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38 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job Interview

by Christina October 1, 2024

written by Christina

When you reach this point in a job interview — where the interviewer is done with their questions and opens up the floor — you don’t want to be caught off guard. It’s important to have a plan for how you’ll respond, and a list of questions specific to that opportunity.

But what types of questions should you actually ask? And are there certain ones to avoid? I turned to two job interview experts for advice: Art Markman, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin and author of Bring Your Brain to Work, and John Lees, a UK-based career strategist and author of How to Get a Job You Love. Here are their recommendations for how to approach this part of the interview and sample questions they’ve seen work in practice at 38 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job Interview.

How to Approach This Part of the Interview

Focus on two goals.

You might think of this portion of the interview as your chance to assess the organization and whether you really want to work there, and that’s true. One of your goals is to use these questions to help you determine if this opportunity is right for you, says Markman at 38 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job Interview.

However, the interview isn’t over yet, and you still want to demonstrate that you are the best person for the job, says Lees. So, your other goal is to continue to prove you’re a fit for the specific opportunity. Lees suggests saying something like, “I do have a few questions but before I ask, can I say one thing?” That will give you an opportunity to drive home any key messages about your suitability for the job. In fact, before the interview, you should “decide in advance on two or three messages that you want to get across,” says Lees, and if you haven’t been able to convey those points in response to the questions you’ve been asked so far, you should do so now. Then, you can move on to your questions at 38 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job Interview.

Personalize your questions.

How you phrase your questions is important. Rather than using generic language, you want to ask the questions as if they pertain specifically to you. For example, instead of “What does a typical day look like?” you want to ask “What would a typical day for me in this role look like?” That will allow the hiring manager to begin seeing you in the role. According to Lees, this is a “great psychological trick” because “as soon as they visualize you doing the job, it’s hard to let go of that image at 38 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job Interview.”

Build off of your conversation.

You also want to pick up on what’s happened in the interview so far. Ask questions that build off of what you and the interviewer have discussed. You might want to follow up on a project they mentioned you’d be working on, or a responsibility that you didn’t see in the job description. The key is to make this portion of the interview feel like a continuation of the conversation.

Sample Questions to Ask at the End of a Job Interview

Here are categories of questions you’ll want to consider in an organized list, along with samples of each that you can personalize at 38 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job Interview.

Questions about the specific job

What are your expectations for me in this role?
What’s the most important thing I should accomplish in the first 90 days?
What’s the performance review process like here? How often would I be formally reviewed?
What metrics or goals will my performance be evaluated against?
What are the most immediate projects that I would take on?
How long before I will be… [meeting with clients, have responsibility for my own accounts, interacting with other departments, etc.]?

Questions about the team

What types of skills is the team missing that you’re looking to fill with a new hire?
What are the biggest challenges that I might face in this position at 38 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job Interview?
Do you expect my main responsibilities in this position to change in the next six months to a year?
Can you tell me about the team I’ll be working with?
Who will I work with most closely? What other departments or units will I interact with?
Can you tell me about my direct reports? What are their strengths and the team’s biggest challenges?

Questions for your potential boss

If the interviewer is your boss, you want to ask questions along these lines as well.

How long have you been at the company?
How long have you been a manager at 38 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job Interview?
What’s your favorite part of working here?

Questions about the company

One important note here: Don’t ask things that you can easily find with a quick Google search (more on this in the “Questions to Avoid” section).

What are the current goals that the company is focused on, and how does this team work to support hitting those goals?
What gets you most excited about the company’s future?
How would you describe the company’s values?
How has the company changed over the last few years?
What are the company’s plans for growth and development at 38 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job Interview?

Questions about the culture

Lees warns that you should take answers to questions about the company culture with a grain of salt. It’s highly unlikely that the interviewer is going to come out and tell you that the culture is unwelcoming, or even toxic. That’s why questions like #22 below can be helpful. They get at company culture without explicitly asking about it and can “help you uncover any unexpected elements about your potential new workplace,” Markman says.

How do you typically onboard employees?
If the position will be remote, ask specifically about how remote employees are integrated into the company culture, Markman advises at 38 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job Interview.
What do new employees typically find surprising after they start?
Is there anything that I should read before starting that would help me have a shared understanding with my colleagues?
Asking this question not only signals your interest in the position but also shows that you’re eager to have “shared cultural references with the people you’ll be working with,” Markman says.
What’s your favorite office tradition?
What do you and the team usually do for lunch?
Do you ever do joint events with other departments or teams?
What’s different about working here than anywhere else you’ve worked?
How has the company changed since you joined at 38 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job Interview?

Questions about professional development, career paths, and future opportunities

Markman says it’s critical to understand what growth and career development will look like in the job. You want to be sure that you can see yourself not just in the role you’re currently applying for but that there is a career path at the organization that you’re excited about.

What learning and development opportunities will I have in this role?
How does the team I’ll be part of continue to grow professionally?
Are there examples of a career path beginning with this position?
What are the common career paths in this department?
How are promotions typically handled at 38 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job Interview?
Where have successful employees moved on to?

Closing questions

What am I not asking you that I should?
Is there anything else I can provide you with that would be helpful?
Is there anything I clarify for you about my qualifications?
What are the next steps in the hiring process?

Questions to Avoid

Here are a few examples of what not to ask at the end of your interview:

What’s the starting salary?
Can you tell me about your health insurance?
What are your paid leave policies at 38 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job Interview?

According to Lees, you should refrain from inquiring about pay and perks too soon in the hiring process. You’re still in uncharted ground, so you’re not in a position to negotiate effectively. He says, “After they’ve fallen in love with you, that’s the time to talk about salary.” However, what would happen if the interviewer inquired about your desired salary? This video provides useful guidance on how to approach that challenging question:

You should also avoid asking questions that try to close the deal. (“So, do I have the job?”) You don’t want to sound presumptuous or like you don’t respect the company’s interview process at 38 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job Interview.

Also refrain from asking something that you could’ve found out in your research ahead of time — and you should definitely do research about the job and the company ahead of time!

This opportunity to ask questions is one you don’t want to waste. It’s both a chance to continue to prove yourself and to find out whether this job is the right fit for you. Of course, you aren’t going to ask all 38 of these questions at 38 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job Interview. Choose the ones that are more relevant to you, your interests, and the specific job ahead of time. Then write them down — either on a piece of paper or on your phone — and glance at them ahead of time so that they’re fresh in your mind. And, of course, be mindful of the interviewer’s time. If you were scheduled to talk for an hour and they turn to you with five minutes left, choose two or three questions that are most important to you. You will always have more time to ask questions once you have the job offer in hand.

October 1, 2024 0 comment

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Polyamory

by Christina October 1, 2024

written by Christina

Many people believe that every person should seek a single soulmate, apart from whom they should need no one else. Many others believe that each person should have only one romantic partner, at least at one time. But others don’t think that a single individual can fulfill all of their relationship needs, and therefore they prefer having many partners.

Consensual nonmonogamy, often known as polyamory, is the practice of having many intimate relationships—whether romantic or sexual—with everyone’s complete knowledge and consent. Generally speaking, polyamory is not gender-specific; anyone can have several partners of any gender.

At least one in five Americans has had a consensually nonmonogamous relationship at some point in their lives, and about one in 20 is in one right now. A growing body of research shows that partners in such relationships find their bonds to be just as satisfying and fulfilling as those of married people, and derive just as much happiness from them. But there are serious challenges as well: Polyamorous relationships demand openness, consent, trust, communication skills, clear boundaries, and mutual respect. Feelings of jealousy may arise, especially when a new partner joins the relationship, and debates over how to raise children can also disrupt connections.

What Is Polyamory?

Polyamory is distinct from other forms of open relationships, such as swinging—which involves couples having casual sex outside of the relationship, without any emotional attachment. It is often confused with polygamy, or being married to more than one person at the same time, but they are very different. Polygamy specifically involves marriage to multiple people of the opposite gender — most frequently, a man having multiple wives — while polyamory, although it often involves married partners, describes a wider range of relationships, both heterosexual and LBGT.

Due to the stigma that it often attracts, polyamory is often practiced privately and may be kept secret even from close friends and family. At least one in four polyamorous individuals have experienced discrimination, according to the non-profit organization Loving More.

How Does Polyamory Work?

Some polyamorous people have a primary relationship and engage in casual hookups, but most begin secondary relationships with the consent of their primary partner, to whom they are generally married or committed. Introducing a secondary partner requires the primary couple to agree on a set of stipulations, such as date times and the type of intimacy allowed. Research has found that, despite the complications, polyamory offers benefits ranging from greater satisfaction and extra help with child care to increased relationship commitment.

The Benefits and Struggles of Polyamory

The reason why polyamorous relationships are not as common as others is not that people find them unappealing; interest in polyamory is in fact rising, and research on polyamorous partners finds them to be, on average, as least as satisfied with their relationships as others. But polyamorous relationships are highly challenging to construct and maintain. Simply finding a partner willing to enter a relationship with the same honesty and ground rules is difficult, especially in a culture that favors serial monogamy, and mismatched desire for polyamory also upends many partners, especially if one sees it as a lifestyle while the other perceives it as their sexual orientation. For this reason, communities arise in which those who are “poly” can meet, often initially online.

October 1, 2024 0 comment

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How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates]

by Christina October 1, 2024

written by Christina

Even though millions quit their jobs every month, I understand that telling your boss that you’re leaving the company is never an easy conversation.

A respectful resignation letter can mean the difference between an awkward goodbye and a chance for a long-term professional connection.

But how do you write a good resignation letter? What should you include and exclude? I created this guide just for you. Let’s dive in at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

What is a resignation letter?

A resignation letter is a formal document that lets your employer know that you are resigning from your position. It can be submitted either by email or printed letter.

It provides important housekeeping information, such as your last day and other details concerning your exit, and allows you to formally announce your departure from the organization. Ideally, you should turn in your resignation letter two weeks or more prior to departing the organization.

An effective one helps you ensure a positive conversation with your boss and a smooth transition to your next journey at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

My colleague, Alana Chinn, shared her thoughts on how to approach a resignation letter. “Your resignation letter should effectively convey your appreciation and professionalism,” says Chinn.

She continues, “I like to start the resignation process with a face-to-face conversation. That way, I can keep the actual letter brief and only focus on the relevant details — like the date of my last day and my exit plan. My ultimate goal is to create a smooth and amicable transition for everyone involved at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].”

With this in mind, here’s the ideal resignation letter format.

The letter should be detailed but brief. Inform your manager of your decision, but keep it professional if the reasons are less positive.

The format of a resignation letter typically goes as follows:

Date and Salutation

Your letter should start with the date along with a formal salutation to your manager. Nothing too complicated here — you simply want to provide a filing date for HR, and to greet your manager courteously.

Although this step is simple, it effectively sets the tone for a professional and respectful letter, which is what you always want in your resignation at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

Use the opening paragraph to state what role you’re leaving, and when. This is known as a statement of resignation.

Like the greeting, it doesn’t have to be complicated at all. It’s simply meant to provide your employer with the necessary information surrounding your departure.

No need to gush, like in this example: “I’m so sorry, but I’m resigning from the position of [job title] in two weeks, although it’s been a true pleasure working with you all. I know this is the worst, but I promise, I wouldn’t if I didn’t have to at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].”

You can be corporate and cold here. Leave the emotions for when it’s time to talk face-to-face with your manager.

Example: I would like to inform you that I am resigning from my position as [Position Name] for [Company Name], effective [Date].

Don’t forget your date of leaving — the more exact, the better, because that gives your employer a timeline to work with. They can start planning for your departure by locating a replacement, for instance.

You should use the body paragraph (singular! Not plural. We want the letter to stay short) to express gratitude for your time at the company, as well as share your exit plan at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

I highly recommend lingering on your gratitude. Take the opportunity to reflect on your time at the company and express your appreciation for your experiences. Highlight any professional development or growth you achieved while there.

Even if you have negative reasons for leaving, be as specific and genuine as you can. I’m sure you can find at least one good thing about the job.

For example, you can thank them for the valuable training, supportive team environment, or work experience.

As for the exit plan, focus on making the transition easier. It’s less about you leaving and more about what happens after you leave at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

Offer to train your replacement and ensure that all your responsibilities are properly handed over. You can even outline your projects and tasks so your successor has an easier time picking up the slack.

Closing Paragraph

Although optional, you can use the closing paragraph to list your contact information. I specially recommend it if you plan to use your former manager as a reference.

Thank them for the opportunity to work at the company and express your interest in staying in touch. Provide your email address or phone number, then sign your name at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

Writing a professional resignation letter starts with understanding each of its components.

1. Statement of Resignation and End Date

Begin your letter by stating your position at the company.

This might seem redundant if you work at a small company and your boss knows you well, but it’s essential to include it since the letter is your official termination. Along with this information should be a simple statement of your resignation.

Also, providing an end date in the first paragraph is helpful since that’s one of your employer’s first questions.

Here’s what this first paragraph may look like in practice at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates]:

I would like to inform you that I am resigning from my position as [Position Name] for [Company Name], effective [Date].

2. Gratitude

Take the time to consider how you’ve grown or what you’ve appreciated most about your time at the company. Be as specific as possible.

Perhaps the company provided professional development opportunities. Maybe you’ve enjoyed the environment the company fostered and the supportive atmosphere at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

It’s also nice for your employer to receive a thank you for the time and resources they’ve used in supporting your career growth. Here’s an example of what this may look like:

I appreciate the opportunities for professional development that you have provided me over the past two years. I have enjoyed my tenure at [Company Name] and feel honored to have been part of such a supportive team.

If you’d like, you can include where you’re heading. For example, if you’re switching industries to pursue a passion or going to graduate school, it might be appropriate to include that. For example:

I accepted a position as a [New Job Title], and I’m looking forward to [pursuing my passion in [X] or continuing my work with a focus on [Y] at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

However, if you’re leaving the company for a competitor, it’s better to omit such information.

3. Transition Details

In the third paragraph, mention your willingness to make the transition easier. For example:

If I can be of any help during this transition, please let me know. I am available to help train my replacement and ensure that all my reports are updated before my last day of work.

This sentence might look different for you. But regardless of what you write, it’s good practice to include specific details regarding how you’ll help.

As an optional follow-up paragraph, briefly review the work you’ll be surrendering when you officially leave the company at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

Although it’s technically your manager’s responsibility to pick this work up and determine how it will continue, it’s helpful to list all the projects and tasks you’ve been in charge of to make the transition easier.

If you didn’t serve in a managerial capacity or collaborate with other departments, you could skip this part.

4. Personal Contact Information

This last paragraph is optional and doesn’t need to be included all the time, particularly if you have no desire or need to use your former employer as a reference.

However, many candidates choose to maintain their professional networks.

A closing may look like this at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates]:

Thank you again for the opportunity to work at [Company Name]. I wish you all the best and look forward to staying in touch. You can email me at [Email Address].

1. Future Career Moves

While you can mention where you’re going next, you don’t need to tell your employer about your new position or salary at length. Keep things professional.

You can acknowledge how the current position helped your advancement within your industry. Your letter should be direct and reflective in tone to your employer.

2. Distasteful Language

It goes without saying, but a resignation letter isn’t the time to use profanity and obscene language. You need to remain respectful and professional until your end of tenure.

Although you may feel the urge to criticize your former job, the resignation letter isn’t the time to air out the dirty laundry at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

3. Emotional Attachments

If you’re leaving a supportive work environment, it’s helpful to leave out emotional sentiments in the letter. Be as professional as possible. You can illustrate those emotions through face-to-face meetings with others.

4. Criticism of Coworkers

Your resignation letter doesn’t need to include negative comments about colleagues or managers at the company. The letter is meant to conclude your tenure, not blame others for incomplete tasks.

5. Projecting Bitterness

This is not the time to project your resentment towards your current job. You need to reflect on positive moments and how you gained useful knowledge about the industry and yourself. You don’t have to leave on a sour note with your employer at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

If you feel that your resignation letter may come across as negative, it’s worth considering rephrasing the paragraph to make it more diplomatic and tactful.

One helpful tool you can use is HubSpot’s AI paragraph rewriter, which allows you to experiment with different tones and find the right balance for your letter.

Resignation Letter Examples

Speaking of AI, I decided to ask ChatGPT to drum up a few resignation letter examples for inspiration (so you don’t have to). Here are the results along with my thoughts on the different outputs.

My observations: I like how ChatGPT used the correct email formatting and included a subject line and space for a signature. However, the letter itself is pretty lengthy and generic. While this is a good starting point, I’d trim down some of the fluff and make this letter more tailored to my experience.

My observations: This output is short and sweet. If you’ve already discussed your resignation with your employer, I think this letter is a great way to put it in writing as a formality. However, if this is your only method of communicating your departure, you might want to consider adding more detail at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

My observations: This letter is very similar to the short resignation letter example, but I prefer this template over the other. It’s simple, but it goes a step further by including a formal thank you to the employer. It also provides more detail about how the employee plans to address outstanding projects before their last day.

My observations: I like how this letter states that this is a formal notice in line with the terms of the employment contract. It’s very similar to the email resignation letter example, so I’d still recommend tailoring the language to be more specific to your role and your experience with the company.

Free Professional Resignation Letter Templates

Below are a few of my favorite resignation letter templates to help you facilitate a graceful departure from your current role at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

1. General Resignation Letter Template

What I like: This resignation letter provides space for you to thank your manager, outline positive experiences from your time at the company, share your last day, and talk about why you decided to leave.

2. New Opportunity Resignation Letter Template

What I like: If you’re interested in sharing details about the next steps in your career, this is a great template to use. It also gives you the opportunity to reflect on your experience and accomplishments at the company with gratitude at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

3. Reason for Leaving Resignation Letter Template

What I like: This resignation letter template gives you the space to explain your reason for departure, should you choose to do so. However, it’s still a simple and concise way to let your current company know you’re planning to move on.

Job Resignation Letter Templates

Sometimes the nature of your position merits a more specific letter of resignation when you leave. Below are a couple of templates for these more dynamic roles at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

1. Contractor Resignation Letter Template

If you work freelance, you might need to adjust the focus of your resignation letter to address your final assignments and exactly how you’ll be parting ways with your client.

This includes your current duties, tasks you won’t complete, and how you’ll accept your final payment.

Dear [Mr./Mrs.Ms.] [Name],

I regret to inform you that I will be resigning from my position as the [department] Freelancer as my contract with Company A will be expiring on April 20, 2022. I have enjoyed my time with the company, and I have learned and grown a great deal. I am happy to have been a part of the company, and I would like to thank you for the opportunities I have had at Company A at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

I am saddened to be moving on from the company, but I am going to be taking on new challenges with Company B. I hope my experience here has helped the company with their projects and I am happy to have been a part of the team.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. I will be available to help you with any final projects.

Sincerely,

Charles Bloomberg

2. Executive Resignation Letter Template

A quick email or two-paragraph notice to your superior might not suffice as an official resignation if you’re in an executive- or senior-level leadership role at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

Because these roles are harder to fill, you might play a more significant role in the transition period, especially since you manage more people and decide on the direction of more projects.

The example below separates the resignation into two sections. The first is the resignation itself, and the second is how (and with whom) the resigner’s work will continue. It’s just one of the different templates we have to offer.

Dear Board of Directors,

Please let this letter serve as my resignation as CEO of Anson Incorporated effective immediately. The steadily dropping value of Anson stock and the complete loss of faith of the shareholders can be placed firmly on my shoulders. I no longer feel as though I can do the best possible job for the company and must resign from my position at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

I will cherish the friends I have made and hold onto the many accomplishments that are part of my history with Anson. When I first arrived we grew revenue by 45 percent and saved hundreds of jobs. But as time went by, I found it difficult to adjust to the changing business and political climate in our industry.

I am confident that the board will be able to find an excellent replacement as CEO and bring the company back to its former glory. I only regret that I was unable to sustain the success that occurred when I first arrived at the company.

If you need any information or paperwork filled out, then call me at 000-000-0000 or email me at [email protected]. I wish you and the company the best in the future at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

Sincerely Yours,

Geoffrey J. Harper

3. Teacher Resignation Letter Template

Depending on your profession, you may want to look for a more career-specific resume template.

For instance, this teacher resignation letter template provides space for discussing your experience working with students and how you will assist with the transition.

Dear Mr. Amthor,

Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from my position as 4th grade teacher at Highland Hills Elementary School. To ensure ample time for a smooth transition, my last day of employment will be December 16, 2017, the final day of the fall term at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

My experience as an educator has been insightful, challenging, and fulfilling, and working with the Highland Hills students has brought me great joy. Thank you for the opportunity to invest in the lives of children through learning and play. I am grateful to have been part of this team and will carry the many lessons I learned with me into my future endeavors.

Because the continued success and care of the students is of upmost importance to me, I am dedicated to doing whatever I can to make the transition as seamless as possible. I am happy to train my replacement on our current curriculum and the content we still need to cover for the spring exams.

I hope all the best for the Highland Hills students, teachers, and administration. Thank you again for your support and leadership during my time here at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

Sincerely,

Darla Williamson

4. Nurse Resignation Letter Template

As a nurse, it’s important to give adequate notice of your departure to ensure there are no health care disruptions for your patients.

Here’s a template you can use to thank your employer for the experience and offer training support for your successor.

Dear Mr. Shun,

I am writing to inform you of my resignation as Staff Nurse at Easy Days Nursing Home, effective two weeks from today. My last day of work will be March 28, 2020 at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

Working at Easy Days has been a rewarding experience, and I have enjoyed my time working with you. I learned a great deal about working successfully with a team. It was an honor to work with such dedicated staff who are committed to making Easy Days a place to receive compassionate care. I feel that I have made some lifelong friends here. I thank you for the training and opportunity to grow with you in my nursing career. I wish all the residents and staff good luck in the future.

My decision to leave was difficult, but I have decided to accept a part-time position nearer to my home due to my family commitments at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

If you feel it would be helpful, I would be happy to assist with the hiring and training of my successor over the next two weeks. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Respectfully yours,
Sally Smith, RN

Professional Resignation Letter Samples

With the above templates in mind, let’s look at a few sample resignation letters for different positions, each taking a slightly different but amicable tone to their resignations at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

1. Gracious Resignation Letter Sample

You can share why you’re quitting if they aren’t work-related reasons. The reasons should be positive or neutral.

Its tone is thankful that the employer took a chance on you. Most offer an extended hand to train the incoming person. The letter includes a notice of resignation at least two weeks in advance.

[Date]

Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:

I would like to inform you that I am resigning from my position as Data Analyst for Company A, effective January 3.

I appreciate the opportunities for professional development that you have provided me over the past four years. I have enjoyed my tenure at Company A, and feel grateful to have started my career alongside such a dedicated team at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

I have accepted a teaching position in Virginia. While my experience at Company A was rewarding, I’m excited to pursue my passion for teaching.

If I can be of any help during this transition, please let me know. I am willing to help out with freelance work until you find a replacement.

Thank you again for the opportunity to work at Company A. I wish you all the best and look forward to staying in touch. You can email me at X at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

Sincerely,

Caroline

2. Brief Resignation Letter Sample

A brief resignation letter will include two important things: your date of resignation and a formal notice to your supervisor. A good letter can also include a “thank you” line, but it’s not necessary.

Although you’re ending your tenure with your current employer, you don’t want to burn a bridge without honoring your notice deadline at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

[Date]

Dear Mr./Ms/ Last Name:

Please accept this letter of resignation from my position as content creator at Company Y. My last day of employment will be June 1.

It has been a pleasure working with you and the team for the past two years. In particular, I’ve enjoyed tackling extensive copywriting projects as the business has grown. I’m very appreciative for the opportunities to develop my skills in the field, and want to thank you for all your guidance and insight. I wish your company much success at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

Please let me know if you need any assistance with the transition.

Sincerely,

Caroline

3. Immediate Resignation Letter Sample

While the best way to quit a job is to give at least two weeks’ notice and offer to help with the transition, sometimes circumstances make that impossible.

If you need to leave your job immediately without notice, you need an immediate resignation letter.

Here is a sample that can help you at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates]:

[Date]

Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:

I regret to inform you that I’m resigning from my position as the X at Company A immediately.

While my contract requires me to work until July 31, I would be grateful if I could cease working immediately. I sincerely apologize for any inconveniences this sudden news may cause at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates]

Thank you for the fantastic opportunities you’ve offered me to grow professionally and personally.

Please let me know if there is anything I can do to make the transition smoother.

Sincerely at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates],

Caroline

4. Retirement Resignation Letter Sample

A thoughtful resignation letter is especially important when you are retiring. Not only are you telling your employer when you plan to stop working, but you also are notifying them of when you plan on receiving retirement benefits at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

It’s not uncommon to have conversations about your retirement before you officially resign. Depending on your position or company policy, you may be asked to give extended notice so your employer can better prepare for your departure.

At a minimum, you should give 30 days notice, but it’s courtesy to give more time, especially if you are higher up in the company at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

[Date]

Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:

With great consideration, I have decided it’s time for me to retire from Company A, starting on September 30.

I have enjoyed working here over the past X years and I am proud of everything our team has accomplished. Though I am sad that this chapter of my life is closing, I am looking forward to traveling and spending more time with family at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

As we prepare for my departure, I am happy to assist with hiring my replacement and anything else that will help make this a smooth transition.

Thank you for all the opportunities and support you have offered me over the years. I wish you all the best.

Sincerely,

Caroline

5. Extended Notice Resignation Letter Sample

Although giving two weeks is the standard, providing additional notice of your resignation will be much appreciated by your employer since it gives them more time to prepare for your departure at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

Leaving your job in a considerate way can leave a lasting impression on your employer and may help you out down the road.

[Date]

Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name,

Please accept this letter as notice of my intent to resign from my position at Company A at the end of this quarter. My last day will be June 30 at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

While it is tough to leave this incredible team, I will be moving on to pursue an MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Iowa. It’s always been my dream to write books and I believe that this is the best path for me to achieve that.

Thank you for all the support and guidance you have given me over the last X years. I am deeply grateful for all of the opportunities I have had here.

Since my last day is six weeks from now, I will work toward completing my current projects, along with training and handing off my high-level tasks to other members of the team. Please let me know if there’s anything I can do that may help ease this transition at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

Sincerely,

Caroline

6. Personal Reasons Resignation Letter Sample

Every now and then, life throws us a curveball. And depending on your situation, you may need to resign from your job for personal reasons.

While you don’t need to specify in your resignation letter, personal reasons can include moving to a new location, caring for a family member, becoming a stay-at-home parent, or addressing serious health issues at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

[Date]

Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:

I regret to inform you of my resignation from Company A. Due to personal reasons, I am no longer able to fulfill my duties as project manager. My last day of employment will be April 15 at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

It has been wonderful working with you and the team for the past three years. I truly appreciate the opportunities I have been given to develop my skills and grow within my role.

Over the next two weeks, I will work to complete my remaining assignments and hand off my ongoing projects to other members of the team. I am also happy to assist with anything else you may need during this transition.

Thank you for your guidance and understanding. I will look back on my time here at Company A fondly. I wish you all the best moving forward at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

Sincerely,

Caroline

Ready to write your resignation letter?

Be polite in your resignation letter no matter your role, state why you’re leaving, and be clear on who you’re informing.

Gratitude and support during your departure go a long way with employers, and the last thing you want to do is leave the company on a sour note — even if you’re leaving for unpleasant reasons at How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+ Samples & Templates].

By drawing inspiration from these resignation letter samples and templates, you’ll protect your professional bridges and keep your professional network intact as you start your next adventure.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in October 2018 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

October 1, 2024 0 comment

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How to Type the Shrug Emoji ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ in 2 Seconds Flat

by Christina October 1, 2024

written by Christina

There’s no denying the power emojis have when it comes to boosting engagement and emphasizing communication. Sometimes you just need a symbol to get the point across, and emojis serve that purpose.

However, it’s worth noting the shrug emoji wouldn’t exist without its predecessor, the shrug emoticon. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Though emojis have come a long way, I’m still a big fan of typed emoticons. Emoticons bring me back to simpler times when my phone still had a physical keyboard and AOL Instant Messenger was my main method of communication. Those were the days at How to Type the Shrug Emoji ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ in 2 Seconds Flat.

If you still have an affinity for typed emoticons like me, especially the ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ emoticon, here’s how you can type it in two seconds flat on a Mac, Windows, iPhone, and Android.

How to Type the Shrug Emoji ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ in Two Seconds Flat

The shrug emoticon is one of the more intricate emoticons to type, so most people resort to copying and pasting it from a website, like CopyShrug at How to Type the Shrug Emoji ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ in 2 Seconds Flat.

But copying and pasting the emoticon is really only a good option if you use it sparingly. If you’re an avid user of the shrug emoticon, you’ll need to keep revisiting the website to copy and paste it, which is a relatively slow and annoying process, especially on your mobile phone.

We suggest using your device’s autocorrect feature to create a text replacement shortcut so you can write the shrug emoticon as quickly as possible (this may be the first time autocorrect truly comes in helpful for you).

How to Type the Shrug Emoji: on Mac

Copy “¯\_(ツ)_/¯” at How to Type the Shrug Emoji ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ in 2 Seconds Flat
Go to System Preferences
Click Keyboard
Press Text
In the Replace box, type “shrug”
In the With box, paste “¯\_(ツ)_/¯”

How to Type the Shrug Emoji:

on Windows

Unfortunately, Windows doesn’t have an autocorrect feature, but you can download programs like PhraseExpress to set up text replacement shortcuts and quickly type the shrug emoticon at How to Type the Shrug Emoji ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ in 2 Seconds Flat.

How to Type the Shrug Emoji: on

iPhone

Copy “¯\_(ツ)_/¯ “
Go to Settings
Press General
Tap Keyboard at How to Type the Shrug Emoji ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ in 2 Seconds Flat
Choose Text Replacement
Select the “+” button
In the Shortcut field, type “shrug”
In the Phrase field, paste “¯\_(ツ)_/¯ “

How to Type the Shrug Emoji: on

Android at How to Type the Shrug Emoji ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ in 2 Seconds Flat

Copy “¯\_(ツ)_/¯ “
From your text message keyboard, tap the three dots
Go to Settings
Tap Dictionary at How to Type the Shrug Emoji ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ in 2 Seconds Flat
On a Google Pixel, press Personal Dictionary; using a Samsung device, tap Text Shortcuts
Select your language
Select the “+”
In the Shortcut field, type “shrug”
Tap the ” ¯\_(ツ)_/¯” that shows up on the keyboard

There you have it! A quick and easy shortcut to help you type the shrug emoji in no time.

October 1, 2024 0 comment

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What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard)

by Christina October 1, 2024

written by Christina

What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard)?

Google Gemini — formerly known as Bard — is an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot tool designed by Google to simulate human conversations using natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning. In addition to supplementing Google Search, Gemini can be integrated into websites, messaging platforms or applications to provide realistic, natural language responses to user questions at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).

Google Gemini is a family of multimodal AI large language models (LLMs) that have capabilities in language, audio, code and video understanding.

Gemini 1.0 was announced on Dec. 6, 2023, and built by Alphabet’s Google DeepMind business unit, which is focused on advanced AI research and development. Google co-founder Sergey Brin is credited with helping to develop the Gemini LLMs, alongside other Google staff.

At its release, Gemini was the most advanced set of LLMs at Google, powering Bard before Bard’s renaming and superseding the company’s Pathways Language Model (Palm 2). As was the case with Palm 2, Gemini was integrated into multiple Google technologies to provide generative AI capabilities at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).

Gemini integrates NLP capabilities, which provide the ability to understand and process language. Gemini is also used to comprehend input queries as well as data. It’s able to understand and recognize images, enabling it to parse complex visuals, such as charts and figures, without the need for external optical character recognition (OCR). It also has broad multilingual capabilities for translation tasks and functionality across different languages at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).

Unlike prior AI models from Google, Gemini is natively multimodal, meaning it’s trained end to end on data sets spanning multiple data types. As a multimodal model, Gemini enables cross-modal reasoning abilities. That means Gemini can reason across a sequence of different input data types, including audio, images and text. For example, Gemini can understand handwritten notes, graphs and diagrams to solve complex problems. The Gemini architecture supports directly ingesting text, images, audio waveforms and video frames as interleaved sequences.

How does Google Gemini work?

Google Gemini works by first being trained on a massive corpus of data. After training, the model uses several neural network techniques to be able to understand content, answer questions, generate text and produce outputs at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).

Specifically, the Gemini LLMs use a transformer model-based neural network architecture. The Gemini architecture has been enhanced to process lengthy contextual sequences across different data types, including text, audio and video. Google DeepMind makes use of efficient attention mechanisms in the transformer decoder to help the models process long contexts, spanning different modalities.

Gemini models have been trained on diverse multimodal and multilingual data sets of text, images, audio and video with Google DeepMind using advanced data filtering to optimize training. As different Gemini models are deployed in support of specific Google services, there’s a process of targeted fine-tuning that can be used to further optimize a model for a use case. During both the training and inference phases, Gemini benefits from the use of Google’s latest tensor processing unit chips, TPU v5, which are optimized custom AI accelerators designed to efficiently train and deploy large models.

A key challenge for LLMs is the risk of bias and potentially toxic content. According to Google, Gemini underwent extensive safety testing and mitigation around risks such as bias and toxicity to help provide a degree of LLM safety. To help further ensure Gemini works as it should, the models were tested against academic benchmarks spanning language, image, audio, video and code domains. Google has assured the public it adheres to a list of AI principles at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).

At launch on Dec. 6, 2023, Gemini was announced to be made up of a series of different model sizes, each designed for a specific set of use cases and deployment environments. The Ultra model is the top end and is designed for highly complex tasks. The Pro model is designed for performance and deployment at scale. As of Dec. 13, 2023, Google enabled access to Gemini Pro in Google Cloud Vertex AI and Google AI Studio. For code, a version of Gemini Pro is being used to power the Google AlphaCode 2 generative AI coding technology.

The Nano model is targeted at on-device use cases. There are two different versions of Gemini Nano: Nano-1 is a 1.8 billion-parameter model, while Nano-2 is a 3.25 billion-parameter model. Among the places where Nano is being embedded is the Google Pixel 8 Pro smartphone.

When was Google Bard first released?

Google initially announced Bard, its AI-powered chatbot, on Feb. 6, 2023, with a vague release date. It opened access to Bard on March 21, 2023, inviting users to join a waitlist. On May 10, 2023, Google removed the waitlist and made Bard available in more than 180 countries and territories. Almost precisely a year after its initial announcement, Bard was renamed Gemini.

Many believed that Google felt the pressure of ChatGPT’s success and positive press, leading the company to rush Bard out before it was ready. For example, during a live demo by Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, it responded to a query with a wrong answer at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).

In the demo, a user asked Bard the question: “What new discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope can I tell my 9-year-old about?” In Bard’s response, it mentioned that the telescope “took the very first pictures of a planet outside of our own solar system.” Astronomers quickly took to social media to point out that the first image of an exoplanet was taken by an earthbound observatory in 2004, making Bard’s answer incorrect. The next day, Google lost $100 billion in market value — a decline attributed to the embarrassing mistake.

Why did Google rename Bard to Gemini and when did it happen?

Bard was renamed Gemini on Feb. 8, 2024. Gemini was already the LLM powering Bard. Some believe rebranding the platform as Gemini might have been done to draw attention away from the Bard moniker and the criticism the chatbot faced when it was first released. It also simplified Google’s AI effort and focused on the success of the Gemini LLM at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).

The name change also made sense from a marketing perspective, as Google aims to expand its AI services. It’s a way for Google to increase awareness of its advanced LLM offering as AI democratization and advancements show no signs of slowing.

Who can use Google Gemini?

Gemini is widely available around the world. Gemini Pro is available in more than 230 countries and territories, while Gemini Advanced is available in more than 150 countries at the time of this writing. However, there are age limits in place to comply with laws and regulations that exist to govern AI.

Users must be at least 18 years old and have a personal Google account. However, age restrictions vary for the Gemini web app. Users in Europe must be 18 or older. In other countries where the platform is available, the minimum age is 13 unless otherwise specified by local laws. Also, users younger than 18 can only use the Gemini web app in English at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).

Is Gemini free to use?

When Bard became available, Google gave no indication that it would charge for use. Google has no history of charging customers for services, excluding enterprise-level usage of Google Cloud. The assumption was that the chatbot would be integrated into Google’s basic search engine, and therefore be free to use.

After rebranding Bard to Gemini on Feb. 8, 2024, Google introduced a paid tier in addition to the free web application. Pro and Nano are currently free to use by registration. However, users can only get access to Ultra through the Gemini Advanced option for $20 per month. Users sign up for Gemini Advanced through a Google One AI Premium subscription, which also includes Google Workspace features and 2 TB of storage at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).

What can you use Gemini for? Use cases and applications

The Google Gemini models are used in many different ways, including text, image, audio and video understanding. The multimodal nature of Gemini also enables these different types of input to be combined for generating output.

Use cases

Businesses can use Gemini to perform various tasks that include the following:

Text summarization.Gemini models can summarize content from different types of data.
Text generation.Gemini can generate text based on user prompts. That text can also be driven by a Q&A-type chatbot interface.
Text translation.The Gemini models have broad multilingual capabilities, enabling translation and understanding of more than 100 languages.
Image understanding.Gemini can parse complex visuals, such as charts, figures and diagrams, without external OCR tools. It can be used for image captioning and visual Q&A capabilities.
Audio processing.Gemini has support for speech recognition across more than 100 languages and audio translation tasks at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).
Video understanding.Gemini can process and understand video clip frames to answer questions and generate descriptions.
Multimodal reasoning.A key strength of Gemini is its use of multimodal AI reasoning, where different types of data can be mixed for a prompt to generate an output.
Code analysis and generation.Gemini can understand, explain and generate code in popular programming languages, including Python, Java, C++ and Go.

Applications

Gemini was created by Google as a foundation model that would be extensively integrated into other Google services. Developers can use it to create their own applications as well. Utilizing Gemini are the following applications:

AlphaCode 2.Google DeepMind’s AlphaCode 2 code generation tool makes use of a customized version of Gemini Pro at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).
Google Pixel.The Google-built Pixel 8 Pro smartphone is the first device engineered to run Gemini Nano. Gemini powers new features in existing Google apps, such as summarization in Recorder and Smart Reply in Gboard for messaging apps.
Android 14.The Pixel 8 Pro is the first Android smartphone to benefit from Gemini. Android developers can build with Gemini Nano through the AICore system capability.
Vertex AI.Google Cloud’s Vertex AI service, which provides foundation models that developers can use to build applications, also provides access to Gemini Pro.
Google AI Studio.Developers can build prototypes and apps with Gemini using the Google AI Studio web-based tool at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).
Google is experimenting with using Gemini in its Search Generative Experience to reduce latency and improve quality.

What are Gemini’s limitations?

A few limitations might cause hesitation among potential end users. These include the following:

Training data.Like all AI chatbots, Gemini must learn to give correct answers. To do this, the models must be trained on correct information that’s not inaccurate or misleading. However, they also must be able to identify incorrect or misleading information when it comes their way at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).
Bias and potential harm.AI training is an endless, compute-intensive process because there’s always new information to learn. Across all Gemini models, Google has claimed it has followed responsible development practices, including extensive evaluation to help limit the risk of bias and potential harm.
Originality and creativity.There are limits on how original and creative the content Gemini produces can be. This is particularly the case with the free version, which has had trouble processing complicated prompts, with multiple steps and nuances, and producing adequate output. The free version is based on the Gemini Pro LLM, which is more limited in capabilities; the paid versions of the platform offer access to more advanced features at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).

What are the concerns about Gemini?

One concern about Gemini revolves around its potential to present biased or false information to users. Any bias inherent in the training data fed to Gemini could lead to wariness among users. For example, as is the case with all advanced AI software, training data that excludes certain groups within a given population will lead to skewed outputs.

The propensity of Gemini to generate hallucinations and other fabrications and pass them along to users as truthful is also a cause for concern. This has been one of the biggest risks with ChatGPT responses since its inception, as it is with other advanced AI tools. In addition, since Gemini doesn’t always understand context, its responses might not always be relevant to the prompts and queries users provide at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).

What languages is Gemini available in?

Gemini can be used in more than 45 languages. It can translate text-based inputs into different languages with almost humanlike accuracy. Google plans to expand Gemini’s language understanding capabilities and make it ubiquitous. However, there are important factors to consider, such as bans on LLM-generated content or ongoing regulatory efforts in various countries that could limit or prevent future use of Gemini.

Gemini offers other functionality across different languages in addition to translation. For example, it’s capable of mathematical reasoning and summarization in multiple languages. It can also generate captions for an image in different languages at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).

Is image generation available in Gemini?

Upon Gemini’s release, Google touted its ability to generate images the same way as other generative AI tools, such as Dall-E, Midjourney and Stable Diffusion. Gemini currently uses Google’s Imagen 2 text-to-image model, which gives the tool image generation capabilities.

However, in late February 2024, Gemini’s image generation feature was halted to undergo retooling after generated images were shown to depict factual inaccuracies. Google intends to improve the feature so that Gemini can remain multimodal in the long run at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).

Prior to Google pausing access to the image creation feature, Gemini’s outputs ranged from simple to complex, depending on end-user inputs. Users could provide descriptive prompts to elicit specific images. A simple step-by-step process was required for a user to enter a prompt, view the image Gemini generated, edit it and save it for later use.

Gemini vs. GPT-3 and GPT-4

Google Gemini is a direct competitor to the GPT-3 and GPT-4 models from OpenAI. The following table compares some key features of Google Gemini and OpenAI products.

Google Gemini vs. ChatGPT

Both Gemini and ChatGPT are AI chatbots designed for interaction with people through NLP and machine learning. Both use an underlying LLM for generating and creating conversational text.

ChatGPT uses generative AI to produce original content. For example, users can ask it to write a thesis on the advantages of AI. Gemini uses generative AI as well. Both are geared to make search more natural and helpful as well as synthesize new information in their answers at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).

In January 2023, Microsoft signed a deal reportedly worth $10 billion with OpenAI to license and incorporate ChatGPT into its Bing search engine to provide more conversational search results, similar to Google Bard at the time. That opened the door for other search engines to license ChatGPT, whereas Gemini supports only Google.

Another similarity between the two chatbots is their potential to generate plagiarized content and their ability to control this issue. Neither Gemini nor ChatGPT has built-in plagiarism detection features that users can rely on to verify that outputs are original. However, separate tools exist to detect plagiarism in AI-generated content, so users have other options. Gemini is able to cite other content in its responses and link to sources. Gemini’s double-check function provides URLs to the sources of information it draws from to generate content based on a prompt at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).

Alternatives to Google Gemini

Gemini didn’t spring up in a vacuum. AI chatbots have been around for a while, in less versatile forms. Multiple startup companies have similar chatbot technologies, but without the spotlight ChatGPT has received.

Examples of Gemini chatbot competitors that generate original text or code, as mentioned by Audrey Chee-Read, principal analyst at Forrester Research, as well as by other industry experts, include the following at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).

Chatsonic

Marketed as a “ChatGPT alternative with superpowers,” Chatsonic is an AI chatbot powered by Google Search with an AI-based text generator, Writesonic, that lets users discuss topics in real time to create text or images.

Claude

Anthropic’s Claude is an AI-driven chatbot named after the underlying LLM powering it. It has undergone rigorous testing to ensure it’s adhering to ethical AI standards and not producing offensive or factually inaccurate output at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).

Copy.ai

Copy.ai was originally built to aid sales and marketing teams. It generates original text, such as social media posts, blogs, emails and other types of content, and it also automates workflow tasks.

GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot specializes in code generation for developers. The aim is to simplify the otherwise tedious software development tasks involved in producing modern software. While it isn’t meant for text generation, it serves as a viable alternative to ChatGPT or Gemini for code generation at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).

Jasper Chat

Jasper.ai’s Jasper Chat is a conversational AI tool that’s focused on generating text. It’s aimed at companies looking to create brand-relevant content and have conversations with customers. It enables content creators to specify search engine optimization keywords and tone of voice in their prompts.

Microsoft Bing

Microsoft and its partnership with OpenAI offer exactly what Google does with Gemini: AI-powered search that recognizes natural language queries and gives natural language responses. When a user makes a search query, they receive the standard Bing search results and an answer generated by GPT-4, as well as the ability to interact with the AI regarding its response at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).

SpinBot

This generative AI tool specializes in original text generation as well as rewriting content and avoiding plagiarism. It handles other simple tasks to aid professionals in writing assignments, such as proofreading.

YouChat

YouChat is the AI chatbot from the You.com search engine based in Germany. YouChat answers questions and provides the citations for its answers so that users can review the sources and fact-check its responses at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).

Gemini’s history and future

Gemini, under its original Bard name, was initially designed around search. It aimed to provide for more natural language queries, rather than keywords, for search. Its AI was trained around natural-sounding conversational queries and responses. Instead of giving a list of answers, it provided context to the responses. Bard was designed to help with follow-up questions — something new to search. It also had a share-conversation function and a double-check function that helped users fact-check generated results at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).

Bard also integrated with several Google apps and services, including YouTube, Maps, Hotels, Flights, Gmail, Docs and Drive, enabling users to apply the AI tool to their personal content.

The first version of Bard used a lighter-model version of Lamda that required less computing power to scale to more concurrent users. The incorporation of the Palm 2 language model enabled Bard to be more visual in its responses to user queries. Bard also incorporated Google Lens, letting users upload images in addition to written prompts. The later incorporation of the Gemini language model enabled more advanced reasoning, planning and understanding at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).

Then, as part of the initial launch of Gemini on Dec. 6, 2023, Google provided direction on the future of its next-generation LLMs. While Google announced Gemini Ultra, Pro and Nano that day, it did not make Ultra available at the same time as Pro and Nano. Initially, Ultra was only available to select customers, developers, partners and experts; it was fully released in February 2024.

The future of Gemini is also about a broader rollout and integrations across the Google portfolio. Gemini will eventually be incorporated into the Google Chrome browser to improve the web experience for users. Google has also pledged to integrate Gemini into the Google Ads platform, providing new ways for advertisers to connect with and engage users. The Duet AI assistant is also set to benefit from Gemini in the future at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).

On Feb. 15, 2024, Google announced early testing of Gemini 1.5. This version is optimized for a range of tasks in which it performs similarly to Gemini 1.0 Ultra, but with an added experimental feature focused on long-context understanding. According to Google, early tests show Gemini 1.5 Pro outperforming 1.0 Pro on about 87% of Google’s benchmarks established for developing LLMs. Ongoing testing is expected until a full rollout of 1.5 Pro is announced.

Recent updates to Google Gemini

In May 2024, Google announced further advancements to Google 1.5 Pro at the Google I/O conference. Upgrades include performance improvements in translation, coding and reasoning features. The upgraded Google 1.5 Pro also has improved image and video understanding, including the ability to directly process voice inputs using native audio understanding. The model’s context window was increased to 1 million tokens, enabling it to remember much more information when responding to prompts at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).

Also released in May was Gemini 1.5 Flash, a smaller model with a sub-second average first-token latency and a 1 million token context window at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).

In addition to the core model upgrades, Google announced new features to the Gemini API in May, including the following:

Video frame extraction. Users can upload a video to generate content.
Parallel function calling. Users can engage in more than one function call at a time.

The vendor plans to add context caching — to ensure users only have to send parts of a prompt to a model once — in June at What is Google Gemini (formerly Bard).

Previews of both Gemini 1.5 Pro and Gemini 1.5 Flash are available in over 200 countries and territories. These models will be generally available in June 2024.

October 1, 2024 0 comment

Uncategorized

What is ChatGPT?

by Christina October 1, 2024

written by Christina

ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot that uses natural language processing to create humanlike conversational dialogue. The language model can respond to questions and compose various written content, including articles, social media posts, essays, code and emails.

ChatGPT is a form of generative AI — a tool that lets users enter prompts to receive humanlike images, text or videos that are created by AI at What is ChatGPT?.

ChatGPT is similar to the automated chat services found on customer service websites, as people can ask it questions or request clarification to ChatGPT’s replies. The GPT stands for “Generative Pre-trained Transformer,” which refers to how ChatGPT processes requests and formulates responses. ChatGPT is trained with reinforcement learning through human feedback and reward models that rank the best responses. This feedback helps augment ChatGPT with machine learning to improve future responses.

Who created ChatGPT?

OpenAI — an artificial intelligence research company — created ChatGPT and launched the tool in November 2022. It was founded by a group of entrepreneurs and researchers including Elon Musk and Sam Altman in 2015. OpenAI is backed by several investors, with Microsoft being the most notable. OpenAI also created Dall-E, an AI text-to-art generator at What is ChatGPT?.

How does ChatGPT work?

ChatGPT works through its Generative Pre-trained Transformer, which uses specialized algorithms to find patterns within data sequences. ChatGPT originally used the GPT-3 large language model, a neural network machine learning model and the third generation of Generative Pre-trained Transformer. The transformer pulls from a significant amount of data to formulate a response at What is ChatGPT?.

ChatGPT currently provides access to GPT-3.5 and limited access to the GPT-4o language model. ChatGPT Plus provides access to GPT-4 and GPT-4o. GPT-4 can handle more complex tasks compared to GPT-3.5, such as describing photos, generating captions for images and creating more detailed responses up to 25,000 words.

ChatGPT uses deep learning, a subset of machine learning, to produce humanlike text through transformer neural networks. The transformer predicts text — including the next word, sentence or paragraph — based on its training data’s typical sequence.

Training begins with generic data, then moves to more tailored data for a specific task. ChatGPT was trained with online text to learn the human language, and then it used transcripts to learn the basics of conversations at What is ChatGPT?.

Human trainers provide conversations and rank the responses. These reward models help determine the best answers. To keep training the chatbot, users can upvote or downvote its response by clicking on thumbs-up or thumbs-down icons beside the answer. Users can also provide additional written feedback to improve and fine-tune future dialogue.

What kinds of questions can users ask ChatGPT?

Users can ask ChatGPT a variety of questions, including simple or more complex questions, such as, “What is the meaning of life?” or “What year did New York become a state?” ChatGPT is proficient with STEM disciplines and can debug or write code. There is no limitation to the types of questions to ask ChatGPT. However, the knowledge cutoff date is late 2023 at What is ChatGPT?.

How are people using ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is versatile and can be used for more than human conversations. People have used ChatGPT to do the following:

Code computer programs and check for bugs in code.
Compose music.
Draft emails.
Summarize articles, podcasts or presentations.
Script social media posts.
Create titles for articles.
Solve math problems.
Discover keywords for search engine optimization.
Create articles, blog posts and quizzes for websites.
Reword existing content for a different medium, such as a presentation transcript for a blog post.
Formulate product descriptions.
Play games.
Assist with job searches, including writing resumes and cover letters.
Ask trivia questions.
Describe complex topics more simply.
Write video scripts.
Research markets for products.
Generate art.

Unlike other chatbots, ChatGPT can remember various questions to continue the conversation in a more fluid manner at What is ChatGPT?.

What are the benefits of ChatGPT?

Businesses and users are still exploring the benefits of ChatGPT as the program continues to evolve. Some benefits include the following:

AI-powered chatbots can handle routine and repetitive tasks, which can free up employees to focus on more complex and strategic responsibilities at What is ChatGPT?.
Cost savings. Using AI chatbots can be more cost-effective than hiring and training additional employees.
Improved content quality.Writers can use ChatGPT to improve grammatical or contextual errors or to help brainstorm ideas for content. Employees can take ordinary text and ask to improve its language or add expressions.
Education and training.ChatGPT can help provide explanations on more complex topics to help serve as a virtual tutor. Users can also ask for guides and any needed clarification on responses at What is ChatGPT?.
Better response time.ChatGPT provides instant responses, which reduces wait times for users seeking assistance.
Increased availability.AI models are available around the clock to provide continuous support and assistance.
Multilingual support.ChatGPT can communicate in multiple languages or provide translations for businesses with global audiences at What is ChatGPT?.
AI chatbots can tailor responses to the user’s preferences and behaviors based on previous interactions.
ChatGPT can handle many users simultaneously, which is beneficial for applications with high user engagement.
Natural language understanding.ChatGPT understands and generates humanlike text, so it is useful for tasks such as generating content, answering questions, engaging in conversations and providing explanations at What is ChatGPT?.
Digital accessibility.ChatGPT and other AI chatbots can assist individuals with disabilities by providing text-based interactions, which can be easier to navigate than other interfaces.

What are the limitations of ChatGPT? How accurate is it?

Some limitations of ChatGPT include the following:

It does not fully understand the complexity of human language. ChatGPT is trained to generate words based on input. Because of this, responses might seem shallow and lack true insight.
Responses can sound like a machine and unnatural.Since ChatGPT predicts the next word, it can overuse words such as the or and. Because of this, people still need to review and edit content to make it flow more naturally, like human writing at What is ChatGPT?.
It summarizes but does not cite sources.ChatGPT does not provide analysis or insight into any data or statistics, nor does it provide links to sources unless you specifically request them. ChatGPT might provide statistics but no real commentary on what these statistics mean or how they relate to the topic.
It cannot understand sarcasm and irony.ChatGPT is based on a data set of text.
It might focus on the wrong part of a question and not be able to shift. For example, if you ask ChatGPT, “Does a horse make a good pet based on its size?” and then ask it, “What about a cat?” ChatGPT might focus solely on the size of the animal versus giving information about having the animal as a pet. ChatGPT is not divergent and cannot shift its answer to cover multiple questions in a single response.
It shuns politics. Generally speaking, ChatGPT does not like to get involved in political debates or take sides, although it has been accused of favoritism for certain political viewpoints at What is ChatGPT?.

What are the ethical concerns associated with ChatGPT?

While ChatGPT can be helpful for some tasks, there are some ethical concerns that depend on how it is used, including bias, lack of privacy and security, and cheating in education and work.

Plagiarism and deceitful use

ChatGPT can be used unethically in ways such as cheating, impersonation or spreading misinformation due to its humanlike capabilities. Educators have brought up concerns about students using ChatGPT to cheat, plagiarize and write papers. CNET made the news when it used ChatGPT to create articles that were filled with errors at What is ChatGPT?.

To help prevent cheating and plagiarizing, OpenAI announced an AI text classifier to distinguish between human- and AI-generated text. However, after six months of availability, OpenAI pulled the tool due to a “low rate of accuracy.”

There are online tools, such as Copyleaks or Writing.com, to classify how likely it is that text was written by a person versus being AI-generated. OpenAI plans to add a watermark to longer text pieces to help identify AI-generated content at What is ChatGPT?.

Because ChatGPT can write code, it also presents a problem for cybersecurity. Threat actors can use ChatGPT to help create malware. An update addressed the issue of creating malware by stopping the request, but threat actors might find ways around OpenAI’s safety protocol.

ChatGPT can also be used to impersonate a person by training it to copy someone’s writing and language style. The chatbot could then impersonate a trusted person to collect sensitive information or spread disinformation.

Bias in training data

One of the biggest ethical concerns with ChatGPT is its bias in training data. If the data the model pulls from has any bias, it is reflected in the model’s output. ChatGPT also does not understand language that might be offensive or discriminatory. The data needs to be reviewed to avoid perpetuating bias, but including diverse and representative material can help control bias for accurate results at What is ChatGPT?.

Replacing jobs and human interaction

As technology advances, ChatGPT might automate certain tasks that are typically completed by humans, such as data entry and processing, customer service, and translation support. People are worried that it could replace their jobs, so it’s important to consider ChatGPT and AI’s effect on workers.

Rather than replacing workers, ChatGPT can be used as support for job functions and creating new job opportunities to avoid loss of employment. For example, lawyers can use ChatGPT to create summaries of case notes and draft contracts or agreements. And copywriters can use ChatGPT for article outlines and headline ideas at What is ChatGPT?.

Privacy issues

ChatGPT uses text based on input, so it could potentially reveal sensitive information. The model’s output can also track and profile individuals by collecting information from a prompt and associating this information with the user’s phone number and email. The information is then stored indefinitely.

In March 2023, Italy’s data protection authority temporarily banned ChatGPT over concerns that the AI system violated privacy laws by collecting user data for commercial purposes without first obtaining proper consent. The ban was lifted a month later after OpenAI made changes to comply with EU data protection regulations at What is ChatGPT?.

How can you access ChatGPT?

OpenAI account creation is required to use ChatGPT. Enter an email address when prompted to “Sign Up” on chat.openai.com, or join in with a Google or Microsoft account.

After signing up, type a prompt or question in the message box on the ChatGPT homepage. Users can then do the following at What is ChatGPT?:

Enter a different prompt for a new query or ask for clarification.
Regenerate the response.
Share the response.
Like or dislike the response with the thumbs-up or thumbs-down option.
Copy the response.

What to do if ChatGPT is at capacity

Even though ChatGPT can handle numerous users at a time, it reaches maximum capacity occasionally when there is an overload. This usually happens during peak hours, such as early in the morning or in the evening, depending on the time zone at What is ChatGPT?.

If it is at capacity, try using it at different times or hit refresh on the browser. Another option is to upgrade to ChatGPT Plus, which is a subscription, but is typically always available, even during high-demand periods.

Is ChatGPT free?

ChatGPT is available for free through OpenAI’s website. Users need to register for a free OpenAI account. There is also an option to upgrade to ChatGPT Plus for access to GPT-4, faster responses, no blackout windows and unlimited availability. ChatGPT Plus also gives priority access to new features for a subscription rate of $20 per month at What is ChatGPT?.

Without a subscription, there are limitations. The most notable limitation of the free version is access to ChatGPT when the program is at capacity. The Plus membership gives unlimited access to avoid capacity blackouts.

What are the alternatives to ChatGPT?

Because of ChatGPT’s popularity, it is often unavailable due to capacity issues. Google announced Bard in response to ChatGPT in February 2023. One year later, Google renamed it Gemini. Google Gemini draws information directly from the internet through a Google search to provide the latest information. Google came under fire after Gemini provided inaccurate results on several occasions, such as rendering America’s founding fathers as Black men at What is ChatGPT?.

Microsoft has invested $10 billion in OpenAI, making it a primary benefactor of OpenAI. In return, GPT-4 functionality has been integrated into Bing, giving the internet search engine a chat mode for users. Microsoft does this through the use of its Copilot chatbot. Bing searches can also be rendered through Copilot, giving the user a more complete set of search results.

There are other text generator alternatives to ChatGPT, including the following:

AI-Writer.

Article Forge.

DeepL Write.

Magic Write.

Open Assistant.

Perplexity AI.

Coding alternatives for ChatGPT include the following:

Amazon CodeWhisperer.

GitHub Copilot.

ai.

OpenAI Codex.

ChatGPT updates

In August 2023, OpenAI announced an enterprise version of ChatGPT. The enterprise version offers the higher-speed GPT-4 model with a longer context window, customization options and data analysis. This model of ChatGPT does not share data outside the organization at What is ChatGPT?.

In September 2023, OpenAI announced a new update that allows ChatGPT to speak and recognize images. Users can upload pictures of what they have in their refrigerator and ChatGPT will provide ideas for dinner. Users can engage to get step-by-step recipes with ingredients they already have. People can also use ChatGPT to ask questions about photos — such as landmarks — and engage in conversation to learn facts and history at What is ChatGPT?.

Users can also use voice to engage with ChatGPT and speak to it like other voice assistants. People can have conversations to request stories, ask trivia questions or request jokes among other options.

The voice update will be available on apps for both iOS and Android. Users will just need to opt-in to use it in their settings. Images will be available on all platforms — including apps and ChatGPT’s website.

In November 2023, OpenAI announced the rollout of GPTs, which let users customize their own version of ChatGPT for a specific use case. For example, a user could create a GPT that only scripts social media posts, checks for bugs in code, or formulates product descriptions. The user can input instructions and knowledge files in the GPT builder to give the custom GPT context. OpenAI also announced the GPT store, which will let users share and monetize their custom bots at What is ChatGPT?.

In December 2023, OpenAI partnered with Axel Springer to train its AI models on news reporting. ChatGPT users will see summaries of news stories from Bild and Welt, Business Insider and Politico as part of this deal. This agreement gives ChatGPT more current information in its chatbot answers and gives users another way to access news stories. OpenAI also announced an agreement with the Associated Press to use the news reporting archive for chatbot responses at What is ChatGPT?

In May 2024, OpenAI released the latest version of its large language model — GPT-4o — which it has integrated into ChatGPT. In addition to bringing search results up to date, this LLM is designed to foster more natural interactions. These include voice interactions, allowing users to speak to ChatGPT and receive spoken responses; multimodel input, so ChatGPT can process and generate images as well as words; and an overall improvement in the program’s ability to maintain context over lengthy conversations at What is ChatGPT?

OpenAI claims GPT-4o is twice as fast and 50% less expensive than GPT-4 when accessed via their API.

GPT-4o is being rolled out gradually to free and paid ChatGPT users, with free users having lower usage limits. It is available in the ChatGPT website/app by selecting the “GPT-4o” model option if you have access to it at What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT’s advanced Voice Mode is now available to small groups of paid ChatGPT Plus users. The new mode offers more natural conversations allowing users to interrupt and ask additional questions. The update lets ChatGPT sense and respond to the user’s emotions with response. The voice is more natural-sounding but is limited to four preset options.

October 1, 2024 0 comment

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Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker says he stands behind comments he made during polarizing speech

by Christina October 1, 2024

written by Christina

JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker said Wednesday he was “very intentional” in the comments he made during a polarizing college commencement speech in May and that he stands behind what he said then.

Butker said he didn’t initially plan to deliver the May 11 speech at Benedictine College, a private Catholic liberal arts school in Atchison, Kansas. He delivered a commencement speech at his alma mater Georgia Tech in May 2023, and didn’t “want to be known as a commencement speaker,” he said. Butker reversed course after reflecting upon his relationship with the college at Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker says he stands behind comments he made during polarizing speech.

“I feel like, seven years in the league, having this platform, I’ve just decided, You know what, there’s things that I believe wholeheartedly that I think will make this world a better place, and I’m going to preach that. And if people don’t agree, they don’t agree, but I’m going to continue to say what I believe to be true and love everyone along the way,” Butker said.

During the speech, the three-time Super Bowl champion told the graduating class that most of the women receiving degrees were probably more excited about getting married and having children, and that some Catholic leaders were “pushing dangerous gender ideologies onto the youth of America at Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker says he stands behind comments he made during polarizing speech.”

Butker also assailed Pride month, an important time for the LGBTQ+ community, and President Joe Biden’s stance on abortion.

The NFL distanced itself from Butker after the speech, saying “his views are not those of the NFL as an organization at Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker says he stands behind comments he made during polarizing speech.”

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said at the time that while he doesn’t agree with all the beliefs espoused by Butker during the address, he nevertheless respected his teammate’s right to make them be known.

The 29-year-old kicker said Wednesday that he feels some of his remarks were misinterpreted.

“My whole career, I’ve talked about how I’m a husband and I’m a father before it comes to me as a kicker, something I’ve always preached,” he said. “But then when I use that to talk about women, I say that they should embrace and love being wives and being mothers over their career, I think then it gets construed that I’m trying to put women down, which I’m not at all at Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker says he stands behind comments he made during polarizing speech.”

Butker saw it as a good thing that the remark provoked conversations and disputes in the Chiefs locker room. He described it as “a beautiful thing to watch at Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker says he stands behind comments he made during polarizing speech”—the players’ attempts to comprehend one another’s worldviews.

Butker this week agreed to a contract extension reportedly worth $25.6 million over the next four seasons, making him the league’s highest-paid kicker. His 89.1% success rate on field goals over the last seven seasons ranks him as the second-most accurate kicker in league history behind only Justin Tucker (90.2%).

October 1, 2024 0 comment

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Flood fury: Nine dead in separate rain-related incidents in Telangana; 17,000 people evacuated in Andhra

by Christina October 1, 2024

written by Christina

Torrential rains battered Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for the second consecutive day, flooding and waterlogging in several areas, and disruptions to road and rail traffic on Sunday.

Nine people died in separate rain-related incidents in Telangana as heavy downpour continued to lash many parts of the state, including Hyderabad, on Sunday. As many as 99 trains were cancelled, four trains were partially cancelled, and 54 were diverted due to heavy rains and waterlogging over tracks at multiple locations on the South Central Railway network, an SCR official said at Flood fury: Nine dead in separate rain-related incidents in Telangana; 17,000 people evacuated in Andhra.

Rivers in both states were in spate, and thousands of people were evacuated by national and state disaster response forces from flooded areas to relief camps.

In a conversation with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah promised them that the federal government will provide them with all the assistance they needed to deal with the rain and floods.

Reddy held an emergency review in view of the incessant rains in the state and spoke to ministers over phone and relief measures in submerged areas, an official release said at Flood fury: Nine dead in separate rain-related incidents in Telangana; 17,000 people evacuated in Andhra.

Unprecedented rainfall in the past two days in Andhra has paralysed life at several places, especially in Vijayawada and vicinity, while 17,000 rain-affected people were evacuated from across the state.

A woman died and three others were feared washed away in separate rain-related incidents in Mahabubabad and Khammam districts on Sunday.

Due to heavy rains and waterlogging over the tracks at several locations on the South Central Railway (SCR) network, as many as 99 trains were cancelled, and four trains were partially cancelled while 54 trains were diverted , an SCR official said.

In view of the state witnessing incessant rains, Reddy, reviewed the situation in the rain-affected areas, and spoke to ministers – Bhatti Vikramarka, N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Tummala Nageshwar Rao, Damodara Raja Narasimha, and Jupalli Krishna Rao over the phone and enquired about the relief operations in the submerged areas, an official release said at Flood fury: Nine dead in separate rain-related incidents in Telangana; 17,000 people evacuated in Andhra.

A railway track was washed away at the outskirts of Tallapusapally village in Kesamudram Mandal on Sunday morning. As a result, train services were halted at Kesamudram and Mahabubabad railway stations.

Similarly, the flood and rain situation has affected train services on the Vijayawada-Warangal route. After a local stream overflowed, submerging the track near Vijayawada, train movements on the Vijayawada-Khammam route were stopped.

The Telangana government has also declared a holiday for all educational institutions on Monday across the state at Flood fury: Nine dead in separate rain-related incidents in Telangana; 17,000 people evacuated in Andhra.

Heavy rains have battered the erstwhile Warangal district since Saturday night, causing lakes and ponds to overflow.

The entire village of Nallela in Kuravi Mandal, Mahabubabad district, was inundated late Saturday night. This is the first time in two decades that the village has experienced such severe flooding.

Residents of Nallela village found their homes submerged as floodwaters rapidly encroached. Many villagers were startled awake and had to seek higher ground for safety, with some climbing onto rooftops.

The Kuravi police and revenue officials promptly arrived at the scene to conduct rescue operations. Approximately 20 families, totaling around 100 people, were rescued without any reported loss of life, thanks to the swift action of the Kuravi police and revenue officials at Flood fury: Nine dead in separate rain-related incidents in Telangana; 17,000 people evacuated in Andhra.

Floodwaters breached the upper catchment areas of Ayodhya Lake in Mahabubabad Mandal, affecting low-lying areas, including the outskirts of Tallapusapally village in Kesamudram Mandal.

Several lakes, including Rajulakothapalle in Nellikudur Mandal, Ayodhya in Mahabubabad Mandal, Ammapuram and Bechharajpalle in Maripeda Mandal, and Nallela in Kuravi Mandal, suffered breaches, causing floodwaters to spill onto roads.

Traffic on the Maripeda to Thorrur road came to a standstill due to overflowing roads. Police and revenue officials from Maripeda, Thorrur, Mahabubabad, and Nellikudur worked tirelessly to clear the roads and restore traffic flow at Flood fury: Nine dead in separate rain-related incidents in Telangana; 17,000 people evacuated in Andhra.

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy asked officials of all government departments to remain alert and take measures to prevent any untoward incidents.

The Chief Minister spoke to Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari and directed to ensure that the officials of the Revenue, Municipal, Electricity, and Health Departments are on high alert.

Officials have been instructed to take all measures to prevent any untoward incidents and shift people from the low-lying areas to the relief camps immediately. In view of the lifting of the gates of the reservoirs, officials have been asked to vacate people in the low-lying areas to safer places.

In light of the circumstances at Flood Fury, the Telangana government has also mandated the closure of all institutions and colleges throughout the state tomorrow: Separate rain-related accidents in Telangana resulted in nine deaths; in Andhra, 17,000 people were evacuated.

Government sets up control room to monitor rains and floods

The state government has set up a special control room in the Secretariat for monitoring the rains and floods situation in the state. The control room has been opened under the Disaster Management Department in Ground Floor, Room No 34 of the Secretariat. Control room number 040 – 2345 4088 has also been set up.

The officials in the control room are continuously monitoring with district authority on the rain and floods situation. Necessary assistance and appropriate instructions are being provided to district authorities.

TSRTC passengers rescued

In a separate incident, 56 passengers of a Telangana Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) bus were rescued by Neekonda police after the vehicle became stranded in floodwaters at the outskirts of Topanpalle village on Saturday night at Flood fury: Nine dead in separate rain-related incidents in Telangana; 17,000 people evacuated in Andhra.

The passengers, who had spent the night on the bus, were rescued with the help of an earth mover.

Floodwaters also overflowed from drains into various colonies in the tri-cities of Warangal, Hanamkonda, and Kazipet, creating difficult conditions for residents. Several localities under the Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation (GWMC) jurisdiction experienced a flood-like situation, with main roads and lanes alike submerged.

GWMC Mayor Gundu Sudha Rani and Commissioner Ashwini Tanaji Wakade have issued orders canceling the leave of GWMC employees to ensure their availability. Employees have been instructed to remain vigilant and to evacuate residents from low-lying areas to rehabilitation centers if necessary at Flood fury: Nine dead in separate rain-related incidents in Telangana; 17,000 people evacuated in Andhra.

Katakshapur Lake in Athmakur Mandal of Warangal district is fully overflowing, impeding small vehicle traffic on National Highway 163.

Red alert for Telangana

According to the latest update on the weather report from Telangana, Dr K Nagaratnam, Director of the Hyderabad Meteorological Centre, said, Telangana is likely to receive light to moderate rainfall for the next 3 days.

“Red warning had been issued for today and tomorrow in Telangana. East and North East districts have been issued red warning and north & south districts have been issued orange warning for today and tomorrow. All districts have been issued heavy rainfall warning. GHMC will have moderate rains and heavy rains at certain times. Hyderabad is issued orange warning for today and tomorrow,” Nagaratnam said at Flood fury: Nine dead in separate rain-related incidents in Telangana; 17,000 people evacuated in Andhra.

The IMD has issued a red alert and predicted very heavy to extremely heavy rain very likely to occur at isolated places in Adilabad, Nirmal, Nizamabad, Kamareddy, Mahabubnagar, Nagarkurnool, Wanaparthy, Narayanpet, and Jogulamba Gadwal districts of Telangana on Sunday at Flood fury: Nine dead in separate rain-related incidents in Telangana; 17,000 people evacuated in Andhra.

The IMD has issued a yellow alert and predicted heavy rain at a few places in the districts Rajanna Sirsilla, Karimnagar, Peddapalli, Nalgonda, Suryapet, Mahabubabad, Siddipet, Yadadri Bhuvangiri, Rangareddy, Hyderabad, Medchal Malkajigiri, Medak of Telangana on Sunday.

October 1, 2024 0 comment

Uncategorized

Amazon Great Indian Festival-Start and End Date (2024)

by Christina October 1, 2024

written by Christina

The Great Indian Festival is Amazon’s biggest sale in India, hosted annually in September or October. The platform has started releasing teasers of its upcoming sale and revealed its starting date, i.e., 8th September 2024. During this sale, you can get huge offers and discounts on every product category of their platform. So, if you want to know more about the Amazon Great Indian Festival sale, please keep reading this article at Amazon Great Indian Festival-Start and End Date (2024).

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Amazon Great Indian Festival Sale Date And Time

Amazon Great Indian Festival Starting Date

8th October, 2024

Amazon Great Indian Festival Starting Date For Prime Members

7th October, 2024

Amazon Great Indian Festival End Date

15th October, 2024

Bank Offers During the Amazon Great Indian Sale 2024

Amazon has partnered with the State Bank of India to provide a 10% extra instant discount on their products. You can avail yourself of a 10 per cent instant discount if you pay using an SBI credit or debit card. However, Amazon accommodates various payment methods and provides a range of discount options, including bonus offers, to elevate your shopping experience. Check out the best deals at Amazon Great Indian Festival-Start and End Date (2024):

Amazon Pay Later: You can enjoy instant credit of up to Rs 1 lakh by using Amazon Pay Later.

Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card: You’ll receive an additional 5% unlimited cashback by using Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card.

Exchange Offers / No-Cost EMI: Exchange offers and zero-interest EMI choices come with increased flexibility and savings. For instance, you can save up to 50,000 INR by opting for no-cost EMI at Amazon Great Indian Festival-Start and End Date (2024).

Bonus Offers: Receive an extra ₹1,500 on Credit Card EMI for a single transaction of ₹30,000 to ₹75,000. Also, earn an additional ₹5,000 on Credit Card EMI for a transaction of ₹1,00,000.

Amazon Great Indian Festival Sale offers on top Categories

Top Categories

Discount

Mobiles and Accessories

Up to 60% off

Laptops, PCs, Smart Devices and more

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Smart TVs

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Amazon Products like Alexa, Kindle

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How To Take A Prime Subscription To Avail More Offers On Amazon?

A Prime subscription is a good investment as it allows Amazon users to enjoy many benefits, such as Prime video access, fast delivery, extra discounts and offers, and many more. If you want to buy a Prime subscription to avail of more offers on Amazon, you can follow the steps below –

Open the Amazon app and log in to your account at Amazon Great Indian Festival-Start and End Date (2024).

Click on the last button present at the navigation bar.

Choose the Prime option and click on “Try Prime.” A new page will open where you can find various prime subscription plans, such as one month at Rs. 299, three months at Rs. 599 and a yearly plan at Rs. 1499.

Select a plan you can afford and click on “Join Prime.” After that, choose a payment method like a Debit Card, Credit Card, or UPI payment at Amazon Great Indian Festival-Start and End Date (2024).

Complete the payment by entering your card details or UPI ID and paying the bill. Once the payment is processed, you will become an Amazon Prime member, eligible for exclusive offers.

Amazon Great Indian Festival Sale 2024: Special Offers For Prime Members and Benefits

Amazon Prime Membership can allow you to enjoy many special offers and benefits during the Great Indian Festival Sale. Let’s discuss some of the important ones-

Early Sale Access

If you are an Amazon Prime member, you can access the Amazon Great Indian Festival sale a day early, starting on the 7th of October, which is only for you. This early access provides a valuable opportunity to secure in-demand items like budget-friendly smartphones, iPhones, and more, which tend to sell out quickly during the event at Amazon Great Indian Festival-Start and End Date (2024).

Extra Discount

Having a Prime membership of Amazon lets you earn 5% cashback on ‘Amazon.in’ purchases using the Amazon Pay ICICI Bank card. Also, get 2% cashback at over 100 partner merchants and 1% on other payments (except fuel) – available in 35 cities in India. It means that, along with exclusive discounts, Prime members save more compared to non-Prime members at Amazon Great Indian Festival-Start and End Date (2024).

Fastest Free Delivery

As a Prime member, you’ll enjoy unlimited, complimentary One-Day and Two-Day Delivery on eligible items across over a hundred cities in India free of cost. Even if an item doesn’t qualify for these options, it will still be delivered for free with Standard Delivery at Amazon Great Indian Festival-Start and End Date (2024).

Other Extra Benefits

In addition to the benefits already listed, being an Amazon Prime member grants you free streaming of Amazon music and videos as well as early access to the day’s best Lightning Deals across a number of categories. On the Amazon Prime platform, you can read free Kindle e-books and view movies, web series, and television shows.

Amazon Great Indian Festival 2024 Sale Category-wise Bank Offer Terms & Conditions

Mobiles: Get a 10% instant discount with an SBI Credit Card on a minimum transaction of ₹5,000, with a maximum discount of ₹1,250 on non-EMI and ₹1,500 on EMI transactions at Amazon Great Indian Festival-Start and End Date (2024).

Grocery: Enjoy a 10% instant discount with an SBI Credit Card on a minimum transaction of ₹2,500, with a maximum discount of ₹300 on non-EMI and EMI transactions.

All Categories: Get a 10% instant discount with an SBI Credit Card on a minimum transaction of ₹5,000 is required, with a maximum discount of ₹1,500 on non-EMI and ₹1,750 on EMI transactions.

October 1, 2024 0 comment

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A day out with the original Manjummel Boys

by Christina October 1, 2024

written by Christina

KOCHI: Manjummel Boys, helmed by Chidambaram and starring an ensemble cast that includes Soubin Shahir and Sreenath Bhasi, is a survivor-thriller inspired by a 2006 real-life incident.

Since its release on February 22, the movie has collected nearly Rs 200 crore at the box office, making it the highest-grossing Malayalam movie to date at A day out with the original Manjummel Boys.

This resounding success has invariably put Manjummel, a quaint town on the outskirts of Kochi, and a group of thick friends, on whom the story is based on, into the global limelight.

On the day TNIE visited them, the real Manjummel heroes were in conversation with the youth of Amalothbhavamatha Church about the importance of cultivating good friendships at A day out with the original Manjummel Boys.

Despite their growing fame and increasingly busy schedule, this group of ordinary men who share an extraordinary story never back away from an opportunity to inspire. According to them, this is their mission.

Here, they talk about their friendship, the importance of art and sports clubs, the Manjummel effect on their personal lives and town, the movie and more at A day out with the original Manjummel Boys.

How did your friendship take shape?

Subash: Right from our childhood, we were a close-knit group. There was no social media then. When we got home after school, we all gathered on the ground to play. We took part in local club activities and swam in the stream nearby. Such bonds last long.

Such friendships are a source of strength during distress…

Siju David (Kuttan): Yes. For instance, after the Kodaikanal accident, we struggled to arrange cash for the return trip, Subash’s treatment, etc. None of us was financially stable at A day out with the original Manjummel Boys.

Sumesh helped us a lot. Though he could not make it to the trip, he arranged everything in a single night.

When we finally reached here, there was no delay for anything on account of lack of funds.

Five years ago, we formed a society named Yuva, which helps people in distress. Each week, we set aside some money to attend to emergencies at A day out with the original Manjummel Boys.

Weren’t you guys part of a club here earlier as shown in the film?

Siju David: Yes, it was called Darshana. There were about 40 members when it began. It was active for years. Then, it became Yuva Darshana. Later, when the residents’ associations became more prominent, clubs started to wane. We, however, continue to serve society via Yuva.

Is it just your gang?

Siju David: No, many from the Manjummel area are part of it.

Siju John: It has members of all ages. Whenever people approach us, say seeking assistance for a marriage or a death, our team offers whatever help we can at A day out with the original Manjummel Boys.

Today’s youngsters are falling prey to vices such as drug abuse. Could you elaborate on the importance of art and sports clubs in this context?

Sumesh: Such activities are essential. It is when children don’t have any outlet for activities that they fall prey to bad influences.

Sujith: We kept each other close, away from harm. After getting back from school each day, we used to head straight to the playground or the club. Sadly, today’s kids don’t have such avenues. They are confined to their silo at A day out with the original Manjummel Boys.

Subash: Back in the day, there were many public grounds. It is from these playgrounds that friendships blossomed. Art and sports clubs were physical manifestations of such bonds. The government should establish public grounds in every locality.

[To Siju David] What were the events in your life that helped develop your willpower to take the decision to descend the crevice in Guna Cave?

Siju David: I used to hold leadership positions at the clubs here. I guess donning that position as a youngster and coordinating matters helped me at A day out with the original Manjummel Boys.

Sujith: Also, when we were kids, there was an incident when Krishnakumar got caught in a current while we were swimming. It was Kuttan who dived in to save him. Kuttan was a natural leader.

Sixon: This is true to this day. When we go for tours, etc., we just hand over the money to Kuttan. He is the responsible one and takes care of everything. We don’t have to worry. We just chill!

Sujith: Our families are reassured when we say Kuttan’s name. They trust him.

Subash: Even if we have to go anywhere else, we just say we are going to Kuttan’s house. (all laugh)

Have you guys always been an adventurous group?

Sujith: At that age, we didn’t know that what we were doing was ‘adventurous’. It just felt like a natural thing to do.

Siju David: In Kodaikanal, the fencing at the suicide point was not very tall back then. So we crossed over to click a pic. We were not very aware of the dangers. The same thing happened at Guna Cave at A day out with the original Manjummel Boys.

What went through your minds while watching the Manjummel Boys film?

Siju David: It was like going on that trip again. We experienced those moments, emotions. We were all in tears.

Anil: We would say 95 per cent of what’s shown in the film was real.

Sixon: Prior to the screening, the film crew had invited us to the set of Guna Cave, which was set up in Perumbavoor. When we reached there, we were overwhelmed. The set designer Ajay Chalissery did an exemplary work. It was as close to the original as it can get. We started trembling as we entered….

Siju: They had set up cameras inside the set to capture our reactions. We stood numb. It was as if we were inside the real Guna Cave. That’s what they wanted to know at A day out with the original Manjummel Boys.

We didn’t have to convey the feeling through words — our emotions told them everything.

Did they seek references from you while creating the set?

Subash: When the ‘Manjummel Boys’ crew sought permission to study the Guna Cave, the Tamil Nadu officials hoped to replicate what ‘Ordinary’ did to Gavi. They were right… there’s now a big tourist rush to Guna Cave now…

Hence, they got permission. They went in five times to get the structure of the cave right. Ajay went on a sixth trip with his painting team. He wanted them too to get a feel of the cave at A day out with the original Manjummel Boys.

To be frank, I was scared as soon as I took the first step in. My whole body was shaking… I knew it was fake, but fear had taken over.

At least three teams had approached you to turn this story into a film. But those projects didn’t work out. Finally, how did this one take off?

Sixon: Many urged us to see this story turned into a movie. One friend, Shawn Antony (the film’s co-producer), was keen about it. He met Kuttan and Subash. Then, there was Ganapathi, whom we knew. The film’s director, Chidambaram, is his brother. He was an up-and-coming filmmaker when we initially met. His first film, Jan-E-Man, had not been released then. They came and discussed the story with us, took a documentary and began work. It just happened. We never imagined that the movie would become this big, such a vibe at A day out with the original Manjummel Boys.

Siju David: Initially, we thought Chidambaram was going to shoot a film with Ganapathi as the central character. Later, we learned Soubin was part of the cast and co-producing the film.

Sujith: Their team was very committed. They came to our houses and studied everything about us — the way we walk, talk… our mannerisms. I think they did that for about two years. Their hard work has paid off. The film depicts us correctly. We were surprised at A day out with the original Manjummel Boys.

Sixon: They even studied our old photos and got the costumes right.

Subash: I had only seen Sreenath Bhasi in films until then. During the pre-production stage, he visited my house.

Sujith: Yes, Subash’s mother did not even know who Sreenath Bhasi was. She presumed him to be her son’s friend at A day out with the original Manjummel Boys.

‘Money is not our priority’

Were you guys actually passionate about tug-of-war as shown in the film?

Siju David: Yes, definitely. We are all crazy about it. We were part of local competitions. Some of us still have scars from bouts of those days… We once even participated in a tug-of-war event with an elephant (laughs).

[To Subash] What were the childhood experiences that helped you develop the mental courage to triumph over the fall?

Subash: I must say, swimming and climbing trees (laughs) at A day out with the original Manjummel Boys.

Sujith: Subash was adventurous even in childhood. Swimming was his main hobby.

Sumesh: Swimming in the stream requires physical and mental strength. He loved swimming, and would catch fish – cook and eat it alone!

Subash: Also, I was not great at studies. So, I was often made to stand on the bench among girls as punishment. Such torments also helped shape my mental strength (laughs). On a serious note, I survived because a jagged edge of boulder in the crevice pierced through my jeans and prevented me from falling further at A day out with the original Manjummel Boys.

Sujith: He is tall; his height was also a factor.

Did you ever regret going on the trip?

Subash: Yes. But now, I see people are drawing inspiration from my story. I am told it is helping motivate those who are in distress. Also, old-time friends have started to reconnect. Earlier, I used to wonder why I was spared. I see it now – maybe to lend hope to others. I am grateful to God for it at A day out with the original Manjummel Boys.

[To Subash] You mentioned you used to be an atheist… And there’s a scene in the film where you question the concept of God…

The discussions in the movie were shaped by the writer and filmmaker. Even though our conversations were identical, the way the film presented them was designed to hold the viewer’s attention.

I, indeed, used to question the existence of God. But while laying trapped inside the cave, I prayed to all gods in the world at A day out with the original Manjummel Boys.

[To Prasad P S] Did you return to Kodaikanal after the 2006 incident?

Prasad: Yes, in 2009. I took a family on a tour there. After dropping them, I asked at a shop if they knew of the incident. They did. In fact, all of Kodaikanal still remembers the incident.

Were there more safety measures at the site when compared to your previous visit?

Prasad: There were some changes. When we visited the cave in 2006, there was a board stating that 13 people had perished there. But it was written in Tamil at A day out with the original Manjummel Boys.

During the rescue, an official told us Subash’s name would be the 14th on that board. The local people, too, initially urged us to leave the place after Subash fell. They warned us that staying there would land us in trouble. They were right.

Sixon: We endured much torture, more than what what was shown in the film.

Krishnakumar: The local people, however, rallied behind us after they also heard Subash’s cries from the pit.

Sixon: We were withheld after the rescue. Thankfully, the doctor, who treated Subash at the local hospital, intervened and helped us leave the town without legal hassles. That was one aspect we missed in the film.

Are you in touch with the doctor?

Siju David: Sadly, no. We had tried. She’s the only one whom we have not been able to reconnect with from that time. We hope to meet her soon at A day out with the original Manjummel Boys.

[To Subash] Do you think you have found closure to the trauma with this film?

Subash: Yes. The recovery phase was an ordeal. It took me six months to start sleeping properly after the incident. Physically, I spent about 60 days in an Ayurveda hospital.

[Physical injuries included gashes, scraped skin across the body.]

It took me nearly two years to return to normal life. The focus since then was on moving forward. When the decision was made to turn our experiences into a film, I felt it was important. I wanted the world to see the struggles that my friends underwent to rescue me. They are my fount of inspiration at A day out with the original Manjummel Boys.

Sreenath Bhasi played your character at a time when he too was in a tough phase… Did that reflect during interactions?

Sixon: Yes, very much. During the shooting process, whenever we met, Bhasi would say that he, too, was in a metaphorical pit and that, through this film, he would rise.

When did you guys embark on another trip after the 2006 incident?

Siju David: Six months later, to Munnar. Subash, of course, could not join.

Anil: We returned to Kodaikanal only for the puja ceremony of the film – after nearly 18 years.

Writer B Jeyamohan made some comments about Malayali boy groups – on boozing and raising a ruckus wherever they go. How do you guys view his comments?

Siju John: One needs to only read the comments under his statement to know the reaction of Malayalis. We don’t have anything particular to add.

Anil: It is likely that when Jeyamohan was young, he, too, has done similar things.

Siju David: We entered a restricted area, that’s true. It was not the right thing to do. The fencing wasn’t proper back then. Maybe, safety measures should be enhanced and well-maintained at such sites.

After the incident, did any family member of the 13 who had perished in the pit earlier reach out to you?

Sumesh: No. However, the first thing the police asked Kuttan was whether he saw any skeleton there at A day out with the original Manjummel Boys.

Siju David: I couldn’t see anything, as I went in with a torch around my neck and I was using both my hands to hold onto the rope. I grabbed the torch and looked only when the first rope ended. I had to wait till they got another one. I checked around me. All I saw were bats. I immediately switched off the torch.

[To Abhilash] In the film, your character is shown as walking away from the gang in the end… what actually happened?

Abhilash: Yes. I was in shock. It was me who saw Subash falling into the pit. It was a traumatic sight. I cut off from the gang, too. Because of my withdrawn nature, my neighbours presumed I had left for the Gulf.

Like how they show in the film, did you return to the cave to give the now-popular ‘Loose adikkada’ advise?

No. I was in shock. Siju took me outside, and I waited there until Subash was rescued at A day out with the original Manjummel Boys.

[To Subash] You used to write, right? Have you considered turning your story into a book?

Subash: I have thought about it a lot. I have written it in my mind. But Chidambaram has portrayed it better than I ever could. I may write about the before and after of the incident. (Gang-members laugh out, saying he has written three bizarre scripts.)

After watching the film, many are inspired by your life. Do you have any message for the youngsters?

Subhash: I didn’t do anything extraordinary. It was my friends’ actions that saved me. They inspire me. But I will tell this to youngsters: nurture and preserve good friendships. Also, fights between friends are normal. Don’t get hung up on your ego at A day out with the original Manjummel Boys.

Now, the original Manjummel Boys have become famous. How are you guys handling this busy schedule and attention after leading a relatively peaceful life?

Siju David: The incident took place in 2006. A month later, news of our story started to appear. We were catapulted into the limelight. In 2008, I received a bravery award from the President. We used to receive letters. Many of them. We felt like celebrities then at A day out with the original Manjummel Boys.

Today, after the film, everything’s different. We don’t have time for our personal lives now. We are busy with events, interviews, inaugurations. Our lives have completely changed.

Subash: We are all common people. We never wanted celebrity status. But now, can we work for a living? Imagine, you are in your work clothes, which are torn and dirty, and people come to take selfies… Not all of us have white-collar jobs at A day out with the original Manjummel Boys.

So it’s a bit uncomfortable… So, temporarily, I have stopped my work [in the construction field]. Now, we give interviews and that helps the film. When all this is buzz is over, we will return to our normal lives.

Have the real Manjummel Boys got any remuneration from the film team…

Sixon: People have been asking us the same thing.

Siju David: They have not discussed anything on those lines with us. There was no such agreement or contract.

October 1, 2024 0 comment

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