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Having a poor or “invisible” credit score can be a highly costly situation. In fact, those who find themselves in this credit status are charged higher interest rates and can find it very difficult to climb out of the hole. A subprime credit score could mean an additional $32,923 in interest for an average 30-year mortgage. 

Not only is high interest an issue, but those who can’t rely on credit in an emergency can also find themselves having to rely on costly alternative financial services such as check cashing or pawn shop loans. These services may help in the moment, but often the additional charges and the general difficulty in paying back the actual loan, can make these services much more costly than anticipated; doing more harm than good. 

Sadly, millions of Amercians find themselves in the “unscorable” category when it comes to credit, and it’s very difficult to begin building credit from this position. However, the responsibility for this shouldn’t rely solely on the individual. 

Many of these individuals are financially responsible, however traditional credit scores fail to include the kinds of things that they are regularly paying. 

The inclusion of alternative data, such as phone payments, utilities payments, transaction histories, and rental payments, could put 90% of unscorable individuals into the scorable bracket, and many of them would be found to be prime or near prime borrowers. 

The bottom line is that it’s time for credit reports to be more inclusive.

Hospitals are falling victim to data breaches every year. These security attacks can cost millions and can damage relationships between patients and providers for years after the initial breach.To solve these problems, many healthcare organizations are making the switch from old security software to new security on the blockchain. This increases the security of patient data and has many applications within the medical field. 

The most direct application of blockchain in the medical field is the use of wearable monitoring devices. Devices can monitor things as basic as blood pressure and pulse, or more complicated things like epileptic seizures, narcolepsy, and diabetes. The information that is gathered with blockchain-powered devices is stored in a patient hub that contains all an individuals health records in secure fragmented systems. Providers can view this information in real time which allows for them to deliver personalized care efficiently to each patient. 

The patient hub is utilized by many providers due to the way that information is stored and easily accessible. The patient hub keeps all patient data up to date, which makes first responders more prepared for how to react when arriving at the scene of a medical emergency. Data collections and analyses are also made much simpler since all patient data is stored in one space in their patient hub, and providers can use this data to see different patterns within their organizations. 

Blockchain applications can also assist in private messaging between providers and patients. With the pandemic’s stay at home orders, many providers began offering telehealth services so patients could receive care from the comfort of their own home. The problem with telehealth is that patients are providing information remotely, and this data can be compromised by third parties without the patient or provider’s knowledge. This can lead to data breaches and even identity theft of patients. With blockchain, messages are kept secure and providers are able to communicate with their patients knowing that all information will be safely stored. 

Speaking to the pandemic, blockchain was utilized in order to keep up with changing trends within the spread of the virus. The same up to date software that is used to keep patient information updated was used to track new cases and hospitalizations due to COVID-19. This data was useful to providers to ensure they were keeping enough space to take incoming patients as well as keep themselves and their patients safe in a time of uncertainty. 

With the many benefits of blockchain in the healthcare industry, healthcare organizations across the country are beginning to incorporate it in their everyday routines. These applications make the exchange of data smoother, communication more secure, and overall business run more efficiently. Healthcare is changing, with telehealth on the rise there is more information being entered remotely which leaves patients vulnerable to their information being compromised. Patient privacy has always been prioritized by providers, and now it is time to start protecting their data privacy as well. With data breaches on the rise, the transition to healthcare on the block chain is a necessity. Learn more about blockchain applications in the infographic below:

Being arrested for any reason makes you immediately think of your professional life. The last thing you want is an arrest to impact your career in a negative manner. You should not admit fault of anything and enlist the help of a Raleigh criminal lawyer or one in your area. Your job might not be impacted in the slightest by an arrest. This is the ideal situation as getting a DWI as a truck driver can lead to immediate termination. The following are tips to deal with your arrest in a way that keeps your career on track. 

Get An Experienced Attorney

There are some cases that can be thrown out almost once the evidence is submitted. This could have been done in an illegal way or there are problems with the paperwork. Working with the same prosecutors can be a great advantage for some. Some will try to close a case with a plea deal while others are looking for a trial conviction. Getting into a diversion program is the best thing that can happen besides the charges being dropped early. Diversion programs can also help expunge the arrest from your record for first-time offenders. 

Stay Out Of All Kinds Of Trouble

You might have some conditions you have to follow after you are released on bail. You might not be able to drink alcohol or have to submit to drug testing. You don’t want to break these terms as it can cost you your bail money if you pay your bail entirely in cash. Laying low on social media is also recommended as community supervision officers might view these accounts. You don’t want to get into trouble again as this can impact the decision on judge makes on your initial case.

Remote Jobs Most Likely Won’t Need To Know

Unless there is something written in the employee handbook about reporting arrests, you should not do it. You don’t want any ammo for termination if you are unsteady ground with your employer. You can easily take time off if you work in a remote situation as court does not take very long. Take the time to scour websites that post these pictures and report them to be taken down. Some states make sure the privacy of a person arrested is protected while others do not. 

Use PTO Wisely

Using your vacation time for a court date might not be ideal but it can keep the arrest quiet. You will get notifications of your court dates weeks in advance so you can put in PTO notice. Some cases can extend for years depending on delays and an attorney’s strategy. Witness statements could get a bit unclear after a period of time which can lead to reasonable doubt.

An arrest can be managed in a way so your career is not impacted. All arrests do differ in severity depending on the charges alleged. Use the tips above to ensure your career stays on track after being arrested.

Even if you do not want to wait until the last minute to shop for the holidays in a  rush, it is basically anyone’s guess if the usual tech device bestsellers will actually be in stock after all when you get there. The global supply chain and chip shortage are going to make this a potentially difficult holiday shopping season, but there is hope: repairing and regifting your existing tech devices. 

That’s right – chances are you have some perfectly good consumer electronics in your house that can get new life breathed into them by inexpensive repairs by a qualified local professional. It will even likely be light on your wallet – the average household will save $330 with tech repair cost savings.

To provide more insight on this trend, the team from uBreakiFix have put together a new infographic on how you can be best prepared to make the holiday season bright for you and the ones you love.

The infographic below covers the following concepts:

• How supply chain shortages are impacting holiday shopping
• Top tech gifts expecting to sell out
• Ongoing chip shortages
• The case for regifting and repairing used tech
• Cost of repairing used tech

Check out the visual deep dive below:

Manufacturing needs change. Today, black swan events have wrought havoc on global supply chains.  The COVID-19 pandemic and response have caused disruptions, delays, increasing costs, and an atmosphere of anxiety about the future.  Despite the chaotic world surrounding them, manufacturers are under constant pressure to fill orders quickly, maximize quality and efficiency simultaneously, and improve working standards while reducing costs and increasing production complexity.  The current model is insufficient for meeting all these needs given the world we occupy today.

Thanks to the newest technology, manufacturing has the tools they need to adapt to future disruption.  Efficiency and sustainability can be increased by digitization with new technologies like artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things driving change.  End to end visibility cuts waste, non-value activity, and byproducts.  Predictive maintenance reduces disruption and environmental impact.  The benefit of adaptable technology and equipment is that it can be easily reconfigured to accommodate new products and changes.  AI-powered product demand simulations can help businesses determine how to scale production to optimize efficiency and agility.  With new technology comes new workforce demands; a versatile workforce is required to interpret data and work in virtualized or augmented reality environments. 

Equally important to improving operations in future factories is improving sustainability.  Rethinking manufacturing, production, and distribution could eliminate 45% of global emissions.  Manufacturing alone represents 20% of global emissions; major changes to the sector would have a dramatic impact on the global trajectory towards warming.  If just 5 areas of manufacturing improved, emissions would fall by an amount equal to the elimination of all transportation.  From a business perspective, responsible waste management reduces costs.  Efforts to increase sustainability drive innovation while bolstering company image.  Green processes can also ensure regulatory requirements are met preemptively; most businesses would prefer to set their own schedule instead of letting a government impose one on them. 

Outside the factory doors, manufacturers need to do just as much reimagining as they did inside them.  A major problem of the COVID-19 pandemic is its impact on supply chains.  Lockdowns in one country prevent intermediate goods from reaching another, causing ripple effects across the global economy.  To avoid similar problems from happening in the future, companies should switch from single source suppliers to creating a value network.  While single suppliers are available at a lower cost, value networks have more resilience and flexibility available to them.  Future factories need to leverage advanced planning and scheduling to plan for disruptions and ensure their network is able to bounce back from challenges.

In 2018, just 12% of companies had a mature factory of the future plan.  Now that recent events have revealed the need for such planning, that percentage should increase rapidly over the coming months.  Starting one’s transformation journey doesn’t have to be hard.  There are 4 steps: evaluate disruption opportunities, determine your company’s maturity, plan and execute your strategy, and drive transformation success.  Transformation depends on people, processes, and technology.  Neglecting one threatens the success of all three factors. The future is now.

Obtaining pet insurance is a crucial part of pet ownership. The U.S. is home to 3.1 million insured pets. In 2020, a whopping $103.6 billion was spent on pet-related products and services in 2020, and $31 billion alone was invested in veterinary care. Depending on the type of policy you choose, pet insurance covers wellness, accident, and illness care and can help you prepare for an unexpected vet visit.

The U.S. pet industry is projected to generate $109.6 billion this year. Taking a look at where the costs of pet ownership are spent, food and treats accounted for $42 billion, veterinary care for $31 billion, grooming for $8 billion, and other services accounted for $22 billion.

In addition to budgeting for one-time costs associated with vaccinations, a crate, spaying/neutering, and training, it is essential to allocate emergency funds in case your pet becomes injured or seriously ill. Even with the best care for our pets, things like this happen, with three of the most common pet illnesses being poisoning ($1,783), torn ACL ($3,300), and cancer treatment ($5,000).

Is pet insurance right for you? Your pet’s specific needs may or may not make you a good candidate for pet insurance. U.S. pet insurance premiums reached nearly $2 billion last year, an increase of 26 percent over the prior year. With 83% of insured pets being dogs, many owners are reaping the plentiful benefits of pet insurance.

Parenting a pet is a lot of responsibility. Be responsible by staying ahead of the game proactively, obtaining the best vet care, and finding the right pet insurance. Be there for them, and they’ll be there for you in return.

The new iPhone 12 includes a LiDAR scanner which can help improve the time it takes for a photo, and allows for rapid focusing in darker conditions. Most people have not had experience with LiDAR in the past but this technology has been around for 60 years. The technology was even used to help map the moon during the Apollo 15 mission which took place in 1971. The following are various areas where LiDAR data can be used. 

LiDAR stands for light detection and ranging which uses light to detect objects to create a digital point cloud. The following are various things that LiDAR data can be used for:

• LiDAR can help the agriculture businesses find areas that are best suited for growing. Flying a drone with LiDAR can help gather this data incredibly quickly. There is also technology that can help note which crops might need more water or nutrients. 
• Archeology has been impacted by LiDAR as it can help identify hidden structures around the world. Finding these structures in areas that are difficult to access is quite common. 
• Astronomy uses LiDAR as NASA even used the technology to help explore Mars. This also helps create a map of the alien planet and could even detect precipitation like snow that was falling. Understanding these things is important when trying to detect if life would be viable on alien planets. The data that can be generated can help image planets in such a way that was impossible in the past. 
• Climate scientists have been using LiDAR to study the frequent changes within the atmosphere. Botanists have used it to help track patterns in certain areas. Understanding growth patterns of certain plants in a specific area is important. 
• Land management uses this in order to do disaster assessment after a storm or earthquake. This is essential as driving to assess this might not be possible but with technology like a drone, there are no safety concerns as a drone can be replaced, unlike a human life. Resources on a piece of land can also be a part of the data set. There could be areas that have no access by land or boat after a disaster. The drones will be able to assess the damage as a landslide could have taken away the only route by land. 
• The oil industry uses this to detect oil and gas deposits. Pipeline inspection is also done with LiDAR as a damaged pipe can lead to an environmental disaster. 
• LiDAR helps the renewable energy industry in a variety of ways. LiDAR data can assist surveyors and energy companies determine the best place for a solar farm.
• LiDAR is used in autonomous vehicles to help detect the distance between other cars and objects to avoid while driving. This shows the speed at which the data can be gathered, translated, and a decision is made by a vehicle. Data has shown that there would be a large reduction in accidents if everyone had an autonomous vehicle. 

Look for data to become an even larger part of daily life in the coming years. The ease of collecting data will also become of paramount importance. LiDAR can allow massive amounts of data to be gathered in a short period of time. Look for this technology to enter into your daily life within the next decade. Drones have already entered the lives of a number of people in their personal and professional lives. The footage that can be taken of an area with a drone can make for great introductions for television and travel programs.