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THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL Picks and Plays! Patriots vs Rams | Thursday, December 10
8:20 PM ET
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS vs LOS ANGELES RAMS (-4.5) ; O/U 43.5
Model Z Projection: 27–22 LAR
Straight Up Pick: New England Patriots
Spread Pick: NE +4.5⭐
O/U Pick: Over 43.5⭐
Zack’s Plays:
- NE +4.5 (-110)
- A Cam Parlay! Cam Newton to score / Cam Akers to score SGP (+361)
Top DFS Matchups: The Cams! Cam Newton ($5,900), Cam Akers ($5,100)
Notable Injuries: NE WR1 Julian Edelman
Notes: Wow, who saw that New England blowout coming last week over the Chargers? It’s not crazy looking back at it that they won, but 35–0 is just disrespectful towards the rookie. They’ll stay in LA for this one as they try and keep their slim playoff hopes alive (+620 to make the playoffs, ouch). The Pats have a tough road ahead with the Rams, Dolphins (on the road) and the Bills over the next three games. Let’s start with the Rams game though shall we? The Rams are 8th overall on the Model Z and the Patriots are at 21st. I do think the Patriots matchup well against the Rams though as the Patriots defensive weakness is against the run. The Rams are scariest when they are throwing it down the field to Kupp and Woods and the Patriots secondary is arguably the best in the league (including JC Jackson, maybe the most underrated players in the league). On the defensive side, let’s look quickly at how the Rams did against some notable running QBs:
Week 1: D. Prescott — 30 yards rushing (WIN)
Week 3: J. Allen — 8 yards rushing (LOSS)
Week 4: D. Jones- 45 yards rushing (WIN)
Week 10: R. Wilson — 60 yards rushing (WIN)
Week 13: K. Murray — 15 yards rushing (WIN)
That’s not bad, a few high numbers there but 4–1 against running QBs is pretty dang good. Cam is a different animal when it comes to running QBs though as he has 11 rushing TDs through 11 games which is T-3 in the league (including RBs). I think I’m going to take the Patriots to to cover here. Like I said, they matchup well on defense, and the Rams linebackers are just okay and you need those against running QBs. Going against the Model on this pick though so confidence is super low.
For matchups, I only like one:
1. The Patriots vRB is not good. 28th on the Model Z, 18th in rushing yards allowed and 16th in rushing tds allowed. The problem is the snap count share. It’s been Henderson and Brown sharing the lead in snap counts, but Akers is starting to break away from the pack with 63% last week compared to 22% and 16% by the other 2. He also had 9 Red Zone looks, 9! That’s nuts. Look for him to score.
Note: The Rams and Pats are 1 and 2 against the WR in the Model Z so stay away for me there. | https://medium.com/@zack-nicol11/thursday-night-football-picks-and-plays-patriots-vs-rams-e6c8df4e0fa9 | ['Zack Nicol'] | 2020-12-10 18:34:51.028000+00:00 | ['Fun', 'Football', 'Daily Fantasy Spo', 'NFL', 'Gambling'] |
What you would do if your teenage son/daughter told you they was having a baby ? | The Good Men Project Julia Cheiffetz Shannon Ashley Kayt Molina Joel Leon.
In simple terms its always great to start with this logic. Emotional support first. Then find out what they want to do — keep, adopt, abort. Then do your best not to judge — and help them achieve what they want. THEN — have a serious talk about birth control. Depends on the circumstances. Most likely I would not offer any financial support or advice at all in order to let him/her suffer from and learn from the consequences of their actions. Mistake or not. The only reason I would offer to help is if I knew it was a mistake and the pregnancy is within their relationship with their SO whom I like.
I would initially help them to remember what I had disclosed to them on various occasions previously, that multiplication is a choice and that they had been altogether instructed on how it occurs and they know that by deciding to reproduce, they have a set arrangement of results. They had consistently had the option to talk transparently and openly about anything identified with sex and they had been furnished with insurance.
You could also consider if they would discover why they didnt utilize a condom. I would state that the cash he has set aside to cover his half of the fetus removal is presently due. I would plunk down with the young lady, her folks, my child, and my companion and disclose to them that as my child must choose between limited options other than the decision he previously made to reproduce, the solitary help the young lady and infant will get is the cash to cover a large portion of the fetus removal. In the event that the young lady’s family chooses to permit her to carry the infant to term, a similar measure of cash might be utilized for pre-birth care and reception charges. I would not offer any further monetary help to my child, the young lady, the infant, or her folks. My child would not be allowed to offer any further help except if he had a work and gave his income to the young lady. He would in any case be liable for any past monetary obligations.If my child assaulted a youngster under the period of assent, he would be paying the full expense of the fetus removal, other clinical expenses, and legitimate charges. He would not be paying whatever else and he would confront the lawful outcomes realizing that his future is currently ruined.If my child were assaulted by a lady over the time of assent, he would not compensation anything and charges would be squeezed against the lady. He would definitely realize that he isn’t allowed to have anything to do with the attacker’s posterity until he is old enough. He won’t be permitted to be in contact with the attacker until he is old enough. On the off chance that she decided to carry the infant to term, my child would be permitted any contact he picks with his posterity once he is of age.If it were my girl, I would discover why her contraception had fizzled and why the kid didn’t utilize a condom. I would state that the cash she has set aside to cover her half of the premature birth is presently due. I would plunk down with the kid, his folks, my girl, and my companion and reveal to them that as my girl must choose between limited options other than the decision she previously made to multiply, the lone help she will require from the kid is his half of the expense of the premature birth which is currently due. I would help and support her sincerely through the premature birth. It would be done as quickly as possible, paying little heed to if the kid had paid his offer. I would take care of the expense and hold the cash when he paid it.If my girl had been assaulted, she would definitely realize that she would not be allowed to keep the child regardless of whether she needed to as long as she was underage. I would give her all the affection and backing I could and pay for the premature birth, other clinical expenses, and legitimate expenses.
Possibly a lot for certain individuals, yet it would not be a stun or contention. My youngsters would have been shown right off the bat about science, given insurance, would understand what the results of their activities were, and it would just be the following stages we had just examined. I discover this way to deal with be logical and capable. | https://medium.com/@benokori/what-you-would-do-if-your-teenage-son-daughter-told-you-they-was-having-a-baby-d09cd2310e47 | ['Ben Okori'] | 2020-12-27 18:58:47.939000+00:00 | ['Life', 'Baby', 'Life Lessons', 'Pregnancy', 'Education'] |
How Can You Become a Successful Jewellery Designer? | Do you love jewellery? Do you want to make your career in something that is unique and involves jewellery? Then a jewellery designing course is the best option for you. Jewellery designing course is one of the most lucrative career options for the youngsters. It is a creative field that provides a lot of exposure and is a very stable job field when it comes to money.
This career choice gives you the freedom to work without stress and use your creativity to the fullest. You can express yourself openly and share your creativity with the world.
Who is a Jewellery Designer?
Jewellery designer is someone who creates and plans jewellery designs like rings, necklaces, pendants, bangles and other such accessories. One of the important tasks of their job is to create prototypes and test them on the models to analyse durability, style and comfort of the product. Jewellery designing is a professional career choice and the process of designing jewellery is very complex and requires technical guidance and knowledge. Before making any piece of jewellery, a jewellery designer must conceptualise his idea and thoughts through a detailed drawing. All the elements that he needs to add in a jewellery must be clear in the drawing. A jewellery designer is trained in such a way that he/she has all the technical knowledge of making a jewellery piece. They have architectural and functional knowledge like the composition of different materials, wearability, fabrication techniques and much more. A j ewellery designer has lots of job options. They can work in jewellery stores that focus more on custom designs, or design studios, or manufacturing facilities. There are many options for a person who wants to do a jewellery designing course. After completion of the course, a person can start his/her own business and work freely.
Image Source- Pinterest
What is the Job of a Jewellery Designer?
The job of a jewellery designer is creativity driven and perfect for the people who are full of new ideas and want to execute them. They also get the opportunity to work with reputable jewellery designers across the globe. The responsibilities can differ depending on where they work and how much custom orders they receive on an average. For example, a customer may ask the designer to design a piece of jewellery that he/she saw on TV or a customer may give something very new and innovative to the designer. Before creating the final product, a designer creates a prototype using wax to show to the customer. If the customer is satisfied with the prototype, then the designer moves forward to make the actual jewellery design.
Image Source- YouTube
The job may vary depending on where the jewellery designer works, however, some of the responsibilities are mandatory. Let’s have a look at them one by one:
Creating designs on paper or with the help of computer software.
Selection and assessment of gemstones like diamond, rubies and emeralds.
Evaluation of wax models and determining how to improve the design.
Casting new pieces in metal with the help of wax models as a guide.
Creating custom designs for the customers.
Polishing and smoothing the metal of the jewellery. This helps to ensure that the jewellery piece is comfortable while wearing.
Using chemical cleaners to clean the jewellery before distribution.
Ensuring the attachment of the gemstones is secure by reshaping the metal.
If a jewellery designer is working in a small company or store, then he/she is responsible for everything from drafting the design of the jewellery to creating the final product. In bigger companies, the jewellery designer can take the managerial role and oversee the jewellery production and quality and ensure that the work is done in a good way.
Image Source- FashionNetwork.com
What Educational Qualifications are Required to Become a Jewellery Designer?
1.Associate or a Bachelor’s Degree
All those who aspire to become a jewellery designer must earn an associate or a bachelor’s degree in subjects like jewellery design, gemology, accessories designing and other such relevant fields. Having a formal degree can help you kickstart your jewellery designer career easily. You get the following benefits after having a degree:
You get to connect with the professionals of the industry.
You learn to create jewellery designs using software or necessary equipment.
You can apply for a good position in a company.
You can gain leadership skills to start at a managerial role in a jewellery designing company.
Learn necessary skills to start your own business.
2.Gain Jewellery Designing Skills
It is very necessary to have the required jewellery designing skills to start your career with. One can also be a part of online workshops to enhance existing knowledge and learn new skills. An aspiring jewellery designer can also consider taking courses that focus on the following:
Caring of metals
Moulding and reshaping the metal
Cutting and setting gems
Assessing the value of the gemstones and jewellery
Wax Carvings
Making Moulds
Using 3D printers and other such high-tech equipment
Business management
Product Marketing
Becoming a jewellery designer is easy. One needs to be fully dedicated and open to learning new skills and be updated with the latest market trends. The future of jewellery designing in India is very wide and plenty of job opportunities are available in this career field.
With Hunar Online you get several benefits and can start learning from the comfort of your home at any time. Hunar Online provides certificates after completing your course that are sure to help you start your own business. You can also watch trial classes to get a glimpse of our courses. For all courses, Hunar Online provides sessions with experts who are available 24/7 to clarify your doubts and help you every step of the way. Download our app and start learning.
So, what are you waiting for? Sign up for a creative course with Hunar Online today. | https://medium.com/@fashiondesigning/how-can-you-become-a-successful-jewellery-designer-2eece8903ae | ['Hunar Online'] | 2021-12-15 08:55:54.605000+00:00 | ['Jewelry', 'Hunar', 'Jewellery', 'Jewellery Designer'] |
[ Watch Online™ ] > Letterkenny > ‘Season 9] [Episode 1” Full Episodes | 〘 Official | Drama | Online | Schedule | Trailer |Funk 〙
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Letterkenny : Season 9 , Episode 1 || FULL EPISODES | On Series Letterkenny Season 9 Ep 1 Episodes : features the hero in action scenes that display and explore exotic locations. The subgenres of adventure films include swashbuckler film, disaster films, and historical Comedys-which is similar to the epic film genre. Main plot components include quests for lost continents, a jungle or desert settings, characters going on a treasure hunts and heroic journeys in to the unknown. Adventure films are mostly occur a period background and may include adapted stories of historical or fictional adventure heroes within the historical context. Kings, battles, rebellion or piracy are generally observed in adventure films. Adventure films may also be combined with other movie genres such as for example, science fiction, fantasy and sometimes war films. Letterkenny Season 9 French : The coverage of sports as a television program, on radio and other broadcasting media. It usually involves a number of sports commentators describing the events because they happen, to create “colour commentary.”
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Post fight with Dierks, the hicks/skids and hockey players attend an American Buck and Doe.
Released: 2016–02–07
Runtime: 00:30:14 minutes
Genre: Comedy
Stars: Jared Keeso, Nathan Dales, Michelle Mylett, Etc
Network: Crave
❏ STREAMING MEDIA ❏
Streaming media is multimedia that is constantly received by and presented to an end-user while being delivered by a provider. The verb to stream identifies the process of delivering or obtaining media in this manner.[clarification needed] Streaming refers to the delivery method of the medium, instead of the medium itself. Distinguishing delivery method from the media distributed applies particularly to telecommunications networks, as almost all of the delivery systems are either inherently streaming (e.g. radio, television, streaming apps) or inherently non-streaming (e.g. books, video cassettes, music CDs). There are challenges with streaming content on the Internet. For instance, users whose Internet connection lacks satisfactory bandwidth may experience stops, lags, or slow buffering of the content. And users lacking compatible hardware or software systems may be unable to stream certain content.
Live streaming is the delivery of Internet content in real-time much as live television broadcasts content over the airwaves with a television signal. Live internet streaming takes a form of source media (e.g. a video camera, an audio tracks interface, screen capture software), an encoder to digitize the content, a media publisher, and a content delivery network to distribute and deliver the content. Live streaming does not need to be recorded at the origination point, although it frequently is.
Streaming is an option to file downloading, a process where the end-user obtains the entire file for this content before watching or listening to it. Through streaming, an end-user can use their media player to get started on playing digital video or digital sound content before the complete file has been transmitted. The word “streaming media” can connect with media other than video and audio, such as live closed captioning, ticker tape, and real-time text, which are considered “streaming text”.
❏ COPYRIGHT CONTENT ❏
Copyright is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the exclusive right to make copies of a creative work, usually for a limited time.[1][2][3][4][5] The creative work may be in a literary, artistic, educational, or musical form. Copyright is intended to protect the original expression of an idea in the form of a creative work, but not the idea itself.[6][7][8] A copyright is subject to limitations based on public interest considerations, such as the fair use doctrine in the United States.
Some jurisdictions require “fixing” copyrighted works in a tangible form. It is often shared among multiple authors, each of whom holds a set of rights to use or license the work, and who are commonly referred to as rights holders.[citation needed][9][10][11][12] These rights frequently include reproduction, control over derivative works, distribution, public performance, and moral rights such as attribution.[13]
Copyrights can be granted by public law and are in that case considered “territorial rights”. This means that copyrights granted by the law of a certain state, do not extend beyond the territory of that specific jurisdiction. Copyrights of this type vary by country; many countries, and sometimes a large group of countries, have made agreements with other countries on procedures applicable when works “cross” national borders or national rights are inconsistent.[14]
Typically, the public law duration of a copyright expires 50 to 100 years after the creator dies, depending on the jurisdiction. Some countries require certain copyright formalities[5] to establishing copyright, others recognize copyright in any completed work, without a formal registration.
It is widely believed that copyrights are a must to foster cultural diversity and creativity. However, Parc argues that contrary to prevailing beliefs, imitation and copying do not restrict cultural creativity or diversity but in fact support them further. This argument has been supported by many examples such as Millet and Van Gogh, Picasso, Manet, and Monet, etc.[15]
❏ GOODS OF SERVICES ❏
Credit (from Latin credit, “(he/she/it) believes”) is the trust which allows one party to provide money or resources to another party wherein the second party does not reimburse the first party immediately (thereby generating a debt), but promises either to repay or return those resources (or other materials of equal value) at a later date.[1] In other words, credit is a method of making reciprocity formal, legally enforceable, and extensible to a large group of unrelated people.
The resources provided may be financial (e.g. granting a loan), or they may consist of goods or services (e.g. consumer credit). Credit encompasses any form of deferred payment.[2] Credit is extended by a creditor, also known as a lender, to a debtor, also known as a borrower.
FIND US:
✓ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/
✓ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/
✓ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ | https://medium.com/letterkenny-2020-s9-e1-episode-1-american-buck-and/watch-letterkenny-series-9-episode-1-full-online-e6dae336a732 | ['Sora Minato'] | 2020-12-25 18:27:18.563000+00:00 | ['Startup', 'Illumination', 'Covid 19', 'Life'] |
Bitcoin Tops $27K for First Time, Has Risen $2K in a Little Over 24 Hours | Bitcoin Tops $27K for First Time, Has Risen $2K in a Little Over 24 Hours
The cost of bitcoin (BTC) passed $27,000 as the leading cryptocurrency’s current speedy increase proceeds. https://www.bitcoinprofit.app/news/bitcoin-tops-27k-for-first-time-has-risen-2k-in-a-little-over-24-hours/?feed_id=416&_unique_id=5fe833dc1984e | https://medium.com/@newscryptocurrency/bitcoin-tops-27k-for-first-time-has-risen-2k-in-a-little-over-24-hours-ae500baad395 | ['Herald Jonesa'] | 2020-12-27 07:12:29.389000+00:00 | ['Risen', 'Time', 'Hours', '27k', 'Bitcoin'] |
Daily Blog. 24 Apr, 2021 | Waking up to a sunny (and hot) morning, I started my day with some ongoing onboarding activities that had been going on since the last few weeks. After around an hour, mum came upstairs for some work and scolded me for sitting in front of the laptop even on a weekend and asked me to get up in order to avoid any back injury owing to prolonged sitting postures — I seriously need to do something to enable a makeshift standing desk (no such desk is deliverable in my location at the moment). After helping her with some clothe stuffing into a cabinet, I went out with my little brother for some essential’s shopping-damn it was hot today.
Upon returning, the lil one cooked up a fiery and insanely tasty Chicken Masala dish-he is seriously a great cook when it comes to all this stuff. After lunch, tried to take a nap but owing to lack of space downstairs (all the other rooms were being renovated at the moment), I got up to make space for mum and went upstairs, scrolled through some Instagram feed and finally sat down to watch Shadow and Bone in Netflix. So far, I’m liking the overall story build-up.
At around 5:30 PM, I started stretching followed by a couple of push-ups, stomach crunches and planks. After that, received a call from one of my cousins who needed help with his resume building-spent around 3 to 3.5 hours working on his resume post which I had my dinner.
After coming to my room, searched a while for a big-ass monitors to aid my work, still undecided whether to buy it now or wait considering the price and duration of myself staying at one place. Will hit up a reseller market place to check if any good monitors are available at a reasonable price.
Once the monitor search was over, I started my journal you’re reading now.
Wrapping up the journal for the day, thank you for your time.
[Note: Late blog upload owing to network issue]
See you tomorrow!!!
For all my daily blogs and articles on technology, health, productivity and more, visit www.klikomo.com | https://medium.com/@klikomo/daily-blog-24-apr-2021-9a7da5469f4a | [] | 2021-04-25 16:53:24.757000+00:00 | ['Personal Development', 'Netflix', 'Writing', 'Daily Blog', 'Blog'] |
STUDYSEC+ {Part2} | INTRODUCTION TO NETWORK DEVICES [PART 2]
Introducing the layered Security Concept.
Network devices.
Introducing the Layered Security Concept
Modern networks are composed with multiple layers of devices and applications, which lead to security issues:
Each layer or device can contain its own security methods. This means that if a breach occurs in one area of the network, the rest of the network will remain secure. It is the best practice to use a layered approach when implementing network security.
Many security devices are trigered by a specific action occurring (network packet crosses an interface):
Some devices are capable of application awareness and this feature allows security devices to make better decisions based on which applications are allowed to operate on the network and which application is not allowed to cross through it. This layer is allowed to cross through it. Some devices for application-aware include firewalls, proxy servers, and network intrusion detection/prevention systems.
Network Devices
Virtual Private Network (VPN)
VPN will facilitate multiple secure VPN connections to a network. The type of VPN will determine what tunnelling and encryption the VPN concentrator will implement. Most concentrator can function at multiple layer of the OSI model (Layer 2,3 and 7). Outside of internet transaction which use SSL VPN connection (Layer 7) and concentrator will function on layer 3 of OSI model that provide IPsec encryption though a secure tunnel.
Network Intrusion Detection System (NIDS)
Is a passive system designed to identify when a network breach or attack against the network occur:
usually designed to inform a network administrator when a breach occurs. The file will send through log files, SMS, and/or email notification.
NIDS cannot be prevent or stop a breach or attack against on its own. It receive copy of all traffic and evaluates it against a set of standards:
Signature Based:
Evaluated network traffic for known malware or attack signatures.
Anomaly Based:
Evaluate network traffic for suspicious changes.
Policy-Based:
Evaluate network traffic against a specific declared security policy
heuristic Based:
Evaluate network traffic against past network behavior (look for expected pattern changes)
May be deployed at the host level:
Host-based Intrusion Detection System (HIDS)
Network-based Intrusion Prevention System (NIPS)
NIPS is an active system designed stop a breach or attack from succeeding in damaging the network:
Perform an action or set of actions to stop the malicious activity. Will inform the network administrator through the use of log files, SMS, and email notification.
All traffic will go though the NIPS to either enter or leave the segment:
All traffic is evaluated against a set of standards.
Placement of NIPS is on between a router (with a firewall) and the destination network segment. NIPS will be active on response of situation:
Block the offending IP address. Close the vulnerable interface. Terminate the network session. Redirect the attack. Perform additional actions.
UNIFIED Threat Management (UTM) Security Appliance
All possible all in one security solution:
Contains firewall features. Contains IDS features. Contains antivirus and antimalware features. Contains anti-spam features. Can perform content and URL (Web) filtering. Can also perform additional functions.
In a form of a network appliance.
Specially designed piece of hardware with an integrated software package-creating a closed system.
Pros:
Provide multiple security features in a central location. Simplifies management of security. Eases updating security.
Cons: | https://medium.com/@tekashi99/studysec-part2-178464454607 | [] | 2020-12-21 10:02:13.700000+00:00 | ['Computer Science', 'Networking', 'Study', 'Security', 'Internet'] |
Turning | There is the red
somehow escaping the monochromatic
world out the living room window
Snow shrouded houses
mixing up
figure & ground with a grey sky
swallowing up arguments towards
another dimension
Here we seek the refuge
away from the pills
to a determination that doesn’t
come from a bottle
Here we are turning
or trying to turn
into something different | https://medium.com/soul-sea/turning-79ff4e01b320 | ['J.D. Harms'] | 2019-12-05 02:31:05.220000+00:00 | ['Writing', 'Perspective', 'Poetry', 'Life'] |
10 Things you can do to prepare for | Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a beautiful phase in a woman’s life, and I was blessed to experience this recently, the whole course of natural transformation helps you understand the basic tenets of being a mother. It’s like a training session where you are given a chance to know what’s needed to become a mother. For some the transition is smooth, specially if this is your second or third pregnancy , but as a first time mother there are many aspects to it , which requires preparation. I based this article according to my experience ( and hopefully some other new mums may relate with it too), and tried to highlight few things which can make the journey to pregnancy and motherhood more easier
1.Be in best of your health:
Considering many of us working women have to juggle through family and work responsibilities, we often ignore our health in the mean time. It can be said without much doubt ,that planning a pregnancy while you are working, can’t be done in your twenties( since we finish studies by mid twenties and marry by late twenties, at the earliest). So we must monitor our reproductive cycle to assess if the hormonal rhythms are balanced. To do so , having a healthy diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids, fibre, minerals and vitamins, adequate hydration etc, is required . Including at least 3 days of exercise regime in your week, will give you added benefit. Pregnancy comes with a tremendous change in body weight, my weighing scale took a steep jump of 20 kgs over a period of initial six months, only to realise later, that it needs a check. Having a healthy weight as per BMI, can help in the regulated weight gain during pregnancy, along with saving your joints from the extra burden.
2.Prepare your partner:
This one is quite dependent upon how much keen and willing your other half is, but making your partner aware of the responsibilities and joy a baby comes with, is worth sharing. Look for cues and activities your partner performs after the suggestion. Is he equally involved or want to secure his own space and time, it’s advisable to take this decision jointly, if he refrains from accepting the idea, other ways of discussion should be used. We as mothers, are much more conscious and realistic about the baby, but for your partner, the presence of child starts only after birth, so they take time to adapt and adjust around this change. Talking, reminding in a prosperous way may help him to prepare himself.
3.Manage your finances way ahead of the arrival:
Before planning pregnancy, make sure you have chalked out the details of the financial aspects of raising your child. Including the expected expenditures in maintenance of a healthy lifestyle for child and the education should be understood and managed. Also, pregnancy entails certain healthcare expense , which should be framed ahead,you may consider taking up a health insurance 1 or 2 year before pregnancy, it can cut short the sudden hospital fees and charges. Invest in safe monetary habits, savings and insurances today provide us with a number of options for the same.
4.Be at a reliable point in your profession:
I personally think , establishing your professional life before pregnancy can give you scope to fall back when required. But , this is a subjective idea and one can carry family planning as and when they wish. Having a certain period of experience and exposure in the work , can let you resume your profession without much hustle, on the other hand halting your office for too long , may slow down the pace of your skill development, but again it’s my perspective.The fact that, one cannot have it all – is true, also there is no age limit to start afresh. Giving yourself the right amount of time is important and justified.
5. Manage your maternity leave:
According to government regulations, most private firms allow a maternity leave of 6 months approximately. It’s matter of wise judgement how you use it, I have seen many women using it pre pregnancy only to realise how crucial it was post pregnancy. Studies have shown that , establishment of mother child bond happens along first 2 months, where the baby identifies the mother or caregiver. It’s best to use two months of maternity. leave at the 8 th and 9 th month of pregnancy and rest 4 months post pregnancy, with the option of work from home , one can easily join the workforce without facing the separation anxiety, so inform and discuss with your HR regarding these provisions well in advance.
6. Never miss any appointment or investigation:
Whenever I look at pregnancy from the angle of a medical professional, I awe at this miracle of nature. Each and every minute transformation is so well encrypted and designed , how different organs play separate role, how the body accommodate gradually to create a new life inside, different hormone secretion make stage wise changes in mother’s body to support the baby . It’s not a human’ s job to create such splendid phenomenon all by it’s own, but only to be sure and certain that things are going smooth, regular consultation from your gynaecologist is a must. It becomes very easy to figure out the what and why’s, what should be done next, and how to tackle small challenges coming in way. This small effort can go a long way in determining the health and growth of your baby, so never miss any consultation or investigation recommended.
7. Seek help:
As one goes ahead in the journey of pregnancy, routine work and chores may become difficult to carry out, the increased weight of uterus and growing baby may pose discomfort, and the hormones can give you an extra of that, so don’t hesitate to look for help inside and out of family. Hiring a cook ( to eat homemade meals), a housemaid ( for regular chores), calling up your relative, friend or in laws for the added support and well-being make things easy. There is no shame in asking for the support. People generally cherish the thought of being involved in creating a birth experience. Interacting with the ladies who have experienced this phase, not just relieves you but also makes the birthing process cheerful. It’s always good to talk about how you feel , and be sure those who have gone through, would be all ears.
8. Learn emotional skills:
Being a mother is a full time job, we all learn and experience a number of things. The whole process is so designed that a mother acquires every required dexterity without any aid. Still I would prefer to point out few emotional strengths which are required. First to learn is the ,art of patience, to be patient with your baby, the people around, your spouse,- all these individuals require their own time to readjust. Practising the priority of mental peace is important, when you are having less sleep, immense bodily changes, weakness and fatigue, mental strength and health becomes the prime need for new mothers. Spend some “me time” always, learn to not expect a lot, as everyone around you has limitations and so do you, accepting all of these factors will extinguish your anger, at times. Stop worrying!.. about other parts of your life,-your work, spouse, clothes, looks, -all these need to take care of themselves by their own, you need rest above everything and it’s well deserved.
9. Practice sleeping and self relaxation:
Initial few months of motherhood can rip you off your sleep. If only you can learn the way to self relieve and self calm, it can do you a lot good . Mothers don’t get to fulfill their 8 hours of sleep and may need to take cat naps with their child. The experiences may vary person to person , but mostly it’s the same with all new mothers. The sooner you learn how to self soothe and take a power nap, more relaxed you will be without much of assistance from others. Avoiding long use of electronic gadgets, other visual stimulation, cutting on caffeine, slow nature walks and keeping your stress at bay will help you sleep at your own choice and keep your energy in reserve mode ,which is needed for the care of your child.
10. Stay happy :
Well , don’t judge me for putting it at last, as I wanted this to stay in your mind as fresh as it could be. Someone has rightly addressed happiness as a choice. Please choose happiness above everything, no matter what challenges come across , even a small reason should be enough to make you happy. A child doesn’t demand a perfect mother, but only happy mother can make everything seem perfect for them. Relish this feeling of procreation, enjoy the food cravings , the sudden baby quickening, your lush hair, your glowing skin, someone’s glancing smile at your belly, the care and love showed by the people around you. May be even ,ask for a cup of tea made by your hubby, the favourite dish you crave cooked by your mother or mother in law,they would love to grant your wish. Most importantly the thought that, my child will outlive me one day is enough reason to make me happy..
share what’s yours?..
and anything you agree or disagree about this list. Wish you a blissful and blessed pregnancy. | https://medium.com/@drrohini28pandey/10-things-you-can-do-to-prepare-for-e6caa035f587 | ['Dr Rohini Pandey'] | 2020-10-23 05:39:53.271000+00:00 | ['Motherhood', 'Pregnancy Care', 'Pregnancy', 'Baby Care', 'Parenthood'] |
It’s Not You, It’s Me | As humans, we have a nasty habit of always thinking about ourselves. Seeing life from only our personal perspective. Making decisions and only taking into account our beliefs and narrative.
Sadly, this leads to a poor outcome. For relationships, businesses, and brands. Outcomes that result in moving backwards — even though our motive and heart may be in the right place. As a business, your service/product wouldn’t be of much value if you only considered yourself.
A healthy business takes into account the perspective of their audience and their desires. This ultimately produces a more beneficial offering for the market and — by being “in-tune” to the market — the business is rewarded with being paid for their offerings.
The consideration on the service/product side is great, but will only get you so far. This is because it is transactional. It’s expected. Of course, they will only pay for something that performs as expected. If it didn’t why would they pay in the first place? What gets them beyond just the offering? Beyond just the transaction? Brand.
The most human thing about a brand is that it forces us to be less human. A proper brand will help you not just think of you, but about others. It makes that solo perspective open up to include others. This goes against our human nature, but also what makes brands so powerful for a business.
A brand will empower the business to think outside of itself and its offering. To go the extra mile and put yourself in your audience’s shoes. This brings massive amounts to the value your business provides and further interactions with your audience as they keep coming back for more (beyond just the offering).
As noted on our topic of brand messaging ( Read full article here), being in-tune with your audience by not just thinking about yourself will make all aspects of your brand and your marketing more effective.
You won’t just be able to relate to your audience, but also be able to get to a point where you can predict what they will want/need in the future. The brand gets to be their companion on this journey as your audience and brand evolve together in kinship and lead you to success. | https://medium.com/@reillynewman/its-not-you-it-s-me-ca2feb83438e | ['Reilly Newman'] | 2021-12-01 20:58:31.434000+00:00 | ['Marketing', 'Business', 'Sales', 'Brand', 'Psychology'] |
2020 In Review: 8 Key Themes & Takeaways | Publishing The Squeeze has been one of my highlights for 2020. The feedback, requests, and learnings have made this a truly awesome experience that I plan to continue with.
For the last article of 2020, it felt only fitting to look back at this one-of-a-kind year taking note of the key stories and themes that shaped 2020 with lasting impact for years to come.
Video Killed The Radio Star
Video calls are arguably one of the biggest stories of 2020. Growth for video conferencing platforms has been exponential as most of the world was (and is still) unable to go visit family, hang out with friends, or commute to the office.
Video calls moved beyond just a way to host business meetings, they became the way to go on a virtual date, to learn to cook, to go to school, to host your office holiday party, or just to simply hang out with friends.
A major part of this shift towards normalization of the video call has been led by Zoom with growth from about 10 million daily active users (DAU)in Q4 2019 to over 300M DAU in Q4 2020. Growth for Microsft Teams has also been significant with over 100 million daily active users.
Houseparty, a video conferencing tool meant for these new non-work use-cases, has been interesting with a growth of 50 million DAU in March 2020 while non-video disruptors such as Slack have not benefited from these thematic tailwinds.
Overall, the number of daily active users for video tools may change as life returns to a near-normal, and work-from-home isn't simply black or white, but video calls are now mainstream. I look towards innovators such as Zoom building new features in 2021 such as email, calendar, etc. to build an ecosystem and maintain it’s userbase.
AI + Social Media = Addiction
TikTok flew onto the global stage with its nearly 800 million monthly active users (MAU), despite government actions against it; India essentially banned it and Donald Trump tried to sell it (it’s still hard to tell what actually happened with the latter).
But outside of the media circus, TikTok itself is both a technological and a product marvel. The app has highly effective Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine learning (ML) algorithms that use viewing preferences from each of its users from short-form videos to drive recommendations and further engagement on the app.
Netflix and Youtube also use recommendation systems, but the TikTok maximum clip length of 15 seconds coupled with 52 minutes in daily usage per user results in over 200 unique data points per user a day. TikTok uses this data on both sides of the marketplace by promoting consumers to watch more content, while also promoting content to creators.
Facebook has noticed and responded both strategically through legal/governmental discussion, with the launch of Reels as a product feature, and backend changes that make it much easier to go down a rabbit hole (as one does on TikTok).
TikTok changed the social media landscape in 2020, and in 2021, we can expect it will be much more addictive than it is today.
The Movie Theatre Came Home
With limitations to the typical social activities and the closures of movie theatres, film and video viewing shifted online throughout 2020. Netflix, Amazon, and Disney+ saw immense increases in viewership throughout COVID-19; so much so, that streaming platforms began to proactively lower video quality in some regions to maximize usage of bandwidth.
Some streaming providers made it easier to watch together when we weren’t actually together, like the ability to watch content with your friends and family using Netflix Party.
With this increase in viewership, streaming providers like Netflix and Disney+ rushed to add more content to their library or opted to early release new seasons of fan-favorite shows, like the Mandolorian. However, once it became clear that COVID-19 wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon, studios and distributors fundamentally changed the distribution model to bring their movie theatre slate online.
Disney+ led this paradigm shift with the live-action release of Mulan for $30 per download. In Q4, Warner Media followed up with the release of their full 2021 slate of movies available digitally on HBO-Max simultaneously with theatres (if theatres are open then).
The shakeup to the film industry is one that is long overdue. Although it’s not clear what film releases will look like in 2021, it’s clear that streaming entertainment will continue to become a bigger part of our lives. Perhaps streaming subscription services start offering physical packages. Imagine a Disney² subscription that comes with a plush toy of the newest movie and a line skip once theme parks reopen. It’s important to note that Disney is the only video provider that owns the entire end-to-end experience including production, the rails, and physical presence.
Can’t Trust Tech
2020 was the year of scrutiny for technology companies. The public peak of this scrutiny was the Tech Antitrust hearings in Q2 2020 where US legislators called out Apple, Amazon, Facebook, and Google for unfair practices.
The first real actions from these hearings came in Q4 2020 with 48 US states filing lawsuits against Facebook for monopolistic practices with an end goal to break them up.
I’m not sure what will materially change from these lawsuits, as I see Facebook using Tik-Tok as an example of how new entrants can successfully compete against them, but I do see company splits as a likely outcome. Rather than actually enact change, I see a potential outcome being Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp spinning off into their own publicly traded entities to remove the perception of a market monopoly.
Likewise, I think Amazon can have plenty to gain here by splitting AWS, retail, and media divisions as their own separate publically traded entities to preempt future lawsuits. A pre-emptive split can allow leadership to focus more on their specific businesses, expose and trim the fat, and potentially allow for increased innovation to grow even faster rather than expend resources fighting inevitable legislation.
I’m unsure whether we will start seeing large tech companies splitting in 2021, but I no longer think it is a question of if, but more a question of when.
E-Commerce Is The Only-Commerce
Retail outlets were closed for large portions of the pandemic and online shopping quickly became the only place you could buy things.
Retailers such as Amazon and platforms such as Shopify saw massive growth in 2020 off the heels of these shifts in consumer behavior.
Initial thoughts were that this increase in demand was temporary, but as retail slowly opened up (albeit partially) with innovations such as curbside pickup — we quickly confirmed that the increase in e-commerce was actually a fundamental shift in the demand curve.
It isn’t just Amazon and Shopify benefiting from this shift. The convenience factor of online shopping pushed valuations of companies such as Instacart to nearly double in 2020, which led to merger activity (M&A) between Uber/Postmates, Grubhub/JustEat, and DoorDash/Caviar. To cap it all off, DoorDash also had a ludicrous IPO this year.
Habits are sticky, and the importance of e-commerce isn’t a temporary spike in demand, but a pull-forward of the curve itself. In 2021, if brands aren’t thinking of an e-commerce first strategy, they risk missing out on this large and scaling audience of consumers.
Wellness Went Digital
Working out at a gym in 2020 was not a simple experience with the various limits and closures in effect.
Naturally, people went online and sales for traditional gym equipment increased; there were even shortages and waitlists.
A big breakout star for this shift to home fitness was Peloton, known for subscription-based exercise bikes, which managed to recreate the sense of community (even before COVID-19) that the typical digital fitness offering failed to address.
Despite the relatively simple technology of a screen and a spin bike, this community-driven fitness experience has driven the brand to new heights.
While Peloton was the clear winner, Apple is also set to release its own subscription fitness offering, there are the startups Tonal and Tempo, traditional boutique gyms have started white-labeling their own digital platforms, and Amazon has entered the conversation.
As with all these growth industries, there has been M&A activity with Lululemon acquiring Mirror for $500 Million early in the year and more recently Peleton acquiring Precor.
Wellness isn’t just hitting the gym. In 2020, we have seen telehealth become more the norm; doctor visits have gone online and even therapy can be completed from the comfort of your couch.
Digital wellness has quickly built up an ecosystem, and if Amazon & Shopify are sample use cases, ecosystems are here to stay. It may not happen in 2021, but in the next coming years, we could likely see many of these new platforms and devices, such as Peloton, Mirror, Whoop, and BetterHelp, come together to provide their audience with a total wellness experience.
Space Became Cool Again
In 2020, NASA and Elon Musk’s SpaceX launched a two-person manned rocket into orbit and then followed up with a four-person crewed spacecraft “Resilience” to the International Space Station (ISS).
There are over 5 million subscribers to the SpaceX Youtube challenge, with over 10 million viewers for the 2-person launch, and routine socially-distant crowds of almost 500,000 in-person spectators (it’s important to note that 600 million viewed the Apollo 11 mission).
The NASA logo also became a rare fashion emblem you can find everywhere.
While being cool pulls space exploration into the mainstream, and potentially inspires the next generation of scientists, engineers, and financial backers — this “cool” factor is a result of significant accomplishments. Private reusable rockets from Space-X have launched over 100 times, Blue Origin is testing propulsion systems, Space-X has another Starship ready to go, China has successfully mined the moon, Richard Branson is getting ready for the stratosphere, and Tom Cruise will be in Space in 2021.
Space has become cool again because IT IS COOL, and 2020 has been a year full of significant technological success.
I am excited to see what happens in 2021 as the new space race continues to heat up and technological accomplishments get pulled into more day-to-day use cases.
Things Got Heated: A Climate Plan
It’s hard to argue against the fact that humans are destroying the planet. The good news, however, is that emissions were down sharply in the first few months of COVID-19, and remain down for the year overall (however there is a noticeable recovery).
On the other hand, 2020 was also a year where large portions of the world burned uncontrolled and the world ocean temperatures continue to heat up. In this dumpster fire of a year, it’s easy to forget that this year started with the unprecedented wildfires in Australia.
For the first time, it seems like folks are not just proposing small changes to improve the environment, they are proposing bold, big ideas that are challenging the previous conventions and conversations. Take for example the Green New Deal, which sounded outlandish to many in the political world, however, it pushed politicians to think differently. And of course, there is Greta Thunberg, who made the world open up its eyes to the next generation that is fighting to make this world liveable in the future. Other notable callouts include Tesla, who opened eyes to the potential for renewable technology, the economics of renewables are starting to make sense for businesses, and fossil fuel extraction methods such as fracking are seeing poor market economics and likely regulatory headwinds.
I’m an engineer, and I see 2020 as a year of static friction — not a lot of movement. We continued to see a lot of opposition to get the idea of a climate plan moving at all. In 2021, I’m hopeful for kinetic friction — meaning that there will still be opposition to the movement, but there is movement still happening.
As an investor, I am excited to see how new government grants, loans, and plans can supercharge the clean energy sector in 2021 along with large infrastructure and reskilling programs as part of COVID-19 economic recovery.
Putting It All Together
In summary, the eight key themes of 2020 involve digital-first and ecosystem approaches. Digital tools and platforms showed resiliency to the hardships of COVID-19 and ecosystem approaches to problem-solving (focusing on the entire experience) stimulated growth.
This occurred both at a company and at a national level in which COVID-19 was an accelerant to the pre-existing technological/digital divide that has always existed.
Interest rates are expected to remain around 0% for the next few years, vaccine delivery is in effect, and computational power is at an all-time high. I expect that the eight key themes for 2020 are here to say, and the three catalysts of low-interest rates, a vaccine, and cheap computational power will turn 2021 into a smaller-scale version of the roaring '20s — one in which we work to minimize the technological divide between nations. | https://medium.com/margin-squeeze/2020-in-review-8-key-themes-takeaways-6df5da16de38 | ['Devjit Kanjilal'] | 2020-12-28 01:52:36.469000+00:00 | ['Year In Review', '2020', 'Technology', 'Tech', 'Business'] |
How to determine a failure project right from the beginning | How to determine a failure project right from the beginning
And the clients who are not your “match”.
Alvar Aalto’s workstation in his home in Helsinki
Recently, I revised my 2 years of freelance experience and realized I am really lucky with the clients and the projects we worked on together. Except for one recent case.
This undisclosed yet project has started more than a month ago. The work process, in the beginning, seemed to be easy and pleasant but turned out to multiple “we don’t like” feedbacks, doubts from my side, finally a mutual understanding, and sudden “we will not continue our work with you” following with “we won’t pay you for the work we won’t use”.
While it’s not clear how this situation will end, after all, I asked myself a question—how could I avoid this situation.
1. Trust your gut feeling in the beginning
Yes, this method does not have statistics and numbers we’re all looking for these days. It’s purely about your feelings and intuition. But still, that’s a very good thing.
If you doubt whether you should dive into this project adventure, stop for a moment and take a look. Whether it’s the manner the client talks to you, not the best working conditions you have to accept, or any other doubt, don’t simply overcome it.
In my case, I have some doubts but as the task was to work on illustrations, something that I like while still, my main kind of work is UX/UI, I started these turned-out-to-be hard relationships.
2. Treat yourself with respect and don’t let the client lowering your assessment
We all go through communication and search for the ideal agreement that will work for both parties. And that’s right. But at this moment you should not forget what you’ve reached in terms of experience, your unique vision, style, and professionalism.
In my case, I accepted the client’s vision on payment. As the result, I got a small prepayment in the beginning and when they decided to stop the project none of the done work has been paid yet (while prepayment covers only a small amount of hours).
To note: I do not start the work on the project if I don’t get the prepayment. In case when the client doesn’t accept the prepayment as the first step from their side, I won’t agree to work on the project as otherwise, I’ll be in a risk position.
3. Present a detailed explanation of terms on the work process and payment to the client before the work begins
That’s very important to agree on the terms on how you’ll work together and what are the obligations of both sides in the case when the project stops early.
In most of my projects, I didn’t have the problems but when it’s a tough client I realized I had to make this work in the beginning.
Some of the crucial points:
do mention “if work has been approved by a client it has to be paid by a client”,
what are the regulations in case of force majeure, what each party has to bring in the end,
the number of possible iterations,
the limitation on the small tweaks here and there,
the time interval for a client to leave feedback (to avoid stagnation).
In my case, the first crucial mistake was that I didn’t mention “if the work has been approved it has to be paid”. As a result, I created two full illustrations for the iOS app (apart from other work), they have been approved by the client but then, he said “we won’t use them” and decided to quit not paying.
I also didn’t think to mention the details of force majeure and the number of iterations thinking I understood what the client actually wants to have and I’ll reach the goal from the first attempt.
4. How do you feel about the tone of the feedback?
Another “feeling”. I remember I read a story on a website of one design agency saying the people there know how to deal with the toughest clients. And that’s a great achievement especially when it’s an agency.
When you’re a freelancer, I would say if you realize the feedbacks constantly sound in an inappropriate tone, the client does not like any of your suggestions, does not accept any of your ideas for a long time, there’s a high chance it’s better to avoid the following work.
Yes, we can’t skip any other problem and switch to another project saying “Adios” to the first client. We may have some temporary misunderstandings with the clients, sometimes during the first phase. Or we have a different vision and then, we need more discussions. But what I want to say is if this lasts way too long, you do not get any satisfaction from your work or you even start doubting in your professionalism, think whether you should continue with these relationships.
It might be better to head your time and talents in another direction.
5. The client being rude to you once will repeat the same attitude
Straightforwardness and rudeness may be mixed up. We all know that depending on the cultural background people behave in a different way—some hides their “I don’t like” in a series of polite words, others bring this message short and right as it is.
But once again, if that behavior repeats and in a tiny aspect of the feedback you see some disrespect, you should understand this client can stop the work abruptly with an impudent attitude not respecting the work you’ve done.
Conclusion
I believe the ideal type of work is a collaboration where the client knows his product the best possible way and you, as a designer and a professional, know the best ways how to present this project through design.
There’s no right answer on how to get the perfect projects and the perfect clients, it depends on every situation that consists of many factors—who are your future clients, where they are from, the first communication, the way you agree on the terms, and so on. What you can do is analyze all these factors right in the beginning and think through pros and cons, think several steps ahead.
More to read on this topic:
Dealing with clients who refuse to pay This article explores different scenarios on how to build relationships with the client.
5 ways to get paid faster Simple yet crucial points to remember to follow in your collaboration.
Articulating Design Decisions In this video the author of the book with the same name, Tom Greever talks about how crucial it is for a designer to be able to effectively articulate their decisions to anyone in the room. | https://uxdesign.cc/how-to-determine-a-failure-project-right-from-the-beginning-95810ff7574c | ['Ludmila Shevchenko'] | 2020-07-07 22:52:10.232000+00:00 | ['Feedback', 'Design', 'Freelancers', 'UI', 'Collaboration'] |
Class of 92 Foundation deliver essential packages to Salford residents | An independent charity formed by the Class of 92 have been delivering thousands of essential packages to the Salford community in the run-up to Christmas.
Credit: Foundation 92
In response to Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford campaigning for free school meals over the holidays, Foundation 92 have been working hard to provide free meals for children in Salford.
Since July, the foundation have successfully delivered more than, 1,250 parcels, each consisting of essential items including fruit, vegetables, pasta, tinned foods, chocolate, toilet rolls, additional savoury products and more.
Foundation 92 coordinator Charlie Gregory (left)
Salford has the highest child poverty rate in Greater Manchester and is ranked within the worst 20% of local authorities on a national level. Over a decade ago, an estimated 7,500 families were living in poverty, including 14,750 Salford children.
Using football as a tool to impact the lives of those in the community, Foundation 92 have teamed up with Onward Home and Salix Homes to play their part in tackling this problem.
Credit: Foundation 92
Foundation 92 coach and Community Connector, Ewan Peacock, said:
“Delivering food parcels is always great because you get a genuine reaction out of people and it shows what it really means to them and how it makes a difference to their day.
“A few people have commented on how it’s made them smile, so thats the main thing really. Even something as small as giving some food for a few days, really does make a difference.
“It is really rewarding because it makes you feel like you’re a part of the community.”
Credit: Foundation 92
However, the charities work does not stop there. The foundation also provide a traineeship programme, appreciating the importance of providing a safe, outdoor environment for kids to have fun and socialise.
The charities out-reach programme and free to access sport sessions engage with young people across Salford, giving them a welcoming space to express themselves. | https://medium.com/@benibson505/class-of-92-foundation-deliver-essential-packages-to-salford-residents-5f6a29d2347c | ['Ben Ibson'] | 2020-12-18 13:56:58.807000+00:00 | ['Foundation', 'Charity', 'Salford', 'Class Of 92', 'Community'] |
Sony HT-G700 review: This Atmos- and DTS:X-enabled soundbar boasts a trifecta of virtual 3D modes, but no Wi-Fi | Sony HT-G700 review: This Atmos- and DTS:X-enabled soundbar boasts a trifecta of virtual 3D modes, but no Wi-Fi Jill Sep 7, 2020·8 min read
Sony doubles down on virtualized 3D audio with the HT-G700, a 3.1-channel soundbar that can deliver immersive 3D audio using not one, not two, but three competing audio technologies. While it lacks the upfiring drivers that most Dolby Atmos- and DTS:X-enabled soundbars employ for height effects, the HT-G700 simulates height and surround cues using virtual 3D solutions from Dolby, DTS, and Sony itself. The HT-G700 makes for an impressive showcase for how far virtualized 3D audio has come in recent years, yet it also betrays its weaknesses, particularly when it comes to Sony’s aggressive—perhaps too aggressive—implementation.
The HT-G700’s $500 price tag might sound enticing given its array of 3D audio functionality, but it’s also missing one huge feature: a Wi-Fi adapter. That means many of the wireless capabilities we’ve come to expect from soundbars in this price range—including multi-room audio, AirPlay 2 or Chromecast connectivity, direct support for streaming music services, and voice assistant support—are missing.
This review is part of TechHive’s coverage of the best soundbars, where you’ll find reviews of competing products, plus a buyer’s guide to the features you should consider when shopping.
ConfigurationA replacement for Sony’s 2.1-channel HT-X9000F, the HT-G700 arrives with more power than its predecessor (400 watts versus 300W for the X9000F), along with (according to Sony) a wider sweetspot, a larger subwoofer, and a new “Immersive AE” (Audio Enhancement) mode that’s capable of upmixing 5.1 or even stereo audio to virtualized 7.1.2 audio.
The Sony HT-G700 is a 3.1-channel soundbar, with a trio of 45 x 10mm oval-shaped cones in the main unit for the left, right, and center channels (the “3” in “3.1”) and a wireless subwoofer with a 160mm cone for low-frequency effects (the “.1”). Because the HT-G700 lacks the wireless capabilities of Sony’s pricier soundbars, it can’t be upgraded to a full-on 5.1-channel system using a set of wireless surround speakers; in other words, what you see (and hear) is what you get.
The HT-G700 supports 3D object-based sound formats such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, but it doesn’t deliver height effects with upfiring drivers that bounce sound off your ceiling (which is itself an alternative to installing speakers in your ceiling). Instead, it uses virtualization to trick your ears into thinking you’re hearing sound from above (not to mention from behind, or from the sides). The soundbar actually supports three flavors of immersive 3D audio virtualization: Dolby Atmos with height virtualization technology, DTS Virtual:X, and Sony’s aforementioned Immersive AE, which employs a pair of other Sony audio technologies—Vertical Surround Engine for height cues, and S-Force Pro for side-to-side surround—to upmix 5.1 or even 2.0 audio to virtualized 7.1.2 sound.
In general, virtual 3D height effects lack the precision you’ll hear from those delivered by upfiring drivers (which, in turn, aren’t as precise as in-ceiling speakers), and they can also sound harsh and distractingly artificial if they’re applied too aggressively. That said, virtual 3D sound offers a key benefit over drivers that bounce sound off the ceiling: its performance doesn’t depend on the type of ceiling you have. To wring the best sound out of upfiring drivers, Dolby recommends a flat ceiling between 7.5 and 14 feet height, and vaulted ceilings simply won’t do. If the ceiling in your entertainment room is too high, too low, or anything other than perfectly flat, virtual 3D sound might be your best option, shy of actual in-ceiling speakers.
The Sony HT-G700’s main soundbar unit measures 38.6 x 2.6 x 4.4 inches, making it somewhat narrower than my 55-inch LG C9 OLED TV, with the soundbar barely grazing the bottom edge of the screen from the vantage point of my living room sofa. Meanwhile, the 7.6 x 15.25 x 16-inch wireless subwoofer (which isn’t really wireless, since it requires a power cord) is about as big and bulky as those that come with competing soundbars.
SetupThe Sony HT-G700 takes only minutes to set up. You have the option of placing it in front of your TV or mounting it on a wall beneath your TV; a wall mounting guide is included, but no brackets or screws. I skipped the mounting process and simply plunked the soundbar down in front of my TV set.
Once you’ve put the soundbar where you want it, just plug in the power cord (there’s no outlet-blocking wall wart or power brick, thankfully), then position and power up the pre-paired wireless subwoofer, which should connect to the soundbar automatically (you can also pair the subwoofer manually if something goes wrong with auto-pairing).
Because the HT-G700 lacks network connectivity, you won’t have to deal with adding it to your home Wi-Fi network, a process that (as I’ve found with other soundbars) can be surprisingly arduous.
While its lack of Wi-Fi connectivity makes the HT-G700 a snap to set up, it also means that the soundbar lacks bevy of key features, including multi-room audio, AirPlay 2 and Chromecast audio casting, and the ability to directly connect to streaming audio services such as Spotify or Amazon Music. You also can’t control the HT-G700’s features or settings with a mobile app, nor with Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands. For a $500 soundbar, that’s a lot to give up.
Sony does offer a similar soundbar with Wi-Fi capabilities: the $700 3.1-channel HT-Z9FRemove non-product link (which we haven’t reviewed yet).
Inputs and outputsThe Sony HT-G700 comes equipped with a pair of HDMI ports: one is a standard HDMI input, while the second is an HDMI ARC (short for “audio return channel”) port that supports eARC, an “enhanced” version of eARC that allows for lossless audio formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio (you can read all about ARC and eARC in this story). In addition to the HDMI ports, there’s also a Toslink optical digital input, plus a USB port that’s only for installing firmware updates.
Ben Patterson/IDG The Sony HT-G700’s HDMI-ARC ports supports eARC, the “enchanced” version of ARC that allows for lossless audio formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio.
The easiest way to connect the HT-G700 to your TV is via the aforementioned HDMI ARC port, which allows you to keep your various video sources connected to your TV while sending audio to the soundbar over the included HDMI cable. If one of your video sources is a Blu-ray player (either standalone or those that are built into PlayStation 4 and Xbox One game consoles), the HT-G700’s eARC support will let you enjoy lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks in all their glory—provided your TV also supports eARC, that is.
Another option is to connect a video source to the soundbar’s single HDMI input and then connect the soundbar to the TV via the HDMI ARC port, which supports 4K HDR video passthrough. The benefit of plugging a video source directly into the soundbar is that you’ll be able to hear lossless audio from a Blu-ray player even if your TV doesn’t support eARC (which it likely doesn’t, unless you bought it in the last 12 months or so). The downside, however, is that you’ll have to physically swap out HDMI cables if you have more than one video input.
Integrated buttons, remote controlOn top of the main soundbar unit, you’ll find touch-sensitive buttons for power, input select, Bluetooth, and volume up/down. Peeking out from the black aluminum speaker grille is a five-character display that tells you (among other things) the volume level, the detected audio signal (Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, etc.), which input is selected, and so on. You can also set the indicator to go dark after a brief period, handy for cutting down on visual distractions.
The HT-G700’s long, thin, and non-backlit remote can be tricky to use. While the large round volume button is easy to find in the dark (as is the jumbo-sized power button in the top-right corner), good luck identifying the other small, circular buttons without turning a light on.
A dozen of these identically shaped buttons are arranged in two columns of six buttons each, including the mute button, the night and voice modes, and the subwoofer level buttons. All of those sit beneath the volume rocker. Eight more buttons, including four for sound modes (such as Cinema and Music), one that toggles Sony’s Immersive AE feature, another that cycles the display, and yet another for selecting the active input, are above the volume rocker.
Ben Patterson/IDG With its array of more than a dozen buttons, the Sony HT-G700’s non-backlit remote can be tricky to use in the dark.
To navigate the HT-G700’s settings menu, you’ll need to press the Menu button, which sits in the right column of buttons beneath the volume rocker. You press the Up and Down arrows in the left column to navigate the menu options, and then press the Enter button that’s below the Menu button to select an option. The Menu button is the only way to enable DTS Virtual:X and Dolby’s virtual 3D sound modes, and to get to those menu options, you’ll have to navigate two menu levels deep, then step down to the very bottom of the second menu.
Virtual 3D modesThe Sony HT-G700 offers an embarrassment of riches as far as virtual 3D audio engines are concerned; indeed, if you ever wanted the opportunity to stack the virtual 3D sound technology of Dolby, DTS, and Sony against each other, this versatile soundbar presents the perfect opportunity to do so.
DTS Virtual:X is likely the most familiar of the three competing virtual 3D modes. Following its debut in 2017, DTS Virtual:X showed us just how realistic virtual 3D audio technology could sound. Dolby’s virtual 3D technology, known as Dolby Atmos height virtualization, is only now making its way onto soundbars (such as the upcoming TCL Alto 9+).
Then there’s Sony’s Immersive AE mode, which requires some explaining. As I mentioned earlier, Immersive AE is actually a combination of two Sony audio technologies: Vertical Surround Engine, which supplies height effects, and S-Force Pro for side-to-side surround effects. These two technologies are applied—or not—depending on the content you’re listening to and the sound mode you’ve chosen.
Both the Vertical Surround Engine and S-Force Pro are auto-enabled—and mandatory— whenever you’re watching object-based Dolby Atmos or DTS:X content (and assuming you aren’t using the Dolby or DTS virtualizers), meaning that pressing the Immersive AE button on the remote won’t have any effect. If you’re watching 5.1- or 2.0-channel content, pressing (for example) the Cinema button and enabling the Immersive AE mode engages both the Vertical Surround Engine and S-Force Pro; if you disable Immersive AE in Cinema mode, the Vertical Surround Engine is turned off, but S-Force Pro stays on. Music mode behaves a bit differently; while both the Vertical Surround Engine and S-Force Pro will (as with the Cinema mode) switch on if you enable the Immersive AE mode, they’ll both turn off if you toggle off the Immersive AE mode. | https://medium.com/@Jill86016674/sony-ht-g700-review-this-atmos-and-dts-x-enabled-soundbar-boasts-a-trifecta-of-virtual-3d-modes-bab83f70bbd1 | [] | 2020-09-07 09:13:47.684000+00:00 | ['Connected Home', 'Cord', 'Internet', 'Chromecast'] |
His Secret Obsession has helped thousands of women improve their relationships, To know more about this ask me how and i will share you the details | His Secret Obsession has helped thousands of women improve their relationships,
To know more about this ask me how and i will share you the details | https://medium.com/@kamleshmandale007/his-secret-obsession-has-helped-thousands-of-women-improve-their-relationships-to-know-more-about-66330bf1eb00 | [] | 2020-12-27 07:13:14.079000+00:00 | ['Tips', 'Germany', 'Women', 'United States', 'USA'] |
【親子火車環島】Part TWO 4th day to 5th day | 【親子火車環島】Part TWO 4th day to 5th day
4th Day, Luye (鹿野)
It was an easy day compared to yesterday. We got on the train to Luye（鹿野） and enjoy the ride very much. The plain field of rice reminded us the abondence of Taiwan.
8:00 get up and prepare for leaving
8:30 left b&b for Breakfast in McDonald’s
9:00 Text to train station
9:29 → 12:12 T.C.Express №404 HuaLien → Luye
自強404班次 花蓮 → 鹿野
12:30 Lunch at Sarconi Bistro $350/person
1:30 Luye Post office, write a postcard to yourself.
2:00 Rent a motorcycle $400/pday, gas$80
arrive at B&B, Luye GaoTai B&B (鹿野高台民宿), take a rest and explore near by places.
4:00–5:30 Luye GaoTai pavilion
5:30 IceSpring Luye No 76 Honest Store 春一枝鹿野76誠信商店
6:00 head to town for dinner, and explore the agriculture stencil store in town.
8:00 back to B&B
5th Day Luye 鹿野 → Fangliao枋寮 →海生館
We had so much fun this morning. We ate our breakfast in front of the butterfly garden where the owner plant so many nectariferous plants. We are literarily surrounded by butterflies.
The owner was very nice to give us a ride.
10: 10 Set out for Luye Train Station. return the motorcycle.
10:50 →12:36 T.C.Express №308 Luye → Fangliao
Very nice scenery ride. you travel from the east side of Taiwan to the west side. From seeing Pacific ocean to seeing Taiwan Strait. A lot of Tunnels.
I checked the railway timetable, the trains before noon are canceled. if leave in the morning, your will have to transfer in Taitung Station.
1:20 → 2:40 Fangliao枋寮 →National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium 海生館
After arriving in Fangliao, We car pool with two other ladies. We meet the nicest person in our journey. The driver of the taxi took us to a mango market and we enjoy local freshly-picked mangoes!
The ride is about 45 mins. Because we stop for mangoes, it took us about 1:20.
After we arrived at 海生館，we looked around and wait for the program to be started at 4:00PM.
5:30 Dinner
After dinner, you can looked around a bit.
7:00 night program, explore the “backstages”
8:00 Get ready for the “bed”
8:30 →9:30 take a walk in the garden of 海生館, take turns to shower.
Sleep nice and sound. | https://medium.com/%E6%96%9C%E6%A7%93%E5%AA%BD%E5%92%AA/%E8%A6%AA%E5%AD%90%E7%81%AB%E8%BB%8A%E7%92%B0%E5%B3%B6-part-two-4th-day-to-5th-day-651a17d6d93f | ['Meg Dong'] | 2020-01-11 21:02:13.969000+00:00 | ['Taiwan', 'Kids', 'Travel'] |
Astonishing Ancient Viking Temple Discovered in Norway | Astonishing Ancient Viking Temple Discovered in Norway
1200-year-old church deeply devoted to Odin and Thor
A typical Viking landing — Image by Pixabay
Many of us became familiar with the Viking gods Odin and Thor while watching the excellent TV series ‘Vikings’ on the History channel. We learned quickly from how the Norse culture was depicted just how those two gods were revered.
That’s what makes actual discoveries like this very special. It validates the way many of us view Viking society and brings it to life.
Ancient pagan temple discovered
A 1200-year-old temple to Old Norse gods Thor and Odin was recently unearthed in Norway¹. This is an amazingly rare relic from a religion created hundreds of years before Christianity became the primary religion in the region.
The temple is a large wooden building that measures around 45 feet long, 26 feet wide, and approximately 40 feet high. Archaeologists estimate that the structure was built sometime during the later eighth century. It was used for worship, and sacrifices to their gods were offered during the midwinter and midsummer solstices.
Remains of a Viking settlement — Image by Public Domain
First Old Norse temple ever found in Norway
The Old Norse culture built a reputation that was both feared and famous. In those days, everyone was horrified by the stories of Viking warriors and sailors coming ashore to raid, rape, and burn their communities².
As time passed, these Norse raiders began trading and colonizing Europe and into distant lands like Greenland, Iceland, and Canada.
Surprisingly, this discovery is the first Viking temple found in Norway, according to archaeologist Søren Diinhoff from the University Museum in Bergen.
“This is the first time we’ve found one of these very special, very beautiful buildings,” Diinhoff said. “We know them from Sweden, and we know them from Denmark. … This shows that they also existed in Norway.”
Vikings started constructing large ‘god houses’ during the sixth century. These god houses were far more complicated than previous sites. They were used for worshiping the Old Norse gods.
“It is a stronger expression of belief than all the small cult places,” Diinhoff further said. “This is probably something to do with a certain class of the society, who built these as a real ideological show.”
The story behind the discovery
The god house became a link between the Old Norse gods and local people. They believed that their gods lived in the heavenly realm of Asgard. A ‘rainbow bridge’ called Bifröst was what connected the earthly realm Midgard to Asgard.
This ancient god house was unearthed at Ose, a seaside town close to Ørsta in western Norway. The area had been zoned for new housing development.
Post-holes of the structure that outlined its unique shape and primary central tower were unearthed at the site. It is believed that the Ose god house hosted sacrificial fires, as it had wooden statues of the war god Odin, the storm god Thor, and Freyr, the fertility god.
The site is beside the coast among mountains and inlets, about 150 miles south-west of Trondheim’s modern city. Boathouses would have been built along the shore in ancient times.
A Viking earth grave — Image by Pixabay
God house
The discovery site is located on the coast alongside various inlets and mountains. Boathouses were likely built along the shoreline. It would be hard to find a more fitting location for a Viking settlement.
This excavation also uncovered evidence of earlier settlements that dated as far back as 2500 years ago.
However, the god house remains at Ose came from a period when wealthy families dominated the region. This resulted from Scandinavian society mingling with the elite members of both the Germanic tribes of northern Europe and the Roman Empire.
“When the new socially differentiated society set in, in the Roman Iron Age, the leading families took control of the cult,” Dinhoff added.
He also emphasized how Norse religion became more organized and ideological and that the god houses at Ose used Christian basilicas as a model for their structures.
Suppression of worship
During the 11th century, Norway’s kings suppressed the Old Norse religion while forcing Christian religion upon their subjects³. They ordered all Vikings places of worship to be destroyed, burned down, and torn down.
At this point, there’s no indication that this movement targeted the Ose god house. Yet many feel that more analysis in the future will reveal that it was among the pagan structures destroyed by these Christian kings. | https://charliestephen6.medium.com/astonishing-ancient-viking-temple-discovered-in-norway-27a63f0fc856 | ['Charles Stephen'] | 2020-11-04 16:04:47.044000+00:00 | ['Society', 'Ancient History', 'Religion', 'History', 'Vikings'] |
R-CNN — Object Detection Algorithm | Introduction
The CNN based objection detection techniques have improved dramatically over the last few years. The journey starts with R-CNN followed by Fast R-CNN, Faster R-CNN, mask R-CNN and YOLO. These are all very simple, very intuitive and easy to implement algorithms. Personally I have found them very fascinating. I intend to write medium stories for all of them……
R-CNN is the first in the family. Understanding R-CNN is crucial as it will lay foundation to understand subsequent algorithms.
Note — Before reading this story please make sure that you have understood basics of CNN and few other concepts like IoU, mAP,SVM and linear regression.
1. What is Object Detection?
The most basic task CNNs can effectively perform is to classify images. R-CNN is a very clever way of extending this capacity of CNNs to detect objects in an image.
Figure 1 : Three types of images for classification
Lets consider we have three types of images as shown in figure above. By using some technique if we can identify whether the image contains a square or a triangle or a circle then this task is called image classification.
Figure 2 : Image containing multiple objects
Now consider this image! Here we have all three objects in one image. If we can identify what objects are present in the image and we can also find there location in the image, then this task is called object detection. Thus it involves two tasks. Object identification and object localization. Object localization is simply finding the location of that object in an image. So in the output we will draw a bounding box around that object to show its location. And for Object identification we will specify what object is present in each bounding box.
Figure 3 : Output of object detection
A sample output of object detection is shown in above image. Here we get bounding boxes for each object and each bounding box is labeled with the name of the object. It also gives a number as shown in image. This number is called objectness score. It indicates how much sure the model is about this prediction. For example first box reads square 0.98. It means the model is 98% sure that this object is a square.
In Figure 2, all objects are in one image, hence we can’t directly use CNN for object detection. So now the most logical thing to do is to do it in following two steps.
Extract the regions in an image that may contain an object. Then use CNN on each of those regions to identify the object inside them, just like we do for basic classification task.
This is what RCNN does internally. And that’s why its called R-CNN: Regions with CNN features.
In Figure 2, the image contains only three classes : square, triangle and circle. And rest of the image is simply blank. A real world image will have tens or even hundreds of classes like trees, buildings, cars, dogs and so on. And apart from these fixed classes, it will also have many more other objects, that we are not interesting in detecting. How on earth, R-CNN handles all that complexity? Keep reading …….
2. First look at RCNN
Figure 4 : RCNN overview
Keep an eye at Figure 4 while reading following points.
The regions that are extracted from an input image are called region proposals.
RCNN extracts only around 2000 region proposals from an input image. (All 2000 images will not actually contain objects of our interest)
As the CNN can only accept inputs with fixed size, all the extracted region proposals are first converted to a fixed size of 227 x 227 pixels. This is called image warping.
These fixed size region proposals are then fed to a Large convolutional neural network consisting of five convolutional layers and two fully connected layers to get a fixed length features vector for each region proposal.
These feature maps are then passed to a set of linear SVMs to predict the actual objects in corresponding region proposals. The number of SVMs are equal to the number of classes in dataset plus 1.
For example if the dataset contains 200 classes, then 201 linear SVMs are used in last stage. 1 extra class is for background. The background of the image is treated as one class.
Thus each SVM corresponds to one class. So each class specific SVM will predict if the region proposal contains corresponding object or not.
After that, A bounding box regressor uses a linear regression model to predict more accurate bounding boxes in terms of location.
The above steps are summarized in Figure 5 below.
Figure 5: RCNN flow
If you have read and understood up to this point, you have just grabbed the basic information and intuition of R-CNN. Hallelujah !!!
If you are looking for a deeper understanding of R-CNN, keep reading !!!
3. More insights into R-CNN
According to Wikipedia …… Given an input image, R-CNN begins by applying a mechanism called Selective Search to extract regions of interest (ROI), where each ROI is a rectangle that may represent the boundary of an object in image. Depending on the scenario, there may be as many as two thousand ROIs. After that, each ROI is fed through a neural network to produce output features. For each ROI’s output features, a collection of support-vector machine classifiers is used to determine what type of object (if any) is contained within the ROI. This is exactly what we learned in previous section.
Ross Girshick et al. introduced R-CNN in November 2013. Object detection has come a long way since then. The more recent algorithms are based on foundations laid by R-CNN. Hence it is crucial for aspiring computer vision engineers to understand R-CNN.
3.1 How region proposals are generated?
As a very first step of R-CNN, we have to generate region proposals from an image, which can then be warped and fed to CNN for further processing. R-CNN is agnostic to region proposal methods. Which means we can use any method to generate region proposals. The authors of R-CNN have used Selective Search. The corresponding research paper by J.R.R. Uijlings et. al. gives the details of selective search.
Figure 6: Variety of image conditions for generating region proposals
The criterion used to differentiate a region proposals from rest of the image are worth giving a thought.
Image (c) in Figure 6contains a chameleon whose color is matching a lot with its surrounding. So we have to use a criterion of texture to differentiate and extract chameleon from rest of the image. Image (b) in Figure 6contains two cats whose texture is same. So we have to use a criterion of color. In image (d), the wheel of car have different color and texture from car and we may by mistake declare it as separate region. Images are intrinsically hierarchical. Hence wheels and rest of the car should merge into one object. On the contrary, in image (a), spoon is inside the bowl and the bowl stands on the table. But we may want to declare spoon and bowl as separate objects instead of merging them into table and declaring them as one object.
The bottom-line here is , there do not exit a single strategy for generating region proposals.
Selective search algorithm presents a variety of diversification strategies to deal with as many image conditions as possible.
Figure 7: Selective Search by Hierarchical Grouping
The process of selective search can be explained in the following steps with the help of Figure 7.
A set of small starting regions which ideally do not span multiple objects is created as shown in first column of Figure 7. Similarities between all the adjacent regions are found and two most similar regions are grouped together. Again similarities are found and grouping is done. This process is repeated as shown Figure 7.
As the grouping goes on, we are left with less and less boxes. This approach is called as bottom up grouping. The details of how a set of small starting regions is created can be found here.
Three types of diversification strategies are used.
Variety of color spaces with increasing degree of invariance in terms of light intensity, shadow/shading, highlights. By using different similarity measures like color similarity, texture similarity, encouraging small regions to merge early and measuring how well two regions fit into each other. Varying the complimentary starting regions.
Around 2000 region proposals thus created are warped and fed to CNN as shown in Figure 4.
3.2 The need of bounding box regressor
This is a refinement step. A bounding box given by selective search is represented using [x,y,w,h], where x, y are the coordinates of top left corner of region proposal and w,h are width and height of region proposal. This bounding box given by selective search is further refined by bounding box regressor. Here, A linear regression model is trained to predict a modified window. This way localization error is further reduced and mAP is improved by 3 to 4points.
3.3 Training and evaluation of R-CNN
R-CNN is trained on ILSVRC2013 dataset. ILSVRC stands for ImageNet Large Scale Visual Recognition Challenge. The dataset is split into train(395918 images), val(20121 images) and test(40152 images) set.
Three types of training occurs in R-CNN. 1) CNN fine tuning 2) SVM training 3) bounding box regressor training.
At test time, we again obtain 2K region proposals for every image, warp them, feed them to CNN, get their score from SVMs and then R-CNN uses something called as NMS (Non-maximum supression) to reject unwanted region proposals. A object may have been detected by more than one region proposals. NMS will consider only those proposals that have higher SVM score than its learned threshold. NMS will also reject a region if it has overlap(IoU) with another region having higher SVM score. This way we get the best region proposal for a given object.
3.4 Results
Figure 8: ILSVRC2013 detection test set mAP.
Figure 8 shows mAP comparison with various other techniques present prior to R-CNN. Note that methods preceded by * in Figure use outside training data in test set. BB stands for bounding box. As it is very clear from figure that R-CNN outperformed all other techniques on ILSVRC2013 dataset.
3.5 Drawbacks of R-CNN
It takes more than 40 seconds to detect the objects in a test image which makes it unsuitable for real time applications. The CNN has to run for every region proposals. There is no weight sharing.
This is my first story in the series of CNN based object detection. I have tried to keep it comprehensive and yet simple. Its my understanding of RCNN and may conflict with yours. In such a case, I will be happy to learn from you.
ciao !!! | https://medium.com/@ashutoshmakone/rcnn-4f9c5cdc62f | ['Ashutosh Makone'] | 2020-12-14 06:51:13.243000+00:00 | ['Mask Rcnn', 'Convolutional Network', 'R Cnn', 'Object Detection', 'Computer Vision'] |
A 24-year-old has gone viral for walking around the city and asking this one question | A 24-year-old has gone viral for walking around the city and asking this one question
Justin Chan
Fri, December 4, 2020, 4:17 AM GMT+6·2 min read
A 24-year-old woman has quickly gained a following on TikTok for asking passersby in London one simple question: Could you name just one reason to be happy today?
Since Nov. 2, Sevara Rasulova has walked around the city asking people — from a street artist to a city worker — that question in an effort to maintain a level of optimism during period of difficulty for many. In an interview with In The Know, she said that she had been repeatedly experiencing rejections during her job hunt and wanted to be more positive.
READ MORE: Thousands of Amazon reviews rave about these reliable cleaning products
“Every day, I made a conscious effort to focus on good things in life and then I started wondering what makes other people happy,” she said. “And I thought, ‘What if I ask people what makes them happy, film it and post it on social media everyday?’”
Through her account @onereason.uk and with the help of several friends, Rasulova has posted 27 interviews with passersby. Her very first video, for example, features a street artist, who is caught in the process of spray-painting a mural.
“I’m happy today because I’m out doing my thing,” he says, motioning at a wall that features three characters holding uplifting messages in response to the pandemic. “I’m out painting the street art.”
In another TikTok, Rasulova asks an elderly man the same question. The man, in turn, gives an adorable response.
“Yeah, because I saw the sun shining for 10 seconds!” he says.
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10 seconds!” he says.
But Rasulova’s most popular video to date, which has nearly 10 million views, is one that features a young man at a park. When asked the question, he smiles and explains why he’s so happy.
“‘Cause there’s dogs in the park!” he says, adding that his favorite breed is the English Springer Spaniel.
In the two months since she has started the page, Rasulova has amassed over 128,000 followers. The hope is that the videos will encourage people to have a more enthusiastic outlook on life.
“It’s all about the attitude,” she said. “I’m not trying to tell everyone [that they] should be happy all day every day, but [they should] try and shift the attention on something good and more good people [and] situations will come.”
Story continues
TRENDING | https://medium.com/@ajboxingskytvespn/a-24-year-old-has-gone-viral-for-walking-around-the-city-and-asking-this-one-question-44f9a00b031e | ['Anthony', 'Aj', 'Joshua Vs Kubrat Pulev Live Stream'] | 2020-12-05 06:37:27.260000+00:00 | ['Helthcare', 'News Home', 'Spotify', 'Nowdo'] |
The Burden of Multitasking | Your Brain is Like an Air-Traffic Control Centre
Harking back to contemporary psychological research, psychologists have identified that the brain is typically not optimized to do two heavy-duty things simultaneously.
As time stretches onward, we will get tired and we will get fatigued.
Even if you don’t feel the effects now, you will likely feel them at another time, depending on your specific situation. The best way to conceptualize our tasks is to visualize an air-traffic control centre.
Photo by Mael BALLAND on Unsplash
When we are multitasking, we code and switch from one item to another, often in quick succession. This is what is called “juggling” and there is usually a cost associated with this constant code-switching.
Sometimes, this cost is time.
For example, let’s say task 1 is similar to task 2, and both require doing some kind of research and mathematical calculations. Task 1 requires 1 hour of your life. Task 2 also requires 1 hour of your life.
Without multitasking, perhaps you’re spending 2 hours at a minimum with a 10-minute break thrown in the middle, making it 2 hours and 10 minutes.
Instead, multitasking may cause you to get both parts done in 2 hours or more. On top of that:
You’re much more tired
There was no self-care break
You might have even wandered into timewasting activities
Overall, the next time you’re multitasking, just be mindful of your cognitive loads. It’s okay to sometimes do two things at once, such as talking to a friend while sorting boxes, but it’s not as appropriate to write two lab reports simultaneously.
In the wise words of Idries Shah, | https://medium.com/the-shadow/the-burden-of-multitasking-a3e34a5d82a4 | ['Synthia Satkuna', 'Ma Candidate'] | 2020-12-23 04:27:21.089000+00:00 | ['Multitasking', 'Psychology', 'Organizational Culture', 'Mental Health', 'Time Management'] |
Controller discussion is excessive, we need more about other aspects | Ever since SDN has been revealed and considered as the future in the industry by public. There are abundant discussions about OpenFlow, ACI, NSX, etc. The main focus right now is the software part including southern API, northern API and more.
The discussion about those new features which SDN could bring us has instigated the aspires of this Old-thought-with-new-implementation for network fellows who have been suffered for a long time for the poor management & controllability of network entities.
As I always standing on the side that SDN need a complete solution covered almost all main specs, even though we probably won’t bring it to the real life. But it is a theoretic way to validate the concepts & abilities for my point.
OpenFlow is not SDN as we all have known about. Controllers are not neither. Infrastructure which lies under controller in the SDN stack and also is THE fundamental network seems to have been ignored by most people.
There is at least one thing to have a detail discussion even we only focus OpenFlow — functionality differentiate between versions. For instance, if we setup a controller with a feature only support in a higher version, how could we solve this issue if we only have lower version support in physic devices? Also lacking of practical transition plan from traditional network we are using today to this hi-tech future also refrains us.
More, even VMware and Cisco have their own solution & plan for SDN, we still cannot guarantee they can fit to each other. Since customers won’t bring two SDN systems for the exact same purpose obviously, best choice for them may be waiting for their cross-platform support which we have no insight about the time or just keep themselves out of SDN and waiting.
Meanwhile, flaws could happen even for the biggest companies like Cisco & Huawei. I could specify big flaws about mature switches & routers from Juniper & Huawei though I haven’t worked in them for one single minute. SDN also depends on a lot of chip and hardware work in the lower part of it. Possibility of defects is higher than those we have used for 10 years in design and manufacture. Vendors could make new devices, but we have to pay all.
So, if vendors are really thinking about improving network with their implementation of SDN, infrastructure, transition plan is equally important to controllers. Also, please give us an integrate, solid solution of SDN. Thank you all kind vendors. | https://medium.com/ken-m-lai/controller-discussion-is-excessive-we-need-more-about-other-aspects-61ef66b9b509 | ['Ken Lai'] | 2018-01-13 12:59:07.197000+00:00 | ['Networking', 'Sdn', 'Ken Lai'] |
A Sudoku a day keeps our brain younger. | Image is taken from Instagram @burnoutcigs
Soo-doe-koo
If you hear about Sudoku, you must have thought that this game originated from the East Asian region, but in fact, sudoku was devised by Leonhard Euler, a mathematician in 1783. With the initial designation as a Latin square, this game originally contained 9, 16, 25, and 36 boxes or grid.
The development of modern sudoku was pioneered by Dell Pencil Puzzles and Word Games in 1979 with the name Number Place, where players had to fill the numbers 1 to 9 on 81 boxes, without repeating any digits per column or row.
Number place became a very popular game at that time, its popularity reached many regions. In 1984 the number place became known in Japan. This game is popular with the name “Suuji wa dokushin ni kagiru” but this game had 2 additional rules. The first rule was the allocated numbers at the beginning of each puzzle should create a different pattern and the second rule that no more than 32 out of the 81 total numbers of a traditional grid could be allocated at the beginning.
With these additional rules, Suuji wa dokushin ni kagiru reached the peak of popularity and changed its name to Sudoku, which later in 2004 the game was published by The London Times and the rest is history.
Benefits Sudoku to our brain
Playing puzzle games like sudoku or crossword helps train our brain especially in cognitive function. In general, our memory and concentration will get stronger, our mind will be more stimulated, and improves our logical thinking.
The benefits of playing sudoku have been circulating on the internet, but are they true? According to research published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, people aged 50 years and over, who play sudoku more often have better brain function. This research was conducted through several tests to measure attention, memory, and reasoning.
If we talk about the effect of playing sudoku on memory decline, according to dr. Anne Corbett, lead author and dementia lecturer at the University of Exeter Medical School, there is no scientific evidence that playing sudoku reduces the risk of dementia. But in the research above, playing puzzle games will help the brain work better for a longer time.
Even though the benefits are not visible to the naked eye, spending free time playing puzzle games is definitely more rewarding to our brain. In addition, this game can help our brains become keen and it can even become a new hobby to do in our spare time. | https://medium.com/@christian-prabowo5/a-sudoku-a-day-keeps-our-brain-younger-72d4a027924b | ['Christian Prabowo'] | 2020-12-13 08:36:18.824000+00:00 | ['Sudoku', 'Puzzle', 'Brain', 'Puzzle Game', 'Brain Training'] |
Stop Letting Headaches Ruin Your Day, Find Relief with Rebound PT! | So many people think of physical therapy as something to turn to after sustaining a severe injury or a car accident. And sure, while there are plenty of times that physical therapy will be recommended in those instances, this isn’t the only use for this incredibly helpful therapy method.
Physical therapy treatments are designed to help the body function at its peak, and that often means using the core PT strategies like exercise, muscle training and targeted massage to do so, as well as adjustment and at times even acupuncture, to address whatever the primary cause of pain may be-including headaches.
There is a conception that physical therapy is only for injuries or accidents is a dangerous one, it impedes people with debilitating migraines or headaches from seeking help that could be wildly beneficial to their overall health and well-being.
Think PT Is Only For Injuries? Think Again!
According to Athletico, only 1.5–7% of visits to a primary care physician in North America in 2007 were to address headaches. This is worrying, seeing as they also note 70–80% of females and 60% of males report experiencing headaches in the US (Scher et al. 1999), and a lifetime prevalence is noted between 83–93%.
No matter how old you are, what kind of shape you’re in, or the frequency in which you have them, dealing with headaches around the clock can be incredibly frustrating, and can quickly become debilitating.
Whether they are tension headaches or the more common migraine headaches, waking up with the pain already present in your head only to feel it grow more intense and painful throughout the day can interfere with your plans-whether that is a productive day at the office or a fun-filled day with family and friends.
How Can PT Help Your Headaches
Relying on medication for your migraine headaches can have drastic and unexpected side effects that’ll do more harm than good in the long run. There is also the chance that they can cause you to feel tired, depressed, or otherwise unable to participate in the activities you love.
All in all, when you count on medication to cope with the pain of chronic headaches you are not actually helping your body overcome those headaches, but in actuality, you are setting yourself up for long-term dependency on those medications.
Making the switch to physical therapy will not only help you to address the chronic pain associated with migraine and tension headaches, but is the safest, healthiest, and most dependable alternative provided. Physical Therapy will allow you to break free from a possible dependency on medications while experiencing actual and substantial relief from the regular pain of your chronic headaches.
Physical therapy utilizes a series of physical, cognitive, emotional and social well-being strategies to improve quality of life with migraine and tension headaches. These strategies include:
Exercise: Strategic exercises, especially when combined with particular attention to optimal hydration can help to reduce the severity and frequency of migraine headaches.
Muscle training: Building strength in certain areas can help to further alleviate tension that may be built up in the neck and back, and this can help to reduce the pain of migraine headaches.
Targeted massage: Your physical therapist may identify certain trigger points that could be associated with the pain of tension headaches, and targeted massage can help you to experience tension relief, and therefore headache relief.
These strategies are not designed to give you just temporary relief, put to help and provide you with the tools to cope with the pain, stress, and tension in the body that comes with migraines and headaches.
You may still have questions regarding how exactly these practices will do this. Your therapist will target areas like the neck, back, and jaw, relaxing them and relieving tension
Don’t Let Headaches Ruin Your Life. Make The Call Today!
Whether your headaches are bothering you every day, or just most days, you can make the decision to put an end to that pain right now. Chronic headaches can interfere with your ability to do just about anything, whether it is work-related or even just a day at home with the family.
Leave the pain and frustration of chronic headaches in the past by working with a licensed and experienced physical therapist who can help you finally say goodbye to that head pain and live your life on your own terms. The goal of physical therapy is to help you feel back to being your best self, free of the pain and frustrations of whatever it is that was holding you back, without a long-term dependence on dangerous and risky pain medication.
For more information about how physical therapy may help you to overcome the chronic pain associated with your headaches, contact your physical therapy office today and make your migraines and headaches a thing of the past! | https://medium.com/@belllayla8/stop-letting-headaches-ruin-your-day-find-relief-with-rebound-pt-d049812d5a64 | [] | 2020-12-30 05:07:03.038000+00:00 | ['Health', 'Physical Therapist', 'Exercise'] |
Best Online Toys For Toddlers | I just love to play with the Crocodile Pull-Along Toy with my son as it encourages him to crawl and walk by pulling the string attached to the crocodile. The toy is colorful and bright which helps kids to play with it wholeheartedly. This is just perfect for toddlers as it promotes their mental and physical development. The crocodile pull-along toy is made of high-quality wood which is safe for kids and is durable. Its edges are round and smooth and water-based paints are used which are exactly what I was looking for. One must surely try this for their toddlers as it’s very helpful and babies keep involved for longer hours.
The other toy would be educational cloth book that one can purchase for growing babies and toddlers. The toys is very soft, lightweight, and easy to hold for babies and toddlers. This soft cloth book is safe to bite on and stimulates motor skills such as imagination, reading, and communication. It has 6 types of different books like Contrast, explore, imagine, visual, animal, and shape. These educational toys are Soft-covered baby books made of tear-resistant fabrics which are durable and washable. Each book has a teether/ bookmark which is really good. | https://medium.com/@maharaja.yo.123/best-online-toys-for-toddlers-f792548d85a | ['Maharaja Yo'] | 2021-07-23 04:07:37.453000+00:00 | ['Baby', 'Toys For Kids', 'Nesta Toys', 'Kids', 'Toys'] |
Should Your Company Shift to a Hybrid Workforce? Look to the Cloud for the Answer. | Should Your Company Shift to a Hybrid Workforce? Look to the Cloud for the Answer. Steven Perlman Apr 27·4 min read
Think back five or ten years to when your company first started considering the idea of moving to the cloud. Likely, a few people wanted to move entirely to the cloud, a few were entertaining the idea of a hybrid model, and even more thought the idea of a complete migration was ridiculous. Where are all of those people now?
Likely, it would be unfathomable to imagine your company without the use of the cloud in your day to day life, especially now that the modern workforce is in a transitional period.
Think about now how you and your colleagues think about a remote work environment. Likely, you have a similar dynamic. Some of you are ready to work from home full time, others think a full return to the office is the only way, and still others are pushing for a hybrid model.
Onsite = On-Prem | Remote = Cloud
Years ago, the companies who were early adopters implemented a cloud-forward strategy and were considered the risk-takers. They were the ones everyone waited to see if would fail, and now they’re considered the revolutionaries. The only way to access a good internet connection was to log onto the big, bulky desktop at your workstation in the office (I’ll bet you can still hear the dial up tones if you try). No one would have ever imagined you’d be able to work in that same spot without having eyes on the physical place where your data is being stored securely — remember the big server room (remember paying rent for a big room for your data)? It’s now been rendered all but obsolete.
We are hinging on the same type of transition when it comes to a remote workforce. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic radically changed the way that people were able to work. There was no choice but to send employees to their homes to work, and while everyone originally had thought it a temporary fix, over a year later, it seems like it may not be so much.
Hybrid Workforce = Hybrid Cloud. It’s a good option, but it’s better used as a transition.
There were absolutely more conveniences to having some of your data in the cloud as opposed to none of it. As you started utilizing the cloud, you likely had some info on there and the rest on-premise, then slowly transitioned until you were totally virtual.
You’re likely having a similar experience now with the remote workforce. Maybe you have a rotation going of who comes into the office every two or three days, or everyone meets once a month for a certain meeting. There’s probably talk of when it will be safe to return to the office full time, and some employees would rather be back as soon as possible while others would prefer to stay virtual.
This is where the cloud vs. on-prem metaphor returns. Making a move to an entirely remote workforce is the same choice that your predecessors had to make about moving entirely to the cloud. A daunting concept at first, but now looking back, it’s hard to believe anyone was ever against it. In five or ten years from now, it will be hard to believe anyone ever stood against a remote workforce.
There are many benefits to a remote workforce that haven’t even been realized yet, the same as it was with moving to the cloud.
For example, when people made the choice to move to the cloud a decade ago, how could they have known it would be vital to allowing employees to work from home during a deadly global pandemic? Talk about an unforeseen benefit!
More immediately, think about the money you’ll save as a company by going fully remote. You won’t have to pay rent, utilities, insurance, or anything else that you would normally pay on a physical space. You’ll be able to hire #TopTechTalent from anywhere you want to — there’s an entire untapped market of technology professionals you can choose from when building out a team.
Your reputation as a Best Place to Work is also likely to skyrocket. Remote work capabilities are a huge benefit for companies, and it will definitely give you a leg up over your competition. You don’t want to miss this chance to be at the front of an evolving workforce.
Steve Jobs once said, “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” Which one are you going to be remembered as? | https://medium.com/@syftersteve/should-your-company-shift-to-a-hybrid-workforce-look-to-the-cloud-for-the-answer-ee1b00f7bc77 | ['Steven Perlman'] | 2021-04-27 15:54:11.739000+00:00 | ['Remote', 'Technology', 'Best Practices', 'Cloud', 'Hybrid Cloud'] |
Otherness & Othering | Photo by Raphael Brasileiro from Pexels
One time, while I was living in China,
A white woman told me,
“Oh my god, you look like one of them
but you talk like one of us!”
and how I laughed it off.
I think about that moment a lot;
That allowance
to be “othered.”
We talk about the model minority
like there are shades to otherness
but my colonizer doesn’t see that.
He smiles patronizingly when
I speak with his accent
but doesn’t bother to learn
the language of my ancestors
in a land that his stole.
I think about how we are taught
across generations
to police our thoughts
and gentle our words
so that the colonizer doesn’t feel threatened.
I am told that this is how we beat the system.
My model minority is a majority
branded cheats & thieves
of intellectual property, with no original thought
by very original people
who parrot this rhetoric
while stealing our resources.
They are keen to let us know
that we are less than
because we live in a dictatorship,
because we do not have Freedom.
But the freedom my colonizer has
is delusion. Maybe one can only see chinks
in democracy through slanted eyes.
One time, while I was living in China,
An old Chinese man asked me,
“Where are you from?”
I think about that moment a lot.
That displacement of self
from Culture, History & Space.
I think about how I was taught
to colour myself into the lines
our colonizer has deemed Enough for us.
I think about the thoughtless jokes
we were taught to laugh off;
the caustic remarks we were told was acceptable
I think about how we are reminded
of how lucky we are to have escaped
from the persecution of skin
because of the colour of our passports.
I think about how some of us still
don’t understand the problem.
How some of us still
are willing to be “othered,”
as if we were really equals. | https://medium.com/a-cornered-gurl/otherness-othering-8bc6125864e6 | ['C. Duhnne'] | 2020-11-02 11:06:45.002000+00:00 | ['Growing Up', 'Society', 'Racism', 'A Cornered Gurl', 'Poetry'] |
The Christian Calendar: Acknowledge & Observe | Photo by Annika Gordon on Unsplash
About a decade ago, I began to explore the idea of fasting for Lent. I knew people were abstaining from things like Facebook and Dr. Pepper, but I didn’t really understand why. Is a social media fast really an appropriate way to identify with Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness and temptation? Maybe it is for some, but I wanted a more traditional experience. I decided to give up meat for the entirety of the season. As we approached Easter that year, I was surprised by the anticipation that it built in me for remembering the death and celebrating the resurrection of Christ. Fasting for Lent made me more appreciate Easter Sunday — and not just because of the steak dinner I had waiting! Somehow, it made Easter more real for me that year than it had previously been. And even though I don’t fast every year, that first experience has perpetually elevated the significance of the Easter season to me.
A few years later, the Baptist Church I was working for began to do a “Passion Week Experience” each year, which was a version of the stations of the cross (another concept I was unfamiliar with), where we’d set up a multi-sensory experience that the church could walk through at their own pace and see, hear, touch, taste, and smell the experience of Jesus leading up to the cross on Good Friday. I loved it so much that I wanted to recreate it at the next church I served in. And since it was all still very new to me, I spent a lot of time researching those stations to create an experience that would be authentic and really focus our people on Jesus. It made such an impact on our congregation that we continued to do it every year. My second-born son actually made a decision to follow Christ while going through the Passion Experience. He was sitting in the garden scene, reading about Jesus agonizing over what He was about to experience, and began to weep! He said, “I can’t believe that Jesus knew what he was about to go through for me and did it anyway!” In that moment, Jesus’ sacrifice for him became very real, and he began his journey of faith.
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
For the last few years, I have been observing the Advent season in both the Church and with my family. As a church, we have had advent moments each Sunday, inviting one of our church families to read Scripture and a prayer and light the Advent candles. I’ve found that there are a lot of options for how we approach it, but as I lean into it each year, my hope is that we can observe the advent season in a way that builds meaningful anticipation of Christ’s birth. Our family has made the effort to intentionally focus on advent by reading scripture together each night. Last Christmas, during one of our family Advent readings, my youngest son insisted we stop and talk about him wanting to follow Jesus and be baptized. What greater testimony can there be? I will be baptizing him in the next couple of weeks. | https://medium.com/cbuworship/acknowledge-observe-5447ab9d8215 | ['James Coe'] | 2021-03-01 14:33:00.861000+00:00 | ['Worship', 'Lent', 'Christian Calendar', 'Cbu', 'Advent'] |
FWS Scholar: Pepper Trail | Pepper Trail grew up in New York with a keen interest in birds. His dad was a professional photographer for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and encouraged Pepper to the explore the outdoors. At the age of three, Pepper fed an orphaned crow his family found, raised and released. When he was just 10 years old, he decided to start his birding life list, which began his interest in traveling the world and studying birds.
Pepper earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology at Cornell University. As an undergraduate student he used every opportunity to spend time at the renowned Laboratory of Ornithology. Following that, he earned a Master’s from University of California at Davis while conducting his field research on the behavioral ecology of Acorn woodpeckers (Melanerpes formicivorus) in the Chiricahua Mountains of Arizona.
Pepper Trail while doing a field study for his doctoral research with the Guianan cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola rupicola). Photo Courtesy of Pepper Trail.
Pepper returned to Cornell for his Ph.D. in Ornithology where he lived in Suriname, South America. His doctoral research was a field study of sexual selection in a spectacular tropical bird, the Guianan cock-of-the-rock. This four-year study resulted in numerous publications, including “Active Mate Choice at Cock-of-the-Rock Leks: Tactics of Sampling and Comparison.”
“But it wasn’t without challenges, my research station was nothing more than a thatched roof hut with a hammock to sleep in and kerosene for cooking and light,” Pepper said.
This was followed by a post-doctoral fellowship at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama. Pepper Trail then moved to San Francisco and became a research associate at the California Academy of Sciences, one of the country’s major natural history museums. For the next eight years he worked with the distinguished ornithologist, Dr. Luis Baptista, on a variety of projects, including the evolution of song in White-crowned Sparrows and the evolution of Darwin’s Finches. He also authored over 100 species accounts of pigeons and doves for the monumental Handbook of Birds of the World series.
A collection of many birds and their plumages in storage at the National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory in Ashland, Oregon. Photo Credit: USFWS
Pepper moved his family to American Samoa where he worked as a wildlife biologist with the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources. In Samoa, he worked on the ecology and conservation of native forest birds and flying foxes. He also conducted a study of the phenology of fruiting in rainforest plants that were important food sources for these species.
Later, in 1998, he was hired as the ornithologist at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Forensics Laboratory, in Ashland, Oregon. Although Pepper had never anticipated a career in wildlife law enforcement, his background of field work in many parts of the world, combined with extensive museum experience, proved to be ideal preparation for work in forensic ornithology. The primary responsibility of his position is to identify feathers, and other bird remains, that are evidence in wildlife crime investigations of the FWS Office of Law Enforcement. All the identifications he has made are based on morphological characteristics, and are dependent upon the Lab’s extensive collection of reference specimens. Since 1998, he has worked on more than 2,000 cases, involving over 80,000 identifications of bird parts, belonging to more than 800 bird species.
Pepper Trail, educating visitors to the USFWS Forensics Laboratory. Photo Credit: USFWS
Although kept very busy with casework, Pepper Trail has managed to find time for a variety of research projects. He studied the hybridization between the endangered Northern Spotted Owl and the Barred Owl, a species which has aggressively expanded its range into the Pacific Northwest over the past several decades. This was published in Conservation Biology (2004). He’s also written extensively on characters useful for identification of partial bird remains — most recently a paper on distinguishing the bones of Bald and Golden Eagles, published in the Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management.
Pepper has been involved in many collaborative efforts building the field of wildlife forensics and the federal effort to enhance rigor of forensic science, as well as trying to control the illegal wildlife trade. A big accomplishment within his Service career was creating a website to help Federal agents quickly identify feathers to support their law enforcement actions, known as the Feather Atlas of North American Birds.
The feather atlas team who built a database of over 400 species represented by nearly 1,900 scanned images of flight feathers. Photo Credit: USFWS
To learn more about Pepper Trail’s work in forensic science, ornithology, wildlife biology, check out more of his publications here; discoverable via USFWS Conservation Library. #FWSscholar | https://medium.com/fwslibrary/fws-scholar-pepper-trail-131714503e5c | ['Usfws Conservation Library'] | 2020-12-09 15:08:15.719000+00:00 | ['Scholar', 'Wildlife', 'Biology', 'Birds', 'Forensics'] |
5 questions with ContentBox Head of Investor Relations | 1.How much did ContentBox raise in the private sale? Who was your lead and following investors?
A: Our soft cap is 15,000 ETH, hit that in about a month, and we hit our hard cap of 30,000 in a little less than a month afterwards. We have a wide range of investors. We gave a cap of 500 per investor, so no “lead” investor in the conventional sense. Investors include LinkVC, Sky9, Dimension11, IDG Token Fund, SIG Token fund, Iconic Shen Bo (one of the founders of Fenbushi Capital) among many others.
2. Will ContentBox do a crowdsale and or public presale?
A: No public ICO / crowdsale, because we already hit our hardcap
3. Where is ContentBox incorporated and why?
A: Singapore. They have friendly registration requirements for Foundations, which is the corporate entity for our blockchain project. It is a non-profit entity. Also, Singapore’s regulations are currently friendly towards blockchain projects.
4. Is the Box Token a utility or security? What’s the difference?
A: Utility token. You can exchange the tokens to purchase services within the ContentBox ecosystem, starting with Castbox. We are not selling any equity stake for ContentBox, which is why it’s not a security token.
5. How does the Bounty and airdrop program work?
A: For the Airdrop, you just need to join our Telegram group here and you can earn 10 points, which will translate to BOX tokens on a one to one basis. You can invite friends to the Telegram group as well. Each friend you invite, you will also earn 10 points, and this is an unlimited way to earn BOX tokens.
Contentbox Website: https://contentbox.one/
Telegram: https://t.me/BoxCommunity
Contentbox Twitter: https://twitter.com/Contentbox_one
Contentbox Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/contentboxone/
Contentbox Medium: https://medium.com/@Contentbox_one
Contentbox White Paper: https://contentbox.one/wp.pdf
Contentbox Bitcoin Talk: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3898690.0
ContentBox Airdrop: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3293511.msg34365670#msg34365670 | https://medium.com/contentbox/5-questions-with-contentbox-head-of-investor-relations-e285b0a2f21c | [] | 2018-06-06 22:10:01.798000+00:00 | ['Podcast', 'Blockchain', 'Cryptocurrency', 'Ethereum', 'Bitcoin'] |
Interview with Russ Maschmeyer | In the run up to Clearleft’s Leading Design conference in London this October, the team caught up with Facebook’s Russ Maschmeyer to discuss his background, experience and thoughts on the subject of Design Leadership.
How did you make the jump into leadership?
I wish I could say it involved pulling some kind of magic laptop out of a stone or being handed a mystical iPhone by a lady in a lake. Simply put, I had the honor of being the lone designer on a team that suddenly needed to get bigger, fast. We had just finished shipping a new product after a long push and folks seemed to think I had handled the pressure well and therefore might be the right person to grow the team. They asked and I accepted. Thus began my career in design management.
Tell us about your typical day. Is it all meetings?
I’m back to being a designer again actually, but up until recently my typical day as a manager was truly wall-to-wall meetings. Internal product reviews, external product reviews, 1:1s with my designers, 1:1s with various product partners, critiques, meetings with other design managers, leadership roundtables, meeting with other teams we partnered with, project brainstorms… The list goes on. Lunch was often whatever protein bar I could grab in a mini-kitchen on the way to my next meeting!
What was the last thing you “designed”?
I’m currently designing tools to help elected representatives connect with their constituents. Even when I was managing I never stopped designing. I was always working on something, whether it was a personal to-do-list app or a dining-room table (I caught a powerful woodworking bug).
What makes a great design leader?
I want to draw a distinction between leadership and management. What makes a great design manager is care for the people you manage. Full stop. You’ve got to spend a great deal of time thinking about where the designers on your team are at in their skill and career progression and figure out how to help them grow and stretch themselves so that they can do their best work and have impactful careers. All the best managers I’ve known really connect with their reports and form lasting bonds. What makes a great leader is different. A great design leader inspires you to fall in love with a big problem that needs solving, and pushes you further than you thought you could go toward an elegant solution. To find someone who is both a great leader and a great manager is an exceptionally rare thing.
What do most new leaders get wrong?
Too many new leaders don’t seek out enough help and guidance on how to lead. There’s this cognitive dissonance that comes with being anointed a leader. It’s so counterintuitive to seek guidance when you’re supposed to be leading. After all, you’re the leader, you’re supposed to have all the answers. But that’s exactly what all new leaders need: a lot of advice, training, and support.
How would you describe your own leadership style?
I spend a lot of my energy trying to frame complex problem spaces in approachable ways. If you can make it clear to everyone on the team what the big problem is and how it breaks down into smaller, more incremental problems to solve, then you can empower everyone to bring their best ideas to the table and coordinate efforts organically.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced managing people?
Changing the culture of a team is hard, but changing the perceived culture of a team is even harder. Once there’s a perception out there, people will self-select in or out of that culture, thereby reinforcing it and making it even more difficult to change. This is why team culture is such an important thing to stay on top of. Once it veers off track, it’s a Herculean task to put it back on course.
What one piece of advice would you give your younger self?
Don’t wing it. Ask a design manager you respect to mentor you. Take every management training course your company offers. Read at least one great tactical book on design management. The few hours/days it takes to accomplish these relatively simple tasks will pay enormous dividends.
—
Join Russ, the Clearleft team and a host of other fantastic speakers at Leading Design, 25–27 October 2017 — book your tickets athttps://2017.leadingdesignconf.com/tickets | https://medium.com/leading-design/interview-with-russ-maschmeyer-e3057f39df48 | ['Rowena Price'] | 2017-09-19 16:35:43.764000+00:00 | ['Design Leadership', 'Leadership Development', 'Leadership', 'Design', 'Interview'] |
SafeZone: A web application mapping COVID and disaster related information for your state. | The premise is simple, when disaster strikes, what is your plan? Do you even have a plan? Does your plan account for different types of disasters? With SafeZone, you will feel safer knowing you have a plan of action when the worst moments strike.
Recently, I worked with a team to build a web app, with it’s goal being to deliver ongoing disaster related information to the user for their state of residence in the US. Along with current disaster related information, the app would also deliver 7 day moving averages for COVID positivity rates.
The scope of the project could potentially be very large with thousands of cities across the US, so we wanted to deliver an MVP that would start at the state level, to eventually be expanded further to major cities across the United States.
First, we needed to find a way to gather disaster data from a reliable and timely source. We came upon an API from FEMA that served this purpose quite nicely. It had historical disaster related data as well as current ongoing disasters. Our team wrote a script that would pull the required disaster data and we linked that data to a database to be extracted later.
Next, we looked for a source that had COVID related data. We settled on an API with the CDC that provided the 7 day moving average data we used. The next portion of our CDC data was to develop a model that could predict increases in the 7 day moving average 1 month and 2 months out. Without any prior seasonal lagging periods for COVID, we used previous winter flu rates as a substitute to map our positivity increases. With the flu data and current COVID data in hand, we built a simple SARIMA time series model that would forecast out 1 and 2 month ahead of time. Now we were ready to build that app.
We debated which framework to use to get our app displayed, we had narrowed down our choices to making a simple Streamlit app, or going with a more robust solution in Flask. The flask framework won out mainly because we wanted to expand our skillset and eventually have the styling capabilities to make a beautiful app.
The first iteration produced the screenshots below, where we had a form field that would take in the state the user wanted info on and a simple team page to showcase how handsome we were.
After a long night of debugging some pesky routing issues in flask, here is a demo of version one of our app SafeZone.
We learned a lot building this application, and could definitely expand upon the app by refining our data models for COVID predictions, adding in more granular search capabilities and getting the user a more ready make plan of action to take when disaster strikes. | https://medium.com/@christianmosley/safezone-a-web-application-mapping-covid-and-disaster-related-information-for-your-state-dfd99aeff04 | ['Christian Mosley'] | 2020-11-09 06:09:20.406000+00:00 | ['Covid 19', 'Flask Framework', 'Disaster Response', 'API', 'Flask'] |
You’re Not Concerned About Fat People’s Health | You’re Not Concerned About Fat People’s Health
There’s a difference between having health risks and having actual health problems.
Photo by Will Porada on Unsplash
Every day, I’m faced with constant reminders that my body is not the right body. Sometimes, they come in casual comments I overhear at the office or the grocery store; other times, in movies or on TV. Time after time, I am told that the main reason my body is wrong is because it is unhealthy, and that concerns people.
Stop right there. You are not concerned about me, or any fat person. “Concern” implies that you care about someone’s well-being. If you cared about my health, you might ask how I was doing, or how I was feeling. You might listen to the answer I gave rather than one you’ve already fabricated in your mind.
Recently, I wrote an article about my frustration with how fat people are portrayed in our culture.
When I shared it, comments started to roll in. I expected it, the usual faux-concern that non-fat people seem to have for the “health” of fat people.
“Big heart attacks waiting to happen yuck…”
“no excuse in this day and age to be like that completely disgusting...”
“that picture of the cottage cheese lady how obscene God it’s awful.”
I wonder if anyone experiences being told they are going to die by complete strangers as much as fat people do.
At what point did it become commonplace to walk around looking at strangers and dictating that they’re on the verge of death? Why is it so hard to grasp the concept that you can’t judge someone’s health just by looking at them. I could name 100 diseases off the top of my head that can live in a body of any size. Equating “healthy” with “not fat” is fallacious at best.
Health is not a physical attribute.
Someone in a body that takes up less space can easily be unhealthy, and someone in a body like mine can be healthy. It’s impossible to look at someone and know what benefits or risks their body, health, or habits are presenting.
There are studies that show that overweight people are less likely to die from chronic conditions, that underweight patients are more likely to die from a stroke than heavier people, that obese people are more likely to survive infections and sepsis, that patients hospitalized for pneumonia are less likely to die when overweight. Despite this, the internet is remarkably absent of articles about how morally wrong it is to be skinny.
There’s a difference between having health risks and having actual health problems. Plenty of “obese” people are legitimately healthy. Many of us run, do yoga, go to the gym, eat salads, and do all the things you assume we must not be doing.
People do things every day that carry some level of risk and don’t get judged for it.
But the moment the risk has to do with being fat, it triggers this weird, aggressive compulsion to express “concern.” If you are truly concerned about public health, your focus should widen to the excessive drinking, unhealthy fad diets, opioid crisis, and disordered eating that are so prevalent in our culture. Not only are these risky behaviors accepted, they’re often lauded (at least as long as they’re being done by thin folks).
Where do you draw the line for which risky behaviors are acceptable and which are not? Should people stop driving cars or riding bicycles due to the risk of accidents? Should we not lift weights or do cross-fit to avoid the risk of injury? Should we ban professional football, recognizing the high risk of brain damage? Perhaps we should all stop eating solid foods to avoid the risk of choking. At some point, did someone give us all the right to police other people’s lives?
“listen idc about your weight if you’re big and happy then great however for you to say it doesn’t cause health issues and other complications, you stay that way and I’ll be ripped flat out ...”
“If you’re fully aware of the risks then why are you promoting them? Why are you setting people up to be unhealthy?”
“An your whole page is on about why not to fat shame, however you’re not posting anything on the risks of being overweight. You’re an advocate for obesity.”
Wait. So, in addition to being responsible to the world for making myself “healthier” (read: not as gross to look at), now I am being made responsible for the “unhealthiness” of all people? Insisting that fat people talk about the health risks of being fat is just another empty suggestion to try and control our behavior.
Saying I’m an advocate for obesity is like saying that pro-choice people are advocates for abortion. I’m not supporting or recommending that people go out and purposely become obese. Why would I ever encourage someone to do something that will cause them to be treated as sub-human? I am an advocate for respecting fellow humans, and for not judging them based on a number on a scale. Asking to be treated with the same respect and decency as any other human being is not glorifying anything.
I’ve never heard any fat person say that everyone should be fat.
I’ve certainly never said that being fat is better, more beautiful, more healthy, or more anything. I guarantee you no fat person is reading this, or the comments left below it, and starting to think that they are magically healthier because they’re fat; or that thin people are reading it and thinking, “oh it’s super healthy to be fat, maybe I’ll start packing on some pounds.”
Do you know what is actually dangerous? The attitude that fat people are unhealthy and undesirable and must change. Research shows that when people like me face fat phobia, the stress of being stigmatized and shamed on a daily basis, it makes it nearly impossible to address any health issues we do have that need attention.
You know what they say about assumptions.
Fat people must be lazy. We must be unwilling to put in the work or think it is too hard to take care of ourselves. Our diets must be shitty, and our days must be full of sloth. These ideas about what I have and have not done and how I live are 0% based on reality.
“You weight the same because you’re not willing to change.”
“a society where people think being fat is healthy is a toxic one. An frankly it’s disgusting.”
“you’ve been 300lbs for years and if that’s the case then it shows you’re not willing to loose the weight. It took me 8 months to loose 60lbs and that’s bevuse Ingot off my ass.”
“Nothing says fat is healthy you dope so believe in false hope that fat is healthy and just stick with having issues tying your shoes for fuck sakes or walking 50 yards …my God goodnight Felicia...”
“No. It’s NOT amusing. It is, in fact, detrimental to one’s health to be so overweight. It’s statistically more deadly than smoking. We hear complaints from people who are tragically overweight and addicted to food (which is more addictive than crack, for your information), namely: refined sugars and grains. Anyone can do this! But don’t listen to me. I’m just an ABS-hole. Lol.”
First of all, it’s “Goodbye, Felicia.”
Secondly, I don’t know about you, but being told I am disgusting definitely makes me want to change myself for the person who said it.
Whether or not how much I weigh puts me at risk for certain things is no one else’s business. My body has naturally sat at this weight for years. I haven’t lost weight, but I haven’t gained either. And I have seen zero evidence provided by doctors, scientists, or super concerned commenters that this isn’t just the shape my body is meant to have.
Underlying all of this is the assumption that fat people are stupid.
Couched within all of this “concern” is the not-so-subtle suggestion that I am not only unhealthy but also a complete idiot. Do you really think that fat people don’t already know they are fat, and the health risks that go with it? Of course we do. The idea that we need skinny people to “care” about our health and remind us that we aren’t acceptable is ridiculous.
I have been “obese” for years. I am fully aware of the health risks that CAN come with being overweight. Keyword: CAN. People live for decades in fat bodies all the time without getting morbidly ill or dying. I have never claimed that I’m not fat, or that I am healthier than anyone else. I will, however, claim that I know my body and I do pay attention to it.
My health isn’t anyone’s business but my own.
I could spend hours listing all of my non-concerning test results, my conversations with my doctor, the state of my body. But I won’t. For one thing, my health is nobody’s business, being fat doesn’t negate my right to privacy. The real reason is that, in the end, it won’t do any good anyway. Any mention of my health is met with something like this:
“So you’re telling me your heart doesn’t have triple the work Because of excessive weight? Yea ok you’re to funny ..plus diabetes ok Rachel i have my own views i guess”
If you were actually concerned about my health, it might help to share information about it. But the fact is, you are not concerned. You’re just offended by the way I look.
When I point any of this out, I am met with more assurance that I am going to die, and accusations that I am lying.
“Ok I’m not buying your author bullshit cardiac embolism will catch up don’t worry ..you have half of that in the grave already.”
“I’m sorry but if you’re going to come on to a pubic forum and lie about the benefits of being fat then you’re going to come across people who disagree with you. I dont want to see a world or country where being unhealthy is the norm.”
“You lack the knowledge of how being overweight effects your body. And Ibcan grantee that your or any doctor will tell you your way overweight. I’m sorry you feel the need to write such misleading articles, you’re not helping anyone your just pushing the in the direction that will soon lead to thier down fall. And no this isnt bulling its telling you the truth.”
People who don’t bully other people don’t feel the need to preface their statements with “And no, this isn’t bullying.” It’s hard to distinguish if all of this is concern trolling, or if these people are just too ignorant to understand.
When I point out the logical fallacies, they tell me that I’m brainwashed. Then they insist that I can’t tell them they are wrong because the fact that all fat people are unhealthy is their “opinion” and that opinions can’t be wrong. They tell me that they pity me because I am blind to the truth of my own situation. None of it makes any sense, being told to justify my existence, then to plead my case elsewhere because they “don’t give a shit.”
My eyes are wide open, and I can see right through this so-called concern. It’s time to stop pretending to care about the health of my fat body and admit that you just don’t like fat people. Regardless of whether being fat is healthy or not, no one has the right to treat me and people like me as jokes or as lesser humans. We deserve common decency regardless of our size. | https://medium.com/fattitude/youre-not-concerned-about-fat-people-s-health-fcdfc8b0df2c | ['Rachael Hope'] | 2020-03-11 21:18:17.142000+00:00 | ['Body Image', 'Equality', 'Culture', 'Health', 'Self'] |
An Update: How To Sell on Etsy Without Crafting, Packaging, or Shipping Anything | An Update: How To Sell on Etsy Without Crafting, Packaging, or Shipping Anything
STFU Candle Co. As Seen On Etsy
It’s been about a month and a couple of weeks since I opened my Print On Demand, Etsy shop, and all in all, I sold 12 candles totaling $253.31.
I had ZERO SALES for an entire month and it wasn’t until I made some changes that I actually started to see some movement!
We’ll discuss the changes I made here in a bit but first, what the heck is a Print On Demand, Etsy shop, anyway?
To save you some time & to quickly summarize — I work with a print on demand company called Printed Mint. They have several products that you can upload your designs to and they will produce, package, and ship items on your behalf. You will eventually integrate your Etsy shop with Printed Mint which will save you a ton of time when it comes to inputting people’s addresses and punching the order.
If you’d like to learn in detail how to set this up you can check out my last article in The Startup, “How To Sell on Etsy Without Crafting, Packaging, or Shipping Anything.”
For myself, however, I chose their candles for my creative playground. That’s because I still think it’s a popular & growing niche and it is endlessly customizable.
STFU Candle Co. Etsy Store
What about all the people who dedicate their lives to their Etsy shops?
I will be the first person to admit that MANY people work incredibly hard on Etsy by handcrafting products, managing sales, and fulfilling orders & for reals, I applaud you guys!
I even personally shop on Etsy specifically for hand-made things, BUT in my opinion, all is fair in sales & business. It really comes down to who is the better marketer at the end of the day.
If you are someone who is busy AF working a full-time job and you NEED to earn a little extra income to help keep the lights on…this might be a killer option for you! No shame in the creative game.
“But, I’m not a designer or artist, so this isn’t for me.”
I beg of thee, do not let this detail get in your way of creating. You don’t necessarily have to be a designer to design a product line. You could just be someone like myself, who possesses an endless supply of sarcasm and has access to some cool free fonts.
You can use resources like Vexels, Canva, or Photoshop. Many of them have awesome templates that are great starting points!
All that matters is you put in some research. Check out what your competitors are doing & develop something you enjoy or you know others will enjoy.
Whether you are “Stinky Candles Rock” or like my little gem, “STFU Candle Co.” I realize more than ever that the success of this business model depends entirely on how well I can build its brand.
Branding is the holy grail of all things e-comm, baby.
Advertising is amazing, but it's simply a waste to not use free platforms.
If you’re hurting for cash, you really don’t have to pay for advertising, BUT you better be creating shareable content on the reg to get the word out about your merch.
You need to spread your wings and get multi-platform & post on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, etc.
Buy a candle and send it to an influencer, what-e-v-e-r! There are no rules here.
It isn’t difficult to spread the word if you’re willing to put in some time and energy. Seeing as I am not fulfilling orders myself, managing inventory, or running to the post office, I have come to realize that really, there is no excuse to not put in some extra work/effort on the computer.
So before you decide to take on this endeavor, let's talk about the mistakes I made so you can kick my ass in your earnings, right away!
Mistake #1: Thinking Etsy’s Marketplace is just going to “work” for you. When you open your business you must realize that you’re competing with 50+ other creators doing the exact same thing. Most of which, have been on the platform for several years and have ravishing, 5-star-reviews. If you don’t believe me, just type in “funny candles” into the Etsy search bar, and you may be surprised at the hour you lose, searching for your own product.
When you open your business you must realize that you’re competing with 50+ other creators doing the exact same thing. Most of which, have been on the platform for several years and have ravishing, 5-star-reviews. If you don’t believe me, just type in “funny candles” into the Etsy search bar, and you may be surprised at the hour you lose, searching for your own product. Opportunity: Through keywords, tags, and SEO magic, surely, your work will eventually reach the people, but it wasn’t until I started using Etsy Ads that I began to see some sales. Prior to starting this, I committed that any money I made on Medium would be used to advertise, so thank you to everyone who read the last article. You helped me re-invest $78!!
Through keywords, tags, and SEO magic, surely, your work will eventually reach the people, but it wasn’t until I started using Etsy Ads that I began to see some sales. Prior to starting this, I committed that any money I made on Medium would be used to advertise, so thank you to everyone who read the last article. You helped me re-invest $78!! Mistake #2: Thinking your designs are fire and never being critical of your creativity. My initial designs were a jumble of quickly throwing together whatever the heck popped into my noggin’ and putting some pink stuff on it but really, it wasn’t enough. Even after I started advertising, I still wasn’t selling.
My initial designs were a jumble of quickly throwing together whatever the heck popped into my noggin’ and putting some pink stuff on it but really, it wasn’t enough. Even after I started advertising, I still wasn’t selling. Opportunity: Therefore, I decided to re-brand a bit. I chose 4 fonts that I could recycle from small phrases to more intimate designs. I did this because the only candle that was selling at the time was this one:
SO, get creative, test things out, and give the people what they want! Currently, my daily goal is to upload a new design every morning, right after reading the Morning Brew and checking out the NASDAQ, yo. | https://medium.com/@rivera-cassy/an-update-how-to-sell-on-etsy-without-crafting-packaging-or-shipping-anything-29e287dfa493 | ['Cassandra Rivera'] | 2020-12-22 18:52:20.514000+00:00 | ['Money', 'Entrepreneurship', 'Ecommerce', 'Make Money Online', 'Passive Income'] |
Yield farming options compared | In this post, Inal Kardanov, Waves development advocate, offers a comparative table of most popular yield farming options.
Over the past year, yield farming has become a hot topic, introducing many new users to decentralized finance (DeFi) and offering them new earning options.
During a recent YouTube stream, me and a few colleagues and experts discussed various aspects of yield farming. Now, it’s time to share our findings with you in the form of a comparative table, featuring information on yield farming options in various blockchains, including Waves, Binance Smart Chain and Curve.
What is yield farming?
Yield farming is the practice of staking or lending crypto assets in order to generate high returns or rewards in the form of additional cryptocurrency.
Yield farming was originally introduced in Ethereum apps. One of the first and most popular apps offering yield farming is Uniswap. Over the past year, the number of farming options has seen a many-fold increase. Our livestream discussion mostly focused on the best known solutions, such as SushiSwap and Curve on Ethereum, PancakeSwap on Binance Smart Chain и Swop.fi on Waves.
The comparative table features the most vital metrics.
Yield farming comparison table
\* — no impermanent loss in pools with same pegged assets and stable prices.
\** — will be implemented in the future, not available yet. | https://medium.com/wavesprotocol/yield-farming-options-compared-d944a107294a | ['Waves Tech'] | 2021-02-24 16:24:13.613000+00:00 | ['Wavesplatform', 'Farming', 'Waves', 'Charts', 'Apps'] |
The Magician | The Magician
Photo by Taya Iv on Unsplash
When his gaze falls upon her
She becomes transparent
He sees into her, and
All those pieces that have
Never before been visible
To the naked eye
When he listens
To her speak
Her voice is sweeter
Her words weightier
Her dreams livelier
Her hopes loftier
He keeps the key
Close to his heart
When he unlocks her
Out come spilling
Her secrets, her fears
Her unfulfilled desires
And then she hears
The long lost sound
Of the music
Of her own heartbeat
His touch goes deep
Deep under the layers
Of her skin
Into her being
With him, she feels
Lighter, brighter, worthier
At night, when she’s
Wrapped up in him
And him in her
Who she’s been all day
With others, disappears
And then she comes alive
As she comes undone
When he enters her land
Her mind, her body, her soul
He finds parts unknown
Undiscovered
Ignored, left behind, walked over
By other visitors
And then she glows
She shines, she sparkles
When he turns on the light
Inside of her | https://medium.com/@likewaterforchocolate/the-magician-2d196d394c88 | [] | 2020-12-24 21:32:04.647000+00:00 | ['Soulmates', 'Loss', 'Passion', 'Love And Sex'] |
Manually upgrading to Android 4.2.1 | If you are an avid Android user you will find the lack of updates to certain phone models frustrating. Manufacturers such as HTC and Samsung only support updates to supported phones and if you are one of the unlucky ones, you won’t see the amazing new features of Android.
I am one of those Desire HD owners, which despite being a top end phone of it’s time and fully capable of supporting Android 4, is not ever going to be supported.
Here is how to manually upgrade.
1) First root your phone. The Advance Ace Kit is good for Desire HD
http://tau.shadowchild.nl/aahk
2) Then unlock your phone. Easy-S Off is good for Android 2.2 or lower
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=855403
3) Visit the xda forums and download a new img rom. I am using AOSP-4.2.1 which works really well!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2003273
4) Download the Rom and the google app zip files to your computer e.g.
Rom: http://downloads.codefi.re/synergy/codefireX-Ace/cfx_ace-4.2-BR4.zip
Apps: http://goo.im/devs/KonstantinKeller/mako/gapps/gapps-4.2-JOP40C-121116.zip
5) Connect your phone via USB cable and mount the SD card as a drive. Copy the two zip files onto the route and name the Rom as update.zip.
6) Reboot your phone in Recovery Mode and first select backup phone. After backing up the phones current files, select wipe data / factory reset
7) Now select apply update.zip and wait for the files to be extracted to your phone. Then hit reboot and do the same again to apply google apps zip file to your phone. Happy days | https://medium.com/creative-technology-concepts-code/manually-upgrading-to-android-4-2-1-46f389fe54f0 | ['Kim T'] | 2018-01-29 17:01:14.275000+00:00 | ['Custom', 'Android', 'Rom', 'Developer', 'HTC'] |
To Chip Or Not To Chip | ©Jean Polanco
Pringles, created at Procter & Gamble, came into existence in 1968 to counter greasy, fragile potato chips that were available in the market at the time. And indeed, a lot of research went into it. The shape of each piece is a hyperbolic paraboloid — a three dimensional shape with two curvatures that intersect in such a way that the stress required to crack it is more than the generic potato chip. And the can is specifically designed to accommodate this unique shape without crumbling. So much research and technology goes into this delicious snack. But hold on!
What do you call this snack? If you say potato chips, you’re absolutely right!
No, you are, in fact, absolutely wrong.
Actually, I don’t quite know for sure. Well, I don’t think the creators know either.
Before calling this confusion my lack of knowledge and/or certainty on the subject, let us try to understand where I am coming from. | https://medium.com/kakofonie/to-chip-or-not-to-chip-bb309ed58b18 | ['Akshay Jayakumar'] | 2020-12-25 03:26:57.491000+00:00 | ['Lawsuit', 'Wacky History', 'Satire', 'History', 'Capitalism'] |
A walking tour of Oxford’s social enterprises | A walking tour of Oxford’s social enterprises
Oxford is a vibrant city — its diversity and enterprising spirit are enhanced by the presence of two world-class universities, and an ecosystem of institutions supporting purposeful businesses.
This week we are celebrating business as a force for good by showcasing some amazing enterprises that need your support more than ever! While Lockdown 2 means that it’s not the time for walking tours, some of these businesses provide essential services, and some of them have an online offer too. Check out the map for full details and read on to find out how you can support these businesses during a difficult time.
Buying your essentials from purposeful businesses
OxUnboxed at Oxford Hub continues to provide a range of goodies at the non-profit refill shop in Little Clarendon Street. The perfect opportunity to join the plastic-free November campaign, and do your day-to-day shopping while taking care of the planet.
Coffee and beer may also be on your list of essential goods to get through this lockdown. Check out the Tap Social shop or pop by for a coffee with social impact at Yellow Submarine.
Organising your Christmas shopping with social impact
The Shop at The Old Fire Station has an incredible online selection of feel-good gifts from indie makers.
Fairtrade at St Michael's is your one-stop fair trade shop in the heart of Oxford. They are offering a click-and-collect service to help you get ready for holiday gifts too!
Staying active, staying well | https://blog.oxfordhub.org/a-walking-tour-of-oxfords-social-enterprises-bd68d22bba4c | ['Oxford Hub'] | 2020-11-17 14:34:45.253000+00:00 | ['Social Enterprise', 'Oxford', 'Maps', 'Walking Tour'] |
Streaming Service, Philo, Donates $1 Million Dollars In Ad Impression For 20+ Black Owned Businesses And Social Justice Organizations | Popular entertainment and lifestyle streaming TV service, Philo, is proud to announce its commitment to support Black-owned businesses and social justice organizations by donating $1M dollars worth of ad impressions in 2020. Diversity, equity and inclusion are critical pillars of Philo as a company, and in light of recent events, Philo has used its platform to showcase organizations and businesses that uplift the Black community.
As a streaming service with more than 60 channels, the businesses and organizations have a prominent platform to showcase their work and gain awareness. The ad campaign is featured on Philo’s platform and inserted on channels like A&E, aspireTV, BET, CLEO TV, Food Network, HGTV, OWN, TV One and many more networks. The ad partners are inserted into the “local insertion” advertisement break. This ad break is traditionally used by cable networks and streaming services for their own ad sales placements, therefore, advertisement inclusion does not add extra commercial time for viewers. Beyond the initial ad commitment, Philo’s team has been working with some of the organizations and businesses to create ads utilizing the streaming service’s in-house design team.
“In light of the recent events, we decided to use our platform as a place for good. We opened up our ad inventory space to provide space for discussions about systemic injustice, raise awareness for social good organizations, and provide Black business owners with an opportunity to promote their businesses free-of-charge. Philo is truly TV for everyone, and we want our ad presence on the platform to be uplifting and include diverse representation.” Reed Barker, Head of Advertising, Philo.
Philo’s partners include:
With this latest commitment, Philo hopes to not only support those already hard at work, but also inspire a new wave of change agents. Philo’s ethos of “TV for Everyone” includes valuing the broader community and recognizing the responsibility to help accelerate progress by actively dissolving systemic inequity across the board. Some of that will be achieved through initiatives that align with Philo’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) principles. These include:
A partnership with the National Urban League and The Gathering Spot to create a two-part “Power Lunch Series: How To Build Your Brand”
Working with programming partners and the Ad Council to air anti-racism PSAs across our platform
A commitment to Black-owned content, including the addition of new channel offering, TV One
For more information, check out the Philo website. | https://medium.com/@writerjudy7/streaming-service-philo-donates-1-million-dollars-in-ad-impression-for-20-black-owned-3d2dca985bc0 | ['Judith Davis'] | 2020-11-12 17:08:28.590000+00:00 | ['Black Owned', 'Social Justice', 'Racial Justice', 'Streaming Service', 'Philo'] |
How to Work Smarter and Not Work Harder: 10 Things to Get Rid of to Work Effectively | “Don’t work hard,” my employer once told me.
I wasn’t sure what he was getting at. I figured he’d elaborate on his statement. But he didn’t — he just left.
In an attempt to salvage his useful statement, there’s this article.
Here, we’ll discuss how to work smarter and not work harder. Like the post before this, the goal is to help you maximize your time and increase productivity while working from home.
Why learn how to work smarter and not work harder?
Look at the image below.
(Image credit: PushToLearn)
Out of the three workers who were pushing obstacles to clear their paths, you can see who the smart one was: the one who was ahead. And this one who was ahead knows how to work smarter and not work harder.
Like their fellow workers, the one who was ahead had to push an obstacle, too. But unlike their fellow workers, they didn’t settle for what was a mediocre and acceptable approach — even if they were the only one doing it.
Instead, they thought outside of the box and figured out a way to be more effective in pushing the obstacle. What they did here was get rid of the edges of the square to transform the obstacle into a circle. And they did that so they could cover more ground — and faster.
A circle (round object) is easier to push. You can roll it around, too.
Want to be like the smart worker and cover more ground — and faster, too? Then revise the way you work. And learn how to work smarter and not work harder.
So say goodbye to an acceptable way of doing tasks. Think outside of the box and get rid of things that slow you down, too.
Here are points on why you should learn how to work smarter and not work harder:
Maximum control of your personal resources — Your energy is a personal resource you need to monitor. By working the smart way, you can use your energy better and not lose control over everything you do
— Your energy is a personal resource you need to monitor. By working the smart way, you can use your energy better and not lose control over everything you do Improved focus — Your mind is at its sharpest when you work smart. You have better focus, alertness, and memorization skills
— Your mind is at its sharpest when you work smart. You have better focus, alertness, and memorization skills More time — Time is arguably the most important resource. And part of working smarter is about having strong time management skills
— Time is arguably the most important resource. And part of working smarter is about having strong time management skills Increased output — Your productivity is up if you work smart. This means you can produce more work and be more valuable
— Your productivity is up if you work smart. This means you can produce more work and be more valuable Better quality of life — And if you tie them all up — control, focus, time, and output, you’re a clear winner if you know how to work smarter and not work harder. You have fewer health problems (or none at all), improved living conditions, and more
How to work smarter and not work harder: 10 things to get rid of
Working a 9–5 job yet unable to take advantage of the perks of having a regular job?
Then it’s time to make changes and know how to work smarter and not work harder.
Here are things you need to purge from your daily schedule:
Toxic mindset
1. Negative attitude
Seeing the world in a half-glass empty perspective has no good effects.
Here’s a chart containing texts organized in three columns. In the first column are attitude traits that suggest negativity in your personality (negative trait). These traits don’t help you work smarter in any way and therefore, they need to go.
Next to the negative traits column are traits you can replace them with (positive trait). And next to that column are thoughts that suggest positivity (positive thought) as they relate to the corresponding negative trait.
Negative trait
Blaming others
Inability to be wrong
Lying
Gossiping
Prejudiced
Positive trait
Accountability
Non-egoism
Honesty
Respect & professionalism
Acceptance
Positive thought
“Sorry. This is all my fault!”
“You’re right.”
“The truth is…”
“The issue isn’t my concern.”
“That’s alright.”
2. Regret
I’m sure you’ve heard the classic saying about not crying over spilt milk.
It’s a classic because (1) it’s true and (2) it contains wisdom. And like the classic saying advocates, let go of things you clearly you have zero control over. That’s how to work smarter and not work harder.
Specifically, don’t dwell on past mistakes, loss, and failures. If you’ve previously made a career-defining mistake, for instance, cry over it for a bit. Don’t keep berating yourself for it, though.
If you insist on dwelling on past mistakes, you’re not doing yourself a favor for these reasons:
You can’t do anything about them — You can’t turn back time. So while you could have done better, you can’t do better
You can’t turn back time. So while you could have done better, you can’t do better It decreases your self-esteem and increases your self-doubt — It challenges how much you currently believe in yourself
— It challenges how much you currently believe in yourself It causes unnecessary stress and anxiety — You end up with useless worries
You end up with useless worries It affects your objectivity and ability to make solid decisions — You’re likely to reject the idea of taking calculated risks. And if you make decisions, they’re linked to the fear of failure
You’re likely to reject the idea of taking calculated risks. And if you make decisions, they’re linked to the fear of failure It discourages you from chasing after opportunities in the present — You’re less mindful of the present. Rather than mind what is real and in front of you, you’re focusing on lost opportunities
Instead, acknowledge the importance of forward thinking, move on, and don’t look back.
How you can push away regret and be a forward thinker:
Admit your faults — Be accountable. As difficult as it can be, come to terms that past mistakes happened because you made them happen
Be accountable. As difficult as it can be, come to terms that past mistakes happened because you made them happen Acknowledge the experience (and lesson) — Find the silver lining from that circumstance. For example, if you didn’t get rejected for a job before, would you have the dream career you currently have?
Find the silver lining from that circumstance. For example, if you didn’t get rejected for a job before, would you have the dream career you currently have? Learn to forgive yourself — So you screwed up? Remind yourself that you’ll do your best to prevent it from happening again.
— So you screwed up? Remind yourself that you’ll do your best to prevent it from happening again. Focus on improving yourself — and not impressing other people — Your mistakes could’ve affected other people, too. But tell yourself that you can’t control how they respond to you in the future. you can, however, control your own responses
Your mistakes could’ve affected other people, too. But tell yourself that you can’t control how they respond to you in the future. you can, however, control your own responses See the bigger picture — Look at your mistakes as bumps in the road. Don’t stop driving to where you truly want to get in life just because you encountered bumps along the way.
3. Useless thoughts
You are what you think. And if you think about useless thoughts… — why don’t you finish this statement?
If you think about knowing how to work smarter and not work harder, you’ll know how to work smarter and not work harder, too.
So don’t entertain useless thoughts. They are what they are: useless.
Below is a chart featuring two columns.
The first column (useless thought) contains a list of useless thoughts. Many people entertain these thoughts, and because they can’t provide help in any way, they need to go. Next to it is a column that contains a list of replacement thoughts (what to replace it with).
Useless thought
“I can’t do it.”
“I’m not as blessed as others.”
“I’ll probably fail.”
“I’m not smart enough.”
“Nobody cares about me”
What to replace it with
“I can do it, as long as I work.”
“Great things are bound to come, as long as I work.”
“I’ll succeed, as long as I work.”
“I am smart, as long as I work.”
“I’ll matter, as long as I work.”
Notice how the statements in the 2nd column are contingent to working? They all end with “…as long as I work.”
Well, that’s because you’re the one who steers your thoughts towards a certain direction. And if you want to lead your thoughts to the right direction, you have to do your end of the bargain: work your way to get them there.
Apart from replacing useless thoughts with useful statements, here’s a list of what else you can do:
Talk back and challenge them — Provoke them until you feel you’re in charge. For example, to challenge the useless thought that you can’t do it, ask why you can’t do it.
— Provoke them until you feel you’re in charge. For example, to challenge the useless thought that you can’t do it, ask why you can’t do it. Set deadlines to when they need to go — This is a bit like how you deal with regret. Acknowledge the useless thoughts for a bit (for example, only 10 minutes) then let go and move on
This is a bit like how you deal with regret. Acknowledge the useless thoughts for a bit (for example, only 10 minutes) then let go and move on Read them out loud — Or use online voice readers read them to you. Hearing them will make you realize they don’t make sense
— Or use online voice readers read them to you. Hearing them will make you realize they don’t make sense Use the “Write, Crumple, and Throw Away!” method — This is an extent of a visualization exercise where you write down a useless thought on a piece of paper, then crumple it, and then throw it away for disposal. The idea is that you can see how useless a thought is if it’s no longer with you.
This is an extent of a visualization exercise where you write down a useless thought on a piece of paper, then crumple it, and then throw it away for disposal. The idea is that you can see how useless a thought is if it’s no longer with you. Take a deep breath and re-evaluate — You might only be entertaining these useless thoughts because you’re overwhelmed. If so, calm down and look at the situation again
Smaller priorities
4. Excess tasks
Like the picture above shows, having too much can be overwhelming.
That said, having too many tasks can be overwhelming. And the ability to deal with all those tasks or multitask is admirable. But if you don’t excel at multitasking, focus on a single task.
There’s nothing wrong with having an inability to multitask. Where there is wrong is telling yourself that you excel at it when you don’t.
A secret in knowing how to work smarter and not work harder? Accepting what you can and can’t do.
The reasons to avoid multitasking are a lot. Here’s a list of five of them:
It stresses you — Researchers from the University of California — Irvine measured heart rates of employees with access to multiple tasks. And they concluded that these people have higher heart rates and were more stressed
Researchers from the University of California — Irvine measured heart rates of employees with access to multiple tasks. And they concluded that these people have higher heart rates and were more stressed It doesn’t save time — Jumping back and forth from one task to another slows you down. It takes you longer to finish compared to dedicating your attention to one task before doing the other task
— Jumping back and forth from one task to another slows you down. It takes you longer to finish compared to dedicating your attention to one task before doing the other task It increases the chance of mistakes — Without 100% focus, you’re prone to committing mistakes. And because you’re more stressed, you’re also prone to mental weakness
— Without 100% focus, you’re prone to committing mistakes. And because you’re more stressed, you’re also prone to mental weakness It blindsides you and keeps you from obvious opportunities — Because you’re minding multiple tasks, you won’t have time to see the opportunity right in front of you
— Because you’re minding multiple tasks, you won’t have time to see the opportunity right in front of you It negatively affects judgement and memory — Because you’re busy minding more tasks than usual, you won’t have time to be at your sharpest. The result is poor judgment and the ability to easily forget
Below is a chart that contains two columns.
The first column (multitask list) acknowledges the ways a person tends to multi-tasks while working from home. The next column (how to do the task better) points out the “better” way to attend to the tasks.
Multitask list
Work > movie > work > TV show
Work #1 > work #2 > work #1 > work #2
Play > clean > work > clean > work
Work #1 > work #2 > work #3 > work #1
Work > talk to friend > do chore > work
How to do the task better
Prioritize work then watch movie + TV show
Prioritize work #1. Once done, do work #2
Prioritize work. Then play and clean
Prioritize one type of work. Then do the other types
Prioritize one task. Then do the others
Notice that every item on the second column begins with the word “prioritize”?
That’s because you need to prioritize.
Pick one task and put it above other tasks. If the other tasks you have are inessential, get rid of them. That’s how you do it!
It’s one of the smartest ways to combat problems associated with multitasking. And it’s how to work smarter and not work harder.
5. Excess habits
Like excess tasks, excess habits can drag you down. Hard as it may be, you need to get rid of them.
It’s understandable to struggle with this because habits can be hard to break. And according to the researchers from the University of California — San Diego, science agrees.
To elaborate on this, the researchers performed experiments (involving mice) and discovered:
“…the brain’s circuits for habit- and goal-directed action compete for control in the area of the brain that makes decisions. [And moreover], neurochemicals called endocannabinoids allow for habit to take over.”
So yes, it’s hard. But with a relentless determination to know how to work smarter and not work harder, breaking habits is doable.
Here’s a list of excess habits that need to go:
Power naps — Limit naps to 10–20 minutes. Napping for more than that will make you tired and increase your urge to sleep for hours
— Limit naps to 10–20 minutes. Napping for more than that will make you tired and increase your urge to sleep for hours Drinking too much water — Use this Water Intake Calculator to multiply your weight by 2/3. And the result is the amount of water that you’re advised to drink daily
— Use this Water Intake Calculator to multiply your weight by 2/3. And the result is the amount of water that you’re advised to drink daily Eating out of schedule — Getting food into your system is vital. But eating too much, too often can intervene with work. The World Health Organization also advocates against this habit because it leads to diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and a range of health problems
— Getting food into your system is vital. But eating too much, too often can intervene with work. The World Health Organization also advocates against this habit because it leads to diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and a range of health problems Repeated email checks — Schedule 30 minutes of your day for email checks. Then use a tool like Freedom to block other unhelpful apps, websites, or even the internet
— Schedule 30 minutes of your day for email checks. Then use a tool like Freedom to block other unhelpful apps, websites, or even the internet Repeated news checks — The same is true with the habit of repeatedly checking the news. Current affairs may be important, but checks need to be properly strategized
6. Unwanted people
Having family, friends, and colleagues around when you’re working? It’s not how to work smarter and not work harder because it’s counterproductive!
I dislike unannounced visits and anything that would make me lose my momentum and disrupt how I work. This is not just me.
Among the findings in a recent study conducted by a team at Stanford addresses this (unwanted people) as one of the pitfalls of working from home. According to the study, being around an unsuitable environment can lead to productivity slump and a threat in economic growth.
So if you find yourself in the company of unwanted people, act proactively and tell them to go away.
Here’s a list of reasons unwanted people need to go:
They drain energy — Rather than invest energy in your work, you give it to them
Rather than invest energy in your work, you give it to them They eat up time — You also give them your time — time you could spend on attending to work
You also give them your time — time you could spend on attending to work They may provide unimportant input — They’ll talk about matters that are unimportant at that moment. This leads to — albeit slightly — changing your original perspective
— They’ll talk about matters that are unimportant at that moment. This leads to — albeit slightly — changing your original perspective They make you lose focus — They stand in your way. Rather than put undivided focus into your work, they’re around to cause distractions
— They stand in your way. Rather than put undivided focus into your work, they’re around to cause distractions They make you impractical — Peer pressure is real. They can pressure you into taking an irresistible offer that you’ll only regret soon
How to tell unwanted people to go:
Set a time limit for when to hang out with them and when they need to leave — Inform them you can only accommodate them for a limited period. Be firm about it
— Inform them you can only accommodate them for a limited period. Be firm about it Ignore them — Soon, they’ll get the message you’re busy
— Soon, they’ll get the message you’re busy Invite them to go somewhere else without you — Direct them someplace entertaining
— Direct them someplace entertaining Assign them a task — Let them help you lessen your workload. Think of it as outsourcing
— Let them help you lessen your workload. Think of it as outsourcing Tell them directly — Be kind about it or give it to them straight. Inform them of the situation — that you’re working and their presence can distract you from getting work done
However you do it, get it done. And don’t make a big deal about it.
Turning people away, especially your favorite people, isn’t always easy. They might even get offended in the process.
Assure yourself, though, you don’t mean to offend them. You’re simply looking out for yourself — for someone who needs to be productive. And what you’re doing is a surefire way how to work smarter and not work harder.
Ineffectiveness
7. Noise
Here’s another thing I hate. I hate noise so much — and that’s putting it mildly.
It stands in the way of knowing how to work smarter and not work harder.
Here’s also a limited list of why I hate it:
It wastes time — Mindless chatter and loud street noises are unnecessary. Listening to hours of noise leads to hours of unproductivity
— Mindless chatter and loud street noises are unnecessary. Listening to hours of noise leads to hours of unproductivity It makes you less efficient — Noise impairs cognitive functioning and negatively affects performance. It makes less alert, less energetic, and less sensible
— Noise impairs cognitive functioning and negatively affects performance. It makes less alert, less energetic, and less sensible It causes distraction — I get distracted easily and I’m protective of my ability to stay focused. Noises get in the way of that ability
I get distracted easily and I’m protective of my ability to stay focused. Noises get in the way of that ability It increases blood pressure and stress level — Plus, a range of health problems that can go away in an instant
Plus, a range of health problems that can go away in an instant It provokes annoyance — I can’t stand noise. And I refuse to invest time, energy, et cetera in noisy things and people
Think I’m the only one who hates noises? The simple and straightforward answer is no.
Noises even have a fatal effect on certain animals — dolphins, for one.
Besides, anybody who wants to concentrate, work, be productive, et cetera can back me up on this.
And if you need something eloquent, the word you’re looking for is misophonia. According to the source, compared to people without the condition, people with misophonia:
“…showed a physical difference in the frontal lobe between the cerebral hemispheres. [It also] evoke a heightened physiological response with increased heart rate and sweating.” Hindustan Times
And whether you have misophonia is not the primary concern. To know how to work smarter and not work harder, get rid of excess noises.
Here are actionable ways to make it happen:
Move to a closed room — Cover windows with drapes, put rugs, and use other soundproofing methods. And shut the door
— Cover windows with drapes, put rugs, and use other soundproofing methods. And shut the door Use earphones / headphon e s — Visit our shop to find dynamic earphones and headphones. Noise-cancellation features is another smart way to go
— Visit our shop to find dynamic earphones and headphones. Noise-cancellation features is another smart way to go Drown out the noise — Listen to playlists that can amplify your focus and softly shoo away undesirable sound. This is my go-to “focus playlist”
Listen to playlists that can amplify your focus and softly shoo away undesirable sound. This is my go-to “focus playlist” Invest in sound-friendly items — Fortunately, we exist in an age when technology offers practical solutions. Examples of sound-friendly are acoustic wall panels, noise-friendly flooring, and modern furniture with sound absorbers
— Fortunately, we exist in an age when technology offers practical solutions. Examples of sound-friendly are acoustic wall panels, noise-friendly flooring, and modern furniture with sound absorbers Settle with noise-makers — Talk to the noise-maker and if all else fails, report to authorities. An effective approach to get rid of noisy people with zero common sense is to call the attention of more qualified officials
8. Defective items
A memorable quote that compelled me to watch House of Cards is a line that Kevin Spacey’s Frank Underwood spoke during the first moments of the pilot episode: “I have no patience for useless things.”
Here’s a clip of that scene:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHpXOAfLUFQ
Haunting, right?
And it’s also from House of Cards where I learned all about ruthless pragmatism. It’s an ends-driven mentality where you’re all about getting from one point to the next without regard for anything in between.
If you want to know how to work smarter and not work harder, you need this mentality. You need to be ruthlessly pragmatic.
Let’s apply it in this article’s discussion.
Endgame = increase productivity
Ruthless pragmatism approach = get rid of anything (items and people) to increase productivity
How to get rid of defective items:
Throw away — You can’t use it anymore. Don’t let it occupy space
— You can’t use it anymore. Don’t let it occupy space Replace — Get something better — something that can help you work faster and easier
— Get something better — something that can help you work faster and easier Donate — Find a good cause and let somebody benefit from it
— Find a good cause and let somebody benefit from it Sell — Propose it to your neighbor or better yet, let the online marketplaces take it from you. Ebay, for example, is an online marketplace that accepts practically any item
— Propose it to your neighbor or better yet, let the online marketplaces take it from you. Ebay, for example, is an online marketplace that accepts practically any item Barter — Exchange it for useful goods. You can find many barter communities on social networks
9. Self-doubt
“Confidence is everything.”
Not sure who said this first. But I’ve read about it and seen it on films at least a dozen times.
And I agree! A plethora of studies (including this one) agrees, too.
According to studies, building your confidence is how to work smarter and not work harder. It’s like having an inner voice that never leaves you alone and persistently tells you that YOU CAN DO IT.
If you lack confidence, you’ll survive. But is surviving all you want to do with your life?
Rhetorical question, that one. So build your confidence, eliminate self-doubt, and never look back.
Here’s a list of more reasons why you need to get rid of self-doubt:
It won’t attract success — It discourages you from investing in a grand strategy and focusing on the big picture. And because of short-sightedness, you won’t go far and succeed
It discourages you from investing in a grand strategy and focusing on the big picture. And because of short-sightedness, you won’t go far and succeed It makes you afraid — It keeps you from taking risks. And it forces you to settle for complacency
— It keeps you from taking risks. And it forces you to settle for complacency It lets you overlook your potential — The inability to believe in what you can achieve prevents you from chasing great things in life. It also makes you think less of yourself
— The inability to believe in what you can achieve prevents you from chasing great things in life. It also makes you think less of yourself It makes you say “no” to promising opportunities — Even if promising opportunities are staring you in the eye, you turn down any hints of moving forward. You do so because you don’t believe you’re deserving of great things
Even if promising opportunities are staring you in the eye, you turn down any hints of moving forward. You do so because you don’t believe you’re deserving of great things It messes with your thinking — It makes you question what you believe in. The result is an unreliable and manipulatable perspective
And now that we’ve established self-doubt prevents you from knowing how to work smarter and not work harder, it needs to go.
Here’s how you can get rid of self-doubt:
Surround yourself with positive people — The people you spend hours can affect your work and mental performance. So rid yourself of toxic and hang out with people who are smarter than you
— The people you spend hours can affect your work and mental performance. So rid yourself of toxic and hang out with people who are smarter than you Let go of personal judgments — Allow yourself to be great. And don’t recall past incompetence
— Allow yourself to be great. And don’t recall past incompetence Do a power stance — Harvard Business School professor Amy Cuddy says they can boost confidence in an instant. Example of confidence-building power stances are The Wonder Woman, The Obama, and The Loomer
— Harvard Business School professor Amy Cuddy says they can boost confidence in an instant. Example of confidence-building power stances are The Wonder Woman, The Obama, and The Loomer Subscribe for courses — Check out Udemy’s self-esteem courses. You may also dig up how successful people do it
— Check out Udemy’s self-esteem courses. You may also dig up how successful people do it Use a simple battle cry — My go-to battle cries are Nike’s “Just do it.” and Yoda’s “Do or do not. There is no try.”
10. Poor communication skills
A failure to communicate effectively is a failure to get someone to do something effectively. Poor communication also causes problems — both small and unredeemable ones.
A simple tip to make sure communication between two parties goes flawlessly? Cut out the middle man, the mediator, or any third party.
The primary reason is that the middle man can say a different version of the narrative that they needed to relay. Or they may sugarcoat statements or soften/toughen the blow.
Worst case scenario is that they’ll relay information that isn’t even remotely close to what was said.
Below is an image that depicts that.
In the image, the woman interprets the traffic lights. She tells the man what the colors of the lights mean. She relates it to the alert levels of her boss when in fact, her boss didn’t say anything about them.
(Image credit: TimeCamp)
Here’s a list of things you also need to get rid of to polish your communication skills:
The urge to “just listen” — Listen inattentively and understand — not so you could reply. Cliché, maybe
— Listen inattentively and understand — not so you could reply. Cliché, maybe Distractions — Don’t let your mind wander — to your phone, TV, or to another person. be mindful of the one speaking to you
Don’t let your mind wander — to your phone, TV, or to another person. be mindful of the one speaking to you Assumptions - Don’t get lost in probable actions. Instead, focus on what a person is telling you
Don’t get lost in probable actions. Instead, focus on what a person is telling you Biases — Let go of biases or any judgmental view of a person. Instead, listen to them as if you’ve met for the first time
— Let go of biases or any judgmental view of a person. Instead, listen to them as if you’ve met for the first time The need to give advice — Unsolicited advice can be irritating to hear. Never advise anybody unless they’re asking for your advice
Final thoughts
When my employer told me not to work hard, it wasn’t long before I figured it out.
I figured he meant it not as words of encouragement to go around and be lazy. Rather, he was telling me to be smart every time I work. And while he didn’t explicitly tell me how to work smarter and not work harder, I learned a valuable lesson nevertheless.
A way I applied this lesson from him? I got rid of things I didn’t need/needed less — cold turkey-style. I made a list and based on that list, I adjusted my priorities and eliminated certain things. Specifically, I eliminated the things I pointed out above. And this process worked for me.
Hopefully, it will work for you, as well. And hopefully, it can help you know how to work smarter and not work harder, too!
If you like this post, feel free to share it to other people on social media. There are buttons below that can help you do that easily.
(Original post: https://sylareight.tech/how-to-work-smarter-and-not-work-harder/) | https://medium.com/@sylareight/how-to-work-smarter-and-not-work-harder-10-things-to-get-rid-of-to-work-effectively-eaf7507e007e | ['Sylar Eight'] | 2020-12-27 12:29:10.222000+00:00 | ['WFH', 'Work From Home', 'Work Smarter'] |
App Store Optimization — How To Research ASO Keywords — For IOS Development & Android Development | Hi Everyone,
One of the major reasons why many people are not successful with getting people to download their apps is that no one sees their apps.
Many people spend thousands of dollar and countless hours to develop their app, but when it comes to marketing their app they do very little or nothing at all.
In today’s lesson I am going show you how you can drive organic traffic to your app for free.
Here is the lesson:
Feel free to comment with any question or comment that you may have, and I will do my very best to answer.
Curriculum:
Lesson 1: The Secret To Creating A New App Every Single Day
Lesson 2: How To Find WINNING App Ideas
Lesson 3: Create Your Own App Without Knowing Code & Design
Thanks for watching and reading.
Amir
p.s: you can watch more free lessons here
p.p.s: the full course is available here | https://medium.com/@askinstructor/app-store-optimization-how-to-research-aso-keywords-for-ios-development-android-development-46843f0d03b | ['Amir Rimer'] | 2020-12-19 13:13:09.091000+00:00 | ['Android App Development', 'Apps', 'Apple', 'App Development', 'Android'] |
Data Science: The voice of Data — Critical insights in disguise of a fun-filled story | Data Science: The voice of Data — Critical insights in disguise of a fun-filled story
Cast: Data Science as a celebrity and Data Scientists as her fans
Authors: Ipsita Dey, Martha Garcia, Saumya Dwivedi
She is the most popular celebrity, as of 2019, endorsing almost every brand in this world and compelling millions to believe in her. Her willingness to learn and her analytical insights has helped the world achieve what seemed impossible a few years ago. A fabulous decision maker, she is none other than Data Science.
We had the opportunity to interview three of her ardent followers, aka real world Data Scientists, who convey their love for Data Science through their manifold contributions to this field. Intrigued by their journey, we decided to write this blog and share their perspective of Data Science, thus unveiling the real “ her ” beyond her celebrity status.
O ur Interview Panelists:
Ehsan Amjadian: A Senior Data Scientist in AI Dept. of one of the leading Canadian Banks and Head of research Toronto Deep Learning series(TDLS).
Babak Samareh: A senior Manager in Cyber Analytics in a financial institution and a founder of NeuroBlot, a health care company, and TouchDev, an educational app development company
Sahar Rahmani: Director of Joint Operations Security Centre Analytics in a leading Canadian bank.
Well! Its time to know more about their work, their passion and more importantly why they chose Data Science !!!!
Why enroll for a masters [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.master-and-more.eu/en/why-enrol-for-a-masters/
Why Data Science?? Why so many fans ??
“ There’s a bit of me everywhere, you just need to stand and stare ” — DataScience
Data Science has marked its presence in almost every industry in the world. Probably that’s why she is the talk of today’s tech-savvy world. Here’s how data science inspired our panelists and how they use data science in their daily life.
Ehsan Amjadian: Data Science has always been his passion. With a Ph.D. in deep learning, machine learning, and machine vision and more than a decade of experience, Ehsan Amjadian, researches on cutting-edge technologies related to deep learning and machine learning to build effective business solutions in DNA, the heart of Artificial Intelligence of a leading bank.
Not only does he enjoy learning and implementing but also believes that transferring knowledge is his duty. With this vision, he also heads TDLS which is a discussion series designed to enlighten data science practitioners with highly advanced techniques in machine learning, deep learning and at times quantum computing.
Babak Samareh: A former professor of the University of Toronto and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering with a specialization on Numerical Simulation recollects how he decided to become a Data Scientist.
“At some point in my life, believe it or not, I got tired of engineering and I decided to try new ventures and back in that time Data Science was a hot topic. However, it was not the hype or the buzz word but the extensive use of data science in my own startup NeuroBlot that helped me realize the potential in data science and hence I decided to become a data scientist.”
As a founder of NeuroBlot, a health care company, recognized as one of the top 10 companies by UTEST and MaRS for 2017 cohort, he uses data science to analyze anonymized patient data, particularly from Kentucky hospital and social media to detect early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. He is currently working on an assignment which would enable patients to run tests from home, thus cutting down the time and cost of patient visits to the hospital.
As a senior manager in a bank, he enjoys detecting anomalies in financial transactions with advanced machine learning and graphical models and he likes how the power of predictive modeling is being used for trading in banks.
Sahar Rahmani: An astrophysicist by education, she happened to implement big data analysis and machine learning on astronomical data during her Ph.D. and she was amazed to realize that data science is a “ wonderful storyteller ”. In order to explore data science in greater detail, she joined a leading Bank’s cyber fusion group. She now leads a team of Data Scientists and helps the bank detect cyber threats that cannot be detected using traditional techniques. She also says that data science is being extensively used in banks for providing better and faster services to customers, insurance, security purposes and so on.
Teacher’s Brain Blog [Digital image]. (2018, August 28). Retrieved March 15, 2019, from https://teachersbrain.com/setting-high-expectations-for-students/
No matter where she goes, success follows….but are there times when even she fails to perform well?
“Well!!! most of the times”, was the unanimous answer.
“You begin with a hypothesis, run your experiments, and unfortunately you fail. Each time you fail, you learn from the mistakes, update your hypothesis and iterate the process multiple times till you have good enough results to prove that either you have accomplished the mission, or the target is not achievable”, they continued.
“Once I was looking at some time series data according to which the business sector should have been out of business five years ago.” — recollects Ehsan
“Usually there are two aspects: Why is the model not performing well or why am I seeing such erroneous results. In either case, the agile model is preferred as it supports development in small pieces and continuous updates. If it’s a performance issue, you prefer to fail fast so that you can update your model accordingly. In order to tackle the second aspect, you need to have regular stand up calls to review your model and verify the results with domain experts. Many a times data is recorded in different ways for different domains and hence things which make sense in data science may not make sense to business and vise-versa. So, the time series data that I was talking of earlier is a good example of such issues.” — Dr. Amjadian
We can all agree that the key to boosting the performance of any industry lies in the ability to understand the data well. But what’s the best way to do that. Can Data science help us out?
Is Data Science the voice of data?
“Traditionally businesses were operating according to the intuition and opinions of domain experts and most of the time they were correct. However, this takes objectivity away from what can be done. If we can mathematically analyze the data and show the insights through visualization, then business would be amazed by the results, and that’s the power of data science.”, — Ehsan.
What are the typical data problems that Data Science is afraid of?
“The challenge is that there is always work to do with data and that would never go away entirely. Many a times data quality itself is an issue, for example, some information is missing and there is almost no way we find the necessary information. That is a barrier for Data Science. Another challenge is that given the nature of data, it limits the application of certain processes.”, says Ehsan
Ehsan suggests that teams should work on a collaborative approach wherein the stakeholders should discuss the problem instead of the final product that they want, as many a times there is a huge gap between the two.
Babak furthers the suggestion by bringing out the problems that data scientists normally face while gathering data.
“Data collection and data wrangling in big organizations is quite difficult because there is no unified platform for doing so. Each data source has different data custodians and stakeholders and hence accessing the data involves a lengthy procedure of walking down the lane of different rules and regulations” — Babak
He hopes that in the near future every industry would have an additional layer of infrastructure that would do the heavy lifting of data collection, cleaning, and making it available to other teams, since lots of data science teams are emerging and everyone needs to follow the same tedious process to begin their analysis.
Data Science is flamboyant and enigmatic. As our panelist demonstrate the different shades of Data Science, our urge to work with her becomes stronger. However, the question remains; can we reach out to her? Do we have the required expertise?
Do we have the expertise to work with her?
According to Ehsan, a data scientist’s treasury must sparkle with jewels like
Mathematics — good understanding of the Math behind machine learning
good understanding of the Math behind machine learning Machine Learning — A good understanding of Machine Learning and Deep Learning techniques
A good understanding of Machine Learning and Deep Learning techniques Big Data — Big Data programming techniques
Big Data programming techniques Visualization — Visualization is a good storyteller. It helps to communicate the findings to higher management in a better way, thus adding greater value to it.
Visualization is a good storyteller. It helps to communicate the findings to higher management in a better way, thus adding greater value to it. Communication skills — Good Communication skills is a daily part of data science job.
Good Communication skills is a daily part of data science job. Continuous updating — The most important thing for a data scientist is to keep updating himself continuously as things are changing very rapidly.
InnovationManagement.se [Digital image]. (2013). Retrieved March 15, 2019, from http://www.innovationmanagement.se/2016/04/12/innovation-knowing-where-to-begin/
Where should the quest for “treasure hunt” begin — In academia... In industries... In MOOCS…!!
Ehsan believes, “Academia is constantly updating their courses as per industrial requirements, at least in Canada. MOOCs are good, in fact, some of them are amazing, but there is a lot of material out there, which makes it difficult to choose from. These courses are also basic in nature or are targeted to a specific product of a company. Technical conferences are also interesting and inform us about the most recent research areas but they usually discuss advanced topics which are difficult to grasp for newbies.”
Ehsan provides us with a road-map that could fulfill our quest. He says,
First checkpoint — Academia : clarify your basic concepts and implement them in projects.
— : clarify your basic concepts and implement them in projects. Second checkpoint — MOOCs : Let the online material support you in your implementation.
: Let the online material support you in your implementation. Third Checkpoint — Conferences talks: Update yourselves with the new inventions.
Babak adds, “Industries and Universities have different goals for Data Science. In the industry, the analysis and predictions focus on adding value to the business. In schools though, it is more research-based. It is important for an individual to explore both sides of the coin.” He further says, “Most of the industries offer great learning programs and co-op opportunities which enables students to have a taste of industrial use of data science.”
“Academia + co-op” — Babak’s formula to expedite learning objective and adapt to the rapidly changing business models
Sahar agrees to this but recommends that other than learning to build models, schools should emphasize on data cleaning techniques. She has often observed that people are quite efficient in building models but lack in finding insights from data wrangling activities and the probable reason could be that they were always provided with clean structured data which is a myth in the real world.
Is that all we need to know about Data science? Most of the advanced machine learning models require a lot of training data to produce accurate results. Is data privacy at stake to quench this data thirst? Has Data Science led to an increase in cybercrimes?
European Business Magazine (2018, March 19). Retrieved March 15, 2019, from http://europeanbusinessmagazine.com/business/dark-side-big-data/
We have been talking about her charm so far, but does she have a dark side as well?
“It’s true! Machine Learning is being weaponized for both privacy and propaganda issues” — unanimous reply
“Earlier attackers used brute force to breach security protocols but now they can leverage the power of machine learning to generate false information or hack sensitive data. Therefore it is important that we also use data science to prohibit such breaches in security as it certainly gives us the power to do so”, says Sahar and Ehsan. “ The ethical way to implement machine learning is to anonymize or encrypt personal information such as name and address because machine learning never actually needs that data. There are many apps that run a process in the background to collect user data and sell it to other companies. Such practices are unethical but there is no harm in performing exploratory analysis on any data as long as it is anonymized. It helps companies to do targeted marketing which is beneficial to both ends. But companies who own the data, particularly the social networking sites with huge databases, should assert more control over how data is being used. So, for instance, President Trump’s campaign used data analysis to manipulate people whereas I used it for my business to enhance customer satisfaction index.” — Babak
He rightly says,
“It is like a double-sided blade. You can use data science to do social engineering or manipulate people’s minds.”
This brings us to the end of our story “Data Science: The voice of Data”. The discussion was very insightful and we are grateful to our immensely talented panelists for enlightening us with their expert views on Data Science.
On an ending note, Ehsan had a beautiful message for all students aspiring to become data scientists. He suggests, | https://medium.com/sfu-cspmp/data-science-the-voice-of-data-f52be5c87f3 | ['Ipsita Dey'] | 2019-03-22 15:41:14.522000+00:00 | ['Cybersecurity', 'Data Scientist Skills', 'Data Science', 'Interview', 'Machine Learning Ai'] |
FAT DISSOLVE | Do you need to reduce weight? Although there are many ways to lose weight, quick weight reduction can be harmful like any other drastic change in your body. Diet pills and fad diets may help you lose weight, but they are temporary remedies that could harm your health in the long run.
So, what’s the most effective strategy to shed pounds and keep them off? Don’t expect miracles or magic. Instead, use these weight-loss tips to lose weight healthily and naturally.
1. Get ready. Make up your mind. Determine whether you desire and must weight loss. Set goals that are both reachable and realistic. It will inspire you to put in place the following weight-loss strategies.
2. Keep an eye on what you eat. Consume a lot of low-calorie, high-nutrient foods like fruits and vegetables. Refined and processed foods are high in salt, fats, and preservatives, so avoid them. Sugar is a significant contributor to weight growth, so limit your intake.
3. Instead of limiting your eating choices, look for alternatives.
• Choose lean meat over red meat
• Drink plenty of water instead of cola. Both fish and chicken are high in protein, but they are also low in fat.
• Replace sweet desserts with healthy fruity ones like frozen peach yogurt or a healthy banana cake
• Opt for healthier side dishes like fresh vegetable salads instead of french fries, macaroni, or cheese
• Eat high-fiber cereals, oatmeal, raisin brans, or yogurt for breakfast instead of bacon and eggs;
4. Avoid skipping meals. When you skip meals, you become hungry, and you become even more hungry when you eat. It could lead to compulsive and uncontrollable eating. As a result, you’ll consume more calories than your body requires.
5. Have a bite to eat. You don’t have to eat snacks because you’re attempting to lose weight. Between meals, eat healthful snacks. Healthy snacks, such as fruits or vegetable sticks, might help you limit how much food you eat during meal times.
6. Understand how much food you should consume. Even if you eat nutritious foods in excess, you will get weight. So keep an eye on your part sizes.
7. Make sure to drink plenty of water. Water is a calorie-free miracle. Juice adds calories to your diet, so replace it with water. Water is good for your health because it keeps you hydrated.
8. Get some exercise. It would help if you spent more calories than you consume to lose weight. Physical activity is a great way to burn calories. Perform exercises that you enjoy. You work out because you love it, not because you asked to do so.
9. Be self-disciplined and determined. These are the secrets to sticking to your weight-loss program.
Are you looking for the most excellent [www.weightlosesecrethub.com/] weight-loss advice? For more details, go to [www.weightlosesecrethub.com/]. | https://medium.com/@Samlopey/fat-dissolve-73bb01586d83 | ['Osalope Oluwasola'] | 2021-11-30 11:40:47.483000+00:00 | ['Weight Loss', 'Weightloss Recipe', 'Fitness', 'Fitness Tips', 'Weight Loss Tips'] |
Missing The Colors, Here Comes The Winter | Surrounded hue turning to a frustrating vibe
gradually
leaves gone
little shades of light
the pandemic getting into nerves
seems like for ages,
day-times changed,
a night crawls earlier than the mind can take in,
another winter is stepping in,
probably a brutal one-
mixed with vaccines world
meanwhile,
I recall the colors of the last fall
“flowers bloom
trees smiling in branches
delights in weather
a flash of frenzy colors
zestful tune of nature
while clouds float in purity
refreshed gusts around
a little girl with golden hair, giggling on her father’s arm
a gracious vibe touching all people
on the twilight cheer in the glazing hours of fall.”
outside, dark shadows fall upon us
inside, my veins ask for the fall, in full.
‘Missing The Colors, Here Comes The Winter’ words by Suntonu Bhadra | https://medium.com/flicker-and-flight/missing-the-colors-here-comes-the-winter-cabcf64813cf | ['Suntonu Bhadra'] | 2021-01-07 13:51:39.385000+00:00 | ['Nature', 'Fall', 'Poetry', 'Travel', 'Colors'] |
Our socioeconomic problems are the symptoms of the broken relationship between people | Question from the Internet:
“Can any societal problems be converted to economical problems? Can you give examples to prove your point?”
The economy, society is like external signs, symptoms of the relationships, the attitude between people.
Thus problems with Human relationships, appear as social or economic problems.
The present global socioeconomic crisis for example is a sign of how broken, unsustainable the present Human relationship is between people and nations.
We are trying to live, survive at the expense of each other in a self-serving, self-justifying, egotistic manner, while Nature’s fully integrated, interdependent system demands from us the opposite, collective, mutually responsible and mutually complementing connections, cooperation.
So, if we use the socioeconomic problems wisely, diagnosing the root cause — the broken connections between people due to our inherent ego separating, rejecting us from each other — then we could treat, heal that root cause and rebuild Human society and our economic system on different values, principles, foundations — following Nature’s perfectly balanced, integral template. | https://medium.com/@samechphoto/our-socioeconomic-problems-are-the-symptoms-of-the-broken-relationship-between-people-315adaf8a418 | ['Zsolt Hermann'] | 2020-12-26 22:27:02.684000+00:00 | ['Nature', 'Economy', 'Education', 'Connection', 'Society'] |
The Letter (Part Two) | Photo by Lukasz Szmigiel on Unsplash
Three months earlier
She sat up, looking around the room as if it were for the very first time. But she was as familiar with the faded wallpaper as she was her own hands. Glancing at the open window, she brushed aside the sheer black curtains to check the temperature. It was almost time to leave. She opened a drawer to an old oak dresser, its handles tarnished and the wood splintering. She could have it fixed, but she chose not, and instead used it to remind her of her past.
She dressed in silence, pairing her black dress with her signature mismatched socks. It wasn’t cold enough for tights, she decided. Glancing at her desk, she hesitated. Her journal lay open and the pen she forgot to cap was surely slowly drying up. She didn’t have time to write, she decided. She had her tasks for the day. She would write later. Gathering her things and a light jacket, she walked down the stairs.
She paused to admire the light streaming in through the French doors. God, she loved those doors. The shoes she always wore stood perfectly aligned with the umbrella stand. She always thought it was funny there was an umbrella stand in this house. It could be so old fashioned sometimes. Shoes on, she checked her belongings and placed them in her handbag. She closed it and then out of habit, opened the bag once more. Satisfied everything was in place, she went outside, locking the doors behind her. She would be back late, she thought.
The walk would be nice, she decided, opting out of driving. As she trudged along the familiar road, she remained deep in thought. A hawk’s screaming call pulled her from her daydream, and she glanced around her. She was close. A few more minutes and she would be there. The breeze whipped by, reminding her that autumn would be over soon. She couldn’t remember if she had closed the window. It was of no matter, she decided. The sky didn’t look like it would rain and it wasn’t too cold. She walked the final steps and took a sharp right, trotting down a path in the woods any other person would overlook. The deeper into the woods she walked, the more relaxed she felt. No one had followed her and she could complete her mission. Find the tree, she reminded herself.
Her eyes scanned the cluster of trees and she chastised herself for once again forgetting her glasses. Her phone buzzed, jolting her. In the depths of the woods, the quiet sound was almost deafening. Her heart hammered. How could she have forgotten to turn the sound off? That was always the first thing she did before walking down this path. Perhaps she was losing her touch. She had been warned that her small mistakes would add up. Maybe they were right. It was of no use to worry about it now, she decided. She was still trusted with the most highly regarded tasks. She smiled slightly to herself as she thought of all she had carried out. Her successes far outweighed these small mistakes.
The pine tree looked like any other tree, but the trained eye could spot one slight difference. She swept aside the carefully placed pine needles and touched her finger to the metal. An almost silent beep signaled she indeed had permission to be there. Counting to five, she steadied herself and began her task. | https://medium.com/know-thyself-heal-thyself/the-letter-part-two-e0fede6f31e1 | ['Elyse Wright'] | 2020-12-22 09:27:21.968000+00:00 | ['Mystery', 'Fiction Series', 'Fiction', 'Lovethyself', 'Writing'] |
MCS | A Significant Turning Point in the History of Bitcoin Mining | #Be_a_Trader
Greetings from MCS, the derivatives trading platform where traders ALWAYS come first.
Following the Bitcoin mining policies announced in May by Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Regions, and Yunnan Province, a related policy was also announced on June 18 in Sichuan Province where the world’s largest hash rate (Bitcoin mining power) was concentrated. Sichuan has a more strict policy than other places, which resulted in the closure of 26 local cryptocurrency mining businesses.
This event dragged the price of Bitcoin down by more than 10% from $38,000 to below $33,000. Because the price recovered to $36,000 level on the 19th, some argued that the correlation between the current Bitcoin price and the mining farm is not strong since the price is mainly influenced by US monetary policy and the sentiments of Wall Street institutions. Nevertheless, now that the price dropped again to below the $33,000 level as I am uploading this post, it seems very clear that the shutdown of cryptocurrency mining businesses under China’s policy has a serious influence on the price of Bitcoin.
Since June 19, several mining farms across Sichuan have shut down their mining machines, resulting in a sharp drop in the hash rate of the entire Bitcoin network. According to BTC.com, the 24-hour average hash rate was around 100E, which has dwindled to the level of November 2020, down about 40% from its peak in May. At 00:00 Beijing time on June 20, power supply companies stopped supplying power to all cryptocurrency mining sites, and some miners who were not prepared for a sudden power outage suffered great damage.
Due to Chinese regulations, it has become a known fact that Bitcoin mining businesses are banned from China. Chinese mining farms, which once accounted for up to 75% or more of the Bitcoin network hash rate, have also found that this percentage will drop indefinitely starting June 20.
Sichuan is the place where the largest Bitcoin mining farms in China and the world are gathered, and Bitcoin mining was very successful, with a maximum simultaneous power consumption of about 8 million kW. An industry official said, “The exit of the Sichuan mining farm is a very tragic event for cryptocurrency miners even in the entire history of blockchain” and added that “Only time will tell how significant this event is to the history of Bitcoin”.
With the closure of Bitcoin mining operations, a large number of Bitcoin miners in China are currently at a crossroads in choosing whether to go abroad, wait and see for a change in government policy, or turn their business in a different direction.
Overseas Relocation
Currently, large mining farms and miners are preparing to relocate overseas, and the United States, Kazakhstan, Canada, and Russia are top priority candidates. The United States and Kazakhstan are trying to accommodate them most actively, and the mayor of Miami and the AIFC Development Zone in Kazakhstan is said to have directly appealed to Chinese miners to move there. However, considering various factors such as the cost of overseas relocation, political security, economic stability, and power facilities, it can be regarded as a great challenge for relatively small mining farms.
Wait and See
Even with the announcements of the policies, some miners are still waiting. They are not expecting sunshine and rainbows until the end of the year at this point; however, they believe that opportunities for policy change will be created when considering that Bitcoin itself is not illegal under the Chinese legal system, and Bitcoin mining involves surplus power consumption, financial improvement in less developed areas, job creation, and global Bitcoin hash power leadership titles.
Pivot
As the Bitcoin price has skyrocketed in the past year, those who started their business in 2020 or earlier have already made very high financial gains, so the impact of this mining shutdown may not be significant. In fact, foresight miners have already started to actively turn to DeFi and other project operations even before the policy announcement was made. Overall, blockchain and cryptocurrencies are still in their infancy, and Bitcoin mining is only a small part of the crypto world, and we can expect to see more of it being opened up in the world of blockchain.
The ban of cryptocurrency mining operations in China is a very important turning point in the history of Bitcoin. It is a tragedy for mining farms in China, but it can also be a new opportunity for other parts of the world. It is worth watching with interest to see what other long-term consequences this event will bring besides the price of Bitcoin.
Traders ALWAYS come first on MCS.
Thank you.
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MCS Telegram Chat (EN): https://t.me/mycoinstory_EN | https://medium.com/@mycoinstory/mcs-a-significant-turning-point-in-the-history-of-bitcoin-mining-8d85b9689880 | ['Mcs', 'Mycoinstory'] | 2021-06-22 08:46:56.118000+00:00 | ['Bitcoin Mining', 'Crypto Crash', 'Mycoinstory', 'Cryptocurrency'] |
COVID-19 and Vaccine Hesitancy: A Story Behind the Silver Bullet | Photo by Daniel Schludi on Unsplash
Written by: Aisyah P Rahvy, a student in the Department of Health Administration and Policy, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia
Up until now, Indonesia has been fighting COVID-19 pandemic since the beginning of 2020. From dealing with 2 first cases until 700,097 cases on 23rd December 2020, all of the efforts have been done by the government to make things better. Social distancing regulation, health promotion, anything to educate society and raise their awareness so that efforts done by the government will not be in vain.
Lately, the idea of vaccination to help us win the battle has been legally implemented through Permenkes (Peraturan Menteri Kesehatan, Ministry of Health Regulation) Number 84 the Year 2020. As we all know, vaccination is considered as a “holy grail” of preventive action, especially for diseases caused by virus. President Joko Widodo, on 16th December 2020, announced that there would be six vaccines used in Indonesia: Bio Farma, Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, Sinopharm, Oxford-AstraZeneca, dan Sinovac (Kompas.com). To maximize utilization of the vaccines, government rules some groups of the society those will have to be vaccinated as an obligatory. These groups include health worker, military soldiers, police officers, teachers, and more. But still, good intention is not always being followed by good response.
As IDI (Ikatan Dokter Indonesia) claimed to be ready if doctors must be vaccinated first as well as other health workforce, we should take a deeper look to other parts of society. Can anyone guarantee that other parts of our society will be just fine about this vaccination? Well, the term of vaccine hesitancy is not a fresh issue here in Indonesia. Vaccine hesitancy is defined by WHO (World Health Organization) as delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite availability of vaccine services. Vaccine hesitancy often be the greatest barrier of immunization coverage, and at the same time increase the risk of people being infected by certain virus if they refuse to be vaccinated. Wellcome Global Monitor, a survey from Wellcome Trust, in 2018 found that Indonesia is among countries with the lowest coverage of immunization in ASEAN. One of the reason this ironic fact happened was because some of the parents did not believe in vaccine.
Talking about the pandemic, it is so possible that our people will refuse the idea of vaccination. Several reasons like religious issue, safety issue, conspiracy theory, hoax news, and many more lead to vaccine hesitancy. Religious law like haram halal of vaccine materials usually be the main reason why certain religious groups deny the idea of vaccine. Furthermore, vaccine safety is still being questioned of some parts of society. Is it really okay to be vaccinated, will the vaccine cause no side-effect, and many more questions about it. At the same time, conspiracy theory and hoax news about COVID-19 vaccination program is spreading everywhere. A conspiracy theory about vaccine once says that vaccine contains microchips to control and track human, other theory says the vaccine is purposely made to destroy some population of human. Funny and dumb? Maybe yes for us as scientists, but for society, this is a mighty idea to believe in.
Let us imagine this scenario. If this vaccine hesitancy keeps raising, some of our people will refuse to be vaccinated and it will higher their risk of being infected by a coronavirus. Meanwhile, there are still a lot of people who do not obey social distancing regulation even when the government already formed the punishment. These people are truly making it harder to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2. In this kind of situation, vaccine is more like a silver bullet to make this pandemic end. But what happen if the people use vaccine hesitancy as a bullet-proof vest? Virus will still spread rapidly while most of people do not have immunity to fight it.
The government should really keep an eye for this issue. Unclear information about halal haram as well as safety issue of vaccine must be communicated well, unless it will trigger society to believe on conspiracy theory and hoax news as it is in line with their own faith and believe upon vaccine. Transparent information, on the other side, will increase people’s trust to the government so that they unlikely have negative sentiment to vaccination idea. Along with this, government also has to show strong commitment as well as consistency between regulation and its implementation by governmental actors in combating COVID-19. Social distancing applies to all people in society including government, and the same goes with vaccination. Inconsistency between regulation and implementation done by government will significantly raise people’s distrust and reluctance to government’s regulation and policy. This is what good implementation should be: no governmental actor is excluded from obeying the regulation and policy.
Last but not the least, all of us are in charged to end this pandemic even if it takes us to be vaccinated. Well, I believe that providing silver bullets is such a ridiculous thing to waste if no one wants to use it to kill the enemy. | https://medium.com/risalahkebijakankesehatan/covid-19-and-vaccine-hesitancy-a-story-behind-the-silver-bullet-2149a7dcf00a | ['Aisyah Rahvy'] | 2020-12-26 06:08:10.192000+00:00 | ['Pandemic', 'Indonesia', 'Vaccination', 'Vaccine Hesitancy', 'Covid 19'] |
My Role Model | Have you ever felt so connected to a teacher, that you feel that there are so many things that you can learn from them? I feel that way about one of my teachers. If I could, I would listen to everything he had in mind. He is one of those individuals who has a powerful, insightful mind, even without realizing it. He may not know it, but he is truly one of the most generous, considerate, and patient individuals I have ever had the honor of meeting. I wish to be his friend, I admire him so much. He’s certainly like a role model to me. I wish to spend time with him, get to know him a bit more, and take a look at what his mind is like. Realistically, I could become his friend. He is the type of person to be okay with me being friends with him. I can see myself calling him by his name, sitting in his cozy home, and learning so much from him. It really does sound like a magical experience. I want to have that kind of friend who’s older, and wiser than me. There could be so many things he could teach me. I need that kind of guidance; I have never had it. Is it due to my need of having a stable, trustworthy parental figure in my life? However, I dont want him to be like a parent, I want a friend. I want to have that kind of relationship where we are just so comfortable talking to each other, but we also have the opportunity to teach each other about a few things. To be fair, I would be the one who has the opportunity to learn something from him. I want him to teach me everything he knows. I want that kind of knowledge. There is just so much mystery in him, and my intuition tells me that including him more in my life would bring me so much wisdom. I saw someone having that kind of relationship with their teacher the other day. I want to freely be able to talk to them, without a worry about being judged. I want to feel secure. I crave and need the feeling of being safe, and fully comfortable with someone. His mind is so powerful, I’m convinced of it. I can tell he has gone through a lot during his life, and there is so much creativity in him. I want to know more of that creativity, you know why? I want to be a creative, intelligent individual someday. I am confident that I already am a smart, creative person, but I want to be more than that. I want to improve myself, and I do not want to settle. I am tired of being the kind of person who constantly has a fear of what others might think of me. I want to have connections with teachers, I want to learn as much as I can from them in order to become an extraordinary person. I want to be him, and want to experience the emotions that he feels. There is so much of him that I am not aware of, and maybe I won’t actually get to know all of it, ever. But, there is hope. I can try to become closer to him and gain as much knowledge as I can. There is so much information around us, that one can almost go insane trying to learn everything all at once. There is so much we dont know. We can try to learn as much as we can, but we need to try to remember that it is extremely challenging to attempt to learn everything in the world. Gaining knowledge and keeping it, and actually doing something useful with it is the real gift. If we are not actively learning, then what is the point? Knowledge surrounds us, and there is so much we dont know! So many people inhabit this earth, trying to spread their knowledge through others. Think about how many books exist in the world. Probably a lot right? Think about all of those authors, writing all of these books, in an attempt to make people think deeply about a certain topic. Their goal is to make you reflect; it could be on one or more aspects of your life. A great example of this is self-help books. All of those authors are trying their hardest to help you become a better person, and what they want more than anything is to help at least someone out there, turn their life around, and improve themselves. Because you know what? The world is in desperate need of hopeful individuals, that want to improve themselves and others. That’s exactly what I’m doing now. Being aware of so many issues surrounding us, and knowing that at least one person who is reading this is going through something in their life, I hope you get something useful out of this story. I hope you go, improve yourself, and spread your knowledge to others. Even if the way you wish to gain knowledge is from just one amazing teacher, I need more people to keep trying, because our world needs so much repair. It is our duty to repair some of the damage that has been imposed on others, and I am absolutely confident that every single one of you reading this, has the ability to do so. | https://medium.com/@jessicamuniz0108/my-role-model-85862294eb81 | [] | 2020-12-24 06:28:40.923000+00:00 | ['Knowledge', 'Teachers', 'Optimistic', 'Learning', 'Role Models'] |
This changed Vscode for me | This changed Vscode for me
Vscode Breadcrumbs
Humans consider many inventions as life changing things like fire, Modern Medicine, or the Personal Computer, but none of them compare to what I’m about to tell you in this article.
Yes we all already now can tell what it is, it is Vscode breadcrumbs, obviously.
This life changing invention came out in the 2018 July release of vscode, and even though its been 2 year since it came out I still have not seen enough people using it and therefore in this article I’ll be telling you about them and how u never need to use your mouse or trackpad ever again, at least while your in vscode.
(I’m aware that vim exists, and this will not be as “never need to use mouse again” like it is in vim but this will be much much easier to use than vim and you wont have to use mouse at least for 90% of the times)
Getting started
To get started you will first off obviously need Visual Studio Code, and you don’t need to install extension to enable this feature, and if you have used vscode in the past 2 years you would have already noticed this in your editor.
This tiny bar between the file tabs and the editor is the life changing breadcrumbs I’m talking about, most of you must have already tried to use it by clicking on it to navigate through the symbols in your opened file or even navigate across files.
Basic use
I’m aware that there are a lot of people that already use have been using this for years in one way or the other, and this article is not for them, now that we have that cleared, Breadcrumbs are much more useful when used with Shortcuts and yes i just wrote an entire article just to tell you about few shortcuts that will get you to not need to switch to your mouse as often as you used to.
(command/crlt)+ shift + ( . )
When in a file you can use this shortcut to expand the breadcrumb and this will show you all the symbols you have in that entire file, and you can just navigate to any function or variable declaration in the entire file.
As we can see in the above image we can navigate directly to any part of the App component.
(option/alt)+left/right arrow keys
So now you have a quick way to switch between the different symbols in the closure that your cursor is inside of, but now if you want to switch to a different closure that your cursor is not in or basically go to the left of your breadcrumbs and up the file tree, you can use this shortcut while the breadcrumb is expanded.
You can go all the way up left of the breadcrumb and switch between nearby files.
Search
Now what if you are a psychopath and write all of your code all in a single file and going up and down using just arrow keys can take forever to navigate through the 47 functions that you made to display hello world.
So here’s where you can just use search, the breadcrumbs expanded does not make it obvious that you can do this but you can actually just start typing and it fill filter out the symbols based on what you type.
The symbol you select will be highlighted in the editor and you just click enter and it move your cursor to that symbol
Conclusion
And thats it now you can navigate through your entire project without moving your hand away from your keyboard ever.
The vscode theme I use
Tokyo Night | https://medium.com/@xrehpicx/this-changed-vscode-for-me-4b71d9e47086 | [] | 2020-12-10 09:45:46.055000+00:00 | ['Visual Studio', 'Development', 'Breadcrumbs', 'Vscode', 'Tools'] |
BROKEN MIRRORS 1 | There're no truths beneath these lies
Just guilt stamped on my shame!
I don't know the man I'm becoming.
I try to find love,
I get heartbroken before I ever dare to.
So I look at myself through a broken mirror
& I hear a voice echo;
"It's not the mirror,
It's you who's broken"
Before thoughts drown me
& demons get my spirit chained,
I lock myself in a dark room
Turn the lights down low
The curtains dancing through the breeze
While I stare through the window pane
With marijuana trapped in between my lips
Just like every man
I wish never to be like my dad
I don't look good in a broken mirror
To be continued | https://medium.com/@tborisalemnge/broken-mirrors-1-9673f1016247 | ['Taleabong B Alemnge'] | 2020-12-14 10:34:13.990000+00:00 | ['Feelings', 'Poem'] |
One World Rental can help companies to manage every aspect of an important conference | With their extensive event technology hire portfolio, One World Rental can help companies to manage every aspect of an important conference, trade show or presentation. These include everything from audio visual, logistics and production to technical staff supervision, after-party logistics and even webinar management and distribution. The company boasts a large selection of professional conference centres, from traditional classroom and boardroom styles to more contemporary seminar rooms and spacious boardrooms. Furthermore, One World Rental has a comprehensive range of meeting rooms and reception areas, complete with comfortable conference seating and professional lighting and sound systems. They are also able to arrange for professional catering services, including bar services and full table decor. | https://medium.com/@marketing-ac4u/one-world-rental-can-help-companies-to-manage-every-aspect-of-an-important-conference-65b8051073b2 | ['Marketing Acu'] | 2020-12-23 03:27:01.149000+00:00 | ['Services', 'Rental Services'] |
Tesla: Elon Musk Flirts With Bitcoin | Elon Musk makes advances in the direction of a billion-dollar Bitcoin investment and promptly receives free advice from MicroStrategy CEO Michael Saylor on Twitter.
Two people looked for each other and found each other: A lively Bitcoin debate broke out on Twitter between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and MicroStrategy CEO Michael Saylor, which made waves in the crypto space. Michael Saylor used a suggestive post from Musk for free investment advice.
Saylor’s “insider tip”:
If you want to do your shareholders a $ 100 billion favor, convert the $ TSLA balance sheet from USD to BTC.
According to Saylor, the charisma of a Tesla entry into Bitcoin could also entice other S&P500 companies to invest, thereby boosting BTC market capitalization and quickly increasing the value of a USD 100 billion investment by ten times.
The simple calculation finally worked out in the case of MicroStrategy: Since the listed software company shifted around $ 475 million of its cash reserves into BTC, the investment in the course of the Bitcoin Bull Run has reached a current value of over 958 million US dollars more than doubled.
Musk, who is not a blank slate when it comes to cryptocurrencies, then joined the discussion again and asked Saylor whether transactions of this magnitude were even possible.
Saylor’s answer was not long in coming. An unequivocal: Yes. He himself has invested 1.3 billion US dollars in Bitcoin in the last few months and would like to share his “playbook” with Musk, from one rocket scientist to another.
Tesla bald Bitcoin Hodler?
It remains to be seen how serious Musk’s statements are. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO often uses irony as a stylistic device on the short message platform. Nevertheless: A BTC entry is actually not completely excluded. Musk has already expressed his admiration for digital gold in the past and, as the proud owner of — after all — 0.25 BTC, already belongs to the Hodler class . He also has to repeatedly serve as a potential CEO candidate for the MemeCoin project Dogecoin .
The balance sheet also confirms MicroStrategy’s investment strategy and could follow Musk’s words with deeds. A former project by the bustling businessman, PayPal, has finally opened up to the Bitcoin economy as well. Not unlikely that Tesla could follow suit. The right Bitcoin ATM is already there in the Gigafactory in Nevada .
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Disclaimer: These lines are not a substitute for investment advice, investments in the crypto market are made at your own risk. Invest only as much as you are willing to lose. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. | https://medium.com/the-capital/tesla-elon-musk-flirts-with-bitcoin-46fb44de95c2 | [] | 2020-12-22 03:39:09.587000+00:00 | ['Bitcoin', 'Cryptocurrency', 'Tesla', 'Btc', 'Finance'] |
How To Launch Your Brand Like a Successful Instagram Influencer | How To Launch Your Brand Like a Successful Instagram Influencer
A case study of three popular businesses
Photo by @Wearetala on Instagram
The world of influencer marketing and influencer business has changed massively in the last year or so.
Sponsored content is no longer the sole way influencers are monetising their audiences — but that shouldn’t come as a surprise, really. Make way for different kinds of collaborations.
From publishing books to launching podcasts, influencers and content creators are stepping up their revenue game.
One of the latest trends on this subject has been influencer-driven product collaborations, something that has swept across every industry, including health and wellness.
Using examples such as Carly Rowena’s jewellery line, more and more influencers are finding smart and fitting ways to tap into bigger audiences and create branded products.
The most notable initiative to date comes from the world of fashion, and it involves Amazon’s “The Drop.”
This is an influencer-lead initiative that will give customers limited-edition, “street style-inspired” collections from global bloggers and social media famous folks.
Designs from “The Drop” will be available internationally for only 30 hours, which the homepage of “The Drop” promises will mean less waste as things are only made to order.
Influencer Quigley Goode is among the influencers collaborating with Amazon on the initiative, and as she shared in one of her latest Instagram posts:
“I announced recently that I’ve been working on designing a collection for @amazonthedrop — and my heart just about exploded from the amount of support and excitement I felt from this community. I can’t thank you enough for cheering me on.”
In this article, I outline a few lessons from three successful brands launched by influencers, and how they seamlessly marketed their products. | https://medium.com/better-marketing/how-to-launch-your-brand-like-a-successful-instagram-influencer-930cb9ed4959 | ['Fab Giovanetti'] | 2020-01-20 18:38:55.511000+00:00 | ['Business', 'Startup', 'Marketing', 'Influencer Marketing', 'Social Media'] |
Announcing the BEN Playbook | BEN is launching the BEN Playbook — the ultimate curriculum for blockchain clubs, professors, and students to teach their clubs, classes, and friends about blockchain. It also provides a way for students to discover new blockchain projects and test out use cases. The Playbook is ever-evolving with the help of BEN’s directors, national teams, chapters, clubs, students, and professors. We are excited to be launching the Playbook and offering ways to get involved.
The Need for Sharing Resources
The Blockchain Education Network (BEN) started in 2014 as a network between five bitcoin clubs to talk with each other about bitcoin and blockchain. They shared interesting articles, videos, presenter slides, tips for throwing events, and more. BEN’s knowledge base grew with every new club that joined. Through various initiatives like the Blockchain Education Month, the Fall Airdrop Series, the BEN Blockchain Gauntlet, and Blockchain Madness, BEN has spurred intercollegiate collaboration and resource-sharing amongst universities at a scale unprecedented in the blockchain space.
Fast forward to today. Despite a 2018 bear market, new blockchain clubs are joining BEN almost every week. They all reach out to BEN with the same questions — what can they do with their clubs? What do they teach? How can they do an airdrop? How do they run a hackathon? What kinds of hands-on activities should they do? Who can they bring to speak?
BEN has recognized the need for resources for our students while at the same time the paradox of choice and the need for simplicity. Thus, we are launching a solution that provides a clear framework for new and old blockchain clubs to teach their students and to continue sharing resources with each other.
Introducing the BEN Playbook
The BEN Playbook — the ultimate curriculum for our blockchain clubs, professors, and students to teach their clubs, classes, and friends about blockchain. The Playbook is comprised of all of the resources made by BEN’s directors, national teams, chapters, clubs, students, and professors.
The Playbook is hosted at blockchainedu.org/playbook.
In the Playbook, you will find everything from blockchain lesson plans to guides for throwing blockchain-related events to tips for traveling to conferences. Everything you could ever want to become a leader in this space is now at your reach.
You may be a developer, business leader, researcher, mathematician, economist, computer scientist, law student, political scientist, philosopher, or something in between. The Playbook has something for you.
The Playbook has multiple types of plays:
Lesson Plans — Teach the blockchain fundamentals and about various projects in the ecosystem. Activities — Test out different blockchain projects, set up nodes, run smart contracts, etc. Guides — Start a blockchain club, throw blockchain-related events on campus like airdrops, and spur blockchain engagement in your community.
Our plays are ever-evolving with the help of our club leaders, students, professors, and sponsors. Over the next couple of weeks, we will be categorizing, tagging, putting in order, and moving all of BEN’s existing content onto the new Playbook.
First Eight Plays Live
We are excited to announce that the first eight plays are live.
Playbook En Español
We’re not stopping there. BEN’s reach is global, with national chapters in Italy, Colombia, India, Australia, and more. We are taking our Playbook internationally and bringing blockchain education across cultural and language barriers. We have already started translating our content into Spanish with the help of our BEN Colombia team.
How to Contribute
BEN is calling upon our blockchain club leaders, students, and professors to contribute the content from their clubs to the Playbook. Reach out to us through our Slack channel or email [email protected] for more information. If you are not on the slack yet, join BEN first.
Playbook Sponsorships
We are opening up the Playbook to sponsorships for companies looking to host an activity!
The activities can range from setting up miners & nodes to launching smart contracts to testing out new features. We are encouraging and helping to create activities that creatively utilize blockchain — do a decentralized election, turn your blockchain club into a DAO, and more.
Email [email protected] for more information.
Keep an eye out for future updates in the Playbook. With all of your help, we will use blockchain to make a real impact on society. | https://medium.com/blockchainedu/announcing-the-ben-playbook-ec33aa30b0e4 | ['Erick Pinos'] | 2019-02-09 20:08:18.124000+00:00 | ['Blockchain', 'Bitcoin', 'Decentralization', 'Generation Blockchain', 'Education'] |
The excellent Eufy Security Wireless Video Doorbell is down to $140 | When today is over, it will never come back | https://medium.com/@dave89408995/the-excellent-eufy-security-wireless-video-doorbell-is-down-to-140-852b62f747da | [] | 2020-12-22 09:19:13.191000+00:00 | ['Mobile', 'Mobile Accessories', 'Surveillance', 'Connected Home'] |
2020: An Inflection Point for Mental Healthcare and Hurdle | 2020: An Inflection Point for Mental Healthcare and Hurdle
Above: Meet our expanding Hurdle team. The events of this year required Hurdle to double down on our mission to create global health solutions for the most underserved populations. And as a result, we grew.
One of the blessings of this time of year is the chance to slow down and reflect. I imagine I’m not alone in saying that this year offers an abundance of inspiration for reflection — a decade’s worth of historic challenges wedged into twelve months, the myriad tests of humanity’s mettle, and how great or weathered our fortitude has revealed itself to be.
No doubt, this has been a challenging year for Hurdle. Each of us has been impacted by the pandemic. We were mentally and spiritually stretched in our efforts to add our own voices to the calls for racial justice in the wake of George Floyd’s death. And, we were not without loss in 2020. A few weeks ago, I lost my grandmother. Like millions of others who were forced to grieve the loss of a loved one in isolation, my family found ourselves unable to practice our traditional religious practices and without the opportunity to collectively mourn.
The good news is history offers countless examples of our seemingly intrinsic ability to dig deep, to tap into a hidden reservoir of strength and perseverance when we are challenged beyond our conceivable norms. At Hurdle, we have found this to be especially true. The events of this year required the company to double down on our mission to create global health solutions for the most underserved populations. And as a result, we grew. We have continued to see an increase in the demand for our services. We have also gained momentum in our fundraising and attracted new partners, which show a vote of confidence in our mission. Our partners have a depth of experience in digital health and are also knowledgeable about what it takes to achieve true health equity across racial lines.
The events of this year required the company to double down on our mission to create global health solutions for the most underserved populations. And as a result, we grew.
We end the year a step closer to our vision: to become the gold standard in teletherapy. We will use our seed funding to scale the company and our tech-enabled platform with a particular focus on meeting the unique needs of employers with culturally diverse workforces.
I believe that we are at an inflection point in mental health with depression spiking this year in Black and minority communities. As Hurdle emerges from 2020 with greater clarity about our role in transforming mental healthcare and our mandate for the future, our value proposition remains more relevant than ever: We have the ability to accelerate broader access to teletherapy in underrepresented groups.
From my reflections on 2020, I am left with this truth: Entombed in the metanarrative of life-overcome, there is your story and my story. Beyond the headlines, there are our personal histories that assure us of our ability to rebuild, renew, restore, and when necessary, to revolutionize. It is, after all, our individual narratives from which history is collectively made, a sum of parts. That is why I remain incredibly optimistic about the future. As Hurdle grows, so too do the stories of personal triumph.
Beyond the headlines, there are our personal histories that assure us of our ability to rebuild, renew, restore, and when necessary, to revolutionize. It is, after all, our individual narratives from which history is collectively made, a sum of parts. That is why I remain incredibly optimistic about the future. As Hurdle grows, so too do the stories of personal triumph.
From the Hurdle family to yours, wishing you a season of peace and joy, and a triumphant 2021. | https://medium.com/hurdle-co/a-holiday-letter-8fa116a84cff | ['Kevin Dedner'] | 2020-12-21 15:44:47.702000+00:00 | ['Wellness', 'Therapy', 'Mental Health', 'Self', 'People Of Color'] |
A New Approach to Affiliate Marketing | Change the product.
In the past, I’ve mostly promoted SAAS companies.
The upsides were good: recurring revenue + big margins = high percentage commissions that came automagically every month.
The big downside: I had to convince people that they had problem that they needed to pay to fix – and then keep paying for that fix every month.
In the end, I felt like I was often trying to convince people why this paid tool was so much better than the cobbled together “free solution” they had created — an especially difficult task in the niche I was serving.
Not only did my audience hate spending money, they often didn’t have the budget to pay for the things they agreed they needed.
Which just makes me ready to give up on paid products and go in search of my “white whale” — a free product with a solid affiliate program.
But to really make money on a free product (where the commissions would have to be way smaller than I’m used to), I’ve got to “sell” way more of them.
Which means it’s time to…
Change the audience.
Following the advice of many experts and gurus, I created a focused and narrow audience — because “the riches are in the niches”.
Don’t get me wrong: I love my audience and will continue to support and serve them with my own products and services, but I’m tired of trying to gain affiliate traction in that niche.
I want to go wider.
Rather than selling a pricier product to a small group of people, I want to go for volume!
Yes, I know that’s congruent with most of the affiliate marketing “wisdom” you can find online, but I’ve been trying their approach, and it’s not working for me.
And if we’re not gonna follow their advice on the ideal audience, it’s probably time to…
Change the tactic.
This is a little bit of a misnomer because I’ve been constantly trying different tactics. In fact, I think I’ve tried just about all of them:
Freebie funnels, webinars, email lists, content marketing, guest posting, Facebook groups, live events, joint ventures, bonus offers, and many more.
But in all those tactics, I was “the guy”.
I was the expert who wrote the book or hosted the workshop or created the resource.
The thought was: if they accept me as the expert, then they’ll buy what I recommend.
This time around, I want to try things a little differently. I don’t want to be “the expert”. Instead, I want to build a team and help each of them be “the expert”. | https://medium.com/teamfiliate/a-new-approach-to-affiliate-marketing-b1e17c5382e5 | ['Michael Marchand'] | 2021-08-25 04:41:54.047000+00:00 | ['Make Money Online', 'Affiliate Marketing', 'Passive Income', 'Online Marketing', 'Affiliate Programs'] |
3 ideas to keep going when you’re feeling stuck | 3 ideas to keep going when you’re feeling stuck
By Format from Pexels
When there is fear and uncertainty, how do you stay calm?
In an ideal world, staying calm and focusing on your breathing is a way to stay grounded. In reality, there are going to be times where you don’t feel as calm and that’s ok.
Reflecting back, I am tough on myself when I don’t stay calm and collected. I also have to remind myself that we are in a pandemic and to give myself some grace.
There have been so many moments of uncertainty in daily life. As we have been asked to stay at home as the daily number of COVID-19 cases rises, there are still things that require going out. For example, getting my battery fixed. I did as much as I could over the phone with technicians and when the battery had to be physically replaced, I had to bring it to the store. Whilst in the store, there was so much fear that arose amongst their employees with unclear information. It created more fear and anger directed at me as a result of miscommunication. Think about the consequences of the miscommunication. For a while, I didn’t know what was going on and whether there could have been a possible interaction with someone that had COVID-19. And it created fear all because the information wasn’t clear and I had to keep asking to clarify the situation. Thankfully it turned out negative, though think of the mental stress that one has to go through.
In these moments of stress, it can be easy to just give up and do nothing. In the interest of everyone, clarity is so key.
If you’re feeling stuck and uncertain, here are 3 ideas to explore:
Disconnect. In a state of being overwhelmed, I’ve had to do my best to disconnect from my phone and the constant alerts. On multiple occasions, I’ve left it in a different room to disconnect from the energy. I’ve also been cutting the energetic cords to release the charge on the emotion. In the situation as described above, I was so wrapped up in the fear and uncertainty that I forgot to cut the energetic cords and it happens. I could feel the feelings of ‘flight or fight,’ in the same week, there was another situation with a potential indirect interaction that thankfully turned out negative. Through all of this, I felt exhausted and had to find ways to recharge. Low-impact exercise. Through mixing up my routine, I have found myself going back to Qigong videos led by Chris to give my thinking brain a rest. As it’s been getting colder and the hours of daylight are less, I’ve been missing some of my daily walks. Walks are a great way to get some sunshine and ground in nature. I sometimes consider it my daily walking meditation to get out of my head and back into my body. Walking also helps me to reset and just focus on taking in my surroundings. Some days I can squeeze my walk in and other days, I turn to either yoga or qigong so that I can get my body moving to feel mentally and physically better. Letting go of the need for things to be ‘perfect’. As we are in uncertain times, there are answers that I want that I don’t always have. Being ok with taking action, even though I don’t have perfect information is a work-in-progress. A great reminder is that “I am doing the best that I have with the resources that I have available.” As things are consistently changing, I have to be open to receiving new information and going with what I have. Otherwise, if I get stuck, I won’t take action. Taking a small action gives me more information. Even if I mentally don’t think that I’m doing enough, I have to remember that it’s the compound effect of small actions taken over time.
Remember that you aren’t alone through these challenging times.
Gain Access to Expert View — Subscribe to DDI Intel | https://medium.datadriveninvestor.com/3-ideas-to-keep-going-when-youre-feeling-stuck-f2bc291ad38a | [] | 2021-03-22 23:42:28.328000+00:00 | ['Pandemic', 'Mental Health', 'Courage', 'Challenges', 'Ideas'] |
“This is kind of like an adventure” | A phrase caught my ear and sent me down a rabbit hole
Ginger Floerchinger-Franks was interviewed for The New York Times last Monday about her Thanksgiving plans. She usually hosts 10 at her home in Boise, but this year, she swapped a few dishes between houses and everyone ate together over a Zoom potluck.
“This is kind of like an adventure,” she told The Times.
The article continues on, interviewing people in the way Thanskgiving articles do — slices of different lives assembled like a combination cheesecake. What stuck with me, though, was the phrase.
“This is kind of like an adventure.”
It sounded like the title of a book. Not an old one (“ The This is Kind of Like an Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” “The Life and Strange Surprizing This Is Kind of Like An Adventures of Robinson Crusoe”), but a newer one. An essay collection you’d bring up at party so people know you know how to read.
I might have let it go, but, lately, I’ve had the time. So like every bodily symptom I’ve ever had, I Googled it.
The word “adventure” has over two billion search results, an appropriately epic amount. The phrase “it’s an adventure” has a little over four million, which isn’t as much as it used to be. But “This is kind of like an adventure,” how Ginger felt about Thanksgiving 2020, returned only 10 search results. These are those ten slices of life from people — real and fictional, scared and excited, about to embark on and right in the middle of — adeventures
10. “I reckon for kids this is kind of like an adventure!”
A dad in the UK had a problem. His central heating had failed. So to warm his family and his family jewels, he’d taken up chopping wood for a wood burning stove. He wrote about it in his blog called “Dad Blog UK” in 2015, and someone made the comment about adventure. UK Dad replied to it: “Yeah, the kids think it’s a bit of an adventure. My wife needs some persuasion this is the case.”
9. “The alternative would be for me to be at home and be really bored, but this is kind of like an adventure.”
A high school senior in California spent his Spring Break in 2016 registering voters a nearby Sacramento neighborhood. He told a reporter: “It’s just kind of interesting to see how reluctant people are to hear what we’re trying to offer them. I see myself in that situation. I probably wouldn’t have opened the door. So it’s kind of funny to see it from the other end.”
8. “Umm sure yeah, I just feel nervous at the idea of reading for a person like yourself 😂 I haven’t had much experience reading for other people that I don’t personally know, so I’m pretty nervous. ( this is kind of like an adventure) But I’d be happy to try :)”
A stranger asked a witch on Tumblr to give them a private Tarot reading. It made the witch nervous.
7.
9:40:51PM. I LIVED IN SOUTH TAMPA MY ENTIRE LIFE AND LIVED IN 9:40:55PM VIRGINIA PARK 28 YEARS.
9:40:56PM THIS MAKES ME AN EXPERT ON MY NEIGHBORHOOD. 9:40:58PM THEREFORE I AM GIVING EXPERT TESTIMONY AND CREDIBLE 9:41:01PM AND SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.
9:41:01PM IT’S NOT EASY KNOCKING ON DOORS.
9:41:03PM IT’S NOT EASY GOING THROUGH A COMPLETE STRANGER’S 9:41:07PM HOUSE AND KNOCKING ON THE DOOR AND ASKING THEM 9:41:09PM WHAT THEY THINK OF AN ISSUE.
9:41:09PM I EXPECT THAT SINCE YOU ARE ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS 9:41:13PM THAT AT SOME POINT IN YOUR LIFE YOU PROBABLY HAD TO 9:41:16PM DO THAT, BUT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I AM TALKING 9:41:19PM ABOUT WHEN YOU GO DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY 9:41:23PM KNOCKING ON DOORS. I HAD TO MAKE MYSELF DO IT. 9:41:25PM BUT AFTER A WHILE I NOTICED A TREND.
9:41:26PM I COME HOME TO MY HUSBAND AND I SAY, YOU ARE NOT 9:41:29PM GOING TO BELIEVE WHO I MET TODAY.
9:41:30PM YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE THE CONVERSATION I HAD 9:41:33PM TODAY. AND IT WAS LIKE EVERY DAY, AFTER A WHILE, I 9:41:36PM STARTED TO REALIZE THIS IS KIND OF LIKE AN ADVENTURE 9:41:40PM AND I LOOKED AT IT VERY DIFFERENTLY.
9:41:40PM I COULD TELL YOU STORIES FOR AN HOUR BUT I AM GOING 9:41:44PM TO LIMIT IT TO THE PERSON THAT I FOUND THE MOST INTERESTING.
At a Tampa City Council hearing in September 2018, a concerned citizen took the microphone to speak out against a proposed new development. It took her a while to make her point, but like the boy in California, door-knocking was her adventure. The story she ended up sharing about the most interesting man, who was actually for the new development, was a story about the man’s father. He went to enlist in WWI, but didn’t weigh enough, so he ate a lot of bananas and went back. He served in the army, the woman says, but “he didn’t eat another banana for 10 years.”
6. “This is kind of like an adventure. It’s like we’re on an adventure to the countdown. No. No. No. This is a final countdown.”
Facebook can caption videos, and this is a line in a Facebook video titled, “OUR PLANET IS GOING TO END LIKE A PAINFUL CANCER AND WE’RE ALL GOING TO FEEL THE PAIN.” The artist in the video first gained some fame when he was intereviewd shirtless in Union Square in 2015. A student reporter asked him about the meaning of life, and put his answers over the soundtrack from Inception.
5. “Now that we are emerging from the woods, we have to leap the next series of hurdles. This is kind of like an adventure race. To help with one of those hurdles, I’m going to sell a collection of my short stories as a fundraiser. I’m in the process of laying it out, but hope to have both print and e-book editions available within a week or so. Don’t feel obligated to get one, but a few people have commented that they enjoy my writing, so I thought this would be a good way to feed my massive ego- I mean pay some medical bills.”
Another dad, this one in the US, kept a blog as well. US Dad’s is devotetd to his daughter’s medical journey. He started it in 2012. It ends in 2016. I don’t know how things turned out.
4. “If it is pretty much right, I have a few issues, just to clear a few things up before you clarify the commands to me. 1 is that the door will have to remain open all the time. This is kind of like an adventure map, so the player or players will have to be going in and out constantly. You don’t have to fix that. I can probably do it on my own without trouble.
A member of a Minecraft forum is clarifying the plan with their fellow players. At the end of the two-paragraph-long post, they write that this “probably the longest message I have ever typed.”
3. “Hey boys, this is kind of like an adventure, isn’t it?” Katherine asked. “We’re going to have such great stories to tell about this. All about the one afternoon you all got to hide in the pantry at the cafe.”
Our first fictional voice comes from a character in the novel The Magnolia Cafe, not to be confused with the bakery and cause of my love handles. Katherine in this scene is lying about how it will be fun to be trapped in the titular Magnolia Cafe.
2. “This is kind of like an adventure and I haven’t had one in a while”
Another female fictional character is squatting outside an SUV to pee. The novel The Dysfunctional Holiday is about a “battle to keep everyone safe and sane through a Thanksgiving meal that might be everyone’s last.
1. “This is kind of like an adventure. It’s like a little science experiment where you’re like, “okay , I’m gonna, see how it is.” And even that can help you frame things in a little bit of like, “I’m not a victim where everything is stressful and happening to me.” It’s more like, “I’m an observer, I’m a scientist, and I’m going to try this one thing and test this hypothesis.”
In another Facebook video, the last on our list, a nutritionist discusses managing anxiety and the benefit of reframing your experience as an adventure. The title of the video is “Know Your Closest Exit.”
2020 has been a nightmare, but a nigthmare is kind of like an adventure. Whether you’re keeping your family warm, loving your sick daughter, knocking on doors, making the most of being trapped inside, playing a online game, responding to a stranger, thinking about the earth’s future, or relieving yourself not in a toilet, know your closest exit and know this is an adventure. Kind of.
P.S. A Twitter search of the phrase returned four results: someone dying their hair red, a screenshot from an anime I don’t know, the phrase by itself in quotation marks, and a picture of two dildos and a vibrator with the caption, “This is kind of like an adventure for my pussy.” | https://medium.com/@zzdoublezz/this-is-kind-of-like-an-adventure-284daba57e11 | ['Zach Zimmerman'] | 2020-12-16 21:27:10.595000+00:00 | ['Adventure', 'Fun', 'Funny', 'Internet', 'Humor'] |
Handling errors in Mongoose/Express to display in React | To err is human, to create error handling middleware is divine. This article will explore how to catch and handle errors in Express using Mongoose and then display the errors to the end user using React.
All code used in this article is in this repo.
This diagram shows the modules we’ll discuss in the article. This app is using the MERN stack. The server is running through an Express app, and is connected to a MongoDB database. The frontend is a React app. These are the files we’ll be using for error validation:
Steps described:
Set up error handling middleware. Handle different errors. Send errors to the browser. Display error messages on the frontend. Highlight fields with errors on the frontend.
As you can see, this article has a few steps. It assumes some familiarity with Express, MongoDB/Mongoose, authentication, React/React router, and React hooks.
// Skip to step #2 if you have basic error handling middleware and validation already set up.
1. Set up error handling middleware
Express comes with error handling middleware that applies at the end of the middleware stack. They also let you define your own error handling middleware. Unlike other middleware, it takes four arguments. The first argument always stores the Error object, which is a built-in Node class that stores information about the error.
> app.js
app.use((err, req, res, next) => { console.log('congrats you hit the error middleware');
console.log(err); }
Our error handling middleware is going to be long so I’m going to save the function in a separate file. The error handling middleware goes at the end of the application stack, so it can “catch” errors all across the app. I’ve mounted them in my main app.js file—this is a simplified version of that file:
> app.js
const express = require('express'); const cors = require('cors'); const authRouter = require('./routers/authRouter'); const errorController = require('./controllers/errorController');
const app = express(); app.use(cors()); app.use(express.json());
app.use(express.urlencoded({extended: true})); app.use('/auth/', authRouter); app.use(errorController); module.exports = app;
In the errorController file, we define the behavior that will happen when Express detects an error. Above, we just console logged a string, but when we are communicating with the frontend, we will need to actually send a response object.
HTTP status codes for errors fall in the 400s and 500s. (All status codes can be found here.) We will be handling errors at user registration, so most of our status codes will be 400 Bad Request: Invalid syntax . But not ALL of our errors will be validation errors—we should plan for some errors that we can’t predict. An error catch-all is 500 Internal Server error: Situation the server doesn't know how to handle . This will always be the last line of defense when presented with an error.
>errorController.js
module.exports = (err, req, res, next) => {
res.status(500).send('An unknown error occurred.'); }
We want to tailor our errors, so the end user understands why they’re seeing an error message. How do we do this? I’m going to use authentication validation for all of these examples, because that case has many different errors that need different handling.
The errors thrown are defined by the validation I applied to my user model here. In this user model, we have the following possible errors:
Email or username is already taken. Username contains characters that aren’t letters/numbers. Password isn’t long enough. Passwords don’t match (users must confirm their passwords). One or more fields are empty.
const mongoose = require('mongoose'); const bcrypt = require('bcrypt'); const validator = require('validator'); const Schema = mongoose.Schema; const userSchema = new Schema({ username: { type: String, required: [true, 'Enter a username.'], unique: [true, 'That username is taken.'], lowercase: true, validate: [validator.isAlphanumeric, 'Usernames may only have letters and numbers.'] }, email: { type: String, require: [true, 'Enter an email address.'], unique: [true, 'That email address is taken.'], lowercase: true, validate: [validator.isEmail, 'Enter a valid email address.'] }, password: { type: String, required: [true, 'Enter a password.'], minLength: [4, 'Password should be at least four characters'] }, passwordConfirm: { type: String, required: [true, 'Retype your password.'], validate: { validator: function(el) { return el === this.password; }, message: 'Passwords don\'t match.' } } }); //schema middleware to apply before saving
userSchema.pre('save', async function(next) {
this.password = await bcrypt.hash(this.password, 12);
this.passwordConfirm = undefined; next(); }); const User = mongoose.model('User', userSchema); module.exports = User;
Above, I outlined five errors that are possible at registration. For MongoDB, there is an internal system of error classification. MongoDB assigns different names and codes to errors that can be seen by console logging an error. By console logging the errors, you can see what the error stacktrace (the error metadata and where it occurs in your app) looks like.
The stacktrace of a duplicate key error from MongoDB
Above, I outlined five errors that could occur with my registration validation. By using MongoDB’s classification, I can flag when those specific errors happen. Of the five errors I mentioned, they all fall into two different error categories:
Duplicate key error for existing usernames/emails. By looking at the stacktrace, I know this error has a code of E11000. Validation error for empty or poorly formatted fields. By looking at the stacktrace, I see this error’s name is ValidationError.
2. Handle different errors
We know there are two different errors we’re handling, and we have their code/name. Because MongoDB stores the Error class in the first argument of the error handling middleware, we can access properties of the Error object from that argument.
Our error handling middleware can now distinguish between two error types, and will resort to the catch-all error if the error isn’t flagged.
>errorController.js
module.exports = (err, req, res, next) => { try { console.log('congrats you hit the error middleware');
if(err.name === 'ValidationError') return err = handleValidationError(err, res);
if(err.code && err.code == 11000) return err = handleDuplicateKeyError(err, res); } catch(err) {
res.status(500).send('An unknown error occurred.'); } }
We split out the error handling for duplicate key errors and validation errors into individual functions. The function for duplicate key errors can look like this:
>errorController.js
//handle email or username duplicates const handleDuplicateKeyError = (err, res) => { const field = Object.keys(err.keyValue); const code = 409; res.status(code).send(`An account with that ${field} already exists.`); }
What’s going on here:
We can extract the field the error is occurring on by applying vanilla JS to the error object, which has a keyValue property built-in. Using the list of HTTP codes, we can determine that the correct code for duplicate entries in 409 (a request that conflicts with existing data in the server). We attach the code and a message to the response object with status and send . Using send is needed for showing error messages to the frontend. Send can push JavaScript (strings, objects, arrays) that can be immediately used in React, as opposed to the json method.
We not only want to show an error message on the frontend, but also highlight the fields that need to be corrected. So, in addition to pushing the message, we will also send the field that is throwing the error (either the username or email field) in an array.
//handle email or username duplicates const handleDuplicateKeyError = (err, res) => { const field = Object.keys(err.keyValue); const code = 409; const error = `An account with that ${field} already exists.`; res.status(code).send({messages: error, fields: field}); }
That was fairly simple. But note that we didn’t do two things: 1. use the error messages that we added to our user model, or 2. create an ability to handle multiple errors at once. We’ll do both in the validation function:
//handle field formatting, empty fields, and mismatched passwords const handleValidationError = (err, res) => { let errors = Object.values(err.errors).map(el => el.message); let fields = Object.values(err.errors).map(el => el.path); let code = 400; if(errors.length > 1) { const formattedErrors = errors.join(' '); res.status(code).send({messages: formattedErrors, fields: fields}); } else { res.status(code).send({messages: errors, fields: fields}) } }
In this function, we built on everything we did above and added:
Using el.message to get the error message we added in our user model. Looping through the error object to store multiple errors, if there is more than one. Detecting if errors > 1, and joining all messages together with a space, so they become one string.
Why do we need to join messages with a space? Without it, they will be an array of messages. To display it on the frontend, the error message will need to be a single string. To test this, I made a request from an API client (I’m using Google’s Advanced RESTful client), and purposefully left in two errors: the email field is blank and the passwords don’t match.
In the response below, you can see that the “messages” value is now a string, while the “fields” value is still an array.
We’re now ready to send error messages to the browser, and our error controller looks like this:
//handle email or usename duplicates const handleDuplicateKeyError = (err, res) => {
const field = Object.keys(err.keyValue);
const code = 409;
const error = `An account with that ${field} already exists.`;
res.status(code).send({messages: error, fields: field}); } //handle field formatting, empty fields, and mismatched passwords const handleValidationError = (err, res) => {
let errors = Object.values(err.errors).map(el => el.message);
let fields = Object.values(err.errors).map(el => el.path);
let code = 400; if(errors.length > 1) {
const formattedErrors = errors.join('')res
.status(code)
.send({messages: formattedErrors, fields: fields}); } else { res
.status(code)
.send({messages: errors, fields: fields}
}
} //error controller function module.exports = (err, req, res, next) => { try { if(err.name === 'ValidationError') return err = handleValidationError(err, res);
if(err.code && err.code == 11000) return err = handleDuplicateKeyError(err, res);
} catch(err) {
res
.status(500)
.send('An unknown error occurred.');
}
}
3. Send errors to the browser
How can we get these errors from Express → React? We need to move from making the API calls from a program like Google’s REST client or Postman, and into the browser.
My registration form looks like this. It’s in React component called Register.js.
The registration form from Register.js
I’m going to make this form stateful with a custom hook called useForm.js. In this hook, I will track and store the form values, and handle submit events.
Where error handling will come in is after the submit event, in the POST request to the server.
> useForm.js
import { useState } from 'react';
import { useHistory } from 'react-router-dom';
import axios from 'axios'; export default function useForm({ initialValues }) { let history = useHistory();
const [values, setValues] = useState(initialValues || {});
const [error, setError] = useState(null); //track form values
const handleChange = event => {
const value = event.target.value;
const name = event.target.name;
setValues({
...values,
[name]: value
});
}; //submit form when enter key is pressed
const handleKeyDown = event => {
const enter = 13;
if(event.keyCode === enter) {
handleSubmit(event);
}
} //submit form when submit button is clicked
const handleSubmit = event => {
event.preventDefault();
submitData({ values });
}; //send data to database
const submitData = async (formValues) => {
const url = 'http://127.0.0.1:5000/';
const dataObject = formValues.values;
const { username, email, password, passwordConfirm } = dataObject; try {
await axios ({
method: 'POST',
url: `${url}auth/register`,
data: {
username: username,
email: email,
password: password,
passwordConfirm: passwordConfirm
},
headers: new Headers({ 'Content-Type': 'application/json' })
}).then(res => {
history.push('/home');
})
} catch(err) {
setError(err.response.data);
}
}; return { handleChange,
handleKeyDown,
values,
handleSubmit,
error
}
}
When the POST request throws an error, we capture the error in err.response.data and store it state above. Then we return it from the hook, so we can use it in our registration form.
4. Display error messages on the frontend.
The value we’re returning is an object with a fields array and a messages string.
The message we want to display is in the messages value.
To show it in the registration form, we can make an Error component that conditionally appears when there is an error. The initial state of the error is null , so the error will evaluate false until the state is updated with a message.
> Register.js
import React from 'react';
import FormInput from './../components/FormInput';
import CTA from './../components/CTA';
import Prompt from './../components/Prompt';
import ConfirmPasswordInput from './../components/ConfirmPasswordInput';
import useForm from './../hooks/useForm';
import Error from './../components/Error'; export default function Register() { const { values, handleChange, handleKeyDown, handleSubmit, error } = useForm({ initialValues: {
email: '',
username: '',
password: '',
passwordConfirm: ''
}
}); return(
<div className="page">
<div className="inlineForm">
<h3>Register</h3>
<div className="inlineForm__notif">
{error && <Error error={error.messages}/> }
</div> <FormInput type={"email"} placeholder={"Email"} name={"email"} value={values.email} handleChange={handleChange} handleKeyDown={handleKeyDown} /> ///rest of the form fields
So, if there is an error, the Error component will appear and it will take the error.messages as a prop. Error component itself is very simple:
Error.js
import React from 'react'; export default function Error(props) { return(
<div className="notifError">
<h5>{props.error}</h5>
</div>
)
}
When an error is thrown, the notification appears at the top of the form:
The notification will persist until another request is made, but it could easily be dismissed automatically with a timeout function.
Now, the last part of this is how to make the fields that are throwing an error have a red highlight, so the end user is drawn to fix them.
5. Highlight fields with errors on the frontend.
Our fields are stored in the error.fields key. How can we dynamically reflect the error state of the field array, which looks something like this, error.fields = ["username", "password"] , in our form?
This is the register form again.
>Register.js
export default function Register() { const { values, handleChange, handleKeyDown, handleSubmit, error } = useForm({ initialValues: {
email: '',
username: '',
password: '',
passwordConfirm: ''
}
}); let invalidFields;
error ? invalidFields = error.fields : invalidFields = []; return(
<div className="page">
<div className="inlineForm">
<h3>Register</h3>
<div className="inlineForm__notif">
{error && <Error error={error.messages}/> }
</div> <FormInput type={"email"} placeholder={"Email"} name={"email"} value={values.email} handleChange={handleChange} handleKeyDown={handleKeyDown} fail={invalidFields.includes("email")}/> ///rest of the form fields
Initialize a variable called invalidFields. If there is an error (the error !== null), invalidFields is equal to the array of misused fields. If there is no error, it is equal to an empty array. Create a prop in the form field components called fail that will determine if the field is invalid or not. The value inside that prop should also evaluate to true or false . If invalidFields.includes('email') is true, the field will be invalid.
In the field component, we have to change its style based on if fail is true or false. If it is false, the style will stay the same. If it is true, we will add an error class to it that will apply the red border.
Here is the code for my FormInput component
>FormInput.js
import React from 'react'; export default function FormInput(props) {
let fail = props.fail; return(
<> <input type={props.type} name="input"
className={`input ${fail ? "input--fail" : null} `}
placeholder={props.placeholder} name={props.name}
value={props.value} onChange={props.handleChange}
onKeyDown={props.handleKeyDown}
/>
</>
)
}
In SCSS, the .input — fail class adds a red border around the fields that have the class applied.
Submitting an empty form will give every field the highlight.
That’s all on displaying errors in React from Express/Mongoose. There is a lot more that could be done here. If you’d like to see all the code from this demo, the repo link is here. The entire form and the server code can be found there.
Further reading about error handling: | https://levelup.gitconnected.com/handling-errors-in-mongoose-express-for-display-in-react-d966287f573b | [] | 2020-11-10 13:33:05.811000+00:00 | ['React', 'Node', 'Error Handling', 'Mongodb', 'Frontend'] |
Cristopher Bautista on the longest day ever | I can’t even imagine what 2020 has been like for you.
The last day we were in physical school was March 13th, which was also a Friday the 13th. I feel like time has stopped since then. In my mind, the current sophomores are still my freshmen because I never got the closure of wrapping up the school year with them. We did distance learning, but it wasn’t the same.
Let’s talk about distance learning. Tell me more about your experience as a teacher.
Even though I’ve been teaching for over six years, I feel like a new teacher given the circumstances. I had never taught over Zoom before.
In March, when we had to finish up the school year remotely, it was pretty much all asynchronous work, meaning I never actually met with all my students at the same time. When we went back to school in August, I wasn’t doing face-to-face time because kids were under different circumstances — some of them had to get jobs, some of them had to take care of their siblings. So the fall was weird because we were still transitioning. And I teach freshmen, who are starting at a new school with new classes, and they don’t know anyone. It was really awkward.
“Even though I’ve been teaching for over six years, I feel like a new teacher given the circumstances.”
And there are a lot of equity issues. Like, there were kids who couldn’t get online for the first two weeks of distance learning because they didn’t have internet or a computer. So they quickly got behind for reasons outside of their control. I’m a teacher who cares about making the playing field even for all children in my classroom, and I felt like I wasn’t doing that. But it wasn’t my fault. I need to remind myself it’s not my fault — it’s the fault of systemic oppression that’s been happening in the education system for decades.
“This is Waffle, one of my two cats. He’s 7 years old. I feel like dogs are great with their humans working from home all the time now. They’re like, ‘Cool. I like being with my human.’ But with cats, at first they were like, ‘Cool, I got my human here, I’ma hang out with them.’ And then eventually it was just like, ‘Hey, leave me alone. I got things to do.’ ’Cause during lunch I’ll be like, ‘Hey, I wanna pet you.’ And the cats will be like, ‘No.’”
How else has teaching changed for you since schools moved to distance learning?
For me, teaching has become a constant question of whether to have my kids get to know each other, or develop the skills they’ll need for sophomore year. Sometimes I feel like I’m failing the kids by choosing to focus on the learning. It’s been a struggle. I’ve become really burnt out—not just teaching, but also worrying about what I’m doing wrong. And the lag time between kids showing me they understand stuff is so much slower than before.
In person, I was able to tell if a kid understood something by the look on their face. Because freshmen — they can’t hide their emotions. If they’re confused, they will look confused, even if they say they get it. So if everyone in the room looked confused, I knew I needed to reteach a thing. But with distance learning, I don’t have that. When I teach, most kids’ cameras are off. I feel like I’m talking to myself a lot.
When we go back…if we go back…these kids are gonna come in and be like, “Mr. Bautista! What’s up?” And I’ll be like, “Who the hell are you?” But I know their personalities, I’ve seen their writing, I’ve interacted with them on some level, either through text or email. It’s just so weird how I can’t link the personality to the face because I haven’t seen the face.
What have you noticed about how students are adjusting?
It is really cool to see students advocate for themselves more. I’ve told them that with distance learning, they need to speak up for themselves. If they don’t turn in an assignment, I don’t know if it’s because something family-related happened, if they’re confused, or if they just don’t want to do it — they need to let me know. And kids are actually speaking up, whereas freshmen are usually too shy to ask for help. I hope that self-advocacy carries over into their next years.
“Back in May, I went apricot-picking with my aunt on her old coworker’s property in Los Altos. It was my first time really getting out since quarantine started. It was wild to be outside my apartment. My mom made my mask.”
What are some of your personal plans that the pandemic turned upside down?
For the last few years, I’ve had a second job working at Starbucks. But I quit that in September of 2019 with the intention of using summer 2020 — my first free summer — to travel and have fun. I remember in February of this year I was beginning to think about my plans ’cause spring break was coming up and spring break is like a taste of summer break. But I never got to that planning stage.
At first I thought I would give it a month, and that we’d be fine by May, maybe. But once I knew the school year would start remotely, I spent the summer studying up on how to do distance learning. Part of me is glad I did that because I was a lot more prepared than other teachers when we came back this fall. But I also feel like I never really had a break. I feel like it’s just been one really long day since March 13th.
What or who has helped you through some of the hardest moments since March 13th?
Talking with other teachers has been really important, because we’re all just making things up as we go. I’ve become more social with the other teachers because I can be honest when I feel depressed or burned out—we’re a lot more vulnerable with each other, which is nice. Because sometimes teaching is this weird competition where teachers only highlight all the great things they’re doing and present themselves as though they totally have it all together. But I’m just like, “I have no idea what I’m doing. I’m one week behind grading. I’ve got 10 emails in my inbox from kids who have no clue what’s going on.” Having other teachers reframe it for me is nice. Also, no one knows the teacher struggle as well as other teachers. It’s been a good reminder to be kinder to myself.
What’s a reframe that’s been particularly helpful?
Teaching is all about adaptation. Every year we teach the same content, but we have different kids and we have to adapt to the energy of those kids, and adapt to what they understand, and what they know, and who they are. Back in March — as it was dawning on us that the pandemic wasn’t going anywhere — some teachers quit, and some teachers retired because they couldn’t put up with this, which is understandable. It’s a stressful profession. At first I was afraid that the last five years of perfecting my craft and learning what it means to be a good teacher were out the window. But eventually I realized this is just another form of adaptation. We’re adapting to different teaching styles, we’re adapting to different students — it’s the same sort of energy that’s made teaching exciting every year.
“Eventually I realized this is just another form of adaptation. We’re adapting to different teaching styles, we’re adapting to different students — it’s the same sort of energy that’s made teaching exciting every year.”
That’s why I like being a teacher. I teach the same thing, but it feels different every year. It never gets boring. This is kind of a version of that, and reframing it that way makes things a lot more manageable to think about. Kids are working, and turning things in, and learning. I compared the kids’ work to my freshmen at this time last year, and the quality of work is about the same. So it’s pretty cool how, despite the difficulties, we’ve all been able to adapt. It’s not just me — it’s the kids too.
“Over the summer I got tired of ordering takeout, so I decided to learn how to cook this spicy Filipino coconut pork stew. I had to sautée these really spicy, tiny peppers — which started to make everyone’s eyes water. So I had to take the stew outside and finish cooking it on this little grill.”
What else have you realized about yourself through this time?
As a gamer, I actually have a lot of skills that are transferable to teaching remotely. For example, I built a gaming computer a couple of years ago, and I already had everything set up in terms of my keyboard and my mouse. And my layout for teaching is very much like a streamer. So kids pay attention because the setup is familiar and relatable. This is a weird time, but once I realized I have certain skills that translate to distance learning, I felt a bit better.
As a Thank You for sharing your story with me, I’ll be donating to any person or place of your choosing. You’ve chosen your Digital Classroom fund — tell me more about it.
Every year during Back to School night, I ask for donations, which is super problematic. All teachers ask for donations and usually it’s for things like Post-its, paper, dry-erase markers, hand sanitizer — all the stuff districts should be paying for but aren’t. And it turns out distance learning is expensive. I had to upgrade my internet because my roommate is also a teacher and we’re streaming lessons at the same time. I also had to upgrade my internet hardware because my hardware was five years old which was causing my video and audio to lag.
So this fund goes towards things like my internet costs and the subscriptions I purchase to give my students a richer learning experience. Because Google Slides and Google Documents only go so far, and there are other cool interactive tools for kids to use. Of course, I feel really weird about how the technology industry is taking advantage of educators. Because some districts are paying for tools — but many aren’t. And turns out it’s more expensive to be an online teacher than an in-person teacher. Districts are actually saving money because teachers are now paying for overhead. But that’s a whole other conversation about education and capitalism. | https://medium.com/what-i-cant-even/cristopher-bautista-on-the-longest-day-ever-7e426acc164f | ['Olivia Swanson Haas'] | 2021-03-03 23:28:45.275000+00:00 | ['Nonfiction', 'Humanity', 'Pandemic', 'Life', 'Stories'] |
SUPER-AUTHOR ASHLEY ANTOINETTE COLEMAN CREATES WORLDS OF BLACK EXCELLENCE | Promotional Image of Ashley Antoinette Coleman
Truly, if Black beauty could be imagined as its own world — its creator free from apprehensions and personal insecurities, that world would be authored by Ashley Antoinette Coleman.
Her pen is a masterful weapon of retribution she uses to get justice for misappropriated stories — our stories.
Coleman crafts narratives that are not only relatable, but as it turns out… popular.
But popularity isn’t new for the urban lit or street lit genre — a literary space Coleman was thrust in with her husband (also a bestselling author), JaQuavis Coleman. While her literary works extend beyond the genre, it was this movement of words, that first introduced to audiences, her literary prowess. Like Iceberg Slim, Donald Goines, and Sista Souljah, Coleman uses her own experiences to create entire worlds. But it was one such experience that launched her career.
She’s 34 now, but even when she was a child growing up in Flint, Michigan as an avid reader, she used books to visit several worlds long before she had aspirations to be a writer. | https://medium.com/the-baldwin/super-author-ashley-antoinette-coleman-creates-worlds-of-black-excellence-b02c9ccef149 | ['James R. Sanders'] | 2020-11-16 07:41:55.387000+00:00 | ['Urban Literature', 'Black Writers', 'Ashley Antoinette Coleman', 'Baldwinbites', 'Street Literature'] |
Redux vs. Context vs. State | React-Redux Connect/useSelector
To get a better idea of this system, let’s dive into some of the innards of Redux and how React-Redux uses them.
What is Redux?
Redux is a state container for JavaScript applications. Although it was initially built for use with React, it’s not tied to React. Instead, we use a library from the same team called React-Redux to connect Redux to React.
The actual structure and shape of a Redux store are entirely up to the user. It must fit the same shape as the original passed in state, which they refer to as Preloaded State. Traditionally, this is an object and is placed into the variable currentState . At this point, nothing complex is happening, and we just have a single variable that stores our data. Now we want to turn this into a pub-sub.
The PubSub pattern is a form of an observer pattern where users can “publish” updates to a central system, and any subscribers listening to those events are updated accordingly.
So what do these steps look like in our system? Let’s look at the events in sequential order:
An event takes place in the system, which dispatches an action to the store. The store takes that action and updates the store through state reduction. Once the store has updated, we inform all listeners to the store that the data has changed.
Note: If any new subscriptions are added after one has occurred, they will not be notified of a change within the system while iterating through the listeners. After the update is complete at #3, we then move any new subscriptions into our currentSubscriptions .
So, who are the listeners? In the case of Redux, they are any entity that has subscribed to it. You may have seen the syntax for it before, but it happens after you create the store:
Middleware is built using this API, as well as React-Redux. Again, it’s not React specific — absolutely anything can tie into this pub-sub and know about state changes.
One thing you might notice here is that absolutely every single change to the store will call our subscribed event. Does this happen under the hood of our React components? Wouldn’t that be heavy, as each component will be updated no matter the change? Well, this is an excellent opportunity to dive into React-Redux!
What is React-Redux?
React-Redux is a binding library used to connect React to Redux. That’s not all it does though; it also gives us several enhancements under the hood that are often overlooked. Before we look at these enhancements, let’s see how it connects the Redux pub-sub to our components. This can be done in one of two ways: with the traditional Connect syntax or with the newer useSelector and useDispatch hooks.
First, let’s talk about their similarities. Both of these approaches use the React Context system to pass the store instance to any child components in the react tree. Note that this isn’t the store state itself — this is collected later.
Beyond that, there are a couple of misconceptions about how Context is used in React-Redux. We saw earlier that the Context system does have a mechanism to inform child components that our values have updated. But React-Redux does not use this mechanism. Instead, they subscribe directly to the store itself and use the store pub-sub to be notified of possible state changes. This is the store.subscribe() that we mentioned earlier.
Note: This is the useSelector example. The subscription logic for connect is very similar, and can be found here.
When the store state changes, it will call checkForUpdates, which determines if the state alteration has any effect on this component. If it does, it calls forceRender, re-rendering this component. In this entire flow, the Context is never used. So what’s the purpose of it?
A special thanks to Mark Erikson, who helped me walk through the React-Redux/Context approach. He wrote a fantastic post here that goes more in-depth on these reasons.
The purpose of Context within this system is to do exactly as we said above. We use the Context provider to tell React where this store is housed in the hierarchy of the React tree. Any child components of that provider have access to that store instance. This gives us the ability to have multiple stores, nested stores, and a cleaner approach to passing the store instance.
Why doesn’t React-Redux use Context to update the child components? There’s a Github Issue outlining the reasons, but I want to look at a purpose that we’ve already described in this post. Remember the context example we used before? We were able to reduce the amount of re-renders in our system to two. They were:
Re-render the component house the provider, to update the value Re-render any components housing a consumer.
LevelTwo (the component with nether provider nor consumer) was not re-rendered because it was memoized and had no changed props that would need to update the component.
That means, for any children of the provider, and any children of the consumers, your components should be memoized so as to reduce unnecessary re-renders — particularly children that do not require props from said state updates.
Now, I’m not arguing against memoization. Memoization is a crucial tool in your belt, that is under-utilized and often misunderstood (perhaps an article on that next). But that’s a pretty hefty requirement to your components and any future components.
There’s also one other issue we come across that I left purposely vague in our list above.
Render any components that house a consumer.
In the example above, we only have a single consumer, and therefore don’t see the full extent of what this means. Let’s build a case with two components with consumers instead.
So, we’ve updated our context to have two consumers, and both of those components are being displayed at a sibling level in LevelTwo . Now, when you click either of the buttons to update one of their states, you should see this:
No matter what, both of these components are re-rendered, despite them both being memoized, and at a sibling level. That’s because context only notifies their consumers that a change has occurred. It does not know whether that change affects the component using that consumer.
As our application grows, this problem also grows. There are strategies around this, which we will get more into later, but this is why React-Redux does not use context to update its components. Instead, React-Redux relies on its internal pub-sub to notify children.
So how do the re-renders look when we use React-Redux? Let’s start with a code example, then walk through a diagram to explain the steps.
This example will still be using useSelector , but subscription-style is similar to connect .
Here’s our code now using a Redux store, connected through the React-Redux provider and Hooks. Note that there is some additional boilerplate, like the reducer and actions, that isn’t present here. You can check out the code example above to see more.
What happens now when we click the Change context button? Our output should look like this:
Each component was called once for the initial render. Now, when we update our Level Three component, it only re-renders that single component. Not even our provider component updates.
And you will see that if I split our tree into two LevelThree components, like our last example, only a single one would update (assuming they were different state values). How is that?
Partly because of the Redux subscriptions. But you might recall from the Redux breakdown above, a subscription gets called for every single change in the store. And that does happen here, but React-Redux gives us more under-the-hood tools to help increase performance. Here are the steps it takes:
A state update is published. All the listeners, in this case, every single rendered component using useSelector, will call their checkForUpdates function. Each component takes the store instance passed to them from the context earlier, to get the current state of the store. Use the selector passed in to derive a new state value for this component. If the new derived state used by this component has changed from before, re-render the component. If not, do nothing.
This flow can be seen here:
Note: That equality check is where connect and useSelector start to have some differences. We’ll dive into those in a moment. At a high level though, these work similarly.
An even more simplified version is broken down in this diagram:
Note, any child of component three will also still be re-rendered, so, if that’s not desirable, it’s still on the developer to ensure that child components are properly memoized.
Differences between mapStateToProps and useSelector
Although the general idea of useSelector and mapStateToProps are the same, there are some key differences under the hood that can throw you for a loop if you’re not ready for them. However, in my experience these differences, or at least their significance to us developers using these tools, have been greatly exaggerated
To help break down the differences we first need a high-level understanding of what the structure of each approach is. Once we know the difference in architecture, the difference in style should be clearer. So first, let’s examine each signature.
Note: we are going to be doing some selectors that I wouldn’t typically build. This is to try and examine the differences between styles.
Above is the Hook style, using the useSelector Hook of react-redux. Now let’s take a look at the classic mapStateToProps .
As we can see above, the Hook can tie directly into the data and pull out what’s needed. On the other hand, our HOC requires us to create a mapStateToProps function and pass it into our HOC, along with the eventual component. That component will then receive all state data as props.
The DOM output is the same, but there is a difference in the structure of our React document.
ComponentWithHOC React Structure
It appears that our Hook component resembles precisely the elements as they appear in our code. The connect HOC component is a little bit more complicated. Now, we know connect is a HOC, and if you’ve previously used HOC’s, you should have some idea how this looks, but let’s diagram it.
Now we have this extra component that wraps our component. This is responsible for collecting the state data and passing it to our component as a prop. Now, because our component is wrapped with this higher-level component, some extra optimizations are performed out-of-the-box, which aren’t available for Hooks. Namely, we can render both the component creation as well as memoize our actual connect HOC.
What does that mean for people using or migrating to Hooks? It means that where you previously had “free” memoization caused by the connect HOC you will now have to handle on your own. For most cases, that’s as simple as wrapping your component in a React.memo .
Note: There are some interesting differences with mapDispatchToProps, which you may want to check out more about in my article understanding a useEffects dependency array. | https://medium.com/better-programming/redux-vs-context-vs-state-4202be6d3e54 | ['Denny Scott'] | 2020-03-10 15:40:59.701000+00:00 | ['Redux', 'Web Development', 'React', 'Programming', 'JavaScript'] |
Franciscans, Jesuits and so forth — he suggested one way to reclaim evangelicalism is for those called to evangelism to rise up as a holy order across the church universal. | Franciscans, Jesuits and so forth — he suggested one way to reclaim evangelicalism is for those called to evangelism to rise up as a holy order across the church universal. Firoso Nov 19, 2020·6 min read
Evangelicalism in America is nearing extinction due to the movement’s devotion to politics at the expense of its original calling to share the gospel, according to Mark Galli, former editor-in-chief of Christianity Today.
“The evangelicalism that transformed the world is, for all practical purposes, dying if not already dead,” Galli said during the “Conversations that Matter” webinar hosted by Baptist News Global Oct. 8. He spoke with BNG Executive Director and Publisher Mark Wingfield in an hour-long webinar that is available for viewing on BNG’s YouTube channel.
Image for post
https://twitter.com/ufc252fighthd/status/1329468330722295808
https://twitter.com/ufc252fighthd/status/1329468310899986432
https://twitter.com/ufc252fighthd/status/1329468088417353729
Now semi-retired, Galli served 20 years at Christianity Today and is the author of a new book, When Did We Start Forgetting God: The Root of the Evangelical Crisis and Hope for the Future.
While he has identified at times as Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Anglican and recently becoming Roman Catholic, Galli said he has remained true to his evangelical upbringing that emphasized evangelism and spiritual renewal.
“I am an evangelical Catholic,” he said.
Galli spoke on an array of other topics including the culture war divisions between Americans, the polities that divide churches, and how dialogue may help pastors and others hurdle those barriers.
That editorial
But he hit on a very high-profile topic, too: his December 2019 Christianity Today editorial describing President Donald Trump as morally unfit to hold office and arguing for his removal. It was published during the Congressional impeachment hearings.
“He himself has admitted to immoral actions in business and his relationship with women, about which he remains proud,” Galli wrote. “His Twitter feed alone — with its habitual string of mischaracterizations, lies and slanders — is a near perfect example of a human being who is morally lost and confused.”
The piece generated severe backlash from the right, including from the president himself. The viciousness of responses often was hard to bear, Galli said.
The one possible thing he would redo, he said, is the headline — “Trump Should Be Removed from Office” — that placed the emphasis on politics, when it was faith that motivated his position, Galli explained. “I was making moral arguments to fellow evangelicals. But it sounded like a political comment.”
The editorial was not, as some claimed, an effort to back Trump’s opponent in the 2020 election. It’s just that Trump has “such deeply flawed moral character” that he needs to leave office, Galli said.
Trump has “such deeply flawed moral character” that he needs to leave office.
He has no quarrel with conservative evangelicals who acknowledge Trump’s flaws but still vote for him because he lines up on issues important to them, Galli said.
There were certainly plenty of those in 2016, according to a pre-election Pew survey that Christianity Today published titled, “Most Evangelicals Will Vote Trump, But Not for Trump.”
Rather than citing issues like abortion, religious freedom and support for Israel as rationale for voting Trump, white evangelicals were much more concerned about the economy four years ago, Galli recalled. “I get it. I disagree with their choice, but I respect their wrestling.”
On the other hand, he said he does not understand those evangelicals who refuse to criticize Trump on moral grounds, who believe liberals need some shaking up and describe the president in messianic terms.
He recalled an anecdote about a pro-Trump Christian describing the president as sitting “at the right hand of the Father” and said of this ideology: “That’s idolatry, clearly and simply.”
Demise of evangelicalism
To explain the demise of evangelicalism, Galli cited the legacy of Billy Graham, who even in advanced age preached to invite men and women of all races and cultures to Christ. “He was the glue that held evangelicalism together for many years,” Galli said.
“An unfortunate symbol of what evangelicalism has become is epitomized by his son, Franklin,” he continued. “Franklin stands for evangelicals on both the right and the left who believe that politics is an essential work of evangelical faith.”
“Franklin (Graham) stands for evangelicals on both the right and the left who believe that politics is an essential work of evangelical faith.”
One symbol of that politicization is an organization called Evangelicals for Trump.
“In describing themselves in that way, they have become just another political interest group, taking the great name ‘evangelical,’ with all its theological and doctrinal and gospel history and meaning and putting it in the service of a political candidate,” Galli asserted.
And from his vantage point, the news is no better from the evangelical left.
“What’s really troubling to me is that instead of decrying this coopting of the term ‘evangelical’ for political gain, the evangelical left has only mirrored this tragic move when they recently formed a group called Evangelicals for Joe Biden.”
Evangelical groups that focus almost solely on social justice and cultural change, instead of sharing the gospel, are contributing to the decline, too, he said.
“As a result, we’ve started to let the agenda of the world determine the agenda of the church, and we’ve sidelined evangelism and church renewal as the result.”
Galli said he noticed this trend during the hiring process at Christianity Today beginning in the 1990s. Candidates overwhelmingly were interested in cultural analysis, and perhaps one in 10 story ideas pitched was about evangelistic outreach.
For the most part, he added, the lack of interest in that founding mission of faith sharing exists across the board.
“I am going to go so far as to say that our fascination with social amelioration, and political activism, has watered down the evangelical faith to the point that it looks little different than mainline Christianity,” he said.
“We’ve forgotten that the genius of evangelical faith was its singular focus: spiritual renewal. ‘You must be born again’ was preached to individuals and to whole churches and denominations, from George Whitefield, John Wesley, to Charles Finney, to Dwight Moody to Billy Graham. It was preached in the First and Second Great Awakenings, it was preached by the circuit riders, and at local Baptist revivals every year or many times a year.”
Yet, that message is not being preached much nowadays, and there will be consequences, he said. “Evangelicals today no longer have a laser focus on evangelism and spiritual renewal. As a result, I believe they will fade away as will the very term.”
Who will the Lord raise up?
But Galli predicted the mission of evangelism will continue, possibly under a different name.
“In every generation, the Lord raises up some Christians to whom he gives the charism of evangelism and spiritual renewal. What they will be called in the future, I don’t know.”
“In every generation, the Lord raises up some Christians to whom he gives the charism of evangelism and spiritual renewal. What they will be called in the future, I don’t know.”
Citing the tradition of various orders within Roman Catholicism — Benedictines, Franciscans, Jesuits and so forth — he suggested one way to reclaim evangelicalism is for those called to evangelism to rise up as a holy order across the church universal.
With some portion of the church focused on evangelism, then Christians can be involved in the public square, love their neighbors and work for social and political justice, he added. “Christians should not run away from culture but dash right into the middle of it and do whatever it takes to show forth the righteousness of God.”
Friendship amid differences
Galli explained that he’s developed these insights partly in becoming Catholic, which has provided a different vantage point from which to view evangelicalism and the wider church.
Regarding Christian unity, he said: “I don’t know if there is a reason for us to be apart, but it’s hard to get together because no one is willing to give up anything. For example, talking to a Methodist and a Presbyterian reveals little difference, “but Methodists don’t want to give up their bishops and Presbyterians don’t want to submit to bishops.”
Divisions within congregations, especially politically driven ones, must be addressed delicately, Galli said, suggesting pastors preach on the Bible from the pulpit and speak with parishioners aside from their sermons about politics.
But he acknowledged that even the Bible has been politicized in the current climate.
“Unfortunately, everything is perceived as political,” he said. “We just have to remind ourselves there are more important things than politics.”
Former Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia lived that approach, he said. They did not let ideological differences prevent a friendship.
“That is something American leaders ought to be promoting,” he concluded. | https://medium.com/@5firoso/evangelicalism-in-america-is-nearing-extinction-due-to-the-movements-devotion-to-politics-at-the-557332c6e216 | [] | 2020-11-19 17:25:02.038000+00:00 | ['Sports', 'Social Media', 'News', 'Live Streaming'] |
Young NBA Players Getting Paid | Young NBA Players Getting Paid
Teams sign their potential stars to long-term extensions, hoping that they can help take their teams to the next level
Monday marked the deadline for players drafted in 2016 to sign extensions on their rookie contracts. The list of names was highlighted by Jaylen Brown and Buddy Hield, who both signed extensions of four years and over $80 million dollars. Other big names, like Ben Simmons, Jamal Murray, and Pascal Siakam also signed extensions well before Monday.
The large amount of contract extensions are a result of a lackluster free agent class, in comparison to past years. Also, this was a chance for teams to lockup young players long-term, hoping that they blossom into stars similar to Golden State and Stephen Curry. The NBA’s strained relationship with China may impact the salary cap in the future, if the relationship doesn’t improve. Teams with all that in mind, had to make smart decisions when it comes to keeping players long-term.
For teams like the Philadelphia 76ers, they had to re-sign Ben Simmons. Simmons, who signed an extension for five years for $170 million, was an all-star last season where he averaged 17 points, eight rebounds, eight assists per game. The Sixers are showing that they’re all in on Ben Simmons even though he has yet to develop an outside shot. Simmons gets the money and the Sixers have a 6’10 dominant point guard for the next couple of years. He had a near triple double in the Sixers season opener, scoring 24 points, grabbing eight rebounds, and dishing out nine assists.
Jamal Murray also received a five year, $170 million extension from the Denver Nuggets. Murray is entering his 4th year in the NBA and averaged 18 points, four rebounds, and five assists per game. Murray’s extension is surprising, considering Murray has not set himself apart and performed with the top point guards in the league. However, the Nuggets must see something in Murray’s game that they think will bring them a championship. Murray scored just 14 points in the season opener, so it remains to be seen if the Nuggets will get what they paid for, in the future.
Pascal Siakam emerged as a star during the Raptors 2019 championship playoff run. He also won Most Improved Player for the 2018–2019 season. The Raptors and Siakam agreed to a four year, $130 million dollar extension. Looking at the first game, Siakam proved that he’s deserving of it, scoring 34 points and grabbing 18 rebounds. This was a win for both the Raptors, securing one of their rising stars, and Siakam who will be getting paid big money for the rest of his tenure with the Raptors.
The Celtics didn’t finish the season where they wanted to, but they did sign an extension with Jaylen Brown for five years, for $115 million dollars. Brown was chosen as the third overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft and has shown flashes of greatness on both the offensive and defensive end.
However, his production has not matched his seeming potential, as he averaged 13 points per game last season, a 1.5 point drop from the year before. In the season opener, Brown scored eight points and pulled down seven rebounds. The Celtics will have overpaid Brown if he cannot increase his production and turn into the star that they hope he will be.
One of the last big names to sign extensions was sharpshooter Buddy Hield. He signed with the Kings for four years, for $86 million dollars. An interesting part to his extension, was that that number could be bumped up to $106 million dollars based on team-based and individual bonuses. The Kings are not wrong for giving Buddy an extension, as he has continuously gotten better every season, improving his points, rebounds, and assists per game. And Buddy showed flashes of why he got his money, scoring 28 points with six three’s in the season opener. | https://medium.com/morehouse-advanced-news-writing-fall-2019/young-nba-players-getting-paid-16965977b4bf | ['Noah Mcmillan'] | 2020-10-16 22:51:16.686000+00:00 | ['Toronto Raptors', 'Boston Celtics', 'Jaylen Brown', 'NBA', 'Sports Business'] |
On Call Stud ~ Part II | Satisfaction guaranteed…
Photo by Lucas Ribeiro from Pexels
Read Part I here
His hand cupped my chin and his thumb wiped at the corners of my mouth. “I’ll give you the name. Another bite?”
“Yes please.” By the time I finished the treat, I was a puddle of need. He hadn’t really touched me other than wiping the crumbs after each bite.
But Maverick scooted closer and put his hand on my silk sofa and examined my mouth. “I missed a bit of chocolate, let me.” He didn’t lift his hand, instead leaning over me licked my lips. I gasped, and his mouth covered mine, his tongue licking the chocolate from inside my mouth. Oh hell — my hands fluttered to his chest. He was solid, and his goatee tickled me as our lips rubbed together.
His fingers pressed firm on my neck, skimming down my arms, and one settled on my thigh, close to where I throbbed recalling his promise on the phone. The other closed over my breast, squeezing my breast. I bared them in my latest movie, cost the studio an extra half million per breast. Maverick may have seen them already, if he was a movie goer.
His mouth pulled from mine, and he stood over me. His hands brushed my hair, pulling the elastic free, so it fell to my shoulders. “You’re gorgeous.” His voice was thick, warm, sweet like chocolate he fed me, but from his tone it wasn’t a line. He meant it. Or I thought he did. He could be a great actor. How many movies had I declared my undying love for my costar? And Dexter declared his, but he lied too.
Maverick cupped my chin. “I’m serious Megan Eve. You’re paying me to make you feel good, but you are beautiful. I don’t mean your looks, because you know that. I’m talking about the sensual woman inside that you locked up since your public betrayal. Let’s go to your bedroom, so we can unleash that sensual woman.”
I raised to my feet and pressed my blushing face into his chest. “I don’t care if it’s a line, it’s so good.”
He grabbed my hair and pulled me off him. When our eyes met, he looked into my soul. “It’s not a line, I can sense the buried sensuality, waiting for the right person to reveal it. Show me your bedroom.”
He followed me, hand holding mine, into my bedroom. He glanced around, then walked me to the full-length mirror in the corner. With hands on my hips he hauled me against him, his hips ground against me, while his hands massaged my breasts.
I closed my eyes from the view, leaning into his hands, my hips writhing with his. He moved a hand between my legs, using the seam of my pants to press into my throbbing clit. “Watch yourself, angel. Open your eyes and see how sexy you are.” His lips brushed my ear as he spoke.
I looked at the mirror, seeking what he said. We were the same, I watched him move against me, both selling a fantasy to make someone feel good. Only I sold it to millions, he was here for me.
He pulled my shirt over my head, then my bra dropped. His eyes held me watching me, plucking my nipples while our reflections stared at each other. Maverick was so damn hot that I lit on fire from his nearness. His white t-shirt and jeans joined the growing pile. He groaned, “God, I’m so hard for you, I needed to take off my pants.”
He led me to the bed and laid me sideways, kissing my nipples as he worked the fastener of my pants and they slid away quickly, leaving us in our underwear. His fingers teased between my legs, pressing the damp silk against my slick skin.
“Are you feeling your sensual side yet?” He blew against my nipple, the center tightened more.
“She’s waking up.”
His lips clamped over my nipple, his fingers pushing my panties aside to rub the slick lips. My hips jerked as I tried to move his attention to my clit.
Maverick shook his head as he hovered over me. “Ask for what you want, Meg.”
“Don’t stop?” I tried.
“You can do better than that. Tell me how to touch you.”
“Rub my clit, please.” I put my hands on his shoulders and pressed my nails into his skin enough to bite.
He rewarded my plea by rubbing my clit. “You don’t have to say please, angel. You can demand what you want.”
“A little harder, pl — — , Maverick.” I coughed as he grinned at me.
“Good girl.” He gave another of the knee weakening, hypersensual kisses that were his trademark.
I ripped my mouth from his. “I want you to kiss me like that.” Gulping down air, I forced myself to finish the lascivious demand. “On my pussy.”
“There’s my sensual minx.” He peeled away the thin red silk that covered me, then kissed between my legs, his skillful tongue stroking my clit.
“Right there.” My hands grabbed his hair. “Lick me like that, god. Wait, put your fingers inside me.”
“How many?” His eyes glittered, looking me over.
“Two, please.” We shared a grin at the pleasantry. Maverick returned to licking me, his fingers filled me, his fingers wiggling inside me as if I was too tight for his digits, as if he wanted me open for more. I hadn’t examined the bulge in his underwear, but his fingers made me curious.
“Ahh fuck.” A wave of pleasure slammed into me, jarring me, another and another, as he worked my body.
“That’s right, angel. Say my name while you come.”
My feet pressed into the bed so I could lift my hips as the orgasm rocketed through me, sending my senses spinning. “Maverick,” I cried, grabbing his hair. “Fuck me.”
He didn’t stop his tongue moving on me, making my skin bubble with shivers as my pleasure crackled in my nerves.
“Is that a demand?” He asked, floating over me. His goatee glistened with my arousal and I dragged a finger across. I licked the taste off my skin as he watched. “Damn, woman.”
“It is a demand. I want to see your dick, I want to feel it in my pussy. I want to know if you are half as good with your member, compared to your tongue.” Oh yes, my sensual self was awake and roaring for more.
“Do you have condoms? I left my bag in your entryway. I never do that, so I’m blaming your sweet mouth.”
“There’s a box of condoms in the side table.”
“Are they extra large?”
“Probably, given the size of my ex’s ego.”
“Keep your eyes on me. I want you to appreciate my body as much as I did yours.”
“Yes Sir.” I saluted and sat up as he retrieved a condom, then peeled away his black silk boxers, revealing a long, thick love tool. I snorted at the euphemism and his eyes shot to mine.
“Are you laughing at me?” He flexed so his dick waved at me.
“I am not laughing at you. The word love tool floated through my head.”
“Love tool, it could be a love tool. It’s my turn to make demands.” Maverick put his hands down either side of me. “Don’t you agree?”
“Sure.” I shrugged.
“I want your hand wrapped around my cock, stroking me.” With a nod, I followed his orders, and he rewarded me with a kiss. “Can you feel me throbbing for you?”
“Yes.” I ran my thumb over the head of his cock, where he dripped for me too. “I’m glad I turn you on.”
“Me too. And I wish I could experience your sweet mouth, but I’d come instantly. As it is, I hope you don’t think I’m too fast.”
He knelt over me and gave me a close view of the condom application. Then he wrapped my legs around his waist and surged into me.
“Fast and hard sounds good.” I bit his shoulder and rocked my hips.
“You asked for it.” He grabbed my ass and pulled me up to meet his pounding thrusts.
Fuck. Yes. I arched my back and held onto him. “Maverick, yes.”
“Come on my love tool, angel. I want to feel you squeezing me.”
He licked the moans from my mouth as we fucked. And I forgot everything but the feel of him, the pleasure he ripped from my body, not gentle orgasms, but feelings that rocked my world from the core outward. Satisfaction guaranteed, his profile promised, and he delivered it from the length of his cock.
His fingers tightened on my ass and he grunted against my neck, nipping the skin. “Damn Megan, I knew you were naughty under that tight exterior.” He rolled away and I wondered how he could move. Maverick put his hands on his hips while he stared at me. “I’m still hard, so we’ll use your giant bathtub, then we’ll do that again.”
I bit my bottom lip. “Promises, promises.”
He pinched my ass. “By the time I’m done you’ll be begging for mercy.” | https://medium.com/asrais-purple-prose/on-call-stud-part-ii-507bb560194e | ['Asrai Devin'] | 2020-04-08 19:12:54.181000+00:00 | ['Short Story', 'Fiction', 'Erotica', 'Sexy', 'Escorts'] |
The Element of Change is in the Air | A World Made From Air Not Oil
The problem isn’t carbon itself, it’s that we’re using ancient carbon to power our modern world, which leads to a climate-warming imbalance of CO₂ in the atmosphere. Fossil fuels are the source of carbon for almost everything around you, from the foam in running shoes, to automobile dashboards, to aviation fuel, to laundry detergent. As the standard of living increases for billions, our consumption of these goods will only grow, and therefore so will our demand for petrochemicals, accelerating climate change.
But what if we had a large-scale alternative to fossil carbon? We do. It’s in the air.
The Shiny Black Leaf that Eats CO2
Twelve transforms CO₂ emissions into the building blocks for essential products that are currently made from fossil fuels. Now, instead of using fossil carbon to make everyday products, we can use renewable carbon from CO₂. As a result, we can reduce global emissions while manufacturing products at the same or higher quality as conventional products made from petrochemicals. No tradeoffs in safety, performance, or efficacy.
Carbon transformation reduces emissions from supply chains, closes the carbon loop, and provides a viable pathway to a fossil-free future. Using CO₂ in place of fossil fuels in Twelve’s target applications could address nearly 10 percent of global carbon emissions.
Meet O12
Meet O12, our carbon transformation technology
Our core technology is an electrochemical reactor we call O12. It performs a process that can be described as industrial photosynthesis: like a shiny black leaf, it uses proprietary catalysts to transform CO₂ into new products, using just water and electricity as inputs. Pure oxygen is our only byproduct. O12 achieves the same CO₂-transforming power as 37,000 trees, or 64 football fields of dense forest, in a module the size of a suitcase.
Our carbon transformation devices drop into existing supply chains and manufacturing processes and connect to any source of CO₂ emissions. This means we can connect directly to the source of industrial emissions, allowing industrial emitters to create new value from what today is discarded as waste. Our technology also works with direct air capture, turning legacy CO₂ that has been removed from the atmosphere into new products.
Carbon Transformation is the New Business Transformation
Carbon transformation for brands means replacing the petrochemicals in their products, supply chains, and operations with CO2Made(R) materials and fuels. CO2Made materials and fuels allow brands to reduce their carbon footprint without compromising safety, performance or efficacy.
In contrast to carbon offset programs, Twelve’s technology directly reduces a partner’s emissions while replacing the petrochemicals in its products and supply chains with CO2Made materials and fuels. Our carbon transformation devices drop into existing manufacturing processes and integrate seamlessly at any scale.
Making things from air not oil means we can eliminate emissions from everyday products, making CO2Made the new normal — because every product should be a climate-conscious one. Every company needs a carbon transformation strategy.
A New Category of Carbon Management
Carbon transformation is a new category that is distinct from carbon capture and storage (CCS) and utilization (CCU), which are both important levers in our limited window to address climate change. Carbon transformation provides an enduring carbon management solution by eliminating the need for fossil carbon in chemicals, materials, and fuels.
CCS involves storing or mineralizing captured CO₂ emissions in underground reservoirs or rock formations. CCU includes processes where CO₂ is utilized without changing its molecular structure, most commonly today in enhanced oil recovery (EOR). EOR involves injecting CO₂ into oil wells to produce more oil. The resulting oil has a lower carbon footprint than conventional oil.
Carbon transformation involves changing CO₂ into new, more commercially useful forms of carbon. It achieves a 1:1 replacement of fossil carbon in the products that are made, which enables both a reduction in emissions and a long-term transition away from fossil fuels. Carbon transformation happens directly at the customer site, without requiring specific geology nearby. By creating a revenue stream from waste, it creates a market-driven solution to carbon emissions.
Our Journey from Invention to Expansion
Reinventing what it means to be a chemical company in the climate era, we’re on a mission to create a climate-positive world and a fossil-free future through the power of chemistry and engineering.
Our journey as Twelve began in 2015 at Stanford University with an ambition to solve climate change by transforming our biggest climate threat, CO₂, into our greatest untapped solution. Kendra and Etosha had developed field-leading knowledge of CO₂ electrocatalysis during our PhDs, and our founding technology vision was to translate that fundamental scientific understanding into the world’s first scalable, industrially-robust, and cost-competitive CO₂ transformation device.
We three co-founders pursued our invention, with no certainty that our technology concept would work. For months and long hours as Activate Fellows at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, we iterated on our formulation, seeking the first sliver of evidence that our now-patented approach to scalable CO₂ electrolysis would work. It came late one night in one giant leap: a 10X improvement in one experiment. That was the spark that our chemistry and engineering teams have expanded ever since, and we’ve advanced our performance by orders of magnitude since that moment on our relentless march toward a solution whose economics beat fossil fuels without carbon pricing.
No single person could invent O12. Our technology integrates novel catalysts, materials and hardware in ways without precedent, and as a result our team combines multiple scientific and engineering disciplines for the first time. Our team culture is collaborative and transparent by necessity and by design: we are a learning machine pioneering an entirely new industry. Our doors are open to the very best talent from all backgrounds, and we’d love to hear from you as we expand our team.
Our Vision is Clear: The Future is Fossil Free
We envision a future where we never again pull fossil carbon from the ground. We see a future where carbon is circular: harvested from the air and from landfills to produce new products using clean energy. It’s a future as nature might design it, with renewable energy from the sun powering an entire ecosystem based on CO₂ and water as raw materials: a future powered by industrial photosynthesis. That future is cleaner, quieter, smells fresher, and distributes resources more equitably.
In that future we imagine, fossil fuels are museum artifacts and oil derricks are rusting relics of a time before we had invented a better way.
Three Core Beliefs Guide Our Growth
We are bringing our technology to the world’s biggest brands, manufacturers, and industrial emitters to give them a powerful tool to meet their climate goals. As we continue to grow our team and our partnerships, scale our technology and increase our impact, we are guided by three core beliefs:
We are here to build a fossil-free future.
Our technology is a critical missing piece to closing the carbon loop to create fossil-free materials and energy systems.
It takes everybody.
In order to reach 2030 and 2050 goals to keep global warming on a sub-2-degree pathway, it’s going to take everyone and every approach working together. Carbon transformation is a critical part of a comprehensive climate strategy. Just like electric vehicles, our impact is accelerated by the deployment of low carbon electricity around the world. We are energized by everyone innovating climate solutions, and we seek to collaborate with partners that have a shared vision for building a fossil- free, climate positive future.
We can do this.
We are clear-eyed about the challenges that lie ahead and embrace with enthusiasm and determination the audacity of the effort required. Together, we can build a resilient, regenerative, abundant future for all.
—
Twelve was founded in 2015 by Dr. Etosha Cave, Dr. Kendra Kuhl, and Nicholas Flanders, who met as graduate students at Stanford University. Formerly Opus 12, Twelve is based in Berkeley, California. Twelve refers to the Carbon-12 isotope, the most abundant form of the element that amounts to 98.93% of the carbon on Earth. More information at www.twelve.co. | https://medium.com/@twelve.CO2/the-element-of-change-is-in-the-air-d0248aebbaee | [] | 2021-07-08 18:35:26.756000+00:00 | ['Carbon Emissions', 'Sustainable Business', 'Carbon Tech', 'Climate Change', 'Carbon Reduction'] |
Facebook Pixel: How to Use it Right for your FB Ads | If you’ve been running Facebook ads and haven’t been using FB Pixel, let us tell you that you haven’t been getting the most out of your social campaigns.
Why? Because this data-gathering tool enables you to reap all the benefits social media advertising has to offer, everything from refining, tracking, and targeting with better precision.
That being said, if you’re already using ads on Facebook or Instagram, and haven’t been using Pixel, now it’s time to learn about how this handy little tool works.
What Is FB Pixel?
Before we dive into things, it’s probably a good idea to say a few words about this little tool. The pixel is basically a little piece of code that you place on your site. After that, it starts collecting data that shows you data that can be helpful with conversions via FB ads, general ad tracking, ad optimization, and can help you greatly with building targeted audiences for your future ad campaigns and retargeting techniques that involve users who have already interacted with your website to a certain degree potentially showing interest in purchasing from you.
When it comes to the wizardry behind all this, is the pixel’s mechanism that triggers cookies that rack users both on and off FB and IG.
To put this into perspective, have you ever shopped around online for goods, added them to your shopping cart but forgot to check out, and abandoned the website altogether? And the next day, you visited your IG or FB account just to see an ad for the product you wanted to buy?
If this happened, you’ve been retargeted — or reminded by marketers to make that purchase you’ve initially wanted.
This is a fine example of how to tool works, but it’s not just retargeting pixel does great. It’s also a great tool to gain more insight into optimization, overall tracking, and analytics.
FB’s pixel tracks several distinctive actions (events) visitors take on your site making your life that much easier when you want to set up an ad campaign the right way.
Pixel Events
Facebook differentiates between 17 standard events all have their distinctive FB event codes. They are:
Lead: When someone identifies as a lead on the website, like sings up for a trial.
Complete registration: When a visitor registers on your site (like on a subscription form).
Purchase: A visitor buys something from you online.
Add to cart: When a visitor adds a product to their shopping cart on your website
Add to wishlist: They add a product to their wishlist.
Add payment info: Someone gives you their payment info while purchasing something.
Search: A visitor uses the search function on the site.
Contact: A visitor contacts your business.
Initiate checkout: When a visitor starts the checkout procedure to buy something from you.
View content: When a visitor lands on one of your specific pages
Find a location: When a visitor looks for the actual physical location of your business.
Customize product: A visitor chooses, for example, a certain color or version of a product.
Schedule: A visitor books an appointment on your website.
Start trial: Someone starts a free trial of your service.
Donate: A visitor donates to your cause.
Subscribe: When you receive a subscription to a paid product or service
Submit application: A visitor applies for your services/programs/products.
Extra code bits (parameters) also enable you to add more details to these standard events.
Source: Unsplash
These parameters can be:
Currency
The worth of the conversion
Content typeface
Predict the long-term value
To be more precise, you can use the FB pixel to record views of particular parts of your website instead of tracking every single view. For instance, if you run a pet supply store, you might want to divide cat owners from dog owners to see which products have a better potential for an ad campaign.
Advantages of Using Facebok Pixel
Increase ROI on ad spend: It goes without saying that when you can create better-targeted ads and show them to people who are interested and at some point, even were about the make a purchase from you, will eventually end up visiting your site again and checking out with some valuables.
It goes without saying that when you can create better-targeted ads and show them to people who are interested and at some point, even were about the make a purchase from you, will eventually end up visiting your site again and checking out with some valuables. Conversion tracking : You can also see how people interact with your site once they’ve seen your FB ad. Apart from that, you can also track your customers across their devices. With this, you can track their buying habits better which you can later use to refine your ad strategy.
: You can also see how people interact with your site once they’ve seen your FB ad. Apart from that, you can also track your customers across their devices. With this, you can track their buying habits better which you can later use to refine your ad strategy. Retargeting : Market again to people who have already visited your site. Show an ad for the exact product they’ve been looking at, abandoned in their shopping cart, or have on their wishlist.
: Market again to people who have already visited your site. Show an ad for the exact product they’ve been looking at, abandoned in their shopping cart, or have on their wishlist. Lookalike audiences : Targeting data can also be used to build new audiences who have similar likes, demographics, and interests to the visitors you’re already marketing and interacting with. This can be a great tool if you wish to build a larger customer base.
: Targeting data can also be used to build new audiences who have similar likes, demographics, and interests to the visitors you’re already marketing and interacting with. This can be a great tool if you wish to build a larger customer base. Better ad optimization: FB will automatically show your ads to people who are already likely to purchase from you. Apart from that, you can also target high-value purchases, thanks to all the data the tool collects.
FB will automatically show your ads to people who are already likely to purchase from you. Apart from that, you can also target high-value purchases, thanks to all the data the tool collects. More time on your hands: When you manage to maximize the potential of your ad campaigns, chances are, you will also be able to shift more focus onto other aspects of your online and/or offline business. By creating an optimized environment for you advertisements, you will have more room (and probably resources) to bring other business or marketing strategies up to speed as well. This especially holds true if you decide to partner up with a digital agency. PPC professionals will help you optimize your ads while social media experts in general will help you create social profiles that do justice to your brand. Apart from all that, hiring a digital agency can also help you with optimizing your site for better conversion overall, enhancing your online presence and relevancy even further.
When you manage to maximize the potential of your ad campaigns, chances are, you will also be able to shift more focus onto other aspects of your online and/or offline business. By creating an optimized environment for you advertisements, you will have more room (and probably resources) to bring other business or marketing strategies up to speed as well. This especially holds true if you decide to partner up with a digital agency. PPC professionals will help you optimize your ads while social media experts in general will help you create social profiles that do justice to your brand. Apart from all that, hiring a digital agency can also help you with optimizing your site for better conversion overall, enhancing your online presence and relevancy even further. Becoming relevant in the eyes of the beholder: By being able to create more precise targeting campaigns, you can rest assured that that people will notice your services/products because pixel will target those people who already showed interest in buying from you or browsed the category of products and services you carry or provide. With targeting the right audiences with the essentials, you also allow your brand to build authority among your competition not just on Facebook, but in the digital realm altogether.
By being able to create more precise targeting campaigns, you can rest assured that that people will notice your services/products because pixel will target those people who already showed interest in buying from you or browsed the category of products and services you carry or provide. With targeting the right audiences with the essentials, you also allow your brand to build authority among your competition not just on Facebook, but in the digital realm altogether. Accommodating to longer buyer journeys: If buyers who like to take their time before making a purchase caused you headaches in the past, using FB pixel will probably ease your job. Pixel helps you gather data and create campaigns that accommodate the habits of these buyers keeping them engaged in the sales funnel for longer, greatly increasing your chances of making a sale.
If buyers who like to take their time before making a purchase caused you headaches in the past, using FB pixel will probably ease your job. Pixel helps you gather data and create campaigns that accommodate the habits of these buyers keeping them engaged in the sales funnel for longer, greatly increasing your chances of making a sale. Appeal to all audiences : With the help of your PPC specialists, you can create several campaigns that target different segments of your audiences. If you have a large base of quick shoppers, create ad formats with a no-fuss approach, showcasing product prices and reviews — just enough to help them make a decision. On the other hand, if you happen to have a substantial group of people in your database who like good old-fashioned offline shopping, create a few specials for them in your specials showcasing some of the best-selling products in your brick-and-mortar shop.
: With the help of your PPC specialists, you can create several campaigns that target different segments of your audiences. If you have a large base of quick shoppers, create ad formats with a no-fuss approach, showcasing product prices and reviews — just enough to help them make a decision. On the other hand, if you happen to have a substantial group of people in your database who like good old-fashioned offline shopping, create a few specials for them in your specials showcasing some of the best-selling products in your brick-and-mortar shop. Get the most out of your social efforts: Just like SEO, running successful social media profiles is often an uphill battle. If you want to stay relevant and ahead of the curve, you need to use every trick in the book to stay on top. Pixel is one great way to maximize everything social channels have to offer.
Putting it All Together
The best digital marketers of today always emphasize the importance of creating a personalized customer journey for your visitors and potential buyers. FB’s pixel can help you with just that. It gives you the data and the tools you need to create more specific ad campaigns with targeted audiences in mind who are probably already showing interest in your products. Apart from that, pixel lets you create lookalike audiences, enabling your customer base to potentially grow down the line.
Installing the code might be a bit of a hassle if you wish to pull it off together, however, with the help of a good digital agency, it will be a walk in the park. Heck, a stellar marketing team will even create your campaigns and ads for you! | https://medium.com/@popart-studio/facebook-pixel-how-to-use-it-right-for-your-fb-ads-9087d170f98a | ['Popart Studio'] | 2021-07-06 07:08:57.838000+00:00 | ['Facebook Marketing', 'Facebook Pixel', 'Facebook', 'Remarketing', 'Digital Marketing'] |
EcoCelium Christmas Update | There are only a couple of days left before Christmas and a week before our Recap of 2020.
We are happy to share that all current features of EcoCelium are fully working.
A pre-recorded presentation of Eco Token Liquidity Tools and How To Create a Liquidity Pool with Eco Token, will be shared with our community in the week of Christmas.
Please see our video update for further details HERE. | https://medium.com/ormeus/ecocelium-christmas-update-d90f2f2107c9 | ['Ormeus Ecosystem'] | 2020-12-23 14:28:05.862000+00:00 | ['Cryptocurrency', 'Cryptocurrency News', 'Ormeus Ecosystem', 'Ecocelium', 'Blockchain'] |
Meshack Kipkorir: Every day is learning. | By Mwaniki Nyaga, KamiLimu Management Committee Member
In March this year, 10 days after he started his new role as a junior full-stack engineer at MediaPal, a programmatic advertising company, Meshack conducted a session on preparing for technical interviews alongside his new employer and MediaPal’s Co-Founder, Eric Wesonga. Impressed by his ease in delivery of technical content to an audience of KamiLimu mentees, I decided to prod him further on his experience applying for the role as well as how he had been coping with the government-mandated lockdown and its repercussions.
Meshack recently completed his coursework towards a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Computer Science at JKUAT. He grew up fascinated by the internal workings of things, and, true to form, has gone on to explore and learn the saxophone and clarinet. Aside from his day job, he is a music tutor and performer.
In this interview, he explores the ease with which his attitude to learning has manifested huge leaps of progress in his life and the achievements he continues to accumulate. Meshack also reflects on the lessons he has gleaned from mentorship while at KamiLimu.
Meshack Kipkorir, Cohort 4.0 Mentee.
Hi Meshack. Thank you for joining me on this call. Speaking of which, I remember interviewing you for last year’s KamiLimu video, and you talked about your interest in Cybersecurity. I am interested in knowing how you transitioned from Cybersecurity to web development?
Thank you for the opportunity, Mwaniki. I was not sure where I was going to land. Ideally, my aim was to be a Cybersecurity Engineer, but then, again, I was open to any opportunity. So, I used to split my time between Cybersecurity concepts, such as ethical hacking and penetration testing, and web development. In this way, I could take up a job in either field. However, I still apply my cybersecurity skills in my present job, as I can now build secure systems.
I am glad things are working well for you. Did KamiLimu impact your application process?
Yes, pretty much in every way: from creating my CV and cover letter to preparing for the interview. First, one of the peer mentorship tasks during last year’s cohort involved preparing our CVs for job applications. From the exercises, I learned to tailor mine to the current opportunity to which I am applying. Second, my Peer Mentor then, Allan, went through my cover letter, and he corrected me regarding what to include or remove. Additionally, the program helped me to shape my online portfolio, especially LinkedIn, which increased my visibility.
Which of the lessons at KamiLimu did you find most helpful in the application process?
I’d say cover letter writing. Before KamiLimu, I did not even have a cover letter but this changed by the time I was graduating. Also, I revamped my CV significantly, thanks to KamiLimu: Initially, I thought a CV should contain everything that one has done, but I realized this was a wrong approach. Again, the interview preparation sessions helped me a lot as I knew that I had to conduct prior research on a company before an interview, which I did because I looked up MediaPal to learn about what the company does. From this investigation, I learned about digital marketing, which was a completely new concept to me, but with this knowledge, I shone in the interview.
That is great! What else do you think you can improve on based on the lessons you learned during the selection process?
First, I did not have a very impactful online portfolio. So, I first want to work on improving my portfolio to showcase my work.
Aaah! That is ironic as you were telling us about the online portfolio today. Or was that the first task on the job? Haha.
Haha. Actually, my first task on the job was to customize a website the company is working on using HTML and CSS. I was tasked with converting the webpage into an Android app. Presently, I am working on an iOS app. I actually learned Heroku during my first week on the job, so the experience has been an amazing one.
(Heroku is a service that enables developers to build, run, and operate applications entirely in the cloud. Meshack demonstrated how to host a project or portfolio on Heroku during the joint session on preparing for technical interviews.)
Oh, that is amazing! What are you looking forward to doing or learning in your new role?
I look forward to being a full-stack engineer and learning various technologies, such as Laravel which is popular within the company. So I hope to enhance my skills as I progress. I also want to fight my impostor syndrome more, as I realized people actually learn at work. I’ve come to see that one does not have to know everything going in. For example, one does not have to be a master programmer to land a job. What they should have is a strong foundation in the basics and a willingness to learn while at work.
How was your impostor syndrome while starting your new role?
The first three days were tough! I remember chatting with one of my new colleagues regarding what technologies I am confident working in and I listed Python Django and a bit of Java. Then he exclaimed, “I do not know what Eric told you, but we do not use Python here.” That set me back as I was most comfortable using the language. But, over time, I have learned to be confident in my skills. For instance, I converted the website I mentioned earlier from web to Android successfully, which has contributed to diminishing my impostor syndrome.
That is really impressive. Are you using Swift for the iOS app you are currently building?
Yes, which is amazing as I had to learn the language from scratch. Every day we are learning.
Ahaha. Every day seems to be a learning day because, wow, you have been there for less than 10 days.
Yes! And, presently, I actually know a lot more than I did coming in.
What advice would you give people who are afraid of applying for a job based on the conception that they do not meet all the job description requirements?
I would say just be really good in the basics, such as the basics of computer programming for a software development role. Also, know how things work: for example, I moved from PHP to Python to Java, and I found commonalities among them, such as loops, functions, or classes being similar throughout. Also, complete one or two projects to polish your skills, and just apply for that role! People learn every day on the job. So just be really good at the basics and do not be afraid of making that application.
Are you working from home?
Partially. I go to the office on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Okay, Do you perceive any differences between working from home and in the office?
Personally, I prefer working from the office because of fewer distractions: there are children at home. Nonetheless, even while at home, I still manage to deliver on my responsibilities.
Haha. That is an interesting one. Are you done with school?
No. I have not done my final year’s final semester exams.
(Update: Meshack recently completed his undergraduate coursework at JKUAT.)
Okay. How did you feel about school closures following the discovery of instances of the new coronavirus in Kenya?
I looked at it as an opportunity for me to advance my skills, haha. We have had almost four months of free time in which one can work on their side projects without worrying about assignments and CATs. So I viewed it as an opportunity to polish my skills. For example, during the first two months of lockdown, I signed up for some courses on Udemy, which I have been working towards completing.
Would you say that this work during the two months gave you an edge in getting the job?
Definitely. In that time, I understood Python Django deeply, which assisted me during the interview in which I was asked related questions, such as why use the framework?
You also mentioned that Allan was your Peer Mentor. How was your relationship?
Let me talk of my peer mentorship group as a whole, then get back to Allan. We still meet occasionally as a group and we still talk a lot. Allan has also been with us all the way: even today, he is still available in case we need him to review our applications or cover letters. The peer mentorship group turned out really great for me, and I thank KamiLimu for it.
Aah, cool. So a sense of community?
Oh yes! Very much so.
Asante Sana, Meshack. I will let you have your dinner now, haha.
Thank you. All in all, it has been a great experience. I have amazing and supportive colleagues who are always ready to assist. Which reminds me that one should not be afraid of applying for a job as they will find help within their workplaces.
Do you see yourself coming back to KamiLimu or giving back to your community?
Of course. I did not apply to be a Peer Mentor at KamiLimu this year as I wanted to focus on building my technical skills. However, I hope to do so next year to support other students.
Interview transcribed by Allan Wasega. | https://medium.com/@kamilimu/meshack-kipkorir-every-day-is-learning-6380acfbe352 | [] | 2020-12-20 10:13:40.650000+00:00 | ['Software Development', 'Kamilimu Ict Track', 'Mentorship', 'Recruitment', 'Kamilimu'] |
UI/UX Design: The Casino Effect | Overview
It’s no secret; as UI/UX designers, we have to help craft products that keep our users coming back.
Today, I’m going to share with you a simple, but effect tool that you can use to engage with your users, and increase their desire to come back to your product, even if they’ve been away for a while.
The Casino Effect
This particular phenomenon is a combination of several psychological effects that can occur in tandem within the human brain, but most notably occur within the setting of a casino, hence the name.
Crucially, it is a combination of: reciprocity, commitment, consistency, loss aversion, scarcity, and social proof that drives the potency of this effect.
Let’s take a look at how it works and how you can use it in your product.
Show user how many people are already using or will be using your product (social proof) Give a user something of value just for signing up (reciprocity) Ask user to talk about the things they like and want (commitment & consistency) Offer a limited-time, personalized deal just for them (scarcity) Give it to them for free for a time, and then let them know that if they don’t want it anymore, it will be cancelled automatically (loss aversion).
There are countless applications that use this patterns, most notably services like TikTok, LinkedIn, and Netflix to name just a few.
But how does this work, and is it ethical?
The mechanics of the Casino Effect
We have to understand that its called the casino effect because it replicates the casino itself, not necessarily the gambling.
Casinos do several things exceptionally well:
They offer their guests a whole lot of things for free or “on the house,” to encourage continuous play.
They take down your name, personal info, and certain information at check-in when you get your chips.
They sometimes offer free chips to get you started.
They will normally offer you some type of personalized deal after you’ve been a few times that has an expiration date.
They will almost always give you special treatment (bottle service, free buffet, etc.) for “premium” or “platinum” members, and then let you know that you need to renew your subscription or that status/service will go away.
They group you with other people who are also playing the games you’re playing, and winning at them as well.
All of these work to do one thing: get you hooked.
You become accustomed to a particular standard of experience, and then are told that if you do not act, especially quickly, that you will lose that experience.
9 times out of 10, you’re gonna do whatever it takes to keep that dopamine flowing, including parting with a substantial amount of money, because we, as people, make decisions emotionally, and then use logic to justify them; not the other way around.
The ethics of the Casino Effect
The biggest question that plagues us as UI/UX designers, then, is how ethical is the casino effect? Can we leverage it without producing harm?
The answer is less clear than we’d probably like.
Admittedly, ANY usage of the casino effect is probably not absolutely ethical, but there’s one thing that casinos don’t do that you can do to apply it in a much more ethical fashion.
Make the exits clear
Most casinos intentionally obscure the exits. They don’t have clocks on the walls, and they encourage people to stay as long as possible with things like free food, drinks, and tokens.
In order to ethically deploy the casino effect, you must do three things VERY SPECIFICALLY right out of the gate:
Make the exits obvious and clear. Make the cancellation process simple. Offer a viable alternative.
These three elements are imperative to a high-quality, ethical user experience, because they do three things: | https://uxplanet.org/ui-ux-design-the-casino-effect-6d441394fc62 | ['Nick Lawrence'] | 2021-09-01 20:17:54.845000+00:00 | ['Ui Ux Design'] |
Summarizing videos in 300 lines of code | 🎞️ Visual Summary
Code structure
It’s interesting to split the code into 2 main classes:
StorageHelper for local file and cloud storage object management
for local file and cloud storage object management VideoProcessor for graphical processings
Here is a possible core function:
Note: If exceptions are raised, it’s handy to log them with logging.exception() to get a stack trace in production logs.
Class StorageHelper
The class manages the following:
The retrieval and parsing of video shot annotations
The download of source videos
The upload of generated visual summaries
File names
The source video is handled in the with statement context manager:
Note: Once downloaded, the video uses memory space in the /tmp RAM disk (the only writable space for the serverless function). It's best to delete temporary files when they're not needed anymore, to avoid potential out-of-memory errors on future invocations of the function.
Annotations are retrieved with the methods storage.Blob.download_as_string() and json.loads() :
The parsing is handled with this VideoShot helper class:
Video shot info can be exposed with a getter and a generator:
The naming convention was chosen to keep consistent object paths between the different buckets. This also lets you deduce the video path from the annotation URI:
The video is directly downloaded with storage.Blob.download_to_filename() :
On the opposite, results can be uploaded with storage.Blob.upload_from_string() :
Note: from_string means from_bytes here (Python 2 legacy). Pillow supports working with memory images, which avoids having to manage local files.
And finally, here is a possible naming convention for the summary files:
Class VideoProcessor
The class manages the following:
Video frame extraction
Visual summary generation
Opening and closing the video is handled in the with statement context manager:
The video summary is a grid of cells which can be rendered in a single loop with two generators:
Note: shot_ratio is set to 0.5 by default to extract video shot middle frames.
The first generator yields cell images:
The second generator yields cell positions:
OpenCV easily allows extracting video frames at a given position:
Choosing the summary grid composition is arbitrary. Here is an example to compose a summary preserving the video proportions:
Finally, Pillow gives full control on image serializations:
Note: Working with in-memory images avoids managing local files and uses less memory.
Local development and tests
You can use the main scope to test the function in script mode:
Test the function:
cd ~/$PROJECT_ID
python3 -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate
pip install -r $PROJECT_SRC/gcf2_generate_summary/requirements.txt
VIDEO_NAME="gbikes_dinosaur.mp4"
ANNOTATION_URI="gs://$ANNOTATION_BUCKET/$VIDEO_BUCKET/$VIDEO_NAME.json"
python $PROJECT_SRC/gcf2_generate_summary/main.py $ANNOTATION_URI Downloading -> /tmp/SUMMARY_BUCKET/VIDEO_BUCKET/VIDEO_NAME
Generating summary...
Uploading -> VIDEO_BUCKET/VIDEO_NAME.summary004.jpeg
Note: The uploaded video summary shows 4 shots.
Clean up:
deactivate
rm -rf venv
Function entry point
Note: This function will be called whenever an annotation file is uploaded to the bucket defined as a trigger.
Function deployment
GCF_NAME="gcf2_generate_summary"
GCF_SOURCE="$PROJECT_SRC/gcf2_generate_summary"
GCF_ENTRY_POINT="gcf_generate_summary"
GCF_TRIGGER_BUCKET="$ANNOTATION_BUCKET"
GCF_ENV_VARS="SUMMARY_BUCKET=$SUMMARY_BUCKET"
GCF_TIMEOUT="540s"
GCF_MEMORY="512MB"
gcloud functions deploy $GCF_NAME \
--runtime python37 \
--source $GCF_SOURCE \
--entry-point $GCF_ENTRY_POINT \
--update-env-vars $GCF_ENV_VARS \
--trigger-bucket $GCF_TRIGGER_BUCKET \
--region $GCF_REGION \
--timeout $GCF_TIMEOUT \
--memory $GCF_MEMORY \
--quiet
Notes:
The default timeout for a Cloud Function is 60 seconds. As you’re deploying a background function with potentially long processings, set it to the maximum value (540 seconds = 9 minutes).
You also need to bump up the memory a little for the video and image processings. Depending on the size of your videos and the maximum resolution of your output summaries, or if you need to generate the summary faster (memory size and vCPU speed are correlated), you might use a higher value (1024MB or 2048MB).
Deploying function (may take a while - up to 2 minutes)...done.
availableMemoryMb: 512
entryPoint: gcf_generate_summary
environmentVariables:
SUMMARY_BUCKET: b3-summaries...
...
status: ACTIVE
timeout: 540s
updateTime: 'YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss.mmmZ'
versionId: '1'
Here is how it looks like in the Cloud Console:
Production tests
Make sure to test the function in production. You can upload an annotation file in the 2nd bucket:
VIDEO_NAME="gbikes_dinosaur.mp4"
ANNOTATION_FILE="$VIDEO_NAME.json"
ANNOTATION_URI="gs://$ANNOTATION_BUCKET/$VIDEO_BUCKET/$ANNOTATION_FILE"
gsutil cp $ANNOTATION_URI .
gsutil cp $ANNOTATION_FILE $ANNOTATION_URI
rm $ANNOTATION_FILE
Note: This reuses the previous local test annotation file and overwrites it. Overwriting a file in a bucket also triggers attached functions.
Wait a few seconds and query the logs to check that the function has been triggered:
gcloud functions logs read --region $GCF_REGION LEVEL NAME EXECUTION_ID TIME_UTC LOG
...
D gcf2_generate_summary ... ... Function execution started
I gcf2_generate_summary ... ... Downloading -> /tmp/SUMMARY_BUCKET/VIDEO_BUCKET/VIDEO_NAME
I gcf2_generate_summary ... ... Generating summary...
I gcf2_generate_summary ... ... Uploading -> VIDEO_BUCKET/VIDEO_NAME.summary004.jpeg
D gcf2_generate_summary ... ... Function execution took 11591 ms, finished with status: 'ok'
The 2nd function is operational and the pipeline is in place! You can now do end-to-end tests by copying new videos in the 1st bucket.
Results
Download the generated summary on your computer:
cd ~/$PROJECT_ID
gsutil cp -r gs://$SUMMARY_BUCKET/**.jpeg .
cloudshell download *.jpeg
Here is the visual summary for gbikes_dinosaur.mp4 (4 detected shots):
You can also directly preview the file from the Cloud Console: | https://medium.com/google-cloud/%EF%B8%8F-auto-generate-video-summaries-with-a-machine-learning-model-and-a-serverless-pipeline-c2f261c8035c | ['Laurent Picard'] | 2020-09-30 14:08:22.983000+00:00 | ['Programming', 'Machine Learning', 'Python', 'Google App Engine', 'Technology'] |
StartUp Health Insights: Oscar Brings in Another $140M & Files to Go Public | We saw nearly $320M in health innovation funding this week, led by Oscar, a direct-to-consumer health insurance company. The $140M round was led by Tiger Global Management, with participation from includes Dragoneer, Baillie Gifford, Coatue, Founders Fund, Khosla Ventures, Lakestar, and Reinvent. The company has also announced that it has filed to go public. <source>
Other recent deals included:
H1, a New York, NY-based doctor database, raised $58M co-led by IVP and Menlo Ventures, with participation from Lux Capital, Transformation Capital, Lead Edge Capital, Novartis dRx, and Y Combinator. <source>
Provide (fka Lendeavor), a San Francisco, CA-based finance company for healthcare practices, raised $34M led by QED Investors, with participation from Fifth Third Bank, Montage Ventures, and Clocktower Technology Ventures. <source>
Curai Health, a Palo Alto, CA-based startup offering chat-based primary care, raised $27.5M led by Morningside Ventures, with participation from General Catalyst and Khosla Ventures. <source>
Ovation.io, a Boston, MA-based clinical informatics startup, raised $21.5M led by SignalFire, with participation from Madrona Venture Group, Borealis Ventures, StageDotO Ventures, and David Shaw. <source>
Diameter Health, a Farmington, CT-based startup focused on health data interoperability, raised $18M led by Centene Corporation, with participation from Optum Ventures, LRVHealth, Connecticut Innovations, and Activate Venture Partners. <source>
Carlsmed, a San Diego, CA-based medical device company, raised $10M led by U.S. Venture Partners (USVP), with participation from The Vertical Group, Cove Fund, Wavemaker Three-Sixty Health, and others. <source>
LifeRaft, an Oakland, CA-based startup that offers supplementary health insurance, raised $3.5M co-led by Costanoa Ventures and XYZ Venture Capital. <source>
ReturnSafe, an Austin, TX-based platform for infectious disease management to maximize workplace health and safety, raised $3.25M led by Fifty Years and Active Capital, with participation from Necessary Ventures. <source>
SnapNurse, an Atlanta, GA-based nurse staffing platform, raised $2M from Pivotal Group. <source>
Lantern, a New York, NY-based end-of-life planning platform, raised $1.4M led by Draper Associates, with participation from Amplify, XFactor Ventures, F7 Ventures, Jarl Mohn, Nikita Miller, and Joshua Goldman. <source> | https://healthtransformer.co/startup-health-insights-oscar-brings-in-another-140m-week-of-dec-23-2020-befebcdf1d19 | ['Startup Health'] | 2021-01-05 19:04:14.779000+00:00 | ['Health Insurance', 'Innovation', 'Insights', 'Digital Health', 'Funding'] |
Getting Ready | As of now, I’m assuming that my last day wit GameDevHQ is tomorrow. I hope to hear otherwise, but I’m planning on the worst case scenario, which is I no longer will be employed. I am hustling this week though trying to make me ready for applying for developer jobs again, this time with Unity, C# and a few games under my belt. I have published on the Play Store and am working today on getting my mobile game on the Apple store as well.
I did, however, spend most of the day working on my website, building another for my blogs and my games. I incorporated my LLC yesterday, bought a domain name for it so I can focus on freelance work while attempting to get a job in the game, or XR industries. I know there is so much more for me to learn but with the skills I have now, I can land a Jr Developer job at one of these companies. All I have to do is keep applying and make my sites and my resume shine.
I am a bit bummed to have this program come to an end for me, at least monetarily. I have to focus my energy now on getting a job instead of just gaining knowledge and experience for the entirety of the day. I was nice being able to focus all of my attention to growing my skillset as a developer instead of worrying where the next paycheck was coming from, applying for jobs, and going on interviews. I still will have access to all of the information and courses through GameDevHQ though and will use them and learn from them as much as I can.
As always, I am dedicated to bettering myself and what I can do. I absolutely love creating with programming and design and am just getting started. My goal is to get into the XR world and see what I can create with that. | https://medium.com/@aaron-black/getting-ready-30ae1669af44 | ['Aaron Black'] | 2020-12-18 06:57:32.902000+00:00 | ['Job Search', 'Unity'] |
THE MOMENT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR — CORD’S OWN DEFI PLATFORM! | THE MOMENT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR — CORD’S OWN DEFI PLATFORM! cordfinance Jan 19·4 min read
Token pairs may differ from those in screenshot
Friends, this moment marks the beginning of a very new and exciting chapter for our fellow CORDians, in a project that has already grown leaps and bounds, yet will grow to still more dizzying heights. The pools, the rewards, we got you gentlemen!
Let me brief you folks first about VACC our new reward token, then we will talk about CORD’s new DeFi staking pools we have worked on and tested rigorously, and importantly, were forked from a previously audited code base.
First to VACC. Unlike other reward tokens, VACC is deflationary, yes you read that right! VACC had an initial total supply of 1.9 million, or only 100:1 vs. CORD which is already low, but by employing a “buyback and burn” mechanism to maintain an approximate 100:1 ratio (and thus protect CORD-VAC-LP holders from dreaded impermanent loss), the total supply can only drop further over time and never be minted. In fact, as of the time of writing this article, we have already burned 100 VACC in pre-launch tests! These can never be restored. Verify the current total supply of VACC any time (and see the correct contract address) at https://etherscan.io/token/0xb84E55c7e55F71b446b30FE40E79FF76f108edCd. In addition, the amount of new VACC tokens released from our escrow each week to fund the pools will drop steeply every single week, all of which helps to put positive pressure and a floor under VACC.
But that is not the end of the tokenomics in place with the goal of protecting the VACC:CORD ratio! We have also designed our pool rewards to this same end. The first pool is the base pool, CORD -> VACC. This pool offers the lowest yield however it is the simplest pool to use and presents no risk of impermanent loss. Then we have the CORD-ETH-LP -> VACC pool, which will offer investors a higher APY/WPY (initially double the base pool) as it does require pairing your Ethereum with CORD. Finally, the CORD-VACC-LP -> VACC pool offers the highest APY/WPY (initially four times the base pool!). This gives investors something concrete to do with their VACC earned in other pools. And by the way, in all three pools, by staking higher amounts you can earn a 20, 50 or 100% multiplier on your rewards per token: threshold amounts for each pool are listed on the pool interface itself.
Alongside offering CORD-VACC-LP stakers the highest APY/WPY as described in the section above, we strive to protect liquidity providers from suffering impermanent loss by keeping the CORD:VACC ratio pegged as closely as possible to 1:100. For more details about our tokenomics designed for this purpose, refer to our medium article, THE ECONOMICS OF VACC AND THE WAY FORWARD! Finally, it bears mentioning that the tokenomics behind VACC have been carefully designed by our experienced and professional mathematicians and statisticians; this is something very few DeFi projects offer. The great minds behind this unique active buy back and burn mechanism as we like to call it, will strive to maintain the value of VACC, and in turn protect the value of CORD and the overall project. By exercising our tools protecting against impermanent loss, investors may stake for the very highest rewards with greater peace of mind: the CORD:VACC ratio may bounce around a little as any token pairing can, but if/when it gets too far out of whack we will whack it right back! with our unique toolkit designed for this purpose, and over time, there will be fewer and fewer VACC in existence.
Token pairs may differ from those in screenshot
What might be coming in v2 of our pools? Sneak peak for you: besides optional liquidity locking for higher APY, there will also be a tiered VACC hodler’s bonus (extra reward multipliers just for hodling, without the need to “spend” your deflationary VACC) for all our DeFi pools including partner pools, and more, so stay tuned.
So, with all of that said, what are you waiting for? GET STAKING, AND HODL THAT VACC! | https://medium.com/@cordfinance/the-moment-you-all-have-been-waiting-for-cords-own-defi-platform-1839b6ab896e | [] | 2021-04-09 23:35:35.158000+00:00 | ['Cord', 'Yield Farming', 'Finance', 'Defi', 'Partnerships'] |
Authenticity in fiction: My problem(s) with Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir’s ‘Hotel Silence.’ | ‘Hotel Silence’ is the latest novel by the Icelandic writer Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir, winner of the Icelandic Literature Prize. It is published by Pushkin Press, a fine outfit that specialises in work in translation. ‘Hotel Silence’ is “Humane, eccentric and bleakly funny” according to the Sunday Times, and “A dark comedy that deals with our darkest thoughts with deft humour, and boasts some surprisingly insightful truths about human nature,” according to Esquire. It is well-rated on Amazon.
But I didn’t like it.
I didn’t like it for three reasons, but all three have to do with authenticity. Let me show you what I mean.
First, though, I should furnish a precis of the plot, such as it is.
Jónas is in his fifties, has a daughter who turns out not to be his own, and is recently divorced from a wife who stopped loving him roughly a decade ago — if, indeed, she had ever loved him to begin with. This has all added up to make him feel it is pointless to go on living, and so he decides to off himself.
However, he fears what the discovery of his corpse would do to his daughter, and so he journeys to an unnamed country that has recently emerged from a terrible conflict.
While you might expect that Jónas would now be plotting to commit suicide-by-war, you would be quite wrong: he travels with a drill and his toolbox so that he can arrange to hang himself in his hotel room.
However, on arrival at the Hotel Silence, he begins to get to know the hoteliers and the other guests, and deems that it would be just as bad to commit suicide there as at home: the collateral damage would be as great. In the final pages we learn that his friend back home in Iceland has committed suicide by walking out into the sea, and so the novel ends with Jónas getting back into a taxi to make the return journey.
Essentially, Jónas learns little to nothing along the way. His character arc is notably flat, and by the conclusion of the novel I felt I knew him as poorly as I did back on page thirty.
The flatness of his character arc, and the thin-to-the-point-of-translucent nature of the plot are not why I disliked ‘Hotel Silence,’ though they did not help. Instead I disliked the book because I felt it horribly inauthentic.
1. Early Warning Signs
At the start of the novel, Jónas is at a tattoo studio. He wishes to get a white tattoo of a lily over a scar on his heart (whether the scar is literal or figurative is left to the reader to decide, I think — or maybe I missed something).
Much of this scene rang false.
First, if Jónas is intent on covering up a scar, getting a white tattoo is probably not the best way to go about it since these tend to appear almost invisible to the naked eye, and when his chest hair had eventually regrown would likely never be seen again.
Secondly, when Jónas approaches the tattooist (who is described in the most cliche-ridden way), the artist is seen holding the tattoo gun in readiness to get down to work. Strange — they have yet to even discuss terms.
“He himself [the tattooist] is covered in tattoos all over his body. I observe a snake winding up his neck and wrapping itself around a black skull. Ink flows through his limbs and the triceps of the arm that holds the needle sports a coil of triple barbed wire.” (Loc 61)
I am not suggesting that Ólafsdóttir, a sixty-two year-old professor of art history, failed to do her research on tattooing before writing this scene; I am simply suggesting that what research she did engage in might not have taken her any further than a TV documentary about celebrity tattoo artists.
In short: the scene felt horribly inauthentic, and somewhat patronising.
2. Where in the World?
I have never liked it when countries are invented to support a plot point. The Bond franchise is guilty in a curious way here. In ‘A Quantum of Solace’ Bond races to South America to foil a coup plot in Bolivia (or does he arrive too late? Or does he not care? I can’t recall, having only been able to watch the film once). However, in the previous film, ‘Casino Royale’, Bond is first witnessed tracking down a suspect in the African country of Nambutu; only, there is no such country. Clearly the producers of the Bond films are occasionally worried of causing offence by naming names. They are not alone.
So when Jónas decides to take a vacation — his last, he believes— in a country recently caught in the grip of a major war, will this country be named? Or will it be given a Bond-like pseudonym?
Neither, it turns out.
Ólafsdóttir decides to make of the country a cipher. It exists only for Jónas to travel to, and just as Achebe complained of Conrad making use of Africa as the inessential backdrop to ‘Heart of Darkness’, so too can it be argued that Ólafsdóttir is writing in bad faith here. Jónas finds his redemption here (or not — it doesn’t much seem to matter); he certainly finds a place for himself, if only for a while, since he is a handyman and seems the only person left in town who can actually repair anything.
The problem with not naming the destination is that, since half of the novel is set in this country, it would really help for our world knowledge to fill in some of the blanks left behind by the author. And there really are some serious blanks here. The country resides in the author’s imagination, but that is where it stays, never escaping the bonds of generalisation. I came away from the book knowing — and caring — nothing for the country nor the plight of its citizens. It didn’t feel real.
It felt inauthentic.
3. Nobody Speaks Like That
Tom Clancy—not the first person I would turn to for philosophising — once remarked that “the difference between fiction and reality is that fiction has to make sense.” Not only fiction: dialogue too needs to be grounded in reality for it to work.
And in ‘Hotel Silence’ it really does not work. Instead, every character speaks like a poet, and since every character thus appears touched with poetry, all of the characters end up blending into one.
Let me illustrate with some quotes. I have not gone through the book looking for exemplifications of this problem; here I am simply going to choose a random page in the book, and pull out what I think are problematic sentences.
“Since you came out of your mother’s womb there have been 568 wars,” says the voice in the armchair. — Loc 173 (spoken, I believe, by the protagonist’s elderly mother, apropos of nothing). “Did you know,” he says, “that in some places in the world scars are symbols that command respect and a person who bears a big and impressive scar is a person who has looked a wild beast in the eye, and tackled his fears, and survived?” — Loc 335 (spoken by Jónas’s friend Svanur, after Svanur has shown Jónas his scars from the surgery to fix a slipped disc; whether the disc slipped during a battle with a wild beast is not known). “The best moments in my life,” I hear Svanur say, “are when I’m lying alone inside a sleeping bag up on a heath, holding my rifle at the crack of dawn, waiting for the birds to wake up. Remaining silent and staring at the crust of snow. It’s like being inside a womb. One feels secure. One doesn’t need to be born. One doesn’t need to come out.” — Loc 537 (the first half of this quote would have sufficed for me; at forty I have yet to hear a single male friend speak the word ‘womb’, but maybe I’ve lived a sheltered existence). “Cats have always outlived man,” he says. “If not your cat, then someone else’s.” — Loc 995 (spoken by the owner of Restaurant Limbo — I’m not even making it up — for no reason, and with even less sense).
And on it goes.
Saving Grace
Perhaps I’m being overly harsh. There are aspects of the novel that I liked. Just as I found the part of ‘A Town Like Alice’ that dealt with the evolution of the shoe factory in Alice Springs to be fascinating, I really enjoyed Jónas’s adventures in the world of the handyman. They were relaxing, almost zen-like, not to mention well-delivered. It felt like Ólafsdóttir knew what she was writing about.
Unfortunately, the book was just too bogged down in things that didn’t work — you could say there was an under-abundance of detail, and even when the details were supplied, they came across as deeply inauthentic. When Fifi, the young man running the hotel, finds a box of books in the basement, each one is like a key to some aspect of Jónas’s soul; not a single one of them is by Danielle Steel. If one had been, I think I might have liked ‘Hotel Silence’ a lot more. | https://medium.com/longform-literary-reviews/authenticity-in-fiction-my-problem-s-with-au%C3%B0ur-ava-%C3%B3lafsd%C3%B3ttirs-hotel-silence-ebda37c6bb02 | ['Christopher Walker'] | 2020-05-16 18:58:15.697000+00:00 | ['Book Review', 'Icelandic Fiction', 'Literature', 'Fiction', 'Longform Review'] |
A Beginners Guide to NumPy | The Basics
In this section, we will outline a convenient and basic introduction to widely used NumPy modules. Without further delays, let’s get started!
Importing NumPy
Now that NumPy is set up, we can move on to use it. However, before we use it, we have to import it. NumPy can be imported just like any other python module.
import numpy
However, NumPy is generally not imported in this form. The standard is to rename the imported module to np.
import numpy as np
Arrays
The ndarray object is at the core of the NumPy package. A NumPy array is an n-dimensional collection of homogenous data types with performance improvements baked into the compiled code.
There are a few fundamental differences between a python array and an ndarray . Here are a few differences:
NumPy arrays have a fixed size at creation, unlike Python lists (which can grow dynamically). Changing the size of an ndarray will create a new array and delete the original.
will create a new array and delete the original. The elements in a NumPy array are all required to be of the same data type, and thus will be the same size in memory.
Each dimension of an ndarray array is called an axis. The shape of an array gives its measure along each axis.
We demonstrate the ndarray object’s defining attributes as follows:
For a two-dimensional ndarray
For a three-dimensional ndarray
Initialising a NumPy array
There are multiple ways to initialise an ndarray .
We can initialise an ndarray using a list by calling the np.array() function. The level of nesting in the list determines the dimensionality of the ndarray .
The data type ( dtype ) is intrinsically derived from the input list; however, it can be explicitly defined by changing the dtype parameter while initialising the array ( nd.array(input_list, dtype = *data type*) ).
The default datatype is float64 .
Sometimes, while initialising the array, we do not know the value of every element in the array; however, we do know the number of elements the array will hold.
In such situations, we can initialise the n-dimensional array filled with zeroes (using np.zeroes ), with ones (using np.ones ) or we can have random values for each element (using np.empty ).
The random values used while calling np.empty depend on the memory state at the time of function call.
For a better understanding, look at the animation below:
To generate sequences within a range, NumPy offers arange which is analogous to Python’s range . To generate sequences of a specified number within a range, we use the linspace function. The main difference between the two is that arange uses a ‘step’ value to generate the elements and linspace takes in the number of elements we need as an argument.
Printing Arrays
In Python, to print an array, we use for-loops; and to print multidimensional arrays, we use nested for-loops.
This tedious task is simplified in Numpy and a simple print statement does the job for all n-dimensional arrays.
The variable ‘a’ can be any n-dimensional array
When an array is too large to be printed, NumPy automatically skips the middle and prints only a few corner elements.
Note: To disable this behaviour, and to force NumPy to print the entire result as it is, use np.set_printoptions(threshold=np.nan) .
Array Indexing
One-dimensional arrays can be indexed, sliced and iterated much like lists in Python.
Since the arrays might be multi-dimensional while using NumPy, a slice must be specified for each axis of the array.
Note: Even if the slice is assigned to a new variable, it is only a view into the actual array; therefore, any changes made to the slice will be reflected in the original array.
While using slicing to index arrays in NumPy, the result is always a subarray; however, integer indexing allows us to create arbitrary arrays using the data from other arrays. Consider this as accessing elements from one array using a different array’s elements as indices.
We can also use boolean indexing to set a simple logical function as a condition to pick out arbitrary elements from an array.
Here is an example to understand the difference:
Note: Combining slicing with integer indexing is possible; however, doing so will yield an array of a lower rank than the original array as shown in the last few lines of the example code above.
Shape Manipulations
Depending on the number of elements along each axis, each matrix has a shape. However, we frequently need to change the shape of arrays in order to perform various operations on it.
NumPy has various built-in functions to reshape an array. We have listed a few widely used functions below. For a more comprehensive list, visit the NumPy documentation.
Note: The reshape function returns its argument with a modified shape, whereas the ndarray.resize method modifies the array itself.
Note: A 1-D array does not reflect any changes if it undergoes a transpose operation.
The arrays generated by ravel() are ordered in “C-style”, i.e., the first element of each row latches onto the last element of the previous row. When an array is flattened, it is generally not copied to a new location in memory, since they are generally stored in memory in “C-style” manner by default. However, if multiple arrays are combined or sliced, the array may be copied to a new location in memory.
The functions ravel() and reshape() can also be instructed to use FORTRAN-style arrays using an optional argument.
Arithmetic Operations
Basic mathematical functions in NumPy operate elementwise on NumPy arrays. Mathematical operations are available both as functions and operator overrides.
We can also use functions to calculate the sum of all elements of a matrix, the axis-wise sum of a matrix and element-wise square root of a matrix.
Visit the NumPy documentation for a detailed list of operations.
Broadcasting
We can perform arithmetic operations directly on NumPy arrays; however, such actions require the two participating arrays to be of the same length and size. This rule turns out to be quite limiting for us; thankfully, NumPy offers an in-built workaround.
This technique is also used widely outside of NumPy in libraries such as Tensorflow, Theano and Octave.
The term broadcasting describes how NumPy treats arrays with different shapes while performing operations. The fulfilment of this procedure requires replicating the smaller array along the last mismatched dimension. We do not replicate the shorter array in memory; instead, the storage is effectively manipulated to get the desired output.
There is a very easy way to figure out if two arrays are broadcasting compatible. Two dimensions are compatible when:
They are equal, or
One of them is ‘1’
If both of the conditions are not met, we get the exception, ValueError: operands could not be broadcast together .
Tip: The size of the resultant array is the maximum size along each axis of the input arrays.
It is not necessary that the input arrays are of the same size. For instance, if we have a 256 x 256 x 3 array of RGB values, and we want to scale up each colour channel by a different amount, we can multiply the image array with a one-dimensional array with three elements.
Here are a few examples to understand how the rules work:
How stretching works; Source: http://www.numpy.org/devdocs/user/theory.broadcasting.html
Why mismatched dimensions can’t work together; Source: http://www.numpy.org/devdocs/user/theory.broadcasting.html
Visit the NumPy documentation for more on broadcasting. | https://medium.com/@kaaanishk/a-beginners-guide-to-numpy-251cdc6e0fd7 | ['Kanishk Srivastava'] | 2019-05-22 07:23:50.901000+00:00 | ['Numpy', 'Artificial Intelligence', 'Introduction', 'Data Science', 'Machine Learning'] |
The Race Dilemma Still Intriguing Us | Human biodiversity — Is this a thing?
A term nonetheless explained by experts and even thought to be of importance on a scale of significant meaning for human life, the concept of eugenics took hold. Prominent citizens, scientists and socialists campaigned for the cause with open arms, advocating the way forward for a better society.
In order to come up with such a term, research has to be done which creates a grey area concerning liability and whether there are distinctions between a good and bad scientist or not.
It provokes an attitude towards the practice of dismantling the edifice of race that would mean not only a tweaking of language, but would also fundamentally rewrite the way we think about human difference. Basically, to resist the urge of grouping people at all, as Angela Saini explains in her book “Superior: the return of race science”.
According to Angela, it takes some mental acrobatics to be an intellectual racist on the brink of the high-flux information society that we have today, reckoning that a racist will work hard to find any validation to prove his/her point and may even work a little harder than usual. That is why good scientists who do reliable research, well intentioned and anti-racist, cannot afford to be deceptive or leave room for delusion.
Funnily enough, as Angela indirectly exemplifies, some racists adopted a few concepts from good scientists and a similar language to the anti-racist. This has been used to manufacture a kind of deceptive truth that insinuates that where differences can be seen within certain groups then by assumption or ‘pure’ logic, specific groups might be better than others at certain things. Clever thinking, isn’t it? No, not quite.
The term ‘human biodiversity’ is first claimed by a few out there, especially Steve Sailer, an American journalist, movie critic, columnist, former correspondent for UPI and a columnist for Taki’s Magazine and VDARE (a website associated with white supremacy, white nationalism and the alt-right). It is nothing more than the fashion of 21st-century scientific racism, where the wolves in sheep’s clothing are among those most venerated. Apparently, according to Angela Saini, “we were told this might happen”.
Photo by Roman Denisenko on Unsplash
Has Race Made Real by Overuse?
It is almost a turning point for the eugenics movement beyond the assumptions that have been made on behalf of selective racists. It is widespread to believe that biological traces are correlated to cognitive gaps, which psychologists in the EUA assumed to be right.
This, more than ever, is the best post on the street for the dog to piss on. Fueling speculation about people’s dumb intuitions with regards to Jews, Blacks or whoever they wish to speculate about.
It is so hard to understand that human intelligence is just as multifaceted as any other cognitive mannerism? It brings me to tears to hear that people still believe that intelligence primarily stems from the inherited natural ability of a given race.
Hence, it is hard to quantify the horrors and effects of slavery and the centuries of racism perpetuated all around the world. Slaves were the most profitable commodity ever dictated and proclaimed, enriching several empires from the Romans to the British. Yet, we still cannot see the amount of suffering that this has caused in the last century alone to the majority of African Americans.
One of my favorite parts and most thrilling moments from the book Superior: the return of race science by Angela Saini, is when she clearly, in disgust and frustration, pencils down on paper the after-effects on generations of black people. | https://medium.com/an-injustice/the-race-dilemma-still-intriguing-us-84359c9a274a | ['Tiago Miranda'] | 2020-10-22 23:40:11.091000+00:00 | ['Politics And Protest', 'Humanity', 'Civil Rights', 'Racism', 'Science Education'] |
Anthony Filipetto — What Qualities a Professional Hairstylist should have | Anthony Filipetto a professional stylist, clients expect only the best and most beautiful cuts and styles from you. Before you begin your career, you need to master the basic techniques, which is why your education is so important. Once you have built a solid foundation, then you can start to tweak the techniques to your practice and develop your own methods. Over the years, many professionals have discovered some important tools of the trade that every professional should know in order to be successful.
Anthony Filipetto — What Qualities a Professional Hairstylist should have
Use the Right Tools
Anthony Filipetto is only as good as your tools, so you want to be sure that you use the right tools for the style you create. For example, there are different size curling irons, each of which can create a different type of curl. Therefore, you should have a variety of irons on hand to mix and match as needed. Similarly, you have a large selection of brushes from which to choose, whether you want to create curls, shine, or something else.
Know the Different Rolling Techniques
There are many different ways to curl hair, including using a curling iron or a flat iron, and you need to know which technique to use for the type of curl you want. For example, if you use a flat iron to create curls, be sure to start at the middle of the hair and then fold the hair away from the body to create beachy waves. When using a curling iron, use a flat and spiral wrap to create a textured wave, just a spiral wrap for twisted curls, and a flat wrap for ribbon curls. Another great technique for curling hair is to pull the lock of hair straight after curling it for creating boho curls.
Blast a ‘do with Cold Air
Anthony Filipetto gives fabulous look to a client; you want it to last as long as possible. One of the best ways to easily set the style and make it last longer is to blast it with cold air with a blow dryer at the very end. You can also alternate between hot and cool air while styling to help set it throughout the process.
Spray Your Palms with Hairspray before an Up do
There are many different ways to create a sleek up do, which often rely on a large amount of hairspray at the end. However, you can also start with hairspray to reduce the number of flyaway hairs and limit the amount of hairspray you have to use. Simply spray your hands with hairspray and run them through the hair in the first stage of creating the up do. This helps the ‘do look more natural, rather than looking completely shellacked.
Understand the Different Hair Types
Anthony Filipetto, you do not have a clear understanding of the different hair types before you leave school, then you need to spend some extra time studying. It is essential that you comprehend the differences, as it significantly affects the type of cut you do and technique you use. Hair can be thick, medium, or thin or fine, as well as straight, wavy, and curly. Within these broad definitions are smaller categories, and some hair fits in between the different categories or has different textures in different areas. The better you understand hair, the better you can cut and style it
Know the Right Hairstyles to Match Client’s Bone Structure
The texture and type of hair is not the only factor in the best style for your clients; their facial and bone structure also plays a role. Therefore, you need to learn the best hairstyles for different face types, as well as how to adjust a style to better complement a particular face. For example, uneven cuts work really well on round faces, while edgy; short cuts work well with oval faces. Adjusting hairstyles to a client’s facial structure ensures the styles you give your clients always complement their features, leading to a more satisfied customer.
There are numerous skills and techniques that professional and aspiring hairstylists need to know. New styles and techniques also continually develop, which is why continuing education is so important for current professionals. This not only ensures you remain compliant for your license, but it also helps you to expand your skills and trade. | https://medium.com/@anthonyfilipetto/anthony-filipetto-what-qualities-a-professional-hairstylist-should-have-79b22b9c6f51 | ['Anthony Filipetto'] | 2020-08-07 07:34:27.256000+00:00 | ['Hairstyle', 'Style', 'Professional', 'Trends', 'Hair'] |
Take Care of Your SEO Copy Writing — KID | The success of SEO is all about the quality of content. There is no second thought about that. Though the strategies for successful SEO keep on changing with time, the demand for quality of content never dies. To be in the pristine positions and have an edge over your competitors, you should adapt a result-oriented content strategy. There are certain common SEO copy writing do’s and don’ts. Let us see what are they?
Quality Level of Content
Quality of content is so important as low level content sidelines your reputation chances to the competitors. So, maintain quality in your content and keep it unique and direct. Not any content will bring you any favors but direct and appealing content around your services is the best bait. User-friendly content means, you’re feeding both users and search engines as well. Use your own original content and protect it against unauthorized copying. You can consider adding a DMCA label on your website.
Is Word Count Matters?
There is a long existing false notion that to much content on your pages will help you with SEO. But the truth is that most of the search engines are not at all concerned about the quantity of content. Quality of content that is only matters. The lone purpose your content is making the readers understand what you are conveying. Enough information should be conveyed precisely without beating around the bush. Content cramming is not a solution for low SEO performance. Remember your website should act as 24/7 online salesman and it is necessary to provide enough information to the user. You can’t expect a visitor to mail or call you when there are umpteen similar service providers available just a few clicks away.
Over-focusing on Keyword Density
Its quite right that proper addition of keywords in your content helps in SEO. But focusing too much on keyword density and trying to cram key terms may hinder the natural flow of content. A certain percentage of key terms is necessary for making inform users and for SEO advantage. But consider creating the impact using the most effective words to get that most desired effect.
Talk More About on Your Key Features
Your content should mainly showcases the features of the your product or service offerings. Rather than talking about the benefits that your product or service can cause to the users, talk straightly about what your product is and its key features. This surely impresses the users and may force them to take action. Relating the content with day-to-day examples help readers easily understand what the entire affair is for. Normally, users hate boring content it will turn them away. You should identify and omit these mistakes to gain maximum audience reach and conversions in the online world. | https://medium.com/@kidlinks9999india/take-care-of-your-seo-copy-writing-kid-a493b4c40f1c | ['Kid Links'] | 2018-05-02 12:18:06.619000+00:00 | ['SEO', 'Seo Agency', 'Seo Tips', 'Seo Services', 'Seo Training'] |
5 core digital marketing trend predictions for businesses in 2017 | As we drift towards the end of 2016, we’ve already seen a substantial change in digital marketing . To help you plan for 2017, we have put together a list of 5 digital marketing trend predictions that we feel will be commonplace in digital marketing throughout 2017.
Live video streaming will see rapid growth
It’s safe to say that live video streaming has seen rapid growth throughout 2016 which has made it much simpler for consumers to engage and interact with brands.
Furthermore, the use of live video streaming has been driven forward with video streaming apps such as Periscope and Facebook Live which has enabled real time streaming to help users to push out their messages across social media and even to promote their streaming videos before they come out!
This trend is likely to continue throughout 2017 given that it is widely estimated that online video will account for over 80% of all internet traffic by 2019. It’s difficult to argue with this and the fact that more and more people are likely to become engrossed in video simulation and crave more live video content.
Mobile will trump desktop
Without a shadow of doubt, 2016 has seen a greater shift towards mobile more so than previous years and continues to see sustained increases in traction.
This has been further stimulated by Google’s Mobilegeddon update back in 2015 and its recent announcement that it will be favouring sites with mobile friendly sites over those that are not.
With that said, it would be foolish to predict that mobile search and mobile optimisation won’t continue to dominate the digital marketing arena throughout 2017.
Augmented reality will continue to flourish
Not many people would have even considered that Pokemon Go would have achieved the success it did initially. Granted it did drop off towards the latter stages however has demonstrated to the digital marketing world that consumers are eager to feel more augmented reality related experiences and that there are plenty of potential wins here for marketers.
Don’t be surprised if you start seeing more AR related products hitting the marketing place throughout 2017.
Unique, specialised content will continue to be desirable
As digital marketers, we have been used to the idea that unique content is still ‘king’ in digital and this isn’t likely to change in 2017.
Being able to make your content stand out will still continue to be key as well as being able to ensure that your content fully engages with the readers you are targeting.
Social influencers will continue to be crucial assets
Being able to gain traction online used to be quite easy as you could build up your followings on both Twitter and Facebook. This has all changed, more and more social media channels have made it much harder for your unique content to get in front of your audience for free.
However, on the other hand bloggers/established influencers have been able to build up a community of loyal followers who are fully engaged with their content. Selecting the right people and you may be able to get to your content through to your target audience and thus help to drive success for your business.
Our Thoughts
With 2017, just round the corner now is the time to take note of what digital marketing trends are emerging from the above and how you can work these into your strategies for next year.
Do you need some digital marketing expertise to help you formulate your digital marketing strategy for next year?
Our dedicated team of digital marketing consultants are on hand to discuss your requirements at great length and work together with you to help drive success for your business. Contact us today or call us on 01392 424300.
FYI: This post was originally published on the Rokk Media blog. | https://medium.com/digital-vault/5-core-digital-marketing-trend-predictions-for-businesses-in-2017-e1c9e54a45b9 | [] | 2016-12-12 18:40:04.913000+00:00 | ['Marketing', '2017', 'Trends', 'Digital Marketing', 'Social Media'] |
Why we prefer Espresso to Appium | I am a QA engineer who kickstarted my testing career in 2011. Like many other QA engineers, the monotonous life of manual testing drove me to drift to Automation in 2014, when Appium and Espresso were competing to be the winner in the field of test automation. Back then, I was working in a QA work pattern where the whole test automation suite across platforms was handled by the same QA engineer, and hence I opted for Selenium/Appium. Over the years, I have developed test frameworks with Java and Python for multiple cross-platform applications using Selenium/Appium.
A year ago I joined Busuu and I got the opportunity to explore the world of Espresso,which is a test framework created by Google for Android, to write UI tests. Here, we follow an Agile sprint methodology, and one independent QA is assigned per platform. Therefore, in contrast to having a common framework across platforms, we manage different test frameworks for different platforms. The reason behind this is, we have adopted the Developer-QA collaborated methodology of automated test development. The UI test PRs are reviewed and improvements are suggested by the Dev team, along with the QA team. Sometimes the Dev team also pitch in to help QA maintain existing UI tests as well. Hence each framework must be comfortable for the corresponding developers’ team to use. Espresso is an Instrument based test automation framework for Android, built on Java and Junit. And these two, being the core skillset for any Android developer, makes it perfect for the work process we follow at Busuu. And now if you ask me whether I will go back to Appium, I would say NEVER! Here I will brief why.
To begin with, Espresso is part of the Android Jetpack and integrated with the Google Android IDE — Android Studio. Also, the UI tests are written within the application source code. This provides a seamless start for any Android developer, without any extra setup or ramping up required, in contrast to Appium, which has a long complicated initial setup procedure to enable a test environment. And also Developers will have to switch to another framework to access the UI tests. As a result, with Espresso, developer and tester can use the same environment simultaneously for app development and automation suite development.
Since Espresso is part of the Android Jetpack and directly open-sourced by Google, it is always ahead of the curve. It provides frequent updates and provides enhanced support for newer Android versions promptly. Whereas Appium, which is also an open-source tool, is more hacky and breaks very easily when a new Android version is released. We need to depend on various discussion forums to follow up on deprecations and bugs introduced after the Android releases. And there were times when I had to wait long till a new version of Appium was released with an assured fix, for some of my tests to work as expected.
The next major attraction of Espresso is the fact that it is super fast. Appium indeed has the advantage of using a prebuilt APK to test, which saves a lot of time, unlike Espresso which uses a reasonable amount of time to build the APK. But this time saved by Appium is wasted in every request the Appium client makes: like find a view, request a click, perform a swipe. For each of these actions, the client has to request the Appium server running on the localhost and then the server invokes the action on the device. If this is the case, you can imagine how much time will it require for Appium to complete one test. Whereas Espresso tests live in the app and build the test suite as a standalone app alongside the AUT. Hence it is compiled as an application along with your AUT, which makes the test suite run faster than a test suite in Appium.Also the AUT is also a small native APK, separate from the app, which makes it even more faster.
Total time taken by Android test suite for Busuu = 12minutes
A test which takes 30 sec to run in Appium, runs in 5 seconds in Espresso.Having a faster test framework is highly recommended for our accelerated deployment process as well, which means at least 1 release every 2 weeks. If the test suite is quick to run, the developers can regularly use it against their branche as and when they finish an implementation, before they give the branch for testing, and confirm immediately whether the branch has caused any regression issues.
Test flakiness is a prime factor when comparing the stability provided by different automation frameworks. While using Appium I had to rely on wait/sleep statements with timeouts to handle flakiness in the UI tests. Such tests does not scale well when the test device or the network is slow during the test run. Also, your tests will take longer time to complete depending on the timeout durations. Espresso introduces Automatic Synchronisation to help you here. It is true that Espresso gracefully waits for the main UI thread to be idle before any test actions are performed. However, results of asynchronous operations (say loading data, establish connection, or any complex business logic) always affect the subsequent test and may result in test flakiness. In such circumstances, Espresso does not need workarounds like wait/sleep. It uses an interesting feature called the Idling Resource mechanism. By registering an idling resource for every asynchronous activity in your app, forces the system to wait for the activity to complete, and the subsequent test step is not affected. With this phenomenon, I did avoid sleep statements in the UI tests, and it resulted in a perfect framework with no flaky tests.
The total time taken for a test suite to run is vital when comparing different test frameworks available in the industry. Avoiding sleep statements has importance here, as this is also one of the factors for Espresso test suite to take much less time compared to the Appium, which does not have a mechanism to handle this.
Native alerts in an Android app are a key factor that may interfere with your UI tests as well. To handle them, the test framework needs access to the notification. So getting permission to access them is significant. Espresso has the permission to handle them directly like any other element on the AUT. Appium can also perform actions on native alerts or buttons, but it uses a long workaround to do so.
Pros of Appium and how it doesn’t affect us
Appium supports every programming language that is supported by WebDriver. But Espresso is restricted to Java. This is not a con for us since the Busuu Android app is developed partly in Java and partly in Kotlin. And since the automation framework also is in Java, the UI tests are compatible with the app source code, and also Dev can pitch in anytime to help the QA maintain or troubleshoot issues with the test framework.
Appium is suitable for the QA team that handles cross-platform automation testing using a single framework. But here at Busuu, we have one QA per platform.
With Appium we can have a shared code base across platforms. But this does not affect us again since we prefer to maintain separate frameworks for separate platforms. Let it be Android/iOS/Backend. We want the dev team to be well acquainted with the automation framework, so either the dev/QA both can understand and use the test framework effortlessly.
Advanced Espresso
Espresso tests are written within the application source code, so it has access to all the resources a developer use: views, assets, colors, strings, etc, which are shared between the application code and the UI tests. This facilitates hassle-free and in-depth UI verification possible using Espresso.
Espresso has the flexibility to mock different layers of the app for the sake of testing. This is possible with the help of different tools like, Espresso intents (an extension to Espresso) which can be used to isolate a specific app screen or screen state. Another way is to use Mockito, a Java mocking framework, that can be used to mock a specific state of the app or user. Additionally, you can use compile-time dependency injection, with the help of the Dagger framework. This helps tests not to rely on the live application data. For instance, Busuu has a lot of learning content in the form of a variety of exercises like typing, matchup, fill gaps, dialog, etc. And the Education team regularly updates the content for all the 12 language courses we provide via Busuu, depending on popular demand. And we want to avoid indeterministic behaviour from our tests, whenever the content is altered. So we swap some dependencies in order to get a predefined response for some network requests. Hence they run independently and successfully verify all the expected behaviours of the corresponding exercise, regardless of the changing content in the app. Also, Busuu provides free content as well as premium content for all courses. We can mock the response of a free and premium user as well, to verify if the app behaviour is as expected for the two users respectively.
These capabilities facilitate black box testing, white box testing as well as hermetic testing possible using Espresso. Hermetic testing means isolating certain app areas in specific states and testing them. This helps prevent latent/masked defects in the app. Applying hermetic testing also enables us to write a lot of small UI tests, across self-contained app screens/states. Hence even if the app behaviour or user flow changes in the future, test maintenance is easy, since we choose isolated application states in every UI test. This support provided by Espresso towards hermetic testing keeps the tests completely independent and self-sufficient.
Espresso emphasizes providing as descriptive error messages as possible for a test failure, along with a dump of the view hierarchy that caused the error, so it help us to troubleshoot right away.
In short…
At Busuu, we follow 2 weeks-long sprints and each sprint has a minimum of 1 release, hence we won’t have time for longer QA cycles. An effective and fast test framework like Espresso, with extreme flexibility on test isolation, is the best for us to use in such an accelerated development process.
With Espresso, QA can play around with the actual app source code with free access to its assets, also isolate, inject and mock exclusive application states. Hence QA becomes more acquainted with the Android environment. At the same time, a QA using Appium is ignorant about the code beneath the application. On an interesting note, a expert in Espresso automation can eventually evolve into a Junior Android developer, if he/she wishes. | https://tech.busuu.com/why-we-prefer-espresso-to-appium-a170859a2047 | ['Karthika Arun'] | 2019-09-25 16:13:15.999000+00:00 | ['Espresso', 'Android Automation', 'Android', 'Test Automation'] |
If it’s magic that you’re hoping for | If it’s magic that you’re hoping for
What would I give?
What would you really like from me?
If I could fly there
I would hide there
underneath your tree.
I would love to watch you open something
big and sparkly
but if its kisses that you’re wishing for
I’ll blow them at the screen.
I made a wish for you
upon a shooting star.
I wished for snow
and mistletoe
and to be where you are.
I would you love to hold your hand
and watch the fire on Christmas Eve,
but if it’s magic that you’re hoping for
you know I still believe.
We are miles apart this Christmas,
it wouldn’t do to break the rules.
I’ll still be here for you this Christmas
just call me up, I’ll be your fool.
I’ll drink to me and you this Christmas
I’m never giving up on love
and though it might not snow
and there’s nowhere to go
our star is rising up above.
Words and music by Amy Knight
© Amy Knight 2020
Watch the video on IGTV | https://medium.com/@amyknightwriter/if-its-magic-that-you-re-hoping-for-1bc0bd61b0b0 | ['Amy Knight'] | 2020-12-12 09:05:08.595000+00:00 | ['Pandemic', 'Lyrics', 'Poetry', 'Christmas', '2020'] |
The Piscean Pipe-Dream and the False Spring | New Age? What “New Age?”
I’ve been haunting the now-decrepit byways of the “New Age” phenomenon since shortly after its beginning — that’s me as an art student in Central Park in 1967, the day I marched down New York City’s 5th Avenue in an anti-war parade with the Hare Krishna people in their saffron robes and shaved pates, chanting “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare . . .”) It was what I call the “post-dawn” era, since I understand the whole thing got underway at a commune in Findhorn, Scotland in the early ’60s. But we could always ask David Spangler, who is still around (https://lorian.org/).
There is a thread on the Astrologers’ Community forum titled “Is Anyone Else Tired of Waiting for the Age of Aquarius to Take Effect?” Consensus among the numerous commenters is that the poor, benighted OP missed the boat somewhere. Personally, I’m not so sure. I understand that, sidereally, the Age of Aquarius will begin around 2150, so I’ve been calling the tattered New Age epiphany of the ’60s the “Piscean Pipe Dream” and the “False Spring.” Much of what I’ve seen in the realm of putative social progress seems more like Piscean confusion than Aquarian clarity of vision. Having lived through the New Age from near its inception and having begun esoteric study and practice in 1970, I’m convinced that as a cultural wave of the future it has lost its mojo.
With age and disillusionment, the heady innocence of the hippie generation has hardened into egocentric pragmatism and cynicism — or worse, commercialism — and the naive fairy-tale of an Aquarian nirvana seems to have just about run its course; as a student of human nature I can draw no other conclusion. My interest in arcane studies may have paralleled the rise of the pop-culture fascination with gurus and ashrams and other such non-Western spiritual ways, but I never really partook of that movement. (Full disclosure: I did like sandalwood incense, water-buffalo-hide sandals and Ravi Shankar!) Metaphysically I was always more drawn to late 19th-Century British mysticism, having connected with the work of Aleister Crowley and the British occultists in my early 20’s, so I was probably out-of-step with it all along anyway. I never even owned a Ouija Board or a Magic 8-Ball!
Frankly, I think the utopian promise of the New Age died with the hippies and we just don’t know it yet (some of us are caught in a time warp, waiting vainly for the spiritual emancipation of humanity that Israel Regardie argued isn’t an entitlement and will only come to us as individuals if we actively strive for it). It was hijacked by the “money men” and the “self-help” crowd. So much of what we now see being offered as a novel approach to self-empowerment is just a rehash of earlier ideas. Take the “Law of Attraction:” it is essentially “old wine in new bottles,” and I simply don’t believe the Universe works that way. It has it’s roots in the New Thought movement of the early 20th Century that in turn was an outgrowth of the 18th-Century work of Franz Mesmer, father of modern hypnosis and hypnotherapy. In 1952, Norman Vincent Peale brought this self-help model to the general public in his brand of auto-hypnotism as promoted in The Power of Positive Thinking, which apparently had disastrous consequences for many of its practitioners. As has often been said, “There ain’t no free lunch.”
I’ve often expressed my growing lack of enthusiasm for all things “New Age” due to its gradual decline into commercialism and faddish superficiality, although it’s probably fair to say that very few people still use the definition. And yet, while I’ve gone so far as to say that more than a few modern mystics have succumbed to “starry-eyed self-hypnosis” and are guilty of “being adrift in their own heads,” I’m an absolute piker compared to the vitriol of British esoteric writer Gerald Suster; his rhetoric could peel paint. As a public service, I’m quoting the pertinent excerpt from his 1996 tarot publication here. We might see echoes of what he’s talking about even today in the sense that “What goes around comes around” and “There is nothing new under the sun.”
Gerald Suster’s New Age Rant:
“The Three of Wands is called Virtue. This is a word which has been grossly debased. It is a word exalted by a very popular but very feeble movement called the New Age. One sighs in despair over its fatuity.
This movement is essentially well-intentioned. However, in the critical times in which we live, good intentions alone are definitely not enough; actions must match words and there are few things more contemptible than fine words followed by shabby actions. The present writer is aware that he may have many New Age readers. He regards them as being honestly misguided at best. There is certainly no disgrace in being honestly misguided: it can happen to the best of us. However there is no excuse for not trying to do things better than before.
‘Virtue’ is a very New Age word. Where does it come from? It comes from the Latin Vir — a Man. The Roman Virtus therefore expresses healthy, natural male qualities. In these current, degenerate times — which the Hindus rightly call the Kali Yuga, the Dark Age — we find a feeble flop in the present comprehension of ‘virtue’. Would you rather meet a virtuous man or a virile man? The answer is obvious to all who have not been bemused, abused and confused by ludicrous notions of what it means to be ‘spiritual’, another New Age buzz word.
The word ‘spiritual’, which used to mean something important, has like ‘virtue’ degenerated into meaning something feeble, like a cup of scummy, lukewarm milk. Would you rather meet someone who is spiritual or someone who is spirited? Again, the question is as easy as the answer is obvious.
New Age readers are strongly urged to consider the following propositions, prompted by Virtue — the 3 of Wands in Binah (Understanding) — and certainly not inspired by the sordid motives which enable those with a little but not much occult knowledge or understanding to make money from pandering to the prejudices of said readers. The present writer hopes and trusts that the present reader is not a gullible dupe.
a — New Age is merely softened down and tarted up Christianity; an outmoded religion once adhered to by primitive mammalian primates based upon ludicrous notions of sin and guilt. Under Christianity, perfectly natural desires were called ‘sinful’. Under New Age, you still have to be guilty as sin for the same, for the words and phrases are ‘unspiritual’ — whatever that may mean — or ‘not virtuous’. Whatever words are used, people still end up feeling guilty over perfectly natural and honourable feelings like love, hate, lust, anger et al.
b — New Age is intellectually sloppy. If you are New Age, you can believe anything you like — as long as it doesn’t work.
c — New Age is horribly middle class. In common with any sensible individual, the present writer does not care if you are upper class, middle class or working class: it’s just that if you’re middle class, you should do something about it. In England , at any rate, the upper classes and the working classes share the same code of honour: observers are confused too often because the same code is expressed in different forms of the English language. Although there are — thank heavens! — exceptions, the average middle class individual has no code of honour. Anyone with no code of honour is a slave. It doesn’t matter if your chains are of gold or of plastic — you are still a slave. This is why one can all too often see crass examples such as those who bleat about changing the world, then freak out like a shell-shocked invalid on account of a cigarette being smoked with joy in a Glastonbury tea-room. This is why one can hear whingeing nonsense whenever there is a serious meditation practice from some New Age twits who whine to be excused on the quicksands of: ‘Oh — but we’re professional meditators.’ How is a ‘professional’ meditator to be distinguished from one who meditates? — apart from the obvious fact that they’re probably conning the gullible for money? No. This won’t do at all and it’s high time someone said so.
d — New Age is dishonest. The beliefs its adherents hold contradict one another. If you are New Age, you can be a Hindu and a Buddhist. Hindus believe there is a soul (atman). Buddhists believe there isn’t (annata). You can’t believe both at the same time. Yes, of course, it is said that above the Abyss, all contradictions resolve themselves. This is true — as the Tarot shows us — but the present writer doubts if there are currently more than 93 individuals on the globe capable of mating the contradictions in self-annihilation. Below the Abyss, Reason is King. Facts must be accurate and Logic must be coherent. Unless you get that right, you will get nothing right at all — and New Age doesn’t.
e — New Age consists of sentimental slop, catering to half-witted, panic stricken, middle class prejudice. The Universe is not like that. Let us remember, therefore, that the Master has spirit and vir — and vir applies exactly to an acknowledged female Master like Madame Blavatsky.”
The Truth About the Tarot: A Manual of Practice and Theory (1996) | https://medium.com/@dubyah48/the-piscean-pipe-dream-and-the-false-spring-b5a65e9d1d2f | ['Parsifal The Scribe'] | 2020-12-21 12:55:22.967000+00:00 | ['Age Of Aquarius', 'Astrology', 'New Age', 'Spiritual Awakening', 'Social Change'] |
Mysql varchar max length | Maximum data what we can store in varchar in mysql was 255. But after Mysql version 5.0.3 varchar can store maximum of 65,535 characters. But again this limit is having limitation of maximum row size which is 65535 bytes. It means including all columns it should be less than 65,535 bytes. Lets take an example as below: I have created below table with two columns as “f1” varchar with the length of 32,765 and “f2” with 32766. Total length will be 32765+2(for storing length) + 32766 + 2 = 65535.
CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `test_table` (
`f1` varchar(32765) NOT NULL,
`f2` varchar(32766) NOT NULL
) ENGINE=MyISAM DEFAULT CHARSET=latin1;
But when I create increase the column length with a single character as below:
CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `test_table2` (
`f1` varchar(32766) NOT NULL, //INCREASED LENGTH BY 1
`f2` varchar(32766) NOT NULL
) ENGINE=MyISAM DEFAULT CHARSET=latin1;
it will give me error.
#1118 - Row size too large. The maximum row size for the used table type, not counting BLOBs, is 65535. You have to change some columns to TEXT or BLOBs
For more details as below: dev.mysql.com
Hope it help somebody out there…. | https://medium.com/@suresh-kamrushi/mysql-varchar-max-length-80583322785f | ['Suresh Kamrushi'] | 2020-11-27 08:22:14.708000+00:00 | ['MySQL', 'Mysql 8', 'Mysql Server'] |
How to deploy an Angular App | FrontEnd: Angular & GitHub
I recently worked on a fun personal project, creating a web-based tool for client management and build my front-end app with angular. Now, if you are new to Angular like I was, It’s quite confusing and there aren’t many directives on how to get your application out there for other people to use (taking an angular app from dev environment to a live environment that users can access and use).
So for the purpose of this article, We’ll explore how to deploy or publish an Angular app on GitHub pages.
I’ll assume that you have already created an angular app or are currently working on one and are familiar with angular CLI, Git, and Github. The Angular CLI makes it easy to create an application that already works, right out of the box. It already follows our best practices. If you don’t have it installed, I would highly recommend that you do.
Angular CLI installation
npm install -g @angular/cli
If you don’t have an angular project to deploy, you can simple create a demo project and follow along by running the command “ng new” followed by your application name. I decided to named mine “my-app-demo”, yours will have a different name or you can name it whatever you wish:
ng new my-app-demo
Once it’s created, change working directory to your app directory and run it to make sure everything is working correctly:
cd my-app-demo
ng serve --open
Ng “serve” follow by “ — open” flag will automatically launch and open the web browser. if you simply typed “ng serve” and once your app is up and running, visit the page http://localhost:4200 to make sure everything works fine. My app demo looks like this:
screenshot of terminal — mac
The next step is making sure you have ghpages package installed on your computer. The ghpages package is used to deploy your build file to GitHub pages. run the following command to install it globally:
npm install -g angular-cli-ghpages
Create a GitHub repository
Push content to your GitHub repository
Follow the quick setup up steps below. When setting up a remote repository, make sure you replace the path with the correct path to your remote repository:
echo "# my-app-demo" >> README.md
git init
git add .
git commit -m "first commit"
git remote add origin https://github.com/githubusername/reponame.git
git push -u origin master
Now, running “ng build” create a distribution folder which contains all the files necessary for your projects to run in a production environment or server host.
ng build --prod
Adding the production flag “ — prod” to ng build reduce significantly the size of your bundle files. If your app doesn’t integrate any type of back-end, you can simply take the content of your dist folder and upload them to a server via FTP and your app will work just fine.
You can also specify the base reference of your build files with the following command:
ng build --prod --base-href //urlOfYourSubfolderDomain
Deploy your app to Github pages
In order to deploy to Github pages, we need to run “ng build” with the base-href flag and it looks like this:
Make sure to put your Github username and the name of the remote repository you associated with the local repository of your angular app. Mine looks like this:
Screenshot of terminal — mac
It’s very important to add the slash “/” after the repository name at the end of the path otherwise it would not work.
Now, once it’s done, you can run ngh to invoke the hgpage command line interface tool we installed earlier.
Turns out Angular 6 changed angular.json 's "outputPath": "dist/" into "outputPath": "dist/[PROJECTNAME]" , which placed everything in the dist folder in a subfolder, which breaks ngh's functionality.
ngh
if you are using Agular 6 and above, run:
ngh --dir dist/[PROJECTNAME]
Here is the screenshot when I ran ngh after ruining ng build on my project demo:
Here is the screenshot when I ran ngh on a project that was built recently with Angular 6 version:
After successfully publishing, simply go ahead and visit that URL you specified on you base-href flag to see your deploy and publish angular app running. here is my screenshot:
So, that’s it! now you can go ahead and make changes on your app, simply repeat the build and deploy processes whenever you want to share it with others in your organization or if you simply want to put it out there.
If you enjoyed this article, you might also like “How to build a bidirectional app for Internet of Things/Chat with Python”
Cheers!!!
Also, Read | https://medium.com/coinmonks/how-to-deploy-an-angular-app-8db1af39f8c1 | ['Yann Mulonda'] | 2020-10-18 09:45:28.404000+00:00 | ['Angular', 'Github Pages', 'Deployment', 'Git', 'Web Development'] |
Ethereum 2.0: What the Next Three Years of Ethereum Will Look Like | In November 2013, a young Russian-Canadian college student at the University of Waterloo and co-founder writer for Bitcoin Magazine published a whitepaper that proposed the development of a blockchain platform supporting a generalized scripting language and application development.
His name was Vitalik Buterin, and his idea quickly caught fire. Buterin was joined by seven other founders to create Ethereum, a smart contract platform for building decentralized applications. They launched a crowdsale to fund development, raising 3,700 BTC in twelve hours, worth around $2.3 million at the time. The project went live a year later in 2015.
The early promise of Ethereum was to create a world computer — a decentralized world computer — that would execute anyone’s code in exchange for a fee, from running a token sale to distributing loans. In an early talk, Buterin likened Ethereum to something like Google Play: Ethereum would allow developers to upload applications to the blockchain for use anywhere in the world.
Fast-forward four years, and in many ways, we’re still waiting for this promise to be fulfilled. While applications from prediction markets like Augur to collectible games like CryptoKitties have launched on the network, most have failed to attract sustained usage and anything close to the billions of daily active users seen on consumer applications from companies like Facebook and Google. State of the Dapps currently shows that the current top Ethereum Dapp had a mere 3,000 users over the last 24 hours. Even if a Dapp were to attract mainstream adoption, it’s unclear if the network could support it — during the height of the CryptoKitties craze, Ethereum transaction fees rose to .02 ETH, or $20, at the time. As core projects have stalled, Dapps have failed to attract users, and the overall cryptocurrency market has declined, Ethereum’s price has fallen from around 51% of Bitcoin’s market cap in January 2018 to around 17% today.
To live up to its potential and scale decentralized applications to millions or even hundreds of millions of users, Ethereum has to solve key problems around scalability and performance. To do so, Ethereum developers have introduced an ambitious Ethereum 2.0 roadmap that includes proof of stake, sharding, and much more. Here’s what investors need to know about how — and on what timescale — these developments could impact the fundamentals of ETH.
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The Ethereum 2.0 Roadmap
Many of Ethereum’s problems have to do with intrinsic shortcomings around speed and scalability. Solving these problems, while maintaining decentralization of the protocol, is the core priority of Ethereum 2.0.
When people say that Ethereum is a “decentralized smart-contract platform,” they mean that the code of a smart contract is stored on every full node on the network and code has to execute across all full nodes. Ethereum’s proof-of-work consensus model means that this can take anywhere from three to eighteen minutes, depending on network congestion. As a result, deploying code on Ethereum is orders of magnitude more expensive than using a centralized service like AWS — and much, much slower.
Ethereum 2.0 is meant to help Ethereum scale, and it has two major goals:
Introduce a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, which will eliminate the need for expensive proof-of-work mining. Introduce sharding, which will improve the speed and throughput of ETH transactions.
Rather than trying to build these upgrades directly onto the main net, Ethereum 2.0 will build out a new, separate platform from the main chain that will eventually replace it in the future.
The Ethereum wiki maps out seven distinct phases for Ethereum 2.0, which will likely take several years to implement. Most of these phases are still in the research stage, without clear technical specifications. Before developers can actually build on Ethereum 2.0, the first three phases will need to be completed:
Phase 0 — Beacon Chain: The Beacon Chain is a proof-of-stake chain that will run parallel to Ethereum’s proof-of-work chain. Initially, the Beacon Chain will be engineered for simplicity and will support neither smart contracts nor accounts.
The Beacon Chain is a proof-of-stake chain that will run parallel to Ethereum’s proof-of-work chain. Initially, the Beacon Chain will be engineered for simplicity and will support neither smart contracts nor accounts. Phase 1 — Basic Sharding : Sharding is intended to help transactions scale by dividing the network across multiple shards, allowing the network to process many transactions concurrently.
Sharding is intended to help transactions scale by dividing the network across multiple shards, allowing the network to process many transactions concurrently. Phase 2 — eWASM: The eWASM is essentially a rebuilt Ethereum Virtual Machine that supports proof-of-stake and sharding. It will introduce smart contracts, accounts, and more to Ethereum 2.0.
The staged rollout of Ethereum 2.0 is intended to test each upgrade to the protocol in a safe environment without compromising security.
As Ethereum researcher Ben Edgington writes:
Building on a new platform like this, the Beacon Chain, allows us to introduce huge innovation unlimited by the constraints of today’s Mainnet, and, crucially, without having to do open-heart surgery on the currently running network.
In the rest of the article, we’ll walk you through the first three phases of the roadmap, which introduce proof of stake and sharding to Ethereum.
The Beacon Chain: Bringing Proof-of-Stake to Ethereum
The Beacon Chain is intended to serve as the nervous system for Ethereum 2.0 and introduce a proof-of-stake chain that will initially run parallel to Ethereum’s proof-of-work chain. The Beacon Chain is expected to launch in 2019.
Currently, Ethereum runs on a proof-of-work blockchain where miners compete to solve a difficult cryptographic problem. The solution to this problem is easy to validate but difficult to find, which means that proof of consensus requires a substantial investment in hardware and electricity costs. With proof of stake, consensus is achieved instead through a set of nodes known as validators. Each of these validators “stakes” a certain amount of ETH to participate in the consensus process. Validators propose new blocks to add to the chain and validate new transactions through a voting process. Validators are rewarded for good behavior and penalized for bad behavior (e.g., voting on invalid transactions).
The main responsibility of the Beacon Chain is to maintain a set of validators for proof-of-stake consensus that propose and validate new blocks to add to the chain. Each validator will have to stake 32 ETH. The Beacon Chain also randomly selects committees of 120 validators to vote on which blocks to include in the chain. Phase 0 of the Beacon Chain will be extremely barebones, with support for neither smart contracts nor accounts, but it will set the stage for further developments down the line, such as sharding and an updated Ethereum Virtual Machine.
Proof of stake isn’t a new concept: it was discussed in the early days of Bitcoin on the BitcoinTalk forum back in 2011. One of the common criticisms of proof of stake is that it can lead to oligarchical control of the network by a small group of wealthy validators. The Ethereum 2.0 roadmap seeks to address this by experimenting with economic incentives and game theory, but it’s too early to know how this will play out.
Sharding: Ethereum 2.0 Scalability
Currently on the Ethereum network, each full node validates every transaction. If you upload a smart contract to Ethereum, that means that it has to execute across every node on the network, limiting transaction speeds and throughput, while increasing the size of nodes to over 2 TB in size.
Sharding proposes to solve this problem in Ethereum 2.0 and help Ethereum scale. ‘Sharding’ refers to partitioning a large database into smaller, faster pieces known as shards. Each shard will have its own chain of transactions. Ethereum accounts will be assigned to a shard and can transact with other accounts on that shard. Eventually, the idea of Ethereum 2.0 is to facilitate cross-shard communication — but that won’t come until Phase 2 or later. On Ethereum 2.0, sharding works as the shared data layer for the network. Initial sharding for Ethereum 2.0 isn’t expected to launch until at least 2020.
Vitalik Buterin explains sharding as follows:
Imagine that Ethereum has been split into thousands of islands. Each island can do its own thing. Each of the islands has its own unique features and everyone belonging on that island, i.e., the accounts, can interact with each other and they can freely indulge in all its features. If they want to contact with other islands, they will have to use some sort of protocol.
Sharding on Ethereum in Phase 1.0 will be introduced on top of the proof-of-stake Beacon Chain. Shards will be verified by a set of validators that are randomly assigned by the Beacon Chain. A shard’s validators only have to verify transactions on the shard that they’re assigned. Phase 1.0 will introduce 100 shards that work in parallel, and initially, in this phase, they won’t process accounts, assets, or smart contracts.
While sharding brings scalability benefits to the network by splitting up a load of network transactions across shards, it introduces a new set of security problems. With proof-of-work, an attacker needs to amass 51% of the hashrate to successfully launch an attack. If the network is split into 100 shards, for example, it takes less of the network hashrate (or deposit in PoS) to successfully attack a shard. Another criticism is that sharding can lead to higher centralization, with each of the different shards run by a relatively small group of validators.
While the Ethereum developers have proposed solutions to these concerns — primarily through ensuring that validators are randomly selected — they still need to be tested, which is why the initial implementation of sharding will be limited.
eWASM: The Ethereum Virtual Machine v2
The current Ethereum Virtual Machine processes transactions sequentially. Each node on the Ethereum network executes transactions and stores them on the blockchain. To permit proof of stake and parallel transaction processing through sharding, the Ethereum team plans to build a new virtual machine known as eWASM. The eWASM is still in the research phase and will take at least until 2020 to build out — quite possibly longer.
This is the key to bringing smart contract functionality to Ethereum 2.0 and making it perform similarly to Ethereum 1.0 — only faster and better.
According to the specification for eWASM:
To truly distinguish Ethereum as the World Computer we need to have a very performant VM. The current architecture of the VM is one of the greatest blockers to raw performance. WebAssembly aims to execute at near native speed by taking advantage of common hardware capabilities available on a wide range of platforms. This will open the door to a wide array of uses that require performance/throughput.
The introduction of eWASM should allow Ethereum 2.0 to support smart contracts, accounts, states, and more. However, the eWASM still remains in the research phase of development, and it will likely change considerably before being pushed to production.
Ethereum 2.0 is a Marathon, Not a Race
“Ethereum 1.0 is a couple of people’s scrappy attempt to build the world computer; Ethereum 2.0 will actually be the world computer.” — Vitalik Buterin
For investors in Ethereum, the most important thing to understand about the Ethereum 2.0 roadmap is that it proposes a radical overhaul of the protocol — and that will take a lot of time and back-and-forth to realize.
According to a report from Kyokan, which conducted interviews with multiple teams involved with Ethereum 2.0, delivery of the first three phases will take at least a year and a half. Counter to popular media narratives, investors should be aware that each of these phases needs to be delivered before developers can actually build on top of Ethereum 2.0. Further, many of the later phases on the roadmap remain in the research phase of development, which means that new research can invalidate parts of the roadmap or introduce significant delays.
If Ethereum 2.0 can solve hard problems around proof of stake and sharding, then it may be well-poised to maintain its lead as the biggest smart-contract-computing platform in cryptocurrency. But that certainly won’t happen overnight.
About SFOX: Since 2014, SFOX has been providing institutions, pro traders, and anyone serious about trading crypto with the most advanced investment platform available anywhere. Capture the best prices on BTC, ETH, LTC, BCH, BSV, ETC, and RVN anywhere in the crypto market from a single trading account with smart-routing order types you won’t find anywhere else. Sign up now and see why SFOX has facilitated over $11 billion in trading volume to date. | https://blog.sfox.com/ethereum-2-0-what-the-next-three-years-of-ethereum-will-look-like-b366a46f9704 | ['Since', 'Sfox Has Been Providing Institutions', 'Pro Traders', 'Anyone Serious About Trading Crypto With The Most Advanced Investment Platform Available Anywhere. Capture The Best Prices On Btc', 'Eth', 'Ltc', 'Bch', 'Bsv', 'Etc', 'Rvn Anywhere In The Crypto Market A Single Trading Account With Smart-Routing Order Types You Won T Find Anywhere Else. Sign Up Now At Trade.Sfox.Com Signup'] | 2019-05-24 21:10:26+00:00 | ['Cryptocurrency Investment', 'Ethereum', 'Bitcoin', 'Proof Of Stake', 'Blockchain Tech'] |
Your Love | Your Love
Photo credit: Shutterstock
By Hendrix Black
Your love is not meant…
… to be hoarded.
… to be diluted or dripped out slowly to those you claim to care for.
Your love is not meant…
… to be weaponized.
… to be dangled like a dog treat to those you deem deserving, or…
… to be withdrawn as a knee-jerk reaction to your unhealed hurts.
Your love is not meant to be…
… reduced to a currency.
… traded in the ever-shifting markets of entitlement and expectation.
… tracked and audited — measured and balanced in some zero-sum game of give and take.
Your love…
… is vast. Raw. Infinite.
… is self-reinforcing and self-regenerative.
… is the most precious gift you can offer in human form.
Your love…
… is meant to flow freely and abundantly.
… is meant to be given even MORE fully and generously in moments of hurt.
… is the balm that softens the friction between your love affair with life itself.
Your love is…
… meant to heal.
… meant to inspire and uplift.
… meant to be the force that brings new life into creation.
To be a true king, is to know true love.
And to know true love, is to be a king.
And it’s with that, I say…
I see you, King.
—
The story was previously published on The Good Men Project. | https://medium.com/hello-love/your-love-3f9809eb0c3d | ['The Good Men Project'] | 2020-12-11 21:23:28.392000+00:00 | ['Masculinity', 'Relationships', 'Men', 'Dating', 'Love'] |
Laravel 8.* + Backpack + CRUD- Article with tags | In order to proceed you should have:
- Laravel installed + Backpack admin (teaching purposes)
- Tags CRUD created
- virtual host ready for you
- xampp setup or other web server
- composer installed
We will define what an Article consists of
- title — text
- content — text — RichTextEditor
- tags (many available) — select with multiple options
New tutorial to add file upload to the artilce
- image (one image) — image upload
# STEP 1. create migration for many to many
php artisan make:migration:schema create_article_tags_table --model=0 --schema="article_id:integer:unsigned,tag_id:integer:unsigned"
This will create a new file in your migrations folder:
Create Article Tags migration
Remove the timestamp from the migration and then run:
php artisan migrate
We have now the table prepared many to many connections
#Step 2 — create article table
php artisan make:migration:schema create_articles_table --model=0 --schema="title:string,content:longText"
and then
php artisan migrate
#Step 3 — Create crud for Articles
php artisan backpack:crud article
#Step 4 — edit Article model
Add the following function
public function tags()
{
return $this->belongsToMany(Tag::class, 'article_tags','article_id', 'tag_id');
}
This makes the connection between articles and tags stating that one article could belong to many tags using the article_tags table for the reference.
Reference will be made by adding a new row for every tag.
#Step 5 — Alter Article controller
Add new function to the controller
private function getFieldsData($show = FALSE) {
return [
[
'name'=> 'title',
'label' => 'Title',
'type'=> 'text'
],
[
'name' => 'content',
'label' => 'Content',
'type' => ($show ? "textarea": 'ckeditor'),
],
[ // Select2Multiple = n-n relationship (with pivot table)
'label' => "Tags",
'type' => ($show ? "select": 'select2_multiple'),
'name' => 'tags', // the method that defines the relationship in your Model // optional
'entity' => 'tags', // the method that defines the relationship in your Model
'model' => "App\Models\Tag", // foreign key model
'attribute' => 'name', // foreign key attribute that is shown to user
'pivot' => true, // on create&update, do you need to add/delete pivot table entries?
]
];
}
Update setup method
Add new method at the bottom of the file — setupShowOperation
protected function setupShowOperation()
{
// by default the Show operation will try to show all columns in the db table,
// but we can easily take over, and have full control of what columns are shown,
// by changing this config for the Show operation
$this->crud->set('show.setFromDb', false);
$this->crud->addColumns($this->getFieldsData(TRUE));
}
Final result:
Menu is updated
Listing is present
Add is updated | https://medium.com/@lyubomir-filipov/laravel-8-backpack-crud-article-with-tags-d8019db71cd7 | ['Lyubomir Filipov'] | 2020-12-13 12:49:38.517000+00:00 | ['Backpack', 'Articles With Tags', 'Crud', 'Laravel'] |
The (Psychological) Safety Dance | The (Psychological) Safety Dance
Overused? Abused? Why are we obsessed with psychological safety?
I say we can act if want to if we don’t nobody will And you can act real rude and totally removed And i can act like an imbecile I say we can dance, we can dance everything out control We can dance, we can dance we’re doing it wall to wall We can dance, we can dance everybody look at your hands We can dance, we can dance everybody takin’ the chance Safety dance Oh well the safety dance
Psychological safety is important.
When I talk with teams (and managers, and executives) about psychological safety, I invariably see nods of approval. The “brutal honesty” junky nods. The neurodiversity advocate nods. Introverts and extroverts nod, in their own unique ways. The micromanager nods. Everyone gets it … even (unsurprisingly) the brilliant jerks.
It all makes sense. The concept of psychological safety is very human. We have a strong need to feel acknowledged, respected, listened to, taken seriously, supported, protected, trusted, and dare I say loved. But let’s step back and look at psychological safety in the context of plain-old software product development (not saving lives as a nurse, disarming IEDs, crewing a nuclear sub, etc.)
A senior leader recently contacted me about instituting a “program to build and maintain psychological safety on teams”. The executive was “fully bought in” and “understood that [they] couldn’t have high performing teams without psychological safety.” Apparently, not-his-real-name Dan had recently returned from a c-level “retreat” where “the whole community was talking about psych safety.”
I started to dig in by doing some interviews. The place turned out to be an absolute pressure cooker. Teams were overloaded — teetering right on the edge of cognitive overload and collapse. Working “insane hours”, type-AAA individuals drove themselves to “routinely go above and beyond for customers” and “push past technical limitations.” The whole atmosphere was perpetually ratcheted up, and highly charged. Just like Google, Dan wanted to leave no stone unturned on his quest for high performing teams. And everyone — from ICs on up — thought it was a great idea…because, you know, everyone can relate to psychological safety.
But something was missing. When people there talked to me about psychological safety, they talked about it only in relationship to their needs, their desire to speak up, their desire push the limits of their career, and their desire for safety. Or… they talked in broad sweeping terms about “not being complacent” and “keeping it real.” There wasn’t a great deal of self-awareness. And almost no one mentioned the impact of the late hours, constant reorgs, and hyper-competitive alpha-dog slugfests on the psychological well-being of the team. It was as if psychological safety had become a kind of proxy battlefield for something else.
N=1, in my opinion, in many cases psychological safety has become a proxy discussion for finding meaning and purpose in our work… in environments which are feeling increasingly transient, hyper (internally) competitive, manipulative, incoherent, incomprehensible, stressed-out, and soulless. We want something that “feels real”, and that turns into being able to “get real”. The individual contributor class — the passionate problem solvers — arrive in the belly of the for-profit tech beast only to realize how deeply fucked-up these orgs can be. Our response is to latch onto what feels genuine and humane.
Contrast this with a humble, coherent, curious, honest, and thoughtful org…where there’s a manageable level of tension/stress AND people have a sincere interest in making work “safe” for others (not just themselves or the bottom-line). Sometimes I wish we’d swap “psychological safety” for words like decency, respect, being a good listener, and sustainability. Are those words too fluffy? I hope not.
I hear about orgs doing actual training on the team level to improve psychological safety — or at least appeal to our innate need for it — while blaringly obvious bad behavior is tacitly accepted among “high performing” executives, and folks are maxed out intellectually/emotionally, and even physically. What kind of message does that send?
Knowledge work is complex. It is in your face. It is a team sport. It attracts passionate problem solvers who crave a level of coherence, a sense of agency, and the opportunity to create impact. We can intellectualize psych safety as much as we want…but a lot of this boils down to having the guts to be present, not be an ass, chill out, consider the needs of those around you, and give people room to do good work. | https://medium.com/hackernoon/the-psychological-safety-dance-9913745d7d8 | ['John Cutler'] | 2017-10-18 10:34:08.579000+00:00 | ['Software Development', 'Management', 'Safety', 'Product Management', 'Leadership'] |
Introduction to Convolutional Neural Networks | Photo by Alina Grubnyak on Unsplash
Convolutional Neural Networks are a part of Deep Learning which is employed in image recognition, image classification, object detection, etc. These take an image as input, processes it, and classify it under certain categories.
Here every image is passed through a series of filters, pooling, flattening, and a fully connected layer and apply as the softmax activation function to classify an object with probabilistic values between 0 and 1.
The main reason for applying softmax function is that, as an example, if we are classifying a cat and dog, and let’s say we got a probability that the image is a dog as 0.80 and cat as 0.35. It doesn’t sum to 1 and doesn’t make sense. To overcome it we use softmax function what it does is, It takes the values from the last layer of the hidden layer and then scales the values in between 0 and 1 and make sure it sums to 1.
How CNN works
1.Convolution Layer
It is the first layer to extract features from the image. It keeps the relation between pixels by learning image features using small squares of input data. It extracts features such as edges, corners from the input image.
It performs a dot product between the two matrices, one is the kernel and the other is the portion of the image. The kernel can be of any size but in the visualization shown below the kernel is of size 3 by 3 matrix. It moves from left to right till the end of the image and if any values match with the kernel values, that count is added in the feature detector. If anyone value matches we place 1 at the respective position and if any two values are matched with the kernel we place 2 in the feature detector i.e in the resultant matrix. The representation can be shown below
Credits: giphy.com
Stride: It is the number of pixels by which we slide our filter matrix over the input matrix. When the stride is 1 then we move the filters one pixel at a time.
Padding is adding zeros so as to fit it for the stride.
Relu Layer
RelU activation function
We apply a Rectifier function to the Feature Map i.e the Convolved Feature to add Non-Linearity to our image. The reason why we apply non-linearity is, Initially the images are highly non-linear in nature but when we apply Convolution to create Feature Maps, there is a risk that it might create something linear and erases non-linearity. So to make image non-linear we apply rectifier function.
2.Max Pooling
In this layer, the dimensionality of the feature map gets reduced by 75% keeping important information. pooling can be of different types:
Max Pooling
Average Pooling
Sum Pooling
Mostly we use Max pooling, pooling won’t only reduce the size by 75% but also prevents overfitting and helps us a lot in terms of processing.
3.Flattening
It breaks the spatial structure of the data and transforms your two-dimensional data into one dimensional. This is done to feed the output of CNN to the fully connected network(to classify features learned by CNN) or to feed output to the softmax function to get the probability.
4. Fully Connected layer
It is a simple feedforward Neural Network, these are the last few layers in the model. The output from the final pooling layer is flattened and then fed into a Fully connected layer. The role of this layer is to take the results from the flatten layer and use them to classify the image to its corresponding label.
Till now we have highlighted some important features of the image and reduced the sized and removed some unnecessary features to speed up the process but didn’t classify an image yet.
In the above diagram, the feature map matrix is converted as a vector, with fully connected layers, we combine all these features together to create a model. We have an activation function such as softmax or sigmoid to classify the outputs as a cat, dog, car, truck, etc.,
That’s all for now, hope you enjoyed the post. In my next blog, we will discuss about Recurrent Neural Networks. | https://medium.com/dataseries/introduction-to-convolutional-neural-networks-5a227f61dd50 | ['Muktha Sai Ajay'] | 2020-07-24 07:40:53.036000+00:00 | ['Python', 'Programming', 'Machine Learning', 'Data Science', 'Deep Learning'] |
Love Showers | Stop the riots
mindless violence
and shower the nation
with love and peace
India is witnessing serious unrest. Riots began in December with the passing of a law that makes non-Muslims from some neighboring nations eligible for fast-tracked citizenship. Many Muslims say it is discriminatory.
Written in response to the weekly prompt “Shower” by Yennie Jun | https://medium.com/chalkboard/love-showers-f2f01815c922 | ['Shruti Sinha'] | 2020-02-29 17:54:38.310000+00:00 | ['Chalkboard Espresso', 'Poetry On Medium', 'Religious Tolerance', 'Poetry', 'Peace'] |
Video Analytics | Video Analytics
The world in which we’re living in is mostly made up of machines more than humans, with the regular arrival of shocking technologies, human beings have constantly making progress in the technological aspect, one similar aspect is Video Analytics.
Now before we proceed with this blog, it is important to throw some light on what is video Analytics.
What is Video Analytics?
Video Analytics is a mechanism that processes a digital video signal with the help of a unique algorithm to carry out a security related function.
With the rise of the crisis moment, Video Analytics was created to provide support to have a look over the continuous rising hours of inspection that might be impossible for the human eye to notice. At moments, it becomes impossible to have a look over too many places, even a blink of an eye can make you miss the important events that could’ve been prevented from happening.
Using Video Analytics is not only cost effective but it also makes your inspection or surveillance process more efficient, durable and sensible. The process assures to record even the slightest movement thereby eradicating the hard and fast inspection load from your security and staff and helping you in covering the entire value of security video by making the IP camera system more smart in its work.
With the passing time, Video Analytics has gained a lot of importance in both corporate as well as the government sectors along with the constant rise in the camera count worldwide. The number of security cameras sold today are higher than ever. “Different security guards are capable of performing different actions when it comes to inspection, the focus of every security guard can be different from one another” According to a research in the United States, manual inspection of video systems start having distractions in time as little as 12 minutes overlooking upto 45% of the actions in the scenes recorded in camera, after 22 minutes, it rises up to 95% of overall activity.
This is the part where video Analytics can walk in to make your tasks easier.
Video Analytics provides this leverage to your software with the help of which it will monitor your video 24*7 for all 365 days, creating a sense of alert in your staff to put their attention on the screen only when something happens. The process of Video Analytics can also be utilised at the time of recording and search operations, giving the privilege to search recorded video as per the desired results. This helps in instantly locating the event or any particular part of the event without wasting too much time on scrolling and searching for it.
Types of Video Analytics-
Each sort of video Analytics will function in a slightly different manner than each other, depending upon the manufacturer. However, all the types of Video Analytics more or less work in the same way. One has to set up basic parameters for any activity that you want to search, put an alert notification system, and if the activity that you keep the alarm for meets the parameter, you get an alert by the software.
Contemporarily, the type of video Analytics present in the market are as follows-
1.Virtual line crossing detection
Any substance or object crossing your designated virtual line set by the developer will be detected automatically. Even the observation as minute as detecting the source direction of the object can also be specified.
2. Motion Detection
Any movement from minute to major can be detected in the desired scene or the specific area that has been provided with the alert system.
3. Object left behind detection
If the object appearing in the desired area is staying motionless for more than the set timing will be detected and automatically reported.
4. Object removed detection
Any object that will be removed from the designated area for a certain amount of fine or longer will be detected and reported.
5. Tamper detection
If any sudden changes take place, the monitoring of the camera will be affected. Some of the conditions that can be covered under this section are sudden blockage of camera, spray painting of camera and significant loss of the focus of the camera.
6. Face Detection
This feature identifies a human face by reading in depth about their features, sharpness of the features and distinguishing one human from the other.
7. Business Intelligence
Analytics like counting people and heat mapping can be used to provide seamless experience to the customers by working on the customer experience.
Now that you already know about the types of Video Analytics, we can proceed forward to tell you about How Video Analytics Software works. Video Analytics for security cameras comes in an array of forms such as installed in your camera, on the third party software or on the NVR. Every Video Analytic solution will function quite differently from each other. Metaorigins provide a durable and sustainable Video Analytics tool to crank your surveillance game up a notch.
How Will Video Analytics Help You?
Dating back to the ancient times when ideal surveillance included a security guard sitting in the booth keeping all his attention to the security camera feed live, in search to catch any mishap happening at that place. The process involves manual effort and let’s face it, even a blink of an eye can make the guard miss the most important sight of the entire event.
When you get a video management software, it manages your desired area of security in a way that even the slightest mishap can be caught and prevented, it helps in directing and alerting people during the unfortunate times, thereby saving the efforts to maintain continuous attention on the screen.
Our Clients For Video Analytics-
Medlife Yamaha HP DXC Technology
Metaorigins- A Click Away For Video Analytics
Founded in the year 2015, Metaorigin Labs is an IT company that has expertise in Artificial Intelligence, Machine learning, Blockchain, Salesforce, Data Analytics, Data Scraping, Digital Marketing and much more. Innovation and next generation business collaboration is now just a click away. Crank your business up a notch by collaborating with the organisation bearing the most advanced technologies currently available in the market to make your work easier and more accessible.
For more info please write me at [email protected] or visit us at https://metaorigins.com | https://medium.com/@akshay-333/video-analytics-137363fac874 | ['Akshay Tyagi'] | 2020-11-02 07:10:21.629000+00:00 | ['Video Analytics', 'Metaorigin Labs', 'Object Detection', 'Face Recognition'] |
EIT InnoEnergy — Battery Storage Expert Programme | The Battery Storage Expert Programme immerses participants in the transition to a sustainable energy system and low-emission society forward and what the role of batteries in this puzzle is.
They will find out what electrification will mean for large sectors such as mobility, industry, and the electricity system and which new business models exist to bring new opportunities. And they will acquire a comprehensive overall view across the battery energy storage value chain.
The program consists of a combination of online courses, a follow-up by a topic specialist, a capstone project, and a face-to-face activity, all in one package. The course start and end dates are fixed and subscribers to the program need to follow the fixed course schedule.
The learning journey starts with a series of six, distinct, online courses that participants can pursue at their usual study location:
Course 1 : Examine the challenges faced by the energy system to accommodate the upcoming changes and how batteries can promote and accelerate this transition looking into the drivers and barriers for relevant business model implementation.
: Examine the challenges faced by the energy system to accommodate the upcoming changes and how batteries can promote and accelerate this transition looking into the drivers and barriers for relevant business model implementation. Course 2 : Discover the electrochemistry and operating principles of batteries including current, emerging, and cutting-edge battery technologies.
: Discover the electrochemistry and operating principles of batteries including current, emerging, and cutting-edge battery technologies. Course 3 : Explore the entire battery value chain, from manufacturing to recycling focusing on the sustainable growth of the battery sector and ethical and environmental aspects.
: Explore the entire battery value chain, from manufacturing to recycling focusing on the sustainable growth of the battery sector and ethical and environmental aspects. Course 4 : Build the knowledge and skills to ensure battery cells perform in a conformant way before being implemented in different types of applications.
: Build the knowledge and skills to ensure battery cells perform in a conformant way before being implemented in different types of applications. Course 5 : See how battery energy storage is disrupting the energy space through battery storage applications, and examples of innovative business cases.
: See how battery energy storage is disrupting the energy space through battery storage applications, and examples of innovative business cases. Course 6: Analyse market conditions and assess how innovative new business models can fit with regulations within the EU but also on a national level.
Participants will receive support during each course on predetermined time slots by a topic specialist who will be available for two hours (1 hour synchronous & 1 hour asynchronous) to answer questions. The online course content will remain open for participants until two months after the end date of the last course.
Participants will also come together with their peers and faculty during a face-to-face activity, consolidating and deepening their knowledge and analyzing the relevance to their business.
Finally, the capstone project will give participants an opportunity to deepen their learning while they apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the program. The capstone project will focus on specific thematic areas that occur throughout the program. Participants will have 3 weeks to complete the project with guidance from thematic area advisors. During these 3 weeks, each participant will be entitled to 1 hour of interaction with their dedicated advisor and will receive feedback on the capstone project.
What is the program timeline?
You can choose between two program dates:
Online learning: May 10 | 2-days face-to-face: 21–22 September 2021
Online learning: Aug 9 | 2-days face-to-face: December 2021 (dates to be confirmed)
What is the program price?
The program price is 4,449 € (excl. VAT).
*EIT InnoEnergy’s partner organizations can benefit from the discounts for this program. For more information please contact [email protected].
Take the next step. Prepare to lead innovation at your organization today! | https://medium.com/eit-innoenergy-hub-turkey/eit-innoenergy-battery-storage-expert-programme-a4981de745ed | ['Eit Innoenergy Hub Turkey'] | 2021-04-26 09:39:02.484000+00:00 | ['Events', 'Energy', 'Battery Storage', 'Battery', 'Training Courses'] |
Being Self-Made: Unpacking the 21st Centuries Biggest Falsehood | The U-Turn
In today’s society, there are few things that we hold in reverence more than a ‘Self-Made’ individual. Self-made entrepreneurs personify this so-called ‘American Dream’ and other dreams alike, as they fill up the social media feeds of the masses.
For years this concept of a ‘self-made individual’ has fascinated me. Had you given the task of discerning the factors behind success to my younger self, ‘Hard work’ and ‘The Grind’ would have been the first words that sprang to mind, and whilst I attributed a small part of success down to luck, there was no doubt that my teenage self fell prey to this pernicious notion that hard work makes up the bulk of success in this world.
So why the sudden U-turn? — Why is it that I believe the role of luck in the success of those at the top of society is so trivialised? — Let’s take a look…
“If you wish to converse with me, first define your terms” — Voltaire
As always, before we can unpack the question at hand, we need to define our terms.
The phrase ‘Self-made’ refers to an individual who has become successful or rich by one’s own efforts, actions, and decisions. By extension, the phrase is intertwined with a belief that there is little to no luck involved here. Even in those individuals who acknowledge that luck plays some form of role in success, this role is often underplayed as a feature not significant enough to capture the bandwidth of our attention.
A Renaissance Lebron James…
The year is 1484 and we find ourselves in the city-state of Florence — The epicentre of the cultural revitalisation that spread across Europe in a period that we call the Renaissance.
Word is getting about outside a local cloth factory that the native painter Sandro Botticelli is embarking on a new piece where he will paint the mythical goddess — Venus, being clothed in the flowers of the natural world — He will call this painting ‘the Birth of Venus’
What inspired Botticelli to paint such a thing? How long will it take to finish? Where can we see it? These were all questions that reverberated throughout Florence at the time.
If Lebron James had been born in such a time and place— ask yourself, would you have ever heard of the name Lebron James today?
The fact that Lebron James lives in a society that values and loves basketball is hardly his doing. They didn't care much for basketball in the Renaissance (in fact, it hadn’t even been invented). The way you made it to the top of society in the 15th century was through talent in the liberal arts. An individual rolling up cloth balls and shooting them into pottery vases from impressive distances may have caught the attention of the Florentine locals as they made their way to the local cathedral, but this individual’s name and talent would have been lost in history, obfuscated from view by the Renaissance heavyweights, like Botticelli and Michelangelo.
The fact Lebron James was brought into being at a time in history where society loves basketball is not his doing — it is a matter of contingency and good luck. It is consequently a grave mistake to look past this huge slice of luck when judging the exercise of his talents.
The Concert of our Environment and Genetics
Looking at the big picture, so much more than we are often led to believe can be ascribed to luck at the end — From your genes and all they do to determine the individual you grow up to be, all the way to the totality of your environmental experiences and all they do, in concert with your genes, to determine who you are.
Ask yourself these very simple questions, did anyone author their genetic makeup? Are we in control of the society into which we are born? Are we in control of the parents we were born to?
Going back to our previous example, it has to be an unassailable truth that Lebron James relied immensely on luck with regards to his physical attributes that allowed him to reach the pinnacle of success as a basketball player.
Take the physical trait of height. It is needless to say that as far as important attributes go in basketball, height is right up there. Molecular Biologist, Chao Qiang Lai put forward the figure that up to 80 percent of the differences in height between individuals are determined by genetic factors, the other 20 percent being attributable to environmental factors — of which nutrition seems to be the most pertinent.
Again ask yourself, how much does Lebron James have good fortune to thank with respect to his genetics and nutritional status? I hope we can converge on the notion that he had absolutely no authoring role with respect to his genetics and even if we examine the smaller role that environment plays on an individuals height — Was Lebron James in control of the fact that he was born into a society, at a specific time in history and to a family that had the means to acquire foods of high nutritional value? The answer has to be not a chance.
The advent of behavioural genetics over the last forty years has led to huge advancements in the role our DNA plays in determining who we are, but it is a field that still lies under the radar for most people intellectually. Take the following quote from Professor of behavioural genetics and psychology, Robert Plomin:
“Genetics, not lack of willpower, is the major reason why people differ in BMI. Success and failure, credit and blame, in overcoming problems should be calibrated relative to genetic strengths and weaknesses. ” — Professor Robert Plomin
The more we look through this lens of trying to depict evidence of good fortune all around us, the more we stumble across how rife luck truly is, in determining the merits we ascribe to those individuals at the top of society.
Now some resist this idea, seemingly at any intellectual cost. This single insight could be the antidote to the arrogance and contempt that seems to be present towards people in society who are less lucky than you are.
“No one made themselves — no one picked their parents, nobody picked their genetics, no one picked the environmental influences which sculpted their nervous system and has determined their every brain state up until this very moment, in concert with their genetics and so, if you are intelligent and are able to use your intelligence in a way that produces great wealth for yourself, well you got lucky. You won the intelligence lottery. If you have a great capacity for effort and the overcoming of frustration, well you won that lottery too” — Dr Sam Harris
Okay, So maybe luck plays a bigger role than I thought, Now what?
The reason why the dismissal and underplaying of luck is so dangerous is that those who land on top of this pile come to believe that their success is completely their own doing — a mere measure of their merit and of course, by extension, those individuals who fall short have no one to blame but themselves.
Attitudes towards success and failure, towards winning and losing become more hostile by the day and as mentioned earlier, the antidote is an appreciation of the roles that accident and good fortune play. We discussed humility in an earlier blog post concerning Socrates and his willingness to fill gaps in his knowledge and it seems we require humility again to open us towards a greater sense of responsibility for those struggling beneath us in society.
To the basketball and ‘self-made individual’ lovers I say this…
At the core of this blog post was one singular aim — to ensure that we no longer play down the role luck plays in society. Let me be as nuanced in my case as possible; my message was not an attempt to say the masses should no longer revere Lebron James — the fact that he has a genetic soup that made him more predisposed to become a brilliant basketball player and was brought about in a time where basketball is so loved is futile without the commitment to act upon that predisposition.
The wider effects of this notion will undoubtedly be discussed in years to come with regards to how we choose to shape our society, but for now, I ask you to look past what the Forbes magazines tell you and search for examples of chance events in your own life and the lives of those around you. | https://medium.com/@aryaanthonykamyab/being-self-made-unpacking-the-21st-centuries-biggest-falsehood-3ea2070d17d6 | ['Arya Anthony Kamyab'] | 2020-12-20 21:55:20.259000+00:00 | ['Self Improvement', 'Compassion', 'Advice', 'Life Lessons', 'Philosophy'] |
Thanksgiving Eve | Ralph (Ravi) Kayden for Unsplash
Thanksgiving Eve
A Party Story About Gratitude
My brother advised me to not go out. It was the night before Thanksgiving, and he said there would be too many people out partying after work who might be drunk. It was freezing, and snowing lightly.
“Stay home,” he said, “be grateful you are home and warm and safe.” I considered sitting home alone, drinking wine, and watching a movie. There was a party going on at the Tavern with a band that I like. It was a tough call: out for social energy, or home, quiet and warm…
I made myself a simple dinner and decided I would have dessert at the Tavern. I bundled up and took the quick drive there. The snow had stopped, and it was still 32 degrees out.
The Tavern was warm and full of partiers and families eating dinner. The bar was packed so I sat at a table. The band was rocking songs from the ’80s and ’90s. The last time I’d seen the band I wasn’t with anyone who wanted to dance.
I sat by myself and enjoyed a piece of pumpkin cake while listening to the music. It was a true Thanksgiving Eve party. Many were dancing on the dance floor, and those who weren’t had a hard time sitting still in their chairs including me.
I finished my cake, and took my cane and walked over to a couple who were seated but dancing. I asked them to come dance. They noticed the cane and made a remark about me getting up to dance with it, but they were sitting. I joined the crowd of dancers out on the floor, rested my cane on a nearby banquette, and got moving. In short order, the seated dancers were up on their feet moving and grooving with the crowd. It felt good to be in the middle of such revelry even if I was by myself. I purposely avoided alcohol because I had to drive.
As I unlocked my car in the frigid air, I was struck by gratitude for being able to enjoy so much. I don’t take simple things like driving, dancing, walking, or thinking for granted having spent a morning in the ER on February 14, 1999, with a bleeding brain that had done so much damage that my pupils were fixed and dilated. That kind of damage means that my brain stem functions that control things like respiration and my heartbeat were starting to shut down.
I was saved by emergency brain surgery. I was 6 months pregnant. I came out of the surgery with total paralysis of the entire left side of my body. I gave birth 6 weeks later to a healthy boy.
Nearly 20 years later, I am living a full life.
Rather than staying home safe and warm on Thanksgiving Eve, I took a simple trip that reminded me to be thankful for much more than all of the everyday comforts and pleasures that most of us enjoy. I am so thankful.
Happy Thanksgiving, and thank you for reading.
I’m recycling this story from 2018 in the Before Times. | https://medium.com/recycled/thanksgiving-eve-40722c621100 | ['Victoria Ponte'] | 2020-11-27 13:56:23.436000+00:00 | ['Disability', 'Gratitude', 'Thanksgiving', 'This Happened To Me', 'Self'] |
CSS Grid in 5 Minuten verstehen — und in Responsive Sketch Layouts übertragen | The best collection of articles, tips, tutorials, and stories on designing and prototyping with Sketch and beyond
Follow | https://medium.com/sketch-app-sources/css-grid-einf%C3%BChrung-in-5-minuten-verstehen-und-in-sketch-umsetzen-9e9e8a16b07e | ['Christine Vallaure'] | 2020-10-12 09:26:55.684000+00:00 | ['Css Grid', 'Sketch', 'Web Design', 'Grid System', 'Responsive Design'] |
[BLOG] Future Expectations | The companies who participated in the program.
The program had top blockchain companies, the Singapore government, and vest of globally renowned companies. The list included HSBC, Intel, Nielson, Johnson & Johnson, BMW Asia group, etc. Not only the globally renowned companies, but the blockchain heavyweights such as ICON, VeChain and more attended the event in March and plans to attend more of the Tribe Accelerators forwarding events in the planned program.
The Tribe Accelerator’s managing partner Yi Ming Ng not only showed his focused interests and hopes for startups and corporations to work together but also expressed that the efforts to support the companies will continue. Additionally, Yi mentioned that he has high hopes for the outcome of the exquisite networking between the startup and the corporations.
BMW Asia: Master Class
The goal of the program mentioned by Tribe Accelerator was that they are hoping for the creation of the hyper-connected platform through the development of a solution resulting from the networking and communication of the startups and the corporations. Not only through such efforts, but Tribe Accelerator will support the selected top 10 startups to grow through continuous work with corporations and top blockchain specialists to develop the best business models, sharing ideas for them. | https://medium.com/temcolabs/blog-future-expectations-6439e76c90d4 | [] | 2019-06-14 08:19:59.434000+00:00 | ['Tribe Accelerator', 'Blog', 'Startup'] |
Journey of a Quality Analyst (Part IV) | Credit : Photo by Serpstat from Pexels
This is the last article of the series, mainly focusing on infrastructure.
Many projects focus on getting on board with cloud infrastructure. Here, based on your expertise, you can contribute in certain ways and collaborate with infrastructure engineers / SREs (Site Reliability Engineers) better if they are present on the team.
Knowledge of server side performance, user load, geographical distribution of the users comes in handy while making decisions.
I had some takeaways from this experience. They are as follows : | https://medium.com/technogise/journey-of-a-quality-analyst-part-iv-5fa19b4a0769 | [] | 2021-03-17 09:53:33.442000+00:00 | ['Technology', 'Pipeline', 'Quality Analysis', 'Infrastructure Management', 'Remote Work'] |
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