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True Sustainability — Part 2. I admit that Part 1 of True… | I admit that Part 1 of True Sustainability was a little grim. When I was writing about copper I myself had to realize it too that we really don’t have much time left. We have to be honest though — at least to ourselves — in order to leave the past of industrial scale destruction behind and start imagining a better future. With that said I encourage you the read Part 1 to have a solid understanding of the basics if you haven’t done so already. (Actually I have a plan to write a more detailed post on energy to cover all bases — like EROEI, bio fuels, hydrogen (fusion and “economy” as well), etc.)
Back to the topic of sustainability: this time I will talk about the future — in the range of the first 10 years from now, till the next 10.000 years because it is going to mark a major turn of events in the history of humans. Every change has a painful and a joyful part. What we can do now — so late in the game — is to acknowledge these changes, find new meanings for our lives and define radically new goals. According to my experience the most ingenious times come not at the age of abundance but rather in times of scarcity. I find it extremely rewarding to come up with solutions to problems with very limited resources — you guessed right: MacGyver was my favorite childhood hero — and the coming decades will provide ample opportunities for doing just like that.
A changing picture
Before we start MacGyvering our future, it has to be understood how the landscape of our technologies will change in the coming years when abundance slowly turns over to scarcity. Again, not in a day, not in a year but through the rest of your life and the entire lifetime of your children.
It would be easy to assume based on previous trends that everything will continue just fine and all of the above is nonsense. “The future will be similar, just better” “We will find a substitute for all materials on short supply. All we need is a right price” “Our energy / pollution problem will be solved by renewables “ — the list goes on. Some of these myths were busted in my previous writing (and by many other respected researchers in the field) others will put to rest in this essay.
Why do I say that? Look at this analysis — it was made for Europe, but there is no reason to presume that the rest of the world will fare better. In a nutshell: Europe will experience a decrease of 4–10% in oil imports during this decade, while the 2030's will see an additional drop of 10–20% compared to 2019's level of “production” (in fact extraction is a far better word). The rest — beyond 2040 — is marked by an even steeper fall. As I’ve explained in my earlier post: it should have been glaringly obvious by now that oil is a finite resource. This time though we have nothing even close to replace this high density energy source used from mining other minerals and coal to transportation and as a raw material for many products.
This will shift the picture and our perspective of sustainability quite a bit. Let’s have a quick inventory of how some of our products / technologies will be affected by this change and how they stand the acid test of decline in net energy (and the fall in energy density). Will renewables save the day?
Concrete
It’s fair to say that this material (composed of cement, sand and water) is the basis of our civilization. It is used in buildings, roads, bridges, sewage piping, dams — and many more. How it’s made? First you have to mine chalk, clay and limestone (using huge dump trucks and excavators powered by diesel fuel), then grind these rocks and heat them in a kiln (a rotating metal barrel) to 1450 °C by burning coal powder or natural gas. Let’s stop here for a minute. How (where) on Earth are we going to reach these temperatures solely by renewables…? After net available oil (not gross extraction, but what remains after drilling and operating deeper and trickier wells, plus refining worse and worse grades) starts to fall cement production will decline too. No question.
Regarding the other part (sand) I have no good news either: sand with a right grain size and structure is — surprise — a finite resource too. So much so that there are now sand-mafias digging up riverbanks illegally. Besides it’s finite nature sand has another problem: it is heavy and we need a lot of it. Therefore it needs to be transported… with diesel trucks. One could ask: why don’t we substitute it with crushed rocks? The answer stands clear: it takes a lot of energy to mine, grind and transport rocks as well — and with a decline in overall energy this is not going to be feasible (it is uneconomical even today). In the end it will be the lack of surplus oil that will suspend the environmentally damaging practice of mining mountains and riverbanks then pouring them into the shapes of stadiums and other monuments.
Besides it’s unsustainability concrete is not a material with a long life. It chips away rather soon and the iron bars in it tend to rust into dust just as fast. (This process is well described in detail by Ugo Bardi in his book Before the collapse.) In the future it looks like we have to build / re-build things with much less concrete (bad news for the fans of wind turbine foundation videos).
Iron & Steel
Another key component to our current civilization is iron and steel. Re-bars in concrete, almost all of our tools, machinery, land transportation (rail, cars, trucks) high rise buildings all use this ubiquitous metal. It is important to note here that measured by weight steel is a key component also to batteries and solar panels too. Just like concrete, there is no real substitute to it: it is still cheap, widely available, recyclable strong and durable... Provided you have the energy to heat it up to its melting point of 1 538 °C — much hotter than the eruption temperature of Kīlauea lava in Hawaii (about 1 170 °C).
Back in the middle ages (and in Brazil still today!) this heat was (is) provided by charcoal from wood — with terrible consequences for woodlands (and for the rest of us). In theory hydrogen could provide us with this heat, but since its unavailable in nature and has to be produced using ever more precious energy this is going to be unlikely in any commercially meaningful scale (clean H2 production is very inefficient — it is a net energy sink). Electric resistance based heating could be an option for steel manufacturing if we had hundreds of square meters of solar panels or solar mirrors, but both of these solutions provide intermittent energy only. Few hours of cloud cover and your entire batch of steel is done for. Besides heat coal gives off carbon to and burns impurities in iron ore (both of which are essential) while hydrogen makes it brittle... Again, it is possible to develop technologies to overcome these issues — but this will certainly come at the cost of more energy in an energy deprived future. I would not bet the farm on them being developed and used on a wide scale.
Other materials (high heat manufacturing)
Similar problems will arise in glass, ceramics and agricultural fertilizer manufacturing as well as in metallurgy and chemistry — all requiring high density energy (high heat) provided by a stable source. All of our industrial infrastructure was built around a stable (and increasing) flow of energy carriers. This resulted in flow manufacturing vs batch manufacturing—meaning that if you stop the flow of energy the stuff will get clogged in the pipes or solidify in your furnace (ruining the entire setup). In other words we have to redesign and rebuild the entire heavy industry to accommodate to intermittent renewables (in parallel with building out this new energy infrastructure and the supporting batteries)… Hmm, food for thought.
What is the lesson here? Are we all going to die then? Certainly not. The ramp-down of our industrial base is not a distant possibility — it is the reality of today and the coming decades. But this does not mean that we are going to go down with it. It is going to be a slow process (measured in decades) allowing us to accommodate to these changes first slowly then faster and faster. You can all see the signs of this already happening (in the form of various shortages). Just keep your eyes wide open, and avoid the traps of magical thinking (i.e. seeing a new technology that lures you to believe “Hah, that’s it, we are saved!” — while in fact it is far from being ready to be deployed at scale).
Oil products
Oil is not only an energy product but an important raw material as well. In fact it has became a primary source of our fibers (used for clothes) via plastics. Talking about the later (now ubiquitous) material: we have produced 368 million metric tons of it in 2019 alone — all manufactured from fossil hydrocarbons. An average car uses 200 kg-s of it… It is truly everywhere. What will happen to plastics under a decreasing oil extraction scenario is not hard to guess — yet it will receive its own green sugar coating for sure. On the other hand we will get rid of a major pollution source, although what has been produced so far will remain with us in the form of micro-plastics for a very long time.
Polymers are not the only “byproduct” of oil. Bitumen or asphalt (the sticky black goo on the bottom of the distillation vats) is the major component to tarmac / pavement production. No more oil — no more smooth roads then. One might argue that there are large natural lakes of the material, the largest of them containing 10 million tons of it, but in a world using 100 million tons annually these are nothing but drops in the ocean.
Appropriate technology
With this longer than planned intro we have arrived to our main theme today: how do we become MacGyvers of our time? The answer is simple: first, reduce energy use voluntarily and learn the skills necessary to live with less energy before it gets forced on you.
It is hard, I know. I do not ask you to be frugal puritans either. Use what technology is available to you and learn from its use as much as you can. Ask yourself: by buying this-or-that, can I use it to acquire knowledge which will be relevant in a post-industrial world? For example I recently bought a kamado grill: a piece of ancient technology in a sense, but its modern incarnation is unsustainable to say the least (the energy and materials required to manufacture it will be not available in the future). Still, it gives me a convenient way to learn how to cook in an ultra energy efficient way and in case of a long term black-out I can still prepare all kinds of food for my family. On the long run, when it will eventually break or fall apart and a replacement will be unavailable, I can use that knowledge to build a furnace on my own — giving up the convenience of that grill knowingly. It will be more poorly made for sure (from materials still available then) but it will be well designed based on this prior kamado experience. I’ve already learned a lot about ventilation, temperature regulation, wood/charcoal placement, different methods of smoking meat (another useful piece of knowledge if you want to eat meat after the age of refrigeration) and I’m only at the beginning of a long learning curve.
Second: try to find new uses to the immense amount of industrial stuff pushed on you (reuse, repurpose). This is going to be a long journey (longer than your life) — it will be much like downhill skiing. Done skillfully one can do it gracefully even joyfully despite the fact that there will be some rough terrain ahead. Practice makes perfect — so practice while humanity still has abundant energy.
Appropriate technology for me means using the right tools at the right time. In its original sense it is a way of using what is available at hand to “eliminate hunger and poverty”. It looks very distant but just because of that the learning curve will be much-much-much (x10¹⁰) steeper for western societies, compared to those who already have very little available in terms of energy and raw materials. Visit that website and think about it… Could you live that way? What would it take? This is where finding efficient ways of burning wood for preparing food comes to the picture.
…and now take a look around, go to a supermarket and marvel the abundance never seen by our ancestors. Fresh food from different continents, all conveniently packaged, comfortable clothes, technical miracles from music to lights and the right temperature… Remember these days and be thankful for what you’ve got: you certainly live better than most people before you (or in other parts of the world).
There is another, more holistic reason to be thankful: if my understanding of the world is correct, then this the peak of human civilization. No humans had — and based on resource depletion — will ever have this level of energy and material abundance… At least not in the upcoming 100 million years. This “feat” was achieved by using up one time resources (yes, including uranium-235 too) available only in finite quantities to us (for more on nuclear energy including Thorium wait for my essay on energy). We can even consider ourselves the luckiest generation ever: we have seen the unprecedented rise and peak of technology. We have gained immense knowledge of our universe: none of this was available before, nor will be meaningful (and thus available) in the future. Count your blessings — I’m counting mine too— and be reminded that this is all transitional: it is a mere blip in human history.
The concept of blip by Christopher O. Clugston — extended into the future. E on the vertical axis represents energy use by humanity but it might as well represent material use, population, technological / sociological complexity etc. The chart is not up to scale — it is mere illustration of the concept.
“Memento mori” — said the ancient Greeks and Romans: remember your mortality and the temporary nature of your life… and your civilization’s. Looking from this perspective this life — our life — is perfect just as it is. It fits neatly into the endless cycle of creation and destruction — it just happens so that we got to see the slow and uneven transition from creation to destruction. It is more important than ever (at least in recent history) to bear witness to these changes and fully embrace them. The sooner you let go the old world with it’s old expectations (the myth of progress as called by many) the better prepared you will become in the shape of things to come.
In the meantime enjoy what you have and what you can still do. And perhaps by thinking ahead you might take part in restarting creation too. Plant trees — as many as you can — your descendants will be grateful.
The next 10 years
First, a disclaimer: the upcoming part is by no means an exact prediction and shall not be considered as financial (or any other form of) advise in any way. This and the coming chapters are simply extrapolations of my mental model on how the world operates and thus represent an opinion. One of many possibilities. Events might happen at a different time, or not even at all. I’m sure that there will be things I haven’t seen coming — but my purpose here is not to give you accurate predictions but to open your horizon of possibilities… well beyond the commonly accepted mantra of humanity’s rise above the stars.
At the beginning of this post I referred to an analysis on decreasing oil extraction (4–10% drop by 2030 compared to 2019). According to this scenario we will see (or already have seen) a peak in energy as well as material consumption. Thus a similar fall in industrial / services / food output — as predicted 50 years ago by the Limits to Growth study — seems highly probable.
I’ve found this image at https://forum.aerocene.org/t/limits-to-growth-the-club-of-rome/267 but there are multiple sources available. You can find the original study here (highly recommended to read): https://www.clubofrome.org/publication/the-limits-to-growth/
This won’t happen all at the same time worldwide though. Some regions, especially in the west will see it sooner than others. Get used to the word: stagflation: this is how economists call stagnation (“lack of growth” or “negative growth”) and inflation (used in a sense of price increase) occurring simultaneously. You will hear it often then not at all (it will be considered normal). Governments all over the world will try to manipulate GDP even further to show something remotely resembling growth then will give up on the idea and focus on the “well being” of citizens instead. This can happen in the form of UBI (universal basic income) with more pressure on the rich 0.1% to get involved by actually paying taxes in order to fund healthcare and surveillance programs (oh, sorry “promoting the safety and security” of the citizens). You don’t need a time machine to see this already happening, just look east and don’t believe that this is due to the pandemic.
It is due to the growing mismatch between the actual performance of the primary economy of goods (including food) and services vs the amount of money and monetary (paper) “wealth”. A major correction is now inevitable. This could either happen via letting inflation rampant (caused by printing too much money compared to the amount of stuff to buy) or reining in stimulus spending and raising interest rates (causing unrealistic asset prices and stock markets to crash). Both will take years though and will not happen overnight.
In any case by the end of this decade the average citizen will have much less to spend in terms of real value (i.e.: he/she would be able to buy less goods for doing the same job). This process will be further exacerbated by resource shortages… supermarket shelves will become gradually emptier. Year after year. More and more people will loose their jobs yet unemployment figures will show none of it. Food prices will increase worldwide putting an end to population growth in the coming decades.
Our infrastructure of roads, bridges, tunnels, pipes and electric grids will deteriorate further. There will be less and less “money” (in fact energy, concrete, steel, asphalt, copper etc. due to ultimately the lack of oil as we have seen above) available to repair existing roads, bridges and other networks. In some cases it will be easier to build new ones and let the rest return to dust. The major infrastructure projects in the 1960’s and 1970’s will start to show signs of age and will be more and more expensive to repair. Closures and limitation of traffic will be regular and then permanent (“cross at your own peril”). Black-outs will occur more frequently (partly due to intermittent renewables, party due to lack of preventive maintenance, then later due to various shortages — copper for e.g.…)
In the meantime the population will be constantly deluded with the promises of a “hydrogen economy”, renewables, fusion energy and stories about a lost decade (of course due to COVID, what else?), but the “30’s will be certainly better”. Tin foil hats will be on no short supply.
The next 10 to 30 years
In the 2030’s (if not sooner) saner governments will announce rationing schemes disguised in various ways, like TEQ (trade-able energy quotas) painted bright green to “save the environment” and reducing pollution. Make no mistake: these are very important goals worth pursuing. The thing which makes me go hmm, is if these were so important for governments why did they wait 60–70 years with it? To make sure that we really cross the 1.5°C mark? Check. To see if resources really start to deplete while we still have more than half of them under the ground? Check. To see if we kill half of the biosphere there will no 6th mass extinction…?
The plans for rationing were already made but kept in secret. In case of oil & gas (and other forms of energy) agriculture will get its share first — no questions asked — to prevent food shortages. After essential basic infrastructure services (water, sewage), some critical companies will get their share too. Civilians will have to line up at the very end of the queue. Long rows at the gas station will be a thing of the past though — most of the car owners cannot afford gas by now anyway (not because its price, but because there will be so little left after paying for food and housing).
MacGyvers of these times will be really busy to apply appropriate technology everywhere. This change will be scale independent: it will happen on the household level (wind turbines made from plywood and 12V generators plus the battery from the family car) as well as on municipal and country level transition engineering projects worldwide. The future will be low tech. Big time… and increasingly so. This is what we should have done in 1970… and there would be max 1 degree global warming and resources to go for another millennia... Anyway this will be a great age to be an engineer or a tinkerer. Think about what skills you would need to maintain an off the grid lifestyle and practice them. They will make you invaluable.
Pollution would certainly decrease by now. So much so, that the aerosols produced by coal burning and the industry in general — going down together with their sources — are no longer shielding us from the Sun’s rays. This will add another 1 degree of warming, in addition to the still present carbon pollution (both from natural sources — i.e. burning forests, melting permafrost — and some still operating industrial processes). This will end us up in the +3°C range by 2050.
No one talks about “net zero” the “hydrogen economy” or “fusion” by now. Maybe in the science fiction literature… hoping that prosperity will return in the far future.
The idea of world war III comes up now and then but it gets quickly forgotten: none of the remaining nation states have the raw materials and energy to fight large scale wars. Think about Germany’s preparation efforts before WWII. The amount of steel produced for tanks… Guns will be used instead in puny boarder disputes over water sources or by special “forces” (armed civilians) tasked with destroying critical infrastructure on enemy territory.
The second half of the 21st century
Globalization is a thing of the past together with nation states. The goods remaining to be shipped between population centers will be done so on rivers and on sailing ships over the seas. Air travel is gone. Cars and trucks are gone too. Roads are starting to be reduced to gravel by erosion except for the latest highways. For the first time in the past 100 or so years you will be able to hear the sounds of nature without someone using a chainsaw or hundreds of cars murr-murring in the background.
It will be hot though — especially in the tropics. People will leave these areas and try to make a living up north. As a result population will fall steadily — no one wants to procreate in a time when one has no stable income or a house… There will be a lot of material left behind in these ‘too hot to live’ areas — caravans will visit these sites in the cooler (less hot) part of the year to scavenge what’s left and bring them back up north for recycling or re-purposing.
Pollution from human sources will continue to decrease to almost 0 while temperature stabilizes between 3 and 4°C by the end of the century. Hopefully the methane dragon remains asleep, but the cascade of climate tipping points will ensure that the hot weather is here to stay for many millennia to come.
The 22nd century
Large population centers (mega-cities) were kept alive by a huge influx of energy, food and products while a lot of care was taken to remove the waste. With the sunset of the industrial age in the 21st century they have become de-populated — most of the people are now living in rural settings in simple shacks made from scavenged materials from the cities. Large scale agriculture is now gone leaving room for regenerative farming practices in a small farm environment. This age is the dream of the environmentalist movement: everything is local, recycled and powered by the sun and wind.
Some well maintained hydro-electric plants are still producing electricity for local use (for example in Norway). In these areas the remnants of our civilization will be safeguarded like sacred knowledge of the past. For the rest of the world these safe havens of technology will look miracles — like libraries of ancient times. Here you might still find a computer: under glass and fully in-operational. The parts all went south by now and without the stable manufacturing supply chains of the IT industry they are now irreplaceable (it takes 3 weeks and a lot of energy, rare materials and water to produce microchips — under very stable and clean conditions). Knowledge was printed on acid-free paper a long time ago and kept in a safe place.
The rest of the 3rd millennia
Everything is recycled — but there is a small price to pay at each round. Some of the material will be lost due oxidation or degeneration or by someone accidentally dropping it to the sea. In the beginning of the millennia more than half of the raw materials were lost within a century: cars, skyscrapers, huge diesel ships made of metal were all left to rust. There was no other solution. Lacking the energy to keep this enormous amount of material in circulation, let alone recycling them, they have become part of the environment: totally overgrown and collapsing under the weight of plants and animals. What was scavenged is still in circulation, so there is no need to mine new raw materials. The problem is, that if there were a need to do so, the low quality ores left by the people of the 20th and 21st century are now impossible to process with the technology and low available energy of the 30th century.
There are new city states rising and falling, kingdoms coming and going depending solely on the available surplus energy provided by grains — just like at the end of the 1st millennia. The only difference this time is that these new “empires” are now more dispersed along the northern shores of Asia and America. The ice free Arctic Ocean provide great means of transportation between them and the small villages up in the rivers in Alaska and Siberia. The only problem is, that soil is very bad up north, providing very little of the aforementioned surplus grains.
Ten thousand years from now
Almost all of the materials recycled from the industrial age are now gone. Calculating with only a 0.1% loss at each round of recycling there is only 0.005% (0.999¹⁰⁰⁰⁰) left of the scavenged material from the beginning of the 3rd millennia. Maybe enough for a few spears or a knife. Without mining as a fallback option people turn to wood, clay, rocks and bones for resources. The age of wood has come again. Little villages with wooden houses and small gardens around them spot the landscape. Population has fallen to a mere fraction of today’s level allowing people to fish and hunt the recovering wildlife just like many thousand years ago. We have became sustainable. Finally. | https://medium.com/@thehonestsorcerer/true-sustainability-part-2-d275e7c9be6b | [] | 2021-06-08 08:15:49.461000+00:00 | ['Sustainability', 'Energy', 'Recycling', 'Future', 'Resources'] |
How to Prepare If You’re Worried About Job Loss | How to Prepare If You’re Worried About Job Loss
An investment expert breaks it all down
Photo: Getty Images.
We’re living in uncertain times — and on top of it all, the U.S. unemployment rate has soared to at least 14.7 percent. So what steps should we take if we are afraid of job loss during this time— or if we’re already experiencing it? Our Wake-Up Call newsletter (subscribe here) spoke with Lule Demmissie, president of Ally Invest, to find out. Read on, but be sure to consult with a financial professional for specifics about your own situation.
Wake-Up Call: In recent weeks, unemployment claims have reached record highs. First things first, can you tell us what these numbers mean right now for the economy?
Lule Demmissie: The spike in unemployment claims during the current pandemic crisis, while unnerving, is not surprising. In the last month, more than 22 million workers have sought unemployment benefits due to coronavirus-related shutdowns. There are now more suddenly jobless Americans than during the Great Recession. But here’s the real challenge: the Great Recession revealed systemic issues with our economy. In today’s scenario, the economy was healthy prior to the pandemic crisis, so the lasting economic impact is tougher to model while things are effectively on “pause” as more than 90% of Americans follow stay-at-home guidelines.
For an economy that overwhelmingly relies on consumers to drive our Gross Domestic Product (consumer spending represents approximately 70% of GDP), these conditions were bound to slow down revenue for many businesses. Extending unemployment insurance benefits to the long-term unemployed boosts spending and creates jobs, which helps us keep the economy strong.
In March, President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, a $2 trillion coronavirus emergency stimulus package. The act expands states’ ability to provide unemployment insurance to many workers affected by Covid-19, including people who aren’t ordinarily eligible for unemployment benefits. The questions now are how long these conditions will last, what will the near-term economic impact be until a vaccine is found, and what will the long-term impact on the economy be once the pandemic is contained. The impact could be deep, but it is also impossible to know what potential “pent-up demand” may do to buoy the economy once we are all out of this crisis.
For anyone who has already lost their job: What steps should they take to prepare for this period of uncertainty?
The answer very much depends on your financial and personal situation. Generally speaking, the first step is to see if you are eligible for unemployment insurance and, if you are, be sure to file for it.
Next, determine if you have a savings buffer and calculate how many months of your core expenses it will cover. Call your debtors to ask for some forbearance accommodation — many institutions are trying to help consumers who find themselves in financial straits as a result of this pandemic. Review your monthly budget and look at which expenses you can either freeze or cut out — the key is to drastically reduce your expense footprint during this time.
Research how you can secure health insurance for you and your family should you lose it — www.healthcare.gov is one place to start your search.
One last tip — if there is a small expense that gives you pleasure, consider keeping it. Keep an open mind and research free activities that you and your family or friends can partake in to find valves for happiness and togetherness. Many small businesses in our local communities are now offering virtual activities for free or for a small donation. We are more likely to keep to our budgets when we also recognize that happiness, even in small amounts, helps fuel our resilience.
What sort of budgeting or savings tips would you have for someone in this position?
In addition to the tips already mentioned, it’s good to categorize your expenses and then add a “MUST HAVE” and a “NICE TO HAVE” bucket for each category. Common categories include housing, utilities, food, insurance and debt repayment. Again, the key is to drastically reduce your expense footprint during this time. Try to tap into checking and savings before touching qualified accounts like your 401(k) and IRA — there may be taxes, penalties, and interest associated with early withdrawal and you want to avoid taking money away from your “future self” if at all possible.
Similarly, for anyone who might be afraid of losing their job — or seeing a reduction in their income: How could they prepare for this possibility, while still being cognizant of the fact that they do have income coming in?
Many of the tips discussed are valuable to adopt even if you haven’t lost your job. It’s always a good idea to grow your savings buffer for emergencies. In addition, you may want to explore taking advantage of low interest rates to refinance your mortgage or other debt while you are employed. Refinancing your current loans with lower interest rates can save money over time and help you achieve your financial goals more quickly.
Should anyone be worried about losing a job make any changes to their savings or investment?
Research and confirm that your bank and/or investment firm provide you the best rates, free transaction costs when investing, and waive “nuisance” fees (especially during this pandemic). One option is to engage with an institution that offers most of its services via digital means. Given you cannot go to a bank office in the current environment, you can access your bank and investment services digitally.
What other tips would you have for anyone struggling with job loss right now?
We are feeling beings and our emotions can range from feeling blue to suffering from depression. It is important that we respect and listen to our emotions. If you suffer from clinical depression, make sure you follow up with your health and/or mental care providers. If you are feeling blue, it is helpful to seek and/or form a community.
The worst thing to do is to turn inward and suffer in silence. Even the introverts among us (and I am one) need to remember that forming community (even digital ones) cannot only help us ride through the blues, but they can also be a major source of information and “know how” as we all learn to navigate financial strains. For example, you may learn about digital job opportunities that can help supplement your income. This may also be a good time to “skill up” through digital learning tools for areas of the economy that may have more job opportunities.
Any last thoughts?
Crises are tough to navigate. They will punch us in the gut and worry us. It can also be a source of learning and transformation. As we all struggle through this pandemic, it is important to give back where we can (if we can afford it), support our local economies, lean on extended family when we need help, strengthen our communities/families and build resilience. The wisdom crisis affords us is the ability to become even more adaptive, focus on the things we can change, and live in the “now” when we can — even if that is a simple “walking trip” between our living room, bathroom and kitchen, listening to the sounds of nature on our device, or practicing our deep breathing. #LivingInTheTimeOfCovid | https://medium.com/wake-up-call/how-to-prepare-if-youre-worried-about-job-loss-763c1faaeb97 | ['Katie Couric'] | 2020-05-14 14:10:54.398000+00:00 | ['Financial Planning', 'Job Loss', 'Economy', 'Unemployment', 'Advice'] |
Handling user authentication and authorization after load balancing your web app. | Load balancing your web application is the way to go when expecting or experiencing a large amount of traffic, but when it comes to designing an authentication and authorization flow it can become more complicated on the back-end side.
Why load balance?
In high traffic scenarios, such as hosting a social networking website, a popular blog, an API or just about any app on the Internet with a large number of valid incoming requests it can be overwhelming for the physical server to handle all of these requests and produce the desired responses.
Continuing I will be discussing the apparent and deeper implications of scaling up your authentication and authorization flow (auth from now on) handled by your web server into a system which cannot guarantee that subsequent requests from the same client will be handled by the same server.
Before we start…
If you are reading this you probably have got an idea what load balancing is, but for the sake of this article, I do feel the need of making sure we are all on the same page.
What is load balancing?
In short, load balancing is the process of distributing traffic across multiple, different server instances using a particular load balancing algorithm. Think of it as a cop standing in front of a toll plaza that redirects you to the toll booth with the smallest queue.
Toll plaza, courtesy of tribuneindia.com (https://cmsimages.tribuneindia.com/gallary_content/2020/4/2020_4$largeimg_1893155391.jpg)
Let’s assume that your original server provided by your hosting platform can handle a maximum of 1,000 requests per second before the experience of waiting for a response becomes frustrating. You are flourishing and users are starting to use your app more and more, hence the traffic. You wouldn’t want them to grow frustrated, would you?
So what do you do? You implement a load balancer. You either pay for an instance provided by AWS or whichever service you use, or you take the time to configure your own. But a load balancer won’t work on its own as if it’s magic. You need multiple servers so the balancer knows where to redirect your request so it is processed, and this becomes your new problem when it comes to auth flow. Why? Take a look:
Load balancing an API
As you can see, even though Bob sends two requests to the same API in a very small time interval, his response is still being handled by different server instances. This example goes to show that you absolutely cannot predict which instance will ultimately handle your client’s request. And even if you can, I doubt you can reliably do so with a load balancer that does its job properly. | https://levelup.gitconnected.com/handling-user-authentication-and-authorization-after-load-balancing-your-web-app-c87ccba35a75 | ['Dan Mitreanu'] | 2020-11-23 04:06:57.089000+00:00 | ['System Administration', 'Distributed Systems', 'Web Design', 'Web Development', 'Load Balancing'] |
Things You Can Do While Waiting for Election Results | Watching election results is so 2016. And we’ve already given up on the entire year of 2020, so let’s just get on with the rest of our personal lives, shall we?
There will be plenty of time to continue the good fight in reforms of all sorts. We don’t need to put all our energies into this one day, believing all the change will happen in the next 24 hours.
We’re smarter than that. Pirates know it takes lots of planning and map reading to navigate and find the buried treasure.
Photo by N. on Unsplash
While others are adding to the already too large puppy pile of negative energies, here’s an alternative list of TED Talks I’ve recently watched that were hella inspiring! I hope you enjoy them. | https://medium.com/muddyum/things-you-can-do-while-waiting-for-election-results-9c210991f8c6 | ['Susan Brearley'] | 2020-11-03 16:11:21.076000+00:00 | ['Advice', 'Inspiration', 'Ideas', 'Humor', 'Election 2020'] |
Recommended Daily Interview Problem Newsletter | TLDR — Subscribe to the daily interview problem newsletter at Quastor Daily. It is a wonderful newsletter to help prepare for technical interviews.
This is not a paid recommendation !!! All opinions are my own.
I don’t know where I came across this newsletter first but I have not regretted signing up for it. In fact I have now removed most other algorithm subscriptions in favor of this one.
What’s in the newsletter ?
One gets an interview problem in the mail along with the solution to the previous day’s problem (In Python3). Curated Tech News is also a part of the mail.
So why do I like it ? Let me list the reasons -
1. No sign-in required to view the solutions.
Yes, yes this is not a deal breaker if the content is really good but I like that even this small (grain in the shoe type of friction?) hindrance is removed. All solutions are found at a public repl.it link. No logging in required!!
2. Explanation of the logic
A through explanation of the logic followed in the code solution is part of the mail. Some oft repeating tips are very helpful in understanding how to approach particular type of problems. Basic test cases are also part of the solution.
3. Not restricted to only coding questions
Map Reduce, Rate Limiting, ACID, Leader Election etc. — the questions are not restricted solely to coding.
4. Clean Design
I like that the design is clean and not cluttered. After the recent change in the order of items it is even better.
5. Tech Dives
Newly added — this really helps round one’s preparation as well as understand concepts in greater depth.
6. Almost a one-stop solution
Because the questions are not limited to coding, it is almost like a one-stop solution to prepare for a programming interview. I say almost because language specific idiosyncrasies are not covered ! I think it should remain as is in this aspect.
7. Misc
- I was not able to get my head around a dynamic programming solution (work in progress) but the author responded with relevant links towards understanding this. Other queries were also met with helpful suggestions.
- I really like the Tech News section. Did not know Cryptokitties were a thing !!
- There was a recent chance to have a mock interview with a google engineer.
- I feel the newsletter improves a little bit everyday. Hope it continues to do so !
It is said the power of your routine is built in your daily habits.
I am happy to have found this newsletter which has helped me make this a daily habit ! (almost! I do miss a few days).
Stuck somewhere ? Check out program visualization of code at this awesome website. Support for other languages is also present but I have not checked them out.
Have fun ! | https://medium.com/@vidyabhandary/recommended-daily-interview-problem-newsletter-bedbcbda3e5b | ['Vidya Bhandary'] | 2020-11-24 03:14:05.971000+00:00 | ['Interview Questions', 'Algorithms', 'Technical', 'Newsletter', 'Interview'] |
The Best VR Experiences for Christmas 2020 | The Best VR Experiences for Christmas 2020
Whilst this Christmas is likely to be a little different to others, many will still be looking forward to having some festive fun with loved ones. If you are tired of the groans as you pull out the Scrabble board and want to have different experiences this holiday season, virtual reality (VR) offers something for everyone. REWIND Follow Dec 23, 2020 · 6 min read
With a broad range of content and the unique ability to create a sense of presence, this technology is the perfect way to connect with your nearest and dearest — if you are together or apart — and even burn off the calories from overindulgence!
If you managed to scoop a VR headset during the Black Friday sales or are expecting one from Santa, we’ve pulled together a list of VR games for every occasion.
Best for: Connecting with those who can’t be there
Sometimes a Zoom call isn’t quite enough. For those missing loved ones, immersive technology can help create a sense of connection whilst we are apart, so why not hop into VR this Christmas?
Over the past few months, increasing numbers of people have turned to social VR apps like VRChat to find new and better forms of communication and connection. Over the Halloween period, VRChat announced a record 24,000 concurrent users, 52% of those in VR!
VRChat allows VR and non-VR users to connect, chat, and explore other users’ worlds. So, if you have a VR headset but your Grandma doesn’t, she can still log in to VRChat from a computer to join in the fun. Of course, we think that the experience is better with a VR headset, but we might be biased.
Best for: VR newbies
You might have been lucky enough to get your hands on a VR headset for Christmas, but if you’re new to the technology, it can be hard to know where to start.
The best introduction to the wonder of virtual reality is Oculus First Contact on Oculus Quest/Rift S or Oculus First Steps on Quest. These experiences are designed specifically to introduce newcomers to the power of VR and the feeling of presence, with First Steps showcasing the freedom of Oculus Quest. Both experiences are beautifully simple and perfect for those who have never stepped into VR before, and the best part of all, they’re free!
Once you’ve got to grips with the basics of VR, it’s time to try one of the most popular games available on the platform, Beat Saber. There is a reason why this game is mentioned in every ‘Top VR Games’ list — the gameplay is wonderfully intuitive and epic fun.
Beat Saber is a VR rhythm game where you slash the beats of a song as they fly towards you in a neon futuristic world. There is a free demo so you can try before you buy, but the full game is only £23 and it is worth every penny. You can also expand your song library with your favourite artists including BTS, Timbaland, Imagine Dragons, Panic! At The Disco, Greenday and more, there really is something for everyone.
Best for: VR aficionados
For the virtual reality lovers in your life, Half-Life: Alyx is the ultimate experience. Built from the ground up for VR, you’ll need a PC VR headset such as Oculus Rift S, Valve Index, or HTC Vive to experience the impressive visuals and immersive gameplay. Described by VR Focus as a “stunningly rich experience from start to finish”, the game is a perfect showcase for the potential of VR gaming.
For those new to the Half-Life franchise, Half-Life: Alyx is the story of an impossible fight against a vicious alien race known as the Combine, set between the events of Half-Life and Half-Life 2. Playing as Alyx Vance, you are humanity’s only chance for survival. The Combine’s control of the planet since the Black Mesa incident has only strengthened as they corral the remaining population in cities. Among them are some of Earth’s greatest scientists: you and your father, Dr Eli Vance.
The game launched in the throes of a global pandemic and topped the best selling games list on Steam the month of its release and has remained in the top 5 ever since. It also won VR Game of the Year at the VR Awards in November.
Best for: Marvel fans
If you’ve been gifted a PSVR headset for Christmas and you happen to be a Marvel fan, Iron Man VR is the perfect experience for you. Exclusive to the PSVR platform, Iron Man VR has you suit up as the armoured Avenger, blast into the skies with an arsenal of iconic Iron Man gear at your fingertips, and face off against one of his greatest foes in high stakes, action-packed battles.
Or, if you haven’t got a PSVR headset, but want to join in the fun, you can purchase a headset and the game will come included with the bundle alongside everything you need to get started in VR.
Best for: Burning off the calories from Christmas dinner
Christmas can be an indulgent time of year, so if you’re looking for a fun way to burn off those extra calories, VR is here to help.
BoxVR brings music enhanced, boxing-inspired workouts to virtual reality. Leading fitness instructors produce a variety of boxing workouts, specifically designed to destroy calories in the most entertaining way ever devised! According to the Virtual Reality Institute of Health and Exercise, playing this game can burn 6–8 calories per minute — that’s the same as playing a game of tennis!
For more information on how to workout in VR and get the most from it, check out our article here.
Best for: Bringing the family together
This game made our 2019 Christmas list, and we’re including it again because it’s one of the few games you can get the whole family involved in, even if you only have one VR headset. It’s called Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes, and it will let you live out your Mission: Impossible dreams! Using frantic communication your team must help you defuse a virtual bomb, that only you can see, by consulting their “bomb-defusing manual”.
This game is sure to bring everyone together as you all have to work in sync using your puzzle-solving and communication skills. The games are loud, fast-paced and intense, but a huge amount of fun as well.
Best for: Horror fans
You might want to save this game for when the kids have gone to bed because it can get a little scary! The game is called Reiko’s Fragments and can be enjoyed by multiple people, even if you only own one headset. The player in the VR headset must escape a haunted house and a vengeful ghost, but the other participants play as spirits who have full control over sabotaging the house they’re trying to escape! It’s a spooky but fun experience and best of all, it’s less than £10.
Best for: Taking a break from it all
After a busy day of entertaining, eating, and present opening, you might be feeling the need to relax. Rather than slumping in front of the TV, why not try a VR experience to calm your mind?
Guided Tai Chi on Oculus offers over 200 tai chi inspired workouts in 20 nature settings, in sessions running from 3 to 60 minutes. Serene music and beautiful environments help relax your mind after a stressful day, as you follow your teacher to master the craft of Tai Chi.
If Tai Chi isn’t your thing, how about guided meditation? Guided Meditation VR makes it simple and visual. With 27 environments and over 500 different meditation spots, you can completely customize your experience with shorter or longer sessions, different music and different focuses for meditation including relaxation, body awareness and mindfulness. Perfect for winding down after a busy Christmas day!
Whilst you enjoy the wonder of VR this Christmas, if you are sharing a headset don’t forget to wipe down the headset and controllers with anti-viral/anti-bacterial wipes and encourage everyone to wash their hands before and after using the hardware. It’s something that can be very easily overlooked in the excitement of it all, but it’s important to keep everyone safe. You can check out our article on best practices for VR hygiene here.
Have a wonderful Christmas! 🎄 | https://medium.com/xrlo-extended-reality-lowdown/the-best-vr-experiences-for-christmas-2020-8018659cba93 | [] | 2020-12-23 07:02:35.689000+00:00 | ['Games', 'Virtual Reality', 'Christmas', 'News And Opinion', 'VR'] |
December Gratitude #2 | Dear Gratitude,
All my life, I’ve felt your presence, and, in a way, I’ve always known you, or my version of you.
Until recently, I thought of you as the silver lining in everything, and in every bad situation, I always thought of all the things that were going right to shift my focus on the good. That was my way of coping with all the bad. You were my way of coping with all the bad.
You are the reason I’m still here. I haven’t had an easy life, but, because of you, I’ve managed to survive everything so far, all that life has thrown at me.
I always turned to you.
When my mother abandoned me, I was only a toddler, but I was grateful all the shouting had stopped.
When I was left alone for days at the age of nine, the neighbor who was supposed to check on me saw me dancing by myself and I heard her whisper to her husband, “She’s either crazy or very strong.” I was just grateful for the peace I felt by myself.
When I was eighteen and my best friend told me her life couldn’t get any worse, I listed all the good things she should be grateful for in her life.
When I was drugged and raped at the age of twenty-five, I was grateful I was still alive.
When I became homeless for a few weeks, I was grateful for all the things I still had.
In all my life, I’ve never had a challenge I haven’t attacked or overcome, and it’s always been because of you.
Now, I see you’re so much more than a silver lining…
You are the reason I appreciate all the things, good and bad, that have ever happened to me because they’ve made me who I am.
You are the reason I want to thank every person in my life, not only every person who has done right by me but also every person who has wronged me because they, whether they were a blessing or a lesson, have brought me to where I am.
I don’t know why it has taken me so long to see the real you, but I know I’m grateful.
I’m grateful…
for having submitted my piece for the anthology,
for having been accepted and published,
for having read the book (Dear Gratitude: An Anthology by Chris Palmore) dedicated to you,
for having had the opportunity to see all the perspectives people have of you,
for having understood the different facets of you I couldn’t understand before.
You have been my best friend all my life, and I will always keep you close.
Yours,
N.P. | https://medium.com/@authornikaparadis/december-gratitude-2-5b159e048903 | ['Nika Paradis'] | 2020-12-16 15:00:45.699000+00:00 | ['Gratitude', 'Life', 'Challenge', 'Self', 'Perspective'] |
The Guide to The Best Utopian Product in the World | Often have I asked myself. What does the best product look like? And I am pretty sure that there are a lot of entrepreneurs and product managers asking the same question — a question for which there are no definite answers.
But having used a lot of amazing products and also having worked on developing some of my own I do have an idea on what can be the best “Utopian” product in the world.
Why Utopian?
Yes, as I said in my statement above, I have indeed used a lot of amazing products for a lot of usecases but all of them still have some flaws one way or another. Developing the best product is a never ending journey and to be honest, there is not a single “best product” in the world since all the point of views are just relative.
So, rather than trying to justify which is the best product, let us have a utopian view on how a great product can be developed.
Vision & Purpose
The first thing a product must communicate is its purpose. What is the problem which it aims to solve and why do you even want to use it? It should clearly communicate its vision, goals and even non-goals at the first glance so that every user knows what they are getting into without any confusion.
Choreography
People talk about user stories, storyboarding and what not. Ultimately, its all about choreographing the user moves. Not all users clearly know what to do next. So, it is the duty of your product to do the choreography. Hold their hand (not literally), take them through each and every step of the game till they get a hang of how to use your product.
While things may seem very intuitive for us, not all users are the same. They may come from different experiences and backgrounds. So, if you know that your audience is going to be diverse, then this is something to look after.
Get the flowchart ready from the onboarding to exit, have the mindmaps and what not to clearly understand all the paths the user can take while using your product and how you will handle it.
Usability & Simplicity
This has been a hard lesson for me. Its not about the tons of functionality or features you may offer, its about maintaining the simplicity while doing so. And as people say, working towards simplicity is not simple. Infact, its the most hardest thing to do. Abstract unnecessary details, don’t ask for unnecessary inputs, and make it feel for the users as if the product they use fades behind the scenes while they do all their important work with it and not deal with all the complex workflows you have to offer. Try to build the product in such a way that it adheres to all usability principles.
Call to Action
If you want to have clear usability, simplicity and want to choreograph the workflow of your users, you need to have a clear call to action. Try not to mess your application with a lot. Rather provide a clear call to action. For eg. if you want your users to buy something from you, try to make the “Add to cart” button more prominent and visible to the users more than the rest of the app. This way, the user clearly know what he/she has to do next.
Great support & service
When users buy something from you, they don’t just expect a great product, they expect a great service as well and all the phases are important — before, during and after the sale. Try to provide a great customer support, amazing service and to be honest, a lot of them don’t even mind paying an extra few bucks if you are going to offer them amazing customer support.
Try to make them feel comfortable as if they are a part of your family. Truly care for them, try to understand their opinions. You may not be able to satisfy 100% of the customers you have but try to be on the path to do justice to as much of them as possible from your end.
Observe the signals
People do say that a customer is always right. While they may not always be right, they are (most of the times). They are going to provide you feedback through various channels, in different ways and are going to respond differently to what you have to offer. Now, its your job to clearly understand what they are trying to say and see how you can fit in to solve their problem.
Have a clear feedback channel where people can share their opinions, upvote features they look forward to having and try to use all of these as signals to make your prioritization and roadmap as smooth as possible.
Don’t leave security and privacy as an after-thought
Almost all the products do collect some sort of data from its users and the more data you collect, the more responsible you need to act. Try to understand that security is very important for every product and it is not a “feature” but should rather belong with the core of your product.
I know that it can be hard trying to follow all the security standards from Day 1 and infact, I have delayed my product by more than 2–3 months just because of the fact that I wanted to concentrate more on security. But, its always good to take all the necessary precautions rather than sitting and crying later once all the data gets compromised. It also destroys all the reputation, brand and trust you have built with your customers over time in a jiffy.
Also, when it comes to privacy, just collect only the data you really need to do a specific operation and ask them for it only when you need it rather than hoarding a lot of data with you. Try to make sure that you don’t sell their data irresponsibly without their consent, for, they entrust you with it.
Also, try to make sure that you have a basic knowledge of all the govt. rules and laws where you are shipping your product. Be it GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA or anything for that matter. While the laws may be different, they state almost the same things differently — about the privacy and security of user’s data.
Audit for performance with scale
Developers need to understand the fact that not all the devices are created equal, not all the ISPs are the same, not all the Operating systems behave the same. While your product might work well on your end, it might not be the case on the user’s side as well. So, try to audit your product for performance with scale. You can even go to the extent of DDOSing your own product and see how much and how well can it handle.
Try to use the various tools you have to audit them as well. For eg. if your product is a Web app, try out Lighthouse and see if you can fit in all the recommendations it has to offer you. And this can vary depending on the product you develop.
Try to integrate with the ecosystem
I know that a lot of people are ambitious to make their own Google, Facebook, Whatsapp, LinkedIn and what not (I was once as well). And all the best for that. But that does not mean that you shouldn’t integrate with the existing ecosystem. Migration from one product to another is a costly and painful exercise. So, rather than actually wanting the users to migrate to your product, see if you can integrate with th existing ecosystem of products as well. There is no use re-inventing the wheel.
Be at the top of Technology Trends
Some people think about technology a lot, and some people don’t at all. Technology empowers you to do whatever you want to do even better than you might have imagined. Try to embrace it and stay on top of all the trends so that you know what to use, when to use and how to use it when the need arises. You may wonder, why am I even talking about this in this blog.
But, to be honest trying to make a great product with poor technology is going to be a lot harder and probably not scalable for the future. You need not pick all the shiny tech around. But try to pick the ones which has a thriving community using it, something which avoids vendor lockin at all costs and something which can truly fullfill your goal at the least amount of time without any clutter.
Experiment
Not everything is clear to everyone everytime. So, try not to boil yourself making everything perfect. Rather, try to build the best version you think would suit your customers, and then start experimenting and iterating based on all the feedback you receive. I have seen YC and others asking people to ship MVPs within 2–3 weeks and then have them iterate, but to be honest, what you want to build is an MLP (Minimum Lovable Product).
Having your product in front of a user or prospect is like a blessing in disguise for you. So, rather than shipping an MVP and wasting the opportunity, shattering their first-time impression, take your time and build a great experience for the first comers.
Also, when you do build the MLP, also think of how you will scale in the future as well. It matters a lot to build things short-term with a long-term vision in mind.
Mind the space
Try not to fill the screen always. Remember that space is also an important element of design. So, try to maintain the right amount of space where and when you need it. This gives a clear train of though for your users.
Reduce the steps, increase the value
Don’t make the users jump through hoops or 5 different steps just to get something done. Try to increase their return, save their time and get their job done as quick as possible. They will appreciate you over the long run for that.
Establish confidence
I have seen a lot of users not offer a “Try it yourself” or a self-signup option just because they are not sure if the users will actually will buy the product after giving it a try. A lot of questions do pop up in their mind. This is all because of the lack of confidence they have in the product they are building and it can be actually devastating for the growth of your product over a long run.
Its rather better to have people try your product and spit at you rather than having it all under covers. This is how you grow. With confidence.
Look for inspirations
Often times, you might not have all the best ideas in the world. This is when you need to start searching for inspirations, even if you do that with your competitors. The inspiration can be as simple as changing the color of a button to the most awakening thought you have ever had.
Ultimately, its all a learning experience and it doesn’t matter who we learn from. All that matters is what we learn, how well we learn it and what we do with what we have learnt. And building a great product requires a lot of it.
Product Development is an Art, Not a Process
Try to see Product Development as an art. You ought to use a lot of your creativity, think differently to make your product stand out amongst all the competition you might otherwise have.
Try to build a product which is unique in its own way, which speaks to the customer in its own way rather than the customer trying hard to acclimatize with it. Art takes time and effort and product development does too.
Make the pricing clear
I see a lot of products offerring a lot of pricing tiers or mislead users into opting in for a tier when it really has nothing much to offer or asking for too much of upfront payments.
Yes, generating revenue is very important. But, it should not be at the cost of trust, values and integrity. Try to be as transparent as possible about your pricing model and let the users know what would be the best for them when they get it.
Product Managers in Toptal: https://www.toptal.com/product-managers/lead-product-mangers
I hope all of these points do resonate with you in some way or the other. If you have anything to add to this blog, do let us know in the comments below. Will catch you all in the next blog. See you soon. | https://medium.com/timecampus/the-guide-to-the-best-utopian-product-in-the-world-4e16a9fd6d2d | ['T.V. Vignesh'] | 2021-02-01 06:35:42.644000+00:00 | ['Startup', 'Product Development', 'Product', 'Product Management', 'Entrepreneurship'] |
Rethinking User Interactions in Augmented Reality | The future is immersive, says almost every Augmented and Virtual reality talking piece. The possibility offered by new degrees of freedom, life-like interactions, and immersive play are genuinely hard to ignore.
Our AR Storytelling experiment, using Body Pose Tracking
While the potential holds true, reality is still far from it. For all the talk about immersion, there is no singular “life-like immersion” we can currently achieve with AR. The hardware and software platforms supporting AR and VR all come with their own constraints, so, we experience immersion in varying degrees. We will focus on one such platform here — Mobile AR, and the challenges it faces with immersion, with some solutions that worked for us.
The truth about immersion in Mobile AR
Just like any new medium, early implementations in Mobile AR have tended to derive from legacy mediums. Mobile AR applications tried to adopt the interactions used in the mobile world, while overlooking the nuances of interactions in a 3D environment. It took us quite a bit of trial and error to understand the inherent challenges of Mobile AR as a medium, and come up with interactions that build on its core strengths.
Let’s start with the challenges first, in the context of immersion:
Hands get tired.
Holding a mobile phone in your hands, you can move around virtual objects and explore them as part of your real world (+1 for immersion). But, it makes your hands tired too, and this constrains how long an augmented experience can last (-0.5 for immersion).
Holding a mobile phone in your hands, you can move around virtual objects and explore them as part of your real world (+1 for immersion). But, it makes your hands tired too, and this constrains how long an augmented experience can last (-0.5 for immersion). Compounding imprecisions.
Input on touch screens is inherently more imprecise than mouse and keyboard, owing to shakiness of hands and the lack of feedback about where the tap is going to land. In Mobile AR, that imprecision is compounded by the fact that you’re trying to tap a precise point in 3D space while pointing the screen at it.
Input on touch screens is inherently more imprecise than mouse and keyboard, owing to shakiness of hands and the lack of feedback about where the tap is going to land. In Mobile AR, that imprecision is compounded by the fact that you’re trying to tap a precise point in 3D space while pointing the screen at it. No perception of depth at a glance.
The reason us humans (along with much of the animal kingdom) have two eyes is because having two eyes separated by a small distance gives us depth perception, and a single eye would be far from accurate in perceiving depth at a glance. Mobile AR gives us a single image of the 3D world around us rendered on a 2D screen, hence completely undoing the depth-perceiving advantage of looking at the same distant point in 3D space with two eyes. This is what makes it super hard to perceive the real distance of a virtual object in Mobile AR.
It’s hard to tell how far the red balls are from you at a glance
Immersive learning experiences are the core of what we do, and nothing breaks immersion like broken interactions, so we had to go back to the drawing board and look for ideas that blend in with the medium.
The interaction ideas that worked for us, or did not
First, we explored “Tap, touch, 2D screen gestures” as Control
Tapping and pinching virtual objects on a 2D screen
Tapping the phone screen to interact with objects on the screen, swiping objects around on a screen as if they were real things, was a brilliant feat of immersion in its own right for mobile devices. But these gestures don’t translate equally for AR apps and games. Tapping is imprecise, hands are shaky and easily tired, and imprecisions are compounded. Mobile AR, we realized, needs it’s own native interaction models that can provide the extra precision and control needed to counter its inherent imprecisions.
So, we started rethinking, and did a series of experiments to build on the core strengths of this medium. We share our learnings from this journey:
a. Phone position and perspective as Control
Mobile AR gets its primary AR credentials by the fact that it lets you move around a space with virtual objects overlaid on the real world. It allows for using “perspective” as an input for interactive experiences that respond to your location in 3D space. Because of that, it inherently encourages movement and exploring the game world from different perspectives.
Even though perspective is your control, the field of view is controlled by the phone’s camera, and is quite restricted. To change your perspective, it’s not just your eyes or face that move, it’s the phone and its camera that have to come along too. It’s almost like having your eyes 2 feet ahead of you and holding them to keep pointing in the right direction as you walk around.
A glimpse of our physics game that teaches Energy & Motion
Depth is another tricky part. The farther you are from a virtual object, the smaller it becomes, hence making it harder to interact with. And the closer you are to a virtual object, the harder it is to look around it, hence constraining your actions. It’s a constant game of pulling away to look at the bigger picture, and physically zooming in to interact with a specific thing. You can’t simply look at something from a distance and stretch your arm to interact with it, like in the real world.
b. Real-world objects as Control
With on-device Image & Object Tracking, you can use any trackable object in the scene as a Control! This breaking of the 4th wall, using a real-world object to affect the virtual world right around it can really feel magical. In fact, my husband and I use it to enact AR storytelling experiences for our 3yr old daughter, so I may be personally biased about this one ;)
Here’s a glimpse of that: a lion hand puppet roaring the morning sun to rise, on the palm of its majestic hand.
Our AR Hand Puppets are a big hit with our 3yr old :)
AR storytelling has been a lot of fun, but it’s not all rosy behind the scenes. For one, object tracking only keeps alive and kicking while the object is constantly in the view. And then, don’t forget you are physically holding the object throughout this experience. In which case, there’s barely an arm-length distance between View (screen) and Control (object), while you try to look at the screen and keep it pointing at the object. Regardless, with an extra pair of hands and a projected screen, we made some memorable experiences with our favorite hand puppets. Just ask our daughter!
c. Your face as Control
We’ve all known about Snapchat face filters for a while now, hate-loved vomiting rainbows while sticking our collective tongues out. While they are a great example of using facial features as Input Controls for an interactive AR experience in selfie mode, you can do one better now.
With ARKit 3 on iOS, you can actually use facial gestures to provide input while looking at the augmented world around, instead of yourself. This means you can shoot up virtual zombies around you in AR, not by tapping the phone screen, but just by blinking at the phone screen that you’re already looking at! Or imagine cleaning up a virtual after-party mess in AR by sucking it all up with your open mouth as the vacuum cleaner.
Facial gestures separate the View (screen) from Control (face) in the cleanest way yet, and is surprisingly under-explored in AR games as yet. Granted, facial expressions are hard to hold for long durations, but still, this added degree of freedom can lead to amazing experiences.
d. Your full body as Control
Body pose tracking can be mind-blowing. It’s like stepping into the game, quite literally, and using your full body to express yourself.
With body pose available every frame at 60 frames per second, the opportunity to build mind-bending AR experiences is boundless. Imagine running away from a rainy cloud that seems adamant at following you, playing a real-life Gulliver fighting against virtual Lilliputians, doing Yoga with immediate body pose feedback, or even a live Dance duel with your friends. The experience can be extremely visceral, and heart thumping.
Here’s a little thing we made that lets you play drums with your full body in AR without any instruments, called Tambour:
iOS ARKit can only do body pose tracking with back camera at the moment, so you can’t see the screen while interacting with the experience, but this can be overcome with a projected screen or purely auditory interfaces (ala Tambour). Also, BodyPix and PoseNet already let you track body pose with your regular webcam, so you can see the screen while interacting with objects in AR.
And that’s a wrap!
From indirect touch-screen controls, to being in an augmented world with your face and full body, the technical capabilities for implementing user interactions are hitting critical mass for enabling the wildest of Mobile AR experiences with sensible trade-offs. It’s not “life-like” yet, but it’s getting there fast. | https://medium.com/@methodiva/rethinking-user-interactions-in-augmented-reality-ff17f9b87387 | ['Jyoti Bishnoi'] | 2020-12-11 11:46:59.830000+00:00 | ['Mobile', 'Gaming', 'UX', 'Augmented Reality', 'Women In Tech'] |
My first free blog post ! | ……………………………….…. So here I am ………………………………….. A teenage guy wanting to make money for its need other than eat, shelter. wanted to balance his financial condition of his family and trying to help others and make future for other generation .
i feel sometimes very little feel like a single particle of dust in the ocean of dessert , here is why , when i start doing anything new work i can’t do it long ahead of time because my heart start talking with my brain “hey you have one life in this multi-billion year ago universe . my heart try to explain my brain this work which you are doing it right now is not going to make an impact in this long and big universe in ( time and space )actually my mind has a crush on my heart so he can’t refuse , so i am not making so much interest in that work ahead in time.
so that is the reason i am not doing anything which my friend and classmates are doing , WTF that is so bad i am mad some time i eagerly wanted to fuck my mind but i cant
because “ if you fuck your mind, the mind fucks you ” — great fucker
THANK YOU , help me if you have any suggestion for my mind and heart ,
comment and clap for you and me as we are same species, humans. | https://medium.com/@2020jhandhai/my-first-free-blog-post-7ab3a666d0da | ['Sammie Khaan'] | 2020-12-18 17:26:45.672000+00:00 | ['First Post', 'Blogging', 'Blogging Tips', 'First Blog', 'Blogger'] |
Getting payment data out of Shopify using Orderwave | It’s no secret that Shopify is an immensely powerful and widely used ecommerce platform, but sometimes, even doing simple things, like a data extraction, isn’t super straightforward. Organizations large and small need data extracts for financial reporting, partner systems, ERPs, and more.
Let’s take payment data for example; if you want to export all of the refunds from the previous day, you’re going to have to program something in their API, or use a plugin from the Shopify App Store.
But, when you’re using an OMS like Orderwave, you have all of the data already — you just need to export it.
Orderwave makes it easy to export data — any data — not just payment data, but anything; like inventory, stock quantities, customer information, order/shipment data, etc.
There’s two ways to export data from Orderwave:
Export to Excel by using the User Interface Export to a text-based file (CSV, tab, XML, JSON, or something else) with an Automated Task.
Exporting to Excel
The easiest method to export payment data (or any data) is to export it to Excel. When viewing payments in Orderwave:
Simply click the ‘Export to Excel’ button:
This will perform the current search and produce an Excel file that you can immediately download from Orderwave.
If you need to customize the Excel document, Orderwave provides Excel Export Templates; these are templating tools to help you create the columns and formatting that you need in your Excel documents. These are located in the Admin area of Orderwave.
Excel Export Templates are text-based templates, that let you specify a ‘header row’ for your Excel file, plus the formatting of the Excel rows.
Simply separate each column of your header or data-template with a comma (“,”) to signify a cell in your spreadsheet. Next, use the Handlebars template language to put data in each column. You can even see some sample data on the right side of the screen, to help you with the different field names. The templates are flexible — if you want to hard-code a column, just put in the text. You can do conditional formatting too, by using {{#if something}} conditions that Handlebars gives you.
Once you’ve prepared an Excel Export Template, they’ll be available for all of your users to click on when they’re exporting data. Combine this with Orderwave’s powerful search features, and you and your team can export anything.
An Excel Export Template for exporting refunds from Shopify
Choose txn/refunds as the bucket to apply to this Excel Export Template.
For your headers, I’ve chosen to export the following (but feel free to customize your export):
Billing Number,Transaction Date,Amount,Transaction ID,Prior Payment Amount,Reason Code
These fields are:
Billing Number = The unique billing record for each order Transaction Date = The date and time that the refund occurred Amount = The amount of the refund Transaction ID = The unique transaction ID assigned by Shopify Prior Payment Amount = The amount that was originally charged Reason Code = The reason code that was used when refunding this payment
For my data-template, I’ll paste in the following:
{{{billingNumber}}},{{{transactionDate}}},{{{amount}}},{{{transactionId}}},{{{payment.amount}}},{{{refundType.reasonCode}}}
Each of the above, separated by a comma, is an individual Handlebars template. The fields correspond to the headers I specified above.
Fields:
{{{billingNumber}}} = The unique billing record for each order {{{transactionDate}}} = The date and time that the refund occurred {{{amount}}} = The amount of the refund {{{transactionId}}} = The unique transaction ID assigned by Shopify {{{payment.amount}}} = The amount of the original transaction. I’m referencing a sub-object in the Orderwave JSON to pull the amount from the payment sub-object. {{{refundType.reasonCode}}} = The reason for the refund. I’m pulling the reasonCode from the refundType sub-object.
When I save my template, it’s now available on my Refunds screen in Orderwave:
Automating Exports with Automated Tasks
Exporting to Excel is certainly convenient, especially for quick analysis, but for sending data to other systems, you really need a programmatic process for identifying data to export, queueing it for export, transform the data, and push it to a secure SFTP server for another system to retrieve. You may also want to push the data to an API or Web Service, which I’ll cover in another post.
For this, I’ll be introducing a few of concepts in Orderwave:
Queues
Queues are buckets that you can put data into, for either queuing it for some automated process, or for holding it, or for your team members to work with later. In this case, we’ll be using a queue to stage up refunds for export.
Queues are buckets that you can put data into, for either queuing it for some automated process, or for holding it, or for your team members to work with later. In this case, we’ll be using a queue to stage up refunds for export. Rules
Orderwave provides you with a business-rules engine that works on any of the data-buckets in Orderwave. Rules let you specify simple or complex “if this, then that” rules on your data.
Orderwave provides you with a business-rules engine that works on any of the data-buckets in Orderwave. Rules let you specify simple or complex “if this, then that” rules on your data. Data Transformation Templates
Similar to Excel Export Templates, Data Transformation Templates help you transform data from Orderwave’s data-formats to the format that you need.
Similar to Excel Export Templates, Data Transformation Templates help you transform data from Orderwave’s data-formats to the format that you need. File Transfer Locations
Configurations of remote SFTP (or FTP) servers.
Configurations of remote SFTP (or FTP) servers. Automated Tasks
The jobs that run on a predetermined schedule.
First, we will need to create a Queue. This queue will help us identify refunds that need to be exported. I’ll navigate to Settings > Queues, and create the following queue:
Next, I’ll specify some special settings for this queue:
I want to designate that this is a Process Queue, meaning that it is a queue that is used for behind-the-scenes data processing. It’s also set as Only Once, meaning that I only ever want a refund to be queued in this queue one time. This way, I know that I won’t ever accidently export the refund more than once. And finally, I’ll also turn on Hidden, so that my team members don’t see this queue on the various refund screens.
Refunds are not set up as “queueable” by default in Orderwave, so I won’t see it on this screen when I’ve saved my new queue:
But that’s not a problem — these are just tags on the queue, so we can add it ourselves. I click Set Tags and add the “Refund” tag myself:
Now I can apply that tag to my new queue:
Great — step one is done — I have a queue to place refunds into. Now, I just need to get Orderwave to do that for me automatically. For that, I’ll use Rules.
Navigate to Admin > Rules to create a new rule:
It’s important to fill out these fields with accurate and detailed information about what the rule does. You may not always be the one person administering Orderwave for your company, and you will want to leave well-documented configuration for the next person who needs to look at all of these queues, rules, tasks, and more, and figure out what they do.
Next, we need to configure the actual business logic for this rule. Remember that we’re queueing up every refund to be exported, so this rule should apply to all refunds. We’ll use “created” as the trigger, and there’s a simple trick in Orderwave to apply the rule to everything — just specify that the id should be greater than 0 . This is because every bucket in Orderwave gets an automatically generated, highly unique numeric “id”:
Next, our action is simple too. We just want to add the refund to our new queue that we just created:
We save and activate this rule, and now we have custom, programmatic logic that:
Evaluates every new refund that occurs Queues it to be exported, knowing that we’ll never queue a refund to be exported more than once
We’re really getting somewhere! Now we’ve got the refund data all set to be exported, and we just need to set up the transformation of the data, set up the place to export it to, and configure the scheduled task to run it nightly.
Data Transformation Templates
Orderwave includes a system by which you can transform the data you export from Orderwave. Using Handlebars syntax, you can build extremely simple or wildly complex templates that export data to any number of formats, including CSV files, Tab delimited files, XML files, JSON, EDI, or more.
In this case, I just want to produce a tab-delimited file for my back-office financial systems to consume. The file will look something like this (where \t represents a “tab” character):
2021-11-22\t45.99\tB56844\tRC
2021-11-22\t2.37\tB56845\tA
The file contains the date of the refund, the amount of the refund, the billing identifier from the order, and the refund reason code.
I navigate to Admin > Data Transformation Templates, and create a new template:
When designing our template, Orderwave gives us some sample JSON data on the right-side of the screen to help us create our Handlebars template. This is because Handlebars templates work with JSON-like data:
I’m going to leave the Header template area blank, since my tab file doesn’t have headers.
Orderwave has pre-filled the Data template area with a sample “loop” — it {{#each refunds}} , meaning that it will loop through each refund inside of that “each” block. I’m just going to change it so that it matches the format that I need for a tab delimited file, so I don’t want extra line breaks, and I want to use a special Orderwave helper for formatting data that is in a tab-delimited file:
{{#each refunds}}{{dateFormat transactionDate 'YYYY-MM-DD'}} {{{tabFormatter amount}}} {{{tabFormatter billingNumber}}} {{{tabFormatter refundType.reasonCode}}}
{{/each}}
Let’s explain the syntax above.
The template starts with {{#each refunds}} , which will make the template loop over each refund. Next, we’re using the Orderwave helper tag {{dateFormat transactionDate 'YYYY-MM-DD'}} to output the transactionDate in the format of 2021-11-22 . After that, we’re using the Orderwave helper tag {{{tabFormatter -field-name-}}} to output the rest of the fields. Notice the 3 opening and closing curly braces — we don’t want our template to HTML encode the data for our tab-delimited file. Finally, there’s a single line break at the end before the closing {{/each}} which closes the loop. I’ve also included a literal tab character in between each field, so that they will be used as our delimiter.
Save your template, and we can move on to creating an File Transfer Location.
File Transfer Location
We need to send this data file somewhere, and for this example, I’d like to post it to my company-managed SFTP server.
Navigate to Admin > Final Transfer Locations and create a new one:
This is just an example. Set it up with the actual host name and username/password for your SFTP server.
Orderwave only makes you set up a file server once. The folder where we’re going to push these files will be configured in the Automated Task, so be sure to just leave the “root” of the server as the connection host.
Automated Task
Now we’ve got all of the pieces to this puzzle, and we just need to tie them all together. We’ll do that in the actual Automated Task that performs this export.
Navigate to Admin > Automated Tasks and create a new task:
I want my export to run once each night, right after midnight, so I configured it as above.
Next, we need to tell Orderwave what type of task this is, and it is an Export job:
Orderwave supports lots of job-types. But this example, we’re using an Export job.
Orderwave breaks down export jobs into 3 sections:
What data to get How to transform it Where to send it
For “what data to get”, we specify the txn/refunds bucket, and pull the refunds that are in the “REFUND-EXPORT” queue.
Queues can be set up as “blocking queue” — basically “holding” the record from automated processes, such as exports. So, any refund that is also in a blocking-queue will not be exported.
I specify a file naming convention for the file, and choose my Data Transformation Template that we just created to transform the data to a file.
Finally, I configure that I want to send the data as a file to the SFTP server, in the refunds/ folder. If the file transfer is successful, I also tell Orderwave to remove the refunds from the “REFUND-EXPORT” queue, so that they will not be exported on the next run.
Save and enable this automated task, and you now have a fully customized, programmatic, and fault-tolerant export process for all of your refunds. | https://medium.com/@daniell_84301/getting-payment-data-out-of-shopify-using-orderwave-d206558fc2bb | ['Daniel Logue'] | 2021-11-23 23:07:20.662000+00:00 | ['Automation', 'Orderwave', 'Export', 'Shopify', 'Shopify Apps'] |
Zombie Walk | I met up with Zara outside The Slug and Lettuce. Purple hair this year, but still that effortless unkempt look. Nice ragged slash along her throat, exposing the carotid and lots of gore splattered around her cleavage.
“You look the business,” I said.
“Thanks. I’ve slapped on a bit more this year.” She flicked back her rank locks and adjusted the neckline of her velvet top. “Last time was an utter disaster, too lilac and turquoise, not enough vermilion.”
“Yeah— like Monet’s bloody garden.”
She leaned in close to inspect my face. “Ooh Terence, I adore your mad staring eyeball and is that a garotte mark? Sweet.”
I took her arm and steered her into the pub. I was dying for a drink.
The international brigade was already there, a cluster of droogs in party bowler hats and white long-johns, knocking back pints of craft beer and chatting amongst themselves. Kinky Scandinavian blonds, all nice and lean — but not for me. No blood and guts, far too clean-cut. I couldn’t honestly see the point, their own mothers would be proud of them. There was a lull at the bar, so I took the crumpled note from my pocket.
Usual pint of Darwin for me and half a dry cider for Zara. A beefy bald guy barged past in a pink bustier and black lycra cycling shorts, a tiara of razor blades stuck into his scalp. “Watch it, princess!” I hissed, as beer slopped over the sleeve of my best jacket. A girl with blackened lips, her snub nose pierced by a massive safety pin, scampered in his wake. Ah, the Rocky Horror mob —the usual bunch of punk wannabees in torn fishnets.
“Hey, look — there’s Elvis!” Zara squawked, pointing at a thick-set chap in shades, dark hair swept back from a widow’s peak, flared trousers and satin cape, droning into a mic set up on a small stage near the back.
“Nah, that’s just a pimped-out Bela Lugosi.” I took another swig from my pint.
Zara began to cackle in that inimitable way of hers.
“Hey, behave yourself!” I hissed, pulling her over her towards a dark corner. There was a good half hour to kill before we’d be under starter’s orders. | https://lisecolas.medium.com/zombie-walk-febf4d97fe32 | ['Lise Colas'] | 2018-10-14 20:03:35.945000+00:00 | ['Zombies', 'Halloween', 'Society', 'Short Story', 'Humor'] |
Expandable is now Yeymo | Expandable is now Yeymo
After 18 months of development, 1000+ releases on production and 200+ early adopters, we decided it’s time to give our product a new name, look and feel Ivo Kanev Follow Feb 7, 2019 · 2 min read
We are building a partnership management platform to help businesses effectively collaborate with partners and clients. The name “Expandable” reflected the idea that companies can expand their services and offerings and grow their network. It was a good choice, until today. 😊
Our product and features evolved exponentially and we needed a non-traditional, recognizable name, which is unique, short, and evokes a positive feeling.
Please meet Yeymo.com
The name is composed of two syllables — Yey and mo — and each one of them has its own meaning. “Yey” is an alternative spelling of yay, an expression of a great excitement. “Mo” in Italian is another way to say “now”, and was widely used by Dante in his works.
The logo
The logo design is also enrooted in the brand philosophy. The smooth lines and positive colors represent the ease and comfort one may experience using Yeymo, while the crossing and flip of the letter allude to all the different industry fields converging to collaborate in a single spot.
Website& apps
Our main priority was to provide a clear visual explanation of how Yeymo would help you improve your workflows and business communication. We removed all unnecessary elements and information, and created a video flow, which guides you through the app’s features as you scroll down the page.
Our web, iOS and Android apps were updated as well, not only visually, but functionally. The improved feature set provides the tools a company might need to successfully manage business relationships and projects.
We are very excited to hear your feedback, so please visit https://yeymo.com. | https://medium.com/expandable/expandable-is-now-yeymo-ad0157f8d5e | ['Ivo Kanev'] | 2019-02-07 15:18:35.790000+00:00 | ['Tech', 'Design', 'Startup', 'Productivity', 'Creativity'] |
Oil On Water by Helon Habila Book Review — Gold Elijah | Oil On Water by Helon review by The Luminaries Bookclub
When an expatriate oil executive’s wife is abducted, the task of finding her captors falls in the hands of two unlike reporters, Rufus and Zaq. While Zaq is an autodidactic journalism who was once at the peak of his career, Rufus is young with slight experience and considers Zaq his icon.
What should have been a routine exchange with the Niger Delta Militants does not go as planned. The journalists encounter the militia and the militants and there is an interplay between the three parties. While Zaq and Rufus seek the militants for dialogue and negotiation, the militia seek to bring them to justice. Will Zaq and Rufus overcome the resultant difficulties of this mission into the Niger Delta interiors to achieve their aim and come back with a great story which could be Rufus’ first breakthrough in his career and perhaps the last for Zaq?
Oil on Water was a fantastic read for me because it is well written and has well-developed characters. I was captivated by Helon Habila’s vivid and straightforward description. I think he is a genius when it comes to using visual words that appeal to the senses to describe characters and scenes. For instance, he describes a character in the story thus: “He led the way, belching smoke, his fat arms horizontally suspended from his sides, his fat bottom almost popping out of his trousers, and I could hear his wheezing, phlegmy breathing…” (Page 68).
Another appeal for me was that this story gave me an insight into the travails of the Niger Delta Militants and I was able to understand the intricacies behind their struggle. A clue of this can be gotten from this excerpt in chapter nine: “These people endure the worst conditions of any oil-producing community on earth, the government knows it but doesn’t have the will to stop it, the oil companies know it, but because the government doesn’t care, they also don’t care. And you think the people are corrupt? No. They are just hungry, and tired” (Page 48).
I found Helon Habila’s ability to divert from the present to past scenes (flashback) effortlessly and seamlessly, appealing. His entire writing style is incredible.
The story is told in the first person narrative point of view, majorly in Rufus’ voice. There is the use of pidgin English but this is easy to understand through context.
I was concerned by an error in perspective which occurs in chapter three where the narrative shifts from the first person to the third person narrative point of view.
Another area of concern is the haphazard arrangement of the plot. Although Helon controlled this very well, I found it somewhat confusing.
I also feel the book is particularly weak in the area of evoking emotions which accompany tragic events like death. An example is the death of Salomon and a couple of others. However, these are minute and generally, they do not spoil the beautiful nature of the book.
I recommend Oil on Water to people of all ages. I think it will be especially helpful to those who seek a career in journalism. | https://medium.com/@luminariesbookclub/oil-on-water-by-helon-habila-book-review-gold-elijah-4a452c401d55 | ['The Luminaries Bookclub'] | 2020-12-17 18:08:13.639000+00:00 | ['Prose', 'Oil On Water', 'Helon Habila', 'The Luminaries Book Club'] |
Critical Thinking, Creative Thinking, and Snap Judgement Training — Play More Competitive Video Games! | Photo by Jason Strull on Unsplash
I tell you what, this is something that people often overlook and people tend to think that playing games are bad, turns out that there a lot of things that you guys overlook. Some of the great value in work like Critical Thinking, Creative Thinking, and Snap Judgement is actually can be trained when you are playing a competitive game.
Look bear with me on this one, Competitive games are a perfect place to nurture those skills because it was unconsciously designed like that. People always thought that competitive games win by the person that actually good at it. The criteria of being good often translated by most of the Esport team in Indonesia as “Mechanically Good” means that this person knows how to play a certain role with several heroes and He/She actually good using it. Well, that’s not wrong, but they also overlooked that the team that wins is not the one that good, but most of the time because they can do certain objectives very efficiently.
Playing games competitively is always about objectives, what is our next objective, and how we secure it. No matter what game are you playing like DOTA2, League of Legends, PUBG, Mobile Legends, Free Fire, or even Monster Hunter: Worlds, is all about objectives. The question that you need to ask yourself is, How do you finish your objective quickly then move on to the next objective?
“Mechanically Gifted” vs “Creative Thinking”
So which one is better, Mechanically Gifted person but stupid or Not-too-good Mechanically but actually creative? Most of the time esport coaches say the first one is better than the other one. Competitive Games are basically hard to master, which if they can find a person that a mechanically gifted person they can mold them into a great player. People with Not-too-good mechanically but creative often overlooked and sometimes can be your winning ticket.
So what the hell I mean by that? I give you an example. So for the past 3 days, I’ve been pondering around and mostly feeling like shit with Monster Hunters: World. There’s this big dragon called Alatreon which seems that I can’t seem to kill it solo. Because I am competitive and I wanna kill this chonky dragon solo, I searched how to kill it in the most efficient ways, and came up with two videos. One with Switch Axe and Heavy Bow Gun.
To beat Alatreon unscathed, you have to punch your elemental damage in contrast to what element Alatreon has; if It has ice, you have to punch it with fire and vice versa before his ult kills everyone in the arena. This one guy kills it with a switch axe which IMO one of the hardest weapons in the game.
And this guy creatively thinks that if “I can punch enough raw damage Alatreon I might kill it before his ult”.
Both work and kill the damn dragon within 10 mins, now let me ask you a question, what is the objective? There are 2 objectives to kill this dragon, first pump your elemental damage and break his head twice. The first video shows how to complete it all, while the second one creatively says that those 2 objectives are irrelevant because as long as I can punch enough raw damage, this dragon is dead anyway. This is what we call “Cheese Strats”, a strategy out of the box that works well to an off-guard opponent.
By playing competitive games your mind is constantly evolving thinking about how the hell to complete the objectives efficiently. For example, playing League of Legends you played as a jungle, you usually do route a securing red and blue buffs and farm the jungle along the way. There will be times that you said that “ oh you know what, let's do route b, securing red, gank top and if lucky I still get blue buffs”, by doing so you already train your critical thinking. There is no right way to win competitive games ( a lot of wrong ways to win though), but it depends on how you complete your objective efficiently. Then what? You will start training route b and found yourself your own “unique route”. Iteratively playing and applying your theory will create the uniqueness of your strategy which came from your critical thinking in the first place, voila you unconsciously train to think critically while playing games.
The last one is snap judgment, a skill that people deemed that is not too important, but it is a very powerful skill to have. I read Malcolm Gladwell’s book about snap judgment and all I can say that Playing competitive games can help you nurture your Snap Judgement Skills. For me, snap judgment in-game are a priority objective. Sometimes when you playing games there are stacked objectives that needed to be done but you can clear them one by one because it's a fast-paced game and you need to decide quickly, which one I need to clear first. For example, you as DOTA 2 support on a winning lane, noticing on your maps that the enemy safe lane is empty and you can't decide where the hell their location. There are 2 objectives here as DOTA2 support; find out where the hell they are while keeping everybody safe farming. Let's say you do finding out the enemy first and because your lane is winning already, there is no point babysitting your carry anymore. You are on the way to enemy jungle warding when suddenly you see enemy support on the river presumably going mid, what will you do? let me be clear here the enemy support is presumably going mid not definitely. For me, this is my wake up call that my mid lane may be in imminent danger, so I will teleport mid to safeguard my midlaner and warn him that the gank are coming. In this situation, there is no right or wrong, but only it may be right. Maybe the enemy support is not ganking mid and I just wasted 5 mins of my time doing nothing and risking my safelaner to be ganked, or the mid actually in danger and I just save his ass and 5 mins worth of time for him to farm more items.
I have been playing games for 22 years since my first console Playstation was brought to my home when I was 3 and I love every second I played it. Grown-up but not so wiser me tasted what it feels like working in Esport environment and fell in love with it, the nerdy part of me read too many books and the critical part of me pinpoints what I love and what I read. I am no expert of this, but i can say that playing games subconsciously help you train those traits that you need in an office environment. | https://medium.com/@d-andaru-kusumo/critical-thinking-creative-thinking-and-snap-judgement-training-play-more-competitive-video-74a9f28e6ab8 | ['Dimas', 'Noto', 'Andaru Kusumo'] | 2020-11-23 08:43:19.210000+00:00 | ['Gaming', 'Snap Judgement', 'Critical Thinking', 'Creative Thinking', 'Video Games'] |
Seven Questions You Can Ask To Prevent Overengineering | Photo By Robert Bye on Unsplash
We all do it. I’ve looked back at something that took me weeks to build and said to myself, “Wow that could have been far more simple.”
I blame it on brain “modes”. When we put our brain into solutioning mode — we forget the problem and begin constructing a solution we can take pride in. I suspect it has something to do with creativity. It’s not limited to software development either — I credit overengineering for that really complex change management process or that 200 page employee handbook you may have been asked to read.
In the end there is far more value in a simple solution to a well defined problem than a sophisticated solution for a variety of possibly non existent ones. So how do we get there?
First break down a technical design into capabilities:
Take that diagram the team has been working on and extract all of the cool capabilities it provides. For example:
- Table A,B,C allow us to have dynamic tags for each directory entry.
- Method X on the code interface returns a description of what this implementation does.
- This service allows other applications to utilize this data set.
Now ask these 7 questions for each capability:
1) Has anyone asked for it. (No doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t do it — but it should be considered).
2) Can we create one or more examples of why someone or something would need to utilize this capability (or you could consider asking — what problem does this solve?)
3) What is the likelihood this capability will be utilized in the next 180 days?
4) How hard will it be to implement this feature later if we decide to wait?
5) If we don’t do this how will it prevent us from achieving our current goal or objective?
6) If we don’t do this how will it impact us or our customers in the next 365 days?
7) Can we simplify by breaking the capability down into smaller pieces?
Understand that the intent here is to create a conversation.
There is a certain finesse required when asking these types of questions — especially if team members are invested in the design. Make it clear that the goal is to properly evaluate the advantages of the design so that all can understand the benefits — while making good decisions on what should and should not be included in the current effort. | https://productcoalition.com/seven-questions-you-can-ask-to-prevent-overengineering-c3fec391f138 | ['Mark Snyder'] | 2021-01-28 10:08:38.416000+00:00 | ['Engineering Mangement', 'Software Architecture', 'Product Management', 'Software Engineering', 'Software Development'] |
Whitespaces Can Reveal Your Coding Skills and Determine Your Salary (Maybe!) | PROGRAMMING
Whitespaces Can Reveal Your Coding Skills and Determine Your Salary (Maybe!)
How to use whitespaces properly to showcase your coding skills
Photo by iMattSmart on Unsplash
In the world of programming and data science, most people don’t know you personally, and they judge you based on your codes. The reality is they look at your code performance as well as your code appearance. The appearance of your code (i.e., style) can reveal too much about your coding skills. For people like me whose background is not computer sciences but their everyday job is to write codes, the most important question after learning “how to code” is how makes your codes more professional. After all, we are writing codes to be read by machines as well as humans, and we don’t want to look like amateurs (although we know we are). Through my jobs and interacting with professional developers, I learned a lot in this space. But one of the trickiest parts of coding style is how and when we should use whitespace. There are some written and unwritten rules that your code would be read better if you followed, and people will appreciate your coding skills.
Whitespaces
In programming, we generally use two types of whitespaces: horizontal and vertical. In Python, horizontal whitespaces and indentation are an essential part of the language. We must use indentation to tell Python how to run the code. In many languages, indentations and horizontal spaces are optional (still highly recommended) since they don’t rely on whitespaces to compile or interpret the code.
Besides indentation, other types of whitespaces are optional. But as you will see, there are recommended rules on using whitespaces that make reading the code easier for humans.
Note: Python has a good and easy-to-follow guide on code style called PEP8. If you are not familiar with PEP8, I highly recommend looking at it after reading this article. Some examples are rules in this article are borrowed from PEP8 documentation. Here is a link to know more about PEP8.
Horizontal Whitespaces
As the name suggests, horizontal whitespaces are spaces that we use inside a line of code. Fortunately, the styling rules for this class of whitespaces is more defined and discussed among developers. We take a look at some of the most important ones.
Indent your code blocks with a tab or 4 spaces.
This is a holy war among professional developers to use spaces or tab for indentation. Apparently, it can even affect your salary (read here) and can lead to breaking up with your girlfriend (watch here). If you don’t have a preference, pick one consistent style. Google advises its Python developers to use 4 spaces for a code block (link). A final thought on this topic, it does not matter if you use tabs or spaces as long as you don’t mix them and you are consistent.
Expression and statements
You use expressions and statements regularly in a code. There are some special rules on how to use whitespaces to style them. Here is a table of the most important ones.
Vertical Whitespaces
Vertical whitespaces are blank lines between lines of a code. As said before, rules related to using horizontal whitespaces are well defined. On the contrary, the rules for using vertical spaces are not clear. Using vertical spaces is a more personal preference. Here are some tips for using vertical spaces that I think most professional developers agree on them.
End of your code
Remember to leave a blank line at the end of your code. Just check to have no spaces in your last blank line. It is probably the most famous blank line you will find among professional developers who follow PEP8.
Functions, Classes, and Methods
Classes and top-level functions should be separated by two blank lines. Also, methods inside a class should be separated by one blank line (link). Try to avoid using too many blank lines inside a function or method unless your function is too long and it does different functionalities (which is a warning sign).
Docstrings and long comments
It is a good practice to leave comments in your code. Many professional developers have at least one docstring (multi-line comment) at the beginning of their code (copyrights, licensing, author, and a brief introduction to the code). Some other developers use long comments and docstrings inside the code to clarify their functions or classes. If you follow this good practice, it is important to use 1 (or 2) blank line before and after your docstrings and long comments.
Conditional statements and context managers
Although it is advised to use blank spaces sparingly, I found it professional to use one blank space around long IF(or any conditional) statements as well as WITH statements (or any context manager).
Don’t Memorize and Use Linters.
I mentioned the most important rules for using whitespaces. There are many other guidelines (e.g., hanging indentation) that I did not mention in this article. But don’t worry, you do not need to memorize all of them at the beginning. Instead, I recommend you to use linters. Linter or lint is a tool that checks the code against provided guidelines like PEP8. Python programmers usually use either pylint or flake8 for checking their code style and many other static mistakes. Let’s install and test both tools quickly.
pip install pylint flake8
Now, it’s time to write bad code (I am good at it!!!)
There are several issues with this bad code. Let’s run pylint and flake8 to see if those tools can find the mistakes.
pylint whitespaces_bad_practice.py
Here is the result.
pylint checks many guidelines in addition to whitespaces. In this report, it has three issues related to whitespaces. As you see, two issues are regarding using 2 whitespaces instead of 4 whitespaces for indentation. The other issue is, I forgot to leave a blank line at the end of the code.
Let’s test flake8 …
flake8 whitespaces_bad_practice.py
And, here is the result.
As you see, flake8 could find more mistakes, including whitespaces before brackets and colons. However, none of them could catch mistakes like x= 1 or x==1 .
Summary
Using whitespaces (horizontal and vertical) makes your code easier to read and understand. My personal experience is that beginners tend to use too much spacing or not enough spacing, and professional developers note that. Remember, you must use vertical spaces sparingly, but if it helps your code to be understood better, use them. Also, check with your company to see if they have a specific Python style guideline for their developers. If they don’t, you can follow PEP8 general guidelines (link), use tools like pylint or flake8 or follow guidelines from companies like Google (link).
Let me know if you have any experience with whitespace and how to use them properly.
Gain Access to Expert View — Subscribe to DDI Intel | https://medium.com/datadriveninvestor/whitespaces-can-reveal-your-coding-skills-and-determine-your-salary-maybe-b5fb5c300cb4 | ['Naser Tamimi'] | 2020-12-30 17:51:30.941000+00:00 | ['Technology', 'Data Science', 'Programming', 'Python', 'Computer Science'] |
Autocorrelation and Partial Autocorrelation in Time Series Data | In this post, I will explain both the autocorrelation function and partial autocorrelation function. you’ll learn about the differences between these functions and what they can tell you about your data.
What is Autocorrelation?
Autocorrelation is the correlation between two observations at different points in a time series. In other words, the time series data correlate with themselves-hence, the name. We talk about these correlations using the term “Lags”. Analysts record time series data by measuring a characteristic at evenly spaced intervals-such as daily, monthly, or yearly. The number of intervals between the two observations is the lag.
For example, the lag is between the current and previous observation is one. If you go back one more interval, the lag is two or so on.
In mathematical terms, the observations at Y(k) and Y(t-k) are separated by k time units. k is the lag. This lag can be days, quarters, years that depend on the nature of the data .
when k=1, you’re assessing adjacent observations. for each lag, there is a correlation.
The autocorrelation function (ACF) assesses the correlation between observations in a time series for a set of lags. The ACF for time series y is given by: Corr(y(t), y(t-k)), k=1, 2, 3….
Analysts typically use graphs to display this function.
The ACF plot
Autocorrelation Function (ACF)
Use the autocorrelation function (ACF) to identify which lags have significant correlations, understand the patterns and properties of the time series, and then use that information to model the time series data. From the ACF, you can assess the randomness/White Noise and stationarity of a time series. You can also determine whether trends and seasonal patterns are present.
In an ACF plot, each bar represents the size and direction of the correlation. Bars that extend across the blue line are statistically significant.
Randomness/White Noise
For random data, autocorrelation should be near zero for all lags. Analysts also refer to this condition as White Noise. Non-Random data have at least one significant lag. When the data are not random, it’s a good indication that you need to use a time series analysis or incorporate lags into a regression analysis to model the data appropriately.
The autocorrelation Function for Random
Stationarity
Stationarity means that the time series does not have a trend, has a constant variance, a constant autocorrelation pattern, and no seasonal pattern. The autocorrelation function declines to near zero rapidly for a stationary time series. In contrast, the ACF drops slowly for a non-stationary time series.
The sample stationary time series.
Trend
when trends are present in a time series, shorter lags typically have large position correlations because observations closer in time tend to have similar values. The correlations taper off slowly as the lags increase.
Seasonality
when seasonal pattern are present, the autocorrelation are larger for lags at multiples of the seasonal frequency than for other lags.
when a time series has both a trend and seasonality, the ACF plot displays a mixture of both effects. That’s the case in the correlation function plot for the carbon dioxide CO2 dataset from NIST. This dataset contains monthly mean CO2 measurements at the Mauna Loa observatory.
Notice how you can see the wavy correlation for the seasonal pattern and the slowly diminishing lags of a trend.
Partial Autocorrelation Function (PACF)
The partial autocorrelation function is similar to the ACF except that it displays only the correlation between two observations that the shorter lags between those observations do not explain. For example, the partial autocorrelation for lag 3 is only the correlation that lags 1 and 2 do not explain. In other words, the partial correlation for each lag is the unique correlation between those two observations after partialling out the intervening correlations.
As you saw, the autocorrelation function helps assess the properties of a time series. In contrast, the partial autocorrelation function (PACF) is more useful during the specification process for an autoregressive model. Analysts use partial autocorrelation plots to specify regression models with time series data and Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Average(ARIMA) models. I’ll focus on that aspect in posts about those methods.
For this post, I’ll show you a quick example of a PACF plot. Typically, you will use the ACF to determine whether an autoregressive model is appropriate. If it is, you then use the PACF to help you choose the model terms.
This partial autocorrelation plot displays data from the southern oscillations dataset from NIST. The southern oscillations refer to changes in the barometric pressure near Tahiti that predicts El Niño.
On the graph, the partial autocorrelations for lags 1 and 2 are statistically significant. The subsequent lags are nearly significant. Consequently, this PACF suggests fitting either a second or third-order autoregressive model.
By assessing the autocorrelation and partial autocorrelation patterns in your data, you can understand the nature of your time series and model it! | https://medium.com/@chaunn3502/autocorrelation-and-partial-autocorrelation-in-time-series-data-1dfdb683e48e | ['Chau Nguyen'] | 2021-09-05 08:13:17.044000+00:00 | ['Time Series Modeling', 'Time Series Forecasting', 'Time Series Analysis'] |
Make your React App Hosting Ready | Host your React PWA, SSR, dockerized web app in AWS using terraform
M ake your react app more awesome 😎😎😎
After spending hours developing and writing a hell lot of code 🥱, if we don't make it hosting friendly, there will be many performance issues when the end product reaches your clients or users. 😦
React app generally made using CRA template is not hostable. One must make sure the below points:
Making your react app a progressive web app so that it's mobile-friendly and look like a native app, which most of us want to see Should be Service side rendered for enhancing performance and also for SEO reasons. You will get to know more as you keep reading. 😗 Dockerize your react application before hosting Host it on any of the cloud providers. I am using AWS to automate the cloud infrastructure as code using Terraform.
By the way, this article basically is made to put all things in one place. After reading many articles, watching many videos, and finally, put the whole content and the working code explained most simply and finely possible way, in one place 😱. I assure you won't regret spending your time on this. 😌
Do consider applauding my articles and following me for more updates. 😉
Progressive Web App
Read my article to convert the react app to a PWA in just 5 minutes.
In addition to that, learn how to enable web push notifications using firebase for the react app and any web application in the simplest way possible.
Enable Web Push Notifications using Firebase
Read my article to enable web push notifications using firebase cloud messaging explained in the easiest way possible.
React Server-Side Rendering
Server-side rendering is essential when it comes to search engine optimization and performance.
Read my article to implement SSR in react.
There are some more criteria to make the react app search engine optimized, which I will be explaining in my next article. Follow me if you don't want to miss it.
Dockerize your React app
Read my article to dockerize your react app in just 5 minutes.
Compose is a tool for defining and running multi-container Docker applications. With Compose, you use a YAML file to configure your application’s services. Then, with a single command, you create and start all the services from your configuration. … Run docker-compose up and Compose starts and runs your entire app.
We have used docker-compose also since we are using node and nginx images. What are you waiting for? Read the article to dive into docker and practical implementation in react.
Deploy in AWS using Terraform:
The final step…😗😗😗
After dockerizing, implementing SSR, converting to a PWA, we are all set to deploy it 🤩
Read my article to deploy your dockerized application in AWS using terraform in just 5minutes.
In my next articles, I will go deep into terraform and aws, and explain how to use aws ecs (which is Amazon Kubernetes) and ecr. Don't forget to follow me if you don't want to miss them.
Looks like my work is done here. If you have any doubts feel free to comment or reach me here 😃
Do consider applauding my article and following me for more such awesome content 🤩🤩 | https://medium.com/@kvssankar/make-your-react-app-hosting-ready-84f100392922 | ['Kvs Sankar'] | 2020-12-25 12:32:43.041000+00:00 | ['React', 'Server Side Rendering', 'AWS', 'Terraform', 'Pwa'] |
Introducing Feonix — Mobility Rising | As a new face in the transportation innovation space, Feonix is the person-centered approach to supporting communities in creating “mobility as a service” also known as “MaaS”.
Feonix Logo
MaaS is a transportation technology innovation framework that is destined to change the utilization of how we as society move in our communities.
Feonix believes that as communities around the world begin to embrace and think about this latest, greatest “MaaS” technology, we need to focus on those most vulnerable first, and build our community’s mobility ecosystems to factor in their needs from day one.
Market researchers are forecasting “MaaS” to be a $250 billion industry by 2023 and the wave is just beginning to hit with pilots launching around the globe. With all that cash to go around and the momentum for “profit” there must be a focus as well on “purpose” or we are set to recreate the past.
It is not about the retroactive process of making systems that have “special accommodations” for seniors, individuals with disabilities, veterans, refugees, and families in crisis — we should design mobility solutions to be “inclusive and equitable” and factor in their needs in the first place.
If we do not address the “digital divide” with this latest revolution in mobility innovation — we are set to create a mobility “Grand Canyon” and those who need us most, those left behind with fragmented systems of “accommodation” the past 30 years, are positioned to be pushed off the ledge, if we do not re-prioritize our design thinking.
Feonix is currently collaborating in communities across the United States in Wisconsin, Missouri, Michigan, South Carolina, and Texas to deploy MaaS for vulnerable populations.
In every community, we support local leaders in bringing change, brainstorming solutions, implementing technology, starting new volunteer driver programs, and finding ways to support and advocate for those most in need.
We look forward to sharing about the communities we serve and our journey as an innovator in this new emerging space.
— Valerie Lefler, Executive Director, Feonix — Mobility Rising | https://medium.com/@feonix/meet-feonix-mobility-rising-8527aaf3ced2 | ['Valerie Lefler'] | 2019-02-08 10:23:09.653000+00:00 | ['Mobility As A Service', 'Mobility', 'Disability Rights', 'Transportation', 'Maas'] |
Single is a Mindset | I think I have “single brain”.
There’s an immeasurable level of freedom that comes with being single. Relationships can feel more like work.
Some relationships can feel like having a second job.
When you’re tired of putting in time on the first one, along comes the second, demanding not only your time, but your effort and emotional input as well.
I just wasn’t into it anymore.
Still aren’t.
Can I tell you a secret?
The fact that after all this time, I still don’t really have any desire to be close to someone again is starting to scare me.
I mean, I live a pretty good life that’s completely free of the headaches trials that I hear my ‘coupled’ friends going through.
No thanks.
My marriage was to a difficult, narcissistic, insecure individual, and the last thing I’m trying to do, is let that kind of stress on ANY level back into my life.
I’ve always said that if/when I get into another relationship, we’ll never live in the same house.
Regardless of where that relationship goes or how long it lasts, he will keep his residence, and I will keep mine.
That’s not meant to sound cold, but I’ve “been there, done it”, and climbing back into that boat just doesn’t appeal anymore.
I would even be cool with him living in another country (my daughter laughs at this).
Why?
I like the peace that comes with living alone. I’m an introvert, so my mental and physical space are very important.
Many people don’t get that.
There are a lot of perks that come with being single.
I’m not interested in cooking for someone unless I happen to be cooking for myself.
I like having the bed to myself.
I really like not being awaken (or kept awake) by someone snoring next to me.
I raised 3 children alone, and now that they’ve grown up and moved out, the peace and quiet are endless.
And I love every second of it. I’m not sure that there’s a man out there worth giving it up for.
I even resent the odd occasion that forces me to be social. Even if it’s a date!
I haven’t had one of those either in a very long time, and I’m cool with that.
My point is that there are lots of perks that come with being single. And many people (like me) are quite happy enjoying them.
Being single isn’t some kind of disease that we should run from.
Rushing into, or being in a relationship for the sake of being in a relationship can be detrimental to your mental health.
If you have friends who are single, and have been for awhile, maybe that’s just the way they like it. Single can be a mindset. It’s that simple.
Peace. | https://medium.com/@siennaclarkewrites/single-is-a-mindset-14888dfd3c4a | ['Sienna Clarke'] | 2020-12-12 10:27:08.748000+00:00 | ['Self Improvement', 'Life Lessons', 'Dating Advice', 'Life', 'Self Development'] |
CONDITIONAL STATEMENTS IN JAVA | As we go about our daily lives, as we try to get things done daily, we come in contact with objects of various kinds and we use these objects to carry out various task. Now one category of objects that we happen to come in contact with are devices(analog / digital), they range from your phone to your computer up to your car and the self opening door in your office or at the mall, including a television. Now you might be wondering where all this is going…… patience
In relation to what the topic is all about today, dear reader i, introduce to you the concept of CONDITIONAL STATEMENTS IN JAVA. what is a conditional statement as it relates to java programming, well simply put, its all about making decisions geared towards a desired output. Everyday we make decisions and for those decisions, we get a certain result.
In java, there are two types of decision making statements that can be used when programming a device or a software that can be run on any device such as the ones stated above. Now these statements help the device and the user of the device as well to perform an action based on a certain condition or state.
The first conditional statement is known as the IF-STATEMENT
N OTE: The if statement has three versions which are: 1. IF — STATEMENTS 2. IF / ELSE STATEMENTS 3. ELSE — IF STATEMENTS
. Using the first mentioned device, we shall see how an if statement works.
Now in java, we use if statements to check for a condition (state) of the phone and if that condition is true then an action is executed. If the condition is not true then nothing happens. As in the case of the phone, if the condition or state of our phones battery is low, then the phone tells us to charge it, if our phone storage is full, we get a notification to fix it also when there’s a software update, we are told to download….. pretty simple
The next version of the if — statement is known as the if / else statements.
. Using the second mentioned device, we shall see how an if / else statement works.
Looking at the above pic, you can see that the “if conditional” statements have been extended to perform another action in case the first is false. In the if/else statements, in addition to the first condition, we can also define another action that can be performed if the first condition is not true(“the first condition is false). The above conditions are pretty self explanatory as they happen to be evident in out daily use of computers.
The final version of the if statements is called the else if statements.
. Using the third mentioned device, we shall see how an else- if statement works.
Now in addition to the if / else, in java when you want to test other conditions you can use the else if keyword. Take the first case for example, we can see that after testing the first condition, we decided to test for two more conditions which are possible outcomes in our daily use of air conditions. So basically with the java else if statements, we have the ability to provide actions to be carried out in relation to any possible condition.
Then finally, the second type of conditional statements that are used in java is known as the “Switch Case”. Now as the name implies, it acts as a switch case that controls a light bulb. so basically there can be as many switches that act as conditions that light up various bulbs(“carry out actions”)…..see pic below
. Using the fourth mentioned device, we shall see how a switch case statement works.
Looking at the above pic, its obvious that the distance required to automatically open the door is stored in the distance variable . Following the variable declaration and initialization, the switch case follows, testing all possible distances which have their corresponding actions. So what happens there is that we store the major variable needed to carryout a specific action and then also include other cases that can perform other actions.
NOTE: you don’t always have to use a switch case to call only one specific method, it can be used to also create a scenario where several actions can be carried out depending on what the user wants.
The switch case can also, have as many cases as needed and in addition, the default statement is used to carry out an action if all the other cases don’t equal the action needed(“This is optional”)…. see pic below.
. Using the fifth mentioned device, we shall see how a switch case statement works with a default statement.
End of topic…..you have now seen how conditional statements are created in java, so go ahead and include it in your programs as you code….. see ya next time…… | https://medium.com/java-for-absolute-dummies/conditional-statements-in-java-4017415fec82 | ['Nonso Biose'] | 2017-02-05 23:58:46.529000+00:00 | ['Java', 'Learning To Code', 'Programming', 'Web Development', 'Software Development'] |
Meet Jim and Inna | Meet Jim and Inna
The two full-time world trotters that discovered Mapify back in 2018 and declared the app an essential travel hack in their life! Lis Kanzler Follow Jan 14, 2020 · 7 min read
As mentioned, we are starting the year strong and the energy is surely not only noticeable in our Berlin HQ. Beginn of 2020 the App Store highlighted Mapify again as a ‘life hack’ and an ‘inspiration app’, and a few days later, we got surprised by a remarkable article from “The Executive Thrillseeker”, featuring Mapify as part of their “16 Best Travel Apps of 2020”!
Obviously, we immediately took the chance to interview Inna and Jim, the two digital nomads running this popular Blog. Their fascination for traveling is outstanding and their positive feedback about the Mapify app kept us genuinely touched. Are you ready to find out more?
Hey Inna and Jim! First of all: could you briefly introduce yourself to our readers? Where are you from and what are your biggest passions?
Hello! We are Jim & Inna, an international travel couple who are always on the move. We met 2 years ago when the two of us were individually pursuing the things that we love the most: Inna was teaching English and traveling, and Jim was blogging and traveling. Suddenly, the two paths crossed one another!
Inna is from Ukraine, she loves teaching, volunteering and creating art. Jim is from the US, his passions are singing, djing, and business. And both of us love traveling more than anything…well besides one another :)
Inna and Jim, exploring Turkey with the Mapify spirit.
Was traveling full-time something you have always pursued or would it have seemed impossible to you a few years back in time? How did you manage to live this lifestyle?
Inna: I have always dreamt about touring the world. I guess it was because my mom has always loved traveling and took me on trips abroad when I was still at school. Back then, we didn’t travel as much as I do now, and we had a very different style of traveling. So… although it never seemed impossible for me to travel full-time, my ideas of how I was going to do it were different. When I was younger, I thought I would hitchhike around the world and live out of my backpack, but as I get older, I want to travel more comfortably. Funny enough, the idea I had as a child is the one that seems impossible to me right now!
Jim: I had a different experience. When I was a student living in New York 10 years ago it seemed like it was absolutely impossible! It wasn’t until I started working full-time doing national tours with musicals and seeing all 50 states that I truly felt empowered to continue. After my first trip to South East Asia, my mindset changed. That experience really opened up my eyes to what is possible! I not only learned to stretch and manage my money as best as I could but also discovered the first bits and pieces of how to travel full-time.
Do you think that you will always be a digital nomad couple or do you have plans to settle down somewhere?
At the moment it feels as thought we will always be a nomadic couple, as we can’t get enough from all the different cultures, food, and languages that are out there. We know we want to settle down somewhere eventually, but we truly haven’t found that place yet… Let’s see what the future holds!
“We can’t get enough from all the different cultures, food, and languages that are out there…”
‘It’s never too late to say I did it’ — Is that your life quote? Do you think everybody should live with this mindset?
This is the core value of what we do, yes! We want to inspire people to realize that no matter how old they are or what’s happening in their life, “it’s never too late to say I did it”! Isn’t it powerful?! Also, we genuinely think that this phrase applies to so many areas in your life apart from traveling. So yes, we do believe it should be everyone’s mindset towards life.
Now let’s talk a bit about your blog. As mentioned, you stated Mapify as one of your biggest travel hacks for two years in a row! What were the main reasons to include us in your “best travel apps of 2020” article?
The original reason for including Mapify into the travel apps of 2019 was completely due to the fact of us traveling and loving the ability to look up photos of places that were added by the average traveler and not something that’s been completely edited to draw you in. Authenticity and local recommendations while traveling are key! As for 2020, it was due to the amazing Mapify updates that brought the performance ahead by leaps and bounds! From our point of view, the new adjustments made the app so much simpler and easier to use, but still had the functionality and value for traveling world in their focus. That’s why we wanted to share it with our community.
Do you remember where in the world you were when you first found out about Mapify? Did you foresee it becoming one of your most-used travel apps?
We actually remember it, yes. It was during our first long-term trip together around South East Asia, back in 2018. We just got engaged and started blogging full-time. At that time, we were doing the research to write our “top travel apps for 2019” article, and one of our friends told us about Mapify. At first, we honestly had no idea of what exactly it was nor did we have any further expectations, as we were cycling through different apps every day. But something made Mapify stick out from the rest! Today, we are so grateful to have discovered it and also to be part of this brilliant community.
As you know, the Mapify app gives its users a big range of possibilities. From following and contacting other travelers, to getting world-wide inspiration for your next travels and planning trips, to setting up your own little travel diary and documenting your experiences… What are the three main features that you personally like or use the most — and why?
Definitely, the app offers a broad variety of features! The one that we love the most is the possibility to see what percentage of the world we’ve conquered thus far. It motivates us to keep on traveling and makes us feel proud of what we have accomplished. We also like to post pictures of places we’ve been and share our honest opinion, with the idea to inspire and help others. Recently we have been back to backpacking full-time, so it’s nice to use the “popular places” and “food and drink” options to have quick decisions made for us.
Describe the “MapiFamily” feeling in 3 words :)
We would go with…’International’, ‘Culture’ and ‘Sharing’!
They are international, culture-interested and excited to share with the MapiFamily.
As passionate world trotters, we would love to hear about your most hilarious travel story!
We don’t know if it can quite be considered ‘hilarious’, but one of the most unique things of traveling is when magical coincidences happen. There was a time when Jim was in Bangkok and a girl he worked with 10 years ago just happened to walk by. They got lunch and caught up with one another when they asked the two guys sitting at the table across from them if they minded taking a picture. So as he was taking the picture with Jim’s phone the Facebook messenger notification went off and the guy saw the name and asked Jim where he was from…turns out they had almost 100 friends in common and the person who messaged Jim was also the exact same person the guy thought it was! Takeaway from this: The world is tiny if you let it be!
And finally, our last question: imagine you could only travel between 3 countries for the rest of your life — what would those be?
Let us think…We think it would be the US to be able to visit Jim’s family, Ukraine to visit Inna’s family and the third country would be Vietnam as it’s where we met, fell in love and has a special place in our heart.
Any other comments, quotes or ideas you would like to leave for our Mapify readers?
As much as we love traveling, we also love helping all of you find your ideal destinations as well. Feel free to reach out to us on our social platforms with any questions or concerns at any time, we would love to get in touch with you!
Thank you guys!
Follow their journeys on their Website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, to continue enjoying their travel spirit or to reach out to them :)
Join the Mapify team now! | https://medium.com/insidemapify/meet-jim-and-inna-ec762903f903 | ['Lis Kanzler'] | 2020-01-28 15:06:02.685000+00:00 | ['Digital Nomads', 'Travel', 'Mapify', 'Culture', 'Community'] |
Envisioning the Evolution and Future of Capitalism | To find the podcast on iTunes, click here.
It’s no secret that the capitalist system has done its fair share of damage to accelerate the climate crisis. In fact, more than half of all global industrial greenhouse gas emissions are from just 25 corporate and state-owned entities.
The development of market capitalism did not inherently place the planet on the bottom of the list; it got pushed there. But now, the evolution of capitalism is upon us as innovative social entrepreneurs are tackling issues related to climate change while using profit to do it. Leaders in renewable energy, product development, and the food industry are utilizing the same concept of the free market to regulate wages that incorporate the true cost of labor, elevating personal wealth for factory workers and farmers.
Check out our full video interview with Matthew Weatherley-White.
Various certifications have been built through the same system as capitalism but challenge it to do more. Fair Trade, Certified B Corporations, and communities like 1% for the Planet all demand more of the system we have.
So how are we seeing capitalism evolving and who is at the forefront of these changes? One larger than life proponent of capitalism turning into a force for good is Matthew Weatherley-White, co-founder of The Caprock Group, which handles financial planning for families. Through knowledge of free markets, the economic system, and the global economy, The Caprock Group helps make impactful investments that provide returns and serve as a force for good.
What Does the Future of Capitalism Hold?
A Brief History of Capitalism
Capitalism has been the dominant economic theory since the 17th century in Western Europe. The origins of capitalism can be attributed to a few factors, one being industrial capitalism and the Industrial Revolution, while another is Adam Smith’s influence that governments should have minimal involvement while free trade and competition persist. This element of government having little impact on free markets is referred to as laissez-faire and greatly influences economic policies.
At its core, capitalism enables the individual to act in self-interest and pursue both private property and wealth, thus avoiding the distribution of goods to the community. This differs from another prevalent theory of the 16th to 18th centuries, Mercantilism, which restrains the power of the individual to serve self-interest. In direct opposition to capitalism is Marxism.
Karl Marx believed that the Industrial Revolution exposed stark differences between the working class and the bourgeoisie. He advised the working class and followers of Marxist theories to rise up and take control of the means of production, which was in the hands of the world’s richest.
Advocates of capitalist philosophy argue that countries in the depths of poverty don’t have the same level of freedom that the richest countries do. If they could employ tactics of innovation and capitalism, they too could benefit. However, these proponents of capitalism continue to reap the benefits of poorer nations’ inability to compete in market systems.
Changemakers in the Field
You may remember the Occupy Wall Street movement started by a group of activists in New York City in 2011. At its core, the Occupy movement pushed for greater economic equality through a higher minimum wage and better treatment of workers. While the thousands of protestors who famously camped in city squares for weeks have dissipated since 2011, the Occupy movement is still informing massive change in favor of economic empowerment and climate change activism.
Today, many people are demanding more of capitalism. Conscious consumers are more interested now more than ever in where their food comes from, how their products are made, and where their dollars go. They want to support environmentally friendly companies or companies that publish their wages.
Some advocate for capitalism to remain in place but acknowledge that it must evolve to include sharing of wealth and focus on climate change solutions. As big business and industries that rely on factory production are some of the biggest polluters, consumers are asking those businesses to take a stand and utilize their entrepreneurial skills to address the world’s most pressing problems. | https://bthechange.com/envisioning-the-evolution-and-future-of-capitalism-fa281e736868 | ['Grow Ensemble'] | 2020-10-13 08:02:34.153000+00:00 | ['Capitalism', 'Stakeholder Capitalism', 'Social Entrepreneurship', 'B Corp', 'Impact Investing'] |
Driving Diversity & Inclusion Through Digital — A Tweet Chat | Guess who made a comeback as the Christmas season started? Youflix! We were back with Episode 4 — and it was all about using digital to drive diversity and inclusion. From diversity coaches, founders, to HR experts, authors and communication pros — well, we had quite a few voices contributing. And what brilliant thoughts they had.
Joined by Paroma Roy Chowdhury, Sarika Gupta Bhattacharya, Jaspreet Bakshi, Natasha Badhwar, Shilpi Singh, Manish Sinha, Ruchi Angrish, and Pallavi Varma.
Don’t miss the next one; because this one was a reminder of how fun-fuelled yet educational these chats are. But for your benefit, here’s a recap of how it went down.
Q1. What role has digital media played in driving D&I at the workplace?
Paroma: Ensured better workplace connect, pushed the intent through multiple channels and resulted in greater acceptance in a shorter period of time.
Manish: Digital Media has made learning faster and better. D&I Best practices are often a click away #DiversityInDigital
Jaspreet: My view from from both perspectives: From #employees stand point,It has helped create better reach & connect, provide opportunities for like-minded people to come together & share, create communities that empower & drive more inclusive culture. #DiversityInDigital. If I change hats & now look from an Org’n stand point, it helps to implement more consistent, less biased & scalable initiatives. It also helps measure/monitor real time & provide channels for free flow of information/feedback to enable flexibility. #DiversityInDigital
Shilpi Singh: The Digital media has allowed organizations to collaborate and engage with each other. Learning and sharing of ideas on Digital platform have created a ripple impact #DiversityinDigital @sarikabhattach @Drsarika005 @beyondiversity
Digital media is a great leveller… it doesn’t have traditional barriers and hierarchies that have kept out people in conventional workplaces… and therefore the entry gates are easier to breach. #DiversityInDigital #YouFlix - Natasha Badhwar
Pallavi: Digital Media has brought a visual and textual presence for diverse faces and voices. Making them visible means they’re harder to ignore, including in workplaces. #YouFlix #DiversityInDigital
Manish: Digital media has accelerated the Accessibility to D&I issues and challenges
Ruchi: Digital media is playing a very important role in driving Diversity & Inclusion at the workplace -the tech is less biased & consistently measuring the outcomes of various D&I programs across the organisations. By matching candidates to the job description reduces biases #YouFlix
Q2. How can organizations leverage digital technology and social media to drive their D&I focus?
Paroma: Choosing the right communication channels , customizing the message and by monitoring response consistently and sometimes, real time.
Paroma: Often spreading messages in person can have greater impact. But it can also result in direct friction when ideas don’t match. Digital provides the platform without the opportunities for direct confrontation, depending in the channel you use.
Manish: http://jopwell.com is a tech enabled minority recruitment & career advancement platform that helps cos. with their diversity recruitment obj. #DiversityInDigital
Digital tools help cos. build inclusive http://cultureAlliebot.com. A chatbot that collects & analyses information about diverse employees’ experiences. Cos. can measure & improve inclusion by pairing surveys &feedback wid targeted content using Alie. #diversityindigital
Jaspreet: In multiple ways. Implementing more consistent, less-biased, & scalable people initiatives, gaining better understating of current state of D & I across Org’n, measuring & monitoring the impact, raising awareness and better reach:there by better adoption. #DiversityinDigital
From a HR practioner perspective,starting with having very progressive TA practices, Customized development/advancement initiatives,driving & having a real time measure on engagement initiatives across diverse groups & using analytics-quantifying the impact of D&I on business
Manish: http://pluto.life is an analytics platform for cos. to a build diverse & inclusive culture. It’s a platform that enables users to anonymously report information on misconduct, harassment and discrimination with full transparency #DiversityInDigital
Pallavi: We’ve seen brands bite their tongue/rescind comms that were offensive. From experience, chances are diverse voices in the team (if any) flagged the idea, were ignored, and then blamed for not calling it. When your communications team talks, LISTEN. #YouFlix #DiversityInDigital
Have multiple checks for bias. Complaint teams in HR need to have diversity to see through human bias. As do review and interview panels. Even the company board needs to be diverse to support leader-led initiatives. - Pallavi Varma
Pallavi: Walking the talk. If you support diverse initiatives, tie up with ethical companies owned by minorities. Support causes that uplift minorities on a company level. Get rid of practices that make your minority work force uncomfortable. #YouFlix #DiversityInDigital
Sarika: Building in every business language — hiring diverse talent, communicating with diverse customer base, community impact, business impact driving innovation.
Shilpi: Strong brand presence on digital media platform with the right communication strategy would help organizations attract good talent #DiversityinDigital #Inclusionmatters @beyondiversity
Q3. Will increasing digital interactions help build more inclusive cultures or will it end up polarising the workforce?
Shilpi: A robust policy on digital interactions will be important for organizations to ensure that polarization does not happen because of increased and frequent interactions that are just a keypad away. #DiversityinDigital #Inclusionmatters.
The medium does not polarize people. Fake news does. #divsersityindigital - Shilpi Singh
Sarika: Any authentic communication — digital or physical helps to bridge gap: the key is authenticity! It also allows many minority groups (including introverts and quiet ones) have a voice in a more open way. #DiversityinDigital #YouFlix
Jaspreet: That depends on how it is designed & being intended to be used. Better connect, open channels & wider reach creates more participation. It can result in higher engagement but also rake up sensitive issues. How mature is the Org’n ? Structure will be key,not just control!!
Manish: The Right Leadership commitment & the Right processes Can ensure that Digital Interactions Foster more Inclusion Rather than highlight the differences! #DiversityinDigital
Manish: The public Social Media spaces point to the platforms being hijacked and polarised — be it fb or twitter But inside companies it’s STILL a more controlled environment #DiversityInDigital
Pallavi: Fear of polarisation is one of the biggest obstacles in inclusivity initiatives. Polarisation happens when there is unfounded fear, lack of knowledge, and elusivity. We need more digital interactions to eradicate that. #YouFlix #DiversityInDigital
Celebrating differences is not a bad thing — not giving them seats at the table is. Digital interactions help people relearn that and unlearn what they know from before. #YouFlix #DiversityInDigital
Q4. What could be some unconscious digital bias?
Paroma: Ahh! Like all unconscious biases :) Choosing homogenous groups to land or spread your messages for instance.
Jaspreet: Very similar to the biases we see in day to day: Halo effect gender, Background, Skill set & judging based on that,Similarity, Confirmation etc.Key is how does Digital helps reduce that. Even a FB/LinkedIn only show basis your preference. Imagine that at play in Org’n context
Sarika: There are no unconscious digital bias — only human bias reflected digitally #YouFlex #DiversityinDigital
Shilpi: #AI-powered systems use historical data to make judgments just like our brains do. AI has reduced unconscious bias but at the same time is subject to data input #DiversityinDigital #inclusionmatters @LatelyAIKately
Manish: Who we follow, which groups we belong to Whose Voices we Listen to , whose we reject — on digital media All carry our Unconscious Bias #DiversityInDigital
Manish: Social media works by rewarding extreme views over moderate views With more likes, shares and comments. The SM algorithm actually feeds on our unconscious bias #diversityindigital #youflix
Pallavi: Accessibility. A lot of digital media voice & practice is defined by accessibility to internet, apps, filters, even language (not to mention disability access). Apple came under fire for not recognising non-white faces in their AI #YouFlix #DiversityInDigital +
Self learning AI is unfortunately not going to be v diverse if it doesn’t have a chance to learn from all sources, or be created by diverse inputs. #YouFlix #DiversityInDigital
Pallavi: Echo chambers. In an attempt to filter out trolls people often accidentally create echo chambers of discourse, where people just play a game of confirmation bias. Diversifying your news input is necessary. #YouFlix #DiversityInDigital
Q5. How important is it for business leaders to have a digital voice to drive D&I?
Sarika: In today’s times, It is like asking how important is oxygen to breathe! Leaders need to be accessible, visible and authentic in their messaging followed up with actions! #YouFlix #DiversityinDigital
Shilpi: A strong Digital voice for leaders is extremely critical. Our employees, customers are present on the digital medium and that’s where they can easily access the leaders. #DiversityinDigital #Inclusionmatters
Leaders Lead. FullStop. It is extremely critical @sarikabhattach @Paromadiva @BakshiJaspreet #diversityindigital
Ruchi: It is very important for business leaders to have a digital voice to drive D&I . Leaders give direction — they can build a culture promoting conversation — a culture where everyone is asking , evolving & working to make things better #YouFlix
Manish: CRITICAL The leadership can help drive inclusiveness and belongingness in organisations. There is a lot of work to be done by leaders #DiversityInDigital
Paroma: A digital voice is probably the most important voice today. It is a driving necessity, not a choice,
Jaspreet: With virtual & New Ways of working, Digital presence & visibility is what creates the right reach. We all know that right D & I practice shape Culture of Org’n & for that visibility of leadership believing, displaying & reinforcing same is key. #DiversityinDigital
Manish: Having a Digital Voice for leaders was like 2010 Leaders today must have a firm Digital Presence So that they can nudge, sway and lead their orgs. @morallygreydesi #diversityindigital #youflix
Pallavi: Crucial. Leaders not only bring trust to a team but they’re also the voice that stands up for those who might not have the privilege to speak up without harm to self. #YouFlix #DiversityInDigital
Pallavi: It’s important to have a leader who creates a diverse team but the leader must know that they are strong AS their team. So acting like a mouth piece for performative diversity isn’t the key. Letting others speak is. #YouFlix #DiversityInDigital
Q6. Suggest three digital strategies for D&I initiatives
Sarika: Implement, Communicate & Engage #YouFlix #DiversityinDigital
Ruchi: Empathetic leadership is the key — every leader has to put themselves in the shoes of people who were excluded or interrupted & take learnings. It’s an ongoing process #Youflix
Shilpi: Digital content strategy to share company’s view and initiatives on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion #diversityindigital
Paroma: Enlist the help of experts to craft your objectives, stragies and tactics; please ensure that the D&I narrative is built and spead to optimize connect and the messages need to mesh with business objectives to drive maximum impact.
Shilpi: As @Paromadiva just said..[the internet is a necessity] #divsersityindigital @sarikabhattach
Manish: The 3Cs are important Right ‘Communication’ — of the D&I goals, roadmap & process Agile ‘Collaboration’ — between all stakeholders using tech platforms, apps and chatbots Fair ‘Computation’ — measuring progress , results & sharing the same #diversityindigital #youflix
Pallavi: Digital Takeovers. Letting diverse voices from your team take over comms (Insta takeovers, YouTube Videos, LinkedIn webinars, Chatbot Coding) to discuss D&I can have a deeper impact on potential talent and clientele than a single-view founders’ voice. #YouFlix #DiversityInDigital
Pallavi: Patience. To learn. To listen. To know that somethings might disturb your comfort or what you’ve known your whole life. To understand microaggressions and how they can play a bigger role in someone else’s life. #YouFlix #DiversityInDigital
Pallavi: Sensitivity Reader Team. Hire minorities in your HR to contribute to fair practices. In your media team to see if your communications are as unbiased as you want them to be. And listen to them when they make a point you may have missed. #YouFlix #DiversityInDigital
Manish: One big intervention of digital tech is in using it to track & measure the effectiveness of D&I efforts. This technology simply did not exist in the past Measurement Matters! #diversityindigital #youflix
Shilpi: Talent Acquisition — Leverage AI to assess interviewers’ potential biases through speech and body movements during interviews with candidates Speaking Up — Build Digital Conversation Café which allows people to share in a safe space
—
Isn’t that just amazing? Not only did we share ideas and opinions, but also concrete action points to make diversity and inclusivity a tangible part of any leader and team’s processes. We ended on a good note, everyone feeling quite worked up (in the best way possible!). Keep up with our future Twitter chats and Youflix episodes by following us on our handle! Jump in and join the talk! | https://medium.com/@studio4-online/driving-diversity-inclusion-through-digital-a-tweet-chat-857eb74f584b | [] | 2020-12-15 16:10:17.136000+00:00 | ['Human Resource Management', 'Diversity And Inclusion', 'Workplace Diversity', 'Tweetchat', 'Twitter Chat'] |
Are Cats Competing For Your Job? | Are Cats Competing For Your Job?
Artificial intelligence may be the least of your problems, according to this kitten.
In The Robots Are Coming: The Future of Jobs in the Age of Automation, 47 percent of U.S. jobs are “at risk of being replaced by robots and artificial intelligence over the next fifteen to twenty years.”
But in recent reports, experts have discovered that the furry feline sitting on your couch could be the real threat to society. CI takeover is a new fear in humanity, and according to Larry Elliot: “Cats will take our jobs. We’d better plan now, before it’s too late.”
Since at least 2013, Google has been integrating automated bot-detection into its CAPTCHAs. But there’s one thing they haven’t considered: Are you a cat?
The difference between bot and cat are widely unknown. However, we have recently studied the way a cat moves its mouse before clicking the “I am not a robot” button.
According to Google, CAPTCHA is defined as:
“A program or system intended to distinguish human from machine input, typically as a way of thwarting spam and automated extraction of data from websites.”
Take away the p, and you’ve got CATCHA. Is this a conspiracy theory for cats wanting to take over the world?
According to wired.com, Google’s artificial brain learned to find cat videos in 2002:
“Picking up on the most commonly occurring images featured on YouTube, the system achieved 81.7 percent accuracy in detecting human faces, 76.7 percent accuracy when identifying human body parts and 74.8 percent accuracy when identifying cats. We never told it during the training, ‘This is a cat,’” Jeff Dean, the Google fellow who led the study, told the New York Times. “It basically invented the concept of a cat.”
Not convinced? Read on to find out how cats are competing for your job. | https://medium.com/live-long-and-prospurr/are-cats-competing-for-your-job-ad290cb3145a | ['Katy Velvet'] | 2019-05-30 20:44:47.923000+00:00 | ['Technology', 'Artificial Intelligence', 'Cats', 'Future', 'Humor'] |
The support you wish you’d had — Peppy | Recently, I had the chance to catch up with Mridula, CEO of Peppy Health* and we spoke about the real cost of lost human capital at work and beyond, the future of insurance that employers provide their teams and everything in between.
*For some background about what Peppy does, it gives employers a totally new range of employee benefits that have a huge impact on staff attraction, productivity and loyalty — benefits that people actually want. Their first products support new parents and women dealing with the challenges of menopause, with more in the pipeline.
We often forget that throughout someone’s life, there can be massive changes in their home circumstances that impact their happiness, well-being and career prospects. From their employer’s point of view, this can radically change that person’s productivity and engagement at work, as well as driving attrition and the gender pay gap.
Peppy was born out of the desire to support people during these challenging times and Mridula, during our chat, shared her views with me during our conversation, which we’ve transcribed below:
Mridula, CEO of Peppy Health
Carlos:
When I first met you, and before we invested in Peppy, I remember you telling me that there are two or three major points in someone’s life that can fundamentally change their outlook, the economic opportunities open to them, and their wellbeing.
For our readers, what are those points?
Mridula:
Three obvious ones are going through fertility treatment, becoming a parent and going through the menopause. Anything that causes somebody to sit back and re-evaluate their working life — hours, location, the kind of career or career track they want. There are more than you might think, and they’re typically less to do with what’s happening at work and more about what’s happening in your personal life. In their own ways, each of these events changes you and often you need extra support.
The question is what happens at these inflection points? You might be lucky enough to get the right support at the right time. But the reality is that all too often you’re left on your own and your physical, mental and emotional health can spiral downwards, affecting your decisions about work.
Carlos:
So what’s interesting is that, to date, a lot of that was dealt with privately, right? Why are employers starting to care now?
Mridula:
Historically, yes, these were considered ‘private’ matters for the individual to deal with. But we now have an ageing population, smaller families and all forms of public healthcare are stretched to the max. The result is that people feel isolated and unsupported when they go through these transitions, while still working in demanding jobs. Supporting them just makes good business sense.
The bulk of the life transitions we are talking about are not covered by either private medical insurance, employee assistance programmes or occupational health. There’s a gaping void — which we conservatively value at £6b in the UK alone — and women are penalised disproportionately, resulting in absence, attrition and ultimately the gender pay gap.
Carlos:
So if the government and existing benefits providers don’t provide much support, what do employees do now?
Mridula:
This might sound shocking but our users tell us that they relied on Google and Facebook before finding Peppy. That’s probably the worst solution in the history of healthcare!
Carlos:
Wow, that’s not good.
Mridula:
It really isn’t. And on top of this we’re all working for longer, so as you said earlier, it all comes down to the cost of human capital for employers. Take the menopause as an example, in 1900 a woman would typically go through it at 45 and yet back then life expectancy was only 50 or 60. Whereas today a British woman typically goes through the menopause at 51, and lives until 88 on average. She can expect to be working for at least another decade, maybe two. Suddenly this becomes a workplace issue and we need support like never before.
We have a war for talent right now, across a whole range of skills. This is true whether employees are data scientists or nurses. If you’re not able to support and retain them, then you lose access to a huge chunk of your critical workforce capacity. Or consider housekeeping staff at a hotel chain. We’re in a particular situation right now in the UK, where employers cannot attract and retain that workforce from the EU, leaving a big gap.
Even losing one person can be hugely disruptive and costly. You can easily incur costs up to 12 months of salary by the time that person’s had time off, made the decision to leave, you advertise and fill the position, and train the next person up.
Carlos:
… and you lose obviously the technical expertise and the relational expertise these people bring, which is tricky, right? Ultimately it comes down to managing people and when key people leave you, your organisation ends up in flux.
Now when it comes to the services specifically, maybe you can walk us through what are the services that are required? If now’s the time for employers to engage, what are the services that are actually necessary to engage?
Mridula:
Before becoming a parent for the first time, or going through menopause, most people don’t think too much about the realities of life on the other side of that transition. There are a lot of taboos around these topics (for example, postnatal depression in dads), so first of all, there is a need for trusted information. Secondly, people want reassurance on what is and isn’t normal. Should I be worried that my newborn baby only sleeps 2 hours at a stretch? Will this eventually pass? You don’t feel like yourself, there’s something not quite right, but you don’t know what it is. Thirdly, there’s a huge need for signposting you towards your options, so “What you’re describing is X and therefore you can try Y or speak to your GP about Z.”
Put simply, Peppy is like having an expert best friend on hand to answer any questions you might have, to direct you to trustworthy sources of information and to connect you to the specialist practitioners you might need access to — a lactation consultant, a menopause nurse, a fertility specialist, etc, etc….
Chat is the backbone of our services: direct access to a certified expert who understands what you are going through. Our users are busy and they love the convenience it offers. It’s how they communicate with their friends.
Our experts also understand what issues might be coming up and can help people prepare for them. Right now our weekly average user rate is 80%. This compares to <1% for conventional products.
Carlos:
Connecting with experts is always great but it sounds like it would get expensive very quickly? How do you make that work?
Mridula:
This is another reason why chat works so well. Somebody will have a question, maybe five or six interactions back and forth and then maybe nothing for the next 5 days.
So basically, a small team of experts can service a large number of people. We allow for a certain level of support that we know the typical person needs. Some people need more, some people need less, but the result is that we can offer incredibly generous employer benefits packages for very reasonable fees.
We also have an incredible potential to improve the productivity of our experts by leveraging the chat data to drive smart content. The journeys that users go through are remarkably similar. There are outliers of course but we can already see how we deliver a personalised care with incredible efficiency.
Carlos:
Insurance is evolving and InsureTech players are offering new products and services. Is this ultimately something that insurance providers will do, or is this a new category of insurance that employers will engage with, in addition to any existing insurance products or to their detriment?
Evan (co-founder) and Mridula (co-founder) from Peppy Health
Mridula:
Peppy is effectively a new category of insurance. Current medical insurance is about diagnostics and medical treatment for a serious injury or disease. These are low probability, very high intensity/cost events. We’re dealing with higher probability events, but with lower cost interventions that have a big impact when it matters the most for employers, employees and their families.
Insurance providers also provide services such as mental health support but it’s totally general. A 21 year old with suicidal thoughts will be given the same therapist as a 38 year old mum with postnatal depression or a 51 year old woman who is anxious while going through menopause — and that last example is likely to be a misdiagnosis! We offer highly specialised mental health support with deep experience in the transitions that our users are going through. We expect this to be a huge source of growth in the future.
Carlos:
What do you think will be the biggest HR challenges for organisations in the next 5 years?
Mridula:
Fortunately for us the answer to that is 100% clear: get ‘inclusion’ right in its broadest sense. We’ve spoken to literally hundreds of people professionals and everyone is struggling to work out how to attract and retain the best employees as the expectations of the workforce shift dramatically. Talent of all ages, different backgrounds, gender and abilities is more valuable to employers than ever before.
Increasingly, all employees have different needs at different stages of their lives — whether it’s someone who’s trying to conceive, a dad or a mum with small kids who wants to be more involved in child-rearing, a midlife woman who is experiencing menopause, or anyone who is caring for an elderly or sick relative. Today, women take a disproportionate hit on all these fronts. As we live and work for longer, both men and women are realising that our working lives are a marathon, not a sprint. They want to bring their whole selves to work and are less and less willing to tolerate workplaces that don’t support them at the right points in their life.
The role of HR and managers is to create an environment where people can thrive and feel supported to do their best work. The successful companies of the future will be the ones that get this right and Peppy enables them to do that.
Carlos:
Thanks Mridula. You’ve certainly given me lots to think about. All of this ties in to big investment themes like the future of work and women’s health. Considering the size of the opportunity it’s still an untapped space. I’m really excited to see Peppy continue to grow.
Mridula:
Thanks Carlos. It’s been great talking to you.
If you’d like to learn more about Peppy, feel free to get in touch with them here — [email protected] or via their website. | https://medium.com/@cee/the-support-you-wish-youd-had-peppy-8fec7dc7352d | ['Carlos E. Espinal'] | 2019-11-14 17:42:31.211000+00:00 | ['Startup', 'Healthcare', 'Maternity', 'Menopause', 'Insurtech'] |
What Japan can teach us about UX and product design | In a previous article, I wrote about what Japan can teach us about UX and Universal Design. However, Japan's product design is another area of ux design success; both in its approach to the aesthetic qualities and its functionality. Here are just a few things Japan can teach us about product design.
Japan has a long history of packaging and product design rooted in a tradition of gift-giving. Long before industrial materials like plastic and cardboard, gifts were wrapped in straw, bamboo, leaves, and paper. Although the materials have changed, the core values of Japanese design remain at the heart of these creations - harmony, consideration, and functionality.
Harmony in Design
Creative packaging designs often lean towards the experiential. Utilizing interactive elements in the opening experience of the product, creating a whole new realm of experiential opportunity. The creativity of Japanese design often comes in the ability to create a sense of harmony between the products and the user. Take the bento boxes below, warm hues, rounded shapes, and matted textures provide both tactile and visual harmony for the user. The satisfaction of perfectly aligned boxes exists every time the product is used. How can it not "spark joy"?
Cuyana x Marie Kondo Mini-Capsule Capsule case product designs.
The image of bento boxes and origami is omnipresent in the Japanese packaging, so the design is not only about how it looks but how it feels in the arms and how the user interacts with the product and what emotion they live during the whole use & consumption process. - Ksenia Pedchenko
Another example of harmony in design. Packaging for Japanese rice crackers and Swedish biscuits.
Design by Saikai — Japanese fika packaging project
The hexagon shape stands for communication and balance, inspired by nature. Nature is also the inspiration for the pattern with mountains, winds blowing, rivers flowing and fields of tea and rice. The cookie box serves as protection for the cookies as well as a serving tray. - Saiki
Designing for the Differently Abled
Designing for usability in healthcare packaging has been a topic of consideration for many global brands. In Japan, it extends beyond niche markets and brands consider multiple users of varying abilities when designing everyday products. Milk cartons are outfitted with a special indentation to the top of the carton to help visually impaired customers identify pure whole milk out of all the drinks with the same packaging. Simple considerations like this can have a huge impact on the experience of the user.
Image by Ikidane-Nippon Milk carton design in Japan
Just consider how many solutions are not human-shaped (designed to make experiences easier, pleasant, and even magical), but human-proof (built in a way to make them impossibly complex and confusing) — Wipro Digita
Minimalism and Maximalism
Strolling down the aisles of a supermarket in Tokyo I'm distracted by the bold, glittering designs of candy screaming at you from the shelves. This provides the perfect contrast to the sleek, monochromatic hues of brands like Muji. This duality in design reminds us that we can't be everything at once but we can enjoy the many facets of our personality through our products.
The idea behind a minimalist design is to create a package that elevates the product. This type of packaging design should highlight the most important features. - Inkbot Design
Examples of "Kawaii Design" - Japanese snack "Pocky", Frog shaped construction signs, dish sponges.
Japan’s “kawaii” culture is another example of personality in design. Sprinkled throughout the city, on everything from construction signs to stationery. “Kawaii” as an aesthetic is not reserved for children but seeks to provide a more relaxed, familiar and friendly feeling to products that would otherwise be mundane. One doesn’t usually smile at a roadworks sign, especially one that disrupts your daily commute…but I found myself doing just that in Japan. The subtle effects of “cuteness” is part of what makes Japan special.
Eugen Eşanu talks about product designers “living the life of a user” when designing products with purpose and clarity. We can go a step beyond to stay that products should share in the lives of the user. Cup noodle containers with resealable lids, food packaging with perforated lines for opening, the neatly outlined 3 step process for unwrapping a rice ball — all examples of products that anticipate the needs of the user and aim to make the experience frictionless. The products certainly change with time but the core values of Japanese design remain the same.
Looking for inspiration?
Check out this collection of packaging designs by Inkbot Design and for the latest in Japanese designs; follow the Japan Design Package Association to see the winners of the 2021 Design Awards.
More info on the author here. | https://uxdesign.cc/what-japan-can-teach-us-about-ux-and-product-design-37fd9b22b9ed | ['Rishma Hansil'] | 2021-07-08 16:14:07.135000+00:00 | ['Product Design', 'Usability', 'Design', 'UX Design', 'User Experience'] |
American Demise | Photo by Jim Mason
Going through old papers today, I came across this poem I wrote over 59 years ago. Some of the background was the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, then already years-long, in which I was involved on the margins as a university student. I found it disheartening that people’s desires for simple rights to ride anywhere in a bus or dine at a lunch counter could be denied, and that rights to voting and fair housing, among many other important ones, could be so callously defeated.
There was also the escalating involvement of the U.S. in the Vietnamese civil war, as part of the larger Cold War with the Soviet Union and China. The U.S. was proceeding to develop nuclear missiles at an alarming rate, but it was still a year before the Cuban Missile Crisis in which the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. scared us all by coming close to nuclear war.
It is even more disheartening, now, that issues of the Civil Rights Movement are still being fought over, almost 60 years later, and that the U.S. is still the leader among nuclear-armed nations, with a President much less intelligent than Kennedy who has threatened to use them.
It’s hard for me to believe how prescient I was in 1961. I thought I was overly cynical at the time, but now I’m just appallingly sad. As Pete Seeger’s song “Where Have All The Flowers Gone?” says, “When will they [we] ever learn?” | https://medium.com/political-sense/american-demise-7d23554b3093 | ['Jim Mason'] | 2020-12-07 23:12:45.919000+00:00 | ['Politics', 'War', 'Nuclear Weapons', 'Civil Rights', 'American History'] |
Easiest Numpy Guide For Beginners Part-2 | This part is the continuation of the part-1 of my blog. I appeal to you to please go through part-1 for a better understanding of this blog.
Where function in Numpy Array
Where function in NumPy array is used for finding a group of values that satisfy the mentioned condition. This method returns the index of the values and not the values themselves.
Input:
import numpy as np
arr=np.array([8,94,8,56,7,3,2,1,0])
print(np.where(arr>10)) Output: #Returns the index not values
(array([1, 3], dtype=int64),) Input:
val1= np.where(arr>10)
print(arr[val1]) Output: #After passing index to array we can get values
[94 56]
2. min(),max(),argmin(),argmax()
min() -Finds the minimum value in Numpy array. max()-Finds the maximum value in Numpy array. argmin()-Finds the index of minimum value in Numpy array. argmax()-Finds the index of maximum value in Numpy array.
Input:
print(arr.min())
print(arr.max())
print(arr.argmax())
print(arr.argmin()) Output:
0 #Min Value
94 #Max Value
1 #Index of Min Value
8 #Index of Max Value
3. Read and Write a File using Numpy
savetxt() and loadtxt()
savetxt()- Used for writing some text content into a file. We can use the savetxt() for the creation and writing of text files or CSV files.
CSV file is a file that has comma-separated values in it. This type of file can be made by using the delimiter keyword in savetxt().
Input:
import numpy as np
arr=np.array([8,94,8,56,7,3,2,1,0])
np.savetxt('arr_file.csv',arr,delimiter=',') Output:
Input:
np.loadtxt('arr_file.csv',delimiter=',') Output:
array([ 8., 94., 8., 56., 7., 3., 2., 1., 0.])
2. save(),load(),savez()
.npy - It is a binary file in NumPy array which can hold only a single array in it.
.npz -It works like a zip file that contains the multiple numbers of .npy files in it.
save()- Saves file with .npy extension
load()- Loads file with .npy and .npz extension
savez()- Saves file with .npz extension
Input:
arr_1=np.array([8,94,8,56,7,3,2,1,0])
arr_2=np.array([2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9])
np.save(‘data1.npy’,arr_1) #creation of .npy
np.save(‘data2.npy’,arr_2) #creation of .npy
np.savez(‘both.npz’,arr_1,arr_2) #creation of .npz
d=np.load(‘both.npz’)
print(d.files) #Arrays in zip folder
print(d[d.files[0]]) #First Array
print(d[d.files[1]]) #Second Array Output:
['arr_0', 'arr_1']
[ 8 94 8 56 7 3 2 1 0]
[2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9]
4. Concatenation and Sorting in Numpy Array
Concatenate method
axis=0 -Concatenation row-wise
axis=1 -Concatenation column-wise
Input:
arr_3=np.array([[1,2],[5,6],[7,8]])
np.concatenate([arr_3,arr_3],axis=0) Output:
array([[1, 2],
[5, 6],
[7, 8],
[1, 2],
[5, 6],
[7, 8]]) Input:
np.concatenate([arr_3,arr_3],axis=1) Output:
array([[1, 2, 1, 2],
[5, 6, 5, 6],
[7, 8, 7, 8]]) For concatenation the dimensions of two arrays should be exactly the same otherwise it will give valueError. Input:
np.concatenate([arr_1,arr_3],axis=0) Output: ValueError Traceback (most recent call last)
<ipython-input-17-c9ceb2b572e7> in <module>
----> 1 np.concatenate([arr_1,arr_3],axis=0)
<__array_function__ internals> in concatenate(*args, **kwargs)
ValueError: all the input arrays must have same number of dimensions, but the array at index 0 has 1 dimension(s) and the array at index 1 has 2 dimension(s)
2. vstack() and hstack() methods
vstack() — Stacks the elements vertically.
hstack() — Stacks the elements horizontally.
Input:
np.vstack([arr_3,arr_3]) Output:
array([[1, 2],
[5, 6],
[7, 8],
[1, 2],
[5, 6],
[7, 8]]) Input:
np.hstack([arr_3,arr_3]) Output:
array([[1, 2, 1, 2],
[5, 6, 5, 6],
[7, 8, 7, 8]])
Sorting-
Sorting is by default done row-wise
Input:
npa=np.hstack([arr_3,arr_3])
print(npa)
npa.sort()
print(npa) Output:
[[1 2 1 2] #Before sorting
[5 6 5 6]
[7 8 7 8]] [[1 1 2 2] #Sorted Rowwise
[5 5 6 6]
[7 7 8 8]]
5. Date and time in Numpy
Creation of a particular date and time
Input:
import numpy as np
d = np.datetime64(‘2020–12–01 23:34:56’)
print(d) Output:
2020-12-01T23:34:56 Input:
print(d+1) #Extra second gets added Output:
2020-12-01T23:34:57 Adding a day into the date Input:
oneday = np.timedelta64(1,'D')
print(oneday)
print(oneday+d) Output:
1 days
2020-12-02T23:34:56 Adding minute into time Input:
tenminutes = np.timedelta64(10,'m')
print(tenminutes)
print(tenminutes+d) Output:
10 minutes
2020-12-01T23:44:56
6. Broadcasting in Numpy
Many of the times when we are performing arithmetic operations we face a problem with dimensionality but with the special property of NumPy, it is possible to have an automatic solution to this problem.
In broadcasting what it does is expands the array of smaller dimensions into the similar dimension of a larger array. So that now it can perform arithmetic operations easily as both arrays have a similar size.
For broadcasting the array there is one condition that we need to follow.
At least one of the dimensions of the smaller array should be the same as the larger array.
The array b expands itself for getting a size similar to array a.
Input:
a = np.array([[10.0,10.0,10.0],[20.0,20.0,20.0],[20.0,20.0,20.0],[40.0,40.0,40.0]])
b = np.array([1.0,2.0,3.0])
print(a)
print(b)
print(a+b) Output:
[[10. 10. 10.]
[20. 20. 20.]
[20. 20. 20.]
[40. 40. 40.]] [1. 2. 3.] [[11. 12. 13.] #10+1,10+2,10+3
[21. 22. 23.] #20+1,20+2,20+3
[21. 22. 23.] #20+1,20+2,20+3
[41. 42. 43.]] #40+1,40+2,40+3
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Thank You. | https://pub.towardsai.net/easiest-numpy-guide-for-beginners-part-2-6b94c1466b6d | ['Prajakta Mogare'] | 2021-01-21 13:03:10.814000+00:00 | ['Numpy', 'Data Science', 'Deep Learning', 'Beginners Guide', 'Python'] |
Crissey’s Love | Crissey’s Love
A sonnet-like how-to
Free pic from Pickpik
Whether you live in the clouds or with both
feet on the ground you surely know that life
is better lived inside below the sheets
with your muse by your side holding your love
by the balls and if lucky by the sword
since clouds are far away unless you fly
and the ground can shake you off into dust
Thus we are made to suffer everything
under the Sun and the Moon and the stars
even when the pain is goodish somehow
with strings attached to unrequited love
tunnelling throughout the maze of your mind
while allowing your heart to be flooded
with her words smile and all sexual parts
Patrick M. Ohana | https://medium.com/illumination/crisseys-love-7b5a51ca152a | ['Patrick M. Ohana'] | 2020-12-13 12:44:20.501000+00:00 | ['Poetry', 'Words', 'Love', 'Muse', 'Illumination'] |
Uterus Issues, Running Late | I am bleeding.
After nearly two weeks of spotting and mood swings and expectations of something more substantial, I can finally feel my uterus aching inside me, sending insistent cramps into my left hip and down my leg.
It hurts. It isn’t debilitating, but it’s a distraction. It throbs, my sciatic nerve lights up, and I wish I was in a hot tub instead of sitting at my desk at work. I take specially formulated “menstrual relief” cocktail pills or ibuprofen and acetaminophen together, hoping the combination will work better than one or the other and dull it enough so that I can clear my head and work.
I go to the bathroom often, because I don’t want to deal with the inconvenience of making a mistake, misjudging things, and having to deal with stains on my favorite jeans. Somehow, 25 years in, it still happens. It seems like by now I’d know my body and pad manufacturers would be able to create pads for different types of bodies and sizes of underwear.
The last time I had my period was 99 days ago, my cycles are completely wonky now. This is likely a symptom of perimenopause, the earlier arriving, unspoken younger sister of the menopause all women meet later in life.
When I told my two female co-workers that I had been having my period for 10 days, and that I just want it to be over, one shifted in discomfort. The other gave me tips on how to encourage the weak, lazy flow to come so I could start to feel better. The next day, I complained out loud: my uterus hurts, and she asked if I needed anything. I didn’t, but it was nice to be asked.
I believe in talking about my period.
Out loud. In public. To family, boyfriends, co-workers, and friends. On the internet.
Truthfully, I am not entirely comfortable speaking about it out loud. I sat staring at my phone this morning with my thumb hovering over the send button for several minutes before I pressed it. This is not something we talk about. When I say that I’m not feeling well because my life force is literally draining from me, I still hear that voice in my brain wondering what I am doing. I don’t let the discomfort dampen my urge to connect, my desire to speak out lout. I push through it, and I spill the words out anyway, I push send. This is who and how I am in this moment, and it is okay.
If this discomfort were located anywhere else in my body, I would talk about it. Anyone would. Last week, a coworker indirectly told all of us about her stomach bug, an indirect window into bathroom issues. Is it really more acceptable to talk about poop than menstruation? If I had an earache or toothache to this degree, would I be at work? For either of those I’d likely be at the doctor, but when we have our periods, we must persist in going about our business and just trying our best to ignore it.
When I arrived at work today, no one asked how I was doing. If I had texted that I had an upset stomach or headache, I guarantee the response would have been different. I’d have heard “How’s your head?” or “Are you feeling better” from multiple people. But because a uterus is something only women possess, we don’t talk about it. There is no concern or sympathy for whether I’m feeling better or just powering through it so I can get paid.
If I’d called in sick due to cramps, would that decision have been respected? Or would it be viewed as weak and unnecessary? If I had gastric-related stomach cramps this bad, I’d likely spend the day on the couch and receive sympathetic texts.
What about staying home because the idea of making sure you change your pad every two hours is just too much to handle at work? Or because you feel weakened in the same way you might if you’d been unable to eat? These aren’t acceptable reasons to skip planned events. Why not?
I am not ashamed that I am bleeding.
It irritates me that I’m expected to be silent about something that is a part of my life. In the past year, my body has changed, no longer regular or decipherable, so it’s become a bigger part of my life than it ever has been in the past.
We bleed naturally and often, and there is no reason to hide that fact. We tuck pads into our waistbands and hide tampons inside our sleeves as we walk to the restroom. Why? I’m a fan of talking about the things that are happening to me, even when it goes against what I’ve been taught about what is taboo. I tend to be more willing to speak out about things other people shy away from. Divorce, polyamory, sex, finances, bodily functions, fat positivity. The more we talk about these things, the more everybody has the chance to realize that they are normal and that it’s healthy to talk about them.
I have spent too many hours in this lifetime feeling alone because of what I was going through, and I am done with that.
I have spent too much time isolated, in pain, afraid, when there was love and support out there if I just reached for it. What is the purpose of being a part of a community if we are not able to support each other in all parts of life?
Even in 2017, talking about periods is still taboo. The idea that women’s menstrual cycles are gross or unclean or inappropriate is deeply rooted in patriarchy. In cultures dominated by men, periods are misunderstood, vilified, and pushed out of the public conversation. If men had periods we’d talk about them all the time. Making menstrual cycles taboo is a manifestation of the sexism that pervades many cultures. source
Our society is not a body-positive one, but there are people working every day to change that.
I focus a lot of thought and energy on trying to change the way our world views fat bodies.
Body positivity isn’t just about the outside.
I want girls to be able to be body positive not only in how they perceive their reflections, but in the way their body works. I could get into all of the political, cultural, and social ramifications of WHY this is all still something we whisper about, or the way our cycles are used as an excuse to dismiss and invalidate our emotions and life experiences. That’s a whole topic in itself, and an important one, but it’s not necessary to dive that deep to know that this is not something to be ashamed of.
I talk about my period because I support other women, and I want to turn to them for support when I need it. I talk about it because if my sons marry women and/or have daughters, I want them to be knowledgeable, sympathetic, and helpful when whose women bleed. I want them to be the kind of men who can buy a box of tampons without feeling ashamed or embarrassed. Who will not flinch when they hear the word uterus.
So. Want to complain about your cramps? I’ll listen. Need to rant about your irregular cycle? I’m game! Need some chocolate? I’ve got a drawer-full at my desk. Need to borrow some hydrogen peroxide? I’ve got a huge bottle under my sink.
Are you bleeding? You can talk to me about it. | https://medium.com/rachael-writes/uterus-issues-running-late-aae6b79e6087 | ['Rachael Hope'] | 2019-05-06 19:23:06.135000+00:00 | ['Menstruation', 'Body', 'Womens Health', 'Feminism', 'Women'] |
You can’t improve it if you don’t measure it. | Photo by Valentin Salja on Unsplash
Have you ever wondered if there is a more systematic way of tuning your model, than blindly guessing the hyperparameters or using a grid search?
By Sebastian Poliak in Computer Science — 4 min read | https://towardsdatascience.com/you-cant-improve-it-if-you-don-t-measure-it-56e76ba42749 | ['Tds Editors'] | 2020-09-28 13:23:08.798000+00:00 | ['Unsupervised Learning', 'Computer Science', 'Getting Started', 'The Daily Pick'] |
Frontend Library JavaScript Yang Harus Kamu Coba | ApexCharts.js - Open Source JavaScript Charts for your website
ApexCharts is a modern charting library that helps developers to create beautiful and interactive visualizations for… | https://medium.com/@yoga-altariz/library-frontend-javascript-yang-harus-kamu-coba-1818fde2acb5 | ['Yoga Altariz'] | 2021-01-09 17:10:44.355000+00:00 | ['Web Development', 'Front End Development', 'Beginners Guide', 'JavaScript'] |
I don’t remember the last time I penned my thoughts on my blog. | I don’t remember the last time I penned my thoughts on my blog. Unfiltered, raw thoughts that fluidly flowed as I typed. I miss that. So here I am, typing away, not sure where it is leading.
You expect your life to change when you begin college, when you move out of your parents’ home. You expect your life to be unrecognizable once you get married. But only after becoming a mother do you realize that none of that was even close in comparison. Sometimes I have an outer-body experience, where I can see and feel the old me; the me I have known the last 30 years. I am still the same girl; laughing, loving life. Still love Harry Potter and Friends. Still get excited for ice-cream and coffee. Other times, I see the mother that I am now. She has her own identity, her own principles, rules, burdens, feelings, thoughts, schedule. Phew. The old me has graciously moved herself to the back-burner. No regrets, no complaints. Just making room; for more of me. I have watched this motherly side of me grow and evolve in the last year and a half; almost like an adolescent finding her identity. Baby A’s first year was all about him. I didn’t want to blink an eye because that’s how quickly they grow, and watching him grow has been the best thing I have ever done in my life. Somewhere between all that, I was also growing and metamorphosing. And in today’s day and age where women are expected to go “beyond” a parental role, I have no qualms in saying that being his mom is my most favorite part of me. I have become more patient, more persistent, dedicated and kind. I feel like a whole new world has open to me; or may be it is the same world but I now wear rose-tinted glasses. Everything looks so much more beautiful. Of course, the instant you become a mom, you are already being pulled in a million ways. Apart from keeping this tiny human alive and thriving, you are expected to still be a good wife, a good daughter, daughter in law and friend. Honestly, no one but I set that expectation for myself. You just hope that you can balance it all. The truth is- there is no balance of these aspects. Some days you are a good friend, some days a good wife, but to me, none of them rely on me the way my child does right now- so sue me for saying that he is my number one priority. He won’t be this little forever, as school begins, I have to learn to share him more and more with the world- until the dreadful day arrives when, my husband and I will no longer be his world. Just a small part of it. I have accepted that- such is life as it should be. I wish he discovers his true potential and ambition without ever feeling like his parents are a burden on him. And for that, we need to set them free. But for now, I am his world and I don’t ever want to regret missing out on the sweet moments we create every single day.
I had once written a poem spur of the moment while putting him to sleep one night, it feels apt to be shared on this post, so here goes:
One day, you won’t need me to fall asleep like you do.
One day, you won’t get excited as I walk in the room
One day, you will want your own room and bed.
One day, you won’t get up in the middle of the night to wake us up and have a PJ party.
One day, i will have to compete with rest of the world to spend time with you.
One day, you will teach us things and stories we don’t yet know about..
But today is not that day.
Today, I hugged you tightly as I sung lullabies and put you to bed.
Today, I enjoyed the look on your face when I walked through the door.
Today, I got to cuddle you in the middle of the night.
Today, I soaked in the look that told me I AM your world.
And today is all that we will think about.
-Aarav’s mom. | https://medium.com/@aishwaryapanchal/i-dont-remember-the-last-time-i-penned-my-thoughts-on-my-blog-a3015b1bd73b | [] | 2020-02-18 21:07:51.984000+00:00 | ['Motherhood', 'Baby', 'Poem'] |
The First Signs of Alcoholic Liver Damage Are Not in the Liver | The First Signs of Alcoholic Liver Damage Are Not in the Liver
Myfather died of alcoholic liver cirrhosis four years ago. It came as a surprise to all of us, even though it was clear he had a severe drinking problem for decades. It was especially surprising to me, as a former nurse and a recovering alcoholic. You would think I’d know more about liver problems and alcohol use than the average person. But the truth is, in the months before his death, I had no idea my father’s liver was struggling at all. Most people know about cirrhosis, but few people know how a liver goes from early damage to end-stage liver cirrhosis.
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The combination of my father’s death and my personal background lit a fire in me to know more. He was admitted to the hospital on June 24, 2016, and he died on July 18. Only 24 days passed between the first sign there was a problem and his subsequent death.
Now, hearing that he was in end-stage cirrhosis didn’t surprise me, given his heavy drinking. What did surprise me was that he’d visited several doctors and specialists in the months before his death, and no one knew his liver was struggling either.
So what happened? Does end-stage liver cirrhosis really sneak up that fast? Were there other signs that would have alerted someone to his failing liver?
As for why the doctors and specialists didn’t know what was happening, that mystery resolved reasonably quickly. The plain truth is that alcoholics rarely divulge the amount and frequency of their drinking to their doctors. This was the case for my dad. He had many health issues that he was trying to solve, but he protected his drinking habit fiercely. So he refused to spill the beans, even when it mattered.
The problem is that liver damage has numerous multifaceted symptoms that are confusing and associated with many other illnesses. Unless a doctor knows that the patient is an alcoholic, they may not know how to interpret what’s happening until it’s too late.
As he was dying, my father told me that he didn’t think to tell the doctors how much he was drinking. He said it was as if he blanked out and “forgot” to mention it. As crazy as that sounds, this strange “forgetting” is a common part of the alcoholic mindset. It may also be due to the metabolic and physical changes of cirrhosis itself.
There are many signs of liver problems, but oddly, none seem to point to the liver at first. And in fact, many of the first signs of liver damage occur in other parts of the body. Knowing these signs may help educate alcoholics and their families if they want to understand their risk of developing liver cirrhosis.
Liver damage has numerous multifaceted symptoms that are confusing and associated with many other illnesses. Unless a doctor knows that the patient is an alcoholic, they may not know how to interpret what’s happening until it’s too late.
Digestive signs
The liver plays a huge part in our digestive process. It filters out all toxins from food as well as helping to break down fats and glucose.
When a liver starts to slow down due to significant damage, it will reduce its digestive work. Instead, it will divert its energy toward vital functions like metabolizing medications and filtering toxins.
This means that symptoms like bloating, nausea, vomiting, gas, and diarrhea will start to increase. Over time, eating becomes more challenging. In the later stages of liver cirrhosis, toxins that can’t be filtered out begin to build in the bloodstream, which causes more nausea.
Cognitive signs
Although confusion and brain fog happen in end-stage liver cirrhosis, they can also be early signs.
The liver is responsible for filtering dangerous substances in the blood. It also helps regulate hormones, blood glucose, and vitamin absorption. In the early stages of liver damage, these processes can be interrupted. Inevitably, this affects our brain and nervous system.
This means that early liver problems can make you feel tired, confused, slow, and foggy. You may have some memory issues as well.
Neuromuscular signs
The liver stores vitamins required for the functioning of many organs and systems in the body — one of them is vitamin B1 or thiamine. A deficiency in this particular vitamin has been documented in many alcoholics with or without liver damage.
Unfortunately, alcohol inhibits the absorption of thiamine in the intestine. Over time, as the liver becomes damaged, it can no longer store thiamine in enough quantities. Thiamine deficiency is responsible for many neurological issues in people with alcoholism.
Symptoms of thiamine deficiency range from mild to severe and include things like: confusion, mental fog, lack of balance, pain and numbness in hands and feet, muscle weakness, rapid heart rate, digestive problems, flushing, and involuntary eye movements.
Thiamine deficiency happens in almost every alcoholic who consumes frequent and large amounts of alcohol. And if thiamine deficiency due to alcoholism is discovered, you can be sure the liver is suffering damage at the same time.
Many of the first signs of liver damage occur in other parts of the body.
Vascular signs
All alcohol consumption can lead to blood vessel dilation, causing flushing in the face and hands. Over time, this can cause damage leading to permanent redness in the face. Although many alcoholics have rosacea or spider-like veins on their faces, this is often benign.
However, spider angiomas are different from rosacea or spiderlike veins. They’re circular and have a central point called a spider nevus that is darker than the rest of the lesion. Spider angiomas are a sign of liver disease and can be present in the early stages. They often progress to more extensive and more numerous lesions.
Spider angiomas are caused by increased estrogen levels in the blood. When the liver becomes damaged, it can’t properly metabolize estrogens, which causes them to build up in the body.
Many women who are pregnant or taking birth control pills may have a few spider angiomas. However, in alcoholic liver disease, these lesions are often more frequent and accompanied by red palms and varicose veins in the esophagus.
These are a few of the main signs of alcoholic liver damage that happen outside of the liver. It’s important to know this because most of us have no idea how the liver functions and how it communicates distress.
The liver itself doesn’t show signs like pain or swelling in the early stages of liver damage. This contrasts with other organs like the heart or stomach, where any damage will emit pain or symptoms directly from these organs.
What happens with liver damage is that its many diverse functions become interrupted, causing symptoms in other parts of the body. This may explain why most people never think they have a problem with their liver.
Unfortunately, patients with alcoholism are rarely educated about these issues. This is because they often don’t reveal their drinking, to begin with. And even if they do, the symptoms are widespread and complex, which makes patient education challenging.
My goal in writing articles like this is to help educate regular people about alcoholic liver disease to understand their health and make better decisions.
It’s hard to say if my father would have changed his drinking habits if he knew more about his vague and complicated symptoms. But I think having proper education would have certainly helped him understand his risks and health problems better. | https://medium.com/@saowafatabo/the-first-signs-of-alcoholic-liver-damage-are-not-in-the-liver-15a1332f2593 | [] | 2020-12-13 19:49:05.449000+00:00 | ['Mental Health', 'Addiction', 'Health', 'Alcohol'] |
What’s Wrong With All The Self-Help? | What’s Wrong With All The Self-Help?
We are obsessed about it, but does it really help?
Photo by Jordan Whitfield on Unsplash
I was trying to explain my writing to my grandma. She asked me what I was writing about and I told her that I choose my topics according to what’s in demand. And I told her how much self-help is in demand. I explained her the term self-help, trying to make it sound as generic as possible, so that if she is interested she can still ask me or let it go if it’s not her thing to discuss.
She was shocked and fascinated by the mere notion of self-help. That people need it. That people read it. That people can make a living writing about it.
The notion self-help sounded strange as I tried to explain to her that it is about self-improvement and learning about yourself and growth, and productivity.
She didn’t understand the hype around it. She said that in her time — she is 90 now — it was life teaching the lessons. They didn’t need to artificially improve themselves, the only thing they had to do is to be a decent, hardworking, caring person; and the rest came with it.
She said that the lessons of life were taught day after day. You could read about it as much as you want to, but you needed to experience it so that it should really make a difference.
Eventually, when she got over her shock, she said she couldn’t believe that life has changed this much that we need a detailed explanation on how to be decent, hardworking and caring. | https://zitafontaine.medium.com/whats-wrong-with-all-the-self-help-48ed24466b69 | ['Zita Fontaine'] | 2020-04-23 16:29:45.447000+00:00 | ['Self Improvement', 'Inspiration', 'Life', 'Motivation', 'Self'] |
Mental Health Awareness is More Than Just a Meme | I speak candidly from my own experience with PTSD and clinical depression, which were exacerbated by six years of late-stage neurological Lyme disease and the hormonal and emotional upheaval brought on during menopause.
I was in a very dark place for years. I could barely muster the energy to get out of bed, and I was miserable every minute of every day from constant, debilitating pain. Without sleep or physical healing, my emotional and mental faculties were overwhelmed, and I became an overly-sensitive, anxious, irritable, melancholy mess.
Instead of earning compassion and kindness from those around me, I earned disdain and alienation. Part of me doesn’t blame others. Clearly, I was not a fun person to be around. The truth is — I was drowning, and even I didn’t understand how far I’d fallen into the pit of depression until I no longer recognized myself.
Sadly, some of the worst offenders when it came to recognizing my mental illness were people in the medical or therapeutic fields.
However, mental illness in real life isn’t always like it is in the movies. We aren’t all banging our heads against walls and running naked through the halls in the Cuckoo’s Nest.
These also happen to be the very people who post enthusiastically online about how woke they are when it comes to mental illness. They make sure everyone knows they are ‘warriors’ who donate money and support the mental health community.
What I’ve seen from many of these mental health and medical professionals is outdated knowledge gleaned from college courses they took thirty years ago. On stage, they can pontificate about theory and collect awards for their service and valor. They recognize people with extreme mental illness who need heavy-duty medications or hospitalization or constant supervision to survive.
However, mental illness in real life isn’t always like it is in the movies. We aren’t all banging our heads against walls and running naked through the halls in the Cuckoo’s Nest.
In every-day life, many people, including therapists and clinicians, fail to recognize that millions of people — their friends and family members included — are living and working and struggling with varying degrees of mental illness.
Just because we are functioning at high levels and look normal on the outside doesn’t mean we aren’t silently struggling every minute of every day.
We’re not just having bad days.
We’re not just a Debbie Downer.
We’re fighting demons.
And sometimes the demons are winning. | https://medium.com/narrative/mental-health-awareness-is-more-than-just-a-meme-78d9a93dadbd | ['Lizzie Finn'] | 2020-10-10 15:08:00.624000+00:00 | ['Life Lessons', 'Mental Illness', 'Mental Health', 'Depression', 'Health'] |
Learn About Irregular Plural Nouns with Full List Examples | Learn About Irregular Plural Nouns with Full List Examples Siliaweber ·Dec 18, 2020
Have you ever read irregular plural nouns in detail? According to its name, it is clear that these nouns are different than regular plural nouns. You can start with the basics to get a clear knowledge of this chapter. You can even learn how to remember them easily. Check the rules of using these plural nouns as well as the list of 100.
Without wasting more time, start reading the article from start to end. | https://medium.com/@siliaweber/learn-about-irregular-plural-nouns-with-full-list-examples-15d1daf4d2e8 | [] | 2020-12-18 16:04:20.718000+00:00 | ['Noun', 'Grammar', 'English'] |
Why is skipping a meal worse than begin morbidly obese? | What happens when you eat
Contrary to popular belief, eating is not like tanking gas. For long, we did not know better as to believe that you load your body with energy, and then you use that energy whenever you need it.
Science tells a whole different story. Eating is not merely about taking in energy — it’s much more about sending and receiving signals. When you eat, depending on what type of food you eat, your body receives a signal to store energy. It enters a state in which it stores energy (and actively avoids burning energy). This state peaks and then slowly wears over a period of a couple of hours. Nearly every type of food sends this signal, but generally speaking sweet and starchy foods send the loudest signals. I’m talking about things like pasta, donuts, candy, sugary soft drinks, rice, and potatoes, to name a few.
The stronger the signal, the longer and more deeply the body will enter the energy-storing state. As you might have guessed, eating a little bit of something sends a weaker signal than eating a lot of the same thing.
So, in terms of signaling, two donuts is worse than one — not just because of the caloric difference, but mainly because of how deeply your body will go into the energy-storing state, and how long it will stay there.
The problem with eating often
Eating often results in your body entering and trying to leave the energy-storing state throughout the day. But right when it’s about to leave that state, new food is introduced and the body is pulled back into the energy-storing state.
This is today’s dietary norm. We eat from the moment we wake until shortly before we go back to bed, only to sleep and start the cycle all over again. During all that time, our bodies hardly get a chance to leave the energy-storing state and burn some body fat instead.
The underlying metabolical processes are much more complex than this, but the point is clear: our bodies need down-time from food — more than just the time we spend asleep — in order to be able to leave the energy-storing state and burn some body fat.
What happens when you don’t eat
When you don’t eat, the signals that make your body enter the energy-storing state fade away and eventually die out. This causes your body to slowly shift from burning energy directly from food to burning stored energy: body fat.
In addition, in the absence of the energy-storing signal, your body eventually enters a state that encourages fixing cells and cleaning up waste throughout your body.
This is why fasting has often been associated with cleansing. If you do not eat for some time, your body cranks up maintenance significantly.
Energy abundance
Another, much more noticeable thing that happens when you don’t eat is that you become incredibly alert. This is one of those things that is hard to believe for most people. The general belief is that in order to feel energized, you need to actively fuel your body.
However, if this was the case, our species would not have stood a chance throughout history. It’s much more logical for our bodies (and brains!) to become more active and focussed in the absence of food.
Higher alertness significantly increases your chances to find something edible, or catch prey, whereas lethargy and drowsiness would do quite the opposite.
From an evolutionary standpoint, it makes a lot more sense to feel more present and alert in a fasted state, than to become tired and lethargic.
Where the energy to power all this focus and alertness comes from? Body fat. Any healthy adult is carrying around at least 90,000 calories worth of body fat. An overweight person might even be carrying around 250,000 calories of fat, or more.
That’s at least 45 days of pure energy in any healthy adult, right there. | https://medium.com/edible-future/why-is-skipping-a-meal-worse-than-begin-morbidly-obese-1dcfc93883ca | ['Reinoud Schuijers'] | 2019-08-11 17:42:44.515000+00:00 | ['Health', 'Culture', 'Lifestyle', 'Food', 'Self Improvement'] |
157. How to Live a Life with No Regrets | This is Entrepreneurs of Faith, a Sunday episode of Monetization Nation. I’m Nathan Gwilliam, your host. In today’s episode, we’re going to discuss how to live a life with no regrets.
If your life flashed before your eyes, would you have any regrets?
In a 2012 sermon, “Of Regrets and Resolutions,” Dieter Uchtdorf, a German aviator, airline executive, and religious leader, explained that a nurse who cares for the terminally ill often asks her patients a simple question as they prepare to leave this life: “Do you have any regrets?”
“Being so close to that final day of mortality often gives clarity to thought and provides insight and perspective,” Uchtdorf said. “So when these people were asked about their regrets, they opened their hearts. They reflected about what they would change if only they could turn back the clock.”
If we could turn back the clock, what would we change? How would we be different? As entrepreneurs, we have to make constant decisions. Sometimes, we may make choices we regret. For example, this week I thought of some team members that I let go of over the years, and a business partnership that didn’t end well, and what I could have done better in those situations.
A Near-Death Experience
Marshall Goldsmith, an American executive leadership coach, and author, shared his near-death experience on his website, MarshallGoldsmith.com. He had been on a flight to Santa Barbara when the plane suddenly took an “enormous” dip.
“We have a minor problem,” Goldsmith recalled the pilot announces. “The landing gear isn’t working. We are going to circle the airport until we run out of fuel so we can land safely with the wheels up.”
Goldsmith explained he was terrified for his life. The moment seemed to last forever, giving him a chance to reflect. He asked himself, “What do I regret?”
“The only answer I could come up with was that I had never adequately thanked the many people who had been good to me in my life. I told myself, ‘If I ever get back down on the ground safely, I will thank these people,’” Goldsmith wrote.
After the plane landed safely, Goldsmith traveled to his hotel and started writing thank-you notes to the people he was grateful for in his life. After he had reflected on his regrets, he immediately took action and made a change. Now, he makes a conscious effort to be grateful for everyone around him, especially in his business.
“That was the moment I became a connoisseur of gratitude, a virtuoso at thanking. I’m always thanking people now in my emails, letters, seminars, and life. The last thing I say on most phone calls is not ‘goodbye’ but ‘thank you,’” Goldsmith wrote.
If we were to have a similar experience, what would we regret? What lesson could we learn? What would we want to do better? What changes would we make? Not only does this lesson apply to our lives, but also to our businesses. Goldsmith was able to reflect on his regrets in his business, and then make a change by constantly being grateful for his customers, clients, and employees.
5 Ways to Overcome Regrets
As entrepreneurs who are humans, we will make a lot of mistakes and wrong choices. It is inevitable. We may lose a client, launch a marketing campaign that fails, or release a product no one likes. However, we don’t have to live in regret. How do we get to the point where, when someone asks us if we have any regrets, we can confidently say no?
Here are five steps we can take to overcome our regrets.
1. Reflect
Sometimes we may not know what we will regret in the future as we live our present lives. In order to make changes, we first need to recognize what changes we want to make. We can do this by setting aside time to reflect.
Goldsmith didn’t realize he had regrets until he had a near-death experience. He didn’t realize he lacked gratitude for the people he worked with until he was forced to assess his life. Even though a near-death experience can provide meaningful insights about ourselves, we don’t need to have one to determine what changes we should make in our lives now. We simply need to take the time to reflect on what we wish we were doing better.
Margaret J. Wheatley, an American writer, teacher, speaker, and management consultant, said, “Without reflection, we go blindly on our way, creating more unintended consequences, and failing to achieve anything useful.”
We should reflect on our leadership abilities. Are we kind? Do we appreciate our employees? We should reflect on our business processes. Is there a step we can take out? Are we missing something? When we set aside time to reflect, we can stop bad habits and prevent regrets in the future.
2. Accept
When we make a wrong choice, we need to accept it. We shouldn’t continue to feel guilty over a mistake we made years ago. We need to accept the fact that everyone makes mistakes. Uchtdorf said a common regret many people have is, “I wish I had let myself be happier.” We shouldn’t let our shortcomings, mistakes, or failures ruin our chance to be happy or successful.
Steve Maraboli, a speaker, best-selling author, and behavioral science academic, said, “We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future.”
Once we accept that we will make wrong choices and mistakes in our lives, it will be easier to forgive ourselves and move on, continuing on the path to success.
3. Apologize
If we have hurt someone else, we need to apologize. In our businesses, this could mean acknowledging poor leadership skills and making a promise to do better for our employees or partners.
As entrepreneurs, we often fall into leadership positions and have to spend most of our time working with others. As we run a business, we need to make sure we aren’t leaving our relationships at the bottom of our priority list. One common thing we need to apologize for in the workplace is neglecting our relationships. If we don’t take the time to really build our relationships and apologize for our past mistakes, our workplace won’t run as efficiently or be as successful.
Uchtdorf explained that a common mistake we make is ignoring the people around us because we are too consumed with our projects. He said, “Isn’t it true that we often get so busy?” Uchtdorf said. “And, sad to say, we even wear our business as a badge of honor, as though being busy, by itself, was an accomplishment or sign of a superior life. Is it? I think of our Lord and Exemplar, Jesus Christ, and His short life among the people of Galilee and Jerusalem. I have tried to imagine Him bustling between meetings or multitasking to get a list of urgent things accomplished. I can’t see it.”
When we focus on all of the tasks we need to accomplish, it can be easy to forget about being a human and working with others. When this happens, we need to take the time to apologize. As we start apologizing for our mistakes, we will build better relationships with our employees, partners, and customers. Once we have apologized we can begin to make amends.
Uchtdorf continued, “I see the compassionate and caring Son of God purposefully living each day. When He interacted with those around Him, they felt important and loved. He knew the infinite value of the people He met. He blessed them, ministered to them. He lifted them up, healed them. He gave them the precious gift of His time.” When we admit mistakes and apologize to those around us for things even as small as being too busy, we will begin to have fewer regrets in our lives.
4. Learn & Improve
The more we see our mistakes as learning opportunities and chances for improvement, the less regret we will have. After Goldsmith reflected on his regrets, he decided to learn from them and find a way to improve. As we do this in our businesses, our mistakes will no longer be failures, but a sign we are moving forward to reaching our full potential.
A common regret many people have is, “I wish I had lived up to my potential.” During our life on earth, we are meant to grow and learn. If we can do this, we will have less to regret.
“Our Heavenly Father sees our real potential,” Uchtdorf said. “He knows things about us that we do not know ourselves. He prompts us during our lifetime to fulfill the measure of our creation, to live a good life, and to return to His presence.” He continued, “Let us resolve to follow the Savior and work with diligence to become the person we were designed to become. Let us listen to and obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit. As we do so, Heavenly Father will reveal to us things we never knew about ourselves. He will illuminate the path ahead and open our eyes to see our unknown and perhaps unimagined talents.”
As we open our minds and hearts to learn new things and understand what God wants of us, we will become better people. In our businesses, we should constantly have the mindset of growth. We want to learn from our mistakes and regrets so we can improve.
5. Change
After we have recognized the regrets we have or could have in the future, we need to make changes. We need to take what we have learned and begin to apply it in our lives. We can do this by making resolutions and goals to improve.
Uchtdorf explained, “The more we devote ourselves to the pursuit of holiness and happiness, the less likely we will be on a path to regrets. The more we rely on the Savior’s grace, the more we will feel that we are on the track our Father in Heaven has intended for us.”
As we strive to do better in our businesses, as we reflect, accept, apologize, learn, and make changes, we will begin to live a life free of regret. We will get to the point where we can say “no” when we are asked, “Do you have any regrets?”
“[W]e should not be like the boy who dipped his toe in the water and then claimed he went swimming. As sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, we are capable of so much more. For that, good intentions are not enough. We must do. Even more important, we must become what Heavenly Father wants us to be.”
Key Takeaways
Here are some of my key takeaways from this episode:
1. Sometimes we may not know what we will regret in the future as we live our present lives. When we set aside time to reflect, we can stop bad habits and prevent future regrets we will have with our businesses.
2. Everyone makes mistakes. Once we accept that we will make wrong choices, it will be easier to forgive ourselves and move on, continuing on the path to success.
3. When we focus on all of the tasks we need to accomplish, it can be easy to forget about being a human and working with others. If we realize this is something we are doing, we need to take the time to apologize.
4. The more we see our mistakes as learning opportunities and chances for improvement, the less regret we will have.
5. After we have recognized the regrets we have or could have in the future, we need to make a change so we can live a life without regrets.
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Share Your Story
What regrets do you have and how have you learned from them? Please join our private Monetization Nation Facebook group and share your insights with other digital monetizers. | https://medium.com/@monetizationnation/157-how-to-live-a-life-with-no-regrets-940d49d0d07a | ['Monetization Nation', 'With Nathan Gwilliam'] | 2021-07-12 20:41:27.159000+00:00 | ['Regret', 'Life', 'No Regrets', 'Live', 'Monetization'] |
2020 State of Play — Remote team experiences | Culture matters
Having a strong company culture is more important now than ever. 40% of employees report feeling disconnected or lonely while remote working. And non-thriving cultures are 10x more likely to be negatively impacted by crisis.
So if you aren’t already, you should be prioritising culture-building activities for your team. Most companies organise team-building activities once per quarter… do you? 👀
Organising takes money… and time
On average, remote events cost between 30€ for a fully virtual event to 86€ for a premium at-home activity. But there are also overhead costs that companies incur due to the time and effort they put into organising the event. When taking into account the 20 hours and 35+ emails sent to organise an activity, it can inflate your bill by 20–25% with hidden costs.
But team experiences are non-negotiable
At the end of the day, company culture is not a nice-to-have. It’s an integral part of an organisation that must be fostered. When you are facing the most uncertainty is when you should be focusing the most on keeping your team connected.
As Peter Drucker says, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” | https://medium.com/@jurnee/2020-state-of-play-remote-team-experiences-5b94eebc8458 | [] | 2020-12-17 17:02:22.011000+00:00 | ['Startup', 'Company Culture', 'Team Building', 'Remote Working', 'Culture'] |
The best new digital cameras that every snapper needs to see | The hottest new digital cameras
Technology always goes through cycles. It starts with a big bang of innovation, which gradually fades into humdrum updates until the next great invention restarts the cycle.
When DSLRs first arrived around twenty years ago, they revolutionized photography. But in recent years, smartphone snappers have been treated to better features than most DSLR photographers have. However, the advent of mirrorless technology has breathed new life into the industry.
To help you navigate the new world of digital photography, we decided to create a helpful buyers guide. Here are the best new digital cameras that money can buy.
Which should I buy: DSLR vs. mirrorless?
Before deciding on your new camera, it’s worth deciding between the two main formats at the top end of photography.
Mirrorless cameras are generally smaller
The primary difference between a DSLR and a mirrorless camera is that a DSLR has a mirror and a mirrorless camera…you know the rest.
But what does that mean? Well, DSLRs have an optical viewfinder, whereas mirrorless cameras rely on digital viewfinders and rear displays. However, mirrorless cameras can take multiple images with less delay because they have no mirror to move. They are quieter for this reason, as well.
You might be wondering why anyone would buy a DSLR. But the fact is, mirrorless technology is still quite new. These cameras are capable of remarkable things, but they are finely tuned digital thoroughbreds. Many photographers prefer something tried and tested.
The best digital cameras in 2019
With these considerations in mind, let’s take a look at the hottest new photography tech.
Canon EOS Rebel SL3 DSLR Camera
This cute little DSLR is the smallest and lightest Canon ever made, but the SL3 packs a punch. The camera has Canon’s powerful DIGIC 8 processor on board, while eye-detection technology makes for easier focusing when you shoot portraits. This model also captures 4K video, with an articulated three-inch screen helping you to frame your shots.
Price: $600 USD (body only)
Fujifilm X-T100 Mirrorless Camera
While the X-T100 does not compete with the big guns, this small mirrorless camera offers incredible value for money. You get a 24MP APS-C sensor, a 91-point hybrid AF system, and up to 51,200 ISO. In addition, you get Fuji’s great X-Trans sensor technology and built-in film emulation — all for under $600.
Price: $599.95 USD (body only)
Nikon Z 6 Full Frame Mirrorless Camera
Launched just before Christmas, the Nikon Z 6 provides a great balance between price and features. It delivers stunning images at 24MP resolution, and you can choose between new Z mount lenses and older Nikon lenses. Reviewers also like the electronic viewfinder, battery life, and intuitive controls.
Price: $1,999.95 USD (body only)
Canon EOS RP Full Frame Mirrorless Camera
Another lightweight from Canon, the EOS RP offers great full-frame photography in an affordable package. The camera has a 26MP sensor, DIGIC 8 processor, and Canon’s fast Dual Pixel autofocus. Video enthusiasts will appreciate the 4K shooting, and this camera can take both EF and EF-S lenses with the help of an adapter.
Price: $1,299 USD (body only)
Olympus OM-D E-M1X Full Frame Mirrorless Camera
Aimed at sports and wildlife photographers, the E-M1X is seriously fast. This thing has Intelligent Subject Detection to help you nail focusing, and you can shoot up to 60 frames per second. It also has impressive image stabilization built in, and the body is designed to survive all weathers. The Olympus even allows you to capture UHD 4K video.
Price: $2,999 USD
Panasonic Lumix S1R Full Frame Mirrorless Camera
Panasonic has teased us with the S1R since Photokina 2018. It was worth the wait. This 47.3MP behemoth uses machine learning to track subjects, and it can combine multiple images into a 187MP composite. You also get an OLED viewfinder, 4K video at 60 frames per second, and up to 60 shots per second in burst mode.
Price: $3,699 USD (body only)
Sony Alpha a7R III Full Frame Mirrorless
It might be the oldest here, but Sony’s a7R III is still the camera to beat. This beautiful beast provides a solid 42.4MP resolution, with outstanding low-light performance. The ridiculous 693-point autofocus system gives you total creative control, and you can shoot at 10 frames per second. Video is also a strong point, and the A7R III has built-in stabilization. However, this camera’s best feature is world-class image quality.
Price: $2,799.99 USD (body only)
The best new digital cameras
No matter whether you’re a first-time buyer or an experienced photographer, this list should have something for you. | https://medium.com/the-gadget-flow/the-best-new-digital-cameras-that-every-snapper-needs-to-see-2a7394fbb43b | ['Gadget Flow'] | 2019-04-12 14:26:37.109000+00:00 | ['Cameras', 'Photographer', 'Gadgets', 'Photography', 'Technology'] |
Make each moment matter!. Slow down time by making new memories. | When I was a child each day seemed endless. Now in the blink of the eye, a year has passed. What changed? Our perception of time changes as we age as a result of how our brains function. Our brains encode new experiences to create memories. During childhood we are exposed to new experiences. We remember endless days because we are recalling the number of newly created memories. The greater the number of new memories, the longer time seems to be. Compare this to adulthood which revolves around routines and a limited number of new experiences. Because of this phenomenon, our autobiographical memory may over-represent our early years; the time when we were making new memories. Imagine if instead of becoming complacent, we began challenging ourselves to try new experiences, pushing out of our comfort zones and creating new memories.
Time is finite. Each year we have 8760 hours to use as we see fit. It is impossible to slow down time and it is important not to waste the time we have. As children our decisions were directed by our parents. Children are often forced into situations they might not select themselves. In hindsight, some of these new situations were exhilarating and amazing — but would we have chosen them? As adults, we tend to avoid situations that we think will be uncomfortable. However, this decision limits our exposure to new experiences. Having control of decision-making may cause adults to avoid making new memories.
The challenge is more difficult for women who may be juggling families, maintaining a home and working. Multiple responsibilities leaves them exhausted and overwhelmed. In addition, women delegate less than men. Delegation is a quality of effective leadership. However, studies found that women associate delegation with negative emotions. Women need to embrace delegation, using it to generate ideas, develop teamwork and provide new experiences.
Women work 10% harder than men, imagine the difference delegation can make! Offloading routine tasks creates opportunities for other pursuits.
Have you experienced the holiday paradox? Time flies when you’re having fun, but when you look back on fun events they seem to have lasted longer than mundane events. Why is going on vacation more exciting than working on a spreadsheet or writing a memo? On vacation you are doing new things, creating new memories, and you are actively involved. If you want to make the days last, do something different, or become invested in what you are doing. Imagine if you treated every day like a holiday?
One way to turn daily occurrences into new memories is to share your experiences. Sharing allows you to recall how you spend your day, recounting experiences as a story helps them grow in importance, which is how tall tales evolved. In each iteration the story is polished, becoming a little brighter and bigger. This is how our childhood memories continue to grow and become more pronounced.
Adults tend to forget routine activities causing these memories to fade or blend. The act of recounting each day allows you to find the uniqueness of activities, which ingrains them into your brain as new memories. The days when I found myself going through the motions were lackluster, and same-old-stuff different day; days flowed into weeks, and months until time had passed.
1. Sharing allowed me to focus on myself, as opposed to fixating on family and friends.
2. Discussing events inspired me to become more engaged.
My days felt longer and busier. By sharing my stories with a friend, I was able to appreciate what I had accomplished, and this helped slow down time, and added richness to my memories.
We can influence our perception of time. Being self-aware and intentional creates lasting memories which makes time seem longer. Are you devoting too much energy to tasks that can be delegated? If routine activities are filling your day, you are depriving yourself of new experiences. Are you problem-solving for other people in your life? Expanding your conversations to share your experiences, will create a uniqueness to your daily activities, making them memorable.
Time is a valuable commodity to treasure and spend wisely. Slow down time by creating new memories, pushing yourself to try new things and talking about your experiences. By continuing to build new memories you can create the endless days of summer like those from your childhood. | https://medium.com/@suedweston/do-your-days-blur-together-f42fe1a701ef | ['Suzanne Weston'] | 2020-10-27 12:33:16.489000+00:00 | ['Stress Management', 'Coping Strategies', 'Work Life Balance', 'Leadership Skills', 'Time Management'] |
The Witch Doctor’s Manifesto | It is my mission to bring magic to your business. When you look at the fastest growing and most profitable businesses today it may seem they achieved this through magic. They did not. They did it using software. When Silicon Valley uses the word “Disruption” they are talking about the process of targeting a market inefficiency with software that gives them a competitive advantage. I can help your business become a disrupter!
Platforms
I am a developer with disciplined problem-solving approaches, a solid grounding in software engineering techniques, and the mental and physical fortitude to see your work through. I am an application developer. The applications I create for you will work on any web compatible software platform. Many job listings post a ridiculous number of qualifications for their candidates. This is a natural consequence of the software platforms their applications run on. Exhaustive lists of required experience with specific programming technologies is folly and a needless inflationary pressure in the cost of your development process.
Project Management
I create successful relationships with clients that produce valuable products with an emphasis on business value. Clients contract with me for a single “sprint” (usually a continuous 40-hour work week) at a flat fee and give a prioritized list of desired features for their product. In return, I deliver a working product that implements the requested features in priority order. All implemented features will be complete and bug free within the first 30 days of development. If during development I discover your requirements are more comprehensive than we understood I will notify you immediately and request the terms of the arrangement be renegotiated. After product delivery the client and I meet, discuss the delivered product and whether you have any further needs.
If budget is an issue for you our “sprints” will be scaled so you can still derive business value — instead of doing one — 40 hours sprint, we can work a two or three-day sprint. Billing can occur at an hourly rate, product delivered rate, or time/cost estimate rate with this understanding: The only way to know how long a piece of software takes to write is to write it, thus the word “estimate”.
Location
Telecommuting is one of the best innovations to come to software development in the history of the profession. I work efficiently remotely and can accommodate customers who desire on-site work at additional costs. Growing your business in a profitable manner while working magic as an application developer is what I do best. | https://medium.com/witch-doctor-virtual-solutions/the-witch-doctors-manifesto-86778327f870 | [] | 2017-10-19 15:55:08.547000+00:00 | ['Software Development', 'Consulting', 'Agile'] |
What $50 Buys You at Huaqiangbei, the World’s Most Fascinating Electronic Market. | We’re building the Model 01, a hackable ergonomic keyboard with mechanical keyswitches, programmable RGB LEDs, opensource firmware, and a gorgeous hardwood enclosure. We expect to ship later this year. You can pre-order one today at https://shop.keyboard.io. The discount code “BOXOFCRAP” will take fifteen bucks off your order.
Last summer, we ran a pretty successful Kickstarter campaign for our first product, the Model 01 keyboard. Since then, we’ve been hard at work getting the first run of a few thousand keyboards manufactured. It’s been a bit more of an adventure than we’d expected, but things are proceeding apace.
Unsurprisingly, setting up manufacturing has meant that Jesse’s been spending…rather a lot of time in Shenzhen. Mostly, his days at the factory start at 9:30 AM and wrap up somewhere between 8 and 10 PM. But on Sundays, he’s been at loose ends. This trip, he decided to do something about that.
We’ve long been fascinated by the Huaqiangbei electronics market area of Shenzhen. (Hereafter, we’ll just call it HQB.) If you need some bit of electronics or a phone accessory, you can find it in HQB. There is an entire multi-floor shopping mall that sells nothing but phone cases. There’s one that specializes in smartwatches. There’s a mall that sells cellphones wholesale. There’s one just for surveillance cameras. And then there are the component markets. Need a chip? Or 250,000 chips? Somebody there can get them for you.
Seeed Studios’ map for makers is probably the canonical English-language reference for the HQB area. You can download a free PDF of it here: http://www.seeedstudio.com/document/pdf/Shenzhen%20Map%20for%20Makers.pdf
While most vendors in the markets will (grudgingly) sell you one of something, that’s not really why they’re there. HQB is where you go to buy new products in volume. The price for one of something is…a little bit higher than the unit price if you’re buying a bunch of something.
Up until now, we’ve had only the vaguest sense of what volume purchase in the markets was really like. We, of course, were never going to be in the business of buying smartwatches, drones, or SD cards in volume. Or were we?
About a month back, Jesse asked friends on Twitter if they’d pay fifty bucks to get a box of random crap from Shenzhen. It quickly became clear that we weren’t going to have any trouble finding customers for this one.
Once in Shenzhen, Jesse enlisted the help of his friend Helen Tan. They made a plan to spend Sunday in the market and Jesse posted the following product listing to the Keyboardio store:
We’ll send you a box of worthless amazing crap from the electronics markets in Shenzhen, China. We’ve got some idea of what will get thrown into your box, but we won’t know for sure until after we’ve gone shopping. It’ll probably include some computer or phone accessories, maybe an input device or actual phone or something if we see something weird and cool and crappy enough. If you have specific requests, send them to @obra on Twitter. To maximize the amount of dreck we can send you, slow-boat shipping to anywhere in the USA is included in the price of the box. Expedited shipping and delivery to addresses outside the USA are not available at this time. None of this stuff comes with any warranty. It’s exceeding likely that the box will contain items known to the State of California to cause cancer. Limit: one to a customer.
Not really being sure what we were getting ourselves into, we limited this run to 25 boxes. Jesse tweeted about the new product offering and we sold out in less than an hour.
Sunday rolled around and Jesse and Helen met up to go shopping. We didn’t really know what we were going to be buying. Our initial budget was that we wanted to spend about $30 on crap, $10 on shipping and take home a $10 profit. Things didn’t quite work out like that, but it gave us a decent framework.
We started off in the phone accessories mall.
iPhone Repair Stencil
$0.60 (Compare at $4.39 http://amzn.to/2dqmQPw)
Our first purchase was a soldering stencil for doing chip-level repair to an iPhone 6S+.
In the west, we generally treat a phone’s logic board as a single component. If it’s fried, it’s fried. Just toss it out and replace it.
In Shenzhen, it’s not uncommon for a phone-repair tech working in a tiny little market stall to perform incredibly fiddly chip-level repairs to a mobile phone.
This is the tool they would use to apply new solder paste when replacing individual chips on an iPhone’s logic board.
There was no volume discount for buying the stencils. The shopkeeper thought we were a little bit odd for buying 30 copies of the same stencil, rather than a kit of different stencils for a variety of late-model phones.
The shop we bought the stencils from sold a variety of tools and supplies for electronics repair. That included the regular stuff like tweezers and solder, but also a bunch of weirder stuff.
One of the items we really wanted to buy for the boxes was a set of *cough* unofficial iDevice repair manuals. These books each weighed at least a pound and featured detailed documentation of every chip, screw and component of a given Apple device. They walked through how to remove, test, repair and replace each chip, with detailed photos.
iRing
$0.60 (Compare at $14.99 http://amzn.to/2duxF1C)
Our next stop was the iRing store. The iRing is a curious item. It’s incredibly popular in China and something almost nobody in the US has. The concept is really simple. It’s ring you stick to the back of your phone. You can use it to hold your phone or as a cute little integrated stand. We decided to splurge and buy the version that had reusable adhesive and an included hook for hanging up your phone. (We still don’t really “get” the hook, but the ring is amazing enough on its own that we’re sure we’ll fall in love with the hook.)
There are four or five shops that sell nothing but iRings in HQB. The one we ended up at had a selection of probably over 1000 designs, ranging from simple unbranded rings with single-use adhesive to rings studded with fake gems to rings with pictures of your favorite Disney characters, NBA teams and multinational brands. The cheapest rings went for $0.37. The most expensive topped out at nearly $2.
USB Fan
$0.45 (Compare at $6.99 http://amzn.to/2dqlnZP)
We knew there was no way we could ship the boxes of crap without a selfie fan.
What is a selfie fan you ask? Why, it’s a fan to give your hair a nice windswept look when you’re taking selfies. The model we chose is especially interesting because it features a combined USB+MicroUSB connector. That means that it will work great with your Android phone or with your USB powerbank.
Everybody got a blue fan, except for one lucky individual. That person got a true box-of-crap experience. Their fan is missing the blade. If they write to us, we’ll drop the blade in the mail.
Later in the day, we found ourselves in a slightly more remote part of HQB and asked another vendor what they’d charge for these fans. Turns out, we’d been ripped off. This second vendor only wanted $0.38 cents per fan.
USB Light
$0.11 (Compare at $6.99: http://amzn.to/2dQ0EfW)
The next product in the box of crap is a cute little bendable USB light. You plug it into a USB port and it lights up. If you happen to have a USB powerbank, you now have a somewhat unwieldy flashlight.
“32GB” MicroSD card
$2.13 (Compare at ???)
It’s a MicroSD card. It is marked as being a 32GB card. If you stick it in your phone or computer, it will report that it is a 32 GB card. But it’s not. It’s an 8GB card with trick firmware. You should always be able to get at the last 8GB you wrote to the card, but….don’t try it with any important data or in any important device.
It was a lot easier to buy guaranteed fake cards than we expected. We had to go to one of the slightly seedier electronics malls. We had to go up to the second or third floor. We had to look for one of the vendors who didn’t have a prominent flash chip testing machine on their counter…and that was about it. There was some discussion of how much “real” storage we wanted in the cards. We asked about getting cards with only 2GB of real storage, but the vendor said 8GB was the lowest she could go. After the sale was finalized, the salesperson admitted that she would have charged us the same amount for the “256GB” cards
Interesting fact: The card can be modified to report any amount of storage as being available. The vendor said that she couldn’t do it at her booth and that she didn’t have a data sheet, but that if we wanted, she could send the cards back to the factory to be reprogrammed for us.
For a bunch of fascinating technical detail about fake SD cards, check out this post and this post from bunnie.
Stickers
$0.06 (Compare at ???)
We’d hoped to include some genuine fake Apple and Samsung “Do Not Tamper” stickers in the boxes of crap, but couldn’t find any for sale at the first few sticker booths we stopped at. We briefly considered sending “QC OK” or “Inspected by 13” stickers, but fell in love with these warning stickers. And hey, they didn’t exactly break the bank.
Lunch break
On our way to lunch, we totaled up how much we’d spent during our morning shopping spree. A whole $3.95. We knew we were going to have to up our game after lunch or we weren’t going to have nearly enough stuff to make our customers feel like they got their money’s worth.
Programmable LED Name badge
$4.20 (Compare at $13.06: http://amzn.to/2cQTN3P)
After recharging ourselves with spicy noodles, we set out for HQ Mart. Specifically, we set out for the top two floors of HQ Mart, which may well house the world’s greatest concentration of LED vendors. It’s a mix of LED sign vendors, RGB LED strip vendors and LED factories. We considered buying RGB LED strips and wireless controllers. We gaped at gorgeous LED-base reproductions of old-fashioned lightbulbs. We got headaches from giant walls of some of the brightest LEDs we’ve ever seen. We recoiled in horror when we realized some of the glowing LED strips we were handling were plugged directly into 220 volt AC.
And then we stumbled on an LED sign vendor selling cute little programmable LED name badges. They seemed about right for the box of crap, but, at $4.20 for their cheapest model, the price felt a little high. We took the vendor’s name card and went wandering around to try to find another source. After talking to another three or four vendors selling the same badges for $5 or $6, we circled back to the original vendor and made the purchase.
While they were counting out the 30 units, we noticed that the giant screen behind the vendor’s desk appeared to show her sitting there counting out product. With a little bit of pantomime and a little bit of translation by Helen, they explained that it was actually an interactive wall that they’d built around a Kinect sensor. The vendor made me sit down at her seat and practice AR bowling and taking snapshots with a handwave gesture.
The LED badge comes with a MiniCD with Windows drivers on it, but you can download the same software from the manufacturer’s website: http://www.minileddisplay.com/en/download/
(Trivia: it looks like the LED sign has a more powerful CPU than the Keyboardio Model 01.)
H6 Smart Watch
$9.74 (Compare at $24.99 http://amzn.to/2dpnxLo)
Inside each box is an H6 Smart Watch. There is no brand name on it, nor anything that points to the name of the factory. That’s not too surprising, because there’s a fruit company in Cupertino who might have some issues with their industrial design.
We’d actually done a bit research during the week before we went shopping. We knew we wanted to get a smartwatch or a drone into the boxes. We figured that either was likely to run us $15–20 and were pleasantly surprised when the first few vendors we talked to quoted us prices in the $12–15 range.
Wandering around the smartwatch mall on the ground floor of the “SEG Factory Store” building, we saw the same products in every shop. Except each had a different build quality, model number, and a slightly different firmware build. Some vendors needed to show us two or three sample units before one would turn on. Each time, we’d ask them to quote a price for 30 pieces. Prices hovered around $12.
(If we knew then what we know now, we probably would have skipped both of them and gone for more crap without Lithium Ion batteries.)
Yes. The device looks a lot like an Apple Watch, but the functionality is a little bit different. Sure, it has a pedometer and a sleep tracker. If you pair it with your phone, it can act as a bluetooth speaker and microphone. What sets this device apart is what you’ll find when you pop off the battery cover and remove the tiny little battery. There’s a SIM slot and an SD card slot. If you drop a SIM into the watch, you can make calls and surf the web. If you drop an SD card into the SD slot, you can use the phone’s camera to shoot grainy, low-resolution photos from your wrist. The vendor assured us that the watch would last about 3 days on standby.
Unlike the Apple watch, you can’t change watch bands. If you look carefully, you’ll see that the GSM antenna is integrated into the molded silicone rubber band.
Inside the watch is either a MediaTek chipset or a local clone of one. The watch is, we believe, running Nucleus, MediaTek’s watch operating system.
The watches are running Mediatek Nucleus. Its version numbers are…somewhat opaque.
The watch vendor was very clear with us that the devices only came with a six month warranty. For a variety of reasons, including the fact that it cost less than ten bucks and the fact that we described the contents of our box as “useless crap”, we are not passing that warranty on to our customers.
The economics of how to make a watch phone for $9.74 were completely bewildering to us. If we could get the price down to 65 CNY just by buying 30, how much could they possibly cost to make?
As it happens, a friend of ours in Shenzhen has a friend who is a salesperson at a smartwatch factory. We talked him into calling his friend and asking her what she knew about watches like the ones we bought.
She asked for photos….and then told us that her factory sells an identical model. She told us that next time, we should just deal with her directly, as we could have saved a lot of money. If we bought 30 watches directly from the factory, they would only cost us $7.49 each. So, the reseller made about $67 profit on us.
If the factory sold the watches for $7.49, how much could they possibly cost to make? That’s a question that can be awfully hard to get answered. Not really expecting an answer, we asked our friend to ask his friend. She was happy to tell us: $6.
Six dollars.
Six dollars for: a GSM chipset, a CPU, an LCD screen, a battery, a PCB, a metal housing, a molded silicone watch band, a MicroUSB cable, and a box. And the labor to assemble and test all of that.
At this point, we were still feeling really good about our budget. We had ideas and set off in search of a cheap drone store that had been recommended to us.
Qi Charger & Charging adaptors
$3.38 (Compare at $30.97: http://amzn.to/2dqvePn, http://amzn.to/2dQciYx, http://amzn.to/2dHCRP4)
On the way to the drone store, we cut through a back alley and saw a small shop selling wireless chargers and little flexible circuit boards. Upon closer inspection, we discovered that the flexible circuit boards were Qi-compatible wireless charging adaptors for phones that didn’t support wireless charging out of the box. You just stick them on the back of your phone (or inside your phone case) and thread the connector into your charging port.
On a lark, we asked what these things might cost. We were told that the wireless charging adaptors were $0.94 each if we bought 30, and that the charging bases were $1.35.
We hadn’t been planning on throwing a wireless charger into the box, but it sounded like a good deal, so sure. Why not?
As soon as we said ok, the vendor admitted that they didn’t have 30 of the inexpensive chargers. We’d have to go up to the next cheapest unit. It cost 10% more. What did we get for that extra $0.15? Well, the space-ship like charging base had an additional embossed marking on it: “NCC-1701”
Sold.
Lightning / MicroUSB cable
$0.75 (We couldn’t find them on Amazon)
The first drone store we visited was a total bust. Their cheapest option was a budget-busting $14.99. Asking around, we were told that there might be another drone store down the street that had more affordable options.
As we made our way down the street, we ran across a cable vendor selling…what may be the most wonderfully wrong cable we’ve seen in years, a combined lightning and MicroUSB cable. Not one of those cables that splits and has a lightning connector next to a MicroUSB connector. Not one of those cables that has a MicroUSB connector and a lightning adaptor.
A cable that has a regular USB connector on one end and a reversible connector on the other end that fits inside a MicroUSB port and also fits inside a lightning port.
It violates the MicroUSB spec. It violates the Lightning spec. It’s wrong. Yet, somehow, it’s also incredibly right. It should not work. Yet, somehow, it does. When we showed one to a friend who works for Apple, it pretty much reduced him to distraught gibbering.
When we visited Shenzhen in July, we found these cables at one or two shops. Now, they are everywhere. We’ve seen five or six different variations on the connector design. Some are pretty well made. And some will probably fall apart after only a few uses.
When we asked how much, we were told they were about $1.50 each. As we explained that we wanted thirty, the price came down to a more reasonable $0.75. The vendor experience wasn’t the best. These folks were the only vendor the entire day who didn’t seem to appreciate our business and who didn’t provide us with a receipt. Even the woman who sold us three dollars worth of LED lights gave us a receipt.
At this point, we probably should have stopped, declared success and headed off to the DHL office to package up the boxes of crap. But if we could find a drone cheap enough, we wouldn’t completely blow our budget.
Mini Drone
$9.74 (Compare at $18.99: http://amzn.to/2dQduel)
A thirteen dollar iPhone-controllable camera drone.
We finally found the “other” drone stores. The first one didn’t have anything under $20. Not expecting much, we walked into the drone store next door and Helen asked them what they could do for an order of 30 units. They said that their cheapest drone was $10.19, but that it was really worth it. The shop was pretty cramped, but it was live demo time. They found us seats, handed us bottles of water and as we got comfortable, they put a very cute little drone up in the air. As someone who we’re pretty sure was the owner’s son demoed the drone’s abilities, they talked up its features and what great reviews their drones got on Amazon. Helen managed to talk them down to $9.74 per drone.
Jesse splurged and bought himself one of their nicer mini drones. You can control it over WiFi from your iPhone or Android phone. It has a built in camera that can stream video in real-time. Sadly, at $14.99, it was just a little bit too expensive to add to the boxes of crap this time around.
At this point, we were really done shopping, so we headed back to the shipping broker’s office to split up the loot into 30 boxes.
On our way, we narrowly avoided a run-in with a vicious street gang.
Shipping
$28.46
There’s a whole street in HQB known as “Shipper’s Alley.” It’s a mix of express shipping offices and packaging vendors. Thankfully, Helen was able to recommend a shipper she’d worked with before.
We brought our bags and boxes in at about 6pm, just as most shops started to close. We’d planned to use Hong Kong Post’s weight-based shipping option for the boxes of crap. It was inexpensive (About 12 USD per box) and relatively quick.
After a bit of discussion with the shipping agent, we realized we had a bit of a problem. She’d noticed that the smartwatches had Lithium Ion batteries. Hong Kong Post’s rules don’t allow shipping of Lithium Ion batteries. The agent suggested that the most cost effective solution would be to split the shipments up — The watches would go by DHL and everything else would go by the less expensive HK Post service. In retrospect, we think it would have been cheaper to just send everything by DHL.
(Astute readers might guess that the drones and LED signs also have embedded LiIon batteries. The shipping agent did not.)
So, off we went to buy boxes for the HK Post shipments, while the shipping agent started work on address labels. The boxes cost $0.12 each. Initially, the shipper thought that the watches could be shipped without a separate shipping box, but later reconsidered. They ended up giving us those boxes for free.
We handed the shipping agent a USB stick with a spreadsheet containing everybody’s addresses. She got to work filling out shipping labels.
Jesse borrowed a computer from the shipping agent to write a brief letter to our customers and ran off 30 copies.
Helen and Jesse sat down and started to fill up 60 boxes with worthless crap.
Turns out, kitting and packing boxes is fairly time consuming. It probably took us an hour.
The professionals are…a lot faster. They are truly wizards with tape guns.
You should watch this video, even though Jesse shot it in the wrong orientation
We ended up sitting around for another hour while the professionals wrapped each of our boxes in an impregnable tape barrier and the shipping agent continued to work on address labels. We ran into a small snag when she discovered that not all of our customers had provided a delivery phone number. We got around this by using Jesse’s US cell number for all of the missing customers. About three days later, he started to get…rather a lot of status update SMSes from DHL.
Because of the battery SNAFU, shipping ended up coming out to a lot more than we’d expected. The DHL boxes each cost $16.49 to ship and the HK Post boxes each cost another $11.85. We tried hard to convince the shipping agent that we’d be fine with everything getting put on a boat and showing up some time in November, but she told us that we’d need to be shipping a lot more stuff for the economics of ocean freight to even begin to make sense.
This was a one-day project, but it was a pretty long day.
Summing up
Every box-of-crap recipient got $31.76 worth of stuff at Shenzhen prices. If they’d bought everything on Amazon, they would have paid over $130.36. (We couldn’t find the fake SD card, flippable cable or stickers on Amazon.) Those Amazon prices aren’t always the cheapest option, but represent at least a little bit of bargain hunting. That maps pretty closely to how hard we fought for deals in HQB.
Because of the shipping issue, we lost $10.22 per box. Over all, though, the experiment was a success.
We got to learn a little bit about “volume” purchasing in Shenzhen, found out some interesting details about things we’d seen in the markets before and learned about some of the headaches of shipping packages from China to the US. (There’s a reason we’re paying professionals to help us ship the Model 01.)
Based on this first experiment, we’d be willing to do another set of boxes the next time we have a day to kill in Shenzhen, but might try to find someone to help us pack and ship boxes a bit more…efficiently. If you think you might want a box of crap next time around, follow us on Twitter or sign up for our mailing list.
We’re building the Model 01, a hackable ergonomic keyboard with mechanical keyswitches, programmable RGB LEDs, opensource firmware, and a gorgeous hardwood enclosure. We expect to ship later this year. You can pre-order one today at https://shop.keyboard.io. The discount code “BOXOFCRAP” will take fifteen bucks off your order. | https://medium.com/newco/what-50-buys-you-at-huaqiangbei-the-worlds-most-fascinating-electronics-market-f0384d9fca32 | [] | 2016-10-14 19:40:36.309000+00:00 | ['Technology', 'Shopping', 'Shenzhen', 'Culture', 'China'] |
Beginner’s Guide to Setting up a Tezos Node with Docker, Opam and Source with Common Problems and Solutions | Beginner’s Guide to Setting up a Tezos Node with Docker, Opam and Source with Common Problems and Solutions Adam Shinder Nov 5, 2020·8 min read
The following tutorials are for Mac specifically. I’m using MacOS Catalina Version 10.15.5. All of these tutorials are explained step by step so they’re great for beginners. Docker is the easiest way to install and begin running the node, but if issues with the node occur, there is no way to debug it. The node takes about 50 GB of storage space.
Method 1: Docker: Step by Step
Install Docker if you don’t have it already: https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/ Once downloaded, or if you already had it, make sure it’s open and running. If you’d like to run a Carthagenet (test network) node, type in carthagenet.sh wherever it says mainnet.sh. (Personally, I’ll be running my node on the test net) To run a mainnet node, type into your terminal:
a. wget -O mainnet.sh https://gitlab.com/tezos/tezos/raw/latest-release/scripts/tezos-docker-manager.sh
b. chmod +x mainnet.sh
At this point, if you have the error message, zsh: command not found: wget. Then install Homebrew and then the command, brew install wget and continue.
5. To now run the node, copy and paste in the following:
./mainnet.sh start
6. Your node should now be running on the Tezos network! To check, type in:
./mainnet.sh node status
7. For more commands, type in:
./mainnet.sh — help
8. To prove it’s running, type in the command, ./mainnet.sh head to see the most recently baked block. It should look like this:
9. To stop the node, type in:
./mainnet.sh stop
10. Type in ./mainnet.sh node status to prove it’s stopped. It will show the following:
./mainnet.sh node status
Method 2: Setting up a node on the Tezos Mainnet from Opam: Step by Step
We’ll be doing this entirely from the terminal of your computer so there’s no need to download any additional software.
First we’ll be installing Opam. Open the terminal on your computer and copy and paste the following into the terminal:
a. sh <(curl -sL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ocaml/opam/master/shell/install.sh)
b. As shown below, it will ask where it wants to install. I created a new folder called “new_teznode”. When prompted to create the folder, type “y” and it will be installed.
NOTE: You can also install Opam in the main directory, by simply pressing space when prompted to where it should be installed. This will install Opam globally.
c. Type in the command line, opam init — bare
If opam init -bare didn’t work, check out solution 4 on the bottom of the article.
2. Now that you created a new folder called, “new_teznode”, type “ls” into your terminal and you’ll see all the available directories. You’ll see “new_teznode” so now type in “cd new_teznode”. This changes the directory to new_teznode and now we’ll start working within this directory. As you can see, once I changed directories, I am now working within the new_teznode directory.
NOTE: If Opam is installed globally, you can run these commands in any directory.
3. Get the line from this website to install Rust: https://www.rust-lang.org/tools/install. It should look like this, curl — proto ‘=https’ — tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh but it changes based on the system you’re running on. Copy and paste this into the terminal. When prompted, press 1 to continue with the installation.
4. Then, type source $HOME/.cargo/env
5. In the new_teznode, (or any directory in the terminal if Opam is installed globally) copy and paste each line, press enter and go to the next one.
a. rustup set profile minimal
b. rustup toolchain install 1.39.0
c. rustup default 1.39.0
d. source $HOME/.cargo/env
6. The following is more configuration for Opam and Tezos compatibility.
a. opam switch create for_tezos 4.09.1
b. eval $(opam env)
c. opam install depext //When prompted to continue, write yes (“Y”)
d. opam depext tezos //Should say, “#All required OS packages found.”
e. opam install tezos
A list of actions will pop-up, this is what’s about to be installed. Do you want to continue? [Y/n] Write “Y”. Wait for it to process. There will be 189 actions to be installed and another 378 afterward, so it will take about 30 minutes, depending on your wifi connection.
7. To upgrade Opam and make sure everything is up to date, type the following commands:
a. opam update
b. opam depext
c. opam upgrade
If you receive this error message: “The following packages are not being upgraded because the new versions conflict with other installed packages” Don’t worry, the node should still operate fine without the most recent versions.
Congratulations! You just finished setting up your node on the Tezos blockchain! To start running your node, check out the section on the bottom, “Running the Node”.
Method 3: Setting up a node on the Tezos Mainnet from the source: Step by Step
The following tutorial is used for setting up the node from the source code.
Before building the node from the source, you must have Opam installed, either globally or within the directory.
a. sh <(curl -sL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ocaml/opam/master/shell/install.sh)
b. opam init — bare
c. opam switch create for_tezos 4.09.1
d. eval $(opam env)
e. opam install depext //When prompted to continue, write yes (“Y”)
f. opam depext tezos //Should say, “#All required OS packages found.”
g. opam install tezos
2. We’re now going to retrieve the source code. Copy and Paste the following one by one into the command line.
a. git clone https://gitlab.com/tezos/tezos.git //this pulls the node from the source on Gitlab
b. cd tezos //You should now be operating in the tezos directory.
c. git checkout latest-release
d. opam init — bare//Answer N then Y to the questions, as shown
e. make build-deps //There’s 228 installations, this will take a few minutes
f. eval $(opam env)
g. make
h. export PATH=~/tezos:$PATH
i. source ./src/bin_client/bash-completion.sh
j. export TEZOS_CLIENT_UNSAFE_DISABLE_DISCLAIMER=Y
You’re done! Your node is all set up. To run the node, check out the next section titled, “Running the Node”.
Running the Node
The following steps are for running the node only if you set up your node with methods 2 or 3, and not via Docker.
Now, we need to create an identity the node will work under and your node will start running.
1. Type in the following: ./tezos-node identity generate
2. To start the node, copy and paste the following:
tezos-node run — rpc-addr localhost
Boom! You’re now running your very own node on the Tezos blockchain! Congratulations!! It’s going to connect to the blockchain and start backing up all the information from the ledger. If you want to install snapshots or to learn more about them, check out: http://tezos.gitlab.io/user/snapshots.html
Here’s a few basic commands that are important to know to control your node:
To stop the node — tezos-node stop
2. To re-configure from the Mainnet to Carthagenet or vice-versa — ./tezos-node config init — network carthagenet //type mainnet if you want mainnet
3. To exit a current running process, Ctrl + C
4. To check if your node is in sync with the blockchain — ./tezos-client bootstrapped // if “Bootstrapped” is returned, it’s in sync
Thank you for reading and I hope you were able to set-up and properly configure your node! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach me on Twitter @AdShinder, or Telegram or LinkedIn at Adam Shinder.
More Resources:
http://tezos.gitlab.io/introduction/howtouse.html
https://tezos.gitlab.io/api/cli-commands.html
Issues I faced the first time, and how I solved them:
Solutions:
If you see the “Too few connections” it means the port you chose, currently localhost, is running somewhere else. To see a list of the ports you have running, type, ps aux | grep ./tezos
To kill the process, sudo kill -9 <INSERT PORT>
2. If you want to delete the Tezos node, there are restrictions to deleting the file. Type in rm -rf filename to delete the file and override the restriction. If that doesn’t work, You can delete it by removing restrictions with chmod 777 filename . This gives everyone read, write, and execute privileges. Then, do rm -rf filename .
3. If you’re having trouble with the “opam: command not found”,first make sure you have a file called opam within the directory. If that’s there, check that the PATH is correct and you’re working in the right terminal. If all this is good, then reinstall opam in an empty directory and once done, type, “opam update; opam install opam-devel”. Then, “opam init” and it should start running again.
4. Add opam to your current PATH with the following.
vim ~/.zshrc //if you’re using zsh
vim ~/.bash_profile //if you’re using bash
This opens up your configuration window.
Now, edit the document and anywhere you want, type the following:
export PATH=$HOME/new_teznode:$PATH
This adds opam to your current path
Now, save and close the configuration file and restart your terminal. Go into the new_teznode directory and continue.
If you want more information on the PATH variable, check this out: https://linuxize.com/post/how-to-add-directory-to-path-in-linux/
I’m currently an Intern at Tezos Israel. Check out our Medium for more information on Tezos at Tezos Israel and follow us on Twitter @TezosIsrael. | https://medium.com/@adamshinder/beginners-guide-to-setting-up-a-tezos-node-with-docker-opam-and-source-with-common-problems-and-b5f5d20bb173 | ['Adam Shinder'] | 2020-12-15 11:24:32.062000+00:00 | ['Tezos', 'Smart Contracts', 'Blockchain', 'Blockchain Node'] |
How to Discover Who Your Sexual Self Is | How to Discover Who Your Sexual Self Is
For a fulfilled sex life, you must know what you like. Here’s how you’ll learn it.
Photo by Alex Iby on Unsplash
Having good sex and having mind-blowing sex are two different things. One is average and mundane, the other is the all-mighty of sex. For all my adulthood I’ve only experienced the first version.
I had sex “regularly”, most of the times with pleasurable orgasms. Yet, I always felt there would be more about sex — I was sure I was missing something out.
It took me a long time (too long) to finally discover what I like sexually. It took me years to meet my true sexual self.
Now that I did — I’m sexually fulfilled as I never was — I regret never invested in finding my sexual self.
Looking at my past and moaning about it doesn’t do me any good. But it might help other people that, as I did, have a sensation that they can achieve more from their sex lives: they can escalate their “good sex” to “absolutely fucking amazing sex”.
If you feel — even if slightly — there’s something you’re not getting from sex, I suggest you follow the tips below. Trust me, they are a gold mine!
1. Educate Yourself
Read sex blogs and expertise books
My sexual life improved so, so much since I started reading sex bloggers and expertise books.
Between both, I prefer bloggers; reading personal opinions, experiences, and suggestions opened my mind, it empowered me.
Books are a useful tool, they have a more technical perspective, which is great. Still, I get more benefits from bloggers.
The one book I recommend is Come as you are, by Emily Nagoski. As a woman that struggled to orgasm without tons of stimulation, this book had a positive impact on my sex life. Spoiler alert: most of the times, it’s all in your head.
Reading sex bloggers empowered me, as a woman and as a sexual being.
Through sex bloggers, I get different perspectives on sexual dynamics (like the pieces Bradlee Bryant writes on the swing lifestyle). I get inspired by the sex-positivity and female strength that writers like Demeter deLune and Meaghan Ward show. Their vision is contagious, it helps you to embrace your femininity and your sexual self with full honesty.
It was with my lover that I first got contact with BDSM, and it was with him I learned I’m a kinkster. In our relationship, I explore my sexuality in ways I never thought I would.
But my sexual development and curiosity are also teased and fed by sex bloggers, like the amazing Holly Bradshaw. The personal pieces she writes about her kinks are fabulous, as are her views on female sexuality.
I state with all confidence that sex bloggers changed my life.
They still do! I keep learning, I still get curious about things I didn’t even know existed; I get inspired and very important: I feel I belong.
Many people, when thinking about their fetishes, kinks or fantasies might feel “weird”; like there’s something “wrong” with them. I never felt like that; what I felt was frustration, a hunger I had to satisfy, but I didn’t know how.
Sex bloggers helped me to think about every sexual dynamic — in any form and shape — as normal. Not any other label apart from: normal.
In sex, as long it’s safe, sane and consensual, there is no such this as “wrong” or “weird”.
Embrace your kinks, your fantasies and desires. Let go of embarrassments, shames or fears. You are as you are, and you deserve all the pleasure you can get.
Read Erotica
Like with so many others, the book Fifty Shades of Grey was an eye-opening for me.
Before reading it, I had heard about BDSM, but it was the first time that I read about it, so detailed. The book had a great impact on me; it was like a seed that was put in the back of my brain. Unfortunately, I never watered it. For me, the BDSM world was something inaccessible, almost unreal. How wrong I was.
I was married at the time and because of my shyness in talking about sex and my potential desires with my then-husband — or with anybody else —, I let go a good opportunity to uncover a part of me that was begging to be released.
I read the E. L. James collection several times, always feeling an urge to try with the spanking and the flogging, being tied up and blindfolded.
I wanted to feel the borderline sensations the book was making me imagine. I became curious about pain-pleasure.
Through erotica, I got the sense I had found a part of my sexuality I should explore. I just didn’t know how.
Now, thinking about the book, I see it as soft reading. I live BDSM in a more erotic, powerful and pleasurable way; much more intense than my imagination ever allowed me.
Reading erotica will open your mind, it will show you things you didn’t know existed; it will push you to pursue your sex fantasies. Or creating new ones.
When reading it, dissect what turned you on, what specifically caught your attention. Also, think about what you immediately discard as a potential experience. It’s all information about yourself.
Watch porn
Porn also did wonders for my sexuality (still does).
My sex life became more varied and enriched because of porn. It spiced my curiosity about sex positions, and it also helped me with dirty talk.
Not that I particularly enjoy the dirty talk in porn, for me it always sounds fake and mechanical — often, the words the actors' voice don’t match the level of arousal they’re showing. Even so, porn had a major role in my dirt talk development.
Porn also became a fun and curious activity to do as a couple. My partner loves to watch porn and sometimes we do it together. We get aroused by it and then reproduce a scene/sketch we watched or, inspired by the horniness it gave us, we have amazing sex.
Like with erotica, when watching porn, ask yourself why you get excited about a specific scene or dynamic. Was it the position, or imagining yourself with another person (a threesome)? Don’t be shy, you’re alone with your thoughts.
Also, do the exercise in its opposite: what pulled you away in the scene? And why?
By asking the questions, you will get answers; which will help you build your individual profile.
Research on specific topics
If you find you have a sexual preference, a kink or a fetish, do yourself a favour and research about it. I wish I’d done that, years ago!
As I said above, after starting dating my partner, I learned I’m a kinkster. I love impact play and Domination/Submission sexual dynamics, among other scenes under the BDSM umbrella.
However, I had this in me — the all time!
I had the obligation to offer myself the pleasure I was hungry for; not to wait for a man to came into my life and showed it to me. I’m glad he did, but it’s my pleasure, it’s my sexual life, I’m responsible for it. I should have done more for myself.
The moment I started exploring my true sexual self, I also started researching on the BDSM theme. I was lost, I didn’t know what was “out there”.
Reading about kinks, fetishes and BDSM was the best thing I could do for my sex life. It freed me from mental restraints; it taught me new techniques and showed me how pleasurable sex can be.
2. Know yourself
You might say that knowing yourself should be the first step in the process of sexual self-discovery. I wouldn’t disagree. However, with me, it didn’t happen in that order.
It was only after I educated myself sexually that I adopted a different mindset and began to explore my intimacy on a different level.
Before, I would masturbate to have an orgasm, to relieve my stress or accumulated sexual energy. Only after I educated myself, I opened my horizons.
I then bought a few sex toys — a vibrator, kegel balls, and a clitoral vibrator — and started to explore my pleasures using them. I also started watching porn and masturbate at it.
Educating myself opened doors that before were closed to me. I became more daring in private, which, later, allowed me to be more daring in partnered sex.
Sex-exploration is a great way to know how your body responds to stimulus: where and how your arousal escalates; what your erogenous points are and how you like them explored.
3. Visit a sex shop
Sex shops are a world. Even if you don’t buy anything, by browsing the toys and all the products available, you learn very much about sexuality and its potential.
They are also a fun date. I love to go with my partner to a sex shop, we always get super creative.
Sex shops are a great way to educate yourself. You can ask a member of staff to advise you on a certain sex toy or to suggest something for you to try, according to your preferences and desires.
I know, this can be intimidating, but the staff is there for that: to clarify the customers about the sex shop products and to advice. Think it like this: you’re going to talk to a stranger, that is available to help in a judgement-free way. Also, you possibly will never see that person again (unless you become a regular, which is great!).
4. Talk to your partner
If you’re in a relationship and you embraced the path of sexual discovery, your partner should be part of it. In a more advanced stage, at least. You can start on your own, reserved, exploring your mindset and the world around you.
When you start to uncover your sexual self, bring your partner on board. It can be daunting to talk about sex with your partner, especially if you’re going to say you are not fully satisfied with your sex life. But it has to be said.
The outcome will depend on how you put things. There are no blames nor guilty parts; just natural evolution. People change, sexuality evolves.
Who knows if you’re going to be surprised and your partner wants to try the same things you do!
Talking about your desires is the first step to make them become reality. Besides, putting in practise your research and theoretical learnings is the best way to grow. | https://medium.com/sexography/how-to-discover-who-your-sexual-self-is-bb08be5c0e3a | ['Emma London'] | 2020-11-04 15:59:57.100000+00:00 | ['Sex', 'Relationships', 'Sexuality', 'Advice', 'Self'] |
An Impassioned Rant on Garlic Burn | Okay, so I have figured out this really stupid formula about how I can get myself to write seriously. It requires something traumatic to happen to me so that I can find the inspiration I desire. See, here is my reasoning: I am a naïve, young woman and I have never been known to be passionate about anything. I don’t know what I want and am annoyingly indecisive. None of these qualities sound like those of a hustler. And everything I have known about existence is that if one wants to thrive, they must know how to hustle. Since the notion is too far-fetched for my simple mind, I have decided to capitalize on trauma. But I really just want to talk about my fingers because they are searing.
You can’t see the fingerprints on the tips of my fingers. The skin over there is scaly, the lines on it look like cracks across a fault. I nibble on the skin that peels off. Sometimes they pluck right off, on other times, out of eagerness, I snag the skin a bit too far. And you can see these spots — they are fresh skin and have not felt the kind of pain the frontal defense has dealt with. Clots & cracks cover the tips of my fingers. I look at them as if I admire the work done on them. Skin burnt from peeling garlic and cutting chilies. Burning for hours, dunking in milk, lathering with coconut oil, and submerging in cold water to give my racing heart some relief.
The fingers that assault every eruption on my face and body are now scarred. My scarred fingers still continue to scar my body and garlic continues to scar my fingers. Betrayed by a (vegetable?). Now I will color my markings with ink. Fingers covered with ink are known to be the markings of a prolific writer. So, I guess that makes me a writer who is unfortunately tormented by garlic burn. That’s it, there’s my trauma.
I should probably find some lavender hand cream. | https://medium.com/@sharonmonteiro.official/an-impassioned-rant-on-garlic-burn-21793ca47ef | ['Sharon Monteiro'] | 2019-11-10 18:43:14.435000+00:00 | ['Flash Nonfiction', 'First Post', 'Writer', 'Storyofmylife'] |
Parenting in the Apocalypse | Because we can’t let them see us. Yes, they’re all bad men. | https://medium.com/the-junction/parenting-in-the-apocalypse-968ad90ee730 | ['Jan M Flynn'] | 2019-12-03 19:24:53.004000+00:00 | ['Writing', 'Love', 'Fiction', 'Flash Fiction', 'Short Story'] |
NE-YO RELEASES “MORE THAN I SHOULD” | NE-YO is officially on SoundCloud, and releasing a barrage of music preceding his new project.
GRAMMY-award winning icon, NE-YO, has a new album on the horizon… But before he gets to all that he’s taken to SoundCloud to release a few records that didn’t quiet make the project. So far we’ve received “Earn Your Love”, a remix of Kendrick Lamar’s “Humble,” and now, an original ‘audio soap opera’ called “More Than I Should” — which highlights a platonic love tryst gone awry.
“The only thing that matters even more than the music is the story you tell. “
Listen to NE-YO’s “More Than I Should,” featuring Candice Boyd and RaVaugh Brown here: https://soundcloud.com/ne-yo/more-than-i-should | https://medium.com/ijeoma/ne-yo-releases-more-than-i-should-75efa42daa0e | [] | 2017-05-25 22:16:42.895000+00:00 | ['Candice Boyd', 'Music', 'Press Release', 'Ne Yo', 'Ravaughn Brown'] |
The Day the Pandemic Became a Reality | March 12th, 2020. Senior year. It was a normal Thursday at school, but all of a sudden it didn’t feel normal anymore. There was this sense of fear in the air, like something bad was about to happen but no one wanted to say it. Through all of my classes, there were whispers of what the future would hold. I remember thinking “the school can’t close”, “how will I graduate?”, “what about prom and my choir tour?”. All of these questions with no answers in sight.
Every sentence spoken felt foreign and unusual to me. I heard what everyone around me was saying but I couldn't focus on it or comprehend it. With every step I took, I thought of all the ways the world could possibly crumble around me. It honestly felt like the world was ending and all I could do was watch it happen.
I remember sitting at the lunch table at my high school feeling panicked, I never thought that would be my last time sitting there. I couldn’t breathe, my vision was blurry. My friends came to sit with me and I said “I feel like the world is ending”. And I wasn’t kidding. I seriously meant that. I sat there with my table full of friends and felt so empty. I couldn’t speak. The only thing that came out of my mouth over and over was “I feel like the world is ending”. I couldn't handle all of the rumors and guesses of what the future would hold.
The Sunday following that Thursday I got the email that school would be closed for two weeks due to COVID-19. I seriously thought it would only be two weeks. Little did I know within the coming weeks, the severity of what we were living in would be revealed. This virus would change everything. All the events I was looking forward to would be canceled: choir tour, prom, graduation.
If you would have asked me how my life would look now in March, I would have said so many incorrect things. I would have told you that I can walk around freely without a mask and go into stores without being worried about those around me. I would have told you that my classes would be in person with my professors and the other students. And all of this would have been wrong. I can’t leave my dorm in New York without a mask on. I do worry when I go into enclosed areas about those around me and hope they keep their distance. Although I lived in a dorm, my classes were completely online. I have never met my professors in real life. I’ve only met a fraction of my peers. This pandemic has completely changed the course of my life, and it's hard to imagine how it would be if COVID never hit the U.S. as it did, or if our government was more prepared. However, I feel grateful to live in a time where history is being made, new discoveries are happening every day, and the world around me is evolving and evolving fast. | https://medium.com/@corinneulmer/the-day-the-pandemic-became-a-reality-7c5bfffe5596 | ['Corinne Ulmer'] | 2020-12-27 18:47:35.560000+00:00 | ['Covid 19', 'College', 'Coronavirus', 'Life'] |
Santorini Island. The power of this volcanic island creates an energy that overwhelms the senses… | Greece is a favorite destination for travelers from all over the world due to its ancient history, magnificent nature, numerous islands and the warm sea. Every year the country is visited by millions of tourists, bringing the country a considerable profit. Instead, they get amazing opportunities for recreation and entertainment.
Cozy located in the Aegean Sea, Santorini is a beautiful Greek island about 200 km southeast of the mainland. With its picturesque landscapes and unique sights, the island’s main industry is tourism, which reaches its peak during the summer. With Xceltrip, book trips to Santorini.
XcelTrip gives you an opportunity to book Terra Blue Santorini for 0.00495BTC per night. With a stay at Terra Blue Santorini in Santorini, you’ll be near the beach, within a 15-minute drive of Museum of Prehistoric Thira and Wine Museum. This hotel is 6.1 mi (9.8 km) from Archaeological Museum and 8.1 mi (13.1 km) from Red Beach.
One of the most interesting facts about Santorini and the archipelago is that they are remnants of an ancient volcanic island. After a huge eruption, the current volcanic caldera and a huge central lagoon were formed.
Also known as Thira, Santorini attracts tourists with its famous dramatic scenery, breathtaking sunsets (especially from the town of Oia), and a still active volcano in the city of Tire. The beaches of Santorini are amazing, ranging from bright white to red and even black (Kamari Pebble Beach). But if you only have time for one beach, then you should visit Perissa, with its peaceful natural beauty. It is on Santorini that some of the best resorts in Greece are located.
This island is considered to be the most beautiful in the world! Indeed, it is difficult to imagine something more beautiful than its snow-white houses, descending to the sea of incredibly pure azure color! The flow of tourists arrives on the island of Santorini in March and does not dry out until November. The island is considered a great place for a romantic wedding and family vacation. This small island is considered one of the most beautiful holiday destinations in Greece. Legends say that in ancient times Santorini broke away from Libya as a result of a natural disaster, or was created from a special piece of land broken away from this country by the gods. Evaluating what to see in Greece, it is necessary to include the island of Santorini in this list.
Further, the appearance of the island complemented the activities of volcanoes, which made it round. By the way, the locals often call this the place of their residence — Round Island. Sights of Greece without this island would not be so romantic. Today Santorini continues to remain the largest active volcano on the planet, the eruptions of which gradually made the general outlines of Santorini crescent. The island will delight tourists with beautiful scenery and an incredibly pleasant climate.
Enjoy the power of this volcanic island which creates an energy that overwhelms the senses with XcelTrip, book Terra Blue Santorini and make your own unforgettable memories along with cashback of up to 50% on all your bookings! | https://medium.com/xcellab-magazine/santorini-island-the-power-of-this-volcanic-island-creates-an-energy-that-overwhelms-the-senses-96e9ea32dc2e | ['Xcel Trip'] | 2019-07-15 12:45:51.378000+00:00 | ['Europe', 'Santorini', 'Xceltrip', 'Greece', 'Travel'] |
Whom and How should you market to? — A guide from Digital Marketing perspective. | Approach toward Digital Marketing –
Digital Marketing is a vast subject with various segments like SEO, Email marketing, social media marketing, paid advertisement, etc. All these segments are constantly evolving and upgrading. Focusing on only one segment would not result in sales. Digital marketing is more successful when operated in multiple segments. CATT is based on this concept. Your content is the main attraction. SEO, email marketing, etc all bring the audience to this content thus making sales and conversions. All these segments of Digital Marketing have to work together for effective and impactful promotions.
Personal Branding and MassTrust –
digitaldeepak.com
Personal branding is giving a face and a personality to your brand/company. This could be anyone who understands your business and who would be a better persona than yourself for your brand. When you start being the personality of your brand that is called as Personal Branding.
People trust visible things. It is difficult to trust inanimate objects. When your company has a face, it gives a feeling of knowing and trustworthy. An influencer could be a personal brand since people know the person, they trust him and they follow him and in turn they start trusting the brand and company. A personal band always has a bigger following than the brand/company. A simple and famous example is of Elon Musk. He is a personal brand and has more followings than SpaceX and Tesla.
Personal Branding can give rise to many brands due to its influence. Tesla was not performing well before Elon Musk. When he bought the company, it grew exponentially due to his influence. People cannot invest or buy personal brand but they can invest in the companies influenced or related to personal brand.
This brings us to the understanding of MassTrust.
Simply put, MassTrust is the building trust with a lot of people (mass).
MassTrust is the by-product of Personal Branding. When you start to evolve with your personal brand, you generate MassTrust. MassTrust is important for personal branding.
Few things you need to focus on for evolving your personal brand –
1. Learn — The more you learn the better you become. Constantly updating your skills and continuous practice gives you the edge over every competitor.
2. Work — Putting your skills to work shows your commitment towards personal branding. Implementing your learning in the real world gives you better understanding of the market conditions and showcase your talent to audience.
3. Blog writing — Content writing is the king of Digital Marketing. This is the most useful tool to grow your personal brand. Here your personal brand is being noticed by the people and they would start taking interest in you.
4. Consulting — Consulting is first step of put your personal branding to use in market. You could start consulting other business with marketing instead of working for them. You would be the authority here.
5. Mentor — Mentoring others keeps you up to date with the market and its evolution as digital marketing is constantly evolving. It also helps you to scale up your understanding towards digital marketing. Mentoring also boost your personal branding to a whole new level.
6. Start up — Final level of personal branding. Since personal branding is a person, people cannot invest or own it. That would be like slavery. But people can invest in companies started by the personal brand. Starting your own business develops your skills and helps you grow as a personal brand. | https://medium.com/@vighneshsuryawanshi/whom-and-how-should-you-market-to-a-guide-from-digital-marketing-perspective-a592c22875f0 | ['Vighnesh Suryawanshi'] | 2020-12-22 11:33:46.932000+00:00 | ['Personal Branding', 'Wealth Creation', 'Digital Marketing', 'Buyer Personas', 'SEO'] |
The Pyramid | The Pyramid
Humanity is going through one hell of a midlife crisis
Imagine for a second, reality as organic matter driven by chaos and meaninglessness. Above this messy landscape sits an invisible giant pyramid-shaped structure. Inside the pyramid, everything you see makes almost perfect sense. Massive cities with an incredible amount of buildings and people frozen in time as if a photograph before they begin to move in never-ending transit via infinite roads. Everyone seeking the ideal dreamy rural town experience, with lakes and nearby forests — leaving the industrial cities behind gearing into our darkest hour.
This unseen object is shaped like a pyramid because its system is hierarchical in nature. Within its walls, cruelty disguises itself as intelligence. Posh people with access to high-quality education torturing the ignorant with undecipherable statistics. A society impregnated with humans becoming members of society through inheritance. Whoever is on top gets to decide what happens inside the pyramid affecting the livelihoods of everyone else. A perfect superstructure that was designed to protect the few with the efforts of entire populations.
The pyramid is an artificial world ruled by ideologies that lead nowhere beyond their context. These ideologies are invented to corrupt the noble and favour the wicked. If we remove ideology from our lives, we would stumble across a metaphorical landscape dressed in rocks and sea. We would feel physically limited, stuck in our living rooms wondering about our roles in this place because when our truth turns into meaninglessness, we can only face an undeniable reality. We are trapped inside the pyramid. It is a dead-end.
We roam the roads of the pyramid hoping to find that thing that gives purpose to our lives. It could be anything really, a sandwich or a house with a garden. We search for the impossible because we live in the impossible. We are impossible. Everything around us just fucking happened. We resort to fantasy to explain this unbelievable phenomenon either through science or religion. We know stuff and that somehow translates into more stuff and we continue our insatiable quest for meaning to get closer to some kind of superior wisdom. Why am I here? Does it matter?
We constructed a place to dream and to jump across any physical boundary. The pyramid gave us tools and knowledge. It gave us the ability to separate ourselves from Earth so we can explore other regions of the universe. Although even when astronauts are physically out exploring space, yet somehow, they are still inside the pyramid.
The pyramid is forever.
Consciousness
Let’s think for a second that the hard question about consciousness started when the philosophers began to ask questions about the nature of our individual inner minds. We know that we got where we are now after an evolutionary string of incidents one after another until we acquired what we believe as consciousness. However, consciousness without the pyramid is just a device for us to navigate through matter. Therefore, consciousness can only exist within the perimeters of the pyramid. Without the pyramid we are obsolete.
Culture
When it comes to culture, perhaps our greatest tool is the imagination and our greatest creation was the pyramid. We have created the means to coexist, trade, communicate, associate ideas, formulate theories on every possible aspect of our existence. Culture is an invisible umbilical cord that connects our present thoughts to history and beyond.
Time
Our second greatest creation was Time (space that moves through dimension). We designed a technology inside the pyramid with a perfect mechanism allowing us to control the way we interact with the environment. Time is order hidden behind the illusion of chaos. It serves us with a now and an after dictating our everyday actions. Time tells us when to eat, get up from bed, it influences our choices and even helps us decide when we are too old for certain things in life. Time is a real son of a bitch.
Nature
Ironically, the pyramid was inspired by nature, but it is not compatible with any living organism. The pyramid is an artificial system designed to fund and perpetuate a perfect experiment — to feed our need to expand beyond any horizon. We want Earth to be limitless and for this reason, we invented space travel among all else. We are desperate to understand the impossible.
How did the pyramid get us?
What is keeping us inside though? How did the pyramid get us in the first place? Was it, fear? What if we disconnected from it? Outside the pyramid, the world is an oscillating torrent of matter. Confronting this ultimate truth could redirect our perspectives and lead us to a new level of meaninglessness. Could we adapt and learn to live without the pyramid, without being conscious of time and in perfect harmony with the environment outside?
Do we really need to be enslaved by an oppressing artificial system? Inside the pyramid, we are just users, numbers, we are in its purest essence, its most valuable resources. All in favor to develop the pyramid further, to strengthen its walls, to make it more labyrinthine so we never get to find the way out.
What is the worst thing that could happen if we were to leave the pyramid?
What stopped us from stepping out of the pyramid in the past? It has been our protective shield throughout history. Maybe back then we needed it to survive from being eaten alive by other beasts. Today most of us in Western society feel extremely privileged thanks to the pyramid.
We accept the pyramid.
We want to change our thought pattern by consciously thinking about a new approach. Then we resort to repeated self-loathing, constantly beating ourselves up. However, any solution that stems from our emotional infrastructure is wrong because it really comes from the pyramid. At times, we show a bit of rebellion, we complain, we try to be truthful to our instincts. However, most times, we rather suffer quietly. Humanity is going through one hell of a midlife crisis. We are safe living inside a cool awesome pyramid. I wonder if we’ll manage to get out one day, to finally take ownership and responsibility for Mother Earth. | https://medium.com/the-nonconformist/the-pyramid-8a39d62b937a | ['Dan Rodriguez'] | 2020-04-13 11:01:59.847000+00:00 | ['Society', 'Philosophy', 'Culture', 'Science', 'Social Change'] |
The Internet Told Me How to Make This Game | Recently, I put up a series of polls on Twitter asking for the public to pick elements of a game I would make up the rules for. Instead of asking for specifics, each poll adds a requirement to the final game without alluding to implementation. The votes are in and the game I will make will:
The primary play surface of the game will be a hexagonal grid
Each player will have four pieces to move
pieces to move There will be an additional special piece: a magic eight ball
The options a player has on their turn will not be random or earned — all turns will have the same options each time for each player
each time for each player I make drinking games; in this game, players will drink based on when and what kinds of mistakes they make
In a turn, players advance by answering trivia questions
Surprise! The twist is that there will be a second board
Finally, you win by gaining control of the board
Immediately, from these, several things are obvious:
First, I will need to balance win-by-control with the fact that each player only has four pieces. I’m going to handle this by including a second item each player can use to indicate control: markers. Like pieces, these will signal on the board that Player A exerts dominance in this space; unlike pieces, they cannot be moved once set down. In addition, to honor the four-piece maximum limit, you can only put a marker down in spots that have a relationship to the pieces.
Second, there is only one element of chance, the eight ball, so I need to make the rules guide players toward multiple strategic options. Chance in games does this for me — some players are more risk averse and some are more risk friendly, differentiating the way I play Trouble from how my husband plays Trouble. Games with less chance, though, need the rules to plant seeds of different methods of play. Chess has no luck, but the rules dictate how each piece moves; I tend to my rooks and my husband to his bishops because the rules allow aspects of our preferred communication and control strategies to flourish.
Third, I will need to choose whether the trivia will need to either directly control action across the hexagonal grid and a second board, or control one board which controls the other. For the former, the first correct trivia question you answer might let you move a piece on the hexagonal board and every question you get right after that lets you ask the 8 ball about changing some element on the second board. For the latter, you might advance pieces on the second board, and reaching point X on that board allows other pieces to move around the hexagonal board.
I’m not quite free to start choosing rules yet, as there are some other practical requirements that come along with this game I need to lay out simply:
This game will need to be playable over Zoom , with more than two players. As this game was posted on Twitter, we got a message about playing online, which sounds super fun! This impacts several things, but most notably the trivia requirement; online players will either need to use questions they have from trivia games they own or look questions up online. Either way, the game must assume trivia will come in diverse formats — open ended, multiple choice, true false, Family Feud lists, categories, etc. I cannot restrict what other players bring to the game the way I can when 100% of the game is in person with me. This is a feature not a bug!
, with more than two players. As this game was posted on Twitter, we got a message about playing online, which sounds super fun! This impacts several things, but most notably the trivia requirement; online players will either need to use questions they have from trivia games they own or look questions up online. Either way, the game must assume trivia will come in diverse formats — open ended, multiple choice, true false, Family Feud lists, categories, etc. I cannot restrict what other players bring to the game the way I can when 100% of the game is in person with me. This is a feature not a bug! This means the game will have perfect information aka no secrets. The physical board will be on our dining room, but we’ll have a camera show the online players what the boards look like and what options they have. One exception: it is feasible to have a mystery envelope component, where each player writes down some relevant information or instruction¹.
aka no secrets. The physical board will be on our dining room, but we’ll have a camera show the online players what the boards look like and what options they have. One exception: it is feasible to have a mystery envelope component, where each player writes down some relevant information or instruction¹. There needs to be some theme related to trans rights 🏳️, as a Twitter user with a locked account requested this game one day possibly be used on a trans sitcom. This means some component of the game will clearly spell out support for trans people.
Let’s Make This Game
I have an established template for how to write instructions for games on my Github repo devoted to Frankenstein games, so I’ll start with roughly that structure.
Setting the Game Up
We know there is one hexagonal board, which I will be taking from Top Gun Strategy Game, the only game I own with a hex grid. I’ll also be taking the markers from the game, which are pairs of hexagons that are the same size of the grid. These come in three colors, green pink and blue, which means this game will be ideally played by three people or three teams.
Now, the second board. Since I anticipate that my hex grid component is going to be difficult and strategy based, I want to balance that with something legible, clean, and unlikely to warp players into undesirable strategies. Basically, we need a game for three year olds. They’re so great! Big pieces, bright colors, clear divisions between what to do and what not to do. Games for preschoolers are, in my cursed opinion, the pinnacle of game design. So we’re going to use one.
The options in our house are:
Candyland (requires 1 piece per player; would cut into the 4 cap)
Hungry Hungry Hippos (cannot be played virtually)
Chutes & Ladders (requires 1 piece; one of the more boring kids games)
Hi Ho Cherry-O (debatable if cherries count as pieces)
Guess Who (cannot easily? at all? be played virtually)
To me, the clear winner is Hi Ho Cherry-O, because it also has three players, has perfect information, is controlled by a six-way spinner which can be easily replicated with a dice for remote players, and does not cut into the four pieces at work on the hexagonal ground.
Our setup now looks like this:
Starting the Game
Hi Ho Cherry-O is pretty easy: we’ll be playing the game basically as-is. The hex grid though, doesn’t give us any clues about how we’ll be working with it. To get clues, we’ll work backwards from Hi Ho Cherry-O.
We know it’s a pretty fast game (add or remove your cherries to or from the basket based on the spinner; first to add all cherries wins that round), so we can tie a high quantity element to winning Hi Ho Cherry-O. I’m picking that every time you win HHCO, you can place a double hex market on the board. I’m also going to choose here that you can only put a marker down on spots occupied by at least one of your pieces.
So how should the pieces start the game? Again, we’ll answer this by defining what the pieces are and letting their given characteristics determine the answer to what they do on the board. Like picking which preschool game to choose, we’ll go through a list of what pieces I have and what they usually mean in games. There is nothing tying old mechanisms to current uses, but it provides connectedness and makes it easier for players of one of my games to adapt to a new game.
Trouble & Sorry: these typically act as pawns with no special abilities and no special consequences
Clue: we use these as blockers; sometimes this means only that you can’t share a space with them, but other times means you cannot pass them or enter the spaces around them
Trivia: pieces from real trivia games usually come with a trivia advantage, such as only having to answer 2 out of 3 correctly or moving through trivia spaces at double speed
Candyland: These have really only dominated Candyland-related games, as I love Candyland so much, but are larger than most pieces, so they might be useful for conveying power or control visually
Chutes & Ladders: outside of C&L, it plays the king in the Loch Chess Monster. Because we don’t use it much, there’s an argument for better defining how this numerically-oriented piece can assert power
Shot glass: You have to drink the shot to move it. It’s not very high brow, but it does fucking work
Since it’s looking more and more like I’m just accidentally reinventing drinking Hex (of John Nash fame), we’ll start with the pieces off the board. Since I’ve identified woah this is getting a little close to a game that already exists, I’m going to choose pieces to use which will push this toward the Chess end of the Chess-Go-Crap-On-A-Grid-Board spectrum.
Specifically, all pieces will start the game off the board. On any turn you get one question right, you may move any piece onto any edge of the board or move any piece on the board to any hex. The chess part of this is that we’ll use four different piece types that control spaces in different ways.
Trouble: each player will have two Trouble pieces, which control their square only. The make up for this by being able to move to any unoccupied hex in the same turn as they are replaced by a marker. All other pieces are returned off the board and must come back out to be in play.
Trouble pieces, which control their square only. The make up for this by being able to move to any unoccupied hex in the same turn as they are replaced by a marker. All other pieces are returned off the board and must come back out to be in play. Trivia: since this is a trivia-driven game, each player will have one trivia piece. The player can declare they would like to move that piece before the start of the turn, and the person giving the trivia must make their trivia method arbitrarily easier for that person for both the HHCO segment and the hex segment.
trivia piece. The player can declare they would like to move that piece before the start of the turn, and the person giving the trivia must make their trivia method arbitrarily easier for that person for both the HHCO segment and the hex segment. Shot glass: Shot glasses are bigger than the hexes themselves, and we’ll use this as a feature not a bug. Each player gets one which must sits on up to three spaces, and controls every hex she wholly or partially occupies. Moving the shot glass, by movement or by replacement with a market requires taking the shot — but not quite! The requirements say the drinking has to be related to a die roll, so we need to add an element of chance here, where you only drink if you roll, say, a 1 or 6, but you don’t move at all if you roll a 2–5.
Our board now looks like this:
Filling in the Rules
Let’s restate everything we know about this game so far:
Each player begins the game with a full HHCO tree, two Trouble pieces, one trivia piece, and one shot glass, all of roughly their color
Since tokens are driven by HHCO wins and once you place a piece the only reason to move it is threat, we know most of the play should happen on HHCO. Therefore, we’ll need to structure turns so some correct trivia answers allow HHCO spins and a smaller proportion allow changes on the hex grid. To maximize “useful” turns, players get to declare their order of HHCO and marker turns . That is, before a turn begins, they say “my first correct answer will go to the board and every correct question after that goes to HHCO” or “my first and third correct answer will be HHCO; every other question I get right lets me move on the board”. This makes sure you are never caught with a full basket and no pieces on the board, but also aren’t forced to make board moves that have no purpose or advantage
. That is, before a turn begins, they say “my first correct answer will go to the board and every correct question after that goes to HHCO” or “my first and third correct answer will be HHCO; every other question I get right lets me move on the board”. This makes sure you are never caught with a full basket and no pieces on the board, but also aren’t forced to make board moves that have no purpose or advantage To win, you need control of the board. This is where I want to introduce the game’s built in trans support: what “control” means. We’re making the flag y’all. The blue team will need to control the top and bottom of the grid, the pink team will need two stripes which touch both sides but neither bottom and do not connect in the middle, and the (green) white team needs a thick stripe through the middle unbroken by pink or blue and not touching the top or bottom. This is nice because it’s a sick visual and also introduces slightly different methods of offense and defense for each color while being mostly² equivalent.
We’ve incorporated every requirement by now except the magic eight ball. I want the board to be somewhat mutable but not constantly in flux, so I’ll add the eight ball as a method for deciding who controls contested spaces. Say you have a marker next to a space partially occupied by my shot glass. If I win HHCO, I can place half my marker in the partially occupied spot and the other half… right where your marker is. Instead of automatically giving up the spot, we’ll send it to chance: get a Most Likely or higher to “Can I take this spot?” and it’s yours — the other player must remove that market entirely.
And that is how you play Eene Meene Hexerei³!
¹ You can cheat here. I don’t cheat at games. I (assume) my husband doesn’t cheat. Most games I play are only with him, so this doesn’t come up much. But, yes, you can cheat here. Don’t. It’s rude. | https://medium.com/@computingwithfeelings/the-internet-told-me-how-to-make-this-game-1e1da1fac2e9 | [] | 2020-12-24 23:37:40.706000+00:00 | ['Twitter', 'Hex', 'Games'] |
Introduction to Statistics for Data Science | Covariance
Covariance is a measure that indicates how two variables are related. A positive covariance means the variables are positively related, while a negative covariance means the variables are inversely related. The formula for calculating covariance of sample data is shown below.
x = the independent variable
y = the dependent variable
n = number of data points in the sample
x̅ = the mean of the independent variable x
y-bar= the mean of the dependent variable y
Using pandas covariance formula we can calculate the value for variable Height and Weight .
covariance = data['Height'].cov(data['Weight'])
print('Covariance with Pandas = %0.2f' % covariance)
So, we have a covariance of 34,43. Since the covariance is positive, the variables are positively related — they move together in the same direction.
Nevertheless, with covariance we have an issue… with the units. If you calculated the covariance by end you might have noticed this issue but with pandas is not possible. Take a look again at the formula. We’ve chosen two variable Height measured in centimeters (cm) and Weight measured in kilograms (Kg). Notice the denominator, where for each data point you subtract the mean of the respective variable and later multiple both values. In the end, our value for the covariance will be 34,43 cm.kg. This is not very informative! First of all, it seems that our covariance depends on the magnitude of our variables. If we’ve used the american metric system for Height and Weight , the covariance would probably return a different value and deceive us on the covariance’s strength.
So, our metric is is showing us to what extent these variables are changing together, which is good, but it is dependent on the magnitude of the variables themselves which generally does not give us what we want. A better question instead of “How do our variables relate?” is “How strong is the relationship between our variables?”. For that, Correlation is the best answer.
Correlation
As seen before, covariance measures how variables, with different units of measure, relate. With this measure, we can determine whether units were increasing or decreasing, but it was impossible to measure the degree to which the variables moved together because covariance does not use one standard unit of measurement.
Correlation standardizes the measure of interdependence between two variables and, consequently, tells you how closely the two variables move. The correlation measurement, called a correlation coefficient, will always take on a value between 1 and -1:
If the correlation coefficient is one, the variables have a perfect positive correlation. This means that if one variable moves a given amount, the second moves proportionally in the same direction.
If correlation coefficient is zero, no relationship exists between the variables. If one variable moves, you can make no predictions about the movement of the other variable; they are uncorrelated.
If correlation coefficient is –1, the variables are perfectly negatively correlated (or inversely correlated) and move in opposition to each other. If one variable increases, the other variable decreases proportionally.
To calculate the correlation coefficient for two variables, you would use the correlation formula, shown below.
r(x,y) = correlation of the variables x and y
COV(x, y) = covariance of the variables x and y
sx = standard deviation of the variable x
sy = standard deviation of the variable y
With correlation we do not have the same issue as with covariance since our numerator will be cm.kg and our denominator cm.kg, thus being unitless.
Therefore, the correlation will be the same regardeless of the unit system you are working with.
# calculate the correlation in the metric dataset, in Pandas
correlation = data['Height'].corr(data['Weight']) # print results
print('Correlation in metric system: %0.2f' % correlation)
Spearman Correlation
The best way to think about Spearman’s correlation, also known as Rank correlation, is to forget the variables values and consider only their relative position (rank).
This is the original data distribution:
data[["Height", "Weight"]].head()
By ranking the data, the lowest player will have his Height ranked as 1 and the lighest player will have his Weight ranked as 1, as well. When there is a tie, like there is two 221 none assume the value and both become 221.5 .
data[["Height", "Weight"]].rank().head()
data[["Height", "Weight"]].rank().plot.scatter(x ="Weight", y="Height")
From this plot we can see a positive correlation between both variables.
Pearson Correlation
It is the most commonly used and due to being widely used, people usely call it only correlation. It is simply the correlation between the rank coefficients, or in simpler terms the correlation between the “positions on the podium” for Height , and “positions on the podium” for Weight .
We can obtain the same correlation value with Pandas by doing the follow.
ranked_data = data[[“Height”, “Weight”]].rank()
ranked_data[‘Height’].corr(ranked_data[‘Weight’])
Or if you’re just really lazy.
data_metric['ages'].corr(data_metric['heights'], method='spearman')
Correlation Matrix
What if, instead of looking at two variables, we take a look a the correlation between all the variables?
data.corr()
We can also see this correlation matrix in a more visual pleasant way.
sns.heatmap(data.corr(), annot=True)
Spurious correlations
One thing you should always have in mind, during your analysis, is that correlation does not imply causation. Take a look at the following example from tylervigen.com
I doubt that the higher or lower consumption of margarine is one of the main causes of divorce rates in Maine. Nevertheless, these two variables present a correlation of 99%. As Data Scientist, you have the tasks of always questioning the data, your results and to be skeptical. Find a lot of proof that support your statement before making it. Imagine if you would come to your boss and say “The more margarine you eat the more probable you’ll end up getting a divorce”.
Continue learning with the next post:
If you liked it, follow me for more publications and don’t forget, please, give it an applause! | https://medium.com/diogo-menezes-borges/introduction-to-statistics-for-data-science-3087b80eb1c6 | ['Super Albert'] | 2018-11-09 11:27:28.167000+00:00 | ['Artificial Intelligence', 'Machine Learning', 'Education', 'Data Science', 'Statistics'] |
Working in Covid | As a final post in this series looking at how Covid has impacted different groups, I’ve spoken to people in a range of industries. If you’ve missed the previous pieces, I spoke to NHS workers and students, so check those out.
Back in March, the government asked millions of people to stay at home to help protect lives. This meant millions of people were unable to work. Only those doing essential work, such as providing food or electricity, were able to continue. It also meant people spent less on non-essential things like buying clothes and eating out — which of course has had a big impact on businesses within those sectors.
During the first lockdown, I was a student completing exams through distance learning, so nothing really changed for me. If you want to read about that, click here.
This time around, I’m working as a trainee reporter from my new home in Eastbourne. So although my circumstances have changed massively, Covid isn’t putting a stop to my work at all, so I feel very lucky for that. Hopefully we’ll be in our new office next year, but as with everything at the moment — let’s see what happens.
The same can be said for many other ‘office jobs’ so I’ve looked at the more ‘practical jobs’ that have really changed due to the pandemic.
Adam — Theatre technician
Adam went from being fully booked up with work contracts, to having jobs cancelled left right and centre.
“The pandemic completely changed my year, clearing my calendar. My income source completely disappeared, and I was forced to fall back on what little savings I had. I live with my partner and her income disqualified me from universal credit.”
This loss of work meant Adam had to look elsewhere, and this really impacted his mental health.
“I have spent the past year exploring other avenues that my skills can be transferred to, attempting to get any work that I can. My mental health has taken a serious dive, and I have had to seek medical help for this.”
Although 2021 is building up with work for Adam, he’s far from comfortable with what’s to come. As quickly has things can be booked, things can be cancelled again as restrictions change.
“If things continue to improve and the vaccine comes then I will be able to rebuild. However, the recent surprise lockdown was announced five days before I was due to start a job, which was then cancelled. This uncertainty is making me seriously consider whether I can continue doing the work that I do — that I spent years training for — or whether I should replan my life going forward. This is a significant change from the optimism I had at the start of the year.”
Support for the self-employed has been ‘lacking’ according to Adam.
“The grant is simply not enough to cover my rent and bills. ‘One size fits all’ is not the model that the government should have used for this, as it has caused many of my colleagues to slip through the cracks and receive no support whatsoever.
“As businesses were reopening theatre professionals should have been considered, we have been completely ignored, and the bailout is not doing anything for the millions of self-employed people who are still out of work.”
Claire — Dance school owner
Claire owns a dance school for adults and children. The school has had to remain closed over the two lockdowns, seriously disrupting her life.
“Covid lockdowns have meant long periods where we have had to close all face-to-face classes. We have been able to continue for some of that time with a reduced timetable over Zoom which has at least kept people dancing and helped people stay connected.”
Despite this, classes over Zoom aren’t the same. Claire said how dancing in a small space at home just isn’t the same as in-person, and because of this the demand for Zoom classes through the second lockdown haven’t been as high.
“Having had a chance to get back to classes in person, it was a real blow to have to be back on Zoom. During both lockdowns, income has been considerably reduced. We were able to go back to in-person classes for a six-week window in between lockdowns. In order to open safely, extensive risk assessment and planning was required, and we had to limit class sizes so that social distancing could be maintained.
“This reduction in capacity also meant lost income. We also had to build in time between classes to clean and we had to dance with all the windows and doors open for ventilation — this meant wearing plenty of layers!”
Claire said how much she’s missed teaching face-to-face and the social interaction that comes with it.
“Dancing is so good for both physical and mental health, and to be unable to carry on in the way that we would want to has impacted our whole community of dancers. I am concerned about the immediate future, and feel worried that the easing of restrictions over Christmas will risk putting us back into lockdown in January. This could mean we have to close again and this will not only impact the physical and mental health of our teachers and dancers, but also our income and working hours.
“I also really hope that we will be able to get back to live performances at some point soon. Like anyone self-employed and in sectors like the arts, the impact of Covid on our working lives has been enormous,and it will take time and effort to get back to where we were in early 2020.”
Sophie — Teacher
Teachers are arguably the other ‘front line’ for Covid as students need to keep learning. First lockdown saw schools shut and move online, but this time around it has been a priority to keep schools going despite other restrictions changing every few weeks.
“Covid has impacted my job hugely. Staff feel like they are being thrown to the wolves particularly after PPE equipment was deemed pointless and unnecessary for primary schools initially.
“Teachers who already deal with huge amounts pastorally and academically are now working through their lunch hours because bubbles can’t merge, so they’re supervising lunches and even cleaning tables and toilets during breaks.
“Tensions are running high as everyone remains nervous and slowly burns out.”
For Sophie, classes are the same size — 32 kids with no additional help. There is also no cover staff, no lunch time staff, and no volunteer helpers to take on extra tasks. She also said how she had to source her own PPE, and cleaning equipment was in low supply.
The attitudes of people is something Sophie cannot understand.
“The stupidity of the masses still seems to amaze me. The belief they can risk it and are somehow different whilst others are having to stick to the rules. I am listening to parents arrange play dates as they leave school at staggered times and wait for parents from other classes at the bottom of the drives.
“I have watched a number of young fit friends and teachers get incredibly poorly. Many of them are also feeling very isolated, myself included.”
Sophie is pleased to see schools are remaining open now, but thinks there should have been more preparation and half term should have been extended.
Sophie worries about the impact the chaos will have on children of all ages. She said, “My heart sinks thinking of some of the children I have come across and worked with in the past. If nothing else, they will be left hungry and ignored. I also fear for teenagers and the higher level of online contact they’re getting over face-to-face contact. This will inevitably enable teenagers to make choices that are unsupervised and probably later regrettable. “I think on the whole the feeling is negative. However, what I can say is that teachers are always committed to their children and doing the best for them. I have seen a number of parents take their own anxieties out on school and the teachers involved.
“Most teachers I know are walking around exhausted, demoralised and anxious. The children see happy confident members of staff offering levels of support above and beyond the call of duty on a daily basis. I am incredibly proud of the profession as a whole.”
Jazz — Catering business owner
Just like Adam, Jazz’s work completely dried up as events were cancelled, resulting in a loss of income with no idea of when the business would be able to serve the public at shows again.
“Our business was solely reliant on large events such as the Yorkshire Show, Burghley Horse Trials and weddings etc. Due to Covid, all these events were forced to stop — leaving us with no form of income, resulting in us shutting down our business.”
This ending — to a business Jazz has spent five years building up — meant that she had to look elsewhere for work.
“My day-to-day routine has completely changed. I have gone from working for myself and spending the majority of the year travelling around the country catering for the general public, to working as a nanny looking after four boys and working in their family business. It’s been a huge change to go from choosing my working weeks/hours to having a set routine.”
In terms of the future, Jazz is hoping that event catering will return, and although she wouldn’t return to that type of work full time, she would want to go back to working at some of the main shows.
“I’m feeling positive that things will return to some sort of normality eventually. I hope that I’ll be able to return to outdoor catering but I will have a very different outlook on things and there are a number of things I will do differently. I think as a business we will have to diversify and look into other revenues. I also doubt that I will give up my current job. I think I will try and do both if possible.” | https://medium.com/@indiawentworth/working-in-covid-56da37b9792d | ['India Wentworth'] | 2020-12-05 17:03:10.334000+00:00 | ['Covid 19', 'Dance', 'Teachers', 'Hospitality', 'Theatre'] |
A whimper in the desert | A whimper in the desert
Denis Villeneuve’s Sicario , a brilliantly dark drug-war thriller set in a desolate, parched desert where nothing can grow
Let us bring up again that old Eliot chestnut, “the world won’t end with a bang, but with a whimper”, to remind us that Sicario begins with a bang (or rather, several), as a FBI SWAT team enters an Arizona charnel house of horrors, only to end, two hours later (and this is no spoiler) with a distraught, whimpering FBI agent asking what did she just live through. We can ask the same question ourselves: what were we just hit with?
Sicario systematically puts up a genre scaffold, a framework that lures the viewer in, and just as systematically tears it down with each new development until its nominal heroine - a door-busting, no-nonsense FBI agent named Kate Macer and played vibrantly by Emily Blunt - is left hanging from what’s left by the skin of a finger nail. (It’s a metaphor. There are no cliffhangers like that in the film.)
The warning this is going to happen is, actually, perfectly enunciated by Benicio del Toro about a third of the way into the film: “Nothing will make sense to your American ears, and you will question everything you do. But, in the end, you will understand.”
And understand we do, in Denis Villeneuve’s brilliantly dark and almost hopeless drug-war thriller, synthesizing a resolutely contemporary take on one of American cinema’s most hardened tropes, the twisty thriller following a hero in search of justice.
Taylor Sheridan’s script is incredibly ambitious in its attempt to dramatize the many tentacles of contemporary drug trafficking, using Ms. Blunt’s character as his way: an agent who has been on the frontline of chasing drug and people traffickers assigned to an undercover operation to neutralize a Mexican kingpin where the book everything is supposed to be done by has just gone out the window.
The script does falter uneasily when it tries to give a voice to the Mexicans who suffer the most from the drug war — a subplot about a local cop on the take is so bare-bones it’s almost cringeworthy, and nearly all of the characters on the Latino side of the border are purely functional archetypes not given much thought.
But Mr. Sheridan packs a mean punch when it comes to fingering the political aspects the thing takes on the American side, designing a quicksand swampland of loose morals and means-justifying-the-end ironically set in the desert lands of Arizona, Texas and Mexico.
Roger Deakins’ roving camera, a surveillance object if there ever was one, moves implacably, almost inexorably above and on the surface of this desert, where derelict cars do double duty as entrances to a hellish underworld, coyote holes into which Kate is about to fall through like Alice on the other side of the looking-glass. Down is now up, left is now right, “truth, justice and the American way” quietly devolving into an almost lawless New Wild West, as seen through the get-the-job-done credo of Kathryn Bigelow’s Iraq war films and the cool, professional sheen of Michael Mann’s contemporary noirs.
Mr. Villeneuve may clearly be trespassing onto Steven Soderbergh territory here; Sicario could be a more focussed Traffic minus the mosaic plotting, but in fact there’s more in common with the Canadian helmer’s earlier Prisoners in the earnestness with which it approaches its tale (though, for my money, Sicario is the better film).
I can’t help but think of Mr. Villeneuve as an equivalent to Christopher Nolan: in an American film landscape where most everyone seems concerned with making entertainment, both directors are aiming for a scope and approach that is serious, certainly thoughtful, occasionally stern in its moralist approach, but trying to approach serious issues within an arena of genre filmmaking while refusing simple, black and white dichotomies. Sicario is notable for its refusal to sugarcoat the pill — there’s a starkness, a darkness to the film, borne out of the disenchantment in its tale, of its realization there can be no escape from this vicious circle.
Unlike the liberal thrillers of the 1970s (another reference all too present), where things were done with a view to making sure things got better, Sicario offers no easy fixes, no comforting solutions; this isn’t going away and all we can do is contain it. The beating tempo editor Joe Walker creates highlights the fact that every new piece of the puzzle isn’t going to fit neatly, everything is a challenge that changes the image you’re trying to build. Halfway through the film’s taut two-hour running time, you’ve lost all landmarks and are merely being buffeted back and forth by the twisting and turning plot, left as much in the dark as its heroine is, even though the director can’t occasionally help tease the viewer with information hidden from her. After all, everything happens above Kate’s paygrade.
Not everything works in Sicario, for sure; it certainly may not be the most original or illuminating take on its hot-button subject. But it’s a smart, thoughtful, thought-provoking one, and above all a formally masterful feat of control and command from the director and his crew, turning the landscapes of Arizona and Mexico into a sort of parched, desolate, apocalyptic territory where nothing can survive but bloody violence.
A place where the world does not end with a bang as much as it dries out with a whimper, all love and emotion wizened and worn out by weather until nothing is left but the desert. And it’s a desert.
SICARIO
US, 2015, 121 minutes
Starring Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin, Victor Garber, Jon Bernthal, Daniel Kaluuya. Directed by Denis Villeneuve; written by Taylor Sheridan; cinematography by Roger Deakins (widescreen); music by Jóhann Jóhannssón; production designer Patrice Vermette; costume designer Renée April; editor Joe Walker; produced by Basil Iwanyk, Edward R. McDonnell, Molly Smith, Trent Luckinbill and Thad Luckinbill, for Lionsgate, Black Label Media and Thunder Road Pictures. Screened October 8th 2015, UCI El Corte Inglés 12, Lisbon, distributor press screening.
Originally published at theflickeringwall.blogspot.pt on October 19, 2015. | https://medium.com/the-flickering-wall/a-whimper-in-the-desert-7c66dbfa361e | ['Jorge Mourinha'] | 2015-10-19 19:59:44.349000+00:00 | ['Review', 'Film', 'Movies'] |
Killing Off the Old You | by Randy Gage
In the last post we discussed consciousness and mindfully choosing your path instead of simply following the one your environment had prepared for you. The post seemed to touch many on a deep level, as they have relayed their stories to me, of leaving the old, pre-ordained version of themselves behind, to create the life they intuitively felt they wanted to be living. It’s such a radical, life-altering decision.
A few people were taken aback with the language I used about killing off the old me. But I vehemently believe that is metaphorically what I had to do. (And what you have to do, if you’re serious about breaking a permanent — and often generational — cycle built upon limiting or dysfunctional beliefs.)
It’s the ultimate demonstration of the vacuum law of prosperity in action…
The universe abhors a vacuum and always will work to fill it. I think that universal law (natural selection, divine order, or whatever you choose to call it) is inherently good. So when you create a vacuum, the odds are it will be filled with good.
My formative years came in the aftermath of Woodstock, the anti-war movement, and rioting in America. I couldn’t just forget I had witnessed all that and ease into the Midwestern life of bowling on Tuesdays, eating fish on Fridays, and going to the shopping mall on Saturdays. So at 17 years old, I packed everything I could fit into my ’71 Plymouth and drove to Miami. I didn’t have a place to stay, a job, or know a single person there. But I had 350 bucks and a dream to live somewhere with sandy beaches, swaying palm trees, and a big city ethos.
It wasn’t all seashells, balmy breezes, and drinking from coconuts…
I stayed in a roach-infested motel for hookers on Biscayne Boulevard for two months until I found a job and saved enough money to put a security deposit on an apartment. Miami provided my first encounters with hurricanes, rain forest humidity, and gun-toting crack addicts. But I believe the new environment was a vital element of killing off that old me.
And that was simply murder number one…
When I was in my early ’30s, I had my restaurant seized by the tax authorities and auctioned off at the courthouse to pay my tax liens. That left me $55,000 in debt (when that was a seemingly insurmountable amount of obligation to me), with no house, no car and no job. I ended up selling off all my furniture and slept on the floor. I decided my life wasn’t working out very well, and that required murder number two.
That one was a slow death. I spent two hours a day in self-development to begin, then an hour, and whittled it down to about 30 minutes a day. (Which is where I am still today.) It took about two years, but at the end of that time, I felt as if I had completed remade myself on the cellular level. Then began the period of transformation from poor to wealthy. This was a process of learning how to build businesses and make money.
I made a lot of money and literally became a multi-millionaire at 35 years old. I bought exotic sports cars, $10,000 shoes, $65,000 watches, flew the Concorde, purchased art, spent $500 a week on fresh flowers, and got regular massages, manicures, pedicures and facials. (I’ll admit the rest of the money, I just pissed away.)
Those were heady days, filled with success after success. But there was something missing…
Significance.
This led me to unplug from the world and go on a sabbatical. (If you’re curious, this is the post I wrote back then about why I chose this path.) As you’ve probably already figured out, that sabbatical led me to murder number three. I stopped chasing success and sought significance. Everything went through a filter of meaning: whether or not it would make a positive difference in the bigger picture.
It’s been a pretty good run…
In addition to killing off the old me I killed off 90 percent of my speeches and seminars, and 100 percent of my long-term consulting contracts, which killed off 90 percent of my airplane rides. I’m writing more books, doing only the events that give me a creative high like TRIBAL, and working with an elite group of high-level achievers in my Breakthrough U coaching program.
Right now, I love the path I’m on because it’s the one I envisioned, and then custom built for myself. I’m living my life on my terms. And if for any reason the situation evolves and a different path — or a different person — is required, I won’t hesitate to pull the trigger.
On the next post, we’ll explore an important and related subject: burnout and what causes it. Until then, what are your thoughts?
Are you suffering from burnout? Are you on the path chosen for you, or the one you chose? Are you the person you always dreamt of becoming — or do you need to kill off who you are, in order to grow into who you are meant to be? Would love to hear from you below.
Peace,
- RG
Affiliate Relationship Disclosure | https://medium.com/prosperity-success/killing-off-the-old-you-1cab3d12ab87 | ['Randy Gage'] | 2019-11-15 01:48:14.015000+00:00 | ['Happiness', 'Burnout Syndrom', 'Burnout', 'Life Lessons', 'Prosperity'] |
Blockchain and smart contracts: how does it work in the oil and gas sector? | M. Lang and M. Müller, in relation to energy, ask the question whether smart contracts are contracts in the legal sense, or are they automated computer protocols that fulfill the obligations contained in this contract, based on the conditions stipulated in it and agreed outside computer code. While the answer to the question will depend on the jurisdiction concerned, even if smart contracts do not qualify as contracts by themselves, there is no doubt that classical contract law applies to the underlying transaction and that smart contracts expressed in computer code should comply with certain applicable law.
Without interfering with the debate about the legal nature of smart contracts, the following should be considered for conflict of laws purposes. The use of computer algorithms does not create a new contract. This is purely a matter of the form of the deal. The parties conclude a cross-border oil and gas deal in the traditional form, where part of the obligations that can be automated is written in a programming language. Some experts believe that we are talking about “an element of the contract, which is concluded in electronic form with automated execution of the obligation arisen using a computer program.” In their opinion, “the essential characteristics of such agreements are reduced to their electronic form, as well as to the automated fulfillment of obligations under them by performing digital transactions in the sequence specified by the relevant agreements and upon the occurrence of appropriate circumstances (predetermined transaction parameters).”
Determining the applicable law in cross-border oil and gas transactions presents a certain difficulty. The use of blockchain platforms and smart contracts in this case leads to an aggravation of the collision problem. The reasons seem to be as follows.
First, the lack of a wide range of unified material and legal sources makes the collision method of regulating cross-border oil and gas transactions actually dominant.
The question of the application of the 1980 Vienna Convention to contracts for the international sale of hydrocarbons is still being resolved ambiguously. If by virtue of clause f of Art. 2 electricity is directly excluded from the scope of the Convention, there is uncertainty with regard to oil and gas. According to A.V. Asoskova, the Vienna Convention of 1980 still applies to energy trade. This should be accepted, given the absence of an explicit prohibition in the Convention. This view is sometimes shared by national courts**. The 1994 Energy Charter Treaty and bilateral international treaties on the encouragement and protection of foreign investment, often applied to cross-border oil and gas transactions, are investment instruments that limit their scope to a state-foreign investor relationship.
** The Austrian Supreme Court, by decision in case 10Ob518 / 95 (Propane case) of February 6, 1996, recognized natural gas as a material thing within the meaning of the Vienna Convention of 1980, regardless of its state — liquid or gaseous.
Second, the unprecedented growth of sources of non-state regulation and the broadly interpreted concept of “rules of law” forces us to look at the lex voluntatis principle in private international law in a new way. The autonomous “transnational oil and gas law” — lex petrolea, is spreading, based on the philosophy of legal pluralism, according to which qualification as “applicable law” does not depend on its authorization by the state, but on whether it has been approved by the professional community in a particular sector of the economy. Risks of a conflict of law and “wrong” are increasing.
Thirdly, the very existence of smart contracts and blockchain technology catches lawyers by surprise, creating uncertainty about applicable law and conflict of laws regulation. The latter needs some comments.
III. Reflections on the law applicable to smart contracts
For centuries, philosophers, economists, and lawyers have sought an answer to the question of how people can trade with each other regardless of national laws and government control. In recent years, the discussion has been fueled by the digitalization phenomenon, in particular the emergence of blockchain and smart contracts. Initial hopes that smart contracts would free the exchange of goods and services from national laws did not seem to materialize. Classic contract law not only has not outlived its usefulness but also continues to actively develop in new conditions. Like all other contracts, smart contracts require the law to react to them. Thus, the decisive question is not whether smart contracts are subject to the law, but which law they are subject to.
To date, the states of Delaware, Arizona, Nebraska, Tennessee, Wyoming, Illinois, and California have adopted special legislation to recognize the legal consequences of smart contracts. These states recognize automated smart contracts even if they are not matched by a traditional written contract. Thus, the parties can be confident that their transaction will be valid if they choose the law of any jurisdiction that recognizes the legal consequences of smart contracts as the applicable law. However, one should bear in mind the general rule of US conflicts of law, according to which the autonomy of the will of the parties is limited by the law of the state having a “substantial connection” with the contract (§ 187 Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws).
In the European Union, the law applicable to contractual obligations is determined, as is known, in accordance with the Rome I Regulation. By virtue of Art. 1, this Regulation applies in situations of conflict of law to contractual obligations in the civil and commercial fields. As a consequence, there can be no doubt that the scope of its application also encompasses smart contracts. However, subject to one important caveat: the Rome I Regulation applies to contractual obligations in the legal sense. A smart contract, as noted earlier, is a piece of software code that can be reduced to a form that automates the fulfillment of obligations. From this, we can conclude that the provisions of the Rome I Regulation do not apply to the smart contract as such, but only to the contract that it helps to execute (to the main transaction). However, the direct application of the Regulation to a smart contract will be possible if it is legally valid under applicable law (for example, the law of the states of Delaware or Nebraska). Thus, a smart contract operating in a virtual and decentralized environment is “legalized” due to the autonomy of the will of the parties (Article 3 of the Rome I Regulation), which provides much-needed legal certainty. The final opinion on this issue could be formulated by the Court of Justice of the European Union, but so far this has not been done.
If the parties have not chosen the applicable law, the judges or arbitrators will do so on the basis of Art. 4 of the Rome I Regulation. In this case, it is of paramount importance to answer the question of what kind of transaction is executed using a smart contract (clauses “a” — “h”, paragraph 1, article 4 of the Rome I Regulation). The choice of law governing a smart contract should take into account the form and substance of the underlying transaction, its business case, technical complexity, number of participants, and jurisdictional coverage. If the contract does not fall within the scope of § 1, then a conflict of laws binding about the right of the party performing the performance that is decisive for the contract is included. Finally, if the applicable law cannot be determined taking into account the above rules, then the contract is governed by the law determined by the principle of closest connection (§ 4 Article 4 of the Rome I Regulation).
There are some general factors that judges and arbitrators take into account when determining the law that is most closely related to a cross-border oil and gas transaction (most often it is in the nature of a mixed contract). These include the place of conclusion of the contract; place of negotiations; location of a natural resource or oil and gas reservoir that is the subject of the contract; place of residence of the parties; location of the insurer; the language of the contract; the law governing any related relationship; the form of the transaction and the legal concepts that make up the contract; the currency used for contractual obligations.
To solve the conflict problem, it is proposed to use the theory of splitting the contractual statute (Dépeçage).
With regard to cross-border oil and gas transactions, characterized by a complex structure, when one applicable law cannot cover all the constituent parts of one contract, the use of Dépeçage is updated. One such transaction can be divided into parts for operation, design, construction, installation, international transport, insurance, dispute resolution, safety, and environmental aspects. Despite their logical separability, they must work as a single organism for the contract to be effective. Subordination of parts of such a transaction to different legal orders simplifies its execution, which is in the interests of the parties.
In addition, in cross-border oil and gas transactions, clauses regarding the implementation of “good practice in the development of oil and gas fields”, “best practice”, “best international practice”, “leading practice of the oil industry”, etc. are spreading. These provisions can be seen as a practical embodiment of the Dépeçage theory. In other words, the principles of “good oilfield practice”, which are widely used by multinational oil and gas companies, will apply to the relevant parts of the contract, while the main applicable law will govern the rest of the contract.
In conclusion, it should be noted that the existing conflict of laws regulation is quite applicable to smart contracts executing cross-border oil and gas transactions. The question is whether the law, applicable by virtue of a conflict of laws rule, offers a suitable legal basis for smart contracts. In the future, parties will increasingly use autonomy of will (lex voluntatis) to choose jurisdictions with developed legislation. As G. Ruehl correctly notes, in the long term, private international law will not only determine the law applicable to smart contracts, and thereby contribute to legal certainty, but also demonstrate which law is best suited to solve digitalization problems from the point of view of the parties.
This, in turn, will affect the processes of harmonization and reform of national law, which will lead to improved legislation for smart contracts in different countries. | https://medium.com/the-capital/blockchain-and-smart-contracts-how-does-it-work-in-the-oil-and-gas-sector-e586e5bb6951 | [] | 2020-09-04 01:42:12.288000+00:00 | ['Finance', 'Gas', 'Smart Contracts', 'Blockchain', 'Oil'] |
Boosting Supply Chain Resilience in the High-Tech Industry — An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. | Co-authors: Jeff Howell (Global Vice President of the High-Tech Industry Business Unit) & Manfred Kopisch (Director, Solution Management, High Tech Industry Business Unit)
Benjamin Franklin wrote in 1735 “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” when advising Philadelphia about protecting towns from fires. Nearly 300 years later, these words still apply to any area where abrupt disruptions can have disastrous effects on a system.
Covid-19 is the latest in the string of major supply chain disruptions the high-tech industry experienced in the last decade. External macro events including, for example, tariff wars or natural disasters are a recurring element of risk that will continue to happen. In the example of COVID-19, it exposed the vulnerability of many organizations’ supply chains and raised the topic of supply chain resilience to the boardroom. The consequences of supply chain disruption range from increased personnel costs, severe productivity losses to poor customer experiences. To minimize those risks, companies must understand their supply chains vulnerabilities as well as appropriate mitigation strategies available.
In August 2020, SAP’s High-Tech Industry Business Unit led by Jeff Howell started to pool the strengths of industry experts across multiple domains, customers, partners and various SAP solution experts. Supported by SAP AppHaus, part of SAP’s Customer Innovation organization, they developed an innovative new vision: a dashboard that provides a supply chain resilience score based on five different risk factors. Additionally, the solution suggests risk avoidance strategies, which are tested by simulations and ultimately increase the company’s supply chain resilience.
Following a human-centered approach
Following SAP’s Human-Centered Approach to Innovation, the initial challenge was to design a tool for making supply chains more resilient while at the same time easy for the end user to consume and react to the information. To turn the vision into reality, Jeff brought together various experts from different Lines of Business (LoB’s) who ran through different design thinking workshops, creating personas, conducting end user research with customers and partners and extracting supply chain management challenges. The outcome was a conceptual prototype of a supply chain resilience dashboard. Like a credit score, this dashboard provides a single score that expresses resilience based on five risk factors:
Component Risk: Identifies critical and highest at-risk components
Disruption: Assesses suppliers’ potential for disruption based on location, regulatory, geopolitical or other issues
Workforce: Assesses suppliers’ current workforce capacity and ability to expand
Agility: Rates suppliers’ ability to serve based on capabilities: find alternate sources, alternate capacity
Visibility: Rates suppliers’ capabilities to provide visibility to customers and secure visibility of their suppliers.
The prototype leverages frontier technologies provided by SAP Business Technology Platform and data provided by SAP Ariba, SAP Integrated Business Planning for Supply Chain, SAP Supply Chain Collaboration for High Tech and Qualtrics. The dashboard provides maximum transparency on supply chain resilience and allows detailed insights into every factor to make informed decisions. By simulating recommended actions within the system, the end-user can evaluate a quantitative-based assessment of the cost-benefit tradeoffs.
A day in the life of a supply chain executive leveraging the solution
Resilience in the supply chain planning process
The developed prototype envisions companies incorporate resilience into their supply chain planning process. They anticipate supply chain risks, respond using machine-based recommendations, minimize disruptions, maintain business continuity and ultimately increase customer service, market share and financial performance.
This visionary prototype was made possible by the commitment of the cross-LoB and industry experts, customers and partners. The SAP Customer Innovation AppHaus team led the effort with critical thinking and facilitation skills, creativity, speed and determination.
If you would like to join us on the innovation journey and, as a customer, collaboratively develop the Proof of Concept further, please contact us. Tell us what you think and share your comments below. | https://medium.com/@eric-klebeck/boosting-supply-chain-resilience-in-the-high-tech-industry-an-ounce-of-prevention-is-worth-a-1745cdac79e8 | ['Eric Klebeck'] | 2020-12-17 16:05:08.974000+00:00 | ['Covid 19', 'Supply Chain Disruption', 'Supply Chain', 'Sap', 'Innovation'] |
The most affordable flagship smartphones to buy in 2021 | Image by:GetTheTechNow
The year 2021 is not ended yet, and we had met a lot of affordable flagship smartphones. Companies are just keeping launching new phones to compete with other smartphone companies. We are here with a list of the 5 most affordable flagship smartphones to buy this year.
Our List of most affordable flagship phones 2021
OnePlus 9 5G
Image by: OnePlus
The company OnePlus launched its 2021 flagship OnePlus 9 series back on March 23rd. The company launches the OnePlus 9, 9 Pro, and an exclusive OnePlus 9R only for India. But, here we are talking about the standard OnePlus 9, which is an affordable flagship phone.
What it has to offer?
The OnePlus 9 5G features a 6.55 inches Fluid AMOLED with a 120Hz screen, 50-megapixels of rear camera shooter at the back, and a single 16-megapixel front camera. This phone is powered by Snapdragon 888 processor, which is the latest flagship chipset. It has a 4,500mAh big battery with 65W of fast wired charging and 15W wireless charging. It comes in three different colors: Arctic Sky, Astral black, and my favorite Winter Mist.
What are the pricing and availability?
It comes in two variants: 8GB+128GB for $729,99 on Amazon and 12GB+256GB which is not available yet. You can get this phone on the OnePlus official website also.
Samsung Galaxy A52
Image by: GetTheTechNow
The Galaxy A51 was the popular android device last year 2020. Galaxy A52 is the successor to Galaxy A51, with design, camera, features upgrade. This phone offers a 4G and 5G variant.
What it has to offer?
The Samsung Galaxy A52 comes in 5G and 4G variants. There are a few differences between the 5G and 4G variant, for example, the Galaxy A52 5G has a 120Hz refresh rate and is powered by Snapdragon 750G, whereas the Galaxy A52 4G has a 90Hz screen with Snapdragon 720G processor. You can click here to read the specifications of the 5G variant, and here to read the 4G variant.
What are the pricing and availability?
The Galaxy A52 5G comes in three variants, which include 128GB/6GB, 128GB/8GB, and 256GB/8GB RAM. Its starting price is $530 on Amazon. The Galaxy A52 4G comes in four virents, which incules 128GB/4GB, 128GB/6GB, 128GB/8GB, and 256GB/8GB of RAM. Its starting price is $380 at Amazon.
Realme GT
Image by: GetTheTechNow
The Realme company is offering the most affordable flagship smartphone, which is powered by Snapdragon 888 chipset. Realme GT is the phone which is a flagship killer.
What is has to offer?
The Realme GT 5G has a 6.43-inches super AMOLED screen. It is powered by Snapdragon 888 chipset, with 5G connectivity. This phone has a triple camera setup at back, which includes 64-megapixels (wide), 8-megapixels (ultrawide), and 2-megapixels (macro). And a single shooter of 20-megapixel on the front screen.
What are the pricing and availability?
This phone comes in two different variants, 128GB/8GB for $589 at Amazon, and 256GB/12GB for $700 on Amazon.
this page may contain some affiliate links.
keep on reading. | https://medium.com/@abdullahmunirbajwa/the-most-affordable-flagship-smartphones-to-buy-in-2021-36dec0679768 | ['Abdullah Munir'] | 2021-04-02 13:24:23.184000+00:00 | ['Samsung', 'Deals', 'Smartphones', 'Amazon', 'Oneplus'] |
decisions. | CCO from Pixabay. Skitterphoto
for you,
they said,
just forget those past days
no dreams, no aspirations,
walk the way we tell you to,
eyes closed, walk
•family•
I’ll rather have no contacts than thrive as a slave of someone else’ will. | https://medium.com/chalkboard/decisions-2a148d994324 | [] | 2017-09-06 18:04:57.152000+00:00 | ['Society', 'Family', 'Poetry', 'One Line', 'Loneliness'] |
What Women Want | Photo credit: Cottonbro on Pexels
In an industry where buzzwords like “customer journey,” “persona,” “pain-points” and “influencer” dominate, it’s ironic that 91% of women feel advertisers don’t understand them. This is especially troubling considering they account for 85% of all purchases. It seems that in our efforts to craft clever creative, we lost site of something really important—reality. After all, advertising can’t be effective if it doesn’t resonate with its audience.
At Struck, we’re helping our clients connect with women in meaningful ways. In July of 2020, at the direction of our president, Pauline Ploquin, we strengthened our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team, providing them with new resources and added support. Among other issues, Pauline asked the team to challenge gender stereotypes and open doors for female advancement. As a result, we have established mentoring partnerships, created new leadership opportunities and welcomed our women not only to sit at the table, but to conduct meetings around it.
The women at Struck are of diverse ages, cultures and backgrounds. Each brings her unique perspective to our various projects and teams. Welcoming these insights has helped us better meet the needs of our clients. It’s also challenged us to address faulty assumptions within ourselves and the work we create. We no longer believe in “male” projects or that stereotypically male industries can’t benefit from female contribution, or vice versa. In fact, we know that the more diverse our teams become, the more creative and effective our work can be. We also know that we all have personal bias. We recognize that it’s not unusual for our preconceived ideas to be wrong, especially about gender’s relationship to products, industries and brands.
For example, many of us were surprised to learn that women own 39% of all privately held businesses in the United States. With this information in hand, we featured several diverse, female business owners in a recent campaign. Not only was the approach unusual, it was meaningful. Our female audience was longing to be seen as the entrepreneurs they are and to have someone speak to their needs. At the same time, the campaign expanded our client’s reach and set them apart from the sea of sameness—a sea that was predominately white and male. Their brand instantly became more visible, modern, sophisticated and inclusive.
With diversity as a renewed priority, we are now featuring female voice talent more than ever before. In fact, a woman is now the voice for the state of Utah’s tourism efforts. It makes strategic sense considering women influence 80% of all travel decisions. We also recently used female talent to motivate an entire organization via an emotional, mantra video. The warm, optimistic timbre of her voice left viewers of both genders feeling inspired.
Our remarkable female employees have helped bio-tech companies address emotionally difficult topics with honesty and compassion. They have empathized with the difficulties of motherhood and brought understanding to the stigma of mental health. Besides these more expected impacts, our women have also contributed to kick-ass strategies, production, partnerships and creative, even in stereotypically male-dominated industries. We’re so excited to elevate them and their diverse talents, and we’re grateful for the benefits they bring to our agency and clients. | https://medium.com/experienceaffinity/what-women-want-7b632de91142 | ['Julie Comstock'] | 2020-12-18 15:55:44.002000+00:00 | ['Equality', 'Diversity And Inclusion', 'Marketing', 'Advertising', 'Women In The Workplace'] |
Building a scalable machine vision pipeline | Kevin Jing | Pinterest engineering manager, Visual Discovery
Discovery on Pinterest is all about finding things you love, even if you don’t know at first what you’re looking for. The Visual Discovery engineering team at Pinterest is tasked with building technology that will help people to continue to do just that, by building technology that understands the objects in a Pin’s image to get an idea of what a Pinner is looking for.
Over the last year we’ve been building a large-scale, cost-effective machine vision pipeline and stack with widely available tools with just a few engineers. We faced two main challenges in deploying a commercial visual search system at Pinterest:
As a startup, we needed to control the development cost in the form of both human and computational resources. Feature computation can become expensive with a large and continuously growing image collection, and with engineers constantly experimenting with new features to deploy, it’s vital for our system to be both scalable and cost-effective.
The success of a commercial application is measured by the benefit it brings to the user (e.g., improved user engagement) relative to the cost of development and maintenance. As a result, our development progress needed to be frequently validated through A/B experiments with live user traffic.
Today we’re sharing some new technologies we’re experimenting with, as well as a white paper, accepted for publication at KDD 2015, that details our system architecture and insights from these experiments and makes the following contributions:
We present a scalable and cost-effective implementation of a commercially deployed visual search engine using mostly open-source tools. The tradeoff between performance and development cost makes our architecture more suitable for small-and-medium-sized businesses.
We conduct a comprehensive set of experiments using a combination of benchmark datasets and A/B testing on two Pinterest applications, Related Pins and an experiment with similar looks, with details below.
Experiment 1: Related Pin recommendations
It used to be that if a Pin had never before been saved on Pinterest, we weren’t able to provide Related Pins recommendations. This is because Related Pins were primarily generated from traversing the local “curation graph,” the tripartite user-board-image graph evolved organically through human curation. As a result, “long tail” Pins, or Pins that lie on the outskirts of this curation graph, have so few neighbors that graph-based approaches do not yield enough relevant recommendations. By augmenting the recommendation system, we are now able to recommend Pins for almost all Pins on Pinterest, as shown below.
Figure 1. Before and after adding visual search to Related Pin recommendations.
Experiment 2: Enhanced product recommendations by object recognition
This experiment allowed us to show visually similar Pin recommendations based on specific objects in a Pin’s image. We’re starting off by experimenting with ways to use surface object recognition that would enable Pinners to click into the objects (e.g. bags, shoes, etc.) as shown below. We can use object recognition to detect products such as bags, shoes and skirts from a Pin’s image. From these detected objects, we extract visual features to generate product recommendations (“similar looks”). In the initial experiment, a Pinner would discover recommendations if there was a red dot on the object in the Pin (see below). Clicking on the red dot loads a feed of Pins featuring visually similar objects. We’ve evolved the red dot experiment to try other ways of surfacing visually similar recommendations for specific objects, and will have more to share later this year.
Figure 2. We apply object detection to localize products such as bags and shoes. In this prototype, Pinners click on objects of interest to view similar-looking products.
By sharing our implementation details and the experience of launching products, we hope visual search can be more widely incorporated into today’s commercial applications.
With billions of Pins in the system curated by individuals, we have one of the largest and most richly annotated datasets online, and these experiments are a small sample of what’s possible at Pinterest. We’re building a world-class deep learning team and are working closely with members of the Berkeley Vision and Learning Center. We’ve been lucky enough to have some of them join us over the past few months.
If you’re interested in exploring these datasets and helping us build visual discovery and search technology, join our team!
Kevin Jing is an engineering manager on the Visual Discovery team. He previously founded Visual Graph, a company acquired by Pinterest in January 2014.
Acknowledgements: This work is a joint effort by members of the Visual Discovery team, David Liu, Jiajing Xu, Dmitry Kislyuk, Andrew Zhai, Jeff Donahue and our product manager Sarah Tavel. We’d like to thank the engineers from several other teams for their assistance in developing scalable search solutions. We’d also like to thank Jeff Donahue, Trevor Darrell and Eric Tzeng from the Berkeley Caffe team.
For Pinterest engineering news and updates, follow our engineering Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter. Interested in joining the team? Check out our Careers site. | https://medium.com/pinterest-engineering/building-a-scalable-machine-vision-pipeline-60dd7bac73e7 | ['Pinterest Engineering'] | 2017-02-21 21:00:04.997000+00:00 | ['Machine Learning', 'Deep Learning', 'Engineering', 'Computer Vision'] |
Flipping a Coin With a Quantum Computer | Amazon offers three different quantum computing devices to choose from:
Gate-based superconducting qubits from Rigetti Computing Gate-based ion traps from IonQ Quantum annealing from D-Wave
The third option, quantum annealing from D-Wave, is a different paradigm of quantum computing that won’t work with the above code. So our choice is between using superconducting qubits or ion traps.
I’m going to choose the superconducting qubits from Rigetti since they have a cheaper per-shot rate than IonQ… and because I used to work at Rigetti.
In a new cell, copy the following. Here is where you’ll need the S3 folder from earlier because, unlike the free simulator, you don’t want to lose any results from real hardware. If you forgot the name of the S3 folder, you can look it up back in the AWS console under the S3 header.
We’re reusing the coin_flip_circuit we created in the last step.
If all goes well it should respond with:
'CREATED'
Now in a new cell (do not rerun the previous cell since that will enqueue another task!) keep running task.state() to see the status change to 'QUEUED' .
What’s happened? Your task hasn’t run on the quantum computer yet because it is waiting in line. Also, some of the quantum computers are only accessible during certain times of the day. It takes a lot of work to maintain properly calibrated quantum computing hardware, so it will only be available sparingly. Check the Devices tab on the Amazon Braket AWS console page to see the schedule for each device.
In my case, I was scheduled to wait several hours for the next available slot. If you don’t want to keep my notebook server running for that amount of time, then you can run task.id and make a note of the returned value.
Later, you can run the following in a new cell (or even a new notebook) to recover the task:
Once task.state() returns 'COMPLETED' then you can access the results just like in the local simulator:
Again if all goes well, you’ll see a result like this:
Counter({'0': 593, '1': 407})
If you have the patience to repeat this a few times, you’ll likely notice that the ‘0’s seem to dominate the results. This is not a mistake, but more a reflection that today’s quantum computers aren’t perfectly accurate. In our example circuit, this results in more ‘0’s than ‘1’s. | https://stevenheidel.medium.com/flipping-a-coin-with-a-quantum-computer-4c8aec93fa27 | ['Steven Heidel'] | 2020-09-02 02:57:24.674000+00:00 | ['Quantum Computing', 'Programming', 'Software Development', 'Python', 'Technology'] |
Why You Should (not?) Use Signal | watch the video version
Privacy. Security. Encryption. These are all nouns. And mostly the reasons why you should be using Signal over any other messaging app if those nouns are important to you. With the news of WhatsApp being compromised by governments to target journalists and activists, the days where the security minded were seen as tin-foil-hat conspiracy theorists, dismissed with a waving hand and “oh stop overreacting, there’s nothing to worry about” aren’t aging well.
Background:
Concerns over data and big brother have been rekindled lately, as is the case with most security issues. They come in waves, the latest after Edward Snowden stepped back into the spotlight with a new book and an appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast. And the reality of the matter is that for anyone using a highly-corporatized messaging app, you have no idea if your messages are safe. You can’t trust WhatsApp; you can’t trust Facebook. Apple has stood up on behalf of people’s privacy before, but there’s no way of guaranteeing that one day public perception or political pressure won’t come and undo all of that.
And so, Signal. Signal is a basic app, with airtight end-to-end encryption everywhere: chats, groups, voice calls, video calls. When it comes to privacy concerns, you can’t really do much better — Signal is a nonprofit organization, whose mission is “to develop open source privacy technology that protects free expression and enables secure global communication”. Its founder, Moxie Marlinspike — no, that’s not a Harry Potter character — walks the walk and has taken his fair share of heat from the US government for his stance on security.
Features:
If you’re used to iMessage or WhatsApp, Signal gives you most of the features you’ve come to expect — media and file sharing, group chats, GIFs. You’ll pretty much only be missing group voice and video calls on the WhatsApp/FaceTime side, and for the iMessage side, you won’t have as much cross-platform availability, and you won’t have reactions or the weird message effect options. But does anyone actually use those?
And with that, you have the best guarantee of your correspondence being “for your eyes only”. The only concern is that Signal isn’t decentralized — it’s established as a US-based company, and therefore could one day be forced into compliance if legislation comes that mandates backdoors or government access to end-to-end-encrypted apps.
By design, an end-to-end-encrypted message is foolproof. Signal, as the courier, has no way of seeing what’s inside the message. Here’s a video that describes end-to-end encryption in more detail, but think of it as sending a locked safe through the mail. The postal service knows that you’re sending a package to your recipient’s address, but they have no way of knowing the contents or opening it. If someone requested the message data from your account, all Signal could provide is a record that messages were sent, but as to what they said, they have no way of knowing. But if they were required by law to break that encryption with a backdoor… sayonara, security.
The Upside
So who should switch to Signal, then? There are a few use cases. For journalists and activists who have reason to feel they could be targeted, Signal is an absolute must. If you umm, maybe have some things to hide or do things you wouldn’t want the police to know about, Signal is a good idea. If you’re trying to distance yourself from the corporate intelligence complex, it’s a step in the right direction. But I think if you aren’t “at risk” or looking to make a big political stance, digitally protesting in your Guy Fawkes mask and black hoodie, it’s not really necessary.
The Downsides
Signal has a bit of an image problem — because its main users mostly those with something to hide, it gives the impression you’re either the guy who used to sell me weed in high school, or that you walk around with a trenchcoat and sunglasses that are too small for your face. As far as “communities” go, Signal’s is one of the last that I’d want to identify with. You can have a privacy-and-security-forward app without all the fire and brimstone.
Telegram for example, actually feels like it has a community, filled with channels and discussion groups, silly stickers, rather than a collection of individual loners with a handful of secret contacts in a separate app. For an app to really break through, it needs to be something I could easily convince both my friends and my Aunt Janice to download. If that isn’t on the table, there isn’t much point in proceeding. If it can’t fully replace what I’m using, and I can’t keep all my contacts in the same place, a new app becomes more of a bother than a benefit.
I’ve said it before — Signal or Telegram, Signal or Telegram. Telegram does everything Signal does, other than video calls and end-to-end encrypted group chats. You can use Telegram on more than just one phone and one computer. You can send large files, use it as cloud storage, customize its appearance, instantly sync across devices.
Telegram uses distributed servers, so even for its not-end-to-end-encrypted “cloud chats”, a government can’t get access to them because they have no legal jurisdiction over Telegram. By using Telegram’s non-end-to-end chats, the only concern is that you’re trusting Telegram to not sell their contents to someone. Which they haven’t, and won’t. Telegram is another not-for-profit company taking the side of the people, much like Signal. Except Telegram as a company is also distributed and can dodge legislation, while also pumping out more features than Signal.
It’s a bit of an apples and oranges comparison. I think Signal is focused on security, while Telegram focuses on functionality. For me personally, and I think most people, they’ll get more out of Telegram than Signal. I covered it before, but you can’t back up Signal, you can’t easily switch devices, you can’t delete your messages — all things that are pretty damn annoying to me. But if you don’t need all the fancy features and just want to be incognito, go get yourself some Signal. | https://medium.com/@sendstmanemail/why-you-should-not-use-signal-fce3b9d525f7 | ['Shoot The Messenger'] | 2019-12-11 02:12:37.831000+00:00 | ['Privacy', 'Technology', 'Computers', 'Data', 'Communication'] |
BASIC XAI with DALEX — Part 5: Shapley values | BASIC XAI
Introduction to model exploration with code examples for R and Python.
By Anna Kozak
Welcome to the “BASIC XAI with DALEX” series.
In this post, we present the Shapley values, the model agnostic method, which is the one we can use for any type of model.
Previous parts of this series are available:
So, shall we start?
First — What Shapley values deliver to us?
Shapley value is a model agnostic method, we can use it for any type of model. The benefit of Shapley values is additive feature attribution property. It is a local explanation. What is a single observation, think about a patient, bank, or telecommunication client. In the previous part of the BASIC XAI SERIES, we introduced a Break Down method. The Shapley value is a generalization because in Break Down method represents one of all variable orders. Now, we consider all orders for variables, so if we have the p features in our dataset, then we have p! orders. The output is averaging the possible orders.
Second — Intuition of Shapley values
SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) are based on “Shapley values” developed by Shapley in the cooperative game theory.
The Shapley value method is based on Break Down predictions into parts. This is a slightly different approach than in the Break Down method. It is based on the idea of averaging the input value of a given variable overall or a large number of possible orders.
An important practical limitation of the general model-agnostic method is that, for large models, the calculation of Shapley values is time-consuming. In specific situations, they can be calculated very quickly. For example, for additonal models and for models based on trees.
Third — let’s get a model in R and Python
Let’s write some code. We are still working on the DALEX apartments data. To calculate the Shapley value method we use the predict_parts() function with type = ‘shap’. We need the explainer object and the observation for which we want to calculate the explanation.
Code to created Shapley values predict_parts object in Python and R
Let’s see now on the plot for apartment consider in the previous blog. The biggest influence on the price of the apartment has the “Ochota” district, it is close to the city center. However, the price is negatively impacted by the fact that the apartment is not in the “Srodmiescie” district — city center. Moreover, the floor number equal 7 and the 93 meter squared area have a negative contribution to price.
Shapley values plot for observation from apartments set and random forest model. The green and red bars correspond to the contribution of the variable to the prediction. The green ones take positive values, i.e. increase the prediction values, while the red ones take negative values, i.e. decrease the prediction value. Purple boxplots show the distribution of the attribution of a variable from every possible combination of variable layouts. On the x-axis we have model prediction value, on the y-axis, we have variables and their values for the observation.
Many thanks to Przemyslaw Biecek and Jakub Wiśniewski for their support on this blog.
If you are interested in other posts about explainable, fair, and responsible ML, follow #ResponsibleML on Medium.
In order to see more R related content visit https://www.r-bloggers.com | https://medium.com/responsibleml/basic-xai-with-dalex-part-5-shapley-values-85ceb4b58c99 | ['Anna Kozak'] | 2020-12-13 22:13:22.959000+00:00 | ['Basic Xai', 'Python', 'Xai', 'Machine Learning', 'R'] |
English and the ‘Global World’ | A translator introduces some Japanese thinkers who engage with the topics of globalization and language.
An old book fair held on the grounds of the Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto.
Is there anything particularly novel any more about the ‘global’ scale of events? The manner in which the virus turned into a pandemic in weeks might be an unprecedented situation. So too is the extent to which we have had to turn to digital technologies in order to talk with family or do our work. Yet underneath the novelty we can find a lot of assumptions that we already take for granted. We substitute the verb ‘to skype’ with the verb ‘to zoom’, and on we go as before. Yes, the whole planet is dealing with a single crisis at once, but this is also an idea we are familiar with in the form of global warming, or the threat of nuclear war. Personally, as a translator I already spend much of my time looking at a screen and working remotely. There is nothing particularly surprising about the idea that I can instantly send a document to the other side of the planet.
What if we go back a little further in time? Although we take it for granted that we are now living in an interconnected world, it was really not so long ago that people were witnessing the establishment of modern shipping, and the laying of transcontinental telegraph lines. The vastness of the globe was shrinking before their eyes at a rate that must have been disconcerting. Philosophers in the early 20th century grappled with the question of what this meant. We see this in the United States, for example, with William Earnest Hocking (1873–1966) speculating about the coming of a ‘world culture.’ Japanese philosophers were also concerned with understanding this new ‘global’ context. In the 1930s, Nishida Kitarō made the following observation in an essay titled “The Problem of Japanese Culture” (Nihon Bunka no Mondai):
世界が真に一つの世界となったのである。昔、ローマが武力によって欧州を一つの世界とした。今は英国の自由貿易が世界を一つの世界とした。而してその背後に近代科学の発展と云うものがあるのである。 The world has truly become one world. In the past, Rome turned Europe into one world through force of arms. Now, the free trade of Great Britain has turned the world into one world. And behind this we find the development of modern science.
For us, the idea that the ‘world’ and ‘the globe’ are the same is hardly something we would think to question. We use these terms interchangeably. And so when Nishida says that “the world has truly become one world” we might initially feel a bit perplexed. Has not the world always been singular? After all, there is only one planet. Here, we need to distinguish between two senses of ‘world.’ There is the ‘world’ as the globe, as the earth, that single geographical entity we all live upon. And there is ‘world’ as that meaningful place that we collectively live within. Put simply, the ancient civilizations of Central America might have been on the same planet as the ancient civilizations of East Asia, but they were not in the same world in the way that we all are today, whether we are in China or in Mexico. Nishida observes that in the past, large regions of the planet such as Europe were united by great empires such as Rome. However with the coming of industrialization, modern science and technology had enabled the British Empire to stretch across the entire globe, creating a single global system.
The production of traditional Japanese paper, ‘washi’ (和紙).
There are many different angles from which we could consider what this development means. There is a significant overlap here with Heidegger’s writings on technology for example. Here I would like to do something a little simpler, and link Nishida’s observations with a more recent argument on the topic of language by another Japanese writer. In 2015, the novelist Mizumura Minae wrote a book that has since been translated into English under the title The Fall of Language and the Age of English. In the original Japanese edition she makes the following comment:
英語の世紀に入ったとは何を意味するのか。 それは、〈国語〉というものが出現する以前、地球のあちこちを覆っていた、〈普遍語／現地語〉という言葉の二重構造が、ふたたび蘇ってきたのを意味する。近年、伝達手段の発達によって地球はいよいよ小さくなり、それにつれて英語という今回の〈普遍語〉は、その小さくなった地球全体を覆う大規模のものとなりつつあった。そこへ、ほかならぬ、インターネットという技術が最後の仕上げをするように追いうちをかけたのである。 What does it mean to say that we have entered the English century? It means that we are returning to the old structure of “universal language / regional language” which previously existed in different parts of the globe, in the time prior to the emergence of “national languages.” Recently the world has become smaller and smaller, and alongside this development the “universal language” that is English has grown to the scale that it can now cover the whole of the shrunken earth. Here, it is the technology of the internet which has been the like final nail.
I think there are some interesting echoes of Nishida here. When Mizumura speaks of “universal languages”, she is referring to written languages such as Latin, which for a time were used within empires to communicate across regions that contained vast cultural and linguistic diversity. Recall how Nishida speaks of Rome turning Europe into one world. The spread of Latin was surely a central part of this achievement. Whether you were in Italy, or Spain, or Poland, if you could read and write Latin, then you could communicate your ideas with other literate people throughout the subcontinent. Mizumura notes that such universal languages were eventually displaced by the new national languages. Europeans stopped writing in Latin, and began to write in English, in French, in German. In Japan, there was a similar process whereby a writing system that was based on the “universal language” of classical Chinese gave way to modern Japanese.
Students hard at work.
Yet the world continued shrinking even more. In Nishida’s day the students of the elite schools still studied German and French alongside English, but even then it was becoming increasingly clear that English was the most essential. The further development of technology has meant that the age of the universal language is back; this time not to cover a single portion of the globe, but all of it at once. As Mizumura notes wryly, the “national languages” that once prided themselves on their quasi-universal status are have now been demoted to “regional languages” with all the rest. “Welcome”, she says, “you’re down here with us now.”
The internet, for Mizumura, is the final achievement of this process observed by Nishida: the shrinking and uniting of the world through science and technology. She is not sanguine about the prospects for the world’s literary traditions in the face of the dominance of English. In her view, they might cease to exist within our lifetime as living traditions. Yes, we might continue to read in different languages, certainly. But the contents of what people read will continue to trend towards a uniformity that mirrors that of the uniformity of a global civilization.
I sometimes wonder about my role in this process as a person who translates Japanese into English for a living. Like the software engineers who enable the convenience of a zoom chat, we make things easier, and this is difficult to argue against. Learning a language requires a good deal of time, and time is a luxury for most of us. There is something egalitarian about such convenience that is attractive. But translators are not simply chipping away at ‘barriers’ that prevent ‘communication’ in some neutral manner. In a way, we are contributing to the shrinking of the world by helping things far off seem near. And going further, English translators such as myself are also strengthening the single global language even more by adding to its stockpile of words. We are helping to facilitate a future where nobody ‘needs’ to step outside of English in order to read anything at all. Of course, this is an illusion. The original text cannot ultimately be separated from the language in which it was written, because despite what some technologists seem to think a language is not an imperfect reflection of an underlying, universally applicable system of symbolic representation. The truth is that language and world are intertwined, and that what we translators provide is a new creation that cannot truly be said to be the ‘same’ as the original work it is supposed to be a ‘copy’ of.
Originally posted at japaneseincontext.com/blog/english-and-the-global-world.
Photography by the author.
Texts quoted:
西田幾多郎『日本文化の問題』（第12巻『西田幾多郎全集』）２８５頁。
(Nishida Kitaro, “Nihon Bunka no Mondai”, in Nishida Kitaro Zenshu, Vol. 12, Iwanami Shoten, p. 285.)
水村美苗『日本語が滅びる時：英語の世紀の中で』、ちくま文庫、２０１５年, ３０１頁。
(Mizumura Minae, Nihongo ga Horobiru Toki: Seigo no Seiki no Naka de, Chikuma Bunko, 2015, p. 301.) | https://medium.com/@eastasiaaustralia/english-and-the-global-world-f7bf60605775 | ['Daniel Burke'] | 2020-05-17 09:12:58.764000+00:00 | ['Philosophy', 'Globalization', 'Language', 'Translation', 'Japanese'] |
Are you on brand? | I used to love asking “is it on brand?” when developing advertising or marketing campaigns. Because once you go through the rigorous effort of clarifying and defining a business brand, one that is based on values and truth, it becomes easier to be decisive about what to do, when, where and with whom.
Everything in fact becomes easier once you have a guiding system in place.
In a personal context, that guiding system houses our values and purpose. It gets put to the test in our thought process, against self-sabotaging ideas that we believe to be true, when they’re not. It’s important to know that thoughts can both limit and set us free. So imagine we control the choice between limitation or freedom. What type of leadership would we then chose? How would we affect others? How would we contribute to the world?
We all have the capacity to thrive, and inspire others, when we are aligned with our truth. I suppose I can say when we are “on brand.”
I have seen first-hand how powerful it is to lead from a place of clarity. I have also seen the results of some not-so-amazing leadership, both in a professional and personal context. And it really is very simple, it boils down to two important factors: self-awareness and choice. The more you examine your thoughts, the more control you have over them, and the more you know yourself, the better decisions you make.
Aligned leaders move through life with clarity. They become braver, stronger, resilient and more decisive. They create their own freedom. They are truly unstoppable.
For the past ten years I’ve helped leaders develop their leadership brands. To do so effectively, I’ve helped them identify who they are being in all their “doing” and bring their personal stories to the forefront of their leadership. Authenticity, and their acceptance of it, is the pillar that has sustained their reputation. And frankly it is the part I’ve loved the most. Witnessing when people finally tap into their power, and never look back is how I became a coach. Building their personal brands has simply been the cherry on top.
Coaching brings the unconscious to the surface, makes sense of it, puts it into action and doesn’t let you get away with anything less than the joyous fulfilment you’ve always been meant to experience.
Coaching is not consulting. It is not mentoring. It is not therapy, and it is not teaching. Coaching is based on the fundamental truth that you already have everything you need to lead effectively, personally and professionally. Coaching believes you lack nothing. The work is to help you explore deep enough for you to believe that too.
“Your real self is hiding deep within you, when you find it you find your freedom.” | https://medium.com/@alinebadr/are-you-on-brand-f2940e7380ee | ['Aline Badr'] | 2021-05-07 15:40:57.598000+00:00 | ['Leadership Development', 'Coaching', 'Authenticity', 'Leadership Coaching', 'Coaching And Consulting'] |
Minimum Words, Maximum Impact | The origin and importance of one of the best screenwriting mantras… ever!
I know the source of this mantra. It was one of my online screenwriting students. During a weekly live-chat session. I was going on and on about the importance of writing tight, taut, lean scene description, make it easy on the eye, clean on the page, really getting on my bully pulpit. Then a student typed:
Minimum words, maximum impact?
Here I had been guilty of the very thing I was decrying, then — boom! The perfect comment. Four words. And maximum impact indeed!
Screenplays are a unique form. Unlike novels which can be hundreds, even thousands of pages long, a feature length script is typically no longer than 120 pages, even less nowadays with action, comedy, and horror scripts clocking in at 90–95 pages. Simply based on the fact that you have a limit to the page count means you should be mindful of how you approach your use of words when handling scene description.
Beyond that, there is an aesthetic consideration. Scripts filled with black ink are not only less pleasant to look at, they’re harder for a reader to get through. White space is more attractive to the eye, which can have a psychological effect on a reader, and can make a script a better read. In truth, I’ve known some script readers who have told me they hate reading scene description and often will skip big blocks of it to read the dialogue. Why? Because dialogue margins are narrower and therefore easier to read.
But there’s an even more important reason why we need to be incredibly choosy about the words we use when writing scene description: To make an impact on the reader. How do we do that? Strong verbs. Visual nouns and adjectives. Tight paragraphs. Good, lean imagematic writing. Here’s an example from the beginning of The Matrix:
INT. CHASE HOTEL The Big Cop flicks out his cuffs, the other cops holding
a bead. They've done this a hundred times, they know
they've got her (Trinity), until the Big Cop reaches with
the cuffs and Trinity moves – It almost doesn't register, so smooth and fast, inhumanly
fast. The eye blinks and Trinity's palm snaps up and his nose
explodes, blood erupting. Her leg kicks with the force of
a wrecking ball and he flies back,a two-hundred-fifty pound
sack of limp meat and bone that slams into the cop farthest
from her. Trinity moves again, BULLETS RAKING the WALLS, flashlights
sweeping with panic as the remaining cops try to stop a leather-clad ghost. A GUN still in the cop's hand is snatched, twisted and
FIRED. There is a final violent exchange of GUNFIRE and when it's
over, Trinity is the only one standing.
18 lines and a ton of action. Average paragraph length: 2 lines. And note those descriptors: flicks, inhumanly fast, blinks, snaps, explodes, erupting, kicks, wrecking ball, flies, limp meat and bone, slams, raking, sweeping, leather-clad ghost, snatched, twisted, fired, gunfire. You could almost just read those key words and get a sense of the action.
Of course, the mantra pertains to dialogue as well. I’ve heard an anecdote about one of the first things Clint Eastwood does when he agrees to act in a movie is take a red marker and cross out half of his dialogue. Movies are primarily a visual medium. While important, creating moments where with a minimum of dialogue we let the emotion of the scene work its magic in subtext and silence is most often the preferred way to go.
File this one under “less is more.”
Minimum words, maximum impact.
Comment Archive | https://scottdistillery.medium.com/minimum-words-maximum-impact-ff8a4f30c78d | ['Scott Myers'] | 2018-12-14 12:11:00.674000+00:00 | ['Creative Writing', 'Screenplay', 'Writing Tips', 'Screenwriting', 'Writing'] |
Decision Optimization Model Builder now in Open Beta on Watson Studio Cloud | Decision Optimization Model Builder now in Open Beta on Watson Studio Cloud AlainChabrier Follow Sep 3, 2019 · 5 min read
Building Decision Optimization models may require some functionality which is out of the scope of Jupyter notebooks, such as the ability to work with multiple formulations and/or data scenarios, to work with multiple files models, or to formulate models in a dedicated language like OPL. For that, a dedicated Decision Optimization Model Builder is now available in Open Beta in Watson Studio.
Why a Decision Optimization model builder?
Earlier this year, we announced the general availability of Decision Optimization support in Jupyter notebooks in Watson Studio. Notebooks are a practical way to create and combine Machine Learning and Decision Optimization models in a common environment.
However, sometimes, some optimization users may like to have some specific features which are helpful for Decision Optimization model development.
The Model Builder allows to create models in python but also in OPL or using a Modeling Assistant. You can create different scenarios, each one with different model formulation or data so that you can easily compare how they perform. A Visualization section allows creating widgets and layouts to easily share the outcome of the model to stakeholders and validate the models. Models can still be deployed to WML exactly as previously shown here.
How to start?
This functionality has been added to Watson Studio on the public cloud. If not done yet, you will need to create an IBM id and start a trial Watson Studio instance.
The entry point is to “Add a Decision Optimization model” in Watson Studio from the project view as follow:
Add a new Decision Optimization model to your project
In the next screen, you will choose a name for your model and will choose which WML instance will be used to run the models during model development. If you don’t have an instance, then create one in IBM cloud. Both services offer trials including free monthly hours so that you can easily try them.
New Decision Model screen
The created Decision Optimization models are later listed in projects as any other assets:
How to use the model builder?
The model builder eases the development, debugging, tuning and validation of optimization models using 3 simple steps:
1- Import and prepare data:
In this step, you can import data from your project into any of your scenarios. You can preview your data, and modify it.
Import and Prepare data
2- Formulate and run the model:
The model builder offers different ways to formulate your model, with Python, OPL or using a Modeling Assistant.
OPL and Python models can be imported from local files and Python models can even be imported from notebooks.
Choose how you will formulate your model.
OPL and Python models can be using multiple files.
OPL model editor
The modeling assistant helps you formulate a decision optimization model using natural language based on the structure of your data and some selected application domain (e.g. resource assignment, scheduling, etc).
DO modeling assistant
You can see some example of the use of the Modeling Assistant in the following story about explanations.
From the ‘run model’ step, you can try your model running it. The execution will occur in the WML instance that you have selected. Some feedback is provided during the execution so that you can stop the execution at any time, for example after an acceptable feasible solution has been found.
Solve with progress
3. Explore solution:
The last step allows previewing solution, KPIs, objective, conflicts and/or relaxations (as available).
What are the benefits of scenarios and visualization?
You also benefit from visualization (with multiple types of table and chart widgets), and the ability to work with multiple scenarios.
With Decision Optimization, (and unlike with Machine Learning) model validation is more like a manual process where you will create different scenarios, with different formulations of your model and apply them to different versions of your data. Then a subject matter expert will validate, looking at graphical representations of the solution that models are valid. Otherwise, some missing or incorrect constraints or objectives will be identified that need to be added into the model formulation. The incremental process ends when the model is complete and can be deployed to production.
Show details of solution for a given scenario
Compare KPIs for different scenarios.
Where to get more information?
You might first want to look at online documentation covering the model builder.
In particular, one way to quick start with this new functionality is to use the samples that can be created using the ‘from file’ tab of the Decision Optimization model builder creation screen. Refer to this documentation on how to start with these examples.
Don’t hesitate to ask if you have any question or problem using this beta.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alain-chabrier-5430656/
Twitter : https://twitter.com/AlainChabrier | https://medium.com/ibm-watson/decision-optimization-model-builder-now-in-open-beta-on-watson-studio-public-45db16628e5b | [] | 2019-10-21 19:53:25.323000+00:00 | ['Decision Optimization', 'Optimization', 'Watson Studio', 'Data Science', 'Announcements'] |
No Water, No Sunlight, And No Food After Midnight – Gremlins, A review | A classic! Another film where you can enjoy the whole year round, yet I still class it as a festive experience.
I absolutely love Gizmo, he’s so cute in every way possible. I want him for myself, but I know I’d end up breaking all the rules within the first day, so it’s best I stay away. Yeah and they also don’t exist. I do feel sorry for the dog though, he just got replaced by a monkey-like, toddler-like, furby esc being. Don’t even get me started on the ‘Bye Billy’ at the end, it brings tears to my eyes.
I also know I shouldn’t laugh, but I can’t help but giggle when Kate explains how her dad dies. It truly is so tragically hilarious. Yet very unfortunate.
And I’m pretty sure I can vouch for everyone for the absolute hatred of Stripe. He was a bad egg, quite literally.
I can safely say this is one of my favourite Christmas films, and I hope it’s one of yours too. | https://medium.com/@rosewesterman/no-water-no-sunlight-and-no-food-after-midnight-gremlins-a-review-df4fb281c133 | ['Rose Westerman'] | 2020-12-16 20:23:40.648000+00:00 | ['Film', 'Producer', 'Movie', 'Film Review', 'Movie Review'] |
5 Interesting things to know about the Battle of Yarmouk | The Battle of Yarmouk
Introduction:
The battle of Yarmouk was a significant conflict amidst the Byzantine empire and the Arab (Muslim) forces and was fought for six days in August 636 around the border of Jordan and Syria.
The Muslims gradually took control of Syria during the caliphate of Hazrat Abu Bakr and Hazrat Umar (R.A). Damascus, Emmessa and Jordan were under the Muslim rule.
Apart, following the heavy blow to the Sassanid Persians at Firaz, the Muslim soldiers, under the administration of Khalid ibn al-Walid, came face to face with the Christian Byzantine Empire at Yarmouk.
Mesopotamia after Firaz also came under the Muslim rule. The continuous expansion of the Muslims threatened the Byzantines and other dominant communities.
The Battle of Yarmouk:
Heraclius joined hands with the Sassanids to stop the advancing Arab army. He also dispatched a group to investigate the position of the Muslim forces under Khalid ibn Waleed (R.A).
Heraclius was determined to receive some reinforcement from the Sassanids during the war.
However, the Sassanids did not dispatch any force to assists the Byzantines. As Heraclius plans revolved around reinforcement, the Byzantine army was taken by surprise.
The Muslims were divided into four battalions. One battalion following Amr ibn Aas in Palestine, one following Shurahbil in Jordan, Damascus-Caesarea region under Yazid and the last one following Abu Ubaidah along with Khalid at Emesa.
The plan of the Byzantine commander, Vahan, was to involve Muslims in small engagements. He perceived that this would make a good impact on the Muslims as they were less in number.
Little day Vahan know that Khalid ibn Waleed (R.A) was aware of this strategy and he countered it successfully.
The battlefront is located in the plain of Jordanian Hauran, which is southeast of the Golan Heights. The battle was contested on the fields towards the south of Yarmouk River. The river is accompanied by steep banks, ranging in height from 30 m (98 ft)–200 m (660 ft). The Jambiya road is located on the north and Azra hills to the east.
Related: The Battle of Mu’tah Islamiat Notes
There are a lot of events in the six-day battle of Yarmouk. The Byzantines seemed
The Byzantines seemed very attacking in the first couple of days. The brilliant strategy of Khalid ibn Waleed weakened the left and the right flanks of the Byzantines.
Towards the sixth day, the Muslims turned attacking and they forced the Byzantine soldiers to retreat. The Muslims mobile forces blocked the North and the West so that the Byzantine soldiers did not escape.
It is popularly believed that Vahan died during the battle. The plan of Vahan to launch successive attacks on the Muslims when they were busy praying did not quite work out.
This six-day hectic battle helped Muslims gain further prominence in the Middle East and their rule ushered in.
Conclusion:
The battle of Yarmouk was a very important conflict in the history of Islam. The plans of Khalid bin Walid (R.A) and the strong faith of Muslims in God helped them to secure a victory against the mighty Byzantines. | https://medium.com/@waleedgohar469/5-interesting-things-to-know-about-the-battle-of-yarmouk-102fa889186e | ['Waleed Gohar'] | 2020-10-26 16:28:33.481000+00:00 | ['Syria', 'War', 'Palestine', 'Middle East', 'Islam'] |
Perceptron Algorithms for Linear Classification | The basic perceptron algorithm was first introduced by Ref 1 in the late 1950s. It is a binary linear classifier for supervised learning. The idea behind the binary linear classifier can be described as follows.
where x is the feature vector, θ is the weight vector, and θ₀ is the bias. The sign function is used to distinguish x as either a positive (+1) or a negative (-1) label. There is the decision boundary to separate the data with different labels, which occurs at
The decision boundary separates the hyperplane into two regions. The data will be labeled as positive in the region that θ⋅ x + θ₀ > 0, and be labeled as negative in the region that θ⋅ x + θ₀ < 0. If all the instances in a given data are linearly separable, there exists a θ and a θ₀ such that y⁽ⁱ ⁾ (θ⋅ x⁽ⁱ ⁾ + θ₀) > 0 for every i-th data point, where y⁽ⁱ ⁾ is the label.
Figure 1 illustrates the aforementioned concepts with the 2-D case where the x = [x₁ x₂]ᵀ, θ = [θ₁ θ₂] and θ₀ is a offset scalar. Note that the margin boundaries are related to the regularization to prevent overfitting of the data, which is beyond the scope discussed here. | https://towardsdatascience.com/perceptron-algorithms-for-linear-classification-e1bb3dcc7602 | ['Edwin Tai'] | 2019-08-20 17:48:07.225000+00:00 | ['Machine Learning', 'Binary Classification', 'Supervised Learning', 'Decision Boundary', 'Perceptron'] |
Looks like we’ll have to wait until 2021 for a new Apple TV | Looks like we’ll have to wait until 2021 for a new Apple TV Brittany Jan 4·3 min read
It’s been more than three years since the Apple TV 4K went on sale, and cord-cutters had their eyes out Tuesday for a long-awaited refresh of Apple’s streaming set-top box and HomeKit hub. But while Apple did announce its long-awaited AirPods Max headphone, a next-gen Apple TV didn’t make the cut.
Mentioned in this article Apple TV 4K Read TechHive's reviewMSRP $179.00Learn moreon Amazon The Apple rumor mill went into hyperdrive on Monday with word of the impending AirPods Max (I preferred the rumored “AirPods Studio” moniker, but oh well), which Apple did end up unveiling Tuesday morning.
The $550 (!) headphone is slated to go on sale next week, complete with a custom 40mm dynamic driver, active noise cancellation, Transparency mode (which allows you to let in ambient noise), spatial audio, and a Digital Crown for controlling your tunes. We’ll have more to say about the AirPods Max once we’ve received more detailed specs and tried out a test unit.
[ Further reading: Cord-cutting myths busted ]But the other announcement that many were anticipating—a new Apple TV—failed to materialize. Bloomberg News’s Mark Gurman, who’s been a reliable source of Apple-related news and rumors, confirmed on Twitter that a revamped Apple TV wasn’t in the cards this year. “Delayed till ‘21,” Gurman tweeted.
Powered by the Apple A10X Fusion processor (which also sits in the 10.5- and second-gen 12.9-inch iPad Pro), the fifth-gen Apple TV 4K made its debut back in September 2017, and it was the first Apple TV model to support 4K playback and HDR, including HDR10 and Dolby Vision. In September 2019, tvOS 12 added Dolby Atmos support to the Apple TV 4K.
Rumors about a new Apple TV have been somewhat sparse, although it’s a safe bet that the box would get a new and faster processor, such as the A12X that powers the third-gen 11- and 12.9-inch iPad Pros. The A12X chip (or something similar) would be much better suited for Apple Arcade, Apple’s gaming subscription service, than the aging A10X Fusion, and it would hopefully speed up the overall tvOS interface, which has been feeling awfully chuggy over the past several months.
There’s also chatter about a new Siri Remote that would add “Find My” support, meaning you’d be able to quickly track down the remote in case it slips between your sofa cushions.
A more welcome feature would be a full-on redesign of the remote, specifically one that makes it easier to feel whether you’re holding it the right way up. With the current Siri Remote, it’s nearly impossible to tell if you’re holding it the right way in the dark, and almost every time, I find myself holding it upside down on the first try. Whether a new Apple TV would actually come with a revamped Siri Remote is an open question, however.
In any event, we’ll hopefully lay our eyes on a new Apple TV early next year, so stay tuned.
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/@brittan05231532/looks-like-well-have-to-wait-until-2021-for-a-new-apple-tv-7ddd3cc8f4a5 | [] | 2021-01-04 12:00:03.930000+00:00 | ['Cord', 'Entertainment', 'Deals', 'Chromecast'] |
Escape to La La Land | “Jessy Poo!!” Operation Escape to La La Land was in full swing.
“Spegma!”
Peg, the only person in the world who called me Jessy Poo, waited outside of security at Hollywood Burbank Airport. My fellow passengers stared at us, perhaps because my nickname for my former college roommate and sorority sister ran anathema to the blond woman they saw dressed head-to-toe in Burberry.
We were in our late teens when I coined the nickname Spegma because of its similarity to Sigma, one of the Greek letters in our sorority’s name at KU. But if I was honest, I loved Spegma because of its resemblance to smegma, an otherwise gross word used to describe body secretions down there.
“How was your flight?”
“A little too turbulent for my liking, but I’m here now and ready for a glass of wine, or maybe a whole bottle!”
Seeing Peg reminded me of another college-era joke about butt-sweat, a phrase we used in response to anything remotely awkward or sexual.
“Hey, what do you think about the new waiter downstairs?”
“Girl, he really makes my butt swear.”
Or, “How did your oral final go in Astronomy?”
“I totally froze up and had to take the written test or settle with a C.”
“Yikes, that’s gotta make your butt sweat!”
We’d double over laughing uncontrollably, not because the phrase made any real sense but because it was so idiotic, silly, and inappropriate. A mutual friend and fellow sorority sister celebrated our goofiness one Christmas by taking two Suave deodorant sticks and taping them together side-by-side. A homemade label instructed users to apply in any instance of social awkwardness, sexual awakening, or academic anxiety.
Twenty years after college, I still think like a twelve-year-old. No wonder Lorraine says I’m too immature to serve as a director. Whatever. Screw her and screw Align Orthopedics. I’m in Southern California free of corporate politics — and parental responsibility — for the next five nights.
“How did your lunch date go?” Peg asked.
“Peter really makes my butt sweat,” I said.
“You’re so immature,” she said.
“Thank you.”
We loaded my bags into the back of Peg’s Mercedes S-Class Coupe. Its electronics and interior made my 3-Series BMW look second-class. Peg had come from money as a kid and leveraged her upbringing into a high-level income with Apple. The woman had all the luck when it came to business.
Her success in love, on the other hand, left her wanting.
“Any word from Michelle, lately?” I asked.
“I’ve stopped all communication with her. I just can’t deal with it right now, Jess. Even with medication, she’s highly unstable.”
“But, the divorce is final, right?”
“It is…been complete since last month.”
Peg met her second wife in New York as a first-year law student at Columbia. They shared Midwestern roots and moved to Manhattan in their mid-twenties to live among more likeminded people than what they grew up within their separate families back home in Kansas.
Michelle lost her mind somewhere in the transition to the Pacific Coast three years earlier. She completed law school before the move but struggled to find work or pass the California Bar for whatever reason. Peg initially thought her wife struggled with self-doubt or low self-esteem. However, a year into their new lives in Santa Monica revealed Michelle’s struggle with mental illness, possibly Borderline Personality Disorder.
In two separate instances, she had tried to harm Peg, who had enough confidence and self-preservation to say, “enough.” She moved out the previous January right around when I shared a hotel room with Katrina discussing Flynn’s supposed love for me.
“Have you eaten yet?” Peg asked.
“Do the limes in my gin and tonic count?
“Only if you’re doing Paleo.”
“I’m starving. What do you have in mind?”
“There’s a Chinese place just down the street from my house. Let’s swing in there for takeout.”
“You want the extra fortune cookie?” Peg asked. We had inhaled generous portions of moo shoo pork and beef with broccoli on top of crab rangoons and a spicy tuna roll, all of it chased down by plum wine.
“Are you kidding? I’m too stuffed to move.”
“I’ll save it for tomorrow.”
“Speaking of which, what’s the plan? You’re hosting Thanksgiving, right? Who all’s coming over.”
“Diane, Paula, our new friend, Vivien, plus Chase. Diane’s boyfriend, Charlie.”
“I thought you said she was into girls.”
“Nope, not anymore, not since meeting Charlie.”
“Hmm. Okay, then.”
“Yeah, so they’ll all start arriving around noon on Thursday. We’re responsible for the bird, stuffing, and potatoes, but they’re bringing apps, sides, and dessert.”
“Have you ever cooked a turkey before?”
“Nope, but I’m going to learn.”
“I’d love the honors if you’re okay relinquishing poultry authority.”
“Consider it done. Now tell me — because we got sidetracked talking about Michelle — how was lunch with your new guy? Beyond ‘making your butt sweat.’”
“He’s Latinx, maybe five, nine.”
“Whoa, that’s kinda short for you, isn’t it?”
“Peg, I don’t care if he’s five, seven. If he’s stable in the income department, then that’s huge.”
“Okay, go on.”
“He said something about being fat.”
“About you?”
“No.”
He’s overweight, then?”
“No, I mean he trains for triathlons, but he talked about not ordering what he’d like or that he’d balloon up or something. And he brought it a couple of times. I wondered if he maybe he was bulimic or something. Guys do that, too, right?”
“I’m sure he was joking…probably nervous.”
“Nervous? About having lunch with me?”
“You’re a catch. And don’t give me that look, either. Do you know how people act self-deprecating when they’re nervous or feeling a little insecure? You don’t see it, and that’s part of your charm, but maybe he was trying to be funny or cool.”
“I don’t know how Peter would feel that way about himself. He’s pretty hot.”
“Why’s he getting a divorce?”
“Grew apart, I think. Peter’s wife sounds like a bit of a nut job.”
“I think a lot of men say that about women…for what it’s worth.”
“Fair, but technically…you said the same thing about Michelle.”
Peg’s eyes opened wide.
“Sorry. Too close to home? You know I’m just giving you shit,” I said.
“Ha. Ha.”
“Well, overall, it was a great lunch. I’m excited to see him again.”
“I’m excited for you,” Peg said, rising to clear the takeout containers. “I don’t know about you, but I am exhausted. What time you want to get up tomorrow?”
“Eight?”
“Eight works for me if the two-hour time difference in Texas doesn’t make you too tired come morning. We can head out to get any last-minute items like wine or whatnot. The turkey’s thawing in the fridge already. Then we can head over to this bar in Hollywood that I think you’ll like.”
“Peg, thanks for inviting me out for a holiday this year.”
“Aww, Jessy Poo. I love you and would do anything for you.” Peg gave me a hug that I was long overdue for with all of the past three months’ stress and disappointment.
“Love you too. See you in the morning.”
“Night.”
I made my way to the guest bedroom decorated in shades of cream and dusty mauve. A lace table runner covered an antique dresser’s length while a quilt sewn from myriad pastel swatches hung over the end of an iron-framed bed. The room with its farm-house style felt familiar yet out of place in Peg’s English Tudor home nestled in Sherman Oaks. It seemed you could take the girl away from Kansas, but you couldn’t take Kansas out of the girl.
Purring sounds interrupted my unpacking. Coco, Peg’s long-term pet, weaved itself through my legs, reminding me to take an allergy pill.
“Sorry, cat. You’re not my type,” I said, but Coco didn’t care. It was almost as if she knew I didn’t like her. It made her want my attention all the more.
“Shoo, you’re not welcome here, no matter how cute your owner thinks you are,” I said as I pulled on my pajama bottoms.
Coco took her cue to leave the room. I closed the room behind her and slipped into bed for my first night of vacation. | https://medium.com/not-your-average-jessika/escape-to-la-la-land-4534245c33f8 | ['Jessika Lakin'] | 2020-09-27 17:37:51.180000+00:00 | ['Divorce', 'Relationships', 'Fiction', 'This Happened To Me', 'Dating'] |
A Miraculous Disaster (By Senith 9C) | The building stood in darkness as I opened the main door, my cold arms clenching my drenched, feeble body. There was no one else here, yet a familiar array of long, grey tables stood before me, with chipped, wooden chairs placed behind them. The furniture gave off a sense of eeriness against the silence of night and flickering street lights, as if they were warning me about the horrors today would reveal. Nothing special, really. The only area in the enclosed building which didn’t feel claustrophobic was a set of four narrow pathways around its periphery, properly revealing a dirty concrete floor with several cracks.
I slowly approached my working space, as water droplets came falling from my torn, black shirt and my saturated, long, black hair, being sucked by the thirsty concrete. My working area was on the furthest back table and on the extreme left of that. It was adjacent to a tall, somewhat thin window. I would peer through it every fifteen minutes or so, as a break from the boring, repetitive work I had to do. I would see white men dressed in impeccable, sophisticated suits and trousers, carrying fresh loaves of bread to their families. I would see white women dressed in lavish, pompous white dresses, walking their white children to school, who all grin in excitement. I would daydream on the job, picturing myself in a dainty, white dress roaming the streets of Melbourne, strolling past Flinders Street Station, catching a tram for the first time, going to school like all the other kids.
It would be foolish to have such thoughts, though. I had no family to go home to, barely any money at all and no clean, dry clothes, besides the few clothes I quickly stitched up while at work, which had to be done in secrecy, of course.
I sat down on my chair, staring intently at the rain violently platter onto the ground. I could barely see anyone or anything, to be exact, through the window, against the torrential downpour and curtain of midnight. I could only put together a faint silhouette of a boy about 200 metres away and a small umbrella he was holding, his head turning frantically around him. When the street lights turned off momentarily, he vanished. And then, he appeared again against the dim light that emanated again, looking even more flustered than before.
Two hours passed. My eyes grew heavy. Thoughts and sounds started to fade away: the tall, neatly piled tower of fabric next to me. My right foot firmly slammed on the pedal. The monotonous sound of the needle pounding into the fabric. The even more monotonous sound of rain splattering onto the gravel streets outside.
It was time to take a short rest, I thought. I would finish my shirt later. Shouldn’t take too long to get done.
I took one last look outside, though. The storm ceased to end, becoming even more enraged than a few hours ago, if that was possible. The grand stone buildings that once stood outside disappeared against the torment of the storm. I couldn’t see anything else, besides a teenage boy, who seemed to be only a few metres outside my window, looking directly at me.
My heart froze at the sight of him. Was he going to kidnap me? Or worse…
Then, I realised; no, his expression told a different story. His eyes seemed to sparkle with joy, alongside the almost relieved sigh he let out. Most importantly, though, his eyes were … different.
I twisted my body around to get a closer look of him, but something suddenly jerked my hair behind me. My eyes lit up immediately. I screamed in pain, as my head slammed against the sewing machine. More of my hairs started to get caught, becoming stitched into the fabric, as my cries amplified. It felt like they were going to pop out of my scalp at any moment. How could I be this stupid, I thought.
All of a sudden, I slammed onto the floor, groaning mainly from shock. My tears of pain blinded me from my surroundings.
“How could you be so stupid?”, I heard.
I quickly opened my small, slanted eyes at that instance, wiping my tears away. Was that my boss? I immediately panicked at the thought of it.
I looked around to see someone right in front of me. It wasn’t my boss, thankfully. Instead, it was him again. I could clearly see his snow-white skin inside, which had no dirt impurities whatsoever, unlike my skin. What really captured my attention, though, was his eyes; they were different, but familiar at the same time. They were … like my eyes.
“Huh? Why didn’t you stop it?”, he loudly asked, but this time, with a slight hint of concern in his voice.
I looked behind me. My wooden chair was somehow adjacent to the window. The needle stopped moving. I realised my foot wasn’t on the pedal anymore.
He… he saved me.
“So what?” I mumbled; it was almost inaudible.
He stared at the right side of my head, where a bare, pink patch stood, around the size of my fist. It felt like the patch had been soaked in boiling water; it was excruciatingly painful.
“Let’s go,” he said, in a quieter, more consulting tone. “Let’s go and have you healed up.”
He held up his soft, white right hand at me, gently placing his black, saturated umbrella on the ground in the process. Rivers of tears started running down my eyes uncontrollably, washing down the layer of dirt and mud on my face.
Why? Why was he helping scum like me?
I started whimpering, as my mouth trembled in both shock and elation.
I wanted to hold myself back, but I couldn’t. I propelled myself onto him, my cold, feeble arms wrapped around his warm, black coat. My tiny, drenched head situated on his broad, right shoulder. My weak, worthless body against his strong, pristine body.
I wanted this moment to last forever. For some reason, he felt … almost like family. Like someone I could depend on.
Soon after, he softly laid his clean arms on my back, against the old, dirty shirt I had on.
“Welcome home, Chi Li,” he said in soft Mandarin.
I smiled even more, as I clutched even tighter onto him.
I had to say it. The words were mumbled, amongst my cries of joy.
“谢谢你, 兄弟.”
Thank you, brother.
A Miraculous Disaster investigates how the power of love and kindness can overpower the rules and restrictions placed within society. This story illustrates the classist society of Melbourne during the early 1900s and how the working class significantly suffered both physically and mentally, while the middle and upper classes had more prosperous and less confining lives. To a smaller and less obvious extent, the story also references the superiority and prosperity of the white or European race during this era, and how this may have influenced Asians living in Melbourne to assist or bond with one another for security, survival and personal purposes.
To depict the above ideas, I tried to craft the main character, Chi Li, as a young Chinese girl in the working class that relies on working in an unsanitary and unsafe textile factory for survival, and has also lost her family. Before explaining about the work she does and her everyday life, I wanted to make the first paragraph more about describing the setting she was in and slowly easing the audience into what she does for a living, which I wanted to make quite mysterious and suspenseful.
I put some detail on her everyday life further into the story, about how she “barely had any money” on her and “no clean, dry clothes”, and how she must actually steal the clothes she manufactures for work, in order to have a slighter more comfortable life. Since she is a child, I also wanted to talk about the boredom she faces sometimes, curiosity, haziness and the dreams she wants to become realities in the future, which shows her human nature out a little more.
In addition, when the Asian boy (most likely a middle-class boy) stops Chi Li from killing herself, she shows utmost gratitude towards him, hugging him for his act of kindness. She can also “sense” and then, confirm that he’s her brother, as they speak in their native tongue at the end of the story. | https://medium.com/a-miraculous-disaster/a-miraculous-disaster-by-senith-9c-b48cce943b43 | [] | 2019-06-10 12:22:54.249000+00:00 | ['Short Story'] |
How to beat Conor McGregor Pt. 1 (Creative Process Workbox Step 1) | How to beat Conor McGregor
The Notorious Conor McGregor is staring you in the face.
You are about to get a beating.
Unless?
What if there is a way to win?
You take a step back, and you realize, this isn’t a cage match.
You take another step back.
There’s a door behind and to the right. It’s open and you can smell the sweet air of freedom.
You take another step back and realize that there is nothing between you and that door.
There is nobody stopping you from just running like hell.
You have options.
Beating Conor is easy.
You just have to have enough space between you to define what a win is.
Create Space is the first step of the creative workbox, because it’s in this space that we define, not the solution, but the space around ourselves and the space around the problem. It is where we define the box.
It’s where we define what a win looks like, what realm the possibilities can live in.
People who don’t define the space around the problem invariably get stuck in step 2. They get stuck playing in the sandbox, because they don’t know what the outside of the sandbox looks like. They don’t have a definition of success, or win, or achieve.
Or, worse, they start with a preconceived notion of what success is. They invariably spend precious time and resources trying to solve a problem that won’t get them where they want to go, or will make things even worse.
Preconceived ideas of what the problem is, what a win is, what a solution is, sometimes work because there is such a thing as luck. They sometimes work because they achieve good, or good enough. If good enough is your goal, I’m not going to stop you. I create good enough solutions every day. Minor problems often mean minor solutions, we make patches and make do.
What happens though is that we end up with patchwork solutions without the structural integrity to hold up when the real storms threaten our solutions. Then it all unravels.
Things with real meaning, things that matter to you, your family, your organization, those things can’t be built of a patchwork. So they ask us for higher thinking, and that requires creating space.
Creating space means thinking about the mental, emotional, logical space in all 4 applicable dimensions. It asks us to define the edges, not just the distance. We literally create an imagined or real space in which our problems can live and start to define themselves. Then we expand or contract the space till we have a workable area in which to start defining solutions.
Einstein did this famously with his thought experiments. As he tried to imagine how light would behave inside his imaginary space, he began to see light define itself, it’s abilities and nature. He wasn’t looking for a way to travel at light speed, he was looking for the boundaries of light itself, which opened up further to the relationship between energy and matter. By being willing to spend time creating space, he was able to discover a mathematical formula which has changed the world.
Similarly, we can define our own space for creative problem solving with the following 4 dimensions:
The 4 Dimensional Problem Space
Distance: How far we get from the problem in order to understand the whole of it. Breadth: How many different skill sets we need access to in order to understand the problem. Depth: The depth of knowledge within a skillset we need access to, in order to understand the problem Time: the time frame in which the problem either needs a solution, or needs to be defined well enough to understand it.
Next time we’ll use this framework to figure out why, how, where, and when to beat Conor.
Till then, remember, you are the masterpiece, go create a space in which to make that masterpiece. | https://medium.com/@cannonhamaker/how-to-beat-conor-mcgregor-creative-process-workbox-step-1-9edc958986f3 | ['Cannon Hamaker'] | 2020-12-14 23:04:38.461000+00:00 | ['Creative', 'Business Strategy', 'Business Development', 'Creative Process', 'Creativity'] |
Dirty Tricks R US | U.S. political elections have long been cut-throat, high-stakes, rules-breaking, hate-inducing games on all sides. But lately, the GOP is ‘winning’ this race to the bottom.
This article was updated on Nov. 3, 2020.
In July 2016, Donald Trump trailed Hillary Clinton in most polls and knew he needed to do something drastic to surge ahead. That’s when he issued a challenge in a news conference — not to his campaign, supporters or voters in general. But to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his network of slippery intelligence hackers.
“I have nothing to do with Putin,” Trump said in one of many falsehoods. He then went on to say that Putin had called Barack Obama the “n word” as a means of showing that the former KGB lieutenant colonel didn’t respect the current U.S. president. Many thought that was another lie, but it wasn’t.
However, how Trump knew the true racist nature of Putin in 2016— something that didn’t come out publicly until a 2018 book — was unclear, especially if he had “nothing to do” with the Russian leader. Perhaps the Republican presidential nominee merely guessed to fit an anti-Obama narrative. Perhaps it was as simple as one racist recognizing another — Trump is no stranger to being accused of saying that slur himself. Perhaps there was something more to the story.
“I don’t know anything about [Putin] other than he will respect me. He doesn’t respect our president,” Trump continued before issuing his infamous challenge. “Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails [reportedly deleted by Clinton on a server] that are missing. I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press. Let’s see if that happens. That’ll be next.”
That same day, Russian intelligence officers and hackers worked to do just that. “On or about July 27, 2016, the conspirators attempted after hours to spearphish [attack a target through an email-spoof scheme] for the first time email accounts at a domain hosted by a third-party provider and used by Clinton’s personal office,” reads a July 2018 federal criminal indictment against 12 Russian intelligence operatives. “At or around the same time, they also targeted seventy-six email addresses at the domain for the Clinton campaign.”
The Russian operatives had started their illegal activities as early as mid-2015, hacking into email accounts of employees and volunteers associated with the Democratic National Committee, according to reports. They set up phony accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media to spread disinformation against the Clinton campaign.
Their goal: Help elect Trump, who had been meeting with Russian officials about business projects — including building a Trump Tower in Moscow — at least since 2013. Maybe since 1987, according to an explosive July 2018 story in New York Magazine. Trump’s ties run so deep that individuals connected to Russia or former Soviet republics bought 86 Trump properties for $109 million in cash between 2003 and 2017, according to reports. Little wonder that Eric Trump could boast in 2013 that the family operation doesn’t rely on American banks but has “all the funding we need out of Russia.”
Honesty and justice in political campaigns? Not these days. Maybe not ever. [Kevin Shay photo]
In April 2016, as Russian hackers compromised the email accounts of key Clinton campaign staffers, Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos worked to arrange a meeting between Trump officials and Putin operatives who said they had “dirt” on Clinton. In June, campaign chairman Paul Manafort, Don Trump Jr., and son-in-law Jared Kushner met at Trump Tower in New York with several Russians, including lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya.
Soon after, WikiLeaks, an organization with ties to Russia that publishes secret government files, and a Russian-formed site called DCLeaks, which is now defunct, began releasing the Democratic emails. Numerous documents showed a DNC bias against Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, including some references to trying to paint him as an atheist to win primary votes for Clinton. Trump hypocritically hammered home the “Crooked Hillary” narrative as often as he could, as his campaign made illicit acts taken by the Democrats look like child’s play.
Meanwhile, more Trump officials met with Russians, and the GOP platform was even changed to support Putin’s position on invading Ukraine. Trump’s plea to Russia to target Clinton directly resulted in more leaks, including emails of campaign chairman John Podesta Jr. In October, WikiLeaks communicated with Trump Jr. numerous times to get him to tweet links to the archive of Clinton emails. One message asked for one of Trump’s tax returns, saying that WikiLeaks publishing that document would give the Clinton dirt “much higher impact, because it won’t be perceived as coming from a ‘pro-Trump,’ ‘pro-Russia’ source.”
In other words, WikiLeaks wanted to cheat to try to appear unbiased when it was as pro Trump and pro Russia as they come.
Less than two weeks before the election, Trump was aided by FBI Director James Comey announcing that his office was opening another investigation into emails of discredited pol Anthony Weiner that could include Clinton. Trump aide Rudy Giuliani and security firm founder Erik Prince reportedly intimidated Comey into making such an unusually-timed announcement by threatening to release the documents themselves. Conservative news site Breitbart published an obscenely fake report that Clinton had allegedly traveled to an island with a pedophile, and that the Obama Justice Department had coerced the New York police into not releasing anything on Weiner before the election. None of that was true, but it didn’t matter to many voters.
The Hunter Biden laptop story —this year’s version of the Clinton emails that involved some of the same players like Giuliani and Trump 2016 campaign manager Steve Bannon — was deemed as sketchy by many who tried to investigate it. Biden’s son is alleged to have benefited financially from his father’s position, according to a laptop supposedly owned by Hunter Biden that somehow, some way, ended up in Giuliani’s hands.
Meanwhile, Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, and son-in-law have an office in the White House as senior staffers despite not being qualified. While violating the Hatch Act, they have made millions on deals, apparently benefiting from their father’s position. For example, while working on Middle East policy, Kushner’s family company sought loans from a Qatari sheikh.
Ditto for Trump’s sons, who are supposedly running the family businesses. Don Jr. and Eric have charged taxpayers for questionable expenses like Secret Service protection while drumming up business for themselves as they act as surrogates for their father in the White House. For example, in 2019, Junior flew to Jakarta just to help boost sales at Trump resorts planned for Indonesia. There was no national U.S. interest to justify spending federal government money on such a junket.
Suppress the vote
Another dirty-tricks ploy involved suppressing the vote of mostly Democrats through a now defunct system called Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck. That program involved a list of more than 7 million voters in 29 states created by Trump supporter and Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach in 2013. Like Kansas, most of the states involved were controlled by Republicans, including key swing states won by Trump in 2016 — Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Florida.
Officials would find people with similar names in a different state and claim they had voted twice, not even checking birth dates or Social Security numbers, investigative journalist Greg Palast charged. For example, Donald Alexander Webster Jr. of Dayton, Ohio, was accused of voting as Donald Eugene Webster of Charlottesville, Va., despite never visiting Charlottesville.
“They had 288 guys named James Brown in Georgia, who apparently voted in another state,” Palast said. “How’d they know that? Because they found — believe it or not — a James Brown in Motown, in Detroit. And then they found a James Brown in Virginia. And can you believe that? They found another James Brown in Ohio.” Almost 450,000 Michigan voters were on the Crosscheck suspect list, and at least 50,000 saw their votes discarded, he said. Trump supposedly won Michigan by about 11,000 votes.
“For voters of color in the USA, voting has become some kind of crazy obstacle course,” Palast said. “First, don’t get purged….Then drag yourself to the single black voting station and wait for five hours. Oops! Wrong guy ID — go back home. You’ll have absentee or provisional ballots. Don’t miss the bubble or it gets thrown in the garbage.”
In cities such as Detroit and Philadelphia, white nationalists gave out free marijuana and malt liquor to African-Americans on Election Day to try to get them to stay home. In addition, GOP officials closed almost 900 polling places in African-American and Latino districts across the South, said Ann Massaro, co-founder of civil rights group Women and Allies.
The crosscheck system purged tens of thousands of votes in the key swing states, including Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Arizona. The polls in those states that showed Clinton winning them were essentially correct, but getting so many votes tossed out pushed the count to Trump.
In 2018, Brian Kemp, the Georgia Republican candidate for governor who also happened to oversee the election as secretary of state, purged the rolls of thousands of likely Democratic voters. He narrowly won that race over Democrat Stacey Abrams. The crosscheck system was finally disbanded in 2019, thanks to a lawsuit by the ACLU.
A long, dirty history
If you look in the past, you will find many examples of political vitriol and dirty tricks. Whether they have been as bad as, if not worse, than the current version is debatable.
While apparently enlisting the aid of a foreign government to win an election is skulduggery that relatively few American pols besides Trump has pulled off, two other cases in modern history involved fellow Republicans Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, according to historian Kai Bird.
In 1968, Nixon worked to thwart peace negotiations between Lyndon Johnson’s administration and Vietnamese officials, using a Republican fundraiser and journalist, Anna Chennault. Nixon secretly promised a better deal if the South Vietnamese leaders would wait until after the election, while his campaign hammered Democrat Hubert Humphrey — the sitting vice president — for not doing more to stop the Vietnam War.
Back then, the Russians supported the Democrats more than Republicans, who they believed were more hard-line opponents. The old Soviet Union leaders lobbied North Vietnamese officials to agree to a ceasefire and hold talks, according to historian John Farrell. Nixon chief of staff H.R. Haldeman, among others, confirmed Nixon’s undercover acts of sabotage, which Johnson and others considered treasonous. Nixon won the 1968 election by only 0.7 percentage points, though the Electoral College was more decisive.
Then in 1980, Reagan campaign manager William Casey reportedly traveled to Europe a few months before Election Day to meet with representatives of Ayatollah Khomeini’s revolutionary regime during the Iran hostage crisis, which began in late 1979. Casey reportedly urged the Iranians to not release the 52 American diplomats and citizens being held until after Election Day. One part of the deal would be new arms sales to Iran, as well as releasing Iranian assets frozen under then-President Jimmy Carter’s orders. A memo unearthed in George H. W. Bush’s library confirmed that Casey had traveled to Spain in the summer of 1980.
“It is now reasonable to conclude that Casey did something,” Bird wrote. “The Iranians dragged out the negotiations over the release of the hostages. President Carter believed these negotiations were nearly successful in late September 1980, but suddenly new demands were made that stalled the talks. Polls showed Carter within single digits of catching Reagan until about 10 days before the election. Carter lost decisively, and the hostages were inexplicably released minutes after Reagan was sworn in as president.”
Iran, of course, received arms shipments and also benefited from later secret deals during the Reagan administration known as the Iran-Contra scandal.
Smaller October surprises have occurred, such as a Democratic operative in Maine releasing information shortly before the 2000 election on how George W. Bush had been arrested in that state for drunk driving in 1976.
The Kennedy family, of course, has not been beneath playing dirty. During John F. Kennedy’s first run for Congress in 1946, father Joseph Kennedy Sr. allegedly paid a man named Joseph Russo to run in the Democratic primary. That reduced the chances of a better-known Joseph Russo in that primary, helping JFK to victory.
Nixon charged Kennedy’s campaign with stealing the 1960 election, doing such things as bugging phones and falsifying vote totals. Kennedy’s running mate, LBJ, had won close elections in Texas under questionable conditions that included the 1948 U.S. Senate race in which opponents charged that Johnson’s machine manufactured last-minute votes from dead people.
In that 1960 race, a precinct in Angelina County in East Texas recorded that only 86 people voted, but the final tally was 147–24 in favor of Kennedy. Republican leaders demanded a recount, but the all-Democrat Texas Election Board denied the request. Nixon would have had to make up more than 46,000 votes to win Texas, an unlikely prospect.
Illinois, which Kennedy only won by fewer than 9,000 votes, provided a stronger basis for Nixon’s charges. Special prosecutor Morris Wexler found “substantial” miscounts in Chicago — where Mayor Richard Daley’s political machine reigned — due to voting machine errors and unqualified voters. Some precincts offered voters free meals, liquor, and raffle tickets for hams. The elder Kennedy was alleged to have brokered a deal with Sam Giancana and other Chicago mobsters to deliver thousands of votes.
Earl Mazo, a reporter for the New York Herald Tribune, found a Chicago cemetery where the names on the tombstones were registered and votes marked. “I remember a house. It was completely gutted. There was nobody there,” Mazo noted. “But there were 56 votes for Kennedy in that house.” Mazo also investigated Republican areas in southern Illinois and found fraud. Democrats charged that the Mafia-affiliated International Brotherhood of Teamsters union leader Jimmy Hoffa reportedly performed illegal acts in Ohio to help deliver that state to Nixon.
Some say the Kennedy campaign’s alleged deceit, along with CIA and Mafia officials feeling betrayed over JFK’s actions related to the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion in particular, led to his assassination, the ultimate political dirty trick.
Nixon still King of Dirty Tricks
Even with Trump’s illicit history, Nixon likely remains the King of Dirty Tricks. The criminal actions and malicious tactics of the Nixon administration went way beyond the burglary of DNC offices to Nixon reportedly authorizing an assassination attempt on journalist Jack Anderson, illegally wiretapping private citizens, using the CIA, FBI, and IRS against political opponents and journalists, and more.
The publication of the Pentagon Papers, leaked by defense analyst and whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg in 1971, sent Nixon into Trumpian rants that were recorded on tape. Nixon enticed ex-CIA agent Howard Hunt and former FBI agent G. Gordon Liddy to break into the office of Ellsberg’s psychiatrist in search of information to discredit Ellsberg.
Hunt and Liddy also met with CIA assassination expert Edward Gunn to discuss how to kill Anderson, according to statements made under oath by the plumbers. The ideas included shooting him with Liddy’s pistol that was believed to be untraceable, poisoning him, putting LSD on his car’s steering wheel, and running him off the road. They finally discarded those and settled on stabbing Anderson outside his home, with Liddy volunteering to make the crime look like a robbery gone wrong.
Liddy even wrote that he paid Gunn $100 at that meeting “from Committee to Re-elect the President [CREEP] intelligence funds, as a fee for his services.” Liddy added that he further discussed with Hunt a suggestion that the murder of Anderson be blamed on “Cubans already recruited for the intelligence arm” of CREEP. The plot fizzled after Liddy and Hunt were indicted for their roles in the Watergate burglary.
Demonstrators march in Washington, D.C., in 1973 demanding the impeachment of Nixon. [Public domain photo]
Other journalists were targeted by Nixon with tax audits, lawsuits, and criminal prosecution, author and University of Maryland journalism professor Mark Feldstein wrote. Some experienced suspicious home burglaries in which nothing was stolen, but their notes were reviewed.
Some of the tricks were silly, such as stealing shoes that aides of Democratic candidate Edmund Muskie placed outside their hotel rooms. Others were more serious like forging a letter purported to be written by Muskie that portrayed him as racially insensitive. In addition, Nixon ordered campaign literature from 1972 Democratic opponent George McGovern to be planted in the apartment of Arthur Bremer after Bremer shot independent candidate George Wallace. The dirty deed was an attempt to implicate Democrats in the shooting.
During Watergate, H.W. Bush aided Nixon as head of the Republican National Committee, implementing a phony plan to divert attention from the scandal in 1973. Bush accused Carmine Bellino, then a committee investigator for the U.S. Senate committee investigating Watergate, of trying to bug the hotel where Nixon stayed while preparing for the 1960 debates with JFK. The investigation into that dirty trick went on more than two months, causing delays in the Watergate committee’s proceedings. Bellino was eventually cleared, but not before Bush almost helped destroy the Watergate investigation.
Another key Republican dirty trickster who grew of age in the Watergate years was Karl Rove, the architect of W. Bush’s presidential campaigns. In 1970, Rove posed as a supporter of Alan Dixon, a Democratic candidate for state treasurer in Illinois, and stole stationary from the campaign. He then created a flier that lied about offering free beer, food, and women at Dixon’s campaign opening event on the stationary and distributed copies to homeless centers and rock concerts. Hundreds of people showed up for the free stuff, effectively disrupting the event.
Rove was paid by GOP organizations to lead college seminars on how fellow young Republicans could engage in dirty tricks of their own. The phony fliers and dirty tricks put out by Republicans in Florida in 2000, Ohio in 2004, Virginia in 2006, and other campaigns were likely manifestations from Rove’s Watergate-era seminars and similar teachings.
Rove and W. Bush’s campaign even maligned fellow Republican John McCain in 2000, spreading false rumors in South Carolina that McCain’s adopted Bangladeshi daughter was his illegitimate offspring. The tricks were particularly apparent in Florida through such actions as Democratic voters given misleading instructions by Republican election officials, carpools taking voters to the polls being stopped by police and harassed for not having taxi licenses, and a police checkpoint cropping up on Election Day near a largely African-American voting site.
Early American dirty tricks
Early U.S. elections were not without their dirty politics and rifts that escalated into violence, such as the famed 1804 duel in which Aaron Burr killed Alexander Hamilton. In the 1796 race between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, Hamilton — an ally of Adams — accused Jefferson of fathering numerous children with Sally Hemings and planning to free slaves if he won. While Jefferson did have children with Hemings, that wasn’t proven true until decades later.
After Adams won, Jefferson performed some skulduggery himself in the 1800 campaign, hiring journalist James Callender to publicly accuse Adams of being a hermaphrodite and planning to invade France. No less an Adams surrogate than the president of Yale University retorted that Jefferson would make many women prostitutes if he won. Another newspaper wrote that Jefferson’s presidency would result in an uptick in murder, adultery, and incest. Jefferson won that election, but by a narrow margin.
Later presidents faced similar mud-slinging and illicit actions. Andrew Jackson was accused of cannibalism and adultery. John Quincy Adams was labeled a sexual deviant and pimp. In 1844, the Whig party circulated a phony letter supposedly written by a Democratic official about how the badly the campaign was going. The 1880 campaign featured another forged letter supposedly written by James Garfield that advocated using Chinese immigrants for cheap labor. In 1888, Republican Benjamin Harrison narrowly defeated Democrat Grover Cleveland thanks in part to a fake letter written by a supporter.
False equivalencies
In more modern times, Republican propagandists such as Rush Limbaugh and an army of Fox News hosts regularly claim that Democrats engage in criminal activity and nasty campaigning. They falsely report that liberals and Democrats destroy property and attack opponents in demonstrations, when much of that is being done by anti-fascist anarchists and far-right Proud Boys.
In 2012, Fox commentator Bernard Goldberg complained that Obama’s “political hit men are engaged in one of the dirtiest campaigns in recent American history.” So what was so dirty to Goldberg? Obama supporters like former Sen. Harry Reid publicly accused Republican nominee Mitt Romney of not paying taxes for the previous decade. And a political ad quoted a man talking about the aftereffects of a plant shutdown by Romney’s Bain Capital in which his wife died of cancer, with the implication that the facility closing had something to do with that.
Compare that to what the Nixon, Reagan, Bush, and Trump campaigns did to Democrats. It’s not near the same.
Republicans claim Democratic presidential administrations have been so crooked, pointing to Bill Clinton’s impeachment and more. Yet, when you actually look at the number of criminal convictions of presidential administration officials in the past 50 years, the score is something like 89 to 1 in favor of Republicans, according to some counts.
Going into the 2020 elections, Republican dirty tricks are more numerous than ever. Fake news stories abound, especially on conservative websites and Facebook pages. Trump and his minions whip up hysteria about supposed vote fraud on the other side, immigration, and other issues. Trump threatens not to leave and challenge any vote totals that don’t show him winning in court.
The skulduggery doesn’t seem like it will ever stop. Not the way the game is now played where a U.S. senate race can require $70 million or more, and the White House at least $3 billion. The situation causes some to abandon politics at the exact time when more moderate voices of reason are needed. To those who say they stay out of politics, if you pay taxes, you are a part of politics. It’s your money being spent in your name. It’s your kids who will have to deal with the consequences of actions and inaction.
For many political players, there is too much at stake to not go down without a nasty, dishonest, mud-slinging fight, consequences be damned. Until we can figure out a better process and have everyone actually play by those rules — such as only allowing a set figure of public funding of campaigns with no campaign donations, and cracking down on transgressions — the American Way, more and more, is leading us all into the great abyss. | https://kevinjshay44.medium.com/dirty-tricks-r-us-68add349bb9a | ['Kevin Shay'] | 2020-11-03 05:23:38.201000+00:00 | ['Cheating', 'Politics', 'History', 'Elections', 'Trump'] |
Better Software Without If-Else | DESIGNING BETTER SOFTWARE
Better Software Without If-Else
5 Ways to Replace If-Else. Beginner to advanced examples
Let me just say this right off the bat: If-Else is often a poor choice.
It leads to complicated designs, less readable code, and may be pain inducing to refactor.
Nevertheless, If-Else has become the de facto solution for code branching — which does make sense. It’s one of the first things any aspiring developer is taught. Unfortunately, lots of developers never advance to more suitable branching strategies.
Some live by the mantra: If-Else is a hammer and everything’s a nail.
The inability to determine when to use a more suitable approach is among those that distinguishes juniors from seniors.
I’ll show you some techniques and patterns that’ll put an end to this horrific practice.
The difficulty will increase by each example.
1 Entirely unnecessary else blocks
This is perhaps one of those junior developers are most guilty of. The example below is a prime illustration of what happens when you get beaten into thinking If-Else is great.
Simple if-else
It can be simplified by just removing the else ` block.
Removed else
More professional looking, right?
You’ll regularly find there’s really no need for an else block. Like in this case, you want to do something if a certain condition is met and return immediately.
2 Value assignment
If you want to assign a new value to a variable based on some provided input, then stop the If-Else nonsense — there’s a more readable approach.
Value assignment with if-else
Despite the simplicity, it’s awful. First off, If-Else is easily replaced with a switch here. But, we can simplify this code even further by removing else if and else altogether.
If statements with fast return
Take away the else if and else , and we are left with clean, readable code. Notice that I’ve also changed the style to be fast return opposed to single return statement — it simply doesn’t make sense to continue testing a value if the correct one has already been found.
3 Precondition checking
Most often, I find that it won’t make sense to continue executing a method if it’s provided with invalid values.
Say we have the DetermineGender method from before, with the requirement that the provided input value must always be 0 or 1.
Method without value checks
Executing the method without value validation doesn’t make any sense. So, we’ll need to check some preconditions before we allow the method continuing its executing.
Applying the guard clause defensive coding technique, you’ll check method input values and only move on to executing the method if.
Check preconditions with guard clauses
At this point, we’ve made sure the main logic is only executed if the value falls within the expected range.
The IFs have also been replaced with ternary now that it doesn’t make sense to have a default return of “Unknown” at the end any longer.
4 If-Else to Dictionary — avoid If-Else entirely
Say you need to perform some operation that’ll be selected based on some condition, and we know we’ll have to add more operations later.
One is perhaps inclined to use the tried and true, If-Else. Adding a new operation is simply a matter of slapping in an extra else if. That’s simple. This approach is however not a great design in terms of maintenance.
Knowing we need to add new operations later, we can refactor the If-Else to a dictionary.
Readability has vastly increased and it’s easier to reason about this code.
Note that, the dictionary is only placed inside the method for illustrative purposes. You’d likely want it to be provided from somewhere else.
5 Extending applications — avoid If-Else entirely
This is a slightly more advanced example.
Let me also clarify something real quick… This is a more “enterprisy” approach. It won’t be your typical “lemme just replace that if-else” scenario. Now, read on.
Know when to even eliminate Ifs entirely, by replacing them with objects.
Often, you’ll find yourself having to extend some part of an application. As a junior developer, you may be inclined to do so by just adding an extra If-Else (i.e. else-if) statement.
Take this illustrative example. Here, we need to present an Order instance as a string. First, we only have two kinds of string representation, JSON and plain text. Using If-Else at this stage is not a big issue, tho we can easily replace else if with just if as demonstrated earlier.
Knowing we need to extend this part of the application, this approach is definitely not acceptable.
Not only does the code above violate the Open/Closed principle, it doesn’t read well and will cause maintainability headaches.
The correct approach is one that adheres to the SOLID principles — and we do this by implementing a dynamic type discovery process, and in this case, the strategy pattern.
The process to refactor this hot piece of mess, is as following:
Extract each branch into separate strategy classes with a common interface Dynamically find all classes implementing the common interface Decide which strategy to execute based on input
The code that’ll replace the example above looks like this. And yes, it’s way more code. It requires you to know how type discovery works. But dynamically extending an application is an advanced topic.
I’m only showing the exact part that’ll replace the If-Else example. Take a look at this gist if you want to see all objects involved. | https://medium.com/swlh/5-ways-to-replace-if-else-statements-857c0ff19357 | ['Nicklas Millard'] | 2020-08-18 14:31:38.904000+00:00 | ['Best Practices', 'Software Development', 'Technology', 'Software Engineering', 'Programming'] |
Youth Climate Leaders Program Empowers Youth to Tackle Climate Change | (Reposting the article I published at the SDG Knowledge Hub)
Climate change, like white walkers from the ‘Game of Thrones’ television series, is something too big, complex and out of our daily lives’ concerns. To really understand it, one must see and feel it for oneself. Therefore, to build the next generation of climate leaders, we have designed a unique experience: one trip around the world to learn more about climate change in theory, understand it in practice, and work on hands-on projects with other young people.
This first pilot will have three main components: (1) a 40-day immersion in Paris, France, and several cities in Kenya for 20–35 people from all over the world; (2) three-month tailored field placements from September to November; and (3) a one-week trip to the 24th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 24) to the UNFCCC in Katowice, Poland. At each destination, participants will meet with key local organizations, universities and community leaders. They will also have free time to experience the country and connect with each other, building lasting relationships and a community of climate champions.
During the week, participants will work part-time on a common group project and attend lectures about climate science, international cooperation, climate finance and other topics at which Youth Climate Leaders (YCLs) must excel. Given that practical and academic knowledge is not enough to foster leadership, the program also includes individual and collective coaching to help YCLs to discover more about themselves, and put their knowledge at the service of others. Climate change is a competitive field, so the final weeks of the immersion will focus on mentoring participants on their personal aspirations and career plans. They will then be ready to go back to their countries, or explore other ones, to work on climate change mitigation and adaptation issues. The organizers will build partnerships with a series of organizations worldwide to ease the relocation of YCL alumni, who will be part of a living community of practice.
Our mission directly contributes to SDG 13 (climate action). We will also explore the program’s links to other SDGs through our academic curriculum and country visits. Our work has a direct impact on quality education (SDG 4), employment opportunities (SDG 8) and partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17). This year’s group project will focus on sustainable agriculture (SDG 2) and land use (SDG 15). We will support Endeleza, a non-profit organization seeking to promote human and community development through education, empowerment and sustainability, in scaling its ‘Sustainable Primary School’ program in partnership with reNature Foundation, which helps farmers to change their production method to a sustainable agroforestry system. Planting onions (yes, onions!) in the school yard they are working to generate sufficient income to ensure free food and education to 250 students from the Primary School of Mugae (Meru County, Kenya), also allowing them to invest in other improvements in the community.
With this group project, YCL participants will have the opportunity to see their impact at the local level, and to support Endeleza in replicating its model in other regions through global partnerships. The group project contributes to the achievement of our main objective: to empower young people worldwide to have a global impact on climate change through their integrated local activities.
With the YCL program, we want to shift the image of young people as “leaders of the future” to the “leaders of today.” Our main goal is to empower a diverse group of young leaders from all over the world with leadership and entrepreneurial skills to be used right now to address climate change. Young people today are more concerned about sustainability and climate change issues than previous generations, but that does not mean that their behaviors and lifestyles are in accordance with the beliefs they hold on those topics. At the YCL program, we are going to work with those concerned young people who have not yet had the opportunity to see how they can act in practice to tackle climate change.
The direct impact of the program is the group project that YCLs are going to work on throughout its duration. They will be in contact with real-life challenges posed by climate change, and will benefit from our support to design innovative solutions for both mitigation and adaptation problems. The indirect impact will be driven by all the content produced by YCLs during those three months. Articles, interviews, videos and other materials, translated into different languages, are expected to help highlight the urgency of climate change, and to share what is already being done around the world to address this challenge. Given that the content is produced by young people, there is also a higher chance that these materials will reach other youth, which is a great way to show the importance of climate action to the younger generations.
Since the program involves participants from different countries who will travel a lot, the carbon footprint from transport emissions is a concern. To offset the carbon footprint of the project, at the end of the program, we will calculate the amount of carbon emissions released, and offset it by planting trees in partnership with Plant-for-the-Planet, an international foundation that organizes tree plantings led by children and young people around the world. Additionally, we will only provide vegetarian meals at our events and, whenever possible, use bicycles to commute. In that way, we will not only promote sustainable transportation and meals, but also invite YCLs to “walk the talk” and lead by example.
* * *
Applications for the 2018 Youth Climate Leaders program are open until 30 April. Contact us at [email protected] to become a partner. | https://medium.com/unleash-lab/youth-climate-leaders-program-empowers-youth-to-tackle-climate-change-71e358a2404e | ['Cassia Oliveira Moraes'] | 2018-04-24 12:36:38.894000+00:00 | ['Work', 'Sustainable Development', 'Climate Change', 'Travel', 'Education'] |
The Anthropology of Us | I‘ve knocked on Anwar’s door and now I’m panicking and fumbling with the tangle on my face. Earbuds, wires, mask, glasses, hoodie.
It really hasn’t taken me long to become a hot mess. I only wear clean shirts if I will see someone ‘in person.’ Which means, rarely to never. Only now do I start to think about the fact that Anwar never wrote to me when he was gone. But I know he’s back even if he hasn’t been logging into the Zoom room.
Yet here I am. Once again, my reflexes are lightning fast, the thought process is more of a postmortem.
He did leave me his key. I mean, once upon a time, Alwar didn’t seem to mind having me around. He’s not answering so I guess I’ll just go in.
I am the queen of all that is awkward and the goddess of going too far. No need to stop now. That may not be why Alwar loves me, but it’s why he knows me. I might literally be the only person he does know.
I remember meeting him in that lecture on cave art. Beautiful stuff. Tribal. Large mammals grazing on stone, hands outlined on the walls of rock. I could feel the emotion of it.
What was the theory? The first cave artists were neurodivergent — keen in focus and observation. That diversity saved humanity from the winter and lived on forever in our evolution.
Not sure how they gathered that from the cave art, but it’s a cool story. Alwar was unusually talkative at that seminar. And I was, well, me.
“Hey, you have a real visitor — you might want to put some pants on.”
The smell is all scorch and syrup. Alwar had that habit of burning bundles of herbs from different places he’d visited to purify the energy of the place — or, in my opinion, get that terrible smoke smell out of the couch. But this is a different flavor of desperation.
I swing open the cheezy kitchen doors, ready to crash his morning ritual.
You would think that self-preservation would tell you not to grab the cord of a smoking appliance. But I guess someone in the herd has to act fast and think later. I have a fistful of wires — and, apparently, luck.
Would my sneakers have insulated me in the event of a short? Some questions, I guess, will go unanswered.
The coffee pot is crackling and scorching with the heat of being empty and nothing is left but bitter smoke and obsidian dried to the bottom. He’s gone long enough for coffee to turn to stone. But not long enough for the place to burst into flames. Look at me, Anwar, who’s the archeologist now?
I wander to his couch. I’ve always marveled at just how far you sink into that thing. The disgusting stained mustard corduroy of it all. And here, in the crack. That’s not right. Alwar would never, never leave a page of his travel journal languishing in the uncharted savannah of this couch.
It’s also totally unlike him to be melodramatic and leave clues. Just like it’s totally like me to read any page of private correspondence that I sit on when I enter someone’s flat uninvited. | https://medium.com/scribe/the-anthropology-of-us-3613364e884 | ['Trisha Traughber'] | 2020-11-08 20:29:45.115000+00:00 | ['Scribe', 'Pandemic', 'Cave Art', 'Anthropology', 'Fiction'] |
FLUTTER — OnBoarding Screen. Hi! I am fairly new to Flutter and have… | Hi! I am fairly new to Flutter and have been working on various projects for 6 months. Usually, the library makes the life of a developer easy. We don’t have to create a new solution from scratch, we could use the library based on our project requirement. There are abundant libraries available for Android and iOS when compared to Flutter.
I am currently working on a project where I had to create an On-Boarding Screen giving the user hints of the project. I have looked for the libraries and couldn’t find one that suits my requirements and had to develop it from scratch.
While developing this I thought that after completing I would build one myself, so that others could use this library or at the very least they wouldn’t have to start from the beginning.
So here we are, my very first Flutter library!!! This is an early version of the library and will be working on this library gradually and much more. Any and all feedback , bug reports, and new feature requests are welcome. Could mention it in the comments below or at the issue tracker
Why OnBoarding Screen?
Nowadays apps offer various solutions from simple to complex, not everyone knows what your app is about and often struggles initially when the application is complex.
Just to give an overview of what your app is about we usually opt for onboarding screens and also to inform of various feature available within(to attract users using simple and elegant animation)
Below I have explained how to use this library in your application.
How to use OnBoarding?
This is a simple library that allows the user to walk through multiple screens.
Note: The sample and the library can be found in the link. The library supports the following Android, iOS and also web.
Step 1: Installation
Add the dependency to your pubspec.yaml file. You can get the latest version from https://pub.dev/packages/sk_onboarding_screen
dependencies:
sk_onboarding_screen: ^1.0.1
Step 2: Usage
Let’s dive into the usage of the library. First, install the packages required, this can be done in one of two ways.
You can install packages from the command line :
$ flutter pub get
Alternatively, your editor might support flutter pub get like Android Studio and Visual Studio Code.
Step 3: The real step ( coding )
Include the following packages by adding the below lines in your code
import 'package:sk_onboarding_screen/sk_onboarding_screen.dart;
2. Adding multiple screens, follow the steps mentioned below. Use the SKOnboardingModel for passing the values.
For now, I have added the following fields below in the model class and in the next version, I will be working on providing various options.
title — Pass the title of the screen
description — A brief description of the screen
titleColor — The color of the title text
descripColor — The color of the description text
imagePath — file path of the image should be passed in the field
final pages = [
SkOnboardingModel(
title: 'Choose your item',
description:
'Easily find your grocery items and you will get delivery in wide range',
titleColor: Colors.black,
descripColor: const Color(0xFF929794),
imagePath: 'assets/onboarding1.png'),
SkOnboardingModel(
title: 'Pick Up or Delivery',
description:
'We make ordering fast, simple and free-no matter if you order online or cash',
titleColor: Colors.black,
descripColor: const Color(0xFF929794),
imagePath: 'assets/onboarding2.png'),
SkOnboardingModel(
title: 'Pay quick and easy',
description: 'Pay for order using credit or debit card',
titleColor: Colors.black,
descripColor: const Color(0xFF929794),
imagePath: 'assets/onboarding3.png'),
];
We are almost at the end!!
3. Next, pass the created list of model class into the SKOnBoardingScreen widget. I have added the code snippet of the following below.
@override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
// TODO: implement build
return Scaffold(
body: SKOnboardingScreen(
bgColor: Colors.white,
themeColor: const Color(0xFFf74269),
pages: pages,
skipClicked: (value) {
print("Skip");
},
getStartedClicked: (value) {
print("Get Started");
},
),
);
}
In the near future, I’m going to customize the library by adding more fields so that we could have a lot of control over the library.
Step 4: Output
Next :
Even though this library is still in its early phase, feedback is really appreciated. If you’d like to contribute or add the library to your project, feel free to do so.
This is just my library, I’m going to write more as the project evolves, so stay tuned!
Check it out the library sk_onboarding_screen on pub.dev and github.com. | https://medium.com/@senthilkumar_892/flutter-onboarding-screen-38f042ac6672 | ['Senthil Kumar'] | 2020-04-03 09:18:08.087000+00:00 | ['Flutter', 'Library', 'Flutter Ui', 'Onboarding', 'Flutter Widget'] |
Is TERF a slur? | It seems at least four times a year this becomes a major talking point and the discussion doesn’t move beyond it. Which is probably exactly what transphobes want because if we’re all stuck arguing about terminology we never get onto actually fixing the issues. We’re just perpetually in the status quo of transphobic and misogynist abuse, largely faced by transgender women.
So lets talk about terminology and not fix any of the issues some more, for about 3–4 minutes while you read this anyway. Then maybe we can get something sorted out instead? Perhaps? Any takers?… no hands going up from the transphobe side… that’s odd.
Is TERF a slur? Yes and no. A slur isn’t just any one kind of thing, there are very few hard and fast rules to the English language because the English language is an absolute state. So there’s not much sense me pulling up one descriptivist definition of the word “slur” comparing how TERF is used to that and then saying it either is or it isn’t. That’s a bad argument only bad people would make because dictionaries simply do not work that way. Sidebar: the ‘appeal to dictionary’ fallacy (as I call it) appears multiple times over within pro-bigotry discourse and is a very effective recruitment tool in part because it arms both the recruiter and recruited with a seemingly solid weapon to beat back the naysayers with. I say seemingly because despite the intimidating shiny metal exterior the weapon is completely hollow but its appearance alone creates unearned confidence in the position of the wielder.
With no objectively measurable definition of slur to use lets instead look at what transphobes mean when they say “TERF is a slur”. Often the argument being made is an attempt to say that they are being slurred for being women, that TERF is an anti-woman slur. Except this falls down extremely quickly under any real analysis. First of all, countless men are referred to as TERFs also though the name originates from radical feminism which was very much a “no boys allowed” kinda deal. I guess this is just an example of how words evolve and develop meanings over time.
Second of all, no one is called a TERF for being a woman and that alone. Otherwise trans women would be calling each other and our cis women friends TERFs too, but we don’t. So there’s clearly some other specific quality that separates one group of people from another here, its worth finding out what that is and luckily for you here’s one I made earlier. It’s transphobia. That’s what separates those being called TERF and those not.
So the other argument a TERF could make here would be that they aren’t transphobic and that calling or referring to them as such was actually the real slur the whole time. Which, okay. That would be a fair argument to make if they were in fact not transphobic. If they can prove that they do not hold prejudices or support the discrimination of transgender people then yes, calling them a TERF for being transphobic might actually be fairly close to being a slur.
However that’s a pretty unlikely outcome isn’t it? Those who are most often found screaming that TERF is a slur are indeed active campaigners supporting the discrimination and exclusion of transgender people because they hold prejudiced beliefs against us. They can kid themselves that viciously opposing reform to things like birth certificate law and lying through their teeth about it affecting spaces and leading to women being raped in those spaces — isn’t transphobic. But they can only really convince other people of this position for so long before the truth comes out. Eventually those people will learn they’ve been lied to and manipulated into transphobic activism, many already have worked this out and a backlash is slowly building.
But what about the “yes and no” Gemma? So far you’ve only done the yes! Yes yes, I’m getting to it. Ironically there is one sure fire way to argue that TERF is a slur, and that’s to say that we are calling them radical feminists — the RF of TERF — when they aren’t. The words “radical feminist” have absolutely been used as a slur for decades, usually applied to any woman who rocks the boat a little too hard for straight white cisgender men. You could absolutely make the case that applying “radical feminist” to a group of “concerned women” constitutes slurring them, but only if they’re willing to concede that they are indeed not actually radical feminists at all.
Of course, most transphobes aren’t feminists of any kind, radical or otherwise. Demographically speaking the UK’s battallion of bigots is largely stocked by socially conservative middle class straight white able bodied cisgender men and women, who think they aren’t bigoted because they’ve never personally said the n-word to a black person’s face before. That’s what they consider to be progressive, left leaning and good when really that’s not even the bare minimum. That’s not to say there aren’t actual dedicated feminists amongst transphobic groups, of course there are. Many are lifelong campaigners for women’s rights and that shouldn’t be ignored. Just that the vast majority of anonymous flower avatar and I❤JK Rowling accounts have never read any feminism, their sole involvement in this is transphobia, feminism for them is just a way of making that sound more legitimate.
They know they aren’t doing a feminism, trans people know they aren’t doing a feminism, but the media is very keen to respect self-identity (unless they dig deep and discover any flimsy old reason to refer to trans people via assigned sex or slip their birth names into pieces just because.) So we have to all play pretend that this is legitimate feminism attacking the rights of a minority group of women for being transgender. We have to pretend it every time for every single different group the same bigoted people and audience support and give vague credibility too. As we’ve done with all sorts of different anti trans groups now, including supposed LGB rights groups, intersex groups and that one time someone made an anti trans account for each of the main political parties which were immediately shut down for blatantly being made by one person to spread inhumane political propaganda.
Whats the purpose of all of this? of saying TERF is a slur? or even the very popular “you call everything transphobic”? Two-fold. First we discredit those phrases and make them toxic to touch. Noone is gonna call anyone a TERF or say things are transphobic if theyre automatically shouted down for slurring or crying bigot. It effectively silences any criticism of anti trans activism by fencing off the words being used to describe it as not okay. You can bet your entire ass that if we started calling them something else they would try to make that toxic and unusable too.
Second? Waste time. Like I said earlier, the conversation they constantly say they’re desperate to have never moves forwards if we’re all still arguing over terminology forever. You can see symptoms of this in the fact that they haven’t got any new arguments in over 20 years of online discourse. Its all the same stuff, the same articles they’ve misrepresented, the same tweets they post to prove trans=bad, the same damn 10 year old Karolinska Institute study. None of it has changed or updated at all. Which suits bigots fine. No progress means they get to keep asking for money to maintain the transphobic status quo! Brilliant!
So what should you do? Should you keep saying TERF, should you not? Should you develop new language for this? I don’t know. Its all valid really. I can’t tell you what to do but I don’t like the idea of giving them ground via conceding TERF and not using it anymore. Equally tough they benefit from it being used given their connections and control within media groups. Like it or not, big name transphobes like Julie Bindel are able to convince their friends that it is a slur, and their friends aren’t just random people.
So I don’t know what you should do, and I can’t tell you how to move forwards here. Though hopefully I have armed you with some knowledge and perspective to help you make your own decision. I’m sure you’ll do fine, probably. Godspeed Spider-Tran. | https://medium.com/@notCursedE/is-terf-a-slur-256c93cae8dc | ['Gemma Stone'] | 2020-12-11 10:13:46.402000+00:00 | ['Feminism', 'Transgender', 'Equality', 'Words', 'LGBTQ'] |
Normalization, its types and Normalization layers | The article moves through understanding Normalization, different types of normalization to the discussion of some Normalization layers.
SATA— Would COVID-19 never end?
RAM— No dear! It would take time for things to be normalized.
In a similar manner, Data Science also employs the word Normalization.
Normalization in laymen terms is basically bringing something to normal or stable state. Well, in this article we would dig a little deeper about normalization, some of its types and different Normalization layers used to normalize the output of hidden layers in a neural network.
In context of machine learning and data science, Normalization is basically defined as the process of bringing the features or explanatory variables to a similar scale. Normalization is very important in terms of stability or accuracy of the learning model. Having features on the same scale also helps us get rid of the curse of dimensionality. Many machine learning practitioners consider normalization and standardization as different terms and many of them consider both as the same. However, I would go with the latter approach as one way or other, both are bringing the features onto a similar scale.
Normalization could be of various types. In this post, we would be considering 4 major types of normalizations —
1. Z-Score Normalization
2. Min-Max Scaling
3. Log Scaling
4. Feature Clipping
Z-Score Normalization:
In this normalization we subtract the feature values with their mean and divide by standard deviation. Due to this, the new mean becomes 0 and standard deviation becomes 1. This is the same as the Standard Normal Distribution.
image: author
We already have Z-score normalization implemented in scikit-learn’s preprocessing API with the name StandardScaler and works very well.
image: author; Visualizing the results of StandardScaler
As seen from above, most of the data is centered around the origin.
Min Max Scaling:
This normalization technique involves scaling the dataset to a range of [0, 1] by subtracting the feature columns with the minimum value of the particular column and dividing it by the difference of the minimum and maximum values of the same column. This normalization technique is useful when the distribution of features is somewhat uniform in nature.
image: author; X=feature column, X_min=minimum value of X, X_max=maximum value of X
Min Max Scaling is also implemented in scikit-learn’s preprocessing API with the name MinMaxScaler.
image: author; Visualizing the result of MinMaxScaler
Log Scaling:
Log Scaling is a slightly less used normalization technique. It is helpful when there is a large imbalance in the distribution of the feature values. Log Scaling changes the distribution and helps in improving the linear performance of the model. But it is not always true with all datasets. Sometimes Log Scaling may lead to sparsity in the dataset or we may loose some important feature information.
image: author
Although scikit-learn does not provide any function for Log Scaling but we can implement the function for Log Scaling very easily.
The resultant plot of the above code is visualized below. As we can see that the Log Scaled plot is more linear than the Original one and helps in improving the linear performance of the model.
image: author; Visualizing the results of Log Scaling
Feature Clipping:
Feature clipping is somewhat naïve normalization technique in which we are free to choose a range to put our feature values in. For example we can set the range to be [-5, 5] and clip the dataset in this range such that all values which are greater than 5 would be clipped at 5 and all the values which are less than -5 would be clipped at -5. Note that the values which are already in this range would be unaffected.
Let us also visualize the above code. We can see that most of the values are clipped at x_min and x_max and hence if we are performing this normalization, we have to be very much specific about the range. This technique is useful when we have extreme outliers so that our model becomes less sensitive to them.
image: author; Visualizing the results of Feature Clipping
So these were some of the types of Normalization techniques. There are also some other techniques implemented in scikit-learn such as RobustScaler, MaxAbsScaler, normalize etc. See the references for more details.
Pheww! You can take a break to digest things until now if you wish. | https://medium.com/@sarthakforwet/normalization-its-types-and-normalization-layers-c9f1bb40b2dd | ['Sarthak Khandelwal'] | 2020-11-26 01:54:15.662000+00:00 | ['Normalization', 'Machine Learning', 'Research', 'Scikit Learn', 'TensorFlow'] |
Why “Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket.” Is the Best Money Advice I’ve Ever Heard | My friend Sara came by the other day; I haven’t seen her since the first lockdown in March. We talked a little, and she confessed she’s not working at the moment. You might think this is something that happens; people lose their jobs every day.
But Sara didn’t lose the job; she’s a freelancer working for retirement homes doing mani-pedi and other aesthetic treatments for the senior citizens. Since the Covid-19 hit, the situation in nursing homes all across Italy fell apart. Some assistants and families got infected, went inside the houses, and a lot of the elderly got sick and died.
As the circumstances aren’t improving, and my friend Sara isn’t part of the essential staff, she’s been told to stay home. As a freelancer, she doesn’t have any unemployment benefits. She’s on her own with her savings and the income taxes to pay.
At some point in the conversation, Sara said, “I want to invest some of the money in my bank account. What do you think I should buy?” I’m no investor, but her question seemed to be a desperate move in an even more desperate time. Shouldn’t she have thought about diversifying her sources of income long before finding herself in this situation?
“Who would have ever guessed something like this (Covid-19) would happen?” She told me. “What would you have done if you broke your leg or pelvis?” I replied.
My dear friend Sara is a good person, a mix of reckless and positivity. She’s never thinking about a plan B, a “just in case” option. Now what?
“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”
I’ve been raised according to the philosophy of “find a quiet well-paid job for the rest of your life.” Then, around 2008 the economic crisis hit Italy, and I’ve experienced the decline of what I thought was a safe work.
Nobody taught me to diversify my sources of income, to invest, to make money online. I realize now, almost ten years of my working career have been lost chasing a dream that wasn’t mine and following a dated idea.
In 2020 lots of people have access to a computer/smartphone and the internet. If you don’t have them at home, you can go to the local library or internet cafe and use their services. Take some hours from your weekly useless activities, add some willpower, mix it with perseverance and hard work, and you can come up with several extra baskets.
Having different income sources can help you pay the bills if your primary job gets shut down for any reason and bring in some extra cash for fancy expenses.
Little or big side hustles can be found as on the internet as in real life. “I can’t.”, “I don’t know how to do it.”, “I’m busy.”, “I’m not as smart as you are.” Are just excuses you tell yourself.
5 online side income ideas
1. Blogging
Don’t believe who says blogging is dead. Million of people search for information every day, and some of them might land on your website. Blogging isn’t a get rich quick solution but offers you the opportunity to freely choose the topic you want to discuss and the way to monetize the content.
Through a blog, you can display ads, sell affiliate products, or sell your products and services. Your blog will take longer to become an established source of information than it will take you to write articles to post on it.
For a successful blog, you need a profitable niche, some informative articles, external traffic sources like Pinterest, and a good product/service to solve your audience’s problems. If you are already posting on Medium, you can consider republishing the same content on your self-hosted blog.
2. Freelancing
Have you ever heard about Fiverr or Upwork? These are only two of the many platforms where freelancers can offer their services. You can sell a consult about a subject you are an expert on, digital artwork, translations, and many other services.
Some platforms are free to join, and all you have to do is correctly upload your data to get paid and create an attractive profile to attract clients.
3. Selling Ebooks
Ebooks are easy to create, and many platforms offer the chance to sell them for free or beyond the payment of a fee. Like the famous Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing service where you get paid a percentage of every Ebook sold. But Amazon isn’t the only place where you can sell your book.
SendOwl offers the opportunity to sell Ebooks and other digital products, paying a monthly fee. If you have no idea about what to write and how to do it, you can purchase some PLR books to resell.
4. Print on Demand
I’ll never grow tired to say that print on demand is a cheap way to make money online accessible to anyone, artist or not. Learn to create designs and learn the basic tasks to do with graphic programs to adjust your pictures might take some time and effort for newbies, but once you have created your portfolio or bought the artwork from another artist, you can upload your design for free to several platforms.
These platforms will handle payments, make the products, shipping them, and deal with customers. If you don’t know where to start, check Redbubble or Teespring.
5. Selling photos
Are you a professional or amateur photographer who likes to edit his own pictures? Then selling photos to stock-image websites can be your new way to make money passively.
For example, you can create an account on Shutterstock and uploading your best pictures there. A team will review your photos and, if approved, will collect the money from the buyers and pay you a percentage. | https://medium.com/live-your-life-on-purpose/why-dont-put-all-your-eggs-in-one-basket-is-the-best-money-advice-i-ve-ever-heard-de1d7b04412a | ['Alice Toneatto'] | 2020-12-11 17:04:02.363000+00:00 | ['Life Lessons', 'Money', 'Side Hustle', 'Work', 'Wealth'] |
[ANIME] RWBY ~ Volume 8 Episode 7 TBA On Rooster Teeth’s | [ANIME] RWBY ~ Volume 8 Episode 7 TBA On Rooster Teeth’s
RWBY
The story takes place in the world of Remnant, which is filled with supernatural forces and shadowy creatures known as the "Creatures of Grimm." Prior to the events of the series, mankind waged a battle of survival against the Grimm before discovering the power of a mysterious element called Dust, which allowed them to fight back against the monsters. In the present day, Dust is used to power magical abilities and weapons. Those who use these abilities to battle the Grimm are known as Huntsmen or Huntresses.The series focuses on four girls, each with her own unique weapon and powers. Together, they form team RWBY at Beacon Academy in the city of Vale, where they are trained to become Huntresses alongside team CRDL (pronounced "cardinal"), team JNPR (pronounced "juniper"), team SSSN (pronounced "sun") and team CFVY (pronounced "coffee").
Title : RWBY
Episode Title : TBA
Number of Seasons : 8
Number of Episodes : 7
Genres : Action , Adventure , Animation , Anime , Fantasy
Networks : Rooster Teeth
Status: Returning Series
Quality: HD
The Great Christmas Light Fight : Season 8 , Episode 1 || FULL EPISODES | On Series The Great Christmas Light Fight Season 8 Ep 1 Episoder : features the hero in action scenes that display and explore exotic locations. The subgenres of adventure films include swashbuckler film, disaster films, and historical dramas-which is similar to the epic film genre. Main plot components include quests for lost continents, a jungle or desert settings, characters going on a treasure hunts and heroic journeys in to the unknown. Adventure films are mostly occur a period background and may include adapted stories of historical or fictional adventure heroes within the historical context. Kings, battles, rebellion or piracy are generally observed in adventure films. Adventure films may also be combined with other movie genres such as for example, science fiction, fantasy and sometimes war films.The Great Christmas Light Fight Season 8 French : The coverage of sports as a television program, on radio and other broadcasting media. It usually involves a number of sports commentators describing the events because they happen, to create “colour commentary.”
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(TV), in some cases abbreviated to tele or television, is a media transmission medium utilized for sending moving pictures in monochrome (high contrast), or in shading, and in a few measurements and sound. The term can allude to a TV, a TV program, or the vehicle of TV transmission. TV is a mass mode for promoting, amusement, news, and sports.
TV opened up in unrefined exploratory structures in the last part of the 88s, however it would at present be quite a while before the new innovation would be promoted to customers. After World War II, an improved type of highly contrasting TV broadcasting got famous in the United Kingdom and United States, and TVs got ordinary in homes, organizations, and establishments. During the 88s, TV was the essential mechanism for affecting public opinion.[8] during the 88s, shading broadcasting was presented in the US and most other created nations. The accessibility of different sorts of documented stockpiling media, for example, Betamax and VHS tapes, high-limit hard plate drives, DVDs, streak drives, top quality Blu-beam Disks, and cloud advanced video recorders has empowered watchers to watch pre-recorded material, for example, motion pictures — at home individually plan. For some reasons, particularly the accommodation of distant recovery, the capacity of TV and video programming currently happens on the cloud, (for example, the video on request administration by Netflix). Toward the finish of the main decade of the 2020s, advanced TV transmissions incredibly expanded in ubiquity. Another improvement was the move from standard-definition TV (SDTV) (81i, with 202081 intertwined lines of goal and 120202020) to top quality TV (HDTV), which gives a goal that is generously higher. HDTV might be communicated in different arrangements: 120208881, 120208881 and 8. Since 2020, with the creation of brilliant TV, Internet TV has expanded the accessibility of TV projects and films by means of the Internet through real time video administrations, for example, Netflix, ABC Video, iPlayer and ABC.
In 881, 81% of the world’s family units possessed a TV set.[8] The substitution of early cumbersome, high-voltage cathode beam tube (CRT) screen shows with smaller, vitality effective, level board elective advancements, for example, LCDs (both fluorescent-illuminated and LED), OLED showcases, and plasma shows was an equipment transformation that started with PC screens in the last part of the 888s. Most TV sets sold during the 2020s were level board, primarily LEDs. Significant makers reported the stopping of CRT, DLP, plasma, and even fluorescent-illuminated LCDs by the mid-2020s.[8][8] sooner rather than later, LEDs are required to be step by step supplanted by OLEDs.[8] Also, significant makers have declared that they will progressively create shrewd TVs during the 2020s.[8][8][8] Smart TVs with incorporated Internet and Web 8.8 capacities turned into the prevailing type of TV by the late 2020s.[1]
TV signals were at first circulated distinctly as eartABC und TV utilizing powerful radio-recurrence transmitters to communicate the sign to singular TV inputs. Then again TV signals are appropriated by coaxial link or optical fiber, satellite frameworks and, since the 2020s by means of the Internet. Until the mid 2020s, these were sent as simple signs, yet a progress to advanced TV is relied upon to be finished worldwide by the last part of the 2020s. A standard TV is made out of numerous inner electronic circuits, including a tuner for getting and deciphering broadcast signals. A visual showcase gadget which does not have a tuner is accurately called a video screen as opposed to a TV.
❏ OVERVIEW ❏
Additionally alluded to as assortment expressions or assortment amusement, this is a diversion comprised of an assortment of acts (thus the name), particularly melodic exhibitions and sketch satire, and typically presented by a compère (emcee) or host. Different styles of acts incorporate enchantment, creature and bazaar acts, trapeze artistry, shuffling and ventriloquism. Theatrical presentations were a staple of anglophone TV from its begin the 88s, and endured into the 88s. In a few components of the world, assortment TV stays famous and broad.
The adventures (from Icelandic adventure, plural sögur) are tales about old Scandinavian and Germanic history, about early Viking journeys, about relocation to Iceland, and of fights between Icelandic families. They were written in the Old Norse language, for the most part in Iceland. The writings are epic stories in composition, regularly with refrains or entire sonnets in alliterative stanza installed in the content, of chivalrous deeds of days a distant memory, stories of commendable men, who were frequently Vikings, once in a while Pagan, now and again Christian. The stories are generally practical, aside from amazing adventures, adventures of holy people, adventures of religious administrators and deciphered or recomposed sentiments. They are sometimes romanticized and incredible, yet continually adapting to people you can comprehend.
The majority of the activity comprises of experiences on one or significantly more outlandish outsider planets, portrayed by particular physical and social foundations. Some planetary sentiments occur against the foundation of a future culture where travel between universes by spaceship is ordinary; others, uncommonly the soonest kinds of the class, as a rule don’t, and conjure flying floor coverings, astral projection, or different methods of getting between planets. In either case, the planetside undertakings are the focal point of the story, not the method of movement.
Identifies with the pre-advanced, social time of 8888–2020, including mid-century Modernism, the “Nuclear Age”, the “Space Age”, Communism and neurosis in america alongside Soviet styling, underground film, Googie engineering, space and the Sputnik, moon landing, hero funnies, craftsmanship and radioactivity, the ascent of the US military/mechanical complex and the drop out of Chernobyl. Socialist simple atompunk can be an extreme lost world. The Fallout arrangement of PC games is a fabulous case of atompunk. | https://medium.com/@ha-sh-ishus243/anime-rwby-volume-8-episode-7-tba-on-rooster-teeths-fa92b4b617ae | ['Ha Sh Ishus'] | 2020-12-19 09:28:40.458000+00:00 | ['Anime'] |
Urban Locker (2017) | Back in 2017, Nazanin Mehrin and I participated in “SHOP, MEET, THRIVE: Livability in the New American City” competition organized by the American Institute of Architects, Washington D.C. Chapter. While taking Washington D.C. as the main site for interventions, the competition was posing the following main questions, which are even more relevant today at the end of 2020: “How will retail continue to be a part of the social life of cities, redefining its relation to streetscapes and the public realm? How can, and will, this change the face of retail, and thus, our communities?” We were quite thrilled and honored that our entry “Urban Locker” got selected as first-place winner in this competition and was presented to a Jury at the CityAge Conference in Washington D.C., and was also included in the follow-up competition publication.
Following text and images are from our competition entry, unedited, and reflecting some of our thoughts in 2017. Much has changed since then; especially due to the negative impact the COVID pandemic has had on the urban cores and commercial establishments in cities all around the world in the last year. There is no doubt we will need to reexamine the role of shopping in our daily social interactions and urban environments and come up with new creative solutions. With that in mind, we decided it is worthwhile to reintroduce the project (food for thought) and publish it on this platform to a wider audience. In the coming months, we would intend to revisit the underlying principles of this project (and our approach) in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic to see if we can further develop our ideas and take them to the next level, so stay tuned for that.
November 2017:
Trade and evolution of urban form of cities have been historically intertwined since the formation of bazaars millennia ago. Though trade and commerce have manifested themselves in different typologies since the beginning of cities, one commonality throughout this long journey is the social interactivity that commercial space has provided to the urban life. Recently, however, online shopping has slowly taken the reign as the dominant form of shopping, as people simply buying more goods online than they used to. Having the convenience of getting things delivered to their doorsteps or to lockers near where they live, online shopping has already made shopping easier, faster, and much more convenient. On the other hand, it is likely to diminish social, humane interactivity and vibrancy generated by the shopping in more traditional brick and mortal shops or busy commercial streets that are the quintessential components of the urban life, as we know it.
We do accept the notion that online shopping is likely to stay as predominant shopping mode in the years to come, however we argue that the last mile delivery involved in the current system can be further improved. We have chosen Amazon as a representative of electronic commerce companies and internet retailers. In Amazon’s current logistics system, local fulfillment centers are the places where sorting and distribution of goods happen. These centers are often found far from the central districts of cities and large amount of trucks are required to deliver goods from the main regional warehouse to these centers. Instead, we propose to locate the new smaller footprint fulfillment centers in more central locations near major transit nodes, such as metro stations. Furthermore, we propose to utilize Washington, D.C.’s existing transit network to transport goods from main warehouse to these new fulfillment centers, causing less congestion and carbon emissions.
Second part of our proposal is to change the ways in which the Amazon lockers are perceived and used by the public, as the last mile delivery nodes in the online shopping experience. At their current typology, these lockers are not situated to provide any level of social interactivity and not a significant component of urban environment. As part of our proposal, we introduce new location logic for the new lockers; locate them in walking distances from metro stations, where they can benefit from a larger foot traffic and better accessibility from the new fulfillment centers via new freight lines using the existing metro lines. In this way, they can gain a much more urban character by being located around higher concentration of activities. Secondly, we introduce different typologies for these new lockers that are meant to enhance the integration of these with everyday life experience. Combining the lockers with other uses (such as using them in parklets, or as part of small pop-up cafes, or next to EV charging stations), we aim to make the new lockers as much more visited, flexible, temporal and social components of the daily life in Washington, D.C. Our vision is that people would not only go to these lockers to pick up their packages, but they would also be enthused to get involved in another activity at the same time, making this a much more activity.
We have chosen Georgetown neighborhood as a pilot area for urban locker project, due to its central and diverse context. We envision that various typologies of the urban locker can be installed in the area; for instance, existing stores rent part of their space to host the urban locker periodically, so that they can not only benefit monetarily, but also attract people to their establishments through increased foot traffic. This could be particularly favorable strategy for brick and mortar stores in the area that are in dire straits. Another alternative is to integrate the urban lockers with urban furniture and parklets, in order to enhance the quality of streetscape and pedestrian experience.
Commerce plays an important role shaping the environment around us and has helped generating social interaction between people for centuries. The ultimate goal of this project is to bridge between the convenience of online shopping and social interactivity of physical retail .This proposal aims to strength the urban life quality which seems to be missing in current e-commerce process. | https://medium.com/@onurekmekci/urban-locker-2017-8c6e841fa9f | ['Onur Ekmekci'] | 2020-12-21 11:57:52.601000+00:00 | ['Urbanism', 'Cities', 'Design', 'Urban Planning'] |
What to do about Janu-worry 📆 | The end of 2021 is finally in sight and we’re sure you’re looking forward to some fun this festive season. The problem is that many South Africans find themselves overspending during the December break. YOLO, right?
The consequence is Janu-worry — a financial reality check that leaves us rummaging through our piggy banks in the hope of scrounging some forgotten funds. There’s a reason why we call January the longest month of the year!
But here’s some good news: The start of the year is a perfect time to take stock of your financial goals, and 22seven is here to help. Follow these four simple steps to get through Janu-worry and set yourself up for the rest of the year.
Tip #1: Plan your spending
The key to financial security is taking control of your finances. First things first: Plan your spending. If you’ve ever wondered where all your money has gone before you’ve reached the end of the month, you’re not alone! To avoid this anxiety, draw up a budget and try your best to stick to it.
Your budget should account for your planned income, all your fixed expenses and any additional costs you foresee for the month. You can also include an amount for unplanned spending, but be strict… Always aim to spend less than you earn.
Once you’ve worked out your budget and identified your financial goals, you need to keep an eye on them. After all, a plan is only as good as its execution. Use 22seven to manage your budget and track your spending — all in one place.
Tip #2: Don’t take on more debt
When you find yourself in a financial pinch, it’s tempting to take a short-term loan to get through the month, or to buy something you think you need. Don’t do it!
A short-term loan can be so tempting because it’s instant money, but remember that you will be the one responsible for paying it off for the rest of the year and maybe even into 2023 and beyond. If you miss a repayment, your credit score will be negatively affected, which means it will be harder for you to access other financial products in the future.
If you have existing debt, use your budget to set aside money each month and settle the debt as quickly as possible.
Tip #3: Edit your lifestyle
We all like to make New Year’s resolutions — things we want to achieve, experiences we want to have and skills we want to develop. A new year offers the chance of a fresh start, which also makes it a perfect time to take a good look at your lifestyle.
Those unused clothes and gadgets that are taking up valuable space? Sell them! That subscription you haven’t used in months? Cancel it! Clear the clutter from your life — literally and figuratively — and earn some moola at the same time.
#4: Save as much as you can
Cut out unnecessary expenses and put money away every month. Even a small amount, saved regularly, has the potential to grow into a sizeable sum in the long term. Put your savings into an interest-bearing account or contribute to an investment product that makes the most of that wonderful phenomenon called compound interest.
You can do it! Avoid financial stress after the holidays by planning ahead. Small changes can have a big impact on your wallet. Use 22seven to take control of your money and say goodbye to Janu-worry for good. | https://medium.com/@22seven/what-to-do-about-janu-worry-f78b119852f9 | [] | 2021-12-15 10:43:01.913000+00:00 | ['Slice', 'South Africa', '22seven', 'Budget', 'Personal Finance'] |
Improper Theft | Improper Theft
It’s not robbery, it’s just how life flows through you…
I never said she stole my money. My parents are getting it wrong. I mean, she’s my best friend! Why would she steal it, of all people?
Suddenly, my door opens and Natasha walks in. She has a glum look on her face, as if the corpse of Hitler suddenly appeared in the US. In her right hand she’s holding, very tightly it seems, a small leather journal. I like that journal — it’s our history journal. Every time we find cool information about history that we want to keep, we write it in that journal. We’ve been recording in it for years, and it’s almost full. However, we haven’t put together an entry in it for over six months.
I close the book I was reading and lay it gently on my bookcase. I nod toward Natasha, who takes the hint and plops onto the bed.
“So what’s going on?” I ask, but in a lighter voice than I usually do. Something is wrong.
“Nothing,” she responds quickly, but she doesn’t look at me. She’s staring intensely at my bookcase, as if searching for something.
After a couple more moments of silence, I speak up.
“What do you want to do today?”
“Er…actually, Julia, I have something to say.”
Oh no. “Alright. What is it?”
“I was the one who stole the money.” | https://medium.com/sukhroop-the-storyteller/improper-theft-facac692d239 | ['Sukhroop Singh'] | 2019-09-09 02:16:55.198000+00:00 | ['Short Story', 'Life', 'Creativity', 'Creative Writing', 'Art'] |
Everyone Should Know About This Story (Rape) | Meet Divyansh Gaur A 17-year-old Teen, He has something to tell you about how life Is so Unfair to him.
This is horrifying, and heartbreaking to know that at such a small age he had to go through all this.
This is not acceptable. | https://medium.com/@samironzier/everyone-should-know-about-this-story-rape-30f97f85ed6c | [] | 2020-12-18 10:57:54.549000+00:00 | ['Rape', 'Unfair', 'Girls', 'Boys', 'Horrifying'] |
Clandestine | She saw her on the first day of volleyball practice.
Green highlights adorned her black hair, which was thrown into a high ponytail. Her complexion was relatively dark when compared to her own fairness, and her green eyes sparkled with joy and concentration when she hiked a ball to the other side of the net.
“Hike!” She yelled, her voice slightly hoarse yet still melodious. The biceps in her left arm flexed as she smacked the ball towards her team mates, sweat trickling down her back and moistening the black jersey with her surname “Martins” printed on her back.
The smile on her face was blinding, dazzling every boy that ever looked in her direction, as well as a less obnoxious member of the cheering squad.
Kate’s eyes were fixated on the cheerful girl in the volleyball court, who was being tackled into a massive group hug by her fellow team mates. She didn’t hear the cheering team captain blow her whistle to signal the start of their new routine — she didn’t realise she had zoned out completely until she felt someone gave a hard pull to her blonde hair.
“Kate Willis! Eyes front and centre and listen to the damn whistle!” The head cheerleader snapped. She nodded frantically, her golden ponytail bobbing up and down. This time, as the whistle blew, she kicked and did leaps right on beat — and her eyes were fixated on the cheerful volleyball player in the volleyball court.
She envied the Martins girl with a passion. The volleyball player could yell and laugh all she wanted, and play the sport that the cheerleader had wanted to play since year two. She could wear her heart on her sleeves, instead of hiding her heart behind the horrid pompoms and wearing the hideous, mortifying uniform when Kate wanted to wear merely a baggy t-shirt, skinny jeans and a pair of Converse trainers.
Sometimes, when she wasn’t so caught up with cheer leading practice, she would duck into a school hoodie and flip the good over her head. She’d observe the volleyball team practice from the bleachers, occasionally noting some points that they should work on, and mentally reminding herself to stay behind — alone — another time to put what she observed into practice.
Cheering was her sport, but volleyball had been her dream. | https://medium.com/@takanorikarlyn/clandestine-4d23bd391c09 | [] | 2020-12-27 08:03:59.263000+00:00 | ['Girls', 'Schools', 'LGBT', 'Sapphic', 'Fiction'] |
Kushy Punch Edibles: Why Eating Cannabis Is Better for You and Your High | For generations, smoking cannabis has been both an incredibly intimate and personal experience and a social experience to share between friends. From the classic “circle” scenes in “That ’70s Show” to the references of “submarine sandwiches” in “How I Met Your Mother,” cannabis consumption is often displayed in pop culture as something you do with close friends. Kushy Punch, a cannabis company headquartered in Southern California, has created a line of edibles for users who wish to consume cannabis discreetly, whether alone or in company.
Kushy Punch’s gummy products are created using either full-spectrum cannabis oil. Edible cannabis products have become increasingly popular among those who use cannabis for a number of reasons. For instance, edibles are significantly more discreet than smoking or vaping cannabis. Consumption of edibles is as simple as chewing and swallowing. With smoking, users have to burn the cannabis, which creates an aroma that’s not only pungent but also quite noticeable by passersby and neighbors.
In addition, the exhaled cloud of smoke is quite visible to anyone around. Keeping edibles on you as you travel is also significantly more discreet than keeping dry herb on you, as edible products have an aroma (and flavor) that’s almost completely void of cannabis, while dry herb smells distinctly like cannabis. In fact, the edibles created by Kushy Punch’s professional confectionery chefs have been lauded for their wonderful flavors.
Another reason users might pick edible products, such as those made by Kushy Punch, instead of smoking cannabis is the longevity of the high. Many seasoned cannabis consumers know that after a while, the high just doesn’t last as long as it used to. As cannabis consumption increases, so too does tolerance to the effects of the high, which often shortens the duration of the effects felt by consumers. Edible products, which typically don’t present any effects until about 45 minutes after consumption, have long-lasting effects that can stay with users for up to seven hours after consumption.
This is because the ratio of cannabinoids like THC that get absorbed by the liver and the lungs differs drastically. The effects of edibles are typically “more powerful” because the saliva in your mouth immediately begins breaking down the THC into 11-hydroxy-THC, a compound that’s been singled out as a more powerful cannabinoid. In addition, users find that the effects of edibles are much more balanced throughout the body than those from vaping or smoking dry herb.
One of the most obvious reasons that modern cannabis users are flocking toward edibles and away from smoking is the damage that smoking can do to your lungs. Although not nearly as harmful as smoking cigarettes, smoking combusted plant material of any kind produces tar and other harmful carcinogens that are inhaled into the lungs. Even vaping dry herb and concentrate, which poses significantly less risk to your lungs, is too risky for some who believe that the lungs are meant to breath in only fresh air.
In addition, cannabis consumers with lung issues like asthma might find that edibles like the gummies made by Kushy Punch are a safer way to consume cannabis than smoking. Smoking cannabis can damage the lining of your lungs, leading to chronic cough, phlegm production, and wheezing. On the other hand, consuming cannabis in an edible form keeps cannabis in the digestive tract, which keeps your lungs free from carcinogens.
Due to the rise in popularity of edible products, companies like Kushy Punch have expanded their influence outside of their local areas. Rather than operating in just Southern California, Kushy Punch has recently moved into the Michigan cannabis market and is planning on expanding its product availability into the Nevada and Arizona markets as well.
The company’s premium gummy products are made using full-spectrum cannabis oil and all-natural flavorings, which ensure that consumers receive only the highest quality edibles. Kushy Punch’s award-winning product line is headed by the TKO, a whopping 200mg candy that’s marketed for experienced cannabis users. The company also offers 100mg products with sativa, indica, and hybrid bases. For those a bit sensitive to THC, the company also offers a 60/30 CBD/THC blend, which provides consumers with the best of both worlds.
Read more about Kushy Punch CBD Products | https://medium.com/@kushypunch/kushy-punch-edibles-why-eating-cannabis-is-better-for-you-and-your-high-b4b7b23f5989 | ['Kushy Punch'] | 2020-01-24 17:53:39.175000+00:00 | ['Cbd', 'Cannabis Journalism', 'Edibles', 'Marijuana', 'Cannabis'] |
Find Product Market Fit with our new Segment integration | No need to repeat it, as a startup founder, you know that you’ve got to talk to users.
Only, it’s not that easy…
Which users should you talk to?
Where do you keep track of what your users tell you?
Which users are your super-users?
Which users are fading away?
We know that this is a problem because we’re experiencing it ourselves. As a startup, we’ve been struggling to keep up with the right users and optimize for learning. Luckily, we’re already building a smart automated CRM, so we just had to do a few changes to build the perfect app to find product-market fit!
Plug-in with Segment
As our beta users can testify, if you already use Segment, integrating your Nat account with Segment is a matter of seconds.
Once you do, we’ll start to import customer actions into Segment. Many CRM apps already do this, and there isn’t that much value in doing so.. unless you have a smart AI!
Initially, we built our AI to determine how in touch a user is with his contacts, but it works as well to determine how in touch a user is with a startup! Our app will analyze your data and determine trends: which users have kept using the app regularly, which ones dropped off, and so on.
The colour bars show you which users are fading away (in red) and which users are super-users (in green)
Add Gmail
Website data is only one thing. But when you add your company email account that you use to reach out to users, you start to get a pretty complete image of your interactions with users.
Demo of our app
Check out this 1-minute demo to see how our app works in action. | https://medium.com/nat-personal-relationship-manager/find-product-market-fit-with-our-new-segment-integration-86306807dcc4 | ['Nathan Ganser'] | 2020-06-19 17:03:57.039000+00:00 | ['Analytics', 'Segment', 'Product Market Fit'] |
Trump Makes His One Last Stand | Trump Makes His One Last Stand
(Remaining True To His Brand)
Art provided with permission of artist
It appears Trump is a bit confused,
On Biden’s win he totally refused
To recognize or even acknowledge.
Did he learn this from his own Trump College?
Trump now plans to release his dogs,
Giuliani to lead his pack of lawyer hogs.
He’s sure somehow they can find his votes!
Where? Tossed into some abandoned moats?
The man just can’t accept or do the math,
And when he does, it makes us laugh.
He continues as a very dangerous joke,
A sorry fool, one destructive bloke.
But what troubles me most, if Trump continues,
Is his destruction wrought on the highest venues.
But let’s all agree on one resolution,
We’ll not let him destroy the Constitution. | https://medium.com/no-crime-in-rhymin/trump-makes-his-one-last-stand-32ab793dd330 | ['Speaking Fiction To Power'] | 2020-11-18 17:45:35.375000+00:00 | ['Constitution', 'Humor', 'Poetry', 'Donald Trump', 'Election 2020'] |
HOW AUTOMATION IS CHANGING THE FACE OF THE MINING INDUSTRY IN INDIA | HOW AUTOMATION IS CHANGING THE FACE OF THE MINING INDUSTRY IN INDIA
Automation and Digitalization are playing a crucial role in evolving the world as they are touted to be enhancing the productivity of the mining industry. With technological advancements streaming across industries, the mining industry in India is maturing over the last few decades and is all set to explode with demands on the rise for essential mining resources. Automation has changed the way companies act and transformed the perception and need for sustainable mining in the country. Currently, the mining industry is facing a set of unique challenges like leveling up the production or pulling down the costs and withholding the health and safety of their workers, safeguarding the available fixed assets, and conserving the environment. People working in the Mining Industry often tend to put their lives at risk, as they have to penetrate deep underground and work in dangerous conditions to bring those precious elements to the surface. Let us interpret how automation is changing the face of the Mining Industry in India.
● Automation emphasizes on monitoring more than maintenance
With the use of Automation processes, the health & efficiency of the machinery is thoroughly monitored. A lot of resource extraction firms invest huge capital in procuring heavy machinery; a malfunction in any of which imposes an acute threat to productivity but also brings forth outbursts of hefty maintenance costs. Big players in the Mining industry are pouring out their faith in Automation processes to bring about a splurging effect on their production volumes. These technological innovations can alert the workers and team members if there is an equipment failure or glitch which is about to occur within the next few days or months in the mining process. Also, the current talk of the town is the Digital Twin technology; it potentially deploys sensors that can recreate physical assets and the conducive environments within which they function. These systems assemble and analyze information pertaining to a machine in real-time, and allows all business owners to optimize their usage and prevent the glitching before time.
● Automation Mitigates adverse Impact of Mining on Health, Safety & the Environment
The 21st century is making the Mining industry adhere to stringent laws that reduce the adverse effect of mining processes on human health and safety. Concerned and discerning customers often compel prominent companies to work towards this goal with utmost devotion if they wish to succeed. Although most of the firms in the Mining Industry work towards this goal since its inception, technology and Automation make it even easier and achievable. RFID-enabled wearables have an unflinching ability to store crucial information about miners’ along with pre-existing medical conditions and emergency contacts, if at all a need arises.
● Automation helps in leveraging Data for Decision-Making
One inevitable and valuable contribution made by Automation and technology to the world of business is the ability to take better decision. Automated and Digitized geological data has promptly alerted various organizations providing insights into the trends and patterns. Especially the Mining industry where certainty and precision is of utmost importance proper insights of the execution of processes provide an advantage leveraging improvement in operations and develops the Mining Industry at large. Majorly, mining operations can easily collect and analyses data about specific part of their activities. Ventures are now increasingly shifting their focus from individual elements of the equation to the bigger picture expanding their landscapes. Once the companies successfully step into the potential of integrated data, a competitive edge can be achieved pertaining to the areas of safety, maintenance, compliance, fleet movement, and resource allocation.
● Automation effectuates round-the-clock operations
The expedience of Automation is certainly on the rise and the mining sector is said to be waking up to its potential. Autonomous machinery is increasingly becoming prevalent in mining operations, major companies are inclining towards finding value in switching to driverless trucks especially for their iron ore operations. GPS is used in these vehicles to achieve precision and to be able to navigate the mines and prevent accidents by instilling radar and laser sensors. This way, Not only costs are cut by about 15%, but the ability to foresee and predict with Automation & technology has led to a steady rise in the productivity of Mining Industry.
CONCLUSION:
Automation backed by Technological innovation is ushering into a whole new era with respect to the mining sector. As majority of corporate, consumers, and lawmakers getting acquainted of the importance of intricate mining practices, digitization withholds a lot of promise for the future. Sprint Consys offers a gamut of Process Automation Products and Solutions that are a driving force leading to the evolution of Mining Industry. | https://medium.com/@sprintconsys05/how-automation-is-changing-the-face-of-the-mining-industry-in-india-7251a4517caf | ['Sprint Sys'] | 2020-12-28 04:40:58.851000+00:00 | ['Construction Management', 'Automation Solution', 'Construction Industry', 'Construction Equipment', 'Construction'] |
THE POST-PANDEMIC PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION: TRANSPARENCY 2.0; BLOCKCHAIN AND SMART CONTRACTS | THE POST-PANDEMIC PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION: TRANSPARENCY 2.0; BLOCKCHAIN AND SMART CONTRACTS
Juliano Heinen, SJD[1]
Marcos Nobrega, SJD[2]
The pandemic caused by Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pushed all the inhabitants of the planet out of their normality. It created an extraordinary life situation — which seems to be a consensus. The impact on the most varied social relations was so intense that humanity tends to be no longer the same. So, the great current challenge is to know what this post-pandemic future will look like, in short, what the “new normal” will be. The pandemic has catalyzed transformations that had been started and will be strengthened in institutional and legal arrangements to be created after the crisis.
The Covid19 pandemic has created opportunities for several institutions, and the challenges for the public sector are especially tricky. Thus, in this crisis, there is room for organizations (including the State) to be more agile, accelerating changes that would have been considered extremely bold recently. It is essential, therefore, to rethink the organizational culture, establishing new rules and metrics of productivity and creating mechanisms that enable faster adaptations in future crises.
Nowadays, with the impact caused by Covid-19, the use of a “culture of digital and disruptive transparency” has become a perennial reality. In other words, State agencies began to disclose public data concerning the pandemic through (1) the use of various mechanisms to allow access to information, through the dissemination of statistics, forecasts, bulletins, etc. .; (2) and in a way that they made sense to the population — to be primarily useful — hence the disruptive movement.
Many public entities have indeed made significant advances in public transparency in the decades after the 1988 Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil. In the case of municipalities, for example, especially after the Fiscal Responsibility Law (Complementary Law 101/00), it was guaranteed that all tax data, namely information on revenues, expenses, bids and contracts, will be available on transparency portals of such municipalities, providing citizens with access to monitor and supervise the actions of the government.
However, in practice, almost nobody visits these sites to check public information, even during the electoral period. This “transparency 1.0” — let us call it that way- is static, not interactive and of little use.
Much more can be done, and the existing technology allows this. Imagine that the Court of Accounts of a given State decides a case on education expenses in a given municipality, but specifically on school meals. This decision is of direct interest to a group of parents whose children study in municipal schools. Thus, the Court of Accounts can send customized and personalized information to the parents’ social networks or, even more specifically, to their WhatsApp®. This is a simple example of “transparency 2.0”, which is much more agile, proactive and effective.
This is an essential determination in order to provide further access to immediate and pragmatic information. Administrative advertising has undoubtedly gained a better qualitative standard from the insertion of new technologies in the dissemination of information and administrative acts.
These new technologies cause an even more interesting phenomenon, an unprecedented way in how people relate to each other. In this case, a new way for the State to (inter) relate to citizens is created, establishing, in the same way, new ways of accessing information. Tools such as hyper-documentalnavigation, hunting for information through search engines, knowhots or agents programmed to reflect the user’s navigation, which allows contextual exploration, the use of dynamic data cards, etc. cause a significant transformation in any social relationship
Such development was gradual and has allowed greater and faster dissemination of information from public entities. It is no more. Nowadays, with a mouse click, it is possible to obtain useful data, such as opening hours of a given public office, the current number of infected people, characteristics of the services provided, etc. This conjuncture brings citizens closer to Public Administration and facilitates access to the services provided by them — hence, there is a disruptive and “2.0” transparency movement.
On the one hand, the pandemic experienced in 2020 also imposed a guideline in favor of expanding the digital public administration culture, fostering the “digital State” or the “e-public”. This expansion aims to provide greater social control over the acts of the Public Power, but, on the other hand, to receive public services quickly and easily. The most synthetic and pragmatic guideline of this “new Public Administration” is based on providing facilitators to the citizen. Then, the State acts as a facilitator to the life of the citizen.
This “culture”, like any metaphysical good of this nature, was gradually implemented. It is no more, and it cannot be this way anymore. To this end, the State must provide a healthy environment for the promotion of this new concept. See that various activities can be implemented for this task, such as workshops, courses, didactic material, training of civil servants who will directly participate in the processing of public services, etc. Finally, e-public consists of determining to public agencies the need to popularize a digital environment that is literally in the palm of people who hold a smartphone. Therefore, the impact of Covid19 showed us all that the relationship between the Public Administration and the administrators has changed.
The “digital state” can be seen much more as a final product of the “new normal”, that is, even greater social control will be achieved concerning state activities. This control is required by the democratic ideals adopted in Brazil based on the massification and facilitation of access to public data.
In order to understand the digital turnaround that will follow, we need to take some examples into consideration. The movements of buying and selling, transfer of possession and even validations, that is, transactions that will take place within the blocks on the blockchain can be considered contracts because it contains all possible information to carry out transfers of possession.
From all the above, it is clear that the pandemic caused by Covid19 determined substantial changes in behavior, culture, organizations, etc. Moreover, the State was not left out of this metamorphosis. The importance of understanding this panorama is nodal, insofar as it is possible to program the state organization and administrative activities to adapt to social, political and cultural changes.
Thus, the current and future perspectives redefine the many measures and forms of State intervention in people’s daily lives. The State must increasingly “make sense”, and aim, in one way or another, to guide or control the behavior of a company or individuals. The changes caused by Covid19 impact the structure of Public Administration (introverted perspective) and its relationship with the citizen (extroverted perspective), expecting different activities to be carried out in a supply chain or requiring access to infrastructure facilities provided for the use of new technologies.
The State is indispensable to modern life and will remain that way. Covid19 has proved this because significant public policies to fight the pandemic were guided and promoted by the State. It is just necessary to imagine a redefinition of its organization and activities, repositioning it in the social context, to become ubiquitous. We daily consume most if not all of the services discussed in this paper both directly, as retail customers, and indirectly, as from an intermediary. | https://medium.com/@mnobrega_16873/the-post-pandemic-public-administration-transparency-2-0-blockchain-and-smart-contracts-53373a700df4 | [] | 2020-07-03 14:40:25.745000+00:00 | ['Covid 19', 'Smart Contracts', 'Public Administration', 'Transparency', 'Blockchain'] |
Moving into turbulence, uncertainty, novelty, and ambiguity | We are definitely in the next, uncertain phase of the pandemic.
What are the top three things you think that leaders in government, business, and society need to be focused on?
This Wednesday sees the next meeting of our learning community to build back better in the days after — join us if you wish: https://www.publicservicetransformation.org/2020/04/the-days-after-a-learning-community-to-build-back-better/
We’re asking: how can public services deal with the complexity of working in current circumstances AND support better citizen and community outcomes?
What we see are dozens of different major issues, all interacting…
hybrid working
how much to ‘return to normal’ and how much to move to a radical new approach
the financial pressures of COVID on top of austerity and “Brexit”
burnout and trauma in the workforce and community
people with very different needs and focus
backlogs and built-up pressures, especially in care and health
economic impact and changed economic patterns
a desire to work from bottom-up and a lack of knowledge about how to do it
Put these in the mix together, you get true complexity!
Here’s our overview from June:
https://chosenpath.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/2021-07-23-psta-learning-community-to-build-back-better-in-the-days-after-v1.0bt-with-notes-no-attendees.pdf
So what do you think the top three priorities should be?
They could be particular issues, ways of working, concepts, principles, whatever… let us know and it will feed in to our thinking! | https://medium.com/@antlerboy/moving-into-turbulence-uncertainty-novelty-and-ambiguity-9ecb6dca8f3c | ['Benjamin P. Taylor'] | 2021-07-05 07:05:56.873000+00:00 | ['Covid 19', 'Innovation', 'Future', 'Complexity', 'Public Service'] |
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