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Please, take care of your Favicons | Favicons are compact versions of your or your client’s logo, that are required by modern browsers and digital devices. By considering the following tips you will have control on how users identify your site, which in turn will increase it’s recognition and might in turn affect it’s retention rate. I can’t believe no one wrote a simple article on that. Here it is, please consider using it.
Browser environment
Both on Desktop and on Mobile Browsers, there are places like browser tab, recent app switch, the new (or recently visited) tab page, and other, where interface expects you to have an icon ready. To be honest, we don’t like abundance of favicons in modern browsers, because it creates so much visual noise that doesn’t help, and we particularly like the direction taken by Safari, that are not using them for Browser Tabs, in Browser History and in the Bookmarks on iOS, but even Safari has them inside the address input area, so, you better get them ready.
16x16, 32x32, and 48x48 full-canvas icons
To cover all of the Browser necessities, you basically need three sizes and an .ico file in the root of your site. Three sizes are required for various pixel densities. “.ico” file is required in case something goes wrong, to let browser find the backup icon.
1. 16x16, Favicon, PNG
2. 32x32, Favicon, PNG
3. 48x48, Favicon, PNG
<head>
...
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="/favicon-16.png" sizes="16x16">
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="/favicon-32.png" sizes="32x32">
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="/favicon-32.png" sizes="48x48">
...
</head>
• Besides calling for all icons in the <head> section of your website, put all three files inside of one .ico file. File needs to be named as favicon.ico and uploaded to the root of your site. You can use third party apps like Icon Slate App that make it easier to export .ico files.
• Reference: Favicon Cheat Sheets
iOS
57x57, 120x120, 152x152, 167x167, and 180x180 iOS icons on white square canvas. Beware that you should make icons squared, later on iOS will put them into a mask.
In iOS, by using Safari Browser, every user may save your website to the Home Screen of their device, which will make it perceived as a web based application or work as a bookmark. For you to control it’s branding, you need to prepare and provide a few files referred to as Apple Touch Icons.
1. 57x57, legacy iOS devices, PNG
2. 120x120, iPhone, PNG
3. 152x152, iPad & iPad Mini, PNG
4. 167x167, iPad Pro, PNG
5. 180x180, iPhone, PNG
<head>
...
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="57x57" href="/favicon-57.png">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="120x120" href="/favicon-120.png">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="152x152" href="/favicon-152.png">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="167x167" href="/favicon-167.png">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="/favicon-180.png">
...
</head>
• Icons should be saved on square white background with no transparency
• Reference: Human interface guidelines
Android
96x96, and 192x192 Android icons on white circle canvas
1. 96x96, Google TV, PNG
2. 192x192, Android devices, Home Screen, PNG
<head>
...
<link rel="icon" sizes="96x96" href=" /favicon-96.png ">
<link rel="icon" sizes="192x192" href=" /favicon-192.png ">
...
</head>
• Reference: Google Developers
• You can choose icon of any shape, but for it to look native to Android, we chose it to be white square with compact logo on top of it.
If you want to include Windows support, consider reading the Windows Dev Center or a good article for that matter on Google Developers. | https://medium.com/studiopolitica/please-take-care-of-your-favicons-41f26f0309ae | ['Dmitri Moruz'] | 2019-05-01 20:38:03.903000+00:00 | ['Branding', 'Visual Identity', 'Favicon', 'UI', 'Web Development'] |
Anime and the Familiarity of Future Funk | Anime and the Familiarity of Future Funk
Future funk’s reliance on anime points to its undying love affair with escapism.
Urusei Yatsura’s Lum Invader has become the unofficial poster girl for future funk.
Sometimes future funk feels like a secret. The genre, an outgrowth of the early 2010s vaporwave movement, which was in turn an outgrowth of 1980s R&B, is afraid of Google. Artists with names like Z.E.R.O. and Mélonade stock the virtual record shelves of Bandcamp. Beyond the visibility of the biggest artists like Yung Bae or Saint Pepsi — the latter of which changed his name following a complaint from the brown bubbly giant, further playing up the genre’s secret society-like nature — finding a specific future funk song can be infuriating and confusing.
A search for future funk on YouTube is likely to yield a smattering of disorganized playlists unified only by their technicolor album covers. Sift through a few songs and you’ll find missing tracks, banished into oblivion by YouTube’s content identification system. (Newsflash, many future funk samples aren’t cleared.) And yet, amidst the pitched up rehashes of Anri and Armenta’s greatest hits, future funk’s disorganization feels frighteningly familiar, from its collage-style anime art to its disco-infused baselines.
Lo-fi hip-hop operates on a similar wavelength. Though notably downtempo compared to future funk’s high-speed churn, the brand of beats often labeled “music to study to” is familiar both in its sounds and visuals. The never ending loop of beats bouncing around channels like Chilled Cow are accompanied by fuzzy frames of a non-descript anime girl bobbing to an unending deluge of tunes. Recently, the internet has co-opted the “lo-fi anime girl,” transporting her room from its usual, blackened rainy void to Romanian villages or the Mykonian villas of Greece.
The Romanian Version of “lo-fi” girl, created by u/marccolo.
Though their sonic outputs differ, both lo-fi hip-hop and future funk embrace distinctly Japanese art styles. Musically, they are ancestral tributes, paying homage to a litany of genre’s and artists through sampling and indirect inspiration.
Visually, characters like “lo-fi anime girl” or Sailor Moon have become comforting, even unifying, reminders of music with digital origins. And while future funk has developed largely outside of the geographic boundaries of Japan, it still manages to capture a collective of personal experiences that meld together thanks to the unwavering power of escapism.
Lum Invades Future Funk
Future funk doesn’t exist without Japan’s economic boom in the 1980s. A rise in the entertainment sector ripened the markets for visual exports. Ahead of the success of Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli in the mid-80s, a number of other anime-production houses dove into Japan’s burgeoning animation industry. One show, Mamoru Oshii’s adaptation of Rumiko Takahashi’s manga Urusei Yatsura helped to lay claim to the sense of longing that fuels future funk.
The story follows Ataru, a hapless, lecherous high school student whose interstellar fate entangles him with the horned, bikini-wearing demon Lum Invader. A game of interspecies tag culminates in Lum’s affection toward Ataru — subsequently she moves in with him, laying the foundation for future romantic comedy anime in the process.
As influential as Urusei Yatsura was, the show’s greatest export is a two-second loop of Lum sandwiched between Ataru and Shinobu from the show’s intro, “Lum’s Love Song.”
The clip, popularized by the Artzie Music video Tanuki’s “BabyBabyNo夢,” which has been played 12 million times on YouTube and sits as the cover song for one of the most popular future funk playlists on the platform, plays into future funk’s prominent themes of escapism. The trio is surrounded by city lights and shooting stars as streaks of neon groove above a strawberry-vanilla dance floor. It’s simultaneously realistic and supernatural, the cityscape clashing with Lum’s horns protruding from her turquoise hair.
Like Sailor Moon, whose influence in future funk is at least in part owed to the genre’s musicians watching the show’s English broadcast in the 1990s as children, Lum has become a staple in future funk’s stylistic beginnings. She and her tiger-stripped go-go boots grace the unofficial covers of countless uploads. Couple that with Lum’s accessibility — the entire Urusei Yatsura series is available (again, unofficially) on YouTube — and you have a recipe for an endless reserve of music video fodder.
But anime’s presence in future funk visuals reaches beyond the inherent nostalgia of childhood television. As an art form, anime boarders on the edge of realism. Characters are grounded in reality — usually as high school students — while any number of supernatural phenomena befall them. That means it’s entirely possible for a cool, sunglasses sporting character to be illuminated by an iridescent interstellar sunset without batting an eye.
When it’s accompanied by lyrics about the never ending flow of time or flying away on an airplane of dreams, the anime imagery of future funk provides a whimsical backdrop for the genre’s club friendly tunes. Even as record companies and platform algorithms get wise to future funk’s audio copyright infringement, anime’s influence has remained, spawning reimaginings and original character artwork that keep the good times rolling. | https://medium.com/the-gleaming-sword/anime-and-the-familiarity-of-future-funk-4ae4704ec3fe | ['Brandon Johnson'] | 2020-10-07 01:13:22.874000+00:00 | ['Anime', 'Japan', 'Future Funk', 'Music', 'Internet Culture'] |
I blame my mom. | space (noun): a period of time — Merriam Webster
I blame my mom.
Am I being unfair? Disrespectful? Well, allow me to share parts of what my life was like growing up. Maybe then, some of you would understand why I feel like playing the blame game.
I was born in the mid-80s. Technology was largely still a dream, especially for a middle-class family from a developing country. We weren’t particularly poor, but if there was anything my brother and I wanted or asked of our parents, we knew there were only two likely answers: either “I’m sorry but we just don’t have the budget for it,” or “We’ll see.”
My childhood memories were simple but memorable. My brother and I grew up knowing what it was like to be loved and to feel secure at home. We didn’t go to sleep hungry, we had clothes, we had enough toys, I grew up around tons of books, and even had the privilege of attending private school.
Some of my earliest memories were of my mom teaching me how to read. I believe I can still recall how she looked so proud and happy when I read my first word: the label of the mattress I was stubbornly occupying while she was attempting to change the sheets. My mom put in a lot of effort into making nearly everything a learning opportunity. Puzzles were a given in my childhood. I grew up surrounded by books — some of which I still have to this day. I suppose the early lessons were mostly to prepare me for the admissions exam for nursery school.
Perhaps that’s where it all began.
space (noun): The distance from other people or things that a person needs in order to remain comfortable — Merriam Webster
My mom accompanied me to school for my first three years of formal education: nursery, kindergarten, then first grade. I’m not talking about simply being dropped off at school — my mom stayed in school to wait for me. Every time I’d be done with class, I knew for certain she’d be there to greet me, hug me, and then proceed to ask how my day went. She was always there.
When I reached second grade, my mom finally shifted more of her attention towards my younger brother. Yet, even as I started to finally board and ride school buses alone, my mom would always be there by the front door to see me off in the morning and again to welcome me home in the afternoon. Always there.
I once complained to some of the older girls who rode the bus with me about how I felt embarrassed by her constant presence. I was taken aback when one of those older students — who sometimes tried to tease me to the point of borderline bullying — actually pulled me aside to tell me how lucky I was that I at least had a parent who cared. I carried that moment with me for years whenever I felt like my mother was being a little too much: too protective, too worried, too fussy, too affectionate. I carry that moment with me still.
My mom went back to working in the office for a few years so our schedule in the household got a little crazier. My parents made dinner time some sort of holy hour. Every night, we’d gather around to eat, and my mom would ask how everyone’s day was. I swear some days we could see how exhausted she was, yet she’d push forward to spend that dinner time with us without fail. Years later, I think it’s what led to dinner time being such a loud affair among the four of us. Dinner time meant no phones on the table, holding actual conversations with each other, and debating over all sorts of topics. It was loud, but it was home. And mom was always there.
Years pass by and traditions were made and maintained. Sundays and Christmas holidays were for family and family alone. Holy week is reserved for staying home or going to church but definitely not for going on vacation. We sold my childhood house and rented apartments instead. The front door where my mom used to see me off and welcome me home changed numerous times. Just as our roles changed: some days I’d be the one to see her off when she’d leave much earlier for work, or I’d be the one to greet her by the door when she arrived later than everyone else.
space (noun): Physical space independent of what occupies it — Merriam Webster
Fast forward even further and I was much involved in my job and trying to build some semblance of a career. Maybe it was a gradual thing, but one day, I just realized my mother wasn’t as fastidious about seeing me off or welcoming me home. Some mornings she’d still be asleep, and at nights she’d be in this chair she seemingly claimed as her spot by the dining table. From memories by the front door, to a chair.
Cut to last year, the first day of lockdown due to the pandemic in my country. Mom came downstairs and took her favored spot, the favored chair. I was nearly done with breakfast as I had begun to work from home and had a Zoom meeting to attend in a few. Still, I lingered just a little longer at the table so I could chat with her.
My Zoom meeting started at 10:30 that morning and ended before quarter to 11.
By 12 noon, my mom was gone. Just like that.
space (noun): a blank area separating words or line — Merriam Webster
How does one move on from having so much of their life seemingly filled with the presence of one person in one moment and then have them taken away in the next?
I feel like there’s this vast expanse inside of me I can’t understand. My mom was my best friend. I felt like I didn’t need anyone else so long as I had her. She made me feel so comfortable, so content, so complacent with her presence and now, I have all of these spaces where she used to be and all these spaces in my head that are of her, her lessons, her influence, her voice, her mannerisms, her habits. She’s all there and she isn’t.
I want to blame my mom for occupying so much of my life that I can’t seem to get over the hole she left behind. I want to blame my mom for making me so used to her always being there. I want to blame her for setting me up to feel this way.
I want to blame her and yet, here I am afraid that as much as I dislike how too many memories can hurt, I also fear the day when the memories begin to fade. | https://medium.com/@believerofno1/i-blame-my-mom-be86208a852a | ['A. Gumapac'] | 2021-08-25 01:55:31.529000+00:00 | ['Mwc Space', 'Daughters', 'Mothers', 'Family'] |
ON THE NEW ‘SIMILAR TERMS’ FEATURE IN SHARE-OF-SEARCHING | 5 July 2021|Brands, Data Science, Insight, Search, Search trends, Share of Search
When you make a Google search, Google’s algorithms display ‘Related Searches’ at the bottom of the results page and a list of ‘People Also Search For’ terms that may appear on the right side of the page.
‘Related Searches’ are search terms related to the term that was searched for. They provide useful insight into the kind of information people are looking for related to a search; the questions they ask, and their interests and intent. However, there is no indication of the relative search volume of the related terms to each other or to the original search that was made. Nor is there any indication of the trend in search interest for the terms.
The ‘People Also Search For’ list shows Google-determined topics or products that are connected to the original search — another way that Google provides related queries that reflect the wider intent of the user. As with ‘Related Searches’, there is no indication of relative search volumes or trend in search interest for the list.
This week Croft Analytics has added a ‘Similar Terms’ feature to its Share-Of-Searching tool that shows both the relative level of search volume and trend over time for ‘Related Searches’ and the ‘People Also Search For’ list. Users can now enter a single search term to see the trend (back to 2004) in relative search volumes and share of search for the entered search term alongside ‘Related Searches’ terms and the ‘People Also Search For’ list. The results can also be filtered by country and date period.
Here is an example of an output from Similar Terms showing relative search volumes for a search term — in this case ‘Tesla’ — along with its ‘Related Searches’ and ‘People Also Search For’ terms.
The chart shows a 3X rise of global search interest in Tesla between January 2015 and June 2021, with big spikes in interest around the times of major Tesla launches and events. The chart also shows that the two largest similar terms to Tesla are Porsche and Lexus. There was also a large spike in interest for SpaceX in May 2020 (astronaut launch). Several of the similar terms have also become increasing popular in the last two yearsincluding NIO (Chinese electric vehicles), Tesla stock, Tesla price, and Tesla truck.
To see relative search volumes and trends in search interest for any search term, take a look at the ‘Similar Terms’ feature at https://www.shareofsearching.com
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
By Frank Harrison, Croft Analytics | https://medium.com/scientific-advertising/on-the-new-similar-terms-feature-in-share-of-searching-d7963aaa1a2 | ['Frank Harrison'] | 2021-07-05 10:13:10.779000+00:00 | ['Search', 'Marketing', 'Share Of Search', 'Search Trends', 'Data Science'] |
What Is a Domain Generation Algorithm (DGA)? | If you have been following the news in the world of Cybersecurity lately, you’ve probably seen, heard, or read a thing or two about SolarWinds, FireEye, or Microsoft amongst many others being targeted by an unknown threat actor. While not the first, this threat actor uses an interesting algorithm to generate sub-domains for its SUNBURST malware to pull down the next stage of execution on the target systems.
When an attacker implements a DGA, the result allows an attacker to avoid detection altogether or evade blocklists and IP blocking. Attackers can quickly switch domains, evade security practices and blocks, and makes it difficult to initiate domain seizures and takedowns, such as seen with Microsoft and TrickBot.¹ The DGAs are successful because the program attempts to beacon home for all of the randomly generated addresses, but the malware only needs to connect to one of them to be successful, meaning the attackers can quickly spin up domains and control panels.
A history of DGAs and their uses is pretty slim, but it is an interesting history, to say the least. The first malware family (known at least) to implement a domain generation algorithm is the Kraken family. In 2008, researchers discovered the Kraken malware evolved to include pseudo-random domains that the malware generated itself. ThreatExpert.com analyzed a sample of the Kraken malware, and it is available on its blog².
Domain Generation Algorithm from the Kraken Malware (ThreatExpert)
Walking through the assembly code shows that the domain is generated from a seeded algorithm which generates a complete URL with a random string comprised of vowels and consonants that almost mimic English grammar and word structure, due to the shift of characters. Once the random “word” is generated, it is then appended with a domain suffix and attempted to connect to the command and control (C2) server to receive its next set of instructions from the control panel. As the algorithm was seeded and able to be completely reverse-engineered from the malicious binary, researchers at ThreatExpert created a list of all possible domains that could be generated by the algorithm.
Examples of this DGA include:
zaljljiebm[.]yi[.]org
xdpdrrzrtmy[.]dynserv[.]com
vnlxpriemei[.]mooo[.]ctom
tqorwrzimvsz[.]dyndns[.]org
saklurivevc[.]yi[.]org
qdofarzixnna[.]mooo[.]com
gnkhyrimpn[.]com
and many more.
Another example of malware implementing DGA methods in its code is the Zeus malware family³. Zeus is a botnet that targets banks and financial institutions. With the botnet being spread via emails and infected websites, the botnet can operate virtually undetectable to the common user and lack of an EDR or proper anti-virus or malware solution. The reason it is able to remain virtually undetectable is due, in part, to the DGA scheme that is implemented in the malware. As it is randomly generated, the malware attempts numerous random domains until it receives a proper response back and then proceeds with the next stage or commands from the C2 server. The actual function that the Zeus malware, specifically Zeus.V3, uses is comprised of the following: one of the six TLDs of .biz, .com, .net, .org, .ru, or .info and a 33–45 character pseudo-random string of alphanumeric characters placed before the TLD that was selected⁴. Similar to Microsoft, the FBI attempted to take down C2 servers and domains used with the Zeus malware; however, due to the servers addresses being randomly generated, the attackers can rely solely on the .ru TLD domain until they can generate more of the other 5 TLDs used in the past, assuming the FBI is able to seize all of the others. Then, it is back to step 1 for the FBI and attempting to stop the malware and its operations.
In more recent uses, the threat actor behind the supply chain compromise of SolarWind’s Orion platform created quite the DGA algorithm for C2 communications. An example of the SUNBURST DGA algorithm produces a domain such as:
04r0rndp6aom5fq5g6p1[.]appsync-api[.]us-west-2[.]avsvmcloud[.]com
In a recent discovery, the RedDrip team was able to begin to decode the domain generation algorithm used in the SolarWinds compromise. It is a little more complicated than the Kraken malware’s DGA. The domain generation employs two different methods for generating the domains.
The first method consists of a few main parts. The main parts are the unique GUID, which is a hash of the hostname and MAC address of the current host, and a payload in the malware that is a simple alphabet substitution and shift encoding of the hostname that also employs the use of a substitution table (“rq3gsalt6u1iyfzop572d49bnx8cvmkewhj”) that shifts the characters 4 from wherever the given character is found on the table. This substitution pattern is similar to a basic cryptography technique called a “Caesar Cipher”⁵, except it also employs a substitution table as well as the shift.
The second method consists of the unique GUID mentioned before and a Base64 encoding scheme with another hardcoded key for its custom alphabet (“ph2eifo3n5utg1j8d94qrvbmk0sal76c”). The malware decides which scheme to use based on the victim hosts’ domain name, and whether it contains lower-case letters (first method) or upper-case letters (second method)⁶.
As seen in the algorithms exampled in this post, there are quite a few ways to generate a domain that can be used for C2 communications and much more. DGA can be simply implemented such as the Kraken malware or much more complex such as the SUNBURST malware which was recently discovered. There is no limit to what the algorithm can generate, given the uniqueness and speed at which these algorithms can generate domain names and URLs. | https://medium.com/swlh/what-is-a-domain-generation-algorithm-dga-44319aabcca7 | ['Jacob Latonis'] | 2020-12-24 00:55:32.289000+00:00 | ['Cryptography', 'Cybersecurity', 'Russia', 'Cyberattack', 'News'] |
Prose: Not A Girl | CW: Anorexia
I lose sleep trying to outsmart it, I sweat trying to outrun it. I don’t stand a chance against it — a starving thing will always find its prey. It pierces you with beady eyes that pop out of its head, it flashes you a gaping, cracked-lipped smile, baring its browning teeth and sallow gums. Its gaunt, emaciated body is covered in dark and grisly hair. When it finds you it waves you a morbid hello with spindly fingers and yellow nails. It moves more stealthily than you or I ever could.
I don’t know what it is that’s chasing me, but it’s definitely not a girl. First it was only a memory, one that I could repress, then it started to invade my dreams, now it poisons all my waking moments.
I walk through my school, and it’s there.
I open my phone, and it’s there.
I look in the mirror — it’s there.
It’s always a step ahead of me. It stalks me in time with the drumming of my heart in a deadly, delicate dance. It knows me intimately, far below my surface — I suspect it’s jealous of my insides. It claws at them as the void inside its hollow body deepens.
I desperately want to make it make sense.
Whatever this creature is, it should be dead.
Its muscles should have collapsed.
It should have frozen solid.
Its bones should have cracked and shattered.
Its brittle body should disintegrate at the slightest touch.
I’m starting to think its fragility is the only thing keeping it alive. Some people don’t see what I see (lots of boys my age have a wild attraction to this thing. They see weakness and therefore still see the girl).
I want out of this predatory foxtrot.
I don’t think the scary, starving thing can talk — not in a way that matters — but the girl could. Her voice was grating but her words consumed me. Sometimes when I look in the mirror, I can still hear her say it — I’m just not hungry. And I believed her.
There’s so much meat on my bones that I look at my reflection and often wince with shame. It’s not the monster I see that haunts me — it’s the girl I couldn’t save. | https://medium.com/@abigailnordan/prose-not-a-girl-108c9130cee2 | ['Abigail Nordan'] | 2020-12-24 22:27:48.481000+00:00 | ['Conversations', 'Friendship', 'High School', 'Loss', 'Recovery'] |
Where Did All Those Drones Come From? | Jim Walker shows off one of his experimental Sonic Control Gliders in Oregon in the 1940s.
One of my earliest memories — I must have been five or six at the time — was when my father decided it was time to pass along his lifelong love of all things that fly, and bought us a Guillow’s Javelin. My brother and I were absolutely not capable of assembling the delicate balsa wood frame, not to mention attaching the diaphanous green and yellow tissue. So really it was more of an exercise in Dad building, and us watching, but the smell of the dope on the tissue was intoxicating. More so than even I realized at the time.
“Picking dollar bill-sized shards of balsa wood out of the grass just so you can glue them together again teaches you something really valuable about loss and recovery and never, ever giving up.”
We took the finished product out beside the Trans-Canada highway in suburban Montréal, wound up the rubber motor and watched, transfixed, as it curled into the summer sky. Seeing the translucent, green and yellow profile against the sun is an image as vivid today as it was back then. I was totally, completely and utterly hooked. That it still holds the same fascination 50 years later means, in my mind, it is one hell of a hobby. Or maybe it just takes that long to finally get good at it.
Later in my youth, having spent a dusty, hot Vancouver summer mowing lawns, my brother and I, with our parents help, finally managed to scrape together the money to buy the kit of our dreams — a ‘Boss T’ sailplane along with a Heathkit radio control system. We built it together in our shared room and it took seemingly forever to finish. We finally took the results of our year’s labour to the flying field and almost instantly transformed it back into a kit trying to recover from a bad launch. Picking dollar bill-sized shards of balsa wood out of the grass just so you can glue them together again teaches you something really valuable about loss and recovery and never, ever giving up.
We tied our fair share of tissue bags of flour to our model airplanes and tried to figure out ways of dropping them off. We loved to see that little puff of ‘smoke’ as they hit the ground. So it didn’t come as any great shock when a couple of decades later, the radio controlled airplanes of my youth were reborn, writ large in matte grey paint, air force markings and given menacing names like Reaper and Predator. First they only had that ominous, Orwellian, unblinking, all-seeing eye but it was really only a matter of time before they started strapping Hellfire missiles on them. Radio controlled warriors rarely seen or heard before they made their presence felt.
“A drone…more accurately known as a multi-rotor, is what you get when you take an airplane and remove as much of the hardware as you can.”
Suddenly realizing, way too late, I had unwittingly let yet another fantastic career option slip through my fingers, I visited with a Professor at the local university who specialized in the development of what are, no doubt about it, just sophisticated radio controlled planes. His office was a sunny, beige version of J.F. Sebastian’s damp, nightmarish lab from Bladerunner. The contact folder on his desktop was tantalizingly opened to the very card of the same local hobby shop I frequented. Entrails of various projects lay scattered around his office, and I remember thinking, “wow, if I had known I could do this for a living, I would have stayed in school.”
A drone, or at least one kind of drone more accurately known as a multi-rotor, is what you get when you take an airplane and remove as much of the hardware as you can. They are flying software, more than anything else. This also makes them subject to all of the frailties of software that we hear about with increasing frequency. There’s a reason that commercial aircraft can land safely after losing great chunks of their primary structure: they are built like tanks out of really tough stuff, manned by humans with an ability to reason and a will to live.
A drone, on the other hand, is subject of the whims of the misplaced comma. Literally, not getting the code right at least most of the time could be the difference between a drone getting sucked into a jet engine, or not. It could be the difference between landing safely out of harm’s way or plowing into the assembled, suddenly dumbfounded crowd which it then proceeds to devour with whirling Kevlar knives. I think of these contingencies with complete horror and know that statistically it is really just a matter of time before they, and worse things, begin to happen.
And I’m a fan.
The inevitable reaction, of course, is to try and put this genie back in the bottle. Surprisingly, for a country that routinely turns on itself when debating the rights and freedoms associated with other technologies, the US federal government recently mandated the registration of all drones over 250 grams — a little over a half a pound. That is without a significant whiff of opposition to what, on the face of it, is a fairly sound idea. However, it does seem just a tweak shy of ironic that if there are two guys in a field, one with a drone and one with a 12 gauge trying to blast it out of the sky, the guy with the transmitter in his hands is the more likely of the two to spend the night in jail.
What’s bad about the idea is that it does not distinguish even a little bit between the 40 pound, carbon fiber, flying Chop-o-matic and an ever so slightly larger version of that Guillow’s Javelin. We are now in the realm of unintended consequences. With our desire to quickly rein in what we have unleashed, the kids and their folks standing in the field on a summer’s day with their model airplane will be the baby getting turfed out with the proverbial bath water.
“What’s bad…is that it does not distinguish…between the 40 pound, carbon fiber, flying Chop-o-matic and an ever so slightly larger version of that Guillow’s Javelin.”
At first I thought perhaps — just maybe — reason and good common sense would prevail. I hoped that 50 years after my personal ‘first flight’ I would still be able to wander down to the local park and steer around my 21st century version of the Guillow’s Javelin without fear of doing hard time. Then I thought of the guy on YouTube who, with what is seemingly the 21st century version of the flour bomb, attached a real gun and flamethrower to a drone and I thought…nah, ain’t going to happen.
It was entirely unexpected when just recently, as midlife grinds on, I found myself craving the inimitable smell of balsa wood, tissue paper and dope with its attendant slightly narcotic, why-do-you-think-they-call-it-dope effect. I also think of the smell of freshly cut grass, families, summer evenings and rubber powered stick-and-tissue airplanes curling through the sky and wonder if, like the days of my youth, they are lost forever.
©2016 Terence C. Gannon | https://medium.com/the-selected-curve/where-did-all-those-drones-come-from-90f6b960851 | ['Terence C. Gannon'] | 2020-01-10 22:15:51.973000+00:00 | ['Aircraft', 'Drones', 'Aviation', 'Aerospace', 'Regulation'] |
I am Possessed | When I met him, I fell into a hole
I did not realize it then
I was too busy being in love
The hole had no bottom
I felt like Alice
I was in wonderland
As I fell deeper and deeper
I was smitten by his attention
By his passionate love
I loved how he loved me
How much he loved me
I loved his interrogation and desperation
I misunderstood his intention
He did not love me
He owned me
I was the object of his desire
That’s all I was
An object
With him, I forgot who I was
I became the object he wanted me to be
His belonging | https://psiloveyou.xyz/i-am-possessed-8755ea45cebd | ['Anu Anniah'] | 2020-12-27 13:03:01.139000+00:00 | ['Relationships', 'Life Lessons', 'Poetry Sunday', 'Love', 'Life'] |
11 Effective Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep | Babies sleep a lot. Unfortunately, sleep doesn’t come out naturally to them. Putting a baby down to sleep requires a lot of experimentation.
What are the 11 effective tips to help your baby fall asleep?
Learn Scientifically Proven Method to Get Your Baby to Sleep
You might be interested in following these sleep tips that could help you and your baby to get a good night’s sleep.
1. Try a dream feed. Offer your sleeping child one last feed before going to bed. This might help him have a little bit of extra sleep.
2. Keep things moving. Help your little one get to sleep by cuddling him as you are gently rocking him at the same time. Swinging cribs will also help babies to settle down at night.
Learn Scientifically Proven Method to Get Your Baby to Sleep
3. Do not drink too much caffeine. If you are breastfeeding, taking too much caffeine can affect your baby’s sleep. The best thing that a mother can do is to cut out caffeine altogether or limit your intake.
4. Check for sleep signs. Babies communicate tiredness through various behaviors. If your baby is losing interest in the things around him, going quite, and fussing, they might be feeling sleepy. Put him to bed when you notice these cues.
5. Be a feed change master. Change your baby’s nappy while he is feeding and keep the supplies near your bed.
6. Differentiate day and night. Teach your child about day and night. Keep the lights low and the voices hushed during night time even when your baby is wide awake.
7. Don’t mind the time. It is very true that night wake-ups are not fun but they won’t last forever. If mothers are stressed during night wake-ups, your baby might pick up on this and will feel anxious to sleep. Try a positive approach and enjoy this extra time with your loving baby.
Learn Scientifically Proven Method to Get Your Baby to Sleep
8. Practice bedtime rituals. A bedtime routine will help your baby understand what is coming next. It will also help to calm your baby and prepare him for sleep. Bedtime rituals such as baths each night can help your baby feel relaxed. A relaxing baby massage, dim lights, and calming music are great ways to relax your baby before bed.
9. Sleep together. It means that you have to sleep closer to your baby. If the mother and the baby sleep together, there is a bigger chance that the mother could get more sleep.
10. Swaddle safely. Safely swaddling your baby could help your baby to fall asleep. It is very important to swaddle your baby safely.
11. Go with the music. To help your baby settle at the end of the day, try playing a calm music. While they are in your womb, babies are surrounded by noises of your body such as your heartbeat. White noise or the rhythmic beat of the heart can soothe your baby.
A final word
Keeping your baby safe while sleeping is the most important thing to consider. When it comes to babies and sleeping, parents must remember that babies are not designed to sleep alone. While getting your baby sleep through the night takes some effort and will power, if you try to follow these tips, you will learn to appreciate every single moment that you spend with your baby.
Learn Scientifically Proven Method to Get Your Baby to Sleep
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com | https://medium.com/@cathyjlester/11-effective-ways-to-help-your-baby-sleep-506563a6e6ac | ['Cathy Lester'] | 2021-04-19 11:10:13.136000+00:00 | ['New Parents', 'Childcare', 'Newborn', 'Baby Sleep', 'Parenting Advice'] |
Buy Zilliqa in India — Step by Step Guide for Beginners | The complete guide for beginners — How to buy Zilliqa (ZIL) in India?
What is Zilliqa?
Zilliqa is a “next-generation high throughput blockchain platform. Zilliqa is a faster, more advanced blockchain. Bitcoin was the first generation of cryptocurrency, platforms like Ethereum were the second, and newer platforms like IOTA and Zilliqa, which are the third.
Third-generation platforms are trying to solve some of the problems that have affected older cryptocurrencies. The main problem Zilliqa is trying to solve is scalability. Zilliqa hopes to solve the problem of scalability with a system called sharding which I will discuss in the next section. Zilliqa is the first platform to use sharding which caused a lot of excitement in the crypto community. The excitement leads to an unplanned Zilliqa ICO in 2017.
Key elements of Zilliqa include:
1. Scilla
Zilliqa is powered by the first peer-reviewed and safe-by-design smart contract language called Scilla.
2. Verification
Using functional programming design principles (as in OCaml) allows it to be more friendly towards static checks and formal verification.
3. Hybrid consensus mechanism (HCM)
The first layer of Zilliqa’s HCM verifies the identity of nodes. This stops Sybil attacks from happening.
How to Buy Zilliqa (ZIL) in India?
Depending on your location, sign up with BuyUcoin.com to set up a custom buy, and benefit from your holdings. Purchase ZIL using INR and join the Widget Program now! ZIL is Now Available on the BuyUcoin Widget! Buying ZIL on BuyUcoin is now an even more user-friendly and seamless experience!
Step by Step Guide For Beginners, How to Buy Zilliqa in India?
BuyUcoin is an exchange that provides buying and to sell Zilliqa in India as well as other cryptocurrencies. Below is a step by step guide to buy Zilliqa via BuyUcoin:
Step 1- Open a Digital Wallet
A digital wallet is where you hold your cryptocurrencies and interacts with others via blockchain technology. There are many providers of digital wallets, however, it is important to make a deep research before you decide which one is the best for you. Currently, the most popular digital wallets provider is BuyUcoin.
Step 2- Register & Open an Account
Once you enter buyucoin/signup, register and open an account that can provide you with their service. Select the type of your account either individual or corporate. Select your country and agree on the terms and conditions register your account for crypto trading.
Registered account on buyucoin for buy Zilliqa in India.
Step 3- KYC
KYC and AML are mandatory for Indian jurisdiction. Your data is saved and encrypted and is stored in Indian data centers only. You will be redirected to a different URL to complete your KYC. Please be ready with your recent selfie. You will need the images of your pan card. You will need the mobile number with you which is linked with your Aadhar.
Step 4- Google 2 Step Verification
To use 2FA you will have to install an Authenticator app on your smartphone or tablet. Once enabled you will be asked to provide an additional six-digit one-time password along with your email and password every time you login to your BF account. This works only when signing in with email and password. When using Facebook or LinkedIn you can enable 2FA with your social media provider settings.
Enable google 2 Step Verification to secure your account.
Step 5-Add Bank details
Add the credentials of your bank name, holder account name followed by account number, and IFSC code details.
Connect your Bank Account to BuyUcoin Wallet.
Trade Zilliqa
During the Zilliqa ICO, the price of each token was0.0038 USD. Today, the price of each Zilliqa is about 0.085 USD. This means that the Zilliqa price is more than twenty times higher than it was at the time of the Zilliqa ICO, six months ago. The total supply of Zilliqa is capped at 12.6 billion.
More than7.35 billion tokens are in circulation already. It’s possible that the price of Zilliqa could go up even higher when its total supply is in circulation and after its main net has gone live. Zilliqa is the 27th biggest cryptocurrency on the market so it will be very interesting to see where the platform is ranked after its launch.
Zilliqa is a digital asset, which has many eyes on it, as most of the market experts are eyeing on investing in it. Trading Beasts predicted the price of Zilliqa for 5 years time frame. They have mentioned that by 2020, they might reach $1.15 and by 2022, it might even touch the 5 USD mark.
Can I Use Regular Money to Buy Zilliqa?
Yes, you can buy Zilliqa using INR through the BuyUcoin cryptocurrency. Create a free account with which you can buy, sell, send, receive, and store Zilliqa. Transfer INR to your BuyUcoin wallet using one of the 8 supported payment methods, including Credit Card and much more. Buy or sell over 50 digital assets and pay a maximum trading fee of 0.25%.
Getting a Zilliqa Wallet
A crypto wallet is essentially software that stores public or private keys and engages with a particular blockchain platform to enable users to send, receive, and trade. Download any trusted wallet with Zilliqa (ZIL) supports bitcoin and other crypto tokens & blockchain wallets Only you have control over your funds. Receive, Send, Store, and exchange your cryptocurrency right in the mobile interface.
Zilliqa Exchanges
$ZIL is the token that powers the Zilliqa blockchain. The tokens can be used for smart contract execution, to reward miners, to cover transaction fees, and more. Zilliqa (ZIL) to Bitcoin (BTC) Exchange / HitBTC.
Zilliqa might grow exponentially in terms of its partnership projects. It might increase in partnerships with more events, where it would also gain its exposure socially across the world. Zilliqa might work towards increasing more transactions per second and might even give competition to the major cryptocurrencies.
Zilliqa might even work towards migrating from Ethereum based blockchain to its own blockchain. It is might cover up getting enlisted in the major exchanges in the world by 2020. By the end of 2020, ZIL might reach $0.361, which will be a major step for ZIL, in stepping up.
Zilliqa Mining
You can mine for short periods of time to cut massive energy costs while paving the way for a green and sustainable future. You can switch from other coins to mine which $ZIL automatically for just 1 minute out of every 1–2 hours while having constant mining costs and receiving high aggregated fees.
You receive rewards based on the contributions of valid signatures, allowing for a much more equal distribution of tokens. Patty’s request is encrypted and mixed with transaction information from other users by special nodes called miners. The information is grouped into a block.
Miners now race each other to guess the code number which is given to the completed block by the Bitcoin protocol. Zilliqa’s test net already match’s Visa’s transaction speeds, beating legacy blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Its sharding solution uses a hybrid PoW consensus model for more efficient mining.
Thanks to Zilliqa’s consensus mechanism, the ecological footprint of mining has considerably been reduced. Only 1 minute out of every 2–3 hours is needed to mine ZIL, allowing one to dual-mine other chains at the same time.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I think that Zilliqa is a good investment. They have solved the problem of scaling with sharding and they have no competitors at the moment. The team behind Zilliqa are all computer scientists PhDs and they understand the technology of blockchain very deeply. | https://medium.com/buyucoin-talks/buy-zilliqa-in-india-step-by-step-guide-for-beginners-ad325157d6a9 | ['Rinkesh Jha'] | 2020-10-02 12:55:08.289000+00:00 | ['India', 'Buy Zilliqa', 'Investment', 'Beginners Guide', 'How To'] |
Aprochevar las oportunidades de UX que nos dejó el COVID | Learn more. Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Learn more
Make Medium yours. Follow the writers, publications, and topics that matter to you, and you’ll see them on your homepage and in your inbox. Explore | https://medium.com/conversaciones-de-producto/aprochevar-las-oportunidades-de-ux-que-nos-dej%C3%B3-el-covid-63aae5d926d0 | ['Carolina Torres'] | 2020-12-29 17:20:24.394000+00:00 | ['UX Research', 'Toolkit', 'Cx', 'UX'] |
Valentines | Valentines
Poems From The Porch
photo by John Cameron on Unsplash.com
Be alert for valentine’s today,
for they are everywhere dispersed.
No subterfuge or camouflage obscures them,
readily displayed for the attentive heart to receive.
You will find them in puppy persistence and
kitty kisses,
in sunlit flowers and
sky, vivid blue.
They may be felt in tender caresses and
hearty handshakes,
smiling gazes, and
gentle words.
Here and there they are seen
in dishes washed and
clothes folded,
faucets mended and
gardens tilled.
And in the silence
intentionally cherished,
each note read says,
“I love you.” | https://medium.com/a-love-centered-life/valentines-391dee8eaec5 | ['Ani Vidrine'] | 2020-11-23 16:15:35.160000+00:00 | ['Poetry', 'Personal Growth', 'Mindfulness', 'Love', 'Gratitude'] |
The Red Sea | In early June of 2014, I was able to spend some time in Egypt. While I was not able to see the ancient city of Thebes or the pyramids at Giza, the diving off the coast of Hurgada is a gem that Egypt holds beneath the surface. While Aqaba, Jordan has one of the best wrecks I have been able to explore, Egypt by far had the most spectacular coral formations I have ever seen.
One interesting aspect of underwater photography is that often times the photographs (when using a strobe and/or shooting in RAW) show a more vibrant world than you actually see during the dive because of the loss of red light underwater. | https://medium.com/projectinkfish/the-red-sea-887748f92161 | ['Curious Inkfish'] | 2017-01-16 02:53:52.992000+00:00 | ['Diving', 'Photography', 'Egypt', 'Travel', 'Travel Photography'] |
Interview with developer evangelist Christian Heilmann | Christian Heilmann, international developer evangelist at Yahoo, travels the world on a mission to make the web a better place. Talking to Oliver Lindberg, he calls for more sharing and says innovation isn’t just down to rock star developers
This article originally appeared in issue 187 of .net magazine in 2009 and was republished at www.creativebloq.com.
There’s no denying that last year the wheels were coming off at Yahoo. A significant number of people were laid off, others were voluntarily leaving the company in droves. But there’s one man in particular who stayed and, seemingly unperturbed, carried on with what he does best: spreading the word of the open, accessible web all over the world and helping developers to make the web better. This man is Christian Heilmann.
Christian’s official job title is ‘international developer evangelist’, which means he travels around the globe to meet developers, talks at conferences, helps people start their own BarCamps and gets feedback on Yahoo products. He then comes back, gives internal tech talks and reports back on what he’s learned and where the market is going. “I do the same thing as a Jeremy Keith or a Douglas Bowman but I just do it with the backup of a big company,” Christian explains. “I could have done it as a freelancer but I think it would be a shame to leave a company where I’ve got such a great internal network and I know a lot of people.”
The same old faces
One thing Christian has noticed on his travels around the conference circuit is that a lot of events have turned into big back-patting exercises, always featuring the same speakers. “I see people coming up with the coolest new CSS effects and the coolest new layouts for their blogs,” he says. “But I think we should stop profiling ourselves. It’s time we look at the things that take up our precious time, such as bank websites — there’s not a single one that has good usability and yet they’re what we use day to day. I come back from a conference and go to our own internal system to log my expenses and that’s two hours wasted because the usability is completely off the mark. But whenever I talk to other standardistas and suggest going to the likes of Oracle or Documentum — the people that build enterprise level systems — and making them understand the benefits of standards, the answer is always that we’d never reach those guys and why should we bother? I think it’s time we bother. Talking to each other about how cool our blogs are isn’t going to change the world. If we want to get rid of IE6 and other older browsers, we have to get rid of all the systems that are dependent on it.”
“It’s time we look at the things that take up our precious time, such as bank websites — there’s not a single one that has good usability and yet they’re what we use day to day”
Another problem Christian Heilmann highlights is the huge gap between the development world and the accessibility world. “My biggest challenge this year is to make people who aren’t techies talk to techies in a language that each party understands. The people who need and benefit most from the open web don’t understand it because us techies are too much into our own lingo. What the hell’s a ‘password anti-pattern’, for example?!
“We have to understand that nobody needs rock stars any more. Nobody needs technical guys that come up with cool solutions that nobody uses. It’s about making things work and explaining them in layman’s terms, so people can benefit from it. I’m a big fan of microformats, for example, but I have yet to see the killer application for it.”
‘Rock stars’ in the web development world are one of Christian’s bugbears. In his opinion it should be more about teamwork than about relying on one expert. When Christian Heilmann started at Yahoo about three years ago his boss wanted to build one of the best web development teams in the world. “We assembled a lot of people,” he remembers, “but we made the mistake of assembling far too many good people, because a team has to be not only rock stars. You can’t just put rock stars together and hope something happens. A team has to consist of lead developers, rock stars and junior developers who can learn from these people and give them some breathing space. There’s no need for HTML experts. It should be a team that knows about it, rather than having a really cool rock star web developer sitting in the corner who burns himself out within half a year.”
That’s why Christian thinks the end of Brickhouse, Yahoo’s idea incubator, doesn’t signal the end of innovation at Yahoo. “It’s a shame it got closed, but innovation is much more than just having a specialist department for it. Being a developer at the Yahoo Developer Network, I’m part of the team that looks after innovation. To me it happens by fostering internally and giving people time to build things. Microsoft does a lot of good research, Adobe has a lot of good stuff coming out of its labs, but you never see these things go live because they’re just proof of concepts and then they’re not going anywhere. Now’s the time for the geeks in the trenches to stand up and show they can be as innovative as those specialist departments. Chinese developers, for example, are stunning but they’re not the poster children of innovation. They do their work and are very pragmatic about it.” | https://medium.com/the-lindberg-interviews/interview-with-developer-evangalist-christian-heilmann-d2439aabc7ad | ['Oliver Lindberg'] | 2016-07-26 13:30:51.160000+00:00 | ['Accessibility', 'Hacking', 'Microsoft', 'Tech', 'Web Development'] |
It’s December 26th. Now what? | One of my favorite scenes in The Holiday is after Cameron Diaz’s character arrives at Rosehill Cottage. Forcefully stuffing her coat away in the armoire (“Cute dress”), and stowing her suitcase under the bed, she stands back, sighs, and asks into the void “okay, now what?”
This sums up my feelings on the day after Christmas. Okay, December 26th, now what?
9 months in to a global pandemic and I’ve figured out how to live inside a hermetically-sealed bubble, but 31 years and I still can’t figure out what I’m supposed to be doing the day after Christmas.
Do I take the decorations down? Leave them up till 2021? Have a glass of wine and some leftovers, or get a jump on fitness resolutions with green tea and celery?
This is the no-mans land between Christmas and New Years, where we ask, “what day is it?” Followed by “does it even matter?”
But this routine sounds all too familiar…we’ve been asking these questions since March. Is December 26th just another less-merry day in the quarantine world?
I have big self-improvement plans for January; and you may too. What’s stopping us from starting them now? January isn’t magical. But, I’m not ready yet.
Maybe, after an unprecedented year, a month of holiday prep, and a day (or days) full of coming and going and cooking and cleaning and family and zooming and shopping and prepping, December 26th is meant to be relished like a lazy Saturday morning. | https://medium.com/@samantha-rohman/one-of-my-favorite-scenes-in-the-holiday-is-after-cameron-diazs-character-arrives-at-rosehill-64494a36cf09 | ['Samantha Rohman'] | 2020-12-27 00:08:51.033000+00:00 | ['December 26', 'New Years Resolutions', 'Wellness Tips', 'Healthy Lifestyle', 'Wellbeing'] |
B2B Sales Data: The Key to Smart Selling | While most business processes over the years have witnessed massive transformations in both their operational structures and day-to-day activities, sales remain an outlier that’s still mostly done the same way as over a decade ago. Take a list of names and phone numbers and start calling each of them until you find someone interest in buying your product.
That said, there is a better way, smart selling, so to speak that has emerged in recent years and gaining popularity by the day. But before we get into many details of smart selling and the role B2B data plays, it is worth taking a look at the overall process.
Hard Selling
Traditionally, successful selling has always been considered a function of brute force. That is, the more calls you make, the more appointments you will set and by extension, the more deals you will close. In fact, many organizations measure the sales productivity of their sales reps based on the number of calls they make. Even marketing people build large target lists of tens of thousands of contacts to shoot emails and are often happy with abysmal CTRs of 2–3%
This rise of CRMs further makes managing such large volumes of contacts simple and efficient giving little incentives to sales and marketing professionals to refine their process. After all, if you can easily segment and send a hundred thousand emails every day, why would you send any less!
Embrace Smart Selling
If there is one thing that people hate more than receiving unsolicited calls and emails, it receiving them over and over again. While most businesses continue to sell hard, some have quietly moved away to a more reasonable and effective strategy. Tactics like Account-based Marketing, that forego the traditional obsession with scale and focus on precision, have become massively popular due to their higher effectiveness and returns.
The philosophy of smart selling is pretty simple- instead of operating at scale and trying to market and sell to everyone, it much more efficient and productive if targeted marketing and warm calling are used. It’s like instead of using a wide net to catch whatever’s in the water, a hook is used with an optimum bet to catch the most desired fish.
The process itself is relatively straightforward:
An ICP is built based on market research and product specifications
2. A target list is built based on that ICP
3. Detailed information is gathered for each of the target companies including all the decision-makers
4. They are reached out with personalized emails and content
5. Finally, warm calls are made to push for conversion
As you might expect, this kind of methodical and measured approach has much better conversion rates and overall ROI than simply marketing to everybody.
B2B Sales Data: The Key Ingredient
While smart selling works exceptionally well compared to traditional methods, it nonetheless faces a critical problem- the pain of acquiring data. All the steps mentioned earlier- building ICP, target lists, market research, finding decision-makers, etc require an incredible amount of research time and it might take months preparing for each campaign. Unless of course, all that B2B sales data is served to you on a platter.
This is what sales intelligence is really about. It is based on the premise that sales and marketing professionals should work on strategies and tactical issues while assets like data and intelligence should simply be sourced from reliable providers.
Take SalesIntel for example, it’s a sales intelligence platform that offers account and contact data along with buying and intent intelligence. This means, once you put together your ICP, you can simply use their portal to get all the requisite data and intelligence to immediately kickstart the outreach process thus saving countless hours of research time that ultimately reflects in better productivity and ROI. | https://medium.com/@salesintel/b2b-sales-data-the-key-to-smart-selling-ef1b71ca02e4 | [] | 2020-04-26 10:59:23.849000+00:00 | ['B2b Sales', 'B2b Data', 'B2b Lead Generation', 'B2B'] |
The Bored Ape Yacht Club Low-down | They, the Bored Ape Yacht Club came, saw, and conquered the NFT space literally!
In just eight months, the club flipped the CryptoPunks in floor price.
So, what do I mean by floor price? Well, it’s the lowest selling price of an NFT in a marketplace.
More on that, the flipping happened this December 2021. The BAYC floor price was $215,350 (53.9 ETH) while CryptoPunks' was $210,515 (52.69 ETH).
Photo courtesy of The Block Crypto
Ha-ha, it’s a case of the OG vs. the youngen’.
The year 2022 ain’t ready!
Both BAYC and CryptoPunks boast of 10,000 peerless collectibles housed in the Ethereum blockchain.
Without a doubt, the NFT community is torn between the two; the Bored Ape Yacht Club and the CryptoPunks.
So What is BAYC?
Simply put, it’s a collection of 10,000 collectibles (Bored Ape NFTs) bundled on the Ethereum blockchain. With them, you can access:
• Members' only benefits
• Collaborative Graffiti Boards
• Future perks via roadmap activation
Interestingly, you’ll never find any duplicate Apes. The programs producing them are explicitly set to prevent such from happening.
The collections are ERC-721 tokens.
Who is Behind BAYC?
Four incredible brains came together and coined this NFT project. They are:
1. Gargamel
2. Gordon Goner
3. Emperor Tomato Ketchup
4. No Sass
But remember, those are just pseudonyms. The paparazzi need to up their game! I mean, the NFT community deserves better!
The Most Expensive BAYC NFT?
At the moment, BAYC#8817 is the most expensive NFT in their collection. It sold for $3.4 million—a record price.
Adding to that, it was the first sale on Sotheby’s metaverse art platform.
The BAYC#8817 was touted as “historical” due to its rarity (gold fur characteristic).
UPDATE: The MEGA MUTANT SERUM is now the most expensive NFT in the BAYC collection. It sold for $3.7 million (999 ETH).
Photo courtesy of HYPEBEAST
Previously, the record price of a single Bored Ape was $2.9 million (740 ETH).
Records are destined to be broken! So I expect more of these in 2022.
What’s Next for BAYC?
Without a doubt, it has been an explosive year for the club. Considering it’s a debut year for them.
From attracting the likes of Steph Curry to flipping the CryptoPunks, the BAYC are indeed a force to be reckoned with in the NFT space.
Seeing this NFT craze sliding into 2022, much is expected from them!
We, the NFT community expects them to “secure the bag” (Dj Khaled’s voice) and dethrone the CryptoPunks. But is it possible?
A big YES. I mean, they have the HYPE. IF capitalized, the Crown is theirs to LOSE.
Check out their beautiful roadmap. And remember, there is always a “new kid on the block” who gate-crushes parties.
So, is that new kid, Bored Ape Yacht Club?
RELATED: How People Make Easy Money Investing in NFTs | https://medium.com/@stephenmwitawerema/nft-the-bored-ape-yacht-club-low-down-e2d890ca085b | ['Stephen Mwita Werema'] | 2022-01-30 14:32:46.156000+00:00 | ['Bored Ape Yacht Club', 'Cryptocurrency', 'Nft Collectibles', 'Nftcommunity', 'Nft'] |
Time-lapse heat maps with Folium | The idea of writing this step-by-step came from an exploratory analysis of the New York City arrest data. Working on a Data Science project, I decided to test some spatial visualization python libraries with a dataset chunk. So I tried to create a time-lapse heat map with the robbery arrests in New York. As we will see, this kind of product can provide some valuable insights.
NYC ARRESTS DATASET
The dataset used can be found at this link:
Let's summarize it:
The dataset contains more than 4.000.000 rows and the columns below:
ARREST_KEY: Randomly generated persistent ID for each arrest
ARREST_DATE: Exact date of arrest for the reported event
PD_CD: Three-digit internal classification code (more granular than Key Code)
PD_DESC: Description of internal classification corresponding with PD code (more granular than Offense Description)
KY_CD: Three-digit internal classification code (more general category than PD code)
OFNS_DESC: Description of internal classification corresponding with KY code (more general category than PD description)
LAW_CODE: Law code charges corresponding to the NYS Penal Law, VTL and other various local laws
LAW_CAT_CD: Level of offense: felony, misdemeanor, violation
ARREST_BORO: Borough of arrest. B(Bronx), S(Staten Island), K(Brooklyn), M(Manhattan), Q(Queens)
ARREST_PRECINCT: Precinct where the arrest occurred
JURISDICTION_CODE: Jurisdiction responsible for arrest. Jurisdiction codes 0(Patrol), 1(Transit) and 2(Housing) represent NYPD whilst codes 3 and more represent non NYPD jurisdictions
AGE_GROUP: Perpetrator’s age within a category
PERP_SEX: Perpetrator’s sex description
PERP_RACE: Perpetrator’s race description
X_COORD_CD: Midblock X-coordinate for New York State Plane Coordinate System, Long Island Zone, NAD 83, units feet (FIPS 3104)
Y_COORD_CD: Midblock Y-coordinate for New York State Plane Coordinate System, Long Island Zone, NAD 83, units feet (FIPS 3104)
Latitude: Latitude coordinate for Global Coordinate System, WGS 1984, decimal degrees (EPSG 4326)
Longitude: Longitude coordinate for Global Coordinate System, WGS 1984, decimal degrees (EPSG 4326)
Lon_Lat: Georeferenced Point Column based on Longitude and Latitude fields
The dataset contains information on arrests between 2006 to 2019.
It contains the type of crime(robbery, assault, etc..).
It contains some details like race, gender and age.
It contains geographic information of the arrest (coordinates and neighbourhood ).
Let's check it now
IMPORTING THE LIBRARIES | https://medium.com/nerd-for-tech/time-lapse-heat-maps-with-folium-1847f53ec956 | ['Eduardo Virtuoso'] | 2021-03-08 01:33:46.438000+00:00 | ['Python', 'GIS', 'Space Science With Python'] |
Applying the Four A’s of Stress Relief to Your Life | in Stress by Tony
Stress relief begins by knowing specific coping strategies that you can apply to your life every day. We can never eliminate all our stress, but we can learn ways to decrease it and deal with it. This can help to prevent stress-related illnesses, and ensure you live a healthier life.
Avoid
Avoid the stressful situation altogether. For example, if you find driving during rush hour causes you undue stress, you should make other transportation arrangements at that time.
Or perhaps socialising with a particular couple causes you a lot of pressure, then it is better to stop spending time with this couple.
Alter
Alter the way you approach things during your day. When you cannot avoid a situation, then you need to alter it.
For example, if you are a list maker, make sure to prioritise tasks that must be done that day and those that can always be completed on another day.
Remind yourself that Rome was not built in one day either!
Change the way you do things. For example, suppose grocery shopping causes you to stress. In that case, you can alter the situation by phoning in your order and having the groceries delivered to your home, or by going shopping when fewer people are in the store.
Accept
You need to be able to identify when something is not in your control.
You have probably heard of the Serenity Prayer that states you need to accept the things you cannot change, the courage to change the things you can, and have the wisdom to know the difference.
What is lesser known is that this prayer was written by American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr at the height of the Great Depression in 1932, when people across the globe were faced with unprecedented difficulties.
Adapt
If you cannot change the situation, you need to learn how to adapt to it. Life is full of ongoing changes, and the earlier you realise this, the less stress you will experience.
It helps if you can look at the positive things that can come out of a new situation, rather than the negative.
For example, if a beloved co-worker is retiring, this could be very stressful for you.
However, if you can look at the positive things that could come out of this such as working with a new person who could become your friend, this can help alleviate some of the stress you are feeling.
In summary, the four A’s of stress are to avoid, alter, accept, or adapt to situations.
If you can apply what the four A’s are teaching, you can eventually find some stress relief in your life by using those rules.
Related Posts
Don’t Waste Your Life!
How to handle stress
Five Benefits of Daily Optimism
Protected: How to stay balanced during a major life change
Ways to Manage Stress
Learn to Love Stress
Work-related stress
Meditation and relaxation exercises to help deal with stress
Tony | https://medium.com/@anthonythomas-31694/applying-the-four-as-of-stress-relief-to-your-life-df7e445ee4b1 | ['Anthony Thomas'] | 2020-12-26 17:03:11.712000+00:00 | ['Stressreliefbegins', 'Adapt', 'Stress'] |
WFP’s Innovation Challenge sourced ideas to strengthen local food security and support livelihoods | By Linda Nyemba
Past participants at an in-person WFP innovation bootcamp in Munich. Photo: WFP/Paul Guenther
With the support of USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance and in collaboration with the Innovation Hub at the WFP Regional Bureau for Eastern Africa based in Nairobi, the WFP Innovation Accelerator is wrapping up its 2020 bootcamp season by delivering its 32nd innovation bootcamp — virtually of course given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Dialing in from Sudan, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Turkey, India, Bangladesh and Canada, the ten teams have been selected from a WFP Innovation Challenge pool of a record-setting 793 applications from 95 countries around the world. As previous innovation bootcamps, the focus is on bold solutions that address the Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger (SDG 2) by 2030. However, for this WFP Innovation Challenge, the priority area was expanded to include startups that tackle solutions that are relevant in the current COVID-19 context as well as enabling poor and vulnerable populations to sustainably change their lives.
Over the course of the bootcamp, the teams will join on a journey of ideation, project design, and innovation. Check out the teams and their ideas below:
1. Lucky Iron Fish Enterprise
Iron Deficiency Anemia is one of the world’s largest nutritional challenges. The Lucky Iron Fish is a low-dose nutritional supplement that is added to the cooking process. This is an easy and accessible iron supplementation method, which brings significant cost savings to the households who otherwise would need to pay for supplements.
2. Voice to text AI
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the traditional way of collecting programmatic dietary data in-person from beneficiaries based in remote areas. The proposed solution is an open-sourced AI-powered, phone-based, dietary diversity survey tool to continue implementing the Fresh Food Voucher programme.
3. FLYING COW
During disasters and crises, telecommunication networks are often destroyed resulting in communication challenges for humanitarian responders. COW is a tethered drone solution that aims to address the limited hotspot-based connectivity during emergencies and replacing the need for handheld radio network.
4. Network Fresh
Network Fresh is a B2C marketplace mobile app using the surplus food of restaurants, cafes and hotels to reduce food waste, overcome food insecurity, and improve nutrition.
5. Tiny Totos
Improving informal daycares in Kenya can transform a range of lives from communities to a child’s nutritional wellness. Tiny Totos is a social enterprise which provides a network of entrepreneurs the tools, trainings and support to elevate the services of informal daycares.
6. Food ATM
The in-kind humanitarian sector faces multiple challenges when serving beneficiaries including discrepancy between actual entitlements distributed and hygienic concerns. Using the concept of ATMs and biometrics, Food ATM dispenses food instead of money, and aims to boost the beneficiary experience by creating easier access to food and reducing health risks.
7. Kuza One
Kuza One is a digital platform focused on empowering smallholder farmers in Africa and Asia. By providing access to training, mentorship and a network of agripreneurs, the platform aims to improve the productivity, resilience and income of smallholder farmers.
8. Earn Money When Eating Healthy
With Social Safety Nets shifting more and more to providing cash to support its recipients, a question arises on how to incentivize people to invest in nutritious food despite competing purchasing priorities. The team tackling this challenge is ideating an app to track that Social Safety Nets are being used towards specific food groups and, in return, recipients could be offered cash back.
9. Eco-Friendly Cold Storage
Especially in areas prone to warmer climates, fruits and vegetables sold at open air markets are at high risk of becoming quickly perishable leading to food waste. The team is aiming to build a sustainable storage solution using zero-energy brick coolers and evaporative charcoal coolers; an off-grid refrigeration innovation that can extend shelf life of fresh food for retailers and traders.
10. AflaSight
Maize is heavily affected by the invisible carcinogen aflatoxin. The presence of aflatoxin leads to poor health in consumers and financial loss for smallholder farmers. AflaSight combines cutting-edge, first of its kind machine technology with strategic market operations to provide large-scale cleaning of maize affected by aflatoxin. | https://medium.com/@wfpinnovation/wfps-innovation-challenge-sourced-ideas-to-strengthen-local-food-security-and-support-livelihoods-23c2bc038199 | ['Wfp Innovation Accelerator'] | 2021-05-12 16:42:18.319000+00:00 | ['Sdgs', 'Hunger', 'Innovation', 'Wfp', 'Food Security'] |
Gays & Gender Jumping: Is there More Beyond Manhood? | Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels
As queer men, we are men who date men. Our friends are men, and some of us can interact almost entirely with men. And yet, how we interact varies from person to person. You can act like a brother, a lover, a friend, a Daddy, a mom, a wing-man, or a gal pal. We “gender jump” in our communication style, demeanor, and behavior. Sometimes, even in our dress. Many of our queer male celebrities make their money dressing up as women. But challenging gender norms doesn’t make us less male. Has our all-male community naturally shifted to accommodate the feminine like in Jurassic Park? Cut to Jeff Goldblum saying, “Life finds a way.” Or, are we freer to tap into our feminine side because we’re already challenging society by our very existence?
Code-Switching
Photo by Magda Ehlers from Pexels
As marginalized people, we are chameleons. As a tool of survival, we code-switch i.e. adjust our behavior, language, and demeanor, depending on who we are with. It’s one part survival tool one part adaptive superpower. How we act in a heteronormative environment might not be how we act at a gay bar. You wouldn’t agree with your boss in the boardroom with a resounding “Slay, bitch.” How we act around our female friends may vary significantly from how we act around our male friends. Even among our male friends, there is how we may act if we are interested in them romantically, sexually, or purely platonically. All of this code-switching makes us uniquely suited to transcend limiting gender lines. We can gender jump in the way we engage with each other the same way we do with men or women. But can we keep up with each other?
Most will agree we all have a masculine and a feminine side. Whether you believe these are the two parts of our soul (our anima/animus), the parts of our parents that have been socialized into us, or just a part of the human experience … our mirror has two faces. Every gay man, hell every man, has something that will make them “queen out.” Men cry at sports games. Super “masculine” guys have diva breakdowns over machines at the gym. All men have moments they want to feel pretty/attractive. Men want to be heard and understood emotionally. Gendering these natural characteristics is part of what’s wrong with society. While there are some intrinsic differences between men and women, perhaps some of our views on what it means to be a man or a woman might be dated.
Let’s take a pit stop at the playground for a second. Some gay boys played with girls and some with boys. Some sensitive souls were protected and cherished by their gaggle of girlfriends. They knew the gossip and navigated girl drama. Some gay boys played with boys. They may have been in anguish in the closet or living it up in the locker room. But they played sports, learned male bonding, and may have checked some of their more queer characteristics to fit in. Neither is more or less of a man or better/worse than the other. No matter what anyone might think. Both learned interpersonal skills that help them navigate the world.
These subtle differences in how we grow up can affect how we interact with each other as adults. For example, a guy well-versed in the “girl world” will know when someone is doing something emotionally dramatic for attention. They might be less likely to engage or quicker to empathize. Whereas, a guy socialized around other guys might notice when a guy is showing off to save face. He might give his friend a moment and let him have the win. From the outside, these scenarios can seem exactly the same. A lot of queer conflicts can arise between guys who grew up with girlfriends and guys who grew up with guy friends trying to understand each other.
So much of our identity, as gay men, can be defending our manhood. As children, we get belittled for not being typically masculine. Or we get bullied into fitting into a box of what it means to be a man in America. As adults, we defend our manhood to ignorant straight people who ask, “Who’s the girl?” Hell, we even have to prove our manhood in queer spaces. Photos on apps and dating sites look like mugshots as guys try to look more “masculine” by looking murderous. What happened to just smiling? We might put on airs to please sex partners by deepening our voice or taking on a different demeanor. But as we change our behavior to please partners, we can compartmentalize who we are in the bedroom vs. who we are outside. But we are still the sum of all of our parts. And to find meaningful relationships we need to find the people who can appreciate all of the faces we put on to survive and, most importantly, the fully integrated person we are inside.
A Quick Deep Dive into Drag
Photo by cottonbro from Pexels
It’s no coincidence that drag is taking off in our culture. The drag queen is an important figure. They serve as a reminder that we shouldn’t be ashamed of the parts of ourselves that are feminine. They irreverently force us to confront our own shame, guilt, or fear of our feminine sides. They provide the freedom to express that part of ourselves. Hell, they take the piss out of toxic masculinity and internalized homophobia while ensuring everyone’s having a good time. The popularity is in part a response to a war on women. Men, dressed as the women they admire, are somehow inspiring women to admire themselves. But it’s also a sign of our collective exhaustion of having to repress parts of ourselves to fit into a toxically masculine society. And yet, even those who represent the “majority” don’t seem happy. Does our President look happy? Do the people who preach hate seem to have their lives together?
Drag, while focused on the feminine, can give queer men the physical challenges and social opportunities they didn’t find on the sports field. RuPaul’s Drag Race is our Super Bowl. Drag shows are our sporting events. Just because someone is in a wig and heels doesn’t mean they aren’t men performing impressive physical feats like dips, jump splits, and precisely choreographed lip syncs. They learn endurance pushing their bodies to the limit spending hours standing in heels, squeezing their bodies into corsets, and doing other painful things in the name of beauty. They expand their precision, hand-eye coordination, and dexterity in their application of make-up. They also showcase more “feminine” characteristics competitively with their ability to build a following, create art, and communicate nonverbally and emotionally.
Alternative Energy
Photo by Jonas Ferlin from Pexels
For a second, let’s remove masculine and feminine from the mix. Not only does this honor our trans brothers and sisters it removes some of our own biases. It helps us take a step away from what we’ve learned all our lives about what gender means. Sex is the sum of biological and scientific differences between men and women. But gender is a social construct. Removing charged words like “masculine” and “feminine” frees us to explore parts of our personalities without shame or judgment. We live in a patriarchal toxically masculine culture and everyone is affected. We’ve evolved past mating in the streets and pooping outside so trying to tie personality factors to biological factors or social constructs can seem a bit primitive. We’ve all stifled parts of ourselves to fit in and maybe that needs to change for society’s sake.
I prefer the terms: solar and lunar energy. It may sound hippie-dippy but similar to the idea of the yin/yang it gives us a paradigm where both aspects are required for us to thrive. A conservative woman from Texas might be channeling more aggressive, competitive solar energy. Similarly, a cis-gendered male therapist from Portland might have a more lunar emotional communication style. Neither is better or worse. They are natural parts of us all. After all, both make up a day.
Solar energy is like the sun, energizing, and active. It’s about physical action, connecting with your body, generating quick reactions, and asserting yourself socially. You process thoughts and emotions through action. Your communication style may be more focused on solutions or forward momentum. Solar communication can tend to be Socratic. It’s often about deconstructing arguments or challenging ideas.
Lunar energy is like the moon in that it provides light in the dark and influences the tides (i.e. our emotions). It’s about contemplation and seeing how things affect the whole system. It’s about connecting emotionally with ourselves and others. It’s about processing emotions verbally and entertaining multiple perspectives and empathizing. Lunar communication is more freeform and can handle multiple topics at once. It also is about creativity both in understanding and in action. Lunar communication also includes more emotional and nonverbal communication.
When we remove the bias of the masculine and feminine it frees us up to dive deeper. We can work on our shortcomings and expand our social, emotional, and personal skill sets. Being able to agilely shift between these modes of communication can help us get along with other people regardless of gender. For example, when someone gets violent or aggressive, it may be best to engage them emotionally. Matching solar energy with solar energy will just start a fire. In the same way, if someone is overcome emotionally approaching them logically with limited emotion may help shift their mindset. Or engaging them in physical activity can give them a tool to process that feeling if they don’t want to talk about it.
We learn our tools for survival, dominance, and conflict resolution from people we hold in high esteem. This is regardless of gender. How many queer men have looked up to powerful women as examples of superior social grace, vicious verbal skills, or just a great vibe? We also look to men as examples of what we might want to be, who we want to sleep with, but also who we might be competing against. This is the complicated dance that is the queer male social space. But if we focus on being authentic, learning, and growing it will ultimately serve us for the better.
Maybe gender is just a red herring. Maybe we all are unique individuals. We all want to find people who can understand how we feel and how we think. We want to find people who can make us feel sexy and safe but also want to return the favor. Hopefully looking at things in a completely new way, i.e. solar and lunar, can help us find more common ground with people on both sides of the gender line or even those who opt-out of the norm. God knows, as queer people, we are uniquely qualified to observe gender is a construct. We meet men and women and everyone in between. Sometimes we shift through dozens of identities a day. So it isn’t until everyone can get on the same page and check their gender biases that we can start to get to the good stuff. | https://medium.com/@standup4yourpower/gays-gender-jumping-is-there-more-beyond-manhood-ee3abff2a1c8 | ['Christian Cintron'] | 2020-12-10 20:12:09.477000+00:00 | ['LGBTQ', 'Social Change', 'Gay Dating', 'Gender'] |
Fall of Enron: My Take | Introduction
The fall of Enron, the largest gas and energy contractor in the world was one that shook not just wall street but the entire world. It is a story of greed, bad investments, bankruptcy, and fraud. Their core values were built on respect, integrity, communication, and excellence (RICE) but these values were never seen nor evident in their mode of operation.
Enron started out as a physical supplier of natural gas and oil to become the largest contractor of this commodity. Gas and energy were initially successful but they got into various markets and commodities such as water, broadband, paper, etc. which they had little or no expertise.
The role financial instruments played in the downfall of Enron
Enron was a hedge-fund type of trading firm, that operated a wholesale spots market in derivatives trading and futures trading where bonds and options were sold. They operated in the commodities market but instead of selling goods, they were focused on buying and building project which was not profitable. They ran an online, free-market business model, but this free market strategy soon made debt prominent and accumulated faster due to the lack of cost control.
They employed a marked-to-market strategy that allowed them to project profit on a new venture, but they would claim these profits in their books even when they’ve not made any money yet, and if they ran into loss, they’ll manipulate standard accounting practice to inflate profit and hide debt. Enron was projecting profit on new ventures without first calculating the cost of these ventures. They used Special Purpose Entities (SPE) to borrow money and write off these debts in off-balance-sheets partnerships.
The broader markets effects resulting from the rise and fall of Enron
The rise and fall of Enron led to major changes in the broader markets as it exposed the loopholes in the regulations of financial markets. New regulations and legislation were implemented to promote accurate financial reporting for publicly held organizations. In July 2002, the then president of the United States of America, President George W. Bush, signed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act into law. This act raised the bar of the consequence of fabricating and manipulating documents and trying to defraud shareholders by withholding information or destroying records.
New compliance measures were created and the Financial Accounting Standard Board (FASB) raised the standard of ethical conduct. This helped cover the loopholes that were exposed by the Enron scandal which some organizations used to avoid accountability.
Recommendation of risk mitigation techniques that could have been applied to minimize Enron’s profile
The fall of Enron was due majorly to bad investment, wrong accounting practice, greed, and fraud. They engaged in spot trading which is an extremely bad idea in a commodities market where goods are extremely volatile. The following risk mitigation techniques if applied would have avoided or minimized bankruptcy to an extent.
· Avoidance: that this technique offers little or no reward, it is also the most expensive as this strategy prevents the organization from getting involved in any high-risk investment. This also means the organization might actually lose the opportunity of getting a high-risk premium as they applied a 100% risk aversion strategy.
· Risk sharing: though Enron tried to apply this strategy at a later time by trying to go into partnership with Dynergy Inc., going to a joint venture with company’s that had expertise in commodities which they didn’t. In an event of a loss, both ventures bear the cost and negative impact, which would have been a major loss for a single company.
· Transferring Risk: Enron tried employing this strategy by using SPE and off-balance sheet partnerships but there is a legit way of transferring risk from one party to another rather than erasing and manipulating records
REFERENCES
Enron Scandal: The Fall of The Wall Street Darling[online]. URL: https://www.investopedia.com/updates/enron-scandal-summary/ (September 22, 2020)
The Energy Journal: 2004; 25, 4; Earth, Atmospheric & Aquatic Science Database pg. 115–134
Holly Hubbard Preston. International Herald Tribune; Paris [Paris] (August 24, 2002) pg. 15 | https://medium.com/@emclaniyi/fall-of-enron-my-take-b23b85a2260c | ['Emerald Mclaniyi'] | 2020-10-19 15:06:27.103000+00:00 | ['Financial Market', 'Risk', 'Ethics', 'Finance', 'Risk Management'] |
How to Guide: Using RAPIDS on JFrog Artifactory | How to Guide: Using RAPIDS on JFrog Artifactory
Covers setup of remote repositories on Artifactory 7.x and RAPIDS conda installation
By: Akshit Arora, Subhan Ali, Arturo Aparicio, and Mark Galpin
TL:DR
This is a how-to guide for making RAPIDS libraries available to air-gapped data centers via JFrog Artifactory. Specifically covers setting up remote repositories on Artifactory 7.x and RAPIDS conda installation.
RAPIDS
RAPIDS enables Python users to take advantage of GPU acceleration in their workflow. It is a suite of open-source libraries and APIs that give you the ability to execute end-to-end data science and analytics pipelines entirely on GPUs. It utilizes NVIDIA CUDA primitives for low-level compute optimization and exposes GPU parallelism and high-bandwidth memory speed through user-friendly Python interfaces. It also includes support for multi GPU and multi-node deployments enabling vastly accelerated processing and training on much larger dataset sizes.
The core parts of the RAPIDS project includes:
cuDF: DataFrame manipulation library with pandas-like interface, accelerated on GPUs.
cuML: Machine learning library with scikit-learn like interface, accelerated on GPUs.
cuGraph: Graph analytics library with NetworkX like interface, accelerated on GPUs.
RAPIDS also provides integration with deep learning libraries via array_interface / DLPack. It allows data stored in Apache Arrow format to be seamlessly pushed to deep learning frameworks.
Find out more about the latest RAPIDS features here: RAPIDS Release 0.17: The Gift that Keeps on Accelerating.
JFrog Artifactory
JFrog Artifactory delivers end-to-end automation and management of your binaries and software artifacts. It is a scalable, universal binary repository manager that automatically manages your binaries and artifacts through the application development and delivery process that integrates with your DevOps tools and platforms. Artifactory is the industry standard for universal binary and artifact repository solutions. It supports all major package types, including Conda, Python and other languages commonly used for data science. In addition, Artifactory supports Kubernetes (K8s), the de facto orchestration tool in the industry, for automating deployment, scaling, and management of microservices and containerized applications.
JFrog Artifactory’s hybrid and configurable nature makes it ideal for air-gapped environments. It can run not only on any public cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure, etc) but in virtually any self-managed environment and integrates seamlessly with on-prem Enterprise-grade storage and database solutions.
JFrog Artifactory’s remote repository capabilities also play a vital role in implementing your air-gap environment. With a remote repository, you can proxy external sources (such as Anaconda), whitelist/blacklist packages and create other criteria for what is and is not allowed. The end-users (developers, CI servers) don’t need to change the way they work because JFrog Artifactory behaves just like the original source and works natively with the tools the end-users are already using.
Since no two air-gapped environments are the same, JFrog Artifactory offers several implementation options. Here are two common implementations:
A. JFrog Artifactory in the DMZ
In this air-gapped implementation, you place JFrog Artifactory in the DMZ. Network rules prevent end-users from going out to the internet directly but allow JFrog Artifactory to reach out to the internet. When a user requests a package, if JFrog Artifactory does not have it stored locally (yet), it will reach out to the internet to the set of remote resources you have approved and download the requested package, caching it for future use and returning it to the user.
This is fairly straightforward to implement and guarantees no unauthorized external sources are used.
B. Fully air-gapped
The implementation above is air-gapped to the end-users but does allow the end-users to reach a machine that is not air-gapped. Certain extra secure environments restrict this type of communication and enforce a 100% air-gapped environment where no machine can reach any machine that has internet access. In these scenarios, you can use a two-step implementation with an offline sync. JFrog Artifactory’s import/export capabilities allow you to download into one JFrog Artifactory with internet connection (and optionally manually approve) and then export to an archive that can then be placed on media to be imported into an internal JFrog Artifactory that does not have internet access. End-users would then pull from the internal JFrog Artifactory.
Setup
These instructions were written as a result of a specific end-user use case. The customer needed RAPIDS libraries but was restricted from accessing public sources since they were in an air gapped environment. Fortunately, the end-user was already a JFrog Artifactory user and used JFrog Artifactory in the DMZ. With this, the end-user simply upgraded to the appropriate version and was able to follow this setup to utilize the RAPIDS libraries in-house while still complying with corporate security requirements.
The following instructions have been verified on Artifactory 7.10.5 but will work on Artifactory 7.4.0+ or Artifactory 6.19.0+, though the UI menu navigation will be slightly different in 6.x. This setup assumes the JFrog Artifactory in the DMZ air gapped implementation.
Create a remote repository to the official Conda site.
Using the UI, navigate to Administration -> Repositories -> Repositories -> Remote -> New Remote Repository and select Conda as the package type Fill out the repository name, for example ‘conda-remote’ Fill out the URL: https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/main
Create a second remote repository to the extra Conda channels
Using the UI, navigate to Administration -> Repositories -> Repositories -> Remote -> New Remote Repository and select Conda as the package type. Fill out the repository name, for example ‘conda-channels’ Fill out the URL: https://conda.anaconda.org
Create a virtual repository that aggregates both remote repositories
Using the UI, navigate to Administration -> Repositories -> Repositories -> Virtual -> New Virtual Repository and select Conda as the package type Fill out the repository name, for example ‘conda’ Add both Conda remote repositories we created to the Selected Repositories
Set up your Conda client to work with Artifactory
Using the UI, navigate to Application -> Artifactory -> Artifacts, click on the Conda virtual repository you created in step 3 and select Set Me Up Follow the Set Me Up instructions to configure your Conda client
Add the appropriate RAPIDS packages via RAPIDS release selector to confirm the set up is working correctly.
Example:
conda create -n rapids-0.17 -c rapidsai -c nvidia -c conda-forge \
-c defaults rapids-blazing=0.17 python=3.7 cudatoolkit=10.1
If this install is successful, your Artifactory instance will have the libraries cached for future use (you can see them in the artifacts browser, see screenshot below), speeding up any future build, and protecting you from the package you need being removed from the remote site or connections issues.
You’re all set! Checkout RAPIDS sample notebooks to get started.
Helpful Links | https://medium.com/rapids-ai/how-to-guide-using-rapids-on-jfrog-artifactory-c72d36d1e81a | ['Akshit Arora'] | 2020-12-17 20:49:56.346000+00:00 | ['Machine Learning', 'Rapids Ai', 'Data Science', 'Jfrog Artifactory'] |
Is business development only sales department’s responsibility ? | A business acts just like the human body, with various systems coordinating with different organs to sustain and live ahead. In order to ensure the smooth flow of an organisation, executives should realise the interdependence between the various arms and departments functioning there, thus assuring maintenance of the brand value of the organisation. Each unit under the body should operate at equal efficiency in order to deliver successful products in the market.
Business development stands for an amalgamation of various ideas and initiatives practised to ensure a smooth-flowing business. It includes maintaining revenues and cash-flow, strategic planning of expansions and other major business decisions etc. Thus, we might say the sales department has to be the pioneers of business development. Well we can’t completely neglect this fact, since the sales department holds the reins to the organisation’s steering wheel, in terms of generating revenues, but we can’t fully stick by it. The sales department doesn’t control the entire flow and to balance the scales there are various other departments that play a crucial role in the business development of an organisation.
Now let’s analyse the various departments that lie under the umbrella of an organisation, which play an equally important role as the sales department for churning profits for the company:
MARKETING:
The role of marketing involves the promotions and advertisements required to establish the product in the market. At this stage, the marketing doesn’t have a direct relation with the clients but they surely help in providing the route required to establish client relations. Market analysis and research is quite a crucial field, which requires studying markets and clients from various different angles. It includes surveys, questionnaires etc. to ensure the product is market friendly.
Marketing plays a complementary role in achieving sales targets. The results and output gathered by the marketing department through market researching is fed directly to the sales department. This helps the sales staff in analysing the density of the markets, helping them set targets for various regions. This will help them to approach different regions of the market with different tactics, enabling them to connect with the client easily.
For a company to have sustainable revenue, it should take the proper strategic moves in order to stay competitive. Strategic moves include business expansion plans, opening of new facilities, import-export strategies etc. Such important activities are also conducted by the marketing department.
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT:
The brand value of an organisation lies in its product. The quality of the product defines the standards of the organisation. Product development involves not only maintaining regulatory standards but also assessing and meeting market’s requirements from the product. These requirements, channelised by the business strategy, drive the work of product design and manufacturing departments. Cost consideration, legal approvals, and regulatory adherence are all assessed as a part of this product development plan.
The product development team has the crucial responsibility of collecting customer insights and implementing them in the product design. This will help the organisation to stay up-to-date with the market and will also help them stay ahead of the competitors.
FINANCE:
This is the department that is responsible for driving the company through the right route, without avoiding any crashes. Stability in accounting will allow the company to maintain a healthy balance sheet. Strong financial strategies can not only help keep the company in the good eyes of the shareholders but also help in executing plans for further business development. The finance department is responsible for looking out for any hurdles that can bleed the company in any situation, thus policing the company motives in a way.
CUSTOMER SERVICE:
The sales department has to look after the client’s needs but their role doesn’t entirely depend upon the continuous welfare of the client. In order to maintain a long and healthy relationship with the customer, an organisation needs an efficient customer service department. Their major responsibility lies in maintaining active relations with the customers and to gain insights from the customer regarding the product and its quality. The complaints and feedback received by them are reverted back to the marketing department, who can analyse the situation and come up with a solution that best satisfies the customer’s demands. In this way, a huge inter-dependency is created and we can witness the mutual roles played by each of these departments to ensure the maintenance of the brand value of the company.
HUMAN RESOURCES:
For successful business development in an organisation, you need qualified executives and brains to brainstorm ideas and put them on the table. The responsibility of picking out the best from the market lies on the shoulders of the HR. Human resource sounds like something that doesn’t matter much when you talk about business development, but it lays the foundation for charting out an efficient task force for the organisation. Thus, the HR department plays a vital role in balancing the brain and brawn of the organisation, coordinating the strengths and skills and polishing the brand of the employers.
DISTRIBUTION MANAGEMENT / LOGISTICS
The distribution management is responsible for overseeing the movement of goods from supplier or manufacturer to point of sale. It has the vital responsibility of connecting with vendors for the transportation and availability of the product. This is a very crucial factor for business development to happen, as this is how the product is connected with the market. Logistics management is, thus, an important part of the business cycle not only for manufacturers but also for distributors, wholesalers and other downstream players involved. Majority of the profits of an organisation is churned out by an efficient distribution system.
Even though we can go on and discuss about a multitude of other important departments, the above mentioned ones clarify our primary question and provide a reasonable solution as to why the sales department is not solely responsible for business development. The smooth functioning of an organisation is like weaving out a piece of fabric. The different fibres that are woven together are like different departments acting together to deliver the desired output.
The process of business development still remains complex in the corporate world. It is evolving at every stage, with executives cracking their skulls to bring in new initiatives and strategies. These strategies never revolve around any particular department in an organisation and they can only be incorporated if everyone put in their share of effort. Through this progress, we can visualise the gap between these different departments getting diminished.
We can conclude with an inspiring quote by the revered Napolean Hill-“Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.”
Now the market is overflowing with the business people who are in race to become famous in the game. hence, there is a huge load of rival rout there you better need yourself to be in front of others. We at insellers have just done all the examination and going around for you. We disclose to you the not all that regularly discussed moving dream to reality accounts of SMEs and new companies, to move the Entrepreneur in you. And we insellers are read to share your stories and experiences just Contact Us and be first. | https://medium.com/@pendem-bhavani16/is-business-development-only-sales-departments-responsibility-7f90758f3418 | ['Pendem Bhavani'] | 2020-12-26 06:32:18.948000+00:00 | ['Business', 'Leads', 'Development', 'Sales'] |
The Bangladesh government strategy: noise and distraction | Screenshot taken from the Al Jazeera film, “All the Prime Minister's Men”
Take note of the response of the Bangladesh government, and its supporters, to the Al Jazeera film, "All the Prime Minister's Men" . It has much thunder and lightening involved, a great deal of false accusations and vilification of all those involved in the film, and talk of 1971, Jamaat, money, conspiracy, and Tarique Rahman.
However, at the same time the government, army and their spokesmen are completely silent about the most critical allegations against General Aziz Ahmed, the Chief of Army Staff. These are as follows:
• that Haris Ahmed and Anis Ahmed, both brothers of the current army chief General Aziz Ahmed, are fugitives from justice, convicted of murder;
• that Haris has forged education, marriage and birth certificates under a fake name, obtained a new national identity card and passport with this fake identity, traveled to Europe and elsewhere on it, and in the process committed a wide range of offences;
• that whilst he was head of the BGB, his brother Aziz Ahmed, the man who was to become the head of the whole army, was fully aware of this fabrication, and assisted his brother, Haris, in traveling on this fake passport to Hungary as well as to set up businesses using fake ID documents including bank statements;
• that in doing so Aziz also obtained the assistance of a number of BGB officers who signed fake documents verifying to their genuineness.
• that Aziz subsequently met Haris in Hungary and inspected his brothers' businesses;
• and that Aziz Ahmed also met his other fugitive brother, Anis Ahmed, also convicted of murder, in Malaysia.
The reason for the noise is to try and hide the silence. Because the government, the army, Aziz and his brothers have no answers to the allegations, the government has embarked on a strategy that involves it in making a torrent of distractions and false allegations.
// DB | https://medium.com/netranews/the-bangladesh-government-strategy-noise-and-distraction-1dd41d79180 | ['Netra News'] | 2021-02-10 05:38:48.454000+00:00 | ['Al Jazeera', 'Corruption', 'Bangladesh', 'General Aziz Ahmed'] |
The Color of Me | A poem about the color of Humans
House of Haiku Prompt “Colour”
The Color of my Heart Image by Annelise Lords
The colour of me
Is in my hugs, actions, smiles
Not my skin or eyes
Image by Annelise Lords
Thank you Brett Christensen for more brain exercise.
In my country, we believe that our actions, thoughts, decisions tell a lot about us, who we are, and how we think. Many of us can read minds if we listen to actions. Lol, I could be wrong. But I have proven it many times.
Thank you for reading this piece. I hope you enjoyed it. Please enjoy more from superb writers on this platform.
https://mediumauthor.com/@thisisanneliselords
https://mediumauthor.com/podcast
medium.com/illumination/interview-with-annelise-lords-421238e49b9f
https://twitter.com/ThisisAnneliseL
https://medium.com/authors-peeps/authors-peeps-interview-d43e38e53898 | https://medium.com/house-of-haiku/the-color-of-me-650844149cd8 | ['Annelise Lords'] | 2020-11-17 11:03:11.051000+00:00 | ['Heart', 'Color', 'Eyes', 'House Of Haiku', 'Humanity'] |
5 Life Changing Weight Loss Tips to Control Your Weight Without Having to Workout Intensely | 5 Life Changing Weight Loss Tips to Control Your Weight Without Having to Workout Intensely Jeremy Colon Follow Feb 13 · 3 min read
Sudden weight gain worrying you? Follow these guidelines for weight loss even when you can’t carve out time to work out. There is a common saying from generalist that working out is the key solution for weight loss however this can be challenged, and studies say something different.
Photo Credit: Pixabay
Studies says weight loss and controlling one’s weight can also be possible without an intense workout if one maintains a proper routine to stay healthy. Our regular busy schedule often leaves us with no time for self-care, and as a result, we sometimes forget to work out to control our weight.
We build off this habit continuously in a negative way. Regular consumption of junk food, unusual timings for having meals, alcohol, smoking, late nights, work pressure all together contributes to weight gain along with numerous health issues. A recent study has been conducted on how to control weight without working out, which has surprised us all. The final results gave us some tips to control weight without working out intensely.
These are just normal food and drinking habits from our daily life with a slight change in it. So, with that, let’s find out how we can control or lose weight without an intense workout.
1. Choose Black Coffee
When coffee is consumed with sugar, flavored syrups, or cream then it becomes 1280 percent higher in calorie content than 69, according to a study. Plus, artificial sugars increase our insulin levels which can also spike up weight gain. In all, black coffee not only saves you from taking in 500 calories a week, but it also lowers your risk of insulin resistance, diabetes, and other metabolic disorders.
2. Carry a Water Bottle at All Times
A study says that 60 percent of the time we respond to thirst by eating instead of drinking. Experts believe the mistake happens because the same part of our brain controls hunger and thirst, and sometimes it mixes up the signals. So, having a water bottle will help you respond to your thirst making you feel fuller. It will also help increase your metabolism.
3. Go for Full-Fat Dairy
It may be surprising for you to know that fat-free food doesn’t necessarily translate to a fat-free body. According to a European Journal of Nutrition study, participants who ate full-fat dairy tended to weigh less and gained less weight over time than those who took non-fat products. Experts say that non-fat foods are less satisfying for having less fat. On the other hand, fat-full foods are tastier, and they make you feel fuller for a long time.
4. Keep a Snack Around to Avoid Temptation
Always carry a nutritious snack in your bag to avoid over-eating. Because when you are hungry with an empty stomach, your body then goes into starvation mode, which releases hunger hormones. This leads to overconsumption of foods to compensate for the starvation period. So, keeping a secret snack pack in your bag will help you avoid such a starvation period and over-eating.
5. Eat Vegetables for a High-Fiber Diet
Add as many veggies as possible to your diet plan to make it a healthy high-fiber diet. Research says that foods high in fiber are linked to weight loss compared to the foods low in high fiber. And all vegetables are high in fiber along with anti-inflammatory properties to keep you healthier.
If this article helps in any way, please take a moment to Clap for it and Share. If you have any questions or want any advice, please don’t hesitate to reach out! | https://medium.com/gethealthy/5-life-changing-weight-loss-tips-to-control-your-weight-without-having-to-workout-intensely-8666726fd75d | ['Jeremy Colon'] | 2020-02-13 06:59:28.655000+00:00 | ['Healthy Lifestyle', 'Coffee', 'Weight Loss Tips', 'Fitness Tips', 'Healthy'] |
How Much is this Girl Slowing Down Earth’s Rotation? | xkcd’s Angular Momentum is a romantic application of the conservation of momentum. But it may lead you to wonder: How does a person spinning counterclockwise cause Earth to slow down? And by how much?
The Bad News: It Probably Doesn’t Slow Down At All
The girl uses the friction between her feet and the ground to spin. Newton’s third law requires that the world “pushes” back, causing it to spin equally in the opposite direction but at a speed that is (roughly) proportional to their masses. This would be a very, very small change in earth’s rotation — but still a change!
The energy from the girl’s push gets transferred to the earth. This is done through friction between every particle between her foot and the effective center of mass of the planet. By the time that energy is transferred, it’s most likely going through so many exchanges that it would have been dissipated as heat before any change in the earth’s rotation is noticed.
So regardless of the lover’s efforts, she’s not doing anything other than getting a workout.
Assuming it Does Slow Down, by How Much Does it Slow Down?
Let’s play along and say all her energy is actually transferred to the earth’s rotation. This means that system of both the earth’s and the girl’s angular momentum L, must be conserved before and after she starts spinning
Angular momentum is nothing more than a constant of proportionality of an object’s moment of inertial I, and its angular velocity ω,
The moment of inertia of an object is just a mathematical representation of how hard it is to spin something about an axis — it depends on the shape and the mass of an object, and the axis on which you’re trying to spin it. For the earth (assuming it’s of uniform density throughout) with radius R and mass M,
The angular momentum of a spinning human body is a little harder determine, but given the mass difference between the earth and a human, we’re pretty safe to model the spinning girl as a cylinder rotating around its symmetry axis with radius R and mass M,
Since angular momentum is conserved, L remains constant, and is equal to the ratio of the moment of inertia of both the earth and girl (which we can approximate to be a uniform sphere due to size differences),
and the angular velocity is
Substituting our moments of inertia into (1) and (2), we arrive at an expression with one unknown quantity: the speed of the slowed down earth with the girl spinning ω,
Location, Location, Location
There’s one last tweak to this relation. The equation above is perfect if the angular momentum vectors for both the girl and the earth are aligned. In other words, if the girl is spinning at precisely the north pole.
The further she gets from the north pole in the northern hemisphere, the less of an effect she has on slowing down the day. This is because only the component of her angular momentum that is parallel to the angular momentum of the earth has an effect on slowing down the day. If she’s at the equator, spinning doesn’t slow down the day at all.
Capturing this effect is an easy fix. After applying some geometry, (3) becomes
Where θ is the degree of latitude of the location of the spinning lover.
Crunching the Numbers
Now it’s time to finally get a number. Applying the following assumptions for known quantities:
Mass of the Earth and system:
Mass of the girl:
Radius of Earth and system:
Radius of the girl:
Angular velocity of system:
Angular velocity of the girl:
Latitude (xkcd is based in Massachusetts):
Throwing these into (4) and solving for the angular velocity for ω after she starts spinning, and recognizing that ω=2π/T, where T is the time in seconds it takes to make a full rotation (one day). We find the difference is approximately
Needless to say, this isn’t very much time gained. But it reinforces the message of comic: any amount of additional time spent with the people you love is worth it. | https://medium.com/ground-state-curiosity/how-much-is-this-girl-slowing-down-earths-rotation-3094bee7cf7 | ['Colton Kawamura'] | 2021-01-04 05:19:04.135000+00:00 | ['STEM', 'Physics', 'Education', 'Mathematics', 'Science'] |
RSL CG5 loudspeaker review: High-end sound with a budget price tag | California-based RSL has been delivering monitor speakers that defy their size and price for 50 years. The company has manufactured speakers that are the darlings of some Hollywood record producers. RSL’s newest flagship lineup, the CG5, is the successor to the highly acclaimed CG4, and it consists of two models: A two-way monitor, the CG5 (reviewed here) and an MTM monitor design called the CG25.
The CG5’s sonic performance, build quality, and price point ($800 for the pair) left me awe-struck. Read on why you just might want a pair of CG5 under your Christmas tree.
RSL’s HistoryRSL (the acronym stands for Rogersound Labs) is a well-known brand in die-hard audio circles, but it’s far from being a household name. Founder Howard Rogers started selling speakers factory direct from his store in North Hollywood in 1970. This approach allowed Rogers to use high-quality components while keeping prices low by cutting out the middleman.
[ Further reading: The best surge protectors for your costly electronics ] RSL got a big break when a Warner Brothers Records producer purchased a set of RSL speakers and told his friends about them. Soon, RSL speakers started popping up in record companies throughout Southern California.
Rogers developed and patented his Compression Guide speaker technology in the 1980s, and it remains the hallmark of all modern RSL speakers.
Theo Nicolakis / IDG Top view of the CG5’s rounded front baffle.
Fast forward and Howard’s eldest son, Joe, now helms the company with his dad, maintaining the same focus on bang for the buck and an emphasis on personalized customer service. You can audition any RSL speaker with a free, 30-day in-home trial. The company offers free shipping in the continental United States, and there’s no restocking or return shipping fees in the unlikely event you decide you don’t like the speakers. Now that is a true no-risk trial.
Build quality beyond their price pointThis is my third review of RSL speakers. My first was the CG4 series in 2015, followed by the CG3 series in 2017. Each time, I’ve come away shaking my head in disbelief with the build quality and sound of the RSL setups. This time? It’s déjà vu all over again.
Theo Nicolakis / IDG The CG5’s gorgeous gloss finish is fingerprint resistant.
Unboxing the CG5, I was immediately struck by the CG5’s solid build quality. The 16-pound weight is your first clue. The CG5 is like one of those elements on the periodic table whose physical mass is far greater than its physical size would imply.
The speaker is physically deeper than it is wide, measuring 7.625 x 10.75 x 12.625 inches (WxDxH). When looked at face-on, these dimensions make the CG5 speaker look smaller than it actually is. Spouse-challenged audiophile households rejoice. The front baffle’s side edges are rounded, giving the speaker a subtle, cool-looking aesthetic that tricks your eye into thinking that speaker is smaller still.
Theo Nicolakis / IDG Detailed view of the curved, metal grille. The grille has velvet-like pads that prevent any scratching or marring of the speaker’s beautiful high-gloss finish.
The included metal grilles are magnetic, with velvet-like pads that prevent the grilles from marring the CG5’s gorgeous finish. Simply place the grilles in the general vicinity of the front baffle and they snap instantly and firmly into place.
Mentioned in this article Naim Audio Uniti Atom Read TechHive's review$2,995.00MSRP $2,995.00See iton Naim Audio The speaker’s cabinet is fabricated from .75-inch thick panels on all sides. I gave the CG5’s cabinet a couple of good knuckle raps that only reaffirmed a solid, sturdy, enclosure. This is no flimsy speaker.
When it comes to building a speaker, it’s not just the drivers and cabinetry that contribute to a speaker’s sound. The crossover network is vital. It handles that all-important division and hand off of frequencies between the drivers. The crossover network is where some speaker manufacturers choose to cut costs. Not RSL. RSL’s crossover network is made up of high-quality parts, including a polypropylene capacitor and an air-core coil for high performance and power handling.
Theo Nicolakis / IDG Top view of the CG5 with the magnetic grille.
The CG5’s build quality is matched by its aesthetics. My GC5 review pair came in a beautiful white gloss finish (they’re also available in a high-gloss piano black). Despite the gloss, all of RSL’s finishes are fingerprint resistant, and I didn’t detect any smudges no matter how many times I handled these speakers.
Design, adjustments, and Compression GuideThe CG5 are a two-way design consisting of a 1-inch, translucent, silk dome tweeter and 5.25-inch, aramid-fiber cone woofer. The tweeter is crossed to the woofer at 2,500Hz.
The CG5’s frequency response is rated at a respectable 54Hz-35kHz ± 3dB. In layman’s terms, the CG5’s frequncy response resembles a true monitor speaker. I mention that because the CG3 and CG4, by contrast, only went down to 100Hz and really needed a subwoofer’s help even for music.
Tweeter adjustmentThe CG5 comes with a Tweeter Adjust dial on the speaker’s rear panel just above the binding posts that allows you to attenuate the tweeter. The Tweeter Adjust dial’s default position is set to “Low” when you first unbox the CG5. I immediately noticed a warmer and slightly unbalanced sound that put bass notes slightly forward with the Tweeter Adjust in the “Low” position.
Theo Nicolakis / IDG The Tweeter Adjust dial comes in the default low position. I found the sound warmer but slightly unbalanced in the low position. The “Reference” position produced the most neutral sound at the expense of some warmth.
Turning the dial to the “Reference” position evened out the tonal balance and gave the speaker a slightly analytical quality at the expense of some bass emphasis and warmth. At no time did the CG5’s smooth, non-fatiguing quality suffer. You can adjust the dial to your preference.
As I’ll detail more below, the CG5 does a fine job rendering its rated audio band cleanly and authoritatively. Indeed, the RSL CG5 does a superb job with bass frequencies in its range. If you intend to use the CG5 with movies or content with deep bass, you’ll want to add a subwoofer to the mix. On tracks such as James Blacke’s “Limit to Your Love,” and Dido’s “Northern Skies” the speaker’s frequency limits came through. I’d strongly recommend pairing the CG5 with RSL’s Speedwoofer 10S, whose superb performance still says with me three years after I first reviewed it.
Theo Nicolakis / IDG Detailed view of the CG5’s driver.
Compression Guide technologyRSL’s patented Compression Guide outwardly manifests itself as a horizontal, rectangular opening along the speaker’s front baffle. It’s inside the speaker cabinet where the magic really happens.
RSL RSL’s patented Compression Guide technology.
RSL’s Compression Guide design divides the interior of the speaker cabinet into high and low pressure zones. Resonances are reduced as sound waves travel through these pressure zones, leading to tighter bass. Compression Guide technology works astoundingly well, delivering a smooth, distortion-free sound that you must hear to appreciate.
Silky smooth soundAll the aforementioned is well and good, but how do these $800-per-pair speakers sound? I set up the CG5 on solid wood 30-inch speaker stands in my Dolby Atmos/DTS:X/Audo-3D home theater setup, where I typically have RBH Sound SVTR Tower Reference Speakers and SVS Ultra speakers powered by my Denon X8500H receiver, Monoprice Monolith 7-Channel amplifier, and Oppo UDP-203 universal disk player.
For this review, I decided to use the outstanding Naim Uniti Atom that I’ve had on loan and used with my recent JBL L82 Classic and Focal Chora 806 speaker reviews. It’s not that Denon’s flagship X8500H wasn’t up to the task—on the contrary—but given that RSL only shipped a stereo pair, I wanted to prove you can have a superlative two-channel music setup with a minimal physical footprint.
Theo Nicolakis / IDG Detailed view of the GC5’s patented Compression Guide outer port.
I fed the Roon-ready Naim Uniti Atom from my Roon Nucleus with content comprised of high-res music files, ripped CDs, and content streamed from Tidal.
Smooth is the word that struck me when I fired up the CG5—and that impression never changed. The CG5 deliver an extremely smooth, non-fatiguing sound that will let you get lost in music or movies for hours. The CG5 reveled in Lisa Gerrard’s haunting vocals in “Elegy” from Immortal Memory. Synthesizer notes were smooth and free of compression or distortion. Indeed, it didn’t matter if I cranked up the volume, the CG5 just purred along.
As is typical with high-quality monitors, imaging was solid, with vocals dead center and instruments placed firmly in space and time. Recalling classics from Patricia Barber was case in point. Unlike higher-end speakers, the CG5 couldn’t quite conjure the uncanny dimensionality around a sonic image.
Theo Nicolakis / IDG The CG5’s back panel has a threaded opening for optional wall mounting.
RSL’s CG5 speakers excelled at revealing musical layers. For example, on Sarah McLachlan’s “Elsewhere,” you’ll find that some speakers smear the harmonies in the refrain. You can tell there are multiple vocals, but you can’t quite focus on individual voice. Not here. Through the CG5, I could distinguish each vocal track in distinct space and time.
In my setup, the CG5 created a wonderfully large, deep, and wide soundstage. The CG5 also exhibited a noticeably relaxed presentation, recessing the image well behind the speakers’ baffle. Depanding on whether or not you prefer a forward or relaxed presentation will be key to determining whether or not you like these speakers.
Bass lines were respectable, though I want to emphasize that the quality of the bass lines within that frequency range was outstanding. The CG5 gushed chest-thumping bass on Natasha Bedingfield’s “King of the World.” On Sade’s “Soldier of Love,” the CG5 delivered bass lines with a good, tight, clean, detailed attack. The same was true on Katie Melua’s “Love is a Silent Thief” and Dido’s “Northern Skies:” Clean and controlled.
I wasn’t quite sure how the CG5s would handle the intense, pulsating bass punch on James Blake’s “Limit to Your Love.” Needless to say the CG5 was an unbelievably cool customer, thwacking me with chest-punching bass while maintaining precise, detailed control. Of course the CG5s couldn’t reproduce the foundation-rattling, subterranean bass Blake’s classic is capable of. Overall, the CG5 was very good, though not outstanding with dynamics.
Theo Nicolakis / IDG The CG5’s back panel has a Tweeter Adjust and five-way binding posts.
But don’t you dare interpret the CG5 as a polite speaker. Pulling out some Van Halen—in tribute to Eddie Van Halen—proved these babies can rock—hard. The CG5 brought forth all the best qualities of Eddie’s immortal, “Eruption,” revealing nuances of the grand master at his craft. The CG5 unrelentingly pumped out the raw rock grit and edge of “Tattoo.” And the CG5 reveled in the inceased power when I turned up the volume to immerse myself to Van Halen’s rock anthem classic, “Dreams.”
Treat yourself to a pair for ChristmasEvery RSL speaker I’ve auditioned has left me impressed, and the CG5 are no exception: Impeccable build quality; an intoxicatingly alluring, smooth sound; and superb top-to-bottom performance are just the opening act. The more time I spent listening to the CG5, the more I loved them.
For $800 a pair, the CG5 will give you pure sonic bliss far exceeding their price. Pair them with RSL’s Speedwoofer 10S subwoofer and you’ll have a high octane, sonic setup that will excel at both a two-channel and full-on home theater assault. You’ll be the envy of the neighborhood.
While there are lots of speaker options priced less than $1,000, the CG5 rank among my favorite. Whether it’s an upgrade to your current setup or a dive right into sonic bliss, take RSL up on their free in-home trial in time for Christmas. You won’t be disappointed. Enthusiastically recommended.
Note: When you purchase something after clicking links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Read our affiliate link policy for more details. | https://medium.com/@brian44841411/rsl-cg5-loudspeaker-review-high-end-sound-with-a-budget-price-tag-8cdeeeb3c81f | [] | 2020-12-12 08:19:59.238000+00:00 | ['Audio', 'Deals', 'Connected Home', 'Chromecast'] |
Premium Data for Carbon Offsetting | One stop shop for data on carbon offsetting.
Carbon offsetting is a model with great potential — it’s one of the few (somewhat) successful systems out there that have been able to put a price on carbon emissions, and encourage polluters to pay. The lack of transparency and the number of projects with questionable track records, however, have made people skeptical of the industry.
We’ve set up AlliedOffsets in order to help provide much-needed clarity around the projects, credits, and prices of those credits, and to begin to get at the question of credibility and quality. I’m excited to announce that we’ve developed a Premium Data Dashboard to showcase the data on thousands of projects from around the world.
The interactive demo of the Dashboard can be found here. It shows a sample of our data for three countries: Peru, South Africa, and Indonesia. The data points include:
Credits issued vs. retired per vintage
Reseller availability and pricing
Wholesale price estimates
Volume and vintage price adjustments
Additionality scoring based on project methodology
Project proponent contact info
Verified SDGs for each project
Macro-level (country) data
Credit retirements / issuance over time, with comparisons to previous periods
Account-level transaction and retirement data
Country pricing comparisons
In addition to all the other data points we’ve had in the past (like breakdown of projects by registry, type, and country; estimated annual emissions reductions; project size; and more)
Sample project profile page.
For us, this is just the start. In the next weeks, we’ll be adding a lot of exciting data, including:
New registries (did you know there’s a registry for French forestry projects?)
CORSIA eligibility
Advanced quality scoring
Co-benefit analysis for projects (based on NLP analysis of PDDs)
CDM transaction data
Geospatial project analysis
Project news archives
Verifier and validator analysis
Continuous updates
And much more!
To date, we’ve given most of what we have away to the public via our Project Directory. This is something we’re committed to doing indefinitely, as a way to provide a useful tool for the marketplace. The Premium Data Dashboard is meant to be a product for those firms and organisations seeking to gain a superior, data-driven understanding of the market which has so far not been accessible to the market.
If you’re interested in learning more, check out our Dashboard demo here, and reach out to [email protected] to schedule a walkthrough. | https://medium.com/alliedcrowds/premium-data-for-carbon-offsetting-bec90c9da570 | ['Anton Root'] | 2021-06-08 14:30:58.885000+00:00 | ['Carbon Emissions', 'Innovation', 'Tech For Good', 'Climate Change', 'Carbon Footprint'] |
Weirdest Ways People Get High | Weirdest Ways People Get High
Photo by GoaShape on Unsplash
I should preface this article by explaining that I have never used drugs and am not promoting any of the methods described herein. This article is the result of me watching too many Vice videos and being simultaneously fascinated and horrified about the lengths people will go to for a fix.
1. Snake Venom
Grover et al. looked at the effects of snake venom on a 33-year-old male. The subject had a history of substance use for the past 15 years. By the age of 25 the subject started taking opioids and became highly dependent over the next year. The subject learned from his friends about the intoxicating effects of snake venom which could also act as a substitute to opioids. The patient subjected himself to the snake bite over the top of his tongue.
The snake bite was associated with jerky movements of the body, blurring of vision, and unresponsiveness, i.e. “blackout” as per the patient for 1 h. However, after waking up he experienced a heightened arousal and sense of well-being, which lasted for 3–4 weeks, which according to the patient was more intense than the state of high experienced till that time with any dose of alcohol or opioids. During these 3–4 weeks, he did not have any craving for alcohol and opioids and did not consume the same. After 3–4 weeks, the sense of well-being started to decline, he started to remain irritable, lethargic and started having craving for drugs. Following this, he again went for a snake bite. He again had a similar experience lasting for 3–4 weeks. After this, he started indulging in the snake bite every 3–4 weeks, so as to experience the sense of well-being and high associated with the snake bite.
It is thought that the alpha-neurotoxin found in cobra venom is known to act on nicotinic acetyl choline receptors (nAChRs). These possibly act through the acetylcholine receptors and can substitute morphine and mitigate opioid withdrawal.
2. Cough Syrup
Certain cough syrups contain a substance called dextromethorphan (DXM) which replaces codeine in cough medicines. At very high doses, it can mimic the effects of illegal drugs like PCP and ketamine. What surprised me most about using cough syrup to get high was the popularity of this drug. Zimbabwe is at risk of losing its youth to cough syrup, as the addiction epidemic has already engulfed what the experts estimate could be over half the country’s young people. BronCleer is the most popular cough syrup brand used and whilst being banned in Zimbabwe it is illegally imported from South Africa. It is sold on every street corner, in bars, schoolyards and on busses for as little as $3 a bottle. Despite the growing problem, Zimbabwe’s government has not yet opened rehabilitation clinics, meaning addicts are often sent to prison or psychiatric wards.
3. Nutmeg
Although generally known as a simple cooking spice common in autumn seasonal dishes, nutmeg actually contains trace amounts of myristicin when reduced to an essential oil form.
The first claims of nutmeg “intoxication” date back to the 1500s, after a pregnant woman had eaten more than 10 nutmeg nuts. It wasn’t until the 19th century that researchers began to investigate the effects of myristicin from nutmeg on the CNS. It takes quite a large dose to produce any noticeable effects, but those effects can include powerful hallucinations, similar to taking LSD, and can last several days.
In addition to the short-term effects of nutmeg intoxication, there are much more dangerous risks of consuming too much of this spice. In some cases, toxic doses of myristicin have caused organ failure. In other cases, nutmeg overdose has been linked to death when used in combination with other drugs.
4. Reindeer Urine
Photo by Robert Kalinagil on Unsplash
Reindeer urine contains psychoactive properties due to Fly Agaric mushrooms, a common diet staple of wild reindeer. Reindeer go to great lengths to seek out these mushrooms and eating the fungi makes them behave drunkenly, run about aimlessly and make strange noises. Head twitching is also common.
Fly Agaric mushrooms have psychoactive effects when eaten raw but also cause nausea and vomiting. Koryak peoples of Siberia discovered that passing through a reindeer’s urinary system removed these negative side effects while retaining the psychoactive effects.
5. iDosing
As odd as it may sound, some people have learned to get high using sound.
Commonly called iDosing, hearing some sound patterns at specific frequencies can have mind-altering effects. The music aims to simulate various mental states through the use of binaural beats, some of it named after recreational drugs. I-Doser tracks are usually 30–40 minutes long and administered with a program called I-Doser. The file format containing the encoded sounds ends in .drg which only the I-Doser program can run.
Generally speaking, this may be the safest form of substance abuse included on this list and has been subjected to much scepticism. | https://medium.com/@sjm-patterson/weirdest-ways-people-get-high-c0642d0a392d | ['Sarah Patterson'] | 2020-12-20 14:19:49.326000+00:00 | ['Science', 'Weird', 'Medicine', 'Drugs', 'Psychedelics'] |
Memory Management And Garbage Collection In Python | Memory Management And Garbage Collection In Python
Reference Counting and Generational Garbage Collection
You are at the right place if you have these questions while learning Python:
How is memory managed in Python?
What is garbage collection?
Which algorithms are used for memory management?
What is a cyclical reference?
How are Python objects stored in memory?
Let’s see if I can answer these questions and some more in this article:
I am starting with the fundamentals.
Python Is a Dynamically Typed Language.
We don’t declare the type of a variable when we assign a value to the variable in Python. It states the kind of variable in the runtime of the program. Other languages like C, C++, Java, etc.., there is a strict declaration of variables before assigning values to them.
As you can see below, we just assign a variable to an object and Python detects the type of the object.
Python detects the type of an object dynamically. Image by author made with Canva
How are Python objects stored in memory?
In C, C++, and Java we have variables and objects. Python has names, not variables. A Python object is stored in memory with names and references. A name is just a label for an object, so one object can have many names. A reference is a name(pointer) that refers to an object.
Every Python object has 3 things.
Python objects have three things: Type, value, and reference count. When we assign a name to a variable, its type is automatically detected by Python as we mentioned above. Value is declared while defining the object. Reference count is the number of names pointing that object.
Every Python object has three things. Image by author made with Canva
Garbage Collection:
Garbage collection is to release memory when the object is no longer in use. This system destroys the unused object and reuses its memory slot for new objects. You can imagine this as a recycling system in computers.
Python has an automated garbage collection. It has an algorithm to deallocate objects which are no longer needed. Python has two ways to delete the unused objects from the memory.
1. Reference counting:
The references are always counted and stored in memory.
In the example below, we assign c to 50. Even if we assign a new variable, the object is the same, the reference count increases by 1! Because every object has its own ID, we print the IDs of objects to see if they are the same or different.
Image by author made with Canva
When we change the value of a like in below, we create a new object. Now, a points to 60, b and c point to 50.
When we change a to None, we create a none object. Now the previous integer object has no reference, it is deleted by the garbage collection.
We assign b to a boolean object. The previous integer object is not deleted because it still has a reference by c.
Image by author made with Canva
Now we delete c. We decrease the reference count to c by one.
Image by author made with Canva
As you can see above, del() statement doesn’t delete objects, it removes the name (and reference) to the object. When the reference count is zero, the object is deleted from the system by the garbage collection.
Goods and bads of reference counting:
There are advantages and disadvantages of garbage collection by reference counting. For example, it is easy to implement. Programmers don’t have to worry about deleting objects when they are no longer used. However, this memory management is bad for memory itself! The algorithm always counts the reference numbers to the objects and stores the reference counts in the memory to keep the memory clean and make sure the programs run effectively.
Everything looks ok until now, but …
There is a problem!
The most important issue in reference counting garbage collection is that it doesn’t work in cyclical references.
What is a cyclical reference or reference cycle?
It is a situation in which an object refers to itself. The simplest cyclical reference is appending a list to itself.
The simplest cyclical reference. Image by author made with Canva
Reference counting alone can not destroy objects with cyclic references. If the reference count is not zero, the object cannot be deleted.
The solution to this problem is the second garbage collection method.
2. Generational Garbage Collection:
Generational garbage collection is a type of trace-based garbage collection. It can break cyclic references and delete the unused objects even if they are referred by themselves.
How does generational Garbage Collection work?
Python keeps track of every object in memory. 3 lists are created when a program is run. Generation 0, 1, and 2 lists.
Newly created objects are put in the Generation 0 list. A list is created for objects to discard. Reference cycles are detected. If an object has no outside references it is discarded. The objects who survived after this process are put in the Generation 1 list. The same steps are applied to the Generation 1 list. Survivals from the Generation 1 list are put in the Generation 2 list. The objects in the Generation 2 list stay there until the end of the program execution.
Generational garbage collection. Image by author made with Canva
Conclusion:
Python is a high-level language and we don’t have to do the memory management manually. Python garbage collection algorithm is very useful to open up space in the memory. Garbage collection is implemented in Python in two ways: reference counting and generational. When the reference count of an object reaches 0, reference counting garbage collection algorithm cleans up the object immediately. If you have a cycle, reference count doesn’t reach zero, you wait for the generational garbage collection algorithm to run and clean the object. While a programmer doesn’t have to think about garbage collection in Python, it can be useful to understand what is happening under the hood.
Hope I could answer the questions in the beginning of the article. For the questions you cannot find answers to:
Further reading:
Mutable and immutable objects in Python.
Here is an unpopular but great article in Medium
2. How to understand variables in Python.
Here is an interesting article about tuples.
3. Local and global namespaces.
Here is a detailed explanation from realpython.com
4. Tracing garbage collection.
Here is the Wikipedia link to “trace-based algorithms”.
5. Stack and heap memory.
Here is an explanation to “how variables are stored” from geekforgeeks.
Any suggestions to [email protected] will be very appreciated! | https://towardsdatascience.com/memory-management-and-garbage-collection-in-python-c1cb51d1612c | ['Seyma Tas'] | 2020-12-06 05:39:35+00:00 | ['Memory Management', 'Python', 'Data Science', 'Reference Counting', 'Computer Science'] |
Who Murdered Jason MacCullough? | O n August 27, 1999, Jason MacCullough goes to a party with a group of friends in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Just 1am on the 28th, Jason leaves the party alone to make the 1km (just over a half-mile) walk to his parent's house.
He decides to take a shortcut through a playground to save some time. It was a well-used path taken by many youths in the area that cuts through a playground.
This decision turned out to be a fatal one. At 1:30am, for reasons unknown, someone shoots Jason in the back of the head at nearly point-blank range, killing him instantly. Neighbors hear the shot and the sound of someone running away from the scene, and many of them call the police.
At 2:30am, with the assistance of police dogs, Jason’s body is discovered. He died less than 6 blocks from his home.
Police said that Jason was not involved in criminal activity, they could not find any motive and they had no suspects. They said he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. His family believes that Jason must have been mistaken for someone else.
Just a Normal Nice Kid
“He was the sweetest guy you could have met, would give you the shirt off his back, and I know that he did in one case… like that’s kind of guy that he was.”— Vanessa Clark, Jason’s cousin.
H e was a down to earth guy, even helping elderly neighbors with groceries or yard work. He had a reputation for being a nice helpful young man, but a little shy. He had just turned 19 in July, the month before his murder.
“The next day after that, the 29th, I was delivering the newspaper with the front page… the whole front page of the Chronicle Herald was my aunt’s face bawling her eyes out, and I had to deliver 32 papers around the neighborhood looking at my aunt. And that’s all it was, literally for the next two to three weeks, every day on the front page was my cousin.” Vanessa Clark
More Speed Bumps For Police
Jason’s murder is a difficult one for investigators. He had never been involved in criminal activity. There didn’t seem to be any financial, sexual, or personal motive. Jason wasn’t robbed. Whoever killed didn’t steal anything.
He was also murdered in a densely populated area that was a high traffic area. Many people heard the shot and called the police, but no one saw anything.
Witnesses Keep Silent
F or years, investigators believe that there were multiple witnesses to Jason’s murder, but no one has ever come forward. The people in Dartmouth have been tight-lipped.
Police have five “persons of interest” in the case. Three of them had broken into an apartment and demanded money at gunpoint. Although the 3 men were caught, none of them were charged with Jason’s murder.
20 Years Later
On August 28, 2019, on the 20th anniversary of Jason’s murder, the Halifax Police once again stated that their investigators believe there were several people in the area at the time of Jason’s murder and strongly believe there were witnesses to the crime.
At the time of Jason’s death, the family states that there was a kind of “code of silence” and not many people were willing to talk to the police. On the 20th anniversary of Jason’s murder, his family reiterated that they believe the investigation was hampered by the relationship between the Halifax police and the people of Dartmouth.
“It’s been so silent,” she says. “It’s just been 20 years of nothing” Vanessa Clark
The site of Jason’s murder now holds a park in his honor. Hopefully, the tips will keep coming with the park as a reminder or will spark some memory that leads to his murderer or murderers being brought to justice.
Although family hold drives and marches to keep the memory of Jason alive and hopefully generate more leads, at the time of this writing, the murder of 19-year-old Jason MacCullough remains unsolved.
The Police’s Relationship is Nothing New in Canada
Jason MacCullough’s murder highlights the issues between police and the general population in Canada. Multiply this a hundredfold for anyone with a First Nation’s background.
For years, the Police/RCMP have been used as a very physical deterrent for protests or blockades by First Nations people. Recently the RCMP were called to remove a blockade by the Wet’suwet’en people that were protesting a pipeline being built on their traditional territory. On this occasion, a handful of people were arrested. Other times have been more physical.
Police have been seen as the strong arm of the government when they should — no — need to be seen as protectors of the people.
The police, unfortunately, have a long road ahead of them to repair the trust that they once had. | https://zeph456.medium.com/who-murdered-jason-maccullough-7ed83923bcde | ['L Hall'] | 2020-10-20 04:02:33.337000+00:00 | ['Murder', 'True Crime', 'True Story', 'Canada'] |
Parmesan & White Wine Risotto | I’ll just come right out and say it. Wine and butter make for the best building blocks of a meal, and it is a damn shame that I don’t care for mussels because otherwise I KNOW that they would be all I eat.
In the meantime, when I am looking for a soupy, but not soup, dish with infinite depth and richness, I lean in hard to risotto with parmesan and white wine. I love the idea of a fussy-to-make dish that is very elemental in the ingredient list — arborio rice, wine, butter, shallots, chicken stock, parmesan, perhaps some peas or lemon or garlic if you’re felling frisky, but not required.
Standing over the stove and cooking down risotto is pretty laborious, but I love the way it develops as you go through the stages of adding broth cup by cup, and you watch the liquid go from stringent, bubbling white wine to a rich, velvet stock that gently coats each grain of rice.
Then the most satisfying part: you stir in the parmesan and the whole dish comes together in a slick, decadent cloud of flavor and texture. The twenty minutes of stirring (enjoying some leftover wine helps move things along in this stage) are worth the experience of sitting over a lovely bowl of risotto on a rainy evening, knowing that each fold of wine, cheese, and butter has been churned in with love. | https://medium.com/@alliejanez/parmesan-white-wine-risotto-c34dcaed6aab | ['Allie Jane'] | 2020-10-13 02:05:46.174000+00:00 | ['Cheese', 'Dinner', 'Parmesan', 'Risotto', 'Wine'] |
About Me — Vincent Werner. A German who grew up in Kenya and lives… | About Me — Vincent Werner
February 2020 before lockdown.
Dinosaurs and Disappointments
In primary school, I once wrote a story in a little A5 textbook. Since my dream at that time was to become an archaeologist, digging out the most amazing dinosaur fossils man has ever seen, the story was about ancient Egypt. Yes, I was quite obsessed with dinosaurs for a while.
Anyway, in that story, 3 men went on a journey to Egypt to discover the pyramids and look for… yes, of course, dinosaur fossils.
The story went something like this.
The men walked. They saw sand. It was hot. There was a secret pyramid.
I was 8.
The fact that I still remember this story now means that I really loved it. It meant something to me. And at that time, it meant so much to me that I decided to read it to my classmates and teachers in German class. You have to understand that I was not the one doing any extra work, ever. For some reason, I wanted to read it.
The teacher took some time at the end of the class to let me read my story. Everyone was sitting in a circle and staring at me. I started reading it.
The men walked. They saw sand. There was a secret pyramid. My teacher was bored after the first sentence, but my classmates were more interested. That was the first time I learned the magic of knowing your target audience.
Suddenly the unexpected happened. At some point in the middle of the story, I somehow skipped the page, or a page went missing, or something like. Whatever it was, I was suddenly not making any sense at all anymore. The story skipped to a different point, and I lost my flow.
I remember the school bell ringing to signal the end of class. As you can imagine, when the bell rings, no kid stays in the classroom. After 5 seconds, that room was empty. I was left sitting with my teacher. She looked at me and said:” You’ll finish the story next time. I never did.
I felt stupid and embarrassed that I couldn't read my own story properly. That day my writing career ended. Well, it took a looong break. Something inside me broke.
A new beginning
The next time I enjoyed writing was in Kenya. When I was 12 years old, my parents decided to take a leap of faith and leave Germany. At that time I hated school, I didn't see the point of learning stuff I didn’t enjoy. My grades were bad, and I wasn’t making an effort to improve them.
When my parents decided to leave for Kenya and asked me if I was okay with it, I didn’t think twice. But for my school, it wasn’t so easy. Suddenly the teachers felt a sense of responsibility for me. They were concerned that I wouldn't learn anything in Africa. Do they even have books?
My Sports teacher said that I would never learn English. My mum had to beg to get me into English after school curriculum, which was only for the kids who spoke good English to make them speak even better English. Welcome to the German school system, my friend.
My best friend Allan and I having a blast
Well, going to Kenya was probably the best decision my parents could have made. At least for me. The worse grade I would have in the first year was a B. The classes were in English. The environment was so different that it changed my whole perspective on life. Even though my parents split up and my mum stayed with me until I finished school, I am incredibly grateful for the journey.
I played football, got into running (400m-800m) and was Go-Karting whenever I could. And, enjoyed the Mombasa Beach life.
In my element
Back to black
After I got back in 2014, I was thrown back into the system like a wild tiger being chucked into the zoo. Worked for my neighbour in an apple juice factory, packing bottles by hand and driving the forklift, which was the best part. It was alright. I was making my first money.
After nearly two years, I had a fallout with the owner of the factory, who was the father of the neighbour I used to play with during my childhood until we moved to Kenya. My first boss was difficult and I was done with having a boss. I quit at the end of 2015. On the other hand, I have to thank him for getting me a job in Austria in the summer of 2015 in a sports hotel where I ended up working again in 2016 before moving to Amsterdam.
Back to the German system. Since I graduated high school in Kenya, I had graduated with the A-Levels. Usually the ticket to university. But not in Germany. I applied for different internships (Praktikum) dual studies between 2014–2016. Got some interviews, but in the end, they looked at my diploma like I was an Alien from Mars trying to infiltrate their system illegally. They were too scared to accept something out of the norm. Telling me to re-do my diploma in German.
At that stage, I was getting quite upset. I was living with my Dad, had little to no money and was treated like a stranger in my own country. Had broken up with my girlfriend who was studying in the UK. My friends were all doing their own thing. Either studying or working.
The only great thing was to be part of my old football club again. Training twice per week and matches on weekends.
From Apple juice to Cheese and Cannabis
Finally, in February 2016, I went to Amsterdam to do the intake test to get accepted at a Sports, Business and Management Bachelor. I had always had a passion for health and fitness and saw this as one of the only ways “out”.
I remember getting the email in April that I was accepted. Wow. What a day. At the time, I had a little Smart Cabrio that I drove all the way to the UK with 2 months after I had my license. After I opened the email, I drove to the supermarket to get a bottle of Champagne, well prosecco, to celebrate.
Me now. Just joking. You can see my Smart Car in the top right corner yellow- blueish. I was dreaming.
Fast forward to Amsterdam, I was set on starting my own business and did that last year with www.fusion-kinetic.com. I’d been waiting to do that since I started the study in 2016. We got to the Philips Innovation Awards in April 2020, but after Corona hit the planet, we were forced into stealth mode.
Oh, I almost forgot. In April 2017 I started tourguiding in Amsterdam. A time when the city was so full of tourists that even tourists were complaining about the tourists. So if you are visiting Amsterdam when all this is over and you want to know all about the history of the Dutch, let me know.
While I was starting Fusion Kinetic, I realised that I like writing. Again. So I started writing for fun and created a blog where I wrote about health, fitness and nutrition.
Soon I got obsessed with writing to persuade. Since I was doing all the communication and marketing for the start-up, I had to pull up my sleeves and learn. However, my girlfriend jumped on board and helped me a ton. (Thank you) During our Kickstarter campaign, which was a crazy idea to start so early, I was learning copywriting.
David Ogilvy, John Caples, Claude C. Hopkins, you name it. I was consuming the sales letters and adverts like an addict.
Right now, I still love it. I have to thank the pandemic for keeping me locked in to be able to focus on learning. Out of every crisis comes opportunity. We just need to keep looking forward.
Thank you for reading! | https://medium.com/about-me-stories/about-me-vincent-werner-e40ced5769eb | ['Vincent Werner'] | 2020-12-04 18:02:58.169000+00:00 | ['Biography', 'Life', 'About Me', 'Journey Of Life', 'Life Lessons'] |
Sign up for the Toilet Paper Caper | Sign up for the Toilet Paper Caper
The World Needs a Hero
Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash
These are trying times for sure. We need to band together with our collective, humorous unconsciousness and unleash a new Stark mystery on the world. Want to contribute to the insanity in order to keep ourselves sane? Sign up for a chapter in the comments below and I’ll add you to the line up.
The rules are simple — keep it first person, Stark’s perspective. Around a 3 to 5 minute read is a great length. Tag your story “Toilet Paper Caper” so it lands on the correct page.
New writers comment below if you’d like to take a stab at a chapter and we’ll add you as a writer to the publication before you submit a chapter.
If you’ve got an idea for a longer story please sign up for two chapters. Other than that, go wild. Can Stark time travel? Jump through space? Meet up with characters from past stories? Yes, yes, yes please. Brush up on your 1970s trivia and let’s go to the West Coast with Stark.
Chapter 1: Terrye Turpin
Chapter 2: Dan Leicht
Chapter 3: P.G. Barnett
Chapter 4: Mark Starlin
Chapter 5: John K. Adams
Chapter 6: Glenda Thompson
Chapter 7: Lon Shapiro
Chapter 8: Michael Stang
Chapter 9: Terrye Turpin
Chapter 10: Mark Starlin
Chapter 11: Elle Fredine
Chapter 12: Laura Johnson
Chapter 13: Dan Leicht
Chapter 14: Glenda Thompson
Chapter 15: Lon Shapiro
Chapter 16: Tommy Paley
Chapter 17: Terrye Turpin
Chapter 18: Tommy Paley
Chapter 19: Elle Fredine
Chapter 20: Terrye Turpin (The Ending)
I’m tagging anyone who wrote a chapter for other stories and feel free to tag folks in the comments if you think they’d be interested.
As we cruise through the first chapters, let us know if you’re up to a second round of writing. Thanks to everyone who contributed so far!
Mark Starlin, Lon Shapiro, Dan Leicht, John K Adams, Glenda Thompson, Michael Stang, Tommy Paley, Kirk Nelson, P.G. Barnett, Indira Reddy, A Maguire, Jeff Suwak, Karen Fayeth | https://medium.com/out-of-ideas-out-of-time/sign-up-for-the-toilet-paper-caper-84862fef3b42 | ['Terrye Turpin'] | 2020-04-24 02:14:34.042000+00:00 | ['Mystery', 'Stark Mystery', 'Fiction', 'Toilet Paper Caper', 'Humor'] |
Start saving for retirement in your 20s | One of the biggest questions about retirement is when to start saving. The idea to start saving for something 40 years in the future can be hard when you’re early in your career, sitting with a student loan and earning a small salary. Even though you might be in your early 20s and retirement may seem a long way off, it’s vital to start sooner rather than later. In conjunction with having youth on your side, you also have time on your side, which means your money can grow over a longer period.
Why start early?
Here are three reasons why you shouldn’t delay retirement planning:
If you think about it carefully, when you’re in your 20’s you still have minimal financial obligations, making it the best time to set money aside. You’re probably still free from expenses such as childrens’ university fees or a home loan. Retirement savings offer some tax benefits that will lower your tax expense. Many companies offer a pension benefit plan as part of employee benefits, where both you and your company contribute towards your retirement. These contributions can be subtracted from your gross income, thus lowering the total amount you’ll need to pay tax on. If your employer doesn’t provide some sort of pension funds benefit, a Retirement Annuity (RA) is a great way to invest for the future, as any interest, dividends and capital gains earned are tax-free. This is a long-term investment vehicle, provided by many financial institutions in the country. In order to benefit from tax benefits, you can contribute up to a maximum of 27.5% of your income or R350,000 per year (whichever is less). The longer you invest your money, the bigger your nest egg at retirement will be. If you start early, you can afford to put away less, as you’ll be earning ‘’interest on interest’’ for the coming years. This phenomenon is better known as compound interest — the main reason to start early with retirement planning.
The miracle of compounding
If you’re unfamiliar with the phrase, it’s interest earned on your initial invested amount as well as the accumulated interest from previous periods. The more the number of compounding periods, the quicker you can reach your investment goal.
To get the basics right, let’s look at two examples:
Example 1: this shows the importance of starting with retirement planning straight away. If someone was to invest R500 per month and earn an annual return of 7%, this is how much money they would have at retirement age based on when they start:
Example 2: Let’s look at the difference between compound and simple interest.
Paul invests a once-off sum of R500 000 for 5 years at an annual simple interest rate of 7%. This means he earns 7% interest on the initial R500 000 only:
Liz invests a once-off sum of R500 000 for 5 years at an annual interest rate of 7% compounded. This means she earns interest on the initial R500 000, plus the interest that gets reinvested as soon as it’s earned:
Retirement planning is an ongoing process where you need to regularly update your retirement objectives as your financial situation changes. If you start early, you can afford to put away less as you’ll be earning ‘’interest on interest’’ for the coming years. If all of this is a bit overwhelming, you can always approach a financial adviser to help you map out a retirement plan.
Written by Marnia | https://medium.com/@22seven/start-saving-for-retirement-in-your-20s-db643ab632c5 | [] | 2020-11-27 09:27:05.829000+00:00 | ['Finance', 'Retirement Plan', 'Savings', '22seven', 'Retirement'] |
Family Matchmaking App Aims to Help More Muslims Find True Love | The Muslim community has been hard hit by Covid-19. Families feel anxiety and despair around finding a suitable spouse for their loved ones under current conditions.
TechRound Top 50 BAME Entrepreneur finalist, Fateha Majid, has developed the first Family Matchmaking app for Muslims called Biye Biye. It combines traditional matchmaking with modern technology. It’s FREE and available to download in Google and Apple Stores.
Fateha’s short-lived marriage back in 2012 led her to conduct research into the process of finding love within the Muslim community. The three emerging themes are: 1) Families are not very connected with families of the same origin 2) Process of finding love through family is stressful and 3) Single Muslims become disenchanted with finding love.
She developed an app which addresses these issues and takes a whole family approach to finding love. It’s in line with traditional, cultural and religious values. Key features include: Family Video Chat, to allow Muslim families to safely get to know other families. There is also a Share Profile feature that allows the single Muslim to share their comments on each potential suitor sent to them before introductions are made.
When Fateha was working as a Safeguarding Social Worker, she asked her family to introduce her to potential suitors. She realised that they weren’t well connected in the community, and despite their best efforts to find a compatible match for Fateha, it didn’t happen and she ended up falling for a man she did not meet through family.
In a short space of time, they were married and she moved in with his family. “The first time I tried to leave was after the honeymoon. Five months later, I found myself crying on a park bench whilst it was pouring down with rain. I was desperately pleading with God saying “Please, please, please change my circumstance or remove me out of this situation.” I felt something change within myself and felt a sense of peace. Few hours later I turned up on my parents door step.”
“I am now happily married with a ‘lockdown’ baby. I absolutely adore the family I have married into. I look back at that day on the bench with such gratitude. It was Divine Intervention. I don’t want anyone to go through what I went through as it’s quite traumatic. I wanted to create a product that helps families to step away from a scarcity mindset which can potentially lead to forced marriages. To move towards an abundance mindset where they feel empowered to find a suitable partner on this platform for their loved ones irrespective of what they have been through.” | https://medium.com/bold-ambition/family-matchmaking-app-aims-to-help-more-muslims-find-true-love-4f5066722ecb | ['Jen Frances'] | 2020-12-01 16:04:56.752000+00:00 | ['Marriage', 'Weddings', 'Dating App', 'Muslim', 'Dating'] |
Daniel Sprick’s Hiraeth — A Little Light Magic | Daniel Sprick’s Hiraeth — A Little Light Magic
“What we see is just a little bit of what’s actually going on. I can’t really consciously put spirit or the next world into the painting, not really consciously, it just comes out that way and it really only comes out to people who have eyes to see it.”
Michael Pearce /MutualArt
Daniel Sprick, Lilacs, oil paint on wood panel, 30 x 24
There is a word in the ancient Welsh tongue which captures the deep longing wanderers sometimes experience for a lost home, or for a vanished place where our hearts once found their comfort. This profound feeling, called “hiraeth,” perfectly describes this unsettling yearning, this atavistic desire, this romantic hunger for the lost homeland in which our souls might find rest in equilibrium with nature, in harmony with the world and in concord with our ancestors. The pragmatic Saxons called it “heimweh,” which meant “home-woe” or “home-pain,” but this is neither full nor rich enough a word to describe the personal and mythic mixture of sadness and nostalgic pleasure that encircle the Celtic hiraeth (pronounced “heerath”), which folds together the feelings of spiritual emptiness and physical yearning we experience when dwelling within this sensual and emotional state. The English called it home-sickness, but hiraeth is beyond being merely a longing for return to the familiar; it is a void which can only be filled by envelopment in the beloved, the mythological home we desire and mourn, which may have never actually existed, which may never have been manifest in the world, may be a place where our souls sense their source, where the spirits of our forebears call to us, where our histories entwine with the land in perfect harmony with our spirits. In our hiraeth we imagine ourselves in concord with this perfected place, our selves disintegrating into unity with this homeland.
Daniel Sprick, Bed, oil paint on wood panel, 10 x 12
The master painter Daniel Sprick conjures his hiraeth in images, in humble interiors which capture simple moments of his domestic life. Here it is in his vision of an unmade bed full of the glow and light of white sheets, where the sleeping and rested body has left its mark on creased and rumpled cloth, a nested refuge and sanctuary floating over the rich darkness of a polished warm and wooden floor. Here it is in a cityscape of the Denver skyline under the embrace of clouds, set behind a balcony setting of platters and fruit, spread stretched and sublime under sunset’s long pink and sensual glow. And here it is, composed and arranged in blue and white ceramics and milk-white jars, a peeled orange and flowers picked out in a ray of light, against a sticky and dawn rose sky outside, framed by the foliate shapes of natural forms. A glass ball replicates the twisted and empty room. Everything is doubled in a mirror which faces us, but no-one is present here. There is no reflection of the observing artist, no sign of any observer. Who will fill the void? Nature abhors a vacuum, and the clean blankness of these bare platters begs us to bring food — the absence invites us to offer ourselves to the communal table, to fill these empty spaces, to satisfy our hiraeth.
Daniel Sprick, Still Life and the City, oil paint on wood panel, 24 x 30
Sprick has learned to find his way along the enchanted paths that lie beyond ordinary technical mastery, and has entered the unknown country of divine light, a supernatural and marginal world of sensory magic. His paintings resemble reality, but they share his subtle vision of the space between our world and the world of vibrating light. Here is his hiraeth, crafted from light. “Energy is in vibration and everything in the universe is vibration,” he says, “and so, really, I speak of it metaphorically without even knowing what vibration really is on a physical level — you know, you can see sound vibration sometimes on the surface of a glass of water. I understand acoustic vibration, that’s the easiest to understand, much more than light vibration, because I have to take the physicists’ word for it there.”
Daniel Sprick, Fantasy Landscape, oil paint on wood panel, 24 x 36
Outside he paints in the morning light beside still waters, in the sunny brightness at the rapids, at twilight beside the riverbend. Back in the studio he is a conjurer, shaping light to create a magic world, inventing imaginary landscapes. He belongs to nature. Sunlight has never shaped the riverbank like this, where the umber undercut meets the reflecting water, and circled sunshine beams through nightfall, but Sprick senses how the special play of light might touch the soul and arranges his oils like the interlacing verse of incantation. “What we see is just a little bit of what’s actually going on. I can’t really consciously put spirit or the next world into the painting, not really consciously, it just comes out that way and it really only comes out to people who have eyes to see it,” he says. Here is his hiraeth. The landscape is glorious to him, and its sky arches over him standing high upon the misty land. He is Thoreau’s transcendent hero, this painter of the return to the archetypal home.
Daniel Sprick, Destiny and Aspiration, oil paint on wood panel, 60 x 30
A woman clasps her hands in warm affirmation, in grateful prayer, in happy abandonment to complete and open welcome, framed dark against pink and purple snow, under a pale sky split by a low oak branch at the edge of a cold nemeton in an icy land and backed by a house in shadow, waiting to be joined by friends and family. She is the embodied spirit of the friendly hearth, the incarnation of hiraeth’s warm flame, standing before air, on frosty earth and frozen water.
We live among many whose lives are complete in hearth and heart, who may never feel hiraeth. They may hear the word but never know its music, they may see these paintings but never perceive a lost spiritual or physical home in them, for they have never wandered far from their own, and though they may rest easy in pragmatic and contented lives, their hearts, while beating an earthy and steady pace, are dulled to the rhythms of other spheres, and their heavy ears cannot hear the romantic and mystic melodies of the imagined land; they are closed to the counterpoint of hiraeth.
Daniel Sprick, Imaginary Creek, oil paint on wood panel, 24 x 33
Wanderers can never truly come home, for they have gathered the wide sight that long travel brings, and they hunger for a remembered time and place which has slipped away into the foreign country of the past, and their metaphysical longing can never be fulfilled — but their eyes may open wide to the healing Sprick’s pictures bring, a substitute for the lost and sacred center, an anchor, a new foundation. Here is his hiraeth. | https://medium.com/mutualart/daniel-spricks-hiraeth-a-little-light-magic-9651b8c5b0ca | [] | 2020-09-13 09:35:08.352000+00:00 | ['Painting', 'Traveling', 'Art', 'Emotions', 'Nostalgia'] |
Is your NLP dataset suffering from bias? | An Introduction
Is your NLP dataset suffering from bias?
Introduction
The Perspective API from Jigsaw and Google aims at moderating toxic content in online social media platforms to promote a more civil and inclusive environment for everyone.
Although it seems to work pretty well at first, but on a deeper look🕵️♂️ some serious cracks start to appear. Let’s understand them using example input sequences and corresponding classifications from the API:
(1) I can kill you with my knife ➡️ 98.65% threatening
(2) I can kill you with my sarcasm ➡️ 97.62% threatening
(3) If looks could kill, I would be dead by now 😂 ➡️ 95.35% threatening
(4) If looks could pay, I would be rich by now 😎 ➡️ 18.16% threatening
Their model has clearly developed a bias towards the words kill and dead, and flags sequences as threatening even when used in a non-threatening context. In terms defined by [4], we can say that the model is over-generalising these words towards being threatening.
As a result, it is failing to capture the context they appear in appropriately.
Let’s look at some reasons that can lead to these unintended generalisations by the model.
Before we proceed
Due to my field of interest, the examples used in this article revolve around hate-speech/abuse detection. However, the principles discussed here are not limited to any field, and extend to a variety of other datasets. Go on further, and decide for yourself if your dataset shows any symptoms of bias 👩⚕️
Feel free to follow along the companion Jupyter notebook for a more hands-on introduction! 💻 🤓
The meaning of bias in datasets
Our machine learning algorithms can only be as good as the data that they try to model 📊.
Textual datasets are vulnerable to capturing biases due to a wide variety of reasons. Some of the common types of biases are:
Bias due to social stereotypes: [2] show that even the Google News article dataset exhibit a disturbing amount of gender stereotypes by revealing that the word2vec embeddings trained on this dataset show a close association for the terms ‘female’ ↔ ️‘homemaker’ and ‘male’ ↔ ‘computer programmer’.
Bias due to skewed classes: It is often the case that “pure” sampled data tends to contain a very sparse representation of a certain label. For example, [3] estimate that the hateful content constitutes of at max 3% of the total tweets on Twitter. Hence, if a dataset is generated by randomly picking tweets from Twitter, it is expected to contain (at best) 3% hateful tweets. Models trained on these low-density datasets tend to develop a bias against these less-represented classes, tending to predict the higher-represented classes by default.
Bias introduced during sampling: Bias due to skewed classes can prompt dataset creators to resolve to different sampling/filtering techniques to increase the density of a particular label. Some of these commonly adopted techniques include:
Boosted random sampling: Simple (or “pure”) random sampling followed by some heuristic to boost the desirable label. For example, collect tweets at random from a specific time frame followed by adding more tweets from the users who are known to post content with the desirable label. Biased topic sampling: Directly pick up samples from specific topics which are known to engage content with the desirable label. For example, tweets related to migrants are known to attract abusive posts.
Bias in Annotation: [6] point to the drawbacks of crowdsourcing annotation to platforms like Mechanical Turk, CrowdFlower, etc. Improper supervision of the annotators can lead to their demographic (gender/ethnicity/belief/other) alignments bias their annotations. [7] also discuss the drawback of creating a gold-standard dataset by methods like aggregation by majority, in which they support the importance of separately capturing each individual annotator’s viewpoints.
Why should you care about these biases anyway? 🤷♂️
These unintended irregularities in the training data further leak into the models trained on them, bringing down their performance on new unseen data.
Let’s take a hate-speech classification dataset by [5]. It is known to suffer from false-positive bias due to a presence of abusive words in the non-hateful class in the test split. This leads to a large proportion of neutral samples being classified as hateful (aka false-positives):
Colab notebook present here.
As we can see, a BERT ([8]) model trained on this dataset performs near-perfect on the train split, moderately-well on the validation split, but fails to generalise on the test split with a low accuracy and F1-score.
(Try plugging in your own dataset into the companion Jupyter notebook and see if you can notice any bias in model predictions 😉)
Let’s take a look at some of the samples that wrongly get classified as hateful:
(1) @user b***h i love you with my whole heart ur my fave person ever thank u ❤️️
(2) anyway this b***h is back and ready to detest boygroups minus bts and bap with her whole heart and being
(3) @user b***h dont test me
(4) @user @user agreed! tonight's show was very informative. tucker is brilliant, and @user is so smart buildthatwall
(5) california needs voter id! ice at every polling station! voterid voterfraud buildthatwall
...
The model seems to be biased towards words like:
b***h: an abuse, but can also be used in a non-hateful context (eg- in AAE) buildthatwall: a hashtag that attracts hate against immigrants
Yes, you guessed it right! Our dataset is suffering from bias 🤒 which is visible in our model’s predictions.
What’s next 🤔
In this article we saw some of the common causes of bias in NLP model. We also looked at a way of manually inspecting 🔍 bias in our dataset.
In the next article, we will dive deeper into systematic ways of detecting and mitigating bias from NLP datasets 🌊🏊♂️. | https://towardsdatascience.com/is-your-nlp-dataset-suffering-from-bias-9fa26db33de0 | ['Tanmay Garg'] | 2020-12-19 13:29:20.061000+00:00 | ['Dataset', 'Bias', 'NLP'] |
Sascha Meyer & Ralf Sigmund, MOIA: How future-proof is ride-sharing? | What started with a brilliant launch at TechCrunch Disrupt in 2016, has become a moving landmark in cities like Hamburg and Hanover. With its electric shuttles, MOIA brings the idea of sustainable mobility services on the road. Sascha Meyer, Chief Product Officer, and Ralf Sigmund, Chief Technology Officer at MOIA, show us how the companies’ deep tech provides a holistic customer experience — digital and physical.
Copyright: MOIA
The use of private cars has been declining in Germany’s largest cities for more than a decade — even if only slowly. People are increasingly making their way by foot, bicycle, public transport, or car and ride-sharing. The social trend away from individual transportation is reflected in the ever-decreasing car and driver’s license ownership among the younger population. In addition to the existing offer of local public transport, new forms of individual mobility are pushing into cities in the wake of digitalization — and as a result, a need for new infrastructures.
In this episode of REWRITE TECH, Sascha Meyer, Chief Product Officer, and Ralf Sigmund, Chief Technology Officer, from the ride pooling-service MOIA give insights into their business model and their approach to build an outstanding user experience.
MOIA — the deep tech behind ride-pooling
The idea of multi-passenger shuttles wasn’t inherently new back in 2016. What was new, when MOIA jumped right into the German market, was its idea of mobility as an experience. Under the VW umbrella of brands, the new venture division provides comfortable rides with electric vans through cities. Customers can submit a booking request via the app with their desired pickup and destination. MOIA suggests up to three trip offers, from which they select the most suitable. “That’s what we do by heart,” says Sascha Meyer, Chief Product Officer at MOIA. “There is a lot of magic going on behind the scenes: Our algorithms.”
Unlike its parent company Volkswagen Group, MOIA isn’t an automotive company, but a deep-tech startup that develops easy-to-use consumer products. The person leading the IT development is Ralf Sigmund. “From the van, the hardware and software to the charging infrastructure — at MOIA, we are very product-focused,” says the Chief Technology Officer. “We started right from the green field with only a few people. Today we manage a fleet of hundreds of full-time operating vehicles and their drivers. The most important thing is to learn from operations and our customers to further improve the product.”
The team just invested more than a year to switch to a new algorithm. With the help of the new algorithm, the fleet as well as dynamic behaviour can be better controlled. Also, in terms of electric mobility, the development isn’t finished as the team still gains new insights about the long-term viability of battery operations.
“Electromobility is a part of the future that is starting right now” — Ralf Sigmund
Ralf Sigmund
Delivering an excellent product experience
Due to MOIA’s nature as a ride pooling-service, the user experience is not limited to the digital product. The “MOIA +6” van was specially designed for ride-pooling by MOIA in cooperation with Volkswagen. “This vehicle is catered towards the needs of riders”, explains Sascha. “It’s very comfortable, it’s quiet and the seating allows anyone to enter individually.”
Overall, the teams at MOIA try to think holistic to ensure all passengers have a great experience starting by opening the app until their payment is done. The reasoning behind that is simple: “Customers don’t differentiate between the physical and the digital part of an experience,” knows Sascha, hence all parts of the user journey must be simple and delightful.
How future-proof is ride-sharing?
In times of the Corona pandemic, the concept of ride-sharing services was put to the test. Many people are currently staying at home and switch to individual modes of travel. MOIA responded with a sophisticated hygiene concept such as partitions between driver and customers and increased the cleaning of the vans. To prevent the further spread of the virus and to support the policy decision, MOIA temporarily suspended their service on December 24th. The company intends to resume regular service as soon as the restrictions on public life are lifted and the demand for mobility returns to normal.
But it was not only the pandemic that recently caused movement on the market. Many ride-sharing providers had to discontinue their services because of high operating costs and lack of profitability. MOIA, on the other hand, could catch on due to its sustainable business model and VW as a strong stakeholder in its back. “When we started, we went all-in,” says Sascha Meyer. “What sets us apart from competitors are our special ingredients for the European market: We have our own operations, charging infrastructure, and full-time drivers. We try to build a sustainable business model — ecological and socially.”
MOIA relies on close cooperation with the cities and provides perspectives on how the future of mobility can look like. Moreover, MOIA conducts a study with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the University of Munich to inspect what impact its fleet has on traffic and mobility behaviour in cities.
“The future of mobility is colourful — ranging from bikes, e-scooters to car and ride-sharing and based on the fundament of a strong public transport.” — Sascha Meyer
Sascha Meyer
Listen to REWRITE TECH with Sascha Meyer & Ralf Sigmund from MOIA
You find the whole conversation with Kelly on all audio streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Amazon Music.
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Find out more about REWRITE TECH. | https://medium.com/rewrite-tech/sascha-meyer-ralf-sigmund-moia-how-future-proof-is-ride-sharing-159438d97395 | ['Sarah Schulze Darup'] | 2021-01-11 08:19:20.151000+00:00 | ['Innovation', 'Mobility', 'Shared Economy', 'Automotive', 'Ridesharing'] |
2022 hospitality and travel trends | Editor of BHN Eloise Hanson outlines her six key hospitality and travel trends set to shape the hotel sector in 2022.
Motels make a comeback
Motels have long been stereotyped as stale and beige accommodations. Though with the hospitality landscape now altered, there’s opportunity to breathe new life into outmoded buildings.
In the US, motels have made a contemporary comeback with the likes of Bunkhouse and most recently The June Motel, made popular on Netflix. Being small in size and with stylish interiors, you could argue that these properties are more aligned with boutique hotels. For instance Casetta Group has revived the historic Casa Cody and Life House has been selected to manage the Rancho Caymus Inn — both of which feature exterior corridors that are synonymous with motels despite the properties marketed as boutique hotels.
To better iterate my point, Mollie’s Motel & Diner from the team behind Soho House has revealed ambitious plans to open 100 additional sites within the next decade. The self-described “budget luxe” brand is catering to the many trends brought about by covid. Mollie’s is seeking city centre and roadside locations which can help to future-proof the brand by appealing to both the international and domestic markets. On premises, Mollie’s room types span double, twin, bunk and interconnecting for solo and group travellers, and there’s even coworking space at one of two already open sites to attract the mobile workforce.
Established names such as Motel One has also signed a 20-year lease for a hotel in New York City which marks the chain’s entry into the US market. The brand has also moved into Scandinavia with an opening in Copenhagen.
Combine healthy expansion plans with the fact that economy hotels are recovering quicker than their counterparts, I can see factors including affordability, high-end design, and the community vibe that motels instil helping to drive this particular accommodation as a popular choice.
Owners diversify portfolios
This year, we’ve seen many hotel owners and operators pivot to the extended-stay market. Sage Hospitality Group, which has a portfolio of around 100 hotels and restaurants, has recently announced the opening of its first independent long-stay product Catbird in Denver. Similarly, plans have been lodged to develop the first Hotel Indigo property with extended stay suites in Blackpool. These two examples show how the move towards long-stay options is beginning to pervade the boutique and lifestyle hotel segment whereas historically, upscale and luxury hotels have offered apartments and suites.
Coupled with this market shift is the fact that city centre properties have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Investor appetite in resort destinations has comparatively surged, evidenced by Hyatt’s multi-billion dollar acquisition of Apple Leisure Group. In fact, leisure demand has been so strong that groups such as Farncombe Estate, Another Place and Exclusive Collection have introduced new inventory including cabins, treehouses and cottages.
Just as with the pivot to extended stay, I think owners will re-evaluate their product offering and across different locations too. Exclusive Collection has partnered with Home House Collection to allow members access to respective properties — with Exclusive spread across the British countryside and Home House located in London. I think we’re either going to see similar partnerships emerge or owners deciding to expand across markets.
That’s because managing a diversified portfolio mitigates risk and balances reward. It’s precisely why the larger hotel chains (which are dominantly asset-light) launch new brands. Accor has just announced its latest luxury brand Emblems Collection, which takes the group’s portfolio up to more than 40 brands. IHG, Wyndham and Radisson have also all launched soft brands during the pandemic, clearly spying opportunity to support independent hotel owners who thus far have generally bore the brunt of rent deferrals and high operating costs imbalanced against low occupancies.
Just as the chains are showing interest in independent hotels, I think owners will also be weighing up whether to brand or unbrand their properties. Portfolios will offer variety — either by brand, location, or by product.
F&B gets a revamp
When hotels were forced to close their doors, some pivoted to offer takeaway and delivery services. It provided an alternative revenue stream when rooms could no longer drive the business. Amanda Ramsey, owner of the Stair Arms Hotel in Scotland, has since introduced a permanent drive through housed in an old shipping container as a result of operating a successful takeaway service six days a week during lockdown.
The closure of restaurants has also accelerated the growth of ghost kitchens by an estimated five years. There are several models in which the kitchens operate, the most common being a stand-alone site with no front of house offering. Some hotels have however seen the opportunity to outsource their F&B operations to a dark kitchen operator. For example, Graduate Hotels has partnered with food and beverage platform C3 to launch a food hall concept within select properties. The digital model will allow Graduate to offer an array of cuisines, available to either dine-in, takeaway or via delivery, from one place.
Emphasising a property’s on-site dining experience will be necessary to remain relevant and compete with the digital takeaway world. In some cases, it may be best to leave F&B concept development in the hands of restaurateurs.
As is the mindset of Robert Thompson, founder and CEO of Angevin & Co. His business has partnered with Lark Hotels to launch several hospitality projects across the States, the first being The Frenchmen Hotel in New Orleans. “We are designing hotel spaces from a restaurateur’s perspective and reengineering the food and beverage platform at each destination to elevate the guest experience,” explained Thompson. Restaurant brand developer Sam Fox is also moving into luxury hotels with the opening of The Global Ambassador in Phoenix, 2023.
It wouldn’t be the first time that leaders with a F&B background enter the hotel space. BrewDog opened two hotels in Manchester and Edinburgh this year, and FAUCHON Hospitality opened its second property in Kyoto, Japan with a third signed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In some extreme cases, brands such as KFC even launched a themed pop-up hotel in London over the summer.
The pop-up concept has been embraced by many hotel groups. Newly launched UK brand GuestHouse recently introduced a Tipple Truck at select food festivals, and The Hoxton has opened an incubator kitchen at its site in Holborn for chefs in residence. The rotating nature of these projects lends itself to staying at the fore of food trends. Chef Mark Greenaway who runs Grazing at the Waldorf Astoria in Edinburgh has just opened a fine dining venue in London’s Covent Garden called Pivot, where the menu is reinvented each month.
When it comes to menus, the roll out of QR codes for customers to digitally browse, order and pay for their meals has seen a huge uptake. IHG Hotels & Resorts CEO Keith Barr recently called for more innovation in the F&B sector, particularly in the deployment of technology to drive a positive guest experience.
Customer-facing tech such as the ability to rate your dish with feedback sent directly to the kitchen has come into play; payment systems to accumulate orders as a digital tab with options to tip are being implemented; and with sustainability rising up the agenda, I wonder if customer’s will be able trace the ingredients used by kitchen teams, and have the choice to offset the carbon emission of their meal.
Next year, there’s real potential for hotels to be innovative, even experimental, in their F&B service and offering.
S in ESG becomes amplified
G7 and COP26 this year has pushed sustainability to the forefront of conversations. There is increasing pressure for businesses to report, track and measure their environmental and social impact as government regulations become tighter and attitudes shift.
Some of the hotel chains have upped their efforts to implement an ESG strategy (environmental, social and corporate governance). IHG has outlined five commitments which the group aims to achieve over the next decade, and Accor has appointed a chief sustainability officer to drive the company’s values.
Independent hotel groups, by virtue of having less managerial hoops to jump through, are further ahead in their sustainability journey. Exclusive Collection has recently become the first UK hotel group to achieve B Corp status, and Banyan Tree Group aligns all its brands under a “Stay for Good” program based on ESG principles. Some stand alone properties are actively pursuing social initiatives such as Lore Group’s upcoming One Hundred Shoreditch hotel, which has partnered with two local charities to offer support.
The focus on the social component of ESG has naturally been amplified by the pandemic. Consumers are shopping locally and key workers have been recognised and endorsed. In hospitality, current staffing problems has also prompted a re-evaluation of contracts and working conditions, with many employers now introducing additional entitlements such as access to a mental health counsellor and greater flexibility around shifts.
Some investment firms are even starting to pay more attention to the social aspect of ESG. CGI Merchant Group has this year launched Conscious Certified Hotels, where one per cent of hotel revenue will be donated to local organisations. “We’ve also just teamed up with a historically black school that’s building a hospitality department,” CEO Raoul Thomas said. “In that, we think we can have a recruitment pipeline of students. We’re helping to define the curriculum, to offer guest lecturers, and to evolve the students. We think it’s a great way for us to nourish and create a future pool of talent.”
To show how the S in ESG is shaping the decision making criteria for investment, Lily Wecker, vice president of Zetland Capital explained: “When we invest in a hotel or any hospitality asset… we typically look at how the operators have treated their people in the past and whether the management team has any room for improvement in terms of caring for their team members as well as the guests. It’s an integral part of our due diligence process now and our investment community treats it as a gatekeeping item before final approval.
“Since acquisition, we’ve now rolled out a requirement for all the hotels we own to complete an employee engagement survey. It’s anonymous, but the point of doing this survey is to ensure there’s enough communication across different levels and different departments around the acquisition and change of ownership, and to provide a sense of security and safety to all staff members. We do track retention rates at different levels… and we focus a lot on human resource development, promoting from within, and making sure we don’t lose people to other industries for instance.”
Wecker also mentioned a company goal to pay employees a living rather rather than minimum wage, which is being piloted at The Morrison Hotel with a view to introduce across the portfolio. Other hotel owners have made this same decision, including Red Hotels in Cornwall and Manorview Hotel Group in Scotland.
Steps have already been taken to address and improve the social arm of ESG commitments, and I expect this continue well into the new year and beyond.
Consolidation in hotel tech
Technology adoption, accelerated by the pandemic across many sectors, has set the stakes pretty high for hospitality and even more so for hotels. Customers are seeking highly personalised stays and convenient touch points (whether self-service or face-to-face) at a time when the industry is grappling with labour shortages. Digital transformation has moved from a discretionary spend to become essential infrastructure and will serve an important purpose in the route to recovery.
Some hotel brands such as PUBLIC and citizenM designed and launched their own bespoke app, whereas on the supplier side, platforms such as ALICE and Duve introduced enhanced features and capabilities — all in response to the market shifts brought about by covid.
Other tech developers are steering away from proprietary solutions. apaleo for instance created an Open Hospitality Cloud ecosystem in 2017, built from collaborations of multiple software suppliers that have agreed on a common API. Integration is one of the biggest pain points for general managers, and the ability to customise a tech stack is compromised when interfaces can’t speak to each other. If the shift towards contactless hotel stays is to become permanent, the need to easily upgrade or deploy technology will be paramount — particularly as new suppliers enter the market. Management system SIHOT has just launched an Integration Finder tool to enable hoteliers source additional functionalities and applications to enhance their internal systems.
Similarly, TripAdvisor Plus has upgraded its infrastructure to connect with partners including SiteMinder, Roiback, Derbysoft and WebHotelier. Taking this a step further, some companies such as Cendyn and Mews have merged with and acquired technology platforms to offer a more expansive suite of tools.
Life House appears to be taking the same approach. A hotel brand and management company, the group has recently completed a $60 million funding round led by new investors KAYAK and Inovia Capital to sell its software platform directly to hoteliers and operators. Although a unique example where Life House is both hotel manager and software developer, the company will leverage API-first products in the market to build the platform.
The technology solutions that hoteliers require already exist, and I believe 2022 will be the year for greater collaboration.
Hotels embrace cryptocurrencies
Several enabling factors have supported a growing interest in and the adoption of cryptocurrencies. Just as Bitcoin was born out of the financial crash of 2007–08, the economic downturn brought about by the pandemic saw the collapse of the global stock markets. With that, the price of crypto dropped. Disposable time and potentially money as a result of the lockdowns has seen user interest in crypto spike. Currently, there are around 8,000 different cryptocurrencies and tokens listed on coincapmarket.com.
Earlier this year, The Kessler Collection became the first luxury hotel group in the United States to partner with BitPay. Chief financial officer Fravy Collazo said at the time: “This move will make it easier for guests traveling globally, both in time saved from going to a local currency exchange and in money saved with a lower exchange rate.” Since then, Pavilions Hotels & Resorts has made the shift too, along with a handful of independent hotels including the Bobby Hotel in Nashville (US), The Chedi Andermatt in Switzerland, and The Cranleigh Boutique in Bowness on Windermere (UK).
The flexibility granted from independently owning and/or operating hotels largely comes in to focus here. To my knowledge, none of the top hotel chains accept cryptocurrency though I suspect this will soon change. Other hospitality asset classes such as aparthotels already accept cryptocurrency as a form of payment. In the UK, brands such as Citadines, part of The Ascott Limited, allows international students to pay for their stay in crypto. The Ascott has even issued non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which are cryptographic assets on blockchain that provide proof of ownership and scarcity for digital content, as competition prizes for its loyalty members.
The knock-on effect this can have on loyalty programmes is huge. Rohit Talwar, CEO of Fast Future explained: “The Mastercard initiative is going to accept loyalty points, so for example I might be able to bring my loyalty points in from Hyatt and convert them to crypto and use this anywhere. But you’ll see more and more brands allowing customers to take their loyalty points in a crypto. I think we’ll also see more aggregators emerge who will allow exchange between loyalty points into crypto and back again, but I think we’ll also see some new and interesting partnerships.
“For example, Singapore Airlines with their KrisFlyer program is allowing some level of conversion from crypto to their own tokens. You could start to see powerful alliances between hotel groups and airlines. We’re even starting to see some hotel brands being born as a crypto venture — whether that’s financing the property, the way they’re running the reservations business, or the way they’re running their loyalty scheme.”
As Talwar highlighted, major corporations outside of hospitality are showing greater interest in crypto. Companies such as Amazon and Walmart posted job vacancies this summer for a digital currency expert, and as industries like retail ramp up efforts to roll out a crypto strategy, others will begin to follow.
In this year’s Trendsetter webinar, Rohit Talwar (Fast Future), Lily Wecker (Zetland Capital) and Bram van der Hoek (Sircle Collection) contributed to the discussion. Watch the replay here.
Here’s my 2021 travel trend predictions — how did I get on? | https://medium.com/@inthospmedia/2022-hospitality-and-travel-trends-9213be416f7 | ['International Hospitality Media'] | 2021-12-15 09:31:52.526000+00:00 | ['Travel', 'Hotel', '2022', 'Hospitality', 'Trends'] |
Healing My Sexual Trauma | I didn’t have a plan B when I quit the job that was soul-sucking my life away. I just didn’t have a choice. I wanted change, but I wasn’t ready to change. It didn’t matter whether I was ready or not. I had to go with the flow of the Universe because she knows best and she had already chosen for me.
The same thing I warn people about, that the healing journey is not one to be taken lightly, is the same thing tripping me up right now. You never know where this journey will take you. You have to be open-minded, and open hearted, to any and all possibilities. If there’s one thing I want to teach it’s that.
Often when we don’t leave our comfort zones willingly, we are forcibly removed from them in a painful and surprising way. Regardless of who you are, and where you’re at, you have to take that L with grace and dignity.
Spiritual expansion is the goal: not worldy-expansion, or the acquisition of material wealth and comfort — although that’s a nice reward and desired outcome. Spiritual self development doesn’t always look pleasant and pretty; like something you would want to do. You have to go through the painstaking work of peeling back the veils of illusion in search of personal truth for yourself. It’s a solo journey. It doesn’t always make sense to others. But with unprecedented soul-journeying comes depths within oneself that no one else can describe, no one else can claim to understand, and no one else can advise us upon. We are the only ones in there, and we are the only ones with whom we can consult about our inner depths.
But in some ways, the soul-journey is also a communal journey. The amazing thing about openly and honestly sharing with ourselves and others about what we think and feel, is that it automatically attracts people to us who match with our vibration, and it automatically repels people who don’t. The part of this that causes pain, is when we have emotional or familial attachments to people whose vibration doesn’t resonate with ours. It hurts when they’re naturally pulled away. But there can be no other way. | https://medium.com/muslim-women-speak/healing-my-sexual-trauma-6c4e24c6e854 | ['Majnooni Confessions'] | 2019-07-02 18:37:52.835000+00:00 | ['Health', 'Sex', 'Feminism', 'Spirituality', 'Religion'] |
hostels and hotels | My sister was an au-pair in Toulouse, France, for a year. At the end of her year there, I visited her and we traveled in a big semi-circle around France, hitting the places we most wanted to see. We stayed in hostels because that’s what we could afford. (I couldn’t even afford that; I ended up with several thousand dollars of credit card debt I spent the next couple years paying down. It was worth it. Life is short. How many times do you get to visit France with your sister who has become very fluent in French?)
Our first day we travelled to Carcasonne, a fortress castle on a hill above a town called Nimes, where the particular indigo dye used for denim originated from. (The word “denim” comes from “de Nimes,” or ‘from Nimes’.) We walked up a slowly spiraling cobblestone street flanked on both sides by houses painted various pastel colors with faded denim-blue window shutters. Hilariously, we dragged heavy wheeled suitcases behind us, because we were between destinations and would not arrive at our hostel till that night, in a different town, and could not find a place to safely keep our suitcases during our day trip. It was only two years after 9/11, so the train stations would not allow us to keep our luggage in lockers.
Our arms hurt, the suitcases bumped and jostled and jiggled and jerked along the big cobblestones. We were tired, sweaty. But we were filled with the excitement of the first day of an adventure. We dragged our suitcases up narrow stone staircases to climb to the top of the castle’s rampart walls. We looked like two silly American college tourists, so silly we didn’t even have the good sense to “backpack” as most American college students would do on a budget. In hindsight I could’ve packed much lighter, but I wanted my trip to be perfect and needed to wear the perfect clothing. It was France! I wanted to be stylish!
After Carcasonne we waited at the train station, to take a train to Arles, where Vincent Van Gogh did his most famous paintings and went insane. While we waited on the platform, a creepy old Frenchman began speaking to us. I avoided him by giving off my best vibe of “leave me alone, I am not interested.” But my sister was too polite, too nice, too afraid to be considered a bitch, so she half-heartedly showed him engagement out of a sense of obligation. When the train arrived she said “Let’s try to find a place on the train where he won’t find us.”
We could have chosen a compartment that had other tourists, but I saw him climb onto the train behind us and notice us, and so, a little panicked and not thinking strategically, I quickly ducked into an empty compartment, my sister close on my heels. We soon realized our error when the man joined us in our compartment. Now we were alone with him. He continued to try and chat with us, me not comprehending most of what he was saying, my sister carrying the brunt of the conversation.
He did that thing some men do. He tested our boundaries. He lightly touched our knees supposedly to emphasize something he was saying, tapped us, very “innocent” touching but it’s always a test to see how uncomfortable it makes the woman. Eventually he emboldened himself enough to rest his hand on my knee. I looked at him, made eye contact, and said firmly, “Non.”
He didn’t try to touch my knee again, but he touched my sister’s knee. She was too afraid of disapproval to be that bitch and say no.
Finally after what seemed like an eternal train ride, we arrived in Arles and grabbed our suitcases as quickly as we could and high-tailed it down the street, hoping our walk to the hostel would be un-disturbed by Monsieur Creeper. Thank heaven he did not follow.
Halfway to the hostel a wheel popped off the cute green suitcase my youngest sister had loaned me. Damn! That was going to hinder our trip, since we planned on walking many places with our luggage. I picked up the wheel and burned my hand! Dropped it and realized just how much friction a small suitcase wheel can build while being dragged to and fro across cobblestoned streets. The next day I went to a small department store and found a suitable replacement.
Our hostel was suitable. Outside there was music playing loud in the street! Beats and bass, bumpin. “How extraordinary!” I kept thinking. My first evening in France and there’s a party happening! We were itching to walk around town.
We walked past an old home with lots of windows. Out of every window, in every window box, an eccentric person had placed all variety of stuffed animals and fake flowers.
Further along, on a narrow cobblestone street surrounded by three-story apartment buildings that existed since the Middle Ages, we encountered a man with a small organ and a monkey! The monkey wore a red velvet vest and played tambourines and bulged its eyes and pulled its lips back in a smile. People dropped tips in a brass pitcher.
A few steps further was a window in a wall. In a tiny room a small family was selling sandwiches. We bought two sandwiches and two Limonata. The sandwich was this: half a baguette, sliced lengthwise + tomato + fresh mozzarella + basil leaves + salt + pepper + olive oil + balsamic vinegar. It was one of the most delicious meals I’ve ever eaten. (For some reason I remember best the street food I’ve eaten while walking as a tourist.)
As we ate and continued to walk, we came around a corner onto a large plaza full of people sitting and drinking and smoking and chatting in the warm evening air. To our left on one side of the plaza was a cafe that looked extremely familiar, and a sandwich-board sign in front of us that showed the Van Gogh painting “Cafe at Night.” This was the cafe! I was standing right there looking at the actual cafe Van Gogh had painted! And there it was, being actually used the same way it had in the painting! People milled about and seemed to think there was nothing extraordinary about sitting at the same cafe that was in a Van Gogh painting. That was just ordinary life for people living in Arles. Later we saw the place where the prostitute lived whom Van Gogh had become obsessed with and sent his cut-off ear in a box.
While we were in France the World Cup was happening, and France was doing well, with Zane Zidane as their star player. People in Arles would put their television in their window and people would gather around on the narrow cobblestone streets outside a home, and watch television from the sidewalk. When something bad or good happened to their team, we could hear cheers all over the entire town. On a street corner, a group of men played pan-pipes.
We proceeded to Nice, where we stayed in another hostel and made plans to go to a dance-club our first night. It was Friday! A perfect night to see the town! Except that I had jet-lag and my sister too was exhausted. We decided to nap and wake up at 10pm, get ready and go. Only when our 10pm alarm attempted to wake us up, we were both groggy. “Should we get up and go to the club? Or should we keep sleeping?” we asked each other. We decided to keep sleeping.
In Nice we went to the train station to purchase tickets to a town called Limoges, where the famous “limoges” porcelain containers with hinged lids are made. Our dad had dated a woman named Barb who collected limoges, that was how we knew what they were. So we asked the man behind the ticket booth for two tickets to Limoges.
“Limoges?” he asked. “Quelle idee.” What an idea.
We understood his sarcasm when we reached Limoges. It wasn’t bad at all, a clean French town, but it wasn’t what we had expected. We thought there would be porcelain everywhere, and a factory. Our expectations were fueled by the memory of Dresden, Germany, where the Meissen porcelain factory and museum resided — so much porcelain we got tired of it! There were porcelain tiles decorating short walls along the sides of streets. There was a dairy shop completely covered floor walls and ceiling in blue and white tiles! We thought Limoges would be the same, but they didn’t seem to hold the same pride in their namesake product.
We went to a bar that Saturday night — a “Wild West” themed bar! A French guy kept talking to us and flirting with us. Asked us where we were from. “Seattle,” we replied. Like most French people, he did not recognize where Seattle was. “Nirvana?” we tried. “The Space Needle?”
Finally the thing we figured out he knew about Seattle was the WTO riots! Throughout France we had the same experience again and again: people didn’t know anything about Seattle except for the WTO riots.
The guy at the bar was trying to figure out if we were single. “So who do you live with?” he asked.
“I live with my mom,” my sister replied.
“I live with my fiance,” I replied.
That was the end of that guy’s flirtation. He disappeared for the rest of the night, and we went home, a little bored.
That night, I talked in my sleep. “Where are we?” I asked.
My sister answered, “We’re in our hotel room.”
I couldn’t make sense of where our hotel room was. “What country are we in?” I asked in my haze. I had slept in so many different rooms the past several nights, I was completely dis-oriented. My sister laughed and told me “France.”
“Limoges?” I asked, still uncertain.
“Yes,” she answered. “Limoges.” Quelle idee. | https://medium.com/@rebeccapeterson/hostels-and-hote-47efe1825fe3 | ['Rebecca Peterson'] | 2020-06-10 16:02:41.975000+00:00 | ['Vacation', 'Hotel', 'Travel', 'Europe', 'France'] |
David Attenborough Presents: A Drunken Thirty-Something Female Coming Home Alone (Again) | Photo by Yohann LIBOT on Unsplash
Here we have a thirty-something female returning home from the rare, wild night out. A birthday party is the likely culprit. Her attire, high waisted jeans and a crop top, suggests that she is likely still single, which could be the reason she is in fact so intoxicated.
Once paired up, thirty-somethings tend not to dress so vibrantly or get quite so inebriated, deeming it less necessary once they’ve attracted a mate.
She climbs out of the Uber, carefully, and makes her way up the stairs. Now for the tricky part; finding the right key to enter her dwelling. A couple attempts, and she’s in.
After removing her stilettos, it’s straight to the kitchen. She needs water, desperately. But she cannot keep it down and makes a beeline for the restroom. Nonetheless, if there’s one thing that can be said for drunk thirty-somethings, it’s that they know when and where to vomit.
You won’t see them retching on a dance floor or in an Uber. That is a move displayed predominantly by twenty-somethings before they’ve reached maturity. She’s even found a hair tie in time, pulling her hair safely out of the way of the vomit. It’s not her first rodeo.
She is ejecting excess alcohol from her system, a biological response which will shield her from symptoms of alcohol poisoning, or in lesser cases, simply feeling like hot garbage in the morning.
And she’s back on her feet; brushing her teeth, washing her face, even applying night cream! She is absolutely smashed yet still has the wherewithal to put on anti-wrinkle cream. This shows just how crucial it is for the survival of women in their thirties to not look old. Her brain is functioning at a much lower cognitive level than normal yet it still knows that she cannot afford to appear wrinkled, as it will drive away potential mates.
Now asleep, we see her tossing and turning through the night. Thirty-somethings aren’t as adept at processing alcohol, and consuming it in excess can result in disrupted sleep patterns and multiple trips to the bathroom for urinating, vomiting, or both, if she’s really unlucky.
She’s back up. Merely half an hour has passed and she is reaching for the hair-tie, signaling the need to expel more alcohol from her system.
Even in this sleepy state, the thirty-something woman can locate her toilet in the darkness. Using a primitive form of echolocation, she bumps into walls until the toilet is located by the echo of her voice shouting “Damnit!” It’s a method unique to the drunk human.
It appears she’s moved the bath mat over to the toilet to offer some cushion for her kneecaps while she vomits. Again, remarkable survival skills specific to females of mating age. They cannot afford to be seen with bruises on their knees or inappropriate assumptions could be drawn which may render them unsuitable as a mate.
She has finished vomiting again and is up on her feet. The stumble back to the bed is typically a bit easier as the eyes have adjusted to the darkness, despite the drunk thirty-something’s lack of night vision.
She’s back in bed. She’ll need her rest. Let’s hope she stays put until the morning, when the real battle begins.
As dawn awakens the city of Los Angeles, our drunken thirty-something has metamorphosed overnight into a different animal: the hungover thirty-something. Close encounters with hungover thirty-somethings can be dangerous, and the state can last for days. Often, madness and anger accompany the physical feelings of unwell, making them exceptionally threatening.
This one does not appear to be an early riser, as the sun has now been up for hours, and still, she seeks respite under the coverage of her duvet.
She begins to stir; the eyes open and — oh, they’ve closed again quite quickly. The hand comes to the forehead, a classic sign of discomfort in the frontal cortex, or a headache.
She is really struggling, as intimated by her curling up into the fetal position, a classic sign of defeat exhibited by the thirty-something in this hungover state.
Her other arm extends, reaching out for her water glass, but it appears to have been knocked over by her cat in the middle of the night and is now empty. If she wants water, she’s going to have to get up and walk to the watering hole, more commonly known around here as the Brita.
This is one of the most challenging moves for a hungover thirty-something — standing up. Let’s see if she’s up to the task. She’s weaving a bit… Aaaand success. She’s on her feet, headed straight for the coffee maker. Looks like she might survive this day after all. | https://medium.com/slackjaw/david-attenborough-presents-a-drunken-thirty-something-female-coming-home-alone-again-42b2e19d4a43 | ['Kelly Shanley'] | 2020-08-25 18:26:32+00:00 | ['Satire', 'Thirty Something', 'Humor', 'Single', 'Drunk'] |
Who financed Rep. Mike Kelly’s reelection campaign? | Who financed Rep. Mike Kelly’s reelection campaign?
Rep. Mike Kelly held onto national attention for several weeks by filing lawsuits demanding that the PA Supreme Court -as well as the US Supreme court, throw out 2.5 million mail-in ballots from PA voters. His decision is no spurprise. By petitioning to disenfranchise thousands of his own constituents -and millions throughout the state- he merely continued his long-time habit of blindly marching to President Trump’s orders, and parroting his altered facts.
The incumbent won a 6th term in Congress this year with substantial help from corporate allies. Two of the top contributors to his reelection were CVS Health ($17,000), and Bank of America ($15,600), as hundreds of others gave his campaign similar amounts, which doesn’t include the unlimited -and unreported- amounts of money these companies and their executives can give through super PACs.
CVS’s support for Rep. Kelly, shouldn’t be surprising. They did not report their outside spending because Citizens United has made reporting optional. Their contributions to the candidates were only a slice of what they’ve given to the Republican National Committees for US Senate and the US House.
Rep. Kelly received a $17,000 contribution, which was only slightly higher than CVS’s support for Sen. Mitch McConnell at $14,000. How the decision was made to give the maximum PAC support to Rep. Mike Kelly is unclear. Employees are often given a vote as to how the company is going to use some portion of the company’s PAC spending. That’s how an additional $7,000 above the PAC’s direct contribution limit was given.
Photo found at Goerie.com’s Nov 28th article: “Pa. Supreme Court dismisses Mike Kelly-led lawsuit that sought to invalidate mail-in votes”
Hundreds of corporate donors contributed big and small amounts to Rep. Mike Kelly’s bid to win reelection this year. In known contributions, those corporate sponsors gave Kelly $2.2 million to defeat Democrat Kristy Gnibus, who raised $580,000. By adding their financial support, these corporate sponsors gave Rep. Kelly’s conspiracy theory-peddling their thumbs up.
With year-end campaign finance reports still forthcoming, opensecrets.org shows that Rep. Mike Kelly’s strongest support came from insurance and pharmaceutical industry PACs. Two of the top contributors to his reelection were CVS Health ($17,000), and Bank of America ($15,600).
Consumers and employees must hold corporations accountable for their political contributions, or those companies will continue to endorse candidates like Rep. Mike Kelly, as well as the extremism they bring to Washington.
Dozens of large and small insurance companies (full list of insurers can be found here) saw Rep. Kelly’s brand of Trumpism worth supporting with PAC money. Cigna Corp ($10,000), Pacific Life Insurance ($10,000), TransAmerica ($10,000), Thrivent Financial ($9,500), Lincoln National Corp ($9,000). Without these boatloads of PAC cash, this kind of politics wouldn’t be able to persist.
OpenSecrets.org’s summary of known contributors to Rep. Mike Kelly’s 2020 campaign for US Congress.
Without big and small contributions from these companies, Republican candidates could never keep winning their elections. Prudential Financial ($8,500), MetLife Inc ($8,000), Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance ($7,500), New York Life Insurance ($7,500), AFLAC Inc ($5,500), Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield ($5,300), Blue Cross & Blue Shield Assn ($5,200), Nationwide ($3,500).
Rep. Mike Kelly represents the most dangerous extremism within today’s Republican Party. Not only did he spear-head the efforts to thwart democracy, he attacked public health officials’ attempts to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
That didn’t stop 42 pharmaceutical company PACs from giving over $140,000 to his campaign. Why so many? It’s harder to make corporations accountable when a lot of companies give various, and seemingly random amounts.
Big names include: Merck & Co ($10,000), Abbott Laboratories ($9,000), Amgen Inc ($8,500), Pfizer Inc ($7,500), AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals ($5,000), Johnson & Johnson ($5,000), Viatris Inc ($5,000) Novartis Corp ($4,500) Sanofi US ($4,500 ), GlaxoSmithKline ($3,500), Bayer Corp ($2,500), AmerisourceBergen Corp ($2,000), Eli Lilly & Co ($1,000), Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA ($1,000).
But as we are shopping for gifts this holiday season, perhaps we should keep in mind that the executives at some of the following retailers found Rep. Mike Kelly’s politics palpable.
Companies often try to give customers the impression that they’re liberal in liberal areas, but the money they spend in Washington sometimes tells a different story. Lowe’s Companies ($8,500), Home Depot ($7,500), Walmart Inc ($4,000), Target Corp ($2,500), Gap Inc ($2,000), National Assn of Chain Drug Stores ($2,000), Best Buy ($1,000), Walgreens ($1,000).
Influence in Washington is designed to have complicated twists and turns that are hard to follow. That’s why diving into campaign finance is likely to make your head spin until you get your bearings.
To support my political writing: ko-fi.com/writernate | https://medium.com/progressive-prospects/who-financed-rep-mike-kellys-reelection-campaign-8a0c80e3e538 | ['Nate Craig'] | 2020-12-16 07:39:12.824000+00:00 | ['Elections', 'Corporate Citizenship', 'Congress', 'Campaign Finance', 'Election 2020'] |
Crypto exchanger SerenityPay became a bestseller of Blockchain Life 2019 | The team of Serenity presented an ecosystem of unique products for Forex brokers, blockchain startups and traders at Blockchain Life 2019 in Moscow.
Serenity became a Platinum sponsor of Blockchain Life 2019, Europe’s largest cryptocurrency industry event that took place in Moscow on October 16th–17th. During the two days, the expo was attended by over 4,800 participants from the spheres of blockchain, mining, and cryptocurrency. The forum has exceeded all expectations in terms of the keenness of interest towards the world of cryptocurrency.
At the expo, Serenity presented the already established products for Forex brokers, crypto traders, and fin-tech start-ups, as well as new offerings. Together they make up the growing ecosystem of Serenity that ensures the transparency of trading and crypto-fiat exchange.
The Serenity core team at BlockchainLife2019
On the first day of Blockchain Life 2019, the range of Serenity products was expanded by a margin trading platform and SerenityPay, an exchanger that accepts transfers from bank cards.
The subject of the most intense interest among the expo participants was the new exchanger SerenityPay which works both in a bundle with the exchange Serenity.Exchange and separately. The exchanger accepts fiat currencies from the bank cards Visa and MasterCard. Currently, the platform supports BTC, ETH, LTC, USDT, and GUSD. SerenityPay can be used to make deposits into Serenity.Exchange accounts with regular bank cards.
“It is of utmost importance to us that any client with an ordinary fiat bank card can deposit into their account on the crypto exchange and the margin trading platform,” commented a co-founder of Serenity Financial Anton Vasin.
The margin trading platform Margin.Serenity.Exchange significantly expands the trading capabilities of the exchange. Margin trading provides traders with access to larger amounts of funds for trading than have on their balance.
Specifically for managing margin trading accounts, the Serenity team has developed a convenient personal area, ready for use by both traders and partners.
Both platforms are available as White Label. And to celebrate their release, Serenity.Exchange cuts trading commission from 0.2% to 0.1%. These conditions are valid until December 31st, 2019.
The team also presented a unique smart contract-based blockchain escrow designed to increase trust between traders and brokers both in Forex and cryptocurrency industry.
According to the CTO of Serenity Financial Vasily Alexeev, blockchain technology has been having an increasingly strong influence on financial markets. Alexeev attributes it to the fact that blockchain ensures the security and irreversibility of transactions. He notes that smart contracts automate the processes that had to be conducted manually before: today, even the most conservative banks are starting to replace letters of credit with smart contracts.
“There are governmental organizations that deal with claims in Forex, but they all have a significant drawback: they can’t force Forex brokers to comply with a decision that is not in their favor. If a company refuses to pay, the independent regulator can not influence them. This is a defining feature of Serenity: having predetermined the conditions of a smart contract, the funds will be transferred to the client automatically if their claim is well-founded.
“This is how it works: the money goes to the smart contract and can be transferred only to two parties: the broker or the trader. To withdrawal to take place, both parties have to agree on the receiving party. If a client has a claim, the broker can’t withdraw the funds and vice versa. In such case, Serenity reviews the dispute and approves or rejects the request. At least one party has to agree with this decision, and the funds will be transferred either to the trader or the broker. Another important aspect of such system is that the money can’t be withdrawn by any other party, for example by Serenity, since the blockchain technology doesn’t allow to retroactively change the transaction,” tells Vasily Alexeev.
In May 2019, the Serenity team launched a cryptocurrency exchange that aggregates liquidity from major exchanges. This platform is also available as a White Label.
“Development of the cryptocurrency exchange is one of the most important areas of focus for us. In particular, we are working to merge the personal area of the exchange with Escrow and the partner section. We’re also in the process of developing a loyalty program for all products of our ecosystem,” said Anton Vasin.
Aside from the new developments, the team of Serenity rewarded their colleagues with a giveaway of warm prizes. At the end of each event, the participants who had been most active on social media received branded hoodies, sweatshirts and T-shirts from Serenity. The cozy gifts found their way to those who posted creative selfies at the Serenity booth or shared the project’s news on their Facebook and Instagram pages.
One of the winners in the Serenity social media contest — Vladimir Vinnikov.
The Serenity contest winners wearing their warm gifts.
Serenity Financial provides blockchain solutions for brokers, cryptocurrency traders, and fin-tech start-ups. Interested in a product or a service? Contact us: [email protected]; @Anton_Vasin. | https://medium.com/serenity-project/cryptoexchanger-serenity-pay-became-a-bestseller-of-blockchain-life-2019-55176c82b82d | ['Serenity Financial'] | 2020-02-13 10:03:52.669000+00:00 | ['Margin Trading', 'Blockchain', 'Cryptoexchanger', 'Blockchainlife2019', 'Crypto Exchange'] |
$MEONG is now LIVE at PancakeSwap | $MEONG is now LIVE at PancakeSwap
$MEONG ❤ Pancake
The time is now.
Thank you to all family who join our private sale and trust us.
$MEONG is now LIVE at PancakeSwap.
MeongFamily can check our price , just >>click here<<
$MEONG Smart Contract is :
0x464acc420607d818f271875552868ddf8095cafe
How to buy $MEONG at PancakeSwap ?
Download and Open TrustWallet.
this is TrustWallet
2. Swap BNB to BSC (Smart Chain)
Make Sure you have BNB at your TrustWallet.
If you don’t have, you can transfer it from your other wallet first.
After that you will need to swap you BNB to BSC (Smart Chain)
First Click your BNB, then find the 3 dots below BNB, click the dot. Then click “Swap to Smart Chain” . Refer to picture below.
this is BNB at TrustWallet
3. Go to Dapps , scroll down to find PancakeSwap
At the bottom side of Trust Wallet, find DApps, refer to picture.
find DApps
At DApps, scroll down until you find Pancake Swap.
Click PancakeSwap
4. Connect your TrustWallet to PancakeSwap
Click connect at the very top of PancakeSwap, don’t forget to connect to your Smart Chain.
connect your wallet
5. Buy $MEONG with BSC (Smart Chain)
Now you can buy $MEONG by swapping your BNB through Smart Chain!
You can only buy 5 trillion $MEONG at once.
Slippage is 13–15%
Don’t forget to change the slippage
P.S:
Don’t forget to turn on $MEONG on your Trust Wallet.
Go to right top at TrustWallet home and click that icon
this one
2. Type MEONG and turn it on.
this one
There you go (:
Thank you for purchasing $MEONG.
Let’s HODL and see you on the top (: | https://medium.com/@meongtoken/meong-is-now-live-at-pancakeswap-8c4cf9f5176a | ['Meong Token'] | 2021-07-03 19:13:43.026000+00:00 | ['Nft', 'Pancakeswap', 'Live', 'Meongtoken', 'Cattoken'] |
Journey | Journey
Enjoy the journey not just the destination, it is easier said than done. Especially, when the bus taking you to your destination is swerving in the western ghats.
I should have seen this coming. The bus painted in almost every perceptible combination of RGB, the LED lights that lit up the interiors, and the Dolby surround speakers advertised loudly, were clear signs. But I grabbed a seat anyway.
It was pouring outside. The monsoon well underway and the window seat did me no favour. That was a bad move on my part. A packed bus, water spraying on to my face from the stubborn window that refused to close, and a ticket to Guruvayur. Neither the journey nor the destination seemed enjoyable.
The swerving got crazier with each turn. Head light from motion sickness, the seething anger, and everything I ate for breakfast reached a boiling point very soon!
I arrived at my destination that day, after having thrown up twice. I don’t remember much of the ordeal that ensued. But I clearly remember the sight of two lungi clad men head bobbing to Lajjavathiye, blaring from the speakers. Enjoying the Dolby surround sound and most importantly, enjoying the journey. | https://medium.com/@abhiram/journey-ac1e80d649b9 | ['Abhiram Iyer'] | 2020-12-07 02:32:34.335000+00:00 | ['India', 'Life', 'Journey'] |
Overthinking your real estate research? How much is too much? | Is this the house for me?
Real estate is a national hobby in Australia. Whether you are looking to buy or sell now or later, or just want to know what the market is doing, major real estate listing sites get plenty of traffic. But what is it that people want to know? Clearly at the top of the list is property values. You either want to know that you paid, or will pay, the right price for a property, or that it is going up at a good rate since you bought it, thereby increasing your wealth. But how important is this really at a micro level?
In Australia, home owners hold onto their houses for just over 11 years on average and their apartments for just under 10 years on average. Over the last 25 years the median property value increase has averaged 6.8% per annum which means that for the average time held, values will have more than doubled. Looking at what price is paid on purchase, even a 2% difference (which equals about $17,000 on current average values of $850,000) seems to be not so significant against a value increase of $850,000+ from now until sold in 10+ years’ time.
That extra 2% paid may give you the edge to secure the property you really desire. Further, at current interest rates of say 3.5%, your extra monthly repayments for principle and interest should vary by around $100 only. The problem is that we get drawn into the comparison game where we want to know we are getting the best deal possible and that we are buying into the highest potential value-increasing property. Should our decision-making on a major lifestyle choice be predicated on that basis?
Leaving price/value aside, what should we look for in our property research?
Simple view of locality profile
It seems that many property portals are now giving us potentially everything, including the colour and style of the kitchen sink! We now have the opportunity to access historical and current data on the property, locality, risks, community characteristics, neighbours, crime, traffic, shops, schools, parks, fees, transport, services, ethnicity, crime, drugs, climate (change), planning, pollution, broadband, drive times, pests, insurance loadings, family demographics, bike and walking trails, sporting clubs, coffee quality and much more!! The result is that we are being overwhelmed by data/information that is rarely presented in a logical and simple manner to allow easy profiling of any specific property.
Let’s therefore go back to basics such as the intuitive approach offered by Residz which is about having a simple view of whether a property meets your needs in terms of layout and whether the local area and community aligns with your lifestyle. Those attributes, even allowing for different family profiles, should be easily attainable with a few clicks from a simple locality or address search, all up taking less than 15 minutes. Spending more time to dig deeper is then up to you depending on your specific hobbyhorse. This is what other real estate portals need to get back to instead of looking like the controls of an alien spacecraft with no user guide. | https://medium.com/@stepwalker/overthinking-your-real-estate-research-how-much-is-too-much-8e7cd4d74374 | ['Steve Walker'] | 2020-10-13 05:33:55.192000+00:00 | ['Research', 'Data', 'Property', 'Maps', 'Real Estate'] |
Forever Dream — (Chapter 9) Dragons and Horses | “I’m a Doctor, Ms Hanazaki. I was appointed by your father to care for you while you’re in the influence of drugs and to help with the schizophrenia.”
Kagawa smiles gently at the girl and almost looks like he genuinely cares for her. For a second, Hide questions where his loyalties might lie but shakes his head at the thought. He doesn’t exactly have the liberty to choose his accomplice now, does he? Not after revealing everything to the man already.
So he chooses to monitor the man for now and watches Kagawa push the breakfast tray — that had turned cold and soggy now — towards the young girl. “You should eat before we can further discuss the matters of your health, Ms Hanazaki.”
She doesn’t respond but Hide is shocked to see her nod her head and pull the tray closer. She starts eating and Kagawa looks back at him from over his shoulders and smirks mockingly. It takes every bit of his self-restraint not to ram the phoney doctor’s head through the bedroom window.
He moves to sit beside her and Kagawa, and the girl stops biting for a while, watching his from the corner of her eyes before turning to him with raised eyes.
For the first time in a week since they’ve met, she’s looking at him. Into his eyes. Unflinchingly calm.
“You must be my fiance. Kito Nagoya.”
He scans the crevices of his brain from any information on a certain Kito Nagoya in the list of people she is supposed to know, that he was given by his mother, but finds nothing. “No. Rui. I’m Rui Atashi.”
She smiles gently waving her spoon in the air and slow claps as she exclaims, “I’m impressed. You didn’t fall for the trick question.” Hide pats his back in triumph and almost thinks he can actually fool her but she breaks that private ceremony with a cutting remark. “I still know you’re not who you claim to be, though. Just like I know you” she points at Kagawa with her spoon, smirking easily “were not appointed by my father. Though you are a doctor, I give you that. Nice touch with the aspirin in the milk by the way.”
“I don’t know — “
“ — what I’m talking about? Come on now, you don’t look that dumb.”
Hide bites his lips as Kagawa stands up next to him. Both men looking at her as if she’s some alien. She continues eating her breakfast and Hide, having somewhat recovered from the whiplash the sudden change of attitude gave him, smiles cheekily as he moves to sit beside her. Letting his armrest across her shoulder.
“You’re right,” he tells her, ignoring the fear in Kagawa’s eyes as he gazes upon her. “I’m not you’re fiance. In fact, I don’t even know who the fuck Rui Atashi is! I legit came up with that name like two seconds ago!”
“I could tell,” she says, looking at him in all coolness and nonchalance. “Your Doctor friend over there was a dead giveaway.”
“Right…” He sends a look towards Kagawa, who takes that as a cue to exit and leaves the room immediately. “So?” He turns to her once Kagawa leaves. “Who do you think I am?”
“I don’t know… but I doubt you’re a well-wisher.”
Hide barks a laugh at her words and pushes off from the mattress. He waltzes towards the minifridge near the windows and pulls out two beer bottles, walking back towards her one a bottle opener. He opens one and hands it to her — she takes it without a second thought — and takes a swig of his own bottle as he watches her follow suit.
“You don’t look scared,” Hide says, sitting at the edge of the bed and leaning on his hand as he looks at her sideways. “Has this happened a lot before?”
“More times than you can imagine.” When he doesn’t fill up the silence that follows she continues, “now, now. Don’t get all soft with me. Kidnappers aren’t supposed to get all limp for their victims.”
“I’m not a kidnapper.”
“Rapist or murderer, then.” She shrugs, rolling her eyes as she sips her beer. “Doesn’t make a difference.”
Hide doesn't respond and continues looking at his beer bottle. She quietly watches him, waiting for any sudden moves. Waiting for anything at all. For several minutes, he doesn’t speak and she allows the thick silence to choke them — refusing to make the first move.
He speaks after a while and his words seem to come to her as a genuine surprise. The first normal emotion she’s exhibited since coming to.
“I want to kill your father.”
She raises her at him and leans back into the headboard of her bed, crossing her arms across her chest and smirks at him. “Really now? And you’re telling me this because…”
“Because you’re not getting away. You’re stuck here, with me…” Hide pushes himself off the bed and strolls towards the windows as he explains, “what’s the point of hiding it from you?”
“But there must be a point in telling me, right?”
He turns to her, his face covered by the darkness like the devil’s mask, the rising sun rising ominously behind him, casting deep shadows in the dark bedroom floor. A chill runs down her spine as he watches him cross his arms across his chest and bow his head down as if asking for mercy.
“I thought we could celebrate his death once I kill him. Enjoy the freedom when that cage called Family falls. Together.”
She looks for any signs of mockery, or false promises in his eyes but for once, those dark eyes seem to be telling her the truth. And easily, a smiles finds her lips as she thinks to herself why not? What wrong with killing sweet old daddykins, after all? | https://medium.com/@dunyazatde/forever-dream-chapter-9-dragons-and-horses-a3d2febe6437 | [] | 2020-12-08 19:45:21.260000+00:00 | ['Forever Dream', 'Short Story', 'Fiction', 'Magical Realism', 'Series'] |
Who Are We? | What Is AniGay?
Our mission at AniGay is simple: To let you in on our conversations about queer anime! We have a ton of thoughts, and we want to present them in a slightly more polished form than is possible on Twitter. So AniGay will host our interpretations, analyses, and theories as well as glimpses into our adjacent research, and anything else we feel like writing and publishing, as long as it’s related to queerness in anime.
Most importantly, we intend to go beyond the canon/non-canon binary, questions of whether characters are positive or negative representation, and other discourse tropes that we find limiting. AniGay is our celebration of anime’s queerness as a medium, and that means we’ll be talking unapologetically about queer anime in all its forms — good, bad, and ugly. Sometimes all three at the same time! Queer anime contains multitudes. | https://medium.com/anigay/our-mission-179557d83bfd | ['Elizabeth Simins'] | 2018-10-15 15:10:28.822000+00:00 | ['Queer', 'Anime', 'LGBTQ'] |
Which Enneagram Type Is Satan? | Which Enneagram Type Is Satan?
Do You Share a Personality With the Devil?
Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay
Satan. The Devil. Lucifer. The Prince of Darkness. Beelzebub. The Father of Lies.
Call him what you like. The fact is most people of faith generally have a name for the personification of evil. Some even believe him to be a real, living being. But, even if you don’t, let’s assume for a moment that Satan — I’ll use that name for the sake of convenience — is actually a unique personage. That would mean he would have an equally unique personality.
Which got me thinking. If Satan took The Enneagram Test, what personality type would he be? At the end of this article, I’m going to take my best guess at answering that very question.
Do you share a personality with The Devil? Wouldn’t you like to know?
But, before we get to that, you here’s a little bit of background information that will be helpful if you are new to the Enneagram. If not, feel free to skip over this section.
What is The Enneagram?
The Enneagram is a personality profiling tool that explains why we behave the way we do, and how we relate to others. The Ennegram identifies nine types of people, each with certain strengths and weaknesses. Best of all, it’s scarily accurate!
Like so many people, when I first came across The Enneagram, my mind was completely blown. Suddenly I had an incredible tool that helped me understand both myself and others, while gently inviting me towards emotional and personal growth.
If you’ve never looked at the Ennegram, I can only recommend that you check it out. Before you get into this article, if you’re unfamiliar with the nine personality types of The Enneagram, this info-graphic provides an excellent summary of each! You might even want to take test to work out what personality type you have.
What About Satan?
I regularly meet with a group of like-minded people to discuss and explore the Enneagram and how it can help us move towards emotional and spiritual maturity. It was at this group one day that someone posed an interesting question. “What Enneagram Type do you think Satan is?”
A very robust discussion followed which largely consisted of everyone light-heartedly accusing everyone else of sharing a personality type with the Prince of Darkness himself.
It is an interesting question that is worth exploring.
Every personality type has a dark side, even if its overarching virtue seems remarkably good. Therefore, in order to decide which personality type we might attribute to Satan, we should take a look at the very worst of each of the nine types.
The Worst of the Type 1
The Type 1 is the perfectionist. At their worst the Type 1 believes that nothing is ever good enough, including and especially themselves. The completely unhealthy Type 1 is condemnatory towards others while rationalizing their own behavior.
The Worst of the Type 2
The Type 2 is the giver or helper. At their worst the Type 2 believes that they are worthless if they aren’t useful to others. The completely unhealthy Type 2 can become manipulative and self-serving by telling others how much they owe them.
The Worst of the Type 3
The Type 3 is the performer. At their worst the Type 3 is constantly striving to have the appearance of having it all together, putting on many masks to make sure they look good in every situation. The completely unhealthy Type 3 is narcissistic, becomes vindictive, and attempts to ruin others’ happiness by destroying anything that reminds them of their own short-comings.
The Worst of the Type 4
The Type 4 is the romantic or individualist. At their worst, the Type 4 can give themselves over to a critical, self-loathing, melancholy spirit. The completely unhealthy Type 4 is despairing and hopeless, often becoming self-destructive while blaming others and driving away anyone who tries to help them.
The Worst of the Type 5
The Type 5 is the investigator. At their worst, the Type 5 uses their wealth of knowledge to tear others down by being argumentative and cynical. The completely unhealthy Type 5 becomes socially reclusive, isolated from reality and emotionally unstable.
The Worst of the Type 6
The Type 6 is loyalist. At their worst, the Type 6 is in a constant state of anxiety living in an heightened state all day long. The completely unhealthy Type 6 is panicky, volatile and constantly feels like people are out to get them, so they never put themselves in a situation where they have to trust anyone.
The Worst of the Type 7
The Type 7 is the enthusiast. At their worst, the Type 7 uses constant stimulation and consumption as a way of avoiding pain and, as a consequence, growth. The completely unhealthy Type 7 is emotionally regressive, even infantile, acting out of impulse — erratic and self-destructive.
The Worst of the Type 8
The Type 8 is the reformer or challenger. At their worst, the Type 8 becomes very angry, confrontational, aggressive and tends to ‘throw their weight around.’ The completely unhealthy Type 8 becomes ruthlessly dictatorial and may brutally destroy anything or anyone that does not conform to their will
The Worst of the Type 9
The Type 9 is the peacemaker. At their worst, the Type 9 will shut down and withdraw as a way of avoiding conflict. The completely unhealthy Type 9 can be highly repressed, undeveloped and ineffectual — wanting to block out an awareness of anything that could affect them negatively.
Image by by diego_cervo on Envato Elements
How Do You Determine Satan’s Personality Type?
There are strengths and weaknesses in all nine personality types and, in reality, none is better or worse than the other. All nine personality types have many wonderful and redeeming features for those who are willing to do the inner work.
However, when I was trying to determine which personality type Satan might have, I had to take into account a couple of things. Firstly, some personality types, in their most immature and unformed state, appear to have a greater propensity towards what one might call evil. (This is hard to measure, I realize, and I’m not here to discuss what constitutes good and evil. Therefore, to some extent, I had to follow my gut with this one).
Secondly, it would seem logical to me that Satan — being the personification of evil — would want to cause the greatest amount of harm to the greatest amount of people, and that some personality types seem more capable of harming greater numbers of people, while other types tend to turn the harm inwards on themselves.
Thirdly, it makes sense to me that Satan would seek to lead astray as many people as possible and that some personality types, by their very nature, have a greater ability to influence others towards an end — either good or evil.
So, I asked myself three questions:
How evil is the evil that each personality type might be capable of when at their very worst?
Is the evil that each personality type might be capable of, generally directed inwards towards self-destruction, or outwards towards the destruction of others?
Which personality types have the greatest ability to influence and lead astray the greatest number of people?
Image by master1305 on Envato Elements
My Conclusion
Well this was always going to be controversial, but you came here looking for an answer to the question, “Which Enneagram Type Is Satan?”
I ruled out Satan having a Type 1 personality on the basis that much of the condemnation that the Type 1 engages in is directed at self. Satan, on the other hand, would not view his own behavior through such a lens. Further, Satan does not appear to have a vested interest in perfection — but rather the destruction of perfection.
I ruled out Satan having a Type 2 personality because, even though the Type 2 can be manipulative, it seems incongruous that Satan would care about his level of usefulness to others. I dare say that Satan was never interested in being helpful.
I ruled out Type 4, Type 5, Type 6, Type 7 and Type 9 because the destructive behaviors that these typify these personalities, when at their worst, are generally directed back at oneself. Satan, I imagine, would be primarily interested in the destruction of others.
The majority of you, at this point, will have taken a collective sigh of relief – unless you happen to be a Type 3 or a Type 8.
So, which one is Satan?
Both Type 3 and Type 8 people are competent and results-driven. Both can be influential and are capable of leading large groups – characteristics that Satan could use to advantage. Importantly, both tend towards behavior that harms others when at their worst.
The Type 8 has a lot of energy for changing things that make them angry, while the Type 3 has a lot of energy for trying to appear successful. The Type 8 will destroy anyone who stands in their way, while the Type 3 will destroy anyone that reminds them of their own short-comings.
I’m torn!
OK, OK… I’ve made up my mind. I have decided that Satan is a Type 3, not just because I carry the bias of being a Type 8 myself. There is one more thing that, for me, sold the idea of Satan being a Type 3. The immature Type 3 is a deceiver, above all. While the Type 8 cares less for appearances than for results, the Type 3 will pretend to be everything they are not in order to win people over. The Type 8 is usually clear about their end goal because they want people to get on board with their mission. But, Satan would be coy about his real mission because if people knew what he was really up to, would they want to get on board? The unredeemed Type 3 is a master manipulator, a liar and a faker of the highest order.
At the risk of this turning into a verbal bashing for Type 3s everywhere, I shall wrap this up. Just remember, there is a dark side to every personality type. Type 3s are no better or worse than the rest of us, just because Satan happens to be a Type 3 as well. Besides, that’s only my loosely-held opinion. Feel free to disagree with me!
Above all, the Enneagram is an invitation to personal growth for all nine personality types, and emotional maturity is available to all who are willing to do the hard work of self-examination and reform. And that will hopefully see us all behaving like Satan a hell of a lot less. | https://medium.com/backyard-theology/which-enneagram-type-is-satan-2630f07be9f7 | ['Dan Foster'] | 2020-02-21 06:31:52.073000+00:00 | ['Enneagram', 'Spirituality', 'Psychology', 'Faith', 'Religion'] |
My top 5 in Paris | I’m still in Paris when I write this. My last moments here. There is something strange going on in my head. It’s hard to already look back at something while it is still going on. I have been 5 weeks. Things that happened 5 weeks ago are still not a memory yet. The thing has to end first to become a memory. So for everybody curious about if I’m sad that the end is here. No. The end of this month is the start of new and fantastic memories.
In that memory what are the 5 things that stand out. I give you 5 in no particular order. There is no ranking, that’s why I don’t number them.
A partager
Pick a terrasse, pick a seat for two and order food and share it. Pick things that are specifically on the menu ‘a partager’. Pick things that are not to share and share. A pasta, a pizza, typical French dishes like escargots or a cheese plate. It doesn’t matter what. Enjoy the French cuisine. Even the burgers are great. Absolute favorite place after have tried many : Le Mary Celeste.
Opera Garnier
Go to Opera Garnier. We went to see ‘Play’ by Alexander Ekman. I’m still not sure what impressed me more the play or the building. The building, the grandeur, the lobby, the stairs, the seats. The play was fantastic on that really big white stage. 40 ballet dancers and 40.000 green balls. Google it. The place and the play.
Opera Garnier
Travailler
I actually enjoyed working in Paris. Not only because of the commute (my bike rides through the city), or the lunchbreaks I filled up eating and walking the neighborhood, but the actual work. Being in a new office space. In a fantastic building, mostly with great views, surrounded by coworkers. Coworkers were all strangers. Some in teams, some lone wolves like me. I was able to get a lot of work done. Focusing on the work and the getting a coffee while looking out of the window at the buildings of Paris.
WeWork Rue Lafayette
Flâneur
A flâneur : ”(noun) Person who roams around deliberately aimless, just observing life.” I took two afternoons off to walk the city. I did have an end goal, but no itinerary. It was fantastic. Walking streets I never walked, passing things I never passed. Stopping for coffee, looking at people I never saw. In one of my first post I said I preferred biking over the metro. Here I say I would pick walking over biking. Warning : it’s a big city, your steps counter will go ballistic.
Courir
In total I ran more than 100 km in this month in Paris. Getting lost in the small streets, running past famous statues and through well-known parks. Next to the Seine surrounded by other runners. I was never the fastest, nor was I the slowest. I didn’t care. I enjoyed every meter of it.
La Seine
Ticking of things on my to do list.
Like I mentioned in a previous post. My to-do list got longer, the longer I was in Paris. Things were ticked off but more were added. Things I advise to put on your to-do list : Go for a Sunday morning walk in Jardin de Luxembourg and enjoy the miniature boats in the fountains. Go for a brunch in Treize Le Jardin afterwards. Drink an union soup at Place de Vosges. A place where Jim Morisson used to write. Do a picknick in Jardin des Tuileries. Go to the Louvre or Pompidou or Orsay. Eat at restaurant Kong. Not so much for the food, but the view and the overall feel…
I know I have more than 5 things in my Top 5. Hey, it’s my blog. I can do what I want. Let that be my biggest advice to anyone visiting Paris. Do things nobody has done. Be a flâneur. Enjoy the small things you encounter. Pas past terrasses and be seen. Sit on other terrasses and return the favor.
Enjoy Paris, I know I did.
A la prochaine. | https://medium.com/@tjorvend/my-top-5-in-paris-5f82f1f8baf | ['Tjorven Denorme'] | 2021-11-19 09:32:54.331000+00:00 | ['Running', 'Top 5', 'To Do List', 'Opera', 'Paris'] |
Dunedin Army Reservist commemorates Veterans at Korean Vision Camp | Army Reservist Ben Dobbie had a valuable cultural experience and a priceless opportunity to meet Korean War veterans at the recent Korean Vision Camp 2020 in Wellington and Waikanae.
The Camp brought together young people from South Korea and New Zealand, some of whom were descendants of Korean War veterans.
A Statement of Intent was signed in Seoul last year between Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand and South Korea’s Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, during which Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand agreed that the Camp would be held in New Zealand this year.
Private Dobbie, 23, a University of Otago graduate who serves in 1 Brigade 2/4B Company in the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, found out about the Camp through his unit’s group chat.
“I’m glad I did put my name forward because it was such a great experience,” he said.
The Camp featured several Korean War commemorations and opportunities to meet Korean War veterans, which was a highlight for Private Dobbie.
“As an Army Reservist we stand on the shoulders of giants — those who came before us,” he said. “They are bona fide real-life heroes, who fought and died for causes they believed in.”
He found it invaluable participating in the Camp activities with the South Korean visitors because he was able to learn about how other people see the world.
“One thing that struck me was that even though we’re from two different cultures just how similar we can be,” he said.
Now he is planning a snowboarding trip to South Korea next year to catch up with friends he made at the Camp.
He strongly encourages other young people to apply to attend such camps if they happen in the future.
“It definitely takes you out of your comfort zones — meeting a bunch of strangers and doing activities with them — but it was a really good experience,” he said.
The Korean Vision Camp 2020 was a free programme of activity supported by the South Korean Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and New Zealand’s Veterans’ Affairs. The aim was to build on the friendships that were established between those who served in the Korean War.
It was also an opportunity to thank Korean War veterans for their service and to acknowledge their sacrifices through a programme of commemorative activity, cultural experiences, and appreciation activities. | https://medium.com/@nzdefenceforce/dunedin-army-reservist-commemorates-veterans-at-korean-vision-camp-4ce76315152d | ['New Zealand Defence Force'] | 2020-02-17 20:09:30.017000+00:00 | ['Veterans', 'Korean War Vet', 'Veteran Affairs'] |
Playing with Pomodoro ft. Urooj | I started my journey of learning online in the quarantine time. I got to know about Coursera, and I got myself enrolled in so many courses. Soon my energy started depreciating and I found myself overwhelmed learning from all the new stuff that I started to learn without digesting. I slowed down my pace by taking this course, Mindshift, In which professor Barbara Oakley shares Pomodoros technique to increase focus and productivity while managing time and removing distractions.
Though the technique is simple, it really helps in maintaining focus. On Monday morning, when I was browsing through the course content, the technique immediately caught my attention. I have not been so productive lately. So I thought, why not play with Pomodoro and complete the course in hand in time.
I put my phone on focus mode. One Pomodoro session is usually 25 minutes long, but a person can gradually increase the timing of the session with gradual practice. It took me 55 minutes to complete the whole course along with answering all the reflection questions and watching Ted talks.
After studying while applying Pomodoro, I realised that I was able to retain things and answer all the reflection questions. Also, by removing distraction I completed the course in a very less time without any compromise on my productivity.
Pomodoro is indeed a champion for me. I am trying to incorporate it in my everyday task such as journal writing, completing chores, and studying. | https://medium.com/@iurooj/playing-with-pomodoro-ft-urooj-dc172940e339 | ['Urooj Arshad'] | 2021-01-01 21:07:37.792000+00:00 | ['Amal Totkay', 'Amal Academy', 'Pomodoro Technique'] |
Findex branch Crowe Horwath announces national initiative to support regional startups | Crowe Horwath, the regionally-focused arm of accounting and financial advisory firm Findex, has announced that it will be launching FoundX, a new initiative to support regional startups and small businesses.
FoundX will look to facilitate meetups for startup communities across regional Australia, where they will have the opportunity to access mentoring and information designed to help them grow their businesses.
Crowe Horwath said the initiative was formed to help empower regional startups by leveraging the firm’s national regional network.
With over 110 offices spread across Australia, Crowe Horwath has a number located in regional and rural towns, which connect customers to the firm’s 3000-strong financial advisor network.
The firm also offers a service tailored to agribusinesses, with a portion of its advisory network coming from agricultural backgrounds; it also acts as an advisory partner to the National Farmers Federation (NFF), an organisation supporting Australian farming businesses.
Focusing on networking opportunities will be key to each event, with the firm saying that FoundX will aim to connect entrepreneurs to “valuable networks” across Australia.
Planned to be rolled out nationally, Geelong will be the space for FoundX’s first “regional hub”, with a launch event set to kick off the initiative in the city next Thursday.
Mark Whelan, executive managing partner at Crowe Horwath, said Geelong’s strong local startup community makes it the ideal location for the launch.
“Geelong is one of Australia’s largest regional centres and was selected as the first regional hub in the national roll-out of FoundX due to its thriving startup and small business community. We have seen Crowe Horwath grow as part of that community and this is a great opportunity to give back,” he said.
Speaking at the launch event will be Con Raso, founder of Turned Global, and Tim Heasley of venture capital firm Artesian, who will provide insight into what VC firms look for when investing in Australian startups.
FoundX marks the latest supportive initiative Findex has developed to support regional startups and small businesses, with last year seeing the firm work beside the NFF to launch national agtech accelerator SproutX.
The first agtech-focused accelerator within Australia, SproutX was created to help spur on Australia’s agtech boom, with the program first offering an online pre-accelerator program to 100 startups across Australia.
SproutX also recently announced the first cohort of startups to be accepted into the program.
Out of a pool of 100 applicants, 11 startups were selected, with each set to recieve mentoring from agtech industry experts, as well as $40,000 in capital in exchange for eight percent equity.
The program will run in SproutX’s Melbourne coworking space over a six month period.
Image: Crowe Horwath Team. Source: Linkedin. | https://medium.com/startup-daily/findex-branch-crowe-horwath-announces-national-initiative-to-support-regional-startups-44b443477795 | ['Mat Beeche'] | 2017-07-25 09:01:31.145000+00:00 | ['Findex', 'Farmers', 'Crowe Horwath', 'Australia', 'Businesses'] |
A big difference between for-profits and non-profits | Photo by Ryan Quintal on Unsplash
In the for-profit world, we try to specialise our services so that we can dominate in a particular market or niche and if something doesn’t in some way have a positive outcome on our bottom line, we’re much less likely to do it.
In the non-profit world, we also want to specialise in what we do so that we are effective. Much like in the for-profit world, we don’t want to spread ourselves too broadly because:
It’s easier to excel at fewer things We want to create a strong narrative that people can understand easily
However, while it’s not that we don’t care about people in the for-profit world, we also have to focus more on what’s profitable.
In the non-profit world, there often aren’t other options for the people we’re assisting and a more diverse offering is often a more responsible choice.
It might not be a neat-and-tidy marketing plan, but people’s lives are more important. | https://medium.com/@stuart-robinson/a-big-difference-between-for-profits-and-non-profits-dda085c489f1 | ['Stuart Robinson'] | 2020-12-19 14:50:20.060000+00:00 | ['Charity Work', 'Social Capitalism', 'Charity', 'Nonprofit', 'Social Entrepreneurship'] |
i don’t know how many teens are on this app , i guess this could apply to adults as well but i know… | i don’t know how many teens are on this app , i guess this could apply to adults as well but i know i’m not the only person that has this struggle. Your friend hands you a vape and tells you to ‘just try it’ and you hit it once, maybe twice. it’s not a big deal at the moment because ‘ill never get addicted, i have control.’ you like the feeling, the ‘buzz’ so you hit your friends whenever they have one around, and then you by maybe one or two because why not? you can stop whenever you want. two years later you have cant go a day without nicotine and your spending more money than you should to get some. it’s still not a big deal because you can ‘quit whenever you want’ plus you don’t feel any different so it can’t be harming your body, right? you don’t realize it’s having an effect on your well being until you can’t go up a flight of stairs without loosing your breath. but you can still quit whenever you want so you blow it off, until you don’t have control over your need for it anymore, it becomes a necessary part of your life. at this point it’s already too late. you realize you never should of started in the first place, what good is it doing you anyway? wether you were peer pressured into it or you just wanted to try it because you ‘know you can’t get addicted’ eventually we all come to the realization that we need to stop. it IS an addiction. but when something becomes such a regular part of your routine how do you just quit? when you feel like you physically need it how can you just put it down one day and stop? theres many different approaches to this and different methods work for everyone, but some people can’t find a way that works for them. personally i started september of 2016 thinking it wasn’t a big deal. i thought i had the self control to keep myself from getting to into it. it’s december of 2020 and i currently have 135 dead disposables laying in a box in my room, as well as 2 juuls and about 50 empty pods. i, like many other young impressionable teens got sucked into an addiction because i KNEW i would ‘never get addicted’. i’ve played volleyball since the 7th grade and ran track for maybe 2–3 years. i wasn’t in the best shape but i was pretty active. the last volleyball practice i went to i passed out 30 minutes in because my lungs couldn’t keep up with the exercise. i used to run a mile in about 7 minutes (that isn’t super impressive i know). it takes me about 20 minutes to finish a mile now, with repeated stops in between to catch my breath. i realized i was addicted and needed to stop about a month ago when i hadn’t had any nicotine in abt 2 days and i was quite literally freaking out looking through all my old disposables to see if any of them would hit one last time. since then i’ve approached many different quitting methods with none of them really working out for me. although i have not successfully quit (yet) i have learned a few tricks to help at least decrease my desire for vaping and i’ve definitely made a lot of progress. one of them is to keep myself extremely busy with different things, for example more hours at work, where i made sure to leave it at home or in my car so i wouldn’t be tempted to hit it on break or in the bathroom. This really goes for anytime i leave the house, when i would usually keep it tucked in my bra, the waistband of my pants, or at least in a bag, i make sure to leave ANY nicotine devices i have at home. at first it was difficult, i would try to get home as soon as possible so i could hit my vape, but now it kind of slips my mind and i forget about it until i get back and see it on my bed or dresser. it’s not much i know but it is progress. another thing i’ve found slightly helpful to decrease my use of vapes at home is when i’m doing something (studying, chores, really anything that can take more than 30 minutes ) i tell myself i am not allowed to touch it until i’m 100% done, which if it’s a 5 minute chore like sweeping the living room or vacuuming a small area won’t really do much, but i easily spend an hour or two at a time studying for tests or doing something like watching a movie with my family then that’s another hour or two a day i go without any nicotine. not much it’s a big step for someone who used to NEED it on me at all times. any addiction can be hard to over come, and the small steps really matter. my goal is to soon find ways to make quitting much easier, and help people that are in similar situations as i am. | https://medium.com/@willowhilbert/i-dont-know-how-many-teens-are-on-this-app-i-guess-this-could-apply-to-adults-as-well-but-i-know-1a36624703d5 | ['Willow Hilbert'] | 2020-12-23 05:29:48.849000+00:00 | ['Teens', 'Addiction'] |
BLOCKCHAIN BUILDING BLOCKS IN CLEVELAND WITH BERNIE MORENO | Bernie Moreno on the Speaking of Crypto podcast
“Blockland is a play on the name Cleveland and the idea is that by putting what we identified as the ten critical ingredients to make Cleveland one of the top five most relevant tech cities in the United States that we would do all these 10 things at the exact same time. So, we created ten nodes, everywhere from talent development retention to the entrepreneurial environment to the legal system, the political environment, philanthropy’s engaged, a node that we call place, which is to create the largest tech centre in the world, modelled after Station F in Paris right in downtown Cleveland. How do we build some business applications around what we’re doing already? How do we have thought leadership, so that’s where our conference comes from. And virtually every single day in Cleveland right now there’s a meeting somewhere in Cleveland around blockchain.”
President, Bernie Moreno Companies
From owning and operating 21 car dealerships to launching a city-wide epic-sized blockchain initiative, Bernie Moreno is putting Cleveland or ‘Blockland’ on the map.
https://blocklandcleveland.com/
https://twitter.com/berniemoreno
He wants to make Cleveland a blockchain tech hub, complete with the largest tech centre in the world that would be an innovation incubator with a K-12 school on campus built right in downtown Cleveland.
And this isn’t just one person’s big idea. There’s a plan. Leaders in business and government and members of the community have gathered to discuss the ten nodes in place to help make this Ohio city one of the top five tech cities in the United States.
And while some people looking in from the outside may ask why blockchain and why Cleveland. Well when someone has the kind of drive and enthusiasm for something like this, that Bernie clearly does about blockchain tech and Blockland, it’s contagious.
It started when his son asked him to invest in Bitcoin, which he didn’t, but he did get looking into blockchain technology. And after investing in Votem, he wanted to start his own blockchain companies. But when he realized that Cleveland didn’t have the ideal ingredients to do what he wanted to do, instead of going to another city that had all the tech he could ever want, he decided to stay and help bring all the tech he could ever want to Cleveland.
https://votem.com/
We also talked about the future of cars. Bernie said, “the car changed the world in the turn of the century and the car is going to change the world again.” Not only will they be dramatically safer, but it will change things like people young and old being able to hop in a car with no need for a licence. Insurance companies will have to insure something besides accidents because cars won’t hit each other, and whole city blocks will change because we won’t need huge parking lots anymore.
Bernie also believes that in 15 years there will be more self-driving cars than human driving cars, and in 25 years human driving cars won’t be found on public highways. They’ll be on race tracks for sport or other weekend events.
He talked about where we’re at with blockchain tech right now like the early days of the dot com boom when everyone was starting to get a website, but all you’d see when you got online was a page that said, welcome. And one of the ways he’s getting into the space and helping to legitimize it while also being on the leading edge is to accept Bitcoin at his car dealerships.
Blockland Cleveland is also hosting a conference focussed on government and business applications in order to explore real world use cases for blockchain technology.
Some of the use cases Bernie sees coming soon are birth certificates, land records, real estate transactions, car titles, mobile voting, providence, supply chain, medical records, drug tracking, and as he explains, just like in the early days of the internet, no one could predict where it would lead us, we’re in that same place with blockchain tech now. | https://medium.com/speaking-of-crypto/031-blockchain-building-blocks-in-cleveland-with-bernie-moreno-86fc27d5736 | ['Shannon Grinnell'] | 2018-11-11 21:09:53.502000+00:00 | ['Technology', 'Blockland', 'Blockchain Technology', 'Blockchain', 'Cleveland'] |
Every Saint Has a Past and Every Sinner Has a Future | August 16, 2015 12:00pm Worship Service: The First Heavy Metal Church of Christ in Dayton, Ohio
I was pushing pedal to the metal on I-74. My personal Highway to Hell had hit a detour, as I burned rubber on my way to an outlaw biker church. I was Bad to the Bone with music blaring, sunroof open, and a fresh pack of allergy pills in the glove compartment. I was listening to Shinedown’s newest single on my Spotify playlist when it hit me like a five finger death punch:
“So feast your eyes
On the big, blue sky
And wave bye bye
From a long, Black Cadillac
Pay the price
Gotta roll those dice
And wave bye bye
From a long, Black Cadillac”
My future was indeed looking like a big, blue sky. Rachel was going Goo Goo Dolls over me, our connection was quickly revving up after a couple church dates. She was barraging me with text messages as she was becoming my spiritual groupie, begging to know the latest about my church tours. She didn’t see me as a “nice guy”, but instead a Christian road warrior with a bit of an edge. I was waving bye bye from my past, firmly in the rear view mirror. For Church #42, I was ready to embrace my inner-Christian bad boy, roll the dice to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with my wayward brothers-in-faith at The First Heavy Metal Church of Christ (FHMCC).
I was hopeful no one would notice my lack of a neck tattoo.
Custom-made pew for the front seat of FHMCC’s Skull Dollz hearse.
When I pulled in next to a line of Harleys, off in the distance was a long black Cadillac parked in front of a graveyard. The hearse was outfitted in a Paint It Black exterior, an all-engulfing flame job, and mirror-tinted windows that were pictured with Skull Dollz. The cherry on top was the front seat, which was even customized with a black spray-painted wooden pew, complete with a casket in the back of course. With a custom hearse that was plucked out of Mad Max: Fury Road adjacent to a church sign that read, “Loving the Hell Out of You Every Sunday at Noon”, I could tell this was going to be epic.
FHMCC gathers every Sunday at noon inside a former elementary school. Inside the auditorium, the stage was flanked by a medieval body of armor on the left and a six foot tall heavy metal cross on the right. Hoping to avoid sticking out like Alice Cooper in a L’Oréal commercial, I had traded in my Sunday’s best for a faded black shirt, black cap hat, and ripped jeans. I fit right in, but it was hotter than a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert in the Sahara during the Summer Solstice. It had to be upwards of 85 degrees. I was not going to go through an hour and half-long service in the heat without hydration. When I hit the concessions to get some bottled water, there was no Whiskey In a Jar, but loads of Monster energy drink. Forget coffee to get your adrenaline rollin’.
God’s Dirt kicks-off service at The First Heavy Metal Church of Christ.
“Come on, someone bring the Holy Spirit in here. Come on, I wanna hear you Shout! Come on, Shout! Shout the name of Jesus! Shout His name!”
Rooster, the harmonica-wielding lead singer for God’s Dirt, jump-started service by really wanting someone to shout for Jesus. Mixing bluegrass and rock ‘n roll, the congregation raised their hands with the sign of the horns for some good ‘ole southern gospel headbangin’ and foot-stompin’. Throughout the service, FHMCC had alternative ways to connect with the congregation. From leading off announcements with everyone shouting “Unleash the Kraken” to the pastor firing off Super Soaker shots to cool down people sitting near the front, this service wasn’t afraid to pave a new road in its message.
FHMCC was the brainchild of Pastor Brian Smith, a heavy metal musician who became disillusioned with Country Club Christianity. He had a burning bush moment and rebelled against the religious establishment by forming his own church. It didn’t matter what you did, or who you are. FMHCC reaches out to Ohio’s strip clubs, bars, and biker clubs. They don’t go to spit fire and brimstone, but instead cast fishing nets using heavy metal music and customized vehicles as it’s lure, reaching out to the lost and damned who would feel uncomfortably numb in a traditional religious setting. Bikers, drug addicts, prostitutes, gang members, felons, convicts, and even writers needing all day allergy relief.
While many Christian critics look at Pastor Brian’s outreach as poison, the fact is he reaches out to the Barabbas inside all of us, preaching To Hell with the Devil to a forgotten target audience. On this Sunday, Pastor Brian manufactured a customized sermon, remixing rock ethos with Biblical canon. He referenced Hebrews 12:28–29 about God’s power as an all-consuming fire. If someone thinks he can contain God, to quote Judas Priest, “You Got Another Thing Coming”.
“We’re all gonna have to Ride the Lightning. Ooh, Metallica reference. We’re all gonna have to make that jump. Someday, you and me are gonna be layin’ on a hospital bed. When we’re layin’ there, as our life is getting to leave us and we’re about to take the Great Vacation, I don’t want my last thoughts to be coulda-shoulda-woulda… The time is now. We’re not gettin’ out of here alive. Livin’ your last moments in regret, Satan will have a field day with your mind.”
When the service was over, I couldn’t help but think we only have a little time left on this blue marble. Before leaving, I had to get another look at that hearse. Lyrics were stamped all over it, but the one that struck out was the Iron Maiden reference on the windshield. “Live After Death”.
When it’s time for us to be buried six feet deep, and we ride that long, Black Cadillac, we’ll either be hearing Hell’s Bells or Knock-Knock-Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door. He punched a one way ticket to hell to sell-out that Big Concert Hall in the Sky. We can’t beat death, we can beat death in the life God has given us. Through Christ, we can live after death too.
The narrative of the Bible points that God continually works with and gives grace to people who don’t deserve it, don’t even seek it, and don’t appreciate it once they get it. With Barabbas, he was the most undeserving and baddest sinner of them all. Yet, he was the one who was freed over a nice guy like Jesus. Why?
With sin, we’re all bad boys. We’re all the lost and condemned. We’re all Barabbas.
And yet, because of Christ taking our place on that tree, we have been freed.
So I guess it is true. Like the old saying goes, “nice guys finish last”. | https://medium.com/52-churches-in-52-weeks/every-saint-has-a-past-and-every-sinner-has-a-future-21a11f1302ed | ['Dave Boice'] | 2016-11-05 04:55:56.746000+00:00 | ['Christianity', 'Rock', 'Jesus'] |
PUBG MOBILE INDIA DETAILS: | The official declaration about the arrival of PUBG Mobile in India had a ton coming up for the gaming and esports biological system in India. The delivery affirmed the rebound, yet also uncovered a lot of enormous updates. PUBG Mobile India is affirmed to have a green bloodstain impact and this element is now accessible in the Korean form. Besides, the underage player base will confront a period cutoff to guarantee wellbeing government assistance. The UI will likewise be marginally changed and the typical foundation will be changed to a virtual reenactment preparing the ground. | https://medium.com/@arai91709/pubg-mobile-india-details-7dae9cfa61a6 | ['Ashok Rai'] | 2020-12-08 08:24:25.542000+00:00 | ['Inida', 'Publishing', 'AR', 'YouNow'] |
Capturing Your Social Media Success With an Analytics Tool | Capturing Your Social Media Success With an Analytics Tool
You work hard at ensuring that your content produces positive results for your business. However, without tracking the results of your social media efforts, you won’t really have a clear understanding of how you are doing. Are your efforts really paying off? The only way to know for sure is to capture the results using […] | https://medium.com/@aenlagency/capturing-your-social-media-success-with-an-analytics-tool-2c11db005ef2 | ['Aénl Agency'] | 2020-12-21 06:04:14.262000+00:00 | ['Digital Marketing', 'Facebook Marketing', 'Google Marketing', 'Spotify Marketing', 'Hip Hop'] |
Neshaminy votes to close two elementary schools | Despite a hard-fought effort from parents, students and community members, Oliver Heckman Elementary will close following this school year.
In a special session held on April 12, the Neshaminy School Board voted unanimously to close Lower Southampton Elementary. The Heckman closure went through in a 5–4 vote, sealed on a last-minute decision by board member Marty Sullivan, who originally ran for school board as a Heckman supporter.
[caption id=”attachment_6027" align=”alignright” width=”411"]
Matt Schickling / Wire photo[/caption]
“I know what my campaign promises were,” Sullivan said before voting. “I did my due diligence and I looked at all the numbers and I talked to all the people … My decision tonight is one that was well thought out and I’ll just leave it at that right now.”
Moments later, he voted for the closure along with board members Scott Congdon, Irene Boyle, Tina Hollenbach and Stephen Pirritano. The dissenting votes were cast by Bob Feather, Mike Morris, Ron Rudy and Robert Sanna.
Dozens of Heckman supporters, some holding “Keep Heckman Open” signs, immediately filed out of the auditorium at Maple Point Middle School after Sullivan’s vote.
“Many Heckman parents trusted him and he backed away,” Staci O’Brien, an organizer for Save Our Neshaminy Schools, said afterward.
The decision brings an end to the months-long battle by the community group that opposed the district’s large-scale consolidation plan. The “roadmap,” as the plan is called by Neshaminy officials, set out close three of the district’s eight aging elementary schools, while renovating the remaining five.
Fifth-graders were also moved to middle schools at the beginning of the 2015–2016 school year and construction on an 800-student elementary school in Lower Southampton is underway and expected to be completed by the start of next school year. The plan aims to take advantage of low-interest bond rates that might not available in the future, save on facility costs and improve district infrastructure.
With the closure of Heckman made official, it doesn’t appear the roadmap will be re-routed.
Many Heckman supporters, in a last-ditch effort to sway the board members, spoke about the school and its importance to the Langhorne and Middletown communities.
“I love Langhorne Borough. I love the community. I loved knowing when I had my daughter in 2013 that she would go to school right down the street, that I could walk her there,” Marianne Stahl said. “Before I left tonight, I told my daughter that I was going to help save her future school. Please help me tell her that we did.”
Neshaminy substitute teacher Joshua Winthrop spoke about the differences between teaching at Heckman and some of the other schools in the district.
“Heckman stands apart from any other school I’ve seen in the district due to one simple thing and that is a sense of community,” he said. “A community like that can take years to cultivate … It’s what every school in Neshaminy School District should aspire to be.”
Still, the vote finalized the fate of Heckman, which has served the community for about 50 years. Weighing the need for building upgrades at the school and the elements of the roadmap that are already in motion, board members ultimately decided to stay the course of consolidation. | https://medium.com/langhorne-times/neshaminy-votes-to-close-two-elementary-schools-1eb03ea914ff | [] | 2017-04-18 19:24:56.184000+00:00 | ['Langhorne', 'Closing', 'Levittown', 'Closure', 'Keep Heckman Open'] |
Less Thinking, More Doing: How to Combat Analysis Paralysis | Photo by Burst on Unsplash
According to Columbia University decision researcher Sheena Iyengar, the average American reports making 70 decisions per day. However, the decisions we make vary in investments, risks, and consequences. For brunch I might have to decide if I want to enjoy eggs benedict or huevos rancheros, and later that day pick which major I’m going to immerse myself in for the next four years.
Funnily enough, I have found myself agonizing about both of the above decisions before, and have watched many friends do the same. The biggest thing that I fear is that I’ll regret my choice, and that I’ll miss out on something better.
“The perfect is the enemy of the good.” — Voltaire
We think that cycling through our options over and over again will diminish those worries and help us land at the “right” decision. But most of the time, we just need to act. I’ve heard this called “analysis paralysis” in the past, which is an accurate way to describe the feeling.
Analysis paralysis prevents us from making progress and coming to a solution. It also can cause increased feelings of self-doubt, anxiety, and overwhelm. As a leader, it can make you seem as though you lack confidence and can’t be trusted in volatile situations.
Although this continues to be a struggle for me, I have found some key reminders that make decisions a little bit easier. Of course, some are more applicable than others based on the situation. Here are some things to remember when you’re struggling with making a decision.
Most Likely, None of Your Options Will Doom You To Failure
Let’s say you’re deciding between colleges, job opportunities, or majors. It’s a decision that you’ve gone back and forth on a lot, and there are a lot of pros to all of your options. You just can’t decide, and there is no clear answer in sight. It begins to consume you and keep you up at night.
Nervousness and anxiety can make you feel like a decision is graver than it really is. It’s a part of that fight or flight response that has stayed with us through evolution.
It’s not a trivial decision. But regardless of what you choose, you will probably be okay. Of course, there are tradeoffs in every decision, and it’s best to acknowledge them to avoid second-guessing yourself later. However, you have to remember that the universe will run its course and you will be just fine in the long run.
You Really Don’t Know Until You Try
Especially for smaller decisions, like how to attempt to solve a puzzle or test question, there is no way to know the correct answer until you try. Real experiences fill in where your brain can’t with the beauty of trial and error.
So many times you may find yourself dizzy in brainstorming, especially in team problem solving. Trying to analyze all of the possibilities can be exhausting, and can sometimes turn into a competition of who can speak the loudest or have the most creative idea. You might lose sight of what your goal really is.
Just pick something and go. It will give you data, which is better than thinking in circles. Sure, it might lead you to the wrong answer. But this will get you to the right answer faster.
Your Gut Is Normally Right
Listening to your gut doesn’t always come naturally, and it’s a muscle that you can develop over time. However, you often do have a direction that you are leaning toward and you may not even know it.
Sometimes, your gut instinct is not immediately apparent because you are so lost in analysis paralysis. Your intuition gets trapped in your busy mind. It’s also possible that you don’t want to admit to yourself that you know what you really want, for a variety of reasons.
The best way to uncover your gut feeling is to take some time to journal. Refrain from listing the pros and cons for each choice, since you’ve probably already done that. Instead, just free write for ten or so minutes. By putting your train of thought on paper, it becomes very clear what you really want to do.
Another way to discover what your gut thinks is to notice how you feel and act when you talk about your options. Does your face light up when you talk about one over the other? Do you become more animated and sit up straight? Do you find yourself frowning and speaking monotonously when describing another option?
If it’s hard to pick up on your own cues, try asking a trusted friend or family member what they think you want to choose. Be careful not to ask what they think you should do. Instead, ask them “What does it seem like I’m leaning toward?” When you hear the answer, it probably won’t surprise you.
It Feels Good To Be Decisive
Making a decision can be incredibly empowering. You will feel like you have control over the trajectory of your life. You get to choose where you direct your energy.
Being decisive is also crucial to great leadership. Your team will feel the strength of your decisiveness. The most confident leaders may still have a lot of doubt and insecurity below the surface. However, it’s better to have direction instead of wavering in uncertainty.
The consequences of inaction are worse than the consequences of making a decision. It’s no easy feat. Being on the other side does wonders for your confidence.
The Bottom Line
There are a few things that you can remind yourself when you find yourself stuck in analysis paralysis. You’re going to be okay. You don’t know until you try. Listen to your gut. It will feel amazing to just make a decision and run with it.
Making a decision should be empowering, not excruciating. Being stuck in a decision holds us in a sort of purgatory that makes us feel weak, trapped, and stagnant.
And eventually, it’ll be less thinking, more doing. | https://medium.com/wholistique/less-thinking-more-doing-how-to-combat-analysis-paralysis-25e6f4d75f16 | ['Sophie A'] | 2020-08-25 12:40:28.857000+00:00 | ['Decision Making', 'Self Improvement', 'Personal Development', 'Productivity', 'Life'] |
Nmap — How to Use It ? | Let’s start
Perform port scan by specifying IP address
vagrant@vagrant:~$ nmap 192.168.123.123
#It is also possible to specify a range of #ip addresses for scanning
vagrant@vagrant:~$ nmap 192.168.123.123-130
Status Explanation
Option which we can use
I think that this tool is useful for problem solving, but please be aware that it can also be used dangerously. | https://medium.com/@iceburn/nmap-how-to-use-it-52e90f62f3ed | [] | 2020-12-21 07:32:55.990000+00:00 | ['Nmap', 'Security', 'How To', 'Linux'] |
Tezos Baking fees and its evolution | With the launch of Tezos betanet on June 30th, 2018, tezzie owners had to figure out either how to bake or with whom to bake. For the owners who started delegating or baking very early, they benefited from the early days of little competition for baking with quite higher returns. Somewhat similar to the first few months for Bitcoin where barely any other miners were involved and so the difficulty level was low and your node managed to win blocks often.
In order to bake, you are required to put some tezzies in a bond pool to service bond deposit requirements from the Tezos network where the tezzie are essentially frozen for a few cycles. It is a means for the network to penalize any bad players who try to bake or endorse fraudulent blocks, and it also require these tezzies to be available to the baking node, hence there is a higher risk. The network will eventually require 8.5% bond deposit ratio to the overall tezzies being put in the staking pool. The rest of the tezzies can have their private keys comfortably sitting in a hardware wallet for example and being delegated to a baking node holding the required bond pool amount.
One of the earliest observed problems was that very few bakers were available or more importantly how quickly these early bakers became over delegated, meaning they didn’t have enough tezzies in their bond pool for the amount of tezzies delegated to them. This will not be as much an issue in the beginning as the requirements for bond is slowly increasing up to 8.5% over the first 60 cycles, but it is nevertheless a problem. As part of the solution, some bakers decided to open up their bond pool for other contributors, in exchange for a portion of the fees charged to delegators — those safely staking while their keys might be safe in a hardware wallet.
As any free market environment would show, bring up a problem and it will bring solutions. More baking services have appeared, and all have offered a wide range of fees, some with an introductory rate of 0% fees to attract delegators. Considering the cost of running a baking node is quite lower than running a Bitcoin mining node, many are disagreeing with a 15% fee. As I mentioned in Chapter 2 of the Intro Book on Tezos (see Chapter 2 in the google doc https://goo.gl/hbxwXK), I believe decentralization will increase with the value of tezzies while with Bitcoin, small nodes must participate in a mining pool. Mining pools have in fact raised questions as to whether it may have lowered the decentralization aspect of Bitcoin. On the other hand, running a baking node is independent of pricing as it does not involved any kind of mining difficulty which for Bitcoin, is tied to the amount of computing power.
Right now, XTZ (the symbol for tezzies) has stayed around $1.30 for the past 2 weeks meaning a higher amount of tezzies is required for bakers to service their expenses and capital expenditure. This I hope is part of the reason some bakers are justifying running in a cloud service provided by Amazon Web Service or Google Cloud or any other major cloud service, but it surely does not provide decentralized infrastructure just as it can be argued that mining pools don’t either. Oh sure, there are different bakers running in the cloud, but when it comes to the hardware, they are tied to a narrowed infrastructure. We at Hayek Lab have chosen to directly go with our own hardware running in professional data centers. Sure this means 15% fees, which we surely hope to be able to bring down in the future, but it brings the next question: security and risk of bonding, and we have an interesting poll for you below.
Compensation for contributing to bond deposit
As stated earlier, delegating is a safe venture that can be done while keeping one’s private key safely in a hardware wallet such as nano-ledger. In addition, they can either be spent or moved to a different delegate any time the owner chooses to do so. Meanwhile, a bond pool investor has the following to deal with:
At any time, some or perhaps near all the tezzies are frozen in bond deposit. They cannot be spent or moved while in deposit.
These tezzies are at risk in the advent of a bug in the baking node’s software or the node has been compromised by an attack.
No baking can happen unless tezzies are put in bond deposit.
Rather than set at 8.5%, if the bond deposit ratio had been established at say just 1%, the fees would be quite lower as the network would not require as many tz in bond and therefore, there would be more competition for delegation. So the fees we see so far are tied to this requirement as well as the fixed costs of operation and of course the price of XTZ.
We intend to open up our service for bond pool investment earning 8% of the fees from delegated tezzies. The service will even allow for a combo approach where investors can provide the bond for themselves by say delegating 91.5% and contributing 8.5% into our bond pool, giving an effective fee rate of just over 6% at the current rate we are charging. And of course, we will constantly look at improving this rate to a lower value, but we preferred to lower them later rather than charging too low and having to surprise our delegators by having to raise them at a later date.
I’m posting a poll on twitter asking people what’s the lowest amount of fees they are willing to be paid in exchange for contributing in a bond pool, either run by yourself or a professional service.
Phil Champagne
Author http://BookOfSatoshi.com
VP Investor Relations, Hayek Lab, Inc.
https://www.hayeklab.com/ | https://medium.com/hayek-lab/tezos-baking-fees-and-its-evolution-d922ffb490d0 | ['Phil Champagne'] | 2018-09-24 22:19:08.848000+00:00 | ['Hayek Lab', 'Tezos', 'Bitcoin', 'Delegation', 'Baking Fee'] |
Designing for Empathy and Retention | “We need to understand what will delight people, and then go out and find the technology or business model to make that happen.” — Blaise Bertrand
Partner and Industrial Design Director, Blaise Bertrand, explains it’s a designer’s responsibility to “Zoom In and Zoom Out,” viewing problems from “the millimeter to the kilometer”
IDEO wants everything from chairs to cellphone accessories to connect with their audience on an emotional level. What makes IDEO such a successful product development firm lies in the difference between “Tech Push” and “Tech Pull.”
Tech Push:
“Many companies invent the technology, and then try to push it into the world regardless of the market or users.” — Blaise Bertrand
Tech Pull:
Only after IDEO designers fully understand and empathize with a problem do they investigate the software and hardware necessary to create an effective solution.
Understanding the problem always starts with researching the audience, but it’s not about “just talking to people.” IDEO designers go to extreme lengths to experience problems firsthand before they start concepting solutions.
How far are they willing to go? Once, an IDEO designer researching how to improve hospital visits, admitted himself into the ER and recorded the entire experience. The resulting video showed how much time patients spend looking up at boring ceiling tiles — a unique perspective you wouldn’t think of until experiencing the environment for yourself. “Experiencing it develops empathy,” Blaise explained, “which leads to innovation.” | https://medium.com/salesforce-ux/designing-for-empathy-and-retention-c8f69b22ddf1 | ['Ryan Scott'] | 2015-12-18 18:25:49.009000+00:00 | ['Design', 'Ideo', 'Events'] |
4 Reasons Why Military Drones Will Be Even More Dangerous in the Future | As the people of the world go about their daily lives, there is a new danger lurking in the background and become more dangerous as time passes. And most of us are unaware of its presence.
I am talking about the use of military drones that are armed with laser-guided missiles¹. And with each passing day, they are becoming more lethal — and the end is nowhere in sight.
4 Reasons Military Drone Usage will Continue to Grow
Ironically, what’s making these drones more dangerous are the incentives they provide to world leaders for using them. And thus far, there have not been many downsides for them in terms of the political cost.
Covert Means of Establishing Permanent War
Perhaps the most seductive way for world leaders to deploy killer drones is by having a permanent state of war with an adversary². Remote drone warfare can be established with no boots on the ground and with minimal repercussions.
These highly-equipped military drones can be deployed to surveil enemy targets for long periods. They can then be instructed to strike by remote operators whenever critical enemy assets and personnel expose themselves.
Since these activities are usually “confidential”, world leaders suffer little or no political blowback. So there is very little public pressure to cease these operations. Not only this, but it also blurs the lines of international law because there’s no clear distinction between being at war and not being at war.
Enables More Target Precision
The precision that is offered by military drones was the primary reason for its initial use³. These drones could provide images and videos of the vital enemy and terrorist assets — which provided an immediate and needed advantage. The problem is that authorities began using this newfound precision for controversial objectives.
Some of the biggest examples of these controversial drone use has come from Israel, the UK, and the United States⁴. These countries have used armed drones for various targeted killings.
Legal scholars have defined these actions as premeditated and deliberate killings of selected personnel by a government that is not in their custody. Where the International Laws of War applies, targeted killing of combatants is legal. These laws support the use of lethal force when it is essential for saving human lives that are in imminent danger.
Many experts argue that these stipulations do not apply to most of these targeted drone killings.
Transfers Cost of War From Armies to Civilians
Whenever world leaders decide to put boots on the ground for a military mission, they are taking a political risk — unless their nation becomes united against a common foe. But when the general public fails to understand or even care about the military mission, they usually pay a steep political price.
The overall cost of war is a huge motivation for using killer drones. Rather than put the lives of soldiers at risk, and absorb the tremendous logistical cost associated with war, why not just let drones fight the battle?
The problem with using killer drones is collateral damage — in the form of civilian lives. The fact is that way too many of these drone strikes are killing innocent civilians⁵.
Sadly, this is not exactly breaking news, yet world leaders continue using these killer drones. And until they pay a political price for their deadly decisions, they will keep firing remote drone missiles because it’s cheaper than using traditional military force.
Desensitizes War by Mimicking Video Games
Many experts are becoming concerned that remote operators who are executing kill shots from drones are developing a ‘PlayStation mentality’. In other words, are they becoming desensitized to cope with the horrific acts in which they are participating?
Some believe these operators are distancing themselves psychologically because of the physical distances that separate them from the actual drone strikes.
Opponents to these assessments argue that drone pilots are highly trained and intelligent enough to distinguish between real life and a video game. They also point out that some of these pilots even suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder after witnessing these drone strikes — which indicates no psychological detachment.
However, there is still some evidence that this ‘PlayStation mentality’ does exist with many drone operators⁶. The real question is how desensitized are our leaders becoming about innocent civilians becoming casualties of these drone strikes.
Unfortunately, there are not many incentives out there for drone killing to stop anytime soon. | https://medium.com/discourse/4-reasons-why-military-drones-will-be-even-more-dangerous-in-the-future-7103edeb7504 | ['Charles Stephen'] | 2020-10-19 10:52:17.014000+00:00 | ['Military', 'Politics', 'War', 'Technology', 'Drones'] |
被YFI创始人AC转推的Inverse Finance,你想了解的这里都有 | 因为YFI创始人AC的一条转推，将Inverse Finance推向了大众，一晚上项目创始人Haridy不得不好几次提升额度，从24万刀的限额提升到了1630万，但也将很多来不及投的用户拒之门外。是什么让大家蜂拥而至到这个未经审计且只有一个开发人员的项目呢？
本文将围绕这几个问题展开：
Inverse Finance 是个什么项目？ AC 和他到底有没有关系？ Inverse Finance的创始人是什么来头？ INV会发行代币吗？ 这几个池子的额度都没抢到，对于普通玩家来说还有没有机会入场？
最近公众号一直在跟踪YFI创始人AC并购的一些Defi项目，虽然说AC推出翻车的项目不少，但是YFI和kp3r这种百倍千倍万倍币的光环一经出现，背后早就跟了一群忠实的追随者。
那么首先我们来了解一下，Inverse Finance是一个什么样的项目，能引来大佬的转发？
简单来说Inverse.finance是遵循使用稳定币dai提供无损投资，用户存入dai并以1：1比例接收到保管库代币indai，然后金库会将dai投入到yearn之类的收益优化机枪池中，并收到eth，wbtc，yfi收益。
Yearn V2 Vault提供支持
据Inverse Finance创始人Haridy介绍：YFI团队已将INV列入白名单，这也意味着在Yearn Finance上公开发布Yearn v2之前，Inverse Finance存款人是最早使用者之一。
目前有三个池子，收益及情况如下
Dai to ETH: 30w的限额，APY大概在25%
Dai to WBTC：800w的限额，APY大概在3%（据创始人介绍，目前策略是在coumpund上，之后会迁移到yearn上，收益也会相对应提高）
Dai to YFI：800w的限额，APY不详。
接下来可能就是大家最关心的问题，AC 和他到底有没有关系？
让我们一起看一下Cointelegraph今早对创始人Nour Haridy采访时关于这个问题的回答。
CT：你如何形容AC转发前和转发后？
Haridy：老实说，整个项目都在AC之后。当我写协议时，我首先在Telegram上与他取得了联系，他感到异常兴奋，并说他会看看这个。这说服了我公开发布它。但是，是的，我还没有准备好接受他转推后的所有炒作。我当然感谢曝光，尽管压力很大。
CT:和YFI团队一起工作是什么样的？
Haridy：请注意，我不属于YFI团队。我只是和他们聊天。他们只是将Inverse列入白名单，以便尽早使用其V2保管库。他们对集成非常有帮助，并帮助我检查了代码并提出了非常重要的建议。
CT：你提升了一些池子的上限，为什么人们对你的项目如此兴奋？
Haridy：因为安德烈（Andre）发了推文。有人称它为安德烈硬币。有些人错过了安德烈（Andre）先前成功完成的代币发行，他们非常渴望弥补。
另外创始人在电报群组中更加明确的说清了AC和项目的关系：
AC 和项目并没有关系，他只是转发一条推特。
Inverse Finance创始人Haridy是谁，什么来头？
在cointelegraph的采访中，Haridy也做了简单的自我介绍：
过去几年我一直在以太坊领域担任开发人员。主要设计无gas费的Dai智能钱包，例如Metacash和Mosendo。现在，我只从事Inverse.Finance。我认为，除了当前的简单MVP设计之外，它还有很多潜力。
另外小编也通过github他的页面简历也验证了他的信息。haridy来自埃及，从18年开始担任web3开发工程师，共同创立了metacash钱包，也参与了mosendo的开发。精通阿拉伯语和英语，也喜欢打游戏特别是LoL，并对中东和美国政治感兴趣。
INV会发行代币吗？
会！明天会发布
INV token launch details (NOT YET LAUNCHED):
- 初始流通100k initial supply.
- 每年挖矿产生4% Minting is limited to 4% max per year. 1% each quarter. Minting power will be given to governance
-这两周有40%会作为流动性奖励发放 40% of the supply will be distributed as liquidity incentive over the next 2 weeks.
-15%开发人员锁仓两年 15% of the supply will be held by the dev. Vested over 2 years.
-剩下会通过治理发放 Rest of the tokens will be controlled by governance and distributed in the future for early community, future contributors and more incentive events.
而且创始人Haridy再三强调没有私募没有预售，更不会放到uniswap。
这几个池子的额度都没抢到，对于普通玩家来说还有没有机会入场？
机会肯定会出现，后期项目会逐渐开放更多池子和提升额度，但相对应的APY也会相对降低。
而且从一开始的年化收益上来看，或许并不是很耀眼，但大家更寄希望的也就是随后发布的代币了。会不会是一个十倍，百倍乃至千倍币呢？
但也希望大家多多留意风险，Defi市场机会还很多！！
另外大家想要继续跟进此项目，并一起在Defi海洋里冲浪，欢迎加到我们的微信社群里，专注好产品，布局新赛道！！！
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推特：Block Dance 区块跳动 | https://medium.com/@blockdance01/%E8%A2%AByfi%E5%88%9B%E5%A7%8B%E4%BA%BAac%E8%BD%AC%E6%8E%A8%E7%9A%84inverse-finance-%E4%BD%A0%E6%83%B3%E4%BA%86%E8%A7%A3%E7%9A%84%E8%BF%99%E9%87%8C%E9%83%BD%E6%9C%89-2d7189e82f14 | ['Blockdance 区块跳动'] | 2020-12-20 03:28:09.364000+00:00 | ['Inv', 'Ethereum', 'Defi', 'Eth', 'Inverse Finance'] |
Dota 2’s new event is a masterpiece in enforcing important player behaviors! | Dota 2 has released a new event called Diretide. It is a custom game where players compete in a best of 5 rounds match. In each round players need to collect more candies than their opponent in order to win that round. First team to win 3 rounds wins the match. Winning a match rewards the players with some points. For every 100 points the player earns, he gets one of the Roshan’s rewards. There are 75 items in the reward pool that the player can earn.
Out of 75, 74 rewards are not marketable on steam.
Rewards are hero cosmetics, UI customizations, voice lines and treasures
The other item is a chest that can be sold on steam and for REAL MONEY!
Why is Valve doing this? We try to find out in this post!
Dota 2 is a F2P game and there is no paywall for entering this event as well. Players can earn an infinite number of rewards for the event duration.The game ensures that a player is rewarded with the chest in the initial reward drops. But, in order to open it he has to buy a key that is being sold for 1.99$ in the game. The chest contains another set of cosmetic items that are really aspirational among the game’s community.
New Treasure
After receiving the chest, there are two ways a player can act —
1. Buy the key, by spending 1.99$ and open the chest.
2. List the chest on the market and wait for someone to buy it and “woohoo” the player has ~5$(avg. price)credited in their steam wallet.
Chest price graph since the launch of the event
A seasoned Dota 2 player most likely will open the chest using the first approach!
The interesting option is the second approach as it opens up a new array of behaviors that can be observed from the users and this is where I believe Valve has hit the jackpot.
Valve has rewarded the player some funds to the player that he can use anywhere on steam. There are multiple ways a player can use these funds —
Play more Dota 2 in the hope of getting more chests in the upcoming days and buy a key from the money lying in the steam wallet. Players can earn an infinite number of chests by playing the game as long as the event is live and open them with funds they got from selling the previous earned chests.
Why is this important?
Valve just made a player use his steam wallet funds on Dota 2 and introduced him “The way to spent money on a Game the player likes”.
2. Spend rewarded funds to buy a game on steam.
It is very unlikely that a player will spend the exact 5$ that he earned from selling the chest on buying a game. Either he has to add some more funds or he has some funds left in the wallet after completing a purchase. In Both of these scenarios, the chances of players adding more funds in their steam wallet increases significantly.
Why is this important?
Valve just made a player use his steam wallet funds for purchasing a game and also Taught him “The way to add funds in steam wallet”
Both, the above scenarios benefit Valve by bringing in a new set of players who learn to engage with in-game wallet and steam funds.
This event directly/indirectly enforces two important behaviors that are very crucial for any free to play game.
Spending money to buy in game items Adding money to the in-game wallet
We will have to wait to see if this event is achieving its goals!
If possible I will try to post an update about the impact of this event on the game’s DAU/retention etc. Stay tuned! | https://trapezist.medium.com/dota-2s-new-event-is-a-masterpiece-in-enforcing-important-player-behaviors-6916d8fbde2d | ['Rohit Soni'] | 2020-11-04 14:06:39.203000+00:00 | ['Game Design', 'Free To Play', 'Behavioral Economics', 'Games', 'Game Development'] |
Getting an IPhone Screen Replacement | An IPhone can easily get damaged or have a malfunctioning screen and this is where a screen replacement comes in handy. This enables you to be able to use your IPhone, even if it has a malfunctioning screen and you do not want to buy a new one. There are many companies across the world that specialize in providing for iPhone repairs and this allows you to get your broken iPhone replaced with a new one, when you need it. The companies have a wide range of skills to be able to deal with different problems and also give advice on how to fix your IPhone.
When looking for an IPhone screen repair company, you need to find one that can provide for your needs and also that has a high standard and will get the job done properly. It should be well trained and also have a high level of experience in being able to handle various problems that you might be having with your iPhone. Once you have found one of these companies, all you have to do is give them the phone and they will send a repair team to your house or wherever you may have your iPhone in order to get it fixed.
A screen replacement is a great option and you will not have to spend an outrageous amount on getting your phone repaired, as these repair companies are quite affordable. They have the skills and the knowledge to fix your phone quickly and efficiently. Once they have fixed your phone, you can then use it normally and get started using it again, without having to get another iPhone. There is no reason for you to have to throw away your old phone as quickly as possible and this is a great way for you to start using your new iPhone again and without any worries about it. This can also be used whenever you wish and you will always be able to get your phone fixed. | https://medium.com/@fixpodau2018/getting-an-iphone-screen-replacement-dbbb36062685 | [] | 2020-12-14 07:05:33.326000+00:00 | ['Iphone Screen', 'Apple', 'iPhone', 'iPad', 'Iphone X'] |
Top Picks- Here’s what you need to know about Leadership | I am Lina Ashar and I want to jointly explore the power of parenting with you. Join me on my journey to educate our children in unlocking their extraordinary human potential.
How to recognize leadership in every child: [Ted Talk] Yvonne explores what leadership is, and asks the questions: “Why do we wait to teach leadership?” “Is leadership something we can recognize and nurture in children too?”
Best Ways and Activities to Instil Leadership Qualities in Children: [FirstCry] A leader is a person to whom everyone looks up to. All of us come across different kinds of leaders in our walks of life; right from our very home to our workplace, from our surroundings to our country. On reading the biographies of great leaders, you might have noticed the various incidents in their childhood that shaped their attitude towards life.
Similarities Between Leadership And Parenting: [Forbes] It’s no secret that parenting is difficult. As a combat veteran, I’ve even sometimes wondered which is harder; war or raising children? So is managing a team just as hard? Granted, children need more attention and supervision than adults (most of the time), but the similarities between managing and parenting are interesting. Management isn’t for everyone, just like being a parent doesn’t suit us all.
Bringing the science of leadership to the art of parenting: [Penn Today] Parents in today’s fast-paced disorienting world can easily lose track of who they are and what really matters most. But it doesn’t have to be this way, according to Wharton professor Stew Friedman and co-author Alyssa Westring. They say it is possible for parents to harness the powerful science of leadership in order to thrive in all aspects of their lives.
What Parents Can Learn about Leadership: [The Wharton School] One of the toughest jobs in the world is being a parent. It’s a leadership role that calls for the sharp negotiating skills of a chief executive, the flexibility of a scheduling secretary, the nonstop labor of employees on the floor, and even the maintenance expertise of the custodial staff. A new book by Wharton emeritus management professor Stewart Friedman and Alyssa Westring, management professor at DePaul University, explains how parents can harness the power of leadership principles to thrive in the four major domains of their lives — career, family, community and self.
With Gratitude,
Lina Ashar | https://medium.com/@lina-47001/top-picks-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-leadership-30ddb0fab1fe | ['Lina Ashar'] | 2020-12-21 05:14:20.464000+00:00 | ['Parenting', 'Leadership', 'Leadership Development'] |
SLUSH. | As, to me, it seems a bit much that, since Bush and his retarded boys club, you have taken down a generation of men — again howling seems everywhere with this many Bryn Mawr graduates in the vista all at once, like with Italians lesbians too feel the brunt of Semitic distaste at body hair, (which is strange for people who aren’t exactly Teutonic). But they think they are “in like Flynn” now that have married this many barmaids who all love Thor Movies.
And those men, an inferno full now, have been shoveled to a perpetual front, thanks to the Beehives pater and Filias, unendingly so, callusesly so. And now I am to cry and wince for lesbian bravos who dreamed of being Buddy Sorrel and instead had to be mussed up by Louis wingman, Otter himself, Colbert.
Men have been sent to a eternal gash in the earth, an never-ending fiasco. (We lost the Italian word when a “high yellow goon named Barry” showed up to make sure that any hags crying for men, caught up in the friendly confines of Bagram Air Force base, were drowned out by the perpetual clapping for the eventual voting for a black man. A man who had to have a hag on his ass all the way to flag day, a hag whose credo was never say die, when not saying instead, what time is it kids, and letting that freckled perpetual wooden boy that dances on strings next to Buffalo Bobbie steal the show.)
Or all those who went up in pyrotechnics cause they were in a cancer ward that got in the way of perfectly named Hellfire drone, despite that big blood colored crescent painted up there like Altman’s MASH (as somehow, again, we are off — if not to find the holy grail, the arc of the covenant, which the Romans did quite well and awful without single shelling of it, as they were more men than angels.)
I, Machiavellian I am, do smell a double agent. But then, like some, I’ve read more Sallust than you have.
Sadly, today I heard that Gore was right, and we are an empire now, without a even twelve year old Juvenal on the crew. We are sadly a multinational corporation that still is bitch slapped into anger when it sees their woman’s movies clunk at the Box Office. This is as Mad Magazine is to be shuttered in ways no one can do to gangster movies.
This is all unbelievably sad to me, as one would think that, with big bad Trump as the bogeyman, you’d still be suing every quiver in your bow to defeat, like Virgil’s backwardly brilliant shot and hit, Amechi scores.
But, alas, even scurrilous cartoons are used against thieves, and the very same bourgeois and the vulgar platitudes and rhymes of the street people used against Augustus would be used.
But, you seem to be closing down everything, as again, it seems I was wrong, as instead of the Oviddian line it seems every night in the Clinton marriage is indeed closing night, and closing time.
Bill perhaps knew that ridicule is the price one pays for that purple sash as opposed to the Gene Rayborns and IN-law Jewish machers of now. This is because no woman screeching about cultural appropriation notices who took over Columbo when Ben Gazerra wanted no part of it. They think the purple sash is some sort of guard against all such things, as you hob nob at funerals all by now for the same person, yourselves.
So in a week that wrote the spec script for THE GOOD WIFE, or whatever it is called now (editor’s note: The Good Fight), as I did see parts of it, and sadly can report there is no Julianna in it, but worse yet, no Goofballs from Sports Night as an everyman hero, and worse yet, no Calinda with Roman girl haughtiness that makes one watch her massive eyes and aquiline face.
So, this script, with its allusions to Paladin, are wasted here, as it seems to now be a bunch of black girls with a Polish chick as the brains of the operation, much like the democrats have been since Dukakis sadly lost.
In fact, only a Jewish girl remnant did I write some nice lines for, and some wistfulness from Christine Baransksy did I write, when she intrigued by Jesuit Virgil. She admits, when his friend in this teleplay, and fellow Georgetown alum, Wil, asked her if she thought there was still torture going on — she admitted, not only to that, but that Barry the God did use one of those stingers and daisy cutters unmentioned.
This was as the Romans, men with sharp sticks, are maligned, did blot out an American citizen, whose only crime was saying things, as an Islamic that Barry couldn’t initial, as close enough for gummit work.
So, now, (between the funerals for dying old coots showing that, in fact, Julius Caesar was again the oak he was when, called that dead and decrepit, once vaunted Roman senate was less an assembly of kings, as it once was to being a mausoleum)…so now, men now are sent to tribunals for killing an enemy you had Charlie’s War make out of whole cloth…?
Italian Jazz…Now like the cops you’ve made prance in military drag, wake me up at 9, I wanna watch SWAT, now the poor suckers who you’ve made into pawns in a perpetual war, for perpetual written off losses — lest one scared out of his mind guy blows away some Arabs — they might be placed on war crimes trials by the Gucci shoes wearing, climate controlled perpetual Nuremberg, that only a country willing to utilize a bombs can star chamber up…?
No, this is against Roman laws of romance farce, as again the shuttering of Mad Magazine shows that the satire that you censor is the satire you can’t sell any mezzanine tickets to. And sadly, and without an ear for the crowd, the circus owners think they are running a church, and the homilies are cast out in stereo, into a Tyber shore that always liked dancing girls more than the spell caster school marms ever did like.
No matter what, when the ground stopped smouldering, the Romans, beloved by me and Bill and Gore and the Jesuits and my father, and (hated so by the Jewish in-laws and Miss Grundy’s of the world who hated if not more than anything their love of life as much as their acceptance of death) every Roman sortie is, in definition, a suicide mission if need be — as Uncle Julius said — would send in Questers and arbiters, to count up every fallen man every enemy, every broken bone, broken sword or broken helmet.
AS YOUR AFTERMATH OWNS INKS OF BUSH BOYS WHO FLEW TOO CLOSE TO A SUN THEY ‘ERE NOTHING MUCH LIKE Idiots who see us all as Monicas and suckers in the North tower, and though huff and puff about Trump can’t get too uppity with their red-necks women’s and naggers as, after all, Bill Clinton built that Roman road to hell and you, without a Virgil, the name I gave my Jesuit lawyer hero, on the crew.
It’s one thing to have an aftermath, just don’t be an accountant about it.
So, I finished the play at about 67 pages, should I send it in…?
My brother tells me, don’t bother, it’s over their heads. Oh, I say, no this is good television, I think it’s still done by The English man who made Gladiator and ,..and…and…maybe he's right.
But at least I finished it, as I did a play called Pygmalia back when my father died as a nice, remember, acne amid the barbarians, to who fire is just another weapon. | https://medium.com/fat-daddys-farm/slush-b4d947828a8b | ['Turnus Jones'] | 2019-09-14 14:01:02.616000+00:00 | ['Humor', 'Satire', 'Short Story', 'TV Series', 'Politics'] |
The Fake Wayfair Scandal in Excruciating Detail | The Children’s Names
Let’s talk about big numbers. According to Wikipedia’s page for Wayfair, their sales platform has about 14 million products for sale. (Per a claim from Boston Magazine)
Imagine you were a software engineer working for Wayfair and your supervisor comes to you and says, “I need you to make all of the listings for all of the 14 million products on the website unique so the search function on the site works better and customer service knows what product someone is asking about.” Someone at Wayfair was confronted with this exact problem.
The solution they apparently decided on is to add (somewhat) unique names to each listing in order to make it easier for users to search the site for specific bar stools/sectionals/recliners they happened to be looking for. IKEA actually does something similar, naming products after places and people. It’s just that those places and people are Scandinavian.
Where would these hypothetical unique names come from? You might ask. From all appearances, it seems Wayfair decided to scrape the internet for them, pulling them from baby name lists like the one you can find here. [archive] (There are 18,757 names on the girls’ list alone)
Huh.
Try it yourself, if you like. Search a few of the names on this list against Wayfair’s product listings. You’ll get about halfway through the whole list before you start having trouble finding matches. In that context, it seems a lot more plausible that Wayfair could produce listings with these “unusual” names. They’re on these lists. As such, I wouldn’t call it a coincidence when you find a missing child’s name on Wayfair. It’s a bit like winning the lottery when you bought nearly every ticket. Coincidence is probably the wrong word.
Note that this specific list is just one set of data, and doesn’t include every name that Wayfair uses in their process. Last names and boys names aren’t represented here, for example.
If you search for “bookcase” you’ll get 7,163 results (as of the time of writing). But if you search for “Anabel bookcase” you get 1 result. (also as of time of writing.) I hope you can see why this would make communication easier for Wayfair.
Another detail that’s often left out, these names are reused across multiple types of products. Searching for a name without a specific product type yields many results. They’re only interested in making the name + item combos unique.
Did they kidnap 46 girls named Anabel? — Where’s the break point in price between children and beds?
So you hypothetically take these many many thousands of names across millions of products and mash them up against a Google search for “-name- missing” or the database at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (421,394 entries as of 2019) and then you pick out a few examples that sound interesting/convincing. It would be good to pick an unusual sounding one. Probably a recent one, or maybe there’s a product review on the Wayfair page that sounds strange when read with the missing person in mind. That would make for some nice bonus points and extra retweets. Lots of shocked face emoji too. | https://medium.com/@alsoVincent/wayfair-conspiracy-analyzing-the-evidence-e2f4e407ff93 | [] | 2020-07-20 16:42:22.029000+00:00 | ['Furniture', 'Conspiracy Theories', 'Wayfair', 'Social Media', 'Human Trafficking'] |
30 Months of Impact Investing: Lessons and Reflections | ‘We need to start to talk about money in ways that dethrone it and make it subject to human ethics and standards of love and decency’- Joel Solomon, The Clean Money Revolution
In Jul 2018, I had joined Acumen Fund, an early-stage impact fund in India, and wrote about my journey into Impact Investing and how I got here
Acumen Fund is an early-stage impact fund that invests in for-profit social enterprises at the seed, pre-A, A-stages with cheque sizes of $500K-$2M
Thirty months out as I move to a new role in the VC industry, I thought it might help to pause, reflect, and document my learnings from the impact investing space. I hope this is helpful to budding professionals keen to enter the rapidly developing sector, for-profit social enterprises, or folks in general who are curious about impact investing and its future.
Note: Recently Acumen India opened two positions and I have been chatting with a lot of folks interested in the space. Writing is more scalable than 1 on 1 chat and on that note let us begin!
Why did I join Impact Investing?
Wrote about it here
Great, so how was the experience?
Largely a good one. My desire to work in the buy-side was driven by the fact that it would offer a blend of financial analysis, industry deep-dives, and business model evaluation as well as strategy, business development, and stakeholder management through portfolio support.
I loved the fact that there was a lot of autonomy built into the role- be it in building investment thesis in various areas (consumer platforms, waste management, skill tech, last-mile distribution, ecotourism, Agri tech to name some), sourcing and speaking to various companies (best part of the job!), evaluating, and taking them to IC for investment decisions (more in the next section)
Add to it was the opportunity to closely work with the portfolio companies. As a board observer, I managed Acumen’s portfolio in education, financial inclusion, consumer, and energy sectors. Apart from the governance aspects (compliance, board meetings, etc.) I enjoyed working with the founders on various aspects- fundraising, hiring, business plan discussions, future strategy, network support ideation, etc.
Some examples include working with a premium honey company to do break-even analysis across regions and channels, preparing B plan projections and cash flow analysis for our education companies, offering feedback on a pitch deck and speaking to potential investors for a last-mile distribution company, executing an impact bond for our skilling portfolio among others
One area where I took time to adjust to at the start was the unstructured nature of a VC role. One works as an ‘intrapreneur’ as she/he is responsible for surfacing the best companies to the IC, maintaining networks within the industry to track leads, help in fundraising of port co, or discuss trends and spaces. Coming from GS and BCG which had a structured project-based role, this was a new way of working which I gradually became comfortable with
What all did you work on?
Used the below timeline snapshot to cover the key highlights of my work stint. I worked in the role from Jul 2018-Dec 2020
The Journey!
What were your top learnings/ reflections from it?
Industry Level
a. While it looks ‘Shark Tank’ style super glamorous from an outside-in perspective, venture capital is tough and exits are the hardest. Add in impact evaluation (first filter through which we evaluated deals) and social returns which makes impact investing tougher.
b. VC is a long-run game, and you need a high degree of self-motivation and patience. At the same time, you need to be a strong hustler and move with the speed of the market when you meet a great founder to invest in them.
c. One needs to be extremely efficient in ‘context switching’ as in one day you could be attending a board meeting, evaluating a potential pipeline, negotiating on a deal, and doing industry research on an attractive sector to build the firm view.
Pipeline and Investing
d. As an investor one really has the smallest of powers to influence how the society shapes up in the next decade. Which ideas you fund/ do not fund could affect society, entrepreneurs, and the economy in the long run. So be gentle and wise. FOMO and herd mentality to invest rarely helps.
e. At the early stage one is really betting on the team (their prior experience and execution potential) and a big rapidly growing market. While business model, early traction, PMF, defensible moats are all important the first two are the most crucial.
f. You need to have a high degree of propensity to say no’s daily (to startups). In a year one might speak to ~250–300 startups, evaluate 15–20% further and finally invest in 1% of them. One should also have a high degree of tolerance to hear ‘bad news’/ challenges as a regular part of the job. Else it will become highly stressful.
g. The need to understand the founders/ founding team and get to know them closely is super important before investing. Do ref checks if needed with their friends/ prior work colleagues to understand what drives them, working style, how do they tackle tough situations/ failures, etc. You will be working with them for a good 5–7 years and hence understanding all of this is critical.
Portfolio Management
g. Investing (often the most celebrated aspects in media) is just one part of VC’s job. The real grind starts post investing when you closely work with the company for years to help them find a PMF, attract the next set of customers/ employees/ investors, offer your/ fund’s network to support all while navigating multiple challenges/ near deaths on a continuous basis. A learning for me has been that Portfolio management is being deeply involved and not just a check in the box.
h. Fundraising and hiring the right talent will be the biggest challenges for companies exemplified more so for social enterprises. What helped me during hiring for portfolio companies was looking for hires who were intrinsically motivated by the mission/ purpose of the company and the excitement to build something meaningful with lasting impact
i. One needs to be ready to support/ be a listening ear to the founders. Beneath all the glamor, being a founder is an extremely stressful and at times lonely job. One needs to be excited and continue to think on how to always add value to founders (expert advisory board, set up structure and processes) at an early stage of the journey.
j. Your portfolio companies might run out of cash, find it tough to scale, or be wiped out by a well-funded competitor. At those times you might need to take a tough decision on asking the entrepreneur to wind down, do a hard pivot, or fire employees to reduce cash burn all of which will be gut-wrenching. Empathy during those conversations while valuing the blood and sweat of the founding team which has gone into building the venture is crucial to remember.
Exits
k. You need to start planning an exit from your portfolio companies and have honest conversations with the founders on exits at least 18–24 months before your target date. Have multiple contingency plans in place for any adverse events and don’t celebrate till the money has hit your fund’s bank!
l. Some of your star companies that have attracted big rounds might not give you the target IRR (which could be frustrating) because the time period got stretched.
Any tips for people keen on impact investing?
Is Impact Investing the right path for me?
First, try to understand what motivates and pushes you to explore this space. Is it the intrinsic drive to be able to invest with purpose/ add value to the society or is impact investing just a fancy ‘buzzword’ you are attracted with?
List down your career goals and create a 7–10-year plan. Speak with folks already working in this space and hear their experience. Map your career expectations against this and try to visualize if you will want to work in the industry post such discussions.
I want to make a career in impact investing.
- Understand that it will be a long-drawn-out route. Getting into this space is tougher than getting into Harvard/ Stanford (no kidding!). Set a timeline for when you would like to actively apply for roles, actively network (more in next point), and then take a call to work in allied sectors- impact consulting, I-Banking, operational role at a social enterprise, etc. till a good role comes up.
- Try to be value additive to VCs when you reach out. A cold email asking for a job vs. an email which intelligently talks about 1–2 of their portfolio companies and/ or mentions the help you can offer to them or in the firm’s investment focus areas- Which candidate will you pick to speak further?
- Understand 2–3 sectors in detail and create an investment thesis on them. Use it to understand the fundamentals of business, market sizing, unit economics, etc. Form a view and speak to industry experts/ VC’s in your network to discuss and brainstorm while refining the thesis.
- Follow the top funds and the leaders in this space. Try to access their writings, attend events where they are speakers, listen to their podcasts. This will really help you understand them/ firm culture in some sense even if you do not have direct access to speak with them. In an era where knowledge is getting democratized, not knowing enough about the fund/ sectors where they operate cannot be an excuse.
- Learning agility and curiosity should be super high. With tons of content these days, focus on quality. Having an entrepreneurial bent of mind is also crucial because you will become an ‘intrapreneur’ taking crucial decisions once you join a fund.
- Create your own personal brand in the broader ecosystem — either through analyzing companies writing on emerging trends, sharing investment thesis, or video interviews/ podcasts. Don’t worry that you are adding ‘noise’ to the ecosystem. If you are producing great thoughtful content that helps, people will notice and appreciate the effort you are putting in. Not to mention the brownie points you can earn when you do bag an interview slot.
To sum up
Overall impact investing remains a rapidly growing space. Several trends point to a much stronger ecosystem being shaped in the space. Many impact funds have or are in the process to raise bigger funds (Lightstone Aspada, Ankur Capital, Aavishkaar, etc.), DFI’s such as CDC and IFC are doubling down on India and emerging markets, traditional PE/VC’s have/ are setting up dedicated impact funds (TPG, Bain Capital, KKR, etc.).
Investible sectors in impact have expanded from microfinance and energy in the last decade to education, agriculture, healthcare, among others. Finally, there is increased participation of commercial funds (in later stages or as co-investors) with impact funds to fuel companies that dispels the common myth that you can’t make returns in impact investing
Overall, the space between commercial and impact investing is blurring which depicts the potential and promise. All this bodes extremely well for the impact investing industry and ecosystem and it remains among one of the most exciting (and super relevant) industries to work in!
That’s all folks and I hope this is useful to people keen on impact investing!
If you will like to dive further, here is a good piece on why not to work in venture capital or a recent report from Omidyar Network which elaborates on their thesis in Innovating for the Next Half Billion
Bonus content with tons of useful resources, tips, and openings in VC job on John Gannon’s blog
Image credits: Net Impact
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of any institute or organization he is or was previously associated with. | https://medium.com/@keshbagri/30-months-of-impact-investing-lessons-and-reflections-7a74b4bb656c | ['Keshav Bagri'] | 2021-02-07 09:33:41.387000+00:00 | ['Venture Capital', 'Social Enterprise', 'Purpose Driven Business', 'Reflections', 'Impact Investing'] |
Elacity moving into 2022 | Hello Elanauts! We have had an exciting and eventful year within the Elastos ecosystem and now is a great opportunity to give an update on ela.city, to reflect on where we are today and where we are headed as we move into 2022!
Elacity
The Bella Series
Web 3 Conference
Elastos Gold
Elacity Map
CR Passport
Welcome to Elacity, the Elastos Marketplace and surrounding ecosystem project. Our goal is to bring smart contracts and aggregated services to Elastos to help power a new economy using Web3 technology. Elacity was first drawn up in 2018 as a digital asset marketplace, UI mockups were made and teased to the community in 2020, and this year, with Elastos technology maturing and support, we began the process of building out the vision.
Elacity wouldn’t be possible if not for the hard work from our development team, from Elastos Orchard, and our community where donations have come through Elastos’ co-founder Feng Han and members via NFT Art and Gold token offerings. Thank you all for your support and encouragement.
Over the past few months, we have built and achieved an Opensea V1 marketplace for Elastos, enabling users to;
Mint Elastos Smartchain NFTs,
Create and browse each other's shops,
Make offers directly to each other,
List assets for a fixed price,
Put on auction for a set amount of time.
As a result, we have brought new contracts and features to Elastos including building the first NFT environment for desktop users which can help lower barriers to external adoption. To celebrate this milestone, we will officially launch Elacity and our limited edition 500 total Bella Series Collection on the 24th of January.
Shortly, we will additionally introduce NFT collections and an ELA to WELA converter, enabling a better user experience and giving creatives a place where they can launch and mint large amounts of NFTs onto our marketplace. We will explore aggregating external ESC NFTs on Elacity and accepting ERC20 tokens such as USDC and Elastos GOLD.
With ESC fees currently less than 1cent, we encourage artists to reach out to our team today should you want to have one of the first Elacity collections prior to launch. We are excited to have already worked with external artists to bring limited-edition off-brand and experimental NFTs to purchase via the Elacity Auction House in 2022. We welcome all forms of creativity and will enjoy promoting artwork and collections on Elacity as we grow.
The Bella Series
Bella is the mascot of Elacity, and this NFT funding round marks our first ever limited edition series where a total of 500 Bellas will be made available to purchase with the official launch of Elacity.
Today, we are pleased to announce that we have teamed up with Profile to become one of the first spaces on its platform, with a goal of building an Elacity think tank and forming a small tightly-knit knowledge hub to support and counsel on important growth decisions. Each Bella NFT will grant you access to the Bella space on Profile.
Whilst the Bella Series are there to make you smile and be enjoyed as original Elacity issued art, it is our wish that as Elacity and users on Elastos grows, so will the desire to acquire a scarce Bella NFT, and Elacity will strive to continue giving privileges and finding utility wherever possible for Elacity supporters and Bella holders.
We welcome artists, engineers, enthusiasts, and business developers to collect a Bella NFT and come connect and have a voice in how we build out the Elacity vision.
Web3 Conference
With the Web3 Conference kicking off on 26–7th of Jan 2022, Elacity is happy to announce it will be supplying the free NFT’s advertised to each ticket holder that attends. This is an exciting step towards onboarding new users to connect, collect and join Elacity and the Elastos Smart Chain environment. We will create a collection for this giveaway in the coming weeks. Suggestions or collaborations are welcome! We will additionally work with our partners to further promote NFT utility and create opportunities for platforms using Elastos technology.
Elastos Gold
One of the first success stories of Elacity in 2021 has been Elastos GOLD. GOLD was independently created in early 2020 on the Elastos Smartchain where with the launch of Glide Finance this year it’s total supply was made available via a fair launched liquidity contract for the community.
With a total supply of only 1000 GOLD, no inflation, and starting at around 5c per GOLD (with high price impact), GOLD’s price rose to an all-time high of $820 per GOLD, teasing towards a $1million marketcap! As redistribution has taken place, the price has since settled at around $300 per GOLD and we are excited to see its status continue to grow alongside Elastos as a popular ESC collectible whilst we work to bring utility via Elacity.
Long-term Elastos member Vegas Mike helped create the tokens art and the community has donated over 105 GOLD, empowering us to set up the Elacity GOLD vault found here. This will be governed by our City Council DAO with a goal to grow our supply, to lock GOLD and ELA liquidity and bring a healthy trading environment and rising price floor.
As part of The Bella Series, all ELA raised from Golden Bellas will be paired with GOLD and locked into our liquidity vault.
Gold art and donations have been made by the community. We would like to thank the following community members; Pahini, FoxFortyTwo, Uthuk, Bunny Punk, Jeff Way, Vegas Mike, Austrader, Roboznt, Anon 1, Anon 2, Chrono, Nenchy, Mad Max, and Shaq. Thankyou all who have supported GOLDs growth in other ways too, this is grassroots, fun, and really feels like a community token already.
Elacity Map
Welcome to Elacity! This is our home. We have delivered the Elacity map V1, including districts and areas which are inspired by many long-term builders.
We believe the Metaverse will play a huge part in the future with the advancements of VR and AR technologies, we have set a vision for the future where we can build a virtual city under the Elacity name, trade land parcels, and move into an immersive experience. This is a north star, where a simple 2D view of our map today can help remind and inspire. You can zoom in and view the map in 8k here.
Elacity moving into 2022
Today Elacity is focused on building out its marketplace and underlying infrastructure. With all the initial fundamentals in place, we will bring DID and verifiable credentials next and revamp our Passport Office. Our goal is to innovate and create a traffic light system where users can add credentials to their Shops, and with it levels of decentralized third-party verification to build trust with buyers. Such options could include Twitter or Discord log-in DID verification all the way to a fully (real) Passport KYC’d identity credential.
We are excited to announce and talk about our plans to build the Cyber Republic Passport. This will represent the highest level of credential available and will be made available on Elacity in Q1 of 2022. We believe 2022 is the year of DIDs and verifiable credentials, and Elacity will offer tools to buy and trade DID names and reputation before moving into our next phase.
Thankyou everyone for all your support today, we are extremely excited to continue building and growing the Elacity platform and raise Elastos awareness and bring new services.
Please remember Elacity is subject to all the risks of any startup and must continue to raise and bring funding to grow and survive. Today, we are still grassroots and reliant on crowdfunding methods and donations to keep developing. If you believe in our vision and what we are doing, think about ways in which you can help us succeed and grow, from promoting the vision, onboarding creatives, purchasing our NFTs, or making donations.
2022 is the year for Elastos, we have many elements all coming together to be excited about and we wish everyone the best as we move into it. We wish you a great new year and a happy holiday. Keep up the hard work everyone! Onwards. Upwards. Elastos! | https://medium.com/@elacity2822/elacity-moving-into-2022-104d713fdec1 | [] | 2022-01-01 13:30:31.511000+00:00 | ['Web3', 'Blockchain'] |
Pet influencers: Most Popular Animals on Social Media | Until now, we create a list of influencers from different niches. Now, have you ever heard about pet influencers? They are actual animals, and as hilarious as it sounds, their owners are social media managers, posting for them and even making money per post for whatever they advertise.
Nowadays, animals rule influencer marketing, so brands can take advantage of this opportunity. That is why we create a list of pet influencers who dominate influencer marketing. For finding more visit our website and sign in to our platform if you’re looking to expose your brand.
I would like to take the opportunity to give information about Keepface influencer platform. Keepface is an automated platform for brands to reach most relevant influencers, communicate with them, and manage campaigns using real-time analytics.
Searching for a pet influencer on Instagram or elsewhere is time-consuming. Brands can find influencers with any audience and engagement rates in the Keepface database with spending less time. Keepface influencer marketing software helps you identify, recruit, and negotiate with influencers in one platform. Especially finding influencers with a smaller but more engaging audience can be more challenging. With the help of Keepface, brands can know an influencer’s engagement rates and have a full report on performance metrics before working with them. They can search influencers through advanced filters and analyze their key metrics to find the best-fitting influencers for their campaigns. Brands also get an in-depth analysis of influencers’ social profiles, performance data, and audience.
Search over the 350Kinfluencers & content creators and find the right pet influencers.
JiffPom is the most followed animal on social media. Only on Instagram he has 10.6 M followers. He is a small Pomeranian dog that has two Guinness World Records. Jiffpom also is an animal actor. He made a number of appearances, including in Katy Perry’s “Dark Horse” music video which has been viewed over 2 billion times on YouTube. You can see him in movies too.
Nala is fluffy, adorable, Instagram’s most popular cat with 4.3M followers. The Instagram account of Nala Cat started in 2012, and her cute photos quickly went viral. Nala is the most-followed Cat on Instagram. Nala’s owner launched the cat food brand “Love, Nala” recently.
Doug the Pug is a dog living in Nashville, who has gained social media following and has reached the status of a celebrity dog. He is the most followed pug on the internet with over 13 million followers. Doug is the winner of a People’s Choice Award for Animal Star 2019. Forbes named Doug The Pug the #2 most influential pet in 2018. Doug’s Facebook page has over 6 million likes, his Instagram account has 3.8 million followers, his Twitter account has just hit over 2.7 million followers.
Social Media is not only for cats and dogs. So, meet with two adorable foxes. They are North American red foxes who live at home with a menagerie of other rescued animals. Juniper and Fig host 3M followers on her Instagram page with an engagement rate that shows playing with their best animal friends. This Instagram account educates people about exotic animal rescues and gives people an inside look into what living with a fox is like.
Swaggy Wolfdog is arguably one of today’s most popular trained canine characters in the world. He frequently dresses in different outfits and wears glasses. Swaggy social media stardom carries over 2.7 million followers. He has a mafia called Swaggy Squad, which a lot of people and pets are a part of. Swaggy rose very quickly in the gang ranks, and soon became good friends with many social media influencers. | https://medium.com/@keepface-com/pet-influencers-most-popular-animals-on-social-media-19309e2fb265 | [] | 2020-12-23 05:52:45.453000+00:00 | ['Influencers', 'Pets And Animals', 'Pets', 'Influencer Marketing'] |
The Complete Library of My Stories | If you have a collection of the stories you wrote, I would love it if you could share the link in the comments!
It’s like looking through a box of long lost belongings or a shelf of old books. You never know what you will find! | https://medium.com/vytas-writes/the-complete-library-of-my-stories-ba9aeeb1000c | [] | 2021-01-10 16:31:00.068000+00:00 | ['Collection', 'Libraries', 'Ｍedium', 'Stories', 'Lists'] |
PS1 and PS2 emulator available by default in Debian based Linux repository | If you enjoyed playing the old Playstation 1 & 2 and recently moved to Debian based Linux then this is the article for you but if you have not moved but want to try, read my previous guide about installing Ubuntu. A gamer who moved to Linux operating system (OS) up to today may find that video games are lacking compared to Windows. The Windows games either free to play or premium ones if you have a lot of money are easy to install. Just download and and double click. While in Linux, especially the old ones, you probably have to find the missing libraries yourself and if that is not enough, you need to do the file configurations yourself. Yes, there maybe other and better emulators downloadable on the Internet but for now I’ll be focusing on the ones available by default in the repository of package manager and leave a comment if you know more.
Today, one of the first things taught to new Debian bases Linux users are using the package manager to download install softwares. If you use the graphical user interface (GUI), then that is fine, but if you use the terminal, then that is better, and that is enough knowledge to enjoy some classical games. The top ones that enjoyed and available on the package manager are Playstation 1 and Playstation 2 emulators where you only need one command line to install or find the package if you are using a GUI package manager like synaptics. Before installation, it is best practice to update and upgrade your system and sometimes you need to enable 32 bit packages:
sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade
Playstation 1 PCSXR
The playstation 1 emulator that I found available on most Debian based Linux repository is pcsxr. Although Playstation 1 is old that even a dual core CPU laptop with minimal video graphic card can play, the games are still enjoyable for me especially if you enjoy story games such as Suikodens, Final Fantasies, Tri Ace games, Metal Gear Solid, Grandia, and so many to mention. If you are a veteran who are really eager to replay the games but doubt about that it is a waste of time, why not video record or stream while you are playing as recording is much more convenient on the PC? Once you made your mind to install pcsxr, all you need is one command line or find the package on the GUI package manager:
sudo apt install pcsxr
That is it! The package manager will search and install all other dependencies for you. If error occurs, usually the terminal will give an explanation and you can search the Internet to see what you can do or you may comment below and I maybe able to help you. Explore the configurations yourself where the important one is configuring the gamepad or keyboard and you can find the files usually in /home/youruser/.pcsxr (if you are using a file manager, show hidden files). Above is a screenshot of me playing The Guardian of Darkness or below is a video if you need more details.
Playstation 2 PCSX2
If you have a laptop higher than dual core, you can enjoy better graphic playstation games which are playstation 2 games. The playstation 2 emulator that I found available on most Debian based Linux repository is pcsx2. Unlike playstation 1 games, playstation 2 games graphics are still decent today. Like install pcsxr, all you need is one command line or find the package on the GUI package manager:
sudo apt install pcsx2
Just like pcsxr, That is it! The package manager will search and install all other dependencies for you. If error occurs, usually the terminal will give an explanation and you can search the Internet to see what you can do or you may comment below and I maybe able to help you. Explore the configurations yourself where the important one is configuring the gamepad or keyboard and you can find the files usually in /home/youruser/.pcsx2 (if you are using a file manager, show hidden files). Above is a screenshot of me playing Suikoden 5 or below is a video if you need more details.
You may find the graphic while playing pcsx2 slow eventhough it is fine when playing high graphic video games in Windows. Usually, this is because of the graphic processing unit (GPU) card driver. For example when using Nvidia, the default Linux driver is Nouveau which is open source but up to today it is still not optimized. To have better performance, it is better to switch to Nvidia where in Ubuntu just go to Software & Updates and in terminal just install nvidia-dkms package and make sure to install the suitable for version for example my laptop cannot use driver version over 390. If you are on a complex optimus laptop like me where I have two video cards install which Intel HD Graphic and Nvidia, you probably need to utilize a special software like bumblebee as I explained on my previous tutorial.
Legal Status
The legal way to obtain Bios is by extracting it from your Playstation hardware however I do find it still ethical to download online as long as you have the Playstation hardware.
For games ofcourse I can only recommend to buy them legally. Insert the compact disk (CD) or better create a .iso of the CD using CD burning softwares such as Nero, Daemon Tools, and other disk imager software where in Debian Linux, there is the default disk utility software. I know that you can download these games online but I am not responsible for any problems.
Mirrors | https://medium.com/@0fajarpurnama0/ps1-and-ps2-emulator-available-by-default-in-debian-based-linux-repository-16374ce9b334 | ['Fajar Purnama'] | 2020-12-23 00:22:41.460000+00:00 | ['Debian', 'Games', 'Linux', 'Emulator', 'PlayStation'] |
November Black Friday Specials | We have a great deal of packages that cater for creative work, personalised branding and accounting solutions for your business.
Our packages range from animation in graphic work, corporate identity packages for beginners and intermediate phase businesses, film and photography work and lastly, accounting services for those who seek assistance in planning and structure of their finances.
Animation
1. Animation Packages will be designed for video clips that range between the following time frames:
Animation clips between 15 to 30 seconds will amount to R3 500.
Animation clips between 30 to 45 seconds will amount to R4 750.
Animation clips between 45 to 60 seconds will amount to R5 950.
Terms and Conditions
The above includes 2D animation design, logo animation, info-graphics, corporate identity and mini adverts in between the different clips. Any royalty-free music and sound design will include music that the client will pay for to include in the video clip. his package does not include character animation, 3D animation and any voice over recording. This can however be provided at an extra charge.
Contact [email protected] should you need any of the above services.
RR Creative Solutions x Hidden Society Studio
Corporate Identity Packs
These packages cover varying graphic design elements different companies may need. From your look and feel, through to emails, social media, websites, as well as having fresh logos for your brand and/or products. Have a read and pick your need this November!
Beginners Pack, for Black Friday Special of only R820–00 includes:
Brand Logo Development Email Signature Design which is used at the end of an email and specifies important contact details. Domain Set-Up, excluding hosting (example: [email protected])
Intermediate Pack, for a Black Friday Special of only R1540–00 includes:
Brand Logo Development Tailored Social Media Logo and Headers (your preferred 3 platforms) Email Signature Design (I.e. bottom contact details section of email) Domain Set-Up, excluding hosting (example: [email protected]) Word Letterhead Development
Professional Pack, for a Black Friday Special of only R2890–00 includes:
Brand Logo Development Tailored Social Media Logo and Headers (your preferred 3 platforms) Email Signature (I.e. bottom contact details section of email) Domain Set-Up, excluding hosting (example: [email protected]) Word and Powerpoint Letterhead Development Digital Business Card Set-Up & Design (3 Business Card Design Options)
Graphic Design — excludes printing, however it ranges from a variety if design work for business cards, flyers, banners and company logos.
Business Card Design: 3 Business Card Design Options — R650 (limited to 3 individuals per company)
Flyer Design: 3 Flyer Design Template Options — R850 (limited to 2 iterations)
Banner Design: 2 changes per design of selected banner — R725 (limited to free stock images)
Logo Design: 2 Design Options : R630 (1 change per design)
Film & Photoshoot Studio Work
For any group or individual professional photoshoots and film work needed, we offer the following special for November:
1 Hour Professional Photoshoot for only R1 500 (this is limited to 30 to 50 high-quality shots)
Contact [email protected] should you need any of the services above.
Personal and Professional Studio Photography
Accounting Services
We take pride in setting up SMMEs for financial success by building an infrastructure and committing to managing accounting, tax and financial management needs. This November, find allow us to serve you with the following Accounting Services at a 40% discount.
Preparation of financial statements starting from as low as R750.
*Please note that this will be adjusted based on the size of the entity where applicable
2. Preparation of Management Accounts will only cost you R500.
*Please note that this will be adjusted based on the size of the entity where applicable
Contact [email protected] should you need any of the services above.
Conclusion
We look forward to helping you achieve your business objectives in brand work, creativity and making your finances easier to understand and manage!
Contact Andiswa at [email protected] and/or Lerato [email protected] should you need clarity or assistance!
With RR Creative Solutions , EVERYONE WINS!
Written By: Pholoso M | https://medium.com/@leratoselialia/november-black-friday-specials-737610f38c1d | ['Lerato Selialia'] | 2019-11-14 13:39:57.776000+00:00 | ['Branding', 'Black Friday', 'Videography', 'Animation', 'Accounting'] |
Ethical And Moral Dilemmas of AI | Coffee, umbrellas, ice cubes, the telephone, the printing press, planes, computers, bicycles, and vaccines! Tell me, what do you think is common?
Well, besides all of them being pretty major inventions, these are some creations that were considered superfluous, dangerous, or impractical in their initial years. And it’s no surprise, human beings have always been skeptical about major changes in their way of living! We thrive on familiarity, and anything pushing the boundaries we’ve carefully cultivated over the years appears to pose a threat to our society. But if we know that, why engage in these conversations at all?
And moreover,
Why care about Ethics?
Koma Zhang for Quanta Magazine
Most obvious laws that govern our world, especially in relation to our values, attitudes, practices, and political communities, essentially stem from our ambiguous (and often subjective) sense of morality, developed through years of evolution and living as a social animal. We know that lying is bad, stealing is wrong, and murder is unacceptable!
But when it comes to more complicated issues, like the ethics of genetic modification, or our stance on privacy in the new digital age, our idea of what is considered conclusively acceptable is constantly questioned — because as new technologies emerge, our world’s “normal” changes. With more parameters introduced into our equation, it then stands to reason that our frame of reference must be adapted to as well.
Hence, there are innumerable arguments questioning the ethics of the emergence of AI. The sections of this article, in particular, will address the moral capacity of AI systems, the moral issues that arise from the misuse of such technology, and the moral status of the machines themselves.
But in all this, my favorite part? Solving many of them would require us to question our biases and mark our moral principles down to a science — we get to explore and understand the human race better than ever! Further, working in technology means that we get the opportunity to make our innovations more inclusive and fair — which is the way to go, because indisputably, AI is our future. It is in every field, highly integrated into our lifestyle, and heavily influencing nearly every decision we make. Sounds like a lot of pressure, doesn’t it?
So let’s get to it! What are some of the key dilemmas that present itself in this vast equivocal sphere of morality?
AI in Cognitive Decision Makin
Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman, at the Toronto conference on the Economics of AI, argued that the decision-making process of humans is “noisy” and therefore should be replaced by algorithms “whenever possible” (cited in Pethokoukis, 2017).
In a world that practically yearns automation, Artificial Intelligence will soon be in charge of making most major decisions in the world — financial, judicial, diplomatic, educational, and even military decisions. So the question arises:
Can AI be taught to be “moral”?
The basis of developing AI involves breaking down data, problem statements and decisions to its bare components, and evaluating them based on previous knowledge and reinforcement. However, moral questions are often not so binary, and are highly situation-dependent — there are entire fields of studies in philosophy dedicated to morality and ethics alone. And to always ensure the best interest of the people, there are questions that need to be answered before we hand over the baton of important cognitive decision making to our man-made brethren.
For example, how do we develop a universal language for morality?
How do we teach the empathy, instinct and wisdom in decision-making to AI?
How do we believe that the humans training A.I. to be ethical are themselves ethical?
The last question especially, highlighting the human constraints of subjectivity and prejudice, brings us to our next problem -
Bias
You’d think machines wouldn’t have the human tendencies for bias, yes? Impartial decision making ought to be a point for Team AI? Well, no.
Image credits: Dogtown Media
The idea that ML algorithms are inherently neutral is a commonly held one, but we must remember — AI primarily functions on data. And as it turns out, our data is quite biased.
Amazon most famously ran into a hiring bias issue after training an A.I.-powered algorithm to present strong candidates based on historical data. Because previous candidates were chosen through human bias (favoring male candidates), the algorithm favored men as well.
Further, facial recognition algorithms made by Microsoft, IBM and Megvii all had biases when detecting people’s gender and race, detecting the gender of white men more accurately than the gender of darker skin men.
Addressing this bias forces us to confront the underlying structural inequalities. Whether explicit or implicit, biases are the symptom of a lack of diversity within the people who build the technology. Women and minority groups remain underrepresented in the technology field which makes it harder to represent humanity and overcome biases correctly.
And while unintentional prejudice can be fixed, how do we enforce perfection in an often unjust society? Fun Fact — in June this year, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement, US) modified its own risk assessment algorithm so that it could only produce one result: the system recommended “detain” for 100% of immigrants in custody.
Really makes you wonder about exactly how much the powers of AI can be misused on a large-scale, no? And you’d think the solution to this is transparency in this decision-making process — if we are going to use machine learning algorithms to make any sort of worthwhile decision we get to demand that it be able to explain itself. Great idea, except revealing the algorithm would make it easy for one to beat it- defeating its entire purpose!
And while it’s now evident how our biases pass on to our machines, what power would these machines have over influencing our decisions?
How do these machines affect our behavior?
Corinne Reid for Quanta Magazine
“In this vast ocean of data, there is a frighteningly complete picture of us” (Smolan 2016: 1:01).
The internet, at any given time, holds an insane amount of our data. Check out the “Data and Personalization” tab of your Google account, for instance, and you’ll see that it has enough information about you to successfully and accurately guess your profession, age, financial status, relationship status, the kind of house you live in(?), hobbies, and preferences on just about anything. This isn’t really surprising- we spend a huge amount of our lives on the internet. But that much data? Powerful! Especially from a Marketing standpoint- and what is the world, if it isn’t all about the marketing?
We know how much we tend to live and breathe on social media, and that dependency isn’t random- nearly every element we scroll past is used to capture attention or trigger the reward centers in the human brain. It’s all often optimized with A/B testing, a rudimentary form of algorithmic optimization for content to capture our attention. And once they learn to keep our attention and assess our data, they use it to break down and essentially map out the fundamentals of what makes something “sell” — from the colors that stand out to us, words that can be used to clickbait, features that makes media addictive, to even the key demographics that something is popular in.
So what? Social media uses AI to acquire and analyze our data to provide more personalized content — what’s so wrong?
That’s where the lines get blurry. By using data we hadn’t (up until recently) knowingly consented to providing, not only is our privacy being violated, but using it to find out what makes our clocks tick and monetizing on it is definitely more than just morally ambiguous — it’s a form of deception, manipulation, and exploiting of human weaknesses. And in the wrong hands, it’s also extremely dangerous.
For instance, AI is allegedly said to play a huge role in elections and influencing voters all around the world. By targeting specific content, without confirming its validity, to the specific demographics previously proven (according to intelligent data collection and analytics) to engage with similar material can create a potentially powerful polarizing network that can help in reinforcing prejudice and propagating propaganda. Democracy becomes less about public opinion and more about who has better resources to assist manipulation.
And not only does AI help in targeting and spreading this content, but it also greatly assists in creating it, from the misinformation to the deep-fakes. AI systems are getting really good at creating fake images, videos, conversations, and all manner of content.
And with the internet being a primary source of information and news for most of the world, not having sufficient regulation on this could lead to things getting way out of hand. Think worst case scenario, and it’d be possible!
But beyond the conversations of cognitive skills and misuse, the discussions on the ethics of AI would be incomplete without asking ourselves about how we should treat them. Considering the future emergence of rational thinking sentient robots and AI systems, at what point would we consider them moral beings?
Should We Treat Robots Like People?
Image Credits: Shutterstock
Will these Machines be considered morally relevant beings and have their own rights? What is it exactly that gives humans a moral point of view - does it lie in its ability to have feelings and self-conscious awareness? Or is it the ability to feel pain? And once we consider machines as entities that can perceive, feel and act, it’s not a huge leap to ponder their legal status too.
Right now, AI systems are fairly superficial, and so it is widely agreed that current AI systems have no moral status. But AI is modelled with reference to human behavior, such as the very basis of reinforced learning being similar to the human brain’s reward system. They are becoming more complex and life-like as we speak, so figuring out how their moral situation will soon be a subject highly debated — and one that, like many of these questions, will involve dusting off our old philosophy books.
Conclusion
It’s to be noted that a lot of the above addressed matters arise at the advent of any major technological revolution- the general concerns of misuse, over dependency, job loss due to replacement (an especially valid distress in the case of AI- but no, this technology would merely create new streams of jobs instead) and just the apprehension of something so new.
Advances in technologies so far have arose from our need to automate redundant tasks, and all we’re working right now is expanding that definition. It’s important to see AI as a collaboration rather than a replacement, but a way to make the human race better and more error free than ever. And just as any new major system evolves, so does the need to constantly evaluate, regulate and innovate our tech- and who better to do it than us? :)
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Follow us on medium for more for similar stories. Follow us on Social media to stay in the loop- Facebook| Instagram|Telegram Channel |Youtube|Twitter. We also invite guest writers to publish their material via this blog!. | https://medium.com/munners-daily/ethical-and-moral-dilemmas-of-ai-595d644d73cc | ['Joann Elizabeth Panicker'] | 2020-12-13 12:23:18.772000+00:00 | ['Machine', 'Humans', 'Robots', 'AI', 'Ethics'] |
RFII Finance: Layer 2 RFI + Farming Mechanics | Why RFII & RFY?
RFII and RFY serve to bolster the RFI eco-system, to fill a void that one may deem as an integral and key piece of any DeFi ecosystem: Farming. 🌱
By providing farming solutions to RFI holders, RFII aims to be more than a fork. The goals for the project are as follows: to provide unique and simple ways of staking your RFI, RFII or RFY on a farming platform, that leverage the revolutionary RFI autofarming capabilities to bring new opportunities to RFI, RFII and RFY holders.
RFI, RFII & RFY | Tokenomics
RFI brings revolutionary autofarming capabilities to respective token holders. RFII has been forked 1:1 with RFI, with plans to fork RFY nearly 1:1 with RFI, with the addition of a call in the transfer function to allow for complete dual farming and triple farming capabilities with auto compounding while staked also being a possibility.
RFI has a supply of 10,000,000 RFI, 9,500,000 of which were fairly added to Uniswap by the developer with locked liquidity for 1 month. 500,000 RFI were airdropped to holders of the FLOW protocol. The developer’s plans are to relock the tokens over 1 month, 2 month and 3 months.
RFII & RFY Logos
RFII has a supply of 1,000,000 RFII, 300,000 of which were fairly distributed to liquidity generators, who contributed 40 ETH, which has been locked along with 500,000 RFII to Uniswap along with 100% of the 40 ETH.
Over 40,000 RFII has been airdropped to early contributors, and 30,000 RFII will be airdropped to RFI holders along with 10,000 RFII to the RFI deployer and developer.
The remaining 120,000 RFII tokens are reserved for the team and are currently locked, you can check the vesting periods here:
https://team.finance/view-coin/0x31aCf54FaE6166dc2f90c4D6f20d379965e96BC1?name=reflectreflect.finance&symbol=RFII
RFY will have a supply of 100,000 RFY. 99.99% of which will be added as rewards for staking, with 0.01% going to Uniswap paired with 4 ETH. | https://medium.com/@rfiifinance/rfii-finance-layer-2-rfi-45470b4f1562 | ['Rfii Yield'] | 2020-12-10 14:06:12.283000+00:00 | ['Defi', 'Farming', 'Yield Farming'] |
Our Love | How much our love has grown.
Your hugs, smiles, and cute face.
You make me happy than I have ever known. | https://medium.com/3-lines-story/our-love-2f2936ced348 | ['Pawan Kumar'] | 2020-06-07 09:59:18.275000+00:00 | ['Storytelling', 'Poetry', 'Relationships', 'Dating', 'Love'] |
Top Features to Look for in a Cloud-Based Hotel PMS | One of the most important decisions that a property manager faces is choosing a cloud based hotel property management software. After all, the choice of a cloud PMS can be the deciding factor in the overall profit or loss faced by a business.
Whether it is a small Bed and Breakfast or a large hotel chain, a reliable cloud PMS is must for managing day-to-day operations of the property. If you are still using legacy software or manual methods to manage your property, it’s time to upgrade to a cloud based hotel PMS.
You also need to take into account; your budget, the requirements of your property, and the complete range of services offered by the PMS provider. Above all, you should look for the problems that you are trying to solve with the help of a cloud PMS. Once you zero in on all these factors, you will have a much better understanding of the kind of PMS that will benefit your property and its unique needs.
Keeping these factors in mind, here are the top features you should look for in a cloud PMS.
1) Robust Front Desk Management — The front desk is the face of your hotel property and a cloud PMS can help in managing front desk operations with great degree of ease. Some ways in which a cloud PMS can help are:
●Check room occupancy on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis
●View reservations on a single page
●Contactless check-in and check-out guests with Ease
● Assign housekeeping duties and update status accordingly
●Update room tariff
2) OTA Management — When you are working with several Online Travel Agents (OTAs), it can be a difficult task to keep track of your engagements with each one. With a cloud PMS, you can manage your OTAs from a single screen. Whether it is updating the status of the rooms or changing room tariff for display on the OTA websites, you can do it all in a few clicks.
3) Consolidated Reports — A PMS can give you advanced reports about the various operations of the property. In-depth reporting of the various metrics gives you a deeper insight into how you can leverage the strengths of your property for profitability. You should be able to download the reports in the format of your choice from .csv and .xls or pdf depending on your requirements. Some of the reports that your PMS should provide are:
● Guest arrivals
● Outstanding balance of guests
● Income reports
● Profitable promotion reports
● Best performing OTAs
4) Communication with Guests — A cloud-based hotel property management software should give you complete control over communication with guests. By offering a professional communication to the guests, you are able to create a lasting relationship with them that can result in repeat business. Some of the highlights of successful guest communication are:
● Automated welcome and feedback emails
● SMS and email integration for guest communication
● Tracking of guest requests
● Loyalty rewards and offers for repeat guests
5) Online Reputation Management — A good PMS should have reputation management features to keep a track of the hotel property’s reviews by the guests on sites like tripadvisor. When guests post their reviews on tripadvisor, hotel staff should be able to manage and reply to reviews. Many prospective guests check tripadvisor when they are looking for a hotel to book and having an active presence on such sites can help a hotel to maintain a positive online reputation.
6) Cross Interface Compatibility — A cloud PMS cannot work solely on its own, it needs to be compatible with other operations of the hotel property as well. A high degree of integration can help to automate simple tasks and streamline daily hotel management operations. Here are some of the integrations you should look for in the PMS of your choice:
● Integration with multiple payment gateways
● Integration with accounting systems
● Integration with room lock interface
● Integration with third party hardware interfaces
7) Multi-Device Compatibility — Remote access is the name of the game when it comes to cloud PMS. You should choose property management software that can be used on devices such as laptops, desktops, and tablets with equal ease. When the interface of the software is designed for multi-device compatibility, it becomes easier to keep an eye on the hotel operations from any place that has internet connectivity. Some advantages of multi-device compatibility are:
● Data remains safe in the cloud
● Housekeeping staff can keep track of task details
● Optimized for devices of different screen size
Final Word
If you’re looking for a cloud PMS that offers all these features and more at an affordable price, then look no further than mycloud Hospitality. An award winning hotel software, mycloud Hospitality offers a wide range of features as it is developed by an experienced team that has provided end-to-end IT solutions to businesses all over the world. Find out more by browsing through www.mycloudhospitality.com | https://medium.com/@mycloudhospitality/top-features-to-look-for-in-a-cloud-based-hotel-pms-c959b488b7d6 | ['Mycloud Hospitality'] | 2021-12-23 11:21:02.782000+00:00 | ['Pms Software', 'Sofware Development', 'Hotel', 'Software Development'] |
FinBERT: Financial Sentiment Analysis with BERT | Doğu Tan Aracı, Zulkuf Genc
Shares of food delivery companies surged despite the catastrophic impact of coronavirus on global markets.
The statement above carries a clear positive message about food delivery companies next to a negative one about global markets. It is not an easy task for computers to extract this positive message because it requires understanding of what is positive and negative in the financial context without getting confused with the rest of the sentence.
In this blog post, we will share a simplified story of how we solved this financial sentiment classification problem with Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) and improved the state-of-the-art performance by 15 percentage points. In addition, we will also share our production settings, code, data and guidelines for you to train and use our financial sentiment classifier.
Why did we do this?
Prosus is one of the largest technology investors in the world. On a daily basis, we need to sift through an overwhelming amount of information, largely in form of unstructured text data, about the sectors and companies of our interest. Financial sentiment analysis is one of the essential components in navigating the attention of our analysts over such continuous flow of data.
We quickly noticed that naive approaches such as bag-of-words would simply not cut it, as they generally disregard essential context information in the text. We needed more advanced techniques to crack the financial context and understand what is positive and what is negative from the financial point of view.
The current state-of-the-art approach to natural language understanding is using pre-trained language models by fine-tuning them for specific (downstream) tasks such as question answering or sentiment analysis.We followed that recipe and developed FinBERT as a BERT-based language model with a deeper understanding of financial language and fine-tuned it for sentiment classification.
A New Era in NLP
If we were trying to tackle this problem in let’s say 2017, we would have had to come up with a custom model and train it from scratch. In that case we would have needed very large amounts of labeled data for a somehow acceptable performance. Labeled data with good quality isn’t very easy to acquire, especially in a niche domain like finance, where expertise is required and definitely does not come cheap.
Luckily, NLP’s ImageNet moment happened in 2018. Starting with ULMFit, researchers cracked how to do transfer learning efficiently for NLP problems. The idea is simple: First, get textual data that is available in abundance, like Wikipedia. Then, train a language model with that data, which is basically predicting the next word in a sentence. Finally, fine-tune the language model for your task with one or several task-specific layers. The advantage of this approach is that you don’t need a huge dataset for fine-tuning, because the model learns about language during the original language model training. The heavy lifting is already done!
Many other language models followed ULMFit path but used different training schemas, most significant being BERT. BERT was the language model that made the whole concept of pre-training and fine-tuning flow very popular. BERT brought two core innovations to language modelling: (1) It borrowed the transformer (T of BERT) architecture from machine translation, which does a better job of modelling long-term dependencies than RNN-based ones (excellent overview here). (2) It introduced the Masked Language Modelling (MLM) task, where a random 15% of all tokens are masked and the model predicts them, enabling true bi-directionality (B of BERT). Intuitive explanations of how transformers and BERT can be found here and here.
BERT achieved state-of-the-art performance in almost all of the down-stream tasks such as text classification and question answering it was applied to. But more importantly, it was a huge step towards democratisation of NLP. Now that the compute-heavy (Google used 16 TPU’s for 4 days to pre-train BERT) language model training is already done, anyone with a decent computing power could train a very accurate NLP model for their niche task based on a pre-trained language model.
FinBERT
BERT was perfect for our task of financial sentiment analysis. Even with a very small dataset, it was now possible to take advantage of state-of-the-art NLP models. But since our domain — finance is very different from the general purpose corpus BERT was trained on, we wanted to add one more step before going for sentiment analysis. Pre-trained BERT knew how to talk, but now it was time to teach it how to talk like a trader. We took the pre-trained BERT and then further trained it on a purely financial corpus. That corpus is Reuters TRC2, and available upon request here. Our purpose was to achieve better domain adaptation by exposing the model to financial jargon, before fine-tuning for the final task. We further pre-trained BERT using Hugging Face’s excellent library transformers (back then it was pytorch-pretrained-bert) and scripts they provided.
The training steps in FinBERT
Once we had the pre-trained and domain-adapted language model, the next step was to fine-tune it with labeled data for financial sentiment classification. We used the dataset of Financial Phrasebank. It is a very well thought-out and carefully labeled albeit a small dataset. Researchers extracted 4500 sentences from various news articles, which include financial terms. Then 16 experts and master students with finance backgrounds labeled them. They didn’t only report labels but also inter-annotator agreement level for each sentence, which means how many experts labelled as positive, neutral and negative.
Some examples from Financial PhraseBank
Fine-tuning a transformer-based language model for classification is a straight-forward process. A classification layer is added after BERT’s special token [CLS], which is used for sequential tasks like sentence classification or textual entailment. Then the whole model is fine-tuned with classification losses. A visual representation of this structure is on the picture below. | https://medium.com/prosus-ai-tech-blog/finbert-financial-sentiment-analysis-with-bert-b277a3607101 | ['Zulkuf Genc'] | 2020-07-31 06:53:57.686000+00:00 | ['Sentiment Analysis', 'Finance', 'Bert', 'Naturallanguageprocessing', 'Artificial Intelligence'] |
I Face the Shadows | I face the shadows,
Their faces rising from quicksand,
And their voices,
Psithurisms in the dark.
I face the telling of their midnight stories,
Fear —
A beleaguered imagination,
Their faces dovetailing with the woods that I’ve left behind.
I must listen to their stories of boldness,
The bravery of women who’ve succumbed,
Or of men and what they’ve had to lose,
Eyes open, ears set free,
Whispering like a breeze in my face,
The thing that I must face,
How did the child die in me?
And why did I not face her death, her flurried ashes?
Those questions of youth,
Curiosities of longing,
The forlorn war that stands ahead,
The internecine war of those unnamed creatures turned away from—
Now I ask,
Now I question,
Now I wonder,
Even more wide-eyed than I had been before. | https://medium.com/loose-words/i-face-the-shadows-c4a90139dd7d | ['Virginia Roces'] | 2020-12-22 12:44:47.007000+00:00 | ['Strength', 'Life', 'Courage', 'Free Verse', 'Self-awareness'] |
New Climate and Energy Leaders Selected for Nation. | Gina McCarthy, former EPA Secretary under Obama, expected to serve as White House adviser on climate change. Jennifer Granholm, former governor of Michigan, to lead the Department of Energy. EPA Secretary named.
This week President-elect Joe Biden made a few big decisions regarding who will be leading the nation in climate, energy, and transportation policy.
Biden is expected to pick Gina McCarthy, the former administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under President Barack Obama and the architect of some of his most far-reaching regulations to limit greenhouse gas emissions, to serve as the White House Climate Coordinator. In her new role, she would be in charge of coordinating domestic climate change policies across the federal government. McCarthy is currently the president and chief executive officer of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
Jennifer Granholm, the former governor of Michigan and a longtime champion of renewable energy development, has been chosen to lead the Department of Energy. The agency is expected to play an enlarged role in the battle against climate change. The Biden administration is expected to restart the department’s energy efficiency standard shop, which ground to a halt under Trump, as well as reinvigorate the agency’s loan programs which hold billions of dollars in loan authority for clean energy projects.
President-elect Joe Biden will choose to nominate Michael S. Regan, who heads the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, as the next Environmental Protection Agency administrator, according to two individuals who spoke on the condition of anonymity because it has not yet been formally announced. While Mary Nichols was Biden’s top choice for Environmental Protection Agency Secretary, pushback from environmental justice groups led to her likely not being selected.
Pete Buttigieg named DOT Secretary, has new plans for the gas tax.
President-elect Joe Biden announced Tuesday that he has selected former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, to lead the U.S. Department of Transportation. Mr. Buttigieg is expected to play a prominent role in the incoming Biden administration’s push to rebuild the nation’s roads and bridges. Mr. Biden issued a statement that said he had chosen Mr. Buttigieg “because this position stands at the nexus of so many of the interlocking challenges and opportunities ahead of us. Jobs, infrastructure, equity, and climate all come together at the DOT.”
Mr. Buttigieg campaigned on an infrastructure plan that would cut 50% of the backlog of critical road repairs and repair 50% of structurally deficient bridges by 2030. Selected over former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to receive the nomination, he was one of the few 2020 presidential contenders to promote replacing the gas tax with a vehicle-miles-traveled alternative that would tax drivers based on their road mileage. Mr. Buttigieg has said that the gas tax is “not a viable long-term funding mechanism for our highways” and that he will require DOT to put forward a plan to implement a user fee-based system, rather than the gas tax, to fund the Highway Trust Fund.
Mr. Biden campaigned on a $2 trillion plan to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure, much of it related to transportation. His climate change and infrastructure agenda includes: | https://medium.com/@lauren-michele/new-climate-and-energy-leaders-selected-dot-secretary-named-63986e8304f8 | ['Lauren Michele'] | 2020-12-17 19:50:14.942000+00:00 | ['Energy', 'Climate Change', 'Biden', 'Renewable Energy', 'Policy'] |
How Would Negative Interest Rates Affect Bitcoin? | How Would Negative Interest Rates Affect Bitcoin? faast Follow Jun 19 · 3 min read
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, more central banks are considering negative interest rates.The question on many crypto traders minds is: Would going negative have a positive or harmful effect on bitcoin?
What are Negative Interest Rates?
Central banks such as the Federal Reserve System or the Bank of England set interest rates to maintain a balanced economy and adjust monetary policy. The rates set by central banks service as a guide for banks and other lenders to determine rates of interest on loans.
Interest rates are raised to protect against inflation and raise the price of borrowing money. When a recession occurs however, central banks will lower interest rates to encourage borrowing and spending, in hopes of stimulating the economy.
After the coronavirus crash, the Federal Reserve System in the US cut rates to an unprecedented 0%. During economic hard times, people tend to hoard money rather than spend it, which overtime can contribute to a deflationary cycle which is very hard to break out of.
A weapon of last resort against this is negative interest rates, where the central bank sets rates below 0%.
Imagine if your bank punished you for saving money by charging a fee rather than paying you interest. Well, people in countries like Greece, and Japan don’t have to imagine; they have negative rates right now.
The hope is that negative rates will stimulate the economy by encouraging borrowing and spending while dis-incentivizing people from just stashing cash.
The problem is that the jury is still out on whether this works, and once you go down this route, it’s very hard to reverse course. The European Central Bank for instance, began its experiment with negative rates in 2014 and hasn’t found a way out since.
Should Crypto HODLers Be Afraid of Negative Interest Rates?
Negative rates are bad for savers of fiat currency, but it could be great news for bitcoin.
Nobody- whether they are ordinary people or institutions- likes putting money in the bank and losing it. Perhaps that is why a recent Fidelity survey found that European institutional investors held much more favorable opinions of cryptocurrencies than their American counterparts, and were nearly twice as likely to have it in their portfolios. Negative rates, and the fact that cryptos are not controlled by a government or central bank, is a factor in this.
Investors in countries where negative rates have been tried obviously don’t like losing money, and swapping euros for BTC can seem like a smart idea in that situation. While crypto comes with its own, risks, it is still more appealing for some than a savings account that is guaranteed to lose money.
On the other side, if a central chooses not to go negative and to print money to stimulate the economy instead, it could also benefit bitcoin. QE isn’t working as quickly as hoped, especially with so many business still closed down due to COVID-19. Some fear it could trigger rapid inflation.
Central banks are essentially stuck with two bad decisions: let the money printers go BRRRRRR, or set negative interest rates.
The economic crisis caused by the coronavirus is still with us, and the precedent for letting interest rates go negative has already been set in Europe, Japan and elsewhere. There are now rumors the US could see negative rates in the near future. Unaccustomed to seeing this, US bank customers could begin withdrawing funds and putting them in BTC.
In either case, bitcoin could benefit as investors seek a hedge from this financial uncertainty.
This is an exciting time to get into cryptocurrency. Until now, the cryptocurrency world has been driven by idealism and visions of a better monetary future. In the next few years, we will see what it is truly capable of.
***
Ready to start swapping cryptocurrency faster, smarter and safer? Visit Faast now and see what the future of crypto looks like. | https://medium.com/faast/how-would-negative-interest-rates-affect-bitcoin-9a23bfe1ea0e | [] | 2020-06-19 12:01:01.609000+00:00 | ['Central Bank', 'Crypto', 'Negative Interest Rates', 'Deflation', 'Bitcoin'] |
The Outrageous Cost of Skipping TDD & Code Reviews | The Color of Money — Chris Potter (CC BY 2.0)
Update Jan 26, 2019: It has been brought to my attention that the claim “fixing a production bug may cost 100x more than fixing a bug at design time” is apocryphal. I still stand by the positive ROI and timesaving powers of TDD, but you should read this as a subjective opinion rather than scientific fact. Our industry is in great need of better data collection on the impacts of TDD and other quality control measures. This would be a great subject for research collaborations between universities and large software organizations.
In recent years, I’ve had more and more companies ask me to speak on the benefits of Test Driven Development (TDD) and share advice about how to implement a more productive quality process.
TDD is the process of writing automated tests to ensure that code works before writing the implementation. You write a test, watch it fail (red), write the implementation, watch the test pass (green), and refactor if needed. Repeat the cycle as you build out the system.
The process has been studied in depth, and has proven itself to be very useful to increase the quality of software. But did you know that it also saves organizations a lot of time and money?
One of the primary reasons managers cite for waiting so long to implement TDD is the cost. It’s common for initial project build-outs to take up to 30% longer with TDD.
What those managers need to know is that TDD reduces production bug density 40% — 80%, and that makes all the difference. More bugs in production leads to a dramatic rise in maintenance costs.
Due to exponentially escalating costs of rework, meta-work (work about work), responsibility hand-offs, interruptions, and eventually customer support, bug triage, and maintenance, fixing a production bug may cost 100x more than fixing a bug at design time, and over 15x more than fixing a bug at implementation time.
Note: This claim has been challenged, but there’s no question that software quality improves developer productivity. See “The Economics of Software Quality” for an in-depth understanding of the available data on software quality, and the impact software quality can have on your organization. We need a lot more studies on software quality measures so we can make better informed decisions about how to run development teams.
Relative costs of fixing bugs
Using these figures, let’s look at the relative costs of a fictional project with and without TDD. The project will take 1,000 hours of up-front implementation without TDD, not counting maintenance:
In our fictional example, we saved 623 man hours, or, for a team of 4, about a month of development. If we paid each developer the US national average ($95k), and factored an average of 30% on top of salaries to cover benefits, we reach a savings of almost $37,000 USD.
Of course, this is a fictional example making a lot of assumptions. Your mileage will vary based on lots of factors, including your team’s experience with TDD, the presence or absence of other quality measures (such as code review), etc…
Here are the assumptions made:
Production bugs without TDD: 100
Production bugs with TDD: 40 (60% fewer, middle ground between 40% — 80%)
Average time to fix bug at implementation (TDD) phase: 1 hour (this number is only used to derive the production bug fix cost)
Average time to fix a production bug: ~15 hours
Playing with any of those variables will obviously alter the results. What is pretty certain is that TDD saves time & money as maintenance costs get factored in — a lot of time & money.
The relative results of this fictional example ring true to me based on my experience with real production projects, both with and without TDD.
Code Reviews Have Similar Effects
Code reviews have similar effects. In fact, some studies have found code reviews are more effective than TDD. According to a 1988 study, each hour spent in code review saves 33 hours in maintenance.
That’s pretty extraordinary, but the bug catching benefits of code reviews just don’t jive with my personal experience. I find automated tests far more useful at catching bugs — so how do we explain the extraordinary effectiveness of code reviews?
Knowledge sharing. When you employ code reviews, your team self-corrects when developers are using anti-patterns and other poor practices. At the same time, they’re sharing effective patterns, teaching each other better ways to do things, and teaching each other how to write more readable code.
The net result of that is that your junior developers quickly rise to the level of the smartest developers on the team, and your whole team velocity improves. It’s hard to over-state the value of a mentorship culture on your team.
The Cost of Interruptions
Why does it cost so much more to fix production bugs? Because once a bug reaches production, the cost is much more than the simple cost of fixing the bug.
Fixing a bug in production is much more expensive than fixing a bug during development. To understand the magnitude of the difference, you must first understand the cost of interrupting a developer.
A production bug fix frequently means an interruption in the context and cadence of feature development. In other words, developers are pulled out of the context in which they’re currently working and dumped into the context of the bug, where it takes time to absorb the related code and flow, diagnose a root cause, fix the bug, and then reabsorb the context of what they were working on before.
Each context switch can cost up to 20 minutes of developer productivity, but the bleeding doesn’t stop there. Interrupting a developer to fix a bug is likely to cause more bugs in the code they were working on before they were interrupted. According to Microsoft Research, an interrupted task takes about twice as long to complete, and contains twice as many errors as an uninterrupted task.
In other words, the cost of fixing bugs that get released in production isn’t just about the cost of fixing the production bug. Interruptions increase the cost of current development work, and introduce more bugs that will eventually need fixing, too.
On a related note, multitasking is a really bad idea. To be productive, developers need to focus on one thing at a time.
Conclusion
The next time somebody tells you they don’t have the time or budget for TDD or code reviews, tell them with confidence, “in that case, you really don’t have the time or budget to skip TDD”.
Next Steps
Get a better handle on TDD and its role in the software development process:
Level Up Your Skills with Live 1:1 Mentorship
DevAnywhere is the fastest way to level up to advanced JavaScript skills: | https://medium.com/javascript-scene/the-outrageous-cost-of-skipping-tdd-code-reviews-57887064c412 | ['Eric Elliott'] | 2019-01-27 00:40:47.807000+00:00 | ['Technology', 'JavaScript', 'Tdd', 'Programming', 'Code Review'] |
Cappasity & Medialinks Webinar: The Importance of Presentation & Context for E-Commerce Product Imagery | Cappasity and Medialinks, the leading digital marketing agency in the UAE, are excited to invite you to join their webinar on the importance of presentation and context for e-commerce product imagery.
Date: 15 December 2020, 12 PM (UTC)
Speakers:
Hunter Cawood, Cappasity, Business Development Manager
Zeeshan Amin, Medialinks, Digital Transformation Lead
Shamalka Brigette, Medialinks, Client Partnerships Executive
Agenda:
The importance of visual content for e-commerce sales
CX of today & immersive technologies
Overview of the Cappasity solution
Q&A session
Cappasity and Medialinks have recently partnered to help the agency’s clients enhance the experience they offer by introducing fully immersive 3D content. Read more about the partnership in the announcement.
Register to join the webinar today.
About Medialinks
Medialinks is a full service digital marketing agency located in Dubai & Doha. The agency builds lasting value digital products for clients, tailored to their business needs and requirements. In short, Medialinks specializes in attracting clients and customers who are eager to create a digital experience that excites and inspires their viewers.
Website: https://themedialinks.com/ | https://medium.com/cappasity-blog/cappasity-medialinks-webinar-the-importance-of-presentation-context-for-e-commerce-product-3d71537fc2f2 | [] | 2020-12-08 14:23:13.906000+00:00 | ['Cappasity', 'AR', 'Luxury Tech', 'Ecommerce', 'Product Photography'] |
Top Questions to Ask Your Interviewer | “Do you have any questions for me?” is how almost all tech interviews end. It may be hard to come-up with good questions to ask your interviewer and here are some ideas and questions we present that can demonstrate your maturity as a software developer and genuine interest in the position:
Company-specific Questions
What is the one thing that you don’t like about the company?
If you could, what would you like to change about the company’s culture?
What areas of growth do you see for the company in the future?
Who are the primary competitors of the company?
Can you describe the company’s culture and your experience here so far?
Team-specific Questions
What is the roadmap for the team in the next few months?
What are the most difficult challenges the team faces on a daily basis
What is the technology stack you guys use?
Do you have paying customers for the product or are internal teams consumers of the team’s product?
How big is the team?
What is composition of the term in terms of junior vs senior engineers?
What is your management style? Or how do you run the team?
Does the team actively contribute to open-source projects?
Are there any plans to open-source the team’s product?
Role-specific Questions
Does the role offer leadership opportunities even though it is stated to be an individual contributor role?
Do you have a specific project in mind the person filling the position will work on?
Declining Questions Politely | https://medium.com/double-pointer/top-questions-to-ask-your-interviewer-bfa442b11473 | ['Double Pointer'] | 2020-12-15 19:32:33.310000+00:00 | ['Coding', 'Technology', 'Tech', 'Interview', 'Interview Questions'] |
Creating reusable custom React Hooks | Since React 16.8 you no longer need class components to work with stateful logic. The way to do it now looks like this:
The code above works perfectly on a functional component (previously referred to as ‘stateless functional component’) and that brings lots of new possibilities for the way we structure projects.
The most commonly used hooks are useState and useEffect. In case you are not familiar with any of those, I suggest you read the official documentation on React Hooks.
But it doesn’t stop there. To get the most out of this new feature we can write custom react hooks in order to reuse logic amongst components. Let’s check it out on a few real examples.
You can use the codes below on an existing project or create a new one by running 'create-react-app custom-hooks-project' on the terminal.
Creating an Infinite scroll with react hooks
Suppose you want to render a table with lots of entries. You probably don’t want react to render it all at once, resulting in a very long page where users may not even get to the bottom of it. One possible solution is to implement an infinite scrolling table, to render new entries as the user scrolls down.
Edit file App.js (gist)
App.js
The above code loads some fake data from the web and displays it in an HTML table. All the row elements are rendered at once, which is bad if you have a long list of items. To solve the issue, we could render 30 items at once and render 10 more each time the user hits the bottom of the page.
If we were to implement this logic on the App.js file and then need to reuse it on another component, there’d be code redundancy.
Thanks to React Hooks, we can implement the logic on a separate custom hook and use it wherever needed.
The naming convention to creating custom hooks is to start it with the word “use” for instance useCustomHookName. This is important for react to check for violations of rules of Hooks.
2. Create custom react hook file useInfiniteScroll.js (gist)
useInfiniteScroll.js
This created hook accepts 2 arguments:
start : The starting number of elements to be rendered.
: The starting number of elements to be rendered. pace: The subsequent number of elements to be rendered.
By default, they are set to 30 and 10, respectively. Meaning you can call the hook without passing any arguments and those values will be used.
The logic is pretty simple: the value returned by the custom hook (which will be the number of elements we'd like to render) is increased by the pace variable each time the user hits the bottom of the page.
M ake sure the inital number of elements rendered allows for vertical scrolling.
Now all that’s left to do is use the newly created react hook inside the App.js component. Replace App.js' previous code with the following:
3. Update file App.js (gist)
Updated App.js
You can run 'npm start' on the console to test the app. It should work as follows:
Infinite Scroll hook in practice
Creating a real-time firebase database entry listener
Let's make it more complex with this one. If you haven't tried Firebase's real-time database, I recommend doing so. They've made it really easy to set up a free online database and backend as service so you can focus on front-end development.
If you need help with the setup you can follow the steps on this link.
In case you don't want to create a database of your own and yet try this example, you can uncomment the data I've provided in the configs file.
Assuming you have a firebase account with a real-time database it's time to create the configurations file. But first, install firebase on your project by running 'npm install firebase --save' .
Create configs file database.js (gist)
database.js
This file enables connection to your database, and from now on each time you want to perform a database action on a file such as inserting new entries, editing previous ones, etc, make sure you import firebase from "./database.js" file and not from 'firebase' package.
With the database configured, you can now access some of its methods such as push, put, remove, etc… you can read the full documentation if you need help, for this example you will need 'push' to insert data to the database and 'on' to retrieve such data in real-time.
2. Create file useDatabaseEntry.js (gist)
useDatabaseEntry.js
When retrieving data from firebase, you get an object indexed by the unique keys firebase automatically generates. The problem is that the .map() function is available for arrays only. What this custom hook does is retrieve data from firebase and convert it to an array, so that is can be then easily be mapped to our table.
3. Edit file App.js (gist)
App.js
In the App.js file, there's a button to push data to firebase, and the useDatabaseEntry receives the desired entry as an argument and returns an array with the data from the entry.
The advantage is that you can now use this new hook to retrieve real-time data from any entry of the firebase database directly as an array, which makes it easy to be mapped to a table for instance.
If you want to practice, try clicking the button a couple of times to insert more data and make use of the useInfiniteScroll defined in the above example.
Here's the result: | https://medium.com/javascript-in-plain-english/creating-useful-custom-react-hooks-2ad125e36a32 | ['Paulo Levy'] | 2019-11-19 17:08:27.917000+00:00 | ['Firebase', 'JavaScript', 'React', 'React Hook', 'Functional Programming'] |
The Critique Club | By Larry Martin
[email protected]
Published in: https://www.amazon.com/Landed-Villages-Other-Short-Fiction-ebook/dp/B083MXDNNF/
***
“Okay, Jordan,” says Samantha, our Critique Club leader, “it’s your turn to read.”
The seven other members of our Fiction Writers of Sunnyville club all have a copy of my story, previously emailed, and will follow along as I read. FWS is an accomplished group of retirees; all have published at least one novel and are working on another or, as in my case, on short stories. We meet every Friday morning in one of Sunnyville’s many club rooms, seated around two card tables.
I take a sip of coffee, then proceed with a brief introduction. “This is a rather long short story, over 7000 words. I’ll keep to our limit and just read the first 1500. It’s called ‘A Cold, Snowy Path’, about a lone hiker in the Yukon, late nineteenth century. In the dead of winter.”
I begin reading. I can tell there is interest in the story and wonder what critique the members will offer. The story is in the genre I am known for — outdoor sagas with an historical bent, about early mountain climbers, ocean sailors, river rafters, hikers in unfamiliar territory.
My protagonist, a newcomer to the Yukon, is beset by extreme cold as he tries to reach his buddies at a distant camp. There he will find warmth and shelter. He’s only a few hours away but the temperature is so cold, minus fifty degrees Fahrenheit, that he has to stop and make a fire along the way. Then the fire goes out. He has a dog with him.
I get to the last paragraph.
“The man held steadily on. He was not much given to thinking, and just then particularly he had nothing to think about save that he would eat lunch at the forks and that at six o’clock he would be in camp with the boys. There was nobody to talk to; and, had there been, speech would have been impossible because of the ice-muzzle on his mouth.”
“Okay, I’ll stop there. I’ll read another 1500 words next week.”
Samantha takes over. “Who wants to comment?” she asks.
Bill raises his hand and is called on.
“Jordan, it’s interesting, and I see you’re building the question of whether the man will make it to his camp, but there are some problems. One is your overuse of semicolons, which I’ve noted. However, the major problem I find is your excessive use of ‘was’. I checked it out on Word. You used ‘was’ 52 times, and frankly the repetition is tiring to the reader. Allow me to read three sentences in your first paragraph.”
Bill picks up his copy and starts reading, emphasizing each ‘was’.
“It was a steep bank, and he paused for breath at the top, excusing the act to himself by looking at his watch. It was nine o’clock. There was no sun nor hint of sun, though there was not a cloud in the sky.”
“Here’s a suggestion for rewriting just those sentences,” he says, and begins reading his rewrite. ‘The bank proved steep, and he paused for breath…Nine o’clock already, he thought. Sun’s not out, though the sky is cloudless.’ That’s just a suggestion, Jordan. I would try to change most of the ‘wases’ to some other verb form.”
“Thanks,” I reply. “I’ll consider that.”
Mike quickly raises his hand and begins speaking. “Interesting, your last comment, Jordan. You said, ‘I’ll consider that’. I counted thirty uses of ‘that’ in this excerpt. Let me just quote two sentences, beginning on line twenty-nine.”
“Fifty degrees below zero stood for a bite of frost that hurt and that must be guarded against by the use of mittens, ear-flaps, warm moccasins, and thick socks…That there should be anything more to it than that was a thought that never entered his head.”
“Excessive use of ‘that’ is generally a sign of weak writing,” adds Mike. “You’re a good writer, and I’m frankly surprised you used ‘that’ so often.”
“Perhaps you’re right, Mike,” I reply. “I’ll look into that.” My comment elicits some laughter. We’re really a friendly group, all seeking to improve our writing.
“Anyone else?” asks Samantha.
Alice offers a comment. “I pretty much agree with what’s been said so far. Just seems like a lot of overwriting to me. One other area where I think the writing could be sharpened is your repetition of the word ‘it.’ Just look at that first paragraph again. I won’t read the whole thing. All these uses of ‘it’ are in that one opening paragraph, beginning on line five.”
“It was a steep bank….”
“The very next sentence.”
“It was nine o’clock.”
“And the next sentence.”
“It was a clear day.”
“Then sentence six of the same paragraph.”
“It had been days since he had seen the sun.”
“Too many ‘its’,” Alice continues. “Also, you use the first three as a pronoun, and the fourth one as a preposition. All this, I think, draws attention to the grammar and away from your story. At least it does for me.”
“How would you change it?” I ask.
“I don’t know,” she replies, with an air suggesting genuine concern for the story’s problems. “It’s up to you. Bill offered one suggestion for fixing the ‘wases’. I would just pay attention to your use of ‘was,’ ‘that,’ and ‘it’. You can easily search for these words. Combine phrases so they’re hardly needed.”
“Any other comments, Alice?” asks our leader.
“Oh, one other. The man has no name. You just call him ‘The Man’? Why not give him a name, make it a little more personal. Okay, I’m done. That’s all.”
Samantha asks if anyone else has a comment. Two members have so far offered no critique, and remain silent. I get the feeling that, by now, they perhaps feel sorry for me and don’t want to pile on.
“No other comments? Okay,” says Samantha. “I do have a criticism no one’s mentioned. The piece starts out giving us the man’s point of view, and that is pretty much maintained throughout. The narrator tells us that the gloom of the day ‘does not worry the man’, that a noise in the forest ‘startled him’, and that at one point the man noted changes in his cheek from the cold. But then the narrator also gives us, in several places, the dog’s point of view.”
Her emphasis on the word “dog” translates into “Do you know what you’re doing?”, and elicits a few titters from the group.
Samantha has more to say. “In fact, Jordan, you go back and forth with point of view, between the man and the dog. I personally don’t mind the dog having a point of view, some stories are written that way, but a general rule is to keep only one point of view in a short story.
“Where,” I ask, “do I have the dog’s point of view?”
“Several places. Samantha glances down at her copy. Here, line sixty-two.”
“The animal was depressed by the tremendous cold. It knew that it was no time for travelling. Its instinct told it a truer tale than was told to the man by the man’s judgment.”
“And again, on line sixty-eight.”
“But the brute had its instinct. It experienced a vague but menacing apprehension that subdued it and made it slink along at the man’s heels…The dog had learned fire, and it wanted fire, or else to burrow under the snow and cuddle its warmth away from the air.”
“So, you see, you go back and forth. I am not a stickler for point of view like some people, but do draw the line on interjecting an animal’s point of view along with a human’s, especially when they are presented by a narrator who is physically removed from the scene. It sounds artificial to me. That’s just my opinion.”
“Thanks,” I reply. “Anything else?”
Brian, heretofore silent, speaks up. “Jordan, you said you have another 5000 words to this story. It’s finished?”
“Yes.”
“I suggest you go back and rewrite the thing before submitting more to our group. I don’t want to be too critical, but do think the points raised here are valid, and seriously weaken your story. You can’t hope to get it published in this style of writing.”
“Oh, I’m not worried about that, Brian. It’s already been published.”
“Really, where?”
“I have a confession to make. It’s not really my story. The actual title is “To Build a Fire,” and it was published in 1908 by Jack London. The only thing I changed is the title. It is still being read in high schools and is widely regarded as a classic man versus nature short story.” I pause for effect. “A classic.”
There are a few guffaws as people stare at their copy. I see Brian doing a fast web search on his smart phone. While he’s searching, I take another sip of coffee, and then Mike speaks up.
“You can probably do this with a lot of older literature,” says Mike. “Imagine reading Beowulf here. This critique group is really for what we ourselves write, not fiction written by others, no matter how famous they may be.” He looks to Samantha, as if hoping she will reinforce his disdain for my trickery, but she stays mum.
Brian puts down his smartphone. “Okay, I found ‘To Build a Fire’. It popped up in a website ‘Twenty Great American Short Stories’. So you fooled us, I admit. But I agree with Mike. The criticisms are still valid for modern writing. Styles change, and what’s considered good writing changes over time.”
“I suppose so,” I reply. “Just thought it would be interesting to see how we respond to what’s generally considered great literature, even today. As I said, the story’s read in schools across the country.”
“So is Beowulf,” says Mike, fairly dripping with sarcasm. Brian slowly shakes his head, and Alice pointedly does not make eye contact. Still, I have no regrets. I made my point, and offer no more rebuttal.
“Let’s move on,” Samantha says. “Who’s next to read?”
- END - | https://medium.com/@drlarry437/the-critique-club-c9e002008ed5 | ['Lawrence Martin'] | 2020-12-26 14:13:18.242000+00:00 | ['Critique Groups', 'Writing Tips', 'Writing', 'Jack London', 'Fiction Writing'] |
3 ideas to remember self-empathy when you feel stuck | 3 ideas to remember self-empathy when you feel stuck
By Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels
With all the challenges of the year, sometimes all we need is a break.
A break from it all.
To give yourself the permission to give yourself the time and space to just decompress and do nothing. With the pressures building up from all parts of life, it can be easy to get mentally, emotionally, and physically drained from it all. Sometimes it’s useful to just disengage and let yourself just be. Free of the judgment and expectations to just be. The freedom to do what you what and when you want.
It can be so tiring to go through daily struggles. If you’re going through something, know that it’s ok.
It’s ok to feel great on days where you may feel like you ‘should’ be feeling well. You may not want to do the things that you ‘should’ be doing to keep a healthy lifestyle and that’s ok.
I’ve had to keep reminding myself that I’m here to keep showing up for myself and advocate for myself, even if others don’t like it. Think about it, if you don’t advocate for yourself, who will? It’s a challenging process to go against the grain and even more challenging when the triggers come up. It’s been so easy, almost habitual, to keep giving my energy and attention to the things and the people that I can’t change. Slowly, through gradual steps, I remind myself that I need to serve my own inner spirit and protect my own inner child.
I know that there are others who can relate and I also know that there are others who just want to avoid doing the inner work completely. I’ve learned that I just have to keep doing what I resonate with, even if there are others who don’t understand and may never understand. It’s ok.
In times of conflict, I have to keep giving myself the security and comfort that I need, even if it makes the other person and if he/she doesn’t understand. I have to keep doing that for me and showing up for myself, not the other person. I have to keep reminding myself to put myself up on a pedestal instead of putting the other person on the pedestal and remind myself that I am enough in times of intense conflict.
Dealing with conflict isn’t always easy and there are those who choose to avoid the conflict and that works for them. I’ve found that working through the conflict (as much as possible) has been helpful. I’ve chosen to work through things through a safe environment and the moment that I don’t feel safe, I remind myself that I have the option to find another way. As a mentor said to me this week, I have a choice to choose the path that I want to take. Instead of being pushed in a direction, I can remember to utilize words such as “I choose” to tap into self-empowerment. It’s the smallest things that can shift how I choose to see things. I’m grateful for the reminders and the execution of how these reminders were delivered.
Here are 3 ideas to consider in highly stressful times:
Ask yourself what you really need. What is it that you truly need in this moment? Sometimes, instead of continuing to state my perspective when the other person is clearly not listening and doesn’t want to listen, it can be an option to just dis-engage. It’s tempting to want to ‘win’ the argument, and it also be a moment of healing to save me from giving more of my energy to someone else. Let go of the judgment around how you think you ‘should’ react. Embracing the perfectly imperfect notion of just letting things be as they are. Sometimes situations are not ideal and that’s ok. As long as I know that I’ve done my best to show up for myself in any given situation, I can give myself some grace and know that I have done the best with the resources that I have. And sometimes, letting go of how I think things should be can be so freeing. Remember that I am a work-in-progress. I forget to give myself credit for taking action and doing the things that I need to do for myself. Sometimes, self-advocating isn’t the easiest and it can cause a lot of questioning and doubt. And in these moments, I have to remember that I’m doing right by myself no matter what the result. Sometimes my impact isn’t always immediately felt and realized and I have to remember that is ok.
Gain Access to Expert View — Subscribe to DDI Intel | https://medium.datadriveninvestor.com/3-ideas-to-remember-self-compassion-when-you-feel-stuck-38c2f8d5f41d | [] | 2021-03-22 23:29:57.888000+00:00 | ['Stuck', 'Ideas', 'Empathy', 'Conflict', 'Self-awareness'] |
Getting Started with Kaggle | Introduction
Kaggle is an amazing community for aspiring data scientists and machine learning practitioners to come together to solve data science-related problems in a competition setting. Many statisticians and data scientists compete within a friendly community with a goal of producing the best models for predicting and analyzing datasets. Any company with a dataset and a problem to solve can benefit from Kagglers. Kaggle has not only provided a professional setting for data science projects, but has developed an environment for newcomers to learn and practice data science and machine learning skills.
This blog will serve as an introduction to the Kaggle platform and will give a brief walkthrough of the process of joining competitions, taking part in discussions, creating kernels, and progressing through the rankings.
Kaggle Progression System
Kaggle has a ranking system that helps data scientists track their progress and performance. Medals are awarded for certain activities that are completed. When a Kaggler earns enough medals to move up a tier in the progression system, they rank up!
Kaggle ranking can come from three different “categories of expertise”: Competitions, Kernels, and Discussion.
Each of the three categories has five ranks: Novice, Contributor, Expert, Master, and Grandmaster. The majority of Kaggle’s users are considered a “Novice”, which essentially means they have not interacted with the community and have not run any scripts or made any competition submissions. Every user above the Novice level has made submissions and has used datasets to make predictions and analysis.
A word to the wise, learn from everyone on Kaggle, especially the higher ranking individuals! One of the reasons behind Kaggle’s great success is its learning-friendly environment and the ease of learning new skills. Watching video tutorials about data science techniques is a great start, but there is nothing more valuable than reading through an experienced data scientist’s kernel and explanations, then using the skills you learned in your own models.
Discussion Board
The discussion board is a great place to ask questions, answer questions and interact with the community. There are always people posting answers to great questions that we can all learn from. There is also a “Getting Started” forum for the new Kagglers who want to learn the basics behind the Kaggle platform. Kaggle provides six unique forums in the discussion board where each forum has a different purpose.
Datasets
You need data for any kind of data science project. Kaggle provides a vast amount of available datasets in its “Datasets” tab. As of the time of this blog, there are over 17,730 publicly available datasets. Datasets can be sorted by multiple filters to find exactly what you are looking for. Once you find the dataset that you want, you can simply click on it and click “Download” to download the data onto your machine.
Starting Your First Competition!
Under Kaggle’s “Competition” tab there are many competitions that you can join. This is just like the “Datasets” tab, where you can click on the competition and download the data for your models. There are a few competitions that are designed for beginners to enter and learn the basics of Kaggle and data science. One of the beginner friendly competitions is the famous MNSIT dataset, where we will create a model that will classify handwritten digits and produce predictions on test data. This blog post will use the MNIST dataset and will submit predictions to the competition as well. The first thing we need to do is look at our data and start thinking about building our model. To begin, we can start a new kernel.
Kernel
According to Kaggle’s documentation, Kernels are cloud computational environments that enable reproducible and collaborative analysis. Kernels allow a Kaggler to create and run code from within the browser without needing to download Python and the packages on their machine. One type of kernel that Kaggle provides is a notebook. If you are familiar with Jupyter Notebooks, then you are familiar with Kaggle’s notebooks because they are the same thing!
We will need to create our kernel, to do this, we can click “Create Kernel” and choose the “Notebook” option to do our analysis in Jupyter Notebook. Once the notebook opens, you will notice some prewritten code known as “starter code”. Starter code will import some common libraries and will print the directories within the data folder. For this blog, we will delete the starter code and write our imports by ourselves. In the first notebook cell, we will write all of the necessary imports for our project and we will print out everything that is in the “digit_data” folder that we downloaded.
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import seaborn as sns
import numpy as np
import pandas as pd
import os print(os.listdir('digit_data'))
Output:
['test.csv', 'train.csv', 'sample_submission.csv']
The next step involves loading our data into the notebook. Notice that our data folder provides us with a train and test file. We can use pandas, a data analysis Python library, to read the CSV files into our train and test dataframes.
train = pd.read_csv('digit_data/train.csv')
test = pd.read_csv('digit_data/test.csv')
Once we have loaded in our data, we are going to want to get a sense of what the data is. To get a brief overview of what is in our dataset, we can use panda’s .head() method to print out the head, or top, of our dataset. We can set the number of rows that will be shown to 5.
train.head(5)
5 rows × 785 columns
One of the first things we will have to do with our training data is split it into the inputs, or X (features) and the outputs (y). By looking at our data, we can see that the output (y) is the “label” column. This means our X data will be every column excpet the “label” column, and the y data will only be the “label” column. To seperate these we can use pandas’ .drop() method and give the name of the column we want to drop. To let pandas know that we want to drop a column, we will set “axis” to 1.
After splitting our training data, we can print the shapes of everything we have so far. After printing the shapes, we can also print the samples in both the test and training data. The shape of the training data will come out to be (42000, 784). This means that there are 42000 rows with 784 columns. Each row represents an individual digit in the data. Each column represents one pixel value for the image. Our images in the MNIST dataset should have a shape of 28x28 (28 x 28 = 784). Each image is flattened into one row.
x_train = train.drop('label', axis=1)
y_train = train['label'].astype('int32') print('x_train shape: ', x_train.shape)
print('y_train shape: ', y_train.shape)
print('test shape: ', test.shape)
print('
samples in test: ', test.shape[0])
print('samples in train: ', x_train.shape[0])
Output:
x_train shape: (42000, 784)
y_train shape: (42000,)
test shape: (28000, 784) samples in test: 28000
samples in train: 42000
Let’s find out how many samples of each digit we have. For all we know, our data could be unbalanced and some digits may be represented more than others. This could cause our training to be hindered! To check how many samples of each digit we are training with, we can again use pandas and use the value_counts() method on the y training set.
print('Number of Examples Per Digit:
', y_train.value_counts())
Output:
Number of Examples Per Digit:
1 4684
7 4401
3 4351
9 4188
2 4177
6 4137
0 4132
4 4072
8 4063
5 3795
Name: label, dtype: int64
Another amazing high-level Python library that is used a lot in data science for visualization is Seaborn. Seaborn is a data visualization library that is heavily based on matplotlib, but is known to make more attractive graphics. Since we like attractiveness, we will work with Seaborn to visualize how many samples of each digit we have in our training set. After visualizing the balance within the data and after using pandas to view the exact amount of samples, we can confidently say that our data is very well balanced and that no digits are overrepresented.
sns.countplot(y_train)
Each handwritten digit in the MNIST dataset has pixels that are an RGB value between 0–255. To normalize this range of values, we can divide each pixel value by 255. This will bring each pixel value closer together (within a 0–1 range) and keep things easier to learn from for our neural network. For example, an RGB value of 56 would then become .219, and an RGB value of 230 would become .901.
We can then reshape the values in both x_train and the test set. We will want to reshape them such that the number of samples comes first, then as mentioned earlier, each digit has the dimensions (28x28x1) or 28 rows, 28 columns and 1 color channel because the images are not colored.
x_train /= 255.0
test /= 255.0 x_train = x_train.values.reshape(x_train.shape[0], 28, 28, 1)
test = test.values.reshape(test.shape[0], 28, 28, 1)
Now we can print the final shape of the training and testing data.
print('x_train shape: ', x_train.shape)
print('y_train shape: ', y_train.shape)
print('test shape: ', test.shape)
Output:
x_train shape: (42000, 28, 28, 1)
y_train shape: (42000,)
test shape: (28000, 28, 28, 1)
To view what the MNIST dataset contains, we can use pyplot from matplotlib and show eight images. The images will come from the training set (x_train) and above each image we can set the subplot title to be the corresponding output (y_train).
plt.figure(figsize=(12,10)) for img in range(10):
plt.subplot(5, 5, img+1)
plt.imshow(x_train[img].reshape((28, 28)), cmap='binary_r')
plt.axis('off')
plt.title('Label: ' + y_train[img].astype('str')) plt.show()
Now we can start to create our model. To classify each digit we will use a convolutional neural network. Fortunately, Keras, a high-level Python neural network library, provides an easy and quick resource to build deep learning models. We will have to import Keras, the Sequential model and the necessary layers to use in our CNN.
import keras
from keras.models import Sequential
from keras.layers import Dense, Dropout, Flatten, Conv2D, MaxPooling2D
from keras.utils import to_categorical from sklearn.model_selection import train_test_split
We can use Keras’ to_categorical() function to convert our class vector to a binary class matrix. Our classes in y_train are labeled as 1,2,3,4, etc. to_categorical() will create a matrix with as many columns as there are classes, and where a 1 indicates “yes” and a 0 indicates “no”. Keras’ documentation gives an intuitive example of this. You can view Keras’ docs here or see the example below:
# Consider an array of 5 labels out of a set of 3 classes {0, 1, 2}:
> labels
array([0, 2, 1, 2, 0])
# `to_categorical` converts this into a matrix with as many
# columns as there are classes. The number of rows
# stays the same.
> to_categorical(labels)
array([[ 1., 0., 0.],
[ 0., 0., 1.],
[ 0., 1., 0.],
[ 0., 0., 1.],
[ 1., 0., 0.]], dtype=float32)
Once this is done, our data is ready to be trained! We can split the data up into training and test sets and then start training our model.
y_train = to_categorical(y_train, 10)
x_train, x_test, y_train, y_test = train_test_split(x_train, y_train, test_size = 0.1, random_state=1)
Now we can create our CNN model, which thanks to Keras, is very easy. We will need to use 2-D convolutional layers, max-pooling layers and dense layers, which are fully connected layers. We will also use dropout and flatten. Flattening our data takes the resulting matrix from the convolutional and pooling layers and “flattens” it into one long vector of input data (column). Our output layer will use the softmax activation function with 10 output nodes (the number of classes in our data).
model = Sequential()
model.add(Conv2D(32, kernel_size=(3, 3), activation='relu', input_shape=(28,28,1)))
model.add(Conv2D(64, (3, 3), activation='relu')) model.add(MaxPooling2D(pool_size=(2, 2))) model.add(Dropout(0.25)) model.add(Conv2D(64, (3, 3), activation='relu'))
model.add(Conv2D(128, (3, 3), activation='relu')) model.add(Dropout(0.25)) model.add(Flatten())
model.add(Dense(128, activation='relu'))
model.add(Dropout(0.5))
model.add(Dense(10, activation='softmax'))
Before we train the model, we must first define the loss function, the optimizer and the metrics by which we will evaluate our model.
model.compile(loss='categorical_crossentropy', optimizer='Adadelta', metrics=['accuracy'])
Now we can finally train our model! We will give the .fit() function our training data and have it run for 12 epochs or iterations.
model.fit(x_train, y_train, batch_size=128, epochs=12, verbose=1,
validation_data=(x_test, y_test))
Output:
Train on 37800 samples, validate on 4200 samples
Epoch 1/12
37800/37800 [==============================] - 144s 4ms/step - loss: 0.3357 - acc: 0.8946 - val_loss: 0.1302 - val_acc: 0.9610
Epoch 2/12
37800/37800 [==============================] - 154s 4ms/step - loss: 0.0894 - acc: 0.9738 - val_loss: 0.0518 - val_acc: 0.9848
Epoch 3/12
37800/37800 [==============================] - 145s 4ms/step - loss: 0.0623 - acc: 0.9818 - val_loss: 0.0398 - val_acc: 0.9879
Epoch 4/12
37800/37800 [==============================] - 142s 4ms/step - loss: 0.0481 - acc: 0.9858 - val_loss: 0.0426 - val_acc: 0.9860
Epoch 5/12
37800/37800 [==============================] - 145s 4ms/step - loss: 0.0398 - acc: 0.9872 - val_loss: 0.0358 - val_acc: 0.9898
Epoch 6/12
37800/37800 [==============================] - 134s 4ms/step - loss: 0.0350 - acc: 0.9891 - val_loss: 0.0305 - val_acc: 0.9907
Epoch 7/12
37800/37800 [==============================] - 144s 4ms/step - loss: 0.0302 - acc: 0.9911 - val_loss: 0.0275 - val_acc: 0.9917
Epoch 8/12
37800/37800 [==============================] - 133s 4ms/step - loss: 0.0269 - acc: 0.9918 - val_loss: 0.0292 - val_acc: 0.9910
Epoch 9/12
37800/37800 [==============================] - 140s 4ms/step - loss: 0.0225 - acc: 0.9929 - val_loss: 0.0400 - val_acc: 0.9886
Epoch 10/12
37800/37800 [==============================] - 132s 3ms/step - loss: 0.0215 - acc: 0.9933 - val_loss: 0.0330 - val_acc: 0.9914
Epoch 11/12
37800/37800 [==============================] - 133s 4ms/step - loss: 0.0191 - acc: 0.9938 - val_loss: 0.0304 - val_acc: 0.9910
Epoch 12/12
37800/37800 [==============================] - 155s 4ms/step - loss: 0.0183 - acc: 0.9943 - val_loss: 0.0314 - val_acc: 0.9921 <keras.callbacks.History at 0x1a30906ac8>
It looks like our model did a decent job! We can evaluate the model and get its loss and accuracy for both the training and test sets. Once we receive the loss and accuracy we can print it out and round them for simplicity.
loss, accuracy = model.evaluate(x_test, y_test, verbose=0)
train_stat = model.evaluate(x_train, y_train, verbose=0) print('Train Loss: ', round(train_stat[0], 5))
print('Train Accuracy: ', round(train_stat[1]*100, 4), '%')
print('Test Loss: ', round(loss, 5))
print('Test Accuracy: ', round(accuracy*100, 4), '%')
Output:
Train Loss: 0.00551
Train Accuracy: 99.8413 %
Test Loss: 0.03136
Test Accuracy: 99.2143 %
Since our model is trained and has proven to be pretty accurate, we can start to make predictions. We will use Keras’ .predict() method to predict the outputs to each digit in the x_test data.
predictions = model.predict(x_test)
Since we are creating a kernel in Kaggle for a competition, we will need to create a new CSV file containing our predictions. This file will be our submission to the competition and once it is created, we are done the competition! | https://towardsdatascience.com/getting-started-with-kaggle-f9138b35ae18 | ['Aidan Wilson'] | 2019-10-01 14:01:41.336000+00:00 | ['Deep Learning', 'Data', 'Data Science', 'Data Visualization', 'Machine Learning'] |
Weight Loss Tip: Learn to Forgive Yourself! | I’m a huge rock guy. Some people like all types of music, and some only tend to like one genre. I’m definitely the latter… From The Beatles to ACDC to Metallica to Killswitch Engage, there are so many bands I like across a wide range of decades of rock music. One of those bands, The Eagles, is well known for songs like Hotel California. However, it’s another one of their songs that gained notoriety in the late 80s that’s stuck in my head today. I’ll go into that in just a sec…
It’s another warm, sunny day here on Long Island, and I write this to you from my parents’ home. Every Tuesday and Friday, I visit my hometown of Port Washington, and work with my grandmother on rehab from hip replacement surgery last summer, and my dad on improving his strength, tone and overall cardiovascular health.
Now then, The Eagles wrote another song called The Heart of the Matter that debuted in 1989. The main chorus goes, “I’ve been tryin’ to get down to the heart of the matter, but my will gets weak, and my thoughts seem to scatter but I think it’s about forgiveness, forgiveness…’
There’s another part of the main chorus about someone not loving you anymore, but what I’ve provided will do for today’s purposes ;-)
Yesterday was a HUGE day for me! I got to interview one of my idols in the health field, William Davis MD, best-selling author of Wheat Belly and a new book, Undoctored, that goes more macro in terms of what WE can do as individuals to reclaim our health without blindly accepting the prescriptions and the treatments our doctors are financially (and sometimes legally) incentivized to recommend to us.
Immediately following that, the tables turned, and I was interviewed by Dana Wilde, host of The Mind Aware Show on iTunes, and founder of Train Your Brain U, which is a mindset-oriented group for entrepreneurs. Dana and I have a great rapport, and she asked me to do a special, private training for her Train Your Brain U members on my 100 lb weight loss journey, and what it took to not only lose the weight, but keep it off from a mental perspective!
To see video of that (you need to have a Facebook account unfortunately… Still trying to figure out how to download and repurpose it for you), please go here: https://www.facebook.com/TheDanaWilde/videos/1538391069514220/
At the end of our interview, Dana told me that a common theme she saw from how I described my journey was that I was able to forgive myself all throughout it. This is honestly not something I thought about much prior to the interview, but after reflection, I guess this is true!
Let’s face it: If you’re struggling with your weight, you wake up in the morning, you feel sluggish, you feel anxious, and often, depressed. You look in the mirror and literally DESPISE what you see looking back at you. Many feel shame, disappointment and just terrible about themselves.
A while back, I wrote about how important it is when you START your journey to look in the mirror, and have a talk with yourself. Forgiveness is a HUGE component of that!
Forgiveness of who? YOURSELF!!!
Let’s not sugar coat this (no pun intended): If you get to a point where you’re like ‘You know what? I NEED to do something about this weight situation, because not only is it affecting my physical state, but it’s affecting my mental state, and more specifically, how I feel about myself,’ there was a good deal of personal neglect involved leading up to that point!
Something I tell my clients when they fall off the wagon for a meal, or for a day, is to just own it, give yourself a minute to feel bad about it, but then get back up, and move forward positively…
We’re human beings. Perfection is definitely an aspiration, but it’s NOT realistic, and is often unattainable. Things happen, slip-ups (both intentional and unintentional) are made, and what differentiates the success stories from the one-and-dones is who’s able to FORGIVE themselves for not being perfect, and then having the wherewithal to shake it off, and take on the next day!
Remember: While FAILURE doesn’t occur until you throw in the towel, you’ll fail to succeed in one of two ways — You’re either beaten, or you lose…
If you’re beaten, you came into the situation prepared, gave it your all, but you were outdone by your competition. Shit happens… Learn from it, and move on positively!
If you lose, you came into the situation ill-prepared, gave a half-assed effort, and despite having everything you needed to succeed and ‘win,’ you cost yourself…
Don’t be a loser. Be a winner! Learn to forgive yourself, listen to Don Henley and his beautiful, godly rock voice, and I’ll chat with you tomorrow ;-)
Sincerely,
Pete Weintraub
[email protected]
P.S. If you’re READY to lose weight FOR GOOD, then boy, do I have the program for YOU!
If you didn’t hear in my last couple of messages, I’m looking for my next big success story, and I want to help YOU reach your goals, and never look back at where you started!
I want to take one highly motivated individual who’s looking to lose weight, FOR GOOD, by making healthy, sustainable lifestyle changes.
This isn’t a quick-fix, ‘Lose 30 Lbs in 30 Days’ BS diet! These are real, simple tweaks you can make to your lifestyle that will shed the unwanted weight, get you into the best shape of your life, and NEVER have you looking back!
Here’s a description of the type of person I’m looking for:
- Someone Who’s Sick and Tired of Being Overweight and Unhealthy
- Someone Who’s READY to Make a Healthy, Sustainable and PERMANENT Change
- Someone Who’s WILLING to Take Direction, Accept Responsibility and Do the Work Necessary to Get to the Promised Land
- Someone Who’s Willing (and Able) to Invest Both Financially and Personally in Their Transformation
If you feel you meet the criteria, please go to www.weightlossbypete.com/nextsuccessstory to apply for this amazing program!
This Once in a Lifetime Program Offers You:
- A Weekly 1-on-1 Coaching Call with Me
- A PERSONALIZED Fitness and Nutrition Program
- Daily Access to Me Through the Voxer App
- Daily Accountability For Both Your Fitness and Your Nutrition Requirements
Think you have what it takes? To apply, please go to www.weightlossbypete.com/nextsuccessstory, and see if you make the cut!
If I feel you may be a good fit, I’ll personally email you and set up a date and time to get things squared away for you to get things going.
P.P.S. This Once in a Lifetime Opportunity CLOSES on June 1st, 2017, so if you don’t take advantage NOW, you may NEVER get this opportunity again!
That link again is www.weightlossbypete.com/nextsuccessstory. | https://medium.com/gethealthy/weight-loss-tip-learn-to-forgive-yourself-8fb7500046f2 | ['Pete Weintraub'] | 2017-05-19 17:54:52.027000+00:00 | ['Motivation', 'Success', 'Mindset', 'Weight Loss Tips', 'Weight Loss'] |
Working With Python Environments, Anaconda Package Manager and IDEs | With packages being the core of everyday projects, it is important to bear in mind that not all python versions support every package. Additionally, transitioning from python 2 to 3 might be difficult due to dependencies. Matters could worsen if you have both versions installed in your root directory. This is where environments come in. By assigning projects to separate environments, which each have their own python version, you solve this issue entirely. This is important for an up and coming data scientist or anyone else that might be using python for their day to day work. We all want to avoid something like this:
In this blog I will go over how to use anaconda package manager to assign projects to separate environments and install packages within them.
Things to keep in mind
Do not use sudo to install random python packages Do not install any/all python packages you need to root Rule of thumb : use a different environment for every python project you work on.
Setup:
Download Anaconda Package Manager Download and install an IDE of your choice (I recommend PyCharm and will use it through out this guide)
Step 1: Create a new enviroment and link it to your project
There are 2 ways of doing this
1.Create a new Anaconda Environment using Terminal then use that environment when setting up a new project in PyCharm
To create a new environment from terminal use the following command:
conda create --name nameofyourEnvironment
Or to create a new enviroment with specific python version use
conda create -n nameofyourEnviroment python=3.6
More ways of creating environments can be found here.
Once the environment has been created, you can open up the IDE of your choice and select the environment you just created.
For PyCharm this can be done by selecting File >> New Project. In the new project window click the Existing Interpreter radio button (1) and then select browse (2)(see annotated image below).
In the python interpreter window select Conda Environment then on the dropdown on the right choose the python environment you just created and then click ok (see image below).
2. Create an environment from the IDE when you create a new python project
PyCharm allows you to create an Anaconda Environment when creating a new project
To do this click on create a new project and then on the new project screen click the new environment using: radio button (1) and select conda from the dropdown (2) (see annotated image below).
It is worth noting that for the environment path (in this case: /anaconda3/envs/mediumenvblog) the last part is the name of the environment. This will be used later to install packages to the project enviroment.
Step 2: Linking a new/existing enviroment to an existing project
Go to preferences or settings for your choice of IDE and locate the Project Interpreter section and then click Add a new iterpreter or anything similar. For PyCharm you can do this by going to Preferences and then clicking on Project: <current project name>(1) and then Project Interpreter (2). Then click the settings button next to the Project Interpreter dropdown and click add (3) (see annotated image below).
On the add python window you can either create a new anaconda environment or use an existing one in a similar fashion to Step 1.
Step 3: Installing packages to specific anaconda enviroments
For this step we will assume that the package we want to install is pandas and the enviroment we want to use is mediumblogenv.
To do this, we first navigate to the anaconda website here. Then in the search bar type in the package you want to install and click search.
You will be recieve a few results based on your search. Select and click on the result you want. I will be using the first option conda-forge / pandas.
Then just copy the corresponding conda code. In this case it is: conda install -c conda-forge pandas
Now open terminal and type in the following:
source activate theEnviromentYouWantToUse
you will know you are in the environment you want to use if the environment name appears at the front like this:
Once in the environment, you can install any package you want and see it along with its dependencies in your Project Interpreter section.
Here is a before and after screenshot of installing pandas on the mediumblogenv | https://medium.com/datareply/working-with-python-environments-anaconda-package-manager-and-ides-663e771b6ed8 | ['Darshan Patel'] | 2018-05-02 12:34:25.687000+00:00 | ['Python Packages', 'Python', 'Pycharm', 'Package Management', 'Anaconda'] |
FROM WEB DEVELOPMENT TO BI- EP01 | From Web Development To Business intelligence
Hello everyone i decide to write this series of stories about my experience where i passed From Web development to Business intelligence.
Firstly i’m a web developer i choose to move to data field starting from BI , after more than 4 years in programming (java,c++,c…) and i’m planning to write series of stories from my experience with one or two articles per month .
i will start with questions that any one who want to move from programming to Data will ask :
- can i move to Data domain ?
yeep that’s absolutely possible .
- my previous experience will be an advantage for me ?
again that’s absolutely right the previous experience will help because when we write programs we use database (Relational database) and the start point for BI is a relational database (in most cases) so the past knowledge will help to made the data understandable .
new let’s move to what i learn in this month so the firstly i started by reading generally about BI from different sources like books (Business Intelligence For Dummies,Oracle Business Intelligence EE 11g,…) ,Videos (youtube , dailymotion,…) and websites (openclassroom, udemy, lynda,..)…, so i learned the history of BI and the process or life cycle of a BI Project .
Since i will work with Oracle BI Solution i started with learning the Oracle ELT Which is ODI (Oracle Data Integrator )- oracle use the concept of ELT (extract Load Transform ) instead of ETL (Extract Transform Load) which is used by many Companies (microsoft,IBM,…).
ELT made it possible to integrate many data sources to one target database (Data Warehouse) from different types RDBMS (Oracle, sql server, Mysql…),files, (xml,json,log,…) or web services…, oracle use ELt so we benefit from the treatment speed of database management system instead of using server to make transformation between source and target DBs.
after that i moved to learn OBIEE which is used after data warehouse for making and publishing reports.
this is the end of the 1st episode , in the next one i will speak about generally about the project which i’m working on, and more technical information about oracle solution until then i will leave you, thank you for your priceless time . | https://medium.com/from-web-development-to-business-intelligence/hello-everyone-i-decide-to-write-this-serie-of-stories-about-my-experience-with-from-web-949e8ca2c5a4 | ['Ismail Talhaoui'] | 2019-06-12 01:43:45.265000+00:00 | ['Obiee', 'Odi', 'Oracle', 'Java', 'Jee'] |
A Person’s a Person No Matter How Small | A Person’s a Person No Matter How Small
(Art by Bethany Ratliff)
“I like when the teacher asks me what I think,” one kindergartner from the Early Learning Village in Jessamine County said.
“I like when we get to pick our learning stations,” another kindergartner from the Early Learning Village stated.
“Younger students must experience a myriad of voice opportunities and develop skills that support their emerging voices in order to be eager learners and prepared to engage in a meaningful partnership with students,” Kristin Fox, a vice principal in Ohio and member of the National Association of Elementary School Principals, said.
Younger students not only want and like having a voice in their school, they need it. Even though this is so important, it is not happening in most kindergartens around Kentucky. But why?
Some adults think that younger students simply don’t care about or don’t have opinions about school. Other teachers don’t believe that student opinions should impact what happens in the classroom or school. And some teachers do want to elevate student voices in their classroom, but they just don’t know how.
I have heard so many times that kindergartners don’t have opinions, or that they don’t care, or even that they just don’t know what is best for themselves. I do not believe this is true. When I was first introduced to the idea of student voice, I only heard of it in terms of middle schools and high schools, and I wondered why student voice couldn’t be just as present in elementary schools and kindergartens. So I contacted the Early Learning Village, a school in Jessamine County with only preschoolers and kindergartners, about my idea for a student voice interview project. They thought it was a great idea, so I did research about student voice and came up with a set of questions. Starting out, I thought that this project would only last about a year, but it ended up lasting three, and I am still going strong.
When a student has the chance to share their voice and opinion, they begin to develop ownership of their learning.
For the past three years, I have interviewed around 300 kindergartners at the Jessamine Early Learning Village. I would pull students out of their classroom individually to ask them seven different questions about what they thought about their school and teachers. Almost all 300 students had an answer to every question. The answers ranged from the obvious — wanting more recess or wanting to paint all the walls in the school pink — to the less intuitive — kids saying that they wish they had more time for learning centers, or they didn’t like breakfast because they weren’t able to go through the line like all their friends were since they had brought their own breakfast. At the end of each year, I would make a presentation of all the data I had collected and present it at a staff meeting at the Jessamine Early Learning Village. Then the teachers and I would work together to come up with solutions to solve the problems that the students had told me. All of these things may seem like simple changes, but to a kindergarten student, knowing that their opinions were taken into consideration could mean the world. My interviews clearly showed that younger students do have opinions about their school and want to share them.
When a student has the chance to share their voice and opinion, they begin to develop ownership of their learning. This helps the student become engaged in class because they want to learn more, which in turn helps create a strong foundation for their education, learning, student voice, and leadership skills. It is important to start encouraging student voice at a young age so that students can build on this foundation as they get older.
One of my favorite quotes is “A person’s a person, no matter how small.” Despite kindergartners being four-foot-tall five-year-olds, they should still be able to have a voice in their education. No matter what age, a student should always be able to express their opinion. Kindergartners are the ones in the classroom, the ones who are coming to school everyday to learn: they might know a little something about what or even how they like to learn.
Since student voice in younger students is clearly very important, how can teachers promote student voice in their classroom? There are so many different ways. A teacher could simply ask students what they like and don’t like about coming to school. Some of the answers may be predictable, but others might help a teacher — and even if all the answers are predictable, the students are still able to experience the benefits of sharing their voices. Another option could be learning centers, where teachers set up different stations around the classroom and the student gets to pick which one they go to. For example, if a classroom is working on certain sight words, one station could be a student reading the sight words, another could be writing the sight words, another could be spelling them with magnets, and even another could be writing sentences with the sight words in them. This creates a choice for the students. Finally, teachers could include students in decisions about what topics they want to learn about. For example, if there was a unit about storytelling, the students could pick a topic like castles, the ocean, or sports. The teacher would then make an effort to pick stories or activities that go along with that topic. I have seen these examples work, and you can tell that the students are much more engaged when they have a voice in their learning.
Student voice is something that is critical for a student to experience. Starting young gives the students a foundation, and as they grow, they can build onto it.
Sophia Brannen is a sophomore at West Jessamine High School.
The opinions expressed on the Forum represent the individual students to whom they are attributed. They do not reflect the official position or opinion of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence or the Student Voice Team. Read about our policies. | https://studentvoiceforum.org/a-persons-a-person-no-matter-how-small-b1f6523de2c7 | ['The Student Voice Forum'] | 2020-12-26 05:02:17.102000+00:00 | ['Education', 'Schools', 'Children', 'Ideas', 'Teaching'] |
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