secret to a spa-like ritual every time you use it.

This article first appeared on Vogue.com

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This is why you should use a cleansing balm to remove your makeup - VOGUE India

By Alexandra Russell

In 2019, George Christie, president of Wine Industry Network, was approached about bringing Enoforum, Europes largest technical-specific wine conference, to the United States.

One of the vendors we work with, Enartis, contacted me and suggested we consider working with Vinidea to bring their very successful event, Enoforum, to the United States, Christie recalls. They felt the program would be well received by the winemaking audience here.

Since debuting in Europe in 2000, Enoforum has established a reputation for bringing together producers, technicians, oenologists and agronomists, researchers and technology suppliers to spur innovation in the wine sector.

Giani Trioli, CEO at Vinidea (which produces the conference), explains, Enoforum was tailored over decades [to address] the needs of European stakeholders. We are aware that American winegrowers have their own style and background, so before starting Enoforums United States adventure, we looked for a local partner with deep knowledge of the American wine industry and [an understanding] of its main challenges and needs. WIN can advise us on this, and additionally has experience in organization of B2B events in the sector.

An online first run

In 2021, Enoforum USA welcomed attendees to a virtual event that attracted more than 1,500 attendees. Since that time, those sessions have been rebroadcast to thousands more.

We had planned to produce the event in-person in May of 2020, says Christie. But, as with all events, the pandemic drove us to take it virtual the first year.

It may have been a blessing in disguise, as it helped Vinidea learn the ropes of online conferencing. The pandemic situation gave Vinidea the opportunity to build up a unique expertise in the organization of virtual congresses, says Trioli. We organized in [these shutdown years] several scientific and technical conferences, with up to 5,500 registered for multilingual events.

Finding the bright side in a hard situation is all well and good, but now its time to come back together meet up face-to-face and really experience all that Enoforum truly is. On May 11, 2022, Enoforum USA will open doors for an in-person day of educational seminars, informational sessions and equipment demonstrations. The line-up of events promises to propel the U.S. wine industry forward by sharing the results of international oenological research featuring the latest innovations in winemaking and production.

Choosing topics and presenters

When it comes to specific topics to be addressed, Enoforum USA will follow in the footsteps of its European sibling. Luckily, it can rely on the expertise of Vinidea, which specializes in the transfer of innovation to the wine sector. For 20 years, Vinidea has been creating opportunities for the exchange of information between the worlds of research and production and wine-producing regions internationally.

The golden rule of Enoforum is to provide valuable information to wine industry stakeholders, says Trioli. Using its network of international contacts, Vinidea narrowed topics of greatest interest from among about 40 talks [that had previously been] selected as oral presentations by highly authoritative and international scientific committees, such as Macrowine.

He continues, From this survey, we sorted a preference list and contacted the [corresponding] scientists and experts. All speakers accepted the invitation, and several were very excited for a first-time opportunity to present their scientific advancements to U.S. wine industry stakeholders.

Topics at this years Enoforum USA will include several different yeast studies, from using new strains to mitigate the effects of climate change to the impact of different inoculation times and preparation methods, among others. Climate change will also be addressed in terms of its effect on red wine aromas. Sparkling wine makes a few appearances as well, with sessions on disgorgement and dosage, and on developing MLF for organoleptic complexity.

A case study will examine how organic, biodynamic and conventional production processes affect wine outcomes. Light struck taste will also be addressed, as will new winemaking developments including digital technologies and an alternative to traditional pump-over vinification.

Equipment demonstrations will include new filling and optical sorting techniques. A trial tasting will compare wines before and after smoke taint removal processes an important topic, especially in California.

Made in the USA

The spirit of Enoforum is the same in Europe and the United States, but the format and the topics are tailored to the needs of local stakeholders. Some presentations can be the same, but only when the challenges of Europeans and Americans overlap.

International speakers will be live streamed in. Says Christie, The international research is a huge draw in Europe and, I suspect over time, that will be the same here in the United States.

Adds Trioli, Enoforum is an informative event tailored to frontrunner winegrowers. The aim is to provide them scientific, practical and commercial information needed [to continue implementing] innovations in their production.

U.S. winemakers and viticulturists are known to be very innovative and [to have] a solid technical and scientific background. We can assume that there is a significant segment of practitioners [in the United States] who should be interested in Enoforums unique format.

Welcome back

Enoforum USA will bring cutting-edge wine and viticultural research to its audience in May, but the biggest draw this year could be simply being there.

The in-person version of Enoforum allows for the whole range of modalities by which Enoforum provides useful information to the winegrowers, says Trioli. That includes tastings, detailed information by supplier experts at the booths and demos, and discussion with colleagues on the cost/benefit ratio of the innovations.

Christie concurs: As weve learned, theres a lot to be said for what we can do virtually. It lets us feature speakers from all over the world and reach a much larger audience. But theres no substitute for bringing people together.

With Enoforum USA, its really the best of both worlds. Some of the presentations will be in person and some in particular, the international research will be streamed in. Its great, because well be able to be in person but also feature researchers from all over the world that our audience [here] might never have had the opportunity to hear.

To be part of the conversation, register for the May 11 Enoforum USA 2022 conference in Sonoma County, Calif.

____________________________________________________

Alexandra Russell

Alexandra Russell is Managing Editor at Wine Industry Advisor. She can be reached at [emailprotected]

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Enoforum USA: Bringing International Research and Innovation Stateside - wineindustryadvisor.com

Refinancing still worth it for over 1 million borrowers

The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage surged through 2022 and just hit 5% for the first time since 2011.

Unsurprisingly, this rapid rate growth will deter many homeowners from refinancing. But the window to save isnt completely gone.

Over 1.3 million homeowners exist who would currently benefit from a refi especially if they move quickly before more Fed hikes come.

Despite the average 30-year FRM rising to 5% on April 14, an estimated 1.34 million borrowers could still save $316 per month with a refi, according to mortgage technology and data provider Black Knight.

That translates to a monthly total of $422 million in principal and interest savings nationally.

These borrowers are defined as having a maximum 80% loan-to-value ratio, credit scores of 720 or higher, and who could shave at least 0.75% off their current first lien rate.

If you fit these parameters, odds are you locked in your rate prior to the housing crash. The chart below shows the total number of refi candidates by the year of their mortgage. The largest group of about 491,000 got their mortgages before 2004.

The golden rule of refinancing is you should do it if you can cut your current rate by 75 basis points or 0.75%. This is often the threshold where the savings youd receive from refinancing outweigh the costs of doing it.

However, every situation is different. Whether a refi is worth it hinges on multiple factors like your loan balance and timeline. Depending on your current mortgage, even a rate reduction of 25 basis points (0.25%) could make sense.

In the chart below, Black Knight estimates how many refi candidates there would be at different mortgage rate intervals.

While the number of homeowners who benefit from a refinance tails off as rates rise, just under 1 million still would if they hit 5.5%. Even with todays mortgage rates, its possible to save hundreds of dollars every month with a refi.

If youve waited this long to refi in hopes rates would start ticking back down, wait no longer. Both market indicators and experts point to further rate growth this year.

In all likelihood, it would be prudent to start the refi process now before the next Federal Reserve meeting.

If youd like to see if refinancing your mortgage is right for you and would save you money, get the ball rolling by reaching out to your lender

The information contained on The Mortgage Reports website is for informational purposes only and is not an advertisement for products offered by Full Beaker. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not reflect the policy or position of Full Beaker, its officers, parent, or affiliates.

Originally posted here:

1.3 Million homeowners can still save $300 per month with a refi - The Mortgage Reports

Keys to the Kingdom

I could tell you stuff about her that would make your hair curl! (Please dont.) You wont believe what I just heard about him! (No, I wont.) Sometimes we find ourselves in conversations against our will. It starts innocently enough, but quickly heads south and turns into gossip. I hate gossip as much as I love chocolate. Hearing juicy tidbits about others makes me want to dig a hole and crawl in. I know of a godly man that wouldnt listen to gossip. He would simply walk away without saying anything. I think his silent response and gentle actions spoke louder than any words.

Mom used to wisely advise me, You dont have to tell everything you know. I often think of the New Testament scripture about Jesus mother: All who heard the shepherds story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often (Luke 2:18,19 NLT). Mary pondered things in her heart; she mulled it over, meditated on it, carefully thought about it. She kept it to herself because the things she had witnessed were too personal and treasured to share. Occasionally, some experiences are so amazing that we are left speechless.

Gossip can be defined as undisciplined or idle talk about an individuals private affairs involving details that are not confirmed as being true. However, even if the intriguing details are true, if you truly love your neighbor as yourself, you should choose not to share the hurtful newsflash. The Golden Rule, Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, would apply here. If you are sensible you will control your temper. When someone wrongs you, it is a great virtue to ignore it (Proverbs 19:11 GNT). Gods way is to overlook a wrong and not blab it (which could possibly destroy the persons reputation).

Instead of setting our radar for gossip, lets challenge ourselves to see how many people we can build up, encourage, and compliment every day through our words. Reach out in love and concern to help alleviate tough situations for others. So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT).

A gossip (intentionally or unintentionally) creates mischief in society. A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence (Proverbs 11:13 NLT). I want to be a confidential friend who can be trusted with someones heartache. I dont want to be guilty of James 1:26 NLT: If you claim to be religious but dont control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. The way we treat and speak about others reveals the true condition of our heart.

On the flip side of gossip, lets use our words to build up those that have been flattened by lifes steamroller. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works (Hebrews 10:23 NLT). We can use our tongues to spur one another on. Positive reinforcement is all some people need in order to believe they can do the seemingly impossible. Words of encouragement can change everything. Lets go for it!

The Key: When someone says, Im not supposed to tell this, but, its time to dig a hole or put on your walking shoes.

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Just Walk On By by Carolyn Tucker - FortScott.Biz

The photographic master Henri Cartier-Bresson made some key observations about photography, translated as the decisive moment which is often (incorrectly) characterized as: capturing an event that is ephemeral and spontaneous, where the image represents the essence of the event itself.

The book Cartier-Bresson penned in 1952, in French, was called Images la Sauvette (Images on the Run) and along with a great portfolio of his work, is a very concise review of his process of photojournalism. It was quite literally about taking pictures in a dynamic and moving world. He used the term decisive moment in his writing, with very specific meaning, but the term was appropriated as the title in the English translation and has led to a generation that misses the point entirely.

Note: All quotations are from Cartier-Bressons The Decisive Moment Simon and Schuster/Editions Verve, 1952.

Here the decisive moment is described:

If a photograph is to communicate its subject in all its intensity, the relationship of form must be rigorously established. Photography implies the recognition of a rhythm in the world of real things. What the eye does is to find and focus on the particular subject within the mass of reality In a photograph, composition is the result of a simultaneous coalition, the organic coordination of elements seen by the eye. One does not add composition as though it were an afterthought superimposed on the basic subject material, since it is impossible to separate content from form.

Composition must have its own inevitability about it.

But inside movement there is one moment at which the elements in motion are in balance. Photography must seize upon this moment and hold immobile the equilibrium of it. [emphasis mine]

The decisive moment is a property of vantage point and framing (and of course timing), and not about the quintessence of the external event. His point is that in the swirl of humanity and nature, all around us, there are occasional fleeting moments where moving objects align naturally in the frame.

It is true, however, that when all those compositional elements align, the thing that youre photographing can reveal something magical and iconic. But this is a result of the composition. And capturing it really cannot be accomplished through organized thinking and forced structure it happens through instinct, of pressing the shutter release at an instant based on intuition.

Composition must be one of our constant preoccupations, but at the moment of shooting it can stem only from our intuition, for we are out to capture the fugitive moment, and all the interrelationships involved are on the move.

I find that this demonstration of physics is a good illustration of how moving objects in the real world can seem chaotic and random, but periodically, in certain moments, there is pattern and harmony, which quickly dissipates (You might want to mute the sound on this video):

The real world obviously isnt this structured, but these feelings underly catching decisive moments the instances when objects in motion achieve visual harmony.

In addition, because of this position, Cartier-Bresson makes a case against cropping pointing out that if you compose carefully in shooting, cropping wont create balances and harmony that you missed. One can debate that many great and famous photos are the result of cropping the portrait of Stravinsky by Arnold Newman is one example of many but Cartier-Bressons desire to accomplish this in-camera is laudable (and also a dig at magazine editors who might crop a good photo which usually kills it):

If you start cutting or cropping a good photograph, it means death to the geometrically correct interplay of proportions. Besides, it very rarely happens that a photograph which was feebly composed can be saved by reconstruction of its composition under the darkrooms enlarger; the integrity of vision is no longer there.

Importantly, Cartier-Bresson articulates why rules are not the way composition is done. And while the Golden Mean (and I would add, The Rule of Thirds) might be interesting for analysis they have no place in taking a photo:

Any geometrical analysis, any reducing of the picture to a schema, can be done only (because of its very nature) after the photograph has been taken, developed, and printed and then it can be used only for a postmortem examination of the picture. I hope we will never see the day when photo shops sell little schema grills to clamp onto our viewfinders; and the Golden Rule will never be found etched on our ground glass. [emphasis mine]

I think Cartier-Bresson would be bummed by the use of the Rule of Thirds grids that are sometimes provided in camera viewfinders, and utterly inappropriate as foundations for teaching photographic composition.

Early in the book, he articulates his ambition to capture the essence of a dynamic situation in a single image the source of the misuse of a decisive moment

I prowled the streets all day, feeling very strung-up and ready to pounce, determined to trap life to preserve life in the act of living. Above all, I craved to seize, in the confines of one single photograph, the whole essence of some situation that was in the process of unrolling itself before my eyes.

He continues to describe a photo story a series of photos used to cover an event. This is often conflated with the above ambition. But hes suggesting that it would be unusual for a single image to convey what a series of images can.

Sometimes there is one unique picture whose composition possesses such vigor and richness, and whose content so radiates outward from it, that this single picture is a whole story in itself. But this rarely happens.

He warns about overshooting; photographers need to balance shooting a ton of photos and not shooting enough and missing something important. A photographer needs to be discriminating.

[The real world] offer[s] such an abundance of material that a photographer must guard against the temptation of trying to do everything Cartier-Bresson writes. Its essential to avoid shooting like a machine-gunner and burdening yourself with useless recordings

This is particularly apt today, with the low friction in shooting, and shifting the burden to exhaustive post-production. Of course you dont want to miss the moment, and certainly there are subjects everywhere that could be made interesting, but he suggests this coverage needs to be measured.

Cartier-Bresson discusses the importance of being surreptitious in shooting if you want to capture something authentic. Remember that the small high-quality camera was relatively new, and so was the attraction to candid photography, of which he was a proponent. He says:

In whatever picture-story we try to do, we are bound to arrive as intruders. It is essential, therefore, to approach the subject on tiptoe even if the subject is still-life. A velvet hand, a hawks eye these we should all have.

He says that if your intention to shoot is made obvious, you need to back off and get your subjects comfortable with your presence. When the subject is in any way uneasy, the personality goes away where the camera cant reach it.

Related, he argues for shooting in natural light, so as not to disturb the true scene. And no photographs taken with the aid of flashlight either, if only out of respect of the actual light even when there isnt any of it. Unless a photographer observes such conditions as these, he may become an intolerably aggressive character.

Cartier-Bresson makes the case that many others have made that there is no end of possible subject matter (and as Elliott Erwitt said years later, that photography is less about the object and more about how you see it.)

Cartier-Bresson says There is subject in all that takes place in the world and In photography, the smallest thing can be a great subject. He continues Subject does not consist of a collection of facts which speaks to the distinction between photographing objects vs. moments. There are thousands of ways to distill the essence of something that captivates us.

He goes on to detail shooting portraits and faces, and in attempting to capture the identity of the sitter, noting the problematic relationship with a client who wants to be flattered, and the result is no longer real.

The Decisive Moment is considered one of the most important books in the 20th century about photography, and there are ample lessons in his elegant text, illustrated by his historic work. But the continued misuse and misunderstanding of his lessons should be revisited by photographic instructors.

P.S. If you enjoy this perspective, I encourage you to take one of my workshops through the Santa Fe Photographic Workshops. There are 3-week online programs throughout the year, and this August there is a special in-person 1-week intensive that should be fun for any creative amateur, maybe if youve plateaued, feel like youre good at picture taking, but want to push yourself. Anyway, Thanks for listening.

About the author: Michael Rubin, formerly of Lucasfilm, Netflix and Adobe, is a photographer and host of the podcast Everyday Photography, Every Day. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. To see more from Rubin, visit Neomodern or give him a follow on Instagram. This article was also published here.

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The Decisive Moment: What Henri Cartier-Bresson Actually Meant - PetaPixel

It starts with a step. Stomp. Clap. A crescendo of joyous movement and affirmations (ayeee, yessss, you better) erupts on stage and is immediately echoed by members of the audience, most notably, the Black female ones like me who came to experience this very specific brand of healing. Seven actors cloaked in the colors of the rainbow mime a game of double dutch, whipping me right back to childhood, playing in my grandmothers concrete Brooklyn yard. How does she always do this, I wonder? How does Ntozake Shange always bring me back home?

This revival of for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf is one link in a chain of productions re-introducing the work of our titans Alice Childress, Adrienne Kennedy and more to modern audiences. Only Shanges work has been on Broadway before, first premiering at the Booth Theatre, where the revival is currently playing, in 1976. It remains a seminal, sacred text; one Ive been able to recite phrases from for the better half of my life. This revival, by director and choreographer Camille A. Brown, is the most essential production of Shanges masterwork to date.

Browns success here is justification that choreographers should be at the helm of everything. Every beat, note and lick of for colored girls is accented by a leap, hinge or twerk. The movements assigned to the actors transcend any one, specific form of dance. As an added testament to Browns skill, whenever there is stillness, its as if the actors are momentarily caught in the color wheel of an Alma Thomas painting, embodying the confident postures of a Kehinde Wiley tableau. For the 95 minutes it took to experience this new adaptation, I was so enthralled with the beauty splaying out in front of me, it was difficult to look down and scribble notes.

As for the women embodying our rainbow? Each one is a marvel: holding her own in vulnerable, solo monologues, and effortlessly tossing language back and forth in more community-oriented ones. They audibly hype one another up during dance breaks, always ready with a wide smile and a laying on of hands. Okwui Okpokwasili (Lady in Green), Alexandria Wailes (Lady in Purple), and D. Woods (Lady in Yellow) who reprise their roles from the 2019 Public Theater production have only gotten better. Amara Granderson (Lady in Orange), Tendayi Kuumba (Lady in Brown), Kenita R. Miller (Lady in Red), and Stacey Sargeant (Lady in Blue) fall into perfect synchrony. These artists seem to have eaten Shanges poems for breakfast before marching, belly and mouths full, into the show. Watching Miller, in particular, recite a nite with beau willie brown while noticeably pregnant is nothing short of an honor to witness.

This moment is one of only a few that harken back to the tonal darkness shrouding many peoples memories of for colored girls. Abuse and abandonment continue to be recurring themes in this production, but the delivery is different. latent rapist, a poem about the disillusionment that comes when acquaintances become assailants, is delivered bluntly, devoid of melodrama by the Lady in Green. In a laying on of hands, a collaboration of the entire ensemble, the famous refrain i found God in myself and i loved her fiercely is repeated, quickly morphing from chant to rallying cry. somebody almost walked off wid alla my stuff, also performed by the Lady in Green, is righteous and shockingly funny more a reclamation of a womans power, than a damnation of the man who almost walked away wid alla it. Browns ethos here is evident: its time to usher in more joy to this space.

for colored girls poses a rare challenge for its creative team the Broadway of it all (grandiose stage, blinding lights, etc.) threatens to take away from the unfiltered rawness of Shanges script. Fortunately, that danger is avoided. Costume designer Sarafina Bush takes a refreshing step away from the frequently-replicated dresses that draped the original Broadway cast, armoring these rainbow women in silk cargo pants, lace bralettes and other contemporary garments. Hair and Wig designer Cookie Jordan embraces styles that dance across the natural hair spectrum: box braids, textured wigs, locs (faux and authentique). Designers Myung Hee Cho (Scenic), Jiyoun Chang (Lighting), and Aaron Rhyne (Projection) marry spectacle, hue and abstract imagery to illuminate the actors varying shades of brown. (A special shoutout to Chang who rarely betrays Beyoncs golden rule about lighting Black girls in blue)! The audio and music teams meld the actors vocalizations into tracks of music, which blend into the choruses of praise coming from the audience. Every element falls seamlessly into place, as if the production were never a summation of parts, but always a complete offering.

Poetry was made so Ntozake Shange could write it. Its why her words could be read in a 1970s Berkeley bar and have women falling out of their seats. Five decades later, a Broadway revival has women leaping to their feet before bows have begun. for colored girls cuts to the marrow of the bone, and I want to get caught up in its rapture again and again once to look at the show with ears covered, again to hear it with eyes closed and a third time just to enjoy the fellow Black women in the audience, heart wide open.

for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf opened at the Booth Theatre on April 20, 2022.

Review Photo: Marc J. Franklin

Creative: Written by Ntozake Shange; Original Music by Martha Redbone and Aaron Whitby; Music orchestrated by Martha Redbone and Aaron Whitby; Music arranged by Martha Redbone and Aaron Whitby; Drum Arrangements: Jaylen Petinaud; Directed by Camille A. Brown; Choreographed by Camille A. Brown; Associate Director: Christina Franklin; Scenic Design by Myung Hee Cho; Costume Design by Sarafina Bush; Lighting Design by Jiyoun Chang; Sound Design by Justin Ellington; Projection Design by Aaron Rhyne.

Producers: Nelle Nugent, Ron Simons, Kenneth Teaton, Ellen Ferguson and Vivian Phillips, Willette & Manny Klausner, Hunter Arnold, Dale Franzen, Valencia Yearwood, Audible, Dennis Grimaldi, Terry Nardozzi and Tracey Knight Narang, Grace Nordhoff/Mickalene Thomas, Angelina Fiordellisi/Caiola Productions and The Public Theater; Presented through exclusive arrangement with The Ntozake Shange Trust.

Cast: Amara Granderson, Tendayi Kuumba, Kenita R. Miller, Okwui Okpokwasili, Stacey Sargeant, Alexandria Wailes and D. Woods.

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Review: The breathtaking beauty of 'for colored girls' - Broadway News

Kiwi celebrities reveal their favourite Fish & Chips shops. Video / Annaleise Shortland

Every nation has things that make them unique, things that, when mentioned, immediately evoke images of that particular country. New Zealand is no exception.

A recent social media post highlight some of the more quirky and hilarious things that are undeniably, irrefutably Kiwi - the "unspoken rules" that every self-respecting New Zealander must follow.

"What are the unspoken rules of New Zealand?" was the question posed in a Reddit thread earlier this week.

The answers did not disappoint.

The original poster mentioned the unspoken rule that you "must wave or nod in some capacity to the stop/go people" which every Kiwi will know to be true.

Additionally, they wrote, "when talking about weather, in Wellington, it must be said it cannot be beaten on a good day, and in Auckland, some reference must be made to four seasons in one day".

But above all, they added, a golden rule of life in New Zealand is: "Obey the Aunties. Even if they are not your Aunties."

Other Kiwis contributed their own unspoken rules to the thread, including the ones below:

1. "You are required by law to declare "just these thanks" when buying things at a dairy or servo. If you don't, the shop can charge you for literally anything and everything else on the premises."

2. "One must always thank the bus driver."

3. "If someone raises their eyebrows at you. You raise your eyebrows back." A Reddit user responded to this one saying it is called "the bro brow".

4. "Never, ever pay full price for anything in Briscoes." Or Kathmandu, as another Reddit user added.

5. "When you meet someone at a party, you must find the two degrees of separation between the two of you. Or at least ask them if they know James from high school who works in the same company as them."

A response to this "unspoken rule" added that this applies to anywhere in the world. "If you're at a pub in the UK you'll still somehow find your cousin's ex-flatmate there."

6. "You got your everyday jandals and your 'going out' jandals."

7. "Nod down for strangers and being polite, upwards to the bros."

8. "Whenever you answer a question with 'not many' you MUST follow up with 'if any'."

9. "Children's birthday party tables must and shall feature cheerios and fairy bread. Hundreds and thousands biscuits are not an acceptable replacement for fairy bread but may be served as well. Auckland-specific but if you have a new child in the family, take them to the zoo and place them in the mouth of the dragon as an offering. He will generally let you have them back."

10. "You must moo at a cow at least once during a road trip."

11. "Say hello (or similar) to people you walk past on a trail." This practice usually stops the moment you step on to an urban road, a Reddit user replied, with another calling it the "tramping version of togs, togs, undies".

12. "Always thanks the driver for stopping at a crossing. Slight nod and raise the hand."

13. "On road trips you must honk going through a tunnel, and if a passenger, hold your breath over long bridges."

14. "If you answer a question, regardless of whether the response is yes or no, you have to say a mixture of yeah, nah, yeah a few times."

Other Reddit users clarified that "yeah nah" means "nah" whereas "yeah nah yeah" means "yeah".

15. "Always assume if entering someone's home that it's shoes off unless they say otherwise."

On the subject of footwear, multiple Reddit users also pointed out that, in New Zealand, going barefoot anywhere is always an acceptable option.

16. "If the server in a restaurant asks you how the food is, you must always politely say it is excellent, even if it is terrible. This is the Kiwi way."

17. "If 'Slice of Heaven' plays you must sing along at the top of your lungs. No exceptions."

18. "Digging a hole is part of spending the day at the beach."

19. "Tie something on the roof racks, tell yourself that's not going anywhere."

20. "Always blow on the pie."

Safer communities together.

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Kiwis reveal the unspoken rules of New Zealand - New Zealand Herald

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The first weekend of trans-Tasman rugby is behind us already, and even if the results went in pretty much exactly the direction they were expected to, it was no less enjoyable a weekend of football.

I suggested this time last week that keeping the scoreboard ticking for the Australian sides was going to be even more crucial this weekend than ever, and all our sides saw that benefit for themselves.

The Waratahs, despite their front row being shredded for personnel within the opening couple of minutes, found 24 of their 27 points between the 28th and 51st minutes to pull the Chiefs back to 30-27.

Game on, you might have thought, all things being equal.

But among the Waratahs many issues on the night only once in that 23-minute period were they the next team to score. The Chiefs found 21 unanswered points in the last 23 minutes themselves, just to underline this point, and served with a side dish of momentum.

Even the Drua did well to stay with the Blues, and they never went more than 22 minutes between scoring themselves. Their problem was that the Blues never waited more than 14 minutes.

The Brumbies always scored next after the Highlanders scored. Every time. And twice they scored next after scoring themselves, which even with their increasingly regular mid-game error patch allowed them to control the game best of the Australian sides.

The Reds started like this as well. Taniela Tupous 21st-minute lunge was crossed out, but it was only three minutes after that that Hamish Stewart finished off a great piece of play to score next to the posts. And Fraser McReight scored only another three minutes after that try was converted.

At 17-0 after half an hour, they should have been looking to put the foot on the throat. Instead they blinked.

(Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Way too many of them forgot about the knock the ball forward part of the deliberate knock-forward law (11.3), and whatever your thoughts on whether what is essentially a cynical play deserves the benefit of the ball not travelling forward, all the Reds players standing there with their arms out as Bailyn Sullivan ran away with the ball in the opposite direction had forgotten the golden rule first taught in juniors: always play to the whistle.

Queensland never troubled the scorer again from that point on.

Equally puzzling was Brad Thorns decision to replace Tate McDermott in the 60th minute, having only just put the Reds through the gain line with another trademark dart. The Reds trailed by only five at the time. And Jason Holland didnt sit TJ Perenara down until the 67th minute and with the margin by then out to eight.

With James OConnor out of action and certainly missed as serviceable job as Lawson Creighton did in the No. 10 the Reds needed their best players on the field and firing until the game was definitely gone. Kalani Thomas is going to be a good scrumhalf in time and maybe even a matchwinner, but that time is not yet.

McReight is reaching new levels with his game in 2022, that is for sure.

He took some time to adjust to Angus Gardners breakdown rulings, but I actually like that he was so willing and so keen to keep going back to the well. A good on-ball No. 7 is forever pushing the envelope, and McReight absolutely pushed it. Fourteen tackles, three turnovers won and just under nine metres per carry is a good return too, but hes always been strong in these areas.

(Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Where hes really lifted this season is his linking and passing game. His support play is certainly better too.

I dont know what sort of adjustments Dave Rennie would have to make to his Wallabies game plan to fit McReight in and bring him off the bench to finish games alongside Michael Hooper, but weve surely reached the point where the conversation needs to be had. And its not even a matter of whether hes surpassed Hooper or not; hes surely now just playing too well to leave out.

With OConnor gone, McReight could well be the determining factor in how deep Queensland go this season now.

On the event itself to finish with, everything I saw from afar over the weekend told me the Super Round is a concept well worth continuing with and exactly the sort of carnival-type atmosphere that works really well as an annual event.

The colour in the crowd, the noise and the atmosphere from the stadium emanating through the broadcast despite the modest crowd size all made my disappointment at not being able to make the trip to Melbourne cut only deeper.

And yes, there are plenty of things that can and would need to be improved about the way the whole event was run and especially the way it was promoted. Everything Geoff Parkes outlined yesterday was bang on the mark.

But everything about what we saw was great. And there would be plenty of venues on either side of the Tasman more than willing to put up their hands to host future incarnations and wanting to see the same broader economic benefits as travel confidence grows. Even if not Melbourne again, there would be no shortage of options.

Just in social media discussions over the weekend I saw places like Townsville and the Gold Coast and Newcastle mentioned. Places like Dunedin and even Napier or Albany. Its not too big a stretch to assume Auckland and Wellington would be interested, and you can be assured Sydney would be too, with a brand-new stadium set to open later this year.

Governments and regional councils want the visitors and their spending money, and venues want the content. All would be willing to stump up funding for it, just as the Victorian government did.

It is a good concept and it was a great weekend of rugby. And its definitely worth doing again.

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Why Super Round worked and why we should do it again - The Roar