Coffee with Casner

WHAT IS IT?

According to law enforcement, stealing checks from mailboxes is increasing, and nobody is safe. Crooks prefer using older, less technologically advanced methods that still work. Instead of sending malicious text messages or phishing emails, these criminals take a pen-and-paper approach.

WHY IMPORTANT

Many of these criminals committed stimulus check fraud during the pandemic, and the reduction in postal budgets creates plenty of opportunities. For example, a New York resident recently had a $235 check altered to be $9,001. The check was cashed in only a few hours, and the victim lost their money.

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WHAT IS IT?
The Great Reset is a convergence of trends some decades in the making that culminate in a changed relationship between individuals and organizations. Let’s break down the five “Great Rs” collectively, giving us an empowered workforce.

WHY IMPORTANT
We must acknowledge that the workforce has transformed and now plays by different rules and is motivated by various factors. Leaders take note.

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WHAT IS IT?

Now, with the new battery technology engineered by cleantech startup Nanode, the flying car era could be much closer. There are also plenty of earthbound applications for the batteries.

WHY IMPORTANT

The startup is developing a next-generation high-capacity tin anode for lithium and sodium-ion batteries that can double the amount of a battery’s functionality and expand what a battery can do. “It’s going to open up and enable a whole new generation of battery technology.”

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WHAT IS IT?

Developers have a sneaky way of getting you to install extra stuff you don’t need but make them money. They will disclose this in the program’s terms and conditions, but no one reads it. This link shows you how to catch them in the act.

WHY IMPORTANT

Since many people don’t consider themselves “advanced” users, they’ll choose the simple or recommended option. It makes sense to let the program do all the work, right?

Not so fast. Express installations often include a few or all the items listed above.

Some programs change your default settings, browser, homepage, or search engine. You won’t have the option to say thanks in the express or default installation.

Finally, express installations can opt you into data collection, sync your contacts, or include some other invasion of privacy. Yikes. While you may be able to change these settings later, it’s better to decline during the installation phase.

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WHAT IS IT?

‘Smart information,’ and the rise of generative AI enables it, are tools that rely on text, like Bing’s new form of search and ChatGPT, and are just the beginning of a transformative way we use information.

WHY IMPORTANT

Multimodal AI systems “combine multiple modes of input, such as text, images, videos, and audio, to perform a task or solve a problem,” per ChatGPT. Our current generative AI tools are a little limited in that they convert one to one (text → text, text → image, image → 3D model, sound → text). These next-gen systems will be the ones to make information adaptive and context-aware.

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WHAT IS IT?

They collaborated with agency Chief Human Capital Officers (CHCOs) and developed a vision for the future of the workforce:

We envision a Federal government with a workforce of the future that is inclusive, agile, and engaged, with the right skills to enable mission delivery. This vision will serve as a north star for agencies and support mission delivery. To help agencies achieve this future state, OPM has developed a strategy focused on five priority areas:

WHY IMPORTANT

OPM will build upon the vision for the future of the Federal workforce articulated above and outline key actions agencies can take to make their future workforces and enable mission delivery. OPM will provide greater clarity and a framework outlining key strategies agencies should incorporate to ensure the Federal government is competitive for top talent and an employer of choice.

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WHAT IS IT?

Generation Z, born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s – the cohort of young people who will soon make up a significant portion of the workforce – has come of age. They have already started their careers at a time when the way we work has changed forever – huge dependence on technology.

WHY IMPORTANT

So how do employers attract and retain the best people for the job and build a sustainable workforce which will support company objectives while meeting the demands and expectations of their workforce?

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WHAT IS IT?

When the sun hits your TV or monitors just right, you can see hundreds of tiny scratches left over from the last time you cleaned it. That’s because you used paper towels. They’re great for picking up spills, but the abrasive surface scratches and damages the panel on monitors, TVs, and even phones. Paper towels also leave little scraps of lint behind. Tap or click here for steps to deep clean your phone.

WHY IMPORTANT

Cleaning your screen should be done carefully, especially if you want to preserve your TV for as long as possible. These three methods protect your screens and keep them cleaner than paper towels ever will.

Use microfiber rags to clean the surface of your screens. Microfiber cleaning cloths are antimicrobial and use up to 95% less water and chemicals than paper towels or cotton cleaning cloths.

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