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How do I pick a life insurance company?

The annuity business, like the insurance industry itself, is very competitive. There are hundreds of insurers and many different types of products available to you. Before buying an annuity, contact your state insurance department to see whether it offers an annuity buyers guide for your state. There are four important things to consider: Financial Solidity – Select a company that is likely to be financially sound for many years, by using ratings from independent rating agencies. State insurance department license to do business Make sure that the insurer you select is licensed to issue annuities in your state. Ask whether the specific type of annuity you are considering is available in your state. Service Expect excellent customer service. Your insurance company representative should answer your questions promptly and provide useful information that addresses your concerns. This way, you can make a well-informed decision on the annuity that best meets your needs and objectives. Choice of investments and riders Some insurers offer annuities with an array of investment choices and a large variety of riders. Compare these options. Some options may increase the price of the annuity. Decide on an annuity that best meets your needs.
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A 17-year-old boy died by suicide hours after being scammed

The FBI says it’s part of a troubling increase in ‘sextortion’ cases Ryan Last received a message on a school night in February from someone he believed to be a girl. Within hours, the 17-year-old, straight-A student and Boy Scout had died by suicide. “Somebody reached out to him pretending to be a girl, and they started a conversation,” his mother, Pauline Stuart, told CNN, fighting back tears as she described what happened to her son days after she and Ryan had finished visiting several colleges he was considering attending after graduating high school. The online conversation quickly grew intimate, and then turned criminal. The scammer — posing as a young girl — sent Ryan a nude photo and then asked Ryan to share an explicit image of himself in return. Immediately after Ryan shared an intimate photo of his own, the cybercriminal demanded $5,000, threatening to make the photo public and send it to Ryan’s family and friends. The San Jose, California, the teen told the cybercriminal he could not pay the full amount, and the demand was ultimately lowered to a fraction of the original figure — $150. But after paying the scammers from his college savings, Stuart said, “They kept demanding more and more and putting lots of continued pressure on him.” At the time, Stuart knew none of what her son was experiencing. She learned the details after law enforcement investigators reconstructed the events leading up to his death. She had said goodnight to Ryan at 10 p.m. and described him as her usually a happy son. By 2 a.m., he had been scammed and taken his life. Ryan left behind a suicide note describing how embarrassed he was for himself and the family. “He really, truly thought in that time that there wasn’t a way to get by if those pictures were actually posted online,” Pauline said. “His note showed he was absolutely terrified. No child should have to be that scared.” Law enforcement calls the scam “sextortion,” and investigators have seen an explosion in complaints from victims leading the FBI to ramp up a campaign to warn parents from coast to coast. The bureau says there were over 18,000 sextortion-related complaints in 2021, with losses in excess of $13 million. The FBI says the use of child pornography by criminals to lure suspects also constitutes a serious crime. The investigation into Last’s case is ongoing, Stuart and the FBI tell CNN. “To be a criminal that specifically targets children — it’s one of the deeper violations of trust I think in society,” says FBI Supervisory Special Agent Dan Costin, who leads a team of investigators working to counter crimes against children. According to Costin, many of the sextortion scams reported to the FBI are determined to be from criminals on the African continent and in Southeast Asia. Federal investigators are working with their law enforcement counterparts around the world, Costin said, to help identify and arrest perpetrators who are targeting kids online. One challenge for the FBI: many victims of sextortion do not report the incidents to law enforcement. “The embarrassment piece of this is probably one of the bigger hurdles that the victims have to overcome,” said Costin. “It can be a lot, especially at that moment.” But investigators urge victims to quickly contact law enforcement, either online or at their local FBI field office. Medical experts say there’s a key reason why young males are especially vulnerable to sextortion-related scams. “Teen brains are still developing,” said Dr. Scott Hadland, chief of adolescent medicine at Mass General in Boston. “So when something catastrophic happens, like a personal picture is released to people online, it’s hard for them to look past that moment and understand that in the big scheme of things they’ll be able to get through this.” Hadland said there are steps parents can take to help safeguard their kids from online harm. “The most important thing that a parent should do with their teen is trying to understand what they’re doing online,” she said. “You want to know when they’re going online, who they’re interacting with, what platforms they’re using. Are they being approached by people that they don’t know, are they experiencing pressure to share information or photos?” Hadland said it’s also critical that parents specifically warn teens of scams like sextortion, without shaming them. “You want to make it clear that they can talk to you if they have done something, or they feel like they’ve made a mistake,” he said. Ryan’s mom agrees. “You need to talk to your kids because we need to make them aware of it,” Stuart said. Still grieving the loss of her son, she is channeling her family’s pain into action and honoring Ryan by speaking out and telling his story. She hopes that doing so will help save lives. “How could these people look at themselves in the mirror knowing that $150 is more important than a child’s life?” she says. “There’s no other word but ‘evil’ for me that they care much more about money than a child’s life. I don’t want anybody else to go through what we did.” Read more at cnn.com
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Advantages and Disadvantages of Trenchless Sewer Repair

Considering the advantages and disadvantages of trenchless sewer repair? You’re in the right place for a comprehensive overview. Let’s dive into a quick introduction to trenchless sewer repair, followed by its merits and demerits. Understanding Trenchless Sewer Repair Emerging in the 1970s in Europe, trenchless sewer repair was initially designed for large-scale municipal and industrial pipe projects. Over the past two decades, technological advancements have enabled its application to smaller-diameter pipes, such as those in residential homes and multi-story buildings. Unlike traditional methods, trenchless repair doesn’t involve uprooting gardens or tearing down walls. Plus, in most scenarios, residents can remain in their homes during the repair. Nevertheless, prior to and post-repair, camera inspections are mandated to ensure the quality of the job. Additionally, obtaining a construction permit is necessary. Let’s delve into the four predominant trenchless sewer repair techniques: Structural Pipe Lining or Cured-In-Place-Pipe Lining (CIPP) Spray Lining and Brush Coating Pipe Bursting Slip Lining Stay tuned for an in-depth analysis of its pros and cons. Benefits of Cured-In-Place-Pipe Lining (CIPP) Cost Efficiency: Opting for CIPP can result in a cost reduction of approximately 30-40% in comparison to conventional repair methods. The savings arise due to reduced labor hours and the absence of extensive excavation. Reduced Disruption: The CIPP technique is minimally invasive, minimizing disruptions to one’s property. Most repairs can be conducted through pre-existing access points like outdoor cleanouts, manholes, or roof vent openings without the need to create new access points. Quick Turnaround: Speed is a notable advantage. The entire CIPP process, spanning cleaning, lining, and reinstatement, usually wraps up within 2-3 days, while traditional methods might extend over weeks. Durability: Once rehabilitated using CIPP, the pipes showcase enhanced longevity. They are not only robust but also resistant to corrosion, boasting a life expectancy of around 50 years. Drawbacks of Cured-In-Place-Pipe Lining (CIPP) Pipe Condition Restrictions: The liner molds to the shape of the original pipe. Therefore, it’s crucial that the existing pipe isn’t collapsed or incorrectly sloped (backpitched). Curing Downtime: The epoxy integral to the CIPP method might necessitate up to a day to fully set. Yet, even with this consideration, CIPP remains speedier than traditional techniques. Pipe Suitability: CIPP isn’t a universal solution. It’s incompatible with Orangeburg (a type of tarpaper) pipes, especially brittle ones. The latter might sustain damage during the hydro-jetting cleaning procedure, which precedes the lining insertion. Spray Lining and Brush Coating Overview Though these trenchless sewer repair techniques share some similarities with CIPP, they differ in their non-structural nature. Instead of employing a felt or fiberglass liner like in CIPP, they involve coating the internal structure of the existing pipe with resins like epoxy, flexible polymers, or other suitable materials. These resins can be sprayed or brushed onto the pipe, achieving the desired outcome either way. (It’s worth noting that various resins cater to different needs. For instance, flexible resins are the go-to for vertical pipes in skyscrapers, as traditional rigid epoxy might fracture due to building movement.) Opting for spray lining or brush coating can effectively counteract corrosion in cast iron pipes and curb sewer gas emanating from compromised joints. Impressively, these methods can be adapted to pipes with diameters as small as 1.5 inches. Pipe Bursting Pipe bursting stands as an alternative trenchless approach to mend compromised sewer pipes. This technique employs an HDPE (high-density polyethylene) pipe, either of identical size or more significant than the existing one, which is winched into the old pipe. Leading the replacement pipe is a bursting head, which fragments the damaged pipe, making room for the new one to assume its position. Sewer Pros advocates for this method, especially when replacing sewer lateral lines (those connecting your private sewer system to the public main). This recommendation stems from the fact that pipe bursting is not only cost-effective and rapid but also yields a sturdier final product. Moreover, the expense associated with restoring grass or turf post-repair remains relatively low. Pipe Bursting Overview Pipe bursting is a trenchless approach to address damaged sewer pipes. The procedure involves drawing a replacement HDPE (high-density polyethylene) pipe, of the same or larger size, into the old pipe using a winch. A bursting head shatters the old pipe, allowing the new one to occupy its position. Sewer Pros vouches for this method, particularly when addressing sewer lateral lines. This preference is due to its affordability, speed, and the superior durability of the resulting product. Plus, the cost of restoring grass or landscapes post-operation is modest. Advantages of Pipe Bursting: Affordability: It’s cost-effective compared to other trenchless alternatives, and the reduced need for digging translates to savings on restoration. Minimal Disruption: Only two small pits, each measuring 4′ x 4′, are required at the pipe’s ends, reducing the need for extensive excavation. Speed: Less excavation means swifter completion. Durability: The replacement HDPE pipes are robust, boasting a lifespan ranging from 50 to 100 years, with resistance against rust and erosion. Additional Benefits: Capability to install a wider sewer line. Proven long-term solution for damaged pipe replacement. Drawbacks of Pipe Bursting: Pipe Length: Replacement pipes need to be over 15 feet, considering the space needed for two pits. Eligibility: In cases of already collapsed pipes or improperly graded ones, this method isn’t suitable. Slip Lining Overview Originating in the 1940s, slip lining targets larger pipes. The method pulls a narrower HDPE pipe into the existing one, sealing the gap with grout. This can diminish the pipe’s flow capacity. Note that Sewer Pros doesn’t engage in slip lining for pipes between 2” and 12”. Advantages of Slip Lining: Cost-Effective: As a trenchless method, costs related to destruction are minimized. Less Disruption: Compared to traditional methods, less excavation is involved. Speed: Depending on the pipe length, the process is swifter than conventional methods. Durability: The HDPE pipes are resilient, with a life expectancy of 50-100 years. Drawbacks of Slip Lining: Pipe Size: Suited mainly for larger, non-residential pipes due to diameter constraints. Inflexibility: Not suitable for pipes with bends or those significantly >>Read more
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Johnny Depp was jealous and controlling, ex-girlfriend Ellen Barkin says

Johnny Depp was controlling and jealous and once threw a wine bottle across a room, one of his ex-girlfriends and co-stars said in a video during his court case against Amber Heard. In the video, actress Ellen Barkin said Mr. Depp was “drunk a lot of the time” during their relationship in the 1990s. The testimony, filmed in 2019, was played in court, where Mr. Depp is suing his former wife for defamation. Ms. Heard has accused the Hollywood star of being violent, which he has denied. The trial’s jury watched the recorded testimony from Ms. Barkin, who said her relationship with the Pirates of the Caribbean actor lasted between three and six months. She said: “He’s just a jealous man, controlling – ‘Where are you going? Who are you going with? What did you do last night?’ “I had a scratch on my back once that got him very angry because he insisted it came from me having sex with a person who wasn’t him.” She added that the actor “was always drinking and or smoking a joint”. Ms. Barkin said the incident with the bottle happened while she and Mr. Depp were filming the 1998 film Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, adapted from the book by Hunter S Thompson. “Mr. Depp threw a wine bottle across the room, the hotel room in Las Vegas,” she said. “I don’t know why he threw the bottle.” However, she recalled that he may have had an argument with friends or an assistant. Also on Thursday, Mr. Depp’s former agent Tracey Jacobs told the trial that his career suffered after 2010 because of “unprofessional behavior” including drug and alcohol use and consistently showing up late on set. And the star’s former business manager Josh Mandel said he became “extremely concerned” about Mr. Depp’s financial situation in 2015, with the actor spending $300,000 (£193,000) a month on full-time staff at one point. The trial is due to resume next week. Read more: bbc.com
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What is Web3? The future of the internet, a ‘marketing buzzword’ or something still to be defined?

The future of the internet is a multi-trillion-dollar question facing the technology industry, including some of the world’s wealthiest companies and investors. At the center of a vigorous debate around how our online experiences will evolve is a concept called Web3. The term has existed for the better part of a decade, but remains a hazy and polarising topic, splitting those who see it as a way to change the world for the better, and others who spy an opportunity to make even more money from a decentralized internet. So what exactly is Web3, and how is it already changing our internet? A brief history of the World Wide Web The first version of the internet, known as Web 1.0, existed between the early nineties and early noughties. During that time, the internet was largely decentralized and spread across numerous web pages, which weren’t very linked or interactive. Internet users also didn’t produce their own content to share online. The current era of the internet, Web 2.0, has been around since the mid-noughties. It’s defined by the centralization of things like communication and commerce on corporate platforms, where we post photos to Facebook that we’ll later find embarrassing, buy stuff on Amazon, and show everyone our breakfast on Instagram. This has led to the creation of a whole lot of data about internet users, including their political leanings and spending patterns, which corporations have sold off to advertisers and even to political campaigns. According to some, the future of the internet will see users take back control, become part-owners of the web, share in the profits made from their content and decentralize it once again. This is where the idea of Web3 comes in. What is Web3? Web3 is a concept for the next iteration of the internet, built around decentralized blockchain technology — that’s the same technology used by cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, where data isn’t managed by a centralized server or authority, but by all of the computer systems that run on the blockchain. The term Web3 was introduced in 2014 by Gavin Wood, a co-founder of the Ethereum blockchain, but the term gained mainstream attention last year, amid hype from blockchain enthusiasts and technology investors. The technologies behind it could allow internet users to earn money, assets, or ownership for making content or otherwise contributing to the web, according to Kelsie Nabben, a researcher at RMIT University’s Blockchain Innovation Hub. “People that are creating value — say when you or I post photos or have video calls — we have no ownership over that value, which is the data we are creating,” she said. “I don’t think there’s consensus on what Web3 is. “The tools can create amazing communities and community dynamics, and then these microcosms of innovation and experimentation have the potential to change economies, the way labor and employment work, as well as access and participation and digital inclusion.” So when will Web3 be here? In a sense, elements of Web3 are already forming part of our current internet, including systems that use blockchain technology such as cryptocurrencies, some of the virtual worlds in the metaverse, and non-fungible tokens or NFTs, which are tokens that assign ownership to things like digital artwork. For example, in Web 1.0 you may have emailed someone a photo of yourself. In Web 2.0, you may have shared a selfie with friends on a centralized social media platform, and that platform might have mined the photo for usable or monetizable data. In a Web3 world, your social media profile photo could, for example, be an NFT of digital artwork or image you own. This is something Twitter actually introduced in January, to a pretty mixed response. Why are some people skeptical of Web3? Despite Web3’s ideals of decentralization and shared ownership, some believe it is also an opportunity for investors to cash in. Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk is known for his interest in cryptocurrencies, but in December he said he thought Web3 seemed to be “more marketing buzzword than reality”. Around the same time, Twitter founder and fellow blockchain advocate Jack Dorsey said Web3 still had “corporate incentives” and was heavily controlled by venture capitalists and their limited partners, or shareholders. We’ve already seen some musicians and artists have their work sold as NFTs without their consent on new Web3-associated platforms. Ms. Nabben said while there were “very transformative ideologies” behind parts of Web3, it was important to think through the potential downsides of any new technologies. This includes the technology’s limitations, who can access it, and how it can be exploited. “That’s obviously what generally went wrong with Web 2.0, or the current internet as we have it — that many of the apps and the platforms that we use have become very extractive and very exploitative,” she said. “But in practice, we see that’s not what happens and there’s still politics, and people will still try to find ways to exploit the system.” Ms. Nabben encourages people to be cautious and investigate the Web3 platforms or products they are interested in before jumping in. “Look at things like whether the source code is publicly available, whether the platform is privately owned, what the business model is, and whether it’s venture-capital-backed or was funded through a new funding model,” she said. “Not everyone would necessarily agree that Web3, as it appears now, is desirable — large players benefit from the way that the internet is structured now, and [there are] still very real commercial interests in some Web3 things, which aren’t necessarily bad, but people should be made aware of them.” What could the future of the internet actually look like? Moxie Marlinspike, the founder of encrypted messaging app Signal, wrote on his website in January that technical and market realities were impacting Web3’s dreams of decentralization, but “you can’t stop a gold rush”. Mr. Marlinspike said he could understand the idealism of Web3’s advocates and the use of blockchain technology was leading to “creativity/exploration that is somewhat reminiscent of early internet days”. >>Read more
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