What Tragedy Can Teach Us About the Benefit of Facial Recognition

Last month, Las Vegas marked one year since the tragic and unforgettable mass shooting that targeted an enormous country music festival and became the deadliest in modern US history. On Sunday, October 1, 2017, gunman Stephen Paddock opened fire on a crowd of concert-goers at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival. A massive 58 people were killed, including 36 women and 22 men.  Another 851 were injured, both by gunfire and during the panic that resulted in the crowded space on the Las Vegas Strip, even though the shooting occurred in a short ten-minute span, from 10:05 to 10:15 PDT.

Paddock, a 64-year-old who was once an auditor and real estate businessman, had little interaction with law enforcement, except for traffic citations. He was, reportedly, a heavy drinker and a solitary soul who, as a high-stakes gambler, placed bets at a high enough level to generate free benefits such as rooms and meals. He had lost a significant amount of his wealth in the two years leading to the tragedy, due to his familiarity with casinos in Las Vegas. His exploits and his background quickly became the stuff of Twitter tweets and Instagram and Facebook posts and was widely proliferated, even without the assistance of an engagement service like Social Gone Viral.

What can the Las Vegas tragedy teach us?

Such tragedies have, unfortunately, become more commonplace than we might like to admit. The question is, in the absence of changes to gun control regulations, are there alternative solutions to thwarting potential acts of domestic terrorism and large-scale safety threats? Is there a way that governmental agencies can immediately assess and subsequently respond to potential issues? What if surveillance efforts at large-scale events were made safer and easier through the use of intelligent image searches and facial recognition software that allow for improved safety measures?

From sporting events to casino surveillance, from entering a music event to crossing the threshold of a hotel, biometric analysis can recognize distinct faces in a crowd and help law enforcement identify suspect individuals as soon as they enter an area or a building. Utilizing the expertise of artificial intelligence designers and security specialists, technology is allowing a one-to-many facial recognition process that will provide consistent, on-demand, and real-time service to governments, law enforcement agencies, and others.

Not only can facial recognition software help prevent catastrophic events, but it may also help investigators catch criminals after the fact.  As the use of facial recognition software becomes more prevalent, the hope is that potential criminals, knowing that the chances of getting away with it are becoming more and more limited, won’t attempt any wrongdoing in the first place. But even if a tragedy occurs, a facial recognition system can save law enforcement countless hours of manual video and comparative analysis. It can capture and evaluate as many as 100 facial profiles in a single image, speeding up investigatory procedures. These facts indicate that artificial intelligence is easily leveraged for both governmental and security needs.

Where might facial recognition be used?

Facial recognition technology is more common than many realize and when used widely and wisely, it is capable of protecting innocent individuals and deterring would-be criminals. Banks, for example, could easily benefit from the implementation of cameras in physical locations that would allow investigators to apprehend criminals if robberies occur and to discourage them.

Facial recognition can also be used online in a mobile banking capacity, allowing transactions to be secured at a glance rather than through a more traditional format. In this way, imposters attempting to access consumer accounts or assume someone else’s identity will be unable to complete fraudulent transactions, even if they have the customer’s credentials such as account numbers or passwords or PINs. The analysis systems will scan faces, turn them into a code, and determine the validity of a person’s identity based on factors such as eye shape, eye width, jaw shape and size, and nose position.

Casinos, too, have found value in the use of facial recognition software. In places where significant amounts of money exchange hands and flow easily, criminals can be found en masse. In gambling cities like Las Vegas where criminals like Stephen Paddock lurk, Casino.org reports that many types of crimes, including burglary, robbery, assault, arson, and murder are prevalent. Traditional cameras may capture some events, but facial recognition software can help detect individuals who have cheated casinos before or who frequent them regularly. Installing systems in areas like these can deter crimes like theft or assault if criminals are aware that they are more likely to be caught- not only on tape that can be analyzed manually but by the use of sophisticated software that examines and evaluates hundreds of faces quickly and easily.

Do you feel that such tragedies warrant the use of facial recognition software in public places? Share your opinion here.

Common Questions About CBD Oil, Answered!

CBD oil has become more and more popular in recent years. It is an extract of the marijuana plant, known as Cannabis Sativa, and it is perfectly legal to use for different purposes. There are a lot of uses for the extract indeed, including treating anxiety issues and helping to strengthen cells in the body.

The increasing popularity of CBD oil means more people are now looking into CBD oil as a way to treat different medical conditions. Some of you may have questions about CBD oil regarding how it is best used in different situations. We are going to try to answer some of those questions in this article.

What is CBD oil exactly?

Until recently, there has been a big misconception about CBD oil and its relation to the marijuana plant. While CBD oil is derived from the same plant, Cannabis Sativa, it doesn’t have the same properties as the dry version of marijuana that is now used for medicinal purposes.

For starters, the CBD oil contains a compound called cannabidiol, or CBD. CBD is what produces the health benefits of CBD oil – and marijuana in general – but it is different than tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, in one important respect: CBD does not produce psychoactive effects. THC, on the other hand, is the main psychoactive compound in marijuana, which causes a high, and other psychological effects.

Since CBD-based products do not contain THC, they are not classified under the same category as defined by the DEA. This is why CBD oil is legal across the United States, while other marijuana-based products – including medical ones – are classified differently in different states.

Is it legal?

In short, yes. As mentioned before, CBD oil and products derived from it don’t contain THC, which is the primary psychoactive compound in marijuana. You can buy CBD oil and CBD-based products without having to worry about them being illegal.

What are the CBD products available today?

Depending on your preferences, CBD oil can be consumed in different ways. For starters, there is CBD oil in its liquid form. This is something you can consume directly or use as an ointment to get the health benefits it offers.

Keep in mind that you cannot diffuse CBD oil. You will still get the aroma of CBD oil when you add drops of CBD oil to the diffuser, but it is not how you gain the health benefits of this product.

Aside from CBD oil in its liquid form, there are also products that package CBD oil in easy-to-consume forms like tablets and capsules. CBD oil capsules are certainly easier to take, because you can take them after your meals in the same way that you would take other health supplements.

What's great about the popularity of CBD oil is the new range of products that are now available on the market. CBD gummies, for example, make consuming CBD oil orally more enjoyable. You can consume CBD oil without dealing with its unique and distinct aroma or taste.

Other forms are also available. Be sure to learn more about the different CBD-based products to find one that suits your personal preferences best.

What benefits can I get from consuming CBD oil?

There is a long list of proven and tested benefits you can gain from consuming CBD oil. At the top of that list, there is the fact that CBD oil helps ease pain in a relatively short amount of time. The lack of THC doesn’t mean CBD is any less effective in relieving pain. Oral consumption is best if pain relief is the benefit you want to get from CBD oil.

CBD oil is also an effective treatment for inflammation. CBD itself has anti-inflammatory properties known to be effective; various studies have proven just how well CBD works when used to treat inflammations and similar health problems. At the same time, CBD also promotes the growth of new neurons and protects existing ones from stress.

In most cases, however, CBD oil is used to treat mood disorders and anxiety. CBD oil in its different forms is known to be highly effective as a treatment for anxiety disorders. You will not only feel calmer and more in control, but you can also benefit from the long-term improvement CBD oil brings to the table. Combined with treatments such as behavioral therapy, CBD oil can be very effective in treating stress.

The benefits of CBD also include everyday benefits you can surely appreciate. If you have trouble sleeping, for instance, consuming CBD oil regularly can help eliminate that problem once and for all. It is also recommended for REM behavior disorder, and it alleviates some of the symptoms of sleep apnea.

Are there side effects to worry about?

Just like other treatments, there are some side effects produced by CBD oil and its consumption. That said, the side effects are negligible compared to the health benefits you can gain from the consumption.

For starters, CBD oil may cause nausea and a dry mouth, mainly because the aroma and the distinct taste of CBD oil are not for everyone. The latter is also due to the nature of CBD oil; it contains a high concentration of CBD extracted from Cannabis Sativa. You can remedy this side effect by drinking more water.

In some cases, CBD oil may also cause diarrhea. To avoid this particular side effect, it is always recommended to try CBD oil in small doses and test your body’s ability to absorb the compound first.

Are there other potential benefits?

Aside from the proven benefits we discussed earlier, there are also known benefits of CBD oil that haven’t been thoroughly tested yet. You can deal with things such as acne and prevent diabetes with regular consumption of CBD oil. There are even studies exploring the links between CBD oil and cancer risk reduction.

What’s best about using CBD oil as a treatment is that you can now get the CBD oil products that suit you easily. With so many benefits to offer and little to no side effects to worry about, it is easy to see where today’s immense popularity of CBD oil stems from.

The Value of Adding Creative Comforts to Your Home

As a busy parent with kids of various ages that you need to shuttle off to school before going to work yourself, every weekday can be tiring. The weekends are then filled with activities for the children, preparing more elaborate meals, spending time with your significant other, chores and running errands. It’s totally exhausting!

It’s at that point that you realize adding any kind of creature comforts to your life not only makes it more pleasant, it’s often necessary to stay sane.

Dehumidifier for Your Sanity

When you live in a part of the country that’s hot and humid for several months of the year, it’s sensible to use a dehumidifier. It removes some of the moisture in the air, so you perspire less than you otherwise would.

Living in a place that is humid and sticky, you’re fighting a losing battle with dehydration when the humidity levels get to be too much. Unless you are drinking water regularly, it’s all too easy to find your energy going on a continual rollercoaster ride as a result.  

Remember that it’s still handy to have a handheld fan to use when the humidity is reduced. There are several models reviewed at Unhumid to give you a better idea about features.

Automatic Pet Feeders for Convenience

Remembering to feed the cat or dog when you’re rushing around is difficult. If you’re likely to be out running errands or shuttling the kids to different activities while the dog or cat stays home, they will get hungry. Their food can easily run out without you realizing it too. It becomes unfair on your furry friends when you forget about them in your haste to complete your other parental duties.

An automatic pet feeder is a useful little gadget to solve this problem. It ensures that your four-legged friends never get forgotten about on busy days. It will need cleaning and new food added periodically, but it helps manage those days when you are out of the house for extended periods. There are even models fitted with cameras to see when your pet grabs a bite, and a microchip version to only let the right pets eat the right food.

Massage Chair for Recovery

A massage chair is a good alternative to paying for an expensive traditional massage. It takes away the aches and pains after a long day. This type of chair is an excellent alternative to a regular armchair while not sacrificing comfort when you just want to sit down and relax.

A single chair can provide massages to anyone in the family who feels the need. You’ll have to watch out for the kiddies who will probably think it’s more of a toy and could wear out the mechanism when playing with it too often. So, they may require supervision to keep the massage chair functional for longer.

Having a few well-chosen creative comforts at home just makes life more manageable. It doesn’t necessarily matter what they, are as long as they’re suitable for your family’s needs.

Hoping for a Christmas Proposal? Here's How to Celebrate in Style

Celebrate your news in style. Image via Pexels.

It’s a magical time of year - one that's all about togetherness, love, family and making magical memories.
And if you and your partner have been together a while, you may well be hoping that there is one extra
special present under the tree - an engagement ring! Or you could be planning to ask a special question
yourself underneath the mistletoe, excitedly planning and looking at all the celebrity engagements 2018.
If you do get engaged at Christmas, it will undoubtedly make the day extra special. However, sometimes
it can feel as if your life-changing news gets a little caught up on the tide of general festivities. So instead
of bundling it in with the Christmas and New Year celebrations, plan a unique way to celebrate your
engagement that is personal to you, once the festive fuss has died down. Here are some ideas on how
to celebrate your news:

Book In A Photo Shoot

Marking a milestone life event, it's a lovely idea to book a photographer to take some engagement pictures
to share with your loved ones and keep the memory for you. Winter provides some lovely opportunities
for romantic cozy settings - or even some snow and sparking frost if you're lucky! Doing an engagement
photo shoot is a great way to have a trial run with the photographer you're considering for your big day -
make sure you are comfortable around them, and that you like the way the pictures come out. It also
gives you a stock of images to use for your wedding website, engagement announcement or save the
date cards.

Recreate Your First Date

If all the winter festivities mean that you've spent a lot of time with friends and family but not a lot just the
two of you, it's nice to take the to celebrate together. Remember where your first date or the place you
met was, and plan something there. Revisiting the past is a lovely way to remind you each why you fell
for each other in the first place. Don't be afraid to get a little sentimental and share memories about the
start of your relationship to help you appreciate the moment.

Get Pampered

Your new year bridal beauty regime starts now! All of us want to look out best for our big day, but really
making big changes to our bodies, skin etc can take time. So get started on your regime early in the New
Year to give you plenty of time. All the festivities can leave you bloated, low energy, and with unwanted
extra pounds or dull, congested skin from the unhealthy living you've been indulging in over the holidays,
so get ahead of the game and start to tackle it now. Booking in for a few spa treatments to kick off 2019
is a lovely way to get on a roll with it, and you can usually find some great January deals on in salons, or
reduced price pampering products in store if you want to do a little DIY. And you'll need a nice manicure
as you'll be showing your hands off to everyone with your engagement ring.

Swagbucks Pre-Black Friday Sales

As a pre-Black Friday warm up, Swagbucks is offering big cash back for shopping online at several of your favorite retailers right now!

Just go to this page to see all of the deals available and get the jump on your holiday shopping.         
In order to take advantage of the cash back, just create your Swagbucks account when prompted (it takes less than 30 seconds) and then you're all set! Your cash back comes in the form of SB points, which you can redeem for gift cards to places like Amazon, Target, Walmart, Starbucks, or get PayPal cash!

As a special bonus, if you sign up through me you get a 300 SB ($3) bonus when you earn your first 300 SB before December 1st! This site's a great way to extend your shopping budget, especially around the holidays!