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Stablecoin Issuer Tether Fulfills Promise by Reducing Commercial Paper Holdings Down to Zero Bitcoin News – Bitcoin News

On October 13, 2022, Tether Holdings Limited announced that the stablecoin issuer has reduced the companys commercial paper holdings down to zero. The company has said it would reach this goal for a while now, and Tether says that shrinking commercial paper holdings down to zero demonstrates Tethers commitment to backing its tokens with the most secure reserves in the market.

The company behind the largest stablecoin by market capitalization, Tether, has revealed that USDTs reserves are exposed to U.S. Treasury Bills (T-Bills), in contrast to commercial paper holdings. The announcement follows the statement Tethers chief technology officer Paolo Ardoino made on October 3.

At the time, Ardoino explained that U.S. Treasury bills represented more than 58% of the companys reserves, and he further said [Commercial paper] exposure is [less than] 50M now. The company that manages USDT, a stablecoin with a market valuation of around $68.53 billion, believes the decision to erase commercial paper holdings is positive for the crypto industry as a whole.

Reducing commercial papers to zero demonstrates Tethers commitment to backing its tokens with the most secure reserves in the market, the company stated on Thursday. This is a step towards even greater transparency and trust, not only for Tether but for the entire stablecoin industry.

Tethers move follows the issues associated with the Terra blockchain and the UST de-pegging event last May. Furthermore, a handful of stablecoins have de-pegged from the $1 parity following USTs collapse. The news also follows the stablecoin USDCs market cap deflating during the last few months down to todays valuation of around $45.82 billion.

USDTs market cap dropped as well, following the Terra collapse, as Bitcoin.com News reported in mid-June that the number of USDT in circulation dropped by over 12 billion coins in two months. Despite the drops of USDT and USDC in circulation, the stablecoins are still the top two stablecoin assets by market cap, and the third (USDT) and fourth (USDC) largest crypto assets by valuation.

What do you think about Tether fulfilling the companys promise to reduce commercial paper holdings down to zero? Let us know what you think about this subject in the comments section below.

Jamie Redman is the News Lead at Bitcoin.com News and a financial tech journalist living in Florida. Redman has been an active member of the cryptocurrency community since 2011. He has a passion for Bitcoin, open-source code, and decentralized applications. Since September 2015, Redman has written more than 6,000 articles for Bitcoin.com News about the disruptive protocols emerging today.

Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons, Tether,

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.

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Cardano founder points out flaws in Ethereum and Bitcoin – Cointelegraph

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has been pointing out the flaws affecting the Ethereum protocol following its latest upgrade.

A major issue, according to Hoskinson, is the locking mechanism that prevents investors from withdrawing their staked Ether (ETH) from the Beacon Chain until the completion of the next upgrade.

Ethereum is the Hotel California of cryptocurrencies. You can check in, but you cant check out, said Hoskinson in a recent Cointelegraph interview.

According to Hoskison, this mechanism heavily impacts ETHs liquidity and could eventually spark a liquidity crisis.

Youll have less and less Ether trading in the marketplace, he explained. And then what will ultimately happen is youll have a liquidity crisis where a lot of volatility comes in.

Cardanos founder is also critical of the proof-of-work mining system that powers Bitcoin (BTC), which he sees as wasteful and unnecessary in the long run.

While Hoskinson acknowledged the importance of proof-of-work in the process of creating new BTC, he doesnt believe its effective when BTC is used as a financial instrument.According to Hoskinson, once BTC is mined, it could be moved onto a different, less energy-consuming blockchain in the form of wrapped assets:

To learnabout Hoskinsons thesis on Bitcoin and Ethereum, watchthe full interview on our YouTube channel, and dont forget to subscribe!

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GBT is Researching the Development of a Machine Learning Driven, RF Cybersecurity System and Protocol – GlobeNewswire

Aiming to provide adaptable, synthesized, new era security for Radio Frequency networks through the use of AI technology

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 13, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GBT Technologies Inc. (OTC PINK:GTCH) ("GBT or the Company) is researching the development of a machine learning driven radio frequency (RF) cybersecurity system and protocol. Typical wireless security depends on a software and hardware identification for each wireless device. This fact creates a major cybersecurity vulnerability which can lead to a wireless devices attack or cloning. GBT is researching the development of a machine learning based system and protocol that will learn to recognize transmitters and receivers based on their unique RF fingerprint. GBT is analyzing a combination of hardware and software to be focused on learning transmitters/receivers RF features, identifying and categorizing their nature as safe or potential malicious attackers. The research is focused on developing a system to identify a potential intruder and then initiating an immediate RF fingerprint change to increase the networks security measures and also providing an incident response. In response to the out of network suspicious device, the communication system is expected to modify in real time, all other devices fingerprint to transmit in different waveforms, frequencies and other characteristics. The system under development is expected to automatically change all the wireless safe devices natural pattern to block and isolate the intruder. The ultimate goal of the system is to allow an entire networks security level to be enhanced in real-time to avoid data theft, damage and malicious attacks. This planned system will be learning to synthesize RF waveforms on-the-fly as a response to cyber threat. The system and protocol are planned to include AI technology to create an intelligent wireless communication method, maximizing the security of wireless networks by enabling RF spectrum analysis and recognition of RF devices fingerprint and signature. The wireless network under development will constantly monitor and study with the goal of identifying any abnormalities. In case of a possible cyber threat the system is expected to dynamically reconfigure its operating modes to isolate the intrusion and continue its normal, secured operation. GBT aims to equip the system with cognitive, adaptive capabilities in order to perform an automatic reconfiguration, enabling an intelligent, fast response and efficient cybersecurity technology for wireless networks. The system is planned to be autonomous and self-learning to increase RF networks cyber threats awareness, detection, identification and elimination.

It is GBTs goal to provide a new level of cybersecurity for wireless networks. Based on our experience in the RF domain we decided to develop an intelligent security system and protocol with the goal of being able to pick out and distinguish between RF signals, identifying the network members fingerprint and identifying the signals that do not belong. As our worlds RF spectrum is becoming highly occupied by numerous radio signals it becomes a great challenge to detect and identify intruders and attackers. Particularly with the rapid, constant expansion of theinternet of things (IoT)technology, there now exists a vast amount of RF data in a wide variety of fields. We identified the need for a higher level of cybersecurity in the RF domain to properly secure data, avoid damages and preventing malicious attacks. We are working on an intelligent RF cybersecurity system and protocol that collects important, relevant information about the networks devices, learning the networks patterns and provides an immediate response in case of suspicious fingerprints identification. The system will have RF awareness to the wireless network patterns, signatures, and characteristics. It will have cognitive capabilities to learn the features of each transmitter and receiver with the goal of providing immediate identification of out-of-networks intruding devices. It will have reasoning algorithms to reach rapid conclusions and to execute RF characteristics change within the networks members fingerprints and features. We are attempting to develop a system that will learn to understand the difference between safe and harmful signals detected in large bandwidths with the goal of building an efficient, intelligent network security awareness. We strongly believe that particularly in our times a robust RF cybersecurity technology must come of age to protect our normal daily lives, privacy and ultimately national security, stated Danny Rittman, the Companys CTO.

There is no guarantee that the Company will be successful in researching, developing or implementing this system. In order to successfully implement this concept, the Company will need to raise adequate capital to support its research and, if successfully researched and fully developed, the Company would need to enter into a strategic relationship with a third party that has experience in manufacturing, selling and distributing this product. There is no guarantee that the Company will be successful in any or all of these critical steps.

About Us

GBT Technologies, Inc. (OTC PINK: GTCH) (GBT) (http://gbtti.com) is a development stage company which considers itself a native of Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Enabled Mobile Technology Platforms used to increase IC performance. GBT has assembled a team with extensive technology expertise and is building an intellectual property portfolio consisting of many patents. GBTs mission, to license the technology and IP to synergetic partners in the areas of hardware and software. Once commercialized, it is GBTs goal to have a suite of products including smart microchips, AI, encryption, Blockchain, IC design, mobile security applications, database management protocols, with tracking and supporting cloud software (without the need for GPS). GBT envisions this system as a creation of a global mesh network using advanced nodes and super performing new generation IC technology. The core of the system will be its advanced microchip technology; technology that can be installed in any mobile or fixed device worldwide. GBTs vision is to produce this system as a low cost, secure, private-mesh-network between all enabled devices. Thus, providing shared processing, advanced mobile database management and sharing while using these enhanced mobile features as an alternative to traditional carrier services.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements because of various important factors as disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission located at their website (http://www.sec.gov). In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic conditions, governmental and public policy changes, the Companys ability to raise capital on acceptable terms, if at all, the Companys successful development of its products and the integration into its existing products and the commercial acceptance of the Companys products. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of the press release.

Contact:

Dr. Danny Rittman, CTO press@gopherprotocol.com

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Outlook on the Machine Learning in Life Sciences Global Market to 2027 – Featuring Alteryx, Anaconda, Canon Medical Systems and Imagen Technologies…

DUBLIN, Oct. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --The "Global Markets for Machine Learning in the Life Sciences" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Research and Markets Logo

This report highlights the current and future market potential for machine learning in life sciences and provides a detailed analysis of the competitive environment, regulatory scenario, drivers, restraints, opportunities and trends in the market. The report also covers market projections from 2022 through 2027 and profiles key market players.

The publisher analyzes each technology in detail, determines major players and current market status, and presents forecasts of growth over the next five years. Scientific challenges and advances, including the latest trends, are highlighted. Government regulations, major collaborations, recent patents and factors affecting the industry from a global perspective are examined.

Key machine learning in life sciences technologies and products are analyzed to determine present and future market status, and growth is forecast from 2022 to 2027. An in-depth discussion of strategic alliances, industry structures, competitive dynamics, patents and market driving forces is also provided.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a term used to identify a scientific field that covers the creation of machines (e.g., robots) as well as computer hardware and software aimed at reproducing wholly or in part the intelligent behavior of human beings. AI is considered a branch of cognitive computing, a term that refers to systems able to learn, reason and interact with humans. Cognitive computing is a combination of computer science and cognitive science.

ML algorithms are designed to perform tasks such data browsing, extracting information that is relevant to the scope of the task, discovering rules that govern the data, making decisions and predictions, and accomplishing specific instructions. As an example, ML is used in image recognition to identify the content of an image after the machine has been instructed to learn the differences among many different categories of images.

There are several types of ML algorithms, the most common of which are nearest neighbor, naive Bayes, decision trees, a priori algorithms, linear regression, case-based reasoning, hidden Markov models, support vector machines (SVMs), clustering, and artificial neural networks. Artificial neural networks (ANN) have achieved great popularity in recent years for high-level computing.

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They are modeled to act similarly to the human brain. The most basic type of ANN is the feedforward network, which is formed by an input layer, a hidden layer and an output layer, with data moving in one direction from the input layer to the output layer, while being transformed in the hidden layer.

Report Includes

32 data tables and 28 additional tables

A comprehensive overview and up-to-date analysis of the global markets for machine learning in life sciences industry

Analyses of the global market trends, with historic market revenue data for 2020 and 2021, estimates for 2022, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2027

Highlights of the current and future market potential for ML in life sciences application, and areas of focus to forecast this market into various segments and sub-segments

Estimation of the actual market size for machine learning in life sciences in USD million values, and corresponding market share analysis based on solutions offering, mode of deployment, application, and geographic region

Updated information on key market drivers and opportunities, industry shifts and regulations, and other demographic factors that will influence this market demand in the coming years (2022-2027)

Discussion of the viable technology drivers through a holistic review of various platform technologies for new and existing applications of machine learning in the life sciences areas

Identification of the major stakeholders and analysis of the competitive landscape based on recent developments and segmental revenues

Emphasis on the major growth strategies adopted by leading players of the global machine learning in life sciences market, their product launches, key acquisitions, and competitive benchmarking

Profile descriptions of the leading market players, including Alteryx Inc., Canon Medical Systems Corp., Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), KNIME AG, Microsoft Corp., and Phillips Healthcare

Key Topics Covered:

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 2 Summary and Highlights

Chapter 3 Market Overview 3.1 Introduction 3.1.1 Understanding Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare 3.1.2 Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Evolution and Transition

Chapter 4 Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic 4.1 Introduction 4.1.1 Impact of Covid-19 on the Market

Chapter 5 Market Dynamics 5.1 Market Drivers 5.1.1 Investment in Ai Health Sector 5.1.2 Rising Chronic Diseases 5.1.3 Advanced, Precise Results 5.1.4 Increasing Research and Development Budget 5.2 Market Restraints and Challenges 5.2.1 Reluctance Among Medical Practitioners to Adopt Ai-Based Technologies 5.2.2 Privacy and Security of User Data 5.2.3 Hackers and Machine Learning 5.2.4 Ambiguous Regulatory Guidelines for Medical Software 5.3 Market Opportunities 5.3.1 Untapped Potential in Emerging Markets 5.4 Value Chain Analysis

Chapter 6 Market Breakdown by Offering 6.1 Software 6.1.1 Market Size and Forecast 6.2 Services 6.2.1 Market Size and Forecast

Chapter 7 Market Breakdown by Deployment Mode 7.1 Cloud 7.1.1 Market Size and Forecast 7.2 On-Premises 7.2.1 Market Size and Forecast

Chapter 8 Market Breakdown by Application 8.1 Diagnosis 8.1.1 Market Size and Forecast 8.2 Therapy 8.2.1 Market Size and Forecast 8.3 Healthcare Management 8.3.1 Market Size and Forecast

Chapter 9 Market Breakdown by Region 9.1 Global Market 9.2 North America 9.2.1 U.S. 9.2.1 Canada 9.3 Europe 9.3.1 Germany 9.3.2 U.K. 9.3.3 France 9.3.4 Italy 9.3.5 Spain 9.3.6 Rest of Europe 9.4 Asia-Pacific 9.4.1 China 9.4.2 Japan 9.4.3 India 9.4.4 Rest of Asia-Pacific 9.5 Rest of the World

Chapter 10 Regulations and Finance 10.1 Regulatory Framework 10.1.1 American Diabetes Association's Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes 10.1.2 Ata Guidelines for Artificial Intelligence 10.1.3 Indian Ai Guidelines, Strategy, and Standards

Chapter 11 Competitive Landscape 11.1 Overview 11.1.1 Development 11.1.2 Cloud 11.1.3 Users 11.1.4 Parent Market: Global Artificial Intelligence Market

Chapter 12 Company Profiles

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/qc8qjo

Media Contact:

Research and MarketsLaura Wood, Senior Managerpress@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

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Forensic Discovery Taps Reveal-Brainspace to Bolster its Analytics, AI and Machine Learning Capabilities – Business Wire

DENVER & CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Forensic Discovery, a leader in digital forensic and eDiscovery services for the legal industry and corporations, announced that it is expanding its technology offering with Reveal, the global provider of the leading AI-powered eDiscovery and investigations platform. Reveal uses adaptive AI, behavioural analysis, and pre-trained AI model libraries to help uncover connections and patterns buried in large volumes of unstructured data.

Forensic Discovery is excited to offer next generation Artificial Intelligence to its hosted review and data analytics services through use of Reveal, said Trent Walton, founder of Forensic Discovery. Our clients, which range from the Am Law 100 to the Fortune 500, will greatly benefit from having the power to investigate, review and produce their data in new ways, thereby reducing litigation costs.

Forensic Discovery will leverage the platform globally to unlock intelligence that will help clients mitigate risks across a range of areas including litigation, investigations, compliance, ethics, fraud, human resources, privacy and security.

As we continue to expand the depth and breadth of Reveals marketplace offerings, we are excited to partner with Forensic Discovery, a demonstrated leader in digital forensics and eDiscovery, said Wendell Jisa, Reveals CEO. By taking full advantage of Reveals powerful platform, Forensic Discovery now has access to the industrys leading SaaS-based, AI-powered technology stack, helping them and their clients solve their most complex problems with greater intelligence.

For more information about Reveal-Brainspace and its AI platform for legal, enterprise and government organizations, visit http://www.revealdata.com.

About Forensic Discovery

Forensic Discovery is a litigation case management firm with expertise in Digital Forensics, eDiscovery, and Expert Testimony. The company has developed a proprietary workflow that allows its clients to forensically collect, filter, review, and produce electronic evidence using a hosted review platform. With offices in Colorado, California and Texas, Forensic Discovery is a leader in digital forensic and eDiscovery services for the legal industry and corporations. Learn more about the companys offerings by visiting http://www.forensicdiscovery.expert.

About Reveal

Reveal-Brainspace is a global provider of the leading AI-powered eDiscovery platform. Fuelled by powerful AI technology and backed by the most experienced team of data scientists in the industry, Reveals cloud-based software offers a full suite of eDiscovery solutions all on one seamless platform. Users of Reveal include law firms, Fortune 500 corporations, legal service providers, government agencies and financial institutions in more than 40 countries across five continents. Featuring deployment options in the cloud or on-premises, an intuitive user design and multilingual user interfaces, Reveal is modernizing the practice of law, saving users time and money and offering them a competitive advantage. For more information, visit http://www.revealdata.com.

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Long-term exposure to particulate matter was associated with increased dementia risk using both traditional approaches and novel machine learning…

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Looking for advice on masculinity? Try St. Joseph rather than Jordan Peterson – National Catholic Reporter

Jordan Peterson, right, and conservative political commentator Charlie Kirk speak with attendees at the 2018 Young Women's Leadership Summit hosted by Turning Point USA at the Hyatt Regency DFW Hotel in Dallas. Peterson's videos appear on Kirk's media site DailyWire+. (Wikimedia Commons/Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0)

In June, psychologist Jordan Peterson signed on with the Daily Wire, a self-proclaimed "right-of-center" multimedia site, for which he has already recorded a plethora of video content. One of his most watched DailyWire+ videos thus far is "Message to the Christian Churches." The video was prompted by his growing Christian fanbase, as well as by his own spiritual quest.

A few years ago, a family friend in his late 20s explained why he didn't want to go to Mass with his family on Easter morning. "The priests make the Bible sound so boring," he said. "I cant help but fall asleep during their homilies. I'd go to church if they played clips of Jordan Peterson talking about the Bible instead of having the priest give homilies. At least Peterson makes the Bible relevant."

Peterson's psychological analyses of the Jungian archetypes found in the Bible largely ignore the text's metaphysical and ethical truths. And yet his appeal to young men was part of the reason then Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Robert Barron pointed to him as an example of how to engage the "nones" (religiously unaffiliated youth) to the U.S. bishops' Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis in June 2019. Soon after, Barron appeared on Peterson's podcast. Though many Catholics were skeptical about Barron engaging so closely with a figure who draws alt-right crowds, others commended him for opening the doors of the church to Peterson, who in the interview admitted he had a desire for faith and admired the Catholic Church.

Peterson's video hardly grasps the essential "message" of Christianity, and runs the risk of reducing it to something that it is not.

I found myself caught somewhere between these two "sides." To Barron's credit, he never indicated that he intended to use Peterson's work itself for evangelization purposes. Rather, he wanted to encourage Catholic pastors and educators to engage with his work despite its ideological nature and lack of total congruence with a Catholic worldview to understand the needs of young people, many of whom find Peterson's videos attractive. And I agree that it's much more effective to engage in a charitable dialogue with people whose ideologies don't fully converge with the church's teachings than to shout them down, downplay the convergences and tell them why they are in the wrong.

But if thats the case, I always wondered why Barron never engaged with Peterson's counterparts on the left, perhaps figures like U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, philosopher Slavoj Zizek, or professor and author Ibram X. Kendi, whose ideological left-wing rhetoric may not overlap perfectly with orthodox Catholic teaching, but does resonate strongly with many "nones" and does indeed converge with Catholic principles in several regards. Barron's videos condemning poststructuralist thought, critical theory and "woke ideology" seem to run contrary to the evangelization method he has been using to engage with ideologues of Peterson's stripe.

Peterson's video message to "the Christian churches," one of his first released after his partnership with Daily Wire, reflects some of the fruits of his dialogue with Barron. Already with more than 1.2 million views (surprisingly only half the amount as his "Message to Muslims"), the video displays Peterson sitting in what one might presume to be a house in the country, with bookshelves and a stack of wooden logs in the background fitting his whole "chadded intellectual" persona. Peterson squints into the teleprompter, as the screen switches periodically between camera angles in an attempt to hold the audience's attention for 11 long minutes of Peterson's pontificating. He proceeds to meld his characteristic Canadian accent with what seems to be his attempt to emulate his boss Ben Shapiro's biting, no-nonsense "wise guy" rhetorical style.

At the 2019 USCCB General Assembly, then Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Robert E. Barron suggested Jordan Peterson's message might bring religiously unaffiliated, or "nones," particularly young people, back to the Catholic Church. (CNS/Bob Roller)

His tirade targets critics of toxic masculinity nothing groundbreaking to those already familiar with Peterson's videos and praises "traditional" notions of masculinity that uphold heroic virtue, channeling instinctive aggression, and a stoic sense of duty to build up civilization and defend one's family. He sprinkles his diatribe with Daily Wire-isms like: "Wake up, sunshine!" " that old joker Derrida " "In the words of that mass murderer Karl Marx " Peterson's overt ideological flair gives the video a performative edge that renders it almost amusingly entertaining, albeit in an ironic way.

He goes on to tell "the Christian churches" that they should be upholding such masculine ideals and should be actively attempting to attract young men, going as far as suggesting that they put up billboards that read "Young Men Welcome Here!"

He encourages them not to beat young men down for their "toxic tendencies, but rather to sublimate them in a productive way by asking "more from them [and] remind[ing] them who they are You're churches, for god's sake! Quit fighting for social justice, quit saving the bloody planet! Attend to some souls, that's what you're supposed to do, that's your holy duty. Do it NOW before it's too late."

One of Jordan Peterson's most popular DailyWire+ videos is "Message to the Christian Churches." In it, the Canadian psychologist tells "the Christian churches" to uphold "traditional" masculine ideals and place billboards that read "Young Men Welcome Here!" (NCR screenshot/DailyWire+)

Keeping in mind that Peterson is trying to fit into the role of a hyperbolic performative shock jock like his peers at Daily Wire, I'm inclined to take his "message" with a grain of salt. I must admit that Peterson makes points that churches ought to consider (with a grain of salt.) I, like Peterson, question whether what often comes off as an attempt to "neutralize" men's aggressive tendencies is as useful as harnessing, integrating and transforming said tendencies toward virtuous ends. I've noticed that most of my friends who look up to Peterson happen to be working class and are people of color who see him as an alternative to a puritanized vision of masculinity that is more accommodating to bourgeois college-educated elites is something worth taking seriously.

My primary concern has more to do with Peterson's reactionary posturing, which clouds any of the redeemable qualities of his message, which is the same problem facing his colleagues at the Daily Wire such as Shapiro, Candace Owens and Matt Walsh. Not only does their posturing make it difficult for people who disagree to engage with some of the valid points they may make, but its performative, extravagant flair makes it hard to take them seriously.

My other concern has to do with the integrity of his message from a Christian perspective. Petersons emphasis on the value of channeling more "instinctive" manifestations of cis-typical masculine biology and psychology, and on the moral importance of fidelity to one's duties, is not necessarily "anti-Christian." But these virtues in themselves are pagan if they never are transformed by the theological "Christian" virtues of faith, hope and charity.

It seems to me that Peterson misunderstands what is most essential about Christianity. It is not merely a set of moral teachings, ideas or beliefs. It is not an ideology that upholds "traditional values." It is an encounter with a Person, an experience of God's love in the flesh. Surely Jesus himself (as well as the many male saints) embodied the natural masculine virtues that Peterson celebrates. But for Jesus, such virtues were not ends in themselves. Jesus didnt die on the cross out of a sense of manly courage or duty, but out of desire to give himself to humanity out of love.

The Christian notion of a "masculine genius" highlights a particular "mode of giving" (to use the words of Swiss theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar) that incorporates certain natural virtues, elevating them to the supernatural ideal to which we are all called: fatherhood and motherhood, which is ultimately a call to love creatively and generate life.

Take St. Joseph as an example. Hardly a "weakling" or a "wimp," nor "toxic" and "aggressive," St. Joseph was the ideal father because he courageously served and sacrificed for his wife and foster son not merely out of a moralistic sense of duty, but as a response to a supernatural calling to love. The summit of masculinity, as demonstrated by figures like St. Joseph, is this kind of paternal love the same for women, in a way that incorporates their unique gifts and virtues.

I concede that developing a sense of duty might be a significant starting point for many men especially ones who don't grow up in stable environments. It may be a stepping stone to understanding God's love for them and their supernatural vocation. But let's not kid ourselves. Peterson's video hardly grasps the essential "message" of Christianity, and runs the risk of reducing it to something that it is not.

You don't need to go to church to be taught how to adhere to your duties and establish order in your life. You can easily pick up a copy of a book by Marcus Aurelius, Nietzsche, Confucius, or a self-help book like Peterson's 12 Rules for Life. For young men who want to understand the fullness of Christian virtue, I'd recommend they instead pick up a copy of Pope Francis' apostolic letter Patris corde ("With a Father's Heart") on the life of St. Joseph.

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"Might be the greatest promotion on Earth" – Twitter erupts after Bloodline member takes a shot at Andrew Tate on WWE SmackDown premiere -…

Twitter erupts after Bloodline member takes a shot at Andrew Tate on WWE SmackDown premiere

Fans on Twitter went into a frenzy as Paul Heyman referenced Andrew Tate, Jordan Peterson, and Ben Shapiro during a face-off between Logan Paul and The Bloodline.

On this week's WWE SmackDown premiere, The Bloodline took to the ring to address the fans in attendance. However, before Roman Reigns could proceed with his promo, Logan Paul, Reigns' opponent at Crown Jewel, stepped up to the ring. Paul Heyman then cut a promo on Paul and the pop industry, referencing Tate, Peterson, and Shapiro in the process.

In reaction to Heyman namedropping Tate on live television, fans went wild on Twitter. The majority of them praised the veteran manager for taking shots at Tate, while some even questioned if Tate was going to face Roman Reigns down the road.

Check out the Twitter reactions below:

Throughout 2022, Tate gained massive popularity on social media. He is a former kickboxer whose comments in recent months have led to him getting banned on multiple social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

At the upcoming WWE Crown Jewel show in Saudi Arabia, Roman Reigns will defend his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Logan Paul. He will aim to get a big win for The Bloodline.

The Tribal Chief will put his title on the line against the YouTube megastar, who will be competing in only his third match with the promotion. Reigns and Paul previously sat down for an interview on the IMPAULSIVE podcast, which marked the beginning of their ongoing rivalry.

The Maverick almost caused a riff among The Bloodline on the latest episode of SmackDown when he followed Heyman's promo by asking who The Tribal Chief was, Roman Reigns or Jey Uso? The situation was handled by Sami Zayn, who reiterated that the faction needs to be on the same page.

Could Andrew Tate be the next social media influencer after Logan Paul to appear in WWE? Sound off in the comments section below.

Could Logan Paul defeat Roman Reigns? It may not be impossible. A former WWE writer speaks here

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Heres hoping for an asteroid to wipe us all out and save us from Trump and Orbn – POLITICO Europe

Welcome to Declassified, a weekly humor column.

Terrible news from deep space, where NASAfired a small craft into the path of an asteroid, thereby throwing it off course and showing that in the future, humanity could be saved from being wiped out should another massive space rock be headed this way.

At this point, the planet being destroyed by an asteroid seems like one of the better options, such is the appalling state of affairs.

Also, the spacecraft that NASA used was the size of a vending machine so why not use an actual vending machine and that way, should aliens find it, they would at least have some crisps (or chips, if you will) to munch on.

Back on as-yet-not-smashed-to-smithereens Earth, and Viktor Orbn has been embarrassing himself by making eyes at Donald Trump. First, the Hungarian prime minister took to Twitter (using only his fourth post since joining the social media hellhole) to ask Where is my good friend, Donald Trump? The answer is that hes banned from the site due to the risk of further incitement of violence in the wake of the U.S. Capitol riot. That is until Elon Musk takes over as boss of Twitter and lets Trump back in, at which point the world probably ends.

Scrolling through the list of people Orbn follows on Twitter is like looking in Satans own address book: Tucker Carlson, Jordan Peterson, Matteo Salvini, Marine Le Pen, Boris Johnson. There is Silvio Berlusconi, too, who also joined a new social media platform of late, signing up to TikTok last month in an effort to reach out to call the police! young people.

In his first TikTok video, the former Italian prime minister explained that on this platform, there are over 5 million of you guys and 60 percent of you are under 30 years old. Shudder.

Clearly older European leaders are deciding to embrace that new-fangled social media thing that young people have now. Rumors that Charles Michel is strongly considering signing up for MySpace were, sadly, unconfirmed at the time of going to press.

Back to Orbn, who wasnt finished being a Trump fanboy, saying during an event in Berlin that current U.S. President Joe Biden should not lead any U.S.-Russia peace negotiations and that only Trump could possibly end the war in Ukraine. In a sentence that literally no one saw coming, the Hungarian leader said: Hope for peace goes by the name of Donald Trump.

Sorry, what time was that asteroid hitting the planet?

Now, wheres the center?

Can you do better? Email [emailprotected] or on Twitter @pdallisonesque

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Thanks for all the entries. Heres the best from our postbag theres no prize except for the gift of laughter, which I think we can all agree is far more valuable than cash or booze.

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Paul Dallison is POLITICOs slot news editor.

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What makes a strong, fascinating villain? – TheReviewGeek

Every fairy tale needs a good old-fashioned villain, to quote James Moriarty from Sherlock. Our protagonists can shine because of the antagonists in their stories. And likewise, antagonists who are more charismatic than the heroes can sometimes elevate the greatest storylines.

Every story requires discord, and the best way to provide it is to create a compelling villain with a reasonable argument; a person who represents the direct contrast to the hero. This villain or antihero must be defeated before the protagonist can accomplish his or her objective.

Ever since the beginning of time, people have celebrated the goodness in the world. How did the good emerge if there wasnt any bad to compete with it in the first place? Similarly, a superhero in a movie is useless without a ruthless antagonist. Bruce Wayne would be nothing if it werent for the Joker. Without Norman Bates, no one would have remembered Psycho.

On one side, the hero owing to their temperament, ambitions, fears, and values most eloquently embodies the theme of the narrative. The villains oppositional action, on the other hand, is what enables the hero to showcase his attributes, and as a result, the theme they embody.

Owing to their absolute primacy, we often think of the hero as being the most significant character of the storyline, but the antagonist plays an equally significant role as, without their actions, the possibility that gives meaning to the storyline would not even exist. There would not be a story if the hero desired something and obtained it without resistance. A story develops because the antagonist fights the heros passions.

Every story needs a villain, which occasionally gives rise to villains that have weak motivations, just because they need to have one. The story arc is bound to be more compelling if the antagonists justifications for working against the protagonist are compelling.

The topic were discussing makes me think of a lecture given by a highly respected lecturer and psychologist named Dr. Jordan Peterson. He says, when one person is arguing with another or having an argument in their head, they basically caricature their opponents perspective and try to make it as weak as possible and laugh about it, and then come up with their argument and destroy the straw man and feel that they have obtained the victory, but its a very poor way of thinking.

Thinking is when you take the opposite position from your suppositions and make your argument as strong as you can, and then you pit your point of view against that strong iron man, not the straw man, and then you battle it out.

This line of thought can also be applied to television, movies, and stories in general. When the antagonist is portrayed as weak and having clear illogical motivations, the protagonist is used to reinforce convictions while making the antagonist a straw man. The antagonists perspective is caricatured and everything they stand for is showcased as useless. A strong side or viewpoint is not presented to allow the viewer or reader to consider the opposing side.

The protagonists point of view is presented as strong, moral, and without flaws without a strong debate. In this scenario, the antagonist serves no purpose, and the story as a whole suffers as a result.

In the 1980s, when Superman first appeared, he was an orphan with both celestial and human parents. When Superman first began, all he could do was leap over buildings and stop trains. After a few years, he could ingest hydrogen bombs and juggle celestial bodies. Superman always dealt with dire circumstances without any trouble, easily.

Because he only succeeded, he ultimately rose to become the archetype of the all-powerful deity, or the Gary Stu model, which is not intriguing at all. Kryptonite was introduced later on in order to weaken him and give him vulnerabilities which gave his character some substance and depth.

A strong antagonist is one of the main building blocks of a good story. They have the ability to make or break a narrative, and they are frequently responsible for the existence of the plots central idea. An admirable baddie requires multidimensional elements, just like many of the components that go into making a fascinating hero.

Since they lack the necessary components, numerous storylines fail to present a captivating villain. Inadequate nemeses are typically just cruel or malevolent and lack motivation and strength. These plots fall short since they dont allow viewers to go through inner strife that would challenge their viewpoints.

The audience is given nothing to think about when a villain is displayed as being pure evil for no discernible reason, which lowers the caliber of the storyline and causes it to be clich and overly simplistic. Sticking with the subject of superheroes for a second, theres a reason why people remember and resonate with Thanos idea of eradicating half the universe, rather than a random CGI army marching on our heroes.

Excellent tales dont paint one aspect of a dispute as evil. The argument is already biased if the antagonist is only understood as the storys bad side. Strong arguments from engaging nemeses reveal a fatal flaw inside the protagonists logic.

Jordan Peterson makes a compelling case in another one of his lectures explaining why people enjoy watching antagonists. He says people watch antiheroes and villains because a part of them yearns for the incorporation of the monster within them, which gives them strength of character and self-respect.

After all, its impossible to respect yourself until you grow teeth, and once you grow teeth, you realize youre somewhat dangerous and/or somewhat seriously dangerous, and you demand respect from yourself and others. That doesnt mean that being cruel is preferable to not being cruel; rather, being able to be cruel and then choosing not to be cruel is preferable to not being able to be cruel. Because in the first case, you are nothing but weak and nave, and in the second case, you are dangerous but you have it under control.

Many people enjoy watching films and television shows with compelling antagonists because they hope to draw some of that strength from within themselves. Some people who fall into this category tend to be overly kind, unable to refuse when they ought to, and unable to express their opinions because they dont want to offend the other person. They observe the antagonist acting courageously, going after what they want, and defending themselves even though it is immoral, which is inspiring to them in a way.

Some antagonists are misfits. Despite being despised by society and by the masses, they are still capable of dominating the world. Outcasts typically have no authority, in reality however, these antagonists challenge that notion. To thrive in a hostile environment, you need to be extremely intelligent which is an intriguing quality.

An antagonist with this element is best exemplified by The Joker. He is the antithesis of everything that Batman is and represents, but he also has a reason for being the way he is, which helps the audience empathize with his character.

Compared to his relationships with the other villains in his rogue gallery, Batmans association with the Joker is more complicated and intimate.

The Joker is essentially the antithesis of Batman, and just like Batman, he juxtaposes what typically stands for something lighthearted and positive (the clown) and turns it into something evil and devious. This is precisely how Batman transforms a shadowy symbolsomething that frightened him as a kid and haunted him throughout his life (the bat)into something inspiring that the people of Gotham could really turn to for help to and feel hopeful about, while the bad guys cower in fear.

Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, the central protagonist, also has vulnerabilities, one of which is that he is very susceptible to falling for someone. You could even say that its his Achilles heel, almost his Kryptonite. He may possess the best technology and arms and ammunition in the world, and yet his heart lacks a defense. He has a vulnerable heart. Therefore, if Bruce Wayne falls in love with someone, it is very risky for the person hes involved with since the person he falls in love with might suffer because Batmans enemies might target her.

In The Joker, featuring Joaquin Phoenix, the audience learns more about the history of the well-known character, leaving them speechless. Before The Joker in this movie, viewers were unaware of the characters background story and what made him the way he is. The movie addressed that question while showcasing many dark undertones, leaving the viewers to question who they should sympathize with towards the end.

Batmans dad attempted to protect his marriage and seemingly ideal household after learning that Jokers mother had become pregnant. Many scenes about the backgrounds of the characters can be seen from varying perspectives. Batman and the Joker are far more alike than you might realize in this regard. Its not far-fetched to say that if Batman had been his stepbrother instead of the other way around, he may have become The Joker.

Some antagonists seek vengeance after having a loved one wrongfully taken from them. In this scenario, their unconditional love takes the form of a never-ending quest for vengeance. Most people are capable of leaving it behind and moving on, but because of their profound love, they are incapable of letting go which makes them stand out.

Killmonger from Black Panther falls under this category. When we first encounter Killmonger, he is assisting Ulysses Klaue in stealing a Wakandan artefact while going by the alias Erik Stevens. We understand that Killmonger seems to be a former Navy SEAL the moment he turns on Klaue, but we dont understand where he really came from or why he has a deep resentment until he goes to Wakanda to claim his position.

It appears that TChaka, TChallas father and later the ruler of Wakanda, was really the brother of Killmongers dad, a Wakandan prince. TChaka was compelled to murder Killmongers dad during a dispute because he was intending to sell Wakandan advanced technologies to militant organizations across the globe. A young Killmonger witnessed everything and had additionally been abandoned by his native land and left behind to live and fend for himself without his father.

Some antagonists are clever. They are proficient at handling the systems necessary to accomplish their goals, and they have a thorough understanding of the people they are trying to manipulate. Savages who rashly break into residences and shoot at random people are less fascinating than schemers who plan every move.

Jim Moriarty is a notable example who falls into this category. He is known as the worlds only consulting criminal, which seems to to be a position intended to make fun of his arch nemesis Sherlock Holmes. He starts playing withHolmes to solve pre-written puzzles for his own entertainment; if he fails, the captives will perish.

He was able to continue tormenting and torturing the reputed detective after making his identity known to Sherlock in one of the shows most memorable moments. He even stole the Crown Jewels to drag the detective further into the streets.

The central protagonist, Sherlock, and his strongest nemesis, Jim Moriarty, engage in a never-ending intellectual duel. Although Moriarty and Sherlock are regarded as being on an intellectual par in the original work, this may not be the case in the television series. The viewpoint of the audience might be a factor thats in play here.

While some argue that Moriarty was more clever out of the two, adding that Sherlock outplayed him merely because he had the assistance of his brother, Mycroft. The counterargument to this is that Eurus, Sherlocks sister, might have been the real brains behind a number of Moriartys schemes.

Sherlock and Moriarty used their intellect and abilities in completely different ways and its possibly what has kept this debate going for years. While Moriarty was interested in chaos and had the edge of always being one step ahead, Sherlock is more methodical and organized. Because of how similar Sherlock and Moriarty were intellectually, their rivalry was very compelling.

A compelling antagonist is one who is good at what they do, has a motivation for doing what theyre doing, and has a compelling backstory. Generally, villains who are more sympathetic cause the audience to re-evaluate their morals and what they stand for, and stimulates thought. People are drawn to these sort of antagonists because they aspire to embody the monster within them and to possess some of the antagonists traits, such as bravery and strength.

What are your thoughts on villains and why we adore them? Who are your favourite villains and why? Do let us know in the comments below, wed love to hear from you!

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