Showing posts with label Finance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Finance. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Sex, Drugs & Silicon Valley

Sporthot | 1:25:00 PM | |
Once a month, the former winners of the schools that excluded the sex chapri inventions take their revenge, giving fasaraki a party with isotonic drinks, many drugs and orgies, according to a Bloomberg reporter revealing magazine
Until now they have xanamesei the Giapis of Wall Street or film stars who were prone to all sorts of orgies: the old generation addicted to adrenaline, drugs and casual sex has been replaced by new technologists tycoons, starring in organizing such party type. Only these have changed character: they are accompanied by non-alcoholic beverages, they are isotonic and offer plenty of drugs that include or rather dominate Molly pills - the new trend.

It is the shifting of the old ecstasies, which also have as a necessary complement the strong beats, children's music or at least the high decibels that can bring the new members to euphoria. So, there are all the times when "Eyes Wide Shut" fantasies refer to directed states of rage between candlesticks and old libraries. Now the rages are taking place on boats or in unknown suburbs of San Francisco with key starters new owners of startup technology companies - the new Silicon Valley mongers. Women are understood to be here, as in the case of Wall Street, almost absent or, in any event, playing exclusively the role of entertaining guests.

All these reveal the book by journalist of Bloomberg Emily Chang, which after thorough investigation into the dark world of technology - and part of - and chauvinistic behavior of men who have primacy in the field wrote the book «Brotopia: Breaking the Silicon Valley Boys' Club, which is due to be released in February.
Excerpts but only secured the «Vanity Fair» and have already caused great concern for the multitude of information surfacing about the orgies and the aggressive behavior of the various managers and key personnel who star in Silicon Valley: «At least one month, usually on Friday or Saturday nights, Silicon Valley technocrats gather for a full party for drugs and sex. The most common event is hosted in a luxurious home on the lips of Hillsborough.

In special cases, guests are forced to travel north, to a tower in the Napa Valley or to a private villa on Malibu beach or a boat in Ibiza. The parts are changing but most of the players and protagonists are left alone. " To add with some surprise the writer that the stories told her "about 25 people from those who participated in these parties are remarkable for different reasons each. Many participants did not seem annoyed, nor did they seem ashamed.

On the contrary, they are proud to speak of how they have overturned traditions and personal examples, just as they do with the world of technology. " In short, Silicon Valley's young protagonists consider it natural if they think "out of context" with regard to their inventions, to do the same in the other areas of their lives. Of course, in this case, the choices are, according to the writer, again victims of women, as their possible participation makes them insolvent for the company, and their respective denials put them on the black list. As for men, the explanation of the argument is simple and probably has to do with the fact that the college's foreign nerds, who have been deprived of an intense sexual life by devoting more time to their next invention, now take their blood back with occasional conjunctions and orgies. In short, the well-known nerds become short-time entrepreneurs.

As the Vanity Fair points out, it is not accidental to circulate the book in times when everyone is talking about sexual harassment and abundant examples come to light every day. When everyone is focusing on Hollywood, few get bored to talk about San Francisco and Silicon Valley. The journalist and writer Emily Chang is doing the first thing in a nutshell: "It is likely that directors and top investors will hold a million dollars a year and earn another million after a long career.

But employees in companies such as Uber, Airbnb and Snapchat can make the same money in only a few years. Famous people such as Kutcher, Leth and Di Caprio have already invested in such companies. Basketball player Lembron has already re-launched himself as a technology entrepreneur. With so many famous people wanting to get into the game of technology, it's no surprise that some in Silicon Valley consider their world to be very charming - and they also have great expectations for their sex life. "

In short, new millionaires are no longer coming from the problematic stock market or the world of bankers but from technology.

The author uses testimonies by others to emphasize how absurd this world looks to non-Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and brings some examples from the economic field. She does not, however, conceal details of the way such gatherings are organized, according to testimonies of people who have witnessed or participated: "The guests arrive just before dinner and are scrutinized by special guards who can not accept someone off the list. Sometimes there is special catering.

But because in most cases they do not want irrelevant guests, dinner is cooked on-site by those present - perhaps because the dishwashing, after sweet, helps the world come closer. Alcohol is scarce and there is just to cool the atmosphere a little bit, but drugs do not slow to make their appearance. It goes without saying that MDMA, ecstasy or else Molly, is known for its effective effect on transforming strangers into friends. It's no accident that Molly's pills often list the company's initials. That's why some people, when referring to these parties, make it coded with "e-parties".

"MDMA is the terribly powerful and long-acting drug that causes such euphoria and energy that can keep you active for three or four hours. As dopamine increases, the closer the links become in the room, and the behaviors that are needed are gradually overlooked.

Hats and splashes begin. However, they are not orgies in themselves but for individual sexual encounters where the guests are divided into trio or larger groups. Some people disappear in the rooms, although they often open it in front of everyone. The night leaves and dawn comes in, and the groups serve breakfast - after which they restart the erotic works. Fai, drugs, sex, and sex again. "

"These sex parties happen so often they are not even scandalous - and they are not a common secret. At least they are telling me. It's just a lifestyle issue. As most say: "We no longer live in the age of Makarhism but in Silicon Valley of the 21st Century". No one is required to participate and participation is not kept hidden even if it is a married or in a relationship. They just try to be discreet - at least in their everyday lives. Many are invited to the party as husband-couples, lovers, since the new regularity in this world is open relations. "

Ready for jungle ceremonies!

A new world is born in Silicon Valley where nothing is taken for granted - not even a companion. Of course, electronic invitations usually have codes like "we call you at a party on the edge of the Earth". And guests must be "ready and prone to adventure and enjoy jungle ceremonies."

In this call, which was sent to an invited guest named Jane Doe (a pseudonym that is used in English either for someone unknown or for someone who does not want to reveal his identity), the hosts were the same a pair of her bosses - who naturally participated in the "African-inspired orgies."

The specially designed room of the house had safari decoration and was full of fake skins in the place of the carpets, while it had fur pillows ready to welcome the guests. It goes without saying that the majority of the guests in such a party must be women - and this for the author is indicative of the male-dominated world but also of the underestimated role of the woman in Silicon Valley.

The same is true of another woman who has happened to be present: "Women rush to these parties most of the time to secure a better place. To be clear, there are many party slogans depending on the type of sexual experimentation. Some are sexually exclusive, but they do not have any alcohol (to achieve high performance), while others make sure there is a better proportion of men and women.

Most, however, have a lot of drugs and many women and end up with the famous "cuddle puddles" (the group hugs after parties), which is the essential stage for orgies. Men are usually invited by the host and can bring as many women as they want - but they are not allowed as women's escorts. Women invited are required to be alone. Invitations are sent either verbally or through Facebook or Snapchat because they can be deleted after a while.

It goes without saying that everything is encoded so you can not move it to another source. Besides, they do not need to be explained.

Typical is the case of Ava who "worked as an influential executive at Google when her boss succeeded in such a party. He saw him sitting on a specially-made bench and giving a jerk in the back of a young man who made him a mouthful of love at the same time that she was accepting the penetration of someone else.

Ava and her boss exchanged eyeglasses, but never mentioned that fatal encounter. A few months later, in another incident, far from Google's offices, a married colleague attempted an obscene gesture. And when he told him "but what are you doing, you're not okay! Do not touch me! "He replied," I know what you are doing, everyone in the office is commenting on you. " It is no coincidence that a little later she was forced to give up and leave Google completely. " And this is indicative of the fact that, while no man is stigmatized by his participation in such orgies, it is not the same as women who are always punished in the worst way.

An example is Esther Crawford, a businessman who was particularly familiar with sex parties, as the author says: "Crawford had a monogamous relationship for four years with Chris Messina, a former Google employee and Uber, a well-known and as an inventor of the hashtag. Recently, both have launched a Molly company -which is not randomly identified with the name of the drug- developing a kind of "electronic and discreet pet with artificial intelligence that can stand in different ways next to the user."

They even chose to become monogamy for some time, because complicating things with others complicated things a little. At the same time, they developed their company to such an extent that in December 2017 they had already raised $ 1.5 million for their company. Crawford, as a successful entrepreneur, could accurately list the difficulties a woman encounters - which a man can not even think of.

When she raised money for her second company, a social networking application called Glmps went to dinner with an investor in a modern restaurant on San Francisco's main street. At the end of the night the investor cut her a $ 20,000 check and then immediately tried to kiss her. "It was clear I resisted him," Crawford says categorically. "I went back and asked him to call me a Uber." She claims that the investor is most likely to have heard of her being sexually open, and that it was difficult for her to simply appear as an investor rather than as a conqueror. It was something like his obligation. " A simple proof that a woman who is experimenting with a party of this kind or who can have a comfortable life in her sex life is obliged to accept the persistent sexual harassment of her male colleagues.

However, there is also the opposite side, according to the book, of the young owners of technology companies who also suffer the sexual pressures of young girls who are willing to take part in order to secure either money, a rich escort, or an upswing in some of companies. Chang, who is well acquainted with many stories from the world of technology, refers, among other things, to the case of Helen Pao, a senior executive in a technology company who had won the sexual harassment case against Clint Perkin's boss, but has since been in black stocks and he had received all sort of threat because he just dared to talk.

Of course he has never found a job in Silicon Valley. Another typical example that you see in the book is that of the well-known Sequoia company, where a shareholder has publicly stated that they are not willing to lower their standards by recruiting women, as well as interviews with Facebook and YouTube's director, through which it appears that women in managerial posts are a rare phenomenon.

More generally, the sexual examples cited by the famous journalist are intended to show that, like Hollywood, once considered the land of dreams and proven to be the land of discrimination, Silicon Valley is not a "fantastic world of unicorns, online reality bows, and three-dimensional lollipops, where millions of dollars grow on trees. It's a Brotopia, where men have all the cards in their hands and they are defending. " Even sexual liberation here is not mentioned for good - not as an example of freedom, but as a negative example of female oppression and marginalization.
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Sunday, April 23, 2017

11 Financial Goals to Hit Before You’re 50

Sporthot | 12:24:00 PM | |
The approach of a milestone birthday is a reminder that, as life changes, so do your needs and circumstances. With the Big Five-O the question is settled: You’re no longer a kid. And that’s a great thing: Maturity is much better than it’s cracked up to be. So, instead of dreading it, update your financial life by hitting these targets and embrace the coming decades:

1. Debt: Tamed

Maybe it’s maturity, or maybe it’s the prospect of dragging debts through your so-called golden years, but you have paid off your debts or have them under control. You add new debt only when you can easily handle it. You pay credit card balances before interest is applied. Your total debt follows principles outlined in “The Charles Schwab Guide to Finances After 50”:

28 percent: An industry rule of thumb suggests that no more than 28 percent of your pretax household income should go to servicing home debt (principal, interest, taxes, and insurance).
36 percent: No more than 36 percent of your pretax income should go to all debt: your home debt plus credit card debt and auto loans.
Not quite there yet? Learn how to tackle big debts fast. Before signing up for credit cards, comparison shop for the best rates and lowest fees.

2. Spending: Under control

With children possibly gone from the home and maybe out of school, you may have more money on hand now, and it’s tempting to spend it. After all, your friends may be living it up, and you’ve worked hard to get here. Have fun. But don’t shortchange retirement goals. If you are well-employed, your 50s are a gift — probably the best earning years of your life. Double down on savings, as retirement may last a long, long time.

Also, start thinking about how you’ll change your spending after retirement.

3. Retirement goals: Defined

Set a concrete goal for your retirement savings. Just do it. The kids will find a way to pay for college if it matters to them. They have years to get on their feet financially. You do not. Set a retirement income goal now so that, if you are short financially, there’s time to improve things.

There are a couple of approaches. One is to shoot for saving six to nine times your annual household income by your mid-50s to early 60s, says Walter Updegrave, at Real Deal Retirement. Example: If you earn $60,000 a year, your IRA, 401(k) or other account should approach $360,000 to $540,000 as you near 60.

Another is to see how far your current retirement savings will take you. This KeyBank calculator shows that a nest egg of $1 million will last 21 years if you withdraw $50,000 a year (assuming inflation is 2.5 percent and investments earn 3 percent after tax and inflation). Only have $100,000 saved? It’ll buy you two years of retirement at the same rate of spending.

Now that you have a goal, keep increasing the percent of each paycheck saved for retirement. Make the increases so small they’re hardly noticeable. If you’re diverting 12 percent to savings now, bump it up to 13 percent, or 13.5 percent. Six months later, give your savings another tiny raise and keep it going until you are at goal. Ditto if you’re saving 6 percent: Inch it up to 7 percent, and then onward.

Some experts recommend saving 15 percent to 20 percent or more of before-tax salary. Automate the deductions, so you’ll never see the money. Getting a bonus? Put a hefty chunk into retirement savings.

The rock-bottom line: Even in the worst times, save at least enough to earn your employer’s maximum matching contribution.

You may be pessimistic about Social Security’s chances, and you could be right to expect cuts in payouts or a change in eligibility ages. Social Security is not going bust. Before long, though, Congress must either find more funding or shrink benefits.

But don’t bet against this retirement lifeline. It still is likely to be one source of income in your retirement, and there are things you can do now to maximize your payout.

Go to SocialSecurity.gov and set up a “My Social Security” account. Use it to estimate your future benefits at various retirement ages. Social Security benefits are based on your best 35 years of earnings, so plan to work longer if you need to boost those earning years.

6. 401(k): Lowest fees possible

Fees paid to manage retirement savings may appear low. “What’s 3.5 percent but a drop in the bucket?” you think. Wrong!

Many savers unknowingly pay far too much in mutual fund fees, losing tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars they could have used in retirement. This chart offers an example, Watch the video of ’11 Financial Goals to Hit Before You’re 50′ on MoneyTalksNews.com.

Beginning balance Annual return Fees Balance in 35 years
$25,000 7% 0.50% $227,000
$25,000 7% 1.50% $163,000
Check your plan statements to see the fees you are charged. Time Magazine explains:

… you can minimize fees by opting for the lowest-cost funds available — typically index funds, which tend to be less expensive than actively managed funds. And if your IRA is too pricey, move it elsewhere.

7. Your will: Updated

You don’t need a will. If you don’t have one, a probate court will decide what to do with your assets.

If you want control over what happens to your money and property, though, you’ll need one. And your spouse should have a separate will. A will gives voice to your decisions and requests after you’re gone. Use it to say what you want for your children and pets after you’re gone. Use it to determine what happens to possessions with financial or sentimental value. You can name an executor who will be in charge of following your directions and include provisions for your remains and a funeral, if you want one.

Committing to doing good in the world is a part of maturing. With a small budget or a large one, philanthropy allows you to express your values and connects you to the world on new terms. There’s the personal satisfaction, and there’s also a helpful tax deduction.

9. Long-term care: A plan in mind

By our 50th birthday, it occurs to many of us that maybe — just maybe — we really will get old. Since many of us will end up needing skilled nursing care in old age, at least for a short time, managing your finances requires considering how to pay for it. Long-term care insurance can be an excellent tool. But whether it’s right for you depends on several things.

Money Talks News founder Stacy Johnson lays out the pros, cons and considerations in “Ask Stacy: Should I Buy Long-Term Care Insurance?”

10. Mortgage: End in sight

Entering retirement with a paid-off mortgage is a smart goal. Tearing up the mortgage before retirement was commonplace a couple of generations ago. Not everyone can pull it off these days, but the rewards are great. You’ll require less income. If your mortgage eats a quarter or a third or more of your monthly pay, you’ll enjoy a raise of that much, just when your paychecks stop. What’s more, it’s a tax-free raise.

One way to end your mortgage: Don’t refinance. Refinancing piles on fees, money you could use for paying off the balance. Look for better strategies here: “7 Painless Ways to Pay Off Your Mortgage Years Earlier.”

11. Insurance: Reviewed and adjusted accordingly

Life changes, and so should your insurance. If your children or spouse would be lost without your salary, get enough life insurance to carry them through if you die. Stick with cheaper term insurance (low-fee index funds, not life insurance products, are a cheaper way to save for retirement).

Likewise, if losing your salary would be financially devastating, cover the risk with disability insurance.

When children are launched in careers and you and your spouse are nearer retirement, you may be able to drop life insurance.

Take a look at your home and auto insurance limits, too. Is the coverage still appropriate?

As for heath insurance, enlist an insurance broker — it should cost you nothing — to review your health insurance needs and costs. If you have a high-deductible plan, total your most recent year’s out-of-pocket expenses to make certain that you still are coming out ahead.
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