Latest news with #Navigator
San Francisco Chronicle
8 hours ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Dems want to spend $20 million to learn how to talk to men. Have they tried mansplaining?
The national Democratic Party has decided to spend $20 million to figure out a way to talk to men. Let me know if they find out anything that dating sites haven't yet. On Wednesday night, the San Francisco Democratic Party weighed in, endorsing the idea as well. The resolution noted that Donald Trump got 56% of the votes of men aged 18-29, and that 'addressing the challenge experienced by boys and men is not only a moral imperative, but is essential to fostering a more inclusive and responsive political movement that truly speaks to the needs of all individuals, and countering the resultant rise polarization and disinformation.' This effort is intriguing to be sure. Polling after the 2024 presidential election showed former Vice President Kamala Harris coming up short with men as well. According to Navigator Research, men voted for Trump, 54-43 against Harris, a four-point improvement from 2020, when the Democratic nominee, former President Joe Biden, came closer: Trump only won by two points. Women voted for Harris 51-46 in 2024, but Biden carried women by 10 points in 2020. Let's factor in age. According to the Navigator polling 'Men under the age of 45 voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 election by an 8-point margin (44% Harris, 52% Trump), a 16-point shift from 2020, where the group voted for Biden by an 8-point margin.' If you break the numbers down by race, Harris got 82% of the black male vote. Not bad, and close to the 86% Joe Biden got in 2020. What about Latino men? Here's where it gets more interesting. 'Trump made gains across the board. Of particular note, Trump won 47% of votes among Latino men, according to AP projections. He also produced double-digit gains in majority-Hispanic counties along the Mexico border in Texas and in Southern Florida. According to a survey by Edison Research, 'In 2020, Joe Biden won among Latino men by 23 percentage points: 59%-36%. Our latest estimate for the 2024 vote among Latino men is Trump winning by 10 points, 54% to 44%. This change of 33 points on the margin is a rather extraordinary shift in four years' time.' Rather. What's the problem? Democratic support for trans youth in sports? Naw, not really. Democratic support for basic social service programs? Nope. Democratic support for a robust U.S. foreign policy? Unlikely. It may be this simple: as unfair and irrational as it is, men like voting for men for president. This country has never had a woman president, and now looks even further away from that goal based on the 2024 results. The question is, how do the Democrats spend that $20 million? The New York Times reported last week that the plan 'is code-named SAM — short for 'Speaking with American Men: A Strategic Plan' — and promises investment to 'study the syntax, language and content that gains attention and virality in these spaces.' It recommends buying advertisements in video games, among other things. 'Above all, we must shift from a moralizing tone,' it urges. Well. God knows what those video game ads are going to look like. No moralizing in video games, I guess. Fundamentally, according to the data, younger voters, be they men, women, Black or Latino, voted on the economy. So, it's the economy, stupid, again. Younger voters have a particularly bleak worldview on the economy. Talk to any young person, and they don't really have IRAs, own homes, or have a lot of disposable income while they're working two or three jobs. The Biden economy worked well for some, and very poorly for others. My guess is that Trump's performance on the economy will make Biden look like FDR, his hero. The big, beautiful tariffs are already contributing to stock market uncertainty, likely inflation — or even stagflation, where prices rise while the economy stays flat. Oh, and interest rates are going to stay high for the time being, which doesn't help. I was talking to two men the other day about Trump. One voted for Harris, reluctantly, because he thinks Trump is erratic. If the GOP had nominated a good ol' 25 years ago Republican, he'd probably have voted for that candidate. He never said anything about Harris being a woman. 'Oh, he's (bleeping) crazy.' Well, that's the partial right answer. But do the Democrats have a response to them? The next GOP presidential nominee (if there is one) will not be Trump, and then the world looks a bit different, and by that I mean, maybe the country is just shifting right organically, Trump or no Trump. It happens. The country that elected JFK, Clinton and Obama also elected Nixon, Reagan and, gulp, Trump. Again. Historian Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. wrote about a 30-year reset cycle in America that's been rather consistent: reaction begets over-reaction. Bring on the video game ads, the outreach to men (without the 'moralizing tone,' whatever that means), the appearances on Joe Rogan, all of it. Can't hurt. Maybe the Democrats need to mansplain to men. After all, it worked for Trump.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Navigator Financial Services Launches to Provide Fractional CFO Expertise to B2B Services Companies with Deep Testing, Inspection, Certification/Compliance Experience
CHICAGO, May 28, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Navigator Financial Services ("Navigator"), a newly formed fractional CFO firm, is proud to announce its official launch, offering strategic financial leadership to small and medium-sized businesses principally in the Testing, Inspection, Certification, Compliance, Repair, and Maintenance (TICC and RM) sectors. Founded by Drew Szilagyi, CFA, Navigator brings deep industry expertise and a proven track record of scaling financial systems for growth. Drew, a CFA Charterholder since 2018, holds dual degrees in Accountancy and Finance from the University of Illinois' Gies College of Business. His experience includes serving as CFO of Infinity Laboratories, where he helped lead the company through its successful sale to Eurofins Scientific in 2024. Prior to that, he played a key role in corporate development at Great Lakes Dental Partners (a portfolio company of Shore Capital Partners), expanding the organization to nearly 30 locations across two states. Drew began his career in investment banking at Stout, advising industrial service and manufacturing companies on mergers & acquisitions and debt & equity capital markets. Navigator offers a suite of services including Fractional CFO Service, Interim Executive Coverage, and Board Advisory, tailored specifically for service-based businesses that require high-caliber financial leadership without the full-time overhead. "What stops most companies from hiring full-time financial executives is their ability to fund the expense or complacency with existing systems," said Szilagyi. "My aim with Navigator is to provide efficient financial leadership to small and medium-sized service-oriented businesses. 1–2 days per week or 3–4 days per month of CFO leadership can have a dramatic impact on underlying companies, especially when the outlay for that leadership is only 20–40% the cost of a full-time seasoned executive." Navigator began operations earlier this year and is now formally announcing its launch alongside the debut of its website. About Navigator Financial Services Navigator Financial Services is a Chicago-based Fractional CFO Services firm. Navigator bridges the company-level executive gap that frequently challenges growing businesses. By leveraging its proven framework of developing sound, company-specific financial planning & analysis models and professionalizing financial infrastructure, client-companies and their leaders are empowered to make excellent decisions and to achieve strategic objectives. View source version on Contacts For more information, visit | contact info@ | 312.488.9540
Business Wire
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Navigator Financial Services Launches to Provide Fractional CFO Expertise to
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Navigator Financial Services ('Navigator'), a newly formed fractional CFO firm, is proud to announce its official launch, offering strategic financial leadership to small and medium-sized businesses principally in the Testing, Inspection, Certification, Compliance, Repair, and Maintenance (TICC and RM) sectors. 1–2 days per week or 3–4 days per month of CFO leadership can have a dramatic impact on underlying companies, especially when the outlay for that leadership is only 20–40% the cost of a full-time seasoned executive. Share Founded by Drew Szilagyi, CFA, Navigator brings deep industry expertise and a proven track record of scaling financial systems for growth. Drew, a CFA Charterholder since 2018, holds dual degrees in Accountancy and Finance from the University of Illinois' Gies College of Business. His experience includes serving as CFO of Infinity Laboratories, where he helped lead the company through its successful sale to Eurofins Scientific in 2024. Prior to that, he played a key role in corporate development at Great Lakes Dental Partners (a portfolio company of Shore Capital Partners), expanding the organization to nearly 30 locations across two states. Drew began his career in investment banking at Stout, advising industrial service and manufacturing companies on mergers & acquisitions and debt & equity capital markets. Navigator offers a suite of services including Fractional CFO Service, Interim Executive Coverage, and Board Advisory, tailored specifically for service-based businesses that require high-caliber financial leadership without the full-time overhead. 'What stops most companies from hiring full-time financial executives is their ability to fund the expense or complacency with existing systems,' said Szilagyi. 'My aim with Navigator is to provide efficient financial leadership to small and medium-sized service-oriented businesses. 1–2 days per week or 3–4 days per month of CFO leadership can have a dramatic impact on underlying companies, especially when the outlay for that leadership is only 20–40% the cost of a full-time seasoned executive.' Navigator began operations earlier this year and is now formally announcing its launch alongside the debut of its website. About Navigator Financial Services Navigator Financial Services is a Chicago-based Fractional CFO Services firm. Navigator bridges the company-level executive gap that frequently challenges growing businesses. By leveraging its proven framework of developing sound, company-specific financial planning & analysis models and professionalizing financial infrastructure, client-companies and their leaders are empowered to make excellent decisions and to achieve strategic objectives.
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Business Standard
6 days ago
- Business Standard
Soon, Meta Quest headset users will see 2D photos in 3D on Instagram feed
Meta is currently testing a feature aimed at presenting content on Instagram in an immersive way on select Quest virtual reality headsets. This feature enables users to view 3D photographs through their Meta Quest virtual reality headsets. As part of the Quest v77 update, the feature utilises artificial intelligence to convert standard 2D images into immersive 3D visuals, thereby increasing user engagement without requiring specialised cameras. Additionally, Meta is testing several other features and capabilities. Here are the details: 3D photo viewing capability on Instagram via AI integration According to Meta, the transformation is facilitated by AI-based view synthesis algorithms, which modify existing photographs on a pixel-by-pixel basis. This allows any image on the Instagram feed to be automatically converted into a format that simulates depth and spatial realism, resulting in a more lifelike viewing experience when observed through a virtual reality headset. Meta emphasised in its blog post that advanced 3D cameras are not necessary for this functionality. The feature is currently in a limited testing phase. The company stated that not all Quest users will immediately have access to 3D photographs on their Instagram feeds, even if they are part of the testing group. A similar feature was introduced by the company in 2018 on Facebook, which utilised dual-lens image data to simulate depth. Therefore, this is not Meta's first endeavour in the field of 3D photo technology. Navigator interface for simplified access to apps and system settings The 3D Instagram feature forms part of the broader v77 update for Meta Quest, which includes several additional enhancements. One key addition is the "Navigator," a newly designed interface that functions as a centralised hub, providing streamlined access to applications, games, system settings, friends, and notifications. The Navigator is activated by pressing the Meta button on the right-hand controller and permits users to pin up to 10 frequently used items for quicker access. Meta stated: 'You can bring up Navigator without breaking your layout or interrupting your flow. Navigator makes it easier to access system-level controls and then quickly return to what you were doing in-headset.' The feature began rolling out last week and is available for Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest 3S, Meta Quest Pro, and Meta Quest 2 headsets. Additional functional enhancements in the Quest v77 update The v77 update includes several other experimental and functional features, as detailed below: Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) audio support: Devices that support Bluetooth LE audio are now compatible with Meta Horizon as part of an experimental rollout. Movable window functionality: This feature allows a persistent window to follow users as they navigate through virtual environments. It is complemented by a newly introduced unified PC application known as Horizon for PC. This application consolidates Meta Quest Link, casting, and remote desktop functionalities into a single, integrated platform. Spatial audio management: Users are now able to manage which applications and interface panels utilise spatial audio. These settings can be adjusted by accessing the Audio section within the Settings menu on the Meta Quest headset.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Diddy's ex-assistant spills details on near-gunfight with Suge Knight
Sean "Diddy" Combs' ex-assistant testified about a 2008 ordeal involving Suge Knight. An armed Combs went after Knight after he was spotted at an LA diner, the man testified. Combs faces federal charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. With three guns on his lap, Sean "Diddy" Combs ordered his driver to "motherfucking go" as they lit out for a Los Angeles diner — itching to confront longtime rival Suge Knight, Combs' ex-personal assistant testified Tuesday. David James, Combs' then-personal assistant, described the dramatic 2008 ordeal — in which an early morning cheeseburger run nearly escalated the notorious East Coast-West Coast rap feud— while on the stand at Combs' federal sex-trafficking trial. "It was the first time I realized my life was in danger," James told the Manhattan jury during his second day of testimony. Knight, the Death Row Records cofounder, had been spotted at Mel's Drive-In diner some 20 minutes prior, James testified. It was James who drove Combs and one of the hip-hop tycoon's trusted security guards back to the diner, guns at the ready. "I remember complete silence" during the 10-minute drive from Combs' Hollywood Hills home to the diner, James testified, adding, "I remember thinking there are three guns and three people in this car" should anything happen. James, who said he served as Combs' personal assistant from 2007 to 2009, told the jury that by the time Combs got to the diner, Knight had already left. "We didn't see any black Escalades or black SUVs" in the lot by the time they returned, James said, referring to the four cars he said Knight had been traveling the end, Combs just went home. "We eventually drove back to his house in Hollywood Hills," James told the jury. James said that Combs' human resources director tried to talk him into continuing to work for the rapper's Bad Boy companies. She offered him a job with the Sean John fashion line, or in marketing, he said. "I told her no," he testified. "I just wanted to get out." Last week, Combs' ex-girlfriend — star prosecution witness Cassie Ventura — described the Combs-Knight incident from her vantage point, back at the rapper's home. On Tuesday, James described it from his own perspective, telling jurors what he heard and saw from behind the wheel. It was 4 a.m., and Combs wanted cheeseburgers after a late-night recording session at his rented Hollywood Hills mansion. James and one of Combs' security guards, Damian "D-Roc" Butler, were sent to Mel's, a popular all-night diner. "I drove the staff truck, a silver Lincoln Navigator," James testified. James had just pulled the Navigator into a parking spot at Mel's when Butler saw Knight at the wheel of an Escalade parked a few spots over. "That's motherfucking Suge Knight!" Butler said, according to James. James testified that the security guard walked up to Knight's car and said, "What's up? It's me D-Roc, Biggie's boy," referring to rapper Notorious B.I.G. "Oh, what are you doing in my city?" Knight asked Butler, who replied, "I'm just here getting money, you know how it is," James testified. "I know what it is," Knight responded. The two men shook hands, and parted ways. But as James and Butler were placing their order inside Mel's, they saw someone pass a gun to Knight — and saw four SUVs drive into position at different corners of the parking lot, James testified. "We gotta' fucking go," Butler said, and they sped back to Combs' home, James testified. Knight, who is serving a 28-year prison sentence in connection to a fatal 2015 hit-and-run, has recently commented on Combs' criminal case in interviews. An attorney for Knight did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Outside of Combs' home that early morning, James told jurors he saw Combs arguing with Ventura. "She was telling him not to go. She was very upset," James said of Ventura. In her testimony last week about the situation, Ventura said that she had been involved in one of Combs' "freak off" sex performances at the time. "I just remember we were kind of, like, just chilling at this point and D-Roc came in and he said that Suge was down at Mel's diner, which was just right down the hill," Ventura had testified. "And they quickly packed up and drove down there." Ventura said she got upset. "I was crying. I was screaming, like, please don't do anything stupid. I just was really nervous for them," Ventura testified. "I didn't know what it meant, what they were going to do." Ventura testified that Combs and the other men put on black clothes, covered up their heads, went into a safe, and grabbed guns. "And next thing I knew, they were in the SUV," she said. They returned to the house in about half an hour, Ventura testified. Prosecutors say that for two decades, Combs led a "criminal enterprise" that involved the sex trafficking of Ventura and another woman. Combs is accused of coercing those women, plus two additional women, into sex through a pattern of threats, manipulation, and violence. Combs and his associates also committed other crimes, including forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, drug offenses, and obstruction of justice, prosecutors allege. If convicted on the sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges against him, Combs could spend the rest of his life behind bars. Read the original article on Business Insider
