Crypto is the wild, weird and occasionally legitimate world of digital currencies like Bitcoin and its relatives; blockchains, the technology that powers them; and other emerging crypto technologies like NFTs (Non-fungible Tokens) and DeFi trading protocols. It’s also the realm of cryptocurrencies like Dogecoin that started as a joke and have now grown into valuable investments; and stablecoins such as USDC, which are intended to keep their values stable relative to real-world assets. It’s also a place where you might find yourself reading articles headlined with phrases such as “Flippenings” and “gm” — and, if you pay close attention, you may wonder if you’ve lost your grip on reality.

The reason for all the buzz is that cryptocurrencies represent a new paradigm for money. Instead of being backed by a central bank or a government, they are created through a technological process that relies on a network of computers to record transactions in a way that’s difficult for authorities to manipulate. These networks are run by people from all over the world who collectively verify transactions by submitting data in blocks of records to a ledger called a blockchain.

These records, once verified by other members of the network, are immutable. This makes cryptocurrencies more secure than traditional currencies because it’s virtually impossible for hackers to manipulate the system. Additionally, most cryptocurrencies are private by default, meaning you can use them to make purchases without sharing your name, address or other personal details with the merchant. In the early days of cryptocurrency, this made it a natural fit for people who wanted to stay anonymous or were trying to avoid the financial system altogether, such as criminals, tax evaders and people selling illicit goods. Later, it became a popular choice for dissidents and extremists who wanted to avoid the reach of more mainstream online payment services such as PayPal and Patreon.

Cryptocurrency is an exciting and complex frontier, and understanding it is essential for anyone who hopes to understand our new economic landscape. While it isn’t yet widely used as a means of payment and most investors are still holding onto their coins for speculation, there are signs that the industry could evolve into a more practical form of money in the future.

Despite the reputation of crypto being a world full of shady, high-earning white men and libertarians with dog-eared copies of Atlas Shrugged, it’s surprisingly diverse intellectually. There are right-wing Bitcoin maximalists who believe the currency will liberate them from government tyranny; left-wing Ethereum fans who want to overthrow big banks; and speculators who have no ideological attachments and simply want to make money.

Crypto isn’t for everyone, and even those who have bought in should be aware of the risks. But for those willing to dive into its world, the rewards can be great. You can learn about the underlying mathematics and philosophy; talk to the developers who create these tools; and join communities that debate issues in politics, law and art.

A killer is someone who murders people, usually in service of abnormal psychological gratification. While such individuals might be found in any society, their crimes tend to be concentrated in certain social sectors – including the homeless, the unemployed, the sexually marginalised and children. Often, they will target a specific group for several consecutive murders, with the victims typically being discarded in one way or another (e.g. dumping, dismemberment and incineration).

In the modern age, we are far more aware of serial killings than our predecessors. This is largely due to DNA evidence, improved forensic techniques and the increased vigilance of police. This awareness, combined with the proliferation of media coverage of serial killings, has made it easier for criminal profilers to detect these types of killers.

The question of what causes someone to become a serial killer is, however, still a mystery. Some criminologists argue that childhood trauma, especially abuse in foster care, is responsible for many of these crimes. Others point to drug abuse, alcohol abuse and the sexual-abuse of children, as contributing factors. Then there are those who believe that psychopathic traits are genetic and inherited. And still others point to a combination of influences, including environment, education, culture and societal expectations.

Whatever the cause, most of us feel compelled to condemn these violent criminals. Yet if we were to sit down with any of them, they would probably tell you that their actions are not random. In fact, they are almost always meticulously planned, and they often rely on ploys to lure their victims, such as pretending to have an injury or asking for help with moving.

As a result, these serial killers are usually very well organised and capable of covering their tracks, with a high competency in avoiding detection. They also demonstrate a lack of empathy, and can be extremely manipulative. They can even be charming, with some serial killers being described as ‘nice guys’ by their acquaintances.

Serial killers can be divided into four broad categories, based on their motivation and style of offending: lust-oriented, thrill-oriented, control-oriented and comfort-oriented. Those motivated by lust often kill for sexual or perverse pleasure, while those who are thrill-oriented take pleasure in the sensations they experience during their violent acts. Control-oriented and comfort-oriented killers are driven by narcissistic needs for control and power.

It has also been suggested that the definition of a serial killer should be extended to include spree murder, i.e. two or more murders committed by a single person without a period of time between them. This has, however, generated confusion and led some criminologists to suggest that spree murder should be regarded as a subset of serial killings rather than an entirely separate category.

A significant problem with this is that it can lead to a number of false positives, such as the arrest of a serial killer for a spree of robberies or burglaries. In addition, longer prison sentences and reduced parole have meant that once-serial killers are now finding it much more difficult to reach the two-kill mark.

There are a variety of ways to use trending to your advantage as a digital marketer. For example, if you’re working on an original piece of content, trends can help you find topics that your audience cares about. It can also be helpful in determining the type of video you should create or how to optimize your article. You can even leverage trending to promote your blog and social media posts, though you should be careful not to misuse this feature as it could lead to a loss of credibility.

The Twitter microblogging site uses an algorithm to determine which topics are most discussed by its users at any given time. These popular subjects are listed on its website as “trending topics.” The website also allows its users to customize the trending topics they see based on their geographic location or specific Twitter accounts.

Facebook and Instagram also have a list of popular trends on their websites, which can be customized to show specific categories. These include sports, news, music and more. The trending topics are based on user behavior and interests, and may reflect the overall sentiment of a country or region at any given time.

Trends are determined by a combination of factors, including how long a topic has been popular, the number of people tweeting about it and its sudden spike in popularity. As a result, some events or movements never make it onto the trending board despite their popularity. For example, the Occupy Wall Street movement never made it to Twitter’s trending topics despite its massive growth. The reason for this is that Twitter favors sharp spikes in popularity over gradual increases over a period of time, data scientist Gilad Lotan notes.

YouTube uses a different approach when identifying videos for its Trending section. Executives at the video platform say that it is very careful about what appears on its Trending page, ensuring that only the most relevant videos appear on the list. They also note that the algorithm is constantly being updated.

As for Google Trends, it is a free tool that lets you look up search trends on any term or phrase. You can choose the date range you’d like to view, the geographical area in which you want to see results and other criteria. The results are displayed as graphs that give you an idea of the amount of interest in the search term over time. The tool is especially useful for journalists, who can use it to illustrate trends and find story ideas.

If you’re trying to get a trending topic to boost your brand, you should ask for help from other people. You should provide them with a hashtag, a target and the time frame you’d like them to tweet about it. You should also give them a few sample messages to help spark their creativity. It’s important to avoid abusing trends; posting irrelevant content will only lead to your account being suspended.

Cryptocurrency is money that only exists in the digital world, as opposed to being minted or printed on paper like traditional currency. It is also not backed or insured by a government, bank, or financial institution. While traditional money can be kept in banks, which insure it against loss, cryptocurrency is stored in online digital wallets that are accessible only with a password. These platforms may be hacked or even shut down, and cryptocurrency can be lost as a result.

One of the most significant advantages of crypto is that it’s decentralized, meaning there is no central authority that can control or manipulate its value. This also means that transactions using crypto are often much faster than those conducted with traditional currency, and can take place at any time of the day or night. Unlike wire transfers that can take up to half a day to complete, cryptocurrency transactions can be completed in a matter of minutes or seconds.

Another major advantage of crypto is that it allows you to shop and make payments without having to reveal your personal information, which protects you from identity theft and other fraud. This is particularly true if you use a wallet that is encrypted with your password, so that a hacker would need to know both your private key and your password in order to get at your funds.

However, it is important to note that cryptocurrency is volatile, and prices can rise and fall dramatically from day to day. It is best to avoid over-trading, and to spread your investments among a variety of digital currencies (there are thousands to choose from). This will reduce your risk of losing a large sum of money if the price of any one of them plummets.

You should also be wary of scammers who seek to steal your cryptocurrency. They can do this by impersonating businesses or government agencies, and by asking you to buy and send them cryptocurrency. Never click on links in unsolicited text messages or emails, and be sure to check the credentials of anyone you interact with online.

Finally, remember that cryptocurrency is not regulated, and there are no guarantees that you will be able to sell your coins or exchange them for other types of currency when you need to. This can be a disadvantage if you are planning on using crypto to make everyday purchases, or if you are concerned about the safety of your wallets and the security of the networks that store your crypto.

A killer is a person or thing that ends lives. The word also has several slang senses, such as a severe or powerful person or thing. It’s also used as an adjective, to describe something that is especially devastating or exhausting. The word is often associated with criminal activity, and its use in news stories and movies is a popular way to grab attention and increase public awareness of a crime.

Serial murder cases are inherently newsworthy, and some investigations drag on for years. The publicity surrounding a case can put added pressure on law enforcement agencies to catch the suspect as quickly as possible. In addition, the victims are often a source of fascination and curiosity, which further intensifies the media’s interest in the case.

The term “serial killer” was first coined in the 1950s by police investigators in the United States. At the time, it was widely believed that serial killers were in some way mentally ill. The belief was that they had an irresistible compulsion to kill, or were suffering from a temporary form of insanity that prevented them from understanding the consequences of their actions. Today, it is understood that serial killers are quite aware of what they’re doing, and they carefully plan out their crimes to maximize the amount of bloodshed.

Despite this, they are unable to control their urges, and they feel no remorse or guilt for the crimes they commit. The exact cause of this compulsion is unclear, but there are a number of theories that have been proposed. Some experts have argued that a combination of factors leads to serial killing, including heredity and childhood abuse. Others have suggested that the killers may be driven by a desire to gain power and thrill from their crimes.

In the United States, there are about 150 convicted serial killers. The vast majority are male, and the average age of a serial killer is in his or her mid-to-late 20s. However, a wide range of people commit serial murders, and the racial makeup of the killers is not consistent.

A serial killer can be motivated by a variety of factors, including financial gain, revenge, or the desire to kill for the sake of it. Some of these killers have had professional careers or been involved in organized crime, while others have a history of psychological disorders. Some have even claimed to be driven by voices in their head. The Long Island serial killer, for example, was a former law student who killed a minimum of 110 young women, and he blamed his obsession with pornography for his behavior.

In a study presented at the 2007 Society for Police and Criminal Psychology meeting, Michael Aamodt, a professor of psychology at Radford University in Virginia, noted that serial murderers often target women because they are more easily identifiable than men. He and his colleagues have found that this profile accounts for less than one in five serial murders, though.

When a hashtag, topic, photo or other word/phrase suddenly appears to be popular on a social media platform, it becomes a trend. These trends can then boost the engagement of a particular post, tweet or Instagram image by a huge amount. They can also help a company appear on more feeds and search results, thus increasing the reach of the post.

Social media platforms often have their own ‘trending’ sections where users can see conversations, topics and keywords that are currently popular. Twitter, for example, has a Trends list that shows the hottest topics being discussed in real time across the world or in a specific location. Trends are based on an algorithm that mathematically identifies the most popular emerging topics of discussion, and they change regularly as people talk about different things.

Whether you are an influencer or a business looking to grow your audience, understanding what’s ‘trending’ can help you get the most out of your social media posts and content marketing efforts. It’s important to note that trends are often manipulated by certain people or businesses who are trying to manipulate the system, so don’t take the trending section at face value.

Google Trends is another useful tool that reveals what topics are generating the most interest right now on the Internet. You can select a country, a topic category or a specific timeframe for the searches, which makes it easy to see how trends are influenced. The tool also allows you to see the popularity of terms over time, which can be very useful if you want to monitor an ongoing event or seasonal phenomenon.

YouTube has a Trending video section, which shows videos that are popular on the platform at any given moment. YouTube takes into account metrics like how many views the video is getting, where those views are coming from and how old the video is. YouTube’s Trending video feature isn’t perfect, and it doesn’t show the same trends to all users in the same country at the same time. However, it can be a great resource to find inspiration for your blog content.

You can also use the tool to discover a new niche for your business. For instance, if you notice that a certain product is popular in one region, you can expand your inventory to meet the demand. Or, if you see that a particular topic is gaining momentum, you can capitalize on it by creating an infographic or updating existing content to make it more relevant. If you can keep up with the trends, you will be able to generate more engagement for your content, boost your brand’s visibility and drive more sales. The key is to think about what your customers want and need, and then use the trending tools to figure out how to deliver it in the most effective way possible.

Crypto makes it possible to transfer value online without using a bank or payment processor, often for low fees. It isn’t issued or managed by any government or central authority, but instead by a global network of computers running free software. This decentralization gives crypto unique properties that open up new opportunities for people around the world, from enabling remittances to family members in developing countries to helping dissidents and other marginalized groups avoid surveillance by oppressive regimes.

Many people buy and sell cryptocurrencies as part of a broader investment strategy, treating them like stocks or bonds. This approach can be riskier, since cryptocurrencies’ prices move up and down rapidly. They’re also speculative assets, meaning they don’t track the performance of enterprises in the same way as traditional currencies or investments like real estate and gold.

In the short term, crypto can be a good place to park money because it tends to hold its value relative to other assets. However, its wild price swings make it less attractive as a day-to-day means of exchange. Some crypto investors are hoping to make quick profits by buying in at the right time, but that could backfire if the market crashes.

Some of crypto’s early users were criminals, tax evaders and other people seeking to avoid traditional banking systems. Others were political dissidents or extremists who had been kicked off more mainstream payment services. In fact, some research suggests that a small number of people own the vast majority of all crypto wealth.

Most of today’s crypto activity takes place on blockchain networks that require a lot of energy to store and verify transactions. This is because the blockchains use a process called “proof-of-work,” in which a large number of computers compete to solve complex puzzles to add new records to the database. This process has been compared to a massive global guessing game that uses more computing power than the entire planet.

The big promise of crypto is that the technology can be applied to all sorts of other areas, from storing medical records to tracking music rights to operating new virtual worlds. Investors are pouring billions into start-ups that hope to do just that.

It may take decades for this experiment to bear fruit, but it’s already giving rise to new ways of doing old things. Now you can shop with a growing list of merchants that accept crypto, or buy property in the first decentralized virtual world to be owned by its users. You can even “tip” content creators who have Bitcoin addresses by scanning their QR codes with a mobile app. And when you do, you’ll be dealing with an entirely new kind of money that’s as close to magic as we’re likely to see in our lifetimes. And that, someday, may just save the world.

From the serial killers of our past to the monsters of the modern screen, the concept of a killer is one that fascinates and repels. Yet we still don’t fully understand what makes these predators tick. We know that certain childhood experiences can lead to violence and there is a clear link between substance abuse and aggression. But what else, we wonder, could make a person decide to brutally kill strangers?

A new book explores this topic, focusing on what, exactly, makes someone become a killer. Written by the historian Peter Vronsky, Sons of Cain: A History of Serial Killers looks at historical examples and modern ones such as Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer and John Wayne Gacy to determine what it is that leads these men (and women) to commit murder on a regular basis.

This is the latest of many books that look at serial killing, a term that refers to murders committed by a single individual over a period of time. Previously, the term was used to describe murders by multiple individuals, such as the Medicis of Renaissance Italy or Landru of World War I England who killed several wives for profit and to maintain their status in society. The difference between a single killing and a serial killer is that with the latter, there is usually an overarching plan to commit more crimes.

The book examines a variety of factors that could lead to becoming a serial killer, including the presence of a mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. It also considers the effects of childhood trauma, such as neglect and abuse, on a person’s future behaviour. Substance abuse is also often a factor, as are family dynamics and an individual’s social network. The authors conclude that there is no single identifiable cause or path that can be taken to become a serial killer, but they do argue that there are particular risk factors that should not be ignored.

Another consideration when it comes to determining whether someone becomes a serial killer is the choice of victims. The Long Island serial killer, or killers, chose prostitutes because they are what Egger calls “less-dead” individuals who might not be missed if their bodies were discovered. It is also true that serial killers tend to choose individuals they have a connection with, such as friends or relatives.

It is also possible that the killer or killers of the recent cases on Long Island may have been a closeted gay man who felt it was his right to live a secret double life. In the 1960s and 1970s, this type of offender was referred to as a “revolt against bourgeois morality.” Today, homosexuals are generally more accepted by society and it is less likely that they would be targeted in such a way. It is, however, important to note that a number of the early case studies examined by the authors were committed by homosexuals. This may have influenced the perception of their crimes by police and the public at large.

Twitter’s ‘trending’ feature lets users know what topics are popular at any given moment. They are determined by a series of algorithms that observe the frequency and topics of hashtags (words or phrases preceded by the # symbol) on Twitter. These trends can then be displayed on Twitter’s main page, or in a separate trending list. The algorithms are constantly being tweaked to make sure the list reflects real-time interests and keeps up with breaking news. The popularity of a topic or hashtag is then measured by the number of people tweeting about it, or searching for it on Twitter.

Trending is not just on Twitter; it’s also used by many other social media, news and entertainment sites. Using these tools can help businesses to connect with their audience and keep them up-to-date with what’s happening in the world. A hashtag or topic can become a trend for a day, a week or even longer. Trends can also be a great way to promote events, products or services.

If a business manages to get a topic or hashtag into the trending section of Twitter, it’s likely that a lot of attention will be brought to its brand. However, there are a few things that need to be kept in mind before jumping on the bandwagon. For example, businesses are discouraged from posting unrelated content on Twitter in order to increase visibility; doing so could draw ire from Twitter and lead to account suspension.

To make a hashtag or topic trend, it must have a very high number of tweets within a short amount of time. This is because Twitter’s algorithm favors sharp spikes in volume over gradual growth. It takes 30 days for a topic to become a trend, for example, but one day it could become the most talked about topic on the platform.

A lot of things can push a topic into the trending section, from political issues to celebrity deaths. If a topic gets enough tweets at once it may rise to the top of the list and then remain there for a long period of time.

YouTube also has a trending video section, which shows the most popular videos being watched on its site in a particular country. This isn’t personalized to individual viewers, so everyone in a certain country will see the same videos appearing on the list.

As a result, it can be difficult for smaller businesses to reach the top of this list, as the most popular videos will already have a lot of support from major brands and celebrities. However, there are still ways that companies can make their content appear in the list; for example, by hosting a networking event or webinar and getting attendees to use a specific hashtag. This has been known to work, although it does require a bit of luck and planning in advance. In addition, it is possible to mute words and hashtags that you don’t want to see appear in the trending lists; just tap on the little arrow on the right-hand side of each listing on your phone or computer and select the option.

Cryptocurrencies can seem like a weird, cultish new realm. It’s hard to wrap your head around why Jimmy Fallon changes his Twitter avatar to a cartoon ape and Elon Musk tweets about “gm.” Crypto’s meme-crazed culture can make it feel frivolous, but it’s actually part of a robust ideological movement with real implications for our political and economic future.

At its core, crypto is a way to transfer money securely online without the need for a middleman. The most popular cryptocurrency is Bitcoin, which relies on a system called blockchain to safeguard its records of transactions. Blockchain uses complicated algorithms that allow computers on a network to agree on what’s in the database, without needing a central authority. This makes it harder to hack or change, proponents say.

It also incentivizes users to submit transaction records for inclusion on the blockchain. The computers that do this are rewarded with new coins, a process known as mining. As of late, a growing list of online retailers and brick-and-mortar stores accept crypto as payment.

Critics of crypto, however, argue that buying a cryptocurrency isn’t really investing in a company or idea, but betting on its popularity. This is why they see a lot of speculative crypto investments as financial bubbles that are likely to burst. In addition, a lack of regulation has given rise to unethical and deceptive management practices, and cryptocurrencies’ high energy consumption can strain the environment.

As a result, many people who invest in cryptocurrencies aren’t necessarily generating a profit, and some investors have lost large sums of money. A 2018 study found that a small group of people own most of the crypto wealth in the world. This has led to allegations of market manipulation, with some influential people and companies engaging in unethical behavior to boost prices.

Some critics also argue that crypto can be used to launder money and fund terrorist organizations. They note that the largely anonymous nature of many crypto wallets can make it ideal for criminals, tax evaders and other people who want to avoid the scrutiny of traditional banking systems.

But it’s important to remember that the same features that make crypto attractive to people with bad intentions also make it useful to people who are trying to do good in the world. The fact that it’s easy to send and receive money across borders is a powerful tool for people who need to send money to their families or help them start a business. It’s just a matter of navigating the crypto jungle with care.