Stocks Analysis by MarketBeat.com (Thomas Hughes) covering: Home Depot Inc, Home Depot Incorporated, Home Depot Inc DRC, Home Depot Inc BDR. Read MarketBeat.com (Thomas Hughes)&#x27;s latest article on Investing.com

Home Depot Stock Is Still Range-Bound, Lower Prices Ahead | Investing.com

Prosecutors say Alexandre Henrique Costa-Mota, 27, will be handed over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement to face possible deportation.

Man faces potential deportation after sentencing in $300,000 Home Depot theft scheme, DOJ says

Investigators say the man went into the store and loaded the circuit breakers into a large suitcase and walked out.

Bensalem police warning about serial shoplifter accused of stealing from Home Depot stores - 6abc Philadelphia

&quot;I&#x27;d say we have a neutral look on housing for 2024,&quot; Home Depot CEO Edward Decker said on the company&#x27;s fourth quarter earnings call Tuesday. &quot;We don&#x27;t think there&#x27;s incremental pressure nor do we think that we&#x27;re quite ready for a hockey stick recovery.&quot;

Home Depot doesn't see a 'hockey stick recovery' for housing market: CEO

Home Depot CFO Richard McPhail said shrinkage was to blame for gross margin dips last year.

Organized crime has come for Home Depot—$100,000 of goods was stolen from Florida stores as self-checkout theft continues rattling retailers

A former West Hartford resident faces possible deportation after stealing nearly $300,000 worth of Home Depot merchandise.

West Hartford man faces deportation after stealing $300K from Home Depot

That content doesn&#x27;t seem to exist... have you tried going to the home page, or exploring an interest · Meanwhile, here are some important items you&#x27;ll want to know:

Home Depot Earnings Beats Expectations. It Sees Another ‘Year of 
Moderation’ Ahead.

Home Depot forecast full-year results below analysts&#x27; estimates on Tuesday, signaling that lackluster demand would continue to pressure the company this year as people tighten spending on home remodeling amid sticky inflation.

Home Depot sees muted 2024 as demand recovery takes longer | Reuters

Home Depot, a bellwether of the housing market and US economy, said sales dropped over the winter and it’s a expecting a slow 2024.

Home Depot forecasts a weak 2024 | CNN Business

Home Depot has seen sales slow as consumers buy fewer big-ticket items and spend on experiences instead of goods.

Home Depot beats earnings, sales estimates even as consumers take on smaller home improvement projects

Home Depot

homedepot

United States of America v. Google LLC., Court Filing, retrieved on April 30, 2024, is part of HackerNoon’s Legal PDF Series. You can jump to any part of this filing here. This part is 2 of 37. Citations to Witness Testimony Trial Transcript: Tr. [PP:LL]-[PP:LL] ([witness last name]) ([affiliation]) e.g., Tr. 2204:0-2205:21 (Giannandrea (Apple)); Tr. 4610:12-22 (Whinston (Pls. expert)) Designated Testimony: Des. Tr. [PP:LL]-[PP:LL] ([deponent last name]) ([affiliation]) Dep.) e.g., Tr. 21:18-22:1, 41:23-42:10 (James (Amazon) Dep.); des. Tr. 82:7-22, 23:13-24 (Apple-EC 30(b)(6) Dep.) Continue Reading Here. About HackerNoon Legal PDF Series: We bring you the most important technical and insightful public domain court case filings.
This court case retrieved on April 30, 2024, storage.courtlistener is part of the public domain. The court-created documents are works of the federal government, and under copyright law, are automatically placed in the public domain and may be shared without legal restriction. United States of America v. Google LLC., Court Filing, retrieved on April 30, 2024, is part of HackerNoon’s Legal PDF Series. You can jump to any part of this filing here. This part is 2 of 37. United States of America v. Google LLC., Court Filing, retrieved on April 30, 2024, is part of HackerNoon’s Legal PDF Series . You can jump to any part of this filing here . This part is 2 of 37. HackerNoon’s Legal PDF Series here Citations to Witness Testimony Trial Transcript: Trial Transcript: Tr. [PP:LL]-[PP:LL] ([ witness last name ]) ([ affiliation ]) Tr. witness last name affiliation e.g., Tr. 2204:0-2205:21 (Giannandrea (Apple)); Tr. 4610:12-22 (Whinston (Pls. expert)) Designated Testimony: Designated Testimony: Des. Tr. [PP:LL]-[PP:LL] ([deponent last name]) ([affiliation]) Dep .) Des. Tr. Dep e.g., Tr. 21:18-22:1, 41:23-42:10 (James (Amazon) Dep.); des. Tr. 82:7-22, 23:13-24 (Apple-EC 30(b)(6) Dep.) Continue Reading Here. Continue Reading Here . Here About HackerNoon Legal PDF Series: We bring you the most important technical and insightful public domain court case filings. This court case retrieved on April 30, 2024, storage.courtlistener is part of the public domain. The court-created documents are works of the federal government, and under copyright law, are automatically placed in the public domain and may be shared without legal restriction. About HackerNoon Legal PDF Series: We bring you the most important technical and insightful public domain court case filings. This court case retrieved on April 30, 2024, storage.courtlistener is part of the public domain. The court-created documents are works of the federal government, and under copyright law, are automatically placed in the public domain and may be shared without legal restriction. storage.courtlistener

A List of All the Witnesses in the U.S. v Google Trial: Everybody From Samsung to The Home Depot

1. HackerNoon: What is your company in 2–5 words? Aaron Lee: We offer AI-driven call & chat answering to SMB. 2. Why is now the time for your company to exist? Providing real time 24/7 customer engagement, lead qualification and conversion has been the biggest pain point for SMB as they don’t have the time nor the resources to do it. Traditional call answering services can only handle simple tasks like take a message and gather contact information. With advancements in technology, particularly AI and automation, Smith.ai evolved to leverage AI to answer calls and chat with human-in-the-loop for escalation, expanding services to integrate with CRMs, provide scheduling assistance, payment collection, and deliver enhanced customer support tailored for businesses of all sizes, especially SMBs. 3. What do you love about your team, and why are you the ones to solve this problem? AI is fast moving but at the current stage, we don’t believe it can handle 100% of the calls and chats as human conversation is nuanced and complicated. Humans can easily detect caller’s emotion but it’s challenging if AI only looks at the transcription, e.g. “That’s great” could be either positive or sarcastic. We believe having a group of highly trained agents + highly tuned AI based on each individual business (think about it as Voice GPT for your business) is the best way to achieve the business outcomes: converting callers to customers. My background is in software engineering, computer graphics with GPU and was the former CTO of The Home Depot which allowed me to work with SMB on a daily basis for years. Our team is unique as we have AI expertise, deep domain knowledge, as well as huge appreciation to the pain points that SMB are facing. 4. If you weren’t building your startup, what would you be doing? I am very excited about entrepreneurship, helping other startups succeed, and have been angel investing for a long time as a side hobby. I probably would be more active in early stage investments if I wasn’t building my startup. 5. At the moment, how do you measure success? What are your metrics? We track customer engagement (number inbound/outbound calls or chats) as one of the core KPIs. Another metric we track is Quality, we treat any internal/external complaint/mistake/expectation mismatch as a concern, basically anything that is not satisfactory to our team or clients would be counted as one and we have been able to maintain a 99.7% correctness for a very long time. This metric has a direct correlation to our churn which is extremely low, which drives the flywheel of great reviews https://www.trustpilot.com/review/smith.ai and more referrals. 6. In a few sentences, what do you offer to whom? Smith.ai provides AI-driven virtual receptionist services, including call and chat answering, tailored for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Our offerings encompass 24/7 live virtual receptionists, AI voice assistants, outreach campaigns, and AI-powered web chat, all designed to enhance customer engagement and support. We serve a wide range of industries, including law firms, home services, marketing agencies, medical and wellness, and many more. 7. What’s most exciting about your traction to date? The most exciting thing about Smith.ai is we have answered tens of millions of calls and chats with extremely high accuracy and satisfaction (99.7%). The most important thing is we help our SMB clients grow by converting callers to customers with the latest AI technologies which is impossible if they were to implement on their own. 8. Where do you think your growth will be next year? Given the uncertainty in inflation and macroeconomics, we believe the trend of doing more with less by leveraging AI and outsourcing will remain front and center for our clients. The fact that we can drive instant satisfaction and revenue growth at a much lower cost would be a huge tailwind for our exponential growth next year. 9. Tell us about your first paying customer and revenue expectations over the next year. We started the company back in October 2015 and I am excited to say that the majority of them are still with us today and have increased their spend with us 10X. We recently launched our AI-first Voice Assistant and it’s a total game changer. One client said “whoever put this together is a bloody genius.” - this is the magical moment when the product is so good that wows our clients. We believe we will have a significant jump in revenue next year as we continue to deploy this technology to 30M SMB in the US. 10. What’s your biggest threat? Our biggest threat is really execution. The market is huge and demand is clear. We have clients asking us for new features on a daily basis and it’s up to us to push the envelope of AI with humans fast enough to meet their needs. Our assessment of the current AI capabilities is that they may struggle with nuanced and complex conversations, especially in emotional or context-heavy interactions. We believe our hybrid human-AI approach is the best in order to bridge the gap. For appointment booking or sales conversion, we believe human touch offers the best business outcome. This startup founder interview template is based on HackerNoon Founder & CEO David Smooke’s ten questions for startup founders. Would you like to take a stab at answering some of these questions? The link for the template is HERE. 1. HackerNoon : What is your company in 2–5 words? HackerNoon Aaron Lee : We offer AI-driven call & chat answering to SMB. Aaron Lee Aaron Lee 2. Why is now the time for your company to exist? Providing real time 24/7 customer engagement, lead qualification and conversion has been the biggest pain point for SMB as they don’t have the time nor the resources to do it. Traditional call answering services can only handle simple tasks like take a message and gather contact information. With advancements in technology, particularly AI and automation, Smith.ai evolved to leverage AI to answer calls and chat with human-in-the-loop for escalation, expanding services to integrate with CRMs, provide scheduling assistance, payment collection, and deliver enhanced customer support tailored for businesses of all sizes, especially SMBs. Smith.ai 3. What do you love about your team, and why are you the ones to solve this problem? AI is fast moving but at the current stage, we don’t believe it can handle 100% of the calls and chats as human conversation is nuanced and complicated. Humans can easily detect caller’s emotion but it’s challenging if AI only looks at the transcription, e.g. “That’s great” could be either positive or sarcastic. We believe having a group of highly trained agents + highly tuned AI based on each individual business (think about it as Voice GPT for your business) is the best way to achieve the business outcomes: converting callers to customers. My background is in software engineering, computer graphics with GPU and was the former CTO of The Home Depot which allowed me to work with SMB on a daily basis for years. Our team is unique as we have AI expertise, deep domain knowledge, as well as huge appreciation to the pain points that SMB are facing. 4. If you weren’t building your startup, what would you be doing? I am very excited about entrepreneurship, helping other startups succeed, and have been angel investing for a long time as a side hobby. I probably would be more active in early stage investments if I wasn’t building my startup. 5. At the moment, how do you measure success? What are your metrics? We track customer engagement (number inbound/outbound calls or chats) as one of the core KPIs. Another metric we track is Quality, we treat any internal/external complaint/mistake/expectation mismatch as a concern, basically anything that is not satisfactory to our team or clients would be counted as one and we have been able to maintain a 99.7% correctness for a very long time. This metric has a direct correlation to our churn which is extremely low, which drives the flywheel of great reviews https://www.trustpilot.com/review/smith.ai and more referrals. https://www.trustpilot.com/review/smith.ai https://www.trustpilot.com/review/smith.ai 6. In a few sentences, what do you offer to whom? Smith.ai provides AI-driven virtual receptionist services, including call and chat answering, tailored for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Our offerings encompass 24/7 live virtual receptionists, AI voice assistants, outreach campaigns, and AI-powered web chat, all designed to enhance customer engagement and support. We serve a wide range of industries, including law firms, home services, marketing agencies, medical and wellness, and many more. 7. What’s most exciting about your traction to date? The most exciting thing about Smith.ai is we have answered tens of millions of calls and chats with extremely high accuracy and satisfaction (99.7%). The most important thing is we help our SMB clients grow by converting callers to customers with the latest AI technologies which is impossible if they were to implement on their own. 8. Where do you think your growth will be next year? Given the uncertainty in inflation and macroeconomics, we believe the trend of doing more with less by leveraging AI and outsourcing will remain front and center for our clients. The fact that we can drive instant satisfaction and revenue growth at a much lower cost would be a huge tailwind for our exponential growth next year. 9. Tell us about your first paying customer and revenue expectations over the next year. We started the company back in October 2015 and I am excited to say that the majority of them are still with us today and have increased their spend with us 10X. We recently launched our AI-first Voice Assistant and it’s a total game changer. One client said “whoever put this together is a bloody genius.” - this is the magical moment when the product is so good that wows our clients. We believe we will have a significant jump in revenue next year as we continue to deploy this technology to 30M SMB in the US. 10. What’s your biggest threat? Our biggest threat is really execution. The market is huge and demand is clear. We have clients asking us for new features on a daily basis and it’s up to us to push the envelope of AI with humans fast enough to meet their needs. Our assessment of the current AI capabilities is that they may struggle with nuanced and complex conversations, especially in emotional or context-heavy interactions. We believe our hybrid human-AI approach is the best in order to bridge the gap. For appointment booking or sales conversion, we believe human touch offers the best business outcome. This startup founder interview template is based on HackerNoon Founder & CEO David Smooke’s ten questions for startup founders. This startup founder interview template is based on HackerNoon Founder & CEO David Smooke ’s ten questions for startup founders . HackerNoon Founder & CEO David Smooke ten questions for startup founders Would you like to take a stab at answering some of these questions? The link for the template is HERE. Would you like to take a stab at answering some of these questions? The link for the template is HERE. The link for the template is HERE.

Blending AI and Human Expertise: How Smith.ai CEO/Founder is Revolutionizing SMB Customer Engagement

Google Has Monopoly Power In The U.S. Search Ads Market

How Does Google Make Money: Search Ads and Text Ads Explained

Generative AI (GenAI) is quickly becoming our everyday teammate, helping out behind the scenes in ways we might not even realize. In 2023, a McKinsey survey revealed that one-third of organizations actively use it in at least one business area, such as sales or accounting. But the most significant potential for business lies in software development. Costs of product development Imagine you have a great idea. To create a product out of it, you need to analyze the market, find a product-market fit, and hire strong specialists, including developers, designers, etc. The more complex the project, the more time you need. On average, planning and architecture, along with development and design, can take up to 6-7 months, while testing requires another 2-4 weeks. This process is not only time-consuming but also pricey. The exact cost depends heavily on the type of product and its niche. On average, a simple product, such as a basic web or mobile application with minimal features, can cost a business between $20,000 and $60,000. More advanced applications, integrated with third-party APIs, backend services, and databases, require from $60,000 to $90,000. A complex product, which includes feature-rich applications with advanced functionality, high-security demands, and potentially AI/ML components, calls for more than $100,000. Not every team can afford this level of spending. Given the current venture climate, it may be wise to explore as many cost-reducing strategies as possible. In this context, AI, especially Generative AI (GenAI), can be one of the most helpful tools. It is designed to generate new original content, from text to images, and even code, based on the patterns it learns from the data it is fed. Below, I'll delve into how GenAI can assist you at different stages of product development. Data analysis Generative AI can gather and analyze first-party customer data collected through their ecosystem, as well as reviews and insights on market trends from focus groups, social listening campaigns, and more. With this information, AI can identify customer pain points and product requests, which is crucial for testing your idea and finding a market fit for a future product. Among the AI models capable of this, Viable stands out due to its ability to aggregate and analyze feedback from various platforms, such as emails, chat logs, product reviews, and social media. Another example is Crayon, which leverages machine learning algorithms to analyze market trends and customer feedback, helping to identify customer needs. Soft development When it comes to product development, GenAI facilitates a range of tasks, from code generation to testing and even assisting in software design. Tools like GitHub Copilot, powered by OpenAI's Codex, assist developers by suggesting complete lines of code or entire functions based on the comments or partial code they write. For instance, in 2023, Shopify significantly boosted its productivity, efficiency, and code quality by integrating GitHub Copilot into their engineering processes. The tool helped generate complex Liquid code snippets (Shopify’s templating language), automate routine tasks, and offer best practices for code structure. It proved especially useful in accelerating the development of new themes and features, as well as in debugging existing code. There are also tools like DeepCode and Amazon CodeGuru that review existing code and suggest improvements or identify vulnerabilities. They can spot complex patterns and offer fixes to improve both performance and security. In addition to debugging code, generative AI can pretest upcoming software updates, reducing potential errors. Companies like Diffblue are integrating AI into automatic test generation, which can analyze existing code bases to create unit tests automatically, ensuring that new updates do not break existing functionalities. Design Product development is not only about code; creating an appealing interface is crucial as well. Tools like Stable Diffusion and Midjourney can generate visuals based on instructions from human designers. Many businesses leverage these tools to boost their productivity. For example, Airbnb utilizes AI to transform sketches into product code, drastically reducing the time from design to prototype. In the fashion and retail industry, Under Armour employs Adobe Sensei to enhance product images and quickly create engaging marketing content. Another major retailer, Home Depot, uses the Sensei AI model on their e-commerce platform to streamline search functions and adjust recommendations. Sales and marketing Once you have your product, generative AI can refine marketing strategies by performing A/B testing on elements like page layouts, SEO strategies, etc. It utilizes predictive analytics and data-driven insights to maximize investment returns. GenAI also excels at personalizing the customer experience and optimizing sales. According to McKinsey, generative AI significantly improves upon traditional AI methods in the early stages of sales, such as lead identification and targeting. Instead of basic web scraping and prioritization, it uses algorithms to detect patterns in customer and market data. This allows for better segmentation and targeting of audiences, efficiently identifying high-quality leads and enhancing the effectiveness of lead activation campaigns. In some cases, this can lead to a significant increase in sales, according to Visual Capitalist. Basic rules Thanks to its broad capabilities, GenAI is sometimes seen as a universal solution to solve all issues, either to ride the wave of hype or to impress investors. However, just as microscopes are not designed to hammer nails, GenAI is not a one-size-fits-all tool. You have to test different products until you find those that fit your goals. To maximize the benefits of this technology, it is also crucial to inspire people to use AI and dive deeper into its applications, or even hire someone with experience to lead a team and set an example. Given that this tool is still new, it might be beneficial to regularly meet to track progress, discuss blind spots, address issues, and find ways to improve collective work. Only by following these basic rules product development with AI may lead to success. Generative AI ( GenAI ) is quickly becoming our everyday teammate, helping out behind the scenes in ways we might not even realize. In 2023, a McKinsey survey revealed that one-third of organizations actively use it in at least one business area, such as sales or accounting. But the most significant potential for business lies in software development. GenAI Costs of product development Costs of product development Imagine you have a great idea. To create a product out of it, you need to analyze the market, find a product-market fit, and hire strong specialists, including developers, designers, etc. The more complex the project, the more time you need. On average, planning and architecture, along with development and design, can take up to 6-7 months, while testing requires another 2-4 weeks. This process is not only time-consuming but also pricey. The exact cost depends heavily on the type of product and its niche. On average , a simple product, such as a basic web or mobile application with minimal features, can cost a business between $20,000 and $60,000. More advanced applications, integrated with third-party APIs, backend services, and databases, require from $60,000 to $90,000. A complex product, which includes feature-rich applications with advanced functionality, high-security demands, and potentially AI/ML components, calls for more than $100,000. On average On average Not every team can afford this level of spending. Given the current venture climate, it may be wise to explore as many cost-reducing strategies as possible. In this context, AI, especially Generative AI (GenAI), can be one of the most helpful tools. It is designed to generate new original content, from text to images, and even code, based on the patterns it learns from the data it is fed. Below, I'll delve into how GenAI can assist you at different stages of product development. Data analysis Data analysis Generative AI can gather and analyze first-party customer data collected through their ecosystem, as well as reviews and insights on market trends from focus groups, social listening campaigns, and more. With this information, AI can identify customer pain points and product requests, which is crucial for testing your idea and finding a market fit for a future product. Among the AI models capable of this, Viable stands out due to its ability to aggregate and analyze feedback from various platforms, such as emails, chat logs, product reviews, and social media. Another example is Crayon, which leverages machine learning algorithms to analyze market trends and customer feedback, helping to identify customer needs. Soft development Soft development When it comes to product development, GenAI facilitates a range of tasks, from code generation to testing and even assisting in software design. Tools like GitHub Copilot, powered by OpenAI's Codex, assist developers by suggesting complete lines of code or entire functions based on the comments or partial code they write. For instance, in 2023, Shopify significantly boosted its productivity, efficiency, and code quality by integrating GitHub Copilot into their engineering processes. The tool helped generate complex Liquid code snippets (Shopify’s templating language), automate routine tasks, and offer best practices for code structure. It proved especially useful in accelerating the development of new themes and features, as well as in debugging existing code. boosted boosted There are also tools like DeepCode and Amazon CodeGuru that review existing code and suggest improvements or identify vulnerabilities. They can spot complex patterns and offer fixes to improve both performance and security. In addition to debugging code, generative AI can pretest upcoming software updates, reducing potential errors. Companies like Diffblue are integrating AI into automatic test generation, which can analyze existing code bases to create unit tests automatically, ensuring that new updates do not break existing functionalities. Design Product development is not only about code; creating an appealing interface is crucial as well. Tools like Stable Diffusion and Midjourney can generate visuals based on instructions from human designers. Many businesses leverage these tools to boost their productivity. For example, Airbnb utilizes AI to transform sketches into product code, drastically reducing the time from design to prototype. In the fashion and retail industry, Under Armour employs Adobe Sensei to enhance product images and quickly create engaging marketing content. Another major retailer, Home Depot, uses the Sensei AI model on their e-commerce platform to streamline search functions and adjust recommendations. Sales and marketing Sales and marketing Once you have your product, generative AI can refine marketing strategies by performing A/B testing on elements like page layouts, SEO strategies, etc. It utilizes predictive analytics and data-driven insights to maximize investment returns. GenAI also excels at personalizing the customer experience and optimizing sales. According to McKinsey , generative AI significantly improves upon traditional AI methods in the early stages of sales, such as lead identification and targeting. Instead of basic web scraping and prioritization, it uses algorithms to detect patterns in customer and market data. This allows for better segmentation and targeting of audiences, efficiently identifying high-quality leads and enhancing the effectiveness of lead activation campaigns. In some cases, this can lead to a significant increase in sales, according to Visual Capitalist. According to McKinsey According to McKinsey according according Basic rules Basic rules Thanks to its broad capabilities, GenAI is sometimes seen as a universal solution to solve all issues, either to ride the wave of hype or to impress investors. However, just as microscopes are not designed to hammer nails, GenAI is not a one-size-fits-all tool. You have to test different products until you find those that fit your goals. To maximize the benefits of this technology, it is also crucial to inspire people to use AI and dive deeper into its applications, or even hire someone with experience to lead a team and set an example. Given that this tool is still new, it might be beneficial to regularly meet to track progress, discuss blind spots, address issues, and find ways to improve collective work. Only by following these basic rules product development with AI may lead to success.

Your Ideal Coworker: How To Develop an Innovative Product With a Help of Generative AI

In the realm of cybersecurity, the phrase "the devil is in the details" rings especially true. One of the most compelling examples of this is the capture of the notorious BTK killer, a serial murderer who eluded law enforcement for decades. His eventual downfall was not due to a dramatic confrontation or an eyewitness tip, but rather through the seemingly mundane details found in metadata. This article explores the critical role of metadata in the BTK case and highlights how tools like Metagoofil can be leveraged in modern cybersecurity efforts. The BTK Killer and the Power of Metadata For more than three decades, the police couldn't manage to arrest the BTK killer. However, authorities finally caught Dennis Rader in 2005 while he was driving near his home in Park City. After the killer's arrest, the nation learned about the heinous crimes he had committed over the years. Dennis Rader, known as the BTK killer (Bind, Torture, Kill), terrorized Wichita, Kansas, from 1974 to 1991, committing a series of brutal murders. For years, he managed to evade capture, taunting law enforcement with letters and clues. His confidence grew, leading him to make a critical error that would ultimately expose him. I will not be talking about the BTK killers’ victims. I will be discussing the methodology used to unmask him. In January 2005, Rader left a package for Wichita’s KAKE-TV inside a cereal box, which he placed in the back of a pickup truck in the parking lot of a local Home Depot store. The owner, however, thought it was garbage and threw it out. Rader then contacted the station, asking if they had received the package. It was later found in the trash, and police were able to review security camera footage that showed a person driving a black Jeep Cherokee dropping off the package. In a subsequent message to police, Rader asked them, “Can I communicate with Floppy [disk] and not be traced to a computer? Be honest.” If so, he told police to place an ad in The Wichita Eagle with the message, “Rex, it will be OK." Two weeks later, a disk arrived in a package sent to KSAS-TV with a file that contained instructions to detectives about further communications. What Rader didn’t realize was the disk also contained encrypted metadata that would lead police straight to him. In 2004, Rader resumed communication with the media and the police, sending a floppy disk to a local news station. He believed that erasing files from the disk would cover his tracks. However, investigators were able to extract metadata from the disk, which included a deleted Microsoft Word document. This document contained metadata revealing it had been last edited by a user named "Dennis" on a computer registered to "Christ Lutheran Church." The disk was handed over to Officer Randy Stone of the Wichita Police Department, who was skilled in computer technology. According to The Wichita Eagle, he used a forensic software program to call up deleted files and other hidden data that showed where and when the disk had been last modified. It revealed the disk had been used on a computer at Wichita’s Christ Lutheran Church by a user named “Dennis.” Upon looking up the church's website, they found "Dennis Rader" listed as the president of the congregation. After locating his home address, police drove by and saw a black Jeep Cherokee in his driveway. After matching Dennis Rader’s DNA to evidence found at several of the crime scenes, police arrested him on February 25, 2005. During his interrogation, Rader expressed his anger at police for lying to him about his floppy disk being traceable. “I need to ask you, how come you lied to me? How come you lied to me?” Rader admonished Lieutenant Ken Landwehr, commander of the Wichita Police Department’s homicide unit. “Because I was trying to catch you,” Landwehr replied. This small piece of information provided a crucial lead. Law enforcement cross-referenced this data with local records, leading them to Dennis Rader, a respected member of the community and church president. DNA evidence subsequently confirmed his identity as the BTK killer, ending his reign of terror. What is Metadata? Metadata means "data about data". Metadata is defined as the data providing information about one or more aspects of the data; it is used to summarize basic information about data that can make tracking and working with specific data easier. Some examples include: the Means of creation of the data.
purpose of the data. What information can be revealed with Metadata? The BTK case underscores the significant role metadata can play in forensic investigations. In the digital age, extracting and analyzing metadata is a cornerstone of cybersecurity. Tools like Metagoofil have become invaluable in this effort. Metagoofil is an open-source tool designed to extract metadata from public documents. By scanning files such as PDFs, Word documents, and images, Metagoofil can reveal hidden information about the document’s creation, modification, and authorship. This can include usernames, software versions, file paths, and other details that can be critical in both offensive and defensive cybersecurity operations. Applications of Metagoofil: Penetration Testing: Cybersecurity professionals can use Metagoofil to gather intelligence about a target organization. By analyzing metadata from publicly available documents, they can identify potential vulnerabilities, software in use, and internal file structures.


Incident Response: During a security breach investigation, Metagoofil can help trace the origin of malicious documents or emails. Metadata can reveal the author’s identity, creation dates, and even geographic locations.


Data Leak Prevention: Organizations can use Metagoofil to audit their own documents before they are released to the public. This helps ensure that sensitive information is not inadvertently shared through metadata.


Compliance and Auditing: Regulatory requirements often mandate the tracking of document handling and modification. Metagoofil can assist in compliance efforts by providing detailed metadata reports. The capture of the BTK killer through metadata analysis serves as a powerful reminder of the hidden value in digital footprints. As cybersecurity threats continue to evolve, the ability to unearth and interpret metadata becomes increasingly vital. Tools like Metagoofil equip professionals with the means to uncover these invisible details, bolstering defenses and enhancing investigative capabilities. In a world where every byte can tell a story, mastering the art of metadata analysis is an essential skill for any cybersecurity arsenal. In the realm of cybersecurity , the phrase "the devil is in the details" rings especially true. One of the most compelling examples of this is the capture of the notorious BTK killer, a serial murderer who eluded law enforcement for decades. His eventual downfall was not due to a dramatic confrontation or an eyewitness tip, but rather through the seemingly mundane details found in metadata. This article explores the critical role of metadata in the BTK case and highlights how tools like Metagoofil can be leveraged in modern cybersecurity efforts. cybersecurity The BTK Killer and the Power of Metadata For more than three decades, the police couldn't manage to arrest the BTK killer. However, authorities finally caught Dennis Rader in 2005 while he was driving near his home in Park City. After the killer's arrest, the nation learned about the heinous crimes he had committed over the years. Dennis Rader, known as the BTK killer (Bind, Torture, Kill), terrorized Wichita, Kansas, from 1974 to 1991, committing a series of brutal murders. For years, he managed to evade capture, taunting law enforcement with letters and clues. His confidence grew, leading him to make a critical error that would ultimately expose him. I will not be talking about the BTK killers’ victims. I will be discussing the methodology used to unmask him. I will not be talking about the BTK killers’ victims. I will be discussing the methodology used to unmask him. In January 2005, Rader left a package for Wichita’s KAKE-TV inside a cereal box, which he placed in the back of a pickup truck in the parking lot of a local Home Depot store. The owner, however, thought it was garbage and threw it out. Rader then contacted the station , asking if they had received the package. It was later found in the trash, and police were able to review security camera footage that showed a person driving a black Jeep Cherokee dropping off the package. In Rader then contacted the station showed a person driving a black Jeep Cherokee In a subsequent message to police, Rader asked them , “Can I communicate with Floppy [disk] and not be traced to a computer? Be honest.” If so, he told police to place an ad in The Wichita Eagle with the message, “Rex, it will be OK." Two weeks later, a disk arrived in a package sent to KSAS-TV with a file that contained instructions to detectives about further communications. What Rader didn’t realize was the disk also contained encrypted metadata that would lead police straight to him. Rader asked them In 2004, Rader resumed communication with the media and the police, sending a floppy disk to a local news station. He believed that erasing files from the disk would cover his tracks. However, investigators were able to extract metadata from the disk, which included a deleted Microsoft Word document. This document contained metadata revealing it had been last edited by a user named "Dennis" on a computer registered to "Christ Lutheran Church." The disk was handed over to Officer Randy Stone of the Wichita Police Department, who was skilled in computer technology. According to The Wichita Eagle , he used a forensic software program to call up deleted files and other hidden data that showed where and when the disk had been last modified. It revealed the disk had been used on a computer at Wichita’s Christ Lutheran Church by a user named “Dennis.” Upon looking up the church's website , they found "Dennis Rader" listed as the president of the congregation. After locating his home address, police drove by and saw a black Jeep Cherokee in his driveway. According to The Wichita Eagle the church's website saw a black Jeep Cherokee After matching Dennis Rader’s DNA to evidence found at several of the crime scenes , police arrested him on February 25, 2005. During his interrogation, Rader expressed his anger at police for lying to him about his floppy disk being traceable. “I need to ask you, how come you lied to me? How come you lied to me?” Rader admonished Lieutenant Ken Landwehr , commander of the Wichita Police Department’s homicide unit. “Because I was trying to catch you,” Landwehr replied. This small piece of information provided a crucial lead. Law enforcement cross-referenced this data with local records, leading them to Dennis Rader, a respected member of the community and church president. DNA evidence subsequently confirmed his identity as the BTK killer, ending his reign of terror. several of the crime scenes arrested him Rader admonished Lieutenant Ken Landwehr What is Metadata? Metadata means " data about data ". Metadata is defined as the data providing information about one or more aspects of the data; it is used to summarize basic information about data that can make tracking and working with specific data easier. data about data Some examples include: the Means of creation of the data. purpose of the data. the Means of creation of the data. purpose of the data. What information can be revealed with Metadata? The BTK case underscores the significant role metadata can play in forensic investigations. In the digital age, extracting and analyzing metadata is a cornerstone of cybersecurity. Tools like Metagoofil have become invaluable in this effort. Metagoofil is an open-source tool designed to extract metadata from public documents. By scanning files such as PDFs, Word documents, and images, Metagoofil can reveal hidden information about the document’s creation, modification, and authorship. This can include usernames, software versions, file paths, and other details that can be critical in both offensive and defensive cybersecurity operations. Applications of Metagoofil: Applications of Metagoofil: Penetration Testing: Cybersecurity professionals can use Metagoofil to gather intelligence about a target organization. By analyzing metadata from publicly available documents, they can identify potential vulnerabilities, software in use, and internal file structures. Incident Response: During a security breach investigation, Metagoofil can help trace the origin of malicious documents or emails. Metadata can reveal the author’s identity, creation dates, and even geographic locations. Data Leak Prevention: Organizations can use Metagoofil to audit their own documents before they are released to the public. This helps ensure that sensitive information is not inadvertently shared through metadata. Compliance and Auditing: Regulatory requirements often mandate the tracking of document handling and modification. Metagoofil can assist in compliance efforts by providing detailed metadata reports. Penetration Testing: Cybersecurity professionals can use Metagoofil to gather intelligence about a target organization. By analyzing metadata from publicly available documents, they can identify potential vulnerabilities, software in use, and internal file structures. Penetration Testing: Cybersecurity professionals can use Metagoofil to gather intelligence about a target organization. By analyzing metadata from publicly available documents, they can identify potential vulnerabilities, software in use, and internal file structures. Penetration Testing: Incident Response: During a security breach investigation, Metagoofil can help trace the origin of malicious documents or emails. Metadata can reveal the author’s identity, creation dates, and even geographic locations. Incident Response: During a security breach investigation, Metagoofil can help trace the origin of malicious documents or emails. Metadata can reveal the author’s identity, creation dates, and even geographic locations. Incident Response: Data Leak Prevention: Organizations can use Metagoofil to audit their own documents before they are released to the public. This helps ensure that sensitive information is not inadvertently shared through metadata. Data Leak Prevention: Organizations can use Metagoofil to audit their own documents before they are released to the public. This helps ensure that sensitive information is not inadvertently shared through metadata. Data Leak Prevention: Compliance and Auditing: Regulatory requirements often mandate the tracking of document handling and modification. Metagoofil can assist in compliance efforts by providing detailed metadata reports. Compliance and Auditing: Regulatory requirements often mandate the tracking of document handling and modification. Metagoofil can assist in compliance efforts by providing detailed metadata reports. Compliance and Auditing: The capture of the BTK killer through metadata analysis serves as a powerful reminder of the hidden value in digital footprints. As cybersecurity threats continue to evolve, the ability to unearth and interpret metadata becomes increasingly vital. Tools like Metagoofil equip professionals with the means to uncover these invisible details, bolstering defenses and enhancing investigative capabilities. In a world where every byte can tell a story, mastering the art of metadata analysis is an essential skill for any cybersecurity arsenal.

Solving Crimes with Data: The BTK Killer and the Power of Metadata Analysis

My 30-Day Journey on a Dark Web Marketplace That Belonged to a Cyber Gang

একটি ডার্ক ওয়েব মার্কেটপ্লেসে আমার 30-দিনের যাত্রা যা একটি সাইবার গ্যাং এর অন্তর্গত

Meine 30-tägige Reise auf einem Dark Web-Marktplatz, der einer Cyber-Gang gehörte

Mi viaje de 30 días en un mercado de la Dark Web que perteneció a una banda cibernética

Mon voyage de 30 jours sur un marché du Dark Web appartenant à un cyber-gang

डार्क वेब मार्केटप्लेस पर मेरी 30-दिवसीय यात्रा जो एक साइबर गिरोह से संबंधित थी

サイバーギャングが所有するダークウェブマーケットプレイスでの私の30日間の旅

사이버조직이 속한 다크웹 마켓플레이스에서의 30일간의 여정

Minha jornada de 30 dias em um mercado da Dark Web que pertencia a uma gangue cibernética

Мое 30-дневное путешествие по торговой площадке даркнета, принадлежавшей кибербанде

Siber Çeteye Ait Karanlık Web Pazarında 30 Günlük Yolculuğum

Hành trình 30 ngày của tôi trên thị trường web đen thuộc về một băng nhóm mạng

我在网络帮派暗网市场中的 30 天之旅

The old saying ‘sell in May and go away’ may be supported by historical market performance, but that doesn’t mean investors can’t make summer profits from carefully selected stocks. Wall Street Certain stocks are better disposed to outperformance over the summer months. Travel and tourism, live events, and food and drink stocks are all prone to strong market rallies as temperatures warm and days become longer. Another major beneficiary from those summer months is DIY stocks. So, rather than selling in May, should investors ride the summer out by backing home improvement firms to shine? There could be some logic to diversifying the right blend of DIY firms for your summer portfolio. In days of yore, selling in May traditionally took place as the city essentially closed for the summer, and wouldn’t fully reopen again until St Ledger Day–which is a horse race that occurs in mid-September. Interestingly, there appears to be some merit to this philosophy event today. According to , there’s an average 1.11% difference across 16 global exchanges in favor of the monthly returns gained between November and April, as opposed to between May and October. eToro research However, taking the recent performance of Home Depot (NYSE:HD) as an example, the stock delivered growth in four of the past five periods between the beginning of May and St Ledger Day–with a rally of 26.4% recorded in 2020. This indicates that some home improvement stocks can perform well during those summer market slowdown periods, and for investors, they can represent a seasonal investment option that can keep portfolios profitable all year round. But which DIY stocks could offer the best potential moving into summer 2024? Let’s explore 3 of the strongest options on Wall Street today: 1. Home Depot Inc Equipped with a market capitalization in excess of $350 billion, Home Depot (NYSE:HD) is a DIY stock with a massive market presence. Home Depot is also a stock that commands some serious revenue. Having reported $34.79 billion in revenues for 2023, the home improvement giant actually experienced a 2.9% year-on-year dip which fell in line with analyst estimates. However, Q4 2023 revenue fell above estimates, indicating a strong end to a “year of moderation,” as . described by CEO Ted Decker “Home Depot is one of the world's largest home improvement retailers,” explained Maxim Manturov, head of investment research at . “During the summer, homeowners often undertake a variety of do-it-yourself projects such as landscaping, renovations and home improvement projects, which can boost Home Depot's sales.” Freedom Finance Europe There are also signs that Home Depot is expanding its home improvement repertoire. In March, the firm announced a major , a key building projects supplier that serves professional roofers, landscapers, and pool contractors among its core customers. $18.3 billion acquisition of SRS Distribution With 760 warehouses and over 4,000 trucks to deliver its goods, the acquisition of SRS Distribution is set to help Home Depot build into the world of housing professionals to supplement its core DIY demographic and can be interpreted as a statement of intent for future growth. 2. Lowe’s Companies Inc Despite a mixed fourth-quarter earnings report at the end of last year, Lowe’s (NYSE:LOW) has surged more than 10% on Wall Street in the first quarter of 2024. There’s every indication that this year is shaping up to be a big one for the home improvement specialists. While Lowe’s beat expectations for EPS and revenue, the firm also reported a drop of over 6% in comparable sales and cut guidance for 2024 significantly. This highlights the company’s outperformance and uncertainty over what’s to come with market conditions becoming increasingly unpredictable in the macroeconomic environment. However, this uncertainty is looking like a fresh opportunity for investors ahead of the summer, as suggest that both housing inventory and existing home sales are beginning to increase in 2024. With the expectation of lower interest rates arriving in time for the second half of the year, we’re likely to see the housing market gather speed with cheaper mortgage rates–paving the way for a renovation and DIY flurry. early indications Crucially, Lowe’s is a , and this means that a clearing housing market could see investors directly benefit from the dividends paid by the home improvement giant. dividend-paying stock 3. Sherwin-Williams Co Unlike the more general DIY stocks we’ve covered so far, Sherwin-Williams (NYSE:SHW) is a paint specialist that can experience an acceleration of sales when the warm summer months pave the way for more painting and repair projects among homeowners. The stock itself has been performing well in 2024, having grown almost 10% in the first quarter. Additionally, the stock rallied more than 30% in 2023, illustrating the level of growth that the company has consistently found. As for the period between May and St Ledger Day last year, SHW delivered growth of more than 10%. Sherwin-Williams appears to have a history of outperformance, and the firm’s Q4 2024 revenues of $5.25 million represent that beat Zacks Consensus Estimates. year-over-year growth of 0.4% As a result of its impressive revenue growth, some analysts are revising their estimates upwards for SHW for the year ahead, while Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased by $0.05 to $11.49 per share for 2024. This signifies the relevance that the stock could carry over the summer months. Cautious Optimism Amid Uncertainty While DIY stocks have proven to be strong performers despite the ‘sell in May’ mantra that some traders continue to hold dear, their relative strength in 2024 is likely to be determined by wider macroeconomic circumstances. With the Federal Reserve’s switch to a dovish monetary policy, clearing economic conditions are likely to generate more housing market activity and a greater flurry of DIY activity over the coming summer. However, nothing is certain when it comes to the economy, and the Wall Street performance of many stocks this year is likely to hinge on gathering tailwinds. With this in mind, investors can find strength in adopting a cautiously optimistic approach to building their summer portfolios and maximizing their earnings potential.

Wall Street’s Home Improvement Rally: 3 Stocks to Track as Summer’s DIY Season Kicks Into Gear

This article was , an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers for truth, transparency and fairness in the marketplace. . copublished with Consumer Reports Learn more here By now most internet users know their online activity is constantly tracked. No one should be shocked to see ads for items they previously searched for, or to be asked if their data can be shared with an unknown number of “partners.” But what is the scale of this surveillance? Judging from data collected by Facebook and by non-profit consumer watchdog Consumer Reports, it’s massive, and examining the data may leave you with more questions than answers. newly described in a unique study Using a panel of 709 volunteers who shared archives of their Facebook data, Consumer Reports found that a total of 186,892 companies sent data about them to the social network. On average, each participant in the study had their data sent to Facebook by 2,230 companies. That number varied significantly, with some panelists’ data listing over 7,000 companies providing their data. The Markup helped Consumer Reports recruit participants for the study. Participants downloaded an archive of the last three years of their data from their Facebook settings, then provided it to Consumer Reports. By collecting data this way, the study was able to examine a form of tracking that is normally hidden: so-called “server-to-server” tracking, in which personal data goes from a company’s servers to Meta’s servers. Another form of tracking, in which Meta tracking pixels are placed on company websites, is visible to users’ browsers. Because the data came from a self-selected group of users, and because the results were not demographically adjusted, the study does not “make any claims about how representative this sample is of the U.S. population as a whole,” Consumer Reports noted. Participants were also likely more privacy conscious and technically inclined than typical users and more likely to be members of Consumers Reports. Despite its limitations, the study offers a rare look, using data directly from Meta, on how personal information is collected and aggregated online. Meta spokesperson Emil Vazquez defended the company’s practices. “We offer a number of transparency tools to help people understand the information that businesses choose to share with us, and manage how it’s used,” wrote Vazquez in an emailed statement to The Markup. While Meta does provide transparency tools like the one that enabled the study, Consumer Reports identified problems with them, including that the identity of many data providers is unclear from the names disclosed to users and that companies that provide services to advertisers are often allowed to ignore opt-out requests. One company appeared in 96% of participants’ data: the San Francisco-based data broker LiveRamp. But the companies sharing your online activity to Facebook aren’t just little-known data brokers. Retailers like Home Depot, Walmart and Macy’s all were in the top 100 most frequently-seen companies in the study. Credit reporting and consumer data companies such as Experian and TransUnion’s Neustar also made the list, as did Amazon, Etsy and PayPal. LiveRamp did not respond to a request for comment. What Exactly Does This Data Contain? The data examined by Consumer Reports in this study comes from two types of collection: events and custom audiences. Both categories include information about what people do outside of Meta’s platforms. Custom audiences allow advertisers to upload customer lists to Meta, often including identifiers like email addresses and mobile advertising IDs. These customers, and so-called “lookalike audiences” made up of similar people, can then be targeted with ads on Meta’s platforms. The other category of data collection, “events,” describes interactions that the user had with a brand, which can occur outside of Meta’s apps and in the real world. Events can include visiting a page on a company’s website, leveling up in a game, visiting a physical store, or purchasing a product. These signals originate from Meta software code included in many mobile apps, their tracking pixel, which is included on many websites, and from server-to-server tracking, where a company’s server passes data to a Meta server. The Markup has written extensively about the and how it has been used to surveil people as they , , , , and . Meta Pixel dial suicide hotlines buy their groceries take the SATs file their taxes book appointments with their doctors Website owners can configure the pixel to track user website interactions such as searches or filling out a form, sending each action to Meta, even if the user doesn’t have an account on Facebook. Although research tools like The Markup’s “Pixel Hunt” can detect the Meta pixel or SDK tracking, there is no way for a consumer to monitor the traffic between a company’s server and Meta’s. This Consumer Reports study looks at server-to-server data along with the rest. How Can I See My Data? Facebook users can browse through the list of companies that have sent their data to Facebook by going to: https://accountscenter.facebook.com/info_and_permissions From this menu, users can either download or access their information. To see the companies outside of Meta that have been sharing your information, select “Your activity off Meta technologies,” then “Recent activity.” You might be prompted to re-enter your password at this point. This view will show you the number of recent connections between various third-party businesses you visited and Meta, and examples of the activity that was shared. You can choose to prevent future sharing by the company by selecting “Disconnect.” To see detailed information about these interactions, . request a copy of your data But after jumping through the many hoops required to actually get your hands on this data, you may still be left with lingering questions. For example, in addition to easily recognizable company names, more than 7,000 companies in Consumer Reports’ study were named using unreadable gibberish, or just numbers that don’t mean anything to most users. Even those companies with readable names often did not include links to the company website. Some company names were ambiguous, such as “Viking,” which could be a number of different businesses. “This type of tracking which occurs entirely outside of the user’s view is just so far outside of what people expect when they use the internet,” Caitriona Fitzgerald, Deputy Director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, told The Markup in an interview. Fitzgerald said that while users are likely aware that Meta knows what they are doing while they are on Facebook and Instagram, “they don’t expect Meta to know what stores they walk into or what news articles they’re reading or every site they visit online.” In the report, Consumer Reports calls for a number of policy proposals covering data collection practices, some of which could be part of a national digital privacy law, something that the organization has long advocated for. Among the recommendations specifically aimed at Meta’s technology and the advertisers who use it: Require companies to adopt “data minimization” strategies which call for the collection of the absolute minimum amount of data needed to provide the service being offered. Expand the powers of “authorized agents” to act on behalf of consumers to act on their rights. is a mobile app by Consumer Reports that allows users to quickly opt-out of and delete data from a long list of companies and data brokers on behalf of users; the app takes advantage of state privacy laws’ authorized agent provisions. Permission Slip Increase ad transparency by creating ad archives that allow the public to see all ads that have been served to users on a platform, following the lead of the EU's . Digital Services Act Existing Meta transparency tools should improve the quality and readability of the data that is made available so consumers can actually act on the information they review. Fitzgerald echoed these recommendations, saying the problem lies with the fact that the burden is on the consumer to take action to prevent this data collection. Even a “global opt-out” mechanism allowing users to avoid having their data shared is not enough because “that still requires the user to take an action to protect their privacy. A lot of people are not going to have the time or knowledge to do that,” said Fitzgerald. Vazquez, Meta’s spokesperson, said the company would “continue to invest in data minimization technologies to keep up with evolving expectations. As we cover in our terms, businesses are responsible for getting permission to share people’s information with companies like ours.” For now, the lack of a federal privacy law leaves consumers in most states with few options. “I think people should be encouraging their elected officials to pass privacy laws that require businesses to change some of these business practices to stop this ubiquitous tracking of our every click and every movement,” said Fitzgerald. Credits: , , , , , Jon Keegan Carlo Cadenas Maria Puertas Gabriel Hongsdusit Ryan Tate Michael Reilly Also published here Photo by on Amanda Dalbjörn Unsplash

If You're a Facebook User, Thousands of Companies Are Watching You

আপনি যদি একজন ফেসবুক ব্যবহারকারী হন, হাজার হাজার কোম্পানি আপনাকে দেখছে

Wenn Sie ein Facebook-Nutzer sind, werden Sie von Tausenden Unternehmen beobachtet

Si eres usuario de Facebook, miles de empresas te están observando

Si vous êtes un utilisateur de Facebook, des milliers d'entreprises vous surveillent

यदि आप फेसबुक उपयोगकर्ता हैं, तो हजारों कंपनियां आप पर नजर रख रही हैं

あなたが Facebook ユーザーなら、何千もの企業があなたに注目しています

당신이 Facebook 사용자라면 수천 개의 회사가 당신을 지켜보고 있습니다.

Se você é um usuário do Facebook, milhares de empresas estão observando você

Если вы пользователь Facebook, за вами наблюдают тысячи компаний

Facebook Kullanıcısıysanız Binlerce Şirket Sizi İzliyor

Nếu bạn là người dùng Facebook, hàng nghìn công ty đang theo dõi bạn

如果您是 Facebook 用户，成千上万的公司正在关注您

As we step into 2024, the Non-Fungible Token (NFT) industry, is ripe for a satirical forecast. Here are ten humorous and exaggerated predictions for the NFT market in 2024, where reality often seems stranger than fiction. 1. Donald Trump's Wall Builder NFT Series: A Virtual Political Statement In a unique blend of real estate and politics, former President Donald Trump's entry into the NFT market in 2024 will take a captivating turn. A major NFT series is set to be released: the controversial "Wall Builder" NFT series. In a move that is sure to stir both support and outrage, the "Wall Builder" NFT series will be Trump’s digital nod to one of his most infamous proposals – the border wall. Each NFT in this series represents a section of the virtual wall, with designs ranging from imposing fortresses to avant-garde barriers. Owning a Wall Builder NFT comes with unique virtual titles like "Digital Border Patrol Chief" or "Virtual Wall Inspector," allowing holders to partake in simulated border patrol missions. These missions are gamified experiences, complete with rewards, leaderboards, and exclusive digital merchandise. 2. Interstellar NFTs: NASA, Elon Musk, and the Cryogenic Conundrum In 2024, NASA, in collaboration with Elon Musk and a leading blockchain company, announces the launch of Interstellar NFTs. These digital assets represent ownership of land on distant exoplanets, blending the frontiers of space exploration with blockchain innovation. Each NFT offers buyers a stake in otherworldly real estate, complete with intricate digital depictions and detailed planetary profiles. Elon Musk, ever the visionary, adds an intriguing twist to the narrative. He promises to greet the NFT owners upon their arrival on these distant planets in the year 3024. The public is left speculating on the nature of Musk's presence: Will he be there in human form, having triumphed over aging through cryogenic freezing (only available via buying an NFT), or will he welcome them as a digital avatar, an immortal representation of his pioneering spirit? This conjecture fuels a mix of fascination and humor, with people playfully debating whether they'll meet an age-defying Musk in the flesh or interact with his advanced AI doppelgänger. 3. Time Travel NFTs Break All Sales Records The "Temporal Passports NFT" series, launched in 2024, has shattered all previous NFT sales records but not for reasons one would expect. Intended to transport holders to the era of their token's depicted historical figure, the series instead gained fame for its humorous technical glitches. Users anticipating accurate historical immersions were amused to find themselves in wildly mismatched time periods. For example one NFT holder, armed with a George Washington NFT and expecting a Revolutionary War scene, ended up in the roaring 1920s, quipping, “Instead of crossing the Delaware, I crossed into the Jazz Age. At least the booze is better.” This unpredictability turned the Temporal Passports into a unique profiting sensation, with holders being able to stake their NFTS and able to rent out their NFTs to other history buffs. 4. The Capitol Coin DAO: The White House Launches a DAO In 2024, as the U.S. political landscape dives into the world of blockchain with the launch of the "Capitol Coin DAO," the corridors of power get a digital makeover. In the Capitol Coin DAO, influential lobbyists and billionaire donors find themselves in a familiar position, but with a twist. Known as the 'Whales of Politics,' these power players attempt to sway decisions by accumulating vast amounts of Capitol Coins. However, they quickly realize that in the world of DAOs, money can't always buy consensus. In a comedic turn of events, a group of high school students, using only their lunch money and bags of SHIB, outvote a major lobbying effort, proving that in the DAO, quantity of coins doesn't always trump the power of collective decision-making. To combat the potential for manipulation, the Capitol Coin DAO introduces a series of humorous but effective measures. One such measure is the "Filibuster Feature," where any proposal that seems suspiciously advantageous to the 'Whales' is automatically subjected to a 24-hour meme bombardment, questioning its legitimacy. 5. Trump's NFT Gambit for Eternal Presidency In an unexpected yet somehow predictable move, former President Donald Trump jumps on the DAO bandwagon, launching his own NFT collection titled "Trump's Triumphs." He claims that anyone holding the complete set of these NFTs can unlock a secret feature in the Capitol Coin DAO, granting them "Permanent Presidency" powers. The Capital Coin DAO quickly blocks any attempts at a hostile takeover and as a result. Undeterred by this setback and true to his indomitable style, Trump pivots to create his own digital domain, the "TrumpVerse." Here, he proclaims himself as the perpetual president, a role unbound by the constraints of traditional politics. Supporters and collectors alike can buy virtual land in the TrumpVerse giving them the chance to own a piece of this exclusively Trumpian digital world. 6. Mortgaging Reality for Virtual Acres As 2024 rolls around, a bizarre economic trend sweeps across the nation. With real estate prices sky-high and interest rates climbing, homeowners start mortgaging their physical homes, not for a bigger backyard or a better neighborhood, but for a slice of virtual land in the ever-expanding metaverses. The craze for virtual land is driven by a mix of escapism and speculative investment. Enthusiasts argue that owning a piece of digital paradise is a wise move, free from the constraints of physical maintenance and pesky property taxes. Some even boast about their virtual mansions, complete with artificial intelligence butlers and virtual reality gardens, all financed by the equity in their modest three-bedroom bungalow. As more people jump onto the virtual land bandwagon, economists begin to warn of a 'Surreal Estate Bubble.' Late-night show hosts quip about the absurdity of people living in cramped apartments while owning virtual estates, with one joking, "In the Metaverse, everyone can hear you brag, but no one can help you move your virtual couch." 7. Home Depot's MetaDepot: Revolutionizing Virtual Home Renovation In an innovative twist in 2024, Home Depot launches "MetaDepot," a series of NFT Metaverse stores dedicated to virtual home improvement. This move taps into the burgeoning trend of digital homeowners needing to renovate and enhance their virtual abodes. At MetaDepot, customers find themselves in a surreal world of home renovation, specifically tailored for the Metaverse. Gone are the days of physical paint and lumber. Instead, virtual homeowners purchase NFTs representing digital wallpaper, ethereal lighting fixtures, and even holographic furniture to spruce up their online properties. 8. Senator Warren's NFT Escapade: From Political Pundit to NFT Artist In an unexpected turn of events, Senator Elizabeth Warren, known for her critical stance on cryptocurrencies, launches a Profile PFP NFT Meme series in 2024. The collection, infused with rare NFTS that are a nod to her controversial Native American ancestry, becomes an instant hit. But it's the climactic use of her NFT fortune that cements her place in the annals of political satire. Thwarting the Whale with Capitol Coin DAO Cashing in on her NFT success, Warren invests in Capitol Coin DAO Tokens, aligning herself with a group of astute high school students who have become influential players in the DAO who hodle a large amount of tokens from pooling their lunch money and selling their SHIB bags. Together, they engineer a masterful move to thwart a major lobbying effort by a "Whale," a wealthy player attempting to sway decisions with sheer financial power. This David versus Goliath scenario plays out on the digital stage, with Warren and the students championing the power of collective action over deep pockets. The plot thickens when one of the high school students, armed with insights from the DAO and a cunning use of Reddit, manages to ascend to an unprecedented level of political influence. In a stunning development, this savvy teenager leverages their digital prowess to make a bid for the presidency – and wins. The political world is left in shock as a Reddit-savvy, DAO-empowered student with lunch money and SHIB takes the highest office in the land. In the wake of this surreal turn of events, Senator Warren decides to hang up her political gloves. She retires from the world of policy and legislation, but not from the public eye. Warren turns her attention to creating NFT art, drawing on her experiences and the whirlwind events she helped catalyze. Her art, known for its blend of political satire and digital innovation, becomes highly sought after, turning her into a surprising yet successful figure in the NFT art world and a keynote speaker at NFT.NYC and Art Basel. 9. Interstellar NFTs: NASA and Elon Musk's Galactic Real Estate Gamble In a partnership that stretches the bounds of imagination, NASA, in collaboration with Elon Musk's space exploration company, launches Interstellar NFTs in 2024. These NFTs represent a bold venture into digital ownership of land on distant exoplanets, blending the allure of space exploration with the burgeoning world of blockchain. Each NFT offers virtual rights to a plot on an alien world, complete with artistically crafted visuals and detailed planetary descriptions. The most captivating aspect of this venture, however, is the promise that owners of these NFTs will have the opportunity to visit their interstellar holdings when space travel to these distant planets becomes possible – a feat optimistically slated for the year 3024. Adding to the intrigue, Elon Musk playfully assures potential buyers that he will personally greet them on their new cosmic properties, sparking widespread amusement and speculation about the longevity and future ambitions of the tech mogul. 10. Emotional Ownership NFTs: Claiming History's Feelings In 2024, a groundbreaking initiative by a leading tech company introduces a new genre of NFTs – "Emotional Ownership" of historical events. This novel concept allows individuals to own the exclusive rights to the emotions associated with significant moments in history. It’s an audacious blend of technology, sentimentality that captures the public's imagination. Imagine having the exclusive NFT that represents the collective joy felt during the 1969 moon landing. This NFT wouldn’t just be a digital token; it would symbolize your personal connection to the euphoria and wonder that enveloped the world as humanity took its first steps on the lunar surface. Each NFT comes with a beautifully designed digital certificate, detailing the event and the specific emotion it encapsulates. NFT holders question the practical implications of owning such NFTs and what rights the holders have. “Do I get royalties every time someone feels inspired by the Wright Brothers' first flight?” one user quips. Another posts, “Just bought the NFT for ‘surprise’ at the Boston Tea Party. “If someone reenacts the Tea Party, do I get to sue for emotional trespassing!” *** As we reflect on the remarkable developments in the world of NFTs and digital assets throughout 2024, it's clear that we are witnessing a period of unprecedented innovation and creativity. Here's to the innovators who dare to dream big, the communities that come together to turn these dreams into reality, and the endless possibilities that the future holds. Cheers to 2024! Audrey

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